TOPBOX: January 2014

i went to another concert!! this has been a great year for concerts!! just recently i went to see SHANIA TWAIN! i heard she hadn't performed on a concert stage for over a decade... which is just crazy. her tickets were also crazy... crazy expensive! but i got a great last minute deal and was able to get pretty decent seats. she had back to back concerts at the Calgary Stampede since the first one sold out so quickly. i was definitely kicking myself when i missed the ticket release of both shows... blergghh... but i made sure i got tickets in the end.

here's her performance of one of my favorite songs of hers - From This Moment On

now back to a quick look at the last January box i have to review... after this... i am skipping to July boxes!!! i have accepted defeat.

January Topbox.
one word for this box: lame.
lame lame lame lame.

especially lame box to start off the year.

1) Aveda : Stress-Fix Body Lotion
size: 25 mL
retail value: $32.50 (200 mL)

yuck - stress-relieving or easy-sleeping lotions always throw me off because they never smell 'calming' or 'relaxing' to me. this particular scent smells like a spice to me... with some dirt thrown in. not good at all.

2) Miracle 10 : Solution II Extra Strength Clarifying Solution
size: 30 mL
retail value: $44 (120 mL)

i haven't used toners forever... forever as in since the time i was using the whole Pro-activ system for my pimples in junior high/high school. which is actually ages ago (almost time for a 10 year reunion!).
i did not forget the slight sting when i use toners... or how it burns my eyes a little when i use it too close to my eyes. it does make my skin feel a tad bit cleaner in a sense. as if all the bacteria are burning off of my face or something... haha

3) Elizabeth Arden : Prevage Anti-Aging + Intensive Repair Eye Serum
size: 3 mL
retail value: $275 (30 mL)

yeeeeesh. it is always the case with these super expensive samples: they are always itty bitty like this which is never enough to convince me to shell over almost $300.

4) Benefit : Benetint
size: 2.5 mL
retail value: $36 (12.5 mL) 

i already own one of these from last year's Topbox celebrating the same occasion - Chinese New Year. it's handy when you are carrying a small purse and would like to touch up later in the night. i find that it works better as a stain on the cheeks rather than the lips. please read post here.

and here it all is!
nothing to be excited about.

i hope you are happy to know the next box i review will be a JULY one. oh goodie. something relevant! :P
glad to get this final January post in and out of the way on my 27th birthday! now to start anew!

FANCY BOX: January 2014 [Coco Rocha]

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

summer is upon us! finallllllly! 

here's a John Legend treat (from last week's concert) - mind you, the quality is not the best because i am realizing now that my iPhone 4 is really not up to par anymore... but it is John Legend nonetheless.

he spent the night making the audience swoon with his beautiful vocals in a very intimate setting - he pretty much played piano all night. it was different from other concerts i have gone to - less energy, but amazing!

quick post here about the January Fancy box - all this talk about catching up is really not working out for me, is it? i might need to look at another method here.... perhaps skip a few months again? yikes

bear with me here! i was all caught up with Game of Thrones and Orange is the New Black - both great endings. GoT - always always exciting scenes that make your jaw drop; OITNB - season 2 ending was soooooooo satisfying that i had to re-watch it. 

what shows are you currently into?

okok back to the Fancy box.

i love opening these because the beauty subscriptions are losing its appeal but these boxes are unpredictable. 

i received the January one on the 4th of February after it was shipped on January 31st. it is delivered by FedEx so they usually leave it on the front porch. the box is wayyy to big to fit into a regular mailbox anyhow. 

the order was charged to my CC on Jan 3rd for $56.00 USD which came up to be $61.20 CAD - AHHH! ok very pricey. the shipping kills me. 

shall we see if it was worth it?

1) The Cottage Industry : Morning Mug
retail value: $15 USD

i've seen many versions of these hot & cold temperature-changing cups and now i finally have one! the 'awake' face looks better from afar but up close you can see the eyelashes and circle remaining from the 'asleep' face.

the cup changes only up to the level where your hot liquid is poured up to - so sometimes i get a streak of black along the brim since i didn't fill mine to the top. it's also a smaller size than the average mug - it only holds up to 300 mL. 

still fun though.

2) Echo Design : Sparkle Fingerless Gloves in "Denim Heather"
retail value: $35 USD

here's an obvious reason why i should open boxes in the month they are intended for. haaaaaahaaaaaaaa. the sequins are cute but i never find a need for fingerless gloves - i live in Canada remember?

these ones go up past your wrists.

3) Fred : Deep Tea Diver
retail value: $12 USD

AAAAAAAAAH so cuuuuuute. what a marvelous idea to be able to reuse this for brewing loose teas (as opposed to tea strainers).
now all i need is to become a true tea drinker and buy some loose tea.

4) Lexon : Bag Light
retail value: $12 USD

i admit that i scoffed when i saw this product. i mean, REALLY? how outrageous must a bag be to require one to throw a light in and scour its depths?
but it was only two days later do i find myself struggling to find keys in the massive bag that contains my life.

so yes, perhaps useful. perhaps.
the clasp goes around a bag handle so it doesn't also get lost. there's a button on the other end and the LED is actually quite bright.

5) Paddywax : Library Collection : Travel Tin in "Henry David Thoreau"
retail value: $10 USD

this is a very adorable tin and i love the nerdiness of it - a Library collection featuring different authors?? so cool. though i have absolutely no clue who Henry David Thoreau is. the mix of cedar, moss and juniper makes me think of a clean-smelling man. maybe that was a significant trait of Henry Thoreau's?

total value: $84.00 USD - and i paid $56.00 USD? hmmmm i wouldn't say this box was really worth it overall. the item that stands out the most to me is the Deep Tea Driver - not because it's something i would definitely have used but because it is just so adorable. the whole box contained items that are neat - yes - but not absolutely practical.

BEAUTY BOX 5: January 2014

so a small part of the reason why i haven't posted lately was because of a trip to the USA for my friend's graduation - she's a doctor now! 

i went for about 6 days and visited a bunch of cities i've never been to before. first stop was Philadelphia for Jenny's graduation - love you! went to a couple tourist-y areas including the Eastern State Penitentiary which was pretty interesting... wish we had more time there though! had dinner at Iron Chef Morimoto's restaurant and it's crazy how all the dishes were all so good! i love the restaurant itself - so pretty (top right photo). 

after two nights in Philly, we headed to New York by Boltbus and of course, checked out Grand Central Station, Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial Site... took the subway! saw a rat! rode a taxi... aiyyy... i forgot that all these cities we were visiting are 'older' cities, so i wasn't expecting so much graffiti, demolition and uneven roads. and man those roads are bumpy! 

we only did one night in New York so it was go-go-go! so stayed overnight in Elizabeth since some of our friends were departing the next morning from Newark. the top left photo of the cathedral is in Elizabeth. it is GORGEOUS. i love cathedrals! i just wished they were open! all of the ones we visited were either under construction or closed... 

took it easy the next two days near Oil City/Pittsburgh. did some some more outlet shopping which is always great. on my way out... my flight gets cancelled. man! i ended up staying overnight at the airport... definitely not the most comfortable place to stay for an extended period of time. if this ever happens to you, make sure you talk to the staff to see how they rebooked your flight because they automatically booked me for 3 connecting flights - ridiculous!

anyway, it was a fab time! i wish i had more vacation days!

onward to BB5!
January 2014 - Cheers to You! featuring That Awkward Moment

i don't have any desire to see That Awkward Moment because i can't handle watching raunchy sex comedies in theatres. but Zac Efron is very pretty. haha

1) H2O Plus : Spa Sea Lotus Body Wash
size: 30 mL
retail value: $17 (370 mL)

to date, i've received four H2O Plus products from BB5. each time i like to check out the website to find out what the 'key elements' are. for this Sea Lotus body wash, they are: water lotus, bamboo, red marine algae, and Vitamin E. similar to the last H2O Plus body wash i received in March 2013, it smells marine-y. it is indeed part of their Marine Skincare line but i just do not like that scent.

2) Nubar : Cuticle Oil in 'T3191-7 Green Apple'
size: 7 mL
retail value: $10 (15 mL)

it does smell like green apples! very light scent. the brush is different from a regular nail polish. this one is stiffer so you can dab it on your cuticles. i am not very precise since it just gets absorbed anyway.

3) Swissco : Bath & Shower Exfoliating Gloves
size: 1 pair [full size]
retail value: $5

i can always count on BB5 for something different. exfoliating gloves! haven't received or used these before. i think these will become very useful, especially with dress season around the corner.

4) Jergens : Daily Moisture Dry Skin Moisturizer
size: 29 mL
retail value: $6.99 (621 mL)

this light cream absorbs quickly into the skin and has a citrus scent with a hint of flowers. a tad boring but will be used someday.

5) Epic Blend : Lip Balm in 'Hemp Coconut' 
size: 4.2 g [full size]
retail value: $3.39
promotion: 25% off online purchase // expired Mar 31, 2014

i said i'd try to pawn off the (MALIN+GOETZ) mojito lip balm from the ipsy bag to my boyfriend but this is more his style.

6) BONUS : That Awkward Moment : Mirror Compact

a rectangular mirror compact that i probably won't use since i already have a mirror with my MUFE Pressed Powder. i'd bring it along for travel if it was bit bigger!

and so there it is. BB5 continues to have some interesting items like exfoliating gloves and brush cleaners in their boxes but it's offset with the boring lotions and shampoos. i also don't really see how this whole box ties in with the movie...

what are your vacation plans this year??

IPSY BAG : January 2014

January 2014 - 19 Reasons
i've finally made it to the 2014 subscriptions... aww yeah! i want to squeeze in another post before i leave for Philadelphia on wednesday though. i'm heading down to my friend's graduation and we will be visiting New York and Pittsburgh as well. it's all very exciting to me because i haven't been to many places in the states.

alsoooooo i went to my third (i think) BSB concert on friday and it was amazing (AHHH NICK CARTER)! it was awesome to see all 5 of them back together. they thanked the fans for being there for 21 years... 21 years!! that's crazy that it has been that long. i was super happy that they played a lot of their old hits. i also know some of their new ones since i had a BSB only playlist at work for the last 3 days in preparation :)

anyway, my phone died after the concert which made me kick myself the rest of the night because a friend convinced me to head to the after party and this was the closest i have ever been to them!! i could see the sweat on their foreheads! i touched AJ and Howie's hands!! i got Howie's autograph!!!

eeeeeeeee! i was in awe for sure! it was like an estrogen-fuelled mosh pit but it was worth it. Howie was super cool cause he was taking selfies with people's phones and signing autographs. yay!! i am very glad i went even though i felt super old at the club later. super old. a boy who actually looked 16 kept trying to hold my hand and dance with me and i was like 'i am pretty sure i am like 10 years older than you'! the club scene is veryyy strange to me now. 

anyway, back to ipsy! ipsy's 19 Reasons bag is referring to the 19 brands they worked with in January.  they also want you to find a reason why 2014 will be amazing. i'm already enjoying 2014 quite a bit and my upcoming trips to Philly/New York/Pittsburgh and then Orlando in the summer will be fantastic, i'm sure. plus, i just went to the Backstreet Boys and will be going to see John Legend next month. swoon!

1) Benefit : the Porefessional
Quickly minimize the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put. Contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to protect skin from free radicals.
size: 3 mL
retail value: $31 (22 mL)
promotion: free gift with online purchase // expired Feb 15, 2014 

this makes it three! three times i've found this in a beauty bag. the other 2 times were from Topbox - April 2012 and February 2013. guess i won't be running out anytime soon and i still enjoy how smooth it makes my skin feel.

2)  (MALIN+GOETZ) : Mojito Lip Balm
The (MALIN+GOETZ) Mojito Lip Balm is as soothing to the lips as it is to the senses. Flavored with (MALIN+GOETZ) Mojito, this lip balm is scientifically blended to restore and replenish. The hydrating lip gel easily integrates for daily maintenance, prevention and treatment of dry, irritated lips. Color and Paraben free.

size: 10 g [full size]

retail value: $12

mojitos hey? that's a new flavor of lip balm for me. i am trying to rely less on lip balm cause i feel like my lips have to recover on their own from the winter but i might see if my boyfriend would use this. it looks plain enough right? i just don't know how he would feel about the gel texture...

3) Balanced Guru : Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm

Treat your whole body with a smooth and buttery body balm. Enriched with healthy butters and an invigorating blend of essential oils that will wake up your senses and moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy or tacky. Make sure you work it well into elbows, knees and even your feet, they'll thank you later!

size: 30 mL [trial size - $12]

retail value: $45 (120 mL)
promotion: 20% off online purchase // expired Feb 28, 2014 // US only

this body balm claims to moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy but i find that this is really difficult especially if the product contains so many different butters and oils. my experience with this body balm is that it leaves a shiny look/greasy feeling after application but over time, this will fade but the moisture remains.

4) Absolute! : Make-up Cleansing Tissues with 'Cucumber Extract'

Pre-moistened, refreshingly fragranced, water-based cloths designed to instantly remove even waterproof makeup without irritation. Infused with natural extracts and botanicals, Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissues are formulated to reawaken and soften skin, while helping to reduce puffiness. Made of delicate spun lace, our convenient, effortless 1-step tissues are gentle enough for use on sensitive skin and around the eye area.

size: 10 tissues [$2.49]

retail value: $7.99 [60 tissues]
promotion: 30% off online purchase // expired Feb 10, 2014 // US only

ipsy has teamed up once again with Nicka K. the Absolute! line of cleanings tissues include a number of other extracts such as Vitamin C, green tea and pomegranate. 

5) yaby : Natural Finish Liquid Foundation in 'Buff'

The yaby Liquid Foundation leaves an unbelievably natural, super smooth texture and is extremely easy to apply. Mimics the skin's natural sheen to create the most realistic flawless skin. Oil-free.

size: 8 mL [full size!]

retail value: $13.55
promotion: 20% off online purchase // expired Jan 31, 2014

the yaby liquid foundations all come in this small size which is great for carrying around. yaby also has color correctors as well. i've tried a few yaby products now (thanks to ipsy and Topbox) including some concealers which were decent but not highly pigmented. this 'Buff' shade is meant to be neutral but i think it is just a bit light for my skin. the smell is not the greatest since it smells sort of metal-y.

and tada! that makes up the first beauty bag from ipsy for the year... sort of a boring start in my opinion.

did you like your ipsy bag? what concerts are you going to this year?

GIVEAWAY: My Second Spectacular Giveaway Winners

my Second Spectacular Giveaway has ended!

i have gone through the 306 entries and pulled 24 and dun dun dun....

i bring you the three lucky winners!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FIRST PRIZE - Gen
SECOND PRIZE - Rosemary f.
THIRD PRIZE - Jasmine N.

congrats congrats!
as per the rules, each winner gets to select first in one (or more) of the four categories of prizes. i have already emailed Gen to start the ball rolling! i will contact the rest of the winners shortly after i hear from her.

thank you all for participating!!! 

GIVEAWAY: 150 Posts & 100 Followers // My Second Spectacular Giveaway

welcome welcome to my **Second Spectacular Giveaway**!!

iiiiiiiii know i have been neglecting my readers lately but i hope i can make it up to you... with some awesome gifts!
yaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!

i've been meaning to do this for quite some time - ever since the end of my Fabulous First Giveaway 99 days ago, i've been shopping for you guys. i've put quite a bit of thought into these prizes so i hope you are as excited as i am!

first, some rules and other important info:
* open to residents of Canada and USA ... i have no idea how much shipping is going to cost me but i will figure it out!
* giveaway starts February 22, 2013 and ends March 8, 2013 (ohhh what a coincidence that i also started on the 22nd last time...)
* i will contact the winner(s) after the giveaway and they will have 72 hours to respond to my email
* must follow my blog publicly (GFC preferably but i will allow Hellocotton as well as long as i see your name)
* please do not un-follow me after a giveaway. how rude! (if you do, you will be excluded from all future awesomeness)
* i shall not be held responsible for any damage to your prizes after i mail it out

and now, onto the fun part.

if you actually read through the rules, you would see that i said winner(s). yes, that is me hinting you that there will be more than one.

in fact, there's THREE! 

yes that's right. THREE lucky winners :)

- - - - - - -

i've decided to put a spin on things so here is how it will work!
there are 4 categories of prizes:

1) MUA Makeup 

       * Eyeshadow Palette in "Starry Night"

       * Blush Perfection Cream Blusher in "Blossom" 

       * Intense Kisses High Intensity Gloss in "Kiss and Make Up"

2) Quo Minerals Matter Eye Quad

       * Pillow Talk

       * Smoking Hot

       * Eco You

       * Peacock

from Shoppersdrugmart.ca (2013)

3) Disney Villains Lip Gloss

       * Cruella De Vil

       * Evil Queen

       * Queen of Hearts

4) Victoria's Secret Nail Lacquer

       * Signature Pink

       * Devilish

       * Mischief 

first prize winner - chooses TWO categories above and gets first choice of item/color in those two categories
second prize winner - chooses ONE of the two categories left and gets first choice of item in that category
third prize winner - gets first choice in the category that is left over

that way, the third winner also gets the pick first in something. yaaaaayyyyy!

- - - - - - - 

FIRST PRIZE

• 1 x MUA Makeup Product
• 1 x Quo Minerals Matter Eye Quad
• 1 x Disney Villains Lip Gloss
• 1 x Victoria's Secret Nail Lacquer
• 1 x Hello Kitty Sleeping Eye Mask
• 1 x Styli-Style Smokey Eyes Pencil in "Charcoal"
• 1 x Tweezerman Harajuku Lovers Matchbox Itty Bitty File 

SECOND PRIZE // THIRD PRIZE

• 1 x MUA Makeup Product
• 1 x Quo Minerals Matter Eye Quad
• 1 x Disney Villains Lip Gloss
• 1 x Victoria's Secret Nail Lacquer
• 1 x Tweezerman Harajuku Lovers Matchbox Itty Bitty File 

- - - - - - - 

how do you enter? well, just right below with Rafflecopter!!
so get on it! i will be checking answers thoroughly so please read the tasks carefully. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

thank you for entering!!! i want to thank you all for your continued support of my blog! i really appreciate you finding the time to comment on my posts - i love the interacting with readers and other bloggers. i hope i get more into the swing of things and will be able to blog more often! :)

SPOTLIGHT: Gifts from Australia - Many Thanks to the BF!

sorry for not posting many reviews and unboxings these days - my Topbox and ipsy posts are much delayed but it has been a slow transitioning to a new camera. there were some hiccups and deliberation over what color i preferred, which of course, is a very lengthy and important decision.

anyhoo, what i do have for today is just a quick post on some goodies my boyfriend brought back for me from Australia! he left on Christmas Day to visit one of his sisters there and they did all kinds of crazy stuff like surfing, bungee jumping and whitewater rafting. i did send him an email listing some suggestions of items to get me - there were a couple of Australian cosmetic brands i wanted to try and many thanks to Mishelle [Mishelle's Sleepy Time], i came up with quite a list. there were a couple of things that i didn't absolutely need but i just threw them in just in case he had a hard time locating some things (he has never been sent on a makeup run for me before so i am sure he is pretty clueless about this stuff). 

after giving it some thought, i felt it might be too much for him to conduct such a search when he's just a beginner so i amended it and said there was only really 2 things that i wanted.

he decided to get the entire list instead.

:DD

whOoooooooohOooooooooo!

so many goodies to play with!! ... but it also means that i now have three new highlighters...

Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Illuminator in "Angel Mist" - holy moly this is HUGE! it is gonna last me forever!!

Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Illuminating Pearls & Bronzing Pearls - i've never used any pearls before so this is really neat. i can also experiment with highlighting and contouring with this set.

Face of Australia Lip Quench 30+ Moisturizing Lipstick in "Lychee Crush" - Mishelle loves this nude lipstick! and it seems really popular so hopefully i can pull the color off. and SPF 30?? that's awesome.

Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in "Boogie Woogie" - yay another lipstick!... i know, i know, i shouldn't have put any lip products on my list but i couldn't help it!

Australis High Lights Mineral Face Highlighter in "Pearl" - i couldn't choose between this one and the Face of Australia Illuminator but now i don't have to! :)

Australis 10 Hr Wear Waterproof Eye Pencil in "Grape Cake" - yet another product influenced by Mishelle! i loved the swatch she has on her blog. 

Australis Make-Up Finishing Spritz - i don't really have a makeup setting spray so i am trying these out for the first time. i wonder how much of a difference it will make.

i am really happy that he took the time to get me such wonderful gifts. thanks babe! <3

now, what should i review first? 

SPOTLIGHT: My Fab Prizes from Closet Voyage and Vanity Box

ahhh i feel so lucky to have been one of the winners from Closet Voyage's and Vanity Box's BIG giveaway back in October - not to mention... i was the first prize winner!! :)
the giveaway was indeed huge - there was over $450 worth of prizes and 19 winners! thank you so much Jiawa (Closet Voyage) and Vanity Box for your generosity.

Jiawa is a beauty and fashion blogger over at Closet Voyage. i love her outfit posts - she finds really unique items and i especially love her taste in shoes :) Vanity Box is an online Korean clothing and cosmetics retailer based in Australia (they ship to Canada!).

Closet Voyage and Vanity Box shipped the prizes out separately (from Australia) and i recently got them both so i was finally able to share my winnings with you. there are so many goodies to play with and review - what should i do first??

first up, i got Vanity Box's... box!
here's what i found inside:

* Cath Kidston iPhone Case in "Electric Flowers" - ahhh so pretty!!! it's about time i changed the case of my iPhone 4 and i couldn't have found anything prettier than this Cath Kidston iPhone cases are available online at the Apple Store website for $34.95 in case you are interested or you can purchase them on Vanity Box's website on sale for ~$18.16 CAD (as "Rose Deep Pink").

* Ameli Plat Lips Lip Rouge in "100 Nude Beige" and "501 Natural Beige" - very neat! i tried going to the Ameli website to find out more about this product but i do not understand a word of it. it's on sale for ~$5.19 CAD each.

* Peripera Nail Polishes in "GR308" and "PP108" - another brand i have never tried - these bottles will definitely stand out in my collection. i do not know if there are official names for these colors but some eBay sellers have translated the colors as GR308 = "Acid Lime" and PP108 = "Holy Lavender".

i also got two mini Chupa Chups!! my sister and i used to always buy these in Chinatown after Chinese school... and what a crazy coincidence that they will send me a Coca Cola-flavored one (my sister's favorite) and a Strawberry one (my favorite).

from Closet Voyage, i got:

* Peripera Wonder of Lips Lipstick in "3 Wonder Beige" - sounds like i might be able to pull off this nude color. on sale for ~$12.45 CAD.

* Peripera I Love B.B Light Brightening effect B.B Cream - very excited to use this! i haven't actually tried a whole lot of BB creams yet... and even the box is so pretty. SPF 50 is pretty dang impressive. found on Vanity Box for ~$19.19 CAD.

* Minibus Louis Sticky Notes - cute!

* Ameli Plat Lips Lip Rouge in  "501 Natural Beige" - hmm i think i was only supposed to get 2 Plat Lips but hooray for an extra one :)

*Ameli Cake Eyeshadow in "027 Nude Beige" and "217 Charcoal Brown" - both are matte shades which i have taken an increased interest in. they are also very wearable colors. on sale right now for ~$6.74 CAD.

as for the jewelry in the white bag:

* Baby Ribbon Stud Earrings - i am wearing these rightnow! very cute :) ~$7.05 CAD on Vanity Box.

* Corius Ring in "White" - i usually only wear rings on special night outs but i like how these are stackable. ~$13.28 CAD.

* It Girl Necklace in "Pink Gold (White)" - i love the look of this necklace even though i prefer longer necklaces (this one sits near my collarbone). on sale for ~$10.37 CAD.

* Heart Hoop Earrings - can't seem to find these on the website but the hearts are so tiny and cute.

- - - - -

phew!! that is quite a few items and i am very excited to use and review them all! but where to start? let me know if you have any suggestions!
again, many thanks to Closet Voyage and Vanity Box!

SPOTLIGHT: Liebster Award x 4

ahhh... as you can tell from the title of this post, i fell a little behind in regards to the Liebster Award. i think my first nomination was from Nat (gl0ssy) back in September... and then she nominated me again recently, so i'm doubly honored - thank you thank you :)

i also have nominations from Christine (Little Red Bow) and Chelsey (my beauty full adventure). thank you so much ladies!

i know the Liebster Award has been circling around blogs for quite some time now but i had no idea where it started. i tried to look it up but all i really found were blogs that were nominated. but from what i can gather, it may have started in Germany (Liebster means "dearest" in German). rules were also different - you had to nominate 3-5 bloggers who had less than 3,000 followers. wow! 3,000! that is a rather high number - perhaps this Liebster Award started when there were only a few blogs floating around the web...

anyways, with today's rules, you nominate a higher number of bloggers with a smaller amount of readers - 11 bloggers with less than 200 or 300 (there seems to be a little confusion on this one) followers. most of my research came from here and here.

summary of new rules:

* the Liebster Award is for "up and coming" bloggers with less than 200 or 300 followers

* link back to the person who nominated you for the award

* write 11 random facts about yourself

* answer 11 questions that the person that nominated you asked 

* nominate 11 other people and ask them 11 questions

sounds like a bit of work - so i am just going to nominate 8 bloggers (right in between 5 and 11). and then i'm just going to take the easy road and just do 5 facts - let's make them pretty random facts to make up for the missing 6!

okay let's get started!! this is going to be one long post that is all about ME! enjoy! :)

- - - - -

11 5 (Really Random) Facts about Me

1) i don't have a middle name. it's a rather boring and simple name. plus, my first name is also so grandmother-ly... and then my parents had to make it even worse and name my sister something cool (her name is Ivy). 

2) 90's music is awesome - i love my BSB but 80's music also makes me happy! a family friend burned my dad a CD a few weeks ago and i keep rocking out to it in the car (Modern Talkiing!!)

3) i took a few sewing classes in junior high and high school - i'm no expert but i like making my own Halloween costumes and circle scarves (so easy and so many designs!).

4) i love my Final Fantasy (more specifically, VII - X). you can play a song from the soundtracks and i can probably guess which one it's from.

5) i'm lactose-intolerant... but only in the mornings. it's like i have to wait for my stomach to wake up and start releasing enzymes.

- - - - -

Nat's (gl0ssy) 11 Questions - Round 1

1) What are your top 5 favourite movies? i can't pick favorites!!! but off the the top of my head... (well i am looking at my DVD collection):

Lord of the Rings (especially The Fellowship of the Ring)

Stardust

Moulin Rouge

Pride & Prejudice

Anastasia

2) If someone told you that you are leaving right now, and you only have time to grab 5 essential beauty items, what would they be? black eyeliner, concealer, a light-colored eyeshadow, lipstick and a lipgloss

3) Favourite season? Autumn

4) Why did you start blogging? i liked reading about people's unboxing posts so i figured i'd start my own! and from there, it evolved to include some other beauty reviews and shoes!

5) If you had to list three pet peeves, what would they be?
- when people get to the front of a line and do not know what they want
- people who walk slowly or suddenly stop in the middle of a street
- those who do not smile or say thank you when you deliberately hold the door for them

6) What is your favourite meal? i love food - but i would have to say either korean grill, sushi or pasta! oh wait - or peking duck!

7) What is your current favourite song? i don't have a favorite right now but some songs i love pretending to be able to sing to are Emeli Sande - Next to Me and Christina Aguilera - Bound to You (lol i just realized how similar the names of these songs were!)

8) What is your current favourite purchase? my Color Club Winter Affair mini nail polish set :) i am also rather enjoying my Essence Twilight Blush 

9) Favourite car? don't have one because i don't really pay attention to different makes and models

10) What is the last book you read? i'm still in the middle of it: World War Z by Max Brooks - not because Brad Pitt is starring in the upcoming movie but because Nathan Fillion recommended the book :)

11) Chocolate or Vanilla? DEFINITELY chocolate! 

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Christine's (Little Red Bow) 11 Questions

1) If you could only own 5 beauty products what would they be? i don't have any specific brands in mind but concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick

2) Do you have any pets? just fish! two of them have er.. suicidal tendencies as they have both jumped out of the tank in the last three weeks. it is rather freaky.

3) What was the first beauty brand you ever bought anything from? probably Bonne Bell!

4) What is your favourite perfume? i switch it up often but i right now i am still using my  Burberry London and Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B.

5) Do you have another blog/website and if so what is the link? well i used to have a xanga but that was way back when i uSeD tO tyPe lyK diS

6) What is your favourite food to make? i can't really cook... but i can make a decent spaghetti. or scrambled eggs :)

7) Do your close friends and relatives know about your blog? hahaha probably only a handful of people know! for some reason, it's awkward to talk about it. i get squirmish thinking that they are looking at pictures of my lips for some reason. 

8) What are your favourite bands or singers? too hard! but i can tell you whose concerts i've attended the most - Backstreet Boys and Michael Buble

9) If you could travel anywhere in the world for a vacation where would you go? i'd love to visit Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand... and all those places around there! 

10) What is one store or item you wish you had where you lived but don't? aahhh i was going to pick Target but they are coming to Canada next year! uhmm... maybe a CVS? but it would have to have the same selection at American prices!! :) perhaps a Topshop 

11) How do you discover new blogs to follow? usually through other people's blogs, comments, or just searching up a review on a product i am curious about

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Nat's (gl0ssy) 11 Questions - Round 2

1) Who is your celebrity guy crush? why couldn't this have been a question asking me to list 5?? haha... well i used to be completely obsessed with Orlando Bloom. now, just to name a few, Henry Cavill, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lee Pace :)

2) What makeup essentials do you wear on a daily basis? i feel naked without eyeliner! i also wear foundation, blush, primer, eyeshadow, and either lipstick or lipgloss. a new addition to my routine is eyebrow gel!

3) What is your favourite pair of shoes? hmm that's hard to say... since i have different "favorites" for either the "prettiest" category or "most worn". most worn (not during the winter months) are just some normal slightly-pointed toe black flats from H&M/Sirens/Ardene's. most worn during the winter are UGGs - i can't help it since they keep my toes the warmest! and some contenders for prettiest shoe include my Rachel Roy Carthay heels and my Forever 21 Spiked ones

4) If you can change 1 thing about yourself, what would it be? maybe... double eyelids? :)

5) How often do you shop for makeup? too often. whenever i go grocery shopping or need to buy some cough drops, i beeline for the makeup section first - just to see if the selection has changed in the last three days.

6) What is the one thing (beauty item) you have an excessive amount of? lip products!! somewhere over 50 i'm sure but i do not want to confirm the number

7) What do you enjoy most about blogging? everything! especially the interaction with readers and other bloggers

8) What is your favourite movie? hey! you let me pick 5 earlier, Nat! see Round 1 Question 1!

9) If you can be one fictional character who would you be? Arwen from Lord of the Rings

10) If you could choose the decade you'd want to live in right now, what would it be? that's hard because anything else before the 90s have no internet! 1950s maybe? hahaha - actually, i think the 16th century was quite interesting (yes i just picked a whole century instead of a decade)

11) If you could shop at only 1 store for clothing for the rest of your life, what store would it be? Forever 21 - hahaha there's a ton of variety there but now i can't imagine a 75 year old lady shopping there... so probably Winners!

- - - - -

Chelsey's (my beauty full adventure) 11 Questions

Chelsey told us to pick 11 of the 33 questions she answered and 11 of them were from Nat so i'll cheat a little here too and say, see above! :) this is really me graciously saving you from further boredom.

- - - - -

Bloggers I Nominate

* Aleksandra (Plumpish Beauty)
* Gen (Beautiful Onyx & Mick)
* Majorie (Petits Pots et Coquetteries)
* Margo (City Girl)
* Mishelle (Mishelle's Sleepy Time)
* Sabina (Beauty Blogs & More)
* Victoria (Confessions of a Canadian Wallflower)
* yousoldtheworld (I Sold the World)

My Questions for You

1) What is the first perfume you ever purchased?
2) Favorite Disney movie?
3) If you could only eat one type of meat (pork, chicken or beef) for the rest of your life, what would it be? (assuming you are not a vegetarian haha, if so carrots, cucumbers or celery?)

4) Where do you do most of your online shopping?
5) Favorite TV series (old or current)?
6) What color are most of the nail polishes you own?
7) If you could dye your hair any color and it will only last one day and it does not damage your hair at all, what color would you dye it?
8) Would you rather be stuck wearing the same colored eyeshadow the rest of your life or the same lipstick/gloss?
9) Favorite snack?
10) Do you have a plan of survival for a zombie apocalypse?
11) Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds?

i won't be offended if you choose not to participate! it does sort of seem like a chain letter hey?

if any of you readers feel like answering these questions in the comments below, feel free!! i am very interested in anyone's answers!
thank you for reading!!! i am amazed if you got through it all - pat yourself on the back!

SPOTLIGHT: Black Friday // Cyber Monday Shopping

Black Friday is becoming popular in Canada and i decided to partake in the madness this year. Black Friday is nowhere near as crazy here as compared to the States (i've seen one too many Black Friday Walmart YouTube videos). i did set out to two different malls that were in totally opposite directions, only because CrossIron Mills had 500 gift bags to hand out, first-come first-serve kind of thing (starting at 8 am). however, me and my sister went to bed late and could only arrive by 8:30 and by then, 500 shoppers had beaten us to it. i honestly thought that we could still make it cause it IS a Friday (people should be working right?) and the mall was an outlet mall (not even in our city! but then again, it wouldn't be considered far for us true shoppers).

after walking around CrossIron Mills for a bit, we headed out to Chinook Mall which was our original Black Friday destination.

lemme show you what i got over the weekend:

left to right:
* Forever 21 // "I Love Band Boys" Logo Top (White) - okay, this is not something i normally wear but my sister found it and thought it was funny (my boyfriend plays guitar in a couple bands). and it was only $2.49 (50% off sale items)! so i figured i can just wear it to sleep.
original price: $12.80; paid: $2.49

* Forever 21 // Lace Cami (Cream) - i've always wanted a bandeau to wear under sheer or low cut tops. i like how it isn't strapless either - one less thing to worry about!
original price: $9.80; paid $7.00

* Forever 21 // Sequin Shorts (Black/Blue) - they're sequin shorts! if i don't feel like wearing a dress or skirt, this could be an easy way to dress up an outfit. another 50% off sale item.
original price: $27.80; paid: $6.49

* Old Navy // Sequin Scoop Neck Sweater (Black Jack) - my sister has been eyeing down sweaters that have sequins sewn into them and this one was a good length and had a round neckline. the line at Old Navy was insane!!! there were like 7 cashiers and i still waited a good 15 minutes in line. geebers.
original price: $39.94; paid: $25.00

* Forever 21 // Button Up Peplum Blouse (Cream) - this was not on sale but i love the black collar and cuffs. it's also my first peplum top!
original price: $23.80; paid: $21.42 (SPC 10% off)

* Forever 21 // Zip Up Peplum Bustier (Black) - this is not something i would normally get but i like how there is a balance between edgy and girly. the top is form-fitting while the bottom half is semi-sheer and flowy.
original price: $23.80; paid: $21.42 (SPC 10% off)

* Urban Outfitters // Lace Floral Tights - these are officially my most "fun" looking tights. now we will see how often i will actually wearing them.
original price: $20.00; paid: $2.49 (50% off sale)

* Forever 21 // Makeup Brush Set & Holder - i could not care less for the brushes that are inside (in fact, i just noticed there is only 4 out of 5 in there - haha) but i just really wanted the animal print brush holder! i sometimes like to carry makeup brushes with me and this is perfect! it also has a zippered pocket inside and magnetic clasps.
original price: $5.80; paid: $0.49 (what! haha yeah it was 50% off sale too)

* Call It Spring // Esparaza Flats - so sparkly!! these flats are covered in white sequins that look pink when you move around.
original price: $30.00; paid: $4.99 (50% off sale)

* Bluenotes // Casual Skirt (Black) - sometimes i just need a really plain black skirt to go with a flashier top and here it was for $2!
original price: $6.00; paid: $2.00

 * Sephora // bareMinerals Let It Glow - so i really did not need any more bronzers but for some reason, i bought 2. i got this one because i loved the brush! it looks like it would be great for cheekbones.
original price & paid: $12

* Sephora // Too Faced Cocoa Glow - so with this bronzer, i much preferred the compacted version rather than the mineral bronzer. that is the story of how i ended up with both.
original price & paid: $12

* Sephora // Kat Von D True Romance Pigments (Meditation) - this pretty pigment was in the Sale section and i have not tried any Kat Von D products nor have i really experimented with pigments. guess i was in the mood to be a little adventurous!
original price: $19.00; paid: $7.00

* Rexall // Duo Eyelash Adhesive in "Dark" - who would have though Rexall would have some awesome sales too!! i don't wear falsies often but i could not resist this sale... i felt the need to pick up not one, but two of these eyelash adhesives because they were the dark ones! i've also heard that Duo eyelash glue is one of the best ones out there so now's a good time as any to try them!
original price: $7.29 x 2 = 14.58; paid: $1.87 x 2 = $3.74

* Rexall // Duo Professional Eyelashes in "Unknown, D13, D14" - i do not know why there is one unlabeled but they looked fun and dramatic so into the basket it went. i was not really feeling "D14 Short and Spiked" but it "adds thickness to thin, sparse lashes" which is an exact description of mine so again, into the basket.
original price: $13.69 x 3 = $41.07; paid: $3.47 x 3 = $10.41

* Rexall // Prestige Brow Lash - needed one for my boyfriend's place. can't say no to a 50% off sign either.
original price: $2.99; paid: $1.31

* Rexall // Prestige Brow Perfection in "Medium to Dark" - i have taken a deeper interest into eyebrows lately so this was great timing! all Prestige items were 50% off so i decided to try this one. it sounds interesting enough - step 1 is a tinted fiber filler and step 2 is a clear setting gel conditioner. i will let you know when i figure it out!
original price: $8.99; paid: $4.10

* The Body Shop // All-in-One Face Base - i actually bought this prior to Black Friday but it's only because The Body Shop was having awesome sales leading up to the date. i picked this up during their 50% off all makeup sale and i did a ton of research prior. i went to two different stores and both times, the sales lady did not seem to know what color suited me best. the first time, the lady was just handing me all the tester ones and waited for me to decide. the second time, the lady tried to test them on my arm but she'd also pick out shades that were way too orange. she said that if it didn't work out, i can just bring it back. guess i'll just take my chances with this one (it's #45).
original price: $22.00; paid: $9.90

* Winners // Color Club Winter Affair Mini Collection - say what! this is actually a Holiday 2012 collection. i did not know Winners carried the latest nail collections. anyways, i was easily mesmerized by all the pretty colors in this mini set! the colors are: "Berry and Bright", "Ho-Ho-Holly", "Gift of Sparkle" and "Snow-Flakes". i love every single one in this set - especially "Snow-Flakes" which is a flakie top coat! i had Essie's "Shine of the Times" on my wishlist so i can cross it off (for now). i'm so excited to use this!!
original price & paid: $6.99

okay so you think i've reached the end but nope!
i made a few online orders as well... i'll do a separate post on them later when i actually receive it but i'll just quickly summarize right now:

* MUA Store (35% off and free shipping) - really it is the timing! i have not tried MUA products before but they seem like a great and affordable makeup company. and then they reached 35,000 likes on FB and they had this crazy deal! i picked up 1 eyeshadow palette, 1 eyeliner, 5 lipsticks (oops), 1 gloss, 4 nail polishes, 1 concealer and 1 pressed powder. i had to refrain from making a ridiculously large order and kept telling myself that i could always try more later (like when they reach 50,000 likes!)
original price: $48.98; paid: $23.87

* Sea Lore Nail Polish (15% off) - i took advantage of Cyber Monday and decided to order my very first indie nail polish purchase. i picked up "Beluga Blizzard" (mini), "Ariel" and "Attina" (mini). "Ariel" was a must since i was already thinking months ago that it would be a perfect Christmas present for my sister (Ariel is her favorite Disney princess).
original price: $25.43; paid: $22.21

* Fanchromatic Nails (select full size polishes for $6, minis 10% off) - make that TWO indie polish purchases in one day. i absolutely love love love Firefly/Serenity so i was searching for nail polishes that were inspired by them. i missed out on the Nerd Lacquer ones but i found a couple from Fanchromatic Nails. i am very excited! i bought "Layer Cake", "Blue Sun", "Dire Wolf" and "Wowsville" (last 3 are minis).
original price: $27.83; paid: $22.01

* Miss KL (16% off and free shipping) - only ordered one item but this was the first site i've found that charges handling separately so that's the slight catch! it was $2.00 for handling.
i got a long-sleeve bodysuit that i can wear easily with skirts. i don't like how sometimes my shirt ridges up so this is a great way to make sure it remains tucked in all day!
original price: US$13 + shipping; paid: US$11.26

okay NOW i am done. or at least i think i am. i know i listed all my spending here but i am afraid to add it up.
what purchases did you make? any awesome deals you could not say no to?

GIVEAWAY: My Fabulous First Giveaway Winner

i apologize for not announcing this sooner but it did take me about an hour to go through all the entries. it was my first time using Rafflecopter so i wanted to make sure that i was still doing all that i could to ensure it was completely fair! before letting Rafflecopter choose a winner at random, i went through each entry to determine if they were valid. i know my giveaway wasn't a huge one but it was surprising that i still had to take out 8 entries.
thank you everyone for entering! i hope to do this again soon!

and the winner of my 100 Posts & 50 Followers Giveaway is...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lili!!!!!!

what a coincidence that you won my first giveaway with your first entry!!
i've already sent you an email - hope to hear from you soon :)

SPOTLIGHT: Yummy Fortune Cookie Soaps from Gen [Beautiful Onyx & Mick]

i received my package from Gen (Beautiful Onyx and Mick) last week after winning her "Let's Hang on to Summer" Giveaway. i was delighted to find out i was one of two winners to her giveaway - thanks so much Gen, the soaps smell divineeeeeeee.

i also did not expect to receive a set of SIX Fortune Cookie Soaps. for some reason, i was under the impression that i was getting one soap so imagine my surprise when i found out i now have six!

before receiving the package, Gen sent me an email telling me about how the soaps may appear moist. i completely understand and actually see that some of the moisture caused the pink tissue paper to bleed onto the wrappers. still, everything is amazing! i have never tried Fortune Cookie Soaps but i have read about Gen's unboxings before and have been very intrigued by these cute soaps.

the Fortune Cookie Soap website no longer carries these summer edition soaps so i will attempt to describe the scent myself...

i received:
1) "Private Beach" - the most subtle scent of the six that is both fruity and floral

2) "Summer Sweet Tea" - sweet green tea with a hint of limes/lemons

3) "Pool Party" - a strong scent of what an "ocean" candle would smell like

4) "Beach Bunny" - slightly coconut-y... also reminds of gummy candies (it looks gummy too!)

5) "Pinky Swear" - smells strongly of jackfruit (an Asian fruit that can often be found in cans with syrup) and bananas

6) "Road Trip" - strong scent of honeysuckle flowers (did anyone else used to pluck these and pull out the bulbs - is that what they are called?-  and squeeze out the nectar?)

they are also specially marked "Not intended for Human consumption" - haha!

my favorite scents are "Summer Sweet Tea" and "Road Trip" but i love the look of "Private Beach", "Pool Party" and "Pinky Swear".
i decided to use "Beach Bunny" first. it does not lather as much as a regular soap would, but it's also because Fortune Cookie Soaps use "gunk-free" ingredients: no parabens, no synthetic preservatives, etc, etc. the fortune cookie shape actually helps to prevent the soap from slipping out of your hands. after one use, it still looks exactly the same so i am sure i will be using this soap for a while!

here's the fortune i got from "Pool Party":

LOL. i'm curious as to what the others say but i don't want to ruin the surprise just yet (however, it looks like not all of them have fortunes).

i really love these Fortune Cookie Soaps! thanks so much Gen for your generosity! :)