online sample sales for the win!

calling all fashionistas/fashionistos!  this blog post is for you!  i recently caught confessions of a shopaholic on TV [love that movie!] and was inspired to write about something that i [and other shopaholics] absolutely love.  i'm pretty sure so many of you know of online sample sales, but there are a few of you still left in the dark about this awesome concept.  

sample sales are a wonderful thing.  you get high-end designer products for a fraction of the price.  how?  designers don't always sell everything they make.  so, what do they do with the "leftovers" or items from a previous season?  they're sold at a discounted price at sales events called "sample sales."  live sample sales can get pretty hectic and crazy [if you've seen confessions of a shopaholic you would know what i'm talking about] and they are pretty much only located in the big, fashion capitals of the world, such as new york city and paris.

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US?!?  that's where online sample sales come in.  you can shop in the comfort of your own home without being trampled over by lunatic sale-seekers for those "gucci boots" or "cashmere coats."  all you need is a computer, internet connection, and your credit card.  there are so many websites hosting sample sales that i am sure you will find something that fits your style and needs.

everyday, these websites have a number of sales going on at once, from clothes to accessories to houseware items.  they usually last for a couple days unless all the items sell out before then.  it's based on a "first come, first served" concept, so if there is a particular sale you really want to shop at, save the date and time and enter the sale when it first opens for your best chance to get the good stuff.

i've purchased a good amount of merchandise from these sample sales and am never disappointed [but if you are, most sites allow a return depending on what the item purchased was].  i recently ordered a harajuku "love" pendant necklace and cannot wait until it arrives in the mail.  it looks absolutely adorable and it was only $14 [regular price $40] - that's more than 50% off!  

get a fashion fix without emptying your wallet - who can complain?!  certainly not i.  visit the following websites for a number of great sales and check back everyday for new sales that might appeal to you!  [a lot of these sample sales only cater to members, and to be a member, you must be invited by a member.  i'll include an invite link in case you aren't a member and would like to peruse some sales at the particular site.]  ENJOY!

www.gilt.com [invite]

www.ruelala.com [invite]

www.hautelook.com [invite]

www.ideeli.com [invite]

www.beyondtherack.com [invite]

www.editorscloset.com [no invite needed]

www.glamlist.com [no invite needed]

zenifashion - a website compiling a list of sample sales and regular store sales in one convenient location - coming soon!!

show some halloween spirit: pumpkin carving.

halloween is less than a week away and what's a better way to get into the holiday spirit than by carving pumpkins!?  my sunday afternoon was spent watching football [my poor eagles] and getting my hands sticky with pumpkin juices.  how delicious!  though a long process and sore fingers, it was super fun and the end results of the pumpkins are fantastic!

stan and i had purchased two pumpkins a couple weeks ago and had them lounging on his front porch until we were ready to carve them.  we invited liz and perry [and their pumpkins] over and started the carving festivities.  between the four of us, we only had one set of pumpkin carving tools so we had to improvise by using steak knives, skewer sticks, and a swiss army knife.  and not to mention, the sawing tools from the pumpkin carving kit broke!

for those of you who have never carved pumpkins, it is quite simple.  here are the steps:

[1] carve off the top of the pumpkin to make a lid. be careful when doing this! make sure you cut out a "tooth" or notch so it's easier to replace the lid correctly.
[2] scrape out the pumpkin guts - make sure it's super clean on the inside.
[3] choose a template and tape it on the pumpkin.
[4] use the "dotting" tool to copy the pattern onto the pumpkin; i personally don't like this tool because it doesn't show up all that well on the pumpkin.  i just take something with a point and copy the pattern by pricking the pumpkin - this makes deeper and more defined punctures, allowing you to easily see where you're supposed to carve.
[5] optional: you can take a pen and lightly connect the dots so it's easier for you to carve.
[6] take the template off the pumpkin and start carving!  be careful or you might end up unintentionally cutting out a big chunk.
[7] rub vaseline or petroleum jelly all over the inside to prevent drying and molding - this will help to preserve your pumpkin!
[8] put in a votive or a tea light candle and show off your pumpkin!

please note that pumpkin carving is pretty time consuming, especially if you're a perfectionist.  take your time and just have fun with it!  and if you have an intricate design, your fingers might get a bit sore.

here are some pictures from our pumpkin carving festivity!  ENJOY!

our pumpkins!

stan hard at work with mr. cool

perry's asian pumpkin

my mummy

liz's scarecrow-batman-joker pumpkin

mr. cool and the mumster

sephora: friends and family event coming soon!

EDIT: 10.24.10 the sephora friends and family event is on!  put in promotional code "FF2010" at checkout for 20% off until november 3rd.  hurry and get your beauty supplies!!


hey, y'all.  so, sephora is having their friends and family event coming very soon!  i haven't received any notice from them as to when this sale is going to start, but expect it will within a few days!  sign up to become a beauty insiders member and they'll send you email with the promotional code to receive 20% your entire purchase during this upcoming sales event.  there are a few things from sephora that i want to get, so let's get started.

i'm a big fan of urban decay's primer potion [UDPP].  it does a phenomenal job at making my eyeshadows last throughout the day and it helps prevent creasing.  the only downside is the construction of the bottle; the shape doesn't allow for maximum use of the product.  for all of you who also use UDPP, you know what i'm talking about, right?  the wand can only reach a certain angle [and trust me, the angle isn't that great... pretty much just straight down].  after a few weeks of using UDPP, you might think that the bottle is empty because the wand doesn't pick up anymore of the product, but your assumptions are so wrong.  there is SO MUCH left in that oddly shaped bottle; it's just all located at the sides.  what i usually do when this happens is i depot the bottle [cut the bottle at the widest point with a knife - be careful if you do this! - and scoop out the remainder of the product and put it into a mini cosmetic jar].  tired of doing this?  UDPP has a limited edition bottle, and get this... it's a SQUEEZE bottle!  it's $29 [compared to $16] but you get 25ml more than the normal bottle.  get this while supplies last!  this is definitely going into my cart.

i normally don't wear foundation, but i have read some raving reviews for the nars sheer matte foundation.  i've written a little about this foundation in my "what's in my make up bag: my daily essentials" post and how i wanted to try it, so this will be a great opportunity to try something new at a discounted price.  again, it's a water-based foundation and it supposedly feels extra light on your face like you don't have anything on at all.  this sells for $42 at sephora, but i'm going to have to go to one of their make-up counters at a department store for a color match.

i'm big into eyeshadows.  i have tons of eyeshadow quads and palettes laying around, yet i still want more!  sephora's colorful artist eyeshadow palette in "cool" is one that i have my eye on.  there are a lot of palettes out there that have many colors i would never use, but this palette includes shades that i normally use [except for the bright blue and purple - but i'm sure i will find the appropriate time and place to use those colors].  the colors would be great for a smokey eye look with the different hues of grays.  this sells for $32.

i can't wait for the sale to get started so i can try out of these wonderful items, especially the UDPP in the squeeze bottle.  i might actually buy two of those for reserves!  happy shopping, folks!

colorful sights: freshlook colorblends contacts.

recently, i had a friend ask me about colored contacts because she knows that i always wear them.  and yes, kerry, you are right - i do swear by my blue contacts.  without them, there's no me!  even my boyfriend said i looked different when i decided to just pop in my clear contacts one day.  lol

i've needed glasses ever since 6th grade.  my social studies teacher noticed that i was squinting a lot and couldn't answer any questions that required me to look at the chalkboard or projector screen.  two or three years later, i switched to clear contacts because i hated wearing glasses - they were cumbersome, kept slipping off my nose, and eliminated my peripheral vision [don't y'all hate that?!.  a couple years after that, i discovered colored contacts and decided to give them a try, and ever since then, i've never looked back [well.. hardly].

freshlook colorblends, i'm a loyal customer.  i've been using this brand for my colored-contacts needs since i've started wearing them... which has been about 8 years.  i've tried so many colors: blue, grey, honey, green, amethyst, turquoise, true sapphire, and sterling silver.

i suppose this post will show you what these colors looked like on me, minus honey, amethyst, and grey.  i can't seem to find any photos of me wearing those colors. for honey, imagine edward's eyes when he becomes a vampire.  for amethyst, it's like a dark purple... it doesn't show up too well on brown eyes.  the gray is like a paler blue... somewhat of a grey-blue... but not as grey as the sterling silver.  for the others, let's begin with the photos, shall we?

blue [not as bright as true sapphire]

green [didn't really show up that well on brown eyes]

turquoise [a beautiful blend of blue and green]

true sapphire [a very bright blue... i love it!]

sterling silver [a little paler than grey]

take charge with the solbat II by scosche.

my friend, alex lee, is such a sweet guy.  for my birthday this year, he got me a scosche solbat II, a solar powered backup battery/charger [is it because i have a reputation of killing my phone's battery life? most likely, yes.]

this neat, little gadget can be used to charge almost any handheld device.  it has an internal 1500ma lithium-ion rechargeable battery and an output of 5v, which allows you to charge your device at the same rate as a wall charger.  the solbat II can be charged by connecting it to the USB drive [2.5 hours] on your computer or through the renewable power of the sun by placing the solar panel directly in sunlight [18 hours].

i used it for the first time this weekend when i was heading back to philly from virginia.  my phone was close to dying and i was still on the road.  i hate it when my phone dies while i am driving a long distance because you never know what kind of trouble you could get into.  i remembered that i had brought the solbat II along with me and whipped it out of my purse and connected it to my phone.  in a couple hours, my phone went from being almost dead to almost completely full.  it is such a convenience and a definite life saver.

the box includes the rechargeable battery with the solar panel on one side, a windshield cradel, a universal carabiner mount, and a USB charging cable.  if anyone is interested in this device, it can be found on amazon for $19.99.  thanks again, alex!

what's in my make-up bag: my everyday essentials.

last night at yaki-boy with my girls

me with my bday cakes!
celebrating all month!!

hey, y'all.  today, i want to share with you the make-up products that i use for my everyday "face".  it's a simple look and there's not much to it [pictured to the right. i went out with my girls last night to yakitori boy to catch up, eat some sushi, and do some karaoke. great times, girls!].

when going away for the weekend or to my boyfriend's house, i tend to lug a whole bag of make-up with, but i hardly ever use the other stuff i bring.  maybe i should cut back on what i take along with me, but then again... i never know what kind of mood i'm in and what kind of look i want to achieve.  what i'm about to share with you are my beauty must-haves and things that ALWAYS belong in my make-up bag.

i always start out by washing and cleaning my face.  i usually use a foaming scrub by neutrogena because it doesn't sting my eyes as much.  plus, it has the microbeads to help with exfoliation, and it does a great job of removing eye make-up. 

after washing my face, i always use a moisturizer.  my face, like many others, tends to get very dry after i wash it, so i condition and moisturize with clinique's toner and dramatically different moisturizing lotion.  this is a water-based moisturizer, making it feel very light on the face unlike oil-based moisturizers.

next, i use a translucent powder and sparingly brush it across my face to reduce the little shine from the moisturizer. i use maybelline's dream matte powder in medium sand.  i also use this after i'm finished with my entire face to set my make up and eliminate any shine.

i love the healthy glow that a bronzer gives to my face.  i use the contouring technique with my bronzer. i suck in my cheeks and brush it on with a large angled brush in the hollow parts of my cheeks [contouring my cheekbones].  i use on my jaw line, down my neck, and along my side of my temples.  i mix a little of the bronzer with a blush and use that on my cheekbones for a hint of rosiness.  i've been using estee lauder's bronze goddess in soft matte bronze for the longest time, and i love the results it produces.  i sometimes also use n.y.c's smooth skin bronzing face powder in sunny - it has less glitter than my estee lauder bronzer.

i have an asian nose, so i like to contour my nose.  i use smashbox's brow tech in taupe for this [didn't like the way it looked on my eyebrows so i now use it to contour my nose]. 

next up are my eyebrows.  i have full eyebrows but my hairs grow out unevenly [some spots of my brows are lighter than others], so i use estee lauder's automatic pencil.  this pencil has two ends, both with removable refills.  the one end has my brow color in soft brown [the color goes perfectly with my brows; smashbox's taupe is a bit too light for my brows], and the other has my eyeliner in jet black.

i usually prime my lids.  i use urban decay's primer potion to help the colors of my eyeshadows appear more colorful and vibrant without having to put a lot on, and it helps the eyeshadow last throughout the day with creasing.  i really hate the design of this bottle.  it's so hard to get to the sides of the inside, and that is where most of the product is.  i usually end up depotting this into another container after a few weeks.  terrible bottle design but great product.

the eyeshadow colors i typically use are more neutral.  i'm not really into the colorful stuff.  on a normal day, i typically use lancome's sensational effects quad set in honeymoon, burnt sand, mochaccino, and lezard.  if i want something very quick and easy, i brush on the burnt sand shade and that's it, but if i'm looking to give my eyes more of a dimension, i use all 4 shades to fill in my lids, line my crease, color my outer corners, and highlight my browbone.

i curl my lashes and then use estee lauder's jet black eyeliner on my top lashline to line my eyes.  next, i brush on a couple layers of mascara on both my top and bottom lashes with avon's super full mascara.  this mascara is amazing.  it makes my lashes look so full and long that people think i wear fake lashes.  i absolutely love this and bought a couple tubes at a time [because i love, love, love using mascara].

after all that, i use a big face brush and swirl on a couple strokes of maybelline's dream matte powder to reduce any shine and set my make up.  and of course, glide on a layer of carmex strawberry chapstick, and i'm all done! all this usually takes me about 5-10 minutes so it doesn't consume a lot of my time when getting ready on an average day.

i've been looking for a good foundation to wear for when i want to look absolutely flawless.  i normally don't wear foundation so picking and choosing is a bit difficult.  i've read that NARS sheer matte foundation [$42] is pretty good.  it's a water-based foundation and many people have said it feels very lightweight, like you don't have anything on your face at all.  i think i'll go ahead and try this!

mulberry for target! yes, mulberry-designed handbags at target!

i may be a bit too late in telling you ladies this... but three days ago [october 10], target released another one of their designer-brand lines... this time it was MULBERRY! 

mulberry at target?  how awesome is that?  but the bad news is... most of the handbags are pretty much sold out online... these babies went like hotcakes with their much awaited debut.  i knew i was missing out on something on sunday.  :(

earlier this year, mulberry for target was featured on a sample sale at gilt groupe.  after browsing through the selection of handbags, i told myself to keep a mental note of the release date at target to snatch up the styles i wanted.  unfortunately, my mind isn't as sharp as it once was [haha - i make it sound like i'm 52 instead of 25].

what i really wanted to get my hands on was the black patent satchel [top right], priced at [get ready for this] $34.99.  alright, alright.. i realize that the usual quality found in a mulberry bag is going to be lacking in a mulberry for target bag... but still!  mulberry! hello?!  and plus, the satchel is uber cute and so stylish! 

another style i was eyeing was the large black pebble tote [left] priced at $49.99.  worn on the shoulder, this bag is totally functional with a bit of rocker edge with the gold studs and clasps.

and lastly, the large velvet satchel [bottom right] is a total charmer... but of course not in denim but in black.  this looks like quite a hefty shoulder bag, allowing you to basically put your entire life and all of its accessories inside. 

all three bags are currently out of stock on target.com, but hopefully there will be another shipment soon [which i highly doubt - with the other brands, once what they have is sold out, it usually does not get replenished].  but i guess we'll never know, because these mulberry bags sold out in a couple days.

looks like i'm going to have to go stalk some local targets in search of these styles.  as long as i can find the black patent leather satchel, i'll be a happy girl.  so there you have it, girls... mulberry for target.  who says making a fashion statement means spending the big bucks?  certainly not target!

what's better than a kodak moment? a canon HV20 moment!

three years ago, i splurged and purchased a 1080i HDV camcorder from canon [canon HV20].  i only used it a few times before i tucked it away in my closet for a good two years [using my point-and-shoot camera was a lot more convenient when going out - video mode is not too shabby].  i was recently rummaging through my closet last month and found the big, black camera bag that got lost in a forest of all my clothes and handbags.  i am once again reunited with my beloved HV20.  i remember telling people that they had to wash their hands before they laid a finger on my baby... but that's how everyone is when they get a brand new, shiny toy. lol

although a bit outdated, the HV20 still produces marvelous, clear videos and the best part is... it's high definition!  i literally can see my pores when shooting my face up-close.  imagine three years ago the hype that this little camcorder got; it was the first handheld HD camcorder from canon's line of products - thus the reason i picked this.  it's a bit chunkier than handheld camcorders today [which i guess i don't mind too much besides the point that it might be a hassle to carry around] and it uses minidv tapes for storage [a bit of drag because realtime capture is a pain in the arse].  a lot of professionals still prefer the tapes over media card storages [miniSD, SD, compact flash, etc] so i guess it's ok, thought i, by no means, consider myself a professional. lol

stan is providing me with the firewire cable [relatively cheap on newegg.com, but if he has one and is not using it, why not get some use out of it] so i can capture the videos onto my computer and then edit them.  and let me just say that i have no experience with editing videos or making cool cinematography, but that's what youtube tutorials are for. :)  i'm also considering investing in a good tripod [the cheaper ones tend to have less stability and may wobble when you follow the subject] but i may check with my dad first to see if he has an extra that he can let me use [he does professional videos for weddings, engagements, etc. so he has tons of equipment and software for editing]. 

i can't wait to start putting my long-lost HV20 to use and hopefully produce some cool videos and films for all of you to enjoy.  i made an account with vimeo to host these future HD videos for super sharp images.  thumbs up for new, fun hobbies!  [to my brothers: zenitus productions, here we come! haha.. totally joking.. but maybe not..?]

remember to live, laugh, love and capture all of life's precious moments!

a blend of circus acts and street entertainment: a cirque du soleil experience.

acrobatic stunts are sure to amaze, especially those of cirque du soleil performers.  their incredible strength, flexibility, and endurance are extraordinary; their jumps, leaps, and bounds have you sitting at the edge of your seat in hopes they won't slip up and land on their heads or attain some serious injury.  if y'all haven't had the opportunity to experience their shows and performances, be sure to do so because they are quite marveling.

i have seen two cirque shows so far ["o" and "ka" - both in vegas] and let me tell you, i was very impressed with those performances.  the "o" show is a aquatic-themed performance evolving around a young gentleman in pursuit of a woman.  the stage was magnificent, with a watertank that has a movable platform allowing the water to be deep or shallow without changing the appearance of the depth to the audience [the platform has numerous little holes].  at times, it seems as though the performers are walking on water, and other times, they plunge so deep into what seems like just a small puddle that it makes you cringe.  there were also these two jibber-jabby clowns who were quite hilarious and had the audience laughing with their water-related gags.  

"ka" is a warrior-themed performance, with lots of kicking, jabbing, and fighting.  there is an african flavor to the music with thumping drums, giving the show that "full of energy" effect.  the plot concerns two twins who are separated at youth after their parents have been assassinated.  they go through a rite of passage for self discovery and on a journey in search of one another.  it is an excellent show with rotating and "floating" platforms, giving the audience the awe they expect from a cirque performance. 

"ovo", an acrobatic show featuring nature and its vibrant ecosystem and inhabitants [insects and bugs], is currently playing at the grand chapiteau at the plateau at national harbor in the washington DC area.  stan and i have tickets to this show next week and i can't wait to be marveled by the stage set-up and stupendous acts.  the show is in town until october 24th, so if anyone wants to see this performance before it moves to atlanta [november 4th], book your tickets soon!  you won't be disappointed [because it's cirque du soleil!]

[this is entirely my own opinion and am not commissioned for this bit]

the colors of the rainbow... all at your fingertips!

hey, y'all!  so this past saturday [october 2] i officially became a geezer.  i turned the big 25... a quarter of a century!  but you know what... you're only as old as your feel, and i feel quite young!  i want to thank everyone who made it out for my birthday!  i had a marvelous time thanks to all of you!

on another note, this blog is dedicated to something i purchased for myself for my birthday - sephora's "endless color blockbuster" make-up palette with 187 make-up products: 98 eyeshadow shades, 70 lipglosses, 6 creamy eyeliners, 2 lipliners, 3 eyeliners, mascara, 3 blushes, and 4 applicators.  it comes in a "sephora bag" box that opens up with trays, containing the products, which slide out, and a mirror in the center that folds up.  it is such a convenience to have and makes the perfect travel companion; you have almost everything you need in this set!

my opinion of this palette set?  there are so many different shades of eyeshadows and lipglosses that one can develop any kind of look from this kit, from daytime casual to glamour girl to sex kitten.  i use the eyeshadows with urban decay's primer potion and the colors are vibrant and beautiful and tend to last quite a while.  the lipglosses are absolutely gorgeous; i tend to stick to the nude/neutral colors, but the reds and pinks would look absolutely stunning on those that can pull off red lips.  the blushes are good for a rosy tint to your cheeks; the darker tints can be used for contour if you're lightskinned.

the only negative aspect of this palette is that the names of the eyeshadows and lipglosses are not labeled, making it hard to get an individual eyeshadow or lipgloss if you really like certain colors.  

all in the all, the endless color blockbuster set from sephora is a winner.  i love that there are so many colors, allowing me to be creative and form different looks with just one set.  this palette, $48, is available online only at sephora.com for beauty insider members only.  it is a limited edition item, so girls, if you like this, be sure to hurry and purchase it before it's gone or pulled off the site!

[this post is entirely my own opinion.  i am not getting reimbursed of gain commission from this bit.]