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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

RunDisney: My First 1/2 Marathon

This gold shiny thing is what I trained for months for.... On Sunday morning of Labor Day weekend, I ran my first half marathon at Disneyland. RunDisney is a half marathon which begins at Downtown Disney, runs through Disneyland and California Adventure, through Anaheim and also through Angels stadium. I really had doubts about going through this journey. I have never been much of a runner, but my brother and cousins run it every year so they kind of gave me the push I needed. I first thought there is no way I can run 13.1 miles, NO way! But thought I would register in order to force myself to at least train for it. When I signed up in February, I figured I had months to train so I was not worried about it.. But as time flew and the day grew closer, I was starting to dread the big day. I thought, "What if I pass out?" "What if I don't maintain my pace?" "What if my legs are too weak to finish?" I basically thought of every bad scenario you could think of. But once I was out there with my brother, as we were able to start in the same corral, I was pumped up and so excited to finally go through with it. It was an incredible experience. I think all the runners and the atmosphere with Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse giving us the green light to start really gave me the motivation to keep running. I was able to run through the sixth mile straight without walking. From there I tried to be aware of my pace and I ended up finishing in 2 hours, 39 minutes, which is a lot better than I expected for myself. All in all, it was a great experience and the feeling of accomplishment once I crossed the finish line is something I could never forget. I think I have felt that feeling on very few occasions, my college graduation being one of them.I am definitely hoping to run more marathons.I wish my boyfriend was able to run it with us but he had knee surgery this year, so it was out of the question. He was there to support me though, and seeing him and my dad at the finish was very uplifting. My mom, aunt and cousins all ran this one with me and the experience of having so much family there was really special to me. I feel like it has brought us all closer together because we all pushed each other and really kept each other inspired through it all. I really recommend signing up for something like this with people you care about because it is a unique journey that you can experience together. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

Nars Andy Warhol Collection

I just heard that Nars will be releasing an Andy Warhol Collection this October. Details won't be out until next week but I am so excited to see all the products when they arrive! I have read that some items will be sold exclusively in Sephora stores, while others will be also in department stores. Can't wait!



Monday, July 23, 2012

Wet n Wild Megalast

Of all the inexpensive, drugstore brand nail polishes, Wet n Wild's Megalast has quickly become my favorite. For $1.99 per bottle, the polishes really superceded my expectations. I love that I am able to swipe on two coats of this polish, without being too thick or too thin, and the polish dries within minutes. I don't have to watch what I do with my hands for a few hours, as with so many other nail polish brands. I also really like the thickness of the brush because I am able to cover more of my nail with less strokes. My two favorite shades of the moment are Wet Cement and I Need a Refresh-Mint (pictured second and third above). Wet Cement is a perfect taupe, in my opinion. I Need a Refresh-Mint was a good change for me. When I saw it at Walgreens it reminded me of a Tiffany's blue. I had several mint shades already, but this shade seemed more Tiffany's-ish because it is more on the blue side than on the mint green side. All in all, I would definitely recommend this brand if you are a fan of quick-drying polish.

To sum it up here are my likes about Megalast:
* Thick brush for faster, more efficient painting
* Large selection of matte shades
* Polish dries within minutes
* Polish lasts for days without chipping, sometimes weeks (especially on toes)
* Only $1.99 per bottle, sometimes cheaper when on sale
I Need a Refresh-Mint (flash above, no flash below)
Wet Cement (no flash)

Friday, July 13, 2012

Yogurtland and Hello Kitty Reunite

Hello Kitty is back at Yogurtland for the second time! I had to go this week for the arrival, just to get my HK spoon and cup. The HK Yogurtland collaboration is so cute, I wanted everything in the store. They are selling adorable keychains, plush HK, buttons, tote bags, and a couple other cute accessories. There is different artwork on the cups for the characters, each featuring a different city. The schedule for the arrival of characters is as follows:

* July 10th: Hello Kitty - Hollywood
* July 24th: TuxedoSam - Miami
*August 7th: Badtz-Maru - San Francisco 
* August 21st: Little Twin Stars - Honolulu

I already love Yogurtland any time, rain or shine, so this is just a bonus for visiting this summer. I am hoping to buy the t-shirt, and maybe some keychains.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

4th of July Style

It's that time of year again to celebrate our nation's independence day! I always look forward to celebrating 4th of July with close friends and family, sometimes at the beach, sometimes at a BBQ, sometimes at a park (this year I'll be at a bbq). I love going all out for any holiday just because it is an occasion to dress up or do something different with your hair, nails, clothes, home, etc... Which brought me to this post... I am dedicating this one to Fourth of July styles, since there are so many cute options out there!











I love a cute pair of classic Vans.

Monday, June 11, 2012

DIY: Magazine Holder

I wanted to share some pictures of a DIY project I worked on last week. I decided to try to make myself a magazine holder to stash all my Vogue issues, which were previously lying around everywhere in my room. I came across a quick and simple tutorial on pinterest and seeing that it only required a cereal box, scrapbook paper, scissors and glue, I decided to give it a try. 
It was fairly simple to make and didn't take long at all. Because I am out of Mod Podge at the moment, I used Elmer's Spray Adhesive. I would definitely recommend the tutorial if you are looking to make yourself a magazine holder, which could hold papers or mail too, if you don't want to use it for magazines. I plan on making a second one for the rest of my magazines. To see the detailed instructions on how to make your own magazine holder, click here. 

Friday, June 1, 2012

Face Wash vs. Face Wipes



Lately, I found myself questioning whether my nightly face routine is doing enough to keep my skin looking best as can be.. and I found myself afraid to ask the question whether face wipes are enough to clean my face at night. I was afraid because the majority of the time I prefer to grab a wipe in the comfort of my room, than to go to the bathroom sink to wash my face. Sometimes I just don't want to take the extra minutes to wash my face with a cleanser. But after doing some research, I found that more often than not, I should be washing it. Yes, I wish it was as easy as lying in bed while wiping my face off (some nights I'm just that lazy!), but the truth is that while the wipes do a great job of removing makeup and dirt, they simply cannot replace the cleanliness that you get from water and face wash.

When washing with a cleanser, the water ensures that all dirt or grime is removed. With a wipe, you are limited to whatever dirt it is able to reach on the surface of the skin, or until you have used up the whole wipe. However, you should be using wipes if you are not able to wash your face because it is better than nothing at all. It is recommended that you use wipes two to three times a week, and wash your face the other nights. 

So all in all, I have learned that the wipes are a great makeup remover and a facial refresher but they should not replace the act of washing your face on a daily basis. I think I will try washing more often, and leave the wipes for nights when I absolutely do not have the energy to use a cleanser.



P.S. I felt it was appropriate to add this because this is another reason I dread washing my face.. It can get messy!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Conditioning Clay Mask!!

Hello bloggers! I wanted to do a quick post about this mask, Boots Botanics Conditioning Clay Mask, because I am really loving it. I found this at Target, having no idea what it was or what to expect but decided to give it a try. I have been using this for over a month and I am really able to see a difference in my complexion. 
You have to make sure to shake it well or else it will come out too watery. When applying to the face, it will dry and harden up pretty quickly, and the green will change colors as it dries. Once I apply it to my entire face, I will leave it on about 20 minutes, then wash it off with warm water. It actually feels like clay on my face, kind of like if I am making a mold of my face. I love how easy it is to wash off. Once water hits it, it softens up and I wipe it away. I'm able to see a difference as soon as I wash it off... my face feels very smooth, pores are nonexistent, and I feel like it makes my skin glow. The best part to me (because I have VERY dry skin) is that it doesn't leave my face feeling dried out, as so many other masks/facial products do to my face. 
All in all, I really recommend this clay mask to anyone who is looking for a new way to improve their complexion. I got it at Target for $9.39, which is not bad considering the prices of other face products on the market. The bottle is kind of small but it has lasted;  I still have over half the product left. :)

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Though it is gloomy in So Cal on the first day of May, I am really loving all floral prints right now. They are so pretty and easy to wear, especially on those hot and sunny days. I can't get enough of all the varieties of floral print shorts out there!






Friday, April 13, 2012

Beautiful Lengths Hair Donation

After years of growing my hair out, not dyeing it, and only getting trims at the salon, I finally chopped off my hair! This is something I have wanted to do for years, since I first heard that organizations collect hair to make wigs for cancer patients. However, a few years ago I had bleach in my hair so I was not eligible to donate. I stopped bleaching my hair and let all hair dye grow out, and kept growing it. My hair grows quickly so the process was not too long... but my hesitation always stood in the way. I always hesitated and feared the moment that my hair would no longer be considered "long." But in the past few months, I found myself changing views. I have never had short hair because I never felt like it went well with my face shape. I had a bad haircut experience back in third grade, so I kept my hair medium-length to really long ever since then. 

The contrast in this picture puts the focus on my hair. This was the length in February.

The length and the layers

In January, I received some devastating news about a close cousin of mine. I learned that my 11-year-old cousin was diagnosed with leukemia, and it really hurt to learn about the journey he was about to endure. With the help of a lot of other supportive family members, a "Hair Cut Party" was planned, at which many of the males in our family decided to shave their heads in support of my cousin. I decided without hesitation to cut my hair and finally donate it. 


It is heart-breaking that the deciding factor came under these circumstances because I would give anything to cure my cousin, but it also gave me the last push that I needed to go through with the donation. I ended up donating 11 inches and cut my hair into an A-line bob. I sent off my hair to Pantene ProV's Beautiful Lengths program, and hope that it helps a cancer patient in need of a wig.

11 inches!

Short hair

I am still getting used to my short hair. It is so much faster to style. Blow-drying and straightening is not a pain anymore, and my head feels much lighter. I am still looking for new ways to style my hair since there are not as many options as with long hair - with long hair, there is so much you can do. But I am liking that it gives me new looks, I could do certain styles that I could never do with long hair. For example, curls. Since my hair is pretty short, I could do more bouncy, retro-style curls. Curls were a hassle before because my hair was so heavy; it was hard for my hair to hold a curl. Either way, I like both long and short hairstyles. In the end, it's just hair, so I'm having fun with it!

Another one with my short hair. (My bf and me.)


Pantene ProV offers many products and tips for growing your hair out if you wish to donate it. I was using their Replenish Treatment Mask prior to cutting it just to help repair any heat damage I had. You could find more info regarding Beautiful Lengths here.