5 Bold Red Drugstore Lippies for the Holidays

Christmas is only a couple days away and I wanted to get this post out before then (and if you don't celebrate Christmas, these lippies are also perfect for any holiday party you may attend or for the new years!). I'm bringing you guys my top 5 bold red lip products, all from the drugstore! Not only are these products friendly on the wallet, the color pay off is amazing and quality of the products are excellent to. I have a range of reds from brighter ones to more deeper ones.

OTK BOOTS AND A FESTIVE VELVETEEN DRESS

The sun finally came out to play which finally gave me a chance to style my first pair of black over-the-knee boots I scored during Black Friday =). I'm also a huge fan of velvet and felt a little festive for the holidays rolling around.

WATARU: SEATTLE SUSHI RESTAURANT - REVIEW

This past weekend, I had the chance to try out Wataru Sushi Restaurant, a new edomae style sushi restaurant located in Seattle. This place is fairly new, just opening within the month, but I was impressed with the food and really happy overall with the experience! Of course I had to try the Omakase there and since I was with my family, we could only sit at the table instead of the traditional bar seat. They had two types of Omakase: Wataru ($55) and Kotaru ($45). With the 6 of us, three of us did the Wataru and the other half of us did the Kotaru. I'll break down items below.

HAWAII FOOD DIARIES PT. 3 - MAUI (HANA AND PAIA)

Here's part 3 of my Hawaii food diaries, venturing onto another island-the beautiful island of Maui! This post will be for the food we ate on the first few days on Maui when we got off the airport and headed straight towards Hana. The road to Hana is an ever so popular scenic drive around the coast with windy paths (not for the feint of heart!). I'll be sharing the food we got to try on the way there as well as on the way back between Hana and Paia.

HAWAII FOOD DIARIES PART 2. - SUSHI SASABUNE IN HONOLULU - RESTAURANT REVIEW

Happy Thursday! Today's post is a little bit of a #ThrowbackThursday from recent trip to Hawaii. We had the chance to try out two delicious Japanese restaurants while in Hawaii (this one on Oahu, the other one in Maui) and today I'll be sharing my insights on this place called Sushi Sasabune located in Honolulu. We went for the Omakase (leave it up to the chef) for our dishes which is always our preference when it comes to good quality Japanese food since they usually choose their freshest and best catches of the day.

Getting (and Keeping) that Ultimate Healthy Glow All Year Round w/ ALOHA

Happy weekend everybody!

I'm really excited to share today's post due to the fact that it all about Hawaii, the Aloha spirit and keeping that summer glow that you may have had during the warmer months! Maintaining that healthy glow is not only by what you put on your skin, but also what you put into your body's system to help it glow from within. This post will touch base on both skin care products to help keep that healthy glow as well as a few recipes that are nutrient rich with whole foods and superfoods that will help get you there!

Photo from Maui, Hawaii by Mirrorless Planet

When I was approached by ALOHA for this post, it could not have been more of a coincidence since I was actually in vacation in Hawaii! After getting some decent amount of sun exposure and a nice tan color, I thought it'd be a great opportunity to share my tips on keeping my tan and what I have done to maintain it, especially coming back home to a MUCH colder climate. As seen in the picture above (taken early October), I have a developed a nice tan color to my skin just from being outside venturing in Hawaii. It's been about a month since I've been back from the beautiful islands and these items have been tried and true to maintaining this glow.

HINTS OF OXBLOOD

Every time it hits Fall time, I instantly think of deep red colors whether it is in clothing, accessories or makeup. This outfit I'm sharing today features the deep oxblood color, with pieces that are from last year, but are totally wearable this season. This faux leather oxblood skirt was a score at Nordstrom Rack last year and the sweater is from 2 years ago at an Urban Outfitters sale. Though these pieces may not be from this year or season, they're definitely staples and classic pieces that can be worn time and time again.

Guest Post: The Best Rainy Day Beauty Tips and Tricks by Amy Mia Goldsmith

*this post is a guest post written by Amy Mia Goldsmith*

We are all preoccupied with protecting our skin from the summer sun, sea salt and chlorine, and when the summer is finally over, we all feel relieved that we do not need to worry about it anymore, all the while forgetting that the worst is yet to come. Fierce cold winds, frostbite, humidity, and monsoon-like downpours require you to revise your skin care routine and take it to the next level. This is particularly important for people with dry and sensitive skin. Rainy days can be really challenging when it comes to staying pretty as well.There are few things in a girl’s life that are worse than getting all dolled up and then soaked through half an hour later. However, you should not let a gusty day get you down.

Read these simple tips and tricks and prepare yourself to brave the harshest of elements.

HAWAII FOOD DIARIES PT 1. OAHU

 

These posts are far overdue but I finally had time to get everything together to share my Hawaii Food Diaries series! This first post is dedicated most if not all the food I had during my 4 day stay in Oahu. I'll be breaking it down by location and sharing my thoughts on them!

STRIPED IN TOPSHOP KIORA OLIVE JACKET

More fall vibes coming your way. I've been utterly obsessed with this Topshop (US Size 8) jacket ever since I bought it during the Nordstrom #NSale a few months ago. Of course it was way too hot to wear then, but now, it couldn't be more perfect!

BLACK & WHITE SWEATER WEATHER

Finally, some fall fashion to share! Ever since I got back from Hawaii a couple weeks back, it's been hard to get back into being 'stylish' for the colder, crisp, fall weather without being in hoodies and sweats all day. I found some inspiration on a cold but not rainy day and pulled this look for a day at the office and dinner later that evening.

Wedding Dresses from PickedDresses.com - Toronto Collection

*This post is sponsored by pickeddresses.com*

I was approached by the beautiful people at pickeddresses.com to talk about their gorgeous Wedding Dresses Toronto colelction they have to offer and was instantly interested because of the subject! As most people may not know, I have been working with a few bridal magazines over the summer and this subject of wedding dresses could not be more relevant. Though the peak of wedding season is considered "over" in the U.S., people never tire of seeing what's new, especially with weddings at every time of year.

MARKET FINDS IN #BMKOIPURPLESHORTIES

Hi! Today I am sharing another outfit post from Hawaii featuring one of my favorite pairs of shorts I own that I bought early this year. These Black Milk Koi Purple Shorties have been a favorite of mines ever since I first set eyes on them. They fit well, have an awesome print, and the flowiness of them make it easy to wear. I wore these while I was doing some shopping in Maui in the local markets and these shorts were perfect with the hot, humid weather and for all the walking we did.

DENIM X DENIM IN KIHEI

Aloha! I recently came back from a family trip to Hawaii and had an amazing time! Of course, I had to take some outfit photos while I was there! The look I'm sharing with you today is the classic, denim on denim aka the Canadian tuxedo look. It was honestly too hot to wear the top for the rest of the day (these pics were taken around 8am and it was already about 80 degrees F) but I was able to capture a few shots along the beach in Kihei on the beautiful island of Maui.

Travel Essentials Flatlays

I'm currently in Hawaii and thought it'd be the perfect time to share some of my essentials for this trip! I'll probably break down some travel posts later on in separate groups but for now, enjoy these flatlays of travel items =)

Top 5 Drugstore Lip Products for Summer to Fall

Fall is just around the corner (literally!) and I thought it would be the perfect time to round my favorite shades for Fall that are perfect for transitioning from Summer, especially if you're not ready to let go of the sun yet! The best part? These are all drugstore products and 100% affordable =)

TWO LITTLE BEARS AND SOME NEWNESS FOR FALL

The fall weather is rolling in and I've been digging through my closet for some old favorites I haven't worn in awhile. I can't remember the last time I wore skinny jeans (I usually go for baggy boyfriend jeans) which I probably shouldn't have worn since I chowed down on the biggest Korean BBQ meal with my family this night! I wanted to take out my new Michael Kors cellphone crossbody bag to wear and thought it was perfect for fall and just the right pop of color.

The Weeknd ft Ed Sheeran - Dark Times: Aerial Hoop/Lyra Practice

I haven't really been obsessed with a song in a long time and with The Weeknd's new album that came out and this song with Ed Sheeran? It just spoke to me. Here's a little video of another passion of mine that I wanted to share with you guys. Hope you enjoy it, at least the song, don't mind my awkward poses and face, hehe

GOLD & BLACK WITH TWO PYTHONS

Since I can remember, I always had an affinity to sneakers and i'll always prefer them over any type of shoe. And, i'll always be more of a tomboy at heart which somewhat inspired this look.One of my favorite pairs are these gold and black ones by Nike. I realized that I haven't worn them in what feels like years and I thought it was time to bring them out of their box again. It was a chillier day in Seattle today so this black longsleeve with this sick python pattern across the top paired perfectly with these.

PEACH BOW TIE SHORTS

I'm not that 'girly' of a girl: I don'y really wear pink or cutesy things but for some reason, these peach bow tie shorts just caught my eye and attention! Maybe it is because it sort of reminds me of Usagi/Serena aka Sailor Moon!

1-UP AND A MIDI DRESS

Two things I love about this outfit. First one might be the obvious, bright 1-Up Mushroom that you may find familiar from Super Mario series. It's an oldie sweatshirt I bought a few years ago from Forever 21 but I still love it. The second thing I love about this outfit is the midi dress. I've been obsessed with midi dresses and skirts lately and this black one from Cotton On is perfect and pairs with almost anything. I'm pretty sure I have 4 total of the same cut but just in different colors

BLUE BIRDS OF PARADISE ESPADRILLE CORDONES

The hot weather we've been experiencing in Seattle for the majority of the summer has been exceptionally hot and just recently, it's been cooling down with some rain (yes)

 and gloomy, overcast weather which calls for almost sweater weather. However, I'm still in the whole summer mood and these bright, fun tie-up espadrilles from Toms is the perfect pop of color for this gloomy day.

THE PERFECT DEEP V IN A TREE

There's so many things I love about this outfit that I don't know where to even start! At first glance, yes, this is a very simple look but look a little deeper! Have you ever wanted to show off that cute crop top or bralette but never had shirts that cut just right to show it off in the front or you didn't want to take a button down and button it too far down? Yeah, I had the same problem until I found this Keep It Casual tee by Lulus and bonus, it was on sale! 

Restaurant Zoe in Capitol Hill

It was a happy stumbling when we ended up here for family dinner. The initial restaurant we were supposed to go to was closed to the public due to a dinner party so we wandered around until my mom decided on Restaurant Zoe located in the Capitol Hill area in Seattle.

JULY 2015 FAVORITES

I can't believe Summer is basically halfway over...what?! I thought it would be a good time to discuss some of my July favorite products since I found myself gravitating towards them a lot!

A LOT OF BLACK, A LITTLE BIT OF WHITE

Last night, we decided to go out for a little family dinner in Capitol Hill. Initially we were supposed to eat at Anchovies & Olives but they were closed to the public for a dinner party. We tried calling earlier to save a spot but on one answered--would've been nice if they would've answered so we could've known ahead of time!! Anyways, rant over, At least there's a whole lot of food options to choose from in the area and my mom spotted another restaurant (blog post on that later!). It was just about golden hour so the lighting was almost near perfect and the landscapes around were just nice so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for a photo op =)

NEW PRETZ REVIEW: CHILI SALAD, PIZZA, SWEET CORN, & TOM YUM FLAVORS

New Glico Pretz are introduced to the States and I couldn't be more excited. Today, i'll be quickly discussing four of the flavors I picked up and tried out. Flavors include a Hot Chili Salad, Pizza, Sweet Corn, and Tom Yum flavor. I will say I was most excited about Tom Yum because I had the flavor while I was in Malaysia last summer and I missed it so much! The fact that they introduced the flavor here in the US makes me extra happy and I hope it stays for at least awhile! A breakdown of the flavors will be below after the jump.

Gotta Catch 'Em All w/ TeeTurtle Pocket Minis! Tee

Ever since I was a itty bitty kiddy, I loooved Pokémon, and was maybe borderline obsessed at one point. I collected the cards, played the GameBoy game, and basically collected anything I could related to the game. Plus I loved watching the cartoon on Saturday mornings or even after school too! Now that I am much older, I still have a love for Pokémon and can express that love through clothing! My favorite way is through cute shirts and such especially this ADORABLE Pocket Minis Tee from the brand Tee Turtle. I stumbled upon their stuff while I was at Emerald City Comic Con this year and quick fell in love with all of their stuff!

Natsu Matsuri 2015 Food Recap

Last weekend was Uwajimaya's Natsu Matsuri, summer festival if you will, and I got to try a lot of the yummy Japanese foods the vendors provided there! It is a great way to sample a lot of items for a fairly cheap price! They want to promote their items and get it out there so the lower pricing helped with that incentive. This will be a quick/food heavy post - be warmed!

LAZY DAY: GLOOMY WEATHER INSPIRED OUTFIT

We had a nice break in the extra hot, sunny weather in Seattle and had a nice break with the looming clouds and rain come back in typical Seattle fashion. However, with that also comes a more lazy attitude and with that my lazy day attire which is just easy and comfortable and comfort.

BOHO VIBES & LUNCH AT PIZZERIA PULCINELLA

I've never been into maxi skirts but within the last year or so, I've actually been diggin' how easy they are to wear and throw on. I've also been into the whole 'ethereal' thing so this dream catching ying-yang tee and moon and wild symbols on the skirt have been definitely filling in that void.

BLUEBERRY BANANA COCONUT 'NICECREAM' RECIPE

I feel like i'm on a whole 'raw vegan/healthy food' kick and coming up with recipes for the summer has actually been fun. I have more than enough blueberries in the summertime in my backyard so I figured why not use them to make another frozen treat? Especially before all the birds come and eat them up.

SWATCH & REVIEW: LIME CRIME CENTRIFUCHSIA LIPSTICK

There's something about bright pink lipsticks that I can't get enough of. This one by Lime Crime, is bright but not in an obnoxious neon way. This is Centrifuchsia, one of their Unicorn Lipsticks that, of course, has the cute as a button purple casing with the holographic unicorn. This color is a fun deeper pink with cooler undertones and a fun one to have in your collection for warm summer nights out or really anytime you'd like!

CASUAL DAY WITH A HALF BUN

Why haven't I worn a half bun sooner?! Probably because I'm that lazy.. Hah. I've always loved the look of a half bun and now that my hair isn't ridiculously long, it's super easy to do.

I was feeling super casual, but 'cheeky' if you will so this shirt from Choies definitely helped me channel that mood. I'm pretty sure the sleeves aren't supposed to hang like that but because my shoulder are so broad and buff from pole, they do that weird stick out thing. Oh well!

MAC-THE MATTE LIP COLLECTION: MEN LOVE MYSTERY SWATCH & REVIEW

Another lippie post because I couldn't help but notice this beautiful purple matte lipstick that came out with the new The Matte Lip Collection by MAC Cosmetics. I didn't plan on getting anything until I saw a friend pick up and swatch this color on her Instagram and I knew I had to get it right away! I was good and only got one, but of course it had to be the purple one! 

EATING WITH A VIEW: STONE HOUSE CAFE ON RAINIER AVENUE

Lunch: Chicken Fried Steak, French Dip, Corn Beef Hash

A new spot, The Stone House Café recently opened up on Rainier Avenue in the south side of Seattle, right along Lake Washington. I've driven by this area many times and had no idea they turned the stone buildings into a restaurant and bakery! I wasn't sure what to expect when I pulled in but I was definitely pleasantly surprised.

NORDSTROM (Early Access) Anniversary Sale Picks & Wishlist

Hello everybody! It is that time of year for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Early access for card holders started on July 9th until July 16th. You can sign up for either a debit card or credit card (I personally have the debit card and it just pulls from my checking account I linked it to) and get early access to all these wonderful items from beauty, handbags, shoes, clothes, etc.

CURRENT SHOWER FAVORITES W/ ALMOND SCENTS

I love me some good smelling bath products that are also non-drying so I wanted to share with you guys my two current favorite bath products that just also happened to be almond scented!

ACAI BOWL RECIPE W/ 3 TOPPING COMBOS

I've always been a fan of the whole acai/smoothie bowls and love mainly how pretty they look, but the best part is that they're also delicious and so good for you. It seems that these 'bowls' are popping up everywhere, especially in little shops and such but of course the ones that you buy at these stops are a bit pricey. After coming up with my own base mix (which I think is the most important part), you really can't go wrong with any of the toppings you choose. Have fun with it! Play with different fruits, grains, seeds, etc. No topping is wrong. You can make it as healthy as you want or even add a bit of some not so healthy bits to it for an extra yummy treat =)

MANI MONDAY: CHINA GLAZE MASAI RED

I think I may have found my new favorite neutral red nail color; not too warm and not too cool. I wanted a nice red color for an event I was going to so when I found this at the nail salon, I knew this would be a winner! The color is from China Glaze: Masai Red.

NAVY & WHITE FILIGREE W/ LACE UP HEELS - Best of Bride 2015 Event

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Seattle Bride Magazine Best of Bridal 2015 event at The Rainier Club in Downtown Seattle. It was a little fancier so a cocktail dress was appropriate. Most of the dresses I own are definitely casual and summery so I was in search for a perfect dress. To my luck, I found this beautiful white with navy blue filigree design dress at Francesca's.

SWATCH+REVIEW: LIME CRIME VELVETINES IN #FADED & #BLEACHED

Finally! A Beauty post! I've been sluffin' , major, on these and finally got my lazy self to take some pictures and do some reviews on a bunch of lip products I have played with.

A DAY IN PIONEER SQUARE ft. Che Sara Sra

A couple weeks ago, my friend and I did some errands in the heart of Seattle in Pioneer Square and of course I had to take advantage and turn it into a little adventure. Here's a look at a couple of spots

EMPTIES #9

It's been awhile since I have done an empties post and of course the products built up and I have a bunch to share with you. Here's a look into my 'garbage' with of course mini reviews in between =)

FAVORITE FRAGRANCE COMBO FOR SUMMER FT. JO MALONE

Summer is just around the corner which also means a change in the types of fragrance that I wear. I don't like heavy scents or anything too sweet, especially when the weather gets hot, so I have been reaching for my go-to fragrance combination of these two Jo Malone cologne: Wild Bluebell & English Pear & Freesia.

MAY FAVORITES 2015

Not to be the same as everyone else in the beauty community, but, it's that time again to share for some favorites that I have been loving this past month.

CRUNCHY MATCHA POCKY

I'm a huge fan of Green Tea anything, so when I saw this fancier Matcha (green tea powder) Pocky during my last snack shopping trip, I knew I had to pick these up to, despite the steeper price tag (these fancier ones tend to be anywhere between $5-$8 and paid $6.49 for these). Let's take a closer peek!

CHOCOLATE BANANA POCKY

The ever-so-popular chocolate dipped biscuit in stick form, aka Pocky by Glico, is an internationally recognized snack and with that comes an whole world-wide variety of flavors.

Today's Pocky find will be on this Chocolate Banana flavored biscuit stick. Usually the biscuit stick is not flavored, but for the Chocolate Banana flavor profile, the biscuit now a chocolate flavor dipped in a banana cream covering.