Shu Uemura Haul

As you may or may not know, Shu Uemura had a 20% off sale to celebrate their new website a few weeks ago. I've never bought anything from Shu, but I figured I might as well take advantage of the sale to grab a few things! I've never seen a Shu counter at Sephora, but I've been reading a lot about their highly-raved about lipstick from the Red Collection in RD 165--supposedly the perfect red for all skin tones. That, and the Pink Collection were things that caught my eye when I looked through the site. I decided on two RD 165's (one for me, and one for a dear friend who's also been on the search for a perfect red) and a lippie and lipgloss from the new Pink Collection~


I also got a sample of the Phyto Black Lift Lifting Anti-Wrinkle Essence for signing up on their website


I must admit that part of the reason why I'm so enamored with Shu Uemura is because of the cool packaging of their lipsticks haha. It just looks so modern and unique! I like how it's see-through :)


This is a close-up of the RD 165. I've tried it on my lips and it's a nice bright red, super classy-looking! I'll take more pictures of my lips later to show~


Here's one of the Pink Collection's lippies....I got it in PK 316 which is a warm rosy pink


Close-up~


And a lipgloss also from the Pink Collection in PK 315N, a sheer melon pink


The applicator is stick-straight, how different!


Swatches from left to right: red lippie, pink lippie, and gloss


So far I'm loving my Shu products. I really want to get more! The lipsticks are nicely pigmented and moisturizing. The gloss is not too sticky and the pink color is so cute and pretty. Here I am wearing some lip balm with the pink lipstick on top


I like it! A more natural, wearable pink than my YSL Rouge Volupte Fetish Pink lippie. I don't have to have a mirror to check to see if I'm applying it evenly because it's not as matte or pigmented as the YSL. I've been reaching for it a lot over the past couple of days!



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Random photos:

My view from the plane as I was leaving Norcal to go back to LA last weekend....cool view of SF!! There's the Bay Bridge and the City!


After the boy picked me up from the airport, we got some lunch and stopped by my favorite dessert cafe Haus for some sweets. Yum yummm Cheesecake From Heaven is always a must :D


And a delicious patbingsoo~ Korean ice shavings dessert with condensed milk, sweet red beans, fruits, and--that white stuff on top?--yummy chewy ddeok (rice cakes)


This weekend, I had some mad cravings for Mexican food. So for lunch on Saturday I went to my favorite Mexican place and had steak and carnitas tacos.....soooo good


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My NYX haul came in last week, so I'll be doing a post on that too. Happy Tuesday!

Role Models

Although I am guilty of being one of the people who glance through the gossip magazines while standing in line at the market, I am not a crazed fan of any celebrity that I can think of, nor do I agree with the things that some of them are doing nowadays. However, there are a few exceptional women in pop culture that I look up to and like to know about. These are ladies whose style, work, and public persona are admirable to me.

One of them is Giada de Laurentiis, petite powerhouse Food Network Chef who is probably the object of what is closest to being considered my celebrity crush :)


I lovelovelove her shows. I've been watching them since the early days of "Everyday Italian", when her hair was still dark brown and the videography was still average. After school in high school, I used to try to make it home on time to catch an episode before doing homework haha. I would definitely attribute part of my love for food and cooking to Giada's show. She began to make other ones, like "Behind the Bash", "Giada's Weekend Getaways", "Giada in Paradise", and my most recent favorite "Giada At Home". Throughout the years, even as her hair lightened and the videography got even more stunning and artistic, I could always count on her show and recipes to help me create some pretty memorable meals. She is definitely what I consider a good role model. Plus, she also went to UCLA as an undergrad! That's why a few weeks ago when I found out that she was going to be at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (also held at UCLA!) to promote her new cookbook, I just had to go meet her! :)

This is the view from where I was standing in line to wait for her to come autograph cookbooks. If you look very closely, you'll see the sign that says Cooking Stage. That's where Giada was giving her talk!!!


While in line I got hungry so I got a grilled corn on the cob slathered with cheese and spices. SO GOOD.


After what seemed like HOURS, I finally got to meet Giada! She was even more pretty in person that I thought she would be. Super sweet, happy, and welcoming. The only reason why I didn't get an actual picture with her is because the security guards were rushing people along since there were so many fans there to meet her :(


I felt so nervous approaching her...but she was really friendly! I think I stammered something like "Hi, nice to meet you, I LOVE your stuff! You're an inspiration." Hahaha :D

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Another celebrity that I like is Gwyneth Paltrow. Actress, mother, wife, role model!!! She's beautiful, classy, talented, down to earth, and married to Chris Martin. Lead. Singer. Of. COLDPLAY!! One of my favorite bands :) Did you know that the he wrote the song "Fix You" for her after her father died? Isn't that sweet??


Another cool thing about her....she BLOGS!!! In fact, I just ran across a beauty post from her site today from the Allure website. I started browsing through it, and realized it was more of a lifestyle blog, full of fashion, food, shopping, crafts, travel, and personal tips. Great stuff from an intelligent, strong woman! Her site is definitely on my blog roll now!


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Before I end this post, here's something really freaky cool for all of you to check out :) Just click on the link, put on some headphones, close your eyes, and enjoy! I had so much fun with this link :)

Wedding Weekend

Last weekend I flew back home to Norcal for a family friend's wedding. I've come back probably at least once a year for the past 3 years for someone's wedding....seems like all my older cousins/family friends are tying the knot as of late! Anyway, this particular wedding was held in the new Cathedral of Christ the Light. The cathedral is amazinggg...stunning architecture and beautiful religious artwork make this building stand out from any other wedding setting I've ever been to.

Here I am on the way to the church:


Look at this! When you step into the main part of the cathedral, the first thing to capture your attention is the massive hologram-like picture of Christ in the very front of the church. It LOOKS like a hologram, but it's actually thousands of tiny holes put together to form the picture. When sunlight shines through, it becomes this cool view:


The entire ceiling looks like this, so plenty of light shone through:


After the vows and such, my cousins, siblings, and I hung around to explore the church and take some cool pictures :)


There's my little cousin Christine in the middle of all the boys, looking like a boss!!


My mom took these cool pictures of me and my sister...pretty impressive!




After the photography session, we were all starving, so all the cousins piled into a car and drove to In N Out for some grubbbb


Staring contest with Christine!


After that I went home and got ready to go to the reception...here I am on the car on the way to the restaurant....


Where I ate the only good reception dish of the night....honey walnut prawns...


Got silly with my brother....


Posed with my gorgeous cousins and sister....



And watched the bride and groom cut the cake and pop the champagne!!!



Afterwards we danced the night away and the next morning I celebrated Mother's Day with my mom before I flew back to LA. Love was in the air all weekend :)

Til later!

Sephora Haul

Sephora had a Friends & Family 20% off sale a few weeks ago, so I decided to take advantage of it and buy some of the things that I've been eyeing :)



Dior Bronze Original Tan in 01 Healthy Tan~ I've been looking for a good bronzer for summer; decided on the Dior. So far so good!

With the plastic cover still on

Perfect and natural for my skin tone :)

The beautiful Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Gilded Garden....I already have plenty of pink blushes, but I couldn't resist this one!!! I open the compact sometimes just to stare at the prettiness hahah. BUT it is also very pretty on the cheeks...gives just the perfect amount of glow!



Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in 577 Fuchsia Poplin~ vibrant berry pink gloss perfect for spring and summer!


And Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF 15 in 8 Fetish Pink~ I got this one because I wanted a baby pink lipstick...I was envisioning healthy tan skin (from a bronzer, not the sun--BAD!) with a pretty pink lip. This lipstick goes on soooo nicely...it's smooth and VERY pigmented so a little goes a long way!


Swatches of everything....the top 4 colors are from the Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc, the 2 middle colors are of the YSL lipstick (left) and Dior gloss (right), and finally the Dior bronzer swatch is at the veryyyy bottom (almost not noticeable!)


Wearing the YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick...see how pink it is??? I was wearing no other eye make up besides mascara in this picture, but I love how the pink lip is so prominent. I just lightly dabbed the color on my lips until it reached the shade I wanted
Close up...to take some of the matte off the lips, I brushed on just a little bit of the Dior Fuchsia Poplin gloss...just a bit on the bottom lip and then blended against my upper lip for a little shine...what do you think? Cute color, right? :)


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Went home to Norcal this weekend for Mother's Day and to attend a wedding...remember the vases that the boy and I painted at Color Me Mine? Here are the finished products before they were given to our moms


On Sunday before I flew back to LA, I woke up early and went out to buy 3 bouquets of tulips for my mommy...put them in the vase, and surprised her when she woke up. I'm so mad I forgot to take a picture of the vase with the flowers! >:(


Anyway, Happy Thursday! I'll create a post about the wedding I attended later~