Current Playlist

I thought it would be fun to share some of my playlist since Music is probably my favorite thing in the world besides food. I've been working out to some new songs recently, and I also got into this horrible habit of having to listen to music before I go to sleep. I hope you guys will check these songs out and maybe add them to your playlists!

My "Workout Playlist": (Usually on shuffle and repeat)

Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz) [Explicit] - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
I Got A Boy - Girls Generation 
Fly High (feat.BaBy Soul) - Infinite H
Special Girl -Infinite H
Bellas Regionals: The Sign/Eternal Flame/Turn The Beat Around - The Barden Bellas (Pitch Perfect Soundtrack)
Trebles Finals: Bright Lights Bigger City/Magic - Treblemakers (Pitch Perfect Soundtrack)
Bellas Finals: Price Tag/Don’t You (Forget About Me)/Give Me Everything/Just The Way You Are/Party In The U.S.A./Turn The Beat Around -  The Barden Bellas (Pitch Perfect Soundtrack)
Riff Off - Pitch Perfect Soundtrack
Crash - B.A.P
Stop It - B.A.P
Titanium - David Guetta 
Nothing Really Matters (Feat. Will.i.am) [Explicit] - David Guetta
I'm Sorry - CN BLUE


My "Before Sleep Playlist":

The Gambler - FUN.
Gone Gone Gone - Phillip Phillips
93 Million Miles - Jason Mraz
Details in the Fabric - Jason Mraz ft. James Morrison 
Rain Sound - B.A.P
What My Mind Says - B.A.P



Do you have a weird music habit? What are some of your favorite workout songs? please share!! 

First E.L.F. Order + Mini Reviews

Finally, I took the opportunity to order from E.L.F. during the holidays because they had their take $5 off deal with no minimum. In fact, they still have it now! All you have to do is enter the code HAPPY at check out. I don't know how long the deal will go for, but it basically takes care of most of the shipping cost; I ended up only have to pay about a little under $2 for shipping.

I really needed a bigger brush because all my powder brushes are rather small. I wanted something that could sweep powder all over my face without caking on too much product, which I tend to do with the E.L.F powder brush. It's a great brush don't get me wrong, I just want to find a lighter powder applicator. So I went ahead and ordered a face kabuki brush from them. I ordered two to give one to my mom. I also went ahead and ordered the small stippling brush because it seemed so interesting and I wanted to try it out.

At my local target store, they did sell the kabuki brush, however I wasn't aware of that so I ordered from the website. They didn't have the small stippling brush so I'm glad I picked it up. If you don't want to pay shipping, check at your local drugstores and they might already have certain products in stores. They definitely have more of a wider selections in stores than they did before.

Shipping took about a week and a half, and the package arrived safely and without any problems. My total plus shipping for the three things was around $16.

Here is the mini review of these products!

E.L.F. Kabuki Face Brush

$6

Best Uses: applying setting powder, blending out blush or bronzers. 

Pros:

Price

Soft Bristles/Doesn't scratch skin

Portable

Apply pretty evenly

Cons:

The handle is poor quality

Doesn't pick up product as nicely as I would like it to

I've seen a couple of reviews for this brush and they seem to be saying how this is "really soft" and such, but it doesn't really help with what I wanted to know, which was the size and its application. I would say that the quality of this brush is probably around what the price is. It is really soft and feels nice, but the handle is really crappy and there are a couple of hairs that are not in place as the others. The size of this I would say is pretty good. The top of the bristles has a diameter of about 2 inches, which I would consider to be on the larger size. The application is nice, I wouldn't say it has the best ability to pick up the product as easily as I would like it too,but over all it is okay. 

Over all I would say it's a good brush for the price. I will keep using this for powder until I find a better brush. 

6.5/10

E.L.F Small Stipple Brush

$3

Best Uses: Applying cream products such as cream blushers or highlighters. Powder highlighters. 

Pros:
Feels sturdy
Nice feeling bristles
Price
Applies nicely and evenly

Cons: 
Nothing really

Now this brush I really like. It doesn't have too much uses for its size, but it is really effective for what it is supposed to do. It is really small, I would say about the size of my thumb, but a little rounder. It applies highlighter really well and cream products. I would say it is probably too small for foundation and such, but I can definitely see this working with liquid highlighters and cream blushes. Even powder highlighters work well for I have tried this with that. For the price, I think the quality of this is exceptional. It feels sturdy and has a certain amount of weight to it. Overall it is pretty good.

9/10

Since I will be on a "makeup" fast for the next couple of months (New years resolution to save money), I will be sticking to these brushes for now. Even though I love E.L.F products, I don't think I will be ordering from them anytime soon because there are many other products I want to try out that are either higher-end or other drugstore brands.

Thanks for checking this out and hope it was somewhat helpful!

HAPPY TUESDAY!

-Grace

New Year Resolutions + FOTD

I know that this is long overdue, but it's definitely not too late! I am so excited for the new year and I've made a few new year resolutions. In the past, I have never really thought too much on specific things that I wanted to accomplish. Instead I just wanted to become a better person in general. But this year, I have specifics! I hope I will be able to put these resolutions into reality!

1. Lose Weight

I know that this is the most popular new years resolution of the general public, but it is specifically mine this year. I didn't say "get fit" or "become healthier", etc, but I am assuming that what I consider "losing weight" includes all of that. Now, I don't think that I am really "fat" and I am not overweight, but I am simply not happy with how I look. And If you don't like something about yourself and you can't accept it, just change it! You are you and you can do whatever you feel like you should do. Of course I'm going to do this by eating better, exercising more, and eliminating everything that I used to chow down just because I have too much college feels. I don't know how much weight I want to lose exactly, but I'll know it when I feel "right". 

2. Be a Better Student 

I am a little disappointed about my first semester of college academically. I feel that even though I tried really hard, I didn't try hard enough. This new semester I will utilize every single second that I've got and not waste a single moment. I will try to use my time wisely so I will have free time in addition to school work. I want to be more involved in activities and I want to branch out to make more friends. I will try to be less socially awkward and anti-social, which I think is a factor that has dragged me back a bit in my first semester. Just be yourself and more, is what I want to be. 

3. Be a Saver

Starting from the end of my winter break (which is Jan. 27), I will not be purchasing anything that I do not need. This include any physical CDs, makeup, clothes, and anything else that I often spend money on just because I really want to. I will only purchase necessities when I run out of them and also food that I will eat. Can I do it? OF COURSE! (I hope so XD)

4. Blog More

Hopefully, if I follow my second resolution accordingly, I should have time to blog! As a makeup and fashion addict, I want to still do something that I like to do, and I think blogging is good for my college soul. I will blog more not only about fashion and makeup, but about my life in general. I shall try my hardest to at least blog once a week. I will take more pictures and document more of my college life. 

5. Get a Love Life

Now, this is not really a resolution and more like, a desire. For all 18 years of my life, I have never really had a love life. Now that I am getting older and more into the mature years of my youth, I am more serious about my future. I am not someone that "fools around" with others at parties and things like that, not because I think that's bad or wrong, I'm just a shy person that can't really take control of things like that. I think it was probably my own fault that I did not get to experience having much of a love life, and I want to change that. 

What are your new year resolutions? 

Have any advice for my resolutions? Please share!! 

FOTD: Everyday Minimal 

Face:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Warm Golden
Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte Pressed Powder
Mac Sheertone Blush in Breath of Plum

Eyes:
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt
MAC Eye Shadow in All that Glitters
MAC Eye Shadow in Cork
Milani Liquid Eye Eyeliner Pencil
Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

Lips:
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Adore

Happy Monday!

2012 in Beauty

Wow, I can't believe it is already the beginning of 2013! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday a good start to the new year! Time just flies, but I am so glad to be making this post about my beauty favorites of 2012. In beauty and makeup terms, 2012 was a great year for me. I was able to try out so many products and my makeup collection definitely grew a lot! I learned so much about new application techniques and about makeup itself as well. Here I will share with you my favorite discoveries of 2012 and why I am in love with each and every one. I will also share with you some of my most used products that have received a lot of love from me in the past year. Most of these products are drugstore products. Without further rambling, here are the products!

Best Discoveries: 

Face: 

Revlon ColorStay for Combination/Oily Skin in 310 Warm Golden

I finally tried this product as a result of it being one of the most loved drugstore foundations of the YouTube community. I did not know what to expect because the last foundation I have tried was the Revlon PhotoReady, which I hated. I am not a foundation user; I generally just stick to my beloved BB Creams. But after trying this one out, I am definitely joining the band-wagon. This foundation is great. I would say it has medium coverage but build-able to full. It does not cake up, applies really smoothly and evenly with a damp sponge or a brush, and it lasts all day. It makes my skin look flawless without making it look unnatural. I love this foundation and I am so glad I picked it up this year. I also can't wait to try out the ColorStay Whipped Creme Makup, for I heard some great things about that too!

Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi Highlighting Concealer

I did not use this product as much as I should have, but I definitely think it is great. This is a concealer in a click-pen form and it has a range of shades to choose from. The shade I ended up getting was the illuminating shade with no color, but I really love using it as a highlighter. It as nice coverage with a thin consistency. It does not have loads of shimmer so the finish is very natural. I will definitely try out the a skin shade of this concealer in the new year once I run out of my Garnier under eye roller. 

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light

This powder is hands down the best drugstore pressed powder I have ever tried, and I have tried a lot of drugstore powders: the Rimmel Stay Matte, the Maybelline Dream Matte, the Neutrogena Healthy Skin, the Cover Girl True Blend, etc. I don't have anything great or bad to say about these powders, the Revlon Nearly Naked, however is so different! It is so smooth and silky and it blends like a dream. It is finely milled so it doesn't feel too powdery once applied onto the skin. The only downside to this product is that it has a poor shade selection. I am in the shade "Light", which is the second lightest shade, and I don't consider myself to have fair skin. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Blush in Exposed

I definitely went a little crazy for blushes this year. This one is my favorite new discovery. Jen Frmheadtotoe on Youtube talked about this blush a lot and I finally gave in and spent the money because I was just so curious. I absolutely love this blush. The color is perfect for any look. It's so pigmented and smooth and it lasts all day. The packaging is cool as well, it actually sits on a magnet inside the case so you can easily take out the pan itself and pop it in a palette. I want to try out the other colors in this line, but the only downside is the price! $25 is a lot for a blush!



Eyes:

(Photo Credit)

Wet n' Wild Eye Shadow Trio in Silent Treatment 

Wet n' Wild eye shadows in general were such hits this year. They really reformulated their products and this products is non other than one of the amazing results. This trio became an essential for me in the later months of the year. I used this trio almost every time I did my eye makeup. The shadows are soft, pigmented, and very blend-able. The bottom shade is a taupe with a slightly purple undertone. The middle is a very dark brown, almost black shade, and the top is a light pink shade. The middle shade is almost matte with a bit of shimmer specks which don't show up much on the skin. For around $3.00 a trio, you really cannot go wrong with Wet n' Wild!

Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Shadows

These are the reason I stopped using eye shadow primer this year. Since I ran out of my Too-Faced shadow insurance, these have become my bases for every look. I have them in two shades: Bad to the Bronze and Tough as Taupe. These are so pigmented and so long lasting. Tough as Taupe is matte, so it is great for a darker, more dramatic look. Bad to the Bronze is a great everyday neutral that makes any eye shadow look great. The only downside to these, I would say, would be that they are not as soft and creamy; they are a bit the dry side. But a little goes a long way for these shadows! 

Mac Eye Shadow in All That Glitters

I actually just started using this shade this month, but I absolutely love it. This shade is a shimmery light pink-champagne-y color that is almost, I would describe a light rose gold. I apply this to the inner corners of my eyes and it instantly brightens without it being too overboard. I also like to apply this to the middle of my lids to really add dimension to my eyes and brighten them up. I have always been looking for a shade like this and I am glad I finally found it. 

Lips:

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters

I cannot say enough good things about the Revlon Lip Butters. I have the shades Pink Truffle, which a nice everyday neutral nude-pink, and Lollipop which is a bright plumy pink. These are creamy, moisturizing, smooth, and on top of all that, crazily pigmented. They are not very long lasting as a consequence to their creaminess and moisture, but I love them nonetheless.  

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

These are quite possibly my favorite lip product ever. These are way more pigmented than I had expected and they are very long lasting. I have the bright orange shade called Rendezvous and the deep red with a brown undertone and also some gold shimmer called Adore. I love them because they are super easy to apply, they are moisturizing while at the same time I would say they have a very crayon like consistency, which means they are dryer than typical lip sticks, and the lip butters for sure. I love them a LOT and I want every shade! 

Most Used Products:

Face:

Hanskin Smart Total BB Cream in #2

I picked up a full size of this product when I was in Korea this summer with Julia (:]). I have been using this every since the summer of 2011 and I absolutely love it. It has a light consistency but amazing coverage. Very blend-able and lasts all day, even through my work outs. The only downside is that it is quite dewy, so I have to set it with a powder, which is fine with me. 

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium

This was my go to setting powder for most of the year. I really like the finish and the color. It is just an overall basic item to have and I really like it. This is actually my second time purchasing it and I am already hitting pan. 

Garnier Roll-On Under-eye Concealer

I really enjoyed this concealer. This is perfect for those of us with dark circles that are not too dark. It has great coverage for such a thin consistency. Its hydrating and feels nice when you apply it. I highly recommend this. 

ELF Studio Blush Contour Duo

This duo is so convenient. It has my go to bronzer and the blush in it is nice as well. It has a huge mirror, so I often use that for my eye makeup. I definitely got a lot of use out of this little $3 product.

ELF Studio Blush in Candid Coral

I used this blush a heck of a lot during the past year. This is the only blush that I  have hit pan on so far. It is such a wearable color that gives me a healthy looking peachy glow. 

Eyes:

Mac Satin Taupe Eye Shadow (right)

This is my go-to shadow. It is a taupe color with a slight plummy undertone. It is very wearable and with this one shadow on my lid, it could look like several. I really really love this eyeshadow, it might just be my favorite of all time. 

Lancome Mochachinno Eye Shadow (left)

Also one of my go-to eye shadows, but this one is matte. It is a versatile color that I sometimes use for my brows as well. It is a matte grayish brown that will go well with I would say medium or lighter skin tones. It might look a bit ashy on darker skin tones.  

Maybelline Master Drama Eyeliner in Midnight Master

I really enjoyed this eyeliner. I have actually used it all up and haven't repurchased it yet because I am trying out something new. This eyeliner is really black; it's creamy and smooth and on top of that it is retractable. I definitely prefer retractable eyeliners over pencil and this one is a great basic eyeliner. 

Tarte Lights Camera Splashes Mascara

This is probably the only high-end mascara that I have tried and actually liked. I have tried Clinique mascaras and Estee Lauder in the past in sample sizes and for some reason, I could not find one that I liked. This one is amazing, it makes my non-existing lashes look luscious and thick; Because it is waterproof, it holds my curl very well. And on top of all that, it has the cutest packaging ever. I have actually already used this up, but I just can't throw it out! 

Lips:

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Petal

Very nice neutral peachy shade. It is my "my lips but better and peachier" shade. It is my go to lipstick if I don't want a pop of color. Sadly, I believe this line of lipstick is now discontinued. :(

(not pictured)

Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick in #21

I think I mentioned this in my favorites last year. I still really enjoy this lipstick. The texture is so creamy and the color is gorgeous. If I want a bit more color than Petal by Revlon, I go for this shade. It is a bit darker than my lips and it gives a nice finish.


I have made a list of products that I wanted to try in 2013. I will keep updating on new hauls and reviews in the upcoming year :-)

Have a great year! and thanks for checking this out!


What were some of your 2012 favorites?

Foods that Fit People Love

Some time ago I came across a SHAPE Magazine gallery that revealed 13 foods that fit people loved. If you have not seen this you can check it out here!

(pepper, spinach, avocado photo credits)

This inspired me to think back to my childhood (or just a couple of years ago) and how many foods I hated. I basically disliked anything that was healthy... I really did not like vegetables at all, with exceptions such as tomatoes(I don't care if its a fruit), bok choy, cauliflower, potatoes, and green beans. But all the nutrient rich vegetables, like broccoli, spinach, avocados(again with the fruit), beans, asparagus, bell peppers, eggplant, carrots, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and squash, I disliked. I also did not like nuts all that much (almonds, walnuts, etc. I did like cashews and peanuts, tho.)

However, I have came to like a lot of the foods that I would not even touch before if my parents had cooked them for dinner. I realized that learning about nutrition and health, as well as maturing into a sensible adult, really helped me to accept these foods into my diet. I did not even have to force myself to like fresh and nutritious food, fresh food is what it is, delicious, filling, and healthy! So without awareness, I fell in love with so many of the foods I used to hate! I can't even explain why!

I think this is the easiest way to become healthier and live a better life. It is not about starving yourself or eating foods that taste like sand, it is about loving what you eat. Fresh foods will give you tons of energy and make you feel like a different person! I swear! ;-) You can also surprisingly save money if you start buying fresh and spend less on pre-packaged foods!

I'm now going to share some foods(not all, I love pretty much everything) that I used to dislike but now love along with some tips and recipes to make them taste delicious! :-)

Almonds

Almonds are super foods that contains tons of healthy fats. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of health-promoting fats as are found in olive oil. However almonds, along with some other nuts, don't have that much flavor and they have that awkward hardness to it (What I used to think). Now I love it. Here are some ways to get some of the healthy nutrients that Almonds have to offer. I LOVE both. 

(Almond Milk) 

(Ways to eat Almond butter)

Asparagus   

I know how this would be not tasty, it has a strange crunch to it and has bit of that "hardcore plant" flavor (boy I am so good at explaining taste). But the key is to dress it up, literally. Here are some of my favorite ways to eat Asparagus.

(Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus SkinnyTaste) 

(Penne with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes Giada de-Laurentiis)

Beans

The first time that I actually liked black beans was when it was in a Chipotle Burrito Bowl. From then, *Poof*, I was obsessed. I love beans! I know that sometimes they can be starchy and bland, but they offer high quality protein as an alternatives to meat sources. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy beans, in a healthy way, of course.

(Quinoa Chili with Black Beans and Sweet Potatoes)

(Southwestern Black Bean Salad Skinny Taste)

Bell Peppers

I still think that bell peppers have a little bit of an acquired taste to them, but I am acquired to that taste now! I love bell peppers especially in salads and wraps. One exception, though, I only like my bell peppers cooked. And here are a couple of ways to cook them!

(Steak Fajitas The Meatwave)

(Grilled Vegetable Salad Cooking Light)

Broccoli 

Broccoli, a food that I still remember ever hating. It has more plant flavor than cauliflower and has more of a crunch to it when cooked. I believe that reason that I used to hate it it's because I never liked the way it was cooked and seasoned. But now I love broccoli, believe it or not I even crave it once in a while... The key is cook it until it is not hard and slightly tender and season it up with some big flavors!

( Broccoli with Shrimp The Wednesday Chef)

( Broccoli and Tofu Sitr-fry Eating Well)

Mushrooms

(photo) 

Oh mushrooms. I also remember hating this one. The texture and flavor is very unique among the other veggies. I really LOVE mushrooms love, especially in veggie burgers, grilled, and in pasta. If you don't like mushrooms, try it on pizza and pastas! They are great!

(Mushroom Risotto Skinny Taste) 

(Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps Skinny Taste)

Oatmeal

YUM-O. Oatmeal is one of my favorites, not just for breakfast, but anytime of the day! I know that I used to not like oatmeal because it really doesn't have any flavor... or texture. But with just a little sweetness and a little added touches, oatmeal could be delicious! Oatmeal is proven to be a help with weight-loss and to maintain a healthy heart. Here are some sweet and delicious, yet healthy ways to prepare oatmeal. (I love both ways!)

(Almond Joy Oatmeal) OBSESSED

(Choco-Banana "Monkey" Oatmeal)

Raisins

All I can say about raisins is that they are ridiculously addicting and delicious! I know that you either love this treat or hate its taste. I have stepped on to the "dark side" when I made vegan energy bites. Raisins are healthy but also dangerous. They offer great nutrition, but the downside is they are rather caloric. So limit your portions to just 1/4 cup!

(No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate covered Katie)

(More Raisin Ideas Here!)

Zucchini 

Zucchini is super low in calories while it contains towns of cholesterol lowering and cancer fighting nutrients. I like Zucchini personally because it is delicious! especially if its cheesy. It can even be used to make healthy desserts! What else could be better? Here are some of my favorite recipes.

(Pasta with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Creamy Lemon-Yogurt Sauce)

(Cheesy Zucchini Rice) 

(Low-Fat Brownies)

However...

I Still don't like carrots. I don't know why I can't stand them. The only way I will eat my carrots is if its in one of these...

Back on topic... 

Thanks for checking out this post! Have you ever had a change of heart on certain foods? Share along with some of your favorite recipes for your favorite healthy foods! 

Happy Friday!

-Grace

PS. Julia left today :-( But wish her all the best at Wellesley!