Sunday Video Love: Still Into You

A couple weeks ago, Paramore released a second song from their upcoming self-titled album and an accompanying lyric video (are lyric videos the new cool thing to make now?). I actually didn't like this song when I initially listened to it; it sounded so drastically different from anything Paramore had done before that it kind of took me by surprise. I thought it was too... poppy, peppy, cheesy. Like, it is by far the most happy, upbeat song I have ever heard by Paramore. It's about a girl who is still so in love with her boyfriend, even after being together for years — not that common a concept in popular music anymore. But I kept listening to it, and found that at the core, it's just such a pure, simple, and honest love song — stripped of superfluous metaphors, and without being too sappy or sickly sweet. Honestly, it's kind of refreshing to listen to.

Sashimi House

I was feeling something filling but non-greasy for dinner, so Steph and I went to Sashimi House for bowls of chirashi. Nothing fancy, pretty standard and straightforward. There was a good variety of sashimi that was fresh and thick-cut, though I wish there was a higher sashimi-to-rice ratio. Either way, it totally satisfied my craving for both sashimi and sushi, and the prices are decent, so no complaints here. I find that it odd that I'm always in this area, but I'd never tried this place before. I'd rather come here than the much more overpriced Momiji just down the street, which offers fancier decor but the same quality of food.

Sashimi House 2038 Sheppard Avenue East North York, ON M2J 4W6 (416) 495-1208

Friday Five: Snacking

This week's Friday Five:

1. What's your favourite crunchy snack? Currently, it's a tie between Kellogg's Special K Cracker Chips and Grissol Canapé Sesame Melba Rounds. I literally go through like, two boxes a week.
2. What's your favourite chewy, gooey, or mushy snack? I'm addicted to hummus. And cheddar cheese.
3. What's generally not considered a snack food but is something you love to snack on? Is hummus considered a snack food? If not, then hummus. I seriously go through a big tub of it every week (I dip my melba toast in it).
4. What packaged snack have you tried but would recommend others avoid? I'm sure there are a lot of packaged snacks that I wouldn't recommend, but at the top of my head, it'd be President's Choice Original Rounds Melba Toast. They're too thin (not ideal for dipping in hummus!) and kind of taste... cardboard-y. I'm also not a fan of Peek Freans Lifestyle Selections Cookies in Dark Chocolate and Cherry. I don't like dried fruit in my cookies to begin with, but the chocolate flavour in those cookies taste too artificial. Oh, and also black licorice. But that's just because I don't like black licorice.
5. What four snacks would you put on your Mount Rushmore of snacks? I'm more of a fan of salty snacks rather than sweet snacks, so aside from the snacks I listed in #1, I would also include Munchies and Sour Cream & Onion Ruffles. What, you thought all my favourite snacks are healthy? 

What's in My Bag?

I've been watching a ton of these "What's in My Bag?" videos on YouTube lately because I'm clearly a nosy git with too much time on her hands, and while I don't make videos, they made me want to do a post of my own. It's been just over a year since I last did one of these, so I figure it's about time to do a new one. You know, in case you guys are nosy gits, too.


I have this old, beaten black leather Marc by Marc Jacobs shoulder bag that I kind of use exclusively these days. I don't know what the model is called anymore because I got it a few years back (mostly because it was 50% off at one of Holt Renfrew's Friends & Family sales), but I like it because the leather is really soft and also because of the large stud detail that ruches the leather in the center. It's kind of ugly overall, but it's served me well. I do have some nicer (e.g. less grimy) bags, but I find that this bag holds a ton of stuff without looking too big and I don't feel bad for dumping it on the ground and basically treating it like crap. I also use this because it's a shoulder bag. I've realized that even though I love the look of satchels, I like using bags that I can hang comfortably on my shoulder. It's super annoying to hold a purse by your wrist when you're out and about and trying to hold things or reach for things. No one seems to mind this except for me, but I like both of my hands to be free when I'm shopping or smoking or getting coffee, you know? 

Okay, moving on... What's actually in my bag?

• Keys (and way too many key fobs)
• Cigarettes
• BIC lighter
• Apple iPhone 4S
• Apple iPod Classic 160GB (for my car)
• Marc by Marc Jacobs cosmetics bag
• Hello Kitty Mimobot USB flash drive
• Excel Peppermint mints
• Advil Liqui-Gels
• Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel
• Orbit Sweet Mint gum
• Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml)
• Hello Kitty facial tissue
• Muji black gel ink pens
• Miu Miu wallet
• Nikon 1 J1 camera (not pictured, obviously)

And in the cosmetics bag?

• MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark
• MAC Dame Edma compact mirror 
• Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
• Visine Contact Lens Dry Eye Drops
• MAC Fix+ Finishing Mist
• Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado Olive & Basil Hand Therapy
• Bath & Body Works Fresh Picked Hand Cream in Tangerines
• Tweezerman travel-size slanted tweezers
• Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in 50 Rivage and 52 Fétiche
• YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in 29 Rose Opéra
• MAC Lipsticks in Faux, Lady Danger, Embrace Me, Silly, and Heroine
• MAC Pro Longwear Lipstick in Love Forever!
• MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Korean Candy
• MAC Mineralize Rich Lipsticks in Posh Tone and Lady at Play
• MAC Archie's Girls Lipsticks in Daddy's Little Girl and Betty Bright
• MAC Archie's Girls Lipglasses in Strawberry Malt and Kiss & Don't Tell
• MAC Cremesheen Glasses in Double Happiness, Floating Lotus, and Richer, Lusher
• MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam Nicki 2
• MAC Lip Pencils in Redd and Magenta
• MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in More to Love

Clearly, I never learned how to minimize... And I still have a lip product addiction...
So, what's in your bag?

Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum

So, I met up with Katherine at First Markham Place to decide where to go for dinner, and when she heard that I had never been to Ding Tai Fung, she was all, "What?! How is this possible?!" So, there really was no other option. I had to try it.

Steamed pork soup dumplings
Steamed rice cakes stir-fried with shredded pork cabbage, and bamboo shoots
Spicy beef hand-pulled noodle soup
Pan-fried beef rolls
Oh, the deliciousness to be had here! Everyone seems to start with the steamed pork soup dumplings here — and for good reason. They are quite possibly the best ones you can get in the city. Or, at least, in Markham, and that's really saying something as there's quite a lot of competition in the area. These ones seem to be a bit bigger than the standard xiaolongbao, but it's the insides that set these apart. Incredibly plump and impossibly juicy, with the perfect meat-to-fat-to-soup ratio. And the wrappers are thin but substantial enough to hold all the delightful soupy deliciousness inside. Seriously, a must-have. It's not a matter of if you should order them, but how many you need to order. Like, just forget about the rest of the menu until you check off these bad boys on your order sheet.
Next up, noodle dishes. Katherine and I are basically noodle fiends, so we got two kinds. The steamed rice cakes with shredded pork and cabbage is simple but addictive; flavourful but not too salty, and the squishy rice cakes offer a great textural contrast to the tender pork, crunchy cabbage, and crisp bamboo shoots. I could seriously eat bowls of this stuff. Of course, the beef noodle soup is a classic at any Shanghainese restaurant, and the ones here are well-executed; the hand-pulled noodles have just the right amount of firmness and chew, the beef was incredibly tender with just the right amount of fat, and the broth had just enough flavour without being too oily (I find that many places that serve this have broth that pools with oil). Finally, the pan-fried beef rolls: thinly-sliced beef and a touch of hoisin sauce wrapped inside savoury pancakes with a lovely golden, slightly crisp exterior and just the right amount of doughy chew. Perfect as a snack or an appetizer (though they are filling, so prepare to get a take-out box).

I just can't believe I'd never been there before. Seriously. I go to First Markham Place all the time and had never even seen this gem. But you can be damn sure I'll be making up for it now.


Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum3255 Highway 7 East, Unit 18BMarkham, ON L3R 3P9(905) 943-9880

Julep Maven Box: March 2013

This month's Julep Maven box features shades from Julep's new Playful collection, which was inspired by the pastel shades of sidewalk chalk, "because you're never to old to get creative with colour." Of course, it's really no surprise that pastels are big for Spring; they were all over the runways during Spring Fashion Week, but since Easter is the major holiday during this season, pastels generally make a comeback this time of year. I decided to keep my "It Girl" style box, which included three shades from the Playful collection, and I also got an extra add-on shade for $4.99. So, the shades I got this month are:

Adrianna, Shenae, Simone, and Teri

Adrianna is a light pistachio green in a cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two medium coats. It is much more green than Julep's Susie, and lighter and more yellow-toned than Butter London's Bossy Boots.

Shenae is a light mint-aqua blue with fine opalescent micro-shimmer. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two thin-medium coats. It is darker and more aqua than Julep's Susie, lighter and more mint than Julep's Jessica, and more blue than Butter London's Fiver.

Simone is a light-medium pinked lilac with fine opalescent micro-shimmer. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two medium coats. It is much warmer than Julep's Renee, more pink than Essie's Nice is Nice, and much lighter than Butter London's Molly Coddled.

Teri is a medium soft papaya coral in a cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in one medium coat. It is darker and more orange than Julep's Alicia, lighter and more pink than China Glaze's Mimosas Before Manis, and much softer and more orange than OPI's Suzi's Hungary Again!.

All four polishes applied beautifully across the board — smooth, fluid, pigmented, and completely self-levelling. Honestly, this is the quality I've come to expect from Julep now. None of these shades are really unique for Spring, but they are all really pretty and on-trend for this time of year. They actually reminded me a lot of Butter London's Spring collection, but between the two, I prefer Julep's formula way more. I was actually wearing these four shades together like you see in the photo above, and received a ton of compliments on my "manicure" (I painted my nails like that for this review here and was too lazy to re-paint my nails, so it was really a happy accident that these colours looked good together). People kept saying, "Your nails remind me of Mini Eggs!" Suffice it to say, these shades are really appropriate for Easter. But, really, looking at these colours just make me really happy, so I will just rock them whenever I so please.

Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale — Spring 2013

So, I went with Steph to the Estée Lauder warehouse sale this past weekend. Steph had never been, and I was like, "I'm totally gonna pop your warehouse sale cherry," and she got super excited. I was originally going to pass up on it because I'm on a serious budget this month, but I was tempted by the thought of those $5 charity grab bags, and thought, "Well, it would be worth going just to pick up a grab bag." Of course, me being me, I got tempted by some other things... However, I made good on my "no buying make-up" rule and only picked up some body products, so I don't feel so bad.

Origins Ginger Gloss Smoothing Body Oil and Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Wash & Bubble Bath
Okay, I think I got some pretty good deals, if I do say so myself. And that's really saying something, since I go to these sales like, four times a year. Body oils are getting a lot of attention lately and I've been wanting to try one for a while, so when I saw Origins Ginger Gloss, I decided to pick one up since it was $15 from $25. I also allowed myself to get one new shower gel, since I am just finishing up my massive bottle of Dr. Bronner's Citrus Liquid Soap, which I had been using exclusively as my body wash. I thought finishing nearly a litre of body wash was quite a feat and cause for celebration, and since I am a sucker for all things grapefruit-scented, I snatched up a tube of Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Wash, since it was $12 from $22.50.
Origins Ginger to Go & Stay Set: Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger Body Scrub, Ginger Soufflé Whipped Body Cream, and Ginger Burst Savory Body Wash (and travel-size version of each)
My best deal of the day, however, was the Origins Ginger to Go & Stay Set. Okay, guys, they were offering these sets for $30, and it was Buy 1, Get 1 Free. Seriously. I convinced Steph to buy one with me, so we'd each get a set for $15. And each set comes with a full-size 200 ml tube of their Ginger Soufflé Whipped Body Cream, 100 ml tubes of their Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger Body Scrub and Ginger Burst Savory Body Wash, and 50 ml travel-size tubes of each. This set retails for $68.50 and has a value of $78.50. And I got it for $15! What kills me is that people were barely glancing at them because they were in such an obscure spot in the warehouse. Seriously, it was such a bargain. If I had more money, I would've bought like, three more sets...
$5 MAC charity grab bag + MAC freebie gift
And, of course, I got what I went there for: a $5 MAC grab bag. All of the money raised from these grab bags go to the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and MAC AIDS Fund, so it's always worth getting. I mean, it's not buying, it's donating! I think there were a few different grab bags available (it's a blind buy, so you don't know what's in each bag), but since I technically put myself on a make-up ban at the sale, I stuck to getting just one. Mine included Matte Lipstick in Rocker (which was brought back with last fall's MAC by Request collection; I remember wanting this lipstick but it was sold out by the time I checked it out, so this was really meant to be!) and Lustre Lipstick in Fun Fun (I think MAC was going to re-promote this shade last year — from 2007's Balloonacy collection! — but it didn't end up being released), Pro Longwear Lipglass in Everlasting Nude (a limited edition shade from last fall's Office Hours collection, which I reviewed here), and Fluidline in Catch My Eye (from last holiday's Glamour Daze collection — this worked out well, since this was the shade I was missing). That's over $100 worth of MAC products for $5!
And the freebie gift for the day we went on was MAC's Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in Bloom On (another limited edition shade from last fall's Office Hours collection, which I reviewed here). Not the most exciting shade, granted, but it was free, so I really can't complain. All in all, a seriously good haul. (Hey, that rhymed.)

Sunday Video Love: All of This

As you may know, I've been on a huge The Naked and Famous kick lately and have basically been playing their album on repeat for the past couple weeks now. I thought I'd share a live version of one of my favourite songs from the album, because I think that's how their music should really be experienced. This song simultaneously has some of the best lyrics and the catchiest beats on the album. On another note, I was showing some videos of them to my friend, and all he said was, "Hey, you look exactly like the singer! You know, Asian, long hair, round face, always wears black clothes and bright lipstick..." All I said was, "But she has a way cooler job than me."

Smith Brothers Steakhouse Tavern

Steph and I went to check out a new steakhouse called Smith Brothers for dinner:


We were both starving when we got there, so we decided to order the Spinach & Artichoke Fondue to start, which is served with salsa, sour cream, and tortilla chips. Many restaurants serve this type of appetizer, and while I didn't think this one was particularly outstanding, I did think it was generally better than the ones they offer at some chain restaurants (e.g. Moxie's). The dip itself was creamy, flavourful, and full of spinach and massive chunks of artichoke hearts. Plus, the chips were crispy and fresh and comes in a generous portion, which is apparently something to write about because I have been to way too many places that serve stale, oily chips (and in small amounts, too, so the dip-to-chip ratio becomes way off). Like many steakhouses, they also give you a basket of bread to start, a round sourdough served piping hot with whipped butter. I will tell you now that if you decide to order an appetizer along with your main meal, you really shouldn't touch the bread at all because you will be too full by the end, and the bread is extremely enticing and addictive. I'm warning you now, because I learned this the hard way.

For our mains, we both ordered a Complete set, which includes your choice of soup or salad, main course, and dessert. I chose the Caesar salad to start, which was above standard quality than I am used to in set meals like this — fresh, full romaine leaves, creamy and flavourful homemade dressing, and crunchy garlicky croutons. Most importantly, however, was the perfect salad-to-dressing ratio, which is what made it stand out to me, since many restaurants either put too much or too little dressing in their salads. For our main courses, we both got the prime rib au jus, which comes with Yorkshire pudding, garlic cream mashed potatoes, and a little dish of horseradish on the side. The meat, perfectly cooked medium rare as ordered, was juicy, tender, and just bloody enough, with a good flesh-to-fat ratio (love talkin' about ratios). The size was also very generous, and the cut was just thick enough to retain all the delicious meaty juices (har, har, har) so that each bite just explodes with beefy flavour. It's pretty much all I could ask for in a prime rib, really. 
The Yorkshire pudding was beautiful in texture — crispy and golden on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside — but was a little bland in terms of flavour. Honestly, though, I could barely make a dent in it since I had a decent-sized food baby by the time I could even pay attention to it, so this is not a deal-breaker for me. Likewise with the mashed potatoes, which are so creamy and so garlicky (seriously, you get some major dragon breath after eating this) and incredibly addictive, but so damn filling. I had maybe four bites before I surrendered, and I was disappointed in myself because it was so good and I couldn't bear to waste it. But the food baby had turned into twins by this point, and I couldn't continue. When I have this much food presented to me and I know I won't be able to finish it, I have to decide what is most worth eating and list in my head the order in which I will proceed. I don't know if it's my Asian mentality of "eat the most expensive thing on your plate before you get too full," but obviously, I will work my hardest to finish the meat, and then follow with the cheaper (and obviously less superior) carb-loaded sides. I am like this with fast food as well, I'll have you know (eat the burger first, and then the fries), so it's not like I'm being a snob here.

For dessert, we both decided on the crème brûlée. Now, it must be noted that the time between me tapping out of the main course and dessert arriving at the table was at least 15 minutes, so I had some time to digest. Not that I didn't still have food twins, but you know, I somehow miraculously made room for dessert. Or, at least, I did mentally. Now, crème brûlée can be a controversial dessert, because there are so many different versions and so many different opinions on what makes it "authentic." Some people say to serve it room temperature, some say warm, but Smith Brothers serves their version cold, and it was positively delightful. The custard was dense but not too rich, creamy but not too thick, and had a light, sweet vanilla flavour that wasn't too cloying. The layer of sugar on top was just thin enough, with a beautiful crackly, golden, perfectly burnt finish. The portion is much bigger than I'm used to, but there was something really addictive about this dessert that made me want to eat the whole thing even though I was nearing food triplets at this point. Authentic or not, it's goddamn tasty. (Honestly, I take food for what it is, and not what it should be.)
Our server was an older Asian gentleman, who was super-quick and efficient, polite and helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed without hovering. Even though he gave us our own glass pitcher of water for our table, he'd still drop by and refill our glasses if he saw that they were nearing empty. And when the restaurant was nearing closing time, he didn't make us feel rushed to pay and get out. Oh, and he also clears tables like a mother (the way he just piled up every single dish on the table and took them all out in one go — that's some serious arm strength). All in all, impressed with the service, impressed with the food, and impressed with the overall design and atmosphere of the restaurant (large, open concept, casual but sleek and modern). Both Steph and I decided that while it's not better than a fancier steakhouse, it certainly does give you the more bang for your buck considering the quality you get. Think of it as the relaxed, more casual version to The Keg. If you're craving steak in Scarborough, this is definitely the place to check out.

Smith Brothers Steakhouse Tavern 880 Warden Avenue Scarborough, ON M1L 4W6 (416) 751-3100

Friday Five: Lasts

This week's Friday Five:

1. At a gathering of your usual social group, who's almost certain to show up last? You know, I actually think it might be me...
2. Of chores that must be done this weekend, which will you probably complete last, and why? I typically don't do chores on the weekend because I'm usually working, but in general, the last chore I do is laundry. For some reason, I hate doing laundry. Maybe because I let all my clothes pile up for weeks (basically until I run out of underwear, and I have a lot of underwear) so when I actually end up doing the laundry, I usually have to do two to three loads. The whole process of putting everything in the washer and then moving everything to the dryer and then having to fold all that crap? It's exhausting. And time-consuming.
3. Some TV remote controls have a "last" button. If you were to turn your TV on now and hit the "last" button on the remote, which channel would you be taken to? I wouldn't know because I actually don't watch cable at home; I either watch my shows on DVD or download episodes. However, the last TV show I watched was HBO's Girls.
4. Your task is to try one scoop of ice cream per day until every one of thirty-one flavors is consumed. Which do you save for last? Häagen-Dazs Coffee ice cream, or the black sesame ice cream at Guu. Or if gelato counts, then the pistachio gelato from Grom in New York. 
5. When did you last have an awful meal in a restaurant? I haven't really been eating out a lot lately, so I can't remember a truly bad meal that I've had recently. For some reason, the only bad meal that I can recall being bad was at an all-you-can-eat Japanese buffet restaurant I went to last summer with Anj. Not that it was terrible, but I remember the food wasn't as fresh as it could be, and the presentation left something to be desired. And the service was ridiculously slow. But I don't even remember the name of the restaurant. Suffice to say, I never went back.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots: Part II

Last month, MAC launched a small extension collection called Pro Longwear Paint Pot. This collection saw the release of eight shades of Pro Longwear Paint Pot — two of which are new and permanent, five of which are re-promotes and now permanent, and one of which is already permanent. The Pro Longwear Paint Pot has the same formula as the original Paint Pot, but now has a new long-wear claim — all existing shades of Paint Pot will be called Pro Longwear Paint Pot going forward. The Pro Longwear Paint Pot is a "highly pigmented eye colour" that has a creamy, lightweight texture and dries down to an "intense, vibrant finish." They are water-resistant and wear up to 15 hours. They are packaged in a glass jar with a black plastic lid. Each Pro Longwear Paint Pot comes with 5 grams of product, and retails for $22.

Clockwise from bottom: Frozen Violet, Dangerous Cuvée, and Antique Diamond
Frozen Violet, Dangerous Cuvée, and Antique Diamond

Frozen Violet is a dark mauve-taupe with silver shimmer. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is warmer and more brown than Dangerous Cuvée. In terms of colour, it is less brown than Satin Taupe Eyeshadow.

Dangerous Cuvée is a dark cool-toned mauve-grey with silver shimmer-sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2010's Cham-Pale collection, and is now permanent. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly, but it does have a tendency to look slightly dry and patchy once applied to the lid. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is cooler and more grey than Frozen Violet. In terms of colour, it is lighter than Keep Your Cool Pro Longwear Eyeshadow.

Antique Diamond is a medium-dark silvered olive. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly, but it does have a tendency to look slightly dry and patchy once applied to the lid. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. There are no dupes within MAC's permanent Paint Pot range. In terms of colour, it is lighter and much more silver than Greensmoke Eyeshadow.

I felt that there weren't enough of these smoky colours in the original Paint Pot range, so these are definitely a welcome addition. Any of these three shades would work beautifully in a smoky eye look. The only problem with these three darker shades is that they tend to look a bit drier and flakier when applied to the lid, so I would recommend applying these in thin layers, because they can clump up and end up looking patchy. Even though the ingredients of the formula hasn't changed, these do seem to be longer wearing and crease-free for longer than the older Paint Pot shades — in general, these stayed crease-free for a good eight hours on me, and didn't seem to fade at all until I took it off about 12 hours later. If you have incredibly oily eyelids, I would still wear an eye primer underneath (my favourite is NARS'), but these do work nicely on their own.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots: Part I

Last month, MAC launched a small extension collection called Pro Longwear Paint Pot. This collection saw the release of eight shades of Pro Longwear Paint Pot — two of which are new and permanent, five of which are re-promotes and now permanent, and one of which is already permanent. The Pro Longwear Paint Pot has the same formula as the original Paint Pot, but now has a new long-wear claim — all existing shades of Paint Pot will be called Pro Longwear Paint Pot going forward. The Pro Longwear Paint Pot is a "highly pigmented eye colour" that has a creamy, lightweight texture and dries down to an "intense, vibrant finish." They are water-resistant and wear up to 15 hours. They are packaged in a glass jar with a black plastic lid. Each Pro Longwear Paint Pot comes with 5 grams of product, and retails for $22.

Clockwise from bottom: Let's Skate!, Chilled on Ice, Let Me Pop, and Vintage Selection
Let's Skate!, Chilled on Ice, Let Me Pop, and Vintage Selection

Let's Skate! is a pale pink with a soft golden shimmer-sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2011's Glitter & Ice collection, and is now permanent. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more pink than Bare Study. In terms of colour, it is lighter and cooler than Sweet Lust Eyeshadow, and warmer and less frosted than Pink Freeze Eyeshadow.

Chilled on Ice is a pale peachy gold with golden shimmer-sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2010's Cham-Pale collection, and is now permanent. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more golden than Bare Study. In terms of colour, it is similar to Dazzlelight Eyeshadow, and lighter and less yellow than Ricepaper Eyeshadow.

Let Me Pop is a medium orange-copper with copper shimmer-sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2010's Cham-Pale collection, and is now permanent. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is darker and much more orange than Rubenesque. In terms of colour, it is lighter and more orange than Mythology Eyeshadow.

Vintage Selection is a light-medium warm pinked beige-brown with champagne shimmer-sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2010's Cham-Pale collection, and is now permanent. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is lighter and much cooler than Indianwood. In terms of colour, it is darker than All That Glitters Eyeshadow.

For those who wanted more shimmery Paint Pots, MAC has finally delivered! I absolutely love these additions to the permanent Paint Pot range — there's a nice variety of neutrals and soft pops of colour released with this collection. Especially lovely this season, as metallic washes of colour on the eyes are so on-trend right now. My personal new favourite is Vintage Selection, which seems to work beautifully on all skintones and undertones, and looks amazing with pretty much any eyeshadow layered on top. Even though the ingredients of the formula hasn't changed, these do seem to be longer wearing and crease-free for longer than the older Paint Pot shades — in general, these stayed crease-free for a good eight hours on me, and didn't seem to fade at all until I took it off about 12 hours later. If you have incredibly oily eyelids, I would still wear an eye primer underneath (my favourite is NARS'), but these do perform beautifully on their own. Whereas Paint Pot used to be seen more as an eyeshadow base, I feel like the additions of these shimmery shades really help showcase the Paint Pot as a general cream eyeshadow rather than just a base.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Holy grail skincare product? I actually have a few holy grail skincare products at the moment (naturally). Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel & Eye Makeup Remover and Bioderma's Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution for make-up removal, MAC's Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Essence and Softening Lotion to help even out skintone and discolouration, AmorePacific's Moisture Bound Rejuvinating Serum for intense hydration and brightness, and Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex for skin texture.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel & Eye Makeup Remover, Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution, MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Essence, MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion, AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum, and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex

Holy grail concealer? MAC's Mineralize Concealer. I'm not someone who wears concealer everyday, but when I do, this is the one I reach for. I use it more so for evening out any redness on my cheeks, but occasionally under my eyes if I'm looking particularly tired. It has medium buildable coverage and a natural luminous finish, so it's ideal for people who want to even out skintone but not full or heavy coverage. It's hydrating and super-blendable, and doesn't cake or build-up in fine lines. Love this stuff.

MAC Mineralize Concealer
Holy grail foundation? MAC's Studio Fix Powder Foundation. I don't use liquid foundations because I don't like the feel of it all over my face, so I switched to powders. This one can be heavy or cakey when used with a sponge, but I use a flathead brush with it and it creates a very even, buffed finish while still giving me medium-full coverage. What I like most about this is that it's effortless to use; you can just slap it on and go without having to worry about fully blending it out (as you would a liquid foundation). Plus, as someone who has oily skin, I love the matte finish of this powder.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation

Ajisen Ramen

Went to Ajisen for dinner for the sole purpose of getting their cucumber salad. It's just one of my many addictions right now. It's a gigantic bowl of shredded cucumber and crab meat, mixed in with some sort of mayo sauce and fish roe. It's ridiculously simple, but ungh, so damn good. I would seriously go to Ajisen just to eat this and make a meal out of it... but I'm just not one of those girls that goes to restaurants only to eat salad, even if it does have a million calories worth of mayo in it, you know?

For some reason, I didn't feel like actually eating ramen (gasp!), and ordered the pork katsu curry with rice instead. It was good — the meat was tender and the exterior was perfectly golden and crispy — but the sauce is sweeter than I typically like in a Japanese curry. It satisfied my craving for pork katsu, but I will likely stick to the ramen next time. Honestly, I don't know why I stray.


Ajisen Ramen
7010 Warden Avenue
Markham, ON L3R 0L9
(905) 470-6318

Sunday Video Love: Punching in a Dream

I've actually been obsessed with The Naked and Famous since hearing this song in Pitch Perfect. So much so, I felt the need to download their entire album, Passive Me, Aggressive You, which is just as fun and catchy as this song and has proven to be entirely worth the $9.99 I spent on iTunes. I'm genuinely surprised that it's taken me this long to listen to their music. And it's really a shame that they're not bigger here — how big can an indie alt-electro band from New Zealand really make it over here? — but as one critic put it, "there's nothing passive about how much you could aggressively love this band."

And, also: Yay for Asian female singers in indie rock!

Julep Nail Color in Lucky

As you may have noticed by now, I tend to celebrate various holidays by painting my nails in a festive colour suited for the occasion, especially if I don't have actual social plans. In honour of St. Patrick's Day, Julep released a shade aptly called Lucky, which I probably would've gotten just because I'm a sucker for bright green polishes, but the fact it also contains an insane amount of glitter made it a must-have for me. So when I was picking out my Julep Maven Box for this month, I decided to redeem my points for it.


Lucky is a medium brightened lime and kelly green micro-glitter base with larger oxidized gold glitter particles. It has a thicker consistency that is common with chunkier glitter polishes, but it doesn't hinder the application. It goes on evenly for the most part, but because of the consistency, it does have a tendency to pull. I didn't experience any streaking or bubbling, though. It has high pigmentation and goes opaque in one coat (what you see above is actually one coat!). I can't think of an exact dupe; it is much brighter and has more green than Julep's Colbie, much less teal than Models Own's Emerald City, and lighter with more chunky glitter than Zoya's Rina. It really looks like gold coins thrown into a lush field of clovers — by far the most Irish-inspired nail polish I own!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

Friday Five: Lines

This week's Friday Five:

1. What's the longest line you've ever stood in? Probably at Vans Warped Tour, back when it was still held at Molson Park (which is now called Park Place). The last one I went to was in 2006, and I remember the line-up curving around the entire park.
2. When did you have the most fun waiting in line? I can't really pinpoint an exact occasion, but I usually have fun waiting in line when I'm with a good group of friends. I find it's never where you are, but who you're with, that matters.
3. What line, no matter how long or short it is, always drives you crazy? Lining up to go over the border to the States at the Lewiston—Queenston Bridge. 
4. When did you last behave in a manner that was over the line? I may have said some rather offensive things to one of my friends sometime last week. I didn't mean for it to come out offensive, but he said something that had pissed me off, so I said something that was just honest and it may have come across as kind of mean... 
5. What are some lines of poetry you can recite from memory? In Grade 10, I got detention (the only one I ever got) and the teacher who was supervising it just happened to be the meanest English teacher in the school. Detention was held for two hours after school, and she said we had to memorize Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 and recite it back to her at the end of the two hours. So it's sort of stuck with me ever since:

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds, admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove: O no! It is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken. It is the star to every wandering bark, whose worth's unknown although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle's compass come: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved."

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipsticks: Part III

Last week, MAC launched a new lip product called Mineralize Rich Lipstick. It features "a luxurious formula and gorgeous colour, enhanced with a 77-Mineral Moist Complex that provides lips with nourishment and lasting hydration. The impact is instant — softer, smoother, more supple lips that are luminous and shiny." It comes in 12 new and permanent shades that "glide on with ease for intense, bright shade retention." Each bullet is made larger at the base and is cut at a steeper angle to give the product more surface area which enables it to lay down more product in one swipe. Like all MAC lipsticks, they are vanilla-scented but taste-free. They are packaged in a newly designed black hourglass-shaped case with a magnetic closure. Each Mineralize Rich Lipstick comes with 4 grams of product, and retails for $26. These are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Everyday Diva, All Out Gorgeous, and Lush Life
Everyday Diva, All Out Gorgeous, and Lush Life

Everyday Diva is a medium-dark vibrant cherry red with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and cooler than Ladybug, and slightly warmer than New Temptation Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

All Out Gorgeous is a medium-dark raspberry red with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter than Hang Up, and brighter than Party Line.

Lush Life is a medium-dark vibrant pinked berry-plum with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and less purple than Rebel, and darker and less pink than Quite the Thing! Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

Fans of vampy, red lips can rejoice at three more options from MAC. I do wish there was more of a difference between All Out Gorgeous and Lush Life, though — they're not different enough to be worth getting both, though they are both beautiful shades. If you like your berry reds to be cooler, go for Lush Life, and if you like them to be warmer, go for All Out Gorgeous. Everyday Diva is a lovely pop of bright cherry red, but if you own New Temptation, you probably won't need to grab this one. If you are looking for a bright red that has glossiness rather than a matte finish, though, this one is definitely worth checking out.

The Mineralize Rich Lipstick is meant to be MAC's "luxury lipstick" with its soft, lightweight gel-based formula, new sleek tube, and higher price point. And it shows. The moment you swipe this lipstick on, you immediately notice that it's whisper light, soft and creamy, and pigmented to boot. And for the duration of wear, lips actually feel soft and hydrated. Moreover, this formula has a very impressive wear time considering how light and creamy it is; I get an average of four to five hours of wear before needing to re-apply. These actually remind me quite a lot of YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks (which are $13 more expensive). Honestly, this may be my new favourite lipstick formula from MAC.

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipsticks: Part II

Last week, MAC launched a new lip product called Mineralize Rich Lipstick. It features "a luxurious formula and gorgeous colour, enhanced with a 77-Mineral Moist Complex that provides lips with nourishment and lasting hydration. The impact is instant — softer, smoother, more supple lips that are luminous and shiny." It comes in 12 new and permanent shades that "glide on with ease for intense, bright shade retention." Each bullet is made larger at the base and is cut at a steeper angle to give the product more surface area which enables it to lay down more product in one swipe. Like all MAC lipsticks, they are vanilla-scented but taste-free. They are packaged in a newly designed black hourglass-shaped case with a magnetic closure. Each Mineralize Rich Lipstick comes with 4 grams of product, and retails for $26. These are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Lady at Play, Style Surge, Divine Choice, and Dreaminess
Lady at Play, Style Surge, Divine Choice, and Dreaminess

Lady at Play is a medium-dark vibrant reddened coral with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is much softer and less orange than Lady Danger, and less pink than Full Speed Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

Style Surge is a medium peach-coral with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and brighter than Ravishing, and lighter than Vegas Volt.

Divine Choice is a medium cool-toned bubblegum pink with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer than Pink Nouveau, and much cooler than Chatterbox.

Dreaminess is a light slightly cool-toned baby pink with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and cooler than Angel, and warmer than Dress It Up Pro Longwear Lipcreme.

At first glance, these four shades, while pretty, don't seem very new or exciting for MAC. But upon application, I've realized that they really do fill in the gaps in what's missing in MAC's permanent range. Lady at Play is a real stunner and a guaranteed best-seller for this Spring and Summer — this is almost an exact dupe for Viva Glam Cyndi (my favourite coral by MAC and was discontinued two years ago), so for those who missed out, definitely check this one out. Style Surge is great for those who find Ravishing too light and Vegas Volt too bright, the perfect middle ground. And I was surprised by how wearable Divine Choice is, given how cool-toned it is; this one is a much more flattering bubblegum pink for those who have warm undertones.

The Mineralize Rich Lipstick is meant to be MAC's "luxury lipstick" with its soft, lightweight gel-based formula, new sleek tube, and higher price point. And it shows. The moment you swipe this lipstick on, you immediately notice that it's whisper light, soft and creamy, and pigmented to boot. And for the duration of wear, lips actually feel soft and hydrated. Moreover, this formula has a very impressive wear time considering how light and creamy it is; I get an average of four to five hours of wear before needing to re-apply. These actually remind me quite a lot of YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks (which are $13 more expensive). Honestly, this may be my new favourite lipstick formula from MAC.

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipsticks: Part I

Last week, MAC launched a new lip product called Mineralize Rich Lipstick. It features "a luxurious formula and gorgeous colour, enhanced with a 77-Mineral Moist Complex that provides lips with nourishment and lasting hydration. The impact is instant — softer, smoother, more supple lips that are luminous and shiny." It comes in 12 new and permanent shades that "glide on with ease for intense, bright shade retention." Each bullet is made larger at the base and is cut at a steeper angle to give the product more surface area which enables it to lay down more product in one swipe. Like all MAC lipsticks, they are vanilla-scented but taste-free. They are packaged in a newly designed black hourglass-shaped case with a magnetic closure. Each Mineralize Rich Lipstick comes with 4 grams of product, and retails for $26. These are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Luxe Naturale, Posh Tone, Glamour Era, and Grande Dame
Luxe Naturale, Posh Tone, Glamour Era, and Grande Dame

Luxe Naturale is a light peach-toned beige nude with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly darker than Creme d'Nude, and more peach and more pigmented than Hue. 

Posh Tone is a medium peachy beige-brown with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more peach than Spirit, and less brown than Tea Ceremony Sheen Supreme Lipstick. 

Glamour Era is a medium-dark warm peachy-pink brown with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more pink than Mocha, and much lighter than Retro. 

Grande Dame is a medium neutral rose pink with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter than Twig, and more pink than Impressive Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

I like that MAC included super-wearable neutrals for all skintones in this new range; they're not the most exciting shades, but they are extremely flattering and I can see them being many people's new go-to nudes. The Mineralize Rich Lipstick is meant to be MAC's "luxury lipstick" with its soft, lightweight gel-based formula, new sleek tube, and higher price point. And it shows. The moment you swipe this lipstick on, you immediately notice that it's whisper light, soft and creamy, and pigmented to boot. And for the duration of wear, lips actually feel soft and hydrated. Moreover, this formula has a very impressive wear time considering how light and creamy it is; I get an average of four to five hours of wear before needing to re-apply. These actually remind me quite a lot of YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks (which are $13 more expensive). Honestly, this may be my new favourite lipstick formula from MAC.

OPI Euro Centrale Nail Lacquer in Can't Find My Czechbook

I haven't really been intrigued with any of OPI's collections since Skyfall last November, but when I saw their new Euro Centrale collection for Spring, I was immediately drawn to the brighter shades. Maybe I'm just sick of winter now, but I'm extremely attracted to colours that obviously scream, "Spring!" I was set to pick up a few shades, but I saw that they offered the majority of the shades I wanted in a Mini Lacquer Set, so I picked that up instead to save myself some money. After trying on the ultra-girly Suzi's Hungary Again!, I decided to wear a shade that was more in my comfort zone.


Can't Find My Czechbook is a medium brightened cyan-aqua blue in a jelly-cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two medium coats. It is dustier and less bright than Illamasqua's Noble and Deborah Lippmann's On the Beach, and lighter and more aqua than Sephora by OPI's Slushied. It seems that every brand has come out with a bright cyan blue in the past year or so, so this is not necessarily a new or unique shade, but it does have a sort of dusty quality to it (which is more obvious in real life than in photos) that makes it slightly different. I wouldn't say this is a must-have if you already have a similar shade in your stash, but if you are looking for a bright cyan blue, this is a budget-friendly option that's worth checking out.

Sunday Video Love: High for This

As we all know, I am obsessed with Ellie Goulding. Last year, she recorded a cover of The Weeknd's "High For This," and released it as a free download on her website (which you can now get on her Soundcloud page here). The original is slower and more R&B-driven with a darker, more sinister vibe, but this is the version I always opt to listen to. It's not just because it's Ellie (who is my ultimate girl crush) and I am in love with her voice, but because her version seems lighter and more pure while still keeping the integrity of the song and sensuality of the lyrics. Warning: You may have the sudden urge to do drugs and/or have sex.

Friday Five: Speaking

This week's Friday Five:

1. Who's the fastest talker you know? Probably me, if you catch me at the right time. I have to be pretty caffeinated and talking about something I'm relatively passionate about, but I can speak almost scarily fast. Like, faster than Lorelai on Gilmore Girls.
2. Who's the most soft-spoken person you know? Oddly enough, my best friend, Ben. It's almost comical, because he's this 6-foot-4 big German man and you'd totally expect him to have this deep, thunderous voice, and yet he speaks so calmly and quietly. I guess that's why you should never judge a book by its cover.
3. What are some words you know from a language you don't speak? I know a lot of random words in a lot of different languages, but I think out of all the languages that I don't speak fluently, I know the most words in French. I guess that's what happens when you live in a country where it's mandatory to learn French until Grade 9. The amount of words I know in French would be too long to list here, but suffice it to say, I can say more than a few basic words.
   
4. To whom did you last speak your own name? Probably a new client of mine who booked me to do her make-up for her son's wedding this September.
5. If everyone had to be a national spokesperson for some cause, what would be yours? You know, I actually have no idea. Sadly, I'm not super-passionate about any one specific cause, though I am an ongoing supporter of MAC's Viva Glam program, which donates every cent to the MAC AIDS Fund, not just a portion or proceeds. I'm someone who likes to see exactly where and who my donation is going to, and this program provides that. What's better than buying a lipstick for yourself to directly help someone affected by AIDS or HIV? It's honestly a win-win situation.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: Charisma and Dazzled

Apparently, I've made it my life mission to own all of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes. Tarte came out with four new shades some time last fall, and due to budgeting or self-control or whatever you want to call it, I only let myself buy two. I will likely buy the other two shades when I return to New York in May, though, since they're $5 cheaper in the US. Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $31 (note: the Canadian price has decreased by $2 since last year).

Charisma and Dazzled

Charisma and Dazzled

Charisma is a medium-dark reddened coral-pink with soft gold micro-shimmer in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Tipsy, less red than Frisky, and darker and more red than Glisten. It is less pink than MAC Fleur Power, brighter than MAC Pinch Me, and darker and more red than NARS Deep Throat. 

Dazzled is a medium browned rose pink with subtle gold micro-shimmer in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Exposed, much less yellow than Buff, and less peach than Peaceful. It is more shimmery than MAC Blushbaby, and more pink than NARS Douceur.

Dazzled is very dupeable, but is one of those office-friendly, "everyday" kind of shades that everyone should have. Charisma, on the other hand, is a perfect marriage of red, coral, and pink that is gorgeous for summer or when you want a pop of colour that isn't overly bright. The wear on these are phenomenal, and I actually find the formula to be softer, smoother, and more finely-milled than even NARS. They are blendable and buildable and just go on like a dream. I don't usually have a problem with wear-time with most blushes, but Tarte's 12-hour claim is absolutely true — it looks just as fresh after 12 hours as when I put it on. No need to worry about rushing to get these, since they have been added to the permanent range... But you may want to rush, anyway, because these are just too pretty to resist. Yes, indeed, the Tarte blush love is still going strong.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Last beauty retailer you went to? I usually buy most of my cosmetics online, so the last beauty store I actually went into with a purpose was probably Sephora, which was a few weeks ago. (I don't count, say, passing by Trade Secrets to see if they have new nail polish collections out or, like, walking through the cosmetics department at The Bay as actually going to a beauty retailer.)

Did you buy anything? Yup, see my haul post. When I decide to actually go into a Sephora store, I'm there on a mission. I'm not really someone who goes into Sephora "just to browse," unless I'm trying to kill time (or unless I'm in a different city, like New York, in which I like to peruse brands that we don't have here). I ended up spending way too much money, as usual.

If so, what did you love most? I finally splurged on a bottle of AmorePacific's Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum, because I had read and heard amazing things about it from people with all different skin types. After using it for about two weeks now, I can safely say that I'm in love with it. It makes my skin feel hydrated and soft without feeling oily or sticky or leaving a residue. It has made a huge difference in my skin on especially cold days; I'm a smoker and spend a fair amount of time outside in negative temperatures and bitter winds. My skin is also noticeably smoother and more radiant, too. Plus, it smells really good, which is always a nice bonus.

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum

Pitch Perfect

I finally got around to watching Pitch Perfect last night, and loved it so much that I felt the need to share this clip here. And I now have a new-found girl crush on Anna Kendrick. There's just something about the way she sings "No Diggity" that really does it for me.

OPI Euro Centrale Nail Lacquer in Suzi's Hungary Again!

I haven't really been intrigued with any of OPI's collections since Skyfall last November, but when I saw their new Euro Centrale collection for Spring, I was immediately drawn to the brighter shades. Maybe I'm just sick of winter now, but I'm extremely attracted to colours that obviously scream, "Spring!" I was set to pick up a few shades, but I saw that they offered the majority of the shades I wanted in a Mini Lacquer Set, so I picked that up instead to save myself some money (and also because I rarely ever use a nail polish more than twice, so the smaller size is actually more ideal). The first shade I decided to try is the most girly, tropical one of the bunch (possibly of the entire collection), and also the one that was the most out of my comfort zone.


Suzi's Hungary Again! is a medium vibrant coral-pink in a jelly-cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two medium coats. It is slightly darker and more pink than Butter London's Trout Pout, more pink than MAC's Fiestaware, and lighter than Essie's Cute as a Button. There are a lot of dupes for this shade since these bright coral-pinks are often released this time of year for warm weather manicures and pedicures. No surprise, since everything about this shade reminds me of summer: strawberry lemonade, watermelon Bubblicious gum, rainbow sherbet. Coral and bright pink polishes are still out of my comfort zone because I maintain that they look odd against my skintone... but I can see myself embracing them, especially once summer rolls around.