Warrior Dash 2013: My Experience

Pre Warrior Dash Hawaii 2013

Warrior Dash came to Hawaii again in 2013!  We signed up really early this year, which was good because the registration filled up so fast!  They even opened up a second day, but I don't think all of those slots got filled.  We ran on the first day, second wave at 9:30, same time as last year. 
The parking situation this year was a lot better this year.  It was much more organized this year, and the drive to the parking lot was closer.  We were supposed to start the race at 9:30, but we didn't actually start until 9:45.  There were 2 separate lines for each wave that were released every 15 minutes.  We got really confused at the start because we thought they would let everyone go at once, but we had to wait about half an hour before we got to start.  They said last year the course was too crowded releasing everyone at once, which is why they changed it this year.  The obstacles were less crowded and everyone was a little more spread out so that was good.  I felt the actual obstacles were harder than last years course.  There were a lot more vertical obstacles where you had to lift yourself up.  I finished in about 50 minutes this year, beating my time from last year (mostly because I tried to run the whole thing rather than walk).

Finished!

Much to my disappointment,  the rinse-off area wasn't at the lake this year.  It was on the grounds in the mud, and it was just a bunch of hoses hooked up.  Last year was much more efficient, but with just a few hoses for everyone the line was so long and it took forever!  There was also no changing tent, and no turkey legs at the food both this year either!  And no $5 off merchandise coupon on your bib either.  I didn't buy anything this year since it was all pretty much the same.  I was actually pretty disappointed after the race and I felt there was a lot lacking in terms of organization.  The shirts we got this year were pretty nice, but I'm not sure about the quality.  Btw they gave the shirts at the finish line, not at check-in this year.  I read on their facebook page that it doesn't hold up well after being washed. 
Warrior Dash this year was a lot of fun, but I wish they had the same things as last year.  I felt like they were missing a lot (seriously, how can you have no turkey legs?).  We even got some fruit and granola last year, but nothing this year.  I think I would definitely do it again next year though.  I am thinking about doing the Spartan Race which will be at Kualoa Ranch in August.  They are only allowing pre-registration now, and I'm not sure how much it will be, but it sounds fun.  Who's going??

Pinterest Test # 2: Baked Chicken Taquitos

Baked Chicken Taquitos
I made these for dinner last night after seeing rave reviews on Pinterest.  These came out amazing, and they were so easy to make!
I pretty much followed the recipe exactly, except for the garlic.  I used about 2 teaspoons of garlic powder instead of the fresh garlic it called for, and 4oz of cream cheese instead of 3oz. After baking for 20 minutes at 425F they came out prefect.  Brown on the edges and very crispy!  They were also very flavorful and they tasted great dipped with salsa.  I would probably add a little more cheese next time, even though it calls for 1 cup.  But I really love cheese, so that's why I would have liked a little more.  Overall, these came out so good!  It's quick and easy for a weeknight meal.  Definitely something I would remake!

Pinterest Test #1: Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
I found this recipe on Pinterest through a friends post, and I knew I had to make it right away.  We bought a bag of whole wheat flour and had been looking for recopies to make with it (other than muffins).  After looking through all the reviews, I decided to give it a try the other night.  I think most people are really intimidated by making bread, but this recipe was so easy!  It really helps that there are step-by-step directions with pictures on the site. 

I pretty much followed the recipe exactly, but instead of using a stand-mixer I did it by hand.  I think it might have been easier to mix the dough with a stand-mixer, but it's not impossible by hand.  It just requires a little more work.  The directions say to mix until it doesn't stick to your fingers, but even after adding a little more flour, it was still sticky.  So we just covered it and let it rest.  After the hour, it wasn't as sticky and it was easy to form the dough into rolls. The recipe also calls for 2T of yeast, but I used just under 2T, because after opening 2 packets of yeast, it still didn't equal that amount.

Al together it took about 2 1/2 hours or so, most of the time the dough it rising.  The wait time is definitely worth it, because these taste amazing!!  I brushed the tops with butter like the blog recommended, and I think they turned out great.  They are light and fluffy, and slightly sweet because of the honey in them.  We got 24 rolls out of this batch and had a lot of leftovers.  They keep really well in an airtight container.  We just reheat them in the microwave and it tastes just as good.
I highly recommend trying this!  Really easy to make, and it tastes amazing!  I think I will make this for thanksgiving this year.  Great find on Pinterest! 

The Hunt For The Prefect Dress: Bijou Bridal

I first found out about Bijou Bridal a couple of weeks ago on Wedding Wire.  I was looking at different bridal salons in Honolulu and came across this one, which had just opened.  It was brand new (opened just a month or two ago) and I only saw one review on Yelp, which was 5 stars.  I decided to give this place a try, so I called to schedule an appointment for Saturday at 11:30.  Unlike Davids Bridal, I had no problem contacting them, and they were very friendly on the phone.
I arrived a few minutes late for my appointment, and we were greeted by a couple of ladies at the reception desk who were very friendly and energetic.  My consultant was Brenda and she was really nice.  She asked what kind of style we were looking for, what our budget was, and let us look through the racks to see if anything caught our eye.  We actually pulled 7 dresses to try on and she got me started in a fitting room.  The first dress I tried on was one I saw an a mannequin in the front of the store.  As soon as I saw it I knew I had to try it on, and I loved it!  Since it was the first dress I tried on, we went through the other 6 dresses but I didn't find anything I liked better than the first one.  A couple I really loved, but once I tried on the 1st one on again, I knew it was the prefect dress.  My mom and sister also loved the first dress too, so even better!
The customer service was great.  Brenda was really knowledgeable about the dresses, and gave a lot of helpful suggestions.  She wasn't pushy at all, and helped me find a great dress.  The showroom is actually pretty big, and I like that they allow customers to browse the racks freely.  We were the only people in the store, so everyone was attentive, but not overbearing.  As you can see in the pictures, the mirrors were huge and allowed you to see the dress really well.  The dressing rooms were also quite spacious.  They had a good selection of designers, but the dresses are definitely more expensive, compared to Davids Bridal.  I'm not sure what the range was, but the dress I chose was $1500.  They had a 10% off opening sale going on (until August 12), so I saved $150!  They didn't seem to have a huge selection of bridesmaids dresses (only one rack), but if you purchase a dress with them, you get 15% off bridesmaids dresses too. They are located in Honolulu, around Kakaako (600 Queen Street) right near the Bridal Boutique.  There is free parking in the building and appointments are recommended.
Overall, I had a great experience here!  I highly recommend this place!  I will make an update when the dress comes in.
Here are a couple of the dresses I tried on.  The one I chose is the last one:

David Tutera for Mon Cheri Solange #112209

The Hunt For The Prefect Dress: Davids Bridal

So the first place I visited on my search for the perfect dress was Davids Bridal.  I was a little hesitant after reading the horrible reviews on Yelp, but it's the only place open late on weeknights, so my mom and I went there on Friday night.  When I called to make an appointment a couple days earlier, I was put on hold for 10 minutes (wtf) so I just hung up and called back later.  They sounded a little busy and the second time I called I left a message with one of the associates who said she would give me a call back to see what they had available.  Eventually, I was able to get a 6:30 appointment on Friday.
Fast forward to Friday at around 6:00.  We got there pretty early and checked in with the woman at the reception desk.  She was very friendly and explained about discounts and perks you get with purchasing at Davids Bridal.  Our consultant was finishing with another customer so she told us we could look around until she was done.  I was actually really nervous to try on dresses, and I didn't really know what to expect.  It was a little overwhelming at first because it was my first time.  My consultant’s name was Maria, and she was pretty good.  She was very friendly and knowledgeable.  Since I had a favorites list saved on Davids Bridal online, she pulled a few from my favorites list and we worked from there.  I think I tried a total of 7 or 8 dresses, which was a little too much, in my opinion.  I thought a lot of them looked good on the hanger but not so much on myself.  I only found a couple that I really liked, but none that I loved.  A lot of the dresses has things I really liked and disliked.  I walked out empty handed, but overall had a good experience.  I had a pretty good consultant, and she wasn't too pushy (it's obvious that these girls work on commission) so that was nice.  I didn’t find any of the associates to be rude, like I had read on Yelp.  But I guess it really helps when you have an appointment.  They weren’t busy either, so maybe that’s why I had such a good experience.
I am going to the Bridal Boutique and Bijou Bridal next weekend, so hopefully I will find my dress soon.  I can’t believe it’s only 9 more months!

Davids Bridal Collection Style WG3477

Oleg Cassini Style CRL277

Davids Bridal Collection Style WG3263

Review: The Maze Runner- James Dashner

It seems like after The Hunger Games, YA dystpoian novels have become so popular.  I decided to pick this book up after hearing so many good reviews.  A lot of people say if you're a fan of The Hunger Games, this book is similar.  I hate to say, I would have to disagree.  Although I wanted to like this book, I finished it and felt a little disappointed. 

The concept of the story is pretty unique and one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book.  The main character named Thomas, wakes up in a box with no memories of his life prior to that day.  All he remembers is his name.  He wakes up in a place known as The Glade, a large meadow surrounded by a gigantic maze.  There are about 50 other kids living there, all boys around his age who came there the same way he did.  All the kids there are assigned varrious jobs, but the maze runners have one of the most important.  Their job is to solve the maze and try to find a way out, but it's definitely not easy.  The maze doors close every night and the maze walls change everyday.  On top of that, the next day after he arrives, a girl is sent there with a message, and everything is about the change.

Other than the interesting story line, this story was an easy read.  Each chapter has a cliffhanger ending so the story moves pretty quick.  The story is also a lot more violent than I thought it would be.  For a YA fiction piece, some parts I thought were a little graphic, but the action in this book will suck you in.  There were some parts where I was completely hooked, and others that were a little slower.

The character development was the one this I was really disspointed with.  It is severely lacking throughout the entire story, which sucks because I think the characters have so much potential.  Unlike The Hunger Games, it's hard to develop a personal connection with the characters, and you don't get emotionaly involved at all (at least I didn't).  Another thing I didn't like was all of the "unknown" factors.  I mean, it's ok to a certain extent (keeps you guessing), but when it's dragged out it gets old.  You don't really start getting answers until the last fourth of the book, and when you do, it's not as surprising as I expected it to be.  It took me about a hundred pages to really get into the story. In the begining, the kids in The Glade use different words (mainly substituting swear words), which I thought was an interesting choice on the authors part.  It turned me off a little at first, but it gets better as you read. 

I didn't exactly hate this book, but I didn't love it either.  It was an entertaining read, but I feel like it is definitely written for a YA crowd.  The concept I liked a lot and I thought it was different.  I actually liked the ending, and it almost makes me want to go out and buy the next book, but I'm not sure if I want to get it yet.  Has anyone read this trilogy before?  I've also heard a lot of good things about Divergent, which I'm planning to read next.  Let me know if you have any other good reading suggestions!

April Myglam Glam Bag Review

Well I just got my Myglam bag for April.  I was really hoping for some better things this month, but I'm beginning to think this might not be worth the money each month.  I was pretty disappointed with the items in this month's bag.
First of all, the bag is absolutely hideous!  It's a gross metallic pink, kind of has a  fake leather feel to it.  It's probably just my opinion, but it's definitely not something I would use (perhaps if it were a different color.)  It feels very cheap and has a weird smell to it (like paint), very similar to the bag last month.  Here is what was included this month:
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Ransom
Dermstore Lip Quench Moisture Infused Lip Treatment
All-Belle False Eyelashes
Myglam All Over Shadow Brush and Eyeliner Brush
Like I had suspected last month, they included two more mini brushes.  The one they included last month came in a plastic wrapping, but these don't.  I'm not sure why, but I think it might be a little more sanitary that way.  The brushes are a lot smaller than the one from last month and don't feel so nice.  They're a little scratchy, but thankfully they don't smell nearly as bad as the other one I got.  I'm not crazy about the false lashes either since I don't use them.  I also wish the packaging was in English, or came with an English translation.
I'm pleased with the Urban Decay eyeliner.  I was scared I was going to get a weird color like the bright pink one, but I'm happy with the color I got (Ransom).  I don't really need another purple eyeliner, but this will be nice to try out.  I did try out the lip balm today and it's alright.  It seems to have a slight tint to it and a fruity scent, which I'm not that fond of.  But it is very moisturizing and a good size too.  I liked these two samples the best out of the bag.
I also noticed there was no full-sized product included this time, nor were there any coupons.  I feel like there is a lack of variety with Myglam.  We've already seen a bag with Urban Decay and Dermstore, two bags in the past have had Freemans products and we got more makeup brushes in this bag too.  It sucks to see that the products have been going downhill.  I feel like the first bag was so promising, but since then I've yet to find one that I'm impressed with.  I'm a little tired of getting drugstore and infomercial type products with Myglam.  I also feel like they only send skin/hair care products rather than makeup.  I think the first bag in December was all makeup, but since then I've noticed there have been less and less makeup products, so I'd definitely like to see more of that.  I think I will be canceling my subscription this month and sticking with Birchbox.  Although they are sometimes a hit or miss, I feel like they have more variety and I actually use the stuff I get in my Birchbox.  
Anyone else get a Myglam bag this month?  What are your thoughts?

March 2012 Birchbox Review

So, as expected I also received my March Birchbox late this month.  I'm not sure why there is a sudden change in the shipping time, because it never took me 2+ weeks to get my other boxes.  It's a little annoying that I have to wait so long, but I'm very pleased with this month's box!  I opted for the special Teen Vogue box and here's what I got:
Annick Goutai Petite Cherie perfume sample
Essie Luxe Effects- Set In Stones (full sized)
Peter Thomas Roth Mac Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel
tarte Lipsurgence Lip Tine in Joy
twistband Hair Tie
ModCloth discount code
I was most excited to see the full sized Essie nail polish!  I've heard a lot of great things about the Luxe effects line and can't wait to try it out!  The mattifying gel is a nice sample size and definitely something I've been looking to try out for my oily skin.  I just hope it doesn't break me out.  The tarte Lipsrugence pencil is also a really nice size and I'll definitely get  a lot of use out it.  The color Joy is a bright coral/orange color, which isn't something I would usually wear, but I'll definitely give it a try.  It was also nice to see them include a coupon with this box.  The coupons (although not always something I'll make use of) are something I really like from Myglam, and hopefully there will be one in next month's box too!  The only thing I'm not crazy about is the perfume sample.  I don't know if it's just me, but I almost never use any of the perfume samples I get from Birchbox.  I never really found one I liked, and I'm not crazy about seeing them in every single box I've received.  Other than that I really like what I got this month.
Sorry for the lack of posts lately!  I've been busy with work and wedding planning (I'll do an update post soon).  Hope everyone had a good Easter weekend!

The Hunger Games Movie Review

The Hunger Games Midnight showing

 SPOILER WARNING!!

So the long awaited Hunger Games premier was on Friday.  I went to see the midnight showing at Dole.  It was my first time going to a midnight showing, so we got there early at about 8:00.  We were closer to the front of the line, so we were able to get good seats.  We saw it in IMAX which I highly recommend!
Overall, I thought the movie was really good.  Like I've heard from a lot of people, they left out a lot of important details from the book.  However, being that the screenplay was adapted from the book, I thought it was well done despite some missing details.  These types of films are never as good as the book, since movies do have time constraints they can't include every detail.  I did notice a lack of character development, and the movie felt rushed overall, even though it was almost 2 1/2 hours.  I felt like some parts moved really slow, and others were very fast.  Up until the actual scenes in the arena, I thought it was quite slow, but once the games start, I felt it was too rushed.  For example, in the cave scene with Peeta and Katniss, or when Cato dies.  I felt those parts in the book were really long and drawn out, but in the movie it was so short.  I didn't like how they changed the story behind the Mockingjay pin, and they left out some important details about the hovercraft, and the Avox (although I think these were mentioned, but not explained).  The story behind the Mockingjay was important though, so I wonder how the next movies will progress.  Also, in the books, they were told from Katniss's point of view.  You get a lot of flashbacks and back stories from her, which you don't really get in the movie.
The visuals for this movie definitely did not disappoint!  My favorite was the scenes in the capitol.  It was amazing to see how they brought those images to life.  I loved the makeup and fashion, and just the overall depiction of Capitol life.  The food and their living space looked amazing, and the train was exactly how I pictured it looking.  I loved their costumes at the parade and the interviews.  I think the acting was also well done.  Jennifer Lawrence did an awesome job as Katniss!  Some of my favorite scenes were the start of the games, Rue's death, the tracker jacker scene, as well as the ending with Seneca Crane. There were a lot of dramatic and emotional scenes that were very good.  As far as being true to the book, despite leaving out a couple of details, I thought the movie was spot on.
I think this movie was great.  Honestly, not as amazing as the previews made it seem, but I think I have much higher expectations after reading the books.  If you haven't read the books, this will definitely be entertaining and I think you will like it.  If you're like me and have read the books, you may be a little disappointed, but like I said it's so hard to live up to the book.  I really liked the movie overall and would definitely see it again!  For those who have seen the movie, what are your thoughts?

March Myglam Glam Bag Review

I received my March Glam Bag yesterday and I'm a little disappointed.  Sorry I didn't do a review last month, but I was busy finding a new job, and I didn't think it was worth writing a review.  Here is what I got this month:
DermStore Care Package: Pur-lisse Pur Protect SPF30 Daily Moisturizer, Murad Eye Life Prefector, Dermstore $25 Gift Card
3LAB Perfect Cleansing Foam
Keracolor Enhancing Leave-in Treatment
Myglam Classic Crease Brush and case

I think the bag this month is pretty ugly, and it looks extremely cheap compared to the past bags, which were very nice.  It's made of a canvas material and the print seems to be fading off a little.  On their facebook page, people were complaining that the bag smelled horrible.  It definitely doesn't smell good, but I don't think it's that bad. 
I am pretty disappointed with the samples this month.  The "care package" from Dermstore was a huge let down.  The samples we got seem like the ones you can get for free when ordering with Sephora.  I was also hoping to get some makeup in this months bag, but it's all skin and hair products.  I think it's a little misleading, especially when on the MyGlam site, the picture shows a bag full of makeup, which  so far I've only gotten 3 makeup samples out of all the bags I've gotten.  They also say you will get full sized or deluxe-sized samples, but I definitely would not consider those "deluxe" samples.  The $25 "gift card" is actually $25 off a $50 or more order, so it's basically like 50% off.  Unfortunately I'm not sure if I will be using the gift card or not.  I'll have to look at the site more, but I think they do offer free shipping on any order, so that's a plus.
I guess the makeup brush can be counted as the makeup item, but unlike the bag, the brush smells terrible (like nail polish or something, very chemically!).  The bristles are soft, but I don't know if I will be using it or not because the smell just really turns me off.  The case it comes in was cute but looks poorly made.  Feels really cheap, and some of the color is already coming off.  Another downside is that you can't put regular sized brushes in the case, only small travel ones.  I read on another blog that MyGlam will be sending other travel sized exclusive brushes in the future, so we'll see.
I was happy to see the 3LAB sample of facial cleanser.  I'm pretty excited to try this out, and it's a very nice size (full size I think) at 3.4oz.  Even though I don't have colored hair, I think I'll give the leave-in treatment a try.
Overall, not impressed with this month at all.  Anyone else get a MyGlam bag this month?  What are your thoughts?  I'm actually very excited for Birchbox this month.  The special Teen Vouge box looks very promising.  I'm still waiting for my box (and I'm fearing a repeat of last months shipping fiasco), so I'll post my review as soon as I get it. 

Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil Review

Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils

Last month Hautelook had another Urban Decay sale!  I bought the 23/7 Shadow Pencil mini set, which was only $12, as well as another Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden. You get 5 mini sized shadow pencils with a nice combination of colors, which include:
Delinquent , Rehab, Juju, Sin, Clash
Swatches:

L-R: Delinquent, Rehab, Juju, Sin, Clash

Each mini pencil has 2.5g of product, and compared to the full sized ones which are only 2.8g (for $20) so these are definitely a great value at only $12.  As far as I see, all the colors are available in full size on the Urban Decay website except Juju.  These sets are a great way to try out the product before you but the full size, although I think the mini size will last quite a while.
As far as the quality goes, these are very creamy and easy to blend.  Application is very smooth and pigmented.  What I like is that you can build the color, so if you prefer a more sheer or opaque coverage, you can do either.  These do have a bit of fine glitter in them, but because they're creamy there's no fallout.  I usually hate glitter in eyeshadows, but these look very pretty on the eyes.  I wore Juju yesterday just as a light wash of color all over my lids and it lasted about 7 hours before creasing.  I did use a primer underneath. so this did pretty well on my very oily lids.  I'd say these are about as good as the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows, but you get a much better color selection with the UD pencils.
Overall I highly recommend these!  My favorite colors are Delinquent and Juju.  If you can get your hands on a mini set like this, definitely pick one up!

Chocomize Review!

So I really needed a last-minute gift idea for Valentines day.  I watched a video from sccastaneda last week for a cheap Valentines day gift idea.  It was for custom made chocolate bars, which I thought would be the perfect idea!  The site is called Chocomize and they specialize in make-your-own chocolate bars.  You can chose from dark, milk or white Belgian chocolate and a huge selection of toppings.  They have everything from dried fruits and candy, to spices and even bacon.  The prices are reasonable as well.  I chose a dark chocolate bar which starts at $4.50, and each topping is an additional charge.  I chose dried cranberries ($0.85) and dried raspberries ($1.20).  I also added a "My Valentine" plaque as well, and the total cost came to $8.15.  You can even name your chocolate bar, which they print on a label.  Shipping was $4.95.  Apparently the shipping is a flat-rate no matter how many bars you get.  
Shipping was super fast.  I was worried I wasn't going to get it in time for Valentines day, but I got my shipping email on Thursday and it was delivered by Saturday.  They used USPS first-class mail, so I don't know if it was just me, but the shipping was incredibly fast.  Chocolate arrived just fine and didn't melt in the mailbox, which I was really worried about.  I thought the packaging was really cute too.  
Regarding taste, I was a bit skeptical at first as to how good it would be.  I love dark chocolate, and I have to say I was very impressed with the quality.  It's 70% dark chocolate and very smooth and creamy.  It pairs very nicely with the fruits!
I highly recommend this site!  If you ever need a quick gift idea and know someone who loves chocolate, this is definitely a unique option. 

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow: Skinny Jeans Review

I'm not usually a fan of cream eye shadows because they always crease so badly, especially on my oily lids.  I first heard about this product on MakeupByTiffanyD from Youtube.  I thought the color looked gorgeous so I went out and bought it at the Benefit counter in Macys (at the time I got a 20% employee discount!)  This retails for $19 for 0.16oz. 

I've had this for over a year now, and I must say this is one of the best cream eye shadows I've used.  It's a nice taupe-silver color and is a perfect neutral to wear all over the lid.  I use this as a base all the time when I do a dark smoky eye, or if I want to keep it neutral I just top it with a light color (Urban Decay Ruthless) or a similar taupe color (MAC Satin Taupe or MAC Smoke and Diamonds).  This is really long lasting for me.  It's not completely crease-proof, but it lasts about 7 hours without creasing if I use a primer underneath.  I haven't used this as an eyeliner, only as an eye shadow so I can't say how well it wears.  Overall I highly recommend this product!  I'd love to try their other colors too.  Anyone have any recommendations for other good cream shadows?

L'oreal HIP Duo: Charming Review

I've heard a lot of good things about this eyeshadow duo for a long time.  I've always wanted to pick it up, but they're a little pricey for drugstore quality (almost $8) so I wanted to get it on sale.  I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and found it for $6!  I didn't realize they had cheaper makeup here since I never bothered to look, but they actually have a really good selection!
This duo consists of two colors: a light shimmery taupe and a deeper plum/purple color.  Both shades are shimmery and so have some glitter in them.  Both are very smooth, but they are a little soft so you definitely need to tap off excess shadow from your brush before you apply it.  I love the lighter taupe shade!  It's a really pretty light color, perfect for an overall lid color.  The purple is nice too (I'm a sucker for purple eye shadows), but I think it could be more pigmented.  It took a couple swipes to get the opacity in the swatch below.  The only downside to this product is the fallout.  I can't stand glittery eye shadows and at first glance I couldn't really see any obvious glitter in it.  But after swatching and removing them from my arm, there was a ton of glitter left over.  These colors are pretty, but the fallout is pretty disappointing. 

This really isn't a bad value for what I paid and I'd recommend this product!

Clarisonic Mia Review and Progress

I have been using my Clairsonic Mia for about 2 weeks now.  I was skeptical before trying this out for the first time, because I have sensitive skin and I was worried it would be a little harsh.  I've been using the delicate brush head instead of the sensitive one it comes with.  I don't notice a huge difference between the texture of the brushes, but I'm sticking with the delicate one because it hasn't irritated my skin yet.
Clairsonic recommends you charge the device for at least 24 hours before the first use. 
I only waited about 18 hours before I used it, but I've only used the charger twice since getting it, so the battery life seems to be pretty good (for once-a-day use).  The first time I used it I was surprised that it didn't cause any irritation.  The vibrating motion takes a while to get used to, especially around your nose.  The vibrating isn't necessarily calming, but it does make me feel better knowing my skin is much cleaner.  After the first use, I noticed my skin was extremely soft and smooth, but didn't notice anything different.  Also, since I did have an active pimple at the time (which you can see in the picture below), it actually popped and started to bleed, so I would try to avoid any active acne or large pimples with this. Since then, I have been using the Clairsonic Mia once a day, at night before I go to sleep.
I was using it together with my Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel, but have switched to Philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser which I decided to try after my Boscia cleanser ran out (which I'm really liking btw).  I first wet my face with warm water and apply the cleanser directly to my face (you can apply it to the brush head as well).  I then wet the head with warm water and turn it on.  I start on my right cheek and move clockwise to my chin, left cheek, nose and then my forehead.  I use small, light circular motions, not using too much pressure since the more pressure you use, the more it will aggravate your skin.  After the Mia turns off (about a minutes time), I rinse my the brush head and my face with warm water.
I also cleanse my brush head after every use.  I just use antibacterial hand soap and very hot water to sanitize it, and then turn it on again for a couple of seconds to expel the excess water into a towel.  Then I remove the brush head and dry the inside to keep it clean.  I leave it out to air dry in my bedroom (with the cap off) since the bathroom gets too humid.  I usually replace the cap in the morning when the brush has had time to dry completely.
After using this for two weeks, I can definitely see a big difference in my skin.  I can see a much more even skin tone and less redness in my cheeks.  I haven't had any big breakouts since I've started using the Clairsonic Mia, and I've noticed my nightly moisturizer and other face products do absorb into the skin quicker.  My skin also seems to be a little less oily and I don't have to blot my face as much anymore, and I don't have any more dry patches on my face either.  I haven't noticed any difference in pore size, but I can honestly say this is the clearest I've ever seen my skin in a long time.  I was very skeptical before buying this since I have acne, rosacea and sensitive skin, but this has been a very good investment.  I can actually say I'm very happy with the way my skin is now.  It's not perfect, but it's much clearer than it's ever been before.  I've included pictures below so you can see the progress, but my skin definitely looks better today than it did a couple of weeks ago.  Overall I'm very happy with my Clairsonic Mia and I would highly recommend this!  I got mine at 20% off from Skinstore.com (they frequently have 20% off sales) so I would get it from them (plus their shipping was really quick!)
Does anyone else own a Clairsonic Mia?  I'd love to hear other reviews/experiences :)

Clairsonic Mia Day 1

Clairsonic Mia Day 7

Clairsonic Mia Day 14

Kanebo Kate Dual Blend Eyes BK1 Review

 When I studied abroad in Japan 2 years ago, I discovered the wonder of Japanese cosmetics.  One of my favorite drugstore brands is Kanebo KATE.  They make an amazing eyeliner and I had tried several of their eye shadows before.  Last summer when I was in Japan for my internship, they had released a new collection with these Dual Blend palettes.  I bought this in BK1 which has 2 very neutral colors.

I really love these two shades!  They're so smooth and pigmented.  Both are shimmery, which might not be for everyone, but despite the shimmer there is no fallout and they apply very nicely.   Almost all Japanese eye shadows are shimmery anyway, but they always seem to apply clean with no fallout.  I really love the lighter shimmery shade in this palette.  It's a shimmery off-white pearly color.  Good everyday color for all over the lid, or an inner corner highlight.  The darker shade which is a dark brown is good in the outer corner or in the crease.  These colors look great together, but I would definitely use a matte lighter brown in the crease to balance out the look.  I always mix at least one matte color (typically in the crease as a blending color) when using shimmery shades so there's not too much shimmer.
Here are some swatches.  First one is in neutral light, and the second is in sunlight.  Swatched with a base (MAC Soft Ocher Paint Pot).  

I'm not sure if this collection was limited edition, but I paid about 1200-yen for this.  Does anyone else love Japanese cosmetics?  I wish I was still living there so I could try out all they new collections!

Coastal Scents London Go Palette Review

So I got my Coastal Scents order faster than I expected!  I placed an order with Coastal Scents for their new Go Palettes last Wednesday and got my order on Monday.  Shipping was super fast, but the funny thing is, I didn't even know my order was shipped.  I was waiting for their shipping confirmation email when it just showed up on my doorstep yesterday.  Is this typical of Coastal Scents?

Other than that, everything came packaged nicely.  The palette was wrapped in bubble wrap and they even included a free glitter sample.  The palette comes in a nice sturdy black plastic case, and seems pretty durable for travel, which is their intended use.
I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of quality since this is my first order with them.  Most of the colors were actually quite nice and smooth, and nicely pigmented.  I found that the matte colors were the ones that lacked pigmentation, and didn't show up well in the swatches. The third column of colors (the plum shades) were the worst when swatched, and the blues and purples showed up the best.  All the shades were pretty smooth, although some were a bit powdery when applied.  I was quite surprised the matte black shadow was so pigmented. 

\

 Overall I'm pretty happy with this palette.  A majority of the shadows were pigmented and smooth.  The shimmery shades were nice, but the matte ones could definitely use some work.  Definitely not a bad value for just $8.95.  Anyone tried any of the other Go Palettes?  I'm interested to see some other reviews. 

EDIT: So I wore these to work last night and I must say, you definitely need a good base with these.  I used TooFaced Shadow Insurance and MAC Soft Ocher paint pot, but there was noticeable fading by the end of the night.  I used all three purple shades which went on pigmented and smooth, but there was a lot of fallout because they were so powdery :(

Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Review

I'm always looking for a good waterproof pencil eyeliner, so when I saw these on the Sephora website a while back, I went to my local Sephora to check them out for myself.  These got really good reviews online and after swatching them in store, I bought one to try out.
I have 2 colors: #13 Flashy Violet and #14 Taupe.  Both are very pigmented and go on incredibly smoothly.  They're very creamy so you do have some time to smudge them, but after they set, they last a long time.  I usually end up setting it with a powder eye shadow to prevent smudging, but even without it, it lasts even on my oily lids.  When I wear it on my lower lashline, it does smudge a bit, but that's only after about 6 or 7 hours.  Pretty good since the Almay and Revlon eyeliners I've tried smudge after 3 or 4 hours. 
I really love both these colors!  The taupe is really nice for an everyday look and isn't as harsh as black liner.  I've been wearing this almost everyday to work.  The violet is pretty bright, but worn it adds a nice pop of color to any neutral look. 
Here are swatches of both colors:

 Overall I highly recommend these eyeliners!  They're very affordable at $8 each (0.04oz), pigmented and long-wearing.  There is also a nice range of colors, so for the price and quality, I think these are awesome. 

September 2011 Birchbox Review

So I finally received my much anticipated Birchbox for September a couple of days ago.  I didn't really know what to expect, but after reading some disappointing reviews online, I tried not to get my hopes up.  This box included 4 samples and a couple extra items thrown in.  I got:
Resilient Blinc Mascara
Girly Harvey Prince Prefume
Adventurous Incoco Nail Polish Applique (leopard print)
Practical Jouer Lip Enhancer
Extra Lash Card and Birchbox friendship bracelet were the two extras.

Overall, I wish the samples were a little bigger.  I know they're just samples, but I feel like you can get better sized trial products from Sephora.  I have to say, the packaging is really cute and the shipping was really fast.  I think I got my box within a couple of days of receiving my shipping confirmation email. 
I pretty much like everything I got and I'll probably give each item a try.  I've tried the Jouer Lip Enhancer and it's quite nice, but not something I would buy full-sized.  I'm excited to try the nail polish strips and the blinc mascara.  Just from the description alone, I know I'm not too crazy about the perfume, but I might give it a try anyway. 
For this being my first Birchbox, I'm not too impressed, but I wasn't disappointed either.  I think I will continue my subscription for another month and hopefully the next box will be more promising.  Does anyone else have a Birchbox subscription?  Do you think it's worth the money?

Book Review: Hunger Games

Ok, so I literally just finished this book a couple of hours ago, and I just have to write about it!  I had heard so many good things about this series and I have to say it does live up to the hype.  I finished this book in well under 48 hours, so I think that says a lot.
A quick plot summary: The story, which takes place in a futuristic America, revolves around an annual event known as the Hunger Games, a fight to the death basically.  If you've ever read or seen Battle Royale it's a similar concept minus the exploding collars.  There are 12 districts that America is divided into, and each year, two kids from each district are randomly chosen to participate in the Hunger Games.  The story follows the main character Katniss and her struggles playing the game. 
The plot is amazing and this book definitely draws you in from the beginning.  It's a page-turner, very fast paced and exciting, yet there is some romance at the same time.  Character development is also amazing and you grow attached to so many characters throughout the book.  It's been a while since I've been so engrossed in a book, so this was quite refreshing.  This book is a really quick and easy read!
Hunger Games is the first in a series of three books.  Catching Fire and Mocking Jay are the two following books.  I've already started Catching Fire and I hope I'll finish up the series by next week.