Wild Eyes Forever

I'm an Intern!

2012-01-31T20:15:00.002-05:00

I'm not attending school this semester, but I still want to use my time to do something productive. I want a fresh start, and I want to try some new things. Last week marked the first few days of my first-ever internship!

JACKET; Urban Outfitters BLAZER; Urban Outfitters TOP; Hot Topic JEANS; zipia.net SHOES; Salus BAG; Chanel ACCESSORIES; Jewelmint, Salus

Been really busy catching trains back & forth between my full-time job and the city. Lugging around this borrowed & obscenely large laptop, but not for long...a beautiful, brand new baby Vaio is on its way to me as I type!

I've been lucky enough to land an internship at Nexus Showroom in NYC. Nexus Showroom houses designers & brands like Jac Langheim, Katty Xiomara, Maggie Jeans, Amalia Mattaor, and Carlos Luna, to name a few. I'm going to have the opportunity to work alongside designers, stylists, and buyers.

With NYFW just around the corner, there's a lot of work to do. I'm really excited for the things to come~ Follow Nexus Showroom on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook where I'll be making some guest appearances!

Avon's Mosaic Effects

2012-01-22T20:28:00.001-05:00

I'm totally late getting into the crackle trend~ to be honest for the longest time I wasn't sure how I felt about this look, and it was something I didn't want to shell out the money for. Lucky me, my mom's an Avon lady and got me their crackle polish for Christmas! So here I am, finally trying it out.

Avon Mosaic Effects

I'm so pleased with how this turned out! It actually looks really stylish and totally fits my dark winter aesthetic. It's also super easy to do~

Silver has been my favorite color this season, so I used Revlon's "Metallic" as a base. I achieved this crackle effect with a very light application of the Mosaic Effects polish. If you use a heavier application you'll have bigger chunks, but I prefer these smaller cracks as it looks more intentional.

Not good at giving yourself manicures? No worries, this is the just the polish for you! This polish doesn't require a perfect application, and it dries almost instantly. It's impossible to mess this up!

I think this would look awesome with so many different color combinations, I'm definitely going to continue playing with this in the weeks to come!

Overall: 5/5

Buy Avon's Mosaic Effects here. There's a sale going on right now, get 3 nail polishes for $9.99!

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

2012-01-20T18:48:00.001-05:00

I'm always looking for new skin primers to try~ I was happy to receive a sample of Hourglass' Veil Mineral Primer with a recent Sephora order!

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

"A mineral-based, water-resistant primer with SPF 15 that neutralizes the skin, minimizes shine, and creates a smooth, uniform canvas for flawless makeup application."

This is a slightly opaque white formula that applies semi-sheer but leaves my skin looking really white, pale, and washed out. There's no way that I would be able to wear this alone, like the product description claims you can.

It leaves skin feeling slick & slippery, making it a little difficult to apply makeup over it. I didn't notice any change in the appearance of my pores, however it did assist my makeup in concealing redness & blemishes.

Doesn't really hold my makeup in place or keep it from fading, and by the end of 8 hours my skin is just as oily as usual.

Overall: 3/5

Maybe this has better results when used with mineral powder foundations (which I don't use), and it may also be better for people with dry skin (which I don't have). For me, it had neither a positive or negative effect on my skin. I'm skipping this one!

Oracle Fox X Billabong

2012-01-12T22:50:00.003-05:00

Something caught my eye today when I walked into my local Billabong shop...

Right away the color stood out to me, and I've been gravitating towards these loose, easy shapes and simple designs lately. The zodiac motif is reminiscent of works from some of my favorite artists as well.

Once I took a closer look something else caught my eye...the label, Oracle Fox for Billabong! Oracle Fox is one of my favorite blogs, and Mandy is such an inspirational stylist! I knew that she had collaborated with Billabong, but I didn't realize that the collection was in stores already~ I was so excited to recognize the name on the label, I had to snag this tee for $28.

Here's Zippora Seven modeling some of the other pieces from the collection inspired by Mandy's own wardrobe, artwork, and vintage finds~

source; oracle fox

Um...I finally built up a decent winter wardrobe, but I'm ready for summer now! Beach, BBQs, rock concerts, sun, sand, and bare feet~ yeahhh!

Avon Pamper Yourself Giveaway

2012-01-02T16:59:00.005-05:00

Last year certainly had its ups and its downs. I think we could all use a little pick-me-up to get this year started off right!

My mom recently became an Avon representative, so I've been getting the chance to try out tons of new products. I got lots of goodies for Christmas too!

If you think about Avon, you probably think of makeup right? When my mom started selling Avon, I was really surprised to see that the company offers so much more than that! Skin care, perfumes, clothing, accessories, jewelry, men's products, and other miscellaneous gifts...there's so much to choose from in those little Avon books!

One of my favorites is Avon's "Naturals" body care line. Body lotions & shower gels in so many yummy scents!

So, to thank you all for reading my blog throughout the year I am having an Avon giveaway! My mom & I put together this prize package to make one of my lucky readers feel really special & pampered at the start of this new year~ the giveaway is open to anyone worldwide!

Included in this giveaway:
Naturals Canvas Bag
Naturals Flower Bath Sponge
Naturals Sugar Plum & Vanilla Body Lotion
Naturals Sugar Plum & Vanilla Shower Gel
Imari Seduction Eau de Toilette Spray 1.7 fl oz
Imari Seduction Eau de Toilette Spray .5 fl oz
Imari Seduction Roll-On Anti Perspirant Deodorant
Care Deeply Lip Balm
Dew Kiss Lip Balm
Flavor Savors Lip Balm in Bubblegum
Slick Tint for Lips in Glossy Rose
Slick Tint for Lips in Glossy Wine
Step into Sexy Earrings
Assorted Samples

RULES

Mandatory entry: Comment with your name and a valid e-mail!

For extra chances to win, you can...

-Visit my mom's Avon shop online and tell me one item that you like!

-Make an order from my mom for 5 EXTRA ENTRIES (leave 5 separate comments with your name & order #)

-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, bloglovin', etc

-Follow me on Twitter @hachidork

-Tweet the following message on Twitter: "Hachi's having a New Year's giveaway! Pamper yourself with Avon~ @hachidork http://tinyurl.com/6vrjd8g #win #giveaway" (you may do this once daily)

-Blog about this giveaway

-Comment on any of my other blog posts

Be sure to do the mandatory entry first! Each method of entry should be submitted in a separate comment. ANY COMMENT NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES WILL BE DELETED!

The giveaway ends on Monday, January 9th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by e-mail. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Another Year

2012-01-01T20:52:00.001-05:00

How was everyone's New Year's eve? Hope you all had a safe & fabulous night~ I spent my first half of New Year's eve with family & good food, then crashed a private party at Miraku to ring in the new year with just a few of my favorite people.

New Year's day has been a day of reflection for me. To put it plainly, this really hasn't been a great year for me and I've been feeling rather cynical today. It may be the first day of the new year, but it's just another day. There's no reset button, it doesn't change anything. Life goes on.

But, I don't wanna focus on the bad things~ so here are a few of my really stand-out memories from this past year!

Turning 21 and having the best birthday party ever with everyone that I love.

Meeting the guys from Incubus and getting to see them play five times, up close & personal.

Going to Anna Sui Spring 2012, my first runway show and first time at NYFW.

Being filmed for Tokyo Kawaii TV with all the NY gals.

Getting to try my hand at casting, wardrobe, and makeup for Mike's film.

Happy New Year to all of you! I hope 2012 will be filled with lots of fun & happy memories~

Stay tuned for a New Year's giveaway, coming soon!

How I Wish That it Would Snow Now

2011-12-27T23:02:00.002-05:00

SWEATER; H&M TIGHTS; Salus SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell ACCESSORIES; Jewelmint

Spent Christmas day with Mike & his family, here's what I wore~ put on my new Lita Spikes the moment I took them out of their box, and didn't take them off until I stumbled into bed after drinking a wee bit too much. I would've slept in them if it wasn't so dangerous (those spikes are sharp)! Seriously, I die.

Can't believe that Christmas is over already! I'm still feeling that depressing after-Christmas lull, and slowly getting back into the swing of things. Luckily New Year's eve will be here soon enough and then it'll be fun again with lots of things to look forward to...ahem, like my birthday - it's only a week away!

I Got What I Wanted

2011-12-26T20:07:00.000-05:00

I die for these shoes, they're so freaking amazing!!!

Mike got them for me, I was still showering him with kisses when he left to go to Massachusetts for a few days and I will resume when he returns.

I'm a little late, but I hope you all had a wonderful and lovely Christmas! Was Santa good to you this year?

All I Want For Christmas

2011-12-15T22:37:00.001-05:00

All I want for Christmas is....

SHOES!

Seriously, when did I become such a shoe fiend?

Instead of catching up on sleep tonight like I should have been, I spent a few hours setting up and making this little GIF to enter into the first of Solestruck's 5 days of holiday giveaways~ to win...what else, shoes!

Check it out here, and feel free to share your entries as well!

'Tis the Season

2011-12-07T19:16:00.002-05:00

The decorations are up, the Christmas carols are playing, and Santa is in the mall...the holidays are officially in full swing! This is without a doubt one of my most favorite times of the year.

Thought I'd share some holiday cheer & inspiration with you all, some of which I'll be wearing (or coveting!) this season~ I'm totally feeling lots of glam & sparkle!

Santa baby, I want it all!

Affordable Scarves Review & Giveaway

2011-12-05T23:15:00.003-05:00

Winter has definitely arrived! These days I'm all about keeping warm & cozy~

How do you bundle up and still look fashionable & cute? With warm weather accessories, of course! Hats, gloves...and scarves! Scarves are a favorite of mine...not only are they functional, but they can easily add a bit of flair to an otherwise boring or incomplete outfit. I was really excited to receive a scarf from Affordable Scarves to review!

Carrying an unbeatable selection of women's scarves in styles ranging from loop scarves to shawls, as well as men's scarves (even if they'd rather not admit it, our men need to keep warm too!), you'll find both quality & variety at Affordable Scarves.

There are so many different colors, patterns, and styles to choose from at Affordable Scarves. There's sure to be something for everyone. Let's not forget that the holidays are just around the corner, and scarves make great gifts! Affordable Scarves has you covered with their holiday sale, 20% off sitewide!

I chose the Penelope Trekker Pashmina to review. The tribal pattern is really in right now, and the colors go with a lot of the clothes in my closet~ it's made from a silk blend, and it's super soft!

Just in time for the cold weather, Affordable Scarves is generously giving away a $20 gift certificate to one of my US readers!

RULES

Mandatory entry: Comment with your name and a valid e-mail!

For extra chances to win, you can...

-Tell me which scarf from Affordable Scarves is your favorite

-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, bloglovin', etc

-Follow me on Twitter @hachidork

-Follow the Affordable Scarves Blog

-Follow Affordable Scarves on Twitter @affordscarves

-Tweet the following message on Twitter: "Hachi's having a @affordscarves giveaway! @hachidork http://tinyurl.com/6vmktgk #win #giveaway" (you may do this once daily)

-"Like" Affordable Scarves on Facebook

-Blog about this giveaway

-Comment on any of my other blog posts

Be sure to do the mandatory entry first! Each method of entry should be submitted in a separate comment. ANY COMMENT NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES WILL BE DELETED!

The giveaway ends on Monday, December 12th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by e-mail. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

I'm a Bad Kid

2011-12-03T19:27:00.001-05:00

JACKET; Urban Outfitters TOP; zipia.net JEANS; zipia.net SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell ACCESSORIES; Guess, H&M, sunglasswarehouse.com, affordablescarves.com

Mother Nature has been teasing us with some nice weather lately...and on the weekends, no less! Love being able to still go out with just a light jacket, I'm not ready to break out the winter coat just yet~

The past few weeks have been a crazy whirlwind for me but things are finally winding down a bit and I'm getting some time to relax, catch up on reading blogs & watching TV shows, cleaning up my living space, and taking care of myself. It's nice to be busy but everybody needs a breather sometime, right?

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Thankful

2011-11-27T02:15:00.000-05:00

Hope those of you who celebrate had a happy & relaxing Thanksgiving! I almost didn't even have Thanksgiving, but my family came together at the last minute and for once we actually had a nice dinner. Other than that, this little holiday hasn't been so relaxing for me...been spending a lot of time with friends and keeping really busy!

If there's one thing I'm truly thankful for, it's my friends. These days, I really don't know where I'd be or what I'd do without them~

Etude House's Precious Mineral BB Cream

2011-11-21T22:41:00.002-05:00

Received some samples of this from eBay seller rubyruby76 with my latest skincare order, so I decided to give it a try~

Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream

The shade that I used was #2, "Sheer Glowing Skin". This name couldn't be more wrong!

First of all, this BB cream isn't sheer! The formula is a bit on the thicker side, and it actually has some really awesome coverage. It's able to hide blemishes to create even-looking skin.

Second, I wouldn't say that this makes skin glow at all. It leans more towards a yellow tint, and was a bit too dark for my skin. The overall finish is very matte, which is usually a good thing but this is just too matte. It leaves skin looking really two-dimensional and dull. I actually had to contour with a highlighter (which I never do) for it to look good.

It lasts all day without getting oily, but it's really drying. After a long day of wear it settles into imperfections and ends up looking cakey. It's really not flattering...

PROS
Great coverage
Matte finish
Long-wearing

CONS
Dull
Drying
Yellow-tinted

Overall: 3/5

I'm kinda stuck in the middle with this one. It's obviously not the right BB cream for me, even just due to the shade not matching my skin. It might work better for someone with a different skin type, but I'm just not sure who that would be. I have really oily skin, so you'd think that this dry formula would be perfect for me but...surprise, it's not! Hmm~

Tokyo Kawaii TV

2011-11-15T21:09:00.001-05:00

A little over a month ago, a bunch of us NY gals were filmed for a Japanese television show~ Tokyo Kawaii TV! It aired in Japan on November 5th, and we've finally found a good copy of it online. Check it out!

Wish there were subtitles so I could understand what they're saying about us, but I'm still so happy to finally see it! Can't believe how fabulous we all look~

This was such a fun & exciting experience. Thank you Tokyo Kawaii TV for featuring us!

Amazing Party Looks

2011-11-14T20:54:00.005-05:00

Walgreens has teamed up with bloggers from the Clever Network to write about monthly trends & style topics. This month's topic is amazing party looks!

This past weekend was my girlie Ain's 21st birthday, so we all went out to celebrate! The fab four of us girls got dinner & drinks at Lucky Cheng's, the drag queen capital of the world. It was an interesting experience, you definitely had to be drinking to appreciate it and have fun. We made sure Ain had some extra birthday fun, and got her a lap dance & then made her compete for free drinks. Afterwards we met up with a bunch of friends at Hane Hachi for more drinking! It was a great night, and I hope Ain had a wonderful birthday~

I love going out with my girls, and one of my favorite things about when we party is getting all dolled up! It's more than just clothes, though. It's a whole look including accessories & shoes and then the right makeup & hair styling to pull it all together.

Ain's Party Look

The birthday girl looks sexy and sophisticated in all black. She adds an elegant and classy touch with her fur scarf & accessories. I really love her tights!

My Party Look

JACKET; Urban Outfitters DRESS; Black Milk Clothing SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell BAG; Chanel ACCESSORIES; Urban Outfitters, H&M

I've been dying to wear this dress! I love the galaxy print so much, it's just something I've really been digging lately. The print on the dress stands out enough on its own, so I kept this outfit simple with a pop of color in my shoes & a leather jacket.

Here's some more pictures from our party night~

My best tips for an amazing party look? Keep it simple when you can & when it's appropriate. Recycle your outfit! No one cares if you wear the same outfit more than once, especially not if you're just out with friends. Less money spent on clothes means more money for partying! Also, always bring a little emergency makeup bag for touch ups with essentials like lipgloss, powder, blush, and eyelash glue. Even if you think you won't need it, trust me...you'll be thanking me for this one when those photos from last night show up online!

Nails Inc. Magnetic Polish - Trafalgar Square

2011-11-09T20:34:00.001-05:00

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE nail art. That's why when I heard all the buzz about this new magnetic nail polish, I knew I just had to try it out~

Nails Inc. Magnetic Polish

"Trafalgar Square"

Magnetic, you ask? Well, here's how it works:

1. Apply one coat of polish. The Nails Inc. formula is opaque, pigmented, and quick-drying.

2. After the first coat is dry, apply a liberal amount of polish for your second coat. Immediately after while it's still wet, place the magnet (located on the cap of the polish bottle) above your nail, wait 15 seconds - and voila! Just like magic before your eyes, the polish transforms into a black & silver 3D holographic design.

I think this is just the coolest thing! The design is mesmerizing, and I've gotten so many compliments on it. It applies so easily & evenly, and it lasted about a week before I noticed any chipping. It also makes my nails really sturdy and protects them from breaking, which I love.

It's currently only available in two different colors at Sephora for $16. Pricey for a nail polish but I think it's totally worth it! I've never had another polish that's so much fun to apply & look at!

Overall: 5/5

I hope Nails Inc. comes out with some new colors and designs, I'm addicted!

That Kind of Girl

2011-11-06T12:25:00.001-05:00

Sheesh, November already? Please excuse my outfits turning monotonous, repetitive, and maybe even boring...I'm just trying to keep warm.

KNIT; vanitybox.com.au JEANS; zipa.net BAG; Chanel SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell ACCESSORIES; H&M, Aldo, sunglasswarehouse.com

This weekend: some much-needed fabulous girl time at Miraku, a visit to the Museum of the Moving Image, pineapple pizza, watching too many episodes of '24', and tons of leftover Halloween candy.

Happy Daylight Savings! Enjoy your extra hour today~

Halloweentown

2011-10-31T07:43:00.002-04:00

How was everyone's Halloweekend? Mine was mostly relaxing, but I got to dress up as a zombie & party with other zombies~ brains, mmm.

TOP; zipia.net JEANS; zipia.net SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell ACCESSORIES; H&M, zipia.net

This is probably the first year in a long time that I won't be running around town like a hoodlum getting candy, and I'm perfectly fine with that. All I wanna do is chill at home and eat the candy I bought myself. Oh, adult life.

Happy Halloween!

Burt's Bees Deep Pore Scrub

2011-10-30T14:47:00.002-04:00

Time for a skincare review! This is a great product that I've been using for years now, I really wanna share how great it is with you all~

Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

"Formulated with finely ground Peach Stones, our all-natural scrub exfoliates and helps polish skin to remove dead cells for a smooth complexion. Infused with Willow Bark, a natural source of Salicylic Acid, it also removes dirt and oil for a refreshingly clean feel."

This product is such a godsend when I'm having skin problems. It works on a multitude of issues, including breakouts, dry skin, and clogged pores.

It's a kind of thick formula with bits of ground-up peach stone (peach pit) in it. I actually like to use it together with my daily acne cleanser so that I can wash and exfoliate my face all at once, bazinga! It feels really good to massage it in...such a deep, clean, scrubby feeling! After rinsing, skin feels amazingly soft & smooth~

The peach stones are gentle but still a little too rough to use every night, so I use it just a few times a week. It lasts a long time this way too, and at just $9 in most drugstores it's definitely a good buy!

Oh, and did I forget to mention one of my favorite things about it? It smells like peaches, yum!

Overall: 5/5

I really love this product, and I think it's great for many skin types. Like all of Burt's Bees products, it's made with natural ingredients...you just can't go wrong with this!

Winter is Coming

2011-10-26T14:29:00.001-04:00

It's suddenly gotten unbearably cold, my new Express faux fur vest isn't enough. I realized the other day that, between working 9-5 and taking night classes, I don't get to see the light of day anymore. How depressing...

TOP; American Eagle Outfitters VEST; Express JEANS; Express SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell ACCESSORIES; Charlotte Russe, H&M, Aldo

I don't know how I'm going to survive this winter.

Socks4Life Review & Giveaway

2011-10-21T00:01:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned in a recent post, I've been keeping warm this autumn with socks! Thigh-high socks are something I've never done before, I just threw them on one day on a total whim and ended up falling in love~ They're functional, sexy, and totally on-trend this season!

My newfound sock obsession couldn't have been more timely, as I was asked to do a review for a US-based online sock retailer. Carrying only the best brands & models of dress socks, novelty socks, thermal socks, and more...Socks4Life has them all!

They have hundreds of socks to choose from in a wide range of styles & colors. While socks may not always be visible, I think it's fun to wear some quirky & cute designs. Check out Socks4Life's Fall & Winter Trends, an A-Z fashion guide with lots of great ideas on how to use socks to really complete your looks!

I was offered the pair of socks of my choice to review! I chose the J. Ann Cable Knit Over the Knee socks in brown, I wore them in my last outfit post~ they're unbelievably soft & comfortable, I love them!

You can definitely never have too many socks, and that's why Socks4Life is offering one of my US readers a $25 gift certificate!

RULES

Mandatory entry: Comment with your name and a valid e-mail!

For extra chances to win, you can...

-Tell me which pair of socks from Socks4Life is your favorite

-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, bloglovin', etc

-Follow me on Twitter @hachidork

-Tweet the following message on Twitter: "Hachi's having a Socks4Life giveaway! @hachidork http://tinyurl.com/3efbuzk #win #giveaway" (you may do this once daily)

-Blog about this giveaway

-Comment on any of my other blog posts

Be sure to do the mandatory entry first! Each method of entry should be submitted in a separate comment. ANY COMMENT NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES WILL BE DELETED!

The giveaway ends on Friday, October 28th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by e-mail. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Wild Eyes Forever

2011-10-20T17:45:00.000-04:00

NEW LAYOUT. NEW NAME. SAME BLOG.

Welcome to hachidork.blogspot.com version 2.0!

Just in case you're wondering what this 'new' blog is on your feed...

It's time to grow up, it's time for change. It's only been a little over a year that I've had this blog, but in that time I've learned and grown so much. I've still got a ways to go but I'm figuring out who I am, what I want, and where I want to go.

And while I'm doing that, I want this blog to be the best that it can be! I just recently reached my 100th post here, so I think it's time my blog did some growing up as well. I'm really grateful for all of you that read and comment, I hope you'll stick around and see what happens next.

While we're talking about the future, I'd like to know - what do you want to see more of on this blog?

Feeling shy? I've added an Ask box on my sidebar, ask away!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Switchblade

2011-10-16T22:51:00.000-04:00

There's a definite autumn chill in the air these days, but I still refuse to give up on wearing shorts...at least, until some new jeans arrive in the mail. In the meantime I'm keeping warm with boots, socks, and stockings.

SWEATER; Urban Outfitters TOP; Urban Outfitters SHORTS; zipia.net SOCKS; socks4life.com SHOES; lovelyshoes.net ACCESSORIES; H&M, Nasty Gal

Been trying to enjoy these last few weekends of nice weather before it starts getting really cold. Highlights of this weekend: Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks, being a casting assistant for Mike's upcoming film, food-coma inducing brunch with my coworkers, and naps...lots of naps.

Another long week ahead!

mukuCHU Review - Geo Xtra WCO-24 Series in Grey

2011-10-14T00:21:00.004-04:00

Received an amazing new pair of lens from mukuCHU that I've been really excited to tell you all about~

Geo Xtra WCO-24 Series in Grey

with flash

without flash

Color 4/5 - There is a small, natural-looking rim of color on these lens. The grey blends really nicely with my eye color. In certain lighting and in some photographs, they appear to be a striking almost-blue color.

Comfort 5/5 - Totally comfortable, you could practically forget that you're wearing them! I was able to wear them for almost 12 hours with no problems or discomfort~

Enlargement 4/5 - At 15mm, they create some decent enlargement. The ridged black halo really helps to enhance the effect.

Overall 5/5 - I really love these! This is the first pair of lens that I've worn more than once and for long periods of time, I've actually been wearing them a lot (in fact, I'm wearing them in my last two blog posts!). I like that they give you a little bit of extra oomph while still looking natural. I also love how the color changes from shades of blue to green to grey depending on what light you're in.

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

NYC ♥ Autumn Gal Meet

2011-09-26T23:38:00.001-04:00

Got together with a bunch of NY gals for a last minute meet up~ Eden, Ain, Erin, Malia, Usagi....and met a new gal, Mallory!

Did the usual...shopping around New World Mall, purikura at Toto's, and karaoke at Zebra Lounge.

But what set this meet up apart from the rest is that we were filmed for NHK's Tokyo Kawaii TV, a program for Japanese television!

Everywhere we went, there was a camera following us around. We were also interviewed about shopping, Japan, and our interests in fashion. I feel like now I know what it's like to be on reality TV! Lots of people were watching us and taking pictures as we were being filmed...I guess they thought we were models or celebrities. And rightfully so, everyone looked really amazing!

Thanks to Hiromi & Mr. Cameraman for coordinating and paying for everything! And to the NY gals for coming out as well. And a special thanks to my love, for taking one for the team and driving my drunk ass home~

I can't wait to see our episode!!

Heavy Metal Lover

2011-09-20T17:37:00.007-04:00

Got together with my girls Ain & Eden this weekend~ I'm glad that we've been hanging out and that I've been doing some really cool stuff but so far September has been crazy, seriously. I'm going to need to go into hibernation when this month is over.

JACKET; Urban Outfitters TOP; Urban Outfitters SHORTS; zipia.net SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell SOCKS; yesstyle.com BAG; Chanel ACCESSORIES; H&M, zipia.net

We've been planning some fun & exciting stuff, can't wait for it all to unfold. I also can't wait for some time to kick back and relax afterwards. In the meantime we spent Saturday afternoon walking around the Flushing malls, taking purikura at Toto's, Korean BBQ dinner at Woo Chon, and then some yummy dessert at Paris Baguette.

We actually found a newer, updated purikura machine while we were exploring the New World Mall...hence why we are crying and saying goodbye to Toto's in these shots, haha.

Should be a lot of fun stuff coming up~ look forward to it!

Anna Sui Spring 2012

2011-09-16T23:59:00.002-04:00

I'm still in total awe of the Anna Sui Spring 2012 show that I went to this week. It feels like a dream~

One thing I learned at my first runway show, it's nearly impossible to get any good photos of the models walking by. It's best to just put down the camera and enjoy the show. It only lasts about 15 minutes, so you definitely don't want to miss a beat!

Here are some of my favorite looks from Spring 2012~

Loved it! The ankle socks and tights were some of my favorite details that really completed these looks. The bright colors, fresh makeup, bold prints; paired with disco music...the whole thing was just so FUN.

Perhaps one of my favorite things about this show was that the models smiled! It just made the whole show feel so cheerful and energetic, there's no way you couldn't smile yourself~

The whole experience of going to a runway show was just so amazing! Seeing all the attendees dressed their best, and the excitement of the show itself...it's something I'd definitely like to experience again!

Tomorrow's Food

2011-09-15T23:59:00.002-04:00

So, like I said last week...I won a giveaway at Fashion's Night Out! What was my prize?

*drumroll*

I WON A SEAT AT ANNA SUI'S SPRING 2012 SHOW!

How amazing, seriously?! My first runway show ever!

As if it wasn't exciting enough, I was also really happy to attend the show with my friends Marie-Eve and Brad who came all the way from Canada!

We all dressed for the occasion and met up early at Lincoln Center yesterday for the show~

TOP; Anna Sui JEANS; Express SHOES; Jeffrey Campbell BAG; American Rag ACCESSORIES; H&M

Finally wore the Anna Sui top I bought so long ago. Honestly, since I purchased it my tastes have changed. I was worried about looking too girly, so I went for a 70s look. It's a lot more the aesthetic I've been into lately, inspired by the trends of the summer and music that makes me want to hug trees & dance in a field of flowers. I felt a little weird schlepping around Lincoln Center in jeans, but I got a lot of positive reactions on my outfit. Photographers kept snapping away at me, I felt really fabulous~

Also I'd just like to say that I LOVE the hippie feather headband I found. I want to wear it every day for the rest of my life.

With the lovely Marie-Eve, in her full Anna Sui ensemble! Even her makeup was Anna Sui inspired!

Inside the venue, waiting for the show to start with Brad & some die-hard Anna Sui fans who flew all the way from Japan for the show!

On the runway, the show is about to start!!!

My first runway experience...magical. It really confirmed for me, that this is what I want to do. I want to be a part of this world.

More to come, tomorrow~

Skin Food's Aloe Sun BB Cream

2011-09-13T08:03:00.003-04:00

I got a sample of Skin Food's Aloe Sun BB Cream from skinfoodbestprice, and I loved it so much that I just had to share my review with you guys~

"A multi-function BB cream that protects skin from UV rays and moisturizes skin with aloe extract, while achieving a clear, radiant skin tone."

This BB cream applies easily and is super lightweight. It really makes my skin look & feel completely naked! It's also very moisturizing, I had some dry patches of skin that were gone after just one day of use.

It has really decent coverage. Some red spots & imperfections may require extra application, and using a concealer beforehand would probably work better to achieve even & flawless looking skin. #1, "Radiant Skin" was a great match for my fair skin, and the overall effect was truly radiant & bright.

This BB cream has a slightly dewy, almost matte finish. You could probably even go without a finishing powder if you'd like! Even without a primer, it's really long-wearing and stays put all day without any oiliness at all. How amazing is that?

Like all of Skin Food's products, it's made with natural ingredients and has a light, fresh, pleasant scent.

Overall: 4/5

After getting such bad results with Skin Food's Mushroom BB Cream, I was wary of trying this...but I ended up being really impressed, I actually like this one a lot! I can't get over how natural it looks & feels. The fact that it keeps my skin from getting oily all day is also a huge plus. I'm really considering purchasing this product!

Fashion's Night Out 2011

2011-09-10T13:11:00.006-04:00

Thursday night was Fashion's Night Out in New York City! I went out with my girlies Ain & Eden~ so glad that we were able to get together and have some fun!

What I wore~

This year was so much better than last year! We walked around Soho, which in itself was awesome...everyone was dressed their best! We made stops in a bunch of stores...Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson, kidrobot, Diane Von Furstenburg, Sephora, Converse, and Banana Republic.

Here are some snaps from our night out~

AMAZING mini cupcakes @ Anna Sui

More mini cupcakes & sweet treats @ Betsey Johnson

United States of Converse @ Converse

What a fun night, I love FNO! There are so many cool things to see & do; photobooths, celebrities, sales, and giveaways... speaking of which....

I WON A GIVEAWAY (what else is new)!! It's something really exciting, and I can't wait to tell you all about it~ I dunno what I've done to win so much awesome stuff lately, I feel really lucky!

I can't wait for next year's FNO!

Incubus Weekend

2011-09-08T13:25:00.001-04:00

The last weekend of summer has come and gone. For me, it was bittersweet. I was really sad to see the summer end, but it was also time for a long-awaited Incubus concert at Jones Beach! I feel like I had bought the tickets for this show ages ago~

Spent the afternoon at the beach with Mike, had dinner at Five Guys, and then it was time for the show.

They rocked! I'd never been to an outdoor concert before, it was nice to enjoy Incubus in the open air under the stars. They played a nice mix of songs, and the light show & visuals for this tour are awesome!

But the show at Jones Beach was just the beginning...last week I tried my hand at Incubus trivia, and I actually won a pair of tickets to a second show at PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey!

Mike was totally Incubus'd out (IMPOSSIBLE) so I invited my BFF from high school, Mandy, to come with me~ it was my first time driving to Jersey and it was super stressful because we hit traffic & I was afraid we were going to be late..but we made it and everything worked out okay.

I stopped by the Incubus HQ tent before the show, where Cisco was about to start some lyric trivia. My trivia skills had gotten me this far, so I figured why not try again?

I am obviously the master of Incubus trivia, because I WON! Didn't even break a sweat. I won a vinyl album autographed by the band! It's beautiful, I can't wait to frame it and hang it on my wall. There's a video of my triumph, but it hasn't been uploaded yet. I'll share the link here when it's posted~

And then it was time for another Incubus show. The last one of the summer.

This show was amazing. Our seats were in the 8th row, center stage...I've never been so close up at an arena show before! I heard so many of my favorite songs that I never expected to hear live. The crowd and energy at PNC was so alive, the band was totally feeling it too. They looked like they were having a really good time playing for us!

I didn't even mention the best part! My tickets came with meet & greet passes, I got to meet the band and get their autographs! Honestly it feels like a dream...I was so nervous that I didn't even say much to most of the guys! I wish I could go back in time to really express to them how much I love their music and how they've inspired me...but, yeah.

I did talk to the guitarist, Mikey, a lot. He actually remembered me from the front row at the show in Soho! He was super friendly and so easy to talk to. He thought my necklace was cute and we talked about Long Island. He stood next to me for our group photo too~

Can't believe that I've seen Incubus five times over the past summer. I've been an Incubus fan for 10 years, almost half of my entire life...I didn't think it was possible but I've become even more of a fan now. I feel really lucky and I'm so grateful for all of these experiences. I'll always be a fan, and I'll cherish these moments forever!

Sally Hansen's Salon Effects - Kitty, Kitty

2011-08-25T23:23:00.006-04:00

A while ago, my mom picked these up for me from the drug store~ I was really eager to try them out!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects
Real Nail Polish Strips

"Kitty, Kitty"

These no-hassle adhesive strips are made of real nail polish. With no drying time and 24 fashion-forward designs to choose from, now it's easy to get a salon effect at any time or anywhere!

They take a bit of patience and precision to apply at first, but by the time I finished five fingers I had the hang of it. Each package contains 16 nail strips in many different sizes, so even if you make a mistake it's okay! The nail strips stretch and cut away easily, for a perfect fit.

I was worried about damaging them, so I started to apply a topcoat but right away I noticed that it had a bit of an adverse effect so I stopped. The top coat settles into the bumps of the design and makes it appear crinkly...you can actually kind of see wrinkles on my index finger in the pictures. Really, a topcoat isn't necessary at all! I'm really impressed by the durability of these nail strips, in fact there was no difference in longevity between the fingers that had topcoat and the fingers that didn't.

These are supposed to last 10 days, but I wore them for a good 15! I started to see a little bit of noticeable chipping at 8 days, but they were still totally wearable. I got tons of compliments on them the whole 15 days of wear.

They also helped to protect my nails and keep them from breaking. My nails really grew a lot, which is awesome!

Overall: 5/5

I'm really satisfied with these, they totally exceeded my expectations! I loved having such effortless, beautiful nails. Available at most drugstores at just around $10, they're cheaper than a regular manicure at some salons! They can't be beat~

I really want to try some of the other designs as well!

End of Summer Sunglass Warehouse Giveaway

2011-08-22T23:30:00.005-04:00

The end of summer is drawing near...I'm so not ready for it, feeling a bit depressed. Anyway, I hope your summers have all been great! Whether you've had a good summer or not, I think we could all use a little end of summer pick-me-up~ don't you?

Lucky for us, the folks at Sunglass Warehouse know that sunglasses aren't just for summer! No matter what the season, sunglasses are the perfect functional accessory to complete an outfit. Whether you are looking for sunglasses for women, sunglasses for men, or sunglasses for kids...Sunglass Warehouse has them all, for under $20 each!

I was kindly sent the SW Celebrity Aviator Style #8150. I wore them in my last post!

I love them!! The colors are so pretty, and unlike other aviators I've bought in the past these are really sturdy~

When choosing which pair of sunglasses I would receive, I made sure to refer to Sunglass Warehouse's guides on choosing sunglasses based on your skin tone, and choosing sunglasses for your face shape. They helped me find a pair that really suits me!

As always, Sunglass Warehouse has great customer service and super fast shipping!

And since they are so wonderful, they are sponsoring another giveaway for one of my United States readers~ One lucky reader will win a $20 gift certificate to Sunglass Warehouse!

RULES

Mandatory entry: Comment with your name and a valid e-mail!

For extra chances to win, you can...

-Tell me which pair of sunglasses from Sunglass Warehouse is your favorite

-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, bloglovin', etc

-Follow me on Twitter @hachidork

-Follow The Sunglass Warehouse Blog

-Follow Sunglass Warehouse on Twitter @sunglasswarehse

-Tweet the following message on Twitter: "Hachi's having a @sunglasswarehse giveaway! @hachidork http://tinyurl.com/3lq3hup #win #giveaway" (you may do this once daily)

-"Like" Sunglass Warehouse on Facebook

-Blog about this giveaway

-Comment on any of my other blog posts

Be sure to do the mandatory entry first! Each method of entry should be submitted in a separate comment. ANY COMMENT NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES WILL BE DELETED!

The giveaway ends on Wednesday, August 31st at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by e-mail. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

She Wore the Colors of the Sea

2011-08-20T23:47:00.006-04:00

Bought this maxi dress and wore it to the matsuri last weekend, but didn't get a chance to take any good photos of my outfit...so I met Mike at the beach this afternoon for a little photo session~ I'm a little late getting into the maxi dress trend, but I love this one and I'm so happy to have found it. This was the last one in stock!!

DRESS; Urban Outfitters SANDALS; Spring ACCESSORIES; Charlotte Russe, H&M, Forever 21

We went to Long Beach boardwalk, there was a lot going on! I had no idea about this, but apparently the Quiksilver Pro Surf Competition is being held at Long Beach in September. When we went today, preparations were already being made. I've never seen the boardwalk so lively. It's going to be a huge deal, with lots of big names and fun things happening...I'm super excited! I love festivals, and it'd be so cool to go to one right on the beach~ can't wait!!

At the moment I'm not feeling well, I think I'm coming down with a cold...what a way to end the summer, right?

Skin Food's Mushroom BB Cream

2011-08-18T23:35:00.003-04:00

I had some samples of Skin Food's Mushroom Multi-Care BB Cream lying around, so I decided to finally give it a try~ As many of you know, I adore Skin Food's skin care products but this was my first time trying their makeup!

"This triple-function BB cream provides UV protection and deep moisturization to skin with aloe and mushroom extracts, while arbutin and adenosine make skin clear and resilient."

The shade that I tried was #2 (Natural Skin). This shade was a bit darker than my skin, and had a slight yellow tint. It actually worked pretty well since I am tan right now, but it definitely would not work for me during the winter when I am pale. #1 (Radiant Skin) might be better, although I wonder if it would still be yellow-tinted.

It's super thin and even more lightweight than Missha's BB cream. The coverage is nice and it applies easily, creating an even skin tone. Coverage lasts all day without any primer or reapplication.

I was able to comfortably wear it all day while at work. In fact, my skin felt so comfortable and naked that I didn't even bother to look in a mirror the entire day. So...you can imagine my surprise when I returned home from an 8 hour shift only to look in the mirror and see that my face was a complete oily mess! I couldn't believe it! My skin didn't feel oily at all, but by the end of the day it just looked so horrible.

PROS:
thin
lightweight
easy to apply
made with natural ingredients

CONS:
yellow-tinted
gets really oily!

Overall: 2/5

While this product has some really nice qualities, the oily end result just isn't worth it to me. I really don't want to fuss over my makeup all day, worrying about trying to keep it from getting oily. I'll stick with Missha's BB Cream, it's the best I've used so far!

Summer Matsuri

2011-08-14T22:53:00.005-04:00

So yesterday I went to Mitsuwa's annual summer matsuri in New Jersey with Ain & Eden~

This year we got there really early so that we didn't miss any of the fun! It wasn't super crowded yet either. There were lots of games, and so much good food for so cheap! Every year one of the things I look forward to the most about summer matsuri is the food...they make the best gyoza ever! I really wanted to try the soba noodle pancakes too, but the line was a mile long...

Here are just a few photos from the festivities~

After checking out the matsuri we did some shopping around the book store, souvenir shop, and supermarket. I picked up tons of new stickers for my purikura book, and I had to really stop myself from buying anything else!

It was super hot yesterday and we started getting matsuri'd out. Ain had dance rehearsal, so Eden & I went back to Flushing. We met up with Kassie for some purikura! It's been a while since we took some~

What a great summer day!

What's in My Bag? ★ Summer Edition

2011-08-07T13:38:00.005-04:00

I recently entered a contest over at the Solestruck blog to spill the contents of my purse~ (the prize is a mini bag from Jeffrey Campbell's new handbag line, "GIRLS WE HATED IN HIGH SCHOOL"...I hope I win!)

I've always wanted to do a "What's in my bag?" post here, so I've decided to share my contest entry with you all!

My cher tote! When I first got into gal style, I just had to get myself one of these totes because it seemed like ~all~ the Japanese gals had one...silly, hehe. I've been using this bag a lot this summer. The perfect bag for my many trips to the beach...it's really big and roomy, so I can just toss everything in there! Sometimes I use it for school & sleepovers too.

What's in My Bag? ★ Summer Edition

in my bag:

leopard hairclip

Hello Kitty hairbrush

first aid pouch (with Hello Kitty band-aids!)

SPF 15 sunscreen

SPF 12 tanning oil

Bumble + Bumble surf spray

hand sanitizer

BlackBerry Curve 8520

"A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin (I'm addicted to the Song of Fire & Ice series)

Tide-to-Go stain stick

sunglasses

Mimobot USB

iPod

car keys

coin purse (from my trip to Japan!)
makeup bag
Coach wristlet

in my Coach wristlet:
Softlips SPF 20 Vanilla chapstick
Harajuku Lovers G (my favorite fragrance this summer)
rhinestone hair pin
Starbucks gift card
Visa debit
Sephora Beauty Insider card
Stride Spearmint gum
assorted coins
hair elastic
Hello Kitty mirror
Princess White ID holder
$8

in my makeup bag:
Missha M BB cream in #21
MAC lipstick in Myth
Too Faced Glamor Gloss in Pillow Talk
Rimmel London Glam'eyes mascara in Black
Avon Professional kohl eyeliner in Black
Dolly Wink liquid eyeliner in Deep Black
Too Faced Absolutely Invisible translucent powder
MAC mineral blush in Giggly
baby buki brush
bling tweezers
The Face Shop lipgloss in Fresh Juice

So there you have it, all of my summer essentials!

I'm off to the beach now on this beautiful day~ summer's almost over and I want to make the most of what we have left!

Sea Spray

2011-07-24T22:57:00.004-04:00

Gel manicures have become a luxury that I cannot afford at the present time. I really miss having long, beautiful nails! It's so hard to keep my nails long without gel manicures, they just break so easily...

I was feeling a bit depressed last night, so I decided to try and give myself a glitter gradation manicure. I've been spending a ton of time at the beach this summer, so I was inspired by the sea~

From left to right:

Sally Hansen in Flawless

Sinful Colors in Hottie

New York Color in Starry Silver Glitter

I'm pretty happy with how this came out, it looks just like a real gel glitter gradation manicure. It's super sparkly in real life too! I wonder how long it's going to last...I used a lot of glitter, so my nails are pretty thick right now. Not really sure if that's a good or bad thing, haha.

I guess one good thing about not being able to afford gel manicures is that now I get to play around with some fun nail art on my own!! Can't wait to try out some other ideas~

Summertime by Edenfantasys

2011-07-19T21:22:00.004-04:00

Well, we're at the height of summer now...I can't believe how fast it's flying by! Some of you may still be lucky enough to be going away on a vacation~ (me, I'm stuck here working my summer away...)

Whether you're going with someone on a romantic getaway or taking some time to yourself to relax, EdenFantasys has just what you need to make it extra special & exciting!

Right now, EdenFantasys is having a 20% off sale on women's travel-friendly toys! There's a nice selection of discreet toys for men as well.

Planning on spending some romantic nights in at the hotel? Spice it up with a fun game!

"Pleasure Island"...the perfect game for a tropical vacation!

And don't forget to bring along some lingerie~ EdenFantasys has a huge selection of super cute lingerie at affordable prices (starting at just $9!), there's sure to be something there for everyone. They even have some sexy costumes!

Did somebody order room service?

I've mentioned this before, but one of the reasons I love EdenFantasys is because they are a positive safe-sex community and they are not afraid to show it. They have forums & articles full of information to help keep you healthy, happy, and in the know.

With tons of daily promotions and free gifts with every order, EdenFantasys is the best place to shop online for toys & other sensual items! Whether you're stuck at home like me or going on a fantastic trip, be sure to check them out for some summer excitement~

Disclaimer: The links in this post contain content suited for ages 18+ and may be offensive. I received a gift certificate in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Incubus @ Ed Sullivan Theatre

2011-07-12T01:50:00.011-04:00

To wrap up an amazing Incubus weekend, Mike & I went to another free private concert at the Ed Sullivan Theatre last night~

We went early to make sure that we got our tickets, and then killed some time walking around Central Park. We stopped in at a bar for a quick drink and then it was time to go to the show!

When we got there it was two hours before showtime and there were already about 50 people ahead of us in line. Before we knew it the wait was over and we were inside! This time we were sitting up on the balcony, but we actually had a really good view of everything.

One of the benefits to sitting on the balcony was that Brandon saw me and recognized me! At first I thought it was just me, but Mike noticed it too - he was looking at me a lot all night! I guess he remembered me from being in the front row at the Apple Store show the other night. There's just something so cool about locking eyes with a performer as you're both singing the words of a song together. It made me really happy! At the end of the show, Ben smiled and waved at me too~

It was a really amazing show, even better than the other night. The acoustics at the Ed Sullivan Theatre are just awesome. The guys really brought their A-game, they rocked! Definitely the best concert I have ever been to. What's really cool too, is that the whole thing was recorded and streamed live on the internet & broadcasted in Times Square...so I can watch it all over again if I want! You can watch it here.

This whole weekend has really reaffirmed my love for Incubus. I think it's just so cool that they put on all of these free shows for the fans. I feel really lucky that I was able to win the contest & attend them, and make some new Incubus friends along the way!

I'm kinda sad that it's all over now, and that I won't be going to some other Incubus show again tomorrow night haha~ but! Their new album, "If Not Now, When?" comes out TODAY! I really can't wait to get my hands on it and listen to it for the first time. Then I get to listen to it for the rest of the summer until I see them again September 3rd at Jones Beach!

Thank you Incubus! I love you guys!!!

Incubus @ Apple Soho

2011-07-11T00:35:00.006-04:00

I have officially lost my mind, this weekend has been nuts!

After getting hardly any sleep after the Incubus party on Friday night, I woke up super early & hauled ass to the Apple Store in Soho on Saturday morning~ my new friend Ken picked me up & we were 5th in line to receive wristbands for another FREE private Incubus show!

So I spent an entire day in Manhattan yesterday. First I got my hair done, then I grabbed lunch and was in Soho for the 8PM show by 4:30PM. Again, I happened to be 5th in line~

Spent a few hours chatting with some other Incubus fans and sharing our Incubus stories while we waited in the sweltering heat. The time actually went by pretty fast and then finally, it was time to go inside.

Since I was at the beginning of the line, I got a FRONT ROW seat!! When the band came out, I was sitting just two feet away from them. I'd never been to such a cool and intimate concert before.

They played a lot of old favorites and some new songs as well. They sounded amazing!

Brandon said that an Apple Store was "probably one of the weirdest places" that the band has ever played...

Brandon cuddling with his girlfriend who was sitting at the very front, thought that was really cute~

What an awesome experience!!! I never thought I'd be able to see my favorite band up close like that. The whole concert was recorded and is being put up on iTunes, I can't wait to download it!! Wonder if you can hear me screaming in the background, haha~

Managed to grab Mikey's set list as well as one of his autographed guitar picks!! Unfortunately the set list slipped off my lap while I was on the train home and fell into a mysterious puddle, I didn't pick it back up...

There's still one more free Incubus show that I'm gonna try to squeeze in tomorrow night while the band is here in New York, this is so exciting!

Incubus @ Skylight West

2011-07-09T10:12:00.008-04:00

So, I was super lucky and won the Incubus Loves New York contest!!

I was invited to a private rooftop concert hosted by Vevo at Skylight West in Manhattan last night~

When Mike & I arrived, the event staff was handing out free beers and there were not many people there. We were chilling out & drinking our beers when I turned around to see DJ Kilmore just hanging out & chatting with fans! I got a chance to talk to him, and snap a quick photo...what a nice guy!

As it got closer to show time, more people started arriving and it was turning into a big Incubus party. There was plenty of beer, snacks, and freebies...there was even a free photo booth! Of course, I cannot resist photo booths, so Mike and I went for it~

We had waited for a long time, and it started getting late. It was actually an hour after the show was supposed to start. All of a sudden people started huddling around, and there were loud cheers...Incubus had arrived! Unfortunately, with bad news. Brandon regretfully informed us all that the rooftop had flooded, and that they had been waiting & waiting but the rain just wasn't stopping. They couldn't play for us. The guys in the band all looked pretty sad.

But, they made up for it by hanging out with us! I thought that was really cool, it truly was an Incubus party. I felt like a very fancy VIP person~ I didn't get pictures with all the guys, there were just too many people and it was too hard...but I did get this one, and it's a picture I've been waiting for since 2004 when I first met Brandon!

I'm so bummed that I didn't get to see Incubus play last night, but every time I look at this picture it makes me happy. It's a reminder that even though Incubus is a huge, famous rock band...they're still these real, chill guys. So cool!

More to come, the Incubus weekend is not over....

mukuCHU Review - EOS Baby Color Series in Brown, J-211

2011-07-07T23:59:00.008-04:00

mukuCHU has sent me a pair of the new EOS Baby Color lens in brown!

Did you know? mukuCHU now sells cute fluffy fox tails! I missed out on this trend last season, and when I finally decided to buy one they were sold out everywhere. mukuCHU has so many cute fox tails now, I'm so tempted!

EOS Baby Color Series in Brown, J-211

Color 2/5 - In the glass vials, these lens appear to be a very pretty, light brown color. I was disappointed when I put them on, they just looked like a kind of muddy brown. In sunlight, my eyes looked almost hazel, but for the most part they were dead.

Comfort 2/5 - My vision was a bit blurry with these. As usual, when I first put them in they were uncomfortable...I waited and waited for my eyes to get used to them but I just never did.

Enlargement 2/5 - At just 14mm, these lens do not create much enlargement at all. There isn't really any halo effect either, so there is not even an illusion of enlargement.

Overall 2/5 - I really didn't like these. I felt that this particular color was just really unflattering for me. They do not photograph well at all. No matter how many pictures I took, in different lighting, with & without flash...my eyes always looked dead and unfocused. There is no halo effect, no design, nothing to make these interesting...they're just very boring.

I'm not sure I like how I look with brown eyes!

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Incubus Loves New York

2011-06-28T17:12:00.004-04:00

You may or may not already know that my favorite band in the whole entire world is Incubus! They've been my favorite band since I was 10 years old, their music speaks to me like nothing else can and they're just the coolest guys.

They have a new album coming out in July, and as an Incubus fan there have been a lot of exciting things going on! Live streams of concerts, new music videos, sneak previews of new songs...and contests!

Right now they're having a contest for fans in the NYC area to win tickets to a private concert next month before the new album is released. I actually already have my tickets to see them in September at Jones Beach, but they only tour the US every two years or so and I want to see them as much as possible! It would be awesome to spend another evening with the band in NYC!

Anyway, they asked the fans to send in photos of themselves holding Incubus fan signs in a location that makes them think of the band. I had lots of ideas, so here are the photos I submitted to the contest~ all of them Incubus-inspired!

If you could visit the contest photo album on Facebook and "Like" my photos there, I'd really appreciate it!

I really hope I can win~ wish me luck!!

Skin Food's Peach Sake Range

2011-06-23T17:22:00.004-04:00

I've been using Skin Food's Peach Sake Toner & Serum for over a month now, and I'm really loving them! So I wanna share my review with you all~

Peach Sake Pore Toner

This toner is probably one of my favorite skincare products! I like it even better than the last Skin Food toner that I reviewed, the Fresh Juice Whitening Toner. Upon application the Peach Sake Toner is very cooling, and it tingles as it works way deep down into pores. After use, you're left with the cleanest, softest, and most refreshed skin ever!

Peach Sake Pore Serum

This is the first skin serum I've ever used. A skin serum is meant to be used after toning and before moisturizing. I actually don't follow it up with a moisturizer, especially now that it's summer. The Peach Sake Serum is a super thin and lightweight formula with a tiny hint of shimmer, which is supposed to soften and blur imperfections. While I don't notice that the shimmer makes much of a difference, I do feel that my face looks brighter overall. The serum absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling extremely smooth, creating a perfect canvas on which to apply makeup!

These two products work amazingly well together! They do a great job at keeping my skin from getting oily throughout the day, even in heat & humidity. I haven't noticed any change in the size of my pores, but I have definitely noticed a decrease in breakouts when I use this toner and serum every day...which is awesome!

And let's not forget one of my favorite things about these two products...they smell SO GOOD! Exactly like what you would expect peach sake to smell like, so yummy. When I first started using these, I craved peach-flavored things like crazy! Peach iced tea, peach candies, peach yogurt...

Overall: 5/5

Both of these products get a solid 5/5 rating from me. I love them so much, and I'll definitely continue to use them! There are many other products in the Peach Sake range, like the Peach Sake BB Cream, Peach Sake Concealer, and Peach Sake Silky Finish Powder. I'd like to try them as well!

Black Eyed Tease

2011-06-10T23:56:00.009-04:00

It's gone from spring to summer practically overnight!! It's only the beginning of June, but just yesterday we experienced 98°F weather here in New York. This is gonna be one HOT summer.
The Black Eyed Peas were having a charity concert yesterday in Central Park~ my cousin was really lucky and won two sets of tickets so I went with him, my brother, uncle, and aunts to see the show.

Here's what I wore~

Put my hair up into a ponytail shortly after this, it was just too hot!

We got there super early to wait on line so that we could get a good spot on the grass once the gates opened. After almost three hours of patiently waiting in the sweltering heat event staff started telling us that we had to leave because a storm was coming, even though the show was to be held "rain or shine".

In a really poorly organized move, the NYPD got involved and there was basically a riot. There was a huge mobscene covering not just the sidewalks, but the street too. It actually started getting kinda scary so we decided to leave.

I was hoping to share some photos of the concert with you, but instead I just have one of the huge crowd outside of Central Park...

This is right in the middle of a busy street...

In the end, the concert actually ended up getting canceled due to severe thunderstorms. I'm glad we left when we did, it would have sucked to wait around all that time in chaos only to have the show canceled.

I hope there's a chance that the show will be rescheduled~

Sunglass Warehouse Review & Giveaway

2011-05-16T01:11:00.006-04:00

Here in New York we've finally gotten some sunny days & nice weather. I'm already thinking ahead to the beach, shorts, sandals...

...and sunglasses! I've always wanted a pair of Wayfarer-styled black retro sunglasses. So you can imagine how excited I was when I was contacted by Sunglass Warehouse to do a review!

Sunglass Warehouse is a US-based webshop selling hundreds of sunglasses in a wide range of colors & styles, all for under $20 each! They offer 365-day returns with a 100% money back guarantee, so you can shop without worry.

I chose the SW Polarized Retro Style #540432.

I'm not sure if these are the right sunglasses for me, haha. If only they were a little smaller! I really should have looked into Sunglass Warehouse's guides on choosing the best sunglasses for you! *sigh* Someday I will find the perfect pair, I bet they're hiding around Sunglass Warehouse somewhere~

...and now for the really exciting part!

Sunglass Warehouse has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway for my US/Canada readers (I apologize to my other readers, but I promise that there will be more giveaways to come in the future)! One lucky reader will win a $20 gift certificate to Sunglass Warehouse or the pair of sunglasses of their choice!

RULES

Mandatory entry: Comment with your name and a valid e-mail!

For more chances to win, you can...

-Tell me which pair of sunglasses from Sunglass Warehouse is your favorite (comment with a link to your favorite pair)

-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, bloglovin', etc (comment saying that you're a follower)

-Follow me on Twitter @hachidork (comment with a link to your Twitter profile)

-Follow The Sunglass Warehouse Blog (comment saying that you're a follower)

-Follow Sunglass Warehouse on Twitter @sunglasswarehse (comment with a link to your Twitter profile)

-Tweet the following message on Twitter: "Hachi's having a @sunglasswarehse giveaway! @hachidork http://tinyurl.com/3v5dcjj #win #giveaway" (comment with a link to your tweet, you may do this once daily)

-"Like" Sunglass Warehouse on Facebook (comment with your Facebook first name and last initial)

-Blog about this giveaway (comment with a link to your blog post)

-Comment on any of my other blog posts (comment with a link to the post, you may do this once)

Be sure to do the mandatory entry first, and make sure that each entry is in a separate comment! ANY COMMENT NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES WILL BE DELETED!

The giveaway ends on Monday, May 23rd at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by e-mail. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

AcneFree Sport's Clear-2-Go Stick

2011-05-14T11:58:00.004-04:00

My mom bought me AcneFree Sport's Clear-2-Go acne spot treatment a while ago and after purchasing it a few times I can safely say while it's good, it's also one of the worst products I have ever used.

THE GOOD:

This stuff seriously zaps zits. I apply it at night before bed and when I wake up in the morning, the zits are completely gone! Whiteheads, painful red bumps...this takes care of them all.

THE BAD, THE UGLY:

This spot treatment is so intense and works so well that it actually wreaks havoc on my skin. While zits disappear, patches of itchy red skin appear in their place. I don't mind the redness so much since I can easily cover it up with makeup, but I do mind the burning & itching that I have to deal with the entire next day after use. If I don't remember to moisturize my skin after using this, I have to deal with dry & peeling skin for days. I wouldn't dream of using this more than once a week, it's just too strong. If I were to use it daily I think my skin would just melt off my face permanently.

As if that's not bad enough, what really frustrates me about this product is its design. I have never seen such horrible product design in my life! It's designed so that you twist the bottom and the treatment comes out of the top to be dabbed onto the skin. Upon first removing the stick from its packaging, you twist...and twist....and twist....and twist...and twist...and twist...(I'm not even joking)...twist...twist...twist...NOTHING COMES OUT. I've seriously sat there for 5 minutes twisting and twisting, putting it under hot water, and nothing happens. You just have to keep twisting, and EVENTUALLY it will come out. It's impossible to see inside the tube, so who knows what really happens inside there and how it works.

I don't know how they can justify using this terrible product design! "Convenient clip hooks right onto your gym bag or purse!" Really? REALLY?! Do you really think anyone is going to clip this to their bag and advertise to the world that they have acne problems? I don't know why you would need this "on-the-go" either. Who wants to walk around in public with white blobs of spot treatment on their face?

And now for the worst part...if you don't use it for a week or two the product seems to just dry up. Or evaporate. I don't know what happens really, but it's just gone. You can twist and twist all you want but nothing is ever going to come out this time. The last time I purchased this, I only got one use out of it and then the next week it was gone. $11 for one night! What a waste!

Overall: 1/5

I have dealt with acne problems all my life, I know acne sucks. I was happy to find a spot treatment that really works, but is this really worth it?

I won't be buying this anymore, so I'm on the hunt for a new spot treatment! What spot treatments do you use?

mukuCHU Review - Geo Xtra in Grey, WT-A75

2011-05-11T11:56:00.005-04:00

mukuCHU has sent me a pair of Geo Xtra lens, also known as the Sherbert Series, in grey~

Geo Xtra in Grey, WT-A75 (Sherbert Series)

Color 3/5 - The grey color isn't really noticeable in person. The black design just makes them appear very dark.

Comfort 4/5 - No vision issues to report with these, which is great! They're pretty comfortable, although every so often they start to irritate my eyes and I have to blink like crazy until they feel okay again.

Enlargement 5/5 - At 15mm, these are the largest lens I've tried. The thick black halo creates a very noticeable enlargement effect. I don't think I would wear anything larger than this, they're so big!

Overall 3/5 - These are a bit too big, dark, and dramatic for my liking, but they'd definitely look cool with some heavy makeup. They're a nice pair of lens for a night out~ Also, I was able to get them both in on my first try, which has never happened before! So either these are super easy to put in or I am just a pro.

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Playing Dress-up: Anna Sui

2011-05-09T22:20:00.003-04:00

I recently got a nice tax refund, so I decided to spoil myself a bit~ There were so many things I wanted to spend it on, but the first thing that came to mind was Anna Sui!

After a lot of thinking, I decided to stop by the boutique yesterday after getting my hair done. The first time I visited the boutique, I was just in awe and a bit intimidated. I kept thinking "...am I allowed to touch these???" but this time I was a lot more comfortable. I just kept pulling things off the racks and really looking at them. The salesgirls were all very nice and helpful.

I ended up trying on a few pieces from the Resort 2011 collection and sneaking some photos in the dressing room~ by the way, temperatures were in the 80s in NYC yesterday! Earlier on in the day, I had to run to make my hair appointment on time...so don't mind my melted makeup and flat hair!

ALSO: Looking at these photos again, I think it's funny that my facial expressions & body language seem to express exactly what I was thinking at that moment!

I thought the color & shimmer on this top were gorgeous, this photo just doesn't do it justice at all! The detailing on the back was really nice too...I almost loved it, but the sleeves were a bit too poofy for me~
MY FACE SAYS: "???...THOSE SLEEVES"

This dress was the cheapest of everything I tried on. I thought it would be nice to wear for more formal events like weddings, communions, and christenings, but I don't go to things like that often enough for me to justify buying it~ it is lovely though.
MY FACE SAYS: "Quite sophisticated, if I do say so myself!"

Sorry that this one is blurry~ this would have been perfect for me to wear to work this summer...but it was the most expensive out of everything I tried on and I definitely didn't want to spend that much on something that would mainly be office wear for me.
MY FACE SAYS: "Yeah..this is nice but I'm definitely not spending that much today, just take the picture!"

Unfortunately this photo doesn't capture the lovely detailing of this dress, but I really loved it! I had a hard time deciding between this dress and the next item I tried on~ in the end I just wasn't sure how I would put together an outfit with this dress. I may come back to it in the future though!
MY FACE SAYS: "I'm really deep in thought about this one!"

This is the top I decided to purchase. I really loved the elegant lace detailing. I can definitely see this top fitting in with my style and I think that I'll get a lot of wear out of it.
MY FACE SAYS: "Hey, this is actually really cute!"

I really wanted to come out of the boutique yesterday with an Anna Sui dress, but I just couldn't find the right one. I am super happy with my purchase though! I'll just have to save up for next time~ I actually still have some tax refund money left, so who knows?!

Missha's Super Aqua Cleansing Foam

2011-05-08T08:12:00.002-04:00

I received some samples of Missha's Super Aqua Refreshing Cleansing Foam with my most recent BB cream order, so I thought I'd write up a little review~

Just a small amount is needed, it foams up really quickly & easily. The samples I had actually lasted a pretty long time.

However, it felt really thick on my skin. Even after rinsing, my skin felt kind of slick & sticky. Products like that make me nervous, because I worry about them clogging my pores and causing breakouts. I didn't use this for very long before deciding that I didn't like it, so luckily I didn't have any issues.

It's also unscented, which some people might like but to me it's pretty boring! I like my cleansers to smell nice because it makes washing my face a bit more enjoyable!

PROS
Just a small amount is needed

CONS
Heavy & thick
Leaves behind a residue
May clog pores
Unscented

Overall: 1/5

I really hated this product! It doesn't have any special attributes to it, and there are definitely much better regular cleansers out there.

Mini Sakura Meet-up ✿ Part 2 : Purikura

2011-05-02T22:49:00.004-04:00

No gyaru meet-up is complete without purikura!

After spending all day in Brooklyn at the Sakura Matsuri, we headed back to Flushing tired & starving! By the time we got back, it was almost time for Toto's to close so we went straight there. Not even being hungry can keep us from purikura!!

By the time we finally ate dinner it was 9PM. Better late than never! We went to Hakata for some yummy ramen & drinks~

What a great day! Can't wait to hang out with my gals again soon~

Mini Sakura Meet-up ✿ Part 1 : Sakura Matsuri

2011-05-01T23:15:00.006-04:00

The day of our long-awaited NYC gyaru meet-up finally came~ We got so lucky with such an absolutely gorgeous day!

The first part of our meet-up took place at New York's annual Sakura Matsuri in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. This was actually my first time attending the event, it was really nice! There were so many people everywhere; cosplayers, lolitas, and people dressed up in kimonos all coming together to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms.

The cherry trees were in full bloom, it was so nice to sit on the grass underneath a blanket of cotton candy pink flowers!

Eden, Ain, Erin, Brittany, Jane, and I met up with Catze, Rio, and Crystal at the matsuri. Everyone was dressed so nicely for the event, so of course we all snapped tons of photos together!

I loved the Sakura Matsuri! I definitely want to go again next year~ Thanks Eden & Ain for helping me plan this meet-up! We had such a great day!

TOMORROW ✿ PART 2 : PURIKURA

Shoppingholics Review - Neo Dali Extra in Green

2011-04-29T21:54:00.004-04:00

Today I'd like to share a Shoppingholics.com review with you all~

Shoppingholics.com is a Malaysian-based webshop that sells tons of circle lens. They have a cutely designed website that's super easy to navigate, with all lens categorized by color & brand. On top of selling lens, they also have a wide selection of asian cosmetics, including Dolly Wink!

Their staff is quick to respond and very helpful. They even have information on lens care & safety all on one handy page! It really is the little details that count with Shoppingholics.com, as can be seen with their packaging and fast international shipping. I was so surprised when my package arrived with such adorable wrapping!

Every lens purchase comes with a free cute animal case, how sweet! The lovely people at Shoppingholics.com were nice enough to send me a pair of lens to review, so here they are~

Neo Dali Extra in Green

Color 5/5 - This olive-green is so pretty & unique! It's vibrant but it's not totally overdone either. I was worried that they were going to just blend in with my natural eye color, but they stand out nicely on their own without looking unnatural.

Comfort 5/5 - These are the most comfortable lens I've worn yet! They're super thin so I hardly feel them at all. The best part about these lens is that they don't impair my vision, I felt totally fine driving with them. These are probably the first lens that I would actually consider wearing out.

Enlargement 3/5 - At 14.2mm, these aren't the biggest of lens. Still, the enlargement is pretty noticeable when compared to my natural iris!

Overall 5/5- I'd actually never heard of the Neo brand before, but these are a real nice quality pair of lens. I really love them! They're so comfortable, and they're natural-looking while still giving me that extra oomph. Definitely a keeper, and I'm excited to wear them more!

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Sakura Nails

2011-04-27T23:52:00.007-04:00

I was shocked when I called Marie Nails for an appointment, only to find that they were completely booked up for the entire month! I was in desperate need of a manicure and really wanted my nails done before our Mini Sakura Meet-up this weekend, so I decided to try somewhere new~

I went to Sakura Nail & Spa on the lower east side in Manhattan. I called them two weeks in advance and they had lots of openings, they were able to get me in with no problem at all....I wonder why? MAYBE BECAUSE THEIR PRICES ARE RIDICULOUS. Ugh, I'm too ashamed to even say how much I spent on this manicure. $20 gel removal, are you kidding me??? It's not like they were that difficult to remove since they were falling off anyway, and most places do that for free!

And I'm not even that satisfied by the quality of the manicure or the salon experience either, but I'll get to that later...

Here are my sakura nails that I got done at Sakura Nail & Spa for Sakura Matsuri...~~that's a whole lot of sakura.~~

Pink glitter gradation with flower stickers - $$$

This manicure took two freaking hours. For two hours, I expect it to be impeccable but upon close inspection it's a bit sloppy. My nails don't feel as smooth & invincible as they usually do with the gel.

I didn't get exactly what I wanted either...I didn't feel that they had much of a wide color selection, I wanted hot pink glitter but they didn't seem to have any. I also had to ask a few times to see their sticker selection (for some reason the lower east side location doesn't do acrylic 3D art, just stickers...the upper east side does though), and even then the lady brought me just stars. When I asked if she had any flowers, she came back with these white ones...I would have preferred pink. Don't get me wrong, this manicure came out pretty but it's not what I wanted and the rest of my experience doesn't make me feel any better.

The salon is also set up with two seats and two manicurists at each station. I can see how this would be nice if you're going with a friend, but it's not so nice when the woman next to you brings her little kid that is climbing all over the place. I don't go to a nail salon to babysit or make friends with little kids, I go to relax

The receptionist was extremely sweet and I liked her a lot. Most of the manicurists were pretty quiet. For some reason, the lady who did my nails was way too amused that I picked flower stickers. She kept talking about them and then saying something in another language & laughing. It made me uncomfortable. I definitely prefer the sweet & friendly atmosphere at Marie Nails.

Maybe I'm just nitpicking, but I probably won't be going back there. When I really want something, it's hard for me to restrain myself...but the price I paid at Sakura just isn't worth it, no matter how desperate I am.

Springtime Makeup

2011-04-20T21:20:00.004-04:00

Even though we're still experiencing some April showers at the moment, I decided to put together a spring makeup look today using some of the new cosmetics I've bought recently~ I'm also including some quickie reviews!

It's inspired by springtime pastels and some of the recent makeup trends I've seen in the newest issue of EGG magazine.

EYES
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Pink Cheeks
Anna Sui Eye Color Duo #05
Avon Professional Kohl Eyeliner in Black
Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black
Maybelline The Turbo Volum' Express Mascara in Very Black
Shisem Lashes
NYX Flare Bottom Lashes

FACE
Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in #21
Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Translucent Pressed Powder
MAC Mineralize Blush in Giggly

LIPS
MAC Satin Lipstick in Myth
Anna Sui Lipgloss C #701

Anna Sui Eye Color Duo #05 - This is the perfect eyeshadow duo for spring & summer! The colors are vibrant & shimmery, they remind me of mermaids~ When used with an eyeshadow primer, they're really long lasting.

Maybelline The Turbo Volum' Express Mascara - I've been extremely disappointed with Maybelline mascaras lately!! The mascaras that I've been purchasing recently are completely different from the ones I loved and purchased three months ago...even though they have the same name! I don't know if they've changed their brushes or their formulas, but they're just not the same anymore. They totally suck! Now I need to find myself a new mascara, what a bummer...

NYX Flare Bottom Lashes - I've finally gotten around to using these after purchasing them a year ago. I've been noticing a lighter & more subtle look in some of the gal mags lately, so I tried to recreate it using these little flare lashes. I'm not really sure how successful I was but I kinda like them! I have a major gripe about the packaging of these lashes though...not only is the packaging itself just horrible, but they're hardcore glued in so it's impossible to get them out! I must've ruined about 10 of them just trying to get them out.

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Translucent Pressed Powder - I'm really liking this! Just like it claims, it's absolutely invisible. It doesn't cake up, and I really think it does a good job at keeping my skin from getting oily throughout the day.

MAC Mineralize Blush in Giggly - This is a limited edition from MAC's new "Quite Cute" collection. It's a sheer, happy light pink. The perfect pink for my skin & for spring! I might buy a second one~

MAC Satin Lipstick in Myth - What a perfect, peachy nude! I'm in love with this lipstick, it's my favorite at the moment. It's definitely not the longest-wearing lipstick, but I don't mind reapplying a few times during the day. It's not drying at all either, which is really great! It's vanilla scented too~

I'm totally ready for spring!

Rainy Days

2011-04-16T23:52:00.007-04:00

Today was a horrible rainy day but I got to spend some much needed girl time with my friends~

Ain, Eden, Jean, and I spent the day in Manhattan...cold & wet! We went to Kinokuniya to look at gal magazines & snack at the upstairs Zaiya Cafe, and then we did some touristy shopping around Times Square.

Sephora, Forever 21, The Disney Store...the Times Square locations are crowded & huge! Forever 21 has freaking five floors! It even has a fun little photobooth, which of course we took advantage of~

Most of the time, rainy days make me want to stay in. But this was the best kind of rainy day, spending it out shopping with my friends!

Probably spent a little more than I should have today, but I think I got some good buys~

I recently lost one of my keychains and my car keys were looking a bit bare, so when I saw this adorable Stitch keychain at The Disney Store I just couldn't resist!

Haven't been happy with my usual finishing powder, so I wanted to give this one by Too Faced a try. I haven't fully tested it yet, but I'll be sure to let you know what I think!

The reason we got together in the first place was to check out MAC's new "Quite Cute" collection, but I ended up just going to the MAC location back in Flushing. This new collection is full of bright pastels, just in time for spring!

My MAC haul~

My first MAC lipstick, Myth! Highly recommended by Eden, it's the perfect nude shade.

I grabbed two of the new mineralize blushes from the "Quite Cute" collection, Giggly and Sakura. I've been dying to find a lavender blush, so when I saw this it was a must-have! These are such great blushes for spring, I can't wait to put them to use.

Happy to be at home now, cozy & dry in my pajamas. I'm ready for April showers to bring May flowers~

NYC ✿ Mini Sakura Meet-up

2011-04-15T18:26:00.003-04:00

Some of you may have already heard about this, but it's coming up soon & I want to spread the word~

We're having a mini gyaru meet-up here in NY on Saturday, April 30th! All gals are welcome~

We'll be meeting up at the annual Sakura Matsuri in Brooklyn where we'll be having a little picnic. Then we'll head over to Flushing for some shopping & purikura, and we'll end the night with food, drinks, & karaoke at Zebra Lounge! It's going to be a lot of fun.

If you're interested, don't be shy! For more information and to RSVP, check out our Facebook event page.

I'm getting really excited for this meet-up, I can't wait! Hope to see some of you there~

Gals Gone Wild

2011-04-10T18:52:00.004-04:00

Yesterday Ain & I were in a film shoot out on Long Island at some fancy schmancy house with Mike's advanced cinematography group from Brooklyn College.

Here's what I wore~

I've been on some of Mike's other film shoots before, but this was the best by far! It was fun to be able to act along with a friend...we wore our own clothes and did our own hair & makeup, we pretty much just got to be ourselves.

I still can't believe how much work goes into getting just a few minutes of film...we were working all night, until 4AM!

These production stills are all I can show you for now, hopefully I can share the final film when it's all finished~

I wanted to get really bloody, but that wasn't in the script...

I hope the film comes out good!

Skin Food's Whitening Sleeping Mask

2011-04-04T22:30:00.003-04:00

Hey guys! I have another Skin Food review to share with you~ I just keep trying more & more of their products and I'm impressed every time.

Skin Food's Fermented Pomegranate Whitening Sleeping Mask

I've actually been using this for about six months now. I thought I'd write the review once I used it all up, but I haven't run out yet! There's no way to look inside and see how much is left so who knows...it could run out tomorrow, or it could last another month *shrug*

I'm always looking for products to fade my acne scars, so that's why I bought this in the first place. But since I've been using it for so long, I have no idea if it actually worked or if my scars have just faded a little with time. I didn't notice any difference in the first 1-2 months of use, so I'd have to say that it didn't do too much.

It's still a really nice product though! I'd actually never heard of a sleeping mask before, but it's not really any different from a regular night cream. It's nice & lightweight, and doesn't clog my pores. By the time my head hits the pillow at night it's fully absorbed into my skin, and there's no sticky residue when I wake up in the morning.

It also works really well on dry patches of skin. Sometimes I even use it during the day, when I need a little bit of extra moisturizing.

While I can't say that the whitening worked, I definitely feel like it makes my skin look brighter. It also has a pleasant, sweet scent!

Overall: 4/5

I will definitely continue to try some of Skin Food's other whitening products! I'm determined to make my acne scars go away~

Sucker Punched

2011-03-28T21:32:00.003-04:00

Had a really great weekend, hope you all did too! Got to spend a lot of time with my boyfriend and hang out with my girls~

Yesterday I met up with Eden, Ain, Jean, and Erin in Flushing for some bubble tea & purikura. Finally all five of us together!!

Afterwards, we went to the movies to see Sucker Punch~ I LOVED IT!!

I don't know why it's getting such horrible reviews. People are taking it a little bit too seriously. Yeah, the storyline isn't spectacular...but it's so visual & fun to watch! Gorgeous girls kicking ass & taking names...I couldn't get over how awesome their makeup looked, I spent the entire movie staring at their eyelashes!

I think I'll probably even go see it again. Girl power, baby~

mukuCHU Review - EOS Max Ring Series in Violet, G-204

2011-03-23T12:49:00.007-04:00

It's time for another exciting circle lens review, sponsored by mukuchu~

EOS Max Ring Series in Violet, G-204

Natural Light

With flash

Color 4/5 - There's only a small amount of color on these lens, but they're really beautiful. I kind of like how my natural green color peeks out a little, it's such a unique and pretty look. I do wish that the color was a bit more vibrant though! It's so strange seeing myself with dark eyes~

Comfort 4/5 - These are so extremely comfortable! They're super thin, I don't even feel them when they're in. They feel so natural that Mike tricked me into thinking they fell out, and I actually believed him!

Enlargement 4/5 - The enlargement on these 14.5mm lens is decent. It's definitely noticeable. The thick ring is dramatic and creates an illusion of maximum enlargement.

Overall 4/5 - I love that these are so comfortable! They're actually so thin that I had a ton of difficulty putting them in, but I guess it'll just take practice. The color isn't vibrant enough for my liking, but they're still really pretty! Overall, this is a super nice pair of lens...my favorite that I've tried so far!

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

A Visit (or two!) to the Anna Sui Boutique

2011-03-19T15:52:00.005-04:00

I've made two trips to the Anna Sui boutique this month~

I've always had a strong appreciation for Anna Sui but ever since meeting Marie-Eve of Rock on! Anna Sui last month during her visit to New York, I've become addicted! Marie-Eve insisted that since I live so close to the boutique, I should visit. So I did...twice!

Tiny me, in front of the Anna Sui boutique!

The window display~

I couldn't take any photos inside the store, what with all the millions of salesgirls hovering around (I'm totally not used to shopping in high end boutiques so this was really weird for me!)...but everything, EVERYTHING inside the boutique is absolutely beautiful.

I wish that I could afford an Anna Sui dress, handbag, or shoes...but they're ridiculously out of reach for me. Instead, I bought some cosmetics! An Anna Sui fix and expansion of my makeup collection all in one shot~

Haul #1

Anna Sui Eyeshadow Duo
Isn't the packaging just gorgeous? These duos come with two colors - one super shimmery powder shadow, and a darker cream shadow that blends so nicely! I've been using them without an eyeshadow primer and their staying power is really great! Long-lasting with no creasing.

Eyeshadow Duo #05
This is my favorite eyeshadow palette at the moment! These shades of purple are so complimentary to my eye color & skin tone, and I can use them with pretty much any outfit or makeup look.

Eyeshadow Duo #06
I honestly haven't even tried this one yet because I'm too much in love with the #05, but these colors are so beautiful!

Anna Sui Lip Rouge G #302
I love this lipstick! The formula is really creamy and sheer, it gives just a hint of pink color with some sparkle!

Haul #2

Mike came with me this time around, so I didn't wanna get too crazy hehe~

Anna Sui Lipgloss C #701
A shimmery, long lasting lipgloss. This color is actually very similar to Too Faced's Pillow Talk, but I really can't decide which one I like better! They have very different qualities, so I love them both!

Did I mention that all of these cosmetics, even the eyeshadows, are rose-scented? So heavenly! I've gotta get my hands on an Anna Sui fragrance so that I can smell like Anna Sui full-time!!

I'm loving all of my new cosmetics and I can't wait to collect more! Some day, I will own a beautiful Anna Sui dress~

Pray for Japan

2011-03-15T00:12:00.009-04:00

I've been devastated by the news of the earthquake & tsunami in Japan. My heart aches every time I see the images and video of what has happened there.

When I read that there was a second separate earthquake, NOT an aftershock, near Niigata...my heart stopped and I wanted to cry. I thought of my host family living in Niigata, and was so worried about whether or not they were okay. I'd lost touch with them for a few years, and the thought of something happening to them was too much for me. Luckily I was able to contact them and they are okay. My host mother, Michiyo, wrote to me:

"Thank you very much for your mail. We are fine. The earthquake took place at the other side of Niigata. But at the time of the big earthquake, we were shaking for a long time. We were very surprised and went out of the house. I am very happy that the U.S.A. 150 rescue team has just arrived in Japan to help us. We are going to get over the disaster to get a beautiful Japan again."

My host sister, Mamiko, also wrote to me:

"Thank you so much for your e-mail ;-)
I wish we have ordinary life as soon as possible.
Nowadays I am interested in American music!
So I'm very happy to hear that a lot of American musicians support us.
I miss you!"

I was so happy to hear from them. Talking to them has made me realize how much I really love and miss Japan. I really want to make more of an effort to keep in touch with my host family. I also really want to go back to Japan. I've always said that I want to go back, but this time I want to make an effort to save money & go as soon as I can.

Anyway, many people have been affected by this disaster and they need our support! So I want to share with you some ways that you can help~

American Red Cross

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has designed a prayer bracelet that is being sold for $5 with all proceeds going directly to Japan relief efforts. You may also choose to include an additional donation. Lady Gaga and her little monsters have already raised a quarter of a million dollars in just 48 hours!

Poupee Girl

For you girls that play Poupee, you can now buy items from a special shop to raise funds for the earthquake & tsunami victims. All proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.

I wish there was more that I could do to help. For now, I'll be keeping Japan in my thoughts.

Seeing Stars

2011-03-07T21:41:00.002-05:00

Finally went for another gel manicure at Marie Nails this past weekend~

Here are my current nails, done by the adorable Junko. She did an awesome job!

Cal-gel glitter gradation with star design on six fingers~

They're so freaking sparkly! This design came out to $58, I'm going to try to make them last two months.

I don't know if I can live without gel on my nails now! It's so hard to go back to having normal nails after having a gel manicure. After getting my last gels removed, my nails all broke instantly. I was really heartbroken, since my nails had grown out so nicely after a month of being protected by the gels.

I really love the fact that the gel makes nails invincible! No breaking, splitting, or chipping, EVER! And they look beautiful every day~

You might argue that it gets boring having the same nail design for a month, but I don't see it that way. I enjoy the design, and I get excited thinking about what I want to get done next!

I'm already thinking up my next design...

Marie Nails
155 Prince Street
(between West Broadway and Thompson Street)

New York, NY 10012

646-370-4170

mukuCHU Review - EOS 3D Series in Green, G-212

2011-03-03T19:50:00.004-05:00

It's time for another circle lens review, courtesy of my lovely sponsor mukuCHU~

EOS 3D Series in Green, G-212

Color 5/5 - I love the color of these lens! The jewel-toned hue is so vibrant.

Comfort 3/5 - These actually feel quite comfortable but what I'm noticing about the 3D Series is that the clear part in the middle of the lens doesn't seem to match up exactly with my pupil. I'm not sure if all circle lens are like this (to date the 3D Series are the only lens I've tried), but as I move my eyes around I feel as if I have blind spots. If I look down or focus straight ahead my vision is fine, but if I try to look to the side or up it gets a little blurry. This is a huge concern for me. I don't feel comfortable driving in them so to me they're not really practical.

Enlargement 5/5 - Again, the enlargement on the 14.5mm 3D Series is really noticeable. They're great for achieving that dolly-eyed look. A little bit too great, actually....

Overall 2/5 - I'm really happy with the color payoff of these lens and I wore them comfortably around the house for a few hours. I dared to make the 10 minute drive to Mike's house so he could take pictures for me, but the blurriness in my vision is really frustrating & enough to make me lower the rating by one number.

I'm still a noob with circle lens, haha...but I hope that this review will be helpful. I have a bunch more to try out and I'm really excited to share them all with you~

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Dolly Wink's Liquid Eyeliner

2011-03-02T20:23:00.005-05:00

Lately I've been really fed up with my liquid eyeliner, so I decided to try something new. I'd been eyeing Dolly Wink's liquid eyeliner for a while, and since I was feeling desperate I grabbed it off eBay (impulsively...I probably could've gotten it a little cheaper elsewhere). It's about time I got some Dolly Wink in my life!

It's designed by Japanese model Tsubasa Masukawa, so of course the packaging is super cute!

"Every girl can become a doll! For the girl who wants to be "otono kawaii", it's a present from Tsubasa."

My main gripe about my previous liquid eyeliner by Avon is that it was too difficult to control and always ended up looking sloppy. So I was immediately impressed by how easily & precisely Dolly Wink's eyeliner just glides on.

The color is a deep, dark, pigmented black. It's waterproof, doesn't smudge, and has all-day staying power.

One thing I really love about this eyeliner is that it's so lightweight. My old eyeliner was so thick & heavy on my eyelids but I can't feel this one at all!

Here's the everyday makeup look I've been doing lately, featuring the Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner~

Ignore the retard hair LOL, I'm in serious need of a haircut...

Eyes:
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Pillow Talk
Too Faced Eyeshadow in In the Buff
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Unmentionables
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Stiletto
Avon Professional Kohl Eyeliner in Black
Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara in Very Black
Maybelline Volum' Express Turbo Boost Mascara in Very Black
Shisem Lashes

Face:
Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in #21
Bare Minerals Mineral Veil
NARS Blush in Super Orgasm

Lips:
Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Sheer Naturale
Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Soft Nude

Such a quick & easy everyday look! Simple enough to wear to school & work but it still makes me feel pretty. If I'm really feeling ~~lazy~~ pressed for time, I just go with eyeshadow and mascara~

CSN Stores - Shoesgotsole.com Review

2011-02-24T15:35:00.002-05:00

Last month I talked about shoesgotsole.com, one of csnstores.com's 200+ online shops, and I showed you just a few of the thousands of shoes that they have available.

CSN sent me the product of my choice to review, and it's finally here~

I chose these lovely pumps by Pleaser USA.

They're really gorgeous, aren't they? And surprisingly comfortable too! They're available on shoesgotsole.com for just $35 with free shipping!

As with any online store, there's always the risk that the shoe will not fit. I did run into a problem with the sizing of these shoes, the size 5 that I originally ordered was much too small. I think it's safe to say that Pleaser's shoes run a bit on the small side.

So it's good to know that shoesgotsole.com offers FREE returns. The support team was quick to respond and extremely helpful. The return process was easy and hassle-free!

Once again, I am totally satisfied & really impressed by CSNstores.com's selection & service. I'll definitely be shopping from shoesgotsole.com in the future!

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Valentine's Date

2011-02-15T23:03:00.002-05:00

Mike and I went out on our Valentine's date tonight~ we go out the day after Valentine's to avoid all the lovey-dovey crowds.

We went to T.G.I. Friday's in Westbury for dinner. We had a really great night!

Here's what I wore~

TOP; Express JEANS; Forever 21 SHOES; zipia.net BAG; Chanel ACCESSORIES; Charlotte Russe, H&M

Didn't have a camera with us at the restaurant but I took a picture of our dessert with my BlackBerry...

"Oreo Madness", an Oreo cookie ice cream sandwich! Doesn't it look pretty?

I'm kind of sad! All of our love-love holidays...Christmas, birthdays, anniversary, Valentine's; are over until next year~ but hey, I guess you gotta give a guy a break some time!

Cake for my Valentine

2011-02-14T18:17:00.005-05:00

Happy Valentine's day! Whether you have a Valentine or not, I hope you all had a great day!

I spent most of today with Mike~ Every year I bake him his favorite strawberry shortcake for Valentine's day.

This year's cake, with the flowers & chocolates Mike gave me~

Hachi's Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

2 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup Wesson oil
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Grease & dust two round cake pans with flour.
Beat egg whites til frothy; gradually beat in 1/2 cup of sugar, beating until it becomes a very stiff, white, & glossy meringue.
Sift remaining sugar, flour, baking powder, salt in another bowl. Add oil, half of milk, vanilla; beat for one minute at medium speed, scraping continuously. Add remaining milk, egg yolks; beat another one minute. Fold in the meringue. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees.

2 cups heavy cream
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 qt. fresh strawberries, rinsed & sliced (be sure to save some whole berries for decorating!)

To make the whipped cream topping beat heavy cream, sugar, vanilla in separate bowl until it forms stiff peaks.
To assemble top one cake layer with half of the whipped cream, and cover with strawberry slices. Place the second cake layer on top of the cream & strawberries. Top with another layer of cream & sliced berries. Spoon the remaining whipped cream on top of the strawberry slices, and garnish with whole berries.

mukuCHU Review - EOS 3D Series in Grey, G-212

2011-02-13T18:13:00.007-05:00

Ever since becoming interested in gyaru style I've been trying new things. Dyeing my hair, wearing fake eyelashes, getting gel nails done...I'm sure there are still lots of things I'm missing but one of the most important are circle lens!

Now, I am all for rule-breaking in gyaru style and I'm not saying that you need to wear circle lens to be a gyaru. I love my naturally blue-green eyes and I'm really proud of them~ I'd also never worn lens before and was too scared.

But when mukuCHU sent me my first pair I just had to try them!

mukuCHU is the number one place to buy circle lens online. They're located in Australia but their international shipping is still super fast! They have so many different styles, colors, and sizes of lens to choose from...I don't even know where to begin!

I'll start with my first pair of lens ever...

EOS 3D Series in Grey, G-212

Without flash

With flash

Color 3/5 - The color change on these lens wasn't very noticeable to me. It appeared very similar to my natural eye color, a blue-ish green.

Comfort 4/5 - It was only my first time wearing lens and it was uncomfortable at first, but after a short time I got used to the feeling. I'm sure that as I wear them more often it won't be a problem. I didn't have that much of a hard time putting them in the first time, it was taking them out that was a bit more difficult. I'll just have to practice~

Enlargement 5/5 - The enlargement on these 14.5mm lens was very noticeable. They totally give you that dolly-eyed look. I also feel that it made my makeup look better, much more dramatic & gyaru looking!

Overall 3/5 - I think these were a good pair of lens to start out with. They were easy to put in, and I got used to wearing them after just a short time. The enlargement effect is really nice. I was a little bit disappointed with the color payoff, but I suppose I can't expect much from grey lens + blue-green eyes.

I think they make me look a little demonic...

Right now, mukuCHU is having an overstock sale on 15mm GEO lens. All 15mm Xtra lens from GEO are currently $22! Check it out~

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this review. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

5 Year Anniversary

2011-02-05T10:25:00.006-05:00

Thursday was Mike & I's five year anniversary~ We both had school & work all day but we went out on a date afterward to celebrate.

We went to The Cheesecake Factory at The Source mall in Garden City for dinner. The food was awesome but we probably won't be going back there again. They just pack people in like sardines to the point where you can clearly hear the conversations of the people sitting next to you, and the tables are so close together that you can practically reach over and take a bite off someone else's plate....not really romantic, at all.

Anyway, here's what I wore~

I can't believe it's been five years! Happy anniversary, Mike~ I hope we have many more!

Valentine's by EdenFantasys

2011-02-01T16:39:00.005-05:00

Valentine's day is right around the corner, it's time for romance!

Looking to spice things up & have some fun? EdenFantasys is the place to go!

EdenFantasys has a huge selection of sexy lingerie, toys, and other sensual gifts. Right now they're having big sales, 25-50% off! Just check out their Valentine's gift guide!

One of my favorites would have to be the Hugs 'n Kisses coupon book, I think it's a really sweet gift idea! It includes 27 coupons that are sure to bring smiles to you & your loved one~

And of course I like all of the cute underwear too!

Not only is EdenFantasys a great place to shop, but they are a welcoming sex-positive community. Their blog and forums offer education on the topics of safe & healthy sexual activity. I'm all for it!

If you're stumped for a Valentine's gift for that special someone (like I usually am...) be sure to check out the gift ideas at EdenFantasys! I'm super excited for Valentine's day this year~

Disclaimer: The links in this post contain content suited for ages 18+ and may be offensive. I received a gift certificate in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Neutrogena's Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover

2011-01-31T19:16:00.002-05:00

Lately my favorite eye makeup remover by L'Oreal Paris, which I reviewed here, hasn't been in stock. So instead I've been using Neutrogena's Oil Free eye makeup remover~

This one is very similar to L'Oreal's makeup remover. It's around $8 and available at most drugstores.

Using a minimal amount, it effortlessly removes even waterproof makeup & eyelash glue. I also like that it comes in a larger size than L'Oreal's, so I don't have to buy it as often.

I only have one complaint about this one. While it doesn't leave my skin feeling oily, it makes it really dry! The past few nights I've been lazy and going to bed with makeup on (totally breaking my new year's resolution, so bad!), so when I use this makeup remover in the morning I'm left with dry & cracked skin. So that's kind of a bummer, but as long as I use it at night and follow it immediately with an eye cream it's fine. It's just more incentive for me to wash my face before bed!

Overall: 4/5

Overall, I think it's a pretty good product & I'll keep using it until L'Oreal comes back in stock~

Shoes Got Sole

2011-01-23T09:53:00.013-05:00

You may remember me reviewing CSNstores.com~

CSNstores.com has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be swingsets, fitness equipment, or even cute cookware!

Last time I reviewed a handbag from luxebycsn.com, this time I'm shopping for SHOES!

Shoesgotsole.com is CSN's number one stop for shoes! Thousands & thousands of women's, men's, and kid's shoes in all kinds of styles. I could browse shoesgotsole.com for hours, I'm really impressed by the selection of shoes available!

Here are a few of my favorites~

Purple leopard print? YES!!

CUTE!

Perfect for Valentine's Day~

These are meant to be worn with a Halloween costume, but I think they're totally HOT!

If you're feeling flirty, there's a huge selection of sexy stripper heels! I'm tempted to get a pair hehe~

The best part is that they're all totally affordable!

I was lucky enough to choose the pair of my choice to review. They'll be on their way to me and I'll share the review with you all soon.

In the meantime, be sure to check out CSNstores.com!

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

100 Followers Giveaway

2011-01-14T00:03:00.004-05:00

I've recently reached 100 followers! To thank you all for taking the time to read my blog, I am pleased to announce that I will be hosting my first little giveaway~

100 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY

Here's what's included in the giveaway:

-Aerie pouch

-Sinful Colors nail polish

-NYX lashes
-Neutrogena Healthy Lengths mascara & lip gloss
-Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter scented lip balm

-Nail stickers

-COCOLULU iron-on patches
-Lovely mirror cell strap
-Swarovski bead bracelet
-Badtz Maru Happy Meal watch

-Various skin care, makeup, and fragrance samples

It's nothing fancy, but I'd really like to give these things away to one of my lucky readers!

RULES

Mandatory entry: Comment with your name and a valid e-mail!

For more chances to win, you can...

-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, bloglovin', etc (comment, saying that you're a follower)

-Follow me on Twitter (comment with a link to your Twitter profile)

-Tweet the following message on Twitter: "Hachi's having a giveaway! @hachidork http://hachidork.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-followers-giveaway.html #win #giveaway" (comment with a link to your tweet, you may do this once daily)

-Blog about this giveaway (comment with a link to your blog post)

-Comment on any of my other blog posts (comment with a link to the post, you may do this once)

Be sure to do the mandatory entry first, and make sure that each entry is in a separate comment! ANY COMMENT NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES WILL BE DELETED!

The giveaway ends on Friday, January 21st at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by e-mail. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck everyone~

Party Animals

2011-01-11T02:29:00.005-05:00

Last weekend I had my 21st birthday party at Zebra Lounge in Flushing~

Zebra Lounge was mad nice, it was my first time there and I was really happy with it. Pricing was good, the room was gorgeous, and the karaoke system was easy to use!

I'll just let the pictures do the rest of the talking...

Finally put my temporary Chanel tattoos to use, loves it!

Funniest photo of the night.

Love my girls!

It was such a fun & awesome night! My only regret is that it went by way too fast~

Thanks friends! Being 21 rocks!!

Birthday Manicure

2011-01-06T18:52:00.003-05:00

A few days ago I got my nails done at Marie Nails in Manhattan~

I've only ever gotten a manicure twice before, but Eden talked me into going and I thought it'd be nice for my 21st birthday. So I made an appointment for a cal-gel manicure!

I was a little bit nervous about going by myself, but at the same time I was really excited and started cooking up design ideas. When the time came for my appointment I found the salon with no problem, but it turns out that I'm an idiot and made the wrong type of appointment so they didn't allot enough time for me to get extensions...

Still, the girls at the salon were really nice! I didn't catch the name of the girl who did my nails, but she was quiet & super sweet.

So anyway, onto the nails~ they're short but still cute.

Cal-gel glitter gradation with leopard print design on five fingers~

The cal-gels are sooooo nice! The whole process took about an hour, and it came out to $52. It seems like a lot for a manicure but consider this...the cal-gels don't scratch, they don't chip, they're super strong, they stay super shiny, and they last for about a month! I love that I don't have to worry about ruining them, I think they're totally worth it.

Marie Nails also does rhinestones and other 3D art!

Marie Nails
155 Prince Street
(between West Broadway and Thompson Street)

New York, NY 10012

646-370-4170

I can't stop gazing at my fingernails! I think that I could easily become addicted to cal-gel manicures, they're amazing~

Happy Birthday to Me

2011-01-04T23:59:00.015-05:00

Today is my 21st birthday!

Mike took me out to dinner~ We went to Houlihan's in Westbury.

A horrible photo, but it's the only one of me with my first legal drink~ a strawberry mojito! Our waiter didn't even ask to see my ID, it was anticlimactic and I was kind of disappointed haha..

I ordered Tuscany Lemon Chicken~ it looks icky here but it was super yums!

Faceless Mike and his burger.

Apple Crumb Pie for dessert!

I got presents too! Mike gave me cute stud earrings and a gift card for a shopping spree~ Permission to drag him around shopping with me, yay!

My mom gave me this "Always 21" pendant necklace, and along with it she gave me a note~

"Your great-grandma Millie & I shared our birthday and so much more. On my 21st birthday she gave this to me along with the story of how great-grandpa Joe gave it to her. He gave it to her on her birthday and told her that whatever her age, she would always be 21 in his heart. It has been mine for 30 years, waiting for this day to give it to you. Wear it always in good health, happiness, and love until maybe someday you will have a little girl to give it to."

I love it! It was really sweet, and I love the history that comes with it. I feel really lucky to have it.

Thanks to my friends & family for all the birthday wishes, and thanks to my boyfriend for a wonderful day! Being 21 is great so far~