Nano Titanium by BaByliss Pro - Ionic Dryer and ConiCurl

During my last trip to Vegas, we stayed at the Mirage Hotel and they had the Nano Titanium Hair Dryer by Babyliss in the bathroom. The first time I used the dryer, I thought it was amazing! It took less time to dry and hair is much smoother and straighter without even using a brush.

So, on my recent trip t oTJ Maxx, I found this Babyliss Pro gift set on clearance! It was $49.99 and includes the ionic dryer and a conicurl. It was such a good deal that I couldn't pass up. I only wish it was a plain black. I like leopard print but it's a bit too much on a hair dryer. Plus, it makes it difficult to see the power setting buttons. There's a cool button, a low, med, high heat button, and a low, med, high speed button. Overall, I'm really pleased with the dryer, it's light weight but sadly, the cord is not retractable! For a lazy person like me, that's kind of a must... Too bad, I'll have to take the extra time to coil the cord. 

As for the conicurl, I think it works well. The buttons are hard to see because they are so small and blend in to the leopard print. I also wish they provided a glove. I'm not so good with curling wands. 

This set is available on amazon still, for around $79.99

Beauty Bargaining! Tarte Haul

So I've been wanting to get some products from Tarte. Specifically the Amazonian clay full coverage airbrush foundation and the Amazonian clay waterproof brow mousse. I've tested them out at Sephora to find the correct shade. I was going to purchase them in store, but seriously the one I went to, I was pretty much ignored by all the sales associates. So, I went home, went through my Chase rewards mall and got extra 2% for my purchases at Sephora! (I swear I got 5% back for my last purchase...) I also have a 20% off code from Tarte.com. So, I decided to browse around on both sites.
In the end, this is what I bought - from Sephora, I got the brow mousse and coral crush (Tarte's eye and cheek palette), and from Tarte.com, I ordered the fair-light honey foundation and the buffer (airbrush finish bamboo foundation brush). Online shopping is great, especially if there's free shipping and samples!!

They actually have a bamboo kabuki brush paired with the powder foundation, but I chose the buffer because it's more versatile and I can use it for other foundations. The brow mousse comes with a brush/spoolie, so that's nice!

Tarte offers free shipping at $40 and it's pretty quick, I got mine within 4 days of ordering by Fedex.
Sephora ships through UPS and VIB gets the 3 day shipping, so Sephora's arrived first.

I love the packaging of the coral crush palette. I picked this over the new palette because it has blush, highlighter, and bronzer, plus 6 eyeshadows. The palette in store has 8 shadows and one blush?

My first tarte product was actually the eyelash curler. I never really tried their product, but I got really curious after seeing Essiebutton's review on the whole brand. Plus, I've been wanting a foundation that doesn't require me using my fingers/hands. I'm that lazy, yes. This mineral like powder is perfect, I just dab my brush in and blend it over my face. No squeezing a tube or spilling foundation and no messy fingers! It will feel like you are not putting anything on your face and you might need to use more if you want more coverage, but I think as it settles and mixes the oils/primers on your face, it smooths itself out and it just looks like skin.

The buffer brush is nice and soft, nothing much to complain about as it holds the powder well and blends well.
The brow mousse is nice too, even though I have to use a brush and open the pot. I've tried pencils but just don't work with my brows. I use medium brown and it gives a subtle fill without making me look crazy.

The coral crush palette is adorable! There's a gold starfish on the cover and the colors are great. The blush and bronzer are really pigmented. I don't really like the shadows textures, it's not very fine and the sparkling ones get everywhere. The eye shadows are alright, you get three neutral colors (one being matte brown - which can probably be used on the brows) and one lilac and one light pink highlighter. The light colors look lovely on the palette but are really light and don't transfer well onto my skin. I really don't think I need another palette, but I thought if the colors work out, I'll use this as a traveling palette, I'm always lugging around a naked2, blush, bronzer, highlighter and they take up a lot of space. So if one stone can kill four separate products, sure why not... I'm sure I'll still end up bringing some other blush/eyeshadow. Ha.

Speaking of eyeshadows, I've been eyeing the Smashbox Full Exposure palette, it's sooo pretty! Definitely on my wish list.

Gloomy Sunday Brunch at Twin Palms, Old Town Pasadena

Originally wanted to have brunch at Green St Tavern, but after parking, we walked by Twin Palms Restaurant and Lounge and decided to try their sunday brunch buffet instead. It's a contemporary restaurant with giant sails covering the outdoor seating area. The restaurant is very spacious, clean, and well organized with heat lamps in case it gets cold. What I don't get is the older man singing and playing the guitar with the TinTin movie on a screen in the background.

The buffet is $20 per person, $40 if you want mimosas. It was a little chilly and gloomy today, so we went for tea and coffee (included in the $20, surprisingly). Food for the buffet: omelette station - servers can order and bring to you, well that's what my server offered us, potatoes with red peppers and onions, sausage, bacon, waffles with strawberry and cream, oatmeal with assorted sides, fruits and muffins. 

Not a lot of choices, but everything's delicious. The waiters and busboys are spot on with service. I think I will be back for lunch sometime, but probably not the brunch buffet. There's only so much breakfast food I can stuff in my face. A La Carte will do for me! 

Bargain Hunting at Desert Hills Premium Outlet

Took the luxury of a day off and the President's Day sale to do some bargain hunting at the outlets in Cabazon. It's about an hour and a half drive, but who cares because that's the only outlet with an All Saints store! I've been on the hunt for a good leather jacket, because my faux leather one finally ripped, I left it in my car on a hot day and it... melted?

First of all, Desert Hills is doing some major construction work! The East wing that used to have the parking spaces in the center is now gone. They are building more shops there. Not sure why, as I've noticed some shops have closed down. Even All Saints moved to the West wing already... It's important to do your homework or check the store map before you walk around the whole East wing only to find out that your store has moved to the West. I walked past Tory Burch and there was a line to get in. Not sure if they are just short staffed and wanted to control traffic or they are doing it on purpose to lure people in... The usual lines at Coach disappeared, I guess people has finally moved on!

Anyways, back to what I bought. I didn't go in too many stores, just the ones with things I already had in mind of getting - Converse, All Saints, AX, and Armani.
1. Converse - I got some Made for Chucks only socks!!!! These socks are the best and they truly don't show around the ankles. These came in a pack of 6 in blue, grey, and white for $11. So cheap!!! Not sure why the 6 pack of whites costs $2 more??

2. All Saints - Everything in store had an additional 20% off. I got a grey/light grey tshirt dress with one side of the hem shorter, so it creates a drape from the hip. I think it's the left side... Overall, it's a cute drapey top/dress for. I also got a leather jacket! There weren't a lot of choices, especially black ones. So I settled for a dark brown and I'm happy for now. It was at a great price too! I think, in the end, it was about $150. I really like the quality of All Saints clothes and shoes. I have a few pairs of their leather heels and this is my first leather jacket from them. Not really sure why I need a real leather jacket... winter is not even that cold here and it's almost over :P I just found online that they are selling this exact same style in BLACK online. It's the  Belvedere Jacket. I'm more into the biker style... like this one Cargo Leather. I'm still on the look out for one, not one compares to the faux leather one I got from TJ Maxx a few years ago! Even though it wasn't real leather, it was a great fit and style.

3. Popped into Giorgio Armani because I saw online they were having 70% off all shoes. 70% off!! I remember they once had a 90% off shoe sale. That was heaven! This year, I was so lucky to spot a pair of sandal heels on clearance, so that's more than 70% off! It's so pretty in grey suede and leather. Probably 4 inches tall and very comfy for a skinny heel. A total bargain from the original $750 price tag, I got these for ~$90!!! I love buying things that are (way) past season but still look great in your wardrobe!

That's all from this trip. Pretty satisfied, hopefully next time I head out there, the construction will be done.

Bargain Hunting = Hunter - Romilly

We are in a drought here in California, why on earth did I just buy a pair of Hunters you may be thinking. Ah ha, these are Hunter flats - Romilly, not the heavy duty rainboots. Still... I know the chance of wearing these plastic flats are close to none. But they were on sale at Nordstrom Rack! 60% off! They were only $30 and in such a pretty coral color (Flame)!!! Oh, how I wish it would just rain now.

I have a pair of Crocs rainboots that I've worn once in the rain and a few times cleaning the shower, so when I saw these shiny jelly flats, I knew that if it was to just drizzle ever so slightly, these would be perfect instead of pulling on some big old black rainboots. 

They have a range of colors - yellow, neon yellow, baby blue, grey, and this orangey "flame". I picked flame because it's like a bright coral color that adds a nice touch with any color jeans. These feel comfy, very flat, but they do make a low squeaky sound when you walk... kinda like air being puffed out of ... something plasticky... you get the idea? It doesn't bother me so much. Plus, these are light to carry for traveling. 

I'm not sure if these are everyday flats or just rain flats. Obviously no one would want to wear flats when it's raining. I'm sure if it were to pour, my feet would be soaked through. Maybe these are beach flats? garden flats? Oh, the possibilities! For now, I'll stick with occasion flats, after-rain flats, and sun-shower flats! See, so many uses, I knew these were a bargain!

My first Hunter... flats. 

Clarins "The Essentials" Eye Palette

Christmas is almost here!!! I've been shopping for presents and got myself a new eye shadow palette. This collector's edition eye palette is by Clarins - The Essentials, aptly named as it contains ten beige, taupe, and brown shadows to contour and highlight eyes.

The palette is $45 for ten shadows. Very gorgeous copper, gold, and browns colors. It's very similar to the Naked 2 and 3 by UD but less shimmer/glitter. It's more like velvet, satin, and soft shimmer. Two of the ten shades are matte which make nice bases.

The packaging, I think, is sturdy but since it's made of thick cardboard and a elastic strap, I'm not sure how many trips it will survive. I prefer the Naked 2 tin style. But then again, Clarins is being environmental friendly...

I purchased this on Nordstrom.com and they have a GWP (still going on) when you purchase two items (one skincare). So, I got the hand cream (back ordered, so I won't get it till later in Dec).

 Three free beauty samples - I love how they are individually packaged

 GWP from Clarins

 Very generous samples! I wasn't expecting this at all

Body Lift cream and Body Oil

 Outer packaging of the palette

Backside of the box 

Outside of Palette  

 Comes with a clear plastic card numbered as a guide

 The ten shades and bamboo brush

 Shades 1,2,3,4,5,6

Shades 4,5,6,7,8,9,10

D&G Time Anchor Watch (DG0509) Black

I've been eyeing the D&G 0509 Anchor Watch in black leather forever!! I'm sure this is a way past season watch! But, it really reminds me of my cousin's Mont Blanc watch. Which is probably something I won't be able to afford in the near future! So, D&G it is! Thank you babe for getting this for my birthday.

I received the package today and immediately unboxed it. The lid is made of  thick white cardboard but the black box is actually made of a thin cardboard. So thin that it's floppy and easily squished. I was surprised by the choice of material they used. I've only had DKNY watches before and they all came in beautiful heavy card boxes or plastic cases. So, this D&G box seems rather cheap and I honestly thought it could be a fake. Anyways, there's an instructional booklet and a warranty note with the D&G hologram. The watch is kept on a velvet foam holder and in a faux leather pouch.

Let me get to the watch itself. The straps are black leather with a D&G engraved silver buckle. The face of the watch is mainly black and stainless steel with mineral crystals at each hour. There's also a unidirectional bezel. It's also 50 meters water resistance, but I'm not sure who would want to dive 50 meters with a leather watch?!

Overall, I love how it's a little masculine but also very smart looking for females!

What do you think?