Eastward Bound!

At this moment, I am sitting and typing in SFO, waiting for my flight to JFK at 10:30.

I am really sorry for my absence! I say this a lot, but this semester has been soo draining so far. Not a week passes without a test, group project, or long essay. :/ So this is why people don't take 19 units a semester!

My self-enforced beauty budget has been cutting down on the addiction. I might not buy anything, even if there's a great sale or the alluring words "limited edition". To be honest, a little of my interest has died. I see my many drawers of makeup and skincare unused (and maybe they will stay that way) and it makes me feel ashamed. Before my budget cap, I think I spent more on makeup than food! :o

But that's not to say I'm over makeup. I still love reading blogs and writing about it. I think my focus will be broader. I will start writing about older products that I have been using and already have. I am also interested in DIY and will blog about my attempts in formulating skincare. I would also like to make soap once a month and show it to y'all. Be kind, I'm an uber noob still! :)

I also started making over my mom and introducing her to cosmetics. At -redacted out of fear- years old, my mother still knows little about using makeup and skincare. I like helping her since I can unload some products I haven't been using and learn more about working on aging skin. Figuring out how to cover age spots, matching foundations and looking for primers to help with deep-set wrinkles have been new and exciting challenges for me. By teaching someone else how to use makeup, I'm actually getting better! :)

I'm glad to spending the week in NYC to unwind. I might do some hauling for Ben Nye and NYX, as it seems to be more plentiful there. Mostly I'll be chowing down on great food and trying to walk it off, lol. 

Any and all suggestion for activities, dining, or makeup shops etc. will be greatly appreciated! If anyone wants to meet up in NYC, I'm game. :)

Thanks and have a lovely week!

How I Spent Valentine's

I meant to post this on Tuesday, but school work caught up to me. Here goes anyway: 

One photo is all you need.

Sorry for the funky lighting, but I just wanted to eat at that point and didn't bother taking more photos. :P

In lieu of competing with all the other couples on V-Day, the bf and I decided it would be cheaper and less of a hassle to cook a meal at home. 

I made: 

Braised lamb shanks wrapped in eggplant (this was delicious, but took hours!)

Roasted garlic mashed potatoes (surprisingly hard to do w/o a potato masher. Oh well, I love lumps!)

BF made: 

Braised lentils

Green salad with sliced apples and walnuts and an awesome balsamic vinaigrette (not pictured, because we gobbled it up already!)

I can be pretty bossy in the kitchen sometimes (read: all the time). But it was nice cooking together, just the two of us in normal clothes and barefoot (no evil high heels). I'm thankful that I have a valentine to spend the day with.

If you can still recall, how was your Valentine's Day?! :)

Mystery Sleek Blush

Back in my brief Sleek Makeup obsession last December, I was scoping out eBay's offerings. And I stumbled upon a mystery blush. 

It wasn't listed on the Sleek website or mentioned in any blogs at the time. What could it be?

Sleek's blush in Life's a Peach! As soon as I read the the name, I knew I would pick it up. I cannot resist peachy blushes! The color just looks so flattering on light-medium warm skin tones. Plus I'm set for this season, looks like orange blushes are back! I picked up for around $11 including shipping. 

Top off

Don't be scared off by the safety cone orange shade in the pan. It is actually a beautiful matte orange peach blush that translates beautifully on your cheeks!

I set about comparing it to the other orange blushes in my collection. 

I picked R&R's blush in Immoral because it looks super orange-y in the pan too and also N.Y.C. Peach Glow Face Powder in apparent memoriam. First off, I must note that the photo makes the blush seem darker than it is, the true color is actually more bright and lively. 

It took a few swipes of Sleek to show up on my arm, whereas it only took a swipe for the other two. However, I wouldn't hold this against Sleek at all. R&R's Immoral is infamously hard to work with since it's so pigmented. You might need more than one light swipe for Life's a Peach to show up on your cheeks, but you'll never look clownish. And though N.Y.C. is slightly more pigmented, the color of Peach Glow seems too subtle. 

Sleek is that awesome combo of seeming totally flattering and the color still coming through on the cheek. It's like Peach Glow and Immoral got together had a mild mannered baby! Immoral has a stronger hint of neon red coral and Peach Glow is a more peachy beige shade.  

It is definitely one of my favorite blushes to wear. I don't worry that it's going to be too flashy for a day look. It's the perfect pop of color on a dreary winter's day. According to Sabina, this shade is limited edition. It's still not on the Sleek website, but there seems to be eBay sellers who have stock. Check it out!