december hauls & planner stickers

hi guys! this is a lil late, but here's the bit i pre-wrote... hope you all had a great holiday week!

it's been a busy december! as i mentioned several weeks ago, go live part one for my work project happened, and there's a lot of stuff going on with supporting that, then my usual tasks have been super awesome and clearly defined. LOL. not. but that's how life works, clients know what they don't want, but not always what they want. and they think about all scenarios for new features they want, HAHAHA. no, they actually haven't. but you know what, it's finally the holidays, and i took vacation time. yay! actually, so the point of this intro, seeing as though i went way off topic..., i didn't buy that much this month, partly because it was christmas, and going places is annoying. ~Lin-chan ^.~

popsugar must have (~$140 value)
odeme catchall & ring dish, baublebar snowfall pendant, mane message bobby pins, winky lux lip pill in bunny, sisters' gourmet baker's dozen chocolate chip cookie mix, dessange color protecting top coat serum

covergirl fuchsia forever, winky luxe bunny, elf natural glow face palette

winky luxe lipstick in bunny

target december beauty box (~$18 value)
covergirl outlast lip color in fuchsia forever, goody ouchless hair band & headband, tresemme expert beauty-full volume shampoo & conditioner, modella purse bag, almay eye makeup remover pads, nivea soft moisturizing cream, derma e firming dmae moisturizer, la roche-posay anthelios 50 mineral sunscreen

covergirl fuchsia forever

sephora $25 off $50: tarte tarteist pro to go eyeshadow palette, nest holiday candle mini, sephora collection citrus brush cleaner

drive, stylin, hype, crisp, boss, dominate

bubzbeauty pencils of promise 2016 shirt -- i was really excited when this shirt came in, but i didn't hand wash it and, it in the wash, and a lot of the black ink faded. i'm contemplating getting fabric markers to try to make the patchier areas less noticeable...we'll see how that goes..

i mentioned this in my november planner post, but i received a commendation at work, which included points to an internal store thingy. this store had soooo much stuff to choose from, to the point where i wondered if i would be judged if i wanted to order particular things. it was pretty boundless the types of items one could have redeemed for. i ended up spending most, but not all of my points on a pandora night sky charm (center), and i'll save the rest of my points for later in case i earn more (unfortunately you can't pay money for the balance on items that cost more points than what you have).

target dollar spot stickers and washi tape, kiss gel fantasy nails in faux real, elf daily brush cleaner & wipes (not pictured), and natural glow face palette, more washi tape, burt's bees vanilla bean lip balm and cuticle cream

planner stickers haul (here's the link to my etsy list of purchased planner stuff)
TheCoffeeMonsterzCO: face earth stickers are like the best idea ever, and i love the guy in the meeting sticker that is face-desking.

-- coupon code: THANKYOU15 for 15% off $25

OnceMoreWithLove: lets just summarize...i got a lot of the things between the anniversary, black friday/weekend sales. and i managed to get one of the oops bags!

target back to college beauty boxes

hi guys! sorry this is a bit late! i sent these to the in-laws' because of the move! anyway, here ya go. these were $5 each. the theme was back to college, and the boxes were "head of the class" and "honor roll". ~Lin-chan ^.~

honor roll box ($5)

1. bathery delicate pouf (ret. $1.99) -- it's a shower pouf...what else is there to say?
   repurchase? probably, i always use these.
2. john frieda luxurious volume 7-day treatment (1oz--mini, ret. $8.99 for 4oz [$2.25]) -- i got a free sample of this from the target sample page a couple months back..haven't used it. i might pass it to a friend and try the other one.
   repurchase? probably not
3. covergirl outlast all day primer (1oz--full size, ret. $9.79) -- i've been eyeing this primer, but didn't want to shell out $10 at the drugstore for it...thankfully it was included here so i don't have to, and i do have a lot of primers in my stash to go through still......... it has the watery lotion-y type texture and doesn't have the silicone-y slip that i like, but we'll see how it performs.
   repurchase? maybe
4. nyx butter gloss in strawberry parfait (full size, ret. $4.99) -- i think i'll give this one away. this isn't a me color.
   repurchase? not this shade
5. goody ouchless elastics (3 elastics, (price varies) ret. about $4.59 for 37 count [$0.37]) -- more hair ties!
   repurchase? maybe
6. burt's bees white tea facial wipes (10 wipes--mini, ret. $5.99 for 30 wipes [$2]) -- got these in one of the boxes around christmas time, and i thought that these were only ok....
   repurchase? nah
7. olay white strawberry body wash (3oz--mini, ret. $4.99 for 23.6oz [$0.63]) -- this has a really nice scent. it says it's strawberry and mint..but i think it leans more strawberries and cream with a hint of something extra. this is something else i've been eyeing, but i don't need to buy more body wash right now..
   repurchase? maybe
8. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target

approximate product value: ~$22.02

head of the class box ($5)

1. hollywood fashion tape (6 strips--mini, ret. $8.89 for 36 strips [$1.48]) -- i already love this brand of fashion tape. it works so well and lasts pretty much all day--or at least long enough for your event. they also have hem tape, which i'm interested in trying to see how well that holds up. if you adhere them to your skin for prolonged periods of time, you might get irritation (i did).
   repurchase? probably, i always keep these on hand.
2. wet n wild max volume plus mascara in amp'd black (full size, ret. $4.99) -- always interested in a new mascara!
   repurchase? maybe
3. herbal essences wild naturals dry oil spray (2.8oz--full size, ret. $5.99) -- it has a very nice fruity-floral-y scent. can't wait to try it!
   repurchase? maybe
4. bathery luxury pumice stone (ret. $1.99) -- it's a pumice stone..what else should i say..? the blue part is more of a foamy thingie..
   repurchase? probably not, since they last forever and i have some in use already
5. goody ouchless elastics (3 elastics, (price varies) ret. about $4.59 for 37 count [$0.37]) -- more hair ties!
   repurchase? maybe
6. yes to cucumbers facial wipes (10 wipes--mini, ret. $2.99) -- i haven't tried anything yes to yet, and i've been wanting to try these. tried one out, and they take off makeup pretty well, but aren't super great on stubborn eye makeup. slightly burns the eyes a bit, but has a cooling effect on the skin. smells like cucumbers!
   repurchase? maybe
7. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target

approximate product value: ~$17.81

april 2015 favorites, a fail, & an update

iiiiiiiiiiiitsssssss april favorites timeeeeeeeeee! it's another neglect responsibilities and wear sweatpants monday! with all that severe weather and tornado watches/warnings this morning, i ended up not going to work, and school canceled anyway. i've been home studying pretty much the whole day because i have a final tomorrow that's worth 40%. like seriously. ~.~ and the power went out for like four hours.... studyin by candlelight! (see my latest two instagram photos in my sidebar widget) anyway, the more extensive life update is at the bottom of this post. ~Lin-chan ^.~

ps, did yall see that ridiculous video of the train that blew off the huey p?! holy crap man! and secondly, who the hell goes to canes at 1030 in the morning to take said video?? (click for the article & video)

favorites:

right: wearing colourpop cookie, wisp, birthday suit

nars rikugien, benefit posiebalm, colourpop cookie

mac bao bao wan palette; colourpop birthday suit, wisp

1. mac bao bao wan jewels veluxe pearlfusion shadow palette -- this is such a pretteh and sparkletastic palette! i love using the top shade as my brow and inner corner highlights, the second as an all-over shade, the fourth as my crease, then the third patted over the lid, and sometimes but not so much the fifth one as a lower lash liner.
2. nars satin lip pencil in rikugien -- as i mentioned somewhere else before, i wanted this pencil a long time ago and never got around to buying it. i loved the formula of the other two nars lip pencils that i had previously and i was definitely excited when this shade was included in this year's birthday present!
3. burt's bees herbal blemish stick -- this is an inexpensive salicylic acid alternative, made from 100% (or close to it) natural ingredients. i've been using this nearly everyday since i got it in early march and i've been liking it. it's a lot cheaper than the clinique spot healing gel i've been using (and you know how much i love ◔_◔ the new formula compared to the old--bleh!). the only real complaint about this one is that it's a rollerball and sometimes there's too much liquid on the ball when i go to apply it and it starts dripping down my face....and for people with a lower pain tolerance--this stuff burns a bit.
4. benefit posiebalm -- i'm not sure why, but i've been using this guy every morning recently. when i first got it, i wasn't a super huge fan because it has a rosy scent and the staining power is minimal or non-existent. but, it's a nice flush of pink for my more natural days.
5. colourpop 
1. blush in birthday suit -- this is a very natural pinky rose shade with a hint of gold glitter. yall know i'm not huge into cream blush, but this one's pretteh good. it has the same texture as their eyeshadows.
2. highlight in wisp -- this is such a pretty highlight. i think it would work great as a shadow topper too. it comes off as a really pretty sheer gold shimmer.
3. lippie stix in cookie -- this might be my new perfect nude type shade. or maybe orangy-nude. i really do like it!

random favorites:

top: triple chocolate, chocolate peanut butter cup; bottom left: double chocolate mint,
upper middle: peanut butter chip, white chocolate macadamia, lower: snickerdoodle, oatmeal raisin

lol, can we talk about this color palette i've got going here? but seriously, i basically live in blue, black, and gray.

1. salmon furikake rice seasoning -- so in february's meh's section, i mentioned how i got the bonito furikake and it was super fishy. i've been wanting to try the salmon one out and i finally bought it earlier this month when i went to the korean store. soooo much better! it's a lot more subtle but still has a nice salmon taste.
2. insomnia cookies -- so we just got one of these out by northgate..and it's derricious. if you have one near you, definitely check them out because it's so good, and warm, and mmmmm! a word to the wise, do not get their sugar cookie. it's weird and not sugar cookie-like---if that makes any sense at all. their snickerdoodle is a more accurate ..depiction? additionally, if you do have delivery, expect to not see them for a while and not so warm cookies. from placing the order to receiving my first delivery, it was one hour--and i ordered before 530PM, like before most peoples' dinnertime. go and wait in line, it's worth it!
3. work clothes! how lame am i now? i recently bought a crapton of work clothes from the limited because they had some awesome deals going on. so i bought several pairs of pants and tops. i also got a few new tops from marshalls/tj maxx. then, i bought several pairs of shoes from payless because sales and coupons too... the comfortplus by predictions shoes are super comfy, i had two pairs prior and needed more (karmen, marge). and i got some dexflex flats (bianca) and wedges (daylight).
1. mil's handiness/sewing skillz -- back in high school, my mother didn't let me take home ec, which i genuinely wanted to take. but anyway..it's ok kinda, because my mil is nice and hems all my pants for me..because i'm shorter than short..[pants] by like one inch. sadface.

mehs:

1. koh gen do pure cotton -- i bought these from sephora to try out, mostly because i wanted to check out alternatives to cotton rounds. i've tried out several brands of cotton rounds and my favorite is still the sephora ones--but they're not always available, so i go for whatever's in the drugstore. anyway these are ok. i used them for eye makeup remover (i cut one pad in half to use for both eyes) and it worked great. using these with micellar water or toner, they're not so great. they generally hold up, but they pill up a bit when i use them on my face. i also tried applying toner or cleansing water to them and splitting the layers apart, but that didn't really change much either. after these are gone, i'm planning on trying out the shiseido ones next--and they're more cost effective.

regrets: i didn't actually have any this month. wut!

1. can we call this one? i painted my nails with the intention of a notd redoux post and it was late at night and i didn't get to take any photos. then my topcoat ended up bubbling by the next morning... so it was more like a fail on my part. i'll try doing it again sometime soon, i promise.

update:

1. recently, i've had the stuck in a rut feeling. it's the end of semester crunch and graduation and all of the things. here's a mini checklist:
1. send out my graduation announcements
2. graduation
3. pay off the student loan
4. pack up this apartment since we're planning on moving to a larger unit (in the same complex)
5. pack up at my room at my mom's because my "storage unit" is no longer available for free starting in july
6. starting my new job...except that they haven't figured out my start date yet...... the new building is almost finished, so they're moving in anytime now basically. and mass confusion involved with all that. so i'll start sometime before the end of summer! who knows when!
7. teh paul has another europe trip/conference to go present at this summer. and i'll be at home because i'll be working.
2. teh paul's got his own work stuff that he's been trying to figure out.. contractually, his fellowship doesn't allow him to get outside income because it's basically like a salary (gettin' paid to study, ain't that the life!). so he's thinking about not taking his final year of the fellowship, and take an internship with one of the instructors who has a consulting firm for the summer. then, for the fall and spring, he'll be a GA or TA or whatever the hell. same difference. the reasoning is that he doesn't have much teaching experience, and the consulting firm is good real-world practical experience. and at the moment, he's leaning more toward working at this company rather than pursuing academia for now at least. there's too much uncertainty with him becoming a professor: a high chance of not getting tenure, and the 100% certainty that we would have to move out of state. likewise, if he keeps his fellowship, nothing will really change aside from him maybe taking on guest lecturing for his professor and maybe TA/GA for a lab or something. he still has no idea which he wants to do... ~.~
1. and then we've got the added stress of, "well if i'm going to intern this summer, i'm not going to want to drive my old car all the way out there." well you ain't driving mine! so we might be car shopping here very soon. the original plan was for him to get a new car at the end of the year for sales and that's when new mazda3's are released--which is on his list. [sidenote, i just remembered: when i got my car, his was next to mine in the photo i posted, and someone said "yeah, paul's car got soul too!" ..i have a kia soul.]