tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20400777623167836462012-01-26T12:30:00.721-05:00<center>my little corner of the web to discuss skincare and makeup, gadgets, and food</center>mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.comBlogger4101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-72115521107406727702012-01-26T12:30:00.001-05:002012-01-26T12:30:00.728-05:00

This week has been kicking my ass - MG was stuck out of town for a week due to car problems, and as soon as he got back we spent the night/early morning at the ER because he'd been having pain in his side. (no official diagnosis, but he's seeing his doctor this week. At least we know it's not appendicitis.) During his absence, I was taking care of a sick kitty - Minos was having tummy troubles as

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-80276360415351903862012-01-23T12:30:00.002-05:002012-01-24T05:48:18.836-05:00

 [from Naturopathica] Naturopathica was founded by clinical esthetician and herbalist Barbara Close, and the products use ingredient choices endorsed by clinical studies featured in prominent medical journals. [Their] skin care treatments are developed and refined based on proven results at [their] healing arts center in East Hampton, NY. Their products eliminate harmful synthetics or skin

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-9658328974312706562012-01-20T10:06:00.003-05:002012-01-20T10:06:00.140-05:00

Several months ago, Skullcandy was kind enough to send me some of their products to try after reviewing a new feature on their site. I totally fell behind in writing up the post, so here are my thoughts: Skullcandy Riot Earbuds ($19.99) These colorful ear buds deliver the same quality sound as other Skullcandy buds, with the added bonus of a built-in mic if you use it with your smartphone. When

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-82331145162454888852012-01-11T20:00:00.000-05:002012-01-11T20:00:03.722-05:00

Last month I wrote about curling your hair without heat tools, using strips of cloth. It's a good method to use if you want curls for a night out and you're spending most of the day indoors, since you end up looking like a rag doll with all the rolls and bits of fabric in your hair. I found another way to curl your hair without any heat tools, which is now my preferred method to curl my hair and

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-44181138463669023352012-01-10T21:03:00.010-05:002012-01-10T21:06:35.468-05:00

I've been improving on my sewing skills and made a few new things... reversible tote from an earlier postused it to bring home Christmas presents linen basket/cube for sewing things outside of basket/cubetried my hand at a simple sashiko pattern near the bottom with some DMC floss I had I had scraps from making the box, so I used them to make a little zippered pouch for my new phone.I finally

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-32592838027195641852011-12-31T15:09:00.000-05:002011-12-31T15:09:08.226-05:00

Another year ends, and a new year swiftly approaches...this past year has been an especially difficult one, and I am hopeful that 2012 has better things in store for me. I'm not typically a superstitious person, but right now I can use all the good luck that I can get, and New Year's has a lot of superstitions! Some Filipino New Year's traditions include the following: Cleaning the house from

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-13766124898237186082011-12-13T13:38:00.001-05:002011-12-14T16:43:33.040-05:00

A long time ago I tried to set my hair in pin curls to get curly hair without the use of heat tools....and I failed. My hair is a stubborn creature - it's dense, and stick straight. The few times I attempt to use a curling iron or a flat iron to create some curls, my efforts are gone within an hour or two - even with the help of mousses and hairsprays, and any other products meant to make curls

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-28732369481565014582011-11-30T23:17:00.000-05:002011-11-30T23:17:02.201-05:00

Around this time every year, my skin likes to create havoc and break out with patches of eczema as a result of the cooler and drier air outside, and the dry heating indoors (even though it's been a warm November). The eczema is mostly around my chin and jawline, but the latest bout of it spread up to my cheeks, making them feel like parchment paper. Typically mixing some Vitacreme B12 with my day

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-18476271631081367522011-11-25T12:44:00.000-05:002011-11-25T12:44:34.814-05:00

For Christmas this year, I'm making gifts for my family....so my sewing machine has gotten plenty of use as of late! I also made myself a (not so) little tote bag out of some fabric I bought online... I meant to make some pouches or something small with the bird fabric, but when I got it in the mail the print was larger than I thought it was. It made more sense to make something big to really

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-44002988035007136252011-11-10T13:37:00.000-05:002011-11-10T13:37:26.828-05:00

Just a quick note to mention that I've added some new/gently used items to my Blog Sale page, after going through my makeup drawer. Please take a look!

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-15776110795130671042011-11-08T12:18:00.000-05:002011-11-08T12:18:14.501-05:00

Pardon the filler post, but I'm still feeling under the weather and I haven't had time to write up a full entry. I'm hosting a little giveaway on my jewelry blog and I'd love it if you would pay a visit - DC Bijou I'm giving away handmade pouches, sheetmasks, makeup, and some hair accessories/stud earrings to help promote the handmade pouches that I'm selling in addition to my jewelry. Details

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-57690584818109138992011-11-01T17:55:00.001-04:002011-11-01T17:56:54.762-04:00

I gave in to my curiosity about the half moon manis I've seen floating around online. After a trip to the drugstore to pick up some page reinforcers (those little white stickers shaped like donuts), putting on a movie, and setting up my nail goodies on the coffee table, I ended the night with this... Zoya Moxie, layered with American Apparel Hassid Not too bad, but I'll have to put the stickers

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-10817004746078177202011-10-24T10:30:00.001-04:002011-10-24T10:30:01.294-04:00

After several months of witholding from buying makeup/skincare, I finally indulged in some shopping over the weekend. I made a small order from Sephora and used the friends & family code to get the 20% discount to get the following: Zirh Wash for MG, Jack Black kit (Christmas gift), Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum I was planning to get one of the Caudalie kits so that I could try a few

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-34412602329828996342011-10-20T02:13:00.000-04:002011-10-20T02:13:42.193-04:00

Prior to last week, it had been years since I had this meal, and I've been craving it for months.... El Pollo Rico(NoVa, DC, and MD folks, it's worth the trip to Arlington for this food!) It doesn't look like much - rotisserie chicken with steak fries and sauce - but it's some of the best chicken I've ever had. It's from a little place in Arlington VA (Anthony Bourdain ate there in his DC

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-88012883929497259532011-10-12T10:00:00.002-04:002011-10-12T10:00:11.015-04:00

It's really hard to maintain a beauty/makeup blog when you haven't bought anything new for 4+ months. The only things I've really purchased in that time have been necessities, like body lotion, shampoo/conditioner, and bodywash. Over the weekend I went home to NoVa to see my family - my grandmother has been staying at my parents house (visiting various family members in CA, PA, and VA all the

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-76716603023594672042011-09-13T10:48:00.001-04:002011-09-13T10:48:00.803-04:00

I tried a little something different with my eyeliner the other day, and I really like the way it turned out! My FOTD is on the simple/classic/neutral side, since my makeup has been minimal all summer, so I'm easing my way and teaching myself how to wear more than one shade of eyeshadow on my lids again. Products used:Face Atelier foundation sample (Wheat)Bobbi Brown ConcealerMUFE HD

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-92225175368663015102011-09-01T10:00:00.001-04:002011-09-01T10:00:04.044-04:00

Hello dear readers! I know I've been MIA for a little over a month now, and I'm not really sure why...enjoying the summer, taking a break from blogging/twitter/facebook....whatever the reason, I'm back again! These are old photos from early August, but I was painting my nails and wanted to add an interesting design to them, so I used a dotting tool and created some different patterns on my nails

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-26205560317234193032011-07-24T16:39:00.000-04:002011-07-24T16:39:56.070-04:00

I haven't posted a recipe post in a while, so here's a dish that's quick and easy - and really filling! What you'll need: bell pepper (1 per serving, any color you like) 1/2 small onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1 clove garlic (I substituted with garlic powder) 1/4 cup sliced/chopped mushrooms 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup dry quinoa 1/4 cup baby spinach 1/4 cup shredded cheddar

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-27830783836325739112011-07-19T14:35:00.000-04:002011-07-19T14:35:30.410-04:00

Earlier last month, I was contacted by Brian H. from Missiko.com to review their Hana Air Premiere Hair Dryer. Missiko primarily sells hair styling tools and accessories, like flat hair irons and salon hair dryers, but they also sell styling products and a some makeup and beauty items. I was grateful to receive the hair dryer to review, as I'd been dragging my feet on replacing my hair dryer at

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-38800691798119541712011-07-10T15:59:00.000-04:002011-07-10T15:59:58.241-04:00

Inglot Cosmetics has recently gotten a lot of buzz in the beauty industry for their makeup line, with affordable prices and products that really know how to perform. The Polish company offers an incredible range of eyeshadow colors and finishes, along with countless lipsticks, glosses, and eyeliners. Last month a placed a small order to try a few of their items. I decided not to order any of the

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-20276025938687623492011-07-07T10:30:00.001-04:002011-07-07T10:30:00.102-04:00

My favorites for June are a short list, but I've been wearing less makeup thanks to the return of humid/muggy summer weather! Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray ($29.00) - This is a quick and easy primer that I like to use when wearing powder/mineral foundation. 3-4 spritzes on the oiliest parts of my face - forehead and nose area - and after it dries down, I'm all set to apply my makeup

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-90697187546555150152011-06-28T14:33:00.000-04:002011-06-28T14:33:13.259-04:00

It's been almost a month since my last blog update....not much to say, really. I've been feeling really out of sorts lately with a lot of personal stuff going on that I don't wish to air out, but suffice it to say that a lot of other things haven't felt that important. I feel like a bad blogger, because I haven't been purchasing new items to share/review, and that results in fewer posts and less

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-7742269859738334162011-06-08T15:09:00.000-04:002011-06-08T15:09:37.188-04:00

Maybelline's latest line is their FitMe collection - concealer, liquid foundation, and powder in a plethora of shades that are guaranteed to match your skintone. Once you find the shade that best matches you (using foundation sample bottles where they are available, or using shade cards to hold against your skin), the corresponding number should be your match for all three products. FitMe

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-56818423868791414892011-06-05T08:36:00.000-04:002011-06-05T08:36:06.341-04:00

I'm up at 8AM on a Sunday....actually, I never really went to bed! I fell asleep while reading last night and napped longer than I should have, and haven't been able to fall asleep since. At this point I figure I should just stay up and get a REALLY early start to the day. (There's a cycling race in town and MG and I are going to wander over and watch part of it, as long as the weather cooperates

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-52751126629392366412011-06-02T16:24:00.000-04:002011-06-02T16:24:30.470-04:00

Last weekend was full of countless hours sleeping in and napping...mostly by Minos... ...and a desire to use a container of fresh strawberries and leftover cream to make homemade strawberry shortcake. The sudden switch from spring to summer weather makes me want to shop for more skirts, long dresses, and flowy tops....my usual jeans just aren't going to cut it this year! This weekend?

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-80446884552544794972011-05-31T11:00:00.002-04:002011-05-31T11:00:01.988-04:00

I'm pretty bad with putting a list of favorites every month, but I actually have one for May! Maybelline FitMe liquid foundation in 210|Sandy Beige I'll have a full review of this foundation soon, but I've really grown to like this formula a LOT! I like it so much that I haven't even bothered to try the other foundation I bought earlier this month. The formula feels light on my skin, provides

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-51633783791354451622011-05-27T17:46:00.000-04:002011-05-27T17:46:07.345-04:00

I'll be updating the Bijou Atelier blog with more previews of items that will be added to my Etsy shop, now that I have a lot more time on my hands :) Be sure to follow that blog and twitter for shop announcements and updates! There will be a giveaway coming up that  you won't want to miss!

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-7565574520196925922011-05-19T17:00:00.003-04:002011-05-19T17:00:02.187-04:00

I've been neglecting my blog lately, working on new items for my Etsy shop and I've been obsessed with watching LOST on Netflix whenever I can. MG and I are completely hooked on this show! The great part is that we don't have to watch any commercials :) I've seen a few posts about making kale chips as a healthier alternative to potato chips (or for any other kind of crunchy snack), so I finally

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-66423009043573526372011-05-09T19:00:00.002-04:002011-05-09T19:00:03.914-04:00

Hi guys! I splurged a bit the other day and bought some new foundation to try - it seems like most of my regular foundations are starting to look too dark/too pink on me lately (maybe the skincare I was using actually worked??) so my makeup has been rather "off" recently. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on an expensive foundation in case I get more color over the summer, so I looked at

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-13952185987083154182011-05-07T13:00:00.003-04:002011-05-07T13:00:42.877-04:00

I'm sure a few of you have noticed that I haven't been posting many "haul" posts lately, and that's for a few reasons. The main reason is that I've been making more of an effort to use what I have. If I do purchase something, I tell myself to make sure there's a good reason for the purchase, like buying more makeup remover because I've used up my current remover. I actually kept a tab of

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-51080514429682496742011-05-04T11:30:00.001-04:002011-05-04T11:30:02.129-04:00

I felt a little adventurous over the weekend and wore some bright green shadow from the Sleek Safari palette that Yasumi sent me. I even decided to curl sections of hair and ended up with a slight 70s style: One side of my hair was very cooperative, while the other side...not so much. Having a few curls did make it easier to pile up into a bun later that day though! I like having the option of

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-38902254416312915612011-04-27T13:48:00.002-04:002011-04-27T13:48:19.176-04:00

I finally decided to paint my nails over the weekend, and I used one of the new polishes that I got from Mona:China Glaze Sunset Sail stamped with Konad white polishInitially I tried using a lavender polish to stamp the floral image onto my nail, but the color wasn't popping against Sunset Sail. Sunset Sail is a nice shimmery peach for summer. It looks warmer in the photograph than in real life.

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-11476025568011932032011-04-21T18:23:00.001-04:002011-04-21T18:23:35.863-04:00

My birthday was a pretty relaxing day - I slept in, took my time getting ready, and after MG came home we went out to run a few errands and grab some food. I was in the mood for pho, so we went to what's becoming our favorite stop for pho and got 2 huge bowls:Why do I love this place more than the other pho restaurants in the city? It's the broth! Normally I leave most of the broth in the bowl

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-49555547322480083652011-04-19T00:01:00.001-04:002011-04-19T00:02:13.770-04:00

I received a lovely surprise from Blair for my birthday this month :)VOV wash off masks, strawberry lip balm, makeup! and flavored Kit KatsI have to admit that I already tried the Kokuto Kinako (sugar soybean) and it was delicious!Blair also gifted me with the Coffret D'or 3D Lighting Eyes palette in 03|Silver Tones.I"ll admit that I haven't kept up with the new releases lately so I had to look

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-5007911125421468152011-04-15T07:45:00.002-04:002011-04-15T07:46:17.011-04:00

Last week, I received a package from Mona :) She snagged some polishes for me at a beauty event -China Glaze Sunset Sail, OPI Teenage Dream,Essie French Affair, and Essie Sand TropezI opted to try Teenage Dream and French Affair on my nails this week, since I'd been going sans polish for a while -French Affair is a cool-toned milky pink. It took 3 layers to get even coverage, but there are a few

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-77066590725267192422011-04-12T20:15:00.001-04:002011-04-12T20:18:49.776-04:00

This is a really easy meal to whip up when you're craving something more than pasta for dinner - the mustard greens add a nice hint of spice!Ingredients: (serves 2)4 medium mustard greens1/2 cup skim or nonfat ricotta cheese1/4 cup corn1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper3/4 cup pasta sauce1 cup pasta Blanche mustard greens in boiling salted water for one minute until tender; remove thick stem at the

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-1691363820177137192011-04-08T16:00:00.001-04:002011-04-08T16:02:09.394-04:00

We're a few days into April, and it still feels like winter :( The weather looks a little more promising next week, with sun in the forecast and possibly reaching 80-degrees on Monday, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can wear my new shoes...it's been a while since I've gone shoe shopping, but I found some cute ones at Target!My studded flats from last summer are wearing thin, so I was

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-22297642068891158022011-04-06T22:05:00.001-04:002011-04-06T22:05:36.858-04:00

Clairol released a new product to their line of hair color recently, using a foam formula rather than the standard liquid or cream hair dyes. Since it was time for me to color my hair again (I am unfortunately starting to notice a few white hairs popping up on my head), I decided to try the foam dye.I picked up shade 4/Dark Brown, for a subtle change. Mixing the dye was easy - I poured the little

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-68463118751147361972011-04-03T22:03:00.003-04:002011-04-03T22:03:29.488-04:00

In reference to my previous post, I made a little something with some colorful fabric and a little foam.......it's actually an insert to carry around my camera so I can use any bag I want!I wanted a way to tote my camera (and extra lens) without putting it in an obvious camera bag, and give it more protection than my previous method of wrapping the camera up in a scarf and stuffing it into my

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-89177353768447447092011-03-30T12:40:00.002-04:002011-03-30T12:40:24.013-04:00

Over the weekend, I got my free Target Beauty Bag in the mail - I signed up when I saw some fellow bloggers tweeting about the info :) The free samples included the following:Pantene travel shampoo for fine hair (really? umm, anyone want this? I soooo do NOT have fine hair!)Nivea Express Hydration lotion sample (smells nice!)Neutrogena Naturals lip balmRevlon ColorBurst gloss sample in Hot

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-39514632459714644532011-03-25T13:35:00.003-04:002011-03-25T14:07:03.094-04:00

Sunnier days are approaching, and that means finding an effective sunblock for daily use! While it's easy for me to find and use makeup products that already contain SPF (through powder/liquid foundations and pressed powders), the SPF level is somewhere between SPF15-30. Definitely better than nothing, but I want something with a higher SPF that doesn't leave my face feeling greasy as the day

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-71136372916828107712011-03-21T15:50:00.001-04:002011-03-21T15:50:55.000-04:00

I learned how to make a bokeh filter for my camera this weekend...the only alterations I made to the photo above were cropping some excess space and adding my watermarkI think I'll try my hand at some other shapes!Please visit my jewelry site if you have a chance - Cady Nation Jewelry - a portion of all sales through April will be donated to relief efforts in Japan

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-72334888447077947602011-03-12T01:50:00.003-05:002011-03-12T04:15:22.180-05:00

To continue with my new love of the CoverGirl NatureLuxe line, I wanted to share some swatches of one of the new lip products, the Gloss Balm.CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balms in Hibiscus, Peony, Anemone, and Coral CG NatureLuxe Gloss Balm retails for about $7.50 each, depending on where you are. Each tube holds 1.9 grams, or .067 ounces. All of the shades include SPF15 to help protect your lips

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-23710185921445651102011-03-07T14:23:00.004-05:002011-03-07T20:12:09.422-05:00

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation promises "flawless coverage with a light-as-air feel." This liquid foundation contains SPF10, jojoba extract and cucumber water, and is available in 14 shades.Price: $10-13, depending on where it's soldAvailability: drugstores like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, but it should be available wherever CoverGirl products are soldPackaging: standing tube in seafoam green

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-27383992526215188152011-03-05T12:30:00.001-05:002011-03-05T12:30:16.510-05:00

It's been a while since I've written a post like this, but I had to share some of my favorite products that I (re)discovered last month!Aussie haircare products - I used the 3 Minute Miracle deep conditioner years ago, and just recently purchased it again, along with the "moist" shampoo and conditioner. My hair has been drier than usual this winter, and using these 3 products has added some

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-88020666722873955982011-03-01T14:55:00.005-05:002011-03-01T14:55:44.456-05:00

I've been loving the Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette lately - the colors are such a great mix of neutrals for daily wear! (The pics below show 3 different skin tones, thanks to yellow bathroom lighting and 2 different cameras)I used the left side of the palette for this EOTD, minus the highlight shadeI used the greens on the right side of the palette for this EOTDThe light green "eyelid" shade is

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-14178405791167894542011-02-24T15:06:00.001-05:002011-02-24T15:06:30.520-05:00

Kay from cosmeddicted tagged me for this fun handwriting meme. Blogging allows us to connect with people all around the world, and it's always interesting to see how the blogger persona in your head matches up with the real person, if you're lucky enough to meet them or watch videos. It's also interesting to see what their handwriting looks like - I love getting little notes from my blogger

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-53310205625573137692011-02-21T16:27:00.000-05:002011-02-21T16:27:38.210-05:00

The crackled nail look is back, thanks to Barry M, OPI, and now China Glaze :) The Barry M and OPI crackles only come in black, but China Glaze's collection comes in 6 colors - black, grey, white, aqua, hot pink, and bright purple. I was excited to see other colors in their collection, so I got them in grey (Cracked Concrete) and aqua (Crushed Candy). Here are swatches of both polishes over

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-14010580185135205092011-02-17T13:03:00.001-05:002011-02-17T13:03:21.572-05:00

It's no surprise that I've been impressed with the recent products from Wet N Wild's Color Icon line - the eyeshadow singles, trios, and limited edition holiday palettes have packed lots of pigment in colorful hues, many of which can compare to higher-end shadows. Some of the shimmery shades end up with some fallout, but it's a small price to pay considering how little you end up paying for these

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-35564433800886212142011-02-16T01:44:00.003-05:002011-02-16T21:06:51.341-05:00

For the second year in a row, I participated in a Secret Valentine gift exchange :) My Valentine's gift arrived a few days early, but I tucked it away on my shelf so I wouldn't be tempted to open it early, haha. Last night it was finally time to open my gift, after my dinner & a movie night with MG. Tammy made my night with all the sweet things she included!I laughed when I saw all the colorful

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-38575458236547101312011-02-14T00:04:00.002-05:002011-02-14T00:04:29.969-05:00

I've actually had this manicure for the better half of a week and just haven't had time to post photos - I'm surprised that there's only one tiny chip on my thumb after all this time, considering how much I abuse my hands during the day! OPI I'm Indi-a Mood for Lovefloral pattern from Konad plate m71, stamped with American Apparel Hassidtopped with Seche ViteIt's not your typical Valentine's Day

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-15426428828619873142011-02-09T02:16:00.003-05:002011-02-11T03:24:37.434-05:00

.:.Please check out my Blog Sale page for new items that were added this week.:.Early last week I decided that it was a good time to add some new products to my skincare routine, as my cleanser was nearly finished and my daytime moisturizer was on its way to being finished as well.Since my cleanser is nearly done, I decided to finally try out the Enjoy Your Rice Day Rice soap that I bought months

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-11420823072041399522011-02-08T00:04:00.002-05:002011-02-08T00:04:25.976-05:00

I just can't get enough of the new Wet N Wild eyeshadows! I bought one of the new Coloricon trios while I was at Rite Aid the other day...Silent Treatment has three easy to use neutral shades - shimmery taupe, shimmery dark chocolate brown, and a shimmery peach. They're even stamped with "eyelid" "crease" and "browbone" to make application simple.Swatches of the eyeshadowsThe crease shadow does

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-54004107021487006772011-02-02T20:39:00.001-05:002011-02-02T20:39:07.032-05:00

Hey guys! This cold gloomy weather hasn't left me inspired to do much lately, hence the lack of posts. Here's a short post about some recent manis...Barry M Nail Effects over Milani HD(it's so much fun using the Barry M polish over glittery/bright nail colors!)Even though I don't really celebrate Chinese New Year, I wanted to wear something festive, so I went through my stash for a bright red

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-22891164087223652892011-01-24T11:43:00.003-05:002011-01-24T11:43:25.686-05:00

MG and I are constantly trying to eat better and find both safe (gluten-free) and interesting meals to make at home. During the summer, one of our favorite snack spots in South Philly was a shop that served falafel...but we stopped going there because MG would get a little ill after getting a meal. Typically falafel is served in pita bread, and even though he'd order it without the bread, there's

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-31232206626096672362011-01-18T11:44:00.003-05:002011-01-18T11:44:32.530-05:00

One of my resolutions this year is to spend less money on makeup and skincare unless there's a good reason to get something, and I'm trying to set aside a smaller "Beauty Allowance" in my budget. That being said, I allowed myself to indulge in a little shopping at CVS during their beauty clearance.I bought 3 of the L'Oreal HIP Kohl liners, since I've heard good things about them, and I've wanted

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-79122558904563754392011-01-12T20:26:00.001-05:002011-01-12T20:26:25.053-05:00

I'm no stranger to bold nail colors, and recently I've been showing some love to the more vivid shades in my nail polish stash...TopShop Lead (there are pretty purple and green reflects),China Glaze Millennium and Metallic Muse for snowflakes, using BundleMonster plate BM14Zoya Hope, feathers from BM15 stamped withChina Glaze Metallic Muse and Konad Polish in Whiteand my current nail art for this

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-56083076669604996592011-01-10T02:59:00.002-05:002011-01-10T02:59:19.666-05:00

I just wanted to say Thank You to Old Cow, Tammy, Lulu, and Cat for sending me all the lovely Christmas surprises last month - I have so many new eyeshadows and nail polishes that have been added to my collection!I haven't been up to much since my last post...I think I'm still in holiday mode, and I haven't felt compelled to do much aside from hanging out with MG and Minos in my free time. More

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-76364833525362286342010-12-28T16:43:00.001-05:002010-12-28T16:43:39.396-05:00

How are you all doing? Hope anyone on the East Coast is doing well after the snowstorm over the weekend! MG and I were in Virginia for the holiday, and we were supposed to leave on Sunday, but with all the snow warnings we stayed an extra night and drove up last night. It was really great to see my family and his family, and spend some time together. I even got to talk to my brother, who was

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-13568312112524463932010-12-23T16:54:00.001-05:002010-12-23T16:54:19.440-05:00

Attempting to wrap up my favorites of 2010 posts, so here are my favorite eyeliners...L'Oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil (black, $8)My daily liner of choice; pencil liner that has a creamy formula so it doesn't tug on my lids, intense like a liquid pencil without having to wait for anything to dry. You can smudge it for a few seconds after you apply it, but after that, it's really not going to

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-64668454158066556492010-12-22T00:10:00.002-05:002010-12-22T00:16:17.784-05:00

Did anyone get up late Monday night/early Tuesday morning to see the lunar eclipse? I actually set an alarm to wake up before the total lunar eclipse, but I managed to sleep right through it. I woke up at 3:45 AM because Minos curled up with me and pushed me to the edge of the bed, lol. I got up, hoping to see at least part of the celestial wonder, especially since the last eclipse on Winter

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-38295665494755406592010-12-20T11:59:00.003-05:002010-12-23T00:24:34.421-05:00

My final holiday giveaway is for anyone that loves painting their nails!The winner will receive a Konad stamp and scraper, Konad plate M60, China Glaze in Medallion (glittery gold) and Harmony (can be used for Konad images). The M60 plate is one of my favorite plates to use, since it has the fishnet and argyle designs :) This isn't included in the photos, but I am also including a bottle of my

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-31133564220191159752010-12-17T14:39:00.001-05:002010-12-17T14:39:15.816-05:00

I am so happy that it's Friday again! I have lots to do this weekend - the last of my Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, finishing up Christmas cards, cleaning up the apartment - but tonight I think I'll enjoy the fact that I can do all of those things on Saturday, spend the night relaxing as much as possible. Therapeutic eye mask will be in order; my left eye has been twitching for the past

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-88791424483736539592010-12-16T01:09:00.003-05:002010-12-18T12:13:25.568-05:00

Congratulations to pfefi - you're the winner of the Wet N Wild eyeshadow giveaway!To continue with the giveaways, here is Holiday Giveaway #2:Urban Decay's De-Slick in a Tube primer, and a Canmake Cheek Gradation in 02|Orange Stripe. Both of these items were favorites of mine this past summer; the Urban Decay primer helped keep my makeup in place on the muggiest days, and the orange cheek

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-19670878020489651892010-12-15T00:31:00.003-05:002011-01-13T02:11:17.007-05:00

To continue with my favorite products from 2010, here are some of my favorite blushes!Rock and Republic pressed blush in Spank (top left) ($40; $20 from the sites below)After I destroyed my Everday Minerals Blush in Nick Nack (I used too much pressing medium and not enough alcohol), I lucked out when I gave in to the hype of Rock & Republic blushes during one of many sales (Hautelook, Beauty

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-47362333225222585432010-12-13T12:36:00.002-05:002010-12-15T12:35:09.374-05:00

The days until Christmas are dwindling just a little too fast for me! I still haven't finished my Christmas shopping, but I plan to place some online orders this week to finish up the rest of my shopping - I don't have much patience at the mall on normal days, so there's no way I could handle the mall right now.I decided to have some mini giveaways to celebrate the holidays, and to celebrate my 3

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-41938058363257297072010-12-08T00:50:00.005-05:002010-12-08T00:51:15.603-05:00

I haven't had any luck with finding the holiday Wet N Wild palettes, but I decided to get one of the regular palettes - this time I picked up Lust:It contains six coordinating shadows in pink and purple, once again with 3 matte and 3 shimmery shades. Pigmentation is just as good as the Greed palette - you pick up plenty of product without much fallout, and the matte shadows don't look chalky at

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-85845673521987016922010-12-06T14:28:00.002-05:002010-12-06T14:31:48.441-05:00

The end of the year is approaching fast - seriously, where did most of this year go? - so what better time to write about some of my favorite products that I discovered this year? Here are my favorite base/face products for 2010:Urban Decay De-Slick In a Tube Mattifying Gel ($28)By far one of my favorite purchases this year, this primer is GREAT for oily-skinned gals that are in need of a primer

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-75521295069375957422010-12-02T13:48:00.001-05:002010-12-02T13:48:35.979-05:00

I'm late in the game, but after reading a few posts about the new Wet N Wild eyeshadows, I finally decided to try them out for myself. Wet N Wild products have been hit-or-miss for me in the past, and aside from their creme liner, I haven't taken much notice of their products. (In typical Philly fashion, the drugstores in the city that sell Wet N Wild aren't stocked very well, and that particular

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-27431263521868147242010-11-23T12:44:00.001-05:002010-11-23T12:44:38.865-05:00

It's that time again....I pulled some makeup/skincare that could use a new home, so please take a look at my Blogsale Page to see prices! I'm also holding a sale on my jewelry site, where everything is 50% off if you include the sale code with your purchase. There are lots of items that would make great gifts for the holiday season!

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-3060382276591944192010-11-22T13:34:00.002-05:002011-01-13T02:17:46.118-05:00

Day 30 - A picture of you today & 20 goals you want to accomplish.1. Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 12. Find recipes for Thanksgiving dinner.3. Buy serving spoons & ramekins/smaller baking dish for Thanksgiving dinner.4. Pack my lunch for work more often.5. Cook more meals at home.6. Adjust my mom's lumpia recipe so it will be safe for MG to enjoy them with me.7.

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-7007104070981994242010-11-18T16:08:00.001-05:002010-11-18T16:08:39.832-05:00

Day 29 - In this past month, what have you learned.It's good to find at least one thing that makes you smile at the end of the day, even if it's as simple as coming home and having my cat meow at me in the hallway as a "HELLO! YOU ARE HOME!" ^_^My obsession with makeup continues, despite telling myself that I already have 82,000 beige-y taupe eyeshadows. (I found an affordable drugstore eyeshadow

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-89095250707320786432010-11-17T22:31:00.001-05:002010-11-17T22:31:23.898-05:00

Day 28 - A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?2009Physically, my hair is red(-ish) now and cooperating a little bit more, and I've put on some weight that I'd really like to lose. I'm jaded and blasé more than ever...stuck in a rut, if you will. I focused on taking care of my skin this year, and it paid off - little to no breakouts (especially the cystic acne that

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-41501897831696446492010-11-16T11:11:00.001-05:002010-11-16T11:12:09.254-05:00

Day 22 - What makes you different from everyone else.I'm a poet. I'm a crafter. I'm a baker. I'm a writer. I'm a blogger.I'm a packrat. I'm an organizer. I'm a planner. I'm a list-maker. I'm a collector.I'm a daughter. I'm a friend. I'm a giver. I'm a reader. I'm a keeper of secrets.I'm a perfectionist. I'm a photographer. I'm a night owl. I'm a joker. I'm a flutist.I'm a listener. I'm a

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-6190441287016443512010-11-10T23:33:00.002-05:002010-11-10T23:33:40.860-05:00

Day 21 - Share a picture from your day.I'll do one better and share a little video with you! You all know Minos...he's picked up a few strange habits since he started living with us, including obsessively nibbling on our fingers at random...

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-86127882668953038272010-11-09T00:35:00.001-05:002010-11-09T00:36:30.955-05:00

Day 17 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.If I could, I'd want to live day in the life of my favorite London zookeeper and curious curator of the House of Blues.......to see the streets of London (which I've yet to do on my own) through her eyes, to make the ordinary seem more extraordinary......to wear dresses and tights (which I rarely do) and stomp in puddles....

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-4863089140938179412010-11-04T23:48:00.002-04:002010-11-05T10:47:27.206-04:00

Day 16 - Something you could live without.Phillies (baseball) fans.Need I say more?Flyers (hockey) and Eagles (football) fans aren't quite as obnoxious, but dear god, do I HATE baseball season here.

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-30290487881042061392010-11-03T15:06:00.001-04:002010-11-03T15:06:25.708-04:00

Day 15 - Put your iPod on shuffle & share the first 10 songs that play.1. AFI, The Celluloid Dream2. Straylight Run, Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)3. Billy Talent, Pins and Needles4. Alkaline Trio, Trucks and Trains5. random song in Korean that shows up "unknown artist" and "untitled" track that my friend gave to me in college, lol...I don't even know what they're singing about, but it sounds

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-50875421635334839082010-11-02T16:05:00.003-04:002010-11-02T21:20:12.040-04:00

Day 14 - A picture of something you ate and 10 confessions.Today's lunch: homemade lentil soup and a pink donut....crap, the donut doesn't make my meal gluten-free! (I'm trying to eliminate gluten from my diet this month to see if I feel any different) FAIL...only day 2 and I've failed...I can't put it back now, and it's rather wasteful to just toss it...ok, today will be my cheat day, and aim to

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-28682217293998715652010-11-01T16:30:00.001-04:002010-11-01T16:31:47.795-04:00

Day 11 - A picture of something you dislike.Extra Virgin Olive Oil? Bring it on! Olives? Run away! Run away! It's the brine....I can't deal with the brine...same goes for pickles.Day 12 - A picture of your room & don’t cheat by cleaning it. Share a secret.Day 12 was Sunday, which was laundry day, lolhanging up some shirts to air dryFreshly made bed and clean makeup brushes drying on my dresserMy

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-82886496659368417002010-10-29T13:44:00.001-04:002010-10-29T13:44:16.329-04:00

Day 10 - A story about a past relationship.UGH....I hate talking about past relationships! Oh, just a STORY that happened from a past relationship? OK then....how about the time an ex totally screwed me over for my birthday?I was a freshman in college, and I was dating a guy in my dorm. We were going to the spring formal together, which happened to be on my birthday. He said he was going to take

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-19895743618959243672010-10-28T16:18:00.001-04:002010-10-28T16:18:44.052-04:00

Day 09 - Something/someone you’re proud of.My older brother, for pursuing his dream :) it took him a while to figure it out, but I'm happy that he went back to school to study his craft, and it's great to hear that he's doing well, even if he's constantly busy/pretty stressed with project after project.He gives me hope that I can do more than what I'm doing now, and the ability to pursue

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-60150636655484640112010-10-27T10:54:00.001-04:002010-10-27T10:55:35.511-04:00

Day 08 - Short term goals for this month and why.Even though this month is nearly over, I'm still going to carry over these goals to next month in the hopes that I can start some good habits!Cook at home/eat healthier - too much takeout, not enough cooking at home.Go to sleep earlier.Start working out/going to the gym twice a week, if not more...I really ought to put my membership to good use,

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-74868748379050223092010-10-26T00:33:00.002-04:002010-10-26T00:33:48.127-04:00

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.I got this medal from a very special friend many years ago.

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-90603754532679212822010-10-24T23:39:00.004-04:002010-10-24T23:39:06.740-04:00

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to.Pagsanjan Falls, PhilippinesDuring my last visit to the Philippines, Christmas 2005It was my first Christmas in the Philippines, and the first time I had flown there completely on my own...a lot of my mom's relatives already live there, but more relatives from California and Guam had flown in as well. It was great to have so much of my family all

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-72888879509670994572010-10-22T12:45:00.002-04:002010-10-22T12:45:19.058-04:00

Day 04 - List 15 songs that represent your life’s soundtrack.Paul Anka, Diana - purely for my namesake (no one I ever babysat had a crush on me like THAT), and listening to oldies reminds me of my parents taking me to school.Bahay Kubo - Filipino nursery rhyme about vegetables...I made ALL of my aunts/uncles sing this with me when I was little.Saturday Morning Cartoon Theme Songs - I can't pick

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-27589349241668840192010-10-21T01:13:00.001-04:002010-10-21T01:14:07.862-04:00

Day 03- A habit that you wish you didn’t have.I don't always finish what I start. I have lots of ideas running around in my head, but it's actually difficult for me to pick one and really follow through with it...from small things, like sewing projects or jewelry ideas, or larger things, like plans to go back to school (what to study? grad or another undergrad?), learning a new trade, or just

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-75439825075974005272010-10-19T22:14:00.003-04:002010-10-19T22:15:03.847-04:00

Day 02- A picture of something you cannot live without.My contacts - or at the very least, my glasses.I gotta see y'all! With nearsightedness AND astigmatism making my eyes a lovely -9.25 (-10-something for glasses), I need contacts or glasses to prevent myself from bumping in to things or getting hit by a car because my vision is too poor to see an oncoming car. Seriously, my naked eye can

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-50696804634596407732010-10-18T12:02:00.002-04:002010-10-18T12:03:08.157-04:00

Just call me a sheep! A sheep with writer's block/lack of inspiration on what to write about...so I'm following suit with a lot of bloggers and taking part in this 30-day blog challenge, so that I'll have SOMEthing to write about for a little while. This is different from the 30-day photo challenge that people are doing, but I'll try to add a few photos here and there when I can.So here's the

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-65387169149840949192010-10-08T14:11:00.002-04:002010-10-08T14:20:41.685-04:00

Hope you're ready for some food pics! This summer MG and I made an effort to seek out more places to eat that were gluten-free, or at least gluten-friendly. Thanks to an impromptu seminar at our local Whole Foods, we met a few more people in the city that either had Celiac or were gluten-intolerant, and traded e-mails to set up monthly dinners together to find new restaurants.The Pop Shop729

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-51995204900557441502010-09-30T15:00:00.002-04:002010-09-30T15:29:22.195-04:00

I was given the opportunity to try the Personal Microderm System, a product sold on SkinCareRx.com for a microdermabrasion system at home. This item is used to help with skin problems like changes in skin texture, repairing sun damage to skin, removing skin buildup, and helping to maintain healthy, even toned skin with regular use. The system includes a personal microderm device, exfoliating

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-60455746728751883822010-09-29T14:57:00.003-04:002010-09-29T14:58:56.377-04:00

Helloooooo! How are you guys? Today's my Monday, being my first day back at work after a trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina...and I can just say that today really does feel like a typical Monday for me.I really love going to the Outer Banks...I went with MG and his parents for a week, renting a house on the Sound side (i.e., house rentals not on the beach, but still viewing the calmer

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-91371024961224224432010-09-17T16:15:00.002-04:002010-09-17T16:15:28.893-04:00

So you all know how much I love Skullcandy headphones/earbuds right? Cause I do! After discovering how awesome their Full Metal Jacket earbuds performed on a noisy subway 2 years ago, I've been hooked on their products and I've purchased several items since then, including Skullcrushers and SK Pro headphones. Their headphones and earbuds do a great job of blocking out external noise so that you

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-14350909659496625992010-09-16T12:21:00.001-04:002010-09-16T12:21:34.035-04:00

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector is a serum that reduces dark spots, age spots, and acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Using the serum twice a day, Clinique claims that results can be visible within as little as 4 weeks, with dramatic results after using it for a full 12 weeks. The serum is not meant to lighten your skin (i.e., make you paler); it targets the areas of skin that

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-86945174464738739402010-09-09T00:03:00.003-04:002010-09-09T00:03:09.983-04:00

I finally managed to use up some skincare items at the end of August/beginning of September! It's always kind of rewarding to finish a skincare product because I had (have) a tendency to switch products to see if something works better, but I've been trying to get better about it and use things up before switching to something else.1) Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector - This is

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-9717884520937391022010-08-31T11:34:00.001-04:002010-08-31T11:34:59.761-04:00

In the midst of all her travel plans, the lovely Ms. (or should I say Mrs. now? ) Old Cow sent me something from across the pond...This lady knows a good cuppa tea, so I enjoy whatever she sends me! She even included some tea-infused chocolates!She didn't stop there of course...also wrapped up in her parcel was a box of acne patches (much like the Nexcare patches that I like), a Shiseido makeup

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-47236227851751923662010-08-24T17:04:00.001-04:002010-08-24T17:04:45.002-04:00

Merde. I feel like I've lost my groove with blogging lately. I actually have a long overdue foodie post to share, once I get photos from tonight's dinner.My makeup routine has fallen into a definitive rut, haha. Primer, concealer, MUFE F&B foundation, blush, setting powder, neutral wash of eyeshadow (MAC Wedge/Era/Soba or some other semi-matte taupe shade), L'Oreal Extra Intense liner, and

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-75610558412956348492010-08-09T00:14:00.002-04:002010-08-09T00:14:20.103-04:00

These warm summer days make me such a slacker! I'm totally behind on my posts...I got a surprise in the mail from Kay the other day - I guess she forgot to include a mascara base when she sent a package to me earlier this summer :) She also included a new flavor of Kit Kats - Aloe Yogurt! I tried one before taking the photo above...it was rather interesting. I guess I'm not a huge fan of the aloe

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-42123422467949530242010-08-04T14:30:00.001-04:002010-08-04T14:30:10.489-04:00

Ahhh Sephora, why must you tempt me so often?! For all you VIBs, you should get an an e-mail (if you haven't already) of a special perk at Sephora this weekend:All you have to do is make a purchase in-store or online (I erased my VIB code in the corner so I can actually use it - sorry guys!) to get a free swag bag containing 2 buttons and 7 100-point samples. Don't forget to check and see if you

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040077762316783646.post-69422037963358840522010-08-01T01:28:00.001-04:002010-08-02T01:29:00.245-04:00

To continue with my blush obsession, I caved and bought another blush from MAC's In the Groove collection, along with an order to Hautelook when they had a Rock & Republic sale:This is a really pretty blush duo - there's a cool-toned matte pink and a shimmery lavender that you can use separately or together.I don't normally go for really pastel blushes - or for a lavender blush - but I couldn't

mayaarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553685038368263852noreply@blogger.com11