My Summer Fashion Essentials

Summer is in full swing here in Los Angeles. Though this weekend, we experienced some weird tropical weather reminiscent of the Philippines and Hawaii: extremely hot one day and thunderstorms and rain the next. I'm not complaining :) A break from the scorching heat is happily welcomed!

This summer, I've been grabbing certain pieces from my wardrobe that have become my summer essentials of 2015. These are my go-to, I-don't-care-how-many-times-I-wore-it pieces.

CLOTHING: Long Draping Cardigans 

Forever 21 Kimono

Pink Melo Cardigan (purchased from Ross)

FOOTWEAR: Flip flops

Dollhouse (purchased from Ross)

Mossimo (purchased from Target)

ACCESSORIES

Floral Sunglasses (purchased from Ross)

Target Earrings 

What have been your summer essentials?


<3<3<3

TBT: I Left My Heart In Hawaii

There is not a day that goes by that I do NOT think about Hawaii. I've been missing the island tenfold these last few weeks.

The summer after college graduation in 2008, I had the opportunity to finish one more class in Hawaii. I studied at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, for 5 weeks.

Hands down, those 5 weeks were the best 5 weeks of my life.

You know that song my Tony Bennett, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"? Well, I left mine in Hawaii. Tony Bennett, I know what you mean.

I know it's different to have visited Hawaii and to actually live in Hawaii.

There is just something about that island that makes me feel at peace...

Perhaps it's the only place in the United States that is somewhat closest to the Philippines in essence?

I am an island girl. It is in my blood, it is in my heart, it is in my soul.

The Philippines is a slower-paced country. Hawaii is slower paced than Los Angeles where I live, but not as slow as the Philippines. And I love it. And I want it.

I contemplated applying for a job in Maui, but it's Maui. I want to live in Oahu. I need to think about my health. I have lupus. Most of the doctors, and probably "best" doctors are on Oahu and I need to be around them. Gahh...but that's a whole different discussion.

Enjoy the still moments that have captured not only my heart, but my soul and my being. I probably sound dramatic, but I just really long for this place...

Probably one of most photographed scenes: Hanauma Bay

A field where we helped with crops

I think this is Pearl Harbor? Or a place we went to before going to Pearl Harbor?

The loi'i on campus

A sacred site

Ala Moana - my favorite beach because the water was so calm it was like a pool

Waimea Falls - there was no waterfall when we got there :(

What's Hawaii without a luau?

Taro bread - something I miss and have been searching for here

My dorm

Pearl Harbor I think?

My class at PCC - Polynesian Cultural Center

Our last brunch 

The last picture I took as I arrived at the airport around 5:30am

How do I go back in time?

Oh Hawaii, I miss you dearly. 

<3<3<3

Crazy for Lippies Part 2: Wet N Wild

As mentioned, here is part 2 of my Crazy for Lippies installment. If you're interested, check out Part 1 in which I talk about my most recent NYX purchases. 

This post is about my [kind of recent] Wet N Wild haul. At $1.99/lipstick, how am I not supposed to get as many as I can??

I picked up 5 colors: Don't Blink Pink, Smokin Hot Pink, Stoplight Red, Cherry Picking, Sugar Plum Fairy.

Here are the arm swatches:

I included arm swatches in two different lighting.  

Here are the lip swatches. Just a little disclaimer, I tried to take pictures in different lighting to see how the color would fare. That is why I am lighter in some shots and darker in others. Enjoy :)

Don't Blink Pink

Verdict: Looks great in pictures, but in person, it's just way too bright for me. I'm not sure how I feel about this color quite yet. Maybe I'll feel more confident rocking it when I have a bit color in my complexion Spring/Summer. It was just too Nicki Minaj for me. But unlike Nicki, it was just not working 

Smokin' Hot Pink

Verdict: I do like this color too. Less vibrant than Don't Blink Pink, but still pretty vibrant. It's darker than Don't Blink Pink which makes it less overwhelming. A beautiful, fun color for Spring/Summer

Stoplight Red

Verdict: Before this purchase, I only owned one red lipstick by NYX. It was a red lip pencil (name, can't remember sorry!). I saw swatches of this color on other makeup lovers and dang, it looked so pretty on them! I don't know why there's so much shine on my lips? Maybe it was the light? Maybe I should have blotted it first? I'm not a glossy, shiny lip person. Love it on others, not so much on me. Lastly, I'm not a fan of bright red lipstick on myself. This color is way too bright. I love dark, deep wine reds or brick reds

Cherry Picking

Verdict: I thought it was going to be more purple-y because the sticker on the lipstick looks a little purple/plum to me or am I colorblind? The color is still nice. It's like a pinky red. I do look forward to rocking this later on as the weather warms up

Sugar Plum Fairy

Verdict: Definitely my favorite of all my Wet n Wild purchases. I've been totally digging the vampier purple lip. I love this one! Makes me feel pretty badass ;) I have been rocking this and NYX's Aria all Fall and Winter. And heck, if I still have some by the time Spring and Summer roll around, I'm sure I'll be wearing it then too.

I love lipstick! :)

One of my best friends enabled me by gifting me the Tarte Kiss & Belle Lipsurgence Lip Set. I've tried on all except the lip glosses. I love all the darker colors. Not so much the nude. I'll try to do a lip swatch post for these as well.

(Tarte photos taken from Sephora website)

I am excited to play around with these! :D

If I didn't say it already, HAPPY NEW YEAR. I know totally random placement, but I think I hadn't greeted you yet.

May 2015 come out with more beautiful colors and may I find more control in purchasing them!! haha, maybe?

<3<3<3

Summer 2014 Favorites

Am I the only one super excited to see summer go?! Los Angeles had two weeks of a dry dry heat wave last week and the week before. I am so happy Fall is here! YEEEE!! Hello boots, scarves, and beanies! Well, it's not totally Fall weather just yet, but the weather is cooling down daily. YAAAS!

This summer, I did find some product that worked well for me. I'm so happy I came across them :)

(photo credit: www.benefitcosmetics.com)

Benefit Posietint

At first, I thought it would be too much of a bright pink on me. Boy. was I wrong! It took me some time to understand how to use it. Once I got the hang of it, I fell in love <3

Why I love it: The blush gives me a natural flush and lasts for the full work day and then some :)

Benefit The POREfessional

Why I love it: Definitely minimized my pores. I love the way my skin feels after application - silky and smooth! This also helps my daily tinted moisturizer last throughout my work day.

(OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle, It's A 10 Leave-in Product, OGX Moroccan Oil)

Why I love it: Going as light as I did with my hair can really make hair look dry. I have gotten compliments, "Your hair looks so healthy despite the bleaching of your hair" / "Your hair looks so soft and healthy!" And as an added bonus, the coconut milk shampoo and 3 Minute Miracle both smell like coconut so my hair always smells so tropical :)

The reason why this is so exciting is because my hair is naturally dry. I've spent most of my life with coarse and unmanageable hair. It only took me 28 years to figure it out -__-

Minute Maid Watermelon

Yes, yes, I know super random! This has been my summer drink (beside the iced coffees, of course!). 

Why I love it: It's actually pretty tasty and a great drink for summer :)

What are your summer favorites?

<3<3<3