Practical Holiday Wishlist

Happy Christmas Eve, lovely people! Glad to report that the world is very much in one piece (Mayans just never updated their Google Calendars, that's all, geez) and I successfully conquered my muscle/bone block! This holiday season, I am surprisingly content with my materialistic but for shifts and giggles, I made a collage of practical gifts I would especially appreciate and use almost daily. Here's to last minute inspiration for the fashion blogger on your list:

• 1) Carry-all wristlet/clutch. After losing important plastic cards on multiple occasions from lack of pockets or transferring from backpack to purse to coat pocket, it's time to invest in something pretty and functional to fit my phone, ID's, a few dolla bills, keys. Tiffany's mint green doesn't hurt to look at, wrapped around my wrist.
• 2) Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. It's the only perfume I have ever enjoyed and wouldn't mind smelling like refreshing grapefruit yumminess every time I walked by (and especially after anatomy lab). Having trouble justifying the price tag for a bottle.
• 3) Ankle rainboots with bow detail. My shoes smell putrid after pounding through the rain, which transfers to my socks/tights and my feet. These short versions would keep my feet dry and work with any outfit on a rainy day (frequent in Ohio). My Hello Kitty ones were a little silly-juvenile and ripped up after a few years so I tossed them last spring.
• 4) Parka. Outerwear is a good investment, since in colder climates like where I live and walk outside for 30+ minutes every day, layering is a must and your jacket makes the statement. Parkas go with everything and they're so casual cool. Shearling lining inside and furry hoods earn functionality bonus points.
• 5) Chunky circle scarf. Saw a great option at H&M for $15 a few weeks ago - this is actually the only thing on my list for keeping everything sealed and warm when I step out into the great outdoors. It beats having to tuck in the ends of my really big scarf or having to deal with unruly scarf fringe.
• 6) Butter nail polish. Oh Butter London, you amazing amazing thing. First time I swatched you, my nails cried with tears of joy. No butterknife needed, but it sure melts right on with smooth heavenly-ness just as the name promises. Shades chosen for the holidays and professional work because my digits have been so sad-looking, cropped, and naked for the past four months.
• 7) Canon 50 mm f/1.4 prime lens. Okay I haven't even figured out all the wonders of my SLR or 1.8 prime lens yet, so there's no reason why I should be coveting a $300 lens but the bokeh is soooo smooth! Someday when I deserve the upgrade ..

I considered the ever-hip Skullcandy Aviators in steampunk amber but realized it would get into fights with my cartilage piercing after 5 minutes. Of course after ogling tons of cute dresses and skyscraper heels, I can be honest with myself that they're not my go-to's when I'm running off to class in the below-freezing winter or dressing up for work. The most precious things that money cannot buy are more time with my loved ones and zen "me" time away from studies. Right now medschoollife revolves around the bare necessities so treating myself to a nicer conditioner or fancy coffee is more worthwhile than hunting down the pricey most-coveted pieces of the season. As my friends frequently hear me say ... "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

Collage by me. Photo credit: perfumelover.co.uk, melshoes.com, amazon.com, butterlondon.com, tiffany.com, hm.com/us, coolspotters.com, shopbop.com, shop.nordstrom.com, svpply.com

Readers - do you wish for more practical or flashy gifts during the holiday season?

Snow White

AS RED AS THE POISON APPLE. It's been a while since I did a FOTD or beauty-related post on its own. So basically, when I was in Florida, Cassandra and I went crazy at ULTA. I did some severe damage (mostly on the Urban Decay Naked Palette) and played make-over for about 90 minutes. When I picked up this NYX lipstick in Snow White, I thought, whooaaaa Bessy way too dark. When I put it on, Cassandra was surprised in a good way. So it's coming home with me ($3.99). This led to a hunt for Snow White-like clothes for Disney World the next day, but in the end it wasn't worth it and I proudly sported these deep red princessy lips to the happiest place on Earth.

Also discovered: Dolce & Gabbana light blue perfume and DKNY's Golden Delicious. I like more citrusy and not-flowery, not-candy perfumes (so basically I can't stand perfume). But these scents are nice! If only a tiny bottle of liquid weren't so expensive ... The Coach Poppy is Cassandra's - isn't it so tiny and cute? Benefit's They're Real! Mascara is so mind-boggling. I have non-existent lashes - Asian, stubby, point straight, fine and light. This mascara separates, elongates, does it all without clumping. Never ever, had I had this happen before.

I can't quite figure out how to take pictures for makeup looks with my DSLR yet. In normal lighting outside the colours are washed out, but with flash I look too white. Any help from fellow Canon Rebel T2i users?

Wearing (half of ULTA):

NYX Round Lipstick in Snow White

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner *

Some silver eyeshadows (UD and maybe Nars?)

Urban Decay Naked Palette Buck (dark blue on outer corners)

Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Light Golden *

ELF Studio Brow Kit in Dark *

Rock & Republic Contrived Blush in Tease *

* denotes daily routine products

P.S. This post reminds me of how JJ says white as "wuh-hai-t", pronouncing the "h." I give him crap for it all the time but honestly I love it because it's one of the many unique little things about him. End mushy guys segment!

Image credit: Jorymon.com

[CLOSED] Apothica $25 Giveaway

My newest sponsor, Apothica.com is hosting a $25 gift card giveaway for Pandaphilia readers! This makeup and skincare site offers some of the most popular products and carries many brands like Paul & Joe, Essie, YSL, Too Faced, MAC, Clinique, etc. The site is relatively easy to navigate (but the links to next search page are only at the top, not the bottom of the page).

Baby Quasar is a cool skin cleanser that uses infrared and red wavelengths to rejuvenate the skin. I wish my humble system (hands and some kind of cleanser gel) did that! Apparently Baby Quasar stimulates the production of collagen, which is the natural polymer that makes your skin firm. Each is pretty expensive though and I personally can't afford it, but it's at-home anti-aging skin treatment that may be worth the investment. It comes in Pink or Blue, each targeting different problems.

Here are my picks! I've become quite minimalistic with makeup and mostly use eyeliner, concealer, and lipstick (add blush and brow gel when I have time) to bring life to my face for outfits, so here are what I would choose as my makeup bag necessities for around $25

1. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink $21

2. Clinique Advanced Concealer in Matte Medium $14

3. Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour #19 Gabrielle $38.16

4. Smashbox Brow Tech To Go in Brunette $25.70

5. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, 4.2 fl oz $24.50

6. Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer $17.80

7. Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe Nail Polish $18

GIVEAWAY RULES:


REQUIRED:

1) Must follow Pandaphilia publicly through Google Friend Connect (click here) - you can use your Gmail, Twitter, AIM account

2) Must comment on this post with your GFC username

3) You have 3 different ways to enter (ONLY ONE is required! The others are bonus)

1. Visit Apothica.com and post on Apothica Facebook page what you think! Say "sent by Pandaphilia" in the post (+1 Sign up for Apothica's newsletter). Include FB name in comment on this post.
2. Visit Apothica.com and tweet what you think about them (include @apothica) (+1 Retweet Apothica's tweet about this giveaway). Include Twitter username in comment on this post.
3. Visit Apothica.com and write a short blog post on what you think (+1 Write about Baby Quasar and link it to Apothica). Include blog URL in comment on this post.

Optional (bonus entries): 

(post another comment with your Twitter username, Facebook name, blog URL where applicable):

+1 Follow @pandaphilia and tweet this message: "Enter @pandaphilia + @Apothica $25 #giveaway! Popular makeup brands! http://bit.ly/otxSil" or click: Tweet

+1 Like Pandaphilia Facebook page 

+1 Vote for my contest entry here by clicking Like

+1 Post this picture with link on your blog's sidebar (blogs made only for giveaways will be disqualified) 

<a href="http://www.pandaphilia.com/2011/07/apothica-25-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2OYoE5m8EUTJ7Dv_nz2IEWu1wIOZwerD9e66BBxZGej1bxxDM_WAgqKTc965i0UB8VktrtCJW_LaLJ1TzwgSL9GrVailmXy6Usptk1O5n9sPmtGxrmu6BqwvF2yufQvYXVOC9Zj1wJ5T/s1600/Apothicagiveawaybutton.jpg" style="border: 0pt none;" /></a>

This contest is open to US and international readers. Please ask parental permission if under 16. Giveaway ends on 8/4/2011 at 11:59 PM CST. Winner will be drawn using random.org on 8/6/2011. Winner(s) must email me with their mailing address within 72 hours or a new winner will be selected.

$25 store credit will be provided by Apothica.com. I am not affiliated with the company. All photos belong to Apothica.com

Watermelon

H&M striped green colorblock racerback tank (Euro 6) // H&M salmon shorts (Euro 2) //
Predictions white low heel pumps (5) // Rings from Forever 21, gift, Claires //
BCBG metallic foldover clutch (gift from ReallyPetite) //
Urban Outfitters double face watch // Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Rapture //

Photography: JJ

What to wear to Sunday brunch (7/17): colorblocking watermelon hues. Apparently four of us got the memo because we were all wearing bright tropical pink and greens. A bunch of us old CSA folk went to First Watch for some brunching goodness and I dug into a plate of Floridian toast topped with fresh fruit. Of course I was drooling at everyone's savory plates by the end and caving into the tempting pitchers of coffee.

As a response to a lot of sweet commenters, colorblocking is easy! Just get bright basic tees and some fun summery skirts/pants/shorts, and there you go. I like to redefine the waistline with a belt usually (a bright one at that), and if you're really wanting to blind people with your brightness, pop on some fun bright shoes. I think everyone's been wearing bright colours forever, just this summer they've decided to slap a label to it. 

They ran out of smaller sizes for this bright green colorblock tank at H&M, but I went with a Euro 6 anyway. Green is my favourite colour (I even bought a lime green desk for my room) and it's pretty flattering against my skin tone. There was a bright pink colorblock dress too, but it looked shapeless and paper-baggy. Oh sweet summer, how you're zipping past. Air conditioning humming like the bumblebees guarding the sidewalk. 

Today, Wednesday. One of those days when you slap the alarm and you just know it's going to be a bad day. I just kept proving it to myself by making stupid mistakes at work. GAHHHH. I can feel the cortisol releasing straight into my face. I just saw my friend Alice today and she asked how I keep up with blogging in this hot mess of busy-ness. Blogging is my chamomile tea, my back massage, my "dear diary" ready to listen to me gripe about insignificant troubles. The more on my plate, the more posts and updates it seems keke T__T Back to work for me now xD

The internet just crawled at the place of a few kb/sec for the past hour. Add onto that my perpetually washed out photos (view my blog in Chrome vs Safari - you'll see the difference) and we can call it a victorious day for technology problems.

Don't forget to enter my Alonai shoes giveaway and JStyleShopper $100 giveaway!

A Kiss That Tastes of Mistletoe and Berry Wine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mistletoe, fluorescent lighting

 Mistletoe, flash

Wearing:

Kiwiberry1 lashes #1
Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Very Black

Wet n Wild H2O Proof Eyeliner for wings
Wet n Wild Vanity E/S Palette gold shimmery first

Everyday Minerals E/S in Mistletoe
Wet n Wild Crème Lipstick in Wine Room
Anastasia Brow Wiz
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in 04 Nude
ELF Studio Blush in Pink Passion
Geo Ash Wing Grey lenses

I'm hearing Christmas music everywhere I go, watching people singing along and partaking in the good cheer myself. I really do love the holiday season and all the toasty happiness and frosty breath and the first pure snow of the winter and hot cocoa with gingerbread marshmallows. The green eyes and berry lips make it subtlety Christmasy while not going overboard in my FOTD last Wednesday.

Mistletoe is super pretty, a pine icey green with gold shimmers in it. I remember buying this because I was so obsessed with green makeup back in freshman year. My friend introduced me to Everyday Minerals and I remember getting 5 free samples of mineral foundation, concealer, blushes, etc. Not bad. I had the gold eyeshadow in my favourite Wet n Wild Palette in Vanity for the daytime and I just put the green over it. I don't usually wear falsies or much eye makeup because it irritates my eyes but I jazzed up this look to make it more festive and girly.

If taking pictures and editing and writing a post didn't take long enough during finals week, it's more annoying having to save all my photos in Photoshop in order to preserve the colour. Do any other Mac users have this problem? You upload just fine to Picasa Web Albums but when you add it to your new post, you can see it washing out all your colours automatically unless you save to PS, upload and add, then made it X-Large or something.

Holiday outfit post coming very soon to complement this look! Don't you just love this happy season? Tell me what you're looking forward to!

Last chance to enter my giveaway!

 

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