The Tides Have Turned

Let me first just say, I'm not usually a winner. Well, actually never.

No awards, no trophies, no winning raffle or lottery tickets (Don't I wish).
Just overall not very talented.

But lately, it has been a little different. 

After discovering quite a few new awesome blogs to follow and read this month... The tides have turned and I won a few giveaways! Yay me! Seriously ecstatic.

The first one I want to share with you comes from Tram and her wonderful blog Beauty with the Beautifool. She was celebrating her 3 year blog anniversary!

Here's what I received...

A whole bunch of stuff... Including a ton of Australian products!

Australis and Rimmel Lip Stick

Some Australis Eye Makeup and Creme Blush

I definitely am super thankful to get these gifts in the mail. Right now, I can't really buy a lot of cosmetics so this gives me the opportunity to change it up a wee bit and try out some new products that I would have never tried before. =)
I have a couple more coming and will share as the come in!

I am just loving this feeling of being a winner...
hehe.
Although, you still really don't need talent to win a giveaway. =/

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara

One thing I do just love to try are different mascaras. I usually don't buy the same mascara back to back for I am always on the lookout for something better than the last. Haha. ;)

So, the mascara that's going through the testing period right now is Maybelline's Lash Stiletto and since I am just about finishing it, I thought I'd tell you a bit of what I thought...

The Good

• Gave me quite a bit of length, which I love because I have pretty short stubby lashes.
• It was very black. I have really dark hair so I liked that I could actually see a difference in color with a coat of this stuff on.
• Minimal clumps. I could put a few coats of this mascara on and it didn't look like the dreaded spider lashes.
• Not too hard to wash off. Just used some water and a bit of oil and it came off pretty okay.

The Not So Good

• Dried out pretty quickly. After a couple weeks or so, I noticed it being significantly drier and seemed to be running out already. I was really surprised because my mascaras usually last me a couple months at the least!
• Didn't hold a curl well. I always curl my lashes and being able to hold that curl is pretty important to me. With this mascara on, at the end of the day my lashes would sometimes look a bit wonky with some lashes looking very straight and some still in that curl.
•  Not a lot of volume. It may have given me a lot of length, but if you're looking for volume, this is not for you.
• Bristle brush. This is just my personal preference but I really do prefer a plastic or rubber brush over bristle. I just feel the plastic ones do a much better job of hugging the lashes with the formula and definition and lift.
• Had a weird smell. When I first opened it and started using it, I definitely noticed a very different smell from it. It wasn't bad... just strange. I don't know if it has worn out or if I just have gotten used to it but I don't really notice it anymore. 

 

Overall, the Lash Stiletto Mascara is in the in-betweenies for me. It wasn't horrible but I don't think I will be buying this again. But if your just looking for something cheaper that will give you length, I say go ahead and try it out. You may also want to try this under another mascara if you're looking for a bit of volume also. I picked it up at Ulta for around $8. But I'm sure you can find this mascara at most drugstores as well.

So, that's it! My first review. What do you think? Any suggestions or changes you think I should make?

Who Am I?

"Tell me a little bit about yourself..."

A phrase I hate hearing.

When I get asked that, I just start at them blankly, utter a numerous amount of uhmms, and think of nothing.

What to say?

So, today, since my computer/camera issues have yet to be fixed (UGH!) and I really would like to continue challenging myself in writing in this blog, I am going to take on that question and let you know a little more about me.

So first, I should probably show you a picture of me...

Yikes!

You should know that I've grown up constantly being reminded of "stranger danger" and internet creeps that I never ever usually put pictures of myself on the WWW.

For everyone to see.

Kinda scares me a bit still even though now, I'm not sure why.

So, big deal happening right now.

Also, it doesn't help that I rarely like any pictures of myself.

Anyways, 1... 2... 3...

Wallah!

 

 So, yeah. That's me.

Not super recent for the same lack of camera/computer connection reason going on right now but I can't say that I've changed a whole lot in the past few months. Maybe just have gotten a few shades lighter since I refuse to be out in the cold for long periods of time.

And now on to the "about me" part.

I've decided to share 5 basic facts.

Hmmm....

#1. Well, I'm a girl. But I'm guessing ya'll already figured that one out. Haha. 

Let me start again.

#1(again). I'm at that weird place between 18 and 21. So, I'm thinking guessing my age won't be very hard.

#2. I live in the Midwest but I want to go somewhere else one day. I WILL move somewhere else one day. Somewhere warm. Mmmm... and sunny!

#3. I'm pretty mixed. I come from South Asian and Spanish descent. Maybe even some European influences in there... Who knows?

#4. I'm really small/short/petite. Whatever way you want to say it, I'm that. And when I say really, I mean REALLY.

#5. I still don't really know what I want to do with my life or where I see myself in the next few years. Scary, nerve-wrecking, confusing stuff. Just picture me looking all crazy-like praying to God saying, "What should I be doing?! Where should I be going!?!" If you want, you can pray for me too because you know I need it.

Now you know a teeny bit about little ol' me. 
And can put a face to these words.
But now its midnight, and I'm sleepy.
And if I don't get my proper amount of sleep, I'm not a pretty person in the morning. =/
So, yeah.

What's On My Nails

Hi there!

Sooo.... I have been having a bit of camera issues. Actually more like computer issues. My pictures haven't been uploading to my computer so all of those makeup looks and product reviews that I had planned have been put on the back burner for now until I get this fixed. First post and already an apology... What a way to start a blog, eh? =(

Anyways, what I can do is use my mom's computer for a bit and show you what's on my nails right now. I have always loved nail polish ever since I was a very young but recently I have been trying to get a tiny bit more creative with it. So I threw in a bit of fishtail detail in there. It is a bit darker than I would normally wear.... I guess I'm just feeling the winter blues.

I have quite a diverse collection of nail polish from dollar store polish to a little more high end. I honestly just use whatever looks pretty to me and goes on well. Haha. =)

The polishes I used for this look are Sinful Colors Professional in Ardoise (a dark navy blue), Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in Hard to Get (a pretty pure white),  and OPI in Birthday Babe (silver but more of an antique silver?).

It was actually the first time I have used these colors and I approved of them all! Staying power is so far so good. =)

Hopefully soon I can get my computer fixed and get some more pictures and posts up.

But just writing this simple post made me realize that I'm gonna have to get used to this. I'm a pretty private person and not a writer by any means, so starting up this blog is really stretching my comfort zone a bit.

Please be patient with me! =)

-Rena

Taking the Plunge

Hello there people.
After years of being an avid blog reader, I decided to take the plunge.

So, I spend an awful amount of time on the internet.
Spending a huge fraction of that time browsing through beauty products, drooling over fashion, and watching (or rather intensely studying) DIYs and tutorials. 
As a result of that, I consider myself a total expert in beauty things and whatnot! In my mind.
In reality, I am at the complete and total newbie status with little experience. Just beginning and still discovering.
So, if you're interested, you can join me in my beauty adventures and discoveries. Here I plan to post reviews, tutorials, other awesome blog finds, some ramblings of a boring life, and once in a while I guarantee I'll sneak a vent or two in there, or maybe just some shoes I'm dreaming of. ;)
 Forewarning- They might not be frequent, they might not be good. I'm just starting out. And I can't wait to see what's ahead.

I would extremely appreciate any tips/advice on blogging.
And if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! 
I have a low budget, but a lot of time for research. =)

<3