Hate Mondays, but I do like this shirt

Ruffled plaid shirt: Urban Behaviour
Denim capris: Winners
Nude heels: Spring
Pearl necklace worn as bracelet: gift
Red bangles: Old Navy

This weekend was nice and relaxing, just the thing I needed. Saw Post Grad on Friday (definitely a rental) and marvelled at how blue Alexis Bledel's eyes were (so jealous), then Saturday went for dim sum with some fellow bloggers, a birthday BBQ, then clubbing with the boy and his friends. Do you think that partying with the signficant other is a good idea? Some say that it is not as you cannot have as much fun with them as you could without them, which to me sorta implies that you are doing something that you would not want your partner to see. I think you could have just as much fun, but admittedly you might refrain from going as crazy as you might simply because you don't want them to see you, well, acting stupid. Not that I do anything stupid when I go out, of course.

Lust of the Week: Marciano Jackie Jeweled Croc Belt

via Marciano, $78

Lately I've been really loving belts. A month ago I got a chic, simple black leather belt and I've been wearing it with everything! Belts are an amazing way to put that finishing touch on an outfit and elevate it from blah, to wow. Belts can define a waist, add a pop of colour, or provide a unique visual detail. This gorgeous croc embossed belt from Marciano would be a solid addition to any one's wardrobe. The croc style gives this belt a luxurious feel in a classic black color that will coordinate with anything. The large jewels in this belt's center are what really make this belt special though, providing that sense of glam and visual interest that will make you noticed!

Weekly Shopping & Goodies

Whee hot pink lips are most definitely MizzJ approved!

The Fashionable Housewife found the most most effective deodorant and offers some summer tips for beautiful arms.

A Few Goody Gumdrops loves the Nars Bridal Pallete and Orgasm Blush for your Wedding!

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy gives tips on makeup for Asian eyes

Couture In The City shares with us a great beauty tip Sothy's Cellu-Guard to protect your skin from UV rays.

Fashion Cents gives you three tips for how to wear a romper. Perfect timing so you will be stylish for the Labor Day festivities.

Fashion Fille reflects on her opinions on turtlenecks, and how they just might be changing.

Fashion Hippo found chic belts to take you from summer into the fall.

Handbag du Jour reviews the Kooba Alex tote in aubergine, from the Fall '09 collection.

Quinta Trends talks to Colombian designer Camilo Álvarez about “Ciudad Acuario” his last collection.

Shopping and Info loves Angelina Jolie’s Christian Louboutin shoes.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com loves Nicole Richie's New Maternity Line

Style Eyes has just discovered Something Else - grey prints and is finding it very difficult to resist them.

TheFind Blog is all wrapped up in the chain accessory trend handbags, to extreme shoes from Camilla spotted on everything from YSLSkovgaard, jewelry from Lanvin and even chain embellished Burberry wellies.

Unfunded explores old-school romance with accessories and headwear by Teeny House Bunny.

What's Haute Magazine loves hot pink lips for the summer and beyond!

diva in a carry on presents their two favorite "scent accessories" and a skin essential from Estee Lauder.

11 Happy Things and Stylish Blogger Award

I was tagged awhile ago by the very cool writer of Sparkled Beauty to write about 11 things that make me happy, so here goes and if I've repeated myself, my apologies!

1. Sleeping in: I look forward to nothing more than Saturday and Sunday mornings when I can wake up at an ungodly late hour and not have to be anywhere - tis pure bliss.
2. Baby bunnies
3. New things: clothes, shoes, purses, and makeup all apply to this one
4. Being tagged and given blog awards: it's so nice to be thought of by fellow bloggers, especially when one is feeling burnt out on writing and despairs that anyone out there even cares
5. A sunny beach on a warm day
6. Yoga: I agree with Sparkled Beauty, yoga is a time for my own self-reflection and an escape from my troubles. I just wish I had more time to do it!
7. Warm cookies straight from the oven
8. My friends and the boy of course!
9. 50% or more sales
10. Doing nothing at all kinda excites me lately too, since I barely have any time when I'm not working or blogging haha
    

I also received a Stylish Blogger award from Liv of It's a Beautiful Life! Thanks so much!!



Blogging is like a second job to me, but sadly over the next month I have to apologize if my posts become slightly less frequent or I take longer to visit back your blogs. I'll be pulling in a bunch of over-time this next month at work, as well as working on an outside project related to Schema Magazine, and I'll be going on vacation mid September to visit my partner in crime Julie of Pop Champagne!! Thank you though so much to every person who has ever read and commented on my blog though; you really are the motivation to keep me writing and I pass this tag and award onto anyone who wishes to partake as you're all just awesome!!

Dear MizzJ: makeup tips for Asian eyes

Awhile ago I got a reader from reader Katherine asking for some serious makeup help. As a self-professed makeup "noob", Katherine was having problems finding easy daytime looks and makeup colors that matched her Asian skin. Her biggest question was how to define her eyes, which are the typical mono-lid, meaning no crease, making traditional Caucasian based makeup advice obsolete.

I was very happy to try to help out Katherine and any other of my fellow Asian sisters who were wondering the same things, so I hope my advice proves useful!



The Grocery List
These are the items one needs to purchase to get a full makeup arsenal:

• Foundation, concealer, and/or powder to provide flawless skin
• A full set of good quality makeup brushes. You can buy sets of brushes that come with your basic starter kit, at stores like here
• Lip balm and lipsticks
• Blush
• Mascara and eyelash curler
• Eyeliner and eye shadows

However, you don't need a ton of each item to get an array of basic looks; sometimes it's as simple as adding eyeliner, or applying heavier shadow to get a different night time look.


Colours
It is very important to work with colors that match your skin, particularly for your foundation/concealer/powder. Asian skin tones come in a variety of shades, but the common theme between them all is that our skins are more yellow-based than pink-based. As such, it's a good idea to avoid colors that have blueish undertones. The inside of your wrist is a fairly good spot to test out makeup colours. For a foundation, you want a shade that melts into your skin so that you can barely see it. Try visiting a fancier makeup counter and asking one of their consultants to help you, but if you're too shy I myself use the Mary Kay Full Coverage Foundation in Beige 404. Usually, any product that says Beige, or Natural is a good fit for me, so hopefully it will be for you too!

As for eyeshadow colours, purples look amazing with Asians as they make brown eyes pop. Smoky greys and blacks look great too, but avoid too light of a grey as it can make you look ashy. Metallic shades of gold, coppers, bronze, and champagne are also great choices. Browns are always a safe bet and are perfect for creating subtle definition and daytime smoky looks.

Blush and lipstick colors should be close to your natural color, but maybe a couple shades darker for the most natural look. Nars Orgasm blush is an awesome shade that flatters universally and has a slight shimmer. As for lip colors, you could try MAC's SlimShine lipstick in Lovey-dovey for an easy lipstick-gloss combo!


Application
To create defined eyes, you will have to apply shadows in a different way than Caucasians do. In a traditional shadow palette you're given usually at least 3 colors to play with. Take the lightest shade and apply just under the arch of your brow, and the inside corner of your eye. Then, take the medium shade and sweep it back and forth across the rest of your lid. Finally, with the last, darkest shade, smudge it from your lash line and up to the middle of your lid, creating a shadow gradient. Then line the top of your lid with eyeliner for definition. Do not line under your eye as this will only make your eye smaller. Always curl your lashes before applying mascara. Since Asians typically have short, super-straight lashes, this might be difficult, but I have heard that investing in a heated eyelash curler is a good idea to make short lashes stand out.

The easiest way to demonstrate how to apply makeup however is simply to show you, so I've created 2 videos that depict how to transition an easy daytime look into night:

Day to Night - part 1 of 2 from mizzj on Vimeo.

Day to Night - part 2 of 2 from mizzj on Vimeo.

I hope this helped you out at least a bit Katherine and please let me know if you have any further questions you'd like help on!

If you have any fashion or beauty dilemmas keeping you awake at night, do please email me! I love to help!

Long-sleeve tee: Aritzia
Dress: Paper Moon
Belt: a gift

I just saw District 9 tonight and it was so good! People scoff at sci-fi films, but that's because they don't know any better. Sci-fi at its best are stories about questioning what it is to be human and those who think it's just all about aliens and goo are ignorant intellectual snobs. Hey, if you can generalize me, then I'm going to generalize you. In any case, this isn't to say District 9 is the movie of the year, but I certainly appreciate how it poses some interesting observations and how it grips you in its tale of alien refugees and human abusers. It was so absorbing, one of the guys I watched it with felt so sick he had to leave lol!

Lust of the Week: Ports 1961 Circular Tank Dress

ShopBop, $448.50

You may remember those Angelina adverts for Ports 1961? From what I've seen of Ports whenever I walk by their downtown location here, they seem more for the old-money, old-lady set, but ShopBop has proven me wrong with their selection of Ports 1961 clothing. The selection on ShopBop features an edgy, modern side of Ports 1961, and evokes an image of a cool snooty Upper Eastside woman - think of a grown-up Gossip Girl. This stunning silk dress is a perfect example of Ports 1961 blue blood stylings, even though the line's designer herself is neither from New York (she's from Vancouver!) nor old (the line was launched in 2004). Unfortunately you would need to be a blue blood, or have a blue blood's money, to purchase this dress at its original price of $1495, but if you're lucky you can buy it now for 70% off!

Weekly Shopping & Goodies - denim edition!

This week's edition of Weekly Shopping & Goodies is amazing!! The theme for this week is all about denim and trust me ladies & gents, they are all worthy reads! Get comfy, grab your pleasure drink of choice, and settle in for some delish posts.

A Few Goody Gumdrops is "Currently" obsessed with our denim Giveaway....a pair of CURRENT ELLIOTT jeans from Chickdowntown. Enter to win!

Bags, Bling & Beauty embraces casual, comfortable style this Fall.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy shows how to wear one of fall's hottest trends: denim leggings!

Couture In The City Shows us how to get the perfect fit with denim jeans.

Fashion Cents Reveals a staple for men this season -- the jean jacket.

Fashion Fille appreciates the simple things in life- destroyed denim and vintage jewelry.

Fashion Hippo presents Jeans Celebrity Love and Where to Buy Them

Handbag du Jour prefers the denim version of Ashley Tisdale's Alexander Wang Coco Duffle bag, a Shopbop exclusive!

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion thinks you should rock these Coach Tawney Denim White Signature Wedges!

Quinta Trends sees South American runways looking for denim outfits

Shopping and Info loves the fit of Gisele Bundchen’s denim jeans.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com Lets you memorialize your favorite denim in the Personalized caricature stationery giveaway.

Style Eyes explains why Grey denim is not at all boring

The Bare Skinny wants to know if the denim legging trend is fierce or foolish.

The Fashionable Housewife is excited about New York & Company's Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Pants Event! This fabulous event ends 8/26, so hurry!

TheFind Blog trend spots this season's hottest denim embellishment - the "Pyramid Stud", will you BUY OR D.I.Y.?

Unfunded takes a hint from Nylon Mag and gets some patched up denim.

What's Haute Magazine discovered some surprisingly cute denim jeans, skirts and leggings in the Max Azria & Miley Cyrus collection for Walmart. Yes, Walmart!

diva in a carry on has found just the right eyeliner and nail color to go with your fall denim in the Lancome fall collection!

How to wear denim leggings

Juicy Couture Fashion Denim leggings, $88

One of the coolest incarnations of leggings lately, and a big trend for fall, are denim leggings. The smaller cousin of the skinny jean, denim leggings provide the painted on effect of skinny jeans, with the comfort of leggings! I myself have been a convert since this spring when I purchased a pair. Skinny jeans for me were either too tight in the thighs and ass, or not skinny enough for my calves. I suppose I have funny shaped legs, but my wish back then was to find leggings that mimicked denim and for once fashion has answered my prayers! However, upon purchasing these, there was the question of how to wear them?

Leggings are a little more dangerous than wearing pants, since there is definitely potential to wander into the dangerous land of wearing leggings as pants and exposing more than you desire. In order to save you dear readers some grief, I've put together a couple ways I've found to wear denim leggings! These outfits are guaranteed to cover your lady bits, while still flashing those gams and I hope they will convince you as well to the greatness that is denim leggings:

Denim leggings - country by mizzj featuring kate spade bags

For the ladies out there, here is an option perfect for a summer picnic with your dashing prince. Pairing mini dresses with leggings is a great way to transition summer dresses into fall, or to enable you to wear super short hemlines without the worry of exposure and subsequent cat calls.

Denim leggings - lilac by mizzj featuring Giuseppe Zanotti shoes

For those with a more boho style, there is this lilac option. The soft, muted, tones keep it pretty, while the gold lentil necklace adds worldly flair and warmth. The looseness of the tunic is also very bohemian, but the gathered waist keeps it from looking like a shapeless sack. Toss in some trendy gladiators and this belted Kooba handbag for a modern edge, and you are good to go!

Denim leggings - casual by mizzj featuring Giuseppe Zanotti shoes

Finally, for a cool downtown look, pick up on all the trends the young Hollywood set is rocking such as the over sized tee, long cardigan vest, and funky booties. The combination of silver and dark forest greens is a thoroughly modern look that is very under-utilized in my opinion - green rocks!!


I hope you enjoyed these looks as much as I enjoyed making them! Which would you wear, and if you wouldn't wear any of these, how would you wear denim leggings?

And after the party its the hotel lobby

Dress: Plenty
Cropped denim jacket: Dynamite
Leggings: Urban Outfitters
Gladiators: from Taiwan

Well, maybe not hotel lobby, more like my apartment lobby. Check out that craptastic carpet! No wonder I look so woeful. My neighbours certainly thought it was pretty crazy to see this little Asian chick taking photos of herself one early weekend morning. I'm sure they have the most horrible impressions of me as this person who comes and goes at all manner of hours, has noisy, drunken parties, and who is so vain she takes photos of herself! Oh, and who blasts gangster rap, Lady Gaga, and k-pop while washing her dishes. What can I say, at least I'm interesting.

Lust of the Week: Seneca Rising Arbor Tee

via Singer 22, $98

I'm so in love with the loose fitting, slouchy, Cali style you see so many in young Hollywood wearing these days. Check out prepster queen Leighton Meister doing a style 180 from her Gossip Girl alter-ego in this tie-dye, easy-going, over sized tee. I think the over sized neck line with the one-shoulder peeking out is just so sexy in an understated way. This seemingly simple shirt could be worn many other ways besides the one shown here: it could be belted, layered with cardigans, cropped vests, worn tucked into a high-waisted skirt - the possibilities are bountiful! Plus the fresh, peachy colors of this tee evoke cheerful summer days, which I'll need reminders of once rainy autumn sets in. I miss you already summer!

Weekly Shopping & Goodies

A Few Goody Gumdrops tells you how to scoop a free Love Quotes Scarf!

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy professes her eternal love for Asian snacks

Couture In The City shows us how to get Sienna Miller's G.I. Joe look!

Fashion Cents asks are you CYA (that's covering your assets)? She shows you how to choose leggings that give you full coverage. Make sense?

Fashion Hippo wrote an article "These Ain't Your Grandma's Pearls"

Handbag du Jour spots a newly single Kim Kardashian (and her Balenciaga bag) on the pink carpet with Christian Siriano at his VS Makeup launch.

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion gets candid Nicole Richie Inspired Me Today...

Quinta Trends gives you ideas to decorate your home with furniture restoration

The Raging Rouge Beauty Blog is hosting a major Benefit Cosmetics giveaway! Click HERE to find out how you can win!

Shopping and Info loves Taylor Momsen of Gossip Girl’s tank top and leather jacket.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is giving away a $1,200 summer gift bag.

Style Eyes has been checking out the precollections and just loves Basso and Brooke as it is so gorgeously colourful

The Bare Skinny identified Solange's two-faced shoes that she wore in Japan.

TheFind Blog is stocking up on the cutest summer sandals we've been coveting all season from Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, and Roberto del Carlo.

Unfunded jumps into the rabbit hole and unveils some Alice in Wonderland-worthy heels.

What's Haute Magazine wants to know if you think Leighton Meester's Christopher Kane cloud cut-out dress is haute or not.

diva in a carry on reminds you that there's still time to get your "hippie chick" garb out and visit Taos, New Mexico for the summer of love festival 2009! peace, yall!

Why Asian Snacks have my heart

Be prepared for some serious food pornage. When it comes to snack foods, Asian snacks will always be my preferred choice. There are such a huge variety and originality to Asian snacks. If you're a sweets person, there are sweet things, and similarly if you're a salt person. Unlike western snacks, the flavours in Asian snacks are also very diverse. You may find snacks with flavours from anything ranging from plain Jane apple, to mango, to chicken, to octopus! Finally, Asian snacks can be healthier than western snacks, by offering healthy options like roasted seaweed and peas, dried fruits, and pickled vegetables! So next time you've got the munchies, veer away from the chip and chocolate bar aisle, and head to your Asian food aisle or grocery instead!

Shrimp chips: I literally grew up on these babies and could eat them endlessly. Crunchy and with a slight shrimp flavour, these made me super popular at lunch in elementary where I was that lone Chinese kid with the strange, yet delicious, snacks.

Roasted green peas: a good source of fiber, these roasted peas come in spicy and non-spicy flavours.

Hi-chews: these are like an Asian version of Starburst and my preferred choice over gum!

Rice crackers: these salty and tasty snacks are my mom's fav! They come in a wide variety of flavours and shapes, so there's something for everyone

Pickled daikon (lo bak) and carrots: I've been searching a lot for jars of these in grocery stores, but sadly all I've found are spicy versions. Crunchy and with a light vinegar taste, these healthy beauties are good and good for you!

And lastly, one can never forget that well-known classic, Pocky sticks!

What are your go-to choices for snacks?

Sony's Eyepet: a pet that doesn't poo!

I'm going to date myself, but back in the day I was obsessed with one of the hottest advances in technology that I'd ever seen in my young eyes: a virtual pet by the name of Tamagotchi. Anyone who was anyone in my grade had one and we were all constantly checking our little pets and guiding them through their short week long life cycles. You could even hook up your Tamagotchi with your friends to produce little babies! Ah memories. Nowadays though, modern kids would laugh at our primitive virtual pets just as we laughed at our elders for playing with wooden blocks. The newest hot virtual pet on the block is surely Sony's Eyepet.



Looking something like a more PC version of a Furby, this little cute furball lives on your TV screen but you can interact with him in your 3D realm via Sony's Playstation Eye. The Playstation Eye is the new generation in gaming consoles, allowing users to interact with much like how a Wii works, with gestures and words, but entirely without any controllers. This innovative game allows you to raise your little EyePet and even teach him simple tricks. Looks like Fido has some competition!

You comfort me like apple pie and sunny skies

Grey long sleeve tee: Aritzia
Brown corduroy mini skirt: The Barn
Pink belt: H&M
Gold metallic sandals: Army & Navy sale

This skirt does look quite short in this photo doesn't it? I think it rode up a bit while I was running from setting my self-timer to jumping into my pose - 10 seconds isn't a very long delay! I think the length of the shirt sleeves offsets the shortness of the skirt though and the belt adds a welcome pop of fun color. This shirt is so so comfy that it's made me fall in love with basics all over again (even though I never was out of love anyways) so now I'm on the hunt for cool basics featuring relaxed draping or v-necks for fall! What sort of trends are you keen on for fall?

In other news, the folks behind Fuze drinks sent me some free samples of their Shape line of health drinks! Chock full of vitamins, fruit juices, and at only 20 calories a bottle, Fuze is the newest way to quench your thirst! I tried the Strawberry Melon flavour and while I found the flavour to be a tad thinner than drinking pure juices, I did enjoy the fact that it had so little calories and contained all these extra nutrients. If you're looking for a great post-workout drink, then this definitely beats plain ol' water! However, this product does worry me a tad with all its warnings about how one shouldn't drink more than 4 bottles a day or risk health issues!! Could there be such a thing as too much healthiness?? Apparently yes.

Lust of the Week: Lady Dior tote

via Dior US

Simply gorgeous. Dior is one of those name synonymous with haute couture and old school class and glamour. I cannot rave enough about how much I lust for this bag. Some girls say that chocolate is better than sex, but to me, a gorgeous purse would be better than sex while eating Lindor Lindt chocolates! This is pure purse porn people; I'm literally am fantasizing at this moment the way the patent leather would crinkle in my hands and what it would be like to pick this little bag up by its rolled leather handles, placing it in the crook of my arm. The shine of the patent quilting and the sparkle of the Dior charms dance in my eyes and I automatically feel chicer, French, and mysterious. Doesn't this bag make you want to put on some red lipstick and go out in the night to seduce your unsuspecting man?

New hair and Weekly Shopping & Goodies

What with the recent weirdo heat wave in Vancouver, I was really beginning to hate my long hair. Since I have rather flat, super straight hair, and a small face, too long hair really weighs me down - metaphorically and literally! Off to the salon I went, clutching my inspiration photo of a Japanese hair do from the August 2009 issue of ViVi (I heart Japanese fashion mags!!). The look I was hoping for entailed fringe-y bangs and soft waves, and this is how it turned out:

post-salon: curls done with a flat-iron

I really love the cool curls my stylist put in, but I despaired ever being able to achieve anything close to it at home as my hair is notoriously stubborn. Anytime I try to do anything more complicated than a ponytail, my hair will slowly escape like Houdini from its bondage of bobby pins and clips. As well, holding any curl for longer than a few minutes requires chemical intervention on the scale of an atomic bomb. According to my stylist the reason for my hair woes is because my hair is too healthy. Is such a thing even possible?!

However, I'm never one to just quit a good fight. I had a wedding to go to the next day and despite basically sleeping upside-down so as not to flatten my hair, it was sadly moderately crushed the next day. Freaking out, I repaired the damage with my curling iron. I think I did an alright job considering I never curl my hair and it amazingly lasted all night!

Keep it locked on BHMnB for a makeup tutorial with this look!

Anyways what do you all think: hit or miss on this wavy bangs style?


And of course after weighing in on my new hair, check out this week's Weekly Shopping & Goodies! This week features all our favourite concealers, so it's sure to be super informative!






The Fashionable Housewife shows us how to get the Perfect 5 Minute Face With Darac Beauty.

A Few Goody Gumdrops can not live without her favorite concealer... Boi-ing by Benefit.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy gives her first A+ review to Almay Smart Shade Concealer!

Fashion Fille's favorite face cream is a simple classic. Find out which one she favors!

How to Take Care of Your Skin with homemade secrets by Quinta Trends

Raging Rouge reminisces about the 8 best concealers she's ever tried.

Shopping and Info loves this little concealer in a lipstick container.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is giving away their favorite face cream & more in their Summer Beauty Giveaway!

Style Eyes values her Touche Eclat Concealer more than gold or designer clothes

TheFind Blog wakes up each morning with M.A.C. Studio Finish Concealer plus two tips to perfect concealer application.

diva in a carry on intern, Jessica, attended the beauty blogger bash and came back with a great contest!

Product Review: Almay Smart Shade Concealer

buy via Almay

The Product
Tired of trying on endless swatches of concealer and foundation colors and coming up empty? Well Almay says it can cure your woes with their Smart Shade concealer, an innovative concealer that promises to perfectly match your skin tone.

The Guts
Besides the usual concealer ingredients, this product contains SPF 15 and antioxidants like grape seed, ginkgo biloba, and ginseng to prevent sun damage. Preventing sun damage is integral to looking young and the eye area is a particularly delicate area which needs daily protection.

Price and Packaging
Price was very affordable and is widely available at your local drugstore. I really love the packaging of this product as it comes in a little 11mL tube that easily fits in any size purse, making it perfect for on the go touch ups through the day. The little tube is also great for dispensing just enough product on the tip of your finger.

Effectiveness
I mainly use concealer as a means to cover blemishes and any darkness under my eyes. My shade was light/medium (020) and it really did seem to melt into my skin! You only need a tiny dot to cover both under eye areas. When first applied, the product appeared a very very light beige, almost white, but as you pat the concealer in, it really does seem to change shade to match your tone perfectly. Once on, it lasts all day! An entirely satisfying product.

Buy it or ditch it?
Buy buy buy!! Unfortunately there is only 3 tones available, but hopefully most of you will find yourself able to fall within one of these categories.

Final Verdict: A+