Product Review: Open Sundae Everyday All-Over Body Lotion

The Product
Awhile back, Mr. Artist and I visited one of his clients, who just so happened to have a wife who runs her own successful local beauty product line, Open Sundae. Turns out this line was making waves among beauty-philes with its delicious line of delectably scented cleansers, lotions, and bath products. Mr. Artist's client generously offered me a couple freebies from his wifey's line and who am I to say no to free beauty products? I don't call myself a beauty whore for nothing!

Price & Packaging
This lotion is sold in local beauty boutiques, but as I received this product for free, I'm not sure the normal price. As well, it looks like the website is down for Open Sundae, so product info was hard to find :(

Effectiveness
The Everyday lotion comes in 3 yummy flavours, but since lemon meringue is one of my favourite pies, I had to opt for this fresh-smelling version. Tangy, yet sweet, and not over-powering, this lotion smelled good enough to leave me salivating every morning. It also left my skin buttery soft and absorbed quickly.

Buy or Ditch?
Definitely buy! Sadly, this product looks to be a bit hard to find! Any savvy Vancouverites have any clue where to buy this?

Final Verdict: A- (points loss for scarceness)

New KillahBeez: Who the F is... Nicki Minaj?

Ok stupid question. Of course you know who she is, or if you don’t recognize her by name, then you’ll recognize her distinctive flow, her crazy Barbie-meets-spaceman style, or maybe her amazing ass.

Onika Tanya Minaj and I share the same birth year, but apart from that our lives differ a lot. While I grew up as a typical Chinese convenience store kid, Nicki grew up in the sunny climes of Trinidad before moving to Queens, NY when she was 5. While my parents shouted at the top of their lungs when they fought, Nicki’s attempted to off one another by attempting to burn the house down! Luckily, Nicki had music to get her through the tough bits.

Read the rest of the article here.

Lust of the Week: Hello Kitty Laptop Case

via Sanrio, $49.95

I just found out that November is actually my favourite animated character's 36th birthday! Who knew that HK was a no longer a kitty, but a veritable cougar? As long as I can remember, I have loved anything Hello Kitty. Something about that cute, round face without a mouth, and her cute little outfits and friends just made my 4 year old self fall in love. This little laptop cover would be the perfect cover for my new laptop, keeping it secure and always adorable. What is your favourite childhood character?

Holiday Giveaway Bonanza part 1: House of Harlow earrings

Before I've even realized it, Christmas is a coming. Vancouver recently had its first snowfall and the city was covered in a lovely dusting of the white stuff. As beautiful as it is, I am old enough to realize how inconvenient snow is for things like holiday shopping! Yes, tis the season for overheated and overcrowded malls full of people brimming with holiday shopping pressure. It can all get a little exhausting, huh?

Well, I am here once again to give you a little joy this season! Similar to last year, I will be hosting a series of giveaways, one per week for my Holiday Giveaway Bonanza 2010!! Each week I'll announce the rules and someone will win! Also, if you happen to be so lucky as to win, you are still eligible to win again, so really, why wouldn't you enter??

Part 1 is brought to you by DesignerApparel.com, which is a shopping search engine that carries hundreds of popular brands. You can find anything from major labels like Cole Haan and Betsey Johnson, to smaller labels like Lora Piana! The prize this round are a pair of beautiful House of Harlow earrings - these spectacular beauties are guaranteed to make you 3x hotter than anyone else this year at the annual Christmas party. This year get noticed for your stylishness, rather than for drinking a bit too much punch and knocking over a Christmas party display (note: this is absolutely of course something this blogger would "never" do!)



To enter:

• Leave a comment listing one way that you are high maintenance, e.g I am high maintenance because I never leave home without a full face of makeup and a spritz of perfume
• Subscribe to my blog and be sure to tell me how you subscribe!
• Follow me on Twitter!
  

Other rules

• Open to US and Canada only
• Contest ends at 12:00am PST, December 1, 2010

Good luck everyone and thank you for reading my blog! I really appreciate everyone who visits and leaves a comment - you guys are my inspiration for continuing to blog my best!

Maru + small boxes = love

Enjoy.

It's that time of year again...

Skirt: Aritzia
Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Wool cape: gifted

When it becomes freakishly cold. If someone offered me a good job in a tropical climate, I would leave Vancouver, as much as I love it, in a heartbeat. My body is not meant for chill, and I miss holidays already. Just beginning to emerge from my post-holiday catch-up mountain. I still have yet to upload photos. It's hard to be motivated when you'd rather be tanning and sipping something sweet.

Just like last year, I've decided to give something back to my readers in form of my Holiday Giveaway Bonanza 2010!! Here's how it works: every week leading up to the holidays I will host a giveaway. Each giveaway will last a week after which a winner will be announced and the next giveaway will begin! There are some pretty cool prizes to be had, so spread the word and keep your eyes posted for the first giveaway to begin soon!

My Interview with Far East Movement now online!!

Thanks again to all the guys from FM, and my awesome video producers Devon and Matt! Was such a fun day. I want hipster glasses now.

I'm back!

Hey readers!

Thanks for all your comments while I've been gone! I promise there will be new posts coming up soon, but for now I literally have a mountain of emails to slog through as well as couple other exciting developments that I have to work on before I can fully dedicate myself to you all again :)

As for my sunny holiday, it was glorious! Beach, unlimited food, dancing all night and lying on the beach looking at stars until dawn... I never wanted to leave, but then I wouldn't get to blog again or see my lovely friends! I will post pictures eventually!

In the meantime, for us Vancouver gals and guys, there is the upcoming Fidelity denim warehouse sale next week offering great deals on designer denim. After all, who doesn't want to buy some New Year resolution aspiration jeans to aspire to fit into post-Christmas feasting? ;)

Lust of the Week: Urban Outfitters Pendleton Plaid Weekender Bag

via Urban Outfitters, $198

The other day I was trying to explain to Mr. Artist what exactly is a weekender bag. Yes, it's a bag, and you use it for the weekend - how complicated a concept is that? Apparently it was mystifying. Well, a weekender bag is to fit all the things you would need for an over-nighter at say a friends, the parent's, a lover's, an ex's... or whatever other exciting weekend trips you may embark upon. Thus, it must be able to fit exactly everything you would need, like 1-2 changes of clothes, extra pair of shoes, assorted toiletries, and a book to pass the time with. Maybe even a tiny laptop if necessary! This men's Pendleton bag was seen in the Urban Outfitters store downtown by myself and 2 girl friends and we were all sighing over its perfectly proportioned, preppy goodness. Alas, perfection also costs $200. Cheap enough to be attainable, but is it worth the value?



On another note, I'll be away all next week on vacation! I'll be thinking of you (and my steadily growing email inbox) while I take some time to go "off the grid," get a tan, and sip endless amounts of alcoholic cocktails. Hasta luego amigas!

Product Review: COOL OFF cooling wipes

The Product
The saying goes that men perspire, horses sweat, and women glow, but I for one, don't want to maintain that sticky glow for long if I've been exercising. The modern woman maintains her womanly figure by staying active, but that doesn't always mean she has the time for a full-on shower every time, especially if you are only a teeny bit "glowy." Enter in COOL OFF cooling towellettes, the product designed to freshen you up when you aren't feeling so fresh.

The Guts
A mix of cooling and moisturizing botanicals, herbs, and essential oils. What of each of those exactly, I could not find information on.

Price & Packaging
Extremely cheap as a 24 pack costs around $10 on Amazon. They are tiny and compactable as they are individually packaged, making them super simple to slip into your gym bag, or purse.

Effectiveness
In order to truly test out this product, I had to put it to the extremest of tests by getting one of my male coworkers to try COOL OFF during his soccer practice! The verdict? Said male tester's exact words were "What kind of product are you making me use?!" Apparently, the wipes did have a tingling, cooling effect upon application, but did not reduce his sweat at all, and had the rather adverse effect of making him smell strongly of Rub A535. Hmm not so fresh, so clean.

Buy or Ditch?
Judging by my tester's reaction, I would say ditch sadly.

Final Verdict: D

Ladies who lunch, lunch at LYNNSteven

Last week I was surprised and delighted to be invited to an exclusive media luncheon being hosted by local Vancouver boutique, LYNNSteven. Being a big fan of gorgeous clothes and free food, of course I had to say yes, but I have to admit I was quite nervous about the "exclusive media" wording of the invitation and the fact that we had to dress nice! Nervously I approached the boutique, but as usual I really should not have worried. Everyone at the event was gracious and friendly, despite being quite the guest list including famous Vancouver bloggers and editors/contributors from Western Living Magazine, Vancouver Fashion eZine, Vancouver Sun, FMA, and CityTV! What the heck I was doing there, I don't know (sshh and let's not tell them their mistake!)

The point of the luncheons was to showcase LYNNSteven's latest line for Fall/Winter 2010. While we ate crisply prepared salads, statuesque models wound their way among us, showing off the hottest looks from Corey Lynn, Lauren Moshi, and many others. The key look here? Chic Hunter rain boots and thick knitted toques and sweaters paired with a dark, almost Gothic lip. Got that? Put those check marks on your list ladies!

One of my favourite looks of the show: tweed jacket and rain boots? So odd and so good.

Ivory dress with embellished shoulders? Loves.

I almost ruined this shot by walking right into it. Semi-unintentionally hehe

My giant-ass salad. Dunno how I ended up with the vegetarian option - the meat eater's tuna tataki looked SO GOOD I wanted to steal a piece when someone wasn't looking.

Myself and the lovely owner Nicole!

The coolest feature of this boutique is its unique circular wall composed entirely of old books!

** Not all photos taken by me. Photo credit: Ellen Ho