April LuxeBox

Got my LuxeBox today. A little late this month but thought if it comes with good items, it will be worth the wait.

However, pretty disappointing.

Last week, got the first-in-line email. You can sign up for the first-in-line so they would send you an option of which products you prefer to have. Of course, no guarantee of whether you get it or not. So I signed on at the time the line opens up. Problem with the server and nobody could sign on to take their pick. I finally signed on after and picked my choice, which is the Essie nail polish. Due to website problem, not very many people could log in. So they decided to put the option on hold and advised people future email would be sent out to pick out a preferred time slot so everybody won't log in the same time and crash the website again. So I did pick my choice already, does it count?

Long story short, I had to be reassigned to a new time slot to pick my item again. But the chaotic arrangement already put bitterness in my mouth.

Last month, I did pick Cargo top coat glitter or something like that but I didn't get that. So I got an email last week saying they are sorry I wasn't sent the product so to compensate, they would include 2 more Cargo products in my April box. So I was little excited about that. Thinking they do try to make up for disappointing customers.

When I opened my box, disappointed again. No Cargo products to be found and I wasn't impressed with the items I am sent.

I did get my Essie nail polish (full size) so wasn't a total failure. But look at the products this month:

Seche ridge filling base coat
Chi silk fusion( leave-in reconstructing treatment)
Pantene Pro-V Aqua light shampoo and conditioner

Definitely not worth the subscription. Given the past  boxes, I have decided to discontinue with my subscription. Probably hopping onto another monthly subscription service. What do you guys suggest?

OOTD Apr 27/12 & J. Crew Tillary Tote in Flax

** Don't forget to enter my 100 followers giveaway to win a pair of Regina Pierallini earrings **

Where has the warm weather gone? I recall wearing sandals and capri for a good few days last month. This week, we had a bit of flurries and it was so windy this morning.

Back to my layering

J Crew Factory Gingham shirt (size small)

J Crew pearl clusters necklace

Gray cardigan from Honey(a store from Bayview Village in North York, ON)

This gingham shirt is from J. Crew factory. The material is much lighter than the regular J. Crew gingham. Not that smooth cotton, a little bit sheer and also get that " wrinkly" feel. I swear, I ironed it and it still looks like it has been (even though I am known to be a pretty bad ironer).

Love my J. Crew pearl clusters necklace. Making my outfit a little bit more sophisticated. Don't you love how a nice necklace can put a finishing touch to your outfit?

A few of you may know that I placed my order through my personal shopper from J. Crew a couple of weeks ago to get the Tillary tote in canvas (in flax). Since they had to locate the tote first from one of their retail stores and then ship to a distribution centre to examine(to make sure it is in perfect shape), it takes a little bit longer than regular online orders.

So today, I finally received it and very excited. So here it is:

J. Crew Tillary tote in canvas ( flax)

As much as I love my other Tillary tote(red/blue stripes), I think I would use this one more often as it is more neutral and easier to match my outfits. 

I find the leather on the handle of the flax is a little bit softer than my other one for some reason. Overall, very happy with the quality of the flax and looking forward to wearing it lots.

100 Followers Giveaway

With the celebration of reaching my 100 followers on my blog, I'm doing my first giveaway. Want to take this opportunity to thank you for following and leaving sweet comments. I appreciate your visits and also going to your blogs.

As some of you may know, I bought a few jewelry pieces from a NewYork based designer, Regina Pierallini. I also bought an extra piece for my giveaway.

Gorgeous pair of gold tiny beaded hoop earrings

When I was picking out a piece from her collection, I was thinking of getting something that everybody would like. When I saw this pair of simple gold beaded hoop earrings, I knew this is the right piece.

Actual pair of earrings the winner will receive

Here is my gift to you

Here is how you can enter this giveaway: 

1. You have to follow my blog through Google Friend Connect publicly.
2. Please leave a comment on this post of how you can be reached if you win(your Google Friend Connect name, your blog page link or email address)
3. You can earn an extra entry by mentioning my blog giveaway in your blog. Come back and leave another comment on this post of the link to your blog with my giveaway mentioned.
4. This giveaway will be open for 2 weeks. A winner will be picked randomly on May 10 and winner will be announced in my blog.
5. If the winner contacted does not respond to my winning notification, I will do another random pick 2 days afterwards.
6. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

Dress to match my new tote

I am so excited to use my new J. Crew Tillary tote in canvas. Most of my other bags are neutral-colored, beige, brown, black, grey. I do have a shocking pink bag which I love from years ago. Now with this multi-colored tote, I need to think of ways to dress in order to match it.

Trying to keep my outfit simple so it won't be too overwhelming.

I am playing it safe by keeping it to mostly navy.

J. Crew factory stripe cardigan in medium

Lands' End Canvas Polka Dot tank in small

Best penny spent ever - Julep Maven Box

I just received my first ever Julep Maven Box in the mail. Considering I just signed on for the introductory offer (1 penny for the first Julep Maven Box, click here and enter code PENNY at checkout), 10 days later, I got my box already. Very impressed. I thought I would not get the April box.

For those of you who are not familiar with Julep Maven Box, it is a monthly subscription service. You pay $19.99 (plus tax, I believe) a month and will get $40 worth of nail polish and other beauty products. You can cancel the service any time or if you don't like that month's products, you can skip that month or sent the box to a friend of yours.

All you have to do is to sign up and you can fill out a brief survey. From the survey, they will suggest which box you should get. On every 20th of the month, you will receive an email indicating what products will be sent to you according to your profile (box chosen for the previous month). For example, I signed up for " Classic with a Twist" in March and when I got the email this morning, it was some foot scrub lotion which I am not very fond of. So I switched to "American Girl" to get my choices of nail polish.

I like this option better than other beauty product subscription service. This way, I know exactly what I'm getting instead of some products I would never use.

The package is sent from Seattle and it only takes 5-7 business days to arrive. 

Inside, comes with the box you chose. Mine this month is Classic with a Twist and an information card of all the products you are getting.

Nicely packaged. I love the hot pink paper bag.

Here is what I get for this month:

Julep Facial For Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub

Anne Julep Nail Vernis

Kelly Julep Nail Vernis

and a Julep nail file

They are 0.27 oz sized nail polish. If you get these at Sephora, it will be $14 each.

I'm excited to try this Facial for Hand scrub. Rough winter, dry skin.

This is by far, one of the most incredible boxes I got from monthly subscription service. I know I will use every single product in the box. Not to mention the introductory box only cost me $0.01, shipping and tax included. What an awesome deal!!

L'Oreal Color Riche Balm Review

Just bought a couple of L'Oreal Color Riche Balm to try. After going crazy on the Revlon Lip Butter for a while, now it is time to move onto to something else.

I am starting with these 2, for now. Got them on sale for $5.99. Not a bad deal.

Got the Nourishing Nude and Tender Mauve.

Nourishing Nude is a very natural nude color, perfect for every day.

Tender Mauve has a little purple undertone.

They are very sheer and not pigmented at all. Here is the swatch (left is nourishing nude and right is tender mauve).

If you are looking for more of a lip balm than lipstick, you would love this. I love sheer lipsticks and unlike others, I don't like heavily-pigmented lipsticks. Since it is more of a lip balm, it is much more moisturizing than the Revlon Lip Butter. Reminds me more of my other favorite lip balm, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. 

I just love the cute packaging. Gold finish on the bottom and clear case top, making it much easier to find what you are looking for from your makeup drawer, without turning them upside down to show the labels of colors. 

Overall, very happy with these and will probably go back to get some more colors. Not a whole lot of other colors available yet. But I would want one with more brownish undertone.

J. Crew Polka Dot Popover Review

Got the polka dot popover from J. Crew a little while ago but still haven't got around to wear it yet. It has been either really warm or cool enough that I couldn't wear it.

It is a nice silk. Not the very thick silk as the Heart-throb boyshirt. Some people say they don't like about its sheerness. But I find it acceptable as it is black and not a light base color.

However, I find the fit a little strange. I am usually between a size 4 or 6 for J. Crew shirts. I took a bigger size of 6 for this one. It fits nice but I find it a little wee tight around the armpits, i.e. it would be hard to lift your arms up high when I'm wearing this shirt. Also, the back is a little longer than the front which I don't have a problem with. I think it would be great to pair with skinny jeans to hid the behind :)

J Crew Polka dot popover in size 6

Banana Republic Cardigan (sim here)

Tiffany Open Heart Pendant necklace

I got this before the non-stop J. Crew promo in the past 2 weeks. So if you are obsessed with polka dots, don't let this shirt get away. There is a 30% off final sale items (use promo code: MUSTHAVE) and this top is not on final sale. I know a lot of people won't buy items on final sale, thinking it is a gamble on items which they haven't tried on before. 

OOTD Apr 12/12

Can't believe J. Crew is doing another promo this week. 30% off all sale and factory items use code: SHOPNOW (good till Apr 13, Fri). So hard not to buy anything. A lot of items have really gone on sale. I mean in the sweater section. Not hard to find a lot of items is now $20 or under with original priced at $130 and up.

One of the sweaters I got from last week's promo is this Cotton Ripplestitch Cardigan in shallow sea (sim here)

I'm in love with the minty color this spring. I got this in size s which is perfect as I always layer it with a button-down shirt.

I got the cardigan for $22. Not a bad deal at all. The material is kind of stretchy so lots of room to give. But I wouldn't pay full price of $130 for that. 

J. Crew cotton ripplestitch cardigan in s

Alfred Sung gingham shirt in s(sim here)

J. Crew factory crystallized metallic elastic bracelet

Rock and Republic jeans

J. Crew Tillary Tote in canvas review

Just got my J. Crew Tillary tote in canvas. Very happy with the quality. It is actually much better than I thought. I have other canvas totes but the quality of the canvas is not nearly as nice as this one. Very sturdy and with the detailed leather trim, it is going to make it my favorite tote for sure.

I was originally drawn to this bag in leather. But every time when there is a promo at J. Crew, it is not there. This tote also comes in a light brown color in canvas and ironically, saw this pop back on the site early this morning. I had to use both hands to stop myself from clicking on the checkout button.

I got this tote before the 30% promo on the Easter weekend. I was kicking myself by not holding on a day longer. Oh, well, next time I will learn. (thanks to Louise @ Cosmetic Bee who left me a message last nite, suggesting me to be set up with a personal shopper with J Crew and maybe I could get price adjustments on my orders).

This is the back side of the tote with a side zipper pocket, perfect for sliding in coupons(yes, I'm a couponer but not quite as those ones featured in TLC's Extreme Couponer)

Inside the tote. With a deep zipper pocket.

Have 2 more pockets on the other side. Perfect for cell phone, ipod and other frequently-used cosmetic items.

My 13" MacBook fits in there no problem. It will definitely be one of those totes that I trust to carry my laptop around.

In case you don't know yet, J. Crew is having another 30% off sale items. (now through Apr 13 Fri), use promo code: SHOPNOW

Other versions of this tote: 

Sienna leather

Deep Sea leather

this is the other canvas version(in flax)

watch out for these pop back early in the morning (before 6 est is usually when they pop back up but I think they are totally worth waking up early for!! :)

***updated Apr 13 I'm also getting the canvas in flax. I am newly set up with a personal shopper with J. Crew. Not only could I get my price adjustment on my other order, they were able to locate the flax (which I only saw it pop back once for the last week at 6am!!). I know I will be in bigger trouble now that I have a PS. 

Blog-Hop

Started off this blog a few months ago. Started off doing this as more of my shopping diary(also trying to document everything I buy as a way to remind me how much I have bought??!!). Met great bloggers and have opened my eyes to a lot of things. From buying tips, ongoing sales(which is not good for my credit cards), sizing info on clothing items, to beauty tips(I'm pretty new to trying different cosmetic items, have realized how much money and time I have wasted from listening to cosmetic counter ladies, listen to those who actually use the products!!)

Came across Blog Hop from my newly-followed blogger, Beauty and the Gamer. What a great way to meet more bloggers! Love the idea.

More Recent Purchase

My shopping has gone " a little" out of hand lately. Finding myself obsessed with different things every single day. Problem is I have little self-control in getting them.

With the recent J. Crew promo, I broke down and got a few items. A few of them I got them before they started the 30% off for the Easter weekend. Oh, well, next time, I will try to remember that J. Crew likes to do promo on long weekends.

I have been eyeing on the Tillary tote for a while. My original favorite was the one in leather and solid color. Came in a light brown and beautiful blue color. However, they have been MIA lately. They also come in canvas which could work well with spring/summer items.

I got this in the blue/red/white

Sunflower necklace

Factory Perfect shirt in suckered gingham(charcoal)

I have been wanting another gingham shirt for months. Trying to get it somewhere else but just couldn't find a nice quality one.

Factory denim pencil skirt

I want a skirt which I can wear casually. The No. 2 pencil skirt is very nice and I have been contemplating to get it so many times. But feel like it is just too dressy for me to wear enough. Denim version should just work fine for me. 

After I placed an order for the Regina Pierallini clover necklace last week, I also want the clover earrings. 

The ones I got are pearl. This mint/turquoise color is out of stock.

Will definitely have to limit myself this month for any more impulse purchase. 

OOTD Apr 7/12

Hope everyone is enjoying their Easter holiday weekend. I used to be a chocoholic and "overdose" on Easter chocolate eggs. My favorite is Cadbury mini eggs. You can just pop a whole bunch without realizing you have gobbled up a whole bag. I am now more reserved in consuming chocolate. Not sure if it is aging hormone or what. But every time I eat more than 1 serving of chocolate, I would get a pimple the very next day.

Running some errands today. Everything was closed yesterday and tomorrow so it will be super-crowded everywhere. Dress comfortably is the key.

Mixed new with old. Surprisingly, they go very well.

Old Navy Striped 3/4 Sleeve Tee in green size s

J Crew Merino Bomber Jacket size s

Rock and Republic jeans

Bangles from Winners and Bitter Sweet

I just grabbed the 3/4 sleeve tee from Old Navy last weekend. It is a very nice army green color with beautiful spring stripes. It is on sale for $15 now. Comes in white and grey too. I may go back and grab a grey. It is made of thinner cotton so it will be nice to wear throughout summer.  

I have the J. Crew bomber jacket from last fall. Perfect for spring and cooler mornings. You can dress up or down with this. I still see it pop back online in the sale section during the latest promo. In case you don't know, there is a 30% off sale items and factory items at J. Crew using code: OURTREAT. I should have known that J. Crew always do promos on long weekends. Made the mistake of placing an order just before Good Friday. Tried to call to try my luck with any nice and courteous SA and see if they would adjust my 2 orders(yes, placed 2 orders. Placed an order on the a canvas tote and later found out some sweaters have gone in insanely low prices, from $110 to $20??!! Couldn't resist and had to grab one). Of course, no luck with adjusting my orders to apply the 30% off. Oh, well, live and learn next time.

Regina Pierallini Jewelry

After my discovery of the beautiful Rebecca jewelry from this post, it is not as easily accessible to purchase. So my search continues.

Have been a new follower of this amazing blog, Veronika's Blushing. She has amazing styles. Saw a few gorgeous jewelry pieces in her blog and have been falling in love with those. She just posted a couple of her OOTD and the amazing necklaces sure do make the outfits pop as seen in this post.

The necklaces are from a designer based in New York City named Regina Pierallini. Her pieces are very simple and elegant. A few of her pieces are seen in Veronika's blog here.

I have been searching for a light turquoise long necklace and this piece caught my eye. I bought this from BrooklynArts(Artfire). They are offering free shipping and a pair of earrings (until April 16/12) when you enter promo code: L4LSHIPS4FREE with all orders over $50(thanks to http://www.thelook4less.net/)

This also comes in different colors:

I can't wait to get my necklace and I also want to get some matching earrings too. 

What do you think of these lovely clover pieces?

Rebecca

I love watching Real Housewives. Don't judge me. I watch all of them: Real Housewives of New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, Orange County, Beverly Hills etc. In case you don't know yet, we have the Canadian version: Real Housewives of Vancouver premiering tonite. A 2 hour premiere airing at 9 pm EST on Slice channel.

Ok, back to where I wanted to go. Bethenny Frankel has her own reality show, Bethenny Ever After. A spin-off show from the Real Housewives of New York. Season 3 started on Monday here. I was watching the show and was admiring one of the necklaces she wore on the show.

These days, it is easier to find out the brand of outfits and accessories the stars are wearing. Google and usually I can find out.

This is the necklace I love. Isn't it gorgeous?

I seem to love rose gold lately. I always prefer silver over gold. But rose gold has the rich touch which makes all the accessories so much nicer.

Googled and find out the necklace is by Rebecca, an Italian designer. 

I love the simple and elegant designs of the jewelry.