Sunday, January 11, 2015
Beauty Loot: Stuff I've Been Using
Since it has been a while since I've been blogging regularly, I thought I'd do a post on stuff I've been using. I haven't really been buying much makeup -- I've just been trying to use up my current stash, but every now and then, something catches my eye and I get it. All my recent loot has been drugstore stuff, actually. Here's the list, and what I think of them.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Makeup Madness: First Look - Firestarter Cosmetics
When Laura from Firestarter Cosmetics emailed to tell me that they were sending over stuff, I was beyond excited. I've always been curious about indie makeup, and now I finally get to try some! When the package from Firestarter headquarters in Thunder Bay, Canada arrived, I just ripped through it immediately. Here's my first look at the loot.
Eyeshadow pots + a bonus shadow sachet + a tube of lip balm, yay!
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Home Base: Creative Pursuits - My First Project Life Album aka My First Foray into Scrapbooking
Hello! Happy new year! It's been a while, I know. The last part of 2014 was incredibly busy for me, and I really didn't have any time to spare for The Blue Purse. I felt bad about neglecting my little corner on the Internet, so I'm back, with a new year's resolution to always make time for this site. I hope I get to stick to it!
So it's a new year, and with new beginnings come new things. My new something is scrapbooking. It has always been in my life, because my mom made tons of scrapbooks for recipes, pictures, newspaper articles she loved, and the like. I loved it. I'm quite relentless about documenting things, and I really wanted to do some memory-keeping of my own, but I always thought it was a lot of work. There was too much cutting and pasting and whatnot for me so I never got into it.
Then last year, I discovered Project Life, and my thinking changed. With it, all you have to do is get an album, insert cards and photos into pocket pages, and you're done! If you're feeling more creative, and you want to do some cutting and pasting, you can too, with embellishments and other accessories. Project Life made scrapbooking so easy.
Over the past few months, I've slowly been collecting supplies. I looked for local suppliers because I really hate having to deal with customs and international shipping, and I'm so glad I found a few. I just got stuff I need for a basic album just to test it out and see how I like it. I also dug up the DIY supplies I somehow accumulated during my wedding preparations (cutters, alphabet stamps, Muji pens), then I bought a couple of Sharpies, pens, and stamps, and I was good to go. I had to wait until I had the time to actually do it though, and I finally found the opportunity during the long holiday stretch.
So it's a new year, and with new beginnings come new things. My new something is scrapbooking. It has always been in my life, because my mom made tons of scrapbooks for recipes, pictures, newspaper articles she loved, and the like. I loved it. I'm quite relentless about documenting things, and I really wanted to do some memory-keeping of my own, but I always thought it was a lot of work. There was too much cutting and pasting and whatnot for me so I never got into it.
Then last year, I discovered Project Life, and my thinking changed. With it, all you have to do is get an album, insert cards and photos into pocket pages, and you're done! If you're feeling more creative, and you want to do some cutting and pasting, you can too, with embellishments and other accessories. Project Life made scrapbooking so easy.
Over the past few months, I've slowly been collecting supplies. I looked for local suppliers because I really hate having to deal with customs and international shipping, and I'm so glad I found a few. I just got stuff I need for a basic album just to test it out and see how I like it. I also dug up the DIY supplies I somehow accumulated during my wedding preparations (cutters, alphabet stamps, Muji pens), then I bought a couple of Sharpies, pens, and stamps, and I was good to go. I had to wait until I had the time to actually do it though, and I finally found the opportunity during the long holiday stretch.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Bookworming: The Kitchen When It Sizzles by Chrissie Peria
To be honest, I was surprised when Chrissie sent me a review copy of the book and I saw the cover. It's a far cry from her first novel, All's Fair in Blog and War, which was sugary-sweet from start to finish. The author herself, whom I have the privilege of knowing, is as sweet as the macaroons she bakes, so it was definitely interesting to find out that she wrote a sexy book!
Well what do you know, my initial skepticism was out of order. I loved this book! I can describe it in one word: HOT. The story's steamy and delicious, much like the delectable dishes that the characters whip up all throughout the novella.
The Kitchen When It Sizzles is about Olivia and Nate, who meet during a cooking lesson and find that they have sizzling chemistry. The book serves up the right amount of sexy -- exciting, yet doesn't ever go overboard. What got me completely hooked on it (actually read the entire thing in one sitting) was that when it wasn't making me blush, it was making me laugh. The romantic parts were quirky, funny, and endearing, and I became more invested with the characters with every turn of the page. The mix of food and romance, plus a lot of unexpected plot twists also kept me reading until the very end.
I love me a good chick lit book, and The Kitchen When It Sizzles totally fit the bill! Get the e-book on Smashwords and Amazon and be ready for a sensational time.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Fashion Candy: Warby Parker's Corner Collection
It's an understatement for me to say that I can't live without my glasses. I have really bad vision, and I've been wearing glasses since I was in third grade. I wear contacts when I need to, but I'm usually too lazy to bother with solution and all that stuff. I'm really a spectacles kind of girl.
This is why when Warby Parker got in touch with me to tell me about their new Corner Collection, I was thrilled. The brand knows good glasses. Everything they make is so fun and chic at the same time.
Their new limited edition Corner Collection is all about silhouettes and angles. The frames have traditional shapes, but with unique details -- sharp temples, sloping browlines, crisp keyhole bridges, and straight-edged brow bars. Made of horn-inspired acetate and steel, they look modern and oh so cool.
There are five new styles -- Hutton, Topper, Goodney, Teddy, and Quentin. They come in two colors, which I love -- Rhubarb, a purplish hue, and Quartz, which looks like icy crystal. There are eyeglass versions, as well as sunglass versions, with prices starting at $95.
These are definitely not your everyday, boring spectacles. Each one of these will spice up an outfit instantly. Check out more pictures after the jump.
This is why when Warby Parker got in touch with me to tell me about their new Corner Collection, I was thrilled. The brand knows good glasses. Everything they make is so fun and chic at the same time.
Their new limited edition Corner Collection is all about silhouettes and angles. The frames have traditional shapes, but with unique details -- sharp temples, sloping browlines, crisp keyhole bridges, and straight-edged brow bars. Made of horn-inspired acetate and steel, they look modern and oh so cool.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Home Base: New Crystals
Earlier this year, the hubby and I plus our friends discovered crystals. They're not only pretty -- they're also incredibly helpful. Long story short, we've found them to be amazing at bringing good vibes into our lives.
We've all been going back to Binondo ever since (hello Sheva, Cielo, and Verns), because there are a lot of crystals on our list and we have yet to find all of them. We got a few new ones recently so here's an update.
We've all been going back to Binondo ever since (hello Sheva, Cielo, and Verns), because there are a lot of crystals on our list and we have yet to find all of them. We got a few new ones recently so here's an update.
My current stash
His current stash
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Beauty Loot: New Things + An Update
Hello! I'm back! I know, it's been a while. I really missed blogging -- and reading other blogs for that matter. The Blue Purse is always on my mind, but life has been ridiculously busy lately. Life happened as usual, and it's the same old story, but this time I have a really good excuse.
Mostly, I've been busy with work. The past month was crazy hectic, and then when things finally slowed down, I had to catch up with family and friends whom I've neglected. Seriously, I don't have the time to sleep these days, much less surf and read and cook and watch TV and focus on any hobbies. I'm going to get a handle on life at some point, and I hope that's soon, but for now, I'm trying, so please bear with me.
Let's start with a fun topic -- beauty! Since I haven't been blogging, products have piled up on me. This is a collective haul of sorts, because I'm excited to share all my new things. Read on.
Mostly, I've been busy with work. The past month was crazy hectic, and then when things finally slowed down, I had to catch up with family and friends whom I've neglected. Seriously, I don't have the time to sleep these days, much less surf and read and cook and watch TV and focus on any hobbies. I'm going to get a handle on life at some point, and I hope that's soon, but for now, I'm trying, so please bear with me.
Let's start with a fun topic -- beauty! Since I haven't been blogging, products have piled up on me. This is a collective haul of sorts, because I'm excited to share all my new things. Read on.
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