Sunday, April 28, 2013

What's New: Chicnova Buys

Happy Sunday/ Monday!

I want to start the week right, so here I am with a new blog post, haha! ;)

I was recently contacted by Chicnova to work on a giveaway and review with them -- now that the giveaway is done, it's time for my review.

I got two items from Chicnova and I am so excited to share them with you guys! :)



Boxy T-Shirt With Batwing Sleeves from Chicnova
Velvet Skirt
Yellow Ballet Flats


Crafted in a soft-handle cotton rich fabric. 
Featuring a round neckline with a bound trim, short sleeve with a batwing styling, and dipped hemline to reverse.
Designed with an oversized boxy fit.

Price: $14.50

I love the fit of the shirt -- I always go for flowy shirts like this because I find them more comfortable.
This shirt hangs loosely on the body without making you look bulky.
It's also a bit longer at the back, just the way I like my shirts.
It's very airy -- perfect for hot days... it's starting to get hotter and hotter here in Los Angeles, I am definitely gonna get a lot of use out of this shirt! :)

I also really love the design. It has a cool tribal feel to it.
The material used for the design is some kind of a cross between felt and velvet -- make sure not to iron the design!

I wore a yellow bra underneath to add a pop of color to the outfit and also to make the look more sexy, as my sister put it. 
Let me tell you, "sexy" is the last word I would use to describe myself, so this is as sexy as I would go, haha. ;)

Now, about my accessories:

Silver Bracelets/ Coach Watch/ Diamond Earrings/ Diamond Necklace

My hairstyle:


Just a simple ponytail with a twist... :)

Chicnova Item #2: Canvas Bag With Multi Pockets


I wasn't able to take a photo of my actual outfit because I wanted to keep the focus on my new canvas bag, but here are the details anyway:

Chiffon Sequined Blouse
Mint Skinny Jeans
Brown Michael Kors Sandals (not seen on the photo)

Now, about the bag:
Featuring canvas washed fabric, twin top grab handles stretched to the base, multi pockets throughout, a contrast leather panel to the base, and a detachable shoulder strap with adjustable length.

Price: $19.90


I've been looking for the perfect school bag and I finally found it in this bag from Chicnova!

It's the perfect size -- not too bulky, but spacious enough to carry all my stuff!

I love how it has a lot of pockets -- in front and at the back, as seen in the two photos above.
I'm the kind of girl who always has random things (like pieces of paper) that I have to stick in my bag and having these pockets makes my life so much easier! Not only that, but I now have a permanent place for my phone -- no more freaking out when I don't feel my phone in my pocket, haha! ;)


There are two ways to carry this bag -- like a shoulder bag or like a backpack -- so cool!
It's always nice to have options. :)


Another thing I love about it: it stands by itself!
A bag that doesn't have structure is one of the most frustrating things on earth!

One downside to it: the fabric is canvas -- it attracts dirt and the color of my jeans sometimes transfers to it, but I don't really mind too much. :)

So yup, that's it for my Chicnova post...

To check out Chicnova, please click here.
You can also keep up to date with them through TwitterFacebookPinterestTumblr, and their blog.

What do you guys think of my Chicnova buys?
Have you bought anything from them before?

I wish you all a wonderful week ahead! :D

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HP Wake Up Your Walls Giveaway: Win a $50 Walmart gift card -- 3 winners!
Open to US residents only. Ends on May 20th.

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Haul Time: Sephora

Happy Saturday!

Just taking a break from this mind-numbing thing called my history paper, haha!
It's always more fun to talk about beauty products, right?! ;)

A few months ago, I bought a few items from one of my favorite stores: Sephora.


I love their cute little paper bags! :)

What I got:


Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm and Moisturizer
Sephora Mattifying Foundation
Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector

1. Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm and Moisturizer -


Indulge your sweet tooth as you soothe dry, chapped lips with Rosebud's newest, strawberry-scented lip balm. Following in the Rosebud tradition of simple, easy to use products, this vintage-inspired tin contains a combination of rich emollients that lock-in moisture and banish dryness after only one application.

Price: $7

One product I CANNOT live without -- I love this lip balm!

2. Sephora Mattifying Foundation -


A silky, lightweight, shine-reducing powder foundation.

Price: $20, on sale for $9

Review on this soon! :)

3. Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector -


An antiaging skin corrector for more beautiful skin.

Price: I got this sample for free, but the smallest version they have of this (0.67oz) is being sold for $69.

I have yet to give this a try or I might actually give it to my Mom, but I'll keep you guys updated either way! :)

So yup, there we have it... my little Sephora haul. :)

Have you used any of these products before?
What are your recent buys from Sephora or any other beauty store?

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HP Wake Up Your Walls Giveaway: Win a $50 Walmart gift card -- 3 winners!
Open to US residents only. Ends on May 20th.

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

IMATS Spotlight: NYX Above & Beyond FULL Coverage Concealer

Happy Wednesday/ Thursday!

Even though I still like to stick to some of my tried-and-tested products, I am also now at a point where I am more open to trying new things... and so my hunt for a new concealer begins! ;)

Find Your Perfect Concealer!
It's the key to amazing-looking skin. Here's our guide to picking the best one for you, applying it like a pro and more!



***People StyleWatch June 2012***

I swear by my MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer (I just love it and I actually have to get a new one), but I also wanted to try something new, so I bought myself a NYX Concealer when I went to IMATS back in June 2012 -- yup, this post should've been done ages ago, haha... but as I always say, better late than never! ;)



Our Concealer Jars are back and ready to hide the villains of dark circles and blemishes stronger than ever! We supply concealers in all shades with an improved formula providing long-lasting full coverage. A moisture-rich, emollient formula designed to conceal discoloration, dark circles, and blemishes. Applied with a brush, the concentrated concealer goes on like a dream.


I got my concealer in Beige (CJ04).

I had really high hopes for this concealer -- I love NYX and I just assumed I would love this as well, but nope, I didn't really love it as much as I thought I would.

Don't get me wrong though, it's not a bad concealer, it's okay -- I guess the main thing was I always compare its coverage to that of my MAC concealer. This one doesn't really cover dark spots and dark circles as well as my other concealer does.
It also tends to cake and bury into the fine lines on my skin = :(.

It's really affordable though -- it's only $5, so if you're looking for a budget-friendly concealer, here it is. :)

But personally, I'd rather just fork over $18 for a MAC concealer...

With that said, I am still definitely impressed in the variety of shades available for this Concealer Jar:

Porcelain/ Fair/ Light/ Medium/ Glow

Tan/ Nutmeg/ Yellow/ Lavender/ Green/ Orange

Have you tried NYX's Above & Beyond FULL Coverage Concealer before? Thoughts?
What is your absolute favorite concealer? Any recommendations?

I hope you are all having a wonderful week! :D

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HP Wake Up Your Walls Giveaway: Win a $50 Walmart gift card -- 3 winners!
Open to US residents only. Ends on May 20th.

Like What Mimi Writes on Facebook and be friends with Mimi! :)
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Saturday, April 20, 2013

HP Wake Up Your Walls Giveaway: Win a $50 Walmart Gift Card! :) ***CLOSED***

Happy Saturday!

Back in February, I was fortunate enough to have been invited to attend an afternoon party hosted by HP to launch their new campaign, Wake Up Your Walls... sadly though, I wasn't able to go, but I did receive some photos of the event to share with you guys:

Gorgeous flowers!


What an awesome afternoon party!

Genevieve Gorder, TV Personality and Interior Designer

Here are examples of what the photos will look like:

Wake Up Your Walls

Here are the contents of the swag bag from the party:

Cool, right?!

What's even more awesome is that they still sent me the swag bag even though I wasn't able to make it to the party! 
Thank you, HP! :D

Swag Bag

Photo Wall Décor Collage Kit


You can use this kit to help you decide which sizes to choose and to help you envision your wall!
So awesome! :)

Notebook and Pen

More pens!

HP Photo Wall Décor Tumbler

I love this tumbler -- I always use this for school! ;)

I also got some Walmart gift cards:


One for me and three for you guys! :D

First off though, let's talk about the Wake Up Your Walls Sweepstakes...


Enter for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize wall makeover by interior designer Genevieve Gorder, or one of over 75 wall makeover prizes each worth $250.

This sweepstakes will end on April 30th -- ten days to enter, that's still plenty of time! ;)
To enter, please click here.

Okay, now let's talk about the giveaway...

HP sent me three $50 Walmart gift cards to give away, so three lucky winners can wake up their walls with HP Photo Wall Décor!


I am so excited for you guys, so let's get on with it! :)

We have this neat Rafflecopter widget to help us with the giveaway, yay!
All you have to do is follow the steps... please be sure to do ALL mandatory entries.
I also have some extra entries for you guys = more chances to win! ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US residents only.

It will end on Monday, May 20th at 12:00am PST.
The winners will be chosen at random and will be notified via email.

Good luck!!! :D

***Walmart gift cards were provided by HP***

Friday, April 19, 2013

Saltwater Sandals Giveaway Winner! :)

Happy Friday!

Sorry for not being able to post for a whole week and sorry for not announcing the winner of my Saltwater Sandals giveaway right away -- I got busy with schoolwork (it honestly never ends...)!

But anyway, I just wanted to take some time to announce the winner...

First off, I would like to say a big thank you to Christine and all our friends over at Shoe Daca for sponsoring this amazing giveaway! And a big hug and huge thanks to everyone who entered and made this giveaway a success!

Now, on to the giveaway winner...

Out of 265 entries, entry #25 won:


Entry #25 is Carrie from readmylifeascarrie.blogspot.com!

Congratulations, Carrie!!! :)

Shoe Daca and I will email you the details on how to claim your prize!

Friday, April 12, 2013

BzzAgent: Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge

Happy Friday!

Back in January, I did a review for BzzAgent and now it's time for another one! :)

The latest product from BzzAgent?
Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge!!! :D

Thank you, BzzAgent!

What was inside my BzzKit?


I got three Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge products -- Conditioner, Shampoo, and 1-Minute Moisture-Plenish Treatment.

Infused with superfruits, the Hydra Recharge formula actively replenishes hair for silky-soft hydration that lasts. Hydra Recharge will recharge your thirsty locks and keep your hair super silky and surprisingly weightless for up to two whole days.

Hydra Recharge range contains superfruits goji berry, passion fruit, and kiwi to actively replenish without heaviness.

HYDRA RECHARGE FORTIFYING SHAMPOO -


Experience a powerful new blast of hydration. Hydra Recharge is the 1st shampoo with encapsulated beads of superfruits goji berry, passion fruit, and kiwi. Hair is ultra-hydrated, weightlessly silkier, and softer.

Hydra Recharge Shampoo is a hydration innovation; the first to feature thousands of beads that burst on impact.

HYDRA RECHARGE FORTIFYING CONDITIONER -


Experience a powerful new blast of hydration. Hydra Recharge Conditioner, with superfruits of goji berry, passion fruit and kiwi, actively replenishes moisture without heaviness. Hair is ultra-hydrated, weightlessly silkier and softer.

HYDRA RECHARGE 1-MINUTE MOISTURE-PLENISH -


Experience a powerful new blast of hydration. Hydra Recharge 1-Minute Moisture-Plenish Treatment's powerful yet lightweight crème-gel formula, with superfruits of goji berry, passion fruit, and kiwi, delivers a surge of high-performance hydration in just 1 minute. Hair is ultra-hydrated, weightlessly silkier, and softer.

Hydra Recharge 1-Minute Moisture-Plenish Treatment is a powerful deep treatment whose revolutionary lightweight crème-gel formula transforms dry hair with a surge of high-performance hydration in just one minute.



I have always loved Garnier products, so it's no surprise that I absolutely loved all three of these!

It makes my hair soft, smooth, and easy to style -- it gets rid of tangles right off the bat.
It does not weigh down my hair, if anything, it even makes it lighter.
It also leaves my hair bouncy and healthy.
It keeps hair clean for up to two days -- amazing!
Last but not least, it smells heavenly! :)

Oh, and the beads in the shampoo? Coolest thing ever! :D

It's great to use all three products together, but if you only want to go for the shampoo and conditioner, it's not a problem -- you will still definitely reap the results from these fantastic products.

At about $5-$6 each, I think these are must-haves!
After all, our hair has the power to make us look even more beautiful, so why not try all products possible to keep it shiny, healthy, and beautiful, right?!

What do you guys think?
Have you tried any of these three Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge products before?

I wish you all a fantastic weekend!!! :)

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Shoe Daca Giveaway: Win a pair of Saltwater Sandals!
Open to US residents only. Ends on April 17th.

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Beauty Talk: 15 Products You Have To Try

Happy Thursday! :)

Just wanted to share a quick post with you guys... here are 15 beauty products Allure suggests we absolutely have to try in our lifetime:

1. Chanel No.5 Eau De Toilette -

CHANEL NO. 5 EAU DE TOILETTE

I definitely want to add this to my perfume collection someday!

2. La Mer Crème De La Mer -

LA MER CRÈME DE LA MER

My Mom and my sister splurged on this before, and they said it truly is so worth it!

3. Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips -

CREST 3D WHITE PROFESSIONAL EFFECTS WHITESTRIPS

I can attest to how amazing these whitestrips are... they are a must-have!
Check out my review here.

4. MAC Lipstick in Russian Red -

M.A.C. LIPSTICK IN RUSSIAN RED

This is high on my list! ;)

5. Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System -

CLARISONIC CLASSIC SONIC SKIN CLEANSING SYSTEM

My sister always raves about Clarisonic!

6. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pads -

DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE ALPHA BETA GLOW PADS

I've read so many positive reviews about these glow pads -- you can buy them over at SkinCareRx! :)

7. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant -

ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT HOUR CREAM SKIN PROTECTANT

You can use this to moisturize dry skin and lips -- versatile!

8. Mason Pearson Hair Brush -

MASON PEARSON HAIR BRUSH

I don't really use hair brushes, but this one sounds amazing -- it detangles and smooths for a "perfect, shiny, shampoo-commercial hair".

9. Dior Diorshow Buildable Volume Mascara -

DIOR DIORSHOW BUILDABLE VOLUME MASCARA

I love mascara and this is on my list!

10. Shu Uemura False Lashes in Farfallina -

SHU UEMURA FALSE LASHES IN FARFALLINA

Allure says these look exactly like real lashes -- score!

11. Guerlain Meteorites Pearls -

GUERLAIN METEORITES PEARLS

I really, really want to try this!

12. Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil -

RODIN OLIO LUSSO LUXURY FACE OIL

Dewy complexion sounds great to me!

13. Tweezerman Slant Tweezer -

TWEEZERMAN SLANT TWEEZER

Every girl needs a good pair of tweezers. ;)

14. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips -

SALLY HANSEN SALON EFFECTS REAL NAIL POLISH STRIPS

The designs are really pretty!

15. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage -

LAURA MERCIER SECRET CAMOUFLAGE

Concealer is a major part of my everyday makeup routine... I really want to buy this one because one shade is designed to match our skin color and the other to match its undertones -- WANT! ;)

Have you tried anything from this list before? Thoughts? Opinions?
Do you agree with this list?

Yay for Friday!!! :D

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shoe Daca Giveaway: Win a pair of Saltwater Sandals!
Open to US residents only. Ends on April 17th.

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