Assistance League of Irvine Thrift Store Haul (8/23/2013)

Hey guys,

today was one of those days where I just had the sudden urge to do some thrifting and so, I headed to my nearest thrift store after class. Things have been extremely stressful with summer school and thrifting always seems to relax me during these times of tension. The closest thrift store to my house is the Assistance League of Irvine. Small and quaint, this thrift store is tucked in between some business office buildings. The first time I came here, I actually drove right past it! Although this thrift store is small, I have managed to find many awesome treasures on my trips. And even though their prices are higher than my favorite thrift store(Sav-Mor), they compensate this fact by having weekly blowout sales and deals. Enough chit-chat, let's get onto the haul!

*overview of all the items I got

1) Scratch Trivia Wrapping Paper(California Edition): $0.50

This ain't no ordinary wrapping paper! Imprinted on it are tons and tons of trivia fact questions. Each question has multiple choice answers and scratch bubbles next to them so that you can "scratch" to figure out the right answer. I got this for wrapping my brother's Christmas presents. I know Christmas is a long ways off, but this was just too awesome to pass on and it only cost two quarters! My brother loves to learn odd facts and that lil' brain of his is filled with all sorts of knowledge. My friends even call him Wikipedia! On top of that, he is very bad at waiting to open presents. Last year, our whole family opened presents a week before Christmas. I guess it runs in the family. So, I thought this wrapping paper would keep him occupied and amused while he is forced to patiently wait for Christmas Eve. 

2) Travel Size Hand Sanitizer- $0.25 each

Ever since going to China, I have become a huge germaphobe. I guess having to deal with smog, pollution, and mysterious smelly puddles in China has made me extremely fearful of bacteria. I'm not actually a full blown germaphobe now, but I have a new found appreciation for hand sanitizer. I actually have big bottles everywhere in my house and one in my car for cleaning my hands after thrifting. These are the perfect size to throw in my purse and how could I say no when they are priced at a mere 25 cents each!

And my last and favorite find:

3) Vintage "The Icing" Black Crop Jacket(with gold animal accent detailing)- $10
*front

*back

*vintage brand: the icing

 *gold animal accents: zebra, elephant, lion, and even a palm tree!

*original price- $20 but the sale of the day was 50% on blue tag and blue stickered items

I have wanted this jacket for months now! I found it a while back but I could never justify spending $20 dollars on a secondhand jacket, no matter how awesome the gold animal accents are. Luckily, today they were having a sale on all blue tags and blue stickered items(50% off) and so, I got this jacket for only $10! Although still a little on the pricey side for a thrifted jacket, I doubt anyone else will be sporting the same jacket, and that in my mind, justifies the price. After I got back home, I googled this brand on ebay, and it seems that this brand's jackets use to retail for around $100-$150, so it was definitely a steal. I can't wait for the weather to cool down so that I can finally start wearing this.

total spent: $11

And that concludes my haul. :) Stay tuned, more thrifting coming your way soon! Until then, tata<3

love,

Jess

A New Direction For The Blog: Say Goodbye to the Old and Hello to the New!

It's been ages since my last post.

I would always tell myself "tomorrow I'll make a post". But, somehow, tomorrow would turn into next week, next week to next month, and next thing I know, I've been MIA for almost a year! I've decided it's time for me to dust the cobwebs off this blog and start this project up again. I started this blog up 3 years ago, and as the years have past, just like all things with time, I have changed. Although I started this blog with the intention of sharing my knowledge and journey of makeup discovery, I realized that my passion for makeup is gone. In all honesty, I don't really care for makeup anymore! And so, this brings me to the main point of this post: I will no longer be centering my posts on makeup reviews or makeup hauls, but rather on...THRIFTING. Yes, my newly discovered passion is the art of finding treasure among trash. I will be posting on thrift store shopping, garage sale hunting, and all things secondhand. Once in a while, I might throw in an oddball post, but for the most part, I will be gearing my blog in this direction. For those of you who have enjoyed my makeup posts, I truly appreciate the support. I will still keep all my old posts so that you guys may enjoy! I'm both excited and nervous to begin this journey, but I'm diving in both feet first. So allow me to take a moment to extend an invitation for all of you to join me in this new fun adventure I am about to embark on. All aboard!

sincerely,
Jessica Shi

Craft Project: Mermaid Rave Bra :)

Hey guys,
just wanted to share with you guys the first rave bra I made by myself. I really enjoyed making this bra and I LOVE LOVE the finished outcome. I bought the bandeau top at salvation army. I believe it was around $3-$4 and it was originally a swim suit top. It came with a huge gold embellishment sewed in the middle, but I took it off. The detailing is done w/ flat backed craft pearls I got off ebay for $1. The shoulder straps was actually a forever21 necklace that I cut into smaller pieces to make into the straps. Time for the pictures, enjoy!

the forever21 necklace in its original state:

the mermaid bra:

*the shoulder straps are meant to hang down on the side; I was inspired by Jasmine, the disney princess from aladdin. 

Hope you guys like my creation ^^ have a great day!

-Jess

Mimsy's Blog Sale Haul [from 4/26/12]

Hey guys,

I have been going a bit crazy when it comes to buying makeup, especially makeup from peoples blog sales. Blog sales are awesome in my opinion. I have hosted my own blog sales before and I have purchased numerous times from other's blog sales. Today's haul is from Mimsy's blog sale: http://mimsysblog.wordpress.com/blog-sale/. 

She had a lot of makeup items that caught my eye and the prices were incredibly cheap so of course I had to make a purchase. On to the items I bought!

1) E.L.F. studio line cream blush in "Flirt"

I tried swatching this for you guys but unfortunately my camera just did not seem to be able to capture the color correctly :(. If any of you guys have the E.L.F. studio line blush in "pink passion", this is pretty much the cream version of it. I picked this up on her blog sale for only $1! This product usually retails for $6 on eyeslipsface.com. The texture was different than what I expected. I thought it would feel like maybelline dream mousse, light and fluffy but it actually feels like clay/play dough. I know a lot of people have a problem with the texture and application, but I personally really enjoy the texture. The application is nice, not too pigmented but not too sheer. The product can be layered to increase the intensity. 

2) Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Skinlights

I've wanted this for a while now. I got this for $2 on her blog sale. I heard that these shades were dupes for mac paint pots: the 1st similar to painterly, the 2nd similar to rubenesque and the 4th similar to indian wood. I do not own any of  those mac paint pots so I can't do a comparison but the colors do seem similar to the mac versions. I love the 1st and 2nd shade especially, they are absolutely gorgeous, BUT the problem with this palette is that the shadows are so greasy and they crease almost immediately. I know that I have extra oily eyelids and that eye shadows don't tend to stay very long, but the time it takes for these is crease is rediculous. Ironically, these only work for me when they are layered over my mac paint pot chilled on ice(which is my best eye primer). So much for being mac paint pot dupes.

 3) Maybelline Dream Mousse Shimmer in Golden of Eden

I've wanted to try the limited edition maybelline dream mousse shimmers for a while. I tried swapping for them on mua but I never found anyone to swap with. She sold this for only $1 so I picked it up. The color is quite beautiful, a really nice highlight color. I am on the fence about this product. The color is nice but the product is a bit greasy. All the other dream mousse blush products I've tried are not that greasy and I don't understand why this one is so oily to the touch. :/ Oh well, for a $1, this will be a good highland and there is quite a bit of product so it will last a while. 

4) Maybelline Dream Mousse Bronzer Glistening Sun

The one I bought from her(for $1) was brand new. I swatched the one I am using currently to show you the color of the product. I really like this bronzer. It does not really add a whole lot of color to my face but it is a nice highlight for summer. I am still working on the one that I got from a mua swap, but I bought this one as a back up because maybelline actually discontinued the dream mousse blushes/bronzers! boooooo!

5) Maybelline ColorSensational lipstick in Born With It

I love the maybelline colorsensational lipsticks. They are so pigmented and I actually like the play-doughey scent(lol yes, I am wierd). I read some very good reviews about this lipstick on mua, so I decided to buy this being that she was selling it for only $3. :[ no one told me that this lipstick was so shimmery! It definitely is not a matte color, more of a frost finish. There are tons of silver sparkles in it. I like the color of it, but the frostiness just makes the lipstick look unpleasant on me. :/ unfortunately, I dislike this lipstick alot.

6) Nicka K Lipstick in Pink Tint

Snatched this for only $0.50! Woop Woop! The packaging reminds me of wet n' wild lipsticks. Apparently Nicka K is a really cheap and affordable makeup line that are found at select beauty stores. This lipstick is sheer and moisturizing, but it packs quite a punch of color. Absolutely stunning purpley pink color, perfect for summer time!

 7) L'oreal H.I.P. Jelly Balm in Delectable

Got this lil' guy for $1. I love love love tinted balms so I had to grab this. This is said to be a dupe of mac tendertones. I have tried both the loreal hip jelly balm in luscious and a mac tendertone in hush hush and I can tell you that there are similarities, but the loreal balm is definitely not as thick. I am not huge on this color :/ the red really doesn't show up on my lips. I will still use it because it is moisturizing and a good balm, but I want to try out some other colors, especially plush and savory. :[ Can't believe l'oreal discontinued these!

8) E.L.F. Studio Line Blush in Candid Coral

:( wahh this broke on me during shipping so when I got it, it was literally all powdery and ground up looking! It definitely was not bad packaging on her part, elf blushes tend to be very soft and break easily. I just ended up repressing it using alcohol prep wipes, but now it looks all dysfunctional(lol). Got this for $1 though so I can't complain!

9 & 10) White and Brown Braided Leather Bracelets

These were brand new, got them for $1 each. I was going to buy them on ebay anyways but I saw them on her blog sale so I decided to pick them up with my order. They sell on ebay for around $1.75 or so, so I saved like $1.50 in total haha. They are super cute, can't wait to pair them with my outfits.

Ok, so that was my whole haul. -___- I have a ginormous blog sale haul coming up so....so prepare yourself. Yes, I have been going crazy with buying makeup and I'm trying to do project 10 pan at the same time. I don't know how much more of a fail I can be hahaha. But anyhoo, have a great weekend you guys! I am going back home so I am beyond excited to see my mom, my brother and my beautiful cocker spaniel lily. :] When I have time I will post more, until then, bye bye!

<3 jess

Rite Aid 40% Wet n Wild Haul

Hey Guys,

I went back home this weekend and I went to my local rite aid for a look at the makeup aisle. To be honest, I hate my local rite aid -____- the makeup selection is quite small and the prices are rediculously overpriced!     I ended up still walking over to take a peak, because sometimes they have decent sales and with their whole rite aid bucks rewards, I often can get alot of makeup for very cheap! The sale that I was interested in was wet n wild 40% sale. So lets take a look at what I got:

First, I got two wild shine nail colors, one in blazed(left) and one in creamy poppy(right).

These were only $0.99 cents, and with the discount, they ended up costing $0.59!!! These colors are nice and bright, great for spring and summer. 

Next, I got a coloricon brow and eye liner in dark brown:

This pencil cost $0.99 and with the discount, ended up costing $0.59 also. I use to have this pencil but I lost it when I was out one day :( but for $0.99, it is always replaceable. It is a really great brow pencil. It has a waxy texture, so it keeps your brows in place and the color is super pigmented and lasts all day. I do use it also as an eyeliner, but :/ unfortunately, it does fade quite a bit and smear under my eyes. I probably won't use this just quite yet. I need to use up my elf brow kit and my wet n wild ultimate brow kit. 

I always wanted to try Wet n' wilds hyped about gel liner, so I picked this up, the mega eyes creme eyeliner in black:

haha the packaging reminds me of a spaceship saucer. As you can see, wet n wild does the same thing that E.L.F. does where they have clunky bulky packaging that gives the illusion that you're getting alot, but truly there's only a dime size amount of product:

the brush that comes with it:

I have not opened this yet because I am not done using my other eyeliners and I heard this gel liner dries up especially fast so I will open it when I need it. I have mac's blacktrack, so I will do a comparison post when I do start using it!

The next item is actually not wet n wild, but revlon. This is the Revlon multi-use palette. I remember when this came out it retailed for $13.99 at my rite aid. (-____-) rediculously right? Well I picked mine up for only $3.45! Yippe, good deal because you get 5 products and this is discontinued now and hard to find.(ebay has them for around $3-5 dollars+shipping, so if your interested, ;) check out ebay!)

swatches:

The one I am showing you is actually my 1st one. Yes, I have two of these now. LOL. I am so wierd I know but I love love love the cheek colors in this palette and theres only a small tiny square of product so I had to get a back up. This palette comes with 2 cheek colors, 2 eye colors, and 1 lip color that comes with a tiny lip brush. Starting off with the cheek colors, these are just divine! I wish Revlon made full size versions of these colors. The white color is actually a highlight that comes off sheer with gold shimmer in it. I love this highlight. It is the best highlight I have ever used. Yes, better than benefit high beam, too faced candlelight powder, etc. I also use this as an eye brightener. The other cheek color is a coral color, great for summer! The consistency and pigmentation remind me of the NYC limited edition blush sticks in wild berry and pink flash(being that these were the only non shimmery ones NYC came out with). Really nice flush of color and the coral color goes great with the current coral/orange trend that seems to be really hot this spring. The last product is the lip color. This lip color is seriously like a lip stain! It is a bit dry in consistency but whats great about it is that once you apply it, the color is not going anywhere. It is staying on your lips! Reminds me of the red that geishas often wear. The lip brush is cute and useable, but because it is so small, I'm sure most people would find using their own lip brushes easier.

The last item is wet n wild $0.99 lipstick(which I got for $0.59) in Hot Paris Pink:

Swatched on hand:

on lips:

I saw temptalia do a post on this lipstick and the color looked stunning on her. I really like how it is not a true red, but rather a pinkish red color. Unfortunately my pictures don't do the lipstick justice. I love wet n wild $0.99 lipsticks. For the price you get amazing pigmentation and a wide selection to choose from. 

So thats my haul guys! Enjoy the rest of your week. I've actually been going crazy buying makeup so there will be more posts coming up soon. 

much luv,

<3 jess