EOTD: Take Your Time, Play With Me

  I am sooo happy to post a makeup look after a loooooooooooooong time! I've decided that instead of posting  LOTDs, I'm switching to EOTDs because 1). they're easier to do, 2). I don't have to apply face makeup, 3). I can experiment more on eye makeup, 4). I don't have to worry about the zit that suddenly pops out of nowhere because I only have to do eye makeup! I might do LOTDs again, especially if I'm recreating a look, but as of now, I'm just focusing on EOTDs.

How I did it:

1. I first used a violet pencil as a base. I roughly lined my lid and smudged the pencil with my finger. Make sure you use a creamy violet pencil, something that doesn't dry quickly. The pencil I used here is The Body Shop's Glowing Amethyst.

2. I applied Rockstar on my lid. I blended it a little bit on my crease as well.

3. Using an angled blending brush, I applied Blackout on the outer corner/ outer lid then feathered/blended it lightly on my crease, blending with Rockstar. Blend, blend, blend!

4. Using a black eyeliner (I used MAC Smolder), I roughly lined my lower lashline then blended the pencil with a brush loaded with Rockstar.

5. I applied Virgin as brow bone and inner corner highlight.

6. Instead of using Smolder to line my eyes, I opted to use a gel liner and a bent eyeliner brush to line my eyes. I decided to flick the liner as well.

7. I lined my waterline with Smolder as well.

8. I applied mascara and skipped the lashes, and I'm done!

Tidbit: Got the title of this post from The Pretty Reckless' song, "Hit Me Like A Man". ;)

Throwback Thursday: 18th Birthday Dinner

So that's me and my family on my 18th birthday. I've always wanted to celebrate my 18th birthday differently. I never wanted a big party, particularly a debutante party. I never wanted to look like Cinderella or Snow White or a Disney princess. I never wanted 18 roses or candles or all that. I wanted something different. And I got it. I went to Singapore.

It was perfect. I had plane food for breakfast, got a bunch of cosmetics from my sister, went to Boon Tong Kee for dinner. Oh, I love Boon Tong Kee! Totes legit Singapore food. Looking at the food on that picture just made me miss it more. But yeah. I was really happy I got to spend my 18th that way. With my family, with good food, and with the knowledge that my makeup class starts the next day.

PS. You know what, there's one Disney Princess I adore so much. Merida. :)

Red Velvet

Last night, I baked my very first batch of red velvet cupcakes. My red velvet obsession last week made me search for a lot of red velvet recipes and I ended up with a recipe Joy the Baker shared on her blog which was back in 2009! It wasn't her recipe but she claimed that it was her most favorite red velvet recipe, so I decided to give it a try. (CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE)

I made some changes too to make my life easier. Here are the changes:

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature -> 4 Tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2  Tablespoons red food coloring

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 cup buttermilk -> 1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

For the icing, I decided to go with the classic cream cheese frosting:

2 1/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted -> 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted

3 Tablespoons butter, room temperature -> 4 Tablespoons (salted) butter, room temperature

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

scant 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

I absolutely love the taste of these cupcakes! It was chocolate-y, it didn't taste like food coloring (I used the bright red 20ml food coloring of McCormick) nor it didn't lack flavor. The only slight issue was the cupcakes weren't chiffon-like soft. I don't know if that's because of the recipe or me. Oh well. But they weren't as hard as rocks either so that's good. :))

This totally beats the popular red velvet cupcakes people are raving about! I'm never going to spend 60php+ for cupcakes that lack flavor with tasteless cream cheese frosting ever again. Now please excuse me as I get another cupcake to munch on...

April Favorites

  Hi guys! Here are the things I loved this month. It's a short list, consisting of books I consider as my summer reads, music, and a game app. Cheers!

BOOKS

 THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK. OMFG THIS BOOK. I was really excited when I finally got a copy of this book because I absolutely love The Infernal Devices. Clockwork Princess is the last book of the TID trilogy and I must say, Cassandra Clare did a fantastic job in writing and ending this series. I loved how everything fell into place, loved the twists and surprises, absolutely loved all Will/Tessa scenes (#TeamWill forever), loved the new characters; everything was just mind blowing.

I read Cara Lynn Shultz' novels, Spellbound and Spellcaster, right after I finished Clockwork Angel. Not gonna lie, the covers got me (plus the fact that these books have high ratings in goodreads.com). I'm glad I read these. These books remind me of the Hex Hall series, The Immortals series, Blue Bloods, and Fallen. The characters are funny, the time and settings are modern, the magic is hauntingly beautiful. If you're looking for a modern YA book with a hint of antique enchantment, you better read these ASAP.

I just finished Through the Ever Night last Saturday and the first thought I had was "What took me so long to read these books? These are so good!". When I started Under the Never Sky, it reminded me slightly of Ally Condie's Matched. When I read further, it reminded me of Matched and The Hunger Games, except there's no competition whatsoever, just pure survival in the wild. I liked how the books showed both the main characters' point-of-views. Some characters are easy to love, some easy to hate. The romance part was just right; it made me giggly and smiley but it was not at all cheesy and overwhelming. Ugh, I seriously can't wait for Into the Still Blue!! But for now, I'll be reading Roar and Liv, an Under the Never Sky novella.

MUSIC

FALL OUT BOY IS BAAAAAAACK!!!! Their new album is the b.o.m.b. 11 tracks of pure FOB awesomeness. My most played tracks are Alone Together, Where Did the Party Go, Rat A Tat (ft. Courtney Love), and Just One Yesterday (ft. Foxes). Loved hearing Patrick Stump's voice again.

GAME

If you're looking for a game with zombies and shooting, this game is for you. I'm addicted! Basically, you have to shoot zombies in front of your selected survivor while keeping the zombies behind you from catching up. This game makes me nervous, makes me jump, makes me scream, makes me think if I can survive a zombie apocalypse. At first, probably not. Now, maybe. Give me a crossbow maybe? Or a chainsaw? ;)

Easy DIY Eyeliner Wing Stencils

 Hello, lovely people! 

  A few days ago, I watched Jessica Harlow's d.i.y winged eyeliner stencils, which pretty much inspired me to do my own stencils. Being a lover of winged eyeliner/cat-eyes, I knew I had to make these stencils to make my life easier. Honestly, it is very hard to wing out your eyeliner and make both wings look the same especially if you're new to lining your eyes.

  I tried my best to do what Jessica Harlow did. I was able to make a decent wing stencil.....after 6 tries. So I made some modifications, used more materials, and poof! Level: Expert.

 So if you want to know how I did mine, keep reading! :)