DIY: Storage from Candle Jars

Hello everyone! If you are like me, then you might have a lot of clutter laying around. I found a way to reuse those Bath and Body Works candles that everyone seems to be loving. Is it just me, or do they burn really fast? Anyway, I always feel bad when I throw away a glass jar and there's still a bit of wax at the bottom and the wicks are too short to burn. I thought I would share with you guys how I clean them out and make them into little storage units!

I have one jar for my sample sized products. I mentioned most of them in my Etude House Haul, the other ones are little tubes of prescription cream from my dermatologist.

Also, there's one for my jewelry that doesn't fit in my jewelry box. It started to overflow and I needed something to keep them organized.

Using one of those small candles, it made the perfect jar for my Q-tips.

How to do it

Step #1: Burn a candle. Not that hard, just always keep an eye on it! We don't need to be burning any houses down.;P

Here's what mine looks like. 

Step #2: Pour in some boiling water. The wax should start to melt. With most candles, you won't have this bubbling effect like in the picture. This was the first time I saw this and it made me think of lava lamps.

Step #3: Help out the wax by poking it with a spoon, chopstick, or anything you can stick in hot water. This should speed up the melting process. I found that in some cases, this makes the wax on the bottom come off more smoothly.

One it's all melted, the wax floats to the top. Now all you have to do is get rid of it, washing it out a bit, and you're done!

Melting the wax actually gives you one last chance to make your room smell like that particular scent. Now I just need more candles. . . I really hope you guys liked this post! It's my first DIY and I thought I would start out with a simple one. See you next time! XD

Product Review: Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Essence

Hello everyone! If you saw my Etude House Haul, then you've already know that I got their primer from the Wonder Prore line. I think a good primer is so important to making the right makeup look. When I don't use one, my skin looks bumpy and gross. So a good primer is a staple product in my collection.

First of all, let's just take a moment to appreciate how adorable the packaging is. Korean brands noticeably take more time into making pretty packaging, and let me tell you, it works. My wishlist is endlessly growing because they just catch my eye more than American brands.

As you can see, it's a light skin tone color, but it doesn't offer any coverage or anything like that. The texture is pretty dense as primers go but it's not heavy. It can be hard to spread but since I like to dab on products in little dots all over my face, it's not a problem for me.

I know it may be a little hard to tell, but this primer shrinked the small wrinkles on my hand by a significant about. It does that same thing with my giant pores. It just makes my skin look more fresh, clean, and healthy. Having oily skin makes my face feel dirty all the time so feeling clean is very important to me.

The lasting time is pretty remarkable in my experience  My skin stays smooth from the time I put it on (about 6:30 am)  to the time that I check my makeup after school (about 3:30 pm). I'm not sure if this is the same for everyone, it's just what I've noticed.

Pros

-Cute packaging

-Lasts 8+ hours

-Not heavy

-Drastically reduces size of pores

Cons

-Hard to spread over skin

-Not available in the US

Overall, I think this is an amazing product. I will most likely repurchase this when I run out. Definitely great for the warm weather that has yet to come (there's still a bit of snow here). Keeping my fingers crossed that it will be nice out this weekend!

Etude House Haul

Hello everyone! A while ago, I ordered some Etude House cosmetics online from South Korea. Instead of showing you pictures from the website, I wanted to wait until I got the packages so I can tell you about all the free samples that came with them! I made a conscious effort to order from the sellers that offered samples, and coincidentally, they were the sellers with the cheapest shipping cost. Though I do suggest going to a Korean website that offers free worldwide shipping instead of going to Amazon like I did. It's just that I can't get a credit card since I'm underage and Amazon has gift cards I can buy and pay that way.

The first item I got was the Shini Star Lip Balm in the flavor Grapefruit. I'm not a fan of crazy colors because they look weird with my skin tone. I thought the grapefruit one was the safest. It's an orange-ish pink-ish color which I've been loving! And of course it's the SHINee special edition. That kind of sold me. I'll do a full review soon.

I'm in need of a new moisturizer, so I got the Collagen Moistfull Skin Care Kit that comes with the cleanser, emulsion, essence, and cream. This gives me a chance to try out their collagen line without having to commit to a full-sized product yet. Since I have to order it overseas, I like having this option.

Since my acne marks are extremely stubborn (I even went to see my dermatologist about it), I got this set that has Etude House's Red Spot Balm and it came with Foam Cleanser from their AC Clinic line. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will help.

I wanted to try a new primer, so I got the Goodbye Pore Ever Essence. I will do a full review on this so you can know how I like it.

Samples! I was surprised on how many I got. Each seller that offered samples came with at least two or more. When I saw #3, I was really impressed because it seems like a really big sample and something I was looking into getting. The same seller even included a product from Tony Moly!

1. Etude House Collagen Moistfull Enriched Cream

2. Etude House White Moistfull Essence

3. Etude House AC Clinic Pink Powder Spot

4. Etude House Collagen Moistfull Peeling Wash

5. Etude House Know Your Body Soft Cream Scrub

6. Etude Shea Butter Nutrifull Sleeping Pack

7. Tony Moly AC Control Acne Cleansing Foam

8. Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer

These will be that last Korean cosmetics I will get for a while. I want to save some of my money for the Festival of Nations I will be going to soon for a field trip. It should be really fun to hang out with friends and look and the different cultures and eat a lot of different food. The other part of my money goes to feeding my car. Why does gas have to be so expensive?! Anyway, I'll see you guys soon with reviews on these products. Would you like to see first impressions on the samples, too? Let me know it the comments!

Totoro Cookies!

Hello everyone! I haven't been feeling all too well with spring cold season going crazy over here, so I decided to make some Totoro cookies to cheer me up a bit. My Neighbor Totoro is one of my all-time favorite movies and I thought that this was such a cute idea. The original tutorial is here. This was not my creation, but I did change it up a bit to accommodate what I already had in my kitchen.

The finished product. 

Instead of gingerbread like in the tutorial, I used sugar cookie mix because they were having a sale and I just used black food coloring to make it a "totoro grey". Make sure that if you do this, keep a mental note that it will get lighter after you bake it.

I like to mix it manually because it gives my arms a workout!

Sorry I didn't document every step for you guys, but if you want to know, then just watch the video that I linked to. You can blame my cold for making me tired and forget to take pictures. 

For the icing, I used a trick that my friend's mom taught me. Take a bowl of powdered sugar, add a tiny bit of vanilla (or any other flavoring you want), water, and food coloring and mix it all together. There's not really any exact measurements for it since my friend's family never really uses them anyway, so just start slow and you can always add more if you need it. 

P.S. The water goes a long way in the powdered sugar so you don't need that much.

The icing dried before I could put the sprinkles on the soot sprite. I kinda had to press them on there.

Whenever I bake, I make a huge mess on all the tables and counters. Honestly, I showed you the only cookies that were fully decorated. The rest I gave up on because I was just so sick of cooking that I had to walk away. It's okay, they'll still get eaten in my house full of cookie monsters. 

I don't know if it's because my taste buds changed because of my health kick or my cold, but I could only eat a few cookies before it got way too sweet and had to switch to fruit. It might also be the fact that I drenched them in frosting, too. We all learn from mistakes. 

What do you guys do while you're sick?

What's In My Bag

Hello everyone! I don't like being away from blogging, but it's state testing time. I have to pass them in order to graduate, so it's pretty important. Anyway, I thought I would do an easy post that all nosy people like to see, a What's In My Bag post! To be honest, I'm pretty nosy, too, and like seeing what people carry around with them. You guys an inside look of what my purse looks like after school, traveling between parents' houses, and many people going through it.

This is just an overview on all the things, closer pictures are below.

I'm a makeup hoarder when it comes to my purse! Sometimes when I need to focus on school work, I'll go to my mom's for the day when I'm supposed to be at my dad's and vice versa. This just makes it easier when I accidently sleep over and there's school the next day.

1. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner- My favorite liquid eyeliner
2. Revlon Age Defying Concealer- I use this on acne scars, they need some extra coverage.
3. Covergirl Concealer- The label on this worn off so I can't tell you which kind, but this is really light and doesn't crease under my eyes.
4. Maybelline New York Superstay Color Lip Stain in Reliable Raspberry- Lip stains are a lazy girl's best friend.
5. Maybelline New York Mega Plush Mascara- The only mascara I have right now.
6. Skin79 BB Cream Hot Pink Label- Already raved about the Skin79 BB Creams, but this is the only full sized product I have so far by them.
7. MAC Studio Fix Pressed Powder- Also a little worn down, I need to repurchase this soon.

1. Wallet- Got this floral wallet from Target. I know it's not some fancy, expensive designer, but it still works!

2. Pens and Mechanical Pencils- For school and such.

3. Comb- This poor comb has been through a lot in the past few years. If I don't brush my hair every once in awhile, it'll get stringy. 

1. Orbit Wintermint Gum- Gum is like currency at school.

2. Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant- You don't want to be caught without deodorant when you need it.

3. Calvin Klein Perfume- Stole this from my mom. It has a very simple, clean scent.

4. Peppermint candies- Everyone brings these when it's testing day, something about improving scores. I bummed these from a friend. XD

1. Archer Farms Strawberry Mango Real Fruit Twists- These are sort of like an organic (maybe?) fruit snack. I'm addicted to my healthy snacks, this one has a full serving of fruit in this tiny bag!
2. Protector Against the Evil Eye Pendant- My uncle got me this good luck charm in Jerusalem  I carry it around with me so I won't get in a car crash. So far it works!
3. Pirate Rubber Duck- A surprise left by my little sister.
4. Phone- Yes, I have a tiny phone. It's about the size of my palm.



There you go, that's everything I lug around. You'd be shocked on how much stuff I can jam into my little purse. See you next time!

Meet My Little Friend

Hello everyone! Last summer, I got this ear cuff at the Renaissance Festival with my sister. I thought he was adorable and just had to get him. I always think of the movie Aquamarine when I wear this because the mermaid in it puts starfish on her ears and they talk to her. My frog sadly does not talk to me, but he is a good decoration!

When I'm concentrating in school, I tuck my hair behind my ear without noticing. This little guy adds a little something to go along with any earings I decide to wear that day. It's just so dainty and simple which makes it easy to wear on a regular basis. As you might be able to tell, he is fading a bit. That is due to constant use over the past year, and he's still alive! I thought that the arms would have broken off by now because I have to stretch it out and tighten it whenever I put it on.

Sorry I couldn't give you guys a link to get this specific ear cuff. Like I said, I got this one at the Renaissance Festival from one of the vendors there. I did get a lizard one, too, but he is MIA. He's probably laying around on the floor at my dad's. 

What do you guys think? I'm thinking about getting different animals online. Which one should I get next?

Liebster Award

Hello everyone! I'm back with another award post, but this one is the Liebster Award. Thank you so much to the amazing Mai form Fairytales! It's such an honor to be nominated. 

This award is made for bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It's a fantastic way to find new bloggers and learn a little about them. So let's get started!

The Rules:

1. Each blogger should answer the questions the tagger has set for you.

2. Choose 11 new bloggers to pass the award onto and like them to your post.

3. Create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. Each blogger should post 11 facts about themselves.

6. No tag-backs!

Questions asked by Mai-
1. What made you start blogging? And when?
-I actually started blogging back in 2010. I had just began my love with reading and decided to make a book blog on blogster.com. It slowly turned into a blog where teenagers whine and complain all day. I didn't want to be that way, so I stopped. It wasn't until a couple months ago that I made Itty Bitty Bindings and started to blog a different way.
2. Who is your role model and why?
-Growing up, I would have easily answered this question with some Egyptian icon like Cleopatra, Nefertiti, or Hatchepsut (yes, I was a history nerd, even back then). But now, I'm not sure. I just like being myself.
3. What is your favorite part about your body?
-Probably my eyes. I think that they're a pretty shade of green.
4. Top 3 traits you look for in your ideal partner?
-He's got to be fun, or else I'll think he's boring. A sense of humor is really important. He has to be polite. I can't stand guys that are rude.
5. Name 3 Pet Peeves.
-Bad table manners! That's my biggest one. Watching what I'm doing over my shoulder. Asking stupid questions like "Why are you so short?". Because I am! It's fine when a kid does it, but if you're my age, then it just makes you look stupid.
6. If you could choose to travel 100 years into the future or 100 years into the past, which would you choose and why?
-The past, I could help Jane Austen write her books. Haha, I wish. XD
7. What is one beauty product you cannot live without?
-Chapstick. Everything's all good if I have my chapstick.
8. If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?
-Breath underwater, I would never stop swimming and just hang out with sea creatures for the rest of my life.
9. What is currently in your make up bag?
-I bring all the makeup/skincare I own in my makeup bag because it just makes it easier to travel from my mom's to my dad's house every week. But right now my staple products are Skin79 BB Cream in the Hot Pink label, Revlon Colorstay liquid eyeliner, and MAC Studio Fix pressed powder.
10. One thing you cannot live without? (Besides your phone, or the internet!)
-Blankets. So cozy!
11. What is your dream job?
-Professional blogger, book reviewer, painter? Probably anything I can do in my pj's.

11 facts about me:
1. My fingers and wrists are double jointed.
2. I have an older half-sister, younger brother, and a younger sister.
3. At my mom's we have two cats, two rats, and a beta fish. At my dad's, we have one cat and 2 geckoes.
4. Only 2 of my closest friends are white.
5. Back when I was younger, I used to dip my brother's toothbrush in the toilet when he was mean to me. Sorry Scott! I told him years later.
6. I used to hate makeup and swore I would never use it. It's ironic now that I have a blog where I share makeup and skin care.
7. I listen to a very wide range of music. But what I gravitate to the most is something happy with a steady beat.
8. I got over 100% in my art class last year because my teacher thought I was above the understanding of the curriculum. I guess all those years of doodling payed off.
9. My favorite kind of love story is where the guy falls in love before the girl.
10. I actually like being short.
11. I like to dance around my room like a crazy person when no one is watching.

Who I nominate:
1. Circle Motel
2. All These Little Things
3. A Taste of Honey
4. effifi
5. Lih3artz's Beauty & Fashion Corner
6. Katexo
7. PLUM~WITH LOVE
8. Jenni My Style
9. Beautiful and Ruthless
10. Simple Charm Beauty
11. Little Purple Orchid

My Questions
1. If you could be any celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?
2. What is your favorite band/musician at the moment?
3. What is your guilty pleasure?
4. What is your favorite season and why?
5. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
6. Besides blogging, how do you spend your free time?
7. Would you rather live in a place where it's extremely cold or extremely hot and why?
8. What is a food that is really unhealthy, but you eat anyway?
9. What is one movie that you can watch a million times and never get bored of?
10. What is the most embarrassing song on your ipod?
11. What is something that annoys you?


There you go. I feel like I just handed out my whole life on a silver platter. I hope you guys liked learning a little bit more about me and check out the blogs that are linked in this post. See you next time!

NOTD- Bird's Eye View + Tutorial

Following the new black and white trend, I thought I would make up a cute nail design for you guys. This image sort of popped into my head but I couldn't find it anywhere online, so I guess I was the only one. This is my second original nail design (the first one is here), but this one is a lot more complicated. The steps are pretty simple and can be done a few ways, you choose which one is best for you. I suggest that you just take your time and it'll turn out just fine. XD

1. Place a piece of tape around your nails at the tips, make sure there isn't any gaps. Then you want to paint the ends of your nails white. The tape will make a sharp, straight edge. This is actually how I do french tips. It requires no skill whatsoever!

-There are French tip stickers out there that you can buy if you want a more natural, curved tip.

-You can also use a white striper if you have one.

When the polish dries, slowly take the tape off and it should turn out like this.

2. Take another strip of tape and cut it into thirds lengthwise. Then place two of the strips close to each other, leaving a tiny gap in the middle. Paint that part black. You might want to avoid putting tape on the white tip, I found out that the tape lifts it off your nail.

-If you have a black striper, you can use that to save you some time.

-If you don't own a striper, you can make one by wiping off the polish from the brush and cutting it until you get a small strip of tightly packed bristles. Just dip it back into the bottle and you're good to go.

After it dries, slowly take off the tape, again. If there are some blank spaces, just take a toothpick, dip it in the black polish, and fill it in.

Do this to all your nails, making the black line generally in the same place.

3. Take a toothpick, dip it in the black polish, and draw on some birds. I found that if you use a dabbing motion, you can get the best color payoff. Just take your time and have fun with it!

4. Wait for it to dry completely and seal it all in with a clear topcoat. Then you're all done!

I did a few different bird designs for you guys. The normal one, a Mamma and Baby bird, love birds, and a sparrow. You can always look up birds sitting on a wire if you want more references.

This was the first day I wore this and I've already been getting compliments. If any of you try this, tell me how it turned out. See you next time!

Product Review- Holika Holika Pore Clearing Petit BB Cream with Tea Tree Oil and Sebum Control Powder

I got another BB cream review for you guys! It's the Holika Holika Pore Clearing Petit BB Cream with Tea Tree Oil and Sebum Control Powder. I have no clue why the name of this BB cream is so long, but it I guess it needs it because of all the "benefits" that it claims to have. The name basically says it all, it's supposed to have Tea Tree oil, clear your pores, fight oil, and provide SPF 30. Since the warmer season is getting closer, my skin seems to generate more sebum. I wanted to try out some new products before that happens.

I love the adorably packaging. A little kitty is peeking over on the side. Honestly, I didn't notice him when I bought it. 

Warning, you'll have to excuse my wrinkly hands, it's still cold out here and it's not gentle on my skin. :(

Here's what it looks like. It's pretty dark for my extremely fair skin at first. 

After it oxidizes, the shade did get lighter and dried with a matte finish.

I wrote some math formulas on my hand to memorize and thought I would use it as a demonstration on the coverage. A little unorthodox, but you get the picture.

Amazon.com sells this BB cream for about $12, which in my opinion isn't too bad, but it does make a dent in your wallet if you're a student like me. After getting gas and food, I did manage to scavenger up enough to splurge a bit and get this, along with some other things (I posted what I got here). Let me tell you, I don't regret it. 

I would say that this BB cream has heavy coverage, about as much as a foundation. The color is just one shade too dark for my spent-all-winter-inside skin, but I'm sure it will fit perfectly when I get a little darker. If the sun decides to come out soon. I really hope it does. . .

I think that the label was pretty truthful in saying that it controls sebum. With the right primer, my face does stay matte for a long time, which is about 5 hours but it will be longer if you don't have oily skin. 5 hours is like a miracle for me. Usually, I start to get shiney after 3. My blotting papers aren't used as much and I don't need to constantly put on more powder. 

The only thing I don't like about this BB cream is that it's pretty heavy for BB cream standards. It's more like a foundation that way. One of the many reasons why I fell in love with BB creams is because they are lighter and lighter makeup is less likely to break me out. If I wanted a foundation, I would go back to my MAC studio fix foundation. 

Overall, this will be a great summer/spring product, just not right now because it's not my color. This is probably going to last on those hot, humid days when it feels like your face is just going to melt off. Half of our summer is like that so I also need to be prepared.

What is your summer/spring staple product?