Zombie Makeup Tutorial

Things you'll need: 

Elmer's Glue-All  Multi-Purpose Glue

Toilet paper

lotion / petroleum jelly

lip gloss

lip stick

red fabric marker

eyeliner

makeup brush

zipper

How to do it:

1. Make a palette by mixing lipstick colors of your choice with either lotion or petroleum jelly.

Cut off a measly amount off the tip of the lipstick and blend it with the lotion or petroleum jelly.

Keep adjusting the mixture once you get the color you desire.

Do the same with the eyeliner.

Squeeze some lip gloss on the palette for a gooey scab effect.

(I used Victoria's Secret, Beauty Rush)

2. Once your palette is ready, apply an ample amount glue on the areas of your face which you want to cover up then scrunch up some toilet paper for texture and layer more glue on it if the toilet paper is protruding.

3. Allow the toilet paper to dry on your face. This will take 20-30 minutes. Once it hardens, use a red fabric marker to line your scab with it. I do this only to get a rich red color. Slightly color the scab with the marker. You don't need to color the whole scab. Just highlight a few areas on them.

4. With a makeup brush, dab the mixture of lotion and lipstick on the scab. Fill out the areas and apply the colors on several areas of the scab.

5. When you're done coloring, get the zipper and use the adhesive to stick it on the chosen area of your face. You can opt to leave the zipper closed but I chose to unzip it and fold one side. Add pressure to the zipper until it finally dries up and stays in place.

6. When all the work is done, apply dark eye makeup  to match your look and zipper.

7. Removal is easy. Peel off the scab and apply a makeup remover or astringent/toner depending on your skin type. Wash your face and get rid of the residue because wearing this for hours can cause itching.

ta-daaa!

Have fun transforming yourselves into zombies!

Don't forget to join my Apothica giveaway!

Review and Giveaway: The Art of Shaving and a $25 Apothica Gift Card (CLOSED)

For those of you who are seeking for a hassle free way to shop, Apothica is the place to visit. They carry a vast range of trusted brand names that cater to both men and women.  The site offers products from cosmetics to home décor.  Are you a makeup enthusiast? This is the place for you! Whether you’re looking for mineral makeup or popularized brands like Bobbi Brown, Shiseido, Christian Dior, Vincent Longo; they are readily available at Apothica.

The best eyelash curler I’ve used and highly recommend is from Shiseido.

Take a gander at their array of products:  http://makeup.apothica.com/shiseido.html

“I’d like to shop but I’m in dire straits.”  You need not worry for there are great bargains for every budget! Sign up for a Member Newsletter and get a 10% discount for you and your friends! Receive the best possible deals by being a member. The website’s layout is organized for your shopping convenience. View the new arrival, best sellers, sales, limited edition collections and more! You can now view the Apothica Catalog 2011 online. 

Get the detailed product description, ideal users for the product, full list of ingredients, shelf life, how to use the product and best of all, customer reviews and ratings. What better way to base the product on than firsthand experience.

Review: The Art of Shaving http://men.apothica.com/the-art-of-shaving.html

The wide array of beauty products are enticing yet I thought to myself, “What about something for the hubsters?”   I gave my husband a trial kit of The Art of Shaving (unscented) which came with a  Pre Shave Oil 15ml/0.5oz,  Shaving Cream 30ml/1oz and an After Shave Balm 15ml/0.5oz.  Getting him the kit has benefited me equally as much. He cut down from shaving every two days to once in ten days. Of course, the number of days will vary depending on the man’s hair growth but there will be a significant difference. The results were favorable and I was so impressed with it.

You can purchase a starter kit for $24.80 or surprise him with a luxurious travel kit priced at $208.31 for his birthday. I believe this will make a suitable present that you both will enjoy. You can select from either a lavender or unscented formula. I opted for the latter yet there was a distinctive odor in it. I can’t help but lay extra kisses on his cheek after every perfect shave for it gives my husband the soft and supple skin that lures me in every time.

Giveaway: $25 Apothica Gift Card

Apothica is kind enough to sponsor a giveaway for my blog subscribers. Thoroughly inspect the rules prior to participating in this great giveaway!

Mandatory Entries:

PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT PER ENTRY AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!

-You must be a public follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect. (1 entry)

Facebook

1.       Visit Apothica.com and write on Apothica’s Facebook wall about what you think of Apothica (1 entry)

2.       Opt in to Apothica’s Newsletter (1 entry)

Twitter (include the link in comment)

3.       Visit Apothica.com and tweet about Apothica on your Twitter Account (1 entry)

4.       Retweet Apothica’s tweet about this giveaway  (1 entry)

Blog (include the link in comment)

5.       Visit Apothica.com and write something on your blog about what you think of Apothica (1 entry)

6.       Write about the brand I highlighted and link it to Apothica   (1 entry)

Bonus Entries:

-Add my Facebook account. (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

-Tweet about my giveaway in the lines of "International $25 Apothica GC Giveaway at http://tinyurl.com/63mhl29 @TalkaLoka" (1 entry per tweet. You can do this daily.)
-Place my giveaway on your sidebar/tab and leave the link. (1 entry)

The giveaway begins today, January 23rd and will run until February 19^th. Non-complying entries will be disregarded so peruse the rules. The winner will be announced on February 20^th. The winner will be given 48 hours to respond or that will be grounds for disqualification and a new winner will be drawn.  Good luck!

Giveaway Announcement + A Zombie

If you're interested in a tutorial, just say so. :)

Giveaway starts tomorrow!

Get Your Free Sample of CoverGirl Nature Luxe

CoverGirl recently launched their line of silky foundations and soft balms strictly made of natural ingredients. The new spokesperson for CoverGirl, Taylor Swift will be the face of the Nature Luxe Collection.

The expected release is in spring of 2011 where it will be sold in special stores. Get your taste of a greener makeup option here only while supplies last.

Samples are only available to consumers who reside in the United States. The sample link is located at the lower right portion of the page.

I just ordered my free sample. I'm expecting it to arrive within 4-6 weeks! What are you waiting for?

P.S. I have currently reached letter "L" at the commenting. phew! I will publish comments soon. I'm at awe with  the reception I got for my post since I woke up and found 60 whopping comments.

My deepest thank you to everyone!

I'm Showing Some Love Today

Today, I will be commenting on every blog I follow that has been updated within the past week. I'm sad to see how some of the blogs I've been following have gone awry. Come back, blogeristas!

Expect me to drop by your pages, lovelies! If you want me to comment on any of your posts, just say so. I'll check on the ones who comment on my posts too, of course!

Oh! I'm sure you've all heard of sticker skins for laptops but I was psyched when I found out about fur sticker skins. I want one and found it over that this site for $12!

Isn't it a beauty? 

If only tokidoki had sticker skins, I would most definitely have that on my laptop! My 12-incher (teehee... ay cochina!) is the perfect size for me as I abhor having to lug around bulky electronics.

As a reminder, my $25 Apothica Gift Card Giveaway will begin on January 24, 2011 so keep your luscious eyes peeled! I'm thinking of maybe doing a post of all the freebies I got online since I joined the blogging community. What do you think?

False Eyelash Application for Newbies

I've worn false lashes in the past but never applied it myself so since there was a sale at CVS, I decided to lure my husband there. I did. *teehee*

I purchased an Ardell Fashion Lashes Starter Kit which came with glue, lash applicator and #101 Demi black lashes.

Like everything else in sunny California, the price was subject to 9.75% tax so my total amounted to $7.12

kit

Made from 100% sterilized human hair

Applicator and glue

Naked eye

Naked eye

How I did it:

1. Put a measly amount on a piece of paper and use a toothpick to apply the glue on the lashes. Too much glue is no bueno! You don't want to glue your eyes shut.

Apply the false lashes as close to your lash line as possible using the lash applicator or tweezers (I don't suggest the latter if you have shaky hands) starting from the inner corner of the eye.

2. Use a brow brush to keep the lashes in place upon application or a smaller brush of your choice.

Press and hold it in place for about 30 seconds to a minute until the glue dries.

Then, brush off the excess glue on the lashes to separate them for a more natural effect.

You will achieve this look after the application of false lashes

3. Allow the glue to dry before applying eyeliner then fill the gaps between the lash line with liquid eyeliner.

In the absence of that, use a pencil liner or dab a dark shade of eyeshadow above the tip of the false lashes.

Lastly, once the glue has dried out and after makeup application, gently curl your lashes.

This is the end result. Luscious lashes! No mascara needed.

To remove false lashes, use a cotton ball moderately soaked with eye makeup remover.

Never peel off the false lashes without it so as not to pull out any of your natural lashes.

The only downside to this product is that the glue smells like a bunghole.
Excuse my French.
My friends recommended the MAC glue as the best adhesive for false lashes.

I won't be surprised if a lot of you do it differently than I do.

This is how I do it. :)

Practice makes perfect!

Award Time + Striped Nails

Thank you to the wonderful ladies who have given me awards in the past. I just received five more awards from fellow bloggeristas.

from Leslie , Rinz , TinkerBi and My-My

Shibani

Thank you!

A quick insert of my sad attempt at coloring my nails.

Mind you, it's nothing out of the ordinary.

My "technique" is rather rudimentary and hey, it's fun!

Place the tape on 3/4 of the nail or less.

By doing that, you'll achieve this look.
Peel a few layers of cotton and wrap it around the nail pusher.
Dip the cotton covered portion of the pusher in nail polish remover and erase unwanted stains.

If you want more stripes, just add more pieces of tape.

Apply the tape horizontally on the nails.

...and voila!

products used:

Scotch tape cut in 1/3 strips

cotton ball wrapped around a nail pusher

OPI black polish

Beauty Rush pink polish

nail polish remover

These photos were taken with my crapola webcam so I'm sorry for the poor quality!

I know, I should definitely get a digital camera. A lot of them are currently on sale so that's a thought!

P.S. I'm going to have an Apothica giveaway on the the 24th so keep your eyes peeled!

Food Porn for Couples

The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Allow me to rephrase that.

My husband and I share the same predilection for good grub. Whether it's dining out or concocting dishes, we're there! Let me tell you this. I eat more than a woman should. I eat more than my husband. I'm expensive to feed which is why there's no room for pets in our household. Since I'm not a pet person... score! Being that I consume so much food in one sitting and constantly think of what to eat next, I stepped it up in the kitchen. I began to develop a passion for cooking just like every woman in my family. I won't say that I'm doing it because I'm married since it's not compulsory for a wife to cook for her husband. That's just what's expected since society dictates it as a norm. I cook for Jordan because I want to. He's very understanding of that fact and doesn't demand me to do so. As we strive for equality, I'm firm about quashing gender specific associations like how women should clean while the men bring home the turkey. We live in the modern days where role reversals are common and duties can be accomplished regardless of the orientation. Capiche?

There are nights when we want a romantic dinner or see something on the boob tube and test recipes on a whim. Regardless of it being planned or not, we enjoy the process as it educates us without it feeling like a chore. Have you ever experienced those days when all you want to do is stay in your pajamas the whole day, be sloth like and order a box of pizza? Well, that and a bit of dessert...

Chocolate Chip Peanut Cupcakes

Pillsbury Sugar Cookies

Molten Lava Cake with French Vanilla Ice Cream

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Right!?

I say YAY to food!

Whether it's ready made or a "bust your ass to make it" meal, we'll gladly eat it! Jordan and I enjoy having culturally rich backgrounds. He's Guatemalan-Italian while I'm a mix of Filipino-Spanish and Chinese.What we find hilarious is how I hanker for the cuisine he is accustomed to and vice versa. I can eat pasta on a daily basis while he prefers to have some lumpias or beef steak. If there's one thing we agree on, it's tacos, baby!

A quien no le gusta tacos!? This is L.A.! 

Glendale - Taco Azteca along Victory

Valley area - Tacos Mexico

Any other places I should try?

Speaking of tacos, I was jonesing for tacos one day. Not the usual soft shell tacos that I usually have but the hard shell ground beef ones from Carl's Jr. I tried it once and liked it! My husband was born in the States and never gave it a try since he only likes asada but hey, he said that it wasn't so bad. I'm digressing again. So, he gave into my request which he labels as "whining" and though the tacos weren't from Carl's Jr., they were even better because he surprised me with some homemade ones.

I believe he improvised and used parsley.

Not so shabby, amor. Not so shabby. :)

Let me expound more about this taco situation. My husband and I don't see eye to eye when it comes to meal time. I'm used to eating breakfast, lunch, merienda (snack time of Filipinos) and dinner. My Latino lover has an erratic meal time. He'll drink coffee for breakfast and eat what's available then he'll drag on the rest of the day until the next thing you know, it's 8:00pm!

me: (1pm) Uh, papo! I'm hungry

Jordan: I'm not hungry yet, nena.

me: (2pm) I'm acidic, you know.

still me: (3:00pm) Are we eating today or what?

me again: (3:01pm) Okay, screw you. I'm eating!

Jordan: I love you too!

One thing I learned about my husband is that he enjoys baking more than I do. I don't have a sweet tooth as I prefer salty choices as I'm a chips and fries kind of girl. I know that it isn't any better but heeey... it's yummy in the tummy!

Has anyone ever tried this? They're b-o-m-b!

My husband decided to make me dessert a couple of days ago. He made me a crumb cake and it was unbelievably moist! I made chicken and chorizo with tomato sauce.

Our latest cooking experiment: Pan fried burgers with caramelized onions.

In this family, food is a big denominator that binds us and diets are non-existent. It's where portion control is welcome yet not recommended and self control is most definitely tested. 

Hey, it's dinner time! Shall we?