My First Birch Box of June 2015

In the box was included:

-Keratase Elixir Ultimate ($15)
-Laura Geller Blush ($13)
-LA Fresh Makeup Remover ($0)
-Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow ($0)
-Vasanti Cosmetics Face Rejuvenator ($5)
- Bonus: Deepa Gurani Hair Tie ($10)

Average Total Price of the box is around $43, which is a good price compared to the $10 that I paid for the box. They sent a pretty good valued box with really good products that I have been wanting to try on my hair and skin.

Before making this purchase, I was unsure about whether or not to re-subscribe to Ipsy or to try something new. I chose the latter because I did not want a lot of makeup products since I had already been supplied with similar products during the time that I was subscribed to Ipsy. This time I wanted beauty products that would help my skin and hair feel and look better, so I opted for my second option.

Birch Box did not fail me in sending me products that I needed and I think that part of it is because of the quiz that subscribers are required to complete about their beauty preferences, before signing up to their box. I think I will try another month and see how it goes. 

I have learned that the major difference between Ipsy and Birchbox is that Birchbox sends beauty products (creams, exfoliants, masks, etc.) while Ipsy specifically sends makeup products only (lipsticks, blushes, foundation, makeup brushes, etc.) And because of this, I will be sticking with Birch Box for another month and leaving Ipsy behind for a while until I empty my makeup products, or until I feel like I want to experiment with new products.

If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, please feel free to comment down below. I would be happy to answer to them. 

Mayu Girl :)

Up 2 You Cafe for the First Time

Nutella Crepe and Belgian Waffle 

Up 2 You Cafe Menu

Up 2 You Cafe had always been a place I wanted to go because of how popular it is on Instagram, I would scroll down my Insta feed and always see delicious desserts from this place and couldn't wait to get my own delicious plate of sweetness. So when I finally got to go, I was really excited to see what this place was all about.

I was definitely not disappointed. Up 2 You Cafe has some pretty good looking and tasting desserts. It honestly made my day because I really enjoyed my Belgian waffle, along with the chill vibes of the place, created by the comfortable seats, table games, and colorful walls, There is not a lot more I can say about this place, except that it is a great place to hang out with friends while enjoying a deliciously sweet meal.

Mayu Girl :p

O-Mighty James Franco Top and ZooShoo Platform Sandals

Top: omighty.com
Bottoms: Japan
Cardi: +Forever 21
Shoes: +ZOOSHOO 

I just wanted to share my opinion on the online stores O Mighty and ZooShoo, since I have recently made purchases through these websites for the first time, and wanted to review their products for those who are unsure about purchasing products through these websites. 

1) O Mighty Top:
Super comfortable fabric, very good quality, but definitely and expensive website to purchase products. I think I got this top on a day where they were offering 50% discount last year, which is extremely rare for O mighty to offer any discounts. But it was totally worth it because it is a unique and fun top to wear on casual days.

2) ZooShoo Sandals
These sandals are very very comfortable and I am very happy that I purchased them because on top of being super comfortable, they were very inexpensive compared to Birks. At first I was nervous about ordering these shoes because I had never ordered any shoes from +ZooShoo but I have realized that they are a pretty good online website to purchase shoes from since I have also bought another pair of shoes which are pretty amazing, in my opinion.

So overall I had a very good experience with both websites and do recommend them for those in search of unique clothing from O Mighty and shoes from ZooShoo. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to comment on my blog. 

Have a great one!
Mayu Girl :)

Prom at the San Diego Zoo

Having the prom at the San Diego Zoo was a pretty intimidating idea at the beginning, because many of our class didn't know what to expect and didn't know whether it was going to be worth trying or not. It was definitely hard to imagine having a formal dance in the middle of a zoo and being okay with it not being at a fancy hotel or a ball room. But we eventually learned that the event wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. 

The venue where our prom took place was lighted up with beautiful web type hanging lights and there was heating on the top of several poles between the tables. The temperature was quite nice despite the fact that it was outside in the chilly night. 

We were provided with several services such as an animal show show during the first hour, which I missed; Sky Safari, tables, and table decorations. I think that these aspects contributed to make our prom night a pretty memorable, fun, and unique experience; apart from the typical photo booth, food, and dance, (that we too had) that every typical prom dance has. 

I am grateful that I got to have my prom at a venue that is not so much used or typically used for prom events because it made it ten times more special for my last year of high school. Of course, it wouldn't have meant anything if I hadn't gone with my group of friends, I mean that's the whole point of it. Just to enjoy a fancy last dance with friends that you've made during high school and have fun. 

Missguided Shoes, Urban Outfitters Socks

Tops: Japan

Skirt: +Charlotte Russe 

Socks: +Urban Outfitters 

Shoes: +Missguided 

I think it is the first time that I have ever worn a matching set in my life, and I love it. It is so effortless yet it looks so nice. I kind of tried to match the color of my top with the socks, which I think worked out nicely. So you will probably see me doing this more often, I mean wearing sets and matching stuff haha.

As for the shoes from Missguided, I though that they would go along well with my sheer socks from UO. I also wanted to say that the shoes are super comfortable because they have a heavy sole. I don't know if that makes sense but it feels really comfortable. I got these from the sale section and they were worth it! I believe that they are no longer available but they do have really nice and cheap shoes on their webpage. So yes, I would recommend Missguided shoes to those who are not familiar with the breand and are thinking about geting a pair of shoes.

And for the socks, I love them to death. The only thing is that I can't find any socks like these anywhere and I wish they were available because I want more! They are just perfect for the warmer weathers and don't make your feet feel overheated.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please comment down below. If you would like to see more, feel free to browse my blog and subscribe via e mail, Google+, or Bloglovin'.

And if you are interested in following me through my social media, you can follow my Instagram and Twitter @mayugirl1 (with a one in the end) :p

Influenster Blossom Vox Box

This month, +Influenster sent me a free box complimentary for testing purposes. It was a big surprise for me because they had never sent me anything bigger than a bag of fruit, so I was really happy and excited when I received it.

Inside the box there were a few coupons included as well as a card that described each item included in the box or #BlossomVoxBox 

1. Hair Food Root Cleansing Shampoo ($9.99)

This shampoo smells like strawberries with a hint of ginger. It is a shampoo that claims to detoxify your hair and scalp by removing buildup. It really does do what it says from what I experienced. My scalp felt super refreshed and my hair felt really soft and smelled great. I would really recommend it because it does what it says and because it is made with healthy ingredients that will benefit your hair.

2. Australian Gold Sunscreen SPF 30 ($7.99)

This sunscreen smells really good at the beginning but as time passes by, it becomes a little too overwhelming. It gave me a headache when I put it on my neck and cheeks. I think this is best for the body and not parts that are too close to your nose or you may feel dizzy like me, I did like that it did not feel greasy and that it did not smell like regular sunscreen, at least they are trying to be different!

3. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (13.99)

4. NYC Color City Proof 24 HR Shadow (Tribeca Taupe; $2.99)

I was not really happy with this product because it feels as if I'm drawing my lids with crayola because it feels really sticky and not very smooth. It also came out of the tube while I was applying it. So from what I experiences, I would not recommend this product...

5. Beanitos ($3.49)

I was really impressed with these chips because they are really really good and are made with healthy and natural ingredients. I really liked these chips because of the thick, perfectly round chips, that were so delicious and flavorful. Definitely give them a try!!! @Beanitos #AllinaBagofChips

I ate these chips with a small salad and it almost reminded me of a decomposed taco. I really enjoyed this healthy snack from Beanitos.

6. Bear Naked Granola ($10.49/ 12 oz.)

These granola bar pouches seemed pretty normal except for the fact that one of them had a curry flavor, which was pretty interesting. The granola alone was crunchy and flavorful. I think they are a good option for healthy snacking. The only thing that was disappointing was the fact that the pouch on the left only had one small cube of caramel and the one on the right only had two pieces of almonds, everything else was granola. I wish they had included a little bit more of those extra ingredients other than granola. @livvebearnaked #livebearnaked #contest +Influenster 

7. Nasoya Pasta Zero Noodles

I am really happy that +Influenster sent me these pasta noodles because they are really healthy and do not feel heavy. They are only 15 calories per serving which is half of the pouch where they come in. Which is why they are filling but won't make you bloat. So this is how I used them: +Nasoya #nasoyapastazero #contest

1) Cook Vegetables

2) Follow instrution in package to cook noodles. Cut noodles in shorter length.

3) Mix vegetables and noodles with water.
4) Add in fish powder for flavor

5)Add chicken and lemon flavored soysauce

6) Serve with rice.

March 2015 China Universal Yums Subscription Boc

Universal Yums is a monthly subscription box that delivers snacks from different parts of the world. This month's country was China, which I wasn't much excited about because they are not that known for their snacks although thwy are known for their exotic cuisines.

Inside the box, there's this card that tells you facts about china and the snacks are listed in the back, along with next monthe's clue. 

I believe that next month will be Switzerland, what do you think?

White Rabbit (2)

This was the hardest handy I have eveer eaten. In the description, it says that it's similar to a tootsie roll, but no it is not. It's like a rock, and barely tastes like milk. 

Shelly Senbei Sweet Rice Crackers

These crackers were really light and mildly sweet. I really enjoyed they because thay are the perfect little dessert for when you are not craving much sweetness but yet want somethihg to satisfy your desert portion of the day. 

Shelly Senbei Hot & Spicy Rice Crackers

These were my absolute favorite of all the box because they are not only sweet like the ones above, but at the same time, there is a delicious spicy kick to them at the end. Absolutely loved them!

Amay's Almond cookie

Totally disappoined about this one. I mean come on, these cookies are everywhere!

Pineapple and Tangerine Hard Candies (4)

These were okay. Not impressive. 

Edo Blueberry Pie

In the description, they say it's like a Fig Newton, but it is definitely a lot more chewier and thicker. But it was still very good. 

Butterfly Cookies (4)

These I was surprised about because I've had them in Mexico before, but I wouldn't have thought that they were made in Taiwan as well. 

By the way, the box included snacks from Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

Assirted Crispy Candy

(Blue-Almond, Yellow-Peanut, Orange-mixed nut)

These were pretty good. They tasted like marzipan or Mazapan, really flaky but nutry flavored.

The orange one was my favorite because it had nut chunks inside it. It was delicious!! The other two were not that interesting...

Wasabi Potato Crispy

These crisps were awesome because of the wasabi flavor. And specially because I'm into spicy flavors. I would not recommend it for people who cannot handle spicy things because these have a pretty strong wasabi flavor. Definitely recommend to those who enjoy savory snacks. 

Peach Milk Ball Soft Candy (2)

These candies looked kind if weird. I was expecting them to be perfectly rund, but instead just looked like an imperfect ball of candy. They tasted okay. The inside had a chewy center that was pretty hard to eat because it would stick to my teeth. 

Overall this box was interesting and fun to explore all of rhe different flavors. The price of this box was $13 and I am pretty sure it's not worth even half of it but I guess the experience is worth it and it's cool to explore new and interesting flavors every month. 

Sheinside/Chicwish Fuffy Black and White Jacket

Top and Cardi from +Sheinside StreetFashion
Watch +CITIZEN WATCH
Lipstick +MAC Cosmetics (HEROINE)
Eye Shadow +Pixi by Petra 

After dying my hair darker, I noticed how well it matched a lot of my monotone clothes and added a little bit of an edge, although it is not a bright or striking color. To be honest, at first, I hated the color of my hair because I wanted to keep it red like before, but I have slowly started to like it even more because I can see how it contrasts and defines my face nicely.

As to my outfit, I want to tell you that Sheinside is a great place to find fashionable and unique pieces at a very low price compared to other high end stores. I really recommend it because not only is it fashionable but also has great quality to the fabric they use. For example, the jacket/ cardigan I am wearing is really really warm and the top is very soft and is not see through.

For more outfit inspiration, visit my Instagram and Twitter @mayugirl1 

Don't forget to subscribe to my blog!

And feel free to comment any questions or suggestions! (:

Mayu Girl

February 2015 Ipsy Subscription Box Review

Ipsy is a monthly makeup and beauty subscription box for $10. It sends you 4 to 5 products, both full and sample size, personalized depending on your preferences. 

This month, I got six products because I accumulated enough points to get an extra freebie, which was the pink bottle or the "mane tamer" cream. I was really surprised by what I got this month because I really liked everything and I thought that everything was quite on point with what I personally prefer using and experimenting with. 

1) Eva NYC Volumizing Spray (1 oz) $3

I used this spray before straigtening my hair and it definitely helped my hair stay moiturized and volumize my hair. I really noticed the difference because my hair is very thin and when I straigten it, it looses al of the little volume it has, but this time it preserved it and helped my hair look better.

http://eva-nyc.com/products/up-all-night-volumizing-spray-8-oz

2) Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil (10 ml) $22

http://www.mitchellandpeach.com/collection/products_id/15/cPath/0

3) Emite Professional Eye Curler $25

I have to say that I am a little disappointed with this one because it came a little unaligned, but fortunately I was able to bend it enough to straighten the curler. We actually received an email from Ipsy asking if we had received an unaligned curler so that it could be replaced.

So my assumption is that this curler is usually not that great since it bends easily, which could also mean hat it breaks easily too. I wouldn't recommend this curler because of that and because it is pricey.

http://www.emitemakeup.com/2/professional-eye-lash-curler

4) City Color Cosmetics Creamy Lip Stain $5

When I first saw this, I thought that I would hate it as much as I hate wearing lip glosses, but I was wrong. This lip stain is not as sticky as lip glosses. It starts out sticky but eventually dries to a beautiful pink lip stain. 

http://citycolorcosmetics.com/lips/lip-gloss/creamy-lip-stain/#.VPx-4vnF-So

5) BLUSH Cheek Powder Sample

http://www.modelcocosmetics.com/shop/cosmetics/face/face-bronzer-and-blush/blush-cheek-powder

6) FREE Eva NYC Hair Tamer (100 ml) $8

I got this additional product for free because I accumulated enough point to redeem a reward of my choice and I chose this hair cream for 500 points. I was able to get these points through reviews and other tasks on Ipsy.

Glam Bag Value : $63

Tell me what you thought about this month's poduct in the comments!

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You can also follow me thorugh Instagram and Twitter for updates @ mayu girl 1

February 2015 Italy Universal Yums Subscription Box

Universal Yums is an international snacks subscription box for $13 (6+ snacks) or $25 (13+ snacks) a month.
This month, the theme of the box was Italy. I was very excited for this because I know how well known this country is for its chocolate and sweets. So I subscribed for a $13 box to get started. 

The box came with an informational card with a description and explanation of all of the snacks. It also included the clue for the next month, which I suspect it will be China. 

So here are the snack pictures and reviews: 

Salted Carame Biscotti
This biscotti was really good. It was sweet and crunchy. I really enjoyed it!

Lazzaroni Amaretti Di Saronno(2)
I didn't like these cookies much because they were really chewey and hard to take them off my teeth. I guess I had to eat them with coffee or milk so that it hadn't been so hard to eat them. 

Frutta Bon Bons(2)
These little fruity candies were chewey, sweet and delicious. I loved the tiny size of them because they do not overwhelm you with sweetness. 

Coffee N' Cream Bon Bons (2)
These candies truly tasted like coffee. Not really sweet. Definitely for thise who enjoy a cup of espresso alone. 

Ferrero Raffaello (2)
These are definitely not new to me, but I am glad that they included these because I absolutely love them! They are coated with coconut shreds and filled with a white cream and an almond. 

Di Nonna Lemon Pizzelle
These waffer cookies were pretty normal. Nothing that I hadn't tasted before, but I really liked the design on these cookies. 

Pernigotti Classici (2)

These creamy chocolate trapezoids were pretty good yet kind of boring because they didn't have any filling or crunchy about them. The taste was pretty good though, with a blend of cocoa and hazelnuts. Basically the inside of a Chocolate Ferrero. 

Pernigotti Noccioie (2)

These nut filled chocolate bars were my favorite of all because of the smooth chocolate contrasted with the crunchy nut! Definitely give it a try because they are so worth it. 

Perugina Baci
These tasted exactly like Ferrero Rocher. And of course it was delicious. 
So my overall review for this box is that it does not really provide your money's worth, but it definitely introduces you to new snacks that you have probably never tried before (unless you're from that certain country). But I really enjoyed getting the box and experiencing new flavors and sweets from Italy. I will definitely try another box and see what other surprises Universal Yums gives me. 

Thank you and have a nice day,
Mayu Girl

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