Wednesday, July 27, 2016

San Diego Fun

Our main reason for being in San Diego last week was to experience Comic Con 2016. However, we couldn't go to San Diego without experiencing some of the city! Since this was my first time in the city we hit up some of it's most famous spots. Our first stop was one of the top five restaurants for breakfast... Hash House A Go Go.


I got the Hash House scramble which consisted of scrambled eggs, Swiss cheese and bacon, potatoes, fresh fruit, a biscuit and avocado. I swear that pile of eggs had to be at least 8-10 eggs. It was so much food and that entire plate... $11.00! My husband got French toast...

This French toast had an entire fried banana and strawberries as a garnish, eggs and sausage. It was so much food we couldn't even make a dent. We took our leftovers and ate them the next morning. Our entire meal was under 40 dollars. This place lived up to it's reputation and was amazing. I am a huge lover of breakfast foods and this place is on my must hit list for all future visits.

After we gorged ourselves at breakfast we headed out to Coronado. For years I have seen the famous photo of Marilyn Monroe on the beach out in front of the Hotel Del Coronado. And of course, I've seen the movie Some Like It Hot.

Both of these things made me want to go see it in person...
 
 
 
The inside of the hotel is just as fancy as you would imagine it to be. It was literally just like in the movie except a little updated since back then. The hotel is in the perfect spot, right on the beach. It's also got everything you could need during your stay. It has food, shopping, views and the beach. I'm hoping the next time we go to San Diego we can stay there.

The next time we go to San Diego we are going to hit up the Zoo, La Jolla beach and Balboa Park. We would also like to visit the Navy yard and see the famous kissing statue. We had a great time while we were in San Diego and could even see ourselves moving there one day.

Monday, July 25, 2016

San Diego Comic Con 2016

Last week we travelled to San Diego, California to experience the ever growing Comic Con Convention. This was also the first time that I've ever been to the city of San Diego. While others were trying desperately to get Comic Con passes we were lucky enough to get 4 day passes with the preview night. We missed preview night on Wednesday but started Comic Con on Thursday. This was also the day after the Southwest incident which was our airline. We only saw a delay thankfully and didn't get cancelled like thousands of others around the country.

So what happened as soon as we got to San Diego? We hit the ground running! We got into downtown San Diego where the Comic Con is held a the convention center. The Comic Con displays were everywhere. As a first timer I was overwhelmed with all of the signs and the crowds. I didn't think that it was going to be everywhere you looked but it was! It really takes over the city. Once you get inside the convention center there is literally hundreds of vendors. People come from all around the world to show you've what they've got.


You can find everything you ever thought might exist in the Comic industry. They have comics, Funko pops, t-shirts, toys, graphic novels, posters, buttons, key chains you name it, they've got it! They also have tons of amazing artifacts everywhere on display from movies, and television shows.


 
Then there's the celebrities. They have tons of celebrities from movies and television on site talking about their latest projects. This year we saw the Game of Thrones cast, the cast of the new Power Rangers movie and some of the cast of Silicon Valley.




We had a really fun time experiencing it for the first time. I would definitely say it was an adventure. People dress in their favorite character costumes, you see people freaking out over seeing celebrities and you see people spending money on toys that you wouldn't even imagine. It was some of the best people watching I've ever done in my life! It was pretty cool to get tons of freebies though and see the cast of Game of Thrones. We were invited to the Diamond Retailer luncheon and got to see some new things that haven't even hit the market yet.
Tips for first timers
  1. Do not park downtown. You will pay anywhere from $25-50.00 to park downtown near the convention center. Instead park at a Trolley station and spend $7.00 on a roundtrip.
  2. Get there early. Lots of exclusive items and bracelets for signings are given away early. Be there and be in line.
  3. Wear comfortable shoes. You will literally be standing/walking around all day long. You may think that you can wear those flip flops or sandals but remember people are everywhere and will step on your feet. Closed toed shoes are the best way to go.
  4. Bring your own water and snacks. The food there is like stadium food. It's off brand fast food and not cheap. They don't search your bags and their ok with you bringing in water and food.
  5. Panels. This is where you can see your favorite actor/writer/cast talk about their current or upcoming project. Those lines form really early as well and if it's in exhibit hall H then it's outside. So get out there, get under the tent and don't leave your place in line.
  6. Save MONEY. You will see lots of things you will want to buy. So prepare your money accordingly. Don't blow all of your money the first day but if you see something that is exclusive or a limited edition don't wait till the last day to buy it... more than likely it won't be there because someone else has bought it.
  7. Stay outside of downtown. Hotels can run 400-800 a night because of Comic Con. Stay 20-40 minutes outside of town and save a bundle. You can park at a trolley stop and ride in. We did! It only took us 10 minutes on the trolley to ride in each day.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Two Movies For Tonight


Looking for a good movie to watch tonight? Don't have any plans for the weekend and need something worthy of watching? Well look no further, I've got two movies that are worthy of your time and watching. Even if you don't have time tonight these movies are worth watching when you have that extra time.

The first movie... Terminator Genisys.

This movie is the latest installment in the Terminator Series. First of all, I should come clean and say that I love me some Arnold. I loved the original two Terminator movies and then I felt like the other ones were a little bit ridiculous. So when I sat down to watch this latest movie, I was a little weary on if it would be any good. The fact that Arnold was back intrigued me and I was hoping it would be good. Well... it was! This movie was original, had good actors and really had it's own Terminator story line. It didn't feel like same old, tired story of John Connor leading the resistance. Sit down and give it a watch. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Favorite Quote from the movie- "I've been trying to teach him to blend in."- Sarah Connor.

The second movie... The American President.

The American President is an oldie but a goodie. I hadn't watched it for awhile and this past week sat down and watched it. I always forget how good this movie actually is. It has a perfect cast of Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Michael Douglas and Annette Benning. The movie has the perfect blend of politics, realistic White House life and romance. It also has the perfect political villain- Richard Dreyfuss (who btw I wonder what he's up to nowadays). The movie of course is filmed in Washington D.C. and shows of the monuments and the beauty of them. This movie is charming and it'll give you an hour and a half of smiling and warming your heart. Trust me, just watch it.

Favorite Quote- "I went to Stanford you blow hole!"- President Shepard.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

The Kylie Lip Kit and Gloss


For months on Instagram I had seen the craziness that accompanied the Kylie Jenner lip kits. Since Kylie's launch of Kylie Cosmetics her products have sold out within minutes of going online. In the beginning she came out with several shades of Matte lipstick with a matching lip pencil making up her Lip Kit. Once she had success with the Matte lip kits she launched new shades and other products such as glosses and metals. All selling out within minutes of being available online.

During this time, I continued to watch the frenzy of people trying to get their hands on these kits and the amount of money people were paying for them on resell sites. I was completely grossed out and fathomed at the fact that people were paying 30+ dollars for used lip kits. I mean really... If I'm paying 30 dollars for makeup it better be brand new in the box. Plus the idea of using a lip product that a stranger used... Gross! For me there is no way I'd use a strangers lip product what if they've got a big ol' sore on their lip and used it right on it?!? Gag! 

In the midst of all this I stayed in the shadows and played with the idea of actually trying to get my hands on the shades I liked. I started watching and following her Kylie Cosmetic Instagram account and would get the alerts of restocks. So a few weeks ago when I got the alert that the restock was happening I pulled the trigger and bought a lip kit and gloss. Even with getting on the site almost instantly things were selling out fast! Two of the three shades I had been eyeing were Sold Out! But the number one gloss I wanted was in stock. Bam! Put that sucker in my cart and bought the lip kit of the third shade I had been eying. I figured I would give it a try and if I liked the quality I would know to purchase again in the future the other shades. 
 
I got my two items purchased and went on with my day. I promptly got my confirmation email and thought nothing else of it until... the news hit a few hours later saying Kyle Cosmetics had received an F from the better business bureau. I started reading some of the news articles and some of the top complaints were their items came half full, the pencil missing in their kit, waiting weeks to receive their items etc. that make me a little worried considering I had just paid but I tried not to worry. A few days later I got another email saying my items had shipped and then I patiently waited for my items to arrive. 
Once my items arrived I quickly tried them on. I'm also happy to report that my items came full and exactly what I ordered. First up was my Kylie Gloss that I purchased. I chose the shade So Cute.




From the images I had seen online this seemed to be a very neutral shade. Once out of the tube and on your lips it's very thick. The applicator is a brush and I wasn't prepared at how thick it would be. It also has a very strong smell. Not as in a floral or citrus smell, but a chemical makeup smell. The shade is nice and it does last several hours before needing a reapply. I would not repurchase this gloss in the future. It's too simple for the price tag and the smell for me really is a major flaw. I thought it was just ok and something you could find in an off brand at a Sephora.


Now for the lip kit. I had really thought this shade looked amazing in everyone's photos and reviews online. I purchased the Kylie Lip Kit in Dolce K.



Once I got the lip kit out and tried it on the shade it seemed way darker in real life. This shade is definitely not made for someone pale like me. It made me look entirely washed out or that I should be going to a 90s punk band concert in the actual 1990s. The matte goes on extremely easily and dries almost instantly. It does make your lips feel a little chalky. 


I used the pencil first to outline my lips and with one use the pencil already needs to be sharpened. While this matte didn't smell as strong as the gloss it did have that chemical makeup smell to it. All in all I would not buy this shade ever again. I also now see why others have stuck theirs on resell websites as they probably didn't work out well for them and wanted their money back. For me the gloss was a win but nothing too exciting to ever buy again and the matte was just awful for me personally.

Oh the best part... Kylie Cosmetics has a no returns, no refunds, no exchange policy. Happy Shopping! That's my final thought on her line.

Monday, July 18, 2016

July Stitch Fix

Another month, another box! My July Stitch Fix box is here! This month around I asked my stylist to send me clothing that had a summer feel but could transition into fall. I did ask for a kimono but apparently that wasn't in the cards. I've now learned to be very specific in my stylist notes! This box though, I was a little disappointed in how they didn't listen to my real wants and my stylist seemed to just pick things she would like...


So how does Stitch Fix work?

Start by filling out your style profile. You will complete questions on sizing, pricing, preferences, colors, etc. You can also write notes about likes and dislikes. Make sure to link your fashion board on Pinterest so your stylist can see what you like. This really helps! The notes to your stylist can really help determine what you get in your box. Take the time to write your stylist a note! I feel that's one of the most important things to getting the items you really want to see in your fixes.

Next, order your first fix! You will be charged a $20.00 styling fee however, if you keep any item [one or more] you will be credited back the $20.00 towards that purchase. I always recommend keeping at least one item or you are essentially giving away $20.00 and getting nothing in return. You will receive 5 items (made up of clothing, jewelry, and handbags). I personally never want jewelry in my fix so I just always let my stylist know! If you refer a friend you get credit so your styling fee could potentially be free.
When your box arrives decide what you want to keep and what you want to send back (in the pre-paid postage envelope)! You have 3 business days  from receiving your fix to decide so use this time to try everything on and see what works best for you. Go out of your comfort zone! 


This is what makes Stitch Fix fun! It's like being a celebrity and getting clothing sent to you! I've chosen to receive monthly fixes but remember it is in no way a subscription service and you are able to decide when you want another fix, whether that be in 6 months or 2 years from your first fix! As always, if you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments section below. To save some cash on future fixes they offer an awesome referral package, if you use my referral link I'll get to bypass the styling fee at least once!


Let's get started! Remember - If you see anything that you like below, feel free to pin it and/or ask your stylist in the notes section of your next fix for something similar! 

1. Anita Printed Skinny Pant. Liverpool. Size 6 Petite.

These pants are more like a jegging. I'm not too sold on the print because I feel like their very summery and can't be worn any other time of the year.

2. Barriere Front Pocket Blouse. Blaque Label. Size Small.

I get that this style of top is suppose to be a little loose but this was like wearing a trash bag. I think I probably needed an X-Small. The fabric wasn't soft and the pockets were a nice touch on the sides. I love when clothing is practical and has pockets. It gives me somewhere to hold my phone.

3. Selfridge Cowl Neck Knit Top. 41Hawthorn. Size Small.

I love this sweater. It's soft, not too thick and the sleeves are the perfect length. It has a built in shirt but for me it's a little low and I would need to always wear a tank top underneath.

4. Walt Skirt. 41Hawthorn. Size Medium.

The print immediately hurt my eyes once I took it out of the box. I love Black & White though and I was hoping I'd really like this skirt but I don't. The fabric is thick and scratchy but not wool. The zipper sticks and it's brand new. It was also one size too big.

5. Hendrix V-Neck Blouse. 41Hawthorn. Size Small.

This blouse is cute, lightweight and I like the design. Again, this is another top that would always require another shirt underneath. However, this shirt is way over priced for what it is and will be going back.

What would you keep and what would you send back?

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Half Way Over

 
Am I the only person who can't believe how fast this year is flying by? The year is already more than halfway over and we are inching our way closer and closer to the holiday season (my favorite time of the year).

My mother's birthday is this month and another big thing... Christmas in July! The Hallmark channel will be celebrating and they'll be showing Christmas movies for 10 days straight this month. Woohoo! Get those DVRs ready! Mine is busting at the seams still from last years Christmas movie premieres. I need them to put all of their movies on dvd and then I can just buy them.

This year is flying by so fast, I can hardly keep up! Before we know it kids will be back in school and we will be trading our bathing suits for sweaters. While I do love the summer, there's something I really like about wearing my sweaters and having my decorations up in the house. Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year. I dream of buying trees and decorations for the house all year long. What can I say? It's just my thing. Look at this tree...
I have dreams of decorating this black stiletto tree for Halloween then transitioning it into Christmas. I mean how amazing is that idea?! It's two holiday trees for the price of one. Boo if you are reading this it's currently on SALE! lol

So what about you? Can you believe the year is half way over? We are edging closer and closer to 2017!

Monday, July 11, 2016

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mother's Birthday!






I hate that we can't spend the day together but thank goodness for technology. I love you and can't wait to see you! Happy Birthday!