Thursday, October 23, 2014

Halloween Look >> Dia De Los Muertos Sugar Skull

This second Halloween look is a bit more complicated and different, but really fun to create as the possibilities are endless. Hope you have as much fun as I did!

Products Used:
MAKE UP FOR EVER >> HD Microperfecting Primer
NYX Cosmetics >> Jumbo Eye Pencil Milk
Lorac >> Stay Cool Palette Black Shadow

How To:
1. Start off by priming your face with a face primer.
2. Using a white jumbo eye pencil, cover your entire face with the eye pencil, and use your finger to blend. Leave space around your eye area. Use a white eyeshadow or a translucent powder to set the face. (Tip: Make sure your lips are smooth when you cover it with the white pencil as chapped/cracked lips make it look even more dry and chapped)
3. Using a black eye pencil, draw two circles around your eyes using your eyebrows as a frame. Leave space around your eyelids. Fill in the circles with the black eye pencil, then use a matte black eyeshadow to set it.
4. Using any colored eyeshadow (I'm using orange) pat the eyeshadow on the entire upper lid up to the brow bone, and a little below the eye.
6. Line the upper and lower waterline with a black pencil. Then use a black liquid eyeliner to draw a small wing on the upper lid. Apply your favorite mascara and false lashes.
6. Using a black liquid liner, draw a tear drop shape on your nose. Then use a matte black eyeshadow to set it.
7. Next, using a pencil brush and a matte black shadow, draw an arch above both black circles. Then draw small leaves to make a branch.
8. Draw a small upside down heart in between the two arches and fill it in with the colored eyeshadow.
9. Using a pencil brush and the matte black shadow, draw three petals on your forehead, filling it in with the colored eyeshadow. Then draw a spiderweb on your chin.
10. Draw two branches below the eyes, and a tear drop with the pencil brush and matte black shadow.
11. To contour, use a fluffy flat brush and the colored eyeshadow to shade in the hollows of your cheeks. Then using the same brush, shade below the colored shadow with a matte black shadow.
12. Finally, using a pencil brush or liquid liner, draw a horizontal line from the edges of your mouth, then small vertical lines to create a stitched effect.
Outfit:
Simply wear a black dress or an all black outfit, and top things off with a matching flower crown

Friday, October 10, 2014

Halloween Look >> Pocahontas

This is my first Halloween look and it's incredibly easy to achieve. I was inspired by Pocahontas' natural beauty and minimalistic makeup. She is strong and fierce and you can tell just by looking into her eyes.
Products Used:
Victoria's Secret >> Silky Eye Shadow Velvet Pose
Lorac >> Stay Cool Palette Black Shadow

How To:
1. Start off by priming your face with a primer, then apply your favorite foundation. You can even choose a shade or two darker than your current shade for a more bronzed look.
2. For your brows, choose a chocolate brown shade and keep them fairly straight, not too arched, not too long.
3. Next, prime your lids with an eye primer.
4. Conceal any dark circles or blemishes with concealer.
5. Using a black pencil eyeliner, line your upper and lower waterline. Then using a liquid eyeliner, line your eyes in an almond shape, slightly thicker at the outer ends and connect the top and bottom corners. The eyes are very important for this look because you don't want a wing, and you don't want it to look unnatural.
6. Then use a matte black shadow to set the liner and smooth out the edges for a more natural look.
7. Next, coat your lashes with lots of black mascara. You can add falsies if you want.
8. Using a matte medium bronzer, sweep it all over your face, focusing on the contours of your face and temple. Then using a slightly shimmery bronzer, apply it in the contours of your cheeks for more of a sculpted look. Pocohontas has really nice cheek bones so you'll want to emphasize that.
9. Finally, apply a terra cotta/rose lipstick color to your lips. You can use a nude lipliner to outline your lips like hers, the top lip is round and fuller than the bottom.
Outfit:
You can keep the outfit relatively simple with either a tan tank top and shorts or a tan dress. Straighten your hair at the ends and add a bit of volume to the top, nothing too dramatic because you want it to look wind swept naturally. Add a teal necklace and some neutral flats and you're done!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Disney World >> Polynesian Resort, Typhoon Lagoon, & Downtown Disney

Polynesian Resort
I really wanted to come here to see Lilo & Stitch at the 'Ohana character dining breakfast. You get a family style buffet breakfast as well as an opportunity to meet Mickey, Lilo, Stitch, and Pluto all for just one Table Service meal. The tricky part is getting there.. since we stayed at the Art of Animation Resort.. we had to take a bus to Magic Kingdom, then get on a monorail to the Polynesian Resort, which took about 50-60 minutes.
 I drench my waffles in syrup - no shame.
Typhoon Lagoon
I originally wanted to do two water parks in one day but my family was really exhausted from just one water park, Typhoon Lagoon, that we didn't get to go to the other one, Blizzard Beach.
I think the overall theme is quite unique -- you're essentially in a water park that has been hit by a typhoon, hence all the wreckage everywhere. I wanted to take more pictures but I put my phone away so it wouldn't get wet. I definitely regret not getting a waterproof camera or a GoPro camera..
Due to the rain, all the water rides had to be stopped for about an hour or two so we had to just stand around and wait for them to reopen. Tip - there are many bees here for some reason so just be careful when you're eating/drinking something sugary. And there are free life vests near the lockers (which by the way are so expensive!) which I recommend for little kids who are shorter than 4 feet.
I was really hesitant on going on the water slides because I can't swim that well. But the tubes/rafts were really helpful and easy to get on and off, and the water level was only about 3-4 feet deep. My siblings and I spent about an hour going around the lazy river because going under the waterfalls as so much fun -- you get drenched hard! I totally forgot to go to the Shark Reef, which I regret, because you get an opportunity to swim with sharks and rays at no additional charge!

Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney is huge! It takes a while to get around and cross to the other side to Pleasure Island, where a lot of stores are. Also, we have to take a bus to Magic Kingdom then transfer to another bus to get here so the trip is about 50-60 minutes.
I love the Lego store and all the Lego figures but it is so crowded inside! You can barely get through the entrance! I don't recommend you going inside unless you're absolutely sure you want to buy something, it's like Black Friday crowd in there! Some other stores I love include the Art of Disney, Disney's Days of Christmas, Disney's Candy Cauldron, Disney's Pin Traders, and World of Disney.
If you look closely, Russel is wearing pins on his sash!
Stitch spits out streams of water at you, which I thought was funny. This store is the largest Disney store in the world I believe. I was disappointed that they didn't carry Tsum Tsums (yet) when I was there because I would have loved to purchase them.
They relocated the D Street store and I was not very impressed. There was only one 9 inch figure in the entire store and the trading options weren't that great. The only cool thing is the factory belt in the window display.
I think it's great that there's a bowling alley here but no one has time to do that when there's so many other things to do!
I was looking forward to seeing what this place was all about and I regret not allotting more time for this place. Every time we made a trip to Downtown Disney, it would take about an hour to get there, then about 20 minutes to walk from the front of DD to the back of Pleasure Island. So by the time we got here the first time, it closed. Then the second time we only had about an hour before closing. It's like a huge arcade (I think 5 or 6 floors) with every game imaginable, including indoor coaster rides and multiplayer games. Since all the games don't require any tokens you also don't get any tickets.. But I would definitely do an early dinner next time so we could spend about 3 hours at Disney Quest so that I can play all the games.

Overall, I wish I had more time to do everything I had planned but like I said in my previous post, things come up and timing is everything. Plus, everyone gets really tired after the third day with little sleep and having to walk around all day, so it's important to keep everyone's energy/spirit up. I think I'm going to need about 8 days when I come back next time in order to see/do everything on my list! Anyways, I hope you've found all my Disney World posts helpful and inspiring - let me know if you plan a WDW vacation yourself!

Disney World >> Magic Kingdom

The fourth park we went to was Magic Kingdom
Here are some of the rides/attractions/shows we went to:

Day One
1. Tony's Town Square Restaurant
This place is so cute! It's modeled after the restaurant from The Lady and the Tramp where the spaghetti kiss happens. Service and food is great here and it's one of the Table Service restaurants available for lunch.
2. Splash Mountain (FastPass+)
It's all the way at the back of the park so it takes a while to walk back there but this ride is so much fun for everyone! My tip for not getting too wet is to sit at the front of the boat because the splash will just go right over you and onto the people behind you!
3. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (FastPass+)
This ride is just like the one from Disneyland so nothing new or special for me. I will say that the blasters were not working properly which was a bummer because then you're just shooting at everything with no points to gain - it defeats the purpose of the whole ride!

4. Stitch's Great Escape
This ride is supposed to be a little thrilling and comical because of Stitch escaping and jumping all over the place. However, my sister's harness kept malfunctioning and raising up every few minutes so I had to hold it down most of the time, which ruined it for me and my sister. I love Stitch nonetheless and the big animatronic version they had in the middle was awesome!

5. Space Mountain (FastPass+)
My sisters really didn't want to get on this ride because they're afraid of roller coasters. But I convinced them that it was just like the Test Track and Dinosaur ride and they got in - even though it's not! Overall, I'm really proud of my sisters for getting on this ride and we got a really great family photo out of it. My little sister even went on it a second time a few days later!

6. Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
One of my tips for character meet and greets is to go during parade/firework show times, and this applies to all meet and greets. This will really cut the wait time in half. Tinker Bell's fairy land was really cute with giant lost things and giant flowers all around.

7. Cinderella's Royal Table
Make sure you get to your reservation on time because they are very strict on that. Also, this restaurant requires two Table Service meals so just keep that in mind when you're planning your trip. Upon entry you get to take two pictures with Cinderella and you get two prints for free! Then you wait for your name to be called and you head on up the stairs to your table. The meal includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, and drink. The cuisine is more fancy than your average table service restaurants, hence the higher price tag, i.e., steak & shrimp and pork belly appetizer. Throughout your meal, you'll have an opportunity to take a picture with Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, and Snow White - perfect for little girls.
8. Celebrate the Magic
After dinner we headed out of the castle to catch the fireworks show - even though technically we weren't supposed to. I'm glad we did because we got to sit right in front of the castle because it was roped in so that people couldn't go through the castle. I love the theatrics of it all - the music, lights, and fireworks in the background - it really is magical!
9. Main Street Electrical Parade
Right after the fireworks show is the Electrical Parade so many people line up super early for both of these spectacles - there's even a FastPass+ section. I have memories of watching the Electrical Parade as a child at Disneyland so this was very nostalgic for me - the music, the lights, and the giant floats. I just thought it was the coolest thing growing up!
Day Two
10. Cinderella Castle
It's hard to get a good picture of the castle without one hundred people standing in front of it but here's my best shot.
I also really love the topiaries, they're just so fun and cute to look at!
11. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (FastPass+)
After Space Mountain, my little sister was on a roller coaster high! So we decided to do this ride and it really isn't as scary as Space Mountain in my opinion. I think it's a really fun ride for the family of all ages and just the idea of a train going off the rails is exciting!
12. Corona
Ok, so this isn't a real attraction but I just think it's so cool how WDW made a little Rapunzel tower anyways - which, is located next to the village of Corona aka... the restrooms.
I like how WDW decorated the village with banners and lanterns like from the movie, even if these buildings were just the exterior for some restrooms, a lot of detail went into constructing this little town.
13. Meet Anna & Elsa and Cinderella & Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall (FastPass+)
My sisters and my mom waited in line for about 3 hours to see all four princesses. You can get FastPass+ for these, which I did for Cinderella & Rapunzel but my mom didn't hear me when I told them I did... AND the FastPass+ for Anna & Elsa were all gone so they had to wait in the regular line for all of them. 

14. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The FastPass+ for this ride was already gone - even when I tried to reserve it weeks ahead of our vacation - so while my sisters & my mom were waiting for princesses, my brother & I were waiting in the rain to get on this new ride. I will say that if you are adamant about going on this ride but you don't want to wait that long and you have about 2 hours to spare - you can take a tour with the Vacation Club people and get 3 free FastPass+ to go on any ride of your choice. Needless to say, I wasn't going to go on another Vacation Club tour so I decided to wait for it. Was it worth the 3 hour wait? Yes and no... I came all the way to Orlando from San Francisco so I wasn't going to miss out on an opportunity to ride the NEWEST ride at WDW, but the ride wasn't anything special to me - quite similar to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in my opinion. I think we were lucky to even get on within 3 hours because when the rain started pouring, many people left to take shelter but I stood by the entrance so that when the ride reopened, we would be the first ones going in. However.. due to the rain.. the ride had to shut down and restart, which took forever because they have to run all these diagnostics and tests. On the plus side, we got to sit at the very front of the train!
In essence, the Magic Kingdom is like a bigger Disneyland, but there are more attractions/rides here and some here but not there and vice versa. There are many opportunities for pin trading but not vinylmation trading, which I find very annoying. I feel like WDW should make more vinylmation trading posts since it is such a big place. Some snacks that I always must get when I'm at Disneyland or Magic Kingdom include churro, turkey leg, and corn on the cob. 

Disney World >> Animal Kingdom

The third park we went to was Animal Kingdom.
Here are some of the rides/attractions/shows we went to:

1. Tree of Life
This is the second time I wasn't able to see the tree of life up close. I was very disappointed... the entire Discovery Island was closed off and I have no idea why. Needless to say, the next time I go to WDW I have to see the tree of life.. even if I have to swim or climb over the fences -- I'm going to get there.

2. Meet Russel & Dug at Discovery Island
Their little lodge set up was really cute. And it was at the very outer edge of Discovery Island, across from Disney Outfitters. Definitely love taking pictures with these two because they're so funny and silly -- Dug took my mom's pink floppy hat and took a picture with it!

3. DINOSAUR
This is a really fun ride, similar to the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, and it's kind of dark so little kids might get scared.
4. Finding Nemo - The Musical (FastPass+)
I love this musical - it's great fun for kids and adults! And there's lots of air conditioning in here!
5. Maharajah Jungle Trek
These bats were literally right in front of me - I was so scared! I definitely learned a lot about bats while inside the bat house.
I love this tiger enclosure - it's really big so it's a bit hard to track where the tigers are at all times. But once you see them it's really special and magical.
The aviary houses over fifty different species of birds and they are literally right next to you. They aren't too easily spooked but just don't get too close to their nests. There are some really strange looking birds, which is really cool if you love bird watching.
6. Kali River Rapids (FastPass+)
I was a bit disappointed with this ride - it's definitely a long wait for a short ride, even with the FastPass+. The Grizzly River Rapids at Disney California is much better and you're in the water for a longer period of time. 

7. Conservation Station
You have to take a train ride to Rafiki's Planet Watch to get to this building. It's fun and interactive for the kids to learn about conservation - plants, animals, and the environment. There are also several character meet and greets such as Chip & Dale and Rafiki himself! 

8. Kilimanjaro Safaris (FastPass+)
This is my favorite attraction at Animal Kingdom. The drivers/guides are always pretty enthusiastic and you get to see many exotic animals in an open environment  - there are no paved roads, no fences/enclosures (except for the lions) and it gets really bumpy. I got to see many animals up close and it was breathtaking - baby elephants and baby rhinos! This is one of my favorite shots that I took of the baobab tree (I don't think it's real but just the thought that there are real ones in Africa that are thousands of years old is amazing).
9. Wilderness Explorers
Throughout the day, my sister made stops at different posts all around the park to complete wilderness challenges where she would earn a badge (sticker) upon completion of each challenge. Each Wilderness Explorer gets an activity book where they can put their earned badges. Once you finish all the challenges, you go back to the first outpost near the front of the park where you earn your final badge as a senior Wilderness Explorer. I think this is such a cool and fun way for kids to learn more about nature, animals, plants, extinction, environment, conservation, etc., while they are making their way around the park. 

Overall, I had an amazing time at Animal Kingdom because I love animals in general. I will say that the rain was a bummer, it kept us indoors for about an hour. Also, Discovery Island was closed which I was not expecting at all. And finally, there aren't as many rides here as Magic Kingdom so my siblings found it a bit boring to be walking around looking at nature over and over again, which is why I think the Wilderness Explorers thing is so great because it gives them something to look forward to each step of the way.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Disney World >> Epcot

The second park we went to was Epcot.
Here are some of the rides/attractions/shows we went to:

1. Test Track Presented by Chevrolet (FastPass+)
This ride has significantly changed since the last time I went in 2011. You can actually design your own ride by adjusting the power, speed, engine, etc. of your individual "car". The design process was really fun and interactive. Although our "car" got stuck and we had to be evacuated off the ride, the overall experience was interesting and different than other roller coasters. I definitely recommend you get a FastPass+ for this because the lines can be crazy.

2. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
This restaurant is one of my favorites at Disney World because of the amount, specialty and quality of food you get for your money, and of course, the princess character dining experience. We used one of our table service meals and made reservations online (which I highly recommend). As you walk inside, you will take two photos with Belle and as part of dining with them, you'll receive two prints for free! After you get seated, you choose an entree from the menu then you can help yourself to an appetizer buffet full of meats, cheeses, breads, smoked fish, salads, etc. Then afterwards you get to choose a dessert. During your meal, several princesses will walk over to your table for a character meet and greet and photo opportunity. This definitely beats waiting in line for them, because you can enjoy your meal while casually taking pics with some of the princesses (Aurora, Ariel, and Snow White).
3. Mexico
Inside the citadel you'll find various handmade and authentic Mexican goods for purchase, a restaurant, Mexican folk art, and a ride. The "Grand Fiesta Tour" is basically a slow boat ride featuring The Three Caballeros; I thought this was quite a funny ride because Donald Duck always makes me laugh.
To the side of the citadel, in a shaded area, you'll get a chance to meet Donald Duck!
4. Norway
This is actually where the Akershus restaurant is located as well. There is a new "Frozen" exhibit inside the Norwegian style cabin and the Maelstrom ride is next to the small waterfall.
5. China
I must say, Disney World did a fantastic job trying to replicate the intricate details of the Chinese palaces, doors, and panels. There was a Chinese acrobats show in the center square featuring Chinese yo-yo. Inside, there is a small replica of the tomb with the terra cotta soldiers and a film. There are also several Chinese restaurants and a large store selling all sorts of China made products. I even bought a Chinese clothing costume for my dog! In front of the Temple of Heaven, you'll get a chance to meet Mulan!
6. Italy
There are a bunch of Italian perfumes and masks for sale inside the store. I really liked the architecture of the building and the columns - since I've never been to Italy, this gave me a pretty realistic slice of what it might look like. The only memorable thing about Italy was that there were gelato carts!
7. United States
Since I'm from the US, I didn't find anything special about this part of the World Showcase, except the smells! You can definitely smell buttery popcorn and juicy turkey legs while walking past the  colonial style buildings.
8. Japan
I just love this part of Epcot so much! You can find authentic Japanese products and snacks inside the massive store, things that are normally pretty hard to find here in the US, such as licensed Studio Ghibli products and anime products. There is also a live oyster/pearl demonstration where you get to choose an oyster and watch the handler open up the oyster ad reveal the pearl inside. After she polishes and cleans it, you get to take it home.
9. Morocco
I really wanted to get a henna tattoo while in Morocco but it was too time consuming and with all the activities still ahead of us, it would've been really hard to keep my hand from smearing on things as I walk past. Inside the marketplace, you can find massive rugs, incense, and other goods. I really loved the tiling patterns on the fountains throughout the marketplace. You can also meet Aladin and Jasmine inside the marketplace near the restaurant Marrakesh.
10. France
There is a mini Eiffel Tower towards the back of the area that looks like it's purposefully standing there in the distance. There is a busy restaurant, a patisserie, and a gelato shop full of tasty sweets and delectables. By the water, you can meet Belle or Aurora inside the shaded France pavilion.
11. United Kingdom
There are several characters you can meet here in the UK - Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Alice, and Mary Poppins! I especially loved meeting Winnie the Pooh because the room he was in was made to look like Christopher Robin's bedroom, which I just thought was so clever, There was also an English rock band playing in the square, which was a little loud but quite entertaining.

12. Canada
What's great about Canada is that there is a pin board inside the trading post. This location is also a pretty good spot to watch the fireworks later because it is on a small hill.
13. IllumiNations Reflections of Earth
Essentially every spot around the water is a good viewing area but there are parts that are blocked by trees or lamp posts. Some people start gathering around two hours in advance but we got there about an hour before the show and that's when everyone starts running around the lagoon frantically. Also, it's really hard to see at night because the park is not as brightly lit as Magic Kingdom. They actually turn off all the lights around the lagoon when the show is in progress so make sure you get to the bathroom before the show and not during because you'll bump into a lot of people.
Overall, a great experience visiting mini parts of the world and being able to purchase little things and snacks characteristic of each country. It's not the most fun for little kids because there aren't many fun rides. In my opinion, the Mission: SPACE ride is like a death wish. I definitely do not recommend that for little children and those with motion sickness. I went on this ride back in 2011 and it was literally one of the worst things I've ever done. I will also add that there aren't many quick service restaurants because most of the restaurants are pretty fancy and based on the cuisine of the country, which will require table service meals.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Disney World >> Hollywood Studios

The first park we went to was Hollywood Studios.
Here are some of the rides/attractions/shows we went to:

1. The Great Movie Ride
A long and slow journey through some old movie scenes - it was kind of boring - but the interior and exterior were very detailed and beautiful to look at.
2. Star Tours - The Adventures Continue
A 3D ride that always makes me feel a little nauseous afterwards. I think I would enjoy it more if it wasn't 3D.

3. The Magic of Disney Animation
There are several meet & greets at this location - Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Princess Sophia, Mr. Incredible and Frozone, and Wreck it Ralph and Vanellope. There is a coloring station, a gallery, and there is the Animation Academy where a Disney artist shows you how to draw one of the characters. We didn't have time to do one of the classes (the lines were always really long), but we did get a chance to do some of the meet and greets.
4. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
I normally go on this ride with my boyfriend at Disneyland but my family was too chicken to go on it with me. Honestly I like this one more because the surprise drop is more breathtaking than the Disneyland one.
5. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! (Fastpass+)
I really enjoyed this show the first time I watched it but something about the second time just didn't quite wow me as much. It could be the giant glare from the sun that had me squinting the whole time or it could be that I was just exhausted from the heat and sitting uncomfortably on the bleachers.

6. Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage
The beginning of this show always gets me a bit teary eyed when the narrator says, "For who could ever learn to love a beast". I love watching this show because it's always so lively/fun and the performers can really sing.
7. Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show (Fastpass+)
After watching this show last time, I thought it was one of the best stunt shows I've ever seen, so I really wanted to bring my family to see this one. Sadly, we didn't get to watch the show because of the thunderstorm. Since the show was cancelled, we went to the guest relations counter and got another Fastpass+ to use on another ride of our choice.

8. Toy Story Midway Mania! (Fastpass+)
My family and I love this ride. We used our extra Fastpass+ to go on it a second time. We like to have a mini competition each time - winner gets a pin from every one!
9. Meet Buzz Lightyear and Woody at Pixar Place
This character meet and greet is located right across from Toy Story Midway Mania. We waited about 30-40 minutes to meet them, which was a pretty long wait; but, there are some life-size toy-like props that you get to take picture with while you're waiting in line so it doesn't seem too bad.

10. Fantasmic! Dining Package (Table Service)
What's great about the Fantasmic! Dining Package is that you get to use one of your table service meals and you get passes for reserved VIP seating for the show later that night (there are a lot of seats/people but at least you are somewhat in the middle). We ate at Hollywood & Vine which is an American style buffet - my family really liked this place because of the quality and selection of foods.
The show in my opinion is what inspired the World of Color show in Disneyland. But what sets is apart is that there is a mixture of water projections, live actors on ferry boats, fireworks, and animatronic dragons in the show.
11. For the First Time in Forever : A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Immediately after the Fantasmic! show we raced towards the sorcerer's hat to catch the For the First Time in Forever : A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration show but we were unable to get any good viewing spots. The fireworks were amazing and I liked how it went with the Frozen songs.
Overall, we had a great first day. We were unprepared for the rain so we immediately bought ponchos at the nearest store. I'm sad we didn't get to watch the Lights, Motors, Action show and we didn't get a chance to go on the backlot tour either - those will definitely be on the Fastpass+ list for next time. However, we did get a lot of character meet and greets under our belt!