Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!! It's been a week of highs and lows - lows mostly just health-related, but luckily there's been far, far more highs! I haven't really done a "Friday Favorites" post as I prefer to do more of a monthly favorites round up but since I've been pretty bad about doing those I thought why not try something a little different. I might do this every Friday, just when I have stuff (and time) to write about so we'll see how it goes. Anyway, without further adieu, here are five highlights from my past week (give or take a few days).


1. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End 
After five long years, it's finally here!! I remember playing the first Uncharted game back in 2007 and instantly falling in love with it. It was different from other games in it's interesting plot, cinematic storytelling, character depth, and gorgeous graphics - and each subsequent game has only gotten better in each of those areas. I remember when I first learned that my to-be-future-boyfriend, Luke, also loved the game and how much fun we had replaying the second and third game together with our friend Randy. I've been eagerly anticipating this final installment for years - even though the release date kept getting pushed back, I trusted the production company, Naughty Dog (who also did the superb The Last Of Us game), that it was truly so they could make the game the best it could possibly be - and I was not disappointed!



Don't worry, I won't give any spoilers, but it lived up to all my expectations and more! Randy had preordered the game, so he, Luke, and I played it the night it came out and the next three consecutive nights staying up until 2am each night (if we didn't have work, we probably would've played it all in one sitting). Each day, I couldn't wait for us all to get together later that night to keep playing the game. Luke wrote an awesome review that you can read over at his blog HERE that I highly recommend checking out. All in all, it was an incredible final  adventure with Nathan Drake and co. - I can't believe how attached I've become to these characters - it's definitely bittersweet to bid them farewell. I'm very sad to see this series end but so happy to see it do so the way it did. This game (and series) deserve every bit of praise it receives. Well done, Naughty Dog, well done. 



2. My Dad Visits LA

My dad came to visit for a couple days this last weekend! It wasn't long enough to do a lot especially since my health still isn't all that great and I spent one full day pretty much just sick in bed, but we still had a lot of fun in just the small amount of time he was here. Since I can't drive or leave home much, I do get lonely during the day and it can be a struggle finding rides to doctor appointments, to pick up prescriptions, buy groceries, etc. even living with my sister since she works and, of course, has to live her own life as well. It was really nice to have my dad's company and help while he was here. In between two of my doctor appointments, I even had a chance to show him around UCLA's campus and we got lunch at this sushi place inside this really neat building - and they had great lunch specials! I had to give 12 (my record!) tubes of blood after that so I'm glad I was able to fill up on lots of food! During his stay, he, my sister and I, also got to do some errands at Ulta, Target, and Michael's (I'm so excited to get a little crafty!), had dinner at Olive Garden, saw Captain America: Civil War again (our second time, his first), and made a cherry pie! He and I even binged the first half of Attack On Titan together! -Now that I'm listing everything, it actually seems like we did do a good amount of stuff for just 2 and half days. As you can probably tell, I love my dad and am definitely a Daddy's girl. He's coming back out soon to continue to help me out with health stuff and I can't wait to spend more time with him!


Ebates Birthday
If you didn't know, I LOVE Ebates! Absolutely absolutely love it. I do most of my shopping for anything online and I always check Ebates first (although now I have the Google Chrome extension so it lets me know right away when I visit a site if it qualifies for Ebates). Really quickly, if you don't know what Ebates is, it's my biggest shopping secret - although not really a secret at all because I rave about it to anyone and everyone that will listen. It's an online cash back shopping site - after you sign up (it's completely FREE!), you can start receiving cash back on your online purchases. It's really that simple. I've received hundreds of dollars back just from making purchases I would've normally done anyway. Well, this last week was their birthday week and in celebration they had 15% cash back on over 250 stores, many of which were already having super great spring sales to begin with. It's like getting an extra 15% off whatever you're buying. I wish it could've been longer as I don't think I nearly took advantage of it as much as I could have. I bought some Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks (they're being discontinued so being sold at half price $11 everywhere now) at Ulta and Macy's and got a some great clearance items at American Eagle/Aerie for a steal of a price. If all my raving has convinced you and you haven't signed up with Ebates yet, here's my referral link so you can start getting cash back yourself! If you are an Ebates member, did you get any great deals during the birthday week? I'd love to hear about them in the comments!


Boys Like Girls 10 Year Anniversary
Oh, Boys Like Girls (or BLG)... I was never really into bands or music much growing up (outside of what my dad listened to like ABBA, the Carpenters, and the Beatles), but that changed when I was introduced to BLG on TRL back in 2007. I instantly loved the song The Great Escape and also couldn't help but imagine each of the band members as the Marauders from Harry Potter (Martin=James, Paul=Sirius, Bryan=Remus, John=Peter) - yep, I'm a nerd. My sister and I became HUGE fans and basically went to every single show they ever had in Florida (quite a few) and went to most of their meet and greets. On our first show at the House of Blues, we had spent days making a scrapbook for the lead singer, Martin, for his 22nd birthday which had just passed. We found the band manager and gave it to him to give to Martin. Minutes later, Martin asked to see us backstage so he could thank us. They all were so nice! The next time we saw them (which was a more intimate show inside an FYE store I believe), he remembered my sister and I as the "Scrapbook Girls" and his dad who was with him even said they had the scrapbook sitting on their coffee table back home in Boston. Anyway, all of this to say, I have very fond memories of this band and was beyond excited when I heard they were doing a 10 Year Anniversary tour (has it really been 10 YEARS??) BUT then I looked at the show venues and they're all on the northern east coast - NOOO!! If one was in Florida, I could possibly make a trip home but other than that, there's no way. Oh well. As a consolation though, they released some limited edition vinyls of their first album and while I missed out on the first pressing, I managed to score a second. I can't wait to play it on my Crosley!


Voltage Otome Sale
As mentioned in my Guilty Pleasures post, I might be a tiny bit addicted to Voltage otome games and recently they had a HUGE spring sale that included 15 of their apps (old and new). I only buy stories when they're on sale and had been saving up so it was a great chance to try out new apps and characters. Most of their main stories were 25-50% which is great, but what really got me excited was the fact that their sub stories (which I've never seen on sale), were 75% off. It was a super short sale, only 3 days, and I spent more than I'm willing to admit but I also know I probably won't buy any stories for a good long while. Voltage is doing a booth at Anime Expo this year which I'll be volunteering at (the con, not the booth) and I'm really excited to see what they'll do. If you're a Voltage fan or will be at Anime Expo, please feel free to reach out to me - I'd love to meet up! Also, if you're curious about Voltage otome games and would like to check them out but don't know where to start (it can be overwhelming, there's quite a few of them), I highly recommend In Your Arms Tonight (Kippei's route), Kiss of Revenge (Irie), Metro PD: Close to You (Kirisawa), and My Sweet Bodyguard (Katsuragi).

What were the highlights of your week?

Linking up with these lovely blogs <3

    May 2016 Ipsy Bag Unboxing


     This month's Ipsy bag theme is "Destination Chic" and it is filled with a great variety of products perfect for summer whether you have a destination trip coming up or just a day at the beach!

    If you're unfamiliar with Ipsy, it's a beauty subscription service that sends you a cute little "glam bag" filled with 5-6 full or deluxe-sized products each month for just $10. The bags are catered towards your preferences (through a "beauty quiz" you take when you sign up and later through how you "rate" the products you receive) so the products in the bags vary from person to person. I have been an Ipsy subscriber pretty much since it started and have been very happy with the various products I have received from them. If you would like to sign up for your own Ipsy bag, click HERE (referral link).

    Just as I was thinking to myself that it's been awhile since Ipsy has come out with a unique bag that diverts from the usual rectangle shape with top zipper design, I receive this pleasant surprise. It features an appropriate "destination chic" print of pagodas, kangaroos, the Statue of Liberty, the Coliseum, and more. Instead of a zipper, it has a triangle flap that snaps down on the front. Very cute.


    Inside the Bag


    Crazy Rumors HibiKiss Natural Lip Color in Coral
    I definitely thought this was a chapstick-type product/lip balm and, thus, was not expecting the pop of color! It's not a bad thing at all, the coral is very summery and not TOO pigmented - I was just thrown off by the packaging (which is super cute, by the way). It also has a nice scent and makes your lips feel super soft and moisturized thanks to its shea butter and jojoba oil ingredients. Use code IPSY25 at crazyrumors.com for 25% off any purchase.

    IT Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Mini Gel Eyeliner
    Yay, I'm glad I got this in my bag! I'm always on the lookout for a good waterproof eyeliner and really wanted to try this one out! IT Cosmetics always has quality products and this eyeliner pencil is no exception! I love how easy and effortless it was to apply AND it's totally smudge-proof! No need to worry about sweating this stuff off on those hot summer days!


    Hikari Cosmetics Shimmer Bronzer
    My favorite product in this month's bag! I love these all-in-one products, they're so great when you're on the go and/or need to keep your makeup products to a minimum during travel! This full-size bronzer comes in the most beautiful coral and copper shades and can also be used for highlighting and as eyeshadow! I have pale skin and while I do think this would look best on darker skintones, I loved the glow it gave me (not too shimmery) and definitely plan on using it throughout the summer. Use code HIKARI30 at hikaricosmetics.com for 30% off + FREE coconut eyeliner with purchase 

    Vera Mona Eye Smudger Brush
    Lovely little brush - soft but firm, I'm excited to use this on some smokey eye looks! Also it's size is perfect for travel! Use code IPSY30 at veramona.com for a 30% off purchase.



    Aurora Gel Effect Nail Polish in "Old School Pink"
    As you can see from the photo above, my Aurora nail polish arrived, unfortunately, damaged. Luckily, since it was bubble wrapped, everything else in the bag was fine. I contacted Ipsy and am still waiting to hear back about a replacement. I've been an Ipsy subscriber for a few years now and this is the first time something like this has happened. I'm a little bummed as I was really excited about this item - I've never had gel nails and it's supposed to give you a gel mani look but without the salon trip or UV lamp. Also the neon pink color is perfect for summer. Use code IPSYJUNE16 (yes, June, not May) at auroracosmeticsny.com for 10% off purchase.

    Are you an Ipsy member? If so, what did you get in your May bag?

    Happy Star Wars Day!


    Happy Star Wars Day & May the Fourth Be With You!!

    I know I just did a Mother's Day gift guide, but this turned out to be a popular post last year so I decided to do it again. To celebrate this wondrous day, I've put together a gift guide of 10 awesome Star Wars products that you can get that special Star Wars fan in your life or treat yourself. This post is not sponsored at all, but to make things easy on everyone, everything on this list can be purchased at either Hot Topic or Think Geek! All Star Wars merch at Hot Top is 25% and, like last year, Think Geek is running a promotion where all their Star Wars stuff is 20-60% off and you get a cute BB-8 pin (with code BB8PIN) when you spend over $30! Promotion lasts until midnight May 10th so you have some time to decide what you want but not too long! To see my list from last year, click HERE.

    1. Death Star Waffle Maker - Who wouldn't love waking up to waffles AND Star Wars in the morning? I already have too much Star Wars kitchen stuff in my life, and I know I don't actually NEED this but yet... I kinda do.

    2. BB-8 Desktop Lamp - I've seen plenty of cute BB-8 products, but I just love the practicality AND adorableness of this desk lamp! You can choose from 3 light settings with just a tap of his head!

    3. Star Wars Beach Towels - Summer is right around the corner! Show off your fandom at the beach with one of these cool beach towels! I love the Death Star Battle design!

    4. Yoda Yoga Mat - Need some encouraging words while you're holding that downward dog position during yoga class? Yoda's got you.

    5. Chewbacca Camera Bag - This is probably the coolest camera bag I've ever seen! WANT/NEED!

    6. Star Wars Wood Coaster Set - I own this coaster set and can attest it's awesomeness. My OCD sister also approves - no coffee table rings here!

    7. Her Universe Rey Cardigan - LOVE this cardigan! The Rey influence is totally there but it's still subtle enough to make this an everyday piece! Super early birthday present to myself?

    8. Star Wars Movie Poster Shower Curtain - Instead of the wall, put this classic poster on your shower curtain and win major cool points with all your fellow Star Fans friends when they come visit!

    9. R2-D2 Umbrella - Speaking of showers, are you still dealing with spring showers? Stay dry with Artoo!

    10. Star Wars Planetary Glassware Set - I have a surplus of glasses/cups right now so it'll be a while before I purchase anymore, but I sure am tempted by these glasses featuring different Star Wars planets (plus the Death Star)!

    Will you ordering some Star Wars merch today?

    Linking up with these lovely blogs <3

    2016 Mother's Day Gift Guide

    Mother's Day is next Sunday and we all know finding the perfect gift for that special lady in your life can be tricky so I've made a little guide to give you some ideas! From moms who love to cook, be pampered, or are constantly on the go, these gifts will hopefully bring a smile to her face!

    1. Rosanna 'Mom' Porcelain Mug - She'll think of you every time she takes a sip out of this gorgeous sophisticated mug!

    2. KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer - This classic kitchen appliance looks so pretty in this mint color!

    3. Lush Just For Mom Wrapped Gift Set - Bath bombs, shower gel, moisturizer, hand cream, and more - now Mom can fully pamper herself after all her hard work!

    4. Bella Pantry Recipe Book -  Every mom needs a place to write down her favorite recipes!

    5. "Hey Mom, You're Awesome" Pillow - It may be obvious to you, but just in case she needs a little reminder...

     6. Festive Floral Apron - Just because she's cooking, doesn't mean she can't look cute!

    7. Street Level Reversible Faux Leather Tote & Wristlet - She'll love being able to take this reversible tote with her wherever she goes! Both the taupe and pale pink colors are perfect for spring too!

    8. Star Wars Droids Bouquet - For the geek mom! Any mom can get a bouquet of flowers, but DROIDS?? There's also a Darth Vader bouquet version for moms who prefer the Dark Side.

     9. MidlandCandleCo Candle - These lovely hand poured all natural soy wax candles will create a cozy, homey atmosphere in any room! You can choose from 5 signature scents and there's even a custom option so you can personalize your candle just for mom!

    10. Elizabeth and James Nirvana Mini Rollerball Set - Your mom won't have to choose between these two incredible scents when she's on the go with this rollerball set.

    Which of these items would you get your mom?

    Linking up with these lovely blogs <3
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