Cowboys & Aliens



Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Adam Beach, Sam Rockwell
Rate and Length: PG-13 / 118 minutes
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Western / Thriller


A Sci-Fi and a Western at the same time?  Who knew that was possible, and I'm still not quite sure it should have been done.  Indiana Jones and James Bond in chaps fighting aliens; sounds pretty great but ... it just doesn't quite work.  The good part is that the western aspect was really well done, the action and fight scenes were good, and there were some scary moments that got a good jump out of me.  However, none of the characters are fully developed (Adam Beach was pretty good though), the alien motive is weak, and there is a pretty lame plot twist about halfway through.  They should have taken tips from Will Smith and added some humor, but instead this movie takes itself way too seriously for such a ridiculous plot.  


My Rating
**
(Alternative perspective: The guy I saw this with says it is the best movie of the year and gives it five stars)


July Sayonara Products!

Can you believe it is the last day of July? Where is our summer going? As we say goodbye to this month, I am also saying goodbye to a handful of products. Once again, for some empties it is good riddance and for others it is a regretful goodbye (until I repurchase, that is!). Here are the products that I finished up this past month.

Too Faced Lash Injection
I bought this mini from Sephora just to try it out, and I am glad I never invested in a full-sized tube. For me, this mascara was nothing special. The bristle brush is big, fat, and dense, which I like, but it took too much work and too many coats to achieve the length and volume I seek. On top of that, it left my lashes stiff and had an unpleasant flowery scent. Goodbye!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
Burt's Bees is notorious for making great lip balm. I love that this is all natural and that it leaves my lips tingling a bit. The only thing I wasn't fond of was the tin packaging- next time I will opt for a stick instead for easier, more sanitary application.

fresh Cannabis Santal
As I have mentioned before, I really dislike traditionally feminine and flowery fragrances for myself. Instead, I opt for more earthy and spicy scents, and Cannabis Santal is right up my alley. No, it doesn't smell like what you are thinking of, naughty girls! Cannabis Santal smells like incense but isn't over powering. 

Yes to Carrots Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser 
For intensive exfoliation this is too gentle for me. It is better as a daily cleanser, but as it is cream based it is not best suited for my oily prone skin. I love the natural Yes to brand, and I think this is a good product for someone with very sensitive, or normal to dry skin. For myself, however, I'll pass. See my full review here.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo
This is the first dry shampoo I have ever tried, and I don't know how I lived without it! This summer essential has been great for sprucing up oily roots and adding volume.
EOS Shave Cream in Vanilla Bliss
Another product I am sad to see go. This shave cream is incredibly moisturizing and smells divine. Plus, EOS is a natural brand! Read my full review here

Suave Max Hold Hairspray
This can lasted me more than a year because I don't use much product on my hair. Nothing special, but this hairspray got the job done and was really cheap.

Yes to Tomatoes Facial Hydrating Lotion
Panic struck my heart when I pumped out the last of this lotion! I reviewed it here, but in short, this is the first lotion that I feel was formulated with my skin type and needs in mind. It sinks in quickly, hydrates and balances well, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. Oily prone divas rejoice!

Yes to Blueberries Intensive Repair Serum
This product is part of Yes to's anti-aging line, so this was a preventative product for me. Although I don't yet have wrinkles to tackle, nightly use of this product really improved the condition of my skin. It was more radiant and smooth, and I could tell that it was helping to repair damaged tissue and increasing surface skin cell turn-over.

philosophy purity made simple one-step facial cleanser
I thought I would hate this cleanser, but it wasn't half bad. My skin needs a product that is better at oil control, but I can say that this made my skin baby smooth. Read more on it here

Maybelline Define-a-Brow Pencil
At first I was really disappointed in this product; so much so, in fact, that it made it into my May Flunkies list. Although the shade is a great match for my brow color, the pencil crumbles easily and is difficult to keep sharply pointed. Over time, I learned to work with enough to use it up, but I won't be repurchasing.

What did you use up this month?


Night out at the Nest


Without a doubt rooftop bars are legendary in Bangkok nightlife. We opted for something laid back this time; a rooftop bar called The Nest. Overlooking the Bangkok skyline and surrounded by lounge music, we had cocktails and champagne in nest-like lounge beds. Absolute fun!

(I'm wearing COS asymetric dress and Zara belt and bag)


Outfit: A beach kimono



Closet confession: I've packed an impossible amount of beach dresses  for this holiday. (Who can blame me, I never get to wear them!). First up was this kimono inspired tunic in black and nude print with a butterfly sleeve. I threw it on for fresh milk shakes in the sand and all it needed was a pop of coral nail polish and big gold accessories.

H&M tunic
COS sandals
House of Harlow sunburst ring
Club Manhattan necklace
Ray Ban wayfarers

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July Favorites & Flunkies


July was a really exciting month for me! Not only is July my birthday month, but I made a big change and moved to a new state! As far as makeup goes, I didn't haul much but I had a blast rediscovering some oldies but goodies in my collection. I had been in a bit of a makeup routine rut that finally broke this month. Here is what I have been all about this month, along with two flunkies that disappointed me.

 Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Gash
Gash is a shimmery, coppery dark red with a slight metallic sheen. It looks a little intimidating in the pan, but it is a really divine and versatile shadow. This month I have been blending this in to my crease for an interesting take on a smokey eye. Or when I am feeling really dramatic, I pack this all over the lid- sounds scary but it looks awesome, and really makes my green eyes pop. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette
An old favorite that I fell out of the habit of using my UD Naked Palette until just recently. This month it has definitely made a comeback- it has been ideal to create bronzed and golden eyes that are perfect for summer. I have been particularly loving Smog, Half Baked, and Darkhorse.
 
 Essie Topless & Barefoot
For the first part of summer I was obsessed with bright colors- especially coral and orange. This month, I have opted for more subtle and sophisticated nudes and pastels. Topless & Barefoot is the perfect nude for me, and made for an awesome birthday manicure.

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet
This is a recent purchase and unfortunately I forgot to snap a picture of my mani while wearing this. I have been craving a pale mint green and was debating between this and Essie Mint Candy Apple. I picked Mint Sorbet because the Essie one is a touch more blue. Mint Sorbet has a really delicious creamy finish and looks great against a tan.

Sephora Sculpting Disk- Bronzer section
Bronzer has been a must-have for me this July, and I have been adoring  the one in the Sephora Sculpting Disk. I already used all of the translucent powder, and the highlighter is just so-so but the bronzer is perfection. It is a matte brown that doesn't lean orange and is great as an all over setting powder or contouring shade.

 MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2
When I first bought this, I was afraid it was too pale and gave me the dreaded concealer lips. Now that I have a bit of a tan, this lipstick is the perfect nude. It is a creamy beige that doesn't lean pink with an amplified finish. 

e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink
I rediscovered this lipstick this month and it has been my go-to shade. It is a gorgeous creamy pale pink that goes with most any look.
 
 Maybelline Lash Stiletto
  I bought this during massive CVS haul and paid less than a quarter for it so I figured it was worth a shot. I don't particularly like this for my top lashes because it doesn't deliver the volume I seek, but it is superb for the bottom lashes. The wand is small and slightly pointed making it ideal for reaching those small inner corner lashes, and the lengthening formula gives a doll-like look. 

Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black
I have been trying out a few mascaras lately, so this old favorite fell to the bottom of my collection. I started using it regularly again this month and it makes me wonder why I even bother to try other mascaras! The formula is truly volumizing without getting too clumpy, and the consistency only gets better with time.

Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Brush
I received this in a Makeup Alley swap and it is a much welcomed addition to my brush collection. It is technically a blusher brush, but I have been using it to buff in my liquid foundation. The bristles are really soft and dense and delivers an almost airbrushed finish.

Korres Fig Shower Gel
I  received this in my July Birchbox and was so excited to try the Korres brand. I love that this is all natural and lathers well, and the fig scent is right up my alley: earthy, dark, and slightly sweet.

ybf automatic eyebrow pencil in universal taupe
 This was also a recent Birchbox goodie, and has been a trusty addition to my daily routine. This pencil is soft with nice staying power, a good match for my brow color, and the spoolie on the end is handy.

Unfortunately, July also brought me two flunkies:
Benefit Coralista
I might get some grief for this one, but I wasn't all that impressed with this cult favorite. This was a 100 point perk at Sephora, and never one to say no to a coral blush I snagged it. The color is nice, but not too unique in my opinion. But what really gets me is the smell! It is strongly scented, and the sweet sugary perfume lingers on my skin. Yuck.

alba Coconut Creamy lip balm
I loved this when I first picked it up for just a few cents during my CVS sale haul. I love that it is all natural and I am obsessed with anything coconut. But because it is made of mostly natural oils, this baby cannot hold up to heat.  A summer day in my purse and this lip balm was totally melted. I do like this, but sadly it has to live my by nightstand and stay indoors. 

What have you been lovin' this month? Any flunkies to report?


Alone on an island



After a long 15 hour bus and ferry trip in the middle of the night (in which we were the only tourists and quite the attraction; apparantly the island is even less touristy than we had figured), we arrived to the beautiful tropical island of Phu Quoc in the south tip of Vietnam. It's beautiful, pieceful - and unfortunately a bit cloudy due to rain season - and we're in full relax mode.

1) Around sunset
2) Our bungalow overlooking the sea
3) My holiday uniform of (Chanel inspired) espadrilles and black maxi dress
4) Our room
5) At the beach in front of our bungalow

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Outfit: Out in London


Two weeks ago in London, I was on a night out to the OXO Tower. A restaurant that overlooks the London skyline from a roof terrace and is located right next to the Thames river. Surely an experience that called for a draped silk dress and high heels.

Acne darling dress
Zara biker jacket and bag
H&M cuff
Pour la Victoire heels

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July Birchbox Review


July's Birchbox overall wasn't terribly memorable (again, it is hard to top the full sized Laura Geller blush from last month's box!), but I did receive a few goodies that I actually have been enjoying quite a lot. Now that I have been using these products for a few weeks, here is a short review on each!



Redken Shine Flash
The instructions for this product were not clear, but I get the best results when misting this on dry hair. After I style my hair I spray this on for a little added shine. This product is nice enough, but I have shine sprays from the drugstore that suit me just fine at a smaller price tag. 

philosophy purity made simple one-step facial cleanser
 After reading mixed reviews about this cleanser I was a bit afraid to give it a try. Thankfully, it didn't break me out and was actually really moisturizing. While it made my skin really soft, it didn't do much for me in terms of oil control. This isn't a hit for my oily prone skin, but others with more balanced skin types might like this.
 
Korres Showergel in Fig
LOVE this! I love that this is all natural, lather wells, and smells divine. Fig is a difficult scent to describe- it is earthy and dark but still sweet.
 
Kind Almond & Apricot Bar 
This isn't something I really expected to receive in a monthly beauty subscription service, but it is totally tasty. While it  is apricot and almond, it tastes strongly of toasted coconut which I love. Yum! I have been on the hunt for these since I received my Birchbox, but haven't had any luck finding this particular flavor.
 
ybf (your best friend) beauty automatic brow pencil in universal taupe
I had never heard of this brand before, and my first impression is a great one! Although the name of the brand is a bit cheesy in my opinion, this product is pretty superb. Surprisingly, this "universal shade" is actually a really great match for me. The pencil is soft, the automatic tip actually stays pointed if used at an angle, and the spoolie on the end is a great feature.  


What did you receive in your July Birchbox? Did you enjoy your selection!


And the Furla winner is...




The winner of the Furla candy bag give away on This chick's got style has been selected! After generating a number on random.org I can congratulate Dominika W. from Ireland, hope you have fun with the bag! And for the others, there will be many more fun give aways in the future!


Birthday Suit (Fierce Femme FOTD & OOTD & NOTD)

Last reminder! Today is the last day to enter my 100 Followers Giveaway! If you have yet to enter, do so HERE.

Yesterday was my birthday! Overall it was a good one considering I am in a new city where I know few people and little about the area. My partner and I went out for a drink or two so I got a bit gussied up! Here is my birthday suit from head to toe ;)

OOTD
Black tank top- Target
Sheer leopard print oxford- Old Navy
Denim shorts- Abercrombie & Fitch
Brown wedge sandals- Mossimo @ Target
Purse- Nine West

FOTD

Face
Benefit That Gal Brightening Primer
Revlon ColorStay Foundation (mix of Medium Beige & Warm Golden)
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Light
e.l.f. HD Powder
Bronzer from Sephora Sculpting Disk
ybf automatic eyebrow pencil in universal taupe

Cheeks
Bronzer from Sephora Sculpting Disk
MAC MSF in Pearl (from Semi-Precious collection)

Eyes
UDPP
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
UD Naked Palette (Virgin on lids and brow bone, Smog in crease and lower lashline)
UD 24/7 liner in Whiskey
Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black

Lips
e.l.f. Lip Liner & Blending Brush in Natural
MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 lipstick

NOTD
Essie Barefoot & Topless
Zoya Jules (accent index fingers)
Blingy alligator ring- local boutique

Lastly, my birthday Sephora goodies!
philosophy vanilla birthday cake shower gel and a mini Benefit Coralista (100 point perk)

My partner and I off to my birthday festivities!


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