Review- Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish

I recently wrote a post about my travel bag that made me realize that I should probably use the samples I've hoarded from my trip to Korea over the summer, before they are no good!  I have quite a stash, because in Korea they almost always give you a bunch of samples anytime you buy something. So, I will review the various samples for you as I try them.

First up is: 

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish- Normal/Dry Skin

First of all, I wasn't quite sure what exactly this product was for, since the sample packet had no English description.  Thanks to the magic of Google, I found this blurb on Amazon:

"Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish cream is a dynamic, light-weight skin tone correction cream that also provides bright radiance, moisture and SPF protection (SPF 25) to your skin. Think of it as a super light BB cream that works to enhance the look of your natural, bare face."

I used the cream after cleansing and applying my usual Missha Super Aqua Toner.  And since I'm getting to be quite the beauty blogger these days (haha), I even snapped a quick swatch of what the product looks like before blending.  Because I was only using a sample packet, this was a pretty stingy swatch, but you are able to see that on first application, it looks almost like thick pearly lotion. 

The Miracle Real Skin Finish blended easily on my skin, and it dried to a very smooth silky texture.  It felt sort of matte.  I really liked the feel of the product on my skin, that was definitely the most unique thing about it.  It added a smooth, clean, and fresh texture.  This cream is supposed to "brighten" skin, and it did have a slightly lightening effect.  I noticed I looked a bit paler than normal.  My skin, as you can see, is very light to begin with, so I am uncertain how this would look on a darker skin tone.  The cream also added a subtle sheen, almost like a highlighter.  

The directions from Amazon suggested that it was meant to enhance a bare face.  I was on my way out when trying this, and I rarely go out without makeup, so I didn't want to use it alone.  I used it as a base for my Nature Republic BB.  The highlight effect of the Miracle Real Skin Finish continued to be visible with the BB cream.

Overall, I liked this product, but I would be unlikely to buy it for myself.  

I used to be a big fan of shimmering and highlighting face products, until I noticed that the  "shimmer" looked like "grease" in many of my pictures.  It is not something that I'd ever noticed in real life, but either way, these days, I stick with matte face products over shimmery or dewy ones.  That being said, I thought the shimmery brightening effect was pretty and soft.  It looked pretty both alone, and when used as a base.  I think the lightening/brightening effect of this product might be even more flattering on someone with a skin tone slightly darker than mine.  

Also, I would not buy this because I want more coverage than this product offers.  I don't use a primer before my BB cream, so for me, this product falls into the "great quality product, but not-too-useful" category.

I would recommend Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish to those of you who aren't too big on wearing face make-up like powder, foundation, or BBs.  Applying this product is as simple as using face lotion! If you already have clear and attractive skin and tend to go sans makeup, but you want a no-fuss product that adds a little glamour to your look, this is a really great little cream! The ultra smooth texture also makes it a good base, if you regularly use base.

Feeling Existential

Hi everyone! I have no formal post for today, but I came across this lovely quote by chance this afternoon, and I thought I'd share it with you.  I'm a bit of a science nerd, so this really resonates with me. Hope you enjoy it, if you haven't seen it already.  Have a wonderful evening/day, my dear readers! 

What's in My Travel Bag?

I love to travel, and I'm always dreaming of my next escape!  Over time, I've become really conscious about the way I pack for a trip.  I have it down to a science.  In the future, maybe I'll share some of my packing strategies in a post.  

There are many times when packing light is of the utmost importantance, so I've started hoarding sample-sized products for various types of trips.  Most of the samples currently in my bag are ones that I received for free!  When I get a new sample that's similar to one in my travel bag, I swap out the older ones and use them, so that my bag stays fresh and I won't waste good samples while I wait to enjoy my next adventure.

Obviously, toothpaste and a toothbrush are a must for any overnight stay.  I got this cute little Hello Kitty brush at the Dollar Tree, Crest sample from a P&G sample box, and the mini-floss was in my goodie bag from my last dental cleaning.  

Single-sized products in packets are great for a quick overnight stay at a friend's house.  Why lug all your regular products for just one night away from home?  I currently have Pantene shampoo and conditioner, and some face wash, toner, lotion, and sunblock samples from Korea. 

For a weekend stay, I have a small set of Aveda shampoo and conditioner, and a couple of toner and lotion sets that I got in Korea that are the ideal size for 2 or 3 days of use.  Of course, I can't forget a contact case.  A disposable plastic shower cap is great to have if you don't want to wash your hair. That way, you won't have to tote all your hair products and styling tools.  I also have this awesome little Revlon travel kit that I've had for ages.  It has nail clippers, travel size tweezers, nail file, and eyelash curler in a tiny tote. This set has seen the world with me!

These products are perfect for a stay of 3-5 days or so.  For my skin, I have a Holika Holika cleansing foam that I bought in a travel set, and the travel size versions of my everyday Missha Super Aqua Toner and lotion.  I have a Holika Holika shower gel (from the same set as the face wash), and travel size Pantene shampoo/conditioner and Secret deodorant that I got for free in the P&G sample set. 

So what's in your travel bag? Feel free to post a link if you have done a post like this!

Visualization- Using Avatars to Visualize Your Dreams

I'm a grown woman, but I still like dolls of any kind!  When I first found out about various online avatar and doll-making websites, I quickly became hooked.  For me, there is something so soothing and satisfying about creating a little look and then placing an avatar in a scene of my choosing.  I used to be very into sites like Meezs, Looklet, and Elouai.  

As strange as it may sound, in addition to creating avatars and dolls just for fun, I also sometimes create them to visualize a goal.  I make a doll that resembles me as far as features, hair, etc, and I use scenery of what I'd like to have or achieve.  Sometimes I set them as my desktop background in order to help myself visualize having my ideal situation.  When I was younger, I found that sketching a scene of my dreams was an incredibly powerful visualization tool.  Occasionally, when I look back on old notebooks where I had made a sketch of my goals, I find that a drawing I had made shares eerie similarities with my life.  So, using online avatars is just a higher-tech version of this technique.  I haven't made any dolls lately, but here are some examples from the past.

This first one is from Meez.com.  I used to love that site because they had so many options and the creations were animated.  This "meez" is one that I made when I was working on my college application back in 2008.

This is one that I made on Elouai.  Elouai is a site that has some Korean dress-up games such as Roiworld and doll makers.  It is geared towards kids, but I used to love creating looks on there.  The dolls are really sweet and cute, and the fashions are so unique and funky, despite the fact that some of the games are quite old.  This doll is my favorite, since seeing the world is my number one dream, and she is a world traveler setting out on a trip somewhere. 

When I finished college, I wanted to continue onto graduate school with the hope of becoming a teacher. So, I made these "teacher" dolls.  

Two years ago, I became obsessed with the idea of visiting Korea.  I made this doll with the Korean flag behind her. 

This past summer, I decided to make a doll on meez.  I was surprised to see the site still existed!  However,it had not been updated since back when I used to use it; there were no new clothes or backgrounds.  Everything was stuck in a time warp left over from Myspace days!  I was not sure I would be able to go back to Korea, so I made this doll with the pretty style and caramel bob I wanted to rock on my trip and I placed her in a temple scene taking selfies. 

Beside being enjoyable and cute, dolls and avatars are a tool you can use to help you visualize your dreams.  Maybe it seems weird, but if used for that purpose, they can help you hold that image of your dreams in your mind.  And anything that allows you to envision yourself in the situation of your dreams helps you to bridge that gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

So do you like using avatars or other similar programs to create looks? What sites do you/have you used?

Have you ever tried any visualization technique like this? 

Spike Necklace-Polyvore Outfit Idea

Tie dye jeans by artaslife featuring skinny leg jeans

Today I recieved this spike necklace that I had ordered from Ebay.  Here is an outfit that I intend to wear it with.  Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Outfit of the Day

arty outfit by artaslife featuring gemstone rings

This is an everyday outfit that I wore to work.  I like the pop of the bold accessories with the simple lines of the clothes.

Review-Skinfood Watery Berry

I recently sampled two products from the Skinfood Watery Berry line: The Watery Berry Ampoule and Watery Berry Eye Cream.  I recieved these samples as a free gift when I ordered Tony Moly Lip Tint from an Ebay seller (See the review for that HERE.)  Since my readers tend to like these types of posts, I decided to do a quick review of the products...  

Skinfood is a well-known Korean skin care line but I have never tried anything by them before receiving this sample.

Skinfood Watery Berry Ampoule

is a moisturizer that is supposed to be applied after toner.  I used it at night after showering.  I did not have a Skinfood toner sample, so I used it with my usual Missha Super Aqua Toner.  (You can read about that, and my everyday skin care routine HERE.)  The Skinfood Watery Berry Ampoule is  clear and thin like a serum.  It was light and sunk into my skin quickly.  I like products that are water-based and provide a sheer and non-greasy type of moisture.  Usually any product that has "water" or "aqua" in its name is for me!  This product was definitely the type of light moisturizer that I like best.  Quite honestly, I do not recall anything about the scent of this product.  It definitely did not have a strong smell or anything.  The Watery Berry Ampoule left my skin feeling smooth and not at all greasy, and there was no oily feeling when I woke up in the morning, either. I loved the smooth effect this product gave my skin!  I would definitely buy this, and I would recommend this for anyone with with normal to slightly dry skin.  I'd love to try more Skinfood products.  I will surely be making a stop in the Skinfood store the next time I'm in Seoul!

Watery Berry Eye Cream

I am really concerned about caring for the skin under my eyes.  It is so thin and prone to bagging and dark circles.  That area has bothered me my whole life, but now I am also concerned with preventing lines and wrinkles.  I recently invested in a dermatologist-recommended eye cream (SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair), and I have had really good results with it.  I've noticed that my skin is tighter and less puffy.  So how did the Watery Berry Eye Cream measure up?  Well, it was a cream, but still had a somewhat light texture compared to other eye creams.  It was surprisingly moisturizing for the weight of it.  A little went a long way, too.  The small packet was enough for me, my sister, my mom , and my grand mom to all sample it!  We all raved about the silky texture.  My mom called it "luscious." (Haha.)  It did not absorb as quickly as the SkinMedica cream, though.  My eyes are prone to random puffiness but there was no puffing or bagging the next day.  I would have to try the product for more than one day in order to give an entirely fair review of its effects on puffs and wrinkles, but I was quite pleased with the performance of this product based on this one try.  I think this is a good eye cream, especially if you don't have any serious under eye concerns and are just looking for a little moisture and wrinkle prevention.

Overall, I was impressed with the quality of this line and would highly recommend these two Watery Berry products.

Have you tried these or any Skinfood products? What did you think? I'd love to hear your opinions, so leave a comment below!    

  

Ebay Goodies

I've been having a little too much fun on Ebay these days! Here are a few of the things I've gotten lately.  All these things are inexpensive items from Chinese sellers.  The prices were a steal and they all had free shipping. 

A pretty wine velvet skater skirt. $8.79

The color didn't photograph well.  It is a gorgeous rich red wine shade.  

A cheap knock off of the classic YSL Arty ring. $1.45 

 (What would you call a fake Arty? A Farty??? lol. Don't mind me...) 

I got this creepy yet cool evil eye ring for 99 cents. 

White with black skull scarf.  $3.35

I love scarves.  They are a great inexpensive way to add variety to your wardrobe.  This one is very light and gauzy so it's appropriate for spring weather.  

Are you an avid Ebayer?  What are your favorite things to get on Ebay?  Any recent brag-worthy scores? Horror stories? Please leave a comment and share!      

Wish List-Jackets

Wish List-Petite Jackets by artaslife featuring bubble coats

I know spring will be here soon, but these are some cute jackets from Asos and Top Shop that I am still pining after... I'm especially in love with the Top Shop camo jacket.  Since its thin and lightweight it would be great on chilly spring days.

I'm a Winner!

Back in October, I read an article on Yahoo about getting free samples.  It seemed like it would be fun to try the latest products, so I decided to give it a shot.  I began searching for free sample offers on the internet through Google, and in the process, I also found many sweepstakes and giveaways mentioned on the free sample websites.  Apparently, "sweeping" or entering sweepstakes is a hobby for some people.  I never heard of such a thing!  I decided it would be cool to win stuff, so I got into the habit of entering at least a few sweepstakes daily.  My little habit is starting to pay off.  Over the past month I got emails telling me I had won 4 different small sweepstakes!  This past week, 3 of the 4 prizes I've won arrived in the mail.

         

I won this Milani lipstick from their "30 Shades in 30 Days" giveaway on their Facebook page.  It is still going on if you are interested in entering.

I got these 2 full-sized Vaseline products from a She Finds giveaway.

I got 3 Packs of Recharge Bars from a sweepstakes on their Facebook page.  My sister and I tried 2 of the flavors today, and they are actually very good.  They only have 100 calories, but they taste something like a candy bar.

I still have a Dove bodywash prize pack on the way.  

Before this, I pretty much never won anything in my life!  Even though I haven't won a big $100,000 cash sweepstakes yet, getting these little prizes in the mail was really fun and exciting.  I will definitely keep entering sweepstakes and giveaways!

Short and Stylish-Resources for Petite Juniors Fashion

Short is Beautiful!

Shakira

4'11"

Natalie Portman 

5'3"

Hayden Panettiere

5'1"

Kim Kardashian

5'3"

But clothes that do not fit are not beautiful at all!  

What's a short girl to do at the mall?  I am a tiny 5 feet 0 inches tall, so I know how difficult and frustrating it can be trying to find youthful and stylish clothes that fit a petite frame.  That's why I wanted to share some of my go-to stores, tricks, tips and observations for petite girls who are too short to fit junior's clothing, but are too young and stylish for the "petite" department. 

Pants:

It took me quite some time to discover how poorly-fitted clothes can ruin a look.  My biggest clothing problem is pant length.  I spent a lot of my younger years in jeans and pants that bunched and bagged at the bottom and dragged on the ground.  Sometimes I cuffed my jeans, sometimes I cut them off and frayed the edges.  Other times, I found that perfect pair that, with the right high heels, would just barely clear the ground.  Every now and then, I found a glorious pair of pants that fit just right and I wore them until they fell apart.  Out of desperation, I even bought kid's jeans at times.  However, as the years passed, I realized that there were certain stores where I could get pants in lengths that could actually fit well right off the hanger!  

Here's a list of STORES to check out, as well as my personal experience with their merchandise:

Alloy and Delia's-are online junior's stores (Delia's also has some mall stores) that carry jeans and pants in lengths.  Some of the brands they sell in shorter lengths are typical inexpensive junior's brands such as "Revolt" and "Paris Blues."  Since I'm familiar with the fit of those brands, it makes it easier to order them online.  Delia's also carries their own denim line.  Both stores often have sales where you can get jeans and pants for as low as $14.99, and if you order from them, they occasionally send you free shipping offers.   

Express and Limited both sell some pants in lengths.  They are good if you need professional work wear or maybe some black pants, but I find that they don't have much in the way of stylish denim.    

All of the sort of "preppy" mall stores sell basic jeans in lengths: Abercrombie, American Eagle, Aeropostale, Gap, Old Navy.  The jeans from these stores are usually very classic and decent quality, but I don't usually fit them well, since they tend to be cut for a different body type than mine.  I have a small waist and a bigger butt and legs, so they are usually really tight in the legs and rear, and loose in the waist.  Also, their short lengths can either run too long for me (brands like Abercrombie and AE) or too short (Gap, Old Navy). 

Charlotte Russe sells some basic jeans in lengths.  I've gotten a few good pairs there.  I also found a pair of fold-over yoga pants in a "short" length there once!

Forever 21 sells different inseams of jeans and pants. They actually carry more pants in lengths than you  might realize...Some of their pants/jeans are marked with an inseam length on the tag, others aren't.  If you shop their website, all the inseams are listed, so you can go through items you might like and see if they could work.  I think it's much easier to buy their pants online, rather than search for random short lengths that sometimes aren't marked in the chaos of a Forever 21 Store.

Discount Department stores such as Ross, Marshall's, and TJ Maxx: I have found some jeans in lengths in all of these stores at one time or another, so it pays to scan the juniors jeans in your size.  Since they sometimes sell close outs from mall stores I have mostly found brands such as American Eagle, Abercrombie and Express. I also found a few short length juniors' brands such as Paris Blues.

New York and Company- Sells pants in lengths.  This is a good place for work pants, khakis, sweats, and yoga pants.  Their fit is more "misses", so their clothes run larger than junior's, which is sometimes a problem for me since I am already on the low end of the size scale. 

Tips/Observations:

• Sadly, when buying pants in lengths, you are usually confined to the basic, plain styles.  You will never find denim in trendy washes or with embellishments in short lengths.

• I always try on "cropped" or "ankle" cuts of regular jeans, sometimes they fit like regular pants for me.  I have a few awesome pair of jeans that I found that way.

• If you wear a size 3 or smaller, the children's department is an option.  A size 3 can fit a girl's size 14 or 16.  The bad thing about kids clothing is that the cut is made for a little girl's body.  It may "fit" measurement-wise but it might not be flattering, sexy, or cute.  Finding girls'-sized jeans without weird kiddie embellishments (like pink flowers on the pockets) is also an issue.

Tops and Dresses:

Tops and dresses don't always fit me like they are supposed to.  My fit problems include shoulders that hit in the wrong place, necklines that gape and dip too low, waists that hit at the wrong spot and sleeves that are too long.  My solution to this is simple...I just try everything on and don't buy tops and dresses that don't fit me.  I haven't gotten into buying petite sizes for these items.  Even though my selection is more limited than a taller girl, I'm able to find plenty of things that fit fine without looking for special sizes. 

But if you are looking for a store that sells smaller proportioned tops and dresses (as well as pants and jackets) Ann Taylor Loft and Asos sell pretty decent looking petites, although I have never bought anything from either site yet.

Tips:

• Fully adjustable spaghetti straps are a short girl's best friend!
• So are camis and bralettes for necklines that dip too low.  I prefer bralettes instead of full camis.  I find that layering adds bulk.  You can find my current favorite bralette on Ebay >>>HERE. 

   

Jackets:

Last year, my boyfriend and I toured New York City and Washington DC at Christmastime.  When I looked through the hundreds of outdoor winter pictures we took, the fit of my coat made me cringe.  I never thought I needed to be concerned about the fit of my jackets.  It was something I hadn't considered.  Sleeves were always long on me, but I hadn't realized how the shoulders and entire shape of my coats overwhelmed my frame and made me look like a little girl playing dress up in a grown-up's coat!  Since then, I vowed to only wear petite jackets and coats.  They have proven VERY difficult to find.  Here are the few places I can suggest:

Burlington Coat Factory stores (in person) were my best source for coats over the past year. Their internet petites section was mostly frumpy misses styles..I suggest you don't even bother!  Burlington Stores only carry a few random petite sizes, but they are usually designer coats at a big discount, so the price is right and the fit is nice, if you manage to find anything.  While shopping at Burlington Coat Factory, I tried on a few Guess petite coats, and they were by far my favorite brand for fit and trendy styles.  Guess Petites are hard to find..they are sort of randomly sprinkled throughout department stores.  I wish I could buy them online somewhere, but the Guess website doesn't sell any petite coats, that I saw.  Luckily I snagged a really cute Black Guess wool military coat at Burlington.   

Ross and Marshall's carry things similar to Burlington Coat Factory, although they have even fewer discount designer petite coats and jackets, but since their coat sections are so small it's worth a quick look.  It is possible to find some good things.

Old Navy has some really low-priced petite coats.  I haven't bought from them, so I'm not sure about their fit and quality.

Macy's has a fair selection of Petite designer coats, watch for their sales though, because their prices go up and down constantly.

Bras:
I am a 34A bra.  That's not a totally obscure size, but still not as common as a 34 B or C.
Some Tips:

• I think trying a bra on is a must for all women, but even more so for a petite girl.  
• I found I can often fit a size 32B, which gives me more options if my size isn't available.  
• Bras with fancy straps are a no-no for me, because they are not fully adjustable and they fall off of my shoulders.  
• Girls' bras come in A cup sizes, and are often much less expensive.  I used to buy girls' bras, but I noticed that like girl's jeans, although the sizing is right measurement-wise, the shape of girls' bras is not made to emphasize a little girl's chest.  So if you want a sexy look, girl's bras do not deliver.
•   One thing I have found at discount department stores such as Marshall's, Ross, and T.J. Maxx is that you can often find regular A cup bras mixed into the girls' section.  I always check.  Once I found piles of great Vassarette women's push-up bras in the girl's section of Conway that were priced at $1.99.  These bras usually run for about $15-$20 each, so I racked up!

One final tip: Chinese sellers on Ebay usually sell "one size" clothing.  These items are usually cut small and short, and I found that this "one" size is usually "my" size!  Ditto with Korean one-size.  While my other foreign co-workers in Korea complained about not being able to fit the clothes, I was in heaven!

Please, if you are a petite girl with another shopping resource or tip, leave a comment and let us know!

(I apologize to my international readers that my post uses all US measurements, sizing, and stores.  I don't mean to leave you out.  If you are a petite girl outside of the US please help my post be more global by leaving a comment with your favorite shops, too!!!)  

Review-L'oreal Mythic Oil Colour Glow Oil

L'Oreal Mythic Oil Colour Glow Oil

I requested a free sample of this product, I don't recall exactly, but I'm pretty sure I snagged this sample from the L'Oreal Facebook page.  The Mythic Oil line is L'Oreal's take on the hair oil trend that's going strong in hair care these days.  

Am I the only person who isn't addicted to Morrocan Oil? 

I swear, it's like they put crack in that stuff! Everyone, including my sister, swears by it.  They even make stylists sign a contract promising they will not resell it for profit when they buy it from the beauty supply store.  Am I crazy? I find that Morrocan Oil makes my fine thin hair really limp and stringy, no matter how little I use.  Despite quite possibly being the only person on Earth who doesn't rave over Morracan Oil, I was still very curious to try Mythic Oil.  I requested the Colour Glow Oil since my hair is color-treated.

The L'Oreal website's claims about Mythic Oil Colour Glow Oil:

- Haircolor is kept luminous and vibrant

- UV filters protect hair from harmful rays

- Distressed hair is left nourished and soft

My Experience:

The scent of this oil is not nearly as nice as Morrocan Oil.  I gotta give it to Morracan Oil---it sure smells great!   When used on wet hair, I found that Mythic Oil has a pretty light and unobtrusive hair product scent.  When I used it on dry hair, the scent was much stronger and lingered.  It smells like a regular hair product scent that is trying to be "exotic."  

The oil itself feels light and very clean for an oil.  Morrocan Oil has that dry feel too, so I wasn't expecting Mythic Oil to be much different in my hair, but it was.  I used a few drops on my wet medium length hair and let it dry naturally, as usual.  The Mythic Oil made my hair feel soft and smooth, yet also somehow added a little body, it almost made my hair sort of puffy, although not frizzy.  It was definitely not stringy or limp.  It felt great, very silky, but the look of my hair was not anything out of the ordinary.  

On another occasion, I tried adding a few drops of Mythic Oil to my dry hair. It made it feel softer and smoother.  I guess it added some shine, but the effect was not that noticeable.  It did not weigh down my hair or make it seem greasy.  I only occasionally blow dry my hair and wear it down, and I have not tried this oil on a day when I've styled my hair like that.  

Overall, I would rate this product as better for my hair type (fine/thin) than Morrocan Oil.  My question is if I really NEED a product like Mythic Oil. For me, the answer is probably not.  It did make my hair feel nice, but truthfully, my hair wasn't that different without it.  Still, if you have fine/thin hair and are looking for a hair oil that doesn't weigh down your hair, this is a good bet.  Also, a little goes a long way.  I might get a couple weeks worth out of this tiny sample bottle!  A full size bottle would be a really good value for the money.

Have you tried this product? What did you think? Are you a big Morrocan Oil fan? (I bet you are! haha) 

Bargain Brag-Forever21.com Haul

Although I shop the website all the time, I had never ordered from Forever21.com until about two weeks ago.  I almost always prefer shopping in-store because I tend to get better sales in the stores, plus I'm able to try clothes on and there is no shipping fee.  If I do order online, I make sure that the shipping is either free, or I place a large order that makes the shipping price per item work out to be very little.  I have seen Forever21.com have some really good additional 50% off sales on their sale items, but once I'm shopping, I either find out the items I want are sold out, or I don't find enough things to qualify for free shipping, so I walk away.  However, this time I saw quite a few nice basic pieces, so I finally placed an order.  All of the items I got will easily transition into spring, and they are classic, so I can wear them next fall as well.

Faux Leather Sleeved Moto Jacket- $9.49

This jacket is my favorite item of the whole haul.  It got rave reviews on the site, and I see why.  It's hip and stylish yet simple and classic.  As all the reviewers mentioned, it looks even nicer in real life!  This will be my go to spring jacket for sure.

Cropped Chain Trimmed Jacket- $9.99

I saw this jacket in the store a couple months ago.  I really liked it, and it fit me great. It's original price was $40, so I decided against it at the time.  I was delighted to see it on sale! I can wear this dressed up for work, or dressed down with some jeans.

Rose Lace Shirt- $4.49

The 2 reviews said this ran really small and short.  Since I'm small and short, I wasn't concerned. (haha) I did go a size up just to make sure the buttons didn't strain.  I probably could have done a small, but the medium fits fine.  This is a really cute top for early spring!

Cable Knit Sweater- $6.49

This sweater is so nice.  It is soft, timeless, and great for any look.

Multi Striped Sweater-$5.49

My photo doesn't do this sweater justice!  The color is very nice in real life.  It is a great little sweater that can go with anything.  I really like the textured pattern of the knit.

Essential Multi-Knit Cardigan-$5.49

I really like this cardigan, but I wish I had gotten a color other than white.  In person, I just don't like it too much in white... But I'm sure it will come in handy on chilly spring days.

Paneled Open-Knit Sweater-$4.99

This sweater is an awesome basic black sweater.  I can think of a million ways to wear it!

Chain Link Bomber Jacket-$7.49

This jacket (in a slightly different print) was featured in People Style Watch this month.  I think it's versatile and cute.  Can't wait to wear it once the weather warms up.

So, do you prefer shopping online or in the stores?  What are your favorite websites to order from?     

Seventeen Japan-September 2012