chicago is so two years ago

Hey guys, I'm back with a new type of post, a review to be exact. I recently got contacted by VINCA Jewelry and they sent me a necklace and it is absolutely beautiful. VINCA is an Austin-based jewelry brand and you can visit them here. Their jewelry is made using a laser cut method and it's cute and incredibly simple. 

This necklace is so simple that it could go with any outfit that you wear. I live in Illinois and have recently been incredibly proud of my home state. This necklace is a fashion statement as well as a personal keepsake that I could always wear around my neck. There are other types of jewelry that VINCA does and there's a wide range. Many of their stuff is quirky but definitely wearable. You can wear them to be a statement or just everyday jewelry. 

Here are their links: website | facebook | twitter

xx Jennny

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandiorjk on instagram | bloglovin' | pinterest

Holiday Beauty Wishlist

I don't know anyone who is not as excited as Christmas as I am. The snow, the spices, the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family, being with friends and family, the fun things with gifts, it's pretty much endless. I thought I would do a little holiday wish list of some beauty products I want. I think I'm going to get some of these, but we'll see, haha. 

1. Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara $20

I first heard about this product from Claire of Hey Claire and saw that she had lashes that were similar to mine. Asian lashes, especially ones that are sparse, are incredibly difficult to take care of. I want those spiderly lashes but without the abundance of lashes, it's kind of difficult. I know mascaras are different for all lash types but I think this could give me some good results. I also think this is a reasonably priced mascara. 

2. Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in Nirvana $18

One of my favorite all time designer brands is Marc Jacobs and when I saw that he had a beauty line, I freaked. I haven't bought anything from the line yet though because I was waiting to see if the price was worth it. The packaging is absolutely amazing. It's definitely a little pricey for nail polish but the bottle is pretty big. Also, you have to take into consideration that this is branded as Marc Jacobs and the packaging is very well done. I've been looking for a forest green nail polish and this color was exactly what I've been looking for. Also, the name is Nirvana, how can you pass that up?

3. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed $26

I feel like I've included this in every beauty wish list...or many I'm just imaging things, haha. I've been wanting this blush (not particularly this color) but I haven't gotten to purchasing it, I don't know why. I wanted to try out Blissful because that seems like the one that most beauty youtubers use but I already have a color like that, actually several. Exposed is more natural and gives my pale skin a more natural looking flush. I think this is perfect for those "no makeup" makeup days and this blush will make you look alive. 

4. Smashbox Full Exposure Palette $49

I think this is a great deal for this many shadows and a sample size of one of Smashbox's famous mascaras. I also heard about this from Claire (HeyClaire) and saw a tutorial where she mainly used this palette. I'm still new to using eyeshadow and creating eye looks with shadows so I mainly use neutrals. I love how this has all the neutral colors one could use and the shimmer version of the exact same color. Palettes usually have all different colors but I love how this has the same color, essentially, but with two types (shimmer and matte). 

5. Glamglow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment $69 for 1.7 oz, $19 for 0.5 oz

This is a raved about product and this is definitely worth the rave. I tried this out a while a go because this is pretty famous in the beauty community and I saw the little 0.5 ounce size in the queue at Sephora (I swear, having all of those products there makes me buy some pointless things). I have really sensitive skin and wasn't sure that my skin was going to respond nicely to this product. Thankfully, it worked! My skin felt absolutely amazing afterwards and my mom raved about it too. I really want to buy the full size but it's incredibly expensive. I think I might just buy the 0.5 ounce one again when I get home, haha. 

6. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Pêche Cerra-Cola $34

Yes, I still have not bought this or any color glossy stain from YSL. I think this was in my other beauty wish list too. I don't know, I have a hard time buying certain beauty products because it's just so expensive! I know that I will be using it well and it'll be nice but I don't know! I can splurge on clothes but I don't think I'm the type of person to splurge on beauty products. I understand that this isn't that expensive but to me, a $34 lip product is pretty expensive. Anyways, this is also raved about and I've tried out my mom's glossy stains and they're absolutely amazing. I love the consistency and the stain that it leaves afterwards. Let's see if I actually buy this in my next beauty haul, haha. 

I hope you all enjoyed what is on my wish list for Christmas! I think I might do a clothing version, but we'll see! If any of you guys have used one of these products please feel free to comment your opinion! 

xx Jenny

I absolutely love this song right now, let's spread the holiday cheer! xoxo

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandiorjk on instagram | bloglovin' | pinterest

where have you been

By now, you guys probably forgot who I was since my last post was in September...3 months ago. I'm so super sorry for my lack of posts! I'm currently in my last week of my fall quarter at college and by next week I'll be back home for the holidays and winter break! I thought that I could keep updating whilst in college but I've realized that this is actually harder than it seems, haha. I've been getting used to this school and keeping up with my studies. It's odd to now be in college and have to do "grown up" things when just a few months ago, I was still a high school senior. Time sure does fly, doesn't it?

It's finally December guys! Like, you guys have no idea how excited I am. Being in Southern California, far way from home (Chicago), I definitely miss the freezing cold and the snow! But I am so stoked to go back home and soak it all in. It's odd to be able not be freezing without a scarf and boots. I don't think I've had a red nose for a while, haha. Christmas is only a short amount of days away and I think that is absolutely crazy. I swear it was just yesterday when I was still counting the days until I go home. But now....it's only a week away! I think you guys can tell that I'm super excited that it's December and almost Christmas. Christmas is definitely an amazing time of year. 

I can't wait to get back in my own bed and be surrounded by my friends from high school and family. It's weird that I haven't seen my friends in three months when I've seen then everyday for the past 4 years. I definitely feel like I've grown up even thought I've only experienced college for 3 months. I think being by myself and being so far away has helped me become a stronger person and handle myself better. I was thinking about doing Blogmas, but I feel like I'm a little late. But I will definitely be going back to regular posts by next week, so stay tuned guys!

I hope everyone is having a great time at college or Uni and enjoying the awesome Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza spirit. Winter is definitely that family/cozy time of year and I hope everyone feels the same way too! I will be back with more exciting posts :) 

xx Jenny

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandiorjk on instagram | bloglovin' | pinterest

beauty haul: college edition

from left to right, clockwise: Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Benefit Benetint, Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Foundation, Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, NYX Blush in Mauve

I think this is my first haul post and recently I've been on a beauty kick. I have enough clothes and realized I needed to update my makeup collection before I head off to college. All of these purchases were definitely an investment for me. I was the person who just wore a tinted sunscreen, used concealer most of the time, mascara, eyeliner, and the occasionally bronzer and blush. I never thought foundation was necessary or "contouring" for that matter. Maybe it's because I've been watching countless beauty guru videos lately but I've been loving makeup. Fashion is still in my mind too but I need to hold off on buying things until I get to California, haha (speaking of, only 2 more weeks left in Chicago!).

1. Benefit Hoola Bronzer $28.00

I decided to get this bronzer after running out of my cheap E.L.F. bronzer. I needed a brown color based bronzer to use for contour and heard that hoola was a great one. I was going to get Nars Laguna but at the time it was a little pricey for me, haha. Maybe next time though! I've used this for a couple of weeks so far and I'm like it very much. I love how its not orange-based and how I can go for a subtle bronzed look or the full on bronzed look. Although a downside is that the color is quite sheer so I have to go back to get the look I want.

2. Benefit Benetint $30.00

This probably a cult favorite and everyone probably knows about this already. I've been hesitant about this but realized that this is great for those days when I'm in a hurry and need to look awake and not sick or dead (oh, the downsides of having such pale skin & dark circles). I love the color on my lips and I love how the tint on my cheeks last forever! 

3. Benefit 'Hello Flawless' Oxygen Wow Foundation in Ivory $36.00

I never actually thought of buying this foundation. I've been trying out samples in order to find the perfect foundation for me and haven't found one yet. When I was shopping around with Julia (visit her blog here) we decided to stop in the Benefit store. The ladies there were so sweet and asked us what we were there for. I told them I had been thinking about getting the Benetint and then she just did a whole make-over on me. She used this foundation and I absolutely fell in love! It looked super natural, with enough coverage, and brightened up my face. She finished it off with the Hello Flawless Powder and I think I'm going to go back for that. 

4. Urban Decay Naked2 Palette $50.00

Yes, the infamous Naked Palette from Urban Decay. I decided to go with this one because it had more neutral colors (like the black) than the original Naked. Everyone probably already knows about this so I don't have to "rave" about it, haha. I decided to invest in this because I didn't want to buy different eyeshadows to get the colors I wanted. This palette is perfect for me because I'm not the person to experiment with different colors for my eyeshadow. In fact, I don't usually wear eyeshadow! I love all of these neutral colors and I probably should play around with it before I leave, haha. 

5. NYX Powder Blush in Mauve $5.99

I bought this blush because I wanted a pinky and less coral blush than the ones I had (which were the Nars Laguna and MAC Peachykeen). Also, this is what Claire from HeyClaire recommends as her favorite blush. And since I absolutely love her, I had to get this. I love the color so much. It's subtle but gives your the natural flushed look which is always great. 

All of these purchases came from separate shopping occasions as I got ready for college. I really recommend all of these products because although some are pricey, I have absolutely no regrets!

xx Jenny

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandiorjk on instagram | bloglovin' | pintrest 

oh so lovely

There's less than a month until I move to California! I can't believe it's already towards the end of August. I think this summer went by the fastest. My high school started school today and I'm still enjoying my summer break....it's so weird to think that. Anywho, hello everyone! I've just been enjoying my summer and relaxing with friends, you know, before they all leave. It's kind of surreal that I won't be having classes with all of them this year and won't be seeing them everyday like I used to. 

I feel like I say this in every inspiration post but, my style keeps changing! But I think it's settling down...I hope, haha. I was showing my mom my Pintrest and she commented how much my style has gotten girly-er. I remember I dressed pretty boyish in middle school and elementary school. Not sure what happened between those years and now but I can't complain! I've been loving soft pinks, i.e. mauve, dark purples and dark or light greys. Anything that seems delicate and lovely, I just immediately fall in love! I want my hair to be light and delicate and braids and curls are the hairstyles I've been wearing lately. There is the occasionally blowout and that makes me feel like a goddess, haha. 

I also kind of think my hair color is making me feel more girly. I had dark dark brown hair and I dyed my hair to a light brown a couple of months ago. After that, I've been reaching for more feminine colors and wanting to look more..flirtatious? This sounds so odd! I absolutely love this hair color and could never think about going back to that dark hair color. I would love to go even lighter, but the maintenance is definitely hard for a college student like me. I'm getting my roots done soon and I can't wait to be freshly light brown again. 

As you can tell, all of my inspiration pictures from the most recent months are all aspects of girly. Somewhat flirty but yet delicate....or am I just imagining things? Don't worry, I'll be taking more adventure pictures on my journey to California. There's also going to be a loving at the moment' post coming soon! There are so many products that have made me fall in love and I've been wanting to share them with you! Please stay tuned for that post (: 

xx Jenny

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandiorjk on instagram | bloglovin' | pintrest

ps. I just discovered an awesome band called Phantogram and you guys should really check them out!

july favorites + relaxing day in the city

I leave for college in about a month, it's kind of crazy. I swear it was just yesterday that I graduated high school and summer started..but now it's already August! You know what that means, July favorites! Favorites this month include makeup products and an accessory. These are the products that I've basically swore by this past month.

1. Maybelline DreamLumi Touch Highlighting Concealer 

I have this concealer in Ivory. I thought about purchasing this product a couple months ago but I wasn't sure if it was going to be worth all the hype. Many beauty gurus say that this is a pretty good dupe of the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat. After I heard that, I was bought. I've wanted to buy the YSL Touche Eclat after my friend recommended it to me. Although I haven't tried the Touche Eclat, I think this highlighting concealer is a good drugstore buy in place of the high end product. It helps my dark circles immensely and dark circles are something I care deeply about.

2. Benefit They're Real Mascara

I used up my old mascara and was looking for a new mascara that I could swear by. I first wanted to get the sample size of the Benefit's They're Real mascara because I was afraid that it wouldn't do the job for me. Well now I know that after I use this little tube up, I will be buying the full size. During the summer, I tend to wear mascara and some black eye shadow as a convenient eyeliner replacement. Usually my eyes look bare but this mascara gives me the look that I'm wearing eyeliner when I'm not. The curls also stay in throughout the day and there is no clumping. 

3. Dior LipGlow Color Reviver Balm

My mom was the one who recommended me this product as a transition from lip balms to lipsticks. I told her that I didn't want to plunge into lipsticks and she said this is a good starter. It has a consistency of a lip balm but there is definitely a good enough color that makes your lips pop. I love popping this on my lips instead of lip balm because it brightens my face up. I cannot go anywhere without bringing this balm because it's just so great! I love it!

4. Nivea Raspberry Rose Kiss

I guess you could say that this month was all about the lips, haha. I've really gotten into taking better care of my lips because I tend to get pretty dry lips. After hearing beauty guru after guru talk about this lip butter, I thought I would give it a try. First off, everyone is right. The smell of this lip butter is amazing. It reminds me of a Popsicle or some sort of berry candy. Although the balm itself is a little pinky, I don't think it gives that color off on your lips. I love putting this on my lips before I go to sleep because then in the morning, my lips are moisturized and I can wear lipstick without the dry looking lips.

5. David Yurman Necklace with the Wheat Chain and Star Charm

I'm actually not quite sure what the charm is called but I know for sure that the chain is Wheat. I've been wearing this everywhere I go. I got this as a graduation gift from my mom and I absolutely love it. I love the chain and how it's not too long or short that it chokes my neck. The charm is also classy and cute. I've been wanting a necklace that goes with every outfit possible and this definitely is it. 

6. Iope Air Cushion XP Broad Spectrum SPF 50+

I have this in the color N21 (or Ice Vanilla). This product was also brought to my attention by my mom. I was looking for a good BB cream and/or foundation for a staple but I had no idea where to start. My mom said that this is the craze in Korea and I wondered why. After using this product, I see why. It's like a BB cream and sunscreen in one. It's a very interesting applicator...or whatever you would call this. It's like a compact and it comes with a pad. You flip open the tab and you see the "cushion" which is like the beauty sponges with the product. Then, with the pad, you dab it on the cushion to get the product. Afterwards, all you have to do is dab that onto your face and it'll give you that natural look. I really like this product because it's incredibly light and gives me decent coverage. 

I went to Chicago, downtown, this past Saturday and just wanted to show you what I've been up to. I went with my friends Julia (check out her blog here) and we decided to just spend a day in the city. The weather was absolutely beautiful and it was a great day. The funny thing is, I've lived in a Chicago suburb all my life but never actually took pictures of the city, not sure why. I decided today was a good day to start. 

You might be wondering why I didn't go to Lollapalooza. Well, there were many bands that I would have wanted to see but I guess I thought that there was always next year. Also, since I'll be in California, I'll probably go to Coachella this coming year and maybe even go to Lollapalooza when I come home for break. Even though we weren't at Lolla, we could hear the performances from Millennium Park. We actually decided to go to Millennium Park because we heard that Claire (HeyClaire/Claire Marshall) was going to do a meet-up. Sadly, we missed her by a couple of minutes but it was surreal that we were in the same vicinity as her!

And here's the ultimate 'tourist-y' picture of The Bean. I never knew this but "The Bean" is actually called The Cloud Gate. I think everyone should start calling it that since that's what the artist intended but you know, whatever floats your boat is fine. 

I hope you enjoyed my July favorites and a little glimpse of my weekend. What're your favorites for July?

xx Jenny

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandiorjk on instagram | bloglovin'

my july beauty wishlist

1. WEN Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner by Chaz Dean $32.00

I first heard about Wen products through 'heyclaire' or Claire Marshall (visit her youtube here) and I thought it was an interesting concept. I always thought that shampoo and conditioner were the must haves to keep healthy hair, but this conditioner, is both shampoo and conditioner. You could also use this as a leave-in conditioner which is incredibly interesting, at least to me. I think I might give this a try soon because I have colored treated, damaged hair and using something more natural might be a good change. 

2. Nars Bronzing Powder in Irresistiblement $36.00

My ELF sun bronzer has hit pan and that left me on a scavenger hunt for the perfect bronzer. I have fair skin so it's hard to pick a bronzer color that's not too dark. The color 'Irresistiblement' is described to be a desert glow and in the pictures it seems like it's lighter than 'Laguna' which is also a well known Nars bronzer. I've swatched Laguna against my skin and it felt a little harsh for me. I've come to realize how important bronzer is. Not only can you make your hair slimmer but it also gives your face a natural glow.

3. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Dollface $26.00

Currently I use Nars Orgasm as my blush and I absolutely love it. I also have MAC blush in Springsheen and that's also a coral-y peach. I love those two colors but I want to branch out into different pinks. Whilst going through 'Products Worth the Hype' videos on Youtube, I saw that many beauty gurus said that this blush was definitely long-lasting and the colors were gorgeous. The color 'Dollface' is described to be a light pink and that's the color I want to try. Something more natural looking than the two coral blushes I have.

4. Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy-Glossy Balm Crystal Color in Papaya $32.00

This is also a very hyped up product that most people recommend. It's long-lasting and the colors are highly pigmented. I've started to become interested in wearing lipsticks because now I'm tired to wearing chapstick that makes me look a little bland. Many reviewers comment how moisturizing this lipstick is and I definitely want to try it out. Fair skin is tricky to match lipsticks with, in my opinion. I think a light pink with a hint of coral will look nice, like Papaya. 

5. Caudalie Beauty Elixir $18.00 (for the 1 oz)

Another hyped up product! But, this also has great reviews. The only face mist I've heard was the Evian mist before seeing all of the other ones, like this Beauty Elixir. Thanks to my friend Julia (check out her blog here) this awesome product was brought to my attention. The smell is so refreshing and it would definitely be a great pick me up in the middle of the day; smelling-wise and also brightening up my face. I have combination skin and there are times when I get very oily, this seems to be the perfect solution during those moments. 

6. Dior Addict Lip Glow $31.00

This product was brought to my attention by my mom. She used to use this a while ago and when I mentioned that I wanted to venture out into lipsticks, she recommend this product. She said it's like the Fresh Sugar Lip-balms but more on the lipstick side, I guess. It looks like the standard lipstick but it's more of a balm than lipstick because of the sheer color and moisturizing factor. I think the packaging is adorable and reminds me of all things girly. Along with the YSL Glossy Balm, I definitely want to try this.

7. Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Honey Bath $40.00

I used to hate the idea of sitting in a tub for more than 10 minutes. Maybe it was because I got easily bored or I wasn't doing something right. Lately, though, baths have been my favorite. Sitting back in the warm water, reading a book or watching a movie in the steam-filled bathroom is my definition of relaxation. The bath experience isn't complete without something fragrant. I usually go for a bakery-like or sweet smelling environment when I take a bath. To me, it's incredibly relaxing and who doesn't love the smell of sweet treats? I remember Zoella, from Youtube, including this in her favorites. I think she mentioned the body butter of this scent but this also seems heavenly. The combination of almond, coconut, and honey all sound so perfect for that night of relaxation. It's definitely a splurge for 12 ounces, but I bet it leaves your skin feeling like velvet and the bathroom smelling like a bakery. 

These are the beauty products I hope to get, haha, and hopefully I do! What's on your beauty wishlist this month?

xx Jenny

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandiorjk on instagram | bloglovin'

ps. Did anyone see the premiere of the last season of Skins? Oh my god. There is one word that describes that whole episode = flawless. This unreleased song by Ellie Goulding was revealed in that episode and it's amazing, take a listen!

black skinhead

Happy Summer! The weather has finally settled in Chicago, at least most of the time, and it's been super awesome. I know I've been m.i.a for the past couple of months but I just finished my senior year of high school! Now I'm officially a college student, it's pretty crazy. I'll be moving to California this fall so I'll try to posts 'OOTD's because the weather here (and my suburban background) isn't really appealing, haha. 

These outfits, or Polyvore sets, are some of my summer outfit inspirations. I can't wait to buy more pieces that are more on the experimental side (like some of the pieces in these sets). I'm not sure how to categorize these outfits. I'd like to call some of them flirty, classy, urban, bohemian, or whatever. I think these outfits show a spectrum of types of style. 

Whoever came up with these outfits is a pure genius and I wish this person would style me. Everything is simple in its own way but something about it gives it a charm. Everything is very delicate but with a punch, I guess? As you can see, I have a hard time describing styles and what I want to say ^^; (yes, I just put an emoticon heh). 

In my suburb, sometimes it seems like there's a uniform code. Everyone wears the same type of pants, shirts, and accessories that it's hard for people to venture out. I tell people that they shouldn't care about what others think of them but I guess I would be a hypocrite. Wearing these outfits would be difficult because then it will mean that everyone in the neighborhood would look, stare, or whisper (or even all of that). 

Moving to a city in California will mean that I can be as adventurous as I want and even meet people who have styles that are head-turning. Although I'm not moving to California solely for fashion, it's an important factor for me to express myself without limits. I think that's why I purposely chose to apply to certain colleges, because of the students' styles and fashion sense. Does that sound a little arrogant? I hope not..

source;\thepolyvorecollection.tumblr.com and polyvore.com

As you can see this is a very picture heavy post. I hope some of you, or all, will get some type of inspiration by looking at my picks for the summer. I think the great thing about these outfits is that all of these could be altered (either by wearing a cardigan, coat, or substitute boots) for the fall and winter. Since it's the summer, I'll be posting more frequently and even more different types of posts. If anyone has a request, please comment below and I'll definitely do them!

-jenny

find me on: tumblr | twitter | @blandior on instagram | bloglovin'

p.s. If you guys are wondering what my title meant, it's one of the songs from Kanye West's new album, Yeezus, which everyone should check out. Take a listen, it's been on repeat for me.