Clever marketing partnership: Michelle Phan aka RiceBunny X Lancome

I just discovered that Michelle Phan, whose blog I followed as she rose to fame through Xanga then her make up tutorial videos, has become the first video make up artist for Lancôme. It almost seems like Lancôme created a position for Michelle. According to her profile on Lancôme, they approached her.

Michelle Phan announcement from Lancome mailing list

I found out from the Lancome mailing list. I watched her first Lancôme makeup tutorial, which is essentially the same format as her usual tutorials, only stamped with Lancôme tags and focused on Lancôme products. What’s interesting is she used a non Lancôme product (Shu Uemura lash curler to be specific). Surprise surprise, both companies are owned by L’Oreal Paris under luxury products.

This news piqued my interest mainly because 1) I’ve followed her blog before her makeup tutorials, 2) her makeup tutorials have reached my non tech-savvy friends, and 3) this is a brilliant marketing strategy.

Michelle has a very established fan base, titled as the #1 Guru on YouTube. She’s well practiced in everything she does – video logging, make up application, and beauty tips in general. All Lancôme had to do was provide products, compensation and they get publicity and more supporters.

From what I gather, Michelle herself as of now only needs to produce one video per month related to Lancôme. Meanwhile she continues to develop her own line of skin care products and other side projects. She receives an excellent addition to her resume, publicity, and makeup! It is a Win-Win situation.

Good job, you go girl! With your years of hard work, you deserve it!

Links:
Michelle Phan's profile on Lancome
Michelle Phan's website
Michelle Phan's makeup tutorials on youtube

Spanx for Men!

Want to hide that beer belly? Want to hide those flabby arms? Do you want to appear to have a six pack before you (ever) achieve one? Men be jealous of women's body shaping underwear no more. You too can appear fitter than you are. Here is your solution!!



Source: Reuters

Mind Your Own Business

So many friends have been launching their own online businesses!

First, is Cakexperience.

They've got an excellent gift/activity for celebrations. Their name says it all - if you can't figure it out, let their website explain :)

Second, Elysieme (The name is so purty).

Elysieme sells jeweleries from collections by various designers. All of them are uniquely designed quality products made of sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, and pearls, to name a few. Not your average flea market trinket! and they provide free shipping now! Check it out!


Personally, I've never thought of having my own business, ever. There are many possible reasons why, but I think I've always been a talent/service based person rather than product based. One of the goods I can deliver are custom made cards. I made a whole bunch before I launched my Christmas card project. Here are a few I kept a record of:


Guitar shaped farewell card to a guitar freak. (Dude, do you still have it?!)
(Heavy weight paper, tape, marker)





Popup birthday card based on friends' favourite cartoon series - Happy Tree Friends. The character here is Giggles!
(Construction paper, marker, pencil crayons)

Let me know if you need some custom cards made, maybe I can start up my own business! :D

LV anime

Attn: Mr. Banana
Re: LV x anime "Superflat First Love"

To celebrate six years of their collaboration Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami have launched a short anime dedicated to the label's Multicolour Spring Palette. Superflat First Love is a sequel to the Superflat Monogram released in 2003. >>

I think it's pretty ridiculous. The electro-pop reminds me of the other abomination, MAC x Hello Kitty collaboration. This is quite corny to those of us who grew up on anime. The western world is three decades late on catching up with the anime trend. DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE REALLY CORNY???

Make your own shirt

http://www.shirtsmyway.com/

Design your own shirt - select a different fabric for each piece from individual cuff to inner collar. Pretty cool.

omg shoes

Shoes: This, this, or this?
Here are some sneaky pics:

Candidate #1:


Candidate #2:


Candidate #3

Leaning towards 3 b/c : versatile, comfortable for its height, and easy to slip on w/o annoying unbuckling/rebuckling. I already have a pair of flat gold/metallic sandals that can substitute for gladiators, thus eliminating #1. #2 doesn't seem very versatile; cork + wedge seem a bit too casual. I don't own many heels that feel comfortable enough to walk around in. I think I've made up my mind?

Shopping for me involves so many considerations! That's why I've got so little stuff to switch around in. So I've decided to buy a pair of "seasonal" shoes, instead of only buying things I'm sure I'll wear for 10 years. Later, Miss Granny Chan showed me this:

Watermelon Vans. As Granny said, "I would pay for these shoes if you dare to wear them out." Seems like something Mr. Cow would appreciate. Ridiculous shoes remind me of Mr. Hedgehog's "Bumblebee" sneakers back in high school. Reeboks or Nikes or whatever. Meh guy sneakers. Gonna shop more after my exam!! Got some DIY in mind. Now, have to continue not procrastinating and finish that thesis crap.

Why So Similar?: Zip dress

L: Leighton Meester in YSL. R: Silence & Noise Bat Wing dress @ UrbanOutfitters
Coincidence? UO has too many ripoffs already.

Best Fucking Episode in a loooonngg while!!

Guys - if you're heterosexual, you can scroll to the next entry now.

Gossip Girl - Southern Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Season 2 Episode 22)
Just when I thought Gossip Girl has officially picked up not only the character and cyclical plots of The OC but also the amount of excitement in being roadkill, it resuscitated itself! Yay! Turn away from that light at the end of the tunnel that is Mischa Barton's headbands!

There is finally depth and excitement in this episode. All the twists and turns and realistic decisions made! Did they just hire a psychologist? It's like the screenwriter and director had a reality check: Are our characters being too dramatic? Are they making 180 degree personality changes too often? Are we forcing the characters into committing too much incest?? Is every fucking body going to end up in one family!?

Ok, details without giving away the plot. I am so glad they finally decided to inject some personality into Nate, even though it makes him do a 180. The reason is believable, but I think he could pull it back a bit. I think Nate looks hotter evil :) One reality check! ✔

Oh Blair, I've got so much love for Leighton. For a moment, her voice inside the vehicle was so deep and mature, that's when I realized I see so much potential in Leighton as an actor. I understand she's supposed be the shit-stirrer of the show, so I understand her erratic schemes. She managed to finally wake up and made some wise, mature decisions this episode. Another reality check!✔

One more for having such a hot photo. ✔

Chuck. Typical. So uncool for being disloyal.
All guys need to wear a silk scarf tucked into a purple polo with popped collar under a velour tracksuit to play basketball. No?

NO! No check. Ed W, lose some weight please. It's not you, it's just the show. No checks. I should be giving out thumbs down.

What's with all the secrets?! Best friends tell each other everything right?? What happened to your integrity, Vanessa, and look what mingling with Upper East Siders has done to you! Vanessa is probably the most unnecessary character on the show except as a door prop for the eccentric and colourful fashion wardrobe. But she is one honest door prop! One check for honest door props! ✔

The OMJC t-shirts! LOL! Way to try please Christian viewers. No check though, it's just silly. BUT a check for bringing back the wolf in sheep's clothing! Don't schmance me with reformed schemers. They're rotten to the core! ✔

Dan and Jenny... a side plot today, but I loved the gesture. I'm all for lovey dovey warm moments. Check :) ✔

Ok, I've been very generous today. 7 checks! Hope I'll get at least this many checks on my thesis! Presentation on Monday -______- FIRST ONE TOO!! WTF?! FML!!

A Lady with a Camel head

The Cuchini:

That shit will set you back $15 for two pads. Once you have your Cuchini pads, just place it over your hungry-hungry-hippo-cooze and voila! No camel toe. You will go from looking like a biological female with organic vagina lips to looking like you've got an 8" dick tucked into your ass crack. Fatty crotch to tranny crotch in a matter of seconds! >>

No comment.

Link: Boobs - Perky, Saggy, Extraordinary

Denise Richards' Funbags!!



Sheyla Hershey is plastic surgery crazy - going from FFF cup to KKK to MMM, causing her to have a heart problem and another procedure complicates her pregnancy. >>



After the fact that a walrus knows how to dance more than me, an 83 year old granny pulls moves like this. *wimpers in a corner* >>

In other news, Geocities is closing!! Yes, erase all evidence of pages I've created back around Y2K!!

I came up with this exact hair style one morning before school around 4-6 years ago. I also started wearing my hair in a bun with a thin headband one day 5-6 years ago, before it was trendy. I'm guessing I'm ahead-of-my-time in hairstyles? Is that my talent then?? What a waste of time taking Physics and Calculus. Psshh.

This is so freaky but I am so curious! One thing I don't wana do to my hair is teasing it. It's frizzy enough; I don't need more damage! Been hearing a lot of positive reviews...

Bumpits™ Hair Inserts are self gripping leave-in, volumizing hair inserts that give you instant volume and let you enjoy feeling confident and beautiful, like you just stepped out of a professional salon!

>> Order now! (I'll steal a large one from you)

Link: I am preparing their tombstones.

New low, Lohan

No shit I can write this, but I'd slap myself for filming it.

"Family too fat to work" asks for more welfare

They want money because they're too fat to work. One is claiming disability benefits due to asthma and different sicknesses as a result of obesity. Lose some weight people! You are worse than those people who gamble their money away. I'd rather help homeless people than help you. You don't deserve help.
Source

Crocs is dying

Don't even bother clicking.
Source

Clever Utensils

These utensils were designed to float with a hollow area in the middle. When you do your dishes, they don't have to be fully submerged. Only the part that touches food gets really dirty, so why soak the entire utensil in oily dishwater?? I love it when function meets design. Function > Design!

Src = http://www.seongyonglee.com/

Uggshion

I don't understand the "chandelier"!!!!! -- Barbie's Malibu dream home

I do not want????? -- Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's fashion show via Dlisted

I should read CNN more. The articles are so well written. Thanks to Anderson Cooper's twitter, I'll be updated.


---- Update ----

To those who have been looking for an anti-Bucketlist, it's your day today. I present to you the FuckItList. People are Twittering about the things they don't care to do before they die. Who says that we have to lose 10lbs, go skydiving, watch a U2 concert, or live like a Survivor before we kick it? Fuck it. -- FuckItList

UO watercolour skirt

I desperately want this skirt. :(
I've already tried it on, and there are raving reviews on the website. Should I...? $60???? It's "silk", and reviews claim it is indeed delicate. But I'm going to check the material label at the store again, just in case.

Whether silk or not, should I pay $60 for this gorgeous, delicate skirt?


Also, these Jeffery Campbell shoes. I shouldn't have read the raving reviews as well. :(

I don't think I should go on UO's website any more -___-

It's a war out there.

I've been going on several (window) shopping trips recently.. in preparation for Boxing Day Sale. I have a game plan -- a shopping list in the form of a collage. And BOOYYYYY, did I shop!! I splurged quite a bit.. a list of my war prizes.


I've gone photobucket - edit crazy. Then the save failed on me again. I don't know what's going on with this image...


First, the greatest prize of all:

Aritizia virgin wool coat with 15% cashmere, double breasted with standing collar and belt, with slim waist cutting, reaches just above the knee. It has everything I've been looking for in a winter coat. Here is the crazy story that accompanies this coat:

I first noticed this coat a month ago when I went to Yorkdale and made the routine visit to Aritzia. I saw this rack of winter coats - only hip length and saw they were quite nice. Then I noticed there was a longer version. You can get this Virgin Wool Tabula coat for $350 +tax. Holieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. That's almost $3000 HK. I wanted this in long and gray, while a friend was deciding between the short or long version in black. We decided that if it went on sale, we would consider. Later, I went shopping with a friend downtown and I mentioned that I liked a coat from Aritizia... and we ended up liking the exact same one, long and gray! we both thought it was too pricey, so didn't think too much of it.
Come boxing day, and the moment I stepped into Aritzia I made a beeline straight for the rack of long coats. I searched and searched for a long gray one in XSMALL, but only found a black one. I asked a friend to line up at the cash first, and I took one last check all around the shop in case someone stashed it in a corner. No luck. And as I stood in line holding the coat, still contemplating on this $299+ tax, I got a call and kept talking as the line moved... andvery soon, I approached the cashier who began asking, "what is your method of payment?" I handed over my credit card while still on the phone.. and somehow, vacantly, frantic, hypnotized.... dreading the bill in my mind, while signing the receipt... I paid $337.78 for this baby. This coat, I will wear for the next 10 winters.

Next, is my first purchase:

A blue tiered dress from an unknown brand. The shop usually sells an assortment of brand name items, and I found this really cute dress for $14.99! I can wear this with leggings, jeans, a blazer, cardigan, for clubbing, dinners, banquets, lunch, anything! What a deal!

Next is my cheapest purchase on boxing day:

A Zara fedora in trendy plaid for $9.95! I better wear it often :)

And next, is my post-boxing day splurge...

This Armani Exchange tux blazer was spotted and tried after spotting a similar one in FCUK on a followup trip to Yorkdale, which had sleeves too long. This was a bit better... and fits so well. A splurge that I consider an investment, because like the coat, it is in a classic shape and fitting cut that I can wear for many seasons. It was worth the $69+tax = 77.xx. What a splurge....

Next are some things I bought before boxing day madness.

My sisster made an order for Forever21 online, and I ordered along with several plain t shirts a plaid lumberjack blouse. It's such a seasonal item, and I was shocked to find that it was not a flimsy cotton tissue but of a thick, though synthetic, material. It's a bit loose fitted, so I might need to wrap a thin belt over it. I think it was under $25.
The sweater next to it is from H&M - kid's section! It was quite a find. I always check out H&M kid's section because the clothes are cheaper and the largest size fits me. It's got buttons, a belt, and hood - pretty nice features for a warm, snug sweater. Just when I needed one :) $29.00.

Also in the picture are some items from today: a blue pleated top from UO for $5, and a vintage hankie my sister found in the market - Christian Dior for $5!! That goes with the item in the bauhaus bag... it's not actually from bauhaus, but I put it in there.... it's a secret for now :)

I also bought a pair of booties from Zara - beige faux suede for $39.95. Thought I'd give them a try when the snow and puddles disappear!!

At the end of the month, I would need to tally my injuries (in my credit card bill) and fabricate some numbers to show the Economic Authority/Financer.




Gosh, Sindy. What a conceited post. Spending so much money when I have no school during this economic crisis. Huge splurges too!!!! arghhhhhh

Despite their peace signs, Hong Kong locals are quite trendy

calf-high Gladiator sandals with zippers in the back, Aladdin style pants, ...
These were all the rage amongst trendier Hong Kong regions (TST, Causeway) five years ago. To more conservative dressers and North American cultured kids living off Quiksilver and Tommy, those are the most horrendous sights and shames of the FOBs. Now that haute couture and fashion powerhouses (the first few huge brand names off the top of your head) are on fire with these abominations.