★☆ A Nice Day Off with Reiko :) ☆★

[Listening to 恋愛♥ライダー (Renai Rider) by J-pop band Buono! - if you like the anime Shugo Chara, you'd know this song! :) ]

Hello again everyone :) I hope you're doing well - I know I certainly am :)

Before I begin, just wanted to update you guys about the DSKJewelry contest:

As you guys know, 44 girls, including myself, entered to be the new model for the DSK Jewelry line. It's very impressive how Steph's work has reached many girls all over the place, and I'm very proud to have been one of the 44 :) I didn't make it, but a shoutout and a big congratulations to Kayleigh! You go, girl! :D

This was one of the best experiences of my life and I'll definitely be doing this again next year :Dv I'll always be supporting DSK Jewelry! Steph's website is here if you want to take a visit:

http://dskjewelry.blogspot.com

So, I had my day off today, and I decided it would be fun to take my camera with me and show you guys my favorite places to go and things to do :) I haven't made many videos since getting my new Samsung digital camera, so I decided try out something new and have fun with it :) I'll be editing later when I get home from work tomorrow, but I can't wait to try it out and share my day with you!

I was able to take some pictures along the way too, and they'll be posted here :)

Here's a few pics I took of me before I headed out the door :) I love the Beauty function on my camera!

I wear my DSK Jewelry proudly :)

I added one of the small crystals from the Strawberry Lemonade necklace for a fun and sweet look :)

My Earth crystal earrings - they're so beautiful and iridescent in the light :)

My Dainty Moonlight Heart bracelet - I love the tiny heart chain :)

I even straightened my hair a bit - I almost never do, but I was feeling good today. :)

The first place I had to stop by before anyplace else was the post office again to drop off the rest of my textbooks. I had two big boxes and one nicely sealed padded envelope. After a 10-minute wait, I was able to drop them off, but there was a problem with one of the boxes: The label was completely different from the ones that I delivered last week and didn't have a label for postage. This was how the label came after I processed the books online, which really sucked because I had to pay $6 extra for postage... Well, you get some and you lose some. =/ What matters now is that the textbooks are well on their way and I should be hearing back soon from the websites about payments for my books. The money will go toward me getting my new phone - I've decided to finally get an iPhone :) Whee!

I love going to libraries; I love being around books and I always find something new each time. It has been a while since I've checked something out so I decided to pay the Central Library a visit for a book inquiry and looking for new music CDs. It turns out that so long as my books are fairly recent (by a couple of years), I can donate them there. On Thursday morning, I'll pay them a visit again so that they can take a look at my books - they might be able to have good use of them :)

It didn't take me very long to find some new CDs to listen to. By the time I came downstairs, I already had 11 albums in my arms!

Jessie James - Jessie James

Ryan Cabrera - Take It All Away

Vanessa Hudgins - Identified

The Phantom of the Opera Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Josh Groban - Josh Groban Live at the Greek


Josh Groban - Josh Groban Awake Live

I stumbled upon a few albums by Japanese artist, Kitaro - apparently he's a Grammy Award-winning artist!

Kitaro - Thinking of You

Kitaro - Mandala

Kitaro - Best of Kitaro

Step Up 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Enrique Iglesias - Escape

I wished I was able to take pictures inside the library, but I didn't want to take the risk of getting yelled at...

I got hungry, so I went across the street to one my favorite places: Tropical Smoohtie Cafe :) I worked here a couple of years ago and I come back to visit when I can :)


This a really cool cookie bouquet! This was made by Cookies by Design - The Original Cookie Bouquet Company, just a couple of stores down from Tropical Smoothie Cafe :)

My late lunch! :) A Get Up and Goji smoothie and a Sesame Chicken salad - yummers!

After eating I headed off to my favorite hangout spot: Barnes and Noble! As I said, I love being around books! If I could, I would spend an entire day either at the library or at B&N :) My favorite sections to read are the cookbooks, manga, and New Age. :)


I posted on Twitter that I love being in the New Age section, looking at the Astrology books because I think it's really interesting and mysterious how it weaves into our lives. It's interesting to read about, but really, I think that we are the ones who have control of what we do in our lives - just got to have strength to believe in yourself! :)

Apparently I spent about 2 1/2 hours at B&N! I guess time really does fly when you're having fun and enjoying yourself!

I gave Sephora a visit since I'm running out of my concealer... I usually use Make Up Forever brand, but as much as I love it, I was looking for something that was still of great quality and easy on my budget. I was referred to the Sephora collection and got the concealer stick. I also got a couple of products from Philosophy that I'm going to try out later on tonight. I guess it's going to be another entry of "Does it Work?" for these products! They'll be shown in the pictures below.

...I got hungry again, so went to a really cute and yummy frozen yogurt shop called Swirls! They opened at the beginning of the summer in Lynnhaven Mall. Taylor and I have been here before and they have neat flavors for the yogurts; our current favorite was green tea :) They didn't have green tea today though, but I picked out the pineapple coconut and cookies and cream yogurts.

You can even top off your yogurt with fruit, cookie dough, candy, cookies, sprinkles and cereal!

I stayed on the healthy side and added my favorite fruit :)
Did I forget to mention that I'm really liking this over gelato?? It's healthier for you and I got 10oz of this for about $4! Healthy for my body and my budget, lol!

From here I gave @SleeplessFish aka Taylor a visit; it was a very short visit, so no pictures >_< onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09C3NMpFr5kjMtP4FntGlRvF7KVSF5Zr4qDQ79UdsV5mNNn8ixAT0_IIFakcFw5eaPJk58ynfmhBAVYiI-G09NFY-6M0keAFAlivXgjEydxjr6zu19fi2_ZYXMb_01CzuCFTkeHDed04/s1600/SAM_0745.JPG">

Philosophy's Purity One-Step Facial Cleanser - I've heard many good things about this and I can't wait to try it out :)

Philosophy's Hope in a Jar moisturizer

I've never owned anything by Dior before, so this is exciting! This is a sample of Dior's Multiperfection Cream; it's supposed to help lighten darkened complexions and wrinkles on your face.

The concealer stick from the Sephora Collection in Medium :)

It pays off to be a member! I got a free birthday gift!

Included was mascara, white eyeshadow and eye pencil :)

I can't wait to use them soon!

All right, time to rest my tired hands... Again ^-^ I hope you had fun reading :) I'll come back tomorrow with another fun entry for you~! I'll also be editing my videos so you can come along with me on this fun day :)

Until then, sweet beautiful dreams xoxo

~Reiko xoxo

☆Does It Work - 5-hour Energy Update!☆

[Currently listening to "Vertigo" by U2 :) ]

Hey everyone, I'm back! ...after a really LONG day, yes, I'm alive and... surprisingly very much awake!

...I'm guessing you guys are wondering, "Reiko... Did you even go to sleep last night?"

Well, truth be told: I only had about 2 hours of sleep in the last couple of days. No joke, and I know that it's not something that I really should be proud of either. If you saw my face this morning prior to putting on concealer and the rest of my make-up, you guys would be 99.9% be more likely to run for it... if I could put it that way. I put on A LOT of make-up to where I don't think you could really tell that I barely slept. (Actually, very few of my co-workers knew or even noticed... or so I may think!)

I was very much awake all day, and I'll get to the Does It Work?! product in a bit, but... I do want to touch onto something on the side for a moment.

Remember when I said that I wouldn't be doing all-nighters for my schoolwork? Well... You guys can slap my hand: I didn't follow through. I was able to finish my Art History homework this morning and did very well on it. However, as good as it may have felt to be able to finish my work, I'm actually a bit more disappointed that I wasn't taking care of myself as much as I should have while doing so. As a result of lack of sleep and high levels of stress, I noticed upon cleansing my face this morning that... Yes, my face started breaking out with a few small pimples on my forehead and face. =(

For those of you who may not realize this: yes, stress can cause your face to break out. An adequate amount of sleep allows your body to rest and recooperate; when you're awake the next day, the stress levels in your body won't be so high and you will feel less stressed and more relaxed. In addition, your body (rather, your immune system) will become weaker and your body will become more vulnerable to getting sick... or worse. If you want to stay strong and healthy, love your body by giving it some time to rest. I know, I've done it too and may still do it here and there, but I'm taking the baby steps to get better by making efforts to sleeping better.

Okay, now let's get back to the Does It Work?! product: the 5-hour Energy drink. Not long after finishing my previous blog (past midnight my time), I drank half of the bottle for a safe start.

When I consumed the first half of the bottle, I thought that the drink actually tasted nice, but a bit tart. I guess that's supposed to give the impression that you'll feel energized starting from the pang in the aftertaste; that didn't really work with me, but soon after, I began to read and review my materials for Art History before taking the homework quiz. I never really paid attention to the time while I was buried into my notes and monster of a textbook, but by the time I finished everything, it was almost 6 a.m. and I had to leave for work at 9. I was shocked. When did the energy truly kick in? I don't think I'd really know, but what I do know is that while I studied, I never felt so focused and awake for doing homework in such a long time... It actually felt great.

As I got myself ready for work, I wondered what would happen if I drank the other half of the bottle while in this state. You guys are probably thinking, "Reiko, you're out of your mind!" and... yes, I very well may have been, but you know what? That small bit of "energy" kept me up and alert during my 8-hour shift today. 8 HOURS. And long was it orginally supposed to last? It was another busy day during lunch and dinner and not only did I feel awake and alert, but I had this feeling like I wanted to keep moving, to keep going... as if I were a machine or something! It felt good, but I'll admit it was a bit scary as well. Again, I'm shocked that this product had kept me up this long, and as I'm typing this, I'm feeling a little bit tired. Not to the point of passing out though, but we've yet to see about that, right?!

The pros: For me, the 5-hour Energy drink kept me awake, alert and focused. I may have yawned a few times during the day which would lead to where I may be feeling tired but my mind stayed focused and sharp.

The cons: I mentioned that this product made me feel like I want to keep going, and I had the feeling that this may not be a good sign. True, I was going about very well with what I was doing at work, but at the same time I couldn't help but to think that if I kept going, what were the chances that I might lose focus and I get myself injured or something? For the rest of the shift, I definitely slowed down despite the jitters.

I can't truly determine if I'll feel the crash when I get to bed after this, but that's something to blog about later on. So here's the verdict:

Does It Work?! : YES

Would I buy this product again? : I'm not sure!

I would think that I may use this product again in the future if I really do need to be up and focused. And as I learned the hard way, I wouldn't recommend doing this for an all-nighter for homework... or even after! (So to my fellow college student readers: try not to make this too much of a habit!) I'd also recommend to not rely on this product too much though for health reasons, and you also need to allow your body to do what it can do without it. We're only human and can only do so much so don't push yourself over your own limits... Otherwise, you're going to crash in the end. =(

...and speaking of crashing, it's time for me to get myself to bed. Good night everyone! I wish you sweet dreams and an even brighter tomorrow :)

With starry love,


~Reiko ☆*.

☆Does It Work?! - Smooth Away and 5-Hour Energy ☆

[Currently listening to Britney Spears' "The Single Collection" in random, starting with "3" ]

All right, something new and interesting to share with you all! I’m starting a “Does It Work?!” series, where I find some interesting products, try them out, and review and share my results. In this entry, I’ll be sharing with you 2 products I just so happened to find today!

So before getting home earlier today, I stopped by a 7-11 close to where I live to pick up a snack. On my way to the snack aisles, I happened to come across a box on the front shelf for the product called “Smooth Away”. Perhaps you’ve seen the infomercial claiming that this product gently exfoliates your skin while “smoothing away” unwanted hairs anywhere on your body. Yes, I have seen the infomercial myself, and I too have wondered if it really does work. For some of the guys who may be reading this blog, in case you don’t know – most of us, the ladies, like the feeling of having soft smooth legs, which is why we shave them. Now I don’t mind using razors, but I too have wondered if there are other ways of achieving this without the fear of using razor blades or waxing. Feeding to my curiosity, I decided to buy the pack and try it out for myself.

After picking up my snack, I realized that I’m going to have to find some way to keep me awake after finishing my blog entry so that I could work on my Art History homework assignments. I wasn’t in the mood for coffee; I needed something good that would help keep me up and focused. Then I decided to buy the 5-hour Energy drink in pomegranate flavor – the tiny bottle with the drink that supposedly works more effectively than coffee and without the crash. I’ve been wondering about this product for a while, so tonight, I’m going to try this out.

So there we have it! Our 2 products, Smooth Away and 5-hour Energy: Do They Work?!

I’m starting with opening the box for Smooth Away, and here are the contents:
-A light green travel bag
-1 large pink applicator (to put on your hand)
-1 small pink applicator (to put on your finger)
-A sheet manual
-Small pack of exfoliating pads

Upon seeing the products in the pack, and even before opening the pack itself, I had the feeling that I wasn’t going to like this, but I had to give this a try. After applying the small exfoliating pad with its corresponding applicator (which, by the way, are like stickers), I tested it out on my left hand. It does feel like very, very dull sandpaper which is good so that it doesn’t roughen up the skin; after doing 3 circular motions counter/clockwise as according to the manual, I felt no immediate reaction on my skin. So far so good – I’m not allergic to it! The sheet manual says to continue doing this to the area until all the hair has been removed, “smoothed away” rather, so I kept doing so until I noticed a difference on my hand – it felt nice and smooth, and the thickness of the hair on my hand (not that I had much to begin with anyway) had lessened from the exfoliating pad. So from what I could see, the small application worked out well.

Now for the bigger challenge: the large applicator for bigger areas. Unfortunately, I failed in attempting to make a “before” and “after” picture since my camera’s being lame, but I decided to test this applicator out on my left knee and part of my leg. Again, I used counter/clockwise motions and upon doing this, I saw that the hairs were basically being sanded away. The results: my knee and part of my leg felt smooth and soft and it did a very nice job in “smoothing away” the hairs without much irritation or bumpiness. It’s actually quite nice as opposed to having to deal with razor burns afterwards.

The pros: This product has proven itself to be a pain-free way to remove unwanted hairs. The exfoliating pad leaves the skin smooth and without leaving bumpiness on the skin.

The cons: Later on, I tried using the product on my upper lip, and again the hairs were removed and my skin feels very soft. Sadly, not all of the hair could be removed from this area due to the shape of the applicator; it could not reach the corners of my mouth no matter what I did, but since the hairs were close to the crease and were very light, I don’t think it would be that very noticeable.

Now, how long would the smoothness last? My prediction is that it will come back just as fast as it would if I were using the traditional razor. I’m going to wait a few days and see what happens, and I’ll let you all know the results when I do.

So… Does It Work?! YES

Would I buy this product again? Probably not. Yes, this product worked out well for me, but I don’t think I’d be using this very much. My Venus Soleil razor works just fine so I’m more than likely to be using the traditional stuff than this product after all.

If you have used this product before, or if you are interested and want to try this product for yourself, share your experiences with me in the comments section below. I know that there will be a lot of different opinions about this, and a lot of products are not for everyone. Oh, I should also say that the box says that it’s not recommended for diabetics so… Use at your own risk, and let me know!

I’m going to try the 5-Hour Energy drink now, and I’ll begin doing my reading and homework for Art History. I’ll post the overall results later on, so be sure to look for an updated entry for the blog.

I’m already feeling confident about this product, but I can’t go flying off the handle on it just yet. Upon looking at the bottle, it says that I should be feeling the energy within minutes of consumption and should last for hours. Hmm… We shall see about that, now won’t we? ;) The instructions on the bottle say to consume half the bottle for a moderate amount of energy or a whole bottle for the maximum strength. I’ll start off consuming half the bottle and see how this goes.

Stay tuned for the results!

xoxo,
~Reiko ☆*.

☆How to Exfoliate Your Face: A Tutorial☆

[Currently listening to Late Night Alumni's "Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Etc." album in random, starting with "Light Reading"]

This morning, as I was working on my Old Testament homework and realizing that I haven't washed my face yet, I also realized that I was in dire need of exfoliating the skin peeling off from my face. See? ...gross. I KNOW.
I had to do something about it - it couldn't wait. And before I even started to fix this problem, I had an idea:

...write a blog entry about it.

Originally, I'd never thought I'd be doing beauty tutorials here on my blog... But why not? I'm still new to this so a bit of support would help along the way! :Dv

This is a simple, inexpensive and effective way to exfoliate the skin on your face: using your facial cleanser, a gentle soap like Dial or Dove and ...a toothbrush.
NO, not using the one you actually use on your teeth, sillies. (That's just gross!) Use an extra toothbrush that you can use to exfoliate your face! Choose a toothbrush that has soft bristles that are also effective in peeling away dead skin, excess oils and dirt from your face. In the end, this should make your face not only free from the dirt and oils, but feeling fresh and radiant. It can also help reduce the appearance of blackheads too. So, if you're ready for a clean face, let's get started!

(Note: The products that I'm using for this tutorial are Clean&Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser with accompanying oil-free moisturizer; and my travel-size toothbrush, a gift from mom. I suggest that you choose facial products that work best with your skin!)
After pulling my hair back away from my face (...okay, not really.), I splash my face with cold water. I know some of you might cringe at the thought of doing so, but this helps to awaken your face and helps the blood flow in the face area. Splash water on your face for about 10-15 seconds. After that, I take a gentle, moisturizing soap (I used Dial here) and lather it all over the face.
Then, taking your toothbrush, let the bristles rest lightly and gently on the face; using light, gentle circular motions, begin exfoliating your face (you may need to look in the mirror for this). Let the bristles do the work, and just let your hand guide the way. You may be able to see the dead skin being scrubbed away. (I know it's gross, but cool at the same time!)
After exfoliating the face, rinse throughly with warm water to get all the soap and other "stuff" off. But don't dry your face just yet! Next, I take some of the Morning Burst facial cleanser and apply it all over my face, using circular motions on my fingertips - this will help to apply the cleanser to all areas of the face. Don't forget problem areas where acne and pimples are more likely to occur. Do this for about 60 seconds. After that, rinse your face with warm water, removing all of the cleanser, and pat your face dry with a towel. Your face should feel refreshed and awake at this point.
Don't forget to moisturize your face! While exfoliating, you not only opened up the pores to clean the dirt but also stripped away the natural moisture in your skin in the process. Bring the moisture back by adding moisturizer - best if it's oil-free so it does not clog your pores.
If you notice redness or irritation on your skin, it's more than likely that you weren't being gentle enough while exfoliating - softer is better! Or, if this doesn't work well for you, facial scrubs may be a better option for you, such as St. Ives Apricot Scrub. (I have Premier's Exfoliating & Cleansing Facial Gel - it's more on the expensive side but I got it from a friend!) Using a toothbrush can be effective, but I don't recommend using harsh materials such as exfoliating gloves - you don't want to roughen up your beautiful face!I recommend exfoliating your face at least 1-2 times a week, best done at night before going to bed; the skin needs to not only breathe but be given time to regenerate and bring out what we like to have: clearer, cleaner skin.

Beauty really is skin deep.
Try this out and let me know what you think! Here's to a brighter face and a happier you!

Much happiness and love,
~Reiko ☆*