Link Love #2

I'm back with another post about things I've been watching, listening to, and cooking recently.

Music:
This is Your Fight Song (Rachel Platten Scottish Cover) - The Piano Guys. This just sounds amazing. The Scottish scenery is breathtaking. It's something really nice to watch and listen to. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.
Hanap-Hanap - James Reid & Nadine Lustre. JaDine is bae. While I don't understand tagalog it didn't stop the song from getting stuck in my head. James and Nadine's voices sound amazing together. I also looked up the lyrics to this song in English. The video is adorable.
Christmas Medley | Anthem Lights. I love Christmas and I love Anthem Lights. Put those together and you get something amazing. Their harmonies are perfect. I could listen to this song all day.
The Prayer - David Archuleta & Nathan Pacheco. These two have amazing voices on their own, but together they're extraordinary. I love how the song is both English and Italian because it brings back memories of singing Italian hymn for me. Their take on this song is beautiful.

Watching:
Vlogmas. December is my favourite time of year to watch Youtube videos because my most of my favourite Youtubers to Vlogmas, which if you don't know is vlogging every day till Christmas. Some of my favourite people to watch this year are Donal Skehan, Fleur, Lily Pebbles, Amelia Liana and Zoella (she has the best into.)
The Peanuts Movie. I remember watching Charlie Brown as a kid. This movie makes my inner child happy. It's so nostalgic to see your favourite characters come to life again. It's sure to make you laugh. If you're looking for a feel-good film watch this.

Food:
Cabbage Roll Casserole. I've never been a big fan of cabbage rolls, but I actually loved this casserole version of the dish. It's an updated way to eat a classic. I think the fact that it's covered in cheese and baked is what made it for me.
Honey Sriracha Chicken. I love when a dish has a mix of sweet and spicy and that is exactly what you get in this dish. I love sriracha, which is the main reason I made this.
Hunan Dumplings. Dumplings covering in a peanut sauce. What more can you ask for. It's delicious.
Sausage Rolls. I feel like Donal has updated this classic appetizer. Everyone loves a good sausage roll. I haven't made them yet, but I plan to make them for Christmas.
Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. I love anything chocolate. I like to find healthier ways of having a sweet treat without skimping on flavour. This is a good one. The zucchini keeps the muffins moist. When you eat it you wouldn't even think that there's a vegetable in it.

Merry Christmas!

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

November & December Favorites!

This was going to be my November favorites post, but since I've also been loving these things in December I decided to combine them into one post. There are my November and December monthly favorites.

Colourpop Super Shock Cheek Highlighters in Wisp and Monster
I'm a huge fan of Colourpop highlighters. I may eventually buy them all. They're easy to apply and they give your cheeks a beautiful glow. Wisp is a golden champagne shade that is said to be a dupe for Becca Opal. I was afraid it would be too dark on me but it's actually really nice; therefore, it's a shade that will look flattering on everyone. Monster is unlike anything I own. It's a pale pink with an iridescent duo-chrome finish. It gives you a serious glow. I've been alternating between the two, so I couldn't pick one to be my favorite because I love them both.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure
This blush has been on my wishlist for a long time. I bought it as a birthday gift to myself, which coin-sided with the Sephora VIB sale. I would descibe it as a neutral mauvy shade. It's a shade that you can't get wrong. It works with many different looks because it won't overpower bold eyes or lips. It's shimmery but it's subtle. I love pairing it with Colourpop's Monster for extra glow.

Essie Angora Cardi
I bought this shade because I saw Amelia wearing it in a lot of her video. It's described as a deep rose purple. I had trouble coming up with a description of it because it's not purple and it's not pink. I guess I would call it a muted plum. It's a beautiful shade. I think it's underrated because it's a dark but not vampy and it can often get overlooked. I glanced over it for years and now I can't imagine my collection without it. It wears 4 days on me with very little chipping. The formula is amazing. I could have gotten away with one coat but I always prefer to apply two coats. I think this is a shade that everyone needs in their collection.

Random Favorites

Music:
One Thing - Hillsong Worship
Rise As One - TVQX!
One Love - E.D.E.N.
The First Noel (Holy is the Lord) - Hillsong Worship
Merry Christmas Everyone - Rend Collective

K-Dramas:
Mrs. Cop (available on dramafever and viki)
You're All Surrounded (available on dramafever and viki)
Reply 1988  (available on dramafever)

Books:
Finding Perfect by Kendra C. Highley

Food
Healthy Pasta Bake from The Chiappas 

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

October Favorites!

I'll be honest, this post is going up later than I wanted it to. I'm just going to blame midterms. Here are the things I've loved in October.

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation
This foundation has been in my collection for quite some time, but I never used it consistently until this month. I originally bought it in the spring and didn't like the matte look that it gave me, but now that the weather has changed I decided to give it another shot and liked it. I like that it gives me a matte but not flat finish. Throughout the day it makes me look a little dewy but not oily, thus; I don't feel the need to touch up. The only thing that I don't like about this foundation is the shade range. I originally bought the shade 101 Classic Ivory (which is my shade in True Match) and it a little pale for me, so I tried the shade 102 Shell Beige and that one seems to work better but I find it a little too yellow-toned. I might try mixing the two shades to see if that gives me a perfect match. It's a great foundation but I think the shade range isn't accurate.

This month I've worn a lot of warm-toned makeup such as: MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, MAC Velvet Teddy and Chanel Adrienne.
Warm Soul is the perfect blush to use to define the cheek bones. The shade is a bronzy beige with shimmer it in. For me, it acts as a blush, highlighter and almost bronzer hybrid because it gives my cheeks the warmth of a bronzer, the glow of a highlighter and the color of wearing blush. I think it's a great blush to have in your collection.
Velvet Teddy is a matte warm-toned beige. On my lips it leans a little orange and I think it's great for this time of year because the color makes me think of leaves.
Adrienne is a warm-toned nude similar in tone to Velvet Teddy but the formula is creamy. It's also more of a peach-toned nude. It's a great everyday shade and I've been wearing it more than I thought I would.

Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask
This face mask has been on my wishlist for the longest time. I finally decided to purchase it this month. I'm so glad that I did because using it during midterm season was the most relaxing thing that I did all month. It has a pleasant scent and doesn't irritate my skin. It also made my skin look so glowy and healthy afterwards. It also made me feel calm. I would definitely recommend this product and it is completely worth the hype.

Random Favorites:

TV Shows:

Sassy Go Go/Cheer Up! (Why do k-dramas have multiple names?!)
This has become one of my favorite k-dramas of all time. It explores real issues that people go through in high school. Not only does it explore the pressure of going through high school, it also addresses mental illness, self-harm and both physical and emotional abuse. There are some dark moments, which might offend some people, but there are so many great moments of friendship and love as well. There's also cheerleading involved but the serious topics often outshine the cheerleading aspects. The leads are my new otp. It only has 12 episodes, which I am extremely sad about. I watched the finale right before writing this post. There are some story lines that fell short but everything was addressed in the finale. I would recommend it to everyone, even people that have never watched a k-drama before but beware that heavy topics are involved. It will make you both smiling and crying in the span of two minutes, but the finale left me with tears of joy.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

Link Love #1

I've read many blog posts about things that people are loving online, so I decided to give it a try.

Shopping/Wearing 

I’m currently obsessed with this scarf from Zara. I got the Maroon one. It’s so comfy and warm. I love the colour and the zig-zag pattern. I’ve already started wearing it now but it’s going to be perfect in winter to add some colour to my black winter coat.

I’m also loving these J.Crew snap-front Pixie pants. I've always wanted a pair of Pixie pants because they've been raved about for years but I never liked the fact that they zip up at the back. Since these ones tie at the front I decided to take a change and order them. I took a big risk by ordering them online (since there is no J.Crew here) but I was familiar with their sizing from going to their store in Florida. They fit perfectly. I definitely understand why these have such a cult following. They’re the best of both worlds: they look like pants with the comfort of leggings. I almost don’t even want to take them off. 

This sweater from Reitmans is currently my favourite sweater and I want to buy it in the red shade as well. It’s so comfortable but it makes your outfit look polished at the same time. I’m loving everything at Reitmans right now. I’ve always liked their clothes but this season it seems like they really stepped up their game in the fashion world. 

The Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey mask is probably my favourite thing that I’ve put on my face in the past week. I first used it when I was taking a study break. It just took away all my stress and made me feel calm. It smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling refreshed. The hype around this product is extremely accurate. It may be pricy but it’s worth it. 

Colourpop have recently launched their Creme Gel Liners and Colours and I may have ordered way more then I actually need. My makeup collection is always lacking in the eyeliner category because I don’t wear it often. The shade selection sucked me in and they look just as pigmented as high end brand eyeliners. When I was in high school I wore eyeliner every single day whether it was black, purple or teal. Granted, I wore too much of it, but once I got to college I just stopped wearing it (maybe it’s because of the all-nighters). Hopefully this purchase will force me to rediscover my love of eyeliner. 

Watching

I’ve been watching Asian Dramas on Viki and Drama Fever. My current favourite K-dramas are Sassy GoGo/Cheer Up! (the male and female lead is my new OTP) and She Was Pretty. My favourite Taiwanese Drama at the moment is Love Cuisine and I’ve also started watching Taste of Love. I feel like too many dramas are centred around food. I’m not complaining because Asian cuisine is delicious; but, watching dramas tends to make me hungry. Additionally, the problem with watching dramas that are currently airing is the agony of waiting for new episodes/english subs. 

I also enjoyed watching Sense of Self: Estée Lalonde where Ingrid went to Estée’s house and we got to see things that she loves based on the five senses. I’ve been watching both Ingrid and Estée for a long time. Seeing them in a video together just feels like two of my friends are talking to me. Estée loves awesome things (maple syrup, yaaassss). 

Reading 

9 Must-Have Maybelline Products Launching in 2016. Beautezine has me excited for Maybelline’s upcoming launches. 

Wishlist 

Charlotte Tillbury Matte Revolution lipsticks in Very Victoria and Love Liberty 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Glow Palette 

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned (I blame Anna)
Chanel Illusion D'ombre in Mirage (Blame Anna again).

This scarf from Topshop that Lily Pebbles wears all the time.

This sweater from J.Crew, which is sadly sold out in my size. 

These Christmas Countdown planner stickers from LimeandMortar.

Have a great week! 

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

September Beauty & Lifestyle Favorites!

September has felt like a really long month for me. School and reading has taken over my life. I've been spending any of my free time watching Asian dramas. I haven't had much time to discover many beauty products because I've been wearing the same makeup almost everyday. Here are my September favorites.

Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour in Adrienne 
This lipstick is probably the most luxurious lipstick purchase I've ever made. I 100% blame Anna from ViviannaDoesMakeup for this purchase. It's basically the more sophisticated version of MAC Patisserie. While Patisserie is more pink under toned,  Adrienne is has a peach undertone. It's a perfect everyday nude lipstick. I would say that the shade would be in between MAC Patisserie and Velvet Teddy because it's similar to Patisserie but it more warm toned but it's not as dark as Velvet Teddy. The formula is creamy but sheer. I find that it wears well on me. The only issue I have with it is that it has a light floral scent. It's not overpowering but no one mentions that this lipstick has a scent. It can be a little drying on the lips too. If you love MAC Patisserie but want to go a step up you should definitely try Adrienne. This is a pricey lipstick, but I justified it because it's a shade that I can wear for any occasion.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Exposed 
I basically wear this blush every single day because it's easy. You can just slap it on even when you're in a hurry and it looks good. It's the perfect neutral blush. It's not too brown and not too pink. It's matte and lasts all day. It's the perfect blush for people who are afraid of blush. It's also great when you need a little wash of color so that you don't pale like a ghost. It's very pigmented so you only need a tiny amount. I think this blush is worth the price and it's a shade that everyone should have in their collection.

Lifestyle Favorites

TV Shows

She Was Pretty Yes, I'm continuing the theme of being obsessed with k-dramas. I started watching it because the plot sounded interesting and it was all over tumblr. I just hate that I have to wait for new episodes ever week. Choi Siwon's character is my favorite. He's the reason I keep watching it. The actual story is giving me anxiety. Kim Hye Jin's first love Ji Seoung Jun doesn't know that she's his childhood best friend because she made her best friend, Min Ha Ri pretend to be her because she doesn't think that she's pretty anymore and she didn't want to deceive his image of her. But then he ends up being her boss. He's starting to notice that her behaviour is similar to the his first love and the girl that he thinks is Hye Jin has the complete opposite personality as the Hye Jin he knew. So he's confused. And then, in yesterday's episode (episode 6) Ha Ri did something that basically violates the best friend/girl code.

On the Wings of Love
I found out about this show on tumblr. It's a filipino teleserye. It's very hard to find the episodes with english subtitles and I have to wait a long time for them. Anyways, the story is about a girl named Leah who goes from the Philippines to San Francisco. When her visa is about to expire she has a green-card marriage to Clark, her ex-boyfriend's cousin. At first Leah and Clark hate each other but then they become friends and start to develop feelings for each other. I ship Leah and Clark so much. The story is realistic because everything that happens is something that can actually occur in daily life. They said it would be a light series. They lied! Every episode breaks my heart into a million pieces for these two characters. P.S. Jigs is the most annoying character ever written! Every time he speaks I'm annoyed with him.

Music
Per te ci sarò - Il Volo (probably the best song they've ever sung)
Tornerà L'Amore - Il Volo (simply a beautiful song)
Il Volo released a new album at the end of the most, well three versions of it (Italian, Spanish and international versions), which basically means I have three times the songs to be obsessed with. Any song that they sing sounds amazing. I really want to see them in concert.

Radio - CNBLUE It's Korean. I don't understand most of the words but their sound is amazing and Jong-hyun is probably the best guitar player I've ever heard. It also helps that all four guys are really good looking.

Food
Butternut Squash and Pancetta Penne Gennaro Contaldo is one of the most entertaining people to watch. His recipes are so simple but extremely delicious.  I love pasta, I love pancetta and I enjoy butternut squash.This pasta dish is one of the best things I ever ate. I can't even describe how good it is. All I know is that you NEED to try it.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥