Review: Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick

Recently, I've been loving the lip products Revlon has been putting out. I normally don't wear lipstick, because of the majority of the brands I've tried (and as I'm sure some ladies would agree) - they were simply too drying on my lips, even when I coat my lips with lip balm before applying.

However, Revlon definitely has come out with lip products that are non-drying (and even moisturizing without the lip balm). By far, my favourite from them are the Revlon Lip Butters, then the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. So when I had the opportunity to try out Revlon's new ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick from their Revlon Selects package, I was hoping it would be like a mash-up between my two favourite lip products from them. However, it sort of was, and wasn't. I'll explain a little more down below.

So let's get to it, according to Revlon's website it says the lipstick has a moisturizing formula that includes shea butter and aloe.

It says to provide:

• Long lasting all-day colour
• Instant moisture
• Food proof wear
• Soft suede finish

So? with these claims, I set out to test it. As a part of my morning routine, lip balm always goes on before I step out the door. However, I didn't put any on yesterday morning. I stepped out the door at 7:30 a.m. and headed for work.

My opinion on the first initial swipe on the lips:

• Soft, smooth and lipbalm-y
• It does provide "instant" moisture
• The colour is nice and is buildable, you can rock a sheer look with one swipe, or with multiple swipes you can go for a more pigmented look.

Between 8 a.m - 4:30 p.m. I talk to customers, drink tea, and answer the phone.

My opinion after 2 hours:

• This isn't moisturizing
• I need lip balm, where's my lip balm?
• Why do my lips look old? (the lipstick does end up in the creases and lines of your lips)
• There's colour on my white cup (there's a slight transfer of colour onto the cup)

At that moment, I had to put on lip balm. 

By the end of the work day, my lips were still semi-coloured. The colour does stay on, but it fades like any other lipstick.

Comparing Revlon's ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick to my other two favourite lipsticks, I have have made my decision that it does have a 'staining' effect like the Just Bitten Kissables, but it is more drying. Like the Lip Butters, it also does have an 'instant' moisture effect when you first put it on, but unlike the Lip Butters, the moisture doesn't last. After a few hours the moisture on your lips disappears, and you feel like you have chapped lips even when you didn't have it to begin with.

Would I recommend this? and overall thought? To me, it's not any different than any other drying lipstick.

I'd stick with my Revlon Lip Butters and Just Bitten Kissables.

When You Think Too Much

How the thinkers mind works

What are some major events that can happen in your life?

Let's name a few: buying a home, moving to a different city, starting a new career, starting a new school, presenting a big speech, losing someone, a break-up, a divorce, and actually - many other things. When these situations happen, what are some of the things that go through your head? Do you go through all the possibilities of things that could happen? or are you the kind of person who let's life unfold itself?

I am the thinker, sometimes it's a good thing; sometimes not so much. Sometimes it creates stress and sometimes people get annoyed because you talk about it so much. Like my mom, she's a thinker. She told me, at the end of the day - when you think about it too much, you're actually making it a bigger deal than it actually is (coming from experience, of course).

So as a thinker, I tend to "think it out." But when it comes down to it; just remember to be happy, because life is too short to be anything but happy. Think positive, worry less, be happier, and stay strong.

The Search: Monster High Dolls in Winnipeg

Yeah, so it's true. I am collecting Monster High dolls. Frankie Stein to be exact. I wouldn't have expected myself to be into doll collecting. I mean, I can hear my mom saying to me (very loudly), "You're an adult now, why are you playing with dolls again?" Sigh. I am not playing with dolls. I am collecting. There's a difference!

When I first saw Monster High dolls in 2010, I looked at them (Frankie Stein in particular) and thought to myself "These are pretty cool dolls." To be honest, I did want one - just to have because they looked cool. But the thinking part of me said "Yeah, they're cool. But you don't REALLY NEED IT." So off I went on my merry way. Who would have thought two years later I would be kicking myself in the face for NOT getting the first wave of Frankie Stein? Not only is she impossible to find, but also major expensive. There was another instance where I had Dead Tired Frankie in my hand and I said to myself, "I don't really need it." Then, a few months later I went on a hunting spree trying to find her again. In the end, I did get Dead Tired Frankie, but not for the price I COULD have gotten it - which was $11.17 at Superstore. So now my rule (well my boyfriend's rule) is: Buy it when you see it. I guess he doesn't want to hear me whine about it.

However, out of my collection (School's Out, Ghouls Rule, Sweet 1600, Dead Tired, and Frankie Stein Fashion Pack).

My three favourites so far are:
Frankie Stein - Sweet 1600, which my boyfriend searched the entire city of Winnipeg for.
Frankie Stein - Dead Tired, which I got off eBay for a fairly decent price.
Frankie Stein - School's Out, which I found at Kohl's when I was taking a trip to the States.

The ones I still want to get:
Frankie Stein - Wave 1 Basic or the Limited Edition Black and White San Diego Comic Con Edition
Frankie Stein - Dawn of the Dance
Frankie Stein - Threaderella, Scary Tales

For anyone looking for Dead Tired Series, the last place I checked that still had them was at the Selkirk, MB, Walmart on Friday, August 31. There was a few Draculaura's and Ghoulia's left, if anyone was interested in getting them. I'd also probably call the store first before going if you're not from Selkirk and want to get them.

Anyhow, happy doll hunting!

Found a New Comic Site!

If you have read my previous blog posts, you'd know that I love reading comics and little cute comic doodles. I have just found a new site called The Oatmeal, and I'd wonder how I never found this site before!

I was scrolling through the various entertaining pages as I stumbled upon this one: How to Get More Likes on Facebook. Not only is it funny, it's also true. It doesn't help that it's cute too. I love it!

I recommend you check out this website as it has comics that covers almost everything. From music, to Breaking Bad, to birthday cards.

It's a cute little site if you want something funny to read.

Happiness is...

"Happiness is what you make it to be." He said.

Life always gets me thinking, and being in a relationship with someone who is happy and easy going makes me realize that there are things in life that just aren't worth dwelling about.
Being with someone who can keep a positive attitude in the worst of situations makes me see that I can do that too. It makes me see that living life and being happy everyday is important, which sometimes people forget about. My boyfriend is the one of the people who has made a big impact on my life (in a positive way, of course). Everytime I fret about the little details, or keep talking about something that has already happened that I can't change. His happiness and wisdom reminds me to not waste my energy on things that has already happened but to forgive and live today. I find that many people always look at the past, or look ahead to the future - which isn't a bad thing, but you are living now, so cherish it.

I also realize that my life isn't bad at all. I was fortunate to have grown up in a pretty happy family and have almost everything provided for. Food, shelter, clothes and all the necessities for decent living. So why in the world was I always complaining about the stuff I didn't have? I think society is so caught up in being better, and achieving more and living lifestyles like celebrities that we take everything that we have for granted. But when you think about some one who has less than you do, then you realize how fortunate you are.

The thing is though: how often do we think about someone who has less than you?
And why do we always compare ourselves to people who have more than we do?

I also stumbled upon a video that one of my favourite beauty gurus on YouTube made. It couldn't have come at  better time. I just wanted to share with you this video from Bubzbeauty which touched me very much and I'm sure it would touch you as well.

My Bucket List - What I Still Have to Do

In my previous post,  My Bucket List - 50 Things to Do I had listed the 50 things I wanted to do before I was 30 years old. Let's see how many of those I have accomplished so far. I've decided that some of the items on my bucket list may be a tad too expensive (like #46 diving to see the Titanic).

4. Go on a ghost tour
5. Stay out late and watch the stars all night
6. Be in a movie, whether as an extra or as the star
7. Watch the sun rise and set in the same day
8. Take the tour of Disney World’s underground tunnel system
9. Camp at the bottom of the Grand Canyon
10. Have a credit on IMDB.com (like my cousin Stan)
11. Be in a talk show audience (Oprah? ooh wait...)
12. Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue group.
13. Inner tube down a river
14. Make an oil painting (It's coming, it's coming!)
15. Confront at least one of your big fears (this one is bugs and creepy crawlies) This is my next task I'm working on.
16. At least attempt to tackle every dream and goal you’ve ever had. (This is continuous)
17. Take one day to just watch the clouds and take one night just to watch the stars.
18. Travel for a full year. (Oh my!)
19. Vacation on a house boat
20. Live without email, IM, or cell phone for a week (I've tried this, it hasn't been successful so far)
21. Be on a TV news program for something positive
22. Stomp grapes at a vineyard
23. Create an invention
24. Learn how to drive a tractor
25. Send a message in a bottle
26. See the pyramids in Egypt
27. Learn to juggle
28. See a solar eclipse
29. Visit the rain forest
30. Create a family tree
31. Find more about my ancestry
32. Walk the Great Wall of China
33. Visit the Taj Mahal
34. Visit Dubai
35. Sing and perform in public.
36. Fly a helicopter
37. Ride a roller coaster
38. Start a social movement
39. Go vegetarian for a month
40. Learn martial arts
41. Win a draw
42. Plant a tree and watch it grow
43. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
44. Be on the same stage as Green Day, and play guitar for one of their songs
45. Meet Billie Joe and Adrienne Armstrong
46. Dive to see the Titanic in a submarine NOT ENOUGH COIN.
47. Take an African safari
48. Spend a summer in Paris
49. Own a store/business
50. Own a little house on the prairie

When it Comes to Blogging

Dear Epic Nonsense Blog,

So yes, I've neglected blogging again, like many things I have neglected (read my previous post, I love you guitar). What used to be so easy to me writing everything, and anything down in my journal...now has become something like a chore. You don't want to do it, but yet it must be done.

Why must I blog, you may ask? Well, ever since getting a job in the communications industry it seems I have spent more time on my employers social media platforms, that I feel like I am missing out on my own social media time. I use to go on Facebook maybe, every hour reading my friend's posts or playing Farmville. Now? My crops are dying and not harvested! Oh, well.

The reason being, having spent the majority of my day doing social media for my employer, I really just don't want to do my own anymore. As for blogging? It presents me with a different platform than having to face Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

It's funny, because before I had enjoyed doing Facebook and Twitter a lot more than blogging. Now that I have too much Facebook and Twitter time. I like to switch back to blogging. Hmm, is there such thing as too much Facebook and Twitter?

However, I'm going to say "Hello Blog! You will be loved again! Don't worry Facebook and Twitter, I'll still visit you too."

With love,

Sharon

Picking up that Guitar..Again

It's been two years! I am finally a graduate of the Creative Communications program from Red River College. Well, school is done. Now it's job hunting time. However, before that I'd just like to take the time and wind down and pick up my guitar and start playing once again (my guitar feels a little neglected, not to mentioned it was collecting dust just sitting there).

I've even had time to give my blog a new layout. I'm liking it so far.

So guys? what are your hobbies that you stopped doing or neglected because of education?

What else can this ninja do?

In goes the eggs!

One of the few things I like to do to ease the 'post-job-interview-jitters' is to make something yummy. When it came down to it last Friday, simply put, I was nervous, my hands were clammy and cold. I realized right after that it was all in my head, so what do girls normally do when they need to relieve stress? They meet up with their girl friends and talk about it. Needless to say, that's what I did and I immediately felt better. However, my mind kept playing over what I should have done, and what I could have done. I'm still kicking myself in the face for not remembering to show my portfolio that I had brought, but that's how you learn - you'll know better next time to have it in hand!

It was also my dad's birthday that day, and that night I decided to bake a cake for my dad. When it comes to baking it helps me not think about the past and dwell about the little things that I should have, or could have done, and I go into a new world - now I'm focused on making that cake. My mom kept coming to check up on me, to make sure I did everything right, (it is her recipe and apparently 'her' kitchen) but the thing I like to feel most about is: independence. I wanted to do it myself. So after a bit of a quarrel in the kitchen. The cake turned out okay, I'm not a huge baking person though - that's my sister.

I'm more of a stir-fry 'throw-everything-in-a-wok' type girl. This morning, I made scrambled eggs using chopsticks (that's my Asian-ness talking) and I'd like to say I'm a pretty good breakfast maker. If you want pancakes? you got 'em and they're good (according to my parents and boyfriend). Eggs - scrambled, fried, sunny-side? I'm right on it. Making food and eating is another one of this ninja's forte. Along with many other activities like drawing, painting, photography, and playing guitar. Now also picking up a new hobby racing RC cars and flying RC helicopters (and fixing them after I crash them). Then I also want to fix up old cars. For me, I want to be constantly learning new things. I want to be constantly being able to improve myself and learn.

Pictures of my eggy goodness <3

Don't forget to add the cheese

Picture perfect - scrambled eggs and toast

How often do you see chopsticks with eggs?

How am I a Ninja? Reasons why.

Sharon Mak - Online Marketing Ninja at Canada's Web Shop, now that sounds like an awesome title.

I have stealth - like a ninja. I am inconspicuous - like a ninja and I have the creativity of a ninja. I even have a ninja wrist band to prove it! (or at least, it makes me feel more like one).

For readers not understanding my ninja talk. Let's first start off with who is Canada's Web Shop? 
Quick background info: They are a full-service Internet marketing company located in the historic Exchange District in Winnipeg. They provide everything from website development, to developing the meat (or brand awareness) of your websites' online presence. To sum it all up, they make sure your website gets attention from the people you want.

So what does being a ninja have to do with Canada's Web Shop?

Well, for starters they have a ninja position I would like to apply for. And I have some pretty epic qualifications for them to put to use. Let's put my ninja skills to some use, baby!

As a graduate of the Creative Communications (CreComm) program at Red River College I have developed and honed in on my ninja skills. The program has given me training in most areas of the communications industry like public relations, journalism, media production and of course, my area of specialty: advertising=copywriting. I have developed skills in social media, and learned how to use it effectively (although, I must admit I am not quite at the 3 million followers just yet on Twitter).

Being in CreComm I have learned a lot about myself. I discovered that I am capable of producing exceptional work with a deadline driven environment. I am tech saavy. Final Cut Pro? Got it. Adobe InDesign. Got it. Adobe Photoshop? Got it.

Heck, I've created documentaries and music videos for clients, and video blogs for the Minipop Kids (yes, the one and only K-tel's Minipop Kids)

Furthermore, my intern experience has taught me to time manage effectively, problem-solve and work with clients in a professional manner.

In my opinion, I find Canada's Web Shop to be really refreshing. What do you mean, you ask? Just from reading the overall content on the website, and from the Marketing Dream Job posting, I can definitely tell that this company has character - a brand, a personality. And that is what makes Canada's Web Shop a company I want to work for. This is also a company where I think you can utilize my creative skills to build on your already awesome team. It's a work place where all creative minds get together to have a party. Er I mean, to have fun brainstorming epic ideas and strategies.

Saying so, I know I am able to survive through the trenches and can't wait to roll up my sleeves. I'm gonna grab my Tide-to-Go and get dirty.

Haven't gotten enough of me? Check out my Twitter @whats3rname
My other blog: Tomorrow Will Be Worse :) Smile Today.
My web portfolio (I can proudly say I designed it myself - took me a while but I got it done) Sharon Mak ~ Online Portfolio
Find me on LinkedIn - Sharon Mak

Cheers, and have an epic day.

Sharon