Spotlight HI LOW Skirt

Lately, I've been absolutely loving the hi low skirt. Suprisingly versitile, I've already ended up with two of them in my closet -___-. The one above is fun because it sheer and flowy. However, the skirt underneath is short and more tight so it's well suited for a variety of venues and locations. This particular skirt is from Smart Set (originally $45, on sale for $14.99. For a limited time it's %50 off the lowest sticker price so I practically stole it at $7.99). I bought it in a smaller size so that it could function as a high waisted skirt (and still be long enough at the bottom). One option I paired it with was a white form fitting scoop neck tshirt, a black stretch belt, a black envelope clutch and some black stilettos. A sparkly cocktail ring and ringlets and you are good to go! For an edgier look swap the ring for a bold bangle, wear heeled booties, and think red lips. The possibilities are endless with this fun and playful skirt!

Thought for the day:

"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him" - James D. Miles

4 Drugstore Foundations

Didn't realize that 3 out of the 4 Maybelline, but that's ok! These are a few foundations that I've tried out recently. Thought I'd post a quick review!


The first of foundation tested was Maybelline Super Stay 24 hour wear. This would have to be my favourite out of these 4.

What I Liked: good coverage, withstands heat and sweat, the bottle lasts a long time, decent job of mattifyling, the colour is true to what it looks like in the bottle


Things to know: sometimes my skin would get a little dry, it can transfer slightly (after a hug my friends suit jacket could attest to this. oops.), it's a bit thick so you need to work a bit to get it blended

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Next up is Maybelline Dream Matte Mouse.

What I Liked: the idea of a whipped foundation, that the container is small enough for a purse, it's not oily


Things to know: I found this dry and cakey. I personally thought it built up in the cracks and made my skin look older than it actually was. To me it didn't look natural. Yet a dance friend of mine swears by it. Goes to show that products do different things for different people.

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Similar to this is Maybelline Dream Smooth Mouse.

 What I liked: Smoother consistancy than the matte mouse, came with a little sponge applicator


Things to know: if you have oily skin this product may not be for you. Also, I found it to be quite darker and more orange compared to what it looks like pre application. It also slid around a bit.

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Last but not least is Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Wear foundation.

What I like: it does a good job of hydrating as it claims, lightweight, pretty good coverage


Things to know: since its hydrating it dries a bit slick. A matte powder will definitely be needed. Also, even though I purchased the lightest colour, it was STILL too dark for my skin tone. Not for those with very fair skin



Combat Closet Woes!

Over the past few days I've really been trying to get my room organized. This includes (dun dun daaaaa) my closet. After deciding what to keep and what had to go, I began the daunting task of hanging everything back up on hangers and putting it all in it's rightful place. However, some of my clothing items did not want to STAY in their rightful place. A few hours I came back to find slippery tops and flowy cardigans on the ground having fallen off the hangers. We've all been there. So, I had to come up with a very cheap and in expensive way to solve my hanging hazzard. In addition, I wanted a way to protect my clothes from getting those annoying litte corners after being hung incorrectly.


Materials:


- hangers (I had the cheap wire ones so that's what I used)
- foam paper (I had this lying around from a previous dollar store purchase but you can also use felt or even rubber matting)
- hot glue gun
- scissors




1) To start I took my wire hanger and bent it so that the sides pointed in a downwards 'V'. Previously I had bent them in a sort of upwards 'U' so that my clothes were less likely to slide off. However, this results in annoyingly mishapen clothing and actually wears away at the material.


2) Take the foam paper and cut a small strip. Fold it lengthwise and run a line of hot glue down the middle.


3) Place the foam strip around one arm of the hanger. Be sure to put it as close to the end as you can. The very tip of it should have a little bit of over hang as shown in the photo below. Secure the foam paper by adding more glue so that the two sides stick together.

4) Lastly, cut off that little piece of overhanging foam so that it is in lind with the flow of the hanger. This will prevent little corners or awkwardly shaped clothes! You can see how I've done this in the picture below (sorry for the colour change, the other orange photo was too blurry!)

And that's it! It worked suprisingly well. Not only have my clothes stayed put since, but I also feel better about hanging them in a way that will protect the shoulders from harm. Happy Hanging!

The Hunger Games

My Rating: 4.5 /5


I was sort of unsure about picking this one up. When books are really hyped, I tend to get annoyed and enjoy them less (enter Twilight (enter millions of Twilight fans throwing things at me)). It arrived in a box of books that I had ordered online from Chapters (taking advantage of the free shipping over $25, score!). I couldn't decide what to read first and decided to read two pages of each. I immediately got hooked on Suzanne Collins smash hit. I love that it's told through first person narration by a character to has some serious backbone. Her instincts to survive in the familiar dystopian world are put to the test when thrown into an arena to fight to the death. Even though Katniss knows she cannot escape the people who put her there, she's going to put up a serious fight. And a rebellious one at that. Packed with action, suspense, growth of a forced heroine, and a little romance, The Hunger Games more than delivers. I couldnt put it down.


For more information on The Hunger Games and to read more reviews, please visit: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/9780439023528-item.html 

Tips for Plane Travel

Some of these are pretty obvious, but I thought I'd share them anyways! Have a great start to your trip!

1)      Arrive at the airport early to prevent stress!

2)      If you don’t have a bright recognizable suitcase (lets face it, most of us sport the black with the occasional hot pink) tie something you will identify right away for easy recognition on the luggage carousal. Be unique, others may have the same idea (such as a pink ribbon) and make sure it’s very secure.

3)      Though it doesn’t sound ideal (especially with long flights) bring be sure to drink plenty of water. The recycled air in the cabin can dehydrate you and dry out your skin

4)      Be prepared with gum for those high altitudes.

5)      If you have the room, bring a spare set of clothes in your carry-on. Also include anything necessary that cannot be quickly replaced should your luggage get lost (ie: event tickets, credit cards,  a dance costume – a friend of mine learned this the hard way)

6)      Wear something comfortable on the plane, but don’t look like a complete slob

7)      Bring a purse sized moisturizer and sanitizer in your carry-on

8)      It seems obvious, but bring something to keep you occupied on the plane. Remember that there are times during flight where electronics have to be turned off. I always bring a pen and paper. Remember to bring activities for children as well

9)      Be a respectful neighbour – make sure your headphones are not too loud and you’re respecting your seat partners space

10)   Take stock of your carry-on. I once had a handful of metal bobby pins spill out right before I entered the metal detector. Embarrassing.

11)   Make sure anything spill proof is safely in a plastic bag should the worst occur

12)   Be mindful of snags. Spiky stilettos packed on top of the new silk top or chiffon skirt could leave you crying

13)   Be polite to the airport staff. Remember, they’ve been doing this all day every day. Probably with some impatient customers too.

14)   Make a physical packing list to not only make sure that you have everything, but also to note what you have when you get there. It makes it easier to plan ahead without having to dig around through your bag

15)   Instead of taking full size make up items, try to use up samples. Sometimes stores like Sephora will give you samples upon asking or purchase small empty travel containers to put some of the makeup in.

16)   You can save on luggage space by wearing a pair of pj’s for two nights (unless it’s a really hot and sweaty climate)

17)   If it’s an overnight flight keep in mind you won’t want to be sleeping in your makeup. Either skip the application for the ride or bring a small compact and remover wipes in your carry on

image from: weheartit.com

Sandy Beaches

Ok, so it's minus 8 below here in the Great White North. So today's inspiration photograph? A lovely beach in Thailand. Quiet, serene, warm. Can you imagine sitting on the beach with a good book and a margarita? If only I had 3 wishes...

Image from: mojotravel.files.wordpress.com

Inspiration Nation

I thought a lot about whether or not I would include this in my experiences blog. Technically, many things that inspire me will be included in the other sections posted. However, the more I tohught the more I realized, who doesn't need a little inspiration in their lives? So here I will post photographs that inspire me, and quotes I love (the idea of having a seperate section for quotes also contributed to winning me over). Hopefully you will find something here that will inspire you too!

Fashion

I'm not going to lie, there have been times when I really should have been taken in by the fashion police. We've all been there (right?). I've walked through a mall and marveled at some ugly trends (honestly, who would wear that?), only to see them worn the very next day. Just yesterday while shopping with my mom it happened; she pulled a dress off the rack and exclaimed 'this looks like something straight out of Planet of the Apes!' An awkward (yet hilarious) silence followed when she realized I was holding the same dress to try on (I ended up purchasing it, if anyone cares to know the end of that particular story). Here I'm reminded of the saying, 'one mans trash is another mans treasure' I suppose it's the same thing with fashion as well. Each one of us is different, and our individual style reflects who we are. In this section I'll be posting about, you guessed it, fashion. Everything from the ordinary to the radical (from Love Pink to Gaga. Is that an appropriate scale?), the cheap to the designer. Things I love, things that I hate, and everything in between. And of course, shoes. You can never have enough shoes.

Lifestyle

This section is sort of a shmorgishborg (how often do you really get to use that term?) of different things including hobbies, health, activities, etc.

Books

I absolutely love to read, so after some thought, I decided to make a completely seperate place for book reviews, anticipated releases, reccomendations, and hopefully some discussions too!

Beauty

This section is where I will be posting my thoughts on anything beauty related. Makeup reviews, looks I love, looks I dont love, and anything I want to try out. I don't claim to be an expert, very far from it. Just an amateur makeup junkie with oppinions :)

Choclate Chip Cookies

If you're like me, then chocolate chip cookies have a pretty short life expectancy in your household. This is my favourite recipe for thin gooey cookies, just the way my family likes 'em!

Ingredients

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 eggs

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup pure chocolate chips

1 cup butterskotch chips (This makes them very sweet. You can use less if you choose!)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Line a bakingsheet with parchment paper and grease with butter. Put the cookie sheet in the oven as it heats (this will make the cookies melt faster and makes them thinner).
2. Cream the butter, brown sugar and white sugar together until all are combined and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well each time. Stir in the vanilla.
3. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a seperate bowl. Slowly and gradually add into dough mixture while beating on a low setting.
4. Combine the chocolate chips and butterskotch chips in a bowl (you can use the same one from the flour mixture) and stir to ensure even distribution. Gradually add to dough, stiring well with each addition (if the mixture is too dry by this point, you can add in a bit more vanilla).
5. Take the cookie sheet out of the oven (careful, it will be hot!). Using a spoon, drop scoops of dough (about the size of a ping pong ball) onto the cookie sheet. Give eacho one generous space as they will expand rather quickly.
6. Bake for 7-10 minutes. I usually take mine out at the 8 min mark. They're very gooey in the center and will be very very soft! Make sure to let cookies cool completely before removing them. They will turn to mush if you try!

I hope you enjoy this recipie as much as I do :)

Best Popcorn I've Ever Had

I have to admit, I'm a bit of a popcorn connoisseur. As far as I'm concerned, it can be used to celebrate pretty much any occasion. Birthdays? Have some popcorn. Anniversary? Good ol' popcorn. So when I landed in Chicago and was told by customs that I needed to try a place called Garrett Popcorn, I knew I had to check it out. Over the next few days this interest was further strengthened by locals who encouraged us to do the same thing. They also told us to try the Chicago Mix, ensuring it tasted a lot better than it sounded. So what exactly is Chicago Mix? A suprisingly delicious power packed combo of nacho cheese and caramel corn kernels. I know, I know, a little unusual, but trust me, this popcorn is INCREDIBLE. If you wont take my word you can certainly take Oprah's. The 'corn appears on her list of favourite things, and theres no surprise why. The only downside is that they only have shops in Chicago and one in New York. So, I have this to say: if you're in Chicago or NYC check it out if you dare. Just remember I warned you that after Garrett, no other popcorn will ever be the same again!


If you can't wait to try it out, the most delicious popcorn I've ever tasted can be found at:
http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/

Welcome

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog, Eclectic Experiences! Here I'm going to share my thoughts and ideas about anything that I feel worth sharing. I have to admit, I'm a blogging newbie and I started this blog because of a list (confession #2, I have a list making obsession) of new experiences I wanted to, well....experience! However, I couldn't decide a theme. Thus, Eclectic Experiences was born. I hope you find something worth interest through the many-themed posts and topics running though my mind.