Magenta
Member Since: October 13, 2006Reviews
Special K Popcorn Chips
I received two boxes of Special K Popcorn Chips to sample and review, the Butter flavour and the Sweet & Salty flavour. I found the Butter far too buttery, and the flavour powder falling all over the place made it a messier snack than I would have... +
I received two boxes of Special K Popcorn Chips to sample and review, the Butter flavour and the Sweet & Salty flavour. I found the Butter far too buttery, and the flavour powder falling all over the place made it a messier snack than I would have liked; I much preferred the Sweet & Salty ones, which I tried first. The name "popcorn chips" does make sense, although more than anything else they reminded me of little rice cakes. The texture was a bit harder than I would have liked, but as a snack food they're pretty good. Not something that I would go out of my way to buy, but not something I would avoid eating if it were served at a party. -
Sephora by OPI Nail Colour in Shopping Frenzy
I love these nail polishes, mainly because of their fantastic colour selection. Shopping Frenzy is a very vibrant hot-pink-fuschia-magenta hue (yep, I'm biased), noticeable from far away or on stage, and a fun, eye-catching colour to just wear... +
I love these nail polishes, mainly because of their fantastic colour selection. Shopping Frenzy is a very vibrant hot-pink-fuschia-magenta hue (yep, I'm biased), noticeable from far away or on stage, and a fun, eye-catching colour to just wear for no particular reason.
I prefer two coats of any nail polish -- with this colour, it's easy to get away with only one if I'm in a hurry. I also use both a base coat and a top coat. Even with all that, I find this polish (particularly this colour, for some strange reason) tends to chip along the sides of my nails more often than I'd like. Touching it up is easy enough, but it's still something to consider when deciding what brand to go with.
I've used it several times, shared it, glad I bought it. The price is a bit high, so I only get colours I know I'll adore (and I collect Sephora points, which helps).
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Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick
Until a couple of months ago, there were two types of makeup I rarely wore ... almost never, actually, unless I was on stage. I was not into bright red lipstick, and I was not into blush. This VERY bright, super-saturated, juicy red lipstick was a... +
Until a couple of months ago, there were two types of makeup I rarely wore ... almost never, actually, unless I was on stage. I was not into bright red lipstick, and I was not into blush.
This VERY bright, super-saturated, juicy red lipstick was a purchase for a show; I needed something to make my lips pop under the stage lights, and I was dressing up as a celebrity from the 1950s, so I knew it would be okay to give the audience a super-red lip. I bought it in Diva Red and I wish I could recommend it to you all but realistically, everyone needs to find her own shade of red. This hue might be as awful on someone else as it is great on me. (I'm darker-than-olive-skinned, sort of a hodgepodge of colours in winter and a uniform caramel colour in summer. Very dark hair and eyes.) Take your time and experiment.
I do have to reapply it a few times in a night, but I actually see that as a plus. Those never-come-off lipsticks remind me of paint, and that's a huge makeup turnoff for me. I rarely get the colour on my teeth. I tend to apply a bit of lip balm or gloss first, then apply the lipstick liberally and touch it up whenever I need to (after eating, etc.) -- I don't use lip liners, but since it's a shocking colour, some women might want a liner to keep the outline crisp.
This lipstick keeps your lips feeling soft and moisturized, especially if you use a lip balm underneath it. The show I bought it for is long gone and I've been wearing it out to clubs and parties, or even in the middle of the day sometimes, just because I feel like it -- it's winter, we all need more colour! Red lipstick also makes your teeth look even whiter. (Those of you who were already into red lipsticks are saying Duh ... I know, I came late to this party!)
Since I'm sure I'll be using this until it runs out and then heading back for some more, I have no complaints about the price. My general rule for small purchases is that the number of times I will use an item must match or exceed the number of dollars I paid for it. (Also, if the item will be used/seen in pictures, performances or video footage, the dollar-per-use rule becomes obsolete.) So this lipstick has more than paid for itself already; plus it wormed its way into my regular arsenal :)
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Ne-Yo: Year of the Gentleman
Why didn't I think of rating albums on this site until now? I'm a huge music lover so I could inundate you chicks with reviews . . . but I promise only to blab about albums I really, really love. Case in point: Ne-Yo's third album... +
Why didn't I think of rating albums on this site until now? I'm a huge music lover so I could inundate you chicks with reviews . . . but I promise only to blab about albums I really, really love. Case in point: Ne-Yo's third album, Year of the Gentleman.
Ne-Yo is a great writer, and it shows on this album, but his voice is also kickass now, and so is the music -- he experiments a bit, uses some great instruments and made-up sounds, and presents an album that is a great collection of music, instead of a couple of catchy-but-vapid club hits and some forgettable filler songs. Year of the Gentleman's singles are "Closer" (like it a lot), "Miss Independent" (love it), and "Single" (love it -- I'm not talking about the one with New Kids on the Block in it). They're all great to dance to, sing along with, play in your car, play when you're getting ready to go out, etc. Ne-Yo also slows it down with tracks like "Mad," and there are a few midtempos -- overall, there's a song for every mood on this CD.
My personal favourites are "Miss Independent," "Single," and "Why Does She Stay" (for the music more than the lyrics -- it's got this incredible ebb-and-flow, breathe-and-pause vibe to it). "So You Can Cry" reminds me of a John Legend song; in it, Ne-Yo simultaneously comforts and mocks a female friend as she drowns in her own tears, unable to get over her ex-boyfriend ("I'll ask the sun to shine away from you today so you can cry...") -- you'd expect her to fall for Ne-Yo instead, or for him to suggest himself as a better alternative for a boyfriend, but nope! They're really just friends. Shocking. And refreshing.
He gets really romantic on "Stop This World" and "Part of the List," with lines like "Every night in my mind is where we meet / And when I'm awake, staring at pictures of you asleep / Touching your face / Invading your space / They're a part of the list of things that I miss..." "Lie to Me" is interesting if you're a fan of Unfaithful, which he wrote for Rihanna; it's a similar sentiment, but from the point of view of the person being cheated on, rather than the cheater. "Back to What You Know" is a suggestion for a current girlfriend to return to her ex since she can't stop talking about him anyway. I hope all the other male singers out there are taking note: it really is okay to grow up.
This album came out in mid-September, so I'm still trying to figure out whether the Year of the Gentleman is supposed to be 2008 or 2009 . . . but who cares? It's honestly a wicked CD; it completely has my co-sign, and I'd love to hear from anyone else who's heard it.
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Klean Kanteen Bottles
This bottle is awesome. I bought the 18-ounce one in Moss Green from my school a little while after hearing about chemicals leaching into water in plastic bottles, etc. etc. I used to be addicted to water bottles and I still use them sometimes... +
This bottle is awesome. I bought the 18-ounce one in Moss Green from my school a little while after hearing about chemicals leaching into water in plastic bottles, etc. etc. I used to be addicted to water bottles and I still use them sometimes, but I feel a lot better about using the Klean Kanteen.
I've had one bad experience with it -- I put it in the freezer, which voids the warranty, and I need to experiment with a hammer before the bottom will go flat again (right now it can't stand up normally). I also wish they would come up with a spout or something so that you don't have to drink right from the top of the bottle, which is pretty wide (a few centimetres across) when you're used to disposable water bottles. Overall, though, it's a great buy -- if I can't fix the one I have, I wouldn't mind buying another one.
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Bath & Body Works Pleasures in Fresh Pineapple
I don't have the whole collection (shower gel, body spray, etc.) -- but I rely on the little bottle of body lotion like my life depends on it, especially in winter! I paid $2 when they had one of their sales; regularly the small bottle (59mL... +
I don't have the whole collection (shower gel, body spray, etc.) -- but I rely on the little bottle of body lotion like my life depends on it, especially in winter! I paid $2 when they had one of their sales; regularly the small bottle (59mL, perfect to toss in your purse or keep in a desk drawer) is $3.50.
I'm sensitive to some strongly-scented products, but this one doesn't bother me at all -- neither do the 4 Bath & Body Works body sprays I'm currently using (only the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent has ever bugged me because it was a little strong for my taste). It smells very sweet; the cream doesn't take forever to be absorbed into your , and it doesn't leave your skin oily.
I doubt anyone who's used Bath & Body Works needed me to tell them I recommend the whole line, but just in case someone was wondering . . . now you know!
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Brazen Hussy
I can't believe I'm the first one to rate Brazen Hussy here!! I'm a big fan of this shop, and if this were a month ago I could have let you all know about their Babes in Toyland Spring 2008 fashion show, which was really great. But anyway --... +
I can't believe I'm the first one to rate Brazen Hussy here!!
I'm a big fan of this shop, and if this were a month ago I could have let you all know about their Babes in Toyland Spring 2008 fashion show, which was really great. But anyway -- at first step inside I was a little disappointed because the store is small, but I quickly realized I could spend hours in there. They've got dresses, shirts, dressy tops, graphic tees, some coats and jackets, bikinis, and accessories and merchandise.
My main (okay, only) beef is the prices -- most of them are higher than I'd like, and anyone on a student budget like me can only afford to go for very special occasions, or when there are sales on. The way I look at it, though, you're supporting a bold and unique local business, and you're far less likely to see another girl wearing your BH pieces than you are, say, that top you got at H&M.
You can check out www.brazenhussy.ca to get a glimpse into what they offer, sign up for their newsletter (so that you'll know about the next fashion show, lol), etc. So far I've bought a maaaad hot magenta halter top and a pair of really pretty earrings, and I'm eyeing one of the dresses from the new collection for this summer. Happy shopping chicas!
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DLM dance studios
DLM (Dance Like Me) has been a hip hop flagship in Toronto for years. Way more than some here-today-gone-tomorrow studio, their instructors are great and so is their track record. DLM is located on Bloor St W between the Keele and Dundas West... +
DLM (Dance Like Me) has been a hip hop flagship in Toronto for years. Way more than some here-today-gone-tomorrow studio, their instructors are great and so is their track record. DLM is located on Bloor St W between the Keele and Dundas West subway stations. One drop-in lesson costs $12 (personally I would recommend Hollywood's classes on Tuesday nights . . . Jenn Abbey is another great dancer and dance teacher . . . but I'm not saying that the other choreographers aren't great -- it's just that I haven't gone to all of their classes yet!) and package deals or memberships save you a bunch of money if you're a serious dancer. -
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