I am amazed

I stumbled upon the most amazing hair stylist/ make up artist ever. She does lots of wedding hair and makeup, and the pictures on her blog are gorgeous as well. I can only wish to ever be as good as she is. Check it out:

http://blog.hairandmakeupbysteph.com/

Some of my favorites (after stalking her blog for about an hour):

Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo

Hello all! I know I haven't written a review in centuries...

I stripped myself of my Aussie virginity a few months ago, when I decided to try out this inexpensive and promising-looking bottle of Aussie's Aussome Volume Shampoo. From Aussie's website, it claims to be "infused with White Ginger, cleanses and helps boost hair that’s fallen flat."


I bought the 29.2 fl oz bottle from Walmart for less than $6.


PROS:

• love the smell. It's like I dousing my hair in strawberries and apples.
• gets your hair SQUEAKY clean. Literally.
• it's cheap. obviously.
• it gives some volume.

CONS:

• Since the main purpose of this shampoo is to give volume, I don't think it does an adequate job at that. there is only a slight bit of noticeable volume, but it falls throughout the day and my hair returns to being flat. (but then again, I have extremely long hair, so maybe it just weighs itself down)
• dries out the hair, unsuitable for people with dry scalps

Overall, I give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars! not too Aussome in my opinion, but for the price, it's pretty Possum. (get it? awesome-possum? hahahahah)

Adele- Someone Like You Hair Tutorial

My channel ^^: http://youtube.com/thatswhatcindysaid/

I'm re-obsessed with bird tattoos!

They're so pretty (': I want!

Sound familiar? It was around this time, last year, when I was obsessed with Chanel's temporary bird tattoos! http://thatswhatcindysaid.blogspot.com/2010/11/chanels-temporary-tattoos.html

Dyeing Purple Coontail Streaks in my Hair!! Video Tutorial

I recorded this from my iPad again (: YAYYYY i'm so happy with the results!! They're kind of hidden in my middle layer, and not very visible unless under direct sunlight, but I can't wait to bleach a strand in the front and do another coontail!!

Diorshow Extase Mascara Review

OMG. This is the best mascara I have ever used. This magic little thing gives incredible length and definition to my (almost nonexistent) lashes. The formula is not too wet and not too dry, and the brush is brilliant. I love how it separates my lashes so well.


Take a look at the before and after pics:

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

ME GUSTA <333

My only discontentment with this product is that it smudges after a few hours, especially if I'm doing something that makes me perspire.  I like to put a small coat of Maybelline's The Falsies Waterproof mascara over it, so that it becomes, well, waterproof, and so that it doesn't smudge as much. However, like I said in this video, I hate The Falsies by itself.

Black Bow Tips Nail Tutorial coming soon (:

Haven't made a nail tutorial in over a year, if I recall correctly. I only did my right hand, and I will film myself doing the left hand tomorrow, when the lighting is not so non-existent. Here's a pic though:

It's super super easy. The picture and the flash make it not very clear, but I did a coat of really pale, shimmery pink first, and then I made the little black bows at the tips with the end of a bobby pin, because I can't afford the luxury of a dotting tool... or toothpicks....

Anyway, I'll be busy all day tomorrow, but I promise to have the video up by Friday night! :D

How to French Waterfall Braid (:

I finally learned how to do this! and it's so easy, with some practice.



Hope this helps!

....& I just noticed that I'm wearing the same shirt as my last video, LOL. I swear, I don't wear this shirt everyday!

Youtube channel: youtube.com/thatswhatcindysaid

Infiniti by Conair® You Style Multi-Functional Styling Iron Review

Comes in pink, light pink, black, and silver.

I'm just going to be upfront and blunt about this "multi-functional styling iron": I HATE IT.


website claims:

• Multi-functional tool – curl or straighten
• Nano Silver Tourmaline Ceramic technology
• 1" ceramic-coated straightening plates
• 30-second instant heat
• High heat levels – 360°F/180°C
• Uniform heat recovery – heat recovery system maintains optimum heat levels for perfect curls
• Auto-off
• 6-foot salon swivel cord
• Limited two-year warranty

The biggest problem with this iron is that it's parallel plates in the middle (the part that acts as a flat iron) do not close properly. Like many other faulty flat irons I've used before, when the plates cannot completely clamp shut, it is impossible to straighten or curl your hair fully.

In addition, there are spaces in the corners of the flat iron where hair gets caught, and by the end of every use, I always find several strands of hair stuck in there. Snags on my hair too much! ):

After several uses of this iron, I have found that it only creates a curl where the hair immediately touches the curved plates, but it cannot curl the rest of the hair shaft. (I will be adding in a demonstration video soon) Therefore, this iron would be ideal for people with short hair. However, a normal flat iron with slightly curved edges could produce the same result, so I would rather just use a flat iron.

The only thing I like about this is that it styles my bangs really well, but that's because the curve of the outer plates are wide and thus creates only a slight curl that pushes my bangs back and out of my face, giving it a wind-blown effect. Other than that, this acts EXACTLY like a flat iron does, except not as good as any of my other flat irons...

1 out of 5 stars!

My Video: 

Conair Instructional Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMIoYBbmJJE

Long Hair vs. Short Hair video

Advantages for long hair

-keeps you warm
-makes you look taller
-can braid/curl/do whatever
-lots of layers
-easier to dye
-straighter, less poofy

Advantages for short hair

-keeps you cool during the summer
-less greasy and dirty
-less maintenance (easier and faster showers)
-more cost-efficient (uses fewer products and faster showers = less water and electricity)
-cute
-less split ends


http://youtube.com/thatswhatcindysaid

April Favorites Video!

finally a new video, haha. Enjoy~

Zooey Deschanel -Inspired Braided Headband Hairstyle! (:

I love her soft shiny waves and cute braided headband here!

How to Curl Hair with a CURLING Iron: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKdc6PULMT4&feature=channel_video_title

How to Curl Hair with a FLAT Iron: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYGqfrtQFs

Forever 21 Floral Print Shirts and Dresses

If you were to buy me a shirt and ask me for one specific characteristic in which you should avoid, I would say this: flower/floral prints. I am very picky when it comes to any sort of repeated print on my shirts: I absolutely despise animal prints of any sort on any article of clothing; I do not like stripes that are too wide or too narrow; the colors have to be complementary; must not be overwhelming or too subtle. I know, I am a fashion snob. Usually, I find flowers on any article of clothing rather tacky and child-ish. However, I don't know if it's the spring mood finally getting to me, or if I'm just terribly fond of some of these flower prints from Forever 21's spring collection: (NOTE: If the links don't work, that means the item is out of stock already! Sorry!)

Flowery Chiffon Top
$19.80
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_app&product_id=2077612731&Page=17&pgcount=100# 

Lace & Posies Dress
$24.80

http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_app&product_id=2000003253&Page=13&pgcount=100 

Daffodil Floral Halter Dress
$22.80 (Out of Stock)

Not a HUGE fan of the print, but I love the overalls, and the shirt underneath!

Rose Denim Overalls

$19.80

http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=BTMs_Shorts&Page=1&product_id=2058634712

Floral Knit Top
$17.80
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=top&Page=1&product_id=2070221697

Knit Applique Tank
$19.80
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=top&Page=1&product_id=2000012482

Floral Lattice Tank $15.80

back detail
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_app&product_id=2000011002&Page=3&pgcount=100

Shimmering Floral Chiffon Ton $17.80
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_app&product_id=2000010652&Page=5&pgcount=100 

Flowers and Ruffles Dress
$19.80
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_app&product_id=2000015060&Page=5&pgcount=100 

Lace Trimmed Floral Top
$22.80
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_app&product_id=2000012163&Page=8&pgcount=100

back

Braided Floral Top
$15.80

http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_app&product_id=2000014003&Page=5&pgcount=100 

Love the back! I like the design more than the print on this shirt.

3 Ways to Curl Hair with a Curling Iron! (:

I'm using Conair Infinity Nano Tourmaline Ceramic 1" Curling Iron. Review: http://thatswhatcindysaid.blogspot.com/2010/06/conair-infinity-nano-tourmalin...

4 Ways to Curl with a Flat Iron: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYGqfrtQFs&feature=channel_video_title

Youtube Channel: http://youtube.com/thatswhatcindysaid/

How to Dress According to our Earth's Biomes

[This post was created mainly to help myself focus and study the characteristics of our Earth's Biomes. I have an important science final exam coming up this week, and I would like to blog a bit about what I am currently studying. They say that one absorbs 90% of what one teaches others, so hopefully by blogging (when I'm blogging I feel like I'm talking to a world full of people, although I know not everyone in the world reads my posts), I will be able to learn much more. I realize that this subject has nothing to do with what I normally blog about, but to make it a little inter-connected, I've added a twist:]

Characteristics of the Major Biomes And How To Dress Accordingly

A guide by Cindy

For some reason, my science textbook (Modern Biology California by Holt, Rinehart and Winston), lists the eight main biomes in the following order: Tundra, Taiga, Temperate forest, Tropical forest, Temperate grassland, Savanna, Chaparral, and Desert; thus, I will present them like so. Please note that the apparel shown is merely for fun, and I do not really think one should dress like this is these conditions. They are merely inspired by the biomes. Let us begin.

1. THE TUNDRA

• Location: World's northernmost biome, covering 1/5 of the world's land surface. 
• Average yearly temperature range: -26°C to 12°C
• Average yearly precipitation: less than 25 cm (VERY LITTLE!)
• Vegetation: mosses, lichens, grasses, and dwarf woody plants
• Animals: caribou, musk oxen, snowy owls, arctic foxes, snowshoe hairs
• Distinct Characteristics: Contains permafrost, a permanently frozen (thus the name permafrost) layer of soil under the surface.

A look inspired by the tundra:

Greek Dress by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania. ~$685.

2. The Taiga (aka. boreal forest)

• Location: South of tundra and north of the temperate regions. Stretches across large areas of northern Europe, Asia, and N. America between 50°N and 60°N.
• Average yearly temperature range: -10°C to 14°C 
• Average yearly precipitation: 35-75 cm
• Vegetation: coniferous evergreen trees (as shown in the picture above). The shape of the needle is a leaf adaptation that reduces water loss.
• Animals: moose, bears, wolves, lynxes, hares. Many species hibernate 6-8 months of the year.
• Distinct Characteristics: During the long winter, snow covers and insulates the ground, protecting tree roots against freezing.

A look inspired by the taiga:

Yes, this was featured in a previous blog post, but this is what I immediately thought of upon learning the features of the taiga. Her paleness and bleached hair remind me of the frozen caps of the mountains, and the green dress represents the coniferous trees.

3. The Temperate Forest

• Location: eastern N. America, western and central Europe, N.E. Asia
• Average yearly temperature range: 6°C to 28°C
• Average yearly precipitation: 75-125 cm
• Vegetation: broad-leaved deciduous trees and shrubs or evergreen coniferous trees. (There is also a specific kind of temperate forest called deciduous forests, which contain trees that lose all of their leaves in the fall and regrow them each spring. Those forests contain trees such as birch, beech, maple, oak, hickory, sycamore, elm, ash, willow, and cottonwood)
• 
• Animals: Bears, wolves, white-tailed deer, foxes, raccoons, and squirrels
  Distinct Characteristics: distinct seasons and moderate climate. This is the place that you think of when someone says "the woods". Unless you also think of Snow White, like I do...

A look inspired by the temperate forest:

4. Tropical Forest

• Location: near equator, in the region known as tropics.
• Average yearly temperature range: 20°C to 34°C
• Average yearly precipitation: 200-400 cm
• Vegetation: broad-leaved evergreen trees and shrubs. Epiphytes (mosses, orchids, bromeliads0, small plants that live on the branches of tall trees, exist here because of intense competition for sunlight.
• Animals:monkeys, snakes, lizards, birds, insects. The rain forests contain about one-half of the world's species.
• Distinct Characteristics: only two seasons: one wet and one dry. Tropical RAIN forests contain long wet seasons and tall trees and plants that grow year-round. Tropical DRY forests have long dry seasons during which trees lose their leaves. Treetops form a continuous layer called the canopy, which shades the forest floor.

Tropical forest- inspired look:

(Try to distinguish between the person and the snakes!)

5. Temperate grassland

• Location: interior of continents, at same latitude as temperate deciduous forests.
• Average yearly temperature range: 0°C to 25°C
• Average yearly precipitation: 25-75 cm (not enough to support trees)
• Vegetation: dense, tall grasses in moist areas; short grasses in drier areas. Grass here can survive repeated grazing and occasional fires because the actively growing part of the plant is at/below ground rather than at tip of stem.
• Animals: grazing animals such as bison.
• Distinct Characteristics: Because they have rich soil, much of world's temperate grassland has been transformed into farmland for growing wheat and corn.

Temperate grassland- inspired look:

I always love Taylor Swift's style. Reiss White Lace Dress ~$368.

6. Savanna

• Location: Africa, S. America, Australia
• Average yearly temperature range: 16°C to 34°C
• Average yearly precipitation: 75-150 cm (more than deserts but less than forests)
• Vegetation: tall grasses and scattered deciduous trees and shrubs. Some trees shed leaves during dry season to conserve water. Above-ground parts of grasses often die during the dry season and regenerate after a period of rain.
• Animals: herbivores, such as zebras, giraffes, gazelles and carnivores, such as lions, leopards, cheetas
• Distinct Characteristics: Alternating wet and dry seasons

Savanna-Inspired dress:

Or maybe something of this color, but more flowy.

7. Chaparral

• Location: in coastal regions, around Mediterranean Sea and southern California (baby!)
• Average yearly temperature range: 10°C to 18°C
• Average yearly precipitation: less than 25 cm
• Vegetation: evergreen shrubs and small trees
• Animals: N/A (my book doesn't say....)
• Distinct Characteristics: mild, rainy winters, and hot, dry summers with periodic fires.

Chaparral-inspired look: (since this is basically, just So-Cal, it's just the usual summer-y dress, y'know?)

8. Desert

Location:N. Africa, central Australia, SW N. America, E. Asia
Average yearly temperature range: 7°C to 38°C
Average yearly precipitation: less than 25 cm
Vegetation: succulent plants and scattered grasses. Plants have to adapt to dry climate.
Animals: kit foxes, lizards, snakes

Desert- inspired look: