I just got this code from an Angel Face Botanicals e-mail that I must share.  They are having a private VIP sale, and only special people get the code!  Since you readers are all special, I'm sharing them with you!

Enter SUMMERSKIN at checkout for 15% Off all the Eco-Spa Goodies in the New Products section of SpaGoddess Etsy Shop.

The SUMMERSKIN discount code is valid for 1 week only! Thru Monday, 7/6/09. Not valid with other coupons or discounts. Enter the code in the comments at checkout. I will refund your PayPal account for the coupon.

Also, Angel Face Botanicals is holding a contest for a signed print from Portland based photographer, Lisa Burch.

Winner gets to choose their favorite! Here's how to enter:
1. Visit Lisa Burch Photography on Etsy & leave a comment on the blog telling us about your favorite photograph.
2. Become Lisa Burch's friend on Flickr.
3. Follow SpaGoddess on Twitter & Tweet this contest.
4. Follow SpaGoddess Blog! Her blog followers are automatically entered in this contest and all future contests!
5. Write a product review (or a few!) on AngelFaceBotanicals.com.
6. Blog about this contest and let them know about it.
7. Alert us to any typos in their product listings ;)

The randomly chosen Winner will be emailed on 7/7/09 and asked to select the image for their prize. Blog will be updated with the info.

Visit the Blog for Contest Details & Links

I'm loving my AFB products so far.  I took a nice long bath with the Glow bath salt I purchased, and man, was it comfortable! I just fell right asleep in my tub!!  So do check out their products now since you can get it for 15% off!

Last Thursday I went to the launch party of a great beauty blog, Hello, Pretty!, right here in Culver City.  There I met most of the girls from Hello Pretty, and walked home with some sweet gifts!  Bren of Hello, Pretty certainly knows how to throw a party.  There were yummy drinks made of this sweet sake Tyku, cupcakes, and just fun low key people.  I certainly hope Bren the best of luck with Hello, Pretty!

So what sort of gifts did I walk home with?  Copied straight from their blog (since I've already put away all my goodies without cataloging them =P)

Glowelle 7-Day Trial Kit
Pair of Sunglasses by Angel Eyewear
Hemporer Natural Shea Butter Hemp Moisturizer
Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant
Tonic Threesome 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash
Tonic Luster Lotion Leave-In Conditioner
Julie Hewett Lip Pencil
Julie Hewett Shimmy
Lush Mini "Seanik" Shampoo
Jaime Earl Mini Balancing Facial Cleanser
China Glaze Nail Lacquer
Jan Marini "Marini Lash" Eyelash Conditioner
Malibu Secret Body Lotion
Tarte Cosmetics"Rise and Shine" Lipgloss/Lipstain

Samples:
White Sands "The Cure 24/7"
Mary Louise Skincare
Votre Vu Skincare

25% Off Coupon for Beautorium.com
25% Off Coupon for MindyShear.com

Yep, I got ALL THOSE GOODIES and they are easily worth over $400!  The sunglasses are absolutely fab and lightweight, and it's perfect for the summer!

Oh, I also won a 30 day supply of Glowelle!  I've been drinking it everyday since more multivitamins and healthy antioxidants are always good for me.  I'll let you guys know if my skin does really look better or not.

Now for the real reason why you're reading this post - updates on the doggy!

Sniffles has been a super good and smart boy since coming home.  His favorite toy is his pink squeaky pig and his pink tennis ball.  He loves mommy and daddy but doesn't like taking his medication (antibiotics and pain killers since he just got fixed).  He's super friendly with other dogs he meets during his walks.  When he goes out for walks, he likes to start by going toward the left.  Actually, he refuses to walk toward the right.  Everyone has been completely enamored by him since he's super sweet!  When I took him to my parents' house, I plopped him on top of my brother-in-law, and he immediately laid down on my BIL's comfy tummy.

Oh, the best part?  He loves his mommy and daddy.  While he's great with everyone else, he especially loves mommy!  When I'm not in his eye sight (i.e. bathroom), he goes to look for me, despite having lots of loving hands ready to spoil him rotten.  When I make smoochy sounds toward him, he comes to kiss me back!  The only thing - he's refusing to eat since I laced his food with his medication. Is he too smart for his own good?

For pix, go to my facebook page to see his own photo album!  http://www.facebook.com/gloriasyang or go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2521346&id=2502573&l=cf5f04317f

And ignore any comments where Sniffles is referred to as "Charlie".

Do you guys ever get the shake?  You don't go out to even look at makeup, but as you are sitting at home in front of your computer, you start getting the shake?  I've written about it once, but like a crack addict is to cocaine, Gloria is to makeup.  When the package arrived, I nearly tore open the box right there in front of the mailbox.  =P

I started looking at Etsy since normally on Etsy, there's so much different things, I end up not knowing what to get!  This time, something was different.  I really really wanted a nice jasmine based perfume.  Jasmine is my favorite scent, flower, and tea in the world.  Quick tip: did you know jasmine flowers bloom at night?  Jasmine flowers are picked at night!

Coupon Code After The Break... click here!

I saw a blog post from a while back (well I read it today, but the post was from a while back) where the author said she's somewhat new to makeup.  She shared her stash, and asked people for suggestions on completing her makeup collection.

That got me thinking, what are makeup must haves that form complete collections?  What do you reach for day after day without fail?

Here's a quick half-thought out list from the top of my head (as I have to get going soon):

1.  Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer - unless you are blessed with amazing complexion, then this is a must have for every girl.  Whether you need full coverage or something light to even out your skin tone, you need it.

2.  Bronzer and Blush - if it was say, 5 or 6 years ago, I would say only blush is important.  But bronzer can really shape and define angles in your face, or it can add subtle glows to make you look healthier.  Blush?  I don't need the house without blush, even though I have naturally rosy cheeks.  =P

3.  Mascara - nothing wakes up your face better than mascara.  I kept on telling this 1 girl for years to please try mascara, but she thought her shimmery pink eyeshadow along with her thin brown eyeliner keeps her face looking awake.  Nope, mascara will do the trick, not some shimmery pink eyeshadow.

4.  Lip gloss/balm - nicely moisturized lips help you look healthy.  Add some shimmer to a peachy/pink color?  Yea.. that's a must have!

So that's my short list for now.  What items make it to your list?

Will and I went to the local animal shelter to look at dogs today.  Now, I grew up with big dogs around the house, so I'm naturally drawn to big dogs.  I saw the cutest Australian Shepherd, a German Shepherd and Chow Chow mix, and a pure Chow Chow.  I love Chow Chows!  Their eyes are sooo adorable, and they look like huge bears!

We at first saw a cute Jack Russel Terrier mix whose markings reminded me of my old dog, Filow, so I really liked her.  But after talking to the animal shelter worker, describing our lifestyles and what not, she directed us to the most adorable and calm Terrier mix.  His name is Chaplin, and he is just sooo calm and cool.  When other dogs were barking, he didn't.  He also got along very well with other dogs, as he shared a kernel with a pit bull mix.  We played with him for a bit, and while he's totally cool with both chilling in the shade and playing fetch with you.  I swear, he's just tooooo cute to boot!

Here's a profile on the animal shelter website.  Can you guys please please please convince my hubby to adopt it?  Click the pix to enlarge.

I get lazy when it comes to removing makeup.  Sometimes I'm really good, and I'll dutifully do the whole entire night cleansing ritual - oil cleanser, gentle cleanser, treatment/serum, moisturizer, spot treatment, undereye treatment, and lip balm.  But sometimes, I just fall asleep and not realize it until the next morning.  Bad me!

Guess what showed up this morning?  About 3-4 new huge ass pimples on my face, and my eyes were also irritated as hell.  A lot of my eye makeup must have gone into my eye during my sleep, even though I had wiped the rest off in the morning, my eyes were just tearing up like crazy!  The pimples?  Well fine, 1 of them was emerging, but had I followed my night ritual, it probably would have gone away.

Knowing that I'm likely to repeat this lazy habit of mine, and not really interested in sore eyes and new pimples, I remembered to pick up 1 of my favorite makeup remover wipes today from Comodynes Convenient Cosmetics.  It's sold in Trader Joe's, and it's only about $4.29 for 20 towelettes.  The version Trader Joe's carry is for sensitive and dry skin, which I translate to really gentle and non-stripping, which it lives up to.  This is definitely better than the CVS and Dove version my sister normally buys, and it costs about the same.

Have you tried it Comodynes' makeup remover wipes?  What about falling asleep with makeup still on?  Do share!

I have acne.  Growing up, it seemed like I was the only person who had acne while everyone else had smooth beautiful skin.  Add the fact that most of them were size 0s even throughout high school, yea.. my self-esteem was crap.

Anyhow, I jumped at the opportunity to try out a new line of acne skincare by iQ Derma Clear Remedy, and guess what?  It works!  The review was for Jolie Nadine, so enjoy!

For the rest of the review, click here

I love having a balcony.  I have a chair set up outside with some old cushions to make it comfier.  I can just be outside the entire day reading.  I love it!

My hubby is hilarious with his makeshift seat cushion bed.  We threw out his super old oversized couch, but he decided to keep the seat cushions.  He lays them all out on the floor and sleeps on it.  Truly adorable.

Cleaning is such a work out!  I went back to my old apartment to do some final clean up, and boy, did I get a work out in it!  Vacuuming totally works your arm and shoulders and part of your obliques.  It also works your quads if you squat down to vacuum corners and edges with the hand-held hose vacuum.  Scrubbing stove tops is a KILLER on your arms.  So yea, I'm going to start cleaning more now.

I want a dog.  I've been searching online for dogs to adopt.  If you are in the position to have a dog, please adopt one from your local shelters rather than buying a dog from a (most likely illegal) breeder!  Also, don't buy teacup dogs, as they are normally bred from runts with genetic defects that makes them super small.  They typically end up having tons of health problems and die horrible painful deaths.  If we can reduce the demand for them, hopefully breeders will stop breeding.  But yea, I've convinced hubby to come with me to the animal shelter to look at dogs.  =D  If possible, I'd love love love to get a daschund!

When I put pencil eyeliner on my bottom lash line, it always smudges!  I love the look I get after I put it on, but boy, an hour later, and I look like a panda.

Today I tried something a little different.  I applied black eyeliner from Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy (wow, that's way too long) just outside my water line.  I then picked up my 217 brush from MAC, dabbed some powder onto it, and dotted it right below the eyeliner.  So I'm basically doing 2 things; I'm keeping my concealer in place, and I'm also keeping my eyeliner in place.  You don't want to apply too much powder there, especially shimmering powder, as it'll get into the crease of those lines.  Just a little teensy bit with a clean 217 brush (or any other small fluffy brush).  I use L'Oreal's True match for its matte and soft properties.

I checked 5 hours later and the smudge/smear was dramatically reduced.  I was in heaven!

L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Compact Makeup

$12.95 by L'Oreal at drugstore.com

217 Blending Brush

$22.50 at M·A·C