First Look at Cupcake Books 3: Cakes to Celebrate Love and Life

I wanted to do a mascara review since I just got my two new mascaras in and was able to try them on. They're both Kanebo Kate and I'm really excited to tell you about them, but hold on, I still want to try them on a little bit longer and take more photos so that I can have a more complete review. They're the Dollish and Frame Impact waterproof mascaras. If I can find my Blinc mascara as well, then I'll do a comparison of all three! To be honest, I'm more excited about reviewing these than the Banila Co blushes.

But for now, my copy of Cakes to Celebrate Love and Life came in!

Is this not the best cover ever?! The book is hardback. I was expecting the old ppl looking light pink cover, but instead it came in this bright eyepopping magenta pink, and I love it. It gives off such a hip feeling.

The reviews are true, the butter is listed in grams only. other ingredients also have the cup equivalent, so I guess that's kind of annoying.

Half the book is filled with delicious looking treats, and the other half is filled with seemingly crazy combinations that I'm not too eagar to try. The photos and presentation of everything is absolutely gorgeous. They have both cupcakes and cake in here, and I really would like to just try making them.

Here're some photos to wet your appetite. Definitely doing the chocolate.

Don't the coconuts look beutiful? I wonder which red velvet is the best, guess I'll have to test them all

First Look at Cupcake Books 2: Hello, Cupcake! and 101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes

So, I have to disappoint everyone again. Blame my brother. He blocked my computer through the router, so unless I can find a way to transfer the picture files (you might say why don't you use a flash drive, but I can't find them) or connect to the internet directly (probably will have to do this while bro is away or sleeping), my product reviews will be on hold. Internet is becoming scarce because in an effort to rid my brother of his addiction to internet games, my mom has taken away the power cord to the modem. And so we must all suffer as well.

My plan is to when I get a chance, reset the router slap my own pw on the router login page, and have the same internet pw, so that he suspects nothing, and I get internet back (when my mom plugs the power cord in).

Meanwhile:

Hello, Cupcake!:  This is a really fun book and I completely understand why it's such a big hit. They give you instructions and pictures on how to decorate and construct everything. It's packed with a lot of information though, so I think I'll have to slowly go through it all. There are also recipes for basic cupcake instructions in the back so you can bake different flavors. It's funny because i wanted to get this book with the two others from the library at the same time, but it always seemed like one of them was out. I went back to return the other two and was really hoping that this book would be in, and it was! must be fate.

Everything they use is something that you can get your hands on at the grocery store. All the ideas are just so wonderful and out there that my head feels like exploding from happiness. I really wonder if I shouldn't just buy the book. I want to cuddle up with it, but knowing how popular of a book it is, I think about how many people have had it and how I don't know where it's been. Maybe some little kid smeared their boogers on it. you never know.

101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes: I have been absolutely DYING for this book. And the perfect opportunity came with Amazon's campaign to collegians. Free Amazon Prime for 1 year. Yahoo! I had been bidding my time waiting for the other book I'd been lemming for to go back down $6 again, but with free 2 day shipping there was no reason to, I just went ahead and got it.

First impressions, wow, this book is a lot tinier than the other three. I guess that's actually a good thing because it won't be too heavy and it'll be more portable. It's super cute though. True to word, everything in here seems simple enough. the instructions are 1 page for each cupcake and it's usually just blend everything together, fill cups, bake, frost.

One thing that bothered me is that I think Ms. Wendy Paul might have done better to invest in a better photographer. I could've done a better job. Remember, i'm all about the packaging, and looking at these pictures, wow the cupcakes do not look appetizing- well half of them anyways. I'm sure they must be though because I'm been prowling youtube and in the videos her cupcakes look absolutely amazing and yummy. It's ok, once I make them in a couple months, i'll take better pictures for her and do her cupcakes more justice.

I also wish we could've seen each cupcake. maybe have one page with multiple cupcakes like how betty crocker did some of hers. that way you don't use up too much ink- not as expensive- and everybody gets to see them all.

oh oops, i just saw that there's a picture of the photographer in the very back =X. Part of it might not be the photographer's fault. It looks as if the pictures are too vivid so as to wash out the details- cupcakes don't look soft and inviting anymore, they look dangerous.


Some like these look decently nice.

Others like these are really vivid.

Why are the blueberries and the strawberry blurry...?

These look slightly messy. A food stylist is needed.. Maybe they appeal to you, I dunno.

I can't see anything of use...

This ..looks like smeared chunks of smeared poo -___-

Don't get me wrong though, I still really want to try the recipes out because they sound delish.

and that's all I have for now.  See ya soon.

EDIT:  I just went back onto Amazon and saw that the other book i wanted to buy Cakes to celebrate love and life went down to $16.29. I just had to snap that up, didn't want it to increase all the way up to $23 again. wow amazon prices are funny. Then it asked whether I wanted 2 day shipping or 1, and it's funny because they both say it'll be delivered tmr. I chose 2 day, it's free. so yay~ also, amazon is dangerous. that 1 click ordering. I thought i was going to be taken to a confirmation page, but when i clicked the button that i saw there, it was like thank you for your order. I was like O.O what?! already? So yes, good thing I was sure about wanting that book. -___-;;

First Look at Cupcake Books: Martha Stewart's Cupcakes and Cupcakes from the Cake Mix Doctor

I had wanted to do another product review post first, instead of posting about these cupcake books, but it would seem I've been blocked from some sites and my internet is shaky, so I didn't want to risk spending all that time and effort posting and then have it not go through or something. So I'll post on these two books first to let you know that I'm not quite dead yet.

I'm a bit too lazy to put up the cover pics, so you can google or refer to my previous cupcake post.

Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: I really liked how this book has a picture of every single cupcake. I know a lot of people are like "well are you buying the book for the pictures or the recipes?" but honestly, to a total amateur like me, the pictures really help because now I know what it is that I'm supposed to be striving for. It'd help more if it had pictures of every step too, but I guess that's asking too much. I was really upset that I didn't see the recipe for the cupcake on the cover of the book. It's probably just a devil's food cake with a chocolate frosting, but I would've liked to see it say somewhere in the book "this is the cupcake on the cover" because that's what made me want the book. I'm a sucker for packaging. That's what makes me want to buy something. On TV it's not the strange ads that makes me want to buy the burger, but the picture of the juicy burger itself turning and sizzling *drools*.

Since I'm not an avid baker, it didn't make sense for me to buy the whole book since I'll probably not like half the recipes (they'll be too sweet for me). So I checked it out of the library (I found out that my library card still works after 3 years and that I had a $1 fine from 2007, lol). Then I just took pictures of the recipes that I thought I would like. Some of these included the Triple Citrus which was just so cute looking, Ginger and molasses (I've started developing a liking for the ginger's kick- but I hope the molasses isn't too sweet), and the Roasted banana (again, the decorations >.<). And she also has this one magnificent looking strawberry cupcake. The icing is swirled on top like it would look if you had strawberry softserve ice cream. Definitely gonna try that.

And one last thing that I appreciated about the book is that the recipes for the frosting all say how much they make. It sounds like a given, but seriously, I am grateful.

I didn't realize what "Inspired Ideas" meant until I read a description of one of the cupcakes. I guess MS just took cupcakes that she learned from various bakers and put them in here too.

Cupcakes from the Cake Mix Doctor


This book has a lot of yummy looking recipes. I also like how the author puts in little boxes with ideas. Like if you were going to have a little girl sleepover party, all these other foods would be good on the menu. She also tells you how to store everything, which is super helpful.

The two things that really bothered me was that for some reason the directions looked super long. Even if it starts off with a cake mix. Martha Stewart's were all basically just one page. A lot easier on the eyes. And the  other is that there weren't pictures of that many cupcakes. So I had to use my imagination. which is defective. The pictures that she did have though made the cupcakes look absolutely wonderful.

I'm excited to try her red velvet with peppermint candy and white chocolate curls cupcake. It's the pretties thing ever. She also has a number of others that I took pictures of (since the paper's not glossy, I didn't have to worry about flash, hehehe). I wanted to make the trifles (strawberry and a blackberry one I think) for my fellowship group, but they both call for whipped cream, and I guess that wouldn't last through 2.5 hrs. Guess I'll just eat that myself.

Oh! And something that's really fun that she included is cupcake horoscope! I thought it was just gonna be a really super general one, but I was surprised that mine was pretty accurate, well up until the cupcake suggestions (I did not think those sounded appetizing). Give it a try! Click to make readable.

Calling All Freebie Lovers!

I'm excited to share with you my experience with PGBrandSampler.com. Months ago, I've even forgotten when, I signed up for this program and saw that they had a current offer so I thought, "why not?" and picked out my choice of the revamped pantene line. Today, I was told, "you have a package downstairs". A package? Who from I thought? And it turned out to be from the sampler program! XD Imagine my surprise. I'd completely forgotten that I signed up for this, but here they are, my 1.7oz conditioner and shampoo samples.

Many people don't like pantene, and I personally don't buy it when given a choice, but a freebie? hey I'm not one to turn down a decent freebie.

I've yet to try them and at first I was like, "why did I pick the one for thin hair?" and then I realized, oh it was probably because I was thinking my hair is more damaged? I dunno.

They also customize it so that your name appears on the ad brochure insert. wow, lots of money to spend I guess. When I think about it, P&G makes a lot of products that we use. From chips (pringles) to detergent, to shampoo!

Something I like is that they don't spam you with emails or something like other companies do. At first I was hesitant to sign up because I thought that would happen, but I think I've only gotten 1 email or so and it was about the revamped hair care line.

One thing though, don't expect to get them anytime soon, as I said, it was so slow in coming that I forgot about it O.O.

AND IT'S BACK!! Review: Clio Blushes

Hi Hi! So after a long long wait, here I have it! My review of two Clio Blushes that I got in my GMarket Haul. Last night I decided to retake pictures after viewing the old ones because I just thought they didn't do them justice at all.

There's just something about blushes in cute packaging that gives you a sense of joy when applying them. Well, it makes me feel like a pretty princess anyways.

The blushes come with the plastic protector and brushes as pictured above. The Clio brushes imo are a little bit softer than the Banila Co ones (review to come later also).

The blushes themselves both have glitter sparkles so if that's not your thing then you'll want to give these a pass. #2 is a super pigmented cool shade, you seriously won't need more than a little dab for each cheek. The #4 is a dusty rose color with the sparkles being the gold part. #4 is much less pigmented and the more you try to apply the more you'll just cover your cheeks with golden glitter. All in all, I'd have to say that #2 is my favorite of the two (like many other buyers have found), but I also still really love #4 at the same time. Even though it's not as pigmented, it gives a naturaler look and is good for the summer glow look (perfect because it's summer here right now).

Something that really surprised me was that one day I accidentally flipped them over in my hand and the whole block of blush just fell right out! I was like O.O and quite stunned. Still, it didn't bother me much because I just popped it back in and the blush was still as usable as always. ;)

These are one of my happy buys and I highly recommend them for your collection. 

Pics: I took them with flash and it's sooo hard to get the color to show, it all got washed out. I even covered my whole cheek in a thick layer of blush in an effort to get it to show the color somewhat.

#2 I glomped on. In real life I look like the sunburnt baby of a clown.

#4, has a much more natural look- hard to mess up. If you look closely you can see the sheen from the glitter. I just want to note that it is visible in real life- the color. The Banila Co. blushers on the other hand would look like this picture in real life, just a sheen and not much color.I'd say the colors of both are a lot closer to real life if you look from the bottom of your screen upwards (makes the color darker)