Beauty Bites: 100% Pure Cosmetics (and Giveaway!)

100% Pure Cosmetics c/o; Break-ups To Makeup Clutch & Tee c/o

I'm all about trying out new beauty goodies, and this week, it's 100% Pure. For those who may not be familiar, 100% Pure lives up to the name in every sake - it's 100% green (all the packaging is made from recycled aluminum and paper and all the printing on the packing is even made from non-toxic soy & vegetable ink!), it's 100% cruelty free, and all the products are made from 100% biodegradable formulas. Needless to say, 100% Pure is healthy for us and the earth. Not bad, right? So, it's no surprise that I was pretty excited to try out some products from the line.

Travel To... Napa Valley's Bardessono Hotel

Bardessono Hotel 6526 Yount Street Yountville, CA 94599 

Close your eyes and imagine the most tranquil surroundings you can think of. The sun is warming your skin, the air is crisp with a calm, calm breeze, and the sounds all around you stop - if just for a moment - as you take in another breath. This captures just a snippet of my blissful Sunday with Napa Valley's Bardessono Hotel.

Food Friday: Lucy Restaurant & Bar

Lucy Restaurant &Bar 6526 Yount Street, Yountville, CA 94599

Your mouths are undoubtedly already watering after seeing the photo above, right? If they're not - check your tastebuds. Last Sunday, I had the ultimate "treat yourself" day thanks to the kind folks at Bardessono Hotel, located Napa Valley's Yountville. More on that in an upcoming post - today we're focused on the food. Because no day in the life of pancakeSTACKER is complete without food, it was only fitting that I try out the Lucy Restaurant & Bar during my visit.

Hair How To's with Mark Hill Hair

Most of you know my hair to be straight (as I rarely let me curly q's rein free). But as of late, I've been trying to challenge myself to put away the hair straightener and give my natural curls some TLC. I have to preface this post by saying I try / use A LOT of different products. I love trying new things, because, well, how else can you figure out what you like/don't like or what works?

I'll be sharing a series of beauty-inspired posts sporadically on the blog. Everything from my must, must have killer curly-hair cocktail of products, to what I've tried and liked (or even disliked). Today, I'll be chatting about Mark Hill's new hair care line - especially made to protect hair from heat styling tools. So, let's count this one as my first official hair post, shall we? Here we go!

pancakeREVIEW: Shiseido Ibuki Skin Regimen | #ShiseidoStyleHunter

It's no secret that I like to take care of my skin, and when it comes to my face, I'm a firm believer in a morning and evening routine. I recently had the pleasure of trying out Shiseido's new Ibuki skin regimen products and am a new convert. 

Thursday Treasures: AdoreMe

AdoreMe "Great lingerie is the foundation to any outfit." 

Danique Set in Cobalt Blue c/o AdoreMe

Now, I'm not one to show you my skivvies, but when your lingerie looks as cute as this, it's a disservice to not show and tell. I was recently introduced to the new online lingerie club, AdoreMe. For $39.95 and free shipping (yes, freeee shipping both ways!), you can pick out anything from a bra & panty set and corsets to swimwear and sleepwear. The options are endless and the designs are trés chic - so chic, that it took me hours to decide on my first set because I wanted everything. Whether you're into lovely lace, simple smooth finishes, or a little bit of both, you'll undoubtedly find something you like.

It's not often that women talk lingerie. For some reason it's so taboo... luckily, with new ventures like AdoreMe, embracing femininity just got that much more fun. Ladies, real talk - our undies are just as important as our outerwear, so don't be afraid to take time and pick out a great pair. 

#KiaWarped Photo Diary

Get ready for a hugeeee photo haul - I told you one was coming! Delicious donuts, bountiful brunches, delightful dinners, behind the scenes brew tour, backstage boy bands, and plentiful photobombs: enjoy the rest of the snaps from my weekend with Kia.

#KIAWarped

A little while back, I had the absolute pleasure of spending a weekend with Kia Motors. Now, I must preface this post by saying I am not an auto reviewer (surprise, surprise, ya?). But what I can tell you is I am your everyday city gal who also happens to drive. Of course, one the very many great things about living in San Francisco is that the public transportation is amazing. But, every now and then I cringe when I think about doing my groceries, or getting out of town. For those days, having a car would be an absolute delight. Cue Kia.







The Kia team generously offered to loan me a car for a weekend to test our their new 2014 Sorento. Another thing you need to know about me? I've ALWAYS wanted to drive a big car - an SUV to be exact. So imagine my glee when I found out I'd be driving around town in one? (All smiles on this girl's face.) Aside from being roomy (I mean, hello, this girl can practically roll around in that huge trunk!), the Sorento is counter-intuitive, meaning for driving hazards such as myself (just kidding you guys, safety first), it's got just about everything you need to make your ride that much smoother. For instance, one of my initial hesitations about driving a big car was parallel parking and backing up. Not a problem for the Sorento. Thanks to its rear camera display and backup warning system, backing up was a breeze. Other fancy features? Sure the car has all you necessities - GPS, phenomenal stereo system, impressive fuel efficiency, and push button start (hello, no keys!), but can we talk about the heated front seating? Now you're talking to a girl who loves her warmth - get me in a car that offers heated seating and I'm basically sold (especially when you live in a city like San Francisco and can barely predict its bipolar weather patterns). In a nutshell, the Sorento a dream car for the weekend. Serious talk - by the end of my weekend, all I wanted to do was keep the car. Sadly, stealing is sort of frowned upon, so I had to give it back...


A BIG, big thank you, thank you to the Kia Team for the fabulous weekend - you guys totally rocked my world. For more snaps of my weekend with Kia, stay tuned! Another post headed you way in just a jiffy.

AT&T HTC One X+ (Part One)

HTC One X+ c/o AT&T 

This past Saturday, I attended the Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair in San Francisco's Chinatown neighborhood. For those of you who may not know, people come to the fair to help prepare themselves for the upcoming Lunar New Year. Colorful fruits, fresh flowers, and sweet candies are all in abundance, and each symbolizes something special for the new year (such as growth, prosperity, or good luck).

pancakeREVIEW: HANA Titanium 1.5" Flat Iron

A few weeks ago, Brian at Misikko generously offered to send me a HANA Titanium 1.5" Flat Iron to review. The timing was pretty perfect, as I was already searching for a new one to replace my previous hair straightener of four years. When I received my package in the mail, I was floored at how beautifully presented it was! A box filled with not just my new flat iron, but also some cute salon products. I tried it out for two+ weeks and below are a few of my findings! Keep in mind, I kept everything else exactly the same (hair products, routine, styling), so that I could give you all a through review :)

• The first thing that stood out about my new HANA flat iron was that it had Ceramic and Tourmaline mirrored plates. Not only are mirrored plates pretty genius, but they also happen to be gentler on color treated hair and they provide an effortless shine. Since highlighting my hair, I've been very conscious of how I can do less damage.  I have been straightening my hair more often than not these days, so I was happy to find that my new flat iron would be a lot more forgiving. Even better, mirrored plates are easy to clean before and after each use, and believe me, if you want your flat iron to last long, you have to clean and protect the plates. My previous flat iron was definitely an amazing one, but one downside to it was that the coated ceramic plates were significantly harder to clean. 

• The HANA Titanium flat iron has heat settings from 140 to 450 degrees! My naturally curly locks are insanely thick and swirly, haha, so being able to choose how hot I want my plates to be is a big plus. I have to heat my plates to 340 degrees (hot, I know) when I'm first straightening my hair, but I value that I can switch down to a lower degree when I'm doing touch ups or my dreaded bangs.

• Among some of the goodies I received in my package was a Silicon Heat Proof Mat. This might not sound all that cool, but really it is. Setting down an oven-hot flat iron on some surfaces can really do some damage. Having a heat mat is such an easy fix, especially when you're like me and want to straighten your hair anywhere but the bathroom. It's the little things, I tell you...

• I timed how long it took to straighten my hair each time, and in all honestly, it still took me about the same amount of time (an hour) to straighten my hair. I will say, though, the plates heat up fast and if you're hair isn't as thick as mine, you will be able to straighten your hair in no time at all. 

 

• Some other things to note: The HANA Titanium 1.5" Flat Iron has curved plates, which allows for straightening, curling, and flipping. It also has a two year warranty, so you know you're in good hands. Furthermore, the HANA flat iron has been featured in both Marie Claire and Redbook, so that's telling you it's something to rave about. 

Overall, I'm very happy with my new flat iron and if you are in the market for a new one too, I definitely suggest scooting over to Hana Salon's site. Flat irons can be expensive, but I really think that it's important to look at it as an investment. You want the best for your hair, and like anything else, when you invest in a great product, you'll get great results. Big thanks to Brian at Misikko for allowing me to try out the HANA flat iron. I love mine, and if you decide to get one, I'm sure you'll love yours too. As always, feel free to comment below with any questions and I'll definitely try to answer them all! If any of you are interested in a hair-how-to post, let me know, and I will create one for you! 




Disclosure: Please note that although I received the HANA Titanium 1.5" Flat Iron for free, all the thoughts expressed above are my own honest opinions. 

pancakeREVIEW: mark.

A sneak peek of what's to come.

It wasn't until this year that I really got into experimenting with make-up. In fact, this year alone, I've already tried at least four to five different brands, which for me, is a lot. And just to give you some perspective, on a day to day basis, I wear eye liner, mascara, some neutral eye shadow, and lip gloss -- add a little bit of lip tint and maybe some blush if I'm feeling up for it. Two weeks ago, I got my make-up done by my friend (and super talented make-up artist) and was instantly inspired to change things up. So, when Nicole from Avon's mark. make-up line asked me if I was interested in trying out some of their products, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get out of my comfort zone.

Brush With Fashion: The Body Shop San Francisco

The Body Shop Brush with Fashion Makeup

A couple Wednesdays ago, I was invited to preview some of The Body Shop's new products, as well as their upcoming makeup line, Brush with Fashion, at their downtown San Francisco location. I had a great time learning about some of the new lines, hearing about a few of the issues the brand stands for, trying out amazing makeup and beauty products, and getting a fresh new beauty makeover, which was perfect for Spring! Below you'll find a few of the pictures I snapped from the event, along with some of the background information I learned that afternoon. 

pancakeREVIEW: Driscoll's Berries

Last week, I received a kind email from Melissa, of The Baddish Group, with an offer for coupons to try Driscoll's fresh blueberries in celebration of National Blueberry Pancake Day. As a follower of my blog, you know that I basically can't say no to offers for free and/or discounted food. And, I especially cannot turn down offers for anything pancake affiliated. So, without giving it a second thought, I accepted and waited for my snail mail to arrive. Now, what I'm about to say will probably completely taint my credibility as a pancake lover, so please skip the rest of this sentence if you would like to remain in ignorant bliss, but, I had no idea that National Blueberry Pancake Day even existed. I know...shocking, right? I completely understand if you just can't think of me in the same way, but I just had to be honest with you. Anyways, thanks to Melissa, now I am completely aware of its existence, and January 28th has a whole new significance. After I received my stash of coupons, I headed over to my local grocery market and stocked up on Driscoll's berries.  I originally intended to just try out their blueberries, however, I really couldn't stop my right hand from also grabbing a carton of Driscoll's strawberries, since my left hand was busy carrying my shopping basket. So, because I knew I would only be losing a battle with myself, I stepped into the 10 items or less line and checked out. As soon as I got home, I decided to make a batch of blueberry pancakes and a stack of strawberry-banana ones.  And this is what happened...

pancakeREVIEW: My Name Necklace

Before I begin this post, I just want to say that I have never been so excited to receive a package in the mail. A few weeks ago, I was asked by My Name Necklace if I wanted to receive a personalized necklace to review on my blog. You better believe that I jumped on the chance! I mean, when you have a name like Chandamheer, finding a personalized key chain, necklace, bracelet, you name it, is comparable to finding a needle in a haystack. As soon as I was told my that my necklace was on the way, I made sure to check my mailbox right when the mailman arrived, in hopes that my little package would find it's way into my hands. Lo and behold, one afternoon, I finally received it! And let me tell you, it was everything that I could have wanted!

Dress: Vintage; Sweater: Guess; Belt: Forever 21; Flats: Target; Necklace: gifted by My Name Necklace; Photos of me by: DJ Lan; All other Photos by: Chandamheer

My necklace is silver and 18-inches long, but you can customize yours to fit your own size and style.  It's comfortable to wear around my neck, and the best part is that it's personalized just for me! Even before I was asked if I wanted a necklace, I used to play around on My Name Necklace's website to view how my name would look around my neck. I highly encourage you to visit their website if you'd like to see how your Name Necklace will look on you, or to view their other fantastic products!! If a necklace isn't for you, they also have customizable rings, bracelets, and more (and they offer FREE SHIPPING!). I've already gotten many complements on my necklace, and I'm just so happy to be able to wear something as unique as this. Carrie Bradshaw, eat your heart out! 

PS: I hope you will all take a moment to visit My Name Necklace by clicking here! 

If you'd like to participate in a pancakeREVIEW, please visit the pancakePARTERNSHIPS section of my blog, or email me for details!