Washington DC Wedding Reception Venues Part II

Yikes, it took me so long to write a Part II of this review, sorry. You can check out Part I here. Okay, let’s get down to business.

Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC

When I first saw this hotel from the outside, I was not that impress, I did not see anything unique or spectacular. My first impression began to change as I stepped inside the lobby and began our tour. This hotel has a lot of history to it. It used to holds many presidential inauguration balls. Also celebrities like the Beatles also stayed and performed here. Recently this year, one of the Raven’s player had a wedding here (don’t know his name as I don’t really follow football).

However, what really stole my heart is the Omni’s beautiful garden and patio. It has an old world charm feel which I love and is very spacious especially considering it is located in the city. The hotel is also located in this older yet very charming neighborhood. The hotel event coordinator, William Grace, is also a joy to work with. I don’t have any negative remark about this place thus far. (Finger crossed)

Meadow Lark in downtown Vienna
For some reason, when you talk about a picture perfect wedding, I always envision a garden wedding. And like real estate, this beautiful garden also offers location, location, location (for folks in northern VA at least)! The garden is beautifully filled with many different types of flowers all spring and summer long. It also has ponds, gazebo, path ways…very romantic. There is no need to worry about inclement weather because this garden has a beautiful atrium with flowers and small streams or ponds inside as part of the décor. The only down side that I can think of is that there can be a lot of geese droppings along the walking path. Wouldn’t want to stain that beautiful white dress :)

National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC

There is just something very chic and glamorous about being married in a museum. Kind of like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City the Movie, except her was in a library but close enough. The marble floor, stairs, and architecture of what would be your reception area is just gorgeous and glam. Of course the price tag is going to be more expensive and you will need to bring in outside catering services, including valet parking service.

Collaboration between Tweezerman and Benefit

Tweezerman is known for their beauty tools. Benefit cosmetic is known for their cute and adorable packaging. So what do you get when the two companies team up? Cutely design tweezers!

Tweezerman for Benefit Slant Tweezer, $25

Tweezerman for Benefit Pointed Slant Tweezer, $30

Tweezerman for Benefit ProCurl Lash Curler, $20

The good news is that it also comes with 3 replacement pads (below). I wonder how it compares to the popular Shu Uemera and Shiseido Lash Curler.

Tweezerman for Benefit Brow Shaping Brush, $12

Mark Your Calendar - Origins Giveaway!!!

Last month I did a post on Origins' Recycling Program (read about it here). Well, this month, on 4/22, Origins is offering customers the chance to bring an empty cosmetic container to any Origins retail store or counter (which Origins then recycle for them through their Return to Origins Recycling Program) to trade it in for a free full-sized Checks and Balances Frothy face wash ($18.50 retail value) or A Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser with White Tear ($20 retail value.) And to join the conversation, everyone who does Trade-In and recycle their empty products at Origins is encouraged to tweet or twitpic their experience with the hashtag #OriginsTadeIn.

Residents of NYC, there are even more great news in store for you! To honor this celebratory green month and further its commitment to the environment, Origins is hosting its first annual FREE Origins Rocks Earth Month Concert in NYC. Featuring Grammy Award-Winner Macy Grey, this free event will take place at Webster Hall on 4/19. For a ticket, simply bring an empty cosmetic package to an Origins retail store in NYC, Westchester, NY or Garden State Mall, NJ. The first 50 Fans showing their fan status either through a print out of the Facebook page or on their smart phone at the Flatiron NYC Flagship store, will receive a concert ticket guaranteeing access +1 & 2 free drink tickets (if they're off age, of course) Tickets are limited!

Review Avon Glimmerstick Diamond Eyeliner

Packaging: Automatic Eyeliner

Performance: I sampled this in Emerald. Ok, if you are looking for something bright and frosty, you will be disappointed as the color is darker than what you would imagine what emerald would look like. I happen to also own the original Glimmerstick in Emerald and this is much darker than the original. I honestly don’t really see any sparkles. On a flip side, it’s much more wearable and easy to match. I do like the color. I also have problem using pencil eyeliner on my upper lash line. Within hour, it’ll smudge and transfer all over my bottom lash. I am glad to report that I have no smudging problem with this, at all! Yet, it’s easy to remove with eye makeup remover. This would have been awesome if it has better color selection.

Price: $6 @ Avon.com

Disclosure: This review contains sample sent for consideration. The review is base on my honest personal opinions. We do not promise review nor receive compensation for doing so.

Review Avon Super Extend Mascara

Applicator: Flexible rubbery wand.

Performance: The first time, I was not too impressed, I feel like it just define and lengthen a bit, nothing dramatic. After playing around with it, I have come to like it much better. This mascara works best when you apply, wait for a few seconds, then reapply second and third coat. Your lashes will get longer with each coat. I have short Asian lashes so the length is much appreciated. It’s just okay in term of volume but then again, it doesn’t claim to be a volumizing mascara. If you want more volume, layer it over a primer.

As I mentioned before, I do have problem with my eye makeup smudging. I am glad to say that I do not experience any smudging with this mascara, even at the end of the night. Though, I did notice flaking. That problem is solved if I use it over my lash primer (Maybelline XXL Curl – I hate the mascara so I just use the primer with other mascara).

Remove: It’s pretty easy to remove. It comes off in little pieces instead of black stain when I wash my face so I just rinse them off.

Price: $8.50, available in four shades.

Disclosure: This review contains sample sent for consideration. The review is base on my honest personal opinions. We do not promise review nor receive compensation for doing so.

Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream

It seems like it has been forever since I have done a review on skincare. I should do it more often because proper skincare is very important to me and I am actually quite diligent with my skincare routine. So today review will be on the Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream. This is the most expensive and luxurious eye cream I have ever got my hands on.

Packaging: Like many eye cream, it is package in a glass jar. An opaque airless pump would have been most ideal.

Texture: I LOVE the texture of this eye cream. It is lightweight yet very creamy and velvety.

Performance: According to Chanel, this cream is “empowered with Planifolia-PFA*, agent engineered by CHANEL Research, the look of wrinkles, fines lines, loss of firmness, and depletion of moisture are specifically and simultaneously targeted for regenerating effects for the eye.”

Just as a note, for skincare, I do not write a review until I have tested it for at least 4 weeks and I have been using this cream for 2 to 3 months. I have two wrinkles, one under each eye and after 2 months they are still there. To be fair, I don’t think there is any cream on the market that will magically erase wrinkles. If there is, we would not age period. It may not erase wrinkles but I feel it definitely increase firmness and help smooth out my eye area. What I love about this eye cream is its light and velvety texture. It also absorbs quickly and non greasy, does a great job at hydrating my dry, delicate under eye. Overall, it is one of my favorite.

Price: A whopping $200 @ Saks!

Review Avon Magix Cashmere Foundation

Packaging: Squeeze tube. I like the clean and convenience packaging. Though I would probably change the cap so that it can stand on it own but I won’t hold that against it since it is trivial.

Texture/Finish: Liquid mousse texture with natural matte finish.

Performance: I’ll first start with the one thing that annoy me about this foundation and get it out of the way since I do think that this foundation has more pro than con. What I don’t like is that no matter how much I shake it, every time I squeeze it to get the product out, a lot of water also come out along with the foundation. It is messy!

I like that this is SPF 10 which is a bonus but not enough to substitute a sunscreen. I like that it is very lightweight, it does not feel like you are wearing anything yet provide medium build-able coverage. I also like the finish; it’s natural, semi matte. It does bind to your skin well but it does dry and set quickly so you will have to work on one area at a time and blend quickly. It is not very moisturizing so those with dry skin will need to moisturize well before hand. Also if you have any dry flakes, this foundation will accentuates them. I think this foundation is better suited for those with combination and oily skin. Lately my forehead becomes shiny after 3 hours but today, it has been 6 hours and no shine yet!


For reference, I am MAC NC20 and Light Beige (above) matches me. Though, I think I can go a shade lighter too.

Price: $11 for 30ml (1oz). Available in 12 shades.