The End of Downton Abbey

00.0000.00 / darphynia / Leave a comment

Image courtesy of PBS.org

I am so sad to see reports (this one is from PBS) that Downton Abbey‘s last season may very well be its 6th. I don’t think that Julian Fellowes, nor anyone else, thought it would become such a successful and influential series. Downton Abbey has become a global phenomenon. While I can see the series go on indefinitely (and who wouldn’t want to see how the family changes up into the 21st century?) I can understand why it may take its final bow. It can be good to “quit while you’re ahead”. Rarely does a show make you feel a part of it. I don’t know how to explain it, but when I watch it, I feel like I am emotionally invested even though it is television program. Maybe it’s the writing or casting, I’m not sure; it just has this air about it.

Downton Abbey has shown all of the changes in fashion, language, dance, gender roles, hierarchy, and the change in how households were run. Even though it is not a historical drama, the show does a good job of making sure that everything is as historically accurate as possible. It is so interesting to see how major events sculpt the future, and how each character adapts to change. Each character has his/her own way of coping and handling situations, whether it is destructive or constructive. Unlikely friendships have formed, love is in the air, and who knows what’s to come?! While it would be wonderful to see the series last and lead into the 2000s, sometimes it is better to end on a high note.

It has been exciting to see the lesser-known cast members branch out. Michelle Dockery acted alongside Liam Neeson in Non-Stop, Lily James is now known for her lead role in Cinderella with Sophie McShera as Drisela, and of course Alan Leech has been involved in several projects. Even if this will be their last season, I am hopeful that they will have a reunion special in the future. It would be great to see where all of these characters are later on down the line. What will become of the downstairs staff? What about the engagement of Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes? Will Mr. and Mrs. Bates have children? Will Dr. Clarkson step in and profess his love for Isobel, or will he let her marry Lord Merton? How will life be for young Sibbie and George? What will happen to the estate? Will Thomas ever find love and accept who he is?–I have a love-hate relationship with this character because of his actions, but have such sympathy because he can’t just be himself. I guess only time will tell.

What are your thoughts on the series possibly ending?

Wellness Wednesday: Let’s Talk Periods

00.0000.00 / darphynia / Leave a comment

Some things should be kept private, but this is an exception. Until recently, there wasn’t much talk on what we experience during periods. “Aunt Flo(w)”, “rag”, “The Red Tide”, call it what you will…nobody likes periods. Okay, maybe they are, in general, a relief to get at times, but overall, they suck. I, personally, experience low back pain and a sore chest. There are times when my back hurts so much that even laying down is uncomfortable. My chest swells and is so sore that it hurts to just take a shower or wear a bra (so glad they have padded sports bras now!). I will never forget an experience I had one night at Disneyland. My “twister” and I were walking towards the Jungle Cruise. It was quite crowded, and this guy next to me was talking to his girlfriend. He said something to her and stretched out his arm, whacking my right in the chest. I grabbed my chest and thought I was going to pass out…He looked over, eyes as wide as saucers, and couldn’t be more apologetic. His girlfriend hit him, asked if I was okay, and gave him a ration of crap. Anyway, I couldn’t fully blame him. There were a number of factors, but it still sticks in my mind.

Not to go into too much detail, but I figure I’d give a synopsis of what my body goes through. The week prior is when the chest soreness and low back pain starts. First, it’s there, but not too noticeable. As the days go on, the pain gets worse. I haven’t had cramps or headaches associated with periods in probably 20 years, which I am grateful for. Once things start to flow, my chest soreness lessens and the swelling begins to subside. However, I can’t say the same for my back. In fact, as I type this, I keep hoping this grossness goes away. It will in a week. I am fortunate because it is only heavy the first 3 days, then it’s almost nothing for the rest of the week. Oh, and did I mention I gain 10 pounds (and insane bloating)?! It’s ridiculous.

So many women I know experience heavy periods the whole week, and have days where they can’t even get out of bed. I have been so lucky to not have it that bad, and can’t imagine what that is like. I used to use Pamprin or Midol, but they don’t work for me anymore. One way I help alleviate the effects of the symptoms is through yoga. It sounds weird, but all of the stretching and relaxing really helps, especially with the back pain. The type of pad also helps. I really like the Target brand (ultra thin, with wings, of course!) because they stay put. We are so lucky to have options. I remember when they only had those huge brick-like pads…they were awful. Anyway, does anyone remember the curved tampons? Those were to the only type I used, and when they were discontinued, I never used them again. When things become spotty, I love the always brand liners because they have adhesive all around and conform to you. I also keep some wipes on-hand because you never know when you will need them. Kudos to all women who survived periods (and those who still live) without all of these wonderful products. I don’t know how they did/do it!

Image courtesy of target.com & always

Image courtesy of target.com

Image courtesy of target.com & always

always says, “Have a happy period,” but it’s difficult. How do you cope?

Makeup Monday: Billy B’s Makeup Brushes

00.0000.00 / darphynia / Leave a comment

Image courtesy of beautylish.com & Billy B Beauty

So, I wrote about the Billy B makeup brushes when I first purchased them years ago (I want to say it’s been about 10, or near it). Now that is has been awhile, I thought I would update you on whether or not they are still kickin’. Billy Brasfield (Billy B) is an amazing makeup artist who made a name for himself, and has worked on a plethora of celebrities throughout his career. He has also been an inspiration to countless aspiring MUAs, and I love his work.

Anyway, he had (literally) just come out with these amazing makeup brushes, and those who attended the seminar were the first to be able to purchase them. From what I remember, they sold out. Anyway, I have used them on photo shoots and sets, and they have not fallen apart yet. Each brush is very well made, lightweight, and the short handle makes them very travel-friendly. The retractable lip brush has a wonderful enclosure, so you can rest assured that junk won’t adhere to it. The brushes are numbered 1-13 (in the order below), and my favorites are 8 and 9 because of their versatility. I can line, shade, highlight, contour, you name it, with those two. Of the brushes, the number 3 has started to lose its bristles, but it has had a lot of wear. Aside from that, they look the same as the day I purchased them.

Over time, you learn what does and does not work. For instance, nobody really needs an extra large powder brush…what on earth would you need it for, aside from dusting the shelves?! Okay, maybe if you’re doing body work, but still, it’s not a necessity. The density of Billy B’s brushes are damn near perfect, and each brush can be used to create a wide array of looks. Most brushes are labeled something like “Foundation”, “Eyebrow”, “Highlight”, etc., but that doesn’t mean it can be solely used for that purpose. I can’t tell you how many brushes I have that have some sort of label, which I never follow. One of my favorite brushes to use on lips is actually marketed as an eyeliner brush. That is why I love his number system, and why he chose that sort of labeling. It allows the consumer to decide how s/he will utilize each brush. These invaluable tools are available on beautylish.com.

Mr. Billy B! Image courtesy of Billy B.

Today is a Beautiful Day!

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The sky from right out my front door

Today, “sunny Southern California” isn’t so sunny…at least, not yet. It is quite overcast, and I love it. It’s one of those, “I should go to the beach!” days. Most people find it gloomy, but it is a welcome change from the 90-degree weather we have had lately. Maybe I will go to Disneyland…or just head out for a stroll. At any rate, I wish I was outside. I am not, by any means, a fan of cold weather (and yes, I mean 65 and below), but this is lovely. Maybe it’ll be a good day after all.

Yes, I play WoW, and Love It!

00.0000.00 / darphynia / Leave a comment

If you had asked me 10 years ago, I would have said that I would never play World of Warcraft. I didn’t see the point, and thought that it was a waste of time. Plus, I had played (only once) and thought it was idiotic that I had to wait to be hit before I could hit back. Well, times have changed, and I used a trial that my friend had. My first character is part of the Alliance. I created a Death Knight (blood) and named her Darphynia. She is a dwarf with glowing eyes and loves to attack/kill everything in sight. She also loves to mine, is an engineer, and loves her pets and mounts. Don’t let her size fool you…she’ll zap ya faster than you can slap a tick!

Within the first week of playing, I found myself not wanting to go anywhere after I had finished my daily routines because I felt that I needed to quest…it became somewhat of an obsession. Fortunately, I can say that that phase did not last long, and now it is over. I prefer to quest, but dungeons help my characters level faster. The only problem is that you are reliant on others to complete the dungeons, and we all know how rare it is to find a good group. My current mission is to obtain the Ashes of Al’ar mount. I have two characters nearly at 100, and a few more that are on their way.

My friend asked me how I named my characters. Some people pick a name at random, and others will use their imagination to create their own. Aside from Darphynia and Anzuki (my Monk Panda who is slightly named after my cat), all of my characters have been named for a reason. They have an origin, whether it is Celtic, Greek, etc., and I try to give them a name that best suits their look and what they do. For example, my Horde character is Histolytica. She is an Undead Rogue named after a parasite that feeds on living cells. Because she is Undead, she can eat most of what she kills to regain her health.

If you don’t have it already, I highly recommend the WoW Armory app. It allows you to view your characters, take a screenshot, and includes guild chat, currency count, and access the auction house. I will have posts later on focusing on my other characters. Who knows; maybe there will be a game-play video or two, in the future, as well.

A Note on the Mackeeper

00.00 / darphynia / Leave a comment

While at CES, we chanced upon the MacKeeper booth. MacKeeper (est. 2010) is a program designed to protect and clean your Mac. All you need to do is download the application, choose a subscription plan, and start running an analysis. I was a bit skeptical at first because I had seen the pop-ups before, and thought it might be a scam to gain access to information, files, etc. Please do NOT download it from any pop-up; you’re just asking for trouble– get it legitimately, if you decide to. I digress.

After CES, they were kind enough to send me a trial key, and I am so glad I used it. The version I tried was 3.3.1. After the first scan, my Mac was running far better than it had been. There is a meter that goes from green to red. There was a breakdown of everything that was scanned and found. The problem here is that most people won’t read through it, and if they do, might not understand it. On the scan screen, there is also an option to speak with a live person 24/7. There are 16 apps that come with the subscriptions, such as Duplicates Finder, Anti-Theft, and Shredder. This program delivers far more than what meets the eye; it is a comprehensive tools for Mac users that is fool-proof. Its design makes it a breeze to set up and use, eliminating any chances for complications.

Many people have named it a scam (though I found it to the contrary), and yet many professionals have praised it. Thoughts?

Here are a few links to opinions on either side of the fence:

Cult of Mac
TheSafeMac.com
PRWeb.com
SlowInternet.com
technologytell.com

Fashion Friday: Be Kind to Your Feet with Sanuk’s Yoga Chakra Sandals

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Sanuk boasts that they make the most comfortable footwear. In fact, their motto is, “Never uncomfortable.” From what I have bought and experienced, I have to agree. The Yoga Charkra Sanuks are a pair of my favorite sandals! They are, hands down, the most comfortable sandals I own. Each pair is partially made from yoga mats (how cool is that?)! When I put them on, my foot just sinks in, similar to when you lay on a foam mattress. My feet always feel a sense of relief; like they are thanking me for cushioning them so well.

There are so many different styles, patterns, and colors of Sanuks to choose from, and they are incredibly lightweight. No matter where I am traveling, I always take a pair of their sandals. Whether I am spending a whole day trekking around the Disney theme parks, traveling about this beautiful world, or just out for a stroll, these are my go-to sandals. I have quite a few pairs of sandals and other footwear from them, and in the years I have had them they have not fallen apart. Each pair are incredibly durable and well-crafted. If you have not yet experienced Sanuk, I definitely recommend you do. They have styles for everyone (yes, even the kids!), so check them out.

The Yoga Charkra line comes in 6 different colors:

Image courtesy of sanuk.com

Tech Tuesday: Foreo Luna Mini

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Foreo Luna Mini. Image courtesy of foreo.com

No, you’re not seeing double. I did a short review that wasn’t really a review, of the Luna mini, awhile back. I had not yet purchased the Luna Mini, but did shortly after. During CES 2013, I happened upon the Foreo booth. My first thought was that it was some kind of pleasure object. It was around other booths that fit that genre, the items are made from silicone, and they vibrate. As I was talking to one of their representatives, I was informed that it was a new way to clean your face. I am an avid Clarisonic user, and have said so from the beginning, but I thought I would give this a try. I like that it is made of silicone, and that it has a non-porous surface.

Sorry the photo quality isn’t the greatest. Under the device is the USB cable & Authenticity card.

The package comes with the Luna Mini, USB cable, User Guide, and Authenticity Card. It is important to register the product when you get it, just in case something goes wrong. There is no charger or stand; the USB cable simply charges the product from your computer or other wall charger that allows USB cables.

Front: Cleaning brush surface & “on” button.


Back: Deep cleansing surface & waterproof port.

The device took awhile for me to get used to. Not that it doesn’t now, but especially in the beginning, it felt like all I was doing was vibrating my face. The Luna mini has two vibration power modes, and will always be on the strongest setting when it is turned on. I have used those silicone scrubbing pads, and I thought that they cleaned better because there is more control; I could apply as much pressure as I felt necessary, and it could reach all areas of my face. But, the more I use the Luna Mini, the more I like it. In my opinion, the Clarisonic gives a deeper clean, but if your skin is sensitive this may be the way to go. Because of the shape of the Luna mini, it is also difficult to get to certain areas, like the side of the nose, even turning it. I also don’t notice any difference between the front part and the back, with the exception of texture. I used it one time at night to see how my skin would look and feel after a long day. It was okay; my skin felt clean, but it was not the deep clean that I needed after my skin had been attacked by the sun, pollution, etc. I then took to using it in the morning because I don’t (necessarily) need something that abrasive after I wake, and it is a good way to start my morning routine. My skin looks and feels nice, and is prepped for whatever life throws at it.

Three big pros are its portability, material, and lack of a charger. I like that I can work on my laptop and charge the device at the same time. The one thing I really dislike is the absence of auto-shutoff after the suggested usage time. Clarisonic, Conair facial brush, and Phillips Pure Radiance facial brush have an auto-shutoff feature. The clear base lights up after one minute, which means it is time to turn it off. Press and hold the button to do so. If you don’t it will shut off after 3 minutes so you don’t overdo it. Oh, and there is no case…for the money, the least they could have done was thrown in a bag or something to put it in for travel/storage purposes. Overall, I give it a 7/10; it is worth trying. You never know if something will work for you unless you do, right?

The Luna comes in four versions: Luna, Luna mini, Luna for Men, and Luna Luxe. Each device model is tailored to fit different needs, with varying speeds. It is also waterproof and can be used with any cleanser. They also have devices available for professionals as well. Foreo recently launched the ISSA, which is a silicone toothbrush. I have yet to get one, but am quite curious to see if it is really worth the hype. Thoughts?

Luna. Image
courtesy of foreo.com

Luna mini. Image courtesy of foreo.com

Luna Luxe. Image courtesy of foreo.com

Men’s Luna. Image courtesy of foreo.com

I purchased my Luna mini at skintrends.com, which is an authorized online seller. I do not recommend purchasing this from Amazon, since the items sold have mostly been knock-offs. Foreo products are also available on their website, and at Sephora, both in-store and online.

Stay beautiful!

Makeup Monday: Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser

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Ceramic Slip. Image courtesy of sundayriley.com

Normally I don’t purchase items after just one to two uses. I had purchased some items on Sephora’s website, and one of the free samples to choose from was Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser. I was happily surprised that after the first use my skin felt so clean and smooth. Since the results were so wonderful, I ended up purchasing two bottles at once! Within a week, my skin felt like, well, ceramic. My pores were less visible, and while they cannot in actuality be changed permanently (thank you, genetics *note sarcasm*), my skin as a whole looked better. You have to shake the bottle first, then just one pump on my Clarisonic is all it takes. If you do not have a Clarisonic, no worries. Whatever you use will work.

The cleanser does foam but not excessively. It contains green clay, Vitamin C, black pepper, and other stimulating ingredients. The scent is very unique. A bit like light vinegar with a hint of black pepper, followed by floral notes. It doesn’t sound very pleasing, but I promise it’s not that bad, and since the product works, it is well worth it. The scent doesn’t linger either, which is great. Ceramic Slip is gentle enough for use in the day and night. For a quick deep-cleansing mask, you can combine 2 pumps of Ceramic Slip with 1 pump of Good Genes. Leave it on for 5 minutes, rinse off with warm water, and pat dry.

It is a bit pricey ($45.00/4.2 oz), but worth every penny. Since many people have a problem with it being drying, be sure to follow up with your favorite moisturizer. Sephora also has a wonderful return policy, so just save your receipt if you need to return it. If you end up trying this out, please let me know what your experience was!

Stay beautiful!

Subscription Box Sunday

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I have been thinking about doing a subscription box piece over the weekend, so here we are.

Sorry the photo is a bit wonky! These were the items in my Birichbox this month. Oops! I forgot to include the hair mask packet.

This is my fourth Birchbox, and so far I have been really pleased. There is always a variety. In this box, there was a lip crayon by mirenesse, small sample of eye cream by Supergoop!, small sample of No. 4 clarifying shampoo, small sample of No. 4 hair mask (not pictured), Cargo blush, and travel-sized Oscar Blandi mousse. Unfortunately, the shampoo’s cap had come unscrewed, and leaked everywhere. The shampoo got all over the other products, and was partially absorbed into the box & wrapping tissue. Each box is $10.00, though it is cheaper if you subscribe for multiple boxes at a time. Shipping is included, which a nice. At first, I was unsure if the price would be worth it; so far, it has. I also tried out the men’s box. it is double the price, but given the price of the goods inside, it’s no wonder. I would recommend both to try. With all of the options, who knows what will end up being your next favorite product!

This is the shampoo I will not get to try, since it leaked out. This was taken after I closed the lid.

I am looking forward to reviewing these products, and seeing what the latest Birchbox brings. On a side note, I have also had excellent experiences with their online shop. There are some great deals, discounts (sometimes), and freebies. You can also gift the men’s and women’s boxes!

Here are some photos of the Birchboxes I have received in the past: