Something I Bought

Contact Paper Counter – 4 YEAR Update!

~ samanthatran ~ Leave a comment

Hey guys! Here is my 4-year update and removal of the marbled contact paper applied onto my bathroom countertop.

I can’t believe I kept it on for so long and it’s time to remove it… so I can redecorate! Right after filming the removal, I went ahead and tackled applying more marbled contact paper from the same brand I used and this is what it looks like currently:

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This time, I added some peel and stick backsplash tiles. I originally bought a pack of 10 12″x12″ sheets to use as my shower surround backsplash but all of the little squares would be too much next to the wallpaper–so I had plenty to play around with and figured out different ideas for them.

Stay tuned for an upcoming video of what redo-ing the marbled contact paper + adding backsplash tile will be like! Also, I’m potentially putting grey wood grain contact paper onto the cabinets…

The BEST of TEXAS || Travel 2018

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Hey guys! Sarah and I flew down to Texas to visit our cousin Daniel in Dallas for a week this past summer. We also road-tripped to Austin and declared BUC-EE’s or bust.

I guess things really are bigger in Texas… we pit-stopped at the World’s Largest Convenience store! It had 60+ gas station pumps as well.

To see more of the BEST of Texas, check out my vlog and feel free to subscribe for more!

Some featured things or places we went:

IMG_9600Go Ape Ziplining & Adventure
Mitsuwa Japanese Supermarket
Pecan Lodge
Summit Climbing, Yoga, & Fitness
Melt Ice Creams
Ronald Kirk Walking Bridge/Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
Ramen Tatsu-Ya Austin
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters (by the lake)
Lady Bird Lake, Austin (Rowing Dock Stand Up Paddle-Boarding)
Watching the bats from Congress Ave Bridge
Shinjuku Station
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
—If anything you want to know isn’t listed yet just ask!

 

DIY Photos with Confetti

~ samanthatran ~ Leave a comment

This year it was 5 degrees and below on my birthday–yes, in Fahrenheit–so I couldn’t really run around in Boston like I originally planned to. At least it gave me the opportunity to get my photos [inserted below] done indoors before heading out to see a movie and have dinner with my friend, Nina.

This is a quick vlog-styled how-to video I edited on achieving birthday photos using a paper backdrop and some confetti and balloon props. Please do try this at home with the best of luck from me.

xoxo Sami

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Leggings for Short Girls

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Hey guys, short girl (5′) here! After years of trying on and buying pairs of leggings, I have found my favorite pairs. This is a video I created featuring me wearing them:

The brands include Aerie by American Eagle and Girlfriend Collective (which I also did a more thorough review on here).

Aerie Chill High Waisted Legging* ($20**):

  • Available in short, regular, and long lengths
  • Underwear doesn’t show through
  • For everyday wear

Aerie Play High Waisted Pocket Legging ($35**):

  • Available in short, regular, and long lengths
  • Underwear doesn’t show through
  • For workouts and everyday wear

Girlfriend Collective High-Rise Leggings ($68):

  • One length but they have a separate legging called the 7/8 legging which is geared towards shorter people (it’s next on my list of leggings to buy!)
  • Underwear doesn’t show through
  • Made in Vietnam with recycled water bottles!
  • For workouts and everyday wear

*If you don’t like high-waisted leggings; the aerie chill legging is the same exact thing (not see through, for everyday wear).

**This is the retail price but they are usually on sale for less.

KALA Ukulele Unboxing

~ samanthatran ~ 1 Comment

I just ordered a Kala Ukulele so I could get started on learning how to play the ukulele and it’s better than what I was expecting *_*

This is the unboxing and tuning video I made:

So far, I’ve had no issues with this ukulele and have learned to play a few chords that go together for the song Riptide by Vance Joy.

COSRX Korean Pimple Patches?! Do they work…

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Hey there! I recently got my hands on Korean “Acne Pimple Master Patches” that apparently makes your pimples disappear or drastically reduce them overnight!

I made a video demo and review of them on YouTube:

Did it work? YES.

Will I buy it again? YES.

I highly recommend that you at least try this because it flattens out your pimple overnight and the pus comes right off with the sticker instead of worrying about getting bacteria inside and damaging skin cells around your pimples.

The stickers seem to work best on flatter facial features because it stuck on all night on my forehead but was halfway peeling off when I used it on my upper lip overnight.

Feel free to ask me any questions about this product; I’m not an expert and I was not sponsored to review this but I think I know what I’m doing!

 

 

First Planner Stickers Haul! (3 Shops)

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I use a medium-sized ban.do agenda and ever since I joined a Facebook group called Planners Gone Wild, I have officially fallen in love with planning even more than before! These are a few of the shops that I have bought or received stickers from so far. I have 2 more orders on the way too! (One from FabulouslyPlannedCo again and another from PlanToPlan on Etsy.) I will definitely be making a new post about those.

FabulouslyPlannedCo; (https://www.fabulouslyplannedco.com/), $7 including shipping.

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(left) Closet Organization/Cleaning   (right) Planner Girl Collection Full Boxes

I didn’t realize some of these were common “clip art” stickers that several shops use but I am in love with the cute armoire design. I’m either going to use it for my “laundry day” or days where I clean my room in general. The full boxes are from FabulouslyPlannedCo’s Planner Girl Collection. These are definitely going into my ban.do agenda for a busy college work week.

TwinSixteen; (https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwinSixteen), Free via RAK, est Value $15.

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Past Elle Kit (EC Vertical/Happy Planner)
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Birthday Sprinkles Weekly Kit (EC Vertical)

I actually won these kits from TwinSixteen on Etsy through the Planners Gone Wild group on Facebook. I joined in August and ended up winning from Mari’s RAK. They are the only kits I have so far because I am too afraid to commit to a full set for a week or month. I especially love how she named one of them Past Elle instead of just Pastel.

Purple Paisley Prints; (https://purplepaisleyprints.com/), $9.50 including shipping.

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(left to right) Top row: Books, Money, Movie Icon Flags | Bottom row: Laptop, Airplane, Car

This set right here is my first official small-business planner stickers order! Christy was having a $1 sticker sheets sale to help save her house and I ordered several sheets. As you can see, I’m an icon sticker girl, I’ve used at least a few from each sheet already and I love the quality, especially for the price! Christy’s sheets are conveniently hole punched too, I’ve seen other shops who charge extra for that. Even with the good deal, she included a little sampler set and I cannot wait to use those.

Comment down below if you have any sticker shop recommendations. I’m ready to continue building my collection!

FREE Girlfriend Collective Leggings?!

~ samanthatran ~ Leave a comment

In October I saw the ad for free leggings, just pay shipping and I decided to go for it and see what these leggings were like! It took 2 months to get to me since they were coming straight from their SA8000 factory in Vietnam. The timing couldn’t be any more perfect because I’m going through my obsession with high quality workout clothes right now!

I made an unboxing video and show what they look like on me and when I’m doing some basic yoga with them. Getting these was one of the best impulsive decisions I’ve made all year! Can’t wait to see what other goodies they will be featuring in 2017.

They’re free leggings promo is still available for now, so try them out if you’re interested before it’s too late! www.girlfriend.com (Isn’t their brand name so cute first of all!)

Here are some pics of me wearing them:

Front view
Back view
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As you can see, they are not see through (yay!)

The leggings are made from water bottles (so cool, I know) which they turn into a yarn that can be used to create this fabric. I love what they stand for because they chose an SA8000 factory which means that the workers are paid fair wages and work in a safe environment while still producing high quality clothing.

Please note that I am just under 5 feet tall so they fit me a little long, if you’re of average height they will fit you just fine! I am wearing size S.

If you have any questions feel free to comment!

Get Rid of Dry Hands FAST

~ samanthatran ~ 1 Comment

Hey guys! Here are the products I use to get rid of my dry skin during the cold winter. I also featured them in a video*:

  • Intense: Aquaphor Healing Ointment – Lather as much or as little as you want on your hands before going to bed and wake up with much softer, smoother hands
  • Daily: Bath & Body Works Nourishing Hand Cream ~$5 – This smells kind of strong but soooooo good. I don’t know if I can recommend this in public places in case you are around people who have allergies to scents and fragrances but it’s lovely to use and it makes your hands soft!
  • On-the-Go: Nivea Creme $1 – It’s simple and lightly scented; I throw this in my college backpack, going-out bag, and work bag.

*Not sponsored btw, I purchased everything on my own to try and make my hands smooth again