Mrs Gaeul

Looking back at my pictures from my travels and daily life in Japan, it is almost hard to believe it ever happened. I was only there for three months, but at some point it seemed like home. I felt like I went through three stages while in Japan; At first, I was so excited by everything! Then, everything became normal and I settled into a normal routine and I felt an attachment to my life there. Then, homesickness set in right before leaving. Oddly enough, I found myself longing for Japan once again after I returned home!

One of the first things I did when I got to Japan was to visit the famous black castle of Okayama. This castle is famous for having a dark black color which is rare. Unfortunately, this castle was destroyed during the war and was later rebuilt in 1964. The original castle was built in 1573. I felt so sad that it was destroyed… imagine how much more beautiful it would have been! The castle is surrounded by a beautiful stream that was beautiful to take a rest by.

Being in Japan really made me notice nature more and realize how beautiful a simple thing can be. I see a lot of stone statues around castles, shrines and businesses and it feels so nice to be surrounded by natural materials.

The weather was beautiful and families were out in full force. In fact, there seemed to be a school or something doing some activities on the lawn inside the castle grounds. I was in full tourist mode at this point, since I had just arrived.  Did I mention I rode my bike 20 minutes to get here solely using google maps? I was a rebel.

Just the exterior and surrounding area around the castle were enough to explore for quite some time. You can only enter through one gate, but other small gates surround the castle that are closed. I wanted to sit on these steps and just soak in the beautiful weather. So peaceful.

A few people sat down by the stream. I was a woman on a mission that day, so I didn’t stop to sit. I loved visiting Okayama Castle and I went back so many times. I noticed a lot of couples took advantage of the stream and scenery to have a picnic lunch. I even saw one man on the other side of the stream painting the beautiful landscape with the castle.

After entering through the castle gate, you will enter through another huge door and go up some steps. The courtyard in front of the castle entrance is super crowded! So many families were having picnics.

The castle is absolutely stunning. It has golden fish shaped gargoyles along the roof that seriously gleam in the sunlight. Before the castle was destroyed, the entire roof was covered in gold. What a sight that must have been!

Unfortunately, going into Okayama Castle isn’t free. I believe I paid about $12 to get in, because there was a special exhibit. There is a small lobby inside that you may enter for free, but there isn’t much to see. I decided to go on in just for the heck of it… plus, I really wanted to see the view from the top of the castle.

To be continued! I have so many pictures to share but I don’t want to overwhelm you. In my next post, I will share the interior of the castle and some of the activities you can do in the castle for fun (and free!)

What do you think of Okayama Castle? Have you ever visited a Japanese castle?

Every month my Birchbox posts get later and later. Nothing ever really jumps out at me from my box each month so I tend to forget about it after I’ve checked it out. I was cleaning my front room today and found this month’s Birchbox wedged in between my couches. Woops!

So what did I get in my April Birchbox this month?

1. Nexxus | Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir

It’s not just your skin that needs antiaging help. This new shine-boosting serum cures dry strands and reduces the odds of age-related breakage. Full-size, $20.99

2. SKIN&Co Roma | Cleansing Body Gel with Olive & Sicilian Orange Extracts

You won’t be able to go back to regular soap after trying this freshly scented, antioxidant-packed shower gel from Rome. Full-size, $17.50

3. StriVectin | StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles

A beauty editor favorite, StriVectin’s cream uses a patented molecule peptide to diminish fine lines and reverse the look of puffy circles. Full-size, $65

4. Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics | Anti-Shine Mattifier

Matte is in. Dab this shine-zapping balm onto your T-zone before applying foundation. Full-size, $36

Beauty Extra: Weleda | Body Lotion

A creamy lotion that uses sustainably harvested plant oils and natural hydrators to restore skin’s moisture levels. Full-size, $16.50

I actually really liked this month’s box. I was pleasantly surprised to see a rather large sample size of StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles! In fact, all of the samples this month were pretty big. The beauty extra was a really great addition in my opinion. I love Weleda!

Did you get the April Birchbox? Did you get the same things or did you receive something different?

I love tea. It wasn’t always that way though. Tea isn’t really popular in my family, and I didn’t know a lot of families around me who were into tea either when I was growing up. Fast forward to college and my travels in Egypt and I feel like I was introduced to a whole new world. I got to try milk tea, a staple drink to most Egyptians I know. I later married an Egyptian and milk tea was basically an everyday thing for me. It is so delicious to drink a piping hot cup of tea every morning.

After that, I grew quite fond of tea. My husband isn’t as adventurous as I am, but we like to find new teas to try out. I recently received a $20 credit to Rue La La, and Tea Forté was having a flash sale for their website. I couldn’t resist!

Yay for tea! I actually had already tried a few of Tea Forté’s teas because they sent out a sampler in Birchbox of their Skin-Smart teas. I really loved them back then! The teas that were sent were targeted for skin health. I was a fan of the cucumber mint!

I decided to purchase their Sencha Green Tea as well as their Coconut Chocolate Truffle Tea. I think the reasoning for buying the Coconut Chocolate Truffle Tea is self explanatory. I love coconut and chocolate, so I can’t wait to try this one out. I was really excited to see Sencha Green Tea on their website because I’ve been craving green tea like mad since I left Japan. I can’t seem to find a good quality green tea in my town that tastes like the Iyemon bagged version that I drank daily there. I’m hoping this one will match the taste and color!

I also decided to pick up the Luci Loose Tea Infuser in butter yellow. I’m already in love with it! I didn’t have a tea infuser so I thought I would pick up this one to enjoy the loose leaf teas that I purchased from Tea Forté. The infuser is super adorable and fits perfectly in my tea mug. I love that it comes with a little matching tray that you can put your infuser on after steeping your tea to catch the drips! Very convenient.

Usually, my tea is in bagged form. I’m looking forward to trying loose leaf! One of my friends swears by loose leaf and says the flavor of the tea is stronger and more delicious or pure. I hope so!

I opened the canister that held the Coconut Chocolate Truffle Tea for just a second and the delicious smell is still lingering, hmm! Have you tried any teas from Tea Forté?

Spring is almost over, but the spring collections are still rolling out! Spring is my favorite time of the year, and spring collections are usually full of styles and colors that are just so appealing to me.

Zeena recently released their Spring 2013 collection and I was psyched! I like Zeena. You won’t find anything too crazy or out of the box in their collection, just pieces that are pretty timeless. Everything always looks comfortable and suitable for everyday wear. I like that about their brand!

I took a minute to highlight my favorite items from their new collection! I’m loving these trendy yet functional shirts!

Drape Neck Cotton-T, $42.00

Everyone needs a nice comfy  piece like this Drape Neck Cotton-T. Even better with long sleeves!

Classic Collar Dress Shirt, $52

I love this one! Work place friendly and great for the summer months coming ahead when it is going to be scorching hot! Cotton is definitely my friend in the warmer months.

Classic Hi-Lo Shrug, $58

This one is my absolute favorite! The material looks so comfortable and it is still super trendy with the hi-lo hemline.

You can check out the rest of the items from their new collection on their website, Simply Zeena.

What do you think about Zeena’s new Spring 2013 collection? Would you rock these looks?

I have such a love/hate relationship with HauteLook. They know just have to get me, too! I can’t pass up a sale, especially if it is for a brand that I’m in love with. theBalm Cosmetics is on sale until Tuesday on HauteLook, and there are so many pretty shades of lipstick to choose from as well as their Nude ‘Tude eyeshadow palette. You definitely want to check out this flash sale!

Their Overshadow eye shadows are gorgeous!

Click on the picture above or click here to go to the sale page. Happy shopping!

Sooo many great deals on Hautelook today ladies! I’m totally crushing on the quads from Vincent Longo Cosmetics. Check it out before they’re gone!

Click on the picture to go to each company’s sale page on Hautelook. Happy shopping! <3

Whew! It has been so busy around here. My college graduation has finally come, and although I’ve been anxiously waiting for this moment for the last four years, it somehow feels like it is all happening so soon. Ah, the irony. I suppose I really have to call myself an adult now, huh?

Anyways, onto the real reason for this post. This year, my hands have been drier than ever! I don’t know if that is a sign of getting older, or if the weather is getting more extreme here in Indiana but my hands feel tight and dry more often than not. I strategically place lotion all over my apartment, in my car, at my desk at work, in my purse… I’m a lotion addict! Even though I was applying lotion every chance I got, it never seemed to be long lasting.

Well, after a little trial and error, I found my holy grail product for hydrating my hands  (and anywhere else really!) for the long term. I picked up this Shiseido Medicated Hand Cream quite awhile back, but forgot about it somehow. I had also bought the smaller travel size version that is 30 grams as well. The larger size comes in a 100 gram jar, which I find less hygienic than the squeeze tube at 30 grams. The larger jar is a much better deal price wise, so I can just suck it up!

The consistency of this cream is quite thick, and made for intense nourishment of the hands. Shisheido describes it as “a high-potency hand moisturizer. With gentle massage, blood circulation is accelerated so that ingredients in the formation could be fully absorbed and consumed. Dehydrated skin is hydrated, and lines and peeling are visibly reduced. Skin looks moist and supple.”

So, does it live up to it’s claims?

I would definitely say yes! The cream is very thick and moisturizing, and it leaves your hands very soft. I was the most impressed with the effect that the cream had on my fine lines. They were definitely softened and I could see the effect immediately after applying. Amazing! The cream is a very light pink with orange beads that form a layer of protection over your skin. Since I love all things pink, I’ll add that in as another benefit.

Another huge benefit of this cream is that it is unscented. If you dislike or are sensitive to fragrance in a product or just very picky about the smell of your skincare, this would be a great choice for you. It is also very affordable with the travel size retailing for around $4 and the full size for $9.

What do you do to keep your hands hydrated year round?

PS: This post is part of the GiG Spotlight #5: Spring Fever!, hosted by the lovely Caity of Moi Contre La Vie and Mari of I Love Green Inspiration. Never heard of Girls Inspired Group? Click on the image below to check out their blog and join!

The rules are simple:

Dimensions: 200×90

 

Are you interested in co-hosting during the month of May?
If you are interested, please leave your email in the comments down below and I will get back to you ASAP.

That’s it! I hope you have a fun time visiting other blogs and making new friends
What would you want to link up during next week’s link party?

Happy Linking,
Jessika