Vancouver or Bust: A hypothetical, yet Strategically Planned Vacation

Hi all! I know summer is nearing its end, but that doesn't mean that planning out an ultimate vacation has to! Can you imagine if you had a budget of $10,000 to plan your dream trip? Think of all you could do and where you could go with that kind of money. While that seems like a lot compared to the lesser amount that I usually spend on a five day vacation or trip to a research conference, I decided that this will be a challenge accepted, courtesy of Earnest!

I decided I would base my hypothetical vacation off of a real trip that I have planned out for November. In November, I'll be flying to Vancouver, BC for a research conference. I might have mentioned in a previous blog that I do Psycho-linguistic research and enjoy presenting my research at conferences when I can. Anyhoo, let me see if I can make an itinerary that can get my to that $10,000 budget, or close to it. I feel like with the excessive amount of thriftiness in me, the princess of bargain hunting, I won't make it anywhere near that budget. If I am lucky, I will get to $5,000 with some cheating😉, but I feel it is worth a try.

Well the first decision I would make would be whether to fly or take the train. Flying would be the faster option, but if I have a good amount of free time before hand, I would also consider taking the train. Everything else follows after I decide how to get to Vancouver.

To and From Transportation:

Flight -

Date: During the middle of the second week of November 2017

Price: $267 round trip from SNA (John Wayne Airport - Santa Ana) to YVR (Vancouver).
This particular flight is also the fastest way to Vancouver from Orange County. However, the flight happens to have multiple connections as seen with cheap flights. In order to avoid connections, LAX is the closest option. I don't personally mind connecting flights as it gives me a chance to stretch my legs, so I will keep it for this hypothetical itinerary.


Train -

Date: During the end of the first week of November 2017

Price: Utilizing my AAA discount, I would have to take the train straight out of Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC, as no connecting train from anywhere in Orange County to LA Union Station would work for this particular mode of travel. The stressful part about this train is that it only leaves two times per day, 10:10 am and 3:10 pm and it is reserved travel. So if you miss your train, you might risk paying extra to catch another one. The cheapest train is $112 one way for a coach seat, but since I have "money" to spend, I would go for the sleeper car. My train riding goal is to go on a long trip in a sleeping car, but they are expensive that I haven't been lucky enough to do so yet. That sleeping car will set me back $361 one way. Taking the train requires a 34 hour one way ride too, so this is only useful if I had free time to leave earlier and return later.

Transportation During Stay:


Walking:

Vancouver is considered to be Canada's most walk-able city with a score of one, so I would probably just walk everywhere like I mostly do in San Francisco.


Housing:

Hotel:

Fairmount Waterfront Hotel

If I am really going "all out", I would have to pick this hotel because it boasts amazing views of the city and the harbor. It is also only $189 CAD/ $151 USD per night. This is actually far cheaper than any of the hotels I have stayed at during any of the research conferences. Based off of a five night stay, this would be $945 CAD +tax/ $755 USD +tax.


Activities:


The most exciting part of this hypothetical itinerary, because there is actually one thing I am definitely doing in real life while in Vancouver.

Conventions:

Fan Expo Vancouver: I was extremely excited when I learned that my research conference and this comic/pop culture convention were in the same location during essentially the same time. While, I am only intending to go one day in real life, for the sake of hypothetically spending money, I will go all three days and get the deluxe package. The price of this would be:$229 CAD/$183 USD. Now, if I was able to purchase comic books that I need to add to my collection, this price would jump up about $500-$1000 extra.

Other Activities:
Realistically, I would probably do primarily free events and activities like I do during most of my vacations. However, since I HAVE to spend money, I would go on to Vancouver's primer tourism website and sample from paid activities that pique my interests. My estimate is that I could try to spend about $1000 on activities in 5 days (that's if I picked mostly expensive activities and did them multiple times)

Food:

I have a funny feeling that my largest expense would be food, and that I would be able to eat somewhat extravagantly. I would push for trying the priciest meals on the menu at swanky restaurants and hope that can get me to spend at least $100-200 per meal . So if I ate 3 meals per day, that's $300-$600 per day, just by eating. That's another $1,500-$3,000 down the drain.

Stock photo of Vancouver from Patrick King

That's all for now, my friends! I knew I would fail this miserably, being as thrifty as I am, but it was still a fun thing to plan out. Ultimately, by train with sleeper car, the most I would have spent: $6,495 and by plane, the most I would have spent: $3,505. If you’re interested in planning a similar trip, budgeting and travel research is the way to go. It is definitely possible to make due on less if you have good money management skills. Let me know in the comments below where you would go and three main things you would do on vacation with $10,000. Hopefully, you guys are better at this than I am. 😅



Till Next Time!

-Hachi

You can't Make-up this Makeup Review!

Hi all! As promised, I am doing a product review of the new makeup I bought. Two products are face/skin centric and two are geared toward the eyebrow region.  I hope you enjoy my product review!

Fashion Fair: Cream to Powder (Java)

Fashion Fair: Creme to Powder (Java)

You can actually get this product in a tube, as well. The tube has far better coverage than the compact, and I would get the tube, next time. The consistency inside the compact feels thick, and you have to really rub your brush or sponge to get product on it. However, when you apply it to your face, it doesn't feel as heavy as it initially appears. My main issue with the product is that you need a decent amount of good quality setting spray, otherwise it feels like it will rub off on everything. Maybe that's the "powder" effect, I'm not entirely sure. The plus side about this brand is that it's made for people of color in mind. Unlike other brands that have an odd selection of darker colors, this one works for people with yellowish, reddish, or neutral tones and higher amounts of melanin. It cost 28$, And a few places in California do sell it, such as Fresno, or Culver City. I actually purchased it while I was in Chicago and had never heard about the brand before then. I am not sure what else to say about it, but be sure to apply oil free moisturizer as well. It has sunscreen in it as well.

My rating: 8/10
It covers my hyper pigmentation pretty decently, but the tube did a far better job at it. Also, the fact that it rubs off sort of easily is annoying. I would buy it again though as the quality for the price is worthwhile. I would also get the tube, next time if it's available for better coverage.


Clinique: Even Better (31-Spice)

Clinique: Even Better (31-Spice)

Originally, I had purchased this one first while home in Northern California. I had used my mother's a few times and liked it enough to buy it myself. If I remember correctly, this was also $28. I think the bottle is actually extremely small for that price, but make up, in general, is pricey as it is. It felt a bit more oily to me than I would have liked, but it did help cover my hyper pigmentation a bit. That was the primary reason I bought it, to make it less noticeable. This was probably the closest I could get to my color in this brand, so I would often add a little powder on top to even me out better than Even Better could.  I also like that it had sun screen in it. My face is extremely sensitive, so I have to be cautious about the products I buy, or risk irritation. I am glad that this brand did not irritate my face.

My rating: 6.5/10

I did not think the small amount of product that you get was worth $28. I thought that it made my face oilier than usual. I think they could add more color choices for people with darker complexions. However, I did like that it had sunscreen in it. I like that it's more readily available. I also like that it can make my hyper pigmentation a little less noticeable. Unfortunately, it needs help with the coverage. Would I buy it again? Possibly, if I couldn't obtain my color in Fashion Fair.


Sephora: Brow Gel (clear) & Sephora: Brow Illuminator (05- Matte Spice)

Sephora: Brow Gel (clear) & Sephora: Brow Illuminator (05- Matte Spice)

I haven't had these very long (just about three days), but I feel like I can give a decent review on simple products such as these. The Brow Illuminator works really well for darker skinned individuals. It gives the nice highlight on the brows without making the person look "ashy". Also, it was extremely cheap. Possibly around $12, if I remember correctly. The Brow Gel is decent because it's cheap (~$12) in comparison to other brow gels, it helps tame my curly hairs on my eyebrows, and it doesn't make the brows feel overly stiff.

My rating: Brow Gel - 8/10
I like the price of it, but wish that it had more product in it. I also wish that the tinted gels had better color options that weren't so glittery. I had tried the "darkest" tinted gel they had in this line, and it felt reminiscent of the frosted boy band tips on the hair of the early 2000s. Would I buy it again? Sure, why not. However, I would only buy it in clear coloring.

Brow Illuminator - 9.5/10
This has honestly got to be the best brow highlight I have ever used! It looks good with my skin color, doesn't make me look ashy, and doesn't cost all that much. I just wish that it was a twist tube, rather than a pencil that you have to sharpen.




That's all for my product reviews on these makeups! I'll let you guys tell me in the comments below which brand you think worked out better for me by posting a side by side photo of it. I personally think Fashion Fair was the better option. You can also see the above eyebrow products used on my face in these photos.

Fashion Fair side

Clinique side

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Make-up or Make Believe: What's in My Make-up Bag?

Hi all! I have taken a new liking to make-up as of recent, and have been on a buying frenzy. I figured that a "what's in my make-up bag" style blog would be a fun one to do, so here goes nothing! I will show the contents of my make-up bag and discuss my most used and least used items and why.
I purchase a majority of my make-up from Sephora at JCP because I can earn rewards at JC Penney for buying items.

My original make-up bag was actually a gift with purchase from the Glendale Galleria, there is an ELF store. I am told it is one of three stores in California. I like ELF for some of their items in order to do a cheaper dupe of a more expensive item. Primarily, I use ELF for their make-up prepping items, rather than actual make-up. However, now I have a new bag that I purchased from Charlotte Russe, so that will begin the basis of this blog.

I purchased this bag for 1.99$ at Charlotte Russe from the clearance rack. I was so excited for it because I am a Sagittarius and I loved that it had the constellations on it. Without further ado, here's what's in my makeup bag! (Some things have changed since the photos were originally taken, so I will clarify that in the captions.

Is it true? ;)

These were my original highlight and concealers. I have ran out of the two toned Sephora contouring kit, so I just use the Nars and Sephora concealer in Toffee.

I have added a new foundation brush to my arsenal now. 

My powder form of contouring.

I never saw a real reason to buy expensive mascara, personally.

My favorite brand for the brows. <3

I have become partial to under the eye liner again, so that All Nighter Eyeliner is a godsend.

I would have to say my biggest obsession right now is lipsticks. I am not even sure why that is, but I have more than this now.

I hope everyone follows their arrows ---->

Well that's all for now, my friends! I will be updating this post with the newest editions to my makeup bag in the next few days, so stay tuned for that!.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi