Highlights of Tokyo food, and an update to the original Tokyo Food Recs page

At long last, I've published some of my highlights of Tokyo food.

I've also updated the original Tokyo Food Recs page so it's a bit more readable. It's going to take a bit more work though!

I leave you with some new music from Nelly Furtado:

Mini Review: Mrs. Meyer's Candles

They smell nice up close but the throw is too weak for our living room. And they leave a lot of unmelted wax. I tried 3 and found all of them weak. They might work in our bathroom which is a much smaller space but I find the unmelted wax annoying. I won't repurchase.

明けましておめでとうございます

Happy New Year.
Wishing everyone a wonderful 2017.

今年もよろしくお願い致します。

http://merlinkafka.tumblr.com/post/147553336009/just-returned-from-an-epic-adventure-in-trentino

Mini Review: Milani Power Up Lip

Milani Power Lip may be discontinued. I saw it at my local Grocery Outlet and picked up a few as small souvenirs for foreign friends. Later I came across some reviews and picked up a few more to test for myself in Creamy Cafe and Mango Tango. 

The two shades are quite appropriately named. Mango Tango would be a great summer shade and also lovely on deeper complexions, being a bright melon.

Texture wise these gloss stains are fine. I find lasting power to be okay. Maybe I've been eating super greasy stuff, but these products are gone after a meal; no hint of a stain.

Because of this, I find these to be cheap and fun, but not must-haves or cause to bemoan their possibly discontinued state. Also the color selection doesn't particularly appeal to me; I have enough reds, and Mango Tango is a fun color but too bright for me to use regularly.

Mini Review: Pureology Colour Fanatic Deep-Conditioning Mask, Nature's Gate Biotin Conditioner

So far, I love the Pureology Colour Fanatic Mask. You don't need to use much product and it left my hair moisturized and soft. I've only used it once though so we'll see if it continues to perform well. I don't have colored hair so I can't comment on how it works with color.

Nature's Gate Biotin Conditioner has a nice herbal-mint scent, but it seems to take a lot to detangle my hair, and doesn't leave it particularly moisturized. I like the Pureology mask better - less work for better results.

Well...

Personally, I'm still mostly here with Robin McKinley, but I love this message of compassion by Garance Doré.

And Bois de Jasmin keeps me a bit more grounded in the big picture, for which I am grateful. For example, the blog owner is currently planning a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders.

Update on CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick

I'm not crazy about the way this sits on my lips - it feels like a thin greasy layer. I definitely prefer the feel of Revlon Balm Stains - more of a moisturizing feel rather than greasy.

The color Hypnotic is a bit frosty to wear on its own too - okay but a little too much to be perfectly flattering.

So this may go in the bin, as I like all of my other lip products better.

The other possibility is that this lipstick has already gone bad - it has a sweet scent that I don't particularly like.