What phone should I get? (Halloween post)

Hi Everyone! Happy Halloween!!!!

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=1574&picture=halloween

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All right, enough of the craziness. Question for you guys today: What type of phone should I get? My phone contract is going to expire in a few months and I am soo ready to get a new phone =D My old phone is a Windows Mobile 6.1, which is basically the smartphone before the iPhone, so inefficient, messy, etc. Yeah. A big no-no, do NOT buy this product; I actually think it is not sold anymore (hopefully, esp with the new Windows Phone 7)?

I'm thinking about using either AT&T or T-mobile as my service provider. So thus, I would like to ask you guys for suggestions for what phone I should get. I'm thinking of getting a smartphone, that can text, go on fb, check e-mail, etc etc etc, all those cool goodies. My best friend recently got the Samsung Galaxy S2 and he absolutely LOVES it. One of my freshman roommates also got a smartphone recently, and she has been loving hers. What do you guys think I should get?

Thanks for any suggestions!
<3

My Beauty Evolution! Emilynoel83 tag

Hey guys and gals,


Here's a tag that was created by YT guru Emilynoel83, AKA Beauty Broadcast, AKA Emily Eddington, a newscast anchor near St. Louis, Missouri. Her youtube link to the tag is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vefnfmpt1M

Anyways, her tag states: "Choose a time period and share 5 ways your beauty routine has changed! "


The time period I will choose is from when I was just starting out with makeup, when I was a junior in high school. I guess I'll do a table of some sort (don't really know how to do that on blogger yet):


1. Skincare
Back then, I didn't know what was the difference between a facial lotion and a body lotion. I used hand soap to wash my face. I didn't moisturize my face. I guess perhaps that's why I had so much acne? And my skin was often so scaly and dry all the time, or breaking out.
Now, I use a moisturizer, toner, facial cleanser (in reverse order of course!), eye cream, all that good stuff. I'll also use compressed face masks and stuff like that from time to time as well. It really does help! My skin's acne is mostly gone, and my skin is sooo much smoother than before.


2. Eyeshadow
Back then, I didn't understand how to use eyeshadow really well. I just took a four-shade pan palette from CoverGirl and used each of the color on all of my lid. I looked like a clown (now that I think back, or at least compared to now) and I guess people were too nice to talk about it.


3. Eyeshadow primer
Yes, and the eyeshadow that I used in the 11th grade would smudge, crease, what not, all. the time! I thought that was just how makeup was supposed to be. Lolz for the terror. Now I use primer, and it actually stays (or at least longer than it did before).


4. Black eyeliner
I used to think that black eyeliner was the ONLY eyeliner that could be used for Asian eyes like mine. I thought that eyeliner was supposed to be paired with haircolor for some reason (yeah, doesn't really make sense). Only 4 years later, during my junior year of college, did I finally grow out of that habit when I realized how much more natural brown eyeliner is, and that blue, purple, white, etc eyeliners are all cool and good!


5. Mascara
Yes, this was THE ONE that was the worst. I started out using something my mom gave me, It was the Estee Lauder MagnaScopic Maximum Volume mascara in Black (click here for the link). It smudged, clumped, etc. I didn't know how to properly use a mascara wand, about the wiping on the tube, the different types of mascaras, waterproof, water resistant, volume vs lengthening vs natural, etc. I just thought that ALL mascaras were this terrible. This is why I didn't wear mascara for years and years, until my junior year in college 4 years later. Now, I'm using Almay One Coat Nourishing Waterproof Thickening mascara in Black (click here for the link) and it's SOO much better, stays on, etc. And now I use mascara on a daily basis, and I know how to apply it properly. PTL!


So yeah, that's My Beauty Evolution, so to say. So now, I tag all of you to do a Beauty Evolution post as well! Tell me in the comments 5 things that have changed for you in your beauty routine since a certain time point. Yay!


<3

Why do some people think they're just God's gift to the world?

Why do some people think they're God's gift to the world? Such arrogance? 


If you do something wrong, just apologize for it. Don't state arrogantly that you didn't do it even if you did. Stop trying to save face. 


Be humble. People make mistakes. Admit that you are human.


I'll admit it. Sometimes I can be as stubborn as heck. But I will say that most of the time, if I do something wrong, I will definitely state that I am wrong and I will admit it. I will apologize. I will understand.


I have had some professors who will never admit that they are wrong. Most of my professors have been very warm and kind. But some just apparently don't care. It seems like their gruff attitudes and rigid stances are just their to intimidate people.


I have met some people in my high school and (perhaps even) knew since middle school who were once kind and good. Later, due to community pressures, parental pressures, academic stress, whatever, they turned mean and sour. They stopped speaking to me in the way that they used to. They started treating me as if I was the enemy, that I was the person who was causing all of their problems.


I am just a simple person who is trying her hardest to make an honest living in life. I am academically-driven, yes. I want to survive in life. But I am a person who needs warmth, love, joy, happiness. I am human, weak, and need reassurance.


Sure, I don't need these things from a professor. I don't need it from old classmates who want nothing to do with me other than to hate me for my academic accomplishments and whatever they think I have that they don't. I don't need it from a person with whom I have no other affiliations with other than those of an academic perspective.


I never meant myself to be a "freak of nature" who just stood out from the pack trying to get into an Ivy. I don't even attend "an Ivy" (or at least according to the old definition of what an Ivy is). The people who hated me in high school got into better schools than I did. And I fervently respect them for it. I applaud their efforts. I really respect them and their accomplishments. I wish them the best in their future endeavors and hope that they will succeed in the real world.


I, on the other hand, am just trying to survive my second-to-last semester in college. While some of my high school classmates will soon be going to work in exclusive law firms or consulting companies or investment banks or computer companies or whatever, I will be spending the next 8 years of my life in super tough, challenging work that will be sucking a lot of the life out of me (or so they say) and will cost me almost $200 grand.


So there you go. You win in the end. All of you who wanted what apparently what I was in high school, middle school, whatever, you win out in the end. While you go to earn money, I will be making a negative salary still - paying to do the work that I will do.


Stop trying to be arrogant and admit your mistakes. I just did. I want to say "I'm sorry" for all of the hurt that I caused you over the years. It was 100% unintentional. I was just trying to make my way through being a good student and doing my duty to my family and my community. If it weren't for my warm, understanding, kind teachers and professors and real friends, I wouldn't have made it to today. I want to truly thank them all for what they did, what they understand, how much care they gave me. 


Why are some people just so arrogant? Why do people just want to say they're right no matter what? No matter what they did, even if they were wrong? Why does it matter so much if you are right?


Looking at it from a Christian perspective, Jesus wanted us to be humble and to admit when we were wrong.


Is saving face so important?

Soo sick...

Hey guys,

Lately I've been really sick. I've been studying for exams all week (crazy classes, all piling up at the same time!) and I think it's really taken a toll on me. I've had a cold and cough, as well as a fever, and it's really sucked. I've used up 2 trash cans worth of tissues. One night I pulled an all-nighter studying for a biology exam and ran out of tissues, and had to use paper towels instead. That really hurt, and it scraped my nose raw, so I had to use vicks to fix that up :(

Still working on getting better, but right now my regiment is:
1. Lots of vit c drops
2. Tons of cough drops
3. Vicks rub
4. Tea
5. Water
6. Tons and tons of tissues

My best friend is also sick, and we've had basically the same problem. Lolz!

All righty, time to try to do more work (only 1 more test this week!), then more class, then more work, then sleep.

<3

Youtube Makeup Artist of the Month!!!

The YT MUA of October is...

Xteeener!!!

Xteeener (www.youtube.com/xteeener) is Christine Nguyen, a young makeup artist in her early 20s. She is from the US and is very nice and congenial. She is GORGEOUS!!! She does a lot of stuff with drugstore makeup (which is definitely a plus for beauties on a budget) and comes off with a very amiable air.

Some of her latest videos include:
Flapper Makeup (for Halloween costume):

Fast everyday look:

Exotic looks from the runway:

She also does a series called wXw (What Xteeener Wears) that includes OOTDs (Outfit of the Days):

As well as skincare routines:

Hairstyles:

Hauls:

Something that I really like is that she does not only the hair, makeup stuff, but she also does stuff for taking care of "body" - if that makes any sense. For example, she did a review of an epilator for her underarm and upper lip hair:

She wasn't afraid to show us this. I'm so glad a YT guru was able to be brave enough to be this personal!

I really like xteeener. I encourage you all to check out her YT channel! www.youtube.com/xteeener

<3

Nails for toes?

Bottom coat + top coat: Revlon MultiCare Base+Top Coat, 965

2 layers: Revlon Top Speed in Espresso (840)

One layer: unbranded nail polish in Orange SH-Orbit

One layer: Claire's in Diva

One Layer: WNW in Kaleidoscope (460C)

Purplish-shiny-shimmery nails with an espresso (coffee) base. Nice!

NOTD

Nails of the Day

Bottom coat + top coat: Revlon MultiCare Base+Top Coat (965).

NYC's "In a New York Minute" Pier 17 (208).

Random tag!

Here's a tag from Jen from frmheadtotoe. There are some really random questions here. The original link to her original tag is here.


What is your current obsession? buying things from ebay, whether they are high or low quality. I think just the randomness of the site kind of is exciting.

What is your weirdest obsession? 


I think I have 2:


1. Wanting to eat and pile on sauces. My friends know that I LOVE piling on salsa on my omelettes and french fries and whatnot. Yes, FRENCH FRIES WITH SALSA. I've eaten ketchup with rice, although that wasn't so good. Ketchup with sandwiches, ketchup with potatoes, ketchup with collard greens, ketchup with dumplings, yeah, crazy. 


2.Wanting to eat especially sour things, in many forms. I love eating any sour candies, Sour Patch Kids, Sour Gummies at the supermarket, sour-tasting hummus (yeah I know weird right?), super sour tapanade toppings, artichoke hearts, pickles, you name it. I think it's just that punch of color.

What are you wearing today? Black skinny jeans from Forever 21, purple tank top (Old Navy), striped burnt purple + grey cardigan (Old Navy), brown belt (don't remember where), leopard flats (outlet store, I think), an owl necklace from Forever 21.

What's your favorite comfort food? Chinese dumplings! Any flavor except those with beef.

What would make today special? If it would rain. This year is la niña and it has been the driest it has ever been in Texas. I would be so grateful if it would rain and bring some water to water our trees and grass.
What would you like to learn to do? I would love to learn how to grill, and how to sew! Knitting would also be fun to learn.

What's the last thing you bought? Black-grey legwarmers/armwarmers by Dolce!

What are you listening to right now? Dark Black Forest by DDR.

What is your favorite weather? Fall I guess, finally cool enough to stay outside for more than 5 minutes without dying of heat stroke.

What is your most challenging goal right now? Passing my cell biology class and trying to sleep more.

What do you think about the person who tagged you? I wasn't really tagged, but I do respect frmheadtotoe (Jen).

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would it be? Probably somewhere far away from Texas but still in the contiguous 48 states. Somewhere where you can experience all 4 seasons, probably some place that is not very dry.

If you could swap lives with anyone for one day who would it be and why? Real person: Chriselle Lim from Youtube, she seems to have such a glamorous life. Not-real person: Hermione from Harry Potter, she reminds me of myself a bit and it would be soooo fun to be in Harry Potter's world for realz (I am SUCH A HP nerd)

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? I would go to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I've imagined it's pure bliss up there but I don't really know. If I c

What would you like to have in your hands right now? a piece of paper to be studying, but on my hands, probably a pair of gloves because I'm freezing cold.

Which language do you wanna learn? Perhaps Italian.

What do you look for in a friend? Trustworthiness, love, kindness, tenderness, a proclivity for hugs!

Who do you want to meet in person? Person that is still alive: Bill Clinton. Person who is dead: my grandfather.

What's your favorite type of music? Everything from Top 40 to electronica, to Latin/Reggaeton, alternative, pop, rock, classical, dubstep, DDR-type, etc. Just about everything.

What's your dream job? Being a doctor on the weekdays, a Zumba instructor at night.

If you had $100 now what would you spend it on? For immediate pleasure: dark chocolate (lots of it) and froyo and boba. For long-term thoughts: into a bank account for med school.

Things you wish you could change in the past? That I would've been less awkward in the middle school. That I got better grades in the 6th grade so my (Asian) parents wouldn't have hounded me for all of those years. That I participated in a drama production in high school. That I slept more and got taller. That I had better vision. That I was smarter and could learn things faster. That I could weigh less. That I could be skinnier. Oh, lots of things....

Fashion Pet Peeve? Really baggy clothing. I feel that it hides your true form and shape.

Do you admire anyone's style? Wendy from Wendy's LookBook - she's pretty petite as well and can dress really well. Also Bubzbeauty's style (Lindy Tsang) but she dresses a bit more on the youngster-looking side and I need to be able to dress more professionally in order to become "a true adult" or transition into my professional life better.

Describe your personal style. I'm pretty girly, I guess. I like layers, accessories, and jeans, although I've got to say at school the accessories are often not visible! No one at my university really cares about the way he or she dresses - it's mostly a school with a uniform of sweatpants, t-shirt, and flip-flops. Heck, there's even a section in our weekly university newspaper giving fashion tips in an effort to try to break this trend. I love dressing up, wearing high heels, trying on new things, even though high heels really hurt and I'm still not really used to being in them in general. I'd like to get a very classy style that is very professional and feminine as well. 

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Probably green tea. Second would be pomegranate or tart raspberry.

What's your favorite makeup brand? Drugstore: Maybelline, CoverGirl, ELF. High-end: Urban Decay, Clinique

What makeup do you use a lot?
ELF: Eyelid primer, cream eyeliner in coffee, Translucent complexion powder, Professional eyelash curler
High-end: mocha/pink chocolate duo from Estee Lauder, 
Other: Almay One Coat Thickening Nourishing Mascara in Black, Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer, Maybelline FitMe concealer, Rimmel Bronzer

Do you get enough beauty sleep? Yes or no? Why? Of course not! I'm constantly on a terrible cycle of the stereotypical college student and sometimes pull all-nighters. Pretty terrible I know. I need to learn to better my sleeping cycle and become more efficient if I want to survive med schol and residency and everything. Time to grow up I guess.

Why did you start your (beauty) blog? I originally started a Youtube Channel, but some of my friends watched it and laughed at my clips. So I decided to do some stuff on a blog, where it would be more anonymous, and at the same time I would be able to share my love for these things. This is, I guess, a non-professional side to me - something that most people at my university don't know about me, that I still like to do despite what they might think of me if they found out.

What do you think is the best feature about yourself? I want to be kind and nice to everyone, and try to help out everyone I can. I'm a terrible liar and faker too. I guess I'm pretty true to myself.

What is your favorite vacation spot? Paris, London, all of Western Europe =D (Although I've never been there!)

What do you like least about yourself? So short. Pretty insecure (my friends often tell me I underestimate myself too much)

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Too many. I'm guessing around 40-50 pairs. Only about 1/2 of them are at my dorm. I should get my boots and stuff from home so that I can wear them in the Fall/Winter seasons.


All righty, I guess that's it. I'll tag whoever wants to get tagged, meaning if you want to do this tag, you can, but if you don't, don't worry!


<3

Chapped lips? Dry skin?

So finally it's fall! Yahoo! What rapture and joy.

However, one of the problems I always encounter in the fall is chapped lips. As soon as the weather gets dry, my lips start getting very parched, no matter how much water I drink or how I hydrate myself. The dry weather and wind just seems to be getting everything possible from me.

Another problem I often have is dry skin. The dry weather just whips at me whenever I go out and even when I'm indoors. Then the skin cracking really hurts and it really gets to me. This happens especially on my feet, my hands, arms, legs, whatever.

What to do?

There are several things I use to try to remedy this.

First, lip products: I use several lip balms and glosses to try to help out. They include:

ELF Hypershine lip glosses, $1 each. They can be purchased from www.eyeslipsface.com. These I use for morning application, and they give me a tint of color for the day.

Carmex Moisture Plus Chapstick. I reviewed this in an earlier blog entry. You can view that here. This is for when I have more severe chapped lips, since it is very very moisturizing and healing as well. It can be purchased for around $2 at any drugstore.

Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm + SPF 15, in Cherry flavor. I wear this at night to protect my lips when I sleep. Yeah I know sounds weird huh? However, it works, so I'm not complaining at all. And it tastes all right too with the cherry. It can be purchased for around $1.50 at any drugstore.

Estee Lauder Pure Pops Lip gloss, 1004 Pink Cupcake: I got this as part of a gift set, so it was free, but currently on Amazon.com for $18. Yeah I know extremely pricey. That's why I don't use it very often. It does a nice job of keeping my lips hydrated but it's power stay ability is not very good; it only lasts maybe 1/2 of the time my ELF hypershine lip glosses last. I just wanted to try it out. But yeah it definitely works.

Now, onto skin... what to do?

Jergens Sensitive Skin Relief: I use this to moisturize my entire body. I bought this at Walmart for around $5 (on sale) and it is definitely a repurchase for me. One bottle can last me an entire year! It's quite nice because it is fragrance free, dye-free, and does not have lanolin. A heads up though: it has petrolatum, which can be comedogenic for some people, so don't use it on your face. It goes on so smoothly and nicely, and makes your skin really refreshed. Really nice.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture, SPF 15: I reviewed this in an earlier blog entry as well: You can read the review here. I apply it onto my face and neck in the morning. I got this for $11 at my local Target: Yes, kind of expensive, especially compared to the other products I've reviewed here, but still much cheaper than department store moisturizers (which can run to around $50 each). It's really moisturizing and protecting, and also does not feel cakey like many other sunscreens I've tried.

Here's my whole collection, just for wraps:

Have you guys tried the EOS lip balm spheres? I've seen rave reviews about them. I kind of want to try them out after I finish this whole schlew of lip products I'm currently using. Go to Musings of a Muse's blog review on EOS lip balms to see them. They're supposed to be awesome =D

So yeah, that's how I protect my skin and lips. Of course, drinking lots of water and taking warm baths and showers also helps. Stay hydrated and moisturized!

<3

Getting married, engaged, having kids???

Hey guys and gals,

So, currently, I'm a senior in college. I'm 21 years old. I feel like my life is just beginning, that perhaps sometimes I still feel like I'm a child. However, sometimes it seems like my friends, peers, and acquaintances who are around my age are growing up way faster than I am!

Lately, three of my friends have just gotten engaged. One of my former roommates just got married. Several of my friends from high school are having children.

Wow... time is moving so quickly. As my third grade teacher would put it, "Tempus Fugit", or "time flies" in Latin. In a few years, I will be at the age my mother was when she got engaged. However, I am amazed at all of these people 'getting hitched' - I still feel like I'm a child at times; I want to mature more during school, go through professional school, get my career started, etc, before I'm ready to "get married and have kids." Sure, my biological clock is ticking. Every woman's biological clock is constantly ticking. But I have to sacrifice this in order to be able to have a career so that I can provide for my child. So, sorry mom, I can't do what you did when I am at your age. I need to get my career on track first.

On the other hand, the dating scene at my college is TERRIBLE. Most of the boys are very nerdy, shy, or immature, or something. The mature ones are mostly already taken. As a woman jaded by the dating system, "where are all of the decent men in the world?" "Why are all of the decent men taken?"

Lolz.

What do you peeps think of this?

Do you have friends who are engaged, married, or are having children, or already have children? And those who got engaged/married/had children in their late teens/early twenties/in college?

What about the dating scene in your colleges/high schools/graduate schools/work/anywhere?

What is your opinion of the ticking biological clock?

Do you know of any women who want to sacrifice their "mommy career" in lieu of a "professional career"? What's your opinion of women becoming like this?

<3

I apologize....

Hey guys and gals, apologies for the changes on the site. I'm trying to make some changes so some things are getting moved around while other things look kinda weird (perhaps?). Anyways hopefully everything will be up soon!

<3

What the heck ELF?

Like just about every other customer who orders from ELF online, I get periodic newsletters from the website. In case you guys and girls don't know, ELF stands for EyesLipsFace and is a cosmetics company that sells cosmetics at a REALLY cheap price (the majority of things are $1, $3, or at most $5). Today, I got such a newsletter. The featured product was the eyelid primer, which I love!

Nice huh? Look at the pink boxes to see more of the reviews, it says.

However, when I go on the ELF website (www.eyeslipsface.com to check out the product, ALL three types of eyelid primer are sold out!

WHY would you advertise something if it is out of stock? What's the purpose of enticing people to buy it if it isn't even available? Do you just want people to wait around and keep on checking the links to see if the products are available?

Silly ELF.

Anyways, have a good day guys and girls!

<3

Hautelook Philosophy Sale! + $10 off purchase!!!

Currently, Hautelook is having a sale on Philosophy products. In case you don't know, Hautelook.com is a site where you can get really nice products for discounted prices. I've gotten Urban Decay makeup and stuff from Jane Cosmetics for only a fraction of what they normally cost. The thing that Hautelook does is that it takes things that companies have in excess inventory and sells them at a discount price. Currently, there's a sale on Philosophy items (a really awesome skincare company that is also sold at Sephora).

Here's the link to get to Hautelook: Hautelook Invite
If you use this link, you get $10 off your first purchase! But hurry - I think this deal runs out pretty soon.

Happy shopping!

My nail polish collection!

How I store them: In a simple tin that was originally meant for cookies! =D

Yeah I know, it looks like a lot. I've collected them over the years, and I really like them =D

Here's the whole collection for comparison. It doesn't look like that many now, right? (or at least as many)


Here are the latest ones I have:

I got these for $1.99 each at CVS. From left to right: Hazy 810, Golden 830, Pink Lingerie 110, Espresso 840, Peachy 405, Black Star 880. The original price was $6.29, but one week they lowered it to $4.99 each, with $3 ExtraBucks, so thus, ta-da!

These are my ELF nail polishes. L-R: Fire Coral, Rosy Raisin, Purple Dream, Golden Goddess. They were $1 each (the old ELF formula for nail polishes; they are now $2 each on the website).

Here are the Claire's nail polishes! Plus one Essie nail polish. From L-R: Mean Green, Diva, Secret Garden. I got these for $1 each, from Claire's (oops, that was obvious). The Essie one is "One Day Without Blues". It was for free from a TOMs promotion awhile back. I think it would probably be the most expensive nail polish in my collection, pending it was purchased actually (it would be worth $8).

Random nail polishes! Nail Savvy's French White White (this is a VERY old bottle of nail polish; this was the old formula; the new formula looks completely different), Milani's Baby Pink, Nail Swatches Nail Enamel in a red color (I don't think this product is sold anymore), Estee Lauder in Rosy Pink 62, Unbranded nail polish in "orange sh-orbit". I actually don't know the prices of any of these. They were all gifts from friends and family. I think the Estee Lauder one is worth around $20 though.

NYC + Wet N' Wild nail polishes. L-R: NYC "In a New York Minute" in Pier 17 (208), NYC Long Wearing in Big Money Frost (118), NYC Long Wearing in Pink Promenade Creme (109), NYC Long Wearing in Taxi Yellow Creme (114), Wet N' Wild in Bijou Blue, Wet N' Wild in Kaleidoscope 460C (the very old formula). The NYC "In A New York Minute" was $1.72 from Target. The other NYC's were about a buck each from Target. Wet N' Wild shine (Bijou Blue) was around $1 at Walgreens. I'm not sure about the Wet N' Wild old one in Kaleidoscope; it was given by my mom (I imagine it is worth around $1, if it were brand new).

I forgot to mention my last nail polish: the Revlon Base+Top Coat. I think I got it around $1.99 as well from CVS, although I'm not really sure because I got it awhile ago.

So yeah, that's my nail polish collection! Hope you enjoyed this =D

<3

Shopping!

Hey guys,

So today I went to Target to pick up some stuff. This is a really random post but I kind of want to write more on this blog, so here is a random post for ya!

1. Orbit Gum, Berry Remix flavor, $2.39; Extra Dessert Delights (Key Lime Pie, Strawberry Cheesecake, $0.99 each); Trident, Original Flavor, Tropical flavor ($0.99 each)

2. Ghirardelli, Intense Dark Chocolate, 60% and 72% ($2.54 each)

3. New Skin Liquid Bandage, $4.99 (I had actually wanted this for a really long time ever since Jackie Chu posted a youtube video about it. Apparently it heals over wound really quickly. I really want this because I'm trying to break into high-heels for going into the "real world" and they really hurt my feet, and also because plastic band-aids don't work - they come off soo easily)

4. NYC - In a New York Color in a Minute - Flash drying, quick dry nail polish, in 208 Pier 17. (I'm constantly on the move, and thus which means I always want to do stuff while I'm doing my nails. This results in really bad, messed up nails with nail polish that I currently have. I'm going to try this one out and see how well it works. It's a very pretty blue color!) $1.72

5. Toothpaste - Colgate ($2.99), Aquafresh ($1.99). I really wanted the Whitening kind in Aquafresh but sadly they ran out :( So I decided to try the cavity protection kind instead...

6. Sabra Hummus, $5.49 I absolutely LOVE hummus. Unfortunately the hummus they serve in the university cafeteria is filled with this garlic stuff that tastes kind of icky (my friends don't like it either; it has this very strong odor as well). This is really good, and it's gluten-free!

7. Perrier Sparkling Water, $1.89 (I am in love with carbonated water! the unflavored kind especially)

So yeah, a quick little haul for ya. Unfortunately I'm addicted to dark chocolate and finished 1/2 of the first dark chocolate bar before I even got back to the dorm from the bus stop :( It's so hard to stop eating it! Argh!

<3

This brought me to tears....

Bubz helped the wish of a girl in Australia come true =D The Make A Wish Foundation granted a little girl named Ellen a wish to meet Bubz. They spent an entire day together having fun and fulfilling Ellen's happiness.

Yay!

I cried after seeing this. I was so happy that Ellen's wish was realized and came true. =D

<3

My makeup brushes

Here's something that I've been collecting for awhile now. My makeup brushes....

This is how I store them: in a bright pink mug, along with my eyeliners, lip glosses, etc.

From left to right:
1. ELF Mineral Lash & Brow Comb ($5)
2. ELF Mineral Eyeshadow brush ($5)
3. ELF Mineral Eyeshadow brush (#2)  ($5)
4. ELF Mineral Flat Eyeliner brush ($5)
5. ELF Mineral Concealer Brush ($5)
6. ELF Mineral Complexion Brush ($5)
7. ELF Professional Foundation Brush ($5)
8. ELF Studio Eyeshadow "C" brush ($3)
9. Estee Lauder Concealer Brush 5
10. Estee Lauder Eyeliner/Brow Brush 20
11. Estee Lauder Lash & Brow Comb
12. Estee Lauder Shadow Blending Brush 25

I'm not exactly sure about the Estee lauder brush prices, since my mum got them for me (Thank u mommy!)
I really like the ELF brushes because they are soft, and I especially like the mineral line because they are made out of environmentally-friendly materials and are cruelty-free. As you can tell, the majority of stuff I have is for eyes. I don't really do makeup anywhere except for my eyes during most events, except for maybe during very special events.

But yeah, those are my brushes!
<3

Stupid mosquito bites!!!

So on Sunday, for the first time in ~1/2 year, it finally rained. For real.

Not some sort of "sunshine rain" or "drizzle" or "a few drops". For real.

I had to go to lab in the terrible 24-hour storm. It was cold. It was dreary. It was wet. But that was okay, compared to...

all of the mosquito bites I got afterward!

You know how when it gets all damp and everything, the mosquitos come out to breed? Well, I've gotten about 17 mosquito bites all over by body ever since this happened. And it sucks. Major time. I always have the problem of wanting to scratch my bites every time I get them. I have this thing which alleviates the itch but it smells terrible (made of camphor). Ai ya....

Anyways, I just gotta tough out this thing. I've gotten so many bites, for example during a trip to the forest for a field trip for a bio lab, I got 98 mosquito bites. Then, during the beginning of the school year, orientation week for freshmen, I got 47 bites! Terrible.

Oh well....

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Dessert of the day!

Sooo delicious....

Strawberries topped w/ Blue Bell Vanilla ice cream =D

Very decadent and awesome!

<3

FREE Carmex Moisture Plus!!! + Review

Hey guys,

So here's a review on a product I've been trying for awhile. It's the Carmex Moisture Plus ultra hydrating lip balm in Sheer Pink.

It's actually quite a pretty color.

Such a pretty pink huh?

When I applied it on, it was definitely living up to what the name of the product is. It definitely is very moisturizing and hydrating. It has a soft coconut smell which for me is very nice. It is a very sheer finish, for sure as well...

Another good thing I recognized about this was that it wasn't STICKY! Lots of lip glosses are very sticky, and that is something I do not like. This one was very nice and did not stick at all, to the contrast. It just felt very light and elegant.

The bad thing was that I didn't feel like it stayed on my lips for a long time. It wouldn't fade, but I would feel it leave my lips after ~1 hour. Perhaps I just have very parched lips?

This is its finish. Very sheer!

I got this for $2.99 at my local CVS. Currently on Facebook they're running a promotion to save 50 cents on one (click here to get it). Also, there's a rebate that allows you to get one for FREE (click here to get it).

SO go on guys and gals, go try it! Would I repurchase it? Definitely!

<3

Rain.... + shortcuts

Hey guys,

Wow.... so around 7 AM today, the sky decided to rain for the first time (like, legit rain) in 1/2 year. It's been pouring ever since then. I haven't been really able to sleep, but since we're on term break I guess it's a good season and good reason for having lazy weather. The sky is all gray and cloudy, like we're in Seattle or something. I would have a picture for you all, but unfortunately I'm stuck in lab till the rain dies down and my camera's back in my room. Hopefully pics later.

Since I had to come to lab today, and the rain didn't let up, I basically walked/trudged through ~4 inches of rain water to get to lab. Granted, the lab I work in is only a few minutes away from the dorm, but still, when I got there, it was terrible. I had a tiny umbrella, and you can only imagine what it was like. I was trying to fit all of me, a large purple backpack, and a large white purse under a tiny umbrella, maybe spanning 3 feet in diameter. Kinda difficult.

By the time I got to lab, I was completely SOAKED. I was wearing flip-flops because I didn't think rainboots were necessary (big fail there) and because it is very difficult to navigate in lab with rainboots. Meaning, they'd be hard to take off, and if acid or something were to corrode them it would be terrible. I would change into my sneakers for lab later. My laptop bag (the laptop sleeve that covers my laptop when I carry it around) was soaked, my backpack was soaked, even my lab coat, which was in a plastic bag inside my backpack, was really really wet.

Yikes.

Thankfully my laptop wasn't soaked; THAT would've been really bad.

Anyways, so what I did I do to ameliorate the situation?

There's a blow dryer in the lab bathroom for drying your hands and stuff. So thus, I just took my backpack, my laptop sleeve, my lab coat, etc, and let them cook under it. And hoorah, everything got so dry and warm! My lab coat was soo cozy to wear; it felt like it had just come out of the dryer (which, in fact, it actually did huh?).

So yeah, afterwards, working in lab was nice and cozy. Although afterwards, I need to trudge back to the dorm... ai ya another soaking journey...

<3

Cydangie's giveaway!

Cydangie is hosting a giveaway. Here's the link!

Review: ELF liquid eyeliners

During this past summer I got some liquid eyeliners from ELF. Of course, they were $1!
For those who don't know, ELF stands for EyesLipsFace, a cosmetics company that sells a lot of products that are very DIRT cheap. Their products are pretty high-quality and definitely affordable. You can buy their products at this link; alternatively, they sell at some Target, Fiesta, Kmart, and Dollar General stores across the US. I think there is also a ELF website for the UK (click here for the link).

Anyways, I got some products from them, and tested them out for awhile.

I got three liners: Plum (purple-ish color), Black (black, lolz), Coffee (brown) [from left to right on pic below]

Upon opening the eyeliners, I don't think that they were very fine tips. Observe:

I believe the black and plum tips were fine. However, the coffee color's tip was very smudgy and flat. I didn't really like it since it couldn't apply very precisely.

Another thing I didn't like was that they took FOREVER to dry. Seriously, I would apply one layer on, and then wait ~3 min for it to dry. Of course, perhaps it doesn't seem like a lot of time, but seeing that I'm always in a rush to get to class, that doesn't leave a lot of time...

One thing I did like was their price. $1, that's something that some people leave out on the street. Definitely affordable, even for someone as much in debt as me XD I wish we had more of those deals =D

Another cool thing was its color and lasting ability. It was able to last for up to 12 hours and still stayed vivid towards the end. These are very bright, vivid, dark eyeliners.

Bottom line? I wouldn't repurchase it. For those who like dirt cheap makeup and don't mind waiting 3 min for liner to dry, and who want good staying power, this is a good recommendation.

<3

Ten random facts....

Here's another random post. 10 random facts about me.

1. I'm really short but actually very proportional. I'm barely above 5 foot, but I have size 6 feet as well. I have tiny wrists, arms, legs as well.

2. I love asian gel pens. The ones with really thin, fine lines and write really finely. It's especially because they are gel pens, and thus don't hurt my hand as much when I write, and at the same time they don't bleed through the page (the American ones tend to do so).

3. I don't look like it, but I eat A LOT. I eat twice, perhaps 3X as much as my best friend (who is a 5' 10'' dude).

4. Instead of buying boba drinks every day at school, I prefer to make my own.

5. I love creating artwork. Drawing, painting, making 3D structures - whatever you name it. Beautiful and fun!

6. I also love creative writing. When I am in certain moods, I can write certain topics. Also it depends on the atmosphere I am in. I have created some very moving pieces of poetry.

7. I am multi-lingual. I can speak, write, understand, etc English, Spanish, and Chinese (although for Chinese I usually have to write by computer). If you stick me in Mexico/Uruguay/Argentina/Spain, I could probably survive.

8. I have very very very smooth, black (brown-black because of natural sunbleaching, I guess) hair. One of my friends loves braiding my hair and playing with it, but she always has trouble braiding because it comes apart so easily. She says it's like "braiding water".

9. I've always had these funny fantasies with animals.

Examples:
a) Ride in the pouch of a kangaroo.
b) Ride the neck of a giraffe
c) Ride a goat at a petting zoo
d) Swim with a sea turtle
e) Swim with a dolphin
f) Ride on the back of a condor in the sky
g) Get surrounded by a flock of Emperor or Adele penguins in Antarctica
h) Catch an angler fish from the Mariana Trench and bring it to the surface and see what happens (perhaps it would explode due to lack of pressure? not really sure)

10. Now for something nerdy: I have a lab coat that I've bleached 3 times, yet the stains still don't come out. I think it's because the chemicals I worked with in lab are impervious to bleach.... yet just about everything comes off with bleach...

That's it!
<3

Obsessions....

I feel like my life circles in obsessions at times. When I was young, I obsessed about cartoons. Every Saturday morning, I would get up at 7 AM and watch around 5 hours of cartoons, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Fairly Oddparents, Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Gundam, Inu-Yasha, whatever. Then for awhile, it was classical music; I wanted to get everything my hands could lay on on those things.

My obsession phases afterwards:
1. Playing videogames at supermarkets and stores
2. Anime
3. Manga
4. Seventeen magazines and the other magazines you would see at checkout counters, tabloids
5. Asian pencils/pens
6. Gel pens
7. Quality school supplies

Once I got to college, I think things became even more materialistic.
8. Nail polish
9. Makeup
10. Skin products
11. Working out (I guess that's a good thing, until I get into the phase of running 20+ miles a week)
12. I'm currently on clothes and jewelry. Lately I've just been obsessing about wanting more clothes. It's so bad. I don't even care about the quality; if they're cheap or secondhand, I don't care, I just want more clothes.
I buy them over the internet, at stores, everything.

This is just TERRIBLE!!!!
I don't really know why. Why do I go through such phases? Why do such things happen all the time? How do I get rid of such obsessions?

Example:
I think currently I have around 20 or 30 nail polishes, and some of them might be expired. I don't want to get rid of them - I just want to hoard them. It's quite terrible.

I just threw away my covergirl lashblast mascara today (it was around 4 months old). It irritated my eyes and everything. I've had the Almay OneCoat for around 1.5 months, so I guess it'll last 1.5 more months.... thus I'll have to get rid of it around Thanksgiving.

Any suggestions for the next mascara I should buy?
<3

Exotic fruit + other random food

Totally random post, but I went to the azn mart this past weekend. I was amazed by the site of this most beautiful fruit.

Look at it! Dragonfruit!

I tried some of it, and it wasn't very delicious. But it did look pretty.

Gelato!!!!! soo delicious

So many different kinds of asian ramen.

Cheetos: one of the only American junk foods I actually think is worth it.... (I don't like American food that much in general - too much oil and fat and stuff).

Totally random post, but yay for pics!

<3