Messymessymessy

Not to say that I'm not in love with life at the moment, but it's just one of those stuck in the rut kinda days, so I decided to organize. I mean, this must be pretty bad if I'm voluntarily cleaning up my own stuff.

Before

After

I'm an extremely messy/unorganized person..like border-lining hoarder (or maybe just flat-out hoarder in denial). But on the rarest of occasions, I make an effort to clean especially when I have mixed emotions in hopes that it'll bring some clarity?

Well, apparently my attempts to change my outlook on things by changing the physical setting has got me nothing but an organized plastic case of makeup. ..And more room for me to type comfortably on my laptop.

Back to school [sigh]

 

The weeks following spring break are probably the hardest for me since I've already got my mind on summer! @__@ Ugh. Takes me a lifetime to get my books out of my bag and actually start getting work done..but I'm glad that my professors seemed pretty tired today too so they didn't seem very concerned about us eagerly participating in their lectures. I wish they were like that every day :/ 

It's been one of those dancing while no one's looking kinda days

I was feeling rather thin this morning until I ate a Crunchwrap Supreme from Taco Bell, but I felt better as I speed-walked around Pearlridge to get some last minute shopping in before school starts back up again! ^__^ Met up with Jme later in the day and had dinner at Yogur Story since I've been hearing pretty good reviews about it!

Eggs La Jolla

Eggs Santa Monica (??)

Tuxedo Mocha w/ a Hazelnut Latte in the bg

Dolce de Leche Waffles

;__; Again, guilty as charged. I swear, I can never make that one exception because I always make excuses for the following exceptions! Their savory dishes were surprisingly dericious and complemented the atmosphere so well! ^__^ I had my first coffee in a cup and saucer (I've always drank coffee from a heat insulated take-out cup :/) slash first coffee in about a year and I savored every minute of it. It was sweetened to perfection and wasn't scalding hot..just how I like it! I'm not into the sweet-salty combination, but I really enjoyed the pretzel & pecan crunch that was added to our caramel-drenched waffles. Love, love, LOVE that their waffles weren't rock hard like the typical Belgian waffles you find nearly everywhere!

We ended up staying there for a couple of hours and then headed towards our HQ -- Borders! Saw my bff Jill after closing and wanted to visit Kelli Kelli Boh Belli @ her IBO event, but she couldn't come out and I couldn't go in since I wasn't dressed to impress (-__- azn girls in double zero dresses and 5" heels while I'm in my v-neck & denim shorts, PFFT).

 

Opened up my belated basudei puresento from bestie Kybear once I got home and I've been trying to find coordinating accessories for it ever since! ^____________^  Also received some news that put me in a grand mood kinda like this:

 

 

All in all, it feels like life sure is improving..one day at a time <3

The only lengthy piece of writing I've managed to do over spring break :/

 Starting off with one of the songs that's been on replay recently ^__^

Review from 03/14/2011 post:

• Too Faced Glamour Dust in Nude Beam: Somewhat disappointing since I was expecting it to reflect more light..contains more shimmer than glitter. Boop :<
  
  
• L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Black: Not bad, but not great. The first coat separates lashes really well, but the second coat kind of clumps them together and creates a blunt black stump at the tips. I've been using Lancome Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Black and it volumizes and lengthens the lashes, but it smudges a bit more than Voluminous Millions.
  
  
• Maybelline Lasting Drama (gel eyeliner) in Blackest Black: I was running out of MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack which I've been using for the past year and thought I'd switch to Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner until I saw how much it cost. ..And knowing how heavy my lines are, I'd probably use it up in no time. So I opted for an inexpensive gel liner to tide me over, thinking that it would just make do for the time being. But no -- I hate to admit it, but Lasting Drama is better than Fluidline and for half the cost too >___< I love the little brush that comes with it since it's way more precise than my MAC Brush #263! My only problem with it is that I have to line my lid a few more times to get that solid jet black line that I'm used to. Lasting Drama also doesn't leave that faint grey smudge on my upper lid and it still looks sharp and intense after 12 hours! Love, love, LOVE.

Reviews from 01/26/2011 post:

• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit in Warm Ivory: What a disappointment :/ It took me the longest time to figure out how to apply the concealer without it emphasizing the wrinkles around my eyes and even then, I can still see some wrinkles that I never even knew I had before! I use an eyeshadow brush to apply the powder since it's nearly impossible to use the complimentary puff without making a mess. I kind of wish I had just spent the extra money on the Cle de Peau ;__; Now I'll be stuck with this for a year or more since I use very little at a time (only because it looks really gross when I use a somewhat "decent" amount).
  
  
• NARS Blush in Deep Throat: Was it wrong to have high expectations for this? Bottom line -- I think I could've easily bought a cheaper blush with the same results. -__- Another product that I'll be stuck with.

• Lancome Teint Miracle in Bisque 4W: I've used all kinds of different foundations from drugstore brands to designer brands, but this is definitely the best that I've tried so far. Sheer coverage + lightweight formula = perfection.

"It's 7 o'clock on the dot"

Dinner at Pietro's & karaoke with the besties from the office! We had to wait for some people who were running late, so we didn't get our food until like 90 minutes after our reservation and we ended up inhaling everything within 10. Didn't get to eat our coveted honey toast from Shokudo immediately after, but bff Jill and I went to Don Quijote since I was feeling really sreepy. ^__^ Had THE most fun I've ever had in a long time at Krazy!

My favorite!! And it got better when Marc, Hayley, & Kelli went to get take-out peanut butter chocolate honey toast!

Guilty as charged

I know, I know, I said I wouldn't eat processed sweets, but who can resist honey toast?? Well worth it? I think so..even though my stomach hasn't stopped gurgling and I feel the need to detox for the next few weeks. Would love to do this again! ^__^ "BEST DAY OF THE YEEAR!"

Comfort food

 My definition of comfort food is whatever my grandma used to make for our Sunday family dinners whether it be grilled steaks, oven stew, or CABBAGE ROLLS. Now that I don't have my grandma around to make them for me, I depend on the Gazebo at Macy's in Windward Mall. It's definitely not the fanciest place to eat, but I can see why all of their customers are made up of the elderly. Quite simply, their food is homey <3 (Think of Anton Ego's flashback to his childhood when he takes his first bite of Remy's ratatouille)

Tastes good and is good for you!

I don't mind slicing a carton of strawberries or cubing whole watermelon, but I absolutely HATE peeling oranges. I'll usually eat them only if my dad offers already peeled segments (brat status, I know), but he was off duty tonight and I had a craving for sweets, so I had to do it myself. I recently realized how picky I can be when it comes to food and I can't stand the white fibrous skin still attached to the meat. Dad always tells me that it's good "ruffage" since I'm always concerned about fiber -__- But hey, I can't complain since he's the one doing the dirty work.

Speaking of digestion, mom, Tohchan, and I were running a few errands today and stopped off at Jimbo's for lunch! Another thing I don't care for is Asian noodles, but I Love, love, LOVE their udon!

 

I had their yamaimo natto cold udon special since it's good for digestion and high in protein and vitamins! There definitely isn't a nice way of eating this at all because everything gets coated with slime, but it was still tasty ^__^

Spring break is here!

That means more of this:

 

One more episode of this:

And still none of this: 

Pralines & Cream and Bubble Gum

Regardless of the lack of sugar, this break has started off on the right foot! I found out that my raise is in effect, just got my hair cut, went on a little shopping spree, and had dinner with my bestie, Jaymie (marshmallow latte from Fresh Cafe ASAP)! No big plans for this week, but I'm hoping that it'll still be fun and relaxing ^__^ 

More shopping would be nice!

Spree & Reviews

 

Dentyne Pure Mint (Longs), Glare Unisex (car freshener; Don Quixote), Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Shampoo & Conditioner (Don Quixote), L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Black (Longs), Maybelline Lasting Drama (gel eyeliner; Don Quixote), MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed in Medium (MAC), Too Face Glamour Dust in Nude Beam (Sephora), MAC Eye Shadow refill in Shroom (MAC), MAC Brush #116 (MAC)

I'm not doing reviews on everything since I'm saving some products for those days when I'm feeling like I need a little pick me up first thing in the morning (there's nothing like looking forward to opening something brand new)!!

• Dentyne Pure Mint: BEST GUM EVER. And I don't even care for gum. Long-lasting flavor and it doesn't disintegrate into a tiny grain of rice.

• Glare Unisex: My car smells like beach mat, so pretty much any freshener would've been nice, but I opted for the one that reminded me of cologne rather than detergents.

• Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Shampoo & Conditioner: I've been milling through shampoos & conditioners for the past 6 years and I swear, I've never gotten better results especially after the first use! I know this may sound like an informercial, but my hair feels smoother and looks healthier! @__@ And the scent is intoxicating. I usually purchase volumizing sets, but I don't think I need it anymore since my hair is still really thick from my pregnancy. Bed Head Superstar Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Thick Massive Hair is good..if you want thick hair, not necessarily volume. Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing smells absolutely horrible, but it thickens without making hair feel coarse (unlike Bed Head). Big Sexy Hair set, Paul Mitchell Extra Body Daily set, and Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions aren't that great. The best volumizing set that I've tried, so far, is Garnier Fructis Body Boost since it doesn't weigh my hair down. It worked exceptionally well when I would blow dry my hair with Bed Head Superstar Leave-In Conditioner.

• MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed in Medium: Not to sound like a prick, but the MAC at Ala Moana doesn't have the greatest customer service, so I didn't expect to be helped or treated nicely, but I was pleasantly surprised! I was kind of scared that I was going to look like a crazy vanilla cake monster, but the sales associate found a match and offered some helpful suggestions! Anyways, the pressed powder blends perfectly with my skin tone especially when combined with Brush #116!

Day 5 of Lent

 

I've been craving juice, so I decided to switch up my beverage options and bought a pack of Katechin-Buncha from Marukai. I'm not a very big tea connoisseur (especially not green tea), but the flashy advertisement suckered me in especially because it said that it's best served cold (Idk how my parents drink hot tea in Kaneohe weather). As if it's not apparent, I become giddy quite easily, so I busted out my mom's tea pitcher that I had bought for her birthday from Lupicia once I got home and loaded up that bad boy with 2 tablespoons of loose leaves and ~4.5 cups of water and let it sit over night. I don't care for tea because it can be really bitter sometimes, but I didn't mind this one since it doesn't have a very strong flavor. Unless it's also because I'm desperate to drink something other than water. Good thing mom bought some lemons too.

Leftovers: Taco fixings

I've realized that the most convenient foods to eat around the house are usually sweets, so I had to wreck my brains out to think of something fast and simple to make for breakfast the other day. There wasn't a whole lot of leftover ground beef and refried beans, so I added an over-easy egg for extra protein and called it my version of huevos rancheros (wouldn't mind trying this recipe one day)!

Some say that the trinity is carrots, onions, & celery or bell peppers, celery, & onions, but I say the winning combination is tomatoes, cream, & cheese. Case in point -- grilled cheese (better yet, tuna melts) with tomato bisque, pasta with alfredo & marinara garnished with parmesan cheese, and nachos supreme/burritos/tacos/enchiladas with cheese, salsa, & sour cream.

On a random note, it's Day 3 of Lent and the lack of sweets consumption is killing me just a little. My dad thinks that I'm nuts (probably because he couldn't live without soda/juice and other sweet snacks for an entire day), but my mom has been really supportive! ^__^ She bought us cocoa puffs from Liliha Bakery the other day and froze a couple for me, so I can celebrate once I'm done! ..But I still can't believe I turned down a fresh cocoa puff (the world might freeze over soon).

Self-denial

I observed Lent last year and refrained myself from going shopping for 40 days straight. Not exactly for religious reasons, but just to give myself a challenge..and a break to my wallet. I was afraid that I would go on a shopping binge once the time had expired, but I ended up barely spending any money! If anything, most of it went to paying for baby goods! 

Why don't I just keep a New Year's Resolution?? Well, because I know that I'd never be able to make any serious commitment during the holiday season! Good food, great people, & a relaxed atmosphere should be enjoyed without any restrictions!!

This year, I'll be giving up processed sugars @_______@

Random makeup post

After getting my makeup done by many, MANY makeup artists for proms and disliking all of them, I figured that I would do it myself for the last one that I went to. I wanted something simple and easy since I only had a couple of hours to get ready (my then boyfriend was a year younger than me and I had just started my second semester of college). I opted out on the Slimshine and used an inexpensive pair of lashes instead and I absolutely loved the look!

I've been using the same eyeshadow combination ever since and ironically, I'm still using the same eyeshadows (it's been 2 years since I bought them and only now am I restocking on Shroom). I use MAC's Yogurt as a base, so that Shroom stands out more since it tends to melt away by the end of the day when used by itself. I'm definitely not a makeup guru, but I find that the combination helps me look less tired. Darker eye makeup tends to emphasize my dark circles and bags, but I would love to emulate Kim Kardashian's smokey eye look!

I've been looking for something to shake things up in my blah makeup collection and I found this:

Too Faced Glamour Dust in Nude Beam! A couple of years ago, MAC had a holiday campaign that included a set of 4 vials of glitter that I wanted ever so badly, but after sleeping on it, I figured it wasn't worth buying a whole set if I only wanted one of them. Since then, I've been on the look-out for eyeshadows that were slightly glittery, but nothing really appealed to me. Luckily, my patience has finally paid off! ^__^

Hopefully I'll be getting some retail therapy in this weekend! More importantly, I hope that Sephora will have it in stock!!

*Sigh*

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."

                         - Dr. Seuss