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2011 needs to end so we can all have a nice fresh start! The funny thing is, we will all be the same people when the clock hits midnight, beginning the new year, but we like to think that we’re all better people capable of amazing things in 2012! New Year’s resolutions are some a way to improve yourself, and I hope everyone makes a good list and sticks to it 
Just to evaluate my resolutions for this year, 2011:
1. Take my vitamins daily – This one seems kinda stupid, but… I really don’t put in an effort to making sure I take them and I’ve been reading more and more about the benefits/preventions vitamins offer. I just don’t want to suffer when I am old.
I’ve been eating my vitamins everyday!
2. Exercise – Not only to lose weight, but to get stronger and not feel so… weak haha
I’ve been exercising, but not as frequent as I need to be, although I do feel some muscles underneath a layer of fat =.=
3. Hobbies – Do more drawing, learn/practice the bass, become more creative with web design. I’m not a talented person, so if I can excel in one of these areas, I feel like I can have more depth as a person.
I developed some hobbies (knitting) and improved upon some (web design) but I haven’t learned how to play a bass yet 
4. Take care of my skin – Enough said. My skin is like a desert… sandy and dry….
My skin… needs a lot of work *sigh* I think I need some “miracle” products, or at least a daily routine.
5. Blog more often – I figured if I blogged more often, my posts wouldn’t turn into monsters that never end.
This one, I think I actually fulfilled! What do you guys think? 
As you can see, I followed some of my resolutions for 2011 well, some I didn’t. I definitely believe there is plenty of time to do everything I want if I put enough effort into it, but I really don’t because of poor time management, procrastination, and a hedonistic lifestyle. So my New Year’s resolutions for 2012 are….
1. Learn better time management skills, stick to a planner, but schedule in some fun time
I need to be productive!
2. Exercise! Haha, this one is a continuation from 2011, because well, I don’t want to end up weak and sickly when I’m super old =.= Or, if I ever get super old >.>
3. Be ambitious with hobbies and crafting! Lately, I want to learn how to play the guitar and violin, but I think I should learn how to play the bass first just to know i have the self-discipline to learn an instrument before I invest in more instruments. Also, I’ve been browsing through Pinterest and I’m so inspired by their Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and organizational ideas that I want to strive for something as amazing.
4. Take care of my skin and face! This means: daily moisturizing, applying skin-evening treatments consistently, weekly exfoliation, bi-weekly face masks, weekly cleansing face masks… omg as I type it out it just seems like so much work UGH
5. GET A JOB!! Haha this one is such an obvious one, and yes, I will make it into a resolution as a constant reminder that I need one.
6. Ween myself off technology. I think life will be better off without the TV and computer constantly on, and I’ll be focused on hobbies/productivity. I guess in order to make this resolution work, I’ll just start off with something like no TV/laptop for 1 hour a day (yes, I’m pretty bad these things) and just work my way down to as little TV as possible.
And so, here we come, 2012!!!
Merry Christmas!
How did I spend my day? Playing Maple Story UGHHHH 
But I think it’s out of my system…. Yea, probably. It’s so easy to level now >o< Omg I think my spacebar is stuck from spamming attacks 
What did I get for Christmas? Clothes 
I don’t really like to be gifted anything, especially since I’m very picky, so my mommy let me choose some clothes and I ended up wrapping them and placing them under the tree. What a pleasant surprise this morning when I unwrapped them! The remained completely the same! haha
Now that Christmas is almost over, we have to look forward to the new year!! 2012, here we come!
2011 is almost over, and I say good riddance.
Speaking of all old, unwanted things, for as long as I could remember, my mom had makeup that she no didn’t use. It was just there, as if they were decorations to this aging house. As a child, I definitely went through that phase where I went through my mother’s makeup and tried things, but now that I’m 23, seeing the same makeup/skincare products still around SCARES me
Just how old are these??? Can anyone remember when they were last being manufactured???
I went to the Clinique website and no, they do not have this product available. Also, the price tag on the Crystal Clear Cleansing Oil says it’s $7.50 from Hudson’s (wth, that store is now defunct). Hudson’s flagship store was in Michigan (demolished in 1998), where my mom lived before the 1980s…. Holy shit. Ugh, Mommy!!! The Extremely Gentle Cleansing Cream no longer looks like a cream, it looks like hair wax…. Totally useless.
I have to honestly say that one of the motivations for me to consistently use my skincare/makeup (in addition to looking better 
) is so that I don’t waste and throw out products when they’ve expired and become detrimental to my skin. I used to be the kind of person that relishes my favorite/more expensive products and gifts, to the point where I sparingly use them and save them for special occasions. I realized that that was no way to enjoy the things I like because I would ultimately have to discard them cause they started to smell funky.
I recently saw some blogs post about “emptying bottles” or something along those lines where people focus on using up their current products before buying new ones. I thought it was just me (and my family) that did this, but other people also love to cherish their things, and that’s perfectly fine given they have no expiration date. When my friend told me that mascara only lasts 3 months from when the tube is opened, I was so surprised! I didn’t think make-up could really harbor bacteria, and the fact that it’s applied close to your eyes means it’s even more dangerous than other makeups. I think this website sums up the general rule for when to toss out your products and how to make them last a bit longer.
Missha Leopard Nail Polish over other colors
I finally tried out the Missha Leopard Nail Polish and no, it’s not supposed to imitate leopard spots like the name suggests (although Missha did say that you can try dotting them and brushing in different directions but I didn’t try that yet). It’s your typical cracking nail polish. With the purple leopard polish, you can’t really see it when a really dark color (black on the middle finger) is used as a base so that bites 
And you may also notice that it doesn’t crack well, but that’s because it’s really watery and it goes on really thin (which is when it cracks the most) but if you try and apply a lot, I think it’s too thick for it to crack well (but you get more color) so I guess it’s something you need to deal with.
Sorry for my ugly toes, but I wanted to practice on them before applying the cracking nail polish my fingers...
I practiced on my toes, and I applied it quickly with a thin layer, and I think it cracked better. It definitely looks more like zebra stripes than leopard spots… But I did notice that it cracks along the direction of where you swiped it, so it order to get the cracking in all directions, you need to try and swipe it in different directions. Also, it drys matte so a top coat is definitely needed. I need to try more application techniques…
Oh Christmas tree!
Our Christmas Tree
Christmas is almost here! We’re not really into Christmas, but I do like putting up and decorating the tree. I know this is bad, but I’m hoping that some of the ornaments break so I can consolidate the remaining ones to take up less room in the basement. I’m not just cleaning out bad makeup here, I want to clean out everything.
I just want to say thanks for everyone’s feedback and reassurance for my last post. It’s good to know that people understand how I feel and I hope that introverts out there aren’t discouraged by society’s push towards complete extroversion.
I also want to add that Koreans need to start franchising and build more restaurants! I have none around me and when I was on Long Island, the only Korean restaurant around my school was not too good (less variety and less side dishes); all the good ones are concentrated in the city. I guess it makes sense to have restaurants near Korean communities (K-town in Manhattan, Flushing in Queens, come towns in NJ, etc), but spread the deliciousness! Might I add, we also need more Pho places! Yummmm!
So to the point of this post, I got my Missha package! They took a while to actually send it off and ship it (busy holiday season) but the shipping was really quick! Shipped yesterday and got here today Didn’t think the doorbell ring was for my package 
So here’s what I got:
Exfoliation Products: Missha Oxygen Micro Essence Peeling and Detoxifying Peeling Gel
I already had the Detox Peeling Gel and needed more (more and more and more!!!) cause I absolutely love it! I don’t really want to do a review, but this stuff is amazing. As you all may know, I have super dry skin to the point where if I don’t exfoliate and moisturize, my face and skin will shrivel up, tighten, get rough and start cracking and cause pain. If you think I’m exaggerating, I’m not. I had to pack to spend my winter break from college (one month- January) at home, but I decided not to use up space in my luggage for my skincare products. Such a big mistake. Two weeks into winter, my face got scaly and the cracking made my face hurt, I had to go out and get doubles of what I already had in my dorm… *sigh*
Anyways, back to the actual product. I used to use St Ives Apricot Scrub cause I thought that was the only way to exfoliate skin (that gritty product with rocks, beads and shit), but then I discovered the Missha Detox Gel from the deluxe sampler and was jaw-dropping surprised that it rubbed off my dead skin with a smooth texture. No beads, no fear of getting those rocks in your eyes, no pain. Just take the gel, rub it into your skin and feel your dead skin to clump together and be grossed out at what was hiding on your face
Aimed to remove dead skin cells but with a different process, the Oxygen Micro Essence Peeling (Gel? I feel like the name is missing another word) is just as wonderful with even more exfoliation if you can handle its badassness. I tried the sample before I got it and not that it’s painful but you basically have to place it on your dry skin, wait until it starts bubbling (while tickling your face like crazy), wait for the bubbles to pop and disappear, then start rubbing. I felt that it took off more dead skin than the detox gel (I would have to repeatedly use more detox gel to completely exfoliate but I always felt I was wasting the product) but it also leaves an oil on your face, which can easily be removed with a cleanser but I just don’t like the feeling of oil on my face D:
So all in all, I love both products and they have their minor disadvantages, but since Missha is having a sale (30-50% off everything) and both were less than $14 each, I just got both (free shipping for $40+). And in order to get the free shipping, this is what else I got:
Make-up: Missha Professional Blending Brush, Auto Eyebrow Pencil, Lip&Cheek Dual Cream Pot, Leopard Nail Polish
Close up of the Professional Blending Brush: soft and fluffy
I needed a blending brush ($4.50) cause the cheapo brush set I got didn’t have one and since I’m new to makeup, I just want to practice and know what I need from a brush before I invest in the high quality ones. Btw, this is my cheapo brush set:
No-name brand make-up brush set from Amazon
When I first deciding what brush set to get, I had no idea what was what and how to use them or how to determine the quality of the brushes, so I just decided to get this one cause it was inexpensive for so many brushes. For a while, I thought they were decent, but now I kinda see how they’re not that good considering they’re too flat/thin/smooth to pickup enough make-up product. Oh wells, I’m still learning.
I’m so dumb! I have black hair, but I ordered the brown autobrow pencil cause I thought you shouldn’t go too dark on the brows, but I didn’t read all the comments and realize that “dark gray” was for black hair. UGH! When I first read the color name ‘dark gray,’ I thought “I don’t have gray hair, I guess I’ll get brown.” I’m so stupid! I’ll just give this to my sister D: It was only $2
Lip&Cheek Dual Cream Pot + retractable lip brush (included)
I was so excited about the Missha dual cream pot ($6.50) just because it’s for both lips and cheeks and it’s creamy And for $6.50, I think it’s decent considering that if I were to get separate cheek/lip products for each color, it would be just as much (if not more) and I would have to carry around more things. I saw the swatches in a review and she actually got all of them (which was nice to compare) but she swatched them on a white napkin so I can only imagine how they look on skin (transparency, opacity, etc) but luckily, it can be applied sheer and built up for more color. So here is my swatches for Cream Pot 04:
Missha Lip&Cheek Dual Cream Pot Swatches
I guess how it looks against my skin is pretty good, especially considering I’ll be using it more as a blush (I wanted peach/orange blush for sooo long!) It also smells kinda fruity/herb-y but I don’t think it’s an annoying smell.
Last, but not least, is the Missha Leopard Nail Polish! I think most people have seen/own these cracking nail polishes already, but I waited for the Missha sale to get this for $3.50. I think the newest nail polish trend is the magnetic nail polish, so I guess I’m behind :P One thing I want to note is its shape:
Leopard Nail Polish: Heart Shape?
It looks like a heart shape, which is cute, but I think what’s more important is the curvature of the bottle. It looks like it would be helpful in packing bottles of nail polish next to each other (instead of those round bottles) but I also think its Missha’s way of hiding the fact that the bottle only comes in 8mL when most round bottles come in like 14mL or so. I dunno why I wanted to share that, but eh, I’m weird.
The Missha sale is still continuing until Dec 19th, and I really do recommend the exfoliation products, so might as well get them when they’re on sale Also, if anyone has any other recommendations for exfoliation and think it’s even more amazing than these products, please share!
I guess this is one of those self-reflection posts that nobody cares about, but I’m still writing it cause I need to get my thoughts organized and maybe I can provide insight for someone who also feels the same.
I have to admit, I’m introverted, and I like it. I’m not sure how everyone views introversion and solitude, but from the media and people around me, it seems that they are frowned upon in society. I can see from some of the FMLs that there are people out there trying to hide their loneliness and prove they have a “life,” usually through antics that include updating FB statuses with lies about partying or something social. For a while, I, too, thought that I needed to get a “life” and I tried going out, but I really don’t like it. I forced myself to do these things because I thought that this is what I should be doing (according to my friends and others) and I didn’t want to be looked down upon.
Sure, I enjoy going out once in a while, usually for dinner or to play games with small groups of people, but hardly to go clubbing, partying, etc. It’s just not my preference. But speaking with people over the years, I felt that they condemned my lifestyle, even making slightly insulting comments as if I’m a broken person or constantly bored. Perhaps I was speaking with the wrong people, but I now see that there’s nothing wrong with my lifestyle or theirs, so no one needs to feel superior and be snarky about it.
This weekend, I went to visit my friends on Long Island after several months of not seeing them. Honestly, I could go a few more months without seeing them, but that’s me and they wanted to see me asap, so I went. I had a good time, but when I came back home on Sunday, I was so exhausted, which continued onto Monday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I was constantly in people’s company, and I really missed solitude. It’s not other people’s faults, but sometimes I get tired of seeing/speaking with the same person (there are rare exceptions that I don’t mind) and at times, I just want to retreat back to my room and just be by myself.
I don’t understand why I am this way, but I do not see it as a bad thing. Many of my friends actually complain about how they fear loneliness, but I do not know what to tell them. For a long time, they made me believe that being alone is a detestable ailment and that they want more friends. I’m not sure that the social life I was supposedly yearning for was one that I truly wanted or one that people thought I should have. At that point, why should I care if people think I’m lonely if I actually like it? (Btw, the term loneliness is usually unwanted solitary, while solitude is associated more positively and I’m trying not to confuse the two.)
Another thing that their fears of loneliness have imprinted on me is finding/having a boyfriend. I’ve never dated anyone, I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’m quite ashamed to admit that, more so because I feel pressure from society to be social and date. Several of my friends have been complaining about a lack of significant other, which kinda prompted me to want one, but now that I think about it, I don’t really care if I have a boyfriend. I much much rather be alone than be stuck in a relationship where I feel obligated to meet up with someone. I assume that if I truly loved someone, I would want to be with them a lot, but I don’t like anyone enough to see them that often so I don’t think I should half-assedly try and date someone with those kinds of intentions. Some of my friends make it seem like getting married is the ultimate happiness/goal in life, but I do not want to rely on another person to make me happy. I want to be happy with myself first.
What I’m trying to say is that, liking/wanting to be alone most of the time isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Granted, human beings tend towards socializing, but the amount of socializing someone does is up to them. Sometimes, that loneliness is unwanted and it’s up to the person to try and change that (however hard it may be), but I do not want anyone to think that solidarity is always unfortunate and that anyone who is alone is miserable. Some things are more enjoyable in solitude