Things I've learned:

1. Always try to be patient, no matter what.
2. Be the one to forgive.
3. Don't get too attached.
4. EVERYTHING IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
5. Don't take things for granted.
6. Embrace new music. 

Hello! Things have been pretty rough here at home due to my mom's fall and her having to undergo surgery. She's doing alright. Taking it one day at a time. But my patience is being tested even more so, but we're all managing alright. I feel like my life has reached a bump in the road, but I'm sure things will smooth out soon. :]

BUT on the brighter side of things, I've been meeting new people and experiencing so much! Definitely enjoying the ride thus far. Everything is a learning experience. You give a little, and hope to get a little in return.

Hello little ol' blog.

Hello there! Yes, it's me! I posted today on my twitter that I felt like blogging about me today, so here I am. My my my, life has definitely been keeping me busy since my last post. I was quite down in the dumps about that previous "job," but it feels like my life has turned a 360 since then. I'll try and post about this later since it's nearing my bed time (I can never seem to stay up too late these days...), but for this quick update...HELLO! I'm alive and doing very very well.

I started this blog with the intentions of making it a beauty blog, but...truth be told, I haven't purchased a single beauty item since those L'Oreal Infallibles! It feels like so long ago, but I've been SUPER BUSY. I try to catch up on my youtubing in the beauty world from time to time, but I still haven't made time to catch up on my favorite blogs! (see sidebar). My bloggie friends and real life friends have given me gifts starting from the beginning of the year and I still haven't gotten around to posting about them. *guilty*

So what I'm basically leading to is that this blog might not have many beauty products in the mean time due to me not having much time to review and take product pictures like I used to (and due to lack of funds), BUT I still will try to update more often about what I've been up to and...yeah. Basically, this might just turn into a place for me to blog about my day or whatever's on my mind etc. It's all up in the air right now, but I really do like blogging SO I WILL MAKE TIME.

-sigh- I'm still adjusting to this busy schedule of mine, so please bear with me!

Stick around if you'd like, but I'll understand if you won't. No hard feelings. :]

Never give up + Happy Belated 1YR Anni!

Back to my blog! So....I kind of missed my FIRST BLOGIVERSAY on February 24! =[ It was a rough moment in my "working" career and through all the happiness/stress...I have neglected to post about it. But happy belated to this lil ol' blog of mine. I'm working on not abandoning you for too long.

Updates on what I've been up too;

Soaking up the sun, of course! 

British tea thanks to my lovely friend Jian. It was definitely a throat saver during my sick days. // My sister's only iPod Nano Video. This thing is tiny!...but it still works and I am happy. // The "Railroad". Yummy. // "Irish Chocolate" from Sprinkles! (Which now has a 24hr. cupcake machine!)

Yup. Haven't been up to too much lately. Life has been challenging me lately in the "working world." Which I explain the the following below;

"There are better things ahead than any we leave behind."
‎"It never gets easier. You just get better." 

Ever wondered if something was too good to be true? Retracting back to my last post back in mid-February, I had mentioned that I had gotten a new job. Little did I realize that the job really did turn out to be complete farce. After countless times of positive reinforcement, leading me to believe that I had a chance of future work there, it was all talk. They made it sound TOO GOOD, but little did I know what their true motives actually were. I've never worked in this type of "work" before, so I thought everything was peachy keen. While I put too much faith in all that was being said, I really was just disposable labor. So, without getting to much further into the nitty gritty details, I have decided to just move on. They're just kidding themselves with what they're doing. Big talk without the following reinforcement of action gets you no where!

So, after getting myself sick from the stress for about a week, with the runny and stuffy nose, plugged up ears, watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing, it was just lovely, I'm a better person because of it. I guess I was stuck in their little "work" bubble, only to forget of the bigger opportunities out there, just waiting to be seized. I am back to the drawing board again, but not to square one just yet. There are some exciting workings in the running, and I hope to share them with you all soon.

Not all hope is lost in the end. I am a very hopeful person, so situations like these are quite tough for me to handle. But, *cues Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger'*. Can't wait to see where life where bring me next!...or where I'll take it myself!



I'll end this one with the trailer for Despicable Me 2. Can't help but love these little minions! Hope you all have been well. Like I've said before...miss you all! Let's all catch up soon.

Living young, wild, and free.

Remember me? Ah, it's been so long since I've posted and I want to apologize for the gap and lack. Life has been pretty crazy for me since my last post, but I think I'm adjusting to all of the changes coming my way. I'll explain a bit further into the post. ^^

I joined my mom's walking group two weekends ago for the 34th annual Firecracker Walk in Chinatown Los Angeles. And being that 2012 is the "year of the dragon", the more incentive for me to join in. The LA Metro was one of its hosts, encouraging all to take the Metro. After living my entire life in Los Angeles, not once had I ever taken any type of public transportation (minus a couple adventurous attempts at the bus), so I was super excited! And for $1.50 each way or a $5 all day pass, it definitely beats traffic + the hassle and cost of LA parking.

Gaining a fresh, new perspective of the city I call "home."

Lot's a people getting ready to run/walk their way up to Dodger Stadium and back. Starting everyone off with the lighting of 1,000 firecrackers. It was quite a sound! 

The view at the top at Dodger's stadium was awesome. I love picturesque views, so of course I had to take a quicker breather to snap a pic. And this one wasn't short of amazing. And the finish line! We were all awarded medals for completion. *pats self on back*

BIG, FLUFFY DOGGY! He even got a medal too. So cute! Had some good dim sum afterwards before heading back on the Metro. Yum~

Taking the Metro that time definitely helped me open my eyes to a new type of "traveling" outlet that's so easy to use. I would have never thought I'd be taking such transportation. Gotta love those new experiences found right outfit your front door, right?

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Dinner at Cafe Santorini with the girls. For the price, the food was just "ok". But, it was nice to see all my college buddies together again. It's always nice to catch up. My, how we've all grown. 

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I had a "day off" (maybe you guys can guess what I've been up to now...?), so I decided to take a mini adventure to meet my shinyuu in Downtown LA!

Yup. Back on the Metro to Little Tokyo and Koreatown. Fun times. :D First time being at Union Station too! Didn't get to take pictures since I was too amazed at where I was and what it looked like. Next time I'll be sure to take pics to show you guys.

Looks like I'm nearing the end of my post. If you guessed that I got a job, ding! ding! ding! I'm hoping for more steady hours this week, but for last week and the week before, I have been working. It feels great to be back into the full work force. I was a bit overwhelmed at the beginning while trying to get my bearings straight with my new "lifestyle" as a working warrior, but I think I'm better now. The location is great and I really enjoy the people I work with (minus one...but I'll spare you guys from my little rants.)

Experimenting with work clothes. Yay for layering! I'm due for some shopping though.

I'm trying to get back into the blogger mode. I always find myself having a tough time adjusting to new changes well, but after a little time, I try my best to balance the old with the new. I'm hoping to take advantage of all the "time off" I have to blogging, so hopefully there won't be such big gaps any more. But, thank you always for sticking by my little blog! All the comments and the love, I appreciate it a lot. Also, hoping to get back on track with my blog reading as well!

I shall be leaving you then, with BEAMER. Next time I'll try to get more pictures of Snowball. But seriously, Beam Beam is too amusing not to capture on film.

Bye bye for now! Have a fantastic week. 

Busy body.

Hello, lovely readers. Hope all is well. Life has been picking up for me lately and I've been enjoying every minute. Here's my week in photos~ haven't done one of these in a while, but I wanted to share. :]

Rabbit and snake sausage from Wurstküche. I'm definitely not one to eat such "exotic" type meals, but the friend had recommended it and I figured since it was in a sausage, it wouldn't be too bad. The taste was pretty juicy and good. Can't say I'll go back and order that again though. (SAVE THE BUNNIES!)

Crampy days. Had my sister make me some hot water and honey thanks to Dr. Jian's rec. :]

My nails from last week. The green and turquoise flecks were so pretty.

Troublemaker 1 and Troublemaker 2. 

I liked the new Kate Spade eyeglass cases. Pink and orange!

Beam Beam! His cartoon-y eyes always get me. lol.

Trying out the new "odango" hair. Instant volume. I love it. Thank you, Jian!

"Welcome back" cupcakes! hehe. Had the raspberry chocolate chip one this time. 

Gifts from my shinyuu ♡ (which are still in the bag pictured. ;X Will "play" soon!)

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY: Our own version of Diddy Riese cookie ice cream sandwiches. Nom nom.

Homemade fried chicken and guacamole. 

I definitely had a good week. The "Superbowl" football game is a fun time where I get to spend hours infront of the tv with my mom while laughing at commercials, yelling for our favorite team to score the next touchdown, and seeing what the next half-time show performer's got! A very enjoyable "American" experience which I look forward to every single year. Can't get more American that some good ol' American football! :] 

Here's to another great week! 

Loving this cover a lot. Lydia Paek was one of the artists my non-profit has worked with before, and it's great to see her doing her thang in Korea....with YG. Big stuff, yo.

[[And on to the kpop side of life, FT Island x CN Blue are coming to the LA! So going~ but...I'm currently recovering from my Jason Wu x Target purchase! (My items have shipped and will be arriving some time this week. Quit excited!!). Next concerts to look forward to: BEAST and Big Bang!!! Ah. Looks like I'll be going back to my fangirl roots for 2012. Last year was all about JYJ...maybe they'll come back again? hehehe... :3]]

Just a quick post until my next time...

Everything 'Infallible' About it - L'Oreal Paris (US)

Ever wondered about a drug store eye shadow that would last all day? Look no further as L'Oreal Paris has released a 12 color line of "24Hr Infallible" eye shadows. 

These were first introduced in the UK back in the summer of 2011 (I think?). My dear blogger friend, Vicky, first posted about these and sent me "Eternal Black". At that time, I didn't think these would make it to our side of the globe, but lo' and behold, these babies appeared at the beginning of the new year in all of my local drug stores. 

My temporary storage. 

Aren't they beautiful? I don't have all 12 shades available here in the US, but I figured since these are permanent, I can always pick them up later. I'm missing "Endless Pearl" and "Sultry Smoke" (heh heh, Nunu...)

Packaging comparison between the US and UK versions.

They're basically the same though! The little differences do make it fun to own such an international versions. 

These pressed pigments are encased within a small, screw top container with a little stopper to help contain the shadow safely, keeping application and clean up easy and clean.

On to the swatches!: All of these were swatched without a primer. Look how vibrant they are!

L-R: Perpetual Purple, Golden Sage, Iced Latte

L-R: Amber Rush, Infinite Sky, Midnight Blue

(Check out my last post using Iced Latte, Amber Rush, and Midnight Blue)

L-R: Continuous Cocoa, Eternal Sunshine, Bronzed Taupe, Eternal Black

Continuous Cocoa was the only shade that wasn't as buttery smooth to swatch, but it's still a beautiful color for neutral loves to have. I do believe that these apply best by using a clean finger in order to get the full vibrant effect on the lids. I've tried applying with brushes, but the color payoff just isn't there. So, if you're one not into getting your fingers dirty, these may not be for you.

I picked these up at my local CVS and Rite Aid during those weekly drugstore sales (BOGO 1/2 or those promos with the extra coupon cash backs) so they're now widely available in the US. They retail for around $7-$8. Definitely not a bad price for the quality of these drugstore gems. And I find it kind of fun using my fingers! It brings me back to my childhood days when "finger painting" was one of the best pastimes ever.

I've jumped on the Infallible train right along with the rest of these Infallible bloggers:

Sakura Lovely, MAC Nunu, Beauty Moogle, ShinyPrettyThings, Pinkfish Tart,

and Vanity Fashionista (check out her list of all the infallbiles and which are exclusive to which country).

Have you tried any of these shades out yet? Which are you lemming for?

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Woo. First post of February. This past week has been rough due to that lovely time of the month, so I've been in pain here and there. Y'know...the usual. -sigh-. But hoping to post more frequently during this upcoming week. Hope you all are doing fantastic and having a great weekend. ♡

For all my US buds, tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday! Bring out the chips, salsa, and guac! 

Getting schmancified at dineLA "Fogo de Chao"

DineLA is a yearly event in Los Angeles where a bunch of restaurants join in offering lunch/dinner meals for a discounted price. The meal usually consists of three courses, but it really depends on what restaurant one decides to go to. Prices differ as well: lunches are $16, $22, $28 and dinners are $26, $34, $44. I've been once before and I enjoyed the whole experience a lot!

This year, I went with a friend (and now some new friends) to an all-you-can-eat Brazilian Steakhouse in Beverly Hills. To be honest, I'm not really a meat person, but I figured it'd be a good experience and for $44! My friend had talked about Brazilian places like these where they come around with skewers and ask if you want a cut of that specific meat, and with a discount (this place usually costs $60/person), I was excited.

Fogo de Chao:

133 N La Cienega Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

(Valet parking only.)

Green for "Bring on the meat!". On the other side is red. Red for "I've had enough...I think."

The waiters kept coming to only me, only to have me towards the end of our meal. Then I realized that mine was on green still. Fail.

Dark and "sulty". haha...jk. But the ambiance was nice. It's a bit loud in there though.

All you can eat salad bar. I enjoyed the smoked salmon very much! I tried not to stuff myself so much before what was expected to come...

Nice, classy dinner setting.

BRING ON THE MEAT! 

I think this is the filet mignon. I swear I had 10lbs of meat that night: lamb, black pepper steak, sausage, lots of filet mignon...so good!)

Two of the side dishes: seasoned mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas.

They cut out the dinner during this year's dineLA. DARN. For $45+, we could have had at least a little dessert! Oh well. Definitely a once in a year at most kind of dinner! 

Pineapple Dole Whip (similar to the one sold at Disneyland). YUM!

My schmancified pictures. I felt so rushed before actually heading out to dinner. I never really do anything special to my hair...so when I tried to something "different", it didn't turn out very special at all. Oh well. I still was able to make it work.

Added some BLUE. Amazing, right? Lip butter is in "Berry Smoothie".

Used my L'Oreal Infallibles: Iced Latte, Amber Rush, and Midnight Blue! 

OOTD: Black bow dress: H&M, Diamond Cross Tights: Urban Outfitters (similar, similar), Heeled booties: Nordstrom Rack (similar)

Such a classy post. Heh heh. I love trying out new food, and this one was definitely a keeper (though I think I'm done with MEAT for a while...). 

Hope you all are doing well! Weekends tend to be the busiest times for me, so hoping to catch up on blogs soon! ♡ Hope you're having a great week and enjoying the last day of January 2012!