Sewing is Fun

I have been sewing a bit more recently. My projects have come from tutorials, books, and my logic-aided imagination. My favorite projects are purses, wallets, and 3"-elastic-waisted skirts. I'm wearing one now! This one didn't work out well, so its an at home skirt only. I was going for an easy a-line type dealie in a tea-length. This fabric looks too granny in it's long form.

I think I'll hem it into a mini. I don't know what the hell I was thinking in the first place.

In the meantime, I have this awesome sheer black fabric with tiny white polka dots. I think ill use it for a high-low overlay (over a black mini). That's a project for Wednesday maybe.

Michael Fassbender

My latest crush. Oh dear God. I can't even describe why I like him really. He's just him. And he's not even my type really.

Too Hot for Make-up!

When It's this hot out, I just spot check with BB cream and concealer. Then I do my eyes and lipstick or gloss.  I don't do the whole sweaty-foundation-face thing.

Vroom Vroom

I got a neeeeew car. A n-n-neeeew car. Lalala laaaa la.

My Audi died and I couldnt afford to replace the engine so I got this instead. Now I've discovered there's a class action law suit against Volkswagen for engine sludge. As expensive as Audis are to buy and maintain, VW has some nerve trying to screw people over on a known issue like this. So they extended the warranties by 8years, but my car was 9years old. So I was out of luck anyway. Still, that's just mean and a bad business practice.

Now I have my Suzuki Aerio SX and it's full of win. Super fast win. And after not having a car for almost 2 months (partially due to my own stubbornness), I'm happy as hell.

New Shoes!!!

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Torrid



My new shoes came but I forgot to make a post about them. Oops. Well here they are. From Torrid's website. I don't have time for a super post but I had to squee to the world. I love wedges. These are comfy as hell, too. Thanks for carrying 12W, Torrid.

I've decided to buy myself one or two things per pay period. I'm happy to have those shoes. Now, to order something else...

New Gel Nail Action

Pink = Gossip Girl; Purple= Star Burst

So I did my nails at like midnight last night. Thank goddess for gel polish. I can't believe I ever did stonework with regular polish. For the record, all polish is Gelish save for the black stripes and polka dots, and the silver sparkle stripes.

I couldn't decide what I wanted, so I just stuck to common color. I like the way the Index fingers have the half circle of clear at the bottom. I think if I could do them over, I would switch my ring and middle finger designs, then replace those stripes with dots matching the other nails.

So each coat was done at 2min cure, but the topcoat was done at a 5min cure to be safe. I'm really happy with how secure the stones feel. As always, I love the shiiiiine.

Nail Inspiration

Howdy. I absolutely love this page of Nail Venus. These are the colours I wear most often. I typically give myslf gel manicures and the top 3 colours I use are:

• Exhale
• Gossip Girl 
• High Voltage 
• Star Burst 
• Red Baroness (CND Shellac) 

All but the last are made by Hand & Nail Harmony for their Gelish line. I prefer Gelish over Shellac. I think there's more in the bottle and a little goes a long way (with both brands). They also have more colour options. The next shades I want are Reserve, Glamour Queen, Sweet Chocolate, and Twinkle. I have some similar colours in standard polish (from China Glaze and OPI), so I'm not in a huge rush. So long as I do a gel base and top coat, I'm okay. I just prefer a 100% gel basic mani because it's faster. Of course nail art elements like dotting and pinstriping can be done in standard polish. I do that whenever I can't sleep lol.

So anyway, I think I'll be replicating the stripey red/pink/black/silver set (row 2, set 3) this weekend. If you don't see a blog post, that means I farted it up!

Push-up Power

Guys and gals, it's time to do your push-ups. It's one thing to be healthy, but one must also be fit. My problem is that I'm healthy and fat. I want to turn my fathleticism into just straight up athleticism. The easiest methods are walking/jogging and push-ups. They're awesome.


Why are push-ups so awesome, Avy?

I'm glad you asked! Well first off, they're great for your boobs! Okay, so that's not the first reason. Obviously they're awesome because they work you triceps and biceps. They also work your shoulders (teres major + minor AND deltoids), scapular + rotator-cuff muscles (supports shoulder muscles)...  and your boob muscles (a.k.a. pectoralis major). To a certain extent, push-ups are even good for your abdominal muscles. They're not going to give you a flat tummy, but the boost in metabolism will burn more fat in general.

I like push-ups because they're perfect for combinations. Sometimes I do 10 push-ups, then stay in the up position so I can do those thingies where you bring your knee to your chest, then extend your leg back so that it's straight. I'll do that exercise 10 times on each leg, then rest for 60 seconds and repeat the whole sequence.  Sometimes I alternate the leg extension kick back thingy with fire hydrants. I'm kinda obsessed with getting a bubble butt. It's never gonna happen, but I'm like The Little Engine That Could.

So all you fashionistas need to make push-ups part of your daily life. Even if you can only do the modified on-your-knees version, or even standing and pressing against a wall, get them done. If you're skinny fat and can only do 5, try to do six. Practice makes perfect. It's not just about going sleeveless in summer. Strength is something everyone should have. Everyone should at minimum - be able to push/pull their own body weight with little effort. It could even be a matter of life or death. So do your push-ups!

Smile for Stickies

Whenever I feel a little down in the dumps, I try to see how retail therapy can work. I used to work out of 3 offices for one company. I had my own office at one location, a shared office at another, and a cubicle at the administrative building. Well now I'm down to just the cubicle. I'm not sad about this. It's much closer to home (20min) and in a better neighborhood convenience-wise. It works out much better.

Unfortunately, now I can't shut my door because I don't have one. This means I hear about things like Survivor, American Idol, and Mob Wives. I care not for these things. Also, there are some people around here who will use your supplies and walk off with them. This is why I lock my drawers.Do you know how pissed I'd be if my cute supplies -- all bought with my own cash-- were to disappear? So yeah. I lock it up; and this latest beauty will never be left on my desk without me being present.

Front cover

I got these awesomely cute tokidoki sticky notes from Amazon for like $8 (free shipping with Prime). I'm a total stationery slut. I love office supplies in general. These are cute, but they suck at being sticky. Anyway, looky looky:

Inside left cover

Inside right = different sized stickies ^_^

Back cover

I have the flu. This is some BS to put it simply. I'm not okay with it. Shivering, sweating, nose ouches and dry, tight throats are all a way of life for me. Oh and the headaches. Whoa doggy. So between the doses of different cold medicines (which never really work when you have the flu), these are the things that help me deal with the fact that I can't eat, sleep, or sometimes breathe.

1. Ugly Betty on Netflix

2. Working on my family tree via Ancestry.com

3. World of Warcraft (don't judge me!)

4. Hot, hot, hot showers.

5. Be inspired by J-mag scans

6. Practice new languages for free with BYKI 

7. Watch at least one old (or really old) movie you've never seen. I chose "Dance With Me."

8. For the love of maki, read something!

9. Text your friends and family so they'll know you're alive.

10. Wash your nasty, germ-covered laundry (especially bedding) in HOT water, with a teaspoon of bleach. Having the flu sucks, so why get it again if you can help it.

Fashion Photography is Love

I had a photo shoot on Saturday. It's a subject I've been dying to do, but never got around to before: Decora-kei. Luckily, my little sister introduced me to a girl she met named Dolly.  We because Facebook friends and eventually I just asked her. She's not a model, just a college girl into Asian fashion & sub-cultures.

Okay. This is the part where I shut up and show the photos (starting wth my favorite).

I almost went blind to get this shot.

There are 5 more photos so...

Long Oerdue

Hey Guys and Gals,

It's been a very, very long time since I've posted. Why? Because life has been super busy. Between work, home, dancing, and photography, I've managed to also squeeze in sewing, writing, and pen-pal action. All that leads to less likeliness of me posting quality posts. That's a bit of a problem because I still love this blog.

The solution?

Cram it in anyway!

So I will be posting weekly. I have already started a string of posts for the next few weeks. This way, I'll still be ahead of the game if I have an extra busy week. In the past, I've wanted the thoughts to be as fresh in the blog as possible. That's not really necessary. That's just me being a weirdo.

So NOT Gyaru

IMG Source: Amazon.com

But I don't care. I LOVE this bag. It was a birthday gift from my mother-in-law. I loved hers instantly so she was super awesome and got me one. My birthday was 3rd October, by the way. Not that it's a huge deal to the world. It just serves as a reference point. I started this post about two days afterward and got too busy to finish. 

Anyway, now I want the matching wallet. It's pretty awesome. Like the purse, it's made of recycled tires. Hooray for eco-chic goodness!

Vlog: Eyelash Extensions

Review: Darkness Lash Strips

Remember how I said I was going to get lash exte? Well I am terrified of people with sharp pointy things in front of my eyeballs. Sooo I'm gonna go ahead and stick with strips.

Unfortunately, I bought these Darkness #4 lash strips. They suck. Is that overly blunt? Ah well. Let's try again.

Pros
Light-weight
Long enough for my big eyes

Cons
Sharp and pokey at the ends
"Stiff as hell" is an understatement
Curling is next to impossible

I did a video review, but it wasn't so awesome. Nope. My whole video was dark. Next time, I'm not using my webcam. But I digress.

I tried rolling the lashes around my pinky ti give them some curve. IT helped, but not much. When applied, the ends were poking my eyes. That was an itchy nightmare of doom. Aside from that, they were also a real hassle to curl. I only got one bend out of them before calling it quits. That's ridiculous.

At first glance, these are pretty falsies. Yay doll eyes, right? Wrong! Don't be fooled.

See. It looks like I'm not wearing lashes.

Life After MAC

I'm bitter about my job moving me from the King of Prussia area to the airport area of the city. Why? Many reasons, but one major gripe is that I can no longer go to a MAC store on my lunch break. I feel silly ordering online when there are like 4 stores in a 20mi radius. I just never have time. I work an hour from home and rush hour traffic means I'd never get there before closing. That leaves my over-booked weekends. Blah. I'm in desperate need of more Viva Glam VI lipstick. I also want to try out another lipstick -- Viva Glam III. I think it could work. My other reason to go would be that I'll need another Studio Fix Foundation (powder) compact. It's the one foundation I've found that perfectly matched my skin tone in pressed powder form. There are close alternatives, but none in pressed powder. T_T

Anyway, Maybelline has a nudes collection in drugstores. I found two  that look good on me. Rum Riche is a little too coral, or maybe just a little too bright. The other color is probably the most nude nude I've ever tried. It's called Bean There and the brown is a pretty good match for my skin tone. I was amazed. I've never experienced that before. I typically use mauvey colours because pinky brown looks good on my. Now, I have more options. Yay. I'd given up on drugstore brands before, but lately I've been more flexible. Things have improved!

Healthier Relaxed Hair is Possible

Hello world!
I've mentioned my shampoo & conditioner switch before, but now I'm raving again. I've been using the John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioners for the past couple/few months now. I must say my hair is happier for it. I had my hair relaxed when I the bangs were cut, and I was really worried about my hair's health. I'm pleased to say this stuff has helped. My hair is still dry, but nowhere near as dry as it used to be. I have much less breakage, but still a little. I'm sure that sounds lackluster, but I can't stress enough that these products have helped a lot. It's amazing. My hair is soft, shiny, and full of body.

Here's a fine example of just how shiny (not greasy) my hair is now.

That crappy photo doesn't do it justice, but at least it was taken with a real camera. My hair was just washed, dried, and curled (by flat iron). Aside from the years when I avoided relaxers and colorants, this is the healthiest it's been in a long time. It's definitely the healthiest it's ever been while relaxed. Yay.

For reference: John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioners are available for about $8 each at drugstores, as well as online via Amazon, etc.

As always, no one paid me a single cent for this post, but it'd be nice if they would!

Gyaru Goals

Howdy! I've been feeling like I should re-evaluate my life in all aspects. I've decided to post about my gyaru-relevant aspirations instead of boring you with my work, school, and familial pursuits.

My Top 10 Gyaru Goals:

1. Stop cutting my hair every time I get bored with it.

2. Lose more and more weight until I feel like Xena, and fit into Japanese sizes. 

3. Improve my highlighting and contouring.

4. Be more adventurous by wearing MORE COLOURS.

5. Show off my awesome legs by amassing a stunning collection of stockings, tights, and thigh highs. 

6. Get lash extensions and keep getting them. 

7. Learn to do more 3-D nail art. 

8. Be gyaru and stick with it. Consistency is key to development. 

9. Find a pair of comfortable color contact lenses, but never the enlarged kind. 

10. STICK TO MY BUDGET!!! Irresponsibility is not sexy. 

One bonus goal is to be a little more social with the gyaru community. I'd love to check out others' goals. The other is to successfully complete the Couch to 5k workout plan. I've never been into running for no reason. Running had to be a part of something else: freeze tag, kickball, playing ninja, escaping zombies. You get it. C25k will help me shed pounds, increase stamina/endurance, and build better bone health. The only downside is that I'm clumsy as hell and will probably trip over my feet a million times in the beginning. Ah well. It is what it is. I will start on the treadmill since I have a gym membership. Once I'm more comfortable running while chunky (with onlookers), I'll take to the streets of suburbia. 


So share your goals. Stick to them. Let's motivate ourselves and each other!

I've been working out more than this, but don't log it all. Maybe I should. I read in a few reports that just exercising once per day isn't good enough if you work a desk job. So I take a couple of 15 minute breaks per day to practice belly dancing transitions and yoga. Hopefully this helps. 

I actually enjoy working out. I just don't like to do it alone. I need to be out and about. That's actually funny to me and my offline friends because I hate sweating and REALLY hate for others to see me sweat.  If at home, I need to be in my dance space for exercise. It's all comfy there. This is helpful since my goal is to workout just about every day. I take Sundays off whenever possible, but last Sunday we went to the zoo and walked for 2+ hours. Yesterday was dance class and we ran overtime, which ended up as 1.5hrs of intense belly dancing. The balls of my feet are still sore!

So all this working out better pay off. I don't just wanna feel  the difference. I wanna see it. I would like to see that angle in my jawline and be pointier like I used to be. I just don't want to have a bony face. Luckily I don't think that will happen. Sidenote: I love Flight of the Conchords. Anyway, I'm glad I have more exercise buddies. It helps. Yay motivation. I'll be ordering from YesStyle and AsiaJam in no time!

L'oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara, Carbon Black

Woo Hoo. I'm a big fan of this stuff. It doesn't make my lashes look like falsies (as you can see), but it feels good. I don't get flakes in my eyeballs at the end of the night. It doesn't come off easily, but it isn't a beast to take off. L'Oreal did something right with their formula. And the little spiky ball applicator is nice. Not awesome, but nice. My main rave about Telescopic Explosion is the formula. I rub my eyes a lot, but there are no flakes or smudges. Also, my lashes feel soft. They're not stiff and gross. I've had other mascaras that were great (especially by Clinique and Maybelline), but this is a nice addition to the arsenal. This is my new favorite for when my eyes are being super sensative and I can't wear much eye make-up.



Here's a peek at what it did for my medium-long, but sparse lashes:

One coat.