.02 Nail Art: French Manicure with Red Bows

I bought myself a french manicure set. It's Sally Hansen: HARD AS NAILS - French Manicure (Sheer Romance). The set comes with two nail-polishes: a blanc white for the tips & a sheer romance for the top. In the box there is also included some tip stickers which are surprisingly good. I read the instructions and apparently you apply the tips first and then the color. I was a bit hesitant about that, but I followed the instructions and I also used the nail-stickers which was lot of fun and no hassle! Applying white tips have never been easier: I usually do like everything free-hand. 

I was actually looking for a very opaque white nail polish and not a set, but I couldn't find any! There's no white, matte and opaque white nail polish. Everything is like very sheer and metalic. I contemplated on the set or a Essie nail-polish, but I wasn't going to use 100DKK (18USD) for one Essie if I could get two Sally Hansen for less. Before it's going to be a huge explosion of pictures-- here's my review of it. The blanc white polish is perfect; it's thin, opaque and dries quickly. However the other one is a little on the crappy side; the sheer romance color is very sheer as the name says, but it's also very streaky! I applied ones and it already becomes streaky. I eventually applied so many layers so it looks super fake which is not necessarily a bad thing because I love fake nails. I just can't deal with the streakiness of the polish and I did not like how my french manicure ended up.

I originally wanted to do a simple french manicure, but I wasn't satisfied with the color of my nails so I did some bows on them too <3

My naked nails which are the perfect length for a french mani:

Perfect fit tips-stickers:

French manicure done. I'm not sure if you can see this, but the color is a little too light because I applied so many layers. It looks great, but I wanted a bit more natural.

I did the start of my bows with a toothpick. I usually start to draw two triangles and then I round their edges so it's more bow-like. I then make the middle part a big fatter. When I make this, it doesn't have to be perfect because I can always fill it more if I'm not satisfied. Keywords are PATIENCE and SLOWLY!

I then use a nail polish where the brush is very long and thin. I tried making it with a toothpick, but it was very difficult and the results weren't as nice. Again keywords are PATIENCE and SLOWLY.

Isn't it pretty???????? ;__; This is my second time making it and I always think it turns out great. It just takes a hell a lot of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When making this.. TAKE LOTS OF TIME. NO RUSHING. It's better to wait for it to completely dry than to just apply another layer. 

OOTD (1): Work Clothes

My mother says I wear too pretty clothes for work and I agree.
It's pretty basic what I'm wearing. Everything is from HM except for the ring which is from Accessories :-) I like to wear pretty clothes to work because I want to look pretty. I know, I know.. it's just work, but you actually meet people at work and I actually want to look the best I can look. Even if it means that I have to sacrifice some nice clothes to the stink of my work. This outfit isn't what I normally wear, but it's acceptable for work..

The knit shirt is like a bat's wings so when I work, I always pin it in the back of the shirt so that the wings aren't like everywhere when I lift my arm. Otherwise it will get into the sauce/food and what not. I also always wear my hair up because I don't want customers complaining about hair in their food or give them an excuse for not paying for their meal. I also wear it up because I think it's so gross to have it down when you're handling with food. I once saw this chick with big long hair like me and she looked so gross with all that hair on her head and she was standing by the food stand and all I could think about was; who hired this chick?! Shouldn't she wear a hair-cap or something?!!! I know I shed a lot of hair so I don't even want to think how much she also sheds. Yuck.

I don't wear rings to work, I just wore it today, but I took it off because it's a bother. Your hands get dirty a lot when you work so what's the point with rings..

Yup, that's today's working attire. My usually aren't that showy ;-)

WIP: 25/11-2011

This is a WIP of a random woman from a random magazine.
Notice how many layers the eyes have. You really realize the importance of lashes and eyebrows when you draw. Ones eye changes immediately when you have lashes on your eyes.

This WIP might be a WIP forever. I'm not feeling very attached to it because I don't know the woman. It's like there is no pressure for me to finish it.

Portrait of My Older Cousin

Normally I'm very proud of my portraits, but this one? --not so much. Today is my older cousin's birthday and I decided to draw a picture that he had wanted me to draw for a while now. If it wasn't because he was my cousin, I'd never do it! He wanted me to do his facebook profile picture and it was really like blurry and there were no contrast in the picture at all. I knew it would be a challenge because I can't really see the details in his face and I wasn't sure if I could bring life to the picture. I gave it a shot and it came out alright. I did 'cheat' on his eyes as I gave them a reflection. I gave the picture a source of light I thought was likely if this was a better picture. I really hope this is my last time doing a picture like this. I want something big with full of options so I can draw all those details a face can have..

Anyone who's interested in the original.. Here it is:

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's a horrible picture. At first I thought he was kidding me, but apparently not. It's not that he looks bad in the picture, but it's just bad picture to draw :-)

But anyways, happy birthday dear cousin!
Chuc mung sinh nhat nha a. Vu! ♥

KIMCHI experiment!

For the second time in my life, I made KIMCHI ♥! I made it a week ago, but I just got around to do this post now ;__;
The first time failed miserably and it was just disgusting because we left it outside to ferment, but completely forgot about it so when we came out to get it we found rotten KIMCHI x_x

This time however it was different. I was determined to make good kimchi so I had a recipe on hand and I bought everything that was needed to make my kimchi. I modified the recipe a little bit even though I know nothing about kimchi. I have read a lot of other recipes and I tried to combine as much as possible. The things I added were cucumbers and other vegetables. It's a good thing that's it's Winter because you can let the kimchi ferment outside, but I'm letting it ferment inside this time.

I think when I move out, I'll be making loads of kimchi. In theory it makes sense because I can store it in the refrigerator and I know it doesn't rot quickly/easily. It also tastes all right, but there's just one problem.. There's a lot of different onions and garlic in it :-/ I have total GARLIC ONION breath after this :-D Also I expected it to be much spicier! We put so much chili powder, but it just wouldn't be spicy enough for us. Tsk. Everyone who says Korean food is spicy. Wussy. It's still good and has a lot of flavor, but the spiciness  was really important to me. The thing I liked the most about this is the cucumber. Even though it wasn't in the recipe, I think adding that was the best thing ever. Next time I'll make spicy cucumber kimchi~ 

It turned out great IMO, but I will definitely add more spices next time..

We filled the kimchi in 4 two-liters glass containers. One is already gone ;-)

Just me being extremely posy with some kimchi.

There were nothing to eat so I just ate kimchi without anything. It was good. Now I just need to brush my teeth LOL

I'm (maybe) Sick!

It's Winter and I haven't felt alright for a couple of days now. I'm feeling really bad and tired..

I think I'm becoming sick or I am sick. My nose is runny, my eyes are sleepy, my energy is at zero right now - it's just horrible. I'm currently at work as I'm writing this and I can just feel my energy disappearing! I'm dragging my feet like crazy and it's just exhausting to work right now. I haven't drunk any coffee today, but I doubt that's the reason to why I'm so sleepy and tired. It must be because I'm getting tired and I didn't sleep well yesterday and the night before that too. It's like a whole lots of factors put together that is making me feel miserable. I can only say that I luckily only get sick once a year (because my immune system is totally boss). I even consider myself "lucky" if I do get sick LOL. It's so rare that I'm sick, but sometimes I'd think I'm really sick or starting to become really sick, but then it's gone by the end of the day. Weird huh. Some mornings I'll cough like crazy and then it's gone. I hope this will be gone too, but I'm seriously doubting that..

Soooo am anyone sick like me too? Or are you always healthy? ... even in the Winters? 

[100th] Leonardo da Vinci asked:

“Why does the eye sees a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination awake?”

________

I honestly never thought,
I'd be able to keep it up..

Trang's Moving Day

Wednesday I helped a friend move. She and her boyfriend used to live in a row house, but they wanted an apartment instead. They row house wasn't really bad or anything; quite spacious actually, but I guess it was just too spacious because they also had a small garden and an attic too. Some things that wasn't really necessary so they got an apartment which is closer to the big malls in my town.

Luckily it was my day off when it was her moving day; I had originally no plans because I just wanted to do like a lazy day. I even slept in that day and first woke up at like 3PM. Just when I woke up it was time for us to help her move. I think Sandy forgot about our friend's moving day too. We helped her from 4PM to 10PM, but it wasn't really tiring because they were a lot of guys to help. Us weak girl (LOL) only carried small and non-heavy items. BUT STILL! We helped :-) After everything was loaded into the house, my friend had prepared food for us. Just like a kind of thank-you for helping them. I didn't eat much because I ate so much candy earlier. I totally regretted it after because I felt full of candy and chocolate and I did not feel full in a good way :-( But either way, it was really cosy because they were so many other people there. Some I was friends with and some I haven't met before, but I have heard of them. I think that there will be a get-together later this month. Maybe New Years Eve? I'm not sure yet because I usually never plan ahead of time for these kind of things.. I looking forward to whatever I'm going to do that day.

Btw. Wednesday is the annual lottery day where I live (plus Saturday) and right at the moment the prize is HUGE. It's like over 110+ millions DKK which is like 15 millions USD. Nobody won it though so the prize keeps growing. If I won the money, I could whatever I wanted! <3

WTF is this?!!!!! (Breaking Dawn)

LOL the film does not make it difficult for me to dislike. I have to admit that I did not have any expectations to this film at all! There were moments in the film that I loved. Eg. the honey moon scenes because those were just adorbz, but in a whole I didn't like it as much as the previous one. I'm not going to spoil too much of the film, but these are the things I realized:

• Bella is a selfish girl who's apparently so horny that she does not understand the dangers of having sex with a super strong vampire who can break her very very easily. She does not understand what is best for her so when everyone tell her she should do something like this, then no no.. she will do the exact opposite and everyone will HAVE to do what she says and wants even if it means her dying. Even when we have a psychic vampire telling you that she no longer sees your future = early death, then YES it means you're going to be alright!
• Jacob is a little love-struck puppy who would go against everyone (including his own family) to help/be with a girl who's not in love with him, but also married to a vampire who is the immortal enemy. I swear I think I lost a little bit of respect for Jacob when (spoiler start)he imprinted the baby (spoiler end). That's just plain creepy. I guess his undying love for Bella was not so undying after all. If he can't have Bella, then the daughter will be just as fine. 
• Edward was perfect, but maybe he should man up and say "hey bella. just do the fuck i say. because that's what's best for YOU". I MEAN THANK GOD BELLA IS SO LUCKY otherwise she'd be dead by now. She gets everything handed to her so of course she could handle this little situation with her tummy, but damn she just keep messing everything up; making vampires and werewolves fight and stuff. What a selfish, egotistical character. I hate her character so much. Someone who gets everything they want without actually doing anything.
• If you want to name your baby something; then just combine people's names. Like your husband's and your friend's (who deeply in love you) and you have the most amazing and unique name evar! E.J! Who cares if it doesn't sound good. It's the thought that counts right?
• When you know you're going to die, just tell your husband that's it's going to be alright because he'll have the baby while you'll be dead. Don't listen to your husband when he says you can live if you just get rid of the baby. No no.
• High school films are so superficial. 

Other than that, I don't have anything else to say. The acting was decent. The writing however was a little too cheesy for me. I got goosebumps from many of their lines and some of them made me feel so uncomfortable that I had to look away. I seriously thought to myself like "so apparently fan-girls love these cheesy moments." Trust me, I'm a huge fan of schmoop, but there is a difference between good and bad. This was just too cheesy in a bad way. Seriously who wrote their lines!!!!??? Before I continue this rant, I have to say that I actually like every actors/actresses, but sometimes the film makes it difficult to like them. Some of them overacts which to me is just turn-off because then I am aware of the acting. Kristin Stewart was OK and I have nothing against her at all, but in some scenes of the film she made it difficult for me to watch. Her Bella is like a mirror of herself. Sometimes I can feel that she's uncomfortable in front of the camera or when she has to do scenes with other people. Or maybe it's just me. Maybe it's just how coincidentally how Bella behaves too? Other than that, I got to admit that she looked really beautiful. Especially in the very last scene. Jacob and Edward were adorbz. Mostly Edward though because Jacob was a little too angsty LOL.

I surely hope that the next installment will be better. I hope that Bella will become totally wild and beastly.

Christmas Shopping 2011 (Part 2)

I finally bought everything I needed! :-) Let's hope the kids love the stuff we bought them.

For the girls, we bought very pretty headbands and for the guys we bought toy cars. We have already packed them and put them under our Christmas tree!

Ushh, Christmas shopping is expensive. Especially when you already don't have that much income. Sigh~ why money? Why you don't just fall down the trees? Or let me win the lottery this Wednesday! <3 I think it would be a thousand time easier if I had more money, but today was exhausting. It's tiring to look after presents. The kids are not going to make any use of them in the future and I'm going to have less money in my pocket. I didn't even know what to buy them. What do kids like these days. I was way more interested in buying things for myself, but I restrained myself LOL. Even though I was clueless, I did buy more than I originally intended to buy because once you're on a roll, it's hard to stop buying things. When I was little, I used to get presents from my uncles and aunts a lot. My sister, brother and I were the only kids at that time and we were really spoiled with gifts, but now that they all have kids and they are all much much younger than me; they expect me to buy gifts for them :-( Like I'm their rich aunt or something when in fact we're cousins :D I have to buy gifts for 7+ kids. That's a lot of presents!!! >__< My wallet definitely felt lighter after today. Siiiiigh... Well, I guess it was worth buying the gifts, but ouch.. money is not easy to earn, but sure easy to spend :-)

Even though I'm tired, I have a plan with Sandy, Palu and Yu to go watch the newest Twilight movie. I can't wait to see it! I'm not their biggest fan, but I'd watch the movie for the fluffy parts, he he. The shirtless parts too. I sure hope that Edward has worked out since Eclipse(?) if he's planning to show some skin.. 

BYESSSS~ xo

_

Here's some other pictures inclusive my outfit of the day:

BONUS PICTURE LOL PANDA SCARF LOL

SKINCARE: Extra Virgin Olive Oil

For the next couple of weeks, I'll try to add some EVOO in my skincare routine. I do not have bad skin or acne, but I noticed that my skin becomes really nice and soft whenever I use EVOO. So me adding EVOO in my skincare routine is not because I want to lessen outbreaks or anything like that. I just like the effect it has on my skin. It's sort of like applying Vaseline on your face, but I feel safer with EVOO because I feel it's a little milder and lighter than Vaseline. Even though the Vaseline worked really well I felt like I was blocking my skin because it was such a heavy substance. So to me, EVOO sounds like a great alternative!

It was actually my mother who suggested that I should use it. She figured that EVOO is natural so it would be better to use something natural as opposed to something that's store-bought. I didn't listen to her at first because I was thinking OIL = blocking my pores and greasy skin! So I never took her advice, but one day I was taking a shower and I forgot to remove my eye-make-up first. I then remembered that I could just use some EVOO because people always say it's a great make-up remover. So I used it and I figured I might as well apply a little on my cheeks. The next day my skin was just so nice and soft. I tried it again a couple of days after and I also only used a minimal amount on my bare face and I'd take a clean cotton pads and wipe off the excess oil and massage my face. I've only done this for a week every night so I don't know how good it is for my skin yet! I'll try to see if my skin is better in a couple of weeks. Hopefully I don't have any breakouts! ;-)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil-howto:

1. You take your Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2. Pour a little EVOO on a clean cotton pad

3. Apply it to your face; I sometimes take another cotton pad and sort of clam them together so there's not too much on the pad and that ensures that I also don't get too much oil on my face. I only want to use a very little amount because I want to be careful and also I don't want to be totally wet and shiny on my face. I just don't think it's a good idea.

4. I take another clean cotton pad and wipe of the excess oil on my face. I also massage my face; the forehead, I go up. Left cheek, I go left. Right cheek, I go right. Chin, I go down. I once saw a picture at a cosmetologist's office which said that massaging your face like that will supposedly tighten the skin which = less wrinkles ;-)

And your done ;-)
__but seriously I hope I don't get breakouts :o If I do... well.. I'm going to regret it!

Christmas Shopping 2011

My sister and I decided to go to IKEA this evening. It was my suggestion because I was in the mood. I had just finished work and I wanted to do something productive other than go home and sleep. Since it's Christmas it makes sense that we had do to some Christmas shopping!

I still need to find presents for my family. I usually never buy Christmas presents because I'm mostly always broke and also I don't really like the thought of buying things for the sake of buying things. But I'm guilty for loving receiving gifts! If I don't get presents, it's OK. However if I do, I get super excited :-) As I am a little older now and I actually have *some* money, I thought I'd buy a little something for the kids. They don't understand much and I know how happy they become when they get something. I remember I used to love it too as a kid. It's like your second birthday LOL.

But yeah, we went there, but we didn't find anything in IKEA. They only thing we bought was food and then we just went to BILKA, but failed again. There was nothing we were interested in buying for the kids, but we did find something for ourselves, he he ;-). We found shoes! My Christmas presents for my sister are a pair of high boots and short boots. I also bought myself the same pair of short boots because they look so cool.

I think they are super cool. I love the short ones, but the high ones are pretty too. It's just too bad I can't always fit those kind of boots as I'm sort of heavy at the calves :-( But I think they fit my sister really well. It's a bit egotistical to buy presents for yourself when that wasn't the point of our shopping trip, but hey.. sometimes you need to spoil yourself ;-)

Maybe I'll find those Christmas presents tomorrow because I'm going out tomorrow again. Let's hope luck is with me. I also hope to find some discounted goods. Nothing beats cheap stuff LOL. 

btw. look at what we have here! My family's Christmas tree!

This is the work of my father and his daughters (aka my sister and I). We put it up yesterday and we also decorated it with some newly bought ornaments and also our old ornaments from when we used to live in an apartment. Even though my mother didn't help us yesterday, she put up the different coloured lights this morning. Now it looks even prettier!~ It's been like so many years since we last put up a Christmas tree. It feels really cosy and homey when I see the tree. It reminds me of when I was little, he he ^___^

ps. LOLOL find the scary Santa. 

Coffee's Good

The wonderfulness of coffee! I think I might become addicted to coffee in the mornings and in the evenings.
To be honest, I've always been a person who never becomes addicted to anything. I pride that because it means I have a strong self-control, but for coffee. I might make an exemption. LOL. Kidding, but I understand why people need coffee.

Up until now, I never understood how you can literally become addicted to coffee, but after I began working I totally understand. Coffee gives you that extra oompfth you need in the morning. If it wasn't because you can stain your teeth with coffee, I'll drink it every morning. I actually like the taste of coffee.

I prefer mine sweet. I love a good dose of condensed milk in it too <3

Christmas Spirit in My Town

Everyone loves Christmas and I can surely understand why. There's nothing better than this holiday. 

On my way home from work, I saw how pretty my town has become. I love Christmas because they put up Christmas light and decorations too. There are also so many people with their children and they all just look really happy and excited. I think the spirit of my town is at their highest when it's Christmas time. Even I feel something change in me. It's just when I see my town all lit up and decorated; I feel like I have to smile all the time. I actually feel genuinely happy for some reason. 

Today I even put some time out to sit under some trees and I just looked at my Town Square. I sat there and I thought: "wow, my town is actually really pretty..." Even though my town does the same thing every year, it's always manages to give me the fuzzy feelings.

The Perfect Man

Lately I've been obsessed with Jensen Ackles. I honestly believe that he's the perfect guy.

His face and eyes; he's really beautiful. I've never met him, but I've watched his panels and he is just so real.

GETTIN' WASTED

You know what's the best thing about working?
You're always excited for the weekend! No matter how much I work, I am always ready to go out. I'm one of those girls who are willing to work their ass off just to get wasted in the weekends. Why work if you have no fun?

It's no question. Unless I'm ill, I'll stay home. Otherwise I see no reason to miss out on some fun~~
Today's no exception, but shit happened and I ended up not going. I swear I was so pissed, but my girlfriends couldn't help it because there were some sort of misunderstanding and we ended up removing all our make-up and in the end we just wasn't in the mood to go out any more. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother with these girls. But yeah, they are my close friends... that's why.. I need to have that reminded..

Next week when they say, "hey let's go out". I'll be like, "bitch gtfo. no fking way".
I don't want to be mean, but I do not want to be one of those who goes out in the time near Christmas. I will not be one of those. I'll rather spend the day like relaxing, eating and what not. I don't think clubbing is very Christmas-sy. Oh well. I guess I just need some time to cool off. I'm just venting right now. My feelings don't last long and maybe I'm just a hypocrite.

But really. I was DISAPPOINTED. I was looking forward to this particular weekend :-(

Despite everything:
I love you forever chi2.