crabby B.R.A.T.

OK, officially, I've pretty much abandoned this blog. But I've been busy with work, but I'm enjoying it.

Anyway, I figured that since nobody's going to read this post, I might as well say...

I LURVE MAKE-UP!!!

Case in point, let's start with the basics, shall we?

the ultimate make-up base:



Ettusais' medicated acne whitening UV base is just absolutely perfect for me. It's light, sheer, and the whitening isn't all that dramatic anyway. I mean, I do get the occasional remark that my face is pretty pale, but I figured it's because I'm a lot more careful with it. =P

But apparently, a new packaging has been released in the market that looks like this:



One word: UGLY!!!!!!!!!

*puipuipui!!!*

Well, I'm gonna skip the foundation, because technically, and fundamentally, everyone should find the right foundation for their skin. I'm using a compact liquid foundation that's got a moouse-y texture, but it's absolutely harmless on the skin. I've been using the same foundation for over a year (NOT the item itself, the type!) and I have no intention of switching brands anytime soon. This is the one item that I will definitely not spare my finances from.



I never had to use concealers until last year when I started work. I started with MAC's, but then I got fed up with confusing my eyeshadows with the concealer because they look the same face-down, and also because it's more yellow-ish, and they don't stay as long as I'd like them to. But Ettusais' medicated acne real fit concealer - another new product in the market - works perfectly. It's not too yellow, it blends really well (I got shade #20. It's also available in #10 and #30), and it doesn't disappear as quickly. Kudos to Ettusais!

Next in line, the eyeshadows:



So far Bloom cosmetics can only be found in selected SaSa stores in Singapore, and I'm quite sad that some of the other branches have decided to let go of this brand. I have found no fault in their products and it's a shame that it isn't getting the publicity and attention it deserves.

Anyway, this is one of my favorite products from them. Although it's not specifically for the eyes (it's just star dust, anyway), I use it primarily for the eyes. Friends who know me know that I use MAC eyeshadows (and I don't even want to know how many of those I have!), but once in a while I become lazy (*sheepish grin*), and if I'm pressing for time, or if a meeting requires me to look better than the current state I was in, I roll these things on my eye like 3 times, blend with a finger, and I'm finished! These things come in antique gold, rose gold, and white gold. I love all three of them, but my favorite is antique gold because they have the most natural and neutral look for the office.



I don't think this is a new product in the market, but Ettusais came up with this interesting thing that was so intriguing that I couldn't resist! Ettusais' liquid eyeshadow is a first for me because I personally believe that people with oily, sensitive skin should stay far and away from these things. But then again, Ettusais is known to be the brand for people like moi, so I decided to get it. Besides, they had a really cute shade of pink that I think could come in handy when the evening comes around, and I have a wedding lunch to attend next Saturday so I need to prepare for that!



I love pencil eyeliners for two reasons: one, they enhance my eyes, and two, they're far less troublesome than those liquid, and even gel ones (no offence, but I haven't found my experience with Bobbi Brown's gel eye liner any more memorable). Clinique has got to be one of the best ones in the market, especially for people like me because there's this tendency for my eyes to bleed makeup, like coming home with black smudges at the bottom of my eyes at the end of the day. I have this in black and blue grey.



Mascaras are a very tricky issue for me. Before I found Canmake's curling jet mascara, I was using this one that was like nearly S$40 in the market, and I didn't know that their shelf lives were only six months tops. Granted, that's still cheaper than my foundation, but until I learn how to stay faithful to one mascara - which is highly unlikely - I'll continue for my search for the perfect, waterproof, under S$20 mascara. So far this one does the job very well for me, and I love how, despite being deep plum, it still looks very natural on my eyes. But then again this brand is also disappearing from the market (damn!), so I suspect that I'll have to hunt for another mascara very soon. I heard Shiseido had this product called Dramatical mascara, but it's no longer sold here. Phooey.

Now on to the lips!



I should add the disclaimer that this lipstick is not cheap. As a matter of fact, nothing from Lancome is ever cheap. Unfortunately, they also happen to carry the best shade I could ever find (and it just so happens that I am completely in love with nude shades). So far the Color Fever range has the best consistency and texture for a lipstick, even better than L'oreal's new creamy ones. I have this in #203 and #211.



Like I said, Bloom cosmetics are an understatement. These are not cheap either - they're like S$26.55 here. But then they also offer 2ml more than what the market usually does, and I heard they last all year. I'm using Amour, Pout, and Sweet Pea. And I love all three of them. And they come in extremely handy when I'm mixing them with the lipsticks, and I have a totally different colour on my mouth.

Trust me, I have more than these. Quite scary, if you think about it. But I think this whole make-up/cosmetics thing is catching up on me. And I love them all!

I'm back!!!!

OK, the bulk of my work is done. Presentations and reports are 80% done and over with. Now it's just the exams.

I can't believe it's already Week 13. It does not feel that way at all!

So some updates for you readers...

I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST!!!

So I am stuck with a temporary driver's license while the real thing is still in the works. Will only get it in a month's time. I wasn't sure if I would pass, so I didn't bring my passport photo. Then when I did, I had to spend $6 for 4 of them (and in my glasses and messy messy hair... my mum still doesn't not know about this). Closed the account with BBDC, and the probation plates sitting in the car, and now I can officially drive!

Oh, I will be officially free in 23 days' time. Then hopefully I'll go on a nice holiday OUT OF THIS COUNTRY, where I get to sleep in a hammock in a secluded beach and there is service to bring me drinks and cocktails... sigh...

I have complained before, but I am SO glad that school will be over soon because I am finding my groupmates difficult to work with. 'Nuff said.

Till then!

This is just to let all my Blogspot readers know that...

I'm not dead.


Haha, 10 weeks of school, and 5 more to go! Honestly, though, I'm not sure if I can live with this. Even with 4 measly modules to take, the stress should be lower right? Nooo..., I've got:

1. A group with only 4 people in it while the average was 5-7. And two of them are from China on exchange here, and the other is just really obsessed about makeup and doesn't really contribute much, but still attempts to push her weight around with her yakking if not for me stepping in.

2. My ad campaign for a client is not doing great - we've barely finished half. And it's only a two-member group.

3. IT and the law is no better, because nobody seems to know what's going on. Report is due the following Tuesday. Not finished.

4. And my other group is just a bunch of slackers that's now just attempting to work. 3 projects due, and not a single one is finished. Heck, one of my teammates even said he'd only panick 5 minutes after the thing is submitted, and I'm already panicking NOW!

Kk, no stress, no stress. *BREATHE IN*.

Today is Open House day. As of now, I have sent 4 resumes to two PR agencies and one company that deals with finance. The other resume went to a company that I'm not interested in. Poo.

I'm busier than ever. But if worklife's more stressful, wow. What a whole lot more stuff to look forward to.

Yes, I know I've been missing in action for the longest time. And for good reason.

It's my final semester. I am NOT going to screw it up!

But I have another blog as a journal for my Social Psychology class. The problem is, I don't know if what I'm doing is the right thing, so I'd like some feedback.

As such, I welcome all who come here (or at least what's left of you people) to see my other blog and give me constructive feedback.

It'll be all the more better if you have some psychology background or something.

Thanks again!

PSYC002 - Social Psychology.

Yesterday the church was reflecting on what God had done for us in 2005, and we realized it was a year of double blessings. The church grew by 2,000++ people, our leadership base is growing (but I don't want it to grow in NUMBERS... I want it to grow in QUALITY!!!), we've got 2 new ministries (actually, one was just a renaming of the Young Adults Ministry. But the community service ministry certainly was news to me!), the music ministry's been running around to get this whole Christmas recording thing done (and it was really a miracle when I actually had time to make up for it),.... stuff like that. And it's happened to me too in certain areas of my life. I won't say what because, quite frankly, it's not for you to know, lest you be jealous. Hurhurhur.

For some reason, I have a feeling that something is going to happen this year. Now I know feelings are just that: feelings. And they don't do much. But at church there was a sense of excitement, of anticipation, and a feeling of wholeness and completeness and wellness for the coming year. And it's going to be a year of major revamp for me too: I'll be out of school in April, I'm still deciding if I want to take an MBA in two years', I'll be working (and spending my own money for a change!), and.... well, let's just say I thought I heard Him say that "he" is coming.

At this point, I feel like a Sarah eavesdropping on Abraham's conversation with Jesus when He said she would get pregnant. I'm laughing in my heart. But I don't want to be disbelieving! Sarah conceived, and she had Issac. I had a 40.6degC fever, and I was extremely blessed that my brain cells didn't get completely fried. I'm just going to let it be, and enjoy what the year brings.

And now some bit of news that I need to let off my chest...

SL proposed to Z on Christmas Eve. I haven't seen the batu yet. Z is only one day younger than I am, and she's not even working yet. And she's getting MARRIED?! And my cousin's getting hitched in 2007. In the States.

So Abba has been extremely kind and generous and longsuffering with me (as with the rest of us, but I think especially me!). He's rekindled the fire for reading this year (except that Anna Karenina remains to be finished, even after more than a year of not reading it), and my desire to go deeper into His Book is stronger than ever. I'm hungry. And I'm thirsty. And I feel vulnerable because I know when I'm like this, I'm very open to a lot of things. I've been running around all week (between Christmas and New Year's), sleeping at 3am... there was hardly ever any time to sit down, enjoy a nice cuppa, being with friends (friends that I miss very dearly!), reading a good book, and listening to His Word. I've resorted to playing Pastor P's messages on the CD Player (which I am glad I didn't throw out. The batteries last longer too) as soon as I hit the bed, and the minute I wake up. Very Pastor Mark-ish, I know. The only difference is that my family doesn't know it, and they also know that I also listen to other preachers (Peter J. Daniels, Rev. Buddy Bell, Pastor Gary Clarke, Pastor Greg Laurie from Harvest, etc), so I have balance.

Going out with the Missus today. Tomorrow there is school. I'm not excited about that bit, but I do hope something productive comes out this semester!

I think after this post I won't upload any more photos from the China trip. I'm getting quite tired of them myself.



On the way to Hong Kong, the plane already had Christmas decorations up. That was really cute.





All the above taken at Sun Yat Sen's. Just nice scenes (or at least I hope so) that I thought I'd take.



At the site on Zhuhai. We were only right across the river to Macau.



Also at Zhuhai, but this was taken at the site with the woman statue with the pearl on her head.



I can't remember where this place was. Sigh. But they had spectacular shows with lots of gunpowder involved. Very interesting.



My group again. The lady 2nd from the left is our school's director of Career Services.




Same thing.





Ah, the Koi. They flock to wherever the fish food go. I think a few of them got bitten in the process. Sigh.

ANYWAY...

Happy New Year in advance to everyone. :) A lot of things happened this week. My grandparents got baptized on Thursday (which was GREAT, considering it's been a 15-year project from the family). Earlier that day, I finally pushed myself to go to BBDC and my driving is still fresh in my head, even after a 3-month hiatus. Good! And then the night before my cousin, her fiance, our other cousin, and myself attempted to go to Zouk/Phuture. Twenty people down the road they completely shut off the entrance (full house), so we had to join another queue that goes to Zouk only, and that line became twice as long. So we gave up, and met our parents at the Raffles to get some Singapore Sling (which was VERY good, and there was a nice ambience: live band, lots of dancing, and peanut shells littered all over the floor). Then I went back to school on Friday for the exchange student orientation and all turned out pretty well too. My friend and I (with another guy - they're not dating) went to catch Narnia: LWW (and he treated us to the tickets - isn't that nice?!), and it was a very nice show - I got the Holy Spirit goosebumps watching it. Then I got 2 eyeshadows from Red Earth for only $22.40 (20% discount!) and went home. On Tuesday, LM and I went to get a HK exchange student from the Airport. Both of them got along VERY WELL, so I'm thinking of chucking the fellow to LM. She seemed to like it that way anyway.

Fantastic week, but also very tiring. School starts next week for me. I hope I can get Social Psychology on a Monday instead of a Thursday so that I can get a 3-day week for school, and work part-time for the rest. I sent a note to LVMH Fashion and I'm not sure if that's going to get through, but let's see how. Haha.

Ciao people, and have fun at your New Year's Countdown Party!

On my system. From the China trip. Some of them are from a friend's archive. But man, renaming all of them - wow!

So instead of going in sequence, I'm just gonna put up the pictures that look nice. Saves a lot of trouble for me. Hurhurhur.


Some of the folks from Chek Lap Kok International Airport in Hong Kong. Taken on DEPARTURE. Heehee...


The guy in the middle is Eugene. Trying to act smart...


We're at Ocean Park in Hong Kong. Not a bad place, I'd say. Those shades you see there? They broke later during the say. Very sad about that... *sigh*


Ocean Park had a Japanese Garden. I'm taking a picture here with a fellow groupmate of mine. That bag you see there? Is an imitation (Rule #1: any imitation that looks like the real thing is always worth it. I got this one at a quarter of what the original might have cost. DON'T ASK ME FOR THE PRICE. I'LL TELL YOU TO JUMP IN THE LAKE FOR THAT!). That red jacket and sweater you see there? I got them while i was in Minnesota (Rule #2: just because you don't think you'll be wearing those winter clothes again does NOT mean you should invest in those that are cheap, low quality, thin. Especially when you're in those countries with really cold climate - it's always good to invest in GOOD WINTER WEAR. That way you don't suffer).


We're in Guangzhou on a ferry ride along the river (I forgot what it's called). Very COLD. But very refreshing. Despite the polluted air, I enjoyed a bit of solitude on board.


My groupmate and i again. I like her :D


My class has this habit of posing for the picture. It's just so funny. There are more shots, but I've exceeded the limit on Flickr. I don't know what this is supposed to mean. The guy (Elvis) was our photographer (since he's with SMUSAIC. And he takes VERY good shots). How he manages to juggle so many things at the same time is beyond me. But nice guy :D


Again with my groupmate! But we're in Zhuhai and we're very near that statue of the lady carrying the pearl over her head (think Zhuhai's version of the Singapore Merlion).


We were in Guzhen (the city of lights. Quite literally, too. They have the cheapest Swarovski Chandeliers I know). We're standing behind this dragon that I think is only a few hundred thousand renminbi (RMB). And that's my project group, by the way.


I just love this shot. FINALLY a decent picture of me!


See what I mean by habit of posing? This one was in Shunde. One of the gardens, can't remember the name.


This park has a mini-waterfall. I've got such tiny eyes here.... sigh.


I'm very proud of this picture because it means that I can use it as my desktop wallpaper! Haha! Also in the gardens at Shunde.


AAHHHH!!!! LOVE IT!!!


In Shenzhen. Any American must either be elated or sad about this. This is where your jobs have gone to. Haha.


Why does every tree on the roadside look like this?


The Hilton Hotel at Shenzhen. The one with the funny roof. No, we didn't stay there.


Shenzhen's Expo Hall. Still under construction, but I think it's going to be a great place!


Some places of China have these boards up. China is a very collectivistic society. I wonder if they have room for self-thought.


Real estate in Shenzhen. And the rest of the PRD. Saves the time and effort to read the papers.


the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.


Midea. That company is doing very well. One of the few MNCs in the area, and the only one we ever came across.


How much food we ate at Shunde during our own free time. And still more food came.


At Baolin Temple. I don't know what this is, but it's worthy to be another desktop wallpaper to me.


The stairway leading up to at least 3 temples at Baolin Temple. Long climb. In heels.


The entrance.


At the Guzhen Township People Government of Zhongshan City. Haha.


The building itself.


Remember I said that Guzhen is the City of Lights? That's their pride and joy over there. The King of Lights.


Yup, the King of Lights. Disappointed?


Remember the Swarovski Chandeliers I was telling you about? This is not one of them.


Guzhen really wasn't kidding when it said it was the City of Lights.



There was this amazing antique clock that caught my attention. Actually it wasn't the only one. There were more.


We were visiting Sun Yat Sen's old home at Zhongshan. I miss those sunglasses!


We found this pig in Sun Yat Sen's home. I don't know what's it doing there...

I have MORE pictures, trust me. I don't know if I have the capacity to upload any more of them, but oh well... enjoy what you see here!