So far there are just lashes to be sold but I can add on more stuff later :) Let's just get things done one thing at a time! As promised the lashes are about $7-10, actually less if you disclude the shipping but I don't have the time to facetrade anyone. If anyone is going to Anime North this saturday I can only facetrade all at once there, but other than that my schedule is too hectic :(
As I've said before, I am a huge supporter of change and positivity, so when you are purchasing the lashes, feel good knowing that 50% of the proceeds will be going to my birthday fund (which will be combined with my friend's joint charity birthdays in June) and all of the proceeds from the birthday funds will go to: SickKids, Dignitas Youth International, and MSF (Doctors Without Borders) ! :)
With the last couple of days to myself (finally!) I found some time to be alone to reflect upon on my progress since the time that I had made it a firm goal to improve my character.
It's been a few months now and I have been noticing subtle changes and improvements in the way that I think, act and feel. I can certainly say that I've improved and I am really happy at this point. That's all I really wanted, was to finally get myself on the right track with being a better person for tomorrow.
The number one thing that I am the most proud of now is that I am a person that wastes no time. I absolutely won't let it happen.
[skip this paragraph not really that important! but to support a point I wrote it] Mini Update of this "summer" -- (since april 30th it started for me): - Worked with the Ontario Dental Association to help run Annual Spring Meeting at the metro convention center, got all my recommendation letters and applications ready to go, attended Loose Button event and a wedding, job shadowed/hung out with my fav dentists, executed surprise mother's day photo shoot for my mum, surprise picnic for my father's bday, finished reading multiple books and watched documentaries, started a new blog, secured future interviews for that new blog (www.believingchange.blogspot.com) with foundations such as: Dignitas Youth International, caught up with friends, improving on guitar, studied essentially everyday, and continued to keep healthy (exercise + eat well). That's all I can think of off the top of my head but this is way better than how I use to be last year. Last year in a nutshell was: Endless cramming and not fitting anyone into my schedule. Now I say NO in moderation, but still say it a lot.
In 11th grade, Miss A (one of my absolute favourite teachers of all time) had said to us "Time is the most precious thing that you could ever give somebody, especially when it is given genuinely". Her words stuck with me for the past 5 years, but having them naturally embedded as a way of life really took a lot of practice. I mention this quote on my blog quite a bit, but it's because I really tried to live by it.
Now that I think back on the way I was before I ask myself, why did it take so long for me to realize some things?
Hopefully none of these common problems are happening to you guys.. but if they are, then here's a sum-up of the questions that I frequently asked myself at one point. Keep in mind these are speaking in general but worked for me.
1. Are people in your life giving you a hard time? - Say Buh Bye, for a while or forever. I am so much happier to not have them clog up my schedule or killing my brain cells by listening to their nonsense or drowning in their negative thoughts. This is never going to happen to me again after 2011. 2. Have things to do and not enough time to do them? - MAKE TIME, PRIORITIZE (this means sacrificing menial things), use a calendar - schedule people and things in. Everyone has got a life to live.. including you! Real friends will understand when you are very busy. 3. Have the same friends complaining about the same things? - Give them straight up (and perhaps even unsolicited) advice and just stop listening if they're being repetitive. There are worse things going on in the world, people need to get a grip on silly first world problems esp if they're suppose to be adults. (there are exceptions to this, but don't give that privilege to too many people or problems). Sometimes you need to let people solve things on their own too, it's then that they really learn how to deal with a situation rather than relying on you and other friends all the time. 4. Your friends are bored? - Don't entertain them, get your shit done first. You are your #1 priority. I've gotten so good at saying no, I have to stop myself sometimes and think......"Hold up, wait a minute, this is their WEDDING or their BIRTHDAY, you SHOULD go Val". I feel such a strong sense of priority to my academics that I say no to literally everything and everyone that might get in the way of me and my quality study time (I've turned down JayZ/Kanye West tickets and BoyzIIMen too :( sad but true) - sometimes it may even be irrational hehe (test = 3 weeks away, I say no to a party this weekend).
Speaking of parties...I don't know about everyone else at this point in life but for me..... I really really don't like parties (esp. clubbing). The only thing I may still enjoy about them is 1) good music 2) dancing, but I can do that at a dance workshop or with a group of dancer friends without spending crazy money and wasting time getting ready.
I feel like I gain nothing from partying, so the other thing I've cut out is partying. I've told my friends that I see no point in it and I stopped drinking pretty much. The only parties I go to are my BESTEST friend's parties, because they INSIST on clubbing - but other than that.... parties to me can be so.... wasteful honestly. Wasteful of money, of braincells, of time, of productivity. Wouldn't you rather sit down with a friend and feel blissfully happy while you eat some delicious foods and genuinely catch up with them? Or go to a well planned event that will allow you to gain some sort of cultural or educational knowledge about certain topics and communities?
Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm in another phase of life right now, sometimes I feel alien in my own group of friends - but I've become much happier without the whole commotion of constantly shopping to look good and constantly having to go to social mixers. I enjoy my books, my conventions, my seminars, volunteer work, catching up with important people in my life, meeting new people, and chillin' with my dentists and profs (I learn so much from them). I enjoy furthering myself in life and planning and preparing for a lifetime of stability. I also like to think about the difference that others and myself can make in the world. That's what I direct my time towards now and I feel like once I finally snapped into my reality, I ended up adjusting my whole life to exactly how I want it.
It took months to get out of a huge emotional slump due to situations that were beyond my control, but today I feel like I can officially say that I've taken back control of my life, and I am beyond happy :) Not completely satisfied at all with my accomplishments, but happy nonetheless.
I thought it'd be appropriate to post this photo of macarons, I tried all 12 flavours from Nadège. It's something that I had wanted to do since the beginning of the 2011 year but it had to be really gooood ones. I've heard amazing things about them. I bought 12 for my mum as well because she never got to try them either. They are so expensive, but I waited a year for this because "I never had time" to treat myself! Or actually.. more like I never had a reason to treat myself. It was a very nice treat for the end of a long and hard academic (and emotional) year for me. I bought macarons and chilled at a park and indulged in them with a friend. We had a pastry picnic pretty much.
Try all 12 flavours of macarons from nadege. Check! ✓ I'd say my fav are: pistachio, cappuccino, cotton candy, salted caramel, and green tea (matcha?) ~
Anyway, my message at the end of this post is. 1. make time for you at all costs 2. cutting out negative forces in your life is simpler than you may think! 3. honesty is the best policy, saying NO is okay, they'll live. 4. focus on your priorities, maintain your happiness at all costs, THEN help others. 5. have control over your surroundings, if you don't like something, remove yourself from the situation. 6. allocate your time very wisely (this includes using social media... time killer! Pump out your posts, read your fav blogs and get on with it etc.), don't let people abuse your sympathy - help those who genuinely need it and merely guide the others who are capable (but lazy) of helping themselves, in the right direction. 7. make people earn your time, and you must earn the time of others. 8. do what makes you happy! 9. do what makes you happy!! 10. do what makes you happy!!!
I had recently gone to the wedding of a very close friend of mine. I had such an amazing time. Great wedding, great company, and an awesome time with my girlfriends dressing up in saris! It's not everyday that I get to wear ethnic outfits, and especially ones from different ethnicities :)
The last time I went to an indian wedding I got to wear a lengha, but never a sari!! So I was soo... excited.
One of my bestfriends, Shiv (she's in white) had to do my sari about 6 times to get it JUST PERFECT. She insisted! Otherwise her mum and her family would kill her if they saw me in a sari that wasn't done just right. Talk about a family of perfectionists ~
When I was in the line up at McDonalds (yes we went to McD's in saris) for a quick snack break, myself and some of the other guests (also in saris) kept joking about how we looked like mermaids because the saris were wrapped so tightly around the bottom half of our bodies. It was pretty though, the tightness allowed for the pleats to flare out at the end.... Indian mermaids we were! (or... felt like ;p) ~
I hadn't done any non-simple make-up for so long that I almost forgot how to do intense eye make-up. This took 30 - 40 minutes -__- Just for the eyes. I had actually made a mistake initially. The cat eye liner was way too long at first, then I eventually built more and more to fix it and voila ... I have no idea what I did here but I liked it!
Love having brown friends, love....... :) Love having friends from all backgrounds actually. You get to experience so much more outside of what you're normally used to! This is shivvv, she helped put on ALL of our saris for us + fixed it a bajillion times for me throughout the day.
Okay so let me be the first to say that this woman has road rage.... LOL...so when we stopped at a red light and a police officer (on a bike) had tapped on our window... I thought that we were in big trouble T__T. As JD (lady in pink) rolled down the window, the officer smiled a big smile and said "you ladies look stunning, where are you all off to?" LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. I died. My heart was racing so fast. I thought we were in so much trouble and I had no idea why. That made my day honestly. We told the officer we're off to a wedding, and she bid us farewell and said we all looked amazing. Cool things happen when you're in saris wuahah. p.s. shiv is dancing in her car seat :p
It was a very beautiful wedding ~ I teared up, and normally I don't do that at weddings.
I guess it's because it's the first time one of my good friends is getting married, not someone much older than me so it's almost like a mini wake-up call that life is moving really quickly and we are all growing up. Btw I am only 21, 22 next month T__T.
Slowly but surely, more of us are going to get married and I really can't look that far into my life just yet even though it's probably less than a decade away. My mind is still set on no marriage at the moment but my bff would probably kill me if I take away that opportunity for her to be a maid of honour, as she has mentioned before (in a resentful tone LOL).
A few updates before I head out the door! I'm in the process of getting ready for a wedding as I type this ~
So for the updates: I'm thinking of working on something new for my Monthly "Life As It Is" posts and do a video instead of just photos :) I'll do both though, I won't get rid of the photos since I'm always snapping away. Some cool things I wanted to show you in the video such as:
Wedding footage of my friend's wedding (that's happening today! We're all going to be wearing Saris ^__^"
Behind the scenes of the Mother's Day Photoshoot that my brother and I did. My friend YW and his company were so nice to have provided us with the lighting equipment! Thought it'd be a good idea to share. Y'all can do this for your loved ones as well, this would make a nice bday present, esp for those who don't always have the time to pamper themselves :)
My few hectic days of work at the Metro Convention Center for the 2012 Annual Spring Meeting (this might be interesting to aspiring hygiene and dental students, might be something you'd like to try!) with the Ontario Dental Association
I'd like to dedicate this post to....Z, Kay/Agnes, Steph (CBR), MissFeelo, Jen(squared), Caitlin, Ashley G (RB), SusanT, ShivaniP + All of my frequent and new readers!
First off, I'd like to THANK YOU ladies each genuinely for nominating me/tagging me in these awards, posts, and for your unconditional love & support of me and my blog. I didn't expect the 'awards' actually, although I didn't think much of them before (months ago), now I actually think it's a good way for all of us to get connected. When I was tagged and had received notice of these awards, it was suppose to be my 'hiatus' time, but I kept note that I WOULD reply when I had the time, and so the time is NOW :)
Instead of retagging everyone I'd really like to take this opportunity to get to know you ladies and my readers a little bit better so I will dedicate this blog post to ALL of you and I hope you'll reply the questions in the comments below. Leave a link to your blog so others can check out your awesome blogs that I really enjoy reading :)
I dedicate this blog post to (in no particular order of favouritism):
1.Agnes/Kay of Slightly0bsessed, ty for tagging me in the GET TO KNOW ME.
Agnes' blog initially caught my attention because she is from Vancouver, a place I use to call my home. It's a little biased I know but I don't know why but when I meet someone or speak to someone from Vancouver I get happy instantly because they also share the same feeling of love for that beautiful city and the amazing people. I visit VanCity & Richmond usually once a year since I moved. I've learned a lot from Kay. From her posts I can sense that she's a genuinely good person with a good heart. After Kay's post about "How To Talk to Little Girls", I actually purchased Lisa Bloom's Book: THINK and I suggest that ALL girls and women should pick up this book in their spare time as it reflects upon the things that we, as women, may be prioritizing in our lives at the cost of potentially devaluing our intelligence and meaningful achievements.
To Answer your questions:
1. What is your greatest accomplishment so far for 2012?
- Learning to find balance and harmony within my own growth as a person, my interests, my career aspirations, my social life, and my plans/goals for the future. I was beating myself up a lot before I found the values that tied everything together :)
2. What is your greatest fear in life?
- An infectious disease will wipe out a large part of the human race and we have a repeat of the bubonic plague but not know how to stop it :(
3. What are you wearing when you're feeling at your absolute best?
- skinny jeans that fit well a comfy pair of sneakers or canvas shoes and my favourite tshirt
4. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
- 20 minutes on a blah day, 1 hour on a "oh-u-fancy-huh" morning
5. What's your favorite dessert?
- CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE ----!!!!!!!!! every kind! but mainly Chinese fruitcake, the kind we Asian kids got when we're age 1 - 13, I think they stop caring about our b-day's after that hahah (well at least mine did -___-")
6. What's your favorite beverage?
- this is hard :( If I had to say ONE, then water :)
7. What is your absolute favorite comfort food?
- CAKE
8. If you could only use one beauty product for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- friggen lip chap, my lips get chapped so fast and I can't concentrate on anything else after that
9. Where is your favorite travel destination?
- British Columbia :D and Viet Nam!!
10. Who do you most admire in life?
- ah crap. I can't say one person. I'd say the people who have everything to complain about but complain about nothing. I admire their strength.
11. What do you want to be remembered for?
- making a valuable difference in people's lives!
2. Caitlin from Caitlin Gets Dressed, ty for awarding me with the Versatile Blogger Award!
I love reading Caitlin's blog because she is FULL of energy and full of personality! I find myself literally laughing out loud at her funny commentaries and animated story telling! If you want to read a blog that's entertaining, and different from the rest you should check otu Caitlin's, you'll definitely be in for a series of laughs and giggles :)
Steph leaves some of the most genuine comments and I love that she puts thought into all of her posts (not just meaningless photos like some blogs -_-"). She actually uses more words that portray a very vivid picture of what she is trying to explain. She's an intelligent woman and I love reading her comprehensive blog posts because they're full of information! She started blogging less than a year ago and her sub count is well over 100 because of her very articulate writing, creativity, well-thought out posts, and variety!
I don't actually know that much about Z to be honest, she's a mystery. But choosing 5 blogs is tough like you said and I'm so happy you chose mine! I hope to get to know you a little bit better if you choose to answer my questions Z :) All I know is that you're probably female! Also a student, living in Canada like myself! Perhaps if everyone could show her some encouragement she'll reveal more about herself to us!
I actually met Ashley when we both attended the Loose Button Influencer's Event in Toronto. This woman drove through traffic from Pickering, that's massive dedication! She's very sweet, always has a smile on her face and I'm hoping to get to know her better through the upcoming events that we'll both be attending :) It was great seeing you at the Summer Trends Event Ash! She also has a YouTube Channel you can check out ~
Jen has been supporting me since my subscribers count was somewhere around 13 or 14 or something and I was getting 15 page views a day. I don't know what she saw in my blog but I'm glad we gave each other's blog a chance. I feel like I know her so well because I've been an avid reader of her blog ever since we've started to support each other. It's kinda strange but not LOL, but she supports so much of what I do and she's a beautiful person inside and out. P.S. I am in loveeee... with Sumo tehehe :) Everyone can learn to love life the way that Jen does :) Thanks for sticking by me girl <3 I hope that we'll end up meeting when I visit Hawaii someday!
Jen and I have also been following each other's blog for some time now! I like to call both my fav Jens, Jen squared tehehe :) I miss you, you suck at blogging consistently!!!!!!! But whenever you leave a comment my heart races hahah. I love your blunt nature yet you show an open mindedness and sensitivity to others as well. I really like that you're from New Zealand too, and you say things like "flatmate". I can sort of imagine your accent, wait do you have one? I love people with a really different accent from the standard English accent. GET BLOGGING WOMAN. COME BACK TO US.
Okay this girl is one of the most creative people that I know. She is AMAZING WITH MAKE-UP. And I don't mean just the standard beautiful make-up, she does costume make-up and special FX make-up, check THIS and (BEWARE..) THIS out. I can't wait to meet you at Anime North this year. You seem really funny, quirky, weird, and crazy........ all of the things that I LIKE ccuzzz sometimes I feel like I'm a little too weird too -____-" Weird is a compliment. I mean....UNIQUE, DIFFERENT. Thanks for supporting my blog and congrats on reaching 100 subscribers! Although I feel like you should have way......... more. Your blog has way too much good content.
9. My BESTIEEEEES (that blog!) I'd share more of them with you but they're not all bloggers :p
Can you guys please convince this woman to continue blogging? You know this woman runs around at fashion shows, weddings, birthday diva's bday parties doing EVERYONE'S MAKE-UP AND HAIR, PERFECTLY, and in a timely manner. She also bakes, plans events, and runs multiple student groups while being the best friend ever........... You can learn a lot from her! I know I did :) She's one of those positive but scarey reality checks that influence you to be a better person. Please bombard her. Okay here's her blog, go go go tehehe. The last time you (sue) blogged was wuh.. December? Slack much? I want my guacamole recipe dude..
Doesn't she look so G in this pic ;) hawt. Shiv's finally embraced her beautiful self and went for modelling ~ Although she doesn't blog as much as she should, she has some very insightful (and beauuuutiful) blog posts when her heavy academic and student activist lifestyle isn't occupying her time. I met shiv almost 8 years ago and we've been bestfriend's ever since, support her bloggggggie :) Show some lovee.
10. TO ALL OF THE READERS/SUBSCRIBERS :) I know some of you don't actually own a blog but you have shown constant support through sweet e-mails, comments, and I've even met a few of you in person (after you've read my blog/watch vlogs first) tehehe... Sorry I am a little AWKWARD when that happens cause I honestly don't know how to react. I blogged my first post because people were giving me crap about not having safety information and that was over a year ago when I posted my random hair dye tutorial video. It's nearing almost 150k views now and so I guess it just happens that some people in Toronto watch too :p
This is the video I'm talking about, but DON'T BOTHER CLICKING... IT'S LONG.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT............
I'd like for you guys to let me get to know you a little bit better by answering my 10 questions pretty please :) You can answer on your blog and link it back to us or reply in the comments below, whichever you'd like. Perhaps some of us have some commonalities, it'll give everyone a chance to explore each other's blogs and get acquainted!
(anyone else getting seizures from ^ that above? 0__0 .. but so purty....)
moving on!
Val's 10 QUESTIONS:
(reply below or link to your blog below!)
. 1. Please paint an accurate mental picture of yourself for us in 5 words using this criteria: a. First word that pops into your head to describe your APPEARANCE b. First word that pops into your head to describe your OCCUPATION c. First word that pops into your head to describe your MUSICAL PREFERENCES d. First word that pops into your head to describe your NATIONALITY (I think of immigrant for me LOL) e. First word that pops into your head to describe your FAV BOOKS [OR MOVIES if you don't read as much as you should ;)]
2. What's one skill that you'd like to pick up if you had the free time?
3. What's your ultimate life goal?/When would you feel complete?
4. What would you pack in a single backpack if you were going to be stranded on an island?
5. What's one pet peeve that you have?
6. What's something you like to do when you need motivation/strength?
7. If you could rid the world of a single tragedy, what would that be?
8. What's one weakness you'd like to work on?
9. What do you spend most of your time doing?
10. What do you LOVE about yourself :)
This should be fun!! There are no right or wrong answers. I thought these would let me get to know you a little bit better rather than asking you what your favourite colours or favourite cosmetic products are <3 Hope some all of you participate!!!!!!!
Thank you again :) Blogging really wouldn't be as enjoyable without all of you to learn from, thanks a million. And holy... that was a long post, sorry for spelling/grammar mistakes --- no way I am editing this. NIGHTYYYYY/morning T___T ~
The team at Loose Button hosted their Summer Trends 2012 event last night, featuring sponsors: Dermalogica, Benefit, Valentino, TheKit, and MadeWithLove by Tiff. I'd like to thank Loose Button once again for inviting me to a very well hosted event! I had a great time and really enjoyed the products and pampering (food!!!) that we had received.
The photos are self-explanatory of how successful the event was n__n. We all had a great time and I bumped into some of the lovely ladies from the Loose Button Influencer's Event as well :) Too bad we forgot to take pics with each other -_-"
I didn't even bother photoshopping this pimple le sigh ~ there are other people's photos and a video interview too so whyyyyyyyyyy am I going to hide it, I AM GOING TO EMBRACE IT. T___T
Loose Button gave us customized buttons :)
Oh yes, LB is always classy with the wine and alchie wuahah..
Launch of the Valentino Valentina perfume woo!
It smells quite nice! We got to take home a mini roller ball with us
These cupcakes by Tiff are just...............so goood.
The lovely Chantel Guertin, guest beauty expert. We all got a copy of one of her two books to bring home as well.
I was skimming through the book and I saw a lot of mentions of Toronto St. names so I'm sort of excited to read the book that's based in downtown Toronto! The sense of familiarization draws me in :p
And now for the goodie baggg :) This was a bonus! We weren't informed before attending the event that we'd receive sponsored beauty products. Def a nice surprise.
BENEFIT ULTRA PLUSH LIPGLOSS!
VALENTINO VALENTINA PERFUME
MEET DERMALOGICA KIT :)
I used the entire kit last night, friggen in love. I've tried the daily microfoliant before and I really liked it. I reviewed it here in May 2011. Having the whole kit is sooo awesome. It came at the right time too when I ran out of moisturizer :) The anti-aging MultiVitimin Powerfirm felt silky when I applied it on and I felt the skin around my eyes was instantly tightened and smoothed out. I actually started to notice small lines on my eyes half a year ago when I was being photographed and so I started to take anti-aging products a little bit more seriously. Starting early (but not too early) is the best way to reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles later on!
AN AUTOGRAPHED BOOK BY CHANTEL GUERTIN. I was a little confused about the two last names (Guertin vs. Simmons) so I looked it up, that story is hyperlinked to her name :)
Took some cupcakes home hehe. They were suppose to be for ST, but yaaaaa..... sowee :) Love me still?
I am looking forward to the May luxe box O_O One of the LB ladies told me that it's gna be guuuud. I am highly anticipating it!
And one last thing. I had announced on my blog last week that I'd be cancelling all my beauty subscription services and yesterday I spoke with a few LB staff at the event and voiced my thoughts on this matter.
In the end (without their input) I decided that the relationship that I have with Loose Button is one that I am not willing to give up yet. Loose Button's staff have personally been very good to me since the start of my subscription over a year ago. I think for now I will only be keeping ONE beauty subscription, and that is......Loose Button's Luxe Box but I'll work twice as hard to have the money to donate each month still. I like to be honest on my blog so yuuup, that's the decision as of this moment!
If anyone has additional pics from the event, link me :)
Feel free to use the photos for your blog if you attended the event and wish to blog about it, no need to ask.
UPDATE...
MORE PHOTOOOOOS :)
I just got a bunch more photos from Zeeshan, he was the main photographer/videographer of the Summer Trends Event. All photos after this sentence belong to Loose Button. These are all of the ones I received so if you're in them, again feel free to save them but give credit to LB if you use them. Enjoy!
Oh and btw, my pimple disappeared by the end of the night!! Thanks to Dermalogica......LOL I KID... That's something I'd do if I want to get sued eventually puhaha.
Z was nice enough to PS my pimple (I didn't know about this until I received the photos) so I found it quite funny how I left it untouched in my photo because I was thinking it'd show up in other people's photos. fail fail fail. okee less talky, more looky.
Drool.. le fromage!
I loved....... :) Everyone got to take one of these babies home
A little sad I couldn't try out the skin consultation (I came late blah), but happy for the Meet Dermalogica kit we received!
Dang look at that rock/them gold on her finger! O__O jelly.
Luxe box through the years! Their logo before was pretty too but I like the little button better, much cuter ;p
Loose Button's creative mastermind (I like to call her) ;)!! <3 Eva Chan
The men responsible for Loose Button's existence. Ray Cao (CEO) and Aditya Shah (CMO) :)
