Update

Hey guys and dolls sorry I've been MIA this month. I've been busy with life…making the most of my summer, and what's left of it! Here's what I've been up to:

• Been going on day AND night bike rides with my boyfriend to Okutama (mountains nearby) on his GSX-R1000. Riding is definitely fun although all I do is sit on the back and hang on for dear life. But when you're going at 100+ km per hour, gravity seriously takeｓ a toll on a small frame like mine. Slowing down to a stop hurts my arms and back!
• I tried spending quality time with my middle sister before she leaves...she's leaving for Toronto TODAY (Friday)...I saw her on Wednesday last, and I almost cried when I said bye to her...at least she'll only be gone for 9 months!
• I was recently promoted to duty supervisor of my team (there are a couple supervisors on my team so it's not a huge deal) BUT my workload has multiplied tenfold. I used to finish work at 8:30 p.m., not I stay behind until 9:30 or later to finish up. Night shifts are worse, I've stayed behind until 10:00 a.m!
  

Aaaanyway, I'm on a semi-no buy this month, and possibly the next...well, that discludes products and clothing/shoes I order online, LOL. But if you guys saw my current makeup collection, you'd all think I was materialistic and self-absorbed! Like who needs ten shades of green? Apparently I thought I did, LOL. I bought a LOT of makeup this year, and every time I'd make a purchase, I'd justify it by telling my conscience 'it's to build my collection…someday I'll put it to good use when I do makeup on others'…NOT going to happen any time soon. I have a full-time job that eats up 200 hours of my life every month…*sobs*

Anyway, enough ranting, let's talk makeup! Here's a compressed list of my FAVORITE beauty products. I'll start by listing face products for this post and continue the list in other posts to come.

Foundation
Liquid: L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation. I use (color). It's lightweight, yet covers my rosacea without looking fake or cakey! It's a truly amazing product, I can't believe it's less than $10!!!! I use a fiber optic stippling blush for an even coverage.
Mineral: I used to love Everyday Minerals until I noticed pale microbumps clustering on my forehead. After reading Sara's blog, I wanted to test out Buff'd Cosmetics, so I ordered a lot of samples. Their mineral foundations provide better coverage. I L-O-V-E the original formula, it covers redness, discolorations and acne scars. The only downside to Buff'd mineral foundation (and most other brands) is that it shifts a lot after it's been on my face for an hour or two. From my experience, it's definitely NOT sweat-proof, so I suggest mineral foundation for those who have drier skin, and/or wearing it during the cooler seasons.
Powder: A tie between M.A.C Stuidio Fix Foundation and Studio Perfect SPF15 Foudation. I keep one in my work locker and one at home. I've been using Studio Fix since '04. It's an almighty product. I don't even really need to wear liquid foundation underneath, just the powder provides enough coverage. An added bonus: It makes my skin look and FEEL silky-smooth thanks to ingredients like silica (absorbs oil) and fine-milled talc (keeps skin matte all day)! I use a latex wedge sponge to apply it when I'm in a rush. The best part is that you can build the coverage, and never ever looks cakey.

By the way, guess what I'll be doing on Sunday...........................I'm climbing Mt. Fuji with my boyfriend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm super-excited!!! I've always wanted to climb our Fuji-san. We're supposed to go to the Nike outlet on Saturday to get me some hiking boots :) I can't wait to take pictures from the top!!! I'll definitely do a post on the climb :)

Birthday Bash Pt. 2 - PIC HEAVY!

On Sunday the 24th, my dear friend Yuri threw a glam party for a couple of us who had birthdays recently. She had us picked up in a stretch LIMO!!!!!! I haven't been on a limo since homecoming senior year!!!! We rode around Tokyo, stopping at Odaiba and Tokyo Tower. It was like a dream! We were dropped off at our party, where thirty-something people were there waiting for us. Yuri-chan, honto ni arigato! SAIKO na tanjobi deshita! Chuuu!
Yuri (she organized EVERYTHING, from the limo ride to the party)
The Party...
Birthday Girls and Boy - Sayo, myself and Mark
Shimazu-san is CUT.

Birthday Bash Pt. 1

Here are pics from my birthday weekend. My boyfriend had to work the whole weekend, so we celebrated it on Friday. Here's the yummy cake he got me this year:On the 23rd, my actual birthday, I celebrated it with my Mom and two sisters. We went to a Mexican restaurant downtown where everything was SUPER expensive...I mean, a Tecate was $10!!! Everything was SOOOOOOOOOO good, I had Carne Asada. My family was hilarious, as usual.There was a Mariachi band. When they came to our table, we had them sing 'La Camisa Negra' by Juanes...I love Juanes!!!!!!!!!!!!Pork rinds with salsa...mmmmmm

Fin.

Spider Leg Lashes

Here's a little bit of entertainment for you guys...I look HI-larious in all these pics. I'm wearing Ardell Fashion Lashes in 120 Demi Black. They were from my haul last month. I tried them on as soon as I got them, and realized they might be a liiiiiitle too long for me. I feel like I could tickle someone from across the room with these babies. So go on ahead, laugh away :)

Before (only mascara):
Waiting for the glue to dry...
The left one isn't doing so well....LOL
On a side note, it's my Birthday on the 23rd, tomorrow! I'm turning 26...ONLY FOUR MORE YEARS 'TILL 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! I have so much I want to do, see and accomplish before that...like travel Europe on a train (which I might do in Feb. or March), save $30,000, go back to school, buy my mom a nice home, and have a family. Yes, I dream BIG!

Website Review: LensShopper.com

Here's an online contact lens retailer that brings us contact-wearing newbies and veterans a fresh twist on product selection! It's called LensShopper, and you can access their online store with the link below, or simply search 'lens shopper' on Google.

LensShopper.com

Navigation-friendly tabs, a wide selection of products for various needs, competitive prices and online coupons are a handful of the consumer-friendly features, but a special feature this site has that I haven't spotted elsewhere makes it stand a little taller than the rest.

Click the 'Color Contacts' tab from the Home page and you'll see a colorful Flash application. As the site states, you can 'Choose between 20 different colors and 6 looks'.

Most sites I've seen either feature a color swatch, as in two-dimensional colored circles. It's hard to envision how the color or dimension would look like on a human eye.

This feature on LensShopper.com takes out not all, but some of the guess work. You click on a model, and then choose the featured colors or dimensions you want to try out on the model. Here are some fun looks I tried on some of the models! (All images are screenshots I took myself.)

Top of the page:

There are six models to choose from...

I chose Color Blends in 'Honey' for him:

I chose Color Blends in 'Sunrise' (2nd from right) for my favorite model. I didn't really care for the rest... (-__-) :

Dimensions 'Caribbean Aqua'....Gorgeous! Looks like her real eye color. The color and graphics this site uses are not too bad...but some of the colors look a little TOO digitalized...

Color Blends 'Pure Hazel'...I would wear this!

One-Day 'Green'...I'd be afraid to talk to him...looks like he might want to suck blood and sleep in coffins! But I think this is what green-colored contacts would really look like for those with hazel eyes.

One blatant and VERY IMPORTANT feature it's missing is ASIAN models...yes, us pale,black-haired folk like wearing unnatural eye colors too! A representative told me that they will be adding Asian models to the Flash Player...not sure when that'll happen, or if it ever will, but let's hope so!

I think this 'Color Studio' feature is a liiiiiiittle ethnically biased but definitely innovative and fun. I seriously tried ALL the colors and dimensions on ALL the models. The feature is free, all you need is Flash Player installed on your computer for it to work.

If you're a newcomer to colored contacts and want to see the wide range of colors available, this is for you. I'd say they need to add brand names on the feature, or how about a color guide, i.e. what contact colors would match those with pink or yellow-toned skin, dark hair, blonde hair, you get my drift.

I would only use this 'Color Studio' feature as a general guide before purchasing contacts. I suggest always trying on contacts at a store. Some contacts may NOT be the right shape for your eye, and if so, can be very harmful for the eye itself and vision. But if you already wear contacts and have a favorite brand, make sure you check out their coupons and stock up!