I've been tagged!

Shout-outs to lovelies Ms. Yumeko and Neeyuh-chan! Thank you for tagging me...here it is!

Here are the Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

1. I have music schizophrenia. I listen to all genres...my playlists range from Basement Jaxx, Sneaker Pimps, Tristan Prettyman, Taking Back Sunday, The Offspring, Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, Jay-Z, Common, 9th Wonder and Little Brother...Hey I like new artists too, like Kid Sister and Shontelle.

2. I am naturally stick-thin. It may seem like a privilege to some, but I am very self-conscious of my scrawny body; I hate showing my arms so I always cover them up in public. I am trying to gain weight...protein shakes and salmon steaks, baby.

3. I used to be an avid swimmer...I also played tennis and field hockey. I was quite the athlete back in High School and college!

4. My friend taught me how to beat-box freshman year of college. We must've looked like idiots practicing in the court yard at school...But hey, for chicks we were actually pretty good.

5. I went to the same high school as Hikaru Utada, we were in the same graduating class. Shit, we even rode the train and walked to school together 'till she became famous. If you know who she is, great. If not, don't put too much thought into it.

6. I have two younger sisters that are cute as buttons...but we did NOT get along growing up. I was such a mean bitch.....I'm glad we all get along now!

I'm not tagging anyone...because I'm too lazy, and my eyeballs are about to hit the floor. Plus, everyone and their momma's been tagged anyway....
Must.Sleep.Now.
Have a wonderful Halloween everyone!!!!!!!!

KATE Deep Eyes Palettes and another haul

Here are the rest of the KATE Deep Eyes palettes as promised...I haven't taken them out of their wrapping/packaging yet.
Close up of top two from the left:
Close up of top right:
Bottom two:
I went on a drugstore binge over the last week to satisfy my cravings...as I write this, I already have limited space for my makeup...all my new crap is sitting in boxes or squeezed between stuff in my vanity drawers. I KNOW I should stop buying things I really don't need, but damn, I need to spend a little money to feel better sometimes! I know some of you can relate...

Here's a recent haul from a few drugstores around town...
Lavshuca Liquid Rouge x 2 and a Rouge Essence Bar: The pink Liquid Rouge has a ton of microscopic glitter...almost reminded me of Dior lip glosses. I LOVE the Rouge Essence Bar (weird name for a slim lipstick), it feels super smooth and really lightweight, like I'm not wearing anything!
I was drawn to the adorable packaging...
Dejavu Lasting fine - This came with my Biteki magazine...
See, it's a 'Biteki' version
Liquid Rouge in Sugar Rose from Kiss Me
Nose Clean Pack from Kose
I'll definitely be using the KATE eye shadows and Lavshuca lippies in upcoming FOTD's. If you guys want reviews on anything here, holler!

Re: Edit
Here's a better pic of the KATE palettes, I didn't realize how crappy the pics are above until I published the post...Now you can see how pretty and metallic the colors are. I'll take more pics once I open them :D

KATE Deep Eyes Palette FOTD

I'm baaaaack! I am super-exhausted now because it took me over two hours to get home from work...damn train accident! They're really common here...so if someone ever tells you the train system is reliable...pssshhhhh...yeah right! The train was PACKED, but I was lucky enough to grab a seat from Tokyo station. At one point, there was a drunk old business man leaning so low, he was damn near sittin' on my lap!!! I had to *politely* push him off a couple times!

Anywho, I recently got all the KATE palettes from their 'Deep Eyes' collection. I saw it on Yahoo! Auctions and I nabbed the set for a fraction of the retail price...yeeaah baby!

Here's a look I did with the purple/pink palette. I will upload pics of all the palettes in a different post :) Enjoy!

The Palette

The Look

Face Products Used (L to R): NYX Concealer, Laura Mercier Stick Foundation, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, M.A.C Beauty Powder in Smooth Harmony and Flower Mist Dew <--from the Emanuel Ungaro collection! Eye Makeup (L to R): Shu curler, Max Factor Mascara, UDPP, M.A.C Technakhol in Graphblack, KATE Super Sharp Liner in Black, Sweets Sweets Brow Pencil in Dark Brown and KATE Deep Eyes palette in Purple.
Contoured the cheekbones a bit with M.A.C Smooth Harmony Beauty Powder...
I never got around to showing you guys my 'work space'! I bought this dresser at Nitori, the Japanese version of IKEA...I'd say it was the equivalent of about $350 USD...I LOVE it! My boyfriend helped me pick out the light fixture.
What am I wearing? Turqoise Forever21 cami, gray velour zip-up hoodie from some discount store in Pacific Beach, SD and 7 For All Mankind distressed jeans. Nothing too fancy schmancy.

Laura Mercier Haul

I went and wasted hard-earned moolah again...just the pick-me-up I needed after a shiteous week. This time I gave my money to Laura Mercier! In the past I've tried her creme foundation, bronzer and eye colors...not too bad. I've been on the hunt for a good moisturizer and primer. My skin takes a beating in the cold season, so I need to keep my skin hydrated, but not look like a shiny butterball.

Since Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer has won a billion beauty awards, I jumped on the bandwagon. I actually bought it once two years ago, but returned it in fear that it would contribute to my oiliness. Anyway I went and got the Oil-Free Moisturizer and Foundation Primer. I'll review them after I've used both for a few weeks.

I also got two Lip Glaces. Lemme say I am in LOOOOVE!!! They aren't overly sticky, but sticky enough where it's not sliding off ten minutes after applying it. The color lasts for hours, and though it may not stay glossy and shiny the whole time, it leaves a nice stain, which is not bad for a non-sticky gloss! Oh, I also got a stick foundation from the same line, I just forgot to take a picture of it...next time!

My buddy Gee from bellacupcake.com helped me get Emanuel Ungaro for M.A.C products...it sold out with a quickness over here...Thank you thank you thank you Gee chan!

Here are pics to satisfy your makeup picture porn habit! LOL.
Champagne (top), Bellini (bottom)
Swatches: Champagne (top) and Bellini (bottom)

Skin Update

Hi guys! How was everyone's week? I'm stuck at work on a night shift, but it's not too crazy, hence the new post.

A few weeks ago I blogged about my skin woes...and thanks to all of your helpful advice, my skin is looking and feeling better! I stopped using the Estee Lauder products which stung, and tried drinking more fluids. My forehead is not AS bumpy as it has been...still far from smooth though!

As for my current skincare routine, I use Mentholatum's Acnes Face Wash in the morning and before bed. It kills the bacteria that accumulates in the pores, yet it's gentle and non-drying. I'll post a pic of that when I get home. Twice a week I use St. Ive's Invigorating Apricot Face Scrub. Once a week I'll use Freeman's Avocado Clay Mask in the shower. The mask stings a bit, so I only leave it on for 2 minutes, then I wash it right off. My skin feels so smooth afterwards!

I bought some new skin products and makeup, so I will so a post on that soon...
Hope everyone has a good weekend with family, friends and boyfriend/girlfriends!

*Muuuuaaahs!*

Re: Edit...random funniness

My boyfriend and I have the 'Joker' app on our iPhones. He enjoys taking random pictures of me where I'm caught off-guard, looking hella fug. Here's one from yesterday, while we were waiting at the bank...Check out the old dude chillen' in the back.

Brown Smoke!

When I'm in a rush, or I can't think up of a good color combo to wear for the day, I resort to my favorite eye shadow colors...taupes, golds and browns! Here are two different looks...enjoy!
Also, these are the most recent pics of my huurr 'do.

Look 1

Look 2

My hair is graying...

I got a text today from my boyfriend at 6:41 p.m. and it went like this...

"Me + dirt bike = broken collar bone. Final score for today...dirt bike = 1, Mac = 0. Go team!!"

Yes, his collarbone broke today while he was out riding dirt bikes with his friend. He crashed the bike, went flying in the air and somehow crushed his left collar bone to bits and pieces.

Wait, there's more.....

He broke his right collarbone in January of this year on a snowboarding trip.

Yeah that's right. It's his second time this year breaking not just any bone, but his collarbone.
There's something almost commendable to this sort of irony!

Two metal plates are holding his right collarbone together at the moment. The left side is currently shattered, and he'll definitely need surgery.

I feel for the man. I can't imagine the kind of pain he's in. I just made him two grilled cheese sandwiches so the Percocet he took an hour ago won't eat at the walls of his stomach...

I love this man to death, and I'll take care of him without hesitation...but I can't hush the self-absorbed voice in my head. I can't help but wish he'd act his age...or at least not get broken so much. I have to worry about his upcoming deployment...and now this. I wish he'd for a second, think about how much I might worry before he jumps on a dirt bike that's not his.....or go riding while he's sick.
He said he's sorry he made me worry so much, and that he'd try not to make me worry.
Sometimes empty promises are better than none...

The 'do that changed it all...

One morning after work my compulsive-ass decided to get my hair straightened again. If you guys have unmanageable straight-wavy hair like mine, Japanese thermal straightening is the way to go...if you want straight hair. And after the process was done, I decided I wanted more hair chopped off. BAD IDEA...the length and style was fine as it was, but after it was straightened, it looked too long. And at the time it SEEMED like a good idea to cut some length off in the back and add layers. Below is what my hair looked like for a few days before I got the long pieces in the front cut shorter...now my hair looks a LOT better, and I'm starting to like it.

On a happier note, my hair is so much easier to style in the mornings and it doesn't take 30 minutes to dry like it did before when I had rapunzel-locks. I'll post more pictures of my recent 'do. I just wanted to do this post so you guys can get a good idea of how my hair went from angled bob to a very short angled bob.

Ugh.
Double Ugh.
Aya is not happy now...
F**K it, Imma cut some more off!

I have a question...

I need everyone's help!!! My skin has been acting up recently, more than it always does. My skin has been blotchy for a few years now (red spots all over) due to old acne scars and allergic reactions I had from certain acne medicine. Anyway, I've been breaking out on my forehead and chin more than usual, and the zits WON'T GO AWAY! Well, they'll get smaller, but reappear in a few days. To top it off, my forehead is lookin' bumpy, even with foundation on. I guess they're whiteheads?

I know my skin is a mess because I'm not getting enough sleep or staying hydrated...but what products would you ladies recommend to clear my current acne/white bumps? I have combination skin that's on the sensitive side...

Also, I started using Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher and Hydra Complete Multi-Level Moisture Creme for Normal/Combination skin. I love the Pore Minimizer because it really does fill in my open pores to create a smoother look, but the moisturizer kind of stings! When I tried it a few weeks ago after I received a bunch of samples of this stuff, it didn't sting at all, which is why I decided to buy the full-sized jar.
Should I stop using it?

New love...

Stings my face...

If any of you have time PLEASE let me know what products have helped soothe irritated skin...
Arigato! <3 <3

Gold and Eggplant FOTD

Hi guys! Hope everyone's having a great weekend! I'm just chillen' at home as usual, nothing too hype or interesting. I have a lot of housework to tackle and FOTD's to post! I know I've been neglecting my blog for the last couple of months...let's just say the stress and exhaustion I accumulate at work follows me home...It's been so tough trying to be a reliable, fair, multi-tasking supervisor. And you know the suck-ass part of it? I haven't gotten a raise yet! It's not because I suck at my job but because my outsourcing company has the most f**ked up policies. They review your contract once a year in October (or November?) and then give you a raise. So I started supervisor duties at my network operations center (NOC) back in July and have basically been paid regular 1st level tech pay until now. If they don't add on the extra amount that supervisors are supposed to receive, my company is going to have HELL to pay!!!

Anyway, I'm slowly but surely getting used to my duties. My section receives roughly 300 to 500 e-mails per day from clients and other telecommunication/satellite carriers. I have to make sure I read the important ones...this task alone takes hours. I enjoy having a little more freedom, and calling my own shots though. It's also worthwhile when I see my colleagues and newbies troubleshoot like their life depends on it. At the end of the day, I know that I cannot do my job well, or at all, unless my colleagues support me 120%.

Okay, on to what you're all here for...a FOTD! I am loving purple this season, especially deep, smokey eggplant or maroon shades.

I used M.A.C:
- 'Patina' (bottom left) on entire lid.
- 'Tempting' (bottom, middle) and 'Woodwinked' (bottom, right) on inner half of lid

Theeeeen I used NYX 'Eggplant' on the outer third:
Finished look:
Here's what my hair looked like in early September after the FIRST cut: