Six Unspectacular Quirks

I know I've been MIA for a while...I've just been feeling so bleh lately. I'm not getting enough rest from work, and I'm also trying to keep my personal life in check, and keep up with friends in need.

I promise to crank out a new FOTD/EOTD or video soooon. I've got some upcoming ideas and looks saved in my makeup journal (yes, I keep an actual spiral notebook filled with makeup notes and wishlists, LOL). Soooo 'till then here are 6 very unspectacular quirks of little 'ole me. Thank you Miss J. Rose for the tag, and happy anniversary to you and your hunny!

Here are the rules: (no need to follow them if you're a lazy bum like me, LOL)
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 random bloggers by linking them at the end of your post.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.
6. Once your post is up, notify the person who tagged you.

Six Unspectacular Quirks

6. I love alcohol but I choose not to drink...too much. I wasted too much time and money for years on partying and boozing. I am so glad it's been out of my system for a while, because I see some of my friends of the same age actin' like they still fresh...C'mon, we GROWN women now, let's at least PRETEND like we have class? I'm not hating...just saying, if you're going to drink, drink responsibly. It doesn't matter who you are, slumped and passed out in the corner of the club 'aint sexy!

5. For every single birthday/holiday for the past two and a half years, my bf has gotten me some techie gadget, whether it be a Nano, Nintendo DS or a digital camera. You would think that by now, I'd be very tech-savvy and know how to use all my nerdy toys...but NOOOO. I HATE reading instruction manuals. Somewhere in my twisted mind, I'll think "Well, I'll just have him (the bf) help me use/fix this". I didn't touch my cute, hot pink, top-of-the-line Olympus digicam while he was deployed, because I was afraid I'd break it...The only techie-esque thing I have remote knowledge in is WAN to WAN networking...only because it's my job (and because there are no instruction manuals, LOL).

4. I can cook, clean and sew like Holly the Homemaker, but I am disorganized as a mofo! I will bleach my kitchen counter, bathroom sink and floor, but leave neatly folded piles of sweaters and old T-shirts on top of dressers and storage boxes because I don't know what to do with them...I don't know where I should put what...I think bf is the same way...but he tends to blame me, saying "YOU started it", and adds another shirt to the pile. Hahaha!

3. I am afraid of mirrors...in the dark. I cannot and will not look at or check my reflection in mirrors when it's dark. Not even in my own house. I think I developed this cracked-out phobia after I watched Candyman at a sleepover in sixth grade...remember the scenes where the characters say "Candyman" three times in front of the mirror, and this gross man who barfs bees comes out of the mirror and kills everyone? Do not let your kids watch this movie...EVER.

2. I don't understand a lot of English idioms and colloquial phrases. For example, it took me a long time to understand what 'It 'aint trickin' if you got it' meant. It took a few pretend-scenarios acted out by bf for it to click in my head.
The websites below help a lot if bf isn't around to explain things to me (I know it's corny I use these as references, but remember folks, English is not quite my native tongue...but then again, niether is Japanese) :

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

1. Althouth I've always been skinny and short, I used to be an avid competitive swimmer. I also played tennis and was on my High School field hockey team. But nowadays, if I run for ten minutes, I feel like my ribs will break and my heart will stop. I NEED to get on an exercise regimen... o__O

I tag Lady L, Lurve, Nic Nic and Chiara!!!

Canmake Four Shiny Eyes EOTD

Canmake, a popular inexpensive Japanese drugstore brand, came out with three new glitter-infused palettes for Summer. I'm serious when I say glitter-infused. Now I'm not a huge fan of chunky glitter, but I was surprised by how nice they look when applied. The colors are pretty pigmented for a Japanese drugstore brand. The only thing I didn't like about these was the fact that I had to use tape to get the silver glitter off my face...I mean, who wants to walk around with glitter in their eyebrows and nose? Each palette is 680 yen. I bought all three!

I used the pink/burgundy palette called 'Strawberry Milk' for the EOTD. I used all four colors. I took the photos from the Canmake website because I didn't think my photo-taking skills would do the pretty colors any justice.

From Top to Bottom: 'Strawberry Milk', 'Choco-mint' and 'Milk Chocolate'

A How-To Diagram

I didn't follow the diagram, but here's the look I created...and no, I don't take myself too seriously, hence the scary fish-faces.

My Method:

1. Applied 'A', the lightest color (shimmery white) to the inner corners.
2. Applied 'C', the glittery color (bubblegum pink) from middle of lid to outer corner. Bring up to the contour area.
3. Applied 'D', the darkest color (shimmery burgundy) on outer V and contour.
4. Applied 'B', the mid tone color (shimmery pale pink) under brow as highlight.
5. Applied 'D' and 'C' on lower lash line.
   

Baby Pink Base

I will be reviewing the two bases that I bought recently...the Baby Pink Milky Base and Jelly Base. I'm testing them out now...so far so good, neither of them have made me break out or anything! I have sensitive combination skin, but it's more oily than dry. So far neither of them make my skin oily, but I'd recommend the Jelly base for those of you who really worry about oily T-zones and such.

They really both do what they promise...gives you baby-smooth skin! I think it'd work on all skin tones. Both have a pale yellow-ish tint but they dry clear (colorless?).

By the way, if any of you ladies want either one (or both), and can't find 'em, let me know, we can work something out!

Can't wait 'till tomorrow...my girls and I are going HERE tomorrow night. It's this humongo club with a pool on the deck!!! This should be fun!

Hope everyone's having a good week...weekend's almost here!!!

NYX and Japanese drugstore goodies Haul...

What's good ladies?

I am a binge shopper. There, I've said it...when I get it in my head that I NEED a few more different shades of cream and brown, I'll end up buying twice as many things than I had planned to...

I didn't NEED the THREE pairs of goddamn' shoes I bought Tuesday, and I definitely didn't need to buy any more makeup this month. What's with me lately?

With that said, I definitely had a good time walking around Tokyo after I got off work Tuesday morning. It's my way of 'decompressing' as my BF calls it. He tinkers with his bike or car, I walk around town, looking at makeup and shoes ;)

Here's makeup I've bought recently:

Fasio Hyper Stay Mascara, Shock Free Curl Volume (I'll be reviewing this product soon)

GREAT BRUSH!!!

Baby Pink Milky Base and Jelly Base...b/c Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel 'aint cuttin' it! The jelly is great for spring/summer and milky one for drier weather. They have a sheer, yellow-ish tint, covers imperfections and gives your skin a great, smooth finish...like a baby's bum! LOL. It's kind of like UDPP, but for your entire face.

Top: Jelly Base, Bottom: Milky Base

Here's the look I created with my new NYX shadows and lip gloss. I will take pictures of my NYX haul later and post....'till then, enjoy!

Everything I used for this look...brushes, NYX Jumbo Pencil in 'Cottage Cheese', NYX single e/s in 'Vanilla Sky', 'Salmon' and 'Volcano'.

• 'Cottage Cheese' Jumbo Eye Pencil as base.
  
• 'Vanilla Sky' e/s on inner corner.
• 'Salmon' e/s from middle of eyelid, to outer corner. Bring up as high as you like!
• 'Volcano' e/s on outer V and contour. Smoke it out with tapered blending brush!
• I used NYX lip gloss in 'French Kiss' (not shown).
  

Got these earrings for free when I bought my shoes...they look cheap, but I likey!

I hope all of you have more self-control than I do when it comes to makeup shopping...

Black Eye EOTD

I recently bought M.A.C eye shadows in 'Beauty Marked', 'Hepcat', 'Beautiful Iris' and 'Expensive Pink'. Yes, I've been eyeing a lot of pinks and purples lately. I created my "Black Eye" look using all of the colors except Hepcat. Not sure how to use Hepcat, especially with my pale skin, but I wanted more deep pinks in my palette. If you have any suggestions, please let me know :)

I took these pictures after I got home from work today. Man I was tiiiiired! Get this...it takes me two hours to get to work from door to door. I get to the train station near work this morning, and I realize I didn't have my work i.d. Without it, I can't even get into the building, let alone turn my computer on! Sooooo I took the train aaaallll the way back home, and to the office again. So in total, I spent about SIX hours traveling back and forth on the train. To top it off, it was REALLY busy at work today. Lots of network outages...I was expecting a chill Saturday, but got quite the opposite...booooooooo!

Anywho here's my EOTD, enjoy!

*~*Black Eye*~*

(I like it though)

How-To:

1. UDPP and M.A.C Paint Pot Painterly as base
2. M.A.C e/s in Beauty Marked (black with red sparkle) from lash line, extended slightly past crease. Used small, flat eye shadow brush.
   
3. M.A.C. e/s in Beautiful Iris (shimmery lavender) above Beauty Marked. Bring it up as high as you want. Blend slightly into Beauty Marked as well, to get that gradient effect. Used same small e/s brush.
4. M.A.C e/s in Expensive Pink (pinkish gold) from inner corner of eyelid, lined over purple color and into contour. Stop halfway (or contour entire lid w/pink if you like). Used medium pointed detail brush.
5. M.A.C e/s in Naked Lunch (soft shimmery pink) under brows as highlight. Used medium angled fluff brush.
6. M.A.C e/s in Cloudbound (white gold) and Pandemonium (matte violet) on lower lash line. Both are from the Pandemonium Eyes Quad. Used small detail brush.

Me being a camera whore

Last one, I promise....

Drugstore.com Haul

I FINALLY received my stuff from drugstore.com. I placed my order on March 21st...it took damn near a whole month to get here! I don't think I'm ordering from them ever again.

The Goodies

I got:

• Ardell Brow & Lash Accelerator Treatment Gel, .25 fl oz ($3.99)
• Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel, 1.5 oz ($6.99)
• Jane Blushing Cheeks Powder Blush in 'Blushing Baby Doll' ($3.69)
• CoverGirl Incredifull Lipstick in 'Mauve Souffle' ($6.79)
• CoverGirl Incredifull Lipstick in 'Peachfull' ($6.79)
• Jane Lipkick Lipstick in 'Not So Innocent Pink' ($4.49)
• CoverGirl Outlast Smothwear Lip Liner in 'Spice' ($5.99)

I love cheap lippies! I don't like spending lots of money on lipstick, just 'cause I have flaky lips..
So even if I use a high-end brand lipstick, my lips will crack and flake...might as well save money for other things that are WORTH the splurge, like high-end eye shadows and foundation.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the lippies from this haul. I love trying different shades of pink, and these three are a great addition to my collection. I've read some negative reviews on the CoverGirl Incredifull lipsticks. A lot of people can't stand the smell, or the sensation it leaves on the lips. I personally don't mind the slightly sour scent or the cool sensation. And it really does make your lips plumper and REDDER, LOL. After trying on both lipsticks and rubbing it off, my lips were red, kinda like i had bit them all day long. I don't mind though. The colors are very pigmented. The color is so vibrant and true, you don't even need a lip base/color neutralizer.

The Jane Lipkick Lipstick was great too. Not as smooth as CoverGirl but still pigmented, and not too drying. Lucky me! Plus the color is just what I was looking for, a baby pink with blue opalescent interference.

L to R: CG Peachfull, CG Mauve Souffle, Jane Not So Innocent Pink

L to R: Not So Innocent Pink, Mauve Souffle, Peachfull

Mauve Souffle

Peachfull

Not So Innocent Pink

I will try out the Chafing Relief Powder-Gel as my primer tomorrow...hopefully it'll won't turn my face into a butterball!

6 Random Facts

I wasn't tagged, but everyone's been posting random tidbits about themselves recently. Thought I'd share some of mine so we can all get to know each other better!

6. I have two younger sisters (Rei is 19 and Hana is 16). I am the shortest of all three.
Hahahaha! This picture was taken at Rei's HS graduation. I had to wear that ugly button-down shirt to hide my tats...I went straight from my BF's house, and I didn't have anything nicer to wear, LOL.

Hana, Rei, Aya

5. My hair is naturally wavy. But not a nice wavy. No smooth ringlets, ripples, but course, uneven S-shaped waves starting at the crown...ugh. I've been getting the Japanese thermal straightening process done for the last year and a half. Here's what my natural hair looked like on a GOOD day.

Good Hair Day at Rei and Hana's Homecoming Game '05

4. I LOVE tattoos. I love pin-up, evangelical stuff, and anything with detailed WINGS. I have four right now, but getting another one soon. I got the swallow and fairy done by Jacek at Avalon Tattoo in Pacific Beach, San Diego. His work is quick, precise, and just AMAZING.

Don't mind my posin'

3. I was a real Daddy's girl. Always admired him and his work. When I was little, I made him draw portraits of me whenever he picked up his sketchbook. We spent hours together making silly things like shoulder bags from old jeans...he introduced me to the beauty of Henri Matisse paintings. Too bad I didn't inherit any of his artistic genes. At least my sisters inherited his brains! RIP Papa, itsumo mimamottete ne.

The Takada Family (minus Hana), circa 1988

2. Because I spoke mostly English at home, I couldn't speak Japanese fluently until AFTER I graduated high school. I consider 'fluent' as being able to hold a business-level conversation. I learned keigo, honorific terms and phrases, or 'polite' Japanese, at my first retail job when I was 18. My older co-workers made me stand beside the cash register and practice basic Japanese business manners like bowing, returning change, and repeat greetings in that high-pitched voice Japanese women use. Oh, the horror. Now I am grateful because I can speak to Japanese clients at work without feeling flustered.

1. I like Texas Pete hot sauce on everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Pizza, Mac 'n Cheese, rice, sandwiches, pasta, etc. It must be Texas Pete though. I don't do Tabasco.

So anyone who hasn't been tagged, please do share your 6 facts!