Real Life Sunday, ed. 9

Today may just be the most lethargic day of my summer...  It's so warm outside and while it makes other people energetic enough to head to the beach, it only makes me groggier and I refuse to move around in this heat!  It will only make me feel hotter... Cat nap!

I wanted to post some photos before I conk out.  It's not exactly Sunday now but some cool things had happened during the past week.

Yesterday, I went to watch MIB3.  I liked it because of the humor and the heart at the end of the movie. (I won't give it away!)  But, I was trying to remember whether it had any cohesiveness with the previous two.  Oh, well!  It's good fun. ^_^

A couple of days ago my little sister and I had lunch with a couple of friends from church.  They are sisters, too- really sweet, really smart, and pretty adventurous.  Hehehe!

Anyway, here are the photos. ^___^

Yogurtland with friends~  Nyami!  :9

After lunch and desserts, my sister and I went shopping.  I got some sheets and pillows at Ross, made me feel a little more grown-up.  Bed sheets are what adults buy, right?  Haha!  :D  Then we headed to Duty Free so I could get myself a present ^-^  It's almost my birthday!  Yay!

My Alice in Wonderland bag is just darling ^_^  I got
it from Disneyland.  Oh look~ Duffy is tagging
along, too! ⊂(­­­￣(エ)￣)⊃

Salvatore Ferragamo's Incanto Charms
I like the youthful fruity scent.  I'm not a perfume connoisseur but I do
know what I like, which are fruity and youthful scents.  Heavy floral
scents make me feel a bit nauseous.  

Anna Sui Flight of Fancy
It's one of my favorite scents.  As you can see, it's empty ^^;;
Just kept the pretty bottle and box.

Lastly, I finally got a hair cut and touch-up on my roots.  I think Maria from Salon Fusion did a splendid job. ^____^  Thank you!

No more Taylor Swift curls.  I got bangs, too!
And Maria layered my hair to help shape my square jaw.

Look of the Day:
Face: Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream
Bright Fit in W13 Natural Beige, MAC Studio Fix in
NC 30, MAC Tres Cheek blush in Petal Peony, Etude
House Sweet Eye Cupcake (used the pink shade as
a highlighter).
Eyes: Cezanne Four Color Lame Eyeshadow in 01
Brown, Lancome Le Crayon Kohl pencil eyeliner in
Ebony Black, Etude House Proof 10 in Proof Black,
Koji Spring Heart false eyelashes in 06 Elegant Long
(very natural lashes- a great find!), Sguard Rock On
Mascara~ Black, Geo Princess Mimi in Apple Green
(Super comfortable lenses and really dolly kawaii).
Lips: MAC Lipglass in Pink Poodle.   

That's all!  I don't think I want to write a review for Geo Princess Mimi.  There are so many out there! ^_^  But what I can say is that these are very comfortable lenses and they are one of the staples of gyaru look.

Don't forget to join my giveaway!

Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream Bright Fit Review

It's 1:00 AM here.  Oooh... (-.- )zzz  I am getting sleepier every minute.  But I thought that I owe it to you that I write this since it's been such a long while since I've written any reviews.  I've been too busy talking about my life...  Hehehe!

This will be my very first BB Cream review, I believe.  I purchased this product a while back May 20th.  So, I've had more than a month.  Yep!  It's about time!

♥♥♥

BB Cream is the talk of the town!  With what I used to only see in the Asian market, BB Cream has now come to a more global frontier with its development in the U.S. and high-end, luxury brands.  Looks like almost everyone is getting in this BB Cream craze.

With such a broad selection out there, I still choose to put my trust in Korean brands for several reasons, such as they're one of the first to really endorse the product and I trust that they know very well to taylor it to Asian needs.

With that said, I present to you for review purposes, Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream Bright Fit in W13 Natural Beige.

It claims to...

"Promote silky complexion with pearl infused sheer coverage.  Contains adenosine and arbutin for anti-wrinkle and whitening efficacies.  Also features SPF30 / PA++UV protection & anti-darkening."

It also promotes...

Whitening, anti-wrinkle, and anti-darkening.  Paraben free.*

The Good☺:

• Affordable- you can buy yours for $19.99 at BB Cream Boutique
• Product can last a long time: 60g (2.11 oz.)
• Lightly scented but not overpowering
• Ok staying power- a touch-up with powder is advisable, though
• SPF30/PA++
• Formula feels light, not as greasy as Missha M Signature BB Cream
• Matches my skin tone quite well at W13 Natural Beige
• Really brightens skin and gives it a healthy glow
• Decent coverage- well enough for dark circles and neutralizes pimple scars but not enough to actually conceal them
• Great packaging- pump type is always a plus+
• Hardly, if any, ashiness

The Bad☹:

• Not great with oil control which can affect its staying power

In conclusion:

Etude House claims Bright Fit is an improvement to a previous formula but this is only my first of the Etude House line of BB Creams.  However, I think it's a great product, the good considerably outweighing the bad.  Guam is a very hot and humid place and becoming oily is inevitable, but in colder climates, Bright Fit doesn't really have that problem.  I would purchase it again and even recommend it to a friend.  (^.~)v

Pump type

Blended lightly

Blended thoroughly into the skin

Right after application- pearly glow~ O 0 O

After a long day (7 hours) without touching up, it
has nearly disappeared from my skin and has been
replaced with my oils... -__-
(My nose is waving like a flag on the Fourth of July
in this angle...  Haha! ^0^)

Image:
Foundation
Text:
*Paraben is a controversial ingredient in make-up.  It has been found in breast tumors but more research is needed to conclude any claims. 

An Antidote

My family came to the United States to begin a new life literally from scratch.  We started with only a little money.  I can recall the difficulty of such times and how much my parents tried their very best to budget money.  We rarely ate out and we lived in a small apartment with only a make-shift bedroom, but by the grace of God, we always had more than enough to eat.

One of the things that I really remember with not having a lot was when we would go shopping.  My sisters and I would sometimes show Ma toys, candies, or pretty dresses and ask her whether we could have it, although already knowing that she would say "no."  But we still tried.  Then Mama would only say, "When you grow up and have your own job, you can buy what you want."  I've memorized those words by heart and I would feel surly and retort, "But Ma... when will that be?"

I had my first real part-time job during my senior year in high school.  As a result, I finally had a greater capability of buying what I wanted- clothes, shoes, make-up, and kawaii things.  For the first time, I had that thing they call buying power!  And I thought it was liberating- very liberating because poverty was such a restrictive force in life.

However, buying power is not actually synonymous to liberty.  Contrary to what I thought and the accessibility and prolificacy of stuff in "The land of the free and the home of the brave," liberty can so easily turn into bondage...  For example, the gnawing desire to give in to a "sale" because somehow, we'll "save money as we shop!"  Or the number of times when we walk out of the mall, already forming a new list in our heads almost as instantaneously as we finish shopping.

"Lust's [or greed's] antidote is contentment," my uncle once said.*  God is the Great Provider and every good and perfect gift is from Him (John 1:17), and I believe that He does not intend for His children to live in gripping poverty, rather He desires for us to be blessed... (and I'm going to throw this in, hopefully I don't get browbeat by radical conservatives) holistically (and I don't mean the New Age use of the word)- spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially!  But of course, as with every blessing, we don't let any of it rule our lives.  Only God has that right!  :)

In closing this devotional/thought, I would like to end in Apostle Paul's wise words:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God... I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength"  Philippians 4:6,12,13.

May we quiet the voices of anxiety during times of need.  May we quiet the voices of discontent during times of plenty.  May we always have a thankful heart to the One who gives us every reason to give Him praise and thanksgiving.  This is my earnest prayer, too! ^____^

Text:

*Credits to Pastor Rob for his "Wattisms" :D

Scripture taken the New International Version (NIV) from Biblegateway.com. 

Images:

Money

Girl

Thankful heart

Child trafficking: Notes from the front lines

(Click for complete article) ➔ Child trafficking: Notes from the front lines: June 12 is the World Day Against Child Labor.  Globally, at least 2 million children are trafficked annually for child labor and sexual exploitation. World Vision is working in places ...

Japan Days 4 and 5

This is my last post about Japan, just to quickly cover the last couple of days of our trip ^_^

*Photo heavy*

Miraikan: The National Museum of Emerging Science and Technology.
A really cool museum with a bunch of interactive things to do.  This is
the glass bridge in the museum.  I tried to walk up but my knees buckled
and my heart was pounding!  >.<  I chickened out... bleh...  I know, I'm such
a wuss.

Ueno Park...  This path fills with sakura blossoms in April, I've read.

Tokyo National Museum

Ueno Zoo
It makes me pretty sad to see animals in cages.  :'(  Not really for any moral
reasons, unless if the animals are maltreated...  I just think they look really
bummed out that they aren't free in their natural environments and that they
have to see hundreds of people curiously and intently stare at them
all day. :(

I spy a clapping otter. :)

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

From my glimpse of Japan, I observed that it is full of beautiful people, disciplined and polite as their culture and standards have taught them, yet are really in need to hear the Gospel of peace and hope.  I ask that we keep praying for Japan with their current national issues such as the nuclear situation in Fukushima and the nation's suicide rates, which has continued to exceed the 30,000 mark for fourteen straight years, according to The Japan Times.  My prayer is that people would hear that in Christ, there is hope and a future, especially for those devastated by calamities, unemployment, and other drastic changes in life.

My heart goes out also to the Japanese Christian churches.  I pray that growth and encouragement would be with them always.  I hope that when I do visit Japan again that I would be able to visit one of the churches there.

Just a little gif I made of the view from the window of our hotel.

I'll always miss you, Japan♥

You've been so accommodating in every way.

Until we meet again (^.^)v

Japan: Food Paparazzi

Hi everyone! ^-^

Thank you for bearing with me for the past few days as I go on and on about my trip.  I hope it's not a dull topic.  I like it though ^___^  Seeing places aside from endless blue skies and seas that is so much of home is so exciting for me ^^;;

Anyway, this post is dedicated to the nom-noms of Japan.  Yay!

In addition to theme parks, I think Japan takes food quite seriously, too, especially their sweets.  *I've got a rumbly in my tumbly* as Winnie the Pooh would say.

First Meal

Hamburger steak and chicken

Some meat dish

 Disneyland/sea

Spaghetti bolognese

Seafood spaghetti in tomato sauce

Carbonara

Tiramisu

Corn chowder
I think I ate twice of this -_-

Tea with lemon- pretty~ :)

Fruits and kiwi mousse with souvenir cup
I love how everything is so intentional and thematic ^^

Even the churro is in the shape of Mickey Mouse

Food Wherever We May

Some kind of rice topped with egg, chicken sausage things, and a generous
amount of kewpie mayo :9

Sister deciding what to get at an ice cream vending
machine.
Oh, vending machines, how they muse about you back
home!

Takoyaki topped with cheese.  Looks unappetizing here. Hehehe!
But Dale wants some, too!

Breakfast before we left.  Was this Pokemon sad
because we were leaving or because he's about
to be eaten.  Kekekek!

Crepes and the Praises Hailed About Them

(Not my photo)

The story: 

I really wanted to eat crepe in Japan after hearing all the stories and seeing all the pictures (along with takoyaki), and I stated that I will eat as much as I could till it made me sick!  I didn't get sick, though...  I only got to eat three :(  That's good, so I won't be so piggy.

This was the best: strawberry, banana, almond, and
cream from à le Loïc.  So fragrant and delicate- a
touch of Heaven~*reminisces*
à le Loïc is located on the 2nd floor of Venus Fort.  

Banana chocolate cream from Donatello, a cafe near our hotel.  Pretty good, too.
This was my last one T___T  Brought it a long way and ate it at the airport.

One more crepe from Tokyo Crepe Girl at Diver City.

Hehehehe!  Yes! ^0^ I somehow made it a goal to be able to name all the food I ate.  Ha!  Although, everything had been more than great, food in Japan is expensive :(  I don't know if it's because we only went to tourist places, but even the food courts in the malls were not cheap.  Nope, nope, nope...  No 5 dollar meal, yo!  However, I gotta say, I miss them foods... T___T

Don't forget to join my first giveaway! ^____^

Thanks for staying tuned...

Image:

Crepes

Japan Days 2 and 3

Our Japan itinerary:

Day 1: Aqua City
Day 2: Disneyland
Day 3: Disneysea
Day 4: Miraikan Museum, Venus Fort, and Diver City
Day 5: Ueno Imperial Park
Day 6: Hang out; leave Japan :'(

I'll just combine the Disney days.  I had a blast- took tons of photos!  No fear!  I won't kill you with hundreds of those- just 30, enough to share the experience! :D *wacka-wacka!*    I think it's one of those things that you'd definitely want to include in your bucket list.  I'm not scratching it off mine yet, though- 5 more times, at least!  ^0^

*Photo Heavy*

Disneyland: the day remained gloomy, rainy, and cold...  "Real nippy..." as my little sister liked to say.

Welcome!

Japan sure does take theme parks seriously!

I liked that Mowgli was crazy on his(her?) roost.

It's the Stitch in me, "Rawr!"

Disneysea: Thank God that the sky cleared up, was blue, and was ready for some fun!

Clear, blue sky!

I couldn't help it! I just had to take photos
of the flowers!

Magical~

Photography wasn't allowed in this show.  I only found out later
so I was able to take some shots.  Hehe ^^;;

I'd like to wake up to this *sigh*

Finale

A perfect ending to a perfect day

I'll miss you, Mickey :'(

My new friend- Stitch♥
Dear 山崎さん、you won't ever remember me
but thank you for your service and being cool
and perhaps, thinking that Stitch was pretty
cute, although all the others opted for something
girly-kawaii, like Minnie Mouse.  You made
Stitch's day ^____^

I had wonderful memories in those places...  I'll always be thankful for that.

♥♥♥