Hair Diary: Color Me Dark

Finally!

I've allowed myself some pampering during the weekend- got a mani and a pedi, treated my face to exfoliating and a mask, and got a fresh color for my hair.  ^_^

It is hard for me to maintain my hair because it can be so time-consuming to be so high-maintenance about everything.  Oh yeah... and it costs $$.

This is not officially a review.  But here are some pictures.

Had to borrow this photo from Walmart.com because my SD reader is
malfunction :(

I wanted to get rid of the orange tint from my hair because
it makes the ends look burnt and unhealthy.  This color did
a good job accomplishing that.  Although, it certainly is unlike
the color on the box (my hair is too dark, I guess), I like how this
dark shade makes my skin look fairer.

Here is a view of the right and left sides of my head.  I really like the auburn color, but my roots are still very dark, as
you can very well see.  In certain lighting, the red tint does appear on my roots.

Overall, I am happy with my new hair color so I am throwing in this last photo for good measure.

So cute!  hahahahoo!

And by some miracle of angles, my nose actually looks taller here! :D

Image

Loreal Healthy Look box

Strive No More

"Religion is man seeking to find God, trying to please God in order to win His love.  It is man taking the initiative, striving, being filled with futility and frustration.  Faith is God finding man, God coming and claiming and loving us even when we don't please Him.  It is God taking the initiative to love us.  When there are idols, man is in control.  When there is God, He is in control."*

Early on in our lives, we have learned that when we do well, when we strive, when we are the best, we can get our reward- from those times when our parents gift us for good grades received on our report cards, from teachers who give us treats for good behavior and correct answers, and from Santa Claus who leaves toys underneath the tree for good boys and girls and pieces of coal for the bad ones.

This is the world that we know, the world we live in, the system that we adhere to and have learned to play along with.  Some of us have been very good at it: climbing up the ladder of success through hard work and then rightfully receiving the fruits of our labor.

However, many of us often approach God thinking that in order to gain His love and approval, we must come to Him on such terms.  Oftentimes, we think that if we accomplish such and such- if we prayed enough, if we went through penances and pilgrimages, if we could be good enough- we could have God love us, or at least that we could have Him turn His attention to us.  Then we realize that there are a thousand moments when we say and do the wrong things.  Then we question, "How can God love someone like me?"

  "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10

Dear reader, we have been invited to strive no more to gain His love because even before time began, He already loved us.  And our sins were washed away through His Son so that we would no longer focus on them.

This is what sets Christ apart from other gods.  While others demand that we come up to their level in order to gain their approval and thus our reward, Christ came down and lived amongst us to not only demonstrate His love for us, but to give us the opportunity to have a deep relationship with the perfect God.  In Christ and through Christ, our sins are not judged anymore and we are given a reward that is infinitely beyond what we could ever deserve or accomplish for ourselves.  All we have to do is believe.

Text
*Prophetic meeting, January 7 2013
Scripture taken from the New Living Translation (NLT) from biblegateway.com.

Image:
Cross

Real Life Sundays, ed. 25

Happy Sunday!  

I've been having magical Sundays for the past few weeks.  And yes, that is probably why I haven't been blogging- I am just drinking in the magic *___*

I just feel so blessed!  And these two weeks of much-needed vacation have been so refreshing to my mind and spirit.  As for my physical body, too much food.  ^_^

Gift for myself ^_^  Anna Sui is total cuteness~  Luhvvit!

My little sister really knows me:

Bringing in the new year with bold colors.

Christmas concert and fireworks with my friends❊❊❊

So I tried watercolor painting since I haven't held an art brush for a long time.  I love watercolor because the finished product is always a surprise.

Bringing out the kid within: kite flying on such an amazing day. ^_^

Had dinner with my friend and ended up being goofballs at the annual Christmas
lights setup in Tumon.

Dolly eyed look for my upcoming circle lens review.

✌Peace for this week!  I am back to work in the morning!  :S

First Sasa Haul

I was amazed when I stumbled upon Sasa.com.  It was like a shopaholic's dream.  They have a plethora of beauty products; A LOT from Asia!  And the prices are not too expensive, too!

Finally got to order from them last month.  I even bothered my friends who were planning for their wedding because Sasa does not ship to PO boxes  *shame-shame* I felt sooo sorry.  O, the thick face I'm growing to get what I want...  Hehehe!

Oh, I forgot to photograph my My Beauty Diary orders!  

Sasa.com's customer service was good, too.  I like to inquire with the companies I'm ordering from and the Sasa staff was pretty helpful and quickly attended to my questions.  That was cool.  I hope to review some of these products soon, especially the Cosmagic mascara with its interesting wand ^_^  

2012 in Review

Happy New Year!

I have never been big on New Year's resolutions but I've always been one to reflect and think (or over-think) about things.  I thought that it would be a good idea to reflect on what 2012 had been for me.  

1. Started this blog and I was pretty passionate about it.
2. Moved to a new church.
3. Little sister's graduation.
4. Had my dream vacation in Japan. (Seriously, how many people can say they've been on their dream vacation?  I am thankful ^___^)
5. Mission trip in Chuuk.
6. Got to know a little girl named, Syuzi, via World Vision ♥
7. Year for Tech/Gadgets: finally got an iPhone (So handy with photo-taking!)
8. Got more involved and saw great things God is doing on this island: revivals, youth rallies, churches in united efforts
9. Got to know many wonderful people ♥♥♥
10. More freedom!

I would like to expound on number 10 a bit.  My parents are pretty strict and, although I love them so much and they love me more than I can ever know, they can be overbearingly protective.  So with those traits mixed with my personality of desiring to really excel in school, I had the hardest time hanging out with friends.  But within me, I've always desired to know what the world was like beyond the walls of my home or study halls.  I am glad that things are more different now.  And the change really is for the best!  

2012 was good for me!  I hope the same was for you!  Anyway, it's time to leave the old year behind while cherishing memories and learning lessons, and onward to fresh beginnings in the new year!

Because I don't have any resolutions, I do like having verses to inspire my life throughout the year.  Last year's was John 4:34-35, and it really influenced a lot of my decisions and actions.  For 2013: 

Ephesians 3:20  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 

Thinking about that is so energizing!  As the year continues to unfold, I am absolutely excited to see the things that will happen- things that are infinitely more than what we ask for or think!  I am beyond thankful for that!