Realm of Random Ramblings

Video Frustration

2009-10-24T14:43:00.002-04:00

Augh...I spent all this time editing and loading two videos only to have youtube reject it. By WHY did they reject it? Because the first video I uploaded was too long. And yet, according to my file it's only 7 minutes...So how did my 7 minute video on my computer load to youtube as a 13 minute vid? I have no idea. But I'm re-rendering and re-loading it now. So there are two new videos that will be up and running by the end of the afternoon: one for hair, one for makeup. Enjoy!

Click here to go straight to my channel.

Tilapia/Eggplant Torta

2009-10-22T09:59:00.002-04:00

Finally, another cooking video! Aren't you guys proud of me? Anyhow, this dish is called torta, which is essentially a Filipino omelet. It can be prepared in many ways. Here, I am using eggplant as a base and adding fish meat with the egg to add a bit more protein and substance. However, it can be made with the eggplant alone, or it can even be made without the eggplant, using just egg and meat. It's a very versatile meal as you can change the meat to almost anything as well. In the past I've used ground beef, ground turkey, and even minced shrimp. Essentially, anything that goes with egg will work well in this recipe.

There's also a funny story involving this video. My husband was in and out of the kitchen while I was cooking. He had been asking me for eggplant torta and dilis (salty, dried, fried anchovies) for a week, so I decided to make it, and he knew it. However, he also saw me defrost 3 tilapia fillets. My usual preparation of tilapia on Filipino food nights is to deep fry it, so that's what he was expecting. After I was finished cooking, I called him to eat. He saw the torta, the rice, the dilis and the tomato, but he kept looking around like he was expecting something else. I saw him look in the oven and the deep fryer. He checked the microwave and opened the fridge and freezer. Eventually he outright asked me where the tilapia went. I told him to eat his dinner, then I'd tell him. But he wouldn't have it. He was determined to find the tilapia before he ate dinner. He really wanted that tilapia. I told him he would not find it unless he ate his dinner. He then began searching through cabinets. He looked in the trash. He even checked the dishwasher! I couldn't stop laughing and he was laughing too. I think it took me about 15 to 20 minutes to convince him that I would tell him as soon as he sat down to eat dinner. Eventually he did, and lo and behold, just like I said, he found the tilapia with his first bite. The funniest part is that this isn't the first time I've made tilapia/eggplant torta, so he should have known it was in there. Oh well, it made for a nice laugh and a cute memory.

On that note, I'm off to do more work.

Take care!

Colleen

Do Macs taste like Apples?

2009-10-19T14:57:00.006-04:00

Ok, odd question I realize. But there is a good reason for the question. My husband and I have our own laptops. Soon after I had mine replaced from the soup fiasco, my hubby bought himself a MacBook Pro. It's a nice machine. He offered it to me, but my laptop is 2 pounds lighter, so I decided to stick with mine. Besides, as far as aesthetics goes, I'd say Mac and Sony are in a tie.

Anyhow, that has nothing to do with the title of the post. All you really need to know is, I have a Sony and my hubby has a Mac. OK, so, the hubby and I often sit in bed with our respective laptops and we surf the net, watch shows, sift through youtube, go to forums, etc. Our cats are usually close by to watch. Mau is my cat, and he sits at my feet (I like to believe it's to keep them warm...). Donnie is Wilson's cat. He's a bit more mischievous. He likes to get all up in what you're doing. He likes to lick you while you sleep. He also like to bite things... Perhaps you can see where this is going in regards to Macs tasting like apples...

Donnie has never tried to bite my laptop. Never. I leave it sitting around when I'm at home, and I've never seen a mark on it, nor witnessed Donnie attempt to bite it. However, twice now he's chomped on the Mac's screen... So that leaves me to wonder, does the Mac taste better than the Sony? Or smell better? Or look yummier? What do you guys think? More interestingly: Do cats like apples?

Man, Donnie is such a character...

On another note, I've got some new vids coming out soon. Take care guys!

Colleen

Addiction

2009-08-17T13:12:00.002-04:00

I am officially addicted to sewing. Every spare minute is allotted to sewing, hence the shortage on videos...I will be editing some soon. Hopefully posting one today maybe? So far, I've done a few clothing reconstructions and a few made-from-scratch items. I hope to do a show-and-tell type video to show you what I've made. I'm amazed at how much money you can save by making your own clothes. Especially when you make items like business attire, which can cost an arm and a leg. I made a cute pencil skirt for around $10 total with buying a high-quality fabric. It's a very fulfilling hobby. I had no idea... I'm so glad I tried it. I'm fairly certain this isn't one of those pick-it-up-for-now-drop-it-in-2-months kind of hobbies. I think this is something I'm going to stick with for a long time to come. I hope you guys will enjoy the ride as well.

As far as videos go, I've had requests for more school/work east-to-do styles. I'll try to post one vid a week, alternating between cooking, make-up, and hair. Sometimes you'll find that I post in batches, then will be silent for a few weeks. I'm sure you guys will understand that with my 7-day-a-week work schedule, I don't have a whole lot of extra time each week (not to mention the new addiction), but I'll get them out as I can.

TTFN and take care!

New Hobby

2009-07-23T11:01:00.003-04:00

I am picking up a new hobby: sewing. I know I don't really NEED a new hobby. I barely have time to breath anymore. But I grew up watching my mom and grandma sewing clothes from scratch, and I don't want to lose that culture. I've been in a sewing craze lately. I have all these ideas in my head, and no sewing machine to make them.

So began my hunt for a sewing machine. I checked the local listings in Craig's list and got a few hits. I found one I really wanted: a thirty year old Brother machine with a cabinet where the sewing machine can hide. It was $25. What a deal! So I had e-mailed the seller and talked back and forth. After speaking with the owner of the machine, I was satisfied that it was still in good shape, so I e-mailed the seller to say I wanted to pick it up. This time he didn't reply. Two days later, I sent another e-mail, and he replied that it had sold the day after I told him I wanted to schedule a time to pick it up...grrr...oh well.

So I moved on to another posting. This one seemed promising: $20 for a nearly brand new machine. The lady had bought it from someone else a few months back and never had a chance to use it, so she decided to give up the idea of learning. She had never even turned it on. I went to check it out, only to find that it didn't work AT ALL... Her speculation was that the pedal was broken because the previous owner had told her it "sticks". Well, a new pedal is $30 plus shipping... so moving on once more.

I e-mailed TONS of craigslisters and browsed through a zillion postings, then I was hit by a revelation. I should check the local Goodwill. So I went to the store, and lo and behold: a sewing machine... without an electric plug or outlet... crap. Even at $12, why would I spend on something I can't use... So then I thought, "What about Salvation Army?" There was a Salvation Army Thrift Store nearby, so I went to check it out only to find they were closed...at 6:30 pm on a Thursday... hmmm... Well, I found out later that their hours are 9 am - 5 pm, Mon-Sat. Well, that makes it difficult to even check if they have one. Then I remembered this miraculous thing called a PHONE! (Yeah, genius). I called and the lady said they had an old Singer sewing machine for $25. That piqued my interest. I couldn't make it there that evening, but maybe I could stop by Saturday afternoon. Well, that didn't work out either...Sunday, closed. Monday morning I was supposed to check out the Brother that turned out to be broken, and I didn't get home from work till 11 pm. So then, it was Tuesday. But I went to work really early that day and wasn't sure if I would be able to make it before the store closed. Lucky me, I was done early!

So I picked up my mom for her expert advice and we sauntered on down to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I fell in love! It was amazing, and I want to share it with you...

It's a heavy, metal monster built in Italy. It runs like a stallion, and sounds so solid. The stitches are beautiful and it has all sorts of neat little features. You can actually set the maximum speed so that even if you press the pedal all the way down, it won't run away without you. *great for beginners* It has a reverse function, stick length control, three needle positions, drop in bobbin system, and zig-zag capabilities. It came with it's own carry case and some additional accessories too! I am very happy with my purchase. I brought it home, cleaned it and oiled it and babied it, and then it thanked me by helping me alter a $2 skirt to fit me perfectly! (I did some clothing shopping while I was at the Thrift Store).

Here are some pics of my new baby!

Review: Retro Chic Conditioning Potion

2009-07-10T12:02:00.002-04:00

I had the opportunity to try Retro Chic's Conditioning Potion courtesy of BeautyChoice.com.

Here are the claims made by the company:

Joshua Bernard, a professional hair artist and President of Retro-Chic International, has longed to develop a hair treatment system that is superior for restoring damaged hair, locking-in color, and providing lasting protection against the drying effects of harsh sunlight and chemical environments. To make this possible, Joshua has teamed with two of the world’s leading molecular scientists to develop the industry’s first "Microcapsule Remediation System" for hair conditioning.

Many plant-derived anti-oxidants and vitamins are known to prevent dryness or counteract damage to skin and hair. However, conditioners containing the most effective anti-oxidants tend to rapidly lose their potency after the bottle has been opened and exposed to the air. Retro-Chic International has solved this dilemma by encapsulating three extra-active anti-oxidants: pomegranate extract, rosemary extract, and vitamin E succinate. These tiny microballoons of vitamin E protect the highly active anti-oxidants and extend their shelf-life in the new Retro-Chic Conditioning Potion™.

This formula is designed to enrich the hair with moisture. Retro-Chic Conditioning Potion™ will replenish naturally chic or chemically altered hair to its fullest.

Natural and Maximum Color Protection
Microencapsulation Conditioning System
Lightweight resilience
Moisturize ~ Laminate

Check out more Retro Chic products.

My thoughts:

I am quite pleased with the results of this conditioner. My usually frizzy, dry ends were smooth and silky even if my hair was air-dryed. It was quite miraculous actually. And the results lasted longer than one hair-washing. I didn't even have to use the Conditioning potion every time. I can alternate between the Retro Chic and another budget conditioner and keep up the same effect, which is great for the budget conscious person.

I am a very results driven consumer, so the fact that this conditioner works so well is enough for me to buy it again. However, ingredients is something important to a lot of people. So I took a look at the ingredients list and there are only two truly organic chemicals found in this bottle: Pomegranate extract and rosemary. These ingredients are at the bottom of the least, meaning they are present in the least quantity. Most other ingredients are rather innocuous: emollients, moisturizers, a form of vitamin E , emulsifiers (to allow water and oils to mix), and sunblocking agents.

However, here is a list of ingredients that may be of concern to some people:

Behentrimonium chloride - Used as an anti-static. Can cause irritation in some people.

PEG-150 Distearate - Used for thickening. Can be contaminated with dioxanes, which are toxic.

Silicones - Good moisturizer and heat protectant. Some people have skin sensitive to silicones.

octinoxate - Sunblocking agent. Can cause allergic reactions. Some studies show hormonal interference.

Phenylethanol - An anti-bacterial. Can cause irritation. FDA warns that some studies show this chemical can depress the Central Nervous System.

Parabens - Preservatives. This chemical is an estrogen analog and can therefore interfere with hormones as well. Some studies link it to breast cancer.

Final Thoughts:

While there are some ingredients that may cause concern, keep in mind that they are in small doses and well within FDA regulation. I just wanted to let you know it is there. As I mentioned earlier, I have fallen in love with the results and will definitely continue using this product, and I urge you to try it as well. In the end it's up to you. Purchase this product here.

Bottom Line:

Pros: Works like magic. Makes hair appear healthy again.

Cons: Not cheap. May contain irritating ingredients for people with sensitive skin.

Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?

2009-07-05T22:30:00.005-04:00

So several people requested to hear it, and here it is. I'm sorry about going off pitch in several places and for the poor audio quality. I hope you enjoy it anyway.

The title is "Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?" which literally translates to "Is God Sleeping?" But do not misunderstand the title. The singer isn't asking if God is asleep. She is asking a person who is always worried about problems and trails whether that person believes God is sleeping. The translation can be seen below with the tagalog words as well.

I sang this for my Grandmother's 89th Birthday. At the end of the video, you can see her. My mom said she almost cried...almost (oh well, maybe next time)...

As you can tell, I got my new computer, so look for new tutorials soon!

Mini Hiatus

2009-06-27T19:45:00.002-04:00

So I will be on somewhat of a video hiatus. It's not voluntary at all. I'm rather upset to have to take a break, I had so many vids lined up and ready for editing and posting. Unfortunately, I had a co-worker spill soup onto my laptop, which contains all my footage. And even if I had my video footage elsewhere, my desktop computer does not have the proper specs or software to complete any of my projects anyway.

It's pretty bad. I brought my computer home to remove the hard drive. I was hoping to prevent further corrosion from the salts in the soup by removing it. When I took the computer apart, I found soup in my touch pad, my keyboard, and on the motherboard. Not only that, I found a lovely patch of burnt motherboard. Not to mention the soup had soaked all the way from the top of my computer down to where the RAM is housed... not a good sight. I managed to remove the hard drive, which has some dried soup on it. My hubby works at Best Buy, so he's supposed to help me extract everything that's on my hard drive. Fortunately, I keep my research data backed up regularly. The problem will be my pictures, videos, and music. There isn't enough space on my external HD for all that.

Anyhow, wish me luck. So far Geek Squad, my dad, and my computer tech Father-in-law all say it's pretty hopeless. I have no choice but to purchase a replacement. That computer retailed for $1900 when I bought it...ouch... I wasn't expecting to buy a new one for 5-6 years.

Man, today really sucked. I only accomplished 1/3 of the research I intended to, and now I can't order primers to fix my problems because I don't have access to my data. Then, of course, there's the laptop issue. In top of that, I came home seeking comfort food, so I pulled out and English Toffee Ice cream bar only to find that the ice cream had melted and re-froze at the bottom of the package, so when I bit into the bar, all I got was the chocolate shell. After I sucked the ice cream from the wrapper, I got a new one, cuz I felt I deserved a decent ice cream bar after today, and the wrapper got stuck to the side, so as I ate it, I had to pull the paper out of my mouth... Augh! What a day. Hope yours was better. Please have patience while I go on video hiatus...

My Grandma

2009-06-27T12:51:00.004-04:00

In exactly one week (July 4th), the entire United States will celebrate its 233rd anniversary of declaring independence. Since most of my family lives in the US, we'll be celebrating this as well. However, we'll also be celebrating something more important to us, the 89th birthday of my grandmother (on my mom's side).

She's the only grandparent I've ever known because all the other 3 died before I was even born. Not only that, she was there to watch me be born and even to help raise me. To this day, I find it a treat to eat ramen noodles for breakfast. Odd I know, but every morning, my grandma would wake up early and make ramen noodles on the stove for me. Then she'd pack it into a tupperware, and I'd take it to school with me. I always got to school really early because my dad was a teacher (at another school that opened earlier) and had to drop me off at school before it officially opened. So I had the school to myself for 2 hours every morning. I'd arrive at school and the janitors would let me into the cafeteria. Then I would take out my packed ramen noodles and enjoy every bite.

I also remember how much she loved to play cards, especially solitaire or go fish. We'd play go fish together for hours. Unfortunately, her arthritis makes holding cards rather difficult know, but she likes to play sungka now, which is a filipino strategy game (more info here). Her arthritis also prevents her from one of her greatest skills: sewing. She's a master seamstress. Show her an outfit in a magazine and she could replicate it for you. I had so many homemade dresses when I was a little girl. I remember one especially cute sailor-inpired jumper. It was black and white plaid with a cute little red tie. I used to love watching her sew. To this day, I take great comfort in hearing scissors cutting fabric while resting on a table.

So anyhow, as for the celebration. We're having a big program for her and even renting a venue. There's supposed to be roasted big, and I'm sure plenty of other filipino delicacies. I finally picked the song I'm going to sing and I've been practicing hard. It's in tagalog, so it takes a little more time to memorize and I just staring memorizing yesterday...hehe... I had songs in mind, but the family wanted me to sing a tagalog song. There is always something so entertaining for filipions to see me singing tagalog songs. I'm just glad I've finally graduated from "Ang Pipit" to a more mature song. If anyone is interested in seeing my performance, perhaps I can video it and post it to my youtube.

Well, unfortunately, it back to work time for me, so TTFN!

Beauty Profile

2009-06-26T17:41:00.002-04:00

Since I do beauty tutorials on top of my other vids, and since I usually do makeup and hair that best suits me, I thought I should put up a skin and hair profile.

My hair:

Color - Dark Brown

Texture (Thickness of each individual hair strand) - Fine

Density (Actual amount of hair) - Thick

Classification - Combination (Oily on one spot on my scalp, normal everywhere else)

My Skin:

Color - Very light, but not quite fair. Fair denotes pink undertones, but my skin has yellow undertones. For reference, I used to use Bare Escentuals in Medium Beige (2.3). I now use Everyday Minerals in Warm-Medium Beige. I also use e.l.f. shielding hydrotint in Tone 2.

Classification - I have standard combination skin with an oily T-zone and normal skin elsewhere.

Problems - I don't have a huge problem with pimples, which is something I consider to be a disadvantage. The more oily the skin, the longer it stays looking young. This is why my 60 year old aunt looks 45, but still gets pimples. So those plagued with acne, be content to know you will look younger than the rest of us. I do have issues with blackheads on the nose though, for which I have recently found treatment. I also have issues with milia, which are seriously frustrating and I've had some that hang around for years before I get impatient and simply extract it myself with a sterile needle. Sometimes they don't even last a month before I get annoyed and extract the little devils...

So that's all I can think of right now. Let me know if there's anything else I should put here.
TTFN!

Colleen

Frustration

2009-06-17T20:14:00.003-04:00

I'm so upset. I've been trying to get around to editing my video on mini eggplant "pizzas" video, and I finally had the time, only to find that the footage is completely gone! Argh! I have no idea where it is. It's not on my computer hard drive, it's not on the external HD, it's not on the camera HD. I have no idea. Looks like I'm gonna have to completely re-do the whole thing... Time to go grocery shopping...

Random Ramblings - Research

2009-06-17T04:07:00.003-04:00

My research is done for the day, except for needing to start an overnight culture of Streptococcus pyogenes, so I thought I'd take some time to blog a bit. I've mentioned in the past that I am a graduate student of biomolecular chemistry, but I've never really mentioned what I do. So, if you care: I'm gonna tell you. If you don't: wait for my next blog or video upload. I'll do my best not make it boring.

I work on something called riboswitches. Now if we break that down, what we get is: ribonucleic acid + switch = RNA switch. And it is what it sounds like: a switch that is made of RNA which turns gene expression on or off. It's a very simple mechanism and requires very little materials, hence it's a good system to be used by small organisms that don't have a whole lot of life materials to spare (i.e. bacteria). There are plenty of these guys in nature. They usually respond to things like nucleic acids, amino acids, or other life-essential molecules.

However, scientists have become experts at using things found in nature and molding them to their own benefit. So what we do in our lab is attempt to make riboswitches that respond to molecules we like (or don't like).

But what good is that? Well, think of these as applications:

A bacterium that seeks out pesticides in soil, and when it finds the pesticide, an ezyme is expressed that can break down that pesticide, leaving clean soil!

A synthetic cell that can be injected into a diabetic patient so that when it detects high amounts of blood sugar, they pump out insulin. No more insulin shots!

A sythetic cells that seeks out molecules secreted by cancer cells, and pumps out medication to selectively kill the cancer cell.

Now obviously, these are things that will take years to develop. But everyone in science does their part to build up to these great inventions. So I work on putting these switches into pathogenic bacteria. With my particular project, people who work with pathogenic bacteria will be able to turn genes on and off to determine which genes are essential for pathogenesis (the process used by bacteria to invade another organism). The better we understand the genes involved in infecting (people
for example), the better we can treat infections. In the picture to the left, you can see where I have turned on gene expression (left) versus expression being off (right) in response to the presence of theophylline, a caffeine derivative. The section on the bottom of both plates contains strains of bacteria that always express the enzyme that makes the cells blue (called a positive control).

So I hope this hasn't been a complete snooze fest for you. I didn't want to go too in depth. I was going for an overview, so that people know in general what a biomolecular chemist does. Who knows, maybe one of you will want to become one (or are becoming one) one day!

That's it for now, and don't forget to keep checking out my youtube channel for more cooking tutorials, beauty how-tos, and product reviews!

TTFN

My Review of Cuticle Pushers

2009-06-15T19:55:00.001-04:00

EyesLipsFace.com

Achieve healthy looking nails with the dual end cuticle pusher. Each end is designed to fit snugly around the nail to push back cuticles and to clean the nails for a well manicured look. Includes 2 Cuticle Pushers.

not as pictured

CKR Atlanta, GA 6/15/2009

Pros: Easy To Use

Best Uses: Daily Use

These pushers look different from the picture. First of all, they are two identical plastic pushers. They work, and I like them. I keep one in my purse and one in my manicure kit. Basically one side looks like the flat rounded end of an orange stick (The wooden manicure stick that comes with a lot of manicure kits) and the other end is flat and angled to a point. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because it was not what I was expecting from the picture shown on the website.

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My Review of Hollywood Eyelashes Kit

2009-06-15T19:33:00.001-04:00

EyesLipsFace.com

No mess, lash beautification for a Hollywood glamour look. Achieve lashes like the celebrities with this all-in-one kit.
Kit Includes: Lash applicator, lash stand, false lashes and adhesive glue.

like the lashes, not the applicator

CKR Atlanta, GA 6/15/2009

Pros: Good Value, Lightweight, Effective

Describe Yourself: Budget Buyer

My Beauty Routine Takes: 30 Minutes

The lashes look great. They look better than natural and dramatic without looking fake. I must say I don't feel the need for the applicator. I find it easier to use tweezers. The applicator is only helpful if your eyes are shaped a particular way. The stand is great though. It helps keep the form wonderfully.

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Props to Smashbox

2009-06-11T14:52:00.002-04:00

So, a while back I was blogging about how upset I was that Smashbox stated that amino acids are the building blocks of DNA. I e-mailed them about it and got what seemed to be a "blow-off" e-mail that stated my suggestion would be put into consideration. I figured they would ignore me. Instead, I checked their website today and found out that they have since changed the description of their Lash DNA mascara. It's good to know they listen to their customers (though I'm not really a customer since I've never purchased from them.) I may just have to buy something from them (I've been liking the free sample of foundation primer I have) just because I'm so impressed they they have listened to the consumer. Now I know I am probably not the only one who wrote in about this, but I am definitely happy I was able to participate in this change. Props to Smashbox!

Beauty Product Reviews on the way

2009-06-10T17:14:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone!

I'm really excited. I recently found out that I was accepted into the Beauty Stars program from Beautychoice.com. That's all well and good right? But what good does it do you? Well, it means I'll be able to do more product reviews without sucking my wallet dry. Beautychoice.com will send me products to try, and I do reviews on them and post them to my youtube and to their website. Very simple. The first product is already on the way. Not to mention I have a ton of e.l.f. product reviews to do on my own. I've found some great products from eyeslipsface.com and some not so good products, so stayed tuned! I'll be posting new vids soon of reviews as well as a few tutorials.

Take care!

Colleen

Make-your-own Bang (Fringe) Clip

2009-05-25T16:25:00.002-04:00

You know that annoying dent you get in your hair if you pin a section out of the way? Like when you use a bobby pin to pin back bangs while you do makeup and after you take it down you have a crimp where the bobby pin was? Well, watch my quick vid on how to make clip that will hold small sections of hair out of the way without leaving that unsightly crimp or dent. Enjoy!

Cheap (as in price not quality) makeup

2009-05-13T18:25:00.004-04:00

I've recently discovered E.L.F. cosmetics. I love eye shadow. I have tons of it. I am also addicted to makeup brushes. So imagine my joy when I found a company that sells both of those things for $1 a pop. You read right: 1 buck. Almost all of their makeup is only a single dollar. The most expensive thing they seem to have are makeup bags and large makeup collections, but in the end, they're worth the price as well. I will be doing some product reviews soon, but in the mean time, go check them out! They also have a nice referral program. They give you free stuff when you invite your friends to buy too. All you have to do is enter their e-mail and ELF sends them a link, and if they buy, you get credits. If you get enough people to buy, you can earn free makeup for life!!! Unfortunately, I don't know that many people who like makeup, so I can't take advantage of this program, but maybe you can. Stay tuned for video reviews and spring makeup tutorials!!! In the mean time, check out E.L.F. cosmetics, and here's a great coupon to get you started:

Buy One Get One 50% off at EyesLipsFace.com! Use Coupon ELF4U with Your $25 Purchase.

TTFN,

Colleen

Upset about make-up

2009-05-08T10:49:00.004-04:00

I was reading Cosmo last night, when I stumbled upon an advertisement for smashbox's lash DNA mascara. I don't usually look at the ads for expensive make-up, but being a scientist, I was interested in what smashbox defined as DNA. I figured it was an acronym, and I was right, it's apparently and acronym for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid...good ole fashioned genetic material. Now what could possibly make me angry about this? Nothing.

What upsets me is the information they deliver. Keep in mind, this ad will be seen by non-scientists, many of them young high school and college students. Here is what the ad says:

Long lashes not in your genes? Our revolutionary new scientifically-engineered mascara is packed with proteins and amino acids, the building blocks of DNA, that bind to lashes for genetic defying length as it conditions and repairs former damage. The unique double helix brush grabs each lash, no matter how small, for the ultimate fanned out effect. Dramatic jet black shade intensifies and defines. Defy genetics with Lash DNA Mascara.

What bothers me is the words in bold. PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS DO NOT MAKE UP DNA!!!
So this is false education. So, if any of you are just as upset as I am about this, please feel free to join me in e-mailing smashbox. A link to customer service is below where there is an e-mail address... I don't mind mascara that "defies genetics" or saying that proteins bind to the lashes to make them prettier, but saying proteins make up DNA is downright wrong and can serve to miss-educate students.

Customer Service contact info

Anyhow, I'm done ranting...hope you guys have a good day!

Yo yo weather

2009-02-24T18:03:00.002-05:00

I hate yo yo weather. Cold then warm then cold then warm. Now I have a terrible sinus infection, and a whopping headache to go with it... What's more, the sinus infection makes it hard to sleep, so I'm low on energy too...

Ok, so enough complaining. I posted a vid today on how I trim my hair. Sometimes people ask me who cuts my hair, and usually, the answer is me. I only get a professional cut about twice a year (sometimes only once). So here is how I cut my front layers. Remember to try at your own risk, and if you do try, go slowly. Impatience will get you mistakes. Mistakes that won't go away until they grow out.

Moved-In and Video-Ready

2009-02-23T04:07:00.007-05:00

I've finally gotten around to filming and editing new videos. The videos filmed in the new house won't be posted until I am done editing and posting old vids, but at least I'm posting again...I was a bit sad to see I lost 2 subscribers due to my long video silence. Oh well, hopefully I can convince them to return! So here they are. One cooking vid: The long-awaited tempura video. And one hair vid: The modernized half up half down hairdo. Enjoy!

Moving in

2009-02-03T10:09:00.003-05:00

So needless to say, I haven't been doing many videos lately. I promise I haven't forgotten, and I still have several that have been shot but not edited. I still have to post the ever popular tempura tutorial. I've just been very busy moving to a new house. Yep, the hubby and I have finally flown the coop of our tiny one bedroom apartment and moved to a brand new house! The problem is, we've also moved further from work, which makes time at home very scarce. Therefore, videos will probably be rather scarce as well, but I will get them out whenever I can. Hopefully you guys will have no trouble waiting.

As far as the move goes, we've got in our furniture and everything is out of the apartment. I've completely set up the kitchen (so get ready to see a new kitchen featured in my vids, not to mention a new bathroom). I also finished most of the living room and dining room. I finished up the office last night. The Master bedroom is far from done, and my clothes are still mostly in boxes. Every night when I get home, I try to finish another section of the house, so hopefully I'll be all done by next week.

Well, I'll be posting new vids as soon as I get a chance to edit them, so you'll be seeing the old apartment till all those vids are out. But stay tuned to see the new house!

TTFN

Random - Skittles Reflect the Rainbow

2009-01-13T17:15:00.004-05:00

So, since my blog is the realm of random ramblings, I will ramble about something random. I saw my cousin's status on FB and it was talking about a Skittles commercial. SO I looked it up on youtube. I thought it was hilarious and wanted to share, since I won't be able to post any vids of my own for a while. So here it is. Enjoy! The argument isn't the only funny part. There's also the fact that the white guy looks in the mirror and says "Wait, I'm not eating Skittles" and says nothing about the fact that the "him" in the mirrors are all different ethnicities. The man in the mirror is Filipino and is speaking Tagalog. I'm not sure about the tailor. I don't think he's Filipino or speaking Tagalog. One of the comments I saw states that he's Thai. Maybe someone else can confirm that?

Anyhow, enough rambling. WATCH IT!!!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T22:11:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year one and all. I hope your celebration was as fantastic as mine! As always there were lots of family members and friends and plenty of fun. In celebration, I wanted to post a video about my favorite products I found in 2008. These are not all the great things I've found, but they are ones I had to tell the world about before 2009 really gets rolling. So here we are:

Happy Shine Photos:

Week 1: Blowdry

Week 2: Curling Iron-styled

Week 3: Air Dry

Week 4: Air Dry

Week 5: Flat Ironed

Update

2008-12-27T15:22:00.002-05:00

OK everyone! I'm back!!! I have about 5 videos, maybe more depending on how much time I get, to be posted in the next week. I'm trying to make up for my extreme absence. For a preview of what's coming, look at the projects list to the left! Stay tuned... Oh, and try not to watch them all at once, cause after the semester starts back up, I'll probably be back to 1 a week or so. hee hee.

Well, TTFN!!!

Stuff

2008-11-24T13:44:00.002-05:00

OK, so I know I promised the tempura video a while back. I just want you to know, I filmed it, I just haven't had time to edit and post. I will probably be on a bit of a hiatus until the end of finals. I promise I will make up for it after all the hullabaloo is finished... You patience will be rewarded!!!

Take care all!!!

It's my party, and I'll fry if I want to!

2008-11-11T11:45:00.003-05:00

Unusual title I know. Well, it's my birthday today, and in celebration, I am going to make a video tutorial on my number 1 requested recipe: Tempura! I'll make it today or tomorrow, but I won't post it till probably the weekend. It's something to look forward to. I'll add the video below once it's uploaded to Youtube. I'll be doing shrimp and vegetable tempura. I should be able to fit it all in one video.

Here are the segments:

How to prep the shrimp
How to make the batter (using batter mix, I prefer it over the old fashioned way, it's a lighter texture)
How to prep veggies
How to cook tempura

And you will all get to see my NEW deep fryer courtesy of my mother-in-law, which I will use to fry the tempura. Hopefully it will work out OK, since I've never used this one before (as I mentioned before, my old one died...)

Well, keep a look out, I'll post it soon!!!

French Manicure

2008-11-08T20:06:00.003-05:00

Instead of forking out money for someone to do a mediocre job on my nails (I'm very pikcy...) I prefer to do my own French Manicure. That way, if there are any crooked lines or missing spots, I have only my self to blame. So here is a video on how I do my French Manicure. It also includes a quick snippet on general nail polish tips. Enjoy!!!

My Top 5 Movies

2008-11-01T22:10:00.002-04:00

So how excited am I to be tagged on youtube for the first time?!?!? I'm sure you can guess. Anyhow, cocorais has tagged me to do my top 5 movies, and so here it is! Enjoy getting a peek inside my eclectic mind...

Something out of the ordinary - hairstyle

2008-11-01T17:24:00.005-04:00

So I was sitting around thinking one afternoon about original hairstyle ideas. Things you don't see everyday. I noticed that the "braid headband" look has been fairly popular lately. I even did it myself after being inspired by pursebuzz. Then I thought, what about a hair headband that's not braided? How would you put that together? And so I came up with the picture at the left.

Wanna do it yourself? Check the video below!!!

See ya!

Tonkatsu - great for winter or summer

2008-11-01T10:33:00.003-04:00

I love tonkatsu. It's a Japanese breaded and fried porkchop usually served over rice. If you add an egg omelet and some tempura sauce to it, you've got katsu don. You can eat it in the summer time at room temperature coming out of your bento box. But in the winter, you can eat it fresh out the pan with fresh steamed rice too. Nice and warm for the cold winter months. If you want to make your own tonkatsu, check out the video below!

Fall Back

2008-10-30T10:27:00.005-04:00

I'm not a huge fan of cold weather. For those of you who know me, you know that anything below 70 degrees F is getting cold for me. So when fall comes, I brace myself for the winter to come. And for some reason, this year, winter seems to be coming faster than before. Is it global warming? Maybe. Either way, it's been literally freezing temperatures 3 nights out of this week. I've been bundled up with tights, knee-high socks, boots, jeans on top of that, plus a long sleeve shirt topped with a sweater, topped with a jacket, and finally topped with a coat, plus a nice fat scarf. I realize that seems extreme for fall weather, but I get cold easily.

What I can say that I love about fall is good ole Daylight Saving Time! It's time to fall back! And that means I get an extra hour to do whatever on Saturday night (I always set my clock before going to bed Saturday night instead of doing it on Sunday). I've been feeling really slow lately (probably a hibernation reflex, haha) and so I'm hoping that this time change with infuse me with a little more energy. Maybe I'll also have time to finish crocheting my scarf. And who knows, I may get some more videos out!

BTW, I am so excited to find out that I now have 25 subscribers on youtube. How cool is that? Yes, I know it's not much, but it's a start. Who knows? Maybe I'll be a youtube partner in 2009!

So as I look forward to my extra hour on Saturday, I bid you all Adieu for now. Take care all!!!

Bento Fun

2008-10-27T23:11:00.003-04:00

Here's a video how-to on making those adorably shaped hotdogs and eggs you see in my bento box lunch photos. The use is actually quite intuitive, but there's nothing like a visual demonstration to really be sure of things. After all, bento items typically come with Japanese instructions, so this gets around that. I hope you all enjoy and find time to try this yourself. Several egg molds can be purchased at my favorite online japanese store Ichibankan (link in the links box on the left side bar). Hot dog cutter you'll probably have to find off Ebay until Ichibankan starts carrying them. Alrighty, TTFN!!!

Natural Luscious Waves

2008-10-22T14:11:00.002-04:00

This is my take on the ever popular wavy hair look. It consists of super large ringlets that give hair body and bounce without looking overdone. Great casual look for any time of day! Enjoy!

Youtube videos

2008-10-18T19:38:00.003-04:00

So I have a TON of video footage (you can see a list on the left hand side). My goal is to fully edit and release at least one video a week. I tend to shoot the videos as I'm getting ready in the mornings or as I'm cooking for dinner, so it doesn't take any extra time to take the footage. What takes time is editing, rendering and uploading. That's why you see my projects list on the left get longer and longer, even though there aren't any new vids. So just be patient, I'll get them out bit by bit. Keep watching the left side bar, so you'll know what to look forward to!

Till next time...

Fall Makeup - TheDaytime Smokey Eye

2008-10-18T19:31:00.001-04:00

Like the smokey eye look, but think it's too dramatic for you? Or maybe just too dramatic for daily life? Well, here's an anytime smokey eye to make your own.

Enjoy!

Flower inspired bun

2008-10-13T14:25:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to give you a better look of the flower-inspired bun. You can see the five petals that encircle the cute little butterfly. I posted the video for this on Saturday, but you can't see the bun very well in the video, so I thought a photo would be helpful. If you pair this look with curly tendrils in the front, you've got a great formal look as well. Hope you like it!

New Videos

2008-10-11T16:38:00.003-04:00

I posted new videos to youtube today. I hope you check them out. Just click the videos link on the top menu bar, or see the youtube bar on the right side of the page. One is a cooking tutorial on how to make the basketball cake featured on my blog a week or so ago. The other two are hair tutorials, one of which was requested from another of my blog features. I hope you enjoy them!

TTFN

How to Suck up to your boss?

2008-10-10T23:29:00.004-04:00

Well, I guess a great way to suck up to your boss is to bake him a cake in the shape of his favorite beer for his birthday! Well, actually, I didn't bake it to suck up. I just like baking. And as Wilson says, I'll make any excuse to bake a cake. So here is a cake for my boss that we presented to him as a surprise.

And for the record, I don't condone sucking up in any way. Besides, I'm sure that my boss would rather I have been doing lab work than baking a cake! haha...

But anyhow, it was a fun project. If you want to do it yourself, you'll need some fondant (see my video how-to) and three 6 in round cakes stacked up to make the shape of a drink can. You can decorate the can as anything you want...try root beer, fresca, coke. Whatever you like. Well, anyhow, now that that is over, it's back to work for me!

Product Review: Sally Hansen French Manicure Pen

2008-10-09T14:22:00.002-04:00

Everyone loves a nice French Manicure. My husband loves when I do my nails with a French Manicure. He thinks it's sexy and classy. The problem is, it's pretty time consuming if you do it yourself, and it's time consuming AND expensive to have it done by someone else. So what to do? Well, I saw this manicure pen at CVS the other day and decided to try it. I had just spend nearly an hour the night before doing a French Manicure (including drying time) and this pen promised to do it much quicker, so I thought I'd try it.

Overall, I'm disappointed. What ever is in that pen, it's NOT normal nail polish. If you make a mistake and have to clean it off to start fresh, it will not come off completely. It leaves a white residue covering your whole nail. I'm wearing the manicure right now, so I haven't tried cleaning it off after putting the clear topcoat, but I hope it comes off better than the white stuff alone!

It also puts on a VERY thin layer. So thin you can see through it, so it looks like a bad manicure. I had to do 2 coats even though the directions say only one.

I will say this, it's much easier than using a nail polish brush. The way I normally do my French manicure is to first put on the white tips, without worrying about a straight line. Then I go through with nail polish remover and a paint brush, and I shape the white line. It takes a while, but it looks fantastic. In fact, it looks better than the salon kind because it's you doing it, and you care about your nails more than some stranger...

That being said, I wouldn't cast this pen off to the side completely. After all, it makes out to be a great touch up pen when corner crack or flake off. It's also great if you just need a quick manicure that you don't plan to keep for a long time. Other than that, I suggest you invest either the time or money to get a real manicure. (I prefer to invest time cuz I have no money!!! haha) I guess we have to wait a little longer for another new innovation to come along...

Till next time... TTFN!

Wigo Flat Iron Review

2008-10-07T00:01:00.009-04:00

At Ulta right now, they have a great deal on the Wigo ceramic and tourmaline titanium flat iron. Retail is apparently $110, but the Ulta exclusive design is selling in stores and online for $29.99. At first I was skeptical that such a cheap iron could work, but I have a Wigo 1 inch curling iron that works GREAT, so I thought, why not try it. After all, there is a 60-day return policy. All I can say is, I am so glad I tried it. I actually bought the Zoe first ($39.99 Ulta exclusive), but it was a terrible iron. So I exchanged it for this, AND got $10 back. There is also a 20% off coupon currently available online and in stores, and there is a promo for free shipping on $25 orders.

On to the review: (I will post a video review soon as well, with a comparison demo with my Hot Tools Ceramic flat iron).

Heat: This baby goes up to 430 degrees F. That's hot! Great for coarse or hard to curl hair. My hair is actually very fine, but it doesn't curl well, so I have to use the highest settings on ALL my hair tools. Just remember to use a heat protectant! The cool tip stays fairly cool, unless you've been using the iron for an extended period of time.

Smoothing: As you will see in the video, the iron does a good job of smoothing. In the video, I took a chunk of hair that was a bit too big for a 1 in iron, but after running over it twice, it was super smooth and shiny. (you can see the shininess in the vid)

Curling: This is tricky, but it does work. I found that it works best if you curl down the shaft, then before releasing, wrap all the warm hair around the barrel, then let go. You get cute ribbon curls that way. (I do it in the vid if you can't visualize what I'm saying)

Weight: It's a super light weight appliance. After all, it's made from titanium.

Feel: It's a nice, small gadget. It's not too big for even smaller hands. The other great thing is IT DOESN'T SNAG AT ALL!!! It runs smoothly through the hair without ANY tugging or pulling. I know with other irons, the complaint is that hair gets caught in seams and whatnot. That is not the case with this iron. It's a great design.

Well, that's all I can say. All that's left is to show you the demo, which I will add below. Also, above is a pic of a hairstyle I did using only the flat iron. I flat ironed the top and curled the bottom.

Supercool Birthday Cake for my hubby

2008-10-05T23:26:00.005-04:00

It's my husband's birthday is in a few minutes, but today I held a surprise party for him. Yesterday, I worked for nearly 4 hours baking him the cake you see here. It's a basketball hitting the backboard and going into the hoop. Keep in mind 4 hours includes coming up with the means to get the effects I was looking for and also mixing and baking. I think it turned out well. Instead of saying "HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY" though, I decided "MVP 28 years" would be cuter. I also bought him a plastic trophy from party city that said MVP. It was really fun to make, and he really seemed to like it. The cake itself is red velvet, and the icing is homemade cream cheese icing. I also made the fondant that covers the cake. I will post a how-to video of marshmallow fondant (much tastier than traditional fondant) and how to assemble this SUPERFANTABULOUS basketball cake. Unfortunately, it will be a while before I get it out because I have about 4 tutorials worth of footage on my camera, and ZERO time to edit it. I hope you can all "hang tight" for now. You can see my upcoming projects in the list at the top of the left column of this blog. That'll give you and idea of what's coming up. See ya!

Organization tips

2008-10-03T21:02:00.006-04:00

I have A LOT of hair stuff. From curling sprays to shine serums, volumizing mouse to heat guarding liquids, headbands to tiny claw clips, and a lot in between. So when you're fixing your hair in the morning, and you need to make things quick, how do you rummage through all that stuff? Simple answer: keep organized. "But they don't have anything on the market for stuff like that" you may say. No problem, just think outside the box. Here's what I did. I went to Target and I found one of those over-the-door shoe organizers and I converted it into a hair supply organizer in the bathroom, and a scarf and belt organizer in the bedroom. Take a look:

I've been using this method for over 8 years now, and it's never failed to help me find what I need, when I need it. Hopefully it'll help you!

Trend Alert and Fashion Find

2008-10-03T20:14:00.006-04:00

A big Fall 2008 makeup trend is red lips. It got me to thinking, I'm not a big fan of dark lipstick. Especially since it rubs off onto everything so easily. I realize that there are lip stains available on the market, but they are typically offered by high end makeup companies. I don't know about you, but I am not super rich... or even rich...haha...So I got to thinking. Remember when you were little, and you used to take your red cherry Popsicle and smooth it on your lips and pretend you were wearing lipstick? And remember how it would stay for hours? All that stuff is is food coloring right? So I figured, why not try plain food coloring as a lip stain. Now that's how to be trendy on a budget right? So I tried it, and what you see is what I got:

It lasted for several hours, which I found impressive. I did have to water down the coloring a bit to keep from looking like I was a vampire. In addition, red lips seem to simply accentuate the fact that my skin is so pale, so I felt toning it down worked much more to my advantage. Anyhow, I thought it was a neat trick that could help ladies out there who don't want to fork up the moola for high end lip stains.

Here's a video how-to:

Another thing I wanted to share: I found the cutest mary jane shoes. They are super comfy, made of soft leather (or faux leather more likely) and best of all, they were CHEAP!!!

I found them at Walmart for $9 exactly! I know some people are principally against Walmart, but if you're not, what a great deal! There were other colors besides black. I wanted the beautiful deep red ones, but alas, there were none in my size. There was also a yellow pair, a purple pair, a light turquoise, silver, and brown. If you are looking for comfy flats at an affordable price, I suggest you make your way to the nearest Walmart. I think I'm gonna search around other Walmarts to see if I can find a yellow, turquoise and red pair. I've always wanted a cute pair of yellow or turquoise flats, and I just want any pair of red shoes...I crave color in my rather boring wardrobe. But enough complaining. Till next time...

Hair care tips

2008-10-02T17:23:00.004-04:00

So there was something that I just thought about while surfing youtube. I realized that sometimes people review shampoos and conditioners after using it exclusively for around a month. Then they say that after a while, their hair became weighed down and icky. Well, that's because each shampoo on the market leaves behind it's own characteristic residue. If you use it repeatedly for a long period of time, you are simply piling on that same residue and packing on layers of it. Eventually, your hair gets weighed down by it, and it starts to feel icky too. That's why it's best to alternate shampoo and conditioner each time you wash your hair. I never use the same shampoo and conditioner two washes in a row. I have about 5 different sets of shampoo and conditioner that I alternate through. That way, when I use shampoo A today, it will leave behind residue A. Then the next time I wash my hair, I use shampoo B, which will wash away residue A, but leave behind residue B. That way, the same residue never has a chance to build up on my hair.

Also, hair care experts and stylists recommend going as long as you can without washing your hair. This is obviously a different time frame for different people. It's also activity dependent. Someone sitting in an air conditioned room all day every day can go longer without washing their hair than someone who plays tennis for a living. This is also different for different hair lengths. Shorter hair can take more washings because being shorter allows it to have a better distribution of natural oils. For longer hair, even if the scalp is oily, your ends may be super dry.

If you do have an oily scalp with dry ends, I suggest you try shampooing only the scalp and conditioning only the ends, and maybe used watered down conditioner for your scalp. That should help even out your hair's condition.

Anyhow, I'm off for now. Till next time...

Reports, take-homes, and homework

2008-10-02T16:22:00.002-04:00

Wow, so I've at least finished working on all my assignments. The first draft of my progress report is completed. I've also finished the first draft of my take home exam. I think I'm done with my population genetics homework. Now all I have to do is wait for feedback. My Molecular Evolution professor says that he'll look over our take home tests this weekend and hand them back for correction on Monday. We have several days to try and get things right. We can turn it in and get feedback as many times as we want until the official due date...That is so bad for a perfectionist like me...I'll keep wracking my brain about it until the very end. And now I'm waiting for feedback from my lab mates on my report. Hopefully, I won't have to change much. My brain is completely fried from all the school work I've been doing. Maybe I can actually get some lab work done tomorrow... Well, I'm gonna go recuperate from my brain frying week, and try not to think about the corrections to come... TTFN!

New Hairstyle

2008-09-30T10:27:00.003-04:00

So I created a cute new hairstyle today. I was trying to do something else, but I really liked how this turned out. It incorporates two of this fall's hair trends: braids and blunt bangs (fringe). I'll try to find time for a tutorial, though you may be able to figure it out by just looking at it:

Basically, you do a french braid from the left side of the head to the bottom right, then tie off the end, twist it under, and pull it through the braid. Pin it in place with some bobby pins and you're done! (I styled the bangs by flat ironing them and brushing them into place.)

Tamagoyaki

2008-09-27T18:20:00.007-04:00

Alright. A BIG request that I get is for tamago. So I've finally put together a tutorial on how to make tamagoyaki, the kind of eggs that you see at the sushi bars. There will be more cooking tutorials to come, so keep checking in, or follow this blog to get updates.

Here, you see me make the traditional version, with a rectangular pan. You can use a regular circular pan, but it won't quite look the same.

Things you'll need:
a pan (buy one here)
oil for the pan (with optional brush)
4 eggs
mixing bowl
1 Tbls. mirin: sweet rice wine
~1/4 tsp salt
~ 1 tsp soy sauce (amount depends on your taste)
1/2 cup water
dashi stock (called hondashi, see picture on right)

The great thing about tamagoyaki is that you can add ingredients between the layers to make omelets. Below is one of my bento boxes with a spinach tamagoyaki:

Doesn't that make you hungry? Well, I hope you give this recipe a try. Check out the video, and if you need assistance, there's a chat box on the right side of this blog! Till next time: TTFN!

Bright Eyes: How to look like you rested well, even if you didn't

2008-09-24T12:54:00.005-04:00

So, sometimes we just don't get enough sleep. Maybe we were up studying, maybe updating our blog, maybe partying, maybe you just couldn't sleep. Everyone has their reasons. So you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and realize you look terrible. You also just remembered that today you're supposed to meet with your boss, or you have class with that cute guy, or you're meeting your boyfriend's parents. First impression is everything. Well, here is a makeup look that will brighten the eye area without looking over-the-top. This is not a dramatic look. You can make it dramatic if you add more makeup, but as it's presented here, it's meant to look natural.

OK, so first off, always begin with a good skin care regimen. You need a clean slate. Since you're waking up in the morning, you should have already washed you face last night, but you need to wash it in the morning too. A freshly washed face will have a fresher appearance. I use Exuviance products. I love them. A skin care regimen should include the following:

Cleanser: I have an antibacterial cleanser that I use at night to kill any bacteria that may infect my pores while I sleep. I have a gentle, almost lotion-like cleanser for the morning to add extra moisture to my skin to give it a supple feel. When cleansing, start with WARM water, not HOT. The warm water will open your pores and allow the cleanser to do it's job. After rinsing off your cleanser, make a final rinse in cool water. This will close your pores back up and closed pores create a smoother skin surface.

Toner: This adds moisture to your face underneath the moisturizer and tones the skin. For best results, apply it while your face is still damp from towel blotting to hold in more moisture.

Moisturizer: Again, you should have 2: one for night and one for day. The daytime should have SPF protection. The nightime one should have plenty of restorative elements like amino acids, polyhydroxy acids, etc.

Eye Cream: Regular moisturizre is too heavy for the delicate area under your eyes. I use an uplifting formula to help reduce puffiness and wrinkles.

I have a few other skin care items that I use only occasionally: blemish medication, anti-wrinkle serum, a peel-off mask to exfoliate and a bionic tonice to awaken the skin.

Now that that's established, the next step is foundation. Foundation will even out the skin tone and give your skin a velvety-smooth appearance. All my makeup is mineral makeup from either Bare Minerals or Everyday Minerals. Use what you prefer. Apply foundation all over the face.

I then take a mixture of a lighter foundation (one shade lighter than my real foundation) and mix it with a highlighting powder and apply it under the eyes. This really brightens that area up. I don't make it a habit of buying two shades of foundation, however, Everyday Minerals offers free samples of their makeup, so I ordered a sample size of a lighter foundation, since I won't use it that much.

Now for blush. For a flushed, rested look, I use a nice rosy color with just a little light-carrying shimmer. This will also lighten the face. Apply to the apples of your cheeks and blend out. You'll begin to see a healthy glow.

The eyes are the most important part of this look. It's the first thing people notice. Eyes are the window to the soul. To brighten up the eyes and make them look wide open, I use a white eye shadow and apply it to the wet of the eye on the lower lid. Do this carefully! Eyes are delicate. You could use eyeliner, but I like the effect of the powder because some of it will fall between the lashes and make a glow under and behind the bottom lashes that adds a little more reflection. I also like to highlight the brow bones. The lid color can be anything you want.

I then apply a finishing powder to set everything in place and give it that flawless look. Do this before applying mascara. Otherwise, you'll end up with white dust stuck to your lashes.

Apply mascara. I use black. Start at the base of the lashes and wiggle left and right as you move to the tip of the lashes. Cover the bottom lashes well. The more pronounced your bottom lashes are, the more wide-eyed you will look.

Lastly, apply some lip gloss in a natural color and your good to go!

Enjoy your refreshed look! My philosophy is "fake it till you feel it!"

How to fake a bob

2008-09-24T12:48:00.003-04:00

This video was a request from a friend of mine. I know that sometimes I just want a different look, and so I'm often tempted to cut my hair. But then I don't want to go through the pain of growing back out. With the help of Johnny Lavoy from Ford Models, I've found out how to get the best of both worlds! Enjoy!!!

Anime Hair

2008-09-23T20:05:00.003-04:00

So, I was watching one of reiberry's youtube videos, and she has this adorable hairstyle. I decided I wanted to try it, but I couldn't figure out how to make the buns big enough with such a small amount of hair. So I was searching pursebuzz's youtube videos and found a tutorial. I think it turned out really cute. Too bad I missed out on this years anime convention. It was this past weekend. Maybe I'll get brave enough to wear it too school. I think it turned out well.

For those of you who don't know who Reiberry is, she has alot of great tutorials and tips on the web. I have a link to her blog. Pursebuzz is the same, great hairstyles and great makeup tips. Check them out!

Artist's Log

2008-09-22T22:12:00.004-04:00

I am a HUGE lover of Prismacolor. One thing I say to anyone who's serious about doing art, even if it's only for personal pleasure, buy the good stuff! And Prismacolor qualifies as "the good stuff."

I've had the 120 set of the think art pencils for years, since high school. I love them! I even have 12 discontinued colors, plus the 24 newly released colors. That's alot of pencils, and they are a dream to use. However, one problem I always had was doing detail. The thick art pencils have very soft leads, which makes them great for blending, but not so great when your looking for a point. So, I heard that these Verithin pencils are just the compliment to your set. So I ordered some from Cheap Joe's Art Supply online. After they arrived, I sat down to use them. I took the black pencil and sharpened it to a point and attempted to do some detail work. Well, my honest opinion is that I'd rather repeatedly sharpen the soft ones again and again than use the verithins. Maybe I'm just not used to them, but they don't flow well for me. I'll keep trying and hopefully I'll get the hang of it. Here's the pic that I drew:

Winter's coming. Protect your face from dry cold (and dry heat indoors)

2008-09-22T21:43:00.004-04:00

I purchased (from Ichiban Kan), a facial mask of royal jelly a while back. It's called the Sana Ho-Jun-Ki Essence Facial Mask. So what you do is wash your face. Then take the pouch with a cloth mask in it covered in royal jelly, and open it very carefully, otherwise you'll spill royal jelly. You then place the mask on your face, and leave it on for 10-20 mins. I like to lie down during this time. The coolness of the mask is very relaxing. After you remove the mask, you put on toner and moisturizer and eye cream, as should be your skin care routine.

The first time I tried this mask, I didn't like it. My face felt like it was always sweaty, but that was the humid summer. Now, as the air is cooling, skin needs an extra pick me up. The great thing about this mask is that you feel the benefits for days. Even after multiple washings (day and night) the skin still feels supple, smooth, and well moisturized. It really feels alot like a baby's face.

For those who don't know, royal jelly is fed to the bees that are meant to become queens. Other bee larva eat it too, but larva destined to become queen are fed royal jelly exclusivley. Now, why in the world do I want bee food on my face? Well, it contains tons of amino acids, fatty acids, and water. All the things the skin loves to soak up to maintain a healthy glow. I encourage you to try this product for yourself. Especially if you have dry skin.

cooking quick

2008-09-21T22:07:00.003-04:00

So I got back from the lab at 9:30 this evening, and I was hungry. So here's a tip to all of you who need/want to cook, but don't have time for long elaborate meals: Being a Filipino household, RICE is a huge part of our diet. So, we always have cooked rice laying around in the fridge. Fried rice is one of the fastest, yummiest, and semi-healthy foods you can cook. How to make it quick though? Well, at my favorite online store www.ichibankanusa.com, they sell Nagatanien fried rice mixes: Shrimp (shown below), crab, salmon, etc. They have super easy instructions, and if you just add some frozen mixed veggies, you'll have dinner in 10 minutes, and enough to pack for lunch the next day! And it tastes great too!

Intro

2008-09-21T17:31:00.002-04:00

Hello. So I've decided to follow the rest of my generation and start a blog. Why? Well, I often get questions from friends and family, and it dawned on me: Why not share my experiences with others? I know I've benefited from other people's wisdom. Maybe someone will benefit from mine. So what kind of knowledge am I talking about? Well, for instance: "Colleen, your lunches are so cute! How do you make those bear-shaped eggs? They are too cute!" or "How did you do that hairstyle?" or "How did you make that rice ball?" or "How did you do your makeup?" and other such stuff. Hence the name of the blog: Realm of Random Ramblings. I'll talk about anything, or maybe nothing. And why "REALM" you say? Well, it has to do with my current last name, and my maiden name, both of which relate to royalty. No, I'm not royalty, but the origins of my two last names are royal...so anyhow. I guess the first thing I will do is fulfill my friend Tracy's request on "How did you do your hair? It's driving me crazy!!!" So, that'll be up on Youtube and linked here as soon as I do it. Alright then, I guess that's it for now...TTFN!