It’s Official: I’m on hiatus

Well, it should have been obvious from the fact I stopped posting for ages, but I’m finally making it official. Yup. I’m on hiatus. :)

To the people who I promised to make a layout for, don’t worry. I’m working on it. It will take some time, but you’ll get it. :) I hope it makes you happy even though I’m not pro by any means.

I still love this blog! I do! Which is why I’m making the jump from Blogger to Wordpress.org. I’ve already purchased the hosting and transferred my domain name. I’m currently sorting out the kinks, figuring out the layout thing (IT IS SO CONFUSING FOR ME, LEMME TELL YOU.)

I’ll be back! And with a vengeance. ;D

You can still find me via email, Twitter and Facebook.

The site’s not dead, just taking some much-needed rest. And when I come back from hiatus, I’ll make it much better than it ever was before! (I’m working on it.)

I miss you all, and I WILL get back to regular posting soon.

Stay beautiful inside and out,

Justin talks beauty

Okay, oops. I disappeared for a looong time. I don't even know what happened. It's not like I was particularly busy. But one day I stopped posting, and then I started to feel guilty. Guilty about not posting and guilty about not getting started on the layouts yet. I suck, I know. I'm terrified I'll do a bad job on the layouts, and that's why I haven't gotten started. Guhhhh. What's wrong with me? I need to deal with this issue. :(

On a more positive note, a couple of months ago, Lara posted on a beauty survey answered by her husband. I thought it was so funny because we girls can be so consumed with beauty and fashion products, but our significant others often don't know much about it. I figured I'd get Justin to do the questionnaire too!

In which Justin talks beauty

1. Tell me 5 cosmetics brands

Justin: Avon, Thin Lizzy, L'Oreal, Nivea, Pro-activ

2. Tell me 3 famous big boxes 

To be fair, I'm not sure what's being asked here. Maybe subscription boxes?

Justin: You mean movie boxes? Box office.
(A short time and discussion later)
Justin: I'm not aware of the names of any subscriptions...

3. What is a top coat? 

P.S. I want that coat!

Justin: It's one of those things...
(Sees me typing)
Justin: WAIT WAIT WAIT. Slender coats that is made to be worn over other clothes. Or something.
Me: It's the top nail polish coat. You use it to protect the nail polish.
Justin: So it's a nail polish condom basically.
Me: (Hysterical laughter)

4. What is BB cream?

Justin: [Crap], I asked this one time.
(Sees me typing)
Justin: HEY, WHAT-- BB Creme is a blemish creme thing.
Me: (STUNNED THAT HE KNOWS)
Justin: -- Yes, I know things every now and then. (Smug look)

5. What sort of make up do girls use? 

No disrespect to the man, Jack Black! He has awesome face wings :D

Justin: (Apprehensive look. Look of malignance in eyes.) Face makeup. God, I don't know.

6. What is a serum?

Justin: Something for aging.
Me: (Thinking: That was a boring answer... T.T)

By the way, if you look at that anti-aging serum by Avon, it looks suspiciously like the Umbrella Corporation's T-virus (Resident Evil). Mmhm. When I searched T-virus on Google Images, that was the first entry. True story.

7. Why do we make facial scrubbing? 

If you want quality drawings, send me a graphics tablet. ;D JOKE. Or... not.

Justin: Probably dead skin and acne, I suppose.

8. How to apply anti-wrinkle product?

Justin: (Silence. Pause.) Uhhh. With a sponge?
Me: I don't actually know either haha!

9. How do we put our make up on?

Justin: Depending on what you're using, you could have like sponges and like pencil things and... brushes... and those cotton buddy things that have like a spongy bit on the end.

10. What is a beautiful girl for you?

Justin: (SILENCE. PAUSE. DEEP REFLECTION.) Do you mean besides you or...?
Me: (Continues typing madly)
Justin: Are you supposed to be typing everything down, or are you just f*cking with me?!

Maybe I should have said awwwww or something when he said that (the 'besides you' part, not the 'are you----'). Whoops.

And that's a wrap! 

Leave a comment, send me a tweet, have a good day, roll around in some mud and refresh yourself! Wheeeee! 

Stay beautiful, 

Someone posted me on Gyaru Secrets!

Ohmygoodness, hello there! I am so amused right now. My weekend was pretty boring until this Sunday when I went out with my boyfriend and a close friend whom I hadn't seen in ages for... the Chinese Lantern Festival! But more about that and my other adventures this week (or the next! I actually have a lot of fun stuff to post about lately)!

Back to my current amusement. Gal VIP, the gaijin gyaru magazine recently released their Jan-Feb edition, and inside it contained a contest. Because I was procrastinating and Gal VIP extended the deadline I decided to join. Yessss. I know. I am so silly. I'll never win anyway because I'm still such a newbie haha! But that's okay. :) I wanted to try out a new style and try to incorporate some advice given to me about previous gyaru attempts I'd done (More on that some other post?!).

So here's my entry based on Saiharii's super awesome makeup look!

Didn't notice how messy it was until after I sent it. Whoops?

Anyway I decided to post a picture of me doing this style on Tumblr!

This picture :)

And someone was so lovely to give me advice on how to improve! :) She even called me cute and said she hoped she didn't offend me by giving critique (How awesome is that?! I love people!) Oh, and she even photoshopped the picture to show me what she meant!

The 'shopped picture :)

Like that! The nose contour is wayyyy better! Incredibly more defined. :) The upper lashes are also more dramatic, so I think it would be absolutely perfect for a gothic style (which was what I was going for here). I was excstatic and uberrrr happy. :) Thank you very much, shotamilk!

Also the awesome girls in my gyaru-sa were also very kind to give me tips which I tried to incorporate here. Like my lower lashes extended the whole way now! Yay! And the sweet Kirstie who is currently in Japan reblogged my picture on Tumblr, calling it unique. Thank you, love!

Needless to say I am very happy, and I love people very much. :) I know my gyaru look still needs a lot if improvement, so I'll practice whenever I can. :)

Then this morning (around 2AM because my sleeping schedule is crazy right now) I checked gyaru_secrets to see if it's been updated. And, yes, I do visit that site a lot. While a lot of it is mean, sometimes the posts are really helpful. I wonder if anyone remembers the magical ninja cookie posts? (Was it a ninja cookie? It was a cookie and magic though.)

I made it to the over-sized secrets and what's this! Is that...

Hey, look! It's me!

OHMYGOSH. Someone posted a secret with me and Spongebob in it! I nearly died laughing. If my boyfriend were awake, he would have given me that "I live with a crazy person, why do I do this to myself" look again. Oops. I'm giggling again.

I already replied, saying it's LA Colors Grape Crush. :) But I'm not sure if it was meant to be funny, insulting, genuinely asking a question or... something else?

Again thank you to shotamilk and Roxy, Reba, Becky and Kirstie from our gyaru-sa for critique and support! :)

Also people replied to the secret saying I need a lot of improvement, and I definitely agree with you guys. :) One day I'll get there :D (I hope)

Okay, so now the question for commenting is...

Do you like my gothic look (before and/or after Photoshop? Have you ever been goth, or would you like to try it? :)

Personally I love goths, especially sweet goths. Sometimes they freak me out in person (I feel terrible about this, bit it happens), but I think they photograph really well. Also the deep dark soul thing is something I can definitely relate with even though I'm trying very hard to embrace a more positive me! :)

Well, that was an extremely roundabout way of telling you all about that gyaru_secrets post! I hope it entertained you somehow. While you read it, I hope you imagine me saying the words in a very energetic voice!

I SHOULD TOTALLY DO A VLOG, SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR MY VOICE. Wouldn't that be exciting?! (No.)

Yes, I am very hyper right now. I think I should end with that now. I love you all, especially commenters. :D Thank you so much for sticking with me and my randomness! Hugs!

Oh, also, you guys really like that lipstick, huh? If I knew people would like it a lot, I wouldn't have used it and just given it away (since I've had it for a while and only used it 2 times... ). Maybe if I find another one, I can give it to someone! :D

Stay beautiful,

Gaijin Gyaru Directory!

Hello all!

A few weeks ago, a wonderful person who I still don't know posted on Gyaru Secrets to look for other Kiwis (New Zealanders). Somehow that one little secret threw me into overdrive passion mode, and my love for gyaru was rekindled.

The secret that made me happy :)

We started talking in our gyaru-sa again! We had our first ever challenge! We even made a reply secret! I finally got new circle lenses again! I even did a gyaru look with lower lashes!

Our national mascot is a cutie, okay?!

Oh, and someone found our gyaru-sa because of that secret! So now we have 6 members, 3 of whom are in Auckland. YAY!

Basically in the last few weeks, I've been falling in love with gyaru all over again. :) And I thought to myself: if I became this enamored just because I realised there are other gyaru in my country, then wouldn't others be excited too?!

So I made a gaijin gyaru directory! 

Where are the Gaijin Gyaru?

If you are gyaru, send me a tweet, ask me on Tumblr or on Ask.Fm! I'll add you to the directory.

You don't have to be pro. You can be a complete newbie like I am. I just want a place for gyaru enthusiasts to find people in their areas and make new friends. :)

Stay beautiful,

GEO Nudy Brown Circle Lenses

Hello, lovelies!

Guess why I am intensely happy?! It’s all for a very simple reason – I have circle lenses again!

I am the proud owner of GEO Nudy Brown lenses which I got off TradeMe. Normally I would buy a pair of lenses from a shop like oh, I dunno… Eyecandylens or Shoppingholics. But the seller has 100% positive feedback!

So I thought to myself… What the hey! Let’s buy a pair!

Now you may be wondering what the circle lenses are like, right?! So here’s a perfectly honest review about the GEO Nudy Brown circle lenses I got from TradeMe. :)

But first… Photo spam!

 /end photo spam

Information about the Circle Lenses

Water content: 38%

Duration: 1 year

Diameter: 14.00 mm

Base Curve: 8.6

The actual size of the lenses are pretty small (or standard?!) for circle lenses, so they’re great for beginners in terms of size. They’re not like OMG THAT’S MASSIVE, and since they’re circle lenses, no, you won’t think ‘Did it even do anything?!’ Duration is a year, again pretty standard with circle lenses. I’ll see if these will actually last me a year, or if I’ll accidentally wreck them or something. Water content is normal. Base curve – I don’t know anything about that, haha!

Picture Comparisons

Here we go! Here’s how the circle lenses look under different conditions. 

Indoor

Small flash 

Big flash 

Window 

Comparison 

Review: What do I think?

GEO Nudy Brown are my third pair of circle lenses ever, but so far they're my favourite! They're enlarging but still a natural and respectable size. When I wear them, I forget they're there. So far I haven't had moments where the world suddenly blurs because of the lenses (Why does that even happen?!). They're super comfortable. I love the design in person and in pictures. The colour isn't amazing though. I don't know what I was expecting, but this wasn't it exactly. Maybe I was expecting a browner brown. This looks more hazel to me. But I love how the colour shows really well on my dark brown might-as-well-be-black eyes. :D

Enlarging Effect

Comfort

Design

Colour

Final Result? 

I love these lenses so much! And I will most likely buy them again (unless I find a pair I like more!)

What do you think? :) 

Do you like GEO lenses? What do you think of these lenses? What about my bedhead? I'm a mess, I know! Haha! 

Let me know what you think via the comments, Facebook or Twitter! :) 

Stay beautiful,

21 before 21

Hello there, my lovelies!

Welcome to 21 before 21! Here are 21 goals I aim to achieve before I turn 21 on April 4. :) Since I only have a month and a half to fulfill them, I decided to make them not too challenging (At least... I hope they're not too difficult!).

I got this idea from Allena and her 24 by/in 24! :)

There's no way you can read the list in the picture above, so let me type it out for you. Anything to help, of course!

1. Cut out rice completely
2. Finish reading Bhagavad Gita
3. Make a blog header I’m happy with! See here
4. Make a custom blogger layout
5. Complete Zombies, Run 5k training
6. Finish all songs on Just Dance 4 (not incl. downloadable content)
7. Establish cleaning sched for Jus + Me
8. 45 blog posts in 2013
9. A painting
10. One YouTube video
11. Make a floral crown
12. Design 5 free printables/downloadables :)
13. Set up a Storenvy shop for stuff I want to sell
14. Finish the heart collage of pics on my wall
15. Create a media kit for Wannabe Empress
16. Sort out the domain issue!!!
17. Dye my hair again (finally)
18. Organise my laptop
19. Finish Assassin’s Creed (1)
20. Do 8 REAL push ups (not knee push-ups)
21. Finish two complete body weight circuits ;)

I have plans for all of them, sitting on my laptop. Just... waiting... for me to execute them. I hope I can do this.  I can do this!

Remember I Want to Level Up? 

I am considering this a packaged mission/quest. Yes, this whole list. If I accomplish all of them, I get 20% of a level. If I miss one, I get nada. All or nothing, baby!

Well, some of the goals are related to the main, side and/or bonus missions. So I can still get points for them. For example, the Bhagavad Gita goal is a side quest, so I get 5% if I do that. But with the Just Dance 4 mission, it's only part of a bigger goal, so I don't get points for that (yet).

So basically I get 20% for completing all the goals by April 4 plus any bonuses for the already established missions. If I don't complete all (like if I miss one, two, or ten), then I only get points for the ones that were already listed as missions on the I Want to Level Up page. :)

Make sense? :D

I'll cross things out from this list from time to time. I'll also put up a link on the main page of my blog. Here's to achieving goals!

Do you have any ___ by insert-age-here goals? 

I'd love to read about them! Include a link in the comment, or just tell me what you're planning. ;) Let's cheer each other on!


Stay beautiful,

FREE Blog Redesign

Hi there! I'm offering FREE blog redesigns for a limited time. More info in the form below!

Before you ask for a blog redesign, please follow me via GFC. :)

If you're not sure how, here's a video on how to follow via GFC!


Are you going to sign up for a free blog redesign? You don't have to get a custom everything! You can pick and choose. Also I will not necessarily make everything from scratch. With some things like favicons, for example, I will either base it off something I made previously or find a suitable one for your design. :)

You will receive all the design elements and their PSDs (if applicable) in a zip folder in your email when it's all done!

What do you think of this little giveaway? :)

Let me know if you're going to ask for some redesigning, or if you'll pass for now!

 Stay beautiful,

New header! Plus NEWS!

Guess what! New header again!

I hated the old header (This always seems to be the case), so I made a new one because of a handy-dandy list of goals I have before turning 21 in April. I haven't announced those yet, but they tie in with I Want to Level Up. :)

Also since I have become completely enamored once again with web and graphic design, I am launching a FREE blog design service for a limited time. It's coming out on Monday, and the only requirement is for you to follow me via GFC. ;D

(If you're not sure how, here's a video on how to follow via GFC!)

More details on Monday!

I will leave you with this cute video of kittens in the park!

Stay beautiful,

5 Free Date Ideas for Valentines

Hi there! Happy Valentines Day! Happy Single Awareness Day! 

If you’re anything like me, you make plans at the last minute. And if you’re even more like me, your bank account or wallet may be running on empty. Well, fear not! Here are some sweet ideas to satisfy the romantic in you without having to spend any money!

Who said romance has a price tag?! 

Explore your city on foot

Source: allthemountains.blogspot.com via Elizabeth Graham on Pinterest

If you live in a sprawling metropolis, you probably take a car everywhere. Or maybe you’re a slave to public transport (If you are, so am I! Join the club!). Your city probably has plenty of free sights you’ve yet to experience like a museum, a park, or a quiet street. Maybe it’s the comfort of being with your lover away from the trappings of spending? Hmmmm…

Ideas:

• Pick a place you haven’t visited yet and check it out for the day. Take the trip on foot (unless it’s super far away) and relish the experience more.
• Both you and your partner name a place you love, then check the map and find a place in the middle you haven’t visited before or haven’t visited in a long time. Go there!
• Go on TripAdvisor and check out the Things To Do in your area. For romantic scenery, check out the Outdoor attractions!

Perfect for... the wanderluster on a budget, the relaxed romantic and the recovering shopaholic (Keep away from shops)!

Game the night away

Source: rawkitten.tumblr.com via Irene Dose on Pinterest

Are you both homebodies who dread leaving the house? I know I’d much rather relax with my boyfriend then go out clubbing any day! Or maybe you have a huge collection of video games and board games. Maybe you have a free sporting area nearby. Oh, or maybe you’re crazy competitive, and nothing excites you more than a challenge!

Ideas:

• Head to the nearest free basketball court or park or area where you can engage in fun sports like, ya know, basketball, rugby, football or childhood favourites like Hot Lava
• Play cooperative and competitive video games all night in a quest for victory!
• Play card and board games with prizes for the winners and consequences for the losers. It’s Valentines Day; I’ll let you figure out appropriate rewards for yourselves (Wink wink)

Perfect for... people who LOVE to win, craft-happy gods and goddesses (your houses are surely wonders to behold, why ever leave?) and the always-plugged-in technolistas!

Read to each other in your local library

Source: weheartit.com via Domi on Pinterest

For centuries, men and women have wooed each other with the power of words. Whether or not you have the oratorical prowess to rival Shakespeare matters little when you have the nearly limitless arsenal of the library at your disposal. Visit one for Valentines and whisper sweet nothings to your lover... for free (for your pocket AND your mind)!

Ideas:

• For the truly romantic, try reading out a few Shakespearean sonnets or some sweet poetry. You know you want to. And V-day is the perfect day to be outrageously cheesy and get away with it!
• For those who roll their eyes at sentimentality, try reading comics, graphic novels or good books out loud to each other. You can do it seriously or read it in such a way that will leave you both guffawing at your crazy reading. Warning: you could get kicked out.
• Each of you picks out a book you love that the other hasn’t read. Swap books, cuddle together in a nook and sigh in bliss at the wonders of the written word.

Perfect for... the hopeless romantic, the girl who loves the sound of her own voice and cosy bookworms!

Celebrate with a quiet picnic

Source: vi.sualize.us via Selena on Pinterest

Picture a day out in the great outdoors. You’re sitting with your loved one, nestled together on a picnic blanket, talking and eating delicious food. Ah, bliss. After all, they do say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and who’s to say it doesn't work for women either?!

Ideas:

• If you’re averse to cooking, bring leftovers and snacks, or persuade a good friend to do some cooking or baking for you. Maybe there’s a favour you can cash in...
• For the gourmet cook in training, wow your lover with all the amazing creations you can concoct. And please send me a care package in the mail!
• Try the local park for a picnic, OR if you want to do some impromptu camping, pitch a blanket fort in the middle of your living room or backyard and have a picnic there!

Perfect for... the ones with parents who want to keep an eye on them (behave yourselves, okay!), the foodies at heart and the timid adventurers!

Go nuts with a crazy photoshoot

Source: via Shelby on Pinterest

You’re naturally a comedienne, or you shine bright like a diamond. The spotlight has to be on you, babe! Grab a camera, pick a place and go nuts with your significant other. Take turns making funny faces, doing crazy poses, and rolling around on the ground. By the end of it, you’ll either hate each other for taking ‘stupid photos’ of you, or appreciate each other more for having a sense of humour and making you look better than you actually look great!

Ideas:

• If you have a Polaroid camera of some kind, go nuts with it! Shake it like a Polaroid picture (the photo and maybe your butt too!), and be the goofiest you can be with your sweetheart.
• Don’t have a camera of any kind? Do the crazy photoshoot anyway, but instead of taking photos, you get to make funny caricatures of each other! Artistic talent not needed!
• Have a friend trying to build a portfolio? Maybe you can rope him/her into taking your photos! Or just use a tripod or any stable surface for cheesy and hilarious couple photos!

Perfect for... people who shine bright like a diamond (Sorry, not sorry), laughing hyenas and trigger-happy photographers!

What do you think of those FIVE free date ideas?

I had a blast thinking of them, and we're going with Game The Night Away with the Xbox! Plus watching TV shows because we're homebodies like that. ;)

Feel free to add expensive elements to the dates (Like flowers? Diamonds? New camera?!), or to mix and match them as you will!

I hope this helped you with your Valentines day! 

And if you’re single, grab a friend or two and go on a big date anyway!

Let me know what you think in the comments below, through tweets or on Facebook! 

Stay beautiful,