New Job!

YAY! After working 6 years in a crap (but easy and very flexible) retail job - I finally have a new job! Guess what it is?

A manicurist for the salon Nail Tech!

Well actually, I am an apprentice. A lot of people don't now you can work at a salon without a license. In truth you can work as an apprentice, learning on the job, but there should only be one apprentice at a time. You can also work with a permit and work towards getting your license. (It kinda makes me wonder what a license is for though? I guess to say "Yes, I know what I'm doing. I'm a PRO.") Where I live, there are no nail schools. The only way to learn to do nails in school is to take a full cosmotology course, learning nails, make up, and hair. Although I enjoy styling hair, I don't have an interest in actually cutting it. Plus, a lot of times you have to go to school for such long hours that you can't work a job. You end up paying money instead of making it!

So why a manicurist? Well painting nails is a hobby of mine, and I really enjoy doing designs. I was a real artist in high school, so I guess it stems from that. I would go to work with my nails done at my old job and it would go a lot like this:

(except I'm not a man, and I worked retail, not in a restaurant, lol!)

Customers would get really excited and ooh and ah over my nails. They would ask me where I got them done, and when I said I did them or made them, they got so confused! "What? What do you mean?" I mean I did them, duh! Its not like only people at salons can paint nails!

Sadly, being a manicurist is really not as fabulous as some make it out to be. First off, I can't have my nails done! T_T I have to have my hands in acetone way too much. Maybe in the future I can do more acrylic than manis and pedis, and I may be able to do my nails then. Also, I have to wear khakis and a white shirt. They want us to look professional, but I'm hoping I can make it fashionable too.

Fashion Snap: Momoko Love

I meant to catch up on some things I mentioned in my update before posting about anything somewhat recent - but oh wells. I decided to go ahead with this tiny outfit post and talk about what has been inspiring me  in fashion lately. I still haven't had any time to do decent make up or hair : / I am SO looking forward to late June and July, so I will have time to go all out!

Here is a quick snap from last Saturday:

Jacket: Marshalls

Shirt: Target

(too big) Skirt and Earrings: Thrifted

Necklace and bracelet: borrowed

Shoes: Top Fashion (I used to get all my favorite shoes from there, but they closed down! :c)

 Outfit Inspo:

I have been picking inspiration outfits lately, since I have been feeling rather rusty with my coords. I've been adoring Momoko lately. Its really only natural, since I adore monotone. Although I hate yellow, it does look nice in a mono outfit. I originally wanted to wear a long black lace skirt, but I left it at the bf's house so I had to change to the slightly too big tulle skirt.

I would not say that I have changed my style, because I am always interested in multiple styles at once. However lately I have been loving Mode - and almost strictly Murua inspired outfits. Its a fairly big change of interests for me, especially when paired with the Mode lack of extravagant hair and make up. But I have been wanting a more adult look, and Mode just feels right~

What have I been DOING?!

Hey, it Friday the 13th! Wow, it has been QUITE a while since my last post! Since I left off saying I had to take a hiatus because I was sick - don't worry I'm not dead! I got over all that nasty mucus-y crap about two weeks after my hiatus post. So what have I been doing in the meantime? Well, quite a lot. I have been incredibly busy, and it looks to only get more so over the next couple of months. Here is a glance at whats been going on in the last month or so.

SPRING ARRIVED

  Picture of the slightly wilted dogwoods in my front yard.

SHOPPING

Not too much, but I have a few gets to share with you.

CONSTRUCTION

My uncle's friend stayed with us (specifically, in my room - so I stayed at the bf's most of the time) for about a week and did a bunch of repairs around the house. Including adding a lighted vent fan and huge mirror to our bathroom. You can see the tiny old pathetic mirror leaning against the wall in the background


EXERCISING

I've decided to jump back on the exercise band wagon since I will be in a wedding in June, and want non-flabby arms! I've been doing EA Sports Active 2 four days a week. While I haven't lost weight, I'm really noticing more muscle definition. Especially in my arms! Yay!




PAINTING

I did a mural in my older sister's nursery. This is just a small peek of what I did, but there are paintings on every wall. I will do a full post later showing you everything~

HARDCANDY HOUSE

Myself modeling some hch jewelry I made. Rin's new camera has a "beautiful skin" setting - its amazing!

Although you wouldn't know it by looking at our blog, hch has been very busy! We have submitted our portfolio to a couple conventions, and we are planning on selling at a local con the first weekend in June. We also have had about three different commissions in the past few weeks!

NEW NEPHEW

My nephew arrived two weeks early at about 6:30 Easter morning! His name is Brooks, and he is 19", 8.1lbs. I'm still really in wonder about him - my sister had been married for almost 10 years before she got pregnant. I had honestly given up on her ever having children!

PREPPING FOR A WEDDING

The invite and some of flowers I made.

In June one of my best friends, Ellen, will be getting married, and I am her maid of honor. Although she has handled most of the prep work for the wedding (she is going into event planning), I've been doing some work for it too. I am making a fascinator for Ellen to wear on her special day, along with making small hair accessories for myself and the other brides maid's, and making flowers to add to the bridal party's shoes.

All in all, I haven't had much time to even get on the computer, much less blog. There hasn't been too much to talk about in my life, and I certainly haven't looked cute lately. I have, however, written up a few reviews and beauty posts. Posting will still be very very slow for the next couple of months, until after the wedding is over. I am a bit stressed about how full my schedule has become. I have plans for every single weekend in May, and in June I have a convention the weekend before the wedding! When all this is over I can't wait to take a week off and just do whatever I want to do! I've kinda missed blogging, and I REALLY miss looking cute.

♪♫grimmy

Thanks!...and hiatus

It didn't escape my notice...

Thank you 50 followers! <3

I'm glad some people may find this blog kinda interesting - I've been so boring lately!

And I'm afraid it will continue to be dead for a while, as I am (and kinda already have been) on a computer hiatus. I have been very sick for the past three weeks. My fever's have finally stopped, and I am on my second dose of antibiotics. Right now I mostly have a lot of congestion. I have mucus coming from my nose, throat, and even my eyes! Gross! So while I'm not photo-worthy, I am taking time to get myself better.

In the meantime, what would you like to see more of on this blog? 

What would you like to see more of on this blog?

• Personal Posts
• Product Reviews
• Fitness/ Health Tips
• Beauty Tips
• Outfit/ Hair/ Make Pics

Acepolls

More polls: Dating polls gzm Iphone accessories

I'm prepared to blog about any of the subjects, and have already started writing some. I will (hopefully) evetually get around to posting in all those categories, but I want to know what interests you the most. Maybe if I get votes soon I can start working on posts during my hiatus.

Really wanna see something else? Leave a comment,

♪♫grimmy

Have a Nerdy V-day!

Happy Valentine's day! I'm not doing anything special today. I had my "special day" lazing around with my boyfriend yesterday. We watched Up and Monsters, Inc. on the Disney Channel and ate in. <3 Just got off work - man, we sold so many heart balloons! I'm going to spend the rest of tonight relaxing.

Took some cute pictures for hardcandy house on Saturday.

Check out what my boyfriend got me for Valentine's! I do really like Star Wars, but I'm not as into as I used to be. But how can anyone resist a blinged Darth Vador?!

Speaking of Star Wars, I've been playing the MMO more, and I actually like it. It can't replace Ragnarok in my heart, but its fun. Although I have a hard time playing because I am such a loner! I don't like playing with strangers, so I never do the quests that require groups. >.>;;

Here are some crappy pictures I took! : D

My character. I wanted to be Light Side, but literally EVERYONE I know that plays the game is Dark Side. So I am a Sith Warrior Marauder.

I guess this was more of a nerd post than one about love, haha. But Valentine's isn't a big deal for me. The only thing I really care about is the chocolate lol.

Hope everyone has a great V-day!

♪♫grimmy

Product Review: Sultra, The Wicked Styling Iron

I wanted to tell you about a new hair iron that my sister got recently. Its The Wicked Wave & Straight One-Inch Iron by Sultra. 

This iron is one inch wide, uses Kryocera Ceramic Technology and heats up to 375°F. Sultra claims that this iron will repair your hair with infrared rays. They also guarantee that you can get the look you want with just one pass of this iron.

A very unique feature this iron has, that I've never seen before, is that the ceramic plates move. This is supposed to help prevent snags, and ensure constant even heat. 

The plates also have no gap, and can be squeezed even closer to get your hair pin straight.

un-squeezed

 squeezed close!

I've used it a couple of times, so here is what I think!

PROS

♪Heats up EXTREMELY FAST. Maybe about 5 seconds.

♫Absolutely no snags! This is the smoothest hair iron I've ever used!

♪True to its word, I was able to get my hair done in a single pass.

♫The rounded edges of the iron made it easy to get the curl I wanted.

CONS

♪The power switch is on the inner side of the iron, and is a bit awkward to get to.

♫There is no temperature setting, which I strongly dislike. I have easily damaged hair so I usually use a low heat setting. Sultra claims the ceramic will self adjust its heat according to your hair type, and that it actually repairs your hair. I don't believe that for a minute - heat is bad for your hair, there is no way around it. Even if it may be able to self adjust its heat, I want to be the one choosing what heat level.

♪At $165, this iron is a bit pricey.

Here is a quick curling style I did. No styling or products( and no make up)! Just me and my freshly curled hair!

I was able to finish my hair very quickly - maybe 10 - 15 minutes. Normally its an hour!

I do like this hair iron. It was the smoothest, tug free process I've ever had with an iron. But I am not especially tender headed, and I am far more concerned about the health of my hair. Not being able to adjust the temperature is an absolute no go, and it is more than I would like to spend on a hair iron. I will not be purchasing The Wicked for myself (though I may borrow it from my sister occasionally, haha). I do, however, recommend this for those who are very tender headed, short on time, or can afford it!

♪♫grimmy

Recent Gets, +1 Outfit, and Stuff

Posting has been slow going for me lately. Although I do have some pictures to catch up on, not a whole lot has been going on. Work has been scheduling me on days I'm not available. The weather has mostly been too rainy to let me wear all the outfit I've been thinking up to go with my new wedges. I haven't even been able to wear lashes or lenses much lately because my eyes have been tearing up so badly. I guess that's what spring is about - rain and allergies. ):

But I did buy some things recently, and I was able to squeeze in one decent outfit on Tuesday!

 I bought a dress from Target, salad dressing and chocolate from my favorite Japanese restaurant, and nailpolishes. My mother bought me a maxi length cardigan that I am so happy with! I can mark that off my "to buy" list. She really got a great deal too. When she looked at it around Christmas it had been $60, and she got it for $12!

 New nailpolishes. The silvery one is actually a very light sparkly lavender that I'm in love with.

 And my not-so-sweet Japanese chocolate. 

And here is the outfit I squeezed in Tuesday. I only wore it out to grab a quick bite of food and to go to Target, but I was so happy to get to wear my new wedges and dress! I have a really awkward character hair, and my "everyday make up", so lets just focus on the clothes. >.>; Oh I cut my hair too! Its been about a month lol, and you probably can't tell because my hair looks stupid in these pictures. It is quite a bit shorter now (doesn't touch my shoulders), and it is longer in the front than the back.

Outfit rundown:

Cardigan: Target

Necklace: Party City

Dress: Target

Bracelet: Party City

Tights: Party City

Shoes: Target

lol Half Party City and half Target. I did feel a smidge awkward wearing this into Target, haha.

SPEAKING OF TARGET.

I'm sure a lot of you have seen Target's new mini collection from Jason Wu. I overall don't care a bit about designers, since it is too expensive for me. Also, they usually run too small for me, so on the rare occasions when I have actually wanted a piece, it doesn't fit anyway. I usually don't pay much attention when Target gets new designer items, but when I saw Sara Mari post about the collection I fell in love with some of the items.

The cat mascot is absolutely darling, and I thought the blouse matched up well with some gal trends. But what I really wanted was this purse:

I love monotone, and I've wanting a satchel purse for a while, so I really fell hard for this purse.

I did go to Target on the Jason Wu premier day, but at 4 when I finally got off work. I could not find any of the accessories. I went again at 8am the next day before work and asked an employee about it since online it said that particular store still had some in stock. She checked and the system said there were 4 in stock, but after asking around we got several confirmations that all the Jason Wu accessories had sold out premier morning. Yet online still said they had some in stock for several days before finally saying sold out.

All I can say is,"DAMN YOU!" *shakes fist*

♪♫grimmy