Super Overdue: US HAUL!

I was supposed to do a huge post on all the stuff I bought in the US which I completely haven't delivered. Basically it's been taking me forever because I had to take the pictures (which are not so great) and then I had to edit them and then I had to write the actual post. All of which took some time because, as per usual, I am going through my perennial I-don't-know-what-the-hell-to-do-with-my-life phase.

But lately I think I've kind of figured out what I want to do SO here I am finally writing this post. That and the fact that because I did a chemical peel today I'm at home from work. BTW chemical peels hurt like HELL.

So let's get to it - I'm going to do it store by store.

Online Shopping Haul

Nordstrom
Nordstrom was one of the stores that actually let me buy stuff with a non-US credit card. The initial plan was to go crazy shopping at Sephora online but I was completely thwarted by their US credit card only policy. In any case Nordstrom totally came through and I bought the following MAC staples. Oh yeah, MAC also totally rejects non-US/Canadian credit cards.

So this is the MAC 116 Blush Brush. I got it because it was recommended by Temptalia as a good brush for blush beginners which I definitely am. It has actually totally lived up to its reputation, its easy to pat on the blush and then sweep it to blend. The brush is a good medium size and is quite flat.

This is the MAC 219 Pencil Brush which is supposed to work as a precise crease brush and also as way to work color near the tearducts. Note that I wrote supposed. So far I've found it kind of difficult to work this. It's just so conical shaped and kind of fat that I find it difficult to do anything really precise with it.

This is the MAC 217 Blender Brush. For the longest time I thought this was completely useless because I initially bought it to be a crease brush but its way to big to work on my eye. It does however make a really invaluable blending brush especially when working with dark colors.

The MAC 239 Shader Brush which is like The Holy Grail or as beauty fanatics like to put it HG of all eye brushes. You can really just use this for everything and its just the perfect brush because it gives you a lot of control and you can just pack the color on. It's mentioned on basically every single beauty blog and its totally worth the price. I use it every single day.

Ebay
Again, as the result of not being able to use my credit card in different places I turned to Ebayyyyyyyyyyy. I bought Be Curly which is essential in my hair taming regimen and I also bought this amazing product:

Urban Decay Primer Potion - it makes my eyeshadow stay put all day long and works like a dream in humid Malaysia. Totally lives up to the hype.
























Amazon

Ok I bought Ella Enchanted because my cousins have borrowed this book and never given it back and I loved it as a child and seriously they totally know I want it back and I don't know what the hell is wrong with them.























So this is Benefit's High Brow, which is basically a matte light, light pink pencil that you're supposed to put under your eyebrows to make the shape really pop. It's actually got a really nice creamy texture. I find that it's a little cool on my skin but I'm sure if you're fairer or basically... white it's pretty good. But as long as I blend it well it looks pretty good.



























Now for when I actually got to the U.S.

Dillards
Dillards was actually super fun because the people there were really nice and it basically had everything anyone would need but it wasn't huge and overwhelming which was nice. Only thing, the clothes were fairly hideous. Especially the prom dresses.

Got these Steve Madden sunglasses because I've been looking for like Eurotrash sunnies that are not too glittery or monocle like. These are great they're a little CRon, a little aviator and they look goooood on.



























I got super excited when I found out there was this Lancome special where if I bought stuff worth $32 I would get this free bag and lipstick and some other stuff. Anyway what I did buy where these two eyeshadows above, they are Color Design Eyeshadow in Exhibition and Kitten Heel. To be honest they really don't blend well and don't stand out that much. So they were pretty much $17 a pop disappointments. But I do wear them... so I guess its ok.

Here's the GWP (Gift with Purchase) I got!
















































































I got a Lancome eco friendly bag, a makeup bag, a lipstick (kinda pulls a bit too orange on me - should be good with lipgloss), a dark brown eyeliner, Hypnose mascara (yaay!) and the most gorgeous Juicy Tube- the color is apparently Pink Horizon. Sorry the swatches are so crappy, it was a really cloudy time so I wasn't getting much light. That and I can't take pictures.

Walmart


These are the Revlon luxurious single eyeshadows which I've mentioned before. Technically I bought one of them at CVS and the other two at Walmart but whatever. They're pretty sheer but they are super pretty and really soft and easy to work with. Totally worth the $4.99 pricetag. I got the Perle and Satin finishes. I know a lot of people don't like to wear shiny/glittery eyeshadows on a daily basis but it's like then why bother wearing make-up at all? Plus I think maybe because I have a darker skin color I can get away with more glitter. Right?

Kohl's

I bought this shirt because my Mom made me. Anyway it does look super cute on and I wear it to work pretty much once a week.






















This backpack was super cheap like $20 and I was tired of carrying my Eddie Bauer sling bag around because my back was killing me so I got this crazy pink Adidas backpack. I know I totally look like a kid when I carry it but its so comfy and carries everything so perfectly that I don't care.






















Sephora




























I was looking forward to going to Sephora more than anything else when I found out I was going to the US. I know... but still! It was actually quite awesome mostly because I could actually buy things like Nars and Urban Decay. Also though I didn't buy any, Stila's eyeshadows are beautiful.



I didn't really want this. What I wanted was the Naked Palette but that wasn't going to happen because its only been released like now. So I got this instead. It's really pretty and all but I have two issues with it. I don't think the colors really pop that well on me and also the ones that have glitter have major glitter fallout which means I can only wear them at night. Which sucks ASS.


This is probably one of the best things I bought. It's a Nars Blush in Lovejoy and its this reddish brown blush with gold shimmer. Not flecks of glitter like Orgasm but just shimmer. I thought Nars would be too shiny for my oily skin but it actually looks amazing on, even if I do have to use a light hand.




















Target!

I went insane in Target because of two reasons: 1. It is awesome. 2. It was like down the road. ANYWAY I got a shit ton of stuff which included...

A black Mossimmo dress. Such a pretty dress on me. I know its super plain and I actually have no idea where or when I'm going to wear it given how casual my job is but I really don't care because it makes my body look beautiful.
























I bought 3 Loreal Voluminous mascaras because it actually does live up to its hype. Yes it seriously clumps but its also $5 and gives volume to my lashes without because trashy. And its $5.
















Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss. Because my mother told me to buy it.


































































I got Sonia Kashuk's eyebrow comb and sharpener, Tweezerman hella expensive ($25!) tweezers and Goody's ouchless hair bands, hair clips, hair pins and scrunchie things. Great staples to have. I've been using the Tweezerman tweezers everyday since I got it. Ditto on the rest.

Store in the The World of Coca Cola in Atlanta

The t-shirt doesn't fit me even though its a bloody medium... the postcards are cute though. Not quite sure who to send it to...





That's pretty much it. I'm really broke post all the indulgent shopping but I really couldn't help myself since I probably wont be going Stateside anytime soon. Here's a picture of ALL the stuff!

EOTD: Brownnnn

So I recently bought ANOTHER Revlon Luxurious Eyeshadow (I now have 4) because I totally need a matte brown for this wedding I have to go to in 2 weeks. The reason being is because I need to look perfect because the main reason I'm going to this wedding is so I can be paraded around in front of aunties with eligible sons.

So anyway today for work I tried out the Revlon Luxurious Eyeshadow in Rich Sable (Matte) and patted Urban Decay's Smog in my inner crease and for the highlighter under my eyebrow I used Revlon Luxurious Eyeshadow in Sunlit Sparkle (Perle). I looked pretty bad in person, like someone punched me in the face but way up close in dim lighting and also on camera, it looks pretty good - so here's the picture.

I'm going to figure out something for the wedding that's less black eye. Also FYI, the Perle and Satin shadows have a much better formula than the Matte Shadows do. But still they're definitely value for money buys.

Equilibrium

It's funny but sometimes I think that when one person is happy, the other person with them is unhappy. Or at least less happy.

I find that when I'm extremely upset or confused or whatever people around me become compliant, nice, supportive and pretty much ok. When I become ok, the people around me become irate, melancholy, etc. etc.

I just came out of two weeks of feeling like crap and just so frustrated. I feel good now. I kind of know what direction I should be heading in. Just as I'm settling and become at peace with myself I find that the people around me are warring with themselves.

At work a colleague who I have never seen upset is so unhinged and at home the siblings are making a mess of themselves.

I don't know why this happens. Maybe it's like a universal law of keeping things balanced. So that even when one person is completely happy you have to be aware of other people's pain? I'm not sure. But it kind of sucks.

I'm 24!!!

I turned 24 on the 5th of August (AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and it turned out to be one of the best days I've had in a long time.

Recently, as evidenced by my blog posts, I've been majorly angsty because I basically I HAVE NO IDEA what the hell I want to do in life. As in my career. So I talked to my old boss and the new boss and the parents and and and... it just got messy, in my head. Should I be a teacher? Should I do corporate comm? Should I write? Should I do HR? And everything is just as valid an option as the other.

But RJ, the boss put some things into perspective, about adapting my expectations. The new boss says that I am logical and that I need a degree of freedom in my work. And then there's me who knows I can't do 18 hour days and who knows that I need a certain amount of money to function happily in life. There's the fact that I like glamor and recognition but also need a somewhat balanced life. Also I must get past the fact that I have a certain ahem, problem, with authority.

Anyway after much soul searching and sleepless nights I've decided to apply to do a Masters in Mass Communications at Nanyang Technological University which would start next August. In the meantime I'm going to explore freelance writing and keep my eyes peeled for corp comm jobs in multinationals. And I'm going to chill, go with the flow and also try not be so in my head all the bloody time.

Wait - back to my birthday. I was feeling super sorry for myself the day before my birthday because I thought no one would give a shit and that I wouldn't get any presents or whatever. Anyway it turns out basically everyone remembered, thanks in part to Facebook, and I got like wish after wish after wish on Facebook and in person. One of the lecturers bought me my favorite Starbucks beverage, a Caramel Macchiato, and the parents came through which money (hee!) and a delicious dinner at Delicious. We had salad, pesto spaghettini with grilled chicken and banoffee pie and banana pudding with vanilla ice cream for dessert. It was amazing. Also Katie totally called while I was at dinner and Cilla remembered to email despite having to work for 13 and a half hours on the day.

So that entire day I just felt completely suffused with love. It was just lovely. I really just want to thank my family, friends, colleagues and God for making it a fantastic day. Here's to 24! May I be less confused and more thankful!

God. Help. Me.

Today I went to meet my old boss from my PR firm days. I needed to meet her because I need life guidance. Because right now my job? Not the one I want. The friend scene. Dry. The boyfriend scene? Bone dry. I can't figure out what I even want to do even if I had absolutely no restrictions in life. Can't even come up with a dream job - because I don't know what my dream is.

I've wanted to be a teacher for so long that when I finally realized that wasn't what I wanted to do I became lost. I tried... actually god knows what my first job was about, I tried PR and now I do advising and a whole lot of admin and it sucks. I mean I guess it doesn't inherently suck but it sucks because it's not what I'm supposed to do.

RJ, my ex boss, says that I have very high expectations and that I should probably lower them. I disagree. I think she's right that I have unrealistic expectations but I think that maybe I have to amend them instead of lowering them.

Before I can do that I need to, in her words, figure out what drives me and also what my goals are. My Dad also thinks that I need to note down what I cannot compromise on, ex. sleep.

I keep playing the hour long conversation I had with RJ in my head. I feel like she didn't completely get me or who I am. But at this point that doesn't even matter because I'm the one who has to know me and figure me out and decide what I want to do. I need to put down on paper what I'm thinking. Do a SWOT comparison for my life. And just figure shit out. But also stop overanalyzing and go with the flow. Right.

RJ said that I could be one of those people who just goes from job to job. But I know that I can't do that. I also know that I can't go back to hardcore PR. Where the fuck does that leave me?

Before I went to see her I was so convinced that I was going to go to NUS, do my MBA, join some bank and do internal corporate comm. And now I think I could still do all those things but they're just shots in the dark because I have no idea what I want or why I want it.

Oh god. Help me.