NOTD + Starting back up!

Hi everyone!

I'm planning on jump starting my blog in light of changes in my life that have happened recently. My boyfriend of 4 years moved to Colorado for work (he left exactly one week ago), I'm starting 15 units of school for the first time ever, and I'm trying to lose weight (25lbs-ish), and getting braces! haha. There is a lot of stuff going on in my life right now, and I'm going a little crazy only spending time with my mom. I'll be writing in this blog writing about my life, what I buy or do, or anything I'm having trouble with. 

Unfortunately, I don't put on full faces anymore, to be honest, but I do my nails all the time. So I'll be posting about my manicures and/or about any purchases I make! Either way, I want to get this started up and reconnect with some people. 

To get this started, here is my manicure I did yesterday. Sadly, my ring finger shifted a bit on the tip because of how much polish was piled on, haha. Either way, I love painting my penguin nails!

What I used: OPI Natural Nail Strengthener, Essie Sew Psyched, Art Club in Yellow, Nail Ritz pen in black, and Seche Vite. 

Anyway, that's all I have for this entry. I look forward to hearing from any readers still out there (lol) and restarting this blog back up! 

Snickerdoodles!

I was in the mood for some sugary cookies. I was craving sweet (not not too sweet) and crunchy but still soft cookies. I searched through FoodGawker and came across this recipe. It worked rly well for me, I was surprised! Super nummy. The bf had never had Snickerdoodles before, but he sure likes them now!

You will need:
1 1/3 cup (180 grams) all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (110 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the coating you'll need:
1/5 cup (30 grams) granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line your baking sheet if you wish. I used my Silpat.

3. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

4. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until smooth (about 3 minutes).

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
(I left mine out for way too long, it was too melted.. Ugh)

It should be smooth and creamy. Mine isn't because the butter's too melted.

5. Add the egg and the vanilla extract and beat well.

6. Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough.

7. My dough was too soft from the too-soft butter, so I had to chill it for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, I made my coating. Just mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl.

8. I shaped the dough into a log before it chilled. So, take it out and cut into equal pieces.

Roll into balls

Dip and cover with coating

9. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.

10. Flatten each cookie with the bottom of a cup. I used my measuring cup.

11. Bake for about 8 minutes, depending on the size. But after 8 minutes, they are a bit soft still.. so bake 1-2 minutes longer if you like crispy cookies.

The finished product!

I hope you enjoyed my first baking blog entry (: Baking goodies isn't that great for me wanting to lose weight, so I'm not sure how often this will happen "/ But I'll try to do something whenever I can! (: Let me know if you try the recipe and how it goes for you!

Getting into Gear

Sorry for my prolonged absence, ladies.
I've been working two jobs and trying to maintain a clean apt (thanks to living to two boys, it's a LOT of a work). I'm working at my dad's private school again since he FIRED the bitch that fired me.. (: And then I'm hostessing at my dad's restaurant (East 180). That shit is TIRING.

Anyways.
The reason for this post was to write about my weight. I haven't been taking many pictures of myself lately because I don't like how it looks. I've noticed my face is a bit chubbier along the jawline. I finally weighed myself after about 3 months. I haven't had a scale in my vicinity since we moved out of our "small house" in December, back to our "big house." My trainer and I went to the big ass scale at the gym, and it said 133. Oh. My. God. I was kind of upset on the inside. I don't know how I got this bad. I kept thinking about how I used to be 108. Or 115 after I gained some muscle mass from working out 4x a week.

Well. It was a wake up call, and I'm seriously going to get into gear. I'm scheduled to work out at the gym twice a week, AND the bf and I will start taking walks or short runs. I've never been a runner, so we'll build up to running/jogging eventually.

Okay, I know that picture-less posts kind of suck, so I fooled around with my new Macbook (for work only ;p) so here are a few silly pictures!

My Kitty Kouture compact! (: I loooooveee

My mommy came to visit me at my apt. this weekend, and she brought my baby, Icee! hehe. Sorry for the darkness, though ):

I'm going to try try try and update more. I feel so guilty since I lurk, ha. But okay. Have a great Tuesday, girls!

Btw, did anyone watch GOSSIP GIRL LAST NIGHt?!?!?! OMgggg, haha. Lonely boy is soooo annoying!

Woo!!

My phone lines, Time Warner (ew!) DVR, and INTERNET is set up now in my new apartment!! I have not taken any pictures because it's still messy ): Well, my room is. The outside living room/kitchen/dining room is pretty damn immaculate kuz I'm crazy OCD like that! Grr.

Anywho. I unpacked half of my clothes, most of my shoes and purses, and makeup already. But I haven't unpacked my books, or my desk. I didn't realize I just have SO MUCH SHIT. Gah! I blame my hoarding mom, haha. I just collect little things.. ugh. I'll be sure to take pictures once everything in my room is neat. It's just such a hassle, trying to find space for my shit AND the bf's. He keeps throwing his socks and clothes EVERYWHERE when he comes home.. stinky boys.

Things are looking up for me, for the most part!
1. My dad said I'm getting a slight raise! No more 12/hr pay.
2. Both my brother and I are getting a bonus at the end of the month, considering our move out.
3. My dad is signing over both of our cars (my BMW, and his Caddy).
4. (and most importantly), my dad has been really, really, really, uncharacteristically nice to us. It's nice.

Since I have internet at home now, I'll be posting more (hopefully!). But my stinky brother stole my old crappy webcam so that he can "chat" (o_O) with his sort of girlfriend, but not really girlfriend (it's complicated). So I guess I'll look into buying a newer, better one, that I can clip on my laptop.

Oh and I'm getting my 6th tattoo next Thursday night. I was scheduled to get it YESTERDAY, but I rescheduled because I'm not completely sure what I want to get yet. My list of tattoos I want still is..

1. Swallow/sparrow. Not sure which design I like, since there are soo many variations of both. I'm leaning more towards a realistic looking swallow. Black and white. I just don't know where I want it, so I think I'll hold off for a while longer.
2. A dia de los muertos skull, or a sugar skull. I haven't found a style that I like yet, and the placement I want for it.. it isn't the right timing. I'm thinking of putting it on my inner bicep.. not my right hip. The bf says that I'll look weird with tattoos on both sides of my body.. I think it has something to so with my OCD need to balance out things. -shrug- I'm waiting for this one too.
Which brings me to.. 3. I've been obsessed about Coheed for the last I-don't-know-how-many months. They were my first real concert experience, and it was fucking awesome, to say the least! They're a band that's really true to themselves and is never fazed by stupid comments and people calling them "emo," which they clearly are not! Also, who wouldn't love a CONCEPT BAND? With 4 concept albums out?! Mm, talent. Anyways, I was planning on getting a string of lyrics on right side. Starting sort of on my back ribs and coming to the side of my stomach. I was thinking "Man your own jackhammer!!" with a little dragonfly, but people keep telling me that it sounds sexual. Boo. I just LOVE that song.. a lot (In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3). Now I'm just looking into awesome, more obscure lyrics of theirs. I'm just excited to be getting more ink.

Wow, this post went way longer than I had intended.. But I'll hopefully have a post up tonight or tomorrow. I picked up my HK stuff. It's not much, but I wasn't interested in many products. I'm waiting for my Kouture compact next month! HEHE.

Quick Answer

Lyan -- The Kitty House is in Irvine, by Walnut and Jeffrey. It's next to Taiko and Yogurtland. I noticed last time I went that they have those cue pictures too. haha!

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Hi!! I just stumbled across your blog when I was searching for reviews on too faced pinpoint mascara. I am Chinese with straight thin lashes and have been using benefits badgal which is decent but uncurls. I live on the east coast and I really adore your make-up. Can you help?! I need a liner for the bottom of my lashline (the rim) a nice everyday pink beige gloss definately a good mascara and a good blush. Have you tried the tarte cheek stain? What do you recommend :(? Thanks. You are über pretty!

Hello. Badgal doesn't hold much of a curl for me, that's why I never use it. The mascara that I recommend for anyone and pretty much everyone is Katie B's Faux Lash Mascara. It did wonders for me, and I've been using it for over 3 years. For my waterline, I use also use Katie B's eyeliner. It's a bit pricey, but it is the least smudging eyeliner I've ever used. I'm not sure what I can recommend for you regarding a pinky-beige lip gloss. I recently bought Dior Addict lip gloss in Lacy Apricot. It's a pretty peach-y color, and I love it. With blushes, I'm really picky. NARS Orgasm is a good color. I usually use MAC's mineralize blush in Nuance for my everyday looks. Sorry, but I'm not much of a blush collector. I've tried the Tarte cheek stain in Sephora, but I never really liked it. The blending is sort of weird, and I don't really like putting sticky stuff on my cheeks. I hope this helps you. Thanks for reading!