A bucket list.

As morbid as this might sound, I want to make a bucket list!

Bucket lists are lists of things you want to accomplish before you... well, kick the bucket, I guess! You know those, "50 things to do before I die" kinda ones.

I don't think bucket lists are only for terminal cancer patients anymore. Everyone should learn to be a little more adventurous and live outside the box a bit! These days, everybody's just focused on their careers and studies and constantly GETTING SOMEWHERE in life (even me).

Life isn't about destinations, it's about JOURNEYS! Hahahah so cliche, I know! But you have to admit, it's kinda true.

Lots of people never get to do some of the things they dream of doing simply because they can't find the time, or they forget.

When you make a list... YOU MAKE A LIST. You put those things into perspective and it starts having some PRIORITY.

It's no longer a daydream, it's something you HAVE TO DO. And hopefully, it'll motivate you to seek out the opportunities!

No applause necessary! *tenkiu, tenkiu* Holy crap, should I consider a future career in motivational/inspirational speaking? Yes, no? *snorts* I'm just kidding.

I don't have a complete list planned out yet, I intend to make it up along the way.

But I've recently discovered, while watching some travel show on TV, that I REALLY want to try hang-gliding! Which is strange, considering I have an irrational fear of heights.

Hmm, do they have PINK hang-gliders??? 0=D

Bungee-jumping tends to be something that many people want to do, but not me. Weird, isn't it? I'd go for hang-gliding, but not bungee-jumping.

Oh, and DEFINITELY NOT sky-diving! I don't think I like the idea of jumping into emptyness, with nothing there to catch you. Doesn't that thought scare you?

I'm really not the daredevil sorta person at all. I also don't think I'd want to go up in a hot-air balloon... small space, fire, height... t-too many fears :S

I think snorkeling would be awesome too! But not scuba diving, for obvious reasons i.e. I can't bloody swim T_T Also, who doesn't have a fear of drowning??

Was NOT easy to find a snorkeling pic that didn't have any boobs/butt D:

I know, I know, the stuff I added to my list are really contradictory T_T And this is turning into a post about what I would NOT want to do T___T Even I can't understand it the way my mind works!

But at least I'm making an effort to overcome SOME fears! I think that's pretty much a big accomplishment already (Y)

Are there any things that you've got your heart set on trying at least once?

30 Seconds To Mars at SingFest 2010!!!

I've waited for this day, longed for it, dreamed about it... for more than 3 whole years.

If that sounds weird to you, it's because you don't know the true meaning of devotion. 

Click for MTV Asia blog article about SingFest.

But of all places, they choose to play in Singapore. At a FESTIVAL. 

That's practically like the F word of the Echelon vocabulary, it's that disgusting.

The dates are August 3rd to 5th. My 'O'-Level mock exams start on August 12th.

Is it too much to ask, for a 30 Seconds To Mars concert in my OWN home country, NOT at some impossible time???

I am going to beg my parents like no one has ever begged before. 
Because I've never wanted anything so much in my life. 

Welcome to the World, Jack!

"The Other Sister" - Lynda Sandoval - 2007

 

With the exception of a few stolen from my mother in middle school, I didn't start reading romance until maybe my sophomore year of college - "Whitney, My Love" started it all for me. Then it was onto all the big Avon names, and then the AAR Top 100, and an ongoing mission to hunt down desert island keepers. I didn't begin reading series romance until relatively recently 

and I find I turn to it when my attention span is short and my expectations are low. 

This isn't necessarily an insult, I've read a few really nice series stories, however they by definition are shorter and smaller in scope than contemporary single title romances. 

I also have a thing for the wrong sibling storyline

and will pick up any book featuring this plot, including a book with happy skiers on the cover...

Series romance, or maybe just the ones I gravitate to, usually take place in smaller communities. As someone currently living in a small town, I know that "Small Town America" is actually a fictional romanticized place existing only in novels and films.  Take Stars Hollow, CT from TV's Gilmore Girls, creator Amy Sherman found inspiration in the real hamlet of Washington Depot, CT. Yes, it's famous for it's town meetings, but is it overflowing with charming crazies and gruff but ruggedly handsome diner owners? Probably not.  As for romances, I tend to compare all contemporary authors against a Jennifer Crusie measuring stick.  She has a way of making fictional small-town Ohio seem like a place I'd love to live - Victorian homes, revival theaters that play Kurt Russell action films, local restaurants with tons of charm, and a store that sells gourmet ice cream!
The small town in "The Other Sister" is located in the Colorado high country, everyone knows everyone's business and they do something called, "Take Me, I'm Yours Day" once a month, which amounts to what we call "Big Trash Day" here in J-Town and it only happens once a year.  This town quirk amounted to little more than plot device, as about 85% of this book was about interior decorating. The other 15% was about the couple, and 100% to the dead older sister of the heroine, who also happened to be the platonic best friend of the hero. And when I say platonic, I mean the dead sister was gay, however I fell like this was more of a way to help the reader buy the storyline.  Sandoval kind-of tiptoed around the issue, and as much as I think you should have realistic and proud gay characters, this one seemed a way to show the hero never had feelings for the dead sister.  The older sister died in a prom night accident along with three other teens, the hero is one of four survivors returning back to the town he ran from eleven years before.   Although the author's note describes a real life tragedy that inspired her Return to Troublesome Gulch series (and that is a tragedy), I found the story a bit too preachy in the manner of after-school specials.  The dead sister supposedly brought the couple together, but I could never get past all the mentions of her.  Also, I absolutely hated the author's use of slang for both the adults and kids.  I'm sorry but putting something in quotes doesn't make it believable if it's not something a teenager would likely say in the first place.  I curse on a regular basis and my grammar is certainly less than perfect, but nothing turns me off faster than "lame" and "forced" dialogue. (See what I did there?) Oh well, the H/H were nice enough - I only wish they had a better story in which to fall in love.

Aspirations.

Today, I dragged myself out of bed at 6.30 am, fever, sore throat, runny nose and all, and was half an hour late for school.

I still feel like death warmed over, my nose is so stuffed that everything I say sounds like it starts with a letter H T___T Hair's huhink hi hate whore hand hallink hick! (3 stars for whoever knew what I said!)

We had career and higher education talks at school. Representatives from a few Malaysian universities came to brief us on their courses, and our options for the future.

I was once again faced with pondering a daunting dilemma. For years I've had my mind set on becoming a lawyer. Now, with each passing day, I become less and less certain.

When one of the speakers mentioned Nail Technology, my classmates voiced my name, and I felt a burst of pride. Obtaining recognition and appreciation for something you love doing has got to be one of THE best feelings IN THE WORLD.

I dream of becoming a manicurist, and opening my own nail parlour, and running the hottest nail blog in Malaysia.

I also dream of studying journalism, and becoming a writer, and writing for a Malaysian women's fashion magazine.

But I know these are both not papa-approved paths for my future. My parents, especially my dad, does not think these are acceptable careers for his could-be-brilliant daughter. My sisters are both Dr.'s, and I am naturally expected to aspire to something of similar caliber.

My parents only wish to see me succeed and they will do whatever necessary to help me achieve that. It is, essentially, flattering to know that they believe in me enough to think I can become a lawyer.

I don't know what my definition of success is yet. It's probably got something to do with money. When people say it's not about how much you make, it's about how happy you are, that's bullshit.

Life isn't always all about happiness, that I know now, unless you were born under a lucky star. It's about striking a balance and making sacrifices.

So, in order to not let my parents down, in order to strike that balance, I will become a lawyer. I will become successful and do well for myself and be able to support my parents in their old age. I will be able to afford a pair of Christian Louboutin's with my first paycheck.

This list is from a post I drafted in December 2009 titled "Aspirations":

1.) To own a pair of Christian Louboutins before I'm 30. (Bought with my own money, of course.)

Shoe-maker to the stars. 

2.) To become a paid blogger by the time I'm 20. (I suppose I already am kinda a paid blogger, having made a meager RM1.75 in my maiden week as a Nuffnanger.)

 

3.) To own and drive a pink car.

I think this would be like my perfect first car! Or I guess I could just get my sister's old Proton Wira spray-painted pink next year T_T

4.) To become an awesome lawyer with super chio clothes! (Errr...)

Not that I don't want to (become a lawyer), I do. Honestly, of all the "high-flying, papa-accepted" career choices, it's my favourite.

But I no longer dream of it every day the way I used to.

Do I choose to take a risk for happiness, or risk happiness for duty? This is my crossroads.

"Women Singer-Songwriters in Rock" - Ronald D. Lankford Jr. - 2010

I only read Chapter Three and skimmed the rest...

I didn't pay attention to the author and assumed it was a woman in her early 30's, 

but it's a dude.  And somehow that changes things.  

This book is an academic look at a few albums that sprung a blip of trend in the mid-90's.  I spent a good 5 minutes trying to remember how Patti Rothberg's single went - before I remembered I didn't care about that song in 96, and don't really care about it now. 

As for the book, I found the text analytical and cold.  It's not about great albums,  it's about women  breaking into the mainstream.  While I realize Sarah McLachlan is an important figure for this topic, I'm just not that interested in reading about my prom theme, "I Will Remember You"... 

Plus, this book was just recently published but he only mentions an extremely young Fiona Apple's  album "Tidal" without even a footnote about her later albums.

As for "Exile" he definitely approves - but the essay didn't tell me anything new - and in fact only succeeded in reminding me just how bad I feel Liz Phair's albums in the 2000's are.  

I still consider "Exile in Guyville" my favorite album, and if nothing else reading about it made me want to listen to it, and that's not a bad thing.

NOTD: Cherry candycanes %

Candy, candy, candycane!

Ask and you shall receive, my friends: more nails! Omg I'm like a factory :D Say hello to girly, pink nails that totally shout me! ♥

I've been wanting to do this manicure for like, 6 months! But because I can only do my nails every 3 months, I schedule all of it long in advance and I've only just found time for this now. Another Konad-less one :)

Elianto Nail Color - #33 Peach, SilkyGirl Ever Glossy - Snow White, Elianto Nail Color - #40 Twilight Zone and The Face Shop Nail Color - PK105.

Most of the photos were taken in the car during our Penang-KL drive, using my digicam's High Sensitivity setting (which makes it impossible to take blur photos no matter how much you shake!).

My sister's shades that I found in the glove box, which I don't think she really needs anymore... ;)

This was taken with my camera balanced on the dashboard and my hands pressed against the windscreen :P

For me, nail art started out as an experiment, something cool to try. Then it turned into a hobby, something fun to do. And then it became a passion, something I loved doing. And now it's firmly an addiction, something I can't live without.

You wouldn't believe the satisfaction and pleasure that doing my own nail art gives me. I will, one day, start my own nail blog. Without a shadow of doubt. Or I might just stop blogging about any other stuff here, cause I know most of you come just for the nails anyway! Pffft.

This is the original, done by Thriszha, which I fell in love with at first sight. I find it so fun how browsing nail blogs for me, is like shopping for nails cause most of the time, I'm capable of simply recreating whichever one I fancy.

Would you just look at the precision and control of ArtsyRN's strokes?? People like this make me realize that I have an immensely long way to go still in my manual nail art tutelage, but I will get there some day!!! Complacency (look that up in the dictionary if you must) is simply not an option.

You won't be seeing anymore NOTDs or KOTDs from me till September and trust me, I'm sadder than you are about this :( But oh well, every holiday that passes signifies one step closer to graduation, one step closer to me doing nails full-time!

I still dream of opening my own nail salon someday. That's how much I love doing this.

The small boobs issue.

(Not recommended for the few guys who lurk my blog, unless you're brave and empathic.)

I've had this in my Drafts for quite a long time now, but Jia Yee blogging about embracing her height gave me the boost I needed to finally post this.

Before I start, I'd like to say that I don't have anything against girls with big boobs. If you're born naturally busty, well good for you! 

But some of us girls aren't as fortunate.

Or at least I used to think a flatter chest was a misfortune, or even a curse. I even seriously considered getting plastic surgery or something to "correct" it.

Now I realize how silly I was, because there's no need to correct something that's perfect just the way it is, that needs no correction.

What's wrong with not having huge boobs? Absolutely nothing. Girls aren't made all the same, so we don't all have the same cup-size. Thus, there isn't just one size that is "acceptable" or "right".

If we (speaking on behalf of all late-bloomers) love our small boobs and are fine with it, what right does anyone have to tell us otherwise? None. We shouldn't have to be judged for something we have no control over.

The mentality that bigger boobs immediately equates to beauty is completely wrong. Not that girls with big boobs aren't beautiful, but all my life growing up I have been bombarded by the subconscious message that because I am flatter-chested, I am automatically not pretty enough.

That is so wrong, in so many ways. It is so wrong to let girls grow up thinking that boobs are all that matters. Valuing a girl merely by the size of her chest is demeaning and demoralizing.

Wanting bigger boobs is so often a self-esteem or confidence issue. And even more often, what other people think doesn't matter, because we are our own worst critics. You are the only one who can change your frame of mind, and decide that you are comfortable with what you were born with.

So lately, I've been searching for Hollywood stars who have smaller boobies just like me, and who are absolutely gorgeous. They are role-models to me because they are so confident, in a world where girls their age are hopping in and out of the plastic surgeon's office on a daily basis.

Dianna Agron (Glee).

Alessandra Ambrosio, far right (Victoria's Secret Angel).

AnnaLynne McCord (90210).

I have small boobs and I like 'em. For other girls with small boobs, you'll know how convenient they are too! Another useful thing is... you'll know a boy likes you for you, and not how well you fill out your tight shirt. And when you need cleavage, push-up bras come to the rescue. We have the best of both worlds!

In an image-obsessed world, surrounded by body-conscious teenagers and all sorts of peer pressure, I am a 16-year-old learning to love my body, just the way it is. I am beautiful, and you are too :)

Don't ever let anyone else, boy or girl, convince you otherwise, because that just makes them bitter, mean and sad for trying to put another person down.

Darryl: "I don't wanna marry a girl with huge boobs."

Me (obviously confused): "Huh, why?! I thought all guys like big boobs."

Darryl: "No, cause when they're old, it will landir (sag)."

BAHAHAHHAHAHAH wtf Darryl!!! (Forgot how we ended up talking about boobs in the first place. xD)

Want fake gigantic boobs? Nah.

Bedazzled Franken-tittays. How do you like that? Heidi Montag seriously needs to get herself a bigger bikini.

KOTD: Luxe leopard.

Meow.

My nails are... finally... longer!! *hyperventilates* I realize I haven't done a proper leopard print Konadicure since I've (somewhat) honed my skills, so no time like the present! They might be going out of style where fashion is concerned, but on nails they're still BOOMZ ;) (I couldn't not say it, you know that right? :D)

I am hopelessly in love with my leopard print nails! *sighs happily* They make my hands look like a million bucks. I added lotsa kuazhang Photoshop sparkles to the photos, cause I felt the pictures alone just couldn't do my nails justice!

This Konadicure was pretty fast, only 2 hours from beginning to end. I used dark brown polish over the lubangs in the Konad print to make it look more realistic and DIY (couldn't be bothered to do actual DIY).

I told my mom that she should be glad that I can do all this myself, because nails like these can cost RM50-100 at nail salons here. Then she said that if I didn't know how to do my own nails, I'd have to live with bare nails cause no way is she ever gonna pay that much for nails. Lucky me, then.

For a change, I took the photos on the balcony with the sea and Pulau Jerejak (not that you can really see them with my hand in the way, haha!) as a backdrop.

And these were indoors, underneath the orange bar lights.

Konad image plate M57.

My inspiration were these leopard print nails belonging to Rihanna. Except hers are like, professionally done acrylics and so many times more glam.

I'm cleaning off my leopard print nails now, and I'll be doing something pink and candy-caney next! Post will be up before the end of the week, so don't go far! :)

Until next time, happy Konad-ing!