Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Wish you a wonderful holiday season this winter, and hope that wherever you are, you'll be blessed with joy and happiness that only comes with the blessed season of thanksgiving and love. :) God Bless! <3 Joanne.

Rudolf the red nose reindeer - Boa Version (Jap/Kor/Eng)

With two (online) friends of mine, we sang the Rudolf the red nose reindeer (Boa version). It opens up with Japanese, then Korean, and then close with English. It's not perfect, since we were all busy and didn't have too much time to do it. Also, we couldn't really find a true instrumental for it either, so I think you can hear some Boa in the background....anyway, we tried and we're just trying to share the joy this Christmas brings with all of you :)

oh and you can always listen to my attempts at these songs by clicking on the title of the song in the PODICS player to your left!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! :D

(W) 훼란

(JJ) 쭈찡

(Jo) 죠앤 <~ me! :P


워우워우워-

-Japanese-

真っ赤なお鼻の トナカイさんは
맛카나오하나노 토나카이상와
새빨간 코의 루돌프사슴은
いつもみんなの わらいもの
이츠모민나노 와라이모노
언제나 모두의 웃음거리
でもその年の クリスマスの日
데모소노토시노 크리스마스노히
그렇지만 그 해의 크리스마스날
サンタのおじさんは いいました
산타노오지상와 이이마시타
산타 할아버지는 말했습니다

暗い夜道は ぴかぴかの
쿠라이요미치와 피카피카노
어두운 밤길은 반짝이는
おまえの鼻が 役に立つのさ
오마에노하나가 야쿠니타츠노사
너의 코가 도움이 될거야

いつも泣いてた トナカイさんは
이츠모나이테타 토나카이상와
언제나 울었던 루돌프사슴은
今宵こそはと よろこびました
코요이코소와토 요로코비마시타
오늘밤이야말로 기뻤습니다

-Korean-

루돌프 사슴코는 매우 반짝이는 코
만일 네가 봤다면 불붙는다 했겠지
다른 모든 사슴들 놀려대며 웃었네
가엾은 저루돌프 외톨이가 되었네

안개낀 성탄절날 산타 말하길
루돌프코가 밝으니 썰매를 끌어주렴

그후론 사슴들이 그를 매우 사랑했네
루돌프 사슴코는 길이길이 기억되리

-English-

Rudolph, the red-nose reindeer, had a very shiny nose
루돌프, 빨간 코의 순록은 매우 빛나는 코를 가지고 있었지
And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows
그리고 네가 그걸 보게 된다면 아마 빛난다고 말할꺼야
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names
모든 다른 순록들은그의 이름을 부르며 웃곤했지
They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games
그들은 가여운 루돌프와 놀아주지 않았어

Then,one foggy Christmas eve, Santa came to say
안개 낀 크리스마스 이브에 산타가 와서 말하길
"Rudolph with your nose so bright Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"?"
" 루돌프의 코가 밝으니 오늘밤 나의 썰매를 끌어주지 않겠니?

All of the reindeer loved him As they shouted out with glee
모든 사슴들은 그를 매우 사랑했고 그들은 기뻐서 외쳤지
"Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, You'll go down in history."
"빨간 코 사슴 루돌프는 길이길이 기억되리 "

JJ & W:
You'll go down in history...
길이길이 기억되리.....

Smashbox

New deal: expiring Dec. 29th.

• FREE gift set & FREE 2 day shipping with any $75 purchase: code - NYE2DAY at checkout
• Free gift set includes: Blush/Soft Lights Duo in Super/Model, Waterproof shadow liner in Fan Club, and (medium) Lip enhancing Gloss in Aura ($67 Value)
• this offer is not valid with any other offer.

Product Review:

remember last time I gave you guys a code for Smashbox for a free gift? well I went ahead and bought a lipstick for myself and used the code, too! and.....it arrived!! I've been using it lately and here is my review:

so THIS (above) was the FREE GIFT:

a palette of 6 cream liners & 3 Brow colors (and a brow wax)!
It's quite small, actually, only about 2x3" or so? and the circles of goodies are occupying slightly smaller than 1/2 square inch each. BUT, it does exactly what it was supposed to do: let me SAMPLE all of these different colors!! Since I don't use these everyday, this 'tiny' palette will last me for at least few months, I'd think, which is good enough for me :)

Cream liners: it has good pigmentation, creamy but not TOO creamy (i.e. it doesn't smudge easily, and the color lasts whole day for me) - well the long-lasting affect may be due to the urban decay primer I use.

Brow colors & Wax: maybe I just don't know how to use wax properly, but anyway that doesn't seem to do much for me. and the brow colors are good, though I prefer Anastasia's Brow colors.

and then, the Actual product that I purchased to get the free gift:

Tinted treatment Lipstick with SPF 15 ($13.50)

I got it in "Beam" which is the color of the third lipstick in the picture that's down on the ground. it's just a natural nude color that's slightly darker color than my own lip color. this lipstick is SO silky smooth, and moisturizing! it has the usual lip balm smell, but it's not too bad. the color will come off whenever you touch a surface: whether it's a glass, plastic cup, your sweater (!), etc.
but overall, I would recommend it!

MORE Deals!

Helllllo, I'm BAaaCK! oh man...for someone who is SO used to the warm San Diego weather, "stormy" (cold & raining) SF weather was too hard to bear.... I was there for a conference, and it was just SUPER! :) it hasn't been too long since I got a camera, so I kept on forgetting to take any pictures, so I don't have too many, but I'll post one or two later. :) oooo I have so much to tell you but so little time!


So first, a NEW CHRISTMAS DEAL that I found out about:

1. Qeasily.com Holiday Sale

• for those of you in love with Asian cosmetics:
• 20% off entire order - Code: XMAS2008
• selected MISSHA gift sets for 50% off
• order $120 of KOSE products and receive a Ferragamo Incanto Shine Perfume for FREE
• order $100 of KOSE products and recieve a FREE Lancome High Definition Mascara
  
• order COSME PROUD Gold Revitarich Emulsion and receive a FREE B.B. Cream
• Free shipping over $55 - no code necessary

• I do LOVE Kose products (I've tried both the seikisei & junkisui lines; if you have oily skin, use junkisui, otherwise I think Seikisei is the best) & Missha eye shadows (cheap, but they are super velvety smooth AND have amazing pigmentation).
  

eye glam powder in orchid purple (left) & Eyeshadow-YE201 (Right)

the glam powder is a very VERY fine glitter powder - SUPER pretty. When I found them I was so amazed at the quality & the price of it all ($4.29 now, but I got it for I think $2.99 or something ridiculous like that) that I got one in EVERY SINGLE COLOR available! the only color I'm missing from the collection is strawberry pink, but I don't look good in pink/reddish eyeshadows anyway so...:P but yeah, it has a very creamy, velvety texture & very fine glitter powder (no disco balls!!) you can use them alone as eye-shadows, highlighter for your cheekbones, nose, and forehead, as well as highlighter for your body (collarbone, for example). you can also mix them with your favorite nail polish for the subtle glitter effect & to jazz up any matte eyeliner or shadows that you might have!

Jessica Simpson "Yindly" boot

Jessica Simpsom "Yindly" Boot



is Now....MINE!

hahaha. yes. it is true! I just got it yesterday at a Nordstrom. it was going through some kind of Boot sale when I happened to walk in it, thinking
"I MUST GET A PAIR OF BOOTS TODAY".

haha! how convenient. so yes, I got it for $114 or something? I forget, but with tax and everything, the total was around $120. ONLINE, though I see that it's still close to $200!! @_@ What a DEAL. it's genuine leather, a bit tight around the calf area (well, I do have a 'full' calf...), and with 41/4" heels with 1/2" platform....it's SURPRISINGLY comfortable!



Its sole is made up of something like rubber (which I LOVE, because then that means it will last longer AND I won't slip and fall and DIE like I would with many other boots before I put some kind of tracker on it), and the inside lining is of some cushion-ey, soft sponge-y material (makes it verrrry comfortable AND it insulates heat a bit!). and the heels...I don't understand how, but with all that height, I find it PRETTY darn comfortable. I started wearing it almost immediately after I purchased it yesterday, and I walked around in it the WHOOOOLE rest of the day! (~6-7 hours).

and another thing to note, online for some reason it says it runs large and that you should order a size smaller, BUT I don't know...maybe it's my calves, but I thought 1/2 a side bigger gave me just enough room around my calves (...still tight, there's no way I can get any type of jeans inside it) AND give me comfortable room in the front without feeling like it's huge. I bought 6.5 instead of 6 or 5.5 that I normally wear so I can wear thicker socks with it if I wished.

anyways, I LOVE IT!




I'm going to SF for a conference for about a week. so I probably wouldn't be able to update my blog for a bit, but keep me in mind and when I get back, I'll write ALLLL it!

New coupon codes

1. Victoria's Secret

Valid through 12/14/08:

• purchases of $50+ gets FREE SHIPPING - code: 50SHP
• $15 off $100+ orders - Code: 15MORE
• 25% off selected bras - Code: BRA25

Valid through 12/22/08

• a FREE Valvet ballet slippers with a sleepwear purchase - Code: VELVET
  

2. Folica.com

New (CHANGES EVERYDAY!)

• 10 holiday hottest deals - bundles of different items for up to 72% OFF! the contents apparently change everyday, so check everyday for the next few days!
  

While supplies last:

• FREE Sedu Mini with purchase of select appliances (details found in my previous post)
• Chi Original 1" flat iron special price $69.99 (original $190.00) + FREE SHIPPING

3. Skinstore.com

Valid through 12/18/08

• 20% OFF storewide! - Code: ELF20 + FREE shipping over $49 (always)
  

4. BrylaneHome.com

Valid through 12/15/08

• Friends & Family discount: 20% OFF your entire order! - Code: BHFRIENDS
  

San Diego Restaurant Week!

San Diego Restaurant Week is coming back!!!!



Jan. 11- 16, 2009 !!!!

keep note of the dates in your calenders!!
well, I know I WILL!!

Bangs!

I WANT BANGS!


just like this one! my hair is long & straight like her, too!
...well I don't LOOK like her though -_-


oo...and I WANTED to chop off my hair like that...
without bangs, initially...but then I don't know if I have the guts to chop off my hair so short like that in the first place to worry about whether i want it with bangs or without. :(
one day...one day....* sigh *


and this picture is just too cool to pass by. usually pink hair isn't very 'pretty' in my opinion, but WOW. it looks super good on this girl, whoever she is. the different shades worked for her without looking weird, AND her BEAUTIFUL eye color makes the perfect contrast. perfect make-up too, I'd say. she's just gorgeous!!!

So why the sudden urge? I hung out with a good friend of mine today, and it was my first time seeing her in like TWO YEARS or something ridiculous like that. and she had SUCH cute bangs I was soo jealous >_< ♡♡♡

Oh and special thanks to Trendy New Hairstyles for the pictures!

Deals & Values

YEY! finals are over!!

Now...catching up with the deals & value codes that I got this week!

1. Folica.com

They're giving away travel-sized hair straightener/styler for FREE if you purchase certain products. you will be directed to the list of items that qualify for the free gift, when you click on the image above. Also, they have free shipping for purchase over $50. and I must add, their customer service is SUPERB. I've bought from them all of my expensive beauty products - 2 irons, hair dryer, make-up mirror, etc... (for myself or as a gift)

I kind of want this:

Solia "limited edition" 1" flat iron ($85 at Folica.com)
(for each pink iron sold, a portion gets donated to Breast Cancer research)

I have a Solia 1" flat iron in regular black & blue. I've used it for the past three years or so, and for awhile I used it almost every single day. and after three years of hard work, it's finally losing some of its 'magic' on me. last year I bought a Sedu nano-tech flat iron (2008 version), just to see if it was worth all that hype, but wasn't very impressed with it. Solia, in my experience, is so much better -- even though it's sOoo much cheaper than a most of these high-end straightener/stylers.

So yeah, I'm contemplating whether I should get a new one...I mean mine works 'fine' still...except for that time when it stopped working while I was trying to curl my hair (I ended up with half curly, half straight hair...hoho)! but that only happened once. I guess it does take longer to get straighten my hair now than before...

we'll see......(but if I'm gonna get it I kind of want to order it now, when I can get another one for free! :P free gifts are always so enticing...even though it's a sedu...but it's travel size! (6") it can fit in my purse!! hehehe)

2. Smashbox.com

Everyday/Every week deals:

• Lets do lunch: I've been checking their website every Tuesday & Thursday b/c of this!
• they give you a FREE GIFT (one full sized...SOMETHING) along with your order if you place your order between 9am-12pm PST on Tues/Thurs EVERY WEEK. I haven't bought anything yet, I'm waiting to see if they're gonna offer something I really like as their free gift for the day. HEHE (yesterday's gift was Blush/soft lights duo in CAST/CREW)

• Free shipping on all orders within US
• 1 jumbo-sized sample (you get to choose one out of three choices)
  
• Easy returns: but beware, if you got free gifts, you need to return them too! so you can't just buy stuff and return them thinking you can keep just the free gifts.
  

-------UPDATED INFO-------

@_@. I just found out that "LETS DO LUNCH"
promotion cannot be combined with any other offer!!!
well that makes it easier for me, now doesn't it. =_=...no reason to wait anymore.

-------------------------------------

Anyway, new promotions:

• Get $25 off on $100 order - code: HOLIDAY08
• Free Brow Tech & cream liner palette - code: FREEGFT
  
  

I want THAT.
UPDATE: I GOT IT! :P I just ordered a "Tinted treatment lipstick SPF 15" in Beam.
With tax it was less than $15 total!

but then I must think of what to buy from them so I can GET the free gift.
(AND 1 free jumbo sample that comes with every order)

3.Victoria's Secret:

• 20% off your entire order - code: 20PERCENT
• free velvet ballet slippers with any sleepwear purchases - code: VELVET

4. Others:

• Endless.com is having 12 deals of christmas & Free overnight shipping!
• Avon is having 12 deals of christmas & other holiday sales! Free shipping for all online purchases over $30!
• shopintutition is having 30% off your entire purchase! - code: GRAB BAG
  

Asian Chick

I am an.....



Ha! :D

Where do I find all these cute, wondrous things? I found this at my oh-beloved-Etsy. but I must admit...I did not come across it on my own. My house mate, Annady (pseudonym) is just Sooo talented with finding such wonderful websites and products! So yes, in short, I CHEAT. HAHA.

The art work was done by Mirabel, a Vietnamese Irish American visual artist and designer from Rhode Island. you can buy cute cards and little art pieces to frame from her Etsy store. and her description on this particular art work is fabulous:

"Asian Chick: Smart, successful, exotic beauty seeks friends to eat dim sum and pho with. Loves to wear lots of eye makeup, drift-racing, and new soy milk maker."

- Mirabel

kukuku.

What kind of an Asian Chick would IIII be? but before we go on, I must share with you some of the other Artworks she's done that I just absolutely adore:

Wouldn't this make the PERFECT thank you cards?

and these, the PERFECT Christmas cards??

Anyways, going back to our original conversation, "What kind of an Asian Chick would I be?" Hmmmm..... Yes, I must agree with the first three characteristics she listed as her own ;) (and yes, smart, successful, and exotic are all relative terms :P so you can't penalize me for using them for myself! ah-ha!)

I mean, which girl do you find more beautiful?



OR

The girl on the top is Honey Lee, who was the 2006 Miss Korea, and the third runner up at 2007 Miss Universe, and on the bottom is the famous Aishwarya Rai, who was a Miss world and an actress in Bollywood; she has been acclaimed to be the most beautiful woman in the world today by many different sources. Personally? I LOVE HONEY LEE! :)

you can read Mr. Kanazawa's article on the concept of Beauty here.

Actually, I'd adopt ALL of Mirabel's description of an "Asian Chick" for myself, except I'd change the 'dim sum and pho' with 'all kinds of food' and would change 'new soy milk maker' with an 'inconsistent soymilk drinker'? ;)

No, but really. What are my favorite things to do? What am I in love with today? or everyday? I do love to play with make up. I mean, so much that I've become an Avon-lady!

Reese Witherspoon as Avon Lady! picture via The Enquirer

And then, I do drift-race...well sort of, if you count turning a corner too fast and getting smoky tires and screechy sounds as 'drifting'...:P I do this so often that my dad put an unusually wide tires on my camry...which means it's also lower, so I can scratch the bottom more often, too! :'(

and there's FOOD. I just Looooooove EATING. I love making food for others and making it look all nice and pretty. I did that a few times for my own dishes when I was eating alone, but I decided it's just not as fun. and I Looove trying new restaurants (that's gotten a good reviews on yelp). I probably will do restaurant reviews here to if I feel compelled to share with you.

Oh and I love to sing. I really want to learn how to sing. like a proper voice lesson. but yeah...no money and no time, I guess. I have a recording device on my computer, and when I come across a song that I'm obsessed with at the time, I like to record myself singing it. What did I learn from all these recording? I learned that no matter how 'okay' you might sound in your own ears, when you replay the recording, you are almost ALWAYS flat or sharp at one point or another and it's EXTREMELY hard to get a "perfect" recording, such as ones you hear in real artists' CD's. it gives you a whole new level of appreciation for those who can sing live, and sing WELL.

Anyway, I really want to be able to make a CD of my own of at least 5 or 6 songs that are recorded at least somewhat 'perfectly' before I get too old. Just for the keeps sake and for fun. Hopefully one day it'll come true.

Sooo That's it! that's the kind of "Asian Chick" that I am.

What about YOU?

Latte and Friends

Latte anyone?



I LOVE Etsy.

things you find there, are simply Magical!
All are handmade, and all are so original!
Browsing through the pages, hours will pass by
and you will want to buy it ALL!
but of course, there's the reality of your financial status (Oo..)
and you don't want to cry at the end of the year, do you?
But just looking around won't hurt my wallet.
It'll brighten my day I bet!
A cute bunny and the tea cup,
the smiling spoon and three sugar cubes
Oooh I want to play with you too!
Latte, anyone?

-Written by whimsical little Joanne

I found Jaravee's Etsy Shop few days ago,
and Ohhh they are just TOO cute!
She apparently started making these Japanese cartoon, comic and animation inspired "amigurumi" in April, 2007.
You can be directed to her website by clicking on the pictures.
*Sigh* don't you wish you knew how to crochet??

if I had sugar cubes this cute, I wouldn't be able to sweeten my drinks!

Don't forget your Veggies! 5 servings a day! :D

And someone told me (ahem...) that this doll looks like ME! :D
awww...isn't she just adorable! ;)

I'm getting allergies again...
I spent the whole day sneezing and blowing my nose :(
a cup of tea with these cute little friends are sure to help me out!
Could anyone make me some of these cute little things? :D

COVER: Tae Yoen - 들리나요...

I like to sing and my current obsession includes this particular song by SNSD's Tae Yoen (picture). So....I tried singing it myself!
After trying SO MANY TIMES, I still couldn't get it to be perfect. Oh well, I guess that's why I'm not a professional singer and she is!

Press the Play button! :) if for any reason you want to download a copy...(=_=), you can just click on the small triangle on the right side of the player and it'll give you the option to download. Thanks for listening!

Lyrics (in Korean):

태연 - 들리나요...


조금만 아파도 눈물나요
가슴이 소리쳐요
그대앞을 그대곁을 지나면

온통세상이 그대인데 그대만 그리는데
그대 앞에선 숨을 죽여요

내게 그대가 인연이 아닌것처럼
그저 스치는 순간인 것처럼
쉽게 날 지나치는 그대곁에
또 다가갈 한걸음 조차 체 뗄 수 없을지라도

서성이게 해 눈물짓게 해
바보처럼 아이처럼
차라리 그냥 웃어 버려

점점 다가설 수록
자꾸 겁이 나지만
이 사랑은 멈출수가 없나봐

왜 내 사랑만 더딘거죠
내 사랑만 힘들죠
그대앞에 그대곁에 있어도

온통 세상이 그대인데 그대만 보이는데
그대 앞에선 난 먼곳만 봐요

내게 그대가 꼭 마지막인 것처럼
내겐 마지막 순간인 것처럼
쉽게 날 지나치는 그대 곁에
또 다가갈 한걸음 조차 체 뗄수 없을지라도

서성이게 해 눈물짓게 해
바보처럼 아이처럼
차라리 그냥 웃어버려
점점 다가설 수록
자꾸 겁이 나지만
이 사랑은 멈출수가 없나봐

먼 발치서 나 잠시라도
그대 바라볼수 있어도
그게 사랑이죠

혹시 이 기다림이
이 그리움이
닿을때면 들릴때면
차라리 모른척 해줘요
그대에게 갈수록 자꾸 겁이 나지만
이 사랑은 멈출수가 없네요

Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding Dresses

So initially, I was just web browsing to find pictures for my last entry. I happened to be looking for Snow White pictures....and look what I came across!

Kristie Kelly for Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings

BEAUTIFUL DRESSES! so I must share... here are my personal favorites: (you can click on the pictures to go to the original websites.)

Mirror Mirror, who's the fairest of them all?

ooooh... which ones are YOUR favorites??

Snow White

Mirror Mirror: the novel, was written by Gregory Maguire, who is the author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (a retold story of Cinderella).

I must say that he has some perverted jokes and sexual contents in the novels, but he is still a good writer with a plethora of creative juice to be able to retell famous fables from the perspectives of characters that are almost always perceived to be the evil ones in the story.

I started reading his novels with when I first found out about the Wicked, the musical. I fell in love with the story so much I that when I actually read the book, I was overwhelmed by its dark and perverted nature and to be honest, I didn't like it very much. The slow pace of the story telling didn't really help alleviate either. that would explain why I didn't go on to read the sequels of the story.

But, I still liked the idea of finding out what the other characters (especially the villains) of stories we're so familiar with, such as Cinderella and Snow White, might have experienced while the glorified story of the main characters were being told. No one ever doubts when reading the Wizard of Oz that the "evil witch" is actually evil and that she has no specific agenda than to simply terrorize people. No one ever doubts that the ugly stepsisters of Cinderella were jealous and hateful of Cinderella's beauty and felt satisfaction to see her dressed and treated as a mere servant girl.

by Mike Maihack, from Cow Shell graphics

But what if that's not the whole story? what if the other characters were allowed to tell their OWN story?

and so that's what Maguire tried to imagine, I suppose, and I would have to admit that he is brilliant at it. Yes, perhaps a bit disturbed in terms of his ideas of sexuality (as there are plenty of incest, gross description of odd sex relationships, etc. in his books), but nonetheless brilliant.

So I came to read Mirror Mirror: the novel. It had been a really long time since I saw/read the Snow White story but I was excited (and also scared that he would introduce some perverted incest relationship for snow white). Anyhow, there wasn't any incest relationship between Snow White and her father (thank God!) and the story was, I thought, almost pleasant to read. It was definitely captivating, as the story was now placed in a renaissance period with the famous Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia as the evil ones, and Snow White's father going off in search of the Sacred fruit -- from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil --.

At the end of the day, I really liked it! much better than the Wicked and the Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister I thought-- ironically enough, since I own both of the novels but not Mirror Mirror.

well and then I started searching for Snow White movies and what not....
and guess what I found!

Snow White: The fairest of them all (2002)

featuring Kristen Kreuk as Snow White! Yes, that's your Smallville's Lana Lang as your PRINCESS!

I really wanted to watch it, so I looked it up on youtube: here's a fan-made montage of pictures from the movie.





and then found it at the local blockbusters! they were having some promotion, so I was able to rent it out for a buck! :) I watched it just a few days ago and awww it was quite good. I mean, it's not like I had a huge expectations for the movie. it's like one of those TV movies that play during holiday family hours. anyway, I really liked it. It was a cute movie aaaand Kristen Kreuk was just plain GORGEOUS to keep my eyes fixated on the screen :)

DEPAPEPE - Hi-D!!

Apparently when a good friend of mine came down with a flu in the middle of a summer few years back, a friend of her played her this exact song. After hearing it, she supposedly was so encouraged and renewed that she almost forgot she was sick.

I'm not sick or anything, but I've been feeling a bit detached from my work and studies...do you think this song might work its magic on me too?

:)

WooHoo!

I needed a place to put all the interesting things I find online and rant about my current obsessions - whether it be a song, a singer, an outfit, or just an interesting picture I found online.

this one will be fun. a collection of random thoughts and wishlists. :D

WOOHOO!