Goodbye, 2009

I had to sneak away from the party people for a minute to make this post. I just HAD to make a last post of 2009. I wanted to reflect and elaborate more, but there were just not enough hours of the day today. Ahhhh...

Okay, so here's a toast to all the good times that we had this past year. Much has happened and changed, I can't even begin to explain right now after a few sips with my friends.. but I must say that this had been a memorable year. Although there were many downs, there were also many ups that I cannot dismiss or forget.

Again, more to come tomorrow, perhaps... but lets say THANK YOU to 2009. So long, farewell.. its time to say goodbye! You will be gone, but not forgotten.

*hugs*

A Rainy Day...

With everyone having the day (or week) off, we had planned to go to Six Flags (Magic Mountain) today. Unfortunately, Mister Rainshine decided to come out to play too and there is no way I am going to wait in line and run around tryin' to hop on rides in the rain. No way, Jose!

Instead, we are going to get some errands done. YAYYYY!!

Taco Tuesday last night with Lily and Durand... then they came over to watch the Lakers' game at our place while I was trying to distract them with some of my favorite music videos. LOL!

Okay... just wanted to say HELLO to the universe somehow, someway...! I shall be back later... or soon... maybe! We shall see!

Hope everyone has a great day and is ready to bring on the New Year! (Glad we didn't go to Vegas. I'm pooped!)

My FAVORITE brush!

(I had to take a break from reading and learning... a blog post would be a picker upper and fix)

Anyone who knows me or has at least seen my makeup stash, you'd know that I have an obsession for nice makeup brushes. I never realized how important or how big of a difference a makeup brush can make. When I was younger, inexperienced... long before the day I fell in love and the birth of my obsession , I thought that people overpayed for makeup brushes and were ridiculous. Seriously... I was like, "who the heck would pay that much for some hair glued to a stick?"

I was WRONG. So, so SOOOOOO wrong!

Why do I love good brushes? Let me count the ways... or reasons... LOL!

1. You don't shed on me. Seriously... an annoyance of mine is when the makeup regime is going smoothly and then you look closer and see that a few strands from your makeup brush have found their ways and stuck on to your face below the otherwise would have been flawless foundation. FML moment, right? Ugh... then you have to pick it off your skin... then the once nearly flawless foundation had lost its smooth. Grrr!

2. You don't make me look like a kid had just got done playing finger painting on my face.

3. You allow me to blend so smoothly and freely. Ladies (and some boys)... come on... BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!! Hard lines to separate your foundation, blush, eyeshadows, bronzers... they are NOT okay!

4. You don't make my hands sticky and dirty. Imagine if brushes didn't exist. You'd have to use your hands to apply something... then wash it in between every product application... and so on, and so forth. We were only given two hands. Brushes... we are given (or sold) hundreds if we'd like!

5. I just love you, okay!?!?!

I have tried using some cheap brushes... you know, the ones that you can get for 99 cents? Or often times, free!? (Don't get me wrong... there are some great quality brushes for cheap, but you know what I mean? The ones that you only purchase just because its cheaper! You'd be lucky to get good quality brushes for free... I always do a happy dance if that is ever the case and so should you!) Anyway, there are some brushes that LOOK good, but are horrible!

Do NOT go for hard bristles that can possibly scratch your skin! Okay... I ordered these brushes from eBay once and I swear, I felt like a cactus just jogged across my face. Never again am I ordering brushes that I have never felt or tried... I don't care if its $1 with free shipping... never ever again! Thats a waste of a dollar I could have spent on a McChicken!

Do NOT just look for soft brushes. Yes, I know it sounds contradicting, but finding the right brushes can be difficult. There are many soft brushes up there... but do they pick up any pigment? Nope. So... why do you have them again?

What do YOU look for when you shop for brushes? Just curious.

My favorite brush that I actually am needing another one of at the moment?

Yes, I do realize that its $42 for a full sized brush. BUT... if you find it in a set (usually the anniversary or half yearly sale at Nordstrom or other MAC stores), then jump on it right away! Sure, its $49.50, but you get 5 brushes (usually) and if it comes with this duo fibre brush, then you can't go wrong. TRUST ME! I have tried a few other "duo fibre" brushes, but they are just not the same. People use these for powders... which works great! But personally, I like it for liquid foundation because it gives you a nice, soft blend and it doesn't cake on thick like how most other brushes that are made for liquid foundations. If you are looking for something to apply a heavy look, this might not be for you, but it is for someone who wants something light and natural looking.

I've been through so many of these... not because they fall apart or anything, but because I usually lose them by misplacing them or mixing them up with friends' when they come over or we go out or on vacation or something. (Sucks, I know) I used to give this baby away to my sister whenever it came with a set that I buy because I figured I already have one, but man... these things are precious and I will never ever give one away again. Not because I am selfish but because... okay fine... I am selfish and I want to keep it for myself. Sue me!

I still have an old one that came with the first set I've ever bought in 2002... and I still use it today... 2 days before it flips 2010! 8 years... I need to put that baby to rest. Its also frustrating because when I use liquid foundations, you know that it gets dirty in the brush and I'd have to wash it EVERY day and this can get harsh on the bristles. BUT... I love it too much to apply foundation any other way. Therefore, I should just have more of these and switch them up, right?

Give it a shot, and if you don't like it, hand it my way! OR... you can just get two... one for you and one for me? THANKS... you are so kind! ;)

New Years' Resolution #1

Two more days until the new year and I have yet to come up with any real New Years' Resolutions. I told myself that I wasn't going to make any this year because I never follow through with them and disappoint myself every year. BUT... you have to have a resolution, even if you don't stick to it (unintentionally, of course)... its exciting to have a goal... even just for a day! LOL

I'll have more, but my first one will be...

1. Be nicer to the Husband

Okay I admit... I am a mean girl. I don't know how he does it but I know that if I was my own Husband, I wouldn't be able to handle me. I love him... therefore, I should be nicer, right? I'll try not to be so stubborn and try to be a little bit more patient.

There... I said it! And now, I have to really stick to it! Ahhhh...

MORE to come later! Got some things to work on today. Ciao!

To more good times like these in 2010!!