Si's Life Relationship Series Part 4

Relationship with Self

“Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you. In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn't have the time to sit around and talk about you. What's important to me is not others' opinions of me, but what's important to me is my opinion of myself.” 
― C. JoyBell C.

Welcome to the last of the relationship series. I hope you guys have enjoyed these posts and hopefully would like some more of these types of posts in the near future!

Now I saved the best one and the most important one for last. Out of all the relationships we have talked about the most important one out of all is the relationship you have with yourself. While this may sound funny to some of you out there, having a relationship with yourself is the best kind of relationship there is and in order for you to have relationships with others you must have one with yourself first.

Having a relationship with yourself is exactly like having a relationship with someone. In a relationship people take care and support each other. A relationship with yourself means that you need to take care, support and most of all love yourself. Accept your flaws, your perfections, your personality. Accept what makes you you. This is definitely easier said than done. With the stress of our everyday lives and not to mention the media today, it can be very difficult to love yourselves. We have jobs, family, peer pressure, friends to focus on and through all that we tend to lose ourselves and that is something you cannot let happen ever. If we don't love and take care of ourselves how do we love and take care of others? 

TIPS ON HAVING A HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH SELF

- Don't ever let anyone tell you who you can't be only you have the power to decide that!

-Accept your flaws as perfections

-Live only for you and no one else

And mostly importantly LIVEEEEE!!!!

Red Eye- Andy Grammer (A little inspiration!)

xoxo

Si's Life Relationship Series Part 3

Relationship with God

What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine.- Oprah

Religion has always been an interesting subject to me. Growing up I was raised in a very non-traditional Buddhist family. While my family prayed to Buddha and visited temples occasionally they weren't as strict. I was never pushed to believe in what they had believed but was always encouraged to pray.

When I moved to the states my parents sent me and my siblings to an Episcopalian school. This was my first true experience with religion. I ended up attending church and reading the Bible which I thought was very interesting. I found myself so involved with the idea that God is with you no matter where you are and will forgive you for anything. I thought wow this God is pretty amazing. I was so intrigued that I was very close to converting. However when I was 10 I was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome which is a form of chronic kidney failure. Suddenly I found myself angry at Buddha and at God. Isn't God suppose to be a protector? Why was I suffering through this when I did nothing wrong? At this point I found myself so lost I denounced all religions initially becoming an Atheist. This went on for quite sometime. I continued to show respect to all religions but I still found myself angry. Not only was I dealing with this illness I also had to deal with deaths of close friends and family members. I had people coming up to me telling me that they were in a better place and that God had planned it this way. So it was God's plan to take my best friend away at the age of 7 due to heart failure? Who gets heart failure at the age of 7? Even today I am still very uncomfortable when people tell me this. I became even more angry and was leaning towards the path of hating God and religion in general. 

I ended up receiving a kidney transplant my senior year of high school. And people continued to tell me to thank God. I thanked my mom who gave me a kidney not God. He wasn't the one who had himself cut open. 

A couple years later my last year in college I got caught up in stress and ended up becoming very ill. I was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure yet again. The kidney my mom gave me had rejected. The doctors had told me the chance of getting another kidney and actually surviving the surgery was very slim for me given my condition. For the first time in years I broke down and did something I haven't done in years and that was pray. This isn't one of those inspiration stories trying to convert you believe me the last thing I want to do is pursue you guys into God. I prayed and prayed and fortunately my prayers were answered and somehow I ended up getting another kidney and not only that I ended up recovering 20x faster than my first transplant. Even my doctor complimented me and told me he has never had a patient that had recovered so quickly and so well. This was definitely some other world doing. If you guys heard my prognosis you would also be surprised. During surgery I had almost died due to a blood vessel issue.Never in my life have I felt to grateful and blessed all at the same time. 

While I can't proclaim I am 100% religious I definitely believe that there is a higher power watching over us. I can't explain it and I honestly don't think anyone can it is just a matter of believing and as cliche as it sounds having faith. Today I still pray. I don't go to temple or church but I do pray. 

Going through what I gone through definitely gave me a new perspective and understanding. It's not about some book and scriptures religion in my opinion is hope. It inspires that even in our darkest hours there is still away.

I hope for those of you out there who still haven't found something to believe in pray. Why not try, what do you have to lose?

xoxo

NEW FROM L'OREAL!!!

L'OREAL VOLUMINOUS BUTTERFLY INFLUENZA

PACKAGING:

-COMES IN THE SAME PACKAGING AS THE ORIGINAL BUTTERFLY MASCARA EXCEPT WITH A RED CAP.

-THE WAND/BRUSH IS PRETTY INTENSE IT HAS THE SAME SHAPE AS THE ORIGINAL BUTTERFLY EXCEPT IT FLARES OUT ALL AROUND (THE MASCARA IS NOT RED JUST THE BRUSH/WAND)

FORMULATION:

I am a huge fan of the original Butterfly mascara and this one is no different. While I don't find too much a difference with the formulation this one this give a but more volume and length and doesn't flake as easily as the original. The brush is easier to use since the flare of the brush is now all around. It does take a bit of time to get use to it but the overall result is amazing. 

The wear time is around 4-5 hours even longer if you are not in hot areas and don't tend to mess with it.

Retails around $7-$10 depends on where you purchase it. Available at drugstores, Walmarts, Ultas and Targets nationwide.

WHAT'S OUT ON DVD 9/16/2014

I BEEN WAITING FOR THESE RELEASES THE LAST MONTH OR SO AND AM SO EXCITED THEY ARE BOTH OUT TODAY!!!

FOR THOSE SCI-FI FANS GODZILLA 2014 IS THE NEWEST ADAPTATION OF THE BELOVED JAPANESE MUTANT DINO CREATURE. I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THIS REMAKE MORE THAN I EXPECTED. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT REMAKES ARE REALLY SUCCESSFUL. THE STELLAR CAST INCLUDES KEN WATANABE (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA), AARON TAYLOR JOHNSON (KICK ASS), BRYAN CRANSTON (BREAKING BAD) AND MUCH MORE. THIS IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE MONEY ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A COLLECTOR LIKE ME.

AND OF COURSE THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, THE FILM ADAPTATION OF JOHN GREEN'S INFAMOUS NOVEL. I READ THE BOOK YEARS AGO WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT SO I WAS VERY EXCITED THAT A MOVIE WAS GOING TO BE MADE OF IT. THIS MOVIE WAS A GREAT ADAPTATION. I NEVER USUALLY CRY IN MOVIES EVEN SAD ONES BUT THIS ONE DEFINITELY GOT ME TEARY. THE CAST INCLUDES SHAILENE WOODLEY (DIVERGENT) AND ANSEL ELGORT (DIVERGENT). SO IF U WANT A GOOD CRY OR JUST A SWEET LOVE STORY GO PICK IT UP!

WHAT'S NEW @ THE DRUGSTORE

NEW!!! MAYBELLINE 

Prices for each product varies from store to store 

Each product retails around $5-$9 @drugstores, Walmarts, & Targets

From left to right:
Maybelline Brow Drama- Sculpting Brow Mascara
Maybelline Color Sensational MATTE Lipsticks
Maybelline Great Lash Real Impact Mascara

MAYBELLINE BROW DRAMA SCULPTING BROW MASCARA

PACKAGING:

-COMES IN A MASCARA TUBE

-COMES WITH 0.23 FL OZ OF PRODUCT

-THE BRUSH HAS A BALL AT THE TIP AND EXTENDING STRAIGHT DOWN (I personally didn't really like the brush it reminded me of the Givenchy mascara wand that people were so crazy about a couple years ago. While the wand or brush makes sense for a mascara since the ball can reach inner corners and provide more coverage the idea using it as a brow wand is a little iffy. I find it pretty awkward to use and actually got more product on my skin than in my brows.)

FORMULATION:

With the issue of the wand/brush aside, this is a pretty decent product. I have seen tons of brow setting gels out on the drugstore market today but not many tinted ones.You can use it alone to comb through your brows or use it as a setting gel for those of you who prefer powder. The pigmentation is pretty nice and gives a very natural look.The wear time is pretty decent and usually lasts until you want to take it off unless you somehow messed with your brow hairs throughout the day. This is a very similar product to the Benefit brow gel with a little less pigmentation.

 Comes in a variety of colors (different places have different sets of color as well as names)

Rule of Thumb for finding your perfect brow shade: lighter hair colors go 2 shades darker, darker hair go 2 shades lighter

Brow Drama in Deep Brown

Brow Drama Wand/Brush

MAYBELLINE COLOR SENSATIONAL MATTE LIPSTICKS

PACKAGING:

-COMES IN THE ORIGINAL COLOR SENSATIONAL LIPSTICK SQUARE TUBE HOWEVER THE CAP IS NOW A MATTE PURPLE GRAY COLOR (The caps on these lipsticks are actually a lot more sturdy and tighter compared to the original ones.)

FORMULATION:

Matte lipsticks are a trend that never seems to age. When I saw that Maybelline came out with a line of matte lipsticks I had to get on it. The texture of these are quite interesting with most matte lipsticks out there the texture is usually pretty drying these have a creamy texture that makes it very easy to glide on. They can get a bit drying wearing throughout the day so make sure you moisturize your lips before applying. The color payoff on these are pretty decent and very wearable. The wear time without drinking or eating is about 4-6 hours depending on your temperature where you live.

Here are 2 of my favorite shades from the collection

Left: 690 Siren in Scarlet (Scarlet red)
Right: 675 Faint for Fuchsia (Fuchsia w/purple undertones)

Left: Siren in Scarlet
Right: Faint for Fuchsia

MAYBELLINE GREAT LASH REAL IMPACT MASCARA

PACKAGING:

-COMES IN THE SAME GREAT LASH PACKAGING WITH A DIFFERENCE IN COLOR

-THE BRUSH/WAND IS ALSO THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL GREAT LASH; LONG HAIR BRUSH

FORMULATION:

I am not really a fan of the Great Lash mascaras with the exception of Lots of Lashes that one I really love. The Great Lash formulas are just too wet for my taste and don't really do much for my lashes. This one wasn't too bad. It still had that wet formula but it did give me nice length. The wear like the other ones wasn't too great. After a couple of hours it started to come off.

Real Impact Mascara in Blackest Black

Si's Life Relationship Series Part 2

Relationship with family

"I know why families were created with all their imperfections. They humanize you. They are made to make you forget yourself occasionally, so that the beautiful balance of life is not destroyed." -Anais Nin

This is a very touchy topic for me. I didn't grow up in what most people would call a "normal" family setting. I didn't have what most people refer to today as a nuclear family which consists of parents and siblings. My parents had me at a young age and wasn't quite ready to handle the responsibility. And no this isn't one of those Teen Mom stories we see on MTV. My parents had just hit their 20s which was considered quite early back then in China especially when compared to today where 16 year olds are popping out babies like rabbits. My parents when they had me still had an urge to explore the world more and just be young. So I was raised by my grandparents and extended family. While most kids would be terribly upset if their parents abandon them to pursue their own interests, I was quite happy. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and countless cousins made sure that I grew up loved and loved I was. I still got the occasional check in from my parents who had settled in the states. To be completely honest the years I spent apart with them I never was upset.

Eventually my parents did send for me and at the age of 5 and a half I moved to the states along with my grandparents (who were still my guardians) to be with my parents. My move didn't exactly change the relationship I had with my parents. A couple months later my parents were pregnant with my little sister and years after my little brother so all their focus was evidently on them. My parents and I got along well enough for our situation being the way it was but I was never able to develop that parent child relationship with my parents. Financially they still supported me to try and make up for lost times but it was my grandparents who took over most of the responsibility of raising me from giving me advice to sitting up with me for hours when I got sick. My point of telling my story isn't about venting about my parents or making you guys feel sorry for me but rather families come in all shapes and sizes. Some of us may have parents and grandparents but others may consider friends as their family. Just because you don't have that "perfect nuclear" family it doesn't mean you still can't have your perfect family. I was very fortunate for my extended family and for all they have done for me. Part of being in a family means that no matter what we always need to find a way to accept each other. My parents are who they are and I wouldn't change them. Just because they weren't the best parents to me they are good and kind people and I do love them in my own way and grateful for all they have done for me in my life.

However sometimes as much as we want to love and be loved by our families there are certain situations where we have to know when to walk away. I was recently chatting with a friend of mine who we will call Mary for this blog post (named changed for privacy reasons, but she did give me permission to share her story). Mary's parents divorced when she was really young. She ended up living with her mom. When Mary was 10 her mom died of a brain tumor. She was sent to live her dad in another state. Her dad was remarried so Mary thought she would now have the perfect family. Over the next couple of years things were not good. While Mary gave me her permission to tell her story I still don't feel 100% comfortable sharing it. But I will say that her dad and stepmom are not good people. No matter how much Mary wanted that "perfect" family, she knew she had to get herself out of the situation that clearly wasn't right for her. Mary ended up leaving and moving in with her mom's parents. When Mary was telling me this story I was tearing up not only for her situation but because she was so brave and still determined to get herself a loving family. Mary today is a strong, beautiful and independent person who has her perfect family. She currently is working towards to getting her social work degree so she can help others find their perfect family. 

xoxo

Si's Life: Relationship Series Part 1

RELATIONSHIP WITH FRIENDS

 In preschool and kindergarten everyone is friends with everyone. There were no cliques or drama we simply just enjoyed each other's company (o how I wished for those days again sigh...). As we reach elementary school, we start to get more choosy. We wanted to be friends with the kids with the coolest toys and the best birthday parties. In junior high or middle school we are at the point where insecurities with ourselves begin to surface and suddenly everyone is separated into cliques and everyone wanted to be the popular clique. Rumors and drama also begin to surface which can make or break friendships even those you have known since preschool. It suddenly becomes uncool to be friends with that person you pretty much known your whole life because they decided to go a different direction. By high school, the drama is at its acme. Cliques become tighter and membership is very exclusive. This is the time where we find ourselves lucky to have some friends and a place to sit with at lunch. But through all of this ask yourselves....

What is a friend?

According to Google a friend is defined as someone whom one another as a mutual affection towards or a member of the Quaker society.

For me personally friends are one of the most important people a person has in their life. They should be and are the people you go to for no judgement advice. They are people who support you and love you just the way you are. They are family, just the ones we can choose. Not everyone is lucky enough to come from a good family. So having the option to create one for yourself is truly a blessing. 

Having friends can also help you grow as a person. These are the people that push you because they truly believe in you. They know a whole different side of you that your family probably doesn't.

Even when you lose a friend, it becomes a life lesson. It teaches you about love and lose. As we grow we change and the best way to see that is through the people we meet.

What is NOT a friend!

Someone who brings you down instead of up

Someone whose brings drama 24/7 in your life

Someone who doesn't apologize for their mistakes toward you

Weekly Playlist 9/15

LISTEN WITH ME (Click)

1.) Show Me (Remix)- Kid Ink ft. Trey Songz, Juicy J, & Chris Brown

2.) Top of the World- Mike Posner ft. Big Sean

3.) Ass Drop- Wiz Khalifa

4.) Hey You Beautiful- Olly Murs

5.) This Song is About You- Olly Murs

6.) Security Check- Left Boy

7.) Rather Be- Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne 

NEW! Wet n Wild Megaslicks Balm Stains (new colors)

Megaslicks Balm Stains

PACKAGING:

The new colors come in the same crayon packaging as the original ones. These also twist up at the bottom.

FORMULATION:

There really wasn't much difference in the formulation with these new colors compared to the original. However like the originals the color doesn't look like what it shows when applied to the lips except these new colors were 10x worse. Both of these colors including the 2 other new ones look like nothing compared to the packaging. At least with the original formulas there were some slight resemblance with the color these not so much. 

The Tangerine and Tribal one also kept flaking on my lips even after I put on a lip balm under it!

Overall the colors are nice but I wouldn't recommend them at least not any in the new collection. And since fall is coming soon it is better to save your money on dark hues.

Festival Fashionista- light fuchsia coral pink

Tangerine and Tribal- milky pink (not tangerine at all whatsoever)

Top: Festival Fashionista
Bottom:Tangerine and Tribal

Review: Mario Badescu Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream

PACKAGING: 

Comes in the standard Mario Badescu simple white containers.

Contains 1/2 oz.

FORMULATION:

Made from a blend of vegetable, carnation and rose hip oil, this eye cream reduces the dry, tired, puffy eyes. It also helps smooth out fine lines and is super moisturizing. Great to use alone or under makeup. It is non-greasy and absorbs into the skin super fast. It also has a nice cooling effect when you apply it (TIP: put into the fridge for a nice cooling effect- this will reduce the puffiness even more!). 

Retail $18

Available @ Ulta stores and online

Mario Badescu Online/ Standing stores

Current Reading List September 2014

WHAT AM I READING?!?!

The Maze Runner By James Dashner

When I was younger I was always the person to read the books BEFORE they became movies. As I get older and life becomes more and more complicated I now read the books AFTER they are made into a movie. Regardless I have been itching to read The Maze Runner for quite sometime but just never bothered to pick it up until now. The Maze Runner by James Dashner is the first book of the series. It tells the tale of a boy named Thomas who is thrown into this crazy ever changing maze along with other boys who like him have no memory of how they got there in the first place.  I don't want to give away anything and also I haven't finished it yet but it basically goes on telling how Thomas and the other boys endure the maze. It is very Hunger Games-esq. So far its been a pretty good read compelling, gripping and easy to follow. I definitely recommend this book to everyone ALL AGES. The movie will be released September 19, 2014 starring Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf) as the main character.

Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs By Chuck Klosterman

This is one of those books that you read when you are just kinda down and done with life. Chuck Klosterman talks well more like attacks postmodern America such as reality TV, porn, literary Jesus freaks and so forth. It is hilarious and super entertaining. However I don't recommend this book to close minded people or too those who may be a little bit conservative. Klosterman is pretty forthcoming and blunt with his ideals and hey it is a free country so to speak. 

Both of these books are available in bookstores nationwide (both paperback and hardback) as well as in digital form (Kindle, Nook, and so forth...)

NEW! Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Spirit

PACKAGING:

.

Comes in a purple box that has a very similar feel as the Tarte Rainforest After Dark Palette.

Inside the box other than the palette, there is also a pamphlet that contains 3 looks using the palette perfect for all eye colors.   

Pamphlet

Spirit Palette

The palette itself is a beautiful sleek rose gold packaging. 

FORMULATION:

The Eyes Are The Window collection contains  4 palettes my favorite one out of all 4 is the Spirit palette. It combines the best of neutrals with a touch of color. All the palettes work with every eye color. The Spirit palette is especially beautiful with brown eyes.

Eyeshadows (12 total)

The formulation of these shadows are pretty awesome. I don't always have the best luck with Stila eyeshadows. The texture is smooth and velvety that is pretty easy to work with. There is some fallout especially with the Kitten eyeshadow (swatch below, Stila's #1 best eyeshadow). I do recommend wearing a primer underneath due to the glitter and to prevent fallout and keep your shadows on longer throughout the day. Most of these colors are part of Stila's permanent collection such as Kitten and Chinois.

First row (left going down)
Kitten- Shimmery Champagne
Oasis- Shimmery satin beige
Wheat- Satin sand
Chinois- Matte creamy white

Middle row (going down)
Puppy- Matte light brown
Jezebel- Satin coral copper
Golightly- Satin light coffee brown
State- Satin gray slate

Last row (right, going down)
Pigalle- Satin/matte cranberry
Barefoot- Satin reddish brown
Espresso- Matte gray with brownish undertones
Pewter- Shimmery dark gray 


Where to Purchase:

Ulta (Both online and In-stores)

Sephora (Both online and In-stores)

Stila online 

Retail $49