eek 2011?

Where did the time go? Can you guys believe it? A whole new year ahead of us. I'll have to remember to write 2011 instead of 2010 when I start dating my pages of homework.
Augh, I still haven't applied to any scholarships. I really should start... My mom printed out a bunch and gave them to me at the start of winter break and I still haven't looked at them.
My supplementary application for Sauder hasn't been finished yet either.
And yes, I will keep complaining about homework... Because I have a shitload to begin and finish by Jan. 4, 2011(!).

Well, here's a quick review of AcneFree, supposedly "America's #1 Best Selling Acne Treatment" (Hey, I thought Proactiv was #1? :P).

Overall: ★★★☆☆
I used this treatment November of 2009 to January 2010. The "Renewing Toner" ran out first, and it was actually my only preferred product out of the whole treatment. I had to stop using the "Purifying Cleanser" because the scrubbing beads hurt and damaged my skin! Scrubs are generally not recommended for people with acne, by the way, America's #1 Treatment my ass.

I bought the 3 step-treatment for ~$30, and it came with 2 bottles of the Purifying Cleanser, 1 bottle of Renewing Toner, and 1 bottle of Repair Lotion (which was basically just 3.7% Benzoyl Peroxide in a bottle). I didn't like that it came with NO MOISTURIZER at all, so I bought a separate Neutrogena Oil-Free moisturizer to use. Why did they put 2 bottles of the cleanser in the box? I will never know. I still had both bottles, after I finished using the toner and lotion, so I just threw the cleansers out because they were TERRIBLE for my skin.

My skin? It was alright. After using the treatment for a month, most of my acne was under control. However, I had a suspicion that the beads were damaging my skin in the long run, and I think I was correct. I absolutely had to stop using the treatment after the second month because of the cleanser. Scrubs tend to break skin and spread bacteria all over one's face... Not good.

So I give the Acnefree treatment a 3/5 stars. I loved the toner, and the lotion was alright. BP is great for killing the acne bacteria. But the cleanser is CRAP. Please don't buy it... If you can find separates, buy only the toner and the lotion. Not the cleanser. Okay? (:

~

I actually have a few outfit pics to post... but they're still on my camera. Sorry for my laziness. Procrastination's my middle name. Ya da ya da... I will get those up soon.

My break was pretty good. Spent time with the fam. Opened prez. Ate food. Watched over little kids while adults partied. Went to movies. Slept over at a friends.

Only 4 more days until winter break ends... Really? I have so much to do... To begin doing. I was going to write something. Now I don't have the time to ):

Ah well.

Here's some inspiration for those who do have the time to write:

1 weheartit, 2 teenvogue, 3 4 5 various tumblrs

And look, hey, some motivation for me:

xoxo

Mimi

lovely

The book (written by Alice Sebold) and the movie adaptation of The Lovely Bones are both beautiful, but in different ways. Though I still prefer the written more than the visual, I must admit that Peter Jackson's use of CGI to create the beautiful landscapes of Susie's "In-between" was very adept and definitely important in creating and delivering his vision of the story. Sebold's novel, however, aims not to be beautiful or inspiring; her words prioritize the conception of the characters, and their individual lives, personalities, and thoughts. Sebold greatly expanded her characters, from Ruana Singh (who was not in the movie at all) to Samuel Heckler, and not just the main characters (Susie Salmon, Jack Salmon, etc.).

I felt as though Jackson didn't understand the more important parts of Sebold's original story, and thus left out details and ideas that I thought should have been present in the film. I realize, however, that adapting literature to film is not an easy task, and that changing some scenes or characters or sub-plots, are very necessary to fit a 372-page novel into a 2-hour movie... so I'm cutting him some slack. But changing the plot from a girl raped and murdered into just a girl murdered really toned down the mood of the story. Jackson chose to present the story to a younger audience, maybe, so for me, I felt like it wasn't as real or raw as it could have been. The Heavens of the book and the film are completely different as well. Jackson's Heavens consisted of things, places, clothes, fun, and it is shared only by two young girls (Holly and Susie). Sebold's Heavens consisted of people, and their ideas. In one part of the book, Susie steps back and watches another girl twirl and twirl and making her skirt go out wide like a circle (no citation because I can't find the page, sorry). I thought this was a spectacular definition of a Heaven, or even happiness. Susie's Heaven is different from other people's ideas of Heaven, even Holly's. Sometimes Holly disappears for a while because she goes away to a part of Heaven that doesn't include Susie. Jackson's Heaven for Susie was a generalization of every little girl's slumber party. Other than the dramatic visuals, and twinkling music, I really don't think Jackson performed in any other aspect of the film, especially the theme. The actress who played Susie Salmon, Saoirse Ronan, did an alright job in portraying 14-year-old Susie Salmon. But I didn't like how the film didn't explore the mature side of Susie, the "older", experienced Susie that wished the readers a "long and happy life" at the end of the novel.

Anyway.
Read the book.
The movie is alright, but it pales in comparison to the book.

~

Okay, I have a few outfit photos (and randoms) I haven't posted yet, so here they are:

starved

I absolutely hate it when I brush my teeth at around midnight, and then end up clicking through the web at 4 am, completely STARVED. I don't want to go back downstairs to heat up something to eat, b/c 1) I'm lazy. 2) I already brushed my teeth. 3) The people living downstairs will complain about my late-night microwave beeps. and 4) Revisit clause 1.

I'M SO HUNGRY.

Okay, anyway, I'm going to do a review on some circle lenses I picked up last week. Hehe.

"Geo Nudy Blue" circle lens  
[edit: Left -3.25, Right -4.00; just forgot to put my prescription in the post, so there it is, if you were wondering how blind I was]

Bought: Online, click here ("Dolly Shoppe" on Facebook)
Price: $15 for 1 pair of lens (+ $1.75 for bus fare to go all the way down to Richmond to pick em up, i.e. facetrade. To save a couple-a bucks on my end. Ha. Ha.) Lasts a year.

Both pics taken w/ flash. I forgot to take a pic w/o flash, sorry guys. I will remember the next time I review something!

Colour: ★★★★☆ The colour is visible in sunlight, and good indoor lighting, and people definitely noticed the eye colour. But the thing is, people only notice if they straight-stare at my face/eyes. And, from a distance, or in average/bad lighting, it's hard to tell. I think this is only b/c I have black eyes (like my iris is the same colour as the pupil -- completely BLACK), so combined with the lens only gave me ocean blue eyes in good lighting, not extremely icy-watery blue eyes.
Comfortableness: ★★★★☆ Just like your normal prescription-from-the-optometrist's lenses. I didn't feel a difference from my average everyday lens. My eyes still got a bit dry at the end of the day; but that happens with my normal lens too. I noticed that the lens would sometimes move in my eye, maybe because my eyes aren't used to them yet, or maybe because my eyes are small? But the lens moves back when I blink, so it's fine. On the second consecutive day I wore it, my eyes stung when I put them on, and I teared up, but I think it was b/c I only got 3 hours of sleep so it was expected. However, there wasn't much discomfort afterwards (and I wore them for ~14 hours), so yay.
Enlargement of Eyes: ★☆☆☆☆ I didn't think it made my eyes look bigger at all. Maybe it was because I didn't wear any heavy eye makeup, or manipulate my eyes using makeup to make them look bigger. I just put in the lenses and walked out of the house, expecting the lenses to make my eyes look bigger by themselves. The lenses just made my iris bigger (the coloured part of the eye) so there was less white, but not my eyes.
Natural-looking: ★★★★☆ I thought it looked pretty natural, given some of the pics of other circle-lens-wearing girls, and that it's a drastic change to my natural eye colour (from black to blue).
Recommend: YES.

Hooray, first proper review of the blog. I think I'll do more, b/c, to be honest, I use a lot of facial products/makeup. I don't have a vast knowledge of makeup, but trust me, my makeup counter is overflowing. Most of it is skin products: acne facial washes (I've tried a TON), moisturizers, pressed powders, blemish treatment gels, toners, masks (I've mentioned some masks in past blogs but never wrote out proper reviews), and the like.

Lately, my skin has been breaking out quite badly. It's all the stress from school, 3 hour sleeps a night, eating yucky oily foods (that taste SO GOOD), and prob working @ Pizza Hut. Anyway, I've switched my skin regimen, trying to eat my greens, and sleeping for 4+ hours (sad, I know), so hopefully my skin clears up. I've been using an arsenal of honey masks, tea tree oil masks, and now I've bought a new clay mask (which I'll probably review next time) to counteract my acne. Ugh, I hate acne. I am seriously so jealous of girls with perfect skin. They must have so much free time b/c they're not constantly battling their skin, i.e. washing it, toning it, putting on masks, concealing it, etc. And they aren't BROKEASS like I am from buying all this acne shit.

This is my skin WITH concealer on (Body Shop's tea tree oil coverstick 02) AND pressed powder (Rimmel). I know, right? Just see me in real life, you'll gasp in horror.

Clear up soon, skin! I beg of you.

Okay, I think I need to get off the comp and get some sleep. I'M STILL SO HUNGRY!

Maybe I'll go downstairs and eat...

xoxo

Mimi

ps. Melody is making a birthday mailing list! I think it's pretty cool. Check it out here.
pps. My student council shirt is so comfy and cool! I'm gonna be wearing this and my Grad sweater for a long time to come... Mostly b/c I'm too half-arsed to plan my outfits now, due to the 3 hour sleeps, and also my laziness. But when I'm in uni, I'll definitely wear these out of sheer pride for my school haha.

so sorry

Sound it out with me, kids:

S-K-U-L.
Yes, that's right, "school".

Now this one:
H-O-A-M-W-E-R-K.

"Homework" sucks ass, doesn't it?

/nod nod nod.

Okay, kids, that will be all for today.

"popdoll" in Jalouse June 2010 issue; w/ Barbara Palvin

The western turban

Pink earmuffs. +++ Mountain's Grad 2011 sweater!

xoxo

Mimi.

ps. Grad Cruise was good. Not really the best party ever, but still pretty fun. Thanks for convincing me to go, guys.

pps. The photo editing program I use is called Photoscape. Some of you have asked about it, so here's a link: Photoscape.org

ppps. Just took a look at my sidebar - 300 followers! Wow, thanks so much, loveliess <3 Appreciate the luuuuve. Hope you guys have a great week... well, at least a better week than I'm having right now haha. Will be back soon!