Be-YOU-ty

Earlier in the year, I showed you a few pieces of art that I'd been working on for my AP Art concentration. For my concentration, I focused my pieces around the theme of makeup and its effect on the user. Over the sequence of these 12 pieces, the girl and the makeup she uses both go through transformations. The girl, once pretty, curious, but a little insecure in her natural state becomes scarred and can only hide behind a mask -- a mask of makeup. I hope you can see the story as you view the images. 

While it's a somewhat negative take on cosmetics, I do still love it, but sometimes one can get lost in the sea of products out there. Beauty is only beauty if you be-YOU-ty. (Barf, I'm sorry)

Okay cheesiness over. Here they are! I think you'll be able to tell that I'm a lot more comfortable with watercolors as opposed to acrylic paint. I ain't for dat acrylic life. Yeah, I'm gonna stick with my watercolors.

Watercolor

Watercolor & Pen

Watercolor

Watercolor

Acrylic

Watercolor

Acrylic

Watercolor

Micron Pen

Acrylic & Watercolor

Acrylic

Acrylic

The photographing+uploading do not do some of these justice sadly. Can you tell that last painting is me? I couldn't find a model haha. I felt so accomplished when I finally finished everything. I feel a slight void now that I don't have to rush finishing a piece in two weeks, but well time to paint for leisure!

Cairo & Baby Lips

To get back into the groove, I thought I'd show you two new additions to my makeup collection! I've been thinking more wear-ability lately since I can only bring so much to college. I bought these a few months ago on my birthday (which happens to be the last time I bought makeup -- woot!).

William the Hippo in Pop Art Tumbler from The Met.

First item is a NARS eyeshadow in Cairo. It's my first actually. I'd always gone into Sephora and admired the NARS eyeshadows but never actually bought one. Now I have, and I do not regret it!

Cairo is a pale, beige-taupe with the slightest hint of shimmer. It's basically matte, but if you look closely, there's this subtle iridescence that is just beautiful. Hopefully you can see it in the swatch below. I think this is the perfect everyday eyeshadow color (for me at least). Definitely give it a swatch whenever you can!

Cairo on the eyes and finger.

The second thing I got is a Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Color in Baby Lips. I've been really loving sheer lip products lately so I went for this. It's sheer, but not too sheer that there's no color. Sheer lippies are my best friends on lazy days or when I'm in a rush. You don't need a mirror!

Just a pair of"baby lips", just kidding they're mine.

Baby Lips is a soft, warm pink. It's kind of a 'my lips but better' color for me. The lip product is like a lip butter -- the color is sheer, but the product is creamy and moisturizing. In the swatch, I only applied Baby Lips to part of my bottom lip so you can see the opacity. It has a nice amount of shine too! I digz it.

This has been...kind of...a mini haul...? Signing off now!

Hmph.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I disappeared again.

*sigh* -____-

I guess that's a thing with my blog, huh? It shouldn't though.

Well, remember last year when I also disappeared around this time of year? I was making the stage backdrop for my club's annual Asian Night show. This time around, I was the one planning the whole show so I had no free time at all. When I got home, I'd pass out on my bed, skipping dinner many times. It was a lot of work, but I'm glad it turned out almost hitch-free.

Here's a shot of our grand finale! I'm holding the sign right in the middle -- yup, I'm just a pair of legs.

But anyway, that's over and done with now so I have, literally, N-O-T-H-I-N-G to do. I'm just waiting to move out to college (which is pretty far away from Boston by the way). Time to start blogging again!

Sweet Spring

The vernal equinox has finally arrived here in the northern hemisphere! While there is still some patches of snow melting off where I live, I can't help but look forward to the bright, breezy days. When I think about spring, the first thing that comes to mind is flowers. When I see tulips and daffodils popping up, I know that spring has finally arrived.

It was still gloomy and gray here a few days ago, so I reached for some soft pinks and peaches to remind me of the fresh flower petals of spring.

Used a new dress for the background -- can't wait to wear it!

Didya miss my flashing numbers?

1. Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Strawberry: One of the brightest lipglosses I own! I thought the soft color selection needed a little pick-me-up.
2. MAC Sheertone Blush in Springsheen: What's a spring post without Springsheen?
3. Benefit Eyeshadow in Nice Melons: This iridescent light peach is my favorite spring eyeshadow ever.
4. Sephora Eyeliner in Flashy Pink: More like a subtle flash! It always brightens up my eyes without being too noticeable like white eyeliner.
5. AVON Eye Pencil in Floraluscious: The name says it all, luscious flowers please!
6. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Honey Bunny: This pale salmon color screams pinky nude spring dresses to me! And the name, Easter anyone?
7. Lancome Juicy Tube Gloss in Kiwi Slice: Fresh cut grass, eh?

The shade names ended up painting a rather befitting picture of spring, huh? Very fruity. Kept them in mind and surprisingly enough, the colors all coordinated with each other. Don't you love it when the pieces just fall together? Happy spring, everyone! Are you looking forward to the warmer weather?

A blog lost in time...

Yes, you're right.

WHERE THE F*CK HAVE YOU BEEN, MAGGIE?!

I know, I dropped off the face of the earth. Especially after promising that I'd be back soon. I'm terrible. At first, my excuse was that I had to finish my senior research paper (a graduation requirement at my school), but then I finished that almost three weeks ago. And now, all I've been doing when I come home is pass out on my bed and catch up on all the sleep I've lost these past six years. I've been awful. I've been a mess.

This blog has been crying out for me in my head all this time, but those cries have been left unanswered. I'd tried many times to appease those cries by taking pictures of some new acquisitions, but never got to posting them. I've lost the spark. But it's still lit, just barely, singeing the edges of my mind, occasionally, to remind that it's still there.

How poetic.

In short, I really regret neglecting this baby of mine for so long. I need to get back.

Wearing MAC Satin Taupe on the eyes and NARS Flamenco on the lips.

In other news, I've heard back from 6 of the 10 colleges I applied to. I've been accepted to all of them so far, and I am bracing myself for the last four which will come out in the next two weeks. Life is moving so fast, but this blog has been stuck in the past. Time to change that.

I've also missed talking with you gals oh so so much.