Fake Your Death

I'm not dead. I only dressed that way.

[graxiel]

Jimmy is home!!! Happy happy happy. I missed him after so many weeks away at the clinic.

Lately I've been tired. I'm getting used to a new environment. Getting use to not having a permanent office. Meeting new people. Learning new things. Having my period now is not helping things, I feel so lethargic the past 2 days. Got home and collapse into bed.

[graxiel]

If it fits, I sits.

[graxiel]

Clearing my desk as today is my last day. I’m going to miss this place and it’s people. I was here for almost a year already. Next Tuesday, August 5, 2014 will mark my one year anniversary working here. However, on Monday, I will be starting a new phase in my career. 

I look at it as a perfect closure and anticipating a perfect beginning. Driving home tonight, I feel relaxed, as if the weight has been lifted off my shoulders (or maybe it's because someone has adjusted my seat? Or maybe it's also because it's FRIDAY?)

After this, I will start afresh. I'm still with the same company, but will be doing vastly different things. I'm sure the changes will reignite my passion and motivates me in doing better. 

We cannot stay doing the same thing for too long or we'll get suck into a comfort zone. New challenges are what drives us to improve. It drives us to discover our abilities, to push ourselves further, to learn more and better ourselves.

Coming ready or not, when the motor gets hot, we can do it again. 

Keep running. 

[graxiel]

I went shopping again, damn I’ve been spending so much on beauty products lately. It brought me back to last year right before I started on my new (then) job. I’ve bought a great deal of skincare products, makeup and also replenished my wardrobe to start off my new career.

I guess I got excited just as I was last year. I’m moving on to new challenges and I wanted to look my best for it. First impressions are important, that is not an understatement. I didn't have the chance nor the financial ability to do this before my first job, so I'm going to make it up for the second and third one. 

Went to The Body Shop this time, I swear I only meant to check out the Instablur thingie but I just can’t help myself! My colleague who was there with me had settled down in a makeup stool while one of the staff puts makeup on her. That leaves me with too much time in my hands for extensive browsing.

I’m afraid the damage has been done, might as well just enjoy it. Discovered this Vitamin C Microdermabrasion pack. I'm always interested to try microdermabrasion, this will allow me to experience similar treatment from home, how cool is that? I can't wait to start! 

Once I got home, I stripped off all my makeup and put this on. The fine granules work wonders sloughing away the dead skin cells to promote skin renewal and refinement, highly recommended for those with dull and tired skin. My own skin is not at all tired nor dull as I have been using mask sheet daily now but I can totally feel my skin getting softer and smoother after the exfoliation. I have no regrets getting the full size product as I expect I'll be using this twice weekly from now on. Definitely a keeper! 

Topped up with Shiso Whitening Treatment Mask to replenish moisture and boost radiance. Anything that promises whitening and reducing pigmentation naturally draws my attention. I have freckles scattered across my cheeks and nose. The packaging did say it will reduce the appearance of hyper pigmentation and for a more translucent, porcelain looking-complexion. I'm feeling hopeful. 

The Verdict: The mask itself is much softer and adheres better to my skin for sure compare to the one I used yesterday. It has an abundance of essence too, however I'm quite sad to find that after using the mask, my skin also feels sticky. It's not cheap at all for this mask sheet, I can't help but feel slightly disappointed. Regardless to that, I still have a box of these and will continue to use them, who knew they might be the answer to removing my freckles? Repurchase? Maybe not. 

I saw a bag of animal soaps for sale at The Body Shop, they remind me of my childhood. My mom bought them once when I was small, I still remember the white polar bear soap and the turtle one. I didn't get them though, I still have a bit of self-control left. If the entire bag are filled with only polar bears, I might give in to temptation. I just might. 

[graxiel]

The Face Shop is having a sale!!!

All sheet mask is on Buy 5 Free 5 promotion. You can mix and match different types of mask from their vast selection. Needless to say, I dive right in without further coaxing.

This is Face Shop’s Real Nature Mask series. Each one features a different ingredient: I bought aloevera, bamboo, green tea, acai berry, honey, avocado, kelp, cucumber… There are also pomegranate and blueberry, though I didn’t get any of those. I prefer the green stuff, weird right.

Today I feel like trying the aloevera that contains the main ingredient- aloe barbadensis leaf extract, which claims to be hydrating and soothing for the sensitive skin. I have a stubborn zit near my eyebrow which is now slowly recovering, so I figure it would benefit from some soothing action. Killing it with kindness.

The mask sheet is not as soft as I like it and doesn’t adhere so well to my face but the good thing is that its dripping with so much essence when I unfold it. I let it drip onto my leg so none wasted. After I put it on my face, there are still an abundance of essence in the pack, I poured it out and apply all over my body.

Although my skin does feel moist after removing it, however the essence leave my skin a tad sticky, I can’t say I like it. It does what it promises but it’s nothing fantastic to be honest.

The verdict: I’ve used better mask sheets that is in the same price range as this. It’s worth buying it while they’re having a promotion because you get to try all different types of mask at half their usual price. It’s not bad for your skin but I probably won’t purchase this one again when there are other options that does the job without the downside.

I won’t dismiss the rest in this series just yet, who knows what they have to offer unless we try?

Lately, masking while blogging has became my daily routine. It’s quite relaxing lying here, letting my skin soak up the good stuff while looking back at today’s events and doing some productive writing.

Tomorrow will be my last day in the events department. On Monday I will be reporting to Human Resource and await for my next appointment. It’s hard leaving this great team behind while I persue new experiences but it’s time to embrace new challenges before I got stuck in this comfort zone.

I’m very grateful for having this chance to experience every aspect of what this hotel has to offer. It’s a one in a lifetime opportunity and I’m one of the two that has been selected this year. For the next 16 months, I will be rotating among each and every department that is vital for the running of this hotel. It will be fun. And it will be an awesome learning experience.

My goal is to bring all these knowledge and experiences back when I return to my own department. Being someone with no background in the hospitality industry, this will certainly be an advantage for me upon my homecoming. I’m so looking forward to it.

[graxiel]

Read an article last night about the benefits and importance of using sheet mask daily.

Renowned model and actress Lin Chi-Ling apparently used up to 1,000 sheet mask per year. Fan Bing Bing also was known to use about 700 piece of sheet mask in a year. Seeing that there is only 365 days in a year, that means they used more than two mask sheets per day! That’s insane.

I think once a day for me should be more than enough as I’m no mega-superstar who gets filmed or photographed daily. Nor do I have that kind of budget to match. However, I still feel the importance of taking good care of our skin and it’s good to pamper ourselves at the end of the day.

There are so many types of sheet mask in the market, it’s fun picking them out and trying them. I went crazing buying all these sheet mask earlier of the year but did not have the discipline to use them, so they lay abandoned in my drawers. Yesterday I finally put them to good use, I think they should last me a good while.

My favorite masks are from Naruko, Lovemore, My Beauty Diary and My Scheming. I do use Skinfoods and other brands but the former are easier to get from Watson.

This one is Lovemore Pearl Barley and milk smoothing mask sheet for clear complexion. It has whitening and hydrating properties. What I love about this series is the ultra-thin 100% silk mask which adhere so well to your skin to ensure maximum absorption. You can totally move around without worrying that it might fall off. It also smells good enough to eat. I’m loving silk mask since the first time I tried them, I’m now a complete convert!

Let’s see whether I can keep up this practice.

The verdict: After removing the mask, I can see my skin is instantly fairer, hydrated and oh so bouncy. Pores seem more refined too. It doesn’t make your skin sticky or oily. The effect is matted radiance, I can go out like this without any makeup on, definitely a keeper.

[graxiel]

Nicole’s Bibimbap, my current favorite from The Korean Club.

This is seriously the best thing you can order at their place. I recommend it to a collegue during my mini-farewell and she’s totally hooked, like me.

The secret ingredient? Caramelized onions and salty Korean Seaweed. Makes all the difference.

What else is in it? Fresh leaves, julienned carrots, blanched beansprouts, korean pickles and sautéed ground beef. Mixed all together with sesame oil and you don’t even need chili paste.

I’m not a spice loving person so I always have my Bibimbap without the chili paste.

I can seriously eat this everyday. It’s that good. This place is close to my office so it’s definitely possible.

[graxiel]

I am craving Jagabees (especially the purple potato one) but that stuff is not readily available in my hometown.

Fingers crossed for somebody to bring Jagabees back for me from overseas.

Found an alternative at the supermarket earlier. It was nice enough but still incomparable to the originals. Beggars can’t be choosers, so there.

I forsee purchasing this in bulk during my next trip for grocery shopping. Unless Jagabees are available.

One can still hope.

[graxiel]

Apparently today is International MCR Day!

This goes to show how awesome the MCRmy are, we actually have a holiday to celebrate the best fucking band in the whole damn world.

Today is a day to play MCR music all day, re-watch that video for the hundredth time. Stalk the boys of the band in Tumblr, Twitter and Instagram. Sing the words but don’t know what it means but sing it for the world anyway. Spend the night dancing and get drunk I supposed?

This day is for our heroes - Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Ray Toro and Frank Iero. Regardless of that denial “I’m just a man, I’m not a hero” They will always be our heroes. They are the reasons we are not afraid to keep on living. And why we are not afraid to walk this world alone.

Let’s take the chance to say, thank you for the venom, cause we love all the poison and all the boys in the band.

Spread the word, spread the love, keep it ugly.

[graxiel]

Jimmy Baby, I just want you to come home soon. I miss you. 

[graxiel]

Testing out the new template on my tablet. I'm loving it so far. Still needs fine-tuning, I kid you not, but it started with an alright scene. I mean, it's a good start. 

This is the template- The Publisher. What I love about it is the full page header, the social media icons. Minimalist at it's best. I'm always partial to clean lines and simple designs when it comes to webdesign. 

It looks so good on the computer screen and even better on mobile. 

A productive day off, I had to say. Can't wait for the weekends, there will be 2 days public holidays in tow so I'll have 4 days to consecutively work on this blog. 

Got to make a move, the cats made their way in and have been trampling across my keyboards like nobody's business. 

Going to play a bit of Harvest Moon and then off to bed for me. It's been a while since I last played this, it still holds a lot of appeal to me. 

[graxiel]

Jimmy-baby and his mama. 

[graxiel]

My home office. That's the laptop that my father bought me in my first year of college. 

Considering getting a newer model but nowadays I did almost everything on my phone anyways. 

The only thing I still need a laptop for is to transfer photo's from my camera, play Harvest Moon, Fast Typer and edit blog templates.

[graxiel]

Work in progress.

Lately, I'm obsessed with My Chemical Romance, hence the title 'Fake Your Death' and a line from 'Boy Division'- I'm not dead, I only dressed that way. 

I won't be reblogging anything about MCR in this blog, this will be mostly a personal thing. I do post about them in this other blog- Death Becomes Her- May Death Never Stop You, It's a mix of everything that strike my fancy and has a lot of stuff related to my current obsessions. Obsession drives me on, MCR is the fuel that keeps me going. 

Some of the websites I look to for inspirations- Electric Century, Gerard Way's, Frank Iero's, Linkin Park, last but not least- My Chemical Romance's. What they all have in common is the black & white theme which also serves as the foundation of this blog. I hope you like Black & White photography, it's my signature. 

I do admire a good website. It's my hope to be as good as some of these one day. In the meantime, I will keep trying. Keep running. 

[graxiel]

Skylines and Turnstiles

You’re not in this alone. Let me break this awkward silence, let me go. Go on record, be the first to say I’m sorry, hear me out.

And if you take me down. Or would you lay me out. And if the world needs something better, Let’s give them one more reason now.

This broken city sky, like butane on my skin. Stolen from my eyes. Hello angels tell me where are you? Tell me where we go from here?

Tell me where we go from…

And in this moment we can’t close our lids on burning eyes Our memories blanket us with friends we know, Like fallout vapors. Steel corpses stretch out towards an ending sun, Scorched and black. It reaches in and tears your flesh apart. As ice cold hands rip into your heart.

That’s if you’ve still got one that’s left inside that cave you call a chest. And after seeing what we saw, Can we still reclaim our innocence? And if the world needs something better, Let’s give them one more reason now.

[graxiel]

Start packing my stuff, getting ready to move on to the next chapter of my career. By the start of next month, I'd be embarking on an exciting journey to better myself. With complete faith that upon my return, I will come back stronger, tougher and better than ever. Looking forward to it with every fiber of my being.

[graxiel]

Everytime

Everytime I kiss, I feel your lips. Everytime I cry, I see your smile. And everytime I close my eyes, I realized that Everytime I hold your hand in mine. The sweetest thing my heart could ever find. And I have never felt this way. Since the day, I gave your love away.

We can survive it. All the pain we feel inside. You relied on me and now I’ve let you down. Now I promised you forever, I will be the best I can. And I know we can revive it, all the love we left.