2016 Roundup + 2017 Resolutions

2016 Roundup

1. My cat baby, Alice, turned 2 in May
2. Finished my M.S. program in July (but the official date on my degree was August, which was the end of the summer session)
3. Applied to dental school in August (late application)
4. Accepted into dental school in December!?!?!
5. Now I have a better idea of where my life is headed
6. Kicked anxiety's butt around this time and now I'm eagerly waiting to practice driving so I can be independent and drive solo~ (but freeway is still scary >_<)
7. Took off my braces and now waiting to do Invisalign
8. Finally started playing Animal Crossing New Leaf (ACNL) again - I forgot how much it made me happy!
9. Decluttered a lot of nail polishes, along with some clothes and makeup, and felt loads better after reducing the excess
10. Kept doing me :)

2017 Resolutions

1. Stop procrastinating
2. Keep working hard - I will get there!
3. Keep growing
4. Keep working on becoming a more positive person
5. Continue decluttering my life - only keep what makes me happy. Live a more wholesome life without the excess and burden!
6. Maybe learn how to oil paint, watercolor, or Japanese
7. Definitely learn how to cook
8. Relearn Spanish
9. Hang out with friends as much as I can before dental school starts
10. Keep in touch with them even as everyone keeps moving forward with their lives
11. Learn to not stress out so much - it's unhealthy
12. Sleep more and better
13. Exercise (that belly chub! :( )
14. Enjoy everyday, wake up looking forward to the day (ACNL definitely helps with this!)

2015 Round Up + 2016 Resolutions

2015 Round Up

1. My pet baby turned 1! <3
2. Got into the progressive degree program for my master degree.
3. Actually graduated from undergrad.
4. Actually got into graduate school.
5. Actually going somewhere in life.
6. I still have no idea what I'm doing. C'est la vie.

2016 Resolution

1. Continue breathing.
2. Continue eating and drinking.
3. Sleep is always the answer. Or playing with or petting my pet baby. Her purring is so comforting. <3
4. Keep taking pictures of my pet baby.
5. Get a good graduate GPA.
6. Find a job and pursue a career. (Hopefully before spring semester or summer session ends.)
7. Master the art of driving on freeways to become an independent driver.
8. Exercise to lose belly fat to look good in work clothes.
9. Learn how to cook.
10. Learn how to adult.
11. Figure out what the heck I'm doing with this thing bestowed upon me called "life."

Pretty sure that's all. Happy New Year!

Michelle

Words

Just some inspiring quotes as we start off the new year. A word of caution, they are not your normal quotes...

"Once you decide on your occupation, you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret of success, and is the key to being regarded honorably.”

“I fell in love with my work, and I gave my life to it.” 

“Always doing what you are told doesn’t mean you’ll succeed in life."

     - Jiro Ono, Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

"Never give up

Unless you’ve tried at least 3 times.

'Cause fuck it. Then it’s just impossible."

     - Pewdiepie (I just found this quote funny.)

“In the end, all that may be left is a blank piece of paper, but we have to keep on walking into the future.”

     - Chen Kaige, Together (2002)

“We can be anyone. We can do anything. It’s only a matter of going.”

     - Ilsa Faust, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)

“I am nothing. So, I can be anything.”

     - one of the Pocari Sweat commercials from 2015 

"Life has taught me that we have this incredible power, this marvelous capacity to actually shape it.”

     - Kristina Bazan, fashion blogger and aspiring singer

Michelle

Lipstick Collection

Lola Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm in Bronze Bombshell

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Daringly Nude

ColourPop Lippie Stix Frida, Topanga, Brink, Lumière

Revlon Lip Butter Peach Parfait

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob

Etude House Play 101 Pencil in 33

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color in Make Me Pink

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer 101 Celestial

Nature Republic Creamy Lipstick in 04 Rose Brown

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate 101

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate 103

Nature Republic Botanical Eco Crayon Lip Rouge in 6

Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain Honey

Revlon Lip Butter Red Velvet, Super Lustrous Lipstick Pink in the Afternoon

Milani Power Lip 05 Macaroon

Maybelline Color Elixir 090 Rose Redefined

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Elusive

Etude House Play 101 Pencil in 26

Maybelline Color Whisper 60 Petal Rebel

Revlon Lip Butter Cotton Candy

TONYMOLY Petite Bunny Gloss Bar 05 Juicy Peach

ColourPop Lippie Stix Toucan

ColourPop Lippie Stix Julep

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Unapologetic

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids 870 Shocking Coral

Maybelline Color Elixir 005 Breathtaking Apricot

L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire 201 Rose Symphony

Revlon Lip Butter Wild Watermelon

TONYMOLY Petite Bunny Gloss Bar 04 Juicy Cherry

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Cherry Blossom

Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint RD301

TONYMOLY Petite Bunny Gloss Bar 06 Juicy Orange

Revlon Lip Butter 015 Tutti Frutti

TONYMOLY Cat Wink Lipstick 07 Salmon Wink

Peripera Peri's Tint Water in Cherry Juice

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

Wet 'n Wild Megalast Lipstick 918D Cherry Bomb

ColourPop Lippie Stix Dalia

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte 695 Divine Wine

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Black Cherry

ColourPop Lippie Stix Feminist

Wet 'n Wild Megalast Lipstick 908C Sugar Plum Fairy

MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick Pure Heroine A34

L'Oreal Colour Riched Extraordinaire 502 Plum Adagio

ColourPop Lippie Stix Charm

Pretty Serious Flavoured Tint Gloss Into Dreams

L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire 106 Fuchsia Orchestra

The Playlist Lately // 13

BoA - Sekai no Katasumi de (Japan)

KangTa - 그해 여름 (Late Summer Night) (South Korea)

Hong Kong Nocturne Medley (Hong Kong) (I couldn't also find "A-go-go." :( )

Doris Day - Que Será, Será (U.S.)

Skoop on Somebody - Sha la la (Japan)

The Playlist Lately // 12

f(x) - Mr. Boogie (South Korea)

CN Blue - Radio (Japan)

Lorde - Team (New Zealand)

Alyssa Bonagura - Warrior (U.S.)

Belinda - Ni Freud Ni Tu Mama (Mexico)

The Playlist Lately // 11

Ueno Yuka - Winter Kiss (Japan)

Naomi & Goro - 夜明けの歌 (Japan)

moumoon - Hello, shooting star (Japan)

Nishiuchi Mariya - Arigatou... Forever (Japan)

Kimura Yumi - Itsumo nando Demo (Japan)

The Playlist Lately // 10

Ludovico Einaudi & Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Prague - Love is a Mystery

Tenmon - One More Time, One More Chance

Ueda Susumu - Only Human (Cello Version)

Norihiro Tsuru - Last Carnival

이병우 (Lee Byung Woo) - "Epilogue" from A Tale of Two Sisters

The Playlist Lately // 9

Brian Crain - Joys of the Heart

Kako Takashi - Blue Horizon

Matthew L. Fisher - Home Is Ahead... The World Behind...

Thomas Curran - Vibrations

Thierry Verheyen - Shining Star

The Playlist Lately // 8

BoA - Feel the Same (Japan)

Grégoire - Toi + moi (France)

Linus' Blanket - See You My Dream (South Korea)

Ueno Yuka - Dear my hero (Japan)

ZARD - Glorious Mind (Japan) (The only video I found that has the actual song. :( )

The Playlist Lately // 7

Stromae - Formidable (Belgium)

Indila - Tourner Dans Le Vide (France)

f(x) - 무지개 (South Korea)

Kyla La Grange - Cut Your Teeth (UK)

Lorde - Glory And Gore (New Zealand)

The Playlist Lately // 6

Veronica Maggio - Måndagsbarn (Sweden)

Van Fan - Don't Wanna (Taiwan)

Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love (U.S.)

f(x) - Red Light (South Korea)

Indila - Dernière Danse (France)

The Playlist Lately // 5

Mika - Stardust (UK)

Oskar Linnros - Från och med du (Sweden)

Valentina Monetta - Crisalide (Vola) (San Marino)

Koda Kumi - WALK OF MY LIFE (Japan)

Shion - Distance (Japan)

The Playlist Lately // 4

Artery Vein - Yami Ni Nureta Catastrophe (Japan)

Imagine Dragons - Radioactive (U.S.)

Röyksopp (feat. Robyn) - Do It Again (Norway)

Petra Marklund - Händerna mot himlen (Sweden)

Röyksopp (feat. Robyn) - Monument (The Inevitable End Version) (Norway)

The Playlist Lately // 3

RAM RIDER - Memory (with Miki Fukado) (Japan) (Couldn't find a video for only this song. But I love this album!!!)

Fall Out Boy - Immortals (U.S.)

Hurricane Kids - Wake Up the World (New Zealand)

BoA - Moon & Sunrise (Japan)

ONE OK ROCK - Be the Light (Japan)

Class of 2015

Though I officially graduate in Summer 2015, today officially marks the end of 4 years of hell and hopelessness! I'm SO thrilled that I'm finally done with undergrad! I know most people love their college years, but they've been nothing, but misery for me. I won't miss these years at all! It's time for the next huge step in life.

In Fall 2015, I'll start on my Master of Science at my university's medical school. Yes, I'll become a graduate student! I was very lucky I decided to attend the info session for the master degree I ended up pursuing. I was doubly lucky that the school system still recognized me as a junior because that allowed me to apply for a progressive degree. (Class standing is formally based on credits one has fulfilled, not necessarily by the number of years in school.) My school's progress degree program allows undergraduates to be admitted early to one of its graduate school's master degree programs. Students must fulfill the appropriate course requirement before applying. Other requirements, such as the number of letters of recommendation and minimum GPA, are dependent on the master degree program. Anyway, I seriously didn't know what to do after summer school, though I knew I was going to continue researching with my PI, supervisor, and other undergraduate research assistants during the summer. Was I going to apply for an internship or part-time job while studying for the GRE and applying to one or two master programs? I really thought I was pass the credit limit for the progressive degree programs. I'm already so excited for my next graduation ceremony! I'll get to wear the red hood that signifies that I'm a graduate student!

As for life after academia? Well, I'm thinking about working at my university in some capacity (hopefully, either as the program assistant for my progressive degree program since I'd love to give back and offer other students the same opportunity or at the medical school's hospital) and then going for another master degree there so I'll get free tuition. Or, God forbid, I'll go for a Ph. D, but it'll probably be too much academia for me.

OPI Samoan Sand and Zoya Gilty

Oh, I'm going to Seoul (South Korea), Hong Kong, and Macau for two weeks this summer! I'm so ecstatic for two reasons! One, I'm going with my mom and two aunts - my mom really wanted to do a sort of "mother-daughter" kind of trip. We invited my aunts to come along so it'll be more fun though.  Two, it's probably my last vacation before I earnestly start working and pursuing my life goals. And I have very big life goals. (I like to think I set myself up for failure, hey.) After this sort of "transition" period, I'm going to be a proper adult. (I use "adult" very loosely though. Because all adults know how "adult" we really are. A.k.a "I have no idea what I'm doing.")

I had a very wise general chemistry professor way back in freshman (!) year. He noticed that everyone was very tired and struggling not to fall asleep. (On top of general chemistry being such an important class, we loved the professor dearly. He was like a grandpa-figure to us.) He decided to stop lecture for a few minutes to give us a life lecture. He wanted us to realize what we were here for, what we wanted to do with our lives, what we hoped life would be later. He knew that some of us were only here to make our parents or others happy, some were here for a stable and high-paying career in the healthcare field, and others wanted to help people in need. He knew these were the reasons why we decided to sacrifice our whole lives for. But what about our own happiness?

"Life is terrible, and then we die."

So, do your best to be happy. Do what makes you happy.

Michelle

P.S. Le Lacquer Hook Up is my other blog. I forgot to change the logo. :/

The Playlist Lately // 2

BUMP OF CHICKEN - You were here (Japan)

ONE OK ROCK - The Beginning (Japan)

Cat Stevens - If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out (UK)

BoA - Close to Me (Japan)

Mika - Happy Ending (UK)

The Playlist Lately // 1

Tobu - Mesmerize

BUMP OF CHICKEN - Fighter (Japan)

Mélanie René - Time to Shine (Switzerland)

WORLD ORDER - HAVE A NICE DAY (Japan)

BoA - MASAYUME CHASING (Japan)

Toujours

Les feuilles ont bruiu.

Les oiseaux ont chanté.

La goutte de rosée s’est attardée.

Les fleurs ont éclou.

Le printemps est arrivé.

L’averse s’est arrêtée.

Les mouettes sont volés.

Les vagues ont attendu sur la côte.

Le soleil s’est couché.

L’été est arrivé.

Les feuilles sont tombées.

Les pommes ont été récoltés.

Les champignons ont germé.

La forêt est devenue vivante.

L’automne est arrivé.

Les arbres stériles sont mis en rang.

Les lacs ont gelé la vie.

Les gouttes de glace sont tombées.

De la neige,

Une petite fleur violete est montée.

L’hiver a fini.

Maintenant, c’est le printemps encore.

Mais la journée est silencieuse.

La journée est vide.

Le temps s’enfuit.

Le soleil brille.

Le ciel est d’un bleu clair.

Les nuages flottent.

Seulement je suis immobile.

(Original version of "Still.")

Still

The leaves rustled, revealing the sun's rays.
The birds sang, looking for each other.
The morning dew lingered, glistening on the blades of grass.
The flowers bloomed, signifying spring.

The rain showers left, leaving behind summer.
Seagulls soared, crying out for each other.
The waves idled on the seashore.
The sun slowly set, welcoming the night.

Leaves that turned red, orange, and yellow started falling.
Apples were harvested, leaving behind empty trees.
Mushrooms sprouted, clustering together.
The winds rushed by, carrying winter.

Barren trees lined up.
Lakes froze life.
Ice drops fell.
From the snow, rose
a small purple bud.

Now, it is spring again.
But the day is quiet.
The day is empty.
Time runs away.

The sun shines down.
The sky is a clear blue.
The clouds float on by.
Only I am still.