Make-Up: Japan vs. the West & ADDICTION by Ayako

Until last night, I've been sat in Japan for the past month thinking about all the lovely Western cosmetics brands that I miss, and then I spoke to H who I remembered always had an interest in Japanese make-up and I realised - what on EARTH am I doing?!

It's true - Japanese make up is VERY different from the typical Western ideal, in both products and looks. I feel like Japanese make up is a lot more sheer and glitter-oriented (you can kinda get the idea if you look up brands like Majolica Majolca, CANMAKE, RMK, Jill Stuart, KATE Lavshuca, Maquillage etc., etc.,), and much less bold or pigmented than what is popular in the West. I've got to admit that I typically lean towards the latter, and so while I have been perusing around Japanese drugstore brands, there was never much that took my fancy (okay, bar a few).

Then I discovered ADDICTION by Ayako. EEP!

Ayako is the former right-hand woman of (the incredible blush-maker!) Francois Nars. She left Japan for New York in 1990 with not much but her portfolio and she lives there today with her very own make-up line, which has launched here in Japan.

I read a bit of her interview, and the phrase that caught my attention the most was what I wrote above - the difference in the cultural taste in cosmetics. As a person who has lived less than half her life in Japan and the rest elsewhere, I'm always interested in transcultural topics and so this line caught my eye as something that may be the make-up equivalent of who I am - a Japanese with very different inspirations.

Tomorrow I'm off into the centre of Tokyo to pick up my student visa, and hope to take a quick (maybe not) detour into an ADDICTION counter, just to see if anything takes my fancy! Here are the things that have already caught my eye..

The blushes..

The customizable compacts.. (not that I don't have enough..)

Somewhat the lippies..

and the cheek sticks :D

Sorry for some of the poor quality pictures, but I didn't wanna take other people's photographs so do take a look on Google yourselves :)

As you can see, a VERY heavy influence from Francois Nars himself, but I am curious to see what she's done to make it hers :) I LOVE the packaging (check out the lipgloss packagings, they are LUSH.)

The Cheek Sticks are multifunctional, and can be used as eyeshadow bases as well as lipsticks. They've won an award for best cheek product of the year, and Ayako's powder foundation and nailpolishes have both won first place in their respective categories too.. so those 3 I will definitely be checking out! I am so excited. If that even covers it.

I am crapping myself (put ever so eloquently if I say so myself) at how much dosh I may be parting with tomorrow.. time to bust out more vouchers maybe?

What brands' philosophy/story fascinate you? :)

<3yu

Hell on Heels

Miranda Lambert... she's my all-time favorite singer. I can't get enough of her. I remember buying her first cd at Target and blasting "Kerosene" with my windows down everywhere I went. I just knew she would be big. I have grown up listening to Dwight Yoakam, Garth Brooks, Reba, and the like so her twang and "outlaw" singing spoke to my soul. Then "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" came out and I couldn't believe it was even better than the first cd. I listened to it so much that cd doesn't even work anymore, ha!

Anyways, all this rambling to say my love for the Queen of Country runs deep. Have you heardher new trio, Pistol Annies? I realize this music isn't for everyone, but if you love Mrs. Lambert and some good 'ole gun shooting, smack talking, Southern music, I know you'll love them too! Here... take a look for yourself!

"Hell on Heels"

The first time I felt it I was only 16

And he kissed me underneath the chinaberry tree

Said "Goodnight darlin," with a sweet Southern drawl

Man, I think I might just have to love them all -

The boys from the South

Have a blessed day, y'all!

McKell-Sweet Sixteen!

I finally got McKell to slow down enough to take her 16 year old pictures.  She's so much fun!!!!  I can't believe my youngest child is now 16.

Stir Fried Dried Cuttlefish (Ojinguh Chae Bokkeum)

A staple side dish in most Korean kitchens and lunchboxes. Takes less than 5 minutes to make and will stay good for a long time. Adjust the amount of red chili paste and sugar depending on how spicy and sweet you like it.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups of dried cuttlefish strips
- 1T vegetable oil
- red chili paste
- 3T water
- 1/2 T rice wine
- 1/2 T soy sauce
- 1/2 T plum extract (optional, but it will taste better with it)
- 1 TKorean cooking syrup (agave works too)
- 1T sesame oil
- sesame seeds

1. Mix the oil, red chili paste, soy sauce, rice wine, cooking syrup, and plum extract in a frying pan and bring to simmer on low.

2. Add the cuttlefish strips and mix until everything is evenly covered. Let it heat for another couple minutes or so.

3. Add sesame oil and sesame seeds and mix around.

And you're finished, literally under 5 minutes! It's good warm or cold.

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• Android 2.2 or higher
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August Favourites :)

I can't believe I have less than a month left to be in Japan! :( I was going to whinge about how it's kind of difficult to live with parents for so long when you've had all the independence, but I'm currently so bored without my mom as she's gone to a middle school reunion, and my dad's been away for work in Papua New Guinea..  total FAIL on my behalf! I've still enjoyed myself though, and have a month yet to appreciate my time here so all is well :)

Anyway, here is my monthly favourites video :) 

Apologies again for the caffeine high (and the caffeine relief bit LOL! I couldn't edit it out I was lol-ing at myself) - it's probably why there's lots of editing in this one! :P Coffee really is my drug of choice :P

And some of my new found favourite blogs this month are..

Ebrushka's Make Up Bag

I spent a few hours going over all her posts! Reminded me about how relaxed blogging should be and that it's not just about trying product after product, or about cult products or about high end products - it's about showing people what you love! :) Unfortunately this has added lots of new products onto my wishlist though and made me doubt my decision on some products I used to shrug off.. (Helloooo, Bella Bamba!).

Lil Lady's Life

I love this blog and have caught myself on it numerous occasions recently (as I don't do rounds of certain blogs, I just read what I think looks interesting on my Dashboard) which is always proof that I'm loving a blog! She talks about products that not a lot of people have heard about, and also has great reviews and not to mention photographs! I'm hoping to do a full round of her blog tonight, as I've been viciously reading through them day by day! :D

Superficial Girl

I'm usually not a fashion blog kind of girl, but I LOVE Carlinn's style as it's not too OTT or too complicated and she wears lots of solids which I love (as I struggle to find pattered tops I like.. the only one I have is what I'm wearing in the video! :P), all whilst still being extremely inspiring and stylish! For the first time I find myself wanting day-wear heels?! I also love her make-up tastes, and always love seeing bits and bobs of Malta - I absolutely adored it there! :)

And some snaps from this month.. :)

1. Books to planning my mom and my trip to Kyoto/Nara/Osaka in September :)

2. Visiting my baby second cousin Arata <3

3. Flowers for my grandpa's grave <3

4. Steamed bread :D (extent of my baking abilities..)

5. Reading for my next degree!

Hope you guys had a brilliant August :)

<3yu

A day with Mr. Shashy !

28th August 2011..
Ridin' a very Cool-cute-red-coop..
And its rainin..
Im superSuper cold..
Very old school beat, retro music in the air..
I loikee.. :)
Super oldies-back-to-the 80's-environment..
Pale-no-face-cake-look but still his lens is on my attention..
Not-so-little-red-riding-shawty settled under a shelter..
A peaceful ride headin to the smell of tandoori..
Late break-fast yet still the tummy is full of the smile..
Lil heart goes 'awww' when his action delimitated his words..
Still mind is wondering 'what is this actually'..
Is it another game of life or something future's hint..
Eyes keep readin and mind keeps thinking..
No matter what it is, the best day is yet to come.
And I now Im havin fun everytime Mr. Shashy stands beside me.
Thank you Mr. Shashy ! :)
Nnt awak bawa saya mencari happiness lagi okay. ^^

Is there is still place called 'heaven' in here?

Love does not care to define and is never in a hurry to do so..

         Hating someone is like drinking poison and hoping that the other person will die, so y should i hurt myself so bad? Cry all nights regretting things once i loved before.. ? Its hard to heal the broken heart but life must go on. 20 is toooo young to say 'no' 'no' to a relationship and 'a-ah' to a boyfriend. But to me, its not the time yet to find the new guy.. Im over him, soo over my past. But to be in a relationship, again, need trust me super super spiritual courage to stand up.. My mum dun want to see me hurt again, neither did my friends and myself.. As for now, love means nothing to me because its gone. He took it away.. The guy who promise me heaven dragged me to hell and now im learning to live half alive. ahah! Funny, i dun have to be like soooo 'A Jar of Heart' am I... Dang guys are trying so hard to get me i can see their effort, but ouh boy im so sory, i've told u Im living a heartless body,. I just wish one day, when the time comes, i'll meet a new guy who is written to be my husband. Gosh im tired of these 'trial and error' stuff.. Its not good man, really it is not a good thing.. They easily fall and when they fall sori im not there to catch em'.. Dis heart has been broken down few times before and Im super afraid it might happen again. Dear heart, lend me some love in future. I miss to have a real smile. I miss to be somebody's somebody. I miss to be someone's someone.. I want to be some angel's angel again. Pray what is best for me. I will wait for you, future boyfriend.

p/s : please make it real this time. xoxo

AV Gyaru magazines

So this post I am making, just for anyone out of interest. 

I help my boyfriend with his Japanese Porn Company 

(they sell Hentai Doujinshi, Male sex toys, Artbooks, Badges, and now AV magazines)

and this was the main reason I went back to Tokyo this summer. 

I know quite a few western Gals admire or just like looking at these

Kuro-gyaru AV girls (Including myself) and I wanted to show you 

some of the magazines they show up in! 

I bought these two just from regular Combini stores. 

(Newdays & Lawson)

Tokyo Gals Collection

Is a small-sized but absolutely packed magazine! It contains a lot of the 

KIRA☆KIRA actresses and has quite a bit of promotion for them too.

What I found completely awesome was that you get TWO DVDS! 

On which, some scenes were in full - so it's definitely worth the £4.20

I paid for it.

The photography is really clear, and the censoring isn't that bad. 

It's all in white, but it's "clean-cut". 

Kokoa here in that bloody nice bra! I want one XD

A cool Article/interview with guys, on Types of Sexy Gyaru! haha!

it reads (L-R): Ageha-kei, Gal mama, Shiro-gal, Kuro-gal, Gal-kei

...GYARU MAMA?! Watch out gyaru-mama's - They want to recruit you ;D 

I absolutely prefer this magazine. The layout and Gals featured are really cool

and they even have a halarious - Readers' Corner... that's right -

Every month, a couple can write in, and then you get to star in the magazine

doing dirty things with your lover. HAHA. it's brilliant. 

Kyaba Gyaru!

This magazine is a little bigger than T.G.C and a lot more expensive.

(£6.20) - I think mainly this is to do with the glossy pages and larger format.

However I didn't feel the content was as good. :( 

Cocona (Now, Serina) was featured on the front! yay, this is why I got it, lol.

Her face isn't that sexy here, haha, but I needed to make the picture SFW XD

Reo in her awesome D.I.A outfit! 

But as you can see in the top-left, the censoring looks like someone attacked the

pictures in MS Paint... the shapes are pretty amusing though. 

A normally-Kyaba-gyaru Actress gets picked for a

"Bukkake Festival" - oh, how lucky!

The most disappointing of this magazine, is that it only came with ONE DVD

compared to T.G.C (mostly highlights, too D: ), and there also was a huge Black&White section

in the middle. The phototography was pretty high-contrast as well.

But it was the same thickness as T.G.C so I guess that extra

odd 200yen is the amount of extra paper. 

These were both the August 2011 editions. If anyone wants me to scan them

or upload the DVDs just say so in the comments and I will try my best.

Hope you enjoyed this random little insight!

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Kini Zhao Yun 趙芸 from Taipei, Taiwan - Lenglui #187

Name: Kini Zhao Yun 趙芸
Date of Birth: Aug 9, 1985
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 54 kg
Measurements: 34E 24 37
Blog: http://www.wretch.cc/album/kinichao
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kini.fans
About: Kini Zhao Yun 趙芸 is a Taiwanese showgirl and part-time calligraphy tutor with a hot sexy 34E body. Chinese calligraphy is no longer boring with tutors like Zhao Yun! As a part-time calligraphy tutor, Zhao Yun charges about NT$1,200/hour and earns up to NT$20,000 - NT$30,0000/month. Pretty sure her schedule is often packed out and her students often will have difficulty concentrating during class. While in her full time, Zhao Yun works as a personal assistant to a Vice President of a well-known technology company earning her NT$60,000 - NT$70,000/month. Anyway, only the best of Zhao Yun available here, all filtered by http://dailylenglui.blogspot.com.