elf made brushes...GIVEAWAY!!!

I finally got my package from elf cosmetics! I mainly ordered make-up brushes because while I am unable to fork out the dough for professional brushes, I do prefer brushes over the sponge applicators:



The verdict? They are soooooooo nice!!! The bristles are soft and the handles are sturdy. I really can't believe I got them for about a dollar each (I used a coupon code but they retail for $3 each). I'm going to try to experiment with a couple of them to see whether or not I can use them as paintbrushes (I'll let you know how that goes). Too bad elf doesn't offer paintbrushes too because good paintbrushes are crazy expensive. ;)


That's a lot of brushes, huh? WELL...as a thank you for all those kind, sweet birthday wishes, I want to do a super short giveaway of one of my eyeshadow brushes from elf!

Leave a comment on this blog post, and I'll select a winner Tuesday, Sept 1st. ;)

Have a great weekend!

the happiest place...

I went to Disneyland for my birthday. I didn't stay very long, but it was kind of nice. It's been nearly a decade since my last visit to the "happiest place on earth". For the most part, it's still very much the same; however, it seems so much smaller now. :) The worst part is that there's a lot more audible cussing amongst the crowd...:(

My sister gave me this for my birthday! I was so pleasantly surprised because she's pretty busy now-a-days with Little Cloud. Plus, it matches my nail polish! ;)



It's a birthday critter. :)

As for my birthday blues, well, I think I'm over them now. My father-in-law told me that 29 was his hardest birthday ever. He said that it's difficult realizing it's the last year you'll be in your 20s, but he assured me that once you turn 30, you get a fresh, new start again. hahaha :D

birthday = the blues = new + expensive craft

It's my birthday. yay. :(

Lately, I've been preoccupied, or rather obsessed, with make-up. Over the past month I have been subconsciously drawn to make these ridiculous purchases from Urban Decay, Smashbox, and elf.com (I should be getting that package next week) with the imminent approach of the birthday. I've completely ditched crafting on the normal art canvases for crafting on my face. I guess it's an attempt to hold onto youth?



I don't know why I am so resistant to getting older. I mean, seriously, when I look at my parents, in-laws, and all the elders of my family, I think they're all so beautiful and live such wonderful lives. I have a lot to look forward to, right? hah! :D

I highly doubt the make-up will solve anything or miraculously cure my birthday blues, but I better have fun playing with them because make-up costs a lot! :) Better yet, I need to hold onto this truth: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Happy birthday to me! :)

coolest plates ever (and a giveaway!)

La Fuji Mama's latest blog post was about the most interesting plates ever; these plates are made out of palm leaves, making them totally eco-friendly. So, after reading her post, I scurried over to Marx Foods to take a look at how to get my hands on them. To my excitement, they are actually doing a giveaway right now! Woo-hoo!!!



You guys should definitely enter the giveaway!!!

contrast.

I was messing around with my watercolors and ended up creating two pieces, which totally contrast one another. The first one depicts a girl who is deliriously happy and the second one shows a girl who is restlessly sad. :)





Have a great weekend; I'm off to the beach! ;)

scrubbing buddy

As a kid, I loved the Scrubbing Bubbles almost as much as I loved the Snuggle Bear (actually, I still do). Anyway, I bought this really cute vegetable brush, and I couldn't help drawing it a face. Here's my own personal Scrubbing Buddy, inspired by the Scrubbing Bubbles:



By the way, my nice, round ice cubes were created by using the ice cube tray pictured below. It contains two parts, which snap together to form the roundness of the ice cubes:





Oh, and I definitely need to take Blue is Bleu's suggestion of making coffee ice cubes because I don't like my coffee (with sweet condensed milk) being watered down either, which is simply inevitable because I just don't drink fast enough for the ice to not melt.

not a cloudy day...

Today is not a cloudy day; not only is it sun-shining but I didn't get to see Little Miss Cloud either. Boy, I can't believe how much I miss her!

Anyway, as some sort of consolation (and a terrible addiction to caffeine that I can't kick), I made myself an iced coffee with some condensed milk. I LOVE my little ice cubes; they're perfectly round.



Here is a little watercolor piece that I recently did. I was too lazy to color her, so I just made her entire outfit match. hah!

baby stamping.

Despite the summer heat, I managed to sneak in one crafty endeavor; I carved a stamp inspired by Baby Cloud (who I think looks a whole lot like a Kewpie).



Oh, I just wanted to share a little something that I received in the mail. I got this giveaway present from Golden Dove Design. It's a cute hair pin, which is so delicately embroidered. Thanks Kim!!! :)