Lesson Learned from Reality Shows

First thing first, you may think

What in the world this post is about?

What kind of inspiration or lesson Nelah could get from watching these stupid/non-sense reality shows?

How can Snookie inspire others in a productive way?

How cat fights on these shows do any good or even improve someone’s life in general?

{image via eonline.com}

Read on, read on. {I have “never” watched” Jersey Shores by the way..too old for it :D}

If we look beyond "what designer cloth Kim was wearing on last night episode or what lipstick she was wearing?", we all can learn something out of this. One thing Kim Kadashian/Betheny Frankel/Snooki/Michelle Phan (I threw Michelle in there even though she doesn’t own a reality show, she is also a self-made successful YouTube celebrity) have in common – “success”. It may seem like an easy road to success/money when someone puts herself in front of a camera and plays the role of a diva, drama queen or whatever the script demands them to be to attract/generate viewers. Yet behind the scene, how many harsh critics have they faced to be where they are today? How many haters beat them up with negative words?

A lot

Perhaps more than they could possibly handle but they move one and stay focused on their ultimate goal..”success”.

{image via askmen.com}

A universal truth about people in this world, there are lovers as well as haters. Through the years I have learnt one fact that it is impossible to please every single human being around us, sometimes we can’t even please our own parents or relatives because they want us to be or do things certain way/their way. Out of 100 people, there will always be 1 or 2 or more who will find a reason or two to not like another person. If you own a company, there will be at least one employee who manages to complain about things no matter how good your benefits/policies are. If you are a business owner, there will always be unhappy customers who do not like your prices, designs and etc. Even if you start up a charity for a pure good cause, there will be someone who doubts and questions your transparency/intention.



In order to achieve one’s personal goal (whether career or life), sometimes we have to learn to sort things out, determine if they are worth our time and energy or not, ignore them, get over it, stay focused on a goal and move on. Just look at some of those women, they fought their way through big storm after big storm to be whre they are. If they gave up long time ago, they would not be the millianaire or gaining the fame they have under their belt today.

This applies to blogsphere/YouTube as well. One thing that we, bloggers, shares the similarity to those reality stars is we also expose ourselve to the world, not at the same level as reality shows but we still give the world an insight look into small or large portion of our lives to a certain degree. After a year in blogging, I have been blessed not having to deal with any of the negative comments by “anonymous” or sometimes I intentionally spell "annoymous" (just yet – get my finger crossed) comparing to some fellow bloggers who face harsh/destructive critisms here and there. I used to think if I ever received one harsh comment here, would I spend my time trying to make that person understand why I do what I do or say what I say? Haters are always haters, they will never want to hear/understand your explanation.



The bigger ones get, the more vulunerble one is. We are in a society where there is no real/permanent friends or enemies. Some people who are your friends today may be your enemies tomorrow and a month later become your friends again especially if it involves business/money/fame. I am not saying everyone is like that. There are truly nice and sweet people but some people happen to choose a different route in pursuing something they want.

So that’s my lesson learned from reality shows. As long as we have to deal with other people (in the blog world, real worl at work, conducting business or etc), we have to have a certain level of mental preparedness. Life can be tough but the fruit from your hard work will taste the greatest and sweetest once we have acheived our goals.

Fall Looks~*

Summer is still in full force but stores have already put out Fall/Winter clothes. I haven't done a major clothes shopping in awhile, it soon may be "time". One thing that I would like to continue to incorporate into my fall wardrobe is adding fun colors from summer. There is no need to put them up in a box. We tend to see a lot of dark colors (brown, grey, black) so a pop of color will add some life to the dark and dull wintertime.

Out of nowhere I also thought I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and try "jumpsuit" this fall. Jumpsuit is so chic and sophisticated but not everyone can pull it off. Bebe is one of the stores that design really chic jumpsuits in my opinion (I haven't really been into jumpsuit and Bebe is so far the only store that I see). I haven't checked out their store (both online and brick & motar store) in several months. Their fall clothes look pretty tempting but the prices are rather high.

{Photos are from bebe.com}

What trend/piece/style would you like to try this fall?

Beauty reviews: Japanese Gobo Sake Soap & Yes to Blueberries Eye Treatment

It has been a while since I purchased and tried new skincare products. Just want to share my thoughts on two of the new products I purchased and have been using.

Japanese Gobo Sake Soap from shop on Etsy (Tokyo Factory)

I "LOVE" Etsy or to be exact I am addicted to Etsy. Never ventured into their beauty section until recently, oh my there are sooooo many good handmade stuff to try. I love anything natural with exotic ingredients. Ingredients used in this soap sounds very interesting and beneficial to skin so I thought I gave it a shot. Price point is in line with most natural soap that I can find at natural/organic section at my grocery store. This soap lathers well. Its scent is very exotic, a little strong (smell like Japanese herbs) during a first few usages but not too overwhelming. Nice size, just make sure to put it in a soap dish to let it dry after each use so it lasts longer. To me, it will probably last approximately 2 weeks. Responsitive seller, quick delivery, nice packaging. Their sopas have been sold out but will be available in mid Sep.

Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment (Walgreen)

I start to feel like all eye creams/serums are the same. No matter how expensive or cheap, they don't perform magic like transforming dark circles or erasing wrinkles. Who am I to say? Before trying this one out, I had been using La Mer Eye Treatment and didn't notice any difference (but that's just me). My dark circles have become more obvious and concealer is a real deal to cover those panda eyes. I just want to get something that will keep my under eye areas well hydrated. This eye treatment is $19.99 per bottle and can be found at Walgreen. Its texture is very lightweighted yet provides moisture to the much needed under eye areas. Its scent is exactly like "red roses" so fragrance from red rose bothers you, this may not be something you want to use. Overall, I like how it feels and it is a pump bottle which means you don't dip your finger into a jar.

I found another soap shop Deshawn Marie Handmade Soap on Etsy that I CAN'T wait to try. Look at all the ingredients and how beautiful these soaps are. It seems like they will take a bath time experience to another level. These are some of the soaps I want to try whenever I am running low on my Japanese soap. From top left to bottom:Lilac Rose,Gardenia Chamomile, Organic Rosemary Lime and Grapefruit Orange

Last but not least, I adore this look that Michelle Phan created for people who wear glasses. Hot look and very mesmorizing eye makeup!!

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Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of these shops/products/companies, not a paid spokeperson. I purchased these products with my own money and wanted to share my opinions to my readers.

Weekly Wrap Up & Michelle Phan~*

New shirt

Thai food at the restaurant

Asian style bakery.......Yum-O!!!!

Talking about Michelle Phan, that girl is incredibly talented. She was the first makeup guru I saw on Youtube. At that time I was so obsessed with everything skincare and makeup and I was hooked to the screen viewing all her videos (crazy I know). I love how relaxing, beautiful and soothing all her videos are, it is her signature style and talking about the original - no one can do it the way she does. A year later, I was brought back to her Youtube channel once again. Her videos are even better now and obviously she is taking this to another level. It is her career now. I am impressed and inspired to see someone who works their way through success. Below is one of my favorite makeup tutorials, perfect for everyday look. Okay, I gotta go, still have 20 more to watch!!

Blogs that make a difference in my life

Isn't it sweet when someone takes the time out of their busy schedules to mention and even compliment others that they have not met in real life? I just can't say enough wonderful things about blogsphere and how many sweet ladies I have met and known through exchanged comments. To some people who do not blog, you may think "it is not real, it is fake". That can be true but among the fakes, there are real people..real emotion..there are lovers...haters written everywhere in this blogging world. Among them, there may be friendships too. I also want to thank Pehsun of Squeeze the Pug and Yvonne of SimplyYvonne for the awards you gave me.

I have never met any of the bloggers in real life but some of them actually make a difference in my life in a way that they may not know. So today I would like to take the time and dedicate this post to some of the ladies.

Jen of Frmheadtotoe: I never knew the existence of blogsphere until 2010, no kidding. I first spotted Jen on her youtube chanel and I was hooked. That led me to start reading her blog too. She was officially the person that made me discover the wonder world of blogging community and the rest was the history.

Jean of Extra Petite: Upon reading Jen’s blog, I spotted this “Petite Asian Girl” username and thought her username was very interesting. So I clicked on her icon and once again, it led to her blog the petite community that continues to grow at a rapid pace. I was not very much into petite fashion at that moment but her blog is always a joy to read. She actually made me itch to start my own blog even though I had no clue what I was going to blog about but I did it anyway and no regrets. Thanks Jean :)

Pehsun of Squeeze the Pug & Lisa of Lisalovescoco: these two lovely ladies add some luxurious joys into my life. I never owned any designer pieces in my entire life – no Coach, no LV or whatever of those big brands until I met these ladies in blogsphere. I discovered both of them right around the same time and these two ladies introduced me to the finest collection of designer handbags. The thought of purchasing a handbag that costs over $500 a piece gives me a heart attack, let alone a $3,000. I started to focus on quality over quantity and how these items will last and hold up their values for the years to come. I learnt so much about Chanel handbags through Pesun’s blog. She is wearing a white gown in real world as a doctor but her love for fashion doesn’t stop her from being stylish and elegant. She doesn’t have much time to blog but when she does you can expect a very impressive post from her. Lisa is also one of my top favorite bloggers, she too has a beautiful collection of designer handbags and shoes. Browsing through her blog is such a joy. You can tell from their posts that both ladies really are passionate about the brands they believe in and not buy just for the sake of owning designer pieces. I have only begun to build a very small collection and hope to pass onto my daughter when she is older. Thanks for ignite my expensive hobby..hehe.

Casey of The Wiegand’s: this young and inspiring mama totally transformed and changed my mommy’s life for the better like no one else could. No kidding. Okay, I have been “struggling” with motherhood and that’s why I started this blog as an outlet. I said it before but most people don’t know that I am a part-time “single” mom. I am married, happily married but due to my husband’s unusual work schedules, our schedules make it difficult to have normal family life. It is very difficult when only one person is taking care of a child. It is exhausting...very exhausting.



Unlike most families, mommy and daddy are home at the same time. Unlike most families, when one parent is exhausted, another one comes to a rescue and takes over. Unlike most families, mommy and daddy can always spend a "family time" on weekends. Unlike most families, grandparents are always available to help when needed. We don’t have any of those “luxuries. I have never gotten a chance to sleep later than 7 am every morning for 2 ½ years. My child still doesn’t sleep through the night, my body no longer knows how to sleep through the night. I drop my daughter off at daycare, go to work, pick her up from daycare, fix dinner, give her a bath, feed her, put her in bed and do everything on repeat 5 days a week “alone”.



I was exhausted, drained and burned out physically and emotionally. I had a lot of meltdowns from frustrations and exhaustions, at the end of the day, my heart aches because I felt bad about being a moody and lousy mother. My alone time is strictly from 8:30pm – 11pm when my daughter is already in bed. There are so much that need to be done..should I clean? should I rest? should I blog? should I just sit and watch tv? should I just enjoy this moment of mine? There are never enough time for me to do what “I” want in a day, my lifestyle and my world is "different" than what it used to be.



I wish I could have more patience and energy but I can only do so much. I struggled to find a solution but I couldn’t see any light. We need dual incomes plus I don’t think I have that kind of personality/patience to be a stay-at-home mom, it makes no sense for one of us to quit the jobs or change. I couldn’t find my way out until I found Casey’s blog. I used to think mothers who enjoy every moment must be totally insane and shamelessly lie because I truthfully didn’t quite enjoy this whole motherhood experience that much.



Casey’s thoughts and positive outlooks in life/motherhood transformed my tiring soul. Each of her beautiful and inspiring post made me realize that it is okay to feel how I feel....motherhood is tiring and in no way easy.…and the most important part…her posts reminded me to cherish all the blessings that I have especially my child..cherish every moment with her..and put her first before anything. I “finally” let go of things, I learnt to accept the facts that I could no longer do “everything” on my list and that our family happens to have this kind of challenging schedules. Accepting those facts were so incredibly hard in the past and I found myself going back to square one over and over. I was stressed out because I was determined to do everything I wanted to but I couldn’t. It bothered me to the point that I cried and lost balances in my life especially in the second year of my child's life. I used to be able to do this, that and that in the order I plan but now everything is so limited and different as what I can do with a child. After reading many beautiful posts on her blog, a brand new positive, loving and caring mother and wife was born. Thanks Casey.

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So these are the blogs that have made some positive impacts in my life. You just never know what impact you can make in a person's life by blogging and sharing what you are passionate about, believe in or struggle with. Your stories may inspired people, make their day or even save someone's life. Blogging is a lot of work but it is incredibly rewarding especially if you know you can make someone's day like the way these blogs have made mine. There are also a handful of fellow bloggers who always take their time to visit my blog and leave me comment on my every post (you know who you are and I forever thank you for that). I am not a good writer, I have grammatical and splling errors here and there but I hope what I try to deliver to you here in my own words make sense to you.

So now, tell me what blogs make a difference in your life?

Last but not least, don't forgot to enter my small giveaway if you haven't done so. Thanks for your encouragement and support as always :)

Updated: Designed by Nelah Jewelry Giveaway

**My apologies, I forgot to add a field in Google doc so I decided to remove it (mistakes happened when I blogged late at night :p ) and kindly ask you to leave a comment instead, please see a sample at the end of this post. Or feel free to leave your opinion if you do not want to enter a giveaway, wanna hear what you think about my designs**

May I officially introduce you to my new found hobby and obsession? Jewelry making - that is. You know I love accessories and I can't have enough of them. My favorite accessories are those of silvertone, white gold, platinum and diamond family. Bold and statement pieces are fun but they are not something I find myself wearing on a regular basis so my choice of accessories are rather small and simple.

I am debuting some of the pieces I made and will give 2 out of these three pieces to one reader. I plan to feature my new pieces on this little blog of mine from time to time before I take a plunge and open a small shop on Etsy in the future. Every piece is made and designed by me. I do not make each design in bulk as I want each of them to be unique. The best part, each necklace will be made to order per the lenght you request. I am sick and tired of buying necklace just to find out it is too long on me. I can guarantee it will fit you perfectly. Some design may only have one piece, some may have two or five. Stay tuned for new pieces.

Now the giveaway part....scroll down to find out more :)

To enter (maximum of 4 points per person):

**NO NEED TO BE MY FOLLOWER OR HAVE A BLOG TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY, you will automatically gain 1 point when you participate by leaving a comment below, open to intertnational readers

In order to be fair to my follwers, my followers get 2 points

Extra: 2 points when you post below button on your sidebar or blog about this giveaway

*This giveaway ends 9/3/11, a winner will be announced on 9/4/11 and have 24 hours to contact me to claim your prize

*No need to leave your email at this point, please come back and check an announcement on 9/4 and promtly email and let me know which pieces you want if you have won.

**My apologies, I realized that I forgot to create a box for username in Google doc so from now please leave your comment instead (for those who have already entered, please kindly enter again...so so sorry). Below is a sample of how you leave comment for this giveaway.

1. Yes, a follower and my username is xxx / or No, not a follower and my username is xxx

2. I blog or post about this give away and the link is xxx

A Little Edgy~*

Playing and experimenting with new styles can be risky but fashion is all about learning and experimenting until you discover what feels right for you. I love to play safe by going with my usual choices of clothing but at times my adventurous side is begging for something totally different. Just like today's outfit, I have had these pants for several years and I love how fun and edgy it looks. Not my regular choice but why not?

Tank top and pants: oldAccessories: Diro bag, Chanel earrings, Guess sunglasses, Shoes from Thailand, Necklace - designed and made by me.

Explosion of Flavor: Korean Food

I remember the good "old" days when the hub and I went above and beyond to discover new cusine and satisfy our curious palates. It was so much fun. My husband was not very adventurous when it came to food before he met me. He grew up with American food for the most part of his life until he was in his late 20's when we first met. The thought of trying "other" cuisine was somewhat too adventurous and risky, especially that weired looking Thai dish with fish staring back at him. It literally freaked him out. Once we met and he had his first bite of authentic Thai food in my homeland. He never looked back. He even said he probably wouldn't have tried other cuisine if we didn't meet.

Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Korean, Cambodian...we have tried them all. My husband has developed a Thai people palate over years of eating Thai food both spicy and non-spicy items. Both of us love flavorful food and Korean food is one on the top of our list. We used to go ALL OVER town trying about 10 differnt Korean restaurants back in the days when we were childless. Only two restaurants made their way to our favorite place to eat list. Those are the places where we continue to pay a visit after visit until a baby came along. Eating out with a young one was not very pleasant so we inevitably had to keep our food journey to the minimum.

Two years and a half later, we eventually made our way back to one of our most favorite Korean restaurants in Chinatown. It was our mini date between the hub and I (grandma "finally" had time to watch our little one). We hadn't gone anywhere together just the two of us in almost two months - it was about a freaking time, no joke!

Chinatown is about 45 minutes away from where we live so we don't get to come here as often as I would like. There are SOOOOOO many places in Chinatown I would love to explore. We had a fun full day discovering many cool places own by Asians like a really hip and beautiful bakery (unfortunately no photos were allowed), a Japanese drugstore (like a Daiso store in Japan) and etc. I wish I lived close by, I would feel like home!!!

Back to Korean food, my husband ordered his favorite "Spicy Pork" and I ordred "Tofu and Seafood soup". OMG, I had a mouth orgasm when all the flavors exploded in my mouth. I craved this soup (too much) during pregnancy that my husband had to drive me to get my craving fixed. When I was preggo with my daughter, I had an "evening sickness" a lot so you can probably figure out that after the 45 minutes drive, 30 minutes at the restaurant, another 45 minutes drive home..I ended up throwing up allthe goodness. Glad I am not pregnant now because I don't want to waste all the good food..yummmmm. Dang..looking at these photos make me want to go back ASAP!

Someone has mastered the art of using chop sticks!!!

Baby, I promise you~*

Baby girl...I know you are no longer a baby but I still love to caress and hold you like a baby.

You are getting so much bigger, heavier and taller now at 2 1/2 years old

You don't take a nap anymore during the day which makes mommy's day extra long with no break in between. Mommy gets to watch you 12 hours straight every weekend. Mommy loves to spend every second with you but mommy is tired

Mommy wants you to know that mommy can be mean at times because mommy has such short limits when tired and mommy is truly sorry.

Mommy wishes that she could have more energy to play wit you all day long and be your "better" playmate.

Mommy will keep trying to be a better mom for you. You have changed my life so much in a way I had never expected as a person. I didn't know I could love and care for someone this much in my life.

Mommy has learnt that life is short and it is important to cherish every moment. Mommy is truly blessed to have you in my life. Mommy remembers her promise to love you and to be patient with you. Mommy will continue to work to be a better mom for you.

Fall/Winter Colors & Eyelashes Curler Tip for Puffy Eyes

You may have seen a brief appearance of this animal print top in my previous post, this post features a full version of what I wore on weekend. You will see it a few more times this week since I took a lot of photos and planned to use them for different posts. Fall is only two months away. I am excited for the season change than ever because it has been waaaaaaaaaaay too hot. A nice break from brutal heat would be nice and more rain will be very much appreciated.

This weekend, I was looking through my closet and found this animal print top laying in a bag labeled for donation/garage sale. It was almost like I fell in love with it again since I hadn't seen it in awhile. It was nice to be able to shop in your own closet without spending extra $$, wasn't it? Animal prints are always in trend during fall/winter. I have accumulated a few pieces and waited to wear them around that time. I got this "Candies" brand from Kohl's about two years ago, it still is in a great condition because I haven't worn it a lot. Love all the playful details.

This Smashbox eyeliner pallette come in handy and these colors make a perfect pallette tor fall/winter eye looks. I got this a while back but hadn't used it until this past weekend. The cream eye liner is quite different from what I am used to. I also used the lightest color (#1) as a creamy eyeshadow. Somehow I noticed that my makeup doesn't show up too good in photo because my makeup looks pretty much the same. Perhaps I need to apply more for the colors to show.

Also I have an interesting tip to share, especially those who have puffy and tired eyes like me due to sleep deprivation or too much study/party. When I need a quick and refreshing trick to make my eyes look more awake, prepare a glass of cold water and dip your eyelash curler into water for about 10 seconds, wipe it dry and curl your lashes as usual before applied makeup. Repeat a few times. I love the cooling effect it gives to my puffy lids, my eyes look more awake and the lashes look great. When I feel that my eyes are getting tired from prolong staring at a computer screen, I will use cotton balls and dip them into cold water, squeeze water out. Lay down flat and put cottonballs on my eyes, listen to music and just relax. It is a great stress relieved method :)

The end of bad hair days - Misikko Review

Bad hair days, have you had one of those days? I have had bad hair for a few weeks due to my laziness. Don’t we all wish we could afford a hair stylist and a makeup artist to come to the rescue? For some reasons, I have been sort of uninspired to put makeup on or do my hair lately. My hair has gone through some rough times this year..the perm..the dye..everthing. I feel like I am a lion king when looking at myself in a mirror (in horror) after letting my hair dry without the help of a blow dryer and a flat iron. It is a recipe of horror so I rely on flat iron...a lot.

(In my 7 yars of using flat irons, I have owned and used two brands previously...Hot Tools Professional - a cheapie one that did its job quite well but it didn't last long and Sedu - a more expensive one that I love.)

Misikko came to my rescue. I was contacted by Missiko if I would be interested in trying one of their professional graded salon product. I currently own a Sedu Flat Iron but “why not?”. A week later, a package showed up at my front door and I thought..what in the world did they sent me because it was such a big box. My first impression when I opened the package was that everything inside was beautifully arranged, and well packed/cushioned with layers of bubble wraps. It showed attention to detail. I bought stuff online a lot and most of the time, it is more like throwing the products in the box but this company actually took the time and effort in making their stuff look and feel extra special. I was told that the girls in the back decorate and add in all the extras for every order that leaves their warehouse, not just packing for a product review. In addition to a flat iron and a leave-in treatment, they also sent me extra nail files and a bottle hand sanitizer! How did they know I am a germaphobic!?!?

Hana Professional Ceramic Flat Iron with Tourmaline with 1.5" plate & Hana Advanced Heat Styling Therapy

A new product got me excited, I was finally inspired to do my hair. The flat iron and the leave-in treatment both are made in Korea. With my hair lenght, I feel that the 1.5" plate is perfect. Let's start with this so-called "the best flat iron":

What I like about it:

- Very lightweight

- Heat up extremely fast and comes in different settings to suit different hair type/preference

- Long cord. Okay, this one may be a bit silly but I like to do my hair in front of TV and I need extra long cord. My Sedu has fairly short cord.

- Very smooth plate, no hair pulling

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What I don't like:

- I guess the position of the on and off switch

I am quite impressed with HANA Shine Shield Thermal Protectant. It is incredibly lightweight, unlike most oil/serum that feel super oily, sticky and heavy. It is clear and lightly scented (but the scent disappears once you massage into your hair). My hair feel and look very smooth afterwards.

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Disclaimer: both products were sent by Misikko for product review and I get to keep them after the review. I am not affiliated or get paid by Misikko to say "positive" things about their products. It was clear during our commmunication that I had the rights to express my honest opinion/feedback.