Like a magpie I live for glitter

Hello new year? What have you got in store for me?

I opened the curtain to a beautiful sunset.

The house is ever so quiet and empty since mum left for home.

How easy it is to feel lonely in this tiny island of 5 million.

I try to keep busy to mask the passage of time.

Counting down the 23 days till I board the plane.

Every time wishing for a more permanent departure towards home.

This deep yearning never quietens but intensifies with every effort to ignore it.

There is no mistaking the fact.

I want to go home.

So I spent most of the weekend at home (voluntary, since not going out involves not spending so much money) and managed to try some new stuff.

First of which was gradient nails:

Sea green gradient nails

Okay so they don’t necessarily look like the best. I didn’t have a glitter polish to go over the top and I think it’s the glitter polish which helps ‘merge’ all the colours together since it reflects light which would hide the flaws. Note to self: buy glitter polish!

The overall effect was a lot nicer than my first attempt where I just tried painting a dark red pearly shade over pink nails. The polish wasn’t sheer enough to give a good gradient effect. This time I used a sponge instead. Nicer, but also a lot more tedious.Also the dark green at the top has started chipping after a day so wasn’t too happy with that. To be fair though, I did some washing and cleaning today so it could be why they started chipping so fast

The second project that I was working on was making my own DIY Lash Cards. I first saw them on YouTube and thought it was an awesome idea since I did have an issue with getting mascara all over my lids which is a pain to clean, especially since I use Majolica Majorca’s mascara which is notoriously hard to get off once it’s set. Damn flat eyes. Anyway I hear they retail for 5 USD for 10 Lash Cards (why spend the money when you can DIY?).

Here are the materials I used:

Thick paper and scissors are all you need

I think a thicker paper works best so that it can hold its shape. I happened to have a credit card mailer with me made of really good quality paper (I think at least 120gms – why do they always use such thick paper for such advertisements? Save the trees yo).

Just cut a small piece and hold it up to your eye to get a rough idea of how to curve the ends. I have pretty flat almond shaped eyes so I didn’t have to curve it very much.

One end

I just needed to make one sample piece and just cut the rest up from the template.

That mailer got me 14 lash cards. Great recycling idea if you ask me.

The final yield

Anyway, the weekend is over now Back to work tomorrow. On the bright side. Zoukout 2011 is next weekend!

To finish watching all the shows I have and THEN start having a life outside of my computer.

Yeah. End-of-the-year resolution to finish 2011 off and get a fresh start next year eh?

Took you awhile to get here :/

It is the tastier, more sophisticated cousin of the pasta Aglio e Olio. All with the addition of chopped up anchovies, rocket leaves, the zest and juice of half a lemon. Pepper to taste and serve with more rocket leaves.

With a side of iced honey lemon made with the juiced out lemon. No wastage I say.

Kinda wish I took pictures!

My colleague loaned her nail polishes to me after I saw this gorgeous colour on her and told her it was very pretty. So nice of her to do so! They’re no-brand polishes that are sold in SaSa. It’s actually two colours – a cream light purple colour and a slightly darker purple with flecks of gold. This was also my first time trying the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat and I’m quite impressed so far. I was using OPI’s top coat previously and used to get so annoyed when I get cloth marks on the nail. It had become really goopy and thick and it was really hard getting an even coat.
Not too sure how long this colour will last though.