SO MANY CHANGES

Wow..I'm terrible at this blogging thing..
Just felt like checking in to record all the changes since the last time I was active here. Looking back at all my posts, I am speechless at how much I "grew up."

I think the most exciting change is my MOVING OUT! WHOOOT!

A friend and I found a two-bedroom basement apartment in Queens; ghetto, but clean and quaint nonetheless. My friend ended up moving back home and I posted a facebook status about the available room. And guess what? My current roommate messaged me right away! She is an awesome teacher at a church I previously attended and started to attend again..Its nice rooming with someone who has similar life philosophies. God certainly does provide!

A very messy, unprepared glimpse of the beginning stages of my place

Is it bad that I don't plan on upgrading my housing anytime soon?
I really think I'd rather build up my savings with the cheap rent and invest in a condo later on. I don't think it makes sense living paycheck to paycheck on a luxurious apartment in the city, when I can do so much more with a humble home.

Speaking of savings, it has dwindled soo much because I was unemployed through this whole process. The last time I had a job was in December - basically 5 months ago.
I ended up moving to be closer to the city, while my parents moved deeper into the suburbs. Even now, it still takes me over an hour to get to Manhattan -_____-. But definitely better than 2+ hours.
Unemployment is really..wow..terribly depressing. Deadlines and motivation went OUT THE WINDOW. Plus the lack of response from all these companies was really discouraging. 

THANK GOD I received an offer last week.
I think this period of unemployment has really given me a reality check. I was so set on finding a higher paying job and not settling for "less", but that dream really isn't worth going broke over. Sure, this job isn't any where near high paying, or relevant to my future career goals, but I really am grateful. Its enough for me to live comfortably for my situation, while splurging once in a while.
As an alternative, I was thinking of going to Korea; I was immediately accepted to the EPIK 2015 program after the interview. Let me know if you want to hear more about that!

At this moment, I really feel that I'm at an okay place in life. I am not wildly successful, or "happy", but am secure with an apartment, job, family, and friends. What is happiness and success, if not stability and security in life?
I don't think I'm doing too bad for a 23 year old. 

I hope to revamp this blog soon, and be more consistent with my posts. I hope to make this blog a routine part of my life. 

Before I check out, a selfie

CHARM✌참

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Jeremiah took a deep breath. It was his turn next, and he was very nervous. 

"Jeremiah!" Ms. Lapierre called.

Jeremiah took a step forward, ready to advance to the stage, when he took a look at the many faces in the audience. A glimpse at a man who reflected Jeremiah’s own sharp features (large nose, slanted eyes, tiny mouth), made Jeremiah balk. In an instant, Jeremiah was running far, far away.

Jeremiah’s running progressed to a speedy pitter-patter, as he advanced to an empty corridor. It was near the janitor’s closet - safe. Jeremiah examined the space until he spotted a groove, an indent in the wall. He advanced, and saw where the janitor’s mop and water bucket would usually be, but wasn’t. Jeremiah quickly situated himself, drawing his legs to his chest.

Failure - it was the one word that plagued him. 

Two weeks ago, three of the best fifth graders were chosen to give a presentation about themselves. THEMSELVES. As if any fifth grader had anything worthy to say, ha!So for the past week Jeremiah tried and tried to find SOMETHING to speak about; whether it was a possible achievement, or a goal he had for the future. But alas, nothing. All Jeremiah realized was that he was a carbon copy of his father. Only, his father was SUCCESSFUL. He had already become the firefighter Jeremiah wanted to be. He had also eaten 15 pieces of chocolate in one sitting, (which Jeremiah had attempted to do once, but thrown back up). More importantly, he had definitely kissed a girl, something Jeremiah could only dream of.

There seemed to be nothing Jeremiah could say for himself. Heck, even Jeremiah’s name came from his father!

Jeremiah put his head down.

"Jeremiah?"

Jeremiah groaned. He only buried his head deeper into his arms. 

"Hey buddy." 

Jeremiah only looked up because of his father’s insistent tone.

"What’s wrong? You just left," his father said, being Mr. Obvious.

If only Jeremiah weren’t so desperate, he wouldn’t have blurted out,
"Me! That’s what’s wrong!"

"What do you mean?"
Jeremiah’s father now had a frown on his face.

Jeremiah took in a deep breath, and said,

"I don’t have anything special. Everything unique about me has already been done by you,"  and then Jeremiah shook his head in revelation. "Even if they haven’t been done by you, they’ve been done by somebody else! I could land on the moon and it wouldn’t matter. I’d have nothing to say about me, nothing to tell."

Jeremiah finished off with a deep breath, certainly not expecting his father to burst out in laughter. 

"Jeremiah! Let me show you something!"

His father pulled out two lighters and proceeded to light them.

"Look! Don’t they look the same?" Jeremiah’s father asked.

Jeremiah scrunched his face up in annoyance. 

"Aren’t they? They’re just flames!" Jeremiah pouted.

"That’s what you think; look, look!" Jeremiah’s father pulled Jeremiah closer. Soon after, Jeremiah’s face was so close to the flames, he thought he might catch fire.

“Look," his father said once more. "Don’t they flicker differently? Aren’t they different sizes?" 

Jeremiah bit his lip. “Yeah,” he said.

Suddenly Jeremiah’s father shut the lighters and threw them into his pocket.

"Just cause every human being looks the same from far away doesn’t mean we aren’t unique! You don’t have to do something no one has done before buddy! I mean, well, you CAN if you really want to, but that doesn’t make someone great, or not great. It doesn’t give people something to say or not to say. Who wants to listen to someone brag all day anyway?" his father winked.

Jeremiah was silent in thought. 

"You-," Jeremiah’s father continued, shoving his finger to Jeremiah’s chest, "-are the greatest story ever told."

Jeremiah opened his mouth to reply, but couldn’t because he had nothing to say. He got it. How had he not realized before? No one’s story was any less than another’s, just as it wasn’t any greater.

He settled for “thanks dad,” and stood up. 

Everyone’s story was the greatest because they were made up of the individual’s separate qualities, not their accomplishments.
Jeremiah was the greatest flame of his own beautiful lighter. The greatest story in his own appointed role and space.  

"Better?" Jeremiah’s dad asked.

"Yeah," Jeremiah smiled.

He squared his shoulders.

The world better be ready. 

(http://squanderedminds.tumblr.com)

Imported from tumblr; originally posted on 04/22/14

CHARM✌참

Magic Straight..At Home!

AHHH!
Just discovered DIY magic straight/permanent hair straightening!
Cost me $5.99 for the straightening formula, an additional $10.00 for a cheap flat iron, and a bit of time to put it all together. Can't believe salons are charging $150+ for this when the results are EXACTLY THE SAME.

So the product I used was:

(IMG CREDITS: G-Market.co.kr)
꽃을든남자/KkoteuldeunNamja Hair Coating Straight Cream

Previously, I had permed my hair TWICE within a week because the lady said that my hair is naturally so pin-straight, the first perm was unraveling. What happened was BURNT hair!! After about 7-8 months of it, I finally decided to cut the burnt parts off this past weekend, and the results were:

BEFORE
(Please excuse my "hair experimenting" shirt; stained with dye and everything haha..)

The hair wasn't TOO terrible, just not as neat as I'd have liked.


So first, I applied the cream, labelled #1 (the white tub pictured above), all over where the perm remained. Basically 1/4" from my roots all the way down; more concentrated on my ends where the perm was most prominent:

#1 Cream applied
(please excuse shameless selfie pose)

Then, I washed the cream out WITH JUST WATER after 10 minutes. DO NOT SHAMPOO. I proceeded to - aggressively towel dry, let air dry, and because I'm impatient - blow dry on low with cold air. The results of just that:

Pretty straight for just that, huh?!

I then straightened with hair straightener. I think this bonds the cream to my hair. I didn't picture this step because it's what you'd imagine it to be.

Next, I coated my hair with #2, the yellow bottle pictured above. It is basically a runny serum (water consistency). I just cupped my hands with it, and THREW it at my hair, hehehe.. I did it until my hair was drenched. About 20 minutes later, I washed it out with, again, just water. I air dried, and results:

SO STRAIGHT!!!

That night, I ended up denting my hair in my sleep (lol). So I got scared and washed my hair the following morning with just a deep conditioning hair mask. Tresemme's Renewal mask in specific:

(IMG CREDITS: Amazon.com)
Tresemme Scalp Renewal Hair & Scalp

My hair went back to being pin-straight! Whew.

I didn't wash my hair since; i have second day hair at the moment, and it's still straight!!

Before and after side by side for comparison:

BEFORE & AFTER

Still in disbelief.
BTW - I ended up using about half the amount given because my hair is so short, and the lady at the salon thinned it out significantly.
If I'd known the product would work so well, I'd have gotten a trim and kept my hair long!! Ack.



CC TWO THUMBS UP!

You can probably find this product at your local Asian beauty supply store, or get it on amazon HERE.
Seriously, try this before running to a salon~~

CHARM✌참

December 27, XXXX

It is December 27th, the last day of the world.

The earth is crumbling as the stars burn. The light and heat are blinding, and yet.. 

..there is no sun. Absolutely no air to breathe. Certainly no lack of pain.

Yes, yes. Time ticks slowly by, while Wickedness dances and Greed giggles loudly. The agonizingly slow embrace of suffocation grasps the ones that cry: Joy, Mercy, Love.

Love especially cries.

In one corner of the world a child shuts his eyes and accepts his fate.

Everything is over. His beautiful grandmother is gone, and his village bombed to dust. He lies amongst the piled remains of his once sweet sweet friends. He lies dying.

Yes, it is December 27th and the child’s world is fading away - but does it really matter when Death rejoices all the more each passing day?
(What was that child’s name again?)

______________________________________________

-Dedicated to all the lives who’ve become a statistic. Death shall not prevail.

(http://squanderedminds.tumblr.com)

(Transferred from tumblr - original posting on 04/18/14)

CHARM✌참