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So what's new? Been busy studying and exercising. Obsessed with running and just overall fitness. Not doing it to lose weight, but just to be healthy, y'know? And I'm also training for a mini race so there's my motivation.
Here's a photo update:

I love gel nails but they are time consuming and costly to do at salons. Plus, I always feel like they over buff my nails so the gel lasts longer at the cost of my nail's health. After removal, they would always be thinner and weak. So I figured with an at home kit, I can at least determine how much I'll buff the nail surface.

The kit:


What's included:

• gel cleaner- used to clean surface and remove moisture layer after curing gel
• gel primer- stuff is almost glue like and I would suggest using very little on only the outer edges of the nail
• gel base and top coat- basically a clear, shiny coat
•  color gel polish
• nail filer 
• nail buffer
• cuticle stick
• lint free wipes
• LED lamp 7 watts- please note that an LED lamp is still emitting UV light, but it takes less time and uses different bulbs

Here are my results on day 1:


Day 10:


These are supposed to last 14 days in total. They were still in good shape at day 10, but I was getting tired of the color already and hated the growth showing so I just removed it.

Removal process: Buff off the top coat on each nail and soak in acetone for 10 minutes or use cotton balls and foil to cover each nail.

Overall, I like this kit. It was easy to use and lasted a long time. Only thing is that, if you're one to messily paint your nails and then clean the edges, this may not be for you. Application needs to be clean the first time, at least before you cure it under the lamp. If any gets on your cuticles or surrounding skin, it will bind with it and cause lifting. You may as well do it right the first time instead of having to fix or redo a few days later.

I would also advise to use spf on your hands before you do anything. Long term exposure to the UV light is damaging for the skin. Be sure to clean the nail surface after applying sunscreen.

Hopefully, this was helpful for those of you who may be in interested in this product. I tried using Gelish color gel with Nailene's primer, base/top coat and it cured fine. Forgot to take pics of that manicure, but just be sure that if you branch out to other brands, check beforehand if the gel can be fully cured with this lamp.

I recently dyed my hair! Couldn't decide between Garnier Nutrisse's Light Ash Brown and Medium Ash Brown, so I just mixed the two since I needed two bottles anyway.

Natural light/Flash/Artificial light

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the results. Not too light and not too dark. I'm thinking about going a bit lighter after this but I hate maintaining the roots. >_<

What do you think?

I was recently surprised with Roberto Coin's heart necklace from the Tiny Treasures collection. I love how dainty yet sparkly it is. The best part is the design of the back of the the heart.

There's a rubellite on the back of the pendant!

"According to an ancient Egyptian legend, wearing a ruby near the skin promoted a long, healthy and happy life. Moreover, the ruby was once thought to shine through clothing, to nurture life, to generate energy and even to make water boil. It was also believed to banish evil thoughts and reconcile disputes. Women in ancient times used it to promote fertility, and Burmese warriors inserted genuine rubies beneath their skin to protect them from being wounded in battle."

No one can really see it, but I think it's super sweet to have a story like that behind a design.

I haven't bought anything from MAC in a while. About a month ago, I picked up Mac's Pro Longwear in Red Dwarf. It's a deep raspberry plum color that's supposed to be very long lasting. I wore this for an entire day and even with eating, only touched up twice.

And this is how it looks in natural light. I'm around NC20/25.

This is a bit pricey for MAC but considering the small amount of product you actually need to use on a daily basis, it will last a long time. I usually just dab it on since I tend to swipe back and forth too many times, causing a harsh look.

Aside from this, just last week I bought two lip balms that I really like at the moment. Note to self: no more lip products!

Don't ever be the yes man or woman. In any situation. Not at work, in relationships, or even when deciding what to eat. Ok, that's a bit extreme but you get what I mean. If you always say yes and agree/do everything, you can be sure that someone, somewhere out there will take advantage of you. Sure, at work you're very capable and always get things done regardless of deadlines they throw at you. So you're a superstar, huh. But that's the problem. They'll just keep throwing more at you because they can and you've been fine handling it this whole time. I'm not saying to say no to everything, but make sure you're not always saying yes at your own expense.

Have toxic friends/SO who just leech and cause unhappiness? Cut them from your life. Life too short to be with people who make you unhappy. Just say no (and good riddance).