
Personal Ramblings, etc.
Excerpts from the mind of yours truly.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Nighttime Skincare Regime (Ver. 2012)
Before I describe my routine, a bit of background about my skin. I am in my early 20s, have oily/combination, acne-prone skin. I breakout easily from poor quality products that will irritate my skin so I'm constantly on the look for something cheap and effective!
This is Part 2/3 of my "Skincare Regime" series. For part 1, which describe my daytime routine, go here. I will be copy-pasting a lot of the same items that I used, so you can skip over those if you read it before.
***Evening Routine***
Step 0: REMOVE
Before we start washi

Rating: 4.5/5
Step 1: WASH
I will be using the Tea Tree Skin

Rating: TBA
I really love my Clarisonic Plus

Rating: 4/5
Step 2: TONE

I will be using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner from The Body Shop. This is part of the Tea Tree set I purchased, and is supposed to clear away any remaining cleanser residue and impurities from my skin. There is also ingredients in the toner to help with oil control. For toners in general, I just put a bit on a cotton pad and wipe away, focusing on areas that are most likely to have leftover residue (sides of nose, jawline, under the lips, etc.). It also got really good reviews online. A big 8.4 fl oz bottle goes for $11, and should last a long time.
Rating: TBA
Step 3: PREVENT
I normally use a serum type

Rating: 4/5
Step 4: EYES

I also use an eye cream to reduce my dark circles and moisturize the area around the eyes, which are more delicate than the rest of my face. Right now I am using All about Eyes from Clinique. I would say this product is average and does its job, but its no miracle worker. It's also on the pricier side. I'm still on the lookout for a better eye cream that isn't too heavy, but for now this will do. This product goes for $30 for 0.5 oz.
Rating: 3.5/5
Step 5: HEAL AND MOISTURIZE
This is the nig

Rating: TBA
Daytime Skincare Regime (Ver.2012)
Before I describe my routine, a bit of background about my skin. I am in my early 20s, have oily/combination, acne-prone skin. I breakout easily from poor quality products that will irritate my skin so I'm constantly on the look for something cheap and effective!
For part 2 of my "Skincare Regime" series, which has my night routine, please see here.
***Morning Routine***
Step 1: WASH
I will be using the Tea Tree Skin

Rating: TBA
I really love my Clarisonic Plus

Rating: 4/5
Step 2: TONE

I will be using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner from The Body Shop. This is part of the Tea Tree set I purchased, and is supposed to clear away any remaining cleanser residue and impurities from my skin. There is also ingredients in the toner to help with oil control. For toners in general, I just put a bit on a cotton pad and wipe away, focusing on areas that are most likely to have leftover residue (sides of nose, jawline, under the lips, etc.). It also got really good reviews online. A big 8.4 fl oz bottle goes for $11, and should last a long time.
Rating: TBA
Step 3: ENERGIZE
Rating: 4.5/5
Step 4: Moisturize and Heal

This is the "treatment" part of the routine. I use the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion from the Body Shop, which provides light hydration, shine control, and has blemish healing properties. It also has very high reviews online and is available for $13 for 1.69 fl oz.
Rating: TBA
Step 5: PROTECT

Almost done! This is the second to last step. I use a SPF moisturizer to protect my face from the sun's UVA/UVB rays. This does not have to be too fancy of a product, I use a very basic moisturizer here: Olay Complete All day UV moisturizer with SPF 15 from Olay. Using an SPF before going out is super important because it is the best thing one can do to prevent wrinkles according to like, a hundred different articles. I like this one because it came in such a big bottle and lasts *forever*. You can find this in most drugstores for about $9. However, I accidentally bought the one for Normal skin when I should have gotten the Oily/Combination skin one. Oops. It left my skin very shiny after a while, hence the rating. I will be switching moisturizers when this one runs out...
Rating: 3/5
Step 6: MATTIFY

I tend to get oily throughout the day and whatnot, so as a finishing step I use some light mineral powder. I do not wear foundation most of the time, and when I do, it's usually just BB cream or a light tinted moisturizer, never full blown foundation since I dislike that stuff. But anyways, I use a bit of powder after my moisturizer and also midday for shine control. Right now I am using the new bareMinerals READY SPF 15 Touch Up Veil in Translucent from Bare Essentuals. It's a bit pricier than an average powder but it is currently one of my favorite products. It has all the benefits of a Bare Minerals powder but in a compact that is way less messy. This does not irritate my skin, controls shine, and looks completely natural. The minor con would be the slight seaweed-ish smell, but it goes away quickly. You can get it for $22 at a Sephora or any store that sells Bare Minerals products.
Rating: 5/5
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Jay Chou 周杰倫 - Ni hao ma "你好嗎" Pinyin Lyrics+ English Translation

Jay Chou 周杰倫 - Ni hao ma "你好嗎"
Lyrics (c) Jay Chou
Authentic English translation by me... please credit this site if used.
Love this song... should be 99% accurate. The part about the spaceship makes more sense to me in this context than that of some of the other translations online.
*** I do not plug the lyrics into a translator...! I translate all by hand. I'm a 3rd year Chinese American college student taking advanced level Chinese. ***
墙上静止的钟是为谁 停留
Qiang shang jing zhi de zhong shi wei shui ting liu
Who is the clock on the wall remaining still for?
是不是和我一样赖着不走
Shi bu shi he wo yi yang lai zhe bu zou
Is it like me, refusing to leave?
你说故事已经结束 很久
Ni shuo gu shi yi jing jie shu hen jiu
You said the story had already ended a long time ago
我忘了 向前走
Wo wang le xiang qian zou
I forgot to move forward
我努力假装现在过得 很好
Wo nu li jia zhuang xian zai guo de hen hao
I tried hard to pretend that I’ve been doing well
现在的你看来已不需要我
Xian zai de ni kan lai yi bu xu yao wo
You seem like you don’t need me anymore
也许在不同的时空
Ye xu zai bu tong de shi kong
Perhaps we are at a different time
还牵着 你的手
Hai qian zhe ni de shou
Still holding your hand
想知道你真的过得好吗
Xiang zhi dao ni zhen de guo de hao ma
Wanting to know if you’ve really been doing well
没有我也许是种解脱
Mei you wo ye xu shi zhong jie tuo
Perhaps not having me is a kind of relief
将思念穿梭在宇宙数千光年
Jiang si nian chuan suo zai yu zhou shu qian guang nian
Shuttling the memories thousands of light years across the universe
悄悄到 你身边
Qiao qiao dao ni shen bian
To quietly arrive at your side
现在我试着习惯一个人过
Xian zai wo shi zhe xi guan yi ge ren guo
Right now I’m trying to get used to being alone
也许你已经开始新的 生活
Ye xu ni yi jing kai shi xin de sheng huo
Perhaps you have already started a new life
陪着我的叫做寂寞
Pei zhe wo de jiao zuo ji mo
What accompanies me is known as loneliness
陪你的 是谁呢
Pei ni de shi shui ne
What is accompanying you?
[Chorus]
想知道你真的过得好 吗
Xiang zhi dao ni zhen de guo de hao ma
I want to know if you’ve really been doing well
没有我也许是种解脱
Mei you wo ye xu shi zhong jie tuo
Perhaps not having me is a kind of relief
将思念穿梭在宇宙数千光年
Jiang si nian chuan suo zai yu zhou shu qian guang nian
Shuttling the memories thousands of light years across the universe
悄悄到 你身边
Qiao qiao dao ni shen bian
To quietly arrive at your side
现在我试着习惯一个人过
Xian zai wo shi zhe xi guan yi ge ren guo
Right now I’m trying to get used to being alone
也许你已经开始新的生活
Ye xu ni yi jing kai shi xin de sheng huo
Perhaps you have already started a new life
陪着我的叫做寂寞
Pei zhe wo de jiao zuo ji mo
What accompanies me is known as loneliness
陪 你的 是谁呢
Pei ni de shi shui ne
What is accompanying you?
Repeat Chorus
也许在不同的时空
Ye xu zai bu tong de shi kong
Perhaps we are at a different time
还牵着 你的手
Hai qian zhe ni de shou
Still holding your hand
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Computer Upgrades...
This month: CPU Fan (COOLER MASTER R4-BM9S-28PK-R0 Blade Master 92mm Case Fan) $10.99
Priority Level: HIGH
Next month or the month after: USB Card (BELKIN Hi-Speed USB 2.0 5-Port PCI Card Model F5U220v1) $26.99
Priority Level: Medium
New Graphics Card: (Radeon HD 4670 or better) $69.99
Priority Level: Low
RAM upgrade: (G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)) $44.99
Priority Level: Low
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Jay Chou (周杰伦) - Mine mine lyrics (English Translation + Pinyin)

Jay Chou - Mine mine (Pinyin + Translation)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvQX2Spog4s
English Translation by me
Please give credit if used
(the last part that is Taiwanese is not 100% accurately translated.. sorry!)
*** I do not plug the lyrics into a translator...! I translate all by hand. I'm a 3rd year Chinese American college student taking advanced level Chinese. ***
沒有妳的生活
Mei you ni de sheng huo
My life without you
我開始寫小說
wo kai shi xie xiao shuo
I began to write stories
好多畫面好多靈感
hao duo hua mian hao duo ling gan
With many pictures and much inspiration
我要把稿費都給妳
wo yao ba gao fei dou gei ni
I give the proceeds to you
巷口不小心經過
Xiang kou bu xiao xin jing guo
I have carelessly passed through an alley
妳的車子依舊停在紅線
ni de che zi yi jiu ting zai hong xian
Your car is still parked at the red light
幫妳繳罰單
Bang ni jiao fa dan
I helped you pay the fines
妳叫我別管
ni jiao wo bie guan
You told me to stop caring
我才想到我們已經分開
wo cai xiang dao wo men yi jing fen kai
Then I realized we are not together anymore
想起那一個夏天
Xiang qi na yi ge xia tian
I thought of that one summer day
那不是那不是那是冬天
na bu shi na bu shi na shi dong tian
No, no it wasn’t, it was a winter day
想起妳生氣的臉
Xiang qi ni sheng qi de lian
I thought of your angry face
每天就像冬天...唉,唉,唉
mei tian jiu xiang dong tian… ai, ai, ai
Everyday is like a winter day… sigh, sigh sigh
妳說那是愛,愛,愛
Ni shuo na shi ai, ai, ai
You said that was love, love, love
誰該堅強起來
Shui gai jian qiang qi lai
Who should toughen up?
月亮還是太陽
yue liang hai shi tai yang
The moon or the sun?
是誰遮了誰
Shi shui zhe le shui
Who should cover for who?
是誰都會依賴
shi shui dou hui yi lai
Whoever it is would still depend (on the other)
妳說已分開
Ni shuo yi fen kai
You said we’ve already broken up
什麼還要幫妳撐傘
wei shen me hai yao bang ni cheng san
Why should I hold the umbrella up for you?
Coz baby you are Mine Mine
Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine
Mine Mine
Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine
太快
Tai kuai
Too quickly
就承認我真的很想妳
jiu cheng ren wo zhen de hen xiang ni
I admit that I really miss you
會不會沒有男子氣概
Hui bu hui mei you nan zi qi gai
Is it because I am not manly?
You say Bye Bye
Bye Bye Bye Bye Bye
Oh Bye Bye
Bye Bye Bye Bye Bye
拆開
Chai kai
Open it up
我的心隨妳看
wo de xin sui ni kan
My heart is for you to see
滿滿的都是愛
man man de dou shi ai
It is full of love
我的眼皮跳一下
Wo de yan pi tiao yi xia
My eyelid jumped
代表你在想我
dai biao ni zai xiang wo
Meaning that you are thinking about me
我的耳朵癢一下
Wo de er duo yang yi xia
My ear itched
代表你在講我壞話
dai biao ni zai jiang wo huai hua
Meaning that you are speaking bad about me
我沒這麼不好吧
Wo mei zhe me bu hao ba
There’s nothing bad about me
不用跟朋友說吧
bu yong gen peng you shuo ba
You don’t need to tell your friends
如果以後和好了, 看到妳朋友不是很尷尬
If we can make peace, it wouldn't be awkward when I see your friends
想起那一個夏天
Xiang qi na yi ge xia tian
I thought of that one summer day
那不是那不是那是冬天
na bu shi na bu shi na shi dong tian
No, no it wasn’t, it was a winter day
想起妳生氣的臉
Xiang qi ni sheng qi de lian
I thought of your angry face
每天就像冬天...唉,唉,唉
mei tian jiu xiang dong tian… ai, ai, ai
Everyday is like a winter day… sigh, sigh sigh
妳說那是愛,愛,愛
Ni shuo na shi ai, ai, ai
You said that was love, love, love
騙誰 我說的氣話都收回
Pian shui wo shuo de qi hua dou shou hui
Who am I lying to? I've taken back all my angry words
我寫的小說根本是空白黑夜
Wo xie de xiao shuo gen ben shi kong bai hei ye
The stories I write are actually black and white
你說既然已分開 為何還要幫你撐傘
Ni shuo ji ran yi fen kai wei he hai yao bang ni cheng san
You said since we've broken up, why should I hold the umbrella up for you?
嘜嘜 你嘜擱嘜擱偷偷離開
Mai mai lu mai go mai go thau thau li khui
Mine mine, don't you go, don't you secretly leave
嘜嘜 你嘜擱嘜擱偷偷離開
Mai mai lu mai go mai go thau thau li khui
Mine mine, don't you go, don't you secretly leave
嘜驚 我不會放你一人治那
Mai kiann wo bu hui pang ni ji rang di na
Don't be afraid, I won't leave you alone here
你想祙有人靠有人會疼
Ni xiang mei you ren kao you ren hue thiann
You want someone to rely on, to love you
嘜吶 你雨傘雨傘趕緊打開
Mai na li hoo suann hoo suann kuann kin ta khui
Don't stay, open up your umbrella quickly
嘜吶 你雨傘雨傘趕緊打開
Mai na li hoo suann hoo suann kuann kin ta khui
Don't stay, open up your umbrella quickly
嘜鬧 落大雨你淋雨我艱苦
Mai nau loh gua hoo li lim hoo gua kan khoo
Don't fuss, if you get soaked by the rain, I will feel hurt
落大雨我沒你會艱苦
Loh tua hoo gua hoo li e kan khoo
When it pours outside, it will hurt without you here
Coz baby you are Mine Mine
Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine
Mine Mine
Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine
太快
Tai kuai
Too quickly
就承認我真的很想妳
jiu cheng ren wo zhen de hen xiang ni
I admit that I really miss you
會不會沒有男子氣概
Hui bu hui mei you nan zi qi gai
Is it because I am not manly?
嘜吶 你雨傘雨傘趕緊打開
Mai na li hoo suann hoo suann kuann kin ta khui
Don't stay, open up your umbrella quickly
嘜吶 你雨傘雨傘趕緊打開
Mai na li hoo suann hoo suann kuann kin ta khui
Don't stay, open up your umbrella quickly
嘜鬧 落大雨你淋雨我艱苦
Mai nau loh gua hoo li lim hoo gua kan khoo
Don't fuss, if you get soaked by the rain, I will feel hurt
落大雨我沒你會艱苦
Loh tua hoo gua hoo li e kan khoo
When it pours outside, it will hurt without you here
會艱苦 x5
e kan khoo
It will hurt