Nail colour

it's the first time trying out this colour for my nails and I like it! I never would have thought this colour would compliment my skin so well :)

life is all about trying different things because you never know... it might work out for you :)

my 2019 New Years Resolution

a walk around my neighbourhood

it has taken me almost a month but I have figured out what my New Year's Resolution is... there are two, but they are related:

1. declutter my life (which includes my house, phone and mind)
2. stop hoarding

Back in 2016, everything in my life seemed to be going wrong. I didn't have a sense of direction, a relationship went wrong, work was mediocre and I felt I didn't have a sense of direction. Old wounds surfaced and hurt me badly.

For the past 2 years I was suffering, no matter what I did, nothing worked. Even prayers didn't comfort me because I was so hurt and badly wounded.

I started developing a hoarding habit and while I wasn't a shopaholic, I would buy excessively because that felt comforting to me. Hoarding even the tiniest things (e.g. small pieces of paper, useless pamphlets and useless items) gave me a sense of security. It was tough.

a bible verse I live by:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. - Philippians 4:12

Fast forward to 2018, my life started looking up. I had friends who cared, I gained a healthy support circle of close friends and my career has finally started to bloom. I moved from a mediocre career to something that is promising and will bring a better future.

So to bring this back to my resolution, I woke up. Hoarding useless items no longer bring security, God does. I have decided to declutter my life. 2019 is all about new beginnings so I hope to embrace this new start. 

New Year.  New Me.

Trust

I wish those who hurt me before saw this post before they attempted to... :(

I don't think anything in the world is worth more than trust... integrity. Once it is lost, no matter how you try to repair, fix it... it will always be gone... never the same.

#trustisexpensive #wecannotgoback #whatislostislost

Arashi everywhere!

for those of you who are fans... enjoy :D it seems that Arashi and Jpost team up every year for New Years! :O

Angry Conversations with God

I revisited this book after having read it 4-5 years ago.

Over the past few years, I have read tons of books similar to this one and I came to a conclusion that while they are a good reminder that we all struggle, they don't help us in other ways. Each and every relationship with God is unique and the way He speaks to us is different.

We are all uniquely and wonderfully made in Him,

Books like these cannot guide us if we pray like this or if we do exactly what this person did, God will do this. There is simply no formula. When we read the bible, there are various ways people approach problems and God answers in different ways.

Back in 2014, I remember struggling to talk to God and people will use their experience, bible experiences and even books like these to help me... but none of them worked. I would get upset because I couldn't understand why when I follow exactly what people did, read exactly what they read, had the exact mentality and yet God didn't seem to respond to me. I come to the conclusion that my experiences are unique, my wounds are unique, I am unique; so God had a different way to handle me and shape me. Even the way we communicate is different.

Each and every journey with God is unique... and I'm still discovering mine's.

If you are struggling with your relationship with God, just ask Him, while others can share with you their journey, at the end of the day, it is between you and God.

Canadian

this is how you know I was just in Canada... #poutineforever

Taco Bell

Finally some authentic Canadian/American version of Mexican food!!... no more rice and sauce! :D

Shoppers Drug Mart

Shoppers Drug Mart is one of my favourite places to shop at in Toronto... check out the Christmas things I found :) (I didn't have time to post this... I took these pictures about a month ago)

Anna Sui nail polish

for today's post, I want to talk about one of my favourite nail polishes.

please head on to https://simplemomentblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/anna-sui-nail-polish-review.html and read about it :)

favourite winter snack

one of my favouirte winter snacks are these TianJian roasted chestnuts.

not only do they warm me... they are very sweet and delicious :)

airport shenanigans

how I look like after a 13 hour flight... -_____- no make up and completely dehydrated -____- my skin is screaming for some skincare...

Today's lunch... Quinoa salad

Quinoa salad from Costco! 

I took the initiative and added an avocado

huge soursop

I found a huge soursop in my local grocery store in Toronto :)

look at how it compares to the size of my hand :O (this soursop is from Colombia).

Christmas lights

One of the things I miss most about Toronto are Christmas lights. While Japanese Christmas illuminations are very beautiful, it isn't the same as seeing them in someone's house and see how they share a piece of themselves with you.

I'm so glad I made it back to see them this year :)

Laneige in Toronto

It is hard to find Laneige products in Tokyo, luckily, Laneige can be found everywhere in Toronto... especially my go to Sephora. 

I have been hearing a lot of good things about their lip mask (I have already tried their sleeping mask..) which use to be one of my favourites.

I will test and let you know how I find it :)

reusing daily contact lenses

this post is in a response to my blog post concerning reusing daily contact lenses please read it if you haven't already.

I have a lot of comments on that post and would like to share an experience I had this week.

I somehow managed to mix up my daily contact lenses. Depending on the day, I would choose Acuvue Oasys (bi-weekly) or Acuvue Moist (which are dailies). I make it clear on my post why we shouldn't be reusing daily contact lenses... so I wouldn't have thought I would experience reusing dailies... but accidents happen.

While I didn't end up with any eye infections. I did notice there was something weird about my contact lenses.

On the second day, the issues weren't obvious... but I started noticing that the fitting on my contact lenses was very off. Whenever I looked up, I notice some distortion and the contact lenses felt thicker. Whenever I rolled my eyes, the contacts were noticeably there (due to the curve and space between my eyeballs and eyelids, I usually am unaware of my contacts in my eyes)


one person actually commented on my post on her experiences

this is speaking from personal experience... I used to reuse my dailies and I started noticing that on the 2nd day and onwards the contact lenses is slightly stretched and the fitting is odd. I have sensitive eyes and can confirm that it is bad for you... when I reuse my dailies they start to feel less moist and easily dries.
the damages with the material isn't visible and obvious... so tears are already beyond fixing.

so to say that it is ok to reuse daily contact is quite ridiculous... yes, you can probably get away with it as some have but there is definitely a risk.

failure

Otemachi station stairs

a friend and I had a debate whether persistency and success are related and if you aren't.. then you are bound to fail.

I think they are... and I have a story about it.
Some people are bound to fail.

Terry and her big business idea:

a friend, let's call her, Terry was always telling me how she is very frustrated at her job and wanted to change jobs. After some talks and convincing, I was able to gather that she wanted to open her own jewelry shop. Since I come from a business development background, Terry asked if I could help her with the proposal. After hours of talking, we talked about how we will execute her business plan and eventually retire. Everything seemed very positive.

a week after our conversation, I reached out to her to ask how she was doing, and as usual, she complained about her job... so I asked her about her business proposal. She responded that work got really busy but she will get it done.

a month after, I still haven't heard from her, so I asked how she was doing and just like before, she complained about her job and the likes... I then asked about her business proposal and whether she was still interested. She said she is definitely interested but she simply cannot write it because she has a lot of social events to go to. I asked whether she has even started writing it and she confessed that she hasn't even started.

ten months later, we got to meet at a common friend's gathering, and just like before she kept complaining about her job and how frustrated she was with her coworkers and she is determined to change. After hearing all of this, I walked up to her and asked her how her business proposal was coming along and whether or not she has ever done any research in regards to the jewelry business. Just like the previous times, she told me she was very busy and she just does not have the time to even think about starting a business.

After that, I stopped mentioning her business plan...  We still meet up sometimes and every time it is the same thing... she is complaining about her life and how she wants a change...

If you want to complain then do something about it... if not, then live with it. complaining and not finding ways to fix it is very disturbing and has become one of my biggest pet peeves.

Tiffany Christmas Tree @ Yorkdale

I didn't have time to post this so it is late... but Christmas trees are always beautiful to look at... not only during Christmas time. I am not sure whether this is still up or not... but I took this picture after Christmas. 

Jetlagged

2018 humbled me and I started to appreciate Tiffany's designs... (not to say all of their products look good... ) I especially pendents from their Elsa Peretti line.

do you see me?

Can you see me? I was really lucky the crowd was gone when I took this picture :)

loving this shiny Tiffany ornament ball ... do you see me?

Cheese puffs

I love Costco... I mean... who doesn't? It is always an adventure finding new items that haven't quite hit the market yet and you always save money. Today I came across these cheese puffs... I loved the packaging... 

I'm not here to write a review (I will save that later in my reviews blog) I was just really happy to see these huge cheese puff containers that I couldn't help but take a picture :P (you can see how tired my face looks... still jetlagged -____-)

I will definitely be reviewing this later :)

Canada me vs Japan me

wind and I do not get along (jetlagged)

I am completely jetlagged... so what better than to do than to write a slightly lengthier post.

Canada me and Japan/Asia me are quite different.

In Japan, especially in Tokyo, I feel girlier, I like dresses and skirts and pastel. But in Canada, the girly me kind of dies a little and I become jersey, hoodie Stephanie.

I think it has to do with the environment and fitting in. It is hard to be girly when everyone else around you is super casual.

I remember back in grade 3, I wore a skirt to school and all my friends laughed at me... and said: "eww... you look so girly"... the younger me was so embarrassed to the point that I said I will never wear a skirt again.

In grade 9, while I was experimenting when eyeshadow, I got lots of hate... since then I stopped trying to even wear anything other than lipstick. It became my pride.

Moving to Asia definitely changed me... people are very cautious about their appearance, they need to dress up to go to the convenient store. This gave me permission to bring the little girl out of me and have the courage to try being girly again.

But now that I'm in Toronto... I have seemed to go back to casual, no makeup Stephanie.

hot spicy noodles

after seeing the mascot I had second thoughts to trying this... :O

free stuff

it was very nice of Air Canada to offer a free Holiday messaging pass during my flight to Toronto. It was a bit strange knowing I could message my friends and family on the flight though XD

and I drift off

I love aerial shots... and I was lucky to take some on my flight to Toronto.

Toilet seat

I'm slowly making my home a bit more homey piece by piece bit by bit.

who doesn't like a cozy warm toilet seat during the cold winter especially during cold mornings?

Camera shy?

random camera

in a world of photography, where it is ok to be narcissistic, does camera shy even exist?

Anywhere you go, you are faced with devices with photography/exciting capabilities.

You can't run from it or hide.

Going back to 15 or even just 10 years ago, remember people getting extremely shy when you point a camera in their face (especially when you tell them you are recording)

But now it seems we are all so comfortable, it seems that if you don't take pictures or record on a daily basis, you are considered odd.

I love taking pictures but the tradeoff seems very great... (no more privacy)

Are we better off being camera shy or being a little too comfortable with it?

FINALLY in Japan!

I miss Beef Stew pie and all the ones you see in the picture! I'm so glad Japan FINALLY has them available :) ¥230 each :D

these pies can be found at AEON chain grocery stores :)

Moon

moon eclipse Jan 2018

Am I the only one who looks at the moon and thinks whether someone is doing the same and we share similar thoughts?

I won't lie... this past month has been quite hard for me... but I choose to be happy... or rather... run away from reality. Work keeps me grounded... friendships keep me grounded and so does this blog... I'm not comfortable to share too much but I'll just say a lot is happening in my family and I really need prayers.

... I'm not as strong as I seem :(...

how disappointing

Given the amount of nerds on Twitch... it is such a poorly design and made website...

Today I learned... Mimosa

Mimosa

Today I learned there is a drink called Mimosa. It is Jewish cocktail and usually drank at celebrations (according to my friend)

It is composed of one part champagne or sparkling wine and one part chilled citrus (usually orange juice)

I liked it... but the name suggested it was something more fancy :(... (especially after learning they usually serve this on first class in railways and airlines.

Once a driver always a driver

taken in Autumn

Even now... I always check my blind spot when I pass people on the streets and escalators.

Sometimes I get stares for doing so... T____T

Goals for 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2018 was a year full of blessings... getting a new job and being part of a new industry has put my life goals into a new perspective. The job has transformed me (in a good way) and I had so much to learn. I still continue to learn and every day is a new opportunity to learn more.

Accomplishments and Blessings

• healing from a lot of past wounds
• having a milestone in the relationship department
• much more confidence
• realizing God is my source of everything/for everything
• learning to speak up at the right time
• listening and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's presence and His reminders

The goals I want to achieve and the things I want for 2019

Goals and Desires

• having a Stephanie/God relationship with God... on a personal level... which I can claim that is unique between us... I don't want to follow a pattern... rather... having my unique way
• a relationship that I can claim as mine's... ours
• spending more time with friends and family
• learning more about finance
• better time management
• having an accomplishment learning Japanese (今私の日本語まだちょっと下手です)