Happy Birthday!! x

I'm a terrible best friend and sister! I'll be relaxing and enjoying myself in Thailand on Bunny's 21st Birthday! I know I can't really 'make up' for my absence, but I tried anyway. I bought her a surprise present and ordered some pizza and munchies, and bought some wine to wash it all down. We had fun chatting about how different we are from a year ago, when we had just arrived in Koiwa to start a new life.

Wishing you the best year yet, sis! x

Oh, and our super younger sister sent us some lovely baked goodies!

 Ai, you rock!

white, grey, black

I've decided to take a little break from my school. I love my teachers, and I have new friends there, but I just don't feel like going back so soon after the exam. I feel like rewarding myself with nail art that I love to engage myself in, and give learning new things and stretching myself a break. 

 Acrylic art over white and silver polish.

3, 2, 1 ... Thailand!

I feel like a different person-- fresh, alive, more relaxed, less grumpy-- from a week ago when I was all up in knots about the exam! 

To make things even better, I've only got one more day of work, and then I'll be on a plane to Thailand where I plan to eat spicy food, and get myself smashed with dear friends! And to add to the holiday spirit, I did some cho- hisashiburi retail therapy at Zara! What I'm wearing in the picture is from a previous shopping spree, but of course, it's from Zara. I'll post the goodies I got yesterday a different time. 

I just felt like letting the whole world know how great I feel compared to just a short few days ago. Wait for it, Golden Week! I'll hit you soon!

beer

With a 8% alc percentage, this beer not only tastes fantastic, but gets you tipsy enough with just one! I found this treasure at Kaldie, and have been a fan ever since. It's also not so expensive either--just short of 300 yen. You should try it! 

Finished!

I took the first exam for aspiring nail technicians yesterday, and I'm just so relieved it's behind me now. I won't find out if I've passed or not till mid-May, so I know it's too early to celebrate, but who cares? I feel like 10 tons have been lifted from  my shoulders! I bought a bottle of sparkling wine and  some good food and just kicked back and enjoyed myself as soon as I got home. It was much deserved.

The exam was held at Tokyo Big Site, and was from 9:30 to 12:45. I hadn't gotten enough sleep, so despite half of my face covered in a mask, you could tell that I was completely brain dead: not the best state of mind to be in for a test. But despite the lack of sleep, lack of practice and being nervous and freezing cold, I managed to only fuck-up once, ermm.... twice. Personally, I think I could have done a lot better if I weren't so damn nervous, but regardless, I have a hunch that I passed! Anyway, the judges seemed to love the 'art' part. According to a fellow student at beauty school, I'm easily better than our teachers when it comes to acrylic art! Aww!

So, that's that. Test: finished. Check. Now, I've got just 4 days of work before I kick start my Golden Week with a trip to Thailand! I'm feeling great!

purple peacock

I did this a while back. It took me a while to get it right!

farewell party

I'm in recovery mode right now from an abusive (to health) Sunday night when I drank as if my sole purpose was to destroy my liver in one sitting. I know I've got an exam coming up and I probably should have been chained to my desk, polish and brush, but I figured that stressing too much about passing isn't going to help me pass. 

And that was my excuse to unwind and party! And conveniently, there was a farewell party going on for a dear friend last night, and so I what-the-helled it and drank and danced and drank and smoked and drank. And then drank some more.

So there's a music/darts/shot bar 3 minutes from my place and it has a pole. 

For pole dancing. 

So, naturally, dancers gather and pole dance. I was a little shocked at first when I saw some dancers practicing their routines at the bar in outfits that would barely cover what they're intended to cover, but I am used to it now, and also the concept of pole dancing doesn't make me make a face anymore either. Especially after last night, when one of my dancer friends taught me how to swirl around the pole without looking like a complete loser! It was fun. 

Explains all the bruises I had this morning.

Today, I wll:
*Drink 4L of water
*Won't drink any alcohol
*Study like a boss

EXAM! ARGH!

I've got just under two weeks till my exam, and I've been stressing quite a bit over how bad I am at nail polishing!! Believe it or not, it's much more than unscrewing a bottle of your favorite nail polish bottle, and swooshing the polish on your (or your friend's) nails! 

And don't get me started on cuticle cleaning! I must use a pair of scarry looking mini-wrench like thingie to remove loose cuticles that hinder nail art! An utter pain! While practicing the other day on my toe nails, I drew blood! Bloody difficult!

I will feel much better once I get this exam behind me, with some form of alcohol in one hand, enjoying Thailand's ridiculously hot weather! 

I must say, I'm bordering on hating the combination of red and flowers! 

little acrylic painting

When you hear women chatter on about how they want to go get their nails done at the beauty salon, cute pink nails with little ribbons and studs probably come to mind, ,especially if you're in Japan where 'cute' and 'pink' and 'ribbons' having been trending for far too long. 

Yeah, sure, it has its place and time, but 'pink' and 'cute' were never my strong points, and that's not changing any time soon! Check out this piece of art I worked on a few weeks back! Now THIS  is nail art for me!