The 4 girls of Kyary Kids. Oh wait, one of them is actually a boy. Can you guess who? Looks can be deceiving.

A friend of mine saw this video posted in Reddit. When he played it, it caught my attention. The song has a cute and catchy rhythm. Their video is also cute! Imagine kids dancing wearing different colored tutus and vegetables on their heads. That’s right, vegetables! (These Japanese kids are great dancers by the way).

Apparently, this video became viral sometime in 2012 (and I only watched it recently). I think this video was made to encourage kids to eat vegetables. By the way, bejitarizumu means vegetarian rhythm.

Come on, play it and sing along!

Lyrics:

Year 2008

More than 5 years ago, I started learning Japanese. At first it was exciting. It was easy memorizing all those hiragana and katakana. But I got lazy when it came to Kanji and all those conjugations. I also had less time to study because most of my time was spent at the office. There was just no time to study (and yes, I was lazy). But I still challenged myself to take the JLPT level 4. Result: FAILED. I only needed 1 more point to pass. Still not bad for a person who did not study well haha.

Year 2010

I gave Japanese another chance. And I was also chosen to be an AOTS trainee (because I’m awesome) so I had to refresh all of the things I have learned previously before I go to Japan for a 7-month long training (2 months of which was spent in Kansai Kenshuu Center, the rest of the months was spent at the host company).

This was my room in KKC. Kanji on the wall showed I was really studying.

In KKC, I was placed in an advanced class (because there were only at least 20 people in our batch composed of beginners and advanced learners from different countries). I had no choice. My sensei said I was too advanced to be placed in a beginner’s class, and there was also no class for intermediate learners. So there. My classmates can speak fluent Japanese. I can’t. Though I tried to remain quiet for 2 whole months, the curriculum will really make you speak Japanese. Whether you like it or not. But it’s a good thing, though. If I wasn’t forced to speak, I wouldn’t have learned. Listening and reading are not enough. You have to speak the language, too. (I think the most effective way for you to be fluent is to speak to a native Japanese). That experience taught me a lot. Then I went back home.

That year, I took the JLPT again. But this time, I took N4 (equivalent to Level 3), a level higher than the one I took last 2008.  Result: PASSED. I even got high marks. That training paid off.

Year 2011

I tried to continue where I left off. Then again, I couldn’t balance work and study. And there were also a lot of things going on. I wasn’t focused. I rarely attend Japanese classes at the office. I don’t study Japanese at home. I became lazy again, just like last 2008. I registered to take JLPT N3 that year. But I did not study harder. Result: FAILED. Super.

Year 2012

I started giving up on Japanese. Every time I see a Japanese writing, my head hurts. But when I watch anime, I wish I could understand them even without subtitles. “What now?”, I told myself. Then I decided I have to focus on other stuff. So, goodbye Japanese language. All those that I learned in the past.. well I forgot most of them.

But an incident made me change my mind again. I was in Dubai during the holidays. While we were buying tickets at the metro, two Japanese women approached my husband (maybe he looked like a Japanese person to them) and started speaking in their native language. It seemed that they needed help. My husband started pointing at me and telling them “She! She! She!” (Well, it was obvious that the Japanese women doesn’t understand English. And I had no idea how my husband knew that they were Japanese). So, those women spoke to me. I understood what they were trying to tell me, but I couldn’t say what I wanted. Aside from the fact that I was also a tourist (so I don’t know anything about the metro), I also haven’t spoken Japanese for so long that I forgot the sentence patterns I should use. I was stunned. But I still tried. I used the easy patterns that I remembered. And I was able to help them. After that, I decided (again) that I will give Japanese language another chance.

Year 2013

I moved to another country. Unemployed. Have a lot of time to study now. But there are still a lot of distraction. Sometimes I study, sometimes I don’t. This sucks. So I think that I need a study buddy. But my husband is more of a gamer so he’ll never be a good study buddy.

That is why I will just blog what I have learned. Then YOU (whoever you are who is reading this), you should share your knowledge, too (if you can). Thank you! Ganbarimasu!

Hair growing back on my legs makes me feel uncomfortable. I wanted to have my legs waxed so I looked for a waxing salon here in Singapore. And oh my goodness, a full leg wax costs at least SGD 60 (see Pink Parlour)!  Since I’m unemployed (that’s why I’m not willing to pay SGD60) and the prices of waxing services are sky high and I don’t want to go back to shaving my legs again, I decided to just wax my own legs. At first I thought of just buying a waxing kit but they’re expensive as well. Then I remembered the wax that LayBare uses. They use cold wax and they don’t use waxing strips. I want to use something like that. So I did my research and found out that I can make my own sugaring paste using ingredients found at home. Yey! Here’s how:

1) Mix the following in a sauce pan

Yes, I used this pan

(by the way, I used a sauce pan that I bought from Daiso just in case I ruin the mixture. At least I can throw that sauce pan without regrets)

- 3 cups of sugar (some say it’s better to use white sugar. I used brown since that’s what I have in stock)

- 1/4 cup of lemon juice (instead of squeezing from real lemons, I just bought the one in a bottle. It’s cheaper and it takes less effort haha)

- 1/4 cup of water (tap water is fine)

2) Boil it using medium heat. Stir the mixture once in a while. I suggest that you use a wooden spoon. Don’t let it overflow!

3) Once it boils, turn the heat to low (applicable if using a thin sauce pan. Use a low-medium heat if you are using a thick sauce pan) and simmer for about 25 minutes (it’s tempting to taste it because of its sweeeeet smell. Yummy!). Turn off the heat when the mixture becomes a dark amber color like this one (I wasn’t able to take a picture of my work so I’m borrowing an image from another site).

How to test if the mixture is okay: Using your wooden spoon, drop a small amount of mixture on a lid of a container. Let it cool for a few minutes. Take that and try rolling it into a ball. If you were able to do that, the mixture is okay. If not, try heating the mixture in the pan for a few minutes more.

4) Let it cool for about 5 minutes before transferring the mixture in a plastic container. Be careful! It’s hot! Make sure that you transfer it in an airtight container. Allow a few hours for it to cool completely.

5) Viola! You may now use it

Final product – sugaring paste

Take a portion of the paste then roll it into a ball

Waxing:

NOTE: Turn on your A/C before waxing. Why? Because the sugaring paste will melt and it will become too sticky on your warm skin.

I did not make my own video. So just follow this tutorial instead

I recently bought the Blackberry Z10 and it sucks that it has a limited number of applications (but it’s still a great phone. I love Blackberry!). Good thing is, there is a way to sideload android apps to BB 10. Hurrah!

I found this video tutorial from goodereader but his method of using a cable to connect phone to PC didn’t work for me. I keep getting an error message that my Z10 refused connection. I got pissed because I wasn’t able to find a solution to this problem even if I kept on Googling. So I had to do it on my own. I tried using WiFi and it worked! Here is a step by step procedure.

1. Download .BAR files (these are the apps that you want to install on your Z10 but are not available in Blackberry App World). Good E Reader is a good source.

2. Load this TOOL (DDPB) from Good E Reader and install it on your PC.
   

   DDPB screenshot

3. Turn on your Z10′s WiFi and select a network. NOTE: I suggest that you use a secured WiFi connection and not a public one. The PC should also be connected to the same network.
   Settings > Network Connections > Wi-Fi

4. Get the IP Address of your Z10
   Settings > About > Category      Network
   
   

   Get the IPv4 address. Don’t mind the slash /

5. Turn on your Z10′s Development Mode. Once you turn it on, it will ask for a password. Enter any password you like. Be sure to remember it because you’ll be needing it later. NOTE: Every time you turn on development mode, Device Password will automatically turn on (Settings > Security and Privacy > Device Password).
   Settings > Security and Privacy > Development Mode
   
   

   Development Mode

6. Open the DDPB software in your PC.
7. Enter the IPv4 address of your Z10 and the password you have set in Development Mode. NOTE: Scan button is useless!

8. Click the Connect button.
   

   DDPB while connecting to Z10

9. Once connected, you may Add the BAR files that you have downloaded. Just click Add button.
10. Select the BAR files you added then click the Install button.
    

    While installing the BAR files on your Z10

11. A message box “Done.” will appear after installation.

Easy, right? Converting APK files (android app) to BAR files (blackberry app) is a different thing. I will post it once I try it

Enjoy sideloading!

Facade of Sheik Zayed Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the famous tourist spots in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It is probably the biggest mosaic in the area. You don’t have to pay anything when you enter the mosque. But ALL women will be required to wear an abaya, a black cloak that covers your entire body and the head. Just like this one: Tadah! Don’t worry, you don’t have to bring one since they will give it to you inside the changing room.

I look like a dementor in this one

Just a tip: wear socks. You need to remove your shoes before entering since the mosque is carpeted.

Inside the mosque is just amazing. Marble stones, gold and many precious stones were used to build the place (Ah, this place is very rich). The chandeliers were an eye-catcher!

chandelier located just before you enter the mosque

chandelier located at the middle of the mosque

Inside the sheik zayed grand mosque

Best time to visit: December-March. The weather is cool during these months.

Here are more pictures outside the mosque.

The differences between the sketches (a snapshot from the video). Left: How the woman described herself; Right: How others described her.

Here’s a unique advertisement from Dove. An FBI forensic artist sketches the faces of women based on how they describe themselves and how other people describe them (of course the artist does not see their faces until everything is over). So basically there are two different drawings per person. After each interview, the artist shows the women the differences between the two sketches.

Watching this video made my eyes water. It is true that most women don’t think they are beautiful. But to others, they are To women out there, if you think of changing some features of your face because you don’t like it, keep this in mind:

“You are more beautiful than you think”

Dove did it again this time.

I went to Dubai, UAE last December 2012 via Emirates (codeshare with Philippine Airlines). My ticket indicated that we will board Boeing 777-300ER. Maybe there will be other people who will be curious (just like me) what the plane looks like in the inside. So here are some details (in Economy class):

• The left and right side had 3 seats each, and 4 seats in the middle.
• Inflight entertainment system. Individual screen for each passenger and there’s a wide selection of movies, tv shows, and others. It was an 8-hour travel to Dubai and I didn’t get bored at all. However, each TV show had only 4 episodes each. 
  

  Family Guy TV Show

• Stars! Well, the lights at night resembled the stars.
  

  Starlight, starbright

• They served food! Twice! Wooh! And if you’re a fan of instant noodles, you can ask for it anytime. How many? As many as you want. Just one at a time, okay? You cannot hoard because they serve it to you with hot water.
  

  I forgot what I ate that day. I think this one was tuna.

Okay that’s it. That’s all I remember. This is what I get for not blogging right away haha.

~ lady in red ~

No new posts. Well, that isn’t new, right? I’ve put up this blog last 2009, changed the theme many times, pay for domain renewal and web hosting yearly. But it seems I don’t have the drive to update it everyday. It doesn’t help even if I make it one of my New Year’s Resolutions (that is why I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions). As for the other ladies, they’re busy with other stuff: baby, work, love, etc. How about me? Though I am unemployed and have no kids, I’ve been busy doing chores and taking care of my husband (ah yes, I’m now married haha).

But believe me when I say I really do want to blog. I’ve been to places, tried things, ate new food. I wanted to share the experiences. However, I am one lazy person. Yes, I am my worst enemy.

I know I have to do something about my procrastination. So here I am (again) telling this to myself: I will try my very best to update this blog. If not everyday, well at least every week. I’ve got some backlogs. Will blog it as soon as I can.

~ lady in red ~

As a dancer, and a frustrated fashionista, I always consider ‘Style’ and ‘Comfort’ when I dress up. Simple but fashionable, Stylish but Wearable. That’s what I like about all clothing apparels in The Ramp.. They give you great and trendy choices but assures you of comfort and wearable trends. Plus, anything partnered and matched with any The Ramp apparels, makes you look like a high fashioned model!

A tag-less top, shimmer and awesome sexy leggings from The Ramp,  and a pair of heels…good to go for Party and all night Dancing!
Very happy and contented whenever I wear clothes and apparels from The Ramp.

-eyelove

http://www.therampcrossings.com/

People around me often say I look like an anime (a Japanese cartoon) even if I am not trying to be one. But come to think of it, their style ain’t that bad. Somehow I can get ideas without actually copying them. And that’s how I started to mix and match clothes to come up with something different that other people don’t normally wear.

When it comes to clothing, I’m very hard to please. It would take me hours before I can even buy anything that I want. Or sometimes I end up not buying anything at all. But whenever I go to The Ramp Crossings, their clothes never fail to get my attention. I love most of the clothes on display that if I have a lot of moo-la, I would buy them all. The Ramp Crossings offers a lot of clothes with unique designs that suit my taste and personality (awesome!).

I call this getup “The Living Anime”. The not-so-ordinary-vest I’m wearing from The Ramp gave my style an edgy look.

Vest from The Ramp Crossings

I am an introvert person who always have a hard time expressing thoughts and emotions through actions and words. But when it comes to fashion, I can be as expressive (and awesome) as I want to be, especially with items from The Ramp Crossings.

http://www.therampcrossings.com/

~ lady in red ~