Thing I Love Thursday - Radical Self Love

photo credits unknown (Google image search)

Since my life is pretty slow and not many interesting things happen, I have decided to do themed  TILT posts!  It seems really fun and I have been pumped for this all week!  The themes are in addition to the rest of my TILT list.  If there are any themes that you would like to see, please let me know!

Radical Self Love
My hair (so soft), My eyes (they have a really cool blue/green/honey thing going on), My ability to sing (I have always loved singing and I took voice lessons a while back), My ability to speak Japanese (My teacher said that if she closed our eyes, she would swear we were Japanese people because out accents were so awesome), My web toe (I was never grossed out by it.  When I was little, I called them my "Twin Toes"),  Eye for detail (I notice the little things more often than a lot of other people), The dreams I have (When I'm asleep, my mind does some weird shit...), My face (I think that I have a very gentle and pretty face), My knowledge on Management (I love pointing out to my managers when they are wrong about something.  They won't train my to be a manager because I am still only a cashier and I need to know all the different positions),and my desire to open up my own boutique and sell the items that I make!


The Rest
Pink toe pads (for high heels), Keith (Awesome friend who works in the same plaza as me), Grand Illusion Vinyl Record (by Styx!  Also, gift from Keith), My manager freaking out (it is mean to say, but it is kind of funny when she is completely stressed and needs a cigarette), My awesome boyfriend (need I say more?), The promise of a kitten (KITTEN FOR MY NEW APARTMENT!), Iwaya sensee (My Japanese teacher was in town...I missed her I think, but she is totally awesome), My LUSH Mini Haul (lip scrub, body sugar scrub, and lip balm), Driving, Ayumi Hamasaki (this woman was the first Japanese singer I fell in love with), Piano squall (I have a CD in my car and I absolutely love this man.  He even knows me by my forum name AND my real name!), Hard Candy Cosmetics (everything is bright colors and glitter.  Who could NOT love it?), The fact that Gala and I want the same pair of shoes that I can afford (They were the platform pumps from a few weeks ago), Joe (My physics major friend who tries to get away from techie stuff.  He asked if there was an iPhone app that took the raw data of something inside the iPhone...I forget the word...Accelorometer?  That kind sounds right...^_^'), and my funny puppy (she is so silly and playful!  I love her)!

photo credits unknown

Also, because this deserves special attention, I got a text message from my friend Jake a few days ago.  Jake is a childhood friend of mine (we live across the street from each other) and we don't get to see each other much.  He sent me this message: "There are two bears at a rescue center named Maggie and Jake!"

How adorable is that???  I squeed so much over that and told anybody who would listen.

photo credits unknown.  I tried looking for a picture of the bears and this little guy popped up in Google Image search.

So that is it for this week.  What lovely things have you been up to?

Things I Love Thursday

HELLO MY LOVELIES!  Welcome back to this weeks edition of Things I Love Thursday!  I have some great stuff here for you, so stay tuned and feel the LOVE!
New Shoes:  I bought 2 new pairs of shoes today.  I spent about $40 out of pocket for them!  Here are pictures of what they look like!

Writing TILT Draft on Pay Stub:  While I was at work last weekend, Garrett took my phone (his was dead) and went home to run some errands.  I had nothing to do on my break so, instead of letting myself get bored or angry, I decided to write my TILT list and get a head start.  I had so many small things I loved in just a shot while.  Here is a picture!

Singing in the car: I love to sing, but I never play music anymore, so I don't get to sing much.  When I am driving by myself, I play my music (LOUDLY) and sing along to the song as best as I can (usually songs in Japanese that I don't fully know the lyrics to).  I can really tell a difference in the quality of my singing between now and high school.  Then, I had a greater range, but microphones can pick up my voice now.  I don't mind the trade off.

Finals being done:  I have 1 more final and it is tomorrow morning at 8am.  I don't like the time, but it should be a pretty mindless final and I should be able to pass no problem.  I am going to go to the lab and study a bit once I am done writing this.

Sleeping in: It is such a lazy way to enjoy yourself, but it is so comfy that it is hard to resist.  The temperature is just right, the blankets are soft, the bed is cozy, and that little plush bunny is the right size to hold on to while you sleep.  I really want to take a nap right now.

New and awesome outfits:  I put together this crazy awesome outfit a few days ago, but I need to rework it (so I can use my new shoes) before I take pictures and post it.  It is so cute and fun!  This is probably my best outfit yet!

Alyssa:  This is a new girl I work with and she is DELIGHTFUL!  She is graduating high school in a few short days (I believe she said that count down was at 17 days) and is getting ready to go off to school.  I think I found a potential first customer for my clothing!

Special Guests: Pirouettes, hair clip bows, cat ears, gorgeous weather, Aerie bras, my roos, baked goods, Hello Kitty EVERYTHING, super soft hair, my silly puppy, puppies in drive through, scarves, Gift card shopping spree, writing with a fountain pen (it makes all the difference), giving tasteless gifts, How to cook everything: the basics (yes, I bought that cookbook), learning new stuff at work, NYC souvenirs (my brother just went for the first time.  HYPER jealous), Brunch, Netlix, classic video games (I REALLY want to play some Chrono Trigger), tweeting to my brother, foot rubs, Mary Kay make-up bad and vision board for $1 total, and finding things in my purse!

Love your way?  Share what you in love with!

Things I Love Thursday

So, this has been a week full of super happy!  There are some highlights of what has been going on!

Setting up appointments:  All these appointments are medical, but it is good to have doctors tell you that you are health.  Also, I love going to the dentist because my dental hygienist is super gentle and is like a second mother to me!

Pronoia:  I am only in the middle of chapter 4, but it is such an interesting book.  Right now, there are a bunch of snippets like in a news paper.  KAWAII!!!

Finals Week:  Finals start next Tuesday. You know what that means?  SUMMER BREAK!!!  An entire summer of lounging, working, and eventually shopping!  I am only responsible for being at work on time.  I am not taking any summer classes.

No summer classes:  I was originally signed up for 2 classes this summer, however, I didn't have the student loans to cover them.  I would have had to pay about $1800 instead of my estimated $600 (which I had to pay last summer).  This frees up a bunch of money which leads me to my next item.

Moving In Early:  I am supposed to move into my new apartment in July, however, I am going to be able to make enough money to move in during JUNE!  AN ENTIRE EXTRA MONTH AT MY NEW APARTMENT!  I am so absolutely pumped!

Shoes:  I have been shoe shopping on Amazon and found THESE adorable pumps (I want them in Matte Black and Glitter Hot Pink), and THESE sexy studded booties.  What I like about them is the price tag.  These are shoes that I actually like that I can afford!  This is super exciting news and I can't wait to get the money to buy them!.

Bugles:  Anybody who says that they don't love these chips are lying!  They are sooo tasty!!!  I don't often have them, but when I do, they never last.  They are just that good.  When I was a wee Mag-Elicious, I used to put them on my fingers and pretended to be a witch!  So silly!

Kindle:  I have the Kindle app for my iPhone and it is pretty freaking awesome!  I got it when I first got my phone last year, but I thought that you had to pay $10 for each book.  I don't have that kind of money and I am able to get most of those books used for about half of that.  Now, I realized there are free books you can get on kindle (they are all very old and out of the copyright period).  I stocked up on Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, The Count of Monte Cristo, and many other delicious morsels.

Curry Rice:  Yesterday, I found curry mix in my cabinets!  Yummy!  I made that with beef (for stewing), potatoes, and carmelized onions (I have never had onions that tasted SWEET!  They were SO FREAKING GOOD)!  It ended up being a disaster because the beef was chewy, the potatoes didn't cook properly, and the curry "broth" was REALLY thin.  However, the rice was perfect and I was able to eat medium hot curry (I have no spicy tolerance).

Nana:  I LOVE Nana!  It is such a fantastic story and the style of all the characters is really unique and to die for!  I am not much into the punk style, but all of the punk characters make me swoon!  Also, in the movie, the actor of Nobuo is really cute (in a dorky way which I REALLY love) and super talented!

Zoo Season Pass:  Last week I went to the local zoo (it is really small and a good place to go to for a few hours).  There are so many cute things about the zoo and going more than 4 times will have the pass pay for itself!  Also, it is part petting zoo, so you can feed most of the animals there!

Sewing Anticipation:  Since I will have a lot more free time this summer, and since I have a nice sewing machine, I am going to get started on some projects!  They're mostly going to be purses but I will try to fit in cool skirts too!  This will let me get to know the properties of certain fabrics and how they move/work.  One step closer to my dream?  Yes, please!

Explanation of picture:  Last night, I was watching an episode of The  Simpson's called Much Apu About Nothing (Season 7 Episode 23).  The episode starts out with this ADORABLE bear wandering Evergreen Terrace.  He has no intent to hurt anybody.  He just wants to sit and look silly.  This was the image I found during my search.  Not the same bear, but oh so silly!

As you can see, lots of happy to go around!  There is so much love in the air here that you can feel it!  Is there a list of things that have got you swooning this week?

Things I Love Thursday

Edit: This was half written last Thursday and Half written today.  I fell asleep while studying for a test before this got posted last week.  Please forgive the lateness!

Hello my loves!  Welcome to another edition of Things I Love Thursday.  As my semester winds down, I have little time to write, edit, and publish posts due to so many end of semester tests and projects.  I promise you that I have a TON of articles written, plus ideas for so many more that it is crazy.  Now, on with the show!

Seeing lots of animals:  On my drive to work, I pass so many farms.  I recently got to see TONS of baby goats.  It is absolutely adorable!  Also, I recently learned that one of the houses has 2 huskies.  HUSKIES!!!  I squee every time I drive past!

Test Postponed:  As I am writing this, I am studying for a test tomorrow.  This test was originally scheduled to be Wednesday, however work had me coming in so much that I really couldn't devote any time to studying.  I have spent most of the day studying today, so I know have a ton more confidence when I walk into my test at 3pm tomorrow.

HeadShot Energy Drinks:  My boyfriend bought a discount case of these a while ago and we are mostly done with them (discount due to misprinted expiration date).  Reading text books puts me to sleep (after 3 pages earlier today, I zonked out for about 2 hours).  The energy drinks, while not being my first choice (my first choice is Bawls because it is tasty and has a silly name) have been keeping me awake, and thus doing their job.  Thank you for helping me pass my test.

Developing a study system:  My system is very basic as well as time consuming.  It does, however, allow me to demonstrate an understanding of the material studied.  I read the chapter (long and boring), then answer the end of chapter questions.  It is super basic, but it does work.  The questions ask you to explain why things are a certain way and to give examples.  I did this with a test I took Monday.  Before, I knew NOTHING of the material (the class seems rather pointless).  I answered the end of chapter questions and when I walked out of the test (about 15 minutes and 42 questions later) I felt very confident that I got a good grade.

Windows open:   My apartment doesn't have AC, so at night,having the windows open feels AMAZING.  I also enjoy driving with the windows open.  Partly because the breeze feels really nice and partly so I can subject the world my my music (I am sick of hearing stuff on the radio blasted, so I blast Japanese music)!

Popcicles:  This is in addition to my apartment not having AC.  Popcicles are a nice way to cool down and are low in calories.  Yay!

Having a car:  There is nothing to do in the town where my school is.  If I want to go anywhere or do anything, it requires me driving.  Even walking across campus takes a ton of time.

Having friends over:  One of my friends is having a birthday soon.  Also, I just had a difficult test.   Tonight is part birthday party, part test celebration.

Going to the Zoo:  There is a small petting zoo near where I live and it is really cute!  I bought a season pass which is good for a year!  Also, despite the fact that it is a petting zoo, there are lions, tigers, and bears (OH MY)!  The bears eat kibble (along with other real bear food) and it is so cute!   There are pipes that lead from where you and I would stand on the path to where the bears are.  Also, there are monkeys that pull a chain attached to a bucket so they can get cheerios!   HOW CUTE!?!

Being done with tests:  So, I just had 2 weeks filled with tests!  I did rather well on the ones that I got the grades for (missing the grades for 1 test), and I am happy with the results.  I am also happy that I don't have to stress myself out as much for next week!  Yay!

New underthings:  There are few things better than getting yourself some new nickers.  I have finally decided to give Aerie a try and let me say that it is not as expensive as I thought it would be (I also was rummaging through the cheapo bins).  When I get some extra money, I am definitely going back!

Finding my ankle bracelet:  Last year for my birthday, my aunt gave me this really pretty ankle bracelet from Lia Sophia.  It is silver with pale colored transparent beads and it is extremely pretty in a very subtle way.  It was in my jewelry box that I think I need to rummage through more often!

Mac 'n Cheese:  It has been so long since I had some macaroni and cheese that it I think I may have enjoyed it a bit too much.  It was just a box of Kraft that you can get in any grocery store.  I added lots of garlic and peppers to give it more of a grown-up taste, but I didn't take out the pepper seads (I thought I could handle it...^_^').

Also, if you want to laugh at something that is terrible, click here!

So, it has been kind of a stressful 2 weeks, but I survived.  Now, I am going to allow myself a bit of a nap.  In the mean time, what has stolen your heart this week?

Lush Haul: March

So, I only get the chance to stop by Lush once every few months.  I stopped by there about a week ago and picked up a bunch of stuff!  My list of purchases goes as:

♥ Coolaulin conditioner: My hair has never felt soft in my LIFE!  Seriously, this is the best conditioner I have ever used.  I am not too fond of the smokey scent (It claims to be coconut, but that isn't what I smell).  I got this as a free sample (I don't know if all stores do this, but mine does and I LOVE it) and I really think I will make a point to purchase it!

♥ Frosty Glitter Bubble bar: I was a bit skeptical of getting this because I have a Lush bubble bar and it doesn't bubble much (It contains shea butter for skin softening, but it makes it lack bubbles).  I only used about 1/8 and I had a shocking amount of bubbly goodness!  It has a great scent and I LOVE glittery!  It even turned my bath water slightly pink!  Such a good product!

♥ Each Peach Massage Bar: My skin feels so soft and buttery.  I use this like a body butter because it contains coco, shea, avacado, and and mango butters (I just read that list off of the product description).  It is also about half the price, so as a college student, I can actually afford this.  My skin feels so amazing I can't stop touching myself (usually my arms, but sometimes my legs.  Nothing dirty)!

♥ Candy Fluff Dusting Powder: If the color pink had a scent, this would be it!  I smell like I just came back from a candy factory or a carnival!  It also has a TON of glittery goodness!  I use it sometimes with the massage bar so that I don't have the lotiony oily feel left on my skin (which can completely be avoided by simply rubbing the message bar into my skin more instead of just letting everything stay on top of my skin).  I have never used a dusting powder before this, and I think I found one that I will use for the rest of forever!  Also, my bathroom is covered in this stuff because it is a touch of the messy side.  I think that it makes it fun!

♥ Shower Jelly: So, the shower jelly I bought isn't on their website (I took off the label and don't remember what it is called, but it is blue, glittery, and smells like berries).  It seems like a great product and I have wanted to try a shower jelly for a while.  I am waiting for a hot summer day to use it (it is chilling, literally, in my freezer).  I do take it out every now and then to poke at it because it has such a fun texture!  I am really looking forward to using it!

This haul seems to have been a great success!  I have never been disappointed with a product I have purchased (The aforementioned bubble bar that didn't bubble was something I received with as a gift from my brother.  Let's not hold it against him.  He was being nice and that is all that matters ^_^)

Style tips for the timid

So, many people out there (including myself) are scared to push the fashion envelope.  Here is a good tip for those who want to go outside of their comfort zone, but are scared.

Find an event where the fashion rule is "Anything Goes".  I think of anime conventions (or other conventions where people cosplay as something).  Put together a few outfits that you have never created before.  Some people even go so far as to change what they wear throughout the day, so don't be scared of having too many outfits.  If you are having trouble with this part (or if you only own jeans and t-shirts), borrow a friend.  Borrow their opinion, their clothes (with permission), whatever.  This may be a good time to get some new items.  An easy way to put together a new outfit is:
~Tights
~Shorts
~Sneakers
~Favorite T-shirt
Most people have those kinds of items in their wardrobe, so it is an inexpensive way to put together a new look.

If your problem is in body issues (you may feel like you are "chubby" or "fat", but that is no reason you can't dress how you want), here are some pictures of people who put caution to the wind and went for a more risque look.

Felicia from Darkstalkers

Naga from Slayers

Just be sure that if you decide to dress in a costume, it is clean, and you don't come off as creepy.  The following are examples of what NOT to look like





I hope this helps.  If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me here!

Radical Self Love Questions

Photo credits: Angy Fotografie

So, there is a list of questions for how we are going about this experiance.  You get an exclusive look at what my answers are!

What does RADICAL SELF LOVE mean to you?
 ~It means being as much as my 3-year-old self as possible.  I was happy, care-free, and completely confident!

If you were engaging in RADICAL SELF LOVE on a daily basis, what would that look like?
 ~It would look like a fairy princess

What small pieces of that can you bring into your life TODAY?
~I am currently wearing a neon pink tutu.

Which qualities or attributes would you like to bring into your own life via the application of RADICAL SELF LOVE?
~I would like to have more confidence.  I am sick of backing down on things I know I shouldn't.  I also would like to be able to dress the way I want without the fear of people mocking me behind my back.

What beliefs do you currently hold that are stifling your regular expression of RADICAL SELF LOVE?
~I believe that if i do things in my own way, I will inevitably be mocked endlessly.

Are the people & activities in your life HELPING or HINDERING you in your quest for RADICAL SELF LOVE? Would you be better off without them?
~I would be entirely lost without the people in my life.  They know how I am and they have noticed such a huge improvement in how I am since I started going to Gala's blog back in March.  I also think that the activities in my life inspire me to be more me.  I like video games and anime as well as making clothing and accessories.  I think these activies mesh well because anime characters and video game characters have such unique and unusual outfits.   I can't often find the types of items that these characters wear, so I need to make them.  I feel strongly that the people and activies in my life are helping me achieve my goals of becoming a better me.

How can you reflect RADICAL SELF LOVE in the way you speak, the way you dress, the way you decorate your house, the work you do?
~I feel that for my budget, the way I dress reflects the idea of Radical Self Love.  I think I could speak more calmly and use less vulgar language.  The way my place is decorated can't really change.  I hate white walls, but I am renting this apartment, so no repainting.  I can't put much of anything on the walls because they are textured.  I have cute pillows and lamps, but there isn't much more I can do to this apartment.  As for work, I do crafting projects on a commission basis, but my fast food job is what pays my bills.  I haven't been getting many hours, nor am I being cross-trained.  This could result in me trying to find a new job.  Let's just see how it turns out for next week when I was told I will be getting more days and finally being cross-trained (like I have been begging for months).
Who could you use as a RADICAL SELF LOVE role model?
 Aside from the obvious answer of Gala Darling, who started all this, I would choose my puppy.  She gets so excited to see anybody and is very quick to show affection.  When I come home after weeks away, she doesn't care that I have been gone, just that I am back and that we are going to have fun.


photo credits: melting dolls

How about you answer these questions? You don't necessarily need to post them here, on your own blog, or anywhere on the web. Just use the answers to these questions to help you though the rest of the month.

<3
Mag~elicious

Radical Self Love Bible Assignment 1

So, Gala wants us to keep a self love bible and will give us homework assignments.  After acquiring   a notebook, we need to write a pledge to ourselves to set the tone for the following pages.  I am keeping a hard copy in a notebook as well as publishing my notebook entries here.  That way we can all share our pledges root each other on.  So, without further adieu, pledge!

I pledge that February 2010 will be the stepping stone for self improvement.  I will see everything in a more positive light as well as further developing my person style.  I will stress out less and let loose more!

Another part of the assignment is to find a totum.  Something symbolic of this adventure.  I have selected 2 totums.


This first one is a picture of my boyfriend.  He formed his hands into a heart shape and put it up to his eyes.  I have been doing this with him since soon after we started dating (3 years ago).  I call it "Love-O-Vision" and it ALWAYS makes me smile!


This next is a picture of a ring.  You can't tell because of the terrible lighting in my apartment, but it is neon pink (it came with a thing of nail polish from Hard Candy which can be found at most Walmarts).  I love the color and it reminds me of when I was 3.  I had many friends and was not the least bit self-conscious.  I loved who I was and when I got a little bit older, I lost that.  I had almost no friends and was the butt of many a joke.  Kids can be very cruel and I am not in this for pity.  I just wanted to let you know the explaination.

So, you have my pledge and you know my totums.  What things are you posting in your bible, cupcake?