Back to the roots

 I was trying to go the au natural look by growing out my roots. It's been 7 months since I dyed my hair and I was so proud of myself for not damaging the do. I didn't think it looked this bad until a friend pointed it out.

"As much as you're trying to look nicely groomed and professional for your new job......your hair isn't showing it."

"Really? Is it that bad? I thought it nicely blended in...." *taking photo in her mirror*..........*reviewing the results*........."Okay....you're right. It's time to dye the mane!"

So here I am buying a dark chestnut brown, but I made sure it had no ammonia. I don't really need anymore damage......Plus, a nice warm tone is perfect for the up coming winter season. :)

I'll be showing the after photos shortly........because I'm also due for a little snip snip. It's been a year since I had a haircut.... :/

Who, me??

Stuck up.

Ahhh, yes. These 2 little words changed my life. (sort of....Definitely left an impact.)

The very first time I was called stuck up I was a freshman in high school. Fresh into my teenage years.....experiencing  a different side of life.

This boy liked me and asked this classmate of his ( Monique....I will never forget her!) how to approach me.

"Why?? Why do you like Michelle? She's ugly and acts stuck up!" This was her delightful answer.

Well, to much of Monique's surprise we winded up becoming each other's first "girlfriend/boyfriend" relationship....and it was great! We were so happy and lovey dovey. So naturally my boyfriend had told me what Monique had thought of me later in time.

I was in total shock to tell the truth. And not at the fact that she called me ugly......but the fact that she thought I was stuck up. That word (or words) in my mind was defined as someone that was pretty and thought too highly of herself not giving anyone the time of day. I was confused....is this how people saw me as? Or just her? What made me look so stuck-upish anyway??

You know, growing up as a kid when you're quiet it's perceived as being shy. That's all I was....shy. I was new to the whole high school scene, trying to make new friends, shy around cute boys, kept to myself, and stayed away from trouble..... I was just quiet little Michelle. Now Monique on the other hand....she was...well.....definitely not my type of crowd let's just put it that way. Spanish was her first language so I knew she was always talking crap about me to her little clique as my boyfriend and I would happily trollop through the school halls.

Anyway...........

Every since then it seemed like she jinxed me! Maybe puberty created this weird aura that gave off a "stuck up" vibe, but that's all I started to hear the rest of my high school years.

Whenever I made friends and our relationship grew and got closer, my friends would later on reveal that they always thought I was stuck up. They were intimidated by me and didn't know what to think or expect.

What??? How is this possible? Here I am, nerdy video game, cartoon loving girl......all of a sudden transformed into some bitchy looking teenager. Hmmm...must of been the makeup. I did start experimenting with eyeliners and dark eyeshadow..... Maybe this created some shadow effect that made me appear more on the dark side.

So, that little section of my life has always stuck with me. I'm glad it happened (and sometimes still does from time to time) so that way I can improve my first impressions. They say that first impressions are crucial and are determined within the first 90 seconds of introduction.

With me starting my new job this week I really made sure I looked sweet as a doll. I had my orientation the last couple of days so I went around asking my friends and coworkers how to look more approachable/likable/warm/welcoming.....etc.

Boy, did they give it to me!-------

"Yeah, don't wear your hair in a bun. Actually don't even slick it back. You look like... mean. If all possible, wear it loose and free flowing. It's more relaxed and easier on the eyes that way."

"Don't wear your black bold liquid eyeliner. Makes you look intimidating. Stick to a soft brown pencil, skipping the tear line."

"Smile showing your teeth. When you smile with your lips closed it looks fake and some what condescending."

"Don't cross your legs. Keep them down and just cross the feet. This way you don't look so "in demand" and too aggressive."

"Wear a nice warm blush. This will brighten up your face and make your smile look warmer and genuine."

"Wear a nice soft color under your black blazer. Black on black looks too serious."

"Straighten your hair. When you wear it curly it looks somewhat wild and unpredictable. You wanna go for the sweet 'girl next door' look."

"Don't wear any flashy jewelry. Keep it minimum with only 1 ring, and 1 watch, no dangling earrings. Skip the perfume or only use 1 spritz. Just 1!"

"Look engaged and keep good eye contact. Don't look around the room or seem uninterested. Focus on the people interacting with you and try to remember their name! This will leave a great impression."

So......yeah. There I had it. I followed their advice....and I feel everything went smooth. I actually made a couple of new work friends already. I move fast...networking is crucial as you get older.... :)

It is funny how a simple smile can change someone's impression of you, however. Example- There was this other girl in my orientation class. She didn't smile at all throughout the day...or week. She had black bold eyeliner throughout her lids, wearing an all black suit, and kept her arms and legs crossed teh whole time (but her hair was down and straight.) My first impression wasn't that she was stuck up (because we were all quiet and nervous like any normal person would), but that was my ending impression of her. We left and made our way out the door. She was walking in my direction, but avoiding eye contacting (because I held the door open for her) and she just looked right past me (actually down at her dumb phone....pretending she was checking her messages.) No "thank you", no small weak thank you smile, nothing. "Uhh, snooty." I thought to myself. Yeah, had she carried a smile on her....she would've have been a lot more approachable and maybe wouldn't have winded up eating at the lunch table alone....Just saying. Glad I saw it from an outsider's perspective.

Good thing I learned and got my "How-not- to- look- stuck- up" 101 crash course from friends...Now I will be smiling all day everyday....with my hair down.....and not as much eyeliner...


Do you have a secret to giving a great first impression with strangers? :)

Halloween Spirit

Almost everywhere you go there's costumes out in display beckoning you to come try them on and take them home. Halloween is right around the corner and I'm not quite sure yet if I'll be dressing up this year. Hmmm, I've been keeping my eye out for a Pan Am outfit, but no luck so far. I am so hooked on that new show! If you haven't seen it it yet, definitely check it out! I haven't dressed up or celebrated Halloween the last 2 years, and even if I did......I know I would pick something ridiculously relevant to these pics I took at the mall.....

Hot Topic is the way to go for any Hello Kitty and anime lover......*which I'm secretly both*

**Currently blasting this in the car**-

What are you doing for Halloween and will you be dressing up?

My farewell party

My wonderful colleagues were so sweet and threw me a surprise farewell party. It's been 3 wonderful years working with my team and I'm really sad to leave them all. I promised them though that I would always come by and visit.

 My new job starts tomorrow......*anxious* This Columbus Day weekend came in handy for new work clothes because there were so many great sales going on. Gap had 30-50% off their merchandise, picked up some nice jewelry on sale at Banana Republic, JC Penny's had some nice petite fit collared shirts, and H&M had a 25% off coupon that I printed out from their direct website. Anyone else grab some great deals?

Peachy

I collected so many cute hand creams while I was in Korea. This one from Etude House accompanies me at my work desk. It has a nice sweet peachy scent to it and moisturizes my hands really well with their mixture of shea butter, olives and natural herbs. It was so refreshing during the summer and got me all rejuvenated on those hot and sluggish days. Sometimes I have to hide my cute little panda because coworkers will try to ask and use some of it."Awww, how cute! Can I try some?"  Ummm...I don't think so.... *swinging fingers in a diva motion* This is precious to me..and me alone. That's why I keep a little rinky dinky backup lotion handy for moments like those......HA. I come prepared.

Etude House

Missing U hand cream

#3 Panda

Chishingtan 七星潭 , Hualien, Taiwan

Hualien's Pacific wonderland


Chishingtan 七星潭 (literally Seven Stars Lake) is one of those places in Taiwan, where the views are purely magical. It's a bay, which is named after a lake, that used to be located nearby, but the Japanese filled it up and today the Hualien airport is found nearby. The Chishingtan is also known as 月牙灣 or Crescent Moon Bay. You can visit this part in northern Hualien City, a little bit out of the suburbs and very close to the Hualien Airport. This is one of the most beautiful scenic spots of Eastern Taiwan, if you're into photography, you'll be able to take some amazing photos there.

Check some of my photos of Chishingtang (August 2011):

Flowers and bushes embellish the flat lands.

The beautiful beach.

The beautiful beach, closer.

The clouds clashing with the mountains.

Beach goers.

[My HUALIEN page][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Hualien Pine garden 松園別館

Hualien's green lung


The Hualien Pine garden 松園別館 is one of the most popular spots in the city. It used to be a military base for the Japanese navy, that has occupied Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century. Today over 200 pines are planted, giving refuge to the exhausted visitor and offering a breathtaking view of the city below. There is a café and a souvenir shop for your convenience, as well as pathways and benches to stroll around or take a rest. It's definitely a lovely place to spend an hour and enjoy the ambiance of these old pines.

See some of my photos of the Hualien Pine garden (August 2011):

The Japanese army was based here.

A view from the side.

A small lotus pond nearby.

The view on central Hualien below.

[My HUALIEN page][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]