10 things I'm always reaching for

This week has already gotten the best of me, and its only Wednesday morning! I seem to have all of my classes/exams/presentations/problem sets all combined into one week (the perfect storm). On Monday I had a 21 page essay exam on immuno/cancer/cell cycle/apoptosis and I nearly developed carpel tunnel handwriting all of those essays over the course of 4.5 hours. ahhhhh! Yesterday I was in class all day and today is full of catching up on lab experiments for Friday's presentation. Anyway, now that the worst is over (hence Wednesday being "hump day"), I can just focus on finishing the week and counting down the days until spring break (3 more weeks)!

Anyway, I love posts where people talk about products/items that they use and love, so I thought I would cluster a few of mine into one post. All of these things are things that I LOVE.....love meaning I panic at the thought that the company would one day discontinue these items! ha!

So here we go...

1. Sephora Collection Professionnel Platinum Natural Rounded Powder Brush

One thing that I have learned, is that it that it is worth investing in good makeup brushes! The difference is incredible. It applies powder so evenly and smoothly! I invested in this brush, and have never looked back. Sephora makes great brushes! I also have some eyeshadow brushes and they are amazing. I have heard MAC makes good brushes as well, but I haven't tried them myself. I really want to try a contoured angle blush brush next!

2. Genes Vitamin E Creme

My mom introduced this to me, bought at Sam's club. My skin has been crying out for moisture this harsh winter, and this lotion has been the answer to all of my problems! What I love about it is that it keeps my skin moisturized the entire day [without being greasy/oily...big pet peeve of mine], and a little goes a long way. It comes in 16oz bottles, so this stuff is going to last me a looooong time. Best moisturizing lotion I've used yet.

3. Sephora Collection Blush [in Rose Rebelle 1]

I've always been a little hesitant to wear blush because I've seen a lot of women go overboard on the blush----they either look like clowns with red dots on their cheeks or have a giant line of blush up their cheekbones. Definitely didn't want to look like that....so I veered away from blush. BUT this color is perfect for me. It adds a little bit of color to my [now white] cheeks to give it a rosy, healthy look. Plus I've kinda needed it since the lack of sun in NYC has caused my skin to go ghostly WHITE! (ahhh!)

4. Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes

Seriously, could I rave about this brand any more? I LOVE Benefit. And this eyeshadow kit is one of my favs! I'm not much of an eyeshadow person, meaning I don't know how to put on eyeshadow too well (someone want to teach me?!!). So this kit gives you some instructions on how to create a good natural eye, and comes with the colors and brushes that are needed to do so! The results turned out great, it gives me a little bit of eyeshadow without looking overdone.

5. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on eye pencil [in zero]

My biggest pet peeve about bad eyeliners is how they smudge throughout the day, and give you raccoon eyes. This stuff is awesome because it stays put! At the end of the day, it looks just like it did when you put it on in the morning. Who could ask for more? And it really does glide on when applying!

6. Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam

I'm not much of a hair product person, but the last time I got my hair cut the stylist used it on me and I fell in love. First of all, it makes your hair smell amazing. Secondly, it gives life to your hair without the sticky hairspray-mousse feeling! I use just a tiny bit in my hair and it takes my straight and boring hair and gives some life to my layers.

7. Manduka ProLite mat

I had to throw this one in there. You probably wouldn't think a mat makes much of a different in yoga practice, but I have learned [for me anyway] that it does! I actually would prefer the Manduka Pro, but it seriously weighs a ton, and I couldn't carry it around NYC, so I settled for the ProLite, which is a little thinner. My last mat (from Target) was a good one, but it started to hurt my back and neck after a while from inversions and other poses that require you to use the floor, or to put pressure on your neck/head. After investing in this mat--problem solved. No more back and neck pain! Wahoooo!

8. Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub

I used to be an avid Proactiv fan, but the price destroyed my bank account and the benzoyl peroxide kept bleaching my clothes and towels, so I just stopped using it. My skin put up the worst fight---gross! But I have found that this facewash has worked equally as well as Proactiv did for me. My skin is once again happy!

9. Stila Lip Gloss Set

Every year around the holidays Sephora sells a kit of Stila lip gloss for only $25 (An individual Stila lip gloss costs $22)! I look forward to the holidays!! And this kit sometimes lasts me longer than a year! I love this lip gloss; it stays on all day and comes in the best colors.

10. Chi Ceramic Straightener

Ok I know you're thinking that this kit is too pricey, right? But this is the only straightener that doesn't fry my hair and does the best job--worth every penny. And you know what? Mine has so far lasted me SIX YEARS without one hint of a technical malfunction! So the way I see it, its better investing in one of these and getting the best results, than getting multiple bad straighteners that fry and damage your hair. Plus you can get them at Target for a discounted price.

So that's my list! All of you should come up with your lists so I can see the products you love too! :)

Happy hump day!

PS: Who's excited for the Bachelor Finale next week? I can't wait to see who he picks; I really could see him picking either one!

Colbert Nation

Due to some intense ticket stalking, we were able to go and see the taping of The Colbert Report Yesterday!

And it was AWESOME! I just couldn't believe that after years and years of watching Stephen Colbert on TV he was actually standing in front of us live!! This time we only had to wait 3.5 hours. The overall wait wasn't too bad. It was warm that day, but as soon as the sun went down it was cold. I was freeeeeezing, but we were entertained by the "Colbert Wall:"

And when we finally got inside and had to wait another hour, we were entertained by Stephen posters and a screen playing re-runs:

Our seats in the studio were GREAT (we were 11th and 12th in line)! Stephen Colbert's desk was seriously only 10-15 feet infront of us! The warm up comedian was hilarious, just like the one at The Daily Show---I am impressed by these guys that Comedy Central hires to warm up the crowd! The one at Letterman sucked! But I forgot all about it as soon as Stephen showed up! The audience got a Q and A session with him (I shot my hand up immediately and he called on me first!) and he was hilarious, even though he was out of character! He even told us this cute story of how he met his wife. :) I was just so excited that I actually got to talk to him, even if it was just for a few seconds!!!

The show was even more amazing in real life than on TV. Stephen is hilarious in between commercials, and when he messed up and had to re-tape segments, he always made some sort of joke out of it. He also started flinging is "Wrist Strong" bands out into the crowd and I totally snagged one! Ahhh he actually touched my wristband!....haha.

So I thought that the Daily Show was more exciting for me because I got to see JON STEWART!!---but I thought that the Colbert Report was more fun to go to because the studio was smaller and you could see Stephen better, and Stephen's character was so much fun to watch. Plus I got my wrist strong bracelet that Stephen himself touched! In the end I would definitely wait in line again for either show! And now that I am an expert ticket stalker (these tickets are so hard to get ahold of--you have to be fast!), maybe we'll go again sometime. But this experience was amazing, and now we can check The Daily Show and The Colbert Report off of the "Things to do while in NYC" list! :)

What's for dinner?

Did you know that pizza tastes better when your husband writes your initials on it in pepperoni?

Well it does.

**This is also the product of my lazy self refusing to cook a full dinner + a nice hubby whose willing to make me one instead**

Things I love!

Today I wanted to share with you some of the things that I love and that I couldn't live without!

1. First of all, this is my new favorite find: Benefit Boi-ing concealer.

It's labeled as an industrial-strength concealer, and boy does it cover everything! I can't believe I've never owned this stuff before! The color matches my skin completely without making it look like I have concealer on, and neutralizes imperfections on your skin. It really helps me out with circles under my eyes from all night study sessions. Everyone must own this!

2. Trader Joes Butter Waffle Cookies

I feel like every time I go into Trader Joes I find something amazing. This time it was these butter waffle cookies! There's so much you can do with them--you can eat them right out of the box, you can use them to scoop ice cream, make ice cream sandwiches...etc! I think I'm slightly addicted. Yum!

3. Lululemon Power Y tank

This tank is the best one I have ever used for yoga. I think I've tried just about everything, from cotton t-shirts, to regular tanks, to athletic gear from multiple brands, but this tank is the best! It's the only one that doesn't bother me while I'm in practice, and I don't have to keep constantly adjusting it! And did I mention that its comfortable? It has a built in bra, and is fitted so it doesn't slide up or down during inversions and arm balances-- it stays put. That is huge to me because I don't want the person behind me to get a peep show!!!!!! The only thing is that its a bit pricey, but I think its worth it, since I practice 4+ times a week. And it has lasted me years! And if you think about it, the cost of one of these tanks is less than buying multiple cheap ones that are uncomfortable and deteriorate more quickly over the same amount of time.

4. Tide To Go pen

I've probably mentioned a million times how this product is amazing, but it really is! Its gotten to the point where I've put one everywhere: every purse, my backpack, my lab bench..etc. So far its been able to get out every stain that I've thrown at it. I am clumsier than I would like to admit, so food/drinks being spilled on my clothes isn't something irregular to me. So a Tide pen is a must, right? It even gets out chemicals!! I've even gotten people in my lab to love it because spilling [non-harmful and non-abrasive] chemicals on your clothes/lab coat sucks--- but have no fear...I have a Tide pen!!!

5. Tweezerman Tweezers

I'm pretty sure I got introduced to this product by my mom, and I have never gone back. I have giant, bushy, unmanageable Greek eyebrows, and a great tweezer is a must. These things are sharp and slanted, and can pull out the tiniest and most stubborn of hairs. I've never used anything better, and are so far, the only thing I've found that can combat these monstrous eyebrows of mine.

6. Vans Lo Pro Gore

Shoes are kind of a foreign thing to me after coming from slipper-wearing Hawai'i, but now I have no choice but to cover up my toes! Naturally, my feet have been slightly resistant to shoes; getting sore feet and blisters, but these are the only shoes that I have that my feet love! They are so comfy and easy to walk in, that I take these wherever I go. Its too cold to wear them outside, so I wear boots (that hurt!) to wherever I have to go (usually school) and then change when I get there. Love these!

7. Benefit Bad Gal Plum Mascara

The regular black Bad Gal mascara is my all time favorite mascara, but now they have it coming out in a Plum color! Normally I would think colored mascara can be a bit gaudy, but this stuff is perfect. I have the blackest of black eyelashes, so when I put it on, you can only see a tiny hint of plum, which can be the perfect accent to some purple shades in my outfit! It can be a fun thing to wear to add a little color to a boring and drab winter outfit. Plus this mascara just does wonders for your eyelashes in general.

Today is such a beautiful day in NYC! Its almost 50 degrees and I feel like running around in shorts and a T shirt! The weather here is wacko---it can go from 20 degrees to 60 degrees (like we had last week). Its driving me crazy! But I'm hoping I can finish off the day with a walk through central park, and then making a nice Sunday dinner!

Have a great Sabbath!

The low down.

Things have been pretty average as of late. Seth and I are both in our second semesters of grad school, which means an extended schedule and more tests! And for me, more hours in lab.

Seth is doing awesome in school, and he loves his classes. The Columbia campus is awesome, so Seth got me a library card so I can go up there and study with him! The library is so much bigger and nicer than mine, and its nice to spend time with Seth, even if its just sitting across from each other in a library studying all day! Plus the Columbia campus has incredibly delicious food and I love to take dinner breaks. :)

When it comes to me and school, I think I've hit some sort of brick wall. As the hours of lab research and class increase, the less enthusiastic I'm becoming. What I've started to learn, is that undergrad science is SO DIFFERENT from real research and applicable science. In undergrad school, you just learn and regurgitate information, and follow written lab protocols. In grad school, you have to think and come up with your own protocols to determine answers to your hypotheses. AND NOTHING EVER WORKS. Every postdoc and PhD that I've worked with has told me that science doesn't work 99.9% of the time, and that you need to learn to accept that in order to make your life easier. Anyway, so the research project that I've been working on for the last 7 months has come up with negative results every time I try to take a different route to determine whats going on with this protein! So during lab meeting this last Friday, my PI told me that we're completely scrapping my project. It was painful to hear since I've pretty much slaved over that project for so long! I was so bummed about it, but I got lots of pep talks from others in the lab telling me that this is normal, and that if I accept that projects usually won't work I won't be so bummed about it next time. I guess that's not much of a pep talk...huh? So pretty much the combination of endless studying, never-ending lab work, and booooorrrring classes...has left me not too happy about the school scene. It will get better though. The day I get a positive lab result will be the best day ever.

Anyway, for Valentines day, we went to go see the Daily Show! That was like my life dream. We waited in line for 4 hours! It was worth it though, because we were #'s 10 and 11 in line out of a couple hundred, and we sat in the front!

We were so tired after the long wait (and I was wearing a skirt and HEELS people!!---biiiiiggg mistake...my legs were going to fall off.), but it was worth it. We had a warm up comedian come out, and he was actually funny! He talked to the audience a lot and got us laughing. When we went to the Late show with Letterman, the warm up guy sucked, so thats what I was expecting here, but I was pleasantly surprised! And then Jon came out and I almost died. I think I screamed my lungs out. He was SO awesome! He talked to the audience and answered questions for ~10 min and he is soooo much funnier in person than on TV! And of course it was just awesome to see him tape the Daily Show and to see all of the news team correspondants. And what I loved about Jon was that in-between commercials he would crack jokes and talk to us some more! So after the show we loved The Daily Show and Jon Stewart a billion times more! It was such a great experience. Now I can't wait to compare that experience with the Colbert Report taping, which we're going to on Tuesday! :)

So other than that, we've pretty much just been bookworms in the library. I'm sooo ready for spring and summer to come! I can't even tell you how white I'm getting from the lack of sun. Its disgusting! I also think a lot of my lowered mood has to do with lack of sun....its been cloudy/snowing/raining/gloomy here for a while, and I'm so used to tons of sun and vitamin D! Bring on the sun Mother Nature!!!! I can't take it any more!!

Today we went to go to the Museum of Natural History on 81st street to go see the Brain exhibit, but when we got there, it was sold out, so we just roamed around the dinosaur exhibit instead.

It was so nice to get out of the house and do something fun! Seth promised that he would finally take me ice skating next week. I'm excited! It's been so long since I've done that. This coming week is going to be a good week.

Oh and I've been missing my baby Fatty so much, of course!

Have a great week!