Reflections

It's been a long time since I last blogged. I'm not even sure if anyone checks back here to see if I've written any updates. During this past year or so, I've done some reflecting on whether or not to continue writing. Another blogger had written a post about a year ago asking why do we blog? Is it to please others and that determines our content? Is it still personally satisfying? As I pondered this, I realized that I had kind of deviated from my original intent of blogging, which was originally set up as a way for Mai to see what I've been doing and trying out since at that time, we were not able to get together as much. However blogging changed to one based on trying to be honest about my feelings of products while trying not to do many haul posts because I didn't want to appear as if I was being a braggart saying, "See what I bought and how much I spent."

So why do I blog? It's definitely not to show off what I've bought and how much I've spent. It's mainly to keep a personal record of what I have bought and liked and/or disliked. I have often gone back to reading past posts of something that I tried to see if it was worth repurchasing or not. Some items I could not remember what my thoughts on it were. If in the process of writing these posts, readers find it helpful to them too, then that is an added bonus for me.  With this in mind, as I continue to blog, I will now not hold back on not posting about items that I've purchased or received as gifts. Granted, most things that I purchase are not expensive, high end items but there may be one or two of those from time to time.

I may also throw in posts that are not beauty related. I will also not stress about making sure that I have so many posts a week or month. I'll write when I feel inspired and have time. Real life has gotten busy and with the holidays ahead, it will continue to get busier. 

I hope that all has been well with everyone.

Kat

2011 Reflections and 2012 Hopes

I hope that everyone has recovred from the new year celebrations and food gorging. I wanted to be a little reflective in this blog post and write down my thoughts on 2011 and hopes for 2012.

2011--What a year! The highs were very high and the lows were very low.
I started out the year with the statement that I was going to use my stash and try not to buy anything other than replace essential items. I would have to give myself the grade of C+. I did do a pretty good job of using my stash and I still have a significant amount to go through. I did make purchases that were not necessities but wants but didn't go crazily wild in purchases.

The main reason why I didn't want to spend much on beauty products was because my son was getting married, which was a definite high point of the year. We were also going to be going to Japan in July for the planned reception. The low point, which was a really low point, was the earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan in March. All plans for Japan was cancelled because of the devastation. One reason was my son and daughter-in-law didn't feel it was right to be doing a large celebration in the wake of the devastation and recovery. The other reason was that the reception was planned to be held in Iwaki, which was one of the cities greatly affected by the disaster.

Another low for 2011 was my youngest son getting injured, tearing his ACL and 2 places of his meniscus. He required surgery and is currently still rehabbing, although doing much better.

On November 21st, my first grandson was born in Fukushima! He is healthy and the new family is doing fine. It was probably the highest point of 2011 for us.

At the end of 2011, I realized just how many wonderful people I "met" through Twitter and blogging. Many of you I have become close with and can truly call you a dear friend. I am honored that you also consider me to be your friend. During the course of the year, I got to actually meet 3 of you! Those were, without a doubt, happy moments for me.

I don't like to make New Years' Resolutions because so often they do not get met. So then, what are my hopes for 2012?

**I would like to continue with using my stash.

**Last year, I did "Brush of the Month", in which I purchased at least one brush a month to help build up my brush collection. This year instead of doing a purchase plan, I would like to try using my NAKED 1 palette so that I can use up at least one of the colors in the palette and try to hit pan on some of the other colors. I know many people love that palette but it is not one that I reach for. I'm just not a brown neutral person, which is why I just don't use the palette.

**"Experiemental Weekends" is an idea that I have come up with for myself. I often don't go anywhere on the weekends where my makeup has to be "in place". I've decided that on the weekends, I will experiment with using more drugstore makeup or other new items that I have acquired. I will also try experimenting with different color combinations and/or go out of my "comfort zone". I have many items which I don't use because I"m not comfortable with the color or texture or whatever other reason. If I like the result, I will blog about it.

**Again as with last year, I will be trying not to purchase a lot as I am once again saving for a trip to Japan. I will probably not have much to blog about as far a product reviews but will try to keep the blog interesting. I hope to come up with some creative ideas to share with you.

That's all that I can think about right now. May 2012 be a good year for everyone.

*Kat*

Reflections

As 2010 comes to a close and 2011 begins, I'd like to take some time to reflect on some of the blessings in my life.

2010...

I had been reading beauty blogs for a while but on March 3, 2010, I took the plunge and created this blog for Mai and myself and wrote my first blog post. In the 9 months since that initial post, 60 people are now publicly following with others who are not following but reading my little ramblings. I feel so blessed that you find what I write interesting enough to read.

Technology is truly a wonderful tool. Yes, it can also be a dangerous tool but when used properly and with proper precautions, it's definitely a wonderful tool that can open up the world to you. I have friends in Austria, Japan, China, US, UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Guatemala, Venezuela, Holland and many other places in the world that I have met through technology (not just beauty blogging). Beauty blogging enabled me to expand my horizons a bit and meet more people in all corners of the world. By starting beauty blogging, I have "met" other beauty bloggers who I can truly call friends. I have been inspired, expanded my beauty repertoire, have been enabled and have enabled others and most importantly, feel better about myself and more self confident. I am quite shy by nature but being able to meet and get to know people via blogging makes me comfortable enough to want to meet in real life. All of you who I have met through blogging are truly the most awesome and generous people and I am so blessed to be able to call you friend.

In November I got to meet up with Kay of cosmeddicted, my first blogger meetup. A super sweet person who is beautiful both on the inside and outside.

2011...

Looking ahead to 2011, I hope to be able to do a few more blogger meetups. Nic Nic of bang bang she shoots will be coming to Hawaii in March for a wonderful wedding celebration. I hope that she will have some time to meet up. If anyone else has plans to come to Hawaii, please be sure to let me know.

I have had to make a New Year's resolution of sorts, mostly out of necessity. I will be trying very, very hard to keep my makeup spending to a minimal--hopefully just buy necessities and use my stash instead. Of course I already know that I will be probably hauling from Sephora when the Hello Kitty line gets released in mid-January. I also had resolved a couple of months ago that in 2011 I would be buying a brush a month to build up my brush collection with quality brushes. Since I had already decided to do that, I will be spending money on that. I will be going to Las Vegas at the end of February with my mom so I will need to save up for "play" money. I will also be traveling to Japan in July so of course I need to save up for that as well. I can finally make this annoucement that I've had to keep to myself for a couple of months now...the main reason why I will need to save up is because my oldest son is engaged to be married!

We will be preparing for two wedding celebrations. Having one celebration is costly enough so two will really put a bit of a strain on us. Plans for now is a wedding ceremony and reception in Hawaii in June with the other one in Japan on July 9--thus the trip to Japan.

I look forward to more blogging in 2011 and making new friends. I hope that 2010 was kind to all of you and may 2011 bring you all much joy, happiness and prosperity. Happy New Year to you all!

*Kat*