The Soap Heiress

30 Things I Learned in 2011

2012-01-01T23:55:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

I seem to have to do this a lot but I really do apologize for disappearing for long stretches of time. One of my foremost goals in 2012 is to stabilize my life enough and to be disciplined enough to post regularly again. I really miss writing, but my life's been a whirlwind of job changes and new jobs in the past few months. Don't get me wrong; I am super happy to be where I am right now because for the first 10 months of 2011 I wasn't in a good situation professionally, which made me rather unhappy. But now I'm really glad to say that I'm in a much better place work-wise, so I'm hoping to be able to build the rest of my life around that schedule now, including a ton of extracurrics. Some things never change. ;)

That said, if you're here reading this I'm so grateful to have you as a reader and I'm very happy that you've stood by me all this time! And I thought I'd share with you a tag going on YouTube right now: 30 Things I Learned in 2011. They are:

1.) I can make the unequivocally right decision and still regret it afterwards.
2.) My mom was right about not letting me do retail when I was in high school.
3.) It was not a good year for dictators.
4.) I have lots to be thankful for.
5.) But I still have lots to work towards.
6.) Giving blood is awesome! It’s a great way of giving back to the community especially if you’re at a point in your life when you don’t have much to spare financially. Plus it gets a lot less scary after the first time. But trust your gut about who’s sticking you.
7.) I should never be afraid to say no, because I will only screw myself over if I agree to things I never wanted to do.
8.) I can survive on a lot less than I’m used to having.
9.) But having more money to spend won’t necessarily mean that I will be more satisfied with my life.
10.) Many of us have a very wasteful lifestyle in North America.
11.) Boys are only as good as their basic instincts.
12.) Cheap people are odious creatures. (But cheap ≠ poor; by cheap I mean those who try to acquire things they cannot afford by wrangling deals out of people. They are awful and despicable.)
13.) Education makes a difference on a very fundamental level.
14.) Agent B can get ahead in life. (More on this later. ;P)
15.) I’m going to be a really strict mother.
16.) I feel a disconnection with many people my age because a lot of them are doing things I feel unready and/or unprepared to do, such as getting married, having kids and buying property. (At 24??? Really?!)
17.) One of the biggest problems in the world is that anybody can have kids, but many people shouldn’t. Most kids are born because people want to fulfill themselves or because they were not careful. And a lot of the aforementioned do not know how to raise children.
18.) Infertility seems to be an increasingly common problem in first world countries, and I wonder if this is the way nature is phasing humans out the way many other species were, perhaps to fix the overpopulation problem.
19.) I seem to have bad luck with landlords; I should just save up and buy instead of renting ever again.
20.) “No just means it’s going to take a little longer.”
21.) It’s really important to persevere, even (or especially) when things seem hopeless. You never know how things will turn out.
22.) I always thought that I was pretty up front, but apparently I am big on bottling things up until I explode.
23.) And when I explode, I go nuclear.
24.) I used to take my free time for granted.
25.) It’s important to listen to your gut and know when to get yourself out of a situation – and then you have to aggressively find a way out. It’s a key way of progressing and moving onto better places.
26.) There’s a lot to be said for keeping my head down and just working hard.
27.) Foreign as the concept is, I should rely less on the opinions of people I love/trust. There are many of them and I’ll get pulled in a million different directions.
28.) Being a grown-up actually isn't so bad.
29.) Dermatological skincare works way better for me than luxury brand stuff.
30.) Comedy truly is my entertainment genre of choice and I don't need to feel embarrassed about that. :P

Material Girl Once More

2011-10-16T15:40:00.001-04:00

Remember my post on how I was a changed person after living in Europe twice? About how I realized how wasteful my lifestyle is in North America, how little I realized I could happily survive on, how I realized how much more satisfied I was with life even though I had no extras in my life at all in Europe, compared to now in Toronto, where I have a (very) modest income and could afford to buy some things for fun?

Well, I had an "I'm Back!" moment the other day at a jewellery store.
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Forgive?

2011-10-13T14:06:00.000-04:00

Source

I know, you guys, I know I'm slacking this week. But I have a legitimate excuse, I promise! I just started a second job and I have not gotten used to the heavier work schedule yet. As such, I need a bit of a reprieve this week, but on Sunday, I will be back, with bells on! :)

Why am I taking a second job? Well, the opportunity kind of dropped into my lap, to be honest. I wasn't thinking of doing two jobs but I was approached and I thought, hey, this could be fun! And it also goes towards supplementing my entry-level income, which is very needed and appreciated. So on the days when my two jobs overlap, I have 15 hour days. I also work every weekend now, so on average I work about 10 days before I get a day off. But it's okay, because happiness is being busy with things you enjoy!

And what, precisely, are my jobs? I'm obviously not going to go into identifiable details, but if you've glanced at my About Me panel to the right, I do marketing for a living. That's my bread. My butter, now, is beauty. That's right, I've been initiated into the beauty biz! Which I'm thrilled and excited about because, as you all probably know, beauty products are, like, my life. Plus I will have TOOONS to share about with you here. So keep an eye out for lots of product reviews and recommendations in the future!

Hope you all are doing wonderfully. Talk to you Sunday!

XOXOXO

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-10-10T19:41:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

As you may have noticed, there was no article yesterday - it's Canadian Thanksgiving! A Very, Very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, no matter where you're from. One of the things I am most thankful for in my life are you guys, my readers, who actually care about what I have to say, who give my work value, and who are the reason why I do this.

Here's to another year full of things to be thankful for!

XOXOXO

Basic French Manicure #2

2011-10-06T09:00:00.002-04:00

My basic French mani v2.0!

Much better than last time, right?

This might just be my favourite French polish combination yet. Here, I'm wearing
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Tasty Tuesday: Bar Central (La Boquería)

2011-10-04T09:00:00.005-04:00

Bar Central at La Boqueria, Barcelona

A few weeks ago I alluded to a food-induced out-of-body experience that I had in La Boquería. You know that feeling, when you
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What's Wrong with My Face

2011-10-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

A photo of me, warts and all - but this was on a good day. You wouldn't think someone as vain as I am would put a truly hideous picture of myself on my blog, would you?

“What’s wrong with your face?” a middle-aged, rotund, rough-looking server asked me at a restaurant – the kind that’s sort of the Chinese version of a greasy spoon diner. “Do you have allergies? What have you been eating? My God, it is serious. You must
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My Go-To Red: OPI O'Hare & Nails Look Great!

2011-09-29T09:00:00.004-04:00

OPI O'Hare & Nails Look Great

While I love pink (as longtime readers will know - remember my old blog and Twitter layouts?), I don't look that great in it. My power colour is red. My philosophy is to
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Tasty Tuesday: Pret A Manger Chocolate Chip Cookie

2011-09-27T09:00:00.075-04:00

Famous chocolate chip cookie from Pret-A-Manger

Doesn't that look sinfully delicious? But first, some housekeeping.

From the messages I keep getting from everyone, it's clear that a lot of people have not caught onto the new posting schedule yet! So to explain it once and for all, on Sundays I post essays about all kinds of things and issues that matter to me, on Tuesdays I post about food, and on Thursdays I post about beauty products, although so far I've focused only on nail polish. And then occasionally there will be a non-scheduled post here or there.

Back to that beautiful chocolate chip cookie. Now that I'm
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A Tale of Two Gyms

2011-09-25T13:00:00.011-04:00

Source

Dear friends,

I just survived one of my most humiliating experiences in recent memory, and I tell you this with pride, because I got through it, and also with a great deal of embarrassment, because I am still mortified.

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Happy Birthday, Stacey!

2011-09-22T00:00:00.002-04:00

My stylish lawyer-to-be!

A HUGE Happy Birthday to one of my favourites, to my lovely and brainy and supersweet friend/confidante, my dearest, darlingest Stacey! Here's to another year of adventures and learning and laughter and love and happiness and good health and good grades! 23 was so jam-packed; 24 will be even better. I'm so proud of you for all your accomplishments, and for rocking out in law school, and being a leader!

Us livin' it up in Monaco :)

As always, I love and adore and miss you TONS but I love knowing you're always just an e-mail away. I appreciate how you always make time for me, even when you're totally swamped, and I know that you're always on my side. It makes me feel better when Superwoman is being nasty and crows, "Stacey's not going to (have time to) play with you anymore after she graduates, when she's a big, important attorney!" :P

Our travel pact is still on, right? A food-centric trip as soon as we both can afford it? Is it still Bologna or should we do Portugal? I hear Lisbon and Porto are great places to eat. In that case, can we make a pit stop in Seville? :D Or should we do Tokyo? Best place to eat EVER. Or Taiwan? I guess we have time to decide. :P

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STACE!!! I MISS YOU!

XOXOXO

Stargazing & getting photographed at the Cannes Film Festival :D

Tasty Tuesday: The Burgers Priest

2011-09-20T09:00:00.119-04:00

The Priest at The Burgers Priest

AAA-MEN!

When I am feeling particularly carnivorous (probably due to Hot-Blooded Canadian Girl Cravings), nothing can satisfy me more than a big, juicy burger, seasoned and grilled to perfection, on a lightly toasted bun, garnished with my favourite sweet, tangy, spicy, and crispy condiments. *Homer Simpson drool*

So when I heard through the grapevine a while back that
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How to Live Abroad (Where to Start & A Shameless Plug)

2011-09-18T13:00:00.002-04:00

Chilling at the famous pebble beaches of Nice in April 2009

If you've been reading me for a while (bless you! :D), you probably know that
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Nirvana

2011-09-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

28 wheels of parmiggiano-reggiano on display at Bayview Village Pusateri - my idea of heaven! I spent a good 10 minutes standing there admiring the cheese, fantasizing about how it'd taste alone and in other things...so many possibilities!

Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale Haul!

2011-09-15T09:00:00.020-04:00

My Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale Haul! :D

I live for weekends these days. And most weekends, nothing can come between me and my sleep - except
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Tasty Tuesday: La Boquería

2011-09-13T09:00:00.049-04:00

Colourful spice stand with sundried tomatoes!

Do you guys know how many times you’ve saved me?

Never Forget

2011-09-11T22:50:00.000-04:00

Source

This day ten years ago I was just beginning my high school career. I was revelling in being in a new environment, high school was fun, I was making lots of new friends and I was loving my electives. Life was good.

It was second period drama class with Mr. Scott (or Robbie Scotty, as we later dubbed him) in the second week of school when all of a sudden, the staticky PA flickered on. Our principal, Ms. Dasko, who naturally had a slow, calm, and morbid funeral director voice,
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Basic French Manicure #1

2011-09-08T09:00:00.009-04:00

Orly Bare Rose as a base, Orly Soft White on the tips and Orly Fifty Four on top

French manicures – pornstar or posh?

Um, I have a bit of a confession. I used to be

Tasty Tuesday/Cupcake Chronicles: Magnolia Bakery

2011-09-06T09:00:00.009-04:00

excited to taste my purchases! :D

1.) Happy Back to School to all of you who are still in school! Here's to a year of good grades, lots of fun extracurrics, minimal stress and sufficient sleep! :D

2.) I love cupcakes and I love Sex & the City (the TV show, not the movie). Thus, it was only logical and right for me to visit Magnolia Bakery, the cupcake shop in SATC. I thought that there was only one shop in Manhattan in Chelsea (or was it the West Village?), but one day on our way to 30 Rock, we saw a line wrapped around the corner of a building under the sign, Magnolia Bakery! Naturally,

Can they make these life-size?

2011-09-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

A tape dispenser after my heart! :D

The Quality Threshold

2011-09-04T13:00:00.007-04:00

Source

My Po Po (maternal grandmother) is a Chinese Dragon Lady. She takes no prisoners and she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. She has infinite opinions, which are all Absolutely True and Correct and she will tell you ALL about them whether you like it or not.

Hence I found myself in the middle of a lecture one Saturday afternoon when all I wanted was just
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Another (Not Really) Chanel Dupe - Essie Sew Psyched

2011-09-01T09:00:00.004-04:00

Essie Sew Psyched

I am hating so hard on this polish right now!

I first started hankering for an army green polish after hearing about the one from H&M from my friends in Europe. Such a creative, chic colour, and the olive tone reminds me of living on the Mediterranean! Sadly,
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Tasty Tuesday: Hae/Hwe Dup Bap at H-Mart

2011-08-30T09:00:00.017-04:00

Hae dup bap at H-Mart

Hi, guys!

Summer’s winding to an end now and while most people would be bummed, I’m really enjoying the cooler weather (no more 40 degree temperature! yay!). And as always, I’m really looking forward to getting to rock some fall steeze – fall has always been the most exciting time of the year for fashion.

What does make me sad, however, is
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Art & Travel

2011-08-28T13:00:00.004-04:00

I put me in one of my all-time favourite pieces of art - Edvard Munch's The Scream :P

“Why do I have to go to the Louvre? What’s so important about the Mona Lisa, anyway?” a friend asked me a month or so ago, when she was planning her big post-graduation Euro-Tour trip.

I couldn’t answer her beyond vague mutterings about
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Food Fail: Ciao Wine Bar

2011-08-26T14:06:00.023-04:00


Pizza Capricciosa @ Ciao Wine Bar

I try to avoid writing negative reviews for things I don't like because, as they say, if you have nothing nice to say, you shouldn't say anything. And goodness knows there are plenty of kickass things out there I can rave about.

But occasionally, it's so bad that I think the word needs to get out there, especially if the products are on the pricey side. As I've written before,
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