Meet SpecialMeat

Mannan Sponge

2011-10-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

Makanai Cosmetics

Mannan Sponge

100% natural konnyaku (yes, the stuff you eat...hehe)
Lasts up to 1 month

USE:
Soak sponge in warm or cold water and wait for it to soften and expand. You can apply some facial soap to form a lather or use without. It's supposed to gently exfoliate the face and/or body.

STORAGE:
Store in the container in the fridge or hang it in a dry place.

REVIEW:
So far I've only used the sponge once. It leaves a slippery feeling but I'm not sure if it's from the sponge or if it really is doing its job to exfoliate. It's fun but I don't know if I will remember to keep up with the routine since I'm storing the sponge in my fridge ^_^

Hammystar Tumblr

2011-05-26T20:47:00.001-07:00

Jumped the band wagon XD...not sure how long this will last ^_^;;

Tumblr
Food Tumblr

Art for Japan | Gallery Nucleus

2011-04-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

Art For Japan | Gallery Nucleus

Spring Rain

11"x14" Acrylic on Canvas (w/o frame)

Hi All! As mentioned in an earlier entry, Gallery Nucleus is hosting a fundraiser "Art for Japan." There is an actual event as well as an online auction. You can bid on my painting "Spring Rain." All proceeds will go towards helping Japan.

There are many wonderful original artwork available! Please take a look!

Auction runs from April 20-April 24 2011.

Banana Munching

2011-04-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Pocky loves her banana :3

Art for Japan - April 23, 2011

2011-03-20T00:47:00.000-07:00

Art for Japan 04.23.11

My friend is arranging an art fundraiser with Gallery Nucleus to support Japan's recovery. The event will be held at Gallery Nucleus 04.23.11 from 6:00-10:00pm. Art may be donated (deadline 04.01.11) or purchased at the event.

Sheep Crossing

2011-02-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

Video of Sheep Crossing with the dinky camera on my phone XD...they look so far but are actually closer.

I drive through a hilly area on my way to work (it's my favorite part of the drive). Since there's been a lot of rain recently, the hills are really green. So I like to pretend I'm driving through Ireland (although I've never been to Ireland so I don't really know what it looks like there). Anyway, the sheep were being herded from the right side to the left. All traffic was stopped so I was late to work....but I enjoyed watching the sheep =).

Organic Essence

2011-01-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

Lip Balm by Organic Essence ($4.99 each)

Almond & Grapefruit

I love how Organic Essence has completely biodegradable packaging for most of their skincare products. They're on the pricier side but I was really curious about the lip balm tube so I decided to purchase a few (I purchased a Mint flavor but I let my mom have it, hehe).

The tube is made completely of paper and printed with soy-based ink. It feels durable and the cap actually stays on pretty well. The interior of the tube seems to be lined with something waxy, so the paper doesn't get greasy from the balm =).

Burts Bee 0.15oz/4.25g

Organic Essence 0.21oz/6g

Compared to my Burt's Bees, the texture and consistency of the balm is pretty similar. I've only tried the grapefruit and I love it~

Pocky on my bed sneering :x...stuffed animals cowering in the corner of my bed.

100% Pure Hand Cream & Face Moisturizer

2011-01-04T22:25:00.000-08:00

Hand Cream by 100% Pure

All Natural, 100% Vegan

Net wt. 2oz/57g each

Lavender, Honey Almond, Organic Vanilla, Strawberry Lemonade

Set of 4 ($22.00)

So far I have tried the Strawberry Lemonade and the Lavender. The cream is easy to apply and feels nice but is on the greasy side. I'm not a fan of Lavender but I actually like how the Lavender smells for this hand cream. The Strawberry Lemonade, in my opinion, smells strong and like a vitamin C tablet.

Jasmine Green Tea Moisturize by 100% Pure

Normal to Dry

100% Natural, 100% Vegan

Net wt. 1.6oz/50mL
$28.00

This facial moisturizer is beautifully packaged in an all paper container. The bottle itself is heavy duty glass and uses a pump to dispense the moisturizer. I find 1-2 pumps is enough to apply all over my face. The smell was a bit disappointing; it has a tinge of something sour. The moisturizer is also very rich and thick...thus making it hard to apply. I find it easier to use as a spot treatment for dry areas on my face, such as my nose, rather than as my sole facial moisturizer.

One (Bath and Body) Review

2010-11-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Hi All! I was at Target earlier this evening to buy lip balm and I ended up purchasing some solid shampoo and solid conditioner by "One." I have had my eyes on these products for a while but didn't have enough courage to purchase them until today. I usually try to read reviews online and found that it's hard to find review on products that advertise themselves as eco-friendly or all-natural. So hopefully this provides insight for anyone who has had their eyes on the same product or brand =).

One advertises itself as a natural and eco-friendly shower/bath/skincare line. They are cruelty free, don't use plastics and their packaging are 100% recyclable.

Items:

1. Solid Shampoo for Oily Hair -One ($7.69)

2. Solid Conditioner - One ($7.69)

3. Pink Guava Lip Balm - Lip Smackers ($1.89)

4. Honeydew Lip Balm - Lip Smackers ($1.89)

"One" Solid Shampoo for Oily Hair & Solid Conditioner

The solid shampoo worked much better than expected...actually, I think it was excellent. The box says it is equivalent to a 24oz shampoo bottle. My sister tried the solid shampoo as well and loved it (she wants one for her apartment now ^_^). You run the bar through your wet hair 3-4 times and it lathers really nicely. The fragrance is very light and citrus-herb-like (I'm not sure how else to describe it). The solid conditioner smells similar to french milled soap. Using the solid conditioner was a bit strange...I ran it through the ends of my wet hair and rinsed like I normally would with conditioner. I could not tell if I got any onto my hair or whether it was working. It doesn't have a slippery feeling like conventional conditioner. But after my shower it was easy to brush my hair and there were no tangles...so I guess it works.

Both the solid shampoo and conditioner comes in cardboard packaging. I was surprised at how small the bars were but you really don't use that much with each shower. They come with a cute little embossed aluminum case with a cover. The bottom has holes for draining and little feet =). You can also place the cap on the bottom to catch water if needed. I can see these being great to bring on trips.

The Lip Smacker lip balms are advertised as 100% natural. Compared to my Yes To Carrots Lip Balm, they feel more oily but go on very smooth and provide a nice soft sheen (like a very thin layer of lip gloss). In order of most waxy...I would place Burt's Bee-->Yes to Carrots-->Lip Smackers Natural. The Pink Guava has a little waxy aftertaste and I wouldn't recommend pushing very hard when you apply. Unlike Lip Smacker's usual flavors, the scent on the natural lip balms are very light.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T23:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! Hope everyone had a good time =). This year Clint, my sister and I decided to try carving pumpkins for the first time. It was very painful to make the details with a tool kit designed for children XD....anyway, here is out result.

Witch Craft

2010-09-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Halloween is coming soon and I was lucky to be featured in Quirk Book's "Witch Craft" compiled by editors Margaret McGuire and Alicia Kachmar =). There are are variety of etsy crafters featured; some you may recognize.

"Witch Craft" is a how-to-book with lots of cute activities related to Halloween. It is available on Amazon and will be available at Barnes and Noble. The editors said B&N is planning to create a display for the book so keep your eyes peeled X3. I hope they put a display in the B&N near my home!

Sleepy Face

2010-08-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

Yay! Finally got a close up of Pocky's sleeping face XD

Pocky and Lebbit the Labbit

2010-08-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Pocky hanging out on my bed =). She was so cute, I wanted to get pictures of her with Lebbit the Labbit. The pictures have some noise since I didn't use flash, but I think the colors look softer without the flash :x.

Pocky and her favorite toy

Arashi CM

2010-07-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what this CM is about XD...but I thought Arashi looked very nice. Name of members starting from the first close-up:

1. Matsumoto Jun
2. Ninomiya Kazunari
3. Sakurai Sho
4. Aiba Masaki
5. Satoshi Ohno

Here's some Pocky love =). It's time for her bath again XD...she was turning yellow :x. She likes her warm water and massages. In the end, she is towel dried and brushed. Some times I whip out the blow dryer, but not for too long ^_^.

Her body size shrinks in the water.

Summer Heat Wave

2010-07-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, the heat just picked up recently o_o;;...everyone is too lazy to move around the house, including Pocky. I don't like this baking weather and Pocky doesn't like it either. Instead of her usual lazy face, she has that "i'm baking" face. I tried giving her a frozen waterbottle to sleep next to, but she really hates that thing XD...so every once in a while. I will massage and pet her with a frozen bottle to help cool her down X3.

Anyway, here are some pictures of her sleeping in the summer =)

Getting Sleepy

Knocked Out X3...such a cute face...

AX Follow-Up

2010-07-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

This is my late follow-up to AX ^_^;;...After the 4 days, the helpers (Clint, Deborah and Frank) and I were all tired XD. I couldn't believe how tiring sitting all day (especially for 4 days straight) could be o_o;;.

AX 2010 was different from what I remembered (back in my undergrad years). It's smaller than I remembered and more focused on anime and kawaii items. I was looking forward to the music section but they don't have it anymore o_o;;...I was looking forward to acquiring some Arashi products.

I would say it's somewhat successful for my first event. There were positive and negative comments but overall, I would say it was an enlightening experience. If I go again next year, I will have a better idea of what to do.

Anyway, I didn't take many pictures but here are the few that we have =)

First day! I didn't sleep all night XD...

The alley was pretty crowded...these were the booths to our left and right.

This was my view from the front ^_^;;
There was a trashcan and the Hi-Chew booth to stare at.

Our neighbors to our left, Jenny and Judy (sugarysweetshoppe)

Our neighbors to our Right, Nick and Jessica (http://jessicasalas.com/)

The guys taking over! (Clint & Frank)

Balloon Girrrr~ Very cool, show the guy any picture and he'll make your balloon.

My sister and her friend's cosplaying friend...haha ^_^;;
If I am correct, he made himself into a male version of a female vocaloid.

Poor Clint...we did not get to properly celebrate his birthday since he was working with me that day. We did have some cake though.

~*~Purchase I made~*~Print of Jessica's Original Artwort (left)
Superman Fanart Print (I forgot the name of the table XD...)

Cute Little Handmade Cupcake Necklace by SugarySweetShoppe

Sailor Mercury Button! She was so cute I could not resist ^_^;;

6 Days Until AX!

2010-06-23T15:28:00.001-07:00

Hi guys! Only 6 days until the Los Angeles Anime Expo! I will be in the Artist Alley at table A12 =). If you are planning to go please drop by to say hello ^_^;;. Here are some of the products I am planning to bring...

NerDy CuTe TEes~
Again, I can't thank Clint and my sister Deborah enough. They've helped me so much the past two weeks. These shirts were painstakingly burned and screened by hand XD...

5"x7" and 8"x10" Prints
I've upgraded my prints! They all now come in an acid-free glassine sleeve and stamped with my spanking new seal. Prints are on double matte photo paper and with archival quality ink =).

Mini Canvas 2.5"x2.5"
These were really fun to make =). I recommend trying some of these for people interested in doing their own miniature artwork. They're so tiny and fit almost anywhere without taking up much room ^_^.

Beaded Earrings!
My aunt had some extra supplies to spare. I was able to make one in pink, orange, purple, blue, yellow, white and green. My favorite is the green above =).

TV Shows

2010-05-24T16:03:00.001-07:00

Good bye LOST! I will miss you T_T

I watched the final episode of LOST with my sister and Clint last night (5/23/2010). After 6 seasons, I can't believe it's over! I had predictions and guesses that were right and wrong, but the ending I did not expect.

I was a bit sad that the show ended. It was sad to see how much the characters had to go through and how Jack pushed so hard all the way to the end. There have been people who had stopped keeping up with the series because it got too complicated, but this was one of the most satisfying series I have ever seen in entirety. Even though there were still a lot of unanswered questions, there is closure at the end. I usually have uneasy feelings when a long series ends, but for LOST, I was sad but it was a peaceful sad.

Well...I thought I would just throw in a list of tv shows that I am currently following:

1. How I Met Your Mother
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. Fringe (I jumped in the newest season, my sister updated me on the previous :x)
4. Modern Family
5. Cougartown (this one is soso for me)
6. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (waiting for new season)
7. The Guild (waiting for new season)
8. Merlin (British series, waiting for new season)

Anyway, Fringe just had their season finale. And dude, changing the blue opening to red was amazing O_O;;...I don't know why, but I really responded to the color change. The bottom is a comparison if you are interested.

Getting to Know Each Other

2010-05-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Saw this on LemonLemonPie and decided to play. I'm going to steal some of her directions :x...ok, maybe all of it ^_^;;

I am DEMANDING that everyone do this list! I WILL FIND YOU IF YOU DON'T! :)

♥Rules♥

Create a New Blog Post
Paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your title as "Getting to Know Each Other!"
Tagged as many people as you like :)
Contact the bloggers to let them know they've been tagged

1. What time did you get up this morning?

- 6:30am

2. How do you like your steak?
- medium to well done

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
- Kick Ass

4. What is your favorite TV show?

- hmm...check new post above ^_^;;

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
- I'm not sure...somewhere not as hot as California XD...I would love to live in Japan, somewhere in Europe or Canada.

6. What did you have for breakfast?
- Rice porridge with preserved duck egg.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
- Japanese and Italian

8. What foods do you dislike?
- I'm not sure...raw peppers?

9. Favorite place to eat?
- Santoko Ramen at the Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa!!

10. Favorite dressing?
- French Catalina

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive
- 2005 Corolla

12. What are your favorite clothes?
- Some sort of graphic tee, pair of jeans and flip flops

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? . . .
- Everywhere!

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
- Depends. If I was pouring in then 1/2 full....pouring out then 1/2 empty.

15. Where would you want to retire?
- Somewhere nice =)...as long as I have a nice pet, Clint and quick access to visit my sister.

16. Favorite time of day?
- Midnight to 1am.

17. Where were you born?
- Born in SoCal

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
- Based on the recent Winter Olympics, Speed Skating and Singles Figure Skating.

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
- ...

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
- people have to tag back??

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
- Everyone =)

22. Bird watcher?
- Not anymore =(...no more birdies since our neighborhood started harboring cats.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
- Morning as in right after midnight....but not after 3am.

24. Do you have any pets?
- My bunny Pocky and my beta Agro.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
- Only 3 more weeks of school! Will be taking Japanese in the summer and tabling at the Artist Alley at the Los Angeles Anime Expo 2010.

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
- A My Little Pony

27. What is your best childhood memory?
- I think being able to play and not worrying about school so much.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
- I'm more of a rodent-like animals person. I like hamsters, bunnies and mice =). But I also like hotdogs and corgis.

29. Are you married?
- Nopers

30. Always wear your seat belt?
- YES!

31. Been in a car accident?
- Never! Unless you count bumper cars.

32. Any pet peeves?
- Dirty people. Please take care of yourselves T_T;;;

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
- Pineapple and sausages

34. Favorite Flower?
- Tulips...but on the lookout for a new one!

35. Favorite ice cream?
- Mint Chocolate

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
- In n Out

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
- Zero

38. From whom did you get your last email?
- My aunt in Taiwan

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
- Wow, probably Art Supply Warehouse or Blick's.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
- Heard a girl talk about the last episode of LOST. Got excited so I walked over and we had a chat XD....

41. Like your job?
- No work? Yes! No money...*sigh*...

42. Broccoli?
- Yum, I like it raw and with some French Catalina dressing X3.

43. What was your favorite vacation?
- So far Japan, Hawaii or Canada. I've only been to Japan and Hawaii once. But I've been to Canada a few times (not recently though).

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
- My boyfriend and my sister.

45. What are you listening to right now?
- 5x10 by Arashi.

46. What is your favorite color?
- Green and Blue

47. How many tattoos do you have?
- none

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
- Everyone who is reading this and hasn't done one yet.

49. What time did you finish this quiz?
- 3:59pm

50. Coffee drinker?
- Not really. I drink it once in a while for the flavor. I like to add condensed milk.

Pocky Digging on Couch

2010-04-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

Pocky has been visiting the couch in the other room lately. I caught her digging and tugging on the bed sheet that was spread to protect the couch XD...

How many products does it take...

2010-04-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

...To get you ready in the AM?

I was reading a post by Lemon Lemon Pie and thought it would be fun to do my own ^_^. I wash my hair twice, once in AM and once in PM, but shower once at night...I have oily hair, poop...

In Shower (actually...leans over the tub and uses a pink bucket, lol)
1. Shampoo (conditioner reserved for night only)

Out of Shower
2. Floss (does this count o_o;;)
3. Toothpaste
4. Face Wash
5. Facial Spray
6. Sunblock/Sunscreen
7. Lip Balm
8. Hand Cream (I have dry hands)

Makeup
9. Blush (only on my brows and if I remember)

So I have a total of 9 products! During the PM, there's a bit more X3...

DA April Fool's & Pocky

2010-04-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

Right, so April Fool's was awhile ago...but I was able to save DA's April Fool joke. I was placed in Team Edward XD...

No offense to anyone, but I'm not a Twilight fan...especially not a Bella fan ^_^;;

Here's a picture of Pocky's sleeping face. I've only caught her going in REM twice; she's such a light sleeper!

Please ignore my feet XD...Some times I like to study in the living room and Pocky likes to hang out at the bottom (hence the towel). That way she gets extra massages...it can get really tiring.

Don't buy bunnies for Easter

2010-03-20T23:37:00.000-07:00

The Bunny Bunch is a local shelter around my area. They're sending out fliers to spread the news. Please don't purchase rabbits as spur of the moments or as gifts on Easter.

Rabbit Cafe

2010-03-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

I saw this a while ago and thought it was interesting. The rabbit curry is really cute X3.

Old Spice Commercial

2010-03-10T18:45:00.000-08:00

This has been playing a lot when I watch TV lately. Some of you may have already seen it, but I think it's hilarious XD...

Fleece Blanket

2010-03-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

Pocky falling into her afternoon nap while on her fleece blanket. She's rotund :x.

School has been busy, I will be posting some school work soon.

Back to School and Royal/T

2010-02-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

[edit 2.26.10] o man, men's speed skating was so nerve wrecking today XD...have to say, I still think Ohno performed beautifully despite the DQ.

Hey all! I just finished my first week of Spring Semester '10 at SAC. Ideally this will be my last semester ^_^;. But my gosh! The parking is terrible! First 2 weeks is always free parking, but there are more cars than usual. The parking lots are so congested students are parking at the plazas across from campus. Some even park in the teacher's lot and risk getting a fine.

Since the economy isn't that great, a lot of people are returning to school and each department had to cut 5% of their classes.

I'm lucky since I've been at SAC for a while so I have top priority.

Also, some of you might remember I applied to the M.A. in Illustration at CSUF. I called the graduate secretary 2 weeks ago to inquire whether my application had arrived, it did. However, I do need 24 units of upper division art classes T_T;;. I knew it was too good to be true when the main office told me to just apply for the M.A. since they aren't offering a 2nd B.A.

I'm a bit bummed, but I kind of expected that it wouldn't be that easy. Plus I don't feel my level is ready for a M.A. program.

Anyway, I forgot I took pictures of this cool cafe in Culver City. I went with my boyfriend to have lunch on my birthday earlier this month. It's pretty cool, it's styled after those Maid Cafe's in Japan. It even has gallery space and a store incorporated into the building. Food prices are a bit on the pricey side (to me at least). Our drinks were $4 each and food ranged from $14 and above.

Entrance

Cool Looking Chandelier

Clint aka Mochicat (behind and to his right is the gallery space protected by plastic walls)

Teas (they're stronger and less sweet compared to say...lollicup/tea station types)

My Chicken Katsu Sandwich with Spicy Mango Sauce ^_^;

Clint's Tuna "Sandwich" (those tomato-looking chunks are actually tuna, lol)

The lovely waitresses working at the time (wow, I think I need a haircut XD...)

Store Entrance

One side of the store

Sun Bathing

2010-02-15T00:11:00.000-08:00

Pocky likes to sunbathe near the piano during afternoons.

All relaxed :3

My sister decided to join and brought the laptop (which is where the wire is connecting to). Don't worry, Pocky was under supervision ^_^. Pocky actually fell asleep and literally rolled onto her side, but by the time the camera was ready, she was up again T_T;;.

FEED Projects

2010-02-06T22:49:00.001-08:00

Front of Tote (back is blank)

Inside of Tote

Hey guys! I recently purchased the FEED tote so I can finally retire my most favorite and most holey tote. The following information is quoted from the FEED tag.

FEED/READ 3 totes are 100% organic cotton and will include donations that will provide 3 school meals and 3 local language books to children from developing countries. These totes are part of the UN World Food Program's (WFP) School Feeding operations and Room to Read (dedicated to promoting and enabling global education).

This bag is $24.95 and sold exclusively at Barnes and Noble. I think it's lovely, but my sister and boyfriend think it's kind of ugly X3...

For more info about WFP
For more info about Room to Read

I also made t-shirts with my "Bunns of Steel" design =). My sister and I screen printed a few today for ourselves and friends to wear as advertisement for my store. The design was modeled after Pocky's hero picture ^_^;.

T-shirts are Unisex Jersey Shirts from American Apparel. They're 100% cotton and Navy Blue. Inks are water-soluble so they're safer for people and the environment!

Pocky Mornings

2010-02-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

I just cleaned Pocky's burrow yesterday. I don't know if other bunny owner's have this problem, but she likes to pull her potty away from its corner. She also likes to poo outside her potty and then takes the time to settle down and sit on top of them DX...

Her feet and butt are so cute when she lays out!

Stare down! I have a feeling she can't see things directly in front of her.

My mom and I think she looks kind of like a water buffalo when she's sitting in this position. A lot of friends who see her for the first time always ask me what is wrong with her ears XD...I didn't know lops were not well known.

Pocky Disapproves....again :O

2010-01-28T16:46:00.000-08:00

Pocky actually has a tiny head and a heavy bottom. But these pictures make her head look huge XD. I like her little pink lips :3.

This post is dedicated to my new Bunny Blog Friend Klaudea! She has an awesome blog about technology, arts/crafts and of course Lucy her bunbun. Please pay her a visit:

LemonPie.theblog

I also bought a set of new water colors from the Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster. That place is packed with stuff at lower prices than most art stores. It's a little far for me so I only go if I'm passing by or I have a list of materials to purchase.

I bought cheap beginner's watercolor by Reeve's. It was 24 colors for about $14.00. There's actually pretty good for beginners. They're very bold if you like strong colors. It's also easy to dull with a little grey or more water.

There was also a back to school sale and I coulnd' t resist the black sketchbooks by Art Alternatives. It was $4 a sketchbook and the paper content comes from sustainable forests. I make my own mini ones, but I can't resist larger sized sketchbooks where I don't have the equipment or manpower to make.

The Big Bang Theory

2010-01-19T23:44:00.000-08:00

Ahh! Tonight, I was part of the audience for one of the episode taping of "The Big Bang Theory" X3. It was raining on our way over so we had to drive slower. But I don't think I yelled, jumped up and down or clapped so hard ever in my life XD. The MC was handing out signed autographed photos of the cast <3...but he only handed to the people seated near him...boo!

It was hard to see the cast since the cameras were blocking the way. Too bad the two sets (penny's apartment & the elevator) my boyfriend and I were sitting in front of were not in use for the episode T_T.

Even so, I had a great time =). The actors are pretty amazing. They're really great to watch and so expressive. You can actually see them jump into character. It's also crazy how many people are needed to film just a single episode. There were so many cameras and people behind the stage monitoring and instructing.

I was able to catch glimpses of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Raj and Wolowitz when they were first introduced and then at the curtain call. They're look even more awesome in real life *wiggles*. Sheldon was so cute X3...Jim Parson kind of talks like Sheldon. Johnny Galecki kind of has a potty mouth, which was cute in a way =). I'm jealous that the two audience guys from Argentina got to shake hands with Penny. I want to shake her hand!!

Anyway, I'm so glad my boyfriend and I were able to get seats this time. Last time we got tickets, but by the time we arrived there was no more room. So tonight was great =).

Pocky Kind of Binkys

2010-01-17T17:17:00.000-08:00

Valentine Goodies to Come

2010-01-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I am planning my first Valentine Giveaway! This is just a heads-up and a preview of what you might have a chance of winning! The Giveaway will be held on my facebook fanpage in the beginning of February 2010:

SpecialMeat by Carol Lin

Please join my Fanpage! Details of Participation Rules will be available at the Giveaway <3

Facebook Fanpage

2009-12-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I've been thinking long and hard about a facebook fanpage....and I think I'm going to give it a try. My cousin and my other cousin's girlfriend has suggested that I create one since it's free and so many people have a facebook, it'll be easy to network (so they say, lol).

I will post a link here when I make one ^_^;. I will be using the fanpage for promotions and such instead of blogspot. My blog will serve mainly to post my creations, artwork, Pocky and random thoughts.

So here is possible my last promotion?

SALE SALE SALE SALE

All artwork, prints and notebooks are buy one get one 50% off (excludes shipping). I will refund the difference through Paypal. Please have a look! I finally have my print section up! Featuring the two below:

Pocky and Her Toy

2009-11-30T01:07:00.000-08:00

Pop Art Pocky

2009-11-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

Pocky_PopArt_18"x24"

Finally finished the pop art assignment for my beginning painting class. I really enjoyed this assignment, much more than the photorealism ^_^. I love working with bright colors and this was a lot of fun =). Again, photo is a bit patchy due to my snapshot camera X3...

Pocky and Timothy Hay

2009-09-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

I really hope I didn't post this video already. I was trying to sort through her videos on my desktop and thought this one was pretty cute =). I don't use the treat hanger for grass anymore. Pocky likes to pee while she "grazes"...So I learned a trick from Bunny Bunches (my local rabbit shelter) to put hay in the litter box =).

Follow Me

2009-09-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

I'm trying out youtube to see if it's easier to upload videos. So this is a test run =). I just cleaned Pocky's cage today and she knows it means new treats and such. That's why she's following me around X3....usually she's kind of like a cat, she only comes to me when she feels like it.

[just remembered this! really cute and wanted to share ^_^]

Phoenix Down

2009-09-13T17:46:00.001-07:00

Phoenix Down inspired by Final Fantasy =)

I spent a long time with my boyfriend looking at different glass beads before we picked the multi-faceted amber glass bead above and complemented it with small silver glass beads. The feather was harder to place in the bottle than expected. But the secret isn't tweezers or poking it in...I found a small paintbrush works the best ^_^.

Pocky does best

2009-09-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to think Pocky is incapable of interesting pictures XD...perhaps it's my lack of patience after waiting half and hour T_T;;...Here is something she does best, sleeping in the afternoon in her little brown cardboard box =).

Earth

2009-09-09T16:21:00.001-07:00

Water

2009-09-08T12:25:00.001-07:00

illustration for the element, Water

I imagined if Water were a girl, she would have sleek blue hair complemented with blue eyes and a tint of pink on her face. Her lips were inspired by my beta fish, Agro =).

Alice in Wonderland Drink Me Pendant

2009-08-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

I'm really in to these little bottle charms right now =). After I saw some party favors, I was inspired to make these "Drink Me" charms from Alice in Wonderland. I have all the colors of the rainbow except Indigo. I'm not even sure what Indigo is...blue purple??

The aged paper was fun =). I used some coffee to stain heavy-weight paper and then bake it in the oven at 250 degrees until it was dry.

Mixing the food coloring was fun =). But one drop in each bottle was too concentrated...so I have larger jars of colored water sitting in my closet T_T;;....Feel so wasteful just tossing those pretty colors, lol. I'll let them sit a little longer ;).

Summer Days

2009-07-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

Pocky Yawning (big yawn at 00:33)

Pocky asking for petting

Summer Lounging

2009-07-11T23:21:00.000-07:00

Summer is the time to lay out on the towels and relax! But Pocky does it all year round!

Jet Lagged

2009-06-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

Here I am, jet-laggy the next day after the flight back from Belgium. You can see my boyfriend's toes, he was jet-laggy too. Pocky laid down against the little futon and decided to nap too =).
Sorry about not dressing up for the camera and my awkward sleeping positions DX...I like to wear pajamas whenever possible. I'm all for comfort! My sister took the picture so of course she doesn't care how I look :P. So again, sorry if anyone is offended with my butt in their face.

Here's a close up
My sister forgot to reset her camera resolution. So the pictures are a bit fuzzy.

Apple Tree Branch

2009-06-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

Pocky loves to eat apple tree branches. We have a small one in the backyard so I can pluck fresh ones for her once in a while. She eats them really fast though...the branches facing our side of the yard is getting too tall and scarce, but on our neighbors side it's full and heavy.

Apple tree branches are safe to give fresh to your bunny. Anything else, I would check with a vet or a rabbit specialist. I stick with apple branches because they're safe ^_^;.

[Make sure the branches or anything you give to your bunny from the garden is pesticide-free]

Lovely Blog Award

2009-06-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

I just found out today that Albertine's Creations has selected my blog as one of the winners for the Lovely Blog Award! Please visit her blog, she makes wonderful scarves on etsy =).

So the rules to winning this award are:

1. Accept the award.
2. Post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog/etsy shop link.
3. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
4. Contact the bloggers to let them know they have been selected!

Here are my selected winners for the Lovely Blog Award:

Bath, Body and Beauty

fuzkittie
ricebunny
wkoenigsmann
ekilovekawaii
thedirtyhousewife

Arts, Design, Crafts and Galore

celestefrittata
designsbysteppie
bybelinda
designsbyvanessa
gugaw
thehandmadedress
wvlampworkartist1
idrawgirls
amigurumipatterns
pearlnlace

[sorry in advance if I missed your specialty in the clumping categories :x....]

Naughty Bunny

2009-04-20T22:37:00.000-07:00

Camera??

Curtains

Today is so hot @_@...I was creating my mock-up layouts for my class project in the living room. Pocky likes company so she was hanging out with me. I would give her the occasional head rubs and full body massages when I got tired of looking at my laptop.

She was very naughty today...I just washed some blankets I lay out on the floor because she peed on them for some reason. So today I had laid out the fresh blankets. During one of my breaks, I went to the kitchen to get some dried mango and when I came back...there was a fresh pee stain on the clean blankets!! Naturally, I used my stern voice and said "bad!!" and tried to show her the "accident" so she would know she had done something wrong. But instead, she was hopping around thinking I had gone to the kitchen and had brought back mango slices for her. She's so bad XD...but the hopping around part made me not want to be mad at her.

Random Pocky Moments

2009-04-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

Some Random Pocky Pictures

My boyfriend and I bathe Pocky once in a while. She starts to turn yellow...I'm not sure why...too much petting? But she LOVES baths. She just sits and relaxes while she gets a full body massage in nice warm water. We also take the time to trim her nails and dry her the best we can. She gets bathed during the afternoons and if it's a warm day to avoid sickness ^_^.

I did not know Pocky could take a uggy shot X3. She's so cute in person, haha ^_^. I didn't mean to flash her but here was the result.

She starts to splay out around the summer time.

Caught her evil aura. I think moving the furniture around disturbed her since the living room "belongs" to her.

Former Babies =)

2009-04-06T14:21:00.001-07:00

I was looking through my digital photos and I came across my former babies. I had two hamsters: Dark (male) and Shimmy (female). They were such sweeties and interestingly, more attentive than Pocky o_O;;.

Me holding Dark (worried viewers, I was not squeezing him, his cheeks are just stuffed with goodies)

Dark during his prime

Dark at old age

Unfortunately I don't have any good photos of Shimmy =(. She moved too much so all her photos are blurry. So here is a video instead ^_^;...I know there's poopies all over. They lived in fortresses we created lined with old towels and lots of boxes, mazes and places to hide. So they did not live in the conventional 10 gallon tanks or hamster cages. We cleaned houses (dark's daily since he was filthy) but the fortress had a weekly clean up with a procedure similar to Pocky.

Shimmy sand bath

Yes, I have a very high voice...I really don't like it :/...so not sexy, X3. This was an older camera so there was a weird clicking noise every time it re-focused. You can hear my boyfriend too :x.

New Stuff :O

2009-04-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Spring Rain

I was finally able to complete this concept in a way that pleased me ^_^. I've been trying to use watercolor and different approaches...but was finally inspired to do something simpler. This was made available today on my etsy shop ^_^.

Laptop Sleeve - Bunny Love

Laptop sleeve for my friend =). Hopefully it fits DX...I'm still practicing on guessing how large to create the sleeves depending on the dimensions given to me. Too bad yarn can be fickle on me.

Guarding Food and Water

2009-03-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

Pocky likes to sit between her food and water bowl.

She looks so much whiter here.

Dirty House

2009-03-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

Pocky believes she's in charge.

My sister told me NOT to censor Pocky. So above, I just cleaned her house yesterday.

Here is her house a day later...this is actually pretty good...

It's a lot of work to keep a rabbit. So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, spread the news that bunnies are not meant for small children. It's too much work and unlike dogs and cats, rabbits and small pocket pets are more likely to be neglected and pent up for the rest of their lives.

I change her litter box 1-2 times a day depending on how much waste she makes OTL. Her poopies are scooped up daily (above is pre-scooping). Her towels are changed about 1-2 times a week. Some weeks she's filthier than others.

As for her resources...timothy hay is replenished daily. I give her fresh water and food in the morning when I wake up and at night before I sleep.

But she's such a sweety and I'm a sucker for rabbits and rodents ^_^;.

Bath Time!

2009-03-08T22:52:00.001-07:00

Pocky Loves Baths

It's very strange...she loves taking baths. It's probably the warm water and the massages she receives. The little blue tub is meant for washing vegetables, but she fits so perfectly inside :3. One time, Pocky was was so relaxed her face fell into the water X3. I bathe her with the help of Clint (yes...it takes two to clean her) about once a month since her white fur starts to turn yellow :x. She likes to sit in her own filth DX...I don't know why she's such a dirty little bunny!

New Banner and Diploma

2009-03-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

Old Banner

New Banner

I listed my shop to be critiqued in the etsy forum. I had few responses, but the recurring comments were:

1. Don't like animals with my name
2. Banner not a favorite
3. Can't tell what my shop is selling

So after analyzing my shop, I've decided that I can't change #1. I didn't mean to convey the image of my characters as food; I was afraid of that misconception. Not sure, but may change my shop name to my standard username (hammystar).

However, I designed a new banner to include "artwork by carol lin" so it's obvious I'm selling art. Someone thought I was selling Hello Kitty Litter Mats XD.

As for the pictures of my artwork, apparently it was unclear my pictures were showing pieces of art. So after a long debate with my wallet, I decided to invest in matting and mounting my pieces. I will be slowly updating the pictures like the one below.

My Diploma

Here's a funny story about my diploma. I had hidden it somewhere in my closet. When there was the large fire hazards in SoCal, my family had to evacuate and I could not find my diploma. At that moment, it became important to me. I had worked 4 long years to get that piece of paper. In the end, my city was ok and I set to search for my lost diploma.

I found it in a pack of new envelopes. I had never taken my diploma out of the envelope and had packed it with new envelopes. So needless to say, it was camouflaged.

Now it's hanging on my wall with a nice frame =).

Hero Pose

2009-02-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

Picture from a while ago. I think it's cute that she looks like a hero gazing into the distance. You can see my boyfriend's arm in the bottom right corner X3.

Speaking of heroes...I've been watching "Xena: Warrior Princess" from season 1. I had read a lot of children's version of Greek mythology and was drawn into the show when it aired during my middle school years. I never finished the series and was curious how it all comes to an end.

Say what you will, I love her outfit. It may be "skimpy," but if you think about it...her outfit makes sense for her character and the way she travels =).

Kind of interesting how channel 5 has evolved from a lot of fiction as WB to reality shows as CW.

Clean house and supplies

2009-02-26T16:08:00.000-08:00

Since it's the beginning of a new semester, I still have some free time to play around with my own supplies. Here are some of the supplies I have accumulated over the years (I need to find a safe way to toss oil paints from the 90s):

My Obento pencil case. I keep switching in and out supplies...but this is what I've had inside for a while.

These are my pads of paper. I have larger pads and a Masonite board that I keep elsewhere. These are also the same supplies I use to create products in my etsy shop =).

Ah, here is my closet of supplies. I love art supplies. I could window shop in an art store for hours. There was major cleaning required for my closet to appear "neat and tidy." Other things occupy space such as books and fish supply. I have a little blue beta fish named Agro (note to self, feature him later).
There's a box where I keep my pastels, paints and charcoal. I have some really really old oil paints that need to be tossed :/. I heard it's bad to just throw old paint in the trash, so need to research where to properly toss them.

Next is Pocky's home! She pretty much owns the living room. But she has a designated cage that is open 24/7 unless she needs to be locked up for some reason. She's one lucky bun.

Of course I take pictures right after I've cleaned her cage. Yes, she sleeps on towels. They are old ones my family doesn't use anymore. There is a heavy duty trashbag underneath in case she misses the litter box has an accident on the towel. In a few hours, her cage will no longer be immaculate.

Here is her wooden hut and bed that Clint gave her for Christmas (such a nice daddy :3). She pretty much lounges in it rather than sleep in it.

Ooo, the evil eye~ I lay out a towel across the tiles to bridge from her home to the carpet. She really doens't like the tile or slippery surfaces.

Almost done

2009-02-21T23:39:00.001-08:00

Well, I am almost done with my SpecialMeat series. I have completed Sugar and will be starting Spice soon. I can't figure out what color Spice should be, since I've already used pink on the rabbit.

Anyway, I've been playing with my banner, changing little details here and there. This version will do for the time being, until I can figure out how to make it better.

I'm thinking about applying for a part-time job...leaning towards clothing stores (Victoria's Secret being the favorite among my friends). I can imagine the clothing store being easy but hectic. I would really love to have a paid internship, but it doesn't seem likely in this economy. The ones I have applied to are all unpaid, hopefully I get something for the summer.

Well, Valentine passed by recently. My boyfriend bought me an iPod nano because he thought my mp3 player was broken. But it wasn't and I insisted he keep the nano. I did keep the hot glue gun and the matte board cutter =). I can't use iPods since they don't come with radio X3. Must have radio!! So for Valentine, my boyfriend, my sister and her boyfriend and I went to Bunny Bunches. It's a rabbit shelter located in Montclair. There was a fundraising event where you pay $20 to have your rabbit was groomed, nails trimmed and scent glands cleaned.

There are so many abandoned and rescued bunnies there =(. It just adds on to my lack of faith in human goodness. If someone is going to buy a pet, they need to take care of it and not neglect it. They also need to provide correctly. I've met people who ignore their small pets. Since small pets are not like dogs and cats, they won't make themselves known. They aren't as affectionate and are not noisy about things they need. A lot of people get bored of small pets and that makes me sad. I wouldn't want to live in a cage the size of a full-sized bed for the rest of my life and not have enough room to even stand up.

Sun Bathing

2009-02-11T13:05:00.001-08:00

Pocky used to sunbath behind the couch in the living room. But now that the couch as been moved against the wall, she resorts to laying out in her box near the cut-out doorway. I decided to crawl up to her and take pictures of her whiskers. She doesn't look like she has much, but in the sunlight...they multiply.

She's very very lazy. I knew she would be thirsty but too lazy to hop to her eating arena for water. So being a good mommy, I brought some water to her. After she was done with her water, she tries to shift the water bowl away =_=;....

Well, besides Pocky, I am slowing building up my etsy shop (http://specialmeat.etsy.com). I have officially started my "SpecialMeat" series. It will be featuring 4 canvas paintings: 1 rabbit, 1 cat, and 2 hamsters. So far I have completed Specialmeat (the rabbit) and Royal Milk Tea (the kitty). It's hard to believe, but the black background took 10 layers of paint to create the right opacity and consistency...10!!

Anyway, I can't decide whether to name the hamsters "Sugar and Spice" or "Cookies and Cream." I'm having trouble getting viewers to see my etsy. I've tried posting the link on my facebook and my deviantart. I'm debating whether to buy a featured spot...but maybe after I have more materials to sell. Seems like getting yourself out there will take time and patience.

To help with advertising, I am planning to stop by a coffee shop or tea bar to see if they will hang my paintings for sale and to advertise my online shop. This is very new to me, so no idea what to do or expect. I'm a little wary about Starbucks since they already have a set image. I'm also wary about Asian Tea Bars. No offense, I'm Asian too, but my friends and I agree that privately owned Asian businesses don't always give you the best options. However, living in SoCal, Asian Tea Bars may be my best choice.

Well, so many projects in my head. Future projects include producing prints so I can sell multiples of the same piece and creating laminated bookmarks. Now just need to figure out what to draw....

Oh yes! Recently, I've come across Shinne's page on Deviantart. He/she has really lifted my spirits seeing how much improvement has been made over the character Charllene. Here's hopes that I will be making lots of improvements too =).

Swimmer's Cap

2009-02-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've been obsessed with crocheting the past few weeks. The soreness from practicing nonstop has forced me to take a break. One of my unsuccessful project includes a little beanie for Pocky. She looked so confused and cute X3. I still need a lot of practice, crocheting is harder than it looks DX.

Anyway, I am shamelessly promoting my new online shop for my artwork and projects (http://specialmeat.etsy.com).

2009-01-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, my boyfriend bought Pocky a wooden hut and a new soft bed (I begged for the bed). We bought he a purple bed before, but she kept using it as a litter box. This new bed is designed differently and she hasn't peed in it yet (mental note to self: post a picture of hut and bed before destroyed). Anyway, my sister created this cardboard box house...using a plain old cardboard box and cutting out 2 entry ways. And guess what, Pocky loves it move than her new wooden hut and soft bed. She still uses both, but during the afternoons, she likes to come out of her cage and lounge in the cardboard box.

I've never had a dog, only small animals (many fish, 2 hamsters and a rabbit). But I try to provide for them as best as I can. Pocky is living proof that I am providing her with what she needs. It makes me sad that people will buy small animals because they are cute, get bored and then keep them in cages too small for their sizes. I've seen many rabbits that live in small wire cages for the rest of their lives since people do not realize how much work goes into taking care of a rabbit. If you think about it, it's really sad to have to sit in a while cage where you can only take a few paces and not even stand up to stretch.

I wish people would treat small animals equally like dogs and cats. I know dogs and cats make it known what they need. But people really shouldn't get pets unless they know they can commit to it, not just because they want one.

Meet Specialmeat

2009-01-07T22:04:00.000-08:00

Actually, her name is not Specialmeat. She was named Pocky since my family and friends didn't think Specialmeat was a fitting name X3. My boyfriend and I got her after my hamsters passed away...I wanted more hamsters, but he felt it was time to upgrade. So upgrade we did. We found Pocky at a petshop called "Village Pets" in Costa Mesa while we were still students at UCI.

Since Clint was paying for the bunny, I let him pick out Pocky. She was very active and I remembered her standing up when we put our hands into the rabbit tank. I also remember her pushing herself past the other rabbits to reach the new timothy hay first.

Well, Pocky is now about 2.5 years old. She is very cute...but very bad. When she lived in the school apartment with me, she urinated in every possible corner and had eaten about 2 inches in diameter of carpet. She didn't like being held and would make a racket at night. She also like to dig out her litter from the litter box. There were monthly cycles where she would give off an onion-like odor. She had mood swings and would start acting like a boy. She would do things if they had eyes...so no pillows, all stuff animals and of course, my boyfriend. We decided to get her fixed for $110...it was expensive...but I felt it would be it was a good cause.

She's still moody at times, but she doesn't have her monthly cycles and tantrums anymore. However, she doesn't follow me around when I walk around anymore either.

She's such a bad bunny, but she's also soooo cute. Despite all the bad things she's done, she makes me happy when she's hopping around and doing rabbit things.