Big Bang Alive Galaxy Tour Concert NJ 110912

This post has been delayed for long enough. But as the saying goes...Better late than never! All these photos are showed in order of when I took them. Maybe it'll help make it seem like you were there too. I'll try my best to find the name of songs they performed and add it in as well. Sorry for the blurry photos. Most were taken with my iPhone. (Prudential Center made a big announcement saying there were no cameras allowed. But once we got inside, the rule wasn't even enforced that heavily.) I've already cropped most of them to show the most important subjects a.k.a. the members :D Hope everyone enjoys!

My mani for the concert! ^__^
Yellow base: Revlon -  Buttercup
Blue glittery layer: Sephora by OPI - Underwater Fantasy

Can you tell? I was VERY excited! ^__^


My friend and I reached Prudential Center around 12PM and we were at the corner of the block. If only I didn't go to my one class that day, we could have had MUCH better spots. The people in front of us during the concert had been lining up since 9AM!
Once the VIPs got these bands, everything was a bit more organized. They actually had everyone go inside for the concert more or less according to these numbers. We weren't shooed back outside like the 2NE1 concert attendees were. All the VIPs with wristbands filed into the lobby/waiting area and lined up sequentially. I was #585. But there were 700+ numbers too! I dare say I think there were maybe even up to 1000 "VIPs". Whoever planned the concert really wanted to get all the profit that they could get >__>;; I don't think there was any empty space in the General Admission/VIP area.

The goodies that came with being a VIP ticket holder. Besides being able to attend the soundcheck, these made the VIP package worthwhile. The light sticks and shirts were pretty expensive at the merchandise stand!

There were fans who brought along tons of these kind of banners to pass out. I didn't even hold mine up because I was annoyed by others who held up their posters. I definitely didn't want anyone else to be in my position.

He did not look happy/impressed :P

My spots on the floor for the soundcheck and the concert were alright but still much closer than I thought I originally thought I would be in. If you can imagine this...there were the rails to separate fans from the stage. Then one row of fans, another row of fans, and I was in the third and last row in the particular area my friend and I chose to stand. After that we had to leave a space between us and another rail for people further up and closer to the center of the stage/catwalk to go in and out of the crowded mosh pit. And believe me when I say there were TONS of times when people (or more specifically this one particular person) who kept going in and out, in and out of the mosh pit. Us 3rd rowers were constantly jostled against each other throughout the entire concert. Huge bummer!

The seats ALL around us pretty much looked like this until a little while AFTER the concert began. I was worried it would stay empty because the concert was literally a few of days after Hurricane Sandy hit. But the fans pulled through :]
Songs Played: Still Alive Intro, Tonight, Hands Up, Fantastic Baby, How Gee, Stupid Liar
I wish I was closer to the main stage. Since I'm short (despite wearing heels), whenever they performed over there, I was only able to watch them through the big screens :[ My phone had a better view than I did xD







Song Played: GD & TOP ... Knock Out (뻑이가요) 
I wish I was able to see more of TOP. Of the few times he came over, my view was usually blocked by the girl's sign who was standing in the first row (she was a uber big TOP fan and brought a LED sign just for him). Those signs look better when you're not the person standing behind them :|







Songs Played: Crayon, One of a Kind, short English rendition of Crayon


Song Played: GD & TOP ... High High
Clearly the security personnels were not very impressed!
Everyone in my area couldn't believe the people at Prudential Center decided to place such a tall guy right by the stage. We were all so short compared to him! See those raise arms in comparison to where his head is? :X

Songs Played: Seungri ... Strong Baby and 어쩌라고 (don't have photos for that)
Songs Played: 가라 가라 고, Number 1, Cafe, Bad Boy
Songs Played: Blue (Fans were suppose to wave their blue light sticks during this song but since the Samsung booth gave out blue bangles, the outcome of the 'event' wasn't as dramatic), Love Song, Monster, Feeling
Probably the only 'good' photo I have with all five members in it.




Songs Played: Taeyang ... Only Look At Me and Wedding Dress (no photos)
Song Played: Daesung ... Wings
As corny as it sounds, he really did look like an angel :P
& Let me tell you...he sounds just as amazing, if not better, LIVE! :D

Song Played: Haru Haru (I have to admit did get teary eyed when the whole audience was able to sing the chorus of this song!), Lies, Last Farewell


Encore: Heaven, Bad Boy, Fantastic Baby, Feeling
One of the few clear photos I have of Taeyang. He didn't really come to the part of the stage that I was in as often. 

Something I thought was interesting. I didn't know that those Big Bang towels that were sold were actually meant for this.  A fan really close to the stage threw (I'm assuming) her's up and Daesung actually caught it! He wiped himself a bit and threw it back down.


I read about Daesung and his water flinging from the day before's concert goers. I was so surprised I'd be in the section that he chose to do this in though :P Yes things like this made me giddy. What can I say? I'm a fangirl too! :X

This fan behind us was SOO lucky! During the concert she asked my friend to throw a giant panda up to the stage for Seungri. Soon after when Big Bang came out to throw things for the audience, Seungri got in his stance and swung this jacket out to her direction. If I remember correctly she and another girl both caught it. But obviously she won the tug-of-war :P It wasn't until after I got home and did some 'researching' that I realized the LED sign she held up during the concert (that said VI) was actually Seungri's other stage name. Everything clicked! I think he really was trying to aim for her. Congrats to her! She must have been over the moon happy :D Those jackets, new and not worn by Big Bang, already were selling on YG Ent.'s ebay site for $100+!
Big Bang definitely did not disappoint! I was so amazed that they were performing with a LIVE band. I have no idea what it's like to be at a club. But I assume the atmosphere with the loud heart throbbing music that filled the venue would be kind of similar? Of course sans the screaming and singing fans xD

Everything went very smoothly and the concert started on time. No mishaps at all on their part. (I, on the other hand, lost a camera pouch toward the end of the show & my feet were dying from standing all day in heels.) Besides the great concert, I learned the importance lesson behind the reality of being a seatless VIP.
1 ~ Hardcore fans really do not care if other fans' views are blocked because of signs. They really will hold up those up HIGH for the entire concert!
2 ~ Being short is very disadvantageous.
3 ~ Having good spots where it is possible to actually see the members comfortably requires lining up VERY early, especially if it was a sold out show. Lots of people were not from New Jersey or New York!
But the amazingness of Big Bang really did make those problems bearable. Even after 2 months, the songs on my phone are still exclusive all the songs Big Bang performed that day. The more upbeat songs are actually really motivating exercise music! :P

*****You can ignore the next part of you're not interested in me babbling on any longer. Just a lot of fangirling going on here. More so for my terrible memory's sake than anything else :]*****

Most of the photos are of Daesung and Seungri because they came to the side I was in most of the 5 members. Before the concert, I didn't really have a bias toward any specific member. Everyone had their own charm. I always loved Daesung and Taeyang for their voices. TOP always had the charismatic/mysterious appeal and G-Dragon gained a place in my heart after his recent solo works. (Sorry Seungri fans...don't hurt me! :X) Afterwards, my standings for everyone are pretty much all over the place. I saw such a different side of Daesung from what I had seen of him on TV, he definitely went up in my ranks. Plus hearing his amazeball voice live...omgosh. Words cannot explain! Since I didn't get to experience the same amount of Taeyang as others did during the concert, my bias for him is more or less the same. However, I can tell everyone that his voice is also amazing live. G-Dragon's performance was also very memorable. Especially when he started to rap an English edition of Crayon (I'm very bias toward those who can speak English xD). TOP and Seungri's ranks in my books therefore were moved down. Not at all because they were bad! It was mostly because I literally got to see TOP perform only 3 or 4 times in front of me (so I missed his cute/aegyo moments).

Are you a fan of Big Bang or any other KPOP group/idol? Who are you biases?
Would anyone be interested in seeing the videos?

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Red Zin


If it wasn't already obvious enough already after the last few holiday mani designs I have done, I want to say Red Zin has really become my favorite polish color of the 2012 (and favorite polish line too). It wasn't even because the dark red color has been really popular. I have wanted a red polish for quite some time now. But let's face it, red is a more mature nail color and it can be intimidating. Now that I have found one that (I think) looks good on me, I can't seem to stop myself from wearing it all the time.

Left side: 1 layer ... Right side: 2 layers
Pinky & Ring: 1 layer ... Middle & Index: 2 layers
Notice the difference a second coat of the polish makes!



I am not very good at describing colors. To the best of my ability, I would say Red Zin is a blood red shade. I love that it is a jelly formula because it allows a little room for mistakes. If you can apply polish well, I'd say even one layer is doable. If you are looking for a darker red just go ahead with layer number 2. This polish dries fairly quickly and can last for a good week if I apply a generous layer of top coat on. Be careful when you take this color off though! The red polish can stain your skin a bit. But don't worry! It's nothing a shower and couple of hand washes can't fix. I'm not sure if the newly formulated Complete Salon Manicure line still has this particular shade. If you can find it in a store, I do recommend grabbing one if you're looking for a red polish!

Do you have a favorite red polish shade? What is it?

Learning My Camera: Flashing

After I shared a photo of my everyday face routine, many people complimented on my skin and the coverage of the product I was wearing. It's been bothering me a lot. But please don't be mad at me. I'm really am ashamed of what I've done so I wanted to confess my secret. Besides just fixing the colors of the photo, I did also erase a few dots here and there in Photoshop. It's just an itch that always gets to me...However! I promise I am trying my hardest to not use that tool anymore, especially for the blog. I am slowly learning to accept my not perfect complexion and trying my best to not be over self-conscious about posting photos for everyone to see. So be ready for some blemish filled photos in the future.

I was wearing a foundation here, no external pimple erasing here.
& Excuse the messy eye makeup! I was just playing around :P

But that is not the main point of this post! Camera flash also played a big part in washing out some of the blemishes I had and added more dimension/shadows to my face before I even went in to do any photo editing.  It's really amazing the difference flash can make (sometimes). I don't have any professional flash equipment or anything (if I get serious enough about photography I'll think about investing in them later on). I just use the flash that's from my camera. I assume if you have proper lighting and flash it could enhance contours and highlights even better.

For the most part, all the photos on the blog are taken with flash. Personally, I like the end result more when there is flash involved. For one, I find that without flash the photo comes out a lot grainier or noisier than with. Secondly, my room is lit with yellow toned "daylight" bulbs. If I take photos without flash, the photos come out way too yellow to even try to fix in any photo editing program. But as always there are negatives of flash as well. Usually, for me, parts of the face can get over highlighted/exposed or there is a flash mark/washout on the packaging. However, when I take photos outside on a sunny day I find that I usually don't need to use flash at all. There isn't the same graininess because of all the natural lighting.

What do you prefer when taking photos? Are there any camera tips you'd like to share with a photography newbie/enthusiast like me?

Review: Goody Quikstyle

Haircare is definitely not one of my top priorities. My hair is not amazing, but honestly, I am just too lazy to do much of anything with it. The usual haircare routine is literally just shampoo, wrap in towel, let it soak up some water, and then leave my hair down to air dry. I only comb through my hair when I feel it is very knotted (usually after I wake up).

Air drying hair takes forever. But a girl's gotta do what she's gotta do for healthier hair! (Especially after years of Japanese perming that I did in my middle school & early high school years.) For reference, I have mid to long length and relatively straight, yet sometimes poofy, hair. If I am just at home it can take a good 5+ hours for my hair to completely dry. When I go outside with wet hair, of course, it dries much quicker because of the wind.
Goody Quikstyle is a paddle brush with anti-bacterial microfiber bristles in between the standard knobbed plastic bristles. The product is supposed to help speed up the drying of hair and detangling of knots.
I was not expecting anything from this brush but it never hurts to try something out right? I used the Good Quikstyle exclusively after I washed my hair.

It did help take out tangles a lot easier and quicker than when I was using a comb. However, I really do think that any type of hairbrush in general would probably detangle well. (I haven't used a brush in years so there may be some terrible brushes out there.)

As with the quicker drying time? Ehh...I personally did not experience my hair drying any faster than it normally does. The microfiber bristles did absorb some water though because when I laid it on a paper towel it did leave a wet spot on the paper towel. It's just that compared to the amount of water my hair holds, even after having wrapped my head in a towel for half an hour or more, the Quikstyle's absorption just cannot compare.

This is definitely something I would never have even considered getting because I really didn't have a need for a new comb or brush. After having the opportunity to try this out, it is still a product I probably would not repurchase if for whatever reason the one I have is broken or lost. I will continue to use it interchangeably with my comb but I don't think this product is anything to rave about.

What are your haircare routines like? Did anyone else try this brush out? How did you like/not like it?


Disclaimer: I received this product through the Influenster VoxBox program to try. I do not receive any extra compensation for posting about this product (other than getting to keep the product). I am not obligated at all to write positive reviews either.

Giveaway Winner!!

Congrats Marianna (sunshine91)!!
I emailed you already so please reply back to me to claim your prize!
If I don't receive a response from you by Saturday 1/12/13 5:30PM EST I will have to pick a new winner.
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Yellow Cake & Nutella Buttercream Frosting

I know no one really wants to see cake photos, let alone a cake and frosting recipe, at the start of the new year but just wait before you click out of this page! Maybe it'll come in handy when you're craving something sweet.
There are just three words I have to say about Pinterest: I LOVE IT! There are only so many blogs and recipes I can find by myself. But now there is a place where everyone shares their finds and makes searching for things myself so much easier. See something you like, pin it for yourself, and go back to it when you're up for a challenge! Now I literally have a gazillion recipes, tutorials, outfits, and other inspirations I'd love to try. Since jumping on the Pinterest bandwagon, the next two are the first recipes I have tried and had successful results with.

I've never tried to make frosting from scratch before. But the photo on Pinterest made it look very fluffy and delectable. The plus of homemade frosting is being able to control the sweetness. Here's a link to the actual recipe if anyone wants to explore the website some more: CLICK HERE.
Nutella Buttercream Frosting
  • 2 sticks of room temperature (soft) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups of powdered or confectioner's sugar
  • 2/3 cup of Nutella
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream
Blend the butter and sugar until combined.
Add the Nutella in and blend.
Add the salt and vanilla extract and blend.
Add heavy whipping cream and blend.
I followed the recipe for the most part because this was my first time making frosting. I'm not sure what the difference is in adding the ingredients separately makes but I did it that way anyways just to play it safe. However for the next time, I will probably experiment with the powdered sugar levels. The only thing I did differently this time around was add a smidgen more heavy whipping cream because I thought the frosting consistency I had was just a bit too thick. In the end I had more than enough to give my cake a light layer of icing, add flowery/spiky decorations, and still had frosting to spare. I don't have any special gadgets for icing or decorating. I just use a good o' butter knife, a plastic flower icing tip, and a Ziploc bag.
The actual cake recipe I followed was pretty simple. I was contemplating whether or not to make it from scratch but remembered I pinned something rather interesting a while back. The photo description had something along the lines of "box of cake mix & Greek yogurt". Need I say more? I knew I had to try it! The recipe comes from the website Hungry Girl. I'm not too familiar with her but I've heard the Hungry Girl name here and there. I think she gives tips on healthier eating options? (Don't quote me on that.) She recommended to use a Devil's Food Cake mix but my family isn't too big on chocolate or dark looking desserts so I opted for a yellow cake mix instead. The directions are pretty simple. Just ignore the ingredients the box says you'll need.
Yellow Cake Recipe
  • 1 box of cake mix (your choice on what flavor)
  • 1 cup of Greek yogurt (unflavored)
  • 1 cup water
Mix the cake mix, yogurt, and water together until all of it is combined.
Bake according to the box instructions or until a toothpick poked into the center of the cake comes out clean.
The end result was very delicious. I used Fage Total 0% for the recipe and that's the type Hungry Girl recommended as well. I'm actually not a big fan of yogurt. Surprising surprising. Please don't judge! I just haven't gotten past the tangy flavor of it . But this cake didn't taste anything like yogurt at all. Instead, the cake itself was just very moist. I don't think I'm ever going back to using oil, eggs, and water for box cake mixes...ever!

These make pretty good and sort of healthy snacks don't you think? Of course definitely not the icing part. But if you just make little cupcakes sans the frosting, it makes for an awesome treat. If anyone plans to make this cake and icing and end up putting any leftovers into the fridge, I'd recommend microwaving your slice of cake or cupcake for a bit to soften the frosting and cake. The frosting gets much sweeter when it is cold and hardened. Plus cake just tastes much better when it's soft! Hope I didn't destroy anyone's keep fit/lose weight/eat healthy New Year's resolutions already. But I personally think this is a great alternative for those sweet-tooth cravings. Would anyone be interested in seeing how other Pinterest experimentations turn out?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!! Hope you all will have a great 2013! :]

Here's a mani I did a few days ago. Nothing too fancy here though because glittery nails are pretty on but it is such a pain to take off.




Gold Base: Milani 3D Holographic Nail Lacquer ~ 510-3D
Black Polish: Sally Hansen ~ Midnight in NY (a very appropriate New Year's polish don't you think?)
Excuse the bubbles! I was too liberal while applying my top coat and those showed up.

If you don't mind sharing, what are some of your resolutions?
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