FYI My Posting Schedule

In case you're wondering, I generally post 4 times a week.  To help you remember, I've got alliterations.

Makeup Mondays  No fancy elaborate tutorials here.  Just easy, minimal makeup.
Wordy Wednesdays  I share a tip about writing from The Writer's Devotional.
Thoughtful Thursdays  I summarize one of the lessons from good morning  because I've been so blessed by it.  It's generally about positivity or productivity.
Cinematic Saturdays  I'll try to write about a movie I recently watched in 10 words or less.  I watch the movies through Netflix so if you've got an account, you should be able to view it through there too.

I also write briefly on books I've finished reading.  Occasionally, I post something random.  But that's sun over eden in a nutshell.  If you're not interested in all the subjects, you're most certainly welcome to click the tabs at the top of the screen for a particular subject.

On Overcoming Overwhelmedness

Lately, I realize that I am frozen.  Do you ever have that?  So many things to do that you shut down and just freeze?  Brook Noel states 4 sources behind why you might be feeling overwhelmed and how to overcome it.

A visual representation of my mind right now





The Words are Already There


"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible."
- Vladimir Nabokov
Do you feel writing is like this?  Or is it like coaxing plants to bloom through a layer of stubborn and cruel snow?

The Eyelash Curler aka Possible Torture Device

Every female should have an eyelash curler handy.  It probably takes less than a minute to use and it makes a big difference, especially if you have itty bitty straight lashes.


Asterios Polyp

Due to the meager selection of good quality movies on Netflix, I'm not sure I will continue with Cinematic Saturdays.  But I did finish this book call Asterios Polyp.

Riddle Me This


I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.


Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,
and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done,

and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great individuals.
And, alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.


I am not a machine,

though I work with all the precision of a machine
plus the intelligence of a human being.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin;

it makes no difference to me.
 

Take me, train me, be firm with me,
and I will put the world at your feet.
Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?


Get Dressed & Show Up

Wordy Wednesday
Yep, I got pants on and even shoes

"It's so easy to fool yourself into thinking that you're working hard.  It's so easy not to write.  So you use any trick you can to make yourself know there's work to be done.  That's why I wear a jacket and tie when I sit down to write."
- Robert Caro

Lipstick

In case you missed it, I'm introducing beauty products in the order of importance.  To recap:

Number 5 on that list is lipstick.  If you're very pressed for time or feeling super not-to-be-bothered, lipstick instantly perks up your whole face.  I apply my lipstick straight from the bullet.

Lipstick makes me feel so glamorous. I still remember feeling so excited when I bought my first lipstick.  (It was Red Chiffon by Lancome.)  Since then, I've accumulated a couple more lip products.  Not a lot but enough to know that I'm not a fan of lip gloss, especially the tingly plumping ones.  I do not like shimmery lip products.  Period.  I opt for formulas with sheer buildable coverage because it's much more forgiving than matte.  I tend to grab pinky red colors.  There have been instances where I buy something and it's the same shade as something I already own.

Hmmm.  I think lip products merit a blog post of its own.

But simply put, lipstick is my #5 because it instantly makes you look more put together.  It gives you just a bit of color and if you emphasize your lips, people won't be too focused on your tired looking eyes.  With the five products mentioned above, you don't need to hide behind your sunglasses to go grab a cup of coffee.

You Can Make it Through the Rain


February 10, 2015

Let's be honest.  Sometimes things don't go your way.  Even when you try to take steps in the right direction, it rains on your parade.  And it forces you to take two steps back.  Or five.  Or 10.

But change requires that you push past your comfort zone.  What feels like a downpour could be the water needed to fertilize the soil for your new dream.  If you look at it from a different perspective.  Next time, stop.  Breath.  Thank God for the rain and keep on hustling like a champion.  Click here if you wanna listen to a little Mariah singing about the rain.

Establish a Writing Routine

That is, if you're a writer or blogger.

Caterpillars

When people have really thick eyebrows, I automatically think of caterpillars.  It all started when I was in elementary school when I saw my mom watching a classic Korean drama called Autumn in My Heart.  (Lucky for you, you can watch it for free on DramaFever.)  This guy had some really intense brows.  I've never been good with remembering Korean names so when I talked to my mom about him, I always called him "the caterpillar eyebrow man."

January's Over. Look Back

January always holds so much pressure and promise.  But we're all aware that motivation doesn't stick forever.

February 02, 2015

Reflect on the progress you've made so far towards your goals.  Maybe you've been doing fantastically.  Or maybe you said a lot of things and there hasn't been any follow through.

Don't worry though.  It's only been a month.  Look over your resolutions and write down 5 things you will do this  month to make it happen.  Don't give up so soon!  Let's make this year count.  May your 2015 be fabulous.

Are You Listening?

Jules Renard, a French author said, "Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted."

Concealer Sticks for an Easy Fix

Personally, my favorite kind of concealers are in crayon form.  You simply dab the crayon over your spots and blemishes and then blend it by dotting it a little with your fingers.  It takes less than a minute.  Maybe not if you have really troubled skin.  I am trying to get rid of one liquid concealer by Neutrogena and I must say that it's not as easy as a crayon.  Sometimes you squeeze out too much product.  Should you use your fingers or a brush?  What kind of brush?  And then that's just another brush that you end up having to wash.

What I Read in January

I'm going to start keeping a list of the books I've read from month to month.  I will link the book title to GoodReads where you can browse through more reviews of the book if you are intrigued by my pithy evaluations.  Should I only mention the noteworthy stuff or would you be interested in knowing what bad books I would not recommend?

The Hundred Dresses
I always admire well-done fashion illustrations and this book contained 100 of them.  The dresses varied from contemporary to costume, wearable and high-fashion.  Each dress was briefly described and offered a bit of fun history or witty commentary.  Lovely to breeze through.

Blog, Inc.
I bought this on a whim at a used bookstore and after reading it started sun over eden.  I had a lot of reservations about starting a blog in an already oversaturated market but the words of Ms. Cho helped me to take a leap and do it anyway.  Overall, I do not regret purchasing it.

Miss Harper Can Do It
I bought this book because the protagonist was a socially awkward 3rd-grade teacher (my dream job) about my age and her attempt to write a not-too-serious memoir while her boyfriend is deployed.  She's a bit like Bridget Jones, who could be viewed by some as lovable, but I found her rather frustrating.  (There were 2 instances in the book where she wrote something and it wasn't until much later that I realized that she had made it up completely.)  I appreciated the way the writer experimented with form, but I never fell in love with the protagonist and the ending was cliche.  Let's just say that she spends a lot of time with her male best friend while her boyfriend is away.