Grey's Anatomy Season 11

I just finished binging the last season of Grey's Anatomy. This was the most heartbreaking season I have ever watched. I'm warning you now, there will be a ton of spoilers if you haven't watched it already, but I just need to vent to the world how I feel about this season.

I absolutely love Amelia's character on the show. I love how Private Practice weaved back into Grey's Anatomy. Shonda is absolutely brilliant. Amelia's character deserves to be on the show and it's nice to see a familiar face rather than the new residents they bring in every year. I like how Shonda brings real information into the show, especially during Dr. Herman's surgery where Amelia and Edwards were doing the super hero pose right before the surgery. It is scientifically proven, so ladies and gentlemen, you should do it. I'm so glad she didn't relapse back into her habits regardless of all the stuff she went through this episode. I would almost equate it to losing her boyfriend and baby (maybe not to that extreme), but Amelia's had a pretty tough life. Props to her for sticking through it.

I also love how Meredith had another half sister (Maggie), that was even more brilliant. Bringing in all these elements and stories that we never saw the full picture was freakin amazingly brilliant. Of course Richard Weber and Ellis Grey had a child. It would only be stupid if they didn't. I didn't feel they concluded her issue with leaving very well. One episode she was leaving and the next she's not. I mean I get that Meredith presented her with all the notebooks, but it wasn't like officially announced she changed her mind and decided not to leave. Nonetheless, I'm happy about Maggie's addition to the show.

Edwards was great. I loved her believing in Amelia and I love her addition to the show. Her presence isn't whiney nor complaining, but simply trying to be amazing. I didn't like how Amelia kept disrespecting her though, regardless of whatever Amelia was going through. See, that's why she was such a jerk to the new residents. My favorite line, "Heel ducklings, heel." Priceless.

First Jackson and April's baby died (cried from that episode), then Derek died (bawled my freakin eyes out). I still don't think Derek should have died. I absolutely think Shonda could have made their relationship work, unless she's saying in the near future Meredith would have found out that Derek technically cheated and then that would destroy her. I think either way it would have destroyed her, but I seriously cried so much the last 6-7 episodes because of Derek's death. It was heart wrenching and awful and I still can't believe he was killed off.

I was freaking out when Meredith was pregnant and was afraid she was going to give up the baby for adoption like her mom. I was like NOOO that's a part of Derek! Don't let her go! But fortunately baby Ellis is still with mom.

It almost came full circle with Meredith leaving with the kids and now coming back to the house her mom left and Meredith is once again returning. I have no idea what Arizona's new situation will be like once Meredith moves back in, but I'm sure Meredith wouldn't mind having her there.

One of the issues I don't like about this show is how easily people move on. I mean in the sense that they move on from lover to lover. I mean obviously time has passed and I really don't have a sense of how many months/years have occurred since separation but geez. It also makes me question whether a person really is your true love and whether there are multiple people there out for you. Like Meredith said, "I can live without you, but I don't want to." So that wanting to make it work with that one person will sustain you, but yes there are multiple possibilities that your love life could take you. It's just all so confusing.

I don't think Catherine Avery and Dr. Webber's love life is compelling. I didn't think it was necessary but definitely tied in to the theme of this season. April and Jackson are a lost cause. On another note, the same time I hate the ease of people moving on quickly, I LIKE how they can make long distance relationships work (well sort of). It almost worked, and could work. Either way, point is, we want to make our loved ones feel happy and excel at what they do, but I think April was selfish and she should have considered Jackson's feelings and maybe at least asked him to come along so he wouldn't feel left behind. That would make more sense.

I'm excited for the new season. I'm glad Meredith took Maggie in, and that the three sisters are all living in the house. I think it's wonderful that Shonda is centering around this whole idea of family and love, when Meredith didn't start out with either of those. New season is coming soon. :D

B E A U T Y // Ocean Salt Face/Body Scrub | Lush

Current favorite scrub. I love the way my face feels after using the scrub. It's super soft and supposedly it will help blackheads. I haven't used it enough to actually get this result but I really hope this improves my blackheads. Honestly, I just like it a lot because it's blue and it looks pretty.

Image via Lush USA

Image via storagegeek.tumblr.com

H A I R // What Wearing a Wig Really Feels Like

I wore my wig out for the for time last week. It was mystical and magical in the sense I felt like a completely different person. Here's a breakdown of what you need to do to prepare for wearing a wig.

So the most important thing is finding a wig cap that fits your head and keeps in all the hair tightly. I got a closed cap (http://tinyurl.com/q3reu58) but other people I've looked into have used the open mesh caps (http://tinyurl.com/ngf6b55). I must be uber sensitive to anything that's on my head cause I tend to get headaches from putting my hair in a bun or pony tail for too long, so wearing the wig cap for 8+ hours lead to a definite migraine. I didn't have a plan B for taking off my wig so I stuck through it. It literally felt as if someone was sucking my brains out. Long story short, find a wig cap that fits comfortably.

Secondly, depending on the type of wig, you have to make it look natural. I have a lace front wig that doesn't part, so I was trying to do everything I could without cutting off too much lace and hiding whatever lace was left. I tried creating fake bangs with the hairs to give myself a part and hide the lace and that worked (mostly). Downside, I had to constantly adjust the hair because it was so long. I read later that you can take a blow dryer to heat the hair to the part you like and pull the hairs out to create a part. I'm too scared to do that so I guess I'll stick with my current methods, but I'll definitely have to pull some hairs out for my pink wig since the hair line doesn't match my hair at all.

This has been my experience so far and I will update you as I get more practice. Please feel free to give advice and tips!

xx

M U S I C // Lights | Little Machines Tour

I've listened to lights for at least 5-6 years now. I think the last time I saw her was in 2009, or maybe 2010. It was 2010! I just looked it up. She toured with Owl City and so I had intended to see Owl City but I ended up being super pumped about Lights. I loved The Listening. It was my first introduction to electro-pop and it was such a new genre for me I was so entranced by it. Anyway, I remember waiting in line for that tour at the Nokia theater since about 2pm. I was probably the 6th or 7th person in line. Mind you this was my first attempt to wait for the front of the stage, so I was totally new at it. The worse part about doing this is the waiting. Some people live for this but personally I'd rather go when I feel like it or buy seats to enjoy the show. She was fantastic but during this era of her life, she sang really nasal-y. like almost not real. I'm not sure if that's what she was going for during that time since the songs were more electronic sounding rather than using organic instruments, so that could be why. She definitely could sing normally so I was confused as to why she did that. Either way she sounded good. She was going through the set as she normally did and then some asshole yelled "Valerie!" Something switched in her and she literally walked off the stage after the last song. It was awkward and I didn't know if she had finished her set.

Fast forward a couple years later, I got into 'Toes' and 'Banner', but the Siberia album didn't really stick with me. Until now. Plus every time I went to check whether she was playing, I had literally missed her playing in LA by a few days. I actually got into the Little Machines album and then started going back to the Siberia album. There are some songs I like, but I'd have to say Little Machines is by far her best work. It's beautiful and honest, and it just makes you feel so dang good. So seeing this album in tour was a must for me. This is my second time seeing her, and I must say it seems like she's in a much better place in her life and she's so much more lively. Well at least compared to the last time I saw her. Anyway, I think her singing got better and her stage presence is magnetic. I think it's best to see your favorite musicians in little venues. It's definitely more intimate and she can actually see you from the stage. She had quite a few conversations with the crowd and someone was able to give her a gift. (I mean they do it at Gaga shows, but they have to throw it on stage and run the risk of getting kicked out.) So that was awesome to see. I literally missed touching her hand because I wanted to get it on film. Geez. and then I didn't even capture her in front of me. Sad day. But it was a great show so I guess I can't complain!

Check out my video of her performance.



Buy album: Little Machines

B E A U T Y // I just discovered I have 'Hooded Eyes'

So I recently discovered what my eyebrow shape is called. For those who knew and didn't tell me, shame on you. For those who didn't know either, it's okay! We can work through this together!

I've been doing a bunch of research on what hooded eyes were, these particular videos stuck out to me. I feel a little bit better knowing that this isn't only an asian trait and that other races have this eye feature as well. 

Everything she says in this video, I'm like omg I'm doing it all wrong. I wonder if my eyes look droopy or bad. I've been misled my whole life thinking that shimmery eyeshadow was the way to go. I mean recently I've liked matte eyeshadow because I feel it's more sophisticated but now I realize it would have helped my eye look a lot. I seriously just want to throw out all my make-up because I think there are only a few of them that are actually matte. 

I liked what Wayne said about lifting the eye with the "straight line" trick. I think I might have over done mine but at least in this thumbnail picture there's shimmery eyeshadow on the "mobile lid" with darker/matte shades creating the straight line. I would argue that this eye is not as 'hooded' but it could also just be the make up? I have no idea! So many options that I didn't know were possible before! I gave this technique a go and don't know how I feel about it. I might have done it wrong but who knows? 

In the end, it really doesn't matter how your make up looks, as long as it makes you feel good and you feel confident rocking it. Just thought I'd let you know. :)