Just a teaser.

I’m usually not one for classical or victorian interiors—you can ask any of my friends. However, gosh I could watch Marie Antoinette on repeat for the rest of my life just taking in the set and costume design. The obnoxious candy colors and patterns are intoxicating. I’m really not so sure how historically correct the style is, but I don’t care. This film is visually a great piece of art.

Om nom nom.

pretty pretty please?

I’m always thirsty for inspiration. Here are a few random images I’ve collected over the past week.

Sources (not necessarily in order): decor8, emma’s designblogg, fine little day, graphic-exchange.

I’ve never done this before, but I think it makes for a decent post. I’ve seen it done by other bloggers, but never by a male. So think of it as a guy’s (not-so-manly) take on beauty products. You’ll notice none are fancy products, but they still get the job done. And well enough for my liking. Descriptions are eft to right, first row then second.

C.O. Bigelow Lemon Lip Balm (Bath & Body Works / $7.50) — I recently discovered this chapstick and fell in love. I had previously used Bigelow’s Mentha lip balm (great for anyone who loves mint…and soft lips) but decided to give this a try during a five-dollar-lipcare sale B&BW was having. Yum yum, this stuff tastes literally just like super sugary lemonade and does a great job at keeping my lips unchapped. The only complaint I have is that it’s so tastey, it’s sometimes hard to resist licking it off my lips right away.

Nivea A Kiss Of Moisture Lip Balm (Target / $2) — A nice secondary chapstick. It’s flavorless, but has a slight fresh scent. I have a few of these everywhere—my car, bedside table, work apron, etc. It’s a little pricier than your old 99-cent chapstick, but both the quality and design make it worth it. The glue-stick-like tube is the same as the Bigelow stuff and has not yet once twisted itself into a mess like other lipbalms have in my pocket/bag.

Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Acne Treatment (Target / $6) — This tiny tube seems a bit pricey for its size, but does what it claims (that being ‘reduces pimple redness and size after just one use’ or something like that). After washing my face in the shower and in the morning before work, I dab little bits of this directly onto zits and problem areas. It’s clear and doesn’t dry crusty like other similar products. Downside: I’ve learnt that if you use it more than twice a day (just like stated on the package) it will dry the heck out of your skin. Sure, the pimple is gone, but you’ll be left with flakey, peeling skin which admitedly looks worse.

Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Wash (Target / $5) — I seriously live by this stuff. Every day in the shower, I scrub my face with this using my rough Axe loofah. Not going to lie, it seriously feels like it burns the top ten layers of your skin off (I’m sure it actually does) but it’s the only thing I’ve found that keeps those pimples away. The only reason I have the occasional zit here and there is because I miss a day of using this.

Clean & Clear Blackhead Cleansing Scrub (Target / $5) — This only gets out occasionally when I have a blackhead or two. It also seems to help keep my backne (ugh) under control.

N.Y.C. Coverup Stick (Target / $1) — I’m not big on makeup. However, I do use this coverup stick to help hide red blemishes. It’s only ninety-nine cents and as a result, it’s definitely not the best. But for a boy who isn’t too concerned about his skin, it does the job to slightly hide imperfections. And seriously, you can’t beat the price.

Tigi Bed Head After Party (Target / $18) — Okay, so this stuff is pretty pricey but it’s definitely worth it. As of the holidays, I’ve recently acquired a collection of Target giftcards so I don’t even feel bad about the price. The label says to use a dab on dry hair. I, however, like to use it while I’m blowdrying my hair. I wait until I’m almost close to being done but the hair is still a little damp. Leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft and smooth and the smell is absolutely heavenly.

Herbal Essences Shampoo & Conditioner (Target / $3 & $3) — I’ve heard bad things about this brand of shampoo, but have never had a problem with any of them. I mean, they’re definitely not the best, but they’re cheap and smell too good to pass up. This past week, I started using Color Me Happy and I’m not going to lie—the smell isn’t the greatest, but it seems to be helping maintain my haircolor. I’m accustomed to using Drama Clean or None Of Your Frizzness (both which smell heavenly) and will probably switch back when the dye wears out of my hair or I run out of shampoo (whichever comes first).

Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Cream (Target / $5) — Recently disovered this gem. Some days I’ll go for a messy look, and while that usually comes naturally for me, this stuff helps keep it together. What I like to do is put a veryyyyyyy tiny amount in my hands and rub it around then go over my entire head of hair. To keep ends clumped together, it’ll go in with a bit more. One thing that drives me nuts, is the container it’s in. I wish it were in a squeeze tube isntead of this obnoxious tub. I seem to make such a mess with it.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Serum (Target / $3) — I’ve seen this for a while but only recently decided to try it. This stuff makes me hair SUPER sleek and soft—so much that it almost feels thinner. I like to keep this for days when my hair is super thick and wirey (especially when it’s humid). This works similarly to the Bed Head cream, but when using this a very tiny bit goes a long way. The first time i used it I joked with a friend, saying “I swear this stuff is just scented vegetable oil” due to it’s slick runny feeling. Vegetable oil or not, it works fabulously. While nearly all the stuff I listed smells good, this along with the Bed Head cream smells the most fruity and delicious.

Vidal Sassoon Nano Straightening Iron (Target / $25) — Oh man, I love this little guy. I’ve been using a flat iron for years now. Usually (some days, but not nearly as much as before) not to get pin-straight hair, but rather to get rid of out of place curls/waves. For some reason, the right hair on the right side of my head curls, while the left doesn’t. I fell in love when I saw this at Ulta a few months ago and was joking “it’s so cute I’d even get it being that it’s pink”. Soon after, found it at target in more than just pink (blue, green, etc) and picked it up. Surely it’s no CHI, but for what I’m using it for, I don’t need anything fancy. The best thing about it other than the sleek design is it’s small frame and ability to stay to cool on the outside.

I’ve spoken about my addiction to Final Fantasy XI and consequently my obsession with Final Fantasy XIV before. Well, that was eight months ago and I’m still in the same state. I’m waiting impatiently for the online game which will destroy my social life more than both work and the internet already have.

These beautiful pictures are screenshots of a pre-rendered movie for the game. Most likely an opening scene. Besides these, a few in-game screenshots, and a page here and there of details, there hasn’t been much information released. Right now I don’t have much to say, but expect crazy fanboy entries as we move closer to a release date.

And what have we done? Another year over, a new one just begun.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I hope everyone’s having as much fun as I am.

I am in love with this boy’s photos. His name is Colin Hill and I have a feeling I will be posting more of his work in the future.

One last thing: while I was looking through his shots, some of them had a very dream-like feel which immediately reminded me of the Wonder (where this blog’s name comes from, in fact) series by Anna Gaskall.

I’ve been quite busy lately, especially with work. Also, for a while there, my hosting was down. Now that it’s back, I’m just sloppily posting things that I lusted over during its downtime.