2012 in Photos

This blog... has been so... so neglected.  I think I was going through a period of writer's block and didn't feel like anything I was thinking was significant enough to say.. haha!  But the year draws to a close and I feel that a wrap up post is necessary :)

Each year seems to go by faster and faster.  It's so cliche to say this... but people tell you life's short and it's absolutely true; it's crazy how quickly time goes by when you get into a routine. 2012 was crazily eventful for me.

Early in the year my obsession with gemstones began.  I was making steady income from my day job and I was using that to get my first gemstones.

And my Macaron obsession continued..

I've had the crappiest luck making macarons all year, this year. They come out looking fricken gorgeous but are hollow and chewy ARRRRRRGGGGGHH. I still haven't solved this problem yet and I've tried so many different things. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.... And it's SO SAD, because they look GREAT. DECEPTIVE.

Lots of baking was done this year. Madeleines were a consistent favorite..


And the only thing better than Madeleines are Madeleines dipped in chocolate..

I started becoming eco conscious and began exploring biodegradable/recycled packaging for pretty much ALL of my handmade jewelry and beauty goods.

I'm proud to say that today, all the zip lock bags I use are BioZip (biodegradable), and boxes are made in the USA with 100% post consumer recycled material.  A worthy cost to pay, for business owner who is doubtful due to the extra $$.

Valentine cookies!


We also discovered that our Loki could potentially be a lap cat one day...

We went to Japan with bf and awesome friends:

One photo sums this trip up..

CANDY ARCADE GAMES!!

Shortly after our return to the US I made a GIF of Kratos doing his not-so-attractive grooming routine..

Poor Achilles -- got himself injured and needed to get a cut stapled so he had to wear a cone for much longer than he had ever expected.

(Yea guys, we love our cats... haha)

Sometime in June, we caught the fitness bug.  We were all working and sitting 8 + hours a day and it felt (feels) like crap.  One of our roomates had the crazy idea that we would do a Tough Mudder in September and... I was like... erm. no. haha, we need more time.... But we signed up anyway. Lesson learned here is that when you want to do something, just do it.  Even if you suck, you did it, and know that it won't be so hard to find the initiative next time.

As a part of our training supplements I made raw bars up the wazoo.

In September we did our Tough Mudder.
It sucked, but was awesome. We weren't in bad shape but nowhere near good. This event pushed us and made us want more... to be able to do more.



After photos are not pretty :P  Been up since 4:30 AM that day.

A brief interlude as Halloween came around and I made a bunch of mini pumpkin spice cupcakes for the coworkers which were devoured way too quickly.

I think from now on for the holidays I will make mini cupcakes. Good size, easy, cute.

Oh, and after TM we caught the obstacle race bug. We did the Spartan Race in November..
I love our group. We are awesome.


I didn't have a chance to finish writing my detailed post about the Spartan Beast yet (14 mi)-- it was dreadful weather (HA, the lighting in the photos are super deceptive... because it was storming).  To sum it up, it took us 7 grueling hours to finish the race-- the ground was wet, full of muddy cow hoof holes and I had a 40lb cement block dropped on my ankle in mile 2 which resulted in my literally hobbling to the finish line.  My gash from that hasn't healed yet, and I have a hematoma at the site of impact. Needless to say these last 6 weeks have NOT been filled with any hard workouts... but starting to get back into the grind.

It's cool that Spartan Race photos are all free--- sweeeeeet.

And honestly I have no idea why I'm smiling in this photo. This was on pretty much the last mile and my ankle was pretty much not working anymore at this point. The obstacle was to carry this pancake weight thing up and down a darn muddy as hell hill. Exhausting.  Honestly I'm not sure how I did it; guess I did learn that adrenaline does wonders.


THAT BEING SAID, we have signed up for 4 more races in 2013. I am stoked!!!!!!

Finally, December has been a month where I was able to catch a breather.
Our roomies moved out in October, so we have the house to ourselves.... and about the same time Brian and I ended up buying a brand new home, which is being built and will be complete by next March. Holy goodness we are so excited to be moving to a our own house!!!

For He Qi, 2012 was pretty quiet.  I love creating but the time dedicated to this has been extremely limited-- no complaints though!  I opened a webstore on ShopLately and will continue to host exclusive sales through that site for as long as I am able.

Lastly, a quick glance at my favorite piece of 2012:

Glass Chalcedony Necklace

Crystal AB Chain Maille toggle bracelet

Sapphire Quartz leverback earrings

And some NEW creations!
I have fallen in love with chain maille... it's classy, medieval (but totally wearable) and gosh darn I do admire those who are patient and skillful enough to weave patterns out of hundreds of jump rings. It's such a tedious task; and for those who are not familiar, this is a skill that is easily overlooked.

This is a new Chain Maille necklace that you can customize with SWAROVKSI Crystal colors of your heart's desire! Super classy, so versatile and honestly look good with anything.

Also new is the Wee lil' Moon necklace in Silver or Gold:

This year, I am going to:

- Blog at least twice a month, I think that's realistic.
- Visit more of ya'lls blogs-- I need to get back in the loop!
- Continue working out, eating well
- Do at least 4 long races (Spartan, Tough Mudder, signed up already) and all shorter ones for funz.
- Spend more time with family and loved ones.
- After we get into our new house, I want to invite a bunch of people over and feed them.
- Kick my day job's ass.

What are some of your forward looking thoughts for 2013? What were your best moments and lessons learned in 2012?

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!

Lisa

www.shopheqi.com

FACEBOOK

lisaHQCD@gmail.com

Pray for Japan Fundraiser: You can make a difference.

All of you by now have probably heard of the recent natural disaster which struck Japan.
When it happened Thursday night, I was up browsing the internet. I went on live stream to watch what was happening in Japan, and found myself utterly speechless. How often does something of this magnitude affect our people?

I have done some research, and decided that it is time again for all of you, along with He Qi Crystal Designs, to try and make a difference.

I ransacked my brain this weekend, and thought about what Japan meant to me. Now, I'm not Japanese, but I have a fondness for their culture. A lot of the inspiration for my work comes from Japanese culture, including the use of "kawaii" styles, cherry blossoms, anime,  maccha (huge in my life, as silly and unimportant as that sounds..). Japan has had a huge influence on me, and now, more than ever, I need to give back. 

I've put together a "Pray for Japan" beauty gift set. It includes:

- 2 eye shadows, perfect for an everyday, natural look. suitable for all skin tones

* Cherry Blossom: shimmery light pink, 5 gram jar
   Made with: 100% natural mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, magnesium stearate
* Sakura Branch: shimmery brown, 5 gram jar
   Made with: 100% natural mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, magnesium stearate
- 1 pcs. Maccha Lemon handmade soap 1.5 oz bar
   Made with: Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Water, Coconut Oil, Sodium Stearate, Sorbitol, Shea Butter,       Titanium Dioxide, Maccha Powder, Lemon Essential Oil

+ 1 dual-end eyeshadow brush

Here's how you can help:

Purchase a "Pray for Japan" beauty set HERE.

75% of proceeds will be donated to Direct Relief.
Direct Relief was the charity I chose, above all others, to donate to because 99% of the donations go directly to the cause, since the administrative costs are one of the LOWEST I've seen of any charity (less than 1% of your donation will go towards administrative costs).

Help spread the word. Once these 15 sets are sold out, I will make more, depending on the response from you guys.

Also, I will be donating 15% of all purchases (aside from this special gift set), to Direct Relief as well. Let your friends and family know.

By myself, I may not be able to give much, but with everyone's help, we can make a huge difference. Make a purchase today: www.shopheqi.com
Also, if you are able to make a DIRECT donation, that would be even better! Check out Direct Relief for details!

And major props to the Japanese government for having one of the strictest building policies in the world-- because of the safety of the infrastructure, many buildings were able to withstand the shakes. If it had been somewhere else in the world, the damage would have been far worse. 

I hope that all of you who have family and friends in Japan have been able to get in contact (I know it's been hard). My thoughts are with you. 

love,
Lisa
heqicrystaldesigns@hotmail.com
SHOP HE QI
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My Skincare Regime + Periwrinkle Cluster Bracelet

I've received a couple of emails asking for my skin care regime recently. I had modeled a couple of my earrings, and these gals noticed my skin. I'm VERY very flattered. I'm no beauty blogger, but I will share what I do know about skincare from what I've learned in my classes, online, and just through trial & error.

My skin type:
Dry, sometimes flaky, low oil production

First and foremost-- everyone's bodies are different. So while some products work for some, it may not work for all! Always keep this in mind when checking out products. However, the things we put into out bodies (the things we eat), will pretty much have the same results throughout. Generally, I tell people who want great skin to first and foremost: keep hydrated! Water is the best, but when you are in the mood for something with some taste, go for crystal light (in moderation, too much fake sugar isn't good for you in the long run), or some 100% fruit juice. Watch out though-- a lot of juices have wayyyyy too much sugar. I like to take about 1 part 100% fruit juice, and water+ice it down with 2 part water-- it's much easier to drink, for me personally, because I don't really like things that're very sweet. Your body needs and loves water, and how we feel on the inside is reflected on the outside. Also, your veges are a must :P.

Okay, some of you fellow Asians out there MAY know what I'm talking about when I go on to this next thing....
My parents always told me that there are 2 main types of foods: HOT and COLD. This isn't very scientific but uh.... it generally works for me. If I want great skin, stick to a diet consisting more of COLD foods. HOT foods include things like: mangos, plums, peppers, some meats (think pepperoni, salami, etc).. COLD foods include: cucumber, watermelon, chicken, most veges. When I eat a lot of HOT foods, my skin becomes red and a little blotchy. I also suspect that I personally may have a minor seafood allergy-- I get these itchy (LARGE) red bumps when I eat too much shrimp/crab... almost like a pimple, but not... and also whiteheads :(. I'm also genetically blessed because I've never had an actual pimple in my life (THANK YOU MOM & DAD!)

For those of us who don't have the time to eat healthy, I suggest you taking a vege supplement. I take this Japanese young grass barley drink... it's similar to that AOJIRU stuff but not as expensive, and I can get it at ranch 99. It's pretty much like... extra veges, I guess that's the easiest way to put it. Also helps with digestion.

Sleeping is also pretty important for having good skin. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep-- your body and skin will thank you. Lowers stress hormone, hunger cravings (less production of hunger hormones & feel full hormones) so you will also fight fat ;)

On to the actual stuff I put on my face...
EVERY DAY:

From left to right:
- Green Japanese Drink (I don't put this on my face, hahahah)
- Missha pomegrate face wash-- I uhh got this in a promo pack, so I've been using it. I'm indifferent about this item. It's nothing special, cleanses your face.
- Mary Kay microdermabrasion -- I use this every other day, AFTER cleansing. OMG, BEST exfoliator EVER. The beads are TINYYYYYYY and they are pretty strong-- really helps rub away the top layer of my dry skin LOVE LOVE LOVE
- Clinique toner for combo skin-- I'm not quite sure if I really need this, but I'd been using it for a while, and I love how it makes my skin literally, squeaky clean
- b-liv off with this heads-- I had tonssssss of black heads on my nose, and this helps not only shrink them, but keeps new ones from forming
- Mary Kay timewise moisturizer-- this is only okay, as well. I really liked it when I first used it, but not as much as SHISEIDO aqualable moisture cream :( But since I've got it, might as well use it.

Other products I use on a weekly basis:
2 times a week, I use a He Qi Clay Facial. REALLY helps make my skin smooth and very moisturized. I personally use the REGEN.
2 times a week, I use He Qi Sugarscrub (I like the lemon scent)-- helps my chronic dry skin retain moisture, smell good, and feel so, so soft

If you guys have any SPECIFIC questions about my skin care routine or whatever, leave em in the comments, and I"ll get back to you on my next post!

And on the note of jewelry, I made 1 new item today:

Say hello to Periwrinkle Cluster!

Made with tons of SWAROVSKI hearts in provence lavender and SWAROVSKI aquamarine flowers / disco ball. ONE OF A KIND.

Classes have officially started! I have a feeling this quarter will be pretty fun-- I'm taking Cell/Tissue Engineering, Protein Engineering, and my upperdivision GE is Children's Lit, where I get to read all kinds of fairy tales, etc. INCLUDING one of the Harry Potter books-- yayaya! I'm excited.

I'm off to work out (I do Chalene Xtreme... or something like that, today is High Intensity Interval Training). I also invested in some BOWFLEX weights over the weekend--- got em for a GREAT deal since they had a coupon code, and they won't be here for 6 weeks, lol. But that's a different post.

If you're just getting back in school, how are you classes? If you're working, how's work treating you lately?

Talk to you soon!

- Lisa
heqicrystaldesigns@hotmail.com
SHOP HE QI
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PS:
Don't forget to join the giveaway! Link to the post is on the sidebar =)

Back from MIA: What have I been up to?! HQCD SKINCARE!!!

I've been MIA for the passed two weeks-- I had finals, and then the boyfriend's graduation/celebration. Needless to say, I haven't had much time to update my site or the blog. THANK YOU for your continued support! 

Here's a quick shot of us afterwards:

It was windy.

And that night, one of our friends made..

Um... that would be a heart attack log. Made with a bacon weave on the outside, sausage on the middle, and more bacon in the center. :X

And I made matcha macaron pops:


And marshmallows:



For my graduating friends =)

And the beautiful gal from manwomanfilm did a HQCD review! You can check out the video here:


I've been busy busy, trying to put together my new BEAUTY line. I'm starting off with CLAY FACIALS (which I know many of you have been excited to hear about :D) I'm always trying new things =), trying to keep HQCD different.

There are sooooooooo many different kinds of clays out there. Each clay has different properties, and all clays help promote skin health because they are loaded with skin-loving minerals. I created my own blends from various clays from around the world to make facials for you all. These are the exact same facials that are used in top of the line spas. You can also purchase clay masks online, but they often be very expensive, and contain tons of "fillers" (things that take up room to stand in for clay, but are not really clay). Generally, a good jar of clay of the same size as I'm selling runs for about $20-$60.

Here's my first jar, ready for shipment =)
For OILY skin.

I'm working out recipes for the following types of masks:
Dry Skin, Acne Prone Skin, Combo Skin, Sensitive

During the facial.. Yep, I only did a part of my face.


And when it's just about done and ready to wash off (notice how it's all dried out?)


What is looks like:


And packaging:

Comes with its own spatula, for your easy spreading pleasure :D
All jars comes with shrink wrap seals to let you know that they're brand new =)

Each jar is 6oz by weight. It's good for 10-13 uses. 
I only use the BEST cosmetic grade clays available on the market, INCLUDING DEAD SEA CLAY-- yes, that insanely expensive stuff from the bottom of the Dead Sea. GENUINE clays are good for the skin, and people rarely have allergic reactions. I also add green tea extract to everything to increase the antioxidants you're getting. I don't use any additives, preservatives or fillers in my blends. You're getting 100% clay, 100% potent skincare products.

Currently, everything is unscented. But in the future, I plan to add essential oils to the blends. Essential oils are different from fragrant oils in that they're actual EXTRACTS from the item. For instance, grapefruit essential oil is actually the oil from the fruit. Grapefruit fragrance oil is synthetic (man made). Fragrance oils don't have the natural healing properties of essential oils. More about that later.

I will soon be making a full line for all skin types, including ones for keeping skin youthful, and slimming face (tightening of loose skin and pores). I'm excited! Are you all with me for this journey?

Read more about it HERE.
Help spread the word!

On the subject of jewelry, I do have a few new things on my site =)















Only earrings in this batch, sorry! And only ONE of each pair available, sorry again :X
See all new earrings HERE.

Summer has begun for me! I have this week off, and then I start summer classes next Monday. My goal this week is to play FFX.... haha, I'm a nerd :X

And I PROMISE that I'll be announcing the giveaway winner VERY soon. I just need time to sit down and input all the entries to choose a winner.

Meanwhile...
tell me about your summer plans!

- Lisa
SHOP HQCD 
heqicrystaldesigns@hotmail.com