Math 110

If I could start over and have 10 years to finish my bachelor’s degree, I would definitely major in mathematics. I courageously decided to take Math 110 after a friend of mine told me that it was the easiest math course that they offered and (while it wasn’t true) I was lazy enough that I decided to enroll in the 2 term course without doing any research.

I can give a bunch of excuses and explanations as to why I failed to hand in any of my webwork or assignments. I mean, I just did not have the time to dedicate 10-15 hours a week, especially since I was taking 6 courses and had four students that I was tutoring. But alas, an excuse is an excuse and I know that if I truly applied myself and valued the education that I was receiving then I could have passed my first term.

Of course, with the lack of effort comes a lack of a passable grade, at least for math anyways. Fast forward a few months later, and I realized that this single math course has taught me what the past four years of university failed to. Not only did I spin around my work ethic, I also learned how to problem solve not just calculus equations but also real-life situations. With English I could cruise by without a shred of effort and get decent marks. Not only was this mentality unhealthy but it just wasn’t realistic or applicable to my life if I were to graduate and get a job.

Knowing that I had to get an impossibly high mark in order to pass, I started picking up the slack. Every office hour, I showed up and kept my prof busy past his set times. Every break I was at the Math Learning Center, flagging down the tutors, every Wednesday at 9 am I made sure to attend the PASS classes that were offered, and most importantly I made sure that I showed up to class at 8 am every morning. I realized that in life no one just offers you success for no reason. You need to be proactive and get what you want by being resourceful and investing time, money and effort into whatever it is you’re trying to achieve.

I didn’t “get” or understand the material in a day. Not in a week either. Success is cumulative and it requires consistency. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is knowledge.

My mentality used to be: “I really really really really need to pass so I can get my degree and get out of here”. I said this to my prof at least three times. He shook his head and told me that finishing shouldn’t be my only priority, but if it came to it I really should invest the extra year into learning things properly. I am paying for education after all…(right?). At first, I just nodded and thought, “you wouldn’t understand I’m already in my fifth year. If I don’t pass now I have to take summer school and I won’t graduate in the spring. I don’t even need this stupid math course, why would I want to waste a year waiting for my degree…” and so on, but now I realized that what he said is right. Time is of the essence, it’s true, but your efficiency is invalid if you don’t take the time to set up a strong foundation. At one point or another, these cracks that you neglected will crumble.

Life is uncertain. Nothing will ever go the way you plan. I might not pass math, but I tried my best. I shed tears of frustration but I was also happy. Effort and time reciprocate really the sweetest gratification. I love math and really see that it’s powerful and beautiful and all that you probably won’t believe. If I don’t pass I know that I can at least say that for the last portion I did try my best, and with that I think I have to be satisfied with it.

welcome to the dark side

the most fashionable outfit to date on GingerSteps

Yeah, admittedly our previous outfits were subpar. So Hamela and I put our heads together to bring you the most breathtaking outfit to date. It's simple but outstandingly chic, extraordinarily stylish and above all, cute.

Is it this?

No. We've done that before.

Ok, then you must be thinking...this?

No, we didn't like that one enough to post it.

Instead, I present to you something 100 000x better: Onesie Fasion

The subtle grey tone really compliments that hand gesture as well as that complicated model squat. And that hood! No need to style your hair with this, and no accessories needed.

haha, we're only joking, but not really

- Ginger

Onesie: Urban Planet
Sneakers: Rebok

Bleaching Hair

So I finally got around to bleaching my icky faded blue hair. Because so many people are wondering how it's done, I just decided to write a quick tutorial-esque post. So first things first: you need the bleach powder AND developer. The developer is what activates the bleach. You need a brush. Let me clarify again. YOU NEED A BRUSH. It’s crucial for even application of the bleach. You also need to be wearing a fugly t-shirt that you do not care about, and strips of aluminum foil.

Step One

In a bowl, mix your powder bleach and your developer. I purchased by bleach and developer from Shoppers Drug Mart. I’ve also used some brands from the States, and the piercing booth in front of Bang On in Metrotown actually sells you the kit. If you have lighter, finer hair get the lower volume (30-40) and if your hair is relatively dark then get higher volumes (40-50). If you’re a beginner consult the vendor. Also, if it’s your first time, then you might want to start off with Volume 30.

Moving on…I pour in my developer first and then the bleach after – this will insure that all of the bleach has contact with the developer. Mix it very carefully either with the end of the comb/brush or any wooden or plastic stick you have. It should be thoroughly mixed and make sure that the bleach hasn’t just settled or conglomerated at the bottom. Don’t skimp out on the developer: usually it’s one packet of bleach to one bottle of developer.

Step Two

Okay! Now it has been thoroughly mixed. Next I divide my hair into two sections, and then into strips. If you’re doing your entire hair, the thickness of each strip is not that crucial, all you need to do is make sure that your hair is evenly coated. If you’re doing just the bottom like me, the strips are more important because you can control how much you want to dye. Don’t be lazy. Make sure your strips are nicely varied but relatively uniform at the same time (talk about contradictory). The strips will keep your hair from getting a visible, straight line and will allow your bleached hair to blend better.

you can already see the green stripped from my hair

So with your brush you take a strip of hair and apply the bleach to one side, then comb. Then flip it and apply + comb the other side as well. Then wrap it up in the aluminum foil and then clip it up! Repeat with the rest of your hair. Once you’re done, leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour. Keep checking regularly though!

Step Three

Check to see if you have achieved your desired colour, and go back to apply more if you missed a spot. Once you’re done go wash your hair and voila!

NOTE:

Do not exceed an hour. If you need to, bleach your hair more than once. You most likely will have to if you have black hair. I bleached my hair 4 times before it was light enough so that I could dye it blue.

Help is great. Help is actually highly recommended at first.

If your hair is already lighter at the bottom, bleach the darker parts first and then go back and do the lighter parts later.

Bleach can make your hair just fall off or break off, but it won’t unless you royally screw up and keep it in for like two or three hours.

Make sure your hair is dry. Just like you don't want to straighten/curl your hair when it's wet, you don't want to bleach/dye it when it is either.

Have fun!

- Ginger

Steph's Autumn Haul

With the colder weather approaching and months of saving, I stocked up on some autumn-cozies and splurged a little while I was at it. All of these items were purchased with my own money and were bought over the course of the past couple of months.

1. Kate Spade Watch

For the past year, I’ve been looking to somewhat invest in a watch. At first, I only wanted an inexpensive but classic looking watch, but after giving it more thought, I gave myself a budget and saved up for it. When I finally reached my goal, I went shopping at Holt Renfrew and experienced “love at first sight” with this Kate Spade watch that I purchased. Even though, I had always planned on getting a black leather one, none of the ones I saw were “the one.” So, I went with this nude leather strap with the gold frame because it just adds a feminine touch to any outfit I wear. Definitely my most favourite purchase in a while.

2. Slippers

While I was shopping online, I saw these boot-slippers that just looked super cute and comfortable. Sadly, when I went to the store, they didn’t have it in grey, the original colour I wanted, so I just settled for the pink one. I must say, I don’t regret it at all. These boots definitely keep me cozy and make me feel cute even when I’m in my baggy pyjamas.

3. Night Shirt

Speaking of pyjamas, I bought a t-shirt when I was at H&M thinking I need a somewhat simple graphic tee to add to my everyday wardrobe. But, after trying it on at HOME (sigh..), I realized it was just too baggy and long. Thing is, the shirt is just so freaking soft. A lightbulb went off in my head. And night shirt it is. Great thing about it is, if I wake up late and or I’m feeling lazy, I don’t need to change my top. Just layer it with a cardigan and some leggings, and we're good to go! #winface

4. Sweater

Another purchase I made at H&M was this sweater because well it looks nice, it's my style, and autumn sweater weather is here. I like how soft it is and the price was very reasonable.

5. Toque/Beanie

What do YOU call them? I love hats, so I had to get a nice black toque so that I could wear with almost everything. Even though it was a tad on the pricey side for a toque, I just thought that since I'll be wearing it almost all the time, might as well get a better quality one from Plenty. Gotta say this Obey toque has saved my butt on many of my bad hair days. I can either just leave my hair down or put it in a side braid, and I'm able to greet the world without embarrassment...of my hair.

Book Review: A Tale for Time Being

The other day I was going around my school library cos I had some free time before a workshop and I came across this section just for leisurely reads! I was completely taken by surprise, because I love books and most of UBS’ books are academic, so I've never borrowed a book just to read on my own (from the University Library, that is).

"Great Reads" Section at Corner Library

So I happened to be walking by, and I'm not sure if you can see the book I ended up borrowing in the above picture, above but for some reason my hand just gravitated towards it. I pulled it out and I immediately fell in love with the cover. 

The cover does kind of pop!

I love reading. One thing that I hate about having a busy life is that I seldom have the time to set aside for reading, as I love to do that hours at a time, just curl under by blanket and immerse myself into this new world. I get so attached to the characters that once I've finished, I feel like a lose a little part of me, because the life of that character will be no more. They’ll have reached the end of their journey and leaving me hanging…

For some strange reason, I didn't feel this way for this book. That doesn't necessarily mean I hated it, or I felt detached from the characters, but I just felt a great sense of resolve, even though the great mystery isn't technically solved. 

So this book follows the story of Ruth who finds a mysterious diary that has floated on to shore from Japan. Ruth is a Japanese novelist who moved into a remote village for her husband. To be honest, I’m not sure if the actual author is writing about herself because I mean it does all fit, but I’m not sure if her finding Naoko’s diary is fictional or not.

So Ruth finds this diary, right? And she gets all worked up because Naoko has a pretty emotionally turbulent life, and she might be dead by the means of: suicide, tsunami, etc. Ruth then gets absorbed into Naoko's life and becomes obsessed with finding her, even though it's been ten years since Naoko's finished her diary. The story gets a tinge supernatural (and corny) at the end with disappearing and reappearing pages that happens to rewrite itself as Ruth begins to acknowledge whatever is the thing she needed to realize.

The book is cut into a series of 3 parts and within these parts the book goes back and forth between Nao’s world and Ruth’s world. Honestly though, during the first third of the book I dreaded reading Ruth’s sections because she is just so whiny and she just bitches about everything including her friends and husband, but later I really did end up liking her and appreciated her quest to find Nao. Because she cared, I cared. I would say that Ruth’s character development is subtle, whereas Nao’s journey is way more eventful and turbulent. Either way, I have a great fondness for Nao, and great respect for Ruth.

Anyways, I really did like this book. I fell completely in love with Nao: her enduring innocence despite all of the wicked sick things that she experiences. I’m actually quite sure that I came across this tale by pure coincidence, but how do we know that I wasn't destined to find it and read it just as Ruth did of Nao’s diary?

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars, because it was really good but I would have enjoyed it way more with less Ruth time and more Nao time. Nao is a charming girl who won my heart and sympathy and all of that jazz. Ruth was just okay. I know that the point of her parts was to show the process of looking for Nao, but I wish she just kept it shorter.

- Ginger

Featured Artist of the Month: Julie London - October 2013

Stephanie’s Featured Artist of the Month – Julie London – October 2013

Last month, I featured a hip hop artist; this month, we go back in time to the 1950s – 1960s. Since childhood, I have always enjoyed jazz but only exposed myself to the big names such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, etc. That was until last year, I heard the song “Cry Me a River” (not the Justin Timberlake version, even though I love that song, as well). It was sung in such a classy sultry way that I just had to learn more about the artist. That was how I discovered the sexiest singer ever, the beautiful, Julie London.

If I grew up during her generation, I would definitely go lesbian for her. She was hella sexy.

Her voice and her performances are very sensual, but done in a composed and acceptable manner. The smoky tone in which she sings effortlessly expresses the strong, yet extremely feminine woman in her songs.

“Cry Me a River” is her most signature song, and duly so, as it is also my favourite Julie London classic. In a more relatable context, it is similar to JT’s version in terms of what the lyrics is trying to convey: “I’m not taking you back.” This song itself is very relatable to many relationships. You work so hard on a relationship, the other person doesn’t appreciate it, and so, you try your hardest to just move on. But, no. Only when you’re gone do they appreciate your presence.

If you end up liking this song, remember to check out her other songs such as “When I Fall in Love.” If you’re ever in need of a calm song while studying or getting ready to sleep, Julie’s soothing voice is just perfect. It’s also perfect for the chill autumn season. Stay cozy and awesome everyone.

-          Steph =]

Ginger's Hallow's Eve

So I partied last week with Step-on-me-Poo, yes it is true. I just wanted to dance and so Steps and I danced the night away without reservations. We just sweated away all of our frustrations and stress. And no, there was no nasty grinding involved with any boys! Can you guess what I was? It's pretty ambiguous, but...

But on Halloween, I did something completely different. I went to my church event where we play games, eat candy and just plain ol celebrate time together. I get it, trick-or-treating is a part of childhood that everyone should experience, but I think Hallelujah Night is a great way to get kids off the dangerous streets and focus on the positive, bright and fun part of Halloween.

Yummy cookie making

We all wore pajamas and wacky hats. It was a great time, and we were full of energy. I'm not going to post the pictures of any kids because I don't want to go around asking permission from each of their parents, but no worries, I still have plenty of pictures of myself (har har har).

I was going to wear a matching onesie avec ma soeur, mais I just decided to go with a purple robe with a crown. But even before it started my friend stole my crown and in turn I took my sister's animal ears (unidentified animal) and in turn she took another friend's husky toque. Overall I must say I looked swaggie. Yup.

I love my mom

Just a selfie with my mom for good measure

I'm wondering what you did for Halloween. I honest to goodness had so much fun this year.