live. laugh. love.

a special care package.

2011-09-23T18:11:00.000-04:00

earlier this week, i came home from work to a very pleasant surprise - there was a package sitting by my apartment door (thanks to whomever put it there for me, whether it be the mailman or one of the other tenants)! it was from christina! i hurriedly opened my door, threw my purse and keys on the counter, and headed straight for a knife to open the package (i'd like to add that the excitement caused me to become very clumsy and i basically jabbed the tip of the knife into my thumb... haha).

what was inside, you ask? well, let me first say that, in maine, there are not a lot of asian-cultured places/restaurants. i have been posting on facebook how badly i'm craving all kinds of different asian foods but, of course, have no access to. being a sweetheart that she is, she sent me a care package full of asian goodies, including egg noodles, vermicelli, seaweed sushi wrap, chinese bbq sauce seasoning, pickled leeks, sriracha, tamarind seasoning, and rice paper for wrapping up spring/summer rolls!

below are a few photos i took of the goodies from my weina!

forgot to mention that she also included some photos!

clumsy me! :(

thanks, weina! love you!

a start of a new life: bangor, maine.

2011-09-11T22:19:00.000-04:00

yes, folks, you read it right. i currently reside in the state of maine! it's so.. NOT ME.. but hey, when the bright light flashes on, you can't help but move toward it, even though it might not be the fate that you wanted.

and no, my boyfriend living in virginia is not the only reason why i say this. there's family (of course), friends, familiar environment (although sometimes it's not a bad thing to be adventurous and wander about unknown territory), better weather (not as of late with the horrendous flooding and constant rain - mother nature has certainly not been happy this year!), cultured life (bangor has not really progressed to the present times or so i've been told by a few), and the list goes on!

regardless, i've accepted the fact that i am going to be a mainer for a little while. it's not so bad now, but boy, when winter comes roaring up that northeast coastline, i am doomed (who wants a frozen trangsicle for dessert!?)!

i found a nice apartment in the downtown area (aahh, civilization!), close to restaurants and bars, which, i'm praying, will make my life more sane. thanks to stan for helping me move up here (poor guy for driving from philadelphia to bangor with a uhaul and my car strapped to the ass of it).

the people here are quite friendly, though sometimes i think they look at me funny.. because.. maybe i'm asian..? i have no clue. i told my boss that and he laughed.. i couldn't really interpret what kind of laughter it was - either it was true or he found my way of thinking humorous. either way, it seems alright so far. and oh, the shopping is ridiculous.. and not ridiculous in a good sense. the newest arrival (three months ago) to the mall is express. REALLY?! online shopping it is!

first day of work starts tomorrow, and i am going to husson university with the boss to speak to the students for a round table activity - a fun first day, i'd have to admit!

photos of my apartment (soon-to-be completely finished) coming soon! and oh yes, to my friends reading.. COME VISIT ASAP! :)

grammar nazi: the "anymore" rant

2011-07-21T10:22:00.001-04:00

for those of you who know me, you know that i am a total grammar nazi. and if you don't like the word "nazi" then i will say that i am a huge advocate for correct grammar. the whole than/then, their/they're/there, two/to/too, etc irk me to the point of self destruction. ok, not really, but let's just say that it really bothers me.

my list of grammatical pet peeves has reached astronomical numbers and i know my friends get quite annoyed when i constantly correct their misuse of words. about two weeks ago, i gained yet another pet peeve and i hope some of you share my vantage point on this issue. the word "anymore" is constantly abused and i started recognizing it every since i've been back in carlisle. maybe it's a carlisle thing - i don't know.

"that happens anymore." what is wrong with that statement? does that sound funny to anyone else, or is it just me? i hear SO MANY people use it in that positive polarity and it sounds so wrong to me; my sixth sense for grammatical errors picks it up right away and i cringe as if i just heard nails on a chalkboard. people need to understand that when they use "anymore" in that sense, it should be used in a negative polarity, as in, "it DOES NOT happen anymore." are some people just wrongly educated or what?

well, that was my rant for the day (honestly, it's been a couple times that i've ranted about this subject on facebook). may it be a lesson to those who use "anymore" in a positive polarity.

alright, i'm with with this anymore! (ugh, how it sounds so terrible!)

nomnomnom: the amazing food race in nyc!

2011-07-19T23:11:00.001-04:00

before i begin, i'd like to give a shoutout to alison and pat for arranging this event and putting everything together! it was a huge success and so much fun! so, thank you again, you two!

anyway, you might be wondering, "what is this amazing food race?" alison had put this event together for pat's (her boyfriend) birthday and it involved us running around new york city and eating all day! although i feel obese (and i still do even though two days have passed), my taste buds and tummy were satisfied (very satisfied).

there were seven teams, all with different colored shirts (stan and i were TEAM BLUE!). we were given a set of rules and a list of twelve restaurants/pitstops with challenges for each location, in which we had to choose five (not to mention doing three non-food challenges as well). we were also given maps to help us navigate the city (it really wasn't that hard, i guess, because we cabbed to our pitstops - lol).

our food challenges:

1) dirty bird to-go (eat three pieces of chicken fingers)

2) gray's papaya (each team eats two hotdogs and drinks a 14 oz. drink)

3) pomme frites (eat a large order of fries - it was huge!)

4) chickalicious (eat a dessert, such as ice cream or shaved ice)

5) artichoke (each player eats a slice of pizza)

there were other restaurants that i would have preferred to go to, but oh well. there is always next time.

our non-food challenges:

1) taking a picture with the gay street sign

2) taking a picture with the smallest house in nyc (75 1/2 bedford st)

3) taking a picture with the alamo aka astor place cube

the first team to finish all the challenges and get to the end point won! it was a tie (or something like that - it was confusing) between three teams. the winning teams got "new york city" t-shirts (thanks alison and pat!).

stan and i had formed an alliance with TEAM BROWN after seeing them at our first pit stop. it was a good thing we did because we had loads of fun taking shots in between every restaurant (i bet all the other teams thought we were crazy). stan had forgot the video camera so i wasn't able to document any of the fun in video, but i do have some photos to share!

i'm thinking we should do a DC food race next! now, that's a plan!!

adrenaline rush: skydiving!

2011-07-07T23:23:00.002-04:00

what's the craziest thing you have ever done? and i mean, the absolute craziest thing? i did my wildest thing tuesday, july 5, 2011. and what was that, you ask? well, i'm pretty sure you wouldn't even have to ask based on the title of this post. haha. but, yes, folks, i jumped out of a perfectly working airplane at an altitude of 11,000 feet (a little over 2 miles), and i loved it!!

for those of you who have not been skydiving yet and want to check it off your bucket list but are a bit hesitant, my word of advice is, "DO IT!" you will be glad you did. i am telling you, it was such a rush and such an amazing feeling as i was jumping out of the plane. the first few seconds, i couldn't even scream or make any noise because i was so taken aback by the beauty of everything. i was incomplete awe. i was snapped back to reality when my tandem-jump instructor, who was tightly strapped onto me from behind, tapped me on the shoulder and motioned me to look at the videographer. i gave him a good show, screaming "woo hoo's" and giving the "thumbs up" and "peace" signs.

if you're an adrenaline junkie and a thrill seeker, go skydiving. yes, i know that things don't always go as smoothly as you want when it comes to parachuting, but that's the whole point - that's why it's such a rush. freefalling from an altitude of 11,000+ feet with an approximate speed of 120mph was an incredible feeling. it went by so quickly that i have to constantly relive the moment in my head to remember everything.

the view from 2 miles up was so gorgeous. it was a beautiful day on tuesday, with lots of sun and hardly any clouds in sight. down below, i saw trees, small bodies of water, and buildings - everything was so tiny. it was about 6:30pm when we jumped, so the sun casting it's light at that particular angle made everything so much more amazing.

so, again, for those of you who have always wanted to try skydiving, what are you waiting for?! DO IT!

memorial day weekend: thank you to those who have served our country!

2011-05-31T22:55:00.000-04:00

memorial day weekend signals the start of rising temperatures, sizzling cookouts, longer days, and beach vacations. oh, summer, how i have longed for thee.

but let's not forget the main reason why memorial day is celebrated. no, it's not because some people are able to take a day off or because shopping stores have massive sales. memorial day is a day to pay tribute to those who have served our country, to those who have protected our country, and to those who have died for our country. without those people, our nation would be in ruins and the united states would not be the powerhouse that we are. so, i would like to thank those who have fought for our country and i appreciate your service.

i hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend. i sure did, even though it was uber hot up here in the northeast!

until next time!

back from MIA!

2011-05-19T08:44:00.001-04:00

i've been [m]issing [i]n [a]ction as of late, and i apologize. i just have not been motivated to write about anything because it seems like it's just the same thing over and over again that spins around in my head. repetition gets dull to you and me both, i know.

as some may know, i just got back from a 5-day trip to MIAmi (yes... again... lol) and it was fun as usual. i had oyster shooters for the first time, went to the everglades to visit the alligators, started the soul train at clevelander (and let me tell you, it was such a blast. we are the party starters!), popped bottles at mansion (it wasn't as fun this time because our table was located at a terrible area of the club and the music was blah), beached it up a million times, played king's before we went out (that's always fun), played charades one night (girls dominated!), and danced up a storm in brickell on our last night. all in all, it was an enjoyable trip with lots of memories. :)

next up on my list of adventures includes skydiving (june 12) and a beach trip to OCMD with a bunch of friends (always fun!).

i promise to update more frequently! toodles!

zenifashion: calling all fashionistas (and fashionistos) on a budget!

2011-03-15T09:38:00.001-04:00

hey, y'all. so, i know i have been slacking off when it comes to blogging, but i have a little something for you all to make up for it.

i would like to introduce you all to zenifashion! what's more annoying than going from site to site looking for sales that may intrigue you? well, zenifashion has done the hard work for you. zenifashion, brought to you by zenitus, is a website where you can find a compilation of the latest and greatest sales and coupons on apparel, accessories, travel, and much more. these sales come from various sample sale sites and other "traditional" stores that may be found at your local mall and are all collectively put under one website, making it more convenient for shoppers like you! saving money is great, but saving time along with that is even better!

zenifashion updates and posts new sales from the many sample sale websites daily, so make sure you stay on top of these great deals by checking the zenifashion website frequently.

follow zenifashion!

how to fake an orgasm: the animated guide.

2011-03-04T12:57:00.006-05:00

last year, i bought a book titled, "why men love bitches" and i just now picked it up again to leaf through the pages for some good quotes for a facebook status. i landed on page 70 of the book and, upon remembering the content, chuckled to myself. i figured i'd share this with y'all because some of you may enjoy this or need a laugh for the day. ENJOY! :)

How To Fake An Orgasm - The Animated Guide

---> arch your back at a 45-degree angle and pant like a dog.

---> recite a couple of bad lines from a b-rated blue movie (remember those?) example: tell big poppa he does it for you like no one else can.

---> and the basics: "yes, yes, yes... harder, harder... don't stop!!!" then you'll want to immediately slap the nearest pillow.

---> mix it up. this means sometimes you'll want to slap the pillow then scream, other times you want to scream first, then slap the pillow. men love variety.

---> don't forget to suck your finger.

---> now for show and tell: ask him whose "it" is, and tell him that it's his! (yes it is)

---> if he switches positions, stops for a rest, or reaches for a drink of water, pay no attention and keep screaming anyway.

---> now for the alleged orgasm: scream like a banshee, and begin those kegel exercises. squeeze... release... squeeze... release.

---> and after sex, don't forget pillow talk. you've had two men before him. (okay, three, tops. but that's your final offer.)

WARNING: IF YOUR MAN SEES THIS, IT COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT (erectile dysfunction)

- an excerpt from why men love bitches by sherry argov.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WEINA!!

2011-02-09T00:00:00.002-05:00

HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY TO MY WEINA! It feels like it was just yesterday when we were teeny boppers.. passing fold-up notes in the hallways of CHS.. prancing around my backyard posing for liz as she took our pictures.. dancing in the dark in front of the mirror with our mini glowsticks.. playing hide-and-seek at village park at night.. doing "missions" and rolling under the partially opened garage to check out what bob was doing.. hanging out and doing those gimp things at summertime adventures.. having sleepovers at my place since my parents never let me sleep over anyone's house.. doing silly role playing in my room.. and more recently [within the past few years], having those weekly dinners.. 50 cent mixed drinks at smokey joe's.. dancing until wee hours of the night.. rolling around in the sands of miami as we gave each other a photoshoot after nikki beach.. doing action photos on the bed at the hyatt on broad street.. bar hopping in the rain.. jumping in dirty philadelphia puddles..

we have laughed together.. cried together.. been happy together.. been sad together.. been upset at each other.. but we're still here for each other.. no matter what. 20 + years of friendship and memories and many more to come! i hope you have a joyous and safe birthday, my love! i love you and can't wait until we reunite again!!!

a compilation of some memories with WANG and WEINA! ♥

hello to a new year: 2011.

2011-01-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

i realize it is a tad bit late, but happy new year, everyone! i hope y'all enjoyed the holidays; i know i sure did. and i also am aware that i have been slacking in the posting department.. i felt like i haven't written on my blog in such a long time, but don't you worry because i will be back at it!

2010 had been a great year for me. i won't go into much details about the past year, but i met great, new people, i went on many adventures, and most importantly, i graduated from school. if 2011 is as great as 2010, it will be a splendid year. i cannot wait to see what this year has to offer me, but i am sure it will be a good one.

again, sorry for not posting as much as i should, but i'll be posting more regularly from now on! signing off!

happy belated gobble-gobble day!

2010-11-28T08:59:00.000-05:00

hey, y'all. i'm a bit late, but i hope everyone had a great thanksgiving! are your bellies and tastebuds sick of turkey and all the fixings yet? i, personally, could use another helping.. lol

anyway, thanksgiving is a time to express thanks and gratitude, so since i haven't yet done so, let me begin. i am thankful for my family, who have been supportive of me [though sometimes not so kindly] throughout all the years of my good [and bad] decisions that i wanted to and did make. thank you to my friends who listened to me and gave me advice whenever i needed to make hard decisions, who took care of me when i wasn't in the right state of mind to do so myself, who knew what to say and do to make me smile when i was feeling sad. thank you to cupid for shooting that darn arrow at my butt when i saw stan, for he has filled my heart and love and joy. and finally, i am thankful for just being here, to be in existence with the world, and to be alive.

hope you all enjoyed the holiday! 27 days until christmas!!

TSA opt-out day: november 24, 2010.

2010-11-22T12:35:00.002-05:00

for those of you planning to travel for thanksgiving, expect more-than-usual holiday back-ups at the airport. this coming wednesday is being dubbed "national opt-out day," where flyers who support the TSA protest plan to opt out of going through those privacy-invading, backscatter-radiation-producing, cancer-inducing, porno screeners. by opting out of the security screening, they are forcing themselves to be put through an even more invasive full-body pat-down, where their private parts will be groped. these body searches are apparently quite aggressive, leaving hardly anything untouched, and many flyers who have already gone through them have stated that they felt they were being sexually harrassed and assaulted.

while i understand that the TSA and government are implementing these new security tactics to help prevent and stop terroristic acts, what about the dignity and health of people? no one wants to be groped by some stranger or subject themselves to cancer-inducing radiation coming from those porno-screeners.

i, for one, have had to go through the x-ray full-body screener once before, and i was not a happy camper at all [because i was aware of the nature of these screeners after reading an article from CNN]. i felt violated and hated the idea that some stranger could virtually see me "naked." these pat-downs seem worse, especially if the TSA worker does it in a very inappropriate and aggressive way. no thanks.

so, what's my opinion of this TSA protest?? i don't think national opt-out day is going to be such a huge deal because most travelers will just want to get out of the security lines and to their final destination quickly, but this battle against flyers and the TSA will surely continue. i understand those who are going to be protesting and making a scene because these searches and screenings are an invasion of privacy and goes against the constitution. the fourth amendment states:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

on the other hand, i understand that the use of these security approaches are implemented for safety reasons, and they could potentially catch things that aren't normally caught by the metal detectors. i believe that full-body searches and the use of the x-ray full-body screens could be a good thing but when specifically put to use for people who set off the alarms or have something in their carry-on bags that isn't allowed.

what are your opinions??

my first NFL game: eagles @ redskins.

2010-11-19T07:46:00.001-05:00

before i start off this blog, i would just like to say... TOTAL DOMINATION. eagles totally showed mcnabb and his redskins that they can certainly soar high. after the initial touchdown [15 seconds into the game], i knew it was over for those redskins. they were skinned alive!

so, anyway, this was my first NFL game [thanks to stan's brother for the ticket!] and i had a great time [especially since the eagles opened up a can of buttwhooping on the skins]. the only negative part was the rain, but thank goodness stan had advised me to run out and pick up some rain ponchos earlier that day or else we would have been soaked [good thinking, babe!]!

so, an eagle and a redskin... together. we had some comments from other people about it. one person asked stan, "what happened there?" another person told him, "you can do better." thanks a lot, meanies. but then again, it's nothing compared to what eagles fans would have said to me about stan and his skins jersey if the game was in philly. lol

all in all, an awesome experience and now i can finally say i've been to an NFL game! NFL, check. NBA, check. MLB, check.

estee lauder's idealist skin refinisher: a miracle exfoliator!

2010-11-16T12:12:00.000-05:00

are you looking for a face exfoliator that isn't too rough on your face? have i got the perfect product for you! a week ago, i started using estee's lauder idealist skin refinisher [now known as idealist pore minimizer skin refinisher and has three times more glucosamine - anti-aging benefits - and a new enzymatic technology, providing your skin more clarity and smoothness] and i can see a dramatic difference in the way my skin looks. my face is smoother, more even, and my make-up looks better than before.

so, what is the idealist skin refinisher? it is a non-acid serum that resurfaces your skin, basically getting rid of all the dead, dry skin that has accumulated on your face, revealing the healthy and "ideal" skin underneath.

the first time i used this product, i was astonished at the amount of dead skin i had built up on my face [as gross as it may sound]. i use a facial scrub twice daily [AM and PM], so i didn't think i needed much exfoliation, but boy, was i wrong. after i washed my face, i put a few dabs of the idealist skin refinisher on my face and started rubbing it in, moving my hands in circular motions. i immediately started to notice that my skin was flaking off... not just a little flaking, but a lot! i thought maybe the product was old [i have a few sample bottles - .24oz - from previous purchases], so i hopped on my imac and looked up reviews, and many others have said that it flaked off their skin during the first use as well. AMAZING! even after only the first use, this product left my skin feeling velvety soft and healthy. i could definitely feel a difference after the first use.

it is recommended to use this product every morning after cleansing and before moisturizing. i usually apply my make-up after i cleanse and moisturize my face. with the addition of the idealist skin refinisher, my make-up looks extra flawless because my skin's surface is not rough with patches of dry skin.

after only a week of using this product, i can say that i am in love with it! after my sample bottles run out, i'm going to purchase the idealist pore minimizer skin refinisher [shrinks the looks of enlarged pores]. a 1 oz. bottle sells for $46.50, 1.7oz for $73.00, and 3.4oz for $120. yes, it is indeed pricey, but a little goes a long way. if you're looking for a great exfoliator that will REALLY leave your skin looking fantastic and feeling baby smooth, this product is definitely worth the try!

[i am in no way affiliated with estee lauder or receiving compensation for this. this post is entirely my own opinion.]

pre-loved louis vuitton speedy 25 for sale.

2010-11-08T23:33:00.000-05:00

hey, everyone! it's been a while since i've posted anything, and honestly, it's because i haven't really had any ideas of what to blog about lately. i hope everyone had a fun, yet safe, halloween. i browsed a few albums on facebook and loved your costumes [and i must say, some were extra creative]. i was a black cat this year [yes, unoriginal, i know]. MEOW!

so, i was sitting in front of my imac.. and looked into my closet, peering up at the top shelf inundated with big boxes. i climbed on top of my desk chair, being careful not to let it roll away [thought i was going to fall at one point], and reached for one of the boxes. inside was one of my LV bags... one i hardly ever use - the monogram speedy 25. i thought to myself, "if you're not putting this lovely handbag to use, why not sell it and have someone else get more use of it than yourself? plus, you already have the monogram speedy 30 and the azur speedy 25." then the idea of selling it popped into my head.

i'm deciding to put this up for sale here just in case anyone i know wanted to purchase this from me, but if not, i will put it up on ebay and it will be auctioned off there.

the specifics:

- monogram speedy 25 [guaranteed 100% authentic!]

- dimensions: 10"L x 6"W x 9"H and 3" drop handle

- date stamp: SP0076

- purchased 10/10/2006 from eluxury.com [was LV's authorized dealer until LV decided to take on its own sales]

- retails for $665 USD before taxes [you're looking at about $700 with taxes]

- dustbag, receipt are included

please keep in mind that i am quite the mother to my LV bags, making sure nothing gets on them and not ever taking them out in the rain. the speedy 25 i am selling is spotless on the inside, the handles are clean with only a couple of very minute marks, the leather is perfect with no scratches, and there are no odors [nonsmoker and no pets at my place in philly].

the asking price if $400 or best offer. i will only accept payment by cash or through paypal. if you are interested, please email me at trangilicious@gmail.com. thanks!

pictures:

original receipt from eluxury.com.

louis vuitton paris - made in france.

difficult to see.. but if you look really hard
you'll be able to see a "25" imprinted in the
leather.

louis vuitton lock [comes with 2 keys] - lock/key number
is 301.

one side of the speedy.

the other side of the speedy.

the date stamp on the inside. code interpretation: SP
means it is made in france; take the 1st and 3rd number
for the month and 2nd and 4th number for the year. this
bag was made july 2006 in france.

the interior of the bag. no marks; just a some lint that
obviously can be removed.

one of the handles: you can see a couple small marks...
nothing drastic.

other handle: clean.

the stitches: even and perfect.

zipper pull.

the monogram speedy 25!

this picture is to show how the leather on
the handles have changed colors, compared
to the inside tabs [which get no sunlight],
indicating an authentic bag.

speedy, dustbag, and receipt.

online sample sales for the win!

2010-10-26T10:43:00.002-04:00

calling all fashionistas/fashionistos! this blog post is for you! i recently caught confessions of a shopaholic on TV [love that movie!] and was inspired to write about something that i [and other shopaholics] absolutely love. i'm pretty sure so many of you know of online sample sales, but there are a few of you still left in the dark about this awesome concept.

sample sales are a wonderful thing. you get high-end designer products for a fraction of the price. how? designers don't always sell everything they make. so, what do they do with the "leftovers" or items from a previous season? they're sold at a discounted price at sales events called "sample sales." live sample sales can get pretty hectic and crazy [if you've seen confessions of a shopaholic you would know what i'm talking about] and they are pretty much only located in the big, fashion capitals of the world, such as new york city and paris.

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US?!? that's where online sample sales come in. you can shop in the comfort of your own home without being trampled over by lunatic sale-seekers for those "gucci boots" or "cashmere coats." all you need is a computer, internet connection, and your credit card. there are so many websites hosting sample sales that i am sure you will find something that fits your style and needs.

everyday, these websites have a number of sales going on at once, from clothes to accessories to houseware items. they usually last for a couple days unless all the items sell out before then. it's based on a "first come, first served" concept, so if there is a particular sale you really want to shop at, save the date and time and enter the sale when it first opens for your best chance to get the good stuff.

i've purchased a good amount of merchandise from these sample sales and am never disappointed [but if you are, most sites allow a return depending on what the item purchased was]. i recently ordered a harajuku "love" pendant necklace and cannot wait until it arrives in the mail. it looks absolutely adorable and it was only $14 [regular price $40] - that's more than 50% off!

get a fashion fix without emptying your wallet - who can complain?! certainly not i. visit the following websites for a number of great sales and check back everyday for new sales that might appeal to you! [a lot of these sample sales only cater to members, and to be a member, you must be invited by a member. i'll include an invite link in case you aren't a member and would like to peruse some sales at the particular site.] ENJOY!

www.gilt.com [invite]

www.ruelala.com [invite]

www.hautelook.com [invite]

www.ideeli.com [invite]

www.beyondtherack.com [invite]

www.editorscloset.com [no invite needed]

www.glamlist.com [no invite needed]

zenifashion - a website compiling a list of sample sales and regular store sales in one convenient location - coming soon!!

show some halloween spirit: pumpkin carving.

2010-10-25T10:23:00.008-04:00

halloween is less than a week away and what's a better way to get into the holiday spirit than by carving pumpkins!? my sunday afternoon was spent watching football [my poor eagles] and getting my hands sticky with pumpkin juices. how delicious! though a long process and sore fingers, it was super fun and the end results of the pumpkins are fantastic!

stan and i had purchased two pumpkins a couple weeks ago and had them lounging on his front porch until we were ready to carve them. we invited liz and perry [and their pumpkins] over and started the carving festivities. between the four of us, we only had one set of pumpkin carving tools so we had to improvise by using steak knives, skewer sticks, and a swiss army knife. and not to mention, the sawing tools from the pumpkin carving kit broke!

for those of you who have never carved pumpkins, it is quite simple. here are the steps:

[1] carve off the top of the pumpkin to make a lid. be careful when doing this! make sure you cut out a "tooth" or notch so it's easier to replace the lid correctly.
[2] scrape out the pumpkin guts - make sure it's super clean on the inside.
[3] choose a template and tape it on the pumpkin.
[4] use the "dotting" tool to copy the pattern onto the pumpkin; i personally don't like this tool because it doesn't show up all that well on the pumpkin. i just take something with a point and copy the pattern by pricking the pumpkin - this makes deeper and more defined punctures, allowing you to easily see where you're supposed to carve.
[5] optional: you can take a pen and lightly connect the dots so it's easier for you to carve.
[6] take the template off the pumpkin and start carving! be careful or you might end up unintentionally cutting out a big chunk.
[7] rub vaseline or petroleum jelly all over the inside to prevent drying and molding - this will help to preserve your pumpkin!
[8] put in a votive or a tea light candle and show off your pumpkin!

please note that pumpkin carving is pretty time consuming, especially if you're a perfectionist. take your time and just have fun with it! and if you have an intricate design, your fingers might get a bit sore.

here are some pictures from our pumpkin carving festivity! ENJOY!

our pumpkins!

stan hard at work with mr. cool

perry's asian pumpkin

my mummy

liz's scarecrow-batman-joker pumpkin

mr. cool and the mumster

sephora: friends and family event coming soon!

2010-10-22T15:26:00.011-04:00

EDIT: 10.24.10 the sephora friends and family event is on! put in promotional code "FF2010" at checkout for 20% off until november 3rd. hurry and get your beauty supplies!!

hey, y'all. so, sephora is having their friends and family event coming very soon! i haven't received any notice from them as to when this sale is going to start, but expect it will within a few days! sign up to become a beauty insiders member and they'll send you email with the promotional code to receive 20% your entire purchase during this upcoming sales event. there are a few things from sephora that i want to get, so let's get started.

i'm a big fan of urban decay's primer potion [UDPP]. it does a phenomenal job at making my eyeshadows last throughout the day and it helps prevent creasing. the only downside is the construction of the bottle; the shape doesn't allow for maximum use of the product. for all of you who also use UDPP, you know what i'm talking about, right? the wand can only reach a certain angle [and trust me, the angle isn't that great... pretty much just straight down]. after a few weeks of using UDPP, you might think that the bottle is empty because the wand doesn't pick up anymore of the product, but your assumptions are so wrong. there is SO MUCH left in that oddly shaped bottle; it's just all located at the sides. what i usually do when this happens is i depot the bottle [cut the bottle at the widest point with a knife - be careful if you do this! - and scoop out the remainder of the product and put it into a mini cosmetic jar]. tired of doing this? UDPP has a limited edition bottle, and get this... it's a SQUEEZE bottle! it's $29 [compared to $16] but you get 25ml more than the normal bottle. get this while supplies last! this is definitely going into my cart.

i normally don't wear foundation, but i have read some raving reviews for the nars sheer matte foundation. i've written a little about this foundation in my "what's in my make up bag: my daily essentials" post and how i wanted to try it, so this will be a great opportunity to try something new at a discounted price. again, it's a water-based foundation and it supposedly feels extra light on your face like you don't have anything on at all. this sells for $42 at sephora, but i'm going to have to go to one of their make-up counters at a department store for a color match.

i'm big into eyeshadows. i have tons of eyeshadow quads and palettes laying around, yet i still want more! sephora's colorful artist eyeshadow palette in "cool" is one that i have my eye on. there are a lot of palettes out there that have many colors i would never use, but this palette includes shades that i normally use [except for the bright blue and purple - but i'm sure i will find the appropriate time and place to use those colors]. the colors would be great for a smokey eye look with the different hues of grays. this sells for $32.

i can't wait for the sale to get started so i can try out of these wonderful items, especially the UDPP in the squeeze bottle. i might actually buy two of those for reserves! happy shopping, folks!

colorful sights: freshlook colorblends contacts.

2010-10-19T00:01:00.003-04:00

recently, i had a friend ask me about colored contacts because she knows that i always wear them. and yes, kerry, you are right - i do swear by my blue contacts. without them, there's no me! even my boyfriend said i looked different when i decided to just pop in my clear contacts one day. lol

i've needed glasses ever since 6th grade. my social studies teacher noticed that i was squinting a lot and couldn't answer any questions that required me to look at the chalkboard or projector screen. two or three years later, i switched to clear contacts because i hated wearing glasses - they were cumbersome, kept slipping off my nose, and eliminated my peripheral vision [don't y'all hate that?!. a couple years after that, i discovered colored contacts and decided to give them a try, and ever since then, i've never looked back [well.. hardly].

freshlook colorblends, i'm a loyal customer. i've been using this brand for my colored-contacts needs since i've started wearing them... which has been about 8 years. i've tried so many colors: blue, grey, honey, green, amethyst, turquoise, true sapphire, and sterling silver.

i suppose this post will show you what these colors looked like on me, minus honey, amethyst, and grey. i can't seem to find any photos of me wearing those colors. for honey, imagine edward's eyes when he becomes a vampire. for amethyst, it's like a dark purple... it doesn't show up too well on brown eyes. the gray is like a paler blue... somewhat of a grey-blue... but not as grey as the sterling silver. for the others, let's begin with the photos, shall we?

blue [not as bright as true sapphire]

green [didn't really show up that well on brown eyes]

turquoise [a beautiful blend of blue and green]

true sapphire [a very bright blue... i love it!]

sterling silver [a little paler than grey]

take charge with the solbat II by scosche.

2010-10-18T13:18:00.000-04:00

my friend, alex lee, is such a sweet guy. for my birthday this year, he got me a scosche solbat II, a solar powered backup battery/charger [is it because i have a reputation of killing my phone's battery life? most likely, yes.]

this neat, little gadget can be used to charge almost any handheld device. it has an internal 1500ma lithium-ion rechargeable battery and an output of 5v, which allows you to charge your device at the same rate as a wall charger. the solbat II can be charged by connecting it to the USB drive [2.5 hours] on your computer or through the renewable power of the sun by placing the solar panel directly in sunlight [18 hours].

i used it for the first time this weekend when i was heading back to philly from virginia. my phone was close to dying and i was still on the road. i hate it when my phone dies while i am driving a long distance because you never know what kind of trouble you could get into. i remembered that i had brought the solbat II along with me and whipped it out of my purse and connected it to my phone. in a couple hours, my phone went from being almost dead to almost completely full. it is such a convenience and a definite life saver.

the box includes the rechargeable battery with the solar panel on one side, a windshield cradel, a universal carabiner mount, and a USB charging cable. if anyone is interested in this device, it can be found on amazon for $19.99. thanks again, alex!

what's in my make-up bag: my everyday essentials.

2010-10-14T16:33:00.012-04:00

last night at yaki-boy with my girls

me with my bday cakes!
celebrating all month!!

hey, y'all. today, i want to share with you the make-up products that i use for my everyday "face". it's a simple look and there's not much to it [pictured to the right. i went out with my girls last night to yakitori boy to catch up, eat some sushi, and do some karaoke. great times, girls!].

when going away for the weekend or to my boyfriend's house, i tend to lug a whole bag of make-up with, but i hardly ever use the other stuff i bring. maybe i should cut back on what i take along with me, but then again... i never know what kind of mood i'm in and what kind of look i want to achieve. what i'm about to share with you are my beauty must-haves and things that ALWAYS belong in my make-up bag.

i always start out by washing and cleaning my face. i usually use a foaming scrub by neutrogena because it doesn't sting my eyes as much. plus, it has the microbeads to help with exfoliation, and it does a great job of removing eye make-up.

after washing my face, i always use a moisturizer. my face, like many others, tends to get very dry after i wash it, so i condition and moisturize with clinique's toner and dramatically different moisturizing lotion. this is a water-based moisturizer, making it feel very light on the face unlike oil-based moisturizers.

next, i use a translucent powder and sparingly brush it across my face to reduce the little shine from the moisturizer. i use maybelline's dream matte powder in medium sand. i also use this after i'm finished with my entire face to set my make up and eliminate any shine.

i love the healthy glow that a bronzer gives to my face. i use the contouring technique with my bronzer. i suck in my cheeks and brush it on with a large angled brush in the hollow parts of my cheeks [contouring my cheekbones]. i use on my jaw line, down my neck, and along my side of my temples. i mix a little of the bronzer with a blush and use that on my cheekbones for a hint of rosiness. i've been using estee lauder's bronze goddess in soft matte bronze for the longest time, and i love the results it produces. i sometimes also use n.y.c's smooth skin bronzing face powder in sunny - it has less glitter than my estee lauder bronzer.

i have an asian nose, so i like to contour my nose. i use smashbox's brow tech in taupe for this [didn't like the way it looked on my eyebrows so i now use it to contour my nose].

next up are my eyebrows. i have full eyebrows but my hairs grow out unevenly [some spots of my brows are lighter than others], so i use estee lauder's automatic pencil. this pencil has two ends, both with removable refills. the one end has my brow color in soft brown [the color goes perfectly with my brows; smashbox's taupe is a bit too light for my brows], and the other has my eyeliner in jet black.

i usually prime my lids. i use urban decay's primer potion to help the colors of my eyeshadows appear more colorful and vibrant without having to put a lot on, and it helps the eyeshadow last throughout the day with creasing. i really hate the design of this bottle. it's so hard to get to the sides of the inside, and that is where most of the product is. i usually end up depotting this into another container after a few weeks. terrible bottle design but great product.

the eyeshadow colors i typically use are more neutral. i'm not really into the colorful stuff. on a normal day, i typically use lancome's sensational effects quad set in honeymoon, burnt sand, mochaccino, and lezard. if i want something very quick and easy, i brush on the burnt sand shade and that's it, but if i'm looking to give my eyes more of a dimension, i use all 4 shades to fill in my lids, line my crease, color my outer corners, and highlight my browbone.

i curl my lashes and then use estee lauder's jet black eyeliner on my top lashline to line my eyes. next, i brush on a couple layers of mascara on both my top and bottom lashes with avon's super full mascara. this mascara is amazing. it makes my lashes look so full and long that people think i wear fake lashes. i absolutely love this and bought a couple tubes at a time [because i love, love, love using mascara].

after all that, i use a big face brush and swirl on a couple strokes of maybelline's dream matte powder to reduce any shine and set my make up. and of course, glide on a layer of carmex strawberry chapstick, and i'm all done! all this usually takes me about 5-10 minutes so it doesn't consume a lot of my time when getting ready on an average day.

i've been looking for a good foundation to wear for when i want to look absolutely flawless. i normally don't wear foundation so picking and choosing is a bit difficult. i've read that NARS sheer matte foundation [$42] is pretty good. it's a water-based foundation and many people have said it feels very lightweight, like you don't have anything on your face at all. i think i'll go ahead and try this!

mulberry for target! yes, mulberry-designed handbags at target!

2010-10-13T13:09:00.005-04:00

i may be a bit too late in telling you ladies this... but three days ago [october 10], target released another one of their designer-brand lines... this time it was MULBERRY!

mulberry at target? how awesome is that? but the bad news is... most of the handbags are pretty much sold out online... these babies went like hotcakes with their much awaited debut. i knew i was missing out on something on sunday. :(

earlier this year, mulberry for target was featured on a sample sale at gilt groupe. after browsing through the selection of handbags, i told myself to keep a mental note of the release date at target to snatch up the styles i wanted. unfortunately, my mind isn't as sharp as it once was [haha - i make it sound like i'm 52 instead of 25].

what i really wanted to get my hands on was the black patent satchel [top right], priced at [get ready for this] $34.99. alright, alright.. i realize that the usual quality found in a mulberry bag is going to be lacking in a mulberry for target bag... but still! mulberry! hello?! and plus, the satchel is uber cute and so stylish!

another style i was eyeing was the large black pebble tote [left] priced at $49.99. worn on the shoulder, this bag is totally functional with a bit of rocker edge with the gold studs and clasps.

and lastly, the large velvet satchel [bottom right] is a total charmer... but of course not in denim but in black. this looks like quite a hefty shoulder bag, allowing you to basically put your entire life and all of its accessories inside.

all three bags are currently out of stock on target.com, but hopefully there will be another shipment soon [which i highly doubt - with the other brands, once what they have is sold out, it usually does not get replenished]. but i guess we'll never know, because these mulberry bags sold out in a couple days.

looks like i'm going to have to go stalk some local targets in search of these styles. as long as i can find the black patent leather satchel, i'll be a happy girl. so there you have it, girls... mulberry for target. who says making a fashion statement means spending the big bucks? certainly not target!

what's better than a kodak moment? a canon HV20 moment!

2010-10-13T09:39:00.002-04:00

three years ago, i splurged and purchased a 1080i HDV camcorder from canon [canon HV20]. i only used it a few times before i tucked it away in my closet for a good two years [using my point-and-shoot camera was a lot more convenient when going out - video mode is not too shabby]. i was recently rummaging through my closet last month and found the big, black camera bag that got lost in a forest of all my clothes and handbags. i am once again reunited with my beloved HV20. i remember telling people that they had to wash their hands before they laid a finger on my baby... but that's how everyone is when they get a brand new, shiny toy. lol

although a bit outdated, the HV20 still produces marvelous, clear videos and the best part is... it's high definition! i literally can see my pores when shooting my face up-close. imagine three years ago the hype that this little camcorder got; it was the first handheld HD camcorder from canon's line of products - thus the reason i picked this. it's a bit chunkier than handheld camcorders today [which i guess i don't mind too much besides the point that it might be a hassle to carry around] and it uses minidv tapes for storage [a bit of drag because realtime capture is a pain in the arse]. a lot of professionals still prefer the tapes over media card storages [miniSD, SD, compact flash, etc] so i guess it's ok, thought i, by no means, consider myself a professional. lol

stan is providing me with the firewire cable [relatively cheap on newegg.com, but if he has one and is not using it, why not get some use out of it] so i can capture the videos onto my computer and then edit them. and let me just say that i have no experience with editing videos or making cool cinematography, but that's what youtube tutorials are for. :) i'm also considering investing in a good tripod [the cheaper ones tend to have less stability and may wobble when you follow the subject] but i may check with my dad first to see if he has an extra that he can let me use [he does professional videos for weddings, engagements, etc. so he has tons of equipment and software for editing].

i can't wait to start putting my long-lost HV20 to use and hopefully produce some cool videos and films for all of you to enjoy. i made an account with vimeo to host these future HD videos for super sharp images. thumbs up for new, fun hobbies! [to my brothers: zenitus productions, here we come! haha.. totally joking.. but maybe not..?]

remember to live, laugh, love and capture all of life's precious moments!

a blend of circus acts and street entertainment: a cirque du soleil experience.

2010-10-06T10:17:00.004-04:00

acrobatic stunts are sure to amaze, especially those of cirque du soleil performers. their incredible strength, flexibility, and endurance are extraordinary; their jumps, leaps, and bounds have you sitting at the edge of your seat in hopes they won't slip up and land on their heads or attain some serious injury. if y'all haven't had the opportunity to experience their shows and performances, be sure to do so because they are quite marveling.

i have seen two cirque shows so far ["o" and "ka" - both in vegas] and let me tell you, i was very impressed with those performances. the "o" show is a aquatic-themed performance evolving around a young gentleman in pursuit of a woman. the stage was magnificent, with a watertank that has a movable platform allowing the water to be deep or shallow without changing the appearance of the depth to the audience [the platform has numerous little holes]. at times, it seems as though the performers are walking on water, and other times, they plunge so deep into what seems like just a small puddle that it makes you cringe. there were also these two jibber-jabby clowns who were quite hilarious and had the audience laughing with their water-related gags.

"ka" is a warrior-themed performance, with lots of kicking, jabbing, and fighting. there is an african flavor to the music with thumping drums, giving the show that "full of energy" effect. the plot concerns two twins who are separated at youth after their parents have been assassinated. they go through a rite of passage for self discovery and on a journey in search of one another. it is an excellent show with rotating and "floating" platforms, giving the audience the awe they expect from a cirque performance.

"ovo", an acrobatic show featuring nature and its vibrant ecosystem and inhabitants [insects and bugs], is currently playing at the grand chapiteau at the plateau at national harbor in the washington DC area. stan and i have tickets to this show next week and i can't wait to be marveled by the stage set-up and stupendous acts. the show is in town until october 24th, so if anyone wants to see this performance before it moves to atlanta [november 4th], book your tickets soon! you won't be disappointed [because it's cirque du soleil!]

[this is entirely my own opinion and am not commissioned for this bit]