Very Cherry

Maybeline Color Sensational Lipstick in Very Cherry. Can I just wear it everyday?! Other than to work of course. I been experimenting with red lipstick lately. So far, I like Lacome's Red Stiletto. But it's expensive for a red lipstick I will hardly wear. So I settled with a drug store brand. Works just as well. I bought it at Walgreens. I been buying alot of lip products. The worst buy is a Loreal one I kinda want to throw out. Maybeline Color Sensationals are pretty good. I have Coral Gleam and Sugared Almond in their pearls collection along with the Very Cherry in their reds. I only have one Revlon lipstick. Here's me with Revlon Soft Nude. It's a very popular color that I found out through make-up Guru's/Bloggers. In real life it goes on real nude-like but in photos, my lip looks pink. Maybe it was fading and my real lip color came through. I love the earrings I'm wearing. I got those from Francesca's. I wear mostly earrings and sometimes necklaces. I hate wearing rings and bracelets becuase it keeps me from doing things. I work with my hands alot and hate for jewlery to be in the way. I finally have a nice make-up collection and organized the vanity in a way I have everything in front of me. All my brushes, make-up, frangrances, jewlery, contacts, and hair products each have their own section on my dresser. I love the big mirror! I want to find an pencil eyeliner that won't smudge. But I need to go through all my eyeliners I have right now before I buy more. Since I'm asian, I think eyeliner and mascara are two items I would spend alot of money on. My eyeshadows are palettes from coastal scents. I used to buy maybeline eye shadows quads. But ever since I have the Coastal Scents, I haven't use the Maybeline much except for traveling. For foundation, I started and stuck with Bare Minerals. It works great for me and til this day, I still recieve compliments of how nice my skin is. It's mostly because bare minerals is so light, it's like I'm not wearing make-up. And to maintain good skin, I used to use Acne Free (generic for Proactiv) But Tien reccommended to me Neutrogena Advance Solutions. I noticed it works much better than anything I ever used. It clears my skin and prevent blemishes really well. I alternate with Philosophy Puirty when I'm not breaking out as much.
Recently, a friend told me her secret to her nails. She buys glue on fake nails. So, I also got some press on french tips nails. Since it costs like $50 bucks to have them done and only 5 bucks for fake ones, why not?! I work with patients so I can't have them on for too long, so why waste all that money to have your nails done for only two days. I thought I'd give it a try. I don't know if I like them too much. It's super long... maybe next time I'll get the kid version. I bought short ones but it's still long to me. I love browsing at drugstores for make up and knick knacks like this.
Flash and big smile!! Honey says he can't kiss me with that lipstick on. LOL!! Last month, I bought a jar of Imperalis from Lush, turns out it wasn't good for me. My dry areas were perfectly moisturized, but my oily ares started to have blemishes here and there. So, I went back to my old routine and sure enough it went back to normal. So I returned it and then they told me to try Vanishing Cream. So far, so good. But I want to give it a good month of use before I give it the clear. I also gave away my Pop in a Bath bubble bar to Tien so she can try it. I'm on my last handful of The Comforter. I want to repurchase, but I also want to try new ones.

Blood Test

So, about two weeks ago, I bought life insurance and they had a blood test done as part of my application. Good news, I'm approved with a much less expensive premium for the same coverage that I applied for. I never had a blood test done before until now. I finally open the results today. Everything was normal and I'm HIV negative. But my Cholesterol and Bilirubin are both elevated. So there's two things I really need to change. I'm only 25, good gracious I need to stop eating fatty stuff. I knew my my cholesterol would be high. I know I'm overweight. Good thing I've been trying to hit the gym more often. But the Bilirubin?! I'm not much of a drinker... really, I suck at drinking. And to think, my liver is doing bad already?! I can deal with that! I can stop drinking altogether. I don't drink a lot anyways. But the hard part is my cholesterol. I will be monitoring it more often and for diet: less intake of fried food. Of course, hit the gym more often.I've been trying to get in 3 days a week. I know I can't change all my eating habits... But no fried food, I can do. My biggest weakness is really desserts and cheese. I can do without fried food, but sweets and cheese will be harder.

I was watching Dr. Oz and he's doing this thing called "lose 10lbs, add 10 years to your life." All my life, I've been struggling with weight gain/lost. At one point in my life I was doing good at losing weight. I did it for my sister's wedding and wanted to fit into a dress. I lost 20lbs in three months. It was lovely, then school started again and I got in a relationship. Then gained it all back and then some. That relationship ended and started some uncontrollable weight gain. I was stressed/depressed. Especially when I was at LSU, school was stressful. I always told myself when I get out of school, I'm going back to that routine I did for my sister's wedding. Well, I did for a short while during the last semester of school to fit into a dress for graduation... and I lost 20 lbs. And I did it!! But then right when I fit into that dress, I got into another relationship with Vinh and started working night shifts at the hospital. Blah blah blah. It's just all lame excuses really. I'm now at my heaviest of 180. And No motivation dress. So this time around, this is my approach with my weight issue. I've lost 5lbs since I started again. I mean I would say 10lbs, but it varies day to day. but I can say I've lost about 8. But definitely the five is off. I'm trying to stay under 180 and then slowly stay under 170 and hopefully I get lower and lower in increments of ten. What is my goal weight?! I want to be realistic and hit 140 and then if I'm lucky 135. I've always been a chunky girl. No lying to myself about that. But If I can lose more weight without losing myself and who I am. I'm going to try to get to 120. I know, that's like 60lbs from where I am right now. I don't care how long it takes me. But day by day for now, I'm just trying to reach the next ten and just go from there.

Facetime

8/27/10: This morning when I got out from work, I decided to go to the gym. Worked out for an hour. Since I have the weekend off. I might as well stay up and enjoy my Friday. Stay up all day and just sleep at night. Even though I just worked two 12's the last two night. I wore the new shoes I bought. The Nike Free's. Disappointment when I felt my pinky toe hitting the inside of the shoe a good 20 minutes into my run/walk on the treadmill. =(

8/30/10: Work was slow, So they let me go home early. I knew I wasn't going to fall asleep anytime soon. So I went to the Gym.

9/1/10: So, two weeks ago, Northwestern Mutual called me to check up on me and see if I still wanted to meet with them to go over some things about West Jefferson 403plan. I decided since I don't make anymore car notes and been spending too much money on shopping... it's time to put it into future investments. So I bought Life Insurance. =) I worked last night and didn't get much sleep but I had to meet up with Kieu after that. I went to dinner with Vinh and Kieu. She wanted to chill with us before she she have to head back to Puerto Rico. I was coughing and feeling bad so I went home early and slept.

9/2/10: I'm really Sick. Went to the doctor, got two shots in the hip!! OMG I never got a shot on my butt before. I was very sensitive!! LOL! I twitched and tensed up and everything. And to think I stick needles in people wrists for a living. *cringes* I can do 5-8 ABG's easy breezy in about an hour or so. One after another like boom boom boom. From time to time, there's a hard stick. But most of them I can do. I'm getting really good at sticking people. =)

9/6/10: I went to the mall today. Return some stuff to Sephora and Steve Madden that I bought online but didn't like. Went to Whole foods and got a me pulled pork sandwhich to take my medicine. Then I went to try Pinkberry frozen Yougurt. Found out Bee Sweet Cupcakes was just down the street! But it was closed on Labor Day. I'll come back another time. Went to Chi Hong's House and played in the pool with Nia and help Thao-vi wash her car and Hong's car.

9/7/10: I feeling much better today. So my mom asked me to take her to the mall and buy her working shoes. She only wear SAS shoes in Clearview. Then she asked me to take her to Lakeside to look at earrings. She end up buying rings instead because the earrings she looked at wasn't to her liking. My dad came home from shrimping and bought home a bunch of crabs. Vinh came over because he haven't seen my dad in a while. We end up cracking crab claws for my mom to make panko fried meatball crab claws. Of course we ate while we cracked claws. Both Vinh and I prefer eating the claws instead of the crab's body. I know we're funny.

9/8/10: Vinh went and got himself the new iPod Touch so he can play words with me and also facetime. We did it at work. It was amazing!! I really Like seeing him everyday! =)

9/10/10: I woke up at 1 today and curled my hair and did my makeup. *Dinner date with Vinh.* It's been a while since we both had the weekend off. We wanted to go to Jacques Imo's but there's a wait of over an hour for a table. NO No! So we went back on Carrollton and ate at Lil Tokyo instead. Went back to his place and I talked to his mom and his dad about their marriage ove rthe years. They never argue, his dad never raised his voice at her. I was amazed. That's where Vinh gets his personailty from, his dad. Humorous and Kind.

9/11/10: Today, I went to Lafayette to go see my new nephew! He is so Cute!!! I wanted to go by myself, but I went with my mom. I couldn't say no to her. But I said No to Vinh.... Well, Vinh offered to come along so that he could drive. And, for his peace of mind, know that I'd be safe. But I told him I driven before by myself back and forth to Laffyette all the time during the hurricane, no problem. But his point is that now that I'm dating him, he should drive, to anywhere. He's sweet, lovely, and kind. But I told him last night at dinner that I wanted to go shopping (by Myself). I will feel really bad if he had to tag along because he doesn't like shopping at the mall. I won't shop as freely and comfortably as I want. I would try to rush and hurry up. If I went by myself, I could spend all the time I want without feeling guilty. I told him I'd call him when I started driving, get there, when I'm going home, and when I'm home plus facetime. He said Ok.

9/12/10: Went downtown to the French Market with Chi Hong's family. Then went to spend a day with my little sisters. Went down Magazine St. I wanted to go to Bee Sweet, turns out they're closed on Sundays. Went to Secure instead. Very Pretty and Nice inside. Shared a Sunday and a box of maccaroons. It was pretty pricey and not all that great. Oh well, now I know. Then went home took a nap with Noah. I love that fatboy. He's so Cute! and his parents came picked him up. Then watched VMA's.

9/14/10: Some luck, I got rear ended going home from getting some cupcakes uptown. It was Happy Hour, Buy 2 get 1 Free at Bee Sweet Cupcakes from 5-6pm. It was delicious, but got messed up from the accident. I called insurance people already. But I have to wait for Police Report for further investigation. Sigh** It's time to fix my car front back and side to side and all around now. There goes my little saving bundle. Waiting for Vinh to wake up.

Barefooot

So, I've been walking/jogging/running again around my sister's (quiet) neighborhood and also at the gym with Tien when she gets off work at 11:30 at night. Yep, I go to the gym in the middle of the night; when hardly anyone is out there. I enjoy my workout in quiet. Well, Tien compliments my small feet. Time to time she'll tell me my feet is cute in heels and strangely this time even in tennis shoes! She think it's cute while I was on the treadmill. Haha! I laughed it off and say stuff like, "For a girl big girl like me, isn't it weird I have ridiculously small feet?" But seriously?! How am I balancing myself?! Why is my feet so small?! Anyways, she noticed my shoes and was curious of my choice for running shoes. It doesn't look like good running shoes. But it works really well for me. It doesn't look big enough right? I bought these (at $40) after my feet hurt so bad from my old new balance shoes after working 12 hr shifts. The corner where my pinky toe was always hit the shoe inside. I got it on sale at Shoe Carnival near West Jeff and I felt lucky because it worked so well! I loved these. I can work all night and felt like I wasn't even wearing shoes. Practically barefoot! So this is when I learned what kind of shoes I liked. But a big downfall of these shoes are: not meant for working. It mostly for style, short term, easy walking shoes. A few months of wearing them regularly... I made potholes on the bottom of the forefoot area. And it was uncomfortable. I desperately try to find some shoes to replace it with. When I saw nine west were selling similar shoes made with stronger material (at $80), I had to get them! And so far, so good! But Tien was pretty skeptical of my choice for running shoes. I explained to her that I like shoes that feels like I'm not wearing any shoes. Pretty much like Barefoot! I can control and feel my feet better and run faster and harder. If I wore bulky shoes, my feet are focusing on staying in one place in the shoe. As I am running and sprinting, the shoes slides alot! Sometimes I feel like I might twist my ankle. I have post-traumatic feelings from my sprained ankle back in January 2009 when I first started at the gym.
I didn't throw out the old pink and grey shoes though, I still wear it from time to time for short quick running around the neighborhood. But it is annoying when i feel the potholes. I still wore it because tha'ts how much I like it! I mean I like my new ones too, but it takes time to break into. My old ones were soft and conforms to my feet. Whereas the new ones need more time to soften up since the material is made out of is stronger.
Anyways, Tien and I go shoping randomly from time to time at TJMaxx or Marshalls. Tien picked up these HUE slip-in fabric-like cushion pads for high heels for $3. It was too thick to really put it in high heels. But I picked it up and said I had an idea for it! I told her about the potholes in my shoes, and figured it could save my old pink shoes. She was right about the quality of the shoes, but I still love them! I sat there fixing my favorite shoes. I filled the potholes with some cottonball and placed the cushiony pad on top! I know, have I thought about Dr. Scholl's? I saw them at walmart and many times wanted to buy it but knew I wouldn't like it. The cushion were plastic /gel-like. I imagined when my feet will be hot sweaty against plastic... things may get slippery and stinky. And $10-15 for a pair?! I'd just buy new shoes! Which I did, but besides that; these HUE high heel cushions were cheaper and I can just peel them off and throw it away if it doesn't work.
She saw my new shoes and complimented them also and asked why don't I get air maxx/ shocks like hers. I explained to her again about the barefot thing. She said I'd be buying new shoes every so often. >,< and I know.... she's right.
Online browsing again I go...........
Tah Dah!!!! Vibram FiveFingers!!!

I haven't ordered them yet. I'm also looking at Nike Free shoes too. Cost almost the same. I want to go to the store first and try them on. =)

Splurged

So, I been craving for a spa day. I want a relaxing day and be completely pampered. A nice massage will be good too. One time Tien invited me to spend a day at the spa with her and now I been wanting to go to a spa and enjoy a relaxing day off. I been trying to find one that is highly rated. I saw good reviews on Spa Atlantis located downtown New Orleans. I haven't gone there yet but I want to tag-a-long a friend with me. Tien and I haven't had time yet. She and I both went on vacation this past weekend and the week before that, we both was on our dot. So we settled with all day shopping. Nonetheless, as I was browsing around looking for spas, I landed on home spa ideas. And lo and behold, I found a fabulous site that did reviews on Lush products and was curious. I knew there was a Lush in Macy's. I usually am disgusted with how strong the smell is every time I pass it. But there's got to be a reason why it's so popular and overly priced right?! The girl who helped me was nice and did demonstrations and everything for me. I'd feel bad if I didn't buy anything. So I bought The Comforter Bubble Bath bar; which is a best seller and Pop in a bath because I liked how it smelled. I will try it tomorrow night! I also bought a face cream moisturizer called Imperialis and found out all their products were hand made by natural ingredients. So I went home... and I had to try it and made a home spa for myself. I just light up my Sweet Pea candle I bought from Bath and Body works at one of their sales from way back when... and added a little facial with Purity from philosophy face scrub/cleanser. And The Comforter bubble bath bar from Lush with my iPhone iPod player going to my favorite spa music. =D nice isn't it?! I finished it off with the face moisturizer. It was nice, but a massage from the bf would top it off. Sigh* he's working tonight. I slipped on my pj's which only consist of VS's lacie hiphugger and a wifebeater, haha! and settled in with my humongous Glamour magazine for make-up ideas. I Love being a girl!

Anyways, I just got back home from Destin, again! I really enjoyed myself. I got a nice tan. Went shopping, bowling, and played some pool. There was the beach of course and also a swimming pool. Did some poolside tanning, showed Vinh I know how to float... and next time he'll teach me how to swim. =D I was to chicken. The guys, OMG, the guys did all the cooking. Muddley made the best baked spaghetti ever and Cong made fresh beef Tatakis And of course their usual grilled ribs, chicken, and steaks, etc. Lovely! And the girls, what can I say?! Peer pressure go the best of me this weekend and I think my alcohol tolerance went up a little. We finished so many bottle of Hennessey Blacks last weekend that the liquor store ran out! We had to buy a smaller size bottle! But golly, that shit was strong. I was buzzing all night, I was still buzzing when I showered to get ready for bed! When I downed my first one, the girls giggled because I was coughing after it took it. I swear the burning fumes was coming up my nose!!! Later on that night, I took three shots within 30 minutes with the girls, I couldn't catch up to their 15-20 shots... and called it a night.

Monday morning I had to go to the hospital to get a TB skin test done, the result will be read on Thursday, so I'll be back there tomorrow. And Pay Day!!! Woohoo! I been spending alot. Today is Anna's Birthday, and I got her a Coach wristlet to match with her messenger bag that she got from our last Destin trip. I know, we've been spoiling her! When I was younger, I wasn't that lucky! But I can get the things I want for myself now! When I was younger, I didn't have the luxury to have expensive or name brand purses. But ever since I started working... I spend on the things I always wanted. It's not whatever people made it out to be. I wish there was more to it. I only have one expensive purse I really like, an all black leather Gucci one. I always admired people who had the beige/brown fabric one, but thought real hard about it and bought a nice black one. I thought it was a nice pick because I'm older now and I am a working girl. Why do I feel the need to get a wallet to match it?! I want an Louis Vuitton one too! >.< Why do I want Christian Louboutins shoes?! IDK....It's a girl thing. Maybe a few more paychecks until then. I need to go back to the dentist and finish up my procedures too. Either way, my closet and clothes drawers... Stuffed! It doesn't do it anymore. Even when I donated alot of stuff to Goodwill. >_< I know. and make-up and accessories and shoes and electronics and vacations. Sounds crazy huh?! But I'm doing well, I'm paying off alot of debt too. I got that working hard and playing hard concept down pact. =P As my bf says..... where to next?!