SEMA Week

 This week I worked at the SEMA conference.  Overall, it was a great experience from meeting new people and making new friends.

This was my floor where I greeted people coming off of the elevators, offering refreshments and snacks as the writers made their way to meetings.

In the atrium of the hotel, Th Embassy suites, there was a jungle motif.  Along the middle of the atrium, there existed a mini waterfall and koy fish mixing with the turtles.

These ladies stood at each floor.

We enjoyed all the copious options for food.  Throughout the days we enjoyed eggs and bacon, roast beef, chicken, baked potatoes, and lastly In-N-Out!   Lucky ladies we were.

I was definitely on my tippy toes next to these beauties!

Ladies of the bell.

<3

No School No Worries

In my apartment, I have windows all around.  That means as soon as the beautiful sun shows its face to the world, so do I.   Last night, my roommate and I decided to have a movie night with the famous Dark Knight Rises.  I grew up watching all the Batman movies but for some reason, I hate to say it, but the older versions never really amazed me.  And what a surprise, I fell asleep!!!!  So as the sun rose, I heated up some breakfast, Oatmeal and coffee, got cozy on the couch and attempted the move again. 

The Coffee Bean and Teal Leaf Vanilla Powder makes the coffee....definitely pick it up; worth the $.

Oatmeal...helping to reduce cholesterol one bowl at a time.

I made it and definitely a great ending and the beginning of the Batman series I grew up watching (saturday morning cartoons).

Later on in the day, I went to do some errands.  I ran out of my foundation about a month ago and it took forever for Target to have my color in stock.  Instead, I reverted to using a cream foundation that was readily available.  The positive....the cream foundation did not cause my skin to break out and actually allowed my skin to heal from the pre-existing troubles.  The negatives....since I have an oily-to-combination skin type, this particular foundation by Maybeline eventually went patchy throughout the day.  the "staying power" was non-existent; as soon as I accidentally grazed my fingers over my face, the foundation was disrupted.

• Finally, Target had the foundations I love in stock.  I like to use the Fit Me foundation in #230 by Maybeline mixed in with a little bit of the Revlon Color Stay in Natural Tan.  This combination set with the Ben Nye Banana Visage poudure creates a great finish that lasts all day for my skin type.  I use two because the Fit Me is too sheer and the Color Stay is too thick for an every day application if used individually.  Therefore, I mix mainly the Fit Me with a tad bit of the Col.or Stay.    for concealer, I use the Graftobian cream foundation.  This all creates a flawless finish.

 

I also took a stop at Sally's Beauty Supply. Originally, I've been contemplating redyeing my hair. However, I have not had my hair trimmed so it would be a waste of hair dye.  Instead, i ran into a sale for Seche Vite top coat, the amazing quick-dry, high-shine top coat.  To my surprise,, with the purchase of Seche Vite you get a free China Glaze nail polish.  Having just tried the nail polish in Re-Fresh Mint, I definitely give the brand China Glaze and the color a BIG thumbs up!  

I also visited Sephora, one of my favorite stores.  In a little, box there was an offer of a sample of Coralista blush and Sun Beam highlighter by Benefit for $12.  Now most people would probably say....RIP OFF!  Honestly, I've wanted to try these two for the longest time, but I have never justified paying the prices for each individual product.  Both are great products.  However, I could do without them.  Since I have very tanned skin, Coralista barely gives me color, more like a subtle glow. I much prefer very pigmented blushes where I need only a minuscule amount.  With this blush, I would need to add copious amounts; although very pretty once the color is attained to my liking.  Sun Beam is also beautiful on the skin.  However, I'm accustomed to powder highlighters.  this liquid/gel highlighter takes a tad bit more time and I definitely won't apply this if I'm in a rush.  Sun Beam provides a great highlight, but it's more of a subtle highlight.  It's beautiful, don't get me wrong; however, once this little bottle is finished I definitely will not be purchasing the full size. 

As the night comes to a draw, I'm going to play the lastest episode of Revenge and say GOOOOOOOD NIGHT!

<3

Sunday Snack Bite

 As I waited for my laundry to finish, in the midst of watching Netflix, I had this urge for city s'mores!  City s'mores?  I say "city" s'mores because in my apartment we don't have a gas stove and I nuke the babies in the microwave instead.

Nuke it for about a minute

Look at those babies puff up!

 

Add the top graham cracker and ......hmmmmmmmmmmm

Have a wonderful day!

Loose Waves

 How do I achieve loose waves that lasts all night?

 

Easy....I only use these two products.  Living proof style extender and Hot Tools Marcel ceramic 1 1/2" barrel curling iron.  After I shower, I run a minuscule amount through my damp hair and either blow-dry or let air dry.  By the time I curl my hair, the product has set into my hair and acts as a hold, no hair spray needed.  

~Have a wonderful day!

Finals week has come to a close

Finals, projects, homework, papers, and deadlines!  A week filled with stress and self-doubt; self-doubt in my ability, self-doubt in the future.  In order to make it through this week I learned to take it one day  at a time.  Cup of coffee after cup of coffee.  Furthermore, knowing my colleagues/classmates/friends with me made all of THIS week attainable.  Filled with all-nighters, and sleeping for one hour before having to wake up in order to take a final or turn in a n assignment, I could not have done this week without them!  We were each other's cheerleaders, supporters.

Who needs a coffee house when I'm my own barista.  This espresso machine was definitely worth the money.  Yes, learning the ropes, especially by myself took some trial and error; but now, the persistence gives me lattes better than the all to popular "coffee on every corner."  The espresso machine was only $40, if I can recall correctly.  

Food truck from ChompChomop Nation.  My school scheduled some food trucks for the students so we would not have to worry about food during finals week.  One of the main attractions for me was the fact that this food truck aimed to mesh Singaporean food with American food.  The nostalgia  pulled me in; I visited Singapore a couple years ago, and I honestly can't wait until I have the opportunity to visit again.  The many cultures intertwined in this country kept me amazed.  I ordered the Sweet-Chili crab cake sandwich.  As a meal, it was quite delicious; however no resemblance to the real chili-crab meal Singapore is known for.  

Here's my classmate, Gisselle, and I studying are little heads off; our other friend, Paula took this pic and edited it  How are we still laughing at this time of morning, beats me.  All that matters is that we finished all our papers, homework, and studied in time for our class at 7:45am.

In the words of Fat Amy from the movie Pitch Perfect, "You all have fat hearts....and that's all that matters."  These are the crazy people I live my days with; we have each other's back and will be there for each other no matter what!  After finals, we all decided to have our belated Secret Santa exchange. It was a night full of laughs and memories

Some pictures for smiles

The end of a school term....the beginning of the last term!

Love this performance

I cannot get enough of this performance! Her voice, her confidence.  Carly Rose exudes talent in my eyes.

Out and About

Last Saturday of freedom before school starts up again....bittersweet. 

Staple this goes wherever I go!

Marc Jacobs

House of Harlow 1960 earrings and cute necklace my sister got me.

Fringe boots!!!!! the boot resembles the Steve Madden Intyce boots but with suedette and fringe on the side <3

The best part about the Gentle Fawn vest is that embroidery on the back

Shirt was free from my old job

This song amazes "Intro" by The Xx amazes my ears.  I could listen to this wordless compilation all day. 

Hears the long version:

We went to this Tofu and Grill restaurant.  Pretty sweet food most definitely.  With the holidays ending, it forsure felt great to intake food that was not "heavy". 

 I ordered the curry tofu with medium spicy, but the cook forgot to put any spice other than curry.  I NEED MY SPICE!  But other than that, the food was delicious.

 <3

Simple Things

                                      Birthday Weekend

It's not about how many people you know, it's about THE people you know.  Cherish them; their time, their thought, their characteristics, etc.  If you have their back, they have yours.

Think Outside of the Box

"I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's." 

       New year's resolutions are a great way to start of the year.  However, honestly, how many people actually follow through with the resolutions?  I remember about 5 years ago as I chowed down a double-double animal style burger and animal style french fries from the famous In-N-Out, that for that year, I will refrain from fast food.  I must say I was pretty good with the resolution for about 8 months (as long as you do not think 1 taco or 2 here-and-there from little taquerias count as fast-food).  In my defense, I did notice that I did "feel" better since I did not put sooooo much junk in my belly.
        Take it one step at a time, one day at a time.  The days turn into a year.

Happy 2013!

 "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I wrote down 'happy'.  They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." ~John Lennon

One of my professors presented this quote to my class the several weeks ago.  As cliché as this sounds, money, success, and material objects cannot buy happiness.  It is finding that personal balance that transforms into happiness, which brings about that "key" to life.  Balance and contentment....balance and contentment....balance and contentment.