Girl's Trip in Colorado & Blog Awards!

**Pic heavy post!**

Back from my Girl's Trip in Denver & Breckenridge, CO - It was a much needed vacation & an awesome way to reconnect with friends I hadn't seen in awhile. :)

You don't need a great camera to capture the views in Colorado - Mother nature does all the work for you!

I have decided that there are a few elements that are essential to any girl's trip:

*~Adventure~*

*~Laughter~*

*~Food~*

*~Goofy moments~*

*~Bonding time~*

*~Going out on the town~*






*~Pampering~*









*~The element of Surprise~*

The week literally flew by - my body is adjusting again to the drastic change in altitude (they don't call Denver the "mile high city" for nothing!) I so don't want to go back to work on Monday. :(


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Thank you so much to AlyssaMae, Mr.Pineappleman, & Serena for these lovely awards! ♥

I would like to tag every single one of my readers :D

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I'm going to get to work on some reviews for the upcoming week. :) Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

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A warm hello to beauties Ashley, Victoria, *A*, Nos, Angelique Q, Madiha, Sara, Esmereldaa, Boutzie', misSL33zZy, LadyMishel, ysababy323, xiluvyoux, and joany

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♥ Irene

Thankful I'm alive...

Scariest moment ever yesterday. Like I had mentioned before, there was some freak snow in Texas yesterday (it's all gone today) - I had to go to work in the morning. It started off fine...I was trying to be careful and most of the major roads were clear.

I approached a bridge, hit an icy patch, and started swerving out of control...I flew over the curb (between two telephone poles), careened down a small embankment, and managed to lodge myself amidst a few trees. Of course my mind is going a bazillionmilesanhour...everything happened in slow motion.

The WHOLE time this was happening, all I could think about was "please don't let this damage my car too badly" - weird and a little sad. :( The right side of my car was all torn up from the branches, but no broken glass...there was not internal car damage (the engine still runs) but I'll be figuring out what to do in the next few days as far as totaling it and getting a new car or trying to salvage it.

The crazy thing is I walked away from everything WITHOUT A SCRATCH. I was really down about the whole thing, thinking about how unlucky I was...until I realized how the simple fact that I was ALIVE and untouched was worth so much in and of itself. I am so thankful that God had his protective hand over me throughout the whole accident and for surrounding me with loved ones so quickly. Life is so precious and we all are so fragile in the whole scheme of things. I promised myself not to take this fact for granted...as Suze Orman always says "People first, then money, then things!"

Life teaches you so many things. Sometimes the lessons are harder than others...this time, luckily only in the form of squeezing my budget. If anything, I feel like I'll be more careful with my $$$ from here on out...emergency funds are so important!!!

Man, I have so much respect for all of you out there who have to deal with the snow everyday for MONTHS.

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Even though I had an incredibly bad day, it did cheer me up to see this sweet award from Yumi



♥ THANK YOU!!! ♥

I in turn will tag:

Sophia
Shop n Chomp
Glitteryeyesxx
Khristine
Sam
Suegarcoated
Anita
Liana
Stephanie
Yumi
Serena
Michelle
Nikki
Susie
Kimberdoll

♥

Finally, thank you for the love new readers veriweto and Mademoiselle !!!

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Please take care of yourselves today and DRIVE SAFELY


♥ Irene

Review - Maybelline Moisture Extreme (Sugar plum Ice A12) and Another award!

I am going to preface this review with a fact. I am NOT a lipstick user. I rarely EVER use it because it feels uncomfortable to have stuff that isn't either aquaphor/chapstick/vaseline slathered atop my pucker. (am I weird?)

Also, I suffer from chronically dry lips. (insert Death Valley/Alligator picture) Yes, I probably need to drink more! But in the meantime, I have never worn lipstick before because of this issue. Ugh. Plus my lips are kind of weirdly shaped *embarrassed*

KoreanSushi piqued my interest in Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick when she posted about it being the only one she actually held onto after a mini-haul. It being BOGO (buy-one-get-one-50%-off) at Walgreens this week and at only about $5.50 a pop, I thought - why not? (2 for about $8 after tax)


It looks so pretty in the tube!


Swatched w/ flash!



On my fuzzy weird-shaped lips

**Description**
Active power of a lip balm provides deep moisturization for voluptuous lips drenched in color. Non-feathering and non-bleeding. SPF 15 protection. (bonus!)

I ♥ this lipstick!!!!!! I have never said that about ANY lipstick before. It doesn't feel like lipstick at all - more like a light, non-sticky, hydrating gloss. No weird smell/taste (it is actually quite pleasant and a little sweet) Definitely my new HG lipstick. I'm going to check out the other colors now before this sale is up!

3/9 Update - Still love this lipstick although it doesn't really last very long. Reapply often for best results!!! :)

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Thank you to the HILARIOUS, spunky and gorgeous Jessica Mai for this award! :) I feel so spoiled this week!

7 random facts time!

1. I love to paint.

"Two Bulbs" or "Bulbous"
Acrylic on Canvas 9/08

2. I was born with two uvula (sounds kind of dirty but it's actually the little dangly things in the back of your throat lol) My bf affectionately calls me "TWOvula"!

3. I still want to move to Hawaii one day! :)



4. I speak English, a little bit of Chinese, enough Spanish to have a decent conversation, and am learning some Japanese! I love languages - so interesting!

5. I am a sandwich child -- 3 other sisters! (2nd eldest!)

6. I love all types of music. My all time favorite band is RADIOHEAD -- my dream to see them in concert came true a few years ago!



7. I am a dreamer! I would like to believe that we all have something big to contribute to the world!

I tag:
Rachel
Khristine
LittoMokaa
Sohpia aka Kechiko
Jimin
Sharlene
KatieNgo

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Hello to Diana & Happy1234 (sweet name lol)!

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To end, I just had to post this picture of the sky today. It had just finished raining heavily and a short while before sunset, the clouds parted and graced the people of Dallas, Texas with this:



*happy sigh*

Retro Tag, Blog Award & Surprise gift!

The gorgeous Ms. Kate Gene's posted this on her recent blog and tagged all of her following readers!

** Retro Tag! **

1. Post a picture from your childhood (less than 13 yrs old).
2. Write about the picture.
3. Tag your friends and readers.

I actually found a few photos that brought back some really good memories:


Apple orchards - a Fall standard in Michigan. The apple trees in this orchard were so low to the ground! This is right before we ran into a huge dog that freaked me out. (I'm in the pink & older sis is in blue!)


My older sis & I having a blast in the kiddie pool! I love how we are rocking "side-tie" string bikinis!!! The nice thing about Michigan was the change of seasons.


I always LOVED "Art Castle" - a pottery painting place back in MI - always had a creative side! This particular visit was for my b-day party! I painted a silver cat on a pink pillow and followed with a glitter gloss coating. Things really don't change that much lol!

Sometimes I really miss being a kid - life was so worry-free, not a care in the world!

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♥ So happy!!! The beautiful & talented Nikki passed on this lovely award to me - thanks again hun, what a nice surprise after a long day at work! :) ♥

1. Post the logo on your Blog
2. Pass it to 12 bloggers that inspire you!
3. Link the bloggers and let them know!!

Everyone of these ladies here is equally deserving as they have all inspired me! (I didn't re-tag a lot of the other ladies that inspire me, though they deserve it all the same! (aka Sophia, Sharlene, Nikki, etc...)

1. Yumiko aka "Yumi"
2. Khristine aka "Khris"
3. Saaamage
4. Jessica Mai
5. DSK Steph
6. KoreanSushi
7. Glitteryeyesxx
8. Serena
9. For the Fierce
10. Kym
11. Anita
12. Kate Gene

♥

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I was so surprised to see a random & unexpected package on my doorstep today! My Houston friend Le-Minh had sent me a very special love package from out of the blue! She claims it is a much belated b-day present (at this rate, it is more of an early b-day present than a belated one lol) but it was so sweet & thoughtful!!!

I love all the pink stuffing! Easter came early this year ;)



My heart melted when I saw the card (and even more when I read message inside!)



Adorable magnets!



I'm actually kind of obsessed with stickers. These are super kawaii!



Sweet, girly half-apron!



I am so excited for our girls trip in April -- Girly movies, Spa trip, Skiing, Hot Springs & pigging out are on the itinerary so far...

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Another warm hello to Molly Tamale (love the name!!)

First blog award/tag & Happy thoughts

Aaaaaahhh so happy! Was tagged for my first blog awards today from hot mama randomnesswithKhris...thanks a million!!! You made my day! :D

"Post 10 things that make you happy, try to do at least one of them today, link back to the person who awarded you and pass along for up to ten people."

1. Family - Can't deny this one is number one! They drive me crazy, but their constant love & support keeps me fulfilled, connected, & grounded.

2. My Boyfriend - he is truly my rock as well as my number one fan! I adore him - after almost 3 years of hardships & insane bliss, I am so happy to have him in my life. Just thinking about him makes me happy :)

3. Crafting! My head is always full of a million ideas...I love bringing my dreams to life, which is why I'm taking some serious sewing classes this month! :)

4. EATING GOOD FOOD - Man. I am a huge foodie and love writing about it too -- if you're on YELP too, give me a holler! Chances are if it's coated in white cheddar cheese or covered in 3 types of mushrooms, I'm going to love it.

5. COOKING GOOD FOOD - I LOVE to cook! And it makes me happy when it turns out well...lots of times it doesn't ;_; ... but when it does, I'm on top of the world! My Mom thinks it's crazy that I enjoy cooking...but when I'm back from a long day of work, it is soooo relaxing to just chop, slice and fry things. Good stress relief!

6. Random Acts of Kindness. See RandomnesswithKhris above!

7. Shopping - Especially internet shopping because then you get exactly what you want!!! Instant gratification! I bought my phone charm in Japantown LA. So kawaii!

8. TRAVEL - and I don't mean the kind to and from work. Lol. I want to travel the world one day...Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris, Hawaii, New York etc. etc. I promised myself to visit (and revisit) all of these places before I turn 30! I'm really just a big tourist at heart.

9. Memories - Looking back at all the things that I've been blessed enough to do in my life makes me happy. It also motivates me to continue making more awesome memories in the future!

10. Blogging!!! Kind of cheated on this one since I'm 'doing' it today. ;) Connecting to people from around the world is an **AMAZING** feeling. I get a high off of you people! lol.

I'm passing both of these along to the following Sexy Ladies!!

Sharlene of I-lashes!

Glitteryeyesxx

Kate Gene

(who, by the way, is currently having a STILA GIVEAWAY on her blog right now!

Steph of DSK Jewelry because her happy necklace continues to keep me happy :)

Sophia at Kechiko

MaiPhilosophy

Yumi!

.maitai

Cee

Kym of herrohachi tees -- I must become a fan on fb, totally cute! Ok done. :

Speaking of which, Oh Hai! to Katie Ngo & Aracely!

From Lolcats

P.S.

The 2010 Winter Olympics started today! The mascots are adorable!


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