Hide the freckles!

I've been on a hunt for the best powder foundation to cover up my freckles and simplify my morning make up routine for the longest time. BUT, after using it for 2 months, I'm so over it!! Laura Mercier was good BUT, it sheer coverage is not helping at all with my freckles. So, I bought Make Up Forever Duo Mat powder foundation because their liquid foundation is my fave!! I mean, this powder does the job in covering my freckles (not full coverage though) BUT I cannot find the right shade. The shade I currently have is a little bit lighter (I look like a Geisha) and the shade next to it is tad darker than my skin tone. So, I figure, let me try another brand. I bought Shiseido perfect smoothing foundation with SPF 15 and I love it! Feels really light and coverage is good. Hope I'll commit to it!!!

Work hard, Play hard!

If you read my blog below, you are aware that our planned East Coast trip was a DEBACLE! But, we still wanted to see New York. So, I checked out flights at Virgin America and it was affordable! only $71 more than the disastrous Delta Airlines flight. LOL. We will be staying at my Auntie's place in Long Island (save us some $$$, besides, we just need a place to sleep and shower anyways). We can't wait to see what the Big Apple has to offer!!!! We also hope to visit the neighboring states which are just a couple of hours away and bus accessible. See you Noo Yawk Noo Yawk in September!!!




Just when I thought I'm not going to any vacations this year, Gerald suggested we should go Hawaii. Ge wanting to go Hawaii was perplexing to me.
Reason#1: we are on a BUDGET!!!
Reason#2; there are NO all inclusive hotels in Hawaii. We like the all inclusive plan because we do not have to worry about food everyday.
Reason#3: let me reiterate the obvious, we are on a BUDGET!!!!
I kept asking myself, Can I afford this?? But I caved in because found us a good deal at Hawaii airlines. I'm ecstatic !!! See yah Waikiki in October!!!!

Flight disaster!!!

Suck it up morning flight delay

5 p.m.- Virgin America side for dinner. Catching up on my reading.

6p.m.-Totally frustrated at this point!!

Our East Coast trip was CANCELLED! We planned to visit my mom's cousin in the East coast (Washington) BUT the plan did not go the way we want it to be. The flight to Washington was a NIGHTMARE!!!. We were supposed to fly out of SFO to MN to Washington yesterday at 6:05 a.m. Unfortunately, on our way to the airport security (5 a.m.), my sister received a call from Delta airlines saying the flight was delayed and moved to 10:30 a.m. That was fine with me, 4 hours in the airport is okay. Delta gave us $50 voucher for our next trip and $6 food credit, so that appeased me a little. Almost 10:30 a.m., we are still not boarding. Delta customer service announced that they will change our flights again because the airplane is having a main computer board problems. So now our flight was moved to 10:30 p.m.!!! YES! I said it right, P.M!! At this point I'm irked out, my sis went on the line for an hour to get us another flight to ATL (not MN) to Washington. We sucked it up again and used our $56 food credit to eat our dinner (we went to the Virgin America airline side, I feel like I'm in Vegas. LOL). Then my mom's cousin suggested we should just fly out to JFK airport in NY so they can just meet us up there since we planned to be in NY Saturday morning if we flew to Washington. So we changed our flights again to SFO-->JFK., 10:30 p.m.flight. We went back to our Delta airline gate only to find out we are delayed again!!! 10:30 p.m. flight was changed to 2:05 a.m. At this point, I'm livid BUT we said, ok, let's calm down and just be patient!!! We checked the schedule for departure to find out that it was DELAYED again (2:05 a.m. -->3:40a.m)! WOW! That's it!!!! We are CANCELLING this trip!. 18 hours in the airport was NOT fun! I was tired and frustrated. I know for sure I'm not flying DELTA ever!!!

Update:
We resched our NY trip to September and this time we are flying Virgin America!!

My 31st!! ♥

31st??? wow!! I'm officially in my 30's!!! Gone were the days of "clubbing" and getting drunk on my birthday. BUT, this old lady still had the energy and the groove so we headed to Santana Row Saturday night. Sunday was FAM day!!! We went with the cousins to Cloverleaf at Irvington and had a blast bowling!!! Everything is mellow now BUT I'm glad I celebrated it with my loved ones ♥

I'm missing the beach!

Cancun, Dec 2010Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, May 2010

St. John, US Virgin Islands, June 2008

It's been 7 months for me since my last tropical vacation (Cancun)or should I say REAL vacation?!?!?. I usually go on vacation between the months of May-August of every year BUT since I'm on a budget for the wedding, there is just no extra $$$ to squander for a good tropical vacation. I'm in dire need of a good vacation!!! My brain seems to be on a vacation mode because I'm always sluggish at work even after taking 2 green tea pills (energy and hoping to speed up my metabolism) in the morning. 5 more months of savings and I can finally enjoy my paycheck!!! My first purchase will be a tropical vacation to relax, decompress and work on my tan a month before the wedding. I cant wait!!

SAVE THE DATE ♥

I've been on a hunt since April for our SAVE THE DATE card and Etsy has been my favorite website. Everything just look so cute and dainty!!!! I used pictures we took when we went to Cancun and so far, it is looking like a destination wedding SAVE THE DATE. hahaha. How I wish! Here are some samples of different designs BUT I will post in the next couple of days which design GE and I chose. Pardon the TOM and KATIE ♥ BRIAN & KATIE samples below. lol

Wedding inspirations

This is our actual reception venue (Casa Real at Ruby Hill winery) except, this is all decorated! I'm so inlove with these chandeliers BUT is super pricey. $500 per chandelier!! You read

it right, $500 EACH!

I'm in love with this cake, simple yet elegant. This is Khloe K. and Lamar O wedding cake.
These flower arrangements below are my inspiration for our centerpieces. I requested to use
hydrangea's (white) and blush roses to replicate this centerpieces (cost effective). Another flower inspiration

This flower arrangement below is I want for the bridesmaids bouquets. I like clean, crisp and fresh looking bouquets.

Lastly, I'm in love with Peonies!!! I hope our vendor can make me this exact bouquet. She is worried that peonies might not be in season on the month of April. :-( I chose peonies not just because it is beautiful and smells divine BUT my all time favorite book is "Peony in love". hehehe