30th Birthday Diaries: Accessories Gifts

Hello everyone!

In my previous post, I shared the makeup gifts I received for my 30th birthday. In this post, I wanted to share the two accessories I received: a necklace and purse.

SMALL HEART PENDANT NECKLACE: JJ MARCS
I love this. I've been looking for a small pendant necklace. It's dainty and simple. It's not too long, not too short. I've gotten compliments whenever I wear it :)

PURSE: Women's Chain Strap Micro Bag by Who What Wear (Target)

My friend got this for me because she said all of my purses are dark in color. LOL. It's a beautiful purse and something I would definitely wear to nicer occasions. Can't wait to use it :)

That's all folks!

This is the last of my 30th Birthday Diaries. I do hope you enjoyed the little mini series :)

On my end, it was really fun to document my 30th birthday events. 30 is a big year and I'm excited for what other blessings is to come.

Xoxoxo

30th Birthday Diaries: Makeup Gifts

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share some of my birthday makeup gifts with you all. I haven't used any yet, but I did swatch a few and try on the lippies.

The goods

TWO FACED: NATURAL EYES:

I am in love! I love neutrals!! This palette is so beautiful (and comes with tutorials) that I almost do not want to use it. And the names are the cutest! :D

I did swatch the highlight, blush and bronzer. That highlight was way pigmented!

SEPHORA LUSTER MATTE LONG WEAR LIP COLOR: NUDE PINK

I am exchanging this one. It's so much brighter on my lips than the actual tube that the color, when on my lips, is almost neon, like a milky pink neon. Not very cute on me at all. It does not fit my skin tone whatsoever.

MAC: MINERALIZED EYE SHADOW IN SPICED METAL

This is very shimmery! It stays true to it's "metal" description. This is something I will definitely use on the center of my eye when doing a smoky eye. 

MAC: VIVA GLAM V

I really dig this. It is similar to a "my lips but better" color but with a luster finish. It's a beautiful every day color that I can wear to work though I do wish it did not have that shine. 

This is actually my first Viva Glam lipstick so I'm excited about that :)

I'll share some of my other gifts next week. I got tons of Starbucks gift cards (YAAAAS!). I also got a purse, a necklace and a dress (that may be too big for me).

Until next time! 

Xoxoxox

30th Birthday Diaries: It's My Birthday!!!

Hello everyone!!!!

Today is Monday, May 23 and it is my 30th birthday! The big 3-0! :D 

I'll write a post later on about my birthday party. I had a great time :)

For now, I decided to write a casual post on what I did today on my actual birthday.

I was very productive this morning. I got my car serviced, got my birthday Starbucks,  returned items to Target, UPS'ed a return, went to Sephora to get something for my mom (her birthday is tomorrow). I spent the early afternoon with my nephew and childhood friends and will be having dinner with the boyfriend later this evening. Shout out to Ben whose birthday was yesterday :D 

Being food naughty on a weekday.

It's my birthday. It's okay ;)

(yes,I did my hair! Post to come)

I haven't seen my little guy in ages. My heart melted when he ran to me <3

So far, 30 has been good to me. 

Cheers to many more blessings to come.

Xoxoxo

30th Birthday Diaries: My 30th Birthday!

So it happened, ladies (and gentleman)!

I made it to three decades!

I am now the big 3-0, the dirty 30, the thirsty 30, the flirty 30!

And how does it feel?

Not very different from 29....at least not yet :)

I had my birthday at a sushi spot in Santa Monica. My friend is a resident DJ there and was able to reserve us the VIP patio for my party.

It was a very chill, mellow party as my friends are more mellow than not. 

Here are some photos of me getting ready, me at my party, and a party favor I made for my guests. I also had games and prizes :)

Getting ready :)

Don't mind boyfriend's dirty mirror. It kind of gives a natural space galaxy filter, right?

Eyes done. I did a smoky eye

Make up done. Time to curl hair

I love this photo. The dirt on the mirror makes me look like I'm in some kind of constellation

Ta-da!

I know I'm not Kim K, but I really have been digging her style of longsleeve, long dresses. I wanted something sexy, but elegant and a little conservative. I wanted by thirty to be sophisticated, not like a 21 year old going to Vegas. I've done the short body con dresses in my younger years. I must admit, I wear them from time to time, but for the big 3-0, I wanted something a little more conservatively elegant.

I am ultimately happy with my outfit and look. Many asked me, "aren't you going to be hot?" I was worried at first, but knew that I would be okay. The VIP patio was outside and the venue was in Santa Monica which is near the beach. Beach cities are pretty cooler than inland cities because they are by the coast. And weirdly enough, Los Angeles has had some funky weird May weather - super chilly for May. Turned out, my party night was pretty chilly and we even asked for two heat lamps :)

Party favors - candy

"Roses are red

Violets are blue

I had a beary sweet time 

Celebrating with you

Xoxoxo"

Can you tell I really love bears?

I had a beautiful birthday spent with loved ones. It was a beautiful night with beautiful people. I am ever so grateful for each and every person who was able to come and for those who were unable to attend. 

The best thing about next day party/done up hair?

The curls! LOVE <3

So far, 30 has been great to me. I cannot wait for what the rest of the year has to offer me.

Xoxoxox

30th Birthday Diaries: Balayage Hair

Hi everyone!

I am writing this post on 5/22 but by the time this post gets published, it will be one day after my birthday. 

Two weeks before my birthday, I got my hair done. I did something that was, for me, out of my comfort zone, but for most people who dye their hair, a normal thing.

For those of you who know (or don't know), my typical hair color style is peekaboo in which only the bottom layers (or middle layers - whatever is not on top) is colored as in this post as well. I love this coloring technique because it is low maintenance. If my hair grows out and the roots show, you can't really tell because it's all underneath. This allowed me to do my hair 2x/year. Depending how you style your hair, the peekaboo colors come out and beautifully peeks through your hair.

I have never dyed the top layers of my hair due to fear of roots and maintaining it. Let's be real. That's expensive and on my social worker budget, maintenance is the least of my worries.

I initially wanted to go blonde but was not quite brave enough. My hair is jet black, as black as black can be. Going from black to blonde was too dramatic. I couldn't. I decided to do a balayage and gradually work my way to lightness that I am comfortable with. This experience was a little nerve-wrecking because I never dyed the top of my hair. If you don't like the bottom peekaboo layers, it's okay. You can't really see it unless you do your hair a certain way.

Now enough of the chit chat, let's get on to pictures:

BEFORE: PEEKABOO

AFTER: BALAYAGE

My hair has since lightened since then which the hairdresser did tell me about. 

My hair is so much lighter two weeks later 

I'm contemplating going lighter for my next appointment. We shall see :D

Here's to being 30 and to trying new things :)

Xoxoxox

30th Birthday Diaries: Birthday Preview + Celebrity Sighting

Happy Thursday everyone!

Today is 5/19! The countdown has already begun for my 30th birthday on 5/23!! Dun dun dun!!

In the past few years, I've been slacking on the preparation department for birthdays - buying gifts, buying cards, buying outfits.This year was no different.

But it should have been! It's the big 3 - O ! The big dirty thirty, thirsty thirty, flirty thirty and thriving!

I started shopping for my birthday dress the week before my birthday party on 5/21. I know, it's awful.

Some people may be opposed to this but I was going for the Kim K inspired look.

www.ailexpress.com

www.celebuzz.com

www.elle.com

Say what you want about Kim Kardashian but the woman is beautiful when she's all dolled up and she can dress well too! I love her style. It's elegant, sophisticated, conservative, classy, yet sexy. 

I wanted that to be my attire theme for my 30th birthday so I was on the hunt for it. Now, I know I don't have her body, but still. I wanted to fell elegant, sophisticated, classy, yet sexy all in one! If I'm feeling it, that's all that matters!

Here's a day in the life of my crazy shopping day...a little preview of the "big" day:

Nordstrom Rack

At first, I was having no success in finding a Kim K dress. Who knew it was so hard to find? I begun to settle on this dress, but changed my mind. Then I decided to give it one more shot and cruise the mall again just in case I missed something.

Forever 21

This was the first dress I found that was in at least the same vicinity as a Kim K dress...maybe, kinda sorta? After searching far and wide of what was around me, this was my best bet. With a statement piece necklace and pumps, this dress can go from drab to fab. I also planned on wearing a long boho cardigan with it towards the end of the night. I love my boho vibes.

Love Culture

This was a more elegant dress than the Forever 21 one. It was just a bit too long which is an easy fix.

Love Culture

Then I found this dress!!! I don't have the curves that Kim K does, but I love the elegance of it. It's classic. Again, with a statement piece necklace and pumps, this dress would be so beautiful!

LA Colors and Lip Tattoo

While waiting in line, I came across these bad boys, only about $2/piece. I've been wanting to try the lip tattoo so I'm excited to come across it. I'll do a swatch post later on. 

After my shopping extravaganza, I went back to work. Around 3pm, I asked a colleague if she wanted to go with me get Starbucks. And so we did. As we were walking, we walked by Taraji Henson! I LOOOOOOOVE her. We passed by her twice. The second time, we were on the sidewalk. We were standing next to each other. When it was time to cross, we were right next to each. She almost tripped stepping down and shrieked. I shrieked with her because I'm jumpy like that. LOL.

This isn't the best photo, but we didn't want to be totally creepy. And I must say, I LOVE her outfit.

And yes, my colleague and I did have to go that way. LOL.

It's almost my birthday! My 30th birthday!!! 

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Xoxoxox

30th Birthday Diaries: Feeling Older Shoe Haul

Hello there!

It is my birthday month and this month, I am turning the big dirty 30, flirty 30, thirsty 30 - whatever you would like to call it.

As it comes, I embrace it...but I think subconsciously I am freaking out.

1. Going [dirty] blonde
Why?? I think it is just a phase because this thought only came in early April and it's starting to exit my brain. A good friend of mine told me that when she turned 30 a few years ago, she dyed her red in a "30 life crisis" moment. I think I am starting to understand. Haha.

This is what I'm thinking:

But this is what I don't want - having half natural color and half salon color as it grows out. I am not high maintenance when it comes to my hair. I've only dyed the bottom layers of my hair so that when roots grow out, no one can see. I'm too lazy and can't afford constant touch ups and special maintaining shampoos. And then I wonder, do I have to lighten my eyebrows?! So much work. Decisions, decisions.

2. My first white hair
My friend pointed it out on 4/24/16. At that moment, it did not phase me. She told me I should cut it off because it's really noticeable as I have a white hair very distinguishable from my jet black hair. I was fine with it. Hours later at home, I freaked out and went to the bathroom and cut that sucker off. Dang. It's happening.

3. Old lady feet
When I was younger, my mom would tell me that as you get older, your feet do not like flat shoes anymore. Shoes have to be soft with a meaty sole for support. I thought she was just making silly talk, but dang! She was right. In the past year, my feet has not been liking those ballet flats. Oh no, oh no. Especially since I work in a hospital, I am on my feet for a long time, walking around or standing, sometimes 3 - 4 hours at a time. And oh my word, my feet hate me after all that. 
I decided to bite the bullet and go on a mini spree to buy shoes that would provide comfort. I call them, and please don't take offense, "old lady shoes." Shoes with a chunky sole. 
Here's what I purchase:

Modellista Miranda Ballet Flats

Andrew Geller Wilmot Wedge Pumps

a.n.a. Sicily Ballet Flats

I purchased them all from JC Penny and all were on sale. I've worn all three and the first two are so comfortable!! It's like walking on pillows!! Why did I wait so long to choose comfort instead of enduring pain?

The nude pair is comfortable at the heel. The picture does not capture the true cushion at the heel, but there is a nice little pillow. The toe area is a little more flat.

My purchases look boring as they are just simple black and nude, but honestly, black and nude go with everything.

My current flats are trendy, colorful with shimmery stones at the toes. They are cute, but not always practical and sometimes difficult to match.

Here's to being a grown up with foot pain, white hair, and to professionalism and no twinkle toes.

Cheers to my upcoming 30!

xoxoxox