outlast

i have tried many different kinds of lipstick that lasts all day long but i have not had much luck finding the perfect one. 

after some research...i think i found me a keeper in Cover Girl's Outlast All Day Lip Color.  i put some on this morning before heading out the door and 1 cup of coffee + lunch 6 hours later, i still have lipstick on!  i had to re-apply the moisturizing top coat 3 times already, but it's like regular chapstick which i reapply constantly anyway.  it works!  i am wearing plum right now, but i might experiment with other colors.  at under $10 for the lipstick...this is a steal!!!

i tried Chantecaille's Hydra Chic Lipstick before but it came off after just 1 cup of coffee. it's extremely expensive, too!  i must have gone through that 1 tube of lipstick in 1 month. 

mall-ing

last week, out of nowhere, i asked paul, "how come we never go to the mall?" 

he responded, "what do you mean?  we're always at target?"

"target is not the mall.  i'm just thinking, most families spend weekends strolling the mall, shopping or window shopping and we never do.  we go to target to get supplies...we buy clothes and all other stuff online.  i think we should go to the mall next weekend and be like a 'normal' family."  i said to him. 

if i were my husband, i would reply with, 'ok...i know you just want an excuse to go to the mall and drag me with you.'  but he's too nice to say that.  =D 

so tomorrow, we're going to the mall to go mall-ing.  ha!  i hope i don't find anything tempting!

we're going to the stanford mall btw.  paul's never been there and the last time i was there, michelle was 1 year old, i think.  must revisit.  plus, they have all the great stores!

turkey

(scenario...we're watching the news about the earthquake in turkey)

michelle: what's that mommy?
me: it's about the earthquake in turkey?
michelle: turkey?
me: yes, there's a country called turkey.
michelle: (laughing) that's a silly name for a country!


i'm not insensitive...i am praying for the people of turkey and hope they can all recover from the devastation...but kids say the darnest things!

make up to wake me up!

when i'm out running errands, i don't usually care what i look like.  my friends and my husband get slightly embarrassed because sometimes i go to the supermarket looking like a homeless person.  i go in whatever clothes i'm wearing and just throw a coat over it, with messy hair to top it all off.  earlier this week, i was dropping michelle off to school when my mom said, 'is that what you're wearing?'  i was wearing a t-shirt and my ultra comfy black pajamas that have been ruined in spots by bleach...so i have these blotches of white/gray/red thing on my right pajama leg.  i shrugged and said, 'yeah, i'm only dropping her off, i'm not staying there.' even my mom disapproves of what i wear!

i go to work without make-up or hardly any and i must admit, i don't pick the best clothes for work either.  i often find myself pressed for time in the morning so i don't always have time to put on make up.  when one of our managers got married, paul and i went and that was the first time my co-workers saw me with a full face of make up...i received a lot of complements that night.  putting the make up on didn't take me a long time and i do like to put on make up sometimes, but i just don't like to do it everyday. 

BUT...

i was reading a book on monday night on how to present yourself well and it touches briefly on looking presentable.  gosh!  i so needed that one!  i wont go into detail about what it said...let's just say that since tuesday, i go to work looking presentable.  i also avoid leaving the house looking like a homeless person when i'm running my errands.  i remind myself, 'if any of your ex boyfriends and their wives saw you looking like that, they'll have plenty to talk about after you leave.'  i don't want that to happen.  =D 

i think what got me all excited too is getting some new make up from sephora last weekend.  champoo, my make up artist friend, recommended i try NARS liquid foundation and since my old foundation had ran out, i decided to give it a try and i love it!

Shade:  Stromboli - Medium with olive undertones

A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage that immaculately evens skin tone. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, it leaves skin hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin's brightness and texture.

• For normal, normal-to-dry and dry skin types
• Hydrates for softer and smoother skin
• Contains powerful anti-oxidants to protect against damaging free radicals and turmeric extract to improve skin's radiance and tone
• Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Fragrance free.

Shade:  Stromboli

An advanced, lightweight formula that fuses the performance of a foundation with the ease of a powder. Skin looks perfected with a soft-matte finish and is protected against UVA and UVB rays. Incredibly versatile, it may be applied with a powder brush for a sheer, natural finish, or with the included sponge for a polished and smooth finish.

• SPF 12 and PA++ protection
• Lightweight, non-drying velvety finish; effortless application

 Shade:  Orgasm

The ultimate authority in blush, NARS offers the industry's most iconic shades for cheeks. Natural, healthy-looking color that immediately enlivens the complexion. A light application of even the highest-intensity hues delivers a natural-looking flush.

• Orgasm named "Top 25 Beauty Hall of Fame” 2010 Elle; "Best Blush for Light Skin” 2010 & 2011 InStyle "Best Beauty Buys”; "Best Blush for Fair Skin” 2011 InStyle"Best Beauty Buys”
• Silky texture
• Micronized powder ensures soft, blendable application

this is exciting!  and also expensive!  =(  the good thing about make up is when you buy them, they last for several months. 

ask me if my husband has noticed.  the answer is no!  men!!!!!!!  =D

straight Es

earlier today, i had a meeting with michelle's teacher and i was told that michelle is getting straight Es in class. not straight As.  straight Es.


E for Excellent!!


kindergarten students don't get graded based on the regular letter grading system, they get E for Excellent, VG for Very Good, G for Good, etc.  


so as a reward for her good grades, we told her we were going to give her a prize...paul and i were thinking along the lines of a nice toy or something like that...but she said, 'yey mommy!  you mean i can get something from the dollar store?!'  we didn't correct her.  if it's the dollar store she wants, then it's something from the dollar store she'll get! =)

date night

paul and i went to dinner to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary two fridays ago.  we had originally planned on going to napa to have lunch at morimoto and go to wine tasting at cheateau st. jean, but michelle was sick for almost a week so we had to cancel our plans. 

we decided to eat at baker and banker a week later... it was voted to be one of the best restaurants in the san francisco bay area in 2011.  it was a small restaurant that seats maybe less than 50 people at a time.  the pastry chef (lori baker) and the chef (jeff banker) came out to greet the diners which i think was a very nice touch. 

 House smoked trout, potato latke, horseradish cream, pickled beets, shaved fennel

Grilled gulf prawns, fresh shelling bean, oven dried tomato and baby artichoke salad, Castelvetrano olive tapenade

Soy and mirin braised black cod, foie gras-shitake sticky rice, grilled bok choy

 Slow roasted pork shoulder, pan friend semolina spaetzle, sweet corn, black mission figs

                                                       Jonathan apple crisp, white cheddar streusel, bacon brittle ice cream

the food was great!  i loved all of the dishes i ordered...paul was not too happy with his order especially after he had a taste of my entree.  the cod at baker and banker is one of the top 5 dishes i've ever had in my life.  yes, it was that good! 


i would love to go back in a heartbeat!  the price was not too bad...paul and i each had a glass of wine.  i could have had two but i didn't want to look like the 'big drinker' at our table.  =D  paul hardly and rarely drinks.  i drink enough for the two of us.  =D