ENTJ

So I took a Personality Test today that is suppose to be pretty legit. It's not one of those personality tests you take on some horoscope site. It's actually a personality test based on a book written by Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs-Myers. The results are similar to a professional MBTI, but not to be treated as one.

Turns out I'm an ENTJ. To sum it up, I'm a charismatic, rational and quick minded leader that's not very sensitive.


ENTJ personalities are very charismatic, rational and quick-minded. They are meant to lead and inspire other people and there is no other type that can do this with such an ease. There are no insurmountable obstacles for ENTJs – nothing is impossible if you try hard enough. Naturally, they rarely have difficulties convincing other people that the goal chosen by the ENTJ should also become one of their personal goals.
These leadership traits form the core of the ENTJ personality type. ENTJs can be unbelievably confident and charismatic – these qualities draw most other types like a magnet and this makes it quite easy for an ENTJ to achieve what they want to achieve. People belonging to this type love challenges, big and small, and firmly believe that they can accomplish everything given enough time and resources. More often than not, this confidence results in a self-fulfilling prophecy – where other types give up and move on to the next project, the ENTJ ploughs ahead and usually achieves spectacular results simply because of that sheer willpower.
That being said, no one can accuse ENTJs of narrow-mindedness or short-term thinking – ENTJ personalities are excellent strategists and have no difficulties crafting elaborate long-term plans, which are then executed with determination and precision. These personality traits make ENTJs brilliant entrepreneurs and business strategists – their charisma and confidence can truly shine in the business world. People belonging to this type also tend to be very dominant and persuasive when it comes to arguing with others or negotiating a deal – while this can certainly turn against the ENTJ, usually it is their opponent who gives up in the face of ENTJ’s willpower and unyielding belief in his or her arguments.

Further to the above, ENTJs are very energetic and tend to have excellent communication skills. They genuinely enjoy interacting with other people and respect those who stand up to them, especially in an intellectual debate. ENTJs have no trouble recognizing someone else’s talents and such encounters are actually very healthy for them as the ENTJ’s self-confidence can easily turn into arrogance and condescension if it is not kept in check.

ENTJ personalities cannot tolerate inefficiency and cannot stand those who they perceive as lazy or incompetent. An ENTJ can be chillingly cold and ruthless when it comes to such situations – they have a very rational mind and could not care less about being sensitive when that mind tells them that someone has failed. People with this personality type put rationality above everything else – and this is one of the main reasons why they are so efficient in the business world, even if such a behavior gives them a reputation of cold-hearted tycoons. In all likelihood, an ENTJ would simply shrug their shoulders and say “I don’t care if you call me an insensitive b*****d, as long as I remain an efficient b*****d”.
Ironically, ENTJs must have the support of other people in order to be truly efficient. They are great leaders, but even the most brilliant mind cannot do everything by itself. This is especially true for ENTJs, whose confidence partially depends on the feedback they receive from their “audience”. Consequently, ENTJs should try to pay more attention to other people’s feelings or at least pretend that they do – most mature and successful ENTJs do that to some extent, even though their sensitivity may hide a cold and calculating mind.
All these personality traits relate to ENTJ’s behavior in the professional environment. People with this personality type often believe that any expression of emotions is a display of weakness, but that does not mean that they cannot be loving and sensitive in a different environment. Feelings and emotions are definitely the Achilles’ heel of most ENTJs and they are likely to find it very difficult to reveal the emotional side of their mind. Even the most confident ENTJ is likely to feel quite powerless in such situations. People belonging to this type should make conscious efforts to develop that aspect of their personality – this does not have to affect their behavior in the workplace, but any ENTJ would benefit tremendously from combining a good grip on their emotions with that rare gift of extraordinary charisma and confidence.
To summarize, ENTJ personalities are very efficient and confident individuals who rarely have difficulties achieving what they have set out to achieve. However, ENTJs are likely to have difficulties when it comes to recognizing and expressing emotions – while such a trait can actually be beneficial in the business world, it may cause many problems in personal relationships if the ENTJ does not make conscious efforts to address this weakness.

ENTJ relationships and dating

ENTJ personalities are energetic and enthusiastic dating partners who take their romantic commitments very seriously. As in other areas, ENTJs strive to seize the leadership position in the romantic relationship – however, this is likely to be a good thing as the ENTJ will be eager to assume responsibility for making sure that everything goes smoothly. ENTJs are creative and innovative dating partners – this is reflected in their long-term relationships as well. As an ENTJ is likely to be on a permanent “scan” approach when it comes to their environment, they may often try to review and, if possible, change the rules of their relationship – but their commitment will always remain very strong. However, the ENTJ will not hesitate if it becomes clear that the dating or long-term relationship is heading towards a dead-end – they will break it and leave, without looking back.
ENTJs are usually quite bad at sensing their partners’ feelings and emotions. This personality type should try to pay more attention to improving these skills, as the combination of insensitivity and tendency to dominate can easily break the relationship, especially during the early dating phase.
From the sexual perspective, ENTJs are energetic, enthusiastic and very imaginative. Their leadership traits and skills will be seen very clearly – it is likely that the ENTJ will push their dating or long-term partner to explore new ways to show their love and affection. However, the ENTJ is also likely to seek some structure and predictability in their sexual life.
Even though ENTJs love to hear that they are loved and appreciated, this need is very low compared to other personality types. They are unlikely to have any issues with neediness or self-esteem – this makes ENTJs very attractive to potential dating partners. However, many other types (especially those with a strong F trait) need a lot of praise and support – ENTJs need to have this in mind. If the ENTJ does not consciously try to meet their partner’s emotional needs in such a relationship, they both may end up inadvertently hurting each other.
ENTJs usually reach impressive heights in their careers and have great money management skills. This is a very useful trait, likely to eliminate most of the financial arguments. However, such characteristics may also put a lot of pressure on the dating partner and the relationship in general, if the ENTJ starts focusing too much on their career and putting their relationship second.
ENTJs see all conflict situations as opportunities for personal growth. This may be perfectly reasonable from their perspective, but F personality types are likely to have a different opinion. These types are very vulnerable to criticism and are likely to avoid conflict situations at all costs. Consequently, the ENTJ tendency to meet the conflict situation head-on can be very threatening to them, especially if they are still dating each other. ENTJs should keep this in mind if their partner belongs to one of F types.
Generally speaking, ENTJs bring a lot of great things into their romantic relationships and are likely to be excellent partners. They are very devoted, enthusiastic and determined to put a lot of effort into making sure that everything goes smoothly. ENTJs are eager to assume responsibility and bear the full weight of the leadership, even during the dating phase. It is more than likely that the ENTJ relationship will see a lot of mutual respect and opportunities for growth – as long as the ENTJ and their partner pay attention to their respective weaknesses.

ENTJ parents
December 1st, 2012 | Add a Comment

ENTJs are likely to be strong-willed, strict and responsible parents. People with this personality type do not like to compromise – they love challenges and set high standards for themselves. Naturally, these traits are clearly recognizable in the ENTJ parenting style as well. ENTJ parents will do everything they can to ensure that their children are smart and independent high-achievers.
ENTJ personalities are unlikely to worry much about instilling their principles and values – they place more importance on rationality and independent thinking. However, ENTJ parents will not tolerate children disrespecting their authority. An ENTJ will often encourage their children to voice their own opinions and not be afraid to defend them, but they make sure that every child knows their obligations.
People with the ENTJ personality type are likely to have two major difficulties when it comes to parenting. First, ENTJs are not very emotional or sensitive and consequently they do not really see a point in paying much attention to these matters. This may make it quite difficult for them to connect with their children on the emotional level. Second, ENTJs are likely to find it quite challenging to communicate with their children during their adolescence as they may then try to reject the ENTJ’s authority. ENTJs should try to adopt a less structured approach as the child grows and matures.


Being friends with an ENTJ

November 11th, 2012 | Add a Comment

ENTJ personalities seek two main things in their friendships – inspiration and personal growth. Unlike many other types, they do not really need much emotional support or reassurance. However, ENTJs relish the idea of engaging in deep, meaningful discussions with close friends. People with this personality type are very good at noticing opportunities for learning and development – and they always try to encourage their friends to participate as well.

Generally, ENTJs pay a lot of attention to their friendships. It is not always easy to be an ENTJ’s friend as people with this personality type tend to have a very strong willpower and are also likely to be very smart, argumentative and critical. Not everyone can withstand an argument with them – and this is exactly why ENTJs respect and value friends who are able to hold their ground. That being said, ENTJ personalities do not understand nor respect emotional arguments and appeals. They are very rational individuals and can only accept a different opinion if it is supported by logic and reason.

Naturally, ENTJ friends may find it quite difficult to support other people on an emotional level. Dealing with feelings is certainly not their strongest suit and they are likely to try to avoid emotionally charged situations. ENTJs enjoy challenging their friends and questioning their conclusions, which is usually the opposite of being sensitive – and not many personality types can cope with this. Feeling (F) types are especially vulnerable to criticism and tend to take it very personally.
As ENTJs tend to put growth and personal development above everything else when it comes to friends and friendships, it is quite doubtful that they will pursue relationships that do not offer such opportunities. ENTJ personalities are drawn towards other intuitive (N) types as such friendships give them a chance to brainstorm and theorize about things they consider important. Sensing (S) personalities, being more practical and down-to-earth, may find it difficult to understand the point of those discussions. 

Mornings with a 2 year old..

Man I need to catch up on my blogging! It has been so busy at work. I still have two Glossybox's to review. Yes, I said TWO! I got two at the same time :)

So I just wanted to share my last two mornings with my fellow moms and soon to be parents of toddlers to give you a glimpse of what your mornings could be like. Let me start off by saying, i am not one of those moms that makes excuses for my children's bad behavior. I'm not going to blame it on something, (although some times being tired is the culprit) and I'm not going to justify it by saying there are worse kids out there. If my kid has been out of line or is acting up, I'll be the first one to call him out on it.

The last two mornings with Chase has been unbearable. Some mornings aren't bad and some are. It's almost like this kid has mood swings. One minute he's fine the next he's upset at everything. This is how my morning went..

(Chase wakes up and walks into the room)

Me: "Good morning buddy you want to get changed and watch some tv?"

Chase: "Ya!"(runs to the room and lays down on the ground)

(I get two wipes and his diaper along with his clothes and sits on the ground in front of his legs)

Chase: "wipe?"

Me: (gives him one of the wipes)

(Chase throws the wipe on the ground next to him and turns his head and you can just see his face change)

Me: "what's wrong buddy why are you upset? You asked for a wipe and I gave it to you."

Chase: "hmph"

Me: (As I'm trying to get him undressed) "What did I do Chase, I don't understand. You asked for a wipe and I gave it to you."

Chase: "NO!" (attempts to kick me with this legs)

Me: "I wouldn't kick me if I were you Chase" (Stern look) "I don't know what's wrong with you but you better STOP."

(Chase continues to be stubborn the whole time and turns his body or sticks his legs straight so I can't get him changed or dressed..but I manage. As soon as I get his shirt and pants on he whines)

Chase: "Jacket" in whiny voice.

Me: "Okay, give me a minute I can't do everything at once and stop whining you're not a baby."

(Finally he's dressed and running out of the room)

Me: "Do you want to watch a little tv and have some water?"

Chase: (runs to the couch) "no milk!"

Me: "Alright I'll turn the TV on and get you some milk." 

(As I turn the TV on and is walking to the kitchen)

Chase: (Grabs his blanket and mine) "Cold. Cover."

Me: "Okay buddy, let me get your milk then I'll come cover you okay?"

Chase: "NOO, cover!" 

(I ignore him as I'm warming up his milk. Yes, I've been giving him warm milk because it's freaking cold and he has a cough. I come out of the kitchen and walk towards him.)

Me: "Can you hold the milk for me while I cover you up?"

Chase: "ehhhhh" (whiney noise)

Me: "Chase....hold the cup so I can cover you with the blanket."

Chase: "Ehhhhhh!"

Me: (I try one more time) "Chase, hold the cup so I can cover you with the blanket."

Chase: "NO!"

Me: "Do you want me to cover you with the blanket?"

Chase: "NO!"

Me: "Okay, fine. I don't know what is the matter with you. Everything you asked for I gave to you. You asked for wipes, I gave you a wipe. You asked for TV, I turned it on. You ask for milk I gave it to you."

(I put the cup down on the coffee table in front of him and goes into the room to finish getting ready for work. Meanwhile, the whole time I can hear him whining and groaning about being covered. He's making all sorts of "EEEEEE" screaming high pitch type sounds, he's yelling "NO", he's just going on and on by himself. Finally, I go out in the living room to check on him.)

Me: "What is your problem Chase." (I see his cup is tipped over on the table) "Do you want your milk?"

Chase: "NO!"

Me: "Okay, so you sure you don't want your milk?"

Chase: "NO!"

(I start walking towards the kitchen to put it in the fridge and he starts to cry for milk. So I walk back out.)

Me: "So you want your milk?"

Chase: "NOO!" (getting a worse attitude every time moving his arms like he's jerking away)

(Same thing repeats. I walk away, he cries for milk except I put it in the fridge)

Me: "Don't cry and give me an attitude. I've asked you twice if you wanted your milk and you said no. Do you want your milk?"

Chase: "NOOO!" 

Me: "Okay that is my point."

(I walk away and go back into the room to get Trent changed and ready for school. Meanwhile Chase is bawling and screaming for milk the entire time like it's the end of the world. You can tell he's so upset and so worked up just saying "I want milk!")

Me: "It's too late, you had your chance. Your cup was sitting there for 30 minutes and I asked you if you wanted your milk and you said no. Now we are leaving. So get your shoes and let's go."

Chase: "NOOOOOOOO!"

Me: "Alright I'm counting to three. One, two..."

(Chase budges a little then changes his mind.)

Me: "THREE!" 

(I walk over and pick him up and put him on the ground. He's trying to crawl away and twist and turn. I grab him by the ankle and drag him back to me and keep one of his legs under my arm as I try to put his shoes on. The whole time he's crying like it's torture. I managed to get both of his shoes on.)

Chase: "Couch" (points to the couch)

Me: "No, we are not sitting on the couch. We are leaving. Mommy has to go to work."

Chase: "MILK!"

Me: "CHASE, LISTEN TO ME. LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!" I start to say slowly and keep repeating "I gave YOU *points at him* milk and YOU *points at him* said NO. So I put it back because YOU DIDN'T WANT IT." (I was hoping that maybe through me repeating that over and over again slowly he would maybe hear it because I know he's so angry that he has virtually closed his ears. Plus he's screaming no the whole time while I'm talking.)

(As I turn around to grab my stuff I hear him trying to undo his shoes)

Me: "Chase, you better not take your shoes off or you're going to be sorry."

(I turn around to grab the baby carrier and turn back.Chase has one of his shoes off. I spanked him. He cries like it hurt, but I know it didn't.)

Me: "That is what happens when you don't listen. You get a spanking. LISTEN CHASE. Then it won't happen. I've gave you warnings ALL MORNING."

(I run downstairs to put my stuff in the car because I knew that he would throw a really big tantrum still and I would have to carry him down the stairs...just like yesterday. I open the door when I got back upstairs and he is sitting there next to baby brother and he looks at me. No noise, no tears.)

Me: "Are you done?"

Chase: "Yeahhh, I'm sorry mama." (he walks towards me to put his arms around me)

Chase: "Hug?"

(I crouch down and give him a big hug)

Me: "Chase you have to listen okay. I don't like to have to spank you or yell but you need to listen buddy. There's no reason why you should've gotten so upset, okay?"

Chase: "Otayy" 

(Gives me a kiss)

And just like that it was like nothing ever happened. I wish I had the ability to be able to get over things as quickly as kids do. For those of you that are against spanking your kids and "it's wrong." Well, keep your opinions to yourself. I'm not suggesting anything to anyone. Whatever works for you then go for it. There is a difference between spanking for discipline and abusing your child and NO, IT IS NOT A FINE LINE. If you come home and you're having a bad day and you're hitting your kids with more force than necessary or with a closed fist. THAT IS CHILD ABUSE. If you're hitting your kids for no reason, THAT IS CHILD ABUSE. If you ever have to think for a second, "did I really hurt him bad?" THAT IS CHILD ABUSE. Nowadays parents are so scared of their kids that they have no control. I know some parents say they don't want their kids to be scared of them. Well, then that's their way of doing things. But fear IS respect. I'm not saying fear like he is going to hide in the room the moment you come home. I'm talking about when you say you're going to do something, they know you're going to do it. That they know you're not bluffing. The day you let your child call your bluff, then own you. Respect is a HUGE thing in the Chinese culture. I think that's why some Chinese kids are more obedient and well mannered. It's a form of respect. If you respect your parents you don't talk back and you don't act out because that is embarrassing. You do as you are told. You never talk back to your elders and you definitely do not talk back to your parents. Showing good manners is also a sign of respect. 

Chase is a really good kid for the most part. At least that's what people tells me. Every kid will have their moment and throw a temper tantrum. I get it. I know he's "not that bad compared to most kids" but at the same time I'm not going to use that as an excuse for him to act out when he does. Like oh, he doesn't get upset or act out very often so I'll just let him. Uh no. Never ONCE have I let him get away with anything. I don't care if it takes me to cancel my plans with whatever I'm doing if it mean I have to sit there until he does what I ask. If he was upset about something legitimate, go for it! But to throw a fit because he feels like it, that's not okay with me. I have a zero tolerance policy. What I say goes and you have two choices. Either do what I tell you to do or you can sit in time out indefinitely until you do it. Kids needs to know, that their boundaries are not INFINITE. That there are repercussions to their actions. If you don't put your toys away? Fine, you don't get to play with them. You don't want to eat your dinner? Well sit there until you do or stand in time out and face the corner until you do. You don't get to eat something different because you aren't "feeling it" when I saw you eat the same dish yesterday and you cleaned it. You don't yell and scream at the top of your lungs when you're mad. This blog entry (if anyone even reads it) might start a lot of controversy because everyone's parenting style is different. People probably think I'm so wrong and so cruel for spanking Chase. I gave the kid a fair warning. Actually I had reasoned with him and warned him for damn near half an hour. I tried reasoning with him. I tried talking to him. I tried explaining things to him. Sometimes, when all else fails you need to put your game face on and be the adult. Obviously he was just being stubborn. Chase apologizes for the most part. Sometimes, he even catches himself 15 minutes later if he realizes that he's upset about nothing and he just comes to me or Brandon and says he's sorry and goes to do whatever it might be he was upset about. Chase is a sweet heart and I know it. He's a funny little fella that sometimes doesn't even understand his own actions or his own emotions. I get that. I try to be patient with him and let him get over things or realize things on his own and most of the time it works. I am thankful that he's not as bad as other kids, I know I'm lucky. But I would like to also think that it is a result of our parenting.

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

So on Thanksgiving, I last minute decided to bring some chocolate cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting over to Rae and Randy's because we didn't want to show up empty handed. I was going to make the cupcake from scratch but since I only had limited time because we were suppose to be there at 1:00 pm and it was already 12 with Chase waking up from nap any minute I decided just to use the Betty Crocker Devil's Food cake mix. The frosting came out AMAZING and I thought I would just share it. 

Btw, I don't really like my frosting that sweet so if you prefer yours on the sweet side, I would add more sugar.

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

3 cups of unsalted sweet cream butter (Approx 6 sticks) room temperature

4 cups of confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup frozen or fresh strawberry pureed into approx 1/4 cup of puree

1 teaspoon of salt

• Cream the butter in a bow with a mixer until smooth. Approximately 5 minutes. 
• Add the confectioners sugar and salt. Mix gradually increasing the speed until the sugar is completely blended. 
• Add the vanilla and mix.
• Add the strawberry and mix with mixer until light and fluffy. Approximately 5 minutes

November Glam Bag

I was quite satisfied with Novembers "Party Perfect" glam bag!

 The bag this time is a very simple brown bag with Ipsy inside. I thought it was kind of cool that they customized their bag. I've seen a couple pictures of people adding studs and stuff like that to it, which is pretty unique but honestly I'm not going to have time to spend on doing that. Kudos to those that did though!


Chella Defining Brow Gel $18
chella.com

So curiously, I used this product this morning. The reason why I didn't really find this product helpful is because, well I don't have any eyebrows to define haha! I shade my eyebrows in with a brown shadow. I applied this before I darkened my eyebrows in this morning and I don't notice a real difference. It kind of grooms it I guess and makes it a tad darker. The other product that could've been in my bag instead of this was the Benefit "They're Real" beyond mascara. Even though I have tons of mascara already, I would've used it more than this!


bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in "Daredevil"  $18
bareescentuals.com

Yet another lipgloss... I am not a huge lipgloss fan but at least this is from a bareMinerals. It's an interesting shade that I haven't played around with yet. I think it's going to be a great fall color to wear. We'll have to see! It says in the description that it's not suppose to have any stickiness or tackiness so maybe I'll try it out tomorrow for Thanksgiving!

Nailtini Nail Liquer in "Millionaire" $13

tinibeauty.com

I was really excited to get a nail polish in the bag! I love the fact that its sparkly, perfect for New Years Eve party. I've really been into glittery polish. This one is beautiful. Can't wait to try it! Too bad, I just painted my toes. 

Starlet Intense Eyeliner in "Black" 

starletcosmetics.com

I don't use pencil that often but I was excited to get one because I've been starting to line my bottom lid with pencil instead of my gel liner. I've been using my Urban Decay 24/7 in Zero but I feel like it wears down so quick and the line isn't fine. This liner has been good to me. I've used it two days in a row already and it doesn't smudge.


theBalm "Meet Matte" eyeshadow palette in "Matt Batali"

Love the color, it's perfect for fall and creating a smokey eye look. Since it is very pigmented, you have to be able to blend it well. It's a cute idea and cute packaging!


Overall, I'm very satisfied with my bag this month! I feel like they've really stepped it up!

Back to being a working mom..

So today is my third day back at work and I must admit it's kind of nice to be back to a normal schedule and interacting with adults on a daily basis. I can't stand being cooped up in the house all day. I feel alive again! Sometimes, it almost feels like I didn't have a second kid and I never left for maternity leave. Except that I talk about him all day and he's in screensaver :) Oh yeah and the pumping of course. The downside is that I sit in so much traffic that I only get to spend maybe 2 hours max with my kids when I get home. Especially when you have a young one, you feel like they need all the love and attention from mom as possible.

In the morning I wake up around 5:45am and I get ready for work. When I'm done, I get both kids ready and bring all the stuff I need for Trent being at school. Drop them off. By the time I get to work it's 8:30am. I leave work (early) at 4:30pm, don't even take a lunch although I know it's not legal and by the time I get home it's 6:00pm. Maybe eat a little bit of dinner or feed Trent and it's 6:30pm. The kids bed times are 7:30-8:00pm because I have to wake them up so early I feel like they need to sleep earlier. It's a grueling day for everyone. I guess we all just have to get into the groove of things. Chase is probably not use to being back at school full time, Trent is definitely like where the hell am I. It's definitely an adjustment again. I don't remember missing Chase as much as I miss Trent though. Maybe it's because he's so young and in daycare. But what can I do? Nothing. You just gotta deal with it.

On another note, Trent is just the most amazing baby ever. He gave us a really hard time in the beginning with the not sleeping and crying from being over tired. I'm sure you guys remember the blogs. He only wakes up once at night, which is THE BEST THING EVER! I didn't think it was going to be that soon for him to do it. I've pretty much transitioned him out of the swing. I still use it right before bed, but other than that he's never in the swing at all. I didn't use the SwaddleMe for the first time and he slept just as well. He was starting to outgrow that thing and I didn't want it to stunt his growth.

The school says he's so easy going and happy. He just hangs out, I miss him just thinking about it. He could be hanging out with me! :(

October Glossybox Review

Hello everyone! I'm back at work and man I've got to admit it is so much nicer blogging from a desktop. I've been slacking a little bit on my blogging and as I am reviewing the October box, I got the tracking for my November box. I'm a little sad because this will be my last Glossybox. I only did a 3 month subscription. I think I'm getting something from OPI in this one though! How exciting!

Alterna Professional Haircare Bamboo Luminous Shine Mist $22
ulta.com

I haven't gotten to try this product yet but I'm going to. Probably bring it with me to Havasu this weekend since my hair gets SO FRIZZY out there! It's the air or something. This is an eco-friendly, paraben free and organic product. It's suppose to help tame flyaways and frizz and enhance shine without weighing it down.


Heartland Fragrance Co. Loofah Soap in "Peppermint" $8
heartlandfragrance.com

So, this is an interesting idea, a loofah inside of a soap? I don't really know how to use this..do I just rub the soap on my body until I reach the loofah or do I still use a loofah? I haven't really used a bar of soap in a while. I have yet to try this as well but it looks cool! I guess this loofah soap is suppose to help with circulation and exfoliate. Interesting...


Nastassja Skin & Wellness Enzyme Facial Peel $40
nastassjaskin.com

So the sample I got is tiny, probably just enough for one or two facial peels. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm excited to. I've never done a facial peel before but I don't seem to have time for one either! It's suppose to remove your dead and dry skin cells. Safe to use daily even!


Modelco Lip Duo Lipstick  and Ultra Shine Lip Gloss $39

This is an exclusive item made just for Glossybox so it's not for sale.I've worn it once or twice already and it goes on very smooth. It's a darker neutral color if that makes any sense at all and it's perfect for fall! It's a good lipstick to keep in your purse for those go-to moments when you just need a bit of color. If you're feeling fun and for a daytime look, use the gloss then transform into a night look with the lipstick!


Kryolan for Glossybox Blush in "Glossy Rosewood"

I was SUPER excited for this since my new thing has been blushes. I started over collecting lip colors and I never really played around with shades of blush before. I prefer a more natural shade and feel like blush doesn't really play a HUGE part in your make-up but I'm starting to experiment with different shades more to see if it's a drastic attribute to a variety of looks. I could probably live off just one or two shades of blush to be honest. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blush. It smells really good. Has this soft, rose petal scent and it blends well. I love that it's a subtle shade that gives you a rosy tint. LOVE IT!

October Glam Bag Review

I haven't done a review on my Glam Bag (Ipsy) in a while. So I am going to try and do the Glam Bag today and GlossyBox tomorrow.

 

 

Be A Bombshell Eyeliner in "Onyx" ($14)
beabombshellcosmetics.com

This is a pretty decent liquid liner. I'm still more of a fan for gel liner but when you want something quick and easy this does the trick. It kind of reminds me of a marker that I'm using on my eye. It stays put pretty well and I like that it's black. Compared to the other liquid liner I've gotten from my Glam Bag, this one is definitely darker. It says that you can smudge it for a smoky eye look which I haven't tried..but I can't imagine trying to smudge a liquid liner.

theBalm "What's Your Type" mascara in the Body Builder $19
thebalm.com

At first, I was a little apprehensive with the mascara. It's a really tiny applicator and it just didn't really excite me. After I've tried it, I actually enjoy it! It's easier for me to apply without making a mess compared to the mascaras with fatty brushes. No matter how careful I am, I still get mascara on my upper lids when I use the big brushes. This one is small and thin so I feel more precision and it still picks up my lashes well. It doesn't give me great volume, I feel like it gives me more length instead.


Mirenesse Lipbomb in "Bomb 4" $35.10
mirenesse.com

 

 

 

 

 

 



So I get another lip gloss...I'm not a fan of lip glosses because they're sticky! I hate wearing it because when my hair is down, it always sticks to my lips and it's pretty annoying. I must say this is very pigmented and it's very thick. If you're into lip glosses, I would definitely recommend it because it's definitely there to stay once you put it on.

 

 

Coastal Scents Eyeshadow

coastalscents.com

 

 

 

 

I'm familiar with Coastal Scents already. I have their 48 color palette. It was the first pallette I have ever gotten and it came with a decent price tag on Amazon. I like their product because it's pigmented and not a hefty price tag. Overall, no complaints.

 

 

Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment $50

couturecolour.com

 

 

 

 

I haven't tried this product yet. I'm really weary about putting oil in my hair because I tend to have a greasy scalp anyways. I hate it when my hair feels oily! The treatment oil is suppose to make your hair 6x's stronger and 3x's shinier.

 

I planned on canceling my Glam Bag this month but I keep forgetting to. I just don't really get excited about the products. I end up putting my unopen glam bag under the sink and not even opening it until a later time. Although, I just previewed for the November one that I got the tracking for today and it seems like it's pretty good.









Tiger mom, a two year old and a baby..

It has been a while since I've blogged. Let's just say the last time was when Trent was 8 weeks old, and he's about to be 12 weeks old in 2 days! Time sure is flying by. I go back to work on November 14th already. I can't believe it's been over 4 months since I've been at work. It doesn't seem like that much time has gone by, but it really has. I've been going places with Trent after I drop Chase off at school just to get out of the house. It's nice to not be cooped up anymore and he has been getting easier by the day. I don't want to jinx it but he really has just been the most amazing baby. At first he was really difficult, especially when I compared him with how easy going Chase was..but really Trent is much easier. For the last week, Trent has been waking up only once in the middle of the night. Some times he doesn't wake up at all and sleeps 11-12 hours! Chase has NEVER done that as a baby. He was always every 2-3 hours on the dot. Especially at first. Finally when he got older, like 6-9 months he was only waking up once. Trent is such a sweet baby, he's always smiling and laughing until he chokes on his spit. The only thing he doesn't do well is sleep during the day, but that's okay with me. He does cry when he's tired instead of just drifting off to sleep. I notice that he's a lot more sensitive to noise than Chase was. Trent get's startled easily. I think they are going to have really different personalities when they grow older.

Now, onto Chase...where do I begin. He has been so difficult. He is the sweetest boy, but he has these major mood swings and just this attitude, about absolutely nothing. I must admit he's not as bad as most kids..but that doesn't make it okay. I can't stand it. Some times, I feel so frustrated and out of patience that I question myself as a mother. Is it just me and my low tolerance? Am I a bad mom because I can't stand it and get frustrated? Am I mean for being so harsh and disciplining him so strictly? I really don't cut him any slack AT ALL. That's the thing though, I feel like he's at that age where he's just testing me..I know he's testing me. I feel like cutting him slack is exactly what he's looking for because then he knows he can get away with stuff. Especially when he give me attitude or throws a tantrum over nothing. For example, the other morning he wakes up and he's asking for milk. He usually calls it water anyways but he was actually saying "nilk." So when he comes to me as I'm getting it ready for him he starts calling it water again and I'm handing it to him and I just say, aww buddy it's milk. You were just saying it the right way! You can just see it when he's starting to get upset. You can see his whole body language change and just you sense it that he's about to throw a tantrum. That really ticked me off. I go, Chase..why are you giving me attitude right now? I didn't do anything to you and I'm not mad. I was just saying that you were calling it milk earlier and that was good. He starts the whole turns his back, swings his arms..acts like he doesn't want it anymore. So I tell him, if you don't want it then don't drink it. I put it down on the table.

He's just been that way, about the littlest thing. Changing his diaper, cleaning up his toys, sitting down for breakfast. Usually though, after about 15 minutes of a tantrum throwing, he'll come up to me and say sorry mama then hug me and do as he's asked. My thing is, why are you upset to begin with? It's like I wake up and we fight, trust me that's not how I want to start my morning. Getting an attitude from you because I need to change your diaper, or getting an attitude and arguing with you about breakfast. I don't want to fight with you just as we are ready to head out the door because you won't clean up your toys! I stand strong on my words. If he doesn't clean up his toys, we don't leave the house. He stands in time out until he cleans it up. If it gets really bad, I tell him that's fine I'll clean it up but you don't get to play with your toys the rest of the day or tomorrow. Part of playing with your toys are to clean it up as well. I know he's just doing some of the stuff to test me. To get a rise out of me. Especially the changing diaper thing. It's pretty frustrating because every morning I as he's eating breakfast, I step outside to the patio and drink my coffee just so I can wake up and cool down from being so upset already. Then I feel bad for getting so upset because I know he's just a child. I know that he won't hold on to this, but I probably will longer than he does cuz it just builds up. Do other moms gets as frustrated as I do? Do they let it affect them as much as it affects me? Because I feel like some times, it's so much of these tantrums back to back that it's hard for me to just be like, okay well you apologized so I'm not irritated anymore.

On another note, I start work again soon which can be a good and bad thing. It's good because, I need to work. I'm not one to stay home. I feel like a waste of my brain. I think it will give me my sanity back because I do get that break away from the kids and I live a more normal schedule life. On the downside, daycare for Trent, gas money, the commute to and from SD every day is going to take a toll on me and the family. Daycare is expensive. I'm envious of those who don't have to pay for daycare because they have a relative or family member that can watch their kids. A friend of mine gets free daycare for her 3 kids because she works at the school. Now doesn't that sound awesome?!? Then again, I don't think I could work at a daycare so props to her. I don't know how people can have multiple kids and live decent. I know Brandon and I make decent money compared to a lot of people. How is it that we're so broke compared to people that have more kids than us?!? I was really hoping that if I found a decent paying job up here, it would be the end of our worries. That I wouldn't be spending over $500 a month on just gas alone. That maybe I wouldn't be spending 3 hours of my day in a car. That maybe those 3 hours could be spent with my family. That I don't have to use the lil bit of free time at night and in the mornings before I go to work preparing dinner for the family. Rush home only to spend maybe 3-4 hours with the kids before I go to sleep just to wake up at 5am and do it all over again. If you really think about how many hours you have in a day to do things, 3 hours is really a lot. That's an extra hour of sleep in the morning and an extra two hours I get to spend with the kids.

I'm hoping that Trent continues to sleep the way that he does when I return to work. That would be awesome. He is just the sweetest little boy, and I am appreciating my time with him now. I know that he's going to grow up and next thing you know he will be two and I will be complaining about him the same way I complain about Chase.

When I think about parenting and some times I feel like I'm too harsh, then I think of "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother." I think there are two kind of reactions to the book. One, you read it and think that she was crazy and overbearing or you read it and you understand. Yes I think she is a little over the top. I don't think I have it in me to be that strict but I can relate to the Tiger Mom because that's the type of enviroment I was raised in. The thing is as an asian parent, you are so strict because you want what's best for them. Even if it meant they hated you in the process. I didn't understand growing up why my parents were overly strict. In some ways yes they were, but I think there aren't areas in which you pick and choose to be strict. Being strict is a committment. There's no half assing it. I appreciate them way more now for it and I understand where they were coming from.

So that's what I'm hoping for. That when Chase and Trent are older, they will understand that mom was so strict because I love them. That I love them so much in hopes they will grow up and succeed in life, striving to be the best then can be and to never settle for mediocre, that I am willing to sacrafice their love for me, maybe even hate me in the process..

A search for....a new job!

So when I was pregnant with Chase, I told myself that while I was on maternity leave I was going to look for another job closer to home. That didn't happen. I looked, but there was nothing. Also, I think part of me didn't want to because that means I would have completely left all of San Diego behind. At least that way, I was still a San Diegan. But with the way gas prices are and driving 140 miles a day. I really can't afford to be making that commute. Yes, the drive is brutal. Especially since the last thing you want to do after a stressful day at work is to top it off with stupid drivers and bad traffic. It puts me in a pretty crabby mood by the time I get home. I also doze off a lot driving and it's really dangerous. I hated sitting in traffic on the drive to work too. It's like who wants to sit in a car for over an hour first thing in the morning. I'm exhausted already by the time I get to work! I felt like my days were sooooo much longer because, well it was! I would wake up earlier than Brandon and get home later than Brandon. Then we have this hectic schedule of dinner, bath and next thing you know it's bed time. It really limited the amount of time I was spending with Chase! I sucked it up though, even though I complained nearly everyday about the drive. A job is a job and it was money. I was lucky to even have a job and you just do what you gotta do to provide and put money on the table.

This time around, I am really ready to relocate. The amount of money I spend on gas..sometimes $700 a month is absurd. That's the daycare money we need to spend on Trent. We were struggling already with the income we had and we only had one kid to pay daycare for, now we have two. So far I've had two interviews. One for a position I wasn't interested in so I didn't take it seriously. I just went simply to get some practice in. Last week I interviewed for a job that paid same as what I was making in San Diego, it's also so close to home that I wouldn't even have to take the freeway. It seems less stressful than what I was doing before AND they have casual attire! Which means no more business casual! I think that's one of the things I was most excited about. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal. But for the last 8 years, I've had a job that required business casual attire. I HATED it. I just didn't feel comfortable. Plus, it's like you need this whole separate wardrobe.

I'm suppose to hear back by tomorrow about the position, but I ended up emailing the guy back today just to thank him for the opportunity and to follow-up. I was going to call, but I didn't want to since it's Monday and I didn't want to seem pesky. I'm nervous and excited.

Here is my other dilemma. Prudential says I passed their assessment and wants to schedule me for an interview for a financial planner position. I haven't even interviewed for it yet, but if I do get the position it'll require me to get my 6 & 63. Then my L&H license. I'm familiar with all of this..and it seems more of a career move for me. Is this what I even want to do? The other job is a basic position but I could see myself getting promoted then later on maybe getting into real estate or loans. I see growth in both part, but just the Prudential one seems more pressure to get it done and succeed immediately.

I know this is all hypothetical. I might not get either job. What if the lending position offers me the position but needs an answer immediately, before I find out if I got the job from Prudential?

Anyways, wish me luck. I haven't wanted something so bad in a long time. It's exactly what I've been looking for.

Surviving the 7th & 8th week and my weird 2 year old..

I thought I missed a week when I decided to squeeze in a quick blog this week. I am no longer going to do the postpartum body week by week. Only because I haven't really proactively been doing anything about it. The other night I did about 60 crunches and some leg work outs. I couldn't even do ONE sit up. It was pretty sad since I use to be able to do at least 80.. I just have zero abdominal strength!

Oh great, of course when I pull out the laptop, Trent is wide-eyed. I should've known. Anyways I guess I'll do a quick summary before he starts to cry.. I can't believe it has been 8 weeks already. On Monday he would be 2 months old. It has gone by really fast but at the same time it doesn't seem like it because he's still this little baby. He has gotten quite chunky. I was worried about that at first since he was skinny (to me) when he was born. He definitely has been filling out. Nights are good. It's actually the easy part of my day. I've also been able to get him to sleep a little bit more during the day but once he gets overtired I'm screwd. He seems to be the crankiest from 4-8pm. It's almost like once 4pm rolls around he wakes up and just does not know what he wants himself!

On another note, lets talk about Chase. He is my problem child right now. He for some reason has been going through this "no" and "mine" phase again. Those that are parents already know it's frustrating. Except now when I tell him to do something he just looks at me and doesn't do it. It's almost like he thinks its cute or something. Every morning I wake up and tell myself to have more patience with him. To not scold or yell and to tell him calmly. The thing is though, when I tell him nicely he doesn't listen! So I have to be really stern or raise my voice with him. He's also going through this mommy phase. This kid is a chatterbox. I can't get him to stop saying my name or to just sit quietly for a minute. It's almost like he just talks and talks about absolutely nothing. In a way I should just be happy that he's talking a lot right. But it's just so annoying when you here someone go mommy every 30 seconds ALL DAY, even when his dad is home.

Chase is a funny kid. He does things that I don't know if other kids do too. I haven't heard of it so I'm not sure if it's just his personality. I decided to start taking pictures of things he does. I might start an album of "weird things my 2 year old does." He has so much energy he literally is bouncing as he's sitting there eating.

 

So this picture would seem pretty normal except..I'm on the toilet. In the mornings when I use the bathroom, he feels the need to barge in and bring all of his toys in there. Sometimes he brings his ride on mater truck and just sits there. I have to tell him hey kid it's not a free show. Go outside and play with your toys! So he decides to bring his toys in there..

 

He likes to build "doors." He'll constantly bring his toys especially his big toys and build a road block and say its a door. It's like he's trying to baracade me in..or out?

 

He reminds me a lot of myself when I was young. I notice he likes small spaces. His favorite thing to do is to sit between the couch and the coffee table and lay on the ground there. When I was a kid, I was so desperate for my own space that I lived under the kitchen table, inside the pantry and inside my closet. Literally I would sit in there all day and invite my sister to have tea.

 

It's REALLY hard to get ready when you have a two year old with no distractions for him. Sometimes when he's too quiet I have to constantly look to see what he's doing. Most of the time he's doing nothing then he's sees you and you go, "crap. Now he's gonna come bug me." I don't know if there are other mothers out there that has the same reaction or if it's me. His favorite thing to do is to climb into our bed and hide under the covers and pretty much just turn our bed inside out. Can you even find his little head in there? The video is not very clear but it's just partial proof of the strange behavior my kid has..

 

I have to admit he is the sweestest brother. He gives Trent his blanket (only when you don't ask him for it), and he gives him a million kisses a day. He was laying down next to Trent and when I asked if I could take a picture he says no. What a jerk right. It's almost like nowadays if I ask him anything, the answer is no and he immediately makes sure he does whatever he can to make sure what you request is not gonna happen.

 

Here are some pictures of Trent. He's so cute when he's sleeping!

 

 

September's GlossyBox!

So I don't know if you remember but I talked about Glossybox a while ago and said it was kind of expensive for a monthly subscription, but I added myself to the email list anyways if it ever opened up. Well I believe a little over a month ago, I got this email about a voucher that R29 was having that offered 3 months worth of Glossybox for $60 and it included a special box. It still sounds kind of expensive but they had a special box designated to them. The usual subscription is $21 dollars a month. I thought to myself let's do the 3 months subscription and go from there.

Well, FINALLY it's here! I was so excited and I must admit you get what you pay for versus the Glam Bag. First of all, if you think about the Glam Bag, all of it's "deluxe size samples" has to fit inside their bags. Their bags are not very big. Glossybox comes in a box and you really do get what you pay for!!

BTW, it really irritates me that Blogger doesn't allow you to rotate photo's. You would think that's something they would have come up with. I rotate them on my phone but when I upload them on here it doesn't show and it's irritating. So sorry if some of the pictures are not rotated, but I'm just tooo lazy!

 

 

 

 

So it comes in this very nice box. It's very sturdy as well. I'm actually using it right now to hold some other stuff. Even though it's not as practical as a cosmetic bag..I really didn't need that many bags! As you can see the items you get are about the same 4-5 deluxe samples. Except these deluxe samples are way bigger. Something that I would have even thought that it was full size!


Global Keratin Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner ($20.00)
globalkeratin.com

 

 

I actually tried the shampoo and conditioner for the first time last night. It says on the bottle that it's suppose to tame your hair so that it's smooth and frizz free for up to 5 months. But I wonder how long do you have to use it for it to start. It has a very light pleasant smell. I want to say it kind of smells like vanilla. My hair is pretty smooth today but I don't notice a huge drastic change. Maybe it's something I have to use for a little bit longer to notice a difference? I'll have to review this product again at a later time. I love the fact that it is a bigger size and not just a tiny one time use bottle!


Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water ($13.00)
kohgendocosmetics.com

So this is going to sound really fancy but this oil-free make-up remover is made from the mineral rich Yumura Hot Spring in Izumo, Japan. It also contains 6 types of herbs. I know right, make-up remover from a hot spring in Japan. Sounds expensive. I tried this product immediately, because recently I bought an oil-free make-up remover. It's the Target brand but it's suppose to be compared to the Neutrogena oil-free make-up remover. However, even though it's oil-free it feels greasy as heck! I hated it, but it did the job. I used just a little bit of this and followed the instructions of leaving the saturated cotton pad on my skin for a few seconds then you wipe. It worked REALLY WELL! I'm talking I don't have to keep rubbing kind of well. It also didn't leave a greasy feeling and it left my face feeling refreshed. I still washed my face afterwards because that's my habit, but it says that this product is rinse free. It even got off my Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on eyeliner in one wipe. I'm very satisified with this product.


Kryolan Lipstick for Glossybox in "Glossy pink" ($14.00)
kryolan.com

This lipstick goes on so smooth and creamy and does not leave your lips feeling dry. The color is definitely easy to wear for an every day look or in the work place. I love it! It also doesn't have a nasty scent like most lipsticks do. Definitely one of my go-to lipsticks! It looks so natural!


MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 in "Honey Beige No.27" ($29.99)
misshaus.com

I must say the main reason why I decided to subscribe to Glossybox was because I saw the MISSHA BB Cream. I've been very curious about it ever since I've read it on Catalina's Beauty Blog. At first when I got it, I looked at the color given and honestly thought it was going to be too dark for my complexion. After I had blended it onto my hand though, it wasn't that bad! You can barely even tell on my hand. BUT, my face for some reason is always a lot lighter than the rest of my body. It's so weird. In pictures I look like I have a really bad foundation job, but I don't even wear foundation! I've been very interested in BB Creams for a while now. I wanted something that was like a moisturizer with SPF and that benefited my skin. I don't know if I love the fact that it has color because I don't want it to rub off on anything and I don't want to look like I'm wearing foundation. I haven't tried it on my face yet because on the weekdays I just stay home. I think in order to really put it to the test I have to wear it on the weekends where I might be outdoor and sweat a little. See if it stays put and if it leaves a heavy greasy feeling. This product is suppose to whiten your skin along with anti-wrinkle. Hopefully, the color works on my skin because if not, I feel like it's such a waste.

This is the product description from their website:
"Blemish Balm, also called BB Cream, is known to have been formulated as an after-treatment cream to help patients who have gone through laser skin surgery to soothe and regenerate the skin.

The M Perfect Cover BB Cream gives an even and natural-looking coverage with the soothing, moisturising properties of a cream. It is suitable for all skin types including acne-prone skin, and can be used as a makeup base or foundation."

Overall, I'm VERY satisfied with my first Glossybox. The products that I got in there were perfect for me and I was not disappointed by anything. Well, except for the BB Cream because of the tone color. Even then, I'm still happy that I got such large size products. Another perk about Glossybox is that the beauty products are comes from international brands and not just limited to the U.S. I can't wait for the second box already!!!