Buxom Lash Liner

So I am OBSESSED with long eyelashes. I've tried Latisse (way too expensive) which seemed to work, but it didn't last. When I finally gave up on hopes of growing long luscious lashes a friend of mine told me about an eyeliner she had been using, after I complimented her on her lashes looking longer!

That's when I've been introduced to Buxom Lash Liner (only available at Sephora $16). Buxom is a line from Bare Escentuals, which we all know is a great line and has paraben-free products. Not only is this a gel eye-liner it's also a thickening and conditioning treatment for your lashes! So, first of all, I don't really believe in half of the "make your lash grow longer gimmick." Partially, because most of these products require for you to use it religiously. I wear eyeliner EVERYDAY so it's not like I need to go out of my way to remember to apply it. So I said, eh why not?

Before I started using Buxom, I used the MAC Fluidline Gel Liner. It's the only liner besides liquid liner that doesn't crease on my eyes (well, actually I finally found Urban Decay 24/7, in the last year that is a pencil that didn't crease or smudge.) Gel liner has a way of giving you the look of a pencil with the stay of a liquid waterproof liner. Buxom Lashliner is not as dark as the MAC gel liner and it smells really good. It glides on very smooth and is very easy to apply. Yes, sometimes on greasy days I do find that the MAC liner stays put a little better, but you can barely tell the difference on most days. I did notice my eyelashes were longer and healthier. I wouldn't say that it's a dramatic difference. I don't look like I have false lashes on but it feels fuller and healthier. So for a difference of a dollar why not go with the product that is healthier and conditions!

Besides, my co-worker works part-time at Sephora, so I asked her to buy it for me with her 30% discount which makes it cheaper than what I would pay at MAC :) This little jar lasts me about a year. It usually dries up before I can really finish the whole jar. $11 for liner that lasts a whole year seems like a good deal to me!

Buxom Lashliner is made from natural ingredients such as Vitamin A, C and E, Honeysuckle, Jojoba Oil, Soy Protein, Tourmaline and Biotin (Vitamin B).

My Glam!

Okay, so I've been doing all sorts of comparison between Birchbox and My Glam to see which one I should subscribe to! I feel like maybe this $10 a month subscription would be a nice cheap alternative to my itch for cosmetic shopping!

I had no idea that there were so many different other types such as Ecobox and etc. Both Birchbox and My Glam were sold out so I patiently waited for my email notifying me that there were subscriptions available. I think it was last week when I got my email from Birchbox saying I had 48 hours to respond. This was such a tough decision! Part of me (the impatient part) said, "DOOO IT!" They emailed you before My Glam, but lots of Googling and looking at the different reviews and products people have received from My Glam and Birchbox, I felt like My Glam was more for me and what type of products I could relate to. I decided to wait for My Glam and guess what. I got my email today :) Needless to say, I subscribed. It's $10 a month and I can cancel any time. What's the harm?

So I'm doing this without my fiance's blessing. He thinks it's a waste of money and of course he can't relate and doesn't understand why I would want to subscribe to such a thing. (This is coming from a man who think's our son shouldn't wear the Johnson's Bedtime Lotion because "he's a man.") I had to find an analogy that he could relate to. I thought it was funny what I used so he could understand.

I tell him, babe its like this. What if there was a monthly subscription for only $10 dollars a month where they send you a variety pack of different types and flavors of pistachios AND you know that whatever they are sending you is worth more than your $10 dollars! He's like hmm, pistachio's maybe I would. Haha! I thought it was funny that he understood it more when I put it in "pistachio" terms.

Anyways, if you're reading this babe..LOVE YOU :)

I am SO EXCITED and I can't wait to get my first Glam Bag. You bet your butt I'm gonna go over the products! 

Death By Oreo Cupcakes!!

Okay, so I got this Oreo cupcake recipe from TheStir.Cafemom.com a little bit ago and I've been DYING to try it out. I finally had the time to make them Saturday. Another reason why I didn't was because I don't have anything to hold the cupcakes in! The last time I made cupcakes, I put them in those aluminum trays to bring them to work with a lid...I freaking dropped one of the trays UPSIDE DOWN and the frosting got all smeared. I know right, I'm a freaking loser and it was such a freaking FAIL!

Death By Oreo Cupcake Recipe

1 Box of Chocolate Cake Mix (and the ingredients needed for cake mix duh!)

1 Stick of Butter (room temperature)

8 oz of Cream Cheese (room temperature)

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

3 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 Package of Regular Size Oreo's

1 Package of Mini Oreo's (I've only seen the to go cups)

Makes 24 cupcakes!

Cake Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to whatever your cake mix instructions says.
2. Line your cupcake pans with your cupcake cups (duh).
3. Place a full size Oreo in each liner.
4. Make the cake mix according to the instructions on the box. Take half of the remaining regular size Oreo's and chop them into semi big chunks. (I put them in a ziplock and mashed a potato masher)
5. Add crushed Oreo to batter and mix. (I mixed it with my silicone spatula.)
6. Add the cake mix to the cupcake liners and bake following the instructions on the box.

Frosting Instructions:

1. Cream the butter and cream cheese then add vanilla extract.
2. Slowly add the sugar and mix until even. (I did one cup at a time)
3. Take the remaining regular size Oreo's and crush until very fine. (I still used a potato masher and a rolling pin) They recommended a food processor but Chase was sleeping and I didn't feel like climbing on a chair to get it.
4. Add Oreo to frosting and mix. (I folded the Oreo into the frosting before I started stirring it a bit more)

After your cupcakes are cool, frost and decorate with mini Oreo's! 

The recipe actually calls for 3 3/4 cup of sugar. I don't really like too sweet of frosting so I kept tasting it after each cup and I felt like 3 cups of sugar was plenty sweet.

                              

Catch up and Tea Tree Products..

Okay, so it's been a while since I've last blogged. Work has been so crazy that I don't even find time. Just to catch up on a few things.

We found out the sex of the baby...and IT'S A BOY! Am I bummed? Mmm maybe a tad. But like I said, I knew it all along. My fiance was super bummed. His heart was racing while the doctor was doing the baby's measurements. He really wanted a girl. I was walking around Target the other day buying stuff for a baby shower and Target has the CUTEST girl clothes. I must admit I got a little sad seeing these cute summer dresses that I would love to buy, but didn't have a reason to. Now he just keeps saying we're going to try for a girl. I can't predict the future, but I don't see myself having a third kid. Plus, with our luck, we would be stuck with 3 boys!

So now that we know the sex of the baby, the rest of the pregnancy I feel, is less exciting. If it was a girl at least there would be some additional stuff I can do and clothes I can buy. Since it's a boy, we already kinda have everything we need. All we need to do now is think of a name which neither one of us are good at. I've taken a liking to Hunter, but when I think of names, I imagine myself scolding them with it and if it comes out naturally haha. Is that weird?!? Chase's name already means huntsmen, so I wonder if Hunter is a little too repetitive or would it be perfect that there are two hunters in the family.

I feel myself coming down with the bug. Yesterday I couldn't stop sneezing and now my throat feels like poop. I wonder if it's from sleeping late and it weakens my immune system. We put Chase down for bed at 9 both Friday and Saturday night and he still woke up by 7am! Thank goodness right now he's still in a crib because I usually leave him in there for 30 minutes to see if he goes back to sleep. I know this kid is still tired! It really sucks, I am a person that needs a lot of sleep. It runs in my family. We sleep early on the weekdays to accommodate the fact that we wake up early. Does this mean we need to start sleeping early on the weekends too? I'm hoping it's just a phase, but it doesn't seem like it. He must get that from Brandon. Brandon cannot sleep in to save his life, but he isn't waking up at 6:30am!

So I took advantage of The Body Shop's 40% off your order and free shipping. I got a couple things that I was eyeballing from the Tea Tree Oil collection. Finally got it on Friday. I was so excited!

First off, I LOVE the packaging. It really makes you feel like you're opening a present. I really wouldn't have ordered so many things if it wasn't for the 40% off entire purchase. 

Lightening Touch ($14)

It's suppose to be kind a good under eye concealer. It remind's me of the Radiance Enhancer I got from E.L.Fm except without the shimmer. The original price on this is $14. Personally, I wouldn't get it full priced. The applicator is suppose to be like the Radiance Enhancer, except the brush part is not soft at all. It's actually kind of point and hard which makes it hard to apply and awkward!


Sweet Lemon Body Whip Lotion ($12)

I've been looking for a cute lotion to put by the kitchen sink. My hands get so dry from doing the dishes and just constantly washing my hands. So I thought, what better than a cute lotion! I even got a lemon scent to kind of go with a kitchen clean theme. It is moisturizing and it smells great. But for $12.00 I wish it was a bigger bottle. 

Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask ($22)

I got this because as I'm getting older, I'm starting to care about my skin. (I guess mom was right) I feel like my skin's main issue is that I get a lot of blackheads or have a lot of existing blackheads.They have a little chart for you to see what type of mask is best for your skin type. I have combination/oily skin. I like that its 100% natural. I haven't tried it yet but I'll have to soon!

Tea Tree Blackhead Exfoliating Wash ($13)

Okay, I got this to substitute my Neutrogena Redness Reducing Face Scrub. I used it last night and personally, I wish there were more scrubbies. Maybe I didn't use enough so I'll try again tonight, but it just didn't really feel soapy. I notice that the Tea Tree products always feel very light. 

The product description says this, "Keep your skin clear and soft with a creamy facial scrub that is specially formulated to help unclog pores by gently exfoliating to remove trapped dirt, oil and dead skin cells." First of all there's nothing really creamy about it. 

Instead of the usual "beads" that comes with face scrubs, this one has crushed apricot stones. I felt like there weren't enough scrubbies to make me feel like I was actually exfoliating, but at the same time the "stones" were kind of rough! I guess I'll just give it another try with more product to see if it works out better.

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion ($18)

So at first I was using the first Tea Tree face lotion at night as well. Then I saw they had a specific night lotion so I had to try it! It's definitely more moisturizing. The regular face lotion goes on very thin and light. I like that this is suppose to be more moisturizing AND its suppose to help improve the appearance of blemish damaged skin. Hopefully, it makes those jawline acne scars go away!

Tea Tree Concealer ($9)

This product is exactly what it sounds like. I got it because sometimes I feel bad putting concealer on a pimple! I feel like I'm just contributing to the cause of the pimple in the first place. If I ever pop a pimple (I know shame on me) I usually put Neosporin on it. Helps kill the bacteria I think but still has vitamin E to help with the broken skin cells. So, if I could use a concealer that's suppose to be good for pimples that would be even better! 

Those are all of the Tea Tree products next to each other for a comparison in size. The face wash was the biggest, but all of the other products were TINY! Personally, I felt like everything was over priced but I jumped at the chance to try these products since I was getting everything almost half off. I'm hoping it really helps with my skin issues.

Todays Deals!!

$15 for $30 on FlirtyAprons.com! 2 Days Left!
Groupon Deal!!
I must say these are freaking adorable! I've always wanted a cute apron for the kitchen!

$69 Eyelash Extensions from CiaoBella-Encinitas! 1 Day Left!
Groupon Deal!

$49 Conair Deluxe Garment Steamer! Ends TODAY!
Groupon Deal!
Easier than ironing your clothes :)

$30 for Eight 60 Minutes Kick-Boxing Classes- Irvine! 2 Days Left!
You can also opt for $38 for 12 kick-boxing classes.

$69 Digital Video Baby Monitor w/ Wireless Camera! 5 Days Left!
Okay, seriously contemplating on getting this. We have a baby monitor that we don't use, but this would be perfect since we plan on moving Chase to a bed soon. That way we can see if he's sleeping or playing!





$26.75 Ultrasonic Polar Bear Humidifier! Free SHIPPING! Deal Ends March 18!
Code: KMHUMPOBR7
Perfect for the congested babies. I run a cool-mist humidifier in Chase's room every night especially when you have the heater on and it's so dry. I might get this one for his room so I can use his old one in our room!

Philosophy Gift Sets 50% Off! Today Only!

The Body Shop 40% off Entire Order! Ends March 18!
Code: SAVEGREEN

$9.99 BIOS BBQ Fork Meat Therometer! Free SHIPPING!












4 Cute Fruit & Vegetable Storage Containers for $5.99! Free SHIPPING!

Comes in garlic, tomato, onion and lemon shapes! 









KitchenAid Stand Mixer in White for $170! Deal ends MARCH 18!
Code: XJW562A992 $10 dollars off
Mail in Rebate: $20 Mail in Rebate!

(So wish I could afford this right now, I've been dying for a standmixer!)

Shark Electronic Steam Mop for $49! Walmart Free Ship to Store or 97cents shipping!

Perfect

"He's not perfect. You aren't either and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn't going to quote poetry, he's not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him he knows you could break. Don't hurt him, don't change him and don't expect more than he can give. Don't analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad and miss him when he's not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don't exist, but there's always one guy that is perfect for you."                             

                                    - Bob Marley

I read that one day on a post from a friend on Facebook. Now, it might just be the hormones acting up, but it almost made me tear up when I read it.

I'm not a romantic person, I have my moments but generally I'm not. Being Chinese, we kind of grew up showing love in a different way. You show people you love them by taking care of them. My relationship with my fiance is very complicated to say the least. Especially, with such a hectic schedule and having a little one so early on..it makes our relationship mature quick.

I'll admit, that like any relationship we have our issues. I have a very short temper and not a very forgiving nature when I'm angry. Then I read something like this and it kinda makes me go, aww. When I'm mad, I show it, I couldn't hide it even if I wanted to. Immediately, my brain jumps to all these hateful things and just all things negative pops into my head and nothing can really help me re-cooperate besides sleep and time. I'm sure like all relationships, when couples argue your brain is flooded with all types of negative thoughts and the last thing that comes to your mind are loving memories and good times.

Then I read this quote.. "If he makes you laugh even just once, causes you to think twice and he admits to being human and making mistakes." He definitely makes me laugh and when he does, it's in a way that no one else can. We share a bond, a comfort level and a goofiness that I would not feel comfortable enough to share with anyone else. Even though he annoys me more than makes me laugh because what he thinks is funny might be a nuisance to me.. there are times where he can actually get me to crack a smile or a chuckle. He causes me to think twice about a lot of things. I guess when you actually care for someone, you always hesitate and think of how the other person might feel. You think about how they may react to something and if it would affect us. I've never been that way with anyone before. I was always about why should I let others hinder what I want to do, as long as what I do is not wrong or immorally correct. If they can't deal with it, or they're not okay with it, then tough they can get steppin. Okay, so there are still certain things that I am that way about. But, it doesn't mean that for a split second, I don't stop and think about how he feels. Lastly, he always admits to me the mistakes that he makes because he is human, just like I am. Everyone makes mistakes, especially things we say in the heat of the moment. Him and I are both hot heads. Quick to blurt things like we've got turrets. But, at the end we always admit our mistakes. He even acknowledges that he is going to try and change and work on things but knows that it will not be immediate. Instead of feeding me lies, telling me he's going to change and everything's going to be fine and dandy, he's honest. He tells me it's a work in progress,  that it might not change right away but at least he's trying. I can't ask for anything more than that.

I love my boyfriend, fiance, father of my children. I won't pretend that there are aren't times when I tell him I hate him, that he's annoying and that I can't stand him. But, you know when I stop and think about our relationship and when we have our good moments, I can't imagine sharing that with anybody else.

I guess the point of this blog is, sometimes I think we are so caught up on how we feel at a certain moment of anger, that we forget to think about how we really feel about our significant other as a whole. I know I'm guilty of that. Hell, sometimes its more than just a moment of anger, it's a week of being in a relationship rut. But if we all really stopped once a day at the least, to remind ourselves of how much we love the other person and most of all, how much the other person loves you, maybe that would help us get out of the rut we are in and make us feel like a flame reignited?

Today's Deals!!

Animal Knit Hats for $6.95!! Free Shipping!
Other styles available!

Marc By Marc Jacobs D3 Tt Percy Shoulder Bag for $119.00!! Free Shipping!
Code: FRNDSFAM
Deal Ends March 15!!

Rebel by Zigi Women's Flat's for $3.99!!
Opt for in-store pick-up to avoid shipping!
Deal Ends March 15!!

Arcadia Indoor Electric Wall Mounted Fireplace for $100!
$9.99 for Shipping!

Plano 4 Shelf Storage Units $14.97! Free site to store at Wal-Mart!
Get your garage organized :)

Jamba Juice Printable Coupon 16oz Fruit Smoothies for $2 each!
Coupon expires March 25th!

Chili's Printable Coupon for! 2 Burgers, 2 Beers and Unlimited Fries for $20!!
Deal ends March 18!!

Groupon: $45 Four-Course Fondue Dinner for two with wine!
Only at the Mission Viejo Location.
1 Day Left to buy it!

Today's Deals!!

Here are some Groupon deals that you might be interested in!

$25 dollars for $50 towards Heels.com! One day left!
From designers such as BCBG and Steve Madden!

$20 for a Variety 4-pack of Nuturme Organic Baby Food One day left!
Each variety pack includes 8 pouches per flavor.
Or $29 for a variety 6-pack!
I think this is a great deal! Nuturme is a gluten-free, with no added sugars. It's convenient for when you're on the go and you don't have time to prepare a quick snack or fruit!

Champion Women's Double Dry Sports Bra 2-Pack for $25.99! Today Only!
Code: dealnews1
Ends TODAY!

Fredericks of Hollywood up to 70% off in its Clearance Sale!
Deal ends MARCH 15!

Rachel Ray 10-piece Stainless Steel Cookware set for $100! FREE SHIPPING!

Juicey Couture Spring Sale: Extra 40% off Jewelry & Handbags!
Discount is show on each individual items. Sale ends March 15.

The Body Shop, Buy 3 get 2 free, Buy 2 get 1 Free! FREE SHIPPING!
TODAY ONLY!

KOHL'S Spring Home Sale Up to 55% off plus extra 20%!
Code: SMS6532

Leg cramps, backaches and diaper rashes..

Okay, so I don't blog on the weekends or my days off. I sit in front of a computer at work 8 hours a day 5 days a week, so once I'm off work I don't even like to be near a computer and I don't like to talk on the phone.

So what's interesting, is on Friday I was just reading about current pregnancy symptoms that I might be going through now. Backaches and leg cramps..and what do you know, that night in my sleep I had a leg cramp. I kind of felt it in my sleep as I stretched but I must have subconsciously done it again and next thing you know I'm awake wondering how am I suppose to get out of this leg cramp! I had to bend my leg but point my toes upwards for a good couple minutes before it went away. My leg felt awkward for the next two days! I only had a leg cramp once during my previous pregnancy. Now I'm super self conscious about it in my sleep. I use to get toe cramps a lot during volleyball or when I'm clutching while driving stick. Those are THE WORSE! I'm also having the worse backaches. I've always had a bad back, due to bad car accidents and bad volleyball postures when I was younger. Now it's worse then ever. It almost just feels like my back is very tender and sore. I use to see a chiropractor once every two weeks for an adjustment but I stopped after a while. I almost feel like I need to go again because my back is so sore! I don't know what to do about it. Plus, my mattress sucks. It's causing me to toss and turn in my sleep constantly.

Lets talk diaper cream..

Chase battled bad cases of diaper rashes since he was like 3 months old. He never cried when he had a dirty diaper so I would never know! (Now I have the nose of a police dog..) And he would get THE WORSE diaper rashes. I'm talking blisters, red bumps, the whole nine yards. I felt so bad for him because it looks painful. I used Desitin on him at first, even the maximum strength ones and it didn't really seem to do anything. Then I switched to AD&D and it actually worked! So that's what I stuck with for a while. I got a big tub of it to keep at school for him. Until a couple months ago, he got a really bad diaper rash from school. I tried AD&D for a little bit, it didn't work. I tried Vaseline, it didn't work. Finally, I went to Target and got the Boudreaux's Maximum Strength buttpaste. This stuff is AMAZING. 

It got rid of the diaper rash in A DAY! Its kind of pricey for the quantity. I think that's why I was really hesitant to get it at first. I didn't want to fall for the "it's pricey so it work" gimmick. So even after the maximum strength one ran out, I bought the all natural one for home. We had a neighborhood bbq on Sunday and Chase usually tells me if he's gone poo poo. But he must have been so busy running around that he didn't even tell me. Finally, I checked him and he must have had a dirty diaper for a while! I felt so bad for the kid. He had blisters around the diaper area. I felt like such a bad mom. I used the buttpaste on him and blisters were 100% gone, with just a little bit of redness still but I would say diaper rash was 90% gone. This stuff works miracles. I just felt like I had to share this for moms that goes through really bad diaper rashes with their kids because we all feel bad for the little boogers when you know they've got these painful blisters and rashes on them.

Btw, same day next week I find out the sex of the baby!!! =)

Today's Deals!

Home Depot 40% Off Selected Patio Furniture! $5 dollars off $50 & free shipping!
Code: MARCH5

Bare Necessities Bra Sale Up to 50% and Free Shipping!
Code: shipmefree
Ends March 15!!

Tumi 20% Off Sitewide! Free shipping!
Code: 2012SPRING
Ends March 18!!

American Eagle 25% Off Sitewide! Sales Included!
Code: 91482591

Rubbermaid 40-Piece Food Storage Set $16.99!
From Amazon, free shipping if you're a Prime Member.

Restauraunt.com cuts most of $25 gift certificates to $2!
Code: EXPLORE
Ends March 12!!

Glamour Magazine 1-year Subscription for $4.50!
Code: DEALNEWS

Noise Isolating In-Ear Headphones for $2.29! Free SHIPPING!

FFS-Indestructible Water Resistant Aluminum Wallet for $4.99!
Today only!

The 19 month old...

Parenting isn't easy, but no one ever said it'll be this hard! Okay, actually they did but I guess you can never quite mentally prepare yourself for it no matter what others say..

We are VERY VERY blessed to have such a good little boy on our hands. I think sometimes that's why it's even more frustrating when he does misbehave, because then you're kinda like..where is that coming from?!? Chase has definitely been a little more defiant than before and it's a test of patience. As he gets older, he gets smarter and realizes things and is experimental with his behavior. One issue we do have with him is that...he has a terrible temper. When he's mad, he's really mad. His favorite thing to do is to knock over his cup or throw his cup. Even if you place the cup somewhere else, but if it's within his sight or reach he will go and knock it down. We are still working on that one. The only thing we do is keep repeating to him that its not okay to throw your cup and I don't care if we are in a hurry or going somewhere. He is picking up that cup and placing it on the table if it's the last thing he does. He usually refuses for a while, but I think when it comes to kids..it's a stubborn war to see who's going to give in first. Let me tell you, I'm pretty darn stubborn myself.. It's tough because I catch myself thinking how crazy I must sound to others making such a big deal out of a freaking cup or any other little thing at that. But the point isn't about the cup or picking up a toy, it's about listening and following directions. There's a difference between him not doing it purposely because he wants to be defiant or because he can't or just simply being careless.

I am a very strict mom and you know what honestly, I don't know if it's going to work out the way I am hoping it will. I don't think there's a right or wrong way to parent. Everyone is different and everyone has their own preference. What may work on one child may not work on another and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I consider myself a "Tiger Mom." Maybe a more soft-core version. Btw, if you haven't read the book yet I highly recommend it. I think it's a good way to put into perspective what type of mom you are. Some people read the book and go "OH MY GOSH, HOW CRUEL IS SHE." I read it and personally didn't agree to everything, but noticed that was the way that I grew up and I find similarities in my expectations of Chase. That's the way I was raised and it wasn't really as shocking to me as it might have been to others that grew up in the western culture. I'm so tough on Chase even starting at such a young age because I expect the best from him. Not because I hate him or can't stand him. Not because I'm not affectionate and I'm cold-hearted, it's because I know he's capable of it.

I feel like sometimes, people are okay with mediocre. They are okay with their kid being like all the other kids. My perspective is, just because all of the other kids are like this, it doesn't give him an excuse to be this way. There are many OTHER kids out there, that are even better. They say its wrong to compare your kids, I guess the Chinese culture feels differently. They feel that if you compare your kids to others that are better than them, it will motivate them to strive for excellence. If you compare your kids to those are are worse, then you're never going to expect any better from them.

I feel like parenting is all about consistency. You can't waive, you can't give in, especially at such a young age..they're going to realize well if she gave in once then she can give in again. It's obviously possible or not that big of a deal if she let me slide before. I've treated Chase and spoke to him the same way since he was 1 year old or whenever age he was at when I felt he started understanding even the slightest bit. I use to think that maybe at a certain age is when I'll be stricter or start disciplining. Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint the exact date, week or age when I felt like he started to understand more. It just kind of happens! When they grow, it's such a smooth and gradual transition that you don't realize how much older and more advance they've become til you stop for a minute and go, "Oh man! When did he get so old and smart!"

You can't let someone do something for a long time, then suddenly decide to stop them or discipline them. It doesn't sit well with that person. That goes for all ages. So why would it work with a child? You can't let them get away or do certain things then when he turns 3 and you realize he's old enough now and he needs to stop and expect him to comply just like that. We are all creatures of habit. They're gonna go, well you always let me do this, or didn't care when I did that, why all of a sudden do I have to stop?

Now, I'm no expert on parenting..this is my first rodeo and I'm just going with it as it comes along. These are simply just my thoughts and views on parenting. So if people find this offensive or thinks I'm wrong. Well, that's your opinion and I hope whatever you're doing is working for you. Hopefully, in time we will know if this works out for me. I'm just saying that this obviously works on some families and children because my sister and I are one of them.

We grew up in a traditional Chinese cultured family. I am more Americanized since I came over at such a young age and certain things didn't work on me and I defied at the time. But, now when I look back, I understand and am grateful for how my parents raised me. I might not have understood at the time, but I wish I did. My sister and I were perfect little angels. Haha, well we weren't perfect but we were obedient, respectful and well behaved. We never even dare entertain the thought of stepping out of line, nevertheless put it to the test. You bring us somewhere, we sit down and ate our dinner quietly. Never spoke out of turn, but always answered when addressed. We always said hi and bye to every single person in the house out of respect. Never talked back, ran around the restaurant screaming, dare to disobey any order or instructions our parents gave. We were also taught to respect our elders, PERIOD. I think a lot of kids from the younger generation lack that. Respect comes in a lot of different forms, but to respect your elders is to know your place. After growing up being taught that, it becomes part of you. We walk side by side with our grandmothers, help them carry things. Other forms of respect and act of just comes naturally to you, because it then just makes sense.

Today's Deals!!

Sharing some more deals with you that I've found online!

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4 Foldable BPA Free Waterbottle for $5.69 free shipping!

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POP Beauty Glam Nail Polish w/ 3 beauty samples for $4.90

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Handcrafted Crystal Glassware Set for $15 on Groupon!

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TheBalm Cosmetics Palette for $15 on Groupon!

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Cilantro-Lime Chicken Recipe (Slow Cooker)

So I have a really busy schedule on the weekday so I don't have time to cook dinner when I get home from work. My son demands dinner as soon as we get home or he'll start climbing on the high chair saying, "peez peez peez." So what I usually like to do is find some easy recipes that I can prepare the night before and just ask the fiance to throw in the oven or even better...use my slow cooker! I usually find all of the recipes I need for the week on Sunday and I go grocery shopping for the week. Last night we tried something different and it was so good I just had to share it. I made tacos! Cilantro-lime shredded chicken taco's as a matter of fact. The recipe is so easy and yummy. I might even try making a casserole out of it one day!

I prepared the sauce and the chicken breast the night before, so I just threw everything in the slow cooker before I left for work and came home to dinner served!

I found the recipe on allrecipe.com, which is where I find most of my easy dinner fixes :)

Cilantro-Lime Chicken
Prep time: 4 minutes 
Cook time: 9 hrs


1 (16 oz) jar salsa (I get the Pace Picante brand in Mild)
1 (1.25 oz package dry taco seasoning
1 lime, juiced
3 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (I usually just chop up half a bundle but then again I love cilantro)
3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, halves


In a bowl, I mix the salsa, taco seasoning, lime and cilantro together.

Place the chicken breast halves in the slow cooker and pour the salsa mixture over it. Stir well so the chicken is well coated and lay them out flat.

Turn it on slow and let it cook for 9 hours.

So, that's the recipe..when its done you just use a form and kind of mash them a little bit and them come apart so easily that it becomes shredded chicken. Instead of making already bought hard taco shells, I made my own with corn tortilla. You use a frying pan and fill it up with oil so that it can cover the tortilla. I use extra virgin olive oil to cook, so I didn't feel as bad about all the oil we're consuming!

Place the tortilla in the oil and let it cook for a couple seconds on both sides. Then bend it in half so it looks like a taco shell and let each side cook until edges are a little brown. I try to drain the oil as much as possible, then I put them on a plate with a paper towel over it so it soaks up the excess oil.

For the salsa:

2 roma tomatoes, diced
Half of a white onion, diced
1 lime, juiced
chopped cilantrol
Salt & pepper to taste


Put everything in a bowl and mix!

I wish I took pictures of the tacos last night. I served them with just salsa, sour cream, Valentino's hot sauce and shredded cheese. The most time consuming part was making the taco shells but besides that it was a piece of cake!

I brought the stuff and made some tacos for lunch, but I forgot the sour cream! (I broke one of my shells so I guess its not a taco now, its a torta.)

Deals!!!

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Jawline Acne experiment Week 1!

So after looking on Amazon for the Belli Acne Facial wash and saw that it was $22 dollars, I decided I'll start with the cheaper remedies that I found on Google. I'm going with the baking soda for cleansing and tea tree oil lotion for moisturizing..

I am a big big big Amazon shopper. I usually dig around for deals online and 8/10 I'll find my best deal on Amazon. PLUS, I'm a prime member so the free 2 day shipping is AWESOME! I saw a bunch of different cheaper Tea Tree Oil products on Amazon but the reviews I get were kind of mixed. I was looking for something that would specifically treat my acne issue and not just a daily moisturizer. So, I came across The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion. There were only 4 items left for $12.00 with free two day shipping! I saw on The Body Shop's website it goes for $13 and you have to pay more for shipping & handling. 

Here is the product description from The Body Shop's site:

• Best if you want to: Moisturize with a light, mattifying lotion that hydrates skin and controls oil while helping to clear and prevent blemishes.
  
• How it works:
• Lemon tea tree and Community Trade tea tree oil from Kenya contain properties that help fight blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.
• Tamanu oil from Madagascar has a soothing effect and helps to calm irritation and redness.
• Contains powders help mattify the skin and control shine.  

I ordered it on Friday and it arrived yesterday. The bottle is TINY, I mean smaller than my hand tiny. I started using the baking soda as a face scrub/wash instead of my normal face cleanser. I use it at night when I'm taking my shower. Advice, don't scrub that hard and it kind of burns. I just pour a little bit in my hand and mix it with water and rub my hands together, pretty much just like face wash. Except, I have to use a gentle and lighter massage motion. Then I just rinse it off. It definitely gets rid of grease but it does burn a little bit when you're rinsing it off. It leaves my skin kind of dry. So that's when I use the Tea Tree Oil lotion starting at my neck in an upward motion. I squeeze a little bit bigger than a pea size on my palm and use my finger tips and work my way up. 

Hopefully, this works out for me. I'll let you know how it goes in a week if there's any progress or if it worsens. I'm interested in the other products from the Tea Tree line now! I'll just have to wait!

I just got regular baking soda from the Dollar Tree..yes I'm that cheap I didn't even buy it from a grocery store..Look how small the lotion bottle is compared to the regular sized baking soda! 

E.L.F Haul & Reviews

So, I'm not beauty guru but I do love my make-up. I don't go anywhere without at least eyeliner, eyebrows and a little blush. The other day I saw a BOGO free on E.L.F's website and I got tempted! I haven't bought anything from them in while besides a casual item that I might see at Target from them. I've been trying to be a good girl on spending money but what the hell I decided to splurge a little. I love e.l.f's make-up because its affordable! Their Essential line has everything for $1, now they have a studio line in which everything costs $3 and also a mineral line that costs a little bit more. I mean its no MAC and you get what you pay for but there are certain things that you don't really need to get the name brand product for. I got about 18 items for...$54!! My fiance is probably going to read this and say I can't believe you spent $54 dollars. (Love you babes!) But lets face it, if I took $54 dollars and went to Sephora or to MAC, I'll probably only be able to get tops 4 items depending what I get. This is what I call "ballin' on a budget." I'm going to go over some of the stuff I got and what I thought of them.

This is what I'm going to rate it on:

1. Quality
2. True to Color
3. Pigmentation
4. Effectiveness (If applicable)
5. Rating 1 out of 5 (5 being the highest.)

100 Shadow Palette

I got this for $10 dollars! What a steal right? I have the Coastal Scents 88 Shimmer Palette right now. I got that from Amazon for $16 dollars and I love it but I wanted a "non-shimmer" version so I got this one. So far I haven't gotten to try it yet so I will have to get back on the actual pigment and application. The packaging was nice and had gotten good reviews on their website! I guess I won't be able to rate this one yet.

Mineral Powder Brush (Studio Collection)

I got this brush to go with my Mineral Booster. The bristles are soft and the brush came in perfect condition. Its the perfect size to use with your mineral make-up. I have a kabuki brush that I feel is just too bulky to fit in my mineral make-up jars. 

Quality: Good, esp for $3!

Effectiveness: Perfect for the job

Rating: 5

Eyeshadow "C" Brush and Bamboo Concealer Brush

Eyeshadow "C" Brush (Studio Collection)

I love the eyeshadow C brush from the studio collection, I actually bought two of these again and I already have 3 right now. I love the bristles on them. They are shorter and fuller than the Essential Collection eyeshadow brushes which are only dollar. The studio ones are $3. I like that the handle is also longer and it picks up the color very well. 

Quality: The brush came in perfect condition, the bristles are nice and soft.

Effectiveness: Does the job!

Rating: 5

Concealer Brush (Mineral Collection) 

I'm actually not sure if I love the brush. It was definitely a lot smaller than I expected. As you can see from the pictures, it's just a tad bit bigger than the C brush. I'm not using this on a mineral powder product, so maybe I should give it a try and see if it makes a different but it's just a little too small for me. I'm currently using the concealer brush from just the Essential line and its much bigger and has more coverage. This brush costs $5 normally, but it was part of the BOGO list so that's why I took a chance with it.

Quality: Lightweight and came in good condition. The bristles are sleek and firm but not harsh.

Effectiveness: A little small for me, maybe for precision concealing this would work out better. 

Rating: 3  (I wouldn't pay $5 dollars for it)

Make-Up Mist & Set

So far I've used this product everyday since I've gotten it and I love it. It doesn't have a smell, which is awesome. The last thing I want is something strong in scent to be stuck on my face all day. The ingredients in this bottle seems simple enough and it's alcohol free so it won't dry out your skin. I read the reviews and they were pretty good. Says it helps with oily skin and so far it seems to be doing the trick! I might have to try it without the booster I've been using to see if it's the spray or the booster than seems to be keeping my oily skin under control. 

Quality: Good

Effectiveness: Good (I'll have to try it out on a sweaty hot summer day to see how well it works)

Rating: 5 (For $3 it's worth the buck)

Shimmer Sheets (Studio Collection)

I got these shimmer sheets for my purse. My blush seems to always wash out by the end of the day and I feel so dead without it! As you can see it comes with 20 sheets and I guess you just rub them on where ever you want a little color and shimmer! It also comes in pearl, pink, golden and bronze. Mine is the pink. I haven't gotten a chance to try it yet so I won't be able to provide a rating.

Powder Blush in "Tickled Pink" (Studio Collection)

I like blushes that are more natural so I decided to go with the tickled pink. It has a little bit of a shimmer to it as you can see in the picture. It goes on very sheer and I feel like their blushes are really pigmented enough. I really have brush it on a couple times in order for you to see the color. I tried to do a swatch on my hand, but you can't even see it. After a couple applications of it, it does give you a more coral/pink type of color and it is very light. It would go well for a spring look. I'll have to provide a picture of me wearing it next time.

Quality: Nice packaging, comes with a little mirror as well. 

True to Color:  That is the actual sample provided from E.L.F's website. I'd say its pretty darn close! 

Pigmentation: Could be more pigmented. 

Effectiveness: A little more difficult to apply. Requires several coats and some major dipping of the brush

Rating: 4 Its a great color, just wish it went on a little easier. Still worth my $3!

Mineral Booster (Studio Collection)

This is by far my favorite product from them that I've gotten. Its suppose to give you a a more flawless "photo finishing look". It has vitamin A, B and E. I got it in corrective yellow and its sheer. I use it on my t-zone and it really keeps my face from looking oil free all day! It is awesome! I don't wear foundation or powder so I just use it alone and I haven't tried to use it all-over my face. It's suppose to absorb into your skin and give help minimize the appearance of fine lines and pores. So far I love it for making sure I don't look like a grease monkey by the time it's 2:00 pm! Best of all it's only $3!

Quality: Comes in your typical mineral make-up jar with nice packaging. Generous amount.

True to Color: It says its suppose to be translucent and it sure is!

Effectiveness: Does the job of giving me a matte look all day long. 

Rating: 5 (I highly recommend this product to my fellow greasers)

Single Eyeshadow in Sand Dollar (Studio Collection)

I took a picture of the single eyeshadow next to the blush package so you can see the size difference. It has the usual Studio Collection sleek packaging with a little mirror on it. I was looking for just a plain white shadow to use under my brows for highlighting and this one did the trick perfectly. As you can see it even has a little sparkle with it. I would say for $3 its a generous amount for a single shadow.

Quality: Good, nice packaging with a little mirror for application. 

True to Color: It's white :) Doesn't get any simpler than that.

Pigmentation: Very pigmented. Color picks up well.

Rating: 5 

Mineral Lipstick in "Cool Coral" (Mineral Collection)

 

So the bottom picture is the color provided on their website. I would definitely say the color is different from the website and I find that always an issue with lipstick. Unless you go somewhere, where you can see an actual swatch of it, it's never quite what it seems. Even though the color is not what I expected, I still really do like the color. It's moisturizing so it doesn't make your lips look flaky. Glides on smoothly and lasts for a couple hours unless if you're careful. It's a bit more orange-y than I expected and less of a rosy pink undertone but it's still a very pretty color. I thought it was a little bit of a splurge to spend $5 on a lipstick. But, then again its all made from natural ingredients, so it's actually healthy for your lips. 

Quality: Good. Nice packaging, goes on smooth, not flaky, moisturizing, no scent.

True to Color: I would have to say no on that. Definitely darker than it shows.

Pigmentation: Very pigmented. One coat and you're done.

Effectiveness: Colors my lips and moisturizes!

Rating: 4 Only because it wasn't true to color. It disappoints me when I look forward to something and I get something different!

Radiance Enhancer in "Spotlight" (Studio Collection)

So this product is a great highlighter. I use it under my eyes and a little on my cheekbones to give me a dewy fresh face look It gets rid of my bags and when I add blush over it, it gives it a little shimmer. It reminds me of this other product I saw from I want to say Urban Decay or something that did pretty much the same thing for like $25 dollars! This was only $3 :)

Quality: Nice packaging, I wouldn't mind if they did something besides a brush on type applicator.

True to Color: Light pearl pink. Pretty accurate. The color isn't really going to show once you blend it in.

Pigmentation: Its hard to get just the right amount on since its a twist-up with a brush. But it a light color.

Effectiveness: Highlights and gives you a little shimmer without looking like a glitter fairy.

Rating: 5 

Tone Correcting Concealer in "Ivory" (Essential Collection)

I got this little tube as a to-go in my purse for emergency concealer. It's only $1 and works pretty well. Also, works well as an under eye concealer. As you can see, when it's blended in, it matches my skin perfectly. 

Quality: Good, sleek and small packaging. It has a wand applicator with it.

Pigmentation: Goes on sheer once blended and has a light feeling.

True to Color: Looks pretty accurate as you can see from the last picture which was provided from their site.

Effectiveness: Conceals minor blemishes. 

Rating: 5 (For $1, you can't really ask for more)

Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in "Gunmetal" (Essential Collection)

So as you can see, it's shimmery. I guess I expected glittery? But that's my fault! I think the sparkles in the picture provided from the site threw me off. Overall, it's definitely shimmery, glides on smooth and it's only $1. I think the lid with the sharpener is kind of cheesy to be honest. 

Quality: Good, pretty standard pencil, goes on smooth.

True to Color: As you can see from the last picture, looks just like it! (Minus the sparkle)

Pigmentation: Yes, one glide and the color is on.

Rating: 5 

Matte Eyeshadow (Studio Collection)

I got this in the muted mauve and burnt brown. I've been wearing the muted mauve for the last two days and haven't gotten a chance to do the burnt brown yet. I'll come up with swatches later. I really like the muted mauve, it's a matte pink that gives you a little color, but the illusion of are you really wearing eyeshadow? I like neutral colors most of the time and this is great. Comes in a little jar that resembles mineral make-up. I left my plastic sifter thing on because I know I'd probably spill it if I didn't or dip my whole brush in there on accident. 

Quality: Nice packaging and the little brush is cool, but you're not going to get very far using that as the applicator.

True to Color: I would say the muted mauve is pretty close. 

Pigmentation: Good, picks up color well. That's the nice part about loose shadows.

Rating: 5 I say worth the $3 and it comes with a generous amount.

I believe there's one more product I didn't get to out of everything I got. Overall, E.L.F is an affordable brand of make-up that are cruelty free and uses good ingredients!