Blogging 101 + Some changes

So today's (day 11) challenge (yes I know I skipped day 10 - set up alerts to monitor things that relate to your blog - because I already do that) is to come up with 10 future post ideas. I have a hard time figuring out what to write sometimes so making a list of posts to do in the future helps a lot!

Because of today's challenge AND because of a request from my dear friend and fellow blogger Halle of Classic + Glam, I've decided to change my posts up a little. So here's what you should be looking forward to starting next week:

Series Posts.

Mondays will now be dedicated to makeup! Yay! I'll be posting a makeup tutorial or review every Monday. I'm not sure if this will be in video form or in a series of pictures since I'm not all that comfortable talking to myself while recording but we'll see.

For Tuesdays, I'm thinking of doing a series of recipe posts because - well lets face it, we all know I LOVE me some food.

'What I Wore Wednesdays' will still continue.

Thursdays are still up in the air so it'll just be whatever is on my mind for now.

And Fridays, well I'm still not sure on that either.


So Frikken Crafty.

I know. I KNOW! I'm trying my hardest to post another craft tutorial but all the things I want to do - well they don't have the right supplies here on Guam. No leather cord for the leather wrap bracelets, no gold fringe for the eyemask, no glue guns, no mod podge in stock, etc. Seriously. But, as I mentioned in yesterday's post (here) my friend Ardyce (isn't her name just so cool? It's pronounced ardiss which sounds like artist - and she's a pretty good artist) and I are working on putting together some awesome crafts and I will definitely share them with you all.

Guest posters.

So after being a guest post on Heather's blog (Hopeless Notebook) the other day (my post here) I've decided to try and persuade you folks (yeah I just said "folks") out there to guest post here! I think it's a great way for me and others to learn from you! And it also provides awesome opportunities for you to branch out and get new readers/followers to your blog as well! If you're interested, just holler at me: frikkenduckie@gmail.com and we'll set it up.

Well I think that's all the changes I'll be doing for now. Until I think of something else again. But before I leave you, I just wanted to give a little shout-out to my wonderful/kooky/old-fashioned man:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEY!!

Today is Joey's 30th (yes omg he's 30!) birthday! It's really weird though. He still looks very young and he still acts like a kid so people don't really believe his actual age. Anyway, happy birthday honey! I know all your wishes came true already because - well, let's face it - fate brought you to me. Lol. I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I'll love you tomorrow.


Have a great weekend everyone!

Blogging 101 + Thirsty Thursday

I'm still on the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog and the challenge for day 8 is to interlink your old blog posts. I do that occasionally anyway so I don't feel the need to do it right now. Basically, if you're writing a post that relates to a previous post you did, link the previous post in your current post. Simple right?

So day 9 challenges you to join and participate in a forum. The best way to gain readers and followers is to get engaged in a forum that relates to your blog. For example, I do beauty/makeup posts sometimes so I've joined the forums on Makeup Geek to share and get inspiration from other bloggers and makeup gurus. Someday soon (when I get a new camera) I'll start posting makeup tutorials for you all. I'm starting a "Get Duckie a New Camera" fund and will openly accept donations. Lol.

Btw, last night I tried this awesome drink at a friend's house but I didn't get the recipe from her! Thirsty Thursday fail! Anyway, I love fruity drinks so she made this little concoction for me. I know she used Soju (another Korean stereotype - I have never tried Soju until last night) and Calpico (a Japanese milky drink that tastes really fruity) but I don't know the last ingredient. It looked like strawberry lemonade when she gave it to me. I will ask her for the complete recipe later tonight and post it here once I get it!

AND she is a pretty good artist (her name is Ardyce) so we were discussing my awesome craft ideas and we're thinking about going into business together. Our only dilemma is getting the supplies we need (again, Guam is VERY limited in this area). But hopefully I'll be getting some stuff in from my parentals next week and then she and I are planning on ordering some more things as well and I will definitely feature some of our awesome products on here and do a giveaway or two (or ten!) once we've got the ball rolling. I'm super excited!

Office Bullies + What I Wore Wednesday

Being a grown up is tough. You need food, clothing, and shelter. In order to get those things you need to earn money for them. You need a job.

Trying to get a job is even tougher. You have to write a resume, apply at different places, check your phone constantly to see if anyone called you, schedule an interview time if they do, try not to crap your pants during the interview so you can get the job.

You'd think that once you've gotten the job it'd be smooth sailing after that, right? WRONG! Unless you work entirely for yourself, you've got to deal with others. These "others" are coworkers, supervisors, bosses, and even clients and customers. And not all of these people will like you, in fact a few of them may even be downright mean. But hey, you're a grown up so you just gotta deal with it. Here's a few tips and tricks that I use against one particular office bully:

Kill them with kindness. I know, I know - it is a lot harder than it seems, but trust me, this is your best strategy especially if you're new. If a few coworkers make snippy little comments about you, just smile and comment on how lovely their shoes are (even if the ARE hideous) while you imagine them twisting their ankle and falling down a flight of stairs.

Annoy them. If your pretend kindness act didn't work. Bug the crap out of them! Every time they say something, add to it. If you hear a few bullies talking together about coffee or hair or another coworker, put your two cents in there! Who cares if nobody asked you. It'll shut them up every time they're around you and you can just laugh to yourself at how they all try to keep quiet whenever they pass by.

Find common ground. If you really want to befriend your bully, find something you both have in common and work with that. Do they like to run 5k's? Ask if they could give you a few tips on breathing or show you a few stretches to do. Even if you don't have anything in common, making an effort to befriend them may help them lay off a bit.

Do your job. If you're slacking off, chances are someone's pissed. That someone is probably the one that has to cover your ass all the time. No wonder you're getting bullied! Do your job, and do it right so you won't put extra stress and pressure on someone else. Now, if they're getting paid more than you are for doing the exact same thing - then slacking off here and there should be permitted.

Stand your ground. If someone's really picking on you and making your life miserable, do something about it! Tell a superior. Or, what I always do, fight back (not physically of course). If you need supplies, grab it from their desk. Hey, if the company paid for it, all the company employees should be able to use it, right? Just make sure you put yours in a locked drawer. What happened to their lunch? Oops, you accidentally threw it away because you thought it looked spoiled. Fighting back can be fun and eventually they'll see how much it sucks to be bullied. Either that or you'll get punched in your face. But then they'll be fired and you can take their job!

I hope you liked my tips. I was feeling really upset this morning because a particular someone was being extremely rude to me (I think it must be menopause or something) and totally snapped at me when I asked them "What is this saved as?" (referring to a document they created in their system folder) and then they completely shoved some boxes on the floor towards me while I was sitting at my desk, trapping me in so they could open a drawer, and then left the boxes there. Needless to say I kicked the boxes back across the floor and left them there.

Anyway, here's what I'm wearing today:

Makeup: Black lid, dark turquoise crease, nude lips
Top: Dark Blue/Green Mossimo blouse, $20 Target
Bottom: Black Mossimo Pencil Skirt, $30 Target
Shoes: Black glitter platform heels, $?? Charlotte Russe

And by the way, don't forget to check out my guest post today (right here) over at Hopeless Notebook! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Blogging 101 + My Fave Fashion/Beauty Links

So day 7 of Darren Rowse's 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenges you to write a link post. Linking to other sites that you frequent or have gained knowledge from will also be likely to help your readers.

Here's a few links to some of my favorite fashion/beauty sites:

Youtube Channels:

Daven Mayeda - your hair BFF

Michelle Phan

Chriselle Lim


Blogs:

Maryam Maquillage

Classic Glam

Extra Petite

With an I.E.


Shopping:

Ruche

Stitched and Adorned

Modcloth




Hope you liked my little linkage post! Be sure to check them out! And don't forget to stop by Hopeless Notebook where I'll be featured as a guest poster on Tuesday!

Can you tell I don't like Mondays?

Or any workday for that matter.

Weekend recap: Party was a total...well disaster is what I kept calling it. Party favors did not arrive. I had to scramble around a few hours before the party and get a bunch of candy so we had a candy bar in place of party favors. My poor horses never got finished because I could not find a glue gun anywhere and when I finally borrowed one, I accidentally bought the wrong size glue sticks so I was only able to complete 2 horses. Total crafting fail. The cake that Joey said he took care of never arrived but thankfully Chloe's godmother was able to find one at the supermarket at least for her to blow her candles out. Horse never came - they thought it was for next week. Despite all the mishaps, Chloe had a good time so that's all that really mattered.

Yesterday after cleaning, we took the kids to Onward Waterpark for some family relaxing time. It was a much needed day and we all had a blast.

The only bad thing yesterday was that we all got sunburned. Which is why we all ended up staying home today. We were all so tired and sore and red, we couldn't get ourselves to function properly without groaning and complaining. Thankfully we're all feeling much better and we'll be back to work/school tomorrow.

So how was your weekend? Did any of you watch the Hunger Games? I must admit that I just finished the first book last night. Sadly I don't keep up with book trends so I was late to jump on the Hunger Games bandwagon, but I did love the book. Looking forward to reading the next one. Do you have any books you'd recommend? I'm really open to reading anything! Let me know!

Oh, and by the way, I'll be guest posting for my awesome blog buddy Heather at Hopeless Notebook on Tuesday, so please check it out! Heather is one of my very first followers (besides my sister) and she and I are still new bloggers and I'm glad that we're going through this blogging journey together. Please follow her blog if you're not already - I promise you won't regret it!

Crunch Time!

I had planned to take off today but decided to just come in anyway so I can receive the packages that are supposed to have come in today. The mailman came and left - with nothing for me. Needless to say, I am FREAKING OUT! Those things were ordered over a week ago, were sent Priority, and were supposed to have arrived since YESTERDAY. All the party favors are in those boxes! Urghh!

I'll be leaving work soon to go home and clean, pick up some last minute things, and start jamming away at all the decorations, finishing the horses, and prepping the food items. I'm hoping that the boxes come before my office closes because otherwise I'll seriously be a complete and total bitch and will definitely have to post-pone the party until next week.

On a good note - at least the electricity's working now!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Today is not a good day

Neither was last night a good night. Long story short - we had no electricity last night. Hoping it gets fixed today because I can't do anything without electricity - which may mean no party on Saturday! I never take things like running water or electricity for granted so if this is Karma or something it must be a mistake!

On a good note, my new school term started today. Finally passed those 2 classes (that I repeated about 3 times) so hopefully this term is easier. Managerial Accounting and Science Concepts. Sounds fun, right? Not. But at least its a change from the same 2 classes 3 times in a row. Lol.

I could really use some comfort food right about now and I've been craving clam chowder and a roast beef sandwich from Winchell's (coffee/doughnut shop) for a while now. Good thing its just across the street - though I doubt I'll get off my grouchy butt and walk there.

Speaking of grouchy, I really feel for Oscar the Grouch. I would be grouchy too if I had a unibrow and lived in a garbage can and people kept calling me Grouch! Maybe he just had a bad day one day and now he's stuck with "the Grouch" for the rest of his life.

Have a grouchy day! Lol. No seriously. It'd be fun to read other grouchy people's blogs right now. Hahahaha. But if you're having a wonderful one, then fine - I'll read your blog too.

Review: Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System + What I Wore Wednesday

Yay, my first review post! So as you may (or may not) know, I had purchased the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System two weeks ago (post here) and promised that I'd do a review of it once I had a couple weeks to try it out.

I have a bit of an obsession with beauty products so I tend to just buy them on impulse and then look for their reviews online after I've already purchased them. Most of the reviews I've read were all positive and a lot of people did see a difference after using it for more than 2 weeks. Here's a funny excerpt from one review I came across:

"I love this product. There are sufficient microdermabrasion pads included in this pack to get you hooked on using it--and hooked you will be, for the results speak for themselves. My face is squeaky clean and smooth after using, and I feel like my other facial products are that much more effective (such as moisturizers and serums) after using this product every 3 days. It seems to be having good results in terms of decreasing the look and size of my pores.

As a fun aside note....I think that this product could also be used, ahem, for another purpose. It has two speeds, and the head that the microderm pads are attached to, can also be detached. So. Just sayin'. "

The kit comes with the microdermabrasion wand, batteries, and enough microderm pads to last you a month (12).

The product gives you these statistics:

Dermatologist clinical study proves:
Instantly: 91% had smoother, more luminous skin
1 Week: 88% had visible improvement in the look of fine lines
4 Weeks: 88% had significantly reduced appearance of wrinkles or age spots
8 Weeks: 72% had substantially firmer-looking skin

So after opening the package and turning it on I was a little surprised to see that this product vibrates rather than rotates the microderm pad. When I first turned it on and put it to my face it was a little uncomfortable because the pad is so abrasive (microdermABRASION - duh) but I switched it to low and got used to the feeling after a while. I don't know how long you're supposed to keep scrubbing your face but I stopped after my hand got numb (due to the constant vibration from the product).

After washing the foam off my face I notice a drastic difference in my skin. It was extremely clean and smooth (the way its supposed to feel after cleaning) but what really sold me was the soft/airy feel of my skin. My skin has never felt so soft in all my life!

I use makeup just about every day and this product worked wonders on the years of makeup abuse my face has had. My pores are visibly smaller since I started using it which shows a HUGE difference in my entire complexion. I've been using it every 2-3 days, so I've really only used it about 4 times and to see results so quickly after this little usage is pretty amazing to me.

I definitely recommend that you try it out for yourself. It's a pretty cheap kit (I bought it for about $25 here on Guam) in comparison to other brands that offer the same and I think it is well worth the money.

And now on to what I'm wearing today:

Makeup: Black crease, light brown lid, black eyeliner, baby pink lipstick
Leopard-print top (lace back): $9.99, Ross
Boyfriend cardigan: From my mom
Dark blue/black jeggings: From Joey's mom
Ruffled side boots: Free from a friend

This entire outfit (not including the makeup) cost me less than $10.

Oh, and btw, I picked up a new beauty product yesterday (yes, ANOTHER one):

Garnier Dark Spot Corrector
In high school I had noticed that I have a few dark splotches (no, it's not dirt) on the left side of my face and I've always wanted to get rid of them so hopefully this product can do that. Let me know if you'd like a review of this too!

MIA Monday + Stressed Again

So yesterday was my Chloe monster's 4th birthday! Yay! When I woke her up, I said "Happy Birthday Ling (one of the many nicknames we call her), you're 4 years old now!" She then giggled and responded, "Mom, stop it! I'm not 4, I'm 3. You're just playing around!" I had to laugh because she didn't believe me that it was her birthday. It wasn't until later on in the day (after she received her gift from Joey's parents) that she realized that it actually was her birthday. She was all smiles after that realization.

I stayed home from work yesterday because I was feeling horrible - mostly due to the fact that I stayed up until 1am making a dessert for Aniyah's book share project for school (she had to read a book and make a snack relating to it). I was a bit upset that she didn't even finish her book yet (she had been assigned the project 2 weeks ago), but I'm really proud that she started and finished a new book that night. Reading isn't her favorite subject but she finished a 200 page book in 3 hours - which I think is pretty good for a third grader.

Anyway, I apologize for the lack of yesterday's post! I was so tired and grouchy, and also had to help Joey's mom prepare for her little get together at her house so I didn't have much computer time. Now I'm back to work and back to blogging! Lol.

So this week is really crunch time for me! I've got to finish up the horses and confirm the balloons, cake, pinata, cupcakes and get the rest of the decorations and other stuff together as well as start getting the food items together! I hope to get most of the decorations/supplies/groceries together tonight so all I have to worry about for the rest of the week is putting it all together.

I'll be posting some pictures of my progress throughout the week so wish me luck! I'll also be doing a review of the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System this week as I promised so look forward to that!

Those of you who follow me on Twitter or Instagram (@frikkenduckie) have already seen this picture yesterday but it's just so funny/cute I had to share it here too.

I turned the corner of Joey's parents house and found them like this.
Trace: Look Mom, I'm a chicken! Cockadoodle-doo!
And Chloe dressed herself yesterday in her "birthday outfit" (she's very fashion-minded).

Blogging 101 + Stereotypes

Day 5 of Darren Rowse's 31 Days to Build a Better Blog encourages you to email a blog reader. By doing this, you can connect with your readers and it shows that you are genuine and appreciate your readers.

Replying to comments and visiting your readers' blogs definitely counts as well, so I'm pretty sure I've got this one down already. I try to make it a point to respond to each and every comment on my blog and I follow each and every one of my followers back (all 17 of you lovely gals! - as of 3/16/2012). I have come to realize however, that not all readers come back to see that I've responded to their comments on my blog, so I go a little further and comment on their blogs as well. A double whammy! Lol.

Day 6 of the book provides you with "27 Must-Read Tips and Tutorials for Bloggers. I won't list them all here, you'll have to read the book for that. Lol.

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So I thought it'd be fun to do a post about stereotypes. I have been labeled as so many different things by so many different people at so many different times of my life. (Was that too many "so many"'s?) Here are some frequently asked questions/stereotypes that people have about me:

You're Korean so you must love kimchi. Definitely NOT true. In fact, I hated kimchi my whole life! It wasn't until just recently that I started eating little bits of cabbage kimchi.

Don't people on Guam live in grass huts? Umm...not for the last few centuries. Guam is NOT a foreign third-world country people! It is a U.S. territory which means we do have military bases, shopping centers, hotels, and concrete houses.

You're a mother so you don't care how you look. FALSE. I have always - ALWAYS - been one to keep up with my appearances and attitude. I may not be dripping in designer, but I do pride myself on being a frugal fashionista and I try to keep a positive outlook in most situations. Of course I do let myself go on sick days or cleaning days though.

People from Hawaii have bad English. Okay, I can't speak for the rest of the state, but I think I do pretty well for myself. For those of you who don't know, a lot (not all) of people in Hawaii speak 'pidgin' or broken English. It's kind of like a mix of different languages but to some people it can sound like jibberish. I can speak it, but I can also turn it off. Brah.

You model so you must be full of yourself. Uh, no. I consider myself to be confident (okay sometimes a little cocky) but I do have a lot of insecurities about myself as well. And until I wake up one morning and suddenly look like Adriana Lima, there is no chance that I'll be too sexy for any shirt any time soon.

You're Asian so you must be super smart. Nope. Though I try to make myself seem super smart (especially when debating with Joey), I've never really excelled in academics. I dropped out of college twice actually because it bored me. My least favorite subject is math.

You blog, so you probably make up stories to sound cool. I wish! I mean, if I really wanted to make myself sound cool, don't you think I would have tried a little harder and had a lot more followers? Duh.

You used to be a stripper. FALSE! There is a huge difference and a lot of misconceptions between gogo dancing and stripping. Sure gogo dancers dance on a stage in bathing suits and undies (c'mon, sex sells), but they do not take off their clothes and show you their choo-chas (okay, maybe some unprofessional ones might). Most of us just love to go out and dance - and if people are willing to give you money to hang out with friends and dance all night, would you really turn that down?


Well those are just a FEW comments and questions that people have said about me throughout my life - so far. Hope you learned a few things from it!

Now what about you? What are some untrue stereotypes that people assume about you?

Spreading sunshine one post at a time...

First off I'd like to share my excitement with you all because I have been nominated for the Sunshine Award by the lovely Halle over at Classic + Glam. Her blog is amazing and I strongly recommend that you visit her to see for yourself. But, wait until you've read and commented on mine first!

So here's the lovely award and the rules:

Sunshine Award rules:

1. Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog.
2. Answer 10 questions about yourself.
3. Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers.
4. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.
5. Share the love and link the person who nominated you.


10 Sunshine Award Questions:

Favorite Color? Classic black
Favorite animal? Giraffes
Favorite number? 7
Favorite non-alcoholic drink? Cranberry juice, lemonade, & Arizona Green Teas
Prefer Facebook or Twitter? Definitely Twitter!
My passion? Life is my passion - I want to make it worthwhile!
Prefer getting or giving presents? LOVE getting, but it feels good to give too
Favorite pattern? I have a slight obsession for stripes as well as polka dots
Favorite day of the week? Saturday - a whole day to do absolutely nothing
Favorite flower? Sunflowers and lilies


Nominees:

Dottie
Hayley
Heather
Keena
Nicole
Valeria
Heidi
Amy
Adriana
Charlotte

All the ladies noted above have brought sunshine into my life in one way or another (corny, but true!) and these nominations are my way of saying "THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AWESOME!" I encourage you to take a look at their blogs. They're all so different and beautiful and they inspire me to blog!

I'd also like to say that I STILL haven't had time to go to the craft store yet but I will go today. Or tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow. Besides, I have a few other awesome craft ideas up my sleeve and that I want to start this weekend too. So be expecting "So Frikken Crafty #3" soon. For real this time. Lol.

Okay, that's all for now. I'm kind of in a funk because I'm stuck at work but I can't concentrate and don't want to do any work at all anyway. You ever feel that way? I wish I could just go to the craft store right now and spend the rest of the day lounging around and crafting. I could do that. But no...I need to work and make $$ for Chloe's birthday party next Saturday. :(

Have a great Thursday everyone! And yes, now you may leave and visit Halle and all the other awesome blogs I nominated!

What I Wore Wednesday

Neon yellow bridges top: $19.99, Papaya Clothing
Black bodycon pencil skirt: $16.99, Charlotte Russe
Black patent pointed-toe heels: Free from sister, Wet Seal
Bracelets: Philippines & Cookie Lee
Earrings: $10.00, Payless Shoe Source
Makeup: Eyes - Navy blue (outer corner) & yellow (inside corner), MAC Blacktrack liner, Falsies Flared mascara. Lips - NYX Citrene liner, MAC Viva Glam Gaga lipstick.


So Joey's finally off of house arrest!! YAY!! Which means we'll be going on a date tonight! I'm super excited because he's been stuck at home for a whole month and it has put a strain on both of us (it gets annoying to have to go to the store 3 times a day for him).

Keeping this post short and simple so I can finish my payroll project! Have a wonderful Wednesday folks!

How to Wear It #1: Asymmetrical hemlines

So after my mini post about asymmetrical hemlines yesterday, I decided to create a series dedicated to certain fashion trends and how to wear them. Now I'm not an expert or anything so you really don't have to pay attention at all if you don't want to (but I'd be extremely happy if you did).

Now I personally LOVE dresses and skirts with asymmetrical hemlines! However, for those of us who are not tall and slender, asymmetrical hemlines can be hard to pull off! Here are a few tips on how to wear it:

If you're short...

Tip: If you're tall you can definitely pull off a lower waist! AND, if you're not comfortable bearing the whole frontal view of your beautiful legs, turn your skirt sideways for a more subtle, peek-a-boo look.

If you're curvy...

Tip: If you're slender and want to add curves, use skirts that are more gathered or have layers!


Well I hope you liked this post and got a few good tips from it. I could go on and on about how to wear asymmetrical hemlines in the different seasons, how to dress it up or dress it down, etc. but we'll save that for later posts.

Please comment below and let me know what you think and what else I could add to future "How to Wear It" posts!

A Wake Up Call + Blogging 101 + Asymmetrical Hemlines

Hey bloggers, it's MONDAY! Aren't you excited? Not really? Me either.

So first off I'd like to share with you a little "wake up call" that I experienced this morning.

I got in to work this morning and got a call from Joey who had been doing collections for his company all morning. He works for a plumbing company that also provides portable toilets to customers. His job today was to collect on past-due accounts and/or repossess the portable toilets if the customers couldn't pay him right away. These customers are usually small businesses or construction companies who need portable toilets on site.

Anyway, Joey called because he was pretty upset about one particular account this morning. He said he drove to an address of a customer to reclaim one of the portable toilets but he couldn't go through with it. He told me that he drove into a dirt road and found a makeshift house - it was basically a canopy tarp tied to a few trees. Now it's not uncommon on Guam for people to build these makeshift structures in the jungle but what really bothered Joey was that there were little tents around the structure as well. Children's tents - the ones we'd get our kids as a playhouse. There were little children there, about the age of our own kids, who were living in those tents. Joey said it looked as if these tents served as their rooms. I literally started crying when I heard this. I'm tearing now just trying to type it.

The customer on the account was the father of these children and the portable toilet was the only bathroom that they had. The man told Joey that his mother was the one paying for the toilet and that he would call her and ask her to get current with their account so that they could keep the toilet. Joey was supposed to reclaim it anyway, and in any other circumstance he would have - but he just couldn't do it for the sake of those children.

It hurts me to think of what that family has to go through just to get by. The fact that they have to rent a portable toilet is really heartbreaking for me and it is obviously hard for them to keep up with the payments. But because they have no sewage system, that is their only option right now. I wish I could give them a permanent toilet and a stable and secure home but I have my own family to take care of. I do plan to donate some items to that particular family in order to make their lives and their lifestyle a little more comfortable, especially for the children there. It may not be a lot, but hopefully it will mean something to them.

Thanks for listening to that little story, I just really had to share that because it affected me so much.

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Day 4 of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenges us to analyze a top blog. This challenge is a good way to see how other blogs operate. It is best to choose a blog that relates to your own. When you analyze this blog, take everything into consideration.

What does the blog design look like? What kind of other pages does the blog offer? Is there one author or are there different contributors? How often is the blog updated? How accessible is the author? What is their average use of photos and images? Do they do series posts (fill in the blanks, tutorials, outfits, etc.)? Take a few notes to get inspiration from this blog and try to incorporate some of these points into your own blog.

*******EDIT*******

So I've decided to add another topic to today's post, that being: asymmetrical hemlines. This topic was inspired by Rach at So, hi.'s opinion post on asymmetrical skirts (here). I love asymmetrical hemlines on dresses and skirts but sometimes the way it is cut can be oh so unflattering to certain body types.

If you don't know what an asymmetrical hemline on a dress/skirt looks like, here are some examples of asymmetrical skirts/dresses:

I'll be doing another post later this week (probably tomorrow) on how to wear an asymmetrical dress/skirt, so stay tuned!

Simple Sunday + Party Planning

Hey bloggers! I feel like a crack addict right now because it is 10:45pm right now on Guam and I'm blogging. I don't usually post at all on the weekends, so it is a bit weird for me.

The reason I'm up and on the computer right now is because I'm trying to get all my homework done. I actually just finished my 7 page paper on the gender movements of the 1960's for my social science class (whew!) and now I'm trying to tackle 20 days worth of payroll for my final project in my Payroll Accounting class (yikes).

Anyway, so today was a pretty simple day for us. Spent some time getting some horses done (halfway there!), cleaned the house up a bit, and Joey and I barbecued some steak for lunch while the kids swam in the pool. It was a really relaxing day and we all enjoyed it. It'll probably be the last relaxing weekend we'll have for the rest of the month though due to Chloe's birthday coming up.

So if you didn't already know, my outrageous/funny/candid/diva daughter Chloe will be turning 4 on the 19th of March. This is her last birthday before she starts pre-k in the fall and it'll be her last REAL birthday party until she's 10. She usually has 2 parties every year (spoiled brat), one mini gathering on her actual birthday and then a party party on the weekend immediately after.

With all the double birthdays she's had, she's gone through a lot of different themes. This year, she asked for a Cowgirl party (wtf??). So UNFORTUNATELY the horse ranches here on Guam will NOT bring a horse to our house for the kids to ride (I still don't understand why not since Guam is so small anyway!) so that idea has been scratched.

But not to worry, I'm awesome at party planning so I've got a lot of other ideas to make up for the lack of a horse. I had looked online for party bags and found this:

Now its cute and all, but with the price of those bags (I'll need about 100pcs) and the cost of shipping to Guam, I really wasn't too excited about it. So I've decided to get my own paper bags, print out boot cutouts on cardstock paper, and have the kids decorate it themselves. I'll be setting up a table with crayons, markers, stickers, glitter, etc. for kids to decorate their boots, and then glue them on to their own goody bags. Cool huh? Well, I think so.

And I've already gotten started on the hobby horse idea that I found here:

But I'm sure mine won't look nearly as good or as normally shaped as those.

Now I consider myself to be a pretty good baker, I mean I love to bake and the things that I bake are delicious. But as far as icing is concerned, I definitely need help in that department. But here is something that I'm going to TRY and recreate:

Aren't they adorable!!?? Cactus cupcakes! So cute, but I'm sure it'll be hard work considering the spikes on these babies need to be put on with tweezers (you've GOT to be kidding me) but hopefully Chloe's godmother (who used to work in one of those cool fancy shmancy cake shops) would be willing to take on the task (*crossing fingers*).

And we'll also be setting up a s'more station which ties in to the whole cowgirl/western/home on the range kinda vibe:

Aren't these photos/ideas so awesome?! I'm still thinking of other things to add so if you have a cool cowgirl idea, please let me know! Her party's just 2 weeks away!!!!

And btw, I still haven't gotten the supplies for "So Frikken Crafty #3" yet so just hold tight. I'll get it this week, I promise!

DIY Fail + Workaholic weekend

Okay guys, so I know I said I would do the 3rd installment of "So Frikken Crafty" at the end of the week but guess what!? It is soooo NOT happening. Lol. I really wanted to do it this week but when I went to the craft store on Tuesday to get the stuff for the horses I'm making, I totally forgot to buy the supplies for my "So Frikken Crafty" craft thing. Super frikken FAIL, I know.

I'm hoping to get the supplies this weekend but I have to prioritize right now since I'm totally slacking on my final projects (which were due on Tuesday) and need to get those done first. These are the consequences of procrastination. -_-

Speaking of procrastination I'm feeling really sluggish today and haven't gotten much done. It literally took me ALL day to write this post. No joke. I started it when I got in to the office this morning (8:30am) and it is now 3:30pm. Seriously. I need to get started on my homework!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrgh!!

Time Managment? + Thirsty Thursday + Workout Fail

Work and school are stressing me out right now and I've been so distracted lately that I can't seem to focus this week. I've got a few school projects that needed to be done, like yesterday, that I haven't even started on. AND my regular workload is pretty full right now so I'm behind on doing the bills, which I usually have finalized and sent out on the 5th of every month - and it's already the 8th and I have no time to do it right now.

My workload for today. :[


I am a HUGE procrastinator. I know it and I admit to it. And when I'm not in the mood to do things, I put them off for a while (homework especially). But I can't help it. That's the way I am and the way I've been. I'm not good with schedules and deadlines, but I do want to be better at it. What about you? Are you a Procrastinating Polly like me, or are you more a Punctual Patricia? Do you have any tips on time management?

Anyway, I'm so stressed out that I decided to post up a drink recipe for all you lovely stressed out bloggers who may need a drink or two as well). This was my FAVORITE drink when I started going out (okay so I was only 18, but shhhhh!). It is a very sweet drink and is usually served in small glasses, but it does a lot of damage!

S.T.P. the ACTUAL name is a little vulgar so I'll stick with the abbreviation

1 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz Midori® melon liqueur
1/2 oz peach schnapps
1/2 oz 7-Up® soda

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake, strain into a shot glass, and serve.

Simple and sweet. Now for all you under 21 bloggers out there, here's a great non-alcoholic drink for you as well:

Fruitloops

3 oz pineapple juice
1 1/2 oz orange juice
1 oz cranberry juice
1 splash grenadine syrup

Stir all ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

I'm totally slipping in a random photo of myself because I love this lipstick. (MAC Cosmetics: Russian Red)

Finally, if you may or may not know, I started the Bodyrock.tv's March challenge this month. For March, the challenges will be weekly instead of 30 days. Anyway, I tried it out this morning and it ended horribly. I couldn't even finish the workout because I started feeling dizzy and...

Well, let's just say I was hunched over the toilet for the remainder of the workout.

I don't know if its because I'm so out of shape (but that usually doesn't happen to me when I go to Zumba or run) or if its because it was too early and my body wasn't quite awake yet (I literally worked out in my pajamas and tennis shoes), but I'm going to give it another shot tonight after Zumba (if I decide to go) so wish me luck. I can say that the few exercises I WAS able to do this morning totally sucked! Like "OMG why the hell am I doing this and wtf was I thinking!?". It is a really good workout, just really intense...But I guess that's how you get results, right?

A Terrific Tuesday + What I Wore Wednesday

Hey guys (gals)! So I totally went M.I.A. yesterday and I must admit that it felt pretty great. I haven't taken a day off for myself for a while now. I had planned to go to work, but then I realized that I needed to pay bills anyway, so decided to use the day to run errands and get some things that we needed.

So early yesterday morning I took Chloe and Trace and we went "all over" - as Chloe put it. I picked up a few new beauty products:

Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System - tried it out yesterday and I LOVE it! My skin was sooooo soft all day long yesterday and it felt a lot lighter.

Maybelline Falsies Flared - forgot it in the bathroom and have yet to try it, but I have heard amazing reviews so far.

I also grabbed a few new items for my spring/summer wardrobe:

Clockwise from top: light blue/white striped loose knit tank top with crochet detail on back, grey/black striped maxi dress with lace detail on back, navy/white striped heart t-shirt with cut/weave detail on back, straw hat with black ribbon. All four items purchased at Ross for under $30.

Also, my godparents bought me a sewing machine! I had been talking to my godmother at Trace's party on Sunday about Chloe's upcoming party on the 24th and how I wanted to make some hobby horses (you know, the stick horses) as party favors for the kids under 5. I had hand stitched one already but it took me FOREVER because I don't have a sewing machine here. My parents said it would cost too much to ship my sewing machine from Hawaii, so I was going to buy a new one later this week. Then my godfather showed up at our house last night with a brand new one for me! I was ECSTATIC!

Of course I couldn't wait to try it out, so I made one horse head last night:

Still need to add the ears and the blaze (the stripe down the middle of the horse head) but I decided to use fabric glue for those. So once that's done I just gotta buy the sticks and pop em on! I'm really super proud of myself right now! (Can't you tell? I just said "really super".)

And I didn't start on the Bodyrock.tv challenge yet since I finally went to the Zumba class but I will try it tonight AFTER I finish my final projects...(which I haven't started on and are due tomorrow!) -__-

Sorry for such a long post, but I'm trying to make up for being MIA yesterday, so finally, here's what I'm wearing today:

Makeup: Natural look - MAC Mulch (crease), MAC Mythology (lid), MAC Blacktrack (liner), and nude lips.
Top: Navy/white striped heart tee with cut/weave detail on back
Bottom: Blue/black jeggings
Shoes: *My faves again* Steve Madden Tatianna Wedges