< 333 LiFe!

little things that bring joy

2012-02-15T17:54:00.001-08:00

hello kitty limited edition oil blotting sheets!

whoo hoo!!!

xoxo,
giang

return of the cupcake

2012-02-13T21:49:00.001-08:00

another valentine's NOTD. sorry I havnt been blogging as much lately, I've been busy with school and life and always on instagram instead lol username: supergiang

here's something I did really quick

-Essie's "play date" from spring 2012, the formulation and color is ajialsnkekeje!! loveeeee it so much!
-orly's "fancy fuchsia"
-opi's "mod about you"
-Sally hansen's "timeless white"
-black nail art thing
-seche vite

two coats "play date"

orly's "FF" for cupcake holder

and went crazy with the nail art brush and ta da!

hope you liked!

have you gotten your girl scouts cookies?!?

xoxo,
giang

been really into...

2012-02-12T03:29:00.001-08:00

loose, semi sheer blouses! different colors, different prints, material, can be dressed up or down...I love it!

also into "7 leaves tea" organic bar with honey boba goodness. it's not as flavorful as other places, but you can taste the FRESHNESS. three times in two days lol

jasmine milk tea & Mung bean milk tea goodness with honey boba.

sugarcane juice with kumquat and herbal tea with grass jelly.

regular milk tea with boba & more Mung bean milk teas.

mmmmm mmm gooood!
happy valentines weekend, loves!

xoxo,
giang

had some free time

2012-02-08T23:54:00.001-08:00

so I doubled up on valentine's day nail arts! i doodled really quick cause it's getting late and my stack of studies is making me anxious. here's a few!

opi's "alpine snow" for base
essie's "wAtermelon" for heart monitor waves
seche vite to top off

Sally hansen's "timeless white" for tips
china glaze's "fairy dust" all over
opi's "big apple red" for hearts

the end!
I have so many ideas lined up for the following days! hope you enjoyed!

xoxo,
giang

valentine's day nails #1

2012-02-07T22:59:00.001-08:00

I'm going to try to do a different vday inspired nailart per day until vday next week! I love anything with hearts in it so this is perfect!

china glaze's "ruby pumps" and opi's "mod about you" on ring finger. drew XO with a brush and attached rhinestones. H stands for huge ahhaha Jk, stands for Hieu. :)

burning with passion...

xoxo,
giang

milani 2012 jewel FX

2012-02-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

my heart skipped a beat when i saw this on NOUVEAU CHEAP's new blog post!

i adore the FX that milani has released last year and am looking foward to these babies.
check out her blog for full pictures!

XOXO,

Giang

weekend nails

2012-02-03T23:55:00.001-08:00

wanted something bright and fresh for this weekend so I pulled out china glaze's "peachy keen." it's a little hard to work with since it's thick, but two coats later it's a gorgeous shade of pale orangey, coral.

"peachy keen" and essie's "set in stones"

nothing like the feeling of opening a new bottle of seche vite, so smooth and liquidy, makes my day! lol

the original picture without editing.

hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,
giang

opi's designer series "coronation"

2012-02-03T00:13:00.001-08:00

three coats, easy to apply, no mess. I'm in love with how it sparkles, Opi's designer series is brilliant!

xoxo,
giang

instant ramen

2012-02-02T15:29:00.001-08:00

for my ladies who like to eat ramen...instant ramen LOL I told you this was going to be quick, but it's super delicious!

my favorite brand of instant ramen

a boiling pot of water, the same amount of water to fill this bowl...put the ramen in a swirl around.

add one or two eggs to the mixture depending on your preference.

I like to add "cha" (Vietnamese ham) into it at the end. you usually find this meat in banh mi, but it really taste good with anything that needs meat.

veggies added at the end, also. I think enoki mushrooms would be delicious with it, too.

at the very end add the bag of spices that comes with the ramen, it's better to add at the end because if you add at the beginning and the soup is boiling it'll become extra salty by the time you're done.

to garnish with a few piece of dried seaweed!

and you're done! quick, easy and tasty!

xoxo,
giang

make up addict issues

2012-01-31T21:06:00.001-08:00

I thought about this long and hard since it came out a while ago and saw it premiere today at ulta and knew I had to. too pretty to resist. naked 2, welcome home, please enjoy your stay with your sisters and cousins and distance cousins lol

perks of ulta? after spending a few times I always get points to get $10/$20 off my next purchase or a free haircut :) I'll take the $20 off! another naked 2? ahhahaha jk.

xoxo,
giang

opi's "got a date to-knight"

2012-01-30T22:59:00.001-08:00

still my favorite after all these years. easy, breezy, three coats later...

xoxo,
giang

HELLO KITTY cake pops

2012-01-30T00:55:00.001-08:00

i spent the evening with bubs and my sister and parents baking cake pops that i saw from bakerella!
they took 3 hours to bake, roll and prepare then we got sleepy at 1 am and popped them in the fridge and finished dipping and decorating them the next day. the only thing i would've done differently was not waste money buying the nestle toll house white chocolate (this does not melt correctly) LOL using the melt chips from michael's arts and craft store works a lot better! they have the best range of baking supplies and the chips comes in every color, next time i will try making regular cake pops with chocolate outsides and coconut/peanut toppings!

here are some pictures of the process, you can view bakerella for full info.! she's amazing!

candy melt, if you're melting in microwave instead of double boiler, melt a little bit at a time to avoid burning lol

my sister's "pedo" bear LOL

bubs was super skilled at rolling even balls ahahah

our leftover batter we had fun with

next time, i need yellow candy buttons for the nose or yellow icing pen

best looking out of the whole batch

sweeeeet!

cake pan my sister got from michael's!

if you're ever bored and have an itching to bake...don't do these ahahahha JK! it wasn't that bad, overall a fun experience, but i think i'll stick to cooking from now on and bake only when needed!

XOXO,Giang

magnetix "attraction"

2012-01-26T23:09:00.001-08:00

after painting, wiping and magnetizing the same finger for about 10 tries it finally came out half decent! china glaze's magnetix nail polish in the color "attraction" a graphite gray.

I found that painting one thick coat then center the magnet to the center of the nail bed holding very still and steady for 15 seconds gave the best results. I did this on my knee for leverage and to keep everything resting and steady.

plain polish, two coats.

alternated the magnets, the star was the hardest!

I've been seeing this trend of polish pop up everywhere in drugstores and professional brands and waited for this collection to try it out...was it worth the wait? not really, but the outcome was pretty unique, it gives a subtle twist to a normal graphite polish. I think I will be trying a few of their other colors :)

xoxo,
giang

fance-y tuxedo

2012-01-25T20:10:00.001-08:00

I saw this image randomly on instagram and had to recreate it! it's so simple and cute! tuxedo! LOL do you see it?

i dedicated this one to bubs. love you, baby!!!

-nail tek ll basecoat
-opi's "tickle my france-y" my fav opi nude! so easy to paint. two coats and it's opaque. if you're looking for a skin color, nude polish...this is a must have!
-wet and wild's "black creme" my favorite black polish. cheap, opaque and gets the job done!
-seche vite top coat

two coats of "TMF"

I free handed the half diamonds with the "black creme" polish brush. start from outside, curve inwards and stop in the middle and do the same to the other Side and you'll achieve a clean up V. if you don't like it, then go over it a second time for a new cut! it also helps to do this while resting your hand on a flat surface and also rolling your nail as you move the brush.

added buttons with dotting tool. seche vite and ta da!

xoxo,
giang

Essie "navigate her" and clouds

2012-01-24T21:19:00.000-08:00

hi babes!

i wanted to do this nail art right when i saw it on "NAILSIDE" she explains how to do it there, it's super easy and creates such a fun pattern! CLOUDS!

i wanted to incorporate three of the essie's "navigate her" collection's shades to this manicure and here's what i came up with...

"navigate her"
"ole caliente"
"to buy or not to buy"
unlike the swatch of "a crewed interest" i did yesterday, these polishes are ding ding ding essie worthy formulation!!! with two coats and it was opaque and perfect.

took a lot of pictures in different lighting so you can see the true colors.

topped with seche vite and voila!

loves it! so simple and whimisical. XOXO,Giang

Essie's "a crewed interest"

2012-01-23T20:04:00.001-08:00

the whole reason I anticipated this collection for months was for this color! "a crewed interest" it's as amazing in person as it was in preview swatches. only down side is...this is my first Essie polish that is streaky and thin! I had to use 3 coats for the full coverage and color, but I don't mind doing do because it's that gorgeous!

flash washed it out, it's a lot more lively and beautiful in real life!

added some dots with orly's "Luxe" for fun!

I love "set in stones"' formulation!

need to build a wall rack ASAP! I saw a video a few months ago on how to do it with foam board, glue gun and duct tape...will get on it!

will you be getting anything from essie's spring collection?

xoxo,
giang

amazingness

2012-01-23T10:47:00.001-08:00

Essie spring 2012 in "overboard" and "navigate her"

new china glaze "magnetix"

nail polish fever! happy official lunar new year!

follow me on instagram for daily finds :) "gianger"

xoxo,
giang

spring @ h&m

2012-01-20T22:34:00.001-08:00

was driving home and stopped by carlsbad. h&m has so many cute, spring pieces. colors galore! nautical theme seems to be back in trend, too, they has a whole section for it. lots of sales going on, also!

scored these boots for $10! originally $40 and one left in my size.

potentially valentine's day dress for $7! I'm imagining it paired with a belt and a chunky bib necklace.

I also started up my instagram account again! find me on there! "gianger" :)

xoxo,
giang

lunar new year nails

2012-01-19T22:27:00.001-08:00

painting my nails red with an accent of gold for this weekend. red symbolizes luck and prosperity in the Asian culture and so does gold. the two colors go well together, and they sure looks beautiful on the nails!

two coats of opi's "big red apple" this red is a true apple red that applies semi jelly, semi cream. it was Very easy to spread out and paint because It had a smooth consistency that didn't streak. reminds me of BLOOD lol

added a few layered of milani fx's in "Gold." make sure when you use this polish, if you want it opaque, to load up the brush and Dab until its all even, wait a few minutes and press down on all the glitters with a light hand to make sure it sticks without air bubbles and top with top coat!

seche vite+"big red apple"=shellac looking nails!

hope you all have a great one!!!

xoxo,
giang

cravings Thursday

2012-01-18T23:57:00.001-08:00

after a long day at school i was so glad to come home with groceries already bought and all i had to do was whip it all together. bubs always requests for my baked spaghetti so that was what i made!

extra mushrooms and meat!

half linguini noodles, half spaghetti noodles. i wanted to experiment and i like the linguini noodles a lot more!

add and top with cheese and aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutos.

delishhhhh! add tabasco, tapatio, or sirarcha for a kick.

a few hours later, almost midnight and i was craving for guacamole so we drove to vons and got the ingredients to make some.

they have lunar new years balloons!

tomatoes, white onions and avocados.

mashed and seasoned with salt and pepper.

chopped tomatoes (without the core and juice)

chopped onions.

squeezed 1/3 of a lime.

secret ingredient? SIRARCHA!

gives it a GOOOOD kick.

voila!

tip on storing leftover guacamole: squeeze some lime over the surface and sirane wrap it tightly to block out all the air! keeps it from browning.

some other random foodie-ing the last few days...

baby banh tet with mom's homemade dua mong (pickled, fish sauce radish and carrots) my FAVORITE food of lunar's new year.

do you guys celebrate lunar new year? and what does your family do?!

hope everyone got over the hump ok! can't wait for this weekend to gamble, pass of red envelopes and hang out with family!

XOXO,

Giang

attempt at tribal nails

2012-01-17T22:34:00.001-08:00

this seems to be the most simple challenge, but it's not! I've been trying it out a few times and no success to my liking yet, so here is just plain base swatches...

essie's "topless and barefoot"
and essie's "mint candy apple" on ring finger

then I went in with opi's "over the taupe" to draw tribal prints and murdered it badly LOL

will try again tomorrow. :)

xoxo,
giang

MLK day

2012-01-16T22:04:00.001-08:00

today was food day from morning til night time! I am so stuffed, I'm literally waddling...

first started with some lunch at tebo tebo tea lounge with my girlfriends, good drinks, good munchies, hilarious convos.

Gooseberries and guavas.

papaya beef salad.

peach crimson tea.

coconut something lol

awesome 3some! LOL the perv in me had to try this.

sooo good!

summer breeze!

popcorn chicken.

tornato.

udon!

escargot!

then got a cute orchid pot to give to mother in law before we headed to her house for a party. I love the flower shop Bubs and I always go to, they have beautiful flowers, especially orchids for good prices!

camera whoring lol

playing jenga with the kids!

filet mignon and squid, dried fish, sour mango salad...spicy and delicious!!

clams!

pizza hut for the kids...

then I went my parents to my aunt's house to visit my cousins and their new puppies! soo cute!! makes me excited for getting my own place with Bubs and getting two corgis!

sister and brother

prince Tyler

my favorite cousin Thomas, his front tooth grew out, soooo cute :)

princess Trisha

of course...more food

grilled squid from Vietnam, delicious!!

milk chocolate covered almonds.

Thomas drew me a picture and told me to go home and hang it, I collect his cute artworks.

nothing Better than family time to end a long weekend.

xoxo,
giang

banh xeo done right

2012-01-16T14:16:00.001-08:00

mom makes the best banh xeo!!! squid, shrimp, and fatty pork...crispy batter, perfect homemade fish sauce.

eat it on top of lettuce

or wrap it in a spring roll for less mess

homemade cake!

Che dau vang with coconut milk on top

sweet mango

fresh durian!!! straight of out the spiky, fruit shell!

art supply warehouse with the sister :)

picked up some thin brushes for nail art.

she wanted me to buy her a hand lol "to put my rings on it." -anna

LOLLLL

whole foods for some food, my sister is full pescatarian since she was younger.

made a salad for mommy :) she loves croutons.

if you havnt tried this curling iron, you need to!!! volume for days and shiny, bouncy hair!

hahahahahahah

jollibees late night drive through :)

and some McDonald's ice cream!

xoxo,
giang

Drinking to the good life

2012-01-14T17:11:00.001-08:00

went around, did some errands, picked up a few goodies with Bubs.

still waiting for my glass' lenses to be made, but picked up contacts and 20/20 vision gave me an extra three pairs with my order, so sweet of them, I love this optometry! looking for an optometry? they're where To go! great service, good prices, wide selections and theyre prompt!

Bev mo! for some wines for our parents. if you ever get stuck on what to get older folks, gift them Stella rosa original or blanco or some moscato! served chill, sweet, bubbly, they'll love it and you lol

henney in a silver bottle. collectors' item! this is for big tiffs (bff's boyfriend) bday next month in San diego, it's no party without some henney!

I stopped by ulta to get a new curling iron, I like the herstyler, but hate how it makes me hair frizzy so I gave it to my sister a while ago. my normal conair iron is giving out cause ive had it for almost 6 years. I was going to pick up the Conair spiral curler for $17, but saw this set on the way out!

revlon's spiral curler and waver set for $24! I don't know how the waver will work out, but I do love the spiral curler, I used to use it all the time in high school, the curls turn out really bouncy and voluminous.

ardell's lashes for $2.99! ulta is having a sale on a lot of their cosmetics and many other items.

then went to drop off lunar new years gifts to Bub's parents from my parents and got stuff back for my parents. the fun thing about lunar new year is all the gifting back and forth between adults lol

mother in law's home made yogurt, just for me :)

and a bag of tangerines! shes so sweet.

mom's banh canh never fails.

special ordered egg rolls at moms, bestttttt ones I've ever had!!

now to hit the books...hard!

hope you're having a beautiful saturdy!

xoxo,
giang

wicked

2012-01-14T03:13:00.000-08:00

a great night in hollywood with baby sister and bubs. i bought tickets for us to see "wicked." i read the book and have been wanting to see the musical since i went to NYC, but didn't get the chance to and now they're here in LA this month so i had to hop on the opportunity train. it was magnificent! loved every moment of it from the singing, dancing, acting, costumes and so many emotions! it did the book justice IMO.

took us 1.5 hours to travel 32 miles to get there in LA traffic. smh! insane how LA traffic seems like it's all day, everyday lol

our child we always babysit LOL what she ordah? fish filleT! fish fillet! my gangstah derpderpderpin baby sister. when she got her order at the window she opened the box and said "slap that bun" while she slapped the bun ahhaha

FOTN. mac "bite of apple" blush on cheeks and "vegas volt" lipstick. i'm loving the combo!

sweet tea and sweet apple pie. sweet tea is usually too sweet, but i always ask for extra ice, it makes it taste better!

grey goose and redbull before the show.

sweetiee bear sister got me a souvenir cup, aweee.

after the show we drove down the street to "palms thai" to have to have some late night dinner.

spicy beef salad.

shrimp pad thai.

my little artist! she was made for fashion product developing.

shrimp pad see yew!

goood times! no better way to spend a friday evening! if you havn't seen "wicked" i highly recommend you do, definitely a once in a life time, must see.

XOXO,Giang

I can see why...

2012-01-13T16:02:00.001-08:00

my sister and Jill swear by this liner! it's amazing!!! I got myself one and used it today and its LOVE! fine tip, intense black, easy to drAw and I'm sure it won't budge.

stila "stay all day" liquid liner in "intense black." give it a shake and drawing is butter!

eotd with the liner on my top lash line and did a small cat eye flick. kept the bottom lash line clean with some benefit's "high brow" as a pink, flesh liner.

do you have this liner or have you tried it yet? what do you think?

xoxo,
giang

toes on point

2012-01-13T15:01:00.001-08:00

I love Jessica! she make my day. French pedicure, good conversation and a bottle of face toner that will change my skin for the better, let's see how it goes.

pink top coat and clear top coat. always TLC in sessions with her!

Vietnamese herbal, face toner fresh from Vietnam's famous esthetician!

happy Friday!

xoxo,
giang

rose gold & some veggie goodness

2012-01-12T21:09:00.001-08:00

cut down the nails a bit and painted orly's rage for this weekend with milani's "gold" on top.

two coats.

one coat of "gold" on top

seche vite

earlier I had lunch with Bubs at "loving hut" a place he found on yelp and it was soooo delicious! loved every single dish and the place was cute and clean.

fresh summer rolls

organic thai tea

lemon grass "chicken" with brown rice.

spicy cha cha "shrimp" with brown rice and vinegar dipping sauce.

for dinner we had "Thai spices cafe"

more Thai tea

veggie tom yum soup.

spicy curry noodles.

pineapple fried rice!

soft mints to end the meal.

on another note, seeing "wicked" in la tomorrow night, so excited!!! I'm peeing in my pants..not even kidding lol

xoxo,
giang

31 days nail challenge: day 19 (GALAXIES)

2012-01-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

I attempted galaxy nails for the first time and it was so much fun! the sponging reminds me of kindergarten arts and craft time. I followed the same steps emerald sparkled did HERE. it's not as good as hers cause she is Thee nail god, but I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

the army of polishes, i ended up cutting some of them out at the end

dotting tools for the stars and sponge cut into piece, i ended up ripping the pieces in half to create a more jagged edge for better nebulas!

plate of fun!

-nail tek
-wet and wild's "black creme" for base color. i LOVE this black! great formulation and so easy to apply.
-sally hansen "timeless white"
-essie's "topless and barefoot"
-china glaze's "fairy dust"
-seche vite top coat

thumb: china glaze's "shocking pink"
index: opi's do you lilac it?"
middle: china glaze's "yellow polka dot bikini"
ring: essie's "haute as hello"
pinky: essie's "mint candy apple"

i realized that the neon colors show up a bit better than the non neon ones, it give the nebula a "glow"

i matched up the glitter polishes to the same color nebulas...kinda...lol
all opi, left to right:
"sparkalicious"
"show it and glow it!"
"glow up already!"
"bring on the bling"
"absolutely alice"

two coats of "black creme"
i took two shots of some pictures with and without flash to accurately show the colors.

sponged on the outline with "timeless white"
tip: use a LIGHT hand

added a lighter shade "topless and barefoot" on top of the white

sponged on the different colors on top of the pale base.

added some more white on top to blend out.

dotted little stars.

dotted the big stars.

finished off with seche vite. the seche vite really brings it ALL together!

i love it! what do you think of galaxy nails? the boyfriend said it's so cosmic! lol

guilty pleasures of the day...
rite aid ice cream! top is birthday cake and bottom is strawberry cheesecake!

and a bag of riesenssss!! reasons to be happy, reasons to be thankful, reasons to appreciate, reasons to LIVE. cheers to that! *pops a riesen in my mouth*

these candies are delish!

happy hump day!

XOXO,Giang

papa johns

2012-01-11T16:41:00.001-08:00

makes the best pizzas! half pepperoni (for the bf) and all pineapple and jalapeños, extra pepperchinis on the side. it's going to be a good lunch!

xoxo,giang

heels and heels and heels

2012-01-10T20:50:00.001-08:00

my friend told me about cute Jeffrey campbell heels at nordstorm rack so I had to check it out after fashion valley mall. I was in heaveeeen! they had so many size 5 and 5.5, walls and walls and walls and at such great prices...they're going to speak for themselves.

what I left with...I rarely splurge, but once I do, it's to last me a good while :/

there were so many more styles, I didn't snap more pictures cause my arms were full. check out your nordies for stocks of new styles!

xoxo, giang

starting spring early

2012-01-10T11:02:00.001-08:00

I love spring! It's the season I was born in, not too hot and not too cold. starting it early with a few bright pieces for the wardrobe.mac "vegas volt" lipstick! this color is LOVE!

and some orange/coral shorts! h&m is having a hugeeee sale on all their winter, knitted stuff, shoes, accessories, dresses!

xoxo,giang

essence nail art "stampy set"

2012-01-09T23:10:00.001-08:00

i picked this up today and I to my surprise...it's amazing!!!! I got the set for $2.99 and additional plates are sold for $1.99 on the side from ULTA. I own the konad and the imitated fauxnad I ordered a while back from a website that had the hello kitty nail plate, but this works Better than both of them! the stamper picks up the polish in one try!

I did a test one on my thumb with the flower... I'm beginning to adore this brand more and more with each purchase. it's a must try! and for the price, you cant say no LOL

xoxo, giang

31 days nail challenge: day 18 (HALF MOONS)

2012-01-09T22:41:00.000-08:00

it's been a while!!! so rusty with the nail art, but I'm back on it! did a quickie before I crack open my brand new books...half moons, kind of Lunar new year inspired, I'm going to replace with gold and red when it comes closer for lunar new year weekend with the fam bam.

nail tekopi's "modern girl" (a jelly base, coral, orangy, pinky shade. i love this color)
orly's rage (rose gold goodness)
seche vite

one last mani before i chop down these babies AGAIN

one thick coat of "modern girl" on half the nail
hole reenforcements and two coats of rage on each nail and seche vite over the top. done and done! let me know what color combos you would pick for your half moon manis!

XOXO,Giang

nothing like a shopping break!

2012-01-09T20:06:00.001-08:00

after a long day...I like to go shopping :) stopped by ulta for some eye liner for baby sister and got random goodies...
my sister swears by this DETANGLER brush. for the long, unruly hair

this stamp kit is so cheap! I own a bunch, but wanted to try this one out, comes with a lot of side plates choices!

then I went next door to world market and got cuteeee animal mugs for my family and Bubs.

tea party? :) can't wait to have one with my fam bam and bubs this weekend, oolong tea over these cute babies!
will do a Nail post later tonight! it's been a while!

xoxo, giang

latest finds

2012-01-08T20:32:00.001-08:00

been shopping all break and buying clothes and random things, here's some beauty related-ish kinda stuff? lol I promise I'll be back to regular beauty posts after this one.

got some new glasses since my old ones were really old.

Sanrio store... HK, lunar new year envelopes!

so cute!

mac "impassioned" lipstick, I love this shade, BUTT amplified formulation is so drying!

mac 109 brush, went to get one for bff and left with one for myself, too, couldn't resist It.

found circle lenses sold at morning glory while buying supplies with the sister, I can't wear non prescriptioned ones, but these were at a good price. what are some of your beauty finds lately? do share! xoxo, giang

finishing off winter break...

2012-01-08T20:19:00.001-08:00

with a big bang of foods! can't believe school is starting again in one day for me. I wanted to eat as much as I could and as well as I could before I start my "an chay" this Monday...I do this a few times a year where I'll eat vegetarian for a month straight. in Buddhism its good to do so, it's a way of repenting and wishing something to yourself...I pray every night and most my prayers get answered so this is a way of me saying "thank you." I rarely speak about my spiritual, religious side, but I do have one, a strong one :) some foods of the last two weeks...it's been crazy! on top of vacationing, my mom keeps feeding me and then Bubs and my girlfriends do the same.

homemAde, baked spaghetti

eggrolls and fish sauce!

tofu soup and short ribs

pistachio, coconut, caramel, and vanilla macaroons! sooo good!

ihop NYE, early morning :)

durian/Mung bean "bia" cake

pork pate chaud, flakey and warm

banh canh

pandan flan

chicken curry with bread, mmmm

miso soup shabu shabu from sakura

king salmon

tempura ice cream!

eggrolls and noodles

chicken salad and rice

filet and fries

duck eggs galore

i had three of these and everyone in my family including the boyfriend (who doesn't know how to eat it) sat and watched in amazement

ice cream and hot tea party!

these are tasty.

black and white, VERY addicting
banh beo

pho filet

duck

dried squid

hot pot! "childrens' table" lol

taro and tapioca in coconut milk dessert by mommy "kickin crab" I loveee this place! been going here for a while, they moved to a different location, a bigger one and their food is delish! I have to say...BETTER than boiling crab in quality. fresh oysters, crawfish, clams and shrimp and the garlic noodles is a must try!

and thennnnn some vegetarian shopping starts :)

it was a good break! xoxo, giang

happy new year!

2012-01-05T23:57:00.000-08:00

happy new year, everyone!!! i know i'm super late, but i hope everyone had a good new year and kicking the year off with a lot of energy and happiness!

i spent NYE weekend this year in san francisco with friends and it was so much fun! lots of good foods, good company and good alcohol LOL what's better than to tell a story with pictures?! lets gooooo!

MORE PICTURES HERE!

ALBUM 1

ALBUM 2

i will go back to my nail challenge and normal beauty blogging later this week!!! been enjoying winter break and being a vegetable i havn't been giving my blog some TLC :)

happy weekending!

XOXO,
Giang

my first julep box

2012-01-03T16:11:00.001-08:00

Joanna left me a comment and told me
about this promotion and I was curious about Julep polishes and for the deal I couldn't pass it up! thanks for the tip, babe! just got my order today, it took a week due to the holiday season.

love the reds and confetti pentagons! can't wait to try the hand scrub, also. if you havnt heard of this or been meaning to try...it's a good deal for this package plus free shipping!

xoxo,
giang

NYE nails

2011-12-29T17:38:00.001-08:00

I did gradient nails again for my manicure and pedicure! what more is better than glitters for NYE?! here's what I used...

-nail tek base coat
-opi's "designer de better"
-opi's "save me"
-Essie's "set in stones"
-china glaze's "fairy dust"
-essie's "topless and barefoot"
-wet and wild's "black creme"
-seche vite

two coats of "designer de better" for the tips and "save me" confetti polish to add gradient and texture

"set in stones" spread out over the nails

"fairy dust" over almost all of the nails

drew a cream rose with "topless and barefoot" and black accents and leaves with "black creme" I love how subtle and 3D the roses look.

:) what are your NYE nails?!

xoxo,
giang

NYE ready!

2011-12-29T16:40:00.001-08:00

so excited after finishing picking up NYE extras! went to "dream era cosmetics" while waiting for din tai fung and got some princess lee lashes and HK iPhone cases. the cute pink case does NOT work well with the iPhone 4s, the power button malfunctions :/ so I got a different half case. after that, ate dumplings and went around town to pick some some sparklies! hats, tiaras and glitters for NYE FOTN!

green bean milk tea with calamari while waiting.

HK lashes! cute packaging, but doesn't look like good quality.

so cute, but such a fail on how they made it to keep turning the power on and off

like my clear one, but pink! only $5!

all cases $5!

love these lashes! actually I like any Taiwanese lashes they're so well made.

cheap and sturdy.

he's so happy, so glad Bubs is a foodie so I can have someone to eat my way through life with.

lollll trying on things at party city

the crazy dumpling monster

Sally's glitters for NYE!

crowns for the boys, tiaras for the girls :)

can't wait to ring in 2012! now to do an NYE mani!

xoxo,
giang

7 days of foods

2011-12-25T22:30:00.001-08:00

holiday season means eating non stop! here's a 7 days round up of good eats! half the stuff I Cooked up myself and half the stuff we ate out or at my mom's.

pandan & Mung bean drink from gala bakery, sooo delicious! as good as the penny worth&mung bean drink next door at dakao food to go.

ice cream cake! vanilla and chocolate. happy birthday, baby sister :)

major food spamming, I don't know If my body hates me or loves me, but my Tummy sure is always happy.

merry Christmas, everyone! hope you're all having a wonderful one!

xoxo,
giang

baby sister's new years nails

2011-12-25T19:44:00.001-08:00

my baby sister is going to sf for a week for her birthday and were going to meet her later this week! yay! she painted her nails with opi's "designer de better" and layered it with milani's jewel fx "gold" and I told her to add essie's "set in stones" and wow!!!!! amazing!!!! love the shiny combo!

XOXO,
Giang

glitter nail polish swatches

2011-12-23T19:29:00.001-08:00

I was going to do this post for my "half moons," but It turned out so half assed so here are close up swatches instead!
all these glitter shades are all hits! no misses in any of the formulations.

Essie's "set in stones" (thumb finger)

china glaze's "marry a millionaire" (index finger)

china glaze's "blonde bombshell" (middle finger)

opi's "save me" (ring finger)

pinky finger is sephora by opi's "only gold for me"

I painted all the polishes over half of Essie's "smokin hot," totally messy and I hate the painting job, but as long as you get an idea of what the glitters look like!

XOXO,
Giang

payless "brash" block heel pumps

2011-12-23T15:37:00.001-08:00

I saw these heels on extrapetite.com and she made them look so cute and the price tag was practically free! so I stopped by Payless and tried them on and loved them! the chunky, platform heel gives it a modern twist to a basic pair of black, suede pumps. I showed the cashier extrapetite's blogpost and the code and she asked her manager and they were kind and gave me the online 40% off in store. score! came out to $20 with a side of sole pads for no tripping. thanks for the info., extrapetite! my first pair of Payless shoes since jr. high school. for the price tag and what it is, I'm definitely getting a bang for my buck! these heels come in a light grey, too. perfect for any casual or dressy outfit :)

XOXO,
Giang

glittered out

2011-12-23T14:49:00.001-08:00

couldn't stay away for long...
I went to pick up "set in stones" thanks to steph's amazing swatch of it and some seche vite and left with some and more...

forgot to snap a pic of opi's "nicki minaj" collection :(

"set in stones"

a back up of "designer de better" and nicki minaj's confetti glitters in "save me" love the concept of confetti glitters, it's gorgeous!

china glaze's 3D in "marry a millionaire" (confetti, multi dimension glitters again, sooo gorgeous!) and "blonde bombshell"

seche vite, one for me and one for baby sister. they've been out of seche vite for a few weeks and waiting for restock, but he gave me his boxed one, bless his heart :)

XOXO,
Giang

stonned

2011-12-23T08:20:00.001-08:00

Steve madden "stonned" in blush and black on Victoria's secret for $76!! retail on Nordstrom and Steve madden's website is $150! been eyeing these forever, I'm glad I waited, patience is virtue :)

XOXO,
Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 17 (MARBLED NAILS)

2011-12-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

i've been dreading this day so much! i've seen nail marbling and have watched and read numerous tutorials for the past two years, but didn't want to deal with the mess, but now i get the joy of doing them! LOL here is the best instructions i've seen on how to do them by CHLOE'S nails.

nail tek
orly's "dazzle"
essie's "knock out pout"
opi's DS "coronation"
wet and wild's "black creme"
seche vite

a bowl of room temperature water, i used bottled water to avoid minerals. i used "knockout pout," "ds coronation" (for the fine glitters), and wet and wild's "black creme"

something thin to draw designs into the polish, i used a sewing needle

two coats of "dazzle" as base, you could use a WHITE polish as base if you want, any color combo you like!

tape off the cuticles with tape

add the polish one by one drop to make a bull eyes, the process of the polish thinning out in water is scientifically amazing to me lol

IMPORTANT!!! work FAST! i took my time the first few tries and when i went to draw the design with the needles the polish dried up, it dries quick! it'll drag and everything will be RU-ENED (in stewie's voice from family guy)

proud moment, my first nail marbling experience hahaha

dipped and remove tape

you can see some of the cuticles need some clean up, just use a q-tip or brush with acetone and clean up the edges

added seche vite and voila! love em! the boyfriend helped me with opening all the bottles and getting all my supplies while my nails were wet lol he said "that is cool" and stood and watched the whole thing :)

XOXO,

Giang

christmas tree nails

2011-12-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

it's 5 am and I can't sleep so I made some food and painting my nails while boyfriend is in skyrim world lol I saw this cool, abstract design from "nailside" and wanted to recreate with a twist of colors! you could use any color scheme, green nails with gold tree would be cute or even pink nails with a glittered tree, so many options!

*most important tip*: wait for the black polish to dry completely then add the top coat! i added mine a minute after because i was excited to take pictures and it left thread-like smudges! ahhhh!!!!

nail tek
opi's "tickle my francey" my favorite go-to, brownish, nude that doesn't require any efforts to paint
opi's "i juggle men"
wet and wild's "black cream"
seche vite

-tape (any tape would work, but i think masking tape would be best since it's paper base)
-star rhinestones (you could use any shape rhinestones or just paint a star if you don't have rhinestones)-krazy glue (i always dab a dot of krazy glue onto the area that i apply rhinestones to because i find it holds until you remove your polish and doesn't fall off like how it would if you just used a top coat to adhere it)

two coats of "tickle my francey"

one coat of "i juggle men" on top, the camera doesn't pick it up, but this top coat adds a subtle, opalescent sheen to the nails, it's amazing on any cream polishes cut your tape into thin strips
apply the outer tapes first to make a sharp triangle outline then apply zig zagging stripes horizontally on the triangle
two coats of "black creme," i let it sit for about a minute and peeled from right to left
if your tree doesn't come out as sharp as you want...just use a thin nail art brush or one of those stripping polish and fix the edges or just remove and start over. nail art is really about trials and errors :)
i dabbed a bit of krazy glue on top and applied my star rhinestone
WAIT til the black tree and the star dries, don't be like me and add seche vite right away, total fail LOL

DONE! happy christmas! can't believe the year went by so quickly and it's almost christmas and then new years...insane!
hope you're all shopped out and ready to enjoy the holidays!

good night!

XOXO,Giang

can't wait...

2011-12-21T18:55:00.001-08:00

for NYE! my dress came in today. square, candle rose sequins, long sleeves, shoulder pads, knee length, body con. so excited!

XOXO,
Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 16 (GLITTER)

2011-12-20T18:30:00.001-08:00

I took a few days for break with the nail challenge, but now picking back up...painted two coats of opi's muppets collection color in "excuse moi!" I didn't add a top coat for the pictures below, it's a dark pink base polish with fine, multi glitters. opaque after two coats, I like it! comparable to opi's "teenage dream," but a darker pink version of it.

"excuse moi"

"excuse moi" (left) "teenage dream" (right)

if you like glitters this shade is def. a must have for the collection.

xoxo,
giang

xmas brunch with my ban gais.

2011-12-17T18:50:00.000-08:00

merry early christmas!

this year the girlfriends and i decided to do brunch at orange hill (excellent food and now they added creme brulee, best part: all you can drink mimosas). after brunch we did our traditional gift exchange and this year we agreed on white elephant, but without the stealing so we read a story that had "left and right" in it and swapped the gifts around the table that way. it worked out well! so much fun. always non stop laughing when i'm with them, inside jokes, poking fun at each other. i can't imagine my holidays and life without these girls. they're the most considerate people i know, we include each other in everything and no one ever gets left behind. we bicker and argue at times like sisters do, but we always fix things at the end of the day. my life long friends. i love you, all! :)

REST OF PICTURES HERE!
(i didn't want to flood up the blog entries like i did in the past)

XOXO,

Giang

all meated out

2011-12-16T21:55:00.001-08:00

been eating meat like no tommorrow the last few days, it feels like death! i love meat, but this is total overkill.

taqueria carne asada tacos from the BEST taqueria on springdale and westminster. tastes like it's straight from the streets of Tijuana lol with a side of horchata

curry, fish balls and beef hot pot from boiling point with a side of blended matcha green tea.
3 am big mac meal, it usually tastes better for me late night, i can't eat it daytime for some reason, doesn't have the same affect.

my girlfriends have been raving about GEN KOREAN BBQ in tustin from the CFs to xtina! i had to try it out for myself. i'm not a korean BBQ fanatic even though i've tried most kbbq places in garden grove's k-town at least once or twice, but this place has good quality meat and it's clean! we went early evening so there was no wait! i even got my threading done beforehand at my favorite "vinita's threading studio" a block down the street! the choices are wide in range. there were about 20 meat options on the menu along with about 5 side dishes and we ordered close to 13-15 of those meat plates from kobe briskets, bulgogi, kalbi, steaks, beef intestine, pork intestine, to beef tongue and so much more. after a while i became dazed. it was a meat marathon. between bubs, bff, bff's boyfriend and cf finished it all with team effort. how we did it, i still don't know, but now i feel like death. lesson learned...after TOO much meat it all tasted the same and the aftermath is so not worth it LOL damn the "all you can eat," but nevertheless, it's still a must try once-in-your-lifetime sort of place and you leave smelling like a MILLION BUCKS :D

XOXO,Giang

mustache nails

2011-12-15T16:43:00.001-08:00

i'm love mustache apps, i have three of them on my phone, my favorite is the "stachematic" app. so much fun!

opi's "coney island cotton candy"
wet and wild "black creme"

this polish is kind of sheer so i had to do three coats of "CCCI"

two large dots and two little dots with dotting tool

loaded generous paint on dotting tool and connected in a curve motion!

boyfriend suggested i put a rhinestone in the middle to make it more girly, loves it! he's always so helpful. finished with seche vite.

ahahhaha i love this draw-on-finger and puts-up-to-upperlip stach' joke!

this stuff is gooood. i like the cow, vietnamese condensed milk, but this squeeze tube from "la lechera" is more convenient. great on top of bread and ice cream!

bought banh cuon hong mai today and got extras of spring rolls and eggrolls i've been craving all night!

XOXO,

Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 15 (DELICATE PRINT)

2011-12-14T21:04:00.000-08:00

chopped down the nails again. i have a love/hate relationship with long nails and it's been going on for all my life lol off with their heads! just felt unsanitary for a moment. i racked my brains for delicate print ideas, from lace to flower petals to curtains and ended up with dandelions!!! what's more delicate than dandelions? blow and they're gone!

essie's "demure vixen"
china glaze's "fairy dust"
essie's "sew psyched"
sally hansen's "timeless white"
dotting tool and thin nail art brushes
two coats of "demure vixen"

one coat of "fairy dust" on top, i've been loving this polish lately with everything.

drew the stems with "sew psyched"

with my thin nail art brush i drew lines coming out of the center.

added dots at the end of the buds with the dotting tool.
and finished off with a coat of seche vite.

hope you enjoyed!

snacks and tea shopping with bubs after a meal of crawfish and seafood goodness! i saw flowers with glittered paint overlay and will definitely go back this weekend for a pot for my mommy!

our tea collection is growing at a rapid rate :)

XOXO,Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 14 (FLOWERS)

2011-12-13T23:37:00.001-08:00

i've been on a roll today, trying to catch up with all my nail challenges before the busy weekend comes and i won't have time to complete them. tonight i tried to record with my iphone and tripod that bubs got me, but it didn't come out to my full liking for this challenge so i shall keep trying til i perfect it. i didn't take pictures of the steps since i was recording, but it seems self explanatory on this one.

opi's "sweet memories" (three coats for full opaqueness)
flowers using wet and wild's "black creme" and sally hansen's "timeless white"
i painted three coats of "sweet memories" then for the flowers i used different size dotting tools depending on the size of my nail. i dotted five dots alternating the petal and stigma colors. the trick to creating the "petal lining" effect is making a round dot and using a pin or thin stick to pull a line on the each petal starting from the outside and pulling inwards towards the center. repeat all around and dot the stigma at the end.

gahhh at the piece of cotton ball lint caught on the ring finger >:T make sure to wipe off your tool in between colors to avoid combining colors. also, have a cup of acetone near by and some paper towel instead of cotton balls to wipe off your tool and it won't leave residue like it did on my ring finger.

my first attempt's set up. will keep trying until i get it!!!

love target trips with bubs for snacks and necessities, he always lets me buy what i want and he pays for it. today it was razor blades, snacks and more snacks! one of my favorite is this huge tub of cheese balls! reminds me of hot cheetos/cheese cheetos asteroid balls i used to eat when i was little, so sad they discontinued them.

deliciously nutritious.

XOXO,
Giang

making up for lost times

2011-12-13T20:42:00.001-08:00

all the foods in oc they don't have in sd. love the 24 hrs. options!

Xmas trees everywhere! wheeee!

lee's makes frozen goods now? genius!

this stuff is seriously CRACK. Starbucks does not even come close.

fresh sugar cane juice! sweet, salty and refreshing.

banh mi ga nuong (chicken) and dac biet (special combination)

lee's tastes good at midnight.

banh cuon for lunch.

beef pad see yew for dinner

spicy, seafood fried rice from jasmine Thai, they make the best fried rice!

pretty orchids blooming in the back yard, wet from the Rain drops.

I like the jewelmint packaging quality better than the product's quality lol

XOXO,
Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 13 (ANIMAL PRINT)

2011-12-13T17:46:00.001-08:00

i've done a bunch of animal prints in the past of all sorts, today i just switched out the color schemes, it's no as neat as i wanted because i am so lazy today, hope yours turns out better than mine :)

polishes:
essie's "sand tropez" for base (a burnt orange or yellow would be nice, too)
opi's "over the taupe" (center of spots)
wet and wild's "black creme" (outlines of spots) i love this black polish, it's cheap, opaque and easy to work with for nail art

two coats of "sand tropez" on nails

dotted random brown dots with "over the taupe" using the polish brush. the more random the better in shape and size.

finished off with outlining the spots with "black creme" and random additional black marks and a coat of seche vite on top.

XOXO,

Giang

Christmas lights nails

2011-12-13T16:33:00.001-08:00

i was bored and doodled some christmas lights nails. started out with a french tip, drew on the green cord and dotted light bulbs at the end of each bulb holder.

products (left to right): nail tek II
sally hansen's "timeless white"
opi's "jade is the new black"
opi's "big red apple"
opi's "the it color"
essie's "braziliant"
opi's "dating a royal"
china glaze's "spontaneous"
seche vite top coat

quick and festive.

XOXO,
Giang

the beach house

2011-12-12T22:04:00.000-08:00

we went for dinner with bff and big tiff to "the beach house" in laguna beach. the atmosphere of the place is cozy and warm and there's different levels to the place. i love the christmas lights all over the place. it's a beach front restaurant so the windows overlook the ocean and the waves crashing in. the top rooftop patio is perfect for sunsets meals and enjoying a cocktail and the best part is the food is GOOOOD.

aweee bromance!

we travel with them, eat with them, and play taboo with them, lovelove

love my bff :D

my ciopinno pasta, it was sooo good. liguini with clams, mussels, fish and scallops in tomato, cajun type sauce, reminds me of the sha bang sauce from boiling crab! bff got the same dish.

bub's salmon over sweet, hoison noodles

big tiff's pork chops with beans and potatoes, this dish was also delicious, too!

cheers to SF for nye! whoo hoo!

each couple shared a creme brulee, it wasn't as sweet as i liked, but the caramelized sugar on top made up for it.....kinda...lol

so quaint, i love it! will definitely be going back to catch the sunset.

XOXO,

Giang

p.s. special thanks to stephanie, i loved your email, doll! you totally made me day!!

31 days nail challenge: day 12 (STRIPED NAILS)

2011-12-12T20:40:00.001-08:00

striped nails! i have been experimenting with this for TWO days! *rips hair out* it sounds simple, but it wasn't! i tried the scotch taping method for white and red candy cane nails and those didn't turn out well, then i tried just freehand drawing abstract stripes and i wasn't happy with the results for those either. sooooo i ended up doing the simpliest one. french tip with stripes. bubs calls em' "victoria's secret bag" nails, but i told him they're a different color scheme lol

most important nail tip: let your nails breathe! as much as i love smelling nail polish and acetone *sarcasm* i always let them breathe at least a total of 7-8 days a month with just a strong nail strengthening, clear polish. too much chemicals on any part of the body is bad in the long run.

products (left to right):
nail tek base coat
essie's "mint candy apple" (for tips)
china glaze's "fairy dust" (all over nails)
essie's "knock out pout" (inner stripes)
opi's "pink flamenco" (outter stripes)
seche vite top coat

step 1: base coat, then i did the french tips with my sonia kashuk, flat, eyeshadow brush with two layers of essie's "mint candy apple," then i polished the whole nail with a layer of china glaze's "fairy dust." i personally liked them like this, but for the sake of the stripes, i added stripes.

step 2: i used a thin nail art brush and drew on stripes with essie's "knockout pout."

step 3: added outer stripes with opi's "pink flamenco" and finished off with a coat of seche vite.

voila! you could replace with any color combos of your choice for these nails and they'd look cute!

random foodie-ing the last few days...

mommy always makes the best snacks, seasoned, criss cut fries! so crunchy and good with a glass of coke paired on the side.

mommy's hu tieu with shrimp, quail eggs and pork.

after dinner dessert run! pazookie trio at BJ's with the baby sister and boyfriend. warm cookies with cold, vanilla bean ice cream on top. mmmm

triple chocolate!

chocolate chip!

red velvet!

appetizer lunch with bubs at mitsuwa. we call this appetizer lunch because we literally eat then eat an hour or two later with a real meal lol sooo good. i love their matcha, sweetened, ice tea at the stand where they sell all of their boxed sweets.

happy monday, everyone!

XOXO,

Giang

talk is cheap

2011-12-10T22:13:00.001-08:00

I need a pedicure. lol since this is the cool thing to post nowadays. sarcasm* project 100 lbs. picks up now. sarcasm again* it's been two months with no physical activities. boyfriend signed me up for the gym by my house since the classes at rimac (school gym) are super pricey. i want to take classes a few times a week to maintain a healthy heart and mind not starve myself and lose weight to look like skin and bones. talk is cheap. actions speaks louder than words. if youre reading this and what I said makes your blood boil. good :)

I will never understand why haters come to my blog and make it a point to rant about the stuff I choose to post and copy every little thing yet keep on visiting. it's a paradox in itself.

31 days nail challenge: day 11 (POLKA DOTS)

2011-12-10T19:35:00.001-08:00

these nails for today were inspired by neapolitan ice cream! my mom used to always have a huge tub in the fridge of it and still does to this day and some cones in the cupboard and she'd always make me one. i'm at my mom's so i didn't have my dotting tool, so my sister told me to use a bobby pin and it worked out okay.

i usually wash a butt load of dishes because my mom leaves them to me cause' she knows it's my favorite thing to do (besides laundry) and my nails grew even more! if you want your nails to grow, do dishes everyday for a week and the moisture of the water will make it grow for sure. it's a hypothesis i've been testing out for years lol

products:
nubar's base coat
nubar's "chiffon"
orly's "white tips"
essie's "french affair"
seche vite top coat

i alternated colors to incorporate all the colors onto the nails

my sister's nails, she loves dark and bright colors and this was opi's "lincoln park after dark" with milani's jewel FX in "gold" on the ring finger.

today we celebrated bub's birthday with my family. my mom made his favorite food: bo nhung dam and they bought him durian cake. my sister is so sweet she put so much thought into his little surprise.

bubs always brings mommy a gift when he comes visit, today it was poinsettia flowers.

the cake was suppose to say, "wow! you're old!!" but the asian lady wrote it the other way around LOL

durian/coconut filling! i dislike durian, but bubs and my family love it! this one was lighter on the durian smell so i had a piece.

lately we've been really into trying out different types of teas and my mommy always has the best tasting tea choices, this is pure jasmine, vietnamese tea from sent from vietnam from my grandma. the bag is air sealed tight and the leaves are twirled into little balls, once you put them into a tea pot they expand into HUGE tea leaves. it's all natural with no fragrance or preservatives just pure, dried, tea leaves. the taste is amazing and it leaves a sweet after flavor in the throat and on the tongue.

tea and cake!

and crunchy cookies! i love my family :)
happy saturday, everyone!

XOXO,

Giang

bub's birthday dinner

2011-12-10T00:24:00.000-08:00

woke up to pennyworth and mung bean icy next to my bed side and spring rolls (not pictured). such a good lunch in bed. then i headed to my mom's for late lunch and she made fish sauce chicken wings (canh ga chien nuoc mam), these are BOMB! it's a main dish they have in vietnam and it's now popular at vietnamese drinking bars here...i'll have to ask her how she made it and share the recipe with you guys!

then i got ready to go to dinner with bubs. it's his birthday and he lovessss steaks so i decided to treat him to some mastros steakhouse in costa mesa. their food is top notch and the service is excellent! we will definitely be coming back in the future for future events.

our "OOTN" LOL & "FOTD" i guess

garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach, the sides are HUGE.

my bone in filet cooked perfectly on a 400 degree plate, it was HOT, more hot than my curling iron lol

bub's bone in rib eye, this is definitely a MANLY steak.

i wanted to try their butter cake originally, but they gave bubs complimentary birthday dessert, they are so sweet here, no singing, which bubs preferred, but i sang to him anyways. my favorite part was the huge side of fresh whipped cream, i devoured it.

couldn't ask for a better evening, good food, good company, good times.

XOXO,

Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 10 (RAINBOW NAILS)

2011-12-09T01:00:00.001-08:00

hi loves!

i took a two days hiatus to sleep and didn't get to do my nail challenge, lets just say...too much sleep will make one lazy lol i had so many ideas in my brain the last few days for rainbow nails. at first i was going to paint the rainbow stripes on each nail, then i was going to do a white base for every nail with rainbow polka dots or rainbows on each nail and clouds, but then i settled for the classic: hand drawn rainbows and clouds at the end. LOL

you may think that my life is all rainbows and butterflies and currently it is, 90% of the time, but like everyone else i've struggled with many hardships in my earlier life to get to where i am today. my parents work hard and i, too, believe in that state of mind. everyday i get up, i tell myself: "i'm doing this for my future kids," and that reminds me to get out there and do work.

"every cloud (indeed) has a silver lining." and "there's always a rainbow after the rain." (well, depending on how the water drops settles and how the sun rays hits it to form a prism), but figuratively speaking, there is always hope. you won't know to be strong and get up til you've actually been kicked down hard time and time again. hardships builds character and positivity is the mantra to life. if i don't like something i'll fix it, if i feel like someone is using me or not a good part of my life, i'll rid of it. people come into my life for a season(s) and a reason(s) and i'll always remember what they brought with them. however, nothing is forever, even diamonds deteriorate after millions of years. so i learn what they've taught or didn't teach me and move on. time heals, people change, life goes on and all things become memories. 1+1 is always 2 and 2-3 is always 1, no matter how hard you try to bend it. it's simple. no need to hold on to grudges or stick my nose into other peoples' business because at the end of the day no one will care about you, but yourself and the people around you who really applaud your success and motivate you during failures. so in the end, focus on yourself, instead of being obsessed with others and making it a point to make their business yours. let go of the negativity and move on. life never feels right when dwelling occurs. you may think it all sounds cliche, but when you really let it simmer and think about it, it all makes sense.

i blog because i enjoy it, it's a hobby. i like that feeling of helping someone or giving someone an idea to work with or stem from. i don't do it for my personal benefit, if i ever start to feel like it's not fun anymore, i will stop.

i rarely get personal or get too serious on my blog because this is after all a place of beauty and fun knick knacks, but it's just thoughts i've had on my mind lately and reevaluating priorities. dont take every word of each post too seriously, Im sarcastic as hell.

time for some nail porn! i need to go look for some art brushes that are shorter than the ones i have for more steady nail arts and some acrylic paint since it has a thicker consistency than some nail polishes.
i kept singing "rainbow connection" from the muppets while painting my nails, i remember singing that song back in varsity choir in high school, it's such a wonderful song, something i'd sing to my future kids to rock them to sleep.

i had a hard time remembering the colors for a moment so i sang the tune i sang with the kindergarteners i used to volunteer with...

"red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple...makes the rainbow bright!"

products:
(left to right)
nail tek base coat
essie's "lapis of luxury"
sally hansen's "timeless white"
opi's "big red apple"
essie's "braziliant"
opi's "the it color"
opi's "jade is the new black"
opi's "dating a royal"
china glaze "spontaneous"
seche vite top coat

two coats of "lapis of luxury" i love this blue! bubs suggested a blue base since he said "that's the color of the sky" HAHAHAH sometimes the most obvious things are funny.

i wish the lines were more crisp, dammit on the flimsy brush.

nowwwwww...time for a beer

XOXO,

Giang

happy birthday, love.

2011-12-08T23:33:00.001-08:00

happy birthday, baby sunshine!
i know you check my blog during your daily potty breaks.
it's somebody's biiiiirtthhhhdayyyyyy...

i'm so happy to be spending the 6th birthday with you, words cannot describe how much you mean to me. you are my strength, my inspiration and my best friend (guy bff, thuyle is still my bff) lol you're the most hard working person i know and you're always putting everyone first before yourself. selflessness and considerate is what you are. from the little things like never letting me pay for a meal to tucking me in bed at night and checking if my feet are warm, and making sure i'm always full, to the big things like helping me study for a big test or driving every week to sd to spend time with me and being my mental confidant. i'm so proud to call you my man. i hope you enjoy this weekend the the rest of this year with your new age. i can't wait to celebrate many more years with you and grow old, grey and wrinkly.

special thanks to bff and big tiff for cake!

XOXO,

Giang

vegetarian din din

2011-12-08T21:01:00.001-08:00

Bubs bought home vegetarian dinner! wheeee! my favorite: egg rolls! from zen vegetarian restaurant. after this I will crank out a nails challenge post.

DTF.

2011-12-08T13:08:00.001-08:00

woke up early today and went for a drive to Arcadia for some dumplings at din tai fung we've been craving!

juicy pork dumplings, shrimp and pork dumplings, fluffy shrimp fried rice and sesame oil cucumbers. hot tea and coke on the side. heaven. in. my. bellay.

now off to do some Christmas shopping with Bubs :)

happiest place on earth

2011-12-08T01:17:00.000-08:00

we spent the day sleeping. i was catching up on much needed sleep, making up for the past three months. i'm freeee as a bird so we decided to go to disneyland since that's what people to do celebrate things, right? the man wins the superbowl and when asked what he is going to do he replies "i'm going to go to disneyland!" LOL

started out with some late lunch at tiffy's. poor bubs was trying to conquer the iq test since i did it in one try, he finally did it! he wouldn't let it rest even when he was eating. then we headed to disneyland across the street early evening. i always liked disneyland's atmosphere, but it is especially nice during the holidays. the lights and the decors looks meticulous and made me so happy. the best part of the night was fake snow and the fireworks! their fireworks is the best ever especially with the christmas colors and songs incorporated in the background.

after disneyland we had some shabu shabu at yojie's and the best part of the the day for me is coming home, showering, getting into my soft robe and having a cup of hot tea in bed with bubs.

saying extra prayers tonight (like every night) because i feel damn blessed.

XOXO,
Giang

you will be mine

2011-12-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

forever addicted to tiffany's :)

these mesh, knotted earrings are fab! i love mesh! these will go perfect with my ring. will go pick them up this weekend.

loving...

2011-12-08T00:14:00.001-08:00

corner lashes!

cut them down the middle and stick them on, they're quick and light and add flare to the lashes for extra drama. perfect for evening time.

jewelmint

2011-12-07T23:31:00.000-08:00

this is what a lot of time on hand does to you...it makes you online shop

i caved and signed up for jewelmint after all these months of avoiding it. i saw natty's post on the golden goose bracelet and instantly wanted it, they didn't have it in stock so i wait listed for it. in the mean time, i ordered some other pieces. there is a coupon code she listed on her blog, the most inexpensive one i've seen yet...

"BELLS70" for 70% off first time users! such a good deal, 8.99 with free shipping!

ENJOY if you havn't already!

XOXO,

Giang

home sweet home

2011-12-06T23:40:00.001-08:00

first meal when I get home...kaju tofu! the best! I got tofu dumplings today and Bubs got oyster, kimchi. his tofu was red and spicy, I don't know how he stands it! they have a new side dish: squid! chewy and flavorful. hits the spot. starting out the break with a warm meal, many more yummy meals to come.

Bubs bought me a red mug and made me some tea after I got done cleaning his room, such a sweetie bear.

XOXO,

Giang

sequined part 2

2011-12-06T19:59:00.001-08:00

more sequin skirts! and some sequined leggings! I love the bright, rose gold one!

sequined

2011-12-06T18:18:00.001-08:00

driving during traffic hours is a pain in the asssss. i knew i should've waited til after 7pm, but i got anxious to go home. I calculated that from point a (sd) to point b (oc) there are a total of 7 malls and one outlet along the 5 freeway. it works out perfect! I usually take a break when traffic gets rough. today it was bad so I stopped at camino real mall.

I'm obsessed with shiny things and sequin skirts are perfect this season with a loose, buttoned up blouse and some tights for a night out on the town. they didn't have as many choices here as other malls, but I found a black skirt with sequins and bouclé (French for fluffy and knotted, the f21 cashier told me when I asked lol)

so excited to put together an outfit for bub's birthday at mastros this Friday.

p.s. fuze's green tea, honey flavored from subway is the best! keeps me awake like no other, it's crack in a cup, yummy crack lol

31 days nail challenge: day 9 (GRADIENT NAILS)

2011-12-06T01:38:00.001-08:00

day 9 and going strong! i usually dread challenges after the first week when they don't spark my interest, but this challenge...i look forward to completing everyday! that's how i know nails are my bff, once i'm done with school and working a high paying job, i'm going to open up a nail shop on the side and have racks and racks of polishes on the walls with the latest polishes always in stock and my workers will also always be up to date and know how to do all the latest nail arts! i'll also serve cocktails and desserts. it'll be a place every girl would want to go to and unwind and all the tools will be ONE TIME USE! kudos for sanitation. LOL a girl can dream...snaps back to reality*

gradient nails! i had an idea when i was looking at ornaments and this color scheme is perfect for the holidays! can't wait to go home this week and start winter break and go buy a christmas tree with my family and decorate, it's a family tradition every year! wheee!

this is my first attempt at "gradient" nails and it's SUPER simple. it's also a good way to make use of all your different glitter polishes if you have them laying around.

i was too lazy to go get a sponge outside to do the sponging so i just did it free handed with the nail polish brush itself. you could use any color scheme you want with the different glitters and add a pale or dark base color, also, it works out with any combo of colors.

here are the steps below...

products used:nail tek II base coat
orly's "luxe"
opi's "bring on the bling"
opi's "crown me already"
china glaze's "fairy dust"
seche vite top coat

step 1: i freehanded the tips. this is why i said it's simple, you don't have to be neat with painting on the tips because the glitters will later cover it, i applied two coats of "luxe"

step 2: i then dabbed on "bring on the bling" over the line of "luxe" and going all over the nails. tip: it's important to not have too much polish on the brush otherwise it will be a big BLOB! lol just pack on a little at a time. better to pack little by little then a lot at once and have to take it off and start over.

step 3: i then dabbed "crown me already" a little over the "bring on the bling" and past it, too, making sure i got some of the hexagon, chunky bits onto the nail.

step 4: i painted the rest of the nail without glitter with a thin coat of "fairy dust" to finish off the transitioning effect.

step 5: finished off with a coat of seche vite and TA DA! festive, blingy nails! i love it!

good luck on yours! let me know if you ever try it out :)

XOXO,

Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 8 (METALLIC NAILS)

2011-12-05T19:12:00.001-08:00

joe's "gunmetal" aka "gris"
looks so much like opi's "my private jet," but i think it has a bit more multi flecks of glitters in it.the bottle is so cute and tiny!
i'm more of a cream or glitter polish type of gal, but from time to time a good metallic color is a nice change. the only thing i don't like about metallics is sometimes it takes two or more coats to be opaque due to the consistency. can't stand that "i can see through my nails" look. and it almost always need a generous coat of top coat on top to make it shine. in the end i can't blame the concept, since metallics are suppose to be somewhat grainy.

two coats of "gunmetal" without any top coat yet.

seche vite saves the day for the 1,000th time lol

I love totino's! baked extra, extra crispy. just can't get enough.

fresh guavas from roomie's tree with salt and sirarcha. BOMB.COM.

happy monday!

XOXO,

Giang

ice, ice, ice

2011-12-04T21:00:00.001-08:00

bubs takes me on weekly dates and this week we decided to do ice skating in downtown sd since it only comes once a year in the month of december. i love ice skating since i was little. something about the ice and all the christmas lights and trees all around puts a warm feeling in my heart. after a yummy dinner...we got there right when they opened for their last night shift of the day from 8pm-10pm and we skated, so much fun! i called him "todd hamilton" and i wanted to be nancy carrigan or michelle kwan, but he kept joking and calling me tanya harding LMAO

bubs pointed this out in a store window when we were walking, so freaky! a "lion kitty"

XOXO,

Giang

pizza party!

2011-12-04T20:41:00.001-08:00

bubs and I had some dinner at chipotle and we went to pick up some water and I was craving totino's pizza! I like the round ones and Bubs likes the individual bites ones, reminds us both of our childhood! later tonight at midnight, we're gonna have a pizza party! lol

so many beautiful flowers in such vibrant colors at vons!

31 days nail challenge: day 7 (BLACK & WHITE NAILS)

2011-12-04T16:20:00.001-08:00

I did a white French tip with black zebra stripes for today. I usually cut my white smaller than this, but I wanted more room for the stripes so I made them thicker.

products:
nail tek base coat/seche vite top coat
white tips with sally hansen's "timeless white" and black stripes with wet and wild "black creme"

for cutting the white tips I used a Sonia kashuk eyeshadow brush and the stripes drawn on with a thin nail art brush.

this Manicure looks clean and simple for everyday Wear without looking crazy, I like it!

XOXO,

Giang

31 days nail challenge: day 6 (BLUE NAILS)

2011-12-04T01:14:00.001-08:00

opi's "dating a royal" (a true royal blue)
opi's "absolutely Alice" (blue and gold micro glitters)
opi's "divine swine" (micro purple glitters with silver, chunky, hexagonal glitters)

two coats of "DAR" the first picture of it is "DAR" without any top coat yet, i love how opi's formulation looks shiny even without a top coat

i added a coat of each glitter polish at the end for fun before removing all the polish.

24 hours of food

2011-12-03T22:30:00.001-08:00

started at 2 am with some mexican food from cotixan. chilaquiles, beef enchiladas in chimichanga sauce and sour cream/sauces on the side.

lunch at "dumpling in" in convoy. juicy pork dumplings and fried rice.

late dinner at "spices thai cafe." spicy thai fried rice, tom yum soup and pad thai.

so much fried rice, i'm over fried rice for a few days lol

giveaway winner!

2011-12-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

hi loves!

after counting and looking over the comments i had 108 entries! thank you to 108 of you for taking the time to enter and sorry if you did not win, BUTT i will have many more giveaways in the future! :) after calculating and randomizing on random.org and counting everything throughly (including a few email entries).

the winner is...

moment of silence* rips opens envelopes* dramatic music*

Besoslaila

from besoslaila.com

if you could please email me at tran.xgiang@gmail.com with your address and full name and info. i'll ship out the prize to you along with extra goodies i've included.

thank you, all, again, you gals are the breastest!

XOXO,

Giang

ice skating ready

2011-12-02T17:09:00.001-08:00

weekly date night! grabbing some dinner downtown sd and some outdoor ice skating at horton's plaza! I wanted to wear my pink HK tights from f21 without looking 10 so I balanced it out with all black.

HK scarf from f21 (I wanted to wear the beanie, too, but it was major overkill, not like it's not overkill already, but a little tackiness never hurt noboday! LOL)
black leather h&m shorts.
black tank jumper from h&m.
black cardigan from f21 (I tied it across the waist to make myself not look so short)
HK necklace and watch from sanrio.

hair waved with Hana flat iron, will post an overdue review about it next!

ready to eat ice!!!! lol

31 days nail challenge: day 5 (VIOLET NAILS)

2011-12-02T12:24:00.001-08:00

opi's "rumple's wiggin" (two costs) a pale lavender color, excellent formulation.

then before I removed it I wanted to doodle around with it and added china glaze's "spontaneous" to the tips with Sally hansen's "timeless white" to line the edges, my nail art brush was not cooperating. i started out wanting slanted curves, but it turned out to be french tip looking at the end, uneven, french tipping lol on the bright side, it gave time for some practice freehand drawing curves.

I recommend both these violet polishes, both good quality and lovely shades.

dim sum for breakfast :)

love is...

2011-12-02T01:45:00.001-08:00

knowing your significant other inside and out. Bubs knows how stressed and crazy I'm feeling and always comes to the rescue...1:30 am big mac run! much needed break. with a large dr. pepper on the side!!!!!

*runs around in circles like a crazy person*

FOF

2011-12-01T22:02:00.001-08:00

revlon's "facets of fuchsia"

two coats and it's so pretty! Steph suggested I put a black base polish under before I applied and I think that would be a great idea on making the color stronger and a base for the polish to adhere to. I was too lazy today, will do it next time, just wanted to show a swatch of it.

the camera doesn't show how magenta and bright the glitters are, but in real life they're true magenta. I took the swatches without adding a top coat.

the jelly, dark purple, black base balances out the magenta glitters and makes it look submerged in the jelly. base instead of sitting on top, it's very unique. love this polish! makes the hands and cuticles look clean.

31 days nail challenge: day 4 (GREEN NAILS)

2011-12-01T18:14:00.001-08:00

givenchy's "island palm" it was gifted to me from sher and I've never used it til today...thank you, sher!

two coats later it's a duo chrome light green with a lot of sheen to it. the color is gorgeous, but I just don't like how it looks on my skin tone since I'm on the tan side. I can imagine it looking beautiful on someone with pale/fair hands :)

overall formulation is opaque and easy to work with and since the handler of the brush is square shaped it makes it easier to paint with a steady hand and the brush head is the perfect square size, too!

XOXO,

Giang

hard work pays off

2011-12-01T14:27:00.001-08:00

studied my ass off for this midterm and got a perfect score. hard work and dedication ALWAYS pays off. can't wait to get that 4.0 GPA I've been waiting for. the rate of how many pimples I've gotten on my chin and all the sleepless nights the last 3 months, I have bragging rights. :)

naked 2 palette

2011-12-01T00:18:00.001-08:00

it's confirmed! urban decay naked 2 palette! looks similar to the first one with some new shades incorporated into it, I think I'd have dupes for some of the shades, but would want to buy it just cause of the packaging and quality! photos below courtesy of "pinch of pretty" blog.

more photos at: http://www.xsparkage.com/?p=4113

what do you think? would you get it even though it's similar to the first one?

revlon*s "facets of fuchsia"

2011-11-30T22:04:00.001-08:00

the target by my house didn't have "facet of fuchsia" so I called another one and they had it! from swatches I've seen I'm already in love with this color! also found another print of the HK bag that I have not seen yet til now.

"facet of fuchsia" Is a vampy dark-based polish with fuchsia glitters mixed into it. perfect for the holidays when you want to vamp it up a bit :)