Bye bye 52newdays

Finally the time of change has arrived. After almost two years in this journey, i have decided to discontinue 52newdays. I first started this blog as an outlet to relieve my stress and frustrations as a first time mom. Now that things have fallen into places, i dont feel the need to continue 52newdays much longer.
This whole blogging experience has been worthwhile not to mention a couple of people i have met along the way especially Kim of A Very Sweet Blog who is such a wondetful and kind person as well as a few more lovely bloggers who frequent this blog. Thank you for your friendship and support.

A new blog is in work, i would like to start fresh with new direction. Whenever it is up and running, i will stop by your blog to let you know where my new home is at if you just leave comment below or email me. If you do not have a blog and wish to keep in touch, you can send me an email as well.

Bye bye and see you soon somewhere in this blogsphere.

Nelah

For Real?

It had been awhile since I got to sit down to write a “real” post. When crafting a post like this, I would like to do so when time allows and my mind is running clearly and efficiently. Lately it is mainly work that consumes and overwhelms me during the day to where my inspiration to blog after work quickly fades into the night. No complain about busy days at work though - the busier, the more secured the job in today’s economy.

I have been in the blogsphere over two years now and I guess I have experienced all facets of blogging ranging from blogging blues to haters and beyond. Not exactly the kind of experience I want to have but after all I guess we all have to be mentally prepared since we willingly put ourselves out here where you can be seen by the unseen visitors.  I love talking about blog in general and at times pick a topic of blogging to elaborate my thoughts. Over the years, one of the most popular topics which both bloggers and readers frequently bring up is how “real” bloggers are.

  What is the definition of “real” on the internet? Who is real?   Who is fake? Can we really give an accurate judgment of someone by reading their blogs? (Well I guess we can in some cases.)   Some people said bloggers who pour their hearts out to talk about their personal problems/struggles are real while bloggers who don’t talk about problems are fake since they always portray happiness, rainbows and sunshine.   I have to disagree with that statement. Being the kind of person who write mixed posts, this is how I see it.   I have always admired people who put themselves out in the cyberspace to share their struggles/problems and I too write/vent about my struggles with motherhood on several occasions. I always believe in sharing with others – be it problems you face in life and how you deal with challenging times. You just never know who stop by and how your experience could help others in the most surprising way. Words are the most powerful tools/weapons of all kind. Blogsphere is just a perfect place, no one knows you in real life so we all can talk, vent, ramble, whine, share and even use such harsh words hoping to ruin other people's day.   To admit you have problems/struggles is not easy for everybody and I respect those who don’t talk about it as much as those who share with others. An ability to open up to talk about difficulties in life comes naturally for some people but that does not mean it is the same for the rest of population. Some people find it easy to write/share as a way to relieve their stress level/fear but some people decide to deal with it privately. It is easy to understand why bloggers who admit their problems seem to connect and touch their readers at a much deeper level, because after all we all have some sort of problems and we look to find comfort from someone we can relate to. There are days when I feel down. There are days I only want to surround myself with positive thoughts, read about happy things so I can temporarily distract myself from the problems before jumping right back at it. That is when I turn to blogs who show positivity, beautiful things and happiness for some lift-me-up read. This world needs balances, that too applies to cyberspace. We have bloggers who talk about serious/heavy topics yet we also need those feel-oh-so-good blogs that make us smile, give hopes and inspirations.   What are your thoughts?

Little Black Dress~*

For as long as I could rememeber, I was not a huge fan of black dresses until the past few years when I discovered the versatility of a little black dress. Out of all colors, black can be interpreted in so many different meanings - mystery, sadness, power, sex appeal, darkness and more.   I found this pretty lace dress earlier this year while shopping aimlessly in Bangkok, it was love at first sight the second my eyes met the dress on a mannequin. Lace....crochet....beads -can't imagine what not to love. The dress fianlly saw the light of the party this Friday night at a wedding party. I decided to be bold by adding red lipstick.  

Renaissance Festival

This weekend, our family of three embarked on a little journey to the Texas Renaissance Festival 2012. The drive was not too bad, about 1 hour and 30 minutes each way and was worth the fun experience for all of us. My husband and I had always wanted to go but something also came up in the past years. This time we dertimined to go and I was glad we could because it was such a unique sight and scene. It literally gave you the feeling of being in a completely different era, so cool! Tgus festival lasts about 2 months (open on weekend only) from October 6 - November 22. Next year, we plan to dress according to the theme!   "The Texas Renaissance Festival(TRF) started in 1974 on the location of an old strip mining site. The festival welcomes nearly half a million guests annually and features nearly 500 costumed performers on 17 stages; 340 shoppes including international food purveyors, unique artisans, merchants and craft vendors; human-powered rides; an abundance of strolling performers and the Royal Finale at dusk. At TRF, each of the 8 weekends showcase an exciting and unique theme, including Oktoberfest, 1001 Dreams (fairies and other fairy-tale creatures), Pirate Adventure, All Hallows Eve(Halloween), Roman Bacchanal, Barbarian Invasion, Highland Fling, and Celtic Christmas. These Adventures have been fashioned to spotlight those shows, characters, food, drink, shoppes, artists, and games that will enhance your festival experience." (Quoted from wikipedia.org)   We speficically picked 1001 Dreams (fairies and other fairy-tale creatures)themed weekend simply because it sounded more age-appropriate for our little one (more photos of the fairies and more in the upcoming post). I wish the weather was cooler, it was in the high 80's that day so kind of hot when you had to walk around all day long.         [Top and Pants: H&M, Shoes: Tennis Shoes - Tennis shoes are a MUST, don't you dare wearing something uncomfortable!]    

Pretty Fairies     Does the color of fruit smoothie match the pants??!?   First time for me and a little one to savour a Turkey Leg - Yum! It was huge that three of us decided to share a leg.     Strawberries covered chocolate - Nom...Nom!!     Sword shopping anybody? Don't you dare messing with me or else I may cut your head off!!     Apart from eating all the way through festival (starting from dessert like Funnel cake first), we did all kind of fun kiddy activities ranging from having a face paintt done (a little one), riding on an African elephant, a camel, a horse, a man-made viking, a made-made spin thingy to a petting zoo. It sure was fun, we can't wait to go back again next year.

Naked Time!!

It is so obvious that I am extremely late in the Naked hunting craze. Remember a while back when the pallettes first came out and sold out in the blink of an eye? I was for one who could care less about having this pallette in my possesion(a wierdo or what?!). I just don't wear enough makeup to the point where I feel it is worth to invest in one so I often go through the route of buying drugstore makeup to fulfill my temporary wants.

Until recently I foundd myself not having any staple makeup products to use when needed (which happens a lot this year at the time I have to attend special events more often than usual), the Naked pallette suddenly seems like a good option. I love any makeup that comes in the pallette version rather than purchasing individual items as that allows me to try a bit of everything and save a storage space.

Like they say - "Good things come to those who wait". Just found out this monring that Urban Decay is having 20% off on their website. This discount applies to everything so I didn't wait a second longer and ordered two pallettes (one for myself and another one for my mama) plus two extra fun colored eyeshadows that are not in the pallette. This sale will end on 10/13 so if you have thought about this for a long time, this seems like a good time to buy. I just can't wait to get mine so I can start painting my face. I chose to go with an original pallette because I like these colors more than what are available in the Naked 2.  

  Enough for Naked talk. Another products I have been loving are  from Ole Henriksen. It turned out that I like this more than Claudalie products. I remember purchasing an eye cream a year or two ago but was not impressed so I didn't want to bother exploring other items. Totally wrong! Thanks to a blogger fellow who triggered my interest in this brand again - M of Chocolate, Cookies and Candies. After reading her post, I was wanting to try the Truth Serum Collagen Booster and did some research online. It seemed that most products from this brand receive pretty good reviews, that made me feel more confident to give it a try. Then I stumbled upon the Seven Skincare Sensations set which contains 7 top products and you know I just love trial size products.       At $55 per set, I personally think it is worth every penny. These trial size products lasted me a month - yes it did last that long. I purchased at the end of August and just recently ran out. Some of them worked wonder but some were so-so. Based on these products alone, I don't think they are designed for people with dry/super dry skin so I used them along with Caudalie moisturizer which seemed to work great together. I applied three different layers (must be the most intensive beauty rituals I have ever done in my entire life) - 1) Serum Booster 2) Invigorating Night Gel and 3) Caudalie Vinosource Intense Rescue Cream.   Just remember everybody is different so you may or may not agree with me.   Walnut Complexion Scrub: LOVE! Scrub and I do not get along most of the time. I find most brands to be too harsh on my skin (even though they claim their products are gentle for sensitive skin). This scrub did not get any love at the beginning because I thought it would be like any other. Until one day out of the blue, I thought I should just try it. Boy oh boy, it smelled so wonderful. That's my first impression. Then I started applying on my face and scrubbed gently for a min or two, rinsed, applied my moisturizer and it felt so good on my skin. I felt like whatever I applied to my skin absorbed more quickly leaving skin with soft and smooth feeling.   Invigorating Night Gel: LOVE! My goodness, the first day I applied this gel onto my face I thought my skil was on fire!! Thanks to Glycolic Acid, you never fails to give me that tingling sensation. However it gradually subsides other nights. The reason I was looking for a new brand other than Cauladie was for the fact that while Cauladie did a great job moisturizing skin, it didn't change my skin appearance at all. This night gel appeared to do a trick. After a week or so, I felt my complexion became brigther and more even.   African Red Tea Foarming Cleanser: LOVE!  Just like a Walnut scrub, this baby didn't get any love because I was quite impressed with Caudalie Celansing Water and used it non-stop. The Foaming Cleanser surprisinly didn't dry out my skin like most foam, plus it smells extremely refreshing (orange/citrus).   Ultimate Life Eye Gel: Thumbs down This was the eye gel which left me with negative impression about the brand. I feel that it doesn't do a good job as far as absorbing into the skin. It rather feels like it just sits there.   Serum Booster / Sheer Transformation / Truth Reveal Super Cream: So-so   I am eagerly waiting for Sephora to come out with their annual 20% off sale so I can score three items above plus a few other things I want to try.       Disclaimer: These products were purchased with my own money. My opinions are 100% of my own.         

Today...I marry you~*

September is obviously a month of love. You know it when the cruel heat subsides and that soft whispering of cooler breeze is slowly approaching…the glory sign of fall is blooming. You smell love in the air – no wonder why many couples decide to tie a knot last month.       I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful and intimate setting for a wedding than Kauai. And that’s why we were there ,to attend a destination wedding of a sister-in-law, along with over 100 guests who all flew from the U.S. Mainland to the Garden Island of Kauai to celebrate their magical moments and lavish fairy tale wedding. Kaua'i Island holds a special place in their hearts (not where they met but their favorite vacation getaway) so they decided to have a wedding there and let all the guests join the first day of the beginning of their lives together.      I didn’t know what to expect as I was not involved in the planning process but I just knew everything was going to be top-notch and boy oh boy it was out of this world. Everybody was in awe. This whole wedding was just stunning and the one you can't forget. Despite an unpreditable island weather, the weather on the wedding day turned out "just perfect". It rained the day before and the day after but not even a single drop on a big day so this was meant to be.   I couldn't help myself but kept thinking of the song "Loving You" by Minnie Riperton with the birds chirping in the background while looking at the beautiful setting and the warm ray of sunshine in the late afternoon. The wedding ceremoy was held in a garden at Na’Aina Kai Botanical Gardens.    Don't you just love outdoor wedding??!? I DO!       Earlier this year, my little sister in law asked our little girl to be a flower girl in her wedding and that’s where all the fun began. There were two flower girls, one was a groom’s niece who’s a year older then there was a bride’s niece - my little monkey (they became BFFs the first day). She was so excited even though she had not idea what the flower girl was at a time. It turned out she did an excellent job.    
  [A bride's dress is absolutely elegant and stunning. It is curve hugging and completely flattering her body. I know it is annoying to see those photos without faces but I would like to respect everybody's privacy - hope you understand :)]   I went crazy taking photos (as if you can't tell already) because everything was just gorgeous. The best is yet to come..stay tuned for more photos in the upcoming posts. OMG - I want to get married ALL OVER AGAIN right then!         [Loving You by Minnie Riperton]  

Falling for.....

  The beauty of pumpkins - they are everywhere!!! We did our Annual Pumpkin Patch Photo Shoot of a little one and this year is her 3rd year at the pumpkin patch. I did get some good photos of her (after SEVERAL attempts, of course).   Love the small pumpkins too...they are so adorable!!     Halloween is coming up in just a few weeks. It is more fun when you have someone to play dress up with. A little one must be going through this "princess" phase because she keeps talking about being a princess on Halloween.     Found these hot pink boots and immediately thought about a little pumpkin - too cute for words.     (Old) Steve Madden Boots from last year - Boots time...Hooray!!     Isn't it a pretty color for fall?     Another purchase for a little one. I am so obsessed with this particular color this year - that's for sure .

Party Time - Luau!!

A luau (in Hawaiian, lū‘au) is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that is usually accompanied by entertainment. It may feature food such as poi, kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon, opihi, haupia, and beer; and entertainment, such as Hawaiian music and hula. Among people from Hawaii, the concepts of "luau" and "party" are often blended, resulting in graduation luaus, wedding luaus, and birthday luaus. (via wikipedia.org)   Our second night in Kauai was quite special. Why? Because we got to experience some amazing local feast and the famous Hawaiian shows right next to the beach! The reason we went to Hawaii was to attend a wedding of a sister-in-law along with another 118 guests who all flew from U.S. Mainland. Tonight's special feast was hosted by a groom's parents. It was another great night to remember while on this beautiful island of Kauai.  

What you see here is Kalua - the Hawaiian cooking method. Roasted puan cooking method that utilizes an imu, a type of underground oven. The word kālua, which literally means "to cook in an underground oven", may also be used to describe the food cooked in this manner, such as kālua pig or kālua turkey, which are commonly served at luau feasts. The first known use of the kalua method was in the early 1900s by two girls, Princess Danielle Kealoha and Stephanie Ikaika. (via wikipedia.org)

Poor pig was the highlight of this whole feast - May you rest in peace.

    Promenade by Peter White