Dayna Nicole: A Motley Shrew

My Picks for the 84th Annual Academy Awards

2012-02-26T10:57:00.001-08:00

Nothing makes me happier than the Oscars. And the only thing I've ever been fully committed to is seeing the nominated films. I had a lot of fun watching all these movies and somehow managed to experience a miracle. I saw close to 20 films and only spent about $11. Yeah, total miracle. So I say it was meant to be!!! Anyhoot, let's get on with the show...

BEST PICTURE

The Nominees:

The Artist

The Descendants

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

The Help

Hugo

Midnight In Paris

Moneyball

The Tree of Life

War Horse

My Pick: The Artist

Who would have thought that a silent film would work? I wanted to see it out of curiosity, but I didn't think I would actually enjoy it. I didn't lose interest and it was beautiful and easy to follow. It's original and one of a kind and deserves to win.

Runner up: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Loved it. I was nervous about seeing anything 9-11 related, but this was brilliant. Tom Hanks was in it briefly, but was amazing. The messages he left on the family's answering machine were so believable and terrifying. Thomas Horn (above) was beyond perfect and set the bar pretty high for other child actors. He also reminds me of a little boy version of Rooney Mara.

3rd: The Help

I truly truly loved this movie so ranking these was really hard. The Help was bright, funny, and sad. You felt every emotion they felt and the casting was perfect.

4th: Moneyball

What I think I like most was the natural flow of the dialogue. You'd think they improved it.

5th: Midnight In Paris

I'm in love.

6th: War Horse

Finally an animal movie with a happy ending! They didn't overdo it on the misery and I didn't feel too much of one emotion. That goose was cracking me up and I think Tom Hiddleston (below) would make a great Ashley in Gone With the Wind...

7th: The Tree of Life

Strange, but beautiful. The dinosaurs threw me off, but once it got back on track I enjoyed it. The kids carried the film even though all other performances were great. They were so believable you'd think you were watching a documentary!

8th: The Descendants

9th: Hugo

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The Nominees:

Demian Bichir - A Better Life

George Clooney - The Descendants

Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Brad Pitt - Moneyball

My Pick: Jean Dujardin - The Artist

This was definitely a toughie, but I think Jean's performance brought back the word 'charisma'.

Runner Up: Demian Bichir - A Better Life

I loved this movie and his performance. He brought me to tears. I wish they could give out more than one award in this category.

3rd: Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Way to go Brad Pitt! He's come a long way since that Freddy's Nightmares episode 'Black Tickets'.

4th: George Clooney - The Descendants

George is good at everything he does, but I'd rather him win for something that's completely out of his realm. Like O Brother, Where Art Thou? was totally different from anything he's ever done.

5th: Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

The Nominees:

Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis - The Help

Rooney Mara - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn

My Pick: Viola Davis - The Help

She made me cry so hard it hurt and that's how it is with every role she plays. I originally had it as a tie between her and Rooney because Lisbeth's character is so different than any character that's been nominated. Instead of going for the cry she's the opposite and that's sometimes harder to pull off. So Rooney is the runner up. Glenn is 3rd, but if she won I'd be happy because you can tell she put her all into that movie. Meryl was flawless obvi. Then Michelle Williams. She did a great job in a world where it's impossible to be another Marilyn. Loved it, but I think she'll win for another film.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Nominees:

Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn

Jonah Hill - Moneyball

Nick Nolte - Warrior

Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

My Pick: Nick Nolte - Warrior

This movie was so good and Nick Nolte was the best! That drunk scene was intense. He had me at '1,000 days sober'.

Runner Up: Christopher Plummer - Beginners

He can do no wrong. I loved this movie and the wardrobe should have got a bit of recognition.

3rd: Jonah Hill - Moneyball

What a star! The funny people are taking over.

4th: Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

If I were him, I'd already know how to give my acceptance speech.

5th: Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Nominees:

Berenice Bejo - The Artist

Jessica Chastain - The Help

Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer - The Help

Can they all win? PLEASE???

COSTUME DESIGN

The Nominees:

Anonymous - Lisy Christl

The Artist - Mark Bridges

Hugo - Sandy Powell

Jane Eyre - Michael O'Connor

W.E. - Arianne Phillips

My Pick: Jane Eyre - Michael O'Connor

The costumes in all these movies were so good, but I think the costumes for Jane Eyre didn't overpower or distract from the movie, but they were still noticeable. I loved the costumes in Anonymous and I know sooo much work went into those pieces. I'd wear the clothes from W.E. today - they're gorgeous.

DIRECTING

The Nominees:

The Artist - Michael Hazanavicius

The Descendants - Alexander Payne

Hugo - Martin Scorsese

Midnight In Paris - Woody Allen

The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick

My Pick: The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

The Nominees:

The Adventures of Tintin - John Williams

The Artist - Ludovic Bource

Hugo - Howard Shore

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Albert Iglesias

War Horse - John Williams

All I've gotta say is: TRENT REZNOR WAS ROBBED! The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Soundtrack is eerie and romantic - my absolute fave. I'm surprised it wasn't nominated. Maybe it's because all the attention he received for The Social Network. Even so, the music is legit. Meryl gets nominated for every role she plays, why not do the same for Trent? I mean, if it's good it's good, right?

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

The Nominees:

The Artist - Michael Hazanavicius

Bridesmaids - Anne Mumolo & Kristen Wiig

Margin Call - J.C. Chandor

Midnight In Paris - Woody Allen

A Separation - Asghar Farhadi

My Pick: Bridesmaids - Anne Mumolo and Kristen Wiig

If Bridesmaids wins it changes everything. The fact that it's even nominated is a big deal so I'm rooting for it. Although, I really want to see the script for The Artist. Like, did they write dialogue and you just don't get to hear it? Next up would be Midnight In Paris, then A Separation, and then Margin Call. They lost me with the overuse of the phrase 'F--- me'.

Cant wait to see the show tonight! Enjoy and may the best man/woman win!!!

The Date From Hell

2012-02-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

This may or may not be a true story....

Once upon a time, I lay on the couch eating Jello-O Mousse Temptations. My stomach churned as I waited for my date to arrive. Our first date couldn't have gone any better; the beach, the pier, gelato, a cozy bonfire... it was perfect. And for the first time ever, there were no red flags... except for that part where that skateboarder was all bloodied and semi-unconscious and when someone asked me to call 911 my date stepped in smiled wide and said 'That won't be necessary'. Apparently, cops scare him, but that's totally normal, right?

Anyway, back to the first date. He opened my door, never took out his phone unless he was using the GPS, and texted me afterwards to let me know he had a good time and wants to get together again. From then on we have been texting and talking on the phone, and when he returned from San Francisco, he set up our second date. The second date that is happening tonight.... I finished one last bite of the mousse when my phone rang. It's him. Brandon.

"Hello?"

"You were right about the abduction," Brandon says.

"Huh?"

"Your cousins! We were just supposed to go over the menu, but they had me stay for dinner and wine."

Did I mention how Brandon and I met? He was the chef at my distant and older cousins wedding. He and I were 2 of the few youngsters in attendance so he was definitely a sight for young eyes. Next he'll be catering that same cousins 83rd birthday party next month and they'll be prepping until then. He told me it'd be a quick trip to their place and I told him it would be the opposite since they adore him so much. I believe my exact words were 'They're going to kidnap you.'

"Oh yeah! Told ya," I said.

"We're still on for the movies tonight right?"

"Yup. Come on down."

"Alright, see you soon."

I hang up the phone and brush my teeth for the second time. Brandon smiles big as I hop into the car. His crystal blue eyes were glowing and his curly blonde hair was just as cute as I remembered. I greet him with a hug; he goes in for the kiss. Oops. We kiss now. I'll remember that next time.

He holds my hand as we drive to the Spectrum. On the very short ride he tells me about the scallops and miscellaneous food my cousins served him. We park in the structure and walk to the theater. I get to pick the movie. Super 8. He pays; we enter and he offers to buy me treats. I decline, but thank him. My appetite's been off since the day I met him. I'd like to say it's butterflies, but I think it's food poisoning. We enter the empty theater.

"Where would you like to sit?" He asks sweetly, blue eyes still sparkling.

"The back," I answer.

"Lead the way."

We pop a squat in the center back - my usual spot because, in the back, no one can creep up from behind. He lifts the arm rest that divides us. I like arm rests. This will be an adjustment. I hope me suggesting we sit in the back didn't translate as 'Lets not use arm rests and make out'...

We talk and talk before the previews start. I like cartoons, he doesn't. He likes to read food magazines, I don't, but we agree that eating is more important anyway. I like Dave & Busters, he doesn't. That's okay though; he's got pearly white teeth, dimples, and a Southern accent. I've hit gold. Oh, and we've both been hit by cars! There's something we have in common.

"I should run to the restroom before the movie starts," I say, getting up. The lights dim and the commercials before the previews begin. I sit back down.

"Go for it. I'll go with you," he says.

"No way. I can't miss the previews."

I lean back in my seat and he smiles even bigger. Does he ever stop smiling? I hope not. He's just too darn cute. The previews begin and suddenly his lips are on mine. This is nice, but wait, the previews! I perk my ears, but keep my eyes closed. I hear animal noises and Kevin James. Zookeeper. I've seen this one, we're good. We keep kissing.

Did someone just sit next to me? Out of all the seats in the theater, who would pick the one next to the couple making out? ...Gasp! I'm making out in the back of a movie theater! This is embarrassing and so cliche'! And so....... Jr. High. Not that I did that in Jr. High. I heard about it though.

Wait, a new preview. I perk my ears again. Robots, punching, a random kid, and Hugh Jackman. Real Steel. Good, I've seen this one too.... How are we still kissing? Did he not hear me when I said I love previews? Hm.

The next preview starts. Cowboys and Aliens. I've seen it, but I shant miss it. I unlock our lips and avert my eyes to the screen. I cant wait to see this. Sheesh, Daniel Craig is really buff and look at that waist! I heard he married Rachel Weisz. She's cool. Man, Olivia Wilde is getting a lot of roles. She must really bring the heat in those auditions. Brandon wraps his arm around me. The random guy next to me regrets sitting here. Don't worry guy, just two more hours.

The movie starts. I've been waiting forever to see th---. Is Brandon kissing me again? I like you Brandon, I do, but movies and I have been together a long time. I compromised during the previews, but this is where I draw the line. I quickly unlock our lips again, kiss his cheek, and point to the screen. He readjusts himself, pulls me close, and lightly rests his head on mine...

...Ouch! I need to stretch my obliques or something because this mess hurts. I'll stay here a little while longer and then reposition myself. Back to the movie...

...What's that noise? ...It's a slow heavy breathing. I listen closer, it's not the movie. Brandon? Yes, it's Brandon. His head suddenly feels heavy on mine. The breathing gets slower and heavier and louder. Is he dying? No. I recognize that breath. It's the breathing of someone in a deep sleep. Well, he wasn't lying when he said he doesn't care too much for movies. But why did he suggest it? Well, all I know is, if I can hear this loud breathing, so can everyone else. I must put a stop to this at once. I shift abruptly, snapping him out of whatever deathly breathing pattern he's under. He squeezes my hand and holds it tight. That's better. Back to the movie....

....Haha. That part was funny. Why didn't Brandon laugh? The random guy next to me laughed.... The movie is over. Oh wait, no it's not. I love it when they show footage when the credits are rolling. I wonder what they call that...Haha this is funny. This is pretty funny. I cant stop laughing. Brandon's not laughing. Why isn't he laughing? This is clearly funny. The random guy next to me is still laughing. Should I turn and acknowledge the fact that we both think this is funny? No. That's weird. Now the movie is over.

"Did you sleep well?" I ask.

"Little bit," Brandon laughs.

"You're the worst."

Brandon kisses me. I suddenly feel the need to swallow. I hate it when that happens. The employees start cleaning up the popcorn on the floor.

"Man, you guys are fast," Brandon says.

We hop up and out of the theater hand in hand, our steps in sync. We exchange thoughts on the movie and we're in his car and out of the parking structure in no time. But suddenly, his car shuts off. Uh oh. I smile nervously. Dang it, Dayna! This isn't a smiling matter. Oh wait, he's smiling too. Good. As long as he's smiling, I'm free to do the same. He turns the key in the ignition over and over again. No dice. We're in the middle of the road and there's no shoulder to pull over onto. Even if we wanted to pull over, how would we?.... Push. That's the only way.

"Maybe it's the battery?"

"No. It wouldn't have turned on at all," he says, turning the key again.

"Oh, right."

"This has never happened before." I can see the wheels in his brain turning.

"Don't worry. This kind of stuff has happened to me a million times. One time, my car shut off while I was on the freeway! In the fast lane!"

"What happened?" he asks curiously.

"I just had to roll through the carpool lane and onto the left shoulder."

"What was wrong with it?"

"I don't remember. Engine maybe?" I answer.

Wrong. It was the timing best. Should I correct myself? No. My past car issues wont make him feel any better. I look at the clock. It's past eleven. My dad would know what to do. He can fix anything. I suggest it. I'm glad Brandon declined. How would that conversation go? Hi Dad. Remember the chef from Marlena's wedding? Well, I'm 'hanging out with him' and his car broke down. No he doesn't have TripleA. Yes Dad, this is reminiscent of that incident senior year. Can we argue about this after you fix his car?.... I'll avoid that convo. It's solution time.

"Well, I do live across the street, if we can just push it to the side of the road there's a gas station not far from here. Maybe it just needs oil. I don't know. I'm not going to pretend I know anything about cars."

"Yeah, I guess we gotta push it," he says unbuckling his seat belt. "You steer, I push."

My stomach immediately turns to knots. I don't want to steer a dead car - correction - his dead car. I've changed my mind. I don't want to do this anymore.

"Where do you live again? I cant tell from here," he asks, looking around.

"Right over there," I answer. What does that matter? I don't want to push the car to my apartment, I want to push it to that empty parking lot right there in front of our faces. Straight shot - problem solved. Then we can just walk to my place, get my car, and go to the gas station.

"I'm not comfortable steering," I add.

The car is in neutral and rolling before I even get into the drivers seat. He pushes us along. Crap. We're in the left turn lane. I should have ignored his orders and forced us to go straight. Red light. Gosh, stepping on the brake does absolutely nothing. Brandon appears next to me at the window. He's sweating. He takes off his shirt and tosses it on the seat.

"I feel kinda sick. I think I'm gonna throw up," he says, trying to cool down.

It's all in his head. Stress will do that to you. His car is messed up, it's close to midnight, and he has to work at 5am.

"Do you think we should just try to pull off to the side here?" I suggest. "Making a left and then a right isn't a good idea. I really don't want to do that."

Where is he going? Who are those guys? Green light. Great. Now I have three guys pushing me in a car I don't want to be driving. At least we made the left turn, here comes the right. I want to stop.

"Keep going!" Brandon calls out.

Luckily, it's a green light. But wait, the next one isn't. I step on the brakes sooner than normal this time. I peek in the rear view mirror. Is Brandon even back there? He appears at the window again, sweating even more. I guess that uphill part really did him over. Where'd those guys go? Lucky them. Now, how can I get Brandon to listen to me without yelling and without sounding bossy? We're not going to the gas station, I already suggested we pull over into the empty parking lot, and I'm still stuck steering. Destination: My parking garage. I try to talk myself into the pros of this option. It's out of every one's way, its 24 hours, and not at risk of getting a ticket. But the reality is: this is another dunb idea I want nothing to do with.

I'm completely aware that this is what men do. They push cars and do man things. They don't listen to girls who don't know much about cars, but know about danger. Especially, not Southern boys who drive tractors and cook fried chicken that can apparently 'make my hat fly off'. I, on the other hand, have been told I'm a bit tom-boyish. I decided to keep that in mind on this date, relinquish control, and get in touch with my feminine side. Little did I know it is far easier to be a girl when you're with a man a knows what he's doing.

Dayna, the girl who takes note of all emergency exits when entering a room thought this: If he wants to get into that parking garage, there will be TWO sharp turns (both of which are downhill). I have no power steering and if anyone is coming out of that garage - they're in for a rude awakening. What Would Jesus Do? He wouldn't yell that's for sure. I think he'd give the facts and then let them make their own decision, right? It's his car...

"So in order to get into the parking garage, there are two sharp turns and I'm afraid I wont be able to turn the wheel fast enough," I said calmly.

Is he ignoring me or have I gone deaf? Now, where is he going? Oh, a new guy is going to 'help' us. We don't need help; we need to be out of this situation. Magically. This man is only going to push me further to my doom. Can I push instead? I feel as though I can push better than steer. But Brandon shouldn't know that. So far, he's only seen me in heels. I won't destroy that image.

Our random 'savior' peeks into the car with his date. I stare out listening to Brandon explain the sitch. My eyes feel wider than usual. I wonder what I look like to them... Bambi. That's it. I probably look like Bambi all doe-eyed and malnourished... The guy has agreed to help. His date stands on the side walk.

"Do you want to get in?" I ask.

"No thanks," she answers as she watches us roll away. She's smart. Maybe I should have said Help Me instead.

And we're off. We're rolling and rolling through the light and here come the sharp turns! I turn the wheel with all my might and turn it again. We're in the parking garage! This is good.

"You missed it," Brandon says.

What? Surely he wasn't expecting me to spin into this teeny tiny parking space he's standing next to. There's no way he's referring to that.

"You missed it," he says again. "You had three of them, see?"

He points to three miscellaneous spots - all had cars on either side and a gate in front. He throws both hands up and through his hair expressing his frustration. Oh yes, he was talking about that narrow parking spot. Really? If I would have attempted to park at that speed I would have hit the passengers' side of that persons car and then slammed into the gate. Physics. Duh.

Our little helper says good luck and goes off with his date. It's just me and Brandon now. We're stuck. I get out of the car. I want this to be over. Brandon sits in the drivers seat. Apparently, he is capable of not smiling.

"This is the worst night of my life," he declares.

Awesome. I'm associated with the worst night of someones life. And what a waste of a cute top. I finally find a classy color blocked number and this is what happens when I wear it?

"I feel really sick. I think I'm gonna throw up," he adds.

Still? Yes, this situation sucks, but is it puke worthy? These dramatics have got to stop.

"You ready?" he asks, getting up. "We gotta park it."

Why hasn't he asked some random person to steer while I stand on the side of the road like a normal date? I explain for the billionth time that I don't want to hit another car and I just cant do it.

"I'll tell you exactly what to do," he says looking deep into my eyes.

Famous last words. I get into the car.

"You ready?" he asks again. Never, I think. "Turn hard right."

I turn and turn. Okay. Hard right. He pushes and we're rolling.

"Hey! Hey!" he screams.

My foot is on the brake, but it doesn't matter. The car scrapes against the pillar between two parking spots. It scrapes so hard I feel like it's my own flesh....Titanic, that's what it reminds me of. The pillar is the iceberg punching small holes into the ship, Brandon's ship. Finally, the scraping stops.

"F*ck!" Brandon screams.

Oh no, the nervous smile is creeping up on me. Now is not the time! I pull my cheeks down with both hands. That doesn't work for long. I decide to just cover my face with my hands completely.

After what seems like ages of silence, Brandon walks around to the hood of the car and starts to push. What's he trying to do, reverse the damage? The car scrapes more and more. I keep my hands on my face, but peek between my fingers. He keeps pushing, but now the side mirror has hit the pillar.

"F*ck!" he screams again.

The mirror is cracked. He suggests we back into the spot behind us. I don't argue. He pushes from the hood this time and he directs my steering. We're very close to the car parked on the right, but by some miracle, we're parked with no further damages. It's after midnight. He gives me his spare key, just in case, and I struggle to put it on my key ring. I give up and drop it in my purse.

"Man, I gotta get up early," he says sounding defeated, "and I really think I'm going to throw up."

"Well, do you want to come upstairs and use the restroom or get some water or something and then I can drive you home?"

He agrees. "One of my roommates' cars is getting jacked tomorrow," he attempts to joke. Good, now my nervous smile can be put to good use. We're in my apartment. He leans on the counter, sweaty, his shirt still off. I walk to the fridge and toss him a water bottle. He takes a few sips and heads to the bathroom. After a minute, he comes out. No vomit.

"Do you want some fruit?" I ask and walk to the fridge again. "I'm not sure what's good for pukiness."

I turn around and he's gone. I hear the atrocious sound of vomit splash against the toilet bowl. Again and again. My stress theory flew out the window. More splashing. I sit on the couch, not wanting to listen. Should I turn on the TV? I imagine what scallops, wine, and whatever else he ate looked like after being chewed up and spit out. I walk towards my sisters bedroom and knock. No answer. She must have her headphones on. I walk back to the kitchen. What is a TripleA bag doing on the counter?! I don't have TripleA. Could my sister have purchased it earlier today? He mustn't see this. He'll think I've been holding out. I grab the bag, shove it in the closet and sit back on the couch. He enters the living room.

"Did you puke?" pretending I didn't hear.

"I took your advice," he says.

Advice? I don't remember suggesting he throw up. And even if I did, why listen to that advice and nothing else? I'm missing something, but I don't care. It's late. I grab my keys and we head out, but in the wrong direction.

"Wait. My car is this way," I say. We back track.

"You're all messed up too, huh?"

We take the elevator down to the parking garage. The drive is silent and awkward.

"This is the kind of music you listen to?" he finally speaks.

"On occasion," I answer, "depends on my mood. It's actually my friends' band." Silence. He quickly reaches over and squeezes my thigh. I smile slightly, but keep both hands at 10 and 2.

"Years from now, we'll laugh at this," Brandon says. "Maybe."

We finally make it to his place. Dead car + crashed car + vomit = HUG. It was 1:00am by the time I got home. I had a text from him when I checked my phone:

Hey, sorry if it seemed like I was mad.

I was just bummed about my car.

I really enjoyed my time with you.

Have a good night.

The next day, he got a ride down to my complex to fix his car while I was at work. But the car he got a ride in had a gas leak and they had to fix that one too. Some luck. I didn't talk to him until two days later when he informed me he couldn't go to Disneyland. We had planned our third date before the second. That was a mistake.

A part of me knew we weren't going to survive that date, but I'm thankful for a few things:

1) We didn't die.

2) No one else died.

3) We didn't kill each other.

Sunday morning, I prep for a lovely day at the happiest place on Earth. I even decided to borrow my sisters fancy camera and try to take a few pictures. Sure, I'm not going with Brandon, but that doesn't mean I wont go at all. Turns out a few of my friends were going too. I grab my bag and dig deep in to the pocket. Suddenly, I feel an unfamiliar object. I pull it out. Brandon's key. I lean against my bed and sigh....

ONE DAY LATER....

I didn't want to text him about the key. I didn't want to text him at all, but my mom gave me the idea to suggest that I mail the key instead. So I sent the text:

I just noticed I have your car key.

Do you want me to save you the trip

and just drop it in the mail?

If I were him, I would have said yes, but instead he said:

Oh no mam I would love to see you

but I'm really busy this week. Could we

meet up this weekend?

I waited two hours to respond. I wasn't prepared for such. Can we pick up where we left off? Better yet, can we not pick up where we left off and rewind to date one minus the bloody skateboarder? But then I remembered that life isn't about gelato and walks on the beach. It sometimes consists of puke and dented cars. If you can survive it together, than that's the true test.

I told him I was free that Saturday.

ONE DAY LATER.....

No response. I send him a text asking if he died.

TWO DAYS LATER....

He texts me:

Hey sorry it took me so long to get

back to you I have had big things

going on. How was your day? Would

you like to do something Saturday night?

'Big things'? In the age of the iPhone there is no excuse to not respond to a text and if things were that 'big' there would have been some sort of mobile uploading. My response to him was nicer than I felt. I told him I made plans on Saturday and asked if we could switch to Sunday. My only goal is to get this key out of my life.

ONE DAY LATER....

No response. I've played nice for too long. Hello??? I'm Dayna Freakin Copeland. I have no desire to see him or be made a fool of. I sent a nice, but telling text:

Hey, looks like we're both pretty busy

these days so just send me your address

when you get this and I'll mail your key.

ONE MONTH LATER....

Brandon never responded. My cousins 83rd birthday came and went. Was I in attendance? No. It coincided with my sisters birthday. My mom went though and Brandon was there cheffing it up. She said he acted like he didn't see her until she said something; only then did he ask how my sister and I were doing....

THREE MONTHS LATER....

I had completely forgotten about the date from hell. In fact, Brandon's number had been deleted from my phone. I decided to spend my Sunday night at my friends hockey game. The game was going good. The cold numbed my fingers and toes but I was having fun when, suddenly, my phone vibrated. A text from a strange area code appeared:

Hey this is Brandon I know it has been a

long time but I was wondering if you could

mail me that spare key to my car my address

is 55555 Cherry Ave Garden Stove CA

55555 thank you hope all is well with you and

the family

And no, he didn't use any commas or periods. I couldn't believe it. I looked frantically around my group of friends to see who had heard the story about The Boy Who Barfed so I could fill them in on the new details... Jojo. Jojo was the first person I told that day at Disneyland. He was shocked.

"Give him the wrong key!" He said.

"Give him a hotel key," someone else chimed in.

"Give him a bag of keys with a note that reads 'Figure it out'," a friend suggested later.

All good ideas. I didn't respond till the next day - to teach him a lesson - and all I said was:

I'll have to find it first.

And that was the truth. He called me when he received the text. I didn't pick up. I was at work anyway and what's there to talk about? I found the key a day later and mailed it with no return address. He sent a thankful text and that was the end. I wish him the best, but it never would have worked out. I now only date those who have TripleA and an iPhone.

And we lived happily ever after....

Separately.

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Random Acts of Romantic-ness

2012-02-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

Don't have a hot date for Valentines Day? Say no more! Here's a list of ideas you can share with a friend, loved one, or someone you're interested in.

1. Watch a romantic flick on a backyard movie projector. My pick? The Artist. There's nothing more romantic than a silent film. You can smooch that whole way through and not miss a thing!

2. Have a nighttime picnic with fondue, wine, and sky lanterns. Ooh la la...

3. Anonymously leave flowers on someones doorstep. Note: If you know this person, don't let them see you. If you do know this person, don't let them see you. If you want to date this person, let them see you 'by accident'.

4. Send a romantic text. If you cant think of anything good, steal from someone else.

"Other men said they have seen angels,
But I have seen thee
And thou art enough"

"I love you - those three words have my life in them. "

or if you wanna be really cool, just quote Savage Garden:

"I would fly you to the moon and back if you'll be . . . if you'll be my baby."

5. Have two movie tickets and snacks ready to go. No one can say no when you've got the goods right in front of their face.

6. Buy dessert for a stranger.... and let the stranger be me.

7. Bake something delish and deliver.

8. Write a poem in... calligraphy.

9. Pick flowers and hand them off to someone special.

10. Hit up Disneyland!

11. Have a romantic movie marathon with friends.

12. Think of your own!

Valentine's Day is only miserable if you make it that way.

Have fun and treat yo-self!

Friendship, Hot Chocolate, and My Fave Valentine's Day Treats

2012-02-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

I've decided to treat every day like it's Valentine's Day... for this month at least. I had my friends over last night so I served hot chocolate with pink and white marshmallows (above), heart-shaped brownies, chips, and scattered those nasty candy hearts on the table to add a little flair. Some read "Holla" and "Shake It". They're definitely for decor and not for noshing - that chalk taste is hard to get rid of.

Did anyone drink hot chocolate? No, but it looked good. Everyone ate the brownies. They were a success, but the photographs? Not so much. I cut them while they were still too warm so the edges weren't as defined as I would have liked. Next time, I'll be ready.

Martha Stewart has a few cute treats I'm going to try. Here are my faves:

Cupid Cakes

Ice Cream Hearts with Arrow Tuiles

Handwritten Valentine Cupcakes

Heart-Shaped Meringues

Valentine Heart Pops

Try some and let me know how it goes!

Love and Pancakes

2012-02-01T08:21:00.000-08:00

It's February yall! Can you believe it? I'm really excited for some reason. Could it be because Valentine's Day is on the way? I don't know what smells better - love or pancakes. My sister, Kamari, actually made the spread below. She's quite the queen in the kitchen and isn't too shabby when it comes to food photography. I think she made have found her new calling and I found a reason to follow her around even more.

Celebrity Vampires

2012-01-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

I'm completely aware that vampires aren't real... With the exception of a girl I went to school with who claimed to be one, but only drank from those who offered. It was in the school paper. Definitely a fascinating read.

Outside of that rare case, there are a few humans I would say posses vampiric traits. Maybe it's a certain glow, an air of mystery, a look in the eye, or maybe their face hasn't changed since birth - whatever it really is, I prefer to call them vampires. Who are these vampires I speak of? You'll see.

Vampire: Stacey Dash

Vampire Gift: Forever young.

Clueless was how long ago? And she looks exactly the same. In fact, she looks better! Definitely a blood sucker.

Vampire: Prince

Vampire Gift(s): Uses his demon wielded guitar to seduce women and his elfin blessed vocal chords are used as a mating call.

Vampire: Moaning Myrtle

Vampire Gift(s): Forever young.. and rich.

Actress Shirley Henderson was born in 1965, but still plays children in films. Mmhmm blood sucker.

Vampire: Helen Mirren

Vampire Gift: Forever Hot.

The woman is not 25, but manages to be hotter than those who are. It ain't right. Mmhmm blood sucker.

Vampire: Crispin Glover

Vampire Gift(s): More tests must be conducted.

Vampire: All Filipinos

Vampire Gift(s): Forever young and stylish.

Vampire: Sade

Vampire Gift(s): Keeps us in the dark with her song.

She was born in 1959... Mmhmm blood sucker.

Vampire: Christie Brinkley

Vampire Gift(s): Forever hot and smiley.

Vampire: Naomi Campbell

Vampire Gift(s): Super strength, fiery spirit, and flawless skin.

Careful, her beauty is often used to draw you in for the kill..

Vampire: Juliette Lewis

Vampire Gift(s): Grows more beautiful, powerful, and talented with age.

She's the friendliest of the species, but still must not be crossed. She's crafty and spirited.

If you are suspicious of any others, you're probably right. Please contact me immediately upon sighting.

Be safe.

My First Time Making Cupcakes

2012-01-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

I feel as though the average 25 year old has made cupcakes at some point in their life. For me, it happened a couple weeks ago. I'm more of a brownie girl. But I've decided to add more baking and cooking into my life. So far so good.

The cupcakes were for my neighbors 84th birthday. I have a thing against cupcake tins so I did without and they came out nice and easy.

I walked to his house with the treats and told him to make a wish. He blew out the candles and I asked him what he wished for. He wouldn't tell me. I know you're never supposed to tell, but I always try ;)

Best Films by African American Directors

2012-01-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

In honor of Monday's post....
1. Crooklyn. A Spike Lee joint. I've always loved this movie - you'll laugh and you'll cry. It takes place in 70s Brooklyn so the wardrobe is fun too.

"One, two, three, the devils after me. Four, five, six, he's always throwing sticks. Seven, eight, nine, he misses every time. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, amen."

2. Hollywood Shuffle. Probably one of the funniest movies ever made and definitely quotable.

3. The Last Dragon. The music....and Sho Nuff.

And who doesn't want to look like Vanity? What a hottie.

4. Soul Food. Prepare to get hungry.

5. The Great Debaters. Love everything about this. There are some hotties in there too.

6. Why Did I get Married? And Janet Jackson's in it yall!

The next few movies aren't directed by African Americans, but they are great films starring African Americans.

Sparkle

Carmen Jones

I was obsessed with Dorothy Dandridge growing up. Still am.

Can you believe how hot they are? Oh Harry, if only you were my age...

Imitation of Life

Brilliant.

Patch of Blue

If you haven't seen it, you must. <3

It's the weekend - bust out the popcorn and candy and then text me!!

Rice Krispies Treats and Lumpy Lovelies

2012-01-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

I wish I had awesome food pics for you, but I'm not insanely skilled behind the camera. I know what a good pic looks like, but photography is a gift - especially with food. I read a blog post called 5 Tips for Food Photography so when I get time I'll give it a go, but until then you'll have to settle for either one picture or none.
This week I made a couple treats. The first was a recipe from my co-worker, Mary, but unfortunately she didn't know the name of it so I made one up. Here are Lumpy Lovelies!

How To Make Lumpy Lovelies

Ingredients:

1 cup Peanut Butter crunch cereal (any brand works)
1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
1 package of Candi Quik

Directions: (super easy)

1. Melt Candi Quik in microwave.

2. Pour Candi Quik and both cups of cereal into a bowl and mix.

3. Scoop spoonfuls of mixture and drop onto wax paper (as seen below).

4. Refrigerate.

They're done pretty quick and then you munch! They were a hit with my friends and someone even thought they were store bought!

If you still have that whole box of rice krispies left like I did, just make some treats!

How To Make Rice Krispies Treats

Maybe I'm the only freak that's never made them, but throw me a bone here. I also made cupcakes for the first time a couple weeks ago. Don't make fun...

Ingredients:

6 cups Rice Krispies
4 cups mini marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Melt butter in saucer on stove.

2. Once melted, add in marshmallows and mix till they melt.

3. Turn off heat, add rice krispies, and mix.

4. Put mixture in a pan and let cool.

5. Cut into squares and serve.

I didn't know being girly was this easy!

My Favorite Golden Globe Looks

2012-01-18T08:44:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure about this dress at first, but now I like it. I think she wore it well. It looks great with her red lips and tattoos ;)

Tilda! I love her. She's got very unique style and whatever she wears really matches her personality. I read an article on her about how she has (not sure if she still does) two boyfriends and they both know each other and it's fine. If you can get away with that you can get away with anything.

Jessica Alba. She looked lovely didn't she?

Michelle Williams looked adorable. I love the dress with that haircut. She was perfect and simple.

I thought Katharine McPhee looked very pretty. Her hair was nice and soft and the dress fit her well. Very romantic looking. And nude seemed to be the color of the night. Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler, and Kate Beckinsale followed suit.

Va Va Voom. The next two women couldn't look ugly if they tried. Their dresses were absolutely fitting.

Rooney. I thought she looked very effortless and pretty. Normally I hate it when girls don't wear earrings, but I think she pulled it off. Wait, is she still in character?

The Adventurous Life of My Boots

2012-01-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

In the past, I've made a big deal about my boots. But it's not just because they're cute. Its because I dreamt about them before I bought them.

On September 19th, 2009 I journaled this:

And then something magical happened. I got off work early one day so I figured I'd stop by the mall (which is a rarity). I stopped in a store and that's when I saw them. It was like they had been plucked straight from my brain. I tried them on. A perfect fit. Obviously. I know my size... And they were on sale! I got to the register and they said it was buy one pair get the other half off! My luck was just beginning.

Ever since, my shoes have gone on quite the adventure. Even though they're a bit worn now, I love them just the same. They're like an extension of me, ya know? Here are some pretty cool moments my boots have experienced.

1. Took a Euro trip.

2. Crashed into a pole while riding a bike.

3. Worked a movie set.

4. Performed on Glee. Twice. The third time I had to wear heels. My boots were very disappointed.

5. Received an unexpected smooch from an unlikely crush.

6. Karaoke.

7. Took a tumble going upstairs while carrying ice cream.

8. Been borrowed by family members. Who knows what they were up to.

9. Bought a bike.

10. Went on a spur of the moment/ same day date with the person who sold me my bike.

11. Partied at Disneyland.

12. Worked with my soap opera idols.

13. Cheered some buddies on at a hockey game.

14. Stomped the yard to Michael Jackson.

15. Witnessed a semi-flash mob. We were going to see This Is It so everyone saw it coming.

16. Attacked by a butterfly.

17. Made new friends.

18. 2 Step.

19. Threatened to kick someone in the shins.

20. Stood a few feet from Robert Downey Jr. It wasn't nearly close enough...

I'm wondering how jacked up my boots have to get before I say good-bye to them... I guess we'll see.

African Americans In Film

2012-01-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, I thought I'd write something a little close to the heezy....

I was born in Long Beach, CA but raised in Orange County. I love it. It's quiet at times and pretty. You feel like you know everyone even though we manage to meet new people all the time. It's home, ya know? But believe it or not there were still a few run ins with racism. I wouldn't say its a known thing though because the area isn't dominated by racists. I guess I would compare the city to Disneyland - bad stuff happens here, but we magically forget about it the next day.

And I'm not complaining. I'm not going to let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. I love the people here. Everyone's been discriminated against, but that's no excuse not to move forward or not become successful. I mean, what year is it? Anyone that's still racist is living in a time warp. Like, helloooo? Live in the now, OK? Movies aren't in black and white anymore (with the exception of The Artist <3).

We've come a really long way and it's time that some of us African Americas stop blaming their lack of success on 'the white man'. Let's look at African Americans in film. When you think of a predominately black film, what comes to mind? For me, you don't know how many people (of all races) have asked if I've seen Soul Plane. Do I get annoyed? Yes. But not at the person who asked, but at the people who continue to support movies that fuel our stereotypes instead of movies like The Great Debaters.

I think the world would be a hell of a lot less racist if we stopped making fun of our own race on such a large scale. I like movies that focus on conflicts that could happen to anyone. For example, Aliens taking over the world. It has nothing to do with color or culture. Anyone in that situation would feel the same. Any time a movie is racially driven, it excludes a large audience. Not that the films should stop being made entirely (there are a lot that I love), but the Black filmmakers that are complaining cant keep making films about topics that only a certain group can relate to and then complain that white people aren't paying to see them. What if my blog was only about being black? I would have just excluded the entire city I live in. I prefer to talk about topics that everyone can relate to because race really doesn't matter. When you speak to peoples interests, you reach the masses.

I read an article by Esther Iverem that had a view similar to mine. It's not white people smothering our talent, it's us (the viewer) choosing to rush to the theater for Baby Boy instead of Antwone Fisher. In that same article, she did a bit of focusing on how much 'quality films' made at the box office. Although, that information is obviously needed to make a clear case, I think overall we shouldn't focus on how much a film makes, but more so on what material filmmakers are putting out there. We cant force an audience to change what their used to, but we can change what movies are being made and perhaps people will get a taste for it. Because the reality is, in 'the biz', they don't care who or where the scripts came from as long as it's going to make them a lot of money. Like African American director/ writer of Shame, Steve McQueen, is doing rather well for himself.

I'd also like to address the people that hate on Oprah for having a team that's predominately White and Asian. WHO CARES? It shouldnt matter if they're black or white. Do you want equality or black people running everything? Oprah hiring an all black staff would be just as racist as hiring an all white one. She hired the people that were best for the job. Who cares what race they are? Having all races work together was Martin Luther's goal all along.

Some of the most famous people in the world are black. Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Beyonce', Oprah, and hellooo? Michael Jackson? He's the most famous person in the world! Some complain that most of them are musicians and rappers. I say, it's not that African Americans aren't successful in other careers, it's just that rocket scientists and psychologists don't make the cover of Vogue. And that goes for any race.

So in closing I say this:

To the still existing racists:

I've befriended a white man who was born in 1928. Do the math and you'll see he was alive when blacks and whites couldn't drink from the same fountain and yet he still treats me with love and respect as if none of that ever happened. So if you're 25 and racist, I would honest to God suggest you see a doctor. There is something seriously wrong with you.... Honestly, get that checked out.

To the complainers that say 'the white mans' got them down:

WAKE UP. Racism isn't holding us back, we are. A black man is president! There's no excuse to be unsuccessful anymore. You've been discriminated against? Correct them and/or tell them to eff off and move on. If we were supposed to give up at the first sign of discrimination I would have been dunzo in 3rd grade.

We come too far. So far that excuses no longer apply. And even though we're all different colors, we're the same. We feel all the same emotions and heartaches. If we focus on the fact that we're all human, the world will be a better place for you and for meeee. God, how many MJ songs work for this post?

HAPPY M.L.K. DAY!!!!!!

And click here to see some awesome films by African American directors.

A Question Is A Statement In Disguise

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was reading Oprah's magazine (yes, I read O on occasion) and Dr. Phil said something very interesting. 'A question is a statement in disguise.' And then I thought "Yeah. Yeah, he's right!" Some people try to be slick and mask their true feelings in the form of a question. Sneaky...very sneaky... But if you're wise to the act you're able to read between the lines. Here are some examples as to how a question is really a statement in disguise.

"Is that what you're going to wear?"
Translation: That's ugly.

"So you're totally over him right? Like you're not gonna get back together?"
Translation: Do I have permission to date him?

"How long do you plan on...."

"Are you gonna grow your hair out?"
If asked once, it's just a question. If asked twice by the same person, the translation is: You need to grow your hair out.

"If you had to be trapped on a deserted island with one person who would it be?"
Translation: I like you and if the answer is me, you like me too.

"Is that the kind of music you like?"
Translation: This is crap.

"How do you feel about video games?"
Translation: Please like them. This will never work otherwise.

"What if I said there was no Santa?"

"And if I don't?"
Translation: The first option doesn't work for me.

"Do you think this is a good idea?"
Translation: I don't.

"You don't really care if I show up tonight, do you?"
Translation: Please say no.

Go ahead and re-read every text you've ever gotten.

Friendship 900

2012-01-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

My friend Lindsey Ring, an awesome photographer and total top model, decided to take some pics of my friends and I for her website over the holidays. It had been a long while since our last group shoot, but I had fun! and Lindsey is great so I was even more excited.

Her two kids, Landon and Taylor, came along. Landon is just the sweetest little baby. He smiles and laughs all day, you just want to squeeze him. Taylor is a hoot. She jumped in a few shots which made them even more awesome. She was also our director. "Girls jump!" She cracks me up.

You cant tell, but it was freezing that day. Well, California freezing, but still...

Can you believe I've known these girls (including the photographer) since elementary school? Time flies, but I'm psyched we have more friendship to frame.

Lindsey currently lives in Oregon, but makes trips out to Southern Cali to visit friends and family and take pics so feel free to book a shoot!

Click here for her contact information.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

WHY BEN. WHY.

2012-01-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

5 Reasons To Watch Jem and The Holograms

2012-01-09T07:43:00.000-08:00

Jerrica by day and Jem (a rock star) by night... or day depending on when she rubs her magic earrings. Jem is my hero. And she had pink hair before Katy Perry people. I'm so glad the 80s cartoon has returned so people who were too young to watch it (like me) can appreciate it now! Fashion, adventure, and MUSIC!!! If you aint watchin you aint livin...

1. This is one of my fave songs. Glitter and Gold...

2. Rio: He's a little two-timer. He's Jerrica's boyfriend, but he's infatuated with Jem. Sure she's the same person, but he doesn't know that.

3. The Misfits: Bad to the bone... but they can sing.

4. TechRat.... hahhaha

5. THE STINGERS: That wild mane and that voice.... So obsessed I put two videos.<3

START WATCHING PEEPS!!!

or perish...

25 Things I Didn't Know

2012-01-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT....

1. Max Brooks, the author of World War Z, is the son of Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. Like, really?

2. Wentworth Miller, star of Prison Break, is half black. I can usually spot my own people, but dang!

3. Someone would want to divorce Ryan Reynolds.

4. Speaking of divorce... Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian... Sigh.

5. I would miss having braces 10 years later.

6. How to make meth until I watched Breaking Bad.

7. I could fall in love with someone as bad as Jesse Pinkman.

8. Crispin Glover is a vampire.

Then.

Now.

9. Actress Hedy Lamarr was also an inventor.

10. Performer Josephine Baker was also a spy... Okay, I knew that already but it still makes me really happy.

11. Blake Lively would become such a pimp.

12. I would feel this betrayed when Justin Timberlake got engaged.

13. Justin Bieber would be this big. I remember when my sis would send me his little YouTube videos. What happened?

14. Disneyland doesn't sell gum because Walt didn't want people stepping in it.

15. More turkeys are raised in California than any other state. I find this hard to believe.

16. The first American chess tournament was held in New York 1843.

17. I would make so many friends over the age of 83.

18. I would enjoy reading Twilight.

19. I would get mistaken for Indian more than once.

20. My mom wanted to name me India. Can you imagine getting mistaken for Indian when your name is India? "You're Indian?" "No, I'm India." "So you're Indian?" "Nope. Still India."

21. I would never get over how cute Pippy is. <3

22. My dad wanted to name me Isis. My mom said no because she thought it was an ex-girlfriends name, but really he was just obsessed with Egyptian culture.

23. I could go to Disneyland as often as I do and still not run into Ryan Gosling.

24. I would be this confused as to whether I want to be Ryan or date him.

25. Cutting my own bangs would be such a bad idea. Pictures to come never....

HER-MY-UH-KNEE

2012-01-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

Today I think we should spend some time thinking about how adorable and fashionable Emma Watson is. Cool? Cool.

Long hair or short, she's cute either way!

Workin' the cut out dress!

The dress below is my absolute fave. It reminds me of the white feather dress

Camilla Belle wore.

HAHAHAHA.

Is she still dating Young Neil? ... I hope so.

Are you a believer yet?

The Hummingbird Crime Scene

2012-01-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hummingbirds are a lot cooler than I thought. I knew they were cute and fast, but apparently they can take a beating.

My parents are like Mother and Father Nature when it comes to birds. My dad keeps the yards nice and perfect and reminds my mom to refill all the bird feeders with sugar water when she's already keeping a lookout for it.

The prettiest birds fly in and out for meals and I know they stop by the next door neighbors house too because he gives them loads of bread. They even eat straight from his hand.

But since we're the hangout spot for all Snow White's peeps, the big bad likes to stop by every once and awhile.... Hawk. Not that it's the same one every time, but Hawk sounds cooler than Hawks. Ya know, like its more of a name rather than a species... Anyway, we've had a few scary run ins, but that's not the crime scene I'm going to discuss. This crime scene only involved one party - the victim. And occurred near the Magical Tree.

The morning of December 14th, 2011, I received a text from one of the witnesses aka my mother.

"One of the hummingbirds hit the sliding glass

door so hard it knocked itself out. Kamari was

screaming because she thought it was dead. Then

after a slight flutter, it was revived! OMG"

Once I arrived at the scene, I couldn't believe my eyes. The hummingbird hit the window so hard some feathers stuck to it!

EXHIBIT A!!!!

Why am I writing about this so long after the fact? BECAUSE THE FEATHERS ARE STILL THERE! Those of you who live in the area know of the strong winds we've faced over the holidays. The feathers were left untouched! How hard do you have to hit a window for your feathers to stick to it for life? Pretty darn hard.

Well, little bird, you are quite the pistol. I like it. I like it a lot.

10 Reasons To Watch Adventure Time

2012-01-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

If you don't watch cartoons, you're probably a very sad human being. And if you do watch cartoons, ignore the people that think you're crazy. One of my favorite shows is Adventure Time. If you've seen it you know why, but if not, here are a few reasons to convert.

1. MARCELINE THE VAMPIRE QUEEN. She sings, only eats the color red, and at one point shaved one side of her head.

2. DEATH IS A ROCK STAR.

3. PRINCESS BUBBLEGUM. The older woman of Finn's dreams and also a scientist who creates #4.

4. CANDIED ZOMBIES.

5. FINN and JAKE CAN JAM.

6. MARCELINE'S EX.

7. LUMPY SPACE PRINCESS aka L.S.P.... that voice <3

8. An elephant named TREE TRUNKS.

9. FREAK CITY. This was the first episode I saw. It scared me and made me happy at the same time.

10. Last but not least... LEMON GRAB!!!

Watch ADVENTURE TIME and become a happier person!!

TOOTLES!!!!

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The Bachelor is Back!... Let's Party.

2012-01-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

Ben, Ben, Ben... Why aren't you in my life? The laughs we could share. The wine that would cause me to sweat, but I'd drink it anyway because you made it... Sigh...

I still cant believe Ashley dumped him. And in the worst way! Obviously, she had to go with her gut, but DANG!!! Don't kiss him AND let him propose! I'm surprised he survived. I think I knew I loved him when he first told her not to 'sugarcoat it'. No one wants to hear how interesting and great they are once they get dumped even though I understand the need to express it. But the real kicker was when he said, "Good things don't end unless they end badly."... Pessimistic guys are SO.HOT.

Not everyone thinks the way I do. Someone wrote and I quote,

"Ben has an anger issue I believe. I saw the look in his eyes when Ashley dumped him."

It's called shock and sadness genius. And who leaves comments on ABC.com?

Anyway, I'm glad he's the Bachelor. Did anyone watch last nights episode? Some of these ladies man....

Brittney brought her grandma. I thought it was cool and Ben was into it, but the length of G-ma's stay had me nervous at first. It turned out perfect though and Grams was way cool.

Here she is! <3

Courtney is a demon. She's one hot little model, but knows it and uses it to her advantage. And look at those eyes. She's probably putting a hex on me as we speak...

I wish Dianna stayed. She's cute and seemed very sweet.

Jenna, Jenna, Jenna. I know what it's like to have an off day... not that off, but I will try my hardest to refrain from thinking you have an off life. Her main problem was that the 'issue' with Monica seemed to take precedence over Ben. C'mon Jenna, redeem yourself in episode 2. I'm a new believer in second chances.

And here's Monica. Trouble with a perma-smile and a hearty laugh.

Blakeley. Monica's girl crush.

*My #4 Pick* Kacie's a cutie.

*My #1 Pick* Lindzi. She rode in on a horse AND got the first impression rose. She's cute, smart, nice, and athletic. Do I smell top 2?? Yes, I do.

*My #2 Pick* Nicki. What a doll.

*My #3 Pick* Rachel. I like her. She's normal, relaxed, and drama free... and she has her nose pierced :)

Cant wait till next week!!!

Click here if you missed Episode 1.

Does anyone else want to buy the soundtrack?

The Most Entertaining Show on Television

2012-01-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

Below is a post that I wrote back when Brad was the Bachelor, but it got deleted. I thought it'd be fun to repost it and think about Brad and Emily for a moment (Remember those days? Mmhmm) and then revisit the 6 stages of emotions a typical bachelor hopeful goes through.

Then you can click here to read about last nights episode of Ben's first go as the Bachelor!!! Love him...

HAPPY READING!!!

The Most Entertaining Show on Television

The drama. The tears. The expensive cars and helicopters the Bachelor uses, but never admits where they came from. The psychopaths. And the self loathing. ABC's The Bachelor has it all. Me and my crew have been getting together on Monday nights for the past few seasons and there's never been a dull moment.

This reality show is about one guy and a bevvy of beauties he gets to choose between to find love. In order to do so, he goes on group dates and one on one dates and then at the end of each episode he offers a rose to those he wants to keep around and gives the boot to the unlucky ones. Eventually, he narrows it down to one girl, if not, the world will hate him. Much like our current bachelor, Brad. This isn't his first run with the show. He was The Bachelor once before, but when it came down to him having to choose between 2 girls, he chose neither. Women all over the world hated him for it and still do. I personally want to give him a round of applause for doing what he thought was right. He shouldn't have to choose someone. What would be the point of dating someone you don't see yourself marrying? This time around, I think he's trying to regain the love of America by being really nice to people. Like REALLY nice. He got slapped in the face by one of the women and he kept her behind around! Watch me nottry to date someone that slapped me in the face.

Fancy dinners and walks on the beach? That mess doesn't make good TV. I want to see secrets revealed, true colors shown, awkward dates, and uncomfortable silences! Now that's good TV. So lets meet the lovely ladies that make the show go 'round.

Throughout the course of the show, you see the women start out in their right mind - honest intentions, positive attitudes, and smiling faces. But as the Bachelor goes on more one on one dates, he's swapping spit with more than one girl, and the competition is getting stiff. That's when things get good. That's when I'm absentmindedly noshing on the popcorn I don't even like with speed and anticipation. What happens next? Which girl will regain her cool and which girl will sabotage herself with her erratic behavior? Only the rose ceremony will tell...

Its funny how we romanticize things in our head and make things way cooler than they are. We're all guilty of it. And when you see these one on one dates, you can't help but be reminded of how the human mind loves to make itself delusional. Some girls get so caught up in how elaborate and expensive the dates are and I constantly want to remind them 'your dates wont be like that in normal life - you better start asking legit questions instead of marveling at the borrowed diamonds around your neck.' I'd love to see them on a normal date in a normal setting and see which one of these dating blunders they'd carry out. On one date, they had a carnival all to themselves (which was pretty cool), but no one seems to notice that it wasn't even his idea. Who we should be dating is the one who thought of the dates in the first place!!

I've come to the conclusion that the women go through 6 stages:

1. Excitement

2. Confidence: Once a girl gets a kiss they're sure its gonna be them that he chooses. They're floating on air and forget that they're living in same house as all the other girls he's dating.

3. Worry: There's always a point where another girl comes home after her date and is glowing like you once were and it seems that they had an amazingly romantic date just like you. And then everyone stops feeling special.

4. The need to vent: They talk to their fellow bachelorettes about their insecurities not even acknowledging that they too have the same feelings and have no desire to encourage you - in fact they want you gone TONIGHT, but do they say it? No. They save that for the confessional.

5. Panic: They run to the Bachelor himself right before the rose ceremony because their fear and jealousy has really kicked in and tears begin to flow unstoppably. And they swear they've never felt like this before and its so unlike them. And then the same speech I hear every season and love so deeply comes into play: "I start to question your motives when I see someone like (insert name) still in the house. If you like someone like that, I don't know how long I can stay here." Self sabotage has reared its ugly head and its only the beginning. The negative comments continue and the Bachelor is always turned off by the tears and rude remarks and decides to give her the boot.

6. Self Loathing: Once they've been given the boot, they talk to the camera about how this was their only hope, no one will ever love them, and they'll be single for life. And then I get a little sad internally and want to give them a hug.

I get the feeling. We all get discouraged when things don't go the way we hoped. But life doesn't end because your love life didn't begin when you wanted it to. Heck, if all of our love lives relied on the Bachelor we'd all be screwed. Pull yourself together!!!

I do have some props to give. I want to commend all the girls for being brave enough to put their business on national television and risking a lot to be there. And I do understand that just about everyone would do something silly on camera unintentionally. Imagine me on the show. Your terrified feelings are mutual.. To the brave ones that are determined to get their one on one time, my hats off to ya. AND to those who have received the First Impression Rose - congrats!! First impressions are difficult. On the show, its crucial to make yourself stand out because there are so many pretty girls for him to choose from. Me? I'm not one to compete for a guy. If I were in this sitch, you'd probably find me at the bar not knowing the names of any alcoholic beverage and asking, "You got anything with fruit in it?"

There's nothing wrong with believing in fairy tale endings, I think it actually happens for some. But a few girls on the show don't know their fairy tales too well. Would Snow White call another girl a b*tch? Would Cinderella threaten to punch a girl out? As soon as you do/say any of those things, you go from princess to evil step sister real quick. In order to get the Disney ending, you have to play by Disney rules. Which means no cursing, no fighting, no sabotaging, and no freaky deaky-ness. Duh.

The Grimm brothers had the best morals. Do dumb stuff and you die, get clever and you might have a chance. Now that's something to teach the kids.

Watch The Bachelor Mondays nights at 8pm

Think you're too cool to watch?

Suck it.

My 2012 New Years 'Resolutions' and a Recap of 2011

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

I wasn't going to make any New Years resolutions because A) I couldn't think of any and B) I new I'd have to do an account of my resolutions aka 'declarations' from last year. That made me nervous, but I think I did alright considering only 1% actually accomplish their goals. Anyway, here's a recap and then I shall unveil my plans for 2012.

2011 RESOLUTION RECAP

-~~Make Music~~: MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED. I went wild when my sis got that T-Pain app. Granted I didn't take it seriously (no one should) I still had way too much fun. And I got to use my freestyling skills. I've been doin that mess since my spy days and yes, I'm wayyy better than Kanye.

-~~Clothing Line~~: ABORT. I didn't want to do a full on line, but I did want to make a few items. I was way more in costume and wardrobe mode, although I am feeling pretty inspired in the fashion sense these days.

-~~Tattoo Time~~: POSTPONED. My friend Sindhura (who is currently in India) and I plan on getting tattooed together. We had a tattoo sketching hang sesh while she was here that turned into a lets eat breakfast for dinner hangout. Our birthdays are close together though so hopefully she'll be in the neighbs and we can get it poppin.

-~~It's a secret~~: I HONESTLY CANT REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS. Lets just say MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED?

-~~San Francisco:~~ MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED!!! My sister took me for my birthday and we had quite the time... we spent most of it watching movies. But we did tour the city so don't trip.

-~~Fall In Love~~: WELL, THIS IS AWKWARD... OK, not really. It wasn't a must on my list. And perhaps I shouldn't have used the phrase 'Fall in love'. I mean, anyone can fall in love. That doesn't mean anything is going to come from it, ya know? Anyway, I will be honest and say that I've 'felt'. Is that broad enough for you? I did go on some blog worthy dates though. Seriously...

-~~Write:~~ MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED. I think my journal would be considered serious entertainment. I don't think there's a boring entry. And it's way different from when I would just write about what happened at school or who I spied on for five minutes. It's safe to say that I've matured in that sense. Who needs a book when you can laugh (or cry) at yourself?

-~~It's a secret~~: I'M EMBARRASSED THAT I PUT THAT SO MANY TIMES, my apologies.

-~~Learn French~~: MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED... sort of. I'm obviously not fluent, but I did use a program called Mango that you can use through your local library. It's free and you can record yourself and play it back. I'm not confident enough to speak it to my French friends yet, but that's definitely an ongoing goal.

-~~Go to a Concert~~: EHHHHH.... I wasn't really in the mood when it came down to it for some reason. But I think there are a few bands now that I'd actually be interested in seeing. But I need to do it now, like right now, before I change my mind.

-~~Push It Real Good~~: MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED!!! I'm completely capable of doing 30 push ups in a row. I think I was always able to it's just that some days it's easier than others. I think I need to up the digits - ya know, push myself if you will.

I'm really happy with how the year turned out. A lot changed and I had fun. I want to keep the joy coming, but keep things funky so here are my goals for 2012.

2012 New Years Resolutions

1. PERFORM AT CLUB BUZZ. For those of you that don't know, it's that place at Disneyland where they have bands play popular songs and just have a good time. They don't even call it Club Buzz anymore, but the name just holds so much power for me. It's.the.best. Our D-land crew is already musically inclined so why haven't we at least attempted this? It would be a dream come true...

2. PAY OFF MY STUDENT LOANS. I would like to pay off as much of my loans as possible if not all. I just need to believe in myself and fake my own death.

3. ZOMBIE RUN

4. EAT AT EVERY RESTAURANT AND FOOD CART AT DISNEYLAND. My friend Lindsey and I share that goal. We started it a long time ago, but took too many breaks in between so I think this year is the year we finish it up. And I promise I have a friend named Lindsey. I know she doesn't leave comments, but it's because she thinks you have to have a blog to comment on a blog. Bless her heart.

5. HAVE FUN!! Here's a list of activities that I would like to partake in this year from A to Z. And please feel free to join me.

Archery

Bowling

Cirque School

Drive - In Movie

Eating

Fossils

Gymnastics

Horseback Riding

Indoor Rock Climbing

Jousting

Karaoke

Limbo

Magic Castle

Nature walk

Order in

Pirates

Quitting

Rock Band

Shooting Range

Tae Kwon Do

Unbirthday

Vespa Riding

Wii

Xbox

Yoga

Zip Lining

You down to clown?

Jealous?

2011-12-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

Can't wait to rock my new head umbrella when I ride my bike! I don't know where the heck my sister got this, but she knows me too well.

Victory Over Defeat

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

The holidays can be bittersweet. They trigger memories - some good, some bad. Maybe there's a loved one that's no longer around, maybe you're having financial trouble, maybe you didn't have good holiday memories to begin with, or maybe there were teeny tiny disappointments that happened throughout the year that you've been reminded of as the year comes to a close. It's also possible that you're not going through any of these things at the moment, but someone is. When a loved one hurts we hurt, but we also have to be the reminder that all isn't lost - a voice of encouragement and truth.

When something bad happens you think that there's no hope for any good from that point on, but that's just another lie the devil tells us. The people around me remind me that God is way more clever than the devil could ever be. He knows what we can and cant handle and who we need around us to help ease the strife. And then there's His word that helps even more.

My sister let's me borrow her Joyce Meyer Devotional that has a brief inspiring message every day. So I thought I'd share a quick quote:

"Victory is not the absence of problems; it's the presence of God's power."

Amen, right? :)

Anyway, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and as my mother said, "Even in the midst of problems, the Christ of Christmas still offers PEACE, comfort, and joy."

Invisible high five!!!

How To Make Lumpia

2011-12-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

I like to snack. I made Lumpia for the first time a couple years ago and decided it would be my signature. There are a lot of different recipes, but this one has been tweaked to my liking. Here you go!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground turkey
1 cup diced onions
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup julienned green beans
3 garlic cloves (smashed and minced)
Salt
Pepper
The Black Sheep Bistro's Chef's Salt
Won Ton wrappers
Oil

(This recipe makes about 60 Lumpia and should take about 1 1/2 hours.)

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook yo meat! Add some Chef's Salt to the meat. As it turns brown, throw in the carrots, onions, and green beans.

2. While the meat is still cooking add a pinch of salt, pepper, and your garlic - mixing as you go along.

3. Once the filling is all cooked, add a spoonful of it onto your won ton wrappers and roll.
Note: Have a cup of water ready so you can dip your fingers in it to seal the won tons shut. This is also a good time to let the oil heat up in the deep fryer.

4. Deep fry until they're brown and voila!

5. There are recipes to make your own soy sauce, but I have yet to master that. I'll perfect it when I care to.

I'm off to work to share the goods!

Enjoy the day and eat them snacks!

A Fortune A Day Keeps the Boredom At Bay

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

I've been saving my fortunes since I can remember. Including the ones from those Dove candies, but that foil tears so easily :/

Anyway, having moved recently, I decided to organize my fortunes by stealing one of my sisters jars and stuffing them inside. My new ritual is to draw one (or two) a day. Why? Because it's fun and it reminds me that I can do things differently than I did the day before. I don't think you should live by them. That'd be a bit silly, but just reading them adds a little mystery and excitement for the day.

Like the other day at the bank I told a random guy (with a beard) that we should be friends and suggested he purchase a Disneyland pass. Then I remembered my fortune read:

That's about as daring as I get...

Anyway, I implore you to adopt my customs for funsies. Try the chocolate covered ones. They have a whole case at World Market. But remember, just because your fortune reads: "Kiss the next person you see" doesn't mean you should do it. And if you do do it, don't blame me if things go awry.

Now, for today's fortune:

You and me both baybee!!

a GDT review (no spoilers)

2011-12-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was..... SO GOOD. I was a little nervous beforehand because I had been so excited about it for so long that I didn't want to be disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised. Having read the book and seen the Swedish version (which was awesome), you're bound to do some comparisons, but David Fincher (director) warned everyone that there were some changes. The changes were noticeable, but I think it makes the movie stand apart from the Swedish version instead of duplicating it and causing everyone to argue about which is better.

Rooney Mara killed it. The wardrobe was even better than I had hoped. I was thinking that if they went overboard it would easily distract from Rooney's performance, but it was PERFECT. Daniel Craig brings the heat. I feel like I would clam up if I were to meet him just cuz he's that cool. There's something about that guy...

The opening credits were AMAZING. If the whole movie was just a loop of that I'd be completely content. All you graphic designers out there will be inspired.

AND THE MUSIC! I feel as though Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Mara, and Fincher are like a little family. Much like Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Danny Elfman. When you find people that match your somewhat twisted but creative brain so perfectly you have to know it's kismet.... and we get to reap the benefits!

Today is a good day!

2011-12-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Heard a good word from the Lord today and I'm ready to partayyyy! I even went for a jog this morning after a teeny intentional exercise slump. This weekend I felt way off. I blame the full moon. Someone warned me about it the day before and I was like, "Anyways...", but now I think they were right. Doesn't matter now though - my wolfy self is back on track!
Tonight is my last night in the apartment I shared with my sister so my BFF and I are gonna high five in each room, shoot some pool, play some foosball, and have a holiday drink to top off the fiesta. I'm even going to wear my hoop nose ring. It's gonna be wylin yo!

Why I Loved the 90s

2011-12-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

1. Dark Lipstick.

2. Plain jane haircuts.

3. Edward Scissorhands. Funny story: My fam and I watched the movie on Thanksgiving and my dad turns to my uncle and says, "Hey Charles, have you seen this? It's called Scissor Man."

4. Daria.

5. Coolots, which I thought were called 'coolocks' until now.

6. Long skirts.

7. Buffy. Duh.

8. Overalls.

9. Slouchy sweaters.

10. Jackets wrapped around the waist.

11. Bad boy crushes.

12. Foundation free faces.

13. Chokers.

14. Ren & Stimpy! along with Rocco's Modern life, Rugrats, and Bobby's World

15. I Know What You Did Last Summer - changed my life. Totally went out and bought a thumb ring after that.

Mickey Crushed Me With Love

2011-12-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

I think this is the first time I've hugged Mickey as an adult! I was way more excited than I thought I'd be. And he made kissy noises at me! It's probably because it's the only way they can express themselves in that costume without words, but only Mickey can get away with that and not be dubbed a creep.......maybe.

My New Favorite Treat: Adult Root beer Floats!!

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

I hate to bring up pinterest in every post, but thats where I discovered this little treat! They used 303 vodka, but Pinnacle is boss. Just add one shot to your ice cream and root beer, then throw a little whipped cream, a cherry on top, and enjoy!!!

Come over and we'll share a straw..... because I only have one.

Hibernation Station

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

Fall and Winter put me in serious hibernation mode. It's way harder for me to get out the house around this time of year, but I'm doing better than in previous years. [If you haven't seen me in awhile its nothing personal - I love you] Once I'm out, I'm totally fine, but it's the initial getting out that's difficult, but I always have I good time when I do!

But a little hiding out is good on occasion. I don't think many people spend enough time alone in absolute silence. That's when you can get the most clarity on things and new ideas may pop into your head that you may not have thought of when there's constant 'noise'. I, personally, get more creative work done, I lounge and watch Holiday movies, have a sweet treat or two, and my desire to read is heightened. There's nothing more magical than a good book, but I have to remember that my own life can be just as magical... as long as I leave the house.

Happy Thursday!

My X-Mas Wishlist

2011-12-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm always happy to get anything for Christmas - it's one more thing I didn't have. But I guess if I had to get specific I'd ask for...

1. LASER GUN ALARM CLOCK - wont turn off till you hit the target and there are 2 game modes <3

2. LEATHER JACKET - I'm in desperate need of a new one.

3. BOOKS. A few that I'm pinterested in reading are:

4. MACE GUN

5. BACKPACK OR BAG

6. WALLET

7. STYROFOAM HEADS with long necks for my costume wigs.

8. WINTER PJ'S

9. MOVIE TIX

10. Is it weird to ask for a haircut? Cuz I need one...bad.

Why I Want An iPad...

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Like I've said in previous posts, I'm not too much into technology. A friend once made fun of me for writing my blog posts by hand before publishing them because it's less time that I have to spend on the computer. But having worked a semi-recent gig with a very thick script, I realized I should add the iPad to my list of things to invest in.

I got to do wardrobe for a web series called Venice (season 3). This job was a little different because the actors brought items from their own wardrobe and I had to piece outfits together and accessorize based on what the scene required. I would get a suitcase of clothes from each actor the day of shooting and had to think fast and make sure everyone was prepped and ready to go when the director calls for them.

The goal was to shoot the entire season in 11 days and not in episode order. We jumped from scene to scene and episode to episode. And if there were re-shoots or continuing scenes, I had to make sure the actors were in the exact same outfit as before or, more importantly, I had to make sure they brought those items on set. If not, I'm dead. And not only am I dead, hair and makeup looks at the costume designer to see where we're at.

Every set has their own way of doing things, but this one kept me on my toes in a good way. Even if the hours were longer than usual, everyone always had a really great attitude and kept things fun. I made a lot of great friends.

Now, as far as the iPad goes, here's how it could have made my life easier:

1. I could have kept the entire two hundred some odd page script on there instead of carrying it around in a thick binder.

2. Continuity pics: I could have kept an easily accessible file of each actors outfits and then refer to them quicker than using my 'eco-friendly' phone that likes to freeze up. I'm now adding iPhone to my list.

3. They're light weight. I transferred all my pics to my laptop, but even that's a bit heavy to carry around all day.

4. And, in the future, it'll be a quick and easy way to get wardrobe approval from the directors.

Emmy's magazine did an article on how the iPad has become a huge asset for the television industry. Producers, directors, and costume designers only have good things to say. In iBooks you can upload call sheets, storyboards, take notes, and highlight the important stuff on your script and if you're in TV you're going to have a lot of them. Hairstylists and makeup artists can really benefit from it too. It can even withstand sub-zero temperatures. That doesn't really apply to me living in Orange County and all, but who knows, maybe I'll be taking a trip to the Alps in the future.

Here's a quote from the article by Paula Hendrickson:

"Episodes of CBS's How I Met Your Mother can jump backwards and forwards decades at a time, depicting the main characters from ages thirteen to eighty-two. So, department head hairstylist Grace Hernandez Leider uses her iPad as a quick reference tool to keep track of the various looks sported by the cast. 'If you're on set and someone asks, "What did Jason [Segal] look like when he was fifty?" I can google Jason from whatever episode that was, and there he is. It takes less than twenty seconds, and you can really see the detail and make it bigger, too.'"

Maybe one day you'll be able to transfer images and memories into a pensieve like Dumbledore, but until then, I'll save my pennies for my iPad purchase.

:)

Starting From Scratch

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

I haven't really been in the mood to make a statement clothing-wise. Unless you count not making a statement making a statement. Everything is starting to look the same. My eyes just need something new. Maybe looking as bland as possible will renew my view. It's times like these when I wish it was the 90's. Everyone looked bland, but that was cool.

Right now, I don't want to wear anything with color or design detail. I'm definitely not in girly mode so I'm glad characters like Lisbeth and Katniss will be dominating the screen for the next few years. I think it'll put fashion in a renewed state and make women strip down to the bare essentials. Maybe outfits and accessories will look more functional than fashionable. Katniss' character isn't worried about what she looks like or what people think or what guy she should choose (I went back and forth between Gale and Peeta - its hard to choose between a manly hunter and a clever, but selfless romantic), she's in survival mode. Everything she wore or carried was practical and necessary. With Lisbeth, she really doesn't dress for other people. She's rebellious and makes her own rules so I think the roles for women in film will cause women in general to dress more so for themselves and their mood rather than acceptance. But eventually, this too will be trendy and I'll have to write the opposite. My instructor wasn't lying when she said fashion is cyclical.

Pros and Cons Of An Arranged Marriage

2011-09-26T10:00:00.001-07:00

Dating can be boring, exciting, awkward, ridiculous, confusing, and fun. If its a newbie, it can be quiet and awkward and there's always a lot of small talk. I hate small talk. And after the date, you're consumed with questions. And most of the time its the same question but in different words.

What if you could skip the good and the bad of dating and go straight to marriage? And what if someone else got to pick your future spouse? Lets take a look at the pros and cons of an arranged marriage:

PRO: (assuming you come from a religious background) You don't have to worry about awkward first dates because you cant go on any!

OR

PRO: You can date all you want and when it doesn't work out, you can end it by telling the truth: you are having an arranged marriage.

CON: Constantly crushin' on people and reminding yourself it can never be.

PRO: While you're single, you'll save money not having to buy birthday and anniversary gifts!

CON: Reoccurring nightmares that you marry an ax murderer.

CON: Reoccurring nightmares of your wedding day.

CON: Reoccurring nightmares of your wedding night....

CON: Playing M.A.S.H. has lost it's appeal.

PRO: It's easy to decline unwanted dates. "Hey, you want to go out or something?" "No thanks, I'm having an arranged marriage so..."

CON: People, like me, keep asking dumb questions like, "So when you guys meet, are you gonna like...kiss?.."

PRO: Dating is one less thing you have to worry about. Makes it easier to focus on school and/or your career.

PRO: If you're 45 and singe, it's your parents' fault.

CON: It takes the fun out of watching RomComs... as if those are that fun, c'mon ;)

CON: My Dating Do's and Dont's post is no longer valid.

PRO/CON: Girls like me will fall in love with you because we can never be.... it's like super romantic, right?

PRO: "So what's your type?"
"Arranged."

I'm still not sure if it's good or bad, but I know its not for me. I don't hate dating that much. I guess I 'll just have to wait and see when my friend goes through with his. Now that's a wedding I better be invited to.

Mrs. Harry Potter

2011-09-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

Got a new pair of glasses! I think I'm going to get as many as possible considering one pair snapped in half and the other pair's lens popped out mid-conversation. These ones were a gift from my sis and an ode to Harry Potter. Aren't they cute?

I Heart Men's Wear

2011-09-16T22:16:00.001-07:00

Men's fashion is so effortless and clean. I occasionally get a little jealous, but this time I've decided to channel my jealousy into admiration and fall in love with the men's collection from ASOS. Enjoy!

Check out more men's wear on my Pinterest :)

Bye Bye Summer

2011-09-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know I've been hiding out for a minute (I'll explain why in a later post), but I'm currently feeling a little icky and exhausted so I thought a bit of blogging and ASOS would cheer me up. I'm kind of excited summer is peacin' out cuz that means its time to bust out the boots, scarves, gloves, and oh so adorable turbans! I decided to pin all my ASOS loves on Pinterest, but here are a few items to get you drooling. :)

Night time looks...

They've got men's wear too yall...

Click here to sneak dem peeks

Dear Draco

2011-08-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Draco,

I don't blame you for everything that's happened. Yeah, you did a lot of messed up stuff, but if I had crazy parents, who knows what I would have done... Well, I know I wouldn't have done the things you did, but I totally don't judge.

So the answer is: Yes, we're cool.

-Dayna

Neville Let Me Go...

2011-08-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dearest Neville,

I'm not sure where to begin, but I guess I'll start with: Why are you so hot?.. I didn't notice you at first, ya know, with Voldemort on the move and all, but now...the cloud is lifted and I can see more clearly. I will admit that the first moment I knew I had feelings for you was when you totally handled that sitch with Nagini. I would go into more detail, but I don't want to spoil it for those who have yet to read Harry's biography (which I heard did very well). How is he by the way? Have you spoken with him lately? He hasn't responded to any of my texts the past couple days. Hm...

Anyway, I lay awake at night thinking of you and the sword of Gryffindor and I know...I know this is love. And I swear it's not for superficial reasons.

I don't know if you and Luna are still 'talking' and no disrespect to her if you are, but I couldn't keep this in. Just text me when you get this and we can talk it out, okay? Love you boo.

Signed,

The Future Mrs. Longbottom

P.S. That's your cousin, right? ..Right?

true griNt

2011-08-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Can you believe the Harry Potter saga is over? I wish it wasn't so. This short post is my attempt at keeping Harry alive... I'm not even sure how another series can compete! If you haven't seen the final installment, you MUST see it in IMAX 3D. Yeah, it costs $18.50, but its worth every penny.

P.S. Can you believe how dashing these young lads are? Way to break the child star curse. I mean, look at Rupert Grint's hair!! He's too darn cute and Daniel Radcliffe too!!! I'm excited to see what other projects they're working on.

P.P.S. I'm so jealous that my sister's on PotterMore. I guess I'll have to wait till October or whenever like to rest of the U.S.

A Magical Mood

2011-08-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Lily Collins as Snow White. Can you believe she's Phil Collins' kid?

My friend once called me 'the strangest tomboy ever'. "Sure, I'll play video games just let me finish sewing this purse," she mocked. I take it as a compliment though. I'd rather be a little bit of everything than too much of one. So it may be no shock that, in spite of my tomboy gene, I love fairy tales. It's not the romance that gets me. I feel like romance is more about circumstances and scenery rather than the person - walks on the beach, roses, carriages, princes, Fiji (i.e. The Bachelorette). For me, romance is more of a feeling - two people only loving each other even if you're in bum town. But that's still not why I love fairy tales. They're about mystery, magic, and innocence. Someone is plucked from their ordinary/dull life and is thrown into a seemingly impossible situation, but somehow rises above. I love it. Is anyone else waiting for that to happen?

I'm not sure if Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is really considered a fairy tale but, to me, it's the perfect one. It doesn't have any romance, but there's so much adventure! Who doesn't love that?

I made this costume for Lauren's birthday a couple years ago and I'm so proud of it. I should have made myself one, but I still have the pattern so I guess it's never too late...

Then I made this hat for her party. It was definitely last minute, but I think the next one I make will be excellent....

I love pocket watches and bows. I used both to make this journal...

I bought this clock necklace at Cotton On in the Spectrum. What a find!

I saw these empty glass jars for .99 cents at Jo-Ann Fabrics so I filled one with watered down cranberry juice, the other with dark food coloring, and third with 'fake cookies'. The fake cookies were just flour and something else in the shape of cookies that I forced my mother to make. They got a little moldy though so refrain from nibbling.

I really want this locket from Victoria's Jewelry Box. Isn't it darling?

Fairy Tale Side Note: Can you believe they are doing two Snow White films? One with Lily Collins (as you saw above) and Armie Hammer as the prince... Oo La La... and the other with Kristen Stewart as Snow White and Charlize Theron as the wicked queen (click here for more photos), but in that one Snow White becomes a warrior so she can bump off the crazy queen. That's different huh? I'll be seeing both. :)

2011's Best Covers

2011-08-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

These just deepen my love for photo shoots and mag collecting.

All Things Tan

2011-08-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've never really had a knack for interior decorating. I appreciate the gift, but I don't think its one of mine so I keep things plain and simple. My friend said that I may not be an interior designer, but my room still manages to have the same theme. That's when I realized, I love all things tan. Tan, beige, oatmeal - whatever you want to call it - I love it. So here are a couple shots of my fave tan items.

My Bike!!!!

Believe it or not, I saved close to $300 in change to buy this bad boy a couple years ago. The cost was over $400, but I didn't mind throwing in the extra since I cashed in my pennies for the rest.

The Great Crate

I have two that reside on either side of my bike. They used to hold fava beans, but I asked if I could keep the crates before they got tossed. Now they hold my patterns and sewing supplies.

My Dresser

I really didn't want to buy one. I was actually going to keep my clothes in my treasure chest until my sister gave me this one. I heart hand-me-downs.

My Book Shelf

Ikea baby. Some of my books are still at my parents house and there isn't much room on my shelf. I'll have to remedy that.

Side Note:

Meet Sateen! I mentioned her in a previous post and actually borrowed that ensemble. Thank God she shares. :)

All Blessings Flow...

2011-08-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

The past week has been great. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. I didn't get a raise, I didn't go on vacation, and I didn't win the lotto. In fact, a couple things didn't go as I had planned, but I feel better than if they had.

I used to think I'd be happy when all my ducks are in a row, but life doesn't work that way. There's always going to be something that needs to be fixed or resolved. I'm not going to put my happiness on hold over some measly mess!

I woke up Friday morning and instead of praying that I'll find money on the ground like I normally do, I said, "God, show me how I can bless someone else today." I'm not always that nice, trust, but I decided to give it a go. I got off work early so I went to the store to buy some necessities. I picked the shortest line, as usual, but I looked to my left and noticed that an elderly lady in the line next me was turned away because the cashier was off duty.

"You can go ahead of me if you want," I said. She looked at me as if nobody has ever offered before.

"Really? But you only have two things," she said.

"It's no big deal. I'm not in a hurry."

"Bless you! Bless you!," she said, "I was talking with the phone company this morning and I told the lady that all young people are sheep, but you're the exception."

That made my day right there, but it gets better. She couldn't lift the watermelons out of her basket, so I did, and loaded them into her cart after she paid. She offered to buy my items, but I declined. My mom taught me that it's good to let people do nice things for you because it opens the door for God to bless them even more, but I prayed the Lord would bless this lady just for offering and I walked her to her car.

"Are you sure this is no trouble?"

"Nah. I got all day," I said.

"In that case, do you wanna come home with me?" she joked. We laughed and she asked my name, hers was Kathy.

"Are you from Heaven?" Kathy asked. Then I really laughed. "I wish you the best of luck in life. I really do because the past 85 years have been great for me." She held her hand over her heart and her eyes watered a bit. That's when I thought, Dang. Something that really took me no effort at all brought someone a bit of joy and in return, I feel pretty darn good about life in general.

Making someone else's day makes your day too!!

Then it really hit me at church yesterday. I'm sitting next to one of my favorite people in the world along with someone new that's really cool too, my mom's jammin' on stage, and then they start playing "Are You Ready For a Miracle?". Everybody's clapping and getting down and I realized THIS is my miracle. Feeling and being this blessed is my miracle. I'm surrounded by the best people, I'm healthy and happy, my family is healthy and happy, Pippy is the cutest dog ever, and the Lord is looking out for me. Life cant get any better than that.

Costuming Done Right

2011-08-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to see Captain America! Why? Because I LOVE superhero movies and the costumes look pretty boss. Costumes may not sound like a big deal to some, but I think they can make or break a movie. Truly. The same goes for hair and makeup. You can have the best script, but throw in a bad wig and you've lost me. That mess is distracting.

When the filming schedule is running pretty tight, I hear, the first people to lose time are hair, makeup, and wardrobe. BUT, like I said earlier, if the actors are lookin' jacked, your movie's gonna be jacked. But from what I've seen, the Captain America crew knows what's up. Now let's take a look at the costume Anna B. Sheppard designed for Captain America himself.

The average superhero wears colorful spandex. I love spandex, but it's fun to see a costume that has a lot of design detail without being over the top. Sheppard had to keep in mind the time period, the original costume, and the fact that it needs to look cool to viewers today. I say, it's perfect.

Maybe I'm a little biased because I love period pieces, but seriously, so much work has to go into them. Think about it, I doubt the extras had 1940s war garb hanging out in their closet. If it were a modern day movie, extras could just show up in their normal clothes and save the costumer some time/work, but not in this case. That's why I love it so much! I'm obsessed with hard work.

I'm sure the leading lady, Hayley Atwell, had fun playing dress up. Just look at that hair - to die for. And working with Chris Evans must have been pretty cool too. Is it me or does he have the most fun career? Fantastic Four, Scott Pilgrim vs The World (my fave), and now this?

JACKPOT.

Its Black. its white.

2011-08-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

I normally dress up my mannequin, Sateen, in cute outfits and marvel at my work when I walk into my room. But I figured I'd steal her current ensemble for a mo and snap a few pics. It gave me an excuse to show off my new glasses!

GLASSES: Ebay

TOP: Victoria's Secret

TUTU: My own design

CAMERA: A gift from my Great Grandmother

BANDANA: Cassy's Beauty Evolution

BRACELET: A birthday gift

The Happiest Place On Earth

2011-07-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to have my Disneyland pass back! I was only without it for a couple months, but it was torture. To get back into the swing of things, I decided to hit up the park by myself for a couple hours and snap some pics before meeting with friends. I also needed to recover from the date from hell, but thats another story.

I had never gone alone before so I brought some music to listen to while waiting in line and such. People either thought I was a tourist or a loner or both so I had the privilege of talking to a good amount of random people. Only a bold person would try to chat up a girl wearing head phones and fiddling with a fancy camera they don't know how to use. Kudos brave ones.

Any hoot, I rarely take pictures, but I thought I'd give it a go. I did alright I think. :)

Oh and for those of you that have yet to check out the Soundsational Parade - get on that! The music is cool and my lovely sister, Kamari, is singing on it. I'm so proud :)

Mod is Back

2011-07-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

According to Marie Claire, the Mod look is back. In my mind, it never left! But I'm happy to hear of their stamp of approval. It's one of the cutest and simplest styles to carry off. And doesn't my friend Lindsey (below) look darling? She was invited to a 60's themed birthday party so I dressed her in a few items straight from my closet. I immediately thought 'Mod' when I bought the dress from F.I.D.M.'s scholarship store for $5.00!! I've had the earrings and boots for so long, I cant even remember where I bought them and the hair and make-up were cake ;) But Linds can make anything look good...darn her.

Now, here are a few inspiring ladies from The Mod Ages... Enjoy!

Fashion and Family

2011-07-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

I attended a wedding this past weekend and it was great! I hadn't seen that much style in a long time. I'm not talking about trendy stuff, I mean real style. And since the bride is a lover of all things fabulous, I decided this would be the perfect time to bust out the 1930's style hat I made awhile back. Everyday I get more and more obsessed with the Royals and their ability to look so classy all the time. We need to bring that into the states! Anyhoot, here are a couple pictures of me and my family. :)

Dress: Foreign Exchange
Lipstick: Revlon in Black Cherry
Earrings: Pixics
Hat: My own design
Shoes: Somewhere at the Spectrum (sorry I can't remember!)

A Day In The Life of A Wardrobe Assistant

2011-06-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

On Friday, I spent the day assisting with wardrobe for a movie called 'Live At The Foxes Den' starring the actors below. Since celebs have a reputation for being rude and/or self-centered, I thought I'd take the time to prove that that's not true and share my experience meeting some of the nicest people in the biz.

Jackson Rathbone: (Twilight, The Last Airbender) We exchanged a few smiles in passing throughout the day, then at the end of the night, I was waiting for the actors to get changed so we could pack up and head home and as he walked to his trailer, he said a few things and I responded (and giggled). Then he said something that I couldn't really hear, but I was too nervous to say, "Huh? What?". I guess I'll never know what he said. My bad... But as he left (in a nice hat) he said, "I put all the clothes on the hanger for you." It may not sound like a big deal, but it's rare. It's totally fine if the actors don't hang them up, but it was very nice of him. I will also note that he has a beautiful face and flawless skin and I don't use the term 'beautiful' loosely when it comes to looks.. AND he's nice? - Kudos. So ladies, if you already have a crush on him, you have very good taste.

Pooch Hall: (The Game, Jumping The Broom) Now, this guy was awesome. He gave me a nickname within the first 3 seconds that we met, which is so cool. I mean, everyone wants a nickname, right? ..He was super nice to everyone and still very professional. He was in and out of there in no time just because he knows how to get the job done. Very cool guy and a sharp dresser if I might add.

Elliott Gould: (Ocean's Thirteen, American History X) Love this guy. He has such a soothing voice and I know he's got some interesting stories. He gave me a snippet of a memory from his childhood and for a moment I forgot where I was. Something about him just sucks you in! "What's your name?", he asked me. I told him. "You are just so pretty," he smiled and shook my hand. It made my day.

Brian Doyle Murray: (Groundhog Day, Caddyshack) I'm not gonna lie, this is the part where I got giddy. I didn't know who he was at first, but Brian showed up late afternoon and wanted me to check the suit he brought for one of the scenes. So while we were at his car, the more he spoke, the more familiar his voice sounded. And then it clicked, "Are you Captain K'nuckles?!", I yelped. "Yes!", he said as he cracked up. I'm sure he was wondering why a 25 year old is obsessed with a cartoon called The Misadventures of Flapjack. But if any of you have seen it, you understand why. He was a really nice guy and easy to joke around with. Did I mention he's Bill Murray's brother?

Bob Gunton: (24, Patch Adams) I didn't get to interact with him much, but he's got great hair and prefers normal ties as opposed to skinny ones. :)

See? Actors aren't bad. I've met worse people at the grocery store. So toss those tabloids and give everyone a chance!

P.S. Since I brought up Jackson Rathbone and all, you guys should check out the new Breaking Dawn trailer. The wedding scene looks so pretty... Click here to watch.

How To Ease Into A Drastic Look: THE FINAL STEP

2011-06-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

This is it peeps! The 6th and final step in How To Ease Into A Drastic Look. I figured I'd save the most permanent for last.... TATTOOS!!!

I'm not saying everyone HAS to get a tattoo, but what's a drastic look without one? And I think we can all agree that our generation has the most so it's not really that big of a deal anymore. In 70 years, let us be old, tatted, and wrinkly together!!

Alice Dellal (left) and Megan Fox are my favorite examples of ladies with tatts that still look feminine. Zoe Kravitz also has some cute ones and Tattoologist is a great blog for tattoo pics and inspiration.

Now, along with the tattoos, you get to do some more shopping! It's time to purchase some cute tops and bottoms for summer!

All items, below, are from Forever 21

The pants in the center are corduroy. Crazy right?

I'm a sucker for midriffs....

And that's how it's done!

Click HERE for the FULL SHOPPING LIST.

It sums up all the steps and lists all the item you need to

purchase. Don't get overwhelmed when you look at it.

Remember, easing into a drastic look is a gradual process so take as long as you want...

Hence the word 'ease'.

And don't forget that I'm doing it with you!

Hope you enjoy the transformation!!!

How To Ease Into A Drastic Look Part 5

2011-05-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

Time to get some piercings, shoes, and purses!! I already have my nose pierced (i get my rings from Hot Topic) so I'm kind of a cheater, but I do plan on getting some more ear piercings.

Since this step is easy, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite items to inspire you :) Enjoy!!

Shoes, bags, and earrings from: Bakers and Topshop.

Click HERE for the FINAL STEP!

Blake Lively & The Green Eyed Monster

2011-05-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not a jealous person. But I decided that if I were to be jealous of one person, right now, it would be Blake Lively. The girl is truly livin la vida. So let's countdown from 10 to 1 why we should hate our lives starting with the obvious and ending with unbelievable.

10. Archaeological Digs: I don't know if any of you saw the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but in one of them she goes to Egypt or something and gets to uncover treasure lost beneath our feet! I've always wanted to do that mess... sigh...

9. Her Sister: Blake's sibling is Robyn Lively who was in the movie Teen Witch. There's a random rap scene that is hilarious. The song is called Top That. Check it out below.

8. Gossip Girl: The wardrobe is amazing.

7. Green Lantern: Ryan Reynolds. That is all.

6. The Town: Legit movie.

5. Penn Badgley: I saw him and thought "Dang, he's actually really cute..And his name is Penn!.." I don't know why him and Blake broke up, but perhaps she'll regret it in the afterlife... or maybe not now that Number 3 is in the picture...

4. The girl can dress.

3. Leonardo DiCaprio: The two are rumored to be dating. Good for her! He's been dating young models since the dawn of time so I'm glad to see he's switching things up by dating an actress. Of course she looks like a model, but still. She deserves a high five and a pat on the back.

2. Spielburg: The picture above was taken in France on Steven Spielburg's yacht!

1. Her Future: Is Bright. Like I said earlier, she's livin' the life!! And she's gonna be in a movie called Savages starring a million cool people. Get it girl!!

How To Ease Into A Drastic Look Part 4

2011-05-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you ask me, hair hasn't looked good since the old days, but what can you do? I say, mix a little old and new and you've got yourself a hot look.

STEP 1: I've never heard of a drastic look that didn't involve hair dye so now's a good time to choose your color! I'm obsessed with red...

STEP 2: Haircuts and/or extensions. Don't act like you're too good for a weave. And FYI 99% of famous people have them. If you're nervous about cutting your own hair, get extensions and have the stylist cut that instead. That way, if you don't like it you can just take em out! Call me for the hookups.

STEP 3: Get a curling iron and flat iron.

STEP 4: Go shopping and get some dresses, skirts, and shorts!

Complements of Topshop of course :)

CLICK HERE FOR PART 5!!

WE'RE ALMOST DONE!

How To Ease Into A Drastic Look Part 3

2011-05-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

This step is easy. All you gotta do is paint them nails! But the catch is, they can never be chipped again. There's nothing worse than lookin tight and then your nails are tore up. I've done it and I'm ashamed. So from here on out we have to say bye bye to jacked up nails.

STEP 1: Mani-pedi. You don't have to go to a salon to do it. I've actually only been once and it's cool, but doing it yourself saves cash. So I would suggest Sally Hansen's Manicure & Pedicure Salon Essentials. And a little trick my mom taught me: after you moisturize your feet at night, sleep with little footie socks on and when you wake up your feet are even softer.

STEP 2: Base and Top Coat.

STEP 3: Add 3 new colors to your nail polish collection: a light, medium, and dark color.
Here are my favorite colors from RGB Cosmetics:

You can also try the Sally Hansen Nail Strips below. I've never tried them, but if you do, lemme know how it goes.

STEP 4: Accessories!! Now's the time to show off those nails by buying some rings and bracelets. And throw some necklaces in there while you're at it.

Here are some items from Forever 21 that I like:

STEP 5: Outerwear. An old outfit automatically looks new if you add a cute jacket so add some sweaters and jackets in this piece!

Here are my favorite pieces from Topshop.

Click HERE for Part 4!!!

Makeover Must-Haves

2011-05-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

To briefly sum up the necessities of How To Ease Into A Drastic Look, here is a shopping list of the items you'll need! And remember, this is a gradual process so you don't need to buy all this stuff at once. Take your time!

Part 1 Recap

1. Body exfoliant
2. Lotion
3. Signature fragrance
4. Cute water bottle
5. Lunch box
6. Workout and Diet journal
7. New Tunes
8. Jillian Michael's book: Making The Cut (optional)
9. Sports bras (4)
10. Workout tops (4)
11. Exercise jackets (2)
12. Workout pants (sweats and fitted)
13. Gym shoes

Part 2 Recap

1. Beautiful Skin of Color: A Comprehensive Guide to Asian, Olive, and Dark Skin (optional)
2. Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer
3. Face exfoliant
4. Chap stick
5. Lip exfoliant
6. 3D White Strips
7. Travel tooth brush and floss
8. Mustache mints
9. L'Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer
10. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
11. Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick or Maybelline Fit Me Foundation or Clinique
12. Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Loose Powder
13. Blush: Bare Minerals in Warmth
14. Makeup remover or baby wipes
15. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets
16. Eye Shadow set
17. Eye liner
18. Mascara or lash extensions
19. L'Oreal Colour Riche lip liner
20. Lip stick or lip gloss (3)
21. Bra and undies sets
22. Strapless bras
23. Spring/Summer pajamas
24. Warm pajamas

Part 3 Recap
1. Sally Hansen's Manicure & Pedicure Salon Essentials (optional)
2. Base and top coat
3. Light nail color
4. Medium nail color
5. Dark nail color
6. Sally Hansen Nail Strips (optional)
7. Rings (3)
8. Bracelets (3)
9. Necklaces (3)
10. Sweaters (3)
11. Waist length jacket (2)
12. Full length jacket

Part 4 Recap
1. Hair dye
2. Haircut and/or extensions
3. Curling and flat iron
4. Dresses (5)
5. Skirts (3)
6. Shorts (3)

Part 5 Recap
1. Earrings (studs and danglies)
2. Body Jewelry (ex. nose ring)
3. Shoes (casual, day or night, heels, boots)
4. Handbags (day, clutch)

Part 6 Recap
1. Tattoos
2. Tops (casual, career, evening)
3. Jeans
4. Slacks

How To Ease Into A Drastic Look Part 2

2011-05-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

In Part 1, we talked about hot bods, smooth skin, & exfoliation. But today we're going to focus on the face! Here's how to prep before you do your makeup.

STEP 1: Cleanse. Obviously. I haven't found one that I'm in love with so I'm making an appointment for a facial. Sorry yall.

STEP 2: Exfoliate the face & neck. I like to make my own. Here are the ingredients:
-Dry Oatmeal (2 spoonfuls)
-Baking Soda (1 spoon full)
-Water (a few droplets till it makes a paste)
And voila!

STEP 3: Exfoliate the lips!! I bite my lip a lot and if I exfoliate them, you can't tell as much. And they're just smoother! Here's what I use:
-Spoon full of Sugar
-Spoon full of Honey
All you gotta do is rub it on your lips and wipe it off with a wash cloth. Some times I'm tempted to eat it, but its non conducive to Part 1 ;)

STEP 4: Moisturize. You can use whatever chap stick you want, but if you're having a hard time finding a good facial moisturizer, check out Beautiful Skin of Color: a Comprehensive Guide to Asian, Olive, and Dark Skin.

MAKEUP TIME!!

STEP 1: Primer. I use L'Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer. It smooths the skin, hides the pores, and even keeps me from getting super oily. I love it.

STEP 2: Foundation time! I use the Foundation Stick and loose Powder from Bobbi Brown. It's taken me a hundred years to find makeup in my shade, but this mess is bomb.

STEP 3: Teeth. I don't care what you use, but them teeth gotta be white. You can't look fly and then have yellow teeth - it ain't right and you know it. If you're on a hot date, avoid dairy - it supposedly adds to icky breath. Instead, keep these Moustache Mints in your purse like I do ( a gift from my mother).

Now let's take a look back at our makeup inspiration. Here's mine:

I actually don't really like wearing makeup every day, but once I get the urge, I like to keep the eyes simple and play up the lips. That's probably why I love Marilyn so much!

STEP 4: Eyes. I prefer dark or natural shadows, but on Mac's website you can customize your own set!

STEP 5: You can get eyeliner and mascara or false lashes cheapo at Target. I'm bout it bout it. I wanna try eyelash extensions. My cousin got em recently and they look amazing.

STEP 6: Oh how I love lipstick!! It's good to have one light color for the day, another that can be worn day or night, and one special one for the night.... My picks: Maybelline's 'Nearly There', Revlon's 'Black Cherry', and Clinique's High Impact Lip Colour.

STEP 7: Lets add some new pajamas and underoos to the mix! Pick items that match the new style you wanna go for. I prefer the vintage look :)

CLICK HERE FOR PART 3!!!