That's Hot Thursday, Vol. 003

Today's "That's Hot Thursday" is dedicated to the 2 most important men in my life, as today was a very special day for both of them:

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate my dad on his retirement. His company celebrated him with a nice party this afternoon. He has been working so hard for over 40 years to give my family a better life than he had, so for that I thank him. Congrats, daddy! I hope we've made all your work worth it!

Dad with his cake

Secondly, I'd like to congratulate my boyfriend for successfully defending his dissertation. After 5 years of hard work in his Ph.D program, he officially has earned his title and the right to place "Dr." in front of his name. Congratulations, Christian! I mean, Dr. Christian.

Christian during his defense

This day will be remembered as a huge milestone for both of them, and I look forward to the next chapter in their lives. I'm sad that I couldn't be in both places at once, but I couldn't be happier for the two of them. Nothing is hotter than the successes of hard-working individuals.

Dad & Christian: I love you and am soooo proud of you both!

Love,
Jess

WTF Wednesday, Vol. 003

Here are a few interesting stories to help you get through the rest of the week. Ahh, the joys of living in LA:

1. Who Knew LA's red-light camera fines were 'voluntary'?

WTF! You mean to tell me that people who were issued the almost $500 ticket were not required to pay? That is the biggest waste of time, money, and resources I have ever heard. Way to go, LA.

2. Woman Allegedly Pulls Baby From Stroller, Slams Him Against Truck

Hey, she was just trying to break his arm off so she could eat it. Duh.

Makeup Monday: My Lips But Better

I feel like I've been on the hunt for the perfect "my-lips-but-better" (MLBB) lipstick. You know what I'm talking about. That lipstick that gives you just enough natural-looking color so that no one can tell you're wearing anything. That lipstick that's super low maintenance, you don't even need a mirror to put it on. That lipstick that keeps your mom from saying, "put something on, you're looking pale." <--- no? is that just my lovely madre?

Anyway, I've been having a tough time finding one because I can't really tell what color my lips are. They're not really pink, or brown, or plummy... but a strange mix of all three. I'd kind of resigned myself to the fact that I would never find my holy grail MLBB product. The first lipstick I bought that I thought could serve this purpose was Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipcolor in My Mahogany. This was a pretty close match to my natural color, but I feel like it lacks the warmth that my skintone needs. Plus it has a slight scent/taste, which is a negative for me because I'm super sensitive to smells -- as you'd be able to confirm by my collection of 3 perfumes (all of which were gifts, lol).
The next lipstick that replaced My Mahogany in the mlbb category was actually surprising to me. I bought a Clinique moisturizer at Macy's, and lucky for me, they were having a "free gift with purchase" promotion. I chose the purple themed set, and it contained a Clinique Different Lipstick in Shy. I was kind of hesitant to try it since it was so obviously purple in the tube, that I thought I would look crazy. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the color was a bit sheer and a pretty good match for my lips! It was also pretty moisturizing, which is always a huge plus for my dry lips, and I couldn't detect any taste/scent. So for the last few months, this free sample was my go-to mlbb color, even though it did pull a bit plummier that my actual lip color. No biggie.

But then I found it. Yes, IT. I have found the most absolutely perfect MLBB color! AND it's from a drugstore, which equals ¢ vs $ and that is a huge plus! Drumroll please: my perfect MLBB color is Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Rosy Nude. I think it cost me like $7. Awesome. There is no scent/taste. Double awesome. And it definitely does not dry out my lips. Plus the packaging is pretty cute.

I'm seriously so excited about this. But this feeling has quickly turned into paranoia that it will be discontinued, so now I have to go out and by back-ups. Thanks, Revlon. For making such an amazingly flattering lipstick and taking all my monies.

Happy, mom?

Social Saturday

Lunchtime margarita with the parents:

Enjoy your weekend!

Fashion Friday: Summer Don't

I love summer, especially for the light and colorful outfits we can wear. It's nice to put away all the boring coats and boots of fall and winter, and get to bust out the skirts and sandals. However, some people get a tad too excited about the warm weather and completely forget to put on pieces of their outfit altogether! Case-in-point -- this clueless pantsless girl:

Fashion Don't

This isn't super offensive, as she obviously has a nice figure -- but inappropriate for an institution for higher education? Definitely. Girl, you are not at home watching Jersey Shore! She's just asking to get eye-raped by the maintenance men.

Here is the better version of that outfit:

It's young, fresh, and totally casual. Let us all learn from this horrible hhhorrible fashion crime. 

Remember your pants, lest you end up a blogger's case study.

That's Hot Thursday, Vol. 002

1. Sephora Favorites Set for Summer, $39

 

This is a super cute makeup set currently being sold at Sephora. It's got a bunch of sample-size products (and a couple of full-sized ones!) that are ideal for summertime. My top 3 favorite items are the Smashbox bronzer, Urban Decay setting spray, and the nail polish.

The Smashbox bronzer is great for giving a glowy, sun-kissed look, but is subtle enough to be used on many skintones. The Urban Decay setting spray is supposed to make your makeup last throughout long nights of partying. I tried it out when I went dancing at the Conga Room for my birthday -- and when I got home, my face looked just as fresh as when I left the house! Two-thumbs up. Finally, the nail polish is a great coral color, and even though it's a tiny bottle, let's be real. Who actually finishes a full-sized bottle of nail polish anyway?

This set contains:
- 0.07 oz full-size Sephora Collection Mono Eyeshadow in Choco Excess 19 (dark chocolate with silver glitter) -- It's okay... the color is a bit sheer
- 0.13 oz Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk -- Love this for a natural glow!
- 0.08 oz Too Faced Mini Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer -- A bit light for my complexion, but it could be great for lighter skintones
- 0.125 oz Sephora by OPI nail colour in I'm Wired (opaque electric coral red) -- Love it, a really nice coral
- 0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment (sheer berry rose in pink case) -- Love it, especially since I would never shell out the $$ for a full size one. Once I'm done with it, I'll stick to my $2 chapstick thankyouverymuch
- 0.18 oz Guerlain L'Or Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold Make-Up Base -- I'm afraid to try this. The full size is $80, so I don't want to fall in love with it
- 0.10 oz Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Mascara in Black -- Haven't tried this yet, I have too many mascaras to use up before opening new ones
- 0.34 oz Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Make-Up Setting Spray -- Love, it really works!
- 0.20 oz full-size Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pop (cool pink)  -- Haven't tried it, but the color is pretty
- Sephora signature makeup bag -- Nice and spacious, fits waaaay more stuff than what came in it

2. $20 for 6 tacos and a Pitcher of Margaritas

PopsugarLA is offering a pretty awesome Pink Taco deal! Who doesn't love tacos and margaritas, especially on warm summer night? If you want to get in on the deal, you've still got a few days. Expires Wednesday, July 27th.

3. The Real Madrid Soccer (Football?) Team

 These lovely men are practicing at UCLA's soccer field, so my coworkers have been making the trek out there in hopes of catching a glimpse.  Some appear to be extreme fans, even making some irrational decisions along the way. Enjoy the show:

 

Is it bad that I laughed at this?

WTF Wednesday, Vol. 002

Today's edition of "WTF Wednesday" is all about family love:

Mom Tries to Sell Baby at Taco Bell

Hey, let's look at the bright side. At least she was trying to give her baby a better life by auctioning her off at this fine establishment. Better than reading about a baby found in a dumpster, no?

Aaaaand in case you needed another reason not to have a baby:

Teen Killed Parents; Hid Bodies During House Party

WTF! I guess these parents should have spent a little more time entertaining the idea of letting their kid have a get-together? I wonder what he would've done if they'd grounded him... *shudder*
Raising a normal kid is hard, y'all.

TV Tuesday: Q'Viva!

Am I the only one that's still upset over the J.Lo / Marc Anthony break-up?

You can hate all you want, but I'm totally taking Jennifer's side on this one. Sure, the woman doesn't have the best track record, but I sincerely doubt this is her fault. I mean, nobody wants 3 divorces, especially while having 3-year old twins! I don't know what went on behind closed doors -- he may be my namesake, but I'm no Perez Hilton -- so all I can say that this is an obviously tough decision that must have been a last resort.
Alright. Got that out of my system.

Even though J.Lo may not be cut out to be a wife, she's still a damn good businesswoman. Case in point: "Q'Viva!" Despite the divorce, J.Lo will keep her plans to film a new reality show with Marc Anthony, which will be similar to American Idol but with a Latin American twist. No specific info on air-dates, but I can guarantee you that I will be watching the show -- for the new talent as much as for the potential awkward moments.
Will you?

Makeup Monday: tarte Glow Your Way to Gorgeous

So, as many of you know, I'm a bit of a make-up junkie. One of my latest additions has been tarte's new Glow Your Way to Gorgeous kit. 

tarte Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Kit

I'd been wanting to try one of tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes, but was hesitant to pay the $25 price tag. Even though the blushes have great reviews on Sephora.com, I couldn't commit to a product I'd never tried, especially from a brand I'd never tried. But the other day, the youtube gods saved the day. I was watching a video about this new tarte collection available only on qvc.com, which included a bunch of FULL-SIZE Tarte products and a cute purple bag for only $60. Don't judge me, I never order stuff from QVC, but this was a deal too good to pass up! Also, my discovery of this set of amazingness happened to coincide with my birthday weekend, so I requested it from the BF :)

When it finally came in the mail, I was so excited to check out the products:

-0.42 oz Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Tan (also available in Fair, Light, Medium, and Deep)

-0.20 oz 12-Hour Wear Clay Blush in Peaceful, a soft rose

-0.10 oz Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Shadow in Shimmering Taupe

-0.056 oz Amazonian Clay SmolderEYES eyeliner in Fig, a plum brown

-0.24 fl oz Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara in Black

-0.10 oz Lip Luster in Sweet, a peach pink

-Blush brush

-Shadow brush

-Sharpener

-Carryall Bag

Plus, there were two surprise deluxe samples also included (which weren't even mentioned in the product description!):

-0.11 oz Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess (full-size is 0.32 oz)

-7 ml Pure Maracuja Oil (product not yet sold separately)

So awesome! All of the products are so great for summer and can definitely be used year round. I haven't really had a chance to try all of the products yet, but so far I'm loving the blush, and the eyeliner is an awesome plummy color, which is very flattering on brown eyes and a great alternative to the typical harsh black liner.

I'm not sure what the Maracuja Oil is for -- I'm assuming that it's to be used as a facial moisturizer? It's a brand new tarte product, so I'll have to do a little research before I put it somewhere I may later regret, lol.

Anyway, if you love tarte products or have been meaning to try some, I think this is a great kit at an amazing value. If anyone would like a closer look at any of the products, let me know in the comments, and I'll post some more pics.

tarte Glow Your Way To Gorgeous 8-pc Maracuja & Clay Collection, $60, qvc.com

Foodie Friday: Hae Ha Heng

Last Monday night the BF and I had a craving for some Thai food. Our favorite place is all the way in Pasadena and was already closed, so we turned to yelp for the save.
Our criteria? Close to home, not too pricey, open late, and relatively positive reviews.

This is how we found the hippest, tastiest Thai restaurant in Koreatown: Hae Ha Heng
It's on the 2nd floor of a little strip mall on 3rd and Western, with FREE underground parking. That's like automatic 3-star status already.

The first thing you see when you walk in is this old-school truck turned full bar. It looks really cool even though it's a little out of place since it doesn't go with the rest of the decor -- but creative nonetheless.

Truck-Bar Area

The inside is pretty small and super tight quarters. The tables are all really low to the ground and the seats are more like teeny ottomans -- long-legged peeps may find this a little uncomfortable (if not impossible) to sit at these tables. Sorry. But hey, I say it's cozy.
The night we were there, they had a guy set up in the corner with a keyboard and mic, singing old school English and Thai songs. Who doesn't love '70s hits in the background while enjoying thai iced tea?

Indoor Area

There's also a really nice outdoor area which I think is even more spacious than the inside. It was a chilly night so we sat inside, but there are heat lamps out there just in case. I guess that's the "cool" place to eat because we were the only dummies sitting inside, lol. I guess next time I'll bring a sweater.

Outdoor Area

Aesthetics aside, the food was actually really good! My favorite Thai dish is Pad See Ew, so I always order that to test out a new place. And not that I'm a Thai food connoisseur, but this was seriously the best Pad See Ew I've ever had! Two thumbs up for the food! This place also seems to be really good for groups, given the option of ordering a beer tower. Yes, a beer tower. Literally, it's a huge column of beer with a tap on it, that is placed directly on your table. Awesome. Also, all of the waitresses were so nice, and that goes a long way in my book. I'll definitely be back.

That's Hot Thursday

This series chronicles what I find to be hot in any given week - no restrictions on the subject.

1. Mar Y Sol Guadalupe Flower Tote, $88

I am drooling over this bag right now. It's a hand-crafted straw bag with carved wood handles in a beautiful mossy green color.  It's so perfect for summer; I can so see it as a casual day bag, or a stylish bag that's large enough to take on a weekend trip.
This is the first time I've heard of this brand, but I like what I've read so far. Mar Y Sol products are all made by hand using natural materials sourced sustainably from Madagascar, with sales enabling families to obtain economic independence and promote environmental conservation.
Hmmm, I think this means I definitely should buy this bag, for the good of the people of Madagascar.

This counts as a good deed, right?

2. Chanel Topkapi Eyeshadow Quad, $65

Isn't this outrageously priced eyeshadow quad sooo beautiful?? I know the colors aren't particularly unique, but that's what I love about it. This is a perfect neutral palette with a pop of gold that can be used everyday and all year long! If you're gonna spend $$$ on makeup, it might as well be on something you'll actually use, no? It's limited edition and only available online at chanel.com or in select boutiques. So hurry, while supplies last!

July is my birthday month, and yes, I'm still accepting gifts. *hint* *hint*

3. Oklahoma, 100+ degrees

Now that's HOT! Apparently this has been a record-breaking summer in the Midwest and South. Central Oklahoma has hit triple-digits for 15 consecutive days! Forecasters don't see relief in sight, and the state could soon break the 1936 record for 22 consecutive days of such heat.

This is why we pay a premium to live in LA, people!

WTF Wednesday

Welcome to WTF Wednesday. This series is dedicated to any shocking/crazy news stories that I may stumble upon. We'll kick off the series with a tie: the titles are pretty self-explanatory.

Baby boom! 16-lb Newborn May Set Texas Record

 

OMG. Don't doctors induce women who may be carrying ridiculously large babies? Look at him, poor thing doesn't even have a neck! I bet he left one nasty scar on his momma.
In case you all needed any more birth control supplement, the largest baby on record weighed over 23 lbs. Oww.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Florida Couple on Trial After Pet Python Kills Child

 

WTF. So many questions. First of all, why do you have a pet python? Secondly, why isn't that pet python on lockdown when you have small children?? Wait, there are TWO snakes in the house?? Oh hell nah... can we get Child Protective Services over here please? And why did it take 2 years for these people to be put on trial?
Also, I'm not trying to knock teenage mothers... but maybe this 2-year old's 19-year old mother was a tad bit in over her head trying to care for her child, exotic pets, and delicious boyfriend. Just sayin.