Time for the hot tamale train!

I am totally addicted to So You Think You Can Dance. This is the one summer reality that I really, really look forward to. Last year, they had some amazing dancers and I hope that this year is even better. Anyone else watch this show?

Time flies by...

In less than 2 weeks, I will be turning 30. How did that happen? Seriously, I can still remember turning 20 and feeling old. I feel like I have experienced a lot but at the same time I feel like I have so much that I haven’t seen & done. But now that I am almost there, I don’t feel like I am getting older. Yes, it does take me longer to recoup from any cocktail adventures but besides that, I don’t feel like the way I thought I would feel when turning 30.

Unlike some of my friends, I don’t have a set of goals that I wanted to accomplish by the time I was 30 i.e. marriage, kids, etc. I feel like I am in a better place in my life right now than I have in a long time. I have an good job although it isn’t my ideal career but I am making a good salary where I am able to treat myself to things and lead the life that I want. I am happy as to where I am living and my relationships with those people that I am close to. Could things be better… yes, they could be but I am content with my life right now. After all, I am still a work in progress.

As far celebrating my 30th, I really don’t want a big deal to be made out of it. I have always been the type of person that would rather make a big deal out of someone else’s special day than my own. I am just more of an introvert. The day before my birthday, two of my friends are coming up and we are meeting for lunch & drinks. I think we may go to Cha Cha Cha’s (big surprise!) and I am looking forward to drinking plenty of sangria. In fact, I decided to take the Friday & Monday off so that I can enjoy a long weekend for my birthday and I plan on drinking my twenties away and welcoming my thirties with a large Kettle One dirty martini. On my actual birthday, I am spending the day with my mom and sister. We are doing dinner at Foreign Cinema and then hanging out at my place. It is low key but that is really the way that I want to spend my birthday. Also, if everything works out, we are going to Spain in September and part of the reason is to celebrate my birthday.

As I have done for the past couple of years, I usually treat myself for the whole month. It’s the one month out of the year were I don’t have to justify my spending habits. My family has asked me what I want for my birthday but there really isn’t any one thing that I want. I usually just get myself whatever I want. Two years ago, I got two pairs of Chanel sunglasses which I adore but I knew no one would get me a $400 pair of sunglasses let alone two pairs of sunglasses. A bit extravagant yes but it’s what I wanted. I also don’t have the expectation that anyone would spend so much money on me. I can’t recall what I got for myself last year. This year, I know for sure that I am hitting the Chanel make-up counter & maybe hit the Shu Uemura store on Fillmore. Yup, make-up makes me happy. I adore my Matt & Nat bag so maybe a wallet from them may be purchased.

Everyone that I talk to tells me that being in your 30's is the best. I know that I am better off in my late twenties than I was in my early twenties. Here is hoping that my 30's will be rocking!

España here I come!

My family and I were planning to go on an Alaskan cruise as a way to celebrate my 30th birthday. Unfortunately we won't be able to go to Canada due to my sister's DUI. FYI - if you get a DUI, you can't go into Canada for 5 years. I was really bummed about it because I have heard and read really great things about this cruise.

During dinner this weekend, we started talking about maybe taking a trip elsewhere. I really want to go to Australia but it isn't high on my mom & sister's list. Spain came up during our conversation and since tickets to Spain right now are about $450 round trip, we settled on our next vacation. Both my sister and my mom have been there but I haven't. In fact, the only other country I have been to is Mexico. I have a cousin who lives in Spain and it would be great to see her. We are thinking of maybe spending 10 days in September and really getting to know the country. I am really excited about it because of all of the European countries, Spain has always been high on my list of places to go to. I would like to go to France and Italy but Spain calls to me more than other countries.

A bit of randomness

I've been held hostage by my Netflix account for the past few weeks. That is the reason why I haven't updated. Who knew vampires were so addictive? I have been watching the series of Angel and I am finally done with it. Here is a recap of the past few weeks:

Mother's Day was great! My sister and I took my mom to the San Francisco ballet on Friday. She is always going on about how she wanted to go so it was pretty clear as to what would be a part of her Mother's Day celebration. My mom had a blast! She was like a little kid at the circus. And my sister and I? Well, we napped during two of the three performances. It didn't help that I had had three martinis prior to the ballet & then gulping a glass of wine at the opera house. It was an expensive nap but my mom enjoyed it so that is really all that mattered. On Saturday, we drove up to Healdsburg & did some wine tasting. Winos or bust! We hit up 5 wineries and the weather was perfect. We discovered a new winery called Bella Vineyards. It's one of my favorites of that region. The tasting room & a small gift shop are inside a cave.



Two weeks ago, I met up with Lilan from The Daily Cookie at Chug Pub in San Francisco. I have been a reader of her beauty blog for a long time and since she is currently living in SF, we decided to meet up for cocktails. I had a great time meeting her and she is so nice. She even shared some of her beauty loot with me which was very much appreciated. I knew I was in good company when she asked if I wanted a shot of Patron.

Memorial Day weekend flew by. I took Friday off since I have a comp day due to Chinese New Year (a perk for working for an Asian financial institution) and made it a 4 day weekend. It was so nice to just chill. On Saturday my friend Alex came by and we went to the Farmer's Market. I wish the weather had been nicer but the fog has been hanging out for the past few days. I hope it clears soon. We had lunch at Panera and had a great time just catching up. My mom and sister came by on Sunday and we hung out. We tried this new restaurant near my place called PPQ Dungeness Island Vietnamese Cuisine and we had the crab dinner. Oh my! So good although a bit pricey. I recommend the garlic noodles and the crab was so good.

Next weekend I am headed to San Jose to see Dane Cook. I am hoping that it will be a great show. I haven't seen him live before and I am definitely a fan. I hope he doesn't disappoint. I am sure I missed something from the past couple of weeks but I don't recall. With my Netflix addiction and the increase in going out for cocktails during the week, May seems to be a blur.

Resolutions update: April

Photo by redstamp.com

I can't believe that it is already May. Where does time go? Seriously, next month I turn 30. What the hell is that all about? Here is a quick run down for April.

Reading a book a month: I would like to thank the author of the Twilight series of making me seek out more vampire novels. During the month, I read 4 of the books from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. These are total vampire sex books. So sleazy, badly written but entertaining enough. However, I think I am done with the whole vampire genre and plan on tackling the Alchemist this month.

Not buying any more make-up: Haven't really bought any make-up lately. I have a bag of empty containers that I want to trade in at MAC. I am planning on splurging next month for my birthday and will be visiting Chanel, Shu Eumura & MAC. I did go a bit overboard with a Lush purchase not too long ago. But... well, I don't have an excuse. Their stuff simply rocks!

Try to be more open with new people and places: this one is still a work in progress. I have been going out more and catching up with people that I lost touch with when I moved to the Central Valley. I am hoping that my new adventure will help with this one. Although I am hoping to get a drink with Lilan from The Daily Cookie soon. Check out her awesome beauty blog.

Take better care of me: I have been doing good with this one. Since I am have been working at the Inner Richmond for the past few weeks, I have been taking Muni to work. I never thought I would say this but public transportation rocks. Anyways, I have been taking my lunch with me since I really don't want to indulge in all the yummy but not so good for you cuisine in the area. Still not drinking soft drinks which is so weird for me since I was a diet coke fiend. I am trying to see how strong my will power is.

Not spending so much on frivolous items: the big purchase in April was my storage ottoman. I got it from Craigslist for $200. It was a great deal and it was exactly what I wanted. But haven't been spending money on coffee or anything that I really don't need. Oh wait a minute... I did buy that sweet Matt & Nat bag which should be here this week. Oh man...here I thought I did pretty good.

Gals' Guide SF

I quickly wanted to share with you some great news. I was asked to be a contributing member for Gals' Guide. What's it all about?

Gals’ Guide is the place where you come to find out everything from how to invest in an IRA to where you can find affordable unique clothes on the cheap. It’s the place where you can slowly start building your knowledge base for life after college. It’s the place that will empower you with information in a comfortable and relaxed setting.

I am really excited to be joining the group of ladies who contribute to the site. My hope is that this new opportunity will push me to go outside the box and put myself out there. Definitely check out the site if you haven't already. Yay!

Now I must go to bed as I had too much sangria tonight at Cha Cha Cha