Happy 1st Birthday Baby Tyke!

In Hawai'i, 1st birthday celebrations are HUGE. Folks will spend grands on the event because back in the day, little babies sadly weren't even making it to the "big one". So, if your child made it to their first birthday, it was a very big deal.

But in any case, birthdays should always be a big deal, at least for the little ones. Once you turn 21, then uh... it starts to taper in celebrations, hah.

So I'd like to give the spotlight to my babes for trucking hard this past year. For taking on the world full swing and for reminding me how crucial it is to enjoy each day carefree and without regret. To smile, to laugh, to cry... and to not fret over a turned over bowl full of pureed baby food finding it's way into every nook and cranny other than a hungry mouth. And for making me more obsessed about my skin since yours looks sooo much better than mine, lol! (I WANT!!)

Ok, serious though. It's been an enduring yet humbling experience for me to realize what it takes to be a parent and to be a success-in-progress at that, which I am by far on the latter. You remind me that simple is always impressive and that even though you don't always get your way, there's always a loving compromise. You have the most heartfelt laugh that makes me melt every time and teeth that make me realize you're not a baby anymore. You are another perfect piece in my life and I couldn't have asked for anything more.

And my dear son, no matter how many lemons are thrown our way... whether it be another move, daddy going to school, or having to find another job that will make sure you and your brother will be taken cared of, MAMA WILL MAKE LEMONADE!!

I love you!

Awaited Moment: Yay! Your 1st birthday has come and I can FINALLY cut your hair... no more "awww... what a cute little girl" even though you're clearly wearing BLUE :)

Hope everyone enjoyed their Hump Day! Cheers!

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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Baby Tyke's Birthday Around the Corner!

Baby Tyke's 1st birthday is just around the corner (already?!) and I need to get the favors done this weekend since the party is next Saturday and Hubbo starts work this Monday. Remember his debut not so long ago? Time sure did fly!

Well, I didn't want to turn his first birthday into a Halloween party since he really should enjoy the day as his own and not in co-ops with a holiday but I just couldn't help but work Halloween into the favors. I mean, why not prep the kids, right? Anyhow, we'll save the full-blown Halloween party for another birthday party if he wants.

The favors are going to be so cute!! Not everything is done but I'll share with you just a little piece of what I've been working on. There isn't much now but there are tons of other cute things to follow.

I'm trying to get a proper head count of all the tiny attendees because I'm planning on personalizing/customizing the Halloween buckets... OOPS!! Did I just slip, hah ;) Mind wandering yet?

Ok, so far I have the name tags printed...

This project is really simple. The only time consuming part is actually cutting the name tags out. And yes, I did cut them EACH out. I have a slight indentation on my thumb from gripping tight on the scissors to maintain control, lol. But basically, I used a Word document, added color and gradient to one of their shape drawings, and typed out each name. Printed it on glossy photo paper and voila!!...



On the beauty flipside, my skin is really disliking the colder weather. It's getting dry yet I'm still oily! Hrmm... combo representin'! ;)


This is my "Incomplete Because I'm Lazy After Lunch" look, haha. I honestly rarely touch-up throughout the day, as you can tell by the lack of lip color. Although I will admit that I blotted with a tissue prior to this shot, I'm not really BFFs with my skin right now :P

Well, only half an hour to spare and I've been twittering to my hearts content. Have a great weekend everyone!

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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MAC Product Releases: Cool Heat Swatches = Bring Your Kids To Work Day!

When MAC releases new collections, to me that means it's "Bring Your Kids To Work Day", hah!

So, I kept an eye on the clock this morning to make sure I could get my swatching herd together and head to the mall before everyone else that has Fridays off (or decided to play hookie) swarmed the counters.

As I arrived at the mall and searched for a desirable parking spot, I was contemplating how to carry out my plan of attack. Go to Macys and swatch? Or go to the MAC store? Sometimes Macys counters don't receive their MAC promotional release displays the same time as the stores so it's really give or take.

After parking and loading up my swatching support team, I decided to go through Macys this time. Their counter setup is definitely brood-friendly. And since it was the 2nd day of the release and I could only hope that their displays were up and out (refer to the click-able picture below for my "buy me time" ammunition) because I didn't really want to think of the obstacles involved to trot on over to the MAC store. But lucky for me they were!


They are such troopers to endure my swatching journeys with me because as you can see by the looks on their faces, they're like "here we go... again", lol! Not to mention 2 minutes into the swatch, they both start yelling crazies *digs fingers into the pots faster* Hah.

I have to say that next to the MAC Neo-Sci Fi Collection (check out swatches here), the MAC Cool Heat Collection is one of the better lines that has come out this year. From the eyes to the lips, you can still flaunt a cool look no matter the temperatures this summer.



I really like the spectrum of eyeshadow colors. They all intertwine with each other and really allow you to make the gradient effect a thing of the past. Warm Chill swatches like Mood Ring from the Heatherette Trio 1 while Blue Flame reminds me of Deep Truth, in the pot and swatched. The subtle difference is the finish. Blue Flame is more metallic with pearl, while Deep Truth is just lightly frosted. The rest aside from Climate Blue look like they can dupe pretty well with the existing line of MAC eyeshadows but it is just perference on if you, for instance, want more teal in an eyeshadow than what's already in something like Shimmermoss e/s.


The slimshines are very pretty! There is definitely a color for everyone in here. They seem to be a bit more opaque in consistency in comparison to slimshines of the permanent line.

Overall, this collection really makes it hard to decide since everything seems to mesh together a little too well. So, what should you get? For the sake of uniqueness, I'd suggest Climate Blue e/s (if you are comfortable wearing a bold color like that) and Gentle Simmer, By Degrees, and Tropic Glow slimshines.

After fulfilling my duties as a product swatching mistress, I wanted to stop by the Longs close to the mall to see what their NYX selection was like. Sadly, there wasn't much to choose from unlike the one by my house.

BUT.... I did find me some flavor-filled Hello Kitty Marshmallows!


Would have been cute if the marshmallows were like Hello Kitty heads, huh?



Strawberry filling...


Mrs. Lynne says, "mmmm... well deserved"! Hah.


What did you get from the Cool Heat Collection? Were you moved by the choice of colors?

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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Thank You MakeupFixers!

I want to thank everyone who left heartwarming comments and sent day brightening emails regarding my last post. I really appreciate everyone for their concern and support and it really does go to show that this blog is more than just a makeup and beauty blog. It's a place that has allowed us to bond into real friendships beyond our monitors and laptop screens.

I'm doing much better now although I do wish I would have been prescribed an anecdote for the dark circles or a sedative for the over-active toddler instead, hah. Here's part of a conversation I had with the doctor when he was trying to diagnose my symptoms:

Dr.: Do you have kids?
Me: Yes.
Dr.: How many do you have?
Me: Two.
Dr.: How old are they?
Me: My oldest is a little over two and the youngest is already six months.
Dr.: Are you stressed out at home?
Me: Uh... with two kids, OF COURSE I AM!

Hahah...

But on a serious note, it TRULY touches my heart to know that I have an AMAZINGLY understanding and thoughtful audience. Your caring wishes have definitely helped me through this.

And like they say, the show must go on!

And ooon... we go :)

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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Happy Valentine's Day

Today is about love and whether or not you have a significant other to spend the day with, remembering those you care about and love is what this day is all about.

Aside from my passionate love for makeup because of its endless look/color combinations, I am quite the minimalist in general. I don't ever consider myself high maintenance other than the fact that I believe everyone should be respected equally and maturely. So when it comes to special days like Christmas, birthdays, and of course, Valentine's Day, I am quite the cheap date (lucky for Hubbo! hah) and am more humble in the fact that I'm just blessed to have what I do.

When Hubbo fell asleep last night, I went post-it crazy. I stuck little handwritten notes in hidden places that he eventually gets into in the course of the morning before leaving for work like his wallet, cell phone, the bathroom mirror, etc... and I made sure to attach a little sweet note to the steering wheel of the car, just when he thought he'd escape all the paper madness, right? Hah.

And when I woke up this morning, there was this pink card next to my pillow with my Big Boy greeting me "Happa Bah-len-time Dey".

Look at the embossed sparkle detail on the card! I love texture...





The Card:
We've shared a lot of happiness,
We've seen some dreams come true,
And every now and then we've had
Our share of worries, too...
But with every day our love has grown
Still deeper than before,
And with each passing year,
I know I'll love you even more.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hubbo's Note:
To my dearest love,
I couldn't imagine my life without you. You help keep me grounded and help me see more how truly special our lives are. You have blessed me with 2 beautiful boys and I couldn't be happier. Even though I am not able to shower you with gifts you truly deserve, I promise to make it up to you in the end. As you can tell I am not good with words. I love you with all my heart.

I'm a girl so of course I teared. Every word in this card really resonates with every aspect of our successes and struggles and couldn't be worded any better. I truly am lucky to have this genuine and caring person in my life as my life partner and father of my tykes. Nothing could be better than that.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Who are you sharing the love of today with?

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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Reflecting on 2007 and Embracing 2008

While a new year has arrived, another year has just closed its doors. My loves Britt, Kia, Vanessa, Shawnta, and Karen share their wonderful reflection posts of 2007. In addition to that, here are some of the things that I learned last year:

1. I was fully capable of giving birth naturally... again! Blessed with only a 2 hour labor, it wasn't so bad this time around. Hubbo almost missed it, lol.
   
2. Having to ask for help and delaying an independent family lifestyle is one of the hardest sacrifices and humblest moments I've ever had to face.
3. I've sold myself to the near next largest investment, my makeup brushes and makeup collection.
   
4. Being able to use those brushes somewhat effectively since I've only been using quality brushes for makeup application since October 2007. Still have MUCH MUCH more to learn...
   
5. Hubbo can take care of two kids on his own AND does a fine job at it. As long as the baby has milk, that is, lol.
6. There are still employers out there that don't understand that the longevity of the department/company lies within the people that make it happen. And that the amount of work that gets done is a natural by-product of a strong foundation.
7. Even good, helping, and caring people can be found online :)
   
8. Finding out I'm allergic to Ibuprofen was a very VERY scary moment.
   
9. I'm a HUGE University of Hawai'i Warriors fan. College football rocks over here! Oh, I wish I was in Louisiana right now to attend the Sugarbowl.
10. Looking into the eyes of your sick crying children and knowing that there's nothing you can do but wait until the bug passes is one of the worst heartaches to experience. Break-ups are much easier compared to this.
11. Knowing every single line WORD FOR WORD in the movie Cars (Pixar).
12. I'm actually scared to succeed.
    

Now, my list of things I'd like to learn and accomplish in 2008:

1. To compliment and say 'thank you' to Hubbo and the kids everyday.
2. Become a better wifey and mother.
   
3. To gain more experience and knowledge in blending, color combos, and applying makeup on others.
4. Develop my writing skills more and to expand the quality of content on my blog. (Any suggestions?)
5. Actually (and finally) enroll in Cosmetology - a long awaited dream of mine.
6. Be even stronger about things that I would normally take personally.
7. Communicate with my siblings and parents more.
8. Research more about natural skincare products and find a skincare regimen that works.
9. Smile more often.
10. Make sure I don't get pregnant for the third year in a row. (My sister thinks I'm going to pop out kids every year, lol.)
11. Keeping my commitments within reach so I can deliver on what was promised and to not overwhelm myself.
12. Rekindle my confidence in becoming successful.

In closing, I'd like to say that one of the best ways to go out of 2007 and into 2008 with this blog is knowing that I haven't done it alone. I started this little makeup journal as a personal reference for myself, but along the way, I've met some really great people and bloggers alike. I never would have thought that publishing these posts would have drawn out such an incredible experience, but it has and I am thankful for such an opportunity to meet and learn from a fabulous bunch of talented people.

Happy New Years folks! Cheers *clinks glass*

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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Mele Kalikimaka - Merry Christmas!

Aloha folks... and Mele Kalikimaka.

I hope everyone has an eventful holiday in store filled with joy and laughter, good times with your loved ones, and a stocking full of goodies :) To all the bloggers, keep up the fantastic work. You inspire me everyday to make my dream a reality. To all the viewers, thanks for the encouragement through your kind comments and emails. Please keep them coming. Your feedback fuels this train and helps me to keep on chugging :)

May there be plenty of gifts under the tree with your name on it!

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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Tagged!!

I've spent most of my day catching up on my blogroll. I haven't been in tune with all the interesting stuff that my gals have done over the past week due to me and the boys having one of the nastiest colds known to man. And even more saddening is the fact that my poor babies aren't old enough to spit out the phlegm clogging their throats nor blow the the mucous out their noses for easier breathing. As if colds weren't miserable already at our age and being able to get that stuff out :( We're nearing the end of the tunnel and I pray this cold war is over for us because everything is just a million times better when you're healthy.

On another note, according to my reading (Hi! I'm doing an report, lol!), I guess a couple things are under way. Seems like many of you have finals, so best of luck to you who do. Remember, you can always reward your hard efforts through a mini (or huge) indulge on December 26th. If you're up-to-date on your MAC calendar, you'll know that 4 new collections/promotions are out that day. I'm excited for it, but pissed also because who on Earth can seriously keep up $$$-wise for all these new collections they release back-to-back? "You're killing me Smalls"... (remember where that's from??)

Next, looks like there's this dandy game going around called Tagged. I like the fact that I get to learn a little bit more about each person I interact with aside from the makeup fetish that we all share. I'm beyond my capacity right now to create the links like the rules state, but if need be, please just check out the "Other Places I Heart" category on the right to see :)

I was "tagged" by Vanessa (Nessasary Makeup), Yummy, and Distinque, from what I can remember. I don't think I can tag anyone because I believe everyone I know has been tagged already. I'm just not following directions, am I? LOL.

Anyhow, here are the rules...

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, to let them know that they have been tagged and to read the blog.

Well, here are my 7 Random Facts/Habits:

1) I'm a little anal retentive about organization. If you watch Friends, I am Monica! My closet is organized by sleeve lengths, I spreadsheet just about everything, I make labeled folders for everything I need to keep (school, expenses, etc...), all my appointments, bills that are due, birthday, etc... are scheduled in my Outlook,... just to touch the tip of the iceberg.

2) In addition to #1, I'm a perfectionist by ALL MEANS. A good example is gift wrapping. I'm the person who cuts the wrapping paper all neatly gliding the scissors down the wrap, makes sure each corner is pointy and folded evenly, and that the end of the wrapper ends at the edge, is tucked in, and aligned with the bottom of the package itself. I also just like to line things up just so that it looks neat and orderly. Wow... now that I'm reading what I'm typing, I'm nuts!

3) I took piano lessons for about 10 years, violin for a couple years, and am a self-taught guitarist. I don't practice any of the three that much anymore, but I love hearing a combination of those instruments in rock bands.

4) I'm a sucker for guys with straight teeth and who are musically inclined. Hubbo is hawt because he has beautiful teeth and plays the guitar and drums *star struck* lol.

5) I moved out of state, got married next to the water and a beautiful sunset, and had two gorgeous kids all within the course of 2 years.

6) Most people consider their bathroom as their sanctuary. The kitchen is mine. The sink always needs to be clear of dirty dishes and the counters need to have a good wipe down, no puddles of water.

7) I HATE HATE HATE spiders. Can't stand them!! I went to the Insect Zoo inside the San Francisco Zoo when I went back to visit, and I couldn't even walk past the display of Arachnids. Some of them were just display models and it scared the sh*t out of me!

and while I'm on a roll for not following the rules, here's a bonus one:

8) I LOOOOOOVE Haribo gummies. More specifically S'ghetti and Gold Bears after the bag is left open. I love super hard candy.

Well, hope that gave you folks a little bit more insight on little 'ol me. Have a great weekend!

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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Happy Holidays! We just got ELFed!

Hey folks!

With the rush to find parking at the malls, the right deals for those gifts, lights decorating the houses, the smell of Christmas trees in the air, eggnog accompanying a friendly game of Secret Santa, the list can go on... its very evident that the holidays are officially here.

So without worrying that I'm sending this greeting early, I wanted to wish you all a happy holiday season from my ohana to yours :)

(click picture to view greeting)

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