Pre-Review: Crest 3D Whitestrips

Yesterday I got my hair did, and today, marks Day 1 of the teeth whitening. Haha. I've never actually felt I needed to get a teeth whitening treatment... however, I figure, can't hurt to be, whiter? So, we opted for the indulgence of the Crest 3D Whitestrips in Professional Effects, Advanced Seal. Target had a variety of options at a variety of price points. We went for the 30 minutes a day, 20-day supply - currently listed at $37.99. (The one step up, was the 2 hours a day, 7-day supply.)

It's unclear WHEN you are supposed to put the strips on... The directions recommend not to put them on directly after brushing.... So... a few minutes, after? (That's what I did..) The strips themselves were easy to take off their backing, and surprisingly easy to position. They had a solid, sticky but not annoying consistency. I sat around in them for about 30 minutes, and there was no particular pain or discomfort... just a weird jelly-like feeling around my teeth. I wasn't sure if I should be like swallowing spit or what, Haha. Taking them off, they were very sticky- stuck to my fingers, and suddenly I realized my teeth tasted kinda...I don't know. Chalky? Kinda odd. Tho' when I looked in the mirror... I feel like I did notice immediate results. They did look, white. (Hopefully it's not just my mind.. haha)

I have my retainer on now, so nothing out of the normal there. Anyway, we'll check back in about 10 days. I'll let you know.

20 Days til' the Rest of My Life :)

I must say, I haven't been keeping up with the blog entries as I would have liked. Initially, I wanted to document the entire wedding planning process; however, I came to realize, I wanted to keep a lot of things less public, and actually a surprise - for our friends and family. Nevertheless, as the date is fast approaching, and being that everything is engrained in my mind, I will be back-dating entries, so that I do have an official "log" of all the events, and decisions of the past few months :)

Well, I must say, it's 20 days away, and I'm nervously excited, or excitedly nervous? The thought that God has placed this man in my life, and now, we are to start the rest of our lives, together... is nothing but a blessing.

I pray we strive to seek the Lord, in all we do, in the decisions that we make, in all that is to come, for each other and our family. That's the least we can do, for He has brought us together. You have helped me to understand God's love, a bit more. And for this, I am grateful. Love you. 

Blue Print Cleanse: Skinny Bitches!

I'm in Day 2 of my 3rd BPC 3-day cleanse. Why do I do this? I actually pay good money, to drink juice and nothing but the juice. It functions as a "detox" – flushes out the toxins in your system, allows your body to reset and re-adjust. It does make me pee like crazy… so it must be flushing out something. My skin feels and looks much more resilient, and I do feel light and energized. Personally, I do it to jump-start healthier eating. I've been attempting a low-to-no carb and very protein-restrictive intake diet, and it's hard to just do it from scratch. I do expect to weigh less on the scale, how could you not? You're not eating! I also do expect to "gain" some of that back once I get some freakin' Shake Shack (just kidding) :( but it's a running start…and I feel light. I yearn to feel light. The ultimate feeling, aside from indulging in that first bite of truffle mac & cheese, is feeling...skinny. I'm about 5 days til' my cousin's wedding, about 2 weeks til' Miami, and 6 months til MY wedding. Skinny bitches, unite!

BTW/ This time around, I'm doing Excavation. I bought the drinks individually from FreshDirect, they deliver and its cheaper than ordering directly. (You will not get the "instructions" or the fancy emails and what not, but if it's not your first, and you're good at googling, you should be okay!) – Also, just to note, the Green juice.... is hard, I admit – but there is NO after-taste, and that my friend, is critical.

Say Yes/Maybe to the Dress!

I tried on wedding gowns. (Ahhh!) I was able to get a Saturday appointment at Lovely, about 3 weeks in advance. I did want a small boutique feel, but more importantly they carry Watters gowns. Anyhow, so on this blisteringly windy, and quite frankly absolutely– gross day.... my mom and my bestie bridesmaid made it to the cutie shop in the village....... Awkward. Haha. Not the shop, but the first try-on......Weird! The first gown was, very detailed, very pretty. Too pretty, at the time. I was incredibly uncomfortable with the experience and my head was all out of sorts... durf. Sweating. Not attractive. By any means.......After the 2nd gown, I started to feel better, ha, and it was actually quite fun. My stylist wasn't incredibly friendly, but was very helpful and sweet. Actually, I am in all seriousness, considering, highly-considering that first dress... so we'll see...

Happy Valentine's Day: Smurf Orchids

I really thought u bought me a tree

which made me a little sad

cuz the old tree would see the new tree

and probably be sad

when the old tree is trying so hard to make it

**

This was my convo with the finance, as I received my smurf orchid! He sent me a beautiful gardenia bonsai last year, and it grew lush and green all year. As winter approached and with the unstable the radiator in my office, the bonsai's been... not looking so hot. Jay's been telling me the past few days/weeks that he got me a replacement tree... and I was secretly a bit nervous! Thanks, Lover <3

Will you be my Bridesmaid?

The fiance and I jet-setted shortly after getting engaged, before we even had a chance to tell many of our friends in person, how it went down. I did want to ask my girls the honor of being my bridesmaids, sooner rather than later, so as we headed to the Dominican Republic, I sent each of them a boxed gift from < flourpotcookies.com. Now, I'm super finicky about stuff like this. Knowing me, I rather bake the cookie myself, frost it, bow it, wrap it, tie it, box it, mail it, all my freaking self... simply to ensure I know exactly how it will look when sent out and (hopefully) when opened. Sigh, but after seeing the photos online, and reading some of the reviews... eh, I was like okay... skeptical, but hopeful enough.

Turns out they arrived perfectly. The gift box came wrapped in a box, and delivered to each girls' doorstep. I was also worried the cookies would be overly sweet...as those frosted kinds could be, but surprisingly I hear they were very tasty, and not grossly sugary. Obviously they all said yes :)

Our Wedding Venue: The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

It's interesting that people seem to want to know how and why we chose our wedding venue. How? I google'd my ass off! Literally. I initially was searching for a small, quaint inn or hotel, by the water, convenient for out of town guests, but feels like "California", casual and comfortable. Did I mention we're planning this is NYC? As I read review after review, of every single waterfront hotel and inn in the Orange County area...which then easily spilled over to the entire Southern California– I realized, do I really want to get married in a hotel? I didn't really want, rustic, or hipster-modern, or ultra-modern, or ballroom, or a barn, or the beach...I definitely did not want an on-the-beach ceremony... I just wanted... whatever I couldn't find...

Just when I thought all hope was lost... mostly due to price– (but honestly, if it was perfect, minus the price, of course I would have considered it...ha, let's be real.) I came across, the life-saver.
< She logged every place in Southern California, you can get married, period. THANK YOU!

Griffith Observatory. Empire State Building. Rockefeller Centre. Mont Juic. Eiffel Tower. I love that feeling, of being a little bit closer to the sky, juuuuust a little bit closer to God. The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, is a park at the peak of 511 ft. The building itself is modern architecture, reminds me of the NYC < Highline. It's not a barn, and it's not the beach, but it's entirely nature on top of a hill, with 360 views of the California, skyscrapers, mountains, Pacific and Catalina Island, and the Hollywood Hills.

There's a also a stair climb, if you'd like to hike to our wedding.

Actually, I wouldn't mind attempting this one day?

Anyways, so this is the spot. Super excited :)

사랑해요.

My grandma and I, have only spent a handful of times together in our lives. Not to say that in any way, that this lessens the immense love, I knew she had for me. My mom resembles her in so many ways, not only in looks, but in mannerisms and tone of voice. My 할머니 has lived a long and fruitful life, and I know she is in heaven. | Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalms 63:3

Thank you for 93 years of love & prayer.

"Potential" Dream Wedding!!

So, as I frantically searched the web for days on end, for the perfect, affordable, and available dream wedding venue...and just as I thought I had lost all hope – I absolutely fell in love, or at least an abnormally obsessed emotional connection, to this one place...Then, crossing fingers and toes wishing and hoping it could actually become a reality...

Now, I'm absolutely horrified. It may actually work out.

We just picked out a "potential" date, and it all became, just a little bit more real.

*UPDATE* And we're booked! 284 Days. And the countdown begins!

Good-bye. Hello.

Apparently, it's the last day of the year - and... I almost forgot..! With the excitement of the holidays, birthday, engagement and all that wrapped into one, I feel like I have so much to look forward to. But, it has been... eventful, to say nonetheless. 2012, was a slow rolling start, until- of course, God reminds you, that at any which moment, anything can change. The comfort and stability that I was so accustomed to, was shattered and I once again- was forced, to remember who is in charge. Let's say, I've definitely developed, character, this year. As a person, professional, and a partner, I've learned about myself and matured, ever so abundantly. Thank you, to my loved ones who have continually supported me along the way. With marathons, firings, weddings, road trips, grandmas, hurricanes, this that and every thing else, above all, is the true love of the Lord, for in which we have been called, to share with those around us. Thank you. Love you. Cheers to 2013.

December 5th at 6pm

We are engaged! My lover & best friend, swallowed back a little bit of throw up, and got down on one knee, at the exact spot, where we first saw each other. He did good :)

Must-Dos for 2013

1. Use less emoticons :(
Haha. I love them, and it's not that I use them excessively, or inappropriately... but, I feel like cutting down on them, subconsciously... is way to validate my writing skills, and professionalism. (This is not including emoji on the iPhone!)

2. Get rid of my left mole.
Take care of my skin. I must have had this on my list for the past 3 years, but let's turn it up even further. Avoid sleeping on my face. Actually apply eye cream daily. Get rid of my left mole :( I gotta live as glamorous as possible for as long as possible!

3. Less sugar.
Omg. Although I've been pretty steady on the health front, one thing I do not compromise, is the sugar. I love the savory sweets and the cakes and the cookies...well, as I suspect I may have to go into bridal bootcamp mode, and I'm going to curb the sugar intake... le sigh.

4. Familia.
Blood is blood. *Gang sign* I realize getting older, means everyone older than me, too, is getting older. Cherishing loved ones is always underrated.

I'll add more as the time comes. Happy End of the Year :)

Operation Skinny: Starbucks

I cashed in my voucher for the free drink, mentioned in my last post. While I was at it, I figured with all the craziness in life, I was gonna go for the ultimate indulgence. Then I realized, what?! "Skinny" is actually a different drink than just replacing the 2% for Nonfat Milk. Actually it's a 50% caloric intake of a difference. Personally, I feel like it's just as sweet, and just as derlicious. (Venti is for like, crazy people who need the caffeine like a pheen, you can also opt for a smaller size to save yourself more $ and more fat rolls.)

300 Calories - Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato, 2% Milk

240 Calories - Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato, Nonfat Milk
160 Calories - Venti Skinny Iced Caramel Macchiato*

*Sigh* There goes my once a month allowed Starbucks intake..

I Don't Believe in Karma

(I know the photo doesn't relate to the story...I'm just feeling new york-y!) Long story short, we love our doorman. Unfortunately we heard yesterday, that it was going to be his last day! Office buildings in the city, tend to swap their managing companies often, sometimes that means security management is outsourced, those companies then get turned over and bought out and swapped, anyways– he's being transferred. We wanted to do something nice, so we impromptu decided to get him a frappaccino on our way back from lunch. A tall grande mocha frap (with whip cream) turned into a 15 minute wait, and a lost order. Starbucks graciously upgraded us to a trente mocha frap (with extra whip cream) and threw in a free-drink-next-time, as a courtesy.

See what happens when you do something nice for someone? God forbid!

Happy Friday. "Love your neighbor, as yourself." –  Mark 12:31

Mair's Summer Essentials

1. Starbucks Tumbler Grand-To-Go Cup (Find in stores or on Amazon/Ebay.)
It feels like you're drinking Starbucks all day, even when it's actually mediocre office coffee... Haha. I think these are just so fun, and sturdy. They close tight, and don't scratch up and end up smelly. I use mine all day from ice coffee, to just ice and water. Stay hydrated!

2. Maybelline Baby Lips (Find at any drugstore or Target.)
I've read a lot beauty bloggers blog about these, and although I love my Dior Addict lip gloss (Thank you HK uniee!).... honestly, these are even better. They're not sticky (I hate sticky!), they're light, fresh, and come in super cute colors, but most of all, they protect your lips. (And of course, they are $2.99 as opposed to Dior's $30+!) These are a solid option for basic sun protection. They smell fun, and no biggie if you lose/drop them. Don't forget SPF for your lips!

3. Goody Stay-Put Elastics (Find them here.)
I wish I invented these myself. I have extremely thin, lightweight hair, and even I get frustrated when a pony-tail holder, just isn't holding. These babies have a ribbed texture, that-is-a-genius!! I will never use a regular hair-tie again. Seriously. Invest in the extra 50cents, you'll be amazed. Nothing beats putting your hair up on a hot sticky day...

4. Mac Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Pressed Powder (Wherever they sell MAC!)
I've been looking for a pressed powder, that does the job of Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil. Frankly, I've stopped using Bare Escentuals, because it's so messy! (I lose more product than I use, and the tops of the canisters get covered in powder, and get ugly, and bleh... ) This is much more transparent you can barely see the white come off the powder onto your brush, but when you put it on, it gives you a very even, matte finish (more matte, than "glow" of Mineral Veil). It works well with my concealer + bb cream combo. I do wish the plastic/packaging of the compact itself was a little more sturdy. I feel like if were to drop it, the hinge would loosen or just crack in half. Control the shine! Shiny face = Not pretty face!

5. Dove Go Fresh Antiperspirant & Deodorant (Find at any drugstore or Target.)
I'm not that sweaty of a person, haha, but in 95+ degrees weather. Who doesn't?! I personally love the smell of the Cool Essentials collection by Dove. I find that other deodorants can be flaky, crusty, or smell very strong throughout the day. They rub off on your clothes, and yuck! I use Dove Go Fresh, and it's pretty fresh, if I say so myself. Cucumber + Green Tea is my favorite scent. (I'm extremely sensitive to artificial smells, this one I feel is rather pleasant, and subtle, but good enough to know I have it on and it's working.)

6. Bandaids!

I am one to admit, that I have sacrificed...pain, suffering, for beauty and shoes. I think we underestimate "foot health" and don't realize, the support and comfort of our feet, actually affect our posture, back, etc. But, once in awhile, super cute shoes, mean... super cute shoes... I carry bandaids all the time, especially in the summer. Never know when they'll come in handy!

7. Popsicle Makers (Find them here.)
Aren't these uber adorable!? Throw some organic plain yogurt + honey + fresh fruit in a blender, and pour them into any popsicle maker tray for a luscious, healthy, and delicious treat! Keeps you away from the gelato and ice cream and anything else that's really good but really bad for you. I just ordered these cones from Amazon.

8. Seche Vite, Dry Fast Top Coat (Learn more here.)
Bright manicures are a must have for the summer for me! This is the best top coat I've used thusfar. You can put globs and layers on each nail, and it will lock in your polish, dry quickly, with no bubbles, and extra glossy shine. I've only seen it at my local Ulta, hopefully they'll become more easy to find.

9. $20+ Flip Flops (Similar here.)

Don't get me wrong, I've had well enough my share of $1.99 flip flops from Target or Old Navy, but you really need to consider what the lack of support will do to your body over time. I've actually stopped wearing flip flops on a regular basis. Only for quick trips or super casual, very hot, lazy days. If you're going to wear 'em, you might as well invest in quality construction, sturdy materials, and an ergonomic design. Tory Burch, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Havaianas, Fit Flops, any of those would work, actually rule of thumb, you should be in the green if you look for a pair over $20. They'll last the entire summer and then some, and your feet/knees/back won't be crying.

You Look Fabulous!

Although I'm tryna keep professional, haha, thought I'd share these photos here.
See original post on my portfolio site here: www.mkimm.com

I Love Yous & Good-Byes

At the end of any and every single Grey's Anatomy episode, I am left with the same sentiment: Cherish the one you love. (Warning: Spoiler Alert!) I figured out why I wasn't as disturbed as maybe I should have been, after this season's finale episode. (I know it's already been a few weeks since it's aired, but I promise it's relevant.) As heart-wrenching as it was, watching Lexy panting for air, as Dr. What's-His-Hot-Face was in denial that she was gonna croak.............they still, got to say what they needed to say, you know? She admitted she always loved him. He admitted he always loved her. Yes, it's still sad – but, how would it have been, if Lexy never said anything at all, and then, bam! Dead.?

My coworker asks me if I heard of a car accident in Jersey City that occurred last night. I hadn't, but apparently there was a 5-car pile-up on the NJ Turnpike, and her best friend's husband was the driver. They were on their way to celebrate their 5-year wedding anniversary, when he encountered unexpected heart failure, while behind the wheel. She was telling us that her friend had really only met her husband a few years ago, and though they've been married 5 years, that doesn't compare to many couples their age. "Finally finding your soulmate, later in life, yet not being able to spend forever with them, must be heartbreaking."

As I was saying... the fact that we take our loved ones for granted, is basically freaking ridiculous. It's probably one of the most worst things one can do. So, I promise myself– not to go to sleep angry, or close doors without saying, I love you and Good-bye. No silly hang-ups and storming off upset. It's immature and it's not worth it. Cherish your loved ones. They are God's gift to us.

I will now appropriately post a pic of me + my love! <3

P.S. You know you love it! We're super proud of this self-timer+jump photo :)

Mair's Tips for Hardcore Workouts

Best Workout Song, Ever.

I've successfully brainwashed a friend of mine to start P90X so I figured I'd give him some tips :) Some may be obvious, but I found these especially, CRUCIAL friends, CRUCIAL!

Clear Pee is the Best Pee
It's the same as food, if you don't drink enough, your body will hold on to it for dear life. One of the saddest things ever, is a higher number on the scale, due to WATER! And check your pee. Yellow is no good!

Hydrate with Electrolytes
You know how your sweat is salty? You need to put that salty goodness back into your body asap! Those lake puddles of sweat on your floor are the very minerals that basically keep your body, functioning–this includes properly burning calories, and developing muscles. And if you're thinking Gatorade....It can actually make you fat! 8oz is 50 liquid calories of that yummy lemon-lime. Throw back one of those nice wide-mouth bottles, and your down half of what you just burned. Drink 2, and congrats, you have successfully reversed your work out.

I personally like Emergen-C. It's fizzy! The bf prefers Ultima Replenisher. Zico Coconut Water is not bad either (none of the fun added flavor stuff tho!).

Beware of the Scale
Ugh, weighing yourself can be your worst enemy. Keeping measurements is key, but if you're going to step on that scale, do it at the same time of the day each time. (Hopefully you're working out and eating meals relatively at the same time each day, as well.) My favorite, is as soon as I wake up, and in my underooos. But, don't forget to be conscious of what is going on to your body before you step onto the bad boy. If you're just starting an intense work out phase and you are sore, your muscles are retaining onto anything possible throughout the healing process. A.K.A. You will weigh more– BUT if you're treating your body properly, in time, you should be seeing results on and off the scale. (If still, the numbers are progressively increasing...sorry buddy, you might have to reassess your diet!)

Food is Your Friend
Diet. Going cold turkey, may sound like a good idea at first, but really – it takes a very rare breed to be able to pull that off. Let's be realistic! Gradually cut portions, and slowly eat less of the not-so-great stuff. Start replacing instead of cutting out completely...like 1% milk instead of 2, multi-grain instead of white, quinoa instead of rice, honey instead of sugar, then –work your way up to the crazy stuff...salad instead of fries (omg, right?)... turkey bacon, instead of the piggies, sooner or later, you'll be able to JUST SAY NO. BUT - hold on, it's not the end of the world! Buffalo wings do still exist! Occasionally, if you've been good, REWARD yourself! Actually, it's pretty motivating, and even more derlicious if you know you've earned it.

INSANITY: Day 57

And today, officially marks DAY 57 of Insanity! Holy Shit. (Except that number is slightly misleading because it actually means I have 6 work outs left.) See full calendar here.

So, how's it been? Well, for the past 2-3 years, I have embarked upon drastically improving my lifestyle. Taking responsibility for my overall health and fitness; eating habits, incorporating regular exercise into my every day routine, drinking water, cutting the crap, and all that good stuff. This especially includes encouraging loved ones to also take walks and eat healthier, and all that good stuff. And, the most valuable piece of information I have learned through this process?

I've struggled my entire child and adult life with my weight self-confidence. Although I've essentially been text-book overweight (and being short is no help!) for most of my life, to be completely honest - the scale was never the issue for me. I wasn't reprimanding myself and thinking, "Look, you're fat." It was more like, "Will he like me?" – I know. Psycho.

One of the greatest things about Insanity, is you feel like a freaking ROCKSTAR after a workout. You feel like you can freaking do anything. Conquer the mother fucking world. And, that feeling? Is addicting. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, it feels even better than losing weight. (And what better feelings in life than, losing weight? Besides sleeping and eating cheese fries!) You start looking forward to Shaun T– Day 2, 3, and on and on. And right, where you think you're getting used to it...Bam. Month 2. The real workouts begin. What a high..

All it is, is a game. And all you have to do, is decide you are going to win. It's simply overcoming the mental battle. I'm too tired, It's not going to work, But, I love potato chips, I'll start tomorrow, It's okay, Excuses, Whatever. Whatever. It is just, NOT okay. There is no option. You must do this. You feel a gurgle in your tummy, and that means you gotta take a shit. There is no choice. You must do it. Same thing. In the long run, it's life or death.

And so, for any guy, that has come through my life, claiming they like, dare I say, loved me – then told me I needed to lose weight in order to be with them. FUCK YOU.

To the old man at the Hello Kitty store, that nearly had a heart attackwhen my 6th grade self, walked in, and said, "Wow, little girl, you look healthy."
FUCK YOU. (I hope you get diabetes.)

To all the hot skinny bitches, that made me feel like shit. I FORGIVE YOU. It's not your fault, I guess it was me, that made me feel that way.

Good Luck! ;)

Ditch Day: Coney Island, Brooklyn

Extended the Memorial Day weekend, to be just a bit extra longer. Coordinated "sick" days are the best! Made our first time out to the infamous, Coney Island. Gorgeous day! Got to relax in the sun, check out the creepy rides, (and some creepy people) braved the Wonder Wheel, (we're saving the Cyclone for next time...) and just spent some quality time with my love!