Hello again! I'm still in the Philippines. The past few weeks have been busy and tiring. I am still trying to adjust to the change in time zones. It's weird because I have been getting very sleepy around 8pm and waking up at 7am while here. Usually back in the States, I can stay up as long as 3am and can usually sleep until 1pm. I'm sure it's the 12 hour time difference and the jet lag. Another element I am battling is the heat and humidity! It's is very humid and hot here during the day and sometimes at night. I fell so gross and sticky from sweating by the end of the day that all I want to do is take a shower and go to bed!
So on our second day in Bacolod, we were planning on going sight seeing around the mountain areas, but ended up spending the day in Bago. A family friend named Diday (actually her nickname) was at my aunt's house giving manicures, pedicures, and massages. I ended up getting both manicure and pedicure, plus a massage. Hubby got a massage too. It was amazing and just want I needed! The massage was 300 PHP (Philippines pesos) which currently has a convention rate of around 42 peso to the US $1. So the massage was about $7 for a full body, one hour long massage. This is actually slightly high than what spas around the area charge since she does it at your house. The mani/pedi was 200PHP. We also visited an area in Bago near the river where part of a fiesta was taking place. The area was celebrating a "charter fiesta" which consist of different areas/neighborhoods around Bago and celebrates when they becomes a town or charter. Each charter had a little House/hut built along the river and sold different products from their area. My cousins bought a lot of local fruit... Indian mango, star apple, etc. My cousins and I had lunch in a little food stand, where I got to try Filipino style fish balls for the first time. They were more like fish flavored deep fried dough. Yummy!
Yesterday (02/15) was spent celebrating my birthday. My family planned a large party with lots of extended members. It was nice to see more relatives! My birthday is actually on the 17th, but my cousin's wedding is taking place that day. Our scheduled plan was mixed up and changed due to the recent earthquake that affect the other half of the island we are on. The island is separated into Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. We are in the Occidental side and the earthquake affected the Oriental side. This was where the wedding was to take place, but the earthquake and subsequent landslides had destroyed much of the area and made the roads and bridges impassible by car. Our family had to re-plan everything and now the wedding will be held in Bago and the reception in my aunt's house. Anyways, my birthday party was a lot of fun! My cousin got me a large pink "princess" cake and we every had a karaoke machine! Us filipinos love our karaoke!
Today (02/16), was a day trip to a large neighboring island called Iloilo. My parents had two places they wanted to eat for lunch and dinner and I wanted to go shopping at one of the mega malls. We took a large, fast ferry called an Ocean Jet from Bacolod to Iloilo which took an hour. Once there we ate breakfasts at a small local eatery by the water called Nora's. The meal consisted of fried fish, eggs, rice, and pork chops. I also tried little squid cooked in the ink... It was delicious! Now, I do know what lots of foodies are raving about. After breakfast we spent a few hours shopping in ShoMart aka SM mall. We took a local bus called a Jeepney to the mall. Lunch was at this restaurant in the outskirts of Iloilo, by the water called TaToy's. We had grilled chicken (their speciality and will the head still attached!), scallops, oysters, and garlic rice. My hubby and parents also had young coconut juice right outs of the coconut shell called Buko. I'm not a fan. Afterwards, we took the Ocean Jet back to Bacolod. It was raining at this point and the water was very choppy, making for an interesting ride. We ended the day having lunch with my cousins who were in Bacolod for some shopping. Nothing special in the fare, but the atmosphere was nice... Family, food, drinks, and lots of laughs. What more can you ask for?
Now it's time for bed because I have to wake up earlier to get ready for the wedding in the morning!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
West Meets East 2012 - The Arrival
Hello and mabuhay from the Philippines! I am currently taking a two week vacation to the Philippines, including a 4 day layover in Hong Kong. I will try to blog about it as often as I can get free wifi :) This trip will be my third to the Philippines (the last time we were here was 6 years ago) and first time in Hong Kong, but even more exciting is that it will be my husband's first trip to Asia!
We started our flight domestically from Baltimore Washington International to Chicago O'Hare International. The flight was only 2 hours and on one of the smallest planes I have travelled in! Upon arriving to Chicago, which was COLD, we had to rush to get to our next flight at the international terminal. We took the airport transit to another area of the airport campus where the international airlines departed from. We had to re-check in with our international flight company Cathay Pacific. Then came one of the busiest and strictest security checks I've gone through. Absolutely no jewelry. No shoes. No jackets. No sweatshirts. They would had us down to our underwear if they could I'm sure.
Our transcontinental trip from Chicago to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific was crazy long!!! 16 hours!!! Thank goodness for the good food, excellent flight attendants, and the personal entertainment system per seat. The worst part was the stinky bathrooms and the actual seats themselves. The shell-style seats were designed nicely in that they prevent the seat in front of you from reclining into your lap. This is accomplished by the seat sliding forward into more of a scoop rather than reclining backwards. MANY patrons do not like this design at all; complaining of a lack of cushioning and lumbar support. I just wish there was more padding to the bottom cushion. After a while, my butt was becoming numb, making it uncomfortable to sleep. Thankfully I was able to find a comfortable position and catch some shut eye. Surprisingly, hubby slept more than me! And I'm the one who always falls asleep on car rides. For a few more thousands of dollars (okay, a lot more!) business class has individual seats that recline further and first class has seats that reclines AND convert into small beds.
Upon arriving in Hong Kong airport, we had to go through customs and security, as well as navigate the large airport to find our flight gate. We met up with my cousins from London here as they were also flying via Cathay Pacific. The flight from Hong Kong to Manila was only about 2 hours. When we landed in Manila, we met up with my cousins from Baltimore who had flown via Delta. Then it was a cattle herd through immigration, baggage claim, and customs. From the international terminal, we took the airport shuttle to the domestic terminal. Here, we waited about an hour inside the terminal for it to open. Once we checked into our domestic flight on PAL (Philippines airlines) we waited another hour for our flight to leave. It was around 4 am when our flight departed for Bacolod.
The flight to Bacolod took less than an hour. It was nice to be greeted by some many relatives upon arriving at the airport! So many people that my hubby knew through Facebook, but was finally able to meet in person. Our next stop was the hotel in Bacolod. I was dying to have a hot shower! My dad actually rented an SUV through a cousin who he also paid to drive us around the area during our stay. It as very convenient as my parents are no longer as familiar with the roads and driving in the Philippines is a totally different animal! Overtaking other people on the road is legal and signaled by honking ones horn at the vehicle you are going to overtake. Sometimes people driving in the middle of the street or speed up to 100 mph. Pedestrians just walk out into the road when crossing, playing frogger, and hoping they don't get run over. It's definitely an environment that calls for an experienced driver!
Luckily, the hotel was kind enough to let us check in early. We are in a room with 4 twin bed (two pushed together). The view from the window is not that great and the room could be cleaner in some aspects, but it serves its purpose. I doubt we will be in the room much throughout the day and at last the beds are clean and comfy. After getting settled in the hotel, we drove to Bago City; an small country town outside of Bago. I grew up here during part of my childhood in my aunt's house. We spent the rest of the day visiting with family and catching up :)
I'm so glad to finally be "home" and to share this experience with my husband! I'm sure we'll have a lot of storied to share and memories toe make!
We started our flight domestically from Baltimore Washington International to Chicago O'Hare International. The flight was only 2 hours and on one of the smallest planes I have travelled in! Upon arriving to Chicago, which was COLD, we had to rush to get to our next flight at the international terminal. We took the airport transit to another area of the airport campus where the international airlines departed from. We had to re-check in with our international flight company Cathay Pacific. Then came one of the busiest and strictest security checks I've gone through. Absolutely no jewelry. No shoes. No jackets. No sweatshirts. They would had us down to our underwear if they could I'm sure.
Our transcontinental trip from Chicago to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific was crazy long!!! 16 hours!!! Thank goodness for the good food, excellent flight attendants, and the personal entertainment system per seat. The worst part was the stinky bathrooms and the actual seats themselves. The shell-style seats were designed nicely in that they prevent the seat in front of you from reclining into your lap. This is accomplished by the seat sliding forward into more of a scoop rather than reclining backwards. MANY patrons do not like this design at all; complaining of a lack of cushioning and lumbar support. I just wish there was more padding to the bottom cushion. After a while, my butt was becoming numb, making it uncomfortable to sleep. Thankfully I was able to find a comfortable position and catch some shut eye. Surprisingly, hubby slept more than me! And I'm the one who always falls asleep on car rides. For a few more thousands of dollars (okay, a lot more!) business class has individual seats that recline further and first class has seats that reclines AND convert into small beds.
Upon arriving in Hong Kong airport, we had to go through customs and security, as well as navigate the large airport to find our flight gate. We met up with my cousins from London here as they were also flying via Cathay Pacific. The flight from Hong Kong to Manila was only about 2 hours. When we landed in Manila, we met up with my cousins from Baltimore who had flown via Delta. Then it was a cattle herd through immigration, baggage claim, and customs. From the international terminal, we took the airport shuttle to the domestic terminal. Here, we waited about an hour inside the terminal for it to open. Once we checked into our domestic flight on PAL (Philippines airlines) we waited another hour for our flight to leave. It was around 4 am when our flight departed for Bacolod.
The flight to Bacolod took less than an hour. It was nice to be greeted by some many relatives upon arriving at the airport! So many people that my hubby knew through Facebook, but was finally able to meet in person. Our next stop was the hotel in Bacolod. I was dying to have a hot shower! My dad actually rented an SUV through a cousin who he also paid to drive us around the area during our stay. It as very convenient as my parents are no longer as familiar with the roads and driving in the Philippines is a totally different animal! Overtaking other people on the road is legal and signaled by honking ones horn at the vehicle you are going to overtake. Sometimes people driving in the middle of the street or speed up to 100 mph. Pedestrians just walk out into the road when crossing, playing frogger, and hoping they don't get run over. It's definitely an environment that calls for an experienced driver!
Luckily, the hotel was kind enough to let us check in early. We are in a room with 4 twin bed (two pushed together). The view from the window is not that great and the room could be cleaner in some aspects, but it serves its purpose. I doubt we will be in the room much throughout the day and at last the beds are clean and comfy. After getting settled in the hotel, we drove to Bago City; an small country town outside of Bago. I grew up here during part of my childhood in my aunt's house. We spent the rest of the day visiting with family and catching up :)
I'm so glad to finally be "home" and to share this experience with my husband! I'm sure we'll have a lot of storied to share and memories toe make!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Home Sweet Homeland!
Tomorrow begins a trip long over due and one that I have been waiting for all year! I'm going back to the Philippines! My origin of birth. My motherland. My heritage. I'll definitely write a blog about my travels (short as it will... only 2 weeks! boo!) upon my arrival back to the States, but will TRY to keep a current blog as I go, provided that the internet cooperates.
So the last time I visited the Philippines was in June/July of 2006. Six years ago! Wow, was it really THAT long? I was under the impression that it was only about 4 years. Apparently I was 20 and traveled with my parents and younger brother. This time around, I will be travel with my parents and my hubby! Little bro will not be joining us :( But I am soooo excited to be introducing my husband to where I was born and the first 3 years of my life growing up. We will also have a family reunion amongst my extended family since my cousin will be getting married while we are there.
Plus an added bonus to the trip = 4 day layover in Hong Kong on our way back!!!!!! I am beyond excited to do some serious shopping and eating :)
Only 7 more hours until we leave for the airport! I guess I could TRY to get some sleep...
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The BB Cream Effect
If you haven't heard of BB creams then you need to do some serious googling! It's my new fav make-up product that I have been raving about for the past month! I always tell people that "its in between a tinted moisturizer and liquid foundation". Now I've never been a big fan of either of those products. In fact, I refuse to wear them. Prior to BB creams I used to just wear mineral/powdered bronzer on my face. My favorite product being with Physician's Formula bronzer or Artistry's loose mineral powder.
Now on to the day of BB creams. I stumbled onto this product while watching some asian make-up blogs on YouTube. The short end of the story... bought a few brands to try online and the rest is history! Just wanted to post some before and after photos to show the difference.
This me WITHOUT any make-up. Just some moisturizer. And you'll probably never see my face this naked in pictures again. LOL.
After BB cream application. I used Skin79's VIP Gold BB Cream.
Most BB creams usually oxidize to a lighter tint than my natural skin tone, so I've had to use a bronzer onto of the BB cream. It's usually recommended to "set" the BB cream with some sort of finishing powder (usually non-tinted), so I just use either a powdered or loose mineral bronzer. Lately I've been using the one from Artistry (medium shade).
Voila! The finished look! Just added some false eyelashes and Lioele's gel eyeliner :)
Now on to the day of BB creams. I stumbled onto this product while watching some asian make-up blogs on YouTube. The short end of the story... bought a few brands to try online and the rest is history! Just wanted to post some before and after photos to show the difference.
This me WITHOUT any make-up. Just some moisturizer. And you'll probably never see my face this naked in pictures again. LOL.
After BB cream application. I used Skin79's VIP Gold BB Cream.
Most BB creams usually oxidize to a lighter tint than my natural skin tone, so I've had to use a bronzer onto of the BB cream. It's usually recommended to "set" the BB cream with some sort of finishing powder (usually non-tinted), so I just use either a powdered or loose mineral bronzer. Lately I've been using the one from Artistry (medium shade).
Voila! The finished look! Just added some false eyelashes and Lioele's gel eyeliner :)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sick as a dog
Okay, not really. I just have a cold and right now it's not bad. But yesterday I felt like I was going to die... nauseated, daggers in my throat, runny nose, coughing. Gross. I just felt gross. The absolute symptom was the sore throat!
Pharyngitis to us of the medical world... inflammation of the pharynx or back of the throat. Worst symptom ever! Worst than a paper cut. Worst than nausea and vomiting. I'm sure it was due to the post-nasal drainage from my runny nose, but I have a great fear of a sore throat developing into tonsillitis or the dreaded strep throat. I had strep throat and tonsillitis once and it is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. It's like a sore throat, but 100x worst! And it was just my luck that the penicillin took a week to actually work (not in 2-3 days like my doctors promised) and I found out that I'm actually allergic to penicillin. So I had the atom bomb of sore throats AND itchy red hands.
So I was on a mission last night to combat this sore throat. Google search! I found a recipe for hot water, lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper for one to gargle and sip. The recipe also called for apple cider vinegar, but I didn't have this. It definitely soothed the pain in my throat, but it didn't make it go away. I ended up drinking/gargling half the cup, taking a Tylenol PM and going to bed (sleeping upright).
This morning... sore throat still there, but not as bad. I had some orange juice and by the afternoon my sore throat was gone!!!!! YAY!!!! Still have a cold though, but now its just annoying sinus congestion. Nothing a little amazing Mucinex can't fix :)
Ps. The tylenol PM totally knocked me off my feet for the whole day! But I was able to get some sleep last night.
Pharyngitis to us of the medical world... inflammation of the pharynx or back of the throat. Worst symptom ever! Worst than a paper cut. Worst than nausea and vomiting. I'm sure it was due to the post-nasal drainage from my runny nose, but I have a great fear of a sore throat developing into tonsillitis or the dreaded strep throat. I had strep throat and tonsillitis once and it is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. It's like a sore throat, but 100x worst! And it was just my luck that the penicillin took a week to actually work (not in 2-3 days like my doctors promised) and I found out that I'm actually allergic to penicillin. So I had the atom bomb of sore throats AND itchy red hands.
So I was on a mission last night to combat this sore throat. Google search! I found a recipe for hot water, lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper for one to gargle and sip. The recipe also called for apple cider vinegar, but I didn't have this. It definitely soothed the pain in my throat, but it didn't make it go away. I ended up drinking/gargling half the cup, taking a Tylenol PM and going to bed (sleeping upright).
This morning... sore throat still there, but not as bad. I had some orange juice and by the afternoon my sore throat was gone!!!!! YAY!!!! Still have a cold though, but now its just annoying sinus congestion. Nothing a little amazing Mucinex can't fix :)
Ps. The tylenol PM totally knocked me off my feet for the whole day! But I was able to get some sleep last night.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Quick Easy Eggs Florentine
I actually stole this recipe from theChew.com, one of my new fav shows to watch! I love to think that I'd be able to replicate Mario Batalli's recipes, but there are a lot of easy recipes on the show. Even though she gets teased a lot for eating healthy, I love Daphne Oz's segments of healthy versions of food we all love; except her Tofurkey... still don't know about that one...
Anyways, here's the recipe minus the Hollendaise sauce which has too much butter in it...
- Poach one egg by bring a small pot of water to a boil. Crack egg into a bowl to help you place into the water once boiling. *I accidentally broke the yoke and probably boiled the egg for too long. Boil egg for 3-4 minutes.
- Saute 1 cup spinach in olive oil and garlic until soft.
- Toast 1 slice of whole wheat toast
- Assembly spinach and egg on top of toast. *Remove egg from water using slotted spoon.
- Sprinkle your fav herbs on top. I used a provincial herb mix.
The egg should be runny, but still good if you fully cook the yoke. You could even forgo the toast if you are on a low-carb diet.
ENJOY :)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
I'm still alive!
Hello Blog! Sorry I have been neglectful over the past few months, but life has been quite crazy and hectic! There have been many large and interesting changes that have occurred in my life recently, which have kept be busy and without much free-time to blog. Well, I am taking some quality time to update you about me.
Two of the biggest changes that have happened over the past few months are 1) Brandon and I got a new dog and 2) We moved back to Maryland :)
Bella is the new addition to our little family; along with me, my husband, and our 13 year old male shih tzu Pierre. She is a black labrador retriever who we got from a local breeder in Virginia. She comes from a champion pedigree with both her grandmother and father being champion title show dogs. She is an AWESOME and BEAUTIFUL puppy. Every is always complimenting her on how pretty she is :) Of course she is still a puppy (currently about 6 months) and can have her CRAZY, WILD moments. Her "whining" bark as we call it is ear-piercing and very painful! She loves to play roughly with Pierre, who she is now significantly bigger than and unfortunately he usually is not in the same playful mood... being 13 years old. Thankfully, she is pretty much house-trained and we haven't had any "accidents" in the house for a while now *fingers crossed*
As for the second big event in my life, yes we have FINALLY moved back to Maryland! Much to my absolute happiness :) Not that the area of Virgina where we lived was horrible, but it just didn't afforded me the lifestyle that I was used to in Maryland. I was starting to miss the diversity and action that comes with living in the DC metro area. We're currently living with Brandon's dad while we look for a rental to stay while we try to either rent out or sell our house in Gloucester. It's not the most ideal living conditions, but we have our own room, bed, access to cable tv and most importantly a roof over our head. Now I also have access to all the authentic ethnic foods that I was so deprived of living in Virginia... Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese, Filipino, Iranian, Lebanese, Indian, and Italian cuisine where they actually make the pasta fresh daily <3 <3 <3
Recently we took a stroll around the DC memorial with Bella. It was so nice to be around the historic architecture and other dog-lovers walking there dogs too. I am truly ecstatic to be back HOME :)
Two of the biggest changes that have happened over the past few months are 1) Brandon and I got a new dog and 2) We moved back to Maryland :)
Bella is the new addition to our little family; along with me, my husband, and our 13 year old male shih tzu Pierre. She is a black labrador retriever who we got from a local breeder in Virginia. She comes from a champion pedigree with both her grandmother and father being champion title show dogs. She is an AWESOME and BEAUTIFUL puppy. Every is always complimenting her on how pretty she is :) Of course she is still a puppy (currently about 6 months) and can have her CRAZY, WILD moments. Her "whining" bark as we call it is ear-piercing and very painful! She loves to play roughly with Pierre, who she is now significantly bigger than and unfortunately he usually is not in the same playful mood... being 13 years old. Thankfully, she is pretty much house-trained and we haven't had any "accidents" in the house for a while now *fingers crossed*
As for the second big event in my life, yes we have FINALLY moved back to Maryland! Much to my absolute happiness :) Not that the area of Virgina where we lived was horrible, but it just didn't afforded me the lifestyle that I was used to in Maryland. I was starting to miss the diversity and action that comes with living in the DC metro area. We're currently living with Brandon's dad while we look for a rental to stay while we try to either rent out or sell our house in Gloucester. It's not the most ideal living conditions, but we have our own room, bed, access to cable tv and most importantly a roof over our head. Now I also have access to all the authentic ethnic foods that I was so deprived of living in Virginia... Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese, Filipino, Iranian, Lebanese, Indian, and Italian cuisine where they actually make the pasta fresh daily <3 <3 <3
Recently we took a stroll around the DC memorial with Bella. It was so nice to be around the historic architecture and other dog-lovers walking there dogs too. I am truly ecstatic to be back HOME :)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Aim for a Star
Aim for a star! Never be satisfied
With a life that is less than the best,
Failure lies only in not having tried -
In keeping the soul suppressed.
Aim for a star! Look up and away,
And follow its beckoning beam.
Make each Tomorrow a better Today -
And don't be afraid to dream.
Aim for a star, and keep your sights high!
With a heartful of faith within,
Your feet on the ground, and your eyes on the sky,
Some day you are bound to win!
- Helen Lowrie Marshall
With a life that is less than the best,
Failure lies only in not having tried -
In keeping the soul suppressed.
Aim for a star! Look up and away,
And follow its beckoning beam.
Make each Tomorrow a better Today -
And don't be afraid to dream.
Aim for a star, and keep your sights high!
With a heartful of faith within,
Your feet on the ground, and your eyes on the sky,
Some day you are bound to win!
- Helen Lowrie Marshall
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Eenie Meenie
Everyone always hears about the nursing shortage in the US and isn't it ironic that many new grads from nursing schools are having such a hard time landing a job? Beside not passing the NCLEX, my second greatest fear as a new grad was not getting a job. Unfortunately the state of the economy has effected everyone. Even though hospitals need nurse and nursing schools are churning out new graduates every semester, hospital budgets either do not allow for more positions to be created or a lack of educators hinders managers from hiring new grads. Hospitals can't hire you if you lack solid experience and they don't have anyone or the money to train you.
I have heard from my classmates who have been LUCKy enough to get jobs that people from everywhere in the US are having to relocate because this particular hospital was the only one that would hire them.
I have truly been blessed to be among the few in my graduating class to have been given not just one, but a few job offers. Well, I've only officially been offered one job for a night-time position on a telemetry unit, but I recently had an interview for a position on a CCU/ICU (Coronary Critical Care Unit/Intensive Care Unit) floor and have another interview for an L&D (Labor and Delivery) position. I was offered an interview for a position on an Oncology unit, but I had enough oncology exposure during nursing school. I greatly admire oncology nurses, but I just don't have the heart for it.
I pray in the end that I get the job in the CCU/ICU department. The hospital is a level II trauma hospital, so I'll get exposure to a lot of neurological conditions and head traumas. They also do open heart surgery at the hospital as well. I think it would be an amazing learning opportunity and in the end I just want to experience it all. Not that the telemetry (heart monitoring) unit wouldn't be a good experience as well, but it is in a small hospital so I would be limited in the different cases that I could be exposed to. I'm not going to take the L&D job just because I'm not really passionate about the field. I mean, I find it interesting and there is always the "miracle of life" concept, but I'm really indifferent to the subject. I think it's my lack of experience in being pregnant that makes it hard for me to relate to the patients. Plus, there are soooo many nurses out there who go into nursing because they want to work in the L&D, that I would feel bad taking that opportunity away from them. Honestly, I took the interview because it would give me something to do during the day. It's hard to be home-alone and jobless... navy hubby is out-to-sea for two weeks.
Well, here's to prayers and keeping my fingers crossed. Unfortunately (damn I hate this economy sh*t), it will come down to $$$. With my husband getting out of the military in a few months and going to school, I will be taking over the majority of our expense and I need a job that will rival the salary that he is currently making if not exceed it. I hate money. I mean, I love what you can buy with, but the physical currency itself doesn't make one truly happy. I find that it can make life more stressful and complicated. Oh, to be a child without the concept of money and it's unfortunate, but vital necessity in our culture.
I have heard from my classmates who have been LUCKy enough to get jobs that people from everywhere in the US are having to relocate because this particular hospital was the only one that would hire them.
I have truly been blessed to be among the few in my graduating class to have been given not just one, but a few job offers. Well, I've only officially been offered one job for a night-time position on a telemetry unit, but I recently had an interview for a position on a CCU/ICU (Coronary Critical Care Unit/Intensive Care Unit) floor and have another interview for an L&D (Labor and Delivery) position. I was offered an interview for a position on an Oncology unit, but I had enough oncology exposure during nursing school. I greatly admire oncology nurses, but I just don't have the heart for it.
I pray in the end that I get the job in the CCU/ICU department. The hospital is a level II trauma hospital, so I'll get exposure to a lot of neurological conditions and head traumas. They also do open heart surgery at the hospital as well. I think it would be an amazing learning opportunity and in the end I just want to experience it all. Not that the telemetry (heart monitoring) unit wouldn't be a good experience as well, but it is in a small hospital so I would be limited in the different cases that I could be exposed to. I'm not going to take the L&D job just because I'm not really passionate about the field. I mean, I find it interesting and there is always the "miracle of life" concept, but I'm really indifferent to the subject. I think it's my lack of experience in being pregnant that makes it hard for me to relate to the patients. Plus, there are soooo many nurses out there who go into nursing because they want to work in the L&D, that I would feel bad taking that opportunity away from them. Honestly, I took the interview because it would give me something to do during the day. It's hard to be home-alone and jobless... navy hubby is out-to-sea for two weeks.
Well, here's to prayers and keeping my fingers crossed. Unfortunately (damn I hate this economy sh*t), it will come down to $$$. With my husband getting out of the military in a few months and going to school, I will be taking over the majority of our expense and I need a job that will rival the salary that he is currently making if not exceed it. I hate money. I mean, I love what you can buy with, but the physical currency itself doesn't make one truly happy. I find that it can make life more stressful and complicated. Oh, to be a child without the concept of money and it's unfortunate, but vital necessity in our culture.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Best Day Ever!
"All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney
If yesterday was the worst/scariest/most stressful day of my life, then today is definitely one of the top 10 best in my life! But a little background first....
I recently graduated from nursing school in May 2010 and yesterday I sat for the national boards licensure examination (NCLEX) for nursing so that I could obtain my state RN license. Even though I know I could have studied sooo much more than I did in preparation, I went into the test feeling good. I graduated from a college program with a 98% passing rate (first time testers) and had used Kaplan's strategy book and endless questions on Kaplan's Qbank to study. Many people have stated that they felt Kaplan's was a lot harder than the actual NCLEX, so I thought the test was going to be a breeze... boy, was I wrong! Maybe I was just off my game, but the NCLEX was sooo much harder than I thought... my own personal nightmare. I got to question 100 and I literally started to have a panic attack. Tachycardia, tachypnea, papitations, and everything went blurry in my head. By question 150, I asked to go to the bathroom for a break. I had to find some way to calm down, at least enough to finish the exam to whatever ends. I told myself that I just had to finish, even if I didn't pass. Well, the computer FINALLY cut me off at question 160-something... I had stopped counting. I walked out of the testing center relieved that I was done, but devastated with the belief that I had failed. I didn't want to let my family and friends down (everyone had been praying for my success), I didn't want to be the only person from my nursing program to have failed, but more importantly I didn't want to EVER have to relive the nightmare of taking the NCLEX again.
Well, I knew that Virginia board of nursing posts licenses the day after the exam, which is nice since some state BON's like California torture their nursing students by making them wait 6-7 WEEKS for results! So today I got the surprise of my life and the best news ever... I PASSED! There on the tiny screen of my smartphone was the VA BON's license verification website with MY name and license information!!! I'm offically an RN :)
Thanks to my husband, family, friends, and fellow RN-classmates for your love, support, and prayers! I am truly blessed to have such an amazing support system!
If yesterday was the worst/scariest/most stressful day of my life, then today is definitely one of the top 10 best in my life! But a little background first....
I recently graduated from nursing school in May 2010 and yesterday I sat for the national boards licensure examination (NCLEX) for nursing so that I could obtain my state RN license. Even though I know I could have studied sooo much more than I did in preparation, I went into the test feeling good. I graduated from a college program with a 98% passing rate (first time testers) and had used Kaplan's strategy book and endless questions on Kaplan's Qbank to study. Many people have stated that they felt Kaplan's was a lot harder than the actual NCLEX, so I thought the test was going to be a breeze... boy, was I wrong! Maybe I was just off my game, but the NCLEX was sooo much harder than I thought... my own personal nightmare. I got to question 100 and I literally started to have a panic attack. Tachycardia, tachypnea, papitations, and everything went blurry in my head. By question 150, I asked to go to the bathroom for a break. I had to find some way to calm down, at least enough to finish the exam to whatever ends. I told myself that I just had to finish, even if I didn't pass. Well, the computer FINALLY cut me off at question 160-something... I had stopped counting. I walked out of the testing center relieved that I was done, but devastated with the belief that I had failed. I didn't want to let my family and friends down (everyone had been praying for my success), I didn't want to be the only person from my nursing program to have failed, but more importantly I didn't want to EVER have to relive the nightmare of taking the NCLEX again.
Well, I knew that Virginia board of nursing posts licenses the day after the exam, which is nice since some state BON's like California torture their nursing students by making them wait 6-7 WEEKS for results! So today I got the surprise of my life and the best news ever... I PASSED! There on the tiny screen of my smartphone was the VA BON's license verification website with MY name and license information!!! I'm offically an RN :)
Thanks to my husband, family, friends, and fellow RN-classmates for your love, support, and prayers! I am truly blessed to have such an amazing support system!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
If at first you don't succeed... try, try again.
"One fails forward toward success" ~ Charles F. Kettering
I believe someone once said "Tomorrow is another day for opportunity". And my wise husband always tells me not to dwell on things that I cannot control or situations that I cannot change.
During the past year my husband and I have started a new business venture along side our daily jobs. I really wasn't supportive or sold on the idea at first, but soon I learned that it was not only a great opportunity to make some extra money, but to also meet amazing people. To put things simply, our business deals with selling products via an internet supplier. In order to get the products sold, you need customers. A sales strategy that we've been training to execute is making sales pitch to people via "grand openings"... you get a bunch of people together (or just one person) and show them some of the products, let them sample a few, etc. Kinda like the tupperware parties moms like to throw.
So I invited a few friends over and about 6 said that they would be available to come for an hour or so. I was sooo excited! I went shopping, bought food, cleaned the house in preparation for having guests. Two of our friends and mentors in the business were also coming to assist and support me. I really thought this was going to be successful.
Well, life happens unfortunately. Two of my friends bailed out on me and another had a family emergency (aka their kid was sick). So, as it turns out only two of my guests showed in the end and even my mentors couldn't make it because they were stuck in traffic. I felt bad that they were driving all the way from Virginia. It seemed like everything that could go wrong went wrong. I did the best I could trying to pitch the products with what I had (thankfully my husband gave me a little kit of stuff to give out). I felt mediocre and unprepared. It was embarrassing and upsetting. To make things worst, I was still upset about people apparently semi-committing so it was hard for me to keep a smile on my face. I just wanted to curl in a corner and die.
Sales and promotion is really not my level of expertise. I feel like I blunder when I speak and that I'm never prepared when people ask me questions. I don't want people to feel like I'm pushing them to buy from me or that they feel obligated to because we're family/friends/acquaintances. It's not where my confidence lies, but mainly because I lack the experience. I can put in a foley and clean out a patient's tracheostomy, but getting you to buy something is not easy for me. At least my two guests that came (my husband's cousin and her mom who is now his ex-aunt I guess) are family and I believe were genuinely interested in what I had to offer. I was touched and appreciative that they actually stood by their word and came out to support me. Even if they don't buy anything, it meant a lot to me that they came.
I hate the feeling of failure and it's hard for me to not dig myself into a ditch of self-pity and grief. But I am learning to stay positive and not beat myself up over it. If there is one thing starting this business and training has taught me is to not let your failures stop you or bring you down. You will go through many failures before you reach success, but at least you tried!
"The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed" ~ Lloyd Jones
How true those words are to me now and I wouldn't have appreciated such advise had I not experienced this day. I always thought that failing was the end. You're done. You suck. Try something else. It wasn't until today that the light-bulb lit up in my head... all those words people kept telling me finally made sense!
"There is no failure except in no longer trying. "
~ Elbert Hubbard
Tomorrow is always another day for opportunity!!!!
I believe someone once said "Tomorrow is another day for opportunity". And my wise husband always tells me not to dwell on things that I cannot control or situations that I cannot change.
During the past year my husband and I have started a new business venture along side our daily jobs. I really wasn't supportive or sold on the idea at first, but soon I learned that it was not only a great opportunity to make some extra money, but to also meet amazing people. To put things simply, our business deals with selling products via an internet supplier. In order to get the products sold, you need customers. A sales strategy that we've been training to execute is making sales pitch to people via "grand openings"... you get a bunch of people together (or just one person) and show them some of the products, let them sample a few, etc. Kinda like the tupperware parties moms like to throw.
So I invited a few friends over and about 6 said that they would be available to come for an hour or so. I was sooo excited! I went shopping, bought food, cleaned the house in preparation for having guests. Two of our friends and mentors in the business were also coming to assist and support me. I really thought this was going to be successful.
Well, life happens unfortunately. Two of my friends bailed out on me and another had a family emergency (aka their kid was sick). So, as it turns out only two of my guests showed in the end and even my mentors couldn't make it because they were stuck in traffic. I felt bad that they were driving all the way from Virginia. It seemed like everything that could go wrong went wrong. I did the best I could trying to pitch the products with what I had (thankfully my husband gave me a little kit of stuff to give out). I felt mediocre and unprepared. It was embarrassing and upsetting. To make things worst, I was still upset about people apparently semi-committing so it was hard for me to keep a smile on my face. I just wanted to curl in a corner and die.
Sales and promotion is really not my level of expertise. I feel like I blunder when I speak and that I'm never prepared when people ask me questions. I don't want people to feel like I'm pushing them to buy from me or that they feel obligated to because we're family/friends/acquaintances. It's not where my confidence lies, but mainly because I lack the experience. I can put in a foley and clean out a patient's tracheostomy, but getting you to buy something is not easy for me. At least my two guests that came (my husband's cousin and her mom who is now his ex-aunt I guess) are family and I believe were genuinely interested in what I had to offer. I was touched and appreciative that they actually stood by their word and came out to support me. Even if they don't buy anything, it meant a lot to me that they came.
I hate the feeling of failure and it's hard for me to not dig myself into a ditch of self-pity and grief. But I am learning to stay positive and not beat myself up over it. If there is one thing starting this business and training has taught me is to not let your failures stop you or bring you down. You will go through many failures before you reach success, but at least you tried!
"The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed" ~ Lloyd Jones
How true those words are to me now and I wouldn't have appreciated such advise had I not experienced this day. I always thought that failing was the end. You're done. You suck. Try something else. It wasn't until today that the light-bulb lit up in my head... all those words people kept telling me finally made sense!
"There is no failure except in no longer trying. "
~ Elbert Hubbard
Tomorrow is always another day for opportunity!!!!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Longchamp
Money may not be able to buy you happiness, but it can buy you handbags and handbags make me happy!
Every since I was old enough to appreciate the longevity and variety of designer handbags (early college years) I've been hooked. Maybe it was because I could finally afford some of the lower-end designer bags, but I also realized the great investment a few more dollars (okay a lot more dollars) could buy. Purchasing a good handbag can last you many years, if not a lifetime. Of course there are the seasonal trends in style and design, but then there are the classics like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, and Prada that endure the decades.
My first expensive, or overpriced as my husband would say, handbags was Dooney and Burke. I have only one at the moment, having donated my first one when it became worn from years of use. Next, I moved on to Coach and do I have a LOT of Coach purses, totes, and wristlets! I also currently own a Juicy Couture tote and a few Vera Bradley bags. I have yet to expand into the LV, Burberry, and Prada bracket as my income does not allow me to spend $800-$1000+ on a handbag... yet :)
Which brings me to my most recent purchase... Initially, I was not a fan of Longchamp. It's a french brand and not as common as some other designer brands. I thought they were aesthetically boring in design. However, I recently began to admire a LC bag of one of my co-workers. It was a vibrant hue of pink/red and we all know how I love PINK. I'm trying to grow out of it and expand to different colors (besides black too), but it's hard. Anyways, after some researching I realized how surprising affordable, durable, and multipurpose these bags can be. There are very classic in design, but with an elegant understatement, which logo-driven buyers will overlook. From the reviews and comments of other LC owners, it seems that they are very pleased with the products and own multiple styles and color... and boy do they come in a variety of colors!!!
So, I finally caved and bought 2 (yes TWO) handbags from Nordstrom.com. There was a sale on some last season colors, which was also available on the Longchamp.com website, but Nordstrom was a few dollars cheaper. Here's what I got:
Longchamp Le Pliage mini tote with short handles in "Rosalie"
Longchamp Le Pliage medium tote with long handles in "Garance"
Can't wait for them to come in the mail!!!!!
Every since I was old enough to appreciate the longevity and variety of designer handbags (early college years) I've been hooked. Maybe it was because I could finally afford some of the lower-end designer bags, but I also realized the great investment a few more dollars (okay a lot more dollars) could buy. Purchasing a good handbag can last you many years, if not a lifetime. Of course there are the seasonal trends in style and design, but then there are the classics like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, and Prada that endure the decades.
My first expensive, or overpriced as my husband would say, handbags was Dooney and Burke. I have only one at the moment, having donated my first one when it became worn from years of use. Next, I moved on to Coach and do I have a LOT of Coach purses, totes, and wristlets! I also currently own a Juicy Couture tote and a few Vera Bradley bags. I have yet to expand into the LV, Burberry, and Prada bracket as my income does not allow me to spend $800-$1000+ on a handbag... yet :)
Which brings me to my most recent purchase... Initially, I was not a fan of Longchamp. It's a french brand and not as common as some other designer brands. I thought they were aesthetically boring in design. However, I recently began to admire a LC bag of one of my co-workers. It was a vibrant hue of pink/red and we all know how I love PINK. I'm trying to grow out of it and expand to different colors (besides black too), but it's hard. Anyways, after some researching I realized how surprising affordable, durable, and multipurpose these bags can be. There are very classic in design, but with an elegant understatement, which logo-driven buyers will overlook. From the reviews and comments of other LC owners, it seems that they are very pleased with the products and own multiple styles and color... and boy do they come in a variety of colors!!!
So, I finally caved and bought 2 (yes TWO) handbags from Nordstrom.com. There was a sale on some last season colors, which was also available on the Longchamp.com website, but Nordstrom was a few dollars cheaper. Here's what I got:
Longchamp Le Pliage mini tote with short handles in "Rosalie"
Longchamp Le Pliage medium tote with long handles in "Garance"
Can't wait for them to come in the mail!!!!!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Time to Grow Up
Sometimes I forget how old I am. Not that I think I'm a teenager again or suddenly believe I'm in my forties, but sometimes I'll step forward or back a year or so. Today I remembered that I'm 25 years old, not 24 or 26. Have I finally gotten to that point in life where age is just a number? Remember when you where little and you couldn't wait until you were 15 because you could get your learner's permit or 16 because you could drive on your own with a license. 21 is the big milestone because kids (yea, I still felt like a kid when I was that age) can purchase and drink alcohol legally in the States. So at 25, I can rent a car without paying premium... woo hoo.
As we get older, milestones are no longer determined by age, but by events that occur in our lives... getting engaged, purchasing your own place, marriage, having a baby, etc. Well, soon I will be officially moving out of my parents' house and into one of my own with my husband. Even though we've been married for over a year and have had the house since last October, I still don't feels as if it's my own or that I'm truly living life as a grown up. I've been living mostly in my parents' residence for the past two years due to nursing school, which is located in Maryland and not in Virginia. Since nursing school is over I will hopefully take my boards sooner rather than later and start looking for a job down in Virgina closer to my own house. I will start paying bills which I have never had to pay in my youth and young adult life. Sometimes I will have to spend weeks alone during times when my husband ship goes out to sea (at least until November when he gets out of the Navy). In the near future I want to start thinking about having kids and starting my own family.
As we get older we crave independence. I recall wishing that my parents would treat me more like an adult. Now that they do and now that complete independence from them is becoming a reality... I'm kinda scared. I know this is normal and that everyone feels this way when they set off on their own. I'm lucky in that I've found my partner and never have to truly spend my life alone, but the notion is scary none the less. I've spent 25 years of my life surrounded by the same people and seeing them on a daily bases. I've slept in the same room for the past 20 years. Even though I am excited for the change and welcome it, there is always the level of fear towards the unknown and unfamiliar.
I've been blessed with a great childhood. Not too many kids had it as easy and as wonderful as me and my brother. We never wanted for anything, our parents were always there for us, we never were exposed to pain and suffering some people experience early in life. We never really had to struggle. That's not to say life was always easy and we were given everything, but I had a happy childhood. Even my teenage and college years were fulled with great memories. I actually liked my high school years. I finally realized what it means to be nostalgic towards something. I'm going to miss living at home with my family. I do miss those younger years, but I'm glad that the memories I have to remember are happy and wonderful ones!
As we get older, milestones are no longer determined by age, but by events that occur in our lives... getting engaged, purchasing your own place, marriage, having a baby, etc. Well, soon I will be officially moving out of my parents' house and into one of my own with my husband. Even though we've been married for over a year and have had the house since last October, I still don't feels as if it's my own or that I'm truly living life as a grown up. I've been living mostly in my parents' residence for the past two years due to nursing school, which is located in Maryland and not in Virginia. Since nursing school is over I will hopefully take my boards sooner rather than later and start looking for a job down in Virgina closer to my own house. I will start paying bills which I have never had to pay in my youth and young adult life. Sometimes I will have to spend weeks alone during times when my husband ship goes out to sea (at least until November when he gets out of the Navy). In the near future I want to start thinking about having kids and starting my own family.
As we get older we crave independence. I recall wishing that my parents would treat me more like an adult. Now that they do and now that complete independence from them is becoming a reality... I'm kinda scared. I know this is normal and that everyone feels this way when they set off on their own. I'm lucky in that I've found my partner and never have to truly spend my life alone, but the notion is scary none the less. I've spent 25 years of my life surrounded by the same people and seeing them on a daily bases. I've slept in the same room for the past 20 years. Even though I am excited for the change and welcome it, there is always the level of fear towards the unknown and unfamiliar.
I've been blessed with a great childhood. Not too many kids had it as easy and as wonderful as me and my brother. We never wanted for anything, our parents were always there for us, we never were exposed to pain and suffering some people experience early in life. We never really had to struggle. That's not to say life was always easy and we were given everything, but I had a happy childhood. Even my teenage and college years were fulled with great memories. I actually liked my high school years. I finally realized what it means to be nostalgic towards something. I'm going to miss living at home with my family. I do miss those younger years, but I'm glad that the memories I have to remember are happy and wonderful ones!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Circle Lens:::My Collection:: Part Deux
Okay, here are my FAV circle lenses. I've had some for almost a year now and I will be sadly tossing them out. Others I've purchased over the winter, so they still have some life left in them :)
*The lenses on the right I pitched as mentioned in "Part Un" of this post//
EOS Adult Green:
~With my niece Frankie. The lenses look more blue than green~
Geo Nudy Brown:
Geo Tri-Color Grey:
~These are pretty much identical to my old FreshLook ColorBlend Grey~
EOS DollyEye Grey:
~These will definitely get you noticed! Kinda freaky a first, but they grew on me. Not a pair that I would recommend for daily, casual use... though sometimes I do :)~
Geo Nudy Blue:
Geo Nudy Grey:
So, those are my most recent circle lens. Currently, I just have Geo and EOS brands. There are many styles within the brands, as you can see. I don't know if I will venture out beyond Geo and EOS in the future... maybe next year. I'm fairly happy with these lenses and will replace some when the time comes to throw them out. I'm UBER excited for my batch of new lenses to come in!! Stay tune for my next circle lens update!
ps. Please feel free to comment if you have any questions concerning Circle Lens and I will try to answer they to the best of my ability :)
*The lenses on the right I pitched as mentioned in "Part Un" of this post//
EOS Adult Green:
~With my niece Frankie. The lenses look more blue than green~
Geo Nudy Brown:
Geo Tri-Color Grey:
~These are pretty much identical to my old FreshLook ColorBlend Grey~
EOS DollyEye Grey:
~These will definitely get you noticed! Kinda freaky a first, but they grew on me. Not a pair that I would recommend for daily, casual use... though sometimes I do :)~
Geo Nudy Blue:
Geo Nudy Grey:
So, those are my most recent circle lens. Currently, I just have Geo and EOS brands. There are many styles within the brands, as you can see. I don't know if I will venture out beyond Geo and EOS in the future... maybe next year. I'm fairly happy with these lenses and will replace some when the time comes to throw them out. I'm UBER excited for my batch of new lenses to come in!! Stay tune for my next circle lens update!
ps. Please feel free to comment if you have any questions concerning Circle Lens and I will try to answer they to the best of my ability :)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Circle Lens:::My Collection:: Part Un
So, here are some pics of my most recent circle lenses. I'll be tossing a few when my next purchase comes in!! My first pair was Geo Honey Wings, which I lost and can't find a pic of me in them. Sorry :(
I didn't like the look of the Honey Wing on me personally. The color was not great, my eyes still looked dark, and it maybe because my eyes are darker in pigmentation. All in all, my eyes did not look like the image above.
Here are my Angel Grey by Geo. They have a slight enlargement effect and a thick limbal ring (the dark outer ring around the iris), but my eyes still look dark in them. I don't wear this much, if at all recently, and have already tossed them.
As you can see, they're noticeable with a flash, but unfortunately I don't walk around in a state of camera flash upon my face ;)
Along with the Angel Grey, I'm also pitching the following lenses. They didn't really do much for my eyes. Obviously, with the camera flash you can tell the difference, but not much in regular or dim lighting. All three are Geo styles...
Geo Ash Wing:
Geo Angel Blue:
I didn't like the look of the Honey Wing on me personally. The color was not great, my eyes still looked dark, and it maybe because my eyes are darker in pigmentation. All in all, my eyes did not look like the image above.
Here are my Angel Grey by Geo. They have a slight enlargement effect and a thick limbal ring (the dark outer ring around the iris), but my eyes still look dark in them. I don't wear this much, if at all recently, and have already tossed them.
As you can see, they're noticeable with a flash, but unfortunately I don't walk around in a state of camera flash upon my face ;)
Along with the Angel Grey, I'm also pitching the following lenses. They didn't really do much for my eyes. Obviously, with the camera flash you can tell the difference, but not much in regular or dim lighting. All three are Geo styles...
Geo Ash Wing:
Geo Angel Blue:
Circle Lens... Continued...
How did I discover circle lenses? I randomly came across a video on YouTube about someone reviewing the circle lens they had just purchased. I recall them mentioning how the lenses lasted for a year and that they ranged from $20-$30+ per pair depending on who you bought them from. That fact alone sold me. They're also a HUGH craze in Asian countries such as Korea and Japan. Honestly, I was just simply tired of having to pay $100+ for a package of bi-weekly lenses that only lasted me 6 months.
I'm not going to go into more detail about what circle lenses are and how to purchase them. There are a bunch of videos on YouTube explaining this. Here's a few that I've found uber informative...
http://www.youtube.com/user/ahanhbarbie34
http://www.youtube.com/user/mellove5
http://www.youtube.com/user/MizValeer
There are a bunch of places where you can purchase circle lens and many people who sell them online. The first pair that I owned (I've been wearing circle lens for a year now) I purchased from LensCircle.com, which I believe only sell Geo Medical brand lenses. They were soooo OVERPRICED and I never bought from them again. My next purchase from from http://geoeyecandy.blogspot.com. At the time, they only sold Geo lenses, but I believe they now have EOS styles available. Overall, much cheaper lenses, great customer service, and Annie is awesome! When I wanted to try other brands besides Geo, I purchases some lenses from http://prettyandcute.com/. Janie is really sweet, but as expected, brands other than Geo such as EOS, Dueba, and T-Top are more expensive. Unfortunately, Pretty&Cute no longer supplies circle lenses :( :( :(
Here are the most recent places I would recommend for purchasing circle lenses:
- http://www.pinkyparadise.com/index.asp
- http://www.tokioshine.com/Default.asp ---> I've recently bought 6 circle lenses from them. Excellent prices and good variety. I can't wait for them to come in the mail :)
I'm not going to go into more detail about what circle lenses are and how to purchase them. There are a bunch of videos on YouTube explaining this. Here's a few that I've found uber informative...
http://www.youtube.com/user/ahanhbarbie34
http://www.youtube.com/user/mellove5
http://www.youtube.com/user/MizValeer
There are a bunch of places where you can purchase circle lens and many people who sell them online. The first pair that I owned (I've been wearing circle lens for a year now) I purchased from LensCircle.com, which I believe only sell Geo Medical brand lenses. They were soooo OVERPRICED and I never bought from them again. My next purchase from from http://geoeyecandy.blogspot.com. At the time, they only sold Geo lenses, but I believe they now have EOS styles available. Overall, much cheaper lenses, great customer service, and Annie is awesome! When I wanted to try other brands besides Geo, I purchases some lenses from http://prettyandcute.com/. Janie is really sweet, but as expected, brands other than Geo such as EOS, Dueba, and T-Top are more expensive. Unfortunately, Pretty&Cute no longer supplies circle lenses :( :( :(
Here are the most recent places I would recommend for purchasing circle lenses:
- http://www.pinkyparadise.com/index.asp
- http://www.tokioshine.com/Default.asp ---> I've recently bought 6 circle lenses from them. Excellent prices and good variety. I can't wait for them to come in the mail :)
Circle Lens... In the beginning...
I remember the moment I realized my bad eyesight as if it was yesterday... I had just gotten my braces taken off and I was on all-time high. Sitting in the lobby of my orthodontist's office, my dad pointed out the doctor's PhD diploma hanging in the office across the room. I had to squint to read out the university from which he had graduated. My dad asked me in a state of shock, "You can't read that?!". Thus, I went from the bane of wearing braces to glasses in a day.
I was in 7th grade and therefore only 12 years old. Luckily, I had many friends who wore glasses at the time, so I never felt out of place or stigmatized. However, I hadn't discovered the wide variety of "stylish" glasses nor contact lenses at that point in the late 90's. My first pair of glasses were "grand-motherish" and I'm thankful that I don't have any pictures of me wearing them at the time. This was also BDC (before digital cameras). I still have them tucked away somewhere *I think*. My next pair of glasses were more modern and befitting a teenager girl going into high school. I also got my first pair on contact lens during the time. **I currently own a lovely pair of Juicy Couture frames <3 <3 <3
Before circle lens, I have worn only FreshLook ColorBlends in all of the available colors. My favorite color, and therefore being the one I wore most, was Grey. I've also worn a pair of FreshLook Radiance in Moonlight, which weren't as appealing to me as the ColorBlends. I found that the Radiance collection served to enhance one's eye color rather than change it.
~FreshLook ColorBlends in Grey~
~With my little brother (who's not so little anymore) during a vacay trip to the Philippines~
~FreshLook Radiance in Moonlight~
So, why colored contact lenses? I love to shop. I love fashion. I love change. I have way too many clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories for a single person to ever need. Therefore, I naturally like to wear a variety of contact lenses. Not only do they allow me to SEE, but having different contact lenses allows me ACCESSORIZE :) Don't get me wrong, I DO wear my glasses (I mean, the frames alone were $200+), but I don't like how the clarity of your vision is limited to the size of the frames. And trust me, if I could have multiple styles of frames, I would. But frames are more expensive individually and you still need to purchase the lenses for the frames :P
I was in 7th grade and therefore only 12 years old. Luckily, I had many friends who wore glasses at the time, so I never felt out of place or stigmatized. However, I hadn't discovered the wide variety of "stylish" glasses nor contact lenses at that point in the late 90's. My first pair of glasses were "grand-motherish" and I'm thankful that I don't have any pictures of me wearing them at the time. This was also BDC (before digital cameras). I still have them tucked away somewhere *I think*. My next pair of glasses were more modern and befitting a teenager girl going into high school. I also got my first pair on contact lens during the time. **I currently own a lovely pair of Juicy Couture frames <3 <3 <3
Before circle lens, I have worn only FreshLook ColorBlends in all of the available colors. My favorite color, and therefore being the one I wore most, was Grey. I've also worn a pair of FreshLook Radiance in Moonlight, which weren't as appealing to me as the ColorBlends. I found that the Radiance collection served to enhance one's eye color rather than change it.
~FreshLook ColorBlends in Grey~
~With my little brother (who's not so little anymore) during a vacay trip to the Philippines~
~FreshLook Radiance in Moonlight~
So, why colored contact lenses? I love to shop. I love fashion. I love change. I have way too many clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories for a single person to ever need. Therefore, I naturally like to wear a variety of contact lenses. Not only do they allow me to SEE, but having different contact lenses allows me ACCESSORIZE :) Don't get me wrong, I DO wear my glasses (I mean, the frames alone were $200+), but I don't like how the clarity of your vision is limited to the size of the frames. And trust me, if I could have multiple styles of frames, I would. But frames are more expensive individually and you still need to purchase the lenses for the frames :P
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