Given the nature of my job, in which I work EARLY weekend mornings, its rare that I go out on the weekend with friends. That and my parents are REALLY strict about me going out. The only time they are okay with me going out and coming home at 3 in the morning is when I go out with my older cousin. Just a side note... you'd think by now they'd figure out that I'M the responsible one considering I've had to drag her drunk butt up the stairs and into my bed every single time. Anyhow... I am glad my cousin takes me out with her friends otherwise I'd be a total LOSER at 22. Ha!

This is from the last time we went out

With my baby cousin. We tried to make her look as different at possible since she was using someone's ID who looked nothing like her. Lol. We decided dark lips aren't her thang but it got her in the club!
Bouncer: This doesn't look like you.
Trina: What?
Bouncer: The nose is different (which it TOTALLY was)
Trina: What?! Are you calling me fat?!?!?
Bouncer: Uh... okay okay. You can go in.

I ended up running into some girlfriends from middle school! Strike a pose, bishes.

My older cousin was off and doing who knows what all night so I hung out with my baby cousin and my cousin's friend. She is as mean as she looks! But only to the guys. Hehe.

With the club promoter who let us all in even after guest list closed. And all it took was my cousin batting her lashes and *shimmy shimmy*. Hehe. Except now she has to let him take her to lunch. Talk about taking one for the team

Quick story: So about 3/4 way through the night I was DYING of thirst. Both the bars were OVER CROWDED with people trying to get their drinks on. All I wanted was some free water but I knew there was no way  I could even get to the bartender much less ask for a cup of free water when there were 30 something other people willing to pay for expensive drinks. So I found the biggest ugliest guy who had a couple bills in his hand. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he could help me get a cup of water when he buys his drink. He tells me even HE couldn't get the attention of the bartender. I say okay and stoond aside just waiting for the bartender. Another girl came up to him (I am guessing his date) and snuggled her way into his arms and kept looking over at me. I felt REALLY bad because I think I got him in trouble. And I could tell he knew it too. He didn't even look in my direction anymore. Oops! I was more concerned about my water so I just stood there waiting for the bartender and ignored them. I guess I would have to do it on my own. He finally was able to get his drinks. And as he was leaving, he pointed to a cup and motioned that was for me. I grabbed it and ran! : D

Until next time!

Jen Jen called this survey FILL IN THE BLANK FRIDAY but since I am having sleeping troubles right now, I think this is the PERFECT time to FILL IT OUT RIGHT NOW

1.  The last thing I do before going to sleep is talk on the phone to yoebo.

2.  When I can't sleep I am physically hurting. That would be the only reason since I don't have any mental blocks for sleeping.

3.  The first thing I do when I wake up is look at the time and tell myself I can afford another 5 minutes. 10 minutes. 15 minutes. 20 minutes. 25 minutes. 30 minutes. AH! I'm late!!!!

4.  When I'm tired I sleep. It doesn't matter what needs to get done.

5.  My dream bedroom would be very spacious and bare (not a lot of furniture or decorations) with a HUGE soft bed. It was be painted in very soft colors like white and beige. Peaceful and zen.

6.  If I could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning it would be in yoebo's arm. *cue the awwws* In actuality, I NEVER do because we push each other away in our sleep and wake up curled up on our own side *cue the shake my fist at him!!*

7.  The longest sleep I've ever had was when I first came to America. I think I slept for over a day.

8.  I sleep on my side or back but NEVER NEVER NEVER on my stomach.

9.  When I sleep, I like to wear Vietnamese pajamas because its made of silk so its very cooling. Or cotton shorts. but NO SOCKS!!!!

10.  My bedtime is usually midnight. When I stay up past midnight then I write my "Midnight Madness" posts. Ha!

Yay! I just yawned. Time for bed again

My sleeping schedule is so out of it! I came home yesterday at 8PM and went straight for bed! I had such an uncomfortable but much needed sleep. But I woke at 3AM and couldn't stay in bed so I showered, had a bite to eat, and now sitting down to my emails, which I haven't had a chance to respond to all weekend due to my busy schedule. Mind you I am someone who never sleeps past midnight and is up by 8:30AM everyday. This past few days I've been sleeping at 3AM and up around 5-6AM for work

Anyhow, since I am up anyways I might as well update. I went to my first ever (and probably last) BASEBALL GAME! My friends invited me a long time ago thinking I wouldn't go but I decide to go just to see what all the commotion was about. Hours before the game I was feeling pretty sick but I decided to push through it and go anyway. What an experience! I am so glad I went! I had a good time with my high school friends.

With the girls in our Giants gear. This was so stressful for me. I had to make multiple calls to double and triple check what color I was supposed to wear and what color I wasn't allowed to wear. I had to take into account the weather AND looking cute. Ugh! I hate orange! It's such a weird color. But lucky me I found a kid sized Giants jacket all the way in the back of my closet that my brother bought for me like 10 years ago! Ha! I still fit it! Whooo! I'm ready!

My friend made me go SUPER early so we could be amongst the first 20,000 fans to get a Giants beach towel. They say.... BEAT LA on them. I was kind of upset we had to go so early! I felt tricked. But it turned out to be a good thing because I have a free souvenir. Ha! Anybody want to go to the beach with me? BYOT (Bring your own towel).

Since we had like 2 hours before the actual game started, we went out for Happy Hour. Yum! Appetizers!! : D

At the actual game with the girls and David in the back. There were a few more guys with us but they were too hardcore into the silly game to do important things like pose for pictures! I spent the first 4 innings asking what was going on. And being too slow to stand up or cheer because I was on my BB most of the time. I asked so many questions that the LA Dodger fan guy in front of me even turned around to explain things to me -___-. By the 5 inning, we were watching the fights in the stadium between the fans as much as we were watching the game. Dodgers & Giants really go at it! People were stealing souvenir fan gears from each other and throwing beer too! And it got REALLY cold so I bought a hot chocolate   9th inning I FINALLY really got into the game. I stood up and cheered as much as everyone else. The game was 2 Dodgers and 6 Giants. And the Dodgers scored 3 home runs in the last inning so the score was Dodgers 5 and Giants 6! It was pretty exciting. So much tensions between the Dodger and Giant fans! I thought we might lose it because everyone told me the Giants haven't been doing well and they usually lose against the Dodgers but my friends told me to have faith! I could swear the Dodger guy in front of me was going to cry or pee his pants. But in the end we won! YAY!!!!

This particular game was SOLD OUT. A lot of people asked why I went to one of the most expensive games in the season and got pretty good seats when I don't even like sports. I figured... since this will probably be my first and last time going to a sports events, I might as well do it all out. I want to make the experience as enjoyable an exciting as possible. I think that was accomplished

One more thing: I was surprised at how many Dodgers fans there were. I would never travel to another hometown to support my team. Seems so scary because all odds are against you not to mentioned you are out numbered if anything were to go down! And I always thought all the sport team fans had to sit in one section together like all the Giants fans in one area and all the Dodger fans in another area because it might be dangerous to have them all sit together. I don't know anything -___-.

Okay. Back to being a girl. Ta ta!

Everyone (okay fine, ONE person) demanded (okay fine, she just teased me) why I didn't post today yet since I've been on a posting spree and posting 2 entries a day. Because I've been busy all day with...

Credits

Hair & Makeup: Meee

Photography: Me too. Hehe. 

Check out more at: www.VanityPham.com

Something a little different. Tattoo cover up

Disclaimer: Any comments that I feel are even slightly in the negative tone will not be tolerated and be immediately deleted. These wonderful ladies are all my good friends who agreed to brave their bare faces and be my models. And for that I love them dearly.

I tried to do a wide range of makeup preferences ranging from natural to dramatic. I decide it based on the personality and makeup comfort level of my model.

I am trying to do as many of these as possible in the next 3 weeks before I start school again. So if you are in the Bay Area, are interested and have weekday availability, let me know!

The day turned out to be A LOT of fun hanging out with the girls. Fern, the photographer (also a friend I met on xanga), brought along her camera and did a quick and dirty photo shoot. The pictures she showed me on the camera looked AMAZING. I can't wait for her to edit them and give them to me so I can show them off to everyone!  So stay tune!

Now being the 100 pound critter that I am, the LAST thing I should be talking about is losing weight. I mean, if I lost those "last 10 pounds" I'd probably end up in the hospital. But that is exactly why I think I SHOULD talk about losing weight. Because I am the average girl who did lose those last 15-20 pounds the easy way. That, and my mother for as LONG as I can remember has ALWAYS been trying to lose weight (my mother is a plump little lady) and hasn't ever succeeded. I love her the way she is (so soft to lean my head on her shoulder) but then I can see why she doesn't lose the weight (minus the whole metabolism is SUPEr slow when you're old thing.)

Anyhow, fresh out of high school I weighed maybe 90-100 pounds. My first year of living in a college dorm with ALL YOU CAN EAT EVERY SINGLE MEAL American Cafeteria food (surprising yummy tasting) put me at 115-120 pounds. My Freshman Fifteen was more like Freshman Twenty Five. And unlike all my high school to college friends, I was one of the few that lost all that weight. Everyone else I knew who gained the weight just kept it as much as they whined about the weight gain. I wasn't what you consider fat but you can definitely tell a difference in my pictures. Not to mention I had a huge awards thing I had to go at the end of the year and I had to wear a form fitting traditional Vietnamese dress, which I could no longer even button up! So... hence my first ever LOSE WEIGHT idea.

1. NO CARBS. My roommate was a health freak (notice I didn't say skinny, she was an average weight girl who ate really healthy) so she helped me out. She made a list of things I couldn't eat like white bread, white rice, blah, blah, blah and a list of thing I COULD eat like wheat bread, brown rice, blah, blah, blah. I would invite her to eat more of her meals with me so I could get her approval on EVERY SINGLE thing I ate before I ate it. Ha! The first week was REALLY hard without the white bread. But that was 4 years ago and to this day I don't touch any of that white bread or white rice, everything I eat is wheat or whole grain.That REALLY worked for me. I lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks and was able to fit in my dress!

2. WASTE FOOD. I have a rule that I stop eating when I feel like I don't want to eat anyone. I don't care that there is ONE LAST bite left. I will throw it away. I hate being told that I only have a few bites left and I should just finish it. NO, I will NOT finish it. It's not like I purposely go out of my way to waste food but at the end of the plate, I rather the food go into compost than into my thighs.This is a big problem with my mom. I understand she doesn't want to waste food but at the same time you kind of HAVE TO if you're trying to lose weight. I hate that she forces herself to not only finish her plate but mine too. Now a days, when she's had enough, I just grab the plates and compost whatever is on it so she doesn't force herself to eat it. For those of you who think I am wasteful, think of it this way.. imagine you cooked 3 pieces of steak and you could only finish 2 1/2 but you forced yourself to finish all 3 pieces. The next time you cook steak, you're going to cook 3 pieces again because you finished it last time. Now if you put away that 1/2 piece or threw it away, next time you'll remember to only cook 2 pieces so you not only don't waste but you eat less.

3. NEVER EAT UNTIL YOU ARE FULL. Holidays and bomb ass dinners are an exception. Generally I don't eat unless I am hungry and when I do eat, I eat until I don't feel hunger anymore. I never eat until I feel full cuz then it's too late. Try it! Eat until you aren't hungry anymore and then wait 20 minutes, you'll feel pretty content and not want to eat anymore. They say it takes about 20 minutes for messages from your stomach to go to your brain that you are full. This one can be tricky for me when I go out to eat because I'm the type to want EVERYTHING on the menu, TWICE! But realistically I can only eat maybe half a dish. My boyfriend only lets me order ONE to start. And half way through the meal if I want more then I can order another dish. But of course by then I NEVER do because I am already satisfied!

4. EXERCISE. Haha just kidding. I don't know what this does because I've never done it before. But I'm sure it works because all the magazines and tv commercials says it does. *shrugg*

5. Oh yea, and DON'T take diet pills. Cuz that will f*** you up! Especially at around 100 pounds, don't expect to be able to stand up without falling over if you take diet pills... not ... that... I... ever... took...any ... before... or.... anything... like... that...

6. SUBSTITUTION. Did you know for every yummy food out there, there is a slightly less yummy healthier version of it? Serious! Serious! Just look 5 inches over and you'll find it. And it usually cost a dollar or two more. But worth it! And soon enough its going to taste yummy and the original unhealthy version is going to make you feel sick! I haven't had a lick of Mayo in years when that was a childhood staple for me!

7. GO SHOPPING! Seriously. When you lose even those first 5 pounds, go buy yourself something new and form fitting. It's going to make you feel FANTASTIC and motivate you to keep up with the good work. And then soon enough your whole wardrobe is going to be slammin' hot! Whatever you do, don't go back to the old clothes (unless you gain back the weight and that's all you can fit in again

I think this is a good list. The suggestions I gave are SUPER easy to do and I can guarantee they will make a little bit of difference! Don't even think of it as a diet, but as a slight lifestyle change

1. Shameless advertisement. Please click on www.seezenn.com. My friend works there. They are a start up e-commerce fashion company. What you see is their first launch. My friend promises there will be very cute items in the future & free giveaways (which you have to share with me, hehe). *click click*

2. For all you little ladies, have you ever checked out ZARAs for business casual clothes? My new favorite store in the world. European size = smaller fits! I bought a couple of cardigans, blazers, and even purses from there. They fit PERFECTLY, better than any PETITE lines at any brands I've ever tried. At 4'11" try finding a fitting blazer, seriously! I throw it over EVERYTHING (see photos below). If you're lazy but still need to not look like a slob, throw a fitted blazer over your jeans. Instant business. Love it!

And Zaras has a men's section great for the leaner guys. Their prices are a steal so go check it out!

3. Every girl should by a Miraculous Bra from Victoria Secret. Hahahaha. Instant 2 cups bigger AND cleavage! I don't even need one but I bought it anyway because I am THAT in love with it.

4. I want eyelash extensions, the permanent kind. I've worn false lashes everyday for like 3 years and now my eyelids have developed a sensitivity to any type of lash glue (trust me, I've tried them all). But I can't go back to looking ugly so my solution is to the glue the damn false lashes to my eyelashes rather than eyelid. $200 the first appointment and $60 every month to touch them up. The cost of being pretty I am actually going to just go get it done once and steal their secret and do it myself. Ha!

5. I also want a nose job, lipo, and botox in the future. But yoebo won't let me. So that's a moot.

6. One of my favorite things to look at is a freshly manicured hand. I love natural colors when my nails are short and french when they are longer.

7. I am becoming one of those girls whose monthly beauty maintenance is starting to cost as much as car payments. Ah! Good thing my boyfriend likes me pretty. Haha!
He said it doesn't matter how much it costs as long as I don't let myself go. He will work 2 or 3 jobs, and even sell himself on the corner if he has to, to keep me pretty. Somebody please quote that...

8. I have 3 weeks left off from FULL TIME school. So I am trying to get some new pictures for my website. Clients' favorite is always the Before & Afters. So for the next 3 weeks, I am looking for ladies willing to do the Before & Afters photo shoots with me. www.VanityPham.com to check it out! ... Free make over! I only do it during the weekdays though so if you're available and interested let me know!

9. I need to do some REAL photo shoots with real models and photographers. I haven't done that in a LOOOONNNGGGG time. These pictures don't draw in new clients as much as my Before & Afters or Bridal pictures do. But I need to do them to challenge myself and grow as an artist. I feel like I am stuck in a strictly BEAUTY rut at the moment because I haven't done anything artistic in a long time.

10. Feel free to add your own! I'm always interested in what people are wearing and putting on their faces

Seriously. What is up with all the lavish wedding haters? It's one thing to say you can't afford one or you love the intimate wedding deal but it's another to go around bashing all the lucky girls who doesn't even blink at 10K dress. If the couple are surgeons from Harvard or Yale and are making $1M a year then who are you to say they are wasting their money?

I work in the wedding industry and as of right now I am what you consider an AVERAGED price artist at $400/a bride. My appointment calendar is booked almost year round with double or triple bookings during peak wedding season. And guess what bishes? My goal is to get up to the 1.5K/a bride (not yet including the cost of bridesmaids, moms, extensions, travel, lodging, valet, etc...) artist, if not more. So yes, it is an INSULT to me for everyone to say its a WASTE of money to spend so much money on vendors. Guess what bishes? I'll be covering you in the dust of whatever pink Mercedes convertible I will be driving when I make that much money. And you can keep telling me how much money the brides "wasted." To them it's not a "waste." They look the most gorgeous they have ever looked or will ever look in the their life and they have the $20K pictures to prove and preserve it.

Stop hatin'

On a more positive note: I can't wait for my wedding! Ahhh! *cue Wang_Choe83* Hahahaha!

P.s. Everyone who isn't a hater is invited to my LAVISH EXTRAVAGANT EXTREMELY AWE STRIKING FABULOSITY wedding that will cost an unspoken of amount of money. So there.

*Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring*

Yoebo: *finally picks up*

Me: Hey baby

Yoebo: .....

Me: Babe?

Yoebo: Die! Die! You son of a!

Me: BABE!!!!

Yoebo:.............. *roar* *pew* pew* *roar*

I HATE STAR CRAFT!!!!!!

I also hate American Football and World Cup.

1. Yoebo slept over for the first time. The first few nights we slept in separate rooms. The last night he tricked me by making me watch a boring tv show with him, which made me fall asleep. Then he didn't wake me up to go to another room. I woke up the next to him the next morning in the same bed. Ah!

2. We had dinner at a Korean restaurant with my friends. Yoebo wouldn't let me order my two favorite dishes because he knew I wouldn't be able to finish even one. I had a hard time deciding between two of them but finally picked one. The Korean lady must have overheard me because she brought us the other dish on the house! Yummy! And of course I didn't finish either of them. We always get "on the house" dishes whenever I eat out with Yoebo because the older Koreans love him!

3. I kept using words like "treat" and "mush" when I talk to Yoebo. He accuses me of talking to him like a puppy. Muahahahah! Not on purpose!

4. Yoebo said something to me that I am not allowed to repeat on xanga. Tee hee!!

5. We ate alligator on a stick at the state fair. It was wrapped in a super big piece of foil so I was expecting a lot of bang for our buck! But it took us forevers to unwrap the 10 layers of foil and find the actual meal was only the size of 2 of my fingers! Rip off!

6. We ate at the college town sushi boat buffet. Yoebo ate 8 dishes of unagi sushi!! I had to tell him to leave some for the other peoples since he was eating it as the chefs were making it!

7. My mom cooked steak for the first time in 3 years just because Yoebo was visiting! It was yummy!! My family hasn't eaten steak since my dad's first stroke 4 years ago because he developed a strange allergic reaction to it.

8. Yoebo always talk about the 7 kids he wants but I've never seen him interact or talk about a real life child (I don't think he even knows any kids). Most of the time he still acts like one! But my 4 year old baby cousin was able to come out with us for the Jelly Belly Tour so I got to see him interact with her. She liked him so much she would rather hold his hand than mine! She would even asked to be picked up by him and she never asks that of anyone!

9. I was on a mission to buy a gift for his sister since she wasn't able to come to CA like we had planned. I ended up buying her a golden antique looking mini Jelly Belly candy dispensing machine. I went through a lot of trouble getting that particular one for her. It's very cute and makes the perfect present! I think she really liked it

10. Maybe he can fill in on the last highlight. I'm burned out of thoughts!
He did! http://wang-choe83.xanga.com/730783973/highlights-of-my-trip-to-sf/

FINALLY the photographer (Jessica Lauren Conroy) released the photos. It took her the promised 2 months. Not bad considering there were over 3000 pictures from the wedding day alone!

The preparations started the day before for me. I had my hair set so I would be able to just take it down the morning of the wedding since I knew I would have NO time the actual day of the wedding. But I looked REALLY stupid all Friday walking through the mall. Everyone literally turned to look at me, and not in the good way. The morning of the wedding, I woke up at 3AM to do my makeup. I figured as long as I had a pretty face, my crazy hair would at least be able to explain itself.

Airbrushing the Mother of the Bride

Getting the bride ready was a lot of fun! We had the bride, mom, sisters, 5 bridesmaids, 3 makeup artists, and a photographer all squeezed in one little bedroom getting ready. It made for a lot of laughs even at 5 in the morning!

My family with the new bride! This was after the traditional tea ceremony but before the church. We had traditional Vietnamese dresses custom made. Our dresses were designed with phoenixes!

We were looking pretty tired by the time church started and it was only 1 in the afternoon. Can you blame me?! I didn't sleep until 1AM the night before and had to get up at 3AM that morning. That's an Asian wedding for ya.

With my girl cousins. We're best friends. As close as sisters! Love them!

With Yoebo <3  We were matchy matchy. Ha!
 
Too bad there are no pictures of me at all during the actual wedding. Sad face.

This is the bride's little sister and I during our "Tips From Your Baby Sisters" speech. Everyone said it was their favorite part of the reception. Boo-yah! We made people both laugh AND cry!

What an exhausting day! Lots of fun! Can't wait for my own weddding!!