[ cafechi ] slightly organic

my ulta retractable kabuki brush is wearing out after lotsa abuse. so i’m looking to get a few new brushes and didn’t want to repurchase the sameone because…well it’s $30! i got it on sale way back but i just can’t justify spending that much on a brush…yea.

eco tools 5pc brush set - $10.99

eco tools powder brush - $7.99

i’m not sure what i was doing but i suddenly remember reading in one of my many magazines about these new eco tools make up brushes. so i googled it and voila! these look awesome and just about all reviews are good. plus the fact that it’s more environmental friendly and uses recycled material sold me. of course, the price is super attractive too! i’m making a special stop at walgreens tomorrow to pick these baby up.

ah…prestige cosmetics. 3 days ago, i’ve always passed the prestige cosmetics aisle without really looking at any of their products. probably because i’m not a big make up person. then the ulta ads came in and of course they have all prestige cosmetics at buy one get one free. since i obviously had alot of free time, i checked the prestige reviews on MUA. there were glowing reviews of their waterproof lipliner and wonder-full lipgloss. so i head to ulta and picked up the nude lipliner and the gloss in lavish - a peachy sparkling color that i really like (definitely HG status). i also picked up a couple of single eyeshadows - gold, green, black and pink. all very pretty even though i’ve only tested the gold.

st ives elements olive scrub - $6.99

st ives elements warming scrub - $6.99

and of course, on another of my magazine, there was a small sampe of st ives’ new elements olive scrub. after trying this i really like it. it hasn’t dried my skin out yet so i’ll keep using it until it does. coincidentally, the ulta ads had a coupons for 50% off all st ives skincare. okay, that was a sign. LOL i bought their elements olive scrub, and warming scrub for about $1.75 and $3 each respectively. this is the first time i’m trying out st ives skincare and very impressed so far. their elements line are “natural” and without parabens - a plus to me.

i guess i need to stop looking through magazines. *sigh*

radius intelligent toothbrushes - $7.95

radius kidz toothbrushes - $3.69

oh i got to join another frontier coop and i got these new toothbrushes called radius. looks interesting so i gave it a try - one for me and 2 for the girls. i don’t know why, but i prefer toothbrushes like these to the electric ones. oh well…

this weekend was great! we went down to merced and i have enough time on saturday to spent a few hours with a few of my best friends! it was fun! i don’t even know when was the last time i went out with my friends. i can be a recluse sometimes, you know?

my friends, maiya, mai vang, kelly and me

at 2pm, we all met at thai cuisine for a late lunch. we had pad thais and curry chicken, and fried rice. oh, they were wonderful! it’s actually the first time that i’ve eaten pad thai. i’m impressed and will have it again soon.

outside starbucks next door to the thai cuisine

we were talking and joking and laughing like old times again. lotsa catching ups and just an all over great time. we didn’t finish our food even though we were all stuffed. we went out and sat outside the starbucks next door and have some carmel coffee. umm…i don’t do starbucks but this was sure good, though very laden with calories…

maiya, me, and kelly

what’s funny is that these new shopping centers are right next to our middle high school that we all went to. i drove by it on my way there and ohmygosh!! i couldn’t even see the school from the street anymore! that’s cause all the new houses are blocking the view…i guess i was just so used to that. you couldn’t even tell there’s a school behind the houses. oh well…things changed, including us. just not so much. LOL

jaelynn and mommy

we were all having a jolly great time, taking pictures and laughing. james then called me (not including the other times he called me for various reasons) and said jaelynn was running a fever again (she was slightly feverish that morning) so sadly to say, i called it a day and left my friends. i already miss them. and it was great for me to have a few hours to myself. there’s just not enough time for that anymore. this was almost like my therapeutic session. hahahahaha

when i got to my mother-in-law’s house, james was holding jaelynn. she looked all sad and everything. awww… but her daddy had already given her a dose of children’s motrin and she was feeling better in not time. whew…

kissing faces LOL

then at 7pm, the guys (james’ and his brothers) left to go watch iron man so i took jaelynn outside and we took some snap shots. just laughing and making faces…isn’t she a cutie???

we came back on sunday morning and went to one of my nieces’ birthday party. will post pictures later.

btw, i love this powershot a720is. great photos and just so handy to me. i am getting the nikkor 50mm f1.8d lens for my d40 for sure. i called everywhere (ritz and other camera places) and they are all out! urgh! guess i’ll have to break down and get it from amazon and wait for it to get here.

this is thing is not bad. we got home at about 8pm last evening and i was able to whip this out and took a few shots before it got too dark. jaelynn was too busy running around so i asked faith to be my model. she does a wonderful job huh?

i’m also thinking of getting another lens for my d40. i’m considering the nikkor 50mm AF f1.8D or 1.4D but the price difference is almost $200! most likely it’ll be the 1.8D unless i can find the 1.4D for less…hmmm…

the downside of course is that the lens won’t autofocu on the d40/d40x so i’ll have to do manual focus. i’m not too sure about that since my eyes are sensitive and they tear up anytime i start squinting more than twice. *sigh*