In a month I'll be drinking a Guiness... in Dublin.

    I was lucky to be born from parents who love to travel. My parents moved to the U.S. fresh off the boat from the Philippines (okay, really they flew on a plane).  The U.S. was a whole new world to them and they had to see all four corners. And that we did...

    ... skipping rocks on the coast of Maine, while my parents ravenously binged on cheap lobster.

    ... a donkey chasing after our car in South Dakota, because my brother was holding graham crackers out the window.

    ... fishing with my cousins and uncles in the Golf of Mexico... catching a huge fish we could barely carry... frying that baby up and chomping him down for dinner.

    ... watching two men argue over where to hang their potted plant in San Francisco. 

    ... waking up to the ocean for a week when we rented a condo in Hilton Head

    ... visiting the king of rock 'n roll's Graceland mansion in Memphis.

                      ... oh memories...

    When we got a little bit older and our parents knew we would actually remember expensive trips, they started taking us out of the country to places other than the Philippines.  My beloved list of places traveled  with my family include... Australia, Thailand, Cayman Islands, France, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, England, and Italy.  

When I became old enough to leave the country with friends... I traveled to Cancun with friends for our high school senior trip. That was a sh*t show to say the least.  I honestly don't know how I convinced my parents to allow me to take that trip at 17 years old.  Then, I traveled to Germany in the summer of 2008.  At that time we also drove a car down to Switzerland, because who can get enough of the Swiss Alps?

 In Luzerne, Switzerland. I would move there if I could.

And soon... on JUNE 2... I get to add IRELAND to my list!!

    Jay is going for the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS) conference.  I am just tagging along, because I don't even know what Psychoneuroimmunology means... well I do... kinda... okay, not really.  While he and his lab friends will be at the conference all week, my camera and I will be touring the city by day... drinking brews with the locals, learning about Irish history, and snapping photos of the castles.

    I just bought a book from Barnes&Noble that I can take with me. It comes with a fold out map... I had to ensure that all the locals know I am a total tourist (as if they won't be able to tell by the giant camera I will be lugging around). The book is called Top 10 Dublin.  It has lists of top ten greatest pubs, places to enjoy Irish music, restaurants and cafes, etc. This little book will be so useful since I am making such a brief visit.

     

    We finally booked our hotel today! We are staying at the adorable Central Hotel. It is right by Trinity College which is where the conference is being hosted.  The hotel is one of the oldest in Dublin, dating back to 1887!  From the pictures on the website (hopefully trustworthy), the hotel has an old world charm, but all modern amenities. There is even a library bar in the hotel; from the pictures it is a place to argue over who really won World War II as you sip your nightcap and smoke from your pipe.. all while adjusting your monocle (I plan to do all of these things, of course).

 Central Hotel

Trinity College

    I do intend on posting while I am there, but who really knows. I may find out that I love Guinness and Jameson (well... I already love Jameson) and I could be tipsy and red in the face the entire trip! Who am I kidding... this is probably what's going to happen.

    I will now leave you with an Irish toast... 

Here’s to you and yours, And to mine and ours, And if mine and ours ever come Across you and yours, I hope you and yours will do As much for mine and ours, As mine and ours have done For you and yours!

my face

In beauty magazines they always have articles revealing the secret makeup tips and products that celebrities wear: "What's in Sarah Jessica Parker's makeup bag?"

Well, for anyone that wonders, "What's in Rachelle's makeup bag?" ...here ya go!

Face Wash and Moisturizer: Mary Kay Velocity

• I love this combo. I have been using it for years now.  My skin is pretty sensitive, as I am sure many others are in the same situation, so this combo is super gentle.  I have trial and errored many drugstore lines and most have failed me... unhappy me with a spotty, pimply, oily face. Not fun. At all.
• Price: Face Wash $10; Moisturizer $12.
• Sidenote: I love staying over at friends' houses and using their face wash.  I am able to test different face washes on my skin without having to buy the product. Sorry to those of my friends who have woken up to their face washes missing a dime size drop... guilty!

Foundation: Bare Minerals - Medium Beige

• If anyone will learn anything from this entry, it will be to use Bare Minerals. I cannot even count on my hands and toes how many times I received compliments about my "skin" (not my makeup) being nice, or even glowing, while wearing this product. Love love love. I have also tried many copy cat mineral makeup lines and... just don't go there.
• Price: $25

Bronzer: E.L.F. - Mineral Glow - Bronzed Mineral - #6403

• I used to use the Bare Minerals brand, but found this bronzer to work just fine. Nothing exciting to write home about, but I like it. The price is the best part and it comes in a huge container so it will definitely last a long time.
• Price:  $8

Eyelid Primer: Bare Minerals - Prime Time Eyelid Primer 

• I also swear by this product. I got my makeup done for funsies at the Bare Minerals counter in the Nordstrom downtown.  The lovely lady used this product on my eye lids prior to putting on the eye shadow and liner. My makeup stayed on perfectly all day. I went back and bought the primer to use for two weddings last year and my eye makeup was flawless all day and night long. It keeps everything in place.  I also tried other similar products, but nothing compares to this.  It seems expensive, but it has lasted me a year.
• Price: $16

 Eye Shadows: E.L.F. Mineral eye shadows 

• I like using the loose powder eyeshadows. I use many different colors and shades, so I wanted to buy a bunch. At the price that this eyeshadow is, I bought almost every color.
• Price: $3

Eye Liner: E.L.F.  - Waterproof Eye Liner Pen

• This product is great. It is like a combo between a marker and liquid eyeliner. The product isn't as thick as liquid eyeliner, so it doesn't get too goopy (is that a word?... google spell check says no... oh well I like it!). It goes on so easily and you just write with it like a marker... on your lash line.
• Price: $1 ...I know. Unreal. I buy three at a time (saves on shipping and handling).

Brows: Bare Minerals Brow Color - Brunette

• This product stays in place and it gives my sad sad brows some oomph without making it look like I have fake caterpillars resting above my eyes.
• Price: $11

Mascara: Maybelline New York - The Colossal Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara

• I have funny asian hair lashes that stick straight out. So my goal with mascara is to have something that works with my lash curler, not against it.  I curl my lashes then put mascara on it, so my lashes do not get pulled out if I do it the way around. Some mascaras, however, will cause my lashes to go stick straight again. This product is like hairspray for my lashes, it keeps them curled and makes them look longer and thicker as well!
• Price: ~$6

Lips: Burt's Bees - Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil 

• This stuff tastes fantastic, does not make you a lip balm addict (don't you feel like sometimes if you use some lip balms the product almost makes it worse, because your lips become dependent on the lip balm?)  It also gives my lips a splash of life.
• Price: $3

 

Ta Da!

yes please.

yum.

I. Love. Jason. Mraz.

Jay and I have an agreement that if Jason Mraz ever wants to take me to his bed... Jay has to let me go.

Please watch this video and just bask in his sexy voice. I just got home from work, so I will now dream about him... mmmmm.

... he actually has a blog on here too.

awww... found another to share...





ok.. one more...

I hate to admit...

... I do, sometimes, read crappy love stories.

... the reason I have a "Save lives, be a nurse" bumper sticker propped in the 'rolla's back window is because if a cop pulls me over I cross my fingers the cop will read it and let me go.

... I just ate four thin mint girl scout cookies. 

... Justin Bieber is adorable.

... I wear gloves whenever I have to help a patient put on their socks.

... George Clooney is getting to the point where he is old enough for me not to find attractive anymore.

... my closet is home to over twenty five summer dresses.

... I own way too much makeup that I do not use.

... I hate jean skirts.

... chocolate and cheese are the bane of my existence... because I cannot get enough of either.

... I am legitimately sad that I am not really attracted to George Clooney anymore.

... I miss my long hair

intended surroundings

I think it is important for your living space to make you happy. So, I took it upon myself to take pictures of things I can see from my computer that bring me joy to look at:

I really wish I could have learned to properly interior decorate, but I do my best.

 One of my favorite teachers in nursing school gave me the figurine of the girl at my graduation.  The quote that came with it says "Free Spirit: Dancing through life with laughter".

The turtle art piece came from a thrift store. I love turtles.

 In Chile, it is believed that "chanchitos" or little pigs bring good luck. 

They are given to friends as a token of goodwill and love.

Thanks Ashley M

 These are just doggone adorable.

Jay made this for me. I think he loves me. 

(take note of the cool tree photo in the background)

 I like the sound of this fan when I sleep. 

A tip from Ashley M to provide "white noise"

 its killing me not remembering who painted this. does anyone know?!

 yes i am a night owl.

 The clock was a thrift store find that i was going to gift to a friend, but i never gave it to him... 

because i love it.

Books. i love books.

 usually holds truffles.

 planet earth. if you haven't seen it... you must.

 makes you feel warm.. doesn't it?

standing in trees. taking pictures as i please.

Memories formed recently:

 

Lisa's birthday party. 

Thrilla Vanilla (Jay) and Thrilla Manila (Me) were in attendance.

 

So was Mr. Bee. He landed on my blanket while I watched people play bags.

 

it was a nice spring day. we drank our beers and chilled outside.

 

the birthday girl. sporting her amazeballs shirt I ordered from UberPrints.

 

me sporting my shirt that I ordered from Walmart. (one of 17 shirts that floated around that night with a different picture of Lisa on it.)

 

Stopped on the roadside. Sometimes I forget that even flat prairie land can be really beautiful.

 

outside Jay's apartment.

 

Jay loves these yellow pads.

 

world, meet Luhfawnduh. 

Jay saved her from me, because I am awful at taking care of animals.

 

I try to convince him to let me put mascara on his lashes. 

not a chance... apparently.

 

spring is here. really. crossing my fingers.

 

sunset and blossoms. this makes me want to drink a mimosa.

  

fun. in a bowl. craft time!

  

my sunflower of sorts.

 

shley's star.

 

manda's heart.

... then you use parchment paper and iron them so they melt together. childhood.

friends. love em.

My friends are so different than I am. Yet the same. I think that's how the best friendship circles work. Everyone shares some common thread in their personalities that lets them flow together, but each brings their own pizazz to the loop. I like my friends. :)  Here are some random pics of some of my greatest pals...

 

Franke, Lisa, Laura... waiting to be sat @ The Grand Luxe Cafe

*Franke... We became the closest when we were roommates in college. oh crazy roommates. Definitely have gotten into trouble with this one.

*Lisa... My longest lasting consistent best friend. Best friends since we were 8. Her birthday was yesterday. Happy Birthday. love u.

*Laura... lil Laur. She is always the girl you can bring around. She gets along with everyone and is always so comfortable to be around.

  

Neiert, Madeline, Me @ The Palmer House... getting ready to hit the town

*Neiert... we hated each other at first as tennis partners on varsity tennis in high school. once the season and stress was over, we grew to love each other.

*Madeline... she dated an old friend in college and just never let her go since. She is my animal lover, liberal, hippy, happy, loving and kind friend.

  

Franke, Me, Laura, Lisa... @ The Sears Tower Skydeck

 

Ryan St. J and me @ Mardi Gras in St. Louis

*Ryan... and I used to talk on the phone every day in 6th grade. No clue what we talked about all the time. Has been a best friend since.

 

Closer: Sofie, Madeline, Me, Leah

Farther: Wylie, Toni, Tom, Jay, Joe

... ready to go out in Champaign 

*Sofie... is dating one of my dearests (Wylie) and that gives me grounds to not like her  ;)  ... but i absolutely love her.

*Leah... my first encounter with her were mostly @ Murphys Pub senior year at UofI. Always having a great time and dancing her toosh off.

*Wylie... we met in Rhetoric 105 first semester freshman year @ U of I... when I realized how insane he was... I obviously loved him right away

*Toni.. she is dating Tom (see below)... and I love her for it. She is so great to be around.

*Tom... one of Jays best friends along with Joe (see below)... and I have grown to treat them like Jay's brothers. 

*Jay: my lover.

*Joe... Jay's almost brother. love him.

  

Harry, Tdista, Me, Shley, Franke ... @ Houlihans near our hometown

*Harry... he is our goofy, loud, older brother who loves to have a good time, but will also kick someones ass if they are being mean to you.  

*TDista... she is getting married this October and I am so HAPPY for her and her almost husband, Jeff! YAY. They make so much sense together

*Shley... band nerd friends from middle school... we roughed it through the awkward years together... all the way through being roommates in college.

 

Shley and Mike... @ my cabin

*Mike... I have known Mike since elementary school has been a good friend since high school... and now he is married to one of my best friends.

 

Madeline, Me, Manda... in my room

*Manda... my awkward, no table manners, goofy, loving life with her head in the sky friend. love her.

 

Jess and Mike @ Summerfest in Milwaukee

*Jess... was "Jay's sister" at first... but now she is just "my friend who happens to be Jay's sister" :)

*Mike... a possible future brother in law... (eek can i say that?)... also one of Jay's best friends/brothers since middle school

 

Franke and I visiting Justin in Charleston, SC

*Justin... with Ryan St J moving to Chicago.. he is the next person I need to work on to move closer to me so I can see him more often. 

 

Maricel (my cousin and one of my best friends), Ed, and Me @ New Years

*Maricel... our parents used to dress us up like twins as wee children... and we have been pretty much sisters ever since.

*Ed... the Filipino version of Jay. How could I not love him?

   

Lisa, Me, Cuchna out in Bucktown

*Cuchna... my crazy, fun, energetic friend. Put her and Lisa in a room together and you could recharge a battery there is so much energy! dang Im funny!

... and Jay... my best friend.

I also feel like I become closer with some people and grow farther apart from others every day. Its like the ebb and flow of friendship. It cycles and cycles and works itself out in the end.  Sorry for anyone I didn't post a picture of, but if you know I love you.. then you know I love you.