Eyelash Extension Virgin

I'll admit it.  My husband's eyelashes are way more prettier than mine.  Luckily, for my youngest baby, she inherited them.  You know, the ones that are long and naturally curl at the end.  Arg.  If only.  The longer the lashes the better, right??  If I have anytime for makeup, I would usually only throw on mascara.  I used to love my Tarte mascara, until I switched over to Younique's fiber lashes.  LOVED them.  Absolutely, loved using it.  If you want some length to your lashes without wear false lashes, you should really try Younique's fiber lashes.  However, for me, it was pretty time consuming.  And as a mom, "time consuming" is more than 5 minutes. haha!!  Gone are the days I can spend half an hour, at least, to "put my face on."  So I decided to take the plunge and get eyelash extensions!  

After looking at reviews and asking a million questions (duh, of course)-- I made an appointment with Mercedes (see her pictures on instagram @lashitbymercedesmarie) to pop my eyelash extension cherry!!  

In case you were wondering, there is a plethora of different kinds of lashes to use:  Fake, colored, human, etc...  I have always heard about "mink" eyelashes, so when Mercedes explained what it was exactly, I decided to PASS on them.  In case you were wondering, Mink eyelashes are sometimes made from pig hairs.   Mmmkaayy, no.  I am good on that.  I like to eat bacon, not wear bacon.  She also had REAL HUMAN HAIR on hand if I wanted to use that, too.  My question is: Where does it come from?!?! What part of the body?!?! And WHO "donates" it????  Soooo, with all that new information-- I chose to do synthetic lashes.

Real hair.  But from where???  

We decided to do a more "classic" fill with a "cat eye look."  Basically, to keep it more natural but with a fuller and longer look.  After taping my bottom eyelashes down, it was time!  By the way, make sure not to schedule your appointment if you are busy that day.  It takes 2-3 hours to get them done.  Thank goodness, you are able to talk!  LOL Poor Mercedes, I probably talked her whole ear off for the 2 hours.  (Sorry girlfriend, but you already know my ADHD was kicked in full gear just laying there with my eyes closed.  lol)

Why does it take so long?  Well, Mercedes glued an extension to each eyelash INDIVIDUALLY.  It's not like wearing fake eyelashes, where you take a strip of fake lashes and glue it on your eye lid.  Eyelash extensions are very time consuming and it should be done by someone that is certified and knows the industry.  Sadly, many people ruin their natural eyelashes by going to people that are not properly trained in the process. 

Finally, we were done!   I could not wait to look in the mirror at the final product of laying down with my eyes closed for 2 hours!!  (Do not drink any caffeine before your appointment.  You have been warned. LOL)  

I absolutely LOVE them!  My eyes look bigger and I never feel like I need to wear any mascara now.  Just wake up and GO!!  Every 2-3 weeks you have to go in for a "fill."  A fill is needed because we do shed our lashes.  I think when I go in for my fill, I will go a little more than a classic look and get more volume.  Eyelash extensions are addicting! LoL  You love them and think how much bigger you will go next time!  

You can book Mercedes directly at 385-888-3623 or call V Boutique LV where she works at.  And guess what?!?  For all my followers, she is offering a special of getting a full set of lashes for ONLY $50!!!  That's right, if it is your first time booking with her-- tell her you follow my blog and saw the special!!  Hurry, it won't last long!  Once you take the plunge, there is absolutely no going back! You will be an eyelash extension addict!!  I know I have become one! LOL 

SUGARING--- DO IT!!!!!

Le eyebrows.  Why is it so important to have really, really, really ridiculously, good looking eyebrows??  Is it just me- or has eyebrows become the new thing???  I mean, having well-kept eyebrows has always been something I tried  (keyword- tried) to strive for-- but I have noticed a slight trend in eyebrows being PERFECT.  ARG.  As a mom to two toddlers, I don't really think twice about "fixing my eybrows" anymore.  In fact, its a great day if I remembered to put lotion on BOTH my legs. haha! Where my moms at?!  I know ya'll can relate!  We (moms) tend to look a hot mess but our kids will always look fly.

Since it has been about a year since I had my eyebrows done professionally (I mean, I do pluck here and there to keep some sort of a shape), I decided to try something new.  Usually, I get my eyebrows waxed, but this time I wanted to try SUGARING.  What is sugaring??  It is an all natural hair removal made from lemon, sugar and water. The sugar paste removes unwanted hair and doesn't stick to live skin cells, eliminating the discomfort associated with wax.  Sugaring is only made with 3 ingredients lemon, sugar, and water.  Boom.  That's it.  No harsh chemicals, preservatives, etc...  Granola moms, rejoice!! LOL

After checking all her positive reviews, I made an appointment with Danielle at Sugaring LV.  She is located in Element Salon and Wellness spa.

Off the bat, Danielle was a such a friendly person and very welcoming.  Oh and did I mention, my sitter bailed on me last minute but she insisted on me coming anyway?  "Bring the kids.  Its okay."  Right then, I knew she was either a mom or had 20 nieces and nephews-- to have such a tolerant attitude towards having toddlers come to her place of work.  That is the mark of an extremely  understanding person and someone who bends over backwards for her customers.  (If you are reading this, thanks again Danielle!  My girls are continuously asking about the "Hair Doctor." hahha)


Since it was my first time SUGARING, Danielle was patient enough to answer all my questions.  My husband thinks I am nosy and tend to asks too many questions.  I just like TO KNOW what is going on!  You know what I mean?  I am that person who will ask a million questions until I understand EVERYTHING (and I do mean EVERYTHING) of any kind of situation I am in.  Maybe that is why I have a degree in Journalism.  It's just in my blood.  Or perhaps, it is the Adult ADHD.  Or I could just be a nosy little nugget.  LOL


According to Sugaringlv.com:
Sugar is made with only lemon, sugar and water.
Sugar paste is lukewarm so there is no chance of burning the skin.
Sugar paste is water soluble which means you can just wipe it away with water-no more sticky mess.
Sugar paste gently exfoliates the skin leaving soft and smooth skin after each treatment.
You only need 10 days of growth from the last time you shaved to receive a sugaring treatment.
Sugar paste seeps into the follicle wrapping around the hair to remove it. This prevents the hair from breaking.
Sugar paste removes the hair in it's natural direction which helps prevents in-grown hairs.
You get your own ball of sugar each time, which means no double dipping ever. This makes sugaring completely sanitary.  No double dipping in the pot like wax.

Here is my before picture:

 Yes, I walked around in public like that.  Danielle did mention, as she did my eyebrows, "they are perfectly shaped."  Maybe I am not as bad with tweezers as I previously thought! HA!

This is the SUGARING ball that she used on me, and then threw away after.  I like that facet of sugaring.  Nothing is reused, nothing gets contaminated with other people's germs.  Ewwwww..

The process is quite simple.  She just rolled the SUGARING ball under my eyebrows and it caught all the hair in its path.  It felt like she was just rolling around sticky putty on my face.  LOL

And voila!  Finished product.  Less than 10 minutes and no sticky wax all over my face!  In fact, she was able to go over the same place more than once because sugaring is not as harsh to the skin as waxing is.  

My eyebrows were not red and sore as they usually are after I get them waxed.   So there you have it, I have now crossed over to the SUGARING side!!!  I think this is an excellent alternative to waxing.  Go see Danielle at Sugaringlv!!  If you want more information check out her website at sugaringlv.com!

Thanks again, Danielle, for helping to tame these wild beasts!!!  I will see you again soon, minus my little minions.  Unless of course, I am sans babysitter. LOL

Making New Friends, AKA DATING

**I got inspired to write this post after watching a new show on BRAVO called, "There Goes the Motherhood."  You have to watch it-- a mom literally LOCKS her children in bed at night.  Sometimes, I just can't with people.  People are so fascinating.  Anyway.......

Before you get your panties in a bunch, let me rephrase that.  I should say that this post refers to MOMS who are making new friends.  Not making friends in general.  MOMS who are trying to make new friends- THIS is similar to dating.  Don't believe me?  Let me break it down for you.

Life is great pre-baby.  You are young, healthy, and have tons of friends.  Every weekend: 1) your girlfriends and you have a "Girls Nite" 2) you double date with friends 3) you go to the movies 4) pretty much have tons of friends that you do things with.   

Then.... you get pregnant.  You can't go out.  Your friends slowly stop calling.  Your close friends stop  by once in awhile for a few hours before they go out OR maybe you do a lunch here and there.  But your once jam packed social life is now dwindling down.  Let's face it, you can barely get out of bed now- let alone have the energy to put on a decent outfit. 

Then... you have a baby!  Life is perfect.  Baby is healthy, you are healthy.  All is gooood in the neighborhood.  You are a MOM!  How crazy is that?  You are now in charge of another human being, who happens to be the cutest thing in the world!  But yet, you crave social interaction.  You realize that you can no longer carry on an adult conversation and you find your vocabulary is nonexistent.  But where are all your friends at, the ones you had pre-baby?  What happened to their invites to everything?  Well, unfortunately- its normal.  People that don't have babies can't relate to you anymore.  They don't understand why you can't carry a normal conversation with no interruptions OR that your schedule revolves around nap times.  To no fault of theirs, your "old" friends continue life without you.  I mean, when you weren't a parent- were you jumping up and down to hang out with people that had kids?  Let alone new borne babies that cried all the time? Were you hanging out at the park with them?  Or standing in line with them to register for preschool?  (If your toddler is still too young for school, pay attention to the last sentence.  Some places have wait-lists.  Yea, I know.)  You and I both recognize, you can't get mad at your childless friends.  Priorities shift once you become a parent.  

So now that you want social interaction, you realize- it is time to make new friends with other moms.   I honestly don't think non- parents realize just how hard and time- consuming making new friends can be.  IT IS LIKE DATING in sooo many ways!!!  Why?  Because, this is the basic timeline of making new friends as a parent:

1- You find a MOM:  You join "Mommy Groups", you go to kid-friendly events, etc...  You are basically networking like a professional at every park you go to.  "Hi.  What do you do? Where do you live?  What's your sign?" Until finally, after joining countless "Mommy Groups," you meet the mom of your dreams.  She likes the same stuff you do, she is wearing the cutest leggings (aka good style), she barely brushed her hair, and she is drinking coffee!  PERFECT MATCH! 

2- Do the kids get along?  Now that you have found YOUR mom, you have to make sure the kids get along.  You hold your breath with anticipation when you introduce your kids to each other, praying that they become besties.  You really like this mom and want to show her your coffee mugs-- that are filled with wine most of the time.  See, not all kids get along.  They really don't.  Some click and are playing "Tag" instantly, while some start the "no, its mine" game right away.  But look!  Your kids are playing!  They like each other! SCORE!

3- Time for some one-on-one.  Great!!  The kids get along, now you can invite her to a playdate at your house to chat over coffee.  She comes over the next day and you guys enjoy a cup of coffee, in between yelling at the kids making a huge mess in your house.  But, oh well.  You will just clean up next week before your dinner party, anyway.  You guys realize that you like the same designers, same restaurants, and can quote the same movies!  This is a match made in heaven!  The kids are off in the corner laughing (doing Lord knows what), while you are trying to schedule in more "mom time" with your new soulmate.  But wait, now comes the ultimate test.

4- DO THE HUSBANDS GET ALONG?-   After all that time searching for YOUR perfect mom-friend, making sure the kids get along, and then realizing that you do have tons in common... now you have to make sure your husbands get along!  Arg.  (Told ya it was like dating.)   But we get along, so why do the husbands have to get along??  Because when you are married/parents, you do things as a couple.  That's just how it is.  Couples hang out with couples.  Well, most of the time.  If you are reading this and you have no idea what I am talking about-- please feel free to skip this part. So now you plan a dinner date with your new mom-friend and her husband.  "Bring the kids over, we can eat dinner (aka- drink tons of wine/beer) while the kids play (aka- make a huge mess)."  You buy your husband's favorite beer that night, because you noticed his slight eye-roll when you mentioned "new people" were coming over for dinner; gotta make sure he is nice and "relaxed" for your new friends.  They are here!  Cross your fingers.  3 hours later, SUCCESS!!  The men are outside smoking cigars and laughing!  YOU DID IT!  You now have new friends that you can actually hang out with outside of the playground.  Whew. It only took you a month, but you have found YOUR PEOPLES.

See??!? Making new friends as a parent, is totally like dating!  Just writing this- I got exhausted.  Thank God, I don't have to do this.  Luckily, for us- most of my friends have kids and my husband gets along charmingly with everyone.  If I had to go back to the "dating world"- I would for sure need lots of coffee. HAHA! 

Importance of #wafflefries. I mean #HASHTAGS#.

I know, I know.  It has been over a month (or 2) since posting a blog.  Bad, Tara.  But sometimes, inspiration for a good post just hits you out of nowhere and once you think about it- it can consume you, until you put your thoughts to paper.  So bear with me.  I may or may not have drank some "mom juice" aka coffee.  

Anyone know what a hashtag is?  Well, before social media took off- it was known as a "pound sign."  It is simply a word or sentence with the symbol # in front of it.  Hashtags are a MUST for a business owner to use on their social media platforms.  In fact, if you own a business and you are not active in at least 2 different social media platforms (I, myself, prefer Facebook and Instagram)- then you better get on it!  But using social media for business marketing and brand awareness is for another post.  This one is purely on the importance of a HASHTAG and why it is so important.

Before I continue, let me add that I am not looking up facts online and regurgitating them.  I use #hashtags for my online women's boutique that I run from my house. www.shoptiel.com (Yes, I just did that.) My kitchen, to be exact.  I started in March 2013 when we were stationed in Tacoma, WA- pregnant and with a 7-month-old newborn.  At the end of 2013, I sold almost $100,000 worth of items withOUT even having a website for the first 4 months.  Not profit ( I wish), but total sales.  I was shipping to states I had not even been to with the help of social media!   Not bad for a new mom, who never ran a business before.  For those that are wondering: 2014 and 2015 my sales were not as great because I moved back home to Maui and worked on a food truck (RIP "DA LUMPIA LADY) and other projects.  Why?  Because shipping items to Maui were astronomical and I just could not wrap my head around paying more for shipping costs than for the items themselves.  In hindsight, I should have rode the wave and bumped my price point up, and kept the boutique active.  But oh well.  You live and you learn.  (Sniff.)  But now that I am back in Vegas, it is ON.  You can follow my boutique IG @shoptiel and my FB page, "Tiel Boutique" to see all our new items.  HA!  Sorry, I can't help it.  But back to the real reason for this post.  The importance of hashtags.

We will discuss the importance of hashtags using Instagram as our social media platform example.  According to Wikipedia, "Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing, and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, and share them either publicly or privately on the app..."  Did you know that when you upload an item to Instagram, you can click a few buttons and voila!  The post can automatically be added to all your other social media platforms! Instagram is my favorite for that reason.  It can be a great platform for real estate agents.  Why?  For example: If you were a real estate agent, you could post a 15 second walk through of a new property you just listed.  (Eureeka!  She's pretty smart.  You can thank me later.  LOL)  

Anyways, the easiest way to discuss #hashtags will be through pictures.  (You can also hashtag a WRITTEN post on Facebook.)  Hashtagging a post, is just a way for all pictures/videos to be grouped together.  Like a photo album, if you will.  All posts with the same hashtag will all appear on the same page.  Easy.  That's it.  You and everyone else that use the SAME hashtag will appear on the same page together.  But WHY is this good for marketing?  Because everyone that has an instagram will see YOUR post when they click on that particular hashtag.  So what should you #hashtag?   It all just depends on what the picture is, the type of audience you are attracting, and where you think potential customers are looking.  That's right. WHAT hashtag do you think potential customers are looking at, is the one you should be always using.  Say for example: You are a GMO-free candy maker?  All your posts should ALWAYS include #gmofreecandy.  Why? Because that is probably what a customer is looking up.  What your business sells, is what you should always #hashtag.  

I will upload a picture of my favorite ice cream to my personal IG account @mamataralee and walk you through the explanation.  It will make sense if you can actually SEE it, while I describe it to you.

**By the way, it is crucial to note that your social media platforms should all be PUBLIC.  Things you don't want everyone to see goes on your private account.  And yes, business and private account should always be separate.   

I posted a picture to Instagram of my favorite ice cream.  The hash tag that I used to DESCRIBE my picture was #icecream.  Pretty simple.  I could have also used #besticecreamintheworld #benandjerry #lunch #snack, anything.  Pretty much the sky is the limit on what you use on the bottom of your post.  There is NO limit on the amount of hashtags.  If it was a picture of my kids, perhaps I would use #toddlersofinstagram.   Be creative.  The more of diverse of an audience you can capture, the more clients/customers you could potentially have. 

Now when I CLICK on that #icecream hashtag this is what pops up:

MY picture on the page of every single post in the world with the #icecream hashtag.  If you look on the upper right hand corner- there are over 19 MILLION posts.  Which means the chances of your business being seen by people who have never heard of you before, are quite high.  The posts are also arranged in chronological order.  So in 10 minutes there may be another post in front of mine.  Which is why you should also be on some kind of posting schedule.  

So now do you understand why #hashtags can be very important for your business??  Say Jimmy went on a vacation in Thailand and he didn't know what to do.  Jimmy searched #thingstodointhailand via Instagram and a billion posts popped up leading him to the nearest hike or business.  Now whatever business used #thingstodoinThailand, they just gained another customer at no extra cost.

I hoped this post has helped you realize the importance of using #hashtags for your business.  If you are not using social media as a way to market your business, you really should.  It does not cost anything.  Happy #hashtagging!!!

By the way, I am working on a new project for all my restaurant owners/managers in Vegas that are reading this.  It is called "Eat Las Vegas."  I will be implementing all my social media savviness to help market restaurants and their food.  Sometimes in life, you realize what you are good at and passionate about and decide to make that your career.  I am passionate about food and am really good at marketing.  For more info, Email me at eatlasvegas@yahoo.com.  

Cooking Hack... because Science.

My girls and I LOVE eggs.  Scrambled, hard boiled, over easy, etc.. we LOVE eggs.   Except yolk.  I can eat the yolk if it is scrambled; If I boil the egg, I give my yolk to my girls! lol I just can't do it.

When I boil eggs, I used to loathe peeling them.  BUT not any more!!!  I have found the perfect COOKING HACK.  Now peeling eggs is sooo much easier!!

What do I do?  I simply add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the water before it boils and then add the eggs!  The eggs boil in the vinegar-water and voila!! It is like, magic!  Once cooled, the peeling process is effortless.

Check out how the shell actually stays in one piece.  After the initial crack, the egg just glides out!

WHY does it work?  Well according to science, "The eggshell is made of calcium carbonate and adding vinegar to the water will dissolve some of the calcium carbonate.  The result is a softer shell and easier peeling."  Thank you science!

There you have it!  This will drastically change your life!  Bye, bye boiled eggs that are disturbingly hard to peel!
 

I got DESIGNER bags... UNDER my eyes!

I have the WORSE eye bags in the world.  Well, it feels like it anyway. HA!  Between being pregnant back to back AND then dealing with 2 toddlers... I feel like I am perpetually tired.

With that all being said, I am always on the hunt for a good eye cream.  Right now, I am LOVING "Radha Beauty Intensive Youth Eye Gel."  I found it while eugooglizing (yes, you read that right.  EUGOOGLIZE. OR Eugoogly.  Name that movie. ) best eye creams ever.  Foreva, eva?  For- EVER.  

Taken off their website here is the description of the product:

What it is: 

A soothing, gentle gel designed to give back radiant eyes. By harnessing the power of Matrixyl 3000—a rejuvenating plant stem cell therapy—this hydrating serum can help smooth out and firm up skin.*

What it does:

Matrixyl 3000 works as a powerful stem cell therapy to help combat the appearance of dark spots, wrinkles, and puffiness. Wake sagging, droopy, puffy, and discolored skin with this restorative plant therapy. Along with the miracle effects of Matrixyl 3000, this advanced formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, cucumber, vitamin E and rosehip oil that can help replenish the skin with rich nutrients and rehydrate tissues deep beneath the surface—creating a firm, tight, and refreshed look.*  

I liked it because of what it does NOT contain:

Parabens

Sulfates

Phthalates

Synthetic Fragrances

Synthetic Dyes

GMOs

Triclosan

Remember when I stated that I was a tad bit of a granola mom?  Yea, that applies to my eye cream as well! LOL  I don't think this is 100% organic, I believe it is 75% organic.  Hey, that works for me!  ha!

I have been using it for about 10 days now.   I keep it in the fridge, because why not?  I like the coldness on my eyes in the morning.  I apply it every morning after I wash my face and at night before I go to bed.  I wish I had taken a before picture, but I think this has helped reduce my eye puffiness.  Not so much my wrinkles- but we shall see in a few more weeks of continued use.  I am almost certain that after a few days of using this product, I noticed a slight reduction of "puffiness" every morning.  

The product glides on easily, there is NO smell, and it does not irritate my skin at all.  It is really light and not oily.  I think I will start to apply it on my forehead now.  Lord knows THAT area needs some help! Hellloooo, Botox! Hahha.  Nah, I kid, I kid.  And it is in a pump.  *In my opinion, most creams and gels should come out of pumps.  

This product is only $15.95 and contains great ingredients to help your skin.  For that price and the results I have received- I give this 5 thumbs up.  Yea, for Radha!!  Just take all my money!  I will definitely be looking into all their products now.   I just glanced at all their products and their prices are very wallet friendly.  Let me know if you are a Radha customer and tell me your favorite product in the comments below!

Mario Badescu- I LOVE THIS STUFF

FashionSISTAS!!!  You NEED this in your life!!  I just got this a few days ago because I was looking for something to hydrate my skin, since Vegas is a super dry place to live.  I decided to try this because in the description it can be used to set makeup AND even spray on your hair to hydrate it.  SOLD!!

This is the description taken directly off of Ulta's website:
A refreshing, hydrating mist to use anywhere anytime. Simply formulated with fragrant herbal extracts and rosewater for a pleasant, pick me up for dehydrated, tight and uncomfortable skin. Spray your day and night creams for a boost of hydration or use it to set make-up or spray on dry hair throughout the day. Safe for all skin types. Gentle, non-irritating.

Here is the list of ingredients:

I do not know why I have not heard of this before.  It is maahvalous dahhling, simply maaahhvalous.  I keep it in the fridge so when I spray it on my face, it feels sooo refreshing.  After I put on my moisturizer in the morning, I give this a few spritz before I walk out the door.  Then, if I feel I need a little "pick me up" for my face throughout the day- I just go to the fridge and spray a little on my face for an instant boost.

This product is not sticky, it smells heavenly, and it is super light.  I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!  I also used it after I put my "face" on the other day.  It added that "special touch" to the final product.

At only $7-- I give this product 5 stars.  GET IT!  Keep it in your fridge and give your skin some extra TLC through out the day...especially since the cold weather makes everyone's skin so dry.

Da 9th Island Kitchen

You ever see those "sponsored" posts on Facebook?  They are just paid ads for stores in your area or whatever the person is selling.  Yesterday, I was slightly intrigued when I saw a sponsored post for FOOD.  Duh, of course, I would be right?! LoL. What caught my eye was it being called "Da 9th Island Kitchen."  With a name like that, I knew it was going to be some local food!!

Sooo I clicked on the link and was diverted to their FB page.  I discovered that they are a plate lunch DELIVERY service for most of Las Vegas.  $5 for a plate lunch at at that.  Local food delivered to me, at NO extra cost?!  Okay then. Sold.  Here is the menu for this week:

I decided to order today's (Monday)  plate lunch.  I sent them a text with my order of the plate and spam musubis for the girls.  My girls love spam musubi-- true local babies right there! Lol Since it came with a drink I got a squirt.  To prepay for plate, they sent me an invoice via PayPal.  Easy, peasy.  Oh and I told them to text me when they would be on their way so I can make sure to be back from the gym.  Gotta workout to eat, right?! Ha!

Alas, no gym for this morning. I am sick. Boo.  But luckily, I placed the order and didn't have to make lunch for me and the girls! Mom win!!! Yessss.  Anyway, they texted this morning at around the time they said they would drop the food off 10:55am, which is what they quoted me yesterday (around 11am).  Cool.  On time, and they did do a delivery text confirmation. I dig it.

Bam.  I got all that for $7.  What?! Yea. $7!!!! The plate lunch was only $5 WITH a drink and the spam musubis were a $1 each.  Although, the plate was not hot (slightly cold)- the food was good.  The bok Choy was cooked perfectly and the chicken was tasty!!! I loved that the chicken wasn't too greasy either.  The girls mopped their spam musubi and the peach dessert.

I would def order from them again.  I mean, it was only $7!! You can't beat that.  Food was good, on time, and decent portions!  PLUS, I am all done for supporting local businesses, especially on "The 9th Island."

Check out their facebook page, Da 9th Island Kitchen, to see their weekly menus.

**A disclaimer.  Apparently, based on my FB investigation, they operate out of a commercial kitchen and are a catering company as well.  I liked them and if you were ever contemplating trying-- this was only to tell you that it is worth it to sample!!

MOM HACK- Getting my toddlers to drink more water

My girls do not like to drink plain water.  In fact, I have to add a little bit of juice to their water.  I use Trader Joe's "Green Plant" juice which is pretty sweet.  Not only that, but I feel like the girls are getting SUPER juice since it has Spirulina and Chlorella in it.  

Here is the full ingredient list of it.  The only thing I question in it is the gellan gum.  Still not too sure how I feel about that.  Feel free to leave me any comments about gellan gum if you know about it.

Anyways, in an effort to get them to drink water and more of it- I make my OWN flavored water at home using organic fruit.  My girls absolutely LOVE to eat fruits.  Kiana's favorite fruit are strawberries.  Kailea loves her pineapples!  What I started to do was make flavored water with some of their favorite fruits and then I would add lemon and mint.  I clean out an empty gallon jug (for some reason, I hoard plastic jugs/glass jars- so I always have some laying around), use a cup of their favorite fruit(s), and then fill it to the top with distilled water.  I keep it refrigerated and use the fruit for 2 days.  On the 2nd day, I take it out and we eat the fruit (if applicable).  

Right now, in our fridge I have pineapple, mint, and lemon water.  I add mint or lemon to my them sometimes for the health and digestive benefits.  I add lemon to taste.  Usually one whole lemon per gallon works.  And the mint doesn't bother the girls.  They eat it as well!

So not only are my girls drinking more water but they are getting all the health benefits that each fruit gives.  Plus, no fruit goes to waste. We eat the fruit!  Have fun with it and experiment with your favorite fruits!

Allow me to RE-introduce myself....

Hey fashionsistas!!  Second post in a row!!  Yessss!!  I am on a roll!!!  ha!  Hopefully, this continues on well into the next few months and fooo life.  I mean, who doesn't need a little dry, sarcastic, sometimes  corny, humor in their lives???  No, really.  Some people either REALLY, really like me OR some people just don't get me.  But I promise, to know me is to LOVE me.  LOL

Hey girlllll, heyyy!!!

Anyways, it has been about 2 years since I vanished from the face of the blogging world.  I started this in conjunction with my online boutique as a way to do reviews, write about all things fashion, share my love of food, and all kind of fun stuff.  WHY?  Because I love to write.  (I love to read even more.)  I actually got my BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Hawaii back in 2007.  Whoop! Whoop!  College.  Seriously, funnest time of my life.  I have found that being a stay at home mom, really intervenes with my social skills and my grammar.  (By the way, in case you wanted to know.  I just spelled grammar, grammer.  Good ol' spell check.)  I mean, moms, you know how it is.  All our sentences are grammatically incorrect and our vocabulary is pretty much slim to none.   Plus, I feel like my babies just sucked all my brain cells from me when I was pregnant.  SOOOOO by starting this blog; I was hoping to increase my writing skills (writers block is real, ya'll), share my "mom" stories (because let's face it: it is good to hear that you are not the only mom that wants to jump off a building one minute and then snuggle your monkeys the next), and share my reviews and maybe even some food tips and DIY stuff.   I mean, hey, I can shoot big right?! LOL If I start sharing DIY stuff,  high five me.  Cause that means I actually had TIME to DIY project up in my house.

This post is a just a RE-introduction to myself.  Because if you are reading this, 80% chance you found me through social media of my online boutique.  (www.shoptiel.com -- see what I did there? HA!)  Yesterday, my post was the first one in almost 2 years.  I was pleasantly surprised I could even log on.  Like, whoa.  It still works?  Halleleeeur.  A LOT has changed in those 2 years.  I mean A LOT.  Change is inevitable, Growth is optional.  ( I love quotes.  If you follow my instagram @shoptiel, I post a lot of corny quotes.  Sorry, not sorry.)  So if you are new to me,  in the wise words of Jay-Z, "ALLOW ME TO RE-INTRODUCE MYSELF":

Can't do an introduction without my FAMILY!
My Princesses: Kiana and Kailea and My King: Walt
Mommy is Queen B around here!

My name is Tara and I started my online boutique back in Feb 2013.  I had just given birth to my FIRST baby and always dreamed of having my own store- so "Tiel Boutique" was born.  Why Tiel?  My middle name is Lee: Tara Lee.  My initials are T.L.  Said out loud, it is "Tea" (like what you sip on)- "El"(like the masculine noun in Espanol).  Written out it was, "Tiel." Yup.  That's how I got my boutique name.  It is my name but without it being my name.  Oh, and I got to dot the "i" with a HEART.  SOLD!  At the time, we were stationed in Tacoma, Washington.  A few months into being a new mom and operating my online boutique, I found out I was pregnant again!  Two girls.  Oh my poor bank account.  Kiana is the oldest, who is now 3.5 years old.  Kailea is the youngest, running crazy at a little over 2 years old.

When I first started.   Pregnant and taking care of  my 7  month old, all while shipping items out of my kitchen, everyday!

My dear friend Marisa, one of my very FIRST models.  Taking pictures on her balcony.

At the end of 2013, we moved to Maui.  That is where I am from.  I always dreamt of raising my girls on the island so they could experience all that Hawaii has to offer.  From surfing, to the food, to the diverse cultures- Hawaii was going to be our final place we moved as a family.  WAS.  (Will touch base on that later.)  And then in 2014, I started a lumpia truck!! What?!? Yup.  We had one running for a few months.  What is lumpia?  It is basically a Filipino version of an eggroll.  We only lasted about 5 months and then I had to shut it down.  Not because we didn't have the right permits or sales were lacking, but because as a mom to 2 toddlers who were both under 2 at the time AND running a food truck everyday- WAS EXHAUSTING.  If you ever journey into opening a restaurant, I highly suggest starting off with a food truck first.  The restaurant business is very, very time consuming.  So alas, my lumpia truck had to get put on the back burner while I focused on becoming the best mom to my babies.  I could have put them in daycare, but for me, personally- it was not what I wanted for my then 6 month old.  My long time goal would be put my lumpia into stores.  Like the asian frozen section of Costco's or something.  I still need to figure out how to do that.

My beach babies.  MAUI NO KA OI 

LUMPIA FOR DAYS!!!

RIP my little lumpia wagon that could. 

If you see from my previous posts, that is when I basically died from the blogging world, in the beginning of 2014.  That summer, I competed in my FIRST bikini fitness competition.  Yup.  I did it as a way to keep me accountable to get back in shape after having babies back to back.  My girls are only 15 months apart.  Kiana was 5 months old when I got pregnant with Kailea.  This was a way for me to really focus on diet and exercise to get me stage ready.  It was quite an experience!  Food can really affect your physique.  You can workout all day, but if you don't eat right- it doesn't matter.  I dieted for about 8 weeks and worked out hard.  I placed 5th out of 10- not as high as I wanted, but at least I was not last.  LOL  I did notice what my weak points were (glutes and shoulders), and now I work harder on those areas.  Would I do another one?  Yes, but I would definitely start my diet more than 8 weeks out.  Prob more like 16 weeks out.

Can I have those abs back, please?

Ready to eat some delicious carbs.  Announce the winner already. Thanks!

Around this time, Tiel Boutique really started to die out quite a bit.  When I lived on the "mainland", my shipping costs were decent.  Once I moved to Maui, that all changed!  Not only was I paying an arm and a leg to GET my inventory to me, BUT then I had to turn around and ship them BACK to the customers in the mainland.  Believe it or not, 75% of my customers are in the continental US.  I would cringe every time I had to pay exuberant shipping fees.  I wanted to do more with my boutique because it was and still is a dream of mine to open a store- but I just could not justify losing money on shipping costs.

Oh and the HIGHLIGHT of my year (perhaps my life LOL) I was an EXTRA in MAGIC MIKE XL!!  Yes, girl, yes!  You remember that scene that Channing is in Jada Pinkett's house and he dances with those girls.  Look at the right hand of your screen, that Asian girl is me!!  I just so happened to be in town and they needed more extras for that amazing scene.  So I gots paid to see tanning dance shirtless in front of me.  Winning!!!!

The happiness is genuine, folks! LOL

You don't even wanna know how many takes this took!  I swear it was over 2 hours for just this dance scene!  LUCKY ME!! 

At the end of 2014, I started to do feature articles for Mauiwatch.com as their Food and Dining editor.  I told ya, I love to eat!!!

One of the many places I featured.  How's that dress?  One of our best sellers LOL

Hands on!!  Always up to something!

In 2015, I started my own cleaning business.  I know, I know.  I have lots of ideas.  Or maybe it is just a bad case of adult ADHD, I don't know. LOL  A long story short, while it was a GREAT idea- I just could not find enough reliable people to staff.  It is such a low overhead business and EVERYONE could use professional cleaners, that I may just start one here.  Key word: MAY.  We shall see.  It became too difficult after a few months of running it.  On more than one occassion, I had to drag my kids with me to finish up some jobs because they weren't up to standard.  Yea, don't sign me up for that.  I was not to keen to paying people to do a horrible job.  Lesson learned.  In order to have a successful business, you need employees that take pride in their job.

I also ran in the Mrs. Hawaii state pageant as Mrs. Maui 2015!  Wait, what?! She did what? Yeah, toss the idea that you have to be 20 to run in pageants.  This pageant was for the married folk. HA! I was 30 years old at the time, and a MOM.  And I ran in the state pageant representing my island, Maui.  The winner of the pageant went on to Mrs. America.  I placed 3rd runner up, which was not too bad.  The competition was very tight.   I think if I was to do another pageant, I would def get a better dress.  In order to cut costs, I borrowed a gown; but it did not really fit me as it should have.  Oh well.  It was fun and now I can tell my babies, "Mom did it, so you can too..."

I choose to wear a pink dress, cause the color pink represents Maui.

My dress was BEAUTIFUL.  But alas, it was too long for me and I tripped.  Not to self,  next pageant- buy a cheap dress and alter it.  

Our winner of Mrs. Hawaii 2015, actually won 1st runner up at Mrs. America 2015.  Okay, Hawaii.  Represent!

Yes, I will be putting my kids in pageants.  But not the ones that you need fake teeth and the toddlers wear makeup.  No ma'am.  Just the more natural ones.  Why?  Because I believe being in pageants def helps you later in life.  My girls will never have "stage fright", they will know how to conduct themselves in public, they will know how to excel in an interview, and some pageants even offer scholarships.  ( I actually won Miss Maui Filipina 2002 and won a $2000 scholarship to school.)   Their first one was great! They both had fun and every child won a crown.  Kiana did not really like being on stage.  She is our shy baby.  Which is fine.  I was extremely proud of her for overcoming her fear and walking anyway.   (See?  Pageants help to overcome certain fears.)  Kailea, on the other hand, LOVES to be on stage.  She will talk to anyone and is always "performing."  If Kailea wants to do more as she gets older, I will def support her!

She was soo happy! Smiling and clapping like crazy

You see this diva?  Had to be in the front by herself. LOL

I will always love these memories.

Look at my Kiana!  She faced her fear and walked on stage!

"Mom, can I have my ice cream now?" 

In the summer of 2015, we were so lucky to be able to take the girls to Disney world in Florida.  Here are a few tips:  pack food and drinks, bring your own stroller, pack lots of sunscreen, go right when they open and head towards the "popular" rides first, oh and download the "Fast Pass."  Bring extra clothes for your minis too.  There are tons of fountains they can play in and make fun memories.  Word of advice, if your minis want to see Disney characters- use your Fast Passes for those.  The lines just to see Ariel could set you back 2 hours!!! Just to sit for 3 seconds and take a picture.  Ain't nobody got time fo dat!

Fulfilling my inner 5 year old's dreams.  AND as luck would have it, Ariel is  my girls' favorite, too!

Then at the end of 2015, we decided to move to Las Vegas.  Why Vegas?  Well, unbeknownst to most of ya'll- Las Vegas is known as "The 9th Island."  There are 8 islands that compromise Hawaii, and since Las Vegas has a HUGE population of local people, we call it "The 9th Island." My really close friends from high school live here.  Let's face it.  As we get older, making friends is akeen to dating.  Let alone being a Mom?  I just don't have the energy to cultivate new friendships when it is hard for me to keep in touch with old friends! Plus, my husband's family is from Georgia (Savannah) and Florida (Jacksonville), so now it makes it easier for that side of the family to visit us.  Flying to Hawaii was out of the question, it could just be too expensive coming from the East Coast.  And now if I want to go home, it is just a 5 hour flight for me.  Hawaiian Airlines flies direct from Vegas to Hawaii, hence the huge local population that lives here.  Me?  I LOVE Vegas.  It is food heaven for "foodies."  Always something to do.  And I love to gamble.  From sports games to table games- I love it.  But I gamble smart.  I research my games and I play double deck blackjack.  (I know how to play, because I was a professional dealer for 2 years. LOL Jack of all trades, I tell ya!)

Spangler Ohana 2015

I Live in Vegas, but Hawaii will ALWAYS be HOME.  One day, we may move back... but until then we will just visit every summer.

So now I am determined to get my boutique back up and running like my very first year!  Can you believe I sold almost $100,000 in total sales from my small kitchen in Tacoma, Washington??? Don't get that twisted with "profit."  Profit and total sales are NOT the same.  These past 2 years set me back, but we will get there again!! I want to be every Fashionsistas go-to boutique for amazing finds at great prices.  Who said you have to break the bank to look good??? With that said, who said you can't have quality items at a decent price?  (I do still covet that Chanel purse though, LOL)  Oh and now I will be having my OWN column titled, "Tara's Las Vegas" at Mauiwatch.com.  Basically, highlighting things to do "off the strip" as well as great places to eat at.  DUH.  I plan my day around meals. HAHA!

Showing off some new gear and my frizzy hair. LOL

Chef's are rockstars to me!  

So there you have it folks.  Me in a nutshell.  Now when you read my posts maybe you can understand me more.  Basically my life is my kids, fashion, and food.  Oh and I live at the gym.  (But you can't really tell because I love to EAT like a teenage boy.)  I want to be the next "Oprah." Have a store one day.   Dream big, right?  LOL  But for real, my kids run my life and I would not have it any other way.  (Sometimes.)

Spangler Sisters

I am such a blessed Mommy!