Lately, when we’re just sitting around, I’ll ask Matt if we can look at the Tiffany.com engagement ring section, please, please, please, just for three minutes, we’re just going to look. I mainly do this to see how he reacts so that I can get a feel for “where we are.” (What? Actually talk to the man I’ve been dating for 5.5 years? Now you’re just crazy.) You see, for the longest time, Matt would fureeeak out about this sort of thing, like seriously, he would enact sudden death every time I mentioned the word “wedding” and I just learned to deal with it because, you know, it’s not like I’m in a huge hurry either except for the fact that my ovaries are probably drying up as we speak.

Yeah, so lately, when I’ve been asking if we can look at rings online together, he’s been agreeing, saying thing’s like, “OK, but only 3 minutes. Oh, what? The page is slow to load? Well, the clock is ticking! Two minutes and fifty seconds!” And I’ve been kind of surprised because hey, no fake heart attack this time? This is a huge step.

And then two weekends ago, we were sitting in my room and I was like, “Can we look at Tiffany.com for three minutes, please, please, please, come onnnnnnn?” And he was like no. And I was sad.

Then he paused and said, “How about this?”

And I looked up and said, “Huh?”

And he was all, “Next weekend, why don’t you start researching rings. Start figuring out what you like and then show me some options and we can pick something out.”

And I was like “REALLY???!”

And he even gave me a budget and everything and I was like, “Oh my God, this is for real!”

And I was so happy that I couldn’t sleep for two days.

So now I’ve been researching rings, which believe me, is a blog post (or 15) in itself. In doing so, I quickly realized that this is precisely why the whole “process” isn’t supposed to happen like this. Because of countless conversations such as:

Me: We’re ring shopping.
Friend: Are you engaged???????
Me: Well, no.
Friend: Oh. Well. Um. Congratulations?

Still………………..

Squee!

There’s this fun little exercise on the 20 Something Bloggers Network and I thought I’d join in. The theme is “Looking Back” and you’re supposed to choose a post from your first two months in blog-land. For me, that was SIX YEARS AGO, whoa. I love revisiting my old blog (Xanga! Woot-woot!) because I was less inhibited then — and pretty darn funny!

Here’s an unedited post written on December 22, 2003.

So I got a seasonal job at Express to earn some extra cash for Palm Springs … and because my parents think I’m a lazy ass.  I prefer to be called “a lady of leisure,” but whatever.  Here are my thoughts so far.

Things that annoy me at work:

1)  Customers who touch things.  My policy – you wrinkle it, you buy it.

2)  The store music.  It’s holiday hell.  The absolute worst - Ricky Martin’s pathetic “Ay, ay, ay it’s Christmas and I don’t know what to do.  Ay, ay, ay, it’s Christmas and I don’t have a gift for you.  I can give you ay, ay, ay.  All you need is ay, ay, ay.  Un poquito ay, ay, ay.  On this Christmas night, yeah!”

What the hell is “ay, ay, ay?”  If this “ay, ay, ay” comes in a little green box, open it.  But if ”ay, ay, ay” is what I think it is, give him a dirty look (or better yet, cry uncontrollably) until he goes back to the mall to get you your real gift.  Cheap ass.

3)  Folding.  Yesterday I was demoted to fitting rooms because I wasn’t folding fast enough.  Also, my folds are too lumpy.  Geez.  Apparently, they haven’t seen my closet.

4)  Female co-workers (flaming dude included).  When the store closes, the party begins.  I’ve been fortunate enough to listen in on some of the most intelligent and stimulating conversations during re-stocking sessions.  “I just want a fuckin’ BMW.  A Big Mexican Weiner,” said manager # 1.  “I’ve been looking around and everyone at this store has a nice ass,” the flamer noted.  My favorite quote thus far?  When the assistant manager asked me on my second day, “You’re so quiet, Michelle.  You’re not a virgin, are you?”  You gotta love the professionalism.

5)  Dusting.

Things that make my job easier:

1)  Looking at the yummy 20-year-old stock boy.  Mmmmm.

2)  Discounts.  The way I see it – the more I buy, the more I earn.

3)  Being referred to by customers as “the jean lady.”

Once again, come visit me.  I pretty much work a 40-hour week.  Just don’t touch anything.

This post is a part of 20SB’s Looking Back Blog Carnival, and Ben & Jerry’s is awarding free ice cream to lucky bloggers and readers!

Whenever I learn that certain people are reading my blog — relatives, colleagues, potential opportunity bearers — my words become stifled. I get all jittery. I want to appear this way, but not that way, should I go back and edit?

So I’ll semi-consciously write filler posts and hope that they’ll get bored and move on to read about Jon and Kate or something. Nope, nothing here. Mosey along. Then once they’re gone, I’ll start up my little party once again. (Yeah, I know, worst party ever — here, take a virtual shot of Patron.)

But I realize that having a blog titled MY REAL NAME comes with some limitations. They’re more like hurdles, really. I’ve been reading a lot of amazing blogs, blogs about life, design, events, relationships, work, food, celebs. It’s easy to want to be like all of them, to want to do everything.

I believe it was Julia Allison who once said (yes, I take life/love/career advice from Julia Allison, so what?) that we must choose our online personas. You can’t be everything to everyone because you won’t be anyone particularly well. Not everyone will “get” the persona you choose, but it’s okay. As long as you run with it.

(It’s not that I want to become blog-famous or anything … it’s … okay, it’s totally that I want to become blog-famous, but it’s more that I just want to get over this awful writer’s block and get into a zone again — any zone.)

I have been having a tough time choosing my persona. Should I be a stylish L.A. trendsetter who spends her weeknights at parties and premieres? Should I write about Asian American issues, like what I do every day at work? Should I blog about stuff in an attempt to get more stuff?

I could (and I’ve thought about trying each), but my blog would suck. And I wouldn’t love it as much.

So who do I choose?

I choose to be a slightly awkward, perpetually frazzled young woman who drinks too much Red Bull and stays up too late and never irons her clothes. I choose to be a wistful dreamer who aims for the stars, but misplaces her to-do list on a daily basis. I choose to be the one who can’t listen to loud music, who loves the sun but hates wearing sunglasses, who still misses college, who’s given up on trying to be classy, who’s kind of ridiculously happy right now, but too scared to admit it.

I choose to be me. I’m pretty good at it.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations Michelle Draveski!!

Suede “believe” bracelet by LaurenLuvS

Yes, I’m hosting a giveaway! Why? Because I like you. And you like free stuff. Get it?

One of you lucky readers will receive this gorgeous suede bracelet from LaurenLuvS, a new jewelry collection by my sister’s BFF Lauren. I’ve known Lauren since she was thiiiiiiiiiiiis tall and even though she’s younger than me, she kind of watched me grow up. She recently started making jewelry and I’m in love with just about every single creation — she’s got peacock feather earrings (adore), flower charm and leaf earrings (swoon) and feather charm earrings (want). I’m totally down to help spread the word about her new Etsy shop because I think she’s really talented.

And a cutie!

Words from Lauren: What makes LaurenLuvS unique is that everything is made with LUV :) I hope that every piece I make can bring peace, love and happiness to the person who wears it. It sounds kinda corny, but it’s true! I like the inspirational charms because they are tangible reminders to “believe,” “live,” “love” and “dream.”

Awwwwww.

Oh yes. The swag. Take a look at LaurenLuvS and then comment here to enter. Make sure you enter a valid email address to win. Earn extra entries by blogging or tweeting about the contest and leaving a link in a separate comment. The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 26. A winner will be selected at random.

Good luck! And spread the word!

Let’s party, dude.

Isn’t he the cutest?

Today, he turns 29. Holy moly.

Let’s live up that final year of your twenties, baby. I was thinking of buying Settlers of Catan.

Peeps, thanks for hanging in there with me through my sponsored challenge. After these messages, I’ll be right back with posts about my boring life. Also, if you’ve been following my challenge, I know I wrote that last week was Week 2, but I changed it to Week 1 because I had just finished Week 1 and was starting Week 2. Anyway, I got all confused with the numbers. So this post is about Week 2. Shut up. Counting is hard.

EA Sports Active is working.

While I don’t own a scale and don’t plan on getting one (I use the much more accurate “How much would I give to unbutton my pants right now?” test), I can tell that I’m a shrinking lady. This cute plaid dress I have from Roxy baaaarely fit last summer, but now I can frolic around in it with ease. Matt even gave me a compliment, sort of (“You’re reaching your skinny potential.”) And get this: On my abs, there is a line — and no, I don’t mean a fold. I have a two pack! You can see it in the light. Swear.

Continue reading ….

This evening, I was driving on the freeway, heading to my grandfather’s house. My sister was in the passenger’s seat. We were following the GPS, which directed us to the 710.

The freeway curved and I was about to enter a small tunnel when my sister gasped and said, “I think I see fire.”

One side of the freeway was engulfed in flames. I hit the brakes.

“Oh shit,” I said.

I hit reverse. Cars behind me did the same. Some veered off the road. Soon, my sister was on the phone with my parents, yelling, “The fire is right there!”

There was so much black smoke. We heard loud crackling noises. A ball of fire rolled in front of us. My sister ordered me to keep backing up.

We noticed a ramp to our right. Cars were getting on it. I hesitated as I had no idea how far the fire had spread.

“I’m scared to go that way,” I said.

A woman behind us had stepped out of her car. My sister opened her door and stepped out, too.

“What should we do?” my sister asked.

The woman motioned toward the ramp. “Just go,” she said.

Seeing more and more cars head that direction, I followed. After driving in smoke for several seconds, we finally saw the exit. My sister was shaking and crying. I was in disbelief.

When we got home, we read that a fuel tanker had plunged into a riverbed and exploded. The driver was killed, though no other injuries were reported.

The whole thing unfolded like a scene from a movie and I still can’t believe it was real. My fingers are shaking as I type this.

My sister and I talked for hours afterward and tried to remember everything that went through our heads. We both thought about driving the opposite way on the freeway. She thought about checking to see if I had any water bottles. (She remembered the fire scene in 90210 where Kelly and some girl shoved wet towels under the door.) I thought about taking a picture (OMG, I need help).

We’re both OK, and I’m so thankful. But I can’t stop thinking, what if?

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and EA Sports Active for the Wii.

Showing off my skillz, my new haircut and Matt’s spectacular view.

I’ve conquered Week 1 of the EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge. Overall, it’s been good. This may or may not be a direct effect of the program, but on Saturday, my unabashed grandmother told me I looked like I lost weight since the last time I saw her. (She also asked, with Matt sitting right next to me, “Do you have anything new to share? Want to see a wedding invitation that just came in the mail? Oh, I just love weddings.” But that’s a different story.)

Continue reading …

Ith been four dayth thince I got Invithalign.

Tho far, tho good!

OK, I guess I don’t sound that bad, at least according to my too-kind friends.

I’m very thankful to have this state-of-the-art apparatus that will, in just one year, make me smiley-er and prettier, but I have some things to whine about and that’s exactly what blogs are for.

Tho here:

- THERE’S A THING IN MY MOUTH! While Invisalign is pretty much invisible, it’s very much feelable. My teeth are encased in plastic. I keep wanting to claw this sucker out, but I won’t because I have self control and if I did, people would say, “Ew.”

- I can’t snack at any and every moment of the day. One of the rules of Invisalign is that you’re only supposed to take it out three times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For a girl who’s used to saying “SURE!” to every edible object presented to her, this can be very upsetting. At this Nintendo party I went to on Tuesday, trays of hor’ doeuvres were shoved in my face left and right. The following scene just can’t keep happening: “Kobe beef sliders, miss?” “Yes! Stay right there! Let me run to the bathroom to take the plastic off my teeth!”

- The lisp. It’s supposed to go away after a day or two, but it’s Day 4 and I still have to practice my “She Sells Seashells” each morning. It’s retarded.

- Hygiene. If you don’t brush your teeth after each meal, little particles of food get trapped inside the plastic. SICK.

Those are my thoughts thus far. It’s much better than having braces, but still. THERE’S A THING IN MY MOUTH!

I was asked by the good people at BlogHer to review EA Sports Active, the new fitness program for Nintendo Wii.

Um, get paid to get hot? Count me and my muffin top in.

I’m taking the 30 Day Challenge, and will post updates on my progress. Follow my journey!

Day 1: Hotness, here I come!

Coming into this program, I’m at a point where I’m OK with my body. My week of adventure in Costa Rica helped tone my calves and biceps (Whenever I flex, I whisper to myself, “Who wants tickets to the gun show?”) and my new sun-kissed glow makes me look at least two pounds slimmer (“If you can’t ban it, tan it!”).

Still, I’m not quite there yet. And by there, I mean sexy enough to prance around in a bikini on the beach without feeling lightheaded from sucking in too hard. The next time I take silly, Sports Illustrated-esque snapshots with the girls (hey, don’t judge), I don’t want to be restricted to in-the-water poses. For me, that last bit of stomach flab is the peskiest, but this summer, I’m determined to dissolve it in the name of I Only Have A Handful Of Hot Years Left, Let’s Make Them Count.

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