Vancouver, WA & Portland, OR

The weather here is so terrible! They do not plow their streets here!! And it's just as cold as Michigan. lol, but the Evergreen trees are beautiful. But I wish I would have watched Twilight after visiting WA because now I keep thinking the vampires are lurking in the woods! haha

At least I have an excuse to pick up a pair of rain boots.
Did I mention there is no sales tax on anything in Oregon?! I paid a visit to LV, and am going back tomorrow..... I have my eyes on the Damier Neverfull MM, and the Damier Azur Speedy 35. Savings of at least $40 in tax!

I want to shout out to Mona a.k.a. Make Me Blushh for posting the pictures of the earrings I made her! I've gotten a few inquiries about the earrings :)

If any of you gals would like more information, please feel free to email me: nguyenst@msu.edu



____

No pictures from the vaca yet..it's just rainy and I don't want to depress anyone - lol

Although, there was an ice skating rink inside a mall called Lloyd Center. It was cool beans!

To the people I can't seem to reach

Hey girls,

Some of you have asked me if I still have any MAC Emote Blush left, and I do have 2 left and that's it for Emote. Kalford, you left me a message today and I can't reach you on your blog because it's not public!!

E-mail me hun, nguyenst@msu.edu
I do have one for you if you want it :)

<3 Stephanie

Seattle here I come!

I leave for Seattle on Christmas day with Minh @ 10:28pm from Grand Rapids, MI.

I would normally be excited...BUT.. we are still in the process of moving his apartment (which is in Lansing, an hour away).

I have to call my aunt's friend to get my aunt's garage door opener so Minh can have a place to store his car the 2 months he's going to be studying for the bar in Seattle.

The lady leaves the 25th as well, that means I have to call this stranger lol, and find her house...which is about 30 minutes away. It sucks that we have so much snow here!!

I am quite drained from driving to and from Lansing. =/

Minh did back from Chicago and gave me a Tiffany's bag, and asked me if I wanted to open it, and of COURSE I wanted to open it! :)

He bought me a Tiffany's necklace, with a titanium pendant.
I don't have pictures of my actual necklace, but I jacked a pic of the pendant from Tiffany's website. (thanks Tiffany.com!)

He said he "customized" it by buying a seperate chain for it, since he didn't like the one that was on display. How creative of him. He says that nobody will have my necklace.

He didn't get it engraved though...because he said the lady never asked lol. I am debating if I want to get something engraved on the back of it in Seattle. It is our 1 year together.

Should we engrave an S & M? 2008? lol, I dunno what to do, I'm a noob as well to long term relationships.
It's the bigger of the 2 titanium pendants, and it cost $140 without the chain..I dunno what made him decide on this one, but he really liked it. I think he was a little sad that I wasn't jumping up and down because he had a Tiffany's box w/ a red bow in his hands.

The chain is a thicker chain, it's pretty, I will post a picture tomorrow.

I can't believe he bought it in Chicago, where he know the sales tax is almost 10%!! Ugh.. I wonder if we return it in Seattle or Portland if we could get our money back w/ Chicago tax. hehe I'm so cheap!!

I can't wait for my vacation!!

I haven't really put on any makeup for the past 2-3 days I've been at home, and Lansing. My boyfriend keeps asking me where his girlfriend is, haha nice right?



But anyhow..I gave Skin Food BB Cream another chance and I actually love it. It works so great keeping my skin moisturized in this weather. I adore it, and I am definitely taking it on my trip.
Do I stand out or what? hehe Minh with his siblings, and my lil sister Julia at the end

Minh's Graduation & Families Meeting....!!!

Me w/ Minh's two sisters, Hany & Van

Minh & Stephanie, 2008

Parentals!!

Minh & his momma

Minh T. Tran, J.D. (I'm so proud!)

My family w/ Minh

Minh's family!!

Minh's lil sister and lil brother

hehe, the cake i didn't try

LOL

First, Thank you girls so much for your comments. I felt so much better today with my parents there.

Second, congratulations my boyfriend! He is now Minh Tran, J.D.

And thirdly......
Our parents really hit it off, and his parents became a lot more close to me. Although...we had the biggest winter storm/blizzard in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It took us 2 hours to get to East Lansing which usually takes us 1 hour. The best part of it...some neighbor's truck got STUCK in front of our driveway!!

It was nerve racking driving there, but I was so determined to be there for my boyfriend's law school graduation. It's a once and a life time thing!!! I wasn't going to miss it for the world. I was so sacred that we were going to get stucked in the snow. We had 8-10 inches pile in last night.

There were SOOOOO many trucks (18 wheelers) and cars stuck in the ditches, and the shoulders of the highway. I actually took pics!!

Nobody flipped over though (that I saw), thank the all mighty.

His graduation was really formal..and our Vietnamese mom chattered so much..it was awkward for the rest of the kids!

My little sister actually got to come because school was canceled today. Everything worked out nicely.

(I had to hide the previous entry because I don't want my bf to accidentally come across it one day. Thank you all so much for the comments! It's such a warm feeling for me to know that you all know how I feel.)

I have a bunch of pictures with our families. I'm going to post as soon as I find the camera!

Also, random: when we got home.....our driveway was plowed......by 2 neighbors said my grandma..but she doesn't know who they are..

Although, they might be the guy who's truck go stuck in front of our house..my dad tried to help them push it and shovel their way out.

MAC Fafi Eyes #1 FOR SALE

Hey Chicas,

I have 1 Brand Spankin' New MAC Fafi #1 up for grabs, message me if you're interested. Or for more intimate e-mails ...my e-mail is nguyenst@msu.edu =P hehehehehe

$35

I love this quad! The colors are: Pink Venus, Vanilla, Hey, and Howzat ( reminds me of Hogzwart HARRY POTTER)


Anyhow.
In Idiot News:

I blew $500 on 12 hrs of 3 card poker, and $1 slot machines at MGM Casino....

But hey..for 12 straight hours of play (w/ one food break)..that money lasted pretty long!!

Too bad, I am now stupidly in credit card debt...................

My online jewelry business w/ Phil from ABB should be starting up soon though! Maybe then can I recoup some losses. I'm so bad!

I'm a bad influence. =/

EMOTE BLUSH!!

I went to Birchrun and Frankemuth, Michigan today to shop with my Minh :)
This is what happened!

EMOTE BLUSH I FOUND! Edit* I have 2 left for sale! $25 each


Emote Blush..I finally found you & own you!!
I was all hoarding the blush in the store

I have 3 up for sale: $25 each, let me know if you're interested!
It's gorgeous for contouring & discontinued!!

MAC EMOTE BLUSH!!!

I love Clinique toner & their pore minimizer!! It so works for me.

MAC Fafi Eyes 1 I finally found you!! I've been wanting this FOREVER
I also got MAC Paintpot in Blackground :)

My boyfriend & I got matching Emporio Armani watches for our anniversary &
He gave me an "I Love You Forever" ring!!! <3>

Ya like the cookie cutters don't ya!! I can't wait to bake cookies

Hehe, coach wristlets as presents

He bought me this too <3>

Cute box huh!? They're called Brighton Charms

cookie cutters! My doggie's shape too! Had to have

Fudge!

Worker making fudge

Carriage ride, I wanted to go so bad..but the line was longg and the weather miserable

@ the Country Store

$$

hehe in the car!

I've Been Tagged for the first time!

I've been TAGGED (by the beautiful-gorgeous-luxurious M)!

directions: once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a blog with sixteen random things, facts, habits or goals about you. at the end choose ten people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. don’t forget to leave them a comment (“you’re it”) and to read your blog. you can’t tag the person who tagged you. since you can’t tag me, let me know when you’ve posted your blog, so i can see your weirdness.

(those are the directions that I copy/pasted)

1. I have the longest legal name ever ( I can prove it with/ my driver's license):
Dongnghi-Stephanie Khoa Nguyen. I get a lot of funny looks when I have to show my ID or Passport.

2. After I shower, I dry my hair off a little with my towel, then I leave it draped on the top of my head flat for a while...until I watch a youtube video, or read a few blogs =P

3. I've made jewelry since 2005, and I've spent wayyy too much money on Swarovski Crystals.

4. I have a Dachshund (lil hot dog) named Heidi, a tabby cat named Tobey, a cotton candy colored beta, and 10 goldfish + 1 guppi fish! I can't help but "save" a feeder goldfish every time I go to Petsmart.. I buy them when they're an inch long..and now one is almost 5-6 inches! Almost as along as a bracelet!

5. I used to have purple highlights (2005:)

See Purple?

6. My nails and toes nails are painted 99% of the time.

7. I'm a college senior at Michigan State University majoring in Retailing/specializing in Asian Pacific American Studies.. I'm also an MSU Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant for the History / Writing Department.

8. I have a bad spending habit (at the casino....) I need to call one of those hotlines...jk!!

9. I love to eat out & so does my bf (this is my weakness!!!) I can always go for sushi/shashimi. I've gained an embarassing =P 30+ pounds this past year....my boyfriend has gained 40+ pounds this past year... We're bad for each other =/

10. All you beauty blogger girls out there, you've changed my life :) I heart you all!!


I'm tagging...

1.Cassie's Momma!
2.dirt on the rocks
3.Beauty by Wind: Makeup, Life, and Love

4. My love affair with Makeup
5. girllovemac
6. All about this Princessa ♥~
7. AnneNguyen
8. ladystarr
9. etcetera
10. shesoprecious


I hope you all haven't been tagged yet! :)

Our 1 Year Anniversary (Dating) =P

Hey Ladies!
How is everyone's week going??

Mine has been one of the best!
I did kick ass on my last final (Monday).
The rest of the week, I spent kickin' it with my boyfriend who is officially graduating law school!!
I'm so proud of him. He now just has the bar to conquer.

We celebrated our 1 year together this week. There really isn't a particular date, but we know it was this month sometime =P I wish we had brought a camera with us..we only have blackberry pics!!!

We had reservations at Capital Grille Steakhouse, and they got us in right away. Free valet parking, complimentary champagne & dessert in honor of our occasion. That was such a lovely surprise!!

Haha, but I bet they thought it was our 1 year wedding anniversary ahahahahahaha ...b/c the head waiter said, "Mr. & Mrs. Nguyen" You should have seen the expression on my bf face! I kept making jokes throughout the night about it.

Complimentary Chapagne

They even wrote us a nice cardI had to take pictures of the little decorative confetti

Truffle Fries!

$8 cup of clam chowder..hmmm lol, it was good tho!

Told you I had to take a pic!

My tenderloin and poached lobster.. $45

Honey ordered Oscar ....something steak ...$43

They make good food :)

They even gave us towels to clean our hands before dessert

I love me some wine

yummmy

;)

WINE & DINE BABY!!

hehe, we sampled a few before picking one

Espresso Cake (Complimentary!)

Yummy coffee

CHEERS!

MGM Hotel & Casino

Lounging in the bar, U.Me.Drink

Midori Sweet & Sour
I wish everyday could be like this!!

We ended up losing again ~ $600
So much for trying to win another LV bag!!

Earlier that day we went shopping @ Somerset Collection


Minh loves gifts & gadgets..he bought me light up reindeer antlers

Mirrors, gotta love them
He always has to make stupid faces!!


We had lunch in Brighton on the way to Somerset at a new Asian Restaurant called Pi's,
it sucked so bad!! It's the Panera of Chinese-American food. Nothing looked like the picture either!

Pi's! Thanks for modeling hun.
Disappointing Tuna Roll, Padthai, Thai CurryKorean Crab Cakes


We did a ton of shopping! I spend my $15 from Sephora..got sample goodies!!
We shopped at Coach, LV, Sephora (twice), Express, Guess, Banana Republic, and just a bunch of other stores! We got a lot of Christmas shopping done for his family and mine.

I feel so blessed for having such a wonderful time of my life with my bf!!

I will post pictures of my "mini" haul soon!

Stay posted!!

Also, I sold a necklace to a really sweet Korean guy this morning. He's been a fan of my jewelry for quite some time, and he just sent me the sweetest thank you.
His girlfriend is so luck!! He spoils her with jewelry!!!