Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Hello readers!

Today was my last day of school and tomorrow I will be graduating.

It was a bitter sweet feeling today. Excited to be moving on to new adventures and not having to deal with certain issues that happened school while feeling sad that I did not do enough, when I could have and should have. I feel sad that I will not see certain people everyday and that it is going to take, on my part, effort to maintain certain friendships. I am appreciative of the mentors and friends that have influenced my life over the past four years. I look forward to new things and do not want to hold back.

I appreciate the thoughtfulness of my parents who got me peonies and cookies.

"Volunteer some hours. Focus on something outside yourself. Devote a slice of your energies towards making the world suck less every week. Some people suggest doing this will increase your sense of well-being. Some say it's good karma. I say that it will allow you to remember that, whether you are a legacy or the first in your family to go to college, the air you are breathing right now is rare air. Appreciate it."  Shonda Rhimes
 
The point is to keep trying. The more you keep trying, the more you find the grace to keep trying.

"Go find your joy. It's what you're going to remember in the end. It's not the worry, it's not the what-ifs. It's the joy that stays with you." Sandra Bullock. 

Congratulations Class of 2014!



Thank you for reading this post. These photos were taken by me. Please do not take or copy my photos.  

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Hello Readers!

I wanted to share what happened in my life on Sunday, June 8, 2014.

There was a Baccalaureate Ceremony at 2pm in the Auditorium at my school. It was 84 degrees that day. Graduates and the graduates family members sat inside the Auditorium. There was no air conditioning. The ceremony began with ROTC presenting the Colors and we said the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the school's choir sang a song. Following after student speakers and guest speakers spoke one after the other. In between the school's orchestra performed a piece. Then the principal spoke, he honored the graduates who were in certain sports. He had the graduates stand when he called his or her sport. The principal then had the graduates stand for other categories. 

It was a joyous occasion for the class: a time to rejoice, to praise, to honor and to celebrate.  It was especially a time to recognize, in a formal manner, the achievements of my fellow graduates.  


Congratulations to the Class of 2014! 


This picture belongs to me, please do not take it or copy it. Thank you. 
Thank you for reading. If you want to please let me know what advice would you tell a graduate? 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Hello readers!

I wanted to share with those reading what occurred on Saturday, June 7, 2014.

On this day two people were married.

My parents and I, among others, were guests, witnessed the love between two people as they were being married. The wedding and the reception was rustic themed. The theme colors were yellow, grey, dark navy blue, and brown. The groomsmen wore dark navy blue suits with dark reddish brown leather shoes. The bridesmaid's wore yellow dresses. Each lady wore a similar yellow dress. The groom wore a soft grey/beige suit.

Following the theme, I wanted to wear similar colors.

I went to Charming Charlie's in April, and found this dress, this necklace, and the earrings.

This dress is a knee-length shift dress. I wore white flats with black toe caps from Payless (not shown).

The brand from Payless that I love is called Dexflex Comfort. Each pair of shoe has arch support and cushioned insoles. I suggest you go find a pair you love and buy them. Your feet will be happy.


The reception was held at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum.
The museum is on top of a hill. The reception was outside and unfortunately it was so hot that guests were moving the tables from where they were set. Which was allowed but there was only a small section of shade near the building. So not every round table fit in that area. Then there were some people moving chairs in to the shade. But the sun kept moving.  From the museum the land stretches out and gradually slopes off. There is a little forest, a secluded, private area. There were trees, bushes, flowers, and a brick laid path. The path winds down to a seating area. This path then leads to road.


The reception ended around 7 p.m. because the couple had to catch a flight. Their honeymoon is two weeks in Ireland!

I enjoyed the wedding and the reception. I am honored that I got to be a part of this moment in the couple's lives.


Readers, if you want to, let me know where you had your honeymoon.
Thanks for reading. I hope you had a great day.

These are my photos, please do not take them, copy them. Thank you.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Hello readers!

I wanted to share what happened to me on Friday, June 6, 2014.

I got the OPI Little Bits Of Neon Mini Set for $12.99 at Sally Beauty Supply (in-store). I got the 6 piece set which includes: Juice Bar Hopping, Life Gave Me Lemons, You Are So Outta Lime, Push & Pur-pull, Hotter Than You Pink, and Down To The Core-al.

Online at Ulta this set is $19.95. Then add the cost of shipping.
 http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod10411061

 On my right foot, I painted my nails with Down To The Core-al. I used the OPI Natural Base Coat first. I used two layers of this, allowing about a minute or two of drying time in between. Then I painted my toe nails with two layers of Down To The Core-al; again allowing about a minute or two of drying time in between each layer.

On my left foot, I painted my nails with Hotter Than You Pink.
I did the same routine/application to these nails as described previously.

Once the polish dries, it looks matte. I added the OPI TOP COAT and once this dries, the neon colored shined. 

 

For my hands: 

I painted my right hand, the index finger, the thumb, and the pinky AVON's Nailwear Pro+ in the shade  Luxe Lavender  and there are many shades you can purchase. The NAILWEAR PRO+ Nail Enamel is currently on sale, online for $3.49, original price was $6.00. AVON claims that this enamel will last twelve days and increases nail strength by 80%. As well, AVON says this enamel has a high-shine finish and will resists dings, bangs, and nicks. There is no formaldehyde, toluene or phthalates in this enamel. After I applied a base coat, then this polish then letting it dry, there was a shine to the nail. I still applied a top coat, the OPI TOP COAT. 

For my middle finger, on the right hand, after applying a base coat, I painted this nail with OPI's Little Bits Of Neon Mini in the shade Push & Pur-pull. This shade when painting the first coat came out streaky. After letting one layer dry I had put another layer and let that dry. For me, I had to build the layers to get the dark pure color. After many layers, this shade does not look like a neon. This color is like a dark fuschia or a dark burgundy. Then I applied the OPI TOP COAT.

For my ring finger, on the right hand, after applying a base coat, I painted this nail with OPI's Little Bits Of Neon Mini in the shade You Are So Outta Lime. After one thin layer, I did not like this color with the other colors I had already painted. After that layer dried I added the shade Life Gave Me Lemons on top of it. For this shade, I had to build the layers to get the rich color I wanted. Allowing drying time in between. Then I added the OPI TOP COAT.

For my left hand, I painted all the nails with AVON's Nailwear Pro+ in the shade Luxe Lavender. Doing the same process explained previously. 

 

This photo was taken in natural, sun lighting. About 6 PM.

The purple smudged writing on my wrist says: Choice, Focus, Effort.

Friday evening, my parents and  I and a family friend went to Armstrong Garden Centers, Long Beach. This place is located at 3842 East 10th Street Long Beach, CA 90804. This place has an indoor store selling some things like BBQ's, patio furniture, and food products. My dad loves pumpkin butter. He will buy different brands of pumpkin butter. This is what he bought:

 

 All the plants, pots, and other things are arranged outside of the store. You do not even have to buy anything. It is open for you to walk around and look. I love taking pictures of most of the flowers. And there happened to be two doves sitting on a water pipe line.

Leaving Armstrong Garden Centers, my parents and our friend and I went back home to eat:

Accompanying this lasagna was yellow squash and garlic bread. I recommend if you like lasagna and if you have a Fresh & Easy near you, to buy it, take it home,cook it and eat it. Then let me know what you think. I thought this lasagna was good. I like lasagna when it is hot and fresh out of the oven. The garlic bread is my weakness. Readers, do you like homemade or store bought lasagna? If store bought, could you share with me your favorite? If you like homemade lasagna, would you like to share your recipe with me?

Thank you for reading this post. The pictures in this post were taken by me. Please do not take my photos. And if you are still going to take my photos, please credit me. Thank you. 

I hope reader you are having a great day.  "For salvation comes from God. What joys he gives to all his people."Psalm 3:8 The Living Bible.

Shop Pink, Save Lives

       On Friday, October 4, 2013 I went to Ulta at Lakewood Mall. 
I went in looking for Opi Nail Lacquers because they had a deal that you could buy 2 for $14. It was my first time in Ulta and I was excited. Coming in I gazed at Bare Minerals Hydrating Foundation samples that were to my left and then to the red tall cans of Big Sexy Hair that were to my right; these were some of the things that caught my eye. Moving towards the back I found the isle of nail polishes. After looking at mostly all the polishes that were on the rack I wondered why there weren't any gel polishes. I asked a lady who had beautiful cobalt blue hair with bangs and she said that the Opi gel polishes were only used in the salon. She also said that because it was still during their Grand Opening the manicure would only be $20. I did get a gel manicure and I chose Suzi Says Feng Shui. 

        Throughout the manicure the manicurist and I were talking. 
She told me that this Sunday, October 13, 2013 from 11 am to 6 pm they are having a one day only event. All anyone can do is donate a minimum of $10 and they can choose to get a free shampoo and haircut, free MicroZone Skin Treatment, or a Free Pink Hair Extension. 
        On that day you come in and put your name down on the list for the service you want. It is first come, first serve, and walk-ins only. 100% of any one's donation will go towards The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Any one's donation is not required to register. So you can donate to a great cause and don't have to walk in for a service. 
        I am not being sponsored to tell this information, I just got really excited about the pink hair extension.
        I would like anyone who can to please donate. 

There are other ways to contribute if you click on the link you can find out how. Donate With a Kiss

To learn more about the Foundation click on this Pink.

Thank you again for your support.

This is Me

I'm Melissa, Mel for short and this is my blog. 

I named my blog what I did because of hummingbirds. 

This blog won’t be about hummingbirds entirely but they are an interesting minute aspect of my life. 

     Did you know a hummingbird's eyesight can see forward and to its side? Part of the way a hummingbird gets through life is by its sight. The bird needs to see to find food and to feed itself and to protect itself from any predators. For me, looking at life in different perspectives gives a different understanding and purpose to my life. 

     There was a time where my mom and I would be on hummingbird watch. During a certain time everyday a hummingbird or two, if we got lucky, would pop into the backyard. The expectation was awarded by the successful sighting and watching of its arrival and where it was going to go. 

It is one thing to expect something but when the unexpected happens, it catches me off guard and without my camera. Like when I would be on a walk with my dog and a hummingbird catches my eye for a few brief seconds and I'd watch it like in slow motion. My eyes following the bird as it dips its black slender beak into the center of a deep pink bleeding heart. Just like a flower blossom hummingbirds are gorgeous delicate creatures and when I can capture one on camera makes the day special. 

      One of my daily passions of mine is taking photographs.  Photography is my reflection, my expression, my vision in a picture of things that catch my eye. I like to take a picture of something at different angles. I like to think of a way to make the picture appear to be different so that it is not looking like an ordinary flower or a regular cheeseburger. My love for most food items and taking pictures of well-dressed food is something new that has intrigued me. Pictures also evolve from the trips that my family and I take. My family and I love taking road trips when we have an opportunity. The most places we have been happens to be in Arizona. The environment and the atmosphere in Arizona are breathtaking. The Red Rock Canyon is one of the places I have been to. My eyes following in and through the curving of the red, orange, and white streaks in the rocks along the canyon wall trying to see where it ends or where it leads to. I end up finding a hidden beauty which was part of how Arizona was created while being in a silent stance.  There are so many more places that I have been to and a variety of pictures that I have taken.

      I am not a professional photographer, journalist, or videographer but aim to be one day. 

Being a senior in high school I have my life ahead of me. I hope that I have a life ahead of me. I have a faith and a belief that there is an eternal place after death. I take life day by day but I do have a plan for the future. I have my beliefs but I will not tell them all now.

      

      I hope that this blog brings life, I want to bring life and insight and I want to hear back from my viewers to. 

Thanks for stopping by.