★☆ Happy 2011! ☆★

[Currently listening to the BlazBlue Original Soundtrack - BlazBlue is a fighting game for the Playstation 3; I recommend it for it's interesting storylines, characters, and of course, the rockin' music by Daisuke Ishiwatari!]
Good morning everyone, and a Happy New Year 2011 to you all! Can you believe it? Another year has come and gone, so you know what that means right?

A brand new year - a brand new day - a brand new start!

A lot has happened to me this year, but the most unforgettable thing about 2010 was when I had my car accident in March. I may have mentioned this quite a bit in my blog this past year, but this accident really turned my life around as well as my family's. We've gotten much more close than we did before and I feel like I've grown into a stronger and wiser person in many, many ways.

And speaking of a lot, I realize that it has been a little over a year since I started this blog! I have a lot to catch you all up on, but I will do that in my next post :) A couple of highlights I do want to mention, so that I won't forget:

~Update to the conclusion of the car accident case
~My new second job!
~My new YouTube channel - my plans for this year: new vlogs!

A year ago, I wrote down my New Year Resolutions for 2010 - let's see what I wrote and how I did!

1. Controlling my food intake and drink more tea/water.
I think I've been doing well with my food intake. I learned to tell when I'm getting close to being "comfortably full" and overindulged a lot less. There have been a few times that I have over indulged in my favorite foods, but at least I'm doing it when I know I have been doing a good job for a while. :D I've been drinking a lot more water this year, especially where I work. Water is essential to the body especially if you plan on moving around a lot, and I think I did a really good job. :)

2. Making the most of my day by getting up early.
Actually, since I started exercising after getting off from work, it had been harder for me to fall asleep easily as soon as I get home. That's because while exercising my endorphins kept my mind awake. There are times when I force myself to get up early when I need to but then I feel extremely tired later on. I think I've been doing a good job with getting up early when I have to, but at the same time I need make sure that I take care of myself so that I won't overcompensate my body from lack of sleep.

3. Do a few minutes of yoga every morning and hit the gym at least 3 days a week.
I have done some yoga in the morning, but what I've been doing more of was actually stretching. I like to feel all warmed up before I start my day, so I made sure to stretch, even if it was only for a minute or two if I'm in a rush. I made it part of my work routine that if I work at my main job at the retirement home, I go to the gym after I clock out. I do at least an hour of workout, and a few minutes to cool down with stretches or yoga. As a bonus, I motivated a few of my co-workers to work out with me after work! Motivation is contagious!

4. Read a little more each day.
I'll be honest: I didn't do a whole lot of reading as I hoped to do this year :( There were a list of books that I really wanted to read, but I get so caught up in wanting to rest after work or playing my video games or even cleaning up around the house that sometimes I'm just not in the mood to read. I'm not talking about just reading blogs - I'm talking about reading an actual book. :( I thought about getting the new Nook, but then I thought about how I might not be using it that much either with my schedule... I will have to do a better job and find some time to read even if I am busy. :(

5. Organize, organize, organize!
...I will also be honest on this one: I haven't done a good job with that either... Even right now, my belongings in my room - with exception of my make-up, jewelry, and clothes - are in complete disarray... There are times when I find myself scrambling for my things at the last minute when it's time for me to leave for work or wherever I need to go. This will be added to my personal list of things to improve about myself for this year.

6. As much as possible, try out something new each day.
For this one, I did say that I was going to try to improve my cooking skills. For each month, I made a couple of new dishes right in my own kitchen. I have found a couple of new favorites that I enjoyed making: Ginger Chicken Noodle Soup, Iced Pumpkin Harvest Spice Cookies, and Steak Dianne. I also got the opportunity to explore different restaurants and cafes with my boyfriend Taylor in the last year to get the "taste of the town" and we made a lot of interesting discoveries! We are adventurous eaters and will try almost anything! I plan to keep this up this year!

So I did all right in 2010; there is a lot of room for improvement though!

For 2011, here is my new list of New Year Resolutions:

1. Update my blog daily - I realize that I haven't been connecting with you guys here as much as I really should, so I'm going to update my blog everyday. Even if it's for the most random stuff, I'll post it. :)

2. Update my vlog channel daily - I have created a new vlog channel for my everyday vlogs on YouTube :) My challenge is to record each and every day of my life, even if it's just for a few minutes each day. When I get a laptop at the end of this month, I'm planning to use that to edit my videos for my main channel - look out! I'll be cooking for you all very soon!!

My main YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/xsimplyreikox

My vlogs: http://www.youtube.com/xsimplyvlogsx

By the way, here's an updated vlog from my main channel, taken about half an hour before midnight last night/year:


3. Continue to keep myself fit by going to the gym after work or exercise at home.

4. Starting today, I'm going to cut out SODA from my diet! As much as I like to drink soda, it's got sooooo much sugar! I'm also trying to set an example to my family, especially to my brohters, so that they can control their soda intake. My mom's diabetic and she stopped drinking soda a long time ago. I want to try to do the same thing this year, so for one whole year, I WILL NOT drink soda! :)

5. I need to improve on my organization skills - big time. :o

6. I have also noticed this year that I've had a terrible spending habit - I have thought of a method that will help me to spend money wisely this year :)

7. Try to cook more! :)

...and there you have it guys!

So here are my questions to you guys:
1. What are your New Year resolutions? :)
2. How did you do with your New Year resolutions for 2010? Did you do a good job? Are there things you want to improve for this year?

I wanna hear your thoughts! :)

I'll chat with you all tomorrow! Time to get ready for work!

Happy New Year everyone - I hope your year will be wonderful and bright!

With love,

~Reiko xoxo

~*☆Happy Thanksgiving! ~*☆

[Currently looking at my new YT video that I just uploaded! :D]

Hello everyone :)

...and Happy Thanksgiving!! (^o^)

I just finished making some pumpkin cookies!
This is the cookie recipe that I used for a pumpkin bake-off at work last month. I didn't win, but it was so much fun to make! They're soft, chewy and just so delicious...

...want the recipe? Well, here it is!

===Iced Pumpkin Walnut Harvest Cookies===

[Ingredients]

For cookie dough:

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup cooked, pureed pumpkin (either canned or fresh)
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

For icing:
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoons either heavy cream, Grand Marnier, or Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum/rum extract (tip: try blending each of them together! My personal favorite is the Captain Morgan icing :D )


[Procedure]

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla - mix well. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt (and walnuts too) - mix until well blended.

3. Drop cookie dough by the spoonful onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake in the oven about 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool onto cooling racks.

(I added some confectioner's sugar snow while mine cooled :D )

And while your cookies are baking/cooling:

4. Cream remaining butter and confectioners sugar together. Add vanilla and heavy cream/Grand Marnier/Captain Morgan until creamy. If consistency is too runny, add a little more confectioner's sugar; if too thick, add small amounts of liquid at a time.

5. Drizzle or brush icing onto cool cookies.

...and enjoy! :)

And speaking of enjoying, enjoy my Thanksgiving video! I will be announcing my holiday contest on Black Friday - here on Blogspot and on my Youtube channel. Details soon!

Gobble gobble!

With love,
~Reiko xoxo

☆*~Reiko's Back... Again (^.^ ;) ~*☆

[Currently watching episode 3 of the anime Yumeiro Pâtissière (夢色パティシエール)]

Hello everyone! I'm sorry it has been a long time since I've updated my blog, but I am back!

I've been busy with sewing, working at Nekocon (an anime convention in Hampton Roads, VA), and working very hard at my job (bartending at a retirement home). On top of that, my Internet connection at home has been giving me a hard time so I haven't been able to get onto the computer as much as I would like to and chat with you all online. (-.- ;)

I know I have a lot to catch up with you all on...

I'm running short on time since I have to get ready for work soon, but I wanted to make this post and say a quick hello to you all before I do that. :) I have missed you all, and I want to catch up with my posts now that I've gotten my Internet to finally work properly. (^-^)

I'll update you all later on tonight - see you soon and have a beautiful day!

With love,

~xoxo Reiko!
(Do you like my purikura pictures? Leave me a comment and let me know!)

,

*♥*Reiko Made a Vid Again! :D *♥*

[Currently listening to "SIGNAL" by the awesome KAT-TUN - gotta have my Johnny's Entertainment fix for the day XD ]

Hello everyone! I know it's been a while since I've last updated and I apologize (=__=) I've been so busy but I made a vlog so you guys can watch me talk about what I've been up to lately :) I'm still new to video editing so I apologize if you can't hear my voice very well from the music (^-^;;) More videos will come soon!

The topics of the video:

-As you guys know, I bartend at a retirement and in the last couple of weeks I've been working very hard XD

And I didn't mention this in the video but I've also been back at the gym working hard on burning off some water weight. I love staying physically fit and I've been going with a few people in the last few visits - it's fun and even motivating when you're doing this with others!

-I mentioned this in a previous blog, but I'm going to Nekocon, an anime convention that will be at the Hampton Roads Convention Center on the weekend of November 5-7. I was not endorsed to advertise and/or announce the convention by the way - the announcement was made from my own free will and love for the con since I've been going to it since my junior year of high school.

I've also found out after inquiring that I am officially going to be in the Nekocon staff! I've never done anything like this before and I'm not sure what I'll be doing just yet... I'll find out in the next week, but much excitement to come!

If you are going to Nekocon this year, I can't wait to meet you!


My cosplay for Misa-chan of Kaichou wa Maid-sama is going very well! I will be finished with the first version of the costume by this time next week and finished with the second version a few days afterward. I don't like to show pictures of the works in progress, but don't worry - the full costume is going to look so cute upon completion!

-My car accident case is still ongoing... I've yet to explain to you guys what's been going on but I will update you all soon. I have to appear in court again a week from today and (hopefully!!) get this case done...

Well, anyway, that's just the gist of what's been going on in a nutshell... And I've been feeling so much better since my last blog update! Thanks for the well wishes on here, Facebook, Twitter, etc.! :D

And heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's me! Enjoy!


Much love,
~Reiko xoxo (=^o^=)

*♥* A Meme :) *♥*

[Currently listening/watching Ah! My Goddess - this was one of my early favorite anime back in middle school/high school :)]

Hey everyone and happy 10...10...10! I'm back after being gone a couple of days - I had a great weekend and I hope you all did too (^0^)

Lots of things that I'd like to talk about, but to get things started, I thought I'd share another meme with you all (^_^) If there's one thing that I don't think I'll tire of, it's answering memes! I think memes are really neat because not only do you answer things about yourself and share them with others, but also... people who read your answers get to know you a little bit better! :) And not to mention - they're fun! (^~^)

Feel free to tag yourselves to this meme and copy and paste to your blogs; I can't wait to read your answers! xoxo

Here we go!

1) Who is the last person you high-fived?
That... is a good question! It was someone at work, I'm sure... but who it was and when I last did it I'm not so sure now... When I'm working, my mind is mainly focused on work. ...now I feel bad. D:
2) If you were drafted into a war, would you survive?
I'd like to think that I would :) I'll take on any challenge that comes before me!
3) Do you sleep with the TV on?
Not as much as I used to whenever I play video games or from watching late-night television with my mom after a hard day at work (^-^;) I'm trying to make it a good habit to use less electricity when I'm not using it!
4) Have you ever drunk milk straight out of the carton?
I used to drink out of the milk cartons from elementary up until after middle school. I like drinking milk in a cup or glass now :)
5) Have you ever won a spelling bee?
From what I remember, I haven't :o
6) Have you ever been stung by a bee?
I've only been stung twice, but in the oddest places! First time was during a tennis match in high school and a teammate noticed that the area below my armpit was swollen. Second time was about 2 years ago at my school; somehow I must have stepped on a bee and it was squashed right in the middle of my foot. Talk about PAINFUL! (;-;)

...thankfully, though, I'm not allergic to bees. (^-^;)
7) How fast can you type?
Last I checked, about 70+ wpm. I'd like to try a test and see how I'm doing now :)
8) Are you afraid of the dark?
Sometimes - it depends on the situation. If I am in a place where there is no light at all, then I'd panic :(
9) What color are your eyes?
Dark brown :)
10) Have you ever made out at a drive-in?
If it's a drive-in, such as a drive-in movie, I've never been :o
11) When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower?
It has been a while... I don't spend very much time bathing :o
12) Do you knock on wood?
Only when I realize that I haven't said, "...yet". I certainly did that today!
13) Do you floss daily?
Though I don't like to, I do that a few times a week (^-^;)
15) Can you hula hoop?
I can, but not for a very long time... In time, though! :)
16) Are you good at keeping secrets?
;)That... I will never tell
17) What do you want for Christmas?
Every year I ask for the same thing, and every year I get it: your happiness :)
18) Do you know the Muffin Man?
The one who lives on Drury Lane? Why, are we going to need lots and lots of flour? (^-^;)
19) Do you talk in your sleep?
I'm pretty sure I do - I caught myself doing that one night a couple of years ago... Pretty embarrassing too because one of my roommates noticed too (>_<)
20) Who wrote the book of love?
He did. :)
21) Have you ever flown a kite?
Oh yes! It's really fun, especially when you have a beautiful kite and the perfect windy day :D
22) Do you wish on your fallen lashes?
...I've actually never heard of that before... Can anyone tell me the meaning of this?? (^-^;) I'm willing to learn new things!
23) Do you consider yourself successful?
I think I can and am successful in most things :)
24) How many people are on your contact list of your cell?
I just checked - currently 69 contacts... ...wait. (T_T;)
25) Have you ever asked for a pony?
I did when I was a kid... But more to just to have so that I can just feed it and pet it - everyone else could do the rest, lol!
26) Plans for tomorrow?
Going to pick up my co-worker Doris to go to work, pick up breakfast smoothies, work from 11am-9pm (or hopefully before that!), then finally hitting the gym. It's been a long week and I finally get a chance for a workout! :)
27) Can you juggle?
Not very well... I used to juggle scarves back in elementary school though :)
28) Missing someone now?
I'm missing him every moment... Maybe one day...
29) When was the last time you told someone I Love You?
Last night before leaving him for the night... :(
30) And truly meant it?
I mean it every time I say it :) xoxo
31) How often do you drink?
Not very often. I treat myself to a drink once in a while; mostly beer but I like liquor drinks too!
32) How are you feeling today?
Much much better! My nose and throat are almost cleared up! Thank goodness! ...and a little sleepy from a busy day at work today... (^o^)
33) What do you say too much?
"Heh heh..." The way I say it is like I'm about to do something mischievous XD
34) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?
Never. I was a goody-goody student, even up to now (^-^;)
35) What are you looking forward to?
The day when I'm finally going to be with him everyday :)
36) Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yup - at my old house my room was right above the garage; I used to climb onto the roof and watch the stars at night :)
37) Have you ever eaten dog food?
...ew, no! (x_X)
38) Can you handle the truth?
Yes - I'd rather be told the truth than to be hurt with lies.
39) Do you like green eggs and ham?
I think I'd like green eggs and ham - I'm always up for some adventurous eats! :)
40) Any cool scars?
I'm not sure if I can call them cool, but Tay and I got injured from a fall at a theme park last year. I ended up with the worst injuries on my right leg and have deep scars from them. :(

There you have it everyone! Have fun with this! Another post to come soon! :) Until then, be well! With love,
~Reiko ('-^)v ~ xoxo ♥

*♥*Tips for Treating the Common Cold *♥*

[Currently listening to the first episode of 会長はメイド様! (Kaichou wa Maid-sama)]

Good morning everyone :)

I think I'm getting over my cold more quickly than I thought - usually it would take me a couple of weeks to get over :( In the last year, however, I've learned a few tips that I'd like to share with you all:

-Drink plenty of water/liquids, especially if it's hot :)
I've been drinking plenty of water in the last few days so that I won't get dehydrated. Orange juice or having something that's high in Vitamin B and C will help to boost your immune system; I've done this by buying a Stress Defender smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe - the ingredients are oranges, orange juice, yogurt and a Vitamin C immune complex. Hot tea with honey and lemon is a great way for me soothe my throat and it temporarily relieves me of a stuffy nose. I've also learned from a co-worker of mine that drinking ginger ale during the time that you're coughing will not only relieve your throat from coughing, but the properties of ginger will help break down the mucus slowly but surely. :) Thanks Philip!
-Gotta cough it all out...
At the current stage of my cold, I'm now to the point where I'm coughing - it's a sign that I have to somehow hack all that gunk out of my throat. Now you're probably wondering why I have to do this... I know it sounds gross and all, but you have to do this because not only does it feel gross in your throat but also... If all that stuff stays in there even after you feel better from your cold, it's more than likely that you'd get sick again because that "stuff" can catch whatever germs might be floating around in the air around you.
-Take a hot shower/bath
Just like the effects of drinking hot fluids, the steam from taking a hot shower/bath will help relieve you from nasal congestion :)
-Blow your nose often... and gently.
It's important that you blow out all that stuff out of your nose so that it will not build up; I'm sure you wouldn't like the feeling of a stuffy nose either. (Personally, I'd like to be able to catch the smell and taste of what I'm eating, thanks!) Be careful as you're blowing your nose though. A couple of times I have sneezed so hard that my nose started bleeding... I didn't mean to, but you gotta be nice to your nose even though it's giving you a hard time.
-Exercise
Not too much though - you don't want to wear yourself out. I like to do some stretching or work on the Ab-Ripper X workout to keep my blood going.
-Gargle
I kill off all the germs in my mouth by gurgling a mouthwash that kills off bacteria and germs. If mouthwash is too harsh for your mouth, try with salty water (I know it'll taste gross but both work the same way).

And most of all, don't forget to do what I've been doing:
-Rest, rest, REST!
Give your body a break and time so that it'll focus on getting better. If you work at a place that may seem physically stressful (like mine), slow down and relax - you will be able to focus on your work with better accuracy and your body will not tire out as quickly. With plenty of power naps or even sleeping earlier and longer, it will allow your body to focus on building its immune system and help you get better sooner.
Remember - the best way to prevent you or anyone else from getting sick is to WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN. Lather the soap in your hands and rinse them in warm water for 20 seconds. Why? You may not realize it but your hands have a lot of bacteria in them. When was the last time you washed your hands today? How many things have you touched?
Hand sanitizers work great, but you also may not realize that the alcohol in it may damage your hands and cause pH imbalance in the skin. Washing your hands is your best bet over anti-bacterial gels.
Keep your hands away from your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth - you can spread germs onto yourself or others this way.
And don't forget! It's the flu season, so it's important to get immunized! I'll be getting my vaccine next week.

So if you are not feeling well right now, or need some tips to prevent yourself from getting sick, I hope my guide helps. This compilation came from personal experiences and tips from my friends - friends help friends to not get the cold/flu!

Be well everyone, and cheers to your health!

With love,

~Reiko (^0^)/ xoxo ♥

*♥*Road to Recovery*♥*

[Currently listening to 野に咲く花のように by the one and only - Gackt-sama :) ]
Another short post for you all. :)

I proudly own 2 copies of the single - the black one contains the bonus DVD and the white one has the single only.



Webcam pics for now - sorry for the low quality... But what I really like about the DVD single version is that it comes with a lovely folded piece of fancy paper with the music sheet and lyrics of the song. It's one of my favorite songs by Gackt :) This song, especially the piano version, is quite lovely. I'm very happy to be listening to the single as I get ready to doze off to sleep. Most of all, I love the fact that Gackt wrote this song to a high school whose seniors were graduating :)

...oh yeah!

To update you guys on my health: I'm now having a mix of runny AND stuffy nose. It certainly isn't a pleasant thing to have... And the worst part is when you begin to cough because all that stuff is going down your throat...

...I think I'm feeling even more sick thinking about it... (=___=;)

Twice now I have sneezed so hard that my nose bled a little... Needless to say, I'm not happy about that... :(

The best thing that I can do is 2 things: drink lots and lots of fluids, and get lots and lots of rest. I slept very well last night and felt as though I was feeling a lot better when I woke up this morning. I've also made sure that I drank lots of tea with honey and lemon - even now that I'm trying to recover, I find this to be very soothing :)

I'm hoping for a speedy recovery soon - I'm going to do my best! (^3^)

Well, I got my warm flannels out again now that it's getting chilly. I'm going to go to bed now - I'm thankful that I get to go to work later in the day. (^0^)

Good night, sweet angels! Be well!


With lots of love,
~Reiko ('-^) v xoxo ♥

*♥*I Caught a Cold... :( *♥*

[Currently listening to Do As Infinity's "Deep Forest" album - great recommendation for those who enjoyed the ending theme song for Inuyasha :)]

I'm making this a very short post because I'm going to head to bed in a bit.

Sadly, I've caught early signs of a cold. :( *sniffle*

Last night, I noticed that my brother, Jonathan, wasn't feeling very well - my parents told me that they noticed that he was getting sick. I told myself that I was going to be careful so that I wouldn't catch it early...

...I should've known I was heading into more trouble when I noticed that my throat and nose were a little scratchy when I woke up this morning :(

I made my own lunch today: spaghetti noodles with bacon bits, chopped artichokes, chopped broccoli and mushroom alfredo sauce. I added a little bit of Mrs. Dash's Italian Blend to make it more delicious and aromatic. It was quite yummy. (^-^) On the way to work I also got the Stress Defender smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe - it's full of oranges, yogurt and a Vitamin C complex mix to boost my immune system. I also made sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

It's really that time of the year already...?

Well, I ate good meals today and loaded my system with lots of Vitamin C. The hot shower and hot tea that I had when I got home from work really helped. I hope I'll feel a little better in the morning...

Sweet dreams everyone, and be well~!


With love,
~Reiko (=__=) .o( xoxo)

*♥*50 Question Meme and Lazy Day*♥*

[Currently watching/listening to Azumanga Daioh (^-^;)]

Good evening everyone :) I hope you had a good day today. I know I did. I mainly did nothing but rest, rest, REST!

After updating my status on Facebook earlier today, my co-worker Jordan commented that she liked this one because whenever she sees me, I'm always on the go. I guess I can say that I'm naturally energetic when I'm at work; even when I'm physically exhausted, I find that I'm still running. Pretty much like the Energizer bunny: Going...and going...and going... (^-^;)

Today I decided that since I have a day off to prepare for another busy week at work ahead, it's time to recharge my batteries and rest. It is nice to be able to sleep in, have naps, and be lazy in between. (= o =) zzz

Hmm... I guess if I had a highlight for today, it'd be that I caught up with some anime again (^-^)

As I'm typing this I'm also watching/listening to another episode of Azumanga Daioh. For those who don't know what this anime is about, it follows the lives of a group of high school girls who go through some... um... very interesting scenarios. Such as dealing with a very competitive, self-proclaimed diva of a teacher; competing against one another in contests whose names make little sense; a girl's love for cats who chomp her hand(s) whenever she tries to pet them; and sadly, yes, dealing with a perverted teacher who likes girls.

... (^-^;)

I first read the manga and watched the anime during my junior and senior years of high school and thought this series was the cutest anime. ...and now that I'm seeing the series for the second time after not seeing it for a few years... I've also forgotten how ridiculously ridiculous it is/was... It still made me laugh though; I've been needing a bit of laughing today :) Yes, the anime is quite silly, but it's still pretty good.


...oh, Chiyo-chan... X3

I've also tried to take some time to figure out what's going on with video editing... If you saw the video in my previous post (in "It's Fall!"), you'd see that the video footage appeared on the top half and my texts appeared at the bottom half. The program I used was Windows Movie Maker for the Vista system. Last month I tried to film a "Products for September" video to upload to my Youtube channel, but the same thing happened after I published the finished video onto my hard-drive. This was bothering me for a while, so I decided to experiment:

First I experimented with my web-cam (QuickCam® for Notebooks Deluxe). I recorded a short test video, added subtitle text, and published it to my Videos folder. After viewing it on Windows Media Player, there was no problem: the video footage was full-screened with subtitles, which was what I've been aiming for with the other videos.

I currently don't have a proper video camera to record videos with, so I use my digital camera: Samsung Dual Screen TL220. I've tried all the video sizes, from 320x240 as the smallest setting to the largest setting at 1280x720 in HQ and made one video for each. Sadly, I didn't get the same result as the webcam video.

I'm feeling a little discouraged about this... As much as I would love to have an upgraded webcam or even a camcorder, I cannot afford one right now... However, I'm thinking later on I'll create another video with my digital camera, edit it and post it on Youtube - maybe someone out there would be nice to give me advice or even a tutorial on how to fix this! :) If you guys have ideas on how I can fix my videos, I'd appreciate that too :)

Well, it's been a while since I've done this but I've added a meme here! I used to do this all the time for my Myspace bulletins, but I'm almost never there anymore. I figured that since it has been a while, I'd try something fun here and finish this meme for you! Feel free to add this to your blog and add your own responses. I hope that through this and perhaps future memes, I'll get to know you all and you'll get to know me :)

Without further ado, let's START! :)

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

"...my hair looks ridiculous... Day~um!" XD

2. How much cash do you have on you?

Hmm, about $10 - lunch money for work! :)

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?

Adore! :)

4. Favorite planet?

There's no place like Mother Earth :)

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

I don't recognize the number; he/she must have called the wrong number by accident... Ah, well. :o

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

I have a lot of customized ringtones on my iPhone right now, but this week it's set as "Vanilla Twilight" by Owl City (^-^)

7. What shirt are you wearing?

I'm currently wearing 2 shirts: a dark teal spaghetti strap and a black long-sleeved shirt with pink flowers :) Most of my wardrobe is bought at Kohl's :3

8. Do you label yourself?

I am not sure if this counts or not but: I am the one and only Reiko! (or Jenni if you know me in real life :D )

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?

I'm not wearing shoes right now - but wearing black socks :3

10. Bright or Dark Room?

I prefer a bright room, but not too bright - so long as I'm able to see what's around me, that's fine by me (^o^)

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?

I don't know the person who started this meme, but I'll say that he or she is cool to make one for us :)

12. What does your watch look like?

It's a slim, light-blue Fossil watch given to me from my mom on my sweet 16th :)

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Editing my entries for my blog; sadly I lost the one I wanted to originally write here on Blogger... (T 3 T)

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

I was texting my friend Justin; after I replied with a "Yup. Might be updating my blog", he said, "That's good." ...I think he's still not doing too well on his end... :(

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?

There are 3 close to me, all about the same distance way from my house. We have one almost every half mile in the city where I live, I think... (o_O)

16. What's a word that you say a lot?

Not really a word... But I do say, "Heh heh" a lot. (^-^;)

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?

Taylor :3

18. Last furry thing you touched?

My Webkins polar bear. I named him Yuki. And he has a rude personality against guys. ...he's really nice to the ladies though... (^-^;)

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?

None at all. :)

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?

None; I'm so happy to have a digital camera :)

21. Favorite age you have been so far?

So far... When I was 16 - I had my first boyfriend and first kiss with him. ...I'm pretty sure you can guess who this is! :)

22. Your worst enemy?

Myself sometimes... :o

23. What is your current desktop picture?

"Transient Princess" by the awesomely talented MontyOum, creator of the Dead Fantasy series (check out his work on Youtube!)

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?

Hmm, online or in person? If in person, I said to my mom before going to my room after dinner, "I hope the router will behave..."

Online: I want to stay in the vb area; definitely not norfolk (while talking to my high school friend Jason about moving soon)

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?

I'd choose the million bucks - I have plenty of ideas on how to use it :)

26. Do you like someone?

Oh yes. It's more than like though. :)

27. The last song you listened to?

"Telephone" by Lady Gaga and Beyonce (-^__^-)

28. What time of day were you born?

11:34am :)

29. What’s your favorite number?

Hmm... That's a good question... I don't think I've ever had a favorite number :o

30. Where did you live in 1987?

In my mother's belly until I was born into the world :)

31. Are you jealous of anyone?

I'm a little jealous of high school students for some reason... Maybe it's because my co-workers who are in high school are making wonderful memories such as prom and football games... I'd love to relive my high school days... but then again, I'm happy with what I do have. :)

32. Is anyone jealous of you?

I'm pretty sure there is at least one person... :o

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

Freshman year in high school; I was in my English class when I learned about this.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Shake the machine and curse a little; if my food comes out fine, I'm happy but if not, I sigh and move on :o

35. Do you consider yourself kind?

For the most part, yes :)

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

Either on my torso or on my back - I have a tribal dragon tattoo design I'd love to have one day (^.^)

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?

Hmm, well I am fluent in English and Japanese... but I can't speak a lick of Filipino... I'd love to master it one day!

38. Would you move for the person you loved?

Yes; I think it would also give us a chance to spread our wings and get ourselves out into the world (^-^)

39. Are you touchy feely?

No, but I like to give hugs! \(^0^)/

40. What’s your life motto?

Be true to yourself - stay original, never a copy.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

Glasses, cell phone, and a pretty necklace :)

42. What’s your favourite town/city?

I have three cities: Virginia Beach (my hometown), Staunton, VA (where I went to school) and Tokyo, Japan (where I went for my trip with my girl friends from college)

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

A smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe: the Tropi-colada has coconut, pineapple and banana; I don't like it when the banana is too ripe, so I replace it with strawberries. Yum! :)

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

It's been a long time since I wrote one, but my most recent was when my elementary school friend Kandice and I wrote letters a lot until we found each other online. (^-^)

45. Can you change the oil on a car?

Sort of... Well, Dad showed me how to change the oil only once on my old Rav4. With my new Rav4 we need a special tool to take out the filter... Still some learning to do... (^-^;)

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

That he is going to be busy for the rest of this week, but he can't wait until we are able to see each other again ♥

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?

I don't know much actually... My last name is Spanish, so it's possible it's derived from when the Spanish conquistadors came to Philippine soil back in the16th century. Also, it's possible that I have a bit of Chinese ancestry from my mom's paternal side - I guess it's no wonder people ask me if I'm Chinese... (-.-)

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?

My elder cousin Douglas was married this past July in Philadelphia. It was summer so I had to wear something cute and summery :) I love that summer dress ♥

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?

Not at the moment (^o^)

50. Have you been burned by love?

Absolutely. :)

Mmkay, well, time for me to rest one more time before I go to work tomorrow morning - until then everyone, take care and I'll see you next time!

Be true to yourself, and stay beautiful :)

With love,
~Reiko (^o^)/~ xoxo ♥

*♥* ...sigh. *♥*

[Currently listening/watching The Online Gamer series on Youtube - check out RecklessTortuga!]

I'm sad... I had an awesome post I wanted to share with you all before I go to bed tonight, but... Somehow Blogspot ended up not saving my entry and now I lost the entry entirely...

And what sucks even more is that when I'm trying to recall what I wrote... I forget. :(

...and it's almost 4am...

...

...I should probably get some sleep. Perhaps I'll remember it when I get up later on...

...

...sigh.

Well, until then my angels...

"Hey Angel! You duh... sexy~!" XD

~Reiko (=_=) zzz xoxo ♥