★☆DSKJewelry Model Search 2010!! ★☆

[Currently listening to "I Like It" - Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull; Enrique Iglesia's new album "Euphoria" :) - check out this sexy Spanish man on iTunes now! xoxo ]

Hello everyone! I'm glad to be back - I've been away on a 5-day vacation (well, actually 4 since I had to come back a day early), but I'm so happy to be back on a computer and write to you guys again. I tell you, it's been too long!

I'll tell you guys about my vacation in a separate post, but before I get to that, I just wanna say:
1. Yay, Spain!! Congratulations for winning the World Cup!!
2. ...I gotta say, Enrique is pretty sexy. :) ...just saying! xoxo

...anyway, guys. ^-^;;

It has been a while since my last post, and I've been meaning to put up this post for a while, but I just wanted to let you all know that I just entered DSKJewelry's Model Search contest!! I just sent my entry form not too long ago. I've never entered in something like this before, but I'm hoping I'll make it!! :D ★☆★☆

I wanted to share with you guys in this entry my DSKJewelry pieces as well as my entry form and pictures that I turned in so you guys have an idea of what DSKJewelry is about. :)

Fellow blogger Stephanie of Seattle is the girl who designs and creates her beautiful pieces, including earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Her most known pieces are the Bubbi Necklaces (inspired from YouTube make-up guru, Bubzbeauty - whom I'm also a fan of!) and Everything bracelets: bracelets that have many many combinations in beads, Swarovski crystals, and chains that no two everything bracelets are the same; each one has its own unique name and design and it's really neat how special these pieces are!

If you are interested in her jewelry, I highly encourage you to visit her site: dskjewelry.blogspot.com

Here are the pieces of DSKJewelry that I currently own:

The first pair of earrings that I bought when I first visited DSKJewelry's site was this: the AB Star threads. I never wore thread earrings until this pair and it's by far my favorite pair of earrings out of all the earrings I own! The threads are 3 inches long, and are lightweight and comfortable to wear. The cute little stars remind me of the stars in the sky; believe it or not, I actually do wish upon the first star that I see at night and yes, I do believe that one day my dreams will surely come true. When I first bought these earrings, the stars really do remind me that I've got to hold on to my wishes and dreams and with hard work (and perhaps some luck too), one day they will come true. :)

This is the first necklace that I bought: the Large Golden Moon and Dark Teal Starfish. It was one of the simplest, yet beautiful pieces I saw when I first came to the site and I wanted soooo bad; I waited 2 weeks until my paycheck came in so I could buy it! I really liked the golden moon because it reminds me of nights when I would see the golden harvest moon in the night sky - every time I see it, there's just something so mysterious about it that I can't just look away. The cute teal starfish really compliments the golden moon nicely, and when I first saw these two together, it reminded me of a phrase that I saw on one of my friends' Myspace profiles: "Be the moon and pull in my tide." It also reminded not just of the representation of the stars (like the one for my earrings) but also of my boyfriend Taylor who loves the beach and the oceans. All in all, the necklace represents me and Taylor - I just had to get it, and I love it!

These are the 5" Rose Flower thread earrings; these are by far, the longest earring pieces I've ever owned, but they are so cute! I bought this in the early spring because I love the size, shape and color of the rose-colored flower - just like the cherry blossoms, no? :) Not only did they remind me of cherry blossoms but they also represent my love for flowers in general as well as the color pink to represent my feminine side. I don't mind that the threads are this long. In fact, when I'm wearing them, they're so lightweight that sometimes I don't really notice that they are really there!

And finally, my most recent piece: Rocker Pink! This is one of my favorite necklaces, mainly because I really like the combination of the single heart and a wing alongside it - it's simply really cool! Taylor really likes this piece too (which, of course, makes me happy :D ). When I saw the preview for the Rocker necklaces, I thought, "...wow, that's actually really neat!" It reminded me of a phrase that I came up with 2 years ago when I was really down: "You can try to rip off my wings... but no matter what you do, I'm still gonna fly." I bought the pretty heart in pink, again to represent my feminine side, and the combination with the silver wing makes just...awesome. I don't truly know how else to describe it other than to say that I love this piece!


So here they are: my 4 beautiful DSKJewelry pieces! I hope to collect more, maybe a bracelet because I've yet to own one!

This year, Stephanie is hosting a Model contest, a girl (or guy) to represent her jewelry in the DSK family, and I'm hoping to be one of them! Again, I've never entered a contest like this before, but it's about time I got out of my shell and give this my best shot! I want to thank Taylor for helping take pictures of me for the contest - without him, I wouldn't have gotten the pictures that he took (all of which I loved!). I submitted 5 of them, though I would have turned all of them to Stephanie. The voting begins on Friday - I'm very excited for this!!

And now, here's my entry form with 2 paragraphs explaining who I am and why I want to represent DSKJewelry; there's also the 26 question survey - I had fun with these! :D

Hello Team DSK! My name is Jennifer, but many know me as Jenni or Reiko; Jenni shortened from my first name and Reiko from my days of studying Japanese language in my high school and college. I’m 22 years old, and I’m working to finish my undergraduate degree in Business Administration. I’m pursuing my dream in the culinary field; my biggest passion since I was a child has always been food – I love food, as well as making new dishes and eating my work! One day I would love to either manage my own café or restaurant, or move up to become an executive chef. Until then, I have a blog that I try to update often, and I plan on opening a separate blog dedicated to my recipes and other food finds. Meanwhile, I work as a part-time bartender in a retirement home – I know it may sound pretty bizarre making drinks for the elderly, but I love my job! I live with my Filipino family: my parents and two younger brothers, both who have autism. I love adventures and playing sports (tennis and volleyball mostly), but to unwind I love to read, knit, play video games or chat with new friends online… Oh, let’s not forget blogging! I’ve become fond of traveling recently and would love the travel the world someday… I’m a simple girl, living my life by having fun and with a smile on my face. Visit my blog at xsimplyreikox.blogspot.com!

I learned about DSKJewelry in the beginning of this year through YouTuber Lindi from Bubzbeauty – I watched one of her videos talking about her DSKJewelry necklace and I thought, “…wow, that’s a really pretty necklace she’s wearing, but where can I get something like that?” That’s when I visited the website, learned about Stephanie and her works and the next thing I knew… I bought (thus far) 4 pieces of jewelry! The moment I opened my first package, I was very happy and surprised to see how beautiful my necklace and earrings were when they sparkled in the light! I wear my jewelry during my days off from work, and I’ve received a lot of compliments from my friends and family members. (I even got compliments when I window-shopped in a Swarovski shop recently!) Since buying my first pieces, I’ve told my friends about DSKJewelry, and I keep an eye out for new pieces that I would love to own. Recently I came to realize a new philosophy: I believe that each person, like each piece of jewelry, is made unique and original but never a copy. Stephanie’s talent and artistry in her jewelry really represents that and from that came success. Her successes have inspired me to pursue my own dreams and make them come true. This is what DSKJewelry means to me and I want to represent myself as a Model to inspire others to succeed, that they are beautiful and unique and to also check out and support her jewelry.

Now that I’ve given you bits and pieces of who I am, here are some questions that I’ve answered to get to know me a little bit better!

a. What's your name? Nickname?

My name is Jennifer, but many call me Jenni or Reiko

b. How old are you?

I’m 22 years young!

c. When's your birthday?

August 23^rd

d. How tall are you?

5’5”

e. What is your career? If you're a student, what is your major?

I’m finishing up my undergraduate degree for Business Administration. I’m also working part-time as a bartender in a retirement home. (It seems pretty bizarre, but I love my job!)

f. Are you single? Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Married? Children? It's Complicated?

I’m currently in a relationship with my best friend, Taylor – it will be 2 years on July 29^th

g. Where are you from? Birth place? Current location?

I was born in Norfolk, Virginia and now living in Virginia Beach, Virginia

h. Do have siblings?

I have 2 younger brothers, 20 and 17, who have autism

i. What's your ethnicity?

My family is from the Philippines but there’s a possibility of having a bit of Chinese in my background too!

j. What's your favorite food?

Oh gosh… You had to ask, haha! If I had to choose one favorite food, it would have to be mangoes!

k. What are 5 words that describe you? Be Creative!

Loving, Creative, Adventurous, Motivated… and Hungry!

l. What would the title of your autobiography be?

“Breaking Free”

m. What would you do if a vending machine stole your money?

Try to get that snack out, even if it means kicking it or getting a friend to help you out! You know what they say – if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again!

n. Do you have a tattoo? If so, where?! If no, would you get a tattoo?

Currently no tattoos, but I’ve dreamed of having a tribal dragon design on my torso

o. How many piercings do you have?

One piercing on each ear, and a belly ring :D

p. What your favorite feature? What's your least favorite?

Favorite feature would have to be my smile since I love to smile and laugh! Least favorite feature… maybe my calves – from running around so much, lol!

q. How many languages can you speak, and which ones?

I can speak 2 languages, English and Japanese, fluently; I am working on Spanish and Tagalog right now!

r. What's your zodiac sign?

Born under the Chinese zodiac for the Rabbit, and am a cusp between Leo and Virgo – I think I’m more of a Virgo than anything else!

s. What's your dream job?

My dream job would either be to become an executive chef for a well-known restaurant or open up my own restaurant or café

t. What's your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

Gosh, I have so many favorite things, but to give a short list: shopping, going out to eat, checking out new sites, going to the beach, watching movies and sunsets.

u. Do you have any phobias?

I have a fear of being forgotten… I dunno why, but I can’t help having that feeling, you know? :o

v. What's your favorite pick up line?

I honestly don’t have one; I’ve never had to use one… ^^;

w. What's your ring tone?

No current ring tone at the moment, but when I get my new phone, I’ll program it to play “Niji” by Aqua Timez

x. What's your favorite song?

My favorite song changes everyday, but for a while now it’s “Niji” by Aqua Timez

y. What makes you laugh?

I laugh when I’m happy, when something funny happens, or just for no reason What can I say? I love to smile and laugh!

z. I can't wait till: ________(Fill in the blank) :D

…the day(s) when all my dreams come true!

And that's that!! I'm going to also submit a video that I am hoping to have posted on my YouTube channel tomorrow morning so please keep an eye out for it :) Don't forget to vote on Friday, the 16th!!

Until then, representing for DSKJewelry!!

Much love, xoxo Reiko

♠ Launching New Blog Soon :) ♠

[Listening to disc 3 of Fruits Basket anime at the moment :) ]

Hey, everyone :) I hope you're having a good day so far - I know I am :)

Remember Taylor? :D He turns 24 today :) Yay!!

Just thought I'd put a funny picture of him for starters ^-^;; (Tay, if you're reading this... xoxo!)

Sadly, he and I are working today, but we will celebrate tomorrow since he has half the day off and I'm off all day :D We plan on having an early dinner, go see Last Airbender, just have ourselves a good day :)

But can you guys believe we're already 7 months into the year? Like... Where has all that time gone, you know?? I don't know about you guys, but through the good days AND the bad, I'm enjoying each day to the fullest and I'm learning a lot along the way. I hope you all are doing the same. :)

I've decided that for my future entries for my recipes, I'm going to create a separate blog, and keep this blog for random happenings of my everyday life :) I think that's a pretty good idea so that I can keep them organized better, so in the next few days I'll let you guys know when I launch the blog site. :)

Again, I'm crunching on time, but I thought I'd write to you guys for a little bit; not to mention that this laptop that I'm writing to you all with is the only working computer in the house - the computer that I currently have in my room has something wrong with it (I think some spyware worked it's way into the computer and now I can no longer browse the Internet...). I will only have limited time and access to you all here but I will update when I can :)

Until next post, you all have a great day! :D And to celebrate Taylor's birthday, and his love for ocean things, here's a picture of me when we went to the aquarium in May:

With love,

~Reiko xoxo

♠ Court Update and Some Sweet Things :) ♠

[I figured out the name of the song! It's 3OH!3 feat. Ke$ha's "My First Kiss" - playing that now! :D ]

Good morning everyone! :D I meant to update yesterday, but had a lot going on :)

...I'm guessing you all wanted to know how the court thing went?

Well... I'm sad to report that there was actually no hearing yesterday :( Dad and I were at the courthouse for quite some time to learn later that the lady who hit me had a no-show. Her lawyer kept apologizing to me for having to wait so long and that the case will be rescheduled for August 26th. Needless to say, I was rather disappointed because I had been looking forward to this day for a long time and wanted to have all this behind me when it was over... Now it's going to be a couple more months of waiting... So until then... :(

I wasn't going to let this get me down, so I had some time yesterday to take some pictures with Taylor at the beach :) The real reason for the picture taking, though, is for the contest that I am entering - the DSK Jewelry model search! I will making a post in the next day or two talking about the jewelry, what it's all about, and even show you guys pictures of my pieces :) I look forward to showing them off to you all!

Until then, here is a preview of the pictures that were taken yesterday :)

Taylor and I; it's one of my favorite pictures of us :)

Enjoying the sun at the beach :)

Sitting pretty :)

Reiko for DSKJewelry! :D

Look out for the new blog entry that I'll post soon about DSKJewelry, okay guys? :D

I'll also be able to post new entries for my food recipes :) I know it has been a while since I posted something for all of you, but please be patient, as my schedule oftentimes keeps me very very busy :) And now that I also have a brand new camera, I can add pictures to show you guys step by step how I make my food :D I can't wait!!

Time for me to get ready for work, but I will be back soon :) Until then, have a wonderful day!!

...oh, did I forget to mention that today marks me and Taylor together for 1 year and 11 months? :D

And one last thing...

Think of you, babiiiii xoxo ♥

With love,
~Reiko xoxo

♠ Slowly Counting Down... ♠

[Currently eating dinner - Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich and a large sweet tea to be exact!!]

Hey, all you cool cats! :D I hope you all had a very good weekend - I sure did :)

Again, I'm crunching on time, and it's late at night... Since I'm in the dining room with my laptop - and with that being the only working computer in the house for now... - I can't play any music since my dad and brothers are trying to sleep... Don't want me to get in trouble do you? ;) Just so you know though, you know that new song from 3OH!3, featuring Ke$ha, the one that has the lyrics going, "My first kiss went a little like this"? It's been on my mind for a while... Pretty catchy. Just saying! XD

Also, I do have pictures, but I will have to wait to post them until tomorrow. So we'll save those and the rest of the most recent news until then. :)

...anyways!

Wanted to let you guys know that the court day is set for tomorrow morning. I have mentioned that this will be my very first time participating in a court session (I'm testifying as a witness), so I'm excited, but at the same time, a little anxious as to how this will all play out. Well, I really shouldn't be so nervous since I am not the one at fault for the car accident back in March, but I guess I just want to see how everything plays out in the very end. My dad will be in the courtroom with me, so at least I'm not going there alone with my lawyer and the other participants.This day has been on my mind since I received the subpeona 2 weeks ago, and now the months of waiting will come to a close... I will update you guys with the results when I return. Wish us luck! :)

Other than that, I'm doing well! It really is summer time, and it's not just from the ridiculous heat that has come to my hometown! Today it reached as high as 102 degrees, or so it said on the odometer on my way to work this afternoon. The notice on the doors said that it is a black flag day and that outdoor activities are to be suspended. I don't really know about that though: even though the black flag warning has been posted all around the building, some of the residents at the retirement still go outside; I don't know how these people do it, but there is a small group who absolutely love the game of croquet - I think they've been outside for an hour or so, with the sun not bothering them at all! (I think they must be real die-hard players to be playing in those conditions...!)

Anyway, when it gets really hot wherever you may be, make sure to keep yourself cool - stay inside if you must, and be sure to drink LOTS of water! I don't want to hear any of my readers say that they're not doing well because they're not keeping cool! T_T Play it safe!!

All right, until tomorrow, everyone, have a good day/night wherever you may be! :)

Lots of love,
~Reiko xoxo

♠ Reiko's Back - About Damn Time :)v ♠

[Currently having some breakfast with her little brother, Jerome :) No music involved, but has Owl City's "Strawberry Avalanche" playing in her head :)]

My goodness, it really has been a while everyone - sorry for the delays again >_<

I'm crunching on time at the moment, so for now, I just want to bring you guys up to speed to what has been happening with me in recent days:

How's Reiko? Overall, feeling great and just going about my busy days loving each day to the fullest, even on the toughest days :) Due to some personal issues that I have experienced recently (which I can't explain to you guys here, I'm sorry... :( ) in many ways, I feel that I have matured from it all, and I'm taking the baby steps to becoming an even better person than I was a few weeks ago. One day I will be able to tell you all, but for right now, rest assured, I'm doing well, and I'm loving life! :)

Family: In about 2 weeks' time, my family and I will be venturing up north for my cousin Douglas and his fiancee' Christina's wedding. :) Douglas is one of my cousins that I've admired since I was a kid, and now I'm very happy that he is very happy to start his new life with his soon-to-be wife, who will also become a wonderful addition to my family :) I'll be gone for about 5 days to venture up to New Jersey to see my extended family, and then to Pennsylvania where the wedding will take place. I'm very excited not just for the wedding, but for the trip itself. It's been a while since my family and I had a vacation together, and this will be a real treat. I haven't been to New Jersey since seeing my relatives to embark on a flight to the Philippines together 5 summers ago, and I've never been to Pennsylvania before - I'm really looking forward to the adventures to come :)

Work: I'm loving and appreciating my work as a bartender/waitstaff in that retirement home more and more by the day :) I know some of you guys are wondering how on earth I'm able to cope working in a place like this, and I can simply tell you that it takes a lot of love and patience. There are times when it gets busy and difficult, but I know that in the very end, everything will fall into place and will be all right. I like being with people (especially talking to them) and I get along fairly well with the people I work with and work for. Love and patience are the keys, my friends! :)

Friends: Unfortunately, due to my very busy schedule, I only have very little time to see and/or chat with my friends in real life or even online (Facebook, Myspace, etc.). I was able to see a couple of good friends in recent weeks - Kai and Eleni - which is a good start, but when I have time to hang out, or even have an online chat with you, etc. , I will let you guys know :) I may not be able to say this to each of you individually so I'll say it here: I love you all and thank you for being a part of my life :) xoxo

Love life? Taylor and I are doing very well :) I feel that he and I have gotten much closer since the last time I posted, and that makes me feel very good. Tay is a really important person in my life, and I'm very grateful for everything he does and even just being there for me. He's been by my side even through the most recent slumps - I don't think he realizes how much I appreciate his love and loyalty to me... But anyway, we are doing very well, and we'll be celebrating our anniversary (1 year, 11 months) in a few days, as well as his birthday... which is a week from today! Whoo! xoxo

Car accident update: Remember the car accident I had back in March? Well, the case will come to a close in the next few days: On Monday, I will be appearing in court to testify as a witness in the case against the woman who hit me and my car, Rinoa. I have been looking forward to this day for a while - this will be my very first time testifying as a witness in court. As I said before in my post-accident post, I have forgiven the woman since that night, and I still do to this very day. I'm not sure what the outcome will be for the other woman, but I do hope that from whatever punishments and/or fines that will fall upon her, she will learn from that so that she won't have to experience that ever again. After this, my family and I will be truly ready to move forward from this, and I pray that she will too.

So yes! That's the gist of what's been going on with my lately, but I do want to announce one other thing... As of yesterday, I now have a brand-new digital camera!

This is the model of the digital camera that I now have: Samsung T220 digital camera, 12.2 megapixels and dual LCD screens. I'm loving this camera the more I use it :) ...should I come up with a name for it? :D What do you guys think?? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

And of course, I wouldn't end this post without showing you guys a few pictures from my new camera eh?? :D I had to compress them in order for them to fit here, so if they appear small for you guys, I apologize - I will have to work on them later :(

My handsome boyfriend, Taylor :) He made dinner! ^0^

A very interesting mug that held some tea he brewed for me :)

Dinner! Little steak and vodka pasta! We had a huge helping of seconds after that :)

My brother, Jerome finishing breakfast... and trying to be cute. :p

...and there's yours truly! :)

And there you have it guys! Now that I have a new camera, I'm looking forward to posting more for you guys. I'll update when I can, but I'll definitely chat with you all soon. Have a great day!!

xoxo,

~Reiko :)

Can't Introduce Squall Just Yet... :(

[Listening to "I'mma Be" by the awesome Black Eyed Peas! :D ]

Hey, everyone, it's about 11:30pm, and in about half an hour I will be working on my last Art History homework for the semester. I know, I hate having to do things at the last minute, but... What can I say? Lots of things to do... ^^; I will be up for a while, but I'm not gonna stop until it's done :) No, not an all nighter this time - I hope it won't end up being that way!

...shame on me, what did I say I was going to do for my Resolution(s)...? ^^;

Yesterday, I was supposed to take pictures and tell you guys about my wonderful new Rav4, Squall. Well, unfortunately, my digital camera has been giving me problems since yesterday morning: for some reason, it's malfunctioning even though I haven't done much to it in the last few days... Yes, I've changed the batteries, and yes, I've made sure that they were put in correctly... It's frustrating... :( I may have to invest on getting a digital camera that *will* work for me... That probably won't happen until around summertime because guess how broke Reiko really is... I hope to take a look at the camera and get it fixed soon so that I can show you guys some cool vids and pics of Squall. I will say, though, that I'm in love with it... even if it is a car ^^;

In the meantime, I want to tell you guys a few highlights of what's been going on with me in the last couple of days:

So, my college besties, Stephanie and Nicki, came home for a short break before starting their May Term (Good luck, girls!). I spent some time catching up with them on Thursday night when they came home, but I had more time to spend with them during my day off from work yesterday. We went to California Pizza Place for a late lunch, then went to my favorite gelato shop, Melt (soon to become "Confetti" about a week or so from now). After parting ways for a little while so that Nicki could finish up some homework, Taylor met with me and we hung out at Barnes and Noble for a little bit.

Guess what caught my eye when we reached the comic book section...

Yes, it's Yoshitaka Amano's Final Fantasy "Dawn" artbook. :D Now, for those who don't know, I'm a big Final Fantasy fan, and every FF fan would know one of the artists behind the concept art of the popular series. Amano is not only famous for his art for FF but also in other works such as Vampire Hunter D, another series that I'm a big fan of. What I really love about his work is that it is very beautiful and magical, almost as though the characters and creatures, though in 2-dimensional traditional art, could pop out of the page and come to life. As a fan of his work, I had to get this artbook. :)

This is one of my favorite images in the book - it's Firion, the main character from Final Fantasy II. :)

Anyhow, we were able to hang out, watch ourselves be silly and... just have a great time! Being with my friends yesterday made me realize how much I really love and miss them; I've been working a lot and doing a lot of things myself and with my boyfriend that it made me realize how much I really do love and appreciate people like them in my life. Even when I have my cloudy, gloomy days, I know that these guys and girls would always be there to bring back the sunshine! Much love!!

Another thing I want to share with you guys is that I'm getting into a physically better shape since the accident. I've continued to work out in the gym on the days that I do work, but tonight I started doing some abdominal exercises that I've been wanting to try in the last week.

While I exercised one night, I watched a couple of my co-workers as they did some ab-work; they followed along to a DVD series for physical workouts and this particular one caught my interest. I used to do ab-work a lot during my days in my high school's varsity tennis team; my coach trained us hard doing ab-work, pilates, etc. that by the time I finished my time with the team, I had some nice abs! I wanted to gain that back, and tonight, I started doing it.

I found the workout videos online via YouTube and I'd like to share them with you all in case you want to try this out. If you do decide to work out with these videos, exercise with caution and care - results come in small increments and large amounts of effort!
Here is part 1:


And part 2:


Trust me, after doing these exercises... I feel it in there! o_O Sexy abs, here I come! :Dv

...and I will admit: the guy in the video kind scares me with the way he talks to you while he's exercising... It's scares to where is actually pretty funny that it's scaring me and I end up laughing. ...but what else can I do? =/ Just saying... ^^;

All right, well it's about time I start tackling this Art History homework eh?! Better get a'movin' so I'll chat with you all soon!

Until next time, be well! I hope to get my camera fixed soon too!

xoxo,
Reiko

I'm Back (Quick Updates!)

[Currently listening to Ke$ha's "Your Love Is My Drug" - it's been on my mind since seeing the movie "Bounty Hunter"!!]

Hello everyone, I'm sooooo glad to be back! I'm sorry for those who have been sending me e-mails and whatnot asking where I've been. Not to worry, I'm coming back, refreshed, renewed and... feeling awesome, basically!

It has been a really rough month since my car accident last month, but with the help of my family, friends, co-workers and friends all over the net, I feel as though I'm back to where I was before the car accident occured. :) Rinoa, my first car, may be gone, but I'll never forget her. I know it may seem a bit fickle since she is a car, but what can I say? She was special to me. Even though she may be gone, I now have a new car that I can also say is very important to me now.

...you guessed it, it's name is Squall. :D I don't have photos of Squall just yet, but I will later on. He's a *brand new* 2010 Toyota Rav4, made in Japan! I love him so much! Oh, you know what you guys, I'll make a blog tomorrow for you guys introducing my handsome car :)

I'm still working at the retirement home, the place I love! I'm realizing each day that I work there how much I really love working there; my co-workers are awesome, I love being with the residents each day to talk to them as well as serve them food and drink, and... well, I love what I do as a bartender/waitress! I'm actually going to get ready soon, but I wanted to give you all a quick update about how I'm doing and that... I'll be coming back on here, full swing!

You guessed it, new blogs, new recipes, new patterns, etc! Thanks for sticking with me on this awesome journey - I promise I won't let you all down!

One more thing that I want to say to you all before I log off for now:

I have had a lot of things happen in the last month since the accident, and I've been taking things in a little bit at a time. Even through the darkest of times, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel and when a door closes, somewhere out there another door is opening. You've probably heard these kinds of things at one point or another, but these are true. Take in each moment and be happy that you are alive and living. Whether you're having good days or bad, cherish each moment, and live your life with no regrets. In the last month, I decided to live my life thinking this way, and I've been feeling much better since then :)

Much love to you all, and I'll check back with you later!

Blurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!












~Reiko xoxo

♥Reiko's Fitness Challenge - Day 1!♥

[Currently listening to KIRIKO sings "Studio Ghibli Films music" with an ERHU. "HARE-TANE" album - buy it on iTunes if you're a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki's films and music!]

Hi everyone! It's been a long week, but I'm back with some exciting news :)

It's been about a week and a half since my car accident, and my injuries have mostly healed; I'm very thrilled that my bitten lip and tongue are not aching anymore and my bruises and aches have lessened :) I'm healing up, and I'm very excited! I'm also very eager to drive again, so starting today, I'm going to drive me and my mom to work. I know my parents still worry about me about driving, but I'm not going to let that big crash scare me - I'm like a dandelion: spunky and tough! :D

Since I'm crunching for time right now, I just wanted to briefly touch on something that I'll be doing in the next couple of months :)

At work, there is a fitness challenge event where the employees can record their physical activities; it's a contest to see who can complete the challenge, recording the number of minutes of activities done for each day. My mom has done something like this in the winter, and when this challenge came up again, I decided to give it a whirl. After all, I have been going the gym at least 3 times a week and I stretch and do yoga almost every morning and evening; not to mention I do a lot of walking when I'm working - bartenders and waitstaff do a lot of walking! I was curious to know how I was doing as far as average time of exercising for each day and I also wanted to know my average walking distance when I work each week.

In preparation for this challenge, I went shopping with my dad yesterday to buy a little pedometer for me to wear and watch for the times that I clock in and out of work. I'll be recording my progress daily so let's see how I do today! Later on, I'll be updating with some exercise routines that you can try at home. :)

So far today, I've done about half an hour's worth of stretching and warm-up exercises; I do this daily so that my body and mind are awake and ready for the day. I plan to go to the gym later on in the afternoon, and then meet with my boyfriend Taylor for dinner (for sushi night!). I haven't seen him in almost a week, so this is going to be very fun! ^0^

All right guys, time to head out - I'll be back again to record my physical activities and share more fun stuff with you! Have a great start to your week! Be well!

Much love,
~Reiko ♥*.

♥ Miracles and Dreams Do Come True ♥

[Currently listening to "Breathe" from Michelle Branch's "Hotel Paper" album.]

Hey everyone, I hope you all had a good Monday :)

It's only been a few days since the car accident, and even though I'm still physically hurt, I'm very eager to come back to work. I'm feeling even more strong by the day, and I'm feeling confident about coming back to work tomorrow morning - I miss working, my co-workers, and the residents of the retirement home.

My parents and I took pictures of my bruises and inside my mouth (where I bit my lip and tongue when the airbag hit me in the face) so that we could send them off to my soon-to-be lawyer. We had one come by our house earlier today to speak to me about what happened as well as look at my injuries and taking pictures. I will admit that this guy, though helpful, was right to the point and seemed rather rude when cutting me and my dad off when we were trying to explain some details that may be important... But after signing some paperwork and exchanging information, we'll be getting in contact with the main lawyer in the next couple of days. My parents and I are very anxious to get everything done soon, but these things do take time and careful consideration.

While my parents left for work, I was left at home... I had almost forgotten what it was like to be at the house with no mode of transportation, and it did feel weird at first. But then I kept telling myself that there was no use moping or sitting idly for something to happen (...which is true!). So, I got to work with cleaning up my room, since it had been messy for the past few days from the ruckus, and even worked on my laundry. I made myself a late breakfast/early lunch (okay, fine, BRUNCH) - creamy tomato and alfredo mushroom sauce mix with macaroni noodles. I needed to chew on something soft since it was becoming difficult for me to chew with my injured lip and tongue.

I got a call earlier this evening from one of my aunts in New Jersey; my elder cousin, Douglas, had heard the news of my accident on Facebook and contacted her. It was really nice to hear her voice; I asked her not to worry about me too much because I'm feeling better by the day. It's awesome to have family members who care about you, isn't it?

I received so many responses from the note I posted on Facebook yesterday. I felt that not only did I need to let my family and friends know what happened, but to also spread the word about drunk driving awareness. Something like this can happen to almost anyone, and I wanted to reach out to as many people as I could so that my friends and family wouldn't go through what I experienced. Although I wished this didn't happen, I'm glad it did because I feel like a better and stronger person than I was that night.

There is something that I would like to share with you all before I end this entry because it really changed my view on life after Saturday night:

I went with my family to the church we often go to. We were reluctant on going at first since my brothers were saying that they didn't want to go, but my parents and I knew we needed to go and seek spiritual guidance from God. Throughout the service, my mind blanked out. I coudln't help but to think about what had happened Thursday night... In my mind, I replayed the very moment I knew that I was going to get hit. I was very thankful to be alive from the accident, but I will admit that there were times when I questioned, "What would have happened if I didn't?" or "Was someone really looking out for me out there?". So many questions...

...until we stood up and held hands to say "The Lord's Prayer".

During this time, the community stands up and joins hands with those sitting next to us in the pews or in front/behind/etc. My family sat on one end of the pew row while another family stood at other end, with a gap in between me and them. As I joined hands with my mom and I held my right hand up for the prayer, I felt something warm... The warmth of someone's hand holding mine, though I couldn't see it. I recited my prayers, my eyes still in awe at my hand... I thought, "...could it be...?"

It didn't truly hit me until I received the Eucharist and knelt at the pew - it was Him all along, and now I truly believe. I held back my tears because I didn't want my parents to see. I have no doubt in my heart and my mind about Him anymore - because of Him, I believe that miracles and dreams do come true. Anything is possible, so long as you believe in Him.

Love with all your heart, dream with all your might, and even if you find yourself in times of darkness, believe in Him and he will be your light. :)

Good night and sweet dreams, everyone :)

With love,
~Reiko ♥*.

P.S. Did I forget to mention how really sweet and wonderful my boyfriend, Taylor, really is? He came by my house on Saturday to cheer me up; he even bought me some mango-filled truffles. :) I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have him for support... I don't think either of us would do if I didn't make it out all right from the incident... But I also thank God for sending me such a wonderful person in my life.

♥ Reiko's Car Accident on 3.4.2010 ♥

[Currently listening to "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood, the perfect song for the theme of this entry.]

Hello, everyone - I know it has been a while since my last entry but... You guys have absolutely no idea how relieved and happy I am to be alive...

I want to tell you guys about my car accident on Thursday night; what I'll do is copy and paste the note that I tagged a lot of my friends in on Facebook so that everyone can read it. Not only do I want my friends to know about this but also for others who are also reading my blog to know what happened - I care for you all to be safe and not end up like me or the other driver who hit me; you'll see in just a bit.

I'll also post a public link from my Facebook account so that you all can view the pictures of my baby car, Rinoa. The police, my family and I have concluded that from the condition my car is in, it's totalled beyond repair. I miss her so much... I'll never find another car just like her.

Without further ado, here is the copy of my written report on the accident from my Facebook:

Hi everyone! As promised, here is a detailed report of what happened on Thursday night (the scariest moment of my life!).

Some of my co-workers already know that I was released from work very early that day, and since I didn’t have any plans, I decided to go shopping for a little bit but then came back to work to go to the gym and work out. (I try to go there a few times a week for some exercise after work. ) After working out for a couple of hours, I decided to head home.

Between 8:30 and 8:45 was when the accident occurred:

I was driving on the left lane on Shore Drive toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel exit; as I approached Greenwell Road, I saw a Grand Marquis in the opposite direction in the left turn lane. As I approached the intersection, I saw the Grand Marquis suddenly move forward, and before I knew it… I had been hit. The Grand Marquis had been spun around toward the middle of the intersection; my Rav4 moved forward and came to a complete stop further down the street (on Shore Drive, in front of the old gas station lot). When I realized that my car had stopped, I looked all around me; I could smell burning rubber, I saw dust everywhere, and I had also noticed that my airbag deployed (thank goodness!).

My mind was racing, and the first thing I thought was that I just had to get out of my car. I immediately grabbed my cell phone, removed my seatbelt and was able to step out of my car with little to no difficulty. It didn’t occur to me when I looked around that my eye glasses were missing; though I couldn’t see very well, I could already tell that the broken glass and scrap metal scattered across the street was from my car. I just kept thinking, “…I can’t believe I just got hit…” Before I knew it, many people had gotten out of their cars to assist me and the other driver to make sure that we were okay before the police and the paramedics arrived; I never thought there were that many people who were kind enough to care and stop to help! As they asked me questions, I had to interrupt them while I called my Dad; he called my mom, who was at work at the same place where I was.

While waiting for my mom to arrive at the scene, the police and paramedics started asking me questions and checked my vitals. I didn’t notice any injuries at the time since my body was shaking terribly and my heart was racing; later on I realized that there was a taste of blood in my mouth, and learned that I had bit my lip and tongue when the airbag deployed. My mom found me and… words could not express how happy I was to see her face since my dad was not able to arrive (he couldn’t leave my brothers alone by themselves). After letting her and the police know what happened, I couldn’t help but to keep asking how the other driver was doing. I learned later on that the female driver was okay, but had injured her ankle due to the impact of the crash. As for my glasses, a male police officer found them on the other side of the street! My guess is that the airbag must have made them fly off from my face when I opened the door of my car.

What surprised me later on was that she was driving while under the influence of alcohol; before getting behind the wheel, she was coming out of a bar and had herself at least 4 drinks. (The police said that you can tell from a good distance that she was drunk). She had refused to take the breath test and was taken under custody. What happened to her after that, I don’t know… This is all I know about her at the moment.

At the time, I didn’t have a camera on me so that I could take pictures of my car, but when I saw one of my co-workers, Donnell, I was very happy to see him. Apparently when my mom rushed from work to see me, she ran into him and mentioned that I was in an accident. Thankfully, he had a camera on him and took pictures of my car before it was towed away. (I’m still waiting for those pictures though!)

My mom and I decided that it was best for us to get me checked at a hospital. It was a very long wait for the results from tests and x-rays, but as I waited, I noticed pain on my upper neck, shoulders and part of my back; the pain that I had in my mouth (my lip and tongue) had increased and my mom and I saw that I had a scrape and bruise on my left arm. Thankfully I had no fractures or any life-threatening injuries.

My family and I are monitoring my injuries as well as taking care of legal works for my car and the insurance companies; we are working to find a lawyer at this point. In the past couple of days, I have noticed some bruises that developed on my chest, neck, arms and both sides of my hips. I am taking some medications and lots of rest; I won’t be coming back to work until Tuesday morning.

That night, I learned to accept that my car is gone. I am sad that I lost my car that I barely had for 2 years, but better to have my car gone than my life or the other woman’s. You can replace cars and other things but… you can’t replace a lost life. I have also forgiven the woman for what she had done, but I’m still very disappointed that she decided to make an irresponsible act of driving while she was drunk. I hope she learned her lesson and pray that it doesn’t happen again.

As I have said in my response video last night, please please PLEASE don’t get behind the wheel when you are drunk. The next time you know that you are going to have alcoholic beverages, make sure you have a friend to be a designated driver, or call a cab (or stay the night at your friend’s house). Whatever you do, never go drinking alone and drive drunk. You can never tell what could happen: You could end up like me, the other driver… or worse. I’m telling this to you guys because I love and care enough for you guys to make the right decision and take care of yourselves!

I'll be posting the pictures of my car shortly; prepare to brace yourselves because... It's bad. Looking at these pictures were very painful for me, but I want to share these with you guys and girls so that the same thing does not happen to you. I'm just so relieved and happy to be alive...

Again, thank you for your kind messages, etc. I love you all more than you realize! I’ll be better soon, don’t worry. And to my awesome co-workers, I’ll be back soon… headstrong! :D

Here's a public link to my photo album of Rinoa, my poor baby car, on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017374&id=65300438&l=b71e981c37 I miss her so much... :(

But that is all for now; I'll update when I can. I need to get as much rest as I can so I can heal quickly! Until next time, be well, be SAFE, and keep smiling. I know I am - there are just so many reasons to and it's the best medicine!

Much love,
~Reiko xoxo