Shoutouts! & Happy Lunar New Year!

The receptionist said "Happy Chinese New Year" to me this morning and I am so embarrassed I didn't even know it was Chinese New Year. My grandma on my dad's side is Chinese and growing up I don't remember ever celebrating it or even acknowledging it. Never received those pretty red envelopes embossed with gorgeous gold foil, nothing. I am really sad that I was never brought up "Asian" or at least familiarized with the Asian culture or traditions. (Many will argue that Filipino isn't "Asian", but it doesn't matter to me.) Both parents have always spoken to me in English, mom's side would speak Spanglish, and dad always talked to me in English, and if I was in trouble- tagalog. I never liked Filipino food other than the desserts, adobo, and pancit. I thought the taste of Horchata, Pasole, and of course Taco Bell (not real Mexican food!), was so much better. Now that I am older, I love Korean, Japanese, and Thai food, but I still don't like Filipino food. I am glad I can at least UNDERSTAND both Tagalog and some Spanish, but my sisters are so Americanized (after all one was born in Canada and one was born in the US) that they don't even know what "Pinay" means. No joke.

I don't know if it's the price of being raised in a bi-racial home where traditions and values can cross paths, but inevitably it motivated me to gain the experience via my Asian friends. I have learned a lot just by talking to them, sharing their pictures with me of their travels to China, Taiwan, Beijing, Japan, even India. It's amazing and I do hope that one day I can see these places myself and just take it all in. I am not embarrassed of who I am or what ethnicity I am, so I hope it doesn't come off that way, because not at all. I am proud to be raised by two loving parents who raised me to be independent and strong-minded. I identify more with the Hispanic culture more because I was mostly exposed to my mom's side, and didn't really meet my dad's side until later on in life. Everyone always justifies my ethnicity with "you look Asian", but yet I can't really identify with anything beyond that. It's like since I 'look' Asian does that mean i'm suppose to be good at math? (common stereotype). Yeah that does NOT apply to me! LOL. I guess I just wish I could have been part of those lovely traditions growing up and be able to truly appreciate it and experience it.
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So my good friend Izar made a post listing some fellow bloggers she appreciates, and she was so sweet to list me down so I thought id do the same!

Also, many of you asked me about the Fafi event, if you called and made an appointment, your time is whichever time they told you, 5pm, 6pm, etc. It's at MAC Freestanding Stores near you.

So I've been given the "You Make My Day Award", I am to pass it on to ten other bloggers according to these rules:

"Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

I think this is a wonderful way of saying thank you to those people who regularly come to my blog and leave comments. As a blogger, I find myself more and more enthralled with it because of all you ladies who stop by everyday, even if it's just to say hello. I know we are all busy and I do appreciate each and every one of you who DO take the time to leave a comment every now and then, and I apologize if I can't reply back to all of you sometimes. I just really appreciate the awesome people I have "met" here whose continuous friendship and support I cherish. So thanks!

[no particular order] Oh! And since there are so many people I wanted to say hello to, I just clumped y'all together!

Izar- You are such a kind-hearted lady and I always enjoy hearing from you, you it's your kindness that really pushes me through the day.

Maha G., Chloe, LS, Christal, Xuanie, KaiKai,and Jocelyn- You gals recently came about and I am so glad you did, you are very sweet and I really appreciate your support and I am glad that you find the site useful.

Sisters The Muse, Ren, Stephie, Christiana, Lynne, Anne, Anna, Lisa, Gezebel, Arashi, Fei, May (Aquadisia), EtherealPrey (Jen), my lovely partner in crime Alienman, Shawnta, Kia, Brittany, Liz, Emilee, Mayaari, Chastity, Stephanie, Nilla, Grayburn, Mimi, etc. (sorry if I missed anyone!): I love you girls. I know I haven't "met" some of you, but I feel like I've known you gals my whole life. I enjoy reading all your blogs, listening to your life stories, and most of all just the enjoyment we have with each other, we can relate and learn so much from one another, and I am really happy to know you gals. I love going online everyday and hearing from each and every one of you and catching up on your posts, it's great to unwind to the words of great friends after a hard day. I really appreciate your friendship and support and you ladies are awesome. :)

Achara, the C-Box commenters, Lilo, Melody, Akame22, Rachel, ALL the Julies (lol), All That Glitters, and many more of you: THANK YOU!

I am so sorry if I forgot some of you, my mind is dead since it's before 1pm when I am really awake, haha, but I do thank you!