Tag! You're It!

So I realize my blog isn't a big or an even medium sized blog by any means, but I'm totally psyched because I got tagged by Erin over at The Life of Ann James to do a little survey!  This basically means that I answer 8 little questions about myself and then tag a few of my blog friends to do the same.  Here we go::::

1. Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?
DEFINITELY 100% milk chocolate.  I don't like anything but milk chocolate: I don't like dark chocolate, white chocolate, or flavored chocolates.  I just like Hershey's or things like that.  I like chocolate bars ok, but those aren't really my weakness.  My weakness is when you put chocolate in things such as cake, brownies, etc.  Then, I occasionally find it hard to stop. ; )

2. What's your favorite color?
Well it used to be purple, and I think technically it still is.  I really do like the color, but sometimes you have to be careful to have a 'favorite' because then everybody buys you things that are purple.  Our wedding colors were purple and green and they were stunning together.  See? 

That's the bride (ME!) and her parents.  Isn't my bouquet pretty? 

P.S. It weighed 2 million pounds.

3. Do you have any creative hobbies?  Blogging counts right?  I like doing it alot.  It's therapeutic.  Also, I play piano.  I've played since I was 4 and minored in music in college.  Right now my keyboard is in Liliana's nursery and I occasionally play her the Little Mermaid. ; )

4. What was your favorite subject in school? In high school...I don't really know!  I didn't really care for any of my classes, but I guess I'd say Math.  Yeah, I know you're thinking "then why did you go to law school?"  But not EVERY SINGLE person that goes to law school doesn't like math.  I did like math, I just didn't want to do it for the rest of my life.  But math, to me, has a question and a clear solution and I like that.

5. What is your favorite season? Why?  I always used to say Spring but in Lubbock it's fall.  I like how the leaves change and most importantly I love that the holidays are coming.  As soon as October 1st rolls around it means LOTS of fun days are ahead: my birthday (the most important of course), Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Valentine's!  After Valentine's I hibernate until the next October 1st.

6. Who inspires you to sing like crazy when nobody is around? My car. I don't care who's in my CD player, but if I'm in my car, I am SINGING!  Yes I've gotten a million funny looks, but I don't care.  It makes me happy!

7. What's your favorite dessert? Can you make it?  Wow I can't believe it, but I have the same answer as Erin...banana pudding!  And, I have an AMAZING recipe to share.  In fact, I just made it again this last weekend. 

New Fashioned Banana Pudding

Prep: 30 minutes.  Cook: 20 minutes.

2 cups half and half                                                                                          6 small ripe bananas

1 cup milk                                                                                                       4 egg whites

1 (5.1 oz) package vanilla instant pudding mix                                                 1/2 cup sugar

1 (12 oz) package vanilla wafers                                                                     1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Combine first 3 ingredients in large bowl; beat at low speed with an electric mixer until blended. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes or until mixture is smooth and thickened. 
• Layer 1/4 of wafers in a 2 1/2 quart baking dish.  Slice 2 bananas and layer over wafers.  Pour 1/3 of pudding over bananas.  Repeat layers twice, ending with pudding.  Arrange remaining wafers around edge of baking dish.
• Beat egg whites at high speed until foamy.  Add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves (2 to 4 minutes).  Fold in vanilla extract.
• spread meringue over pudding, sealing to edge of dish.  Bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until golden and SERVE WARM.  Yield: 8 servings.

8. How did you learn to cook?
I dunno, I just did.  My Mom and Grandma are amazing cooks, so that helps.  Otherwise, I started in college and we have definitely cooked more throughout our marriage to save on money. 

And now for my tags!

Baby Hillger

Med School Dad (gotta tag my husband right?)

Teasingly Diverse

Pulsipher Predilections


Cristina's Comida

My Favorite Beauty Products

Today I decided I'd blog about something completely unrelated to life...no bar exam, no school, not even Liliana (as hard as that'll be).  I just wanted to write about something light hearted and completely irrelevant to anything important: my favorite beauty products.  You know how magazines always list the best beauty products of the year (such as "best face wash" and "best lotion?")  Well...here are my tops ones!  If you guys have any of your favorites, let me know!

Best Face Wash: Clearasil Daily Wash

Out of all my favority beauty products, this is #1.  I've been using Clearasil for over 10 years now.  And, I have to admit (as conceited as it sounds) that I very rarely ever got pimples (even through my puberty years).  Another thing I love about this product: it's CHEAP.  People spend so much money on face wash.  When I was about 14, I started getting some pimples and my Mom took me to Clinique.  Sixty bucks later I came home with a bar of soap, the toner, and the lotion.  Three months later, I still looked pimpley.  When I changed to this ($4 a bottle!), the pimples went away and I've been addicted ever since.

Best Face Scrub: Clean and Clear Steam Scrub
I tend to have pretty dry skin, so I only use this once a week, but when I do, I love it.  You put it on your face and wait a minute in the shower.  After that, you scrub it in (it exfoliates) and your face feels so much smoother!  If you have more oily skin, I'm sure you could do it 2 - 3 times a week, but I don't recommend doing it on a daily basis.  This is basically a little facial that you can do yourself and it's cheap...yes please.
 



Best Face Lotion:  St. Ives Collagen Elastin Lotion 
After my loving Clearasil, this is my #2 favorite beauty product.  I found this face lotion on a complete whim one day.  I used to use the Clinique Dry Face Lotion and hated paying $24.00 for the bottle.  Well, one day I had run out of lotion and we were at the grocery store.  I saw this stuff and it was $5 so I decided I should just go ahead and try it out...best decision EVER.  This tub lasts you well over a year (I'm still using it and it's been 13 months).  And, trust me, I use lotion on my face EVERY SINGLE DAY since it's so dry.  Another reason this stuff is great: guys can use it too.  My husband uses it every other day after he shaves.

Best Body Lotion: Ahava Body Lotion
This post is about my favorite right?  Well, then it's Ahava.  However, this stuff is beyond pricey.  A huge bottle of this is about $40.  WOAH.  I have never come close to paying that much though.  They sell this at Stein Mart and at TJ Maxx for cheaper...around $20.  Still though, that's more than I'd like to pay for my body lotion.  My mother-in-law found it at CostCo once with a couple other bottles in a package for $20 and bought one for me...LOVED having it.  That being said, I haven't bought it again.  It's just too pricey.  What lotion is my favorite after that?  Honestly, I don't really have a favorite.  Since I have such dry skin, I'm picky.  I usually just get whatever is on sale and dream of using Ahava...

Best Make-up Products:  MAC and Too Faced Brands
I'm going to seem like a total snob when it comes to my make-up products, but let me explain: I can't buy make-up products from the drugstore because I've had allergic reactions to both Maybelline and Cover Girl.  Granted, this was approximately 10 years ago, but it's a risk I'm not willing to take again.  I used Clinique for years to avoid this problem, but wanted a change and fell in love with MAC stuff for my eyes and Too Faced for my lip balm and powder.  Truth be told, I don't wear too much make-up.  Growing up, my parents had to kinda force it on me...I was a tomboy.

One thing that took me a while to find was my favorite lip balm.  The product was called Bunny Lip Balm and the tin was $11 but lasted me over three years, so I didn't mind spending that.  The sad thing is...as I was searching their website right now in order to post a picture, they don't seem to be selling it anymore!! OH NO!  Now, I don't know what I'll do.  You can still get it from other websites, but I don't think it'll last long.  Snag some while you can!
As for the eye products, I really only use MAC for the eyeshadows.  The colors are gorgeous though and the color stays put all freaking day.  Warning though: not cheap.

Best Fragrances: Ralph Lauren Blue and Victoria's Secret Love Spell

Let me tell you, my husband is obsessed with the Victoria's Secret scent.  I can't tell you how many times I've sent my sweet mother-in-law in to Victoria's Secret to get me this stuff for my birthday or Christmas.  It's not my fault though...it's the only scent that Evan actually notices on me!  I even use their Shampoo and Conditioner.  As far as my favorite perfume goes, I'm in love with my Ralph Lauren Blue.  Evan might not comment on it (he just doesn't' notice it), but trust me, the scent is strong and lasts all day.  My brother, who I think would consider himself a perfume and cologne expert, always comments on how nice I smell and how much he loves this perfume.  The bottle is big too!  Highly recommend these two.  You'll love the way you smell and guys will too!  : )

Hope you enjoyed my top beauty products!  I am by no means an expert in this area, but I sure as heck am loyal to a few things and wanted to share.  Let me know if you disagree or have recommendations of stuff you just can't live without.

A - Z Survey

I saw this survey on another blog I follow and decided to do this today as my blog post!  I just finished taking the first of four finals before graduation and doing a mindless task sounds perfect.

A - Z Survey

A: Area Code: Both Evan's and my cell phone are 210 area codes.  That's because we're from San Antonio and have had the same phone numbers for years.  Lubbock has 806 area codes, but I doubt we'll change to that unless for some reason they require Evan to during residency.

B: Bed Size: We have a queen in our bedroom and used to sleep on full size beds in college.  Getting a queen instead of a king was actually my Mother's advice.  She said that my Dad and her switched to a King and she regrets it because they cuddle much less.  I have to admit, I love that advice because it does have us cuddle more often!  HOWEVER...maybe during pregnancy a king would have been nice for Evan because I'm pretty sure my pregnancy pillow takes up 90% of the bed! haha.
 

 The Queen Bed to which I'm referring.  

Evan says it's his favorite room in the house...wonder why! haha.  Actually, he says he likes it because it's really calming.  The other walls are painted a light blue and it is really calming.  I love this room because Evan made those nightstands and I stained them.  So much of our house was DIY which made our first month of marriage so much fun!

C: Chore you Hate: Putting away my laundry!  I don't know why, but I can't stand doing it.  Evan teases me because by the time I finally put my half away, we've done another load of laundry...he's right.  Oops.

D: Dog's Name: Linda Mujer, which means Pretty Woman in Spanish. We had an amazing pointer Maggie Mae that we unfortunately had to give away a couple weeks ago.  Now, I'm having to deal with a depressed Linda.  She lays around looking miserable all day, it breaks my heart.  We'll get a second dog some day, but not for at least another year, so hopefully Liliana can bring some light in to Linda's day.

Linda Mujer the day we brought her home!  (She's about 3 years old now)

Wasn't she adorable?  She was only 3.4 lbs.  Our great friend Mike is the guy with the Mohawk in the picture...sigh...yeah...Mohawk.  I'm glad to report he no longer has that ridiculous haircut.

E: Essential "Start the Day" Item: Umm...well I take a shower every morning.  Does that count?  I also enjoy a glass of orange juice.

F: Favorite Color: I suppose Purple, but not enough to incorporate that in to our home or anything.  But yeah, purple because I like lots of shades of it: lilac, royal purple, bright purple, you get the idea.

G: Gold or Silver: You know, I still prefer silver, but after I got my gorgeous Aggie ring, I really started liking Gold more and wear that occasionally too.

H: Height: I'm 5'6".  I wish I was about an inch taller, but I like being at least as tall as I am...I never have to hem my pants.

I: Instruments you Play: Piano.  I've played for 21 years and minored in Music at Texas A&M which required 3 more semesters of classes.  During those 3 semesters, I was really challenged and my playing became by far the best it's ever been.  I miss those times.  I rarely play enough any more...in fact, I'm gonna go play some today. I want Liliana to hear.

J: Job: For now, being a law student, but that will be done in 10 days!  After that, who knows?  I hope I'll get a job really soon!

K: Kids: Expecting!  Liliana will be here in a little over a month! : )  I can't wait to see what she'll look like.  I'm so curious.

L: Living Arrangements: Evan and I live together in a home here in Lubbock and we love our home.  My parents are the nicest mortgage company ever and we pay a very fair rent every month.  While Evan and I stayed over at each other's respective places before we were married, I am SO glad we never officially lived together.  For instance, I never kept things over at his place.  I know some people do it to save on money, or to "try" things out, but I recommend not living together before marriage.  It'll give you something to look forward to when you finally do get married!

N: Nickname: The main ones that family members use for me is Cristy.  I only let one person (my godbrother) call me Cris.

M: Mom's Name: Rosa Enid Ramirez de Blanes.  Liliana's middle name is after my Mommy!  By the way, to pronounce her name, it's not pronounced EEnid.  My mom doesn't like her middle name, but when it's said properly and not with an English accent, I LOVE it.  Also, it's de Blanes because in Puerto Rico you usually keep your own last name OR you do "de maiden name."  

O: Overnight Hospital Stay: Never!! That'll change in June!

P: Pet Peeve: Hypocrits, Snobs, bad drivers, people that are rude to other cultures, and mainly...mean people.  People that don't think with their hearts and are intentionally deceitful. 

Q: Quote From a Movie: Geez, I dunno.  I quote movies and television shows pretty often, but I just watched Good Will Hunting on TV the other day, so I'm thinking "Well I got her number, so how 'bout them apples?"  I ADORE that movie.  So well written.  Every time I watch it, I enjoy it more and more.

R: Righty or Lefty: Psh, I'm way too cool to be right handed.

S: Siblings: I have one older brother here on earth (Danny, age 32 (well, he'll be 33 in less than 3 weeks)), and one brother in heaven (Carlos).

T: Time you Wake Up:  Normally during the week, I wake up at 4:30 to pee and at 7 a.m. for the day.  I'm so lucky!  My poor husband gets up really early most days because apparently people need their doctors (and therefore, third year medical students) in the hospital at outrageous times!

U: Underwear: Yes?  How am I supposed to answer that?  Well...let's see...I buy my underwear from Victoria's Secret.  I buy cotton to help with my UTI problems.  I always have a coupon.  Is that a good enough answer?

V: Veggies you Dislike:  HAA!!  Pretty much everything.  I don't care for Veggies very much, I know, I'm bad.

W: Ways/ Reasons you are Late: We're always 5-10 minutes late when we're doing things with friends, but I'm ALWAYS on time for classes and work.  We're late though because we always say "we'll leave at 2" which really means we'll start getting ready to leave at 2, so by the time I get my purse and shoes, and go pee, we're 5 - 10 minutes late.  Ooops!

X: X-Rays you've Had:  The only bone I've ever broken was my pinky.  But, I've also had x-rays done of my sinuses quite a few times because when I was little I got sinusitis all the time!  Poor me! (note: it wasn't difficult getting the xrays done since my Momma is a radiologist)

Y: Yummy Food you Make:  I made these brownies with a layer of peanut butter and chocolate on top a few days ago...those are delicious!  Here's the recipe.

Z: Zoo Animals you Like: Aww...it's been over 5 years since I went to the zoo last.  I always liked the "cold" animals: penguins, polar bears.  I also liked the elephants.  I wanna go to the zoo...