• Bon Vivant Botanical Mask Pack - Sodium Hyalorunate + Lotus
• Bon Vivant Botanical Mask Pack - Collagen + Olive
• Tonymoly I'm Real Skin Care - Rice Mask Sheet
• Yes To Coconuts Ultra Hydrating Paper Mask
• Yes To Tomatoes Charcoal Paper Mask (this one tingles!)
• Yes To Tomatoes Acne Fighting Paper Mask

A photo posted by Hey, I'm Simba! 🦁🐾 (@thesimbadiaries) on Oct 30, 2016 at 12:05am PDT

A photo posted by Gardenia Rose (@gardeniarose) on Oct 29, 2016 at 10:24pm PDT

If you got a little sweet tooth after reading, I'm sure you're not alone. Just remember, it's okay to indulge a little because life is too short not to have dessert. :)

-Gardenia Rose

Lately, I've been struggling. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. I'll tell you what I mean.

My life has decided to throw a curveball and give me cluster migraines and tension headaches. Since late March, It's just been getting worse and worse. Imagine waking up with what feels like someone pressing against the side and/or back of your head and attempting to go about your whole day that way. And that's a good day. The bad days feel like someone is knocking from inside my head trying to get out. Odd and somewhat creepy analogy, I know... but so true.

Most days aren't too bad. But some days are unbearable that I just do the minimum of what is absolutely required of me that day (usually on the weekend) or take an Excedrin and just try to tough it out. Knowing that I shouldn't take NSAIDs on a daily basis, I do this minimally and try what the professionals like to call non-pharmaceutical treatments. So far I've had three doctor appointments, have had my medications switched twice, attended a headache class and evaluation, and am now scheduled for a CT scan and an evaluation with my neurologist.

With all that's been happening, this obviously bleeds into my mental and emotional state of mind- attempting not to worry and trying to do just as much as I can to try to get my mind off the situation. Easy to say and very hard to do. If I'm left to my own idle business, it's a very dangerous and occasionally dark path. The negative thoughts begin to overflow my mind and those never lead to good things. So... I set my sights on other and more positive things. I spend time with family and friends, write music, go to church, have foodie dates, chill with my little Simba, and attend a young adults bible study group.

I mentioned earlier this year that I started going to bible study. We've been learning a lot and it's really allowed me to see another aspect of God that I didn't learn in Sunday School or youth group, which is awesome. Lately, we've been learning about who God is through the life of Joseph- his story and the trials he faced while still being faithful to God and the dreams that He gave him.

The "funny" thing about all this though is that earlier in the year, I've been asking God to give me more patience and not to be quick with anger. And in God fashion, he gives me lovely opportunities to be patient and not resort to anger. And on top of that, he provides a teaching that reminds me to stay faithful even in the tough times. How... timely isn't it? That's just who He is. The scripture that stands out to me the most and that hold onto is this...

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

I know that's a lot to take in, but I'm barely at the "developing passionate patience" portion of it all. I most definitely do not have a "tempered steel of virtue" quite yet. But, I am in the process. I'm allowing to let the troubles that I am currently facing in different aspects of my life teach me how I choose to react.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm not perfect, but God is doing a work in me. He is bigger and stronger than the struggles that I am facing, so I trust in Him. I have faith that he will see me, not out of it, but through it. He will make me better and stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally as the Holy Spirit pours into my life, just as the passage says, that even I can't contain it.

-Gardenia Rose

Hey guys! Since I'm still working on my music, I wanted to share with you something I worked on with my husband's best friend, Sean (Lil Sean as some of you may know him as), awhile back. He goes by the name of Yung Proof in the music industry. His music really speaks about the things he's gone through and I think we can relate in some way or another.

The first song we wrote together was called Play the Fool. It kinda doesn't sound like me because I made the hook on the lower range of my voice, but I wanted to try something different that people wouldn't exactly expect of me. We just let the beat play out, I wrote my parts, and he wrote his. This song is about a guy who's always in and out of the love in the relationship because he lies way too much. Take a listen...



This second track we made the next day. It's completely opposite from the first one because it talks about a ride-or-die kind of love. Once I heard the beat, I automatically thought of driving down PCH in a classic convertible, you know... JLo and Ja-Rule style. (lol, I know. just bear with me.) He wrote all his verses and I just vibed off of his lyrics to make mine. It was so much fun to do!


 
I'm not on this last one, but I wanted to add this because I really love this track. It's his latest song on SoundCloud and it talks about not worrying about everyone else, and loving what you have and what you're doing. Kid X, which is his brother Xavier, and his friend who goes by Scott Susej, are featured in it.



Follow him on SoundCloud to keep up with his music! Hope you guys really enjoyed it. :)
-Gardenia Rose

I'm already behind on blogs in general, but I figure I'd kick things off on a happy note! Here's my list for the month! It may be a little longer than usual, but that's not a bad thing!

• Summer starts this Monday! I'm so excited for summer! Even if I hate being hot, I love being outdoors and enjoying the sun. From grilling, swimming at the pool, hitting the beach, and having bonfires, I love it all. I'm still working on being confident about my body in a swimsuit (ugh, that's like a WHOLE 'nother thing), but I'm still happy that it's finally here! I'm literally so excited, that I bought a pizza beach blanket. Yes, you read that right. A circle blanket with a pizza on it.

• The OC Night Market is this weekend. The foodie in me cannot wait. My husband and I went last year and it was so much fun! I got to eat some really great foods from Samurai Burrito and Dolcissimo Bakeshop the last time, but I want to try new things this year! I missed the last OC Night Market in May, but I'm not missing it again. Click here for details if you want to go!

• I started a food instagram. Yes, I did... a few days ago actually. It's appropriately called OC Eats and Sweets! It all started when I wanted to keep my food posts separately, but it's turning into a whole new venture and I'm excited! I have a longgg list of places that I want to try and visit so consider this IG as my food photo journal. 

• My sister is having baby #4! I'm gonna be a Tita (Tagalog for Aunt) again! I'm so happy for my sister and her family. Although it came as a surprise, we're all very excited! There's not much more to add than that, but I'm really over the moon about this. I can't wait for another cute face to laugh and play with! Eek! I'm hoping for a boy because Jeremiah needs someone on his side of the gender competition. 

• My dad is back from Taiwan and the Philippines! I'm so excited about this. I'm so glad he's home and safe. He's been gone for a whole month and now he's back just in time for Father's Day! Our church is having a Park Day after service so I'm excited to spend time with him and our second family. I'm gonna wear a"My Dad is Rad" tee that I got from Windsor on a whim. He miiight ask me what "rad" means, but I'm sure he'll appreciate it.