So there were so many problems going on with BBM 5.0 for everyone, especially when it was at its BETA version. Photos sent via BBM had to be cropped and saved before it was sent out and BBMs weren’t being delivered immediately. Once the official BBM 5.0 was released photos didn’t need to be cropped and saved but photos needed to be downloaded onto the phone which took longer to transfer than the older BBM, so annoying for the BBM user because we need to see the picture, like NOW. The only thing really “different” about BBM 5.0 is the way it looks, the barcode, how you can register your e-mail and back-up your BBM friends, your default photo, and your emoticons or happy face symbols and emotions.
HUGE problem with BBM 5.0 Status updates which I realized recently is that if you have more than 99 friends, your status updates super late.
My friends on bbm kept saying,
“aww, you’re still sick?”
I responded with, “No, I’m not sick at all.”
He says “But your status says so!”
I thought I updated it a long time ago with “@the gym” or “shopping w my girlies” but BBM 5.0 doesn’t update your status if you have more than 100 friends. Super lame. No matter how much you upgrade your BBM 5.0 version to the latest version and update your software, it does not update. RIM needs to do something about this ASAP, because status updates is how you broadcast to your BBM pals where you are and what you’re doing. Blackberry dependent people would be so stoked if this was fixed. Thanks RIM!
xoxo Arika ♥

My friend Sona and I dressed up as 42 Below Vodka Lab Scientists to promote 42 Below! Our First stop was Sharkeez in Manhattan Beach!

Backtrack for a day and this is what I did Thanksgiving Eve, the pictures probably will describe the story itself.

We ran into many fun bar patrons who wanted to test out the drinks and were enjoying their Thanksgiving Eve's.

Of course, it wasn't going to be a Thanksgiving without some Pumpkin Pie involved!! So we hosted a Pumpkin Eating Contest!! But there's a little twist, you have to have a shot of vodka before then eat the pie!! The guys wore trashbags as bibs!

Some people were slobbering, making a huge mess and had to eat their crumbs off the table. There were some little sneaky cheaters in there too, can you tell who looks like they are cheating?

The winner needed to have the whole pie swallowed, no crumbs around them and put the plate on their head!

He won! $50 dollar bar tab! That's pretty cool for just eating a piece of pie righttt? and he got to take a picture with us! lol

Now to the next stop!!!! We went over to Patrick Malloy's in Hermosa Beach!

we gave away some tanks, some shirts, and hats! everybody loved thm

...and we had a pie eating contest here too! But this time, we had tons of contestants, not just 5, but 20!! and this time no bibs!

I think some of these guys were preparing for this pie eating contest for a looong time, because they couldn't wait to take off their shirts! this time, there were no bibs, but also no hands were able to be used! it was allllllll with their mouth!!

..........and the two shirtless guys WIN! duhh haha and the other guy on the right did too!! so in order from left, 1st place winner, then me, then 3rd place winner, my girl sona, and the 2nd place winner!

Help OC Kids! Gifts of Love 2008 Happiness Project! sign up now!

Every Thanksgiving I realize that I take many things for granted and I truly should be grateful for all of the amazing benefits that come in my life. Especially the people who have raised me, my mother, my father, my older brother, my extended family, my grandparents, and my friends which are also just like family to me.
It’s hard to always be appreciative to those who are immediately around me because “they are always there” but really, they may one day not be there.

Every year during high school, I would go to the L.A. Convention center on Thanksgiving to serve the homeless a Thanksgiving dinner. I haven’t gone lately but I remember they were so happy to have us give them a warm home cooked traditional Thanksgiving meal served by teenagers.

Last year, I was a part of Orange County’s Gifts of Love 2008: The Happiness Project which is a non-profit organization who helps homeless kids in orange county. I helped make crafts, ride the carousel, took pictures with Santa, and gave the children Christmas gifts! This year it is on Friday Dec 4th, so if you want to sign up you can here. Gifts of Love 2009

It was such a great feeling to make all of these underprivileged people smile and enjoy their holidays.

Sometimes we get angry, upset, want to blame other factors in life on why our life isn’t “perfect” but if you take a step away from the situation, we are just putting negativity upon ourselves, when we should be thankful of what we already have. Our health, food, shelter, our families and all the wonderful loving people around you who love you and would do anything for you – anyone would die to have that! Every individual has a negative side to them, and we battle with it everyday. I know it’s hard, but if you are truly grateful for all of your benefits and amazing things that are in your life, you will always side with the positive and lead a positive life. Look into yourself, be thankful you are alive and what you could offer to the world, because you are amazing and gifted and are capable of absolutely anything! Ok I totally went off tangent trying to talk about Thanksgiving and went on some motivational speech. But seriously, if you are reading this blog, have internet access or reading it from your smartphone or iphone, you got it good! Face it, you’re life is fabulous. I know its annoying, but be thankful for what you have, and you’ll be happier than ever. Be good to those around you, especially those who you don’t thank enough!
Love you guys!

Lesson 1: Feeding the Kitty

and here’s another one
lesson 6: Cleaning out the cobwebs

lol kinda silly and funny right?? lovess it!

xoxo Arika ♥

My first tiny digital camera that I used like crazy was one I got when I was 17. It was a tiny pink Casio camera that I bought at Akihabara in Japan. I thought it was the coolest thing ever because in 2003, they didn’t have pink digital cameras in the U.S. yet, so I was so stoked to come back to L.A. with a pink digital camera.

2003 - 2004 Casio Z50

It looked like this one. That camera went through a lot! I used it my freshman year of college, so the camera went through all of my crazy freshman year adventures. I went to college in San Diego, and the party scene was huge! I remember when my camera fell at Safari Nightclub in Tijuana, Mexico, fell down a dirty mountain at a Ranch house party, Fallen inside classrooms and shuttle buses, tossed around in different purses, clutches. Basically what happened was I dropped it so much the corner started to split then it started to make a crazy noise and one day it just stopped taking normal photos.

Casio Exilim White 2004-2006

Then I had this white one, since I thought pink may be bad luck and white looked clean and appealing at the time. I stuck with the same brand (Casio) since I was familiar with its functions. This one I also took to different outings, clubs, events, parties, and tons of trips, but it was one of those cameras where the lens comes out when u turn it on. So of course, when I am in a hurry, I pressed the lens and tried to force it back in, and it broke in the spring on 2008.

So then I decided to go with the Sony Cybershot T20 pink camera. I was pretty sure this one won’t break for a while since the zoom lens didnt come out. You just turn it on and you zoom with a digital zoom. This lasted me a while from February 2008 to this month, October 2009. The way this broke was also because it was dropped, but really it wasn’t my fault. At one of the bars when I was working a promo modeling job, one guy took my camera and decided to take a photo of my friend and I and dropped it. A screw came out and the small metal piece that covers the battery and memory card slot was completely loose. I figured if I was careful with it, I can still use it. He apologized but said it was no big deal and he drops his camera all the time!

RIP October 2009

So now, I got the newest Sony Cybershot T90 camera which is hot pink. Its way cuter, touch screen and has smile detection. Supposedly smile detection doesn’t work on Asians, that’s what my friend told me. Not sure but I will test it out this weekend for halloween! TTYS!

it looks like this and I love it!

xoxo Arika ♥

Even before the fight, most people I knew were rooting for Machida, saying it is not even fair because Machida will totally win. The result, was actually quite surprising where Shogun actually did most of the work to actually win, however judges let Machida keep his title. As for me, I was happy that Machida won. He is one of my most favorite fighters other than GSP (because he’s super sexy) but Machida is after all, of Japanese descent, just like me! People are still arguing about the fight, saying it is unfair, due to Shogun’s overall “better” performance. I think people should just forget it, because Machida kept his title and the result is already announced. Maybe the judges were Machida fans, we’ll never know.

I really did wish I was actually there at the fight because that’s the most exciting. I’ve done that for a few of the fights in Vegas and the vibe is just crazy! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend the actual fight at the Staples center but I saw the fight at not one, but TWO exciting places. I was a UFC/Cazadores Tequila promo model at Panama Joe’s in Long Beach to watch the first few fights, and the main fight card I saw at Wokcano’s in Long Beach when I was a Bacardi girl!

Here are the photos to see my promo modeling outfits and what I kinda had to do. It’s kind of like “work” right?

Bacardi-promo-model-wokcano-girls.jpg

Heather & I as Bacardi girls

xoxo Arika ♥

xoxo Arika ♥

The crew on our way back from our shoot at Tokyo Game Show

11 hour flights are so boring. I am on the plane right now on the way to Tokyo. My butt hurts, and my feet are cramped. Wish there was wifi, that’s seriously all I need! Life without wi-fi is empty, lol. I really can’t even tell if its cold or hot either in this place with my juicy tracksuit on I feel both hot and cold. After tossing and turning from 3 separate 20 min naps, meal breaks, playing scribble and mario kart on the ninento dsi, listening to every song on my ipod and watching the movie on my screen, and having a 3 hour intense conversation with my boss, I still have 2 hours and 30 min left! The anticipation of arriving to your destination is just wild! I want to be in Tokyo just so bad! I cannot wait to see the new fashion trends, the new technology, and my friends there! Tonight I am attending a party at le baron de paris in tokyo with my friend yoshio from dim mak with steve aoki, m-flo, and verval! Sound familiar? They r japanese celebs – well steve aoki is a japanese-american dj, he’s amazing! Now for another meal before we land! Brb xoxo Arika ♥

xoxo Arika ♥