THINGS:

• I was born and raised Catholic, but I was never religious. I've never even experienced doing the traditional Visita Iglesia and the closest I do to being "religious" is going to our mandatory Sunday family mass. But I'll try my best to go to at least 7 churches tomorrow. 

• My dad welcomed me with a big news when I got home from work last night. He told me that my brother's girlfriend's pregnant for a month now and  that they're really happy to have their first legit grandchild. I guess the wedding's on really really soon.

SOOOOO GOOOD!!!!! I keep forgetting that this is 800+ calories! I can eat this everyday!

• Current obsession: JOLLIBEE SPAGHETTI + FRIES. OMG, WHY DID I ONLY DISCOVER THIS NOW? 

Sad day for everyone in the house

Our 10-year-old dog, Happy just passed away this morning. Last night, she was having trouble standing up and didn't want to eat. Mom planned on bringing her to the vet the next day, but it was too late. Also, our other dog Blacky just had a seizure and is now confined in the doggy hospital :(

Thanks for the memories, Happy. Can't believe you're gone now. I'll miss you sneaking in my closet every morning. :(

Little Haul

F21 is one of my favorite international brands ever--or probably til I'm on my late 20s. I was kinda glad they opened a branch in Manila, but Megamall's too far so when SM decided to put a shop in a place where I spend about 6 days a week, I knew it was a blessing. Or not.

The one in SM Makati opened last Friday and as expected, the place, although as big as Megamall, is totally jam-packed. I only went there just to check if they had nude pumps because my paycheck's not coming til the 13th. Good news: they had the shoes I was looking for. The bad: they ran out of stocks in my size :( What. a. bummer.

So instead, I got these small items:

Floral flowy dress from Heritage 1981

Navy Blue (it appears black in the photo, though) bodycon long-sleeve dress from Heritage 1981

Blue dress with floral embroidery

My favorite! Well, sort of. Since I was on a look-out for nude pumps but F21 didn't have them in my size, I bought the gray one instead. Surprisingly, they're comfy to wear!

 This is from Landmark! Useful for pushing some of my hair back. Cute as well <3 

Another item from Landmark. I bought the dress because I love the flower detail on the left!

....And so I'm broke.

On to lighter things

Me, my boss and my other officemate drop a hundred pesos each time we're late and use it for Starbucks coffee at the end of every month. This is why I alloted an extra 10 minutes to my daily travel time just to be sure. Haha


Current poster I'm working on for HBO and Click


Spot my awesome boss carrying a fire extinguisher! Hahahahaha!



We went to Republic (my first time!) last night for the ABS-CBN Creative Programs Inc. party (which was hosted by Randy Santiago and that Kitkat girl) and it was a total thundercat/daddy party. I will never be able to get that 4+ hours of my life back again.

Tomorrow, we shall have another party with the HBO Asia people who just flew in from SG. My boss assures this will be a happy one. I hopeeee

Emo

It's better to shrug things off and ignore them because sometimes, the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.

YOU, too, shall pass.

New blog and s/n!

Big thanks to the blogger blog import thing, I got to put my old posts from my previous blog here.

My new username's a homage to my favorite MAC lipstick shade that I tried but never got to buy because they were sold out within a second. Sad life.

Shaving accident

This is so sad. I regularly use an eyebrow razor to shape my brows but yesterday was different. I don't know how or why, but the skin under and above the hair suddenly started bleeding and it was red all over!! The stingy feeling was bad and even a little bit of pressure hurts. This is how it still looks like as I type this. No remedies yet, and I'm dreading tomorrow :(

Camwhore Saturday

Pray for Japan

Whenever I hear tsunami, I always remember my dad.

Remember the one that happened in Phuket-India last January 2004? The 14-year-old me was surfing channels when I saw the breaking news. My mom knew my dad was working on a research project in India--the exact city (Chennai, near the bay of Bengal) that got affected badly. She was in tears for a couple of minutes and ransacked her things looking for a phone number where she can contact my father's crew. The woman who answered the phone told her they got out of the place a day before the calamity struck. We were all relieved.

Now it had to be Japan's turn. I feel useless and weak just having to sit and watch what's happening. I have first-degree relatives in that country and we don't have a word from them.

But of course, I know that God is always with us. I hope and pray they're all fine.

Wearing my favorite local lipsticks!!! <3 It's 11:30PM and I'm still awake. Anyway, good night! :D

Diet Plan

I've always gave up on dieting even before I start. I didn't care how people kept telling me I got fatter (ugh, stating the obvious much?) compared to how I was about 3 years ago. Hi, let's bury the past behind, shall we? It never came to an alarming point that's why I always took dieting for granted. Of course until about a week ago--let's just say I almost fainted when I saw the weighing scale because I was exactly 20 pounds lighter in high school. Yeah, I just said we must bury the past, but it's too much to bear. Ugh. No wonder my jeans' button popped out while I was about to pee.

So I made a doable diet plan. I went to the mall and bought 3-lb dumb bells (it's the most that a woman can take if she doesn't want Arnold Schwarzenegger arms), a pack of oatmeal cookies (to munch on during work hours), and a loaf of whole wheat bread for lunch. Initially, I wanted a 1,200calorie/day diet but of course it was impossible considering that I eat that much on a single sitting. And then I thought of the perfect diet: 6-meal plan! Basically it's just 6 meals a day but in small portions so you don't feel hungry. I learned that people who tend to get hungry all the time have faster metabolic rate and it slows down the moment you starve yourself. And.. water, water, water!!! I started Monday and here's my usual menu:

Breakfast at home: Oatmeal, Sunny side up Egg, and a cup of Cappuccino (I really don't fear breakfast because you should eat a lot on that time of the day)


Breakfast at work: 3 pieces of small Oatmeal cookies from Quaker Oats. So good!

+
Lunch: 4 slices of whole wheat bread with tuna omelette


Merienda: Another 3 pieces of small Oatmeal cookies from Quaker Oats or pan de sal from Pan de Manila



Dinner: Whatever's on the dining table + 1 cup of rice then mango/banana for dessert


Dinner before bed: Frosties cereal +  milk


Pre-bedtime exercise: Dumb bell squats, 50-80 repetitions, depending on how sleepy I am.

And in 4 days, I lost a kilogram! Not bad!! I think not eating at least 3.5 cups of rice a day and the exercise helped a lot.

...but yeah, I gained it all back during the weekend. Starting all over again. Huhu

Traveling

I don't know anyone who doesn't love to travel except my father. Traveling's really not something "new" to him because it's what he does for a living here. He just wants to stay home during his vacation period (it's a month-long break every other 4 weeks). For the past 19 years, he's been to 90 cities in 36 different countries! Sometimes we get so worried since they can be assigned to really dangerous places like the Middle East but my dad assures his safety all the time  because their company is so "paranoid" they don't hire "normal" pilots for their 24/7 helicopters on-guard and ship captains, but from their HQ's country's air and naval forces. Sossss-EEE! Kayo na!

ANYWAY, stating the reason above, I've never been to a lot (really, dad. How ironic!). I was never allowed to travel with other people and my mom doesn't want to go to a different country without my dad (aww, I know right). It's ironic that my first international trip was in 2009! The following year, my dad decided to bring the entire family to Hong Kong and Macau for a vacation then a week after, we found ourselves in HK already. Halleluiah!! It was the start of something new! Then a few days after our trip, I was lucky enough to get an American visa that my father applied for me and my 2 siblings. I got to use it last September and it was definitelyyyyy the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The number of exclamation points can't even explain. My cousin is getting married to our other cousin next year (hopefully) so I'm planning to go there again, if money allows. Yun lang naman yun eh. Haha!

And since then, I'd like to make it a point to travel another country at least every year, even if it's just a "stone's throw away".

A vague list of places I'd like to visit in the next 5 years:

Seoul, Korea

Target Year: December 2011. Hahahaha! Guys, lezgo!

Las Vegas, Nevada and more states like Illinois, DC, Florida and Oregon (WHY Oregon? Di ko rin alam eh. Haha!)

Target Year: Mid-Late 2012.

Tokyo, Japan

Target Year: 2013? LOL

Amsterdam, Netherlands and other parts of Europe

Target Year: 20WhenICanAlreadySpend$20kOnATrip

That's about it. It's all I can think of right now. The last one, I hope I can save up for in 10 years or else.. lola na ko when I go there! Sayang lang.

Cheap find: MATTE LIPSTICKS!

I used to think that local products like Ever Bilena were cheap because they're probably made of harsh chemicals and ingredients but after some thorough research online, I never came across people who complained about experiencing any. In fact, the most raved product by video beauty gurus and bloggers (one of them's the famous Bambi dela Cruz--click here to read her article) was their matte lipstick line which were just Php125 a pop. I gave it a try and bought 2 shades right away (and another stick from Careline in Cotton Candy but I decided to throw it away. It sucks and I hate the smell).

Mauvey and Off Beat Pink. Mauvey is a nude pink shade while Off Beat Pink reminds me of MAC's Pink Nouveau.. a lot. Sorry for my chipping nail polish, btw.

Swatch-ed! As compared to my existing lipsticks. (L-R) MAC Girl About Town, EB Mauvey, EB Off Beat Pink, MAC Viva Glam Gaga, MAC Cherish

I am so hooked I bought a new color of the EB Matte lipstick today after my mom's birthday lunch! This one's in Pink Flame, my current favorite. It's a bit darker than Off Beat Pink but I like this one better. I also got LA Color's liquid make up for the first time since this product has gained online popularity as well.

Pink Flame on the left and Off Beat Pink on the right. They look the same on this photo, but the difference is huge once applied.

What I do like:
-Cheap
-It surprisingly lasts long (probably 3-5 hours)
-Matte!!! I'm a matte fan <3
-Basically everything!


What I don't like:
-They're gonna get discontinued at the end of the month in exchange for a more expensive line. Le sigh.
-Color cap detaches really easy so I had to superglue it to the lipstick.
-They say it's drying but all I ever needed was a lipbalm prior to applying and it's perfect!

I'm planning to hoard tomorrow since it's the last day of the Php99 sale. Goodbye, cheap matte lipstick!

Products I love (inspired my Ms. Carola's post)

I'm not a beauty expert (and probably will never be) so unlike most girls, I really don't have a lot of products on my dresser. It was even empty until I turned 20-ish-- I only got most of these late last year and can you believe I still have them?

For my skin. I hated lotions as much as I hated lipsticks then and my mom kept convincing me that lotions are a must-have. I never listened because they gave me that sticky-thicky-gunky feeling that's probably normal in a tropical country. Until my legs started flaking and got really dry to the point that they were rough as sandpaper! Ew, right? I realized it was time to use that triple moisture body cream sitting on my desk for so long that I even forgot who gave it (it was probably my mom or my cousin, so thank you)! It smells sooooo good (duh, it's cucumber melon!) and my skin never felt that soft the next day! Bath and Body Works wasn't kidding at all about that triple moisturizing effect. I am hooked!

For my body. Victoria's Secret Love Spell was a favorite in high school and it still is. Mytita gave me Pure Seduction which smells exactly like Love Spell so no doubt I love this one! Live Pink is also from one of Victoria's Secret's cologne lines and it smells like candy (I even have the little perfume version, but it's not on the photo obviously). I alternate these two on a daily basis. Can you guess which one I like more?

For my face. That black product from Pond's is divine. Seriously. It's also a good make up remover and doesn't leave a trace of concealer/foundation after. I use that toner as well after. Wonder why I chose the ones that have a whitening agent? I got darker when I started working because I take long walks going to the office (personal preference, I need to exercise) under the strong sunlight so I figured that I needed it for "maintenance". I stopped using moisturizer already since my huge pores do all the "moisturizing" for me! They produce oil 10 minutes after washing when outdoors and probably an hour after washing when indoors with an airconditioning unit. I hate doubling my beauty efforts as well. Time is gold.

For my curls. Monea Curl Defining Milk is the best product EVER!!!! It's cheap and holds my ends really, really good! What more can I ask for? I put La Bella super shine serum to hide the frizz after. Perfect combination!

January, so far!

Celebrated the holidays without dad :( He left a day before Christmas for the land of the Pharoahs (where he and his staff got stuck for a day before leaving for their respective countries/homes because of what's recently happening) and only got back yesterday.

My mom's cousin's wedding! Surprising that she got me maid of honor when she can form a basketball team with the number of her single sisters.. and another for her girl best friends, I suppose. Also, I never really had a conversation with her. Sorry if my dress looks like it's gonna fall.

(Photo by Yoan Medina)
Kinect nights at home. My brother got an add-on for his x-box which I think is better than his Wii because we never have to use those control sticks (or whatever you call them). I had my friends in high school try it and it became an almost-daily routine for them to come over. Of course, drinks and little life kwentuhans included.

..and our little Twitter game in which we have to take photos related to whatever theme we have every week. 

..AND Skype nights as well (as a pre-bedtime routine, if we weren't together that night.). Hello from Los Angeles, Seoul, and Manila! I love my highschool friends. ATTACHED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL  MUCH?

Job! I work for a cable company's marketing department and our team helps some channels promote whatever something new they have. I like that I get to meet really interesting people BUT it's not what I've been dreaming of because I wanted to go for an ad agency ever since. And alas. A week into my first day of work, my brother brings the "good" news that the agency her girlfriend used to work for has an opening (something that I have never encountered throughout my job hunt) and is asking for referrals. Maybe in another year or lifetime? :( I probably need the experience before getting that chance and for a fresh grad who has nothing much (or just nothing, really) to brag about, who am I to complain?

Anyway, I hope 2011 will be a great year. Korea trip that we've been planning since last month *should* push through. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I "need" a new wallet

While waiting for my turn to get my SSS #, I went to the  mall nearby (OF COURSE I had to, 200 people were in line before me) to eat lunch and stroll... alone. I already stopped asking for company when I run government-related errands for myself because I turn cranky, sorry. Anyway, when I went to the wallet section, I have figured I always carry really small bags that it can't fit my big wallet--I have to put money inside the pockets or anywhere, basically. And that called the need for a little new wallet.

Design-wise, I want it simple, minimal, and... really small (pocket-sized wallets come in different "sizes" too, if you know what I mean). I began searching online and got surprised that there aren't a lot of drool-worthy pieces on the net because 90% are just the usual long ones.

Both from CK, same brand of the one I'm currently using. I like the gray one's design better and I want it in beige/white. I really should've gotten one when I went to Gilroy.

From Marc Jacobs. I absolutely looooove the color and studs!

From Debenhams (for 2,000+ pesos). I'm not really into it but it's cute so I'm just gonna post it here hehe

And I'm not getting these brands here since they cost a fortune in the third world. How ironic right. I am starting my little wallet hunt next weekend!

My What's-Inside-Your-Bag

Even as a kid, I've always been curious of what women carry in their purses. So without further ado..

1) Baby wipes. I use this to remove whatever junk I have on my face.

2) Missha BB cream in vita matte. It doesn't blend with my skin tone well, so I sometimes make it my face primer.

3) Myra-E Tinted Moisturizer. The product had a lot of good reviews so I'm still giving it a try..and for P135, how can you go wrong?

4) L'oreal True Match Face Powder. I pat it on my t-zone, which is my oiliest part. My entire face is oily because I have huge pores but my nose-forehead area produces a bucket of oil a minute.

5) The Body Shop Face Powder. Just in case I need it.

6) Sephora Blush Me. I put this on top of my cheek tint for a hint of shimmer.

7) CG Lash Blast

8) Prestige Kohl Eyeliner Pencil. THIS IS THE BEST EYELINER EVER, and it's a bargain at P250!

9) Foundation brush which I use as a concealer brush

10) The real concealer brush. Haha!

11) E.l.f Foundation brush

12) Nichido Eyeshadow in Seashell for brow bone highlighting.  

13) Bench Lip and Cheek tint. It's what I've been using since highschool.
14) EB Concealer
15) Lip products!
16) Victoria's Secret Live Pink--BEST COLOGNE EVER!!!!! I wish they never stop producing it.
17) My cool water, which I rarely use because I'm not into perfumes. I had that same bottle since like... forever. LOL. Like my Body Shop face powder, it's just there in case I need it.
18) Lash Curler
19) MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC40 (too dark for me but the saleslady insisted I get this one. UGH)
20) MAC Face Primer
21) I missed #21 :( haha!
22) Bobbi pins--because I've had hair emergencies too many times in the past that required it.
23) Hair serum for my curls
24) Sunglasses
25) iPod. Can't live without it. SRSLY.
26) My new pink phone! I really wasn't supposed to get it but my old one had been conking out and I have no spare phone as I already gave them all away.
27) CK Wallet. It has no photo compartment, which makes it PERFECT.

My bag organizer! I can't believe how everything (except my hair serum, sunglasses and cologne) fitted inside and I also love that it's transparent. Got it for only a hundred bucks in Landmark :)

Focus fail. I love this bag. It's sturdy, durable, and something I can pair anything with!

PS: Don't be fooled. Today's one of the rare days that I bring my kikay kit!