Inspired By Tara: 5 messages to 5 different people without using names

1. Today marks your first year there in Heaven. Thinking of you still makes me feel very very sad because I can remember all of our happy days together like it was just yesterday. We all miss you here so much. I know how much you'd want to show how beautiful heaven is, just as you were when I was a little girl.. always wanting to show me all the beautiful things in this world. Someday we'll meet again.. and until that day, I will hold my tears as much as I can. I will be the bravest daughter a great father like you could ever have. I love you more and more each day, through life and beyond.


2. I don't hate you but I don't like the truth that you delayed my career growth, with the help of your judgmental thinking. It's not that I trust myself so much. I only think I could have done more than what you think I can.


3. I miss you! Let's have a blast this weekend!


4. I know you're a dog but I treat you as my friend. Don't worry; we'll have your sight checked by the vet. Don't eat too much! I sometimes think you're a pig and not a dog.


5. Not long from now, soon we'll get married. I have forever been waiting for that day, just in case it doesn't show. I am happy because you always make me laugh, and happy that sometimes you make me cry. For it may be of joy or of pain, in every tear I only find my soul inch by inch closer to you. I love you forever.

Not That Bad

Sometimes, willful disobedience is all worth the risk.

Nobody Did It But Me

Four days ago, when we were in Singapore, we stayed at Universal Studios to enjoy the remaining hours of the day before they close it out in preparation for the F1 Race. All of the rides were nice and good enough for kids to enjoy and the mascots around were like actual fairy tale characters taken out of a story book.

I was in awe with each sight but there is this one thing giantly standing in an area in a manner somewhat daring me straight in the eye saying "Can you handle me?". And this,


dared me like a monster ready to eat my heart out.

I know, I know this may seem easy to look at.. but seeing this face to face is like a challenge. "Will I try this or not?" "To ride or not to ride?"

*******

Battlestar Galactica^®
(as taken from the Resorts World Sentosa site)

Choose your side – HUMAN or CYLON - as you engage in the ultimate intergalactic battle between good and evil on the world's tallest dueling roller coasters! Themed after the hit television series Battlestar Galactica, these spectacular, intertwined coasters offer a truly exhilarating adventure as you twist, turn and drop in an intense aerial dogfight.

Riders on both coasters will experience unbelievable thrills as they race towards each other and nearly collide!

Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN^{® - Red}
Zooming at speeds of 82.8 km/h, the HUMAN Viper Mark II is a seated coaster that propels you 14 storeys into the air while pursuing your enemy


Battlestar Galactica: CYLON^{® - Blue}
The CYLON Raider is a suspended roller coaster that will turn your world upside down as it runs through a vertical loop, corkscrew and cobra roll.

*******

And I have chosen my side - CYLON!!! and never did I regret it. We came in a pack of seven and I was the only one with the nerve to take the joy ride (Proud Smile).

For a good minute that I was suspended in air with my legs fighting the wind (good thing not a shoe went off), I did nothing but scream my heart out. It felt good to scream as loud as I can, the loudest that I can belt out under normal circumstances. I enjoyed the ride but most of all, I enjoyed the feeling of being detached from land, up there 14/15 storeys above, defying gravity. Gravity of all kinds that keep on bringing my soul down.

For a good minute, my heart was numbed by the thrill Cylon brought me. Just this one time, thrill devoured the hurt I have been keeping even before I set foot in Singapore. But it was only a minute. After that, soon as the ride was over, a little bit dizzy I walked out of the exit gate, wishing I could just stay there, up there trading hurt for thrill and tears for screams.

The Struggle That Never Stops

Sometimes, things are just not right. Like why the heck you'd have to go back to square one and start all over? It's just not fair, thinking how much you've given and how much you've lost over someone or something then after all, you have to accept that everything's null and void.

I guess that's what the world is all about.. for not getting what you've worked for.. and not having what you deserve. Time after time people complain (like I do) about not getting what's supposed to be given to them. And it's a common dilemma. A battle between ego and reality. Life and Love.

Then we all end up being quiet. We all fall into the bed of accepting what was given, fair or not fair, much or not much. Because we'd rather stand up with the resolute mind that was left of us to continue and never stop. The world was never fair anyway, never.

DIY: Lipstick Merry-Go-Round

This candies kept me busy this morning.

As I went through Indian Vanity Case's blog, she gave me an idea on how to create my own lipstick sundae.. :) Mine didn't resemble a sundae but looked more like a merry-go-round of lipsticks.

I've got lots of lipsticks (more than 20 tubes I think!) and due to this addiction, they still keep on coming.

Being able to put several tubes of lipsticks in one pot is a great idea and with this project, I managed to combine 10 lipsticks and an EOS lip balm in one ensemble.

Well, I decided to include a lip balm at the center because I always put lip balm underneath lipstick. So this really comes in handy.

Things I used:

- a clean knife
- small, clean pot (was once a mineral foundation container)
- tissues (to clean up the knife)
- heat
- metal container (used when melting lipstick)

How I did it:

1. I selected different shades of lipsticks, from Reds, to Nudes and Pinks. These are the ones that are about their mid-lengths.

2. Placed them in the freezer to harden the lipsticks so I won't crush them easily when trying to take them out of the tube.

3. Once hardened, I one by one measured and cut them just about the height of the tub then placed them in a row along the edges of the pot.

4. Then these lipstick cut-outs, no, I didn't throw them away. :) I melted them in a metal container and poured it at the center of the pot. This will hold the lipsticks in place and will later set as a holder for the EOS lip balm.

5. I scooped out the lip balm from the sphere and placed it right at the center where I poured the melted lipsticks. Then I waited for the whole thing to cool down.

and... Taddaaaa!! My own Lipstick Merry-Go-Round! :) :) :)

I am really happy I came to see Indian Vanity Case's post, I was able to come up with this. Credits to her creativity! :)

I will be having a vacation to Singapore in a couple of weeks from now and this for sure will keep me company during my trip!

Hope you like this post as much as I do! :) Happy Sunday to everyone!

SNOE Magic Apple Whitening S-rub (for the face and body)

"Our special Apple Whitening S-rub works like magic!"

Instructions (from the back of the tub):

Massage on dry skin. Apply particular attention to dry and flaky areas such as elbows, heels and knees. Then leave on for 5 minutes and rub till product is sloughed off from skin. Product will go from white to gray and even brown, depending on how much dead skin is removed. Skin becomes silky and lighter instantly! The best part is that there is no need to rinse. Use on the face and dark areas of your body. For maximum results, use twice a week. Alternate with Snoe White Beauty Bars. Use SPF 30 after treatment.

Comes in a tub of 100 grams

My take:

I got curious when I saw the Snoe Stall at Robinson's Galleria (Ground Floor) weeks ago. They offer different skin care products which they claim are natural and organic. "Natural and Organic", hmm.. (o_O) that immediately lit up my bulb so I gave in to check out what's in store.

Honestly, I ended up buying this because of the scent! It smells like fresh apples and it's just so hard to resist. I've been using this on my face once a week, as a facial scrub to exfoliate my skin. Though I haven't tried this as a body scrub as I use a different product for that matter.

At first, I was really hesitant as I have combination skin that is quite sensitive to harsh products, but being the scientist at heart, I was ready to experiment. Haha.. :)

And my experiment did't let me down. In fact, how I wish I can exfoliate my face everyday (I know that's a crime), just so I can use this often because this thing is starting up an addiction in me. But contrary to the instructions, I prefer to rinse this out after scrubbing.


PROS:

** has very fine micro scrubbing particles, making it suitable for facial use.
** has a minty feel, the kind that relaxes the senses.
** polishes the face, making it smooth giving your skin that healthy look.
** no irritations!

CONS:

** has a lingering apple scent (some might not like it, but for me, that thing got me sold).
** not a hundred % organic product as shown in the ingredients list.
** comes in a tub container, you will have to scoop this out with a small spoon.


I like and enjoy using this scrub that I will surely get another once this runs out. For a price of a little less than 200 (sorry, I can't remember the exact price), I'm getting more than what I paid for. This makes my weekly home facilitated facial something to look forward to every week end. :)

Avon Extra Lasting Liquid Eye Liner

This image was borrowed from the Avon website. This was from an ad so I guess I'm good to go with this. Why borrow a picture anyway? Well, simply because I have given out my own Avon Extra Lasting Liquid Eye Liner right before I could even get a picture of it.

Hmm.. sounds like a product to hate, huh? Not really.. but if I can give one word of advice: Do not buy this. Why?

1. It does not last the way it claims to be. 8 Hours? The ads must be joking. It's not even waterproof and with minimal perspiration, one swipe of the hand can set a line across your face without you knowing it - unless your officemate tells you so.

2. It stings sensitive eyelids. I have sensitive eyelids, and this sends a burning sensation soon as I applied this on.

3. I got the shade "Shimmering Black". They must have named it "Gray". It is not shimmery, and it is not Black.

As much as I could, I don't wish to have this as a ranting post. But then, I can't find better ways to say how much I regret getting this product. Good thing my cousin "volunteered" to salvage this thing, Im about to ditch this straight to trash.

Oh boy, I believe I'm in a good mood.. yes I do. :)

Nyx Cream Blush (Diva and Hot Pink)

Who can ever get enough of Nyx goodies?! Not me, that's for sure. I recently got these eye candies from the trusted Digital Traincase, I'm glad I did because these are my current favorites, I highly recommend these if you're into cream blushes.

When it comes to blushes, cream blushes or cheek tints offer the most natural look you can get with a blush - with proper application, that is. I tried using these with a stippling brush but eventually, I settled with using my fingers, as the heat from my hand somewhat makes the application easier.

I got the shades Diva and Hot Pink.

DIVA - A little brownish, almost scary red in the pan (I remember my friend saying, "You got this??!, why this??"). But she later ate her words after seeing it blended as it came out to be a subtle, pretty shade of crimson. I see this pretty much to complement my red lipsticks.

HOT PINK - Another shocker in the pan. The shade is simply Hot Pink. Same with Diva, it eases the shock when blended, as it came out as a nice, bright pink, candy pink in my terms that will perfectly go with any pink lipstick.

PROS:

** The pan holds a lot of product. Given that you'll only need a tiny amount, this will certainly last for months and months of usage.

** Veeerrryy pigmented.

** Unscented. As in no scent at all.

** Not sticky and easy to blend, you don't have to rush for the fear of having hard edges.

** Lasted for about 3-4 hours on my combination skin, (better than some of my powder blushes doing some magic of disappearing on my cheeks).


CONS:

** Can't think of any, hehe.. :)


For a humble price of 320 Php each, you'll definitely get your money's worth. Thank heavens for Digital Traincase. Sol, you are an angel! :) :) :)

My (Body Shop) Dynamic Duo

Oh boy.. How I miss this thing so much.. Haven't had the time to blog for a couple of weeks. Blame it on work and the much needed time to sleep.. :)

Just this morning, my mom decided to go over my much beloved grandma's things. My lola passed away more than a year ago, and today is just the day we mustered the "strength" to once again touch her clothes and smell her perfume.. *Sigh*

Anywhooooo.. Mommy said if there's someone her jewelries had to be given to, that'll probably be me. (Proud smile). When my grandma was still alive, we'd always talk about make-up and fashion and how she'd put up with those when she was still young. She even allowed me to practice on her on how to put make-up on matured skin when I volunteered to be one of the so-called MUA's on my ate's wedding day. And now, I'm just so pleased to have what my lola had been keeping for the longest time.

** The stars up there are far more brilliant than these, Mamang. I bet you're enjoying them as much as I can imagine. I miss you so much, you know that. And I love you with all my heart. **



Today, I wanna share with you my Dynamic Duo. :)

Tadddaa!!!



The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion and Tea Tree Oil. I admit I have a couple of moisturizers, but these duo are the ones I reach out every time of the month my skin suffers from hormonal breakouts due to menstrual cycle related whatsoevers. I claim them highly effective, as they ease out small, red bumps and irregular texture my skin develops during "Red Alert Days".

Tea Tree Oil - I use this to clear out small pimple spots and minor blemishes, applying it directly on them after washing the face.

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion - Used as an over-all moisturizer after using Tea Tree Oil. Avoiding the eye area is a must! I've tried spreading this on to the eye area the first time I used this and man, was it so burning, I had to cool it down with tissue wipes.

I never had irritations with these and the lotion does moisturize well, I must say. And funny to note for me these smell like freshly cut grass.. haha. I'm definitely replenishing as my dynamic duo's nearly running out. These are some essentials I'll always have around.

Have a lovely weekend, my friends! Thanks for dropping by.. :)

Hanggang Sa Muli, Daddy..

Dear Daddy,

This is the very first time I'd have to send a letter for you to an address with one word, "Heaven". It still breaks my heart like nothing else can, but don't worry, I'm trying to be strong just like the way you taught me to.

You went away with the wind without me knowing and in the next minute, I was left with nothing but to accept the truth I'll never hear your husky voice again, or even feel the warmth of your big sturdy hands.

I will never forget you Daddy. :( And I miss you so much. I can give years and years of my life in exchange of a minute with you. And in that minute, I just want you to keep silent and hear me shout in the entirety of this world how much I love you. Let me see you smile once again, please Daddy. I can go on in my whole life pleading just to see you smile.

And remember what you said before? That you'll shoot the guy who'll make me cry? I want you to take it back. I don't want you to shoot yourself coz no one, no guy has ever made me cry like I do when I think of you. I know you didn't see it coming and I blame no one for that. I know God needs you there, so He had to take you away from us.

Someday, I know, I'll get to see you again. Your handsome face, your wide smile that once brightened my life. And until that day, I will patiently wait. When that day comes, I'll sing with you there like we always did here. And we'll fly high through the clouds like how high our dreams were.

Hanggang sa muli Daddy, Happy father's day.

Prestige MultiTask Wet/Dry Powder Foundation

This week has been a nice week for me. :) I love the rain, oh yes, summer's officially over here in the Philippines! And I'm more excited about that. Hehe, I am one of those odd people who favor rainy days over sunny summer days. Oh you can't blame me, here in the Philippines, when it's hot, it means oven-hot!

Last Tuesday, I was thinking of getting In2It's Dual Powder Foundation. Normally, I can get away with just tinted moisturizer set with loose powder. But methinks I should try playing a bit with foundations since it's getting a little colder here. :) So what I did was head out to Galleria and get what I see as one of the most recommended brands, the Japanese-made In2It Powder Foundation.

I was so excited (like I always am when it comes to make-up) only to discover they don't have the shade suited for my skin tone, which is Harvest. :( And I won't buy what I know will be notches off my skin color so I decided to take a look at other brands.

My feet headed me off to Beauty Bar. Thank heavens they did. :) Beside Japonesque, the brand Prestige caught my eyes. I've always wanted to try Prestige as I have read pretty much good reviews about it so I finally settled with their powder foundation (click image to enlarge).



This is my first time to try this out and I guess I had what they call "Beginner's Luck"! After days of usage, I have nothing bad to say about what I bought. Well, for the product itself.. packaging is a different story. As you can see, the mirror is placed under the powder pan, which means you'd have to flip over back and forth during application, which for me, is not user-friendly. But other than that, I totally love this one.

PROS:

* Nice Coverage. Can be used wet or dry according to your preference. But I use this dry. Putting this after my tinted moisturizer does the job of making it stick to my skin.

* Lasts all day! It is so surprising to note that at the end of the day, though I'd have to blot the oilies once or twice, the coverage is still good.

* Usually, when a product is harsh, my skin tends to react after hours or even minutes after application. But with this one, I don't experience allergies or redness or bumps after days of usage. And if ever anything negative comes up in the long run, I'll be updating this post so I'll be crossing my fingers with this.. :)

* Never had that heavy feeling. It feels natural and light.


CONS:

* The packaging. I think it'll be nicer if they did it with the "sponge-mirror-powder" kind of thing I once saw in one of The Face Shop's powders, instead of this "powder-mirror-sponge" ensemble.

Other than that single gripe, I am loving this. :) I'd definitely repurchase once this runs out and I highly recommend this to those who want Medium Coverage that lasts all day.

Thanks for dropping by! :)

EOS Lip Balm

The first time I ever saw these cute eggs, I mean, lip balms, a part of me can't sleep.. I want, I want!! :) Good thing, Digital Traincase carries these irresistible balms, it wasn't hard for me to get my fix.


I got Honeysuckle Honeydew (Yellow Green) and Summer Fruit (Red). Both of them smell so yummy you'd be so tempted to lick and taste it. I love them both but I like Honeysuckle better, but then again, I love them both. :)

EOS stands for Evolution of Smooth. From their site it claims that:

"eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth."

This is how it looks like when opened:



Since it is dome shaped, it'll be easier to apply this balm on to the lips, I actually really find it so cute, and yes, it FEELS cute!

PROS:

* unique shape, almost everybody will ask what it is (if you'll say it's not an Easter egg).
* it does not have that greasy feel you get with petroleum jelly.
* great when used under lipstick as it holds the color instead of sliding it off.
* it's organic!

CONS

* a bit pricey at 280 Php, approximately more than $6.00 each.
* bulky (cute things are almost always bulky!)


This comes in 5 flavors, the three others are:
- Lemon Drop (Yellow), this one's the only variant with SPF 15.
- Sweet Mint (Green)
- Medicated Tangerine (Orange)

To sum it up, I recommend these lip balms. Not only that they are fantastic in terms of moisturizing the lips, it's also something you'll feel happy about to play with. :) hihi.

Random Things About Me (and an award!)

Thanks to Miss Fru-Gal for this award, I am so surprised! I mean this is my first Blog Award so I think you have an idea of how exciting this is to me. hihi. :)

The Blogger Luxury Award!

Seven Random Things About Me:

1. I'm scared of thunders and lightnings.

No, I'm not acting like a child here, but really, I feel so uneasy deep inside when there's lightning and thunders. It also feel so scary when lightning strikes like a giant camera flash, under a dark and gloomy sky. I'd rather bang my ears with full blast music just so I couldn't hear the roar of thunder.


2. I have a broken heart that will never heal. :(

I lost my dad months ago. He died of cardiac arrest while working abroad so I really felt betrayed. I never knew it was the last hug, last smile, last "I Love You" when we separated at the airport. During his wake, I requested for him to wear an "Americana", just like the way he and I talked about what he'll wear on my Wedding. (A Wedding he'll have to watch from above someday). And it really is very painful, like there's no word to explain the feeling. It's so hard to lose a dad when you are a daddy's girl.

3. I wear Converse at work almost all the time and I don't care if the day calls for a dress up. Meet my Converse with my trousers.

I was once warned at work to follow "appropriate shoes" during dress up days, but still, I'd sneak and wear my beloved Converse, until the time came they have all accepted they can never do anything to make me ditch it for dress up days.

4. I can take medicines (may it be a tablet or capsule) with no water and swallow it straight up.

During my younger years, I was so sickly that I had to take maintenance medicines for specific time intervals. And for those times, water is not always present! Imagine stopping for a while during computer class just to take meds. These instances made me master the skill, hehe.

5. I don't eat eggs with salt.

Here at home, when they cook eggs, they always do a separate one for me - and that's without salt.


6. I love "see-food"

Yes, you read it right, see-food. I can and would always want to eat every "food" that I "see". :)

7. I am always a victim of first impressions.

I always earn the impression of being a "suplada" (snob). People most of the time think of me at first as someone so hard to approach or someone whom you can't talk to that easy. But hey, I am friendly! hehe.. I have so many friends who thought I was a "suplada" too, but now they can attest that I'm just as crazy and cowboy as they are.


There it goes! I guess I spilled some beans here and how I'd love to award this Blogger Luxury Award to:

1. Donna
2. Charry
3. Jacenda
4. Sugar
5. SophisticatedGlam
6. Mack
7. Hera
8. GingerSnap
9. Witoxichic
10. Alyson
11. C.Angie
12. Gem
13. Nihrida
14. Dee
15. Say


RULES:

1. Link back to the person who passed you the award.
2. Share 7 random things about yourself.
3. Award 15 blogs.
4. Drop them a note and tell them about it.


I really had fun doing this, thanks for visiting! :)

More Than Just a Starbucks Paper Bag

Just this Monday, I was surprised by a friend of mine when I arrived at the office. He gave me a small Starbucks paper bag, and instantly, I got excited.. hell excited. :)

I hastened to open it up.. lo and behold.. this cute phone charm sent an immaculate smile on my face and sense of happiness throughout the whole day.

He said he gave this to me as a token of appreciation for taking time talking to him when he felt so down and inconspicuously bothered. I said, at that time, I was bothered too.. and a bothered soul only needs another bothered soul for them to share whatever in the universe is quite bothering.. and eventually run away with it with grace and profound wisdom.

It really feels so heart-warming when friends appreciate you. With or without gifts, a simple thought that they appreciate you is more like an extra pump in the heart, making your existence a little more meaningful. :)

JC, this goes out to you.. let's just fight all the negative what-so-ever-it-is.. :) Life's too short, right? Let's beat all those boo-boo's with a happy heart. :)

My Fast Forward Shampoo (Mane 'N Tail)

Let me introduce you my unsung hero, favorite and my best ever tried shampoo, Mane 'N Tail Herbal Gro.

Last year, months before my graduation, I suffered from massive hair loss. And it is indeed MASSIVE. I wake up in the morning seeing hair fall-outs on my pillow, hair falling when I brush, style and even just touch my hair. It was so abnormal me and my mom got scared, we knew I needed to see a doctor.

And we were right, I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, a condition thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own hair follicles and suppresses or stops hair growth. An unknown environmental trigger such as stress or a pathogen is thought to combine with hereditary factors to cause the condition. Mine was caused by too much stress and I tell you, taking up Engineering in college is not that friendly, for me at least.

During the treatment, I was forced to wear wide head bands just to cover up the areas where I got bald. It was such a dreadful time for me for I was always known at school as the chinky-eyed, long-haired girl.. :( So after the drugs acted up on my hair follicles, waking up the cells to create new hair, I was relieved to see small hairs sprouting like little grass on my scalp.

But that's not the end of it. I needed to cut my hair, super short just so to lessen the pressure on my scalp. Less hair, less styling, less pressure.

Hehe, such a long introduction!! :) - to cut it short (oops, sounds familiar..) that dreadful stage was over and my follicles are now back to normal. The only thing I'm concerned about is to grow my hair long again just like before.

And this shampoo saves the day. I felt that my hair grew longer than usual, even my mom took notice of it as we both know my hair grows so slow.. slower than a sleepy snail on a sunny summer afternoon. :)

PROS:
- made my hair longer, faster.
- fresh herbal scent.
- no dandruff!

CONS:
- to some, a conditioner may be needed, but I'd rather not use one as conditioners trigger hair fall-outs.
- pricey. I can't remember the exact price but I'm sure it's more than 400 Php.

I still use this shampoo up to now (I'm on my fifth bottle) because I want to hasten up the growth and I am very much satisfied. I feel like this has been a good friend of mine whom I relied on especially during the times I needed help the most. *sniff*

hehe.. :) thanks for reading!

WHIFF OF THE MOMENT (Heiress by Paris Hilton & Vanilla Ice Cream)

I love love love smelling good. :) For me it's like a prerequisite of being beautiful. Imagine looking stunningly gorgeous but smelling like a rotten banana.. it just.. voids the beauty. Right? I really don't have that strict preference to fragrance, as long as it goes perfectly harmonious with my body chemistry, then off we go.


As of the moment, I am loving these two:


Paris Hilton Heiress Perfume by Paris Hilton



It has top notes of passion fruit, orange, peach granita, and champagne mimosa. With middle notes consisting of star jasmine, tiare flower, ylang-ylang, honeysuckle, dewberry blossom, and grenadine. Then base notes of violet leaf, vetiver, tonka, and blonde woods.

This perfume got me impressed not only by the scent (which is just so sexy in my terms), but also because of its staying power. I don't bring the bottle with me at the office, I spray just a little before I head out, but the scent lingers until I get back home after an 8-hour shift + 2 hours of traveling time.




see how pretty the bottle is.. :)


And this, I love to wear at home, or at my quick out-for-coffee times.. Zen Zest Vanilla Ice Cream. This is a part of the Sparkling Sugar Collection and I believe you can get this at almost every mall where Zen Zest is available.



Well, this one smells of vanilla and sugar, so sweetly combined together, I can't stop smelling myself. :) I don't know, but there really is something about vanilla that I find so enchanting. Even when I was a little girl, at the time where I know nothing about scents but only soap and water, I always like icings on cake.. for the taste and it's smell. And I'll never forget how it sticks to my hair too!.. oh.. those were the days.. :) Anywhoo, I like this cologne a lot. This is actually my second bottle and I'll always buy another soon as I get past less than half of this. It does only stay for quite a while but that's forgiven knowing that it's just Eau de Cologne.

Brain Damaging Habits

We almost talk about beauty and fancy in all ways possible that we sometimes forget to consider what we should be considering deep within ourselves, beyond than just skincare and make up.

I just want to share you guys what a friend emailed me one time. And believe me, most of the facts here bit me straight up my face as I've always always been the one who does this. Not to mention I always overeat. Ouch.




BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

1.No Breakfast. People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2.Overeating. It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3.Smoking. It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead toAlzheimer’s disease.

4.High Sugar consumption.Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5.Air Pollution. The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6.Sleep Deprivation. Sleep allows our brain to rest… Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells…

7.Head covered while sleeping. Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8.Working your brain during illness. Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9.Lacking in stimulating thoughts. Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10.Talking Rarely. Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.


THE MAIN CAUSES OF LIVER DAMAGE:

1.Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2.Not urinating in the morning.
3.Too much eating.
4.Skipping breakfast.
5.Consuming too much medication.
6.Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food colouring, and artificial sweetener.

7.Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8.Consuming raw (overly done foods also add to the burden of liver). Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to ’schedule.’


THE TOP 5 CANCER CAUSING FOOD

1.Hot Dogs.
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can’t live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2.Processed meats and Bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitratesfound in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3.Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4.French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries.

5.Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.


Whew! Those are a lot! Honestly, it really is so hard, almost impossible to stay away from all these things. But I think using a little bit of moderation from these will make a difference.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

From the Cherryculture Site:

It's not lipstick, nor is it lip gloss. It's like nothing you've experienced before. It's a lipstick cream that goes on silky but looks soft matte. These long-lasting lip creams come in 11 different colors that will be sure to keep your lips moisturized and colorful!

Ingredients:

Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Dimethicone, Beeswax, Glyceryl Behenate / Eicosadioate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone / Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Talc, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isohexadecane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum. May Contain: CI77019 (Mica) / CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI15850 (D&C Red 6 Na. Salt), CI15850 (D&C Red 7 Ca Lake), CI15985:1 (FD&C Yellow 6 Al Lake), CI19140:1 (FD&C Yellow 5 Al Lake), CI45410 (D&C Red 28 Al Lake), CI77491 (Iron Oxide Red), CI77492 (Iron Oxide Yellow), CI77499 (Iron Oxide Black), CI77742 (Manganese Violet), CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide).


When I first saw these online, I got very interested as the line "goes on silky but looks soft matte" caught my fancy. I love matte lipsticks but this is one gives a whole new experience as this comes in a gloss type of application rather than the usual tube type of lipstick.


The Experience:

I actually like that it comes in a tube with a sponge applicator, the sponge itself distributes the color evenly. The texture of these lip creams are somewhat like icing on cakes (and it really smells like butter cream icing, how'd ya like that, huh?). At first it applies on very smoothly with a faint hint of shine then it dries up to a nice soft matte finish which I instantly fell in love with.


Pigmentation:

The color pigmentation is good. It gives off that opaque matte finish and it even leaves a cute stain even if you've already "eaten" the lip cream. :) *burp*


Staying Power:

Staying power is 7/10. In my case, it did not come off after several coffee drinks but disappeared when I ate. But since that it leaves a stain after all, it still stays on top of regular lipsticks when it comes to staying power.


I got these in three shades, Antwerp, Milan and Addis Ababa. I equally love them all as they complement my skin tone just as lovely as I imagined when I saw them online.



Here's Antwerp:



then here's Milan:



and this is me wearing Addis Ababa on a get together with my friends. :)




Overall, I love these lip creams. I only wish NYX would include in the printing how much lip cream you got. It does not say whether how many ml's or grams of product you paid for. But it is all fine nonetheless, I love the product anyway. :)

I got this from digitaltraincase.multiply.com at 350 Php each. That site offers great NYX and other cosmetic fixations at a very reasonable price.

Lush Noubar Soap - Nutty Nougat Soap.

From the Lush Site:

A soap to go nuts over

Inspired by Italian nougat, Noubar looks good enough to eat. To create the peculiar texture of this green curiosity, Mo experimented with pistachios and other nuts to get it just right. Stirring in soap flakes, pistachios, peanuts and walnuts gives Noubar one of the most striking appearances in our range of handmade soaps.

***

I got this soap the last time Larry (my boyfriend) and I had gone to MOA. At first, I intended to drop by at Lush as I wanted to check out their lip balms (which I think I didn't like), so I ended up buying this.

Almost everyone who knows me know for a fact that I stopped using commercially made soaps for nearly two years now. And it really is very rewarding sticking to my "organic routines" as my skin is a whole lot better than before. I have been a loyal user (super loyal in a sense) to By Nature Handmade soaps and I can say I'll never get out of the habit - forevah! :)

But ofcourse, I always want to experiment and discover what other brands like Lush and the like has to offer with their varieties of handmade products. Oh I am such a sucker for organic and handmade stuffs!


So here's my review of Lush's Noubar:

The Smell:
The smell of this one is very nutty. I kind of like the oddness of it as this is the first soap I ever tried that smell of nuts. It is never overpowering and is something that's really cute in IMO.

The Lather:
This one does not really bubble up like most soaps. It is more like lathering up with lotion while bathing. Well this experience is not new to me as it's the same with the lather Olive Beauty of By Nature gives me.

After Shower Xprience:
I love how moisturizing this soap feels! It never really strip out lipids and same to my beloved By Nature, my skin never felt tight after shower. That's one of the reasons why I have been a convert to organic soaps, as most of them tend to be super moisturizing contrary to what commercial soaps are.

Price:
Here's the thing, Organic soaps are more beneficial but they do really cost MORE than just a bar of soap you get from the grocery aisles. Like this Noubar soap, good thing I got this during a sale because the original price of the two bars I got is 783.75 Php. (275/100 gms.).



With that hefty wallet damage, I'd be using this alternatively with By Nature. Oh I almost forgot, this one really melts so easy. This Noubar is such a soft soft soap that it will really be necessary to take this out of the shower lest seeing your money go down the drain too.

Will I buy again? Definitely.

The Body Shop Carrot Moisture Cream

From the Body Shop Site:

It’s back! You will be rabbiting on about this rich daily moisture cream that leaves the skin feeling beautifully soft and smooth. An old favourite from The Body Shop®, originally launched in 1980 - now improved with added Community Trade sesame oil and Community Trade beeswax!!!

Size: 50ml


Ingredients:

Community Trade Sesame Oil - helps to soften the skin.

Community trade beeswax from organic sources - moisturises and help condition the skin, while acting as a barrier to help seal in moisture.

Carrot oil - helps to revive and condition the skin.

Our Community Trade beeswax is supplied by Guide D’Espoir in Cameroon. It comes from hives handcrafted from locally sourced materials in the remote Adamaoua region. This traditional method of beekeeping helps promotes strong, healthy bees and deters logging.

Just to start with, my skin is a bit on the combination type as I get oily usually on the T-zone area only. I also have learned that even your skin produces oils more than a normal person does, you still have to moisturize your skin (with light moisturizers) to avoid further abnormal oil secretions.

I have been using this rich carrot moisturizer for almost a month now, though not that religiously I say. For me it does moisturize as it claims to be. It comes with a faint smell of carrots, which is somewhat odd for a skin care product, haha.

The consistency of this is on the medium side, making this suitable only for nightly skin moisturization, before bedtime so I'd rather not use this under make up as I think it'll make everything slip off in no time.

My skin turned out to be smoother and softer upon waking up (I think!) and the fact that it uses community trade ingredients makes me feel good as it does help the environment and the people who work for these organics.

Price: 750 PhP

Monday Morning Blah Blah.. :)

(A view of this morning's sunrise from my bedroom window)


January 17, 2011. I woke up so early this morning, I think at around 3:30am. Susmeng buhay to, pag walang pasok, di ako makatulog. Pag may pasok naman, kulang nalang pati sa daan humilata ako makatulog lang. I'm feeling so energetic today (again, this may change in a couple of hours, since pati body chemistry ko may pagka-moody din haha. ) I feel like I can kill CSOne later at work like thunder.



or.. siguro inlababo lang meee!!! OMG. yes I have this huuuge room for love inside my fatty heart. :) I love to love. I am so missing Larry like crazy coz it has been weeks since we last saw each other. :(



I'm still contemplating on what to have for breakfast. Bakit ba naman kasi ang tagal dumaan ni kuyang nagtitinda ng pandesal. Pag ayaw ko ng pandesal, ang ingay ingay niya dun sa labas. Ngayon naman na gusto ko, asan, tulog pa yata. Buhay nga naman..



Ayun, I'm still wondering where in the world this energy came from, daig ko pa pumapak ng Enervon. :)

Mr. Make Me Swoon Forever and Ever

Ohhh.. How can you be so immaculate, Richard Marx? How dare you make us all swoon and dream while you sing "Right here waiting" and "Hold on to the night"? I've been hearing you sing since I was a kid, and after how many years, you still look like the man every girl wishes to marry some time soon..

Try checking this out, and let him sweep you off your feet.. *sigh*