Hello Brushes!

Yey!!! Finally I got hold of my 21-pc Suesh makeup tool set. It was delivered last Friday; prompt delivery huh, I'm impressed. And it was more than I expected (I expected a mini tool set like that of Elianto, or maybe Fanny Serrano's). But lo and behold, when they say Professional Advance, they mean just that. The reason why I ordered these is merely my sheer love for a jarful/armful of brushes (which started out with artist paint brushes), and has nothing to do with my naiveté or expertise :)

I'm bound to order more brushes, haha. Next month, probably. I'm still saving up for a stippling brush (Wish: MAC 187, Santa please, I've been good this year) and/or a mini kabuki brush (a handy one for powder touchups; I'm really low-maintenance during the day).

Hello brushes!

This is my new addiction...oh no...

Nevertheless, looking at my 21 new makeup brushes in its lovely pouch makes me sigh: 'It's soo worth it'. I love art, indeed.

I will study using these brushes in the next few days (or better yet, for life). I have Kevyn Aucoin's 'Making Faces' book and my loads of fashion mags (they almost made it to the garage sale) as inspiration. Good luck to me. Will post my thoughts here soon (Hope I can have a story per brush). Just a caveat though --- mine wouldn't be reviews (you have the experts for those); please read them as diary notes instead. I'm a proud newbie, diving into makeup adventures, and enjoying every bit of it.

Makeup Newbie

One of the items in my "life list" is to attend a real makeup class.

So I guess it's catching up on me.

A few months ago, I was crazy over perfumes (I still am). Mainly because I believed (I still do) that my allergic rhinitis has gone AWOL.

Then there was a stage of "Via Venetto" shoes and bags raving. I got two pairs within a month and a bag shortly after. I'd buy more once I see styles I like. Sales people there are really nice.

Then there was a brief phase of LV googling...my lunch breaks spent on researching and dreamily deciding on which bag would I buy - Speedy, Neverfull, or the luggage set haha). But it ended in research (at least I've gotten better in spotting the fakes, even just when I'm people- or rather bag-watching). I'd probably just buy a classic monogram wallet, and that's it.

Now it's makeup. And makeup brushes. How I wish I can afford all the MAC brushes. I'm setting my eyes on #187 - the much-talked about duo fiber/skunk/stippling brush. If I’d have to buy one MAC brush, then that would be it. I love painting, and I'm quite curious on trying the stippling technique on my face. My current stock is not really much. I have lots of artist brushes in Iloilo back home (but those don't count :p) ; some Art Deco brushes - foundation, eyeshadow, and kabuki [not so impressed with the last one]; some local brands for blush and powder brushes [I couldn't remember them now since I hardly ever used them; just loved looking at them] ; a Fanny Serrano angled brush [see I'm a sucker for local brands; buy Filipino!]. So to beef up my tools, I've placed my order for a 21-pc Suesh brush set. I'm excited! Haha. I’m also on the hunt for a good makeup bag/box to keep my brushes and makeup safe and happy :)

I'm reposting a link from Shen's Addiction blog. This blog helped a lot in firming up my decision to take my makeup and tools seriously. She's having a contest here, so do check it out.
http://www.shensaddiction.com/2009/09/birthday-contest-philippine-readers.html

:) Ciao - please bear with my edits - it's Friday (as usual I'm waiting for traffic to ease down). Happy long weekend everyone!

The Climb

I love Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" (I've included the lyrics after my thoughts below; listen to this at http://www.jango.com/music).
I'm so glad that this is in my "Last Song Syndrome" playlist for several days now.
I think it's a good 'mantra' to hum mentally whenever you're faced with setbacks and letdowns.

Whenever my Mom calls at the end of 'normal' office hours and I'm honest enough to admit that I'm still working overtime at the office, she would ask me what am I doing at such late hours, and she can go on and on pointing out the needlessness of it all. (Translation: What I am doing with my life - wasting my health away in a rush to exceed expectations?) I would reply that there are just lots of stuff to do and I have to work late. She would then tell me that work will never end, so it's better to go home, eat, sleep and rest 'cause tomorrow's another day.

Every day, we wake up, switch back to reality (with a spring in our feet, or with a literal drag as we leave our cozy beds, or probably somewhere in between) and muster some courage and willpower to face another day. When you think about it, we wake up to ride with strangers, work with strangers, eat with strangers, get pissed about strangers, try to please strangers, listen to strangers, talk to strangers, and say goodbye to strangers. Strange world indeed.

Sometimes, it's a great day of 'almost heaven on earth'...sometimes it's the same old same old humdrum of blah blah blah things...Sometimes it's THE 'worst' topping last time's record 'worst'(Who knows what more worst times are in store? Maybe the definition of WORST gets upgraded faster than we can imagine.).

The more we add days to experience, the more these validate that life is indeed unfair. Yet, we keep pushing on (as the song goes). We keep aiming for perfection, heaven, or THE destination, which is not bad at all. It's just good to be reminded that despite the constant validation of life being unfair and our stronger passion to reach our respective nirvanas, we see through these and fill our autobiographies with memories - vivid enough to be relived over and over again...with our own war stories...our accounts of battles fought - won or lost...our own resurrections and redemptions...how we enjoyed every bittersweet moment of each. These things make LIFE the amazing journey that it should be.

"The Climb" is a great song with very simple lyrics. The message hits home.
It's not the 'speed', the finish line, or the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It's the journey. Keep the faith and savor the entirety of it.
------

Artist: Miley Cyrus
Song: The Climb
I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Source of Lyrics: http://www.anysonglyrics.com/lyrics/m/Miley-Cyrus/climb-lyrics.html