Warm Welcome: Hair Mists

Hello dears! Havin' a great hair day so far?

I knew that when I agreed to have my hair chopped off to above-shoulder length, fly-aways will be just around the corner. I've vowed to completely stay away from heat-styling to prevent further damaging my thin hair. Thus, blow-drying is not an option.

Flat, limp hair. Now, what to do?
I discovered hair mists!!!
They help lift up my hair strands without the unnatural puff reminiscent of the '80s. I chose multi-tasking mists and sprays which are both volumizing and which contain natural ingredients to help thicken hair --- not just for styling but gentle enough to help address thinning as well.

Messy bobs, the so-called "laissez faire" hair, lazy lobs and textured waves. These remind me of French girl hair --- laidback, carefree, never overdone, uncomplicated and chic.

Jason extra volume hair spray (got this from Healthy Options);
Aveda thickening tonic (got this from their store in SM Makati)

On Instagram:

Lots of stocks for travel!!! I ❤ samples!!!

#LOccitane #Aveda #samples

On Instagram and Facebook:

Some good things never last: I was told that this mist will be discontinued. I wanted to hoard but there is only one bottle left... 😔 

I checked with the Rustan's Makati shop but it was not available. Crossed-fingers, I went to the Greenbelt 5 branch. The sales lady looked into all shelves and drawers until she found this last bottle. Hopefully, L'Occitane will change its mind...

Ciao loves ❤!

Disclaimer: I am not a beauty blogger. I do not recommend or rate products per se. I only share my experiences while using them and the whole thought process behind getting, using, falling in love or hating the product. I leave the beauty blogging to the experts; in fact, I go back to their reviews from time to time though I may not necessarily agree with all of these --- What's good for her may not be necessarily good for me. I am a confessed novice in every way --- I only try to view each experience with "new eyes" and reflect some more on how beauty can be a gift that should be experienced rather than seen. So don't take my word for it --- What works for me may not necessarily work for you --- but go ahead and take that adventure! The risks we take do make our lives interesting. =)

Warm Welcome: Lippies

Hmmm, why are lipstick tubes so photogenic?

A lipstick picks you up when you need a confidence boost. It doesn't cost much usually. At least not as much as a pair of killer heels or a bag. It brightens up your smile and helps you tell the world that you're okay. That you can conquer anything today!

After purging and decluttering, I'm down to less than 10 lip products. 

Left to right: Snoe Vintage Rose, Estee Lauder Red Tango, MAC Diva, Maybelline Velvet Matte in MAT 9, Forme Calm Me Balm, and EOS balm

Whenever I'm in a rush and can't be bothered with the full lipstick routine, Snoe Vintage Rose saves the day. It's "My Lips But Better" (MLBB) lippie. 

After holding back for years, I finally got my first MAC lippie and I wanted it to be in the perfect red shade. Ruby Woo is supposed to be the must-have classic. However, we shouldn't just go with what's popular, right? We have to understand that there is a specific red shade that is compatible with our unique skin tones. Otherwise, why will there be a hundred more red shades out there if there is only one red that fits all? My choices were down to Diva and Rebel. I wanted Rebel so much because of the name, and how cool an oxymoron would it make of Miss Goody Two-Shoes wearing such a shade. But I stopped myself and stepped back. Decisions should never be based on fables and fairy tales. Eventually, I decided on Diva after much thought, trial tests and a long look at the mirror.

My choice of the Maybelline New York matte shade made me realize that I tend to pick the same red shade, a shade quite close to MAC Diva. Does this mean that I've found my signature shade?

I eventually threw away my Forme lip balm when it started smelling funky (bought this last December 2014) and have been contented with my EOS balm ever since. I used to believe that I need several balms - one for my handbag, one for my office toiletries kit and one for home. But with a balm in a ball packaging like this, how can you leave it behind? I only use one lip balm, now :)

Please click 'Read more' for more of my lippie 'two cents'.

Look What I Found: Snoe Hair Heroes Amplify and Eau La La

Got some Snoe finds from their store in Glorietta. :)

The Hair Heroes Amplify is a five-in-one product with rosemary, ginseng, burdock and coconut to help increase hair density for thinning hair. It can be used on its own as a cleansing conditioner, after shampoo conditioner rinse, scalp rub-on overnight treatment, deep treatment creme or leave-on detangler. What's great is that it's good for daily use!

(Note: As in my previous purchases, Snoe's pump packaging really needs some work, especially for bottles containing rich ingredients. A big bottle does not necessarily need a big pump. I changed my pump to a smaller one from my old Muji cleansing oil bottle and it worked much better)

On the other hand, the Eau La La is a "magical" peeling liquid gel, with chia seeds and prune, for exfoliating dead skin cells and is supposed to give immediate results. It's targeted to fade discoloration, even out skin tone, hydrate, and help alleviate fatigue. If you are familiar with the popular Cure Natural Aqua Gel from Japan, this seems to be the local (more affordable) version. I tried it first at the store before buying. Fritzie, the assigned sales person, was very helpful in demonstrating how to use the product. She placed a bit of the product on my hand and then gently massaged it in a circular motion. As the gel got absorbed after a few seconds, little flakes or balls came out and she explained that these are supposed to be dead cells (jeez, I had a lot of them). 

I appreciated that Fritzie was very knowledgeable of the Snoe products that she was selling and yet not pushy in making me buy them. She took her time to explain the purpose of some of the products that piqued my curiosity. In the end, I was convinced that I need only these two for now :)

Excited to try these! #supportlocal #buyFilipino

Disclaimer: I am not a beauty blogger. I do not recommend or rate products per se. I only share my experiences while using them and the whole thought process behind getting, using, falling in love or hating the product. I leave the beauty blogging to the experts; in fact, I go back to their reviews from time to time though I may not necessarily agree with all of these --- What's good for her may not be necessarily good for me. I am a confessed novice in every way --- I only try to view each experience with "new eyes" and reflect some more on how beauty can be a gift that should be experienced rather than seen. So don't take my word for it --- What works for me may not necessarily work for you --- but go ahead and take that adventure! The risks we take do make our lives interesting. =)

Look What I Found: Palmolive Shower Gels in Exotic Scents

Hello loves!

Look, there are actual drugstore brand shower gels which contain "exotic ingredients" such as jasmine, patchouli, Indian mulberry and lotus flower!

They are from Palmolive and I got them from a Guardian store inside the Sunway mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

I'm done with the Joyous variant and boy, did it smell sooo good in every bath. I felt energized and lifted up every morning. I think the Peaceful variant will be true to its name as the more relaxing, calming scent.

I wish that we could have some body washes and shower gels like these in the Philippines. Hmmm, maybe something with sampaguita, everlasting (hahaha), or frangipani (a.k.a. kalachuchi)?

Disclaimer: I am not a beauty blogger. I do not recommend or rate products per se. I only share my experiences while using them and the whole thought process behind getting, using, falling in love or hating the product. I leave the beauty blogging to the experts; in fact, I go back to their reviews from time to time though I may not necessarily agree with all of these --- What's good for her may not be necessarily good for me. I am a confessed novice in every way --- I only try to view each experience with "new eyes" and reflect some more on how beauty can be a gift that should be experienced rather than seen. So don't take my word for it --- What works for me may not necessarily work for you --- but go ahead and take that adventure! The risks we take do make our lives interesting. =)

My Empties for October 2014

Hello November!!!

While most of us are honoring the souls and saints that have touched our lives, I am staying home and reflecting on the 10 months that were...

Yay! Only one month to go and 2014 will be over!

Before I get too excited, let me share my October empties with you my dears.

 

My regular guide questions:

(1) What's my best memory of the product?
(2) Will I repurchase?

Left to right
Mario Badescu Skin Care Alpha Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion
L'Oreal Gentle Lip and Eye Makeup Remover
Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner

(1) Mario Badescu's cleansing lotion helped control my breakouts in a very mild way...No strong scent and harsh chemicals...I regularly apply my waterproof mascara because I know that I have L'Oreal's lip and eye makeup remover...Dickinson's pore perfecting toner is very mild, too and works just as great in removing makeup and toning at the same time...

(2) I will always have these in mind for repurchase...For now, I am considering buying an all-in-one cleansing toner which serves the same purpose as the above products but at less a quarter of the price (watch out for this in my next blog posts :)...

Disclaimer: I am not a beauty blogger. I do not recommend or rate products per se. I only share my experiences while using them and the whole thought process behind getting, using, falling in love or hating the product. I leave the beauty blogging to the experts; in fact, I go back to their reviews from time to time though I may not necessarily agree with all of these --- What's good for her may not be necessarily good for me. I am a confessed novice in every way --- I only try to view each experience with "new eyes" and reflect some more on how beauty can be a gift that should be experienced rather than seen. So don't take my word for it --- What works for me may not necessarily work for you --- but go ahead and take that adventure! The risks we take do make our lives interesting. =)

My Empties for September 2014

Whew! The last two months just went by so fast. Before I had the chance to synthesize my reflections from my almost jet-setting run last August, it's already October! 

 

Making up for lost times, I'm posting my belated "random two cents" on my monthly empties.

 

My regular guide questions:

(1) What's my best memory of the product?
(2) Will I repurchase?



Left to right
Nivea In-Shower Intensive Skin Conditioner
Purbasari Lulur Mandi Putih Body Scrub 

(1) For the nth time, I LOVE Nivea lotions!!!....Nivea's in-shower conditioner is the innovative "bath version" of a lotion which works just as well and smells just as divine...Purbusari Lulur is the creamier sister of Asian Secrets body scrub minus the spa scent...

(2) Definitely, I will repurchase both of these.



Left to right
Dove Advanced Care Ultimate White Anti-Perspirant
Olay Regenerist Skin Renewal Cleanser
Olay Age Defying Revitalizing Body Wash
ZA Total Hydration Dewy Moisturizer

(1) Dove is one of my narrowed-down choices for a deo/anti-perspirant...Olay skincare and bath products could be  some of the few, if not the only, P&G product left in my regular bath and body stash (I've switched most of my P&G products for Filipino brands and organic products with milder ingredients...ZA moisturizer is light and dewy as promised but may not be rich and concentrated enough for my now aging skin (hey, I'm already 32!)...If ZA was available during my teenage years, my skin would probably have loved it...ZA reminds me of a hydrating mist but I'd have another anti-aging moisturizer to go with it...

(2) Will definitely repurchase Dove and Olay...I do have second thoughts on repurchasing ZA and will probably reconsider this as a second moisturizer during the hot summer...




Disclaimer: I am not a beauty blogger. I do not recommend or rate products per se. I only share my experiences while using them and the whole thought process behind getting, using, falling in love or hating the product. I leave the beauty blogging to the experts; in fact, I go back to their reviews from time to time though I may not necessarily agree with all of these --- What's good for her may not be necessarily good for me. I am a confessed novice in every way --- I only try to view each experience with "new eyes" and reflect some more on how beauty can be a gift that should be experienced rather than seen. So don't take my word for it --- What works for me may not necessarily work for you --- but go ahead and take that adventure! The risks we take do make our lives interesting. =)

My Empties for August 2014

Hello dear friend!
For my August empties, I decided to group my random 'two cents'.
Here goes my month-end roundup!

 

(1) What's my best memory of the product?
(2) Will I repurchase?

Left to right
Nature's Gate Body Wash in Pomegranate Sunflower
Nivea Body Milk Whitening
Suesh Professional Brush Cleaner
Human Heart Nature 100% Clarifying Shampoo
Lactacyd Youth Reviving Daily Feminine Wash

(1) I'm always on the constant lookout for sulfate-free body washes...Nature's Gate body washes are quite affordable considering the big bottle and interesting scent combinations...I'm completely sold to all Nivea body lotions and though I'm not so much into whitening, the camu camu and acerola cherry scent combination is too heavenly to resist...HHN clarifying shampoo is both cheap and true to form...When my alternate shampoo ran out, I used the clarifying shampoo everyday and I noticed that my hair color stayed just as vibrant...I didn't remember anything special about the Suesh brush cleaner and almost forgot about it until I finally found it stashed in a corner and realized that I had to use it up...The yellow variant of the Lactacyd feminine wash is my best match, pH-wise, to date...

(2) Except for the Suesh brush cleaner, I'd repurchase all of these.

Left to right
Pond's empties: White Beauty Day Cream (first and third), Gold Radiance Precious Serum, and the white half of the Gold Radiance Eye Serum
Clinique Even Better Foundation
Belo SPF 40 Face Cover

(1) When I was younger, I used to be satisfied with my Pond's stuff...Now that I am older, I prefer another brand and will most likely skip the Pond's counter...This Clinique foundation was a true match and kept getting better, indeed, as the day wore on...I think that Belo's sunscreen line is one of the most effective yet affordable brands in the market...

(2) Clinique and Belo gave me good reasons to repurchase...

Disclaimer: I am not a beauty blogger. I do not recommend or rate products per se. I only share my experiences while using them and the whole thought process behind getting, using, falling in love or hating the product. I leave the beauty blogging to the experts; in fact, I go back to their reviews from time to time though I may not necessarily agree with all of these --- What's good for her may not be necessarily good for me. I am a confessed novice in every way --- I only try to view each experience with "new eyes" and reflect some more on how beauty can be a gift that should be experienced rather than seen. So don't take my word for it --- What works for me may not necessarily work for you --- but go ahead and take that adventure! The risks we take do make our lives interesting. =)

Happy Summer

Hello my dears! How's your summer going? I hope you get to squeeze in some time to cool down amidst the blazing hot weather. :)

 

My team, including our Cebu counterpart team, went out to an outing yesterday. Expecting the heat, I made sure to wear comfortable clothing.

 

I don't usually post pictures of myself, more so, the so-called outfits of the day (OOTDs). The "shy" me just want to chill in classic neutrals and I'm not even close to a fashionista :) However, I made an exception when I saw this shot. I looked so happy in the sun and I'm beginning to fall in love with skater skirts, haha.

 

Sharing with you my one and only OOTD. This ensemble made me survive the almost 12 hours of team outing (riding the banca, sand and water, taking the slippery trail to the waterfalls, walking under the freaking hot sun, going up and down the steps of a stone castle, etc.).

 

Have a happy summer dears!

 

Shades: Sunnies by Charlie
Grey cotton shirt: Uniqlo
Floral skater skirt: from a bazaar
Red canvas bag: Via Venetto
Flip-flops: Gelattto

P.S. Do not forget your sunblock. I had my Belo Sunexpert SPF 50 transparent mist and Alba un-petroleum SPF 18 lip balm in my bag and made sure to "re-touch" every now and then.

Shopping with Mama: Kikay Finds

Thank you Mama for patiently and gamely bearing with me when we picked these girly (kikay) finds. You always have good taste.

 

You made me feel that I am not yet too old to wear floral and girly stuff. As you'd always say, you don't want to me to look like an "old maid", haha. Conservative, classic, but not an "old maid". Okay, copy. Noted with thanks :)



L to R: Floral shorts (from bazaar), black and white printed dress (from bazaar), and striped skater skirt (Maldita)



The Bibliophile and the Shoe-aholic

 

Our Catholic brothers and sisters went on Holy Week break. Regardless of our religion and faith, it was a welcome time to reflect on our lives and visions.

 

The Bible describes heaven in grandiose terms like pearly gates and eternal sunshine. My vision of heaven is really a simple one.

 

Now that my birthday is coming up, I realized that I have very simple needs. Heaven for me is a huge library of books, books, and books...with shelves of shoes, shoes and shoes...and a garden with dogs, dogs and dogs.:) Superficial? Well, I find simple happiness in traveling through different journeys and adventures through books, fitting in different shoes for different reasons, and hugging a fluffy dog. I do not have to own all of them; I only want to be close to them, in the same way that I want to be with my family and true friends.  And when I think about it now, I do not have to wait to die and find my piece of heaven :)

 

The dog-lover in me, it's all over my blog. Now meet the bibliophile and shoe-aholic... 

 

I think that I am an unusual type of a bibliophile. I will remember having read a particular book but not the nitty-gritty details of the story, or sometimes, not even the ending. I can re-read a book and re-live the experience of anticipation like I did when I read it for the first time.

 

In other words, I "read" in the moment :)



I only started buying books when I was in my 20s; most of the books  I have here are gifts, old textbooks or "rejects" from old libraries :)
My bookshelf (right) could be older than me - this was c/o Papa's carpentry skills.
The platera-turned-bookshelf (left) contains the more recent purchases which are
carefully hidden for obvious reasons (loaned books not being returned is my pet peeve).


Shoes are my Achilles' heel :D Enough said.


After donations and charity, still more than enough to go by...
My uncle turned the excess bamboo slats into my humble shoe-shelves.
Nothing close to Imeldific proportions, but seeing this reminds to be grateful for both the tangible and intangible blessings in my life.
 

How about you dears, how do you envision your "heaven"?


Look What I Found: Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

The elusive Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey...

Finally found one in Rustan's - Ayala Center Cebu! :)

 

Bonus:
I shared the Clinqiue purchase with my roomie, Mayie who bought loads of Clinique products (this is her first time to try, and wanted to switch so badly after a really bad experience with another brand). Yey to us 'cause our combined purchase entitled us to Clinque's bonus box for March 2014:) From the entire freebies loot, I picked these two faves: Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and  All About Eyes eye serum. I wanted Mayie to try the rest which are mostly skincare that worked great for me (and she bought the bulk anyway). I hope Clinique works for her :)

The freebies :)

Define Essentials: Travel for Women

Here's my temporary home for the next few weeks (or months?).

 

Pardon the un-made bed (this is Day 6 :)

The entire team is staying at Dohera Hotel at A.C. Cortes, Mandaue City. It's not too posh like the four-star hotels found in Cebu City but I can't complain. I have what I need. The hotel is a bit new and the facilities are in tiptop condition. The customer service is commendable. The breakfast from 6:00 to 10:00 am makes me super happy (one major chore slashed out - getting up early and preparing the brekky). The waiters usually give me the extra mile of service after they found out the name of the client I am serving (It must be a major client of theirs, too).

 

We had a long breakfast this Saturday. We then went up the gym and sweated our hearts out. I saw a foosball table and remembered someone (:'). In the afternoon, I had a massage at Nuat Thai (walking distance from the hotel). I spotted two more massage spots - Yoga Thai and Buankhunthai. I might try these in the next few weeks.

 

A woman has got to have her "basic" needs so I brought my power teams with me :)

 



10-step morning routine
Counterclockwise from top left: Makeup brushes in yellow and orange pouch, accessories and burloloys in pouches, VMV Baby Boo Boo Balm, Clinique eye serum in travel size (freebie), Majolica Majorca mascara, Benefits concealer, Pond's eye serum, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion in travel size (freebie), Organix moroccan oil (for hair), Just Bitten lip balm (used as blush), Pond's toner, Olay moisturizer, cotton balls and buds, Skagen watch, Clinique Even Better foundation, Clinique Almost Lipstick (bought this here), Benefits Browzings, Shu Uemura lash curler 

Before the nightcap
Left to right: Lactacyd toddlertub (freebie, used as facial wash), Listerine mouthwash, Colgate optic white toothpaste, Olay foaming cleanser, Shu Uemura cleansing oil, Zenzest body spritz, baby wipes, Dove soap (for the delicates) 

 


THE Bath
Left to right: Bath puff (Wow, this is the longest serving puff I've had - est. at least six months and about Php 100; I bathe this puff on a weekly basis by soaking it on laundry powder, washing with mild soap and rinsing), Lactacyd blue (used as body, facial and feminine wash - travel light idea :), Nivea body milk (this lotion's scent brings me back to the year 2003), Belo deo, Human Nature clarifying shampoo

 You may recognize 90% of the stuff from my previous posts. Well, that's because of two things. Firstly, I resolved to buy only the basics and finish up before I replenish. Second, I only bring the stuff I trust (tried and tested) when I travel (This avoids unnecessary expenses such as having to purchase a replacement because you brought a "trial" pack.)

 

Now, who can define "basic needs" in a way that is both confounding and irrefutable?

 Women, right? Enough said :)

 

Happy weekend!

My First Zalora Purchase

Reputable (emphasis here) online shops are heaven-sent darlings for busy bees like me.

 

Finally, I availed of my Zalora 25% discount to buy "beach" essentials. I am not exactly the beach bum type or a sun worshipper. I have zero intention of baking myself to get a tan, thank you :)

 

However, I realized that I need a pair of cheap sunnies which will not break my heart in case I left them somewhere (since I've been shuffling back and forth a lot lately). Sunnies by Charlie are the cutest and the most affordable, what more can I say?

 

On another note,  I also need a pair of slippers that is not made of the usual rubber from "simagols" or Islanders (no promotional advertising intended). When I tried slipping on a Gelattto pair in Glorietta, I knew I found the one.

 

The material is gel-like and there's a pair in the blue shade I love. BUT. I wanted to buy this with a discount (it's not too cheap, by the way). The cheapskate "me" held back for months hoping and hoping for some XX% off tag to show up sometime soon.

 

But alas, the entire slippers line in that Glorietta stall have gone on sale EXCEPT for Gelattto :( This slipper brand with those very recognizable plastic fruits and whatnots has been eternally on 50% off. But what about Gelattto? I waited and waited...The closest I got were 10% off (probably for old styles or broken sizes - but no blue pair left) and XX% off on Valentines when you buy a pink pair (I couldn't remember the discount % but was not interested for obvious reasons). Finally, I found out that Gelatttos are being sold online at Zalora. Eureka! And the rest is history :)

 

Sealed tight, delivered
Zalora made an effort to come up with this lovely box design
Will keep this :)

 

Minus the confusion with my office address which were clarified through close coordination with the courier, my orders were delivered on time :)

 

Tadaa!!
Sunnies by Charlie
Gelattto slippers

Thank you Zalora for the efficient service. My orders were well-sealed and properly packed - The sunnies were secured in a bubble wrap and my pair of Gelattto slippers was in its original sealed packaging. Till my next online deal. Say hello to summer and more travels :) 

Look What I Found: A Colorful Neckpiece

I found this very colorful and lovely neck piece at the Mactan International Airport while I waited for my delayed flight back to Manila. This one is sold under the "Koket" brand, a fashion accessories name coined after the French word "coquette" which means playful, flirty and fun. You may wish to check out their site at http://www.koketfashion.com.

A delayed flight would have let me down but I saw this as an opportunity to have more time to look around. I've always wanted a unique piece that will remind me of Cebu (not my first or last time, but will probably associate this to the completion of one project). I love the ROYGBIV elements, the unique charms including an orange flower, mini fruits and eyeballs, and the disarray and balance in one piece.

Thank you for delayed flights ;) 

Warm Welcome: Stella Luna Flats

This 2013, it's been about flats, flats, flats and flats for me.

From the cheapest orange pair from Janylin (other than it's hurting my heels, it's perfectly holding up) to the premium animal printed one from Cole Haan (realized can't let this one go and took it with me to HK).

I only added a pair of nude wedges and a pair of nude pumps (nude finds, yeah) and one photoshoot-only sky-high heels for the year. For their black counterparts, I am pretty much contented with my sturdy Via Venetto pumps and Clarks wedges dating from 2009 and 2010 respectively.

It's a different story with flats.

I returned to Manila early this year and realized the importance of flats.

Several years ago, I used to walk in heels from my rented abode to work, until I returned to Iloilo in 2011. Back then, I remembered owning probably a pair of blue beads-on-jeans flats which I only used for non-work or casual engagements. Even when I was still in Iloilo, I'd wear the same pair of shoes from home to work and back.

Things have changed. Probably in Manila. I looked around me --- from the moment I get off at the unloading bay to the underpass, and even during lunch and merienda breaks, the ladies are wearing flats! 

I'm not sure if I'm only noticing this now and if I just managed to endure my "younger" years in heels. But I'm older and wiser now, and I need my flats. I need and love them more.

I warmly welcome another pair --- one which I've only wished for some years ago. I'd pass by their store and try on their lovely shoes, but wistfully had to take them off (My friend, Lovella, know these yearnings of mine so well. Right, Vel?). Now, it's right here before my eyes, staring back at me, like the bat eyes of the storybook Stellaluna who has reunited with her mother. And the perfect neutral color came in my size!

Please join me in the un-boxing and click 'Read more'.

Look What I Found: A Blue Dress

When I saw this dress, it was love at first sight!

It's blue and got dachshund doggie designs all over it.

It comes with a free belt, too.

I think that the dachshunds' pattern used on the dress makes it a classic.

It also makes this dress great for both corporate and casual wear.

I dressed it up by wearing a wrap-around skirt over it.

Will probably wear this "as is" on laid-back girl bonding days, or on days when I want to wear something dressy with my flats.

Love love love!

TGIF: A Lovely Shawl Makes Friends (Update)

Thank you Heavenly Father for beautiful blessings !

This lovely shawl, a cashmere-and-silk combination printed with lovely roses, is from Anna Pashmina.

Grabbed this from Anna Pashmina's facebook page
This is a snap of their Glorietta branch (Ground Floor Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City, right across Zara)

Thank you for keeping me warm in this cold weather.

Thank you for turning complete strangers into instant friends.

Today, through this beautiful shawl, I made two friends - Rose Ann and Fhely :)

The lovely shawl visited The Venetian (Macau) with me :)

An Open Letter to Adam, Vanilla, Cupcakes and Dear Friends

Saturday, August 31, 2013

August 2013 ended with another memorable get-together with my dearest friends.

If you saw a group of four giddy thirty-somethings at Max's and Vanilla Cupcakes - Glorietta last Saturday, please excuse our endless chatter and musings. We had a lot of catching up to do and we missed each other every time (hahaha). If some parts of our private conversations reached you, please pretend you didn't understand a thing and leave the profound stuff to us ;)

Cropping turned this snapshot into something timeless
Left to right: Marylaine, Me :), Melody and Ma. Lovella

@Max's Glorietta: The serious shot

@Max's Glorietta: The wacky shot

To: Men and Adams

You know how women (we) can spend hours dissecting and over-analyzing everything from the most complex political issues affecting the country to the most trivial sequence of email replies? 

(Adam nods <">)

Yes, we know we can be a little over-the-top with our educated guesses and logic trees. But that's how we are made (biologically and emotionally). We hope that the Adams can be a bit more understanding of our feminine wiles and how our brains are wired. And it applies both ways. We can try to be more understanding of why you can't stand shopping with us or sitting through these conversations with our girl friends (Bam! There.)

What do we talk about with the girls in our private conversations? Yes, you guessed that right. We talk about you. Sometimes. Okay, a lot.  Especially if you did something worth dissecting and hypothesizing about. Since you're not around most of the time...well...you can keep on guessing on how we got to our conclusions...(Eve winks ;) and laughs :D)

Please click 'Read more' for the rest of this 'open letter'.