Live an Inspired Life: A Women's Blog by Tara Cabullo

What I Know For Sure: #MissAdventure

2015-05-10T09:50:00.002+08:00

It's one of those mornings, spent doing my favorite things: eating blueberry pancakes, sipping brewed {hazelnut} coffee and catching up on my personal projects. Also, yes, making a lot of money :P Today's words of wisdom come in the form of Kate Spade's ambassador, and personal icon Anna Kendrick. "Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together." Our girl knows it. Also, I just love Anna's look in short: perfect preppy!

I'm inspired to make some more adventures this year --- and you bet I will :P

In other news, some of my #missadventures this week include pink moscato, a lot of shrieking and something that scares me a lot. Some of my week snaps can be seen below. I hope you're having a great week. And to my mom readers, Happy Mothers' Day!

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 29, 2015 at 7:55pm PDT

What a privilege to sit in front of really smart people.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on May 2, 2015 at 1:47am PDT

My new favorite vino -- something I can stock up on and not worry I might not
finish it!

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on May 2, 2015 at 4:17pm PDT

Somebody cooked beef salpicao -- and it was yummy!

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on May 7, 2015 at 1:24am PDT

My new favorite lipstick: Happy Skin Bride to Be

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on May 7, 2015 at 4:24pm PDT

My current scent: L'Eau d' Issey City Blossom

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on May 8, 2015 at 7:02am PDT

Here's my second bride in a bridal shower I organized: My bestfriend Y is getting married in 9 short days!

These are my hauls from The Body Shop's 19th anniversary - the UK brand is celebrating in the most awesome way, most of the items are on 50%, 40% and 10% off! Time to stock up on the most amazing cotton pads {burgis, I know, but #sorrynotsorry}, my favorite pink grapefruit body wash, new eye cream and night serum. Of course, my #titasofmanila home fragrance in pomegranate!

So this week, I'm pouring myself a drink, I'm going to kick it back and will brace for a rollercoaster of a week.

Monday Kind of Music

2015-05-04T15:07:00.002+08:00

Happy Monday!

May started off gloriously. Well, the only pimple in the complexion was the Pacquiao loss which was a glory in itself. Anyway, it's been a good few days into the month. I'm very well caught up with all my chores, my work tasks and up to speed with all my personal projects. I'm wrapped up once again in cooking so that's taking a lot of my time lately. I love cooking. I'm slowly getting the hang of making meals for other people.

Anyway, here's a somewhat throwback, because it's kind of an old song already but it's my song today. I love how it's cryptic and stuff and you never really know what it means. Ah, me and cryptic stuff.

Samson | Regina Spektor

In other news, I'm giving away {again!} some lipsticks over at my Instagram account:

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on May 3, 2015 at 11:05pm PDT

Good luck and enjoy the Maybelline May sale!

Girlstuff, Forever

2015-05-02T08:00:00.000+08:00

OH. To be a girl.

I don't know what's the difference but I've lived with a brother for a long time and with all the boy activities I know, I'm pretty sure I don't want to be a boy. Being a girl is so much fun, more colorful, more interesting, and choices are neverending. I mean, look at this chair.

Anyway. Local brand Girlstuff recently launched a collection that's inspired by people close to me: Bloggers!

L-R: Frances of Topaz Horizon, Cristina Decena of Strutting Sunshine, Nikki Tiu of Askmewhats and Jackie Go of Go Jackie Go

This is how the nail polishes look on nails:

This is Topaz Horizon yellow

This is Strutting on Sunshine Blue

Askmewhats Purple

Go Jackie Go Green

I'm proud of my blogger friends for having nail polish shades made and named after them :) Girlstuff Bloggers’ Elite Summer Collection uses their well-loved sophisticate gel-type formula to turn four fun shades into sassy, shiny, trendy and long lasting polish! Girlstuff is made in France and free
of harmful chemicals!

Girlstuff Forever Kiosks at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM San Lazaro, Ayala Mall Cebu; children’s accessories section of SM Department Store and Rustan’s Department Store; girlstufforever.com; facebook.com/GirlstuffForever

Artdeco Spring 2015: Emilio de la Morena

2015-05-01T12:35:00.001+08:00

Today is the first day of May.

I can't believe it. Just like that, it's the fifth month of the year. Somewhere in the other side of the world, tulips, peonies and lilies are blooming. The weather is in the comfortable 20s and dew would be on petals in the mornings. On the other side of the world, people can wear tights with dresses and you can run and not break into a sweat.

I miss spring. I haven't been in the other side of the world during spring in a few years. I should do this soon. For now, I would comfort myself with the newest colors for spring from our German makeup brand, Artdeco, inspired by Spanish designer, Emilio de la Morena:

Artdeco's 2015 spring collection is a mix of pearly colors and bold jewel tones. I'm especially kilig over the pearly mint nail color!

Brazilian makeup artist Macedonio Bezerra was in town to demo the collection. I love how he took us individually to talk makeup! Being ARTDECO’s professional ambassador in more than 70 countries, he relishes in bringing joy and new ideas to all the corners of the world, offering training and motivation in 4 different languages. ''The right makeup works miracles in your life!,” he says.

This pretty Blush Couture is a creative expression of Emilio de la Morena and is also Bauhaus-inspired. So excited to use this!

Are you as thrilled as I am with Artdeco's Spring collection? Artdeco is available at all
Beauty Bar Stores: Alabang Town Center, Central Square, Century City Mall, Eastwood, Galleria, Gateway, Glorietta, Greenbelt, Magnolia, MOA, Podium, Rockwell, Shangri La, Lucky China Mall, Evia and Estancia.

xx

PS: See more of my updates through my blog's Facebook page here.

#TravelThursday: Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen

2015-04-30T08:00:00.000+08:00

When I think of what truly makes me happy lately, it's often about making travel plans, actual traveling and going back to my favorite travel memories. Normal life is ~~fun~~ not abysmal, sure, and every now and then we get to laugh out loud, enjoy time with friends, catch a movie, eat great food, spend amazing conversations with a stranger even. But life as we know it is not all roses, and for a long time, I was just lost, confused and stuck. For the first time in a long time, everything seems clear and everything has a direction.

Today, I'd like to take you back into one of my favorite Paris memories: Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen. This is Paris' biggest and most popular flea market in the 18th arrondissement. My friend C and I walked to the Sacre Coeur and eventually to this area. I noticed that the farther you step from the center {that would be the first to ninth arrondissements}, the shadier it gets. Best to be careful with your belongings, of course.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Oct 25, 2014 at 6:32am PDT

Some people hate coming to this part of Paris: it is after all a lot of wading through crowds, fingering dusty bric-a-brac, all of which we don't really understand sometimes.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Oct 25, 2014 at 6:37am PDT

Or one can find completely baffling, creepy doll heads.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Oct 25, 2014 at 6:43am PDT

But we found some rather dainty things, and transported to that time when time stood still and we can enjoy tea.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Oct 25, 2014 at 6:49am PDT

Or those ones we want to display onto walls we don't have because space and baggage allowance is an issue these days.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Oct 25, 2014 at 6:51am PDT

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Oct 25, 2014 at 7:05am PDT

Frida Kahlo

I'm returning to Paris in a few months but only for a few days so I might not really be able to come back to my favorite vintage place. Nonetheless, this has been a fun exercise. Thanks for coming with me :)

Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen is located at rue des Rosiers, av Michelet, rue Voltaire, rue Paul Bert & rue Jean-Henri Fabre; if you're taking the Metro, alight at the Porte de Clignancourt station.

xx

There's A New Curl in Town

2015-04-28T07:55:00.001+08:00

If there's one beauty brand that's the ultimate when it comes to throwing beauty parties, it has to be Benefit. Benefit parties are often held in fun, huge spaces, girly music is always playing when you enter, there are all sorts of beauty toys up for display and sometimes, there are even topless men running around. If you're into that.

Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara promises unprecedented curling power even without the use of a lash curler!

It took Benefit a long time but after several brush attempts, they finally found the right one!

I swear, Benefit has the best branded merchandise. Awesome pink mirrors!

Look who we spotted at Skye! BDJ Girls Kate, Dar, Candice and Em!
{and Wesley}

There had been fun stuff to do like tarot reading and stuff but I spent the afternoon chilling with my beauty blogger friends and drinking pink cocktails.

That's me and the fabulous digital girl of Benefits Cosmetics Philippines, Tasha.

I'm wearing my favorite sheer turquoise dress from Suite Blanco and my super duper high heels from Charles & Keith :P

As for the star of the show, it's just the curliest mascara in town. And yes, Chronicles of Vanity thinks it works wonders without using a lash curler!

See? Amazing curling power! I think the power of this mascara is in the very fluid but thick liquid formula, and the brush, too. No clumping!

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara is available at Benefit Greenbelt 5, Trinoma, Glorietta.
xx

Mt. Fuji and Missed Chances

2015-04-27T07:02:00.000+08:00

When I was in Japan 2.5 years ago, the one thing I missed doing was coming to Mt. Fuji and taking a side trip to the designer outlets in Gotemba. When you're traveling alone, it's easy to slink back into sleep and miss your bus.

When I hear Fuji, all I think of is how I kind of slink back on all the many chances I've intentionally missed. Not just that trip to Gotemba, but all of the times I did not stand up and grab life by the horns. I wouldn't really go on into detail: there has been a lot. This thought has been reminding me not to waste precious days giving in to my {extended} sleep, to negative feelings creeping up or the what ifs in my head.

Anyway. This reminder now comes in the form of The Body Shop's Fuji Green Tea Line. I recently received and spent time with friends from The Body Shop {who's now with SM group of companies} their new line:

Fuji Green Tea Body Scrub

Used to detox and cleanse with a refreshing scent

Fuji Green Tea Body Wash

Also available in Body Soap. Choose any of the 2 variants as these 2 products will help cleanse and revitalize our skin after exfoliation

Fuji Green Tea Body Butter

Based from our favorite The Body Shop Body Butters, they have the same texture yet the scent is amazingly refreshing!

Fuji Green Tea Body Lotion

Fuji Green Tea Body Sorbet

Fuji Green Tea Eau De Cologne

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea line is available at all Body Shop stores nationwide.

Locycare: Moisture for your Nails

2015-04-23T07:00:00.000+08:00

Ever wondered what could revive the healthy, polish-less glow to your nails? Me, too!

I remember my BFF swore by putting her nails on garlic to make her nails stronger. However, I never tried this, too afraid of the smell sticking into my hands! After several years, I've finally discovered the equivalent of keratin for the hair and collagen for the skin: Locycare.

Locycare is a nail gel in a tube that's formulated to restore the health of dry and damaged yellowing nails. Locycare deeply hydrates and goes beyond the nail bed, keeping it from turning dull, dry and opaque. It restores the natural water content of your nails and promotes healthy nail regrowth. Apply small drops of Locycare to your nail everyday to get healthy looking nails in just two weeks!

Locycare is available at all Mercury Drug Stores for PHP 600; Brand Manager Jon Lee recommends applying twice a day for two weeks for most noticeable results.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Mar 17, 2015 at 4:50am PDT

Look how shiny my natural nails are :)

My {fat} healthy toe nails

Guess who's very happy with her healthy, bare nails, taken at Maison at Edades Tower

Happy Thursday!
xx

Chronicles of Organic Finds: Organic Alley Argan Oil

2015-04-22T06:50:00.000+08:00

Happy Wednesday, my dear lovely readers!

Today, I would like to focus on skincare, and on organic skincare, at that. The movement towards natural and organic has been strengthening more and more of late. I am not one to be not part of it. I especially love the idea of women becoming SME businesswomen, pursuing their passions. I dream of becoming such woman but for now, I would like to be a supporter to this movement first.

Organic Alley is the brainchild of Aliw del Rosario, who's based in Baguio. Aliw is a strong advocate for beauty as a necessary pillar to a woman’s confidence, self-esteem, strength and personality. Beauty as a complement to one’s intelligence. Beauty as a gift that is our responsibility to protect and nurture. Beauty that goes beyond looks, emanates from the heart, and grows from good food, laughter with great friends and dare-devilish biking!

I'm especially a fan of their Argan Oil --- who isn't? Argan oil is just the best organic beauty treat that's also incredibly multi purpose. These days, I've taken a break from my usual moisturizer and skincare, and have relied on Argan Oil solely. Aside from facial moisturization, here are other argan oil purposes:

Minimizes wrinkles, clears out blemishes, relieves patchy skin and revitalizes lackluster hair.
Prevents and/or removes stretch marks from pregnancy or weight loss
Regulates secretion of sebum/oil on skin
Treats skin inflamatory diseases
Repairs damaged hair and conditions dry scalp
Repairs and calms overly treated or sensitive skin
Heals sunburn and protects from salt and chlorine

What I Love about Organic Alley's Argan Oil:

Not too expensive at PHP 499/30ml. I think 30ml is a great size to start with if it's your first time trying out Argan Oil
Gave my skin serious softness, without the added hassle brought about by humidity. I do use this though indoors and before going to sleep.
A little goes a long way.
On top of using it as my moisturizer, I get to use a few drops on my hair as well, before swimming and before sleeping.
Which makes it perfect for travel: It's a multipurpose product!
No breakouts so far for two weeks now.
It's organic!
And available online -- perfect for lazy girls like me who'd rather order things online. xx

Organic Alley products are available online through Organic Alley's website.
xx

Happy Skin Launches Beauty in Bloom

2015-04-21T07:37:00.001+08:00

Our favorite local cosmetics brand just came out with another astounding collection: Beauty in Bloom!

Before I continue on, I'd really like to rave first about flowers. I used to be able to pick up flowers from Market, Market every Sunday before or after church and for a while, I kind of placed that little ritual into the backburner. Now that I've sufficiently recovered from sickness bouts, a relaxed schedule and I have a hand again at my schedule, I am back to having a clean apartment with pretty flowers!

Anyway, here's the new collection from our favorite brand, Happy Skin Beauty in Bloom!

The collection contains the prettiest pinks, a bold shade of magenta in its visuals and hey, The Morning After is back in mousse form!

Love, love that we got to select our own floral arrangements, too!

L-R: Happy Skin Eye Am the One {PHP 899}, Get Cheeky With Me 2 in 1 Blush {PHP 799},S hut Up & Kiss Me Lip & Cheek Mousse Beauty in Bloom Duo {PHP 1,199} in Summer Crush and Morning After. Not in photo, new lipstick shades in Hold My Hand and Bride to Be

So beautiful, yes?

This collection's blush comes in a duo pan. Yum!

As always, it's nice bumping into my gorgeous friend, Sophie at all Happy Skin events!

Are you super thrilled with this collection as I am? Grab a piece of this blooming collection at all Plains & Prints stores, Beauty Bar branches or via the Happy Skin website!

Summer Around the World

2015-04-20T06:44:00.000+08:00

My family and I have always had this thing - of spending summers somewhere on the other side of the world. It's not because we just want to be away, it's a matter of spending time together and making it more fun than just them spending it here, or I spending it there {in the East Coast} where they live. One of my favorite summers would have to be the one in Cancun.

A close second would have to be spending coastal summers in Nova Scotia:

This {Philippine} summer, I'm going to be spending it a little closer to home as I just recently found out we're heading to Sagada in a month's time. I've never been, and I've been raring to go spelunking so I'm quite excited for that.

If like me, you make it a point to spend summers somewhere, local or international and allocate time and resourced to preparing essentials, scroll down for some of my amazing beauty finds at the newest Beauty Bar concept store at High Street Central:

My favorite find at the Beauty Bar summer around the world event: Bomb Cosmetics tub of goodness. I especially love Tippy Toes {foot moisturizers}!

Hairstylist Vien curled my hair using this specially printed Eva NYC hair curler. Hmm. I should go back to curly hair, yes?

My friend Angela and I at the Beauty Bar concept store, we traded summer stories, I heard about her Nepal adventure!

These Pei Pa Koa-ish coconut oil Hei Poa smell absolutely divine :P

And if you're traveling, never ever forget your beauty rituals!

The best thing about less clothing? We can wear gold and silver tattoos! So glad LuluDK is now available through Beauty Bar :)

And since it's summer and I like putting songs to things:

Free | Summer Siren Theme | Kidwolf x BV

Happy summer, my dear readers!

Beauty Bar is located at 3rd floor, Bonifacio High Street {same building as Rustan's Marketplace and TWG}

#GoElectric + Lipstick Giveaway!

2015-04-15T07:03:00.000+08:00

You know that feeling that you're just bored with your look? It has been creeping up to me lately --- during those empty, silent moments in the morning when I check my reflection before heading out to work. In a traditional environment, there are limited ways of self expression and I'm glad lipsticks are one of them.

I don't know about you but I don't have a very exciting life, at least I don't think so :P Not all the time, at least. “A bold lipstick is a woman’s secret weapon to looking fresher, trendier, and more confident,” shared Trisha Chua, Group Product Manager of L’Oréal Makeup Designer/PARIS. “The Color Riche Electric collection is ultimately about having fun with everyday makeup and discovering how simply changing your lip color transforms your entire look.” I agree! And a simple PHP 495 lipstick can change an outlook in life. If like me, you want to electrify your life with lipstick, pick up a tube!

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 6, 2015 at 12:57am PDT

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 15, 2015 at 6:12pm PDT

You can win your own L'oreal Electric Color Riche lipstick just by commenting which shade you like best and where would you use it? Don't forget to leave your email address!

I'll announce the winner on April 21, 2015!

Good luck!

UPDATE: We've got winners! I'll be emailing you within the day for your mailing addresses!

Congratulations!

Things I Love Sundays: A Ray of Light

2015-04-13T07:47:00.001+08:00

Last night, I have been part of the celebration of my good friend Dar's wedding, with the love of her life, Dokes. The couple met through {surprise!} salsa class and soon enough, they're together and now, happily married.

However it may seem like a love story condensed into three sentences of bliss, it hasn't always been fun -- for both Dar, Dokes and the rest of us, in our own lives. However, what I had been thinking, as I listened to their vows, the parents' speeches, the maid of honor and the best of man, is that there's always a ray of light. Whatever it is, there always is.

Anyway, some photos from yesterday's festivities and the week that was. It's another week of trying to make lives better and trying to survive this heat. O.o

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 8, 2015 at 7:22am PDT

Coming home and being welcomed by all of the lights was one of the amazing things in my life

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 10, 2015 at 6:52pm PDT

Favorite music, lately.

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 10, 2015 at 8:05pm PDT

My wonderful day OOTD: a Zara shirt, a pair of Cotton on denim shorts and Chucks. My bedsheets are not included :P

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 11, 2015 at 9:15pm PDT

Lovely Sunday mornings

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 12, 2015 at 2:08am PDT

My friend Dar, as she walked down the aisle, to Falling Slowly

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Apr 12, 2015 at 8:42am PDT

My friends Kate and Beam and I at the wedding with Dar and Dokes.

Happy Monday, folks!

Brighter than Sunshine

2015-04-10T14:35:00.000+08:00

If you still haven't noticed this by now, I am quite fond of giving each day a song. Maybe I should make a tag out of it and look back at all my musical thoughts.

Whatever.

The heat is making my head function very slowly --- but with a little steadiness than usual. Things aren't very clear where I'm coming from but in a way, also very steady. It's as if I know that everything's going to turn out the way I would hope. Let's see.

Given all that Friday thoughts, as thoughts I seem to all have lately, except ones that are of the beauty kind, forgive me. Below is my song for today:

Aqualung | Brighter than Sunshine

On a funner note, here's Emily Blunt's and Anne Hathaway's epic lip sync battle:

Happy Friday!

Things I learned when I quit Facebook

2015-04-07T18:26:00.001+08:00

Like a rat in the dead of the night, I quit Facebook. Well, not really quit as I do have the option to activate it again should I choose to. For some, it may be a completely normal thing. However, for somebody who has been on it since '07, it's a pretty monumental thing to happen. It's the first time I've ever done it and I have to admit I do miss it sometimes.

Why, you ask, I'm sure. I've always wanted to get off Facebook, for fear of feeling, knowing and thinking as my feed does. This is precisely why I try to edit and curate my feed whenever I get the chance. I hate it when I find out about nonsensical news like of certain Internet sensations, show biz trivialities posted by bored people in my feed, and other things I wish I could unsee. As much as I am admittedly, sometimes, full of myself, I also abhor people full of themselves on my feed. I just can't anymore.

So anyway, that decision came over me as I was in the middle of a quiet KL night, as I realized how much I don't want to be exposed to these things anymore. It was easier to do when I'm not at work where I constantly need to be on my brand's pages, too. Now that I think about it, I suppose I have to find a way around it and make it work.

But anyway. My little exercise have taught me a few things, and importantly, bought me time to do more value-adding exercises such as writing this blog post. What have I learned so far?

1. Just like anything you've been used to, there will be withdrawal symptoms. And boy, were they not mild. But it wasn't so bad. My vacation time in KL is not as hectic as my other travels but I find that I channeled withdrawal through other sources. I had more conversations, walked more,
explored more, shopped more, ate more. I've read more books and magazines in the last week, too.
2. I feel refreshed. I don't know any of the "yaya's meal" issue until a friend talked to me about it on Viber. On the downside, I also didn't know about the Kenyan massacre until my bestfriend and I discussed it over dinner. Facebook has become my source of most news for the last years and now I have to look for it elsewhere like Twitter, Flipboard and Zite. Other than that, I'm so happy not to know about other people's lives and I'm happy not bombarding other people with my life non-updates.
3. I feel special. This sounds so douchey to me but I feel like a special human being for not being part, at least temporarily, of the 44M people currently on Facebook in the Philippines.
4. The catch 22 of communications. Not sure how I feel about this but since Messenger is a big part of Facebook and I've quit it, I also quit being contacted via Messenger. My friends have found other means to find me, and I'm glad. But for the ones I really don't care much for, I'm glad to temporarily weed them out and aid the process of disconnecting with them.
5. It's a different life. I haven't decided if it has been better but I'm still enjoying it for the mean time.
For now, we'll see how it goes :)

Posted with Blogsy

Silence

2015-04-03T13:16:00.001+08:00

Silence is a powerful thing, this much I know.

I arrived in Kuala Lumpur in the dead of night on Thursday. Like many of my travels, it is uneventful: no big welcomes, it's a quiet descent into a foreign land with only a very few people knowing. Like many of those, I come without a plan, except that which to spend time with my best friend for her birthday month. I had then thought to myself, I was not too eager to spend Holy Week in my city where most things have been very boring already.

The road home from the airport was probably the quietest 45 minutes of my life. Lately, I had been living two lives: each of those have been taking so much of my own bandwidth that it had been very exhausting. I'm contemplating on what to give up and what to keep in order to regain balance. Should arrive to a decision soon.

I'm drinking a cocoa cappuccino as I type this on my iPad. There's some comfort in being surrounded by people whose words you don't understand in a busy cafe. In Manila, I find myself saturated with everybody's opinion of everybody. I feel like I'm constantly plagued by everybody's worries, concerns, petty issues. It's so nice to somehow escape all that and just be an unknown and nobody someplace else.

It's a very good feeling.

Posted with Blogsy

Baby, I Love Your Way

2015-04-01T11:14:00.000+08:00

So much old school happening, but nonetheless, a great song to listen to on a restless day.

Baby, I Love Your Way | Big Mountain

Happy Wednesday :)

Things I Love Sundays: Fight

2015-03-30T08:27:00.001+08:00

Lately, I haven't been spending my days as alone as I've been doing in the past. Suffice to say, I'd been accompanied more and more lately and I'm not complaining. Life is not designed to be lived alone anyway. However, there's this golden hour of my life that I truly enjoy so much. It's around 7-8 in the morning when I have a cup of coffee, a small breakfast, like today it was a banana, I listen to music and I feel completely alive.

The thing is, for a long time I thought I'd been just floating through life, getting through the path of least resistance. I feel like I've been going through check lists and to do tasks without thinking why I should be doing them in the first place. And in some things, I've kind of resigned to what should be done versus to what I wanted to do in the first place. So anyway, thanks to my friend C, that's the theme of the week: Fight. Fight for what you want to do, for what you want and what you deserve.
As for the rest of the week, these have been the things that have been happening:

I was in Singapore for a summit at work -- FUN times.

Le selfie with the Brian Wong of Kiip

The Best Hainanese Chicken in SG: Mandarin Orchard's Chatterbox

What's a trip to SG without some sort of sling? :P Here with my colleague and friend at Fullerton Bay Hotel

... in Digital, we go Google

Ending the week with a Japanese Hot Stone massage and a cup of lemongrass tea

It had been fun :) Here's to another fun week.
xx

Tara's Guide to Attending a Wedding

2015-03-25T09:19:00.003+08:00

AH. WEDDINGS.

I was telling a very young colleague lately how one must sort of plan out attending weddings. I can't say this enough: people get married left and right beginning in late twenties and to mid thirties, I think. Attending weddings is such a monumental moment: we witness our childhood friends, barkada, officemates, family promise forever to someone. I am of the belief that this is something worthy of a celebration.

My first wedding of the year is of my office friend's, Nica and his now-husband, Mathew. I am extremely glad to have been one of the people who've witnessed this important union in their lives and to have heard their vows {always my favorite part}. It's also always an excuse to wear formal wear, too.

Now, as a reminder to myself as well, here are some guidelines to attending a wedding, at least in the Philippines :P

Follow the dress code. If the invite says Strictly Formal, do make sure you follow as much as you can. This would mean you might've to spring for a formal dress, or borrow from a friend. In my case, I have a slew of formal gowns inside my closet for these occasions. For this wedding, I'm wearing a dress by Rosanna Ocampo. Also, unless you want to earn the anger of the bride, don't wear white.
Give what the couple wants. Rustan's bridal registry is the best and I'm so glad that my couple friends chose this for their gifts. I think money is also a popular choice nowadays and I think this is fair, given that you're sure that the marrying couple will like it so.
RSVP Matters. RSVP was invented for a reason and that is to give the couple an accurate idea of who among their invited guests will be there for sure. According to Vogue, under no circumstances is it okay to ask for a plus one. Wait for the bride or the groom to give you a plus one --- that's essentially asking them to pay for another person. And in these days of expensive per heads in the multi-billion wedding industry, that's not particularly easy to cop out. Marrying couples often have the A List, the B List and the C List. It may not always include a plus one for you.
Put your best foot forward. And don't outshine the bride. I've read about some horror stories about people who've attended weddings and got waaaaaay sloshed. Or proposed to their girlfriends, effectively stealing the bride's thunder. Or made inappropriate toasts. Or lewd comments to the bride. Or hit on the bride. Always best to err on the side of caution whenever in doubt.
Contribute to giving the guests a good time. I've seen it happen all the time in Filipino weddings: the couple would always ask everybody to stay for the after party but guests, often would scramble to get out of the wedding party as soon as they can. While I don't necessarily see weddings as an excuse to party, most couples crave for partying time with their guests after the formal programme. If you can spare the time, do stay, meet the other guests, share stories. If you're single, it's actually a legit way of meeting other single people. Whatever happens, have fun!

And if you're interested, this was my FOTD:

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Mar 21, 2015 at 8:12pm PDT

That's us and the couple at the last wedding I attended. Fun times!

Breakfast Mornings

2015-03-21T09:47:00.002+08:00

There's a little bit of chuckle as I realize it's been a long time since I cooked breakfast myself, for myself. There'd be weeks I would not open my fridge these last few months, and I'd be left throwing out anything I should've consumed. But life has a way of putting you back where you belong and in this case, me, in the kitchen. I even invited neighbors to come --- how sure was I that my pancakes were going to be edible? :P

I don't know what made me feel this way towards this Saturday morning. I guess is that wearing two hats at work {sometimes resulting to fits of confusion and being exhausted} as well as in my personal life led me to sort of chase every hour I'd been given lately. Most days would be a nice brunch, one of which I'd feel guilty eating because I feel like every hour of my waking hour should be dedicated to working, or thinking about work, or being planted squarely in my office. On another side, I was guilty of taking somebody's time so much. Some days, I'd skip breakfast altogether. Starting the day with a book? Forget it. I barely have time to remember what's really important to me in the mornings, much less for books that can {seemingly} wait.

But today --- today was different. I whipped up a batter of pancakes, took out a jar of maple syrup from my mother, read through trivial things, like Gwyneth Paltrow and the common woman, listened to J Mascis. I don't feel guilty about anything today, not even as I slowly sip my coffee and linger around my house.

Thanks to Timehop, I saw that I'd been feeling somewhat the exact same way last year, needing space, needing white space in a seemingly cluttered photo. There's a little bit of confusion, wonder, wistfulness in me, but nothing that calmness can't fix.

I had so much time in my hands, that I rushed in to decorate it. Now that I look at it, maybe it wasn't really how I wanted to decorate it. It was like having a blank wall, where I scrambled to put in frames of photos I didn't even like. Now that I look at the bigger picture, it didn't turn out right, didn't turn out beautiful. I need to take them down now and start with a clean slate but I'm procrastinating. I'm hit with a sense of laziness and it had been comfortable. But it must be taken down soon.

I will soon. But for now, I'll get back to sipping my coffee and eating my pancakes. Happy blissful Saturday!

xx

Chronicles of Primers: Happy Skin's Insta Beauty Blur Cream

2015-03-21T08:00:00.000+08:00

Let me let you in on a secret: I wish I could just skip makeup most days. Sa totoo lang, I just work across my home anyway and I don't face so many people most days of the week. Plus, I could always just apply makeup when I need to, if I'm meeting new people. You know what's my makeup factor these days? PHOTOS. Everybody snaps photos all the time, even in corporate environments and the thought of an ugly photo of me surfacing somewhere is just not that attractive.

My favorite local beauty brand Happy Skin is quick to take note of this and have come out with a blur cream, to somewhat perfect what is imperfect in some of us.

Beauty in an instant! No filter needed. The Happy Skin InstaBeauty Blur Cream is a soft focus primer foundation that refines large pores and fills in lines & wrinkles giving you an amazingly smooth base for make-up to glide over. With this all-in formula, you get a light tinted veil that corrects, brightens, and blurs away skin imperfections. Used alone or under makeup, this multi-tasker not only preps the skin but also boasts anti-aging properties. It vanishes imperfections instantly before your eyes and helps turn back time, too!

My observations:

The consistency of this tinted primer is maybe half watery, half viscous. I'd say I was expecting it to be a little more gel-like, and was kind of surprised it was more foundation than primer.
The matte effect was not 100% matte, as I'd expect from a primer, which was fine, given there was a little glowing effect that it gave.
I'd say there was noticeable blurring effect -- but I'm not exactly poreless after, which is fine.

That's me, above, wearing HS' Insta Beauty Blur Cream, and I'd say it appropriately covered the necessary blemishes to be hidden. It can sufficiently replace my current liquid foundation, for days when I feel like I want a light cream to use {which is a necessity in this humidity}.
Pretty pricey at PHP 1,299 for a small tube but nonetheless would last a long time.

Happy Skin Insta Beauty Blur Cream is available at all Plains & Prints stores, Beauty Bars and online via www.happyskincosmetics.com

Happy Saturday!

Friday Tunes: Turn to Stone

2015-03-20T10:04:00.001+08:00

Happy Friday, girls! Life has been interesting and boring lately but my iPod has been churning out apropos music somehow. The road to 30th has been mostly interesting, and I've been able to check yet another item, due for discussion sometime soon. It had been rough, and I have literal battle scars to show. Life revolves lately around worksheets and pivot tables, something that's unheard of in my paradigm.

Anyway.

Today's tune is from one of my favorite female music artists, Ingrid Michaelson. :P

Turn to Stone

Let's take a better look

beyond a story book

And learn our souls are all we own

before we turn to stone

Let's go to sleep with clearer heads

and hearts too big to fit our beds

And maybe we won't feel so alone

before we turn to stone

And if you wait for someone else's hand,

(If you wait for someone else's hand)

Then you will surely fall down

(If you wait for someone else's hand)

And if you wait for someone else's hand,

(If you wait for someone else)

You'll fall, you'll fall

I know that I am nothing new

There's so much more than me and you

But brother, how we must atone

before we turn to stone

And brother, how we must atone

before we turn to stone

Moon River | Audrey Hepburn

Happy Inspired Friday :)

How to Plan an Epic Bridal Shower

2015-03-16T08:00:00.000+08:00

One of the inevitable things that can happen to a girl in her late twenties is having to plan her close girlfriends' bachelorette party. If you're in the same age bracket as I currently am, one of the things that's probably boggling your mind is: How to plan an epic bachelorette party.

It's my first time to truly, truly plan something of this kind, as I've only been a mere participant in previous showers I've attended. Thanks to those, I've seen my fair share of very conservative ones {sparty} to ones with raunchy male guests and semi-tame male guests. The games have been fun from couple trivia to the naughty kind so I guess it was indeed time for me to plan something like it.

Of course, it all boils down to how well you know the bride. My best tip would be to really research on what the bride wants, because it's her party, after all. As for me, the bride and the guests were equal parts conservative and adventurous so it was easy to gauge on what to put into the program.

Check the date with the bride. Surprises are fun but a bride's life is crazy busy even up to the days leading to the wedding. Do make sure you check it with her or somebody super close to not mess up her calendar of activities.
Team up with a family member. Or if you're the bride's sister, team up with a friend. It was easy for me as the bride had sisters whom I had ease of working with. She was in charge of all the trivia for the games and I was in charge of the other program elements such as the venue and the special number. It made my life so much easier.
Choose the guests well. Know which ones the bride would like to see in this intimate gathering and which ones she'd appreciate not seeing.
If the guests are contributing, do orient them ahead of time. It helps to align everybody on costs and contributions. It helps to have a checklist as well.
To strip or not to strip. It was a huge question for us as we had to decide whether to hire one for this. As the group have decided, we did hire, and rest assured, it was not vulgar at all. I highly recommend Manila Secrets for your male guest needs.
Choose a venue and be smart with deals. We had ours at Victoria Court in Pasig, and I am glad to have chanced upon a group deal for it, so we got it at half price for 5 hours. Hooray!
Make the bride feel special. No bride shaming, no digging up of past lovers and secrets. Remember, it's the bride's day and you want to make her feel special on the last few days of her singlehood. Don't steal her thunder in any way.

Goodluck with planning the bachelorette party!

The Sound of Weekend: A No Social Media Weekend

2015-03-14T10:34:00.000+08:00

I'm taking a self-imposed detox from social media today. I realize that so much of it influences me despite not wanting them to, so I'm going to step away and live a semi-offline life. I can still browse websites, blog, read and listen to music. The trick to surviving a weekend without social media is to just detox from other people's non curated, sometimes angry, sometimes careless posts.

I'd have been catching up with my friend N, and I love how her calm energy is always a welcome, refreshing change from a world that's trying to do all things and everything in one go. She tells me of a yoga class, where she's told, "the world does not owe you anything and you owe nothing to the world." I am guilty of this, and this is evidenced by my 30 by 30 posts. Believe it or not, that post caused anxiety to some people, too. But that thought, of owing the world nothing, is a comforting thought I want to hide behind and cocoon myself into for two days.

So today, I'll quietly go through errands, read physical books, watch movies I'd been meaning to catch, meet a couple of friends for an actual conversation, pray, meditate, enjoy a cup of coffee and tea and maybe a slab of bacon, too.

Here's my song for today, too:

Stay and Wait (acoustic)

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms, or books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. - Rainer Maria Rilke

Happy {Inspired} Saturday!

A Book Review: What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding

2015-03-12T17:35:00.000+08:00

It's so easy to feel like everything's wrong in your life. Really.

This is the thing: my Facebook feed, which I can't keep my hands off most days, is busting at the seams with photos of children, babies, weddings or engagements. While I don't exactly abhor the idea of getting married, of procreation and building a family, it's not exactly where I am right now. Like any normal human being, I'd go into a fit of wondering if I should be in this path now, too {more of 28 year old me.} Current me kind of doesn't care as much. I do ogle cute babies, though.

It's so easy to fall into that trap, that bandwagon, when you don't watch what you consume, media included. Especially a social network that's largely dominated by mothers {Facebook}, well, what do you expect to see but cute photos of babies, debates on breastfeeding, vaccination and natural birth advantages.

It could feel rather hopeless, sometimes. So I turned outside of my feed and found my way in the throes of this wonderful book that echoes a wee bit some of my thoughts:

A funny, sexy, and ultimately poignant memoir about mastering the art of the "vacationship."

Kristin Newman spent much of her twenties and thirties buying dresses to wear to her friends' weddings and baby showers. Not ready to settle down and in need of an escape from her fast-paced job as a sitcom writer, Kristin instead traveled the world, often alone, for several weeks each year. In addition to falling madly in love with the planet, Kristin fell for many attractive locals, men who could provide the emotional connection she wanted without costing her the freedom she desperately needed.

Kristin introduces readers to the Israeli bartenders, Finnish poker players, sexy Bedouins, and Argentinean priests who helped her transform into "Kristin-Adjacent" on the road–a slower, softer, and, yes, sluttier version of herself at home. Equal parts laugh-out-loud storytelling, candid reflection, and wanderlust-inspiring travel tales, What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding is a compelling debut that will have readers rushing to renew their passports.

- Amazon

The book is pretty reminiscent of another favorite, Liz Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. Can't help but agree how Kristin called "traveling as the new symbol that replaced the cat lady." The woman has traveled extensively and have had interesting travels to Iceland, Amsterdam, Tibet, among others. Hers is the kind of travel history I'd have loved to have. A sitcom writer for Chuck, That 70s Show and How I Met Your Mother, Kristin would often travel for months in between writing seasons and come with fresh TV show ideas {remember that Robin episode where she comes home with an Argentinian lover? Uh huh.}

Kristin bravely explores the doing as the Romans do in every city she goes into, she fearlessly gets into vacationships --- it was quite evident that she was in it for the fleetingness of it all, never for a steady thing. Kristin, for me, echoes the voice of us women who for some reason, have not, can't or don't want to build families just yet {or ever} and would rather explore the world than breed. In no way does she make it seem like being single is better -- this is something that needs to be said at the get go. This was her journey, and for sure, would resonate with a lot of women in the world.

I have no vacationships to talk of, and the list of countries I've been to are minimal, but nonetheless, I found myself laughing so hard at her quips and antics. I particularly remember her insight that men who come from war-stricken countries such as Russia and Israel made love more passionately than others. I loved Kristin's commandments when choosing a travel companion, too.

You are open. You say yes to whatever comes your way, whether it’s shots of a putrid-smelling yak-butter tea or an offer for an Albanian toe-licking. (How else are you going to get the volcano dust off?) You say yes because it is the only way to really experience another place, and let it change you. Which, in my opinion, is the mark of a great trip.
You venture to the places where the tourists aren’t, in addition to hitting the “must-sees.” If you are exclusively visiting places where busloads of Chinese are following a woman with a flag and a bullhorn, you’re not doing it.
You are easygoing about sleeping/eating/comfort issues. You don’t change rooms three times, you’ll take an overnight bus if you must, you can go without meat in India and without vegan soy gluten-free tempeh butter in Bolivia, and you can shut the hell up about it.
You are aware of your travel companions, and of not being contrary to their desires/needs/schedules more often than necessary. If you find that you want to do things differently than your companions, you happily tell them to go on without you in a way that does not sound like you’re saying, “This is a test.”
You can figure it out. How to read a map, how to order when you can’t read the menu, how to find a bathroom, or a train, or a castle.
You know what the trip is going to cost, and can afford it. If you can’t afford the trip, you don’t go. Conversely, if your travel companions can’t afford what you can afford, you are willing to slum it in the name of camaraderie. P.S.: Attractive single people almost exclusively stay at dumps. If you’re looking for them, don’t go posh.
You are aware of cultural differences, and go out of your way to blend. You don’t wear booty shorts to the Western Wall on Shabbat. You do hike your bathing suit up your booty on the beach in Brazil. Basically, just be aware to show the culturally correct amount of booty.
You behave yourself when dealing with local hotel clerks/train operators/tour guides etc. Whether it’s for selfish gain, helping the reputation of Americans traveling abroad, or simply the spreading of good vibes, you will make nice even when faced with cultural frustrations and repeated smug “not possible”s. This was an especially important trait for an American traveling during the George W. years, when the world collectively thought we were all either mentally disabled or bent on world destruction. (One anecdote from that dark time: in Greece, I came back to my table at a café to find that Emma had let a nearby [handsome] Greek stranger pick my camera up off our table. He had then stuck it down the front of his pants for a photo. After he snapped it, he handed the camera back to me and said, “Show that to George Bush.” Which was obviously extra funny because of the word bush.)
This last rule is the most important to me: you are able to go with the flow in a spontaneous, non-uptight way if you stumble into something amazing that will bump some plan off the day’s schedule. So you “missed the freakin’ waterfall—you got invited to a Bahamian family’s post-Christening barbecue where you danced with three generations of locals in a backyard under flower-strewn balconies. You won. Shut the hell up about the waterfall.

There are no grand philosophies of some sort here --- that's not really what you can glean from here. Kristin promises a funny ride - and it is. I brought this book with me to Siargao and I have been chuckling the whole time. By myself. How apropos.

More importantly, it's a welcome refuge for us women who haven't/can't/don't want to breed just yet. It's a live affirmation that somewhere in the other side of the world, another soul who's wondering: "Why can't I commit?" "Why don't I want to become a mother just yet?"

However, my most favorite part would have to be the last few chapters. And if you're planning to read it, stop it right here because I'm about to give you spoilers.

Kristin eventually finds somebody to commit to, a man who lives a few blocks from her house. I wouldn't go into detail on how it happens but it's all too serendipitous, but I remember her philosophy of polepole or taking it very slow, since the man was divorced and had kids of his own. I was pleasantly surprised that endings, at least for this woman, and that phase of her life, had a good one, no matter what form it came in. It was refreshing, hopeful and it made me cheer for her like she was a good friend I was having wine with. It reminded me of friends I've had for a long time, whose rocky love lives I've seen flail from one rock to another, only to find themselves in the arms of the love they deserved after some time.

WIWDWYB is easily one of my favorite reads to date. I had to secure my copy online as I couldn't find it anywhere locally. I'd buy a physical copy if I can find one though. And I'd treat the author to a glass of wine if I ever met her.

And if anything else, it teaches me to stay away from Facebook whenever I can, if I can.

xx