pearls on the path

more buttons

2012-01-24T00:59:00.000+08:00

I was looking through my files today and found these. Sharing for grabbing.

For easy-instructions and more buttons, see this entry.

flat round

gray round

swirly, blue

swirly, pink

You're welcome! ^_^

how i plan to have a fruitful week every week

2012-01-16T14:28:00.000+08:00

In line with starting a new year, I thought of an easy way to remember my weekly To-Do list. I'm not a "resolution" kind of person, but I don't mind writing out goals and tasks that would place my life in a good direction.

I've assigned my chores and tasks into days of the week, and I've given each day a nickname for easy recall.

Every Monday is Bun-day
... Or bunny-day, in which I make sure to spend time with my rabbit and see to it that his home is clean and his supplies are well-stocked.
The personal / health-related dimension of Bun-day: This will be the time I eat only fruits and vegetables, a sort of weekly detox. I'll be eating just like a rabbit naturally would - no carbs, no junk, no processed stuff, no added salt or sugar.
I think I will also pick this day to wear no make-up or any hair product.

Tuesday is Shoes-day
... In which I dust my shoes and bags and place them back in their proper boxes and shelves.
The health-related part: This will be when I pamper my feet and nails.

Wednesday is Cleanse-day

... In which I ensure the bedroom is clean and suitable for a good night's sleep, and that the living room is presentable enough to receive guests.
The personal cleansing: This is when I take longer baths and exfoliate my skin. I can do this more than once a week if needed of course, but Wednesday will be my fixed, no-rush day.

Thursday is Thirst-day
... In which I drink lots of water. I know that eight glasses of water are part of a good daily diet, but I forget to drink that much sometimes, particularly when I'm busy. I'm slating Thursday to be the day I have to do it. It will also be my "drink water only day" - no juice, tea, and especially no soda.

Friday is Pray-day
... In which I spend a longer time in prayer, and make sure to pray for others. Of course prayer should be done everyday, but Fridays will be for prayer requests that I might have forgotten about during the week. Sometimes people ask for prayer, right? ("Please pray for me / for my father who is sick / for my daughter who is taking an exam / etc.") To be honest, I don't always remember everything people tell me, so I'm setting Fridays aside to recall all those. This will also by the time I will pray for what goes on in the country, or something disturbing i saw in the news, so that I won't have to spend every day worrying about it.

Anything goes on Weekends... and I will see to it I lay back and have fun on Saturdays and Sundays.

this week's new like: prosciutto e melone

2012-01-14T13:54:00.000+08:00

My godfather gifted us with a huge slab of prosciutto (Italian ham), and I've been loving it this week. Coincidentally, the night before I encountered that pretty parcel of pork, I found an article on CNNGo that lists it as one of the World's 50 Most Delicious Foods.

I Googled for recipes, and I learned that one of the best ways to enjoy it is sliced paper-thin and wrapped around wedges of melon.


Images not mine. Taken from the web.

Or any shape of melon, I guess. But it seems laying them side-by-side on a plate is acceptable too:

Photo not mine.

I had to shoo away my ham-related fears (such as the possibility of salmonella, and the scare of fat settling in my hips forever). This prosciutto e melone looks so intiguing, it's something I just have to try. Luckily there was a whole honeydew in our fruit basket.

I have neither the tools nor the skill to cut ham neatly, so I just sliced it as thin as I could with the best knife I found in the kitchen (MENTAL NOTE: Buy fillet knife or other appropriate appliance). The clumsy bits of ham I came up with weren't large enough for wrapping around, so I just opted for the "lay them side-by-side on a plate" method.

You must forgive me for not taking any photos; I don't think I did a very presentable presentation - it was good for eating but not really for photoblogging.

Besides, I was too excited to eat everything, so I once again failed to take a decent photo before gobbling it all up. (Burp) I must say it was heavenly - the subtle saltiness of the ham and the sweetness of the melon compliment each other. It makes an excellent light dinner.

But the ham alone is delish - it's silky and moist, it kinda reminds me of sushi. It's totally deserving of that slot in the 50 World's Best list.
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2012-01-12T13:04:00.000+08:00

free linking buttons

2012-01-10T12:18:00.000+08:00

Below is a collection of buttons I've made. I've used most of them on my blogs before, so they're kind of second-hand ;) I thought maybe someone else would like to have them.

Transparent background PNG images. Grab as you like. ^_^

If you don't know how to add elements via html, here's the easy way to use these buttons:

Right click to save image to your computer.
From your Blogger dashboard, go to Layout.
Click "Add a Gadget" and select "Picture". Browse to upload your image. In the "Link" field, input the URL of the site you want to link to. Hit "Save" and drag gadget to desired spot. Save arrangement.

puffy twitter buttons

other glossy / puffy buttons

silver

flat squares

paint blobs

it's more fun

2012-01-07T03:32:00.000+08:00

itsmorefuninthephilippines.com

I quite like the new tourism tagline. :) It's not as concise as "Wow Philippines", but it makes more sense communicates more directly. And it's definitely waaaay better than "Pilipinas kay ganda".
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holiday-leftover sandwiches

2012-01-03T17:10:00.000+08:00

What I both love and hate the most about post-holiday season are the leftover food. I hate it because I don't enjoy eating tira-tira. But I love it because Christmas food is often of the special-sumptuous variety (why, why, why is holiday ham available only in the holidays?) , and as long as I keep things refrigerated, I wouldn't have to cook for a few days. :p

Leftovers don't have to go to waste, but they don't have to look like leftovers either. I like to pile some of the holiday ham and holiday cheese onto wheat bread and pretend I'm eating gourmet sandwiches.

pear, cheese and ham

I got the idea from Cameron of Modern Family. I was marathon-ing that sitcom yesterday, and in one of the episodes Uncle Cam said his favorite was PB&J - pear, brie and jambon. We don't have any brie around, but we do have a medium-sized queso de bola.

Most Pinoys have a habit of buying at least a dozen kinds of fruits for New Year (the superstitious believe it's for good luck, but I think most people just want something to snack on), so you will probably have a pear or two around the house. Apple would be good too.

You will need a few slices of:

Pear (or apple)
Queso de bola
Christmas ham

Optional:
Lettuce
Mayo or jam

chicken salad samwich

Lechon manok is a Pinoy go-to ulam. Chances are, someone brought a variation of roast chicken to one of the gatherings you attended, and then put some of it aside in a Tupperware for you to take home. If you've gotten sick of chicken, chicken and more chicken, turn it into a sandwich.

You will need:

Shredded chicken
Celery, finely chopped
Mayo
Salt and Pepper

Combine ingredients and spread on bread.

tomato, cheese and basil

You will need:

Cheese (I personally prefer cream cheese or cottage, or kesong puti on pandesal, but since we're consuming the leftover cheese in our crisper, I'd have to go with queso de bola again).
Fresh basil leaves
Tomatoes (not the tart, native variety; sweet fat salad tomatoes are best)

what's in your wishlist?

2011-12-12T11:47:00.000+08:00

I thought about making a vain post about what I wish to receive this Christmas as I usually do every December, but I found this thought-provoking image floating around cyberspace:

I know don't really need a new android phone, or that DVD player with the USB port, or a whole new wardrobe. I don't really need to spend money on gifts, on thingamabobs and space-eaters to give to friends who may or may not be my friends after five years. I really don't.

Dear loved ones of mine: instead of buying me something I may or may not like, please give something to someone who really needs it.

If you truly believe that it's better to give than to receive, go extreme this Holiday season. Instead of spending on stuff that people will probably forget about after January, how about giving to people who are really in need?

You don't have to go far to show kindness to the needy. Every city has homeless people, orphans, widows. And no matter how broke you feel, remember that there will always be someone poorer than you - your house helper, the manong vendor, the security guard at your office building. Go beyond relief goods give them brand new, high-quality food and items you would be glad to receive yourself. Why not, right?
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red wine spaghetti meat sauce

2011-12-10T13:13:00.001+08:00

I'm so not a fan of sweet, Filipino style spaghetti (the kind with hotdogs, sugar and cheddar cheese - blech! >_< ). I like it tangy and rich and thick - not the usual children's party fare.

Just last weekend I made a batch of red wine meat sauce for a family Christmas party, and I was so gladdened when others said they liked it. The special, flavor-enhancing ingredient is the red wine. Here's how I made it:

Ingredients

Photo not mine

4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 to 5 large plum tomatoes
basil leaves (preferably fresh and finely chopped, but dried and pulverized works too)
two 200g packs of tomato sauce
half a kilo of ground beef
1 cup of red wine

Optional

a can of sliced mushrooms
sliced black olives
beef cubes or beef stock for flavor
oregano
rosemary
pepper, to taste

Procedure

Sautee the onions ang garlic. I prefer to do the onions first because they take longer. Once the onions turn transparent, fry the ground beef. Set aside.
Boil the tomatoes until soft. Remove from heat and mash them with a fork.
Over heat, combine the cooked ground beef-and-onions, smashed tomatoes and tomato sauce. This would be the time to add your beef cubes. If you want mushrooms and olives in your sauce, you can add them at this point. Stir constantly to avoid burning the beef.
Sprinkle the basil (and if you wish, oregano and rosemary) and pour in the red wine. Lower the heat, cover and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Serve over spaghetti noodles and top with more basil and Parmesan cheese.
Makes 4-6 servings

Variations

Meat-lover:
Throw in some meatballs.
Heart-healthy:
Instead of ground beef, use tuna flakes. Use no oil, just water. Mix in one cup of oatmeal into the tomato sauce. Don't add any beef cubes or flavorings.
* Oatmeal and garlic help to lower cholesterol, red wine has antioxidants, tuna has omega-3 and tomato sauce has lycopene - all heart-friendly.
No Parmesan cheese?
Don't use cheddar! (I beseech thee! Please!) Instead, use Edam - that's the kind of cheese in Queso de Bola (marami tayo niyan 'pag Disyembre!). Local cheddar is too sweet, and i.m.h.o. ruins the flavor.

oceanarium outing and thoughts on extended family

2011-12-01T12:06:00.000+08:00

On my Papa's 66th birthday, we spent the afternoon at Manila Ocean Park with the cute little Nephew and the cute little Niece.

This here is my brother with his boy.

It was the most outrageously tiring of outings (the lines were suuuuuuuper long and inconvenient), but it was so nice to see the pamangkins smile at the sight of multicolored fishies, sharkies and friendly penguins.

Photos mine.

The best sight of all was Papa having fun with his grandkids. It's not that often that we see my brother and his family, so a day with them is a special treat of sorts.

Family is a blessing. That includes the extended part - aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws and so on. Mine is far from the warm, fuzzy Disney-movie kind of family, and there could be unnecessary drama sometimes (or a lot of times), but the bottom line is that there's a lot to be thankful for. I kinda think we prefer not to see each other so much (hahaha, it works for us that way), but we make sure to make time every now and then. Things don't have to be perfectly hunky-dory always, but you just gotta create happy moments and revel in them - realistically, you'll never know for sure if it's the last time you'll see each other, right? Might as well make things golden when you can.
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choco-love

2011-11-28T16:03:00.001+08:00

Images mine.
Nab if you like ^_^

I can't imagine how life would be if the Aztecs hadn't discovered the wonders of the cacao bean, and if the conquistadores hadn't decided to bring it home to Europe and enrich it.

I've got chocolate, chocolate, chocolate on my mind today. The Hubby and I received a love-filled goodie bag from some of his cousins who flew in for the holidays, and in it were some of my favorite things ^_^ (Thank you po sa mga Ate at kay F!) .There are certain times of the month when I crave chocolate more than ever, and this stash came at the most perfect time, so I'm really appreciating. I'm commemorating today's bliss with this bit of graphic.
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more blog backgrounds

2011-11-22T11:26:00.001+08:00

Sharing some more backgrounds.

Click the image to view, and then right click and zoom in to download the full size.

Right-click and Copy Image Location; insert URL into the HTML code. OR - install it the easier way:

Easy Installment:

Save the full-sized image to your computer.
From your Blogger dashboard, go to Template (or Template Designer, if you are using the old interface). Click Customize to go tho the Template Designer.
Click Background. You will see a box that says Background Image and shows a thumbnail of the background you are currently using. Click the tiny downward arrow at the right of the thumbnail.
In the window that appears, select Upload Image. Click Browse to upload from your computer. Don't forget to Save.

(improvised) tomato-pesto soup

2011-11-20T11:35:00.000+08:00

I'm a fan of tomato - tomato soup, tomato juice, sun-dried tomatoes. <3<3<3 There's a tomato-pesto soup I enjoyed at this Mediterranean restaurant, and I told myself I could figure out how to make something like it. Now I'm not at all a great cook and most of my recipes are formed by improvisation an estimation, so you might not want to trust me completely with this one. ;) I just know I like how it turned out.

Not an amazing photo, but it brightens up the entry, more or less. :p

Ingredients

Chicken stock (or chicken cubes)
Tomato paste
Various vegetables, diced

Carrot
Potato
Celery
Zucchini
Onion
Red beans or lentils
Tomato

Pesto sauce - you can find my recipe for pesto here
Chicken flakes - you can use the leftover chicken from last night's dinner.

Procedure

Boil the veggies and beans until soft - not mushy, but just sufficiently soft as to be edible. Of course it shouldn't take a genius to know that harder ingredients like beans and carrots take much longer. Set aside.
Combine water and chicken stock / chicken cubes, stir in the tomato paste and bring to a boil. You would like to put enough tomato paste to make it slightly opaque (not transparent).
Throw in the veggies and chicken flakes. Cover and simmer.
Serve in bowls. Swirl each bowlful with a teaspoon or two of pesto.
Top with black pepper, additional olive oil or cream if desired. You can float a few pieces of penne (like I did), potato chips or a sprig of parsley or basil.

girls talk: style icons

2011-11-17T12:50:00.001+08:00

I was a bit excited about this week's Girls Talk topic because I think it's cute and easy enough to answer, but then I found myself stymied -- I don't really have a style icon pala, haha. '.' I can appreciate other ladies' fashion sense, but I don't really have someone that I look up to or emulate in terms of style.

I'm not much of a fan of sleek-and-streamlined garb that makes people appear like they're trying too hard to be celebrity-like. I like how these gals dress (sometimes):

Rachel Bilson often gets it right. Even when she's not dressed up for a shoot, she looks so effortlessly well-composed. She manages to look laid-back but still feminine and pretty. The way she layers her clothes makes me wish it wasn't so hot here in the Philippines.

Unlike Rachel, Victoria Beckham is more on the edgy side, but I like that too. I love most of her hairstyles. She often wears stuff that would only look good on her though.

And that's my contribution for this week's GT. :)

freebies: blog backgrounds

2011-11-14T12:17:00.001+08:00

For today's happy thawt, I want to share some of the blog backgrounds I've made in the past. This is only the first installment. :) Feel free to download and use them.

Right Click the image to view it, and then zoom in to download the full size.

White Stargazers

Remembrance

Butterflight

Swirly Lilies

Right-click and Copy Image Location; insert URL into the HTML code. OR - install it the easier way:

Easy Installment:

Save the full-sized image to your computer.
From your Blogger dashboard, go to Template (or Template Designer, if you are using the old interface). Click Customize to go tho the Template Designer.
Click Background. You will see a box that says Background Image and shows a thumbnail of the background you are currently using. Click the tiny downward arrow at the right of the thumbnail.
In the window that appears, select Upload Image. Click Browse to upload from your computer. Don't forget to Save.

I would really appreciate it if you could also pin my button to your sidebar:

More buttons here

Keep thinking happy thawts! :)
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paper and pencils for a cause

2011-11-04T10:32:00.000+08:00

Paper and Pencils for a Cause is an advocacy project started by mommy blogger PinayJade. She is giving back to her hometome in Narra, Palawan by doing something extra nice for the kids of the Estrella Village Elementary School. She hopes to give them gifts that they can use for school. There are 186 students in this school.

Here are the items they need:

Paper/ Notebooks
Pencils/ Pens
Picture books for Pre-schoolers
Elementary books
School bags / any bags that can be used for this purpose (doesn’t need to be new as long as it’s usable)
Chalk
Blackboard Eraser
Crayons
Children's scissors
Pencil sharpeners
Markers
Working Computers

You can help Paper and Pencils for a Cause by:

1. Sending paper, pencils, pens and other school supplies. You can also send your unwanted but usable supplies like bags, pens, notepads etc. Your not only helping the children but you are also helping the planet by letting somebody else use what you cannot use.

2. Spreading the word about this cause. You can blog about this, share it on your Facebook wall/ page. and/or twitter. You can also add the banner above to your blog sidebar.

3. Send financial donations. Your donation would make a huge difference in their education and their lives. The money that we will receive will be used to buy new supplies and to cover the shipping cost of the supplies to the schools. If there is some extra money left, we will do a feeding program as well for the little ones.

Just a few dollars will go a long way in helping these children. You can send your donation to paypal id jade.samson (at) ymail (dot) com. For more information, check out their Facebook page.
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one less bunny at home :(

2011-10-22T15:09:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I said farewell to my beloved Pepper. He became very sick and his health decreased very rapidly in the past few days. We did what we could to save him, but in the end he had to go. I had wished that he would live a long, healthy and happy life with us, but I accept that that isn't in my power to fulfill. :(

I knew even then that he wasn't mine to keep permanently, that I would eventually have to say goodbye. In the three years he was with us, I endeavored to be the best bunny-mom I could be, so that I could collect many happy memories. Now that he has been taken from me, I choose not to focus on the sadness of loss but on all the good he has brought into our lives.

God gave him (and his brother Davey, who is still alive and well) to me when I was going through an arduous and trying time. He was unexpected but very warmly welcomed. He was just a tiny ball of fur that could sit in one of my hands back then. He brought me joy and helped me to stay positive; whenever I got depressed, he never failed to cheer me up, simply by being cute and fluffy.

He taught me a lot about love, grace and faith. He even taught me much theology - the character of God, how God connects, how the Lord can be so forgiving to those who fail him over and over. Even after his last nose-wiggle, I learned something from my dear Pepper. His passing solidified my conviction that Jesus truly loves me, and cares about what I care about.

He was a good and beautiful rabbit, and I will remember him that way. I will remember how he would hop onto the bed and nuzzle my face, how he would give me nose-bonks to ask for a raisin, how he followed me around and huddled next to me. He was really sweet and loving. He wasn't the most energetic of bunnies, but he was very curious, poking here and there - it was at times bit annoying, but always thoroughly endearing. I recall how people who saw him would say he was a gorgeous little animal; indeed, he was - he had soft, cushy fur with Dutch markings. In his prissiness, he managed to keep his white coat gleaming clean. He had bigger-than-usual round eyes, thick, long "eyelashes" and velvety ears. He was instantly loveable.

The past 24 hours have been terribly sad for me, but I'm no victim of regret. I know I gave him a comfortable, happy home and he was as blissful as a bunny can be. He has affected and enriched me in many ways, and I'm grateful and honored to have welcomed him in my life. Little as he was, he was an enormous blessing from God, and I will always be thankful for him, even long after he is gone.

You will be missed and always loved, Bunny Bun Bun.

ang buko (bow)

2011-10-19T21:21:00.000+08:00

Today's thoughtful thought is inspired by a photo I took in 2006.

To be of greater use, you will have to be broken.

The Others may not understand you, and you would cease to appear beautiful to them, but you will have fulfilled your destiny. ;)

And speaking of destiny - ang ibang buko ginagawang buko juice, o cocunut oil; ang iba ginagawang kopra, kendi o pangsahog sa fruit salad. Ang iba naman nagiging bunot. Kung anuman, destiny pa rin 'yon.

i got me a few new books! ^_^

2011-09-20T13:23:00.000+08:00

As some of you may already know, there was a book fair at the SMX last week. And I almost forgot about it! Good thing the Hubby and I were able to make time to go on Sunday, the last day.

The last day of course means a lot of people.

For non-literature lovers, it must be confounding as to why there was such a fuss about a books (a friend of ours for example, asked, What are you going to do at a book fair?). This annual event gathers various publishers and distributors together all in one place, and books are sold at much lower prices than they go for at bookstores. There's a good chance of finding titles that aren't usually sold at National or Fully Booked, even hardbound copies.

Well I love books. I don't exactly enjoy the process of reading, but I enjoy taking in what a good book has to offer. I have therefore made visiting the Book Fair a yearly tradition.

I was hoping to buy a biography of Sir Winston Churchill and of Teddy Roosevelt, but I didn't find any. The bio sections were full of tomes of William and Catherine, and various volumes on Obama ( 9_9 tsssss) but I didn't care for any of those.

I proceeded to look around and found other titles I was interested in:

They were all titles I intended to buy years ago, but I thought the bookstore prices were too expensive. Book Fair discounts are much more budget-friendly. And oh, I got a free sampler from Penguin Books too - WHAT THE WORLD IS READING is a compilation of the first chapters of hot new novels; if I like any of them I'll know what to look for in the future.

I prefer hardbound versions to paperbacks, especially for bestselling novels, but I decided on saving a few pesos by settling for the paperbacks. They have the same contents anyway. They don't look as lovely and they have smaller type, but it's a tiny inconvenience I'm willing to put myself through. Besides, most of the hardbound copies were already sold out by this time.

Hubby and I wanted to look around some more, but I - in a lack of foresight - was wearing four-inch wedges and I'd already twisted my ankle several times. Plus the crowd was getting thicker and more impatient by the minute, we had to bail before things got too uncomfy. Anyway we acquired five new titles, and we're really happy about that. ^_^

I'm excited to start devouring our new books, but I still have an old one to finish... Maybe I'll start on a new one anyway. ^_^

tarragon tea

2011-09-07T01:41:00.000+08:00

I noticed how the row of tarragon in my dad's garden has been looking lively lately, and I got tickled by the thought doing something with the fragrant herb. I don't know much about tarragon and what sort of dishes call for it; I do remember sipping a cup of tarragon tea at Sonya's in Tagaytay some time ago.

Tarragon is slightly sweet, and I imagine it would go nicely with mangoes. My rabbits love eating it.
To my nostrils, a whole bunch of it smells slightly of Mighty Bond superglue, but not at all in an offensive way.

It is said to have relaxing and stress-relieving properties. I decided to test that by making myself some tea before bedtime.

Image mine.

* Since tarragon is on the sweet side, there's no need for sugar. But if you need a bit more sweetening, I suggest you use honey - it goes nicely with the flavor. Besides, it makes sense not to use sugar if your intent for drinking is relaxation.

I've always been the type to have trouble sleeping at night (sleeping in the daytime however, often proves to be much easier) and it looks like the tea is already working its power on me. Either that or the Heroes marathon the Hubby and I did today lulled me to ennui.

girls talk: black leather boots

2011-09-02T00:29:00.001+08:00

For the first Thurdsay of September, we're Girls Talk-ing about something black. Luckily I have a whole lot of black stuff (No, its not my favorite color, but I like buying things in black, white or cream so they'd be easy to mix and match).

I decided to show-and-tell about one of my current favorite items, a pair of black boots. See poor-quality photo below:

I acquired them when I visited the U.S. a few months back; they're hand-me-downs from a family friend, but they're still good as new. I hadn't dreamt of getting boots while I was there, but I seriously needed them because my feet were freezing from the cold. Good thing these were just my size. ^_^

I just love the way they look, they're perfect for covering up my unsightly feet. It's a pity they stop being comfortable after about half an hour or so - they are strictly for porma purposes only, not for walking around. :p

Girls Talk is hosted by Beauty Queen Gene.

good advice ^_^

2011-08-23T11:27:00.000+08:00

girls talk: latest word learned

2011-08-11T18:18:00.004+08:00

This warm-weathered week, we Girls Talk about a word we recently learned. I agree with Ms. Kaye's former professor's advice - it's good to learn at least one word a day. Although I must admit, my memory is no longer as sharp as it was when I was a student. :p

Here is my new word:

macarism (n.)
taking pleasure or praising another's joy;
a beatitude or blessing;
the act of making another happy

Ain't it a lovely word with an unselfish meaning?

Its verb form is macarize which means to congratulate; to declare as happy or blessed.

As we go through Girls Talk, let's macarize one another for stretching our noodles a bit to learn new words. ;p

today's current faves

2011-08-10T16:24:00.010+08:00

Every now and then I post a random list of my current favorite things (I need to put the word "current" in there because my preferences change over time). I haven't done that in a while, so I suppose I could do it now.

1. Starbucks cake pops

They're portable, bite-sized cakes on a stick! Absolutely brilliant! I can have a quick cure for my sweet tooth without feeling like I overstuffed myself.

2. Coconut oil
I raved a bit about it here.

3. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer

I stumbled onto this while passing time at a Pharmacy in Las Vegas, waiting while my Mama had a medical check-up. Am I glad I found it. ^_^

Its main ingredient is beeswax - natural, organic, and chemical-free, it has moisturizing and healing properties. I was told by avid users that even uncolored beeswax could give lips a healthy glow since it combats discoloration. As an added plus, this product is tinted in several different shades and is shimmery for a prettier pout.

4. Cover Girl Clean Liquid Make-Up

Another acquisition on the trip to the U.S. (I must note how happy it made me see how much cheaper branded American products are there compared to here ^_^). Cover Girl Clean is aptly named for the mess-free way you apply it onto your face. I love the superior coverage without the greasy feel or the cakey look. I kinda think it's good enough on its own for daytime wear, I mean even without blush or eye make-up.

5. Careline eyeshadow powder in a shimmery shade of off-white /cream

I forget what the specific shade is called because I have this habit of peeling labels off from stuff :p I'm not in the habit of sweeping a sparkly shadow over my entire eyelid, but I dab a bit of this to highlight (such as, at the center of the lid for more depth, or at the corners for a weird, artsy look). Since it's in powder form, a very light dusting is suitable for highlighting other parts of my face - like my cheekbones when I don't intend to put on too much blush.

I also found that it can be incorporated into a home-made lip balm mixture for added shimmer, as was used by this lady in her recipe.

6. Wedge sandals

Wedge sandals are a fab cheat for casual wear. They not only create the illusion of added height, but also of less width (hee hee hee). Their moderate chunkiness makes me look a bit more proportioned by balancing out the extra ham that I carry around in my legs. Not too hefty though, so as not to look too Spice-Girlsy.

7. Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Lotion

I discovered this at my Ma's home in Vegas and found that it quickly and effectively treated dry, cracked skin. I'd used it for but a few days when I decided I ought to buy my own tube. It smells really nice too.

8. My new "business card" home page

I found a template that perfectly houses links to all my blogs and other sites in one compact layout, without the unnecessary items. With it, I don't need to put a huge number of links when I want to promote myself; I could just put the one. On top of a short profile, it contains buttons to: all four of my active blogs, my FB page, my Twitter account, my Tumblr log, my 360 Project, my Multiply shop and the site where I upload my art and photos. See what I mean here.

I grabbed this idea from one of those how-to blogs, and I think it's neat and nifty. I highly recommend it for people with several blogs, sites and/or web stores.

And that's it for now. ^_^

girls talk: favorite word

2011-08-04T10:28:00.004+08:00

Glad to be back at Girls Talk after a long absence from the blogosphere!

Today is all about our favorite words. I had a bit of difficulty choosing because I have quite a few. Still I think today's topic is such a pleasant coincidence, because I recently met a word that quickly became my new favorite:

frisson
a brief moment of emotional excitement; shudder, thrill
Definition from Merriam-Webster.com

Ain't it cute? ^_^ I mean it sounds cute out loud, and it means something cute. I stumbled upon it while making my own crossword puzzle; I needed something that had an R, an I and double S, I asked Google and it gave me this. I fell in love with it and decided it will feature in my next poem.

I can't end this entry without mentioning my all-time favorite word: butterscotch! =D

It's one of those words that are delicious to pronounce. And it means a yummy thing too! Check out my easy butterscotch syrup recipe here.

Like words? Read about the other Girls' Talkers choices at Beauty Queen Gene. Thursdays in the month of August are reserved for discussing words, words words! ^_^