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

Chronicles of TV: Grey's Anatomy

2013-06-19T11:22:00.000+08:00

I couldn’t remember when it was that I first watched Grey’s, but I do remember it was at least five years ago and I was living back in my hometown in Las Pinas. My cousin, who is in the field of medicine, shared it with me and at the time, I found it rather, too depressing. This was the episode where Izzy {played by Katherine Heigl}, was found to be a former lingerie model and her patient was a prostate cancer patient who once upon a time fantasized about her.

I found it too emotional.

Last year, after too many season breaks and with the lack of stuff to watch, I found myself hankering for some Grey’s Anatomy. I think it was brought on by a fan-made YouTube video, which I searched for and found one, only it wasn’t a music video. It was an episode wherein this song was used in a Grey’s Anatomy episode. I got curious so I started from the beginning. The beginning as in Season 1.

Before I knew it, I was sobbing my eyes out at Meredith’s conundrums, the entirety of the Denny saga {IKR???}, George’s death, the Lexie-Sloan love story, the painful shootout and the rise and fall of Christina Yang’s marriage to Owen Hunt. Never has a series made me so patient with acquiring all the episodes as Grey’s Anatomy did but it has. Truth be uttered, friends who have initially been watching this have already stopped and thought it was just dragging on.

I was about to think the same when sometime this year, I lost my daily internet connection and regained it after. I downloaded the remainder of season 9 and here I am again, sobbing myself at the cheesy Kepner proposal, yet hopeful for what happened with her and Jackson Avery. Somehow, I loved Hilarie Burton’s guesting and I feel she and Arizona belong together. Too much suspense at Derek and Christina running to Meredith when she was bleeding out. Of course, Webber. {sad face}

My favorite part of the season finale

Why am I saying all these? Last week, out of proximity, I popped my SATC DVDs on and found myself, well, a little bored of episodes I’ve seen only once in my life. I guess it’s safe to say that I have finally grown out of my SATC phase and moving on to have a new favorite TV series where every single episode reminds us of the value of the human life and somehow reminds its viewers that our life is fragile and precious so do the thing you want to do the most, express your love wholly and freely, and spend every moment where it should be spent.

All of Me | John Legend

What a beautiful song I've discovered via Grey's Anatomy ep 24.

It’s a Tuesday night as I type this and a storm just finished coming to the city. Thank you for yet another rollercoaster, Shonda Rhimes.

Drifting in and out

2013-06-17T12:17:00.002+08:00

Maybe it's the weather. Or the erratic waves of life that crashes onto shores.
Or the rain that's threatening to fall from the gray skies.

Drifting In and Out | Porcelain Raft

Take me away, directionless
It doesn't have to make any sense
Use what you have, I'll follow you
Use what you have, don't you worry now

Drifting in and out...

Choose what to be, take a side
What if I don't want to step out in the light
Give it to others, just let it go now
Give it to others, don't you worry now

Drifting in and out...

Water-based skincare, anyone?

2013-06-13T14:02:00.001+08:00

“The more you wear less makeup, the more you look beautiful in it.” Somebody or the other once said that and I guess that's why, even after a dozen or so skincare reviews on this blog, I still find the energy to write about great skincare finds. Eventually, there will be days when I won't be able to wear makeup {due to rushing, or just plain laziness}.

As a pseudo beauty blogger and recurring beauty enthusiast, I have heard of all sorts of ingredients added to skincare. We all know of the chemicals we can’t pronounce, the stem cells from apples, papaya, vegetables, and pearls even!

Honestly, I am not one of the many who aren’t too meticulous on the ingredients. I wish I was but I admit to not checking the ingredients section and go straight to the bathroom or the boudoir to roadtest a product.

As such was the case with this skincare newcomer, H20 Plus, a brand that brandishes its main ingredient: seawater, claiming to have invigorating and renewing effects.

When Cindy Melk launched H2O Plus in 1989, the company transformed the beauty industry with its innovative fusion of marine ingredients with state-of-the-art technology. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, H2O Plus, LLC, develops, manufactures and markets marine-based skin care products for the face and body. This internationally recognized brand has evolved from a deep-sea discovery to a global skincare innovator with sales in excess of $100 million

Again, I don’t like geeking out so much when it comes to beauty products so I will just go straight to my observations when I started using the H20 Plus products I have in my stash about two weeks ago:

Aquafirm+ Micro-Collagen Moisturizer – This silky firming cream visibly fights fine lines and loss of firmness with collagen-boosting moisture

Key Ingredients:

Marine Microspheres – Encapsulated spheres deeply penetrate the skin’s surface and swell with the body’s natural moisture to immediately plump the appearance of fine lines from within
Sea Nutrient Barrier – Powerful fusion of algae and oat extract creates a light veil on the skin, pulling surface cells closer together for an instant micro-lifting effect
Jojoba – Extracted from the jojoba seed native to the Mojave Desert, this rich emollient agent is an exceptional moisturizer with a chemical makeup most similar to the oil skin naturally produces

Directions: Apply to face and neck after cleansing and toning.

RETAIL PRICE: PHP 3,500.00 (50 mL / 1.7 Fl oz)

+ Feels deliciously luxurious to use; smells like a luxe product and glides on smoothly without overtly oiling up. Sincerely the best moisturizer I’ve used in a long time because it just glides in the face and I feel so sophisticated while using it {how that happens, please don’t ask me}. Face feels ridiculously moisturized after an entire day of running around, being in airconditioned spaces and exposed to smog sometimes. No breakouts, too.

Sea Results Eye Mender Plus – A rejuvenating contour cream tailored to reduce under-eye puffiness and wrinkles, delivers a virtual matrix of penetrating hydration through the new Marine Micropatch Technology. Experience a 22% decrease in wrinkle depth and 19% increase in skin firmness with 28 days of continued use.

Key Ingredients:

Monk's Pepper Berry – Derived from the Mediterranean chaste tree; proven to help reduce the appearance dermal creases and fine lines while visibly improving elasticity and firmness
Sepilift® – This plant–derived single amino acid is scientifically proven to help strengthen collagen fibers, boost elasticity and combat damaging free radicals
Anti–Aging Marine Blend – a transformative trio of natural seaweed extracts proven to help skin resist and repair the visible signs of aging.
Nori: Deep reddish algae sourced from Japan’s western shore; visibly firms skin that has lost elasticity, and reduces the appearance of surface lines
Himanthalia: Brown grassy blades that thrive on the rocky coast of the northern British Isles; calms and soothes stressed skin
Spirulina: Blue–green coils that flourish along balmy South Pacific shores; rich in nutrients known to boost cell immunity

Directions: Apply to eye contour morning and night.
RETAIL PRICE: PHP 2,590.00 (15 mL / 0.5 Fl oz)

+ Rich concoction of eye cream goodness; Oddly feels like any other eye cream though which means performs well as any good eye cream. No dry feeling in the eye area vs. not using any. Smells great!

Face Oasis Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser – Deeply cleanses and revitalizes skin with a gently refining, oil-free formula. An exfoliating fusion of fruit enzymes and algae helps sweep away dull surface cells, leaving skin luminous and ready to receive maximum moisture.

Key Ingredients:

Exfoliating Enzyme Fusion – Sourced from fruit, sugar cane and maple, this enzymatic fusion helps naturally dissolve dull surface cells without abrasion or irritation
Jojoba Beads – Oil-free jojoba wax is formed into perfectly spherical shapes, creating an exfoliating bead that glides smoothly across the skin’s surface without irritation leaving behind only protective moisture
Hydrating Marine Blend – A triple synthesis of ocean-derived botanicals that optimizes the skin’s moisture balance while bolstering free radical resistance.
Wakame: Brown kelp energizes skin’s natural functions and recharges tone
Sea Lettuce: Dewy yellow-green leaves cultivated from the coast of Brittany, France; supports skin-firming collagen and elastin
Fennel: Waxy green ribbons abundant along rocky English sea cliffs; empowers skin to resist aging environmental damage

Directions: Massage over damp face. Rinse well. For best results, use 2 to 3 times per week.

RETAIL PRICE: PHP 1,750.00 (120 mL / 4 U.S. Fl oz)

+ Smells a bit masculine but rich in texture and with scrubs, too. Face feels clean after but unfortunately, broke me out 

Overall, H20 Plus delights in the skincare arena and I am excited to get me some more of the face moisturizer. Other than the breaking out care of the facial wash, H20 signifies a completely bright and glowing future in the Philippine landscape of skincare technology.

H20 Plus is available at SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City.

Life Lesson: Drink your milk

2013-06-07T14:27:00.001+08:00

It started during one of those days, when we had this health and wellness fair at the office and I lined up for the one where they calculate your bone density that I found out I had osteopenia, a disorder which means one has lesser bone density than normal but not enough to be classified as osteoporosis.

Simply put, I was at a higher risk of osteoporosis when I get older and the doctor advised I start drinking milk. “Did everyone else drink milk beyond their teens?” I asked. As it turned out, I was one of the few people who left out drinking milk after my teens simply because milk made me fat {another realization I had when I my pants and skirts started busting --- literally}. And because calcium supplements aren’t really the brightest options out there due to ‘calcification,’ I turned to the best thing: milk.

It was probably a serendipitous thing to happen, as I received a brunch invite from Nestle Non Fat, as they were launching a pink-boxed version of their non-fat milk. Since then, I get to enjoy the benefits of drinking milk {while working and before I go to sleep} and the calcium that it brings. I love how I can just drink a box of it in two days and get to keep my waistline and not have to change wardrobes. I’m happy to know a brand takes the effort to make drinking milk such a wonderful experience. It looks good on my work desk, too!

YUMMY <3 b="">These Nestle treats had me working up an appetite!

It's these details that makes me love brunch!

The Bizu buffet had me stifling sighs and 'aahs' ...

But these darling peach mini pancakes won my heart.

As well as the lovely set up :)

... and bumping into ladies who brunch. Hi, Denise and Patty!

Nestle had a fashion show in the morning --- and made it work!

This one by Vania Romoff

My messy desk and my milk. It matches!

Lesson learned: Drink your milk even if you've grown beyond your teens --- that's like insurance for your old age bones! :)

Team Tara for Majolica Faceoff

2013-06-06T15:20:00.002+08:00

See you this Saturday, lovely ladies! I'll be at SM Megamall Beauty Section at 3 PM!

Kristine Ann Licuanan
Jheng Santos - Baluyot
Mara Mina
Kristel Yap
Maria Luz Broqueza

See you all, girls!

I will stay should the world by me fold

2013-06-05T08:00:00.000+08:00

Is there a mediocre Hillsong United song? I am led to believe there isn't. Just listen to this. What an awe-inspiring masterpiece of a Christian song. Like a Thirty Second to Mars song slash Lifehouse. Maybe even better.

Stay and Wait | Hillsong United

Who spoke the Earth and sky to form
Who sets the sun and calls the dawn
Who breathed me out of dust to life
With the will to trust or run and hide

I will stay should the world by me fold
Lift up Your name as the darkness falls
I will wait and hold fast to Your word
Heart on Your heart and my eyes on You

Who loved me through my rebel way
Who chose to carry all my shame
Who breaths in me with endless life
The king of glory Jesus Christ

I will stay should the world by me fold
Lift up Your name as the darkness falls
I will wait and hold fast to Your word
Heart on Your heart and my eyes on You

God of wonder and God of grace
Let my soul stand always to praise You
Fix my eyes on Your perfect way
And I'll never look back

I will stay should the world by me fold
Lift up Your name as the darkness falls
I will wait and hold fast to Your word
Heart on Your heart and my eyes on You

Who lifts the poor and heals the blind
Who trampled death for all mankind
Who stands for all with arms stretched wide
My King forever Jesus Christ

Have a listen!

How to be happy at home

2013-06-04T08:00:00.000+08:00

When I was about to move into my current home earlier this year, my friend and mentor J reminded me a couple of times to stock up on coffee beans and not to forget my coffeemaker. According to him, brewing coffee in a new place makes one feel home faster as the scent reminds one of homey mornings.

He was right. And because of that, I cannot stand the taste of 3 in 1 coffee (not that there’s anything wrong with it) but I’ve been so accustomed to brewed coffee first thing in the morning now that I can’t afford to be lazy and settle for 3 in 1.

The truth is, it is going to suck at some point. Being alone without relatives nearby or a trusty househelp is going to make one feel somber when one wakes up in the morning needing to fetch laundry, vacuum, wash the dishes, make her own breakfast and wash the pots, too. But if you’re like me, you most probably moved on your own for good for the reason that you want to truly experience what it’s like to be truly independent.

It was an article that my good friend Shenny shared some days ago and with some of my own, I’m sharing the best ones that proved to be helpful to me. Hope they will be to you as well.

It's an effort to fix this bed but I love coming home to plop down on it in the evenings!

Get up and strategically place your favorite photos around your home. My biggest mistake was that it took me forever to put up my gallery wall (and as of this writing, still haven’t) for fear of making mistakes in putting up the frames. I love my white walls --- that much I know. But the comfort lies not in the white walls but the familiarity a space brings. Go ahead and take those dusty frames out to remind you of home and old memories.
Bring in the familiar scents. I didn’t have any idea that I loved the scent of my own fabric conditioner until I had to send my laundry to the laundry shop, which of course, used another brand. It doesn’t feel the same way so I’m praying they switch to my brand. crosses fingers Until then, I’m burning scented oils every night to remind me of my old room in Quezon City.
Watch old films. My fondest memories of my old house were laughing alone at really funny films I’ve watched before. If I am looking to making new memories at where I am, I need to induce emotions to the things I’m doing everyday, starting with watching Legally Blonde.
Cheer yourself up. This has become an inside joke --- Shen and I always cheer each other with “Hell to the yeah!” referring to cheering ourselves up while doing the dishes. One has to do it (no doubt, you) so might as well do it greatly by cheering yourself up.
Devote a space for relaxation. I got my current place on the basis of the huge, floor to ceiling windows, knowing it was going to inspire me to work. And work, I have done. It was much later when I finally dedicated a small portion of it to scented candles, spa items, relaxing books and magazines that I truly appreciated the place. It is home after all.

What's your pick me upper at home?
xx

Majolica Majorca Lash Edgemeister + Be on my team!

2013-06-03T12:20:00.003+08:00

As an ‘enthusiast’ of all things pretty, I knew it was very important to be careful with the mascaras we use. I have a ton at home --- so either I gave tubes away, because after all, I never get to use them all at once anyway. The ones I am keen on trying go into the backburner until I am done with the current tube. The tubes of Majolica Majorca fell under that category. When it came to my hands, I was occupied with another fabulous Japanese brand {shu uemura natural mascara, if you must know}. When I finished my tube of that, these two were the natural successors.

You see, this was the first Majolica Majorca mascara that I was trying. I’ve heard of it since five years ago --- back in the day when I would read Fuzkittie’s blog {which is now defunct} and being an Asian herself, I was amazed at how she would transform her sparse eyelashes to thicker ones. At that time, Majolica was not at all available in the Philippines, not even from online sellers.

As it happens, it wasn’t urban legend after all: this brand really does deliver:

The Good:

Look at that length. If like me, you have sparse, short eyelashes, this is a must try! It looks natural and not at all scary-looking.
The comb is similar to that of my longtime HG mascara, Maybelline Cat Eye Mascara. What it does is that it makes sure it separates all the hair of your lashes so they’re almost individually coated with the liquid.
Expect fibers in your tube of Edgemeister --- helpful for that lengthening effect.
Didn’t smudge on me at all. But then again, as in any makeup application, the key is careful application.
Doesn’t feel heavy on the eyes. You may want to curl your lashes prior to usage though.
Didn’t flake out in the middle of the day as some waterproof mascaras do --- and not as tough to remove. It came out easily when I used shu uemura Ultime8 cleansing oil in the evening.
Hooray for duo comb! Didn’t notice this at first but both sides are combs which can be used for the tips {the bigger side} and the lower lashes {baby comb side}.
Not too shabby at the price of Php 795 and available at leading Beauty by SM stores, too!

The Not too Good:

If you’re not careful, it may end up clumping and you may end up with smudges if you don’t dry it first before opening/closing your eyes.
If one is looking for volume {or kapal in local parlance}, this may not be your best option. This is truly a lengthening mascara and not a volumizing one.

Got thoughts on Majolica Majorca mascaras? Share with me through the comments section!

PS: I’m having a small faceoff this coming Saturday and I’d love for five of my readers to come! Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below {so I can get your info}. It’ll be at SM Megamall at 4-6 PM. Everyone on my team gets Majolica goodies and if we win, we’ll have a small celebratory dinner! Will be announcing the winner on Thursday evening. I am only praying that someone does join my team! =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hope you join!

What I Know For Sure: Grounded

2013-06-03T12:03:00.001+08:00

I’m sipping my coffee today as I type this and a podcast of last week’s worship service is playing in the background. My colleagues and I have been throwing this term ‘the new norm’ all week long, in reference to multiple projects per person. At the home slash personal front, this is fast becoming my new norm --- waking up on weekends to writing tasks, drinking coffee or milk and spewing off word for word. I still have two boxes left unpacked and I’m slowly building other phases of my life such as my kitchen {which I realize, I’ve turned into a library} but slowly, life is normalizing. I’m content today.

Yesterday, my bestfriend and I were taking advantage of internet messaging --- and talked about the things that were happening to us. I haven’t seen her in weeks and we’re both raring to have another round of sleepovers. We touched on the subject of friendships of a lifetime and how we’re lucky to have found that in this one.

It’s true when they say it doesn’t matter how many friends you have --- it’s the quality of friendship that matters. When I was younger, I made some sort of effort to add more into the number of people I already had. To me, I thought that the more I had, the more choices I had every weekend that I had free. Call it age, but getting over that ‘fear of missing out’ is paying off. I’d rather choose a quiet dinner with someone I can truly talk to rather than be dressed up to the nines with people who look nice to be in pictures with {yes, this happens} but have nothing really common with me.
Find something to ground you. In my case, even if it’s always a work in progress, I am happy to be running to Jesus both when I’m sad and happy. Attributing happiness and sadness to something that won’t go away was the most blessed thing I’ve ever done in my life. In the past, I attributed it to whatever was the cause --- and felt empty when it wasn’t there.
Drama is a byproduct of a mismanaged life. And as a person who’s had more than enough --- I realized that it was of my own doing. I scowl at the thought of those days when I would create my own little drama everyday {especially on PMSing days, ugh}. When I look at all those, I would be aghast at how true that realization was and I would vow not to make any more drama out of my life anymore. So far, so good!
Bedmaking 101. Flat sheets go into the bed after the fitted one and before the comforter. I never had to worry about all these things before and now that I have to do all these on my own --- well, let’s just say that Google is truly a lifesaver.
More money will not make you happy but it doesn’t hurt to manage it well. I’m at that point where I have more money than I’ve ever had in my life {mostly stowed away, really} and while I’m no Forbes 500 lister, I’m happy knowing that I’ve finally gotten grip on money matters. It is a bit tedious to type every single thing on my Google Drive account to keep track of every cent {except if they’re gratuities or tithing}, but knowing where everything goes gives me that peace of mind that I’ve accounted for everything and that it goes to where I intended it to be. On the flip side, my happiness doesn’t stem from anything that has a currency --- it’s knowing that what makes us happy is not at all money-related.
Pray. When you feel tense, insecure, hungry, desperate, happy, ecstatic --- pray. I always knew I prayed at the right times of my life: upon waking up, before meals, before going to sleep. When our pastor spent an hour and a half talking about the benefits of praying, I prayed every chance I could get. Sometimes it’s as simple as uttering Our Father, the simplest yet most complete prayer, in sincerity. And then my days became even brighter, even more grounded and way, way clearer. I literally felt like a wall was being put up between my temptations and me. What a difference a simple prayer can make.
Take care of what you put into your heart. Take care of the little jealousies, the petty desperations, the things you give time to everyday. It will make up for the big picture of your life. I cannot stress this enough.
Love is patient and love is kind. Most importantly, love is hopeful.

And that is all I know for sure this week. I’m ready for another week of living with intention and finding wisdom in the everyday. I hope you are, too!

xx

A Friday Kind of Thought is a Tuesday Kind of Love

2013-05-31T19:16:00.002+08:00

A Tuesday kind of love is this: commuting to work knowing that someone cares about what you’re going to have for lunch; understanding that you do not have to be your dynamic, charming, weekend self this time; this time you can butcher sentences and make bad jokes and trip over thin air and it won’t change anything. A Tuesday kind of love is when weekends and weekdays are one and the same, expanses of time where unpredictable, irreplaceable closeness exists, swells, bursts. Tuesday is directionless conversation about things that happened five hours or five years ago; it’s knowing where he keeps his receipts and when he has a doctor appointment; it’s ordering Chinese food or taking his parents out for dinner because they’re in town or forgetting to eat because you’re full of each other’s words and there’s just no room for anything else.

Source

Via

Funny what age can do =)
Happy Friday, girls!

Favorite {White} Things

2013-05-30T08:00:00.000+08:00

White linens. A white desk. A whiteboard. White underthings. The lilies when it dares. Waking up on Saturdays. The promise of purity. A blank. A fresh start.

The challenge to stay pure. Cotton. Lacoste's Eau de Lacoste. My favorite white jeans.
A color which seems to whisper, "Love me if you dare."

Things I Love Sundays: The Ultimate

2013-05-27T17:28:00.000+08:00

I don’t know how it happened but I am glad it did. The past week was an absolute source of joy despite it being a normal, busy one. I guess it may be because it was off from such a happy start.

Or because it was one of those days where one lets go of all things --- and just finds joy in the Lord. I heard it once from someone I used to work with and back then, I thought, “How does one do that?”

I understand now. Just like what Matthieu Ricard said, do not anchor your happiness on a feeling --- because feelings always have opposites and you will find yourself on the polar end if you lose that feeling.

That was what Pastor Paolo preached today: “When the good becomes the ultimate, that’s when it starts being bad.” Because when we are happy only because of a certain thing like a job promotion, every payday, every time we go shopping, our hearts are hooked on a certain feeling and we will start craving for that every time we don’t get it. And I get it now. I get it why there’s nothing else, no other ultimate than God Himself. When one’s joy is only in the Lord, happiness is unshakeable and stable. Aha. That is why.

And that is all I have to say for today --- that real, unadulterated joy is realest when it is found in God. I know it’s not the easiest thing to do and it can take quite a few stumbles but the rewards are just priceless.

But oh, some lovely things over the weekend:

Our first run of Brighter Days Brunch was a success --- at least I thought it was. Everyone came on Saturday morning, shared lovely food and interacted with our beauty and brains financial advisors. All in all, it was a great morning!
Spent the remaining of Saturday with one of my best friends, Y. We did girl things like talk and talk and talk (of course!), shop, eat sweets and catch The Great Gatsby, which took my heart away. Oh Leonardo Dicaprio, what a splendid actor you are!
Flowers on my desk as I type this. I can never underestimate how glorious it is to have blooms on one’s table!
A blank, white canvass of a white board. Here’s to real-life pins and inspiration.
Life’s surprises --- because you never really know when you’re about to get one. Or three.

Have an amazing week ahead, my dearest readers!
xx

Accouterments for a good night’s sleep

2013-05-27T11:30:00.001+08:00

Back in high school, sleepovers are as frequent as school projects go. It was the ultimate excuse of youth to stay up without breaking daddy’s curfew. Fast forward to the year of the late 20s, sleepovers are replaced by out of town, out of country trips. Nevertheless, a pajama party is always a nice way of having fun with your girlfriends, and/or discovering new things.

As in my case, discovering new things to come with me to sleep. With the increasing number of factors such as 24-hour vehicles on the streets (even residential ones), work stress, daily commute fatigue, complicated relationships and job juggling, falling asleep these days have become harder than it was years ago. While I thought I already had some sort of ritual for falling asleep, a recent sleepover helped me discover more ways of getting into fitful slumber.

Ladies and (maybe) gentlemen, meet my sleepover friends:

L-R: 1) Apollo Pure Petroleum Jelly 2) Satin Eye Mask (from Apostrophe) 3) Knit socks (bought in Tokyo) 4) So True Naturals Peppermint Linen Spray, Php 285 available via SoTrueNaturals.com 5) Zenutrients All is Well Php 190 via Sesou 6) Zen Zest Room Fragrance in Calming variant (Php 180)

Petroleum Jelly – Walking in high heels all day plus open shoes can harden one’s feet. To restore lost moisture, apply pure petroleum jelly on your entire foot. I once got face to face with my foot during yoga and I was petrified at how dry mine were. I never forgot to apply petroleum jelly since then.
Do yourself a lovely favor and the benefit of long, uninterrupted sleep by using an eyemask. I started wearing one since I started working and while friends complain of insomnia and short bouts of sleep, I still manage to maintain eight hours of shut eye every single day.
To complement #1, don’t forget to lock in the moisture by wearing soft, cute socks. Yes, they must be cute to add to the relaxing feeling of going to bed!
One of two things I discovered from my friend Sophie, So True Naturals is a local brand, which uses topnotch aromatherapy oils. Their lavender oils are a winner though my personal preference remains to be the peppermint and grapefruit one. To use, I spray this all over my pillows and believe it or not, I get knocked out in 1, 2, 3…
Probably our generation’s Tiger Balm equivalent, Zenutrients All is Well oil is like a magic potion to one’s muscle pains. I rolled this one onto my aching neck and legs and instantly, the cold sensation wiped away the tiredness and I was lulled into relaxation. The minty scent is a very welcome bonus, too.
Here’s a secret why I get sleepy almost immediately when arriving home: I spray Zen Zest’s room spray in Calming as soon as I get into the door. As evidenced in this article, I am an aromatherapy person and I get sleepy at the whiff of something relaxing. If you have trouble getting into sleep, try spritzing this into your bedroom while doing your night skin regimen and (maybe this is just me) see yourself wakeup with very good dreams.
Last and definitely not the least: Read the Bible and pray. I do not claim to be the best Christian but as a human who sins every single day, one way of relaxing is praying and telling Him everything in my heart to ask for forgiveness and to hope. Lately, it's been Philippians, which is my favorite. What a joyful read.

Any slumber secrets you got there?
Share with me through the comments section!

Why 30 is not the new 20 + The Winner!

2013-05-24T19:59:00.003+08:00

The other day, one of my most admired women, Daphne Oseña-Paez tweeted about one thing we can only dream about:

If you could start your adult life over, what would you do differently? #deepthoughts
— Daphne Osena Paez (@DaphneOP) May 23, 2013

There are many things, if you ask me. I wish I studied more. I wish TEDtalks existed when I was in my teens. I wish I didn't sleep so much. I wish I wasn't such a bad decision-maker. I wished I focused on quarter life capital instead of quarter life crisis. I wish I spent afternoons going out of my comfort zones instead of sulking myself to sadness. I wish I studied more. Read more, traveled more.

Last weekend, I spent the weekend with my favorite cousin -- whom I treat like a little sister. We spent the weekend treating ourselves to a spa day and eating Razon's Halo Halo because it was sweltering hot. And of course, talking about trivial things.

Without giving much away, I told her all of my life's regrets -- and that hopefully, she doesn't have to go through them too. If you're a twentysomething who always think that things won't get better --- well, they do. Someday, you will wake up and realize that the time you spent obsessing over a job that never happened / a failed relationship / a failure / anything that gets you down --- you'd wish you just sucked it up and moved on. You are who you think you are --- those days will make up for your lifetime. Make every day count --- take it from me. I wasted so many years crying over spilled milk. To be more precise, I spent a good number of years crying over a guy who doesn't like me.

Please don't be like the younger me.

And if you don't believe me, here's a wonderful, wonderful TEDtalks video by Meg Jay. I promise you, that you will feel better and empowered as I have been.

Do not waste your 20s. Let's not.

Much love,

Tara

PS: Congratulations, Mela Sy, for winning my Ultimate Diamond Facial giveaway! =)

You'll Come

2013-05-21T18:44:00.003+08:00

Here's a thing: I add random songs into my ~~three~~ four year old iPod, play everything in random shuffle and let whatever song that comes up underscore whatever is happening into my life.

Yesterday, as I was cleaning my bathroom, recounting the funny, serendipitous details of my day, this song, a recommendation from my friend, Sophie, came into play.

You'll Come | Hillsong United

Unlike my other favorite Christian songs that hinges on humble forgiveness, this one resounds of pure joy and acceptance of Jesus into life. Neither is better than the other but yesterday, as I reviewed the state of my life, my personal instances, it was a perfect fit.

Everyday is a new day to start all over again, was what I thought. Every day is a new day to hold on to Christ's hands, to faith.

I have decided I have resolved

To wait upon you Lord

My rock and redeemer shield, and reward

I'll wait upon you Lord

Prechorus

As surely as the sun will rise

You'll come to us

As certain as the dawn appears

Chorus

You'll come let your glory fall

As you respond to us

Spirit Rain, flood into our thirsty hearts again

You'll come.

Verse 2

We are not shaken we are not moved

We wait upon you Lord

Mighty deliverer triumph and truth

We wait upon you Lord

As surely as the sun will rise you'll come to us

Certain as your word endures.

CHORUS

Bridge

Chains be broken

Lives be healed

Eyes be opened

Christ is revealed

It's amazing how Jesus works wonderful ways =) Have a blessed Tuesday!

Why Monday mornings are sacred

2013-05-20T12:31:00.001+08:00

I came to work today bounding off the walls --- you can tell I am happy.

Today, I'm grateful that I had my morning to myself, attending to chores and eating a healthy breakfast and most of all, devoting precious hours to learning. When I moved closer to where I work, people who knew me predicted that I would coming in earlier than I usually did. And I did.

Until I realized that I wasn't the type. I felt like I was being robbed off of something every morning and felt empty in the evenings.

Then I reverted to my best routines -- that is, I wake up, pray {most of the time at least}, fix my bed, clean, prepare my breakfast, brew my coffee and read. I read about two to three chapters of business books {right now it's Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In and Tim Ferriss' The Four Hour Workweek} and watch TED.

I am truly grateful that I had the pleasure of watching these videos this morning and I am blessed with the beautiful knowledge imparted to me.

Especially you, Matthieu Ricard. You've made my day.

The Habits of Happiness by Matthieu Ricard

Why we make bad decisions by Dan Gilbert

Sending you lots of love and happiness!

Chronicles of Skin: The Ultimate Diamond Facial at Skin, The Spa + Giveaway!

2013-05-17T14:54:00.003+08:00

The phrase The Spa will always be two syllables that will bring the image of relaxation to mind. Apart from the usual fare of kneading, The Spa has always been a favorite urban retreat for the simple reason that their ginger tea is a concoction that will make you want to stay inside it forever.

However, on a (hot) Tuesday afternoon, I was in for something different as I turned right to SKIN, instead of turning left to the spa reception. I was feeling a wee bit dull in the face area and when weekends and holidays have been devoted to housework, a girl can opt for a facial instead.

The first order of every facial (and girls, you must remember this) is a talk with the dermatologist to discuss your skin’s state, while sipping hot ginger tea, of course. SKIN’s derma (who had a fabulous perm and perfect poreless skin) had been a kind and listening ear to my skin woes. I told her about my breakout episode last year where nothing, NOTHING, could stop my breakout. As I recently discovered, I have no hyperthyroidism, as I was previously told so it was probably just a bad case of stress mixed with a breakout phase. Thankfully, I had no breakouts this time, just acne scars from decades ago. She recommended dermaroller --- which I promised myself I would save up for, even if the maximum recovery would just be up to 85% of the skin.

After my long quandary on the topic of skin, I moved towards questioning her about why I had such intense hairfall --- so much so that I asked her if I was dying. LOL. The derma conducted a bit of hairfall test on me and surprise! My hairfall rate was just normal. She said that if 3 out of 10 of your hair falls, then that’s something to be concerned about. I had 0 and had a total of 50 for an entire day. The threshold is up to 200. HA!

The Ultimate Diamond Facial

To tell you candidly, I was every bit of ready to face pricking --- tiis ganda, in local parlance. I knew from experience that there was always some pain from the pricking wherein your facialist would ask you “Ma’am, masakit ba?” through your tear-stained face. I was ready but the pain, when it came, was tolerable and get this --- done by the dermatologist herself.

The facial itself consisted of the usual treat of cleansing the face properly. Like any other The Spa massage, I almost dozed off into oblivion. According to Dra., massages keep the blood circulation in the face. The point of regular facials is to clean the face of accumulated dirt that normal cleansing do not remove. Whereas normal facials are just clean and go, this one included a diamond peel which is a softer version of peels, yet a tougher way to exfoliate. In a nutshell, it’s a procedure worthy of becoming a routine every three weeks or so.

That, and you get to have the ginger tea again after your treatment :P

To inquire about Ultimate Diamond Facial, you can call SKIN at 4038000 / 09178092399 or visit them at SKIN Dermatology and Laser Center inside The Spa Welness, The Fort Bonifacio Highstreet Taguig City. Opening Soon at Shangri-la Mall.

NOW, the fun part: one lucky reader will get to go through the same luxurious treatment as I have, which is the Ultimate Diamond Facial! All you have to do are:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be drawn on Friday, May 24, 2013. Goodluck!

Chronicles of Cream Blush: Bobbi Brown Sheer Cherry Cheek Tint

2013-05-16T08:00:00.000+08:00

For so many years, I have shied away from anything cream, liquid or anything that needs to be blended. You see, growing up, I had the most hideous acne – which produced the yuckiest scars. Surely, they’re still there and my cheeks have scars but I guess aging has a way of making things seem better.

When Bobbi Brown came out with a Pink + Red collection, I was iffy to try out the red stuff because a) I am almost never a red lipstick kind of person and b) I hadn’t worn cream blush in a long, long time.

Bobbi Brown’s Sheer Cherry cheek tint comes off as a scary, intimidating true red at first. When I first opened the fab twist cap, I was thinking all sorts of ways to tone down the redness of it so I could wear it everyday. Upon swatching on the back of my hands, it was just perfect.

The Good:

Where have I been all this time? Cream blush is perfect, especially if you have dry skin. Of course, I don’t have dry skin (combination) but I make it work instead by patting Bobbi Brown Retouching Powder in Yellow most days. BB Sheer Cherry makes it impossible to look over-flushed because you can always blend with your fingers once you’ve swiped your cheeks already.

No scent. Goody.

Blendable.

Natural. Can’t get over the fact that for once in this lifetime, red looks actually good on me (walang kontra! =P)

The packaging. Bobbi Brown, hands down, is the topnotcher when it comes to classy, consistent packaging. Love the elegant black casing of everything.

Wear it everyday. This has been my consistent blush for daytime --- and in case I need something stronger for nighttime, I highlight it with BYS Bronzing Powder.

Not bad at Php 1,350 a pop.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Cherry Cheek Tint is available at all Bobbi Brown counters at Rustan’s.

Chronicles of the Eight-Hour Sleep: The Fake Up

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000+08:00

One of the truly good things about my life is my ability to fall asleep anywhere, anytime and up to eight hours or more. When I hear about my friends and their sleeping patterns, I sometimes get envious that I cannot sleep in the wee hours and wake up looking like a fresh daisy at 7 AM. If I sleep at 2 AM, I would much rather not sleep at all than wakeup at 10 AM.

If you’re any of the Team E (hullo, girls!), you would know how “mantika” I sleep, too. Throw in an angry dog, noisy neighbors and morning chika and you would find me still in blissful sleep. I don’t know where I get that.

Now, as we grow older, I find that even with good sleep, our undereyes develop so much more baggage than it did when we were in our teens. It used to be that we had zero to minimal eye baggage – and now, even with eight hour sleeps, we look a bit haggard and worn out. And when it does happen: there’s always the concealer.

There are only a few concealers I tote around everywhere with me. Let me introduce to you the newest one in my stash, specifically designed to hide eye bags and fine lines AND moisturize those areas, too.

In real life, faking it may sound like a bad idea but when you’re sad and you try to fake happiness, it does come true! It’s a personal belief that if you see yourself eyebag-less and with healthy vibrant skin, it will eventually happen, too!

Anyway, here’s a short and sweet lineup of good and bad:

The Good:

Hydrating. There are only a few creamy concealers in the market and Benefit’s Fake Up tops that list. This fact is due to the addition of Vitamin E and appleseed extract to the semi-transparent external portion of the stick as you can see in the photo. It’s truly a treat to swipe the Fake Up stick onto the under eye and pat gently with the ring finger because it glides on ever so smoothly!

Perfect for touch ups. There was a day in my working life that I had spent the entire day crying in front of my computer --- I just had such bad day I couldn’t stop crying but I needed to work so I had been doing a strategy deck while crying my eyes into puffiness. By end of day, I had a dinner to go to so I swiped Fake Up very quickly in the car and during dinner, no one could tell I had been crying all day. True story.

Once you go Fake Up … Prior to using Fake Up, I used a drugstore brand which delivered but lacked in the brightening department. After using Fake Up (which I mix with High Beam and It’s Potent), I was spoiled silly by the way the concoction lighted up my face (yes, feeling!). I have stopped feeling dry under my eyes, too. Guess the apple seed extract and Vitamin E worked!

The packaging! I love that it’s like a lipstick and fits my makeup bag perfectly.

The Not too good:

This product, in my opinion, is designed for the undereyes. It has a bit of tendency of slide off if applied in oilier areas like the chin. You may have to turn to powder and/or matte concealers for those.

If you live in an area more humid than Manila (now, how is that possible?), it might not stand the test of weather. Then again, if it can withstand Manila weather (which it does), then you’re in good hands.

Other than that, there is nothing I can think negative of this product. Hooray for Benefit’s Fake Up!

Benefit Fake Up is available at Benefit stores in Greenbelt 5, Shangri La Plaza and soon in Trinoma at Php 1,300.

Things to be grateful for

2013-05-14T10:02:00.003+08:00

It was a Friday, and the girls and I were exchanging messages throughout the day. Shen, Sophie, Jheng and my bestfriend, Dang have all been my constant companions since three months ago that I finally decided to ham it up to life and try living entirely on my own. Yes, ala Carrie Bradshaw. For many months, I’d been deciding what to call how it feels and last night, while reading the May issue of Real Simple, where a lady comes back to her former home and calls her former love writes about how she chose the path where she is now --- that it had been like walking on a tightrope but it she loved it because hope sustains us and that love takes many forms, including the one for self.

It had been like walking on a tightrope. Every step of the way is either a triumph or a small loss. It hasn’t been an entirely losing battle --- and I know it won’t be. But I have to say everyday has been a challenge.

“Do you miss your nieces and nephews?” asked my mentor and great friend J. I used to live next door to my baby nieces and nephews and whenever I felt somber, I always came up to them and cuddled them like little puppies. “Of course, I do. I just see them every other week now but this is the way it has to be,” I said.

Granted, living solo has its grievances --- but mostly it has been a joyous experience. I get to learn about myself. It started with the fact that I after all, didn’t need so much to exist. Like a certain showbiz personality, I slept on the floor for a few weeks while waiting for my bed to arrive. I’ve whittled down the pairs of shoes I own and I can, in fact, be a good hostess, after all. The dishes may have been such a chore but with Shen’s technique (aka cheering yourself while doing the dishes “Hell to the yeah!), dishes and cleaning the bathroom have been extremely fun.

And because instead of feeling morose as I usually do on this kind of day (it is Mothers’ Day morning as I type this), I would just like to share with you five things I am grateful for today, the past weeks, and in the future. There can never be too much gratitude to feel --- so I hope that in so doing, I will spread the good feeling it has been giving me.

1. Team E girls. I honestly do not know where I would be on several days that the girls have picked me up from “lusak” as we call it. There are days when a human feels her lowest and when I am in my lowest of lows, they are always there to cheer me up, spray me lavender oils (hello, Sophie!), show photos of boudoirs (Jamie!) sing crazy songs with me (Shots!), make my bed and do my dishes (thank you, BFF!) and cheer the dishes with me (Shenny!). Life has truly been like Carrie and the girls and I am ever so grateful for having found these girls in my life.

2. Linen Spray, All is Well and high thread count sheets. For Jheng’s birthday, we all drove up to her hometown in Bataan. It was my first time to sleep beside Sophie, whom I discovered to be such a luxurious sleeper! Through her, I discovered the miracle ball (which relieves back pains etc.), the So True Naturals Lavender Linen Spray that put me to sleep for 12 hours (yes, ask anyone), and All is Well oil from Zenutrients. AH! Heaven! When I returned to Manila, I was having withdrawal symptoms so Sophie came to my rescue with the spray and oil. As for me, to complete my new luxurious sleeping habit, I changed all sheets to my highest thread count ones and slept for hours on end at my home.

3. Aerosmith’s The Global Warming Tour. It has been five days since I was rocking out to Steven Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith but until now, I have goosebumps from Steven’s performance. ANG GALING! When Manila Concert Scene first announced it, I already screamed in anticipation but sort of waned out when I saw the prices because they weren’t cheap! But hey, Steven Tyler is Steven Tyler. I prayed for days and thought about it like I was embarking on a big journey. In the end, I allowed myself the little joy of seeing a rock legend live and after the concert, I was truly, truly grateful that all odds were in my favor to make it happen. I am a very happy girl.

With my friends Johann and Rose at the Aerosmith concert. LOVED THIS CONCERT SO MUCH!

4. Travel plans. I think it was in Forbes Magazine, or Fast Co. or INC where I read it that one’s high on making travel plans is much higher after the travel itself. I am somewhere in there right now and it surprises me that the feeling of wanderlust is stronger than ever. For a while (and maybe because I was so focused on nesting and chores) that I have forgotten what it felt like to be in new soil, immersing in culture you’ve only read up in books and hearing languages you don’t understand. I am on a travel planning high and I can’t wait!

5. Faith. “When you have nowhere else to go, look up,” said my good friend Jheng. And when she does that, I am always in tears at how could I even forget going to God when I have troubles. I admit that I am a very un-Christian Christian. I sin in so many ways every day and despite reading the Bible and attending small group meetings and worship services and listening to The Anthem on repeat. And despite all of that, faith saves me --- and makes me believe that despite being more wicked than I would ever dare find out, I am loved more than I would ever dare realize.

And to you, my dear reader, thank you for always indulging my thoughts. I hope that you have a great and blessed day.

xx

Do Millenials Really?

2013-05-10T17:48:00.003+08:00

This TIME cover came out last night online and as someone born in the 80s, I had some deep thinking to do.

Cover by TIME Magazine

Those aren’t just unfounded negative stereotypes about 80 million Americans born roughly between 1980 and 2000. They’re backed up by a decade of sociological research. The National Institutes of Health found that for people in their 20s, Narcissistic Personality Disorder is three times as high than the generation that’s 65 or older. In 1992, 80 percent of people under 23 wanted to one day have a job with greater responsibility; ten years later, 60 percent did. Millennials received so many participation trophies growing up that 40 percent of them think they should be promoted every two years – regardless of performance. They’re so hopeful about the future you might think they hadn’t heard of something called the Great Recession.

Source - Josh Sanburn http://nation.time.com/2013/05/09/millennials-the-next-greatest-generation/#ixzz2SrxJZxaV

Even in China, where family history is more important than any individual, the Internet, urbanization and the one-child policy have created a generation as overconfident and self-involved as the Western one. And these aren't just rich-kid problems: poor millennials have even higher rates of narcissism, materialism and technology addiction in their ghetto-fabulous lives.

I couldn't exactly say that the entire article was unfounded --- I had to go through several paragraphs of research and statistics that proved that our generation has indeed become too self-involved. In an attempt at both pseudo humility and proving the article's point, I had to look at myself and realized that I am a very good example of Me, Me, Me. I've been a victim of too much Instagramming and talking about myself that there are days that I drive myself crazy thinking about myself, what I need, what I want and where I need to be.

I had been talking with a blogger I look up to {Hi, F!} and she mentioned to me that she reads my blog now that I don't talk so much about beauty --- and instead, err, well, non-beauty stuff. "I've grown up," I told her. "I've gotten sick of my face plastered all over my monitor, actually." And that is the truth. There was a time that I've gotten so abhorrent towards beauty blogging and vanity that I got into 'inspirational' blogging instead.

And I mean it. But even then, every single day, I find myself plastering my life all over the Internet as I am doing this very minute. I find tapping on my iPad when I'm away from my Mac and I find myself liking my virtual friends more than some people I meet sometimes.

Oh. :s

But in the end, Joel Stein redeems the millenials -- as they often do. And maybe, despite the self-entitlement, the piggybacking on parents, the narcissistic lifestyle, there is hope that even the generations after us will not emerge into a Me, Me, Me, Me one.

So, yes, we have all that data about narcissism and laziness and entitlement. But a generation's greatness isn't determined by data; it's determined by how they react to the challenges that befall them. And, just as important, by how we react to them. Whether you think millennials are the new greatest generation of optimistic entrepreneurs or a group of 80 million people about to implode in a dwarf star of tears when their expectations are unmet depends largely on how you view change. Me, I choose to believe in the children. God knows they do.

What do you think?

Lipstick Fridays: BYS Matte Lipsticks

2013-05-10T11:32:00.000+08:00

"Can I get a hell yeah?"

Somebody or the other once said that one of the better ways to have a better day is faking it. My version of doing that is making it a point I try on a new lipstick everyday {provided there are options, of course}.

Today's pick are BYS Matte Lipsticks. Thank you for the gifts, Shenny!

BYS Pink Before You Speak

BYS Daydreamer

Happy Friday!

Color Crush: Pink + Red

2013-05-08T08:00:00.000+08:00

Happy Wednesday! It's a happy day today cos am watching Aerosmith!
xx

*Images from top to third from bottom are not mine. No copyright infringement intended.

It's down to me, I gotta tell you something

2013-05-07T11:47:00.002+08:00

One more sleep to go. See you, Steve.

Cryin | Aerosmith

The Non Negotiables

2013-05-02T19:48:00.001+08:00

If you never know where you want to be, you will never get to it.

I cannot exactly remember who it was who told me that, but I'm pretty sure it was one of the many women in my life, like my grandma {who sends me food at every chance she gets}, or my mother, or my women heroes.

You see, I was never one to think about non-negotiables, especially in the arena of choosing a partner. It's like when you're about to be blessed with a child, and a mother will always just wish the child is normal. It's either you hope / wish for one, or not at all.

And I do want one. Well, eventually. Because I feel like I am a lot older when I started this blog, and when I started my rounds of blind dating, I feel like I've finally arrived at that point where it is unacceptable to have no definite standards. Having no standards means falling for everything else, which can explain my rather 'interesting' taste in previous partners. That's not to say that that statement is loaded with regret but rather, this time, as I have taken an active stance on my finances, I'm taking an active stance on who I want to be with for the rest of my life.

Disclaimer #2: That's not to say that I am going back to becoming the serial dater I once was. This time, I am listing down what I would not sacrifice or negotiate for. I have stopped dating for the past years after realizing how it's almost always a waste of my and the guy's time as we are always on our best feet forward and therefore never revealing who we really are. Disclaimer #3: These are my own non-negotiables and I am not pushing them down your throats. I am merely stating them for myself, that I may always remember the characteristics and desired results I have noted for myself, and myself alone.

Without further ado {and disclaimers}, here are my non-negotiables for my future husband:

1. Same set of values. I value my faith, my family, passion, learning, hard work, integrity, among many other things. I do know that a disagreement to any of the major values I adhere to will be a huge source of fight so this is a foremost characteristic I would like to have in a man.

2. In relation to having the same set of values, having the same understanding of love is something I would appreciate. I admit to not being a perfect student of the Bible nor Christianity and I remain to be a work in progress everyday but getting to know God's love has given me a wide-angle view of what used to be shallow, if not opposite, understanding of the most underrated and overtly used word that is love. Loving someone means being patient, kind, not envying, not boasting, humbling ourselves, not being rude, not seeking our own ends, not being easily angered, it’s rejoicing in the truth, always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, and always persevering. Tough --- but when we both understand that, the journey of marriage will be smoother than having to remain under the shadows of my petty views.

3. Understands that marriage is a partnership and not a vehicle to have someone cook breakfast. While that, of course, is a tongue in cheek way of saying things, I want to reiterate that such relationship calls for being together, growing in the Lord together, amongst many things --- and not because one of the two is a cheerleader and the other one craves for attention, romantic words or praises. It will be there, sure --- but any relationship based on only good things is doomed to fail.

4. Be passionate about something. I had my share of 'lost' boys to mother when I was younger and while I do know that being boys will always be less mature with women of the same age, I would want to be with someone who is passionate about something of worth other than playing video games, catching women, cars or sports. Or me.

That's it for today. Maybe there will be some more in the future. After all, it's too early to be thinking about this anyway.
Happy Monday!