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

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 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!

Death could not hold you down

2013-05-02T14:16:00.000+08:00

Today. On repeat. Thanks for sharing, P!

Hallelujah!
You have won the victory.
Hallelujah!
You have won it all for me.

Death could not hold you down
You are the risen king
Seated in Majesty
You are the risen king

Chronicles of Eye Creams: Benefit's It's Potent Eye Cream

2013-05-01T08:00:00.000+08:00

Ah, eye creams.

Back when I was 22, I didn't exactly feel the burning need to apply eye cream every night. When you're 22, can drink vodkas, Malibus and all sorts of alcohol and come to work fresh as a daisy, you would believe that you're invincible.

At 27, it is of course, different. Lines around the lips start to appear {if you're not careful}. Bags show a wee bit of themselves every time you miss your eight hours of shut eye and your skin is dull when you spend too much time under the sun.

I'm glad I started early into this beauty thing early --- I have started using eye cream as early as 21. Six years after, there are signs of *wisdom* ergo eyes now appear a bit smarter, wearier but more knowing. But at least, not as bad as I'd be scared them to be.

Today, ill be sharing with you another addition to the few brands I'm using as eye cream is Benefit's It's Potent Eye Cream:

brightening eye cream to fade dark circles

Your eyes can't keep a secret...they're the first to show signs of age & stress. It's potent! eye cream fades dark circles & helps smooth fine lines for brighter, younger-looking eyes. Contains a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity & firmness, a blend of hydrating botanical extracts including apple extract, known to help boost collagen, & loquat extract, known to help protect the skin from free radical damage.

While I didn't have dark eye bags to begin with, my observation is that the lines aren't so deep when I use this at night. On top of that, some of my other observations are as follows:

Creamy. I love the texture --- and the fact that it dissolves onto the skin. As taught by Benefit's fun gals Paula, Donna and Rione, the best formula to hide eyebags is this cream, Fake Up, High Beam and Watts Up {I think it may have been something else, ugh, signs of aging!}. I tried it once with Fake UP and High Beam and WOW! The experience of application is pretty rich. That's two thumbs up!
No funky smell.
Doesn't hurt the eyes. I once got this on to my eyes and it didn't hurt.
Absorbed easily. You know how some moisturizers and creams aren't absorbed as fast? This one isn't. My typical night routine involves the eyecream being the last to be applied. Normally, I read a book before putting on my sleeping mask. This means that I have to dry my eye cream first before I do and guess what, it dries quickly!
The Php 1,800 price tag would justify itself once I'm done with the jar --- I am not yet sure how long this one will last me. By then, I would know if the effects won't wear out. If you're not iffy to spend that money on eye cream though, I would quickly suggest this one.
Remember when applying eye cream: Apply on the side of your eyes and on your eyelids, too.

Overall: It's never too early to start using eye cream. I promise.

Thoughts on eye creams?

How to: The Donya Bun

2013-04-30T08:00:00.000+08:00

There will be days when you are tempted to shave your head because the weather is an unforgiving 38 C. Don't. Grab a donut bun and put your hair up.

{Tutorial was shot for BDJBox.com}

What I know for sure and things I wish I can say out loud

2013-04-29T14:36:00.001+08:00

Last night at worship service and at our small group's meeting, I was reminded of the things that a leader should be. The single topic that resonated with me was the topic of humility.

It resonated to my battered, pieced and pierced heart because there are many things that are hard to do. Humility has to be way up there in the list of next-to-impossible. I can name a few reasons, reasons I only have in my head and I wish I can blurt out loud and tell respective people.

No one owes anyone anything. That said, I don't owe it to you to do what you didn't even ask me to do but I did nonetheless.
When people state facts, it merely does say the statement. That does not mean I am asking you to provide a snarky response.
I wish I didn't spend my time with you. What a waste of time.
I am not talking to you. Please stop butting into my conversations.
If you have so much opinion about my life, why don't you step in and do my responsibilities? Pay the bills, too.1

You see, if one had the access to my head, I would be bullet-ridden now. When things aren't exactly fine and dandy, one thinks s/he deserves whatever is the good side of the deal. I do that --- I am human, and as I know from the Bible, naturally bound to commit sin. That said, even then, I have no right nor reason to act like I would like to {be snarky, in this case}.

But I think of the above and I remember that I have no right to stick to pride. I may be human but I had been forgiven, and is under the grace of God. I have no right to be proud.

Hella hard but I will try.

What do you know for sure?

xx

1 I am, unfortunately, not nice as some most people make me up to be :)

Chronicles of Wax: Strip It Chocolate Sugaring

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000+08:00

Back in 2011, I swore to myself that I would never ever DIY my wax ever again. It was that time that I was using some wax I never bothered to blog about it because of my painful experience. It was revived when I discovered honey wax and now, with Strip It's Chocolate Sugaring wax which doesn't need heat.

The pot of wax above was a gift from Strip It's Arlette Alvarado, after she found out I was the first customer who bought via Shopinas. I bought a tub of the original Strip It wax after I heard from friends that it didn't need microwave nuking.

With waxing *less chicken skin *hair grows 1-4 weeks *promotes skin lightening SAFE TO USE ON ANY PART OF THE BODY : face , legs, underarms, bikini line or even Brazilian waxing! Since its made up of natural ingredients, you don't have to worry about any allergic reactions. Plus its easy to rinse out because the wax is water soluble. Has 50% less pain compared to other waxes.

I'd been taking down notes on both the original and chocolate sugaring wax and here are my observations so far:

I had only used it without heating and so far, so good. Applying it in small amounts is key. It may take the entire cloth strip {all of it} though to remove leg hair.
Cold vs. Hot wax: Understandably, it takes longer time to remove hair versus when wax is heated.
Space. Navigating the world of sticky unheated wax requires physical space to stretch your arms when the wax won't break away.
Patience. One needs a little more patience than necessary when DIY waxing. Aside from not being a pro {unless you are, of course}, it can take several errors to get things right, no matter how long you've been doing things. My patience {on myself} was heavily challenged as I tried waxing my legs one Monday morning.
Price. I remember that the big tub of wax was a little less than Php 500 and that it included reusable waxing strips and stick. I like that part.
Packaging. Unlike my other waxing favorite, I am not a big fan of the packaging.
For some reason, the original sugaring wax seems to perform better than the chocolate one but hey, maybe that's just me.

Overall recommendation: If you have the patience of a padawan, this is perfect for you. It doesn't guarantee quick results but like any journey in life, I promise you will get there.

Strip It Wax is available via Shopinas.com

The Harder Choice

2013-04-27T08:00:00.000+08:00

... It's harder to be kind than to be clever. Right on, Jeff.

Tomorrow, in a very real sense, your life — the life you author from scratch on your own — begins.
How will you use your gifts? What choices will you make?
Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?
Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?
Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure?
Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions?
Will you bluff it out when you’re wrong, or will you apologize?
Will you guard your heart against rejection, or will you act when you fall in love?
Will you play it safe, or will you be a little bit swashbuckling?
When it’s tough, will you give up, or will you be relentless?
Will you be a cynic, or will you be a builder?
Will you be clever at the expense of others, or will you be kind?” ~ Jeff Bezos

Suddenly a cat person

2013-04-26T17:04:00.000+08:00

I've spent about half of Thursday's evening with my BDJ girls Can and Kate over cocktails --- and talking about cats.

I'm not sure when it was that it happened but it seems that overnight, I have turned into a cat lady. First of all, I am a semi recluse --- I cannot stand anyone yapping in my ear and I love the fact that I can always choose to spend my time in my own company when I want to.

That said, it came as a complete surprise that I found myself sipping coco lychee tinis and cooing over the idea of having a Persian cat {or more unrealistically, an exotic shorthair} to come home to every day. My future ninang for my cat, Candice, of course, was a huge contributor as to why. As I had learned:

Cats are low-maintenance. Living in a building where there is no ample space and no household help, I'd love a snob little creature to live with me whom I just need to leave enough food, a scratching post, ventilation and toys and not wreak havoc in my house.
Cats aren't as playful as pups. I lived most of my younger life with two dogs and I know for sure how physically active they get {especially Jack Russells and shih tszus}.
Cats are fiercely loyal. That explains the snobiness when older -- cats develop this sense when they are kittens so it may be tough to consider adoption {nothing against it, but unless it's a kitten, I'm afraid I can't}.
Cats don't smell as they thought it would. One can always simulate a litterbox at home and throw it immediately.
Cats are by default, cute. I think when I do finally get that kitty, I would have even more reasons to come home early. Sigh. So cute.

From Emperorz

Sigh. So cute!

How to brighten up a day

2013-04-24T08:00:00.000+08:00

"Malayo pa lang, alam kong ikaw na yan," said my colleague R as we descended the steps of our office building. "May pinagdadaanan ka ba?" asked another.

"I really just want to use a new lipstick, that's all," I replied as I pursed my fire-engine red lips. It was a Monday, the start of a brand new workweek and I wanted something new. And something different. I had pondered over the meaning of life over the weekend and whether I should get a side shave but being the chicken that I am, I decided that I wasn't ready for such gasp-inducing change.

I turned my attention to just using a new lipstick, as I have been doing for the past few days. Lipsticks are a non-committal, inexpensive and cheer-me-up solution to a fine and dandy day. I am grateful for our friends over at L'oreal who sent over lovely new shades to try.

There were days when I'd think to myself, "Why am I not like the simple girls who look so pretty despite not putting anything to their faces?" and not put anything. The next day I would and I would realize how silly it was. I am not a simple girl and I would never be {no matter how hard I aspire to be one} so might as well embrace that fact. Lately, I've taken joy from having to eeny meeny miny moe over lipstick shades in the morning. Much to St. Luke's BGC's shock, I had chosen red on the day I popped in for my appointment.

Think Pink reminds me of my favorite MAC lippy, Pink Nouveau!

Fairy Touch, on the other hand, is very dainty.

When they said Intense, I didn't expect it to be intense like this. Lovely!

Sometimes, a lipstick is the only pop of color in an otherwise all black ensemble.
{Wearing Think Pink in the photo above}

What's your change something quick technique? I need more hence I shave the side of my head!

K Palette Real Lasting Eyepencil Review

2013-04-23T08:00:00.000+08:00

“Your eye looks different,” says my friend J as one of the days that he saw me without an iota of makeup. It was during a tutorial shoot that I realized how truly, unabashedly different a face is with and sans makeup.

Eye liners are timelessly one of the few products that draw that unmistakable line between fresh and made up, an ally when it comes to rebelling against the sameness of the day. A line on the eyelid makes the eyes pop bigger – the one on the waterline is like a dark secret waiting to be kept forever.

I’ve taken to wearing eyeliners everyday now, more and more that days are unwittingly bland without them. This is how I found an ally in the form of K Palette’s Real Lasting Eye Pencil.

To touch the segment of my life such as the eyeliner department is like fixing something that ain’t broke. For as long as I could remember, I knew how to apply eyeliners and had no problem with the elusive liquid eye pens and gel liners. The concept of soft lead hadn’t come to me until it arrived to my lap.

Hooray for English instructions!

Epically known for their makeup, as I’ve seen are the Japanese --- whose technology often breaks through even the most impossible. I recall hearing about some strange innovation the other day --- maybe I shall tell you about it when we meet.

As for this product at hand, let it be my pleasure to spread the word on how it has added to my {makeup} life immensely:

Somebody forgot to caption this photo :D

The Pros:

No tugging. Not only products that do tug contribute to a jagged line, the tugs are scary and they might add to the “wrinkling” process of the eyelids. K Palette glides on ever so smoothly.
Waterproof. I tried to wash away the swatch I had on my hand {it was a work morning after all} and it took me a couple of minutes to fully remove it. It does come off easily with my favorite shu uemura cleansing oil though.
Does not smudge. I am not the type to apply eyeliner under the eyes but on the day I first tried this, I tried it on my lower lashlines and thankfully, I didn’t look like a raccoon by end of the day. It’s sweat-proof, too! Yay!
I can create a wing tip. Love love! Though if you want a more defined wing tip, you can always go back to liquid and gel liners.
Pigmented. As opposed to the normal pencil liners, this one is thick at one swipe. If you’re looking to make a thin line, this is not the product to go to.
No worrying. if I leave the cap open since it’s soft lead. Plus it’s great for smudging and for creating smokey eyes.
Locally available. K Palette’s Real Lasting Eye Pencil in Deep Brown is available at all Beauty Bar branches for Php 795.

Thicken as desired.

The Cons:

I really can’t think of any.

K Palette Real Lasting Eye Pencil is available at all Beauty Bar branches in Deep Brown and Black.

This is why I wrote you, my love

2013-04-22T13:19:00.001+08:00

My dearest,

One of the most amazing things one can experience is a change in perspective, a change of thoughts. While everything else is pretty fine and dandy, the fine and dandyness of things can be rather cloying and all too familiar.

The days felt like they all led up to the same ends, my love. Every hour, every second has been spoken for and most of the moments were identical, if not twinkling in its sameness. My dreams mirrored someone else’s and my downfall was nothing different.

I want to be different, my love. I want to follow the road to discovery of what I truly want, not what the society wants, what my family wants, nor what you want. The road we follow is often the one that is most paved and for once, the world calls me to step where none has lain his foot on yet.

I am not writing to you, I am writing to your letter. The black type of Cambria dots the pixels of the screen, against the blinding glare of my screen and of the windows to my north. I reread your letter, and like a misspoken line in a play, my stomach grumbles in disagreement. Where your aftershave used to signal sunrise, it has now caused me to seek to find a new aberration than that of yours. You, in your cookie cutter ways were everything that screamed familiar.

There used to be a word for this but I forget now. I have to go.

John Galliano Parlez moi d'amour is available at all SM Beauty stores for Php 2,500 (30 mL).

What I Know For Sure: Success

2013-04-18T08:00:00.000+08:00

When I was 16, I had this idea in my head that at the age of 27, I could call myself a success if I:

a) am employed with a job I love {HA! How enterprising.}
b) am living on my own {I obviously had issues with rules}
c) am living without household help whatsoever
d) can do whatever at 10 PM and with no curfews {issues!}
e) can party/go clubbing/go out of town any time my heart pleases {oh my clueless 16 year old self!}
f) have enough money in the bank to live comfortably and without debt {You realize when you're older that money doesn't exactly equal happiness}

Funny how time changes things so much.Yes, at 27, I can say everything above is true for me. But I can't say that those are all that makes me happy.

Over the weekend, I've been reading a book I put off for a year. Recommended by older male peers, Timothy Ferriss' The Four Hour Workweek is something, at first glance, a book I might never choose to read. As the people who recommended it are non-Filipino friends who've spent a quarter of their lives globe-trotting, I couldn't see myself doing the same thing, especially now that I've sort of transformed into a junior Martha Stewart wannabe, always daydreaming of patterned rugs, china, tea parties and hosting mimosa brunches.

Success is defined by the number of uncomfortable conversations that you can have.

... says Tim Ferriss. By now, you can tell that what used to sit in my maybe-I'll-read-you-someday pile ended up finally being read. Congratulations 16 year old Tara for achieving the items above. But maybe it's truly time to step out of that comfort zone you've been hiding in for so long now. Maybe the time has come to build new measures of success. Maybe I will want new, exciting, uncomfortable conversations. We will know.

----

That and the lost art of etiquette is something I hope would make a comeback.

xx

Feeling Good

2013-04-17T17:55:00.002+08:00

Nothing like a new, happy song and a pretty good day to put you in your best mood :D Sharing with you my 'recent' discovery, Mowgli's The Great Divide. I'm not sure why but the song makes me kilig :)

Photo via

Calling all VMV Fans!

2013-04-17T15:11:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow's a special day for all VMV fans! Stock up on your favorites! :)

See ya!
xx

Winking my way to Brazil

2013-04-16T08:00:00.000+08:00

The road to a hair-less life is often met with fear --- after all, every single way is laden with pain, resources and time. As an advocate of being hair-free existence, a new waxing and laser studio, especially in the hood where I’m always in, is most welcome, if not, anticipated much.

By now, you should know that this is not the Brazil I'm talking about =P

Due to waxing jobs rarely being affordable to procure on a monthly basis, I only make appointments before beach trips, in this case, before I left for Siquijor.

With my experience being limited to two waxing salons, that being Lay Bare in Makati and Strip in both Greenbelt 5 and Serendra, I was both excited and nervous as I climbed up to the 3rd floor of C2 Building in BHS.

Are you ready for the nitty gritty? Here we go:

I am washed over with a sense of calm – I love Wink’s interiors and choice of songs to play.
I was a bit disconcerted that my waxing specialist did not leave the room at the time I had to remove my clothes in preparation for the waxing session. I am not sure if this is common, but it was pretty odd. Maybe I will ask her to leave next time.
Wink uses high-grade paper for every individual customer. Since I am not an environmentalist, I am not sure whether this is more eco-friendly than using towels that can be washed. Nevertheless, it wasn’t much of a bother, though it’s a bit weird lying in the salon bed without a towel cover.
The waxing specialist asked me if the temperature was acceptable --- always a nice touch.
The waxing specialist talked to me warmly --- a gesture I appreciate every time I go for waxing as it relaxes me and takes my mind off of the anticipated pain.
However, I did not anticipate the pain that came with Wink’s Brazilian Waxing service. As a longtime patron of Brazilian, I was surprised I have reached a new low for pain tolerance as I winced in pain in the middle of the session. HA! The session proved I was human after all.
Kudos for the price at Php 680 a pop. That takes waxing to a whole new level of affordability.
The length of each session ultimately depends per lady but what used to take 15 minutes for me, at least, was about 35 minutes. As I allot an hour to this task anyway, it didn’t bother me. The specialist admits to still training to be able to achieve the 15 minute mark, which was great.
Love the location! I can just walk to C2 Building and not have to cab it. Plus it’s not in the full view of restaurant goers so I can do my business in peace.

Overall, I recommend Wink to ladies who have a higher tolerance for pain when it comes to waxing, and those who don’t want to fork out so much for a Brazilian. I continually recommend this as well to my friends who are keen on trying laser hair removal but are afraid of the price tag. It’s definitely less painful (as attested by my friends) and considerably less expensive than most laser studios.

For the full service menu, click here.