♥Mikki Aragon♥

E L E M E N T S

2010-10-08T00:55:00.001+08:00

ELEMENTAL EQUILIBRIUM [Reuben Ramas Cañete, PhD]

Reflections on the often uneasy relationship between humanity and nature are nothing new to Modern Philippine Art. Most memorably, in the 1950s, Hernando Ruiz Ocampo depicted the consequences of humanity’s urge to transform nature into a horrifying image of its own modern power through his Mutants series. Then there is Galo Ocampo’s Catholic reflections of humanity’s fall via atomic annihilation in his 1982 painting Nuclear Ecce Homo.

However, the predominant trend has been to harness this realization of environmental and human existential interdependence to reiterate a strategy of redemption and promise, refusing the air of alienated despondency that oftentimes afflicts Western Modernism with a determination to both right wrongs, as well as hope for a more positive future where progress and preservation are measured in both environmental as well as human terms. We can see this in Jose Joya’s lyrical abstracts of Asian landscapes; or Jerry Navarro’s chromatic paeans to the beauty of a tropical Eden; or even Lao Lianben’s assertion of kaon-like riddles in black and white that emphasizes the process of enlightenment rather than the fatalistic acceptance of the Void.

Part of the reason is the cultural dimension of Asian thought that traditionally accepts nature as part of the human condition and not separate from it, a space where spiritual forces are configured to assist humanity in the goal to the total realization of its potentials. Grafted with the modern abstract ethos introduced through Western cultural imperialism in the mid-20^th Century, this has resulted in what is called Asian Modernism, where the aesthetic emphasis is towards social and cultural integration of the artwork to society rather than alienation resulting from the split between conservative communities and self-appointed prophets of the avant-garde.

It is in this spirit of social and aesthetic integration using Abstraction as a poetic visual device that Karl Roque follows in his Elements series. Developing from his previous Quintessence series, the works of Elements explores the dynamic of hope from despair in addressing environmental and human catastrophes. Implicit within its mental construction is the motific exploitation of painted forms as palimpsests that register one’s experiential reflections on the condition of human life on earth not as an a priori condition that cannot be changed, but as a tapestry half-woven, and to be completed in the way that its collective of weavers best desire to preserve themselves.

A significant part of this strategy is to show the sometimes-seamless boundaries that exist between modern art and science. Indeed, most of Roque’s Elements paintings, especially those painted in a circular canvas like Crimson Morning, Homeward Bound, Rain of Tears and Rainbow Land, evoke poetic comparisons with micrograph slides filled with fluoroscopic dyes, illuminating crystals, fungi-like growth and fully articulated bacteria swimming in a miniature universe. Other works, split into four square panels like Lomograph shots such as The Womb of Dawn, and Flaming Fountain; or single panels like Manna and Summer Breeze, the opposite scale is suggested: of telescopic photographs of vast galactic cores in ferment, quasars emitting incredible columns of super-heated gas equivalent to millions of stellar masses; and roiling surfaces of suns with coronas blooming stellar flares.

To those intimate with the latest developments of contemporary art, it is a welcome Asiatic reply to the scientific installations of Damien Hirst and Odra Noel. To the layman, they serve as reminders that art can still cast a spell of beauty in a time when beauty is either seen as a bad word, or that there is so little left of it. In its heart, Karl Roque’s Elements talks of the human propensity to alleviate the emotions to a point of rebuttal against the oppression hurled against it, or to inspire one to imitate the middle way, reconciling one’s consumptive desires with the long-term goal of material preservation to assure the continuity of the species.

- Reuben Ramas Cañete, PhD

REPOSITIONING THE ELEMENTS [D. E. Montera, MFA]

Nature soothes as well as nature wrath's. These and some are effervescent features that define Karl Roque’s new works as he opens his latest exhibition titled “Elements” on October 15 at the Renaissance Gallery in SM Megamall. The artist continues his voyage into the realm of contemporary Filipino abstraction after taking the big leap from the footholds of clean cut-figuration amidst a surrealist inspired background that characterized his early works. Roque has since channeled his energies into the gesture-motion process of painting and what are revealed in his canvas surface are often distinctive and ubiquitous merger of color, texture, and contours with suggestive reference to the Rorschach and marbling techniques but only more definite and clean. The artist has admittedly retained the environmental concerns and life optimism that articulates much of the content of his previous collections. These are now freshly depicted in such works as Summer Breeze, Flaming Mountains, Lullabies of Aquarius, and Manna. The artist also pays tribute to the shape of the sphere, employed here as an accent to the composition or the shape of his canvas. Consistently utilized by the artist in a variety of ways throughout his career, the motif is also celebrated in the works of the late Jose Joya with whom the artist had affiliations with. In essence, the artist wants to evoke a feel-good experience and attain a certain degree of tranquility, security, and belonging or its equivalent aesthetic response from the viewer. He wishes to involve the viewer by allowing them to interpret his works based on their reaction to it, eliciting from their own memories or experiences, thus completing the cycle of his process. This latest exhibit re-affirms Karl Roque’s commitment to discovering new forms and processes that also characterize both the artist's life and art. As the saying goes “what nature ends, nature also begins”.

- D. E. Montera, MFA

an exclusive preview of what you’ll see…

“Manna” (Mixed Media, 122cm X 122cm)

“Summer Breeze” (Mixed Media, 122cm x 152 cm)

“Flaming Fountain” (Mixed Media, 4 panels 60.96 cm/panel)

J. Karl P. Roque is a graduate of the Fine Arts Program at the University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College, earning his Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts in 1987.

The artist has had a number of one man shows and numerous group exhibits in Cebu and in other parts of the Philippines. He has been a recipient of several awards and accolades both as a student and as a professional artist. As a student, Roque was a consistent awardee of the National Artist Jose Joya Awards, and as an academician, is a multiple recipient of the Jose and Asuncion Joya Professional Chair Grant.

J. Karl P. Roque joined the University of the Philippines as a faculty member a year after his graduation, and is now an Associate Professor in the Fine Arts Program of the Humanities Division where he also served as the Division Chairperson from 1998-2001, and from 2004-2007.

ELEMENTS will run from October 15 to 24, 2010
at the Renaissance Gallery, 4/F SM Megamall, Bldg. A
For further details, please contact Renaissance Gallery at 02-637-3101

My MAC Venomous Villains Wishlist!

2010-08-19T13:40:00.001+08:00

I’ve felt this way for only one other MAC Collection, and that’s the Hello Kitty line they came out with in 2009. (Yes, I’m juvenile like that..) It just totally brings me back to those days when I’d prance around at home pretending to be a Disney Princess while watching the movies on BETAMAX!!!!

[Random story that comes to mind: This happened when I was, I don't know, 7 or 8 maybe…I was at home alone one day watching The Little Mermaid, with just my grandma sleeping up in her room. So I’m watching the movie right, singing to Part of Your World, sitting at the edge of the bed flipping my legs ala Ariel like there’s no tomorrow… And then BAM! my ankles hit and BREAK the top of our electric fan --- u know those square/ boxy ones that have the switches on top? OUCH. There was blood all over my right ankle, and that just about cut my little fantasy short. Grandma to the rescue with betadine and bandaids, LOL]

Anyhoo, here are the items I’m eyeing on…. ;)

LIPSTICK:

Heartless Cherry red (Amplified) (Limited Edition)
Innocence, Beware! Light yellow pink (Cremesheen) (Limited Edition)

LIPGLASS:

Revenge is Sweet Light yellow purple (Limited Edition)
Hot House Deep raspberry with pink pearl (Limited Edition)
Strange Potion Soft coral pink (Limited Edition)
Devilishly Stylish Light nude with gold pearl (Limited Edition)

BLUSH:

Bite of an Apple Soft coral pink (Matte) (Limited Edition)

EYESHADOW:

My Dark Magic Deep pink with pink pearl / Deep plum with purple pearl (Limited Edition)

NAIL POLISH:
Formidable! Teal green with pink multi-changing pearl (Limited Edition)

The Maleficent mini collection is probably the one that excites me the most among the four (Cruella De Ville, Evil Queen, Maleficent, Dr. Falacier). I super love all the deep dark purples! Violetta lipstick looks awesome, but I don't know if I’d ever really wear it out so I think I’ll pass on that. Hmmm, I guess we’ll just have to wait for October and see…

It’s finally here!! =)

2010-08-13T15:05:00.001+08:00

…the new vanity we had custom–made is finally here! The design is inspired by the Dots Lilac model vanity from Pottery Barn Teens:

We had mine made in a sleeker, more modern variation of the PB vanity…and of course, it just had to be in black!! =)

Here’s a first look at my new makeup corner..(eeek, excuse the bad lighting)

Nothing in the drawers yet, I have A LOT of organizing to do!

Hair Inspiration: Nikka! =)

2010-08-11T13:02:00.001+08:00

People who know me know that I’ve worn my hair straight pretty much my whole life. I’ve had it both super short and super long, one length, layered, and in just about every haircut imaginable (no joke, I’ve even had a boy’s haircut before!), but it’s always been straight. And even before i had my hair chemically treated to exaggerate the straightness even more, my hair never really held curls well. I’d have to use so much hairspray, but within minutes the curls would still fall loose. So I’ve always stuck to wearing my hair pin straight.

But that got boring. So I recently decided to get out of my hair-rut. And since I promised not to cut/dye it for the rest of the year, I figured I just needed to find a new way to style it.

Took my cue from my little girl’s hair, et voila!

Left: Nikka with her naturally curly, and naturally brown hair

Right: Me with my fake curls that seriously take FOREVER to do since i have so much hair!!

What I used:

- CONAIR 2 in 1 Instant Heat 1½" Curling Iron/Straightener (heavy and kinda sucks, but whatever)

- Pantene Curl Lock Hair Spray (which sucks too. ugh, it makes your hair hard and crispy. i had to comb out my hair to soften the curls. smells nice, though!)

The end result: Curls that were good enough to last me through dinner out, and chasing Nikka around the restaurant. =)

[Room Rehab] 004: Letting Go…

2010-08-06T10:23:00.001+08:00

..is one of the hardest things to do. But at some point, you just have to do it.

Our room is almost there. At least now we can actually live in it. I think the hardest part of this whole process was sorting through all my things deciding what things stay, and what things had to go.

A few items are going to my Closet Sale, but for the most part I’m too lazy to photograph things and sell them online, so I gave 3 big bags of clothes and shoes away! Some other really old stuff went straight to the garbage. At this point, I ‘m left with maybe 2/3 of what I had to start with, and I’m still a bit sad about having to let those things go, but I’m positive that getting rid of all the material clutter in my life will do me a lot of good. (PLUS, more space for NEW STUFF, too. LOL)

I’m still patiently waiting for my vanity to be completed. It was all ready to be delivered but Mama found a black spot INSIDE one of the mirrors, so she sent it back to the shop to get the mirror replaced. boohoo.

I think things will start falling into place better once I get that vanity in here, that way I can start organizing my things. Right now, they’re all in temporary storage boxes and what not. Also, I think I’ll go through a second round of closet purging right when I start moving things back into the room.

Here’s our updated to-do list:

✔ repaint the walls
✔ put in new flooring
✔ install shelves for more storage space
buy storage baskets
get some fabric to sew basket liners
get a new bed frame and mattress (might have to downsize from a queen to a full so that the room won’t be too cramp)
put decorative headboard shelf thingy
get new curtains, maybe some blinds
finishing touches like picture frames, candles, decors, etc…

I know that seems like a lot, but apart from the bed, i think the rest are pretty minor things.

♥..My Cupcake..♥

2010-08-05T12:39:00.001+08:00

I finally came around to moving some of the thousands of pictures I have on our PC to my laptop. Going through the all the pictures, I couldn't help but get sentimental. Man, does time fly fast!

My Cupcake will be turning 3 this December! I have her party theme all planned out already. (excited much? yeah, that’s just how I am.)

Anyhoo, I just wanted to share these pictures of the one being that has made my life so awesome and so worth living for the past 2 years and 8 months…

this picture was taken on December 01, 2007, the day Nikka was born!

1 month old, with the Piglet I bought her… that Piglet means a lot to me ‘coz I was pretty broke at that time, but I bought the stuffed toy for her anyways.

2 months old. i love dressing up in matching outfits. hehehe

3 months old…

4 months old…

5 months old… I love this little collage of pictures. You can tell, she loves smiling for the camera. =)

6 months old…

7 months old…

8 months old…

9 months old…she couldnt walk yet, but she already knew how to dance (or bounce) hehehe

10 months old…

11 months old

on her 1st birthday party. It was pink, black and zebra print. I made everything from cakes, cupcakes, invitations, giveaways… Yes, I looove DIY.

some pics taken for her 2nd Birthday which was Black, Red and Skelanimals Themed.

and a recent photo of her taken late last month…

Cupcake is THE best thing that has ever happened to me, no contest. (I seriously don’t know where I’d be if I never became a mom.) She has changed my life more than I could have ever imagined…but she changed it all for the better. =)

Special Delivery! MAC Winnings from the Makeup Snob!!

2010-08-02T02:04:00.001+08:00

I got my prize from The Makeup Snob’s Blog Birthday Contest!! This was the perfect treat after such an exhausting week of our DIY home improvement!! (read about our bedroom makeover here)

MAC Opulash Mascara [Bad, Bad, black]
MAC 266 Brush
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick [Creme D’Nude]
MAC e/s [Humid]
MAC e/s [Shroom]
MAC e/s [Satin Taupe]
MAC e/s [Soft Brown]
MAC Pro Colour x4 Compact

Opulash Mascara in BAD BAD BLACK

inside the quad, clockwise from top left: SHROOM, SATIN TAUPE, SOFT BROWN, HUMID

I love everything! A few items were even on my to-buy list for our upcoming Manila trip! Now I wont have to buy them anymore!! =)

Thank you, and much love to Sara of The MakeUp Snob!!

[Room Rehab] 003: Seeing Stripes

2010-07-31T06:38:00.001+08:00

We finally finished painting all the walls white, and putting in the black floors. Ugh, the vinyl flooring was a huge pain to put in. But I’m so happy with how it turned out. No more polishing those damn wooden floors! haha

So once we got that done, I started painting the stripes on the wall. So much fun!! …And surprisingly easy to do. A bit of masking tape, a coat of black paint, and when you peel the tape off, voila! striped walls! Takes some patience, but the results are so worth it! Oh, and we put in some wall molding running across the center of the walls too. That’s what separates the stripes from the plain white walls. =)

Pretty good, right? Almost can’t tell that I did this myself!!

So far, I’ve got this wall down. Three more sides of the room to go! The more progress we make, the more excited I get!! =)

[Room Rehab] 002: The Purge.

2010-07-28T01:10:00.002+08:00

Our room is TINY. No joke. So I figured, I’d get a head start on things and empty the room so it’s all prepped for the paint when the hubby gets home tomorrow.
Well, I was seriously in over my head thinking I could do this by myself. So I emptied our sad excuse for a closet, and BAM! Apparently, this is what we managed to fit in our tiny little space:

my mess on the living room floor.

A crap load of stuff. Clothes, shoes, and random things, half of which I hardly ever use. And these are just MY things! And i didn't even bother emptying the top most cabinets ‘coz i know all that’s in there is crap i don’t want to see. I’ll leave it to Jet to deal with that. There are also a few more bags of colorful *happy-girly-mood* clothes I tucked away in one of Nikka’s cabinets months ago. I don't know what to do with all of this. Seriously, I dread having to sort everything out again and put them back in the closet once the paintjob is done.
Once we are done painting the room, I vow to channel my mother and THROW THINGS AWAY.
I have a shitload of things someone out there might want more than I do, so I’ll probably try to get rid of them in a garage sale. And for the other random USELESS stuff we’ve managed to accumulate through the years, I promise to shake off the sentimental value and just throw them the hell away.
I just want to start fresh. I want things clean. I want everything in the room to be something that actually needs to be there. Strip things down to the essentials.
CLUTTER BEGONE!!!
*sigh.* kapoya ui.
gotta get me some huuuuge boxes.
ok, my break’s over. back to work I go.

[Room Rehab] 001: Our Bedroom

2010-07-27T12:40:00.005+08:00

…It’s been more than 2 years since we first moved into the apartment we’re renting, and I’ve always said I would Mikki-fy the place. Sucks to say that after all this time, it still kinda looks like we just moved in. You know how sometimes you try to avoid “investing” in something because you feel like it won’t be permanent anyways? Well, that’s sorta how I’ve always felt about this place. Like there’s no point making it feel like my own when in the end it’s really not. I know, I treat way too many things like stopovers.

But after much soul searching, I finally decided that if I was going to live in the moment, then I’d have to start with where I wake up everyday – my bedroom. (or OUR bedroom –my hubby and i) It’s just come to a point where I want and NEED to come home to a place that looks pretty, and reflects our personalities.

My vanity jumpstarted it all! It’s almost done, by the way, and i am sooooo excited!! All that it lacks now are the beveled mirrors, and it’s done! We’ll be painting the bedroom walls tomorrow, and hopefully soon we can get a new bed, too! {READ ABOUT MY CUSTOM VANITY HERE}

Ever since we started talking about getting married, having a home, etc, our dream bedroom has always been black and white. So I scoured the internet for inspiration, and here’s what I found:

images from Google image search

MAJOR THINGS WE NEED TO DO:

repaint the walls
put in new flooring
get a new bed
put shelves on the wall
get new curtains, maybe some blinds
finishing touches like picture frames, candles, decors, etc…

I’m excited! I know this will be a long process until I finally feel like this project is complete, but it feels good to be making a start.

VMV Hypoallergenics Cheeky Gorgeous-Flush Blush in “Pigtails”

2010-07-27T08:58:00.002+08:00

From VMV website:

Description:
Beautiful, natural colour for cheeks

SKINCOLOUR
Choose subtle, just-pinched tinges to give cheeks a fresh, natural glow. Select deeper, face-sculpting shades to contour and sculpt the face. Non-drying, pore-friendly formulation works for Dry, Oily, or Combination Skin.
VH – 27 (free of all known cosmetic allergens). 100% All-Types-Of-Fragrance-Free. 100% Preservative-and-Paraben-Free. With skin-friendly Virgin Coconut Oil instead of Mineral Oil. Usage + Patch Tested. Non-Comedogenic.

Net Content: 0.21 Oz (6 g).'

To Use: Sweep both sides of our wide, hypoallergenic blushing brush over powder. With gentle strokes, brush over cheeks and build up colour as needed.

Ingredients:
Talc, Mica, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Zinc Stearate, Glyceryl Laurate, Calcium Carbonate, Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide. May Contain: Carmine, Manganese Violet. Net Content: 0.21 Oz (6 g).

PRICE:

PhP 1,290.00 @ SM Department Stores/ VMV Stores

US $40.00 online

comes in a cute little zippered box (which I now use to hold jewelry)

opens up like this

mine is in the shade called PIGTAILS. how cute is that? =)

PIGTAILS: a really really light peachy blush. i think it suits paler skin tones nicely. for anyone a bit darker, it might just look like face powder. (matte finish/ no shimmers)

WHAT I LIKE:

packaging!!
color is really nice and natural looking. (although i don’t think this shade is for girls with morena skin)
doesn't break me out
feels light on the face
the brush that comes with it isn't bad at all… nice and wide so you can put the blush on evenly without any streaking.

WHAT I DONT LIKE:

Price! at PhP 1290 each, price is right up there in the MAC/ NARS range… (But if you’re lucky, you might just catch these on sale)

Eyebrows: E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Kit

2010-07-27T00:20:00.001+08:00

photo from http://www.eyeslipsface.com

Quoted from the website:

Create brows that are fuller, thicker, and more defined! The pigmented wax defines and shapes brows and the color complementing setting powder keeps them looking arched and perfected. The doubled sided taklon brush has one side to help arch your brows while the other side aids in filling them in. This duo provides lasting color definition for a naturally beautiful look.

Available in LIGHT, MEDIUM, DARK, and ASH

PhP 249.75

with flash:

without flash:

WHAT I LIKE:

Gives subtle, natural-looking definition to eyebrows.
When applied correctly, it doesn't look overdone.
Easy to use.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE:

Brush that comes with it is so tiny, it’s pretty useless.

Face:

Revlon Colorstay Foundation { Buff }
T.LeClerc Loose Powder { Banane }
ELF Studio Blush { Tickled Pink }

Eyes:

FAB Superfine Eyeliner { Extra Black }
Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara { Black }

Eyebrows:

ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit { Light }

Lips:

NYX { Thalia }

3rd Wedding Anniversary…♥♥♥

2010-07-26T01:14:00.001+08:00

We had other plans in mind for our anniversary, but since it’s been raining A LOT lately, we figured we’d better save those plans for more appropriate weather.

The rain makes for lazy days! We stayed in for most of the day, had our favorite pizza & tortilla soup delivered, and watched DVDs with Nikka all afternoon. Then we had dinner at one of our favorite places to eat – Red Kimono! Nom Nom Nom!!

sake

hungry me!

Sashimi Maguro

HOT SHOT ROLL – My favorite on the menu! We order this every time we eat here. It’s Mexican inspired!! Filled with tuna, JALAPEÑO, cream cheese, avocado, spring onions… Yum!!!!

Sushi Maguro

Spicy Teka Maki

After dinner, we spent FOUR HOURS singing our hearts out at this videoke place. I had so much fun with you, Wabs!! Love you so so sooo much!!

FRUGAL FINDS: Marionnaud Brushes!

2010-07-23T06:27:00.001+08:00

TOP to BOTTOM:

N*32 Slanted Blusher Brush --> PhP 169.00 (first two brushes from the top)

N*37 Pointed Eye Brush --> PhP 69.00

N*35 Eyeshadow Brush –> PhP 69.00

N*38 Slanted Eyeliner and Eyebrow Double-Sided Brush –> PhP 89.00

There are a couple other brushes available that I did not purchase. I skipped on the foundation brush because i generally do not like using brushes for liquid foundation, especially paddle brushes. Didn’t get the large powder brush either because I felt it wasn't as soft as the N*32, although I might reconsider. Same goes for the retractable brush – didnt seem that soft. Didnt get the concealer brush because well, I don’t use concealer. hehe

GENERAL PROS:

The one thing I love about these brushes aside from the obvious fact that they are so much value for so little money, is that the handles are nice and short. I have always and will always love travel sized/ short handled brushes vs. their full-sized counterparts because I have HORRIBLE eyesight. So when I do my makeup, I get REALLY close to the mirror. Short handles let me do that, while the longer ones just get in the way.

Didn’t notice any shedding.

Did not bleed when I washed them.

Bristles are super soft.

Synthetic Fibers = Animal Friendly (I’m a bit iffy about having some goat or squirrel’s tail on my face. It’s just…disturbing. LOL)

GENERAL CONS:

I wish they had more eye brushes like maybe a wider eye shadow brush, and a fluffy blending brush. I guess they just wanted to cover the basics.

The big fluffy powder brush (which I didn't buy) isn't as soft as the rest when I felt it at the store. You’d think that’s probably the brush that should be the softest since you’ll be using it on a larger area of your face.

For those who prefer full sized/longer handles, you might find these uncomfortable to use. (works great for me, though ^__^)

SPECIAL NOTES:

N*32 Slanted Blusher Brush --> PhP 169.00 I loved this brush so much I went back for a second one. Now I have one for my cool toned blushes, and another for my warm toned blushes. I’m thinking of getting 2 more just as back-ups, or maybe for bronzer/contouring…

N*37 Pointed Eye Brush --> PhP 69.00Great brush for contouring eye make up, even for eyeshadow on the lower lashline. And PhP 69? It’s such a steal!

N*38 Slanted Eyeliner and Eyebrow Double-Side d Brush –> PhP 89.00

Angled brush side is nice and fine, great for precisely doing your brows with brow powder. Some people don’t like the spoolie side, but I happen to love it. I use the spoolie for my eyebrows as well, and because I have full, happy brows, I find that stiff spoolies work better for me. This one works great. Might get me a back up of this too.

Little Loot: E.L.F. Studio

2010-07-23T04:44:00.001+08:00

Clockwise from top left:

ELF Studio Blush “Tickled Pink”
ELF Studio Blush “Peachy Keen”
ELF Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder “Blushed/Bronzed”
ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit “Light”

All items are only PhP 249.75 each! I would have picked up more of the blushes but the two other colors available looked too dark for me.

Product Photos & Swatches:

Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder “Blushed/Bronzed”

Blush in “Peachy Keen” and “Tickled Pink”

LEFT: “Peachy Keen”, RIGHT: “Tickled Pink”

Forgot to swatch the eyebrow stuff. I’ll do that in another post. ^__^

Any suggestions on what else is worth buying from the ELF Studio Line? I want the brushes but they’re never in stock. :(

To Ignorant Online Shoppers…one in particular.

2010-07-23T02:47:00.001+08:00

BATO BATO SA LANGIT.

Ok, so I’ve bought a lot of things online --- clothes, cosmetics, soaps, gadgets and what not.. And sometimes, what you buy doesn't always turn out 100% what you expect it to be. A blouse might be a bit too small, or the color might not be spot on what it looked like on the seller’s photo. Shoes might be too big, even when you went by the size chart. Or they might be your perfect size but gave your feet blisters when you thought they’d be comfortable.

But I get it. That’s the risk that comes with buying online. You don’t get the chance to examine the merchandise as meticulously as you would at a physical store. All you have are product photos and descriptions, and finally the terms of sale.

And then you make YOUR decision. To buy or not to buy? Again, it’s YOUR DECISION.

You don’t like the item?

Dont buy it.

You dont agree to the store policies?

Dont buy it.

You think the seller is shady?

Don’t buy it.

Feeling uneasy about whether the product is exactly as it appears in the photo?

DON’T EFFIN’ BUY IT, & SHOP AT A DAMN PHYSICAL STORE, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

Anyone with half a brain knows that shopping online, as convenient as it is, has its pitfalls too. Accuracy of color representation is just one of them. If you can’t deal with that, DON’T SHOP ONLINE!

Did I bug the seller about the blouse that was too small? About the shoes that were too big? Or about the shoes that gave me blisters??

NO, NO, and NO.

Did I ask those sellers for a refund?

HELL FREAKIN’ NO.

Why not?

Because I HAVE A BRAIN. Product info were all properly disclosed, and terms and conditions were clearly stipulated. I wasn’t conned into buying anything, and none of the sellers were dishonest or deceitful in any way. It was THEREFORE MY CHOICE TO PURCHASE THOSE ITEMS AT MY OWN FREE WILL, UNDERSTANDING THAT ACTUAL ITEMS ARE HARDLY EVER 100% THE WAY THEY SEEM IN PHOTOS, AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THE RISKS THAT COME WITH SHOPPING ONLINE.

Therefore, if I end up not liking the item when I receive it, IT SURE AS HELL IS NOT THE SELLERS FAULT. So I’m not going to bug the seller about it, coz they sure didn't stick a gun to my head and force me to buy from them in the first place.

No, i do not have an online store, but someone dear to me does. And this someone may be nice, and tolerate all the shit people give her, but not me. Imma say exactly what I want to because PEOPLE WHO DON’T USE THEIR HEADS PISS ME OFF.

You know that thing between your eyes? It’s called a brain. It’s there for a reason. USE IT. Otherwise, go buy yourself one.

If that 235 Peso refund you’re raising hell about could help buy you a brain, I’d give you the money myself. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY TO YOU, PhP 235 IS LIKE, SOOO FREAKIN’ MUCH TO BE MAKING SUCH A HUGE F*CKNG DEAL ABOUT.

Hey, I’m a customer too, but I know there’s this UNIVERSAL silent code called ETTIQUETTE. It doesnt even have to be written in black and white. It’s just plain and simple something you should know!

Don’t reserve items you don’t intend to pay for.

Don’t put an item on hold for months and months and months, and in the end not buy it. Better yet, don’t put an item on hold for months –PERIOD.

Do not bombard the seller with text messages and expect them to reply right that second, especially late at night or in the wee hours of the morning! Ano yan? 24 hour hotline? Have some courtesy. These are PEOPLE with regular day jobs, or school, or whatever. And HELLO, they sleep too you know. I don’t see you knocking on the doors of SM at 3 in the morning.

MAKE YOUR PAYMENTS WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL. (YES, IT’S CALLED WORD OF HONOR, EVER HEARD OF IT???)

WHEN YOU SAY YOU’LL BE THERE FOR A MEET UP, BE THERE, AND BE ON TIME. (IT’S CALLED MANNERS. I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of THAT.)

IF YOU CAN’T BE THERE, LET THE SELLER KNOW AHEAD OF TIME SO SHE DOESNT WASTE MONEY ON TRANSPO/GAS AND IS NOT WAITING AROUND FOR NOTHING, BECAUSE NO, THEIR WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU ALONE. AND NO, THEY ARE NOT YOUR PERSONAL NANNIES WHO ATTEND TO YOU AT YOUR EVERY BECK AND CALL.

READ THE DAMN STORE POLICY SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO.

AND DON’T GO BLAMING THE SELLER IF YOU DIDN’T READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, COZ THAT’S COMPLETELY YOUR FAULT!

I feel for all you honest online sellers who take shit from stupid customers and never say anything because you value your customers and want to do good business. Well, I don’t care what they say, THE CUSTOMER IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.

Loot: Etude House Cebu!!

2010-07-22T11:58:00.001+08:00

We were at SM last Sunday to get some groceries and guess what I saw? Etude House is now in Cebu!! The hubby and Nikka were hungry so I only had time to quickly browse through what they had for sale. I knew what I wanted from the store already as my wish list has long been prepared for our trip to Manila this October. hehehe..

Fast forward to Wednesday morning, I hit the mall again to run some errands. Of course, I had to stop by Etude House again, this time for a more thorough look at the goods. Ended up with a little haul. Happiness!

2 Romantic Beauty Box
2 Romantic Beauty Stand (jar for storing makeup brushes, etc..)
Duo Fiber Cheek Brush #10
Multi Eye Shadow Brush #12
Polka Dot Nail File
Woo Baby Lip Plumper in #2 Sparkle Pink
The cute little pen and folders were freebies! ^__^

multi eye shadow brush

duo fiber cheek brush

Woo Baby Lip Plumper in #2 Sparkle Pink

I have my eye on a few other things now. Maybe next time. Hehe ;)

Nikka chipped her tooth! X__X

2010-07-21T12:16:00.000+08:00

…Kay ang Yaya nag sige man text2x! GRRRR!

Nikka at dentist…

My brave little girl…

It’s a good thing she didn't bust her lip when she fell. Or else I’d bust her yaya’s lip too. But still, it made me so mad! Yes, it’s a small chip, and those are still her milk teeth, but that’s so not the point. *VENT*VENT*VENT* Angry as hell. >:(

This Way to Octoberdes16ns!

2010-07-15T03:42:00.001+08:00

I’ve been so caught up with life these days, i haven’t had much time to blog. I did manage to work a bit on my online portfolio again, though.

I’ll be posting more interesting stuff soon, but in the meantime, please follow my “geek” blog! LOL

XOXO

COACH - POPPY, YSL, CHANEL giveawayfrom Ellenheartsblogs!

2010-07-11T14:06:00.001+08:00

THE PRIZES:

COACH
♥ Pink POPPY leather wristlet
♥ Set of COACH POPPY pencil

Yves Saint Laurent
♥ Rouge Volupte lipstick in #1 nude beige
♥ Mascara Singulier in black

CHANEL
♥ Tan de Soleil

Vera Wang
♥ Princess body wash
♥ Princess body lotion

Smashbox
♥ Wicked lovely blush in Charm

Nail Polishes
♥ OPI in Need Sunglasses
♥ Sephora by OPI in Note to Self
♥ Sally Hansen color quick nail pen in Hot Pink
♥ Zoya in Vegas Freeze

LUSH
♥ Snow Fairy shower gel

drooling yet? click HERE to join!

octoberdes16ns site is getting there…

2010-07-10T22:21:00.001+08:00

almost there! at least the links work now…no order form yet, though…

Designer oOhs! + The Beauty Merchant

2010-07-10T19:00:00.002+08:00

At the hospital…

2010-07-06T20:36:00.001+08:00

The hubby was confined today for something we thought was just a bad case of the flu. But one week after, and still really sick, the doctor had us check him in so they could run some tests and see what’s really wrong.

So here I am in his hospital room, blogging to keep my mind occupied. And to add to the already melancholic mood, it’s raining super hard too. I’m praying his test results come back soon, and hopefully, I’m flipping out over nothing.

haha! Birth date reads 10-16-76. Wow, they aged him 10 years!

siiiiigh. worrying is exhausting.

i could use some junk food right now. a hug and kiss from Cupcake would work just as well.

Beauty Supplements, anyone?

2010-07-05T16:52:00.002+08:00

Check out Cheska’s Store….

http://shopperzville.multiply.com

….and fresh out of the design oven, Cheska’s Store now on Blogger, too!

http://shopperzville.blogspot.com

pink vs. pink

2010-07-04T01:31:00.001+08:00

Mia E. of miyamazing.blogspot.com asks….

Here’s what I think.

Left to Right: NYX Narcissus, MAC Pink Nouveau, NYX Paris

NYX Narcissus:

super bright “Barbie’s car” pink.
looks great on her car, but on my lips, uuhhh, not the best shade for me.
something about it comes off almost fluorescent on my skin tone (which by the way is somewhere between NC 15 and NC 20)

MAC Pink Nouveau:

now this one I like!
barbie lips without looking like barbie on crack.
I think its pretty wearable. Statement lips that’s not over the top.

NYX Paris:

This one borders to the mauve-y side, and in my opinion is probably the most wearable one of the three.
Paris is one of my favorite NYX lippies!

TOP to BOTTOM: Narcissus, Pink Nouveau, Paris

Left Column - without flash, Right Column – with flash

Hope this was helpful! XO