2014 was a big year for me. I don't think any other year has served me with as hefty servings of ups and downs as this year's, and I don't know if it's just because I'm all grown-up(?) now that I've gotten a clearer understanding of these things.
This is the year I: finished all ten seasons of FRIENDS; almost became a millionaire; took part in the International Book Giving Day; took calligraphy lessons; saw Macklemore and Ryan Lewis live; said goodbye to the MacLaren's gang; got thrown a surprise birthday dinner by my awesome friends; celebrated my birthday with a How I Met Your Mother-themed party; decided I would write a romance novella and failed; enjoyed three days at the beach just living in the moment; switched from Android to iOS; got promoted; realized that I no longer have the energy for meaningless friendships, forced interactions, and Michael Bay movies; lost my paternal grandfather; got braces AGAIN; made handmade paper; made handmade dolls with my sister; got purple hair; went to a watercolor workshop; celebrated 75 years of Batman; went to the Philippine Literary Festival; met my idols Pam Pastor and Manix Abrera again and had them sign my books; lost my Uncle Karl who is one of my favorite people in the world; edited my About Me page; planned to watch Jason Mraz again but had to cancel; became part of Sample Room; and asked (and received).
2014 was a big year for movie adaptations. My favorites were Mockingjay Part 1, Gone Girl, and The Fault in Our Stars. I read some really good books this year but I'm disappointed I didn't finish my Goodreads Challenge. Finishing at only 25, it is significantly less than last year's record. Anyway, my favorite reads from this year include Gabrielle Zevin's The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, Rainbow Rowell's Landline, Cecelia Ahern's Love, Rosie, and Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project (I'm currently in the middle of its sequel, The Rosie Effect), while the books that impacted me the most are Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story and Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. Out of everything I read this year, I disliked Veronica Roth's Divergent the most.
2012 was The Year of Living Bravely and 2013 was The Year of Indulging My Inner Fangirl - what about 2014? I named 2014 The Year of Discovery because it was the year I exposed myself to a lot of things, dipping my toes in the waters until I found something that's just right. I committed a number of mistakes, but what is life without a little spice? My one regret is that I wish I hugged Kuya more and told him that I loved him so much.
My favorite discovery from this year was discovering watercolor skills I didn't know I had!
It's been a good year all in all but I couldn't help feeling I'm done with it. I say this without a hint of ungratefulness, though. It's just that I am ready for the new chances and possibilities that a new year's clean slate promises. I have many plans and dreams for the coming year and I can't wait to get started.
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your year with me. I'm wishing you a happy and bountiful new year with the people you hold most dear. Peace, love, and lip gloss! ♥
2012 was The Year of Living Bravely and 2013 was The Year of Indulging My Inner Fangirl - what about 2014? I named 2014 The Year of Discovery because it was the year I exposed myself to a lot of things, dipping my toes in the waters until I found something that's just right. I committed a number of mistakes, but what is life without a little spice? My one regret is that I wish I hugged Kuya more and told him that I loved him so much.
My favorite discovery from this year was discovering watercolor skills I didn't know I had!
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| The artworks I painted, excluding the ones I have already given away See the rest by checking the hashtag #KrissyfiedMakes on Instagram (While you're at it, follow me also! Hee.) |
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your year with me. I'm wishing you a happy and bountiful new year with the people you hold most dear. Peace, love, and lip gloss! ♥
I'm still feeling the blues but I am mostly a positive person so I am automatically inclined to find ways to cheer myself up; I can't avoid this, this is ingrained on my DNA. Heh. In an attempt to get out of my slump, I decided to stay over at my aunt's house for three days to spend time with my Grandma and cousins.
I brought all these with me:
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| My Kindle, books, Magnetic Poetry Kit, journal, planner, stamps, stickers, and washi tapes |
What can I say, I'm too scared of being bored.
Today was also the first day I could start using The Daykeeper. I've started personalizing it a couple of weeks ago and I am so excited to Krissyfy it more.
2015 is going to be amazing. I have big plans and I'm looking forward to accomplishing them. Sharing the news to you soon!
Keeping this post short because I'd like to limit my babbling. Gonna leave you with this watercolor painting I made last Saturday:
I'm done with 2014, although apart from my losing two of my favorite people in the world it's been a good year all in all. I could do with new chances and possibilities though, and a clean slate that a new year brings promises to give me those. Hoping for the same for you for 2015! May the coming year bring us better stories.
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| Tweak the schedule and carve out the hours for the dreams you've been putting off. |
Keeping this post short because I'd like to limit my babbling. Gonna leave you with this watercolor painting I made last Saturday:
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| Flower Power |
One of the kindest things anyone can do is to give something without expecting anything in return, save for a request to "pay it forward." Last week, I received a hardbound copy of Amanda Palmer's The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help from a kind soul. She didn't know me from Adam; we just found each other through this amazing ripple of giving and sharing started by Amanda Palmer's fans. I already received a Kindle copy (also given as a gift) but it's so nice to have it in hardbound. I will definitely pay it forward in another form.
I'm halfway through the book and I can say I'm enjoying being immersed in AFP's world. Her stories resonate with me, with some hitting a nerve even more than the others that I repeat reading some lines over and over just to continuously envelop myself in them. Reading her words feels like being lost in a magical melody, in beautiful poetry.
One of the anecdotes that struck me is her retelling of a story her friend Anthony told her.
There are times I feel too much that I legitimately worry I'm going to explode. I'm a firecracker ready to get off at the slightest touch. I've always exposed vulnerability whenever I'm writing and I'm feeling particularly vulnerable tonight, but I just feel I have to share this. I don't get birthday blues, I get new year blues − and I think this is going to be a big one.
With such tenacity and will I have held on to a lot of things in my life that I knew were bad for me, simply because I thought it's all going to change and it will get better if only I held on long enough: something as simple as a book or movie I didn't like and I'm better off leaving unfinished to more complicated stuff like unhealthy relationships or toxic friendships. I was so sure it's going to change, I was so confident it will get better.
It didn't.
Things didn't magically change for the better just because I felt I deserved to be rewarded in the end. I could've spared myself from a lot of tears and aches if only I knew better than to hold on.
But no, because it didn't hurt enough yet.
But then, I have wisened up and mastered the art of cutting off ties after it has hurt enough.
I am a staunch supporter of fighting for what you want, but when the odds never seem to be in your favor, then maybe it's with good reason. If you find yourself working for something that feels pointless or fruitless, stop. Don't fight for anything you don't see value in. Every person, every relationship is a bucket, and when it fills up with toxicity, broken promises, disappointment, and unspoken words right when I needed them, then I wouldn't be there to continue holding on even when it already hurts me. So far, this system has worked for me.
May we all have the courage to sit up and get off the nails when it hurts enough − or, I don't know, maybe even before it does.
I'm halfway through the book and I can say I'm enjoying being immersed in AFP's world. Her stories resonate with me, with some hitting a nerve even more than the others that I repeat reading some lines over and over just to continuously envelop myself in them. Reading her words feels like being lost in a magical melody, in beautiful poetry.
One of the anecdotes that struck me is her retelling of a story her friend Anthony told her.
A farmer is sitting on his porch in a chair, hanging out.Indeed.
A friend walks up to the porch to say hello, and hears an awful yelping, squealing sound coming from inside the house.
"What's that terrifyin' sound?" asks the friend.
"It's my dog," said the farmer. "He's sittin' on a nail."
"Why doesn't he just sit up and get off it?" asks the friend.
The farmer deliberates on this and replies:
"Doesn't hurt enough yet."
There are times I feel too much that I legitimately worry I'm going to explode. I'm a firecracker ready to get off at the slightest touch. I've always exposed vulnerability whenever I'm writing and I'm feeling particularly vulnerable tonight, but I just feel I have to share this. I don't get birthday blues, I get new year blues − and I think this is going to be a big one.
With such tenacity and will I have held on to a lot of things in my life that I knew were bad for me, simply because I thought it's all going to change and it will get better if only I held on long enough: something as simple as a book or movie I didn't like and I'm better off leaving unfinished to more complicated stuff like unhealthy relationships or toxic friendships. I was so sure it's going to change, I was so confident it will get better.
It didn't.
Things didn't magically change for the better just because I felt I deserved to be rewarded in the end. I could've spared myself from a lot of tears and aches if only I knew better than to hold on.
But no, because it didn't hurt enough yet.
But then, I have wisened up and mastered the art of cutting off ties after it has hurt enough.
I am a staunch supporter of fighting for what you want, but when the odds never seem to be in your favor, then maybe it's with good reason. If you find yourself working for something that feels pointless or fruitless, stop. Don't fight for anything you don't see value in. Every person, every relationship is a bucket, and when it fills up with toxicity, broken promises, disappointment, and unspoken words right when I needed them, then I wouldn't be there to continue holding on even when it already hurts me. So far, this system has worked for me.
May we all have the courage to sit up and get off the nails when it hurts enough − or, I don't know, maybe even before it does.
Wherever you are in the world today, I hope you had a lovely Christmas with the people you hold most dear. ♥
There must be something in the water air because I know it's just not me - everyone gets reflective as the year draws to a close. As I get ready to say goodbye to 2014 and welcome 2015 (and my new planner/ journal!), I look back on the months that passed and determine which things I'd like to change and things I'd want to remain the same, whether I was able to accomplish the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year, and whether I like this version of myself I am turning out to be.
Earlier today I bought myself this app for the iPhone to jump-start my writing whenever I encounter writer's block. I have about fifty unused notebooks and journals in my room but I have taken to typing my thoughts down on my phone's Notes. I don't know why I am doing this. Convenience? Ease? Undecipherable penmanship? Either way this system works for me, and I figured if I make use of writing prompts I can even have more ideas to blog about (like what I am doing now). Sometimes the (non-suicidal/ non-violent) voices in my head get too noisy that I need one topic to resonate more so I can stick with it, lest I get wayward and not arrive at something cohesive nor coherent.
So. Back to the app. As the name implies, Creative Writing Prompts gives starting lines and writing prompts to help inspire the writer. The first prompt I got is highlighted in bold:
For the last three days I could do nothing but think about choices, possibilities, and second chances.
As what I was jarringly reminded of by my Uncle's passing, life is too short and we're only here for a limited amount of time. If there is anything I regret about Kuya's death, it's that I feel like I didn't tell him enough how much I loved him. Ever since he left, my close-knit family became even tighter, with all of us clutching to one another for support. Hugs and kisses became even more frequent, and no shortage of I love you's was had. I want to make the most out of the time I have left so I say yes to all possibilities, sometimes without even giving myself time to think first before I leap. In the split second of hesitation where doubt starts to creep in, I've had already said yes. This has, admittedly, caused me some trouble as well, but what is life without a little risk?
Meanwhile, recent occurrences also made me rethink my life choices and question whether a second chance is a viable option. I've crashed and burned several times already and truth be told, I'm getting a little tired. Maybe the truth is that I was meant to tread a different path all along? One that leads to the exact same path I used to trudge, but one I sadly and regrettably wandered from? I don't know. I pray I get an answer soon, and I hope it's a yes.
This is a watercolor painting I worked on all Sunday afternoon while watching the first season of How I Met Your Mother for the nth time. For those not familiar with the scene (but WHY?), it's from the finale, where Ted finally meets The Mother at the Farhampton station.
When you think about it, all of Ted's choices and missteps led to him finding the right girl at the right time. Now I know it's fiction but still. Isn't fiction inspired by life? Am I above thinking things like this don't happen in real life? I don't know, I guess I'm just too much of a hopeless romantic, but I'd like to believe that the same will happen for me. "It's funny how sometimes, you just find things," and I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
*No affiliate links provided
For the last three days I could do nothing but think about choices, possibilities, and second chances.
As what I was jarringly reminded of by my Uncle's passing, life is too short and we're only here for a limited amount of time. If there is anything I regret about Kuya's death, it's that I feel like I didn't tell him enough how much I loved him. Ever since he left, my close-knit family became even tighter, with all of us clutching to one another for support. Hugs and kisses became even more frequent, and no shortage of I love you's was had. I want to make the most out of the time I have left so I say yes to all possibilities, sometimes without even giving myself time to think first before I leap. In the split second of hesitation where doubt starts to creep in, I've had already said yes. This has, admittedly, caused me some trouble as well, but what is life without a little risk?
Meanwhile, recent occurrences also made me rethink my life choices and question whether a second chance is a viable option. I've crashed and burned several times already and truth be told, I'm getting a little tired. Maybe the truth is that I was meant to tread a different path all along? One that leads to the exact same path I used to trudge, but one I sadly and regrettably wandered from? I don't know. I pray I get an answer soon, and I hope it's a yes.
This is a watercolor painting I worked on all Sunday afternoon while watching the first season of How I Met Your Mother for the nth time. For those not familiar with the scene (but WHY?), it's from the finale, where Ted finally meets The Mother at the Farhampton station.
It was a long road. You might even say it was really, really, really long. But difficult? Nah. It was life. Things happen in life. Things fall apart. Things get put back together. When I think how lucky I am to wake up next to your mom every morning, I can't help but be amazed at how easy it all really was.
All I had to do was get out of the apartment for a couple hours so Uncle Marshall could propose to Aunt Lily, go to the bar, meet your Aunt Robin, convince your Aunt Robin to fall in love with me, break up with your Aunt Robin, go on the rebound, go get a rebound tattoo, go get the rebound tattoo removed, meet Stella, convince Stella to fall in love with me, get engaged, get left at the altar, get fired, get beat up by a goat, get a job as a professor, teach the wrong class, date the wrong girl, date the wrong girl again, date the wrong girl a few times actually, let Uncle Barney fall in love with Aunt Robin, let Aunt Robin fall in love with Uncle Barney, book the wedding band, go to their wedding, make sure their wedding actually happened, leave a little early, be in the right place at the right time, and somehow, summon the guts to do the stupidest, most impossible thing in the world: Walk up to that beautiful girl standing under the yellow umbrella... and start talking.
See? Easy. And that, kids, is how I met your mother.(It was so difficult and my skills weren't at par with what I envisioned; I almost gave up, but all efforts paid off when I finally finished it and when Carter Bays, one of the show's creators, called my painting "lovely." LOVELY.)
When you think about it, all of Ted's choices and missteps led to him finding the right girl at the right time. Now I know it's fiction but still. Isn't fiction inspired by life? Am I above thinking things like this don't happen in real life? I don't know, I guess I'm just too much of a hopeless romantic, but I'd like to believe that the same will happen for me. "It's funny how sometimes, you just find things," and I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
*No affiliate links provided
Hello, how's everyone?
It has been a hazy blur of work, shopping for gifts, Christmas dinners, get-togethers, Christmas rush-related traffic jams, wrapping gifts, crafting, painting, and sending out gifts.
December is always the busiest time of the year, but this month really did me in. Nevertheless I'm thoroughly enjoying everything!
It's a rainy Christmas eve and I have a long day of wrapping even more gifts ahead. I hope you're already done with yours!
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧ May your bellies be full and your hearts be merry! Happy Christmas!
Can you guys believe how horrendous traffic has been lately? Going to and from work used to take me just a little over an hour, but now we have to waste at least two hours on the road - and that's not counting the time we have to allocate for the traffic going home! Crazy. This poses a problem for Christmas crammers like me, since the traffic turns us off leaving the house. I just want to stay home and hibernate and not see people. -_- The solution? Online shopping!
We're in luck because Lazada launched an Online Revolution happening just today, until 11:59 PM only!
This is perfect for getting gifts for everyone on your list, but your beauty addict friends have many reasons to rejoice as the sale will feature huge discounts from beauty brands including Suesh Cosmetics.. ;)
Established in 2006, Suesh cosmetics started as a hobby for three sisters with a passion for makeup. The company eventually evolved to produce international products including the Suesh Personal Funky Black Makeup Brush Set and the Suesh Red Cosmetic Vanity Case, among others.
The brush set includes brushes made of naturally-made materials from goat, squirrel, pony and raccon hair. The Cosmetic Vanity case, meanwhile, has of three layers of compartments with brush holder stand and is made-up of high quality strong board material with aluminum and metal revits.
These products will be available during the country’s biggest online shopping site in marked-down prices through its killer deals flashing from 12:00 am to 11:59 p.m.
Lazada is Southeast Asia’s largest online shopping mall with operations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, with a sourcing center in Hong Kong that drives cross-border marketplace activities.
Lazada, a part of the Lazada Group which includes the C2C platform, Lamido, is pioneering eCommerce in the region by providing customers with an effortless shopping experience with multiple secure payment methods including cash on delivery, extensive customer care and free returns. It features an extensive product offering in categories ranging from consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion, beauty and sports equipment. I trust Lazada because I've personally purchased a lot of items from there already including a Cherry Mobile Flare, my Canon Powershot A3300 IS, a fondue maker, and a waffle maker. I especially love that they offer the COD option because I no longer have to enter my credit card information nor fall in line at the bank to deposit my payment. I can also do all my shopping while sitting down in front of my computer. So convenient!
So, what are you eyeing from the Online Revolution? I think I want the Suesh Flat Foundation Brush as gift for a friend and Suesh Brush Guards for personal use. Happy shopping!
Hello, you beautiful thing.
Yesterday I gave you some suggestions for gifts for your younger siblings, nieces and nephews, and godchildren. Today, I'll give you recommendations for things that I think will make great gifts for your sisters and girl friends.
Yesterday I gave you some suggestions for gifts for your younger siblings, nieces and nephews, and godchildren. Today, I'll give you recommendations for things that I think will make great gifts for your sisters and girl friends.
Books
Books are my go-to gift suggestion for any occasion not only because I would personally love receiving them myself, but also because they are, really, gifts that keep on giving. All books are special, but I admit that I treat books given to me as gifts with more care. You can give a book that has personal meaning for you (I've lost track of the number of times I have given copies of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love to friends) or you can even give holiday-themed books like Let It Snow or
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| My True Love Gave to Me |
Neil Gaiman shared this video of Bloomsbury Publishing, go and watch! You'll love it. (I think.)
The Body Shop is one of my favorite places to go to especially when the holidays roll around because their gift sets are just too hard to resist, They also release special holiday-themed collections every year — for this year they have Glazed Apple, Vanilla Brulee, and Frosted Cranberry. Seriously you have to visit the nearest The Body Shop branch and sniff these! I'm loving Glazed Apple.
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| The Body Shop Glazed Apple Bath Jelly (P995) and The Body Shop Glazed Apple Lip Tin (P495) |
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| For when you want to add more shine to your sparkle: The Body Shop Glitter Eyeliner (P795) and The Body Shop Glazed Apple Sparkler (P1,495) |
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| Ellana Minerals Christmas Bundle P899 for P1,500 worth of beauty products Contains Make It Last Makeup Primer, Oil Absorbing Pumpkin Pie Latte Powder, Lip & Cheek Gel in Ruby, Multi-purpose Powders in Halo and Brilliance, and Crease Eyeshadow Brush |
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| Ellana Minerals Loosse Powder Blush Bundle P450 for P900 worth of products Contains five 2g pots of Obsession, City Roast, Harmony, Doll, and Lust |
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| 3S Pre-glued Lashes and Adhesive Strand Refill Available from Beauty and Minerals for P250 each |
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| Charm Pocket 5-pc Brush Set Available from Beauty and Minerals for P500 each |
Planners
Scheduling stuff with a digital calendar and taking note of things using your phone is cool and all, but (for me, at least) nothing beats pen and paper. I'm using The Daykeeper for next year and I am so looking forward to writing down on it!
Craft Kits
For your friends who, like me, love DIY-ing stuff. Shown in photo is one of my stamp sets and inks from my growing collection of rubber stamps. They instantly add an ounce of charm to everything!
Something handmade
I appreciate when the gifts I get are handmade because you know a lot of thought, effort, and love went into them. If you're good at something, use it. You're even assured that the recipients of your gifts are receiving something one-of-a-kind and truly unique.
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| Here is something I painted earlier today, because I was inspired by the new Le Petit Prnce trailer The Little Prince is one of my favorite books of all time ♥ |
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| Meanwhile, here is something Meream made and sent to me - a papercut bookshelf with a sweet card ♥ I was having a shitty day when it arrived, and it instantly improved my mood |
Year after year, I always say I'm going to make my list and shop for Christmas presents in advance to avoid the holiday rush but I never learn. In this mini blog series I'm aiming to finish this week, I'm sharing gift guides for the special people in your life. I made sure that the items on the list are well-thought-out, practical, and won't make the recipients feel like their gifts were rushed.
Maybe it has something to do with age, but I recently started preferring practical gifts to cutesy presents. I mean, sure, dolls are sweet and all, but I would like it more if you get me something I can use. Go here to see my Christmas wish list, ho ho ho! Anyway, I'm starting this mini series with Gifts for Babies and Kids, and like I mentioned, these are all practical gifts that I'm sure kids (and their moms) will appreciate.
Kiele Anti-Mosquito Baby Cologne and Cibelli Skin Freshener
Follow them on Instagram and text them at 0917-8362175 for orders
Mosquitoes love me, so I make sure that I always have my bottle of Kiele Anti-Mosquito Baby Cologne for when these nasty insects attack. Plus points for its fresh scent! I love it so much that it's one of my everyday can't-leave-home-withouts. On the other hand, I spray the Cibelli Skin Freshener on whenever I need something to boost my mood because it's such a happy and breezy scent. Both are made with skin-friendly ingredients safe for even the most sensitive skin so they're perfect for babies, kids, and their moms.
Mustela is one of the best baby skincare brands in the world, and it's because for more than 60 years, Mustela has successfully developed products to nourish and protect both babies and mothers. With exceptional formulation for comfort and protection, their products have been proudly handed down from mothers to their children for more than three generations. I recommend getting products from the Mustela Bebe line for daily baby care of babies and children with normal skin. I've only heard great things about the Vitamin Barrier Cream and its power for soothing and preventing diaper rash as its barrier effect protects and insulates the fragile skin of infants. The vitamins that the Vitamin Barrier Cream contain also provide instant relief, reduce development of bacteria, and leave the skin smooth and soft. Meanwhile, the Sun Protection Line provides protection against the dangerous UVA and UVB rays and is sweat-proof and waterproof. Kids can enjoy more time being active outside! I have the Very High Protection Sun Lotion and I alternate it with my SPF day cream and so far it hasn't acted on my skin yet unlike some other SPF products I have tried.
SM Kids' Fashion's Holiday 2014 collection showcases a wide variety of styles — from plains to prints, from laid-back casual to prim and proper looks, and from dresses to tops and bottoms — all ideal for one’s mix-and-match technique. I'm not going to lie, I do my own clothes shopping from SM Kids' Fashion myself if I can get away with it and if they have sizes available, heh. The clothes are all very affordable also that your P1,000 can already get you a lot!
Whatever you decide to get for your children, godchildren, nieces and nephews, and younger siblings this Christmas, just make sure it's wrapped nicely.
There you go. I hope I was able to help fellow Christmas rushers like me with this post. Whatever you do, don't panic! Or, you know, panic properly. Good luck! ☆
Mustela is one of the best baby skincare brands in the world, and it's because for more than 60 years, Mustela has successfully developed products to nourish and protect both babies and mothers. With exceptional formulation for comfort and protection, their products have been proudly handed down from mothers to their children for more than three generations. I recommend getting products from the Mustela Bebe line for daily baby care of babies and children with normal skin. I've only heard great things about the Vitamin Barrier Cream and its power for soothing and preventing diaper rash as its barrier effect protects and insulates the fragile skin of infants. The vitamins that the Vitamin Barrier Cream contain also provide instant relief, reduce development of bacteria, and leave the skin smooth and soft. Meanwhile, the Sun Protection Line provides protection against the dangerous UVA and UVB rays and is sweat-proof and waterproof. Kids can enjoy more time being active outside! I have the Very High Protection Sun Lotion and I alternate it with my SPF day cream and so far it hasn't acted on my skin yet unlike some other SPF products I have tried.
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| My cousin Gabriel showing some love for Mustela Bebe |
Clothes from SM Kids' Fashion's Holiday 2014 collection
SM Kids' Fashion's Holiday 2014 collection showcases a wide variety of styles — from plains to prints, from laid-back casual to prim and proper looks, and from dresses to tops and bottoms — all ideal for one’s mix-and-match technique. I'm not going to lie, I do my own clothes shopping from SM Kids' Fashion myself if I can get away with it and if they have sizes available, heh. The clothes are all very affordable also that your P1,000 can already get you a lot!
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| Just look at Jillian Ward's and Andrea Brillantes's clothes ♥ |
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| My gifts for Hailey involved several sheets from a gift wrapping paper book and washi tapes |
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| Ending this post with a photo of myself with my goddaughter Hailey at her baptism yesterday ♥ |
Shipping out more than 20,000 samples in a span of just two years is no mean feat, but Sample Room was able to achieve it! And I am so excited because not only are they coming up with more varied beauty and wellness samples, I am also now part of the family!
On the first half of the year I joined a contest to be part of the Sample Room Bloggers Circle. I eagerly awaited the results but after a couple of months passed and they didn't announce anything, I figured they probably changed their minds about including more bloggers, or maybe they didn't think any of the entries qualified. You can just imagine how I got the shock of my life when I received the email congratulating me about three weekends ago! I was so excited and couldn't wait to tell everyone, but figured Sample Room should be the one to announce it first. I was beaming the whole day after they uploaded the poster above on Instagram.
On December 3, I went to the team's 2nd Anniversary/ Christmas dinner held at Maria Luisa's Garden Room at The Makati Garden Club.
I blogged about this restaurant before because going there felt like literally stepping into my dreams, and I looked forward to seeing if it looked as magical at night as I imagined it would. I wasn't able to take photos but it was indeed magical. I also wasn't able to take photos of the food but everything tasted divine. Here's a snapshot of the dessert.
More than the food and the venue though, I was excited for this dinner because I am so happy and honored to have been chosen to be part of the circle. It was thrilling to share a room with women whose beauty, work ethics, and aptitude about life in general are qualities I admire and am inspired by.
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| With beauty expert/ savvy entrepreneur/ pioneer Sophie of Sample Room and Beauty and Minerals |
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| With one of my favorite local beauty bloggers, Julia of Bless My Bag Sorry for my stupid smirk, I was conscious that there's food between my braces LOL. Also, I couldn't stop complimenting Julia's lipstick that night! |
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| The culprit: Julia's NARS Audacious in Rita |
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| With my seatmate and fringe-sister Earth |
If asked, I think beauty bloggers are my favorite niche bloggers because they're so warm and charming and easy to talk to. Really smart and discerning, too! I wish I could've stayed longer and chatted with old friends and new acquaintances more, but since I live too far away I needed to bolt out early. No worries though as I'm sure there'll be a lot more beauty soirées and get-togethers like this!
Sample Room celebrated its birthday but it is us who got gifts. ♥
And now, here's a sweet treat for fans of Sample Room! In celebration of its 2nd Anniversary, Sample Room is giving away a special Hello Kitty Instax package! See the poster below.
Sample Room celebrated its birthday but it is us who got gifts. ♥
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| Christmas-themed sweet treats |
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| 3S Pre-glued Lashes, the new Charm Pocket 5-pc Brush Set, and the new Suzie Edition Travel Pro 14-pc Makeup Brush Set (there's a peek at the delicious rose gold case)! More details about these soon, but you may also check them out at Beauty and Minerals |
Now if you've never visited the site before and you need a primer on how it works, just visit my post here. You may also visit Sample Room's official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thank you so much, Sample Room! I feel so welcomed! I can't wait to go on more beauty adventures with you! ♥
I love the Internet and the idea that it has made the world smaller and us closer, but sometimes there are things that make me want to turn my laptop off and not open it again anytime soon. Tumblr-speak like "feels", "childhood ruined" (is your childhood that inconsequential that a little piece of information is enough to ruin it for you?), "I can't even", and "faith in humanity restored" (I've always found this phrase odd − and not good odd) make me cringe. I get hyperbole, I'm the queen of hyperbole (see?) but I find nothing comforting in these clichés thrown offhandedly in every comment section you come across.
Still, I love the Internet for the aforementioned reason and I'm sure you do, too. And because sometimes, it astounds you.
If you need your "faith in humanity restored" or something, all you have to do is visit Amanda Palmer's Facebook page and feel the love emanating from your screen because of her and her fans' posts. For the uninitiated, Amanda is a singer, performer, and crowdfunding pioneer. She is also Neil Gaiman's wife, and that is how I first came across her page. Last month her book The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help based on her TED talk was released.
Recognizing the fact that not everyone who wants to read her book has the means to do so, she posted about Amazon's 30% discount and her fans responded by saying THEY WANT TO BUY BOOKS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T. It got so crazy that a system had to be put in place, and someone forwarded the idea of using Mass Mosaic, a website where people can post what they want/ have and enable them to ask for it/ give it away/ trade it. AMAZING. In less than an hour, a mosaic group for Amanda's book was created.
Since I really wanted a copy and local bookstores hasn't stocked her book yet (and I'm not sure if they ever will, I hope they do), I decided to just go for it and ask. I didn't want to incur additional charges to whoever would be kind enough to give me a copy though, so I asked for a Kindle edition.
In less than three hours, I got this:
Meanwhile, so many people are buying the books to give as gifts that Amazon ran out of stock!
And since I'm new to Mass Mosaic, I didn't realize I incorrectly put up two 'wants'. Silly me. So when another kind soul offered to send me the book...
We need more movements like this. The world is filled with wonderful people. Doesn't that "restore your faith in humanity" or sumthin'?
I guess this avalanche of kindness and generosity is to be expected from someone as awesome as Amanda Palmer, but to be a firsthand witness to that? It fills my heart with so much love and awe I feel like I can spontaneously combust.
Still, I love the Internet for the aforementioned reason and I'm sure you do, too. And because sometimes, it astounds you.
If you need your "faith in humanity restored" or something, all you have to do is visit Amanda Palmer's Facebook page and feel the love emanating from your screen because of her and her fans' posts. For the uninitiated, Amanda is a singer, performer, and crowdfunding pioneer. She is also Neil Gaiman's wife, and that is how I first came across her page. Last month her book The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help based on her TED talk was released.
Even while Amanda is both celebrated and attacked for her fearlessness in asking for help, she finds that there are important things she cannot ask for-as a musician, as a friend, and as a wife. She learns that she isn't alone in this, that so many people are afraid to ask for help, and it paralyzes their lives and relationships. In this groundbreaking book, she explores these barriers in her own life and in the lives of those around her, and discovers the emotional, philosophical, and practical aspects of THE ART OF ASKING.
Part manifesto, part revelation, this is the story of an artist struggling with the new rules of exchange in the twenty-first century, both on and off the Internet. THE ART OF ASKING will inspire readers to rethink their own ideas about asking, giving, art, and love.I really wanted to pre-order an autographed copy from Book Depository but at the time I didn't have enough funds for everything I wanted to buy, and now they've already run out of these signed copies.
Recognizing the fact that not everyone who wants to read her book has the means to do so, she posted about Amazon's 30% discount and her fans responded by saying THEY WANT TO BUY BOOKS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T. It got so crazy that a system had to be put in place, and someone forwarded the idea of using Mass Mosaic, a website where people can post what they want/ have and enable them to ask for it/ give it away/ trade it. AMAZING. In less than an hour, a mosaic group for Amanda's book was created.
Since I really wanted a copy and local bookstores hasn't stocked her book yet (and I'm not sure if they ever will, I hope they do), I decided to just go for it and ask. I didn't want to incur additional charges to whoever would be kind enough to give me a copy though, so I asked for a Kindle edition.
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| I didn't really know what to say so I just kept my message short |
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| A kind soul gifted a Kindle edition of The Art of Asking to me! |
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| Max the Kindle is very happy with this new addition |
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| AMAZING |
We need more movements like this. The world is filled with wonderful people. Doesn't that "restore your faith in humanity" or sumthin'?
I guess this avalanche of kindness and generosity is to be expected from someone as awesome as Amanda Palmer, but to be a firsthand witness to that? It fills my heart with so much love and awe I feel like I can spontaneously combust.
This book is not about seeing people from safe distances − that seductive place where most of us live, hide, and run to for what we think is emotional safety. The Art of Asking is a book about cultivating trust and getting as close as possible to love, vulnerability, and connection. Uncomfortably close. Dangerously close. Beautifully close. And uncomfortably close is exactly where we need to be if we want to transform this culture of scarcity and fundamental distrust.
− Foreword by Brené Brown
Join the mass-asking and mass-gifting by going here and visit Amanda's Facebook page here. Unless you have a heart of stone, I'm sure the stories will touch you.
I really needed this. Thank you, Amanda. Thank you, Internet.
***
And since we're in the process of asking, I ask that you help us pray for the soul of my Uncle Karl.
Pain comes when you least expect it, like a thief in the night. It has been 40 days since he passed, but I still get a jolt of disbelief every time I think of him and remember that he's no longer here. The pain never really goes away. Acceptance will come soon. For now, we'll say we miss him and we love him very much.
So it has been almost three months since I stepped inside a salon and I've been feeling restless. I was bored with my hair and I needed change. I love my haircut and apart from the roots, my hair color has remained as vibrant as ever (thank you, JuRo Salon Exclusif!) so I didn't want to do something drastic like get a pixie cut yet again or have my hair tampered with colored.
When I woke up yesterday, I decided I wanted to get a fringe again.
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| Going to miss these purple streaks, though |
I didn't know if it would look good on me so I dug up photos from my old posts and tried to visualize my current self with bangs. I thought it would look okay but I still wanted to ask for my friends' opinion. More than half said I should go for it, while a few said I should just leave my hair alone.
I am nothing but a stubborn girl though, so after work I found myself in a salon near the office with a hairstylist who spent less than ten minutes snipping my bangs off.
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| I'm glad to report that the purple streaks were left unharmed ♥ |
What do you think?
I posted this on Facebook with the caption, "Neil Gaiman said we shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes. I believe in Neil Gaiman and I believe in making mistakes. So I got bangs." I thought it was a pretty clever way to fish for reactions and I'm glad that a great majority of them said I looked okay with bangs. (^_−)☆
So excited for the day I can finally put my hair up in a ponytail to come! I'm not going to let my hair reach past shoulder-length though, as Sir Jude of JuRo Salon said it will just weigh me down. I'm trusting the experts.
So excited for the day I can finally put my hair up in a ponytail to come! I'm not going to let my hair reach past shoulder-length though, as Sir Jude of JuRo Salon said it will just weigh me down. I'm trusting the experts.
I love this hairstyle because it's so easy to maintain (wash and wear, baby!) and because the fringe lends a chic and sassy appeal. Hair doesn't make the woman but good hair definitely helps. A new hairstyle can give you a new lease on life, yes? Now I'm having fun putting my bright-colored lipsticks on and checking to see how far I can go.
Did you recently get a hair makeover, too? Did you like it? Let's swap hair stories!
Did you recently get a hair makeover, too? Did you like it? Let's swap hair stories!
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