A blink and a sigh, and summer is almost here again! What better way to welcome it than with a party sporting fresh and summery duds, yeah?

I'm so excited to announce that we are working with international fashion brand Penshoppe for the Exclusive Launch Party of their Spring/Summer 2016 collection, and I am loving every thing about the tropical and retro theme!

The party will be held at The Palace Pool Club on February 2, Tuesday, and aside from a fun and festive show, the guests will be the first ones to know who will be the newest member of TEAM PENSHOPPE all-star cast that currently already includes Asian pop sensation Sandara Park, It-girl and trend-setter Kendall Jenner, and supermodel Sean O’Pry. I actually know who it is already but my lips are sealed, hee.

Penshoppe’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection features comfortable oversized silhouettes, high-street sporty pieces and swimwear, funky cropped pants, tops, and more. Each piece is designed to exude a relaxed and youthful cool style, perfect for mixing and matching this season.

Would you like to be in on the fun? Yes, you can! Get a chance to win TWO invites to witness this spectacular event and find out who the next member of TEAM PENSHOPPE is. Just log on to the Penshoppe microsite from today until February 1 and use the official hashtag #PenshoppeSS16 when posting. Good luck and I hope to see you there!

BRB deciding what to wear to the party.

My Kindle turned three years old this week, yay!

Read the original post here.

When people ask about my Kindle (and sometimes, even when they don't), I always say that holding it in my hands for the first time was a huge "Where have you been all my life?" moment for me. I'm not kidding — when I'm old and gray and sitting on my rocking chair looking back at the life I have lived, it's one of the memories that will jump out at me. I remember the inner struggle I went through when I was deciding whether to get it or not, and I regret all those years I spent not having one. And yes, his name is Max because that was the first name that popped into my head the first time I held him. Hee.

(This is an old photo. I should post a newer photo updated with my new way of sorting my books, heh.)

So, if you love reading and you're mulling over whether to get one or not, let me help you by telling you about what it does, what I love about it, and what I don't like about it. For reference, I have a Kindle 5 which was originally released in 2012.


It is small, light, and fast, and it can store A LOT of books with its 2GB internal memory. I think mine currently has a little less than 300 books right now. Imagine carrying that many without having to break your back carrying heavy bags of books!

It also saved me a lot of storage space. Nowadays, I prefer buying ebooks except for when I get special editions and art books. Although I loved Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl so much I HAD to have the exclusive collector's edition. Heh.


You can easily highlight your favorite passages and quotes and share them online.


Whatever you highlight are stored in a separate document called My Clippings so it's easy to get back to them whenever you feel like it.


The Kindle has a built-in dictionary that you can use when you come across an unfamiliar word. You just have to use the cursor and you'll get options to know the full definition, to highlight, or to add a note. Neat-o! I got so used to this that I keep half-expecting a cursor to appear and assist me with words I don't know the meaning of. LOL.


The smell of books and the tactile feel of turning the pages will always have a special place in my heart, but you can't beat the convenience of having all your favorite and current reads at the ready as well as the ease of purchasing your next.


Its E-ink Pearl screen has the same high contrast as a real page in a book and is just as readable in bright sunlight, unlike your ebook reader apps in your phone that makes use of the phone's backlight and makes your eyes and head hurt. I have a booklight that I use when I read at night, but I haven't replaced its batteries yet ever since they gave up on me after the two consecutive nights I read If I Stay and Where She Went.



I never leave it at home when I travel and it always goes with me wherever I go.


I even bring it with me to sleepovers.


I think my favorite moment with my Kindle so far was during the time Amanda Palmer released her book The Art of Asking. It wasn't available locally so I tried to buy the ebook, but unfortunately (and I don't know why) even the ebook version wasn't available for purchase if you're from the Philippines! Thankfully one of her fans gifted me with a copy during the massive asking and giving drive she spearheaded. Thank you, Internet. I wouldn't have been able to get my grubby hands on a copy if it weren't for technology!

Now, for the things I don't like.


I suffered a mini heart attack when my water bottle leaked inside my bag and my Kindle was soaked! Thank the sewing gods for Meream's talent and skills and the pouch she made for my Kindle spared Max!


Ah, yes, that moment when you've settled in nicely in the van on the way to work and you decide against a morning nap so you just whip out your Kindle to read, and then it complains and says it doesn't have battery anymore!

In the Kindle's defense, I haven't charged him for more than three weeks and it didn't occur to me to check!


That moment when you're excited to start reading again but charging is taking its sweet time.


Ah yes, a bibliophile's problem all around the world, amirite?

So, in conclusion, a Kindle has its limitations, but the good things far outweigh the not-so-good. I actually love my Kindle so much that if only I have the money I would love to gift all my friends with one. Seriously, if you're a book-lover, I can't recommend it enough.

YES [source]

I began writing this post when my Kindle turned two years old, thus the old photo. Me posting it just now is a testament to how good I am at procrastinating.

LOVING

The new Maybelline Super BB Cream, my L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipstick in Pure Rouge, and the new The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Vanilla Almond Ice Blended drink. ♥ You can read more about the lipstick and the other shades in the Matte Reds collection here.

Here are the rest of my answers for the Currently questionnaire!


READING
I've gone back to reading Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry even though I got bored with the story because I feel like my book-guilt if I don't finish it will haunt me. Seriously though, all the "I'm going to walk all the way to Berwick even though I did not train for this nor do I have proper walking shoes and boohoo I miss my son" gets pretty tiring after a while. I should read a couple more chapters and decide whether I should move on already or continue trying to push it.

WRITING
My daily happy thoughts. My Happiness Jar is filling up fast. ♥

LISTENING TO
Pop music from the early 2000s. Nobody's gonna love me better, I must stick with you forever.

WEARING
The new Maybelline Super BB Cream and my L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipstick in Pure Rouge (see above). I will post a proper review of this BB Cream soon together with a giveaway on my Instagram!

THINKING
Of responsibilities. Why do I have to be a highly-functioning adult member of the society when I just want to curl up on my bed and read the whole day.

FEELING
Uppity. I really should stop drinking coffee when it's already past 2 PM.

LOVING
My Jasmini given by my boyfriend. ♥


Yes, it's a mini Jasmine. Jasmini. Heehee.

WANTING
To warn everyone to not watch The 5th Wave! It has an interesting premise that was executed badly, awful acting by everyone involved in the movie (yes, Chloe Moretz is cute, but she's not a very good actress), and cheesy cringey YA fanfare. Ugh. Terrible movie.


... But we're still smiling because we want to look cute in the photo, hee.

NEEDING
To go back to Makati Diamond Residences for their Weekend Brunch Buffet. It's the best, I swear. More info (and food photos!) to be posted soon.

WISHING
I were thirty, flirty, and thriving.

How has 2016 treated you so far? I hope you're doing well! ♥

Valentine's Day is almost here*! I just have to ask: Have you found THE perfect red yet? Hitched or not, this Hallmark holiday justifies another trip to the makeup counters, and I am hard-pressed to think of anyone who doesn't find that exciting. (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)

Today I'd like to show you the Color Riche Collection Star Matte Reds by L'Oreal Paris and tell you what I think about each shade.

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Star Matte Reds Pure Amaranthe • Pure Brick • Pure Fire • Pure Garnet Pure Rouge • Pure Ruby • Pure Scarleto • Pure Vermeil

Spoiler alert: I love them! I have had these lipsticks in my arsenal for quite a while now but never got around to posting this review. Look at my hair color in the photos and just imagine how long this has been saved in my drafts. I am so sorry about that, but the good thing is this collection has withstood my fickle heart and still belong in the Lipstick Army I rotate regularly.

Like the Collection Star Nudes that came before it, Matte Reds' shades were chosen by L'Oreal's beautiful ambassadors who lent their autographs on the classy black tubes that house each lipstick. These eight shades are wearable as everyday reds yet can look sophisticated enough for dressier and more formal occasions.


Here's a closer look on each one.

Pure Amaranthe picked by Gong Li

Pure Amaranthe is a pink-based red that almost looks fuchsia on my lips. Interesting color but I feel like it's a little too loud for me. That's saying a lot, considering how I almost always go for loud lip colors. I'm not sure if it's just because it's Gong Li's color, but it gives me Memoirs of a Geisha-vibes.

Pure Brick picked by Aishwarya Rai

Pure Brick is a brown-based red that I thought would make me look and feel old, but I was wrong. Instead I envisioned myself being a chic city girl conquering the urban jungle with this on my lips. I really like this color and I think it will go so well with black frames.

Pure Fire picked by Li Bing Bing

Pure Fire is an orange-based red that is definitely the fiercest out of all the orange lipsticks I have (like the Makeup Factory in Tropical Orange, L'Oreal Paris Color Riche in Orange Power, and Maybelline Color Sensational in REB 05 and REB12). This red is on fiiire!

Pure Garnet picked by Sonam Kapoor

Pure Garnet is a gorgeous wine red that almost became my favorite among the bunch if only it weren't the most drying of them all. I am so sad about this because it applies so beautifully on my lips yet makes it crack within minutes even after a generous application of lip balm. I had to give it to my friend Alex who is able to use it without wanting to tear her lips apart, though, so I guess it's just me and my lips that react negatively to it. What a shame as I really liked this color on me.

Pure Rouge picked by Frieda Pinto

Now THIS, this is MY perfect red. Pure Rouge is a true red that I'm sure will suit all complexions. We don't have to be scared of red lipsticks again, you guys! This lipstick merited the most number of selfies from this collection, and stayed on my lips even after an intense battle with ribs, heh. I should do another post showcasing my favorite red lipsticks; I'm pretty positive this one is a clear front-runner.

Pure Ruby picked by Chom

Pure Ruby looks almooost the same as Pure Rouge that I had to make sure I was indeed using a different lipstick. After looking at it more closely though, I was able to discern that Pure Ruby is a tad more coral-ish. I love that it reminds me of candy apples. Nevertheless I know I don't need almost duplicates in my stash so I just gave this to my friend after, and of course Pure Rouge had to stay.

Pure Scarleto picked by Blake Lively

Pure Scarleto is a warm toned bright red that again looks a little like Pure Rouge, except it's a little brighter.

Pure Vermeil picked by Fan Bing Bing

Pure Vermeil is a coral-based red that I think is perfect for those who'd like to try red but are too scared. This will ease you into finding your perfect red as it's not too loud.

Is it weird that I feel weird looking at myself with my old hair color?

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Star Matte Reds at a glance

Except for Pure Garnet, these lipsticks did not dry my lips thanks to its matte gel technology and caring jojoba oil, but I still recommend that you use a lip balm underneath. All shades are highly pigmented and stayed on my lips for about four to five hours, leaving a tint after. They're also pretty affordable at P400 a pop and are fairly accessible as they're available in all L'Oreal Paris counters nationwide and in BeautyMNL. (I'm not sure if you can get Pure Rouge now though, seeing as how it's been out of stock ever since it was endorsed by Maine Mendoza.)

Ring of fire

Red lipsticks are godsend for when you're feeling too lazy to fix your face as all you need are groomed brows, face powder, and a swipe of your perfect red! I love L'Oreal's Matte Reds because they give not just one but eight options for when these lazy days come.

Did you know that I used to be scared of red lipsticks? I tended to stick to pinks and corals as I didn't think reds would suit me, but now I own more than ten in my train case! I've since found out that it's so easy to pull them off so I recommend that you experiment! With the range of colors readily available to us, it's impossible to find the right red for you. Good luck! ♥

*I've always been a sucker for this holiday so please bear with me and try not to roll your eyes too hard. Heh. 

My friends, it finally happened.

I finally heard Nate Ruess sing live at his concert in Kia Theater last night.

But if you were to ask me how it went, what I felt, or what happened, I probably won't be able to answer you.

If you were to ask me how I felt, it would appear I won't be able to give you a suitable response.

Surreal. Everything was surreal. 

I feel like I had an out-of-body experience last night, like my happiness at finally hearing him sing live after all these years of pining and wishing he'd come here transcends everything else.

Based on Youtube videos of his live performances, I already know he is great. Of course I wouldn't be a fan if he isn't, right? What I didn't know was how GREAT he is. Absolutely beautiful and breathtaking and marvelous and grand. No need for special effects nor fancy backdrops, Nate Ruess exceeded all my impossibly high expectations and the two hour-concert can't even begin to encapsulate how amazing he is.

He moves and dances around the stage A LOT so it's virtually impossible to take good shots of him, but Miah managed. All photos in this post (except for the last two below) were taken by him.

My only complaint is how the theater put chairs and how the bouncers kept on making us sit down and didn't allow us to approach the stage where we can easily high-five Nate, even when Nate kept on making us stand up and dance. Haven't they seen any of his performances? The audience should have been made to stand up. It's a concert, people! More importantly, it was a Nate Ruess concert! 

I didn't care. I stood up and danced and clapped and cheered on Nate as enthusiastically as I could.

Before we knew it, the concert was done, the spell was broken, and it was back to the real world for us.

Some nights I always win, I always win ♬♪♫♬♫♪

P.S: I wish they sold Nate Ruess merchandise. I still don't have his album.

I am seeing Nate Ruess perform live tomorrow.

Holy sh*t. I AM SEEING NATE RUESS PERFORM LIVE TOMORROW!


Everything that has happened in the last couple of years that I've been listening to him sing, watching his live performances and interviews on Youtube, and longing to actually watch his concert have been leading to this moment. I am going to see my dream concert tomorrow, my friends, and I am so excited I don't know how I am going to get any sleep tonight.

Here is this week's Currently!

[JUST FINISHED] READING

Before I Do by Kath Eustaquio-Derla. It's a quick but fun read. Watch out for my complete review this week!

LISTENING TO
This to tide me over until tomorrow:

THINKING

Of what I'll wear tomorrow. It will be a looong day of meetings, company photoshoot, and of course the concert in Kia Theater and I need to make sure my outfit will suit each activity I have lined up.

FEELING
A little antsy but mostly excited, especially since my friend Pau-pau just tweeted me this link: Nate Ruess is here! In Manila! AHHHH!!

LOVING
January 19. I'm claiming it!

WISHING
Nate Ruess sings my favoritest songs of his: Sight of the Sun and The Gambler, but I know I'm shooting for the moon as they're not in the set lists I've seen for his current tour. Still, a Fun. fan can dream.

Who is your dream singer or band to see in a concert? ♥

I was supposed to begin this post with a short paragraph about how I am such a huge cheese-ball who loves romantic movies and novels, but news of Alan Rickman's death blew that introduction out the window.

I am gutted. Fuck you, cancer.

Rest in peace, The Half-Blood Prince.

"Actors are agents of change. A film, a piece of theater, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. It can change the world."

- Alan Rickman

And then I was reminded of the original point of this post.

If you have always wanted to write a romance story AND publish it, maybe 2016 is the year you'll get to do it! 

You need to stop talking about writing and actually write something. The goal is to avoid the lonely land of undeveloped plots, so why don't you go and join Mina Esguerra's #romanceclass?


#romanceclass is a two-month workshop where participants are expected [but not required] to finish and publish a contemporary romance with a minimum of 30,000 words. The class has already produced a lot of indie-published books, and it's really been a delight reading them. Click here to visit the online catalog and support Filipino romance authors.

I have been joining since 2014 and I recognize that my attempts have been futile, for even though I was able to write and publish two short stories (Once Upon a Sticky Note and A Sky of Wishes, both available in Buqo) last year, I have yet to finish a romance novella.

But then, as Celine said in the movie Before Sunrise, "If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt."

I will keep on trying until I get over my fear that my finished product will not be good enough, and if you are so inclined to do the same, then I suggest that you visit this link to find out more about the class as well as the requirements.

Now if you would rather read than write, then you can also show support for the #romanceclass community (trust me, it would be GREATLY appreciated), then share the love! Read the books, talk about the books you liked online and/ or offline, send the books as gifts, and attend bookish events! You may read more specific and helpful tips from Mina's post here.


Tonight I am curling up with Before I Do by Kath Eustaquio-Derla. Watch out for my review after I read it! You can also get a copy of this book by emailing the author or by going to the National Bookstore branch nearest you.

2016 hasn't been a very good year so far, but I'm looking forward to better things. Hopefully this includes [finally] finishing this freakin' romance novella. Wish me luck!

Good luck to you, too. ♥ 

In my possession right now is the new Lenovo VIBE S1, which is Lenovo's first dual camera selfie smartphone. It claims to be the BEST selfie essential you'll want to have, thanks to its dual front cameras (8MP primary front camera and 2MP secondary front camera) that promise to deliver high-quality photos even at night or under low light. 

I will be road-testing it for the next couple of weeks and then come up with a more comprehensive review after. In the meantime, here is the first selfie I took using this phone:

I'm happy with how it turned out. I took another selfie immediately after, this time using the front camera of my iPhone 6 but this Lenovo VIBE S1 photo looked brighter, clearer, and a lot less grainy. Who knows, depending on how this review pans out, I might get this phone when my iPhone 4S retires.

Here is this week's Currently!

[JUST FINISHED] READING
Archie Comics #5, where Reggie Mantle was introduced for the first time.

LISTENING TO
Nate Ruess. Only eight more days to go until his concert here! EIGHT!

THINKING
Of chicken wings. Yes, I had Wingstop just last Saturday, but I want them again now.


THINKING
Of possible plans for the third week of February. February 25 has been declared as a special non-working holiday here in the Philippines and I filed a vacation leave for February 26 so it's going to be a long weekend for me.

FEELING
Sleepy. It has been a long day and my bed is waiting.


LOVING
My new blush: Pink Sugar Sweet Cheeks HD Cheek Color in Summer Nights and a mix of L'Oreal Collection Star in Barely Coral and Estee Lauder Pure Color Creme Long Lasting Lipstick in Blushing for my lips. It's the makeup look I am wearing on my Lenovo VIBE S1 selfie above.

WISHING
I could have a day where I don't have to worry about anything. Being a chronic worrier is difficult. What's worse is acknowledging I don't really have anything to worry about.

Hoping for a great week ahead for me and you! ♥

The holidays have officially ended and the days seem to be whizzing by that I get disoriented and have to check my phone frequently just to see what date it is. 

The first Monday back to work really made its Mondayness known. There were a lot of things to catch up on and new work tasks to attend to, but my body gave up and I had to go on sick leave the next day because of the flu. I am feeling better now although I wouldn't say no to more rest. We are transitioning and moving to a new office very soon so as expected there's really a lot on our plates right now. Everything's good, though. I'm looking forward to a new work space, but the commute to and from work? Not so much. I'll just have to cross the bridge when I get there, I guess.

Also, I'm not sure if you've noticed but Hello, New Layout! How are you liking krissyfied.com now? I felt so kilig when my recent posts seemed to line up perfectly on the widget above that I had to take a screenshot for posterity since it will get adjusted once I hit Publish on this.

So there! This isn't really a serious post, more like a filler actually. I just wanted to say hi and I hope 2016 is treating you nicely so far. Take care! ♥

Ever since I read it in Christian Living class when I was still in sixth grade, Invictus by William Ernest Henley has become my favorite poem of all time. I have committed it to memory and can recite it word for word, but I still make it a point to write it down on whatever planner I'm using for the year. (See it on my 2012 planner here.) "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul" became my mantra and battle-cry whenever I face challenges that seem like they're too big for me to handle.

For this year, it's one of the first things I wrote in my planner. Are there any poems/ fictional works that hold the same significance to you, too? Care to share?

As for me, I have more to share because I decided to continue my weekly Currently posts. Here's the first one for 2016!

READING
News Hardcore! Hukbong Sandatahan ng Kahaggardan by Manix Abrera. This was an instant buy for me not only because I'm a solid Manix Abrera fan but also because of what the book is about. These comic strips poke fun at two of the most stressful professions of all: journalism and broadcasting. Although I'm not a press person, I graduated with a Mass Communication degree and regularly interact with the press so I recognize the jokes all too well.

WRITING
Today's entry to my Happiness Jar: being able to end the first day of the work-week/ month/ year without hitches plus a pasta and tea date with Miah after work.

LISTENING TO
The sound in the house when everyone else in the family's already sleeping: a whole lot of quiet.

WEARING
My comfy pajamas. Sleeping shortly after publishing this!

THINKING
Of where to go this year. I would love to go to a place I've never been to, but where? The choices are infinite!

FEELING
Unwell. I have the sniffles and they just won't go away! :(

LOVING
That today is January 4, therefore there are only 15 days left before I see Nate Ruess in concert! 15 days! NATE RUESS!!

So there's my first Currently. That's it for now, I guess? I really hope I can sustain this again until the end of the year just because it's always nice to see documented memories. ♥

Are you making your own Currently posts, too? I would love to read them! Please leave your links at the comments section so I can visit your blogs as well. Thank you!