I have never related to any other image as much as I did when I saw this. This is from Adam J. Kurtz's book, Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives. I am going to line up at his book signing on Friday so I can meet him in person and have him sign my books/ bless my life with his presence and creativity!

Whew, what an eventful week! Here are the other things I've been up to.

CURRENTLY

READING

Mina V. Esguerra's Welcome to Envy Park. I am finally making a dent to my loooong list of To Be Read books! Hooray! I've had this book for almost three years now. (Can you believe it? I am the worst.)

WRITING

My intentions for the next six months on my journal. For the first time in 152 years, a supermoon, Blue Moon, and lunar eclipse has coincided. It is said that "full moons are when we focus on what we want to grow, and eclipses are the same energy intensified, opening doors for the next 6 to 12 months to come."

LISTENING TO

ONE OK ROCK.





Last Monday, my boyfriend took me to Mall of Asia Arena for the Manila leg of ONE OK ROCK's Ambitions Tour. They were here two years ago but it coincided with the concert of the best vocalist I have ever heard in my life, Nate Ruess. I'm not going to lie, if it wasn't for J's recommendation I wouldn't have even been able to hear any of their songs. Well, last Monday, after that SPECTACULAR show, they gained a new fan. They were amazing! One song even made me cry because of how raw, intense, and powerful the performance was! The lights, effects, and over-all production value was also A+++. 10/10 will watch again when they go back.

WEARING

My Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Believer.


All day, everrry day.

THINKING

Wistful. Today was our last day in our temporary office in HRC Center, and tomorrow we move to another temporary office.


We also heard some news today that highly impact our future, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I wish I can divulge more, but I guess I'll just wait until I am cleared to do so. That said, I am still...

FEELING

Excited because as I said above, I am going to meet Adam J. Kurtz on Friday!


I am going to have this book signed as well as my copy of 1 Page at a Time. I would also like to get a copy of Pick Me Up.

LOVING

My new Love Lilie Blush Pink Wrap Dress that we got from a branded ukay. We chanced upon this store in Alphaland Megamall, and they sell a lot of branded and designer clothes and shoes at a much lower price! The store name is Threads, and you can also shop online!


You can also sell your pre-loved clothes through them as they accept consignment. Visit their website to know more!

WANTING

Courage and grace.

NEEDING

Courage and grace.

WISHING

For courage and grace.


Cheers to changes and the courage, grace, and chutzpah to chase and face them.

I wish the same for you.

Thank you for reading. ♡

After a self-imposed lipstick purchase ban that lasted for a whole year (yay, me!) I went ahead and purchased three (THREE!) new lipsticks on the first month of the new year (bad, Krissy). I'm not going to lie, purchasing a brand new lipstick gives me a rush each time. Now I'd like to talk about the first lipstick I bought this year, the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Believer.

I was supposed to be strong and not follow the bandwagon, but after much hype in the makeup Facebook Groups I belong to, I knew I HAD to have it, and so I did, and here we are.

From the swatches I've seen online I had a hard time choosing among my top picks Believer, Pioneer, Lover, and Voyager but in the end I went with Believer because I don't think I have a purple shade like this in my collection yet while I already have favorite power reads, romantic nudes, and bold burgundies. That's not to say I won't be tempted to go back to a Maybelline counter and swipe these, too, though. 

My Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Believer matches my Valentine read: After Eden by Arnold Arre

Maybelline promises "16 hours of water-proof and non-drying intense liquid lip color in extreme precision". I am not looking for a lipstick that can stay that long since my mood can change many times within the day — all I want is for my lipstick to deliver the color I want without leaving my lips looking and feeling parched.


I was actually surprised upon seeing this in person because it was bigger than I expected. It comes with an arrow applicator that allows you to take the right amount of lipstick. The goal is to use the tip as a kind of liner for precise lines and then fill it in with the thick part of the applicator.

First, here is a photo of my made-up face without lipstick on:


And here's a lip-swatch:


This is the part where I preen for the camera. I couldn't help it! This lipstick made me feel really puh-retty!




Aaand because I'm practically blind without my glasses on, here's a photo of myself with my glasses and this bold lipstick:


Verrry nice.

Note that I only used one swipe for all these photos! Just imagine how much more intense the color will be with more than one swipe! @_@

I don't think it stayed for 16 hours on my lips BUT it did stay longer than my usual lipsticks, it is budge-proof, water-proof, transfer-proof, and didn't leave any marks on my coffee cup nor my tumbler, AND it stayed put even after I ate six pieces of my favorite Tokyo Tokyo Chicken Karaage deep-fried goodness. ♥

Seriously, I thought I was clingy, but it definitely beat me. Now I'm a BELIEVER! I need to get the other shades, stat!

No one really asked, but here's a photo of everything else I used for this makeup look:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Tinted Primer in Light Medium, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid BB Cushion in Natural, Makeup Revolution Blush Palette in Blush Queen, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Fiber Mascara, Maybelline V-Face Duo Stick, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Brow Pencil in Dark Brown, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Gel Eyeliner in Nude, and Maybelline HyperImpact Liner

If you love lipsticks, then you simply MUST have at least one of these ten shades: Voyager, Escapist, Believer, Creator, Romantic, Heroine, Pioneer, Lover, Dreamer and Loyalist.


Grab your own Superstay Matte Ink Lipsticks from Lazada and at Maybelline counters nationwide for only P299. For more information about this collection and other Maybelline products and promos, visit Maybelline's website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. While you're at it, follow me on Instagram, too, and subscribe to my blog for more reviews!

Disclosure: I am part of Maybelline Squad Philippines but I purchased this with my own money. I was not required nor compensated for this review. Read my blog's complete Disclosure Policy here.

Today I stayed home so I can sort my books and determine which ones I can already let go of and sell. As some of you may know, I will be going through a major operation soon and the funds that will be generated from this sale will be very much welcome.

And that is the premise of today's post.

Now let's take a trip down memory lane.


If you have been reading my blog for quite a while, you may remember this photo of my favorite book shelf that I shared on one of my Currently posts three years ago. Unfortunately, this orderly arrangement of books looks nowhere near the current state of this bookshelf. I know I said "I am imposing a rule: eBooks over physical books, unless they come autographed or come in special edition/ full color like those books about movies that I love." but, you know, life, and countless book purchases, happen.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I can blame book sales, book fairs, book destashers, bookstores, my Fully Booked Discount Card and National Bookstore Laking National Card, Book Depository, Book Sale, and my enabler boyfriend all I want, but really, all I can blame is myself. In the last three years since I wrote this post I have accumulated more books than my poor bookshelf, boxes, and drawers can hold. Now aside from three shelves, two boxes, and a drawer, I also have at least three tall book towers. The clincher? I haven't even read most of these new books yet.

Back to my destashing story... It proved to be a TOTAL FAIL because of all the books in my shelves, drawers, and book towers I managed to choose only SEVEN books I will be willing to part with. SEVEN.

I am left with more than a hundred books I can’t find in my heart to let go of. I think I am still holding out for my dream library in my future home.

Now I feel bad because I realized the number of books I have yet to read. Sorry for neglecting you, friends! I promise to be a better reader this year.

Send help. 

My officemate Erwin suggested this:

Pick up a random title and try to remember the last time you read it.
If you can't recall reading it in the last 12 months, get rid of it.

It's a sound idea, yes, but I don't think it will be possible for me to let go of those I haven't read yet, because I need to know if I will like the story or not. It just cannot be done.

I guess I just have to make an effort to lessen my time spent in social media and dedicate it to my books, instead. Today was a good day, because I got to finish Doorkeeper by Scott Lee Chua and Ethan Chua in one sitting. I will prepare a more in-depth review but right now I wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading it, mostly because I love when stories are interlaced with other stories. The creators did a great job weaving most of the stories with those we are already familiar with. The art is also great and really helped move the story forward. I think my favorite is the story set in Manila circa Martial Law. The Doorkeeper reminded me of Dream of The Sandman, and I would love for this to become a series of books, too. Congratulations to the authors and artists behind this book!

Tomorrow is another day, and I hope I am more successful.

My Uncle Roberto celebrated his 60th birthday last Sunday and his kids threw him a '60s-themed birthday party. The music, games, and food were awesome, but what made it even more special is that the whole family in my father's side is complete save for Aunt Earl who's currently working abroad.

I'm sure Lola Binyang and Lolo Popoy were smiling down on us from heaven.

Having a big family reminds me that no matter how lonely I get, I am never alone.

CURRENTLY

READING

Doorkeeper by Ethan Chua and Scott Lee Chua. I was supposed to review this before Christmas but I was too holi-dazed to do anything, let alone concentrate on a book. I started this the other night and I am so impressed by the art!

LISTENING TO

ONE OK ROCK. My boyfriend got us tickets for their concert at the MOA Arena on Monday!

SMELLING

Coconut Oil, but not really. I think I may just be imagining it. I put coconut oil on my hair last Sunday and even though it was really difficult to rinse off (I used cold water by mistake instead of warm water), I really loved how it made my skin so black and shniy.

WEARING


L'Oreal Paris skin care products. I've been worried about tired-looking and aging skin so these gifts from the L'Oreal Paris team were welcomed with open arms and a happy face. I started this new regimen last night, and I particularly liked the L'Oreal Pure Clay Mask. It felt hot at first but got cooler and better as it dried, and left my skin feeling really clean!

THINKING

Of the future.

FEELING

Sad. I guess it's just one of those days.

LOVING

Colourpop. My second and third lipstick purchases are the Colourpop Ultra Matte Lips Liquid Lipstick in Kween and 3-Way. It was my first time to use Colourpop and OH MY GOODNESS my life was changed. Thanks to Chelsea for recommending it to me!

WANTING

To reduce waste, especially plastic.


I started bringing my tumbler and metal straw to my coffee runs. (My favorite Starbucks beverage: cold brew with sugar-free vanilla and heavy cream.)

NEEDING

To pack. We're moving to a new office space and I'm not yet done packing my stuff.

WISHING

For my period. I'm equal parts anticipating and dreading my period, because it means my operation will come soon after.

That things this time next week will be better.

Thank you for reading. ♡

Mondays are for power reds, and the Lip Liners and Lipsticks from the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid West Coast Glow range offer high wattage!

Sunkissed and sultry, this glowing makeup collection is inspired by the warm California vibes of Gigi Hadid’s hometown. Boardwalk or catwalk, either way the West Coast Glow makeup collection is hot. A sunset red lip and a golden glow, this collection is so major.

The West Coast Glow collection features three gorgeous bold shades of red lipsticks that’s easy to glide on the lips with a creamy-matte finish.

Like what I did with my review of the East Coast Glam Lip Kits, this will focus more on the Lipsticks as I rarely wear Lip Liners anyway.

The shades included in the East Coast range are Austyn, Khair, and Lani.

I am a bit confused about the names to be honest, because the descriptions say Austyn is a "warm orange" while Lani is a "blue-based rouge", but the Lipsticks I have seem like they may have interchanged the two? From the swatches above, Austyn looks like a true red to me while Lani looks orange-y. Notice the discrepancy between the Austyn Lip Liner and Austyn Lipstick (first two swatches from the left). From the descriptions, the Lip Liners are okay, though.

Here are my lip swatches.

Austyn Lip Liner

Austyn Lipstick on top of the Austyn Lip Liner

This is such a perfect va-va-voom, bombshell red. I LOVE THIS! I wear this on times I feel too lazy to put makeup on. Powder, eyebrows, and this and you're good to go. Notice how different the colors look, though --- as I mentioned above, the Lip Liner looks orange while the Lipstick is a true red.

Khair Lipstick

I don't have the Khair Lip Liner so this is just a swatch of the lipstick alone. It is said to be Gigi's favorite and is dedicated to her sister Bella, whose middle name is Khair which translates to "benevolent" in Arabic. Khair is a happy medium between Austyn and Lani, a basic cherry that is flattering to all skin tones.

Lani Lip Liner

Lani Lipstick on top of the Lani Lip Liner

Lani looks more orange-y in person, especially when applied alone. If I'm going to wear the Lip Liner with the Lipstick, I think I'm just going to swap Austyn and Lani.


I love how my phone camera captured how even the application is for all three Lipsticks. If I were to describe these products in one word, it will be effortless, which has really been Gigi's style ever since. I love how her personality and style translates with the products under this collection.

Of the three colors, Austyn is my favorite. All three applied smoothly with no tugging. The formula is creamy matte and did not leave my lips feeling nor looking dry. They also lasted for more than three hours, with touch-ups needed after meals.

The Lipsticks cost PhP349 each while the Lip Liners cost PhP249 each, but I believe they have a Lip Kit promo where you can get both in a set for a cheaper price.

The other products I used on my face are all from the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection. This is actually a series of reviews I am doing to showcase the products I have from the line. You may also check out my review of the Jetsetter Palette and the West Coast Glam Lip Kits, and watch out for my other reviews in the coming days.

The Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection is available on select SM Department Stores and Watsons Stores nationwide. Grab your favorites and back-ups before they're gone forever!

Sometimes life feels like one easy-breezy ride.

And then sometimes you fall flat on your face.

The best thing to do is take it easy.

Fight courageously, yet accept losses gracefully.

Most importantly, celebrate life's winning moments, however minute they may seem.

As for me, one of my wins this past week is finally scoring a Barbie® Made To Move™ Skateboarder  after looking for her everywhere! Huge thanks to Rue of Richwell for her help!

• Barbie® skateboarder doll features flexibility for extra-cool moves — 22 “joints” in the neck, upper arms, elbows, wrists, torso, hips, upper legs, knees AND ankles allow an incredibly realistic range of motion!
• Her skateboarding outfit is casually cool with light blue leggings, a graphic tee, a plaid shirt and white sneakers.
• A purple skateboard and red helmet will help her land new tricks.
• Young sport lovers will find all kinds of stories to play out and all types of moves to make with Barbie® skateboarder doll.

I used to not mind her during my toy haunts with my boyfriend because I didn't care for her outfit. When I finally took notice of her face and decided I liked her, we couldn't find her anywhere! I am so thrilled that she is finally mine!

Because of her Made to Move body, she's really flexible and the possibilities are endless! I figured I can always change her clothes, but upon considering it, the outfit she came with is actually pretty cool. Still, I would love to see her without her helmet and wearing pretty dresses.

Mind you, the helmet proved very handy when she took a lot of hits earlier because she kept on falling while I was trying to take her photos.


She has a very pretty face. I also love her dusty pink/ old rose lipstick!


Her articulation allows her to do any pose you can imagine but her plaid shirt somehow restricts her movement. I'll take more photos of her without the plaid shirt on next time.


Right now we'll just chill and enjoy the weekend.

By the way, I decided to name her Cassandra. Nickname, Sandy.

Thank you for reading! ♥ 

I intend to make a review of all the items included in the massive Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection kit we received during the launch event. I started with the Jetsetter Palette, and now I'm reviewing the Lipsticks and Lip Liners from the East Coast Glam range!

Fresh, bold, and fierce. It’s all about the cat eye in this city chic makeup look inspired by Gigi’s home away from home, New York City. Bold as the city itself is Gigi Hadid's signature nude lip and fierce cat eye.

Complement your fierce eye makeup with a perfectly nude pout with Gigi Hadid’s Matte Lip East Coast Glow lip kit collection which comes in three shades of essential neutral and nude colors to finish off your look.

The shades included in the East Coast range are Erin, Mccall, and Taura.

I got the Lip Liners as well but seeing as I don't really use lip liners this review will focus on the Lipsticks more.

Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection East Glam Lipsticks in Erin, Mccall, and Taura

From the swatches alone, I was worried that Mccall and Taura won't show on my pigmented lips and won't flatter my skin tone. Check my lip swatches below and see for yourself.

Erin Lip Liner

Erin Lip Liner layered with the Erin Lipstick

Erin is a purplish, almost grape-y nude. It applies smoothly without tugging and is not patchy. It's also pigmented even with one swipe, but buildable if you want color with higher impact.

Mccall Lip Liner

Mccall Lip Liner layered with Mccall Lipstick

Mccall is a very pale pink nude. It applied patchy and hardly showed up on my pigmented lips. I had to swipe a lot of times for the color to show and take extra effort to even it out. I don't know about you but I don't think it's very flattering on my skin tone. If I do decide to wear it again, I have to have extra smokey and glam eye makeup.

Taura Lip Liner

Taura Lip Liner layered with Taura Lipstick

Taura is a coralish-nude. It applied more evenly than Mccall but I also had to swipe at least three times before the color showed up on my lips. I also think it's more flattering than Mccall as it's almost the same color as my face, but I would think twice before wearing it as I prefer MLBB (My Lips, But Better) shades for nude lipsticks.

Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection East Coast Lip Kits: Erin, Mccall, and Taura

Of the three, I think you can already tell that my favorite is Erin. I've been wearing it almost every day and it has proven to be a reliable matte lipstick for me. All three are non-drying and stayed on my lips for almost three hours, and longer still if I use the Lip Liner. The Lipsticks cost PhP349 each while the Lip Liners cost PhP249 each, but I believe they have a Lip Kit promo where you can get both in a set for a cheaper price.

The other products I used on my face are all from the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection, and I hope you can watch out for my reviews of those in the next coming days. I'll do the West Coast Lipsticks first though so you can appreciate the difference between the two ranges.

The Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection is available on select SM Department Stores and Watsons Stores nationwide. Grab your favorites and back-ups before they're gone forever!

If you're interested in comics, movies, series, manga, anime, toys, gaming, and cosplay, then mark March 24 and 25 on your calendars because all of these will come together in a massive arena of fandom explosion at the ComicCon Asia 2018 happening at the SMX Convention Center!

ComicCon Asia's first run is jam-packed with exciting highlights (as it should, being its first run and all) centered on delivering unique and entertaining experiences for fans and con-goers of the region, including, get this: a meet-and-greet with the iconic superhero mastermind Stan Lee!


We attended the presscon held at the Grand Ballroom of The Heritage Hotel last night and boy, was it exciting to hear their plans for this convention from the organizers themselves!


The organizers (backed by the combined expertise of PSL Entertainment and Nam Entertainment Group) certainly didn't spend time being idle from the time the first presscon was held to yesterday's grand announcement.

ComicCon Asia event producer Pauline Sofia Laping shares that Stan Lee, along with the convention's roster of industry luminaries, are meant to ''show fans what the industry behind creating a story looks like,'' a major draw for budding artists, creators, storytellers, and superhero fanatics alike.

Joining Stan Lee is NBA superstar Ray Allen, who celebrates the 20th year anniversary of the release of his movie He Got Game at ComicCon Asia, unveiling exclusive memorabilia and meeting up with basketball fans all over the region.

Walter Jones, the original Black Ranger from hit TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is also coming in to say hi to fans of the massive teen franchise. Furthermore, set to shed light on the industry aspect of the creative trade are ComicCon Asia's list of master creators in the world of cosp1ay, gaming, comics, illustration, photography, and more.

Here are some of the other confirmed guests we can expect to see come March 24 and 25:

• Renowned artist and cosplayer Chad Hoku aka Hoku Props will help fans discover tips and tricks forged in the armor cosplay trade
• Award-winning international cosplayer Linda Le aka Vampy Bit Me is set to help cosplayers level up their crafting skills with a workshop on stunning fabric costumes
• Austrian cosplay chameleon Nana Kuronoma will be unraveling secrets to embodying characters through a Cosplay Posing and Facial Expression workshop
• Cosplay photographer Jay Tablante together with special guest Anna Redei aka Enji Night will be giving con-goers tips on capturing cosplay through the lens
• DC/ Marvel homegrown comic book artist Harvey Tolibao is set to unlock trade secrets in the comic book industry as he leads a workshop for aspiring artists
• Carlo Pagulayan will be giving expert comic book illustration techniques designed to help beginners turn to pros
• Walt Disney's Visual Development Artist Armand Serrano will share his experience in bringing to life well-loved characters from award-winning films like Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, and Big Hero 6
• Award-winning toy customizer and creator of the commercially and critically successful Forest of Sorrows and Arcane Divination sets Jesse Yu aka J*RYU will teach con-goers how to become an expert craftsman in toy design through a master class 
• Spongecola front man Yael Yuzon will share his experience in harnessing creativity to expand his artistic journey as well as unveiling his latest mini comics Watership and Joy
• Carlo Caliman of StartUp Village and Jay Tablante will also lead an industry workshop where creative hopefuls can learn about what it takes to be a successful creative entrepreneur
• Temple University's Dr. John Lent, publisher and creator of the International Journal of Comic Art, will hold a round-table discussion on the span of the comic industry in Asia and the role of comics in the progressive growth of Asian comic culture and its significance on a global scale. Part of his panel are: Toni Masdiono, a lecturer for the Indonesian School of Design and comic artist for popular album Ganesha Bobo and the Komunikasi magazine; Vietnamese comic pioneer Nguyen Thang Phong, popularized by his regime-defying artwork; Jerry Hinds, president of The Association of Comic Artists Singapore and creator of comic series SupaCross; and Malaysia's Adi Nazri, founer of the Komic Kapalooza and former president of the Malaysia Comics Enthusiast Organization

Meanwhile, ComicCon Asia is also the place to witness cosplayers bring their best cosplay to the frontlines as they compete for the ultimate Cosplay Match-Up. A one-on-one duke out for cosplay victory, Cosplay Match-Up is where bonafide dungeon warlords, space princesses, and manga maniacs can bring home the ultimate cosplay champ title under the Anime, Gaming, and Western/ Filipino categories.

Aside from Cosplay Match-Up, ComicCon Asia will also be home to signature and co-located competitions made to empower and showcase the talent of the local creative landscape. They recently announced the finalists of the Great Filipino Graphic Novel Contest and will announce the winners on the event itself. We can also expect a new breed of Filipino champions as ComicCon Asia, together with DV Tech Media, launches Project X: The Search for the New Pinoy Superheroes. ComicCon Asia also partners with The StartUp Village, the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACP ), and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), for One Shot, the search for the next big video game and animation idea.

Lastly, hardcore collectors can either place their bid on the rarest memorabilia at the Auction Hero, or head to the Trading Guild to exchange limited edition collectibles.

IT'S GOING TO BE MASSIVE! It's going to make history and you wouldn't want to miss this!

ComicCon Asia 2018 tickets are set to drop by January 25 and will be available via the ComicCon Asia website with ticket prices of PhP8OO for the one-day pass and PhP1300 for the two­-day pass. Follow their Facebook Page for more updates as the dates draw near!