We can finally announce the great news: MullenLowe Group Philippines has acquired the operations of ARC Public Relations to create a new entity, MullenLowe MARC!

This happened while I was on break from work following my operation, so everything was new to me when I went back—new office (with a fully functioning bar), new email address, new work desk, new work email address!

We even have a new official group photo.


Here is the official announcement from the MullenLowe Philippines website:

MullenLowe Group Philippines has acquired the operations of ARC Public Relations, an agency founded by Celine Gabriel-Lim and Jenny Yrasuegui to create a new entity, MullenLowe MARC.
MullenLowe MARC brings full-fledged PR capabilities to MullenLowe Group in one swoop. Gabriel-Lim and Yrasuegui continue in their roles as co-managing directors.
With clients in technology, beauty, fashion, and other sectors, MullenLowe MARC places a premium on integrity, originality, and successful stakeholder relationships. Crafting narratives that resonate with the public, based on empathy with the brand’s vision and goals, lies at the core of MullenLowe MARC.
“We collaborate with bloggers, influencers, celebrities, designers, and other creatives on a daily basis. Becoming a part of MullenLowe Group is, in a way, the ultimate collaboration,” says Gabriel-Lim.
“We’ve been around for eight years, and we’ve gained a reputation for creativity at multiple touchpoints – from the events we craft, to the kits we design. Stakeholders often approach us for thoughtful campaigns, and for the freedom to allow stories to develop organically,” adds Yrasuegui.
The creation of MullenLowe MARC is the latest step towards MullenLowe Group’s hyperbundled offering – collaborating within an ecosystem of specialists – in key markets. In the Philippines, the MullenLowe Group network includes MullenLowe (integrated communications), MullenLowe Open (activation and experiential marketing), Tentacles (in-house production), and now, MullenLowe MARC (public relations).

For media contacts who have been wondering why I started using a new work email address since I got back from my work hiatus, this is why.

Back in 2012, this blog led me to meet Celine and Jenny after I got invited to ARC's events. I was working in the BPO industry then, with a 6am to 3pm shift that gave me a lot of time for my hobbies and other pursuits. When the prospect of working in PR came, I felt in my bones that I HAD to do it, because I felt I owed it to myself to practice what I studied in college. I left my comfort zone and jumped ship. I was the shy girl who didn't want to talk to people, but in PR you have to roll with the punches. From being a Social Media girl, I got promoted a number of times until I got my current position.

If you think PR is all about glitz and glamour, you couldn't be more wrong. PR entails a lot of hard work, stress, and long hours (sometimes, even tears). Sometimes I wonder why I still do it. I have been tempted to quit several times, but I guess I really can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Over the years I have learned a LOT of things like grit and tenacity but the most important would probably be to be able to think on my feet and be graceful while doing it. Being part of MullenLowe Philippines is a GIANT step, and I am so excited to learn from Leigh and the rest of the team.

We are the newest #Mullennials and we are more than ready to roll with the punches.

Cheers!

My domain is up for renewal next month and I have half a mind to not renew it anymore. This is the longest I have stayed with a domain (10 years. Wow. I feel ancient.) but I had been blogging on different platforms long before this.

I started this blog mostly to share my shopping hauls, book and movie reviews, and the occasional personal anecdotes. Have you been here since that major heartbreak circa 2010-2012? Ugh. Thank you and I applaud you for staying. It was the biggest proof that I treated this blog like a diary that is open for everyone to see. 

Through this blog, I met a lot of people who have become friends in real life. Friends from here and abroad whom I have had the pleasure to meet in person are proof that you can have friends anywhere. Krissyfied.com also paved the way for my rewarding career in Public Relations, because if not for this blog I wouldn't have met my bosses Celine and Jenny who trusted I could do this. Almost six years in and I still could not believe I'm doing this, and I really can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Aside from numerous perks like getting invited to events and trying different products before they're even released to the public, blogging also gave me the opportunity to earn. My day job still pays the bills and puts food on the table but extra spending monies is appreciated. Nonetheless, rest assured I hold myself and my blog to a high standard and integrity is always prioritized. Always.

Last year was probably my blog's lowest point, when I managed to write only 70 posts. It has been experiencing a steady decline over the years but I feel 70 is too few. I felt sad about the memories I didn't get to document, and felt bad for the brands who have been sending me stuff and inviting me to events that I didn't get to feature.

I started my Currently posts to pressure myself into producing content for this blog because I thought once I get the hang of it again, I would take better care to not lose my momentum. I think I succeeded in doing that, for a while. These days, when another Wednesday rolls around, I sigh and curse myself for starting this in the first place. I skipped twice or thrice because I don't know, I felt lazy, but I would feel bad after and curse myself some more. I've always believed posting nothing is better than publishing a half-assed blog post, but it felt like most of my previous weekly updates were written halfheartedly because I was forced into writing it, all to adhere to a schedule I have set myself.

I refuse to be forced into writing and I refuse to not find joy in the best hobby I have had. Thus, this will probably be my last Currently post for now.

I still have a ton of posts in my drafts and photos ready to accompany each, but I guess they would have to take the backseat for now. I just need to find my footing first.

Don't miss me when I'm gone.

See you again soon.

On Wednesdays we wear pink.

Except this photo was taken last Friday and I am not in the office today.

Heh.

We're on Work Anywhere Wednesday and I'm in J's house. He wanted to take me to his team meeting and just bring my laptop with me so I can work there but I refused. It's just too hot outside. I cannot. If I had my way I'll just stay inside the whole day but we're going to When in Manila's screening of Deadpool 2 later thanks to Anj, and who could say no to free movie tickets?

Not me.

CURRENTLY

READING

Still Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. It's not getting me as hooked as Angels & Demons did but I want to finish this.

THINKING

Of how I have over-spent. Ugh. I really need to learn how to control my finances.

FEELING

Okay, I guess.

LOVING

These are the newest additions to my piles and towers of unread books. I have already written about Legendary Ladies but I have yet to feature An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky: What We See in the Stars. I have already flipped through the book though and I LOVED it. I am so excited to read it.

WANTING

Clothes, shoes, and accessories for my factory Neo Blythe, please. I also think she needs a face makeover as it's too glossy. I have yet to name her. Hit me up if you think of a name that suits her!

NEEDING

Exercise, enough number of hours of sleep, and proper diet.

WISHING

A happy anniversary for J and me next month. ♡

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I should not be expected to leave a bookstore without at least one unplanned purchase. 

My friend/ officemate Jean and I went to Fully Booked in Greenbelt 5 last Friday with the sole purpose of getting Kelsey Oseid's What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky for me and Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology for her sister when another book caught my attention.

Needless to say, that book also came home with me.

Hello, everyone. This is Legendary Ladies by Ann Shen.


Now that you've seen it, I can hardly be blamed, right? Sigh. Pretty books and their pretty covers.

It was the artwork that initially caught my eye, and then the word goddesses jumped out at me. A quick skim of the blurb at the back and I was left with no choice, really. I've always been interested in mythology, its rich and colorful history, and its impacts on our culture, and this book features stories of the divine feminine? I was instantly sold.

I took my time and relished the fact I have a new book to open, and finally flipped through its pages today.

This is an impulse purchase I do not regret one bit.

Along with an artwork and each one's mythology, the author Ann Shen indicated the place of origin as well as each goddess' purpose and why we should call on her. Everything's in a digestible format and easy to understand.

The book is divided into five sections representing the "things that we value and seek in our lives": Creativity and Manifestation, Love, Power, Protection, and Reinvention. Through these stories where the goddesses have found their power, and a little bit of faith and magic, the author hopes to empower everyone who reads this book.

I hope the same so I would like to share some of the goddesses that stood out to me.




Around seven to eight years ago, I got into a little squabble with an old officemate because he wanted to "steal" the name Athena that I wanted to name my non-existent child. In the end I accepted it was a petty thing to fight over since I didn't have plans to have kids in the foreseeable future. Yes, he did name his daughter Athena. Oh well. I still have a list of my other preferred names in my journal.




I wish I can share more photos but this is the part where I encourage you to get your own copy!


More than the beautiful artworks and the love and amazing attention to detail poured into each one, I loved that this book featured a diverse cast of female divinities from all over the world and not just the more commonly known ones from say, Greek, Norse, or Egyptian Mythology. I would have loved to see someone from the Philippines in the line-up, so I hope Ann Shen writes a second installment! Her other book, Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women who Changed the World is on my never-ending book wish list, too!

In her introduction, the author said:

The divine feminine has always been here and will continue to be a part of our stories. Now it's up to you to honor it within yourself, because you are a descendant of these wild, willful women. These are our collective mothers, after all.

Ain't that the truth.

Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms and everyone who plays the role of a Mother figure whatever the circumstances may be. ♥

A string of bad decisions led me to an unhealthy relationship when I was younger. It was controlling, manipulative, and toxic. It affected me deeply, made me terribly insecure, and blew my self-esteem to smithereens. The worst thing is, I knew it was bad for me but I couldn't turn away. I punished myself by believing I deserved being in that position as karma for pushing a good relationship away and choosing someone who cheated on me on multiple occasions.

I didn't know why it took me so long to wake up, and then I realized that it had to hurt enough. It was a dark period in my life that I am glad I have already gotten over. I still get bad days when I doubt myself and let my insecurities get the better of me, but I have learned to discern, take a step back, and put things into perspective.

Right now I am in a relationship with someone who considers me a partner in every way, I am working in a nice office with officemates I enjoy working with, and I have a close-knit family and a small but dependable circle of friends I can rely on.


I am living my best life.

There is no point in rehashing past pains so I rarely think about this but I was reminded of how far I have come when I went to Avon's Step Into Your Comfort Zone event on my second day back to work. During the event, Avon Fashions turned the spotlight on five inspiring Filipinas who have boldly defined their own success and found purpose in their cause.


Filipina supermodel and actress Wilma Doesnt tells all about breaking the mestiza stereotype, finding her own niche in modeling, and how she inspires women to live life despite the judgment they might face. Actress Alice Dixson defines “living life in your own terms,” as she shares her thoughts on defining her own pace and the importance of staying in your element. Host Tricia Centenera talks about bouncing back from a failed marriage and how she was able to create a new and fulfilling life for herself after. Weightlifter and Olympic Silver Medalist Hidilyn Diaz shares the struggles of being a woman in her sport and the hindrances she faced before achieving glory. Finally, actress and single mom Jennylyn Mercado candidly speaks about the hardships of raising a child alone and finding comfort in taking on multiple roles in life. She believes that all women deserve to enjoy who they truly are, because no one else can define that for them.

This advocacy really appealed to me because it acknowledges that women today are making great strides and breaking free from outdated gender roles. In this world where women are expected to have it all—a job she excels at, an Instagram-worthy home, a husband and kids—it can be incredibly frustrating to cope with the pressure to conform. Avon Fashions' Step Into Your Comfort Zone disrupts the meaning of “comfort zone” from being one’s safe place and redefines it as the place where every woman’s true passions and purpose begin. Avon does this in the best way it knows how: provide women with the stylish comfort they deserve so they can easily focus on the things that truly matter.



I received a box that contains some pieces from their expansive range of intimate apparel. I loved it because it contained something for every purpose: wired, non-wired, nude, T-shirt, bold, printed, plain, and for when I'm feeling sexy. I have several Avon bras in my underwear drawer but more additions are always appreciated.

Avon says that each bra is designed with the Filipina body in mind, ensuring that it fits her body not just flawlessly but comfortably. Here is a rundown.

Charlotte Underwire Brassiere This is made with microfiber fabric. I like the floral theme and the gray and pink color combination.

Eliza Underwire Moulded T-shirt Brassiere Made of shiny microfiber and features a two-tone lace accent on bottom panels. With built-in cookies. Very sexy.

Feather Underwire Lightweight Brassiere This moulded bra made with breathable spacer foam feels light amd airy but offers underwire support. Features a removable lace back with an extra strap.

Hillary Underwire Brassiere The lacy accents add a seductive and sophisticated touch to your intimates. Also, you can never go wrong in black.

Larina Non-wire Soft Cup Brassiere Features 3/4 cup in printed cotton fabric on raspberry bottom band, top cup, and peek-a-boo binding. I love that it looks like a bikini top. I actually have the matching panty, yay!

Lynette Underwire Balcony Brassiere I love balcony brassieres because they enhance the cleavage, hee. I love the lace details and that it comes in a sexy color, too.

Mariah Underwire Memory Foam T-shirt Brassiere I love T-shirt bras because they're seamless and perfect for, well, shirts. This one has memory foam cups that mould to your shape and return to their original form after washing.

Miranda Underwire Moulded Bra This one has perforated cups made of nylon spandex microfiber and breathable lining and has a double-lined back that looks seam-free. I also love the floral details, it's like a secret that only you know about.

Salma Non-wire T-shirt Brassiere Simple, non-fussy, perfect for lazy days.

Willow Underwire Breathable Brassiere 3/4 cup bra in microfiber with mesh that allows air flow to keep you feeling fresh and cool all day.

As you can see, Avon's finished creations undergo rigorous testing to make sure that it can keep up with even the most demanding of lifestyles. Out of all these, the Willow Underwire Breathable Brassiere is my favorite and I will be buying more. Wearing a bra that is as comfortable as this lets me go through my day not fussing about ill-fitting bands or falling straps. You can find your perfect fit and shop for bras online or by looking for your neighborhood Avon lady.

With Avon declaring we can step into our comfort zone, we are encouraged to live an authentic life and to do that, we must be courageous to be true to ourselves first. I am so inspired by Avon's message of empowering women and I believe my actions and my voice make a difference. I am not bound by my past. I am stepping into my comfort zone and living my best life.

One of my favorite things about our company is the Work Anywhere Wednesday policy. Not only do I get to save on transportation, I also get to save a day's worth of snacks. I am a big snack-er which I'm trying to control but it's just so hard. Today though, I had to go to the office despite it being a Wednesday because I needed to meet with my officemates about our coming events.

I wore my new Uniqlo shirt featuring Kurama of Yuyu Hakusho from their Weekly Shonen Jump 50th Anniversary collection. I've only been back to work for three weeks but I have embraced Work Anywhere Wednesday completely that going to the office felt like working on a weekend, thus the casual getup. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  

CURRENTLY

READING

Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. I know his works are formulaic but I enjoyed Angels & Demons and I was in the mood for a mystery thriller when I picked it up.

Also sharing my and J's loot from this year's Free Comic Book Day held last Saturday!

The free comic books are from Planet X in Glorietta. The Image Firsts Compendium Volumes 1 and 2 (for J) and Stardust (for me) are from Fully Booked in BGC

Stardust by Neil Gaiman is my favorite fairy tale and my second favorite book of his. I have been wanting this edition ever since I traded my paperback for a copy of Hitori Nakano's Train Man years ago but I had never had the chance to, until last Saturday. The 20% discount was too hard to resist.

WEARING

Aside from my new Maybelline Matte Metallics Lipstick in Gunmetal, I am also loving the new L'Oreal Color Riche Mattes. J and I also went to L'Oreal Philippines x Project Vanity's lipstick swatch party at the L'Oreal office on Saturday and I got to try them!


I love the new formulation with the velvety-smooth glide and intense pigmentation!


Even though I love most lip colors, I know my lips are made for pink lipsticks. I combined Raspberry Syrup and Soft Violet for this look.

The best thing about the lipstick party is getting a swag bag in exchange for our honest review! I got these pre-selected shades:

Hinted Blush, Rich Merlot, and Rose Nuance

Aside from the three mentioned, I also got their limited edition Red Carpet lipstick made in partnership with Cannes. So luxe!

I'm hoping to review these in the next coming days!

THINKING

Adult decisions. Decisions, decisions.

FEELING

Tired from work, a bit apprehensive, but optimistic.

LOVING

My new swimsuit from Coral Swimwear!

Our Saturday was packed as J and I also headed to Borough in BGC for the Coral Swimwear x Pearl Clothing Shopping Party.



It was so lovely to see my friend Patricia flourishing in the businesses she co-owns!


And I am so excited to wear my new swimsuit!



I got the Juliana that I wanted. I can't wait to wear it!

WANTING

This Benefit Cosmetics Blush Bar and this Rags2Riches Casey Mini. Huhu.

NEEDING

Exercise.

WISHING

A happy anniversary for J and me next month. We don't have concrete plans on how we will celebrate yet but I'm sure whatever it is, it will be great. Time flies and I can't believe we'll be marking our third year together very soon!

Thank you for reading. ♡

I succeeded in not buying a single lipstick for the whole 2017 but I couldn't keep that streak for another year, not when beauty brands are releasing exciting lipstick lines left and right. One collection I knew I couldn't resist was the Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipsticks, but I missed out on getting them online when they were released locally in Lazada exclusively because I wanted to see them in person first. I actually went to Watsons in SM Aura to hunt for them but I was told they won't be available for another month that I promptly forgot about it.

Yesterday, I went to Maybelline in Landmark Makati to replenish my Micellar Water stash and I got so excited when I saw the testers!

Won't you look at that.

Temptalia describes Gunmetal as a "deep, bluish black with cool undertones and flecks of teal pearl and larger shimmer".




I already have and love the Maybelline Loaded Bold Mattes in Pitch Black but I felt I needed this too because it gives a different drama and dimension to the over-all look due to the shimmers. It applies smoothly and the glitters don't feel coarse at all. One swipe is striking enough but the color is buildable so you can pile it on for more intense pigmentation. It has a slight vanilla scent that disappears after a few minutes, but it didn't really bother me at all. It lasted for more than three hours on me and only started fading when I ate. Most importantly especially since it has a matte formula, it's not drying on my lips although it's not hydrating either.

Pro-tip: exfoliate your lips before applying this lipstick. For longevity you can also use the blot and powder technique. For best results, use a lip liner to minimize bleeding, although it didn't really bleed on my lips.

Indoor photo taken with my iPhone 6S, supported with lighting from my Lumee case

Indoor photo taken beside the window with ample natural light

I probably will not be wearing this every day as it can be too dramatic for everyday wear but I'm sure it will be a staple for special events that call for this look.

Each Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipstick costs Php299. I think I will still get Serpentine and maybe Hot Lava, too!