The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee

Do you ever wonder what life's like in North Korea?

Having previously read "Without You, There is No Us" by Suki Kim, this firsthand account of a defector  further piqued my interest of the unfamiliar. 

The book starts slowly of Lee as a young girl growing up under the DPRK regime recounting her childhood experiences under the pretense of normalcy. This provides context to the later events unravelling in her adulthood.

Interestingly enough, Lee's hometown is located in Hyesan situated across Changbai, China and separated by its ancient border, the Yalu River, providing geographical advantage for escape and cross border smuggling.

Suspenseful and riveting, the book follows Lee spending a decade in China, eluding arrest and repatriation thus the seven names.

The next section of the book details her extraordinary return, leading her own family to freedom by taking them on a perilous journey across the borders of China and Laos, where defectors struggle with bureaucracy and coercion on their way to seeking asylum. 

Lee reveals absurd facts of brainwashing, delusion and the occult of personality that the ruling Kim's have perpetuated by fear among her own people. For instance, she shares that the lines blur between the oppressor and the oppressed, with the inconceivable concept of human rights in the repressive state.

"To know that your rights are being abused, or that you are abusing someone else's, you first have to know that you have them, and what they are. But with no comparative information about societies elsewhere in the world, such awareness in North Korea cannot exist."

Lee  also provides insightful thoughts of defectors' life after escape - their assimilation to the competitive, ultra-modern South Korean society whilst coping with their new identity.

All I can say is that I admire Lee's resilience amid adversity, which reminds me of the quote:

"Courage is not the absence of fear but the acquired ability to move beyond fear" 

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

 

It's 1885, Col. Allen Forrester embarks on a reconnaissance up the uncharted Wolverine River in Alaska, leaving his young wife Sophie in the Vancouver army barracks as he makes his journey. This novel will take you on a sojourn across inhospitable terrain and improbable encounters in spirited native lands. It is told in the genre of magic realism that first captivated me with the author's Pulitzer Prize nominated debut novel, The Snow Child. More than a story of discovery is the Col. and Sophie's enduring love and faith that transcends geography and time.

This epistolary novel contains interesting references to the 19th century replete with news clippings, photographs and maps. The correspondence format is a refreshing approach to intimately immerse into the characters and their nuances.

The vast Alaskan landscape and its mythical elements all come alive in the beauty of Ivey's atmospheric writing and imagery. In its quiet unassuming moments created a compelling tale that soared. Surreal to say the least. What's your first read this 2017?

P.S: I haven't read books that thoroughly mention the Native American experience, somehow it piqued my interest on their diverse tradition and how their culture were altered under colonial influence, specially in the wake of the Colonel's navigation where this fictional story is inspired.

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

One can never read too much WWII literature to fully grasp its painful memories.  

Come Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, I momentarily have to set this book down to reflect on the horrors of this period. The writing is raw, rich and compelling that it hurts to revel over an engrossing read knowing these actually happened in history. Told in three alternating perspective, it is a fictional account of three women loosely based on real figures, whose lives are intertwined at the event of the war. Later in the novel all the characters and the narrative will come in a satisfying full circle. 

Caroline Ferriday a New York socialite and liason to the French consulate, Herta Oberheuser an ambition driven doctor who worked at Ravensbruck, the notorious all female Nazi concentration camp and Kaisa a teenager imprisoned in Ravensbruck. Until reading this book I have not known about Ravensbruck, where political prisoners from Hitler's occupied countries, whom he considers sub human are kept for “re-education."

A thoroughly researched book, the author goes into great detail of the brutal camp life specially led  by the vile female overseers, who at that time were even barely out of their teens, were capable of inflicting torment on female prisoners. They may be less known by their male SS counterparts but nonetheless brutal and aptly described as the personification of the devil himself. It is true that any ordinary individual can yield evil when given the authority. 

After reading the book I went into full research mode of how much is known about Ravensbruck and I can't help but feel disturbed about the medical experimentation done on the women. It's unbelievable how humanity is capable of such atrocities. 

Nevertheless, I am grateful for having picked up this gem otherwise I would not have known about the Rabbits and the heroic deeds of Caroline Ferriday. Over seventy years have passed since but these kind of stories encompass generations and needs to be told time and time again so we don't forget.

Until the next read!

15 of My Favorite Feelings

We don't often get to talk and appeciate about the small but significant things that brings us little joys in our day. So it's nice to make a rundown of 15 of my favorite feelings that I'm grateful for.

1. When you think of a witty comeback and words come out of your mouth coherently just the way you have formed the sentence in your head 
I've always struggled with my thought process being non-linear, and as a result most things that I say are an incomprehensible mishmash of garbled words that fall short on my mouth. It's a triumphant moment when I'm able to express my point exactly as it is, in a timely and sharp manner.

2. When someone rubs/strokes my back or plays with my hair
Fool proof and calming way to make sleep

3. Burying my face on my boyfriend's chest and being wafted by his scent
Nothing smells as good as the one you love.
I feel like I can write an entire post dedicated to all the wonderful fuzzy feelings my significant other gives me but I'm not the one to indulge the public in all the mush so this is just one of the many.

4. Hearing an announcement of new release from my favorite artist or author
There's more to look forward to in life!

5. Spending a day without social media or doing activities that doesn't involve staring at a screen
 There's an incredible fulfillment when you experience moments that you don't feel the need to update a status for, when the amount of 'likes' is not a validation that you had a grand time. It's better to take it offline once in a while and cherish moments that are wholly yours.

6. Christmas time
I love the holiday cheer, the tinsel adorning the town, the gathering of loved ones. Is it just me or during the holiday season people just become innately better and generous?

7. Making lists and adding a 'to do/to read'

8. Taking off my contact lens or glasses 
After spending a day having to clearly see everything, my poor vision is actually a relief because I can be selective of things I want to view.

9. Receiving mail
Be it a purchase I ordered myself online, there is an immense satisfaction of finally layingyour hands on something you anticipated to arrive. I like ordering things online it's like a gift to me from me!

10. Hair pushed back and tied up
I feel the most in control when my hair is tied in one place, with my pony tail swishing to and fro feeling like a boss.

11. People watching
Whenever I drive or walk past people, observing and eavesdropping on conversations and life's conundrums I am suddenly taken by the realization that every passerby is living a complex life as my own.

12. Writing an article that starts from a simple idea into a phrase and then slowly materializing into a cohesive story

13. Becoming preoccupied at work that you don't mind the time
I thrive in a busy environment and I want to keep my hands full and productive, that I don't seem to mind the hours that have passed.

14. Riding a bike, the wind blowing past your face

15. Going on a date
Or just doing small activities like going home together. I like building up the anticipation of finally seeing my significant other, counting down the hours until we're walking to meet each other.

I enjoyed making this list and I could go on for more! What about you, what are your favorite feelings?

Graduation Season

Today on Youtube I'm on a roll watching Harvard speeches. Listening to graduation speeches are not only made for the momentous send off but for many relevant moments in life when you need inspiration fuel for life's mileage.

Commencement remarks can either range from poignant messages or a lackluster address laden with standard cliches. Here are a few keynote speeches made by celebrities that hit home for me:

"Sometimes, your insecurities and your inexperience may lead you, too, to embrace other people's expectations, standards or values"

Attending Harvard with the intention of being taken seriously Natalie Portman recalled how she had to constantly prove herself worthy of the intellectual rigor of Harvard by taking intensive courses to counter her feeling insecurity; of not being smart enough or to be dismissed as another dumb actress alongside her Ivy League peers. What made a mark in her speech is how she urged the youth to utilize their naivete as their best asset to take risks in order to forge their own path, clumsy it may be.

"The answer to a lot of you life's questions is often in someone else's face" 

Amy Poehler imparted a lesson on humility and teamwork by noting how most of our achievement in life is done so with the help of others. No one makes it far in life without meaningful collaborations be it on sundry projects or simply surrounding yourself with people who uplift you. Truly, there is nothing like having somebody to hold your hand when you're scared to take risks, to commiserate with you in your failures or celebrate in your triumphs. 

"I'm afraid a couple of you are probably evil. That's just the odds."

Comedian and writer Mindy Kaling is probably the most unlikely person you have in mind relishing advice before an elite set of graduates from Harvard Law School. Acknowledging her lack of in-depth knowledge of the law whatsoever Mindy pokes fun at only knowing the law by 'loving to sue' and how the graduates may help her sort out the details of her pre-nup and divorce proceedings in the future. Although it was mostly a stream of jokes and hilarious quotes from Mindy she mentioned the law's significance by touching base on her parent's immigration to the U.S and for many other movements to be done on the rights of immigrants. 

Film Review: The Age of Adaline

Having a penchant for nostalgia I knew I just had to watch the movie when I first viewed its trailer. I thoroughly enjoy watching films that have magical realism as its central theme and with that I was intrigued how a plot that delves with the hapless tale of eternal youth would unravel.

The film follows 29 year old Adaline Bowman who figures in a road accident but by some coincidental instances and a few amps of lightning bolts later she lives to 107 years old. 

The film aims to narrate a timeless tale but falls short on delivering a compelling plot. The potential of Adaline traversing through decades would be an interesting point to explore. Blake's sophisticated touch and well mannered portrayal of Adaline made her all the more charming and endearing but somehow her character lacks personality I felt like it could have been developed more given that her character was able to live for almost a century. Certainly her age old wisdom cannot just be deduced to a party game of Trivia Pursuit, a scene where Adaline much to everyone's surprise scores all of the question with ease.  

If there is anything notable and apparent of Adaline going through the motion of each decade it's her impeccable sense of style.  Nevertheless, the movie is just as visually appealing and enthralling as the exquisite costume designs that perfectly captured each era. 

7.5 out of 10 stars

Demi in Manila

We were almost close to missing Demi's concert. The series of unfortunate events began to roll out on the day we were scheduled to fly to Manila which happened to be on the same day of the concert with at least 4 hours interval. Having checked in two hours earlier I didn't encounter any problem on my end except my companion, Sabrina didn't arrive till the check-in counter closed. Waiting at the boarding lounge, morose and anxious about having to fly alone I fretted for my companion missing her flight and having to book another ticket. Alas she came after much convincing from the ground crew to let her through. 

We arrived in Manila at 6 pm because our flight was an hour delayed. With that we happily proceeded to the taxi stand thinking we could just hail a cab and breeze our way through traffic. NOT. The taxi lane had a long and winding wait and we only had 1 hour till showtime. Needless to say we got on a cab and I asked the driver to floor it. We made it to the Arena just in time her opening act began. Lesson learned never fly on the same day you're expected to attend an event.

The arena was filled with frenzied teenagers clamoring and eager for the pop star (count me in!). She belted out tracks from her latest eponymous album and crooned acoustic renditions of throwback hits such as Get Back (the first Demi song I liked circa high school days), Don't Forget/Catch Me. Showing of her vocal prowess she went above and beyond her notes sustaining the crowd's energy evident in the audience's intensified shrieks. 

Demi always brought with her a striking stage presence and a beguiling warmth that made her instantly likable to the audience. Showing candid moments, in between tracks she pointed out to a 5-year old girl in the crowd who was wearing her merchandise shirt gushing to her "Sorry I get easily distracted". She wasn't big on theatrics her production didn't have over the top pyrotechnics, stunts or added frills proving gimmickry as unnecessary. Demi's set composed only of 2 back-up singers, a 4-man band and featuring her powerful voice, no more no less. With Demi's infectious energy and amazing vocals it was everything I hoped for and more. 

Like most of her concerts Demi asked us to turn our flashlights on and hold our phones up as she introduced her R&B ballad My Love is Like a Star. 

Demi segued to each track clocking in at 9:40 pm speeding through the whole 75 minutes. That would have been the shortest concert I have attended, from what I heard from avid concert goers concerts usually stretch on for 2 hours but I guess that's just how Demi's set list goes. Nevertheless taking all the fuss to see Demi Lovato in concert in order to finally cross my bucket list is a great fulfillment itself. In one of her ad lib Demi said she never expected this side of the world to enjoy her music, I too never expected to be at the same venue watching her perform. 

To this day whenever I listen to her songs I still could not believe seeing and listening to her live. She sounds amazing as she is on record. And so I thank you Demi for giving me an experience of a lifetime.

Photo credits to Sab

60 Days of Sunshine

I went to sleep thinking I was laying on the beach. This morning I woke up disappointed comfortably tucked in my bed with no sand in my hair. It must have been the lifestyle story for a flip flops brand that I’m currently working that disillusioned me. Well I must have written a compelling one I hope.

I'm never a beach person but how I would love to trade places to be there right now. I can picture myself dipping my toes into the cool waters, the sound of the lapping waves kissing the shore, the crunching sand between my toes, the smell of brine and sunscreen in the air. It would be perfect to curl up with a great book and laze on the sand all day. 

The forthcoming days of prolonged sunshine is upon us. Come to think of it I never do enjoy the warm season in fact I dreaded it the most. It was the harbinger of discomfort, the sun blazing in all its glory, the humid air blowing on my face making me feel all prickly and sticky of sweat. I admit I was not really appreciative of summer days mainly because its presence does not really make a difference for us living in the tropics. Having only dry and wet season it would just be any other day only more intense. Days of bliss are only apparent for students who are out of classes but for a working gal like me I hardly have any vacation.

When the weary bones of city life takes its toll on me there's nothing that salt water can cure. How I long for days where I can be magically transported to the pristine white sand, the gorgeous gradient of green to the deep cerulean blue waters of our local resorts only 30 minutes from where I am but seemingly so far away. Deep sigh..

Can I have that too at least once? I swear I'll make my 60 days of sunshine worth it. 

Writing life

What is passion?

I open my recently bought journal and stare at its fresh pages as I leaf away the blank spaces, smoothing my hands over its smooth surface I feel a throbbing ache urging me to write. The words "CREATE" emblazoned on the empty pages. I am empty, reduced to a minuscule nothing so long since I let creativity course through my veins and into the ink of my pen.

The days when you don't feel like writing you should write. I repeatedly tap my pen on my desk, unscrew and screw its cap off the clicking sound oddly comforting as I wait for words maybe a prose or two to materialize. I am sitting here observing sights and sounds but I am drawing a blank. How many unfinished posts have I abandoned never having the courage to finish, not knowing where I trailed off?

I guess there are days such as this when nothing comes out no matter how much prodding you make you're just churning out crap. Even so I will write what frustrates me.

Write the banal, make the ordinary extraordinary. I figured I live such a pedantic life nothing interesting is worth making stories from. But what can be more bland than not creating something? I am not dexterous with my hands but with a keen eye for detail and vivid imagery even my clumsy hands can make something out of sheer observation. I should not let it deter me.

As long as I continue to sit here burying my face in my hands anxiously waiting for the wheels in my head to turn (sometimes forcibly cranking it myself) even when I feel the fiery zeal wavering I'm not putting that flame out, that is passion and that's how I know it hasn't run out of me yet.

Here's an excellent piece of advice

Once you go LORAC you never go back

I have zero experience in makeup. In college I never dabbled in beauty because I didn't really think of it as a necessity but even then I was already watching countless tutorials on Youtube as past time. It was only during my entry in the workforce that I took the plunge, also it helps me look the part.

For a beginner in makeup the LORAC Pro is a high end product and I figured if I'm going to put anything on my face then it should only be the best that I will always reach for. I took the fuss with this product as this palette is not readily available in the Philippines so I had to pre-order mine online.

When I first got the palette I marveled at the variety of shades and how I could wear all of them.

The LORAC Pro palette consists of 16 eyeshadows (half shimmery and half matte). The shadows are versatile, pigmented and blendable with great color payoff.  

This palette is a great investment with a number of great looks you can create from the swatch of eyeshadows available. My favorite everyday shades for work are Taupe, Mauve, Sable and Espresso. 

I hope to build my own collection soon! 

We went Skycycling

It should be called Soul Cycle. Your soul will literally leave your body. I have done adrenaline inducing activities before and all of them requires you being suspended up the air in a wire. Zip lining for the fourth time in a row and now onto this batshit crazy idea pedaling your way on a 200 meter cable 60 feet above the ground. I thought I'm living such a pedestrian life why not another extreme adventure for the books! Also I screamed my lungs off of expletives the whole way and I had a record breaking feat of biking. I didn't move my head an inch and kept training my eyes to the finish line (don't look down) for fear the bicycle might keep wobbling and dismantle from the cable. Good to say I didn't die midair.

Me moments before my soul left my body

 An idyllic view. I can sit down here all day, read a book and stare at the lush greenery.

We conquered the heights now here's a picture of the most comfortable moccasins.

Book Wishlist

I am nearing the end of my goal to read at least 20 books for this year and I'm exhilarated to have come up with a line-up of my books to read for 2015. I can't wait to get lost in their wonderful stories. I'm literally on a whirl just adding titles on my 'to read' list, time to shut off from the world brb.

Ever since I have been hooked on the comedy show "Parks and Recreation" I couldn't stop obsessing over  Pawnee Indiana and the rest of characters as they come up with sundry projects for their town. It's seriously the most underrated comedy show. What's amazing is they produced a book on the fictional town Pawnee The Greatest Town in America written, curated, proof read and ran through spell check by Leslie Knope. The book is a must for Parks and Rec fans.

Still on the subject of Parks and Rec is the woman behind the character-Amy Poehler. I can't wait to get my hands on her memoir!

Most of my books are a mishmash of comedy, historical fiction and some of Amazon's Best Books of 2014 (authors I have yet to discover). It's bound to be a good reading year! What's on your 'to read' list?

I was told there would be cake

The biggest and looming question I ask myself which I can never make sense of a definite answer is 

“What’s next?”

A big question mark seems to be hovering above my head.

When I was fed up with my parents telling me what to do, ridden with teenage angst and all I aspired to fast forward to adulthood where I can be independent, sashay my way to a fabulous life. Turns out it isn't what I always expected it be.

In college it was easy to map out your plans when there’s no expectation and responsibility yet. Your only goal was to learn as much as you can. From graduation to landing on my first job into the induction of adulthood I can make sense of Taylor Swift’s 22 ringing in my head right now.

                               “We’re happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time”

When the excitement wanes and you are faced with reality, panic begins to set in. Is this what I am supposed to do my whole life? Is my work recognized? Where do I see myself 5 years from now?

One of the tell tale signs of going through a quarter life crisis is the rising sense of “I've got to get out” and the feeling that you can change your life.

Also you tend to throwback consistently listening and watching to Disney song and movies, I am listening to my High School Musical playlist as I type this blog post. Everyday the thought of quitting  and following my dreams is a normal occurrence. I just want to pack my bags Eat, Pray, Love style but then the hard truth reaches out to slap me on the face that I don’t have the financial capacity to realize it.

Looking around I can’t help but compare how my peers are advancing in every aspect of their life and I seem stuck in the hole of normalcy and boring. I get panic attacks of living my life ordinarily contrary to my great expectations of changing the world or myself or taking after some worthy cause or discovering my passion. We have been told that we should make the most of our twenties. And I am not doing anything sensible to make my life worthwhile. The age where everybody’s next biggest milestone is getting married and rearing babies is dawning near *dry heaves*

Being an adult or trying to be an adult feels like I am teetering in my mother’s high heels filling in a role awkwardly. It’s a charade of keeping it all together when you absolutely have no idea what the hell is going on. It doesn't fit and I feel trapped.

My anxieties constantly claws into my consciousness I have not come into grips with the crisis yet but I have made reminders on how to deal with it

1.  Don’t be too hard on yourself, its okay that you still haven’t figured things out.
2. Take things one step at a time. Live in the present
3. Comparisons will kill you
4.  Loosen yourself up, make room for adjustments. Things are not always how you expect them to be
5.  Accept that life doesn’t always have to follow a certain time line to get to your goals. Admit that your dream to be a CEO at 25 is totally unrealistic
6.   No rush it’s not about the destination it’s the journey of getting there
7.  STOP OVERTHINKING

Thanks April. I'm just gonna wing it! Screw it! 

Wardrobe rehab

One of the biggest challenge in managing one's finances is practicing the art of contentment. When you are trying to save it takes a lot of effort to live by the fact that you are fine with what you already have.
Awhile ago I was doing a closet inventory I realized don't have many clothes (when a girl says she doesn't have a lot of clothes it's actually the opposite) but I do think I have enough to get me by. The more we shop and promise to ourselves that the pieces we recently bought is enough to last us it actually makes us want MORE. Every morning I stare hopelessly at my drawer deciding what outfit to mix and match or repeat. I've been shopping my whole life but I still have nothing to wear! Do you feel the struggle of not being contented?    

I came across Project 333 a wardrobe minimalism challenge that dares you to live on 33 pieces (excluding underwear, house/workout clothes) for 3 months! No shopping. Basically less is more and the challenge is your fashion versatility whilst keeping your personality.

Having recently graduated my closet is full of pieces I'll never be able to wear to work. My university staples consisted a good majority of sleeveless tops, university t-shirts and SHORTS (not very work appropriate). We didn't know any dress codes in UP and wore as if we just rolled out of bed and nobody cared especially on Hell Week. You can come naked like the Oblation and you are welcome. Office life and dress rules was a bit of a culture shock for me given the fashion liberty we had at school. No more carefree shorts and sneakers wearing me!
So building up my work wardrobe and reinventing my style towards a more career forward power dressing started me back at one. Finding decent clothes was hard enough making your budget fit made it even harder.

3 months on the job I think I've built enough basic pieces to be able to mix and match so I'm taking on my spin off of Project 333 work clothes edition. Being on a wardrobe rehab feels cathartic but a practical way to control and identify your wants versus need. I hope I can begin my savings while still enjoying other pleasures other than the joy of retail therapy after all there is more to experience than materialistic things. Now let's see if I can veer away from the temptation of window shopping and Pintersting further expanding my coveted pieces 😂

                   

June Favorites

Great recommendations and discoveries I found on Spotify. During working hours I tune into my Sunday morning/office playlist and my favorite is from Pink Martini, a musical group that plays diverse styles of music described as an urban music travelogue. Hang on Little Tomato, Hey Eugene and Anna el Negro Zumbon are my top picks.

Do you ever associate songs with people? Because I do! Crazy because when I see this particular person I instantly think "Why you gotta be so rUuuude?" Maybe we all do that when we first meet people and there's always a track story behind. Other tracks that I'm hooked include Paradise, Stupid Me and almost all of their songs in their album Don't Stop the Magic.

 

I'm a sucker for packaging and I've got to admit the vintage appeal The Balm has all over their products sold me. The products are in cardboard compacts which is in a magnetic book style enclosure, it's very sleek and lightweight to carry around. 

I don't like matte make-up because it feels heavy and appears cakey. Sexy Mama is a great translucent powder that controls oil and shine without it appearing too matte. 

I was undecided about picking the right kind of blush but I read reviews that the Hot Mama blush was a great dupe for Nars Orgasm. I prefer apricot/peach blushes over pink ones and I have been in a lookout for one. I was about to purchase Frat Boy but Hot Mama is an all in one highlighter as well. It has golden shimmers which is great for accentuating your cheeks. Hot Mama is highly pigmented and it stays on for hours that I don't see the need to ever re-apply because it colors just the same and I like how it settles into my face.

Book favorite for the month is The Single Woman by Mandy Hale. It's a great read for empowering the single ladies out there! Embrace, live and celebrate the single life. Seriously though I feel like everybody laments on the state of my love life except ME because I'm really enjoying the ride alone. 

This book is really perfect for people to understand that single does not equate to loneliness and being solo so far is the most fun adventure I've ever embarked on hell yeah! Live it and own it girl

That's it for June favorites! x

Lost in the blogosphere

I'm alive!

It has been forever since I updated my blog. Here's a quick update on what happened to me on the course of my hiatus:

• I graduated from university and earned my degree!

• I found a job right after

I never really thought about abandoning this blog I do have wonderful ideas but I never execute it to reality, excuses and for the reason that I felt like nobody reads the crap that I put on here..

Most important excuse is that I never really carved out my niche or the direction my blog is heading towards I don't know where to position myself. I'm not a beauty blog because as much as I like makeup I'm not too keen about it, I'm not a fashion blog either although I like style and clothes it's financially impossible for me to keep up with fashion posts and trends, have photo shoots and the like. And I'm such a nifty saver so there's no way my budget will ever reflect such blogging interest. Although maybe occasionally a few outfit posts but I'm really not going there somewhere. Ideally I wanted to be a travel/lifestyle blog if only wanderings will permit but that's got to happen most definitely soon.

For now, I'm just a mishmash blog, a little bit of everything, favorites, lifestyle and what not. Are there blogs that are like me too? Do you feel me?

February loves

Here are my favorites and highlights of the month! After months on the order line I finally have my hands on Malala Yousafzai's memoir. I did not purchase it  from where I initially ordered because the stocks did not come on time. Copies were sold out from bookstores but  luckily I snagged from the last two left.

Malala is an inspiration and the face of bravery for all girls to look up to.

I also got this face primer from Etude House. It has a cute packaging and comes in a stick applicator. It fills in your pores making your face really smooth and it's supposed to keep your makeup stay longer. Although I haven't noticed about its staying power it does make your face really soft. I love its baby scent and the way it glides on my skin. I've already used it for a month and I'm almost running out of it. I should use it sparingly its pricey for P400+ at the size of 4.2 grams.

I'm really glad that Sunnies by Charlie finally reached Cebu. As I said in the previous post that I'm not really a sunglasses person but lately I've been loving their designs and wanting to expand my own collection too. The Alicia sunnies is really cute I can't wait to get my next pair of Sadie.

Lastly I attended my first and last college prom. I had mixed feelings of coming at first but I would never pass up the opportunity to see my friends all glammed up for the night. Even if I don't really like wearing makeup and falsies (w/c btw are heavy to the eyelids I wonder how some girls manage to wear them everyday?!) it was worth the photo op!

I hope to do more favorites soon ♥

Twenty still going on 16

I don't often have birthday parties as my actual day falls after New Year so most of my friends are away with their families for the holidays. So I planned a post birthday get together for all of my college friends as the two decades needs to be marked with a celebration. After class we went to my favorite secret spot for dinner. I just love how dainty and intimate 10 Dove Street is.

Turning 20 is another milestone from childish heydays and saying goodbye to the frolic of teenage years and into the full throttle of responsibilities. Well even before I turned 20 I've already got my hands full of responsibilities! Aging is not much of a difference as the blog post implies, I am still going on 16. Really though.. Last Monday I went to the bank and chatted with the teller she then asked..

Teller: Highschool?

Me: No, college

Teller: First year?

Me: No senior Ma'am

Teller: Oh this generation is turning younger and younger.

Surprising? No. I'll get to work on that forever school girl look in my favor soon. HA but sometimes I fret upon the weight of not being able to getaway from my usual kooky self and foolish antics. 

I hope being 20 will open more doors and happiness for me although I'm pretty much stuck with the chuckle of a childish heart/mindset and especially face.

What I've been up to lately..

Hi! Happy New Year everybody! The holidays was great to me. I wish it's always Christmas when everybody remains festive.

Anyway I spent my 20th birthday on January 2 with my family and on the following Monday school resumed and I went out on a birthday dinner with my college friends. I took snaps of the things that happened over the days such as little mementos of events like the birthday pin I wore and... excuse my knobby knees but I absolutely love my moccasins. Lighting up sparklers on Christmas day and the adorably kooky and colorful Krazy Cookie Dough from Blue Bell (my #2 favorite ice cream) it's a party in your mouth just like eating a rainbow cake; very fitting for a birthday indeed which we got for a treat on the first day of class with my friends. Here's to more celebrations and reasons for ice cream this 2014!

Christmas Kisses

Hello December! -to the most wonderful time of the year. For the days leading to this month I've actually been dreading it for some reasons of a case of seasonal affective disorder or simply melancholia for the ending year. Up until the festivity I find myself getting into the merriment and anticipating for this season. I would like to share a few December favorites of playing around bokeh lights and some holiday dressing.

I constantly find myself listening to nothing but Christmas songs the whole day long. I feel like every music I should tune into should have the season's spirit as I only have a month to enjoy listening to it. I especially love Ariana Grande's Christmas Kisses Album and its beautiful cover art.

I hope everybody's is having the time of their lives going around parties and coming home to their families!