MOVING

I am seriously thinking about MOVING. And it all started with this: 

I do not know how it happened. Of course I googled how to get this off, and blah blah, and instagram did it too.

And none of them got help unless they paid for an ad on facebook, which, I cannot be bothered.

So I do not know how it happened, how my very boring blog became unsafe, or a threat, considering I do not have much readers compared to the others.

I am so pissed, that I decided to seriously consider moving... and leaving the rest of content here.

Why?

Because I don't know which of my content is unsafe. I just realized, man, I just can't be bothered.

So right now I'm looking for a new home. And all my new stuff, like my recent trip to Europe, I will write in my new blog home.

Again, not migrating my old contents, just leaving this blog open for other useful stuff.

It's been a good 5 years in this blog. I will announce my new address soon, once I find and fix one!

And thank you to everyone who took time to read.

[Project FeeTrail September 2015]: Wedding in the woods

You might think where did I take this feet shot?

It's from my cousin's wedding in the woods!

That wasn't really a good shot. I just sneaked in a feet shot because I don't want guests to think I'm such a weirdo taking the photo.

But that feet shot was taken minutes after my cousin Chimayne and Ian's Humanist Ceremony. It is actually my very first time attending a wedding outside the country and attending a humanist ceremony at that. I was thinking that it could be traditional British wedding, but my cousin said their wedding will NOT be a traditional one.

What is a Humanist wedding exactly?

A humanist, non-religious wedding ceremony gives you the opportunity to marry where you want, when you want and how you want. There’s no set script: it’s too personal an occasion for that. Instead, each wedding is tailored to meet the particular couple’s requirements. You can set the tone that’s right for you and choose your own words and music. (source)

Now I don't wan't to spoil the details but my sister Aprille Araguas of www.aprillearaguas.com did the flowers. I'm excited to publish it on our blog but I there are two more wedding on cue as of this writing.

Thoughts Salad: Two work weeks post UK

1. I've never had a vacation where I didn't need to have a vacation to vacation from my recent vacation. Wait, except when I went to Boracay last year for my birthday.

2. I think we all need someone who will tell us everything's going to be okay.

3. I need two weeks to process the jumping up back to normal life.

4. I need two long weekends in a month.

5. I need some serious life regrouping plans.

6. I need to have a talk-date with God.

7. I need to have a project for distraction. That includes: Printing photos from Hong Kong Trip last year; Segregation of new photos from UK; clean up some stuff.

8. I want to have a good laugh. I'm so busy getting back on what supposed to be is the track.

9. I need to get myself some new eye glasses, and perhaps an new contacts too because this "gray"is wrong but it's only been for a month when I bought it to be good for 6.

10. I want to go home and put on FRIENDS on TV and open that bottle of white wine that I got from the plane.

11. I miss pubs.

12. I need to get back and exercise. I can still feel my holiday weight.

13. I need to update this blog and I don't know where to even begin.

14. I want a new laptop. But I guess with the UK trip this year, it'll be for next year.

15. Shit, October is coming fast.

Baggage Wrapping at the NAIA Terminal 3 airport

I am shit scared of my luggage being opened in airports. Not trying to bad mouth the Philippines, but having lived here all my life and after watching and reading about luggage being opened in airports causing refusal of entry, I cannot help but feel very paranoid.

 That's why it was such a relief to find these available at NAIA Terminal 3 airport:

They cover it in all sizes and each only costs Php 160.00.

P.S.

They did not have these luggage wrapping things in Manchester Airport in the UK. #OnlyinthePhilippines

[Project FeeTrail August 2015]: Sitting in Snowdonia

I haven't forgotten my Project Feet Trail! It just took me some time to retrieve files. Anyway...

This photo was taken in Snowdonia in Wales. My cousin's fiance, now husband, Ian, took us there on our first week in United Kingdom.

It's been 11 days since we arrived from our month-long UK trip and I have yet to update this blog. I can still remember the feeling of sitting on the grass and just looking at the water. I keep thinking what an incredibly good day that was. I have lots of stories but I guess I will tell stuff probably on an installment basis. I don't want to bore you guys in one big blow.

And yeah, I still cannot believe that I've been to UK.

Last Day in UK

At age eight, I have memorized this address from reading it from the back of care packages, greeting cards, and letters sent through the years. This served as our home away from home. Apart from the house, I will surely miss a lot of things in this neighborhood: The cold weather that drops til 8 degrees; the nice people that call you "love"; the wide selection of grocery items; the abundance of chocolates; ice cream that don't melt easily; the picturesque town and their shops; the  swanky old pubs; the good customer service; clean and traffic-free roads; beautiful flowers growing randomly at every park; their delicious tap water; the cirrus clouds that turn pink in the dusk; and I could go on. 

I can see now why this place was voted as the "Happiest place to live in Great Britain" and I am glad that during our stay in the UK, we get to call it home.

Hello from UK!

Hello from United Kingdom! I can't believe I'm blogging from the UK!

I have not been writing much because I'm currently on vacation. We've been past two weeks already in our vacation and as much as the vacation photos looks fabulous, it is very tiring as well.

In fact few months before we left, my sister and I were stressing out because we don't know what exactly it is to pack as it is our first time in Europe. So I honed my google-fu and did my research on what to wear for summer dressing in UK. The British weather is notoriously known for being unpredictable and we're glad that we did a hell lot of research because we don't want to look too touristy.

I tried to do an outfit post, but come on, let's get real, I don't really look the part at all. So here is my failed attempt to do one on "Summer dressing in Europe". And also so far, these are the places we've been:

That's it for now. I'm still on vacation and hopefully I get to write about a lot about my first time here. Actually, I do have a lot of surprising insights and realizations but I am still thinking wether it is proper to put it in this blog. Bahala na. Parang it's best for a topic over beer. And speaking of beer, I have been drinking almost every day since I got here. I learned to love wine and it's their appetizer. I mean, #WheninUK ... Why the hell not?!

I also wish I could update this blog more often, but I couldn't find the time and energy because I try to suck and get the best of Europe in this vacation.

I am also extremely grateful that my boss allowed me to go on this trip evethough there are a lot of things our office deals with during this time of the year. I kept thinking maybe I should have done this in my early twenties, but I honestly think that PROPER TIMING has a lot to do with it.

Money Flow

I feel a little inexperienced to be blogging about money, but let me share that this is true:

I've been a little uptight with money for the longest time and it is last year that I realized and fully understood that money is energy and you need to let it flow/go.

I will write about this before September ends. I just need to complete the whole experience.

[Project FeeTrail July 2015]: Graduation Garden

It's going to be three years next year since I joined the Office of Public Relations. I've participated in three graduations so far.

In April 2013, I was feeling a bit bitter of not having graduated on time. But then again, if I did, it's not like I am rushing on to the next. But sometimes, the race to graduation in graduate school stings a part of me. We just watched on the sides that day. (Then I graduated October that year)

In April 2014, I am finally a certified graduate and was able to walk on stage on both graduations (Hooding Ceremonies and University Graduation). I attended every recognition day, even the graduation ball that I normally do not participate in, so in other words, I enjoyed every minute of it.

This year, July 2015, is the first graduation that happened in July since UPLB switched it's academic year to start in August. Also, this year my friends Aya and Frankie graduated at the same time. It's also my first time to really be part of the behind the scenes team, attending the Commencement Exercises meetings and so on.

Never mind that there was a little bit of a mishap. The stage was so beautiful, we had LCD screen at the back and man-made water falls complementing the lush garden, the stage was made into that day.

I just had to take a photo and it made it here.

August is coming up this weekend! I'm  EXCITED!!!

Wild Wonder: Expensive Single Behavior

Years ago, a certain family friend told me to get married to "save up". Interesting. Knowing that I work in the wedding industry and I know how the wedding budget blows up.

She said, when you are married, you no longer have to spend tons of money to go on dates, you can just be together at home, aka cheap dates, saving up for the future, blah blah blah...

Now I'm not one to write in behalf of the married ones, but I am credible enough to write about what she probably meant: The Expensive Single Behavior.

What is that, I hear you ask. Well, here it is.

• Retail therapy/Gadget band aid - Buying of feel good things such as clothes, books, shoes, make up, toys, etc. sometimes mostly on impulse. Saving up for a new gadget like the latest iphone, ipad, camera, etc. It's the thrill of saving up your hard earned money and finally being able to afford to buy what you've been lusting for a long time. But the downside after getting it is... so what now?
• Activities - when you're single you want to be busy. So engagement of activities is on this list (new activities included)
• Soul Searching aka Travel - Scouting cheap airline tickets to go everywhere, anywhere, but here. 
• Food Trip - Dining in expensive restaurants, drinking spree in posh bars, etc. It has gotten worse now social media has blown up. We all want to share where we were.
• "Coffee"- nowadays disguised as networking, but it used to be really just catching up with some old friend (like those you have not really touch based with for like, 5 years or so) and see how your lives match up. 

And trust me, these doesn't come cheap.

To be honest, I already did all that. And because I did, here are my lessons.

• On retail therapy - I end up with buyer's remorse; Gadget Band aid - The thrill is gone because in a few months something better will come along. 
• Activities - I got a life. I pursued graduate studies. I had the best time, then after graduation ,I tackled "other jobs" that is not related to my full time job and that allowed me to be myself and get creative. 
• Travel - Never tie up your vacations just because it is love life related (in my case, flying to where your significant other is, unless the person is already your beau for a really, really long time or your fiance, but never in a just dating mode/ you're not serious about). Vacations are state of minds. Lalo na if you were just talked into travelling when you're not that into it before. Now when I travel, I focus on educating my self and discovering the place as it is. I see it as my own educational field trip. The only downside of that is I tend to suffer from a vacation hangover (now that trips have become more awesome!)
• Food Trip - it went through my lips, now its on my hips. Now I need to take it out from my hips LOL
• "Coffee" - I stopped "crossing oceans for people who won't even jump puddles for me." Does these lines sound familiar? "Hey, yes,let's have coffee sometime."or "Dinner soon!" Yeah, you get my point. I think you are intelligent enough to know in your gut who actually meant it.

I'm not saying that you stop doing those. It's always different strokes for different folks. In my case, what I did was I tie up all the important factors and made sure to invest it well to things or relationships with better longevity. Not because it is the cure of the moment.

An example would be time. Since Time cannot be bought, I spend my free time with my trusted and long-time friends, where we catch a movie together, eat at an ordinary fast food chain with a $2 meal and have the best of time just hanging out at the park, or at a nearby mall.

Bottom line is, spend it well, with people those you know that matters most, not some "friends-of-the-moment". Because honestly, ang gastos talagang maging single lalo na't ang hilig mong mag pa-andar sa Facebook. Mas bad trip when you don't really have the money to pay for your expensive single behavior when you really cannot afford it. Even more bad trip when you owe someone a certain amount of money and you flaunt your expensive single behavior on Facebook and that person who you owe money to, sees it! - Wait, that's a different topic na! Anyway...

I can already hear the rebuttal: But how am I going to meet someone if I don't go out?! Again, it's always different strokes for different folks.

I keep going back to what my friend in graduate school once said: " Once you have satisfied your intellectual self, everything else is mundane. " And it is true. 

But the "intellectual self"is highly debatable and that saying depends on the comprehension of whoever the receiver is.

You know what I mean.

Befriending the unfamiliar

I took a mental note in my mind to say YES to opportunities this year, even if it's not the usual stuff that I normally do. The last few weeks were about tackling stuff I don't usually do. I took up a couple of unfamiliars.

Unfamiliar #1: Officially hosting.

Okay, I cannot really say this is unfamiliar, but usually it is something I, as much as possible, shy away from. I prefer just to be working behind the scenes. But to date, I have done 3 wedding receptions, (one of three is actually paid, just last saturday) and one piano/violin recital, my first ever paid gig, which is like two years ago.

But the unfamiliar part would be the high office of the university asking me to host a search for deanship event. Well, it's just a small audience, but then again, I know nothing about protocols and how it is done. And just got the script less than 12 hours from the event time.

I did pull through.

Unfamiliar #2: Paid make up gig.

I love make up. Sometimes this blog posts stuff about make up.

But I have never actually done a paid job. I just do my friends'make up ( Maid of honor, graduation make up and emcee gig, for free, because I love doing it.) But after doing my friend, Aya's make up for her MS graduation, I actually got a make up gig to do a home service make up. (Thank you again to my muse Aya). I know nothing about the rates that I had to do a little research first before saying yes.

I was actually sick with tonsilitis during that time, but my fever went away on the day that I am supposed to do my first ever client's make up. And the most rewarding part was she loved my work that she got inspired to wear make up to office, the next working day.

I'm not going to post the before and after photo on the blog, just on my instagram. I believe that those photos are for proper portfolio platform.

I'm really grateful for these opportunities, it really got me excited just when I'm looking for a weekend spice.

"Anything that gets your heart racing is probably worth doing."

And boy, my heart did race.

Fight Song came 5 years late

I needed this song in 2010. I first heard the mash up and searched for the original one and I fell in love with the lyrics!

Here are some excerpts that spoke to me...or like me.

“ I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion”
 “ And all those things I didn't say, Wrecking balls inside my brain” 

And of course, the chorus!!!

" This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me" 

Watch the embedded video. Although very twenties, very hipster, but inspiring.  (Hey I was still in my mid twenties when I needed this, but it came five years later.) 

Proof that whatever it is... it will pass. Even if you think it is impossible. 

 

The Hardworking Make Up Brushes

This year, I did the make up of one of the members of a wedding entourage and two looks for graduate school graduation of my friend. Last weekend, I was able to get my first ever paid make up gig out of a referral. I will write about that maybe some other time this week, but while I was cleaning my brushes, I decided to write about my most hard working make up brushes that I tend to use most of the time.

After I cleaned some of my make up brushes, in preparation for my first make up gig.

You can't lug these may make up brushes all the time and just because you have this many, you will not really use it on one face on one session alone. 

Here are my most used brush, when doing someone else's make up, in no particular order:

Asus Credit Card Sized Power Bank

I've had this power bank since third week of June and only got to blog about the review just now, when I intentionally monitored my usage.

Last year, part of my wishlist was to get a portable power bank for my iPhone. I got myself a powerbank from Bavin but it was bigger than my phone. I got it in a jiffy because I was afraid of running out of batteries when a storm was predicted to be coming. I learned well from the last time. 

So when my sister called and said there's a credit card sized powerbank that it the same Mah as the one that I have, and it's only for less than Php 800, I gave it ago. Actually, I was attracted to its aesthetics first then I asked my sister to get it for me online and she purchased via Lazada. 

Not exactly same size as my credit card, but come on! I think the best description would be - Cigarette Box sized Powerbank

And its Asus!

I'm no techie, but here's my review of this powerbank:

• It charges iPhone 5s four times.
• Charging time (to store energy) is 6-7hours depends on the level it was drained.
• Very handy, and I love that it came in pink. I was actually going for the gold one to match my iPhone, but they said it doesn't look as nice as the pink one.
• I wish it comes with other ports too. Therefore you can charge just one gadget at a time, unlike the Bavin one that I can charge a samsung phone while charging my phone.
• I wish it comes with a lightning cable for Apple products so I can charge my iPhone5s and iPad Air.

The Asus powerbank was designed to cater to Asus phone products, actually, but still it can be used with other brands. 

But still I love that it's not bulky and didn't take up too mych space in my already-jam packed bag. 

[Project FeeTrail June 2015]: Break in Baguio

I owe my friend a visit to her house in Baguio. When she told me she finished renovating her house (Read: Come up here, Kea!) I knew I must grab the next long weekend trip to Baguio, and I did. Besides, I badly needed a break.

I took this photo on my second night at her house's door step. I am so amazed at how her house, her space, screams her personality. It was so homey. I woke up feeling like I am in the country with this great cabin-like feel.

I wish I could show you photos, but she's very private and trust me, the photos did not do justice.

I can't wait to go back. Maybe with less tourists this time.

Of lipsticks and Hustle

Of all the photos in pinterest today, this spoke directly of me,

LIPSTICK

I finally bought Preview's Hot Stuff from the Preview x Happy Skin Collaboration last weekend. As expected, it looked good on me. I am so glad I waited for the store sale instead of rushing online. Because it would be such a total waste to get the other one (Too Cool) and barely use it. Before I was really, really lured into sales and major discounts but I've realized that the actual waste is when you bought/acquired something and you will not really use it.

I've been trusting my instinct a lot when it comes to buying online. The first Happy Skin Lip Crayons that I bought was the Forbidden Fruit collection and I loved all the colors. It covered all that I don't have or the looks that I don't really go for. I'm also glad that when I bought this one, it looked exactly what it looks like on the internet:

HUSTLE

I've been busy, crazy busy because I have events up on my sleeve both professional and personal. I'm saving more stories of that towards the end of the year. But in between hustling, I am thankful that I have reliable and good people around me, who hustle with me.

I realized that there will never be an actual dream job. And instead of staring at the window or stalking people on social media, might as well do something that you actually like. I'm glad and extremely grateful that for once, I have something on the sides that I enjoy doing and luckily getting paid for it.

I enjoy this kind of hustle. It leaves me no room and no time to see and compare what others have got.

Dont be afraid to ask the Universe

You know, I practice the Law of Attraction as much as I can and for this year alone, I have checked 2 major ones in my vision board. (More of that in the coming months)

I saw this speech by Jim Carrey and I was blown away. Maybe because I didn't expect him to be like this, and I didn't expect that he also believe in "asking the universe".

That's just a few lines. There's more...

I really, really, love this part.

I had to stop and get a hold of my self from screen capping everything, What the heck, I included the video at the bottom for your enjoyment too.

Enjoy!

Much needed break in Baguio

I owe myself a much needed break so I went to Baguio. The last time I was in Baguio was in December 2007 with my then-boyfriend. We did all the touristy stuff since he studied in Baguio. This time, I went to visit and stay with my friend who is a Baguio resident and "chilled" like a local. After all, what I came up here for is our year-long catch up over cooking, cold weather and some thrift store and designer outlet shopping that I never had the chance to do before.

This time I tagged along with Paolo, who's on a solo trip to Baguio. We both booked a Victory Liner deluxe bus that is set to leave at 8:15 in the evening. We plan to go together and just meet up before we head home to elbi.

Side story: It was the long weekend and we got caught up in a horrifying traffic, drenched in our own sweat, went down earlier from the bus to take a faster route, ran and squeezed ourselves in the MRT, and walked on two overpass. Just as we were 2 minutes away from the terminal, Paolo caught this man trying to steal the contents of my backpack. Paolo smacked the guy's head when he caught him and we didn't have time to argue because we arrived at the bus terminal just as our bus was preparing to board.

We arrived at 1:20 in the morning and I was at my friend's house by 2am. I have no photos of touristy stuff, not even tried the strawberry taho, but I had such a good time with my friend that I just cannot wait to be back. 

Thank God we made it safe just in time!

I changed shirts inside the bus (the bus had its own restroom) and hanged my wet clothes and hanky on the sides #TitaMoves

First stop: Say Hello to sister campus, UP Baguio! ( This is the last photo of my umbrella too as I left it in the cab) 

We shopped at bargain shops and designer outlet stores and got the best deal. I was able to buy 1 poncho cardigan for 100, 2 Zara scarves for 800 and a Vera Wang dress for 500. 

On my first day we went to Cafe by the ruins and had a good merienda. 

We were home for dinner and  just chilled. She baked cookies while we tell stories until 1 in the morning. Every night during my stay there. 

Meet Sparkle's! My friend's daughter's dog. We immediately hit it off. 

We had merienda in this lovely place in Camp John Hay

The traffic when I was on my way back to Manila

 I booked Joy Bus for my 1pm ticket. I dropped by SM Baguio's book sale for my bus read. They even provided a nice comforter for everybody on board the deluxe bus.

It was a good 5 hour road trip. I was actually sad to see the NLex end and enter the city.

What I learned in my short stay:

1. The awful rubber smell while in traffic along Marcos Hiway are actually the smell of the clutch. It is usually non-Baguio residents who uses clutch a lot when in traffic.

2. Baguio drivers are not hot headed at all and there are good Samaritans assisting when stuck in "short cu route"traffic situation. Plus, they return change!

3. Tourists in Baguio hail cabs like they are in Manila. Baguio residents hail cabs in designated areas.

4. There is a 5 second mandatory stop before each pedestrian, and tourists pay zero attention and break the rules.

5. There's Grab Taxi Service in Baguio! My first time and it happened to be the just two weeks old available in Baguio.

6. Baguio residents stay in during tourist season. I can see why.

7. Poverty level is low in Baguio. There are some, but its relatively lower and most of them are migrants.

8. Cost of living is relatively high. Same in Manila/Makati.

9. The best Choco Flakes and Lengua de Gato is the one manufactured by SIZZLING PLATE, by REYNOSO-ANTON Bakeshop. 

I can't wait to be back! Long weekend's just not enough.

Life, lately.

Hi!

I wanted to blog but not really in the mood, but saw this on pinterest today and this sums up me, lately. Don't you just love it when you come across something that sums everything that is up about you?

Anyway, I have a lot of exciting activities coming up. It is true when your mind is very excited about something, all your energy goes there and you barely have room for social media envy. Let me share a few important lessons I learned lately.

1. When you are busy living out your passion, you will hardly have enough time to look which grass is greener. You will know what to value.

2. On Finances: The moment I let go of my feeling of being uptight with my finances, the more it comes free flowing back to me. (Side story, I did something for someone who I am not even friends with, and I know that person will never be able to pay me back, but God granted me blessings in more ways than one. Gosh, those stories are true!!!)

3. Oldest friends are really good blessings. I am fortunate to have found them at age 12. The more you are thankful for it, the more it keeps your friendships strong.

4. Sometimes, when you feel you are stuck in a rut, it means you are in preparation ground for something amazing coming. For the first 5 months of the year, I've laid low and thought I must be having one of those trade offs, but then it'll only take one fine day to get you all excited again for new adventures for the rest of the year.

5. When you think you are just mediocre, something happens then tell you that you are so much more. Then you will know, you came with a purpose, and that people actually believe in you.

6. This thought has been on my mind a lot lately because it is true: No one makes a promise to God and takes it very lightly. God will equip you in fulfilling that promise, so be careful with your promise.

7. Prepare to receive what you vision-boarded for, because you will get it.

8. We meet people in their own different phases. I bet, at some point, you would want to kick your year 2009-self.

9. Great human relationships are very good investments, coming from the anti-social, introvert side of me.

10. Things start to fall FAST into place, the moment you decide to just let go.


What are your learned lessons recently?

Fake it with Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Since I hit thirties, I have minimized wearing a lot of make up and just switched and invested in the basics. One of them is a good eyeliner and mascara. I am a fan of Maybelline and I love the Great Lash mascara that I asked Apy's friend to buy two for me from US. I understand now why Great Lash is iconic, but I got the one that is not waterproof. I was hoping to get the waterproof version in the Philippines when Maybelline recently had the Great Lash mascara back in town but it was out of stock. 

My sister got me the Maybelline Falsies (waterproof) instead:

Fanned out mascara brush

Here's what it looks like from the raw pictures from my phone:  Take note, this is the first application. If you apply more, it would amplify.

I love that it actually gives the illusion of more, and longer lashes, hence the name "Falsies". Also, I don't use an eyelash curler. 

I usually put eyeliner first before the mascara, but I had it reversed today for this blog post. 

Pardon the brow situation, I'm growing mine out.

Now for the quick review. Maybelline Falsies is:

• Waterproof, Sweat-proof, Cry-proof. - Trust me, I did all that.
• Hard to take off, it doesn't easily come off.
• Good value for money. (Php 350.00+)
• The bent wand or "fanned out brush" doesn't really do much. I mean, had it been regular brush, it will still be the same effect given the Falsies formula.

And yes, I will purchase again.