Finding Solemate

And that's not typo, my dear. Solemate is a brand that is a "mate" /friend to my sole.

Wearing Solemate is like walking on marble floors wearing cushion-like, comfortable socks.

I've worn minimum of three inches heels that I've blogged before here and now I am so addicted to flats because I have to wear it out of necessity.

I'm really lucky when it comes to finding shoes. I was able to find really good ones mostly on sale and more than 50% off. I'm not the type to splurge a huge amount on one designer pair.

This year, I have slowly migrated to flats and loafers. I went to the nearest mall few months ago and saw these ballet flats, called SOLEMATE, on sale. You get 2 pairs for the price of Php 399.75. But again, because you get two for that price, the design is very limited.

Then two months later, before I knew it, I already have 6 pairs of these. The problem that I have is sometimes when I get really lucky with sale season, I really push my luck and limits. Now I am eyeing four more pairs = two more purchases before I call it enough.

I know some people may think that this might be a luxury, but I believe footwear is a really good investment (next to brassiere for women). You have no idea how much walking that I do to get to work (because I am crimping on gas and I live in a pretty small community). I know and I am fully aware that the ballet flats is making a comeback but certain flat shoes sold at the mall costs like one grand, so finding something cute and comfy that equates to 5 pairs per one grand is already a steal! Plus I get to match my flats with whatever color of blouse/shirt that I have on. :)

I know I said that the designs are limited but last week my sister got me this:

New Solemate flats! Yey!

They have new batch of printed ballet flats ( floral, leopard patterns etc) but I still prefer the plains and classics.  I officially have seven pairs but do you know that the total amount of my 7 pairs of flats equates to 1 pair of signatured ballet flats?

Quick Review:

• The ballet flats is so soft and it really does feel like socks, only thicker.
• I suggest you get one size smaller than your regular size because the shoes expand when worn.
• Not meant for the hard core walking on certain concrete. (read: trekking, walking on rocks, etc)
• Don’t expect for it to last forever. It’s only 2 for Php 399.75 and sometimes we get what we pay for.

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 5 - It has been 2 years!

This month marks my 5th semester in UPLB, this time as a “Graduate School resident”.

To honor the great first semester that I had back in 2010, let me share you these videos that took place when I had my first taste of advocacy.

Maki-Book[lat] is a Social Marketing Campaign of the DevCom 208 class during the first semester of academic year 2010-2011. I remember staying up late and getting up at 4 in the morning on the day of the actual launch. I was so excited and it feels like as if it’s “my” launch. This project has helped me adjust well to my transition from Manila and at the same time I loved every minute of our meetings and get-togethers.

Maki-Book[lat] promotes reading habits for school age children. We have collected books and donations and even asked guest readers to launch the campaign in Gawad Kalinga Los Baños chapter. I worked behind the scenes and ended up being really good friends with my group mates. 

The event was hosted by my friends Paulie and Yeye:

 
Paulie and Yeye's hosting gig for Maki-[Book]Lat from The Kea Channel on Vimeo.

Kuya King Becodo reads/performs Pamilya Ismid at GK from The Kea Channel on Vimeo.

Some photos (because there are just too many):

 

My friend and kumare, Cecile, the master fondant maker of Bonggak Pastries gave us these fondant cupcakes for the kiddies!

(Mare, two years since you did this you've been very blessed! You now have [turning] four  Bonggak Pastries SM branches! I'm so proud of you! )

I keep saying that I will be forever grateful to UPLB Grad School and to the College of Development Communication. Not only I have learned to see things in different lenses, I was able to really learn a lot about my self and have been more understanding of others.

I love Proposal Stories!

Ask my engaged friends, they know that I always ask for the proposal story. I'm really big about proposals and the marriage itself rather than the actual wedding.I'm partly working in the wedding industry so I pretty much know how stressful the whole preparation is. 

This cute proposal video has been blogged about and viewed several times already and it is only now that I finally had the time to click on PLAY.

Someone really close to me got engaged. I am thankful that he proposed on his own and did not involve us (esp. me) in making a proposal video like this for ...

if it were up to his music and style, I do not know how to dougie. :)

Bedrooms with White Shelves

In an attempt to move on (though this is a way too early announcement), I will be moving to a new space... like 5 steps from my old space and into a new one (read: new room). Our house needs repairs (really!) and after much discussion about our house dream renovation, I get to move to my parents old room!

This time, I get to decide as an adult on what I want my room to look like and to keep myself inspired and focused on this dream project, here are my room pegs:

(Photos are not mine but pinned and re-pinned from Pinterest)

I've always been in love with white shelves and queen size beds, so hello Universe! #youknowthedrill

If I were a boy...then I wouldn't be writing this post.

Not to be such a total girl about it, but last night, for the love of me, I experienced my first ever car flat tire.

Two years ago,after attending my birthday party, my good friend Rolls experienced a tire mishap while driving at South Expressway and my guy friends came to rescue and got home at around 3 in the morning. They showed me pictures of Rolls’ flat tire and it sure looked scary but she was able to change tires and go home safe after getting it fixed. She was driving alone and it’s a good thing our guy friends were there to help.

That’s one of the reasons I am not much into getting my own car. I more interested in getting my own townhouse/condo/house and lot because I am very big on getting my own space and have no qualms about commute . Plus I don’t really know if I am really ready for such responsibility because: 1) I surely can’t change tires, 2) my attention span in all the car-mechanical-talk is just about 5 minutes 3) I enjoy being the passenger after learning how to drive when I was seventeen.

It’s a good thing I noticed the strange sound coming from my side because I could’ve gone out of the University campus easily, but God doesn’t put helpless naive people like me in places where I could not be helped. I parked the car right infront of my office building at half past ten in the evening and while waiting to be rescued, my mom called for help and within 5 minutes, the nice people from the University Police Force and UPLB’s Community Support Brigade (CSB) immediately came over to help.

Last night it slowly dawned on me that my father’s gone because if he were still alive, he’d know what to do with the tires. It’s a good thing he kept all his complete tools inside the car, I just need to organize it. But when we were “rescued” last night, I was told that “since we’re all girls, I might as well get the dragon-something-something-to-lift-the-car-up”, so that I won’t have to get down on all fours. ( I did get on my all fours trying to help the guys out, only to be told that I lifted the car a little too high than what is required so I had no choice than be one of those girls who sits on the side walk, waiting for the fixing to be done.)

Flat Tire

Ransacked the caru to find the tools

So my next peg is to channel the Mechanic Megan Fox in Transformers into easily checking the car like it’s some sort of make-up kit.

Photo from Google

But damn, I wish if I get a tire mishap again, I was hoping to look this good:

The Demure (Source)

The Posh (Source)

The HOTTIE (Source)

Someone told me before that when he was a teenager and he asked his dad to teach him to how to drive, he was told and taught how to clean the car first, then change tires and finally the atras-abante (forward-backward) then proper driving lesson/training/self-discovery. You see, my father did not want to teach my sister Aprille and me how to drive, it was my mom who secretly enrolled me and my sister to a driving school (actually it was Aprille who went to a proper Driving school, I was taught by a freelance driver-trainer) so that we know how to drive before we turn 18.

If it wasn’t for my sneaky mom who made sure that we’d learn how to drive, then I wouldn’t have the chance to rush my dad to the hospital. I know some people would ask how can I drive without knowing the basics such as changing tires, but believe me, I wanted my father to teach me but we just couldn’t last a 15-minute driving/safety session without getting into some petty father-daughter argument.

Oh dear Good Lord, please do not let me entertain the thought of marrying someone, getting in a relationship with a guy just so I have someone to change my car’s tires. 

I told you if I were a boy, I definitely would not be writing this post.

Why the controversial (EO) Executive Optical's "Don't be a loser" billboard got the flak

After the much tweeted/blogged about controversial BAYO What's your Mix campaign, here comes another controversial ad campaign. I just saw their latest billboard last Tuesday, as me, my sister and cousin were walking the streets of Alabang.

Executive Optical is actually my go to optical shop for the following important reasons:

• They give the best rates on ordinary lenses (read: affordable). Some charge Php 450,  Php 350, but EO charges Php 250 for the ordinary lens (not the multi-coated ones). I don't use the multi-coated lens anymore because I use contacts almost all the time.
• They have a wide variety of (safe) colored contact lenses. 
• They have my favorite and good saline solution for my contacts (Brand Manufacturer: Sauflon, but my alternative, affordable Plan B is Lens Care) 
• They frequently have discounts and SALE (on contact lenses and eye glasses frames)!

I've always been pretty amused by their campaign about getting our eyes checked and it just so happen that I was also on my way to the nearest EO to get my new contact lens. Last Tuesday, I was able to notice their newest billboard.

Photo Source

Ok I admit. Unlike the netizens who got mad at this campaign for being racist, my thoughts were a little (tee-hee) different.

My thoughts were:

• This happens in real-life, good looking girls prefer "different guys" or exotic as my bff would say. ( Enter Andrew E. rapping to humanap ka ng panget song).
• I did not even notice the cauliflower vs real flowers hidden meaning. (The ad means the other guy gave cauliflower and not real ones due to poor eye sight, so he lost to the one with "glasses").

I've always been in love with Advertising and it's one of my favorite subjects back in college. But this billboard, technically speaking, gives a different meaning because though it's not really about the color of the skin, but the positioning of certain subjects in the poster. 

Billboards, like posters, are meant to give instant messages in a few seconds because they are made to be "passed by". People do not have the time to stop, think and analyze what is the real meaning of the ad. Since majority of individuals, especially now, are more visual and color-associated, it's no wonder that they took notice of the difference of the color of the skin, rather than the message about not-getting-the-real-flowers-due-to-poor-eyesight. 

And because of the influence of media, globalization and exposure to western culture and skin whitening products, the subject of color/race/mix will always be sensitive to us. 

Just my two cents.

Review: Why I will NOT buy Maybelline's Clear Smooth All in One Shine Free Cake Powder again

I will NOT be buying Maybelline Clear Smooth All in One Shine Free Cake Powder anymore.

Source

The first time I was attracted how it's pink and affordable (Php 249.00). But the first day I used it the cake powder cracked. Maybe I just got the crappy one so I just mashed it and poured the powder into my empty can of Maybelline's Clear smooth mineral foundation.

Source

I bought the refill, few months later, giving the product model (not the brand, because I've always loved Maybelline because it suits my skin well) a chance to redeem itself. It works well if you use it on it's refill case, but when I transferred it to the main compact,for the second time around, this is what it looked like:

Then my sister showed me this and I wish I had known this sooner:

Photo from Beautydepartment.com

But then, I don't want to go through the hassle of repairing it every time it breaks. So now I'm on a quest to find a reasonably priced foundation. Make up junkies say that we ladies shouldn't crimp on foundation, but I'm really loving Maybelline's Clear Smooth Mineral Loose powder foundation. I just wish it didn't cost that much. (Php599.00).

Silly things you see at the Supermarket

Two Sundays ago, my sister and I were at the supermarket when we saw one of the strangest thing at the beauty section:

At first, I thought it was a toupee, but my sister knew better. It came with a headband so...

Tadaaaa! 

Instant side swept bangs! 

Would you buy this portable bangs to join the "side-swept-bangs bandwagon" ?