Makeup Madness: Products I've Been Using For a While

You may have noticed from my most recent blog entries that I've been busy getting to posts I've forgotten about. This is another one of those posts. 

There are some products I've been using for a while that I simply haven't posted about. Consider this as a sort of beauty loot entry, with makeup I've already finished up, and ones that I'm still using. 

• Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Black Honey - I've had this palette for a while but I've only been using it more frequently recently. I haven't made up my mind on it, but it's definitely not like any other eyeshadow palette I have. 
• Origins Mascara in Black - I'm tossing this out because mascara goes bad after a few months, and it has been in my makeup bag unused and expired for a while. I got a lot of use out of it though.
• Origins Liquid Lip Color Duo in Pink Sands and Sangria Shimmer - I didn't quite finish this up but I need to toss it out because it's lip gloss and I've had it for a long time. It's hard to let it go though because I loved it. I actually used it in the look, A Neutral Experiment. 

I'll be posting reviews of these soon. They deserve some love since I've had them for a long time.  

Clothes Spin: Tribute to the Doctor [Flashback Friday]

TGIF! It's Flashback Friday. This is a different kind of fashion post for a change, because it's a geeky one as well. It's a little obvious if you've been reading this blog for a while, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm a Whovian - a Doctor Who fan. Ten is my doctor, and I own a sonic screwdriver.

I've been organizing my files and I found this pic of my Eleventh Doctor outfit. It's such a fun one and brought a smile to my lips when I saw it this morning.

Blue Trust Your Doctor Tardis shirt from a limited run by Revolution 9, bow tie from the kid's section SM Department Store that I pinned to the shirt, gray skirt from Bayo, Giordano watch, Longchamp LM Metal bag in Steel, bow flats from Greenhills

It's definitely a girly ensemble, but with a geeky twist. I already posted about the shirt before, but that time I paired it with jeans and wedge sneakers, and it was a lot more rugged than this. This shirt is one of my favorite shirts of all time. The design, with white words forming the shape of the Tardis (the Doctor's spaceship of sorts) against the exact shade of Tardis blue, is just too clever. 

I also have another Doctor Who shirt that I wore on the Day of the Doctor. One can never have too many Whovian shirts!

Are you a Whovian too? Who is your Doctor? Let's talk!  

Makeup Madness: Up Close - NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige

I've had the NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige for a while now, but I just found these pics in my computer and realized I totally neglected to do the review on it! My bad. I should be more organized!

Anyway, this gloss was part of my Mini Lippie Haul some time ago. I'm actually not into lip gloss that much because it's sticky, it gets in my hair, it vanishes quickly, it feels thick on the lips, and it's simply just too high maintenance compared to lipstick. Once in a while though, I find a gloss with a color that I absolutely cannot resist, and the NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige is one such gloss.

The Product

It's everything a straight-up lip gloss is. It's sticky, it gets in my hair, it vanishes quickly, and it feels thick on the lips. It's supposed to give your lips some shine and also moisturize and soften them at the same time.

Beauty Loot: Mini Drugstore Haul From January - February 2014

I don't buy makeup much these days because I haven't been wearing a lot of makeup. I still pick up essentials from time to time though, just out of necessity, like when I need a replacement for something I've used up or something I never had but I am finally feeling the need for. Here is my latest mini drugstore beauty haul.

• Elf Total Powder Brush - I've been building up my collection of Elf brushes because I want to practice, practice, and practice first before investing in a serious brush set. I realized I didn't have the powder brush yet so I got it.
• Elf Waterproof Eyeliner Pen - Yes, my adventures with makeup can be described as slow but steady. There are some products I have never tried until now. Waterproof eyeline is one of them. I got this Elf pen so I can practice.
• Essence Mattifying Powder - I needed powder to set my makeup and I've been curious about this one so I'm giving it a try. 

That was quick! Reviews to come (hopefully) soon.

For past beauty hauls, check this tag: Beauty Loot.

Trippin': Shanghai, China [Travel Tuesday]

Note: It's Travel Tuesday! All Travel Tuesday posts are of course in the Travel Tuesday tag. 2007 was a big traveling year for me. Right after Japan, I headed to China. Here's a look back on that trip and my thoughts from back then.

I hate this bad habit.
May. 8th, 2007 at 1:37 AM

I just finished last-minute packing. I'm leaving for Shanghai, China in a few hours. Why do I always do this to myself? I resolved to start packing a day before for this trip, but it didn't happen. I always have to wait the night before I leave - okay, it's more like a few hours before - to get ready. One would think that being a frequent traveler I would be more conscious of this, but I'm not. Don't get me wrong though. Packing is like second nature for me. I simply have a tendency to procastinate. Oh well I'm tired. I'm glad I'm done. Later, people.

Current Mood: sleepy sleepy
Current Music:Silence in my room

Shanghai Noon

May 8 to 11, 2007. China wasn't what I expected. Maybe it was because I went to Shanghai instead of Beijing or Hong Kong, but I found it to be a very pleasant place. I didn't encounter any of the stereotypes I've been warned about, and this trip turned out to be another very unique experience for me. I don't think I can live there (the only country I said that about was Japan) but it sure is a good place to visit. 

Purse Peek 020914

Last Sunday I went to one of the neighborhood salons for a manicure, and since it was so near, I only brought a clutch with me. (It's a dainty, gold New Look clutch that my friend Emz gave me from Singapore. It's the perfect sunny Sunday purse. Thanks Emzy!) It's a rare event when I'm not toting my entire house around with me, so I snapped a pic of my bag when I got home for a Purse Peek.

What's in my gold New Look clutch?

Mango wallet, Gin - my iPhone 5s, blue Untangler, Dior Addict Lipstick in Beige Casual (my favorite nude lipstick for casual days), NYX Matte Nail Polish in Rose (because I was getting my nails done), and a handkerchief.

See past What's in my Bag? posts in the Purse Peek tag. 

What's in your clutch?

Tales of the Culinary-Challenged: Overnight Oats - Tweaked

One of my first posts in this blog back in February 2013 was about trying Lauren Conrad's recipe for overnight oats. I like overnight oats because I'm usually a zombie in the morning and I like quick breakfasts. Since it is prepared the night before and requires nothing more than throwing ingredients together in a jar, it's really perfect for me.

A different kind of instant oatmeal

Since that post, I've tweaked the recipe with more accessible products (those available locally) and according to my own preference. I just use products that we have in our fridge, and oatmeal really isn't a problem because the husband eats it all the time -- for breakfast, after working out, or as a midnight snack! When I was making this tweaked version of overnight oats last night, I decided to post it here for reference because I'm always tweaking it as my tastes change. My latest one involves the slightest of tweaks, but it still made a difference.

Home Base: The Life Domestic - How to get Sticky Labels Off Jam Jars + An Introduction

When I got married to my awesome husband, I was the most undomesticated person ever. Sure, I lived independently for four years, but I had a housemate during most of that era (holla Sheva). We were focused on our careers, we rarely did anything for our house, and we basically lived on canned goods, instant noodles, and fastfood takeout and delivery. I never had any interest in domestic life.

It is only now that I'm married that I got the compulsion to learn how to cook, decorate the house, organize things, and such. I don't know why that is, but something about married life just brought it out of me. I can now relate to my mom's hobbies, like shopping for the home, cooking, and crafting, among other things. That is why I started the Home Base section -- so I could obsess about these things.

Anyway, I was really amused yesterday when I found myself re-purposing something, so I thought I'd post it here. Have you ever tried to get sticky labels off jam jars? I keep used jam jars because reuse, reduce, recycle, right? I hate having to peel the labels off and then have to deal with sticky residue afterwards.

Last night, I tried getting a label off a jar, and underneath it was some really sticky residue. I tried hot water on it but it didn't work, so I went off to Google. Apparently, a ton of people had the same dilemma, because there were a lot of solutions online. I skipped through a ton of suggestions because they were kind of a hassle (soaking the bottles in hot water for several hours), dangerous (using some form of acid on the bottles), or not available to me (Goo Gone). I found one person who suggested peanut butter and I thought, why not? I have it in the fridge, and if it doesn't work, I'm going to give up on the idea. Obviously, it worked.

Clear glass!

I peeled the label off and then used a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter to get all the remaining paper and sticky residue off. I took a good amount of pb, rubbed it onto the glass, and then wiped it off with a paper towel. I did that about three times, and surprise! I had a clear jam jar.  

What do you use on labels and sticky residue? I wish I could do this to books. I hate those sticker price tags!

Trippin': Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and Mount Samat [Travel Tuesday]

Note: It's Travel Tuesday! All Travel Tuesday posts are of course in the Travel Tuesday tag.

A trip back to the past

My first Travel Tuesday post was all about my trip to Japan. This time around, I thought I'd post about a local travel destination that has gained popularity in recent years -- Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan -- plus a side trip to Mount Samat, which has always been a must-see Bataan landmark. I went on the trip with my then-fiance, now-husband and his family back in late 2012. Somehow I just never got around to posting this anywhere. 

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a heritage park that aims to preserve historical Filipino houses and buildings. We stayed overnight there and then made a day trip to Mount Samat on the way back to Manila. At first, I was apprehensive because I'm not really into old, antique things and historical places. I'm more into urban adventures or chillin-at-the-beach type of vacations. To be honest, historical stuff just scares me because I feel like there are ghosts lurking in every corner! 

That is why I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this trip immensely. It was great seeing houses and buildings from the past and hearing about the history behind them. The place was gorgeous too, and though some parts of it were a little creepy when it got dark, the hotel area was new and only modeled after an old building so I wasn't that worried about ghosts, heh. 

I had fun on the trip we made to Mount Samat as well, because it was another historical place. We visited the Dambana ng Kagitingan National Shrine, which is dedicated to the fallen Filipinos and Americans during World War II. 

Without further ado, here are the photos. [Note: I did not include a lot of photos of our family. These are just the ones of me, the husband, and the scenery.]

Beauty Barrage: Manicure Monday - Rosy Valentine Nails

It's just another Manic Monday, but I had to make this quick post during my lunch break because it's Manic-ure Monday. (Yes you saw what I did there, heh.) 

When I was deciding on a nail polish color yesterday, I remembered that Valentine's is coming up. Since I'm feeling cheesy and it's always fun to work with a theme, I chose a bright red color this week for Love's Day.   

Bookworming: My Favorite Fashion and Beauty Books

Hi peeps! TGIF!

I can tell this is going to be one of my favorite blog entries ever because it combines three of my obsessions -- books, fashion, and beauty -- in one post. I was taking a look at our bookshelf earlier looking for a book to re-read when I saw my fashion and beauty books and decided to share my collection on the blog. Note that I've had these for a long time and are by no means new. They just sort of accumulated over time.

I normally read sci-fi/chic-lit/young adult fiction and food-related non-fiction. I get my fashion and beauty fix from magazines, usually Vogue, Elle, and Teen Vogue. When I do stumble upon a fashion or beauty book that captures my interest though, I get it. I really like books that inspire me in these areas and have helpful tips and how-tos at the same time. These give me my girly fix and are terrific weekend reads! Here we go.

Who What Wear, Lauren Conrad Style, The Ellements of Personal Style, Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual, Lauren Conrad Beauty

Purse Peek 011511 [Throwback Thursday]

Now here's something different for Throwback Thursday. This is a peek into what was in my bag back in January 2011! The photo was taken during one of my weekend visits to my parents' house with my then-boyfriend-now-husband. I just found it in my computer and I don't think I ever posted this anywhere. It's fun seeing how different my bag is now compared to three years ago. Some things are the same, but a lot of things have changed too.

 What was in my oversize Mango tote?

Food Trip: Caffe Pascucci - First Visit

I've been noticing this new cafe called Caffe Pascucci at the new Glorietta wing for a while. It looks pretty chic from the outside and is located at a somewhat secluded spot along Hotel Drive. My friends and I considered going there some weeks back, but somehow we ended up somewhere else. I finally had the chance to try it out when I met up with my friend Irish last week.

Red and black

Bookworming: Classic Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen

When I was a kid I had this very old, very battered book of fairy tales. I'm not sure where it came from but it was one of the many books that I found hidden in cupboards in our old house - most likely left behind by my older cousins or maybe one of my aunts and uncles. It was thick and leatherbound with a castle print on the cover, and it was filled with fairy tales from a bunch of authors. The stories ranged from Chicken Little to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. I don't know where it is now, because I have moved twice since then, but I promised myself I would try to find out if it's somewhere in my parents' house.

I loved that book. There is a common misconception that fairy tales are supposed to always end with "happily ever after" and that's really not the case. The original fairy tales weren't like the Disney versions that always had happy endings. My old book of fairy tales was actually one of the first books that got me thinking. It challenged my morals at a very young age, and sometimes even scared me to the point that I would keep it at the very top of my bookshelf and avoid looking at it for months on end. (Blue Beard scarred me for life!) Still, I came back to it from time to time, going through the stories over and over again because I enjoyed how it took my imagination to places I have never dreamed of. It was a beautiful book too, with colorful art scattered through the pages.

That is why when I first set my sights on the Classic Fairy Tales book by Hans Christian Andersen at Fully Booked, I knew I had to get it. It reminded me of the book from my childhood, and it was so beautiful, I knew it was something I would love to keep in the family for future generations.

So pretty!

Opening up the book instantly takes you to lands far, far, away. The inside front and back covers have a lovely painting of a castle in the mountains, bringing to mind images of princes and princesses, fairies and elves. 

Once upon a time... 

Beauty Barrage: Cold Weather Friends

Here in the tropics, cold weather is a rare thing. It comes suddenly and disappears just as quickly. We actually just had a spate of cold weather that started late December and lasted all throughout January. It's only starting to get warm now, but the evenings and early mornings still have a bit of a chill to them.

That short burst of cold weather was enough to wreak havoc on my skin though. Aside from being used to humid weather, my skin has always been very dry. A month-long cold spell made it feel tight and lifeless. It made my eyebrow and hairline area extremely flaky, my arms and legs were itchy, and even my elbows took a beating.

All throughout the month, I tried to salvage my skin with products I have always counted on, as well as a new product I tried out and liked. My skin is looking loads better now and definitely on the way to recovery. Spring is yet to come in many parts of the world, and weather experts say the chilly air in the country might stay until March, so I thought I'd post about my cold weather friends. Here's a rundown.

Baylis & Harding Lemon Blossom Body Cream, The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream, Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer, Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm