Call me lazy or aimless. I just want a break - a break that won't go to waste!

Now that I'm soon to be officially unemployed, the most-asked question to me is, 'Anong plano mo after?', which always leaves me in silence. Honestly, I don't know the answer to that. Blame it on the 'bahala na' attitude. Call me lazy or aimless. Or just look at me with that 'holier-than-thou-I'm-so-much-more-responsible-than-you' look.

The truth is, I just want to rest and I'd like to think that I deserve that considering that I worked right after graduation. True, that was my decision and nobody or nothing forced me to make that but things have to happen, right? I had to work right after getting my diploma and learn things in life which my dear alma mater did not prepare me for [more on that in another blog entry, else I risk making this into a long-winding reflection about life and its complexities].

But my 'rest period' is not simply living the life of a bum. Oh no, I wouldn't want that. Knowing myself, I'm bound to get keyed up after a week. So here I am attempting to list down things I am supposed to accomplish while 'on break'.

1. Revive AvantGardia Online and look into other possibilities for its expansion :D

2. Lose 5 pounds. Seriously, people who know me from my high school days always look at me with that 'Whatever-happened-to-you-and-you-look-like-a-blimp-now' look masked with a polite smile. It's getting to be too annoying.

3. Get into jewelry-making. It's one of my favorite hobbies so why not pursue it now that I will be having more time in my hands.

4. Sideline, sideline, sideline. I cannot emphasize that more.

5. My own Personalized 2009 planner! :-)

6. Fix my thesis! And try to make it more useful, haha.

7. Get my voter's ID (yeah, duh), SSS and TIN # plus a valid ID!

8. Go to a make-up workshop. LOL! Pangarap ko kasi maging make-up artist, right? :p

9. Declutter my desktop PC!

10. Destash my closet and give away/sell some.

11. Learn web designing. Yay! I'm very excited about this :)

12. Open another bank account. I seriously need to manage my finances better!

Mad Dash

Finally got my packages yesterday! But this means I'm going to be in a mad dash to finish my jewelry pieces in time for the exhibit on Saturday. Good luck to me, more nights of lesser sleep ahead! :p

But though I'm missing out on my beauty sleep, this is a very rewarding hobby. I just love it, it gives me a different sense of excitement. I actually feel like how a kid feels upon entering a candy shop haha.

Anyways, above is a picture of my first creation (which I am actually wearing today heehee). It is a combination of freshwater pearls, rose quartz, two-toned majorica pearls and abalon shells.

This Week's Beauty Haul

This week is a happy beauty week for me as I got a LOT of beauty haul :D

Sorry, limited pictures because I'm too lazy haha!

Because of my limited budget at present as well as wanting to practice my makeup skills, I've gone back to local brands of cosmetics. (more affordable=more variety=pwede pang-practice)

These are what made me happy this week:

- Fanny Serrano Concealer in Sand

- Fanny Serrano Blush in Silky Coral (yes, the much talked-about dupe of NARS' Orgasm)

- Ever Bilena Face Brush

- Ever Bilena Brush Set

- Nichido Girls Night Out Eyeliner in Metal Blue

- Nichido Eyeliner in Brown Black

Just to cap off the week fabulously, my mum brought me back these goodies from her HK trip :D

Ocher Essence Mask - whee!

Nail Polish from Arezia - I tested all the colors last night and they're all fabulous!

Love the grape (4th from left) and dark blue (beside grape) shade. :-)

Getting 'Slashed'

I've heard stories of women getting their bags slashed in public places but like the popular majority, I'm lulled into complacency by my "It-cannot-happen-to-me" thinking. And so this morning, I got the shock of my life.

My favorite everyday, "I'll bring my house with me everywhere" bag

from Girbaud

I was fixing my things in my bag in hope of restoring some order inside it. When I emptied the side pocket, I was so shocked to see that the bottom part of the pocket was practically ripped off! *panic* My first thought was, 'did I put way too much weight in the pocket?' but that doesn't really make sense because all it contained was a small bottle of baby powder and perfume. Next thought, 'sumabit ba kaya napunit?'

I turned the bag over and lo! Another shocker for me. The bottom part was slashed! Yep, read it right - slashed.

I simply can't believe it. :-( It's just a bag, yes, but it's one of my favorites and I bought it with my own salary. I haven't even used it for a year :'( Very depressing and traumatizing for me. :-(

On a happier note (trying to be positive): There's this super nice bag I saw yesterday. Thinking if I'll buy it as a birthday present for myself. (BUT it's sort of expensive for me)

"One Thousand Things I Want in a Lover"

One Thousand Things I Want in a Lover - sounds like a tall order but this has been an effort by a lot of people in the blogging community. You may read it here.

Pumili ako ng iilang may 'tama' para sa akin

- "Someone who won’t mind my indecisiveness about the littlest things."

- "Someone who is willing enough to wait while I shop all day long."\

- "Someone who will stay up extremely late with me when I am working and need another person to keep me sane."

- "Someone who makes my heart sink everytime they smile."

- "Someone who makes me wake up smiling for no reason at all."

- "Someone to lay under the stars and watch fireworks with." (parang sa You Changed My Life lang )

- "Someone who will hold an umbrella for me when it’s raining."

- "Someone who will guide me through a crowd with their hand in the small of my back."

- "Someone who will carry my bags when I go shopping."

- "Someone I could never hate no matter what unfolds between us."

- "Someone who also dreams of having a perfect marriage after a perfect wedding."

- "Someone who isn’t afraid to wipe away my tears."

- "Someone who will hold my hand and then smile when I look at them in wonder."

Magic.

Despite BAD VIBES, I refuse to end this day in a sour note.

"MAGIC. When our eyes meet and your smile meets mine. When I can practically hear the thumb-thumping of my heart because every gaze of yours makes me feel alive."

What is it with people who are stubborn and makulit???

You just had to end this day horribly.

Thank you very much.

Another Winner Buy from The Body Shop: Olive Oil Dry Mist

My sister is witness to my addiction and newfound devotion to The Body Shop despite its products being a tad too pricey at times. I love the salesladies there, they're generally very nice and accomodating all the time. The atmosphere is also a plus - entering a store always feels like stepping in a well-maintained flower garden.

My most recent winner buy at The Body Shop is the Olive Dry Oil Mist. I've always been skeptical of oil mists feeling that it will be too 'oily' for me and that it will feel all greasy at the end of the day.

But the huge discount was enough to convince me to try it. I'd say it was a good decision on my part. :) It's totally non-greasy, is absorbed quickly (just make sure you apply it on slightly damp skin right after you shower) and has a pleasant but not overpowering smell. It's light moisturization though so don't expect super-soft skin. Nonetheless, it will give one smooth and soft skin.

It's on 40% off until the end of August, if I have it right. So yay! Time to buy one for yourself. At 450 a bottle, what do you have to lose? :)

Another Life Lesson: Someone you judge too quickly just might surprise you in the future

"Don't judge my brother; he's not a book!"

- Melanie Marquez

Remember when the Queen of Melanisms herself, Melanie Marquez, uttered this infamous line? Well, it may appear to have some truth to it. Not that a person is not a book (d'oh!) but that we should not (immediately) judge a person - that person you judge may just surprise you one day.

Yes, that's exactly what happened to me.

Well...maybe I judged someone too quickly in the past and that person just surprised me - in a pleasant way.

So the next time I'm about to judge someone too quickly, I ought to tell myself that that person just might surprise me in a good way in the future. Kindness, after all, is a golden trait. Hihi. :P

Product Review: The Body Shop Divide and Multiply mascara

In one of my 'in the mood for shopping' days, I went to The Body Shop to finally get myself a bottle of the White Musk EDT.

I liked the scent so much that I bought a starter kit of the White Musk line. The pouch that came with was too cute as well. :-)

As I was about to pay for it, the sales assistant offered me the Love Your Body card which will give me member discounts and other privileges. Well, let's just say I wasn't too keen on that. But I eventually got one, anyways haha. What clinched the deal is the welcome gift - a lip gloss and mascara. Haha! For 300 pesos, I get a lip gloss and a mascara, not bad!

Thus starts my love affair with The Body Shop's Divide and Multiply mascara.

What I love:

- nifty packaging; small tube and will fit most pouches

- fine wand; the fineness separates the lashes well, yay!

- no clumping! yay :D

- a single coat gives a polished look; a second coat spells glamour

What I don't like:

- sometimes it can smear a bit :( (at the end of the day)

- on its own, it doesn't do wonders for short, sparse lashes (which I have); what I do is swipe a single coat of this then use Maybelline mascara for the tips. It doesn't look miraculous but it gives me some semblance of eyelashes haha!

Will post pics next time when I have time to take some after doing my make-up :-P