Domino's Pizza no more

Have you heard that Domino's Pizza has its new name? It's Angel's Pizza now. I've learned about it yesterday when a sales person came to our office to promote their products. Since they're under promotion they give out coupons to get good deal of pizza and other menus at a convenient price. But you gotta have this sort of membership first to avail their coupons. Anyway, it's only Php399. And for as long as you haven't consumed all the coupons you can buy their menus using the coupon of your choice. Like there's a buy one get one of their biggest size pizza, or you can add another coupon of one free pizza to make your order three. You can also combine the coupons for whichever menu you wanna order and you won't have to pay a big amount, maybe just for one order is what you'll pay for the whole bunch of orders--- thanks to the coupons.

Anyway, talk about the taste of their pizza, is not my absolute favorite. I find their pizza tasteless like there's something lacking in which I can't tell what it is. But I agreed to mom that we should get the coupons for food convenience. I'm also giving this pizza chain a chance to prove to me that their pizza is for my liking, and would turn my thoughts around.

Peeling day

Days of absence, and now I'm back for my new entry. How is it going?

Today is my peeling day. You know, me exfoliating my skin. The products in the picture are what I use on my face and body. This morning I've already exfoliated my facial skin through The Face Shop's Peeling Day. Tonight, it's my body's turn, I use aspirin and honey by the way. I've read before that sugar and honey is also a good alternative, but I haven't tried that (yet).

Just so you know, in order to make your skin look radiant, it's necessary to exfoliate once or twice a week. But I don't recommend you doing more than two times per week cuz there's a price to pay if your skin suddenly breaks out. Remember I've been there, I had pimples in the past couple of months cuz of over-exfoliating. You don't wanna beat my record, right? So I think twice a week should be enough.

Not only exfoliating will make your skin glow but also make it feel and look soft and smooth, and definitely clean. Why don't you try it? You'll understand what I mean better if you do that.

Now, just to make sure that you won't fall apart when you see your face break out when you try to exfoliate, I guess I should recommend you to buy any antibacterial medicine in the drugstore. Me, I use Clindamycin. But of course, you don't have to buy that if you don't like, you can have your options for yourself.

Gave it a try

Yesterday I've finally gotten rid of the face mask from The Face Shop that I had for free back when we were shopping in their store in Korea.

This is the product I'm talking about. You know, I'm not a believer of any sheet masks in the market. Am I weird that I couldn't see their beauty benefits? I prefer cream peel-off masks. I think that one works in removing impurities and can brighten up your facial skin tone. Also, it's convenient to use cuz it usually comes in a tube size bottle like your favorite facial foam. Unlike the sheet mask, you only use it once then dispose it afterward. If you think about it, per sheet mask costs like maybe over a hundred pesos while the biggest tube size peel-off mask let's say more or less nine hundred pesos. If you compare the duration of the mask's usability then definitely the peel-off mask will win, cuz you can use the mask several times since you only take a pea or more enough to cover your whole face, and that's it. On the other hand, if you buy several sheet masks maybe you can only get eight to nine sheets, and then it's gone for good after one use. It's very inconvenient. Like I said, go for the peel-off mask instead.

Not long ago I went to a salon to have my mani. I choose this nail polish in which color I'm not sure of. But as I see it, it looks somewhat red to pink in color. Back when I was a teenager I already have this nail polish cuz sometime before I used to play the mani/pedicurist of my own self. I would put the nail polish on my nails but would always mess up. Until there was a point in time where I've given up on my hopes in acquiring that skill. I couldn't go regularly to a salon to have them done for me cuz mom's disagreeing on it, thought I was still young for that, and I'm back in staying natural. I kept my nail polish in my cabinet for a long time, one of them is what I have in the picture. It seems that the nail polish is still alright, although it took three coatings to get that look. If you ask me the color, no the 'name' of the color, it's says in the bottle that it's Naughty Marietta. Anyway, it's a cheap nail polish of mine.The manicurist told me that it's okay to use cheap nail polish especially for me who gets my manicure every week, and my pedicure maybe two weeks, cuz I change colors everytime. You know, using cheap nail polish mean it's low in quality like it can peel-off easily, and I think the smell is overwhelming and there are times that the nail polish takes some minutes to dry. Of course, it's the other way around if you use some little pricey brands. If weren't for those stocks, I wouldn't be wearing cheap nail polish ever again. But I'm not too picky, so I'm determined to finish them all up... not dispose them.

Continuation...

I've pulled out the MP3 background this morning cuz I decided.. my mood decided that for me. Right now, I'm using the PC in the office when I saw that my banner is a bit width-short. Tonight I'll make an adjustment still. Finally, the slideshow gadget is working, and I'm hooked to it. I'll fix my slideshow later as well. Hopefully by tomorrow I could make my blog assignments all checked. Yeah, hopefully.

Improvements

I did few additions on my blog, I put a virtual clock and a background music. And oh! this afternoon I organized my links too. I hope my visitors won't mind the this and that of my own idea. But you think I've had enough? Nah, there's more. Like I want my blog header title to have a little bit of adjustment still, and a background image maybe. Also, to shrink the size of my background music tab. Can I all do that? Not tonight.

Alright, I'll call this a night now. Till next time. Bye!

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Yeah, right. I had an idea that before I retire to bed I decided to finish my banner, so here you go. It's done.

New color, awful color

This afternoon I had to go to a salon to color my hair. I requested for the darker brown tone but looks like she didn't give me what I wanted. I'm so disappointed.

See my new hair color. It's a bit reddish to me. I don't like it cuz I wanted it brown. I'm upset cuz the color was, for me, a stand-out hue. I feel that my hair color looks artificial. I said I purposely want it brown cuz I know that it will blend well on my skin tone, it will look like the color was inborn on me. Not that! I even said to almost everybody that I look like a kpop idol. You know, if you see youngsters in Korea who are in boy and girl groups, most of the time that color is what they have. Great to them, awful to me.

I deep breathe in and out as I type this to see the good and not dwell in what's bad. As I briefly contemplated, I say that maybe this meltdown is just an initial reaction, that in the coming days I'll see the beauty of this hair color, finally.  Why don't I give it a rest for awhile before I tantrum? But I'm just scared that I'll find it hard to let people see me having this ugly hair color. You know that people can be terribly blunt sometimes, I'm sensitive that's why I kinda worry on how will I take them.

Anyway, it's not only the hair color I'm mad about, also the amateurish way the color was distributed on my hair. I think that the color is more on top of my head and less on the half until to the ends of my hair. OMG! that's not normal to me. I'm a classic. I don't experiment much on anything, especially on my crown and glory.

Okay, fine. I won't explode much anymore, I'll let it sit on my hair for a week before I rant again. I'll inform the hairdresser about her unsatisfactory work after a week of no improvement on my comment.

You know the only consolation I have on my hair is its shininess. Ultimate Shine of Lush is really fab.

OMG! The tattoos are real?!

I rushed in posting this blog entry cuz of my bewilderment to the realization I had while I was scanning a blog site awhile ago.

Why don't you watch Lady Gaga's recent music video first, and while you're at it, why don't you spot the so called, "Zombie Guy" in the video. It's the part where he and Lady Gaga were all covered with skeletal tattoos while wearing tuxedos. See that now? The model there was a big surprise. I was kinda shock to learn that those inks were real. All along, I was thinking that they're all henna to add another flavor to the already avant-garde video. I wasn't expecting it, really.

If not for this blog, I wouldn't have any idea about it. And I didn't expect myself to log-in in my blogger account for release. Maybe I'm this way cuz I couldn't believe that any person would do drastic tattooing like that on their body. I feel like it's hard to live life with those permanent inks cuz you can't be so well-rounded in what you do if you have that, don't you think so?

By the way, his name is Rick Genest. He's a model. Thank goodness he's a model cuz he's not going to be accepted in the corporate field with that look. But even the modeling industry has certain rules too, where they have limitation to a model's qualification even physically. Some designers wouldn't book you with that kind of strange look, others would cuz they find it edgy and one of a kind. But that can only be the designers whose clothing line is under those archetypes. The downside is that it's impossible to be versatile.

 If you ask me, I appreciate how he looks.

 He's the guy on the left-side before his complete transformation. What do you think? To me, he looks ordinary, like some guys on the street whose forgettable. But look at him now,

he got charisma and the swag. He's totally rocking the look. On the flip-side, it's too bad if one day he gotten tired of that look and decides to go back to being a normal dude but can't cuz it's fixed. Anyway, it looks like what I just said was nonsense cuz I feel that he's enjoying and embracing his being. He's making a name for himself that way, he has something to celebrate.

*Pics credit yahoo images.

Lush from yesterday

I'm back to give you my thoughts on the two Lush items I told you about last night. It's just this morning when I took a bath that I've finally used the products. I say that Honey I Washed The Kids is  guaranteed recommendable for you if you shop in their store. I swear, you'll gonna miss something in your life if you went to Lush and forget to buy that soap. It's not only me who gave a remarkable reaction to the soap, almost each and everyone who tried it. Now I understand how they feel, they didn't lie to the readers. As far as I know, the soap can be cut into small pieces depending on the size you wanna use when you take a bath. Me, I didn't bother cutting, I just used the chunk as it is. The scent is not strong, actually it's gentle and sweet. It's the smell of honey that you'll sniff on the soap and on your body. I also scent something creamy as I smell myself while I write this entry--- I just can't tell if that's still honey or the other ingredients. In the soaping part during my bath, I saw that the soap isn't so bubbly or foamy like any other soaps around. I don't have a problem with that, what's important is that, after rinse, I like that the feel of my body is clean-dry. You know the sound of a clean plate when you rinse it and then kinda scratch the center with your fingertip? You'll have that sound close to that with this soap, which I also like. You know me, I don't like to use a soap that after rinse I still feel like the soap is still on my body. I understand that it's a moisturizing soap but it doesn't matter. One product that I'm talking about is Dove. I used it once then never again. What I also like with that Lush soap is that the scent remains with you after bath, right now I could still smell, Honey I Washed The Kids on me, which is one of my qualifications for a perfect soap. However, I still couldn't determine if that's my number one soap at present cuz part of me keeps saying that Dei Colli Fiorentini Tuscan Lavander soap holds that spot in my heart.

And how about the solid shampoo? Ah! that's the Ultimate Shine. Sure it can really make your hair shiny like you had your cellophane treatment at a salon. But my problem is, it made my hair a little tangle-prone after bath and in the process of combing them. Now that my hair is air-dry, I see that they're shiny but dull. I'm kinda uncomfortable to feel my hair right now, with all honesty. Maybe the Sunsilk Co-creation Smooth and Manageable Shampoo (the pink bottle), is better. I can't conclude my thoughts on this solid shampoo this way (at least for now) since I still have more shampooing times to go. Anyway, talk about the scent,  I don't smell it on my hair right now. I mean, there's a teeny weeny touch of scent to your hair when you sniff them but it's not overwhelming in a good or bad way. I don't know to you, but as for me, I like that my hair is obviously scented--- better if that never wears off for days. Since I don't smell anything, I wish that for the rest of the day my hair won't stink, cuz if it does, it's a crime comitted to me.

Shop stuff

Finally, I get to shop almost all the items that I wanted. I'm so happy, although not so satisfied but enough not to frown. When will I have my own Lush haul? I actually dream of having an entry that's all about my Lush shopping ever since I learned about the awesomeness of their products. The brand has numerous followers around the world, and most of them they make their own Lush haul, I kinda got envious so I said I want to have my own version too. Awhile ago, me and mom went to Lush in Glorietta, I have all the items in mind, but when we're there, I saw that not everything I planned to buy are available. The seller said that what I'm looking for are out of stock. In the end, I only got two soaps, one is for bath and the other is a solid shampoo. I'll let you see them later on, I'll include in this entry all the items I purchased today.

There's still more, alright. I also visited the Skin Food stall in SM Makati to look for the colors of nail polish that caught my eye through their website. I wish to buy about three nail polish there, but I only have one from the choices in that stall. What I wanted, they don't have stocks. But that's just fine cuz the color I really wanna wear for this week is the color I bought from there.

Yippie! the ice cream I crave for is finally served. Not that the ice cream is my main target but the Reese's chocolate that's its flavor. If you can remember, I mentioned before that I'm super mouthwatering that day for that chocolate, it's just today that we get to buy my request. I wasn't upset that I had to wait for this long cuz I know mom will soon provide. Today is the day I'm talking about. There's a reason for cheers!....so CHEERS!





Okay now, before I wrap this night, I'll leave you with some pictures I took for you to see my Lush items as well us my new colored-fingernails.

Told you, I only got two items that cost me for just over Php800. What are they?

This is the most popular (as far as I know), Honey I Washed The Kids. I think you should try it too, the smell is so great. I'll tell you the effect on me of this soap next time. And,

 

Ultimate Shine. Obviously, the product will make your hair shine, I mean glossier, like that. I'll tell you  if it will shine very well on my hair, but that's going to be on my next blog post.

Lastly, the time now to show you the color of my nail polish for the week. See now? Since it's summer, it's just perfect for the season. Plus, I'm more appreciative of bright colors lately, that it didn't become impossible for me to want to have this orange-ee color for this week. Yes, it's bright, it's cute and makes you feel younger. That's how I feel, maybe you'll feel the same when you color your nails with that hue like mine.

Is it a calling?

Man, one of my batchmates in college linked to me a site for writers where there's an on-going application if you wanna take part in their business. Sounds great to me since I've been wanting to have an affiliation to any legitimate sites where writing is a weapon. But now that I saw the site and scanned their requirements, I felt I'm having cold feet. What should I do? I'm scared. I feel like I can't even be compared to the writers who qualified. I don't write formally. How I write is like how you see on this blog. Will this manner of writing be acceptable? I'm worried. But ever since my teen years I've been writing stuff, although most of them I only keep to myself. Apparently, it's like a rare opportunity to read my craft, I'm ashamed if anyone gets a peek. I know I should change, and be confident to myself.

It's just comforting that she said that your work will still be reviewed by the editors, good thing to me cuz I don't want people to see my writing in its ugliest form with lots of terrible errors, grammar wise. Since there are editors to proof-read my work I should be at ease.

So what's the verdict? Hmm.. literally I'm having a long thinking right at this moment. Ah! Final answer, I'm game on! But I'll start my application tomorrow since I'm overwhelmed still. I'll go back to that site again, and give it a try after tonight. It's gotta be now or never.

PS. Thanks Maech for the lucrative opportunity. I fret that I don't quality, but we'll see. *deep breath*

Concert in attendance

I just wanna express my joy cuz my friend messaged me that she already bought a ticket for me for the Switchfoot concert on the 30th. I'm excited. It's my first time to watch a concert, as in. I'll tell you the feeling when I made an entry about it. That's coming soon. Alright, gotta go.

Quest for a 10 year entry visa

That's my multiple entry US visa! You know it's understandable that I hid personal information about me, right? That's why I used black shading for those very important parts. Anyway, my purpose as to why I posted my visa is to tell you my story in getting that. By the way, as you can also see, I squared red the parts that (maybe) you should know in what type of visa you are holding in your passport. In my case, I'm lucky to have the Multiple entry one. Seriously, I usually say this in some related conversation that having a multiple entry visa, if not an American passport, is your ticket to the world. They've said this to me, and I believe them that if you have that visa, it's easier for you to get any visas in the world. Perhaps, that's why I would sometimes hear people saying it's hard to get a US visa. Some have already given up, others would pursue despite several denials that they've got in their application. I kinda understand them in a way cuz I also see the US  as the land of promise. Even I, myself would wanna stay there if not for good, at least for some time.

So, how did I get my visa? Simple. Remember my previous entry about my US and supposedly Mexico tour? I applied for a US visa so I could join the tour. For me, it's less troublesome to get a US visa if you're participating in a tour to the US, obviously. Why is it less of a burden? If you are touring, especially in the US or in Europe, you have the impression that you came from a good family, someone who 'can-afford' as what they call it, and we all know traveling to those farther places or anywhere is indulgence and definitely, a status-symbol. So I say, it's easier that way cuz that's one thing. I observed that in applying for this visa it's A MUST that you exude a professional-person vibe, or that coming from an affluent family. It's alright if you're not under those categories but if you have to fake it, do it well (although I'm not sure if you can get away with it). Anyway, faking your acts to look personable has a downfall, that is if your look isn't equivalent to your documents. Meaning, you have to have sufficient documents that will prove that you are who you are. I mean if you act rich, you have to prepare papers that will prove to them that you are really rich. As to how will you be able to do that? It's up to you. But just make sure they're bona fide. In my case, to prove that I came from a good family--- which I'm embarrassed to say--- I used my mom's documents like her properties since it's obvious that at my age I still couldn't afford to get them out of my earnings. Yes, it's alright to use your parents properties since what's theirs is yours since you're their son or daughter. If you're like me, it's also important that you have a trust fund that your parents have for you in the bank, plus you gotta have an ATM and if you're that utterly rich, then, a credit card. See what I mean now? Another, if you're working already, like me, you gotta have your ITR to prove that you're not a loafer and a nuisance  financially. It's great if you have good earnings provided in your ITR. It will show that you're the type who can buy what you want through your own funds. Hmm... what else? An Employee's Cert. is another. It will state there who you are in your company, and it's a plus if it states that you are somebody there. Since I'm in a tour, it's totally important that you have your itinerary with you, don't ever ever forget that, alright? Well, only if you apply as a tourist. Hmm.. I think that's it.

While the President and CEO of Broadway Travel briefed me about my upcoming interview, that's where I learned the three important stages in your visa application. These are: your application, interview, and documents. She said that the application and documents are not so important in a way, but you gotta bring them with you. Now, what you have to nail is the one-on-one interview. It's like if you divide the three to become 100% then, application 25%, documents 25%, and then interview is 50%. See how big the difference if you do well in your interview? Your interview with the interviewer is the most crucial part in your visa application. Believe me, my interviewer didn't even touch my documents during the interview. We were looking like we're just having a good conversation. See what I mean? You gotta be conversational with him or her. It will show how sure you are in your application and maybe also prove that you can speak English. I guess, fluency isn't that necessary for as long as you can speak their language even in an average way. They'll forgive you for that. It's important that you are honest to the interviewer and most especially confident to yourself. I said that cuz it's a way for the interviewer not to scrutinize you even more, to the point of scanning your papers and asking you questions again and again. The more you are honest and confident, then you can have a short grilling with your interviewer, trust me, that's what I did. Ah! of course, don't forget to smile, alright? Show the friendly side of you somehow. The end of the interview marks the verdict of your fate in your visa application.The interviewer will tell you right before you exit if you got approved or not. If you're approved then the interviewer will say some lines that you got it, and they won't return your passport. You'll wait for it to be delivered in the mailing address you've provided. Or, if you got denied, again, the interviewer will state some lines telling you that you didn't make it while handing over to you your passport and a green paper that's telling you what you need to know in your next application, if you still wanna try. Don't expect the interviewer to tell where you went wrong cuz they will not tell you, you'll just have to figure it out.

There, that's it! I hope my experience may help you in acing your US visa application. Good luck!

New theme is WHITE

I'm not completely satisfied about my layout, but I'll stick with this for awhile. I just can't stand dark hues that much cuz it makes me feel gloomier when I'm already like that. You know, to tell you the truth my right arm's a bit achy now cuz I've been looking around the web in search for the perfect layout. Sure, here I go again showing the perfectionist in me, that's why of all the themes I saw for so many hours only few I see better but weren't great for my liking. Those few, in the end, turns out to be having useless codes. I don't know, there's always error I get when I tried to applied the code here. I guess either the code had been expired or I was simply slow. Eventually, I ended up finding designs here as in right here in blogger, like what I have now. How do you find it? Ok? or what?

Possibly touring--- I'm so ready

Phew! Here I am hoping to have my tour--- the tour I've been dreaming of since November of last year. Just when I'm almost over to this madness about the tour that won't materialize cuz of some delay and hassle, here they are again e-mailing mom about the update on the tour that I'm potentially in. You think I should still hope anew? It's just that its so frustrating and disappointing whenever it won't happen--- you waited and all, then suddenly there's bad news etc.

On my part, there's no problem anymore. I have my US visa and I'm almost done with the payment-- mom will have her full-payment for me if the tour will push-through. 

You see, the tour I'm supposedly be participating in is the US-Mex tour, unfortunately it'll only be in the US soon. As per update to us by Broadway Travel, the tour will be Vacationer Escapades which will mainly tour Los Angeles and Las Vegas, for only six days. I'm not accurate yet about the news why they canceled the Mexico tour, but I heard that there's some hostility going on at the border of US-Mexico recently. As what I heard from mom--- since she had been there before me--- that from Mexico they've crossed the border going to the US in Texas. So if you think about it, possibly somewhere there there must be something going-on that will only trouble our entry in the US if worse comes to worst.    

I okay-ed the tour cuz I'm afraid the next same tour which is planned in October might not be for me anymore. That will terribly break my heart for sure, so there's no other way but to decide now. Besides, mom is very interested in the Baltic cruise perhaps somewhere in September but the catch is if we go for it, then our plan to watch the World Olympics will be canceled.Sadly, if that happens, oh my! I gotta have to wait another four years again to catch that international event in the flesh. You see, I already made up my mind, between the two, I went for the cruise. Anyway, why am I talking about that? Going back, I said I agreed to the US tour this May--- without the Mexico tour--- cuz I might still have a chance to travel, third quarter of this year.

Ain't for me

Not that I'm being whiny here, I'm just kinda listing the products that I'll buy no more. They are the products that I bought from way back when and then some from just recently. I've tried and tested them on my skin but the good results that their products were promising aren't there for me. These are some skin care necessities that I have from The Face Shop (Quick and Clean Mild Emulsion, Quick and Clean Oil-Free Moisturizing Cream, Dewy Flower Emulsion, Model Designer Cellul-Stop Body Gel, Nature Garden Cleansing Bar Softening Grape, and Nature Garden Cleansing Bar Firming Tomato) and Etude House (Dr. Oil Solution Shine-free Dual Primer, and AC Clinic Toner).

I'm gonna tell first about the ones from The Face Shop. But before anything else let me share with you how mom and I became frequent buyers of that store... well, I was kinda into KPOP at that time, so the moment I saw their store while me and mom were shopping I immediately persuaded her to let us check that out. It took a little convincing actually but she's not so tough to get her approval. So we're there and look around to see if their products might be something. Oh! by the way, I just remember that one thing that made mom say yes to going to that store is because of Bae Young-jun and Kwon Sang-woo who were during that time (I don't know now) were the faces of this cosmetic and skin care line. Not that mom's a fan of them but maybe cuz she knows those actors from the koreanovelas on tv. Going back, and so from inside the store, the sellers were very welcoming to us telling us they'll help us find what we need. I said we're just there to check some things but not sure of buying anything yet. Okay you can forget that now cuz eventually we did buy a lot of stuff from there. It became that way because me and mom became enthralled about the natural ingredients their products have. We're thinking that if you use natural ingredients for skin care it's not gonna irritate and put you in trouble while staying pretty. To tell you seriously, I have acne gradually sprouting on my face at that time so I suppose that putting some natural facial products on my face to hopefully cure my acne is a good idea, and so I asked the seller what's good for me... while mom is finding what's good for her too. For a long time now until recently, I've been ecstatic about their products but as I became more aware of the products I'm using I realize I don't know, I just see myself not completely patronizing their products all along. But I think mom and I will still be back to that store even though we're branching out to trying other Korean cosmetic and skin care lines in some malls.

Okay, enough of that winding story, I'll proceed to my point.

1. Quick and Clean Mild Emulsion- I've finished two to three bottles of this before I stopped from buying it. I didn't buy anymore because I hold unto the seller's promise that it will reduce my pimples, prevents my skin from new breakages and eliminates excess oil on my face that causes pimples, but as I observed, I saw that it's not big of a help to my problem. I said to myself that it's uneconomical to buy this if it doesn't work since it's a little pricey to think about it. But I let myself be fooled for sometime because I like its smell. I let myself believe that the product will do good for me with continued use. I guess it doesn't suit me during that time for my pimples are still on my face and I still have oily skin.

2. Quick and Clean Oil-Free Moisturizing Cream- Just like the emulsion, it's also no good. I partnered the two together cuz the seller told me it's best if I do to see better results. They have the same promises but they're nothing. If I remember it clearly, whenever I put this moisturizing cream, my face would get oilier. Since more oil is producing on my face I started to rarely use it, I just forcefully finish one container cuz I don't wanna trash it when mom bought it in a bit of a pricey amount. After that, no more.

3. Dewy Flower Emulsion- Haha! it's funny how I find this product forgettable. Seriously, I even can't remember its scent. All I know is that this doesn't also work. But if you let me choose between the first emulsion I used and this one, I would go for the previous.



4. Model Designer Cellul-Stop Body Gel- I can't believe myself that I bit this. I remember, I kinda begged mom to buy me this product because I was so depressed that I look fat and most importantly, I have a pot-belly and this product as it says in the label that it will firm up your skin and will reduce cellulite. In my thinking and as how the seller projected to me this product it looks like it'll slim down parts of my body that's a little more meaty and well, fatty. And so through my mom's good heart I got what I wanted. I tried this at home after bath. It's like a gel that the nurses and doctors would put on the tummy of a pregnant woman during ultrasound. The difference to that is that this product feels minty on your skin where you put the application. It's like you spread an ointment on that part of your skin. Even the smell isn't likable for me. I really want to discontinue the use of the product but I was determined to shed some fat on me, especially on my belly. More than any parts of my body that's where I give my full emphasis to hopefully flatten it and won't see my ugly pot-belly anymore when I wear fitted shirts. And the result? Hmm.. maybe it worked a little bit but not so well. It didn't flatten my tummy at all but firmed it up just a little bit. I know we don't have a cellulite on our tummy so I can't tell you if that has an effect. And so, after one tube, I've had enough. Since then I realize that firming up and slimming down is different from each other. Maybe there's truth to what they're saying that you can't get rid of your pot-belly, big thighs and arms without working out.

5. Nature Garden Cleansing Bar Softening Grape- I bought this because it's skin softening, who wouldn't want that? But as far as skin softening is concern it didn't really wow me. It's also pricey for a soap that dissolves easily. But I say, if one day I miss its scent I don't mind that it doesn't soften well or that it's costly for as long as I could sniff the smell of the grape fruit all for myself.

6. Nature Garden Cleansing Bar Firming Tomato-  Just like the latter, this is also like a generic soap. Nothing special for me. Says it's for firming but I didn't feel my body got firmed. I don't like the smell of the tomato especially on my body while I'm soaping during bath so my last buy will literally be the last.



Tired now? I am. I never thought that it's gonna to be this long of an entry. But I'm close to finish now, I won't give up.

Finally, I'm gonna talk about another Korean brand, Etude House. So how did I start buying their stuff? Let's see... hmm... oops! sorry I had a short-term memory loss. Let's move on to my point, teehee~

1. Dr. Oil Solution Shine-free Dual Primer- I still have this with me. I only used this trice... I'm not sure though. Anyway, since I'm happy with my Max Factor products I don't see the point of putting primer anymore especially if the primer is not so rewarding. You see, what it promises aren't factual cuz I still have oil on my face and in the afternoon would leave my skin shiny, not shine-free. I just can't explain it, but I don't like the look on my face wearing this primer so I stopped it. Right now, this primer is sitting inside my make-up pouch and I don't know if I'll use it again.

2. AC Clinic Toner- It took me some minutes before I could type my thoughts on this product. Why? It's not that it's also forgettable--- of course not! cuz I still have this at home--- but because I didn't see any effects of the product on me. When I bought this, I didn't quite understand what the seller said to me. All that's clear to me that she said was that it's good for pimples. But I don't know if it can cure pimples or just prevents it. Anyway, I didn't care before but now I wanna know cuz I don't know if it worked or not. But to tell you frankly, whether to eliminate pimples or to prevent it from coming out, still no remarkable effect. I changed to Eskinol, it's a local brand but works well for me. This toner is disappointing.

Pics credit The Face Shop and Etude House's official website.

Choc please!

And my craving for Reese's didn't stop last night. I thought if I could eat Selecta Reese's ice cream that shout be it, but little do I know that that chocolate will haunt me for I don't know how long. You see I'm not a super peanut butter fan but Reese's chocolate is like my all-time fave--- one of my most loved chocs! Since at home the guys in our family aren't into chocs so they're not hyper whenever we have tons in the fridge unlike me and my mom--- mostly, me. It's just often when I get to eat Reese's cuz mom's not eating anything with peanut butter in it... I usually have it whenever we buy chocs from Duty Free if anyone of us went overseas then gets back home. So since mom is not liking Reese's that means we can't buy that choc through her funds. It's alright if I buy through my own pocket, the problem is, I'm not one to burn my money for chocs that much. If I did, it only happens once in a blue moon... kinda like that. It's like I have an automatic thought that it's not gonna be worth my investment, that's why I pass over the choc shelves in the grocery store.

Now what? Shoot! all I want is to have a moment with Reese's. How I wish my mom could be back as soon as possible. But of course, I can't be a brat by sending her back home to ask her what I want. Actually, if only my allowance is sufficient to buy just one Reese's I wouldn't have to be this way now. I gotta be a lot more stingy until tomorrow.

Okay, fine! I gotta be tough on this, and not be tempted to buy that choc and then burn everything I have left in my pocket.  I'll just think about my mom's return from her out-of-town work cuz I'm sure that when she comes back we'll be buying lots of house necessities together with the ice creams she promised me--- she swore that I could get a pint size Selecta Reese's ice cream and then another half gallon of Selecta Milk Chocolate with Almond.

Come on Rics! Hold on a bit longer.

I want this!

Dei Colli Fiorentini Tuscan Lavender Bar Soap

I'm a crazy addict to this soap since the very first time I used this on my body. Now that I'm bum and not thinking of anything that matters, I'm back on remembering the scent of this soap. In my life, I've never been this addicted to soap but ever since I had it I always search for this exact item in the department store whenever I go out shopping. Unfortunately, we don't have this in the country. So frustrating cuz I'm so not over it. Anyway, it was only given to mom by one of her cousins who went back here from the US. I told mom if I can have the soap instead, she agreed to it, and so it became all mine. Now that I'm not going to the US anytime soon, this soap that I have my eyes on for a long time is still in my wish list for like what, over a year now I think. Writing this entry makes me sigh deeply cuz I really want it so badly. Should you know why I like it that much? Cuz I super adore gentle scents. I feel like that's truly my kind of smell, in perfumes as well. I also like that it lingers on your body even after bath and the touch of your skin is so soft and smooth. The effect I should say is like that of Neutrogena Deep Clean facial cleanser I'm using, in which after wash you see and feel your skin dry... in a clean-dry sense. You feel so fresh and that the dirt on your body are gone. Those two reasons why I'm after this soap. When will I ever have it? I don't know.

Make up my mind

Alright, the list of the stuff that I'll be spending my allowance on is ready. Since mom is going out-of-town for a week starting this Sunday that means I'm gonna get my allowance earlier than expected. That also means I can buy all that I need anytime next week.

Oh how I wish the days will come by so fast cuz I'm excited to shop. I don't know, the plans of buying stuff from the grocery store and my stop to Missha are all set aside for my Lush shopping and Switchfoot concert ticket. See how fickle minded I can be, that makes me truly a girl, isn't it? Anyway, I think I'm sure now about my plans for next week.

April schedule

I'm not hoping to have my US-Mex tour accomplished anymore. I don't see the point since the travel and tours agency isn't calling us about it yet. Usually they would call a month or so-- prior to the tour date--- to keep their customers posted. I consider their non-action right now the gist that it's gonna be postponed another time. I don't know why, phew!

Without the tour I'm gonna be a bummer this month--- gotta get a life. So I texted my friend to join them in watching Switchfoot's concert on the 30th. My friend and her other friend already booked tickets for themselves, it's me who's left with none. I just gotta inform her about my plan and probably on the 15th I could buy mine. Wish the tickets aren't sold-out.

And then, if mom has a time to go to SM North Edsa to visit Missha in that mall, then I'll buy few products from there. I already have a BB cream in mind. If not, I'm thinking of just shopping at Lush in Glorietta to research a bit about the products that might be good for me, also buy some products as well there--- I've written the items for reference.

Shoot! I forgot my dermatologist's clinic number at home. I'm supposed to call in her clinic today to set up a schedule with her. Now what? I'll just contact anybody at home to give me the number from the prescription paper of my dermatologist that's sitting on our center table. I hope I'll make this done before we wrap up the day. My Tita who is also my doctor's patient needs to see her badly more than I do. I gotta do something about it within this day, that's an assignment.

Drop by

Woohoo! I thought there's no Missha store in the Philippines but found out there's one in SM North Edsa. I'm happy to learn that they have their branch in the country but it's far from where I live. Actually I only went to that mall not more than five times---if my calculation is right--when I was still in UP. How I wish they'll put up another branch here in Makati to make it easier for me to go back and forth in that store. Or why not me the one to put up that store? Haha! silly thought, that will not happen.

Anyway, I pressed 'like' the Missha Philippines' facebook last friday cuz I was so thrilled I found their account. It's just that it's gonna be cool if I can talk to somebody from there to tell me if what I'm looking for is in their store, or they might recommend some of their products that work, I can also learn the satisfaction rating of some certain products from the posters too, that's good, cuz I prefer to go to a store already have the items in mind.Said that cuz I usually have the tendency to pick items that I find pleasing to the eye, sounds lucrative after read but when I go back home and use the items, turns out what I bought are garbage. I don't wanna buy useless stuff, I don't wanna waste my money for anything without value.

St. Tropez Skin Illuminator

While I'm on their wall, I saw that it's okay to ask queries since someone from Missha is replying to your concern, and so I tried to do the same--- ask questions. I immediately asked for the Creamy Latte Strawberry, if that's available in their branch, said they had a new packaging that's why it's phase-out. The person from Missha who replied to me suggested a facial cleanser that's close to the product that I like. It's still strawberry and creamy and it's made from yogurt. Wow! sounds nice, right? But I'm not sure if I'll buy that since I'm already satisfied with my Neutrogena facial cleanser. And then I asked if they have a skin illuminating lotion, said they have and they'll be glad to show me around the store if I visit. Hmm... do they really have that lotion in which the effect is like the St. Tropez Skin Illuminator that I'm looking for? That's why I wanna go the store to find out. If only we have St. Tropez branch here in the Philippines, I already have that skin illuminator now. I wish that our re-booked US-Mex tour will have a sure date soon, cuz I'm planning to buy that product in the US instead of trying out an alternative in the Philippines.

Swear, if we're not going to have our tour this month, I'm gonna go to the Missha store and spend my money for their products.

New things and a gift

We just came back from our house in Laguna. Now that we're home here in Makati, it's time to feast on the langka fruit that was given to us by our on-call driver this morning. He picked the fruit from their backyard that's why it's so tasty and sweet. Love it, like it so much. The down side of eating langka as what my mom said, that your fart will have a very foul smell. I don't know if that is true, she just said that to me. But really, I wonder if I'll release that menacing odor later on. Please not.

Moving on, remember I said that I'll buy some new items for me after my shift yesterday? Yes, I went to Waltermart after work. I let my eldest brother's car drop me off in front of that mall, and told mom that I'll go home by myself. Anyway, so I went to Watson's (specifically) to buy Neutrogena Deep Clean cleansing foam and Pond's Radiant Youth Serum. I've purchased almost a thousand pesos for that so I told my inner conscience to stop shopping for more--- know that I'm learning to curb my compulsive shopping habit. Man, it was so hard to control myself, so damn hard. But eventually my will triumph from temptation you see. Like I said before, if I can't buy everything on my list, I could get them for free when I go to the grocery store with mom soon. That's why I wasn't down at all.

Okay, if you ask me how are those products I'll say that the cleansing foam is super good. We still have this bubble foam from The Face Shop, but I decided not to use that anymore cuz I'm moving on to this new product I bought. I used Neutrogena the same night before I go to bed. Said it was super good cuz first and foremost, I love its smell. It's like it's gotta be my favorite scent in a perfume. I've sniffed almost the same kind back in high school but I didn't ask her what's her scent. Since then, I've been craving for that gentle scent but haven't found any luck yet. Alright, scent is one thing and then the effect of the product is another. Love it too. It's what I'm looking for in a facial foam, that is to make my facial skin look smooth and clean. For me, out of all the facial cleansers I've used, nothing compares to the Creamy Latte Strawberry cuz it leaves my skin soft too. The softness of my skin, I didn't feel when I used this Neutrogena, but I like how it really works for oily skin since the whole day today I didn't have too much oil on my face. So there is truth to their promises. Therefore, I say it's my second best.

I'm following the fad. Pond's Gold Radiance is in so I went to the store to try at least one from their collection. I choose the youth serum. I don't know if there will be any good effects on me even though I only use one from what, out of four or five of them? So far I see my face a bit glittery after I spread the serum all over my face. It's like I put a powder shimmer on my face. And then after an hour I checked my face in the mirror and saw myself a little yellowish. I was surprised as to why my facial color turned that way then I remember what I've just put on my face--- Pond's Gold Radiance Youth Serum. I wonder if I'll see the same tonight. Anyway, it's alright if my color is like that for as long as it will not be too obvious to the the point where I won't get any compliment but critics cuz of what's on my face.

Apart from those two items, I also went to Waltermart's Robinson's Department Store to buy my post-graduation gift for my niece, Faye. I said I won't buy anymore, right? I meant buy more for myself, and the gift I bought is not for me but for my niece so for me that doesn't count. Here you go, I wish she'll like it cuz I thought this gift is educational for her. I wonder what her reaction will be?

These products work!

I just wanna share the facial products that I like--- before the relapse of my acne. It's embarrassing to confess that I have acne right now. It's been months since I've been feeling depress about it. My only consolation are my concealer and foundation that's very good in hiding the dark spots caused by pimples. I still have two to three pimples but that depends on how they damn like my face--- oftentimes I have more--- before. At present, my main problem are the dark spots cuz I can't go out of the house without my make-up on. I haven't seen my dermatologist for over a month that's why I can't consult my constant issue on my face until I get my schedule for check-up done.

Let me share this with you, as far as I could remember, my pimple problem started when I had my interest in doing facial cleaning back in college. I used to go to some commercialized clinics around to have my facial... you know, the one where they prick your face, and it's oh so painful... yeah. that's the one! I had it done on me. I think I got trice of that service my whole life cuz I stopped when my mom would scold me on that. She said that will ruin my face and threat that she will not give me any money to see a doctor if something ugly will happen to my face. So alright, I stopped cuz I got scared. Plus, I give up taking the pain whenever a tool is pushed too hard on my face just to get the blackheads and whiteheads that's there. I also discontinue that cuz I don't have the money to pay for that service every month. I don't like my allowance to be allotted there. No, no. And so I went back to my old ways of treating my face everyday. It was after some months when I decided to drop the idea of having facial that I started having pimples--- I rarely have a single pimple prior to that. It was the beginning of my life long battle with acne. Since then I have an on and off relationship with acne to say the least. Looking back, how I hate myself for not listening to mom after all her constant reminders to me.

A couple of months back, like I said, pimples started to sprout again on my face. This time it's cuz of over-exfoliation. Haha! how stupid of me, right? Would you believe I've been exfoliating twice a day? It's embarrassing to tell but yeah I'll say it all anyway. It was later on when I learned that exfoliating should only be done once or twice a week cuz you'll get open pores, and when you get that you'll be prone to bacteria that causes acne. That's it. But it was a little late when I discontinued since more pimples are already sitting on my face and they're so painful that I don't wanna ever touch my face anymore. That's when I consulted a dermatologist.  This dermatologist made the explanation about my acne issue so clear to me. I've been listening to her advice ever since. Now my face has no severe inflammation anymore, although I still frown regardless cuz I'm becoming vain. Guess I'll completely be happy if I get my face back to normal.

So guys, don't try something on your face and skin that you don't know how to use. Also, don't go to any dermatological clinics and have some services done if you can't continue the procedure. I had that advice too, that if I stop doing facials, your face will suffer. I've put my face on the line, see.

For scar removal

Anyway, before my recent acne problem I have been treating my face well. When I thought I won't be having terrible pimples anymore that's when I started treating my acne scars so that those deep scars I have will hopefully get even to my facial skin in time. I used Contractubex for that. I love this product cuz I saw that it can really heal scars. Like my right cheek is the biggest area where I had acne scars, I use the product every night before I go to bed and then eventually as I observe my cheek the deep scars gradually pop's up. If only I didn't  get new pimples I think I should be done with this treatment, and I'll be happier with the result. I've used four tubes already, two 20g and two 10g, and I love how that product works. I'll buy that again when I completely got rid of these acne.

MISSHA Creamy Latte Strawberry & SKIN FOOD Green Tea Cleansing Foam

Thank God I found the loveliest facial foam I could find. It was one of the gifts from my mom's Korean client/friend when she had a meeting with her. Of course, most of the stuff my mom use I use them too. So apparently, that facial foam is for us to share. Why I love the product? Well strawberry is not my favorite fruit, but I love how it smells especially if it's made into skin and body products. I think any creamy skin care products is my ultimate choice because they look yummy--- if only they are edible---to eat. My first creamy product was a St. Ives lotion. I just forgot the exact product name, and I couldn't find that one anymore that's why I'm kinda frustrated about it. Anyway, when mom and I went to Korea last year I was anticipating to buy this Missha cleansing foam but turned out it's out of stock. We don't have a choice but to buy another facial wash product somewhere else. That's when we found  this Green Tea bubble foam from Skin Food. We bought that because it's made from green tea and it's not bad to use if you have an oily skin. Plus, bubble foam sounds new to us so I personally thought we should try it. We started using that back home after we finished our Missha. If you ask me, I still like Missha but the Skin Food bubble foam is also fine. The latter doesn't have an overpowering scent, the prior has but it's alright cuz it's the smell of strawberries--- yum! yum! I like that they both clean your face well and after you pat dry your face they don't have an oily feel to it, which is good (for me). You can also see your face brightens up and the touch is so soft and smooth. Those results work best in the Missha cleansing foam, but the bubble foam isn't bad at all, as a matter-of-fact after we're done using the bubble foam we bought from The Face Shop we will be buying that bubble foam from Skin Food again since we don't have Missha here.

SKIN FOOD Black Sugar Mask

I was the only one who used the black sugar mask from Skin Food. It's a facial scrub that exfoliates your skin. I swear this isn't the cause of my recent acne, okay. What we have isn't like in the picture, just a sample back in Korea when we bought some store items there. I like it cuz it thoroughly cleanses your face. I felt like I just had my facial service at a dermatological clinic after use. I also see and people notice that my face looks smooth and radiant, cuz it's so clean-looking. That's the result I get from using that product. I wish to buy that for real but that will be until my acne disappear.

Things to buy

It's the beginning of the month today, and I wanna go buy some skin care products after shift.

My aimed products will be the following:
1. Suave sun-ripened strawberry- Shampoo and conditioner
2. Pond's gold radiance- serum
3. Neutrogena deep clean- facial cleanser
4. Collagen (something) product
5. Athena- powdered milk

Okay, five items to me is already a lot. I'm gonna burn my money instantly for sure.  Hmm I think I'll save an amount for myself. Maybe the next time we go to the grocery store that will be the time I'll get a hold of the products I might not purchase yet. Yeah, yeah, that's the plan.