SPA ON A BUDGET : NATURE'S WAY AROMA THERAPY SPA REVIEW

There are days when you just realized you need a good massage. Not that you're dog-tired from head to foot, it's more of you want to shut off for a minute or two making you go to an inevitable place-to-be also known as spas. Contrary to most notion, spas can be affordable yet 'dignified' too. Some equate wallet-friendly spas with a motel-like orientation.

Meet a spa that won't cause a major dent in  your wallet plus have it within the comforts of a mall. Here's NATURE'S WAY AROMATHERAPY SALON. I bumped into this haven while strolling candidly on one of SM Malls located within south.

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CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:

☺Affordable. For about Php 400, you can have a whole body massage. I availed the Swedish massage and it's not far from what I've had on other famous spa houses. Ate also granted all my request to smash my nodules and apply pressure points on my battered shoulders (a by-product of hours and hours eyeball with my two monitors).

☺ Same (or better) massage strokes. Some spas are overrated that they take pride on their wet floors, outer facades, etc. But hey, you're there to get the massage service among all else, and in this department, Nature's Way delivers. It can be at par (or even better) than the big names in spa industry.

☺Within the mall. I think that's a big plus. I honestly won't go to hole in the wall massage parlors, for safety purposes.

Their simple bedding, you ask? Find out after the jump!

BEAUTY BUZZ : EVER HEARD OF CHARCOAL, TOMATO AND SERUM SOAP?

Gone are the days when beauty enthusiasts crave for polished and chemical infused soaps. With the 'go-natural' advocacy all over, I think we consumers get the message: "Natural products are pure hence a healthy option both for our skin and mother earth!" I've thought of coming up with three natural soaps I've tried so far. 

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CAMARU NATURALS BAMBOO CHARCOAL SOAP. "Bamboo Charcoal also called "Takesumi" in Japanese is a natural element that has been used for deep cleansing..." so as the details shared. The minute I saw the big, black brick, curiosity bug bit me hard. If you'll notice, the suds exude black particles too. Click HERE for my full review.

MIR & RYVI TOMATO SOAP. I'm familiar with tomato sauce, but tomato soap? Saladbox has included this to one of their boxes. It is a tiny soap this time. I've sniffed it a couple of times and noticed its scent-free. Then, I reckoned: "Wala namang amoy ang tomato, ha?" ☺It's an acne-cleansing bar. Thankfully, I have no acne so I've just used it to wash my face. Cleansing property is so-so but I noticed some level of smoothness after lathering them onto the area. 

This particular brand is one of other beauty subscription services. You'll notice they've also graced Glamourbox, among others. I'm interested to try their banana variety. Very edible selections!

What about anti-aging and serum soap?

FASHION ALERT : HOT PINK SKATER SKIRT

Most girls played Barbie once upon their childhood lives. I'm one of those. I always recall how my eyes popped whenever I have new gowns for my barbies. My love for hot fuchsia pink (I guess) stemmed from those times. Little girls love barbies maybe because they can't play dress up that early. I saw one poster that said: Dress up starts at 5 till forever (or something to that effect). 

Feature for today is a hot pink item no less! It's a skater skirt! You know those skirts with electric pleats all over? Believe it or not, I bought it for less than Php 300! Let's tackle the details, shall we?

Floral Dress (worn as blouse) from The Landmark
Hot Pink Skater Skirt from The Landmark
Bag from Charles and Keith
Semi-gladiator sandals from Celine
Watch from Fossil

 

Here's our fashion pegs for today. All have one common item, a skater skirt (coral this time).

CMK EATS (DRINKS) : COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF'S MOCHA JAVA BLEND REVIEW

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I've repeatedly jot down a ground coffee roast in my to-buy list but I constantly forget to get one as soon as I stepped at Greenbelt or BGC. Then, I recalled there's one in SM Mall of Asia! Few minutes away from the church, I blissfully headed to their CBTL branch one Sunday afternoon.

Place was packed, as always. Good thing there were 2 available seats just in time. I was in two minds whether to buy their Kenya variety or Mocha Java Blend, but the latter won. Thanks to the friendly barista's explanation. Kenya is more of acidic while Mocha Java has a more chocolatey twist albeit of it being included on their medium roast line.

DETAILS:

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Mocha Java Blend

Available at CBTL's branches nationwide

Price: Php 499 for 226 grams / Variety: Medium Roast 

♣ Tip #1: Since you'll be buying a pack full of whole coffee beans, you can ask your barista to grind it for free. Make sure to let him know the shape of your coffee maker (i.e. cone shaped). I understand they need this info to determine how fine the grind level is.

 CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:

☺I've always been vocal about this. IMHO, Coffee Bean brews the best coffee in town. It has that right kick and flavor that's so hard to describe. I love their hot and cold concoctions, I now know that they're consistent even on their ground coffee selection.

☺Quality Flavor. This has a bitter then salty then mocha-esque blend. There! I wish I put some justice on the description part, but this is one of the best flavor I've ever tasted. ♣ Tip #2: You know the latest coffee mate with Caramel flavor? That's my creamer and no need to add sugar. Result: Good Morning World!!

☺ They give a FREE CUP of brewed coffee on every purchase! Woot woot! Haven't you heard? The best things in life are f-r-e-e? :) Kidding aside, I was delighted to avail this freebie. A hot cup of joe at CBTL can always be a good thing.

♣ Tip: If you have your CBTL reward card with you, present it. Reward points are counted on each purchase. I think it should be, given the tag is close to Php 500 :)

 CMK WISHFUL THOUGHT:

CMK EATS : JUJU EATS (THE "EAT YOUR GREENS" EXPERIENCE)

Unlike the kids on commercial breaks who love to eat their green, leafy vegetables - I am a total seemingly hopeless case in the "Eat Your Greens" department. There was a point that I was crying in front of my plate because I can't see sauce, beef and chicken in front. Instead I saw all these greens, orange and yellow living things staring at me.

"Eat your veggies, these are good for you." I heard mommy said. I can't see the good in them then, until (ahem) not so recently. I once wished that the nutrients found on veggies (specially ampalaya) will transfer to our chips and chocolates. How fun that will be?! That sweets will now be the new veggies! Oh meeeen!

Let's face it. The more colorful and natural your plates are, the more benefits you can get. Good skin, healthy immune system, name it! The catch, well, you have to EAT (not stare) your greens! The past weeks, buzz about JUJU Eats, maker of JUJU Cleanse, grasp social media's attention. Curiosity bug bit me so that same weekend, me and Maya went to eat a healthy lunch at none other than JUJU EATS!

The Details.

Location: G/F BCS Building, 2297 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City

Like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JujuEats

Budget: Php 300 (salad and coffee)

The Salad Bar.

I felt delighted when I saw the meat section, honestly. Sigh of relief, indeed! The bar was a healthy bar. Hehe. It has all sorts of greens but guess what? They look eat-able! Juju Eats also has different cheeses. I appreciate that they put FRESH on a whole new level. They have their own, templated salad servings yet you can always customize your own. I dare not customize my own in fear that I'll pick 3 cups of chicken here and 2 cups of beef there and oh, a wee bit cheese. It kinda defeats the purpose. I knoooow, right? :)

The Bonding.

Meet my super friend and travel buddy, Maya! We went there Saturday about 1 pm (they'll be closed at 3 pm during weekends) so we barely had 2 hours to munch and catch up. The place is a good hang out for you and your barkada. Not to mention food here is anything healthy! Skip the oil and junk for a change. Your body will thank you for that!

The Ambiance.

Minimalist yet laid back. Very conducive whether you're alone or with a group. Rays of sunshine can be seen. People watching is a welcome treat too. Glossy tables and plain chair gives me the "Today is not your typical workday" vibe.
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The Green.
Oh, the star of the show. I copied Maya's order since by experience, she picks the better option, like 95% of the time. ☺ Meet my first green serving that I've finished in my entire life! Drum rolls please...... INASAL SALAD! There's lot of lettuce of course and strips of pork with inasal sauce. Feta cheese is palatable too. What I didn't like is the raw onions lurking around. I ended up taking them off my plate one by one. I can't believe it. I finished my bowl-ful of greens. MOM! Hear ye! :))

The Coffee.

CELETEQUE DERMO SCIENCE OVERNIGHT CREAM REVIEW

Night time. That's when our body heals itself. Our skin is no exception. Being the largest organ, I think it deserves our second look. All the more our facial skin! I've been such a late bloomer in applying moisturizer. I thought that it's vanity but mom's right. The earlier we start to take good care of our skin, the better! Special thanks to Tara of Chronicles of Vanity. Let me introduce to you our product for today:

DETAILS:

Product: Celeteque DermoScience Restorative Firming Overnight Cream

Available at: Watsons, The Landmark and all leading beauty stores

Price: Php 899.00 (50 grams)

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:
☺Supple skin, delivered. I'm not sure if this is only a placebo effect 
but I feel a more tight and healthy skin the morning after.
☺The "I-Mean-Business" packaging. No frills and powerpuffy stuff.
Just a straight forward cream that delivers. That simple.
☺Faint smell. Odor is just right. Consistency is not
 too concentrated, perfect even on summer season.

Sample swatch, anyone?

DOVE HAIR FALL RESCUE SYSTEM REVIEW

I've been road testing these products in about 2 months from now. It all happened when I decided to switch products due to one obvious reason: Falling Hair. It's not that shock-of-your-life falling hair in big bunches, yet it alarmed me. That plus the incessant whining of daddy  constantly reminding me that I have falling hair. Yes, sometimes he mingles with my hair woes. (Happy Dads Day to all your daddies!) Let's get on to the review in narrative form, for a change. 

Dove Hair Fall Rescue System has a shampoo, daily treatment conditioner and serum (I opted to use the Nourishing Oil instead of the Hair Fall variant). Don't confuse the greens with the browns packaging. Brown is the old one, green is the latest. That's what the trusty sales lady told me.

That all set, let's start with the shampoo. Texture and odor is no extra-ordinary. What I noticed is after 3 weeks of using it, bunches of hair left on the shower floor is diminishing.

Well, you know the rule on salon-treated hair. Specially for colored hair - that you DON'T use shampoo everyday to prevent premature fading. Gawsh. Being a girl is a science by itself. Woot!

I personally use shampoo 3 to 4 times a week. Can't skip this the entire week as shampoos act as germicidal agents too. Skipping it for too long might cause dandruff, and we all abhor those white flakes. 

Bigger bottles are more economical. I'd rather not show the formula in fear that  you'll close this page ☺. Yet, if you're OC enough, you'll end up saving more by getting a bigger bottle. Packaging is nice too though sachets are strongly encouraged when you're traveling to save luggage space.

Next up is Dove's Daily Treatment Conditioner. The leftmost part is their regular conditioner while the middle and right tubes have something special in them. They have a mixture that's different. Think candy canes with red and white twisted combination.

Only difference is Dove has white and yellowish mixture. I understand the white part is the conditioner and the yellow part is the hair mask component.

I use this everyday to tame my crowning glory. After weeks of usage, hair volume improves. To start with, my hair is fluffy but the strands are getting thinner. That, I believe, is being addressed too by the product. I love this gem's smell and the fact that it won't take forever to rinse them off completely. Make sure you soak and let the product settle for at least 10 mins (okay 5, if you don't have enough time) so you'll maximize its softening prowess.

Here comes my favorite amongst them all!

MONEY MATTERS : WHAT'S THE BEST INVESTMENT FOR YOU?

Investing is no doubt a must-do for each of us. Whether you're in 20's, 30's or thereabouts, it's never too late to start investing. Question is, given a choice, what would be the best investment for you? By landslide victory, the answer is: QUALITY EDUCATION.

You may agree or disagree with this, that's okay. After all, it's a case to case basis. Being educated is far fetched from being someone who's mastered the quantum physics etc. It's more of being street smart. Of being open minded and willing to explore other territories. I wish to share with you some of my escapades the past months, if you may.

Explored: Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas "Be up to SPeed on BSP"
Cost: Free
Website: www.bsp.gov.ph

It's an effort of BSP to spread what they do and some basic facts about the economy. I've been grateful to be one of the delegates that Tuesday morning. I won't bore you to bits, suffice to say that I've appreciated the current administration we have now. GDP exceeds even the most optimistic expectation, what a great time to say "It's  more fun in the Philippines!"

Explored: REGISTERED FINANCIAL PLANNERS (RFP) INSTITUTE PHILIPPINES

Cost: Php 28,000 (approx)
Website: http://rfp-philippines.com/

This warrants a separate full-length post. If you want to know the basics and apply practical financial tips in your (and loved ones) lives, this may interest you. It's an 8-week boot camp that tackles diverse topics. From money behavior (how you spend your money) to investing (how to grow your money) to time value of money (this may look unappealing but very helpful, whether we're aware or not).

Will explore: iCON 2013
Cost: P2,800 (VIP); P1800 (Gold); P500 (Students)
Website: http://randelltiongson.com.com/i-con2013

Full disclosure. I bought my ticket here, like 2 months ago. When it was 40% off. I reserved a slot long before I enrolled in RFP Institute. Why? It's like hitting 5 birds with one stone. It's a 6-hour talk about money values, stock market investing, entrepreneurship and investment planning. Don't worry, speakers have their comedy hats on so no need to worry of getting bored!

TIP #1: As the date goes nearer and nearer, watch out for spur of the moment contests care of Marvin Germo and Randell Tiongson. Follow Marvin on Twitter, HERE and Randell, HERE. Heard they sponsor a contest and gave tickets for F-R-E-E! :)

TIP #2: Sun Life PH also gives updates about iCON 2013. Also, their quotes and articles are mind-moving and unique. Worth catching! :) Like them on Facebook HERE.

TIP #3: Heard that the first 300 attendees will have a free Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) coffee. Coffee addicts, hear ye! hear ye! :) Oh yes, I know you can all buy your cups of joe but why don't you try to come early and be PERKED up for free.

TOP 5 THINGS I'VE LEARNED AT MAJOLICA MAJORCA FACE-OFF EVENT

Last 8th of June, Majolica Majorca held one if its Mascara Face Off Events. That day, it was Team Tara vs. Team Marj. Flashback last week, I saw Majolica Majorca tweeted the event's promotion, in support of Tara - I thought of joining, and alas it was meant to be. Here we were! Meet Team Tara: Yours Truly, Jheng, Mara and Tellie plus her ever-supportive boyfriend :)

Mechanics are easy: Sell as many Lash King Mascaras as we can. Easier said than done. Oh yes, I couldn't agree more! ☺Here are the TOP 5 THINGS I'VE LEARNED AT MAJOLICA MAJORCA EVENT:

1. BEING A SALES LADY IS A CHALLENGING JOB.
I am now in awe whenever I see a smiling sales lady in the mall. Admittedly, I shoo them away when my days are blah. My script was like: *grin* I'm not interested, thank you! *grin* then walk away. Now that I've experienced how it was to be a sales lady, I have nothing but respect (and I feel you attitude) for them.

At some point, I believe I'm an impulsive buyer but a good sales person? Uh-oh! After this event, you can just imagine how big my smile is whenever somebody approached me: "Ma'am, why don't you try this lipstick?"

 2. WALKING IN HEELS (OR PLATFORMS) FOR HOURS IS TIRING! BEYOND WORDS! I've spent most of the game hours with Jheng and Tara. At first, I was too shy to admit my legs are really screaming "ARAY KO!" after an hour or so.

However, my apprehensions were relieved when I heard Jheng muttered "Ang sakit na ng paa ko ha!". Yey. I'm normal, somehow.

And to think we're wearing platforms! Generally, a real life sales lady is required to don a stiletto type of heels. And here's the catch. No sitting down for 8 hours. Which brings me back to Lesson #1. 

Selling Majolica Majorca products can be fun since you'll also enjoy introducing and trying them (with customers) along the process.

3. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND FUN TIMES WITH FRIENDS. There's a tinge of discomfort honestly since it was only Tara who's my acquaintance. All the others, I've only met for the first time. However, after some rounds of conversation we became comfortable with each other.

It's nice to know that there's plenty of us who share the same interest. Each time we made a sale, we're like: YEHEY!

I am so glad that my team mates can apply mascaras and curl lashes like a pro. Because... I can't! We also noticed something. Some kind of unspoken rule, probably: That when a prospect is in another brand, you don't mingle and introduce your product. Because if you do, the other sales lady will bat off her eyelashes in a mataray way :D

MONEY MATTERS : "I'M NOT A NUMBER PERSON BUT I WANT TO GROW MY MONEY"

Hi Ken! You thinking about saving, having your own business and being brave enough to ask questions deserve a round of slow clap dude! It's always a good thing to be young and rich-er. We need to define first (in simple terms, of course) whether you want to save or invest. Saving is keeping your money while Investing is growing your money. Click HERE for some more kwentos.

If you're thinking of investing: You need to know yourself first. Yes - like psychology type of thing! You need to talk to yourself and finalize:

♣ What's my goal?

♣ How much is my budget?

♣ What's my time frame? (Is it okay for me to invest my money within 6 months, 1 year, etc?)

♣ What's my risk profile? Don't be intimidated by the term. It's a matter of makakatulog ka ba during night time if you invested into something that can earn Php 1,000 today but has a probability to lose Php 1,000 the next day, likewise?

Well thought-of answers to these questions can make a huge difference. You see,  you don't have to be a number-person to be able to get your feet wet. You can visit the following (physically or via web):

SILK SECRETS ONE MINUTE HOT OIL TREATMENT (IN PEPPERMINT) REVIEW

When you have a salon-treated hair, the search for the best hair product will always be on, perpetually. Maybe it's our way of making up to the nutrients that were stripped off during the digiperm and coloring processes. If  you've been following my blog, Silk Secrets brand is no new-comer, I've done a road test on another flavor not so recently, check out my previous review HERE. I love anything that's cool or minty, hence when Watsons announced a buy-2, take-1 promo, I bought this.

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:

☺That old Fa-minty feeling. It's minty and though the flavor reminds

 me of a particular brand of toothpaste, I love the cooling effect altogether.

☺Quantity. For approximately, Php 200 you'll get a tub full of coolness.

TIP #1: Use this once a week. Since this is a hot oil treatment, 

it's highly suggested that you use the product once (or twice) each week. 

Not a matter of life or death if you fail to do this, but best to be cautious still. 

TIP #2: Allow the product to settle on your hair strands but not thoroughly 

on your scalp and roots. By experience, deeply settled substances can cause dandruff.

CMK WISHFUL THOUGHTS:

FASHION ALERT : TEA DRESS

Tea Dresses. 1920's. Little Women. Easy afternoon chat. Those are the key words that I think of each time I hear 'tea dresses'. Dress has been around for months but it's only now that I got the chance to feature it on this series. Nothing major, really. Yet, I love its neon yellow and blue contrast, I must say.

You'll have a good guess why I bought a nice slim Havaianas. Just pair it with good ole nude pumps and you're good to go at the board room. For a walkathon-ready getup, just slip your trusy Havs. Remember, fashion and style depends on one special factor, and that factor is YOU! It never fails to amaze me that women of all colors and shapes are starting to embrace their own fashion style. This is liberating, people! On the other news, somebody's snapping a quick shot!

DETAILS:

Neon Yellow Tea Dress from Betty

Slim Bright Blue Slippers from Havaianas

Wedge (just bought this one) from Celine

Watch from Fossil

Bag from Charles & Keith 

Peg board for today looks interesting. I love Numbers 5 and 9!

 

 And number 1 too! I just love dresses. Period. ☺-CMK

BE CMK'S COMMENTER OF THE MONTH! (JUNE AND JULY 2013) - CLOSED!

Here's a gigantic virtual hug to all you guys who participated last CMK's COMMENTER OF THE MONTH! I am happy to announce that the party will continue! ☺Call Me Kristine will be giving away Php 1,500 Gift Certificate of YABU, The House of Katsu!

Let's go over the simple mechanics:

1. Like CMK on Facebook HERE, follow on Twitter HERE.

2. Like YABU on Facebook HERE, follow on Twitter HERE.
3. Promo starts today and ends on the last day of July 2013.

And what's the last thing to do?

CMK TRAVELS : TOP 10 TRAVEL TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP (PART 2)

Check out Tips 1 to 5, HERE. 6. Create a "things to bring list". Include a buddy bag on the list. You know those bags where you put across over your shoulders so that the purse is in front of you? It's safe specially on crowded market places. Also, plan your wardrobe.

7. Verify your transportation. Critical, as always, is your ride from airport to your destination of choice. Thing with air fare deals is that their ETA is at times out of this world. I'll be touching down soon (safely, God's willing) at Singapore soon at around 1:00 am (no more public transportation during these hours, I heard). Planning the trip (see tip #1) means making sure that you have an idea what cab fares range is.

8. Try to live like locals do. I personally would like to have a feel on how do people live in this side of the world. It amazes me that we are all looking up on the same moon at night, wherever continent we may be. The thought of the nice gentleman brewing my coffee in Dunkin' Donuts Seoul still lingers. As well as the humongous serving of Pasta on my favorite place in Czech Republic.  Most specially, the pleasant receptionist from Hotel Belgicka by the name of Kristina. I thank the Lord each time I think of her. She's my first friend in Prague.

9. Write down your expenses. Unless money is no object, we need to tighten our wallet zips a bit. Reality will bite us on our butt if we haplessly spend all our money on the trip. Best to plan your expenses from the get-go, if not possible (or you find this very dragging), make it a point to list your expenses everytime money goes out of your pocket. Make a mental estimate on what you can or cannot buy. As much as we want to lose ourselves traveling forever, we need cash to sustain this dream. You can make this your goal and start saving too! Very good motivation. I mean, VERY GOOD.

BEAUTY BUZZ : BENCH FIX SALON (GREENBELT) REVIEW

Different people have different likes. Some want lipsticks, others mountain climbing, a few adores perfumes and so on. Like what I've shared before, I once thought brown colored hair is unfitting for a girl - well... myth busted! Now I know what is meant by the words "what goes inside is more important than what shows outside". Click HERE as I pour my heart out on this altogether different buzz.

Moving on, it was October 2012 when I last painted my hair brown. Not me, technically, it's Bench Fix Salon as always. HERE's my first-hand experience. Come May 2013, you can just imagine how the black roots are showing up. It pretty much looks like an ombre style as the black roots fades into brown tips. News got to me that the Glorietta branch that time was closed for renovation. I called and this is it! I'll now road test BENCH FIX SALON Greenbelt (First Aid) Branch for the first time!

I arrived 10 am-ish. It's best to arrive early on because chances are no crowd yet and the stylists are in a zen-like clean state, which translates to quality service, no less. The place looks clean and fresh. Whites, beiges and ecrus surround the area. This is the reason why I opt to have my locks colored, the process is a therapy by itself.

DETAILS:
Services Availed: Hair Color (Loreal, Majilift), Eyebrow Low-lights, Eyebrow Threading

Total Cost: Php 1,650 for Hair Color, Eyebrow Low-lights (free) and Php 150 for Threading

Branch: BENCH FIX SALON GREENBELT 3 (just above CBTL, across APPLE Store)

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:

♣ QUALITY SERVICE AND MATERIALS. My mom used to call this materiales-fuertes in everyday lingo. I'm happy that I have a salon that I can trust. Like, I just show up there, let them do their own thing and pay, of course! ☺I am not sure about the others, but I didn't experience any harsh sensation on my scalp. Their products are kind to me, happy!

♣ NO PERSUASIVE UPSELLING. You see, it's a common practice for stylists to introduce a product to you. Whether additional services, hair masks, whatever. Bench Fix is no exemption, but what I like is they only brought it up once and when you kindly say 'next-time' with a smile, they politely rest their case. It's a noteworthy kudos, really.

♣ OVERALL AMBIANCE. Looking through their blank walls clears up my thoughts. I skimmed a few magazines but I ended up just staring blankly. Realizing that the art-of-doing-nothing has its own share of wonders indeed. Like what they have in Beauty Brick, they have a lyric-less music. Perfect for meditation (aka sleeping). Hehe >:)

♣ SENIOR STYLIST AND ASSISTANT. This you have to forgive me. I forgot (again, IKR) their names, but I remember their faces. They are nice and accommodating. The assistant in the picture, carefully listened to my hair woes, etc. We also exchanged some tips and tricks about the topic close to our hearts... BEAUTY! 

See my hair transformation from ombre to clear brown locks!

SCRIBBLED NOTES #12: THE TROUBLE WITH COMFORT ZONES

There's always that scene in your life when you thought of thousand 'what-ifs' while staring blankly. That on the outside it seems like you're a calm swan but on the inside your flapping your emotions like a wild duckling. 

The thought of people going away paralyzes me. I've been so complacent the past years and it's unbearable to look at goodbyes face to face.That I can't do the same activity (with the same people) ever again. This is an instant tear-jerker for me.

Still numb with surging emotions, I know this is GOD's way of reminding me the practical application of this ancient commandment: YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GOD BEFORE ME. I thought that in one way or another, this complacency has become a little god. That I felt a fake feeling of invincibility, necessitating a wake-up slap saying: 

"HEY! People and things, come and go, just so you know!"

Maybe, the trouble with comfort zones is that

BEAUTY BUZZ : ON THE PINK AND RED CORNER (LIPSTICK EDITION)

Two of the most popular, classic lipstick colors are bright pink and very red. I've tried both of them and hands down, one suits me better (in my opinion) more than the other (*ahem, pink, ahem*). I get an instant color boost whenever I swipe my favorite bright pink lipstick. In contrast, red exudes a *don't you mess with me* strong aura. And sometimes, that's what a girl needs. Call this a throwback day as I share with you some of my lipstick reviews involving these 2 enticing colors: