The Yearning I've been Longing

Today I finally had the chance to own something I've always hoped to have. It's almost funny how common things such as this get neglected -- or perhaps simply taken forgranted? Anyways, may I have the pleasure of introducing my newest toy-- my portable sewing machine. =)

It's been years since I yearned to own -- and I mean OWN as in POSSESS my very own sewing machine. I am no expert in sewing but its been something I've always wanted to do. I can painstakingly sew Halloween costumes, table cloths, and even curtains by hand. And modesty aside, I've earned many compliments too for all my handiwork. Why my hand-sewn handiwork never seemed like hand-sewn at all!

I like this for being portable. It's so tiny and light that it can easily be stowed away when not used. I also like that it has several stitch patterns and can be switched from being electrical to being battery operated. Best of all, it came with a one-year service guarantee free! In addition, if any of it's parts breaksdown (which I sure hope won't happen anytime soon), I can easily check out any Ace Hardware or SM Homestore outlet for replacement!

Oh I feel soo giddy imagining all the projects I could make with this machine. When I will have accomplished a project,I'll most certainly share again my thoughts about this baby. For now, we'll just try to get to know each other better. ;) More thoughts coming soon!

Ey, ain't this Kyut?

There's a lot of reason why many people like going to a thrift store like Daiso. I like going there before it's really a grown-up's version of a candy store. From the wide array of candies (literally), make-ups, home stuffs, stationery, and other quirky things one would not have been able to conceptualize, this little store has so much to offer.

On my most recent visit, here's something really cute and quirky that caught my interest:

 Nah, it's not a cookie cutter. It's a sandwich cutter. Isn't this ingenious?

Trying it out on a wheat sandwich gave me that result. Not impressive. But ain't bad either for a non-cook, neophyte me.

Truth is, I got it mainly because I liked it being pink. Heheh. 

How much? 88 bucks. Like the rest of the items in the store. Can't wait what I'd discover next. =)

Summer Blooms

Ditch Me Baby -- or One More Time?

I know the title sounds funny.  But That's what immediately came to mind as I was looking through my file of pictures for my blog. I saw this old pic of what initially seemed like a fabulous retractable brush.

When I got it, it was very soft and fluffy, pretty much like the fab brushes by Marrionaud and Suesh.  But my admiration literally started "falling apart" after the first wash. =((

The bristles started shedding like crazy and worse, everything just fell apart.

Oh well, what could one expect when I only paid a measly 75 bucks for this?!  Compare that with the 400-700PhP brushes sold by other local brands.  Indeed, there is soo much truth to the adage: you get what you pay for.

But then again, 75pesos is still something.  I most definitely refuse to just throw away my hard earned moolah just like that.

See? Ain't this a beauty?

And isn't this cuter?

Lush and fluffy! Or so it seemed!

But that's all there is to it. =((

So do I ditch this baby? Or give another one a try?

Two of a Kind

When I was a kid, I secretly wished I owned SM. By then I thought, it'd be ecstatic to get (and wear) anything and everything I liked in the store. As a grown-up, I still love SM. One of the reasons is the number of lines they carry for ladies wear. For some reason (age?), I am getting lazy now in choosing my outfits and shoes. Recently, my preference is more for outfits that are comfy albeit non-flattering. This being the case, SM remains my to-go store if my wardrobe needs some quick updating.

One of the latest purchases I made are these two blouses. I call them two of a kind because really, they are! It's from SM's exclusive line called, Weender. The line carries outfits for laid back weekends which, can also be trendy and comfy for office and casual days when one has to be on her toes doing errands.

The pieces are bought made of cotton. These are among my most comfy and my-sassy-kind-of-outfit. I got 'em in mocha and in tangerine.

How much? Just Php649 a piece. Now who says comfort and fashion gotta cost a much? ;-)

Summer Blooms

It does feel summer when flowers are in bloom.

Our house isn't really big.

We don't have a huge lawn too or a large garden  -- but we are lucky because we have a few flowering plants around us. So my heart skips abit every time I take a peek at the window and see these beautiful blooms swaying to the wind.

Ahh, to the words of Wordsworth:

"For oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils."

But in my case, these blooms. =)

Review: Fashion21 Blending Brush

Here goes now a brief review of the blending brush I scored in that Fashion 21 sale in my previous post.

This is love.  =)  I like my previous Fashion 21 eyeshadow brush because it came in a size that's just right enough for me.  I am not sure what it's made of but it sure was a pleasure to use it everytime. Now came this blending brush. The eyeshadow brush (which is shown alongside the new brush below) was smaller.  Both are perfect.

Notice that my new brush (the big blending brush) is bigger, more dense, and longer too compared to the eyeshadow brush on the right.  Both brushes are made of the same bristle materials.  Very soft and does their job well.  These two are a staple in my kikay kit.

My thoughts:
Over-all, both brushes are really good.  This is just supposed to be a review of the new one I got but I can't help but compare the two.  For only PhP85 for the blending brush, and PhP65(approx) for the eyeshadow brush, both are a steal!  Any average Jane like myself can bea assured of a quality brush sold at such an affordable price.

And no, I have nothing ill to say about these two.  To me, they are among my most wonderful finds!  Thank you Fashion 21 for making brushes as good as these!

From a Sale -- tiny Haul

S-A-L-E!  That four-letter word (usually printed in red) is sure to lure any sane, logical woman into defying her self-imposed shopping restrictions.  Funny but true.  I find myself falling into that trap many times over.  Like I did one afternoon when I went to hang out at Robinson's Ermita.  As soon as I entered the Padre Faura entrance, the Fanny Serrano booth greeted me.

And hey, hey, hey, how can I not take notice when that four-letter word screamed for my attention?

So here's my tiny haul.

The loot includes a dual-powder foundation and its refill, two lippies, a mono-matte eyeshadow, two blush powders, and a huge blending brush.

I got the lippies (at Php78 each) because I don't think I have those colors yet.  I've had a good experience with Fashion 21's Aqualicious Lipsticks (I got one in Little Mermaid and another in Persian Peach).  The dual-foundation was a try.  A bad one I must say because the color I got (and which was recommended to me) didn't match my skintone at all!  Anyways, I love the blushes albeit they seemed somewhat cakey (but not complaining given the price I paid for 'em), and the big blending blush which is an addition to the old Fashion 21 eyeshadow brush I long have.

Over-all, the loot was neither satisfying nor disappointing.  As any woman would perhaps agree, a haul such as mine gives a different kind of euphoria everytime.  So yes, for the measly sum, I was high and it felt soo good!

Reviews soon!

Ultimate Accessory: Painted Nails

Who doesn't like lovely nails? I think beautifully painted nails, aside from one's crowning glory, are the ultimate accessory.  Which is why whenever I can, I try to paint my nails.

Over the months, here are some of the colors I've tried and the fun shots I took of 'em.  Nothing fancy, just plain and simple as can be.

Brand: My Posh, Shade: Ruby

Ditto

Brand: Bobbie, Shade: Tropical Punch

Brand: My Posh, Shade: (not indicated) But the bottle looks bright pink

Brand: Bobbie, Shade: Vodka on Ice

Brand: Sandan, Shade: Sandy Brown

Ditto

My thoughts:
I love all the colors.  My Posh is a local brand which only costs Php11-13 per bottle (approx. 8ml).  It is manufactured by Unistar Asia Mfg. Co. and is available in many stores all over.  The texture of the regular polish is really thick. One sweep and you get nice, even coating.  The glazed ones are just as fine.  I would probly indulge in buying all the colors eventually but in the  meantime, I'd like to enjoy my select few bottles. I've noticed that the regular ones do chip easily compared to the glazed ones which last a little longer -- but I am not complaining!  For the price of each bottle?  I really don't mind putting on a new polish every day! ;-)

Bobbie (which is a favorite brand of all the local manicuristas) is manufactured by Chic Centre Corporation.  I'd like to believe every nail-conscious Pinay have a few bottles of their ever reliable Bobbie polish in their stash.  The ones I got above come in Regular Tropical Punch (a bright coral shade) and Glazed Vodka on Ice (a holo-finish color).  Lovely.  The Tropical Punch is what I wore when we went to Boracay and boy oh boy, it did stay on my nails for a good 3-days.  Yup, all throughout that fun Bora trip, my nails remained lovely.  I feared my tips would chip anytime then since I did plan to soak for hours and hours in the water, but no.  No chipping at all.  I was really truly satisfied.  Now, months after that trip, I still indulge in this beautiful funky color once in a while whenever I feel like it. And the texture remains as nice as the day I first opened it.

Vodka on Ice on the other hand is also a lovely color.  No, the shot I took of my nails is blurry. The true color of this polish wasn't done justice.  But Vodka on Ice is really a neat beautiful color.  Outdoors, on a bright sunny day, the tiny specks of iridescent glitters show up oh so beautifully.  At night, it looks like a glazed shade of white.  Still beautiful.

And the last one on the list is of course, Sansan which is sold exclusively at HBC.  Sandy Brown is a beautiful nude shade which compliments my skintone perfectly.  In the past, I did shy away from brown or nude polishes because while they make look perfect on others, on me they look trashy!  But not with this Sansan color.  Its an almost nude brown (perfect perhaps for doing french manicure?  But  I have yet to try it out on me.) and when applied, it looks really truly pretty.  The texture can be somewhat sheer though but on me, I was able to improve it by using a nice base before putting it on.

So there goes my favorite polishes in my favorite colors.  Found your favorite ones yet locally?

No, I don't Own a Credit Card =)

I do not own a credit card.  While today's fast-paced life entails the carrying of that little plastic card to make payment of anything (and yes, I say anything) a breeze, I am still not fully convinced I should get one if only to spare myself the hassles of having to beat a due date to avoid those surcharges.

One downside of not owning a credit card however is that it limits your power to purchase -- especially online. I have signed up for ebay a long time ago but nope, I have never made a single purchase -- ever.  One lazy morning though left with no more errands to do, I found myself browsing over ebay again. I chanced upon a store that sells very cheap items.  So just for the heck of it, I made a few clicks.  The next thing I know I received an email instructing me how I should pay and 'til when I can make such payment so as not to be blacklisted (or something to that effect).

The next day, I went to BPI (which was again, my first time after a long time since I have long ago closed my BPI account), to pay for my purchase (and surprisingly there were no extra charges! Hurray!).

I called the ebay seller to inform her of my payment and voila! A couple of days after (since I went to pay around 4pm already), my order arrived.

Funny though 'coz when the village guard rang our bell to ask if a "Ms. Burnt Raisin" happens to live in our address, it was only then I realized I made the mistake of indicating my online name instead of my real name in my ebay account.  But it didnt seem to matter anyways 'coz the package was delivered to the right address.

So here's my mini-loot. Not bad for a first time purchaser. =)

Loot consist of:

• Prostaff Women's Watch
• Rimmel Natural Sensation All Day Make-Up in Natural Beige
• Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara in Dark Brown, and
• Wet N Wild Natural Blend Mineral Foundation

I spent as total of PhP737.50 for everything including the shipping (dealer did combine shipment).  Ain't that great?  So far, I am glad my first purchase turned out okay.  Reviews of the products coming soon.  

And no, I still am not getting a credit card.  =)

Surreal!

Hello cyberworld! I am back!  And it does feel good. =)

The past few months have been critical. My last post (written in October last year) was written while I was preparing for one tough battle which I do not hope to repeat ever again. I took the bar exams.  Yup.  In between my lull moments I was surfing the web, wary of the piles of notes, materials, books and whatchamacallits screaming for my attention. But something else screamed for my attention -- a fondness I have developed over what others consider a shallow source of happiness... Aesthetics. ;-)

Wikipedia defines Aesthetics as , "...a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty.[1] It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes calledjudgments of sentiment and taste.[2] More broadly, scholars in the field define aesthetics as "critical reflection on art, culture and nature." 

Mine would have to be the simpler version of Aesthetics though.  It's a shallow as my epidermis. ;-)  I love make-up and if I didn't want to become a lawyer (and if I weren't too busy chasing that dream) I'd prolly be an aesthetician.  There is so much truth in the contention that looking good makes one feel good.  For my part, with the occasional apprenticeship training I get from doing the make up of my younger sisters and a few other willing "guinea pigs"(**peace**)heheh, the feeling I derive from helping them look good is incomparable.  Such experience enabled me to come to grip with the meaning of the word "surreal."  Yes, make-up and all its wonders gives a "surreal" feeling. Albeit fleeting, playing up with make-up is really, truly, rewarding.

This blog is thus dedicated to "surrealism" -- one that stems from playing and exploring the wonderful world of -- make-up (or something like that)! =)