Year End Thank You (V10)

"Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over. - Guy Finley"

I've been writing "year end thank you" posts for the past 10 years. I started on my humble tumblog and have since migrated to this blog. 2016 was a tough year for me but 2017 was a lot better. As always, there were a few bumps in the road but nothing that I couldn't handle. I used to do bulleted lists of who I'd like to say thank you to but I decided on doing things a little differently this year by saying thank you as a whole...

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through thick and thin. Thank you for seeing past my brokenness and my faults. Thank you for accepting my flaws. Thank you for pushing me to reach my goals and my dreams. Thank you for supporting my decisions no matter how atrocious they can be at time. Thank you for putting up with my moods and my tantrums. Thank you for allowing me to express myself especially when it comes to my creativity. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my baking business even if the economy is still at a crisis. Thank you for always lending a helping hand. Thank you for always being a phone call away. Thank you for seeing me even when I couldn't even see myself. Thank you for lifting me up whenever I feel small. Thank you for appreciating all the little things I do. Thank you for loving me unconditionally.

You already know who you guys are.

Muchisimas Gracias.

Daghang Salamat.

Maraming Salamat.

Magsukol.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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Comfort Food

It's another rainy day in Zamboanga. It got me thinking about how nice it would be to just huddle up in bed under my thick warm blanket and just be lazy. How I wish I could but today is also "errands" day before the weekend hits us so I had to haul my butt off to several banks to finish transactions. While on the way to the bank I started thinking about one word. COMFORT.
What brings you comfort? Lots of people would say a hug from their loved one, an extra hour of sleep, a warm cup of coffee, a foot spa session, an hour or two of body massage and a lot of other things... Personally, one of the things that give me comfort is FOOD. Hence the term, "comfort food". Today I'd like to share some of the comfort food that really hits the spot. *smiles*

L-R : Chowking's Beef Mami, Sugar & Ice's Ice Cream Cakes, Isaw & BBQ sa Pasonanca, Pancit Canton, Pork Siomai, Nestea Milk Tea, Mama's Homemade Pork BBQ & Longaniza, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, French Fries, Strawberry Icecream, Jumbo Cheese Sticks, Big Ben's La Parola Boodle Fight Meal, KFC Chicken Teriyaki Shots, Satti, & Ikea's Meatballs!

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Back From The Dead. (?)

Hello everyone. So much time has passed. Let's be honest, I've neglected my blog and the reason is quite simple. Life happened. So much has been going on in my personal life that blogging had to take a back seat. First big thing that happened is that I finally got over a big heartbreak. Next is that I finally opened my office-kitchen for my small home based baking business, Sugar Works. Also I discovered the wonderful world of NuSkin. It's been a lot to process and I just didn't have the extra energy to blog anymore. I didn't want my posts to seem "forced" so I just "abandoned" it altogether. I admit it wasn't a proper way to say goodbye and for that I'm regretful.

Another reason I stopped blogging is because I strayed away from my first blog niche. I used to be a beauty blogger. Emphasis on the words USED TO. For a time, I dabbled in "personal" posts, some "food review" posts, and even some "lifestyle" posts but nothing really clicked. I guess I grew out of beauty blogging a bit and wanted to try out new niches but failed disastrously. Right now all I want to do is write. I'm not really sure about what but I hope that I find out eventually.

I have some posts lined up but I'm still thinking about whether I should publish them or not. The big question is, am I ready to come back to blogging? What are your thoughts about writer's block? Have you ever blogged then stopped then started blogging again? Tell me what you think.

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April & May Highlights

April & May have gone by so fast and I haven't made the time to get back to blogging because I was too busy with "life". So much is going on and I can't wait to share it with all my dear readers when the time is right... Everything is slowly falling into place & it's getting quite exciting... I'll try to be update more often, I do have several drafts to finish but for now, tata!~ <3 

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Currently V13 : April!

Hello to all my lovely readers. Are you guys still with me? I haven't been blogging much because life is just plain hectic. I'll spare you all the boring details about that and instead jump right into this "currently" post. Just something random and quirky to update you all and to say that I'm still very much alive and kickin'! Reading: No Baggage "A Tale of Love & Wandering" by Clara Bensen Writing: This "currently" post. Listening To: Boom by Simple Plan
Smelling: Soap Wearing: My pjamas because I'm getting ready to get into bed. Eating: Crackers but I'm really craving for SPAM & EGGS at 11 in the evening!!!
Thinking: About all the blessings I've received. Feeling: Insanely happy. Loving: The fact that the pieces of my life are starting to fit into place. Needing: More time to finish everything I need to finish.

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Review : Sparkle Lenses in OMG Brown

I'm going to be very honest. I suck at starting my blog posts. *lol* I've been staring at the screen for the past 15 minutes and I decided to just "go with it". So here I am, typing rapidly away trying to think of a nice way to say that I'll be talking about circle lenses again. HAHAHA!~
Well anyway, since I already mentioned it, today I'll be talking about a new pair of circle lenses that I got last week... I've been seeing so much of the Solotica Hidrocor lenses online that I just had to take a look for myself. They're pretty pricey (some shops sell them for P500-P800 a pair) but lucky for me Sparkle lenses carry "Solotica INSPIRED" lenses for only P250/pair and I found a seller with on hand stocks...
It took me some time to decide which ones to get because they all looked so pretty. I pretty much stick to grays and browns so in the end I got the Princess Riri Gray and the OMG Brown. Today I'll be reviewing the OMG Brown ones.
Lens Details Brand : Sparkle Series : OMG - Brown Origin : South Korea Water Content : 38% Diameter : 14.5mm Base Curve : 8.6mm Price : P250/pair Duration : 1 year, disposable Freebie : Lens case Bought From : BHAMS Contact Lens Variety Store
What I Like: * Color & Design - Out of the colors available for lenses, brown is the one I usually gravitate towards to when I want an "easy to wear" color. I usually go for 3-tone lenses but this particular 2 tone design still looks beautifully striking against my natural dark brown eyes without looking too harsh. I also love the fact that I don't need to wear a lot of eye makeup to make this particular pair "work" for me.
* Enlarging - At 14.5mm this definitely isn't a very enlarging pair. Now that I'm older, I prefer to not have the "doll-eye" look anymore. I'm more comfortable donning 14.2-14.5mm pairs.
* Comfort & Ease of Use - For a "seasoned" circle lens wearer, this pair was a breeze to use. It isn't flimsy and isn't heavy on the eyes. I wore this pair for more than 4 hours straight in an air-conditioned room and had no problems whatsoever.
*Lasts for a year!
What I Don't Like: * It is a bit on the flimsy side, so be careful in handling this pair!

So, my dearest readers, have any of you tried on Solotica inspired lenses? What can you say about them? Which ones would you recommend for me? Catch you all on my next post!

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First 2017 Haulage

Hello again everyone! Let's start off March2017 with my first haul post this year. It's been a long time since I last really purchased makeup. I told myself that 2016 would be devoted to investing more of my money into the business (Sugar Works!) with the exception of lipsticks (LOVE!!!) but now it's time for a little treat. A little self love never hurt anyone, right?

I found an online makeup store owned by Miss Angeline Buna and she's selling a lot of authentic makeup. I got a few things from her that I've been eyeing. I got the L.A. Girl Pro Coverage HD long wear illuminating foundation in the shade beige for P490, the L'Oreal Paris 24 hour Infallible Pro Matte demi matte foundation in shade 105 for P540 & the Kleancolor Pro Sealer makeup setting spray for only P140. 

This loot is from Suzanne's Emporium.  I got the AOA Studio Wonder Blender for P150, the NYC Smooth Skin Fini Parfait BB Cream in light for P180, the Kleancolor Brow Pomade in taupe for P150 and the Kleancolor Frameous Brows brow mascara in brown black for P150. Pretty cool stuff for a decent price point. I got them off Shopee and got free shipping as well!

Lastly I got these really cool lenses from Bham's Contact Lens Variety Store c/o Miss Rosemary Rios. These lenses are "solotica" inspired but are from the brand Sparkle. I got OMG brown & PRINCESS RIRI gray. I've tried them on already and I'm excited to do a review on them soon.
So, that's about it for now. Catch me on my next post!

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Well, February Happened

February was basically about different lipsticks, my growing collection of jewelry, succulents, cactuses & perfumes, my love for food & my baking orders... Nothing much more to say except HELLO MARCH2017!

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What's Been Happening?!

Hey everybody! It's me again. Well, I don't even know where to start. The start of 2017 has been pretty crazy what with all plans being set into motion. So much is changing (for the better!) and happening that it's been pretty difficult for me to slow down. My parents & lil sister recently left again so it's just me and the grand folks at home. I can finally start blogging little by little. I'm planning out the topics I want to start talking about in my blog. I hope you guys can bare with me as I take my time to ease back into blogging life. I really want this blog to be more than just about makeup. Maybe transitioning into a personal-lifestyle blog will be difficult since I've been a beauty blogger all these years but I think it would make my blog more "me".
That's it for now. Catch you all on my next post!

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16 Things I Learned in 2016

Last year I made a similar post and this year I'm back with a 2016 version.
Like I mentioned in my previous post, 2016 was a tough year for me. I learned a lot of valuable life lessons last year and today I'm going to share them with you.

1. Pray more.
It might seem that He isn't listening but he is. I didn't go to church as much last year but I prayed. I prayed every day. At the start of the year, I prayed every time I felt like I was drowning... I prayed when I cried. I prayed when I was extremely happy. I prayed when I was frustrated. I prayed and prayed and prayed and the thing I prayed for the most was peace of mind because I was hurting so badly... God granted me peace of mind the day I realized that all I had to do was forgive myself.

2. Don't rely on others to make big life decisions for you.
I came to a point in my 2016 life that I was on the edge of an emotional cliff and I didn't know what to do. I started asking my family and friends for advice and it confused me even more... I learned (the hard way) that the only person who can make big life decisions for you is yourself. Trust your gut instinct.

3. Never stop on aiming to be better at what you do.
When I resigned from the hospital and made the decision to pursue baking full time, I also made the decision to better myself at my craft. I watched a lot of online tutorials, read a lot of baking related books, and signed up for a lot of baking and cake decorating related classes to get better at what I do.

4. It's okay to put yourself first.
My biggest 2015 downfall was always putting other people's happiness ahead of my own. Last year, I promised myself that I'd put myself first for a change. I started doing things that made ME happy. I started buying things for MYSELF. I started going out, not because others wanted me to, but because I wanted to. At first it made me guilty because I'm so used to always being a giver but then I realized that it's about time to make myself happy too. We all deserve to be happy.

5. Who you surround yourself with makes a difference in your life.
When you surround yourself with positive people, you tend to have a more positive outlook in life. When you surround yourself with negative people... Well, need I say more? From my family to my close friends, I've found that inner circle where I can truly be myself and be happy. When you surround yourself with people who love you and support your choices and aspirations, life becomes more meaningful.

6. Go with the flow.
I am a certified control freak so this is quite controversial for me. I like planning things and I like it when things go the way I planned but they don't always go down that way and I end up being frustrated. 2016's the year I learned to "go with the flow" and relax. I realized that there are some things that I just can control, things I can't plan on happening and I learned to be okay with that.

7. Learn to do things ALONE.
One of my biggest fears before was to be alone. I hated the thought of walking into the grocery or department store or even a fast food place alone because it seemed pathetic. 2016 was the year I conquered that fear. Now I am perfectly content to have a cup of coffee alone or stroll around aisles alone. I'll admit that it's lonely sometimes but I've gotten over it and I've learned to look at it from a different perspective. Now it makes me feel like I can be more independent.

8. Get out of your comfort zone.
Try out that new restaurant. Have your nails painted a bolder (than usual) color. Show a bit more skin. I always reveled in the familiar but I decided that the familiar was getting boring. So 2016 was the year I explored a bit more. Not a lot, but more than usual. I tried out new things like taking care of cactus and succulent plants, getting a new dog (my baby askal Max!), trying out new food, having my nails painted RED (a color I was afraid of), trying out new makeup trends and a whole lot more. Another way I got out of my comfort zone was when I started to open myself up to new people and got to know them more. EXPERIMENT. PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!~

9. You always have a choice, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
At 25, I've finally realized that I have a choice. I have a choice to be happy or sad. I have a choice on how I wish to live my life. I cannot live my parent's or sister's life. I have to make my own choices and live my own life. I learned that in any given situation, you always have a choice, so hopefully this 2017 I will stop using "I didn't have a choice" as an excuse.

10. It's okay to have standards.
It's okay to be picky. It's okay to want to have the best. It's okay to think of the long term pros & cons. It's okay to demand what you think you deserve. I learned to no longer settle for leftovers. People will judge you for having standards, believe me but learn to not give a f*ck about what other people think.

11. Always trust your gut instinct.
2016 was the year I realized that if only I had trusted my gut instinct more, I wouldn't be getting in messy situations often. So now I listen a lot more carefully.

12. Stop living in the past.
The start of my 2016 greeted me with the most painful heartbreak ever and as the months went on, I kept replaying memories in my head. I'd feel so down and so lost but then I realized that it was my own doing because I kept living in the past. If you keep dwelling on "what has been" you will not be able to enjoy the "what could be"... Keep pushing forward, live each day fully, and always look on the bright side.

13. Ideas come and go. Write them down!
I've lost really good ideas on so many occasions because I forgot to write them down. Always keep a small notebook and pen with you. Or for those techie millennials out there, just whip out your phone, right?

14. Never assume.
When in doubt, always ask. It's confusing (and painful!) to assume things. Just be honest and upfront.

15. Don't give up no matter how many times you fall.
This one's self explanatory.

16. Don't allow anything or ANYONE to be your source of happiness.
We are all in the pursuit of one thing - happiness. How do we become truly happy if we rely on something, or worse, someone to be our only source of happiness? Be your own source of happy. Be genuinely happy for yourself through all of life's ups and downs.

Well, this wraps up my post. How about you? What did you learn during 2016? Comment down below!~

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Twenty Seventeen! - (Late) Year End Thank You's

2016 was THE toughest year for me. I went through a massive heart break, I lost some friends, I realized that some family members aren't worth the time, I doubted my baking skills and felt like Sugar Works was about to fail... The list goes on and on but I survived through it all with the help of family and friends. This post is dedicated to them!

I've been doing year end thank you posts for a couple of years now and since today's the 1st of January 2017, I know I'm a bit late but it's better than never, right? So let's get started!

First off, a big thank you to God. As cheesy or cliche as it sounds, I'm thankful for the fact that during the times I've been so down, God sent me angels (family and friends) to pull be back up on my feet. He has showered me with so many blessings that I can't even count them out anymore and I know that all the trials He put me through is because He wanted me to conquer all my fears and inner demons and become a stronger person.

Next, thank you to my family. Daddy, Mum, Kiddo, Lola & Lolo, you've been my stronghold, my rock. You guys were the ones who constantly reminded me that I can make it through the year and that all the challenges and hard times will pay off. I appreciate all the love and support you've given me especially since I've decided to pursue my baking career on a more full time level.

Thank you for never giving up on me.

Yaya Malou & Mamang Melit, thank you for being my second mothers. I wouldn't have survived all those hours of housework without you both helping me out. I'm especially thankful for all the times you both have taken over while I'm busy with all the baking orders and cake decorating. Thank you for taking care of me and my family and for constantly being there for us.

Thank you to my true friends... I have only a few but I know they're there till the very end. I can't type out all your names but the ones who I will mention on this post deserve this special mention... Thank you Shanne, Antonette, Yvette, Chynne, Ate Kiamee, Trisha, Jelz, Ayi & Nico. 2016 was more bearable with you guys in my life. Thank you for being there when I need you guys the most. I know I don't need to mention every little thing you did for me but know that it was all appreciated. I love you guys to bits!

Thank you to all my other family members, family-friends and friends who have made 2016 more enjoyable. Looking forward to making more memories in 2017. Special mention to my tita viejas for always being there for me...

Also a big thanks to all my Sugar Works clients, baking suppliers & baker friends - special mention to Ate Michelle and Charlene... All those cake orders kept me sane throughout 2016. I loved conceptualizing, baking and decorating each and every cake or cupcake order I received and will always remember them fondly.

Last but definitely not the least... Thank you A. Thank you for the heartbreak that made me realize that I can be on my own, that I can be an independent woman, that I am human and I commit mistakes and also get hurt. Thank you for breaking my heart and leaving me because that's what motivated me to get my shit together and not depend on a boy to make me happy. I've realized so many things once the heartbreak started to subside and now I can say that I'm a better person. There are days that I THINK I still miss you, but I now realize that what I miss most was the feeling of having someone special in my life. It's okay, now is not the time yet. I wish you luck in all your future endeavors A. Sincerely...

PS : I'd also like to thank all the boys, guys & men I've talked to or dated this year. Some were actually interesting dates, and the rest were just majorly fucked up. I'm not rushing, I'm just enjoying the ride and going with the flow.

Cheers to the New Year everyone! May 2017 open more opportunities for us all!

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