pale pippi long stockings

Of all the Disney Princesses, I've always loved Sleeping Beauty aka Aurora the most, because of the flirtiness of the curls at the ends of her hair. This style is not uncommon these days because of the rise of KPop, bringing with them Korean Salons which gave boom to digital perming. I've been thinking about undergoing this service, as an alternative to my regular straightening treatments. But because I am not used to that service, I am apprehensive because it might cause more damage to my hair. Or it might not turn out the way I want it to. So I searched for ways to get the style, only not (semi) permanently. Of course, the primary way is to get a curling iron or straightening iron if you're more patient or skilled (or simply cannot afford a curling iron and already have a flat iron on hand) and heat your hair until it curls. But excessive heat damages hair. Really really bad. So I searched the web on how to achieve Aurora's curls without the heat. Lo and behold, I found Curlformers, unfortunately this was not available in our country. Or it is but it is quite expensive. Fortunately, many sites featured a knock-off, called Magic Leverag. The disadvantage is there are no size options in Magic Leverag (both in length and in the size of curls) but it would serve my purpose so I did some snooping and found out that it was available in Landmark and SM Department Stores. But after a week of searching, I couldn't find any. So I took to ebay and finally had heat-less curlers for my own.

Hook, Short Curlers and Long Curlers
(a complete set includes 1 hook, 8 long curlers and 8 short ones)

wander and wonder -- or vice versa ;)

On Sunday, as part of my really good friend's birthday celebration, we had planned to visit the Mind Museum at The Fort. We've been wanting to drop by ever since he saw in the newspaper that a modern science museum was being constructed. It was very fortunate that my company had sponsored part of the museum, which they honored by placing a marker inside the museum and by giving us free vouchers for distribution during our Vendors' Night. And because I was one of the few who labored for that event, I made sure that I would be rewarded with at least two vouchers. Otherwise, Adult Tickets cost Php600, but discounted tickets are available for students and teachers.

 

 

ceremonies and country men

What a way to start the week. For the second time since April, I have been asked to be the master of ceremonies (emcee) for the Monday morning flag ceremony at our company.  Today's program was good run, better than my first one, since I have gained courage to cut my script and do a bit of adlib. I hate public speaking but I recently learned how to swallow my shame and just get on with it. Perhaps the reason why I was more confident today is because I had caused a blunder, only a month ago, also on the same stage which was quickly forgiven by the whole company.

 

On September 03, following our successful Vendors' Night in Makati Shangri-la (arranged with the leadership of yours truly) I was asked to lead the recitation of the Panatang Makabayan (the old version, which IMHO is more beautiful) during the flag ceremony (featuring the previous night's festivities). I thought to myself that if I had survived emcee-ing two weeks into my work, I could handle this short segment. What I failed to realize was that the Panatang Makabayan was to be said in Filipino.

 

So I go up the stage, and start, and stutter through the word, "kapakipakinabang". I tried to say it, around 5 times until finally giving up, apologizing (yes, I said "Sorry", out loud), taking a breath and got through the word slowly. I was very much grateful for the crowd as they waited for me to gather myself. It was embarassing, more so because I found myself having a harder time talking in my mother tongue.

 

I recalled this incident to my friends from another company when we met and after laughing at me (or should I say, with me), we went into a conversation about the beauty of the Panatang Makabayan.

Image Source: http://onwardphilippines.blogspot.com/2012/03/true-pinoy-defined-in-panatang.html

 

southbeach and size 12

It's been more than a week into October! My, my, how the days pass by so quickly. WAKE UP, for September has already ended. It is the fourth and final quarter of year 2012, and what a busy quarter this is.

I would like to start this quarter by making an announcement. I AM ON A DIET. Yes, I had to say it because I have to see it through. Why, you ask? For one thing, my clothes don't fit me anymore! I've been wearing (and buying) dresses and stretchy skirts for the past six months that it didn't occur to me how much thicker I've been growing. Aside from the obvious large pooch that is my stomach, and the larger than average size of my tighs, my normally great-fitting bras feel a tad uncomfortable already. Secondly, we have a bikini baring vacation in a months time and I want to at least look decent in my photos!

I do not want to dwell on how I got to this point and I do not want to say that it was due to my rekindled romance with baking. What is important is that I am going to try and go back to that beautiful place I was before, when I felt more confident felt light on my feet and loved going out. My ever supportive mother has convinced me that the best way to go about this quest is to try the South Beach Diet.
 

A few years ago, she had gone through this diet and lost a lot. My brother was another success story. Now, I'm hoping that I will be too. So I spent the better half of the first weekend of the month preparing my meals for this week. Since I work worlds away from where I live, I don't have much time when I get home so I pre-prepared my breakfast, lunch, some dinner, and snacks for the weeks ahead. The diet requires me to skip carbs and sugars (including fruits) for 2 weeks. I've survived the first week with only one incident of hyperacidity. And even kept my commitment through a triple celebration dinner at a dessert restaurant. Yey me! :) Here is a sample of my office lunch during a good day:

Kani Asupara Mock Maki, Chicken Satay & Miso Soup (just add water!)



pretty as a princess

I feel pretty today. It has been a good day. :)

Loving the red lip. Been playing around with newly bought Maybelline Gel Liner and Very Cherry Sensational Lip Color.

I've not felt this pretty since coming home from the Vendors' Night wearing Bloom Cream Liner and remnants of Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti.

That's the farthest I go with make up. Some liner and lip color. I don't think I'll get farther than that, but whatevs.

Fourth and final quarter of the month. It's going to be a marathon. I can't wait!

<3, dee

a note to GLOBE

Dear Globe,

 

 I have been a loyal subscriber for 13 years (and counting) and throughout this time, your telecom service has been well within my tolerance, even recently what with all your major connection fails. I wish I could say the same for your customer service. I find it has degraded as the years passed by.

 

 I’ve encountered multiple bouts of terrible customer service from your company and I am saddened because these past few months, I have been campaigning (albeit passively) that GLOBE’s customer service is still better than SMART’s (partly because I really believe so, taking from friend's experiences; also because I work for a sister company; and because I would like my contacts to remain in the same network) but goodness, my arguments has become very old and invalid. It is frustrating that we, mobile users, have to choose the lesser of two evils. It is disheartening that you spew your taglines of having things MY WAY and giving it HASSLE FREE, yet give your customers anything but what you promised.

opera and oven mitts

I am so very grateful that a lot of international artists are bringing their shows to the Philippines. I am particularly happy that a lot of broadway productions have made their way to local stages. This enabled me to quickly scratch of an item in my bucketlist ("Have a night in Broadway") when I got the chance to watch Mamma Mia just a few months ago.

This week, I got to scratch it off again. About a few weeks ago, a college friend asked us if we wanted tickets for The Phantom of the Opera (Manila), because she could get some through her company for half the price. My theater buddies were up for it, and being the kaladkarin that I am, I decided to join in on the fun. Truth be told, I had little idea what the show was about. I knew that it was about a very talented composer who had a physical deformity who fell in love with the theater's singer. I wasn't even familiar with the songs.

We had tickets for the September 20 show and little by little, the excitement grew within me more, since I didn't know what to expect. Finally, the night of the show came and I met up with my friends and proceeded to CCP. The events that happened once we stepped into the theater is a blur in my mind. I was blown away. Perhaps because it was the first time I encountered the story,I was so moved. Or maybe it was because of how the Phantom sang his songs. I cry. I have no other words. It was  magnificent, emotional, engaging, simply beautiful. I particularly loved "Point of no Return" and "The Music of the Night". Not only are the lyrics beautiful, but the Phantom sang it with such emotion.


Pardon the very poor quality, this was all my phone could do.