Pinoy Blog Machine (Beta)

 Click here. http://beejing.wordpress.com/fhms-100-sexiest-2007/

Watch this.

Summer isn't over yet. So let's take a break and get out of the city for a while... Going to Argao... Going to Boljoon... For those living abroad, don't you feel like coming home and basking in the hot summer sun?

A few weeks ago I bought a Blue Soda Bag for 50 Pesos! Extremely inexpensive since they were on sale at that time.

Anyway I wasn't really going to buy it initially since I am no longer a student and I have no need for such. However, I found it cool since it's really cheap, it's made by Blue Soda and I like the color black. I used it often nowadays since I am bringing packed food to work. Very durable and stylish. I even used it during our summer outing. :D

The design for the 2008 Olympic torch has been recently unveiled by the organizing committee and of the designs sent in from different sources, China-based Lenovo known for producing notebooks in particular the thinkPads, got the cake. The design is basically called the Cloud of Promise and sports a red-themed design with cloud swirls on the upper half (as best as I can describe it).

According to the article posted on the Lenovo website (click on the title to view it), the inspiration for the design was the traditional Chinese scroll.

What I think is a nice thing to this design is that the design effort was also a collaborative task done by people around the world.

Personally, I think it looks nice. Not too flashy, not dull either.

It just started raining in Manila today. This for us is the foreboding of the end of summer in the Philippines. Which is good and bad for us city-dwellers.

The good thing is that the heat is slowly losing its grip on our islands. Slowly, I stress. It ain't over yet.

The bad thing is that with rain comes horrific traffic, and for those of us who commute, the possibility of falling/tripping on an open manhole. Yes, we have those here. This and the getting drenched by cars, jeepneys, or buses that drive by and splash water on pedestrians, albeit unintentionally. Sometimes.

So before the summer ends, I just gotta post these two pictures of my regulation commuting attire. And ask the question, why don't Filipinos do the same instead of getting office clothes wet from sweat?

I find it vaguely amusing when people at work comment on my choice of clothing for my commute to the office in 34 degree Celsius heat - "You're so American!"

In my head, I'm thinking it's not so much an American thing but more of a practical solution slash common sense thing to want to be comfortable when walking to the jeepney stops, the tricycle stands, the bus stops, the pedicab rides, and whatever ride that needs getting to.

At least this way, my requisite office uniform isn't sweaty when I get to work. One stop at the restroom to change and I'm all... fresh and clean.

What's so foreign about that?

So now that the rainy season is starting to assert itself, there is no way that I'm not coming to work in anything but my regulation commuting attire - t-shirt and trainers. Okay, maybe I'll get rain boots...

Steps walked so far since my walking obsession began? 163,725.

*these feet were made for walkin'... what else can i do...?*

I stumbled upon this some time ago on the TIG page and bookmarked it for when I would have time to put it up.

In case you want one too, visit xantus.vox.com and/or click on this post. Directions are there. But in a nutshell, you need to make sure that on your Profile page in your Account Settings, you have checked the box at the bottom that asks if you want to sign up as a Beta Tester.

And since I'm sooooo jealous of all the VOX-ers who have the little 'I was a VOX Beta Tester' banner, I signed up!

I'm not sure how, or if you can keep the site counter in one place on the side bar but I know for sure it gets the job done...

Thank you, galavantiator, for asking! You beat me to it. =)

I remember vividly how a a young local actress mentioned on TV over a year ago how this certain makeup can make her skin beautiful. She also said that she can actually sleep in it and it can even improve the health of her skin!  I readily dismissed her words as BS. I mean it's a known fact, makeup ruins ones skin especially if you sleep in it . It has chemicals. Period. Plus I must admit, for as long as i can remember, i was under the impression that Joey de Leon got his "crater face" because he wears makeup a lot on TV: klieg lights + chemical makeup = disaster skin! (thanks to Manila urban legends)

A few months ago, i read from a U.P sis' blog how she adores mineral makeups. I must say that that blog started my further researches (alright obsession..teehee) on mineral makeup. What convinced me to buy was the hypoallergenic and mineral-from-the-earth factor. During that time, my baby was having skin rashes, so  I stopped wearing anything on my face to elimininate probable allergens that could be causing the flare-ups. Ii even refused to use a toner!

My first order of mineral makeup sample from Everyday Minerals was followed by more online orders from 5 other mineral makeup companies abroad! hehehe. I don't know... for some reason, after receiving my first sample of everyday minerals, oh my joshhartnett... I instantly got hooked! In fact, I have already received my sample orders from the following sites (they charge from US$4-8):  Elegant Minerals, Lumiere Cosmetics, Signature Minerals, Ocean Mist Cosmetics, and Lauress Cosmetics.

Yes, I am cheap such a makeup connoisseur! (It's the girly-girl dainty-dainty side of me getting unleashed..hehe)

Sometimes, the waiting can be excruciatingly painful (teehee),  Everyday Minerals took forever to arrive, while with Ocean Mist Cosmetics, i got the product within the week. Some companies ship the items directly, while some will require you to claim the package from the post office.

Among the brands mentioned, i must say that I equally love  Everyday Minerals, Signature Minerals, and Lauress Cosmetics! But with all the mineral makeup free sample pots that I hoarded still have on hand, it's not yet the best time for me to purchase new mineral makeups. From experience, a couple of good brands that have been sitting on my vanity dresser have expired already, Clinique, MAC, VMV, Aido (hehe), The Body Shop, Max Factor, Maybelline, in2it, Revlon, Red Earth, Avon, Shu Uemura, L'oreal, Cinema Secrets- name it, i think i have at least one from each brand. I buy, but if i didn't like the "feel" of the makeup on my skin after a couple of usage, i usually stop using it and i will be off to the next brand (it was a vicious cycle)

So with MMU, I must say those teeny weeny mineral makeup pots are really made for me! I don't think they will expire before i get to finish them! (prolly, i might order sooner than i think!) I will never go back to using regular makeup.

SO anyway,  since i started using mineral mkaeup, i started getting nice comments from friends:

"Kaya pala parang palaging fresh-looking ang face mo!", "Parang wala kang skin pores!",  "You look blooming!"  (friends, thank youuuu)

And when i told them i've been using mineral makeup, they followed the wagon.

Now what is mineral makeup actually made of and what does it do to your skin? (pardon me if i'm sounding like a sales agent..teehee..i can go on and on raving about MMU..)

Companies say the products heal skin, provide natural sunblock, last longer than ordinary makeup and are so safe they can even be used in the sensitive days after plastic surgery. And as if that is not enough, the mineral mélanges are promoted as water resistant, responsible for giving the skin a glowy, silky look and good for women with oily or dry skin.

Mineral makeup is made from naturally occurring minerals, including zinc oxide; ultramarine, which is derived from lapis lazuli; and titanium dioxide. These are mined from the earth and ground into fine powder. They are touted as hypoallergenic and they naturally nourish the skin. They contain no perfumes, talc, alcohol, dyes, mineral oil or preservatives (Thus, making it comedogenic, won't clog pores). Normally only foundation is made from pure minerals. Some eye shadows and lipsticks sold by mineral makeup companies contain fillers, binders dyes or blends which can cause skin problems.

FYI, the best-selling mineral make-up is Bare Escentuals ( click also here) being one of mineral makeup pioneers. The owner also founded Urban Decay ( i did my homework well, I did a lot of reading on mineral makeup). 

Madonna on the other hand swears by  Jane Iredale dubbed as the "runway" makeup, probably one of the most glamorous makeups. I find it too designer-ish, you know, nice packaging (undeniably classy), nice promotion/advertisement- steep price.

So, what will be  my next stash?  Bare Escentuals and Urban Decay.. and maybe next time, Jane Iredale!

I've had enough of sample packs :P

 

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You can order bare escentuals make-up from me, very reasonably priced. If you will buy from SEPHORA, shipping it will turn out to be more expensive! :)