Third post on the third consecutive day? Wow, I'm on a roll. Yay, me!

Hello, everyone! Today I'm sharing my review and swatches of the Happy Skin x Disney Frozen Moisturizing Matte Lippie Set that my boyfriend got for me. Yep, he went to a Happy Skin store alone and surprised me with lipsticks for our 17th monthsary. I'm so proud and kilig! (´∀｀)♡

I was actually counting on getting a Jasmine lipstick but sadly she wasn't part of the lineup for this collaboration. Oh well. From the swatches alone, I was already leaning on getting this set but couldn't get a valid enough reason to buy it seeing as how I just bought a new work bag. Thank you for getting this for me, bb. ❤

This set puts sisters Elsa and Anna in the spotlight. I am one of the many people who enjoyed the movie Frozen along with its characters, songs, and story-line so even if we disregard the swatches, I'm still chuffed to get this set.

Make Me Smile Mondays // 111416

One thing I love about my job is that I can actually work anywhere so long as there's a working Internet connection. I still need to go to the office 40 hours a week though, but we are not required to go on overtime and I am almost always out of the door before 5:15 PM. That's especially helpful for me because I live far from my workplace and commuting to and from work easily eats up almost four hours of my day, every weekday. 

As for my weekends, they're sacred and are spent with my boyfriend and family (and every four weeks, my orthodontist). Last Saturday, I was with Miah as usual but it was more special because it was our 17th monthsary.

He's not smile-y in photos but trust me, he's happy. Heh.
The hoodies are my monthsary gift to him. Anyway, we were wearing our hoodies because it was cold inside New Life in Market! Market!, okay?

17 months. Whoah. Where did all those months go?

We celebrated the occasion by attending a design workshop by industrial engineer/ inventor John Tan featuring the Vaquform he designed and getting our body weight, height, and blood pressure measured at a machine inside Mercury Drug. How romantic, right? But I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm so in love with this nerd. ♥

Challenge accepted: Human Nature's Sweep Challenge

I've come to the point where I'm more mindful of the products I use and put on my face, especially those that might be absorbed by my body. With all the chemicals floating around in our food, in the air, and in the products we use, we can never be too careful. Environmental concerns is also an important factor; I don't purchase products in sachets anymore and instead buy products in bottles or packaging that can be upcycled. I love Human Nature because their products tick all the boxes for me: natural ingredients, innovative products, environment-friendly packaging, and affordable prices.

Long-time friends of mine and readers of this blog may remember how much I love Human Nature and patronize their products. I even had a brief stint as a reseller when I was living and working in Quezon City! I enjoyed that sideline because not only did I learn about the importance of taking care of one's self using natural ingredients, I was also able to dish helpful advice to my friends and buyers!

And so it wasn't that difficult of a decision for me to say YES when I received an email challenging me to participate in Human Nature's Sweep Challenge. This entails "sweeping" my current personal care products and using Human Nature products for seven days instead.

First I answered a questionnaire, and then they sent me a care package filled with Human Nature products I was supposed to use for seven days, handpicked according to my needs and preferences!

My Human Nature care package contained a 200ml bottle of Natural Feminine Wash in Powder Cool, a 200ml bottle of Balancing Facial Wash, a 200ml bottle of Balancing Face Toner, a 200ml bottle of Moisturizing Natural Shampoo in Mandarin Fresh, a 200ml tube of Moisturizing Natural Conditioner in Mandarin Fresh, a 200ml bottle of Natural Body Wash in Gentle Berry, a 200ml bottle of Healthy Lotion in Powder Love, and a 120g tube of Natural Toothpaste.

The iPhone 7 Midnight Launch at Beyond the Box

My current phone contract is due to expire early next year but I'm low key hoping it happens very soon because gosh darn have you seen sample photos online using the iPhone 7? It's like a photo shoot each time!

For you folks who have extra money to burn and a hankering to get a new gadget, Apple premium reseller Beyond the Box has made it easier for you to get your hands on this swanky new device!

At the stroke of midnight tonight, the iPhone 7 will finally be ready for purchase at Beyond the Box. This special Midnight Launch event will mark the official commercial release of the iPhone 7 in the country. Attendees can expect to get a full rundown of iPhone 7’s impressive new features during the event, but more importantly, be the first ones to own Apple’s latest flagship device.

If you wish to get first access, all you need to do is line up at Beyond the Box in Resorts World Manila starting 11PM tonight. The first 100 customers who will purchase an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus at the event will take home premium accessories from Beyond the Box in partnership with Bodyguardz.

For more information, including pricing, please visit Beyond the Box's website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram! Are you coming tonight? Tweet me as you are as I'll be there! It's a bit problematic for me because I still can't drink coffee but, yeah, see you later!

Another sunset

One day, you said to me, "I saw the sunset forty-four times!"

And a little later you added: "You know-- one loves the sunset, when one is so sad..."

"Were you so sad, then?" I asked, "on the day of the forty-four sunsets?"

But the little prince made no reply.

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

My friend Ed

I met Ed the summer of 2004; a few weeks shy of our sophomore year in college. I was part of the Student Council as the College Representative, tasked to guide new students as they were interviewed by the College of Mass Communication; he shifted courses, transferring from the College of Engineering. Both young, bright-eyed, and full of dreams, back then I already had an inkling we would be friends. 

We weren't really able to hang out that much then, though. Being a shifter, he was an irregular student who had to take units I've already taken. We also belonged to different cliques and didn't have a chance to bond more than the usual pleasantries and quick hellos.

Thanks to Multiply, we became much closer than we anticipated. I found his entries to his Multiply Journals witty and sincere, and we spent many back and forths commenting on each other's posts. I had a falling out with my old group, and my friendship with Ed was further cemented when he had my back as I let go of friendships that were no longer fruitful. When I had my heart broken and it took me much longer to get over it, Ed was there supporting me all the way, never judging and always ready to lend a sympathetic ear. He was never an enabler, though; he speaks what I need to hear but is always kind and gracious about it. And he was right, I found love again and it's much better than I imagined. ♥

Countless beach trips, dinners, concerts, Pahiyas, random sleepovers, Jason Mraz songs, movie recommendations, and more than a thousand text messages and emails exchanged (he was the one who forced me to watch How I Met Your Mother and I am so glad I listened!), Ed has become a solid constant in my life and I am truly blessed he is my friend. 

Yesterday, he left the Philippines to work in Singapore. It's a country I considered trying my luck in late last year when a circumstance forced me to reevaluate my life and rethink my choices. I even have somewhere to stay in already. But decisions remain ideas unless you push through with them, and I didn't. As for Ed, he made the decision and trudged on, and now he's there and starting his first day on his new job tomorrow. Everything came easy for him because it was meant to happen. We're now separated by a thousand miles and a huge body of water but thanks to technology, there's no distance too far.

A year or so ago, I made a promise to him that I will never not reply. I haven't turned my back on that promise so far, and I never intend to. Whether it be little triumphs or huge victories, a tear or two or full-on ugly crying over a movie or a song or a love too great to comprehend, I know he knows that I'm ALWAYS just a message or a phone call away.

Dear Eddiibear, you'll always be my sunshine and serenade-in-a-box, and I'll be sweet pea. I know you'll do great there! Cheers to more adventures and stories, cheers to love and light and music and doughnuts! The world is waiting.

Hey, remember that time I rushed myself to the ER?

Yesterday I rushed myself to the Emergency Room of St. Luke's Medical Center in BGC. I only meant to go home earlier than my official time-out from work but my boyfriend said to go to the hospital and so that's what I did. It was my first time to go to the Emergency Room of any hospital ever so you could just imagine how terrified I was. 

Early this year, my heart started beating irregularly in that sometimes it would skip one or two beats and then go really fast that I am left out of breath. I had it checked and had ECG and Thyroid Function test done but the doctor didn't find anything unusual. She chalked it up to stress — which made sense as I was dealing with a major change then — and ordered me to stop drinking coffee and tea for a while. I did, and the palpitations stopped. It would return every now and then but not that frequently so I just ignored it.

Until it returned about two weeks ago, and it got to the point that it was too difficult to ignore. Yesterday was that point.

It started with a simple chest pain, and then as 4:00 rolled around I was full on having difficulty breathing; I was literally gasping for air. I was a total mess, panicking and tearing up and messaging my boyfriend while fixing my stuff preparing to go home and rest it off, and that was when he told me to go straight to the hospital and that he'd meet me there. Amidst helpful advice from my officemates on what I should do when I get to the hospital I booked an Uber and next scene, I was in the Emergency Room talking to the nurse while she was getting my details and checking my vital signs.

First day back at work after the extra long weekend and now this
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Apparently it was not a life-threatening situation as I waited for about 15 to 20 minutes more before another nurse attended to me for an ECG. I got scared again when the nurse couldn't get a proper reading even after two attempts. Was my heart condition that bad that it couldn't be read? This is modern facility with modern equipment, why wouldn't the machine work? Am I dying? We had to transfer to another room and use another machine, and finally it worked this time.

The results of the ECG were passed to the doctor and she told me neither the electrocardiogram nor the stethoscope didn't detect anything wrong with my heart.

I felt like panicking again because what could be wrong with me?