Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't win, they made a blunder in announcing the correct winner for Best Picture, and Christopher Nolan wasn't even nominated for his work in The Dark Knight. Nope, I'm still not over it.

Still, the 89th Academy Awards was as glitzy and glamorous as expected and I couldn't help but attempt to bring even a speck of it on my blog. What better (and easier) way to do just that than with lipsticks?

Today I'm sharing my thoughts on the new L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Gold Obsession Lipsticks.

I don't know until when the metallic lipstick trend will stay but color me obsessed. Straight from the runways of Paris Fashion Week, L'Oreal Makeup Designer/ Paris brings Color Riche Gold Obsession, an opulent collection of lipsticks infused with real 24-karat gold. Perfect for night-outs when you want to look extra bold or instantly sophisticated, or for days when you need to sparkle. Literally.

Color Riche Gold Obsession offers four sophisticated shades with real 24-karat gold that gives a metallic sheen and subtle dimension on the lips. Keep on reading for my swatches and review.

#SKYTriviaNight: Everything Oscars!

La La Land would be tough to beat I guess, but I really really really hope Lin-Manuel Miranda wins an Oscar on Monday just so he can grace us with another beautiful acceptance speech.

I mean, just listen to this:

One more time for people at the back:

Whenever I feel sad, I just watch my favorite acceptance speeches, cry, and immediately feel better again. Lin-Manuel's speech for Best Score at last year's Tony Awards is one of my top favorites.

The 89th Academy Awards is happening this Monday and you can catch the HBO Live Coverage starting at 8AM! If you're looking forward to the glitzy and glamorous side of it though, you can watch the E! Red Carpet coverage with hosts Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic as early as 6:30AM!

As a prelude to the Oscars, I got invited by SKY Cable to the #SKYTriviaNight with the theme Everything Oscars. It was held in Ludo Boardgame Bar and Cafe in Makati last Thursday night, in partnership with HBO, E!, and Geek Fight.

Ballet Manila presents: Don Quixote

I went to the dress rehearsal of Don Quixote by Ballet Manila not knowing what to expect. I don't remember it being discussed in any of my classes so I walked in to Aliw Theater with no background information. All I know is that because it's Ballet Manila, then it is worth checking out.

AND IT IS.

Happening on February 24 and 25, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. and on February 26, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Aliw Theater, Don Quixote is known in the ballet world as one of the most technically challenging pieces ever created, with some of the choreography raising the already high international standards when it first premiered in 1869 at the Tsar's Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg. It is especially known for its compulsory quick and strong movements, high vertical takeoffs, one arm lifts, quick fouettes, quadruple pirouettes, and Kitri’s signature move, the Plisetskaya head-kick. 

Don Quixote is the closing act for Ballet Manila’s 21st performance season. Set in Spain, the story tells the tale of Don Quixote, who decides to become a knight and embark on a journey to find Lady Dulcinea, a lover that he has only made up in his head. The ballet places special focus on the love story between Kitri and Basilio, a pair he encounters during his adventures. The production combines great acrobatic feats, lively music, colorful sets and costumes, and a lot of comedic elements. Specially for this run, Ballet Manila will bring in Kremlin Ballet Theater star and principal danseur, Mikhail Martynyuk, to play Basilio.

I was enthralled not only by the ballerinas and danseurs (Katherine Barkman and Rudy de Dios danced the lead roles in the tech rehearsal I watched) but also by the colorful costumes.

I hope you can take the time to catch Don Quixote by Ballet Manila!

Cultured and concert date

Hello, we are Ana and Krissy. We've been friends for 10 years now.

Our hobbies include blogging, arts and crafts, reading, getting together at least once a year for our annual catch-up date, and watching reunion concerts. (Eraserheads, Hanson, The Cranberries, Vertical Horizon, and Sugar Ray, among others.) Yesterday, The Moffatts was added to that list.

My Saturdays are usually reserved for my boyfriend but we made separate plans for yesterday because I spent the whole day with Ana. 

My Valentine

My boyfriend is not the romantic type.

He's not big on grand gestures, he thinks Valentine's Day is overrated, he doesn't like flowers, and sometimes he loses track of dates and forgets monthsaries. This proves to be challenging for me at times because I'm a cliché. I'm all about the hearts and cheese, fam.

I acknowledge that his love language differs from mine and I have enough self-awareness to recognize when I'm being irrational so I have learned to manage my expectations.

And so when he does something out of the ordinary, these gestures are completely unexpected and doubly appreciated.

Yesterday, just a little after I gave up and accepted the fact that we wouldn't be celebrating Valentine's Day together, he surprised me in the office with flowers and took me out on a romantic date at The Wholesome Table (where we technically had our first ever date before watching Owl City's concert back in 2015).

I had a Yakitori Bowl and a Wholesome Mojito while he had a Grass Fed Beef Burger and a Be Strong smoothie.

A haiku

Lost. A sea of cars.

We got into a car accident this morning. Another car bumped into the van I was riding (on my side, no less!) but thank the gods of traffic jams, we hardly felt the impact. Our driver settled things with the driver of the other car and we were back on the road in no time. 

I don't even want to think of the other scenarios that could have happened. Instead I'm here, thankful that we didn't suffer even a single scratch from that incident.

So, yeah, hello everyone. I'm alive and well.

Drowning in lists and to do's.

We're preparing for three major events and a minor one scheduled this month, the first of which is happening tomorrow. I am drowning in lists of people I need to coordinate with, invite, and press information I need to collate and disseminate. 

Sometimes I wonder why I choose this lifestyle, why I willingly go through all this stress that a career in PR brings. But then I talk to and connect with a lot of people and know their individual stories, and I am reminded why.

Inhale. Exhale. Wink.

Challenges notwithstanding, I am grateful I have hardworking and inspiring bosses, supportive officemates-turned-friends, and a Love that, with a single hug, makes me feel like I'm home.

In life as in liquid eyeliners, steady does it.

Wink.