I used to be really clueless when it comes to makeup (as I've said here). You can say that I was just your regular powder-and-lipgloss kind of girl. My line of thinking before was that I don't care if I don't have makeup on, so long as I have my shoes :D Fast forward to now that I'm 19 23, I realized that I have to learn how to take more care of myself and how I portray myself to the world. I became more concerned of my appearance not because I wanted to look pretty for other people but because I wanted other people to see that I do care about their perception of me. At the end of the day, when you know you look good, you become more confident :)

The dilemma: I wanted to learn how to apply makeup but I did not know where to start! Now, thanks to the Internet, I found beauty blogs that were really helpful for someone like who didn't know what primers and highlighters were for :D And since I work for British customers at HSBC, we have regular access to their online newspapers and tabloids, one of which is Daily Mail. Through Daily Mail I found makeup guru Lauren Luke who also has a Youtube channel. Hers is indeed a rags-to-riches story, read here and be inspired. :)

Now, I am not saying I have become a makeup master or anything, but I am glad to say that I was already able to learn a little. One of the downsides of this new discovery though is realizing that I need a lot of products more to fully apply what I learned. Rest assured though that I will not hoard on the makeup products since I do not have any plans to become a professional makeup artist at all; I just read the reviews first and then determine whether a particular item will be good for me or not.

One makeup brand I am very glad to have found is Ellana Minerals. As all other mineral makeup brands, Ellana's products are non-toxic, hypoallergenic and non-comodegenic, but what really sold me to try them is that it is a local brand. I am happy that more Pinoy entrepreneurs are breaking boundaries and carving their own niche in the market :) And best of all their products are really affordable! If your budget is tight, Ellana Minerals cosmetics are great stocking stuffers for your sisters and girl friends.

photo taken on October 29, 2009
I love how their Premium Blend Foundation goes on very light and natural

my first Ellana haul
I got the Premium Blend Mineral Foundation in Cafe Mocha, Mineral Powder Blush in Happiness, and Lip Treatment in Strawberry Fresh
The rest are free samples :)

I came back after just two days :p
Makeup Remover, Lip and Cheek Tint in Amethyst, Baby Buki brush, Mineral Powder Blush in Lust, Lip Scrub in Strawberry Kiss, Liquid Lip Color in Lovely, 3-piece Brush Set (contains a lip brush, concealer brush and powder brush) and Non-latex sponges

I applied the Premium Blend Foundation in Cafe Mocha in the morning (before my 6am - 3pm work schedule) the day we went to Cartimar and I am happy that it did not budge at all!

This photo was taken at exactly 4:40pm, eleven hours after I applied the mineral foundation at 5am, no retouching at all!

You see, it did not budge at all! And it also did a very good job at managing the oil and covering up a small zit on my right cheek. Awts, I wish I have discovered the wonders of makeup when I was still in college XD

So much is my trust in this brand that I have even become a reseller together with my friend/ officemate Marsha. Yep, you can order Ellana Minerals through us. Just email me at kristelann.cruz@gmail.com. If you'd like to know what your skin type and undertone is, you may check this easy-peasy guide. Want free samples? Click here and fill out the form. :)

Have you tried mineral makeup? What can you say about them? Share your inputs, I would love to hear them! :)

EDIT: On a related note, I just wanted to say that lipsticks are probably my favorite beauty item. I am slightly anemic and there are days that I look so pale that it seems like I have been bled dry. I am not kidding, it is not a pretty sight x_x So, my go-to items are lipsticks. Incidentally I received the NYX Round Lipsticks I ordered from Sol via her Multiply store.

pretty colors :)

I have tried NYX Round Lipsticks before and I must say I really love them!

Here they are when opened:

Louisiana

Paris

Rose

No swatches though, because one or two are gifts for my friends :D (Want to receive a Christmas cheer from me? Click here!)

What are your favorite makeup items (that you cannot live without, or if that sounds too drastic, beauty items that have definitely made life much better for you)?

Do you have a dog? If so, what breed? How long have you had him/ her? And what is his/ her name?

The reason I asked is that I just realized I want one. But getting a dog is impossible for me at the moment so I guess I would just have to live through you. XD Why impossible? Let me break down my schedule for you (this is an anwer as well to Kym's question). During my work days (Thursdays - Mondays) my alarm clock sounds off at 4am (because it takes awfully long for me to get ready). I finally get up at 4:30 then rush myself to make sure I get to work on time. My work hours are from 6am - 3pm, and then after work I always get to have plans to go somewhere (this is me milking my independence) unless I am too lazy to go anywhere and would just rather lounge in my Quezon City apartment and watch DVDs (or do nothing, which is equally fun). On days I go somewhere else though I go home at about 7-8pm (making sure I have already grabbed a bite somewhere, thanks to my non-skills in cooking which is proving to be quite expensive). I then read the blogs I follow, Facebook and play FB games for a couple of hours while watching local news, and then finally hit the sack at 10pm. On Mondays though I go straight to my parents' house after work (I'm saying hi to you now from Navotas!) and then go to work on Thursday from here. This is my routine, and I assure you it is not boring at all :D

You see, with my schedule being full as it is, there is no way I can squeeze in taking care of a dog. As with other relationships, it is a big responsibility. And I want to be able to give my full attention to my commitments (especially when it comes to taking care of a creature who would most likely die if not given the attention he/ she deserves and needs), which sadly I cannot do so at the moment. Well, I can prolly get one and then leave him/ her at my parents' house, but my Mom already said no as my two siblings and toddler cousin have asthma. Goodbye dog dreams. :(

So yeah, I just have to be content with my fishes Aziraphale and Anathema.

My dragonfins
You may also call them Yin and Yang for short :D

They have been with me for more than seven months now, way past the deadline of three days imposed on me by my officemates (some friends they are)! :D I have taken care of five different  species of fishes before but they only stayed with me for a maximum of a week *sniff*

Anyway, yesterday Dane and I went to Cartimar in Pasay City to look for a pet dog for him, specifically a guard dog. (He also has a 75-gallon aquarium housing 9 different species of dragonfins). It was my first time to go there and it was awesome! It is Manila's pet heaven and all you pet lovers out there will surely love it! It is very much like Divisoria, but instead of selling bargain clothes and whatnots, rows and rows of stores sell pet animals (different kinds of dogs, cats, birds, chickens, snakes, lizards, fishes, even peacocks!) and everything you need in taking care of one like cages, food, tanks, even clothes!

Guess what, Dane wants a Great Dane.

Dane: I want a Great Dane.

Krissy: Wow. Okay, so what are you going to name it? Great? (Pet is named Great, Master is named Dane. Great and Dane. Great Dane. Get it? LOL)

Dane: Har har.

Haha! It is kinda funny, right? :D

A Rottweiler will also do. We found one actually, and it is easy to see it has already fallen in love with us awwww but due to an unfortunate incident (I would like to blog about it but will not, as per his request) he did not buy it. Let's just say it was not to be. Sad, I already have a name for it. Yep, I will name her even though she's not mine. I wanted to name her Athena because my officemate Niño's wife is pregnant with a baby girl and he said he is going to name her Athena but I opposed it because I want Athena for my baby's name. So he said he will not name her Athena if I can procure  a baby before March. Uhh, no thanks. I will have a baby in my and my future husband's own terms, thankyouverymuch. (Some back story, huh? :p) So, Dane's still on the lookout for the perfect dog (so long as it's not a toy dog. I cannot imagine him with one haha). Any recommendations? :)

PS: I am still rounding up people who would like some Krissy Christmas Cheer! Click here. ♥♥

This month...

I like: that it is the holiday season! Christmas is my favorite holiday! (Want to have a little Christmas cheer from me? Click here!)

I don't like: that I actually have to work on Christmas day. x_x Thankfully I get off work at 3pm so I can still attend the annual reunion in my father's side of the family.

I want you to know: that I am really thankful for each and everyone of you who are reading my blabs here. Sending some digital hugs smothered with pink kisses your way! :)

I've planned: a Christmas party for my officemates. It will be like a semi-reunion for our two former teammates who have already transfered to other departments.

I want to say to someone special: A, I hope that we can get in touch this Christmas. I really do miss you.

This is my December entry for the Toothfairy's A Piece of Me challenge. Want to join as well? Click here! :)

The spirit of Christmas is in the air, and with it comes a host of generous bloggers all sponsoring different giveaways! :D

One of these is herroyalbleakness who wants you to win a laser hair removal or TCA peel treatment! Perfect for all those party dresses ;)

Contest ends tomorrow, December 6 at 10 PM. Click on the image for more details  ;)

Want a little bit more? Click here for a little Christmas cheer from me! :)

Seeing all the Christmas lights in the ginormous house beside our old apartment made me even more giddy for Christmas! Twenty-two winks to go! Excuse my excitement my friends, but would you believe I am even more excited for Christmas now that I am older, as compared to when I was still a kid? I don't know, maybe it's just the feeling of being able to buy gifts for my family and friends, now that I actually already have purchasing power :)

It's the second day of December peeps! Christmas is almost here! Have you started with your Christmas shopping already? Well I have already sent my package for Mel's Blogger Gift Exchange Project but for my gifts for family and friends I'm still stuck with my list x_x I'm organizing a Christmas Party for my officemates on the weekend before Christmas though, and I'm really looking forward to that. Ü

 

But before I go on and on I would just want to say that today is extra special for me because three  two of my favorite people in the world are celebrating their birthdays!

First, my Mama celebrates her 47th birthday today. It's a good thing it's my rest day so I was able to just stay here at home and spend time with my family.

I know we all say this about our respective mothers, but my Ma is just the best ever! Even when I am already staying in my apartment she calls and texts me regularly just to make sure I eat dinner and take my vitamins, etc. And even though I am already earning my own money, she still includes me in the grocery list. Ü And even without these small but greatly appreciated gestures, I still love her so. Ü

Next is my very good friend Ed, who as I have mentioned in a previous post is my sunshine and serenades-in-a-box.

He was my classmate from college. He was actually a shifter from another course so he had an irregular schedule for him to take up other prerequisite subjects. I was the College Representative for the Student Council that time so I was the first in our batch to meet him (as I assisted in their enrollment). We were casual friends back then, I remember his having a very beautiful singing voice that is enough to make anyone swoon! What's ironic is that we became a LOT closer after we graduated! I don't actually know when our beautiful friendship specifically started, but I do know it involves the two of us commenting on each other's respective Multiply blogs! 

Photo taken on Valentine's Day this year
He went with us to watch Boyce Avenue's mall tour and then we went to our apartment afterwards

He makes me see sense in my crazy moments. The best lesson he taught me is that the person who broke my heart should only be a part of my pink world and not be it. Beautiful, right? He also went on a trip to Hong Kong this weekend and I was the first he bought a present for! I wish I can see him soon (and that's not just because of the H&M goodie he bought for me!) Ü

Lastly, it's Britney Spears' birthday today! I am not really as big a fan of hers as I was when I was in my teens, but I can say I still love her. 

You cannot argue though that she has bounced back from her manic state a couple of years ago. I honestly thought she would go Anna Nicole Smith (God bless her soul) on us. I used to like her so much during the latter part of my Elementary and all the years of my High School days! I absolutely loved her videos, memorized all her songs, bought her albums and collected magazines featuring her on the cover. Remembering those days makes me cringe (but only a bit) but I actually miss those days. You know, the buzz you feel when you see your "idol" in the TV screen or in the glossies. I was not a blind follower though. I liked her whole bubble-pop image but it did not necessarily mean I wanted to emulate her, especially when she began "rebelling". And come on, you gotta admit you liked at least one of her songs one way or another. Ö

I actually wrote a piece about her on one of the Writing Workshops I attended last year but I think it is in my apartment. I will update this post when I find it, I hope I do. Ü

 

I hope you're all having an awesome week! How's the status of your Christmas shopping? Ö

PS: How do you like my new layout? Sorry for changing my blog's layout every week, blame my being a girl for not being satisfied x_x But I think I am definitely loving this one! My bestfriend Jerome told me he'd make me a banner for this blog so I am excited for that. Ü