Hello, everyone! I'd like you to meet Midge, the newest addition to my Dollireum. She is Barbie's best friend from Wisconsin, and this particular doll is from the Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse series. I loved that show so much I watched all episodes in Netflix in less than a week! I wish they can produce more episodes! Midge wasn't really in my list of dream dolls to have but when I saw her for sale in one of the Facebook groups I belong to I just couldn't resist. I just love her hair and freckles!

I took her out of her box last Saturday and had fun taking her photos wearing the original dress she came with as well as the other blue dress included in her package. You may check my Dollireum Instagram account for photos of her and of my other dolls. ♡

This was definitely one of the most restful and relaxed weekends I've had in a while. We spent it taking photos of some of my dolls and organizing their clothes and shoes, and I realized that my Barbies have more shoes than I do. Heh.

My boyfriend also got a Nintendo Switch over the weekend. I am not a gamer by any means, but Mario Kart was loads of fun.

Mario Kart's theme was stuck in my head for two days! (ꐦ ´͈ ᗨ `͈ )  Here are the other things I've been up to.

CURRENTLY

READING

I'm almost done with Adam J. Kurtz's Things are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives. You can actually read it in one day but I choose to relish each chapter. His book signing is one of my favorite book signings I have attended, and I know that when I get sad I'll just remember that day and feel less sad.

Also, while waiting for the book signing proper last Friday, I whiled away the time by spending monies. One of the things I spent on was The BUST DIY Guide to Life: Making Your Way Through Every Day by Laurie Henzel and Debbie Stoller. I have an entire shelf/ pile dedicated to DIY books and I'm happy to have this as the latest addition.


I am happiest when I make, and I am excited to make things with this as guide!

WRITING

A cheesy love letter. It's Valentine season, y'all!

LISTENING TO

My Loved Spotify playlist. It's a collection of my favorite love songs. ♡

WEARING

House clothes. I opted to work from home today because - TMI but - I anticipated the deadliest cramps in my history of having my period because my usual cycle of 28 days extended to 76 days because of my myomas. Now that my period has finally come, we can already schedule my operation. I am freakin' scared but it has to happen as soon as possible, before my myomas get even bigger.

THINKING

I need to be busier. An idle mind is the playground of a shopaholic's wish lists.

FEELING

RED, so I feel the need for the Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncensored.

I haven't read a single negative review. I need it. *cries*

LOVING

Dolls, but you know that already. I said I will never get a Blythe or a Fashion Royalty doll, but I find myself looking at photos of them lately.

WANTING

See above. (๑•́‧̫•̀๑)  

NEEDING

Money. Well, dolls and other expensive hobbies aside, I really need funds for my operation so I have started checking my stashes again for stuff I can possibly sell.

But then I get invites to things like the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale preview happening next week so what is the going rate for a kidney nowadays.


I'll get buried in a pit of books and dolls and other hobbies.

WISHING

Ultimately, I just wish for things to turn out okay.

Happy February, you. Thank you for reading. ♡

I was a totally lousy blogger last year and if it wasn't for Netflix showing FRIENDS again I would have forgotten writing about this experience. So, yes, it has been almost a year now, but I'd like to share our visit to Central Perk in Singapore.

For our first trip out of the country together, my boyfriend and I went to Singapore for my birthday month last year. Together with my friends Ronnie, Kayle, and JV, we were hosted by our friend Ed who is currently working there. For the last two days of our trip though, they planned to go to Malaysia while we opted to stay and explore the Lion City more on our own.

It was already our sixth day there and we were already feeling confident we wouldn't get lost, having been spoiled by the efficiency of their transportation system. Armed with only our data plan and good ol' Google Maps, we were able to find our way to Central Perk!

Being a fan of the show, the interiors instantly made me feel right at home!


They have a projector that screens FRIENDS episodes all day, every day.


Looking around the café certainly made me feel giddy because it looks exactly how I imagined it to be, down to the orange couch! We wanted to sit on it but we were advised customers need to call in to reserve it beforehand. This is perfectly understandable as the orange couch is surely very popular among the show's fans. We settled for one of the tall tables and chairs instead.

I wish I took a photo of the menu, but you can view the online version on their website.

We already had lunch in a hole-in-the-wall serving authentic Chicken Rice, so we ordered desserts.

Even the food are FRIENDS-themed! You may remember the cheesecake as the one they fought over because it was too good.

Mrs. Braverman's Cheesecake The One from Mama's Little Bakery, Chicago, Illinois

Heavy Fudge Chocolate Mudcake The One Joey isn't Even Sorry for Eating

J got an Iced The One with Chocolate Rached Green while I got a Ross Geller Cappuccino

Quality and presentation are A+++ although I'm pretty sure I have had better cheesecakes, mud cakes, and even coffee in my lifetime. Still, there's something about ordering these FRIENDS-themed desserts at a FRIENDS-themed café that makes them doubly special and worth trying even with the hefty price tag. (We tried hard not to convert to local currency when we spend there, but the food here are more expensive than the local fare even without converting to Philippine Peso.)

After eating or while waiting for your order, you might want to drop by the other side of the restaurant to see more props from the show. Make your visit more fun by inserting a little competition: bet your companion that you're better at naming the episode where the props were shown.



My favorite is the replication they made of Monica's kitchen.


They also have merchandise available for sale, perfect for souvenirs. I wanted to take home a coffee mug but I was worried it will just break in transit.


We did not stay long because we still had several places we wanted to squeeze in and visit, but we truly enjoyed our Central Perk experience. My advice? Go for the novelty, stay for the food, and just relish it because it's the nearest you can get to one of the most iconic television shows of all time. We will definitely go back and taste the other dishes in the future!


To exploring more places, eating more food, and experiencing more things with you, bb!

On my fourth month with ARC Public Relations, Inc., my boss Jenny said this during a meeting with a potential client:

and it has stuck with me since then.

... So I took a day off from work yesterday so I could attend Adam J. Kurtz's book signing held at National Bookstore in Glorietta. 

The event itself wasn't until 5 PM but I intended to come before the mall even opened to guarantee I get the first slot for the book signing, but the spirit is willing but the body is weak. I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking I was already late, that I ended up waking up late! 

Passing away the time in the mall was risky because there's always the temptation to spend, and I have the willpower of a pillow. In addition to getting Adam J. Kurtz's Pick Me Up for signing I also got The Bust DIY Guide to Life: Making Your Way Through Every Day by Debbie Stoller and Laurie Henzel at National Bookstore (win because it's such a steal at just P399!), a Kuretake ZIG Cocoiro duck egg blue pen body, a Kuretake ZIG extra fine mint green refill, and a Tokyo Finds pink metallic marker from The Craft Central (loss because I already have way too many pens), and a dress from H&M (neutral because on one hand it's on sale for only P300 from the original price of P1,490 but on the other hand I can only wear it when I lose a little more weight). Still, me times like this are rare and far in between so I was also happy. I enjoyed a delicious lunch by my lonesome at Tokyo Tonteki and saw my officemates/ friends Hannah and Mich on my way to the Ayala Lounge in my attempt to steer myself away from temptation (but they were the ones who led me to H&M, heh).

I am so happy!


It was also nice to see one of the people I look up to, Miss Pam Pastor of Super! by Inquirer.

Giddily waiting for my turn for the book signing

Aaand finally it was my turn!


I decided to wear this dress the moment I learned he will be visiting the Philippines because I think it compliments his artworks, and I was so kilig when he complimented it!




My most important takeaway from this is when he said:

Never let not having things get in your way of trying your thing.

This was when he was asked if he has a specific pen or paper he uses to create. He said it's not about the things you use but what you make of them. It was important for me to hear this because when I am faced with the chance to create but fear takes over, I tend to reason that I need specific materials to be in the proper mindset to create that I end up not getting the work done. This also leads to spending too much on materials I think I need but just get bundled away with other things I have hoarded, unused, sad, and gathering dust. In Adam's words, "it's a scam." BUT I am working on using up all the stuff I have collected so far, and I am a work in progress.


This is the part where I give a shout out to my boyfriend for being so supportive. He went to the event with me after his work thing out of town even though he wasn't interested but ended up liking Adam as well. (I mean you can hear his laughter in the video of the entire program, heh.) Thanks, bb!

Special thanks to Graphika Manila for flying Adam J. Kurtz to the Philippines and to National Bookstore for hosting his book signing! My fan girl and aspiring artist's heart is happy and inspired and full. 'Til the next one! ♡

I have never related to any other image as much as I did when I saw this. This is from Adam J. Kurtz's book, Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives. I am going to line up at his book signing on Friday so I can meet him in person and have him sign my books/ bless my life with his presence and creativity!

Whew, what an eventful week! Here are the other things I've been up to.

CURRENTLY

READING

Mina V. Esguerra's Welcome to Envy Park. I am finally making a dent to my loooong list of To Be Read books! Hooray! I've had this book for almost three years now. (Can you believe it? I am the worst.)

WRITING

My intentions for the next six months on my journal. For the first time in 152 years, a supermoon, Blue Moon, and lunar eclipse has coincided. It is said that "full moons are when we focus on what we want to grow, and eclipses are the same energy intensified, opening doors for the next 6 to 12 months to come."

LISTENING TO

ONE OK ROCK.





Last Monday, my boyfriend took me to Mall of Asia Arena for the Manila leg of ONE OK ROCK's Ambitions Tour. They were here two years ago but it coincided with the concert of the best vocalist I have ever heard in my life, Nate Ruess. I'm not going to lie, if it wasn't for J's recommendation I wouldn't have even been able to hear any of their songs. Well, last Monday, after that SPECTACULAR show, they gained a new fan. They were amazing! One song even made me cry because of how raw, intense, and powerful the performance was! The lights, effects, and over-all production value was also A+++. 10/10 will watch again when they go back.

WEARING

My Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Believer.


All day, everrry day.

THINKING

Wistful. Today was our last day in our temporary office in HRC Center, and tomorrow we move to another temporary office.


We also heard some news today that highly impact our future, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I wish I can divulge more, but I guess I'll just wait until I am cleared to do so. That said, I am still...

FEELING

Excited because as I said above, I am going to meet Adam J. Kurtz on Friday!


I am going to have this book signed as well as my copy of 1 Page at a Time. I would also like to get a copy of Pick Me Up.

LOVING

My new Love Lilie Blush Pink Wrap Dress that we got from a branded ukay. We chanced upon this store in Alphaland Megamall, and they sell a lot of branded and designer clothes and shoes at a much lower price! The store name is Threads, and you can also shop online!


You can also sell your pre-loved clothes through them as they accept consignment. Visit their website to know more!

WANTING

Courage and grace.

NEEDING

Courage and grace.

WISHING

For courage and grace.


Cheers to changes and the courage, grace, and chutzpah to chase and face them.

I wish the same for you.

Thank you for reading. ♡

After a self-imposed lipstick purchase ban that lasted for a whole year (yay, me!) I went ahead and purchased three (THREE!) new lipsticks on the first month of the new year (bad, Krissy). I'm not going to lie, purchasing a brand new lipstick gives me a rush each time. Now I'd like to talk about the first lipstick I bought this year, the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Believer.

I was supposed to be strong and not follow the bandwagon, but after much hype in the makeup Facebook Groups I belong to, I knew I HAD to have it, and so I did, and here we are.

From the swatches I've seen online I had a hard time choosing among my top picks Believer, Pioneer, Lover, and Voyager but in the end I went with Believer because I don't think I have a purple shade like this in my collection yet while I already have favorite power reads, romantic nudes, and bold burgundies. That's not to say I won't be tempted to go back to a Maybelline counter and swipe these, too, though. 

My Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Believer matches my Valentine read: After Eden by Arnold Arre

Maybelline promises "16 hours of water-proof and non-drying intense liquid lip color in extreme precision". I am not looking for a lipstick that can stay that long since my mood can change many times within the day — all I want is for my lipstick to deliver the color I want without leaving my lips looking and feeling parched.


I was actually surprised upon seeing this in person because it was bigger than I expected. It comes with an arrow applicator that allows you to take the right amount of lipstick. The goal is to use the tip as a kind of liner for precise lines and then fill it in with the thick part of the applicator.

First, here is a photo of my made-up face without lipstick on:


And here's a lip-swatch:


This is the part where I preen for the camera. I couldn't help it! This lipstick made me feel really puh-retty!




Aaand because I'm practically blind without my glasses on, here's a photo of myself with my glasses and this bold lipstick:


Verrry nice.

Note that I only used one swipe for all these photos! Just imagine how much more intense the color will be with more than one swipe! @_@

I don't think it stayed for 16 hours on my lips BUT it did stay longer than my usual lipsticks, it is budge-proof, water-proof, transfer-proof, and didn't leave any marks on my coffee cup nor my tumbler, AND it stayed put even after I ate six pieces of my favorite Tokyo Tokyo Chicken Karaage deep-fried goodness. ♥

Seriously, I thought I was clingy, but it definitely beat me. Now I'm a BELIEVER! I need to get the other shades, stat!

No one really asked, but here's a photo of everything else I used for this makeup look:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Tinted Primer in Light Medium, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid BB Cushion in Natural, Makeup Revolution Blush Palette in Blush Queen, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Fiber Mascara, Maybelline V-Face Duo Stick, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Brow Pencil in Dark Brown, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Gel Eyeliner in Nude, and Maybelline HyperImpact Liner

If you love lipsticks, then you simply MUST have at least one of these ten shades: Voyager, Escapist, Believer, Creator, Romantic, Heroine, Pioneer, Lover, Dreamer and Loyalist.


Grab your own Superstay Matte Ink Lipsticks from Lazada and at Maybelline counters nationwide for only P299. For more information about this collection and other Maybelline products and promos, visit Maybelline's website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. While you're at it, follow me on Instagram, too, and subscribe to my blog for more reviews!

Disclosure: I am part of Maybelline Squad Philippines but I purchased this with my own money. I was not required nor compensated for this review. Read my blog's complete Disclosure Policy here.

Today I stayed home so I can sort my books and determine which ones I can already let go of and sell. As some of you may know, I will be going through a major operation soon and the funds that will be generated from this sale will be very much welcome.

And that is the premise of today's post.

Now let's take a trip down memory lane.


If you have been reading my blog for quite a while, you may remember this photo of my favorite book shelf that I shared on one of my Currently posts three years ago. Unfortunately, this orderly arrangement of books looks nowhere near the current state of this bookshelf. I know I said "I am imposing a rule: eBooks over physical books, unless they come autographed or come in special edition/ full color like those books about movies that I love." but, you know, life, and countless book purchases, happen.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I can blame book sales, book fairs, book destashers, bookstores, my Fully Booked Discount Card and National Bookstore Laking National Card, Book Depository, Book Sale, and my enabler boyfriend all I want, but really, all I can blame is myself. In the last three years since I wrote this post I have accumulated more books than my poor bookshelf, boxes, and drawers can hold. Now aside from three shelves, two boxes, and a drawer, I also have at least three tall book towers. The clincher? I haven't even read most of these new books yet.

Back to my destashing story... It proved to be a TOTAL FAIL because of all the books in my shelves, drawers, and book towers I managed to choose only SEVEN books I will be willing to part with. SEVEN.

I am left with more than a hundred books I can’t find in my heart to let go of. I think I am still holding out for my dream library in my future home.

Now I feel bad because I realized the number of books I have yet to read. Sorry for neglecting you, friends! I promise to be a better reader this year.

Send help. 

My officemate Erwin suggested this:

Pick up a random title and try to remember the last time you read it.
If you can't recall reading it in the last 12 months, get rid of it.

It's a sound idea, yes, but I don't think it will be possible for me to let go of those I haven't read yet, because I need to know if I will like the story or not. It just cannot be done.

I guess I just have to make an effort to lessen my time spent in social media and dedicate it to my books, instead. Today was a good day, because I got to finish Doorkeeper by Scott Lee Chua and Ethan Chua in one sitting. I will prepare a more in-depth review but right now I wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading it, mostly because I love when stories are interlaced with other stories. The creators did a great job weaving most of the stories with those we are already familiar with. The art is also great and really helped move the story forward. I think my favorite is the story set in Manila circa Martial Law. The Doorkeeper reminded me of Dream of The Sandman, and I would love for this to become a series of books, too. Congratulations to the authors and artists behind this book!

Tomorrow is another day, and I hope I am more successful.