Quezon and Sarah G

I finally got to have my eyebrows professionally waxed at Benefit. People underestimate the power of good grooming, and having freshly trimmed eyebrows does wonders to my self-esteem. It made me feel alive again.  

I had some free time in the afternoon, so I watched Quezon’s Game in the cinema. I enjoyed the historical experience and I was moved by the film’s premise of Quezon saving more than a thousand Jews. It was a masterpiece that I hope more people will watch. 

Later that day, I went to the event that I was invited to: Sarah Geronimo’s concert and Pop Studio makeup line launch at the New Frontier Theater. 

I enjoyed the event because I am genuinely a Sarah Geronimo fan.  

I sipped some awesome cheese milk tea from Paper Moon prior to the event.  

Then, it was party time with the Popstar Royalty herself!

It was a fun night, which I ended by purchasing a lipstick from Sarah’s line. 

I chose a mauve shade that can go with my everyday looks.  

It was a privilege to watch a touching historical film and a concert in one day. Here’s to more days where I can have it all!

Mentoring Lunch

Yesterday, I had the time to do some brisk walking at the UP campus. 

I was able to burn some calories before my lunch at Sunnies Cafe. I got to do some crocheting before meeting with my friends.  

I had a lovely lunch with my uni mentor Mitzie and her niece Maiko. It was nice to catch up with friends after my dad’s recent passing. 

No visit to Sunnies Cafe is complete without some selfies in their famous washroom. 

I got to buy Sunnies Face’s new Airblush after lunch. 

I also got to offer eggs at St. Clare Monastery. 

I bought carioca, a local street food consisting of fried sticky rice. It was a delicious afternoon snack. 

Before going to bed, I brushed my teeth using this bamboo toothbrush that I bought from social enterprise Rags 2 Riches. 

I know that by continuing my passions and meeting my friends from time to time, I can carry on with life after the storm. 

Doing Good with Doggos

Yesterday, I had the Sgt. Steak salad again at Go! Salads. I am addicted to their chimichurri dressing. I simply can’t get enough of it.  

After my hearty meal, I proceeded to Human Nature to purchase my personal necessities and get orders for my customers. 

You too can support me and my family by making a purchase at my Human Nature online store! To all those who have already purchased, thank you for your support! Please continue patronizing my small business, and I hope that you will spread the word about my shop. 

To cheer myself up after spending time with at the hospital with my terminally-I’ll father, I visited Barkin’ Blends Dog Cafe to hug my furry friends. 

I’m wearing a fabric mask because I can’t afford to catch airborne sicknesses! My dad has very weak immunity, so I need to be in tip-top shape.  

I went back to Go! Salads to try another selection from their menu. This time, I had the Bayani Salad, which is known for its adobo flakes. I liked it, but I think I’m more of a Sgt. Steak girl. 

Before going to bed, I depotted my Sunnies Face Fluffmatte lipstick in Hot Sauce. While the lipstick brand is known to break easily, it’s color payoff and opacity are out of this world. I had to salvage what’s left of my tube by transferring it in a 3ml jar, microwaving it for two minutes to set it in the container, and letting it cool on room temperature. 

I have chosen local products and produce today. Human Nature is a social enterprise, so each purchase benefits a poor community that the company supports. Go! Salads supports farmers and ensures that their produce is pesticide-free. Barkin’ Blends welcomes people of all ages, genders, and statuses in life. And Sunnies Face is part of the Sunnies Group, which is known to have charitable donations, such as their Christmas giveaway Dear Sunnies Santa. 

By taking care of myself and supporting brands that do good, I know that I am doing the right thing with my limited resources. I hope that you will also find some brands that support others, and that you will continue paying for goodness to continue growing.  

Budget Happiness

Yesterday was all about being happy on a budget! Here are some of my money-saving ways to indulge on a weekend while helping others along the way. 

Please take note that this is not a sponsored post, and I spent my own money for everything.  

I took advantage of the last day of Elait’s opening promo at SM North Towers. I got myself a solo cup of their matcha oreo frozen yogurt for P100 (regular price is P140- still affordable!). It was delicious! And it matched my knitting project too. 

I will always be a fan of Elait’s frozen yogurt and advocacy, which is to employ deaf employees.  

Since I’ve been eyeing Muji’s P500 stationery gift sets but don’t have the budget for one of those, I selected a blue green ballpen and a light gray highlighter from National Bookstore. I threw in a slim plastic pencil case, and voila! Instant Japanese-chic stationery set. 

I was so happy with my savings, that I donated a book for National Bookstore’s Project Aral campaign. All books and school supplies will be donated to their partner public schools and libraries. 

Next, I got this Careline peach stick, which is a product that retails for Php205. It can be used on the cheeks, eyelids, and lips. 

It would be nice to have a healthy complexion this holiday season, so I picked up this affordable product to try.  

And it didn’t disappoint! It truly gives off a natural peachy glow for such an attainable price point.  

I was happy with my makeup purchase, so I moved on to salvaging an old lippie.  

I was terribly sad when my Sunnies Face Fluffmatte lipstick in Mood broke because it was such a flattering shade on me. Instead of purchasing a new tube, I bought a 3ml container from Beabi, scooped out the remaining content from the tube using a small spatula from my Human Nature makeup remover, reheated it in the microwave for 30 seconds, and let it cool until it hardened again. 

I also got this retractable mini lip brush from Fashion 21 for Php85 to help me apply my lippie. 

I also got this 5ml atomizer bottle from Beabi and transferred some baby cologne there. 

And there you have it! These are just some of my budget tips and thrills. I will definitely share more saving hacks in the future, and I hope that this will also inspire me to conserve and properly use my resources.  

Breakfast and Blush

Yesterday, I started my day with a hearty brekkie at Breakfast Bin. I had my usual toasted naked longganisa with brown rice and egg. 

I was still hungry, so I went to Papa Diddi’s for dessert. 

I love brands with a story, and small ice cream stores with unique flavors. 

I always appreciate how affordable Papa Diddi’s ice cream is. 

I chose the Treat serving in coffee addiction and cookies and cream. It was a delicious combination!

I ran some errands in the mall and later found myself at Yoshinoya for late lunch. Their beef bowl is still so good!

I walked around and found myself at blk cosmetics’ boutique at Trinoma. I tried on their lip and cheek tint and fell in love with the cherry shade. 

It was great value for money, and the color payoff was fantastic. 

It was pigmented and it goes well with my strong lippie from J.Cat. 

Last night, I did my weekly facial detox by applying my favorite Human Nature Pollution Defense Mask. It is made of bamboo charcoal, and is locally-made! You may purchase it from my online store. 

I hope that you will also find time to indulge in food that brings back wonderful memories. Also, don’t be afraid to discover new favorites, like makeup from local brands! You will definitely be surprised on how affordable (and empowering) it is to achieve your desired look.