Friday, December 30, 2011

Ways of Mixing and Matching an Animal Print Polo

Sometime before the Christmas break, our best friend, Diane Cabading, Czar Agbayani of Mixed Culture, Christine Mae Ablao of Classy Rugged Chick and yours truly, have decided to do another photo shoot. It has been a while since we did one. We thought of doing it for our blog. If I were to share my two cents on Fashion, I want it to be wearable and effortless. I mean, what's the point in sharing our sense in it when you can't really wear them on normal days, right? *Peace! Since I  don't do pure fashion, I have decided to share sensible thoughts about mixing and matching certain outfits rather than just do a plain photo shoot. I thought it would be tiring to see my face in the same outfit over and over again. LOL :D


Credits to our great friend, Christine Mae Ablao of Classy Rugged Chick for taking awesome photos! This wouldn't be possible if it weren't for her. Thumbs up! :D :D 


Note: This can also be applicable with a Plaid and Checkered Polo. Dare to be creative! :)

Look number 1.) The most conventional way of wearing an animal print polo is either tucked in or just all loose. Button it up to look prim and proper. Button it down to show the inner top and emphasize the bust. Match it with your favorite pair of pants or even shorts. Earth colors make the animal print stand out. You can make it more ragged and casual by untucking the other side for that effort less look.
 
 

Look number 2.) Add spice to your bottoms by wearing high waist shorts or skirts than the typical Denim jeans. Balance the outfit by sticking to solid colors. The best accessories for animal prints are gold bangles and chunky necklaces if you want to glam it up a notch. Wear flats for a casual look. Dare to wear military boots for that Safari vibe!


Look number 3.) Wear a neutral top or even a tunic blouse as an inner outfit and wrap a belt around for a new twist. You don’t have to wear the same shorts like I did. Pair your fitted tunic top with dark colored leggings. Who told you that you can’t wear winter inspired clothes in the Philippines? Wear boots for a night out drama and finish the look with a scarf!
 
 
Look number 4.) This attire may not be different from the first one. However, if you wish to add a little oomph to your typical polo, unbutton the lower top and tie it into a ribbon. Unbutton the upper top to show off your neck line and match it with a high waist pants. Add chunks if accessories if you wish.

   
Look number 5.) Wear dark solid colors such as Black or Brown over your animal print polo for that preppy look. Make the outfit look more sophisticated when heading off to the office by wearing boot leg pants in neutral colors such as Cream, Black or White. Match your outfit with pointed heels or flats and you’re ready to go.


We just had so many ideas in our minds but if I were to share them all in one photo shoot, it would require me to bring a bundle of clothing and accessories which I find very inconvenient to do since we only have limited time and we didn’t have a dressing room. We even had to hide around the bushes to change clothes and it was very uncomfortable! It was a good thing Diane brought her big scarf to cover us up. What a dragging day. We were very hungry after the shoot. Haha!


So there you go girls, just keep in mind that being fashionable enough doesn’t require you to pile on different clothes. Sometimes, it’s all about the technique of mixing and matching them while most of the time, it’s just all about how you carry yourself with confidence. Byers! :D



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Nourish Your Heart and Spoil Your Belly

So my parents and I went out on a European style dinner a while ago. My Mom was really craving for Lamb Chops. LOL :) Now she's feeling guilty for eating too much while Dad fell asleep like a bloated piggy. I, on the other hand, am trying to drink more than enough of water so my belly will go smooth by tomorrow. Hahahaha! It was a fun evening. We talked about many things and I shared some stories of my nightmares. Dad helped me face my anxiety. We laughed all evening. Tonight was definitely one of those family bondings we have. Goodnight!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

My Christmas Wish



           Train - Shake Up Christmas

My whole life, I've been raised alone. I have step brothers and sister and I love them but we're not on the same age bracket and they live far away. I always have everything to myself. People may think I'm one lucky brat. Believe me, too much of a good thing is bad. With that being said, I honestly do not know how it feels having a sibling. I had experienced a part of it but not entirely. I don't know how to act when I am with my sibling. I don't know what and how to share. I never experienced the Sibling Rivalry. I honestly want to, though it's too late.

It saddens me at times. You can never have it all. I have so many friends that I can turn to and treat like siblings but when I come home, I'm in my room alone. I don't have anyone to fight with over a little matter. I have my privacy and it feels quiet at home. Sometimes, it's too quiet that it could almost make me deaf. I am not complaining about my life. I take everything as it is. I have learned a lot from my life and I am proud to say, I am no brat. LOL :) I'm very thankful and blessed. I always do my best to bring joy to my parents which is why I am a loud and goofy person. I am their sunshine! ^_^


So my wish for this Christmas is not about material things and money. I wish that my siblings and I will be able to come together and bond with each other. For 21 years, I have spent my Christmas with only my parents. I want to get with a large family and share our blessings. I want to see my nieces and nephews. I want to know what it feels like being an Aunt. I want to see my dad play with his grand children. I want to chat up with my siblings and relatives till the break of dawn. I just want one less person alone this Christmas. I have this idea for quite a while now and it may sound difficult but hopefully my plan works.




How about you? What do you wish for Christmas? :)

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Top 10 Hair Care Mistakes to Avoid


When it comes to essential hair care techniques, it is important to remember that there are some mistakes that most people may be making without knowing it. So if you’ve ever experienced a bad hair day check out this list of the top10 reasons why they happen and vow to avoid all of them when creating your next hair styling moment. 

1. Poor blow drying habits.
 Just about every woman’s hair can use some volume. Even hair thatis poker straight will look better with some volume. The trick is in theblow drying.Don’t blow dry your hair front to back- dry it back to front, lifting at theroots, bringing your hair up using a round brush. For even morevolume use a vent brush. The blow dryer should be held at least 12inches from your scalp, and keep it moving.


2. No Protection
 

If you use a blow dryer, curling iron, and/or electric curlers you should be using a thermal protector spray. With out it your hair is susceptible to damage from the high heat temperatures. Just spray your hair lightly and comb it throughout to distribute it evenly. Since thermal protectors are rare here in thePhilippines, using Vitress works just as fine.


3. The wrong choice.
You would think that most women would know their hair type. But when it comes to picking the perfect products for their hair type most women don’t have a clue.You may know that your hair is curly but is it a fine, coarse or medium texture? Is it color-treated, straight, wavy, or thinning? Do you need a thick gel or just some light mousse? If you are unsure of your exact hair type, ask your stylist. Perhaps you will need to combine two or more products to get the best results. It’s not rocket science but it’s close!



4. Too much of a good thing.
Using too much hair products also contributes to hair fall @.@
Even when they find the perfect product, most women use too much of it.When your hair stylist gives you the perfect hair cut for your hair, few styling products should be necessary. Your    hair should fall into place naturally. No more than a dime size of product is usually necessary.You will need even less of serums or pomades as they are more concentrated. Weighting your hair down with too much product can make it look unwashed and it will become a dust magnet.


5. Flat iron flattening

 Incorrect use if flat iron is evident to hairstylist. Your hair can become “fried" over time. This can lead to breakage. Many women forget the thermal spray that protects the hair shaft from the heat of a flat iron. After using the protection you should start by sectioning your hair into small sections almost as wide as the flat iron.  Starting at the roots, slowly pull the iron down to silken and smooth the hair. When you come to the end of your hair you can choose to pull straight out, flip up or flip under.



6. Trying to style wet or damp hair.
Brushing or combing wet hair basically causes split ends.
 Only hair that is completely dry will hold a hair style.If your hair takes a long time to blow dry you may want to wash it at night to avoid feeling rushed in the morning. Actually hair that has had time to recoup some of the oils that have been washed out will behave better. Once your hair is completely dry, apply any styling products you are using and continue to dry your hair on a low to medium setting. Then style.


7. Waiting too long in between hair cuts 

 Ask any professional: A great hairstyle begins with a great hair cut.Some hair cuts will look great as they grow out, but if you like the hairstyle your wearing, get back to the hairstylist as soon as your hair begins to grown out. This could be anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks.  This will help the stylist know just what look you want.Another good tip is when you get that perfect hairstyle or haircut, be sure to take a picture, one of the front, one of the back, and both sides, and bring them with you. This way the hairstylist will know exact what you want. Even if you want to grow your hair out, a trim of the split ends is very important. Frequent trims will cut the split end off before it can split the entire shaft of hair. This is important if you want a smooth and silky look to your hair.


 8. Over styling

Unless you’re a runway model or someone who is embarking on one of life’s most momentous occasions, like your wedding or prom, there is no need to go over board. Today’s styles call for natural hair that moves and falls freely. This is achieved with the proper hairstyle that fits your hair type and the use of just the right hair styling products.


9. Under styling

 Just the opposite of over styling are the millions of women who do nothing. Unless your hair is only a few inches long, it’s not “wash and go". The right hair cut, a little blow drying and styling product can make all the difference in the world. Give it a try!


10. Pick the wrong hair style all together 


Most women choose a hair style that they see on someone else. What looks good on your favorite celebrity or co-worker may not be the hair style that fits your face shape or will work with your type of hair texture, be it wavy, curly, poker straight or thick and springy.Your hair stylist will know what your hair will and will not do, so it is best to bring several hair style pictures with you when visiting your hair stylist for a new hair cut. 

With all the different styles and products you use on your hair on a daily basis, you can imagine just how much damage your hair goes through. Many women purchase and use the wrong hair styling products. By learning what hair care tips to avoid, you can be sure to have strong and healthy hair, no matter what you do to it ! Good luck! :D


sources:
https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi 

Friday, December 16, 2011

Good morning, Father!

Today was the second day of Simbang Gabi. Peter and I have already developed the habit of completing the Nine Mornings for Christmas. This is our second season to do so. It feels heart warming when you see many people especially young children attending the mass at 4am. It's quite an effort but then we all have our reasons why we want to complete the novena.

During the mass, we noticed that while this priest was discussing the homily, an elderly priest was assisted by the servants to stand beside the celebrant to continue the homily. As soon as he started to speak, I immediately noticed he had stroke because of his motor movements and his slurred speech. My heart melted and I was in awe. I appreciated that he continued to serve despite his condition.

After the celebration of the mass at the cathedral, Peter encouraged me to go to the elderly priest and ask for his hand to bless us. I hesitated for a moment because I believed that was only applicable to young children but at the back of my head, I thought to myself, we're only young once. So we went up there with those people who have also intended to pay respect to the elderly priest. When he placed his hand on my forehead, I felt like I was a young child again and I felt humbled. There's something about elderly people that always makes me emotional. It could be just because I have never experienced being close to any of my grand parents.

So after the mass, Peter and I decided to go up hill to have a little nature trip since it was still a cold morning. We reached this place where we can see most of the city including the sea. It was really cold up there and the sun's rays just hit us as if it were giving us a subtle warm embrace. Right then ans there, I finally came to a realization that a sunrise is the best moment to watch rather than sunset. It gives you a sense of a new beginning and a sense of freedom. A lot of people nowadays just do not appreciate moments like that anymore. They would rather appreciate it when they are given Christmas bonuses. They would rather choose shopping over reflecting. They would rather look forward to having their christmas materialistic wishlist completed rather than look forward to spending time with their families. It disappoints me to find that a lot of people I know have that kind of mentality but we all have our different perspectives and I will never ask anyone to agree with me on this. We always go for whatever makes us happy.

What would you rather look forward to whenever you see the sun rise? A new day or a new beginning?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

My Kimimon Pet


Created with PhotoShake. Meet my adorable Kimimon pet. Her name is Mimi! :) It took me months to raise her but everything is worth is because she's so cute! :D


Monday, December 12, 2011

A Sneak Peak of My Life


Created with PhotoShake

Last night, I found this cool application from the Apple store. Photoshake is intended for different styles of photo. You can choose single, multiple and even make a photo collage that you can customize in fun ways. This is ideal for bloggers out there who are always on the go. When you stumble into something interesting to share, just grab your phone and take photos. Shake your phone to produce random photo arrangements then you can start playing with different filters. Enjoy! :)


Saturday, December 10, 2011

Finding the Right Sun Glasses for Your Face Shape

 We all know that finding the perfect sun glasses is like finding the perfect pair of jeans. It can be very tricky and at times, it can be quite tiring. We can't just splurge on different sun glasses if they don't look good on us. We have to find a pair that's both comfortable and appropriate for our face shape.

Before we begin, we should consider three main points when choosing frames for your face shape, according to The Vision Council:
  1. Eye wear should repeat your personal best feature (such as a blue frame to match blue eyes).
  2. The frame shape should contrast with your face shape.
  3. The frame size should be in scale with your face size.
Also, while most faces are a combination of shapes and angles, there are eight basic face shapes: round, oval, oblong, heart, base-down triangle, base-up triangle, diamond and square.

1.) Oval Shape Face
An oval face is considered to be the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions.
(balanced forehead, cheekbones and jaw)
Yes: "Any shape works on you," says Rose. Softly angular frames play up an oval face.

2.) Round Shape Face
A round face has curved lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles.
(full cheekbones; narrow forehead and jaw)
Yes: Wide, rectangular frames.
No: Round frames or colored lenses, which exaggerate fullness.

3.) Oblong Shape Face
An oblong face is longer than it is wide and has a long straight cheek line and sometimes a longish nose.
(long face; narrow chin and cheeks)
Yes: Oversize or wrap styles.
No: Frames that are too narrow for your face.

4.) Square Shape Face
A square face has a strong jaw line and a broad forehead, plus the width and length are in the same proportions.
(broad forehead; square jawline)
Yes: Round, oval, cat's-eye
No: Sharp geometric shapes—they emphasize an angular profile

5.) Heart Shape Face
A Heart face has wide forehead and prominent cheek bones with narrowing chin.
(wide forehead and cheekbones; narrow chin)
Yes: Cat's-eye, round.
No: Overly embellished glasses, says David Rose, designer for Salt Optics

6.) For the uncommon Shape of Face

a. Triangular Shape Face 
A base-down triangular face has a narrow forehead and widens at the cheek and chin areas. To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half or cat-eye shapes.
 
b. Inverted Triangle Shape Face
This face has a very wide top third and small bottom third. To minimize the width of the top of the face, try frames that are wider at the bottom, very light colors and materials and rimless frame styles (which have a light, airy effect because the lenses are simply held in place by a few screws, with no surrounding frame material).

 c. Diamond Shape Face
Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eye line and jawline, and have broad cheekbones that may be high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape. To highlight the eyes and soften the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines, or try rimless frames or oval and cat-eye shapes.

I personally belong to the Diamond Shape Face category. Finding the perfect sun glasses is very difficult for me but I meticulously scout each stores and I really take my time. *wink!
When I was younger, I used to feel awkward about my physical features because I always fall into the uncommon if not rare category but my Mom taught me that being ashamed of your features is like being ashamed of your roots. I have learned how to work with it and I'm proud of who I am.  "Be happy and proud of yourself. There's no one else like you in this world."

Learning your face shape is essential so you will be able to narrow down your choices when you go find your perfect pair of sun glasses! What's important is you learn to work with your imperfections and enhance your perfections. Good luck! :)

sources:

Vegetable Salad

So my mom and I finally decided to live healthy and stay away from the usual routine of dining out. I made fresh vegetable salad. This will be our dinner starting tonight. Yummmm!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Top 10 Trend Setting Mistakes


Being a loyal follower of the latest trends is one thing, exploiting your flaws in all the wrong places is another. Though it seems sexy to others Etiquette and Class are the main characteristics a woman should always exude in everything she wears. Here are the Top 10 common clothing mistakes that women commit.

1.) Leggings as Pants
A very common fashion mistake is wearing your leggings as pants. It may look very flattering on the legs but it sure doesn’t look nice on your crotch and butt. Have you ever heard the words Camel toe?


This is what you call a "Camel Toe"


You wouldn't even think they're wearing part leggings!

Tip: If you really are into leggings, invest your money in a pair Jeggings. They’re very comfortable, durable and they lift your butt, giving your bottoms a firm look. The most important is, you can wear shorter tops without the appearance of a Camel toe.

2.) Wrong Panty
Do you ever get that uncomfortable feeling when you were rushing to dress up wearing white pants and you forgot to check your butt if your panty markings are obvious? Well you’re in for a tease trip.
Tip: Choose a panty that is in nude color, seamless in style and the most important thing is, it fits well to your bottoms. If there is a need for you to wear thongs, make sure that they are in low rise and they’re either white or nude to save you from looking like a slut.


3.) Inappropriate Bra or No Bra at All
Successful businesswoman and legendary model, Tyra Banks, strongly emphasizes the use of appropriate bras. Wearing a different colored bra or no bra at all violates a woman. It also attracts the wrong crowd.



4.) Crocs are not Sexy
According to Crocs Company, their famous footwear is only intended for fishing, swimming at the beach and other outdoor activities. Doctors and other medical personnel are the only exemption. 

Tip: If you really are into Crocs, there are a variety of designs that you can choose to wear with your attire. Ballet flats complement your legs when wearing dresses and skirts.

5.) Over Grown Manicure
For many girls out there, It could be quite pricey to pay for manicure and pedicure that you really keep your nail polish on even if the color is already degrading. Or you are just plain lazy to maintain your manicure.


Tip: Since maintaining a manicure is very crucial, it is essential to keep an Acetone in your vanity so when your nail polish starts to degrade and your nails grows longer, you can wipe them clean and replace the color with a new one.

6.) Over Grown Roots
It is difficult for girls and even boys to maintain the roots especially if you have dark roots and you dyed your hair with a very light color such as blonde. Can you spell the word Samal?
 

Tip: Ask your hair stylist for professional help when it comes to coloring hair at home and buy yourself a box of the same hair dye so you can touch up your roots at least every 2 weeks. Do not forget to touch up your whole hair every 3-4 months to maintain lock luster color.

7.) Tight FittedClothes
This is one fashion mistake that a lot of girls and even boys never learn from. For goodness’s sake, let your body breathe! It doesn’t flatter the shape but rather it emphasizes the baby fat especially when you sit down and eat.



Tip: If you want your curves to be emphasized, choose a top that has a stretchy but durable fabric. For plus size girls, you can wear dark colored blazers as an outer wear to show an illusion of slimmer waist.

8.) High Waist Bottoms Loses Your Waist
Just because high waist bottoms are very much back to our latest trend nowadays, it doesn’t mean that they flatter every body sizes. High waist bottoms are the most difficult things to wear

Tip: Although these kinds of bottoms are difficult to wear, it also doesn’t mean that you can’t use a little technique to make them work. For girls with thick waist, wear a short cardigan to give your body an illusion of slim waist and to give a balance between your waist and hips so you won’t lose your butt.

9.) Lingerie as an Outer Wear
As much as you think lingerie is a hot thing to wear, don’t forget that they can be misleading and may give the wrong impressions especially if you are meeting formal people. Remember, you are not a celebrity.


Tip: The best thing you can do is to tone the racy lingerie down. Wear high waist skirt and a blazer. Chunk up on accessories to lessen the attraction to the lingerie.

10.) Cellulites are Attractive in a Wrong Way
It’s very difficult to wear short skirts and shorts when you have cellulites. However, many girls seem to ignore it and insist on flaunting the legs despite the unsightly look of everyone.
If all else fails, you can just cover them and still be stylish!


Tip: Cellulites will never go away no matter what intervention you do. Slightly reduce their appearance by exfoliating your legs every week. The best way is to avoid having them by regular exercise and lessen the intake of fatty food.

 So there you go ladies! I'm sure everyone of us can still look sassy and glamorous without risking our boundaries just so we can be edgy with Fashion. Class is always important, remember that! :D
*Credits to Google for the photos that I used in this blog.