Jumping on Bandwagons: The Kagillion-Step Korean Skincare Regimen

My birthday is only 9 days away. Only nine days 'til I'm in my mid-thirties. Yuck. LOL. Don't get me wrong. I looooooooove celebrating my birthdays. I just dislike the fact that I'm getting old. I don't feel old. I am old. In nine days, I'm only five years away from 40. Pero next week pa yang existential crisis keme na yan. This post is about... my life in general current obsession. As if anyone's interested. Ha.

I'm OBSESSED with beauty products. Ayan kasi nga getting old na and I need to start taking care of my skin. Sabagay dati pa naman ako obsessed with facial wash and eyebrow shizz but now I'm widening my horizons. Haha! I'm trying the 7-step Korean skincare regimen. Ayoko dati bumili, just making do with whatever's here, my sisters' "leftovers." But now I want to use products tailored for my skin type. So here's my current stash~

The first two tubes are my water-based cleansers and the Banila Clean It Zero Purity tub is
my oil cleanser. I'm in ♥ with my Cosrx Salicylic Acid facial wash; the low pH cleanser,
also from Cosrx, I just got yesterday so I can't say yet whether I love it or not.

Plenty of Cosrx products ♥♥♥ I'm obsessed. Just got the Galactomytes
oil-free toner but so far so good; the oil-free moisturizing lotion I got a few months
back but I think it's meant to work with other Cosrx products :) The SK-II essence
I had my friend buy for me in Singapore (it was on sale!!) I also got to use just now
(after sitting on the dresser for a year or so). The Innisfree green tea line is my sister's,
but since she's not using it, I claimed it as mine. The brown bottle is rosehip oil with a few
drops of tea tree essential oil; and, eye cream from Watson's I'm thinking of ditching cos
I'm getting milia from using it.

Hopefully, this layering skincare regimen works ☺☺☺ I need to buy sunscreen. That's the only step I'm not doing because, (1) I never found an affordable sunscreen that's right for my skin type (sensitive na ubod ng arte), and (2) most sunscreens leave a white cast on the face and they do feel heavy on my skin. But after watching lots of YouTube videos on skin care products, I think I'm getting that tube of Biore gel sunscreen to complete the routine.

So that's what's keeping me preoccupied aside from work and K-drama binging.

Next I'll be obsessing about my hair because I noticed a few (actually, a lot!) of white hair strands. Happy birthday to me... in 8 days!

Hi There, Pader

I finally have the time to update this online journal of mine ♥♥♥ and by "time, " I mean not exactly free time because I still have TONS of stuff to do but I'm just taking a breather after getting super stressed out over an order and before I get back to the grind tomorrow.

Well, what's new with me? For starters, the shop I sell my stuff in has closed down. It was just temporary after all. Sayang lang kasi it's almost Christmas and I liked the convenience that store has afforded me since I can ask people to check out scent samples there (meaning, I don't have to personally meet up with them just so they can choose which scent they like) or ask them to pick up orders there. However, the things is... they still haven't remitted my sales yet (which reminds me I need to FOLLOW UP WITH THEM). 

I want to look for other outlets where I can sell my stuff- hopefully I can find a few key locations, reasonable rent rates since my items are relatively cheap. Mayaya nga si AD so we can check some locations in the South or in Maginhawa at para matanong ko rin siya for her personal opinion.

I'm so so so SOOO busy with work lately. Maybe I am taking more than what I can handle but I'm just striking while the iron is hot. Ayaw ko naman mag-inarte at tumanggi baka eventually, mawalan ako ng customer. Plus, my annual bongga bazaar is no more so I need to step up my Christmas online orders. Or find other bongga Christmas bazaars. 

Wish me luck, beeeeches ♥

***

On other (sad) news, Chester Bennington, lead vocals of Linkin Park committed suicide last week. I may not be a hard core fan now as I was some 15 years ago, but still I am just as affected. Their first album was the soundtrack of our college years. Buti na lang Lola Juno and I were able to watch them play live a few years back. 

***

So, I'm going to rant and rave about the last K-drama I just watched- Reply 1988. 

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I think I liked Reply 1997 better cos I can relate to it more than I was able to relate to 1988, but in terms of the characters, I prefer this one. 

Nakakamiss yung panahon when kids were kids, when 18-year-olds were not as makamundo as they are now. Hahaha. But seriously, kids these days are exposed to too much sexuality at such a young age. I mean, my 7-year-old nephew listens and  sings along to Bruno Mars's songs which are all about sex. I blame it on YouTube and their parents who don't regulate their screen time. So anyway, this series made me feel nostalgic. I remember those days when the neighborhood had a sense of community going on because now it seems as if everyone has an issue with someone. I mean, we were neighbors for more than 35 years, would it hurt to ask or request in a polite manner? Habang tumatanda ako, mas ngayon ko naiintindihan yung 'money doesn't change you, it only magnifies who you really are.' I'm really losing my faith in humanity. Haha. 

Anyway... I wanted to write about this series BECAUSE I FEEL STRONGLY AGAINST THAT ENDING. SO STRONG IT DESERVES TO BE WRITTEN IN ALL CAPS. I MEAN, WHY DID YOU MAKE ME PAASA OVER THAT DEOK-SUN AND JUNG-HWAN WILL-THEY-OR-WONT-THEY STORYLINE WHEN THEY WON'T END UP TOGETHER??? AND JUNG-HWAN DIDN'T EVEN GET A CONCLUDING STORY OR WHAT HE WAS UP TO AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS?? I mean, they could have at least gave him a proper send off, haha. I wanted to know if he has found someone to make him happy because that scene when he told Deok-sun what he really felt about her then dismissed it as a joke, nasaktan ako ng sobra. I felt my heart break for this fictional character. Frakkit. I still can't move on. She should have ended up with him. I think I'd be more okay had Deok-sun ended up with Dong-ryeon than Choi Taek. 

JUNG HWAN: IT SHOULD'VE BEEN US

Salbahe din no? Why build it up so much when they're not going to end up together. Leche yang mga TOTGA TOTGA na yan. Either he didn't like her that much or he gave way to Choi Taek. Alam niyo si Choi Taek mabubuhay kahit baduk lang. Just thinking about this makes my heart ache. Yes, I  tend to get affected way too much by Korean dramas. 

But aside from that, I ♥ this show so much. I miss those days when life was simple and our idea of luxury was a Giordano Classic shirt or bag. 

So actually that was what really made me want to post an entry- share my frustration about that drama. Ang sakit sa puso eh. 

Unfinished Post

Posting this unfinished post just so I have record of the on-goings in my life Lelz
___________________________________________________

Well hello there! It's been a while... been juggling my time with work, K-drama binge watch, time with family and friends, books and nag-iinarte employees.

WORK WORK WORK
I've been busy busy BUSY and I love it! Since the beginning of the year, I've had orders, big and small, every week. So that's keeping me preoccupied most of the time plus my two "branches" which I actually need to restock more often.

Things are looking up, at least with the scents biz. Sa nail spa, ay hopeless pa din. The only shitty stuff with the scents biz is one of my "branch" hasn't remitted my sales since December 2016. I keep texting and emailing them, following up as to when I can collect but alas, they still haven't replied to any of my messages. ANY. They do email and text me when they're collecting monthly rent which I always reply with, "please advise as to when we can collect sales since Dec 2016 as this is where we will get funds to pay our monthly rent with." Ganern. Pero deadma sila. Ni ha. Ni ho. How unprofessional. Nakakaturn off.

ANYWAYYYY, another career milestone for me is being included in an online article. Nakakakilig ☺ I'm happy with how things are going right now. I just pray and hope that all these opportunities just keep on coming. I'm grateful, always.

K-DRAMA BINGE WATCH
I'm on a roll! Especially now that I have sort of perfected the art of watching subtitled shows/movies whilst working. And if before I prefer watching already completed dramas (to minimize the agony of waiting for a new episode), I've developed preference for ongoing shows because it means I would not be deemed useless for one whole day (or two, sometimes three) binge-watching one drama.

Recently finished watching My Secret Romance which I really really loved during the first few episodes kasi nakakakilig. But I think after episode 8, medyo the story went downhill. Currently watching Suspicious Partner, Fight My Way and The Best Hit. Just started with Missing You yesterday (recommended by cousins). I'm actually a little backlogged with last week's episodes kasi nga busy but hopefully I can catch up soon.

Aside from K-dramas, there were two Taiwanese movies I watched (thanks to an online article by Cosmpolitan PH), Suddenly Seventeen and Our Times. I LOOOOOVED OUR TIMES. So wala akong expectations whatsoever which explains why I was delightfully surprised. Haha. It's similar to the Thai movie, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. So adorable. And relatable, I might add. I also discovered the cuteness (in a weird way) of Darren Wang in this movie. Lelz. Ang bababata na nila. OM.

WATCH THIS!!!

CATCHING UP ON MY READING
Yay I'm only 1 book behind schedule! ☺ Loved the last two books I read which were P.S. I Like You (Kasie West) and How I Lost You (Janet Gurtler). The former was a feel-good, nakakakilig read while the latter was sort of a nice, steady read that has a sad, we-saw-that-coming but good-riddance ending. I am currently reading the third installment to Jenny Han's Lara Jean Covey trilogy and so far, I AM LOVING IT. Nako sana maganda lang ang ending nila ni Kavinsky. I really want to see this in live action. I hope someone makes a mini-series out of it. Reading the last book in Lara Jean and Peter K's story makes me want to reread To All The Boys I've Loved Before. After this, I plan to read Maurene Goo's I Believe in a Thing Called Love.

TIME WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS
Mommy's, daddy's and AC's birthdays.

For mommy's birthday, we ate in a Thai restaurant in Marikina. You know me and my Thai cuisine- dikit kami, Lol. I very much enjoyed dinner with family and I especially loved their sweet chili sauce. For Mother's Day, we just had breakfast at Kopi Roti.

For daddy's birthday (and homecoming- since he was in the province for almost six months), we had lunch in Seaside Paluto, somewhere where they serve salted egg crabs. LOVED IT. Although I still prefer boiled crabs dipped in vinegar any time over salted egg ones.


***DNF***

Recreational Therapy: Thirteen Reasons Why

Wow it has been four years since I read the book. Time flies frakkin fast, no? Anyway, I'm writing about the title once again but this time, the mini-series adaptation.

I really like watching a movie based on a book I've read because I like comparing the book versus the film/TV adaptation. The book will always win, imho. Always. Well, because they have five hundred pages to tell the story whereas the movie only has an average of two hours to retell it. So I guess it's better to make them into mini-series rather than movies. Back to Thirteen Reasons Why (13RY)...

The entire duration I was reading the book, I kept thinking how selfish Hannah was. For dumping all of this on Clay. After seeing the series, my opinion of Hannah has changed, but for the worse. I can't remember if in the book the point of view of her parents or if their emotions were illustrated but in the series, you can see (and almost feel) their grief. Not only did she cause Clay this cargo de conciencia (when all he did was not act on his crush towards her), but she also caused her parents tremendous pain.

So yeah, there's this explanation that teenagers' brains are not yet fully developed and they don't see the world yet as adults do which makes them think and do stuff. But did Hannah really think her suicide would solve her parents' financial problems?

I know Hannah is the "victim" in this story but I really found her annoying AF (see what Hannah made me do??? I don't even use that AF term cos it annoys me AF, LOL). I mean, the world doesn't revolve around you, Hannah!!! Why put a blame on Clay for not noticing your existential crisis when he's obviously also going through stuff and busy living his own life?

I do not condone the horrible things the other kids did to Hannah, especially Bryce. However, I also do not condone Hannah's action which was very final and ultimate. I do not get why people have to be so mean. I see people I know posting on Facebook (after watching 13RY) asking the same question when I know for  fact that they are meanies themselves.

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So I liked the series just as I, hmm... "enjoyed" reading the book. I wish it had ended differently but nope, Hannah killed herself. Which leads me to some of the controversy surrounding this series- that, a) it glamorized suicide and, b) for showing the very graphic suicide scene. Yes, I think it did glamorize suicide and it showed the kids how to do it the right way, I know what the author really wants to say is suicide is not the answer to your problems, that there are people out there who can help you, but for me, as a viewer, I didn't get that message from the series. Maybe it's just me. Because all the frickin' time all I could think of was how selfish Hannah was and not the message of hope, if there's any. And I just can't believe how these kids are so young yet so evil.

I wouldn't recommend this to a teenager. Baka maging "inspiration" pa sa kanya. Remember people, THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

Ang Mga Ganap at Hanash: Q1 2017

I wanted to post more often than I did the past few months but I was able to post just once last month. Lately, my posts per month numbers to three, tops. The most I've posted was May last year and that was only six posts. I really want to keep this online journal updated because it reminds me of stuff that have happened a kagillion light years ago, how I was feeling this time three years ago. I find keeping this journal easier than a written one- though I also try to keep one. I like the idea of being able to post pictures and embed videos and songs.

Anyway, since the first quarter of 2017 is done (that was fast, no?) here's my Gratitude List for the first three months of the year.

Big orders! 

Sabi nga ni Mareng Oprah, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Got two big orders just this Q1 and I'm ever so grateful to God and to my lucky stars (and crystals)! Well, one big account didn't reorder last year (what a bummer), but I have this new shizz so it's all good. Hopefully, may dumagdag. I need these accounts during off-peak months which is 75% of the time. And worth mentioning also are the not-so-big but keeps-me-afloat orders. These are the 30 to 50 pieces for birthdays, baptisms, etc.

Another pop-up!

What was supposed to be a holiday thing is now a permanent thing (at least for now) and even after the holidays, I'm glad that the stocks are moving naman. Well, they still didn't give my my sales since December 5 but I know they're going to remit those soon. Sana lang. Haha. And aside from the temporary going permanent, I joined another pop-up near UST. Actually, the gig's a little iffy since it is not in a matao na lugar. I hope okay naman. My hopes are up!!!

I now have a niece!

After four boys, I now have a niece. I call her ahjumma since she reminds me of an elderly Korean woman. She's only four months but looks like she's seven months old. She's BIG. And cute in her own ahjumma-ish way :P I can't wait until she's more interactive ☺ Cos right now she's just doing a lot of sleeping and milk-drinking. Occasionally, she laughs at my dance numbers (feeling ko lang) and she's a huge fan of my singing (her favorite is my rendition of A Whole New World). And have I mentioned that she sleeps with me (on my bed!!!) almost everyday. On weekends when her parents decide that they actually want to do some parenting, they take her home with them. On other days, they just meet and greet their baby. On some days, we feel they forgot they have a third child. Ha. But I ♥ ahjumma especially now that she sleeps through the night and no longer feeds every two hours!

Beauty & the Beast and Brit Brit

Finally got to watch the live action Beauty and the Beast movie and it was nice ☺ Of course nothing beats the original- mas type ko pa rin si animation Belle. Got to watch the movie twice and both times it was for free. Yay ☺ And FINALLY Britney is coming to Manila! AC AD and I are watching but we got general admission tickets only. GAAAHD WHO CARES IT'S BRITNEY, BITCH! Haha! But you know me, I'm a cheapskate when it comes to concerts. I might have actually said somewhere on this blog that I'd spend for Britney's concert but you see, it's hard to let go of hard-earned moolah. GA tickets cost 2625 (plus 100 if you buy it online) and next tickets are at 5K each. If Brit Brit's gonna dance like she did back in the early 2000s, I probably might but I've seen her recent videos and it's more like swaying her arms and walking back and forth than actual dancing. But still... BRITNEY! YAY ☺☺☺

So those are the main hanash lately but I'm sure there are more I just can't think of them right now (and I'm so itching to watch the latest Riverdale episodes- which reminds me, I have to blog about).

Aside from watching five Korean dramas during Q1, I'm also currently watching Strong Woman Do Bong-soon and Radiant Office, both ongoing dramas. Hopefully both dramas finish strong. They're still ongoing so I can't write about them yet. I mentioned Riverdale awhile back and here's my opinion about the show- I'm not crazy about it. I almost regretted watching the first episode because it ruined the whole Riverdale gang for me. That was just wrong, people. I feel they could've used different characters for this series. Plus, Archie's face is annoying. Mukha kaya siyang vampire. I decided to continue watching because I've read about the Betty-Jughead plotline and I thought I'd give it another try. Um, okay lang naman. Let's see if I get hooked but seriously, this is too angsty and messed up for my liking. Ayoko na ng mga mala-Pretty Little Liars na drama. Paikot-ikot na walang katuturan.

Naks. So may katuturan ang iZombie no? Well, yeah, whatever floats your boat.

I miss daddy. He's been in the province since January and since he needs to tend to stuff, he's still there and might be home next month pa. My assistant/masseuse/#1 fan went home to the province and will be there for, more or less, two weeks. Let's try going back to how life was before I had helpers in my business- I have to do everything myself  **hyperventilating as I'm typing this**

So toodles as I have to wake up early tomorrow- you know, grown up stuff needs to be done.

On A Roll

OMG Am I in a roll or what? Since perfecting the art of watching subtitled Korean dramas while working, I must have devoured three or four dramas already. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo was the perfect drama to jumpstart 2017; hence, the search for kilig-inducing series. After WFKBJ, here are the other ones I've seen:

Doctors 2/5

Maybe because I am not a fan of Park Shin-hye. There's something about her that annoys me. Hindi ako kinikilig sa kanila ni Kim Rae Won. I actually watched this because of Lee Sung Kyung.

I Hear Your Voice 3/5

This one had me at "noona romance." LOL. But honestly, I was rooting for Lawyer Cha. But maybe Hye-sung and Soo-ha's connection is much deeper because of what happened a few years back and their continuing battle versus a common enemy. I was enjoying the drama when Soo-ha's love was still one-sided, but when Lawyer Jang started reciprocating the feelings, dun ako medyo naging iffy about the drama. If it were up to me, Lawyer Jang would have ended up with Lawyer Cha in the end.

Healer 4/5

I like it. I like Ji Chang-wook ♥♥♥ I am considering watching K2 soon because... Ji Chang-wook's abs. Haha. Ahjumma moment.

Reply 1997 5/5

This one I totally didn't expect I'd enjoy, but I did... tremendously. I thought I wouldn't be able to relate to it because I wasn't into Kpop nor Kdramas back in 1997 (which just occurred to me, was already 20 years ago!!!), but which I can totally relate to was fangirling over Savage Garden. And of course, the kilig over the love triangle that is Shi-won, Yoon-je and Tae-woong and the suspense factor of who Shi-won really ended up which wasn't revealed until the last few episodes.

Got to finish five dramas (and currently watching Strong Woman Do Bong-Soo) and it's only March ;) Good job to me ☺ I want to watch all the dramas in Dramabeans' list of Top 10 Favorite Dramas of All Time (of which I'm a little disappointed since my favorites weren't in it, Heh). Which gives me an idea- make my own list of favorite dramas and make a bullet jourmal of all the dramas I'm currently watching ;) ;)

MOVIE MUSINGS

I'm quite proud of the movies I've seen this year- most are local! Huzzah ☺☺☺ And guess what, I liked most of them. I actually haven't seen one local movie this year which made me feel bad to have spent 200 of my hard-earned bukels (which I could've spent on half pound of Frankie's salted egg flavored chicken wings instead). This February, I was able to watch Sakaling Hindi Makarating and I'm Drunk I Love You.

Thoughts On Sakaling Hindi Makarating

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To be honest, I've never related to anything about break ups because I've never gone through one. Blessing in disguise, if you ask me. Lol. What I liked about the movie was the breathtaking scenery of the different provinces in the country. My favorite was Batanes. Pero sabi ni ate wala daw magagawa doon. Ang ganda ng tubig pero hindi ka puede mag-swimming kasi baka pag-ahon mo, nasa Taiwan ka na. Haha.

For the nth time, I was able to guess the movie's ending. I don't know if others were able to guess the real deal regarding the post cards or I'm just getting so good at guessing movie endings.

I liked the quietness of the movie.
I liked the twist at the end which gave them both the closures they needed.
I just think it's foolish to use up your life's savings to look for something you're not even sure what (or who) it is you're looking for. Then again, it's just a movie. Or maybe people nursing broken hearts really do these things. I have no idea.

Thoughts On I'm Drunk, I Love You

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Before AC and I watched, I asked my niece who already saw the movie if it was any good. Sabi niya, 'okay lang.' So again, didn't really expect anything. I'm in it for the eye candy (Read: Paulo Avelino). Harharhar!

We were 25 minutes late (parang Michael Learns to Rock na kanta yan ah) but I think we didn't miss out on anything important scene or detail about their relationship. I was just thinking if Carson (Maja's character) purposely delayed her graduation just to be near Dio (Paulo Avelino). You know, things we do for, ahem, love. 

If I wasn't able to relate to SHM, dito relate na relate ako. And I don't even drink. It's all about that unrequited love shizz, yo! 

This movie, saksak puso levels. Maybe it is more agonizing liking your close friend as compared to liking someone from afar. Liking someone from afar, medyo you know where you stand- waley sa buhay niya, haha. Whereas if you're BFFs, merong slight na 'what if' thoughts nagging you inside your head. Reminds me so much of my favorite MTV shows, Friendzoned. You have to choose just one. Cos if you confess and the feeling ain't mutual, there is no turning back. You'll never go back to how it used to be. 

I liked Carson, Maja's character (and usually I do not like Maja nor any of her characters) because she is so relatable and she played the role so well. Maybe AC's right, they're giving Maja too mature roles. They should give her fun, youthful projects. Mas bet ko siya sa ganun.

I liked Paulo Avelino in the movie, of course. And for once, he wasn't the kontrabida with mental health issues. Haha. 

I liked how this movie is very close to home, how everyone (I guess) has experienced liking someone who just never saw us the same way. And also liking someone for far too long, for holding out that long for hopes that they might eventually know your worth. According nga sa SHM, ano naman ang 11 (o seven, in reference to this movie) years compared to the rest of your life. Patient ka lang talaga.

I liked the music. Very in keeping with the theme of the movie. 

Stab me in the heart with a rusty spoon, why don't you. A lot of memories just came back but boy oh boy, I'm just glad that I'm all over pining. Manhid nako, haha. But seriously, I don't have crushes or don't get infatuated over someone anymore. I just get kilig over kdramas or go into ahjumma-mode over Korean boys with abs. LOL. Walang basagan ng trip. 

Soooo I just liked the movie, no. That ending was perfect. I want to watch it all over again. Yes, that is the masochist in me. Nyehehe.