SCRIBBLED NOTES #37: THE 'BALANCED' LIFE SERIES (PART 2: ON CAREER CROSSROADS)

It occurred to me that this balanced life series brings so much feels as I blog about it! It's a mixture of happy and sad situation but hey that's it. LIFE! If you want to see the 'prelude', feel free to click on THIS post.

"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
They somehow know what you truly want to become." -Steve Jobs

The name said it all. We better take it as these 18 words came from the mouth of a game changer! Little did I know that the roads and decisions I've made before led me to where I am today. I thank GOD for guiding me every step of the way. It's not easy, there are lot of times I'm asking whether I took the right road but I'm glad I stepped out of the norm.

A little background. I took up BS Accountancy and by the grace of God, graduated with honors. I was secretly vying for one of the top places in CPA board exam but I didn't make it on any. That's okay, I self-consoled. I got invites from well-known auditing firms and inevitably joined one of the Big 5.

Whilst in the firm - I was happy because of my friends and prestige that comes along with being a practicing CPA, however, I am sure that this is not what I am cut out to do. Sure, everybody expects me to be like this and that but they're not me. And one fateful day, I found myself in a career crossroad.

I was 24-ish then, when I mustered up the courage to join another industry. It's a thin thread between a BPO and call center (hence the graveyard shift) but I did bite the bullet. It was tough, specially during those times. I heard someone close to me getting all shocked why I did that but I just can't continue being somebody I'm not for the rest of my life.

It was quite an adjustment since, yes, I was answering calls and doing mundane stuff way back then but guess what?! I am more myself here rather than being in the other career. To be fair, it's an accounting software. One way lead to another. I was transferred to the UK shift, I resigned and did some consultancy post and 3 years after... autumn of 2011, I found myself traveling to Prague, Czech Republic as a consultant for the same software.

Of course, there are people whom I am forever indebted to. I always thank God for His mercies are new every morning. These days, I'm working as a consultant in London, United Kingdom and I don't have any logical reason on why all these had happened. All I know is that GOD has good plans for each of us. We just have to trust Him even if things don't make sense now.

BALANCING ACTS

I think it would be best to leave you with some of my favourite quotes from Steve Jobs. Enjoy! :)

When somebody imposes things on you...

When things don't make sense...

And here's my favourite:

BEAUTY RAVES : COLLECTION LASTING PERFECTION CONCEALER (WARM / MEDIUM)

One look and you can tell that this tube is well-loved (translated: over-used). If there's one good example of a beauty product that I've tested first before publishing a review, this is definitely it! I bought it a month ago and I've never stopped using it ever since.

A wee bit off topic. Recently, I've been obsessed at watching Youtube, and here's my favourite of all time... Amelia Liana! She's living in London and she has a blog (http://amelialiana.com/). I frequently visit her Youtube channel as part of my happy-me time! She's so classy and sophisticated. Her accent is my #AccentGoals (Wait! Is there such a thing?!) and her videos are well curated. Yes, I love her so muchie and I find her suggestions reliable and effective.

She usually uses NARS creamy radiant concealer but I find it too pricey for a concealer. I do have the dupe which is Maybelline Fit Me concealer (she uses that on some tutorials) and this one too. Collection Lasting Perfection concealer is popular for its concealer + highlighter abilities. No wonder it's one of the most sought-after concealers from then till now. SRP is £4.19 (about Php 300)

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS

I won't lie. I like this better than Maybelline Fit Me concealer (Review HERE). I like the consistency of this one. It doesn't cake on me quickly unlike the former. It has a 16-hour promise but to be honest, I don't put my makeup on for more than 12 hours. Even so, that's a plus. I like that the product is so easy to blend and clasp in an instant like a second skin!

I've made a quick comparison below. On your left is CMK with concealer and on your right is a bare face with L'oreal Foundation. Notice that the left side is more radiant than the right one. 

BEAUTY RAVES : CURRENT HAIR CARE FAVOURITES

There's no denying it. My hair looks (and feels) dry due to heavy treatments. I usually have it digipermed once a year (twice on some years) plus I'd succumb to constant hair colouring. I noticed that shower water in London is tad drying to manes as well. Result: Unhealthy hair :(

I think that's the beauty of blogging. You can document your process from one point to another. I wouldn't lie, I don't want to show only the good things in my life. There are constant challenges as well. The road to a healthier hair is one of those. Here are my 4 current raves this season and you'll be glad to know that all of them are available in the PH.

ST. IVES REVITALISING SHAMPOO

This retails for Php 184.75 for 600 ml. I got this from Landmark. St. Ives products are made from Switzerland so there's no doubt about the quality. This specific shampoo is made for colour treated hair. It contains aloe vera for healthier-looking hair. I think it's  my 2nd week of use and I'm loving it. It removes excess oil plus it doesn't strip the moisture off my hair.

Tip: Do not use shampoo every day. I was not a believer before but I noticed that when I stopped using shampoo every single day, my hair is not as dry. Best to use it 3x a week, if that's too much - you may start every other day.

DOVE OXYGEN MOISTURE CONDITIONER

Dove recently launched its Advanced Hair Care line. I got this conditioner from Boots (UK) for £4.00 (about Php 280) and it's just alright. I find the substance a bit too runny for a conditioner but I reckon that's it being the 'milder, oxygenated' version. My hair is not super manageable as I expected it to be (after use) so I might not repurchase.

Tip: Apply conditioner from your mid-length to tip. Avoid lathering it on your roots to prevent dandruff. Remember that conditioners are meant to tame unruly locks!

DOVE OXYGEN MOISTURE ROOT LIFT SPRAY

Still part of the Advanced Hair Care line, this product promises to lift hair from the roots for added body and volume. I'm not sure if I got it for £6 or £4 but it's somewhere along those lines. Definitely not greater than Php 400.00. It's 150 ml and contrary to its conditioner sister, I actually like this one.

Tip: Learn from my mistake, do not apply this on the tip of your hair :P I was weird earlier and applied it on my digipermed ends, it made my strands coarse even more. Lesson learned: read the directions. In fairness, it told me to: spray 10-12 pumps from scalp to ear lines. #Oops!

DOVE STYLE + CARE NOURISHING AMPLIFIER MOUSSE

Gently nourishes with added volume and bounce. That's the promise. It retails for Php 280-ish at SM Supermarket. It's 198 grams but you and I both know that with mousse, we're not getting the entire product since the substance contains massive amount of air.

I've tried it yesterday and I like it better than my previous Finesse mousse. It's so light weight that you'll forget you've applied it. Yet, it sorts of lend an added texture overall. PS: I love the smell too!

Okayyyy... I've been contemplating lately whether:

BEAUTY RAVES : L'OREAL TRUE MATCH SUPER-BLENDABLE MAKEUP (IN W4.5)

For almost two years, I've been faithful with my MAC STUDIO FIX (NC35) FOUNDATION. I love it then, I love it now. However, I'd like to shake things up a bit and I feel it's a high time for me to explore other 'lighter' options. MAC provides medium to heavy coverage and at times, I find it unnecessary to look 'that' made up, if you know what I mean. Then, I saw this product that both bloggers and youtubers are raving about!

BUT FIRST, THE COLOUR MATCHING!

Since most of my HG products are MAC, I know my colour based on their system. When you ask me what's my foundation colour, I'll say NC35 in a heartbeat! I read reviews that it's quite a challenge to find your skin match on other brands so I used this website and I find it really helpful! 

Tip: Just type http://www.matchmymakeup.com/, input your current product + colour + new product. Voila! Problem solved! True enough, I approached the saleslady and she's insistent that my shade is something else. I told her to put that shade on my left cheek and put W4.5 to my right. Turned out W4.5 is my closest shade!

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS
Price. I bought mine from SM MOA for Php 600. The original retail price is Php 899 (for 30 ml). However, they are holding some sale so that's awesome! To add, I found out I have enough reward points to cover the purchase (ergo, it's free) so I'm such a happy bunny!

Price point aside, I am delighted to report that it's lightweight! Exactly what I'm looking for. SPF 17 is a good addition as well. It's blendable and long-wearing too. Note though that I'm setting mine with Rimmel Stay Matte foundation. It doesn't irritate my skin in any way plus I can't get over the fact that my skin can breathe with a good coverage!

** Picture on your left is yours truly with Maybelline Baby Skin Primer and this foundation. On your right is my FOTD. Notice that the product exudes a MSBB (my skin but better) vibe.

MONEY MATTERS : 5 STOCK PICKS THAT YIELDED GAINS (MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE)

The urge to put on the caveat is so real that I have to include (MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE) as a subtitle. I was buying a camera last week and was having a small talk with the sales assistant. While I told him that I have a specific model in mind, I asked him questions about still photography. I told him I needed that for blogging purposes and he asked me the usual question on the WHY behind my blogging. While I have an on-point answer, I sometimes ask myself that question specially when the creative juices are drained out of my system!

Yet, one factor will always be the reason behind CMK. It's because I get information from blogs (like info for visa applications, reviews of a product, hotel, stock market)... I believe it is but fitting to give back. I know that there's one person somewhere out there who benefits with all my raves and reviews once in a while :)

I realised (sold my stocks and encashed them) some of my gains just recently. And it occurred to me that out of all my investment instruments, COL Financial (direct stock market) yields the most gain. Stocks are listed in no particular order.

Double Dragon

DD started at Php 4.50 per share and is now trading at Php 13.32. That's about x3 over a period of less than 2 years. Simply said, it's whatever your capital multiplied by 3! To give you a proper perspective, banks give 2% yearly on time deposits while this yielded 300%. Heads up that I didn't yank all my investments here (if I had a crystal ball, I wish I did) :D

However, you know that high returns are coupled with high risk. COL Fundamental analysis list does not include DD and so is Bo Sanchez' TRC stock picks. Not sure why but I'm certain they have good reasons. Anyway, that's the risk I had to take, and I'm glad that it turned out quite well.

Jollibee
With JFC, no further introduction is necessary! I ate breakfast joy and chicken joy every week so I'm a fan! Seriously though, I've been amazed on how this grew from a measly Php 7 (way back early 2000's) to Php 220 (as of late). I was like... I should've placed massive amount on JFC! It's true people, hindsight is always 20/20.

The only issue I have with JFC is its room for growth. I'm not sure if this hits the ceiling price or there's still good outlook in the horizon. Before, they have 500 stores and now they have 3,000+. Like DD, JFC is no longer recommended by my trusted source, yet... I still bought some! :D

I know nothing about Candlestick and Fibonacci Retracement level O.O All I know is that every day there are people lining up for their happy meal and that to me is a good indication that JFC is here to stay.

PS: Fibonacci Retracement is a very popular tool among technical traders and is based on the key numbers identified by mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci in the thirteenth century. (SOURCE)

Metrobank
This part, I chose to be obedient with Truly Rich Club (TRC) recommendation. It's a bank industry and I am not really in the know what's going on behind the curtain. I got a stock alert email that if my portfolio is green, sell the MBT shares. And so I did. I got some gains but not much compared to the other two.

SCRIBBLED NOTES #36: THE 'BALANCED' LIFE SERIES (PART 1: SPENDING VS. INVESTING MONEY)

LIFE is a balance between rest and movement. Life, by itself, is a BIG WORD to fathom. Let alone living a balanced one. However, it's true. We need to find balance in everything we do. Otherwise, life will be some series of boring routines repeated day after day. I've come across a quote and, despite being simple, it pretty much encapsulates everything we need to know about life's balancing act.

BE aware of wonder.

LIVE a balanced life.

Learn some and think some and draw and paint 

and sing and dance and play and work everyday. -Robert Fulghum

These are some areas in my life that I know I'm still a work-in-progress. And that's okay. If you're finding yourself on the same boat, take heart that you're not the only one digesting life's amazing way of turning things left... right... then round and round!

PS: I decided to break this mini-series in chunks to make it a light read.

Spending and Investing Money

I remember that scene quite vividly. It was 9th of May 2008 and I was coming home from a graveyard shift (yes, I've had my share of those days). I was contemplating in a bus and thinking: where have all my income gone? Last year, I've earned so-and-so but where are those now? That's the time I decided to open my very first savings account. Nothing fancy, I just want to see my money is 'kept' somewhere. Come 2013, I discovered the beauty of investing and so MONEY MATTERS series on Call.Me.Kristine (CMK) blog was born.

That's just the other side. On the flip side, I am a girl who loves to travel and shop! I like to try on new stuff and be on places I've never been. We were on a car yesterday and one elderly said: "I've worked hard for my money and I will never 'waste' them by traveling. After your trip, your savings will be gone just like that."

Maybe there are people like her. I can't blame her. As I've shared, BALANCE is such a big, deep forest to tread upon. That's her view and it's okay. However, I'd go mental if I subscribe to that perception. To me, traveling is a necessity. It's a way for me to appreciate life and my routines that I somehow abhor after months of repetition. Traveling gives me proper perspective and for that, it's a must-do rather than nice-to-have in my book.

Fact: We need money to enjoy the finer things in life. Likewise, we have to work to sustain our needs and wants. How to deal? I wish there's a cookie cutter approach but you and I know there's none. And so, here are my suggested 3 BALANCING ACTS:

1. SET APART A FUN FUND. It's true that you need to have fun,  but it's true-r (is there such a word?!) that you need to have more funDS! Live within your means and don't ever swipe that credit card relentlessly. I'm telling you that's disaster waiting to explode.

I usually set aside 15% of my salary for fun. I don't need to wreck the whole budget if I don't fancy anything but if I need to buy some big-ticket items, I'll put things into proportion.

2. INVEST AT LEAST 20%. I don't like to sound like a parrot but you'll thank your younger self that you decided to invest and prepare for your future. There are so many ways and as they say, everything is possible to those who are willing.

BEAUTY RAVES : SOAP & GLORY ENDLESS GLOVE 2 in 1 MOISTURE MASK & HAND CREAM

Hello people! I am literally munching on my Chef Tony's creamy parmesan popcorn seconds ago before writing on my Macbook. Let's just say I'm having a 4-day break from all things work this week. It dawned on me that for more than 4 years, I have never took a long hiatus from work! I am very blessed with my work, however, it's true! No matter how awesome things are, you need to take a step closer away from them to develop that passion again!

Related to this, I've been inspired to nurture my creative side lately. Nope, I'm not talking about art because, I suck at them. But blogging and investing and catching up with loved ones can be considered an art as well, ain't it? :) So... let the blogging saga begin!

SOAP & GLORY has a catchy name. Let's start with that. And every time I went pass by any beauty stores, one of their racks are dedicated to this brand. I ran out of my night time moisturizers just recently and this 2-in-1 product caught my eye!

PS: To make this post relevant, I did some surfing over the web to check the product's availability. It appears that there's no mall boutiques for the brand just yet. However, it is offered on eBay, Amazon and there's even one Soap & Glory Philippines page on FB too. Kindly do some due diligence first before transacting :) 125 ml is about £6.00 (About Php 420).

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS

It moisturizes really well! It feels that my skin is sipping and drinking all the good stuff from the tube. The substance is Ecru in color. The moment that you lather 3 tiny dots on your face, you'll feel the suppleness is on its way. 

TIP: I recommend exfoliating your skin once or twice a week. I use the usual Pond's Antibacterial facial wash and Olay facial brush. After which, pat your skin dry and apply a generous amount on your face. Wait for 20 minutes for the solution to settle before going to bed.

CMK WISHFUL THOUGHTS
On my first few tries, I find the smell a bit weird. It's neither sweet nor fruity, it's just... different! I got used to them on my 5th application anyway. I find that my skin is a bit oily when I wake up. There's a very thin line between a moisturized skin and an oily one. Best to wash your face in the morning to remove the oiliness.

Tip: That said, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with oily skin.

My personal, final verdict, though.

HELLO {AGAIN} MANILA! + MY FAVE WHITE TOP

MABUHAY! I can't believe it! It's been a week since I left London! Ho-hummm, goodbye is such a bittersweet thing, they say. A portion of my heart weeps whether I'm leaving London or Manila. I guess that's just the way it is when you love the place and the people! Moving on, I think it's such a good day to count my blessings and yes, I'm audacious enough to blog about them too!

GOOD 15-HOUR FLIGHT

Remember how I dreaded the long flight time? Guess what? It's not too bad, guys! My friend, S, went with me at Heathrow airport. We were having our dinner {mine's fish and chips} and it occurred to me that I didn't have a seat yet! Good thing he suggested that I do the web check-in {I should have thought of that!} but nothing to worry about. All went well. I got seat 15C and it was my first time to be on the aisle seat {I fancy window seat better, sniff!} but I don't have much of a choice.

Then, surprise surprise! I discovered that AISLE SEAT IS BEST for long haul flights! Why? It's because you can use the toilet without disturbing your seatmate plus you can stretch your feet just fine. THANK YOU LORD! After my 6th attempt, I cracked the code! I was overjoyed to know this people! If you've been in a 10+ hour flight, you can definitely relate.

TIP: Drink loads of water. You don't have to be thirsty. Just drink every hour. Next, bring your comfy clothes. Change your clothes 30 mins. after the take-off. I can talk on and on but I think it's best to create a blog post specially for this!

FAMILY BONDING
I've spent my first Sunday back at a hotel with my family. I've been reminded by this quote:

“We spend money that we do not have, on things we do not need, to impress people who do not care.”
― Will Smith

I don't want to be one of those people. And I'm trying my best to realign my goals on people and things which matter. I won't lie, I've had a terrible week due to a nagging migraine thanks to jet lag, but that won't stop me from saying THANK YOU to JESUS for being so faithful from then till now.

Part of the bonding was shopping of course! Wee, Zara is on sale {I think they still are as of press time}. Had a foot spa and mani/pedi with Mum too. Oh, this is life :) PS: On the picture above. Mum of course and Jay {ze brother}. Daddy is camera shy. 

Some buzz about my OOTD after the jump!

BEAUTY RAVES : RIMMEL PROFESSIONAL EYEBROW PENCIL

Apologies if I'll start on a rather slow note compared to my usual bubbly one. I am not on my tip top shape today because... JET LAG! Ohhh, I hate that thing with passion. So much hatred, that I took some time to get to know the culprit more from Mr. Google:

Jet lag is a chronobiological problem similar to issues often induced by shift work and the circadian rhythm sleep disorders. When travelling across a number of time zones, the body clock (circadian rhythm) will be out of synchronization with the destination time, as it experiences daylight and darkness contrary to the rhythms to which it has grown accustomed. The body's natural pattern is upset, as the rhythms that dictate times for eating, sleeping, hormone regulation and body temperature variations no longer correspond to the environment nor to each other in some cases. To the degree that the body cannot immediately realign these rhythms, it is jet lagged. (SOURCE) 

I've flown from London to Manila last Saturday and 5 days after, I'm on my 3rd Ponstan (Mefenamic Acid). Not a good situation to behold, I know but... yeah! Thing is, UK is 7 hours behind PH and adjusting my time zone eastbound is crazier compared when I'm going from PH to UK. Okay, that's fine. Inhale, exhale. This too shall pass. (^.^)

After a looooong introduction, let's go to some happy thought. Story goes: one lunch break I decided to go outside and savour some sunlight. Next thing I know I was in Superdrug and swatching this awesome eyebrow pencil.

Rimmel is one of the popular makeup brands in the UK. They have so many promising products but this specific eyebrow pencil caught my eye. I was never a fan of eyebrow pencil because I have a preconceived notion that my brows will look like a tatoo if I applied one. I was wrong.

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS

First, the price. It's £2.99 (and since most UK beauty stores are always on buy 1 get 1 in 50% less, you'll have another price slash if you happen to buy another Rimmel product). It's about Php 210, if converted. Next, the consistency. On my swatch above, the top one is the 'brushed' version. Lower one is how the product looks like when you stroke it lightly. I got mine in Hazel 02 shade.

Tip: Apply the tip ever so lightly. Since the product has a toilet brush, comb your brows to blend in the color. You can also slather a thin coat of a brow gel to make sure your brows will stay in place.

Another thing is, the colour doesn't transfer. I was weird enough to wipe my fingers through my brows to check if it would smudge but nope, not even a particle got into my hands. Lastly, this beauty lasts the whole day! No need to retouch! No wonder this is being raved about by many.

On to my wishful thoughts.

MONEY MATTERS : MUTUAL FUND RECOMMENDATIONS PLUS MY THOUGHTS ON TRULY RICH CLUB

I got a message from one of my lovely readers last May 2015. I made a mental note to answer this whenever I can, so now is the time! To you, K. this one's for you! Let me answer your question point blank. I can recommend mutual funds that I personally tried. I have summarized some detailed blog posts for you to check:

 MONEY MATTERS : HOW TO OPEN A SUN LIFE MUTUAL (PROSPERITY) FUND?
http://www.callmekristine.com/2013/11/money-matters-how-to-open-sun-life.html

MONEY MATTERS : HOW TO OPEN A FIRST ASSET METRO, INC. (FAMI) MUTUAL FUND?
http://www.callmekristine.com/2013/09/money-matters-how-to-open-first-asset.html

MONEY MATTERS : HOW TO OPEN A MUTUAL FUND ACCOUNT AT ATR KIMENG?
http://www.callmekristine.com/2013/08/money-matters-how-to-open-mutual-fund.html 

I share the same belief! Building your wealth does not need to be a one-time, big-time activity. Constant investing is the key. No matter how big or small your invest-able money is, the point is to set aside a portion of your income regularly. 

I started to dip my feet into the world of MF last 2013. My money is still on each respective mutual fund until now. I suggest that you try to open your first MF and familiarize yourself by reading materials at your own pace. Don't overwhelm yourself. Just take it as it is.

About which company I represent and my thoughts about TRC, I think it's time to tell you my story...

BEAUTY RAVES : LUSH CUPCAKE FRESH FACE MASK

I guess it's time for a new series on this blog, it's called BEAUTY RAVES! Nothing grand, it's just those random things a girl happens to try and love (or otherwise). Seriously though, I've been shopping for all things beauty and skin related the past weeks and I'll be happy to share them with you bit by bit.

First stop. One sunny Wednesday in London, I was about to meet my friend at Waterloo station when I saw (and sniffed) the little LUSH store nearby. I've tried their bath bombs and loved it but it's my first time to try their face mask. 

I had a small talk with the lovely Lush Lady and I finally decided to get the cupcake fresh face mask because... CHOCOLATE! Small tub costs £6.00 (approx Php 420). This tub will generally last for 5-6 mask session.

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS

Let's be clear on this: it took me a little over a week to empty this small tub! It's like a yummy dessert on my face. I love that it hydrates and exfoliates my skin at the same time. Not to mention the taste smell is divine. I notice after 3 uses that my face feels cleaner and no unruly breakouts anymore.

Tip 1: Apply your makeup remover then wash your face with lukewarm water. Apply this baby generously for 10-15 minutes then use a facial brush cleanser to make sure that all the chocolatey gooey leaves your skin when it's time to do so.

Tip 2: Set a timer on your phone and play some soothing music on the background (I use Spotify). Voila! DIY pamper time in an instant!

CMK WISHFUL THOUGHTS

Due to the fact that it's all-natural, the smell tends to be a bit rancid (maanta) after a week. It has a 3-week shelf life but I noticed that the consistency appears to be different on the 7th day. PS: Remember to store them in your fridge. This is a good reason to buy in small tubs rather than bigger ones. 

CMK THINKS

BEAUTY RAVES : MAYBELLINE SUPER STAY GEL NAIL COLOR (DEEP RED & CRYSTAL CLEAR)

"Gazing at bright yellow sunflowers can boost your brainpower and lift your mood. The scientists found that vibrant reds increased confidence and lifted depression, while intense shades of blue made the participants feel calmer." Said an article called Staring at Bright Colors Will Make You Smarter, Happier (SOURCE).

Today is perhaps the day I had my hand nails painted since the past decade (!). No kidding! In fact, the last proper nail manicure I had was on my 18th birthday, which was, well... ages ago. I don't know what got into me that day but on our way to hotel, I just picked up these 2 nail polishes I got from Superdrug UK and stashed them on my bag.

The day after our hotel stay, Mum and I decided to have our usual bonding over foot spa. A thought hit me. Maybe it's time to paint my nails red! And there are these two bottles so conveniently squished into my bag.

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS

I got them for £4.49 (about Php 280) per bottle but since Superdrug is forever holding their awesome good deals, I effectively got 2 bottles for the price of one. You'll be using this for a good few paints and I think it's more of a best buy rather than the other way around. The gel-like finish is another eye candy for me. Mundane tasks like writing or pulling out cash out from my wallet now seems to be a glamorous act as I can see my digits in their shining shimmering splendid form! Teehee! 

Youtubers rave about this product and how long-lasting it stays. The 7-day promise actually delivers an 8-9 day based on their experience. How cool is that?!

CMK WISHFUL THOUGHTS

I noticed that the colour starts to be 2-shades darker compared to its first application. It's not a deal-breaker but if you're OC in terms of colour vividness, this may be a point to consider. In case you want to see the whole colour range, here you go:

CMK LONDON DIARY : LIFE LATELY

Hello Guys! I've been on and off the blogosphere lately. I can't offer any legit excuse since I can  make time to write but I chose not to. Part of which is I want to enjoy the here and now. But, that's okay as I'm back with a new post! 

I am hours away from going back to Manila as I type this. GOD is really good! To be honest, I was bummed out by the fact that I'll be on a 15-hour (!) plane ride from Heathrow to Manila. Note that I was. I came to realise that not everyone has the privilege of going home frequently and instead of sulking, I should rejoice!

CRAZY BUSY WEEK

Yes it is. Am I the only one or does this happen to you? You are about to take a leave then all of a sudden: client meetings, deliverables and all sort of things need to be done! O.O I am amazed how consistent the universe is at throwing exciting things on my plate! :D

POWER OF PRAYER

Establishing the point of me being cray-cray this week, I re-discovered the power of a good quiet time. Looking back, I am not sure how did I tick off all my to-do's then I remembered that I have a Big Daddy up there to help me accomplish things.

"You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy then you should sit for an hour." Meditation, prayer, quiet time. Call it whatever you want, most important is: Acknowledge the LORD in all things that you do.

DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING, STAND THERE
Yes, I mean it like that (and not the other way around). I've been overwhelmed by so many things and the challenge is to stay still and stop analysing. And that's what I would like to do the next few days. I'd like to snooze off and just let it be.

Funny that as I conclude this post, I'm clicking my keyboard from now breezy Manila. I miss the place! It's always nice to see people whom I call home. But what's even better is that I now have two homes! Both of them are equally lovely and have a special place in my heart. 

OLAY REGENERIST SERUM REVIEW

Changing routines can be one of the things you need to do to put a zest in your life. I've been listening to some helpful videos recently and basically, it's saying that if you tend to get bored at life, chances are, your activities are a series of routines. You don't need to change your schedule upside down, some few tweaks like eating your lunch at a new place or taking a bath before breakfast can do wonders. That is also true with beauty products.

I never paid attention to anti-aging products before because I was too obsessed with the more visible stuff... lipsticks, blushes and the like. However, it dawned on me that I need to start this routine now, not for anything, but because I just feel I'm ready to. 

Can I be honest? Sometimes, I'm wary about people posting the same product reviews all at the same time, it's like it's a synchronized marketing stint... you don't really know what to believe :( That's why I tend to rely more on bloggers that review products that they bought out of their own pocket. It's because I know that the purchase is well taken thought of. One of the most reliable beauty blogs I visit is that of The Mustard Jumper. Her blog tells review just as it is. It's real and unadulterated. Go check her out :)

OLAY is my go-to brand on most of my skin care products. It's not cheap but it's not super high-end though. I got this from Boots for £20 (about Php 1,400). I got enticed by their 5-day firmness process. Let's see this in action.

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS

A bit shallow, but I'm really digging the packaging. Black and red is so sleek and it housed the entire 50 ml serum with such sophistication. So, let me answer the magic question point blank. Does it work? I'm elated to report that YES it does for me! I noticed that my under eye firmed up a lot after weeks of using this at night time. Did I mention that it has this quaint flowery scent? Scent kinda reminds my brain that it's bed time!

Tip: Wash your face (I use Olay Regenerist Cleansing Brush) + apply your favourite moisturiser + apply this serum on your under eye / forehead area. 2 pumps should be more than enough.
 

CMK WISHFUL THOUGHTS

I can't think of any for this particular product. Well, hmm, I find the whole product line confusing. That's it! Because they have one for eye and then there's this and that, yeah, that's just so many! Label says that eye serum is more concentrated than others but to me, I think I'm cool with this for now.

Next picture is me right after a full day at Central London. This was taken last Sunday,  21st June. You'll see that my makeup did already wear off (not to mention the lipstick!) but notice that my eye bags are less prominent than before :) Quite pleased with that!

CMK EATS : THE WHOLESOME TABLE

I've been aware of THE WHOLESOME TABLE from Green Living, a lifestyle channel from ANC. It was owned by Bianca Araneta-Elizalde and the fact that it offers organic, fresh, guilt-free comfort food enticed me in an instant. The late lunch bonding with G was long overdue and I thought it would be a welcome break from our usual around-Makati lunches.

Okay, a little background. I've had a long day that Sunday. I've been to a mentos moment as my trusty old wedge gave up on me whilst I was about to attend a blog event. Got stressed because, errr... I didn't want to walk barefoot along the stretch of Ayala, Makati. Then, the heat hit me hard. Enough said. I've had a migraine attack. Sob!

Moving on, I am glad that I made it to our late-lunch. I can't say this warrants a full food review since we've only ordered a handful. Nonetheless, here are my thoughts, if you like:

CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:

The promise of only-the-best ingredients. I've ordered their take on carbonara and G ordered a chicken with pesto main dish. I don't usually eat bacon, specially fat portions but I gave it a try. Tell you what, it tastes different. Pork is soft and succulent and the pasta is not overpowering {nakaka umay}. They serve big portions for pastas too. I like their ambiance. Too bad I was not feeling well to roam around but I like their rustic feel.

CMK WISHFUL THOUGHTS:

The calamari below costs Php 200+ and it's tiny! I can seriously eat 3 portions in one seating. On that note, I don't think we got our value for money. I thought this one's to share but I was wrong. The dip is tasty though. I have high hopes for their coffee but there's nothing much to rave on this. It tastes typical, actually. We've paid around Php 1,100 for the 2 pastas, 1 coffee and 1 calamari.

Verdict?