My Journey To Smelling Good At A Cheaper Cost

It has been a long time since I last posted something here. Been very busy with work. Anyway, I’ll be sharing my journey to perfumery.

Everyone of us experienced bum days at one point or the other. During my bum ol’ days, I stuck myself on books and the world wide web. I made earrings, bracelets and necklaces for the fun of it. Then one day I was searching something, I landed on a site about perfumes. I’ve been wanting to make my own perfume ever since. I got inspired and searched for people on the web who supplies fragrance oils and bottles, etc. After a day of searching I found the best supplier of perfume raw materials. I ordered a few for compounding for myself and my boyfriend. Since I haven’t found the right supplier of bottles yet, I thought of using empty perfume bottles for my first trial. There I went searching and computing the right formula. I experimented on  eau de parfum and eau de toillete. It turned out awesome. Mine was Be Delicious and my boyfriend’s were Acqua di Gio and CK One. He loved it dearly that he wanted more scents. What a very demanding boyfriend I have. Haha! Then came my friend who’s about to marry then. She wanted a perfume giveaway for the sponsors. I offered to do it for her as a gift. (She paid for the materials though. Labor and skills were my gifts.;) )I enjoyed the compounding and the processing from ordering the bottles and the perfume raw materials to designing the label in accordance to the invitation motif. Here are some Eau de Parfum giveaway photos:

My passion with the label. I also designed the Invitation. (Photo by Guilly Roy Natividad)

After a while, I got more busy with work but I never stopped into thinking on selling what I do. I once again made another batch just last weekend for my sister (as promised) and my demanding boyfriend. I was able to sell some to my cousins and friends. Not bad for a start.

Photos of Eau de Toilette:

Will post soon on the label.

Borrowing The Boyfriend’s Personals

There are those days when I just want to feel comfortable with the clothes that I’m wearing. I tend to opt for jeans or jeggings with sneakers or flats. And of course, the top would be a tank or a loose tee shirt. When I say loose, it’s got to be large. But we women don’t just shop for large tee shirts, we’d rather borrow or sneak out shirts from the boyfriend. In my case, I ask him which shirts are no longer useful to him and from there, I pick one which suits my taste.

Earlier this afternoon, I borrowed this stone-washed shirt from his closet and a watch to match my jeggings and comfortable black sneakers. Since it has gone monochromatic in its technical sense, I picked a brown leather backpack for contrast. Some of us women must admit that carrying a handbag could be stressful most of the time, especially when we need to have long walks. So, a backpack would do I guess. This outfit somehow reminds me of college days when I had to be one of the boys most of the time.

Shirt: Abercrombie & Fitch for him  / Jeggings: unbranded  /  Sneakers: Penshoppe  /  Watch: Tissot  V8 Tachymetre  /  Bag: 1980s Vintage Coach Backpack

So, which of your boyfriend’s stuff are you comfortable in?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue

1. blue adj \ˈblü\

1 : of the color blue

2. blue noun

1 : a color whose hue is that of the clear sky or that of the portion of the color spectrum lying between green and violet

http://www.merriam-webster.com

The Bride-to-be Trial Makeup and A Pamela Quinzi Wish

One of my duties as a Maid of Honor, of course, is to assist in the bride-to-be’s wedding preparation. Yesterday, I accompanied my very good friend, the soon to be Mrs. Niebla, to have that trial makeup for her big day. She has two options though; one for her big day and one for her prenup pictorial. She had prepared a model photo of the said bridal makeup she aspires, which she got online. It looked very simple yet charming and elegant, as of a bride’s makeup must be. I took photos of her after the trial.

She fell in love with her eyebrows, in which case I did too. The hair in the photo is a trial for her Reception Do. Of course she would be having the bridal up-do during the ceremony and the postnup pictorial. I bet she would look lovely in her look especially with the wedding gown on. Her wedding gown is LOVE. It won’t be the traditional princess balloon gown that we usually see in brides. I’m pretty sure Sly would love her even more.

She also picked a design for my long dress. It’s this Vera Wang yellow dress that Michelle Williams wore during the Oscars in 2006.

Now who would not love that? I’m dying to see mine, not in yellow though ‘coz the color motif would be violet with silver, ergo, violet. I haven’t shopped for a pair of shoes yet but I think I already have something in mind. But if  I were to wear a different gown that is more fashion forward, I would die to have a pair of  Pamela Quinzi shoes. I can’t quite think of the exact words to describe her designs,  but all I can say is they’re magnifico!

Photos courtesy of http://www.cinderellaofnewyork.com

The designs are darling. Check out her page. It’s http://www.pamelaquinzidesign.com.

There are still ongoing duties and I would love to post them. Perhaps next would be the prenup pictorial or the bridal shower; whichever comes first.

Pigments on My Lips

As I was checking my makeup kits and scanning on which to go and which not, I realized I had lots to dispose. As we all know, we should check our makeup time and again, for some are easily contaminated with bacteria and molds. So, I then found a few neutral lipsticks and lip gloss which I decided on keeping; from nude to the pinkies. Here are photos and my say on each.

I’ll go by color.

I already gave a review on this product on my previous blog. Its case is small and cute. It has a flower vine graphic along the bottom part that gives it a chic look.

If you want nude, here’s nude. Perhaps, it’s the perfect nude color for me, to say the least. Better than that of Humanheart Nature’s. Comparison below:

Its case is black and it’s a bit bigger than the usual lipstick case size. It looks elegant though.

This has a tint of coral/orange, which is perfect for summer. It makes the lips look healthy and natural even though it’s really pigmented. This is one of my faves.

Casing in black. Standard size.

A lighter shade of pink. When applied on lips, it looks lighter than that in the photo. This was one of my dear friend Kristina’s wedding favor to the entourage. I don’t often use it though.

This is my smallest one.

I haven’t used this much since I don’t frequent night outs lately. This is good for night wear. It has a hint of violet, pink and brown but on the light shades.

This one is rich in pink with the multi-colored glittery stuff mixed in. The only thing that I like about this is its square shaped case. It looks glam and stylish.

Left has lots of moisturizers and the scent is cool and fruity. I love to use it as a lip exfoliant. Whenever my lips get chapped, I apply it, leave it for a minute, then wipe the product away with a soft cloth or tissue. It works as it takes all the dead skin away. It also makes your lips look fuller too when applied.

Right has a neutral color but with a little hint of pink. It doesn’t have the fragrance as that of the one on the left, but it’s all good since it complements any lipstick color when applied on top. But I seldom do that. I like wearing this alone on my lips.

Have a pigmented lip day!

Follow me on twitter @purdymimi.

Pro-Organic. Pro-Poor.

I was browsing on organic products on Google one night and there was this link to an online catalog that sells organic products. I clicked on the link and it led me to this range of organic products from shampoo to makeup. I was then searching for an organic lipstick coz my lips are chapped these days perhaps due to the weather. I wanted to depend more on the organic side nowadays; from Shea butter to Emu oil. But as much as I’d want to be pro-organic, I still couldn’t resist other non-organic stuff. Anyway, I had the craze for the coral one (I forgot its name though) and the Sweet Nectar. Luckily too, my good friend’s co-worker is a dealer of the brand. It saved me the hassle in purchasing online. I browsed the catalog and ordered a lipstick in Sweet Nectar, their All-Natural deodorant with sunflower and their said famous 100% Natural Sunflower Oil.

3.38 fl.oz. (100ml)

100% No harmful chemicals. No parabens, phthalates, PEGs, mineral oil or other toxic sunbstances. Only the good! Dermatologist tested. Do you believe in miracles in bottles? Experience miracles as our gold elixir works its magic. Helps lighten dark under eye circles, dark spots and pimple marks, minimize stretchmarks, lighten underarms, adds shine to dull hair, moisturizes the face and body, and more! No wonder sunflowers are known as ‘Happy Flowers’ for the joy they bring!

Wow! Why not?

1.7 f.oz. (50ml)

For softer, lighter skin. No parabens. No aluminum salts.

Might as well.

0.15 oz (4.4g) / Sweet Nectar

Review:

As for the sunflower oil, I have been using it for about 10 days now. I apply the oil on my body and face every night since. I also apply some on my scalp and hair. It gives a very light feel. It absorbs quickly on the skin so there’s this no-sticky feeling. It’s not that oily like what olive oil gives and when I searched about sunflower oil, it says to have more Vitamin E than any other oils.

Regarding the deodorant, since it has no active alcohol ingredient, it doesn’t last all day. So it’s a no-no to work or to any sport activity. As for the fragrance, it has this fresh leafy scent but the boyfriend abhors it. The good thing about this deodorant is that once applying it on the underarms, it dries quickly and it’s never sticky.

And for the lipstick, it’s not very pigmented but it’s a bit light unlike any other nude lipsticks. The only thing that bothered me was the feel on my lips the first day I used it. It somehow felt harsh, which reminded me of Avon lipsticks. I’m not really sure but maybe it’s due to my chapped lips these days that the weather is causing. On the brighter note, I love its nude color which is good for the no makeup look, especially for daytime. Below is a photo of me in Sweet Nectar.

If you want to check and see the products and wonder why Pro-Poor, you can visit their site. www.humanheartnature.com

Manufactured for

Gandang Kalikasan USA, Inc.

7372 Douglas Circle,

La Palma, CA 90623

Gandang Kalikasan, Inc.

Quezon City MM 1119, Philippines

FYI I’m not in any way marketing any of their products.

How about you? Will you go organic?

Loose Pants for Summer

I have this comfortable pair of loose pants in black which have become one of my favorite bottoms. It is too flexible that I can wear it with any top; be it low waist, mid or even high. Its waist band is made of garter so it is easy to wear and it fits any waist. It looks so feminine and usually the fabric is airy. With loose pants, depending on the style and fabric, you can wear it to most occasions; mass, lunch, at the mall, coffee with friends, even at night. Here are some photos:

I wore a light gray top tucked in the loose pants, a pair of flat slippers and minimal accessories; a watch, a ring, small loop studs and a neck piece (anthropologie inspried) which I personally made. This can go for a day wear. Below is a photo of the neck piece.

Another style with a vintage feel.

I paired my loose pants with a floral vintage top with lots of accessories; a vintage black leather clutch, a pair of high-heeled sandals, two accent rings on my right hand, compiled bangles on the left and a long chained neck piece made by yours truly. This may go for a party or a night out. Behind me is also an old white Volkswagen Combi. It gave the images a more vintage atmosphere. Below are some close-up photos of the accessories.

I created the neck piece out of old chains and some newly purchased ones.

How about you? How would you wear your loose pants?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Together

This was taken before “Together” came. Both guitars are owned by my boyfriend. Sadly, he sold the electric guitar a week after this photo was taken. He felt that it wasn’t useful to him anymore.

And He Wore Bleu Into the Blue

This is exactly the same day taken with the “Blooms and Petals”. We took a trip into the blue, somewhere far from the city, into the unknown (yet actually we know the place haha). He wore this ocean blue BR top and it matched the perfect clear blue sky. I had to take photos of them (both him and the sky), I thought then.

Here are some photos taken by me.

As you can see, the baseboard of the stage’s wall is blue. Although stolen, the colors are still in harmony. Lol!

And again, no can do without us! )

And finally FOOD! He was taking a bite of this luscious friend banana. Coconut juice and fruit bits mixed with condensed milk came later. Mind you, the fruits were fresh from the trees. Yum!

Loved the tropical vibe.

Loving Mother Earth: Blooms and Petals

Due to the frequent power interruption in our city nowadays and its effect on the malfunctioning of the computer’s power supply, I am so delayed in posting for the Earth Day celebration. But luckily, I am back on track again. This post is to show my appreciation of the Earth’s beauty; specifically the flowers around. On time or late, I am still celebrating with more than 175 countries International Mother Earth Day. Hope you guys love the floras!

And of course, no can do without a pose.

-XOXO

Men, Women and Alcohol: The Pros and Cons

Photo courtesy of brewessentials.com

Earlier tonight, me and the boyfriend grabbed a bucket of kentucky’s fried chicken for take out (since he felt lazy cooking) and took it home to share with the family. After dinner and waiting for like the longest brownout yet again, we decided to go out and have a stroll but, before going home, my boyfriend starved for beer. We landed at Fort Cafe, one of our preferred places to have coffee and beer. I already swore to myself not to take alcohol anymore; maybe yes for social drinking but that would be all. I had hot coffee as usual and beer for my boyfriend. He loves beer and red wine. That’s what I don’t get about most men. They are always tagged with alcohol. But my boyfriend is not an alcoholic though. I’ve always talked to him on drinking moderately; the pros and cons of alcohol.

Drinking moderately increases the benefits of alcohol while lessening its risks. When one drinks more than the average, one can raise some of the risks that moderate consumption minimizes. For instance, a woman who drinks one beer a day is less likely to develop high blood pressure than a woman who’s a non-drinker. But when increased to two drinks, her risk of high blood pressure will rise up. Moderate drinking is considered up to one drink a day for women and two drinks for men. You may wonder about the inequality. Well, women tend to be smaller and have lesser blood volume than men. Also, women produce lower levels of an enzyme that breaks down alcohol.

Drinking small amounts with meals every day or two, which my boyfriend normally does, is much healthier than drinking 7 to 14 drinks on the weekends. The reason is that food slows the body’s absorption of alcohol, so that blood-alcohol levels don’t rise as rapidly (a meal complete with carbs, protein and fat slows the absorption three times). Another reason is that when you binge on beer or any alcoholic beverage, is quite dangerous; there’s the well-known danger of drinking and driving. In one study, men especially middle-aged who drink six  or more bottles of beer at one sitting are six times more likely to have a fatal heart attack.

Alcoholism is more common in men but is deadlier in women. Women who drink too much develop cirrhosis of the liver more quickly and die from it sooner than men. In one study, female alcoholics developed enlarged hearts just as frequently as men, even though they consumed 40 percent less alcohol throughout their lives.

Women who drink moderately also don’t escape from physical problems. That’s the reason why I decided to abstain. This is related to pregnancy. Some studies suggest that even moderate drinking can cause subtle neurological and behavioral problems in infants. Women also should abstain taking alcohol especially prior to the period because for some of us women, it may provoke PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

Symptoms of alcohol dependency:

1. Do you feel guilty about your drinking or annoyed by criticism of it?Have you tried and failed to cut down in the past?
2. Do you often start your day with a drink?
3. Have you consumed five or more drinks on at least five occasions in the past 30 days?
4. Do you have a family history of alcoholism? Children of alcoholics are much more likely to become alcoholics themselves.
5. Can you hold your liquor? The ability to drink alcohol without feeling its effects is a major predictor of alcoholism.

If you think you have a problem:

• Get medical help.
• Join a program. They include Alcoholics Anonymous, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational enhancement.
• Quit smoking. Smoking and drinking hand in hand. Moreover, among recovering alcoholics, about half the deaths are due to smoking.

-Is It Harmful? Is It Healthy? (A complete guide to what’s good for you…and what isn’t)

For most men and women who can drink in moderation and don’t have a specific reason to avoid drinking (pregnancy or medication), beer and wine can be both enjoyable and healthful. For others like me, abstinence is the best policy.

Chocolate: An Object of Desire and Its Myths

 

Photo courtesy of http://www.lindt.com

Chocolate is not addictive like nicotine and other drugs are but the thing that people are drawn to it is due to its effect on mood. Researchers have discovered that a compound in chocolate may act on the brain like how the active ingredient in marijuana does, producing a sense of euphoria. This may explain why people crave for chocolate when depressed.

Also, when women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), some indulge in chocolate. And this is for another reason that is Serotonin, a chemical in the brain that possibly helps to maintain a feeling of well-being, decreases at this time in a woman’s cycle. And chocolate boosts serotonin levels.

Myths About Chocolate

Although chocolate is much desired, it has been maligned.

• It raises cholesterol. The fat in chocolate is highly saturated , but much of it is a type called stearic acid, which does not elevate blood cholesterol.
• It promotes cavities. Plain chocolate is less harmful than most other candies because it doesn’t stick to teeth. In addition, cocoa contains tannins, which inhibit plaque formation.
• It causes acne. Doctors say the development of acne has nothing to do with diet. Studies have failed to prove that chocolate has any adverse on the skin.
• High in caffeine. Chocolate has only a tiny amount of caffeine. A cup of cocoa, for instance, has about 5 mg of caffeine, compared to about 100 mg in a cup of coffee.

 So, to all those who love and indulge in chocolate like me, go ahead and grab lots since it won’t affect your weight and diet, you don’t have to worry about visiting the dentist due to too much consumption of it, you don’t have to blame it for your oil glands causing acne, and you don’t have to worry about eating chocolates before bedtime. Just don’t forget to brush your teeth before hitting the sack. Have more happy eating chocolate days!

Facts source: Reader’s Digest

 

Penchant for (Antique) Pendant

As a Grandma’s girl, I have the privilege of receiving antique stuff from my Grandma. Some of these are pendants and brooches which I somehow managed to keep in my jewelry box. The most precious in my heart, amongst the rest, is the Cameo Lady Pendant which is also a photo locket. The photos are of her husband’s, my Grandpa’s. And this makes it more sentimental. I wasn’t able to meet him but I wish I did. I wish I was able to sit on his lap or even just a hug. But he passed away years ago even before I was born, on Valentine’s Day due to a heart ailment. The bypass wasn’t able to save him. Anyway, here is the photo of the pendant. Pardon me as I failed to take a photo of the closed cameo pendant and also failed to clean it for years.

My favorite is also the pearl pendant embedded on an embellished gold plated bronze. It’s quite heavy. The gold also has tarnished over the years.

My next favorite are the golden colored clothespin brooch turned pendant by me. I just love them so much. I can even turn them into charms for a bracelet but I’d rather hang them as pendants.

I was able to use this as a brooch lots of times until the pin behind was destroyed. It can still be adjusted though, but I love seeing it as a pendant. This time, the necklace I used in the photo is a never-used one. It was given by a relative in the U.S. as far as I can remember. It has been with me for years now but never had the chance to use it. Perhaps forgotten. Anyway, it’s a long gold plated chain with black string entwined. A new accessory born, antique brooch with my considered new necklace.

 

Last is the old house key. This is one of the old house keys we used ever since I was a baby. Since the locks have been changed, I kept it when I found it inside our Grandfather’s Clock. Finders, Keepers. It looks so classic, made of old bronze, so antique. I just gotta love it!

All of these I treasure especially for my Grandparents’ sake, and of course, because I love antique stuff.

 

On Healthy Eating

The kitchen is my boyfriend’s most favorite place in the apartment. For today’s dinner, he planned on cooking one healthy meal using Veggie meat (a healthy meat alternative) as the main ingredient. He cooked it with potatoes and curry and the rest of the spices. Once done cooking, I took a picture of it and mind you, it does look like real beef meat. It even looked like beef curry.

As for its taste, if you’re not a vegetarian, you won’t be crazy about it. But it’s okay since it’s fat and cholesterol free plus, 45% protein.

FACTS on this veggie meat:

It is high in soy protein, complete with all the essential amino acids. It is rich in fiber and a good source of phytochemicals.

USFDA states “25 grams of soy protein a day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease”.

It may be a cliché but it’s always true, “You are what you eat!“

Love and Chocolate

All you need is love.

But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.

-Charles M. Schulz

 

Do the Work or Take the Credit?

There are two kinds of people; those who do the work and those who take the credit. try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.

Indira Gandhi

True knowledge exists in …

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.

Words by Socrates

 

Never be bullied into sil…

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.

by Harvey Fierstein

The Woman In Black Behind Harry Potter

You can all forget about Harry Potter. Here comes Arthur Kipps in a typical haunted mansion. Imagine dolls, old musical toys, dark halls, a wall filled with old frames with pictures of the deceased family, cobwebs, footsteps, old letters, big chandeliers, candles, a rocking chair that rocks all by itself, and of course, a woman in a black mourning dress. These all add up to the chilling events of the movie.

The film starts as Arthur, a lawyer, preparing for his journey to Eel Marsh House to take care of the newly deceased Alice Drablow’s papers. The horror scene started when he entered the house. What’s more creepy is the location of the said Eel Marsh House. It is surrounded by marsh and everyday, the tide rises up as it erases the road leading to the house. But no worries, it subsides at one point of the day.

Anyway, I’m giving the film 5 stars from beginning to end, although they edited the last part. They didn’t quite copy the whole thing from Susan Hill’s novel. I won’t give too much spoilers for those who haven’t watched the movie yet.

Here are pictures of the marshland:

The woman in black preys on children.

All in all, the actors portrayed their characters very well, the sounds were good, everything was perfect to fit a horror movie. I can’t wait for the sequel The Woman In Black: A Ghost Story.

Seven Churches

Photo courtesy of http://www.asiaexplorers.com

Why do we visit 7 churches every Maundy Thursday? I googled my question and this is the best answer that I got.

“The Seven Churches Visitation also known as Visita Iglesia is a pious Roman Catholic tradition observed by faithful Christians during Lent by attempting to visit 7 Christian sites or parishes. Customarily observed during Maundy Thursday, today it is commonly practiced during any day of the Holy Week.”……..

………”In the Philippines, Filipino Catholics follow this tradition called Visita Iglesia (English: Church Visit). The general practise is to visit seven churches within their area and recite the Stations of the Cross in them. The pious would double the number of churches to fourteen, while the infirm and elderly usually visit only one or a handful. An association of the number seven is with the Siete Palabras (Seven Last Words) of Jesus on Mount Calvary. Until the 1970s, people recited all fourteen stations in each church instead of a fraction thereof.”

-From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyway, my family is accustomed to this culture. It has been a tradition ever since I was welcomed to the Catholic Christian world. For this year, I invited my boyfriend to join us in the Visita Iglesia and it was his first time. I was supposed to take pictures of the 7 churches we visited for the sake of blogging but my boyfriend opposed to it since accordingly, we’re doing it solemnly for the Lenten season.

First church was at the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Pasonanca, the second nearest church to our house. It was supposed to be cold and breezy up there since the location is near the mountains of Zamboanga City but, we never felt any breeze due to the numerous people visiting. Second was at San Antonio Maria Claret Parish Church in Canelar. Third visit was at Carmelite Monastery which is located along R.T. Lim Boulevard. This is the most solemn church to me and the favorite of the Aquinos.The late former President Cory Aquino loves visiting this place and her son President Noynoy Aquino visited the place before or during his campaign for spiritual retreat. Fourth church was The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception located at La Purisima St. It is the seat of the archdiocese of Zamboanga. It is one of Asia’s largest modern churches. We were to visit St. Joseph (Chinese) Parish Church for the next stop but my mother kept on giving us a hint that she wanted to visit Divisoria church. We thought twice since it’s kinda far from where our route was but upon seeing the massive traffic outside St. Joseph Church, we then headed on to St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish Church in Tetuan, then straight to Divine Mercy Parish Church in Divisoria. My mother’s wish was granted. Haha. In all fairness, the Divine Mercy Parish Church was the coziest of all the churches that we visited last night. Lastly of course, our own parish church which is the Our Lady of the Purification Parish in Sta. Maria.

Tiring it was but I somehow felt the blessing and serenity.