Starting 2013 Right

Now that the Christmas season is OFFICIALLY over, it's about time to shake things up and actively make good things happen for the new year. I know it shouldn't take the shift between years to start things, but it is a good, symbolic reminder to get things going for good change.

So first things first: the Abi Sexier Project 2013 starts tomorrow! The 2012 iteration proved to be quite successful for a few months (until my whole life started to revolve around work and I got really affected by its stress) with me hitting the treadmill 20 minutes a day, 5-6 times a week; starting pole; and significantly cutting down on my portions. But because of stress eating and a retrogression into a mostly sedentary lifestyle, before I knew it I had gained back most of the 15 lbs that I lost in 2 months.

So tomorrow, I'm starting again. Albeit slowly, I'm starting again. Now I'm warming up to the idea of having a friend whip my ass into shape. I'm a little scared because I've heard that he is a tough teacher, but whatever. Shit needs to get done.

Two: With the Sin Tax Bill (Law? It's been passed, right?) raising cigarette taxes, I'm going to quit smoking. I'm not a heavy smoker to begin with, and I can go without smoking for long periods of time, so this isn't going to be a problem.

Three: Skin-care. Given that I am a beauty junkie, I constantly try on new stuff. And that kind of practice really gives your skin a beating. So aside from regularizing my skin regimen, I'm going to start taking proper care of my skin. My Mavens have been reprimanding me for not wearing SPF, so I'm giving in. But hey, don't think I didn't try before. I've tried a few formulas, but they always caused my skin to break out.

But then I found this product that I am more than optimistic about! I got myself a tube of Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunscreen.

It is supposed to be "mild as water," and if it's good enough for babies, it should be gentle enough for my breakout-prone skin. Besides, Aveeno is notorious for being able to solve all your skin problems. This also starts tomorrow, and I will get back to you in a few days on how it goes.

UPDATE: A few days into it, and the results have been good so far! Nary a new pimple nor some new layer of grease sitting upon my face. I really appreciate that it doesn't have that sandy sunblock scent, which I usually love but depresses me to smell when I'm not actually at the beach.

And although the formula is white, it dries invisible, so you don't have to worry about getting a weird white film on your face.

This and a full line of Aveeno products are available at S&R.

How about you? What are you doing for the new year?

In Retrospect: 2012

In an attempt to resolve my ways as an ungrateful bitch, I'm taking a look back at the year that has barely passed and recounting few of many of its highlights. 

JANUARY

Reunion with the Portillos; and my life source TVP Dental B's 25th anniversary.

BATAAN 

My discovery of drivable, day-trip beaches. Also, a first in over a decade: the beach with my mom's side of the family. 

PALAWAN
I had never been to Palawan before, and it was just as well because I really wanted to get some new places under my travel belt. Although I think I could have done better, ideally, but it proved to be an insanely busy year so I couldn't do much traveling.

The Puerto Prinsesa Underground River was amazing, and I was lucky to have gone the weekend it was "declared" a Natural Wonder of the World. No doubt it is a spectacular place, it is the legitimacy of the body that declared the title that I question.

I also met some additional members to the Portillo side of the family: Aster and Iris, whose faces you cannot see in this photo, haha!

FEBRUARY
Back at Bataan, this time with the girls. My good friend Mia came home from Australia, and we couldn't NOT do a beach trip while she was here.

This is doubly highlight-worthy because although I've been driving for about 7 years, I had never driven long distance before, just because I've never really had to. This felt good. It was empowering. I felt invincible.

Also, because liempo!

MARCH
BORACAY. With these girls.

There is a Boracay trip planned every year, whether with my family, or with my friends. So you can bet that I'm there at least twice a year.

Although it is an annual occurrence, our romance never fades; it will always be a notable trip. For plenty of reasons. PLENTY.

<3

HANSON.
Not just the concert, but they fuckin' came to me, okay. TO MY WORK PLACE. AT MY NEW JOB. Fate? FUCK YEAH.

NEW JOB.
Yay! I'm rich again. And it gives me enough action to keep me from getting bored.

APRIL
2012 marked my silver anniversary on this earth. Despite feeling tremendously under-accomplished for my age and anxious for the future -- thanks to the pressures of the world -- I am beginning to feel better about both situations. And that night really was one of the better ones. It was a generous and warm gesture on my then-new officemates' part to throw me a party. Spider Dan made a totally unexpected drop-by!




DONSOL:
My family and went to Donsol wanting to swim with the whalesharks. I keep reminding myself that just the adventure and experience of seeing a new place was minimum requirement for travel enjoyment, but I can't help but feel that this particular trip was absolutely fruitless.  After stressing-out about the flights and finding available lodging, it also took three hours of travel -- two hours of which are spent on a zig-zag road -- which incidentally took my breakfast. Haha! So you can imagine my disappointment when I saw absolutely no whalesharks! First major disappointment in the year!

MAY

Work travel assignment: Boracay for The Lifestyle Network's Summer Soul!

Two of the points that made this a great trip are the two gorgeous Azkals -- Carli de Murga and Misagh Bahadoran -- standing between my work mate Jade and I.

AUGUST
More of the Azkals! And the handsomeness! Love you forever, Maven Magazine!

SEPTEMBER

My maternal great-grandmother's 99th birthday! (And that amazing chocolate truffle cake from The Hyatt.)

NOVEMBER

Business trip #2: Hong Kong. Better yet, Disneyland!

DECEMBER
My visit to The Circle Hostel in Zambales gave me some comfort about the state of humanity, somehow. It was refreshing to see and be within a community that has an almost-utopian trust in each other. It was a beautiful atmosphere to be around.

Plus, it is stripped to the basics, really affordable, and quiet. Why can't there be more places like this in the Philippines? Why aren't we a people who can appreciate a little no airconditioning?

After over 27 years of being together, including a tumultuous few years in between, my parents celebrated their 27th anniversary a few days ago. To celebrate, we went down to The Mind Museum. Which was just as well because their marriage might as well be in a museum, right, given it's longevity? 

I feel better about 2012 now. I got stoned a lot and I cried a lot, but looking back at it, it's wasn't bad at all. I could have worked on my social life better (how else my love life?) and maybe took a few pictures of the smaller-scale, private moments between friends because aaalllllllll the inside jokes and all the rapture feelings of laughter, I really want to remember.

The Nuanced Reds of MAC Cosmetics

Because I very recently just added a sexy new orange-red Lady Danger to my collection of MAC reds, I'm thought I'd do a comparative post on their nuanced differences. It takes a practiced eye to tell them apart because they're so similar.

L-R: Lipliner in Cherry, Lipsticks in Viva Glam I, M.A.C. Red, Russian Red, Lady Danger

Here is a clearer illustration, with an addition of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' limited edition Lip Tar in Indashio thrown into the mix.

Photo from here.

L-R: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Indashio, MAC lipsticks in: Lady Danger, Russian Red, M.A.C Red, Viva Glam I, and MAC lipliner in Cherry

1. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Indashio
This limited edition Lip Tar shade is a midtone pink-red that comes in a highly pigmented liquid formula. All you need is a tiny squirt on your finger to provide proper lip coverage. The Andy Warhol-reminiscent color is so versatile, it looks great on all skin tones and I looooooooooove how the color just POPS!

2. MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Lady Danger
Lady Danger is NOT for the faint-hearted, let me tell you. It is an unapologetic (but then again, what shade of red is worn for apologies?), almost-neon orange-red matte stick that gives just as much pop, coverage, and versatility as Indashio does. It looks fabulous across all skin tones as well.

3. MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Russian Red
Russian Red also comes in a matte formula, and is also a little bit leaning towards the orange side, but not quite as much as Lady Danger is orange. I find this is most suitable for when I'm suited up and feeling like a powerful bitch, haha!

4. MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in M.A.C Red
Looking at the swatches above, you can very easily tell the obvious difference between M.A.C Red and the other shades. Instead of matte, it has a satin finish. And instead of orange, this red leans more towards the blue side of the spectrum. It makes your teeth (and complexion) look whiter, but and may be better suited for paler or cool skin tones. My skin tone is warm (I'm a light olive with dark hair and medium eyes), and the only reason it looks good on me is because, like I said, I am a tad on the pale side. I would not recommend this for all other warm skin tones. And to tell you the truth, I bought this shade because I wanted to look like Snow White, haha!

5. MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Viva Glam I
Viva Glam I is my first experience of red lip color. My grandmother gave me a tube when I was 13 years old, and although I'd wear it around the house after school, I waited what felt like forever to wear it out. It is a slightly deeper red than the other red shades, but it is equally outspoken. Also matte, this is what I wear when I'm feeling glamorous, because if anything, it really gives you that old-Hollywood feel.

The great thing about the Viva Glam collection is that for every purchase of a Viva Glam product, every cent of its profits go to the MAC AIDS Fund, which provides direct care and assistance to those living with HIV/AIDS, as well as prevention assistance to those who are likely to acquire HIV/AIDS.

6. MAC Cosmetics Lipliner in Cherry
Also a blue-based shade, Cherry is a creamy lipliner that works very well alone, or if used with M.A.C. Red, Russian Red, and Viva Glam. The trick is to line lips and fill it in completely with lip liner before you paint on your lipstick shade of choice. Using it alone with clear gloss on top is a good way to achieve a red glossy look without having to worry about the color bleeding or feathering around your mouth.

There you have it! Let me know which one/s you like and go get yourself a tube or two! :)

Product Review: OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean Collection: Skull & Glossbones, and the Beach

Included in my very few purchases from Hong Kong is 4 bottles of OPI nail polish. Out of the 4, Skull & Glossbones belongs in the top tier of comparative favorites. Interesting to note that this particular shade is from OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean collection, which means that it might not be the newest thing on earth, but for some reason, the consistency of OPI's formula remains solute and cooperative.

I initially thought that it did absolutely nothing for my warm skin tone, but wore it to the beach this weekend and saw it in a whole new light, so to speak. Heehee.

Speaking of the beach, this weekend's trip was just what I needed, despite the lack of surfing on my part. The whole time was spent on my back, whether under the sun, or under the kubo roofs, or under a certain somebody in a dream, haha!

Last night at the Circle

The Circle Hostel at Zambales was all sorts of amazing, and I totally appreciate the laid-back environment, and the fact that you could trust anybody and everybody within a very considerable good vibes radius. I'm looking forward to maybe frequenting the place and activities that revolve around it.

Current Obsession: 1950s Roma