The Guy in a Green Shirt

My dear friend, Bambi, often tells us "I still haven't met the person who can make my world stop". Although I know it happens in the movies, I am not really a believer of the claim that it happens in real life as well......................until this afternoon.

I'm not the kind of girl who's easily attracted to good-looking guys. I pride myself as someone who is a "substance over form" kind of person or, to be elaborate, someone who values a person's over all personality over mere physical beauty. I guess this afternoon kinda challenged me with that stand. :).

This afternoon, my best friend and I went to one of the snack-houses here in Binalbagan to treat ourselves with some siomai. There were already a number of people who were waiting for their orders when we came, so, we waited for quite a while for our turn. While waiting, I happened to turn my attention to the street and to the passing vehicles when Lo! A really-good looking guy in a green shirt and riding on a red bike (or motorcycle) passed by! Ladies and gentlemen, I absolutely don't have any idea what happened but it's as if I was starstruck and my eyes followed him till he was out of sight. Surprised with my self's reaction, I hurriedly asked my best friend "Did you see that guy? The one who passed by just now?!" Unfortunately, she was unable to spot the demi-god that I saw. But dang, I can't explain all the feels that hit me. I turned giddy and excited, and I was sad that I don't even know who he was. The guy who caught 100% of my attention; the guy, let us say, who made my world stop for 3 seconds. 

I don't know who he is; whether he is single, married, working, or still a student. I don't know if he's a local, or he's from the next town who just happened to pass by Binalbagan. Isn't it funny how a complete stranger can make someone feel like that? Though its an unfortunate fact that I won't meet him ever again (or maybe if i do meet him again in the future I'm not sure if I will still be able to recognize him), I am just thankful he made me realize that Bambi's claim that a certain person can make your world stop is indeed, after all, true. :)

It's More Fun To Teach!

I don't blame people when they give a semi "freaked out" reaction when I tell them I want to be a teacher once I pass the CPA Board exam. I can surely understand why.

Of course, most of them might be thinking "You can earn more by working in an auditing firm than in the academe!" Uhhhm, well, that is a fact that is completely undeniable but despite of the voracious saver that I am, I'm not always after the money. :).

I have observed that there is something special about teaching. Our Technical writing teacher once told us that though educators may have lesser compensation compared to those who work in the office, they have a much greater "salary" that is intangible: the love and respect of the students. I can attest to that. No amount of monetary rewards can overpower the "ooohs" and "ahhhhs" of the students every time they begin to understand what you are teaching them. Big dollar signs can make you proud for a short time but teaching can give you that lasting pure pride you take on yourself because you know you have inspired others and you have given to them a knowledge that is really useful in their lives.

Don't get me wrong; I am not, in any way, detesting the work in the office. When I will one day be a CPA, I will accept any job given to me that is connected with my field may it be in the office or the academe. And if I will not have the opportunity to teach students in my young days as a professional, I am sure I will one day return to the four corners of the classroom. For seriously, I am in love with the "ooohs" and "ahhhs" of enlightened students. :)

Les Miz Afternoon ♥

If you were my friend on Facebook, you might have observed that my recent posts are about this lovely, wonderful, extraordinary musical. This afternoon, my dream to watch this breathtaking creation on the silver screen came true! :)

Mama, Chini and I went to Bacolod to watch the movie adaptation of Les Miserables. The novel was absolutely beautiful and the movie did it justice. Les Miserables made me feel what it should make me feel. :).

I don't want to spoil you, guys, but I'm telling you! Your money will all be worth it. A friendly suggestion, though. Please bring some tissues with you. I bawled my eyes out throughout the duration of the movie.

Purple Shimmah!

We always have that one thing we own but we don't know what to do with it. That lip gloss that was forgotten when another one was bought; the 10,000 pens inside your bag; that alcohol you always miss to use because the food's too tempting to mind. In my case, it would be an eye shadow duo with shades of purple and sky blue.

It's Tata's birthday gift to me and it has been sitting on my kit for 8 months already. I cannot find a special occasion where I can use those colors because I'm afraid it might not complement the color of my skin very well (you see, I'm morena).

Had I known I'm wrong, I would have used it often.

This day I decided to give those shades a try. I told myself "They're bold colors but they can still be useful". I decided to create a simple evening look. Here's what I did:

I believe this look is appropriate to wear during the evening. If you have some parties to attend, some get together, or maybe a formal dinner-date, this look is good to go. (Sorry, the quality of the camera ruins the colors). Here's how I did it.

Okay, so, first of all, you need to have a clean face prepped with foundation and powder. After you're done with that, start with the eyes.

For this look, I opted for this light shimmery eyeshadow (the lightest one). It's cream-based, by the way, so, it's really pretty to use. :). This is a product of Sansan Cosmetics. (I use really cheap products. Not much of a Mac girl, hehe)

After I applied this color all over my lids, I decided to use the purple eyeshadow. 

It may not be that obvious but this color is really pretty intense. Too much of it can make your eyes look like you can compete with a zombie. Using a brush, I applied the purple color all over my crease. To intensify the  look, I applied a dark brown color on the outer corner of my eyes to give them a 3d-effect. Plus, I really am a sucker for dark brown eyeshadows, so, forgive me. :)

(The other dark color fell off just this morning. *pout*)

Don't forget to add some liquid eyeliner and dark mascara to add more effect to your eyes.

Also, since this look is appropriate for evening use, your eyes need to look big, bright, and still alive. :). The secret?

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!

White eyeliner, Ladies and Gents! Applying this on your lower lash lines will pop up those eyes. :)

As for the face

I always like to contour my face when I need to attend formal afternoon/evening events. Contouring highlights the face and creates an illusion that you have hollow cheeks (and for someone who's got a chubby face, that sounds good news, hahaha). That shade encircled yellow is what I use for contouring. If you don't have a bronzer, choose a blush that's two times darker than your skin. I will post a blog next time on how I contour my face. :)

After contouring, it's time for the blush. Again, since you want your eyes to be the star, you need to keep the blush on your face to a minimum. Choose a light color that will complement your eyes. :)

Last, but not the least, don't forget to play with lipstick. For this look, I chose a light pink lip shade. 

Purple and Light pink does sound very Barbie, right? :)

So, there you have it, folks. :). This is just a proof that you shouldn't let that little eye shadow color scare you. You can find ways to make that little fear your ultimate weapon. Just like in life! :)

The Blushing Bride

Every single girl loves to talk about weddings. I mean, seriously, is there any female out there who does not giggle and get giddy when the "wedding" topic is brought? I seriously doubt that. This girl is no exception to that fact.

I love weddings and I had been privileged to witness two wedding ceremonies last December. All the guests always have one thing to say "Oh gee, the bride's really pretty! She's just the prettiest woman today!" Ahuh. Truth be told. Every bride deserves to be absolutely stunning/gorgeous/beautiful on her very special day.

I also dream to get married someday. There is a Mormon joke that says "Mormon girls know the colors in their wedding without even knowing who the groom is". That is very true. When I was 18 years old - the year when I learned how to do make-up - I decided that I will do my own make-up when I get married. The practical girl in me says "The money you'll spend on hiring a make-up artist can be used on more important things..." Since then, I have been a fan of Youtube bridal make-up tutorials.

This afternoon, after a long day of writing and rewriting two chapters of our feasibility study, I decided to play with make-up. I opted to do a do-it-yourself bridal make up. I have made bridal looks before but I will say that this one is my favorite. Here are a few pictures:

How did I create this look? Here's what I did... (Guys, forgive me for the quality of the pictures. I hope the colors are still identifiable to you... :) )

After you have prepped your face with concealer, foundation and press powder, you proceed to the eyes. First, apply a base color all over your eyelids. Here's the color I used. It's called "seashell". It's a shimmery white color. Applying this all over your lid will enhance the other colors you will apply later. Also, brides should have fresh-looking, sparkly lids, so, having some white shimmery eyeshadow is an advantage.

One you have already applied the white shadow on your lids, it's time to have some "pop" of color. What I used in my eyes is the sparkly purple shadow from Revlon's "Plum Likes It Hot". Apply this color onto your eyes in a windshield wiper motion. Take note, shy away from applying dark make up on your eyes. You want to look soft and romantic as possible.

To make your eyes look bigger and romantic, add some really light ash color onto your eyes. This will create  a "shadow" on your lids that will make your eyes look bigger. Apply this lightly on your eyes with a brush. This is the color that I used:

Eyebrows are also an important part of your look. Make sure they look clean. Choose a color that is the same shade as your hair and fill in your brows with this.

Add drama to your eyes by applying liquid eyeliner, false eyelashes and mascara! :)

Next stop, the blush on! :). For your wedding day, keep the colors on your face as soft and as neutral as possible. :). Here's the color that I applied on my cheeks:

For the final touch, the liiiiips. :). The lips are the "shoes" of the face. There's a line that goes "shoes can either make or break an outfit"; this is also true with the lips! It's a popular advice that the bride should choose a lip color that is soft, pastel and romantic. But I also believe you can choose deep shades as long as they do not make you look scary. :). Here are the lip shades that are my top favorites when it comes to bridal looks

The deep fuchsia color

The bold Mac Morange

and the pretty, girly, barbie pink shade.

Make your lips pop by applying lip gloss! (Personally, though, I prefer my lips matte.)

So, there you have it! An easy, you-can-do-it-yourself bridal make-up! You're now ready to face the groom  that is still isn't there. ;). Hope you like it! ;)

That Pendant

I was 18 when I started to get close with a really great girl. Her name is Chaelyn and she was not a member of the church. I was silently hoping and praying during those times that I would have some chance to share the gospel to her. Then, in one random moment, she asked me "Your pendant is really pretty. What's etched on it?" That was the first Church related question she asked.

Throughout the years, that question has been repeated over and over again. Some have even called me "Mara" because my pendant looks like the one she owned. I would smile and tell them "Oh, this pendant is from the church. Want to know how I got it?"

This is the pendant that I am talking about:

This is my Young Women Medallion. 

I got this when I was 18 years old. 

When a girl turns 12, she transforms from being a Primary to a Young Woman. When I was about to be turned over, Mama introduced me to the Young Women Personal Progress Program. 

(this is the old personal progress)

My Mama told me that one of the best ways to spend my young woman years is to work on this program. I had six years to finish it, six years to develop into a young woman who "progressed".

This Young Women Personal Progress helps young women in the church to develop talents, skills and knowledge that will help them "strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants and receive ordinances from the temple". The program also aims to help young women to know who they are and the great worth they have in the eyes of our Father in Heaven. There are eight values in here namely Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works and Integrity and Virtue. In this program, young women are tasked to fulfill the value experiences and projects required in each value in order for her to earn the Young Women Medallion. My mother kept on telling me it's not really about the medallion, it's about what I will learn.

Looking back, I am grateful I did give time for my Personal Progress. I did not only gain a beautiful pendant, I acquired skills that I can use when I am finally a wife and a mother. :)

There was one time when our Religious Education teacher asked me to share my beliefs in front. While I was entertaining questions, Chaelyn stood up and said "You see the pendant she's wearing? She got it from a young women's program in her church. Isn't that nice?"

Chaelyn is now a member of the Church and just celebrated her 1st year last August 6, 2012. She's one strong young woman and she's even more diligent with missionary work than I. I am way proud of her.

She's also currently working on her Personal Progress. I know if she finishes well, she will also be able to bless many lives.

A Message to all Morena Girls

Dear Morena girls,

How many times have you looked at your image in the mirror and said "I will never be as pretty as the fair skinned girls on TV"? How many moments have you sulked in self-pity because your crush said he prefers girls with a fair complexion? Can you still recall the last time you wish you were whiter because the media tells you morena is not really "in"?

I speak from experience. I, too, am a morena. Too often, I have seen TV commercials that rejoice in the fact (and lies) that their products can transform a brown-skinned girl into a mestiza. There were countless times that I wished those products would have that effect on me. I always got zero results. As an effect, I would complain to my parents "Why am I morena?" "Why can't I be fair?!" "No one likes me because of my skin color!" My ever understanding parents would then tell me "But Giulia, you are beautiful! You are prettier than those fair skinned girls!" Those words were true but to a teenager who's inferior, it did little to alleviate my insecurity.

Going to the city was once an ordeal to me. Seeing a flood of "mapuputi" made me feel insignificant, not pretty. I didn't say it out loud during those times but I was not a very confident teenager.

It was all awful. But it changed when I decided that no one can ever tell me that morena isn't beautiful; that even though I'm not mestiza, I can still stand out.

What did I do? I started with constantly reminding myself of my worth. I am Heavenly Father's daughter! Who are they to tell me that a Princess isn't beautiful? Fair skinned or not, I am special, important, significant to my Father on High. The media might tell me again and again that I am not breathtakingly pretty but the knowledge that I am a beloved daughter of a Most Powerful Being makes me forget it.

Second, I told myself that beauty is not only skin deep. I did activities that boosted my self-worth and self esteem. I utilized my talents, I read books, I spoke my mind out when my opinion was asked. I helped in the community, I participated in church activities. I would represent in contests and I never hesitated when it came to showing talents in front of a large crowd. I also made sure that I can be of help to others. Because of these, I was appreciated not only for my looks but also for the contributions I give. I have proven that even though I'm morena, I can stand out! I can be confident! 

Third, I decided to remind myself everyday that I am beautiful. Every time I wake up, I would look into the mirror and tell my reflection "Hey, pretty! This is your day!" It did wonders to my confidence. Like what I said before, there's a big difference between "knowing" and "believing". Constantly reminding myself that I am beautiful made me feel that I am beautiful. I am no longer inferior of my skin. :)

Lastly, surround yourself with people who loves you. I am grateful for parents and for friends in school and in the church who did a lot to make me feel pretty. They don't know it but their little compliments when I was maturing did a lot to build my confidence. Always be around people who build you up. Be with friends who see your real worth. Don't hang around with peers who belittle you. You will gain nothing from them. Be with friends, real friends, who will lift you up. They will be angels to you in the most trying "insecure" times. :) Be that kind of friend also. Give honest compliments to those who deserve them. Don't bring anyone down. I have once read that a real confident girl is the one who can see good things in others. Be that kind of girl! :)

Going to the city now (and to any event with loads of people) is not an ordeal to me anymore. I no longer feel inferior because I'm kayumanggi. In a sea of fair skinned beauties, a confident morena can stand out. 

And who ever told you you can't? ;)

Love,

A proud morena. ;)