the very late christmas gifts ideas post

A disclaimer, to start this post with: Human Heart Nature did not sponsor this. I'm really just a huge fan of their products since they first started.

A very quick veering off of topic here: I'd been lazy with blogging all of November, last month, due to catching up to a lot of TV content. Mostly, it's just me re-watching old shows I love like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, even Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and my current addiction, MTV's Teen Wolf. I'm really late on the latter, I know, but I'm so, sooo stuck on seasons 4-6 and it's mostly thanks to Liam Dunbar---I love Liam and Hayden too! They remind me of Jimmy and Cindy somehow. Lol. I'm also following a lot of classic, really old movies that are likely on loop on TCM but sadly, the cable provider took this out of our subscription package. It would be nice to have HBO Max and TCM in there. Even HBO Go. I'm a huge HBO nutcase, yep. I need my daily dose of HBO shows like True Crime season 1, Big Little Lies, to name a few. I'm not really all that fond of Netflix and consider it a waste of money but I really wish we have Hulu here, so there's that. ....and let's steer ourselves right back to this post's topic...hmn...?

So...have you shopped for Christmas gifts yet? I have. I'm probably still lacking a few others. My grandparents' gifts mostly. Although this is because I have no earthly idea what to give them... But I'm close to completing my gifts to people around me. Immediate family, including a cousin, mostly and my closest friends. The sweetest thing about gift shopping this year? I didn't have to go out much to get them. I mostly shopped online. It comes with the quarantining at home territory for most of us. 2020 showed us that a lot can be done at the comforts of our home including gift giving. You'll know more of this as you read along.

Every month, I get at least 1,500 Php's Human Heart Nature products to keep my 25% off dealer privilege or so, so I figured, it was only right I stocked up on giftable stuff around the beginning of this month. I was able to get the items and a good number of gift boxes, gift bags and christmas gift cards around last week. It's now only a matter of me putting them under the plastic christmas tree that we have downstairs. I think I'll do this sometime middle of this week. I have yet to write stuff on the gift cards.

That all said, brick and mortar stores, we all know and love, migrating online definitely didn't have much an effect on the likes of me who has a strong dislike of crowds. Going slightly off topic again, I was at the malls a couple of times last week to see if my ancient Samsung J2 Prime, that died on me last week of November or so, could still be fixed---I ended up getting a new phone, a Samsung Galaxy A21s which I'm quite settled and content with---and to take advantage of about one of five of the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's double stamps promo days to finally get my 2021 planner...and I was horrified to find a lot of people flocking Centrio, for one, around 3 in the afternoon onward for god knows whatever they are there for as if there's no pandemic around. News flash, in case people have forgotten, there still is the pandemic and people are still losing their lives in the hospitals to it, both health care professionals and not. I only really go out to the mall when I need to do so or lately, for some late-ish Christmas shopping due to some sales here and there. Otherwise, I'm better off just really just ordering things online.

If one follows local news on and off, we should at least be aware that a ton of unpleasant things have happened from a trio of storms wreaking havoc up north to our government here, still not knowing how to deal with this pandemic that they fail to secure cost-effective, very reasonably-priced anti-COVID 19 vaccines because the people in there's bff seem to be China and Russia's leaders much like USA's Trump...so...well... To soften the blow, we're royally f*cked here in the Philippines until further notice. ....and going back on track, all I can probably say is that Human Heart Nature offering ways to help people by their feeding program or really helpful kitchen, Kusina ng Kalinga and their new feature on the online store that allows people to send gifts to others' homes're a relief to know of today. Not a lot of stores do this and so far, all I know is, Human Heart Nature is the first to do so, so I kind of hope there'd more doing this to make the difficult 2020 life easier. At least there's something good like this in 2020. Hopefully more stores would do something like this. Things like these're exactly why I love Human Heart Nature aside from how I like their products are made for Pinays' skin and all. More of this, you'll know of later too as you read on.

So, without more of my beating around the bush here...here are some of my Human Heart Nature favorites to give people this Christmas, this year:

All of these, when purchase on the shop site, comes with a box or a bag and a Christmas gift card already. I didn't really use this feature because I could still afford to meet some friends in a maximum of 2's at least once a month anyway and I don't have that much close friends here to begin with. So, now, let's take a closer at my favorites among them, shall we?

1. Happy Helping Hands - we have the global pandemic to be wary of and be really cautious with---it's best not to contract the novel Corona Virus at this time, yes---so this duo of pocket-friendly hand soap and hand sanitizer is the basic anti-COVID 19 starter kit to gift people that matter with. I love Citrus Burst's tangy, refreshing scent as much as I do Pomelo's really sweet one so this is a double win in my book! Price at somewhere not going above 250 Php, this is a good deal already and very useful to people who're receiving it.

Human Heart Nature hand sanitizers are CDC approved and have a plant-derived alcohol content of 60%. It makes it as potent as regular alcohols and other such topical disinfectants in killing bacteria, viruses, other harmful microscopic organisms that make their way into our skin on a daily basis. That is, if we're the type to go out for work or otherwise, often.

This duo is definitely handy to have in one's bag at all times. I know so because I, at least, have one of them in bag. Mostly, it's the sanitizer but I do have the liquid hand soap too, from time to time.

2. Zesty Pomelo Party - the sanitizer has been established in number 1 to be a daily necessity. The hand and foot salve I have yet to try, however, can prove useful to people who work in an airconditioned environment 24/7. If you know people who are the kind who can't work from home without the ac on at least 8 hours a day or so, then this is a great gift to give them. The salve keeps the skin from chapping or going dry and soothes a lot of aches and pains away, too, when it counts.

3. Minty Floral Yule - a bar soap, along with the sanitizer, isn't a bad gift to give to people. It's a bit like numbers 1 and 2 except the soap can be used either as a bath soap or a hand soap. It's entirely up to the one receiving this gift bundle now. 

I've yet to try the Lavender Mint scented bar soap as I love the Peony and frangrance-free ones the most but seeing as I currently have a thing going on with energizing and relaxing minty stuff from Human Heart Nature---I love the cooling body cleanser to shower with after a day of being out and about lately---I'm likely to give this one a go soon.

Yep. As with numbers 1 and 2, this is a great gift to give people too. 

4. His & Hers Plastic Bottle-free Joys - they're plastic-free! They're environmentally friendly and they're for him and her! What more can you ask for? 

I'm really looking forward to trying the shampoo bar for women since it came out but I'm still stuck on Human Heart Nature's vanilla scented moisturizing shampoo so... But like their Lavender Mint bath/body bar soap, I'll get there one day soon. I just have to finish the remaining bottle of moisturizing shampoo I have left in the bathroom.

If this package isn't to your liking, you can always customize like I did and replace either one of the shampoo bars with the men's charcoal body cleansing bar for the gents in your life or the other with the fragrance-free cleansing body bar. Both my favorite fragrance-free and shampoo bars for the ladies here are plastic-free too. They use paper wrapping instead of the usual plastic these bars come in with. I think the exfoliating bars, the lavender mint and lemon scented bars are still using the plastic wrap and I'm not entirely sure but maybe the charcoal body cleansing bar for men may be plastic wrapped still, too. 

5. Pocketful of Peace - the very tiny and handy eucalyptus balm is really useful for when one has headaches and other such body pains to contend with in the middle of a work from home or the office day. I know so because I always kept 10g of this within easy reach on my cubicle's desk when I was still working from the office. I've worked from home since around May this year until my eventual resignation around September but I still have this thing in my make-up bag to-go.

People working in the office or ac-ed rooms 24/7, be they at home or in the office, will be forever thankful with this one, I'm sure. I know I will be. 

All of these 5 gifts are priced below 350 Php and are hardly really break the bank. I spent a good 2K Php for these I'm gifting people with but I'm seriously all good! Like, really all good. I just have to figure out what to give to my grandmother and grandfather and I might have to give them the his and her shampoo bars I still have left somewhere just to get over this agonizing hunt for what to give them. 

I've been encouraging a lot of people donate to victims of the three typhoons up north through my fandom slash real-life rants and all twitter account but my preferred way is to actually purchase stuff from Human Heart Nature. They have Kusina ng Kalinga that's a regular feeding programs for kids. You automatically donate to them when you purchase the ones with the red balls with a ribbon on them. Options 4 and 5 here have them. You can also check on others on the gifts page here for other such gifts that can feed kids through the said kitchen. They're likely going to be more expensive now, however. The more items in the gift bundle, the more expensive they are. It's just the way retailing goes. Simple logic. Lol.

Human Heart Nature is pro-environment, pro-Filipino, pro-poor and they ARE always for their people's and others' good and to me, that's money, hard-earned cash well-spent. Not only do I give people useful items to have this really scary time of the global pandemic, but I get to help my fellow Filipinos too! I've chosen to become an adovate solely for this reason and of course, because I love their products. Haha.  

With this local Filipino brand, you can skip the dreaded Christmas shopping rush in the malls or the markets and choose to send gifts to others on the online shop site, too! I, myself, was beyond livid to find so much people out and about in the nearest public market here last week---I didn't go but the public transport I was at passed by there and...you get the picture---so yeah, I'd really rather not be there even when their wares are likely more affordable and their choices, quite as extensive as the ones online. I do understand that most people prefer to see the goods in person but we still have COVID 19 lurking around so... Anyway, going back, Human Heart Nature has a 'send gifts' option you can click here on the shop site so you don't have to personally meet up with friends and family to send them gifts. You can find the option encircled here below to make navigating the site easier:

You can also get more discounts if you become a member. To become one, simply click on the encircled option here once you're in the online shop site or page and register. It's at the top of the page like the 'send gifts' option is, yes. 

I know. 2020 sucks. Like, A WHOLE LOT. 

Christmas parties have gone online as did a lot of other things. Trade fairs, concerts, even city and town fiestas have gone online. A lot of things are online. I was in a virtual concert not too long ago, maybe three or so months back to be exact so I understand how people are experiencing work-from-home, being online all the time fatigue at this time. But there's really not much we can do about it when even our own government can't handle COVID 19 and its spread decently. It's not entirely helping that we're frequented by typhoons getting stronger by the year---thank you, global climate change crisis! global warming! *insert sarcasm here*---either. I envy New Zealand so much. They have such an awe-inspiring leader in there and I can only wish ours were the same but he's not. For the rest of us, this pandemic has only revealed how ugly politics, socio-politics and especially real life can be.  

And, like, heck, my closest friends and I are definitely having our Christmas pajama, home sets, ugly Christmas sweater party online on facebook messenger (one of our friends do not have Discord, unfortunately, and is quite busy with her growing family these days) and Discord this weekend after Christmas Day so believe me, I. KNOW that 2020 sucks. 

The least thing we can do now, however, is to grab onto what little hope we can and try to survive and keep living amidst this pandemic. Even better is if we can do what little part we can to help out as what this post seeks to steer people into doing so here. 

I've actually done very little shopping for myself although, well, you can say it's quite an understatement when I've shopped for undies from Bench last week. It's not my fault though. They were on sale and I needed them because I was running out of functional ones. Heh. And I did spend on ankle boots and flipflops from Rubi on Zalora PH's sale not too long ago. I don't think they'll be seeing the light of day soon. We'll see. But I'll blog about this and my couple of purchases from essentielmanila, a new favorite online store of mine that carry a ton of work-from-home basics, sets mostly and yummy, fun sets at very, VERY affordable prices I just really couldn't help myself. I'm a humongous clothes lover and the more options to play with, the better. I might have to gift away some of these things I've shopped to some others one day. We'll see. But it still really stands that these purchases aside, all I've been keeping on the regular is stocking my instagram shop (it also has a facebook page with the same name) a monthly basis and trying my best to curate its contents as much as possible in a way that it's benefits not only me but my soon-to-be local suppliers, too. I'm curating Treasure Chest of Sorts really carefully. I'm filling it with locally made products I actually swear by so that it does not become just another run-of-the-mill 'sari-sari store' type of online shop we have an abundance of nowadays. I need something to make it stand out in my locale and hopefully, one day, I can even open a brick and mortar store for it, too. I can dream anyway. I'm keeping myself ridiculously busy and preoccupied with A LOT of things aside from tv shows marathoning and a music tripping on spotify, yes. It's a terribly trying time but somehow, I manage and I'm pretty sure all of us can and will get over all of this, too.  

The most important thing, as we continue to struggle and figure things out even with the COVID 19 global pandemic hovering around us, is to do what little we can to keep this matter light between us and others. It can be by supporting and buying local or maybe going more sustainable? Donating to causes we love, too, should be a good thing. I would do so as an animal lover, yes. I have an indoor cat I take care of aside from myself, of course, so animals are another passion of mine. ....all of these mostly because, even if we already have 1 to 2 cost-effective and somehow tried and tested COVID 19 vaccines now, it's really still, just a trying time for a lot of us. 

In less than a couple of weeks, it'll be 2021. But first, we have Christmas and the day of gift-giving (hopefully everything good) to contend with before we try our best to festively, gayly usher in the new year. Now, Christmas isn't really my favorite time of the year to be honest. It hasn't been since about three years ago or four due to tragedies that I've gone through that seem to happen this latter half of the year. My favorite time of the year actually is Halloween for this and several other reasons. So yes, let's make this gift-giving season good by gifting people that matter the GOOD and spending it with them, too. (I'm really not all that sure if we can all go home to our grandparents this Christmas weekend but seeing as their place is close and only less than a 30-minute drive from here, we'll see...)

So, happy Christmas, happy holidays and let's remain kind and good to ourselves, our environment, our fellow country men and basically just anyone, everyone and everything else...even if the world isn't that kind to us at this time. One day, this will all be over and one day, it'll all get better.

And if it helps those who feel everything is grim moving onto 2021 and onward, you can go and feel free to slide on my DMs (direct messages) on my fandom and personal-ish twitter for a random chat/conversation or...to see and empathize with how pessimistic and very real I can be on there. Lol. My tweets are very telling of how normally grimly realistic I am on there. I'm actually more of a pessimist than a jaded optimist nowadays and this is reflected on said twitter account. But I make do with what I am given. I can still afford a tiny bit of positivity or optimism. Somehow.

PS

I know this post is already a very long read as it is but is it just me or has everyone else migrated from blogging to either vlogging (I'm not too into this however and nor do I like a lot of vloggers...only a good few, I'm ever really into) and especially instagram? I dunno. It's just a feeling. The blogging world hasn't really been all that teeming with life lately. I miss the days back when it was livelier in here. Don't you?

today's necessities

 

All of these, you can probably consider as COVID 19 or the Novel Corona Virus (do we still call it that, though?) protection starter kit. I've been working on collating things like these that are actually Philippine-made because, you know, the best thing to do nowadays where recession is everywhere, is to support everything local. This is the only thing that can keep our countries' respective economies afloat.

I only ever buy made in China things very rarely now. Only when I see there's no other way but to do so. Everything else I go for from everyday necessities like these to skin care and beauty products are all Philippine-made therefore making them Pro-Philippines, Pro-Environment and Pro-Poor. 

Anyway, onto the items on this list:

1. MEDIPLUS Disposable 3 Layers Face Mask 

I think I bought this one at Php 299 but still, it's quite a good price for 50 masks in a box. It's gotten cheaper now since it came out, yes. I got mine for the family from Lazada Philippines because they can now conveniently link your shopping account to your Gcash account, if you have one, and thereby makes it easier for one to purchase anything.

2. & 3. 3 PCS Washable Cotton Plus Organic Face Mask in WHITE, also available in BLACK here 

I'm still contemplating getting this one in both colors. My dad brought home a mask that's of this kind that's made in China for my mom and I sometime ago but I never really used it. So this is something I'd rather get, also for the family. If one at least gets a pack each, that'd be 6 masks in total for the family already. 

Oh, and also, feel free to follow Cotton Plus NCR on Lazada Philippines for more of these great Philippine-made products that keep us all safe from contracting the virus, yes!

4. 10 PCS Sterling Premium Face Shields 

Bought about three of these when news broke out that we're all going to required to use face shields when going outside. It took a while to get to where I am but I was able to get all three so it's all good. Plus it's quite durable and can last a while with multiple uses so it's definitely good value for money.

Sterling is generally known here in the Philippines as a stationery brand. They sell mostly notebooks, paper and more. But that they've turned to making face shields as well and I saw that they now also make face masks, the single use, disposable kind, so well...yeah, they're doing their part to help out more now as well. Might as well support them, too. Their face masks are kind of pricey at Php 390 compared to Mediplus's that's below Php 250 right now but still worth getting if you're thinking of supporting our local producers and makers for these things.

5. Printed Disposable Masks, also available in non-patterned but different colored here 

If you're bored of the usual blue on the outside and white on the inside face masks then you're going to like these in pretty blue and multi-colored patterns and in different colors.

Materials that are used to make this may be from South Korea but they are manufactured here in the Philippines. So if you'd like to support the Filipinos on their team to make these, then go for these. They'd break the monotony of using the using blue and white ones, yes, and make wearing masks less boring outside.

I'm thinking of getting these in pink or yellow next since they're about the same price I got the Mediplus ones in. Yeah, must make the most of the money I have on Gcash.

6. Indoplas, Disposable masks for only Php 99 a box of 50 or so pieces here.

They're in Shopee and I haven't really ordered much from Shopee for a long while now although I have been thinking so for just as long. The thing with Shopee is that I got used to ordering from it using COD (cash on delivery) payment method. I don't think they allow Paymaya or Gcash still, in there. But it seems now, they do allow online bank transfers or so which is good. Credit card payments as well. So let's all see how this goes. It still holds however that unlike Lazada, they still do not have the convenience of allowing customers and sellers alike to link their Gcash accounts, if they have any, to their accounts on site. Where selling and buying is concerned, I've been volleying between using Gcash, Paymaya and online payments more so that I don't have to carry a lot of cash with me. Haha. It's just, much more convenient, to be honest. It's good that we have a lot of options now for online payments than anything, yes. Bottom line, I need to explore Shopee more.

So yes, let's go to Indoplas. Indoplas is a company that makes or manufactures medical tools. So if you go to their Shopee page, you'll find that they have a lot of those. If I'd continued being a nurse way back when I first started college, I'd've had this one bookmarked. But coming from a family of mostly medical practitioners or health care givers, I've had them bookmarked now or followed, I guess, since I discovered them there recently. They usually manufacture medical tools. So given that they are such, it's no surprise they priced a box of their disposable masks at Php 99. It's the cheapest I found on this sort. I'm also sorely tempted to get their electric thermometer or automatic thermometer. It seems to be of Japan quality which is tons better than the China made ones and priced just right...hmn...we'll see.

On a side note, I've thought about 3M products too and was of the impression that some 3M products are manufactured here. I just...happen to not have a lot of information on that one yet but I'll get back to y'all here on that one, one day soon.

Honorable mentions or, more accurately put, some bonus items not on the photo above:

7.  KN95 face masks in 10s, 30s and more

While crafting this post, I looked up DecoPro, the maker of these KN95 masks online and yes, they are Philippines-based. Some of the reviews on the page for this one do not look promising but hopefully, the more people patronize their product, the more they can improve on it. 

If you find the usual disposable, medical grade masks uncomfortable because it does hardly offer the right fit (it's fine for me, though, I only use it for hours while outside anyway) for some and the ear loops can be, well, flimsy for some, you can always go for this KN95 that likely offers better fit.

8. Island Souvenir shirt with free washable mask 

I've already ordered my 3rd washable fabric mask from elsewhere but THIS IS just GREAT value for money. I love Island Souvenir stuff even though they can skew towards the expensive side when one buys them in store. Their t-shirts are of good quality---really soft and light to wear, so, soooo comfortable---and I'm looking to stock up on some, particularly this one on the link on number 8. Cool, minimalist-ish design plus free washable facemask for under 200 Php? Yes, I'd get this one in a heartbeat. Maybe, err...one day soon. I still need to stock up on some white shirts, mostly v-necks since I have a lot of round necks already. I'm not really that much into printed shirts but I'd been easing into them as of late.

And that's it for this post. Yes...please, PLEASE do support local despite China-made products being very sellable these days due to their cheaper, more competitive prices. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY AFFLOAT and we need to support our own Filipino makers, workers and more. Even if one has to spend so much on something that's Filipino-made, keep in mind that it's worth it because someone that's also Filipino had a hand in making it and thereby know that quality we are looking for. 

on everything lazy skin care and beauty...stuff

Is there anything you like from this post? You can shop them and support my blog at the same time by clicking on the affiliate links below.

My last post was like, two to three months and a few weeks ago. LOL. I'm quite behind on updating. And until now, I have so much to do and a few other posts to catch up on. One is: CLEAN MY CATHARTIC, CHAOTIC MESS OF A ROOM; and two is, yes, a ton of catch-up posts. I have about two including this one in mind. Maybe three. It's already October and I haven't done much outside of instagram, twitter and hanging around discord randomly...oh and fanfiction writing. I've been holed up here in my room and bed just...writing stuff I know I'll never publish, even on my LiveJournal. I've been kind of successful posting fandom stuff on twitter, the fandom tumblr and personal now a tad bit for fandom instagram, though, so there's that. *Insert very brief nervous haha here.*

All that and I think I've relapsed again on hanging around reddit, just mostly lurking...especially on ask reddit's most interesting (to me) pages...err...I'm not a redditor, I just like reading people's answers there to some cute questions. I used to hang out there for more controversial ones way back. LOL.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a skin care and beauty post because it's something that, despite the pandemic, still should remain consistent and constant. Something that, 'til now should be essential as it is a huge part of self-love, self-care and therefore should be an everyday thing. 

I mentioned in my last post that my advocacy at this time is to put everything locally made (also, using local resources, yes!) on the pedestal. Love and patronize local, as most say. At this time, it's the best way we can keep our economy afloat, among other things. And for this one, I've just thought of another post to put in here that's detailing a lot of other, much, much needed necessities nowadays that we still have the global pandemic raging about around us. The thing is, rather the truth is, I'm not really that anal of a being to use only locally made products for self-care and self-love. I'm not a Type A person and I despise Type A's and being one...for one. I use a combination and I use them, local and some international beauty and skin care products interchangeably. But mostly, I do default to Human Heart Nature products, yes. Gotta make use of my being a dealer and a member and an advocate of it, yes. 

So from here, I'll be talking about some products I got from some weeks ago's Watson's (a local drug store here) haul and then some that I'd received in the mail from family among a few others. I currently use them on rotation when I can with the Human Heart Nature and other very local to the Philippines' ones that I love.

Oh and the fun part? (Or is it?) This post isn't sponsored, yes. 

A primer on Watson's

Watson's is prime destination for me and everyone else who love skincare and cosmetics everything here in the Philippines to well, stock up on stuff. And by stuff, I mean, a lot of things. There's one I frequent near my old university my mom works at and my brother goes to Medicine school to and admittedly, I haven't been in there for a month or two now. Reason being that I know I'll walk out with a miniscule haul of maybe worth 200 Php to 300 Php whenever I'm in there. 

It's actually a drug store, cosmetics and skin care store of sorts chain in one here in the South East Asian region. Our version of, say Walgreens or so in the US though I've never been into one of those while I was there. Think, maybe, Ulta Beauty. My cousin made me go to those way back four years ago or so. Heh. 

Watson's is that darn tempting, yes. Like the Filipina or whatever race's girl here in my god-forsaken region of South East Asia before and/or after me, I spend, like, maybe an hour or two in there just to check on the things on the sales racks and the ingredients they have just because... I've been really careful of stuff I get from anywhere lately and prefer to stick to some of my most trusted brands now. It's just less drama and mess into actually getting the wrong kind of purchases where skin care and beauty stuff go. Quality over quantity, as always is and should be key when buying stuff, anywhere including in Watson's, yes.

As mentioned earlier, Watson's can be found everywhere in South East Asia.  I know there are some branches of this peppered everywhere in Hongkong. I've seen some in people's pictures from there. I'm not all too sure if they're in other South East Asian countries, however. I haven't gone around extensively in the few three or so I've been to, namely Taipei in Taiwan last year, Ho Chi Minh years ago with my dad and Bangkok, Thailand with my aunt years and years ago, too, to be able to hunt for their own Watson's...if they ever have this one in those three countries. Should and when I get another chance to make it there again, I'd check if they have this there. We'll see.

Anyway, point being: it's prime destination for people like me who love girly stuff. Mostly, skin care because I'm not much into cosmetics...much. Maybe the only cosmetics I ever get there are the lip pencils from BYS, eyeliners and mascaras from Maybelline and BYS both. One of my favorite Filipina (Aussie-Filipina, actually) celebrities' Anne Curtis' BLK Cosmetics, if it's available here and sadly, it isn't.

On to the new-old stuff on my self care, self love, skin care and cosmetics stash that I hardly use nowadays. With the amount of time I hole myself up in my bedroom doing mostly nothing but reading and writing, sure, I'll one day find more motivation to use all of these up again. One day. It's just that wearing a mask and a face shield while out and about nowadays puts a lot of damper in me actually putting these things into good use. Well...one day.

I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Beige, 25mL tube // I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Beige, 4mL sachets

I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Light, 25mL tube // I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Light, 4mL sachets

The BB.Holict in light that have been a constant in my morning skin care and make-up routine before sitting down to work is, yes, a part of a consistent trip to Watson's purchase. I tend to come out with two, two-sachets attached to one another, of this one on my way out of Watson's because although I run out of it maybe on day 7 per sachet, I always feel the need to have it easily accessible even when I go out to get stuff and run errands, maybe, just once every two weeks or so. I'm a homebody, yes, so minor hoarding is key for me especially when it comes to products like this one. It's only 25 Php, half an American dollar, per two sachets per shade so it's quite a good deal. The best, for me, that is.

It's a South Korean brand but I've read from it's ingredients list that it contains nothing harmful so this is a constant thing in my cosmetics bag when on the go. Hmn...I might spring for the tube ones one day because them in sachets seem to only contribute to a lot of waste around here. I'll mull over it.

This comes in two shades: Beige and Light and give zero to very, very light coverage compared to, say, highly pigmented foundation or some other so it's a very cheap, affordable go-to for me day in and day out. Basically one of many reasons why I love this one although it's not really Philippines' made, yes.

I don't really use much primer, foundation, yes. Maybelline's liquid one from a trip to the US, I have tried years ago but I've given up on that and would rather just BB and CC cream at this time. Simple, light, natural is my cosmetics philosophy nowadays. Or maybe I've really just morphed into this lazy someone when taking care of my skin. LOL.

MAYBELLINE Lash Sensational Mascara 

NIVEA Creme, 30mL // NIVEA Cream, 60mL // NIVEA Creme, 150mL

The Maybelline mascara is a constant, it seems, that I get whenever I am at the SM Supermarket. Watson's is actually SM owned here so basically the price of Maybelline products in SM Supermarket is the same as that of Watson's.

Hmn...that reminds me I need to get my SM advantage card renewed and all before next month. Heh.

Funny story about this one is...I used to fancy the yellow one more. It's much more expensive and seems much better than this one but I ate my words and thoughts regarding that when I randomly grabbed my first tube of this at Watson's in Lim Ketkai Mall a few hours before my flight to Taipei City October of last year. This is WAAAYYY cheaper than the voluminous yellow one that was a constant for me way back, at Php 199, and it's handier too. I keep one in stock now but I don't mind really mind using other brands like BLK Cosmetics' that I've been eyeing for a while now, from time to time. Their volume + lash variant is cheaper than Maybelline's voluminous one in yellow so it seems worth the price as well. I'm a huge fan of this local brand---I think they make it or produce it in Taiwan but sell exclusively here in the Philippines---so I figure I'll do a BLK Cosmetics haul one of these days along with some others...hmn... I only ever buy one or two from that make-up and skincare line with every Zalora closet update purchase once in a while now, yes. Like, maybe once or twice a year. LOL. I haven't really bought anything from Zalora as of late. 

Insert the Nivea classic Face Cream/everyday Moisturizer I scored on a random weekend sale of Watson's Ayala Centrio with the FACErepublic's sun gel sachet and BB.Holics'. The blue and white tin design is a classic too and quite an aesthetic touch for a lot of photos including this one so I found it difficult to let go of this when I contemplated my purchases at the time and this was around 50% off. I. Just. Had. To. Yes. I have yet to use this though. I haven't been using much moisturizers, to be honest. I only use face wash and toner nowadays so maybe I should get back to using the moisturizers. I've used quite a few of this in the past and I'm ecstatic to bring it back into the skin care rotation thing? I guess. It's definitely handy for travels, the beach and more. Good score during Watson's up to 50% sale at the time, yes. I forgot when it was. Maybe three or so weeks ago. I'm definitely checking the sales shelves once in a while for things like these again. RIP remaining funds I'm trying to keep for more important things. But skin care and beauty is important too as it has much to do with self-care and self-love. Something we should not also forget or ignore even with the global pandemic still hovering around us. Yes, a constant reminder, this one is.

Face Republic Super Screen Sun Gel SPF50+ in 50 mL // Face Republic Super Screen Sun Gel SPF50+ in 2mL sachet (currently soldout on site, I hope they restock)

The FACErepublic sun gel is a new discovery. I finally found a South Korean sun gel with decent SPF levels that doesn't contain anything harmful in it? Yes? Yes. I have yet to try this one...probably when I can finally go out into the sun again one of these days. Soon.

My reputation as someone lazy on make up and skin care continues with me being currently, really huge on multiple use make-up products and due to that, Human Heart Nature's PerfectFlush Lip and Cheek Tint in rosy is now a constant in my make-up bag to-go. I use it also, all over, as an eye shadow and blush on the weekends. It's such a GOOD pick-me-up for when I want to look fresh and seemingly bare if not for hints of some rosiness on the cheeks and eyelids on lazy Saturdays I have to go out for errands. It's best used with the tinted lip balm in my current favorite shade of rosewood, another multi-use product---until I can figure out where else to use it, of course, other than the lips. Haha. Most of the things I can't live without on my make-up bag to-go are multi-use products from three to four lines I love and am stuck with nowadays: Human Heart Nature (bonus points? the new magalogue now tells you which products are vegan and which aren't), Australia's own BYS, and our own BLK Cosmetics. 

As a fourth, I've lately discovered a line of products that I really like and would love to carry in my Treasure Chest of Sorts instagram and it's attached facebook page store. It's a locally made and manufactured one and I discovered it from Shopee. It's called the Vegan Beauty and they carry two cool shades of highlighters I want to get into so I'll add that in more one day when I finally get a haul of it for the shop and for myself. If you choose to be a dealer of their line of products, apparently you get one free product of your choice per line you'd like to carry which is like, such an awesome perk! Like, how cool is that?! Hmn...I'm not entirely sure yet when I'll be stocking up on this one but watch out for it being launched in my shop/s, yes!

MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin lotion in 100 mL // MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin Lotion in 200 mL // MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin Lotion in 400 mL // MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin Lotion in 50 mL

Some other, much more recent, new stuff that are definitely not from Watson's (but this can be bought there, too, and other drugstores here in the Philippines) or Human Heart Nature or Zalora or anywhere else I usually buy my skin care and beauty loot: 

I got this from the mom on my birthday (September 17th! and 33 is the new 22, yes!). I love simple gifts that are really useful. I feel like I've been on that train since a few years ago. Lately, I'm just more: give me something I can put to good use! Rather than something I'll just stash somewhere and forget that it actually exists thereafter. I've only used this once so far but I'm looking to using it more somehow. Myra is a local brand and easily found in drug stores everywhere here in the Philippines and my mom gave this one to me because I think, rather, I recall that she received a box of this and more from someone. I'm not sure if she's figured out what to do with the rest. Hah. Anyway, I'll be using this in tandem with either a Human Heart Nature body butter or lotion. Hint: for Human Heart Nature, I love their sunflower beauty oil line as of late. Not just love but I'm really obsessed with it. Heh.

Myra actually boasts of their use of their vitamin E on just about every product they have so if you're a fan of vitamin E or it's more popular form, the vitamin E oil like I was way back eons ago (I used to use the oil from some capsules way back for DIY body scrubs, yes), this is something worth getting into in local Philippines' drug stores. Watson's here carries this brand. 

I'm currently considering the Myra E moisturizing plus lotion next, actually. It's a cheaper alternative to my usual Human Heart Nature stuff although I do get discounts from this brand as a member.

Made in the Philippines entirely, also, so that's worth patronizing and going gaga over. Yes.

 

I'm not much for lip color. I've given up on lipsticks eons ago. I rarely get in the mood for those so I have no earthly idea what to do with this one I received from an aunt so we'll see how this one fares for me.

We'll see if I'll receive more in the mail in the coming few months leading up to Christmas. I do know I'll be stocking up on a lot of things Human Heart Nature because I have monthly quotas to fill to make sure my discounted deals with them continue on. I'm thinking of also doing a haul for this one day since I'm quite interested in some of their beauty line like their eye shadow that come in two sets useful for every day range of 3 shades each and a bronzer of theirs that's on sale today until, I think, next week or so. Be sure to check out the link here for the sale and stock up on your favorite Human Heart Nature essentials while you're at it. I know I'll be doing so tomorrow. As per usual. Yes.

To check out 10.10 sale deals on Human Heart Nature, simply click on the links peppered all throughout the post here! You can also check out Treasure Chest of Sorts instagram shop here as I'll be adding some products of theirs, new and old, along the way and updating you of sales, promos and more of their stuff, too!

daily routine and news, the good and the bad, in this global health crisis

my favorite corner of the room by Michi Dumlao

Sleep -> Work -> Lunch with the TV on, on national news (ANC - ABS-CBN News Channel) -> Work -> some more news via ANC or some other on TV, mostly on TVN -> Sleep...rinse, repeat. 

And sometimes I just stick to the computer or phone, youtube and a lot of downloaded stuff I watch and re-watch on and off and some fiction and fanfiction writing on MS Word.

Dull, easy to get sick of, highly repetitive routine...yes. I've been operating this way for a while now. Some people may, too. Maybe more. It's hard to tell. But it seems to be the usual thing now with so much to keep tabs on, especially on the news lately. And with most news contents being on the negative, they're definitely quite stressful to think about and to ponder upon. It's just one bad news after another as the global pandemic problem rages still. Much of the world try to get back on their feet and open themselves to some semblance of normality but something always seems to hit and blow those tiny strides away, somehow. Now, old normal is even more out of reach, the familiar normal we know can just never anymore be. A New Normal is, instead, forced upon us although transition to it continue to be unpredictable, unstable and shaky still---all of which are hinging at this moment on how the virus dictates things in every community, every nation all over the world. This pill is just so difficult to follow for someone trying to settle into this "new normal" to the likes of me who's just here to mostly watch the news when I can to make sense of the world around me.

But the news contents aren't all bad. Most headline are, however, disappointing. There's a glimmer of light and hope sometimes, that tuning into the news brings. News of people innovating, helping each other out, still moving, striving to keep themselves afloat and these, THESE, for one, keep me going and keep me still on my toes. Resilience. It's not the time for us to give up and lose hope. Somehow.

Poetic opening? I tried.

I'd meant this post to talk about what I'd been doing lately and what had changed overtime. Or more like, what really didn't change because there are a number of things on this front as well. 

What Hasn't Changed: Love for Everything Local
I'm still steadfast in my advocacy of staying sustainable and supporting our own. It's very much...no...rather, it's very direly needed right now that we have the global health crisis that's only been going from worse to worst with every high number of active cases added to an already sky high number with each passing day. Right now, I believe what we need is to have have faith in our countrymen, the local industries that use local resources (the least non-local resource used, the better applies here) in production processes resulting to our own local produces to keep our economy beating...breathing, rather. This health crisis does affect the economy greatly here and all around the world. And if we care to look into the international news reports, we'd have heard of a lot of countries and these many countries' economies plummeting to the red at an alarming rate and them, closing their doors to outsiders coming in as we, collectively, as one Earth, continue to figure out how to have less lives lost to the SARS-COV-2 virus that's right about everywhere now. There's just so much uncertainty around us right now and we don't even know how long this pandemic will be with us. Years maybe, decades even, or a century or two as it is with most virus-caused diseases. What really matters now is that we're wise enough to support one another and supporting the local businesses we have now is the most I can think of. I've been an advocate of Human Heart Nature products for so long now for this reason and even if I weren't, I'd still continue to patronize their products.

In line with this, I've been playing with the idea of putting up a shop of only locally made skincare and beauty products, think, make-up that are organic and vegan, that I try to source and edit tirelessly from everywhere in my country, the Philippines. I have tirelessly been working on this on work-free weekends. Now that my last day of work at my current employment is fast approaching, it's going to be on August 7 so...yeah! I'm soooo excited to share this one with all of you. YAAAYYYY!!! Well, I don't have an online store yet for this one and I'm looking at opening one but yes, it's coming along fine on three social media platforms I currently use: my facebook page: @treasurechesofsorts; my official instagram: @treasure_chest_of_sorts; and my twitter: @kristagrace_s. Also, if you notice, I've been advertising my mum's Oatmeal Malunggay Cookies as well on the page because it's such a huge seller these days. I'm also going to add some other food and beverages here and there on these three platforms along the way. This is another thing I've been playing with along with the skin care and beauty stuff. I'm soooo thrilled, so excited with all of these, are you? I sure hope so.

Resilience and patience and focus---these three things are some I'm looking to put into practice once I'm free-er in 5 days, starting Monday next week. I've always liked the idea of social enterprises and social enterprising in general. In my opinion, it's a highly sustainable model that can thrive even now that we're very much affected by the global pandemic on all sides.

So if anyone asks what my advocacy is: it's being sustainable all throughout and while helping other people, fellow countrymen whose products have integrity and whose products are, above all, trustworthy. Simply put, social enterprising.

Aside from this shop I'm trying to put forth into real fruition and one that I want to keep going for a long while---at least while I still have more free time to spend on it as I also try to apply for another current career-related job (which is really even more on teaching)---I also have other moneymaking ideas in mind. Yes. It's good to be busy and distracted the whole duration of this global health crisis going on.

What Has Changed a Bit or What Will Change More

I'm still a homebody and at times a home maker beside my mum and a reliable house help and often times, sister figure. 

This pandemic had made me re-focus on a lot of things, namely...that I want to be more hands-on in home making which mostly are cooking and baking or non-baking and just food making or creating because I'm really too lazy to really learn how to use the oven and I'd rather just throw things together and call it that: food, or beverage. That, and I also like to blend things together, maybe may get used to throwing stuff together in a food processor and assembling them to form an attractive, sumptuous dessert or some other edible kitchen-created thing. Boiling, broiling and stir-frying are probably the most basic things in the kitchen I can do so I'm hoping that with more free time, I can explore more on cooking techniques and maybe expand more into baking. I did touch on this one earlier in the previous section seeing as I have a family member that bakes stuff. 

And yes, for more context, my mother bakes...A LOT lately. I re-sell the healthy Oatmeal Malunggay (Moringa) Cookies that she bakes to my co-workers and other acquaintances in and around the neighborhood, or the city in general. Also, a handful of my co-workers and friends also bake or cook when they're stressed or when they feel like and they make really good stuff to sell to others in the work place and out. So I'd like to take up the mantle in guise of providing food and drinks culled from the office homemakers I'd like to modify to serve the tastes of vegans and vegetarians. Reason being---and I'm not YET full vegan, mostly just flexitarian now with an obsession with vegan and vegetarian concoctions of sorts---that vegans and vegetarians are the least catered to when it comes to food and beverages in our city. And we're even far from Manila, the National Capital Region and Cebu City where those are more abundant and easily accessible. Maybe this will push me more to embrace the vegan or even just the vegetarian lifestyle all the more! I'm excited for this. I've also devoted some of my free time over the weekend, really away from work, into sourcing products to be used for these things I have in mind to share and sell to others all the same. In no way do I think I'll ever be good at baking however or close. I don't see being a master baker being included in my resume anytime soon. Although I would like to try baking vegan dark chocolate cake one day soon.

What will be more of a norm in this new normal? I'll be spending more time in the home kitchen when no one else is using it. LOL. Most days, especially on the busier Sundays (also, market trip days) that we're entertaining some guests from next door, the kitchen's always a busy place.

Radical Changes

Aside from my plan to move from a private career or profession to a more public-related one, nothing has really radically changed. Slow and mindful change is a better fit for me.

This global pandemic or rather, global health crisis has definitely put a lot of those from the side to the forefront for a lot of us and it's made us appreciate more those that we tossed aside and proceeded to ignore during the older normal. This, of course, includes family. It's important to be with family at this time. This health crisis has either brought out the worst of people or the best of theirs.

Slow and mindful and definitely quite calculated changes make living and surviving in times of crisis feel just much more worthwhile nowadays. It ought to help us keep a lot of things in check.

*****

And now, a considerable amount of good news aside, I'm going back or circle back to one other point I had been trying to make...

I think it helps then, to stay updated whether the contents of the news are disappointing at worst or inspiring at best. It's not the time to ignore it altogether just because well, it's stressful. News and other such useful, relatable, inspiring TV shows should keep us on our toes and keep us motivated enough to keep ourselves alive in these trying times. it doesn't really matter if they are good or bad.

If it's bad news, we can try to assess where we can enter and help make a difference and if it's good news, we can use the strength we get from it to keep going, growing and improving as a person.

Now, one of the saddest thing for me to happen this pandemic is our government shutting down a TV station that has been with us through thick and thin and continuing to perpetrate and promote the trampling of human rights and human dignity and the stifling of our freedom of expression. Shuttering down the voice of the free press. Yes. It's a sad time and a scary time all the same. So the other point I had been trying to make on this post is, we should continue to be resilient, patient, vigilant (to the news and realities happening around us today) and useful to one another today moving forward because this SARS-COV-2 virus is very likely here to stay along with others like the Ebola virus, the HIV and more. It, right now, is only amplifying the bad that's in the news daily and the bad in people. This is of course, not to say, that it doesn't also amplify the good in others. It does. And for the nth time this post, yes, there are good news even though it looks like there are more bad news to go around.

At this time, however, it would really help if we functioned like the normal, compassionate, sane and logical---equipped with good, basic common sense---human beings that we are. People with good and sound judgement, too. Yes, there's room to go crazy once in a while but more than that, we should be aware of and be empathetic to people's, especially the underprivileged's daily dilemmas, sufferings and plights. I think this is one that's lacking greatly these days every time I watch the bad on the news.  

Yes there are changes and there will be more as we continue to move to the tune of the virus that's dictating on us right now but we have to be aware of reality and be really grounded too. This means to be aware of current events, happenings, good or bad. We have to know what's best for our people, our own nation and more importantly we should be very critical and careful when it comes to the lot of things going on right now. Even more important nowadays is, WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED. We are contributing individuals in this society too so it would really help that, with everything going on right now, we side with the people, the great majority and not the select few that actually have no other plans than to goad a lot of us into more anger and ire and who think of nothing but to do things that serve only their selfish means, their self-interests.

I think it's also the best time we reconsidered and rethought a lot of things regarding this one. And for all the disappointing, frustrating things I see on TV during lunch time, it pays for me, for one, to stay angry and to call for calling out these callous people in power that do more harm to the nation and it's people than good. Just as it also pays for me to be inspired and motivated by the movers our country has that are eager to share their newest findings to all of us, for our own collective betterment. 

uncertainties

photo by me

I miss the beach. 

I had plans to travel on a long weekend of the second month of this year, February, to an island in Cebu, Bantayan but had to table it when the global pandemic situation in our small island nation went from worse to worst. It was intended to be a trip between me and very, very close high school best girl friend but she cancelled too. Regardless, with or without anyone, I would still have gone because, well, island is life...for me, anyway.

Right now, stuck in a, still in some way, bay side city, I can't help but continue to feel uneasy, uncertain. Unsure when I'll be able to go out and travel again to the islands I so love. I'll stay missing the beaches and islands for a bit, I guess.

I haven't been here awhile due to work. I've been drowning myself in it so as to keep my mind off of the COVID 19 situation, this...quite melancholic quarantine. Not that I'm not used to workingfrom home---I was a freelance writer, editor, proofreading and still am, and have always worked from home since time immemorial---but more it's because I feel there's a need to wallow in work to keep me distracted. I'm pretty sure many others feel this way. But good news? I'll be checking in here from time to time as some things are being worked on by me, myself and I as a one-woman team for @treasure_chest_of_sorts on instagram. August is when this will all be happening. I'm ecstatic about this one! I'll be tackling more of this in the next post. More hints to come? Are you excited? I am! Until then, I'll be here from time to time from now until when posts will be more regular in August. 

what am I holding on to?

ribbed tube dress, zalora basics; heels, primadonna; red clutch, ninewest; black tiny pouch, coach; necklace/choker, forever21 (old); bracelets/arm bangles, mix of forever21 and dumaguete city and siquijor island souvenir shops'; rings, random and mostly from Bagel Girl in SM Downtown Premier CdeO

New tube dress to play with? It actually goes well with like, A LOT of things like the denim vest from Old Navy I'm currently wearing as I type this. Not really regretting that I carted this Zalora Basics piece upon coming across it browsing around the site. I'm currently devising other ways to wear this out and about in my right now.

Meanwhile, new kicks from Primadonna via Zalora. Yay!

It's on sale so I just had to. 799.something Php is a good price already and warranted another pair costing around 699.something Php so yep, the most AWESOME DEAL so far! The tiny skin showing around the bottom part of the bandagey part of this pair disturbs me but I think it'll be fixed with a pair of black socks. I'm counting on this pair to mix well with trousers or pants and jeans I very rarely wear, though. So I'm expect about that prospect too. I'll test that theory out one day soon. Hmn...

Boring few weeks so far but trying to hold on because the new corona virus outbreak certainly IS making a mess of a lot of things at this time. Well, it's boring and slightly not so boring lately because I have a best friend's simple, hopefully super pretty, civil wedding to help with slated in April 26 so yes, there's a bit of cheer to be had amidst this crazy time spent mostly at home or so. I'm looking forward to this one as I'd been, for the first time, named the maid of honor. Hmn...I'm still grappling in the dark with how to do this. I think I'll live? I hope. First off, it's time to go dress hunting! 

currently listening to: Already Love - Great Good Fine Ok

Hmn...I'm currently tempted to get 3 CDs from here but sorely disappointed that the latest one is only in vinyl. Can there be a CD release for GGFOUR? Ugh.

vegan in davao city at the vegan dinosaur

SUPER LATE POST...as usual.

It's easier now to be vegan when in Davao City. I think. On my work friend and my last day there before going back to Cagayan de Oro City by bus around August last year, I finally got to meet a friend I've been talking with for a while now on the bird app for lunch at the Vegan Dinosaur. I've forgotten what these are but definitely, they're salads and you can check em out on the menu on the Vegan Dinosaur's site. Anyway, yep, I'd come back here in heartbeat. But first, I might have to try that one in Ayala Centrio that's similar first. That and this one seems to have the same price on the stuff they serve, yes. Me thinks the Vegan Dinosaur is mid-priced compared to the one I've been meaning to try in Centrio...or they have the same pricing. I'm not sure. But I'm definitely looking forward to trying the latter. 

school girl-like style in polo ralph lauren

blazer, Polo Ralph Lauren

Polo Ralph Lauren is now on Zalora and I'm all but dreaming of this blazer for a random 90s throwback. School girl style. Ugh. Want. Why is it sooo out of my budget? 

it says, 'sweet wild child'

tank dress, something borrowed via zalora. bangles/bracelets, from everywhere particularly Siquijor Island and Dumaguete City souvenir shops. ankle boots, primadonna via zalora (old, probably sold out already). rings, from everything particularly Bagel Girl in SM Downtown Premier. bag, from an aunt. beaded choker, aeropostale. long leaf necklace, f21. earrings, shesells.cdo on instagram. 

Me thinks you've seen this dress in a post before so yes, it's, well, quite old. Last year's acquisition. I just got to finally take a better picture of this thing and posted it here. One reason why I bought this one was the print: sweet wild child. Kind of like me? Kind of. I'm more boring than wild with sporadic trips to islands here and there. Cebu's Bantayan Island may have been bust last month but I only have it tabled. I definitely am going one day soon. Off tangent. Nothing new much with this one though, just a mix of everything old and kind of new as the Bagel Girl ring is a new-ish acquisition of last week's.

I think I've about given up with three layer necklaces. The built in kind. I actually got a couple. One of which came with this choker from Aeropostale, from an aunt in the US. The other was a Forever21 acquisition from here in SM Downtown Premier as well. Both are hopeless because they keep tangling up so I hardly use them now. Ugh. Don't you just HATE it when accessories end up tangled all over like that? I do. I'd rather just get separates now.

And then I messed this outfit up with the animal print vest I've had since forever...

vest, vintage/thrifted...i forgot where.

Lately, I've been obsessed with the show, The Great Escape. Hmn...I thoroughly enjoyed the Dr. Jo Mateo Psychiatric Hospital leg. Yes. It reminds me of The Genius season 1 and it's actually because they have the same producer/writer. Haha. Figures.

Back to clothes: I'm not entirely sure what's happening. I have been thinking the corona virus is messing with my packages. I am still expecting some items from Japan, fandom stuff and they haven't yet made it to me since last, last month. There are about two of these. And another is the zalora ones I ordered the other week. It's supposed to take less than a week but it's one week now? Huh? What's going on with the local post? I wonder. I REALLY hope it makes it here soon. The post men haven't sent me messages on these either. *Insert sad face here*.

Again, with the lip gloss. I'm of the opinion the lip gloss trend died when I left high school but I still use it when I can. All because I have a few tubes of it or so in my make-up bag. Otherwise, it's really just in the runways that it continues to live on...I think? I only ever wear it when I have it.