Vignettes from the week that was

Am totally behind on the posts, so will just be cramming them into one rather lengthy entry.

Saturday, 11.29.08

Stayed home sick with a cold and the worst sore throat of my life. Ended up editing about a gazillion pics from our La Union beach trip two weekends ago (a separate post is in the works for this). Well, at least those pics are all done and posted

Sunday, 11.30.08

Finally went to see Twilight with my sister. We caught the 1pm showing at Eastwood Cinemas,which on the side has got to be my favorite movie theater. It has the perk of reclinable seats not found in most other theaters, without the extra price on the ticket. Each theater seats a comparatively smaller number of people, which means that the whole audience from front to back gets a huge view of the screen. The fact that it’s the closest cinema to the house doesn’t hurt, as well.

Anyhoo, back to the movie. A little conversation just before the movie:

Gwen: I can’t believe we’re watching the afternoon showing! That means we’ll be seeing the movie with a bunch of noisy, swooning preteens!

Genine: I know! I hope we aren’t seated close to them…

And a conversation during the movie:

Gwen: *swoon*swoon*swoon*

Genine: *swoon*swoon*swoon*

Well, at least we weren’t noisy swooning twenty-somethings–we did have the sense to swoon in hushed tones

My two cents on the movie: I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but i thought it was really good. Rob Pattison, who plays Edward, portrayed the restraint his character had to practice really well. The movie was concise, covering all the major scenes and storylines from the book without being dragging. Sure, with the paranormal stuff set aside, it’s still your typical teenage romance, but so what? That was what the book was all about, and i thought that the movie was a pretty good adaptation of the book.

After the movie we found out that Eastwood Mall had recently opened, so we went over to check it out. There aren’t many shops open yet, but it looks like it’s gonna be a great place to hang out in once they do. The layout is very circular, which gives the mall this posh feel (as you can imagine, i’m not very good at describing architecture). But the mall opens out into a terrace lined with shops and dotted with palm trees, so i’m hoping you’ll get what i mean about the posh.

After Eastwood, we went to church I honestly do not remember the last time i went to church. Going back wasn’t as bad as i thought it would be, and i learned something…so maybe i’ll go again this weekend.

Monday, 12.01.08

Went to work early to check on my new schedule for the next two months. As it turned out, i didn’t have to be at work that day. I went home right away, planning to study, but then my sister asked me if i wanted to go to the mall. And i’m not sure if i’m actually capable of turning down a trip to the mall…

We went to The Block at SM North Edsa. I got started on my christmas shopping, and after that we met up with a friend at Bubble Tea, a Japanese pop-inspired place so-called because their tea is served with sago, which looks like bubbles. Will be back for their Japanese green milk tea, which is de-lish.

After that, we just decided to take goofy pictures at the mall. So, like good little kids, we waited our turn to get our pictures taken with life-size Disney Princesses cardboard replicas. Here’s my best shot:

prince charming is mine!!!

I think some of the other kids may have gotten scared.

Wednesday, 12.03.08

TOXIC day at work. In hospital jargon, toxic means very, very busy, with lots of patients who all have lots of problems. Not repeating this again.

Thursday, 12.04.08

My sister and i stopped by Amici’s Tomas Morato, which is not far out of the way home from work, to get our gelato fix.
I had mint chocolate, which is my favorite flavor, so it was safe and yummy. But my sister had hazelnut and it was the best, like having a frozen Ferrero Rocher melt in your mouth. And so, this conversation:

Gwen: How come you always order the best things?

Genine: Because i order what’s special from a place. Like, you wouldn’t order chicken at a steakhouse, right?

Ohhh…so that’s why. And hazelnuts do come from Italy, don’t they.

My sister is food smart.

Friday, 12.05.08

Am missing my kikay kit, last seen in one of the lockers at the nursery, where i’m stationed now. Am hoping for the best but fearing the worst. So, a list of things i’ve lost so far to some wacko(s) at the hospital:

- nokia n series phone –> stolen at the interns’ quarters. while i was asleep.

- thermoscan (the good kind) –> stolen at the ICU.

- kikay kit (?) –> am still hoping this was just misplaced

I mean, who would steal a kikay kit? Most of the stuff in there’s half used up anyway. But the kit itself is all new and pretty and Lancome. And i’m wondering how i’ll be able to survive tomorrow without my oil control film

But i feel better now, after having a bowl of pumpkin pie ice cream. And blogging my heart out.

Missing kikay kit updates will be posted on this blog.

October kikay adventures

my attempt to squeeze in a little time for myself during a particularly challenging month at work:

love my new haircut!

i got a new haircut earlier this month at azta urban salon, katipunan. the salon reminds me of a trendy college apartment, with orange, dark blue, and beech as a color palette. prices are student friendly too, as the salon gives a 20% discount on all services if you present your student id.

i’m not hair-savvy at all, so i really appreciated how the stylist, mody, both listened to what i wanted and knew which cuts would suit the shape of my face. basically, i told him what i wanted was a cut that had a different shape from my old one but was still short and manageable. i loved how my new cut turned out–it’s a bob that’s longer in front and tapers towards the back. i actually think it’s kinda hip, for lack of a better description.

mody suggested that i have my hair relaxed, since it would be hard to maintain its shape outside the salon. i had that done the following week. now my hair is much more manageable, and retains its shape with minimal styling. i’m pretty satisfied with the results, although since relaxed hair tends to be dryer and more brittle, it needs maintenance with more extensive conditioning and a regular hair mask.

make-up shopping at the face shop

walking inside one of the face shop’s boutiques is refreshing–the interiors are all white and clean and simple. their makeup is the same way, clean and no-fuss. last week i got a baked eyeshadow trio consisting of two shades of pink and a light yellow. baking the eyeshadow makes for long lasting wearability. mine lasted from 7am until i washed it off at 12am on a duty night. i also got a shimmery light orange lip gloss. i love the simplicity and minimalism of the packaging, too.

am without a camera at the moment, photos to follow

Kikay kit

What’s great about my kikay kit is that it’s small enough to cram into my already overloaded handbag but just the right size to house everything i need. I use most of the things in my kit on a daily basis, so no storage space is wasted.

my kikay kit

1. Oil control sheets. Can’t live without these. I use only clean and clear or gatsby, since the wax paper brands infused with tea tree oil don’t work for me.

2. Revlon eyelash curler. My groupmate, who’s also kikay, gave me this lash curler for christmas, and it’s been one of my favorite items in my kikay kit ever since. It gives a good reliable curl, so i have prettily framed eyes with or without mascara.

3. Gatsby styling wax sachet. Quick fix for a bad hair day, especially for strands of baby hair that stand at the top of your head.

4. Comb. Of course.

5. Covergirl eyeslicks in shimmering pebble. These eyeshadows in pencil form are really easy to apply. Just swish them on, blend a little bit, and you’re all set. Shimmering pebble is a light brown, barely there shade that’s great for highlighting the eyes.

6. Estee Lauder lash XL maximum length mascara. I’ve been applying mascara ever since i read that it brightens the eyes (read for yourself). Contrary to its name, this brand of mascara doesn’t really give maximum length lashes, but rather a more subtle effect. Which is okay with me, since i don’t like wearing anything flashy at work.

7. Eyebrow tweezer. Because nobody likes messy brows.

8. Maybelline cover stick in light beige. This is a cream-based concealer that’s great for dark spots. The downside is that it hasn’t been available in stores in manila for a while. Which is weird, because it’s available at the maybelline webpage.

9. Maybelline perfect concealer in medium beige. This is a liquid concealer. I’ve found that the darker shade works better for hiding zits.

10. Maybelline clear smooth aqua gel foundation in natural. I love this foundation. it goes on super smooth, controls oil and shine, and feels like i’m not wearing makeup at all.

11. Estee Lauder brush. For applying blush, which is the only thing in my kit that’s in powder form.

12. Covergirl blush duet in mink/auburn and vision/auburn. For rosy cheeks. (I actually only use the first shade, since the second one is more of an orange-y shade.) Plus, the powder smells like cinnamon

13. The face shop color-full lip palette 02. This lip gloss quad comes in a cute floral-printed compact (not shown here). I don’t use these glosses as much as i used to, but i still keep the compact in my kit because it doubles as a really handy mirror.

14. Nivea lip care in strawberry kiss. I love how this lip gloss moisturizes and protects my lips while giving them a hint of strawberry red.

15. Philosophy make a wish lip shine in sugar plum. This lip gloss has a yummy sweet scent. It has a super shiny effect, so i use it on days when i especially want to feel like a girl.

16. Clinique colour surge impossibly glossy in camisole. This is the newest addition to my kikay kit. It’s a lighter shade of lip gloss that i haven’t used much yet, but it’s in my kit in case i feel like trying something different.

So that’s what’s in my kikay kit. Because just because i work 34 hours straight, doesn’t mean i can’t look good at the end of the day

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.”

~Sam Levenson, American author and humorist (1911-1980)

Shirtdresses

Snuck in some shopping yesterday after work Got these shirtdresses at Glamour Studio, a stall on the third floor of 168:

black and cyan checkered shirtdress

indian-inspired shirtdress

I love little details like the pockets on both dresses, which add functionality and extra fun!

pocket1

pocket2

Got these dresses at a totally great bargain, around Php1000 for both!