Friday, July 28, 2006

Walk the talk..save the sole...

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For me, the rainy season is sandal season. I like wearing them sandals and flops during this time most especially and more appropriately because I don’t really wanna ruin them leathers…and neither do we wanna slip in those nice looking still freshly purchased stilettos. Oh shucks. Definitely super dress down when it rains. Good thing I was able to add on two jackets to my wardrobe for the month. So being sandal season, much attention would be on the feet. Yes, the size 10 humongous peds are on the spotlight. And as I was looking at thenm, I was made to realize that my feet are indeed ugly. Argh. Was just not blessed to have really gorgeous feet, but hope springs eternal so they say so why not work on it? Yeah, let’s try to save our soles people… I hope you are with me. We can’t forever hide those tattered mootsie tootsies any longer.
Time to unleash and bring forth new life to our tired and weary feet. Time to go the extra mile for the very important appendage that brought us places.

Google google and this is what I got: down to six steps that could be very well be part of our every day ritual. It’s also pretty easy to remember because it’s the six s’s of saving our soles…sssssssssss!!!
Haha..

1. Sand
Yup, it’s all about sand baby..Sanding!
Since we are to clean,change and condition our nails, it is advised to start off with a non-acetone remover to clean old polish from nails. Then file toenails straight across to avoid ingrowns. Now this is the tough part. Takes practice and patience too, but believe you me, it could be done with the proper tools in handy. Now back to the toenails, shape them into a soft arc and gently file to create a smooth surface.
Here’s a Cuticle Care Tip: For cuticles that are dry and overgrown never try cutting them- leave that to the experts and instead try soaking a cotton ball with olive oil and gently swipe over cuticles before you remove old polish. This will leave your toes shiny and conditioned.
2. Soak
Nothing beats getting all soaked up. Hmmmmmh, ummmh, ummmh. A gentle foot can do the trick of cleansing and softening the skin. Just a few teaspoons of foot soak poured in and mixed into hot water can bring forth an unbeatable soothing sensation as you gently immerse your feet. Adding a few drops of lemon juice will even sanitize and scent your toes with a citrus aroma. Relax for ten minutes and allow the hot bath to loosen dead skin and inject moisture back into your feet. A conditioning foot soak brand like that of Avon’s can help revitalize your tired feet and maximize moisture.
3. Scrub
With the heels now softened, it’s time to scrub away dead skin cells and let a new, fresh layer of skin shine through. Time to scrub-a-dab-dab and massage an exfoliating scrub and slough off dry patches from your heels, arch, ankles, and toes. Rinse by dipping back your feet back in the bath then pat dry with a soft towel. Try to soothe sore feet with a body scrub for a cooling feeling.
4. Soften
Time to rock and rely on a pumice stone to soften those stubborn rough spots. You may also try a dry foot file and scrub back and forth over heels and calluses until skin become soft and even. Don’t hesitate to use a little muscle — some like it rough and tough and sometimes those rough areas need some extra force. There’s a callus remover available in the market, also from Avon and this can easily smooth over the entire surface without missing an inch.
5. Slather
Butter is not only yummy but it can also restore moisture to your feet…so try shea butter. Even better if you smooth on an intensive relief cream like Avon's planet spa foot and elbow cream to add that extra dose of summer softness.
Tip for Tender Toes: For an extra injection of moisture, just right after applying lotion, wrap your feet in dry towels and let them sit for five minutes. They say your body heat will warm up the moisturizer and allow it to really sink in to your skin.
6. Swipe
It goes without saying really that before applying polish, it is best to thoroughly wipe your nails and cuticles with polish remover. This way, you’ll be able to remove any oils or lotions so that polish will go on evenly. Next, time to spread on the base.. Yup, start with a base coat to hide ridges and create an even surface. Two coats are needed…so be generous in brushing two coats , allowing at least 2 minutes between each coat, and a topcoat to seal. For summer, try a light pink shade to enhance your sun-kissed feet.
Quick Dry Tip: When you’re in a rush, don’t run the risk of ruining your newly tinted toes. Get out the door in a flash with a cooking spray from your kitchen. Spritz on a layer, let it dry, and then off you go!

So there, it’s not so tough, now are they? I think we owe it much to our feet to give em the best kind of pampering even with limited budget. Always remember to do your feet good so they wont fail you when you need em most. Hehehehe...
For those who can afford to splurge today, better head on over to Footloose in
Whiteplains. They’re not paying me to write this but I just happened to enjoy their thai foot massage. Anyway, payday is just around the corner. Try to allot at least 500 bucks for that and believe you me, you won’t regret it!. And that's the way you save your sole!!!


Thursday, July 20, 2006

Mirror mirror on the wall...

I’ve always been amazed by the power of cosmetics to change one’s perspective about things. Be it the beauty or the beholder both pretty much experience the same gratification from the wonders of aesthetic apothecary.

A couple of weeks back I attended a seminar on Basic Makeup under Suzzane and Cindy. My knowledge and skills or what Ithought I had about make-ups and all have been thrown out the window. We got a pretty good deal for that workshop for 7 hams. That’s right only 700 bucks for a lifelong investment on the proper way of painting one’s face. And mind you, we were using the best products in the market. Products I’m having second thoughts of buying. I could be such a cheapskate at times. As much as I am at awe at great products like Shu Uemura and Lancome Paris, I dunno, I feel that cheaper products would do just as well. But I know, I know, they came with that tag price for a reason. Just like I surrendered to that thought with my Topshop and Dorothy Perkins purchases. Going back to the workshop, I think it came out pretty well. I’ve learned just about enough to get me going. My brows got fixed and dispelled Alma’s notion that mine sucked. Both Cindy and Suzzane even said that they’re mighty fine except for several stray hairs. Nothing to be alarmed about like what Alma was insisting. I do know that the eyebrows can make or break the face but whenever I look in the mirror, I feel that I’m okey. Not so bad really.

My daily beauty ritual just entails washing the face, putting on vitamin c serum and then some cheek stain and a lip tint. Not so much on powder these days. I grew tired of carrying that big pot of loose powder in my bag. The solution would have been easy as just transferring some into a small container but what about my big brush??? Anyway, let’s just leave that be. I never bring my kikay kit as much as I did before. Oh but I have a beauty trailer from Two-Faced which I so loved. One of things I came across the Sephora Surfing Season. Man, I’ve been going to that site really frequently. Got it for a good deal at 30 dollarz... Suweet!!!


Speaking of Sephora Surfing Season, I just came across some facts that everyone could make good use of, so I’m sharing them here to add to your beauty intelligence…

1. Dark circles are not from lack of sleep. This is sheer gossip as the real cause happens to be skin transparency. The short cut cure is a concealer. But one should look for one that can also bolster and protect the skin. You can ask your friendly-neighborhood Dermatologist for the long-time fix.


2. Some people go t the idea that exercise can actually get rid of ugly cellulites. Of course this is not true at all as I have been told that cellulite can affect everyone. So it’s safe to say that couch potatoes and gym freaks are created equal when it comes to cellies…What a let down! But you can thank the hardworking scientists and aestheticians who never succumbed to the pressure of bringing forth a breakthrough cure to anyone suffering the stigma of being cellulite central... I hear Avon’s firming product is good. And I just found out about this Cellulite Solution from Murad but the price tag is about 70 dollarz per kit. Well should you not have that kind of munny, it’s perhaps the best time to accept that cellulites are but part of life.

3. I love perfumes. I absolutely love wearing different fragrances. And again I confess that I’m one of them who wear my most favorite on special occasions. We’ve been told or prolly read somewhere that we should wear fragrance behind our ears. Fact is we should wear it on our pulse points: wrist, behind the knees, crook of the elbow working our way up.


4. This one is so true- split ends can only be repaired by a trip to the salon and having it trimmed off. I’ve come across this exfoliating treatment for the hair but it’s not yet available here in Manila. I’m still tryna find out a similar product from Kerastase, since they have an Institute here anyway. I hear that it’s advisable to bolster strands weekly.

5. Did you ever hear about that rumor that lip balm is addictive? That’s right, could be an old wives’ tale but studies actually showed that they indeed are if they’re medicated. So that could pretty much explain why a certain friend of mine couldn’t stop applying balm like it’s a reflex action. The recommendation so I’ve read is to stick to moisturizing formula that’s free of drying ingredients like camphor and phenol. I would really wanna get my hands on this Buzz Latte Lip balm my sister was raving about from Bare Escentuals. I think it’s pretty neat to have it in Latte flavor. Hmmmmh…


6. For those craving for a tan complexion, better think twice before baking yourself under the sun. Somebody said that a base tan is healthy, but that’s bull. The only healthy tan I hear is fake tan. Tan in a bottle. Sunshine in a pot. Whoaaa… this is pretty interesting. I wonder how I’d look like when I’m all bronzed up…


I used to not like wearing make-up but I just realized that there’s nothing wrong with enhancing one’s beauty. Yes, you could say that it’s superficial; that it’s skin deep, but there’s no denying that beauty is indeed a powerful tool to change one’s perspective. Now you know what I’m talking about. I hear one dj yesterday claiming that he despises beautiful people saying that it’s the inside that counts. The dude somehow feels that it’s bull should a beautiful person claim that beauty is in the inside -- unpretty folks shouldn’t dig that deal because they’re just tryna patronize you in their own little way and tryna make you feel all better. He may have a good point, but I don’t generalize cuz I’ve met some of the most beautiful people and their beauty really emanates from within. I think dj dude should keep an open mind but I do get where he’s coming from since he’s been rubbing elbows with lotsa duh beauties… The beautiful people I know are authentic and sincere. You see, I’m one of the more critical people I know and I wouldn’t call you beautiful if you’re just a mere eye candy. There should be something about you that makes you stand out. Not the make-up, not the shoesies, not the outfit. It’s the way they deal with me and other people. Physical beauty can easily fade away with a snotty attitude and lack of respect for other people. It’s not really the wit or the smarts but it’s more of being generous of your time and understanding. It’s being open to anything that could make you appear like a Miss Universe.

So the next time you see somebody beautiful, be generous with your time to understand that these people are actually equals. Keep in mind that both of you would experience the same emotions and satisfaction either being the beauty or the beholder. At some point in time we would be one or the other. For now, we could work on being the “beauty” that could change everything.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Of lesser beings and more...

I am the non-confrontational type but I would be more than ready to defend myself should the situation call for it. I guess this is how I’s built. I am firm and strong with my resolutions that I could even come across as unreasonable. But of course who in the right mind would admit to being unreasonable at that given point in time???

Just before the week ended last week, I was feeling bad about something that shouldn’t really bother me.

You know, people make mistakes, and I can’t reiterate it even more. Nobody’s perfect. We’re mere mortals! Clichés are clichés because they’ve been proven to be true. And I couldn’t emphasize on it any more than I already have admitted to being at fault for making a friggin mistake on air…

Some people have made such a big deal out of it. I suppose, people who have less capacities to intellectualize the meaning of being human…of making a friggin mistake do not at all deserve my time. They’ve already shown their true colors so why should expect any thing more from them??? I don’t really wanna make such a big deal out of it, but it’s them who have been testing my patience. I mean, I really don’t need any praises from them. Cuz to my thinking, praises and criticisms coming from the same people are pretty much the same. And I really don’t need any of them. I mean, it’s not going to make me a better person so why should I even brother??? That’s the thing though, it’s bothering me because I know it was a mistake and people made such a big deal out of it when in fact I’m the one to bear the brunt. It’s the “Samantha” and not the friggin company that made a mistake. And this person, who just thinks about making sale and making the deal forgot about being human as well. I really don’t get it. Is that person really better than me??? When I don’t really think that that person can actually fill my shoes. Should we trade places, I believe in my heart that I could do the job that that person holds, but the better question is, can that person do my job??? I don’t wanna throw my weight around. I mean, even being in this company longer than they have and being in an industry that is more unforgiving, I think I have more than what they see me as… Geez. I really feel that his job is starting to be a job. After six years I never thought it would be. But when I come to think about it some more, it’s just the people I work with that make it more difficult.

I’m prepared for anything today. Ready to take on anything. Even the darned battery of lab tests I’ve to undergo today, yessss, bring it on!!!



Friday, July 14, 2006

romancing the rain...

It might come across as weird to say that I absolutely adore the rain.
When I was a kid, I’d bathe in the rain. I did this because I got so envious of the other kids who would run around and get all wet. It seemed a lot of fun so what the hell… even if I had to do it alone, heck I’d do it. Hehehe.. I mean I can’t just make paper boats forever.
Speaking of paper boats, I’ve been tryna teach my two year old apo to look forward to the rain by making paper boats with him and playing with them on the puddles of water in our garden. Funny thing happened though, my sister’s car was parked on that side of the garden where we’d usually play with the boats, and so I just got me a basin of water and went on to play with the paper boats Chanchan pressured me to make. Hehehe.. Gad, I love that kid so much and I feel that he loves me back just as much. He’s always excited whenever I come home at night. My niece says there’d be times when he’d be looking for me when he wakes up in the morning. Awwww!

Anyway, going back to the rains, one of the other reasons why I like it is because we get to keep our cool. At least for the most part. I mean, I hear of few people getting all riled up because of the rains than people getting irritated because of the heat. This is very much true because we are warm-blooded creatures. So there really is a scientific basis for this. However, the fact that we get so relaxed could bring us to that melancholic state where we tend to emote and just lose ourselves in either jubilation or depression. If I may, a lot of people end up playing or directing a music video in their heads when they hear a song while gazing thru the window watching the rains pour down. Naks. Hehehe…I too, am guilty of this sometimes. Can I just emphasize on “sometimes”? Hahaha.

For some people rains would come off as a bad thing. Like it dampens the spirit, like raining on one’s parade. But despite all the negativity attached to it, I still love it when it showers. For me, the rains make memories more vivid. I tend to remember things more when it’s associated with the rains. I suppose it’s because it adds more drama to it all. I dunno, that’s just how I feel about it. Rains never dampen my spirit. I’d say I’m even more in touch with my emotions when water starts to trickle down from the heavens. Hey, a lot of songs have been written about this phenom and I can name you favorites: Madonna’s Rain, BJ Thomas’ Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, A-ha’s Crying in the Rain and Garbage’s Only Happy When it Rain. Incidentally, the first time I came out on tv back in college, my friend Chiqui and myself had to introduce the Garbage song on MTV's Most Wanted. hehehe... see,told you anything rain would be memorable to me...
Weird??? Again, I go back to my childhood and remember those days when I’d go frolickin in the rain, and that vivid memory alone makes me look forward to the next memorable moment I’d be having whenever a single drop of water from the sky touches my face.



Sunday, July 09, 2006

pop musings of the heiress type...


Here's another confession: I am actually amused by Paris Hilton's "Stars are Blind". Can you believe that? Well she's got quite an infectious groove going on, reminding me so much of Blondie ( well she is after all!!!)

Some people just tend to have it all. And this hotel heiress is definitely enjoying the time of her life,or could she be one of those bratty kids with issues that they tend to dismiss for public consumption.