|| Eat. Pray. Love. ||

I came from the Philippines which is a tropical country and moving here was a huge adjustment for me. My body is not used to the extreme cold temperature and sometimes the temperature would drop down to negative. I had to get used to the walking and dealing with snowstorms which sometimes produces 8 inches of snow. 

Nevertheless, the snow never bothered me not to explore the mountain. As a matter of fact, my life here has been really fun! My friends and I would go out everyday. We would play outside our apartment like kids. We also check out some cute cafes and local shops in the area. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to try skiing or snowboarding as it cost a lot of money. But I will look forward to get to experience it when I move to Rhode Island with Chuck which is going to be in the next few months.

Below are some of my pictures during my first week in Colorado

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What a nice beautiful view to wake up to every morning.. taken at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek

This was taken on my first day in Colorado! I was so amazed with the smoke coming out from my mouth. 

Hannah invited us to stay in her beautiful home for a couple ofdays. And guess what, her house is not just an ordinary one. It’s a beautiful mansion!!

Their house was built up high with lovely terrace and it’s overlooking the water. You can see the sunrise from their master’s bedroom and their balcony. 

We also walked around the subdivision to check other beautiful houses and walked down the shore to catch some fish and play in the water.

Aside from that, the subdivision has  a swimming pool with a breathtaking view of the beach. What a dream place to be lived in!

                               A photo of me and Chucky in the pool! :)

Another amazing place in Cebu is the Be Resort which is located in Mactan. Mactan is one of the popular cities in Cebu, where most luxury hotels and resorts are here. We stayed here for 3 days. The price was totally worth it! The view from our hotel room was so stunning . The food was absolutely delicious and excellent! The resort offers some indoor gaming activities like billiards and pingpong as well as an outdoor infinity swimming pool, tents near the shore and of course some water activities too!  :) The hotel is very accessible to the airport, which is about 15 minutes drive depending on the traffic. So if you’re looking for a place to stay that’s close from the airport and the beach, definitely stay in Mactan.

We also got a chance to visit Shangri-la Mactan Resort... one of the luxury and famous resorts in Cebu. People who would like to access their facilities for a day will have to be a member of this hotel and luckily Hannah’s family is a member. 

Again, I wanted to thank Hannah for making this trip possible and memorable! Chucky was mesmerized and he's already thinking of coming back on his next trip to the Philippines!

                                      Early dinner date  by the beach:3

Below are my steps on how to get a “No Makeup, Makeup Look”:

#1. Always start by washing your face with a facial cleanser and then apply a moisturizer onto your face. It’s always best to pick a moisturizer that has sun protection.

#2. Apply a foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone and blend it well.. This will give you a more natural look.

#3. Apply a blush to your apple of your cheeks. It’s better to go with lighter shades like rosy pink or maybe use a bronzer. 

#4. Fill in your brows by using a brow gel, eyebrow pencil or whatever you have to keep it tidy and in shape.

#5. Use a mascara to curl your lashes in order to get a fresh and alluring eye look. 

#6. You may use a lip balm or lipgloss on your lips. For me, I love to use nude color because it’s really natural and can be used for everyday makeup.

So that’s it. It’s quick and easy to do! :)

It all happened last Tuesday, October 6, around 9 in the morning, when I got a text from my mom saying that they were going to Dagupan because my grandma’s condition had deteriorated rapidly. I did not think twice and went straight home from my training because I wanted to see her and be with her side. Even though I knew that the company won’t accept me again for not finishing my training, my family will always be more important than anything else and I am willing to give up everything for them. 

So I rushed to the bus terminal going to Dagupan.  While inside the bus, I was crying and praying to see her alive and strong. I was hoping I could tell her how much I love her. And when I finally arrived to the hospital, the first thing I saw was her beautiful smile, which relieved me. I went to her right away and gave her a hug and held her hand tightly. I whispered in her ear that I love her and praying for her fast recovery so we could celebrate her 83rd birthday the next day. She nodded and smiled... She couldn’t speak because of a tube placed in her throat which helped her breathe so she wrote everything she wanted to say on a piece of paper. It broke my heart watched her in pain. But she's strong as the wind.. I’ve never seen her being weak. Whenever we ask her about her condition, she only respond with “I’m okay”.

I thought everything would go well.. 

But then the most frightening moment happened. My inang passed away on her birthday. We were all shocked and couldn’t believe that she’s no longer with us anymore. It feels like yesterday I was just helping her making ice water to sell. And now she’s gone and will never see her again. :(

My grandma is definitely a good example of a loving mother. I admire her braveness and her love for us. She’s very generous, cheerful, selfless, and very much altruistic. She taught me a lot of things and guided me to become a better person. She could be strict at times and could give me a lengthy lecture, but she’s still the most wonderful grandma in the world! I know that she only thinks about what is best for us. Without her, my life would have no direction. She taught me to study hard so I could repay my parents and make them proud. She also taught me to focus on my studies first before love because her only dream is to see all her grandchildren graduate in college. I guess my grandma is very blessed to have a happy family that helps together in order to make her dream come true. 

Anyway, I am going to write a letter to Inang as a final goodbye. 

Dear Inang,

I want to start off by saying I miss you. I miss your beautiful smile and your soft and sweet voice.  I miss our endless conversation every time I visit you. I miss everything about you. You will always be missed, Inang. Thank you for taking care of me since I was a kid. Thank you for the unconditional love you had given us. Thank you for the guidance and care. And thank you for never getting tired of us. I promise you that I will be a loving mother and grandmother just like you were. And I promise you that I will love my parents like you kept telling me before. All the memories I had with you will always stick with me for the rest of my life. And I promise I will keep your ring with me and will always wear it wherever I go... I miss you Inang. Til we meet again.. I love you so much.

Photo taken last September 19, 2015

Love,

                                          I love NORTH CAROLINA!

                                        I felt like a country girl for a day. 

               Do you know what’s missing in the background? The cows! LOL

                                         We will definitely come back!

One day, during my sophomore year in college, my school organized a trip to Beijing. We stayed at Marco Polo Hotel for four days. It was a very exciting trip. We also visited some famous landmarks and attractions in Beijing like the Bird’s Nest Stadium where the 2008 Summer Olympics was held, the Tienanmen Square, the shopping malls, museums and of course we never missed out the Great Wall of China. We also tried eating some traditional Chinese food and the best Chinese food I’ve ever tasted was the PEKING DUCK!!!

While I was inside the Tienanmen Square, I felt a feeling of familiarity as if I've been in this place before. I wasn't sure where I’ve seen this place, probably in the movies or maybe in our class. Until when I got back from the trip, I decided to scan the pictures and suddenly stopped in this photo (scroll down to the bottom). I was trying to recall where I’ve seen this place. All of a sudden, tears start falling from my eyes... I remembered this photo in the Children’s World Atlas which I used to look at long time ago. I know it sounds strange and it is hard to believe it but I think I’m destined to travel the world . :) 

Here are some of the pictures taken during our trip:

This restaurant serves authentic chinese food. When you dine here, you are not allowed to use a pair of spoon and fork. Isn’t it cool? :) 

                                  Infront of the Bird’s Nest Stadium. 

                        The view from the top of Great Wall Of China. 

It took us 3 hours to climbed up the highest peak of The Great Wall but it was all worth it!

          This photo was taken in Tienanmen Square in the heart of Beijing.

Coat: Annaiza Ramirez wardrobe

(Please ignore my awkward face. That was a stolen shot :))

Top: Terranova

Dress: Bayo; Leather Jacket: C&A; Scarf: Uniqlo

Winter Coat: Bleud; Bag: Marj Ferrer’s

Dreams give us so much happiness once we fulfill it. Yet, it doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes, you will face a lot of challenges along the journey. These are the moments when things get tough and you only think about is giving up. These are the moments when you cry every night and start wondering if your dreams will ever happen, when you don’t know what to do and start losing hope. These are the moments when you are stuck in between. However,  you cannot live in fear forever. It takes a lot of courage and faith to follow your dreams. If you think that your dreams are real and that’s what your heart is telling you, then you must commit and continue to follow it no matter what happens. The sun will rise again no matter how dark it may seem. And I believe that the dream that you’ve been longing for will happen at the right time. You just have to stay present, pray and be grateful for the things that you already have.

Never give up on your dreams no matter what, even when things are not what you want them to be. Just take the next step and ask God to guide you. I’m sure it will all be worth it in the end. 

                                                                                            xoxo,

Before we start, I wanna show you how I look like without makeup.

As you can see, my skin is dry and has blemishes. I also have dark circles around my eyes and my lips look pale... I do also have uneven skin tone. 

So here are the steps on how to get a fresh, clean look:

The first thing I do in the morning is to wash my face with a facial cleanser. I do this twice a day so that my skin is not prone to acne and blemishes.

Step 1. After washing my face with a cleanser, I apply a moisturizer  to make sure that my face is getting the moisture that it needs. I am using Cetaphil Daily Face Moisturizer with SPF 50. I’ve been using this product for few months now and it really leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. What I also like about this product is it has SPF 50 which protect my face from the sun. Ultraviolet rays will damage your skin over time and it's essential that you protect your face from harmful radiation.

Step 2. The next step is to apply a little bit of foundation onto your face. This will even your skin tone. The product that I am using here is L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation. It’s a matte finish and gives a flawless natural make-up result.

Step 3. After applying a foundation, apply a concealer on any spots or under eyebags. You may or may not use a liquid foundation when  applying a concealer. You could actually use your concealer as a foundation. But for me, I prefer applying True Match foundation, to achieve a matte finish look. And the concealer that I am using here is Ever Bilena Studio Finish Concealer in Cream Shade. The shade is a little lighter than my skin.

Step 4.  Powder will help reduce the shine on the forehead and nose by absorbing the oils. Apply only a small amount to areas with excessive oil such as your T-zone (your forehead and nose) and chin. Some people use a powder brush, a powder-puff, or a sponge applicator to apply powder and I like to use a sponge.  It's a personal choice and you should experiment until you find what works best for you. I am using Clinique stay matte sheer pressed powder.

Step 5. I do have thick eyebrows, so sometimes I don’t usually apply eyebrow pencil, instead I just brush my hair to keep it tidy and in shape. Here I am using Anastasia Beverly Hills brow whiz in chocolate shade. 

Step 6. This is my favorite part: curling my lashes using Clinique mascara. This will make your lashes look darker, longer and thicker. I prefer a non-waterproof mascara since my eyes are sensitive; they easily turn red and itchy.

Step 7. I love to use my Benefit Posie Tint  (Lip Tint) onto my cheeks because it gives you a natural and pinkish cheeks. Just remember not to put too much blush on your cheeks! You don’t wanna look like a clown.

Step 8. Lastly, the lips. For a clean and natural look, it’s best to go with light pink, brownish or any lighter shade of lipstick. You could also use a lipgloss or a lipbalm.. Here I am using Clinique Long Lasting So Sweet Lipstick. This lipstick moisturizes and softens your lips and it stays for a long time so you don’t have to re-apply from time to time.

TIP: Use an oil film control to avoid shiny and oily face. I always bring mine with me wherever I go.

Now, here is the final look:

I’ve always dreamt of travelling to Paris since I was a kid and up until now.. And I couldn’t believed that it happened two years ago. I feel so lucky to study at St. Benilde, because it has a sister company in France and they organize a trip to Paris to the students taking up Tourism Management course and IHM (International Hospitality Management) course every year. 

Anyway, going back to the main topic. The trip to Paris starts here.

It was Winter season when we traveled to Paris. I guess we were the only and lucky batch who was able to experienced the snow! We stayed there for more than a week and we were given an extra day tour to Belgium, another neighboring country in Europe. Unfortunately, I decided not to join the extra day tour because it never crossed off my bucket list and I think one day is not enough to explore the country. Instead, I chose to explore the city of Paris more. I have never imagined myself travelling alone in Paris and yet I was able to do it. With the knowledge of a few French words and a map of the city, I was able to reach my destinations that I wanted to go to! Despite the fact that some places were dangerous , I was able to traverse the place and overcome my fear. Truly it was not easy and it took me a lot of guts and faith to do it. Aside from traveling, I got to meet some french people from our sister school.. 

In realization, what I really love about  Paris are the classical and vintage houses and apartments, the bakery shops which was so old-fashioned and where I can smell the freshly baked breads everytime I passed by, the monuments and museum that share the precious treasures of the past to us, the Seine River where you can take a cruise during daytime or nighttime, the Notre Dame church built in 1700′s and still well-preserved, the TOUR EIFFEL which was the most popular attraction in Paris, and of course the people who are very friendly and nice. I can’t believed that there’s a city like Paris that is truly rich in history.