Can't Get Over You, Osaka!

As a warning, when I talk about our trip in Osaka, you'll never hear the end of it... I just fell in love with the city, the food, the people, the stores, the hotel, the restrooms, the roads, the subway, the train, the taxi, the airport, everything!!! I can't find a reason why not to come back. When my friend MC told me about Osaka, I couldn't imagine what she was talking about. Because I didn't expect it to be different from Tokyo.

Now, I understand... It's a lot different!

Now, let me tell you how I fell in love with the PEOPLE:

They're the most stylish/courteous people I've ever seen. When you smile at them, they will greet you and make their famous "japanese bow". When you bow, they will again bow, and they will never stop until you do. Because they want you to feel special, they want to be the last one to take a bow, that's their sign of respect. I've never seen people give so much respect for others the way they do. Whenever I pay for something in a certain store, the cashier first wraps what I bought, then says how much I need to pay, then when I give her the payment, she will give me my change one by one. And mind you, I never saw a crumpled Japanese money in my entire stay. Then after I got my change, she leads me to the exit, and there, she gives me the neatly wrapped item I bought. I felt so special, and all I wanted was to come back and buy more!!!

The SUBWAY:

Yes, there are tons of Subway Lines in Japan. You really have to read, search, and ask. That's what we did, if we rely on reading only, we won't get to our destination. What's fascinating is, we got to our destination in time, and we didn't have any problems asking them. Some of them may not really speak English, but they will try their best to help you. I really felt awkward asking them, but they showed so much interest in helping us. Aren't they nice???

The FOOD:

Ramen love!!! Sushi love!!! Yakitori love!!! Vendo love!!! I can't talk about food much because it will only make me hungry!

The ROADS:

Isn't this canal the cleanest one in the whole world?

Who wouldn't love to stroll around this place?

The SHOPS:

Name it, they have it. I only bought a few of their local shoe brands.

The HOTEL:

We stayed at Swissotel in Namba, Osaka. The hotel is strategically located, I loved that I didn't have to go out of the building after taking the subway because the hotel has access to the Namba Railway station, Takashimaya, and Namba Carnival Mall. Isn't it fabulous??? Now I ask you, wouldn't you feel the same way too???

I got so many stories to tell about my stay-cation, but so little time!

Just can't get over you Osaka!!!

The Perfect Blend!

I want one now!!!

Directions: Blend your way to a flawless face!

Bounce Beautyblender against your face when applying make up. Bouncing, called stippling in the make up world, blends make up without creating changes in the texture or tone of your skin. Use Beautyblender's pointed side for hard-to-reach spots like around the nose and mouth, and under the eyes. Use the round base for foundation and blush on the larger areas of your face such as your forehead, cheeks and chin.

If you apply make up with your fingers you'll find that Beautyblender will smooth and refine your make up to provide a clean finish.

Use Beautyblender damp when applying wet/dry make up. When Beautyblender is wet it is normal for it to expand to nearly twice its original size. Wash after use and place in the Beautyblender insert pedestal to dry. You can also put Beautyblender in the Beautyblender pouch and toss it in the dryer. Be sure to use an air-dry setting; Beautyblender should not come in contact with extreme heat of any kind.

If you have problem skin Beautyblender works to cover blemishes. Use the pointed end and the stipple and twist technique to work make up into depressed areas of the face. The stippling and twisting action feathers out the makeup's edges, leaving a perfect finish.

• Included in package: 2 blenders, instruction cards in canister with pedestal
• Double your fun! Use 1 damp use the other 1 dry. Take one with you and keep the other safe at home.
• Washable, re-useable, recyclable. Can be used with all types of makeup. Use damp or dry. We prefer damp. Very versatile applicator.
• If you have problem skin Beautyblender works to cover blemishes. Use the pointed end and the stipple and twist technique for a perfect finish.
• Beautyblender is made from a latex-free, anti microbial foam to help fight bacteria and sensitive enough for those with allergies.

Get one at Amazon.com

Missing Guam

I don't know why, but I fell in love with Guam last year when I first visited the Island. The people are very friendly, simple, and warm. The whole city is clean, as if I was transported back to Los Angeles Circa 1975... Wish I could go back anytime soon...

Stayed at Outrigger Guam Resort. Located in the heart of Tumon's Pleasure Island district complex that also houses the Tumon Plaza Duty Free Shopping Arcade, International Food Court, Hardrock Cafe, Sam Choy's, Gameworks, and Underwater World. Just across the street are Guam Duty Free Stores, Planet Hollywood, TGI Fridays and minutes away from the Outback Steakhouse, Sand Castle Dinner Club and Globe Night Club. The Outrigger is Guam's newest five star hotel and part of the well known Outrigger group in Hawaii.

Convenient Hop On Hop Off shuttles...

Just look at the parking space!!!

I just really need to get that Guam fix!!!

Matte Moment

Well if you were born in the late 60's or early 70's, you probably love Madonna... I knew all her songs from way back and I used to dress up like her... Who wouldn't? I remember during the 80's, she used to wear matte red lipstick. I tried Chanel, Mac and Revlon matte lipsticks just to reach Madonna's perfect matte lips! But way back, it really made my lips very dry. Probably because during those times, not too much lip protectors were readily available...

And then came the 90's, even up to now, glossy and shiny lipsticks and lip glosses
rule the girls' make up kit...

But now, matte's coming back...

First, for the glittering glamour of autumn, Too Faced Matte Palette will just make you look stunningly sophisticated... With all the velvety shades with cashmere soft matte finish brings out smoky eyes in time for the Fall...


Secondly, the matte nails. Offering the luxe look of matte to nails, this limited-edition topcoat instantly gives any nail colour a velvety-soft matte finish.




And now, Chanel has introduced its new, moisture rich Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colours, available in 8 different shades.






So excited to try them all and can't wait for my Matte Moment!

I'm such a BB Addict

Nothing can ever replace my BB... I'm just so in love with my Blackberry Bold 9700, that I am too hesitant to upgrade and use my new BB 9900. I think I don't have a choice but to, as what they always say, "MOVE ON"...

Here's a pic of my pre-loved BB phones...

The one on the utmost right is the latest model, the Blackberry Bold 9900, blogged about it here. It's light, slim, but a little wider than the 9700. And it only comes with black (as of this date).

The black one on the left is my BB Bold 9000 (if i'm not mistaken). I used it for my Sun line. My Sun line is my business line. Just calls and texts. No internet, no bbm, just plain cellphone. Too many clients already know that number and I can't let go of that particular line. However, the white one is the BB Bold 9700, I call it My Berry, to which I fell in love with. It's my social phone. Wherein I get to know everything because of her...

Now that the BB 9900 is here, in my hands, I don't have any choice but to let go of one... Of course I'm letting go of the oldest one, but my problem right now is making My Berry my Sun Line... I can't accept the fact that I'm using My Berry as a phone only and not maximize its features...

Sometimes I think I want to let go of it, sell it, so that it can be used by a much worthy person, someone who can maximize the phone's abilities...

Then I'd just get an ordinary phone for my Sun line... What do you think???

My Semi-Smokey Eyes...

Since I do not own great set of eyes, smokey isn't really my thing. I don't think it matches my oriental features... But, what the heck, I want to try it!!!

I did my semi-smokey eyeshadow by not applying too much dark shades. I replaced black powder shadow with a black glittery pencil so I can easily blend it. Here's how:

(Note: I am not a professional so it is just okay to make fun of my make up, plus, I'm not pretty either so fine, you can laugh)

1. First, using my Too-Faced eye palette, which I blogged a few months ago, (click here to read the blog) I chose Silk Teddy to be my base color eyeshadow. This helps balance the light and dark colors of my eyeshadow by blending the colors.


2. Then I put on dark brown eyeshadow, also from the same palette, Sexpresso, applied from the outer corner of the eye, blending it towards the center.



3. Blended everything


4. Then I applied a thick eyeliner on the upper and lower lids, just right beside the lash lines. I used the Black Glitter eyeliner (H & M). Then blend all colors together, using my ring finger (how rookie?)





5. Topped it off with 2 coats of black Maybelline Mascara




6. Finished it off with Mac Amplified Cosmo A21 lipstick


7. Topped with Mac Lip Glass in Elle (only at the bottom lip) for a shiny gloss.


8. Outcome - it looks a little pale in picture but irl, I really think it's too dark. At times when I look at myself in the mirror, I see raccoon eyes...

What do you think? Don't laugh!!!

Bags on Nails?

Essie has launched its latest collection for fall, and I am really excited to try them all. Why? It is because it's named for bag lovers!!! The Power Clutch, The Lady Like, The Glamour Purse, The Case Study, Very Structured, and The Carry On... Such a clever idea to put those names in color shades, makes going to the salon for a nail spa more exciting!!! I think, I'd go for uhmmm, let me see... oh, I love The Carry On... It's so me....

Good thing Amazon.com has the mini version of this collection, I don't have to get only 1 bottle!!!

The Easiest Smokey Eye Make Up

For smokey eye makeup what feature color eye shadow best suits dark brown eyes? First, arrange all the eyeshadows you're going to use.

1. It's best to use dark brown and black. Do not use creamy texture eyeshadows as they are difficult to smudge and blend. Use POWDERY SHADOWS.

2. For your secondary shade, you need to contrast the dark colors with either: champagne, taupe, nude, or a sand color. I prefer nude so as to match the common Filipina women's skin tone.

3. Choose your eyeliner pencil. It should be a soft eyeliner of the same color of your dark eyeshadow, in this case, Black. If possible choose a Powderliner or a Charcoal eyeliner pencil. They are easier to blend and are sometimes available with a sponge tip for easy blending. Never use liquid eyeliner. Liquid eyeliners are better for sharper lines, not a soft and sultry finish.

4. Now you're ready to start... Note that it is normal to apply full foundation before applying your eye make up. In this case, I recommend you to put thin foundation around the eyes only, and then apply loose powder to set the foundation. This will give you a clean canvas for your eye shadow and will also help to prevent the eye shadow from creasing. This will also give you more even, accurate, eye shadow application. That way, if you get some of your eye shadow on the rest of your face you won’t ruin your foundation. This also helps avoid a raccoon eye look under your eye.

5. Apply the light color (nude) from the corner of the eye up to the crease. For Asian especially Filipina women, it is hard to apply up to the brow bone since many of us have very small eyes. I suggest you apply up to the crease only, and then, apply just right below the brow bone, so as to highlight the brows.

6. Apply the brown eyeshadow on top of the nude color and blend.

7. Add black eyeshadow at the outer corner of the eye going towards the center of the eye. Blend.

8. Apply black eyeliner at the rims, at the upper lid, from the inner corner to the outer corner, if possible, apply as near as possible to the water lines or eyelash lines. Make sure to complete the line from the inner to the outer corner. Smudge it with cotton swabs for a more subtle look.

9. Apply the same black eyeliner below the eyes, from the center of the eye going outwards. The more you reach the outer eye, the more you darken the application. This way, Asian eyes become bigger and wider.

10. Apply black mascara at both rims of your eyes, make it double to emphasize the smokey effect.

And voila! You now have a smokey eye look, just in time for partying "cooler" nights here in Manila...