Delightful Illusions: simple

Hi, guys! Today's post is about the outfit I wore today on my niece's birthday party. It's her 7th birthday celebration today; a Frozen-themed party. All of the decorations were colored either blue, white or silver. Anyways, I wore something comfortable (as always) yet still colorful and youthful.

As you can see, I'm chubby right now. Haha! I have been eating a lot the past few months and I honestly didn't care. For my dress, I chose this high-low cut, flower-printed short dress that I purchased from Boracay. I though this was so suitable for the venue which is on the beach. My cousins wore maxi dresses, but I didn't want to trouble myself being uncomfortable on the bus. I cannot explain the specific style of this dress; it has cinch on the waistline and has this overlay fabric of the same print on the neckline. See this picture from Instagram to see what I mean: Colorful Dress.

I layered my dress with a cropped, light wash denim jacket which I got from a thrift store in Baguio. I have big arms right now and I don't feel like exposing so I have to cover them. This jacket seems to have matched with my dress pretty well. What can you say? I was actually inspired by Demi Lovato to pair girly dresses with denim jackets. Remember the Camp Rock 2 days? Her outfits were so cute!

Then I chose a brown sling bag with studs and fringes from Stradivarius. I cannot find this bag on their online store anymore but here similar ones on this page. This bag is spacious enough to put my wallet, sunglasses, earphones, small body mist and makeup at times.

To spice up my outfit, I wore this some sort of a connector ring; one band one the middle part and the other band on the bottom connected by a chain. Please tell me what do you call this type of ring because I clearly do not know. Haha!

For shoes, I chose these brown sandals from the brand Spring Fling which I bought online at Zalora. Fortunately, you can still purchase this online on this page.I think that these pair of flats went well with the rest of my outfit. These have put on a bohemian vibe on the overall outfit, together with the bag. These shoes are so comfortable to wear on and looks unique compared to other strappy sandals I've seen.

This was my outfit for today's family occasion. I loved this overall look because it's cute, youthful, and vibrant. I felt like I was a teenager again. I think that it suited pretty well for a children's party. It's comfortable, simple yet playful at the same time. Did you like my outfit as well? Let me know by leaving a comment down below. I enjoy making posts about this because I like sharing my style with you, guys. I hope you stay tuned because I will share my favorites next. Thank you so much for visiting. Have a great day. Stay safe. XOXO

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Hey, guys! I know it's been a while since my last post. I was travelling yet again everywhere to conduct various trainings. For those people who don't know, I work as a Training Specialist I at the government. My main role is to provide technical assistance to trainings, but I go usually beyond my job description as we are really scarce in staffing right now. Due to the weight of my responsibilities and my studies at the Graduate School, I cannot find enough spare time to write blog posts. I hope you understand. :)

I was inspired lately to do a post on what I makeup products I carry on my work travels. I know a lot of bloggers to this, so this is not new to you. Mine is a little bit different because I don't bring my "whole stash" of makeup when I travel. Haha! I learned to bring the things that are really convenient and needed. Products that are easy to use and have multi-purposes are helpful in travels. I'm trying my very best to fit everything I need in this little bag because that doesn't take so much space on my luggage. Seriously, that's all everything I need for makeup. Travelling lightly is a necessity that everybody should learn. :)

FACE

As a training facilitator, I always want to look presentable. I host most activities so it's important to look fresh and stress-free. But, the problem is I don't have the luxury of time to put makeup on. I'm the facilitator, the manager. Being late is a crime. Haha! So what I do is to bring face makeup products that won't take long to put on. I always keep my face makeup simple, something that looks natural, not covering all of the blemishes. I want a fresh, undone look that won't call the HR's attention. Who would want that? Haha! :)

Maybelline Clear Smooth All-In-One Shine Free Cake Powder (Nude Beige). I mainly use this powder for touch-up using the sponge that comes with this. I also use this for setting my face with a face brush. It's not so much for controlling the oil on my face, a little bit cakey but is travel friendly because of the size.

Essence All About Matt! Oil Control Make-up Base. I talked about this product on my January 2015 Favorites. I haven't change my opinion about this product for the past 8 months that I have been using this. It dries quickly so I don't have to wait for long to put my concealer and BB Cream on. It's not the best base for oily skin but it helps in the application of liquid products. I notice traces of cakey-ness on my skin whenever I use powder products even with a base underneath.

Kluge Precious Skin BB Cream (Natural Beige). You have seen this product on my previous Collective Haul post. It's an OKAY BB Cream for the oily face. It doesn't have much coverage and feels more like tinted moisturizer. I can feel the weight of this product on my face and definitely has a huge amount of moisture. I like how this blur pores on my face together with the makeup base mentioned above.

Nichido Foundation Stick (Ivory). I use this to cover my awful dark circles. It does a pretty well job. This doesn't totally cancel darkness but it gives medium coverage. It has creamy, blendable consistency that saves time.

EYES

I always do a light brown smoky looks on work. I think it's the most appropriate option for work, especially when you are in a authoritarian position. Haha! ;) It's an easy look, doesn't require a lot of colors and suits most outfits I wear.

Etude House Easy Brow Pencil (Dark Grey). My go-to product for the brows. It gives a natural finish on my brows. The pigmentation is not intense, making it buildable. It stays all day long which I really love. What's its secret? It has wax! How I wish it tames my brows too. Haha! Anyways, I ain't complaining. It's thin and fits on my makeup bag. That's what matters.

Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base. The best go-to eyeshadow base that neutralizes darkness on my lids. I love this products looks good on it's own. If I'm in a hurry, I just put this all over the lids, pat some powder to get the product and I'm good to go. It could go a little bit oily towards the afternoon which is manageable.

Etude House Look At My Eyes... Pearl Shadow Base. The best eyeshadow base ever! You have this product a countless times. It's addictive! This is a cream base that dries like a powder on the eyelids. It makes any eye look bright, having micro glitters in it. This acts like a paste as well, making my eyeshadows stay for a very long time. Perfect for school and office.

Avon The Greens 8-in-1 Eyeshadow Palette. The main reason I carry this on my trips is because this is the palette I put on a as a candidate for my Pan That Palette Challenge 2015. As you can see, I'm making some progress there. I've finally hit pan the brown shadow. Yay! This a convenient palette because it doesn't take a lot of space and has some good color combinations that suits brown eyes as well.

Ever Bilena Matte Eyeshadow Trios (Tango). Ah! Matte eyeshadows. They're the bomb! I carry this trio with me because my Avon palette doesn't have matte eyeshadows. I love to apply matte shadows on my crease for depth and dimension. Matte shadows have become my necessity for some time now. :)

MAC Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow (All That Glitters). The best eyeshadow of all eras, generations, centuries! Okay, nuff said. :)

IN2IT Supreme Waterproof Eyeliner (All Black). Err. That the best eyeliner. I'm just using this because this is on my Project 10 Pan. I have written a review of this in my To Buy or Not To Buy: IN2IT Supreme Waterproof Eyeliner (All Black) post.

Maybelline ColorShow Eyeliner. I forgot the name of this eyeliner's shade but it's somewhat beige. I love how this makes my eyes open and bright. It's waterproof but isn't long lasting. It wears off though hours but isn't messy. A good liner for everyday use.

Maybelline The Hyper Curl Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara. A decent mascara for everyday. This is hard core waterproff mascara, doesn't wear off nor clump. It doesn't give much of a volume as it claims, but is long lasting. A good mascara for casual events.

CHEEKS

Elf Studio Powder Blush (Tickled Pink). This blush is also included on my Project 10 Pan. It's not my most favorites blush but gives a nice pop of pink on my warm skin tone.

LIPS

Etude House Look At My Lips... Lipstick (003). A cool-toned, pale baby pink lipstick. Not so good for most skin types. Haha! But looks good on top of dark lip colors that you want to tone down. This is also included on Project 10 Pan.

Sophie Lip Gloss (Cotton Candy). A recent purchase of mine. It's just an ordinary gloss. Gives some shine and has a thick consistency.

San San Age Defence Lipstick (002). The best nude lipstick ever! Another candidate on my Project 10 Pan.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Colorburst Balm Stain (Sweetheart Valentine). My current obsession. It's a light pink balm stain that stays for a long time.

BRUSHES

For the brushes, I always try to bring the ones I really need and would fit on my small makeup bag. The brown one is an eyeliner brush which was given to me by my friend for free; I use it to apply eyeshadows on my lash line and lower lash line as well. The travel-sized eyeshadow brush came together with the blush brush from San San. I think they still sell the travel brush kit. The black one is from Elf, it serves a lot purpose such as contouring the face, putting on a blush, and many more. The fluffy slanted eye brush is also from San San; being sold individually. The pencil brush is from Watsons.

A really long post, I say. Those were the things I carried on my makeup bag from my last work travel. I don't bring the same products all the time but I showed you the exact products I brought last week. I hope I could about my travels as well. I'll see what pictures I have and show the ones that are worth sharing. Haha! I hoped you like this post. If you have any request, please let me know. I'm always open for suggestions. I'll talk to you soon. Have a nice day. Be safe always. XOXO

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Hey, guys! I went to Baguio City with my family, we had our Summer vacation there. Baguio City is a cold place, no doubt with that. As a first time visitor, I think I dressed up a little too much during Day. Haha! I was expecting that it would be cold like Winter. Haha! :) Anyways, my key piece on this travel was my sneaker wedges, which you have seen a lot already. I will never get tired wearing these because they are the cosiest shoes ever. They feel like boots when you put them on. I got sick the entire vacation that's why I didn't wear makeup. I apologize if I looked like crap on these pictures.

An awkward pose at a garden near the Hall of Justice.

Day 1: This day's outfit was pretty neutral in colors and simple in style. I want something comfortable yet stylish. I got inspired by the Autumn/Winter outfits I see on YouTube and magazines. If you don't know yet, I live in the Philippines. which is a tropical country. We don't have Spring, Autumn and Winter. We only have dry and wet seasons. Going up on the mountainous province of Benguet is a perfect idea if you want a cold summer.

Sitting on a tree inside the Burnham Park.

I opted for a charcoal wool top and a patterned skirt paired with black leggings. I also wore a brown-beige suede hoodless jacket to put a little of color on my outfit. I got the top, skirt and jacket on various thrift stores. My leggings and shoes were given by my family. The picture above shows how the getup looks like without the jacket. This outfit warmed me enough against the gloomy skies and chilly weather that day. What can you say about the first outfit? Let me know your thoughts. :)

A shot in the middle of Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad.

Day 2: We had a semi-tour on Benguet during 2nd Day of vacation. Our first destination was in La Trinidad, the town next to Baguio City. As you can see on the photo above, there are different plants planted but most of them are strawberries, that's why this placed is called Strawberry Farm. The weather in there is warm and sunny. My outfit went perfectly with the temperature; not too hot nor too cold.

A photo with the pink-haired horse at Mines View Park.

During the tour, I wore a mint green V-neck shirt from Aeropostale paired with a sky blue skinny pants gave by my mommy. I wore the same shoes, a sneaker wedge from Adidas. To add a little decoration on my outfit, I hanged a tri-color scarf with sequins from Mogao. My ears easily get cold so I also wore a gray bonnet which I bought from the Night Market at Baguio City. :)

I wasn't able to take pictures of my 3rd day outfit because we went home early. We caught the bus that leaves 10:30 am for Manila, a 6-hour long trip from Baguio City. Anyways, what can you say about my outfits? Did you like those? Or not? Please let me know. Don't worry, I'll post my adventures on our tour. So expect for more posts about the travel. :) I'll talk to you soon. Thanks for stopping by. :) Have a nice day. Stay safe always. XOXO

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This is my first post of the year and I am so excited! I was contacted by the Community Outreach Coordinator for Julep, Abbey Jones, (isn't that most exciting thing ever?!), asking me if I could share how I "winterize" my nails, including my nail care routine, as they are currently giving this challenge to invited bloggers and select the best post and compile it to their upcoming project. I said yes to the challenge but I wasn't able to post earlier due to my hectic schedule. Anyways, I am apologizing to Abbey for making her wait so long. I'm not sure if my this will still count, but I'm doing it anyways because I love to participate in something. :)

I didn't have any idea on what design will I come up with this post. I didn't have any much idea on how was this blog been noticed by Julep since I don't have the greatest nail designs in the blogosphere. Seriously. Haha! What I did was I went to Julep's site and browsed for color inspirations, like what are the colors associated with winter. I live in the Philippines and we don't have winter so I don't have broad knowledge about the said season. I scanned my nail polish collection to see if I have shade fit for the winter theme.

I came up with a simple winterized design for my short nails. I decided to use my gray nail polish from San San called Cloudy Gray for my base. What I love about with this brand is that most of their polishes are opaque, one coat is enough. I applied two coats for opacity. I thought that the base was a little boring so I layered it with a sheer lilac purple glittery nail polish, also from San San, called Lilac Pearl.

The camera didn't pick the true colors very well, but you can still see some hints of micro-fine lilac purple glitters. It does have a really cute effect on the gray polish. How I wish you could see this in person. It's great! The combination fits the winter time as it sparkles like snow. Haha! Geez, I'm just imagining a snow on my skin. How does it feel, guys?

To accentuate my nails, I have pressed some nails glitters and white star design on my ring fingers. I picked up the pentagon blue and silver glitters as it perfect for winter. You don't need any special product to make these cuties stick on your nails. As long as the nail polish is still wet, these will hold on. I finish this off with a color less polish. P.S. I cleaned the mess right after taking a shot of my nails.

The products I used:

San San Nail Polish in Cloudy Grey - exclusive at HBC stores
San San Nail Polish in Lilac Purple - exclusive at HBC stores
Nails To Go in Colorless - grocery stores
Nail glitter designs - department stores

What do you think about this design? Please let me know if you have recreated this. Tag me a picture on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. My links are always at the sidebar.

Thank you so much to Julep for giving me the chance to participate. I might not be picked but I'm still happy because I know this opportunity does not come always. I'm already joyous by just joining. :)

I hope you like this post. If you have any suggestions, questions, or something please hit a comment. I love reading your messages. I will talk to you soon. Have a nice day. XOXO

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No, I didn't get married. My cousin was. Haha! I am anticipating that you would be thinking that I did get married basing on the title of this post. Haha! By the way, how's my fellow countrymen? Is everybody safe? Please take care, we might not know what would the Typhoon Ruby/Hagupit would bring to the Philippines. :)

Yesterday was my cousin's wedding, which we all felt happy for her considering that her age is already over at the calendar. :) Sorry, cousin. :D Anyways, that was just a civil wedding. I honestly didn't what would I wear since I know my cousins love to dress-up and I wasn't sure if they would wear something casual or semi-formal. Haha!

For the top, I decided to wear this cream-white chiffon sleeveless and tucked it in with a aqua blue circle skirt. As you can see, the top has pearl and faux rhine stones embellishment at the neckline. I didn't wear a necklace since the embellishment served as one. I got the skirt from Zalora, which I featured on my previous post: ZALORA - Pre Holiday Outlet Sale ( Up to 80% off).

My shoes wasn't originally this. I was wearing a silver ballet flats, but I saw that my cousins were wearing heels. So I a borrowed a wedge from my cousin. I didn't want to be out of place. Haha! :) These white wedges with ruffled ribbon-like and studded heels were from bought from eBay. II'm sorry, I forgot the brand. :D

My only accessories were a pair of ginormous pearl earring that I received as a gift from my cousin and a silver "balls" bracelet from my mom. My makeup was really simple since I was not the bride. I don't want to overdo it. Haha! :D

This the overall look. I think that the pieces pretty matched each other. Haha! What do you think? Did I do a good job? :) I was actually trying to imitate JoJo Levesque at this pose. It was a fail. Haha!

I wanna thank my boyfriend for being my photographer at this day's post. Thanks, baby! :* Haha! Please let me know if you have any requests, suggestions, comments, or anything. I'll try my best to do an action on it as soon as possible. Please take care and be safe. Let's pray for everybody's safety during Typhoon Ruby. Love you all. XOXO

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Hi! How are you doing, guys? :) I'm back with another Nail of the Week post featuring my easy and simple nail art for short nails. Actually, I didn't go to any parties this week. I just wanted to wear glittery nails because they are really fun to look at. My classmate at the graduate school took a picture of my digits yesterday because she'e glitter lover too. Haha! What I love about this is that you can create different color combinations, go crazy about the finished look and quick to achieve if you don't have much time to prepare for a party. I know, we all have that on emergency wherein you have attend some event that was not in your plan for that particular day. So here I am to rescue you. ;)

Steps on how I did this:

1. Of course, I applied a base coat.

2. I chose a pale mocha in frosty texture as the bottom color.

3. Then I took a navy blue nail polish and used it as a tip. I applied it until at the middle of my nails to have a nice contrast. Like light vs. dark.

4. I applied a top coat after and let it dry for a couple of minutes.

5. I took my nails polish with silver micro-glitters and stars. Since I was not yet quite satisfied with the look, I took my sheer beige nail polish with iridescent micro-glitters and pentagon-shaped dots.

6. Lastly, I finished this with a top coat.

Products used:
*Chic Nail Color in Frosty Mocha (10 mL)
*San San Nail Polish in Blue Sapphire
*Mini Calar Nail Enamel (Silver Glitters) - a Thai brand
*Bobbie Premium Nail Creme in Star Gazer (Glaze) (8mL)

I hope you like this nail art. You don't have to use the products that I showed, especially if you don't have the access to them. I'm sure there are polishes that look similar with these on your local markets. I apologize if my camera didn't capture well my nails. Please let me know if you have any requests or thoughts. Thank you so much for reading. Have a great day. Stay safe. XOXO

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Join my current giveaway:

☃✉❅_Happy Holidays Giveaway 2014_☃✉❅ Win a Red Clutch with Surprise Goodies Inside!!!

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