Project 365: shipwrecked!

sorry for the long overdue post; i've been focusing a bit more on my more public blog (meaning more than 3 people know about it), as well as on some YFC activities, and my 12-week "Artist's Way" journey (i'm in week 7 already)!

anyway, i would like to confess to you that i have somehow abandoned my Project 365 (did a tear just slide down your cheek?).  beyond my allowed Christmas shopping (courtesy of my dad), i bought a National Geographic shirt, and made two mini ukay2 shopping trips. they all probably amounted to less than P1,500 though, and a third of my purchases I gave to my mom.  once you start spending again, it's really difficult to control it! shopping sprees = NO-NO.

now i'm still going to do my best to refrain from unnecessary shopping, but i'm already foreseeing actual needs in the future (i.e. bridesmaid duties, swimming, Pinatubo trekking) so i won't pretend to all of you that i was able to tough it out for 365 days.  but props to whoever can!!! it is INCREDIBLY difficult, but even more rewarding when accomplished.  I did for 32 weeks, and i'm very proud of that (i did have a minor slip though--remember the necklace?).

it's pretty amazing, now that i think of it.  a lot of the things i was tempted to buy during that time frame, i now hardly care for. and that thrill of buying something? it plateaus and dives once you swipe that credit card or hand over that wad of cash. i experienced it when i make especially large purchases, but even with the smaller ones. truly, it isn't what you've got, but what you make of what you have. 

so let's support each other! who needs fabulous fashion when you've got even more fantastic friends?!!??!

DIY: inspired by Alexander McQueen

(yet another overdue DIY post)

i receive a ton of email every day, maybe half of which are all related to fashion.  anyway, i remember receiving one about nail polish trends sometime in June.  one of the girls featured there was Drew Barrymore.  anyway, the nail color article was interesting enough, but what really caught my attention was Drew's Alexander McQueen dress:

i don't really go anywhere so I'd never really get a chance to wear something like this.  and even if i did have an event to attend, chances are that the McQueen brand people wouldn't be willing to just lend me this dress.  but i loved it so much that i knew i had just one option: DIY!!!

i've had this lace dress lying around for months.  one of my last purchases before i started Project 365.  i bought it at an ukay-ukay near BIR Intramuros for Php 50.  Btw, the owner of the place was Ilocano and they played Ilocano music in the store.  the ukay was also very decent--spacious, clean, well-ventilated. aaanyway, i bought it because i saw some potential in it.  i especially loved the crochet detail on the neckline.

however i try to pretend not to care what everyone else thinks about me, i'm still an insecure girl.  and whenever i'd try the dress on (after washing in boiling water and detergent, mind you), my ate cla would always say "yuck" or something along that line of thought.  so i knew i needed to do something to try to elicit a more favorable or at least neutral response from the people who would be seen with me while wearing it.

i decided to try to make my version of the McQueen dress.  first I carefully cut out the lining (too lazy to rip the seams), making sure not to snip the stitches so the dress would remain intact.

then i prepared a dye bath--using 4 packets of black Venus dye this time.  i figured it wouldn't matter so much if it was in a small basin. in the event that there would be unevenness in the color, it would look like the intended result, much like the intricately designed lace of the original dress.

unfortunately, i learned through this experience that color fastness is something better achieved, not just with quality dye, but also with a proper process.  but since i had neither, i ended up with gray lace.  the only thing that did turn black enough was the crochet trim on the neckline and at the hem of the dress.

i tried to see what it would look like with yellow fabric underneath, but gray doesn't make the color pop out as much.  so i decided to just use the crochet trim instead.  i had 1 1/4 yards yellow cotton voile lying around at home (i often have fabric-buying urges)--also one of my last purchases before Project 365--so i didn't even need to buy that.  i cut out a simple pattern for the bodice using a hybrid of the lining (which was more loose) and my bias dress pattern from FIP (more fit).  since cotton voile is pretty sheer, i used up all my fabric to make two layers (i'd suggest at least 1 1/2 yards next time, especially since bias uses up more fabric).  

with the help of my trusty portable Brother sewing machine (which we got several years ago from credit card points), i was able to make this top:

it's definitely one of my favorites :) it's dressy but i can also wear it with jeans.  i can belt it, tuck it in, or leave it as is. DIY rules!!!

DIY: pseudo chambray shirt

back when i made this a few months ago, i had been reading about the resurgence in popularity of the Chambray (a kind of cotton aka Cambric) shirt among the fashion crowd in the West.  Denim shirts of various washes were also a big craze (and i guess still are depending on the styling).

this was my inspiration:

not having the cheese to afford yet another item, and also having an abundance (okay 4 is not exactly that much) of white collared shirts, i decided to DIY instead.  here's what went on:

one of my white shirts was less traditional than the others.  it had a different kind of yoke and huge sleeves!  i liked it for a while but then i realized that i would sometimes look like i was swathed in hospital bedsheets.  this was the shirt i decided to dye, using the Venus dye available at National Book Store (i know, sorry but that's the only one i know of.  i'm searching for dyes online but it's gonna be real costly what with the $ and the shipping, etc.)

i used two packets but you can go darker if you want.  if you're not really sure, i suggest you go light first; you can always intensify the color later.  now, having limited resources and a slightly overbearing mother, i couldn't follow the instructions to the letter.  but i think it went ok. 

it would be a lot better if you use a bigger basin though, to keep the fabric from clumping.  mine did, and at the underarm area too! it's not that noticeable but if someone looks very closely, you'd think i had sweat stains even if i had just put the shirt on.

and voila! don't mind how i look though. haha.  you can belt it, tuck it in, leave it untucked, or unbutton it too :D hope you like!  DIY is pretty easy.  the first thing you need to do is just determine what project you want to make and i'm sure you'll find SOMETHING in your closet or somebody else's wardrobe that you can reconstruct.  it's so rewarding and pretty cool too.

budget cut

on my way to work today, i noticed a tarpaulin hanging in front of the College of Pharmacy.  it read:

No to P1.3B UP Budget cut!

It got me to criticize once again the current administration and all the frustrating, almost laughably half-witted decisions they have been making, the most recent of which would be changing the Tourism slogan from WOW Philippines to Pilipinas Kay Ganda!  but then i decided it was unhealthy of me to do so.  after all, the more i think about how my own countrymen are trying to bring us down to the dumps, the more i might consider selling out my dreams and integrity just so i don't end up stuck in a country that's headed for the same state as Somalia.

So we focus on the idea of a budget cut itself.  now, i'm no economist.  in fact, the lesson i most remember back in Economy was that, in the Philippines, you could get something like a tax break for up to four of your children.  which means my dad gets tax deductions courtesy of me and my sisters, but not my younger brother (magastos talaga maging anak si Charlie).  But i digress.

Budget cuts are necessary, dear readers.  We're always advised to live within or even below our means; otherwise you'll end up in debt forever.  case in point: PH aka the Philippines.  i think, realistically speaking, the end of the world will come before we can pay off our debts and the interest it has incurred.  which is why it is important to stick to a budget.  just because our country can't do it, doesn't mean we have an excuse not to do so individually as well.  I'm no money guru and, admittedly, i still have trouble sticking to my budget every now and then (which is why my mom often calls me a hypocrite.  well, not to my face, but i know she thinks it).  But i do have some ideas nonetheless, which i try to live by. 

1) I try to estimate my annual income (make it a modest or low estimate, people!)

2) Then identify all the areas of my life that i spend on.  i try to think of my priorities and use that as a means to rationalize how big or small my budget for certain categories are.  of course, that's not always applicable.  like, i say looks don't matter that much but i still had some difficulty laying off the shoes.

3) I keep track of my expenses and revise my budget as necessary.  if I end up spending too much on clothes, i might compensate for that by cutting down on gifts (sorry friends!)

4) Evaluate if there is a need for a budget cut, or an increase in income, or both--then do something about it!!  ever since i was a kid, i've always tried to be creative so i can earn some spending money instead of merely complaining that i don't have enough.  it feels really good!  but at the same time, i'm slowly learning to live on less and just save the money i earn or use it for something that will help me or someone else (i.e. education, outreach)

So, my point is really that the Aquino Administration should not rely on budget cuts (imposed unfairly on sectors that need it most), but also do more to increase the GDP per capita of our country.  after all, you don't tell a poor family  who can only afford 1 fish a day to keep living on that for the rest of their lives!  everyone in the household can probably contribute to help increase that number, so why not do something? :D

parsimonious

A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

PRONUNCIATION:
(par-si-MO-nee-uhs)

MEANING:
adjective: Excessively sparing or frugal.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimonia, from parcere (to spare). First recorded use: 1598.

whatever it takes

this girl is living my life!!! well, almost (i think my daughter and i will do other artsy fartsy stuff and not cook this much).  when am i gonna have the luxury of time (not to mention my own house in a serene neighborhood, and a husband and kids to match)?!? 

Martha's Vineyard photo taken from La Tartine Gourmande

anyway, i recently moved out...of the room i shared with two of my sisters. hahahaha. kala niyo kung ano, no?! if i had moved out of my parents' house, i assure you, i would've made a spectacle of it.  i think family members above the age of 20 should never be forced to reside in the same space for too long--unless you're trying to pool enough energy to create a nuclear explosion. 

so, i've been staying three nights at the guest room thus far.  never mind that the door has no lock and doesn't even close properly.  i'm not really after physical privacy or isolation, after all, although that tends to help one achieve some peace and quiet in her brain. it has been such a long time since i've had that, actually.  when i still stayed at the dorm, i could get that.  i could easily turn to face the wall while lying on the top bunk, and my roommates will respect my need for solitude.  here at home, trespassing is the name of the game.  i recall that there were times when i was in my lighter stages of sleeping when my mom would burst into the room asking about yet another trivial issue and, although i wish it weren't so, it has already become my instinct to answer her while half asleep.  so i do appreciate that the leash has been lengthened, albeit by a short amount.  beggars would do wise not to be too choosy.

you might be asking, "why didn't i transfer to the separate room sooner?"  well, i had considered that option countless times but refused to do so, even if my sisters' light night TV-watching caused me irreversible damage in the form of dark undereye circles.  i did this because i also didn't want to further increase the carbon footprint of the Martin household.  however, i have come to a decision that the situation deserved drastic measures.  but don't fret, dear Gaea!  i'm still doing my best to minimize the effect of my moving out on the deterioration of the earth and consumption of its resources.

for instance, whatever i can do downstairs, where the lights are already turned on, i do so before even entering my room.  and, i also only turn on the AC when i'm about to sleep, and make sure it goes off at 5am, even though i usually wake up at 630.  i also unplug all appliances when not in use.  what's good about being alone, though, is having no distractions--hence, i am able to finish whatever it is i'm doing, whether it's writing in my journal or editing Jovy's book, at a much more efficient pace.

and what is the connection of all this rambling to the blog? well, moolah, of course. being the wannabe adult that i am, i'm bent on paying my parents for the extra electric consumption that will be caused by this step towards preserving my sanity, er...towards independence, i mean.  i'm praying to the heavens above that it doesn't set me back too much because i still have a lot of things to pay for too: future studies/projects/gadgets i'll be needing for said projects, sustenance, future independent living, and hwa rang do, among many others.  i realized that if i factor in the hwa rang do classes (a recent addition thanks to my choir-mate), the interior designer's fee that i offered to pay half of, and the additional lodging expenses, i will only have saved around 40% of my salary!  and i also realized that it's almost impossible for me to move out of the house on my current income alone.

but i'm not gonna let all these roadblocks stop me.  i think it is extremely important for myself to experience being fully self-supporting, no matter the heights i need to scale just to do so.  there are so many singles out there who don't contribute to the household and end up even burdening their old folks, and i don't want to be part of that group.  i remember asking some people why they hadn't moved out yet--almost all of whom answered that it was too magastos.  no offense you guys but, seriously? that is a lame-ass, selfish reason which i have no intention of using EVER.  my goal is to move out between the age of 25 and 28 and, unless, by some misfortune, my family needs me to stay at home (i.e. someone gets sick and i have to be the glorified katulong), i'm sticking to that goal no matter what. 

Photo Credit: Charlie Schuck/Getty Images

PS - what i do miss about sharing a room with my sisters are the spontaneous, giddy conversations.  admittedly, there have been less and less of those, but i still want that in my life.  maybe i'll have to visit the other room every now and then :D

PPS - i'm always on the hunt for future apartment options so if you have any suggestions, that would be super!  i don't mind flatmates either, as long as the space wasn't designed for hobbits.

makeup madness

ang hirap magpaganda...grrr!!!!!

so, i have a project that will require me to appear on cam, and everything has been going great! i think i'm doing a good job.  now, my only problem is--my darn looks.  huhu, i need to look good and therefore need makeup, tons of it! curse this spotty, ruddy skin of mine (just kidding, Lord. i'm very grateful).  but i do need to clean up a bit.

unfortunately, "a bit" is quite relative.  though the difference might seem tiny on screen, it sure isn't when it comes to the preparation, not to mention the effect on the pockets!

this is what the "natural" look requires:

1. toner for my oily face
2. primer to make my skin look smoother and to let the makeup last longer
3. foundation to even out the skin tone
4. concealer to minimize those terrid acne marks and my giant undereye circles
5. powder to blend it all in and keep shine at bay
6. eyeliner to make eyes pop
7. several shades of eyeshadow
8. brow powder
9. eyelash curler and mascara for the wide-eyed look
10. blush for a natural flush
11. lip balm and lip color so i don't look like a corpse

this means, unfortunately, that i'll have to break my Project 365 rule on makeup. aaack! i'm trying to limit though, and am determined to settle for cheap but good alternatives.  i need to buy #s 2,3,4, at the very minimum.  mind you, those are the most important items too, since my skin is really the devil here.

no wonder all those celebrities are shooting up! if you had to do this every day, you'd go crazy too.

wait a sec, what about my hair?!?!?!?!?

buy a water bottle!

no, not the disposable one, silly.  i was reading an article on yahoo about how this woman saved so much by going green and i was immediately drawn to it because usually, when we think green or environment-friendly, we assume it will cost us more.  but in the long run, going green actually lets us save more money, save our lives (or rather live healthier), and save the planet. yay!!!

i think the key is to do it one step at a time, and start with things we can really committ to.  for example, even if i'd like to go green at home, i can't really control that because i still live with my parents and siblings.  i've been contemplating becoming a vegetarian for some time now (i really feel sorry for the animals too) but haven't gone through with it because i know it would drive my mom berserk with additional stress.  bt there are things i can do (and have already started doing)--some of which, though not all, also allow me to save money along the way.

1. as much as possible, i bring my own shopping bag to the grocery.  i only buy a few items every now and then for my personal consumption at the office.  since the supermarket is so close to my workplace, i also sometimes just carry the stuff that i buy when i forget to bring my own bag. yay!  (i think i'll do a tutorial on how to make your own shopping bags soon)

2. i bring my own lunch.  obviously, this saves me money coz i don't usually have to buy food when we have leftovers at home.  aside from that, i use reusable containers and tiny stainless steel cutlery to minimie waste from packaging had i gotten takeout.  when i go to the carinderia to buy additional food, like a serving of veggies, they usually use so much plastic when packing the food, so i also try to minimize waste and plastic use by sharing plastic bas with my co-workers.

3. this week, i shall buy a water bottle.  i've been thinking of getting an SIGG bottle but i'm not quite sure yet coz it is a tad expensive.  but i have realized that it's better to carry my own supply of water with me should i get thirsty, rather than buy water in a disposable plastic bottle.  this will not only lessen waste (think of how many bottled waters you usually consume in a year), but will also improve my health (dangerous toxins from the plastic. aack!).  but really the best part of it all, and i only found out about this recently, is the fact that you're making a statement.  nobody should sell or charge for water because it is a right of all human beings; the companies who claim these water sources are depriving millions of safe and clean water.  therefore, we really need to make a stand! and i'm not sure how long or how many people it will take, but the important thing is we do our part to help the cause.

this is the water bottle that i want, btw.  but it's not available in the country :(  i'll just settle for one that's available here. go local, right?!

if you're interested to find out more, here's an article on the trouble of bottled water. good read!

btw, animal lovers out there! did you know...?

random money matters

went to a HUGE wedding last weekend-- rumors abound that the decorations for the reception area alone amounted to half a mil already! ridunkulous, right?  but it was a really wonderful night and i truly wish the newlyweds a happy and equally amazing marriage. anyway, during the reception, my relatives in the same age group got talking about independence and marriage, specifically our age deadlines for both.  i want to be out of the house between 25 to 28 y/o--i've recently been feeling quite down, to be honest, and think that i really need to discover who I am and be the person I want to be, regardless of how other people around me are.  and i somehow feel that i can do this best by living on my own, acting the way i want to, instead of always reacting to the situations i encounter.  i also need to make something of myself and feel that living on my own will help me do that, if only so i won't have to tiredly keep explaining the choices i make.

anyway, back to topic.  i'm 22 and a half now, which means i've got about 2.5 - 5.5 years to save a ton of loot, if i am to ever live on my own (btw, normally, marriage is another option--sharing the bill with a husband would be nice haha--but i don't want to make any predictions and jinx my chances.  to be honest, the romantic future is looking a bit bleak right now.  okay, self-pity ends here). 

ideally, when i'm on my own, i should still manage to keep saving instead of having it all go to rent and survival expenses.  how, you ask? at this rate, i don't know either! haha. but i've read a few things in the past that did get me thinking.

one is to let your money work for you too.  apparently, this is one thing that the rich do.  instead of spending on something that won't contribute to your wealth (like a signature bag) or, worse, that will even subtract from it (like a fancy car), you need to put your money in a place where it will work hard to make you richer. haha. so you can use it to further a biz, invest in stocks, or even earn in a bank.  i told our maid this last night and she suddenly got the idea of buying a pig instead of a TV.  that's the spirit!

another one is a quote i just read from the King, Elvis, himself.  "Sharing money is what gives it its value."  'nuff said.

here's another beautiful quote from Henry David Thoreau (whose works i should start reading, btw): "Goodness is the only investment that never fails."

and with that, i bid y'all adieu, at least for now.  i hope these ramblings get you thinking and adjusting your lives the way they're starting to do mine :) feel free to share your favorite quotes about wealth on this post.

the holy grail

i think, right now, girls such as myself can consider 3 things their holy grail: Mr. Right, an ideal (but not necessarily perfect) career, and the right shade of foundation.  now, the former two topics have been mentioned several times on my other blog, so perhaps it is time to give the third a shot as well.

recently, i have been on the hunt for THE perfect foundation for my skin tone. i know, i know, what about Project 365, you ask? after all, i did say no buying of makeup. well, that was when i had an option of getting my makeup done for Sunday's big event. but my friend isn't available then, so ima have to do my face, as well as that of my mom's and ate cla's, myself.  anyway, i have a budget from my dad this time around.  i guess he doesn't want us to look terrible beside all those bigwigs.

so i tried out several brands at first: shiseido, cinema secrets, revlon, max factor.  i really wanted to try mac but didn't get an opportunity.  my main concern was getting the right color and coverage for my undereye circles and dark spots, but still looking natural. and by natural, i mean NATURAL.  so natural that people will think i just woke up looking all fresh and flawless.  the problem is, most brands and foundation types rarely get it right, in my opinion.  i see a lot of people looking good with makeup, but the problem is, i know they're wearing tons of product.  i don't wanna know that.  i want to look like a model, a movie star.  i want to look perfect. well, almost. makeup is not equal to cosmetic surgery after all.   and after trying those expensive brands, my search seemed futile. 

the no-makeup look from Becca

Cinema Secrets' cream concealer/foundations weren't yellow enough for me.  their Summer Sand powder might have been good, but i didn't think it was worth the price, especially since it didn't offer enough coverage for my undereye circles.  Shiseido also didn't have the right shade and didn't offer enough coverage.  Max factor totally got it wrong.  the best comment i received was that i looked ab it whiter than usual (un ang best sa lagay na yan), while the worst were that my eyes looked swollen and my eyebags magnified.  Revlon's shades might have worked but it still lacked that wow factor.  i'm still not convinced.

So, i looked to the internet, specifically google and girltalk, for help.  in my extensive web-surfing for the holy grail of foundations, i chanced upon bobbi brown's website.  of course, i can't afford her stuff, but the chance encounter did prove useful--the really cool graphics and instructional videos gave me an idea --i should just mix my own foundation! 

tons of shades but still difficult to get it right!

so, as soon as i got home, i whipped out the existing liquid foundations we had--gifts from my aunt.  they were obviously just surplus from her stash but i thought i might as well be green and use 'em.  one is CoverGirl in True Beige, the other is Rimmel in Sand.  True Beige is too light and too pink for me, while Sand is too dark.  i mixed them together, but i felt it still lacked the glow and the yellow tint that i needed, so i went on a search again. today, i found some good candidates from Nichido and Ever Bilena.  and the good thing is--they're much cheaper than the important brands (and made in the Philippines too)!  for 30ml, Nichido is less than P300, while EB is less than P200.  Nichido has Light, which is too light for me but may have the yellow i need to mix into my other stuff.  Natural is darker and less yellow, so it might be the good too.  EB has Gold and Beige--they're close enough to each other so i have difficulty deciding, but i think they're much better than the previous brands i tried. 

I'll let you know how it goes but i'm praying that it will work it out :)

PS - you might be wondering why i'm so bent n getting it right? aside from the fact that i want to look good, i also figured it might be a good idea to learn the basics of makeup, not just so i can help out my family and relatives, but also because it could come in handy in case ate cla decides to pursue her photography full-time.  after all, the bread & butter of most photographers are the shoots.  we could be an affordable 2 for 1 combo!

*other things also come to mind when talking about the holy grail of women. some of them are:

the right lipstick per category (red, pink, nude, etc.)

the right pair of jeans

the perfect white blouse

and the list goes on! we'll try to tackle those in the future. just see post under "the holy grail".

Beaty Secrets from the Bible

akalain mo!

found this cute site! will read and review soon.

Beauty tips that won't cost you a thing

ound some great tips on various sites and compiled them here. hope you like!

1. Exfoliate (but don't overdo it!) to slough off those dead skin cells faster.  i exfoliate 1-2x a week using Artistry exfoliating scrub. it cost like P1.5k but you only use a little bit and it's meant to last really long.  my sister and i have been sharing the tube for 2yrs now! that's like P375 per person per year on a really good product.

2. Steam your face once a week! it stimulates the blood circulation to your face and helps clean it. Steps: Clean your face. Fill a bowl with hot, steaming water. Lean over the bowl for 10 minutes with your face a foot above the water, and drape a towel over your head to create a tent.  Rinse face with lukewarm water, and follow with a facial mask then finish with toner.  i actually don't do this often but resolve to do so from now on; maybe it will help me keep my hands from pricking my zits and popping the blackheads.

3. Get physical!! when your blood gets pumping, a flush occurs on your cheeks naturally. it also keeps you feeling fit, strong, and happy! (remember Elle Woods' endorphins?) i'm planning to really go through with my workout wednesdays. i went jogging for 15 minutes last week, preceded and followed by stretches and lunges.  i also did a few (literally few) push-ups and crunches.  i WILL do the same today.  i also want to try to enter a ballet class, if my budget permits. hope it works out!

4. Sleep and destress.  apparently, the body works harder to renew your skin cells or something when you sleep. so, the next time your mom gets mad at you for oversleeping, just tell her you're doing it for your skin! haha. just kidding. 7-8 hours will do for every night, while it's also important to take a few minutes for yourself when you're feeling stressed to avoid it showing on your face. creases and furrowed brows are expensive to repair so might as well just prevent it.

5. Eat healthy! a well-balanced diet is good for both the inside and outside of your body. check this out!

6. Do good!  doing something for other people, especially the less fortunate or perhaps a very important cause, always brings about a different glow.  trust me, the most beautiful people i know don't have perfect skin or bone structure, and some of them are always dressed in just a shirt and jeans.  but their beauty radiates from within, and you can really sense that whenever you're around them.  my greatest aspiration is to be beautiful in this way too.  for some ideas, contact me or check out Hands On Manila.

to end, i would like to leave you with a poem often quoted by the most beautiful woman who ever walked upon this earth (my personal opinion):

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/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise
walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People
even more than things
have to be restored
renewed
revived
reclaimed
and redeemed
never throw out anyone.
Remember,
if you ever need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older
you will discover that you have two hands
one for helping yourself
and the other for helping others.
-Sam Levinson

Sources:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/8-natural-no-make-up-necessary-ways-to-look-and-feel-glowingly-gorgeous-1361806/#photoViewer=2
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/what-to-eat-for-gorgeous-glowing-skin-1268136/#photoViewer=1

Project 365

i cracked. this long weekend, i bought training shoes and a blazer for work at the Megamall sale.  then, i finally succumbed to the perfume debate (more on that in a different post) and bought eau de toilette for the first time ever. i also bought a dvd and 1 1/4 yds of cotton voile for fun.  in short, i almost burned half a month's salary in 3 days, and had to readjust my budget so that it won't look like i'm exceeding what was originally allocated. hahaha. so this is what politicians do to cover up their luxury binges.  there is one exception though: this is my money where as they are using the people's money.

anyway, i figured every now and then, we all have the need to spend money.  we all need to pamper ourselves sometimes.  however, that doesn't mean we have to go bankrupt! maybe we make a few slip-ups once or twice in a blue moon, we crack under the sheer force and weight of commercialism and extremely clever advertising.  no worries! whenever you take a fall, you can always choose to rise and continue walking towards your destination.  and that is exactly what i'm trying to do.

if you know me at all, you'll also know that the biggest portion of my paycheck (next to the savings) goes to the apparel department. albeit, my annual expenses in this category can't even buy a decent piece of anything in Greenbelt 4, it still constitutes 7% of my entire annual income.  note that the Republic of the Philippines only spends 1-2% of its money on health.  that translates to me giving more importance to what i wear than the RP government does to health care. that's huge!

hence, i am embarking on a new project (another one?) to keep me from buying any clothes, shoes, or accessories for 365 consecutive days, beginning today.  i will have to make do with whatever is in my possession (or that of my family) for an entire year, and am only allowed to make a purchase during the Christmas season, should my dad decide to sponsor our holiday clothes (as has been tradition).  i will still be allowed to purchase the necessary grooming products, but no make-up and no more perfume either.  the only other things i may spend on with my own money during this 365-day period are alterations/repairs, and the following: 1 pair of black tights, a striped shirt, and a sports bra.  that's it!  this will be a challenge in styling as well as penny-pinching. hope it works!

  

grocery-shopping

never do it with an especially hungry friend! ever!!

and do it regularly, some time before the day you anticipate you'll need whatever it is you're buying.  this way, you can cut down on the number of trips and not end up buying so many last-minute items and cravings.  and, if you buy in blk the things you do need, you'll most likely end up saving a bit too.

oh, and another thing. compare prices!! i usally do my grocery shopping at Robinson's but i'm realizing i need to make an effort to do it elsewhere, like Landmark, Puregold, or Hi-Top, where most of the things i buy are usually cheaper by a couple of pesos here and there.

here are a number of useful articles on grocery shopping:

     Cut Your Grocery Bill: 10 Money Saving Grocery Shopping Tips

     More Grocery-Shopping Money Saving Ideas

have fun at the grocers!!

smart and savvy

sorry for the lack of posts! lately, i've been preoccupied with work.  besides, our internet connection at the office has been terrible the past few weeks.  the links i entered in my previous posts weren't even saved!

before we start, let's have a short quiz! (ok, i just had a vision of my 5 or so readers turning off their monitors at this instant).

anwer this: which piggybank are you?

"broken and trying to patch the situation up with a too-small band-aid" piggybank?

recession piggy-bank?

ICU piggybank?

or would you like to be this one, all shiny and well-fed?

see, i read a great article earlier today about How to be a Savvy Cheapskate. now don't be alarmed by the word "cheapskate"! we'll try to use that less often on this site to disassociate ourselves from the negative connotation. from now on, we are smart and savvy spenders, not cheapskates. repeat after me. "I am a smart and savvy spender." there, that was good! that wasn't so hard, was it?

the article is basically about something i'm also trying to emphasize here on my site: if you want to save more, it's not just about getting more for less and cutting coupons; it's about a lifestyle change. it's asking yourself "Do I really need this?" rather than "Do I want this?", and being happier and more content in the end.

to add to the author's tips, i'd like to suggest that you write down your financial goals and also write down your assets or whatever the term is for what you currently have in you piggybank. this way, you can set realistic goals and also help yourself figure out how much you need to earn, and how much you can afford to spend, towards reaching your goal of becoming independent or supporting your family, or paying for your own education, or whatever.

i gotta tell you, i am so excited about this whole project! ok, so maybe only three people have read my blog so far. that's alright!! we can all help each other become more fulfilled with our lives. and that's enough for me. til next time!! i'll post a sample of my very OC financial plan on this site soon to help the visualization process. toodles!!

spending other people's money

i got into yet another semi-heated debate with my parents last week on our way to the movies (Clash of the Titans). the reason: when to spend and when to save.

i forgot how it started; all i remember was that, all of a sudden, my dad was further corrupting my brother's set of values by saying that he should spend/buy when others are paying, but save/scrimp when he's using his own money.

naturally, i had to give everyone within a kilometer radius my two cents worth.  see, the main difference with me and my brother is the person/s who raised us.  my mother almost single-handedly raised my three older sisters and myself, whereas my dad was more hands-on when he finally had the XY offspring.  now, my dad is a good man, truly one of the best in my life.  but good men have their flaws too, and my father is no exception.  i'm afraid, now that he is nearing retirement and no longer needs to pay for the matriculation of five children (just one left), he has become lax with his spending habits.  yes, he is entitled to the fruits of his labor, God knows he has been working his ass off ever since he was a little pauper in Isabela.  but i fear that his new paradigms on money matters are not something you would want to pass onto a 16-year old. 

see, i was raised by my stingy mother and, early on, i learned the value of money and hard work if i wanted any of the former.  even as a child, i felt ashamed to ask for anything, knowing that asking my mom for that new Barbie doll in Duty Free would earn me a painful pinch in the groin, and i would have to endure the humiliation of crying like a girl AND not getting a toy, while my cousins played with theirs.

i realized that i had to work hard if i wanted anything.  my aunt told me that when i was really really young, i once tried to pass around envelopes in my father's clinic.  the envelopes were marked "Abuloy para kay Kat".  i don't even recall doing that!! i only found that out sometime in October 2008, when I was in Chicago and visited that aunt of mine.  i guess i thought abuloy was another word for donations. haha.  my dad then predicted that i would grow up to be independent.  and i did.

during early elementary, i would spend summers hanging out at my dad's clinic in Isabela, selling snacks i made with my cousins to the waiting patients.  one year, i sold perfume for my aunt and ended up spraying some on my eye when i was supposed to spritz some on my dad's nurse--i ended up with an eyepatch for three days! everybody called me "sharp shooter".  in sixth grade, i was introduced to the art of beading and jewelry making and, from then until my mid-college years, i was making trinkets and selling them, or giving them as gifts instead of buying the more expensive but less pretty ones.  when i grew tired of the beadwork, i capitalized on my knack for English by teaching Koreans to speak it, and teaching them well, if i may brag.

it was hard work, yes, but i am proud to have learned to not depend on others for material things and, even better, to have the means to help out those who aren't as financially independent yet.

well, that was how my mom raised me.  but now my dad comes in and practically tells charlie "spend all our hard-earned money; just don't waste yours!"  it's only another way of saying he had best depend on my parents instead of learning to respect how difficult it is to earn such and thereby using it wisely.  i don't want my brother to become the annoying dude who keeps asking everyone "libre" and who engages in toxic, wasteful spending, just because it isn't his money he's wasting anyway.  we already have enough of them in the government!

my motto is to only spend what's necessary, and be extra careful when spending other people's cash too (what if they're in a financial crisis right now and are just too shy to back out on a promised treat,etc.?).  and as for your own, i wouldn't recommend wasting it all either, just because it's yours and you worked hard for it, but i would say spend on what you believe is right and well-deserved.

what do you think? what's your spending paradigm? i'd love to hear from you.

GOO: Gluttony, Obesity, and the Outback

so, i guess my dad pitied me a bit and we ended up having dinner at Outback in Libis with my Tita Jona and cousin Sheina instead of at Shangri-La.  also, ate Con offered to split the bill, which was good for me! anyway, she needed to make 10 transactions on her HSBC card this month so she can get a free Timex watch. cool huh? and the best part is, there's no minimum! so i advised her to go to the grocery every now and then, and buy something worth a P100. haha.

during dinner, Charlie kept teasing me that he'd get all the expensive dishes to maximize the (rare) treat from yours truly.  good thing he didn't, although we did order a bunch of desserts. yummy!  ate Cla ordered a drink though. take note people: if you want to save on dinner, skip the shakes and other juices.  they're the items in the menu with the highest mark-ups! my dad's Coke Zero in a can cost something like P106, while ate's four seasons shake cost P150.  of course, feel free to splurge every now and then, especially if it's something you've never tried before.  denying yourself all the time is never good, trust me.  i know someone who does so, and now she either regrets it or blames everyone else for her doing so.  or both.  but remember, gluttony is a sin. hahaha. and it makes you fat and unhealthy and then that gives you low self-esteem and a bunch of other problems. moderation is key.  just think of the Spice Girls singing "Too Much" and you'll have a much easier time of keeping your intake in check.

if i have to hear people complain how fat they are one more time, i might go berserk!  i have a confession to make. one of my top pet peeves is gluttony.  i think the obesity crisis that has beset a huge part of the world is due to gluttony and selfishness. and frankly, i am annoyed that there are so many diets or exercise routines or counseling sessions devoted to this.  if people would just know when to stop and give the rest of their food to the needy, they wouldn't be having this problem anymore! they'd be helping other people and themselves in the process.  but the problem is, we live in a world that teaches us to want, want, want and to buy, buy, buy.  so, hear me out when i say "drop that 10th cookie!"

oops, sorry for the ranting.  i don't hate people who are overweight, mind you.  some of the kindest people i know are.  being overweight is not purely a problem of the gluttons too--many people experience it.  people with hormonal problems, people who were just born with those set of genes, the list goes on.  but there are some people, not all, who are overweight because they overeat.  i hope you hear me out.  the next time you're on the verge of getting that shake probably loaded with corn syrup, or the next time you order something because it looks yummy, even though you're already full, think of all the people who are starving in our country and across the globe.  your not eating surely won't do them any good, but maybe you can pool your savings and figure out a way to help them out.

i come across a lot of people everyday who say they don't have enough resources to help the impoverished.  but i believe that that is never true, not even for the lowliest and humblest of us.  we just need to ask ourselves what on earth we are here for.  are we here to have fun, to eat, play, and be merry all the time?  or are we here to lend each other a helping hand, and find happiness in that?  your stomach will only be full for some time.  but your heart and your soul can be full for a lifetime.