fashion is my passion

I mentioned last week that I was getting ready for a convention. The convention is set for this weekend, so my mom and I decided to give ourselves retail therapy last Saturday. We bought clothes, and I bought some accessories and personal effects, too. Here’s one of the items I bought:

It’s a cologne from Petit Monde, a specialty boutique for young women’s apparel and toiletries. I didn’t really have any plans of buying a cologne, since I still have several unfinished bottles. However, the saleslady was insistent, and when I smelled it…well…let’s just say I fell in love with the scent. It somehow smelled like D&G Light Blue. It only cost Php179.95 or roughly $4.30. Not bad for a 110ml bottle, eh?  Oh, and I must say I really love the hot pink bag.

My family and I will be attending a two-day convention on 19 May. I’m excited for it already. However, I’ve yet to find the right clothes to wear for it. I went to the mall yesterday and looked at some clothes, and I did find some but was too lazy to fit them. Maybe I’ll just go back this weekend or the week after. I’m still undecided what color to wear.

I’ve also made a list of what I’ll be bringing. Before it slipped my mind, I made sure to include seat cushion in my list. I need one because the seats in the convention hall are hard since these are made of metal. I would definitely need something to sit on or something to put behind my back.

As much as I try to slow down the hands of time, I can’t deny the fact that I am getting older as days pass. Before, I was worried about getting to my teens. I was too scared to let go of my childhood. When I became a teen, I was worried about stepping into my 20s. When I finally got there, the prospect of getting into my 30s overwhelmed me.

Now that I am halfway through my 30s, I know not to try to do anything anymore. Aging is inevitable. In fact, I can already see the signs of aging slowly becoming manifest on my skin. It’s scary, but it’s an unpleasant fact.

All I can do now is try to take care of my skin. Perhaps use clarins skincare products to take care of my skin.

The temperature in many tropical countries is rising because of the summer months, and the global warming is just isn’t making things easier.

People have to be aware that they should keep themselves cool throughout the day. They have to drink lots of water and also splash themselves with cold water to refresh their bodies of the heat and to avoid heat stroke.

For kids, you can inflate your poor with a pentair pool pump and let them spend the morning there. It will be a fun time for them and well, that should keep them cool during this hot time.

So, pay day has finally come around again, you’re in serious need of a new spring/summer wardrobe and it’s time to hit the shops. Before you start your big shopping spree, however, here are some top tips to help make sure that your trip is a successful one.

1. Wear comfortable shoes

This is vital if you’re going to be spending a few hours browsing around your favourite shops. If your feet start aching an hour in, the rest of your outing is going to be a very uncomfortable experience. Trainers or flat pumps are your best bet, and if you need to try on a skirt or dress, pop a pair of heels in your bag before you head out.

2. Avoid peak times

This might seem obvious, but it’s surprising how much more pleasant it is to go shopping when the streets are that little bit quieter. Saturdays are obviously the busiest on the high street, and should be avoided at all costs if you’re not a fan of crowds. Try a Sunday morning instead so that you can amble around at your leisure.

3. Wear clothes that are easy to get on and off

There’s nothing worse than having to shed several layers of clothing and undo tricky zips and buttons when you’re trying on something new. Make the changing room a quick and stress-free experience by choosing a simple, loose fitting dress for your day out.

4. Try not to get distracted

If you’re shopping for something specific, then try your best not to get distracted from the task in hand. We’ve all set out to buy something sensible, and instead come home with (yet another) little black dress. If you already have five black dresses waiting at home, stop and ask yourself if you really need another one before parting with your hard-earned cash. Those five little words ‘Do I really need it?’ will save you a fortune in the long run.

5. Don’t forget to refuel

Half the fun of shopping is stopping off for lunch or a coffee with your best friends. You’d be amazed at how easy it is to forget to eat when you’re busy fighting your way to the till. Keep an eye on your blood sugar if you’ve been on a real shopping marathon, and sit down for a sandwich before you keel over with all your new purchases!

6. Get cash back when you spend

Shopping with an American Express Platinum Card is super convenient and safer than carrying cash. Plus, by using the cashback credit card from American Express,  you can even get cash back on virtually everything you buy, so you can feel less guilty about indulging yourself! Representative 18.5% APR variable.

Have you seen the movie Drumline? It’s a 2002 movie starring a very young Nick Cannon and Zoe Saldana. It’s practically a fish-out-of-water dramedy about a young, talented street drummer from Harlem. Because of his sheer talent, he was convinced to enroll in a Southern university to become part of its marching band’s drumline. At first, he was keen on leading the marching band to victory. However, as expected, there were obstacles along the way. One of the obstacles was his street-smart way of playing the drums, something his band members couldn’t adapt to. He flounders in his newfound world, although he was very, very good. Nevertheless, he was able to show that he’s not just loaded with talent and that he has everything it takes to make it to the top.

When I watched this, I had no idea how much drummers put into their craft. That’s when I learned to appreciate the beauty of drums. You could have the most expensive set of drums, it could be DW Drums, but if you lack the heart to play it, the music won’t come out as beautiful.

Aspiring drummers should watch the film to see how this young man was able to rise from nothing to something.

I don’t know what’s happened to modern advertising. There was a time when it was decent. Morality was very much called for when shooting commercials, and it was required that finished commercials would go through a regulatory board to see if it was okay for viewing.

Now, though, it seems that the morals of people are set aside just for the sake of advertising. These days, you’d see advertisements for liquors and other alcoholic drinks. Cigar and cigarette commercials are brandished all billboards, newspapers, and glossies. What’s more, even female celebrities are shown puffing on cigars like this photo I came across with as I was browsing the Internet.

Penelope Cruz with Cigar via http://www.thebettermousetrap.me/

I have no idea if she was puffing on swisher cigars here. Nevertheless, I just find it off that someone with her stature would pose like this. Kids are, after all, looking up to her. Oh well, it’s just my opinion. I just think responsible advertising is very important.

Nah, I’m not literally referring to teardrops I’ve shed on my guitar 1) because I don’t own a guitar, and 2) I don’t even know how to play one. It’s actually a title of a song that I happen to like a lot. After all, one of my favorite singers, Taylor Swift, sang it.

I don’t know. There’s just something about Taylor. It could be her unadulterated beauty, her beautiful voice, versatility, or the fact that she’s plain charming. All I know is that I really like her. Moreover, I salute her versatility when it comes to writing songs. Oh, and did I mention she plays the guitar? I’ve seen her play the guitar, perhaps a Moog? May I just say that she was awesome!

Taylor Swift with Guitar via http://www.waleg.com/

I’d like to believe that these two go hand-in-hand. After all, it is hard to get into the groove when you’re exercising if there’s no music playing. It seems as if the beat of the music corresponds to each routine you do when you’re working out.

Indeed, it’s easier to lose yourself in your routine if you’re doing your moves with the beating of the music coming from your CD or MP3 player. Of course, not having any of these two is no excuse. You can always buy portable radios anyway. So if you really want to lose weight, pair your best routines with music. You’ll never go wrong with that. Come to think of it, I just might heed my own advice.

You can’t say that women are vain. Maybe it’s more logical to think that women just want to look good all the time. There isn’t anything wrong with that, right? One thing that concerns women the most is their hairstyles. That’s probably the reason why there are endless possibilities and ideas as far as women’s hairstyles and haircuts are concerned.

There are women who go for volume, so they prefer wavy or curled hair. Others opt for smooth and straight hair. Of course, the choice is left to a woman. The fact is a woman may choose to experiment with her hair any way she pleases. She could try a different hairstyle every day and nobody should dare question her.

Nevertheless, more women actually think they would look more gorgeous if they keep their crowning glory smooth, sleek, and straight. It’s no wonder, then, that there are so many hair straightening techniques and accessories being shared over the Internet and elsewhere. One perennial technique is blow-drying. It’s the most conventional method used by women to straighten their hair temporarily. Another technique is the so-called Japanese hair straightening, which is also known as thermal reconditioning. This newer hair straightening technique involves the application of a chemical solution and heating the hair to change its shape and texture. The only drawback of this method is its steep price.

Hence, if you want a cheaper way to straighten your hair, it’s best if you invested on a straightening iron. You might want to try out ghd flat irons, which doesn’t only straighten your hair but also leaves it looking shiny and soft. Moreover, a ghd flat iron is very versatile. You can use this nifty gadget to straighten your hair and curl it, too. You also don’t have to worry about damaging your hair because this iron evenly distributes heat and makes your hair manageable. Thus, even during inclement weather, your hair stays straight, smooth, soft, and controllable.

With hair straightening irons, you no longer have to go to the salon each time you want straight hair. You can make your hair look professionally straightened even from the comfort of your own home. However, if you want permanently straight hair, you can opt for chemical relaxers. It’s much cheaper than Japanese hair straightening with the same semi-lasting result, but it may cause undue damage to your hair.

The bottom line is while there are many techniques available, it would still do you good to assess each one carefully. Remember, your crowning glory is on the line here, so it’s best that you make sure it remains as it is – gloriously beautiful – even after treatment.