Chronicles of TV: Grey's Anatomy

>> Wednesday, June 19, 2013

I couldn’t remember when it was that I first watched Grey’s, but I do remember it was at least five years ago and I was living back in my hometown in Las Pinas. My cousin, who is in the field of medicine, shared it with me and at the time, I found it rather, too depressing. This was the episode where Izzy {played by Katherine Heigl}, was found to be a former lingerie model and her patient was a prostate cancer patient who once upon a time fantasized about her.

I found it too emotional. 

Last year, after too many season breaks and with the lack of stuff to watch, I found myself hankering for some Grey’s Anatomy. I think it was brought on by a fan-made YouTube video, which I searched for and found one, only it wasn’t a music video. It was an episode wherein this song was used in a Grey’s Anatomy episode. I got curious so I started from the beginning. The beginning as in Season 1.

Before I knew it, I was sobbing my eyes out at Meredith’s conundrums, the entirety of the Denny saga {IKR???}, George’s death, the Lexie-Sloan love story, the painful shootout and the rise and fall of Christina Yang’s marriage to Owen Hunt. Never has a series made me so patient with acquiring all the episodes as Grey’s Anatomy did but it has. Truth be uttered, friends who have initially been watching this have already stopped and thought it was just dragging on.

I was about to think the same when sometime this year, I lost my daily internet connection and regained it after. I downloaded the remainder of season 9 and here I am again, sobbing myself at the cheesy Kepner proposal, yet hopeful for what happened with her and Jackson Avery. Somehow, I loved Hilarie Burton’s guesting and I feel she and Arizona belong together. Too much suspense at Derek and Christina running to Meredith when she was bleeding out. Of course, Webber. {sad face}

My favorite part of the season finale

Why am I saying all these? Last week, out of proximity, I popped my SATC DVDs on and found myself, well, a little bored of episodes I’ve seen only once in my life. I guess it’s safe to say that I have finally grown out of my SATC phase and moving on to have a new favorite TV series where every single episode reminds us of the value of the human life and somehow reminds its viewers that our life is fragile and precious so do the thing you want to do the most, express your love wholly and freely, and spend every moment where it should be spent.

All of Me | John Legend

What a beautiful song I've discovered via Grey's Anatomy ep 24.

It’s a Tuesday night as I type this and a storm just finished coming to the city. Thank you for yet another rollercoaster, Shonda Rhimes.

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Drifting in and out

>> Monday, June 17, 2013

Maybe it's the weather. Or the erratic waves of life that crashes onto shores.
Or the rain that's threatening to fall from the gray skies.



Drifting In and Out | Porcelain Raft


Take me away, directionless
It doesn't have to make any sense
Use what you have, I'll follow you
Use what you have, don't you worry now

Drifting in and out...

Choose what to be, take a side
What if I don't want to step out in the light
Give it to others, just let it go now
Give it to others, don't you worry now

Drifting in and out...

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Water-based skincare, anyone?

>> Thursday, June 13, 2013


“The more you wear less makeup, the more you look beautiful in it.” Somebody or the other once said that and I guess that's why, even after a dozen or so skincare reviews on this blog, I still find the energy to write about great skincare finds. Eventually, there will be days when I won't be able to wear makeup {due to rushing, or just plain laziness}.

As a pseudo beauty blogger and recurring beauty enthusiast, I have heard of all sorts of ingredients added to skincare. We all know of the chemicals we can’t pronounce, the stem cells from apples, papaya, vegetables, and pearls even!

Honestly, I am not one of the many who aren’t too meticulous on the ingredients. I wish I was but I admit to not checking the ingredients section and go straight to the bathroom or the boudoir to roadtest a product.

As such was the case with this skincare newcomer, H20 Plus, a brand that brandishes its main ingredient: seawater, claiming to have invigorating and renewing effects.



When Cindy Melk launched H2O Plus in 1989, the company transformed the beauty industry with its innovative fusion of marine ingredients with state-of-the-art technology. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, H2O Plus, LLC, develops, manufactures and markets marine-based skin care products for the face and body. This internationally recognized brand has evolved from a deep-sea discovery to a global skincare innovator with sales in excess of $100 million

Again, I don’t like geeking out so much when it comes to beauty products so I will just go straight to my observations when I started using the H20 Plus products I have in my stash about two weeks ago:




Aquafirm+ Micro-Collagen Moisturizer – This silky firming cream visibly fights fine lines and loss of firmness with collagen-boosting moisture

Key Ingredients:

  • Marine Microspheres – Encapsulated spheres deeply penetrate the skin’s surface and swell with the body’s natural moisture to immediately plump the appearance of fine lines from within
  • Sea Nutrient Barrier  – Powerful fusion of algae and oat extract creates a light veil on the skin, pulling surface cells closer together for an instant micro-lifting effect
  • Jojoba  – Extracted from the jojoba seed native to the Mojave Desert, this rich emollient agent is an exceptional moisturizer with a chemical makeup most similar to the oil skin naturally produces


Directions: Apply to face and neck after cleansing and toning.

RETAIL PRICE:  PHP 3,500.00 (50 mL / 1.7 Fl oz)

+ Feels deliciously luxurious to use; smells like a luxe product and glides on smoothly without overtly oiling up. Sincerely the best moisturizer I’ve used in a long time because it just glides in the face and I feel so sophisticated while using it {how that happens, please don’t ask me}. Face feels ridiculously moisturized after an entire day of running around, being in airconditioned spaces and exposed to smog sometimes. No breakouts, too.


Sea Results Eye Mender Plus – A rejuvenating contour cream tailored to reduce under-eye puffiness and wrinkles, delivers a virtual matrix of penetrating hydration through the new Marine Micropatch Technology.  Experience a 22% decrease in wrinkle depth and 19% increase in skin firmness with 28 days of continued use.

Key Ingredients:

  • Monk's Pepper Berry – Derived from the Mediterranean chaste tree; proven to help reduce the appearance dermal creases and fine lines while visibly improving elasticity and firmness
  • Sepilift® – This plant–derived single amino acid is scientifically proven to help strengthen collagen fibers, boost elasticity and combat damaging free radicals
  • Anti–Aging Marine Blend – a transformative trio of natural seaweed extracts proven to help skin resist and repair the visible signs of aging.
  • Nori: Deep reddish algae sourced from Japan’s western shore; visibly firms skin that has lost elasticity, and reduces the appearance of surface lines
  • Himanthalia: Brown grassy blades that thrive on the rocky coast of the northern British Isles; calms and soothes stressed skin 
  • Spirulina: Blue–green coils that flourish along balmy South Pacific shores; rich in nutrients known to boost cell immunity


Directions: Apply to eye contour morning and night.
RETAIL PRICE: PHP 2,590.00 (15 mL / 0.5 Fl oz)


+ Rich concoction of eye cream goodness; Oddly feels like any other eye cream though which means performs well as any good eye cream. No dry feeling in the eye area vs. not using any. Smells great!

Face Oasis Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser – Deeply cleanses and revitalizes skin with a gently refining, oil-free formula.  An exfoliating fusion of fruit enzymes and algae helps sweep away dull surface cells, leaving skin luminous and ready to receive maximum moisture.


Key Ingredients:

  • Exfoliating Enzyme Fusion – Sourced from fruit, sugar cane and maple, this enzymatic fusion helps naturally dissolve dull surface cells without abrasion or irritation
  • Jojoba Beads – Oil-free jojoba wax is formed into perfectly spherical shapes, creating an exfoliating bead that glides smoothly across the skin’s surface without irritation leaving behind only protective moisture
  • Hydrating Marine Blend – A triple synthesis of ocean-derived botanicals that optimizes the skin’s moisture balance while bolstering free radical resistance.
  • Wakame: Brown kelp energizes skin’s natural functions and recharges tone
  • Sea Lettuce: Dewy yellow-green leaves cultivated from the coast of Brittany, France; supports skin-firming collagen and elastin
  • Fennel: Waxy green ribbons abundant along rocky English sea cliffs; empowers skin to resist aging environmental damage


Directions: Massage over damp face. Rinse well. For best results, use 2 to 3 times per week.

RETAIL PRICE: PHP 1,750.00 (120 mL / 4 U.S. Fl oz)


+ Smells a bit masculine but rich in texture and with scrubs, too. Face feels clean after but unfortunately, broke me out 


Overall, H20 Plus delights in the skincare arena and I am excited to get me some more of the face moisturizer. Other than the breaking out care of the facial wash, H20 signifies a completely bright and glowing future in the Philippine landscape of skincare technology.

H20 Plus is available at SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City.

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Life Lesson: Drink your milk

>> Friday, June 7, 2013


It started during one of those days, when we had this health and wellness fair at the office and I lined up for the one where they calculate your bone density that I found out I had osteopenia, a disorder which means one has lesser bone density than normal but not enough to be classified as osteoporosis.

Simply put, I was at a higher risk of osteoporosis when I get older and the doctor advised I start drinking milk. “Did everyone else drink milk beyond their teens?” I asked. As it turned out, I was one of the few people who left out drinking milk after my teens simply because milk made me fat {another realization I had when I my pants and skirts started busting --- literally}. And because calcium supplements aren’t really the brightest options out there due to ‘calcification,’ I turned to the best thing: milk.



It was probably a serendipitous thing to happen, as I received a brunch invite from Nestle Non Fat, as they were launching a pink-boxed version of their non-fat milk. Since then, I get to enjoy the benefits of drinking milk {while working and before I go to sleep} and the calcium that it brings. I love how I can just drink a box of it in two days and get to keep my waistline and not have to change wardrobes. I’m happy to know a brand takes the effort to make drinking milk such a wonderful experience. It looks good on my work desk, too!

YUMMY <3 b="">These Nestle treats had me working up an appetite!

It's these details that makes me love brunch! 

The Bizu buffet had me stifling sighs and 'aahs' ...

But these darling peach mini pancakes won my heart.

As well as the lovely set up :)

... and bumping into ladies who brunch. Hi, Denise and Patty!

Nestle had a fashion show in the morning --- and made it work!

This one by Vania Romoff

My messy desk and my milk. It matches!

Lesson learned: Drink your milk even if you've grown beyond your teens --- that's like insurance for your old age bones! :)


xx

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Team Tara for Majolica Faceoff

>> Thursday, June 6, 2013

See you this Saturday, lovely ladies! I'll be at SM Megamall Beauty Section at 3 PM!




Kristine Ann Licuanan
Jheng Santos - Baluyot
Mara Mina
Kristel Yap
Maria Luz Broqueza



See you all, girls!


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All I Want to Do

1. Go to NYC. 2.Create and not touch an emergency fund. 3. Tell someone I love him. 4.Cook a five-course meal and serve it to someone I love. 5. Love my imperfections but improve them, too. Read the rest here.
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