Oh the wait was so worth it: Acoustic Night with Jason Mraz and Toca Rivera

After I've seen Gin Blossoms {the ultimate band I wanted to jam to, I know, so 90s!} in concert last year, I never really expected to rave as much over a performer. I have seen John Mayer, shortly before and while I enjoyed his songs while standing in the rain, but Jason Mraz, despite his third time in the country, was all on a league on his own.

On the morning of October 30th, I had been seeing photos of Jason from his Twitter and his surprise appearance at the MTV Exit party and I was terribly worried that he was not the Jason who came here twice before. He had on what I can only remember as a look Christian Bale sported, called Jesus Bale. I was not too happy about it. I wanted the Jason with the sweet look from A Raining Jane with the cheesy fedora hat.

At about 8:10 PM, a scruffy barefooted Jason, wearing a black shirt with a Peace sign, a yellow bandanna, with a black-shirted Toca Rivera, wearing slippers. I thought, "This is going to be an interesting night."

 I still love you despite the scruffy look. Photo via Manila Concert Scene

He came in dancing in weird albularyo-like steps, chanting weird chants and I had then thought that the night might take away the fan girl in me after all. "How you do anything is how you do everything," he says after asking everyone to high five each other. Well, guess I was wrong. Again.

I am not quite sure when or how it started but suddenly, Jason Mraz morphed into the soulful super adorable performer we all know of him. At that moment, his scruffy looks just made him look well, hotter, and Toca Rivera's percussion and backup vocals accentuated Jason's masterful acoustic skills. "What version you know is never the version he'll sing," a friend said. I nodded, in a trance. Prior to the day of his concert, I'd been on Youtube a lot to watch his performances and every place is known for its unique Jason Mraz version.

The World As I See It and Woman I Love

You are the world and I love you.

The Dynamo of Volition

And as I was coming back from the restroom, as I climbed the steps, the opening riffs of A Beautiful Mess started filling the SMART Araneta Coliseum and for that moment alone, everything {spending on the ticket, going out in public when I'm really ugly} was all worth it. I was in a trance and I couldn't be talked to. And {this is supposed to be a secret} I might've shed a tear or two.

A Beautiful Mess | Jason Mraz and Toca Rivera | Live in Manila
Funnily, my friends are too sweet distracting me during the time Jason was singing this, asking me to buy beer for them and asking me to take their photos. I couldn't be bothered.








Please Don't Tell Her {third most favorite Jason Mraz song, the next one below being the second}

Consequently, Jason Mraz and his songs kept me in a trance, I was at a standstill and I just stood there, I just listened and felt my that heart was where it wanted to be.

I Won't Give Up {This is a new unreleased song and listening to it is giving me goosebumps.}

Live High

Details in the Fabric

If It Kills Me {where Jason sings a line from Across the Universe}

How long, can I go on like this,
Wishing to kiss you,
Before I rightly explode?
This double life I lead isn't healthy for me
In fact it makes me nervous
If I get caught I could be risking it all

93 Million Miles | A friend said he's never seen me giggle the way I did when Jason sang I want to go home with you. "This, I believe is another unreleased {maybe a cover} song.

Just know, that wherever you go, you can always come back home

It might be the poetic lyrics, or the way Jason sings that seems to make every single female in the entire coliseum feel like she is the subject of every song, and every male audience made them want to be him or the way he has crafted his words so simply that it talks directly to the heart. I don't know. I have never seen a concert where people held up banners and placards and singularly, without shame, shouted "I love you, Jason Mraz" in a male voice. I haven't felt this way when I caught Gin Blossoms or John Mayer. In that concert, I knew why, in all his simplicity, in his ratty shirt and baggy jeans, why people would line up to see him for the third time. It was him, his music and okay, Toca, who was on stage, and the world really stops to melt with him. Note: He didn't sing I Melt With You and I was too engrossed to really care. Normally, I abhor new songs being launched at concerts because I can't sing to it but this concert made me thankful for making me discover the beautiful songs Jason Mraz is about to release.

Of course, Mr. A-Z can't come out of SMART Araneta Coliseum alive if he didn't sing his super hit, I'm Yours. Even I, who have come to dislike the song from too much airplay just fell in love all over again.

I'm Yours

Jason Mraz and Toca Rivera's Manila 2011 Setlist:

She's The Bomb
Dynamo of Volition
Live High
If It Kills Me + Across The Universe
Lucky
Fly Me To The Moon
The World As I See It
The Woman I Love
A Beautiful Mess
Please Don't Tell Her
I Won't Give Up
93 Million Miles
You And I Both
The Remedy + Wonderwall
Details In The Fabric
Life Is Wonderful

Encore:
Rescue
Butterfly
The Freedom Song
I'm Yours plus some comic improv

As if that was not enough, I have come to fulfill an item on my bucket list. As my friends and I waited for the crowd to thin out, I noticed there were people waiting at the West Gate of the coliseum. 

Me: Lalabas dun si Jason Mraz
Friend: Fan girl? Hihintayin mo?
Me: Nasa list ko yan, let's go!
Friend: Eh?
Me: Hindi naman siguro nakakahiyang maging fan girl for Jason ano? Hollywood naman.

Needless to say, I turned into a celebrity-stalking fan girl machine and waited for Mr. Mraz come out of the gate. When he did, in a black SUV, I just stood there with my mouth opened slightly in awe.

15. Watch a concert and attempt to meet the artist. I definitely do not wish for this particular artist to be biggies like U2, or Madonna, or even Jason Mraz {but hey, who knows?} only because it would be un-realistic. I just wish to watch a concert, something I always put off, thinking I will always have another chance, but never really do. I want obscure bands/artists like Stars, William Fitzsimmons, even Hanson {yes, I will always be a Hanson fan at heart}, Gin Blossoms {crosses fingers}, or The Weepies.

Well, high five, 24 year old, self! I didn't meet him like with a proper handshake and all but a backstage/exit gate attempt is more than my heart can handle.

And now, the morning after of my exhilarating time at the Jason Mraz, I am floating in awe, wonder and I'm rotating his songs on my iPod. I am so glad I watched <3 Thank You, universe for making this happen!

And I know the word they call this: Smitten. I am smitten.

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Day 29: Picture of your makeup collection

I was initially kind of iffy to take pictures of my makeup for the following reasons:

• That would mean I'd have to take everything out once again when I was just done cleaning {yes, productive long weekend!}
• I don't exactly have a 'collection,' I have stuff I bought for matters like eyebags that need hiding, basic foundation, finishing powder, blush, mascara etc. Most of my makeup are gifts.
• I think that just like food, makeup is not something to be stocked of so much of

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having much makeup, in fact, I find myself buying makeup I feel that I need sometimes. However, now that I look back at all those years I've been into makeup and into this blog, I realize that there were so much I've bought and never used. There were those I gave away and those I've sold at half the price. While they do benefit other people still, despite me not using them {which was the purpose of why they were bought in the first place}, I think, to be pragmatic about it, that a girl should really think twice before buying something that is not a matter of life and death, makeupwise. Especially since like food, makeup and cosmetics have definite shelf lives.

These days, I find myself carrying 50% of makeup that is sent or gifted to me by PR agencies or brands. Luckily, that helps in lessening the trips I have to take to find a good concealer, or a new powder, or a brightening powder, which usually leads to me finding something I absolutely don't need therefore leading to more clutter and expenses. {Shoutouts to PR agencies and brands who trust in my blog for their products! And honestly, who doesn't like free stuff?}

And so for this challenge's sake, here's a photo of two items I have on rotation the most because I have too many of them.

Powder, Foundation and base stuff

And lipsticks. These are just the ones I rotate on a daily basis.

What's on your makeup 'collection?'
xx

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My Chemical Peel Romance

The first time that I had a Samantha Jones moment was straight out of the first SATC movie where she voiced out that she wanted to buy her own bling. I had my second Samantha moment, just the other day, as I faced several people {and about to face even more!} with my chemical peeled face.

 Samantha and I don't have much difference. I look just like this right now, except that I have a fedora hat instead.

The First Time is Always the Hardest

I hadn't had time to worry if I would endure the experience, as I had all my days and waking hours booked doing something. When the clock hit 5:30 PM, I got ready to walk to Greenbelt 5's House of Obagi for consultation and peel session with Medical Director Dr. Stephen Lacson. Dubhe, one of HOO's staff, sent me a reminder via SMS which I like very much!

Upon walking in into the clinic, I saw several ladies coming out from their respective treatments. "Ah, so this is like the secret bat cave for women. It's yet another one of those, like Strip in GB5, too," I thought. Sophie shot me an encouraging text of "Kaya mo yan," and that's when the real fear began.

I have read several tales of experiences via Rowena, Liz, Shen's {TruPeel}prior to heading to HOO and I was ready for the downtime as Dr. Lacson calls it. I was ready to look like Samantha Jones for a few days since the longest weekend of the week was coming up. What I was not prepared for was the emotional change it brought.

Not Afraid of Dentists, Afraid of Dermatologists

Most people are afraid of dentists. I am afraid of dermatologists. I'm afraid of being judged because my skin is imperfect. I'm afraid of being scolded of how I did not take good care of my skin when I was younger --- which is why I can count in my hands the number of times I've gone to the derma. "Aren't male dermatologists less judgmental than female ones?," Dr. Lacson asked. I thought about it and thought about it again now, and yes they are {at least the ones I've gone to}. 

 Dr. Stephen Lacson, photo via

Dr. Lacson made the process of assessing my skin easier -- a relatively important part of the experience to determine what type of peel I should have. I easily guessed that I'll have the stronger blue peel, as both my cheeks are peppered with acne scars, accumulated from teenage years of experimenting with various skincare regimen.He explained that acne scars on the cheeks are harder to get rid of because of their convex nature. He proceeds to say that my facial skin is not hopeless and rather improvable, which made me think I should have done this even earlier. 

The Solution

As we all know, pores get infiltrated by bacteria from various sources: clogged makeup, pollution, dirt and what have you. Of course, we try hard to remove everything everyday and we exfoliate {guilty of not doing this as much} but our skin, especially when we're older, tends to take longer to renew. Thus the need for induced peeling via chemicals. 

"Is this your first time to undergo a peel?," asked Dr. Lacson after he explained all the repercussions of what I was to do, such as downtime, no sun exposure, I had to take Doxicycline and apply Erythromycin on my acne scars. I swallowed and answered yes. At the back of my mind, I knew this was going to be the most invasive procedure I've ever had to do but hey, I am not as young as I was 5 years ago, nor am I happy with the current state my skin was in. From that consultation as well, I deemed that this was not going to be a regular thing {like you know, a facial} and that this was a one-time-big-time procedure that will wipe away most of the dead skin and buildup that I had, to be maintained by milder peels and facials. I was ready.

 State of the Skin Address. Hello, acne and acne scars!

I Cried

The first thing I noticed were the small fans that were waiting for me. "You're going to ask for them later," Dr. Lacson told me. For someone who's conquered being a Brazilian {girls, you catch my drift}, no procedure can be too painful. But true enough, as Dr. Lacson applied the blue solution on my face for a continuous 15 minutes, I shed a tear maybe because it was my face's way of saying "Ouch!" because it couldn't even twitch.

Hi! I'm Tara and I'm a smurfette who can't smile! :D

"You seem to have a high tolerance for pain," says Dr. Lacson's assistant. It must be because I shed just one tear and most patients usually get teary eyed for a long time. I guess it was because I was distracting myself with talking with them that I forgot about the pain. As my skin continued to sting and to itch like crazy, I was repeating to myself in my mind the chant, "Here's to better skin, here's to better skin, here's to better skin," until I felt better.

Emotional Changes

I felt so unpretty, like really unpretty. Especially now that as I type this, my cheeks are two blobs of brown skin. When I went back to the office to get my car from the building parking, my officemate was shocked to see me with blue face and that I walked back all the way from GB5. Being the resident super vain person that they know, it was hard to believe I'd let my face without makeup seen without makeup, let alone chemically peeled. "Sacrifices for better and more beautiful skin, you know," I responded.

The morning after was even harder as I struggled to keep myself away from my usual facial wash {can only use mild wash, in my case the Obagi gentle cleanser} and light moisturizer {TBS Vitamin E}. I couldn't put on makeup as well, and even if I did, it was going to be pretty useless with my skin all tight and hard. My life was pretty much on hold as I couldn't go out under the sun for errands and I couldn't run and do yoga or any strenuous stuff to refrain from sweating.

Ugly and Scary Photos Alert.

Day 2 was still manageable, the dark area was not as dark as it is today. I could feel the skin tighter and that they were drying up. I went out in the evening to have my car washed and to meet Sophie for dinner at Lam Tin {which serves amazing food, BTW!} and the looks I've been getting from people were entirely different from what I normally receive. I even overheard a lady whisper to her friend, "Maganda sana siya, kung walang malaking balat sa mukha." HAHA. Thank you! :D

 This photo was taken when I woke up on Saturday morning. The discoloration caused by the 'burn' was still light.

By Day 3, I am not sure how I will drag myself out of my house:

I really do feel like Samantha Jones at this point. And I shall be out with thousands of people watching Jason Mraz tonight. How do I hide this?

At this point, no part of my facial skin has peeled of yet and I can't wait!

This journey to better skin is becoming exciting, bordering on scary but what the heck. No pain, no gain, right? I hope you join me as I share the next updates on My Chemical Blue Peel Romance! And hopefully they're going to be good updates <3

{If you've undergone blue peel before or any other chemical peel, please share with me your experience and tell me this will go away and that it will be better, please <3}

 xx

Disclaimer: This service was provided to the author for reviewing purposes. All opinions in this blog is of the author and is no way influenced by the brands mentioned. And for reader benefits {hi Chin!} the treatment is around Php 10,000.

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Day 28 :Tattoos. If you have one, post it and its story. If not, what do you want?

Nope. Not one, none at all.

Surely, tattoos are as attractive as they can be, I confess to thinking of myself as a tattooed woman. I have pondered many times if I would ever get one, where and what its message would be. However, the fear of committing to it, of never losing it, even if I would want to, is not something that sits well with me. I guess my fear of commitment extends up to what sign, symbol or phrase I'll be etching permanently on my skin.

But if I do ever get over that fear, which I highly doubt, it'd be a star on my wrist. That is all.


xx

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Surfing in Siargao: Check!

As I type this, a bone near my collarbone is aching stubbornly. I close my eyes and remember where I got it and I remember: I went surfing last weekend!

The days leading up to the Siargao trip that was booked six months ago were very stressful. I had a lot on my plate {what's new?} and it was one of those times that I was truly, truly engrossed in what I was doing that I was considering just scrapping the plans off. I figured I would've had another chance to strap myself onto a board, however un-concrete.

I am so glad and thankful that I went ahead with it --- and with a blogger-turned-friend-turned-travel-buddy, too!

 View from the Multicab. My eyes were so big the entire trip because I was taking in all the greenery and the sight of the Philippines I know from history books.

Sasha calls shotgun and I take over the back of the multicab.

Siargao was easily the most virgin of all places I've been in the Philippines. When I arrived in the Siargao airport, I was amused at how relatively simple things were. I could see coconut trees swaying from about 15 meters away and a chicken was pecking about. Greenery littered every sight in Siargao and I knew, without a doubt that I truly was out of Manila. I'd live for this a long, long time, is what I thought. I might have a love-hate relationship with Manila but it was love at first sight with Siargao. I can distinctly remember how my heart did mini jumping jacks as I breathed the fresh air, as the sun beat down my back.

The hotel we booked was borne out of very good recommendations from Trip Advisor and from a mention in an article I found in Female Network. I thought to myself that there weren't a lot of hotels, might as well just get the popular one with the least negative feedback. So I did, and it was not a disappointment.

There are not much five-star type hotels in Siargao, or at least I didn't see one. Most of the establishments are simple and no frills. And might I add, that most of these were owned by Australian surfers who fell in love with the island and decided to live in there.

This. This is what welcomed me at Ocean 101 and just one look and the bumpy ride was gone from my memory.

Where we stayed, Ocean 101, was no different.

 Those are the beachfront rooms which are pretty no frills. We like!

Banana Peanut Shake from Ocean 101's Bar is a trip back to childhood.

All-Day Country Breakfast is the Breakfast of Champions! I eat this much every single day, thankyouverymuuch.

As we surveyed the place and basically lounged under the sun and the swaying trees for two days, I had noticed that the guests were mostly white surfers who have come to experience the famous washing machine-like surf haven that is Cloud 9. I have seen surfer after every surfer with various lengths of boards in tow and felt tiny knots form in my stomach.

We must've spent an entire half of a day just lounging in this hammock reading, having coffee, water and talking about life. It truly is a great life!

 Sea, Grass and Sand. I was in heaven.

I could fully understand why foreigners would come to this place. I don't mind waking up to this for a long, long time!

Cloud 9, where surfing dreams come true.

On the second level of the deck on Cloud 9. 

Siargao Sunset looks infinitely unique, for some reason.

And then I ignored it and figured I still had two days to psych myself up for the big surfing lesson. Truthfully, I had images of myself in my head slamming onto the board, drowning and floating off into the Pacific. And so I went to sleep.

As Sunday drifted in, I had no more excuses and my hours of learning were dwindling. As a boost of confidence, I had consistently bugged my trigger-happy travel buddy to surf, too {and yes, she stood up even faster than I did!}. It worked.

Banging {pronounced as Banjing}recommended her friend Otek to teach me how to surf. As Otek expertly applied coconut sex wax on the clementine-hued white surf board, I was filled with anticipation and fear but I guess there was no turning back now.

"Am I going to learn in two hours?," I asked.

"Of course," he reassured. But my heart was now doing backflips.

Otek started the lesson by making me simulate a stand in the sand. Of course, having been doing yoga for quite a time where I practice chaturanga dandasana a lot, it was pretty easy. Being in the water can be quite the different thing.

When I first posted about going surfing, a blogger friend, Tishie, commented that what people do not usually write is that surfing is 90% paddling and 10 % surfing. As I plopped myself onto the board and paddled to where the waves were, I remembered this piece of advice and paddled my way and got ready for my first wave. And boy, my arms did hurt the next day.

I'm not gonna lie: the first few tries wiped my spirit away. I have tried to climb up, hoist myself up using my arms and I have ended in the water about five times. It was not easy to lift even my own weight and my willpower was crashing by the minute. I truly just wanted to tell Otek I'll try again tomorrow and I'll just have another bottle of beer from Bones' Pub and try to understand rugby {it was the World Cup for Rugby that time}.

"Here's another one, it's a big one, and you better ride lest you get wiped out like laundry," Otek said in Filipino. I looked back and saw a humongous wave looming from the distance. I positioned myself better and muttered "Damn," under my breath. In my head, I was mustering every ounce of strength and courage I had to stand because my head was already hurting from falling too much and my body was slamming a bit too frequently. As Otek pushed me forward, I knew the wave was just behind me and I had the interval of a second to stand up. And man, I did.

Guess who forgot her rashguard? :S But in the grand scheme of things, it ain't the most important thing. The most important thing is to bring your courage and audacity to stand up and face your fears.

14. Learn how to surf. In 2009, I went on a roadtrip with my friends from work to La Union, Vigan and Pagudpud and swam in the ripples of strong waves but never surfed. Never even tried. What kind of chicken courage is that?

I continued to stand up {however, still falling every once in a while!} but as I cruised the water, I was chuckling to myself how it happened that I stood up because of survival. But it's not a bad reason to learn.

 My dream Blue Crush picture. Mabigat ang surfboard, I had to use both hands!

And here's a wiped out Tara:

The day went on with me and my aching arms and limbs. After the momentous hours of paddling, surfing and more paddling, Sasha and I celebrated with a couple of San Miguels and fell asleep under the coconut trees. When we woke up, there were stars above us, the people were setting up a bonfire and cheering teams on the rugby coverage. I just had to stop and marvel at the stars, utter a prayer of thanks and close my eyes.

 Currently reading: Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Yes, I can still do splits!

My last sunset in Siargao. I can't wait to go back for more.

By the end of the trip, I had a mix of wanting to stay for more, gratitude for a vacation well spent and for ticking an item from a list, for the friendship, for questions that gets answered and a realization that what I will come home to is a blessed life and existence. Life is good.


Some helpful links if you're planning to go to Siargao, which is a great thing to do, really:

How to get to Siargao
Ocean 101 {it's really inexpensive, this is my best bet in Siargao and OMG the food!}
Cebu Pacific flies directly to Siargao via Cebu and Air Phil Express flies to Surigao, wherein you can take a 2-hour boat ride to Dapa Port in Siargao.

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Day 27: What do you feel guilty for doing?

Eating more than two pieces of chocolate, watching 2 Broke Girls in the morning while doing my makeup when my mind is already doing web analytics and especially what I was doing five minutes ago.


xx

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Day 26: What’s something you’re really excited for?

My birthday!

It's about 25 days till I turn 26 and I am excited about it because once again, just like when I turned 24, it will be in the presence of people I'd like to think I think alike {feeling!}. Yes, the 2011 Ad Congress takes place the same week as my 26th birthday!

If anything else, there are two things I love doing: learning and having a good time. In my experience, the past Philippine Ad Congress sessions have been a proof of those things. Not too shabby to be my birthday celebration, yeah?

Oh and as if it couldn't get any better, this year's venue is the Camsur Watersports Complex! Looks like aside from surfing, I shall be discovering wakeboarding this year, too!

Dream on, T, but hey that's not such a bad idea!

Images via CWC web

Oh and in the same week, this is going to happen, too!

The Sun rises at Bonifacio Global City.

We shall be transferring to our Fort office! I will miss Makati but I can't wait to be at the BGC neighborhood!

So. That's what I'm excited for. And the Jason Mraz concert this weekend.
What about you?


xx

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Day 25: Write 5 messages to 5 different people without using names

1. I'm sorry.

2.  You continue to inspire me in ways unimaginable. I will forever be grateful to you.

3. Just let me do this until I can.

4. I have mixed feelings about seeing you again.

5. I know that deep down, you are a happy person. And frankly, I know how kind you are. I can't help wondering though --- why do you seem so unhappy?

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Day 24: Do you have saved text messages? If so, who are they from and why do you still have them?

Well, yes.

In this era of smartphones and multi-GB-sized storage, it's impossible to be concerned with messages that get accumulated in the phone. I have an iPhone -- which makes it even easier to track conversations because they appear just like that: thought bubbles.

Archiving has never been easier. Thank you, Steve Jobs and Apple.
As an example, I keep Shen's message because I text and iMessage her every once in a while especially when we have Team E outings.

To answer, do I have saved messages: Yes. When I delete a message, I tend to delete the entire conversation, meaning everything that person has sent me. But I don't do this a lot.

Saving text messages these days have gone from cheesy to practical -- since I do get a lot of information via text, and now iMessage, which I can just search for in the search field. I don't receive forwarded cheesy text messages anymore {thank goodness} but I do receive nice and kind messages once in a while which I just keep in the Messages.

Other than that, text messages are purely there for pragmatic reasons.

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Day 23: Two months ago, where were you and what were you doing?

Two months ago, I was mindlessly going through my life, in that way like when you follow a routine. I was someone who accepted what life offered me. It was kind of loser-ish.

How do I know?

Because I do not feel happy then as I do now. Today I woke up at 6 AM and thought to myself that it's going to be a great day --- and it was. I have gone through the day with a spring on my step, a smile for everyone, and a kind word every breath. Been the same thing for so many days now, it's kind of really amazing. And so I thought that not all days are bad, or blah. For a while there, I was just feeling kind of {to borrow a friend's favorite word} lackadaisical.

And if not for that day two months ago, I never would have known the difference.

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Day 22: What’s an inside joke you have with someone?

The square root of five.



xx

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Delivering Happiness

Let me start this post by saying I am neither a book expert nor a corporate culture expert. I am just a happy book reader who happened to have read this book two and a half months ago, lent it to a couple of friends and before I knew it, the book had the same effect on us:

To say it was inspiring is kind of an understatement.

I knew Zappos as much as I knew another website, Asos, because I'd been checking them out regularly for new things to online/window shop for. I had no clue at how long it took to build the website, or that Zappos almost went out of business and other things.

One thing I knew was that I read in some article that one of the best companies to work for was Zappos and that one of its founders, Tony Hsieh, {one of the three people I admire the most} changed the face of corporate culture. One day at Fully Booked, I was in search of another book and I found a lone copy of Delivering Happiness. I started reading it on my way to Bolinao and finished it on the second night.

If taken at face value, I would probably never understand why this book was going to be important to me or to what I do. After all, I am not part of the customer service group {customer service being the thrust of the book} of the company and I am a Marketing person. I was wrong.

While indeed, customer service was a huge value and insight of the book, my biggest takeaway simply had to be the culture. And that happiness of both customers and employees as a business model is not bad at all.

Tony believed that the biggest drivers of business success is a huge and cemented belief in the company. In one of the chapters, he shared how he hires on the basis of how well the candidates would fit into the company, rather than relying on the candidates' skills alone. I remember a former colleague who once chose the current girl I'm working over a guy {who could've saved us travel money since he could room up with the other guys}. "He isn't a team player," she says. Looking back {hello, Steve Jobs wisdom!}, the rationale makes so much sense as this girl {that's C!}and I {among others} worked well with other people, some from the team, and some from other departments. If it were the other guy, it would've been a bad thing. He wouldn't have fitted into our group dynamic that's hinged on collaboration and friendship.

Another one of Tony's key sharing is that employees must know {and love} the values. That is not to say that every single employee must follow like a blind robot. Embracing the core values {a thing an employee must check before entering a contract, too!} is a step to be undertaken for a tighter, more identified culture.

And if you're an employee, you'd relate to this: culture is one of the biggest maker or breaker of employer choice. Agree?

This is not a bad example:

It's so good that I was convinced I'd work for Zappos given the chance.

I could quote a thousand more lessons I gathered from reading Hsieh's {pronounced as shay} but that would ruin the beautiful surprise that is in each page of this book. Granted, Hsieh was not a writer, however I think he is a visionary. He formed the company from the perspective of the heart and passion and happiness and succeeded. I don't think that's a bad model at all.

Oh and incidentally, I had been tweeting while I was reading the book:

 See their reply. Who wouldn't want to be a customer after that?

But I am too happy to answer, too:

I am pretty amazed how they delivered happiness to me despite not being a customer YET {they don't deliver outside of the US just yet}. It's infinitely amazing. And I am recommending this to everyone I know.

If you're planning on reading this, let me know so we can talk about this all day! xx

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Day 21: If you died tomorrow, what’s one thing you’d regret not doing?

As I type this, I just finished tucking last minute bilins into my brother's luggage to be given to my mother. You see, my brother will be celebrating his birthday this week in the US with my mom and dad. I, on the other hand, will also be flying off to an island for some R & R.

If I died tomorrow, I'd be really sad that I never got to surf, or finish every item on this list. But most importantly, it would break my heart that I haven't gone to a homecooked meal, to an intimate dinner with only my my mom, my dad and brother at home. I don't remember the last time it happened.

And quite frankly, that is all I wish for.

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In the Mood for Love

I was busily chatting the afternoon away, munching on crackers and sipping white wine when Nina {of shu uemura} mentioned the next collection, more specifically, the holiday collection of the brand was inspired by Asian filmmaker Wong Kar Wai. If you've ever seen a movie backtrack --- I have felt myself transported to those afternoons when I'd watch In the Mood for Love, as suggested by my film professor {Rica Arevalo}, who was a big fan of the filmmaker. I'd seen 2046 as well and Chungking Express but In the Mood for Love is by far my favorite Wong Kar Wai movie.

Set in Hong Kong, 1962, Chow Mo-Wan is a newspaper editor who moves into a new building with his wife. At approximately the same time, Su Li-zhen, a beautiful secretary and her executive husband also move in to the crowded building. With their spouses often away, Chow and Li-zhen spend most of their time together as friends. They have everything in common from noodle shops to martial arts. Soon, they are shocked to discover that their spouses are having an affair. Hurt and angry, they find comfort in their growing friendship even as they resolve not to be like their unfaithful mates.

I've only been in the face of cheating once and despite being over it, I was thrown into the rabbit hole of sadness and that suckerpunched feeling of being cheated on, as I remember the feeling while watching In the Mood for Love. At the same time, the brewing chemistry, comfort, romantic longing and love between Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung was enough for me to fall in and over in my head. True enough, Wong Kar Wai's signature palette was all over the movie {however more vivid in 2046}.

It is a restless moment. She has kept her head lowered... to give him a chance to come closer. But he could not, for lack of courage. She turns and walks away. 

Chow Mo-wan: That handbag I saw you with this evening... Where did you buy it?
Su Li-zhen Chan: Why do you ask?
Chow Mo-wan: It looked so elegant. I want to get one for my wife.
Su Li-zhen Chan: Mr. Chow, you're so good to your wife!
Chow Mo-wan: Not really! My wife is so fussy. Her birthday is some days away. I don't know what to get her. Could you buy one for me to give her?
Su Li-zhen Chan: Maybe she wouldn't want one just exactly the same.
Chow Mo-wan: You're right, I didn't think of that.
Su Li-zhen Chan: A woman would mind.
Chow Mo-wan: Yes, especially since we're neighbors. Do they come in other colors?
Su Li-zhen Chan: I'd have to ask my husband.
Chow Mo-wan: Why?
Su Li-zhen Chan: He bought it for me on a business trip abroad. They aren't on sale here.
Chow Mo-wan: Then never mind.
Su Li-zhen Chan: Actually... I want to ask you something too. Where did you buy your tie?
Chow Mo-wan: I don't know where it came from. My wife buys all my ties.
Su Li-zhen Chan: Really?
Chow Mo-wan: She bought this one on a business trip abroad. It's not on sale here.
Su Li-zhen Chan: What a coincidence!
Chow Mo-wan: Yes.
Su Li-zhen Chan: Actually... My husband has one just like it. He said it was a gift from his boss. So he wears it every day.
Chow Mo-wan: And my wife has a bag just like yours.
Su Li-zhen Chan: I know, I've seen it.
Chow Mo-wan: What are you getting at, actually?
Su Li-zhen Chan: I thought I was the only one who knew.

This might just be the Before Sunset of Asian cinema. But going back ...

Maggie Cheung in colorful chinoiserie, set in the 60s.

It's only apt that shu uemura's collection by Wong Kar Wai looks like this:

{All images grabbed from Temptalia}

Iconic. This picture depicts every single female protagonist of Wong Kar Wai's movies.

This is so Chungking Express <3

This reminds me of 2046 the most.

I see sparklies, shimmers and the infinite dazzle of a Wong Kar Wai protagonist and yet all I'm filled with is melancholy. Ah, the WKW effect.

What's your favorite Wong Kar Wai movie?

xx

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