Begin Again.

I solemnly swear that I will begin again.

2 years and 6 months has passed since my last blog post.
A lot of things happened since then.
I have graduated.
I have a steady job that I both love and hate.
I have a lot of time in my hands, and I might as well start using it properly. Time is gold.
I have a lot of love in my life.

And I am happy -- so perfectly happy.

and I solemnly swear that I will begin again.

The Birthday Girl. ♥

No post for weeks? Unforgivable!

Ohh come on, please spare me, it's my Birthday anyway! (Hihih, yeyyyy!)

It's the start of the second trimester already, I know it's only been a week but it already tires me! My schedule is really fugly.

I'll make sure to make time here. I have a long list of things to write about! I hope soon I'll be posting them already.

Think Happy thoughts, Havva Happy day! ♥

Hang on.

I've been lost in the blogging world for what feels like forever, and it's because of:
1.) My busy schedule. Deadlines, deadlines everywhere!
2.) My laptop just died on me. Bummer. I wish it held on longer.

Enough of the rants! I just want to thank my guy for lending me his iPad. Hugs and kisses from here! :* (okay, really enough alreadyyy...)

So, since I'm almost done with my deadlines and everything, I gave myself permission to make a quick post about my current obsession: Natural/Organic beauty products. (well, this has been on for too long already, but let's just accept 'current' please:) For the past few nights, I've been sleeping late only because I was religiously searching for promising brands which offers natural and/or organic products. I know a few, actually -- Venus and Mars, Human Heart Nature, etc. But what I discovered I think is something more yummy!! I found out about Snoe Beauty.

I've been researching about product reviews for Snoe Beauty's products, and in the end I finally have a looooong list of products to try! I can say I may have been drooling over their products by just seeing the reviews.

Good thing though, I was informed by them that they would be having a Sale tomorrow(Aug. 24) until August 29 at SM Valenzuela, which is quite near and accessible for me. I am really excited! Their promo bundles are A-m-a-z-i-n-g.

Have you tried any Snow Beauty products? Share it to me please! :D

Utterly Frustrated.

(Warning: rants, rants, and rants.)

Right now, the number one on my "stress-list" is my skin problem: Zits. Pimples. A mild case of Acne.

It's been about two months now, and my face is suffering. From my everyday activities, I can't quite put my finger on it, but there are a lot of components that are adding up to my problem. I've been visiting my trusty Dermatologist once a month now(the only period allowed by my super hectic schedule), and she's been very good and wary about her explanations on why I'm having breakouts. She gave me the commons: Allergic reaction to some products and food as well, irritation due to sun exposure, and Stress. STRESS! I am stressed because of over thinking how the hell I can lift myself up in this problem, and turns out it just makes the problem worst.

I am now on the verge of finding my skin superhero. I've tried a lot of products before: Local Obagi, Kojic Soaps, Dermatologists' prescriptions, Antibiotics. Wayyyy before, it worked out. And now, I wonder why they are all resisting my plea to work out :(

Right now, I am using a 5% Benzoyl Peroxide and Galderma's Epiduo which are prescribed by my Derma. She also asked me to use what she gave me a month ago, a 2% Clindamycin solution, but sad to say I finished a bottle already and I didn't see any improvement. Then, I remember using Dalacin C (A Clindamycin made by Pfizer) diluted in Eskinol Classic White back in High School. I decided to replace the 2% Clindamycin with the Dalacin C+Eskinol, with my Derma's consent of course, since she said it is just almost the same.

I am utterly frustrated! And I really hope this works this time.. I want my pre-acne skin back already :(

Found your skin superhero? Share it with me please!

Asymptotic Tuesday.

Whoa, this is the first free night I've had since the first week of July started. (To think that it's already, well, ALMOST AUGUST!)

This term, Tuesdays and Thursdays are actually my least favorite days - simply because academically, it's Math day for me. Sometimes, I love Math, but most of the time I really hate it. (Especially the times when I totally can't get the lesson at first try.) Enough with the ranting.

I never really thought that, Math actually gives out life lessons - depends on how you look at it really. We have the commons - Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division. (Getting kinda nerdy in here....) My point is, again, it gives us "disguised" lessons, such as:

• Addition thought us that, when you add 1 to 1, it will give you 2. In life, we have this saying that goes, "Two is better than One."
• Subtraction, in the context of life: "Take out the negatives, focus on the positives."
• Multiplication: "Life is better when you multiply kindness."
• Division: "Love each other, equally."

See what I mean now? Disguised lessons in everything we learn, it really depends at how you look at things. (For the nth time!)

Now, I learned another life lesson from my Math class: Asymptotes. For those of you who doesn't have any idea about it, (Hey, I don't even know what they are until, well.. 8 hours ago.), Asymptotes are, according to my trusty Word Web Pro application, is a straight line that is the limiting value of a curve; can be considered as tangent at infinity. (Hell, that sounds like something we Math haters doesn't want to go over at.) In much, much simpler terms, Asymptotes are 2, straight lines that goes on and on, getting closer, but will never, under any circumstances, ever intersect.

Clarification getting over you now, huh? ;) In life, (and love as well), there will always be things wherein you think you're one step closer in getting it. But the truth is, it will only just be that: A step closer, a point closer. What's the hardest part about it? Is when you know that somewhere, sometime, someone else will make a way past what you did, what you achieve, and finally, intersect with what you want.

Bottom-line: You may think that you are a step closer, but in time, you should accept that you've tried your best, you gave your all, and still you haven't got it. You never will. But hey, don't dwell on the negatives! Maybe it wasn't yours to have, because you deserve something better. ♥

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ― Lao Tzu

Never live life like Asymptotes, Kiwis!

Quick Post: Drooling over Naturals

I haven't been posting anything for almost 3 weeks already, simply because of the super hectic schedule I have due to school stuffs.

The only reason why I am posting now is because I ran through this Facebook online shop which sells natural and organic products. I was really, really drooling over these soaps and creams! Right now my skin is recovering already from a very bad case of stress pimples (I don't know how to really explain it, so sorry for the laaaaaame terms!). And maybe that's already a sign for me to try different products again.

I have a long list of things to write about. I'll start working on it once my schedule clears up.

Be happy and healthy always, Kiwis!

On Food: Soya Bar

(I was thinking of a great intro line for this but, words are failing me tonight. Whyyyyyy? :( Okay, enough of the drama.)

Boyfie and I went to an early Mass last Sunday, so that we could spend the whole afternoon together. (Why so cheesy?) Since morning, I was craving for Taho, since on my way to Him, I passed by a Taho vendor. I thought hard whether to buy or not, but then the traffic lights went green already. Bottom-line: I wasn't able to buy :( I even asked Boyfie to buy me some if ever a vendor passes by. Fast forward: The day went on.

From Greenhills, we went to SM North Edsa The Block, around 6pm already. We were strolling, thinking whether we would quench our thirst with a nice, cold Milk Tea. I was too lazy to walk towards the sky garden to our favorite Milk Tea place, so we decided to just look for anything in the Block. Luckily, on the third floor, we came across Soya Bar.

I was almost jumping for joy! I was craving Taho in the morning, but then I found it by night. I was excited and drooling over the Menu 'cause everything's SOYAmmy! (Okay, for those people who don't get it, it's a play word for 'So Yummy'. Corny, but pardon me!) In the end, I ordered a Soy Bubble Milk Tea with Pandan Syrup and Boyfie has gone with the Chilled Taho.

Soy Bubble Milk Tea with Pandan Syrup and
Their specialty - Chilled Taho

The plus: It took only 2 minutes(or maybe only 1) for our order to be served! I was really impressed also with the service since the crew is really nice, and they were all smiley smiley. Good Job!

I was very satisfied with what we ordered! Okay, I may sound over reacting but, it really tastes good. (Right now I am craving already!) The texture of the milk is not too thick, but not too watery as well. The tapioca pearls are not too hard and not too soft. It is also not too sweet, and the Pandan flavor is not overpowering. (Actually, I didn't even noticed if it was really there, to be honest.)

What really made me L-O-V-E this, was the information they posted about Soya:

The Health Benefits of Soya.

I am honestly not very much familiar with the Health Benefits that Soya has, but now I already am because of this!

Overall Assessment:

The Good:

• It is healthy.
• It is very tasty. (Delicious at that!)
• Everything about it is just right.
• Very affordable. (Everything's worth the price!)
• Very fast service.
• Friendly crew.
• The couch seats are very comfortable! (We actually stayed there for about and hour and a half. hihi)

The Bad:

• I didn't think the Pandan Flavor is present.
• The place is kind of hot. (Hot, as in the AC feels too low in temperature. SM's fault I think.)

Final Verdict:

This is my new favorite! I am kind of a Health Junkie, and I think that everything that has something healthy to offer is worth it. It gives a lot of benefits, and we actually had a fun time there because of the snacks and drinks + comfy seats. I would definitely come back for more! I think this is a new staple drink/snack for us. ♥

Visit Soya Bar's Facebook Page *here*.

PS: This is not a sponsored post. Everything written here is of my own opinion and experience with the product, and is therefore not influenced by anyone. Use at your own discretion.

Why I love Organic and Natural Products

Head start:

Organic is not the same with Natural. According to Juice Beauty.com:

Difference between “Natural” and “Organic” Products
“Natural” products don’t have any regulation, so any company can name their products “natural” if they have a few ingredients that come from the earth. Natural products range from some pretty good companies trying to do the right thing to hundreds of personal care companies that are simply using the term “natural” for marketing purposes.

And from another source, FutureDerm.com:

Natural products refers to ingredients derived from plants, minerals, or algae. Organic products describes substances grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and processed without man-made chemicals. Made with Organic Ingredients means that 70% or greater of the ingredients are organic content.

I have this thing for organic and natural beauty products. These products are my Guilty Pleasuressss, as I call it. While other girls, maybe, go all shriek-y for anything that has 'whitening', 'skin-perfecting', and  maybe, 'scar-eliminating', (well, sometimes I do too) I go more for those that carries the labels 'All-Natural', 'Certified Organic', and 'Chemical Free'. WHY?

• The skin is the largest organ of the Human Body. Whatever you put on it eventually ends up IN your body. With organic and natural products, you can be at least more sure that it would not harm you.

• They tend to work better, since they are made with high-quality ingredients. The ingredients used in these products are actually tested to be more complimenting to the skin.

• Basically, it's Chemical-Free. And it's a great thing! Phthalates(Phthalate exposure has been linked to early puberty in girls, a risk factor for later-life breast cancer.), Parabens(They are absorbed through the skin and have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumors.), and the scariest - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or PAHs(are a group of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil and gasoline. They have been shown to increase risk for breast cancer.), are the common chemicals found in cosmetics and beauty products. Just compare reading those with Oats(were used to treat everything from gout and rheumatism to rashes.), Lavender(great anti-septic and moisturizer), Argan Oil(natural wrinkle fighter, an excellent hydrator,  an anti-inflammatory, which makes it surprisingly useful as an acne fighter.), and Aloe(acne-fighting ingredient and anti-ager, cools skin down nicely, research suggests that aloe is actually better for healing wounds.). Picking the later by now, I guess huh? :)

• Much, much better for the Environment. Come on, it's not too late to go green! Our environment is starting to deteriorate on us, it has given us so much. Maybe it's time to give back, and use products that doesn't harm it.

But still, beware. Not all organic and natural products are good for everybody. Others may develop allergic reactions or may have allergies to some ingredients, so it's still better to always, always be sure to research about the product before actually using it. There are a variety of natural ingredients to choose from, and I am pretty much sure that you will find what suits you and your skin the most. Don't lose hope! ♥

Sources:

Breat Cancer Fund

Saffron Rouge

Get Better Health

Bella Sugar

Love your skin the way it should be loved, and by that you'll also help the environment!

Havva happy weekend Kiwis!