Back to Black

This is an outfit for all the bitter gals out there. Haha! Valentine's is nearing but who said single ladies can't celebrate on the fourteenth? Valentine's is a special occassion you can celebrate with friends and family too.

Anywho, I was supposed to film a Valentine look book but I got the flu. (Huhu) So I decided to just shoot an outfit indoors and yeah. I came up with this gothic, black and red outfit that you can wear on the fourteenth. 

Hooray for DIY flower crowns!

Here's the complete outfit.

So do you like it? I know it looks too dark, but it has this girly touch in it too, right? Uhm, about the top... I can't really remember where I got it, I just found it in my closet (yes, a deep treasure trove) haha. But if you have something lacey and kind of a see-through fabric then BINGO! That's the perfect top for this outfit. That's what we're looking for. Mine has this cute, red laces. YES! RED! The color of love, wee. And I also wore a DIY flower crown with a hint of red just to add a little happiness to the outfit. Haha!

Moving on... The skirt, it's in my previous outfit posts so I guess you already know where I got it. It's from an online shop called OOTD Online Store. So many cheap but trendy outfits there, please look them up on Instagram. :) I love skirts, most especially skaters. Skaters are very easy to pull off and very comfy, too. Alright, I'll tell you something. Whenever my sisters and I go shopping, we have this thing... We look fer shoes that are so hard to pull off and we try em on just to see how silly it looks on our feet. Whoever wears it best wins! 'Cause sometimes we just can't help but laugh when we see pumps with big ass ribbons on it and sparkles and jewels and you know... it's something very much LOL worthy. :))

Finally, the combat boots... For so long I've been wanting to buy combat boots... Tears in my eyes. Lol. So when I saw these babies displayed on Forever 21's glorious shelves, I grabbed 'em right away and make le boyfriend pay for em. Haha, kidding. He got me a lotta Forever 21 stuff fer my birthday last January. Teehee. Love him to bits!

Complete this outfit with a vibrant lip color (red or purple or whatever) and a big so-what-I'm single-what-do-you-care smile. I hope everyone enjoys on the fourteenth and ooh, I just realized it lands on a Friday! Wee TGIF for you guys! Not for me tho, huhu. We got this thing coming up, it's called AdSpeak '14, it's like a big event for advertising majors. We joined and submitted a lotta entries. PSAs of all sorts. Print, Radio, TV, Digital, you name it. Anywho, I hope we win something! Wish me luck!

And ooh, I still hope I can film that valentine lookbook, tho. :( So yeah, bye bye guys! Be better not bitter!

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Brows! Brows! Brows!

Hi! How are you guys? How did you spend your holidays? I had an ah-mazing Christmas vacation with my family. We went to the mountains and had a little nature retreat. Yes, a day with no cell reception and poor internet connection but I managed to survive! Haha! The view was awesome though, we stayed at my uncle’s farm for a day. We trekked through the woods and found our way out to the beautiful Pagsanjan falls. It’s in Laguna, by the way. Sadly, we didn't get to see the whole thing. Because we were actually on top of it. Just imagine how quiet the place was. I’ll put up an individual post about it when I can ‘cause I swear you have to see it! 

Anyway, I promised to blog about some products I mentioned on my Twitter and Instagram accounts last year (wow, seems like ages ago already haha) and finally, I had time to write… So yeah, I better get on it…

So! I’ve been getting a lot of requests to do a tutorial on how I do my brows. It’s funny ‘cause honestly, I don’t know what you see in them. For me, brows are very hard to maintain ‘cause I was not blessed with thick and well-groomed brows. Naturally, my brows are thin and sparse, so usually I just draw on them or fill them in. You can look up brow shaping tutorials on Youtube (check out MichellePhan) or if you’re feeling lazy, just have the experts do it for you.

It’s important for us girls to keep our brows groomed because they frame our eyes. They kinda give a slight lift to the eyes, making them look more awake. On days when I don’t feel like wearing makeup, I just swipe on my favourite lip balm from Burt’s Bees and fill-in my brows with this baby. 

P.S. Please excuse the grainy photo as it was taken from my mobile phone.

This is the Perfect Brow Kit from Etude House, it comes with a little spooley and a two-way brush. It has two colors, black and taupe, and the shimmery thing on the corner is a highlighter. Don’t worry about a little shimmer, it just adds twinkle to your eyes. A little isn’t bad. Oh, and I almost forgot! A big mirror is already attached to the kit. 

So what I do is I brush my brows in place using a spooley and  I fill them in with the help of the two-way brush;  I use the sharp end for building up my arch. I like to use the lighter shade (taupe) on the inner half of my brows and the darker shade (black) on the tail of my arch. That technique makes my brows look softer and more natural. After that, I use a cotton swab to wipe away harsh edges and apply a bit of highlighter on my brow bone using my ring finger.

Tada! Here's how it looks like.

Bold brows for the win!

The downside of this product is that 1) it's a longer method than simply drawing on your brows with a brow pencil 2) the spooley and the brush are way too little, I find it difficult to work with small brushes 3) the product is pricey compared to brow pencils; it costs Php400, I think. 

Natural-looking brows are the bomb. You’re lucky if you have super bold brows like Lilly Collins or Cara Delevingne. But for girls like me, we always have to make an extra effort in grooming our brows. 

So there you go. I hope somehow this helps. My next post would be about Burt's Bees products. Totally lovin' them right now! Till the next post, buhbye! 

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Skater Girl

Hi! It's been awhile since my last post. College life is crazy. Ugh. Anyway, I'm gonna show you here different ways of wearing skaters. Yes, the universal and ever-trendy skirt. You can wear this on a date, or a night out with your girlfriends, or whatever. Here are four skater outfits for you!

Outfit #1:

Hope you like it. Enjoy, bye bye! Haha! Kidding. I'm really in a hurry so yeah. Lezz do this! I love how girly, young and fresh this outfit looks. It's like a combination of classy and sexy. Meow! Haha. Plus, I love love love the color blue. I look good in blue. I think... What? Haha.  

So let's talk about the skirt. The skirt, I got it from an online shop, it's called OOTDonlinestore. A mouthful, no? Please make sure to check them out on Instagram by this user ID @ootdonlinestore. They're selling super affordable skaters for P250. Hanging tops, too and snapbacks, bags, etc. Really cute store, promise to look them up. Oh, and they're Cavite based, so meet-ups are A-Ok. I actually got mine via meet-up at SM City Bacoor.

LOVE the skirt, so comfy, fits amazingly and the fabric is just lovely. Good quality, I promise. It's garterized and is available in pink, blue, black, red and teal. I think they're having an early Christmas promo now, so please visit their page. :)

The midrib corset (Yay, finally!), I got it from my Mom, actually. It's from a local fashion store. It costs P300, I think. Really cute! So hard to find this kind of top on online shops, I'm happy Mum got it for me. Yes, it is padded and the strap is adjustable and as you can see in the photo, it has big buttons on it. 

Moving on, this sexy peep toe wedge I'm wearing is from Charles & Keith. I got it ages ago. So I'm not really sure if it's still available in malls. I don't have a photo of it up close but its texture is denim-like. Yeah. Sexy, di ba? Haha. It is SUPER hard to walk in it, though. Remember, poise, poise, poise and poise. Just take tiny, little steps. Like really tiny steps. Haha!

For the accessories, I just wore a silver necklace Mark gave to me on our first Valentine's together and a charm bracelet from Silver Works. Yay. And finally, ze bag. This b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l bag is actually from Hong Kong. Bags there are super expensive so don't bother asking how much this costs because I might crumble down... and cry. Again. Haha. Anywho, it is absolutely lovely. It's from Blugirl. It has this reptile look on it and a gold-plated heart in the middle. Amazing 'cause it kind of looks smaller than it actually is. So, if you have a bag that has a leathery feel, use it in this outfit.

So yeah, that's the complete look. I have three more looks below so just read on. 

Outfit #2: 

Sorry I don't do proper photo shoots for this. Haha. Anyway, this is basically the same look but I changed the colors to make it look more romantic. :) This look is perfect for date nights. 

I got the skirt from another online shop, if you've been reading my previous posts maybe you already have a hunch. Yes, this is from Candy Girl Cab. I'm in love with the color, very soft and easy on the eyes. It didn't fit me well though so I used a thin belt for this outfit which I got from Preppy. Sorry for having beauty queen measurements! HAHAHA! Kidding. How I wish... Anyway, if you want to know where I got this floral corset top, please do check out my previous outfit post entitled Street Chic Denim. :) If you want, you can top this look with a denim jacket. And if you have long hair, tie it in a bun for a cute look. Moving on, the floral wedge, I got it from Effigi. Super comfy and easy to walk in. Also, I'm wearing accessories from Sliver Works. :)

Ouitfit #3:

Unfortunately, we don't have winter here in the Philippines. But it can get pretty chilly here sometimes especially on Christmas season. So, it's a perfect time for you girls to wear your pullovers and booties! Kung lamigin ka, maybe you'll like this outfit.

This is the same skirt I'm wearing in Outfit #1, so no need for reintroduction. Reader you've met skater skirt, skater you've met reader. Next. This pretty pullover is from Hong Kong. If you've been to HK, you prolly know 6ixty 8ight. Girls in shopping districts flock like crazy into this store. Anyway, what I like about this pullover is its simplicity and color. And finally, the suede booties! I got these babies from HK, too. They're from Clark's and I am crazy about every detail of it.

Outfit #4:

This look is one of my faves. It is simple, chic and comfy. I simply paired up a white, loose polo with a black skater skirt. I especially love the gold gladiator sandals I'm wearing in this photo, really goes well with the outfit. It's from CMG, by the way. It costs Php 1,800. I also wore a mint green spike bangle from Forever 21 and a satchel of the same color. 

Time's up! Really have to leave now. Sorry if this post feels so rushed, hope you liked the outfits though. So that's all for now, 'til the next post. Buhbye!

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Yummy Skin Remedy

You must feel very awkward right now staring at this photo. :D
But I promise, I don't have any makeup on, just my natural Filipina skin.
And maybe a little gloss. Teehee. :D

Hello ladies! I’ve been meaning to share this simple home remedy with you, but I keep forgetting. Haha! This one is very, very easy. Inexpensive, too.  You actually don’t have to buy the product anymore because it’s probably sitting in your kitchen right now. You might have heard of this before, it’s called the Oatmeal Skin Remedy.

I learned this treatment from BubzBeauty about two years ago and it has been working its magic on my skin ever since. I really, really like this remedy because it’s super easy. But before I tell you how it’s done, lemme tell you first why your skin craves oatmeal.

Oatmeal has many benefits. Perhaps, you know that oatmeal lowers cholesterol levels in the body. But do you know that oatmeal is an amazing skin food, too?

Oatmeal is an incredible cleanser; it is effective in relieving dryness in the skin. Not only that it moisturizes the skin, it has the ability to reduce redness, too. Unlike facial creams, this is a 100% natural skin exfoliator. It removes skin impurities and lightens blemishes without chemicals used in other skin care products.

So here’s something you can do daily to have smoother and softer skin:

NOTE: This can be pretty messy!

1. Splash your face with lukewarm water.
2. Place a spoonful of oatmeal on your palm. Dampen it with lukewarm water.
3. Press the oats with your thumb until you see a sort of milky substance. Don’t waste it! Apply it on your face. Think of it as a primer.
4. Massage the oats on your face for a minute in a circular motion. It should feel soft, not scratchy! P.S. While doing this, you might get a little hungry. I think you already know why. Haha!
5. Rinse it off with lukewarm water. If it doesn't feel thick and sticky, you’re doing it right!
6.  Dry your face with a clean towel.
7.  Hep, we’re not yet done! Seal the moisture with a lotion or a moisturizer.
8. And the last part, just treasure the moment. Run your fingers over your cheeks and feel your baby soft skin. Haha!

This immediately makes the skin softer, glowing and rosy. Well, at least for me that’s what it does. Haha! 

If you have more time, you can also try making an oatmeal mask. I stumbled upon this on www.sharecare.com.

The Skin Doc's Smoothing, Soothing Oatmeal Mask

2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats

2 tablespoons hot water

1/2 tablespoon honey

1. Put the oats into a clean herb or coffee grinder on the finest setting, and process into powder.

2. Pour into a small bowl and stir in hot water and honey. Let stand for 5 minutes.

3. Wash face with warm water. While skin is still damp, massage paste onto face, circling around eyes and mouth. Leave on for 10 minutes.

4. Remove with tepid water and a washcloth. Apply your favorite moisturizer to seal the deal and set the glow.

P.S.: Don't stop eating oats just because you've transformed them into a beauty treatment! They're hard to beat as a source of health-protective soluble fiber -- and eating a high-fiber diet can make your real age up to 6 years younger.

So that’s how you can get smoother, clearer and brighter skin without emptying your pockets! You don’t always have to spend thousands on good skin care products to have fairer skin. Sometimes, you just have to find alternatives. Feel great about yourself without spending $$$! I hope you learned something today. ‘Til the next post, bye!

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The Wonders of Virgin Coconut Oil

I am very in love with a product right now and I thought maybe I can share with you guys this recent discovery of mine (sorry for being a late bloomer).

Dendereren… Extra Virgin Coconut Oil!

I'm using PROSOURCE Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

FYI, using coconut oil is a wonderful natural way of softening the hair and moisturizing the skin. VCO works wonderfully for my hair. I super love it! I actually learned this from my legendary hair stylist relative here in Imus, Lola Vicky.  

A woman’s hair is her crowning glory. It is super important that you take care of your hair because it helps in framing the face. Truly, a well-groomed hair is the most natural and inexpensive accessory a woman can wear.

Unfortunately, I don’t have perfectly straight hair; in fact, I was born with kinky hair. As I grew up, the curls slowly turned to waves (definitely not the bombshell waves) and it was not great to look at anymore.

One day, I decided to rebond my hair. Rebonding is a very risky process especially when you undergo through it repeatedly. So before you do it, make lots of research and ask hair specialists first. Not all kinds of hair can survive this procedure, you know. Hair rebonding and coloring damaged my hair and worsened my hair fall. I even got to the point where I decided to just chop it all off. Yes, I was brave enough to sport the pixie cut.

I was satisfied with my pixie. But eventually, I missed styling my hair; I missed brushing it and all. My hair started to grow back and I was stuck with every short-haired girl’s dilemma: Should I maintain my do or should I just let it grow back but look hideous in the process? I chose to let it grow back. And yes, for months I did not like how I look. Out of desperation, I sought for advice.

I went to Lola Vicky. She has a salon here in Imus which was very famous during its prime years back in the day. I consulted with her about how the ever-changing weather and pollution damaged my growing hair (by this time, I had shoulder-length hair) and I asked her for the best solution. She answered with a simple “Virgin Coconut Oil.” She told me that it was a better and cheaper solution than hot oil and hair spa. Indeed, she was right. All I have to do is buy one from the mall; the one I’m using costs only P280.

After showering, I massage it thoroughly on my scalp for deep conditioning. A little goes a long way with this product so don’t squeeze the bottle when you’re applying it. Remember to focus on the ends too because it’s the part where you really want to rub all the product. The tips are the most damaged part of the hair, as we all know. Use a comb to distribute the oil evenly.

After that, I use a towel to wrap up my hair and then I just leave it on overnight. When I wake up the next day, I take another bath. I rinse it all off with a conditioner (you can also use shampoo) and I’ll just air dry it. And voila! My hair would look like I just had it straightened. If you are in a hurry and you can't do the overnight trick, just leave the coconut oil on for 30-40 minutes and rinse.  

I love this product because it’s really, really healthy. And cheap too! Ooh, before I forget, change your pillowcases after doing this because the VCO may stick in there and you wouldn’t want that.

If your hair turns out super shiny, maybe you applied a little too much but don’t worry… All you have to do is rinse your hair again to get rid of the extra shine. After a week or so, my hair would start to look dry again, and  I'll just have to do the procedure all over again.

Here are some tips from wikihow.com:

•      Coconut oil makes the hair healthier and can help it grow faster when you apply it more.
•  If you color your hair at home, coconut oil can be used to help reduce the damage from the chemicals by adding moisture. Apply a couple drops in your dye bottle mix it well before using.
•  Coconut oil is around 90 percent effective at getting rid of lice when rubbed into the scalp.
• Do not leave the oil for more than a day without washing it. It will make your hair smell bad and become greasy.
• A small amount of this oil goes a long way. Be careful not to use too much.
• Add with Alma/Indian Gooseberry powder to keep melanin in the hair follicles. This is said to prevent gray hair.

VCO is good for the skin and lips too! I rub a little around my eyes because it works well as an under eye cream as well. Just apply a tiny amount to lighten your dark circles and to prevent signs of skin ageing such as wrinkles. Don’t slather VCO all over your face! Just under the eyes, okay? Avoid getting some in your eyes or else your vision might get blurry for awhile.

Another technique I learned is to rub VCO in the lips when it’s chapped. Rubbing a little will soften and moisturize the lips. I super love how baby soft it makes my lips. And kissable too! Teehee. If you want to exfoliate your lips, you can also use this product. Pour a teaspoon of VCO in a bowl, add a pinch of sugar and mix it up. Gently massage the mixture on your lips in a circular motion. And rinse. Don’t worry about ingesting a little because it’s completely edible.

So that’s pretty much everything... ‘Til the next post. Enjoy!

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Street Chic Denim

Alright, let's kick start this post by giving this outfit a name. I'd love to call this look... Tada! Street Chic Denim! What? Haha! I love denim vests. They're so edgy and comfy and easy to pull off. So, yeah. Here's the look. 

Last night, my boyfriend called me and invited me out on a casual date. So I hurried to my closet (Oh, you know. Just me being me) and picked out a cozy sweater -- because I honestly thought it was gonna rain today. But it didn't. So I ended up wearing *glorious music* The Street Chic Denim.

For this look, I wore a floral corset top and a high-waist, animal-print skirt, topped off with a distressed denim vest. I could've worn flat sandals to show off my newly polished toe nails (Teehee) but I decided to wear my flat, brown booties instead. 

One good thing about denim vests? They never go out of style! Well, at least here in the Philippines. They are available at every mall and every clothing retail store. I got mine at a local fashion store, actually. I'm so sorry I forgot the name of the store! Anywho, you can't actually see the distressed detail in this photo because its mostly in the back part of the vest. But there's a picture of it up close below. 

Again, I love love love denim vests! I have another one which I bought from NEXT Jeans. They're just so comfy but stylish at the same time. Here's what I wore up close:

Moving on with the skirt and top... I got my animal-print skirt for P500 at Kirin-Kirin. It has this leathery texture which I absolutely love. Sorry I don't have a photo of it up close. But I tell you, the texture is ah-mazing. Now, the corset... I actually bought it in our University. Every students week, a huge bazaar is held and fashion tents emerge inside the Univ like mushrooms -- along the lake. In empty parking lots. Beside the Square -- they're pretty much everywhere. Anywho,  I got this corset top for only P150, if my memory serves me right. I like it. It fits beautifully. I have to go easy on food whenever I'm wearing this, though. It's just so damn tight. Haha!

For this look, I wore my flat, brown boots which I got during a sale at MOGAO, SM Pala-Pala. I got it for only P400! P400 people. Freaking P400! The quality is better than I expected. I bought it less than two years ago and it still looks brand new. Unlike Mom's boots from Rusty Lopez... The "leather" tore off too quickly! I guess Rusty Lopez is getting a little... rusty. Haha! Oh my gosh! So sorry for that lame attempt. :( I just had to say it! Haha!

Going back, I LOVE the studded sling bag I used in this look. It's so chic, so glam, so It girl-ish! I got it from Sabella. I forgot how much it costs, though. This fab sling bag  is cream in color and has a leathery texture. I love how it goes so well with the edgy denim vest! Just look at how chic it is...

Now, for the accessories... I wore a kind of like a rocker watch from Tomato and a huge, square ring which was a Christmas gift from my cousin. I also sported a Silver Works necklace which was a gift from my Mom. 

That is actually my birthstone, Garnet. Yes, I'm a January baby. I wonder what the shrinks say about girls who were born on January. Hm, let's find out... 

According to Yahoo! Answers, Capricorn women are neat, tidy, tall... Wait, what? Tall? Alright, I ain't reading this crap no more. Lies! Deceit! Haha! It did say January babies love to go on picnics, though. Uhh...What? Let's just get this post over with, shall we?

I'd like to bid you all good night with this very awkward self-portrait.

Hitting the hay now. Have a good night's sleep! Don't let the bed bugs bite. Teehee. Night everyone, 'til the next post! 

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Floral Fanatic

Hey there! This is my very first outfit post and I shall call this look Floral Fanatic. I already had this uploaded on my lookbook account a few weeks back. If you want to see my other outfit posts, feel free to check it out here: http://lookbook.nu/gaberoo

Yes, this photo was awkwardly shot at our lovely roof deck.

So, as you can see... This look has a touch of vintage in it and it would be a perfect outfit for a first date or something. It's not too much, not over-the-top. And if you're going for a sweet and lady-like first impression, read on.

Would you believe me if I told you that I got this beautiful floral dress for only P300? A friend of mine, Alyssa Cueno, owns an online boutique called Candy Girl Cab. I have made a lot of purchases from her online shop and I tell you, she sells dope items. Look her up on Facebook! You can really save more and spend less on online boutiques. But before you buy from an online shop, make sure that it's legit. Hey, you never know, right? Better safe than sorry! Anywho, I really love this dress because it fits me beautifully. I mean, who knew I had those curves? Haha! But seriously, I have a collection of floral dresses and this is totally my favorite. Makes me look so innocent! :)

Moving on with the shoes...These babies are actually... Not mine. They are my Mom's but she wore it only once. I don't want these babies to be stuck in the rack forever! I had to use it. Haha! Mom got it from Chelsea. I really, really love its color. Who doesn't love nude peep toe pumps? No one! 

Now, with the accessories... For this outfit, I paired the floral dress with a gold bangle and a humongous ring. Here are photos of 'em up close.

I got this gold bangle from a very chic store at Alabang Town center called Apostrophe. I love how it gives extra vintageness to the outfit. 

I also wore this humongous ring, which complimented the sparkly clutch I'm holding in the photo. I got this from The Bead Shop. If I were a vampire, I'd prolly make this my daylight ring. Haha!

If you don't have a gold bangle, you can always wear something similar to the one I'm wearing, like this one. This bangle is also from The Bead Shop. The white rocks and silver strings remind me of the pretty corals in Palawan. Hee. There are so many good finds at The Bead Shop. I also bought a dream catcher necklace and an ever watchful eye pendant from that store. Really, Gab? Ever watchful eye pendant? Really? Sorry if I creep you out. It looks prettier than what you think! Haha!

And finally, the hat. The moment I saw it, I knew in my gut that I had to buy it. I instantly fell in love with this hat because it reminded me of the roaring '20s. If you happen to know the movie entitled The Changling, this is the kind of hat that Jolie wore in that film. It's quite expensive, though. You can find it at Kirin-Kirin for P500.

Don't over think on looking too perfect. You know how the song goes... ♫ When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change. 'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are ♫. So, yeah. That's pretty much everything. Maybe next time I'll post a makeup tutorial. Whatcha think? Just have fun with the outfit and enjoy your date! 'Til the next post, buh-bye!

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