In addition to the standard high school classes, Reedley International School has a class called “Life Skills” — an 80 minute per week course teaching students how to maintain a healthy disposition in life and be effective communicators.

“Life-skills is a program where students learn the best tools to strengthen their character and leadership skills, and enhance relationships with peers, parents, and society,” Ong said.

The program emphasizes three things: values formation, self-regulation, and working with others, all of which significantly contribute to shaping competent, integral and consequently, successful individuals.

Interesting and brilliant. Most people are unable to maintain healthy relationships, have anger management problems, and are just have something WRONG in their heads.

Several articles has been written lauding or referring to the program at the Filipino Voices, Reedley blog, Business Mirror and Philippine Star. Everything sounds idealistic and nice but implementing is another issue. A friend who studied there told me that “it was a useless class, well at least for our batch.”

This is something parents should be building. Character building, values formation, self-regulation, and delayed gratification. Happy disposition for the win!

What is Tamera Online about? It sells make-up brands online, with supposedly free shipping anywhere in the Philippines. Its goal is to feature those products unavailable in the country. Usually, you have to go to the States to purchase them or buy them off online. Think brands like Prescriptives, Bath and Body Works, Benefit, Cle de Peau.

It’s like Sephora (never tried purchasing online though) but with a limited selection of products as of now. I found out about the website via Cosmopolitan May issue. I was interested in buying but Benefit Lemon Aid was unavailable.

Tamera Online

I imagine, only a make-up junkie would probably buy off here. First-time buyers would be wary, unless they have a make-up swap system available similar to MUA. (I’d love to have that here, but that’s for another post.)

What do you think? Personally, I don’t like the colors. The site looks poorly managed–there are double/tripe entries of the same product! Bad start for an idea with potential. Editing needs to be improved on.

Has anyone tried their service? How is it? Any negative reviews? Will you be willing to give it a go?

One of the things I considered blogging about was make-up. But I have to face it, I don’t see myself ever measuring up to or competing with sites like Beauty Addict. I’m the low-maintenance type. I am not a make-up snob: I didn’t understand what is an NC30 or NC20 shit (blame MAC ), what is an HG product, what is a primer, or what are the different types of brushes.

Well, okay, of course, I have an idea what they are all about now. I pore over make-up, clothes, and perfume blogs or review sites during my spare time. The sites do have a lot of pretty pictures to ogle over.

Granted, when I first found out that these things exist, I didn’t understand anything! My first introduction to this world was I Am Fashion and MUA. Who knew that make-up/clothes has its own lingo? It’s like a freaking finance book–they speak in a lingo you don’t understand but probably practised ever since you were in kindergarten.

I’ll be the natural make-up look kind of girl through and through. Which is why, after poring over blogs this morning, I wondered if there’s anyone that will write about make-up that way. I want a make-up for noobs type. All natural looking, make-up lingo type of blog. Just simple and back to the basics while focusing on looks and how to get them (evening, party out, beach) instead of products. Make-up is not supposed to be complicated! I want 5 minutes spent on make-up tops!

Oh, and I also want a guide on where and how to get a blush, powder, and brush that fits in a small pouch. Sleek, compact, and travel-friendly. I hate bulkiness! And there is NO way I am going to squeeze my brush in and risk ruining or contaminating them with germs.

Oh ya, brush and hygiene snob.

While other people are obsessing about beach wear, I find myself thinking about jackets, trenches, and ponchos. It may be an odd thing to do, but I am extremely curious how people fend off the cold inside the office!

Usually, I wear a ratty sea-green cardigan over my clothes. It doubles as a blanket whenever I decide to take a nap during breaks. However, lately, it simply is not enough to keep me warm. My arms are chilly and the thin cardigan doesn’t provide much protection. I don’t have a lot of jackets simply because I never saw enough reason to. It’s so hot in the Philippines, but the office cold is bugging me lately…

I’ve seen these a lot during my HSBC days. I don’t know what it’s called! Some sites call them a shawl and some sites call them a throw. Basically it’s just this thick piece of rectangular cloth that you can wrap around yourself. What I liked about it was that they looked so nice, even if a purple cloth was wrapped around themselves. I call it the handy blanket! Definitely comfortable.

The thing is I don’t know where to get these. I’ve tried looking for them but most are too thin. I don’t think what I’m looking for is a shawl as all the shawls I’ve looked at are so sheer. And so I sigh and move on to the next target.

The ponchos, of course! Some people may call them ugly, but I like them considering how cozy it feels wearing one. I’ve only borrowed it from my friend a long time ago and I’d never forget it. The thing is, I don’t know where to get one!

Imagine, something soft, easy to wear, and easy to discard. Plus, it doesn’t look half-bad too, depending on what you buy. But where to get this, I wonder? I’d like one of these. Mm, all cocooned-up.

The next thing I considered are cardigans and sweaters. My only gripe about them is that it may not fit every clothes you wear. I don’t really dress up much and so it would be nice to just wear a jacket that complements what you wear already, instead of clashing horribly with it.

Lastly, the trench coat! I have a soft spot with them, but I’ve never got a chance to buy one. They just look so nice whenever I try them on or whenever I look at clothes online. I just find it impractical and can’t come up with an occassion to wear one.

What about you? How do you manage to keep off the cold? Tell me where to buy!

One of my guilty pleasures (and annoyances) is purchasing those must-have make-up. Who can resist a product with loads of rave reviews promising that said product is a holy grail? That it brightens up the face and yet looks natural? I certainly can’t.

Fortunately, I only go for the natural look make-up. I use powder and blush, minimizing my expenses. I’ve been drooling over a lot of stuff reviewed at MakeupAlley.com and while I was waiting for my friends to arrive, I had the chance to check them out. I visited Rustan’s to check if they have stocks of T. Le Clerc Loose Powder in Banane.

T. Le Clerc Loose Powder in Banane

Last time I visited Rustan’s, the color was unavailable. This is their best-selling product, with the hype extending in all kinds of media–print or internet. I was swayed by the reviews and disappointed that the color was unavailable. I decided to settle for the other shade, Translucide.

A very big mistake! Now that it’s here (and the stocks sell up fast), I was torn between purchasing another loose powder when I’ve barely even used my current one. To console myself, I asked the assistant to put it on me.

It was definitely better than Translucide. The loose powder in Banane made my complexion matte and flawless. There were two choices: the compact form (7g) and the refill can (37g). I wanted both. I decided to immediately leave the shop… but came back to purchase the refill anyway! Crazy, haha.

Nars in Orgasm

When I came back to purchase the powder, I checked out the blush section. I’ve been hearing good things about the blush Nars in Orgasm. Most make-up artists, my peers, and the reviewers rave about the blush. It’s a soft peachy-pink color that gives you that after-glow instead of a flush. I tried it on and, wow, the color looked pretty. I left the store, not wanting to make another purchase.

I came back right after, of course. And bought the damn thing. I reasoned to myself that it’s hard to find such a pretty-looking peachy-pink blush (that lasts). My previous one was Shiseido in Tangerine Mandarine, which I discontinued using after a year. (I’m very paranoid about germs accumulating in make-up.)

Benefit Benetint

The thing about it is that I just bought Benefit Benetint. I’m a lazy make-up person–I don’t want retouches. This is why I absolutely love tints and Benefit’s arguably the best out there. The color is natural and long-lasting.  No one sells it here at the Philippines and so when I saw a Sephora store at HongKong, I jumped to the chance and bought the damn thing. Just this April too.

Now, I’m stuck with two blushes and two loose powders. I don’t know how I’d ever finish the four; hopefully, I won’t see another product that I must try.

After a day of wearing the two, I still look fresh with that glow. Admittedly, I felt my face itch after puting the loose powder; although, I don’t think it’s because of the powder itself. I encountered a similar problem with Translucide and found out that my face itches when I sweat immediately after putting the powder.

The tint also lasts all day. I’m satisfied with the results, but it’s still too early to tell! I’m not the one that’s supposed to be wowed but other people as well! If it doesn’t work, then how can it be nice and worth the price?

For all I know, I could have been brainwashed by all those reviews! I’ll find out if it is certainly ‘HG’ status.

UPDATE:

The Banane powder does the dreaded volcanic effect! If I’m not too careful, I could end up spilling a lot of powder. It’s impossible to bring. I hate this tin can, but it’s cute. (There’s a reason why they called it the refill can…)

My Translucide one was in a limited edition can (10g), as I’ve found out. It looks different and it doesnt spill any powder. I can bring it anywhere, make it roll over. Grr. Everytime I see a powder wasted, my heart becomes heavier.

I’m starting to think that this is a marketing tactic. The can’s impossible to bring anywhere without any powder spilling. T. Le Clerc wants us to buy that ridiculously expensive compact case with less powder and a steeper price!

Grrr. Haha.