Startup Weekend Manila 2012 Day 2

Currently here at MINT College, summarizing my day in pictures. Not everything. ^^;; But if you're following me on Twitter or Instagram, you probably got flooded by a lot of pictures from this weekend's event: Startup Weekend!

Three days (more or less) of getting together people of different backgrounds to create something awesome.  We've got developers, marketing and business people, designers. 

My name tag. XD  Each person here has a name tag with a brief description of who he/she is and what he/she does.  It makes it easier to decide whether you will collaborate or not, and in what ways you could be helpful to each other.

People picked their teams during Day 1. (Sorry no blog post on that! :( I wasn't really here when it happened.) Today was pretty intense. Some teams were big (more than 5 people, probably up to 8 or 10) and there were some really small ones.  All over the venue, there's so many pieces of paper that has the information these teams need to come up with their startup.

There were mentors going around and talking with the different teams.  I don't recall how many mentors showed up today but I think that the participants did take this opportunity to discuss their ideas and consult their mentors on how to execute their awesome plans.

Charo was kind enough to prepare coffee. :3 It was awesome! (Well, it wasn't just Charo. Scott too but I don't have his picture^^;;;)

Rico as the proof of how good the coffee was. XDDDDD

Typing up some information for Startup Weekend. This is our new startup hahahaha XDDD Kidding!

There was also a photobooth setup in one of the rooms so some of us volunteers just had to goof off in front of it. Hahahaha. Too bad the GDG shirts aren't so obvious from the pictures but there's quite a bunch of us wearing it today.

Today was pretty interesting.  Seeing people who are very hardworking and determined to overcome their obstacles, it is really awesome.  Some people had to pivot today and I find it great that they're able to focus and come up with a new plan to execute. Here's hoping that every team will have the confidence to pitch tomorrow!

My Etude House haul + Pink Fair ticket

First of all, thank you to all of you who sent me a message after reading my previous blog post. I am definitely humbled and touched by your words. <3 It's been difficult for the past two weeks or so and feeling ugly so I just had to let it out of my system.  You're definitely inspiring women who I respect and trust as well so I want to express my gratitude.

~o~o~o~o~o~

I haven't been shopping as much as I used to so the Pink House ticket was actually the perfect excuse for me to get new stuff from Etude House! ;)  What's a girl to do? Right? Right! Hahaha. Anyway, here's my haul:

L-R: Etude House Pink Fair ticket, Matte Real top coat, Petit Bijou spray (peach!), Dual Nuance #4, Oblique Shadow Brush

I suppose some of you would've expected me to get the latest lippies. Well, I did like the beige shades a lot. It's just that I think I have enough lippies and I didn't see a shade that truly stood out from the bunch. At least for me, I think I could hold off from purchasing them for now.  The shades I liked from the testers earlier were ones that were too close to my current set of lippies so, yeah, it was a no go for me.

The Matte Real top coat was heaven sent! I finally saw it in stock so I just had to grab one before I miss out on it.  :D  And the Petit Bijou spray was something I read about before. I love the fact that I could use it for practically anything.  I just forgot to buy a small atomizer for this though. T^T  The Dual Nuance eyeliner and eye shadow stick was in metallic/shimmery brown so I just had to get it.  Perfect for those days when you know you have to go somewhere but can't be bothered to bring an eyeshadow palette!  And last but not the least, the oblique shadow brush. :3  Eye makeup is a challenge for me so I am building up my tool set for eye makeup.  My lip colors are generally in the pink, light or even nude shades so it's more or less natural looking and so I thought that eye makeup should probably be more 'obvious' or prominent.

The Pink Fair is something I'm looking forward to this weekend. I have friends who are definitely going there and I can't miss this chance. :)  Are you attending the Pink Fair? Hope to see you!

On finding yourself and your inner beauty

I have to admit something: I am very insecure about how I look.

Funny how that sounds like because this blog is about skin care, makeup and things that make one's self pretty.  Well, it does make sense that I am writing this confession to you. Some of you know me personally. Some of you just met me recently. Some of you met me when I was a teenager.

Thanks to M who boosted up my energy this morning when she complimented my latest profile picture on Yahoo Messenger.  She told me that I looked great and that it was good that I am learning to work with what I have.  It's really hard to believe in one's self when you wake up one day feeling like the ugliest person in the universe. (Melodramatic, but it does happen, doesn't it?)  Feeling unattractive is something people of all shapes and sizes experience.  It could be because of what other people tell us or it could be because of something else.  In my case, I have been labeled as the fat girl when I was younger and it doesn't help that I am still big and growing bigger each day.

That's when fighting for yourself needs to happen.  You need to sort out the bad from the good.  J and I have been texting each other last night and she really did give me a sense of comfort.  Despite the fact that she's younger than I am, when it comes to these things, I look up to her because she has that confident air about her. I think that's one of the reasons I miss interacting with her more frequently: her energy is infectious! Just her hello is enough to send good vibes in this universe.  Because of that positive energy that she exudes, she is such a pleasure to be with. The simplest conversations could turn out to be the most inspiring ones.

But I digress.  One needs to find himself/herself and learn more about the things that make himself/herself unique. What is special about you?  Are you paying attention to yourself? Sometimes we're too busy meeting deadlines, dealing with our clients, working ourselves to make sure we earn our keep.  We forget that we need to take care of ourselves in every possible way.  Are we still growing in terms of our character? Or are we stagnating?

I generally believe that when you are beautiful inside, you get to reflect that outside.  When we learn more about ourselves, when we allow ourselves to dream and pursue those dreams and achieve them, we gain confidence because of the little victories and the big victories we come across. Confidence does play a big part in giving out a beautiful aura which translates to something generally appealing to people.  You might not look like Ms. Universe, but you could still be the most charming person around if you let yourself shine.

The bad thoughts enter my head often these days. Maybe that's part of the reason why I haven't been blogging as much. But if I want to improve myself inside and out, I need to wrestle with those thoughts and win over them. And some of them, I need to embrace. Why? Because I think that some of those bad thoughts are partly correct: they might be about my weaknesses and so I have to embrace those weaknesses so I could deal with them accordingly.  If I want my inner beauty to shine through this madness I am experiencing right now, I need to face them one by one and just bring them out into the open. Well, not as openly as posting about all of them here. At least find someone I trust to talk to about them and not let the thoughts fester.  I need healing first.  Then I hope to gain the confidence that will help me become the better version of myself.

And if you're struggling like me, I encourage you to sort things out and find help from people you trust a lot.  It will be better for you to find someone to lighten the burden. He/she could remind you of the good things in your life and show you what lessons you could gain from your experiences.  You don't have to feel alone.  I hope that once you've started dealing with these things, you'd become a more confident person and a beautiful one too.

Giveaway Alert! Super Summer Giveaway

Kikay Si Maria, Shimmerjjang and Makeup by Ana Patricia have collaborated on a really HUGE summer giveaway for beauty enthusiasts out there. There are some required and optional stuff to do so read the details of their giveaway carefully!

Details of their giveaway as posted by Eloisa Co/Kikay Si Maria is here so click this link!

You need to like the Facebook pages of their sponsors:

Luview

HBC

Krave

Red Jhelli

Skinsonic

Suesh

Style Qtr

RK Manila

So check them out on Facebook. :D  I follow most of these pages (if not yet all of them) to get the latest product information and even details of giveaways from them.

And for the rest of the details and FAQs please check out Eloisa's post. (The link is up there!)

I dunno if I will join the giveaway or not. I am not lucky with such huge giveaways! I mean, I've won giveaways before but nothing this big~ I find the Clarisonic as a very huge incentive to join hahaha XDDD  Try your luck, you've got nothing to lose. :)

Post-Event Update: Snoe Suntervention Bloggers Convention

This is a rather photo-heavy post! Some pictures were taken using my phone, some were from the Snoe Beauty Inc.'s Facebook page and some are from Sofie's friend Christian Amiel Tira. Image credit will be given where it is necessary. :)

Last March 24, I went to Snoe's Suntervention Bloggers Convention held in Dasmarinas Village.  Their twitter update encouraged bloggers to interact with them so I didn't hesitate and grabbed the chance.  After all, Snoe was the brand of sunblock I was using.  (I have yet to review "Here Comes the Sun" soon! Sorry about not blogging about it sooner.)

Image Credit: Snoe Beauty Inc.

Upon entering the premises, everyone is encouraged to register and we even get Snoe money after that. Snoe money was used later in the event. We were even given a chance to try their false eyelashes. 

I was one of the people who arrived early and I met Donnarence and Sofie. :) 

Image Credit: Christian Amiel Tira

We had a chance to chat a bit and meet other bloggers too. One of the people I wanted to meet after so long was there too! Guess who? Michelle Bugante of Mich Eats and Shops. :D  While waiting for the others to arrive, we had a chance to test out some of their products.

Snoe's different products

 bb cream!

Body Ritual Recipes Body and Hair Glaze in Nectarine Ginger Tea

We had all sorts of games that day and I was called out for the first game. ^^;;;;;; The most awkward girl over there, I think. LOL. Because it was their launch for their latest product, SunTervention, we had to put sunblock on their male models. ^^;;;; Aiyeee~.  After a couple of games, the very beautiful CEO of Snoe talked to us about their latest products.  She was so lovely. My phone camera couldn't capture her beauty.  We actually had other games too.  So it was actually a very fun and informative event, especially for those who are new to the brand. :)

Snoe's CEO, Jen Gerodias-Diaz

I don't remember everything from her talk.  But some of the highlights were:

1. SunTervention - This is more intense than their "Here Comes the Sun" sunblock.  It offers SPF 80++ protection and it has a nice calamansi scent.  As she said in her talk, they're serious about sun protection and that even in their packaging they usually remind their customers to use sunblock.  (It is true if you check their products.  Do drop by their shops to see what I mean.)
2. Their latest products: CC cream :)  Something to watch out for, especially for bb cream fans.
3. They will have more shops which will give their customers a better experience.  (I saw their post in the Snoe Facebook page of their store design in SM Valenzuela and it looked so pretty!)
4. They have so many new products like a new variant of Hair Heroes, their Body Ritual Recipes Hair and Body Glaze, etc. That's why you really just have to go visit their stores. :D

The great thing about this event is that I met so many new people.  It's amusing how I have commented on some of their blogs already (way back) and I am even subscribed to some of them. ^^;  (Like Lucky Citrine, Carizza Chua, Codename Aya.) And of course I was happy to see Bec again (she's ever so bright and sparkly!) and I was blown away by the loveliness of Martha and Shen. :) So it was really cool that way.  I even met some new people like Gen (such a creative lady and I hope she will succeed in what she plans to launch in the future!) and Nin.  I was lucky to have talked with some of them and I hope to lessen my shyness and awkwardness in future events or opportunities to see them again.

Anyhow, at the end of the event, we got a chance to spend our Snoe money on their products.

My Snoe money

Everything in this photo was bought using Snoe money except for SunTervention because they gave that to all of us who went there. So lucky~! Perfect for summer. :)

I've been using Suntervention on my face and my body these days.  Has this replaced "Here Comes The Sun"? Yes!  Why? I prefer the texture of this one. :)

So there you have it.  I have yet to post reviews on these wonderful products.  I was truly lucky to have been given an opportunity to be at their event because Snoe is surely one Filipino brand to watch out for.

Quick Review: Skin Food Black Sugar Mask (Wash Off)

I like Skin Food products because they work well on me. The first bb cream that really didn't give me any issues was their Peach Sake BB Cream. :) Anyway, I was lucky enough to be picked by the beautiful blogger Des of Chic Sassy Mom and the products included were all from Skin Food so I got to try some of them including this wash off mask.

Sample size of the product. I used it 3 times. :)

Instructions from the Skin Food site:

Apply evenly after cleansing. Avoid eye and mouth area. Gently scrub and wash off with lukewarm water after 10 - 15 minutes.

Take note it says lukewarm water, not boiling water, not freshly boiled water either~! Don't hurt your skin. I usually mix hot water with tap water and test first so it's slightly warm but not hot. You get what I am saying? ;)

Texture: Yay!


It is thick and grainy, just like what I expected because it has sugar. Look at the pictures below.

It is thick and brown.

Spreadable~! And you could see the grains.

Some of you might fear that the grains are too big. I think that it was ok and it didn't really hurt. I think the sugar kinda melted with the heat from my hands as I spread them. XD  So no worries on how big the grains are.

Scent: Yay!

It was kinda citrusy and sugary. I LOVE IT!  I wouldn't mind using this mask regularly hahaha.

Effect: Yay!

My face felt really nice and clean.  Some bloggers said they looked like they had a glow after using it.  I couldn't really tell because of the lighting at home.  But my face felt oh so fresh and clean.  It didn't feel dry so I think that's a good thing.  

Overall I was happy with this trial packet and I am considering to get this after I used up my exfoliating creams. Well, unless I end up too happy with my Human Nature Strawberry scrub that is!  I can't comment on the packaging because it is different when you buy it full size.  I am also not sure of the cost when you buy it.  I think it's around PhP 550 or something.  Not bad, considering that's their mall price.   I am glad I had an opportunity to try this out for a week! Thanks again, Des! :)

So Instagram is finally available for us Android users...

This happens to be my first post on Instagram.

Finally! After so long, I see Instagram on Google Play's list of apps.  Some people online say they don't care about Instagram. Or I see folks reacting to the hate given because it's now available on Android. Snobbish? Yeah, I guess. If you've had Instagram forever and now you see even folks with not so good camera phones posting on Instagram, you might feel bad.  But as with most online stuff, you could choose to ignore those posts.  You don't need to follow every Instagram user anyway.

So what's with Instagram and why have I wanted this on Android?

It's a photo sharing and photo editing application.  There are plenty of those out there and I think that Pixlr-o-Matic might even have more features. But I wanted to get Instagram because there are plenty of users out there whose posts might inspire me to learn how to take pictures again.  There's also a way to view all Instagram posts without having to dig them all up from Twitter or Facebook. (Yes, there are times when I'd rather look at pictures and not read text.)  There's also the interaction within Instagram.  You could comment on each other's pictures and you don't even have to be Facebook friends with someone to do that. (In case you're following someone who's not a friend in real life, that is.)  I think that it boils down to the social aspect of using Instagram for me.

If you wanted to share photos, use something else?

I know I could use Path. I have Path. It's nifty.  I could post all sorts of updates (location, photos, random thoughts, etc).  But I sometimes find it awkward to post on Facebook or Twitter whatever I post on Path. Why? Because it's supposedly something you use to share updates with people who are close to you, not just anyone.  It could be the marketing, it could be that they have influenced me with the wording they used.  I do use Path to update my FourSquare account sometimes.  But it's just weird.  At least with Instagram, I don't really have to think much about what I post because my mindset when I use Instagram is that it's all public once it's there.

There are so many other apps with filters too, you know.

I know that. I have used Pixlr-o-Matic, Magic Hour, Camera 360. Among those mentioned, I like Pixlr-o-Matic the most because I could choose lots of free filters and frames. It's cool that way. I could still use these editing tools with Instagram so I don't really have to ditch them because I have to admit that I like Instagram for its users and its social aspects.

It's so hipster!

I have 'hipster' cameras like the Fish Eye 2 and I do have a Holga, among other film cameras which might make me hipster. Instagram is an app which I find useful. I don't even have to use the filters. ;) I think that I am using this because it's so much fun looking at pictures.  They're snapshots of my friend's lives and that's something I enjoy learning about, especially when it comes to people I mainly know online.  It gives me a glimpse of their offline lives.  So why bother with all the hipster connotation when you could just have fun? ;)

Just so you know...

My Instagram user name is happyeclair. I am most likely going to post pictures of food, cats, dogs, books, yarns and other stuff you may or may not like. It's your choice if you will follow me on Instagram or not.  Not forcing you to do so, if you don't like it.  I have a Twitter account where I'd most likely post the pictures anyway and it's public so if you'd rather view my Twitter account, feel free to add me. Twitter name is eclair.

And if you haven't heard about Instagram before I posted this, check out their Tumblr post on how to using Instagram so you'd have an idea of what features they gave the app.

Of three patterns and crochet

I'm confused as to which pattern I should try this five-day holiday.  I could opt to sleep, I know. But knowing that I might end up getting bored or restless, I searched for patterns that I might try.  Three garments look like something I'd wear so it's a good time as any to try making one of them (at the very least).

Caron's Casual Summer Top

It's a loose top and the stitches look simple.  The advantage of this top is that the pattern is made for all sorts of sizes. I don't need to worry about proportions much.  It's made with acrylic and it's a relatively open kind of top, in the sense that it's got 'holes' XD Even if it's acrylic, it might not be as uncomfortable because of the holey-ness. (I don't know what else to call it.)

It looks like a nice top on the model. I am not sure how flattering it would be on my figure though. I am rather plump. And busty. So considering this top is meant to be cropped, it might appear so much more cropped on me when I wear it. Adjustments could be made, of course. But I am a little nervous about tweaking patterns sometimes.  The shrug I made was a bit loose in terms of how the edging was.

Pierrot Yarns Nagomi Cotton Vest

This is a pretty little thing. If ever I end up making this, I might use cotton thread because it looks like the kind of thing that's delicate, in a way.  I might be able to wear it anywhere, and it depends on the top that I pair it with.

If I wear it like how the girl in the picture is wearing it, it's very casual, it's so me. Hahaha. Yeah, I want to layer clothes but it's been so hot that it's not comfortable.   In any case, I think this would look ok with my DIY jeans to skirt projects, even with slacks, if I am wearing a different top.  I suppose it's also a good thing to wear on the beach, over a swimsuit.

A disadvantage I have is that the pattern is made for only one size. ~_~ Anything on the Pierrot Yarns site is actually like that so it's a bit tough.

Pierrot Yarns French Sleeve Vest

They say it's a vest but I swear it looks like a top to me.  Anyway, it looks so pretty, doesn't it? It's more snug than the first garment.  I think it will be tricky to adjust this but the stitch looks so pretty that it's hard to resist.

As I mentioned earlier, Pierrot Yarns have patterns which are a little difficult to adjust. ~_~   But if I pick this one, I'd have to do all the proper gauge and measurements so that I could wear it.

One consideration I have is that this might feel a little itchy when I wear it because it won't be loose.  The one from Caron is designed to be loose.

Graah. This is just so pretty. 

I can't decide. ~_~ Maybe I will just have to do the math right now and factor things in so that if I pass by Cubao (after work) and see if they'd have stock of a color I like.  Whichever will have enough yarn might be the project I'd work on.