Shifting Perspective

(angelsfortalia.com)

"Make-up is my wig."

Talia Castellano

Looking back to my past few months, I've been trying to discipline myself to study.

I am very thankful that I stumbled upon the video of this amazing 12 year old. I remember I was searching for lectures on "neoplasia" (~related to cancer) and I eventually clicked one of her videos, which was her talking about cancer.

Talia Castellano was diagnosed with neuroblastoma five years ago. She has been through multiple treatments and procedures.

A few months ago, she did say that she was getting better but the latest video she posted says that she developed cancer in her bone marrow too. And as to prognosis, it's bad.

She vlogs that she has 4 months to a year left to live if she doesn't get a bone marrow transplant (which is risky too). She doesn't want to go through with it because she doesn't think it's worth the risk anymore and she'd rather go on living until her time runs out.

Instead of studying, I got hooked and continued to watch her videos.

She's very refreshing to watch. I don't really watch make-up tutorials because I think some of them are just fake but Talia's videos were very raw and real... I could sense how mature she was in handling herself and though she speaks of her disease frankly, she has time to actually joke and comfort her subscribers. 

I don't know why I've been going through my life these past months like a blur while Talia lives her's like there's no tomorrow.

I've been trying to bury my nose in books for the past months since I got to my 2nd year in med school.

I still want to be a doctor.

I did not go to med school for prestige nor for money.

I went here in hopes to learn more in the art of helping people in the best way I can.

Though nobody ever believed me, I went to med school to be of service to the community (which was well ingrained into me during my undergraduate course).

And after watching Talia, the passion to serve grew stronger.

She is definitely a very inspiring lady. <3 font="font">

Beauty Storage

Do you know the feeling when you find a certain thing and you know it's meant to be yours?

I've been searching for MONTHS for a storage for all the vanity xt piling up on my table.

I owe this piece of love to my Aunt, Mom and Japan!

I was supposed to pay for it myself but my parents gave it to me as a gift for getting through first year in post-grad studies hahaha

The day I got this, I moved all my things into it... I stayed up late just to finish. :D

I love the shallow drawers.

It's perfect for e/s pots, minerals, compacts or even product samples!

face masks, fake lashes, meds (vitamins, etc)

some of the drawers fit my palettes perfectly

rings, necklaces, bracelets

the deeper drawers contain my nailpolishes (finally solved my year-long problem)

 the bottom deepest drawers contain bath stuff and some fave products that deserve their own drawer:

ONE products and NANNY ROSE too (will blog about it soon) :D

Timeout!

I was about to lose my mind last week... so I decided I needed a break.

My parents were visiting relatives so I tagged along.

 Ilocos Norte, Philippines

In Baguio, it's easy to dress up. Because of the climate, you could wear whatever you want (layering galore!). :P

For concrete examples, check this out:

BAGUIO STREET FASHION
*discovered this blog last week*

I hate layering when I travel to warm places, so I have some pieces reserved perfect for warm weather.

beaded/embroidered top

perfectly branded (for this trip) as "Timeout"

 

 odd-wash jeans

and my favorite: rose-tinted glasses

Dressing up to travel was rejuvenating enough already. :P

fave STUFF of 2011

I really can't do "Top 10" or "Top 20" of whatever coz I don't want to work with a number and find ways of fitting an odd number of things into 10/20 and later adding an item that I don't really appreciate.

[So, no ceilings, no floors :P]

whatever-comes-to-mind FAVE STUFF of 2011

CoverGirl TruBlend in Translucent Honey

after losing my MAC foundation, I bought this and I've been loving it more than the MAC one :D

I bought this around September2011 and I've hit pan before December2011 -- I've never hit pan on any of my powder foundies before.

Maybelline Lipstick "Born With It"

I love this shade -- so naturally healthy pink! I don't usually like glitter but this one doesn't show up like disco lights.

Bath&BodyWorks Warm Vanilla Sugar

obviously LOVE this -- since 2010 even! I've fallen in love with vanilla-ish scents because of these!

BeautyBuffet facial mask sheets

cute, cheap, and effective!

ONE body scrub, "You wild coconut, you!"

I love the scent and how my skin feels after I use this. I bought it when it went on sale and I'm regretting I didn't buy more :/

iLash eyelash extensions "Trial"

I just wanted to "experience" having false lashes but people around me didn't notice it until I pointed it out coz I got "small" and it just blended with my natural lashes -- still, it IS addicting but sooo hard to maintain.

I don't even think I reached 10 but that's all  for my 2011 list :D

Nail Polish Dilemma

My one problem with my nail polish collection: It keeps growing >_<

I just can't control myself.
Who would have thought the world would have so many colors???

Besides my lack of self control, I don't know how to store them now especially since they wouldn't fit in my old 10inches by 4inches basket :s

So I had to resort to using an old shoe box that I have kept away and never used -- stupid pack rat me.

It's so heavy and my vanity drawers do not have any space for this so I had to store it inside my closet, above the shelves.

I have to label it like that to avoid accidents :s especially when someone would go around my room and look for stuff.

If you have any suggestions on how I could store these things better, please do tell.

...and I am changing my blog title :P just coz it's a new year :D

Cleaning Out My Closet

It took me 3 months to finally get to fixing my room.

It's not something to be proud of -- but for the new year,

I promised I'd finish it by the first week -- and I did :)

It is the time of the year

to start fresh -- out with the old and in with the new :P

So, I cleared out some clothes from my overflowing CLOSET with simple reasons:
1. does not fit me anymore (too big or too small -- stop thinking it'll fit you someday)
2. does not look good (stop justifying to yourself that you look good with it in a certain light -- if a tiny voice in your head tells your it's fugly, it is!)
3. have never worn it for more than a year (yes, many of us are guilty of this)
4. damaged (that can't be repaired -- if it's something that you've never gotten around to repairing or getting repaired, just give it up)
5. not comfortable (itchy but looks good? throw it away; hurts but looks good? don't suffer anymore)

Really, when an organized me fought with the pack rat me, it was easier to give the clothes away. Once I placed it in the "never returning to my closet" pile, I forgot about it anyway.

For make-up and skin care products, I dumped some too:
1. expired (for some of my unlabeled products, I consulted: checkcosmetic.net)
2. funky-smelling even though it still isn't past its expiry date
3. a change in the product that isn't comfortable for you even if it still isn't expired:  it irritates you now even though it didn't before; weird tasting -- for lipgloss, lipstick, etc -- I don't eat it but I noticed it tastes weird so I threw it out; color change -- white to beige (creams, etc) or clear liquid to cloudy liquid (like in toners, etc)

some stuff I threw out :/

and then after organizing my vanity table, this is the best I could do with my limited space (I do think I need more drawers, :P but for now, I'll survive):

Party 'til 2012!!!

the title is bogus :P

Some people were out waiting for the final 10-second countdown to 2012 while some were laughing and sharing stories with their family just before they noticed the fireworks starting out the window...

where was I?

Laying on a couch -- back aching, heart pounding and woozy -- I thought I was going to have a heart attack! -- funny but it may have been true: heart attack in my early 20's.

What a way to ruin a New Year's Eve Party.

I woke up 5 minutes before 12 midnight and slowly walked to the window and watched the fireworks coz I still felt pain in various places.

I heard my family say: "Happy New Year Geli!" and I could only whisper a very unhappy-sounding "Happy New Year".

But -- besides that, I'm just glad my family was there -- with a doctor and a nurse that I could have easily called in case my body wanted to cause a scene just before the fireworks were lighted.

Anyway, 'nuff drama! :P I still had fun -- the next morning -- with lots of food (again) and fun!

my holiday nails!

Happy New Year!!! :)