Today's Dispatch: Ten Things

This post is brought to you by this delicious smidge of cuteness in French Bulldog form, whose doppelganger was spotted walking alongside The Hotness in NYC a few days ago.

Source: images.google.com

Yes, The Hotness has been reading my mind. (See also: this previous entry on manly men with tiny dogs.)

*****

So the lovely Laura from Ladies Who Critique came up with this blog-posting prompt, which I thought I'd try out for this blog. It's a great way for me to get folks updated on what I've been up to lately, since I do a lot of regular rambling on this blog as well. Thanks, Laura! :)

1. Eating this: Oatmeal with two slices of raisin bread, with a side of papaya cubes. Every morning. No fail.

2. Reading this: Actually, the storm ruined my chances of getting some work-related reading done because the power outages prevented many of my students from submitting their papers. After this, however, I'm going to Manila to pick up more books.

3. Browsing this site: I've been following How Sweet It Is through Twitter. And why wouldn't I, when the cupcake photos look like this?

Photo credit: HowSweetEats.com

4. Writing this: I've started making a few dents on Nominated (my WiP from Camp NaNoWriMo), which means I am close to rescuing my protagonists from plot-mired limbo. Currently I have three critique partners looking at this manuscript, as well, which means that this baby should be in tip-top shape when I'm ready to send it in for publication.

Once Nominated is fixed - with a deadline of possibly mid-October - I will have the NaNoWriMo proper in November, though I haven't decided on what to do for this. Originally I was going to use this time to revise the previous year's NaNo (World on a Plate, aka "the Pinoy foodie novel"), but now there might be a possibility that I'll have time to write a new one, either a new chick-lit or possibly an alternate-reality espionage thriller with fairy-tale elements.

Photo credit:
We (Love) Delicious Food

5. Drinking this: I would have said "water," since it's the only thing I've been drinking lately, but right now I could really use more Oreo milkshakes. This, I blame on the mysterious #CookiesNCream hashtag that the rugby boys from the Philippine Volcanoes have been using every day on Twitter. No, I do not want to know what that's about, either.

6. Using this: In the software department, yWriter5 (excellent novel-writing software!) and the desktop version of Tweetdeck (faster than Tweetdeck for Chrome, plus it doesn't get in the way of work). In terms of beauty products, Neutrogena Rapid Clear acne treatment, Bench Fix Clay Doh, and Nivea's Fruity Shine tinted lip balm in Pomegranate, which is a lovely red stain that will get its own Glosswatch entry soon.

7. Watching this: TV-wise, I'm getting sucked into Law and Order: Criminal Intent, which is still my favorite series within the franchise. (Law and Order: UK is a close second.) I also caught my first episode of Sherlock (so intense, and Martin Freeman is so, so good as Watson), plus I've also downloaded the pilot for New Girl on iTunes as well.

As for movies, I have added The Descendants to my must-watch movie list for the fall. George Clooney, Alexander Payne, and gorgeous shots of very familiar neighborhoods in Hawaii? I am so in.



And I can't wait till Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy comes out, too.



8. Buying this: Mascara and (possibly) eyeliner. The last time I went shopping for makeup, an overzealous saleslady tried to push a lipstick on me, even though the lippy I wanted was in a different formulation. She was stubborn and persistent, and I gave her none of my money. This time, I'm going to branch out and try more mid-price Asian brands, like Etude House and Majolica Majorca.

9. Listening to this: My three favorite podcasts right now.

The Moth:



The Sporkful:



and Popspotting.

Screencap: mine.

And "Called Out In The Dark" by Snow Patrol, whose actual video isn't as awesome as the song itself.




10. Using this new word: Inveigle. 


From Dictionary.com:

From Thesaurus.com:

Want to chime in on the discussion? Show us some blog love by leaving a comment below, or following @stella_meimei on Twitter!

Randomesticity: The Doldrums of July

So: I'm back.

I'm taking a break from novel writing (which I'm still doing, even though I'm already past the 50K mark for Camp NaNoWriMo) but I'm not going to deny that scads of things have happened while I was away. Some of it was very personal, like the professional setback that started with a bureaucratic boo-boo and ended up costing me more than it should. Some of it was awesome, like meeting up with old classmates and discovering TweetDeck.

(I kid you not, Twitter users. TweetDeck will shave seconds out of your tweet-addicted lives, especially when you are as addicted as I am and prone to joining games.)

And some were... okay, will somebody please explain to me why and how The Hotness ended up in the same car as John Krasinski not too long ago? (No, seriously. We are practically one step away from finally seeing that karaoke video, which also means that it should not be long before The Hotness shows up in Manila for the sole purpose of propositioning me at Robot Bar. Make it happen, universe.)

Plus there's also the shoutout I got from longtime friends Ryan and Jen on Popspotting, which totally made my month. Yes, that's my July for me. :)

So what can we expect now? Here are a few things to get us started for August:

- A few thoughts on the Manila blogverse. Granted, I personally feel like I'm lagging behind compared to bloggers like Divasoria (check out her excellent beauty posts here) but I also feel like there are areas where I could probably still catch up.

- Speaking of blog trends: There's something I really, really need to get off my chest regarding my addiction to blind items. Seriously. I blame myself for this one.

- An update on the whole dermatologist front. Yes, you will finally see the words "Meimei" and "microdermabrasion" in the same sentence.

- And, for a change: Girlcrushes!

See you guys in August. :)

Randomesticity: Beyond the Makeover

While the last few entries on this blog have been occupied with all things weight-related, I also haven't neglected my beauty-blogging duties either. Here's what's to come in future editions of Domesticity:

- I may (or may not) have discovered the Holy Grail for my hair. Hint: it involves a sulfate-free shampoo that cleans beyond my expectations.

- I'm also entering my first entry for a blog contest sponsored by the folks at Nuffnang Philippines... and the only thing that's keeping me from finishing it - which is, of course, my career - may actually hold the key to making this entry even more awesome.

- Speaking of awesome: As much as I don't always agree with Dingdong Dantes - first and foremost being that he's a grown man who chooses to call himself "Dingdong" - we do share a few things in common... which will be eventually addressed in a future Case for the Basics post.

- Also: More hotness from all corners of the world. It may or may not involve El Dingdong (because pictures of otherwise hot Filipino guys will never get old) but it will involve some extensive poking-around through the Google Images archive.

- Yes, I'm about to jump on the Michelle Phan bandwagon - a few months too late, but on the bandwagon nonetheless.

 - And finally... There's a surprise brewing that I can't really tell you about right now. I really can't spoil it here, but I promise you that it's definitely in line with what this blog has always been about for the last five years! 

Randomesticity: Random Acts of Hotness

 A picture of me with my new haircut, plus neutral makeup and pearls. Career girl, much?

Today, on this special edition of Randomesticity: beauty and pop culture news!

BEAUTY




- Above: Chanel Rouge Coco. 'Nuff said.

- Okay, MAC, you got me again - Too Fabulous is exactly that, and more. Those of you who missed the blushes from the Colour Forecast collections would find the Mineralize Blush Duos to be of interest.

- Cover Girl is promising that they can match shades from any department store brand using their online matching system. Whether or not they can deliver on their promises, however, depends on how you feel about CG's formulations. (My opinion only: Not a fan of their lip gloss, but I really like their eyeshadows and mascaras just fine, and I'm trying to get my hands on their lipstain as we speak.)

- Speaking of eyeshadows: Maybelline's EyeStudio shadows have been available in Asia for quite some time, but I prefer the shade selection from the American version of the quads.

- Beauty vlogger alert! If you haven't tuned in to sisters Elle and Blair - aka AllThatGlitters21 and Juicystar07, respectively - you owe it to yourselves to check 'em out. I'm predicting Lauren Luke-like success for these young ladies, so it would behoove the makers of their favorite brands (lookin' atcha, NYX and Lush) to snap them up as collaborators soon.

POP CULTURE HOTNESS

- And now it has come to this: A cute photo of Apolo Anton Ohno with Charles Hamelin. Or, as I like to call it, Two Dudes Who Could Really Use a Spa Day. (I kid, I kid.)

- Speaking of hot dudes on ice: I demand to know who on earth had the brilliant idea of casting Evan Lysacek on this season of Dancing With The Stars, because that boy is the very definition of HOT DAMN! (Unfortunately, the cable channels in my neck of the woods don't carry DWTS, so said embodiment of HOT DAMN! won't be showing up on my TV until I can get BitTorrent to work.)

Also: According to Google Search, Canada does not exactly have their own home-grown edition of DWTS. Well, there goes my dream of watching a Hamelin brother perform the paso doble in a sparkly costume...

- In the mood for some hot Filipino dishiness? Well, guess what I just read in the paper this morning...

DEREK RAMSAY IS SINGLE! DEREK RAMSAY IS SINGLE!* 

(*pending actual confirmation of actual split with his girlfriend from all parties involved, which means I'm taking this news with an entire box of Kosher Salt)

OTHER  RANDOMNESS

-  So I did get the Ford Focus hatchback that I wrote about earlier, and now I can drive it around - short distances mostly, though I am [theoretically] capable of driving this baby on a highway. What I still don't have in the car, however, is an iPod adapter - but the good news is that it does have a CD player, so I'm looking forward to loading it up with some cool sounds. Some of the CDs I'd like to get for the car: Alicia Keys' The Element of Freedom (am I the only person on earth who can't wait to see the video for "Put It in a Love Song" - and not in an ironic, "let's see how Beyonce and Alicia could out-crazy each other" kind of way?); Sade's Soldier of Love; and Vampire Weekend's Contra. And the new Michael Buble album, which I'm borrowing from my Dad.

- On top of the career craziness that's been happening these last two months (board exams! new jobs!) I'm also trying to carve out time to write more fiction. In fact, I've started taking on the mother of all fiction projects by writing... gaaaak... a screenplay.  I can't promise this will end well, but I will try my best.

Credits: Yours truly (yours truly) and PinoyCelebrities.net (Derek Ramsay). No samples were provided by the manufacturers of all beauty products mentioned in this story. 


EDITED (03/05/2010) to add that the same paper that reported Derek Ramsay's availability now says that he did get back together with the girlfriend. Awwwwww. Which means I can return to my ongoing plans for world domination. 

Randomesticity: Test Drive Edition

My month-long ESL stint has ended, for the time being - with no new assignments coming up immediately - so Domesticity posts will resume during the weekdays, until I can work out a blog schedule. Easier said than done, since I've got a full slate during this break, but it can be done.

Here are a few things that I'm planning to test-drive for possible future entries on this blog:

- The 2010 Ford Focus. The familia has finally caved in and decided to replace our decade-old Japanese stick-shift sedan with a sporty American model equipped with automatic transmission and improved fuel efficiency. I'm a little excited about this because I'm now expected to drive after years of relying on public transport... yet, at the same time, you could see why I'm also a tad worried.

- Human [Heart] Nature's Sunflower Beauty Oil. Now that the company has gone into direct selling, it's easier for me to get my hands on Human [Heart] Nature. (I use the brackets here because they've started calling themselves "Human Nature," but we still say the "heart" out loud.) Thus, the Sunflower Beauty Oil was my first purchase, since it's being marketed as a viable substitute for eye cream. I've only been using it for days, but - lo and behold - my under-eye circles have faded significantly, and my eyelids no longer look like they're sagging. More comprehensive reviews to come later.

- L'Oreal's Made for Me Naturals, Asia Edition. My ongoing quest for a nice nude lipstick has officially begun with the quickie purchase of this lipstick in Shade #615 (Tea Rose), which is allegedly made for a "Golden Tan Skintone." I bought it without testing because I liked how this pinkish-terracotta shade looks in the tube... and, helloooo, it was also selling for 50% off! How it looks on me, on the other hand, may turn out to be another story altogether - but, hey, gotta run with all the chances that you can get!

- Avon Glimmersticks lip liner in Rich Ginger. Another direct-sell purchase, this time from another co-worker from the ESL gig. All I can say right now is that it doesn't look too dark in the tube; we'll see more of it later on.

- More fashion tips for Charice Pempengco? I hope I don't have to go there again, but I am going to see her in concert for V-day with the 'rents, and I'd be less than thrilled if she shows up looking like some overly zealous stylist has given her a hoochie makeover... or worse, some bizarre outfit that makes her look like she's trying way too hard to be all punk rawk and emo and stuff. (See also: Stewart, Kristen; Sebert, Kesha; and Lovato, Demi.) For our country's sake, dearest Charice, don't waste the pretty!





Photo credits: autoexpress.co.uk, via Google Images and iluvmyford.blogspot.com (Ford Focus), and pinoysgottalent.com via Google Images (Charice). All products in this entry were purchased from PCX (L'Oreal) and individual direct sellers (Avon/ Human [Heart] Nature) by the author herself . 

Randomesticity: Fatigue

Que vivo Mexico! Que viva Colombia! Que viva las Filipinas!

It's only Monday, and already everyone is so, so tired. This morning's paper, the blogverse, the relief-operation volunteers... they're all full of crankiness, as if the storm clouds from the last two weeks had been replaced with an equally dark sense of bitterness and collective cynicism. As much as I want to chalk it up to human nature, though, I'm not buying it - and I don't know if this makes me sound like Anne Frank or something, but I want to believe that we'll make it out of the darkness soon enough if we don't keep adding our psychological garbage into the existing mountain of trash we're in right now.

Sorry, Philippines, but I can't afford to stay emo for another week.

I want to remember that there has always been a world outside this country, this existence, before all of this happened. I want to remember that this world outside ourselves will be there to help pull us through for as long as we're willing to reach out. I want to remember that there was, is, and will always be, something - and dare I say it, Someone - bigger than all of this... bigger than corruption, global warming, and even the weather itself.

That's why I take comfort in this piece of advice, which I got from a family friend recently: One will eventually find amusement in even the darkest situations. For every person who cries about losing their home, or getting their relief donations stolen from under their noses by hoarders, there's another person who's going to make sure that somebody gets a reason to smile once in a while.

*****

Not much of a bulleted run-down for this edition of Randomesticity, though, since I still have yet to deliver on what I promised last time. Already, however, I am seriously jonesing on eyeliner, so I'm thinking about breaking down and buying the first cheap kohl pencil that I get my hands on in the next few days.

In the meantime, a few more thoughts:

• Proof that I'm probably getting too old for this sort of thing: I'm of the opinion that La Roux is one of the most overrated and over-hyped bands that I've heard in quite a while, and crawling pretty fast on the list of Bands I Just Don't Get, Period. Which means that I'll probably start liking them by, oh, around this time in 2011, if they haven't broken up already.
  
• Looklet has been driving me up the wall with their site's inability to save any of the stuff I've created... a pity, since I was actually enjoying all the crazy avant-garde designs on that site. (The fact that they don't have a "publish to blog" option only makes things more frustrating for me.) So, until this problem gets resolved, I'll going to stick with Polyvore for my aspirational-fashion fix.
• Apart from the blog-monetizing that I talked about in the last entry, there's also a huge career-related development brewing in my real life, which I can't share yet in full until the particulars have been nailed down. All I can say is this: It will be epic.
  

Randomesticity: Typhoon-B-Gon

There's a joke here about this new "supertyphoon" sharing a name with a certain neighborhood in Cleveland, but I am going to leave that comment for Scribey to make. Heheh.

Okay, so I'm not going to let the typhoon coverage go just yet - not when there are folks still recovering from the last Big One who continue to cry for help, and not when reality continues to deliver elephantine slaps in the face to emo kids like this one (sorry, but somebody had to say it) - so everything I've written this week will stay on this page for the rest of the weekend, or until I can be absotively-positutely certain that help continues to be on its way to those who really need it.

Also, for those of you folks of une certaine génération (and not just the young kids, mind you) who still haven't gotten the memo yet: start registering to vote NOW. Because whoever leads the country in 2010 will continue to answer to the mess we're in right now, and we have to make sure that the Leadership FAIL we've seen this week never happens again. EVER.

This concludes the recent PSA section of Domesticity. Thank you.

(slow clap)

Anyway, regular-content blog posts will resume next week. As it should, too, since I just got a haircut a few days ago - pictures of which I will post as soon as I can. (Clue: It's short, but not too short... and the guy who cut my hair was able to tell me why I tend to look like Steve Perry whenever I grow out a layered haircut. Milagro!)

Other proposed future posts:

• The current pink-lipstick trend... and how it ties into Manila's fascination with Korean pop music
• How I'm doing with the whole diet-and-exercise thing
• A mini-review of exercise videos that I've been using to get this body into shape
• Digital-makeover fun with Looklet, Polyvore, and Taaz
  
• More drooling over hot Filipino men (...not so fast, Dingdong)
  
• Even more drooling over some great local makeup and skincare finds
• And! The much-postponed but soon-to-be finished Meimei Wishlist!

Until then: stay safe, warm, and dry out there!

Randomesticity: The Soltera Strikes Back

Remember the dark, sultry alter-ego that popped up on this blog around this time last year? Guess what - she's back, and she just underwent yet another makeover for another one of her covert-ops assignments. She's even got a new name to go with her new image, since "Mancatcher" must've sounded a little too aggressive for her current post.

Take it away, La Soltera...

*****

Hola, chiquitos! I'm here on the set of my new telenovela for TFC, which we're planning to shoot soon in Honolulu. I'd let you in on the juicy details, but I don't want to get in trouble just in case I get mauled by violent fangirls who will all have it in for me when they find out which love-team I've been hired to break up on this current job. Between you and me, though, I took this job anyway because it was way more bearable than facing off with that dead-eyed heifer who's playing Darna right now on the other network. Why, oh, why couldn't they have put me on that show with the cute little boy who talks to Jesus instead?

And yes, there is some truth to the rumors that I was supposed to be part of the proposed Domesticity spin-off blog, but this telenovela assignment came in before everything got finalized... and, well, who knows if Meimei gets another post before I do. But enough about that. How about some random bits?

- You know, Mei and I are both totally "meh" over the September 2009 issue of Preview. It didn't knock us over the head like July did, nor did it grow on us like the August issue. Meimei, of course, likes the beauty section (she always does, that girl) and I liked the feature on up-and-coming fashion designers in Manila, but... really, meh. And that's not even including that letter from Anonymous who's obviously got an ax to grind, what with insinuating that two of the Best Dressed Ladies from July's list have tacky manners and trying to exhort Preview to feature more role models for the youth ek ek chorva-chenes whatever. We get it: beautiful, stylish women are more trouble than they're worth, and the strong among us who make the real difference don't get enough medals. And this is news!?!?! Please. Take it from a former social climber, here: Cream always rises to the top; dreck never stays afloat for too long.

(Meimei adds: Matthew 6:1-4, NAB version. That is all.)

- Also getting the big "meh" from us: Project Runway Philippines. Don't get us wrong - we love the Rajo, and we wish Jojie Lloren was our fairy gayfather. It's just that we don't like the tendency for Filipino reality shows to over-dramatize their contestants; there's nothing we that breaks our heart more than to watch a seemingly harmless talent show and see people crying for their families and their need to win, like PRP has been guilty of doing recently. I don't know why this sort of thing is easier to watch (and probably laugh at) on American TV... but the stakes are higher in this country, and it only makes us cry more. It's the same deal we have with the Philippine edition of (Your Country)'s Got Talent: Meimei had to walk out on the results show the other night because she couldn't stand seeing any of these folks lose - especially the hip-hop grandma and the dog-training old guy whose li'l buddy reminded her too much of DogMei. Snif.

- Oh, where are we? Right, housekeeping issues for this blog. Meimei is just putting the finishing touches on a few entries, which will include: another set from Polyvore; a new bag; new shoes (holla!); and the awesome new hair-product discovery that has changed her life for the best. Rest assured that there will be more beauty and fashion posts coming down the pike in the next few weeks... and watch out this September, too, when Meimei finally rolls out her Wish List for Fall 2009!

- And just in case I forget: Meimei wants you to know that the HIP Bright Shadow duo in Flamboyant that she raved about a few months ago is still working exceptionally well for her. She says that the combination of bright yellow and grape-purple has done wonders in making her eyes look so much brighter and wider. She loves the combination so much that I even got the makeup artist on this telenovela to do my eyes the same way Mei does, with the purple in the outer corners and the yellow on the lids. Gorgeous!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to grab a little snack before the cameras start rolling. I hear that I'm going to be in the big confrontation scene where I do nothing but wear ridiculous sequinned dresses and flare my nostrils while I give the camera my best stink-eye. (Fun.) Till next time!

And You Will Know Me by The Trail of Blog: Domesticity's Greatest Hits

Above: a parade of the most insidious earworms to infect me in the last six months, delivered in flash-mob form.

For those of you who are just catching up to Domesticity now, here are some classic entries from the archives.

• You know, after reading this 2006 entry about pretentious critics in the Philippine press, I've realized that I probably could've used a tad more perspective. Personally, I now find that Filipino fashion designers have started to leave the sporty-conservative designs behind in favor of post-modernist inspiration from Europe, Japan, and Korea - a wise move, considering that retail behemoths like Gap, Forever 21 and Topshop have started invading our malls. The same cannot be said, however, for art and music critics in this country... and unfortunately, I am not getting paid to fight them off, letter by letter. Oh well: plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.


• And if any rant-happy souls would be interested in telling me off on this blog, they should take a page from TV reporter Cedric Moon, who still found time to write me back after all the horrible things I've called him in this space. Classy, polite, and humble = game, set, match. (Alas, as far as I know, Cedric no longer appears on-camera at the Honolulu station where I first spotted him; don't know if he moved or not.)
  

• Enough rantiness for now; how about a little nostalgia for the most interesting videos from the Summer of '06? Because nothing says "timeless" like jokes about Charlie Murphy, Sean John Unforgivable, and pantsless C-listers. (Whatever happened to Jenn Cuneta, by the way? Did Lady Gaga just render her career obsolete?)
  

• Since we're on the Summer of '06: a retail roundup. And because we've all been good, here's a quote from my review of Miami Vice: "Colin Farrell may look hot when he's dirty, but here he desperately needs to be reintroduced to the concept of Soap and Water."

• Going back a little further: Relive my ongoing love affair with red lipstick, beginning with this entry on the power of a red lip and continuing with a list of commendable reds. The more things change, the more they stay relevant. Heck yeah.
  

Randomesticity: Aging With a Measure of Grace

- I've decided not to write about the Sephora event that I attended today, mostly because my vain self forgot to charge the batteries in the camera (grr) but also because I had an epiphany mid-makeover: Even though the makeup artist I was working with was a genius with the concealer - and she did recommend a great one (LORAC Double Feature, $24 - my shade is DF3) - I realized that I'm already at this point in my life where dark circles are the least of my problems... well, at least as far as my eye-area problems are concerned, especially since I have been slacking on my eye cream use lately and the whole area looks seriously unmoisturized. Or maybe it's because I just realized that I'm on Spring Break right now after months of back-to-back work? Either way, it's time to go back to the drawing board.

- That said: I was thrilled to find a sample of Boscia Vital Daily Moisture in my Sephora Insider goody bag today, and I can't wait to try it. :)

- Okay, since I was at the mall today: Yes, I'm miffed that True Religion jeans don't come in my size. Not that it matters, really (although I have to admit I was intrigued) but that didn't stop me from having my second epiphany of the day... I really should stop buying low-rise jeans in general. Especially if I want to stop wondering how I managed to be in between sizes, where the smaller size gives me camel toe and the bigger size falls right off me if I don't button up.

- Also, I would like to take the opportunity to put on my Cranky Pants right now and lodge a complaint against the people who actually use shopping carts at Ross Dress for Less. I can see why they would need a shopping cart... but in the shoe section, where there already isn't much space as it is and everyone has to try on shoes in the narrow aisles, such as they are? ESPECIALLY during the very season when the Ross shoe department is flooded with spiky platform shoes? Seriously, I had three different people literally push me out of the aisles because they couldn't leave the carts somewhere safe... and let's not even talk about the fourth shopping cart, which clogged the entire aisle just because said cart had a toddler on the verge of a tantrum and a visibly hassled Mom who couldn't leave the shoes alone. Heck, at least the Marshall's stores I've seen on the Mainland provide actual seating areas for people to try on shoes... so what's your excuse now, Ross?

- As for upcoming entries, I'm working on another Case for The Basics entry for this blog, which touts the virtues of the boar-bristle brush, and a couple of possible recipe posts as well.

Randomesticity: My Blog is On Fire

Some things that are taking over my attention right now:
- RIP, Ricardo Montalban. May you be welcomed in heaven as warmly and hospitably as you have welcomed everyone else on Fantasy Island... preferably with Saint Peter presenting you with your own seat of Corinthian leather.
- Kings of Leon, "Sex on Fire." I would've put this on my New Year's 2008 list (as if throwing Lesley Gore in the same playlist as TI and Kevin Rudolf wasn't crazy enough) but I think this song deserves a separate category in itself. Dark, dirty, danceable: it's up there with "The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret" on my list of hot, sweaty, sexy indie-rock joints.

- Eddie Izzard, again. As far as MAC-endorsing drag queens go, I'd still take him over Dame Edna any given day... and, since he does admit to fancying "birds" (ahem), I'd also take him anytime, anywhere, any way I can get him. Even if it means he'll need to take me out to shop for hot shoes first.

- Which reminds me: As much as I adore Dame Edna (and don't get me wrong, I actually do), I am actually getting tired of looking at that old heffa's face every single time I pass by the MAC stores at Ala Moana and Pearlridge. Why? Brunette Blonde Redhead -that's the reason why.

- Rock-n-roll shirts. Usually I have a hate-on for the likes of Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier, not the least of which because the tattoo-print tee is already an overplayed look all over HNL. (Seriously, I can't even go to the supermarket without my eyeballs getting seared by an overly blinged Ed Hardy shirt.) That changed, however, when last weekend I accompanied a friend to a store that sold shirts from Affliction and Sinful, on top of the usual Hardy/Audigier stuff. Let me tell you: When I say it's hot, I mean hot - in a biker/rocker, Mickey Rourke-before-he-messed-his-face-up kind of way. The Sinful shirts, in particular, looked super hot on my friend (who has a day job in the medical field), but I, personally, still can't get away with wearing any of it without looking like a total poser. Still hot and adorable, though - and a surefire cure for the American Apparel-style hipster chic that we've been enduring for the last few years.

- Flirting with the dark side. We all know that the dark side has cookies, on top of biker-tattoo shirts, male lesbians, the Wrath of Khan, and rock anthems about hot sex. And while nothing, not even the messed-up face of Mickey Rourke, is going to get me to watch Grindhouse, this hilarious fake trailer from Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright - which also has a short cameo by featured player (and certifiable hottie) Rafe Spall - comes dangerously close.
- Letters from home. One thing that does keep me from being enticed to the dark side, however, is the occasional sunny missive from friends and family. It just so happens that the lovely Dess (who went to school with yours truly and Scribey) just started her own blog, All Things Manila - and what do you know, the most recent posts have been about two of my favorite things in the Philippines: food and travel! Definitely worth a read. :)

Randomesticity: Downward Spiral, Upward Crawl

So this week has been very cruel to me. I don't want to get into the dirty details, but I will say that I'm a bit emotionally spent from all the hand-wringing and spontaneous crying, and I've already called it a mental-health week to recover from all the insanity.

Not everything, however, is pure insanity.

Take, for example, the story ideas that I've been kicking around in my head: a fashionista moment I had over the weekend during the Valerie Joseph anniversary party at Ala Moana Center (bring on the fall clothes, I say!), tips on business-casual dressing that I've picked up from a career fair; and - just in time for Election Day! - a roundup of Honolulu Anchorwoman Hair.

I've decided to pass on the fall makeup collection coverage because I am SERIOUSLY broke-da-broke, so you won't hear any ooh-ing from me about the new MAC stuff. I'm also passing up on the Halloween revelry due to a seminar that I have to attend first thing in the AM on the Leeward side of Oahu. What I won't be passing up on, however, is a chance to dress up - and you can bet I'll be writing about that as well.

In the meantime... how about some eye candy to tide us over? (And, yes, les fragrances pour homme count towards this blog.)

All Seven, and We'll Watch Them Fall: A Meme

Stolen from a friend on Multiply.

SEVEN THINGS THAT SCARE YOU
1. unemployment
2. poisonous creepy-crawlies that can bite (e.g. spiders and centipedes)
3. the apocalypse
4. people or things that might end up seriously hurting my loved ones
5. terminal disease
6. horror movies
7. living an unfulfilled life

SEVEN THINGS YOU LIKE THE MOST
1. God
2. family
3. friends
4. work
5. kids
6. books
7. beauty

SEVEN IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR ROOM
1. my bed
2. my religious icons
3. my clothes
4. my bags
5. my laptop (including DSL connection and webcam)
6. my shoes
7. my wallet

SEVEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT YOU
1. I'm much crankier than you think
2. I won't stop drinking coffee (even when I have to switch to decaf for medical reasons)
3. I sometimes dance around in my apartment wearing nothing but my underwear
4. Living on my own without roomies has made #3 possible
5. Sometimes I smell like patchouli
6. I'd like to start dating again... someday... but soon...
7. Yes, I'm going to start teaching Sunday School next month. Got a problem with that? ;)

SEVEN THINGS YOU PLAN TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE
1. Get my driver's license - yes, I know, but really!
2. Be in a satisfying long-term romantic relationship
3. Get married and have kids
4. Visit one or more of the following, preferably on my own or with somebody I really love and care about: Scotland, Australia, Brazil, Portugal, Costa Rica, Malaysia, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Florida, Atlanta
5. Finish my novel(s)
6. Live long enough to see my fiction get adapted for film and/or television in an award-winning production
7. Plan, host and cook an entire dinner party for my loved ones


SEVEN THINGS YOU CAN DO
1. Teach
2. Write
3. Dress appropriately for my body type
4. Have some restraint
5. Dance
6. Sing
7. Spot good bargains all-around


SEVEN THINGS YOU CAN’T DO
1. Dress appropriately for my age (unfortunately)
2. Go overboard with my orders at Yogurtland
3. Be an absolute complete vegetarian
4. Stop eating chocolate
5. Get lipstick on my teeth
6. Wear high heels for longer than 4 hours
7. Hide my displeasure, even when the situation calls for it


SEVEN THINGS YOU SAY THE MOST
1. Okay, kids - line up quietly, boy-girl, boy-girl...
2. Yes, they're supposed to line up quietly, boy-girl, boy-girl...
3. Aw, isn't that cute?
4. Um, not until you finish your work.
5. Oh, honey, come over here and gimme a hug.
6. Are we OK here?
7. Man, I'm gonna need a beer.

SEVEN CELEB CRUSHES
1. Peter Sarsgaard
2. Colin Firth
3. The Rock
4. Clive Owen
5. Tim Gunn
6. Stephen Fry
7. Neil Patrick Harris

Randomesticity: Housekeeping

- Part 2 of the "Playing with My Makeup" series may not be posted until later this week - too many things on my plate lately, what with the job search and the general housekeeping in my apartment as well. I'm also planning a post on sunblock and a couple of recent Cacique purchases from Lane Bryant (clicky-clicky!), as well as some thoughts on my ongoing apartment-cleaning process.

- In the meantime: I've decided that living in such close proximity to a public pool is the next best thing I'll ever get to living in a luxury condo, since the combination of hot HNL summers and creeping boredom has driven me to start practicing my swimming again. This afternoon I went ahead and swam laps for an hour - alternating between freestyle and breast stroke, with breaks to practice my kicks with a paddleboard - and now my body feels like I've put myself through a rigorous Pilates session... except not as sweaty, and considerably a little more tan than usual. Bring on the workouts!

Randomesticity, Part 2

Now that we've got my Best! Week! Ever! out of the way... well, the thing is, the next few weeks won't be. Firstly because of school, for which I need to tie up more than a few loose ends. Second because of Thanksgiving, because I'm planning on bringing something home-made for a change. If I post anything during this time, it's OK, but I just wanted to let you guys know right away if I don't.

- Is it so wrong for me to get back on the Justin Timberlake bandwagon if I was never crazy about the guy in the first place? As much as I want to hate him - and I really should, given how much I enjoy calling him a PAB - I'm trying to rationalize my imminent purchase of FutureSex/Lovesounds the same way my sister-in-law rationalizes her unironic love for J.Lo movies: Just because the person's not a role model doesn't mean you can't enjoy their work. Besides, if what Evie told me about what one of my crushes in the Philippines declaring that he was, indeed, bringing sexy back, is true... well, resistance is futile, I guess.

- And speaking of me and Evie (and bringing sexy back), we both find Lenny Kravitz to be incredibly hot in this vintage clip. Ain't nothing better than that.

- Also along the same vein: "To the left, to the left. Everything you own, in the box to the left. In the closet, that's my stuff. Yes, if I bought it, baby, please don't touch."

- Not a lot of makeup related posts this month, either, but I should tell you that I'm actually thrilled about the new Max Factor MAXEye shadows. No, really! I'm actually quite surprised about the lasting power on this product, especially when used wet.

Randomesticity

Some things that I've noticed ever since I returned to Honolulu...

- How fabulous are the Fall 2006 trends at this very moment? Yeah, I know, we don't have "autumn" here in Honolulu, but ever since I got back and saw the wooden platform shoes in the stores (a little like these babies, which I spotted from a link on Tia Williams' blog) I knew I just had to have 'em. This time, however, I'm going to make sure I pay good money for them - if there's anything I've learned from spending so much time in Manila, it's the fact that life's too short for too-cheap shoes. (Although, in my defense, I did spend less than $20 on my last shoe-shopping trip with my Mom, when I bought the most adorable rust-colored kitten heels and some Prada-ish beige loafers. Love those shoes.)

- Forgive me, people, but I watched Ugly Betty last night. Shut up. I watched because I caught some episodes of the Mexican version (La Fea Mas Bella) in the Philippines this summer - I even got into a fight with my Dad because I wanted to watch this and he wanted to watch the news. ANYWAY. It's so over-the-top and telenovela-ish and such a guilty pleasure all around. Bonus points to Salma Hayek for poking fun of herself in the "telenovela" segments. Now, if somebody would just make an American version of Lovers in Paris...

- (For those of you reading this blog from the Philippines, skip this if you don't want to know what happens in Season 3) How hilarious was last night's Grey's Anatomy, by the way? I just loved that ending, with McSteamy (Eric Dane) getting out of the shower wearing nothing but that big, yummy white bath towel. I don't know about you, but Eric Dane - all of him - makes me think some seriously unchaste thoughts. In other news, I also love the fact that George's girl Callie has a refreshingly yummy bod.

- Okay, readers from the Philippines, you can start reading again here. Why? Because I just checked out the movie listings and... guess what's showing at Dole Cannery this week? Yup: You Are The One, with Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga. My only regret is that nobody's going to make You Are The Man any time soon. Or, for that matter, Sugod: The Movie, starring yours truly and Dennis Trillo as "Diego."

- The other night, I turned on the TV to KGMB-9, and I noticed that the guy who was delivering the news updates looked kinda hot, in a Daniel Dae Kim kind of way - tanned, buff, totally relaxed. Then he introduced himself, and my jaw dropped. Why? The reporter was CEDRIC MOON. Yes, the same Cedric Moon who I took to task in this blog not too long ago for having severe bitchface. I don't know what happened here, folks, but I do recommend sitting through KGMB-9's newscasts once in a while to see what I mean. Well played, KGMB.

- In other news: Why, oh, WHY did nobody tell me that PF Chang's just opened at Ward? GAH.

Edited 10/01/2006 because this entry could use more Daniel Dae Kim... and, for that matter, yet another link to a certain Pinoy band on YouTube. Yeah, Peter Sarsgaard wishes he could play guitar like that.

Domesticity Weekend: Links

Some tidbits from across the web:

- If you haven't read Beauty Addict's response to the recent Allure article on blogs, read it now. I'm sorry that this has happened, and I hope there's some peace to be made here eventually.

- I love Jon Farriss. Here he is bringing the funny, if not a little too cranky-sounding -- though maybe I would be, too, if a foreign reporter were to ask such softball questions of me. "The INXS loves you," indeed. (And, no, I won't be seeing them with J.D. and MiG in Manila this week - I have some work to do the next day.)

- Also from yesterday's STAR: The return of Jessica Zafra. Or, for those of you outside the Philippines, here's the best introduction yet to Pinoy snark. Now if she can explain her friendship with David Sedaris to us, I'll be a happy camper.

- From the good folks at E!: Paris Hilton is practicing abstinence, y'all. I'm not going to talk about how this news comes at the heels of Mel Gibson's DUI arrest and Madonna getting picketed in Rome for looking desperate.


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A note to those of you who found my blog through a link from Koneko's (Mostly) Beauty Diary: Hello and welcome! Unfortunately, if you are looking for my posts from the Great Mascara Hunt, I'm sorry to say that I didn't write any - I was busy with grad school that month and didn't even get around to post anything, let alone sign up for the hunt! I'm not saying my link was a mistake, though - in fact, I'm glad that K. and Annie remembered me - it's just that I wasn't able to do anything mascara-related for that project. Sorry! Maybe next time.

Domesticity Dispatch: Let's Get Philosophical

Well, folks, I do owe you a Newsstand Roundup of the glossies from Manila, but right now I'm in the middle of a karaoke-induced haze from requesting some insanely obscure songs that were famous when I was way younger than I am now. (Sing it with me now: I'm not an actor, I'm not a star, and I don't even have my own car...) It also doesn't help that I'm in a bit of a "mood" right now, if for no other reason than the fact that I owe tons of people email and the people that I do write to are getting puzzled by the quality of my writing.

Not to mention that Google has been giving me some surprising searches for people I used to go to school with, who are all turning out fabulously in life. I found the home page of a certain friend-of-a-friend (I never got to know her personally) who now has a lucrative career as... well, basically someone who makes a living by posing in various swimsuits and fabulous outfits, in addition to a side hobby in television hosting. And another friend-of-a-friend (more like a "frenemy" of a friend; again, I know who she is, but I was never close enough to get to know her) who continues to have an awesome career as a fashion editor. And the others who became event planners, boutique owners, fashion designers, yoga instructors, and the like...

Jealous? Me? No. But if you asked me ten years ago, I would've been in for a heck of a catfight. Now that I'm older, though, I couldn't be more happier to have been graced, even for a moment, by such fabulous company. I may have been a dork then - and perhaps I still am now - but I'm still blessed, nonetheless.

Domesticity Friday: Playing With Fire

It was not enough for me to merely marry my great loves of snark and fine fragrance on this blog. Behold, I present to you...

POPOZAO: The Fragrance For Men

Luck is nothing without talent. Here is a fragrance for the man who has no shame in going on long guys-only trips to Las Vegas, Miami, and Tijuana without his wife and kids but still loves his family enough to stick with the craziness. Wear it and you'll feel no shame in seizing the day and rocking out with your confidence out. It's the scent you'd wear to play with fire.

Made with the unmistakable top notes of Cheetos and Red Bull, with a musky cannabis-tobacco drydown and a base of ginseng tea, menthol-eucalyptus, and stale beer. Eau de Cologne packaged in a handsome bottle clad in frayed denim and stained cotton with trucker hat cap; aftershave comes in bottle with white “Pimp Daddy” hoodie and matching trucker hat cap. Available at all Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart stores everywhere, as well as selected pharmacies, gas stations and 24-hour convenience outlets.

Just in time for Father's Day! This special POPOZAO For Men Gift Set includes both cologne and aftershave, plus a complimentary home pregnancy test and a gift CD featuring choice cuts from the album “Playing with Fire.” Yours for $20 or $10 with any purchase of In Control Curious.

And if you thought this was messed up... well, let's just say that, if my side business of creating snarky perfumes continue throughout the summer, I should be employed as The Face of Deception (or at least the writing staff at a certain soap opera Which Shall Not Be Named) by next year. Mwahahahahaha.

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Things keeping me sane this week:

- Cleaning my kitchen and bathroom sinks. Nothing gives me more peace of mind like less scum in my home.

- The thought of seeing my cousins in the Philippines once again after not having seen them for six years.

- Dreyers Slow-Churned Ice Cream. Did you know that they just came up with a light version of Moose Tracks? Yummy.

- Switching off Kelly Preston's fembot-esque (and, I believe, Hawaii-only) PSA for Narconon so I could watch 1) the Diet Coke commercial with the guy dancing to that Bodyrockers song or 2) the Ford commercial where the girl pays for the hot guy's dry cleaning.

- Watching The Price is Right and thinking: Dang, did I really believe this was my favorite TV show when I was a kid?

The Case for Something Italian

... Or should I say: Did somebody say Borghese?

"The Bachelor" will return again in another European locale. This time it's Italy and the man looking for love is 33-year-old cosmetics heir Prince Lorenzo Borghese.

Fantastic. Because every single time I think about Borghese, there's only one thing that comes to mind:

And with any luck, those "hot" "romantic" spa dates (complete with tons of product placement for Borghese!) are going to look like this: