I do not have children...yet. However, I do have a truckload of nieces and nephews, am ninang to several godchildren, and am fondly called tita/auntie to by some of the cutest little tots on the planet. I also have dozens of "children" whom I've mentored through the years who've grown to dearly call me "mother." People say momming-mommy na daw ang peg ko. Hmmmm...I often wondered if that were a good thing. 

Mommies out there will be quick to say that it isn't the same; I don't claim that it is. I have yet to cross that bridge, I know. 

For now, I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to feed (my breasts and sleep schedule are mine alone—or well someone else's of my choosing). I don't have to calm a kid who's throwing a fit (I think a mother's patience is like wisdom teeth; mine haven't even crowned yet!). I don't have to mediate between catty kid fights (hmmmm...would it work if I just give them a pair of gloves? Matira matibay?). And, I don't have to mop up a mess on soiled sheets (eeeeewww).

For now, I'll sashay unapologetically late into a kiddie party. I'll probably hide the Facebook feeds of moms who incessantly post pics of their kids—unless of course I find your kinds adorable or if you're posting pics of my godchildren (I adore my godchildren!). I'll also probably ask to switch my seat on a long haul flight if I were near rowdy toddlers or crying babies. 

For now, while I'm enjoying the spoils of being kid-free, I'm also watching my mommy friends feeling all warm and cozy when their babies hug them tightly. I'll also be in awe of proud mommies celebrating the tots' tender milestones ("Zo! She stood up on her own and is walking around na!"/"Yey! Ninang! First honor!"). And, I'll always be fond of my little nieces and nephews who think I'm their coolest aunt ever!

Recently, I spent time with some of my nieces and nephews. In the span of a couple of days, I witnessed a whole spectrum of mommy powers. Let's put it this way: I knew my cousins were amazing, but I've confirmed that they're actual superwomen! I realized then that most mommies (mine included!) are exactly that--super humans blessed with extra-ordinary patience, powerful immunity, the highest tolerance for ick, and enormous, overflowing hearts! 

I only wish that when it's my turn to be a mommy, I'll get to channel all the fab mommies I've had the privileged of knowing. I pray that I'll be as patient, kind, and loving. I pray that I'll love my children as much as these mommies do. I pray that by then, I'll be ready to bid my child-free days goodbye...and welcome mommyhood with as much willingness and excitement (keri ba 'yun, mommy friends?). I hope my children will be as blessed as your children are. 

As mother's day draws nearer, I want to salute my mom, all my mommy friends, titas/aunties, and grandmothers who all proudly wear their mommy tiaras with pride. It isn't an easy task, but you get me excited to hop aboard that crazy roller coaster.

People say momming-mommy na daw ang peg ko. You know what? I'll take that as a compliment.:-) If I'm anything like the super cool moms in my book, then I'm on the right track. 

Happy Mother's day, moms!

Photo lifted from fabricattic.com. 

These are the Havianas I made during the first day of the Make Your Own Havaianas (MYOH) 2013 event. This yearly summer tradition has grown to be a year-defining event. I know, I know, that seems like a push for a slipper event, but I realized after many years of MYOH, I've grown to define the yearly tradition in different ways.

It started off as as merely wanting a unique pair, so pahirapan before to select a combination that would make my ultra-colorful pair the only one of its kind. Other years, it was about goth drama and no-nonsense style (so came my blacks with skulls), aligned with how busy, stressed, and anxious I was at that time. Last year, I kind of zeroed in on the process of choosing my Havs.

For this year's MYOH, I wanted to celebrate my dreams, wishes, and goals. My 2013 Havs are meant to perk me up, inspire me, and remind me that each step I take should be a step towards achieving my goals. O diba?! Positive spin naman.

So, here are this year's Havaianas. My slippers are slim soles in pool green with silver straps and two pins. Pansinin n'yo pins ko! I luuuurve them.;-) They're a pair of wings, one for each strap. Hopefully, my slippers will remind me to always dream big and fly high. ;-)

Top soles, the thicker slippers, go for P895 and slim soles, the more feminine looking ones with thinner straps, go for P945. Each pin costs P100-P150 each, spending on your pin of choice. If you can't seem to make up your mind, grab this year's commemorative style for P995, a super-cool glow-in-the-dark pair designed by Filipino illustrator Dan Matutina.

So, what'll define your slippers this year? Scoot on over to the MYOH event and customize your own pair at the Rockwell tent now. It's the last day today. Hurry!

Oh emmm geee, Kalerkah. I knew we women end up eating some of our lipstick. I just didn't know we ate that much. To put it in perspective, I got my kitchen scale and measured "several lbs."—ang dami!

This was my startling discovery from Celeste Lutrario, vice president of research and development of Burt's Bees, during the brand's recent lip color launch. You see, I looove my lipstick. So, I eagerly soaked up the facts on lips and got some new news on lippies. Here are some things I snooped:

1. Lip skin is thin, with only 3 to 5 layers, vs. skin which has 16

2. Lip skin does not have sweat glands which balance moisture levels

3. Lips do not have a lipid layer, meaning it has a very weak barrier function and has difficult time protecting itself, drying faster and become chapped more easily

4. Lip shines and glosses can be all natural! Yey!

Popular for its tinted lip balm, Burt's Bees expanded its portfolio to create other lip products with different finishes. The part I love best? All their lip products are all-natural, giving the nourishing benefits of botanical oils, butters, and waxes now in great skin and effects. 

Burt's Bees reported that most of the ingredients used in synthetic lip glosses are petrachemicals, which provide the high-shine texture and tack we've come to expect. What Burt's Bees did was to find natural ingredients that can mimic the effect of these synthetics. Their products use: sunflower polyglycerides (gloss, shiny finish, pigment stabilization, hydration) + ahoba essence with beeswax (moisturize, shine, body) + apricot wax blend with shea and cocoa butter (glassy shine) + natural pigments. 

I think the Burt's Bees products are perfect for girls who like the natural look. I slicked and swiped on the different lippie formulas and here's how they look. I think I still like the balm the best, but the rest of the formulas are pretty fab, too!

During the lip colors launch, we were made to paint our versions of women puckering up. T'was such a fun afternoon! Keri na ba painting ko? P'wede nang pang-alternative career? Hahaha! I think the rest of my gorgeous friends in the beauty industry are natural artists! Nahiya naman ang skills ko. 

So, after a very lovely afternoon with Burt's Bees, I developed two resolutions: 1) to paint more (it's a fab, relaxing release) and 2) to be very very particular about what touches my lips. Hmmmm...then again, shouldn't all respectable women be particular about what (who) touches their lips anyway? ;-)

I want to share with you some of these great lippies! Tweet about this post and why you think it's a must-read and tag me (@zoitseems) and get a chance to take home some Burt's Bees loot. Yey!

SPOILER ALERT: To those who haven't seen (but want to watch) Sarah-JLC's It Takes A Man and A Woman, this entry might give away some details and spoil some punchlines. You've been forewarned! To those who have no plans of watching...well, hope you read through anyway. ;-)

It (Took) A Man & A Woman...To Make Me Realize That--

1. It's confeeeermed: Red lipstick does make teeth appear ultra-white. And when you're making a comeback, you want ultra-white teeth.

2. You can so reinvent yourself into whatever version point-O you want. Be "fabber" on your own terms. (Outfit? Check. Makeup? Check. Accent? Uhhhh....p'wede no nalang?)

3. "Ang sarap maging single; p'wede mag-lunch outside." No sarcasm here. Masarap naman talaga maging single...and yes, p'wede mag-lunch outside. ;-)

4. Trust—such a big word, indeed. 

5. Not all wigs are created equal. Some, well, just do not work at all. H'wag matigas ang ulo. 

6. I want a new Rimowa, a fuzzy white hat (very K-novela ang peg!), a crimson trench (nakaka-ganda, in fairrrrrr) and a pair of Rayban wayfarers (they can sooo up one's cool factor...Or does this exclusively apply to only JLC?!). 

7. I also want to go back to NYC with a special someone. And yes, we gotta do the works! Ice-skating, Empire State, etc. 

8. My true-to-life Zoila and friends know exactly how to to tease me silly...and know exactly what to say when I need to hear it. 

9. This line applies to sooo many people I know: "Kung 'di kita binalikan, I could've been the one who got away..." Kaya girls, know when enough is enough.

10. Not all pretty ladies get the boy. My guy friends couldn't believe that Sarah tipped the scale and Belle got dumped. Well, I couldn't believe it either. Life is fair, I guess? 
Laida, ang long ng hair mo, gurrrrl!


Saw the flick? Any other realizations? :-)

Recently, when fans of the HBO hit series Girls find out that I also watch the show, this seems to be their common reaction, "Yey! Don't you just love Adam?! This reaction is laden with sap, punctuated by a giddy kind of satiating kilig. 

The reaction is oddly similar across different kinds of girls—hotties, plain Janes, fashion mavens. Many, it seems, are smitten over Adam. Who would've thought that the once-unattractive-slob-of-an-average-Joe would managed to do the unexpected: sweep women off their feet?

It's hard to imagine that everyone's talking about Adam—the same Adam who made us collectively cringe in season one. Now, it isn't like he underwent some drastic transformation. As season two drew to a close, he was still the same Adam whom we met in season one. He was still inappropriate, still awkward, and still a bland, pasty white. No, it wasn't like he cleaned up; his hair was still greasy, his stubble, still dirty. It wasn't like he grew charming overnight either; he was still painfully and engagingly awkward and inappropriate. Yet still, some time in between weird sex antics and heartbreak, through odd habits and odder dialogues, he was still able to wiggle his way into women's hearts. 

This begged me to examine: Does this really happen in real life? Can a guy—a seemingly shwangit, "latak" one, at that—really grow on a woman? 

Much to my single male readers' luck, I must say yes. [Disclaimer: I'm not saying single males are  "latak," k? I merely exaggerated to stress a point. Now, moving on...] The main gist is this: This does happen in real life: Guys can really grow on women. I've seen it happen, been there, and felt it before. Even men who aren't exactly your type can end up on your like, love, and lust lists. Heck! I even have friends who've admittedly married their real-life Adams! With the right combo of cool confidence, endearing effort, and proper timing, all made sturdy by dependable devotion, a guy can definitely win over the girl. These real-life Adams, even in all their odd glory, can be rather irresistible.

You see, women are pretty easy. Even in these times of high standards and hyper-independent superwomen, many of us are simply just looking for someone who will rush to be there when it matters. Similar moments like these tweak the game and change the tide. Modern and complicated as love may be in this age of casual flings and weighty Facebook statuses, uso pa rin pala ang ma-develop—greasy hair notwithstanding. 

I wonder, though, if it works both ways. Can women grow on men, too? What do you think? Hmmmm... I have a feeling that'll best be discussed over buckets of beer...or during another night in with the Girls. 

OMG! Ang init! If only this intense heat melted fat away, I wouldn't mind this turbo-broiling. Unfortunately, all it does is really make me feel sticky, icky, and drained.

I took to researching about ways to keep cool when it's sizzling out and found the usual: Wear light clothing (uh duh). Sit in front of a fan (uh malamang). Wear a wet t-shirt...then sit in front of a fan (seriously?!).

Eventually, I found these interesting ways that promise to lower your body temperature when it's hot. I'm dissecting each one and sharing them with you, hoping to God they work before we all start to overheat.

1.) Lie down on the floor, one tip read. As in on the floor-floor? Upon reading further, I got their point. Warm air is less dense than cooler air, so colder air stays at the bottom. Since warm air rises, the coolest area of a house is the area nearest the ground. Okay, noted. So, should I start hanging out at my condo lobby? Set up kaya akong inflatable pool d'un?

2.) Eat spicy food, another bizarre tip said. I first thought this to be counterintuitive as I often feel even hotter after eating. However, the study pointed out one particular point: People who live in hotter regions eat spicy food to keep cool. Apparently, spicy food makes you sweat which, in turn, makes you feel cooler as it evaporates. Cool! Bring on the hot sauce...oh, and wear a trusty deodorant, to be safe.

3.) Since I'm too kuri to keep my aircon turned on all-day, I specifically liked this tip: Make a makeshift aircon. Put buckets with salted ice in front of a fan. Salt is noted to decrease the temperature of ice even further. Hmmmm...I wonder if the same applies when I eat salted caramel ice cream. Ma-try nga.

4.) Upon reading that wetting my pulse points lowers my body temperature, I rushed to the bathroom and did exactly that. It worked! Try it! For better results, do it hourly. Make it an excuse to touch up na rin para hindi haggard--fresh pa rin even if it's sizzling.

5.) Don't eat...too much. This is totally aligned with my goal to lose some weight. Instead of gorging, it is advisable to graze instead. Eating a heavy, protein-rich meal stokes your metabolic fires, making you feel hotter than usual. Eating smaller meals at regular intervals isn't only good for your waistline; it makes you stay cooler, too.

6.) While it's tempting to put your aircon on full-blast, experts recommend to keep your aircon or fan on low. This, they say, is particularly helpful in areas with high summer humidity, like ours. The low air volume helps your airconditioner dehumidify, making it function better and cool correctly.

I'm not claiming that these tips are fool-proof, but at the rate summer is melting away my sanity, I'm willing to try anything--everything!

I hope these work for you, too! Any other tips you may have? Share please! Let's be cool together!

(Photo lifted from @cater_pics. Thanks, dear!)

I've always been a fan of BB creams. I remember attending my first BB cream presscon for Korea's top BB cream brand and recall being immediately smitten. Imagine: An all-in cream for everything? Amazing! I was sold! Later, when I flew to Korea for another beauty brand, I hoarded my stash! They had all sorts of BB creams there: pearlized, light, extra-moistirizing—name it, they had it!

It took a couple of years for the rest of the beauty brands to catch up. Soon, counter brands had their own versions. What I was waiting for, though, was the BB cream made for me—well, for Southeast Asian skin, that is. So, imagine my thrill when Pond's introduced their BB+ cream. My kikay heart got sooo kilig!

Not one to take all product claims at face value (even if I may be a little biased), I wanted to make sure that the Pond's BB+ Cream was The One I was looking for and more. So, I put it to the test.

I applied it as easy as one would a face cream, dotting it on all the right areas and spreading it even. It was light on the face and what's more is that it came in my favorite formulation, too: anti-aging! Woohoo!

I roadtested Pond's BB+ cream to achieve different looks. For each look, I topped the BB+ cream with a light dusting of powder, defined my brows, and chose a pop-bright color for my lips. I loved the look. I even tested it on extremely hot days when I didn't want anything else on my face.

Here are some of my sample looks:

I'm quite fairer now than I used to be, so the shade, while a tad too light for some, can work for me. I still can't wait for Pond's to introduce more shades though (I hear the other shades are available in other markets already!). I'm crossing my fingers that those shades come soon!

Nonetheless, I've already started recommending Pond's BB+ cream to my makeover students! I strongly reco it to skincare newbies and to those who want a quick, easy fix.

As a side kwento: Oh by the way,excuse my cheesy title! I couldn't resist; it was too tempting. (My friend, Donna Cuna-Pita, fashion director of Cosmo magazine, would understand all about kulit headlines, right, Dons? I miss you, dear!)

Recently, in an attempt to find inspiration for getting fit and sexy, I scrounged around for my body peg. I needed a goal, a visual "finish line" that could inspire me, compel me to stick to a sensible diet, and get me out of the door and to the gym. I was initially going through magazines and surfing the net for inspiration, until I realized that I was doing it all wrong.

Here is my realistic assessment: I could never be as svelte and stretched as a Brazilian import; I was naturally pint-sized, hanging on to 5ft-flat by a thread. I could never be waif-thin like chinita princesses; my full curves have always hung around, regardless of how much I weighed. I could never really be called petite (like, EVER); my full hips, thunder thighs, and womanly curves were always naturally KSP and papansin. Argh.

I realized I needed a doable peg—a real, unique, (hopefully) achievable one. I needed an actual peg of myself.

So, I rummaged through my things, unearthed my "skinny" pic, and nearly died. Waaaaah! Kalerkaaaaah! Well, more like kaiyaaaaak!

Well, "skinny" is pushing it. After all, I was never actually skinny-skinny. But once upon a time, I was toned, I had a flat(ter) tummy, and I had the gall...er, confidence...to walk around Boracay in an itsy-bitsy bikini without feeling the need to scramble for a cover-up. Ironically, during that once-upon-a-time, I thought I was fat.

I wonder if I'll ever look this way again. I mean, it's not like I'm complaining about how I look now (I'm practicing gratefulness here, so allow me to indulge). But, I can't help imagining how different things would be if my present beauty regimen were coupled with my yesteryear bod. Huwaw! Bongga!

My friend A, who's also on her own quest to look her best, asked earlier today, "Will this year be our next bikini year?" Hmmm...I hope so. Sana keri ng powers ko!

I'm hoping that sharing my "skinny" pic will somehow keep me in check and get me on track. I mean, mahiya naman sana ako if I don't deliver right? When/If that once-upon-a-time does happen again, I promise, Lord, I won't think I'm fat this time around. (I'm telling all of you now: I'll truly need all the support I can get. Please share with me your sure-fire tips...or kahit moral support lang will go a long, long way. Promise!)

Here's to #bikiniyear2013...so help me God.

Are you still on vacation mode? Do you find it hard to get back on track after a break? I sooo know how that feels like.

I used to be in denial after holiday breaks and long weekends. I remember that it used to always be dreadfully difficult to get my grove back after having spent some time chillaxing and kicking back. 

This year, though, I employed a different technique, and it worked! I was able to enjoy a relaxing and productive weekend, and I didn't suffer from too much of a holiday hangover. Okay, okay, I didn't exactly go gallivanting at the beach, but I holed up at our family resthouse which, I'm pretty sure, is undoubtedly more conducive to lazing around. 

Anyway, here are a few things I did that made the jolt back to reality not as jarring:

1. A week prior to the trip, I booked my schedule solid with things to do. I made like a mad horse with DND blinders, and finished as many deliverables as I could. I sent out email after email and did report after report. I wrote and edited like I was chasing a magazine deadline. I found that attending to as many to-dos prior to a trip frees one up during the trip to think of non-work things. As such, I ended up with the K to sleep in, the freedom to daydream a little more, and the joy of spending more QT with my loved ones.
2. Before leaving for a break, jot down a list of must-dos for when you get back. Plot out your calendar, schedule in meetings, and project your deliverables. Holiday hangovers are particularly painful because we end up overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done when we finally get back. Managing and plotting out that workload with clarity gives one a sense of control. For me, it soothed my OC nerves and allowed me to let go even for a bit.
   
3. While I had initially wanted not to bring any work at all on my Easter vacay, I was facing a couple of Monday deadlines that I couldn't wiggle out of. So against my will, I whipped out my laptop and got to work. We can't always shake off work stuff while on a holiday. So if you seriously must work, choose work that require the least effort or brainpower (do some filing, work on simple copywriting tasks, etc). I finished a couple of simple stories during the break and did some short copywriting assignments. I worked on them while my sibs and I watched some DVD movies. Thankfully, my sibs chose movies I had already seen. Win-win.     
4. The last and most important technique unique of all? Making the most of a holiday trip. I spent my break bonding with my mom and sibs, sleeping in, and eating amazing food. Take advantage of a well-deserved break. Remember, breaks are necessary. They're batteries that power you up for yet another grueling round of work—that is, 'til the next long weekend.

Bring it on, reality. I'm recharged and ready!