Fashion Pulse | Boots!

I love boots. They come third in my list of favorite footwear, next to sneakers and flip flops. If only the hot and humid Philippine weather would allow me to wear boots more often, I would. Or if only we had autumn or winter in this country, then my boots wouldn't have to be stored in the closet for so long.

Which is why I'm planning to bring some of my favorite pairs when I travel to South Korea in December (here's hoping that this trip finally happens this year). The streets of Myeongdong will be the perfect place to strut in style with my favorite trench coat and lace-up boots. I can even have my hair cropped this short to complete the whole Emma Watson peg, haha!

Or for a more laid-back look, I can wear my suede ankle boots with a plain white shirt and jeans. Something like this, but sans the hat.

Photo credit: Beauty and Le Chic.

Of course, I'll also be bringing along my most favorite pair of all - my shiny, lavender Doc Martens. This fun and funky number works well with just about anything - shirt and jeans, cropped tee and shorts, a frilly blouse and short skirt, or a dress even!

Ah, so many style ideas with nowhere to go! Maybe I should do fashion posts now while waiting for this South Korea trip to materialize? Haha. :)

Hair Story | Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring in Sweet Orange.

I'm in a bit of a frugal mode lately. Well, to be exact, I NEED to be frugal these days. The little man will be in kindergarten this June, and as we all know, schooling entails expenses. Lots and lots of expenses. As such, I need to tighten my belt a little bit more while stretching the household budget a little further.

And with that, I chose to go for DIY hair coloring this time - instead of going to the salon and dishing out more than a thousand bucks (pesos, I mean) just to have it done. I actually considered going to Yue's barber, because they only charge Php 45 pesos (a little over a dollar), as opposed to the Php 150 rate of my stylist.

See? I told you I'm a jeans and t-shirt girl. And a sneaker freak, too! :)

However, the witty little boy reminded me that 'barbers are for boys'. LOL.

Ugh. The color is nearly gone, and I'm almost back to black!

I had my hair hacked waaay shorter at the back this time. And I specifically asked to have it contoured along the ears.

Handsome-ness! :)

Lani, my stylist, never fails to impress me every single time! She's like the Picasso of Pixies! (Whattaterm, lol!)

Now for the DIY part. Here's the arsenal.

Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring #5 (Sweet Orange).

I've read tons of positive feedback for this product, which doesn't come as a surprise to me. After all, it's Etude House. Bought this for only Php 350 from my favorite eBay seller; I reckon it's also within the Php 300+ price range if bought directly from an Etude House store.

Clockiwise From L-R: Box, Pump (has liquid solution inside), Bubble Coloring Solution,
Silky Perfumed Hair Treatment, Plastic Cape + Latex Gloves.

Here's how you use this product.

1. Wear the cape and latex gloves.
2. Pour the Bubble Coloring Solution inside the pump bottle. 
3. Tilt the bottle from side to side so that it mixes with the Liquid Solution inside the bottle. Do not shake the bottle, as it may become too foamy to pump out.
4. Pump out the foamy mixture and apply it on your hair.
5. Leave it on for about 30 minutes.
6. Rinse thoroughly.
7. Apply the Silky Perfumed Treatment next. 
8. Leave it on your hair for at least five to ten minutes. 
9. Rinse.

I would have loved to share the step-by-step procedure in photos, but it's a tad too difficult to use the camera when your hands are covered in latex and/or bubble solution.

Here's how my DIY experiment turned out.

One of the rare occasions that I do flash photography, lol.

It came out orange, all right! The color is so prominent at the ends, and I love it! I wish it did the same towards the roots, though. But then again, my hair has been a mixture of all sorts of colors throughout the years (I've been coloring my hair since I was in high school, lol). Hence, I can't blame the product entirely if it doesn't turn out the way it should on my hair.

So yeah, I'm not complaining. All the more because it cost me just a fraction of what I would've spent in a salon.

Just a word of caution, though. The moment you rinse the color off, your hair will feel hella dry. Don't fret because this is what the Silky Perfumed Treatment is for. Use it generously and your hair will feel soft and smooth in no time. If you're still unsatisfied with it, try using Human Nature's Intensive Hair Mask. You'd be surprised at the wonders this product could do to your hair.

Now allow me to squeeze 'the look' in this post.

Because I haven't done a proper FOTD post in awhile, meh.

Products used:

L'Oreal Base Magique Primer
Etude House Precious Minerals All Day Strong BB Cream
Human Nature Perfect Coverage Mineral Foundation in Honey
Avon Ideal Luminous Concealer Stick in Almond
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
Avon Smoke and Mirrors Eyeshadow Palette
Avon Mega Impact Gel Eyeliner in Blackberry
Avon Mega Impact Gel Eyeliner in White Fawn
Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Eyeliner in Black
Sleek MakeUp Blush in Pomegranate
Jordana Double Length Lipliner in Rose
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart

Notice the new foundation? Review coming soon! :)

Hair Story | Behind the Scenes of my Pixie.

When I had my hair done a few weeks back, I actually took a lot of pictures while I was at the salon. I intentionally did not post them together with this entry because the photos deserve an entry of their own. And I was saving them for InstaFriday.

This is how the facade of Creative Moda de Primera looks like.

Homey feel, even from the outside.

And it's not just a salon. It's also a fashion house owned by one of the top couturiers here in my area. So it's only natural that you find things like these inside.

This gown walked down the catwalk of the last Coco Festival Grand Fashion Show.

Old sewing machines remind me of my great grandmother, who loved to sew.

Jenny (the owner) has a penchant for antiques, which can be found all over the place.

Wooden totem poles and woven baskets.

Fine china.

I'm enamored by pendulum clocks. We used to have one in our old home. They always remind me of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Pit and the Pendulum'.

Shadow shot FTW!

Now here are some quirky stuff also displayed in the waiting area.

Use your imagination, lol.

Reminds me of The Little Prince's rose.

And here's Lani doing my hair, plus Yue tinkering with his toy. I always bring one wherever we go, just to keep him preoccupied.

Lani is a pro at doing pixie cuts.

Are you done, Mom?

Haircut success!

Handsome baby, handsome Mommy. Lol!

After getting a pixie, I don't want to grow my hair long ever again. :)

Also shared on 366 Photo Challenge and Mom & Me Monday.

Hair Story | The Long and Short of It.

I'm very, very meticulous when it comes to my hair. But unlike most women whose crowning glories are their long, black, straight hair, I prefer mine short, sleek, and dyed. Which is why I visit the salon on a regular basis - once a month, at least. When my hair gets long enough to cover my nape, then it's time to have it trimmed. And when the color starts to fade and the partition between my natural black and the copper brown becomes too obvious, it's time to have it dyed all over again.

I started dyeing my hair when I was in high school. I have an aunt-in-law who used to run a salon, and she enjoyed experimenting with my hair. I enjoyed it all the more because the services are free. Haha!

But it wasn't until five years ago when I decided to have my hair cut really short. When Victoria Beckham made the angled bob famous in 2007, I became a Posh Spice clone myself.

Hairstyle, 2007. Highlights were 'in'.

And I totally love, love, love this hairstyle. Perhaps this fondness sprang from my love for David Beckham (he is my favorite footballer of all-time) or the fact that I'm a fan of the Spice Girls. I was never afraid to have my hair cut short. It will grow back after all.

Getting pregnant the year after made it difficult for my hair. Hair dyes were a no-no, and going to the salon became impossible because I couldn't stand the smell of chemicals. I had no choice but to grow my hair long. A year after I gave birth, I took on a totally different hairstyle. I had it curled.

Hairstyle, 2009. Deviating with curls.

But then the curls became a liability because Yue, who was a little over a year old, would tug and pull my hair. I had my hair hacked to solve this dilemma. I went back to the angled bob, but a tad longer than the one I had before.

Hairstyle 2010. Angled bob.

Not completely satisfied with this look, I had it cut some two months after. And because Victoria was rocking the same hairstyle, too.

Hairstyle, December 2010. Pixie cut.

I've been maintaining this ever since. It's the most appropriate and most comfortable 'do for a mom who practically does all household chores, and has an active toddler in tow.

Yesterday I took it one step further by getting an even shorter pixie cut.

Hairstyle, 2012. Pixiefied all over again.

I actually wanted it really short - something like Emma Watson's pixie - but my stylist was a bit apprehensive. (Not many people wear their hair short around here, lol.) So she added some spunk on the sides instead.

Cut short on the sides so my ears would show.

Some husbands are strict with their wives' hair. Some don't like it when their wives cut their hair short. I'm glad my husband does not impose on me like that. He lets me have it my way- because he knows this style suits me best. Thankfully, I've inherited my father's oval face, long neck, and prominent cheekbones. Otherwise, I would not be able to rock this 'do.

I know Posh is wearing her hair long now. This time I may not follow suit. I don't think I can ever go back to long locks. All the more now because summer is about to come. 

Our Kpop hair! :D

And besides, I love it when Yue calls me pogi. That's 'handsome' in Filipino slang. :)

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