Making A Space Personable.

When you are decorating your living space, you want to make sure that it is reflective of your personality. There are several ways to make sure that your living space showcases your character. You can choose accessories and color schemes that match your personality. Decorating your home does not have to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to save money while decorating.

Photo credit: Sica Consulturas.

Choose Bold Patterns
If you want to make a statement with your decorations, then choose bold patterns when you decorate. You can often find discounted rugs at carpet stores, and you can use these to cover hardwood or neutral toned floors. You can also find decorated canvases with bright patterns, or you can easily create your own using supplies from an arts and crafts store. If you find a piece of art that you admire, then you can either purchase it or try to recreate it yourself.

Pick Practical Furniture
If you do not have a guest room, then you may want to choose a futon for your living room. The futon can serve as a bed for overnight guests if necessary, and you can use it as a couch when you do not have guests over. Futons are often relatively inexpensive, which makes them a great option for small living spaces as well. You may be able to find coffee tables or other accent pieces at consignment shops for reduced prices. Local classified advertisements may feature discounted furniture and accessories as well.

Embellish With Accents
Other details are also important when you are decorating your home. For example, you want to be sure that guests are greeted with a pleasant aroma when they arrive. Using incense sticks can help you create a pleasing scent. When you decide where to buy incense sticks online, you can purchase a variety of scents that will enhance the atmosphere of your living area. When you have finished decorating your space, you will be excited to welcome guests. You may want to host a gathering of friends and family to show off your updated decorations. Having friends over to watch a movie or enjoy dinner will give you a chance to impress guests with your creative talents.

5 Ways to be the Coolest Bride and Groom Ever.

Although a wedding is primarily about the bride and groom, a truly great wedding celebration brings joy to a whole group of people. This includes the bridesmaids and groomsmen who work hard to make your big day great. Here are five tips to keeping your wedding party happy and properly thanking your friends for their help.

Photo credit: The Knot.

Keep It Affordable
No one wants to go bankrupt celebrating someone else’s wedding. Think about the needs and budgets of your bridesmaids and groomsmen when you make your plans. If you’re planning a destination wedding, consider paying their travel expenses. Choose dresses and tuxedos that can be rented or purchased cheaply. Finally, don’t expect expensive gifts from your wedding party, since they are already contributing their time and efforts.

Keep It Flattering
Don’t ask your bridesmaids and groomsmen to wear something ugly, embarrassing, or revealing. You may want an unusual wedding theme or style, but consider their taste and comfort. Although the focus will mostly be on the bride, no one wants to look foolish in public.

Respect Their Time
While the bride and groom may be thinking about nothing but their wedding plans, everyone else is busy leading their lives. If you schedule a series of events, including an engagement party, a bridal shower, and a rehearsal dinner, your wedding party may get tired of the whole occasion. Similarly, don’t obsessively call or email your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Sending them a Save the Date card from https://www.brideandgroomdirect.co.uk/shop/save-the-date should be enough. You may be filled with ideas or worries, but they are probably thinking about other things.

Be Grateful
Sometimes, a simple “thank you” is enough to show your gratitude. Better yet, buy a small gift of appreciation for each member of your wedding party. Most people would be happy with swarovski wedding gifts or other high end merchandise, available from stores like Cal Global USA. Make sure each member of the party is recognized, but be especially grateful to the individuals who help organize the event and bachelor or bachelorette parties.

Relax And Have Fun
The best weddings start with a positive attitude. Your happiness will be contagious, so share it with your wedding party. Try to relax and enjoy your big day without worrying about little details. The bridesmaids and groomsmen have the power to make a wedding great. Treat them right, and they will give you a wedding party that you deserve.

Seoul Searching | Riding a Bus in Seoul.

After having spent a fortune on cab fare during our first trip to South Korea, I decided to learn the ropes of riding the bus and taking the subway this time around. It is a cheaper option after all (flagdown rate for cabs in Seoul is at 3000 won; bus/subway fare is only 1300 won), and I can no longer use the sub-zero weather as an excuse to take a cab.

Imagine having to wait at bus stops in the dead of winter with a kid in tow? Or having to walk from the subway to our destination and vice versa while the flurries are falling? Que horror for my poor lungs! Now that it's spring, the weather is a tad warmer, a lot nicer, and let's put it this way - it's a bit more conducive if and when you get lost, haha!

Photo credit: Seoul Sync.

But to save you from that trouble, let me give you an introduction to the Seoul bus system. These buses are differentiated by their color and the number of digits in the route number.

Let's learn about the colors after the jump! :)

Spotlight | Nature Republic Nail Polish Remover.

If there's one thing I've learned from riding the Seoul subway, it's that there's a Nature Republic store at almost every station. If you're following me on Instagram or on my Facebook page, you know I have been to quite a handful of tourist spots and shopping districts here in Seoul.

At the Nature Republic branch at Ttukseom Station.

All those places I have traveled to via subway, and I kid you not, Nature Republic is probably the only Korean cosmetics brand with a shop in every station I've been to. I wander through some of the stores from time to time, just to check if they have new items on sale. A few weeks back I bought this bottle of Nail Polish Remover, because my manicure was already in a sorry state.

Nature Republic Nail (Polish) Remover.

Back home, I wouldn't bother removing my nail polish as my friendly neighborhood manicurista would do the honors of taking them off for me. But alas, here in Seoul, manicures and pedicures do not come cheap! Imagine shelling out 25000 Korean won for a basic manicure?! That's almost a thousand pesos when converted - enough to get me a full body massage, footspa, manicure, and pedicure in the Philippines!

Mostly Hangul text at the back of the bottle.

So for the meantime, I had to make do with just bare nails. Don't tell me to do my own nails, because I can't even use a nipper properly for the life of me. Haha!

My manicure was in this state about a week after we arrived in Seoul.

I bought this Nail Polish Remover for 2000 won (around $2 or Php 80 when converted). There was another variant on display called Extreme Nail (Polish) Remover, which was more expensive by a thousand won. I went for the cheaper one, since my nail polish isn't one of those hard-to-remove, glittery kind.

The nail polish remover, uncapped.

This Nail Polish Remover comes with a child-proof cap - the kind that you have to push down then turn counter-clockwise to open. It also has this sort-of plastic stopper on the cap so that it covers the hole on the bottle and seals it tightly to prevent vaporization.

Just a decent amount of nail polish remover on a cotton ball will do.

To use, simply out a decent amount of the substance on a cotton ball. No need to soak it! Let it sit on top your nails for a bit, then the nail polish will come off. None of the violent rubbing that you need to do when using 10-peso nail polish removers bought from sari-sari stores, lol.

Ta-daa! 

I love how this product removes nail polish effortlessly, without making the nails dry and yellowish. None of the chemical scent either, as this product smells like green tea. Yes, the Elizabeth Arden Green Tea kind. :)

Have you tried this nail polish remover before? What's your usual brand of nail polish remover? :)

Pucker Up! | Beyond Rich Color Tint Balm.

I must confess - I have a growing affinity for Beyond Cosmetics, especially their makeup line. I actually hoarded a few items from their recently launched Alice in Blooming collection after falling in love with its predecessor, the Alice in Glow collection.

But before I show you all the stuff that I bought whilst here in Korea, let me introduce to you first to Beyond's Rich Color Tint Balm - my favorite lip product as of late.

Beyond Rich Color Tint Balm.

I actually bought this on a whim last December, because they were on a 1+1 Sale the very first time I went to Myeongdong. Here in Korea, they call 'Buy One Take One' sale events as '1+1'. So I bought this shade, #10 Tok Wine, and gave the other one to my mother-in-law.

Shade #10.

Beyond's Rich Color Tint Balm actually functions two ways - as a lip tint, with its rich and vivid color; and as a lip balm, since it moisturizes the lips and makes it soft and healthy-looking.

Hangul text at the back of the box.

Beyond Cosmetics' products are paraben-free and cruelty-free.

There are different ten shades in the Rich Color Tint Balm collection. Had I known beforehand how wonderful this product is, I would have bought the other colors as well.

#10 Tok Wine up close.

#10 Tok Wine is a lovely shade of plum. The color can be a bit intimidating, as it does look dark at first glance. Actually, that's the reason why I bought this shade in the first place. I was leaning towards deep purple/plum/burgundy lip colors last winter.

And closer.

However, this shade doesn't look too dark or intimidating when swatched or applied on the lips. From the swatches below, you'll see that it's more pink than plum. But I like it nonetheless. :)

One swipe on the right, two swipes on the left.

Oh, and can you see how pigmented this stuff is for a lip balm? It's even more pigmented than some of the lipstick brands that I have tried over the years! I love its texture, too - creamy and buttery, with a sheer but buildable finish.

One swipe on my lips.

Wear time is pretty impressive too, considering it's (just) a lip balm. This shade in particular remains intact for at least 3 or 4 hours before it starts to fade away into a natural-looking, pinkish stain on the lips.

My only gripe? Swiping the lip balm on the corners of my mouth can be a challenge because of its rounded shape. Other than that, I'm all too happy with this impulse buy. Haha!

What I love:

- For a lip balm, it's highly pigmented.

- Keeps the lips soft and hydrated.

- Lots of colors to choose from.

- Decent wear time, and leaves the lips

with a lovely stain as the color fades.

- Subtle, fruity scent.

- Affordable price (retails for 9500 Korean won each.

I actually got two lip balms for that price because of the 1+1 promo).

What you might not like:

- Getting the color on the corners of your mouth can be pretty tricky.

- Not available locally.

Products Used:
FACE: Innisfree No Sebum Blur Pact,
Laneige Snow BB Cream,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Peripera Snow White Pride Up Pact.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Pen Liner,
Tony Moly Simply Style Slim Curling Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Beyond Rich Color Tint Balm in #10 Tok Wine.