Onward and Upward

How do you know when you are in a different point in your life?

Well as for me, I have swayed from lipgloss to matte lipstick. I bravely put on bold (and bright) lipcolors. The place where I live now, snows. I found comfort in staying at home and not having to see what’s going on outside. I finally have flat (errrr!) snow boots. I suddenly love angora and merino wool socks. I wonder how my mini-pinscher in Manila is doing. My darlin’ Coffee.

I thought my love affair with my deep coral lipgloss imported from Australia will never end. I told myself over and over and over again some over 5 years ago, that I could grow old with this lipgloss. It was heaven sent. My quest for the perfect lipgloss was over one Saturday night. It was back in Manila in Beauty Shop (their version of Sephora), just minutes before I had to see a movie. So much in a rush, I glided the great-smelling (I always go by the scent) lipgloss, just the right amount of color, nothing too bold. (so different from my lipshades now) perfect! Just perfect, just perfect for my easily dried lips. Just the perfect amount of essential oils. Paid some 300 pesos and off I went. That one-night discovery led to couple of years of faithfulness. I remained a snob to other so-called best lipgloss no matter how many other magazines claim them to be. I was blissfully satisfied with my lipgloss. For the years I have used it, countless people have asked about it, including total strangers. Then it might have been my 9th or 10th tube almost gone, I went to our meeting place (beauty bar) to get my next tube. Out of stock, darn. Next week, out of stock, hasn’t arrived, darn! Then the following week, I was told.. it was discontinued. What? I refused to believe. I searched for my lost love on other stores, internet, Australian sites and all other means. I was betrayed. I was left with so many questions. I was broken-hearted. Deep coral was gone.

Surprisingly, the first time it snowed here in Great Falls since I got here, I felt like a giddy child having my gift being handed to me. I’ll be honest I’ve been just a little pessimistic about Montana. There was nothing to do here. Malls were 4 hour drives. Nowhere to dine that’s really worth craving for. I even surprised myself that the following nights after I got here, I’ve been cooking. I’ve always known how, this is how I put it. I will (cook) when the need arises. I guess pleasing my hubby was more than a need, at least I didn’t want him to go hungry. I was never a big fan of socks since I do not really have the need for them. – not until I moved here. My snow boots, I have not used them, pretty soon. They’re fine boots. It’s a first!

Coffee will love the snow. She’s a brave little nugget. Never scared of anything, even by another dog 5 times her size. Sometimes, I wish I have that innocence.. and braveness. Innocence of not knowing, of not fearing.. making you fear… nothing.

You might wonder how I moved on after Deep coral left me? I superficially found refuge in other lipgloss(es), thus wasted money. Not even half-way through each of them, I would search for the next-good-enough-thing. Then came Nars. It only held my interest for 2 tubes. I am not really sure if I am a retired lipgloss addict even if my heart does not yearn for deep coral anymore. It might have let go already. On the other hand, deep coral may just have been part of the plot how I’ll find these lipcolors that I keep close my heart now. For all my lipsticks now, no gloss, no frost. Just creamy and matte. I have transitioned. And it feels good. I might have outgrown deep coral that I found in my late-teens but I have not outgrown the fact that it would always be my lips getting the VIP treatment, just as deep coral once provided.

posted by abi @ 7:30 PM 1 comments

because i didn't have my earrings on.

have you ever had a day in your life when as soon as it started.. everything felt just a little too..off?
this is what happened to me one sunday.

i woke up , took my bath and got ready for a noon mass since i had to work at the store later that afternoon. feeling fabulous (although with gray skies), wore my white jacket , red necklace and red shoes. left the house and when i was fixing my hair, i felt something was missing, my earrings.. which i forget to wear once in a blue moon. carrying on.. i went to church, carried my umbrella, didn't want to be drenched. finished mass and as predicted, it was drizzling. got into my car and was so tempted to go home to grab my earrings before i head to the store. too bad i didn'y have enough time. i got the mall, raining. of course my umbrella was wet and i wanted to get lunch at least before i start. i was in line for some chinese food (which i don't usually buy) when a guy (well a janitor) tapped my shoulder and asked me to swish my umbrella so it's not dripping. first of all, it will still be wet and will drip for a little bit whatever i do unless he wanted to blow dry it. i was a little proud i was scolded but i succumbed to his request and felt a little guilty of being insensitive after all. and when i was swishing my umbrella, my realtor was calling me, insisted to talk while it was raining while i was swishing my big golf umbrella while i was in the middle of a sunday-family-day lunch time food court.. perfect timing huh? oh well.. moving on.. so i went to the store, ate my lunch there etcetera etcetera. work was blah. one co-worker was getting on my nerves. she was just saying all the wrong words to me that day (not bad words though in fairness..) i started ignoring her instead. so yeah, i was only supposed to stay until 7, then 7 became 8, and 8 became 11 until 11 became 12 - midnight! we were doing the floorset, where the whole store is getting a face-lift for any holiday or season coming up. the store looks so good, the windows too! we were the best floor design in the district! anyway, by far, the best thing that happened that day was i finally got to bring home my very own poster! that - was - great! downfall, i can't fit in my car nor trunk. it was too big. some of my co-workers saw me trying to fit it.. past midnight, fitting a poster in my coupe. so one kind co-worker went back to the store to get some rope so we'll just tie it on top of my car. we did a good job securing it.. then i saw this familiar 4-runner. surprise! it was mom and dad. i got some people worried about me since i have not called since that afternoon (i never got a break during the day) and so they decided to check if my car was still there in the parking lot. and there i was. i wasn't too happy how it turned out. i wanted to go home so badly, i was tired and hungry. oh well.. dramatics. i can stop right here. so went home, the parentals followed me home, well mom rode with me. wiped my poster and stared at the part where it folded due to resisting the wind when it was on top of my car. so much for keeping it together right?

well towards the first few hours of the following day, which happened to be our 13th wedding monthsary.. it was good to talk to the hubby. i was upset how the day -and night turned out and i realized.. all of these... because i didn't have my earrings on. and i told myself, i should have just gone home after mass even if i might have been late for work. lesson learned.

posted by abi @ 12:41 AM 2 comments