Before I start this entry, I just want to say that I'm no beauty blogger and not in any way an expert on all things beauty and skin care. I don't hoard that much beauty or skin care products. In fact, I'm what you call a loyalist for I stick to what I've been using for years. So, imagine my surprise when I came home with a load of hair and skin care items after perusing some items from Watsons. 

Quite honestly, I went there to buy my regular eyeliner and some necessities and I couldn't remember what came over me and why I included a couple of items that wasn't on my list. I didn't plan on using it though and thought of giving it to my cousin but I ended up trying it for the sake of satisfying the amount I've shelled out and thank goodness I did because these items became a new favorite of mine!

Hair Treats Nourishing Hair  in Argan Oil

I love how this product has been making my hair soft, bouncy and smooth for weeks now plus it smells so nice too! As you know in my Facts About Me post, I have virgin hair. I didn't have it rebonded, permed. colored or treated. Thus, discovering products like this that work wonders for my crowning glory makes me feel happy.

Purederm Argan Oil Make-Up Remover & Cleansing Towelettes

I ran out of my regular Make-Up remover and when I went to Watson's they don't have it in-stock that time so I picked this one up mainly because of its component which is Argan Oil and Vitamin E. What I love about this product is how this doesn't leave my skin greasy after each use. It's also cheaper than my regular one, so this one's definitely a steal!

Purederm Cucumber Eye Patch

When you're working in a BPO Industry - tired eyes, dark circles and eye bags the size of a month long travel are a constant problem. I know that what you really need is a good night's sleep but in any case, you couldn't get one, this is an alternative that will help you. I've been using this for almost a month now so I haven't noticed any changes to my under eye circles and eye bags yet but I love how it soothes my tired eyes. I placed it inside the fridge when not in use so it adds to its cool sensation when I place it over my eyes. 

So there you have it! My Hair, Beauty, and Skin Care favorites from last month!

I would love to hear from you, What were your favorites last month?

I was looking at my calendar and saw July 31st staring back at me and all I could think about was "Wow! That was fast!". Cliché as it may sound but yes, July was nothing but a blur. I was intensely busy this month that I haven't been able to accomplish most of my July goals that I mentioned here.

graphic art by Elmer

I first met you one quiet afternoon on July 20. I had just finished my lunch and was getting ready to take an afternoon nap while watching the longest running noontime show on Philippine TV when I saw Wally Bayola, all dressed-up, looking every bit like Grinch exchanging lip syncs with Jimmy Santos via split screen. I laughed hard, sleep forgotten and was so intently focused on the comedic spectacle on my tv screen. I was confused at first what the hell was this dubsmash girl, the one that has been making rounds on my Facebook timeline, and actor Alden Richards were doing on Eat Bulaga and why all of a sudden, I started to feel a little kilig about their brief split screen interaction. Curiosity got the better of me, so right after the show ended, I went online to search about the two when I stumbled upon their July 16 episode and cliche as it may sound, the rest, as they say, is history.

I got to know you pretty quickly those first few days - your characters, your unusual plot, your quirks etc. Soon, being with you became a habit I couldn't shake. I found myself awake at exactly 12:00PM just to catch every single episode. I didn't mind that I just came from a night shift and had barely enough slept at all because of you. I followed Maine and Alden's social media accounts and even followed some fan accounts on twitter and Instagram so as not to missed any news and happenings about them. I found myself buying every magazine that featured my favorite love team on the cover. and had even spent a good two hours everyday reading newspaper and online articles about you or AlDub. I barely noticed that most of my time was devoted to you. Every time I couldn't see you, I'd spent hours re-watching episodes online, and scrolling through twitter and Instagram posts. Even my friends complained that they rarely see me because I had to schedule every get-together or gatherings after Eat Bulaga and weekends are a NO-NO. In short, I got hooked and it scared me to admit it back then. 

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not scared to be tagged as baduy or too mainstream or cheap. I'm just scared because nobody has ever made me feel this way. No one has ever made me feel the way that you do. No one has ever made me so hooked-up to a local love team to the point of personally defending them to online bashers. No one has ever made me so personally attached to an on-screen couple like what AlDub did to me and it's because of this that I can honestly say, I wouldn't be able to take it if they would be separated and had to part ways someday. 

Time indeed flies so fast. You were such a big part of my life that I couldn't imagine myself without you in it. I saw you grow from being nothing but exchanging dubsmashes to something big. I saw you conquer social media with millions of tweets about your name. I saw you being recognized not just locally but all over the world. I saw you being noticed by not just loyal Eat Bulaga viewers but other people as well even international personalities. I saw you receiving accolades and yet you remain humble. I saw how you changed other people's lives - redeeming an actor from his otherwise unforgivable scandal, making a phenomenal star from an unknown nobody, for giving another actor his biggest break to date. You were such a game changer.

So thank you. 

Thank you for making me happy. 

Thank you for re-installing Filipino Values to us millennials. 

Thank you for the laughter, fun and tears

Thank you for teaching me about Tamang Panahon

Thank you for introducing me to the AlDub Nation Fandom where I was able to meet such talented individuals

And most of all, 

Thank you for introducing us to AlDub and making all of us believe on "love wins" and "forever".

Things might be totally different from last year and a lot of your viewers already gave up but just so you know, what you've achieved will be so hard to replicate or shall I say will never be replicated by anyone. 

The villain of Rosemary Beach finally gets her own happy ending! The 13th and final installment of the series is here and was released worldwide last June 28. I gotta admit, I honestly was never a true Nan hater. Yes, she did quite a number of nasty things specially to Blaire and Harlow but I have always felt that she was just misunderstood and just needed someone to understand and push her to the right direction. So, I went into this book with much hope and excitement that finally I would know more about Nan and what made her be that way but sadly, it wasn't what I expected or hoped it would be. Here's why:

» Just because it's part of the series doesn't mean it is good

I love the Rosemary Beach Series after I was introduced to Rush and Blair and had been following the whole Rosemary Gang since then. I didn't bat an eye when Abbi Glines announced that Nan will have her own book because I'm kinda excited to know about her but this one was a total letdown. I don't know exactly what had happened but it wasn't at par with the other books in the series.

» Never Trust The Hype

Abbi Glines + Rosemary Beach Series + Nan, come on?! what could go wrong? Well, almost everything. Days after the announcement that the last book from the series was going to be about Nan, the hype was real. Fans of the series shared their own thoughts and it really got me excited but then again, it really didn't live up to the hype so there, never trust. I think it would be better if you would read a lot of reviews before you click  on the order button.

» Not all love triangles are good plot conflicts

I couldn't stress it enough that this Major - Nan - Cope love affair got me scratching my head. I swear it is so confusing and not romantic at all. Honestly, there wasn't really a build up as to why Nan should be with this guy or as to why this particular guy is better for her than the other. It's frustrating because it was sold us a romantic and erotic read but the hopeless romantic in me wasn't happy.

Overall, I was really disappointed with how Up in Flames turned out. Maybe because I expected more? I mean, Nan is an interesting character. I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know why she's being a bitch. I wanted to read about her background story and her personal growth but I really didn't read it in here. It's sad that I really didn't get to know the real her and I felt bad because I really like Abbi Glines but her latest book was a total let down for me.

Ratings : ★★

It's the first Tuesday of the month and that means another round of the fun monthly link-up hosted by Raisa and Eirene where we rounded up the things that we really loved and liked from the past month which is awesome and super cool! 

Like what I mentioned in my June wrap-up post, last month was dull and monotonous. I didn't get to go out of the house - well except for going home to the province for a few days but other than that, I was only at home, doing nothing but reading books, internet surfing and watched TV. Thus, for My Favorite Things post, I'm rounding up the things that gave color to my monotonous life.

GAME OF THRONES
My fangirl heart was happy - no scratch that, so very happy with how Season 6 turned out. Battle of the Bastards (EP. 9) and Winds of Winter (EP. 10) did it for me. From Dany riding her dragons & seeing them in action, the battle scene at Winterfell, Cersei's EP. 10 Black Gown, Rickon running for his life etc. This show is a spectacle. Truly, one of the best!

P.S

Hats off to the ladies this season! Clearly, you showed who's the real boss.

I shed a tear when the closing credits were shown after EP. 10 because that reminded me that I have to wait another year for this to come back. Winter is here!


ME BEFORE YOU
I thought I wasn't going to get emotional because I've read the book, I know the scenes and the drama -  in short, I was prepared but my tear ducts betrayed me. I'm a hard person to please when it comes to book-movie adaptations because I always prefer the former and would usually get disappointed with the latter, but Me Before You was one of the best book adaptation I've seen.

FINDING DORY
Thirteen years (almost) of waiting and the excitement and happiness was still the same. My childhood heart was happy!

What are your favorites from last month?