Confessions Part 2

So the week went by in a blur and now it's the night before I leave the hustle and bustle of the city life as I go on a summer adventure in the City of Love, Iloilo! Not calling it a summer vacation because I am sure I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation when I get back considering our packed schedules! Not complaining though. 

But before I leave, here's me, keeping up with my promise to at least have a weekly content on my blog of my random musings. 

Moments with C

I couldn't wait for the weekend. I know most of us look forward to the weekend but I particularly found myself counting down the days and then the hours 'til it arrived. Why? 'Cos this weekend meant I would get one on one time with my crush at the gym. Two straight days of one on one time. *cue Jolina Magdangal's Chuva Choo Choo song* 

Current List:

Loving: The shower of compliments for my new 'do

Last week I blogged about my shorter new 'do. By Monday when I got to work, colleagues who noticed instantly showered me with compliments. My boss calls this the haircut of someone in love/may boyfriend. Well, I don't have a boyfriend. I'm still waiting for that to happen! Ha! Ha!

Also, loving my new nail color.

I wanted to get my nails colored before my summer travel. I found this gel like shine nail polish from Bench. Actually bought two colors (the other was reddish pink) 'cos I couldn't make up my mind which one to get. But eventually, I ended up going for the pastel green for my nails (for now!). So summer-y, don't you think? Only Php69! 

And my new shades! 

I also blogged about these shades being on my shopping list. Finally decided to buy! Going to use these on my travel to Iloilo! Buy one, take one promo so two shades for Php500 only! 

Reading: Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham 

Apparently, Sophie Kinsella's real name is Madeleine Wickham and if you've been a regular reader of this blog, you'd know that she's one of my favorite authors. It was only when I read the first few pages of this book that I found out that Madeleine Wickham is her real name! I thought it was the other way around actually.

Anyway, so this is now my third book for the year! Yay progress on my 2018 GoodReads Challenge! Before this, I finished Judy Blume's Forever which I will write a review of along with Cecilia Ahern's Time of My Life. 

New discoveries for the week:

1) A new Japanese restaurant 

Donburi Dix, recently opened in Alphaland Mall, Magallanes. It's good enough for its affordable price. You can order a Bento Box meal for less than Php100! 

2) Chair Massage 

I've been enduring muscle pains especially around the legs, shoulder and back from working out at the gym and I've been wanting to get a massage. Since I was trying to save for my trip, I've resisted going to the spa. So I've been seeing these chair massages around malls particularly around Makati where you just pay maybe Php30 for a 7-minute massage. I asked my friend, Maila, to try it out with me. There's a Rest 'n' Go chai massage at Alphaland Magallanes as well and so for the price of Php100, we treated ourselves each to a 30-minute massage on the chair. Pwede narin. I'd try that again. 

That's all for now peeps because I have to go and get ready for Iloilo! Much packing to do! Will blog about my trip when I get back. For now, have a blessed Holy Week!  

Confessions Part 1

Nope. I'm not about to dedicate a blog post about Usher's song. Although the title is an homage to it. Actually the whole idea of this blog is derived from song titles. This blog is called Pieces of Liz because I took that from Ashley Simpson's Pieces of Me, which for a time I listened to endlessly on repeat, and the tagline(?) It's My Life and These are My Confessions are well from the Bon Jovi song with the same title and Usher's song, Confessions.

I thought I'd make a weekly blog listicle (every Sunday) starting today because...

1)I've given up on the whole idea of on hand daily creative journaling. Yup! I know. I'm throwing in the towel because I've realized it'll take a whole lot of effort to print photos when the topic I want to write about involves a picture and I just don't feel like doodling or drawing even when I've colored pens around.

and...

2) It's my goal this year to regularly blog. I mean, sayang naman buying a domain name and paying for my sooo cute and sooo summery blog design if I don't, di ba? Plus I still need a creative outlet and since it's easier to upload photos and videos, share links, etc. and type my thoughts than writing by hand, this weekly blog listicle is a step towards meeting that goal!

So, let's kick it off with my confessions:

This week's highlights:

1) Saw big time Hollywood celebrities up close! 

Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant were in Manila last Monday to promote the second season of Santa Clarita Diet, an original TV series on Netflix. This was such a surreal but nice experience! Who would have thought I'd get to see them here? I've always thought that the only chance I'd ever get to see a Hollywood star is when I go to the US!

I'm such a fan of Drew Barrymore (loved her as Dylan on Charlie's Angels and loved, loved, loved her as Josie Gellar on Never Been Kissed). As for Timothy, well I've liked him as the villain on Die Hard 4 and as Sam, the twenty-something guy Carrie briefly dated on Sex and the City. My feet hurt like hell that night because I stood for hours in heels but all worth it to see these two!

  


2) A moment with the crush

I've been religiously attending a cycling class at the gym because I am so smitten with the instructor. My legs always feel like jelly afterwards but it's always worth it just to see him even just for an hour. Of course I always wish for a moment with him. This week, the universe gave me that moment - a photo together and a boomerang IG story. I was drenched in sweat and I seriously don't know what to do when someone says "let's do a boomerang!" Or wacky for that matter but I gamely posed for a photo with him and embraced my awkwardness just for that brief shared moment. It's always a good way to start the morning, leaving the gym feeling happy and inspired.


Current List 

Loving: My new 'do

I used to dread getting my hair cut for fear that I might end up with a really bad haircut. I had some bad haircuts when I was younger. But now that I've found my go-to salon, Piandre, I'm not afraid to cut my hair short anymore. They have really good stylists there! And the service is great!

 

Watching: Been switching from Netflix (for a rerun of Friends) to iFlix (for Younger and a rerun of Scandal) 

Friends is such a classic! Shonda Rhimes' Scandal, on the other hand, is now on its 7th and final season. I haven't seen one episode of the current season yet and there's a crossover between Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder episode which sounds really exciting! So if you guys know where I can maybe stream Season 7 or if we're friends IRL, could you please share a copy with me so I can spend a day catching up?

Reading: The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern 

I started the year with a goal to read 12 books for my 2018 GoodReads Challenge. One book for each month. Well, March is almost done and I haven't finished a single book yet. I'm hoping this book will be the first for the year. Currently on Chapter 8 and things are starting to get really interesting.

Playing: Imago 

My friend, Fate, got me to play this puzzle game and I am hooked! You can download that on Google Play Store or Apple iTunes.

Shopping List:

I have an upcoming vacation trip in a week! I haven't made a list of things I plan to bring or outfits I plan to wear but some ideas in mind already. Thinking whether I should buy accessories, shoes and/or new clothes for Iloilo.

Looking at these fabulous earrings from February Lifestyle that scream summer ready!

These shades from Shop Nicole Syjuco. It's currently on promo - Buy one, take one!

 And these sandals from Zalora.



Okay, so I guess that's it for now. Another weekend's come to an end and it's the last work week for me before I go on vacation for the Holy Week! Have a great week ahead peeps!




 
      

Book Review: My Not So Perfect Life

One of the last books I was able to read late last year that made it in my GoodReads Challenge 2017 - My Not So Perfect Life by one of my favorite chick lit authors, Sophie Kinsella (most known for her Confessions of a Shopaholic book series).

Plot: Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.

OK, so the truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers.

But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they?

Until her not-so-perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business.

Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams - or try to get her job back? Does Demeter – the woman who has everything – actually have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems.

And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway? 

I loved so many things about this book. 

1. Katie Brenner was a little kooky (and maybe a little lost in life) but still amusing and charming. Because I've read a lot of her books already not just the Shopaholic series, I've noticed that this character trait is one that her heroines seem to share but it's a formula that works. I sure love it! But what I love more is that I felt like Katie was a stronger, smarter and more determined to make something of herself kind of heroine compared to the others.  

2. I love that this book tackled social media specifically how people project a happy and seemingly perfect life online which can especially be seen on Instagram! A shot of a cup of coffee on a pretty cup with someone smiling while holding it; a photo of a girl with her designer outfit and bag; or a photo of someone admiring a picturesque view somewhere garnering likes, hearts, shares and comments full of amazement...and envy. But people don't often talk about what's behind the scenes. Have you read about this girl who amassed about $10,000 debt trying to be come Instagram famous? 

Katie was one of those people who projected a different picture of her life online from her real life. 

3. And lastly, I loved that this book reminds me not to judge a book by its cover. Her boss, Demeter, was a lot like Miranda Priestley. Successful career woman. Fashionable. Living in a great house with her picture perfect family. She was also someone people at work loathed. But when Demeter ended up on a holiday in their new glamping site, Katie began to realize that there was more to her boss than meets the eye. 

I personally had a Miranda/Demeter type of boss before. I admired that boss of mine for his brains and his fashion sense. I was also scared of him. Even made me cry once (I didn't cry in front of him. I cried in front of my Dad at McDonald's over a late dinner). I also somewhat loathed him (I thought ugh! what a perfectionist! He's out to make my working life miserable.) But like Katie, I was given a chance to see my boss in a new and different light to realize that he only had the best intentions for me as his employee and that he was really a nice person. 

I think that this book is more about Katie and Demeter. Yes, Katie does have a love interest in the story but it seemed he's really just a subplot which I don't actually mind. It's a good break from Sophie Kinsella's other novels. 

A light, fun and amusing read. Definitely worth my money and time! This is now my third favorite novel from Kinsella next to Twenties Girl which really made me cry and I've Got Your Number which brought on all the kilig! 

  

Weekend Art Appreciation: ArtFairPH 2018

Art Fair Philippines 2018 was held a couple of Sundays ago and I was there along with a couple of friends for a weekend of art appreciation.

The last time I went to Art Fair was still back in 2016 so it's nice to be back taking in the art scene which has slowly started to become mainstream thanks in part to Ayala Land Inc. and Makati City who've been taking the lead in making art a part of Filipinos' lives.

Some of the ways they've been doing so: 

1. Having art installations in public.

Filipinos can now see artworks not just inside museums or inside a building like The Link where Art Fair PH is held annually. This year, art was easily seen by the public. Case in point, this Leeroy New art installation called Barikada, which I saw as I walked by the bridgeway connecting Greenbelt and Landmark on my way to Art Fair PH 2018. 

With artworks displayed in public, it's easier for people to see just how art can blend into the environment and allows them as well to appreciate first-hand the work of the artist. After all, it's the ultimate goal of any artist to share his passion for art to everyone. 

2. Encouraging contemporary art forms, such as photography.

Think that art is limited only to sculptures, paintings and installations? Well, think again because photography is another form of art and in this day and age, digital photography is an art widely appreciated. That's probably why this year's Art Fair had a special section that showcased photos.  

Here are some of the photography works I loved:

A closer look at the mental illness in the Philippines

Manila's Golden Gays

It felt a little sad reading the story of Manila's Golden Gays. They lamented about the days gone by; of them losing their home after the death of Justo Justo and how they miss the dressing up in bright and colorful outfits, donning wigs and putting on makeup for pageants. 

Another photography exhibition that really struck a nerve was Everyday Impunity which is tackles the extra judicial killings that's been rampantly happening in the country under the current administration. One side of the dimly lit room was various photographs by Carlo Gabuco of the victims of EJK and the bloody aftermath of the President's war against drugs. It was enough to give one goosebumps. But the real chill comes by listening to a recording of a 12 year old girl, Christine, who narrated the story of how her father's life was violently ended by the police. A lone arm chair was placed in the center of the room with a single bullet hole on it claimed to be caused by the bullet that took Christine's father's life. People were free to sit down on that chair as they listen to her story. 

I didn't sit in the chair but I listened to her story. I felt like crying as she told the story of her father's senseless killing. 

3. Featuring works of up and coming artists.

Whether they're an up-and-coming artist, in mid-career or even an established one in the industry, Makati City gives them a fair chance to be included in its art events and initiatives. 

4. Holding art fairs.

In Makati alone, there are already a number of galleries that showcase different works of arts. But the challenge has always been how to get people to visit? I, myself, have only visited a gallery once - Silverlens in Pasong Tamo Extension which has also been a couple of years ago. It's a good thing there is now Art Fair Philippines which is held annually since 2013 and it's been getting bigger and better every year. With this event, artists and galleries alike can gather in one roof to showcase their works and it's also more convenient for a lot of people.

Here are some more works of art that stood out for me at Art Fair Philippines 2018:

Racing Heart (which pretty much sums up how I feel when I see my crush! LOL!) 

I heard there's about 24,000 cars here. Kind of reminds me of EDSA rush hour traffic

This artwork reminds of women in abusive relationships, aptly titled This Too Shall Pass

And this art work reminds of patience. Like whenever he says I'm going too fast and I should slow down, I envision myself using this board and counting down the days until it's finally the right pace. The right time. LOL! 

5. Promising continuous support for art.

So aside from the annual Art Fair Philippines, Ayala Land Inc. and Makati city stay true to their commitment by continuing to immerse citizens in arts and cultures like Dia del Libro, Makati Street Meet, Makati Street lights (I've yet to experience these though it's always on my list of must-try activities in the city!) and the famous Ayala Triangle Festival of Lights which happens annually as well, around November to December. 

These initiatives that support artists and foster an appreciation of arts make Makati city the country's haven for arts and culture. It also makes me love living in this city even more! 

Recent New Shows to Watch on Netflix

Recent free time had me binge watching on Netflix. Here are the awesome movies/shows you might also want to see when you get the time.

1) When We First Met

Starring Adam Devine from Pitch Perfect and Alexandra Daddario from Percy Jackson movies and Baywatch. Saw this Netflix original movie around Valentine's Day. Very timely! It's a cute movie to watch. I'd love to recreate those photo booth scenes. 

Sometimes we're so busy thinking about someone whom we think is the right person for us that we fail to see who the right one really is. 

IMDb Summary: Noah spends the perfect first night with Avery, the girl of his dreams, but gets relegated to friend zone. He spends the next three years wondering what went wrong - until he gets the unexpected chance to travel back in time and change that night - and his fate - over and over again. 

Watch the official trailer here:

2) Queer Eye

So for those old enough to remember, this is actually a reboot of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. But the new show dropped the "Straight Guy" descriptive from the title to make it more inclusive. So now, in this new show which stars the new Fab 5: Bobby Berk (design); Karamo Brown (culture); Tan France (fashion); Jonathan Van Ness (grooming) and Antoni Porowski (food and wine). 

Watch the official trailer here:

Okay, I'm going to say I'm crazy about this new series! I love the new Fab 5! My ultimate favorite's Antoni (well, he's a hot gay man so...). Next to him, it's Jonathan! He brings the fun to the show! Yassss queen!  And I think Karamo is also hot. But I just have to say, I think his job description should more or less say "life coach" than "culture expert" because the only times I've seen him teach the guys any culture in the show was when he gave out Broadway tickets and taught firemen how to dance. Most of the time, he spends it getting the guys to talk about feelings and trying to make them feel confident and empowered. 

 3) Everything Sucks

IMDb Summary: It's a coming-of-age story, set in the 1990s, that revolves around the A/V and drama clubs at Boring, Ore., high school; the two crews of outsiders join forces to make a movie and endure the purgatory that is high school.

Well so this is set in the 90s for one so it gives a whole lot of nostalgic vibes for me! Dial up internet. VHS tapes. No smartphone days. Posters of teen heart throbs Jonathan Taylor Thomas on the wall (Gosh I loved JTT!). The best thing about this new Netflix series? The soundtrack! I hope there's a season 2!

Watch the official trailer here:

What shows are you bingeing on Netflix right now?