Book Review: Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

Photo Credit ~ Goodreads

3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Warning: May contain spoilers

Before I begin my first book review on my latest read: Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin, I would just like to say that I love reading. It's one of my favorite hobbies. Reading, for me, is a hobby, a gift, an adventure, a learning, a journey to the unknown. 

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. Let me give you a quick overview of how the story went. Please do not attempt to proceed and read the following lines if you do not want to be spoiled. :)

The main character is Ellen, a photographer who is very much in love with New York City, although she came from a different place.She married Andy who is also the brother of her best friend, Margot. Trying to fit in with the life of her rich husband in another different place from the South, she misses the previous life that she had, including her ex boyfriend Leo, whom she bumped into one time and offered her a job, a project involving a known persona. She then took the opportunity, knowing that she will be working and teaming up with Leo, a writer. The rest of the story revolved around the question of "what ifs", nostalgia and a desperation for closure of the sudden breakup they had. In the long run, Ellen cheated on Andy, during the second project which again Leo offered her. Though in the end, Ellen still chose to be with Andy.

The story seemed to be a bit slow paced in the beginning lasting until the middle parts of the book. There were times that I hate Ellen so much due to her rash decisions and desperation, especially the part where she chose to see Leo even if Andy already gave an ultimatum. Though I cannot blame her, sometimes we just look for closure. But closure means, it is "closed" or it should be already "closed." But, Ellen, who seems ignorant of what she is doing, does not consider the feelings of the people around her. And maybe, this is because of the huge transition of her life that took place when she married Andy. Even if I didn't get bored with this book (When I get bored, I don't finish the book for the sake of finishing it.), I still feel that Ellen shouldn't have cheated on Andy. Andy's a great guy and it's not because of his social status but of the huge respect and unconditional love he has for Ellen, who did turn out the opposite of him as the story progresses. But as a normal human being would do, I'd understand if she can't help herself but to look for closure. The thing is, she went beyond the closure she intend to look for.

Lesson in this book: There's a place that is familiar, that was once beautiful, but it doesn't mean that you can go back to it anytime you want. There's a reason why present is called PRESENT. The people who are with you at the present time are the blessings you SHOULD give importance to. Never ever go back to a road just because it's familiar. There is no room for regrets and a great man deserves more than that.

Be happy!

xoxo, Katrina

Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade

Hi again girls. So now, I am going to do a review on Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. Before I start, I would like to inform you or maybe, warn you that I am not a pro. Meaning, I am not one of those girls who are really good at this thing. (Seriously, there are girls who are.. should I say "trained?") I'm not very good in applying product to my eyebrows or my eyes, either. Nowadays, girls are becoming more conscious when it comes to their eyebrows' appearance. We do not want it to be bushy. We want them to be in good shape. Take note that prior to application of products, you should have "clean" eyebrows (e.g. no excess hair). For me, I regularly have them threaded at Laybare Waxing Salon. Visit their site here. You can check the branch nearest to you. Eyebrow threading for female costs 110 php. Though, if you have another way on how to remove excess hair, suit yourself. :)

Also, I've tried using eyebrow pencils before and unfortunately, I always have a hard time using it. Plus, I cannot find the perfect shade for me. I prefer using gel. Previously, I used Elf Eyebrow Kit with the shade of Dark Brown. Unfortunately, it's too dark for me and it slightly clumps on my eyebrows. After browsing and researching, I decided to purchase Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade from Tupped Boutique. Actually, this product was my first purchase from Tupped Boutique. Click here to visit their Instagram site. I read some great reviews about the product and it seems like it's worth it!

By the way, I also watched some videos on how to apply this product. Applying seems easy and quick. I believe it just takes some practice and you should apply little by little. We do not want to go heavy right away (which I always seem to fail at). You can search and watch those videos, because I'll be focusing more on the product itself.

So, here are the products and tools that I used:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, Youngblood concealer,
Elf Concealer brush, Marionnaud slanted eyeline and eyebrows double side brush

I'll give an overview first of each product one by one and then a quick step-by-step on the process of application. 

The packaging of Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade is pretty much simple. I got it in the shade  "Medium Brown" which just suits my dark brown hair. (Other shades include Soft Brown, Chocolate, Blonde, etc.) Below are some photos of its packaging and tub.

The side view is amazing and cool. It is glass.

I do apologize because I have already used up a little amount from the product the moment I decided to do a review. :) Now that I think of it, it is actually better in order to take a good look at the texture. The tub might seem small in photo, but you'll be surprised by how only a bit amount you could use to fix your eyebrows. For me, this can last until 6 months or more, maybe, depending on how often you use it.

Now, the brush... I use Marionnaud brush: slanted eyeline and eyebrows double side brush. You have to use this type of brush for better application and the double side brush for softening of the eyebrows, to even out and make it appear as natural as you want. That's what I notice whenever I use it. It costs only 59 php. I bought it at Watsons. You can find it at SM Department stores too. What I like about this brush is that it's a great tool for its price!

Marionnaud brush: slanted eyeline and eyebrows double side brush

According to some, even after you apply the pomade, you still have to clean your brows. You can do this with the use of concealer and a concealer brush. I use Youngblood concealer because it's the only concealer on the market my dermatologist recommends. (I seek dermatologist's advice because I have acne- prone skin.) The concealer is used to give emphasis on the brows and to make it more bold- looking, to further remove the excess application. You outline your eyebrows and you blend it in with the surrounding skin. At first, I didn't understand the rationale behind it but when I tried doing it, I can say that it's really a must.

Elf Concealer brush and Youngblood in Medium shade

How to apply? Use the Marionnaud brush: slanted eyeline brush to outline your eyebrows. Start with little amount by dabbing the brush or barely touching the pomade, and on the lower portion of your eyebrow first followed by the upper portion. Then, fill in your eyebrows. Then, use the Marionnaud brush: eyebrows double side brush to soften and lighten it. I prefer it to be lighter than a darker one. I go for simple yet, made-up eyebrows. It's up to you if you want them to be dramatic or if you want darker ones.:)

Below are some photos showing a comparison between a brow that has product on it and the other with none.

L- with Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade : R- with none (Look at that effect!)

And with that, I'm ending my review. Hands down to this amazing product. :) This one's totally a keeper!

Thank you for reading this, girls.. And I hope you already found the product that suits your eyebrows. I found mine! ;)

Be happy! :D

xoxo,
Katrina

Review: MAC No Faux Pas

Hi guys! How are you? 

So, I decided to do a review (my first!) on my latest purchase which is MAC lipstick - No Faux Pas. I've researched about this shade previously and it's said to be hot pink Matte, my favorite "finish." (MAC has different finishes - Amplified, Lustre, Sheen..). MAC No Faux Pas is included in the Heirloom Mix Edition but it is a repromote.

I bought it from Tupped Boutique. You can visit her IG site here. It's where she usually posts the products she's selling. I believe you have to follow her first. Now about Tupped Boutique.. This online store was recommended to me by a highschool friend who's also into MAC lippies like me. The truth is, I used to purchase authentic MAC lippies from ShopHK before however, I think she's no longer selling such products so I was on a hunt for a trusted seller who will be able to provide my kikay needs. And yes, lipstick is my most needed cosmetic. Take away everything, but NEVER a lipstick. Lol. To make it short, I was able to purchase fake ones. Imagine... MAC RETRO MATTES - Dangerous, Flat Out Fabulous and All Fired Up. The scent was awful. Hopefully, I can write a post on that one too. But for now, let's just stick to this.

The transaction with Tupped Boutique was smooth and quick. Upon opening the package, I saw this. 

Box properly sealed

The thing is, it's really hot here in PH, specially here in Metro Manila. So I would expect that the lipstick will be a bit moist which you will see later on. Anyway, here are some shots of the physical appearance of the packaging and tube.

The box itself is glittery!

Even the stickers have glitters on them!

Now, let's take a closer look at the tube! The nice thing about the limited edition ones is that they have their unique packaging. The tube is either cute or glam, depending on the line! This line, Heirloom Mix Edition, has this type of design. GLITTERS! It looks FAB!

That glittery tube

I love this glittery bullet shaped tube!

Now, let's move on to the lipstick, shall we? Like I said earlier, I would expect the lipstick to be a bit moist (but not melted, okay?). Lol.  I fell in love with the color. It is quite similar to Girl About Town but the latter has an Amplified finish and is more on the fuschia side. One thing I noticed about this is that after applying, it becomes more Matte as it stays longer on my lips. Though I don't think it's drying like other Mattes.

L- A bit moist but still bold looking. R-Look at that rich color!

Now let's see how rich is its color when applied...

I applied the lipstick just once. Though, next time I would love to try to apply it twice on my lips. Even if you apply it only once, the color is still so rich! Plus, this kind of shade is something that you could wear daily. It's not that striking. Just enough to make you feel pretty and confident! :)

Hope you enjoyed reading this girls. And I hope that you will like this shade as much as I do. It's really wonderful! :)

Just a collage I previously made, goes to show how happy I am that I purchased this product.

So there. Thank you gals! Be happy!

xoxo,
Katrina

That video.

spiritualinspiration:

Oftentimes, God will use our experiences in life as stepping stones to prepare us for what He has in store next. Scripture tells us that He’ll even take the things the enemy tries to bring against us and turn them around and use them for our good. He is always leading us on a journey of preparation.

That’s why it’s so important to keep our eyes focused on Him. We have to trust that when we are submitted to Him—even if we don’t understand—He is ordering our steps. If something is not happening on your timetable, remind yourself, “God knows what He is doing. He has my best interest at heart. God is preparing me.” While you’re waiting, don’t make the mistake of trying to figure everything out. If you’re constantly trying to figure things out, that will only frustrate you. Turn it over to God. Declare, “God, my times are in Your hands. I’m not going to worry because I trust that You are leading me on a journey of preparation for all the wonderful blessings You have in store for me.”

He takes me home to North before going to work in South. He kisses me on my lips. He waves goodbye but then he gives me that look and he returns to kiss me again. He doesn’t move til I drive away. As I drive, I look at my rear view mirror and I see him standing there looking at me til I see him no more.

iglovequotes:

Daily dose of love quotes here