Swatches and Review: MAC Cremesheen Lipstick

Php1000 (about $23)

No, I have not lifted my ban on MAC products. I've had this a long time, and this is my one and only MAC lipstick which incidentally, I bought the same time I did the foundation, so this doesn't count but since I'm going to have to review it at some point, might as well get it over with now.

Creme d'Nude is a creamy, flesh-tone lipstick with a peachy pink undertone. It has a subtle vanilla scent to it which surprisingly, I like. It has decent staying power but as with most light colored lipsticks I own, this too tends to move around my mouth a lot. I don't wear this at all because it washes me out. So for the most part, I forget I even have it.

It is a pretty color though so while it does make me look corpse pale (I wear NC25), it might look fab on others.

Book Review: Hurt by Tabitha Suzuma

From Goodreads: "Why? is the burning question on everyone’s lips. Why would a guy like Mathéo Walsh want to die? At seventeen, he is Britain’s most promising diving champion. He is a heartthrob, a straight A student and lives in one of the wealthiest areas of London. He has great mates and is the envy of everyone around him. And most importantly of all, he is deeply in love with his girlfriend, Lola. He has always been a stable, well-adjusted guy.

Until one weekend. A weekend he cannot seem to remember. All he knows is that he has come back a changed person. One who no longer knows how to have fun, no longer wants to spend time with his friends, no longer enjoys diving. Something terrible happened that weekend – something violent and bloody and twisted. He no longer knows who he is. He no longer trusts himself around people: he only wants to hurt, wound and destroy. Slowly, he begins to piece back the buried, fragmented memories, and finds himself staring at the reflection of a monster.  

Tormented, Mathéo suddenly finds himself faced with the most devastating choice of his life. Keep his secret, and put those closest to him in terrible danger. Or confess, and lose Lola forever."

Book Review: Hurt by Tabitha Suzuma

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Tabitha Suzuma tends to gravitate toward taboo and sensitive subject matter. Often heart-breaking and hauntingly sad, her stories aren't always the easiest to take in. When I finished reading Forbidden, I remember crying myself to sleep and then feeling down and empty for the next several days. I felt that way with Hurt too, however I have to agree with the growing consensus that Forbidden is the better novel. That said, I think Hurt is beautifully written. Lots of pretty words it's like reading a painting. It's intense and poignant. It felt realistic - the characters, relatable and likable enough; the plot and setting, very detailed, so detailed in fact that I caught myself tuning out a few times. While I appreciate the imagery, it's too wordy for my liking. It's probably just me though, I get bored rather quickly. Thus the author holding back information up till the last possible second also drove me nuts. So when the truth finally came tumbling out, I was just mostly relieved and a bit annoyed that it took this long to confirm what we all probably have already guessed. It was unspeakable but it wasn't really Mattie's secret but rather what happened after the big reveal I found truly shocking and painful. Hurt, notwithstanding its over descriptiveness, I think is tragic, depressing and beautiful at the same time.

Resto love (?): Kitchen Greenbelt 3

My mother-in-law just lurves the place. I however, can't say I feel the same. I honestly think their food is generally bland and tasteless but I don't have the heart to tell her so whenever Ron and I go to Greenbelt with her, we don't dare eat anywhere else. In light of my recent unfortunate diagnoses though, Kitchen's season-your-own-dish-according-to-your-taste style of cookery is sounding more and more right up my alley. So while you won't hear me gush over their food anytime soon, I at least have made my peace with it.

Sword In, Php285

Pandan rice topped with pan-fried prawns and crab fat sauce

Sirloin Swirloin, Php300

Grilled sirloin swirled with salty-sweet demi glaze

Wild Child, Php255

Sauteed beef, wild mushroom and asparagus in garlic sauce served with pandan rice

Sand Bar, Php225

Tuna salpicao served with pandan rice

Cure All, Php260

Marinated Korean beef served with pandan rice and vegetables

Caps and Rolls, Php130

Lettuce wraps with bits of pork mixed with vegetables and nuts

Swatches and Review: Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss

Php575 (about $15)

Lips that shine with killer color. This weightless gloss makes lips pop with 5X more shine than patent leather.

The color payoff is excellent for a lip gloss. I love that they are very pigmented, that I can wear them on their own. They stay on for a decent amount of time too. They have this vanilla scent to them, but it's very subtle so I don't mind. I don't like the wand applicator though. It's flat and flexible and just so hard to use. Then again, maybe I'm just used to doe foot applicators. Other than that, I'm happy. The shades are gorgeous and universally flattering. I'm not much into lip glosses but these I definitely love.

I have this in Rose Gold 206, Rose Pearl 014 and Strawberry Fraise 006.

Rosegold 206 is a pink beige shade with gold and pink shimmers.

Rosepearl 014 is a shimmery rose nude shade.

Strawberry Fraise 006 is a pink red color with silver and purple sparkles.

There you go. Sorry, I've been lazy! But I will (hopefully) do more reviews and swatches soon. Toodles!

Search for 50 Shades Of Grey leads is over

The interwebs have been buzzing about the Fifty Shades casting news and although I don't care for the book, I thought I'd join the brouhaha. So Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam has been cast as Christian Grey. I was a little disappointed because I was so rooting for Alex Pettyfer, but oh well, I'm sure Charlie will clean up nicely. People didn't like it either when they cast Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen but look at him now.

And yes, I agree Alexis Bledel would have been the more fitting choice but it was Melanie Griffith's daughter, Dakota Johnson who has landed the role of Anastasia Steele.

Speaking of film adaptations, I hope they make one of Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster. Yep, Alex Pettyfer would make a fantastic Travis Maddox.

Book Review: The Book of the Forsaken by Yannis Karatsioris

Disclosure: A free copy of the book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.

From Goodreads: "A sarcastic storyteller traps three characters in his web in order to get hold of a special book. 

Daniel, Cassidy and Igor are three unique individuals, considered outcasts for different reasons. They are about to meet and stick together, as coincidences and forced situations lead them to a journey all around Europe. 

As everyone is after the Book of the Forsaken, the coming Game is about to take place on the dark side of the moon. But there is a cost to that knowledge. Let alone to the wish to partake."

The Book of the Forsaken got the gold medal on authonomy.com's HarperCollins UK hosted competition on Feb 1. 2012.

The Book of the Forsaken by Yannis Karatsioris

Series: The Game, #1 

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Action, Adventure

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The mini-dossiers at the start of the story that sort of introduced us to the characters hooked me up and made me want to read more. I like that the plot is fast-paced, there are elements of action and suspense I found very interesting, and that there's a somewhat cozy mystery feel to the narrative. Keeping up with the narrator as he jumps from one character to the next was a bit of a challenge for me though. That said, I think using a "storyteller" instead of just writing in a 3rd person omniscient POV is very creative albeit confusing at times. And yes, I also thought the footnotes were a bit distracting. Even so, I really think the concept upon which the novel was based is brilliant. I had fun weaving through the many twists and turns and I can't wait to read the next book.

Recipe: Beef Salpicao

Here's my version of Dulcinea's beef salpicao -

Ingredients

½ lb beef tenderloin, cubed

2 tablespoons garlic, minced 

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons liquid seasoning (Bragg Liquid Aminos is the healthier option although Knorr Seasoning for me is yummier)

2 tablespoons butter

salt and pepper

Directions

1. Marinate beef in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper for a couple of hours.

2. Heat the marinade in a pan, saute garlic, then add the beef (make sure the oil is very hot).

3. Sear the beef evenly, this shouldn't take long, no more than 8 minutes.

4. Add Worcestershire sauce and liquid seasoning.

5. Turn off the heat and then add butter.

6. Sprinkle with green chilies (optional).

7. Serve hot.

Resto love: Dulcinea

Paella Valenciana, Php495

Saffron rice with vegetables, seafood, pork and chicken

Lengua Estofada Especialidad, Php370

Ox tongue with mushroom gravy served with vegetables and mashed potato

Salpicao, Php310

Tenderloin sauteed in olive oil and garlic served with garlic rice and potatoes

Churros con Chocolate, Php98

Fried-dough served with hot chocolate

Book Review: Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace

From Goodreads: "What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?

Sixteen year old Loki Blackstar is no Prince Charming. His mother is a ghost. His only friend is a red Cadillac that sings to him through the radio. He looks like an Angel but acts like jerk. No wonder he has been banned from Heaven, which is the least of his troubles. Loki needs a job to pay for school and support himself.

Still, Loki has a rare gift: He is a Dreamhunter. One of the few in the world who can hunt and kill immortal demons in their dreams so they never wake up again.

When Loki is sent to kill a sixteen-year-old vampire girl the locals call Snow White Sorrow, he is pulled into a magical but dangerous world. The locals believe the monster to be Snow White.

The real Snow White... living in the ruins of an ancient castle in a small town. She is described as horribly beautiful, terrifyingly enchanting, and wickedly lovely.

What he finds instead is a beautiful monster girl filled with rage and hurt, who has an epic untold story to tell of things such like why the Brothers Grimm altered the fairy tale, who the Evil Queen really is, where the mirror came from, and who possessed it.

Snow White has killed every person who has dared come near the castle where she once lived with the queen. Mysteriously, she lets Loki live, and whispers two words in his ears; two words that will change his life forever."

Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace

Series: The Grimm Diaries, #1 

Genres: Young Adult, Fairy Tale Retellings, Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

It does sound like Anna Dressed in Blood but except for the blurb, they're nothing alike. Snow White Sorrow is an interesting take on the classic fairy tale, Snow White. I love everything about the magical world Cameron Jace has spun. It's whimsical, goofy and romantic. I love the characters, even the small ones. Georgie Porgie, Skeliman the Ferryman (sometimes the Libraryman), that vampire in Forks who was killed by Loki but was resurrected and "appears in the twilights", they cracked me up. Love the food - Sticky Sweet Bones, Tragic Beans, Coffinmuffins, Poisoned Apples, Cinderella Mozerella, and Reluctant Jelly; and the name of places - Bedtime Stoories, Candy House, Sorrow, Snoring, Belly and Beast. The story is captivating, it's impossible not to get pulled in. Perhaps my only complaint is the dialogue, especially Loki's. I thought it's very cheesy and clichéd. I cringe every time anyone speaks. Frankly, I'd rather they didn't have lines at all, but oh well.

Lazy ovaries, drug side effects and gym membership

So today I thought I'd take a break from my usual blogging and just talk about what's been going on with me. Those of you who know me have probably wondered or even asked me at one point or another why we remain childless. It's been six years and you are either getting tired of waiting or just totally losing interest. If I tell you the answer, will you promise not to judge me? I'm scared of doctors. There. I guess I'm what some people would call a "silent hypochondriac". Over the years, I have somehow become an expert in self-diagnosis, looking up my symptoms online, slowly driving myself insane with worry yet refusing to see a doctor for fear of what the doctor might find. Welcome to my world! So anyway, while I adore my baby nieces, I'm not in any hurry to have my own. I have low tolerance for pain and just the thought of birthing just plain terrifies me. And besides, hubs and I are doing great just the two of us that procreation (or lack thereof) has never been a priority so why push it? If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. 

The fact though that it's not happening therefore there is something wrong has not dawned on me until recently. And once it did, oh it gnawed at me every minute of the day. I always see every ache and pain as precursor to a more serious condition, but this time, my paranoia has gotten even worse. It cracks me up sometimes, thinking the way I do but mostly it irritates me. For instance, what started all of this was a drop of what appeared to be blood on my husband's shirt. That suspicious looking stain that may or may not have been soy sauce seriously sent me into a paralyzing panic. I had him immediately checked out, poked and prodded, you know, the whole nine yards, only to find out later that yes, it was indeed soy sauce. My manicurist and I had a good laugh about it. I know it's no laughing matter it's just hubs was super pissed at me for everything I've put him through. But I'm really glad I had that health scare. Because even though most of his results came back normal, there's a couple of things we need to address and check with his doctor.

So this now leads us to me. I realized there's no point delaying the inevitable. So petrified as I was, I hauled my procrastinating ass and finally got checked. After numerous doctor's appointments and nerve-wracking weeks spent waiting for test results, I now know that I have this condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). I might go into details about this effing disorder some time but for now I think it would suffice to say that my hormones are out of whack and all over the place. Hubs and I can try (TRY being the operative word here) and get pregnant but these buggers have got to behave first. So now I'm on meds, dieting, and will soon be exercising. Regularly. I know this is the way to go but oh how I hate everything about this. One of the meds I'm taking makes me feel nauseous and gassy and gives me the mother of all diarrheas and at the most inconvenient times too. Not only that, I'm starting a low GI diet and quite literally, those I love I cannot eat and those I would rather not eat like oats, beans and fruit cake, well now I have to. Anyway, I should stop. Talking. Now. Before I bore us to tears.

On a not so unrelated note, someone from Fitness First Megamall just offered me discounted membership. I know, right? Can't he be any more timely? Tempting as it is, these days I just don't have the patience nor the bowel control to endure the horrendous traffic in EDSA on a regular(ish) basis. So there, thanks for letting me rant. I've got a few more tests lined up in the coming weeks. More hand-wringing and nail-biting for me, can't say I'm excited. But hey, I've been anxious all my life, so why stop now? (I said that in my most sarcastic tone, in case you couldn't tell.) If there's any update, I'll let you know. Maybe.