June 29, 2013

June 2013: Partial Sayonara

What's up :D?  I've been slacking off lately not just in this blog but also in my life (don't know what's up with me), I just let the days pass by without any concrete plans which kind of alarms me since most people my age are either getting married or are already very stable with their life.

What can I do, I'm still stuck in watching animes and reading mangas.  Oh I remembered to transfer the songs from my old to new phone and oh lalala, how nostalgic:  From Linkin Park, Yiruma, Jason Marz, Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls, Augustana and other bands and artist from the 90's and early 2000.  I combined them with todays great bands like The Neighboorhood, The Temper Trap, Bloc Party and Foster the People (music being played from Jam88.3 and a whole lot more music but I always forget the names of the bands).

photo from http://foglicious.tumblr.com/post/19809941979/throw-back

I'm always in euphoria whenever I listen to music which makes me a weird person to the other people here in the Philippines, I already embraced this aspect (what I can't accept though is being called as a weirdo and kupal (see meaning here) just because I'm not into "someone's" girlfriend and also to what he did just to be in "that" relationship (ahem, I don't his reading my blog anyway...if he is then another cold war will happen I guess) though I'm not doing anything to harm their relationship and I'm already keeping my distance from them, anyway where not friends anymore...let me rephrase that..we are not friends anyway to begin with).  Sorry, I just really hated that person for saying "mind your own business" but can't help himself minding others' business (like mine, hello don't mind what I think and my opinion)!  As the saying goes, what others think of you is none of your business.  Breath in, breath out.  Relax....

photo from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=628032887220594&set=a.187801687910385.45930.187270374630183&type=1&relevant_count=1
Yup, I'm into yoga this month and I think my friend and I will continue with this ....ummm exercise/relaxation/bending/painfull yet fun thing... I actually can't explain yoga.  I mean the first week for me is hell I feel so weak and kept saying myself while doing myself "annong pinasok ko" (what I got myself into) but I SURVIVED!!!  Although I still can't do many poses (i.e. headstand, shoulder stand, bow etc.) and can't help myself giving a silent laugh in class when I stumble upon the instructors correcting my pose or doing the sheep hand seal I learned from watching Naruto, yoga has been helping me to slowly get fit and happy (and hope this will continue) in life (there are many negative aspects in life but it's up to us to collect more positivity to combat those negatives)

photo from http://narutobase.net/Naruto-Hand-Seals.html
yeah, just 4
So much empties last month but so little this month and it reminded me that I haven't posted around 10 reviews (yikes!).  Actually I've been planning for months on how to revamp The Certified Latebloomer before it turns 1 ( I even set aside some products for a mini giveaway to celebrate).  But unfortunately this June (my blog's anniversary) I decided to close it (that's why I'm not posting much).  Partial sayonara though because I figured that from time to time I will still be posting (I still have a round 40 products in my closet) and maybe in the future open it again. Let's see but to those who supported, followed, commented and visited The Certified Latebloomer, a big big BIG THANK YOU!!!

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!
P.S.  Anyone know where to buy very affordable gardening etchos near Tayuman or SM San Lazaro?

June 25, 2013

The Body Shop Vitamin E

Early this year, I managed to find a good deal with the The Body Shop and snatch a box of their Vitamin E range (not more than P1000) which I used last May.

I'll just be straightforward so tet's start with the wash and the brush.

The facial wash was really good.  It removes dirt and make-up (except waterproof) and it didn't irritate my skin plus the moisturising part is also good.  Smell is unexplainable, but just imagine the facial washes that you buy in groceries or drugstores (nothing really special with the smell).  It's light pink in color and the texture is not too thick but not too watery too.  My only complain is just it doesn't bubble much (I like bubbles) and that's where the brush enter.

I only used the brush in making bubbles when I'm using the Vitamin E facial wash because it's too harsh for my skin.  It's made of plastic...not just plastic but a hard plastic and it's hard to handle it too, so I totally hate it.

Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash and a small brush

Links from The Body Shop USA can be found here and here.  Below is the close-up pic of the brush.

my face totally hate this small brush
Next are the creams.  I expected them to be heavy on the face and The Body Shop didn't dissappoint me.  They are indeed heavy on the face.  What I hated the most though is that these two manged to give my face some irritating small bumps in just two days.  I stop for a week, the bumps are gone so I use them again and poof the bumps are back.  So after two weeks of testing, I gave up on using it on my face.  My body says otherwise though.  My body loves these too especially my back and legs.  The Vitamin E creams greatly helped in removing the scars from acne ang ingrown plus I like how they moisturized and nourished the driest part of my skin.

Day Cream and Night Cream
The night cream is heavier and thicker by the way while the day cream is more runnier and softer than the former.  Both are light pink in color and are heavy on the skin (but do please consider the weather in the Philippines).  Smell is torelable and nothing irritating.  Link can be found here and here.

left is the day cream, right is the night cream
Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

June 8, 2013

GMarket Haul 2: BitterSweet

Finally; after months of waiting, I got (actually it's "we", I'm with a friend) my 2nd GMarket box.  I feel like a winner and a loser at the same time with this box because I'm one of the winners of GMarket's March Blogger of the Month and at the same time I paid lots of taxes all thanks to our dear customs for declaring my orders as illegal entry (sob sob, I don't want to talk about it because I paid a lot of $$$$).

Here's the box, bigger than my first but....

still from GD *belat*
...if I arrange the small boxes and platic neatly, the big box is half empty (such a huge waste of space).  This time around, I ordered other stuff aside from cosmetics and cellphone case.

around 5 little boxes plus 2 plastics
I ordered a bag and a shirt.  The bag looks really cute but the quality well is...okay?  The lining is surprisingly good but there are defects on the outside material and I don't think I can put book/s in this bag (durability is very questionnable).  The shirt on the other hand is very comfortable!!!  It's actually a shirt dress and goes well with not so thick skinny black jeans.  I tried it with leggings but it looks better on skinny.

the backpack is from here and the shirt is from here
Next would be the cellphone cases of my friends.  I don't know why they always change their cellphone cases but well I love the colors, so refreshing!

both cases are from here
And of course, the very reason why I ordered:  Skincare/Cosmetics!  It looks a lot on the 2nd picture but if I combined all my orders and remove all the unnecessary bubble wraps, they can all fit in a small box.

see? and there's already layers of bubble wrap underneath these goodies
 If I remember it right, Secret Key delivered my order the fastest!  The tin cans really look cute even the inspector from customs said so.  The mini hand cream is a mandatory freebie.

check Secret Key here
Star Cream from It's Skin which I got for a special introductory price.  It's like a primer and a CC Cream? not quite sure since it's not clearly indicated in the description.  So generous of It's Skin to give a mini Toma Jelly Mist (I gave it to my sister though.  I tried the Toma Jelly Cream/Gela nd I like it).

got the Star Cream here
Missha finally have it's...like a store in GMarket and most of their products (around 80%) are actually cheap.  These foaming cleansers (in set of 3 but give the green tea variant to someone) are bigger than I have imagined (I really thought they we're just refills).  Also got some sponges as a freebie.

these affordable Missha cleansers are from here
And the most expensive item in my box, a Laneige toner hehehe.  I thought that this is an essence that's why I ordered it.  Later did I know that it's a toner (the "refiner" in the name deceived me).  I wish the seller gave me more freebies but come to think of it, the Missha Time Revolution Serum is kinda expensive.

don't know if Laneige has it's own space in GMarket but I bought the toner here
Want to know what's on GMarket?  Check the english website at http://english.gmarket.co.kr/index.asp

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

June 1, 2013

May 2013: It's May and It's raining on me

The month of May has been very bad to me especially this week.  First my phone suddenly acquired it's own life, shutting down and starting at it's own leisure making it useless (less 2 months in my hands with no scratch and I handled it very carefully).  So I brought it to where I bought it and 2 weeks after the seller said their technician still haven't seen my phone!!!  I really hate you DB Gadgets!  Next is Meralco; the customer service sucks and up to know they still haven't answered my question (I just received an out of the office message and that's it nothing happens even if I followed up).  GMarket customer service also made my blood boil this month and lastly the mighty Philippines Customs and damay na rin nating and EMS/Philpost.  My friend and I tasted the magic and horror of customs (to the sirs and ma'ams of this institution who does the hokus pokus and the usad pagong system, well it sucks to be you!) kudos though to the three notable employees who really do what they should do.

I have other fits this May but everyone has their own problem, right so I'll just move on with my empties.
additional 5
16 items in total (pic of the 5 will be loaded maybe tomorrow  loaded), whoa and yehey!  Really happy to finish all of these because most of them are about to expire.  Reviews are all on hold, geez I must find time to post.
Stamp carving is my hobby for the month but I must admit, I'm getting tired of it already (I must finish my projects!!!).
almonds!!!!
Macadamia is my most favorite nut and second or maybe third (???) is almond so I can't resist the Pepero even if it's expensive and the dark on white chocolate by Goya.

Of course MUSIC.  I'm enjoying the company of Maroon 5 (especially Love Somebody), Jayeslee (Safe and Sound cover always amazes me) and Cristina Perri (so she's the artist behind Arms).  Oh and I'm brushing up on my book reading.  10 more to go!

That's it pancit.  Another month ended and in just a few days this blog will turn 1 so June, please be very good to me.

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!