Sunday, 8 October 2023

MY MICROBLADING EXPERIENCE

​Finally, I was able to undergo eyebrow microblading. What I thought to be a complicated and painful procedure was simple and painless. Look at my eyebrows now, I’d say that it enhanced my looks, if I may say so myself. 


Now I am more confident in joining selfies. 




I am one who do not indulge in cosmetic enhancements; as they say; every wrinkle, every laugh line has significance in one’s life. 


At my advanced age, I don’t mind that my upper arms look like wrinkled crepe paper and oh yeah, everything goes down, thanks to gravity 


Truth be told, I don’t have any natural eyebrows; blame it on aging. So microblading is something I had to do. 


Imagine me every morning as I prep for my morning walk, I had to draw two symmetrical eyebrows freehand.  How easy is that and how long will that take?


That means I have to take my early morning medicine, wait at least 15 minutes before I can take my shot of caffeine. 


Add time for a brief shower, put on contacts and sunscreen to beat the 5:20 AM show time in my street to meet my walking friends. How early do you think I have to be up to do all that? 


I’ve been meaning to do microblading for more than a year now but I hesitated because I am diabetic. However, recently I had a minor surgery and the healing was normal, so it meant I’m good. 


I visited 3 salons before I found that I could trust the Label Lash and Brow. It was also convenient since the salon is just outside my subdivision. 


This is how I looked after the procedure. 


Then there was the peeling off 


And the retouch after two weeks 


Finally here is how i look now


As many often say: 

“Kilay (eyebrow) is life”. 

Lastly I’d like to thank Arlene, my beautician who patiently did the procedure and so considerate to ask many times if it hurts. 


Friday, 6 October 2023

CAROL’S BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE SPIRAL, SOFITEL


When I first met Carol, courtesy demanded not to ask how young she is. Somehow during the get acquainted stage she divulged her age and I thought:  “whoa! She sure looks younger than that. 



When you get to know her well, Carol is very friendly and generous especially in praises and kind words. She is compassionate and her vibes is nothing but happiness. And let’s not forget gorgeous especially with those shapely curves. 


Yesterday she brought us to Spiral for lunch, and I’d say that’s generous of her.  I guess she felt it a great idea to do something exciting and meaningful to celebrate this first milestone with us to tick away another year of her life. 




I’ve been trying to come up with special birthday wishes for Carol since in the months that I’ve known her on a daily basis during our walks, I’m glad I found a good friend I did not choose; she chose me; well “us”rather. 


I was with Tess on a never-ending chat on our street corner when Carol approached us. That was after I smiled at her on our first encounter and I got a smile back. From then on, she never missed our parties and breakfasts and became a constant walking buddy. Rain or shine she is there. 





Carol, may your birthday be as fabulous as all the selfies you take. Congrats on another year of perfecting the art of walking. 





More photos from yesterday:


Carol thanking Tess for her gift 


We sang while she blew the candle on her cake. 

More photos below: 





The early birds


 


Carol, may your birthday remind you of your wisdom and beauty, the beauty that comes from within. 

When you will finally join your love in San Diego, may your days be hot and your nights hotter. 



Wednesday, 20 September 2023

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELINE!

What a wonderful birthday celebration!

Today we celebrated Celine’s birthday; her “love” Ruben treated us to lunch at Vikings, it being still the best buffet in BF. 


The Sweet Magnolias, miss you, TESS. 


The great partners. 


We were whisked in immediately upon arrival, we just had time for a photo or two with the early birds. 




Whether one is sweet 16 or in the fabulous golden 50’s, these birthdays are worth celebrating. Today, we captured the essence of Celine’s birthday in our photos, laughter, fun and glorious food! 


Blowing candles on the cake is traditional. Did you notice that the candles increase every year until you can’t put out all of them in one blow?  For sure children love the added candles; but do we like more candles in our advanced age?  




And then the wish!  As a young child we wish for toys or gadgets; but as we age our wishes graduate to non-material things like good health, success in chosen career, peace and harmony in and outside the home, freedom, security and safety, equal treatment, respect and others not related to money. 


Except for good health, I wonder what else would Celine wish for; material things are within her grasp. She is happy everyday, so I guess we will never know. Birthday wishes are secret after all, never to be divulged lest they won’t come true. 


I’ve known Celine earlier on; but in the few weeks that I walked with her everyday, I found her very pleasant to be with. She’s funny, has a great sense of humor; she even dramatizes with humor things that we talk about that we couldn’t stop laughing. She’s so “kalog”. 




On the serious side, she is even tempered, very religious and God fearing. She is active in church activities and leads the choir; her voice is sweet, smooth and musical, so pleasing. 


This is her”love” whom she often salutes and says: “yes sir “. 


Notice the junior Magnolia. “Are you tita Tess”, she asked me.  I said “no, Tess is the pretty one, remember her beautiful home?  I’m tita Rita.”, I replied. 










Celine, your birthday party was so much fun; inli food, unli laughter, unli sharing, unli jokes, unli photos; unli catching up, truly unli everything. 


Many thanks for your party favors, interesting party loot. I love the cheeses, partillas and the sweet rambutan. All are yummy! And thank you for the wonderful lunch. 

May your birthday week of celebrations be happy and joyful. Keep the birthdays coming!