Books I Read – Page 6

E-BOOK REVIEW: THIS IS ME, LOVE MARIE

January 25, 2016 by Little Miss Honey 2,363 Comments

Filipino celebrities nowadays started creating books for their fanbase like Liz Uy, Miriam Quiambao and Bianca Gonzales- Intal. Joining these celebrity-cum-authors is the beautiful Heart Evangelista a.k.a. Mrs. Chiz Escudero. I think Heart is one of the most beautiful actress in the Philippines. I love her subtle chinita beauty, her classy elegant style and her impeccable make-up. It is obvious that Heart is a ‘kikay’ girl so it is no surprise that she created a book on makeup and skincare.

I got the e-book with a moderate expectation that it would really be a useful one. It assumed it would be a beauty book showcasing Heart’s pretty face with the usual you-heard-thousand-times makeup basics. I previously bought a hard-bound book of Lauren Conrad about Style or was it Beauty. I am a big fan of Lauren Conrad, unfortunately the book was not amazing enough nor did it gave something new for it to be actually useful. So I was expecting a similar one with Heart’s book but I was so wrong.

I have a Bobbi Brown makeup book on my shelf and I read some other beauty book but if I am going to pick one, I would honestly choose Heart Evangelista’s This is Me, Love Marie on her make-up and skin care secrets as my beauty book guide.

The book started with Heart’s beauty evolution with photos. Then it was divided in chapters for Eyes, Lips, Face and Skin. The basics were introduced with quirky fonts and the lay-out was done in glossy magazine style. The approach was fun, girly and not textbook style or intimidating for makeup virgins. Heart’s gorgeous face was strategically used as a guide for the makeup application instead of the usually drawn woman’s face. Trusting Heart’s makeup choices or rather her glam teams’ makeup choices, it was helpful that the makeup products used were stated in the book.

It is refreshing to see Heart barefaced and her made-up face all over the book. It is also like a lookbook of Heart Evangelista as well as collection of art-like photography of her beauty.

It is nice that throughout the book there are scripted quotes that are worth-remembering and Tweet-able.

There are bonuses in the later part of the book where Heart gets to show ‘what is in her makeup kit‘ in every occasions. She also shared photos of her look during her errands, work, first date, red carpet, reunion job interview, travel and of course her wedding day where she felt ‘her most beautiful’.

Additional behind the scenes photos were added in the book. She even shared her Get Ready With Me music, her favourite movies and other random photos in her glamorous beautiful life.

I highly recommend this book for beauty junkees like me, newbies trying out makeup for the first time and fans of Ms. Heart Evangelista. It is a great reference book, a book of inspiration and a pretty coffee table book. It can be purchased in leading bookstores in the Philippines. If you want to get an e-book copy, you can purchased it through www.buqo.ph.

*all pictures in this post are photo grabs from the actual e-book

BLOGGING FOR INSPIRATION

December 8, 2015 by Little Miss Honey 1,063 Comments

Writing has always been an outlet for me. At a very young age, my mother instilled in me and my siblings the love for books and soon, I was immersed in a wonderful world of stories, lyrical proses and spell-binding poetry. A little after, I wasn’t contented in just reading and accepting stories that are not my own, I wanted to try my own play of words in a paper. I would often carry with me a long yellow pad with unfinished stories scribbled using my stubby pencil. I feel inspired by books and writing. There is so much joy when I am holding a new book or I have some time to jot additional words for my stories, poetries and essays. But somehow time (or the lack of it) and probably, practicality made me neglect my long reading lists and ignored my passion to pour out words into a certain medium.

However, in the fast-paced and technology-driven society of today, I have found another source of inspiration in reading glossy magazines and blogs. I was so happy when I discovered Bianca Gonzales‘ blog long before blogs were recognised as a powerful influencer of society and a big marketing tool. I enjoyed her entries on her food discoveries, travels, her favourite things and her thoughts & musings. Her outlook in life fueled me to open up to what the world has to offer me. I soon discovered other blogs from KC Concepcion‘s Multiply account blogging about her life in Paris and Patty Laurel‘s blog & her fun trips. As my fingers itching to start a blog myself, I am hindered by my ambivalence to keep my private life private, my lack of life adventure, and my insecurity that I could ever ignite any source of interest & inspiration for people to read it. I felt I am not worthy to have a place in the blogging world. But after my World Youth Day trip to Sydney, Australia, I was encouraged by my new-found friends from my trip to use Multiply to keep in touch with each other. The now-defunct Multiply is a wonderful social media along the time when Friendster was the “in” thing. It has a lot of wonderful features besides adding friends, chatting and commenting. It also has great feature to write longer entries without word limit and the ability to add in photos. Yes, exactly what a blog is. I started writing about my experience in Sydney and then eventually I was writing about my food discoveries and book reviews. I later was propelled by my sister to import my Multiply entries to blogspot. I continued writing intermittently there, with no plans of promoting it to the public.

My boyfriend (who is now my husband) was the biggest instrumental factor why I persistently and committed myself to blogging. He read my entry about Dinagyang Festival and he read some more, and he fell in love with my little stories. He encouraged me to keep writing, to keep blogging. He would remind me if I haven’t been blogging for sometime or he would often ask me what is my next blog topic.

And one day, in one of my occasional moments of introspection over coffee, I realize what makes me feel alive to when I am inspired and I inspired someone else. I feel happy with my little life discoveries and when I share it & someone thank me for sharing it.

Pretty things, lovely photography, (I just have to add coffee, too) and encouraging words make me smile. Our surroundings, our loved-ones, our hobbies, our ideas and the world around us are wonderful catalysts to evoke that sense of purposefulness. Social media is a rich source of inspiration. Rappler‘s CEO, Maria Tessa said, “Social Media is just your physical social network without the boundaries of time and space. If we can collectively harness it, we can change behaviour. If we collectively act, we can change the world”. How beautiful is that? We all have something good to contribute and share. Also to quote Walt Whitman:

“O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?’ Answer. That you are here — that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” – Walt Whitman

So I given myself a goal this year to improve my blog to fuel my life motivation : To be inspired and to inspire. I asked help from Martine De Luna to steer my blog to the right path and contacted Miss Patricia a.ka. Fancy Girl to prettify my blog home. First comes intention then slowly, I was surprised brands collaborations and blogger invitations were coming in. It’s nice to be recognized and noticed by businesses and brands which somehow authenticates me as a real blogger. You get to meet like-minded people, fellow bloggers, celebrities, and business owners. You get perks and privileges. You even earn a bit from your after-work hobby. However, there are times when blog post deadlines and back-to-back events can be very overwhelming. When did blogging which supposed to be a source of sanctuary and outlet became ~~stressful~~ work. Then you paused. Are you blogging to be famous? Are you blogging to make loads of money? Are you blogging to get a sense of validation? Are you blogging to uplift your professional career? I realized I never care for those things, like the number of followers or likes or being a famous celebrity blogger. I just love to write and share my discoveries and take pretty photos to feel inspired and hoping I can also drizzle a bit of sweetness, positivity & inspiration to those who visit my blog.

Though my objectives may be unambitious and less driven compared to my more motivated blogger-friends and contemporaries, it doesnt mean I would compromise the quality and integrity of my blog. There was a recent article that says Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can achieved through social media. And that the highest point of the pyramid of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which is Self-Actualisation can be achieved through blogging where you can achieve creative fulfilment, personal growth and peak experiences. I will still continue to improve my blog brand, my writing style and photography skills to uphold to the manifesto of my blog: to inspire people to explore life’s surprises… And hopefully, amidst life’s stresses and challenges, I can inject a little bit of sunshine and sweetness in their life.

Photos in this blog post are from my recent workshop with Blogging Your Way, where I learned to use natural light, take photos in different angles, create a mood, knowing & sticking to your brand and using our blog as a catalyst to live our best life. For more of the e-courses, head over to their website.

EXPAT DIARIES: DEEPA – FILIPINA BLOGGER IN AMSTERDAM

November 30, 2015 by Little Miss Honey 1,859 Comments

(Wikipedia) ‘An Expatriate (often shortened to Expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship. The word comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“country, fatherland”).

This blog aims to discover people who are adventurers like me, venturing out in a new place to call home and creating memories. I have previously lived with my parents and siblings in the Saudi Arabia when I was in high school. I have enjoyed and cherished my memories in the beautiful Sandbox I once called my home. Now, I am in a new adventure with my husband and son here in Singapore.

I am featuring Expats in different countries every two weeks to share their experiences and adventures with you and me.

Today’s featured expat is one of my favourite bloggers. I am so excited to be featuring her! I have included her in my list of 5 Inspiring Blogs. She also take beautiful photos. Meet Deepa, the person behind Currystrumpet Blog.

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1. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are originally from?

I’m a freelance copywriter and content producer from Manila, the Philippines. I live in Amsterdam with my husband of eight years Marlon, our two year-old daughter Tala, and our cat Rogue, who is about the same age as our marriage.

What made you decide to move to Amsterdam? How long have you been there?

We’ll be celebrating our fifth year in Amsterdam this coming January 2016. The story of how we got to Amsterdam is something people always find interesting. Marlon and I were living in Singapore, but I started getting restless after about two years. I wanted to do some long term travel as a last hurrah before trying to start a family, or try to move somewhere totally different from both Singapore and Manila where we could also see ourselves raising children. So we listed cities we wanted to live in and companies based in those cities, and started looking for work. Someone gave Marlon the email address of a VP in Philips, a Dutch multinational headquartered in Amsterdam. Marlon just went for it – he emailed this total stranger out of the blue with his CV and a killer cover letter. He got an offer, we quit our jobs in Singapore, and nine months later we moved to Amsterdam.

Previously you lived in Singapore too, what are the things you miss living in Singapore?

I miss the FOOD most of all! Singapore is an incredible foodie culture, with an amazing variety of the best and most affordable Asian cuisines practically on every street corner. I used to work next to Maxwell Market, and enjoyed superb lunches everyday. I miss black pepper crab, kaya toast, cereal prawns, roti prata… if I start thinking about all the food I miss, I’m just going to get hungry and depressed! I also miss being just three hours away from Manila, and being able to go swimming outdoors every day.

What are the wonderful discoveries and things you like about Amsterdam?

Where do I begin?! In general, I love the Dutch obsession with gezelligheid, or coziness. It’s hard to explain, but they are experts at making their homes and shared spaces cozy, warm and cocooning.

I love the cycling culture, even if I only really learned to ride a bicycle because I knew we were moving here.

About Amsterdam specifically, I love carrying out my ordinary errands and living daily life against the picturesque backdrop of the 17^th century canals. It’s so pretty, sometimes I can’t believe I really live here. I love how laid-back, compact and casual it is compared to most major capital cities, yet it is still forward-thinking and vibrant, full of art, culture, design and so many things to do. Finally, I love the work-life balance here. It has been great for our young family. It’s really about working to live, not living to work.

What are the 3 advices or tips you can give to fellow expats in Amsterdam?

Make an effort to learn the language, even if it’s difficult. The city and its personality really opened up to me when I started learning Dutch. It felt less rude and more welcoming when I could understand the little neighborly jokes the locals make to each other, instead of just tuning out conversations around me.

Invest in good rain gear. It rains constantly, and umbrellas are useless in the wind. I waited so long before buying a good, functional rain coat and boots because I was so picky about how things looked on me. My raincoat is not the prettiest, but I go everywhere on my bike in it and my daughter and I can go out and play in the rain instead of being stuck at home. You can have fun even in crappy weather.

Get sunshine in a bottle. I underestimated how much the lack of sun would affect me. I started taking Vitamin D supplements during my third winter here, when I noticed a severe drop in my mood, productivity and energy. It makes such a huge difference, trust me! And go out and get some sun every chance you can.

The LITTLE MISS HONEY community gets inspired through travel, food and books. Can you tell us your current FAVORITE TRAVEL SPOT, current FOOD/RESTAURANT DISCOVERIES and current FAVORITE BOOK?

Current favorite travel spots: It will always be India and Iceland. Both have amazing landscapes and complex, fascinating cultures. I could keep going back to both again and again for years. Both places have marked significant chapters in my life. Our honeymoon was in Rajasthan, India, and we did a road trip around Iceland without knowing that I was already pregnant with Tala. I thought I was exhausted because we did so much hiking, but when I got home I discovered I was carrying a little passenger. I’m so glad we did Iceland before having a baby!

Iceland Coast

Iceland Glacier Lake

Iceland Hallgrimskirka church

Current favorite foodie discovery: Croatian wine. We spent last summer in Croatia which has incredible (and affordable) food and wine. Croatian cuisine is heavily influenced by Italy, particularly along the Dalmatian coast, which was ruled by Venice for centuries.

Croatia is also a wine-growing country whose wines aren’t widely distributed abroad for many economic, historical and political reasons. On our last stop in Dubrovnik, we lived a few doors down from D’Vino, the best wine bar in town. We were there every night and hoarded five bottles of wine to take home. I fell in love with Dingac, a powerful, full-bodied red with a distinctive (and addictive) bouquet, or aroma. I could stick my nose in a glass of Dingac for hours. Prosec, a sweet dessert wine, is also delicious served over ice.

Croatia with Tala

Current favorite book: Mating in Captivity by psychotherapist Esther Perel. She’s a relationship therapist who explores the concepts of love, desire, freedom, independence and eroticism in modern committed relationships. Her TED talk on ‘rethinking infidelity’ that really got me thinking about things that are viewed as taboo in the context of marriage. My husband and I have had some wonderfully deep, eye-opening conversations after reading the book together.

Where do you get your inspirations? Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by discovery. I’m constantly looking for new things to do and see. Steve Jobs once said that creativity is connecting the dots, and that creative people have diverse experiences thus more dots to connect. I’m constantly chasing new dots.

I am a big fan of your blog! Share with my readers what your blog is about. Besides your blog, do you contribute for other magazine or online sites?

I am the author of a personal blog called Currystrumpet, which is a nickname my husband gave me when we started dating. I blog about my life in Amsterdam and travels around Europe (I am addicted to travel!), as well as about my family, home, and creative pursuits like watercolor, calligraphy, writing and photography. I occasionally give in to requests for guest posts on a handful of other blogs, and recently I became a contributor to Plump, the Philippines’ first magazine dedicated to plus size fashion and body positive lifestyle.

I love love love your photos on your blog. What camera do you use? Indulge us with some photography tips for fellow bloggers.

I use a Canon 550D, but I’m looking for something smaller since it’s not really convenient to carry around a big camera when I’m with my daughter. I mostly use a 50mm prime lens because it’s small and discreet, but gives great sharpness and depth of field (that soft blurry background which makes portraits so nice). It’s been a great investment for me and my favorite photos are the ones I’ve taken with it.

For blogging, I find that photos with a vertical (portrait) orientation do better on my blog and are more frequently shared on Pinterest. Learning to tweak the exposure (brightness) and saturation of my photos has made a world of difference, especially in Amsterdam where it’s gloomy and grey most of the year. I use Photoshop actions to save time when editing on my desktop; there are many you can download for free. Just find a look that suits your blog and your style and use it consistently. On my phone I use Snapseed and VSCOcam to edit photos for Instagram. Instagram is an abundant source of inspiration; by following great photographers you can train your eye over time to recognize what makes a good photo.

Lastly, can you share with us what is your inspirational mantra in life?

I don’t really have one, but my blogging philosophy is: Live now, write later. I believe in doing it now, making it fun, and keeping it real. Then writing all about it when I finally have a moment to myself. Go out and create; come home and capture. Each day, I try to wander a little bit further. Dream just a little bit bigger. Be just a little bit different. And doing that gives me just a few more stories to tell.

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Thank you Deepa for sharing your Amsterdam story with us. It is definitely interesting to get to know an expat in Amsterdam. I wish my family and I can visit Amsterdam someday. Come visit Singapore soon and let’s have some kaya toast and kopi.

Deepa, you truly inspire us with your zest for adventure, your positive aura and your passion for life. For more of Deepa, check out her blog: Currystrumpet. and to see more of her beautiful snaps, here is her instagram account. I assure you’ll become a fan of her blog and instagram account in no time. She is pretty amazing!

If you are an expat or know any expats who are interested to be featured, drop me a line at littlemisshoneyblog@gmail.com.”

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