TOPAZ HORIZON

I'm eagerly anticipating and simultaneously dreading the final episode of Breaking Bad next week.


I've also been thinking about what makes good people go bad. Or if we're really all evil anyway and it is when we choose moral choices that we are truly exercising free will. Philosophers and theologians since time immemorial have all been arguing about human nature, free will, and good and evil. I like best what Kant says about free will—that we are only really free when we choose to do good. That makes the most sense to me. Human nature is inherently evil so when evil things happen, we shouldn't be surprised. People think that free will is the power to choose between good and evil, but I think free will is the power to rise above our evil nature and do good. There's a difference. The former says we have a choice between two states, the latter says we already are actually in one state (evil) but that we strive to get out of it (be good).

That philosophy also makes the most sense to me as a Christian. In Romans 3:23, it says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." In Romans 3:10, it says, "There is none righteous, not even one." Basically, we are all doomed to sin from the moment we are born. That's why I don't understand parents who are shocked when their toddlers lie. "Who taught you that?!" Little kids don't need to be taught to do wrong. It is in our nature to be evil. So when we choose to do good, when we choose God, when we give our lives to the Lordship of Jesus, then we are saved from ourselves and become truly free!


But in Breaking Bad, it's about we're all good, safe, normal, middle-class people. And the question is how do good people become bad?

In Walter White's case, it was when he, a high school teacher, was diagnosed with lung cancer and he needed to make money for his treatment and to provide for his family. I confess: I thought there was nothing wrong with that. He's dying! His wife is pregnant! His son is disabled! He's just going to make crystal meth, y'all! It's not like he was going to steal, rape and kill. Right? Right? There's my evil nature for ya.

Of course, evil begets evil. Walt gets deeper and deeper into the drug business. Hordes of people die in his wake. And yet we still root for him because he insists that he's doing all of this for family.

It's all about family, every man in Breaking Bad says. When Walt falters in the meth business because his wife left him, Gus Fring says it is a man's job to provide for his family even if his family hates him for his job. The show is steeped in devotion to family—Tuco takes care of his wheelchair-bound, bell-ringing Uncle Hector, Todd respects his Uncle Jack, Walt begs for his brother-in-law Hank's life. As long as you're doing it for the greater good (your family!), then evil is okay.

Which brings me back to our own country. What about the Napoles family? What started it? I'm sure it started as a little deal. The same way our senators and congressmen maybe just started with a million or so. With us, it could be just bringing home office supplies because our kids need them for a school project, or lying about being stuck in traffic when you actually haven't left the house, or stealing a photo for a contest because you needed the prize money for your family.

When we give in to our human nature, even just a little bit, it's a slippery slope to hell.


Next week's final episode of Breaking Bad, we'll witness the complete hell that Mr. White plunges into. Or maybe his redemption, maybe even salvation. I know Walt needs to pay for his sins, but at the same time, I'm hoping he redeems himself. Because it's never too late to do what is right and be free from evil.

*all images from the Facebook page of Breaking Bad.

Vince, we must watch this! You know I love anything with Bill Nighy! And this might be a better movie of Rachel McAdams married to a time traveler haha



This made me cry! Traveling back in time always meant correcting my mistakes but this movie is also about reliving and celebrating "my extraordinary, ordinary life."

I'd love to live through—again and again and again!—my first kiss with Vince, our first time to make love, all our first times actually, our crazy dance in the rain, our wedding, when we got pregnant, when I gave birth, the boys' first smiles, whenever they smiled and laughed in their sleep, every time they smiled and laughed when awake, and I guess every day of our kids' life!

My life has become ordinary but it's become more special. Given the chance to live my life all over again, I would. My life is so amazing!

And I don't know why I'm bringing it back because it's not like I'm dressed fashionably every day! Being a work-at-home mom, I'm usually in a soft shirt and denim shorts. I suddenly recalled recently that before I gave up my job last year, I promised WAHM guru Dainty Mom that I will never be reduced to that horrid uniform of ratty shirt and shorts! So, like I said before, maybe Topaz Fashion will help me make an effort to look good again, if only once a week!

Here's what I wore recently:
Vince calls this my Day Off Outfit because I look like I just threw on things haha. I kinda did actually. Then just before I ran out of the house, I saw myself in the mirror, thought I looked so boring, so I wrapped a scarf around my neck and changed into heels. That's a Sexy White Shirt V-neck, Uniqlo jeggings, Pedro heels and the softest, thinnest, fluffiest scarf from Muji. Oh, and my Cole Haan bag.
That's a little style tip for ya: If you're feeling absolutely lazy, a scarf is a great accessory to a plain outfit and nice heels always makes people think you're going somewhere nice, even if you're not necessarily dressed up! Plus, a scarf is useful when you're a breastfeeding mommy!

This is what I wore to a meeting. I wore my Ojay raw silk blouse, Uniqlo jeans, Karimadon woven belt, VNC sandals, Charles & Keith sunnies and my Fino doctor's bag.

I like that my blouse and jeans are a bit roomy. I have a mommy body now so I need space haha but here's a style tip: Don't wear clothes that are too baggy since those will make you look even fatter. Try clothes that skim your figure, not hide it. That way, you still look like you have some shape!

This is what I wore to the events of Pampers and Sangobion (I'm a brand ambassador to both), which happened on the same day and almost at the same time! Lagare ang beauty ko grabe!

I'm wearing a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, Zara pumps, and I carried my Kate Spade tote (it's on the crib). My style peg was Kate Middleton. Wrap dresses are super nice. I love them! They're perfect for any kind of body!

And that's Topaz Fashion this week! Yes, I know. Sooo stunning in its ho-hum-ness. See you next week for (hopefully) more fabulous fashion!

I just got my September BDJBox subscription but I wanted to say that I was so inspired by last month's box. It was the Shiseido Box!

I love the luxe-ness of this particular edition. I like that I can discover different kinds of brands and products with each box but getting a special box of products from the same brand (and a really nice one at that!) feels like a real treat. Thanks, BDJBox and Shiseido!

You know what excited me about this box? It inspired me to come up with my own box! How about that, dear readers? Would you love a special beauty box filled with my favorite beautifiers?

BDJBox, call me!

To subscribe to a BDJBox service, click here!

That Miley Cyrus really knows what she's doing. Everyone hates her new image but everyone loves her songs! They can't stop and won't stop doing covers of her "We Can't Stop"! These are my favorite covers:

Acoustic


Doo-Wop


And I don't know what genre of music this is but I do love the British accent, the strings and the achy-breaky part!

The reason I'm not a beauty blogger is because I'm too vain to show before-and-after photos. I mean, really. I can't. I want you to think I'm gorgeous all the time!

Of course, the truth is I have lots of beauty concerns, one of which has plagued me for a decade: dry feet. It's so bad that my friend Ro gave me a huge bottle of intensive care lotion one birthday because she got bothered by my cracked heels and toes. Nope, lotion never helped. Foot spas never helped. Nothing ever helped. Until I found Foot Appeal.

I got Foot Appeal from one of my monthly boxes of BDJBox. It's a sample service and I've discovered lots of beauty goodies from them. Some boxes are okay, some boxes are amazing. Then there are some boxes that you think have so-so products only to find out later that it has real treasures in it. Like Foot Appeal!
I seriously just tossed aside the packet. "Oh, another foot mask. Ho-hum." Then one day, as I was organizing my beauty products, I looked at it and tried it out and I was the one blown out of the water! Best discovery of the year! Sleeper hit! Foot Appeal forever!

My review is after the jump but please do NOT click if you are eating, have foot phobia, or are just generally squeamish. Like I said, I don't like putting before-and-after pics but this you gotta see. Well, only if you have the stomach for it. You have been warned!

I couldn't wait for Topaz Fashion! I had to share this with you today!


Rogue September

I thought it was weird that Pam was the star of the BTS. This is not a criticism of Pam, okay? She is the nicest, most stylish, totally grounded person. I just think that the director of the video should have focused more on either the stars or on the magazine itself.

Anyway, you know what's the most amazing about this shoot? Getting all five women together! And how hot is Judy Ann??? All of them are amazing but Judy Ann is the only one that exuded power. Power is very sexy.



Hola! September

Sigh! Made me miss OK! magazine!



InStyle September

Love Drew Barrymore! Love InStyle! I've been collecting that magazine for many, many years. Even when I couldn't afford it yet. Lunch or InStyle? Go out with friends or InStyle? Utility bills or InStyle? InStyle insanity!

I don't really want to go back to magazines anymore (been there, done that) except if it's a parenting magazine or if it's InStyle. I heard a rumor that one of our local publishers is hoping to bring in InStyle. I tell you now, I will grovel to be part of the staff! Kahit as editorial assistant! Just to be part of InStyle!!!



Vogue September

This is the classiest and most professionally done BTS. Well, it's Vogue. What did I expect? Nothing less than the best.


I'll have to check out the newsstands for Hola! and Rogue. I already bought Vogue and InStyle. Have you seen how thick the issues are? Crazy! I got a workout just hoisting those two about! Magazines seem to be exciting again!

Every Christian knows the story of Moses. Born to slaves, hidden in a basket made of reeds, found by an Egyptian princess, raised as a prince of Egypt, murdered an Egyptian, exiled himself to be a shepherd in the desert, found God in a burning bush, threatened and brought down on Egypt the plagues, and brought out the people of Israel from slavery. When the Egyptian army chased after the fleeing Israelites, Moses raised his hands over the Red Sea and it parted to let his people pass. When the Egyptians followed, he raised his hands again and the water swallowed up their enemies. Then there's the 40 years of wandering in the desert while God prepared the hearts of His people for the promised land. Then there's the Ten Commandments!

The story of Moses is a great story! The stuff of legends. What people don't know is how it ended. Moses was used mightily by God to bring His people to the land of milk and honey but God did not allow Moses to set foot on that land. Instead, He brought Moses up onto a mountain on the border of the promised land and showed him the land, and then God kissed his beloved servant and Moses died.

The people of Israel mourned for Moses but after their grief, they all crossed over to the land that God promised them. After 120 years of preparing for his role as the man who freed the Israelites to lead them to the land of promise, Moses died. He didn't see it happen but it happened.

* * * * * * *

My sister Jacqui spends some nights over at my house. Since I have no household help, she comes over regularly to help take care of the boys. One night, we were talking about our mother, whose death anniversary is this month.

"Jacqui, it's been five years since Mama died," I said, not in the exact words as I'm writing now but I'm paraphrasing. I continued, "You know how I said in my eulogy that I am clinging to God's promise in Jeremiah 29:11? That God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, and that His plans are to give us a hope and a future? And then I said that I'm excited to see what God has planned for our family? Well, it's been five years. I don't see any changes. In fact, sometimes I think God took Mama away not for us but for her sake. If she could see what our family's like today, I think it would kill her anyway. So maybe God knew what was going to happen and so He took her away because He knew she wouldn't be able to take it."

I've been feeling really bummed about this. Maybe even resentful and impatient and maybe even betrayed. I have begun doubting God and His promises. I was afraid.

* * * * * * *

This evening, at our prayer meeting, we were talking about the problems and situations where we want to see deliverance. I said, "I've been praying about (certain things) for more than a year now but I don't see any changes. Am I not praying long and hard enough?"

And my friend Earl said, "Don't ever look to the results! God will move in His time. You must pray in faith that He will answer you."

And then she suddenly said, "Your mother prayed and prayed for you. And now, five years after she died, her prayers have been answered. Look at you now!"

"But she's not here to see it!" I cried, my tears spilling over in despair.

"It doesn't matter! What matters is her prayers were answered!"

* * * * * * *

Mama prayed for all of us. I don't know what she prayed about for the other members of our family but I know she wanted me to have a happy marriage, to want and love motherhood, to see the value of family, to be friends with my siblings, to forgive my Papa and my older brother, and to go back to God and to be in fellowship with His people.

Every time Mama said, "I'm praying for you," I would lovingly say that I don't believe in marriage, I don't like kids, I value my career more than anything, it's next to impossible to be friends with people you don't get along with, and that I don't see myself having fellowships. I told her, "Mama, it's just not going to happen."

Well, it happened. All of it. I didn't realize Mama's prayers were answered until Earl pointed it out. And I am amazed! Everything my mother wanted for me, her dreams for me, the prayers she stormed the gates of heaven for me, they've all come true! She may not have seen it in her lifetime but they came true!

I almost fainted at the realization. I have been rebuked, I have been made to see what I've been blind to all this time—that God does move mightily and He does so in His time and in His way!

I have been delivered from my doubts and my fears. I now again cling to the promise of that hope and future. Thank You, God! I'm excited to see Your will unfold in me, in my marriage, in my kids, in the lives of my father and my siblings! Amen.

Actually, it's really funny!

I get a lot of questions about my beauty blog, Beauty For A Living. Let me answer them all here!

Why did you create a separate blog for beauty issues?
I started the beauty blog to accommodate all the press releases and products that didn't make it to the magazine I used to handle. I didn't want to put the press releases here. That's all really.

Why don't you update it?
I'm the worst beauty blogger in the world because I'm lazy! I simply don't have the time and energy to take photos of beauty products, make swatches, test the creams and makeup, take before and after photos, etc!

Beauty bloggers, you have my utmost respect!

On a more serious note, the beauty blog was also in great conflict with my previous job. One of my tasks as editor in chief was to woo advertisers and make them happy. But a beauty blog that gives honest reviews doesn't make advertisers happy. In fact, I got into huge trouble when I said that Neutrogena Fine Fairness made my skin break out big time. So I gave up the beauty blog.

But you're not in magazines anymore. You can do beauty blogging now!
Yeah. But I'm still scared haha! Residual fear is crazy.

Besides, many brand managers of beauty brands are still my friends. I feel dyahe to write bad reviews of their business. So if I ever do feature beauty products and services again, it will only be my happy finds. If I didn't like something, I won't feature it.

Are you really giving up on beauty blogging?
Yeah. It's not for me. I keep Beauty For A Living up because it still earns me Google Adsense money! Passive income is so cool.

But since I do want to share a bit of beauty finds, I decided to put a new feature on this blog called Topaz Beauty! I'll update you now and then with the stuff I actually use.

Nail polish selfies!

Products galore!

Events events events!

It won't be regular or even often (like I said I'm lazy!) but it should be lots of fun! Watch for it!

It's OPM Night tonight!

But I'm listening to my girl crush in the ’90s, Thalia, sing Ogie Alcasid's "Nandito Ako."



Sigh! I loved Thalia so much, I actually arranged my classes in college so I'd be home by 6pm for Marimar and Maria la del Barrio. Crazy!

My reaction when Edu replied: I blushed and almost Tweeted back, "I'm sorry. I love you!"

I didn't say that, ha. I said something boring like "Thanks for clearing that up."

My reaction to this amazing news: Shit's about to hit the fan! Take cover, Philippines!

Meanwhile, I have this to advise to Janet:

This has nothing to do with Miley, by the way!

It's been an interesting week, folks!

Hinika ako sa katatawa! Enjoy!

Well, not really need them but it sure would be nice to have them sitting in my house.

I found this list on Buzzfeed on ingenious household items. These are what caught my eye:
Joseph Joseph's Arena Dish Rack
My dish rack is Rubbermaid and it's old. I think I've had this since 2002. It's kinda yucky now but I can't get myself to buy those bamboo or wooden slotted drying things because they're so ordinary. But this Arena rack is stylish! Now if only it came in black and white or all white!

Quirky Mocubo One Stop Chop Bamboo Cutting Board
Okay, I don't need a chopping board because I have an amazing thick slab of wood that I bought from Dimensione and it is a magnificent chopping board. But I like Quirky's storage compartments. They slide in so I can contain the smells of garlic and onion and ginger for example, and they slide out so I can just dump the sliced ingredients straight to the pan! Genius! But I don't need a chopping board. Just saying that I love the compartments idea!

Satechi USB Portable Amazing Humidifier
Okay, I want this because my kids are just recovering from a really bad cold and I was advised to put basins of steaming hot water around the bed to humidify the air which will help the kids breathe. But I just couldn't do it because my kids sometimes just suddenly wake up and jump off the bed in the middle of the night and I do not want them stepping into basins of steaming hot water! This Satechi humidifier would've been dope.

Actually, what I really really need are pretty storage containers for my documents, press releases and products. I am looking for large white boxes with lids. Like these:

This is from IKEA

This is the peg:

image from Houzz.com

Gorgeous! I'm obsessed! (And I'm really wanting an all-white house now.) Where can I buy these in Manila???

My publicist friend Marcie Linao (because she saw that I blogged about my Watsons shopping) asked me to tell you that the health and beauty shop is honoring some of the brands they carry. Behold! The winners of the Watsons Health Wellness Beauty Awards!

Basically, these are the brands that performed well in terms of sales, promos, customer service and (of course!) product excellence. The winners are:

• Maybelline for Mascara Brand of the Year
• ProActiv for Acne Care Brand of the Year
• Dove Hair Care for Shampoo Brand of the Year
• Kojie San for Bath Soap Brand of the Year
• Colgate for Oral Whitening Brand of the Year
• Ralph Lauren for Prestige Fragrance Brand of the Year
• Nivea Men for Men’s Grooming Brand of the Year
• Myra E for Adult Vitamin Brand of the Year
• Ceelin for Children’s Vitamin Brand of the Year
• Ascof for Cough Remedy Brand of the Year
• ATC Redoxfat for Slimming Brand of the Year
• Belo Glutathione for Whitening Brand of the Year

I agree with the Dove Hair Care, Colgate and Nivea Men. For vitamins, I highly recommend Sangobion, the organic iron supplement with vitamins and minerals! Anyway, that's just a few of the brands Watsons loves. For the complete list of the winners, visit www.facebook.com/WatsonsPH. 

I asked Vince over the weekend, "How much money do you think we need?"

He replied, "Just a little more. We're fine."

I know what he meant. He meant we're living a comfortable life but we need just a bit more so that the kids' education and our family's health requirements, should those arise, will be covered.

So I wondered how much would that cost. How much does a full education (grade school, high school and 4-year college course in a really good school) cost? How much will we need in case someone gets into an accident, gets cancer, gets some disease? My mind, not really sharp when it comes to money since I grew up without it, started going, "We'll need maybe 20 million pesos. We can live off the monthly interest. We can invest, too. Yes, just 20. That should do it. Wait, if I want to send the kids to IS or to the British School, we'll need a million or so a year. Twenty won't do!"

Then I started thinking, "Well, since we have boys, we really should get a house with a big garden. Definitely in a gated community for security. That house should start at 12 million. Then that will be enough. But we'll need to travel! Travel is the best education. We'll go around the world, experience all kinds of cultures. Yes, yes, and business class, of course, and nice hotels. Then that would be enough." Now, how much would all of that cost? Just thinking about it makes me tired. Vince and I will need to work hard and smart if we want to become mega-millionaires.

To be honest, I don't want to be that rich. Too much money is scary. Whenever I see in the news that someone won the lotto (last month's P178 million prize had just one winner), I always wonder what the winner would do with the money. And we've all heard about those stories that no matter how huge the prize is, all that money disappears in no time flat. (Plus, it attracts all sorts of negative energy.) Seems to me, once you have enough, you'll still want more.

image grabbed from Facebook (check out the Jeane Napoles's Rage Page)

I guess I'm thinking these things because I can't understand how someone gets greedy. The numbers that the Napoles and Co. (that company being the illustrious members of our Congress and Senate) have allegedly stolen from us is, well, I can't even imagine it. Seriously, my mind can't fathom billions of pesos. I tried thinking about it, "What if I were Napoles? Why would I think I need 28 houses in the Philippines? Why would I need 30 cars?"

I was told the government officials needed the money for the elections, which are very expensive. So I guess they really need it to stay in power. Not that I think that's an acceptable reason.

Okay, enough. I promised to keep things light and shallow here. But there... I just want to understand because I really can't understand how anyone can just keep wanting more and more and more.

Are you going?

Since we have no maids and nannies, I have to resort to food deliveries often. Sometimes, there are lots of leftovers when the kids decide they didn't want what they ordered after all. Now, you all know that eating leftover fast food is depressing. For example, leftover Jollibee Chicken Joy is no longer crispy. So what I do is turn them into something else!

I got this recipe from the package of rice we buy. This recipe is by Chef Laudico but I tweaked it so that it's now mine. It is super delicious!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp garlic, minced
4 tbsp onion, diced
2 tbsp carrots, diced (I used red bell pepper since I ran out of carrots.)
2 tbsp celery, diced
1 cup cabbage, shredded
1 cup chicken meat, cooked
2 cups rice, cooked
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup milk

Heat butter and sauté onions, garlic, celery and bell pepper. The recipe called for carrots but since I didn't have any, I used red bell peppers because they're just as crunchy and sweet. Plus, they add heat that carrots don't!

Add cabbage and when it's a bit limp, add the rice.

You can actually stop at this point and now you have fancy fried rice!

Add chicken stock and simmer for 15 minutes. My chicken stock is just two Knorr chicken flavor cubes dissolved in hot water.

(If you have real chicken stock, much better! You'll just have to season the dish with 2 tbsp patis. Since I used flavor cubes, I didn't need seasoning.)

Add milk and simmer for 5 more minutes.

Add chicken meat.

Serve! This is sooo perfect for this rainy weather. Try it!

P.S. I hope you're all safe and warm and dry, dear readers.

Found this on the Internets today. That's what happens when you're stuck at home all day long.


Well, tell me something I don't know! I'm always in hot water.

I really am nonconformist. The most conformist thing I've done is get married and have kids but Vince and I are pretty unconventional (although we're happily conformist with the fidelity clause haha) and we raise our kids in a way that will make most of the perfect supermoms faint haha.

What's your number? Is it you? Find out here!