Thursday, February 11, 2016

My favorite style peg: Barbie

The famous doll made a big change recently. Barbie has come out in new forms—curvy, short, petite and tall—in response to deafening criticism of her impossible and unattainable figure. I don't know why people would bully a doll.

I mean, I had a Raggedy Ann doll and I never ever grew up thinking it's unfair that I don't have her red-orange yarn hair, large round head, shapeless body, and fingerless hands. And yes, I had two Barbie dolls, too, and I also never thought it was unfair that I had a vagina and Barbie didn't. I didn't go, "Barbie must have a vagina because if she didn't, then I can't relate to her and I will have serious issues with my vagina because my doll doesn't have one."

In fact, Barbie was such a good influence on me! All Barbie ever taught me was I can be anything and everything I want—have a career most especially!—while looking fantabulous!

That's why I'm so happy that Barbie has an Instagram account. I can stalk her outfits!

Now, I just got rid of half my wardrobe. The KonMari method said get rid of everything that doesn't spark joy. That would be my ENTIRE wardrobe. We can't have that. So I kept some while I earn enough money to shop for new clothes. I've decided on going black, white and gray. It's simpler.

Here are my style pegs:
Full skirt, button-up shirt. 














Okay, I know I said no more colors in my closet but black and white look so nice with pink! Besides, black-white-pink-gold will be the look of the new Topaz Horizon. Maybe my wardrobe should reflect that, too!

Okay, I know I said no more color but I'm also liking red and orange!

I love how she repeats outfits! That means she has a capsule wardrobe of classics that she mixes and matches and accessorizes so that her looks seem endless.

So my style to-do list is:
1. Create a capsule wardrobe of classic pieces in black and white.
2. Add a few pieces in bold colors like pink, red and orange.
3. Invest in big Hollywood-style shades!
4. Invest in chunky gold pieces and statement shoes.
5. Invest in a hairstylist hahaha

Follow Barbie on Instagram! It's @barbiestyle. I love her photos so much! You've got to check out her feed this February—it's all Zoolander!!!


*photos from @barbiestyle at Instagram


Tuesday, February 09, 2016

I earned this life

Just squeezing in a quick note while I breathe between two deadlines for sponsored posts for Topaz Mommy, which is, by the way, nominated for Best Parenting Blog at Blogopolis. Yey! Please vote for me!
Anyway.
I get this a lot: "Sarap naman maging blogger. Wala kang ginagawa pero binabayaran ka!" 
Guys, I've been blogging since 2006. Two thousand and six. It took me 10 years to get here. I built my audience by reading and leaving great comments on 30 similar blogs and websites a day, and sharing my posts on every social media platform I have. I did all that while I worked at my day job as a magazine editor. Now, as a full-time blogger (and part-time magazine editor!), I hustle with brands and agencies every day. I write late at night after taking care of my kids all day.
I put in the hours. I gave up my secure corporate job. I built my dream life. I earned all this through sheer hard work. 
This blogging business was not built in a day. Not one big blogger in the world got rich and famous overnight. So if you want to blog to become rich and famous, don't do it. For blogging to be successful, as with everything, you need to work hard. I'm not even rich and famous yet and I already cry from exhaustion just building and maintaining my blogs. Imagine the work that the huge bloggers do!

Respect success, not because it's shiny and dazzling, but because it demanded so much from the person and she delivered. 
Now I gotta go. I've got work to do!

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

The best jumpsuits at Net-a-Porter

Actually, there are about a dozen gorgeous jumpsuits over at Net-a-Porter but I've decided that I'm going to streamline my wardrobe to black, gray, white and red. And a few denim pieces, of course because jeans, right?

I'm streamlining because I semi-KonMari'd my closet two weeks ago. Semi because I realized I couldn't get rid of ALL my clothes that didn't spark joy because none of my clothes sparked any joy anymore! So I kept what still fit and looked good. I also kept what was functional (breastfeeding clothes mostly). The rest will be auctioned off on eBay this weekend.

I've also started dreaming of what I want my new closet to have. Midi skirts. Full skirts. Black trousers. White slacks. Tailored dresses. And jumpsuits.

 

I've always loved jumpsuits. They have a cool 70s vibe. They're simple. They're easy. They're comfy. And yet they can be glamorous! So I'm hunting for fantabulous jumpsuits and I found

Equipment Adalyn wool twill for running after my kids at the mall.


Diane von Furstenberg Gwynnie black crepe  for meetings.

Haney Carrie cape-effect silk chiffon and stretch crepe for family events (and that low, zippered front makes for easy breastfeeding!).

Cushnie et Ochs black stretch jersey for dates with my husband.


Halston wrap-effect fully lined white crepe for glam events.


Narciso Rodriguez in red stretch-crepe for going out with my friends.

Sooooo fab!

But first I must flatten my belly because jumpsuits are so unkind to a big tummy!

Images grabbed from Net-a-Porter. Click the links to each jumpsuit to see them in action. Yes! There's a video so we can watch the clothes move! Iba na talaga ang online shopping ngayon!

Monday, February 01, 2016

Win a fab makeover from Lifestyle Salon by Louis Phillip Kee!

CONTEST IS CLOSED.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, wouldn't it be nice to get a makeover from the master stylist Louis Phillip Kee and his über posh Lifestyle Salon in BGC?

Louis has been cutting and coloring my hair since 2006. Ten years this March! Here are just a few of my looks created by Louis:
Pretty pink
Fiery red
Rich brown

Rumor has it that if you don't have a boyfriend and you go to Louis to have your hair done, you'll get a boyfriend within a year! Rumor also has it that if you do have a boyfriend and you go to Louis to have your hair done, your boyfriend will propose within a year! I didn't believe it because when I went to Louis that March 2006, I was in the firm belief that I was never going to get married. That December, yes just 9 months later, I was engaged. True story!

My theory is you come out of the salon looking so absolutely amazing, which gives you a huge confident boost, which makes you extra sexy!

So obviously, for Valentine's Day, what am I going to give away to my readers??? A fantabulous makeover from Lifestyle Salon by Louis Phillip Kee!!!


I'm gifting these makeovers to TWO readers. Each will win P10,000 worth of salon services. That's enough to have your hair cut, colored, styled and treated. Add a mani and pedi, too. Or have your makeup done. You can do whatever you like with P10,000!!!

Here's how to win:
1. Like the Facebook page of Lifestyle Salon by Louis Phillip Kee.
2. Post this on your Facebook: "I want to win a fantabulous makeover from Lifestyle Salon by Louis Phillip Kee and Topaz Horizon! Click this link to join: http://www.topazhorizon.com/2016/02/win-fab-makeover-from-lifestyle-salon.html" If you want to add why or a selfie or whatever, you are free to do so!
3. Tag my Topaz Horizon page so I can find your post. And make sure it's set to public because I won't be able to see it if it's just for your friends. Add this hashtag na rin #THxLPK so I can really find your post!

That's it! I'll pick the two lucky winners on February 7. I will announce it on this blog post and on my Facebook page. So if you don't read my blog and if you don't like my Facebook page, you won't know you won. I'll give the winners just three days to contact me. If I hear nothing, I'll choose a new winner!

I will send the gift certificates to the winners. So Philippine addresses only! But kayo na bahala how you get to the salon, okay? GCs lang ang pinamimigay ko, not transportation and per diem allowance, okay? Okay? Good luck!


UPDATE Feb. 7, 2016

CONGRATULATIONS!

The winners of this fab makeover are...
Ri Palacios
Emilie Canapi Prades-Udasco


Please send me a message over at Facebook to claim your gift certificates. Enjoy your new look! I'm so excited for you!

Sunday, January 31, 2016

New blog series!

This last week of January, I was supposed to roll out two new series for this blog: an advice column called "Ask Frances" and a press release dump called "Frances Finds". But Topaz Mommy got nominated for Best Parenting Blog for Blogopolis and I got distracted!

So I'm launching the two new series this February!

"Ask Frances" is for my readers who send me questions on life, career and love. I try to reply to their emails but I finally decided that I'm spending too much time dishing out advice during my me time. All my time should either be used for my family, for work or for me (like sleeping, eating, seeing friends)! So since I consider blogging work now, emailed questions asking for tips and advice will see the light of day on my blog! You can tell me to withhold/change your name for privacy, but if you email me a question privately, I will answer it publicly!!! Chosen questions will get fabulous products from me!!!

"Ask Frances" will be posted every third Friday of the month. So if you have any questions, email them to frances@topazhorizon with "Ask Frances" on the subject! I will pick a question to answer and I will answer it as bluntly and as honestly as I can. Walang iiyak! Walang magagalit! For February, the chosen question sender will receive this:
Happy Skin lip glosses!

"Frances Finds" is like a bulletin board for posting all the press kits I get. This is also my way of saving my Instagram account for my life, not products (unless from my sponsors). I'm not going to do that for emailed PRs because I get a dozen press releases a day! "Frances Finds" will only be for press kits sent to my house (and only those I find helpful and interesting!) because I can actually add something useful to the write-up because I've seen, held, smelled, or tasted the product. So I can give mini reviews!

"Frances Finds" will be posted every last Friday of the month. That said, please don't send me press kits!!! Ask me first please (email frances@topazhorizon.com with "Frances Finds" on the subject) and then we'll see if your products and services are a fit with Topaz Horizon. Why? I used to work in PR and I dabble in PR now and I know there's a budget for products to give away. I get so many things that I can't really promote like headbands for baby girls, or shampoo for thick and curly hair, or products from a competitor of my blog sponsors. Sayang naman yung product and effort niyo.

I have a couple more series I plan to launch within the year. There will be "What's in my...?" and "Frances's Favorite". I guess you can tell what those two will be about! But I'll launch those just before summer. I want a series for every week! So you have something consistent to look forward to every week.

As for the blog merger, it is sloooooowly happening! I'm deleting and editing blog posts over 10 years! Every night has been a true trip down memory lane. It's so amazing how my life has changed! How my kids have arrived one after the other! How I've grown fat and old! LOL! Anyway, once all the unnecessary or mega nega posts have been deleted, I'll be ready to merge Topaz Mommy to Topaz Horizon then migrate to Wordpress. So exciting! Thanks for patiently waiting for my relaunch!

Monday, January 25, 2016

Review: Anti-acne facial products of Flawless Face & Body Clinic

This post is brought to you by Flawless Skin & Body Clinic.

Hi everyone! I want to make kwento. This weekend—I must confess!—I spent more than a few times admiring my skin in the mirror. It's not perfect. I still have a few whiteheads and a bit of dark acne scars on my cheeks. But my skin was smoooooooooth. No more scary bumpiness, no more angry pus-filled volcanoes. My Advanced Anti-Acne Facial Treatments from Flawless really work!

Still, those facials happen every two (or so) weeks. What do I do in between visits to Flawless? I manage my skin with three Flawless anti-acne products: SAS Soap, Erythromycin 2% solution, and Skin Protect Gel.

Here's my review of each product:

SAS Soap, P140
This is for deeply cleansing oily skin.

What I liked:
1. Just a little bit of soap creates a lather soooo rich and thick!

2. There is no fragrance. I'm sensitive to fragrances.

3. My skin is super clean!

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing!
Suds up fast, doesn't melt quickly.


Erythromycin 2% solution, P650
This is a topical antibiotic solution. Its main purpose therefore is to kill bacteria on my skin.

What I liked:
1. It works!

2. If I have a developing zit, I just soak a cotton ball in Erythromycin and plant that ball over the affected area for 10 minutes. The pimple dies.

3. It lasts for 4-6 weeks so it's affordable.

What I didn't like:
1. Oh boy, does this sting! It evaporates quickly enough so it doesn't feel like your face is burning. I like to fan myself while applying this.

2. Okay, I don't know if this is actually the medicine that causes it, okay, but my skin smells bad after application. It smells like wet socks. Vince says my face doesn't smell like wet socks but, nope, it doesn't smell nice.

3. My skin doesn't taste good, too. I know this because when I lick my lips, I sometimes lick past my puckers and I taste the medicine, and it tastes awful. Vince concurs. Heehee.

But who cares??? My skin is clearing up by the day! Wala na lang kissing masyado while I'm on treatment!
No added color to the solution. 

Skin Protect Gel, P290
This is a sunscreen. All the dermatologists tell me that this is the single most important product in any skincare regimen!

What I liked:
1. It's soooo cheap! My favorite sunscreens are Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense (P1,995 for 30ml), Lancôme UV Expert SPF 50++ (about P2,000 for 30ml), and VMV Armada SPF 30 ($50 or about P2,300 for 88ml). This tiny tube is P290!

2. This lasted me 4 weeks! The reason it lasts long is because I only need a pea-sized amount! Why does that matter? The FDA, dermas, beauty brands and beauty magazines will tell you that we all need a teaspoon-sized dollop of sunscreen for our face, ears and neck. That's a lot.

And then did you ever notice that sunscreens are always sold in these tiny tubes??? So if I put 5ml (that's a teaspoon) of sunscreen on my face from a 30ml tube, that means a tube will last me just 6 days. Two thousand bucks for 6 days is insane.

3. It mattifies my skin! I'm super oily and oily-skinned girls really don't like sunscreen. But this sunscreen is so light, it's in gel form! And you only need a little! And the best part is my skin gets matte! No oiliness for hours!
 
What I didn't like:
1. The smell. It's too fragrant. So thank goodness I only need a tiny amount for my face!

2. It's a mattifier, right? While I like how my skin stays not oily for a loooong time, I also need to wait for a looooong time for the sunscreen to dry up. Okay, I exaggerate. I only wait for maybe a minute after application for the product to completely dry up. If I apply makeup while the sunscreen is still fresh, it rubs off like libag. So I brush my teeth muna while I wait for it to dry. Then I apply my makeup.

3. It's a sunscreen but it doesn't say the SPF. So on days I need to be under the sun, I still put an extra layer of sunblock. 

4. Like all sunscreens, this needs to be reapplied every 4-6 hours.
Just a little gel goes a long way.

All these skincare products are available at Flawless clinics nationwide. You'll need a prescription to purchase them, however. That shouldn't be a problem because a consultation with the resident dermatologist at Flawless is free! 

I'm so happy I chose Flawless to take care of my skin. For more promos and information, visit the Flawless websitelike them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram (@myflawless).

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