When Depression Creeps In...

Youre there, youre all set. You have what you need and you already know what to do but you just dont want to go on. Even the thought of taking another step is so hard to bare. Theres always something pulling you back.  A lot of people even the ones who know you well may not understand. They think youre just being a whining lazy person or youre just ungrateful and cant appreciate your life. 

There are also times that you just dont want to open up anymore because you dont want to make them feel the same thing and get the people around you involve. They will never understand anyway... Heck, you dont understand whats going on too.  You dont understand why the hell sadness keeps on getting into your system and makes you cry for no reason at all. You cant even get help too especially when the people around you are feeling the same way too. Its like we`re all trapped inside a very small black box.

There are times when you cant fall asleep. Even when you try, images and voices keeps on popping everywhere inside your head.  You just cant stop thinking even random things. There are also times when you just sleep and sleep the whole day. When you get up, all you have is a blank stare. Your mind is just blank and you feel numb all over. It makes you feel scared, insecure and you just want to hide. There are times when you dont care at all. You go out of the house without looking at the mirror or fixing yourself. People stare and they give you their most criticizing look but you just dont care anymore.  Sometimes you just want to stay in one corner because it makes you feel secure from all your worries. 

Even when you try to creep out of the black box and try to be happy, you still end up going back inside the box. Not because you want to but because youre suddenly pushed inside it again. It becomes a routine and then you just get tired of fighting and trying. Its a never ending cycle...

♥ Natural and Simple Makeup ♥

Natural and Simple Makeup

The beauty of makeup artistry is to create art through people`s faces. Makeup helps us express ourselves. Sometimes our makeup depends on our mood, what we are wearing and the places or events we are going to be at. It conceals our insecurities and helps us to be confident and feel good about ourselves. 

I love wearing heavy and dramatic makeup when I want to express myself and experiment with colors. On night outs like having dinner dates or going to the club I love the classic black smokey eyes and nude lipstick.  But we all know that anything too much is bad for us even makeup. Wearing too much makeup all the time is bad for the skin and I believe that we shouldnt rely on it too much to conceal our insecurities and depend on it to boost our confidence as a person.  

Im not the type of person who wears makeup on a daily basis or cant leave the house without makeup on. For me, as long as you feel good and beautiful inside that`s what matters. That also goes with having a good and positive attitude. As the late, great Kevyn Aucoin said " Life is too short to spend hoping that the perfectly arched eyebrow or hottest new lip shade will mask an ugly heart."

Today, I am sharing my simple and natural makeup. I think I have made an impression to some people that I wear too much makeup all the time and I edit my pictures. Yes, I crop it `cause I have crappy background pictures but I dont edit any flaws on my face. Its all makeup and nothing else. I hate my bulbous nose and I always have a hard time contouring it. I also hate my under eye circles and eyebrows but I never tried to edit my face on pictures. I just wear makeup and thats it.

Natural and simple makeup look. Perfect for casual and normal days. :) Here`s what youll need. 

Foundation, Day Moisturizer with SPF and Concealer

 For the Face:  Mix one pump of your foundation and a pea size of moisturizer on the back of your hand and put it on your face (you can also just use tinted moisturizer if you have one). Spread it evenly and blend well using your hands or foundation blush. Dab concealer on your under eye and conceal your dark circles. You can also conceal any blemishes you have. Lightly set your face with loose powder.

Shimmery Beige Eyeshadow, Eyelash Curler, Mascara, Eyebrow Pencil and Eyebrow Brush

For the Eyes:  Dab and put on shimmery beige eyeshadow all over your lids and crease area including your lower lids. Skip any eyeshadow colors and eyeliners this time.  Curl your lashes and put on your black mascara. Define your brows using an eyebrow pencil two shades lighter than your hair color and blend well using an eyebrow brush.

Light Pink Blush On and Tinted Lip Balm

For the Cheeks:  Dust your favorite pink or orange blush on the upper part of your cheeks using your blush brush. Make sure to blend it upwards. 

For the Lips:  Put on your favorite tinted lip balm. Pucker up and be a natural and simple beauty! ;)

"ME" Time and Flags Cafe

Flags Cafe in Shinsaibashi, Osaka

Still Talking About Your Hair Emilita?! ;P

I got over my hair disaster experience a couple of days and kind of loved it in fact. Though I wasnt that satisfied when my stylist gave it a quick fix I learned to embrace and appreciate my new lighter than usual hair color. I was even surprised to get some compliments. But despite all the compliments I received, at the back of my head I wasnt still satisfied maybe because it wasnt exactly the look that I wanted. It felt like my hair was as hard as a mop every time I wash it too. I scheduled another hair fix for the weekend while it was still free to get a makeover fix before 10 days. 

The weekend arrived and my dear husband was so nice enough to offer to take our daughter to the "matsuri" or festival near his workplace while I relax and enjoy my free time. I went to the salon without feeling guilty because I didnt have to take my daughter to the daycare and feel like I am passing over all the responsibilities to other people while I get a salon makeover.  Dont get me wrong, I like all the staffs of my daughter`s daycare but its still a very different secure feeling when a family member takes care of my daughter.

It just took an hour and a half to get my hair color fixed. My stylist just toned down the bright yellow tones on my hair to create just a natural light brown hair color which is what I exactly wanted.

From ash blonde to a simple light brown hair.:)

When Hunger Strikes Again

After the salon I strolled and checked out some stores along Shinsaibashi, felt suddenly hungry and found the same cafe I used to hang out and dine at Kyobashi when I was still working near there.  The cafe`s name is Flags Cafe. Its a little bright and chic cafe that offers only healthy meals and drinks. The perfect cafe for vegetarians and for the health, beauty and diet conscious women but as for me, I had a big breakfast at home and felt just a little hungry but I didnt wanted to eat something that woud make me feel stuffed too much. Flags Cafe is also great when you are on portion control. They have a wide range of natural healthy and nutritious drinks but only offer seasonal and limited meals.

The cafe for women. Here`s the proof!;P I dont see any male customers every time I come here. ;D

Flags Cafe is perfect for you and your girlfriends when all of you are having a diet but still want to enjoy good food. Each meal the cafe offers on their menu have the calories listed. You wont have to worry about the total calories you had after a great meal. Flags Cafe only offers low cal meals and beverages. The only down side I had was that the Shinsaibashi branch wasnt that chic enough for me.;P The one in Kyobashi had the perfect clean and simple but chic interior and gives a very relaxing and healthy atmosphere. Perfect for your "me, myself and I quiet time." But can be a very boring place for a meat lover and buffet eater boyfriend/husband like mine.;P This cafe can also be boring for active toddlers but can also be good if you are training your kids to be healthy eaters. Just make sure that your toddlers can behave well in public which is a very risky thing to do since toddlers are the most unpredictable people in the planet. ;P

Seasonal Food Set Menu and Healthy Low Calorie Plate 

I ordered their Half and Half Panini and Pasta Plate. This set contains half servings of tomato and mozzarella cheese panini,  your choice of pasta (salmon, ratatouille or seafood pasta), lettuce salad and your choice of herb tea. You can also replace the herb tea from other beverages for just a small amount of extra charge. I did that and chose the Cheer Up Mixed Berry and Yogurt drink because I wanted something refreshing and sweet. I wouldnt have to be tempted to order dessert since my drink can also be a dessert itself. ;)

Ham, Mozzarella and Basil Panini, Ratatouille Pasta and Lettuce Salad

Cheer Up Mixed Berries and Yogurt! Yum! ;D

To quickly judge the food I ordered. I can say it was really a delicious healthy and very light meal. The panini had good points for me because it had basil in it. I super duper love basil!;D  The Ratatouille Pasta was tasty and guilt-free and the lettuce salad was just fine, like a normal lettuce salad should be.;P I super loved the Cheer Up Mixed Berry and Yogurt drink! It definitely cheered me up and gave me an energy boost. It had lots of blueberries and raspberries in it and I was right about not having to be tempted to order dessert because the drink was a dessert itself too.  I will definitely go back to Flags Cafe especially when I start dieting again. ;))

Energy up and ready for mad Shinsaibashi again!

Flags Cafe is just beside Daimaru Department Store.  Its in one of those small side streets beside main Shinsaibashi and is also just beside 4 Degrees Celsius Jewelry Store and a nice flower shop. ;))

NOTE:  Here`s Flags Cafe`s Official Website. You can check the nearest branch in your place if youre living here in Japan and also see their seasonal menu. Click this link.  http://www.flags.jp/flagscafe/