Taking a leaf out of an expert's book...

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I'm reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

...I would like to thank Jessica Schroeder of What I Wore (http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/) for her Ultimate Guide to Blogging tips (http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/tagged/blogging) that inspired me to really make my Tumblr blog something just a touch more than mere venting.

I'm doing a little bit of remodelling (just a few blog posts in so this, I think, is really the best time for such a thing) particularly with the photos and improve on the text for future posts.

I'd taken creative writing back in uni but I never really mastered the art of writing as myself, so I would seriously like to take this "vanity outlet blog" of mine...well, seriously, and make it into something of a practice space for me to not just express my new-found love for and enjoyment of all things pretty (fashion or cosmetics) but to also to continue honing my skill as a nonfiction writer.

Originally posted as Boudoir Angel on Tumblr, 8 May 2010

Keeping up with the times

I've raved before about the Belle de Jour planner and just recently signed up for their new project, the BDJ Box . It's their take on those boxed product samplers, pre-paid for, usually, and automatically shipped to clients so they can test samples of different products on the market to help novices (such as myself) explore new things, and introduce seekers, addicts--okay, enthusiasts ^_~--and pros to what's new.

My main purpose was to gain access to the reviews and tutorials but I'm still on the fence on whether or not I actually want to order the box itself.

Hurdle to prepare for 1.1: Breastfeeding Equipment

I mentioned on Twitter some time ago how grateful I am for the number of friends and family I have who either a) already have children, or b) just had children. It's like having an instant support group.

This is not to say that nuggets received from my mother, aunts, and older family friends/acquaintances are not valuable because they are. But the availability of the experience of those who have gone through what I'm about to more recently has a slightly higher percentage of value since I can more or less expect my experience to be closer to theirs considering the development of technology and availability of resources and other similar advancements.

From Scott Bourne: Improving Your Photography Without Buying Gear

I read this article thanks to a friend who's a professional photographer, Noel Salazar. You've heard me fangirl over his mad skillz before--otherwise we wouldn't have picked him to be our primary wedding photographer!

So because I aim to become a professional photographer at some point, some very important and enlightening things to take note of via photoresourcehub.com on Wordpress:

A while back my buddy, Scott Bourne wrote a post about ways to improve your photography without buying new gear.  New gear and the perceived correlation to improving your images is a monstrous myth, especially with relatively new photographers. I’ve heard so many times over the years, “If I only had better equipment…” as if it was the answer to every new photographer’s problems. (Keep reading here.)

I think I'm going to print out a copy of this post, or at least the points Scott Bourne made and I'm going to tack it on the office bulletin board just to keep myself on track.

Underneath it all

Okay, it's an issue when one is not pregnant, and an even bigger issue when one is.

I professed in my former vanities blog that I was like every other regular girl on the planet who'd always assumed my bra size would stop changing upon achieving full body development/maturity.

Right.

Hurdle to prepare for 1.0: Breastfeeding

If I'm to be honest, and here on my blog I always am, what I truly find the most daunting is the idea of being a self-sufficient milk factory.

Okay, that doesn't sound quite as good, accurate, or beautiful as the act actually is.

Everything in its place, continued

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I'm reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

Yesterday I posted items from my humble collection of cosmetics--and as I don't have an actual boudoir yet, it shall have to stay that way until we've made space for that somewhere in the house. ^_~

Anyway, my little make-up tool box (shown below, occupying a small corner of my bottom office shelf in front of my anti-stress DVDs)

was inspired by the organizational style of Marlena from Makeup Geek.com, who featured in several YouTube videos how she, as a professional make-up artist, stores and organizes her stash.

Blog Maintenance #6: Insta-revise

So apparently I misunderstood portions of "Fair Use" and attribution doesn't count.

Therefore my cute little LinkWithin will be missing photo thumbnails for a little while--imagine the horror now, of having to do this for two other blogs to which my Blogger cross-posts. To fellow blogger Tony Burgess on Tumblr, this is the only truly ridiculous thing of having three different platforms, hahaha!

I want to make this blog a permanent thing and I don't want there to be any issues arising from my use of various photos I find to be symbolic of the images and thoughts I have in my head. I'd rather not deal with the possibility of being sued for having been misled into thinking all the attributions and whatnot was enough.

*sigh*

So if there are others out there who, like me, thought attributions and links back covers the non-profit use of any image, read this blogger's experience. And be even more mindful of your photo usage. I've been saying I'm a wannabe photographer, well, this wannabe will take that a little more seriously now and take more photos to replace the ones I'm about to take down!

Now really...what in the world to do with the other million and one Tumblr and Pinterest shares?

Fashion Fact #1: Couture

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I'm reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

I'd honestly personally assumed that "couture" was simply a fancier way of referring to fashion in its entirety (attire, styling, accessories, etc.) but apparently it's way more than that. And there are guidelines for it too.

Read more about it from Ms. Jessica Quirk via her blog, What I Wore.


Originally posted as Boudoir Angel on Tumblr, 18 January 2011

You never realise how important it is until...

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I'm reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

I was eight when Mum took me to buy my first training bra. Later, when the further development of my breasts stopped, I became like most women who assumed the size they stopped developing at would be their size. Forever.

Something like jumping on the bandwagon

I saw the Feedjit feed on several blogs I follow and thought it was an interesting way to check out where precisely the traffic to my blog comes from.

Just a little off-hand posting.

IHeart Organizing: IHeart: DIY Doggie At Home Medical Kit

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We have so many pets I'm surprised I didn't think to do this sooner, especially since my aunt and I are probably the only ones in the family who are equipped to deal with pet emergencies.

One of the tasks on my to-do list is to clear up the old pet things which I'm sure have already expired, and make room for better pet items storage.

IHeart Organizing: Reader Space: A Framed Magnetic Chalkboard Tutoria...

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I have asthma. This is significant because despite my asthma--which is already under control anyway--I have always been obsessed with chalk boards. I love the idea of having a chalk board in the kitchen and have been entertaining the idea of having one in our home office as well. But seeing this post from a reader of IHeart Organizing, I realise suddenly that I was thinking rather small.

I love the concept of using sheet metal as the chalk board surface! Originally I'd intended to use a thick piece of cork but was fretting over how cork boards eventually wear out but this one is just genius to me because sheet metal means I can use magnets. Yes, they also wear out over time, but it does save me from pricking my finger every now and then. ^^; I can be that clumsy, admittedly.

I've also toyed with the idea of white boards but somehow chalk boards just have a better graphic appeal. Plus, dustless chalks aren't the only option anymore; now we have liquid chalk which is also dustless and comes in a variety of colours that will definitely feed that colour-coding monster inside me.

So yes, note to self: get custom shelf built, and either stick a bit of sheet metal onto it, or make a magnetic chalk board as inspired by the above post.

IHeart Organizing: March Challenge: Project "Household Binder" {Link ...

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I have literally been spending hours on end going over Jen's blog.

I am learning so much from her and I've been (mentally) adjusting things according to my own family's needs and, of course, the environment in which I live.

IHeart Organizing: Conquer Clothing Clutter!

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Okay, I officially love Jen's blog. I see so many things that I can use for around the house and so many ideas that I can mix and match and adjust to suit my needs.

I'll be tackling my closet soon so her entries on it is quite the eye opener/inspiration for me. There is so much I'm learning from her, seriously. It makes me want to take pictures of the entire process and progress I'm making just so I can show it all off too! XD

Cruelty-free treat

This is a vanities post. Let's get that out of the way right now.

Normally I would post this in my vanities blog but I haven't managed to put tome in to set up my entries for there yet so this will have to go here for now. I'll try and make it make sense.

The brand on the left is a Korean one. They have all types of cosmetics, skin care and colours, the same way most brands do. But one thing made them stand out for me today and that's what today's entry is going to be about.

Basic Skin Care Regimen a la Agoo Bengzon

Originally posted on Agoo-RU here on the Cosmopolitan Philippines website. I'm not sure I can commit to all ten steps she listed but you know what, if I want to keep looking the way I do now, I guess I'd better put in the effort, eh?

Sharing here to remind myself.

1. Use an oil type cleanser to remove waterproof make-up.
2. Follow up with a foaming cleanser to remove other traces of impurities.
3. Exfoliate.
4. Apply a moisturising mask.
5. Apply toner or face lotion.
6. Apply anti-ageing serum.
7. Apply moisturiser. She noted that she uses two different types: oil-free for her T-zone and a heavier cream for other areas of her face. I may actually take a leaf from her book on that as I have combination-oily skin.
8. Apply eye cream.
9. Put on SPF.
10. Apply lip balm.

My personal regimen is pretty darn close to hers now that I think of it. I use a make-up removing cream to take care of my make-up, wash it all off with a foaming cream (after wiping off the make-up remover), apply toner, moisturise (with SPF during the day, regular or night-specific moisturiser at night), and lip balm.

Hmm. Maybe I'm not doing so badly by myself after all.

Make-up Inspired: A nice, cheery office look

A video tutorial by Lauren Luke from her Office Make-up series. It makes me want to go out and buy glitter liquid liners, or at least coloured ones, haha! See the video here via YouTube.

Enjoy!