Empty-this-first 01

One of my life-long goals, which I recently decided last December, was to always finish the products that I buy. During my high-school and college days, I've had this habit of buying and trying new products which I don't really try to finish, unless it's a necessity. But later I learned and realize that there's not much difference between having 1 bottle of shampoo and having 3 bottles of it (sometimes of different brands). The difference? It costed you more than it should have. On the side, you could also choose between different flavors depending on your mood, haha. But that's not the point! What I'm saying is, my value for money certainly increased, much more when I graduated from college and was a bummer with no more school allowance.

So when I started the "empty-this-first" goal, I would resist the urge to buy a new product (or a refill) unless I've finished the bottle/container. Here are a few of the stuff that I was able to collect from last year (or last week? hehe). [I just want to make a photo-memorabilia]

Johnson's baby powder, Pantene Color and Perm shampoo, Louis and Pearl powder, Eskinol toner.

>typical everyday needs. 

Rhea isopropyl alcohol

Queen Bee honey wax - which I'd recommend for those who do waxing.

Watsons Hair Spa.

 L'Occitane shower gel, and a sweet scent body butter

...aaand I know this really doesn't belong to the above-mentioned products but I like to eat, so yeah. I really miss this chocolate bonbon! ;'( more please?

That's the first batch :). Time to recycle them now hehe. Trying things like this can really help you in saving up :P How about you? What are your tips on saving up?

My kind of 2013 = A mixture of Sugar, Spice, and everything Nice.

My kind of 2013 = A mixture of Sugar, Spice, and everything Nice.

In less than an hour (GMT+8), we'll enter a new year full of expectations, goals, and reflections. 2013 has both been good, not-so-good, and life-changing for me. This was also probably the year where I updated my blog lesser than all the other years, because I was actually LIVING in it. Life has been busier and I had less time/energy to blog even if I wanted to. After all the progress I made with my photoblog, I suddenly fell into MIA status. Which may left some of you, my dear viewers (if there are any) thinking, "What's up? No more updates?" Well, let me recap this once and for all, with the main events that are worth sharing. Click "read more" below! (Loooong post ahead!) =)

BTW, I'm hoping to be back for good! Even if it means once/twice-a-week post!

I don't really celebrate the New Year's, but let's all say Hello 2014 in a few minutes!

Recent haul

Hellooo! I'd like to share some of my recent acquisitions over the past few days :)

I've been reading a lot about Human Nature, and their reviews said that it's a good product line. So I ordered some from their internet store (the ones that I think I need), seeing that they have few dealers in our area.

I like their packaging - simple and neat. The orders came really fast, and I like the fact that my backordered Toner will be sent to me free-of-charge when it gets available.

Have any of you guys tried Human Nature? How was the experience so far? I've been using this for a week now, so far so good.. But it still needs time to properly gauge their effectiveness :)

Cute socks added on my collection *0*!

When my family went to the US without me during the summer (huhu, because of in-house review), I asked for a Skecher's SKCH +3 shoes. I like how it adds a few inches to my small height :))

I've only worn it a few times, but it already has become my favorite pair yet. It feels light despite the inner wedges and it fits perfectly, hugging my ankles well.

My very first Vans classic! Ever since I became a fan of Chachi Gonzales, I aimed to get a pair of vans. My wish came true when my mom bought me one during her recent trip out. <3 thanks mamita <3

I'm not really a fan of closed shoes. But my college life changed just that, because our school policy doesn't allow flip flops. :)) I have grown to love them, and even started collecting them. My next aim is Keds, which I want to earn on my own.

It's a bit tad heavier than Skch +3, but I like it nonetheless. It has a good fit and will serve great for those laid back hang outs.

These goodies aren't really part of the haul but I find them interesting :)) Who likes organic? LOL. Can't wait to taste them once our current peanut butter runs out.

 Okay, this Kit-Kat nailed the green color :))

Kidding aside, I'll be leaving this weekend for Bagac, Bataan with my parents. Finally, a weekend getaway! I've never had one in a long time due to college =,=. We never had summer breaks for 4 years. We use them for summer classes and duties instead. So yes I'm excited, especially with the swimming and eating :)) I'll bring these films and hopefully come back home with good shots :D

Happy Weekend everyone!

~Flowie ;)

Hey Hey HEEEY!

I can't believe how fast time comes! It's already half of 2013 and I wasn't even able to make most progress with this diary.. (shame I know!) Not just that, I've broken my promise on uploading new photos, videos, and changing my url.. Well I did try, but the domain host that I bought from had issues with blogger which made me unable to change it despite the many attempts I did. So yes, peekaboostars will be here for now.

Kidding aside, the reason for my unnerving in-and-out MIA was that I got caught up in my studies - I was a graduating student, with grades that I had to protect and review studies to focus on, because it could either break or make my leg for the PNLE. LOL. Back in the day, I was always pinned as a multi-tasker, which I always was. But it was never a good thing for me, a hindrance in fact, because I keep losing the things that are much more important. Not that I don't like multitasking, I actually like doing it. It's just that there are things that you need to focus on more, but never forgetting the others that come with it. You get me, right? So that's what I did. I focused more on the real world - what a 20-year old student should be doing at school, taking my duties seriously (though I was getting really tired of the shifts), arranging my requirements for the board exam (yes, I'm a nursing student :]), mentally, physically and emotionally prepared myself for the exams during the in-house review (during your summer vacation y'all) -- All while taking less pictures, playing the piano less, drawing less. In short, I did my hobbies less. I admit, I slightly regretted that, I missed taking pictures so much. But it was for the best. Being the great procrastinator that I am, I would not be able to focus well if I hadn't made such a decision...

Now, PNLE was done (last June 2-3)! I can finally breathe! The exam was really tricky, the kind that makes you think, "oh this is easy.." and then you try to read question again with the choices and you're like, "oh, maybe not. This IS hard.." Yes, I had to read some of the questions again and again because the choices are tad too similar to differentiate from each other. Not to mention the room assignment given to us wasn't conducive enough for critical thinking -- open windows on a hot day with a bulldozer on the side x_x

Now that all of that was done, I wanna make up for the time lost. I want to get in touch with old friends (whom I always told my I'm-not-available-due-to-review reasons), raise myself spiritually and immerse myself in Bible studies, upload those photos that are stuck on my harddrive for like, a year now :)), and all that shazz....But I'll be needing more help from Mr. Motivation though.. Because right now, I'm an unemployed, lazy bum in the house. I literally had to push myself out of bed at 6:30am just to maintain my body clock (and I'm grateful my body is still waking me up) and try to make myself useful by running errands, trying to drive again (after almost 2 months of no contact from outside world), and choosing healthy lifestyle and exercise. I'm still waiting for the results, hopeful that I pass >_< They say the results will come out next week. ugh.

That's all though ;) Sorry for all the wordiness :)) I'm really glad I had taken this out, writing makes me think and sort out my feelings on different matters. If you read it 'till the last, I appreciate that, thank you, whoever you are!

Enough of the wordy me, here're photos for today :D

I believe I have not introduced this little gem here. This is DeeSy! I got her last March, thanks to dear mamita and daddita, when they visited Busan, SKr. Since then she's the one I kept using in my recent photographs.

 I've been using Dee-three (D3000) for a good 3 years now and the upgrade was a great deal! I've always wished I could take videos with my own dslr, but Dee-three could never do that. So my good friends who own such dslrs are generous enough to let me borrow theirs, especially when we have video projects and stuff. 

Dee-three is still doing great, and I don't have any plans of selling or leaving her soon. She's been a very good camera all these years and it's because of her that I was able to grow into this craft. I might make a tribute post for her soon :)

  Back view of D7000. You might see some scratches, sorry, D3000 may be a little rusty now.

Top view. I love how there's more controls on manual mode, plus High ISO! It still needs getting used to :P

That's pretty much it for today!

Have a great weekend ahead,

~Flowie

2012 nearing its end

It's been a while since my last post. I'm actually planning on abandoning this blog but hey, I'm torn yet again between these choices. So yes, Peekaboostars (formerly berriesinacloud) will still stick around. I'll also probably put up a good domain name for it, since I was able to buy one just this morning ;')!

I have a lot of things in store for the coming weeks! New photographs, piano videos (after a long year absence), and maybe even some giveaways :)! I'm looking forward to a great year ahead, 2013!