I can't recall being this emotional every time I write a year-end post, but it's probably because 2016 was a real rollercoaster for me and for everyone else. I like looking back because it makes me realize how bad and good and how everything can change in just a year.

Entering 2016,  I was young and naive. To be honest, I always felt I was. I didn't know much about the world and the world probably didn't know much about me. However, I was determined to make my mark and as the year comes to a close, I hope I did - even in the littlest of things. To sum it up, here's a few things I did this year: 

• Travelled to Quezon with my friends. This has been the farthest place I commuted too. It's pretty amazing where good friends could bring you. We also stayed for less than 24 hours place and it kinda gave me the whole - YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE feels as we tried to do so much in a few hours. I hardly see these two girls and I miss them both!

• I turned 21 years old! I'm old na huhu. Kidding aside, this birthday was special cause despite me shifting (HAHAHAH I WAS CAUSE I WAS A SHIFTEE AND DIDN'T HAVE MUCH FRIENDS ANYMORE) and the busyness, I'm still blessed to have this great support system. :)

• I feel like I'm such a late bloomer when it comes to college parties but this was definitely a year of parties. I used to not like parties cause I always thought I couldn't balance it with my acads but I realize that as long as you're with the RIGHT people, IT IS SO MUCH FUN! Of course, the lola in me still reminds thyself to party responsibly and go to class despite the hangovers. If I'll party again in 2017, that depends on my friends.  

• This was also the year I discovered my real devcom friends! Back in Engineering, you could survive the whole semester not knowing who you classmates are. Yep, you could go on not talking to them the whole semester. You'll see them next semester and still not know each other.  That's why organizations are really popular - cause you're looking for a group to be with. In Devcom, kada break, people were standing, talking, taking selfies and sometimes hugging each other..... talk about culture shock. I felt my soul was so drained in Engineering that I was one of those "dead kids" in DevCom. To be fair, people in DevCom ARE SOOOOOO FRIENDLY AND SO SWEET. They'll talk to you no matter what. I remember when they first saw me, they were all asking if I was their blocmate or what block was I from........ or why did they see me just now? It was funny. Eventually things fell all in place - I have really nice friends and my grades were soaring (compared to engineering LOL) but most of all, I was happy and passionate about it all. 

• I WENT ON EXCHANGE!! Ahhhhh. This has been the turning point of my life this year. To be able to travel ALONE (for the first time - yep, I was a cry baby about it) and staying in Greece for more than a month to volunteer - it was the most beautiful experience ever. I miss the playful Greek babies who talk to me in Greek despite me telling them I don't understand, I miss my co-interns whom I go out and around Greece for our mini adventures. I miss the Greek teachers who have been patient with me, always trying to teach me Greek words so I can understand the kids. I miss my EP buddy, Margaret and her dog, Avra. I miss the Greeks and their hospitality. I miss the airport and being alone (it was fun too!). I miss walking around the streets of Athens as a full-blown morena and a proud Filipina. I miss my Greek tan. Needless to say, going on exchange has ruined my life forever. I will always long for the feeling of going on an AIESEC exchange and it's okay. I'll be back someday. I promise. (Also really thankful to my family who was been supportive, AIESEC International, AIESEC UPLB and PwC for the opportunity.) 

• A lot of blogging opportunities came this year. Compared to last year, I may have written less but my stats have taken a new high, which I'm really thankful for. Everything is still a learning process and even if I thought of giving up blogging (for many reasons - I promise to explain next time), I'm still here, writing. This year I was able to collaborate with a lot of brands - especially brands I super love and always looked up to. Other than that, my blog made its first $300 commission. 3 years ago, I would have never seen myself monetizing my blog. It's been amazing.

• A solid college family. I never found myself close to people from any organization. My AIESEC family is different. After being elected VP for Business Development, I was still so scared. The department was new and their was no basis to how everything was going to happen and how everything was going to be done. I was also scared to lead a "department" cause I didn't know how. The only team I ever lead was of two people, which made it easy for me to manage. Everything changed this year, as I learned how to live and lead the AIESEC way. I think what makes AIESEC very different from others is the culture - something only AIESECers themselves can attest to. And get this, I had a dream between choosing to become a VS Angel or an AIESECer and I chose AIESEC. Funny how life turns out. I'm really thankful to everyone in the Executive Board: Madam Kate, our P, who has believed in me from the start; Cara, sweetest fellow mumshie and fellow charter whom I thought I'd never be close with;  Alexis, also fellow mumshie, a crazy one. She says she likes everyone to fight but deep down inside she's clingy too; Mau, one of the titas of AIESEC UPLB, someone who I know will always take care of me even when I go down cause of drinks. HUHU labyu Mau; Ria, always the resident blondie and ball of sunshine and Cons, our favorite and sweetest (only) baby boy. HAHA. Really thankful for this fam whom I know no matter what we've been through, kahit mag-iyakan pa kami nun, we're strong because of each other. My Business Development fam, the original team, DJ and River, I love you both. HUHU no words for both of you but thank you for making me so happy and the rest of the mems, SJ, Hazel, Alexis, Tisha, Yanni, Nikka, Sly, Rafter, Denise, Joanna and Lady - you have no idea but you all make me so proud. Thanks for always sticking around. 

• And to the support system that remains no matter what year: my family. I dont think I have to enumerate everything my family and I has been through but one thing I know for sure is that we'll always be there for each other. Everyone's growing. Trina and I in college, Pam working, Jojo and Lia slowly getting their way to become teenagers (NO HUHU). Parents getting old but I'm happy and I hope we get to travel in the future again someday (cause everyone's busy). As I work on getting my degree, this is for my family. 

People say 2016 was a really bad year.......... Okay, I kinda agree. It wasn't the best but there's so much more to be thankful for. 2016 was cruel but it was also kind. And for all the bad times, put this in your head - WE CAN DO BETTER. Believe me, I don't go walking pretending like nothing has ever happened (cause I always remain to look at the positive times - it helps). We have to learn from whatever has happened. 

Save our planet. Be kind to everyone - no matter the class, color, size, shape. Beauty comes in all forms. Love your own Morena skin. Be self-aware and be aware of what is happening in the world. Sympathize. Give a little more. Listen to the elderly. Pray for others. There's so much more we can do, if the only question now is when then say hello 2017!

Ahh, let me first start by saying - I am disappointed with myself. I was rereading my goals for last year and one of them was to write more this year. I did a self-check and I found out that I am down to 20 posts (including this one) only to come at par with the number last year. Usually I write a lot during the break but I've been on that constant falling in and out of love with blogging - I'm really sorry. 

To make up for everything, I PROMISE TO WRITE MORE. I thought about it and I think the content of the posts this year were more meaningful - that's for sure. I documented my adventures more often than not and I earned quite a good commission this year. Something I thought I would never have done in my 3 years of blogging. I'm not sure how I will battle this constant thing of not falling out of love with blogging but I do promise not to leave. I'll always be here to write about something. 

Other than that, I'm pretty excited with 2017. I am finally working on a blogging calendar (for the first time too!), which will hopefully get me back on track. From here on now, you can expect that I'll be writing more on life, volunteering and travel. I can't abandon the whole "lifestyle blog" cause it's something I really enjoy writing too. It, however, is only going to be a sideline now of what I find more meaningful in my life. 

To everyone who has put up and still read this blog, you are all amazing. Although it's too early to say this, I hope 2017 goes well for you. Cheers!

So I recently decided to turn blonde............... kidding aside. Here's a long over due post on coloring my hair with Going Straight Salon x Nouvelle. I am really sorry for the delay..... tbh. I colored my hair before I left for Greece so I never really found the time to write about it when I was there. I went home and it was a week before class started........ class started and yep, you can guess I forgot about it. There was no deadline and I guess, I wasn't as pressured to really write about it. I am really truly sorry though and this is nothing personal. I still hope I can share my hair coloring experience the way I remember it.

Last June, for the first time in forever, I'm having my hair colored in a SALON. The last time I had my hair color was in a barber shop (YEP, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY) so it was pretty exciting to have my hair done. What was more exciting was learning that Going Straight now is partners with Nouvelle, a brand from Italy. It is 100% safe and is good on the hair - take it from a first timer. 

Anyways, there were a few bloggers who were invited to their hair colored by the experts and it was pretty exciting. We were 5 bloggers in the room who all chose our style and colors. A major plus since they really get the color you want right. You could show a picture and the stylists know exactly what to do. ;)

The picture below shows the start of the program. One of their program heads were explaining the technology behind Nouvelle and their hair coloring. The other pictures shows the stylists showing off the work they've done on their models. 

Since I was traveling and staying in Greece for a month, I didn't want the changes to be super drastic so I opted for a simple color - a color that my Grandma month get mad at me for (HUHU). Here are some of the snaps from that day:

The last picture is my favorite part cause I was blonde for a moment LOL. Before they put on the real coloring, they bleached my hair. And again, for a first timer - it didn't hurt?? I used to be scared to have my hair bleached but it was pretty safe and it didn't burn like everyone says. Also, the color is pretty color - I might color it a little blonde if I do have the guts someday.

What I loved most about it was that Going Straight and Nouvelle made coloring my hair less scary. It was pretty safe (again and again, I know!) and the color turned out really lovely! I can't recall if the product was organic but after a month so, my hair and its texture is still the same. I warn you though, you have to have your hair maintained unless it is going to fade like what happened to mine. There, I had to recolor my hair into a darker shade since school was also about to start. But other than that, you're good to go!

Here's the final product. Took this picture when I already landed in Greece. I really love what they did on my hair and if ever I get the chance, will have it colored again this way. :)

Thank you so much Going Straight and Nouvelle for the invite! Let me know what you think in the comments below! And add me on Snapchat: caramelyyyyy! xx

I have never told anyone this story. For reasons that I never believed that rejections were good until this year, 2016. In fact, I used to hate rejections........... they often made me feel small and useless as  if I wasn't meant for anything great. Yes friends, I've been there. But so much has changed this year. When I think of it, all those rejections were preparing me for something great so allow me to share why rejection is good for your soul, from the way I see it. 

PIIE - NSC EB

Back when I was still an engineering student, I remember being a part of the PIIE NSC core team (Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers - National Student Chapter). I believe I was doing so well that I wanted to run for an executive board position. However, there were three of us (my orgmates and I) who wanted to run for three different positions. It was all good until the rules stated only two candidates were allowed per school. One of them, was already sure to run since he started out earlier than most of us, the question now was between me and my other friend - who was going to run? But I saw how she wanted it so bad, told how she wanted it so bad, and even if I also wanted it bad, I let go of the opportunity. People told me it wasn't fair on my part and my friend never asked me if I wanted it too - I'm happy I stepped back and let it go for her.

NEW YORK DREAMS

A year passed has by when a blogging opportunity presented itself. It was going to send me to New York City only just to blog. BUT THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM - it was too soon. Having to go meant dropping school for a semester and this was the time I just shifted, I just started enjoying what I was doing and so it didnt make sense. I felt like the TIMING was wrong........ and although I never asked, I didn't want to ask my parents for funds or resources to go to NYC all for this hobby of mine. I felt like the universe just wanted to play with my feelings..... "let me give you this opportunity you are sure not to take." Again, with the rejection.  

NOT-SO-SWEET CANDY GIRL

Recently last year, I got an email for an interview with Summit Media, specifically for Candy Magazine. And who knows who much I loved Candy, it was almost a dream come true! After the interview at their office, I was told off that we had meetings during weekdays and since I get off at 5:30pm and I studied in Los Banos, it would be so much harder for me. I coudn't do the whole commute from school to the office thing. The fact that they were concerned about it, I knew where this conversation was getting me.......... I was about to be rejected. A few weeks after, I was right.

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I dont want to get into the nitty gritty of the details but that was it! A rejection for every year. HAHA imagine how bad I felt........ the feeling that I wasn't meant to do anything great. However, I STILL REMAINED POSITIVE DESPITE IT ALL. I carried on with life, ultimately forgetting it. I continued my pursuit of writing and blogging and I shifted to DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION (that's the dream!) I also joined AIESEC here in UPLB the same year I was going to run for EB in PIIE NSC. 

Which all brings me to this turning point in my life: I went on exchange to Greece! But I didn't just go on exchange (because trust me, going on exchange alone will change your life), I was chosen as one of the Global Citizen Fund volunteers across the world. Out of 350+ applicants worldwide, I WAS CHOSEN. Being one of the two Filipinas and the only one from the Philippines, it was really crazy. I only tried and applied for the GCF only because I found it interesting but never have I thought I would be given this opportunity, 

an opportunity that changed the course of my life. Up to this day, I couldn't bring myself to believe that........... after all those rejections, here I am.

I realized that all those rejections were preparing me for something this big. To go on exchange and make an impact on the people you meet along the way. If I ran for EB in PIIE NSC, I would have never gone outside the country, I would have be limited. If I went to NYC, I would have wrote about life of the rich and famous (which to be honest, I don't want to write about anymore - or at least about lifestyle people cannot actually achieve - yep, I'm so close to changing the course of my blog as well. As I finish the pending posts from my sponsors, my blog might be retiring its lifestyle career and will be delving more into traveling and volunteering. Of course, I still might be blogging about the things I like every once in a while but not as often as now). I would have never discovered my love for volunteering and the SDGs. If I started writing for Candy, I would never be writing this, I would never be writing about my experience - the whole, really making an impact, cultural understanding and really loving without barriers kind-of-thing (because I miss my Greek babies!) 

Love the rejections

That's what I learned in 3 years time.......... for every rejection, you are being prepared for something greater, something greater than what you thought you needed/wanted and something greater than yourself. And believe in God's perfect timing. Rejections allow you to grow and become able to to do things He has in store for you. Hold on to that.

And iff you're facing a difficult time right now whether you've been rejected or not, my dear friend, hold on - the struggle will be worth it. I still get rejected ever so often today but what keeps me afloat is the exchange that changed the course of my life. I even get excited every time I get rejected because I know (and kinda expect LOL) that great things will follow. It is a matter of perspective. Every time you get rejected, say this - rejection is good for my soul and it will be. 

One thing I love about the Holidays (believe it or not) are the endless parties! Endless gatherings of good food, cocktails and chikahan with your friends and family. But one thing I do dread about it is that you always have to LOOK YOUR BEST. You know naman, the typical Tita of Manila might go on blabbing how you look and probably relate it to why you DON'T HAVE A BOYFRIEND. HAHAH kidding aside, we want to look our best without ever trying to hard, yes? :)

So for this holiday, we'll be recreating Regina George's Holiday look from Mean Girls! Although this look wasn't really the highlight of the movie and we had so many favorite scenes from the movie (tbh), who could ever forget the Mean Girls' Jingle Bell Rock? Classic. 

For starters, here's the look we want! We'll be recreating the simple and sweet get-up with a help from our friends at Sephora! If you haven't heard of Sephora yet, YOU SHOULD GO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE now na. 

Taken from their website, Sephora is a visionary beauty-retail concept founded in France by Dominique Mandonnaud in 1970. Sephora's unique, open-sell environment features an ever-increasing amount of classic and emerging brands across a broad range of product categories including skincare, makeup, fragrance, body and hair care, in addition to Sephora's own private label. 

Today, Sephora is not only the leading chain of perfume and cosmetics stores in France, but also a powerful beauty presence in countries around the world. They operate approximately 1,900 stores in 29 countries worldwide, with an expanding base of over 200 stores across the Asia Pacific region including Australia, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia & India.

To achieve this look, you will need the following products. Don't worry, all these products are available at Sephora and I'll be linking everything we'll be using in a while! The look is simple and sweet and it won't take so much to do - if that's what you're worried of. You can never go wrong with this light yet striking take for the Holiday.

To start, use the [1] 8hr Mattifying Pressed Powder (SEPHORA COLLECTION) as the base for your make-up. Make sure it matches your skin tone so that it looks as natural as possible, cover all the blemishes and lighten those unwanted scards. And since you're a "Regina George" in the making (LOL), use the [2] 2-in-1 Kabuki Flex #53 (SEPHORA COLLECTION) and choose the right pink blush on this gorgeous [3] Coral Spectrum Blush Palette (ZOEVA). Apply the right amount on your cheeks. Although highlighting is optional, you can use the [4] High Beam Face Highlighter (BENEFIT COSMETICS) that will last you the whole day without looking any oily... or always in our case, tired. Complete your eye gaming with [8] Colorful 5 Eye Contour Palette (SEPHORA COLLECTION) and put some lashes to top it off. Use [5] Luxury Faux Lashes Au natural Collection (LAVIE LASH) for that. Create naturally thicker looking brows with the [6] Long Lasting Brow Pencil (SEPHORA COLLECTION). Lastly, to finish the look, go with a [7] Union Red Burberry Kiss  (BURBERRY) since Regina George doesn't use any other lippie. ;)

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Put everything in the right order and you'll be just fine! You can also recreate and create different looks with the same choice of products. This could be your Holiday themed look. If you like that, then shop some more! Only this time, you'll be shopping in one of the best places to get them - shop more make-up products on Sephora PH here! 

Let me know what you think about this look and Sephora PH? And happy holidays!