Suddenly Vain

I've never been vain...
Kahit maitim ako, hanggang likas papaya lang effort para pumuti.  I'm quite blessed na hindi ako pinutakti ng pimples in my younger years.  So I've never used any skin cleanser, toner, moisturizer, whatever on my skin.  Well meron akong an-an sa face when I was young, ampalaya leaves lang ang kinukuskos ng mama ko.  Later when I worked in Laguna, all my an-an are gone but everytime I go home to Baguio, lumalabas, so dahil pala yun sa lamig, hindi pala siya fungi.  Anyway, I am an-an free now.

Before my wedding though, I prepped up my face naman.  I used nivea sparkling white facial cleanser, okay na. Noticeable naman ang effect.  From then, I have been using facial cleansers.  I stayed long with Olay but during my part time stint in Subway, dahil sa puyat at pawis, medyo nagpimples ako sa forehead.  Each time I had a pimple, hinuhukay ko with my fingernails...adik lang.  Then it is gone.  It's been like that for the past few years.  Last year, nadiscover ko ang St. Ives Apricot scrub.  I've grown up using this scrub but probably use it once a month lang.  Galing kasing Dubai ang supply namin, ang sabi sabi noon, imported goods are harmful to your skin.  I really like the way my skin feels after ko mag scrub.  It says use 3-4 times per week for better results. Once a week lang, then ginawa kong twice a week.  I noticed having sebum sa pores ng nose ko, ang lalaki, puwedeng i-harvest.  So I increased my scrubbing to 3~4 times a week.  Paisa-isang pimple na ang lumalabas, pero nasa eyebrows ko, hindi siya obvious.  Medyo nagproblema na ako.  I bought Evening Primrose Oil, primarily to help daw in my irregular monthly thingy, from reading, maraming nagsasabing it helps din daw sa pimples.  Walang effect even after 4 months. 2 capsules lang iniinom ko, recommended is 4. Asa pa ako.  Pero nandun yung pseudo effect pag tingin sa mirror sa umaga...ang ganda mo girl! Pampalubag loob lang.

Every week na, may 2 malalaking breakouts...acne na ito!  Even my sisters who visited last December noticed my acne. Some friends also offered advise paano daw gamutin.  Nagpuyat ako ng todo sa pagiging masterchef, APAT na sing laki ng megamall ang lumabas the next week.  Kahit nga boss ko sa work tinanong ano nangyari sa noo ko. Huhuhu dyahe! At ang sakit grabe. Ngayon ko lang narasanasan to!!! PANIC and DEPRESSION...dasal ako ng dasal.

I went to have facial, kainis, talagang ididiin nilang napakapangit ng acne ko. Dinale ko nga sa Englishan yung therapist, pinaulit ulit kong ipaexplain yung nirerecommend niyang treatment kung anong magagawa niya sa acne ko.  Sabay decline saying: you did not do a good job in explaining the treatment, I won't have it.  Sa totoo lang, hello, I'm not going to spend $88 para sa aking mga acne.  Mawawala din yan. 

I found a deal for 3X microdermabrasion for only $48. Research agad ako, okay daw sa acne. Bili agad, tawag agad to book.  First appointment, tumataginting na malaking kambal na acne sa aking noon.  Hindi daw puwede, okay proceed except on forehead.  Ayan na naman, during treatment, extraction lang daw solution sa aking acne.  Ansakit ng pag explain niya sa akin.  Natakot ako, lalo na nang sabihin niyang $85 minimum.  Hindi daw maeextract in one go. 

Right after my treatment, I went to the dermatologist. Gamot nalang. At least walang hukayang mangyayari.  Eeeew daming pus ng acne mo sabi ni Doc. Kaya nga po ako nadedepress! Okay bigyan kitang antibiotic saka cream. Thank you. Ganon lang.  Pag kuha ko ng meds, $85 ang bill! Ang saklap naman! So I am so purita na this month.

I have completed 10 of the 20 capsules. There are still 2 breakouts per week but I'm still hopeful mawawala siya when I complete the meds.  Pero dami kong nabasa na babalik parin siya.  Huwaaaa...

I bought Dalacin-C and Eskinol dahil ito ang tested Pinay beauty regimen, fully recommended ng bes ko.  I've prepared it, will use it after I finish the meds...maintenance.

I have stopped using apricot scrub.  I'm guessing this was the root cause.  The seeds are quite big and sharp that they can tear the skin and let bacteria seep in. 

I'm so suddenly vain!

(haba ng post, sobrang depression ba ito?)

Masterchef Mommy

leche flan - Thursday polvoron - Thursday

pichi - friday morning
puto - friday afternoon
maja blanca - friday morning
soak suman rice

FRIDAY MARKET
-coconut milk for maja
-carrots, beans, chicken thigh for pancit
-beef and nestle cream for spaghetti
-rice for suman

SAT MARKET
-coconut for pichi pichi
-coconut for suman
-banana leaf for suman
-sesame seeds for muah chee

big sized suman - saturday
muar chee - saturday
spaghetti - saturday
pancit-saturday

This was my schedule in preparing the party food for my daughter's 8th birthday party.  I just dropped one item from the list - the muar chee.  Felt really bad about it though because it was the single food request of my daughter.  Good thing she was very happy during the party that she forgot all about it. 

I single handedly cooked everything! Well except for the pancit that is the specialty of Mama.  Hubby helped wrap the suman.

Wow, I now proudly call myself Masterchef Mommy.
Not only were the food tedious to prepare, the resulting taste was a hit! The guests all raved at the food as these are food they've probably eaten donkey years ago.

To YOU my AMAZING LORD, thank you for the strength you've given me to prepare the above.  Most specially, thank you for giving me Audrey Rose, my precious daughter.  Clearly, being a mother is my mission in life.  Guide me well oh Lord.