Hair-y Day

Summer is definitely in. The heat is honestly, excruciating. Now, more than ever, I feel the length and thickness of my tresses. I have always kept my hair long. I have just preferred it that way. I guess it also helps that I know that my guy loves my long hair. 

Aside from looking for a nail salon to go to, I've kept my eye out for a new hair salon that I could go to. The other ones I used to go to were in BF and given my current location, it's quite out of the way. So where does one go for a nice hair pampering in the Alabang area? Ate Jinky from Tints, Nails, and Waxing Spa suggested that I go to Metro Salon across the street. 

Why not? At least it was close by, right? 

The boyfriend dropped me off there and said that he'll just be waiting for me in Molito. He'll be getting his LoL on. He's so cute that way! So I was a bit curious as to what kind of people I was going to be meeting. Also, what kind of decor and service would they have. A polite man opened the door for me. I guess that was their doorman. I was immediately greeted by what appeared to be their manager. I got her name: Jessie. I told her that I wanted to layer my hair and shear it to at least shoulder length since my hair was already past my waist. Since it was Easter, there weren't a lot of people around so she said that she'd be attending to me personally. 

The other staff were really polite. They greet you with a big smile and suggest styles or procedures that they think would suit you. I understand that it could be part of their job but the two technicians that were slightly arguing about bangs or no bangs was really helpful. Kail loves bangs so I was definitely getting those.

The shampoo part of the service was really nice. The sun was really out and my scalp needed the cool down. I loved how they add a bit of mint to their shampoo. That really hits the spot!

The haircut was fast and efficient. Oh! Special mention to the fact that they weren't like regular salons when it came to their entertainment. They weren't watching a day time show or listening to an obnoxious radio program. Instead, they were watching The History Channel in their flat screen TV. I was so happy about that! Beautification outside while getting brain nourishment as well! I was definitely won over.

The haircut cost me about 250 pesos so I was really happy about that too. I got Ate Jessie's card and I told her that I would definitely be going back there. So on to Molito I went. It was time to face the other hair related thing in my agenda. 

A Brazilian Wax.

I have gotten waxed before but I always went the cold wax way. I was going to TNW to get my first ever hot wax. Sure, I was a bit nervous as I had done a lot of research about it. Lots of varying reactions from 'OMG that was horribly painful' to 'Meh'. So how else was I going to find out if I didn't do it myself, right?

The waxing technician was named Ate Ruth. She led me to the back part where there were little rooms where massages and waxes were done. She gave me a bit of privacy to get ready and lay on the table. She was very helpful in getting me to loosen up since I told her I was nervous about the hot wax. She laughed away my concerns and assured me I had nothing to worry about.

Honestly, she was right. Fear is the mind killer. The hot wax wasn't hot at all. It was warm but nothing to make you go 'ouch'. The process was very fast and there is a bit of tolerable pain but all you have to do is relax and do your breathing. Admittedly, the tweezing part of the service was a bit fraying on the nerves since, really, do you ever pluck down there? I think not.

So the process was around 20-45 minutes. Ate Ruth and I were just talking as she was giving me tips on how to do post-brazilian skin care. Do not wet the area for about 4 hours after the procedure. After the first hot wax session, the hairs will grow a bit faster than other wax sessions as the skin is still adjusting.

Oh, and in case you get any hair-brained ideas about which way the wax is pulled, they are supposed to wax against the grain. Sheesh. Lots of debate about that one before.

To avoid ingrown hair, gently exfoliate the area a day or two after the procedure.

I was very happy with all of it. It cost me around 500-600 but I'd do it again given that it's just every 3-6 weeks.

And honestly, just being able to see the reaction on the boyfriend's face after I told him what procedure I got was worth the tweezing. ♥

Nails And Things

Today, I dragged the boyfriend to my new favorite Nail Salon. I've been on the look out for a new place that I can go, relax, and be a girl. Being a self-supported young adult meant that it had to be relatively close by and didn't break the bank. At the Molito Complex, there's this little salon called Tints, Nails, and Waxing Spa. From the outside, it doesn't look very big but the place always struck my curiosity.

Kail and I had always passed by for our Sunday Chicboy tradition and one day, I couldn't stand it anymore. It was perfect though, given that it was around a week or so before his birthday. I had asked him if he had ever gotten a foot spa or a pedicure before and he had said no.That was a definite no-brainer! His cute butt was so getting dragged to TNW!

But first, a quick trip to Puregold to buy flipflops! We were in closed shoes and since we were getting pedicures, it's best to let the feet breathe afterwards. My love for Banana Peel was reinforced with their cute designs and affordable prices. Kail got himself a pair of green and black flops with an Aries design. I got red and black flops with a Scorpio design to it. They were really cute and comfy!

So anyway, given that it was his first ever pedi and foot spa ever, I had to make sure to instruct the technician to be gentle. Good thing that Ate Jinky was really efficient and she understood perfectly what I had wanted her to do. It was really cute to see how my beloved was so nervous but he quickly relaxed as he dipped his feet into the warm and bubbly water.

The massage was excellent. I really loved the peppermint scrub that they used. My technician, Ate Lucy, was really thorough.  All in all, I loved the experience and their nail polish selection was diverse and really pretty! All in all, the foot spa/pedicure combo was around 430 pesos and it was so worth every penny.

The ambiance of TNW was really cozy. Their furniture was really comfortable. I also loved the fact that they weren't like other nail salons with their obnoxious radios. The moment that there were customers about, they would immediately put in mellow instrumental and acapella music. I'm guessing that helps relax all their customers.

The technicians were very friendly and not at all snoopy. I'm definitely going back and I'm aiming to try their other services.

It was a really lovely day. ♥

Being Real

It's been a while since I've posted on here. Life's been lovably hectic. Too many good things, too little time to write them down. I'm taking the day off from work since I need to not move (read that as cramping). Ugh. Lady troubles.

So anyway, I got to thinking as I was browsing around for my boyfriend's birthday gift. How far have I come? Have I managed to settle emotions within me? I am VERY happy. Each day is just something infinitely precious and new. I have honestly never ever been this happy. It's pretty scary at times. Of course tears are always just seem to be a few millimeters away from the surface of my eyes whether it be due to joy or sadness, but it's just an amazing roller coaster ride.

This is what I always thought love should be like. It should be crazy, with it's ups and down (but mostly ups!). Of course with the high comes the lows. I am happy to say though, that the lows have nothing to do with my current relationship.

Annoyingly, it seems to stem from this rage I have inside me. Repressed, I think. I'm sure that enough time has passed for me be able to unzip my trap.

-------

My not dear ex,

How you been? I'm pretty sure that someday you'll come across this because I know you. Letting go of grudges has never been your strong point. Thank you. We did have good times, didn't we? Ride outs (just the experience of it), Parties (you're surrounded by interesting people), and others.

So basically what this thing is leading to is that I want you to know that I shall be irrevocably scarred by what you have done to me. I truly hate the person that I became when I was with you. The lies that I had to tell people just to salvage your pride, the details that I had to keep to myself so you won't go cry yourself into a corner, constantly having to pinch pennies and allot 80% of my paycheck for you and your needs. All of those things? Those will always stay with me in the back of my mind.

I would like to think that I'll be getting past that little by little but I know myself well enough to know that they'll never truly leave me. I will always remember how you never once stood up for me when it came to the battering ram that was your psychotic ex and remained silent when she was trashing my reputation. I will always remember when we suspected that I was pregnant what you said was: "Isn't there something you can do about it?". I will always remember how scared I was whenever you'd push me or twist my arm or force me to look at you. I will always remember how terrified I was when you chased me down to my apartment door and forced yourself inside even when I told you I didn't want you there. I will always remember how you always said you didn't know how to deal damage. Well I'm telling you: you have every ammunition needed to hurt. You just refuse to take responsibility. That's been pretty much the root of it all, isn't it?

I did learn a lot from you too. I learned to just keep laughing at the bad things even if laughing wasn't appropriate anymore. I learned to run away from things that hurt or things that were difficult. I learned that wanting things for myself was a crime.

I really don't understand it. You seemed like such a nice guy. I know that you are a nice guy. It's just that I should have seen you for what you are at the very beginning: a kid. A big kid with his pouts and tantrums and cry spells.

I did try to make it work. And as you can see, I failed. But you said you were happy now right? Good for you! I do hope that you're happy. I really, honestly, truly do. I just hope that the next one that comes your way will be treated with more finesse than how I was treated.

Oh, I will forever be grateful for my daughter. Even if it was just with me for 6 months.

One day I hope that rage and the trauma within me will subside. I hope that I'll be able to fully let go of the things that I'm sure you don't even lose a wink of sleep about. Even if it seems a bit weird, I'd like to thank you for the bad memories. They ingrained into me that the little things should be taken with joy. Thank you for showing me how bad it gets so now I can appreciate how amazing my life is (despite the male bovine excrement).

Once yours,

-me

-------

That felt nice. Really nice. Sana magtuloy-tuloy na. :)

The New Year

So it's time to reflect back on the year that's been and look forward to the things that have yet come to pass. Or something like that.

2011 was pretty life changing. I guess that's the easiest way to describe it. Not just for me; it's also for the people that I've affected with my decisions and actions. I don't regret anything. Consequences are a given. There's always some form of fallout for anything that doesn't seem to be the popular course of action.

My new years was pretty fun. I spent it with the Josue's (Beloved's cousins). I sort of 'met' his family again through Skype. I was kinda nervous but mostly shy. I guess I'm no good when the person I'm interacting with isn't directly in front of me. It's difficult to get a reading on how they feel or what they think, I guess.

Oh, I've been having some odd dreams again. Last time I had such a dream I ended up finding [insert name here] internet nothings. I had another one again and ended up with a different [insert name here]'s internet nothings.

Have to say I'm pretty disappointed but I was pretty much expecting it. People say whatever they can to make their lives bearable. So I'm just going to say what I had to say when it came to your ex. If lying about it is all you can do to be able to live with things, I pity you.

You can never really expect people to extend the same courtesy that you're giving them. That's the bitch about free will. Oh well. I got better things to do. More wonderful things to think about. :)

I love you, Kail. I can't wait for our Fridate! ♥