That “oomph!” Effect: Inexpensive Ways to Get That Celebrity Aura

April 29, 2008 at 6:31 am | In tips | 8 Comments
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Ever wonder how some people just have that “oomph!” effect? Like an aura, or a presence, something you just can’t explain when they’re around? They’re always in the VIP area of the hottest clubs, lines aren’t anything to them, and well, you just get that warm and fuzzy feeling when they talk to you.

It’s called the “halo effect.” People who are best in exuding their best qualities are always looked up on. But think about it, you’re both people … what’s the big difference?

Here are a couple of inexpensive ways to exude that “oomph!” effect.

Smile like you mean it. Notice what you automatically perceive from people with braces. You could instantly presume that they could afford such things. Notice celebrity smiles — they’re always like a toothpaste commercial in the making. It’s never about having perfect teeth, but more on having SPARKLY WHITE teeth. There are various whiteners in the market, plus, having your teeth whitened professionally might sting, but it won’t cost as much as having braces put on.

Godlike stature. Part of the appeal is the height. When you loom over people, they tend to literally look up to you. If you’re a little on the short side, try bigger gestures. Spread your arms, keep your legs apart and what not. Wearing vertical stripes doesn’t hurt either.

Reservation nation. Notice why VIP’s don’t have to fall in line? It’s because they’ve cultivated a large number of contacts over the years as socialites that most things are usually free for ‘em. Plus this doesn’t just apply to clubs, this goes for everything — restaurants, movies even traveling! For restaurants, you call ahead, for movies, you either drop by the theater a few weeks in advance, or try looking for their website. For trips, you could try various booking services. (Remember to tip your waiter!)

Clothes that make the woman. (Or man, fine!) Make sure your clothes are clean, well-pressed, creases (if you like office pants / pant-suits to make you look taller) are straight and buttons aren’t missing. Look out for loose threads and tears and you’ll look fresh.

Follow these tips and pretty soon you’ll notice people feeling your presence. Finally, and most importantly, it’s the attitude! If you feel like a winner, think like a winner, how does a winner breathe, walk and such, then you’ll be a natural. Smile!

5 Beauty Pageant Controversies in Recent Times

April 25, 2008 at 7:03 am | In other | Leave a Comment
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For as long as pageants have existed, the word controversy has never really left its side. Oh, in history there have been tons and tons of scandals involving name-swaps, cheating, paid judges and whatnot. Have things gotten better since then? Well, apparently not — there are still controversies and scandals that are plaguing beauty pageants worldwide. Which leaves me asking, “how can someone be so beautiful and yet be so ugly on the inside?!”

Here are a couple of pageant-type blunders that have happened in less than a year.

Not-so-Ms.-Brooklyn – Well, supposedly, after missing for 16 years, the Miss Brooklyn pageant has been resurrected. As a crucial stepping stone on the way to Miss America — and the winner, Leigh-Taylor Smith, isn’t actually from Brooklyn. Will Brooklynites allow this to happen??? Well, apparently, it wouldn’t have happened had more young women from Brooklyn signed up. “We only had a few committed girls from Brooklyn,” said Kim Thomas, executive director of the Miss Brooklyn Scholarship Program. “We couldn’t have a contest with only three girls.”

Miss New Jersey’s Unladylike Photos – Apparently, someone threatened to blackmail Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo last year with photos that exhibit some unladylike behavior, you know, the kind that pageant winners shouldn’t be exhibiting in the first place? The twist? Amy Polumbo voluntarily revealed the photos in advance, way before her meeting with New Jersey pageant officials, who have ultimately determined that, the photos were done in the spirit of fun, and that she could keep the crown. (Besides, which young girl doesn’t have at least one photo like this in their Facebook???)

Invisible Pepper Spray – The beautiful Ingrid Marie Rivera had allegedly been a victim of sabotage via pepper spray in her make-up and clothing. Her skin broke out in hives and was regularly icing herself down backstage to ease the pain. Well, she did win, but the twist is, police investigators and forensics found no trace of pepper spray in the make-up, or in the clothing. Was this just an elaborate publicity stunt, or was she just allergic to something? She swears by it, well, even her swelling and reddened cheeks, ears and arms do.

Win By Technical Foul – Just last December, controversy in the Miss California USA pageant, where surprisingly, the announced winner, Cristina Silva, was stripped of her title … literally overnight! As it turns out, even the judges were surprised when her name was called as Miss California. When they ran to double-check, it had seemed that because of a tabulation error, the wrong girl was called out as winner, while the real winner was declared runner-up. Miss Silva was then asked to surrender the title and publicly declare that Raquel Beezley, the runner-up, was the actual winner.

But wait, there’s more! I saved the most recent:

In the Philippines, apparently, they crowned a Miss Janina San Miguel the title of Bb. Pilipinas-World, the prerequisite before being able to compete in the Miss World pageant. The controversy stems from the judgment, of, well, the judges. See, during the question-and-answer portion, Ms. San Miguel had a couple of grammatical blunders and often excusing her lack of poise due to her youth and lack of experience. The story took off merely minutes after the decision — in the papers, tv shows and, YouTube. Poor girl became the big joke, but is it her fault, or the lack of a proper screening / pageant training? You tell me. I do wish her good luck, and may she redeem herself for the Miss World contest.

Top 3 Spots for That May-June Honeymoon

April 22, 2008 at 4:04 pm | In Travel Tips, tips, travel | 1 Comment
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The May-June period is a special time of the year. Not much rain, spring-time tomfoolery, and, well, it’s also wedding season! When creating that romantic getaway, do your research, as sometimes, couples expecting the perfect honeymoon trip might stay in a hotel that would ultimately turn out to be kid-friendly getaway runaway place; and the romance will be ultimately ruined. (And no, I’m not getting married … yet!)

Here are a couple of useful, always true tips:

Hawaii is just awesome. A summer vacation from January ‘til December.

July-August is hurricane season in the Caribbean. Peak is August, so better get married early in the year! As great as a Caribbean getaway might be all-year round, the CTO (that’s Caribbean Tourism Organization to you) says that August is just rainy season for most of the islands. If you simply MUST get that Caribbean getaway, islands to consider are the Turks, Caicos, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. (The last three being the ABC islands.)

Kids will be everywhere, so as romantic as your honey winning over some gigantic plush octopus via a feat of strength at the fair might be, it WILL be infested with children. Choose spots that are adult/couple-friendly to avoid this quandary.

According to About.com, the top 3 honeymoon spots are: Hawaii, Italy and Tahiti. Here are a couple of suggestions for places to stay.

Hawaii

Ritz-Carlton Capalua – For the golfer in your honey, it is surrounded by three championship golf courses and a real, operating pineapple plantation. Whether its the exclusive party you could throw in the private Club Suite floor, learning to play golf in the Kapalua Golf Academy, or learning to dive at the scuba clinic, the Ritz-Carlton has it covered. (It’s a bit pricey in Hawaii, but this is, the best of the best honeymoon spot of all)

Italy

Gallery Hotel Art – This special place has been ranked pretty high over at TripAdvisor — and who am I to argue? Fifty honeymooners who had a memorable experience can’t be wrong — this Ferragamo-owned hotel is just a house of style. I mean, if you aren’t happy enough to be in Italy, the location of the hotel’s just right for you — it’s just a couple of blocks away from the culture (food!) situated near Ponte Vecchio. Cozy rooms oozing with elegance and simplicity is the order of the day. The included breakfast will get you your procuitto, panchetta and focaccia on, just before going to the delightful concierge to tell you about spots to go to in the city. All in all, a big, gigantic “A”!

Tahiti

Te Tiare Beach Resort – For that “away-from-everyone” romantic getaway. Being accessible only by boat (gift or curse?) — 10 minutes of getting to see the waters doesn’t seem too bad, once you think about it. Having only 41 rooms, (you wouldn’t really mind spending your honeymoon with 40 different couples, right?) Te Tiare provides a unique personal touch to people who decide to stay. Everything that encapsulates life in Tahiti is just minutes away, while civilization is just a boat-ride away. Best of seclusion and modern life, I should say.

The Smells of Seduction

April 20, 2008 at 12:22 pm | In Fashion, tips | Leave a Comment
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art-of-seduction-from-amazonEver heard of Robert Greene? You know, just the author of the highly successful line of books, “The 48 Laws of Power,” “The 33 Strategies of War” and, of course, “The Art of Seduction.” After getting to read slivers of it, I can’t help but wonder how the “seducer types” are like … I could already picture the difference in my mind, of course, but I’m thinking more of … how they smell and whatnot.

So, here’s what I think of what some of ‘em might probably smell like. :)

The Rake – Being a master of seductive language, his perfume mustn’t overpower his words, and is hopelessly enslaved to his love for women, I think the best choice is Kenneth Cole Reaction – with a twist of citrus, (very unusual, I am told for men’s fragrances) it carries a warm, woodsy aroma with a citrus twist that is attention-grabbing, and yet, unassuming.

The Dandy – From the book, “Dandies excite us because they cannot be categorized, and hint at a freedom we want for ourselves. They play with masculinity and femininity; they fashion their own physical image, which is always startling; they are mysterious and elusive. They also appeal to the narcissism of each sex: to a woman they are psychologically female, to a man, they are male.” From that description alone, I could picture a dandy jumping over and using something made for a female, if only, to provoke more intrigue and mystery their way. I would say, “Be Happy” by Clinique — it provides a great floral fragrance with a hint of citrus. Understated, and yet alluring.

orlando-bloomThe Charmer – These seducers create pleasure and comfort. (Sometimes through manipulation!) They seemingly understand what a girl is all about, never presenting a counter-argument (or never arguing, actually) – by aiming at a person’s vanity and self-esteem, they gain a foot hold in their targets. For that suave and sophisticated seducer, I’m thinking Incanto by Salvatore Ferragamo will do the trick.

The Star – They project the unattainable. They are the stuff of dreams, or legend, always being distant, and yet, instead of getting repulsed, we wonder what it is they have that’s just so captivating. For these wonders, I imagine something that truly stands out in the realm of floral, citrus and “shore” scents — Gucci Envy Pour Homme — it’s the spice that draws you in, while the hint of vanilla softens the blow for the knock out.

The Charismatic – “Passion,” is what comes to mind when describing the charismatic seducer. They are intense individuals that don’t invade your world, but instead, brings you to theirs. Their motivation and drive combined with a sense of detachment is what gets you. For these men with ambition, Black by Kenneth Cole seems about right — not only will this work for seduction purposes, this would also work for them in the corporate ladder.

The Ideal Lover – Like a long-lost lover, they bring out their romantic guns and just blow their targets’ minds away. What can perfectly encapsulate something like that, but a scent, of which itself, seems so familiar, and yet still pleasing after all these years? There’s a reason why Davidoff Coolwater just works … it just does. Bold, and yet sweet.

The Natural – Finally, what else could suit a natural, other than the natural musk of the body? While other men cover up their smell with scents, the natural, to me, is a creature of pure primitive urge.

Now I didn’t cover all the seducer types, but that should do for now. Most of these fragrances are available at Amazon.com. And, if you’re asking, no, I am not a target for these seducers — I’m the seductress!

Why I Hate The Men In My Workplace

April 16, 2008 at 3:24 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

why i hate the men in my workplaceBoo. Let me go on a little rant here, about the men in my workplace. Its funny how, I can see in the faces of the new hires (fresh out of college?) that, they look up to their seniors, because they command respect and get attention from colleagues on-and-off the office.

You’d think attention was such a good thing, but here I am, about to go on the above-mentioned rant: no, I don’t enjoy it, particularly. I mean, as a society, the workplace is still a long ways-off to equality between men and women. My boy once told me that, I work too hard; he finds me attractive, and that, like many attractive people, I do enjoy being beautiful, but would rather be known for my natural merits, like character or skill.

That’s why in school, I worked hard — so what if I won the third prize in the genetic lottery? It didn’t mean I was going to use my looks to go through life.

Here’s a little list of things I’ve experienced in the various workplaces that I’ve been part of.

The Fake Interview From Hell – This happened when I was fresh out of college, less than a month out, and I’ve been saturating job openings with my resume — this meant that, in a week, I would have at least 3-5 interviews lined up, and sometimes, they would be scheduled on the same day – so it was easy to bounce from area to area. In school, we had guests from consulting agencies to teach us what to do in interviews, etc.

job-interview

And so for my very first real “real” interview, this is what happened. I was sitting in the reception area when this guy in a suit sat beside me. He then asked me, “so, why do you want to work for our company?” I got all nervous, and whimpered, “is this the interview?” He coldly replied that it was, and he was being really, really arrogant and he didn’t even know what position I was applying for! He kept on asking questions until this girl steps in, “Hey! What are you doing with the new applicant?! Stop jerking around!”

It turns out that the guy thought I was cute, and was playing a joke on me. He wasn’t even in the department I was applying for! How mean and unprofessional!

Night Out Bitching – I know, much can be said about men and office politics, but this just disgusted me. It was a Friday night, a major project just got finished, and everyone was feeling the vibe of getting a drink right after work … as early as 3.

Some of our officemates couldn’t make it, and I was stuck with a bunch that I wasn’t particularly close to. It’s surprising, then, for me, to hear what they were talking about — they were criticizing the quirks of my officemates! Then they started talking about which of the girls “they’d hit.” I mean, granted, we weren’t in an office environment, but, are you allowed to make snap judgment on people you JUST work with? I know I can’t do anything for them, but I just stopped tagging along, gossip doesn’t bring anything good in my personal life, and most especially, it won’t do anything for me in the office either.

Unwanted Paparazzo – This is just the worst. See, I have a boyfriend, and, it’s not like I have to let the whole office now, right? (I use it to counter any advances hehe) So there’s this one sweet afternoon that he had a meeting near the office, and he visited me for an afternoon snack! We went to a nearby coffee shop, and, as it turned out, an officemate was also there for a meeting. He took a picture using his PDA, paparazzi-style, and sent it to the office e-mail, (save for mine) when I went in, everyone had this look of malice, as if I was using office breaks to hook up.

The worst part is, I got called in by the big boss about it… :(

Take note, after the last incident, I didn’t just slink back in my desk, hoping that karma would get them. I reported the truth, using the proper avenues, and the big boss asked the officemates to apologize to me. I’m hoping that I find a way that most of my male officemates would come to respect me as an equal, a human person who goes to work to just get work done. (And here I am being super-nice to the shy IT guy, because at least with him, I could joke around and not get disrespected.)

My Favorite Fashion Trend of the Last Decade

April 14, 2008 at 6:22 am | In Fashion | Leave a Comment
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Now for my favorite fashion revolution of the last decade… scarlett

Nope, it’s not a shoe revolution, or black (it’s always “in” anyway) — I’m talking about the “natural body = beautiful” campaign. No longer do size 28’s have to try and make size-26 pants cry, no longer do tummies have to peek underneath normal-sized blouses — designers have dabbled in creating something beautiful — something plump and/or voluptuous women could wear.

The good thing is, they didn’t just take normal designs, then transposed them to bigger sizes, they made designs based on women’s curves! These are truly what make women beautiful anyhow, and, as if making a statement, these proud women look good as they protest that, “Curves are beautiful; the body is beautiful.”

I think Scarlett Johansson said it best in an interview regarding designers and her hourglass figure: “I accept I’m never going to be rail-thin. I think it’s the right time for me.” She obviously loves her body, and so should you, dear reader — the world has turned, and women in magazines that used to make us feel bad about ourselves are leading the pack to loving one’s self and fully embracing it and the beauty within.

What You Waiting For?

April 11, 2008 at 1:13 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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Auto-bidding??? How hot is that???!

You may remember a previous post of mine about joining the Win a Trip thing, and gosh, things just got a whole lot more exciting — imagine, say, if you were into ForEx (Foreign Exchange) there’s this thing called “risk factor,” and, as you know, when it’s YOUR money on the line, there’s no such thing as a gamble — a broker will cut off from putting your money on the line when it hits a certain amount.

Imagine having a “travel broker” play out until a specific amount, (the amount of money you’re willing to spend) increasing increments at a minimum, and yet topping the last bids, assuring that you’re in the lead.

This is done to eliminate the need to constantly check your bid if you need to hit it higher or not. (As to why they’re doing this? I’ve no idea — are they really giving away flights? OMG!)

Imagine going home one day, after a hard day at work, only to find out that you’ve won yourself and a loved one that dream vacation? Isn’t that something? It may not seem like a big deal to other people, but for truly busy people who want to keep travel planning as hassle-free as possible, this is pure gold. (Or they may not know the joys of traveling? Hahaha!) As a talented songwriter named Ms. Stefani once said, “What you waiting for?”

7 Accessories for Men that Mash-Up Form with Geeky Function

April 9, 2008 at 2:23 am | In Fashion, tips | 5 Comments
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When it comes to style, I have tons of guy friends who flat-out REFUSE to try anything new. They still prefer functionality over form – not that there’s anything wrong with that, but cell phone fanny packs? Really?!

It’s not that most of them have really bad wardrobes, it’s just that, well, there are the little things, like still using a backpack to lug stuff around … in a suit! (Backpacks are for students and hitchhikers, by the way.)

Most of them just aren’t too keen on experimenting with anything new, so, with the help of the net, I looked up some stuff that might spruce up the clothes they already have, while still providing some sort of auxiliary function.

USB cufflinks – Okay, so, guy’s in a suit, feeling all James Bondy — infiltrating a party (okay, so it could be an office party, whatever) to retrieve some software / data. Does he lug around a pack of blank discs to burn data on? No! He wears a pair of USB cufflinks! Not only will it bypass security feel-ups, they look stylish to boot! (Plus, this site has all sorts of USB jewelry, and all of ‘em come with a 2 GB capacity MINIMUM.)

Oakley Split Thump Sunglasses – Oakley’s are known for, well, the eyewear they make, and boy did they make one that keeps up with the trend for big sunglasses, they also managed to build it around an MP3 player. This is for the guy making a statement — “no, I do not have one of those shiny white plastic earphones that come with an ipod, *takes off glasses* THIS is my mp3 player!”

Twin Watch – So, guy experiments with color, huh? Add an Android Twin Watch to the mix, and he could keep track of time at home, and, well, the time zone in the Caribbean . Clothes don’t have to match this watch, plus, it could be his “shock value” item — it comes in either bright orange or olive green (my favorite colors!) to add a playful twist in his attire.

Measuring Tape Belt – Not only do the numbers present a unique touch to this belt, it also helps your guy friend tell if his diet’s having any effect or not. Quite useful for those who are always in need of actual real-time stats.

Levi’s Mobile Phone – Yes, yes, if you haven’t heard yet, Levi’s has jumped into the foray of available mobile phones — time to throw out that brick that everyone else has, and time to grab one of these stylish little MP3 player/camera Levi’s phones.

Specialty Metallic All Star Low Sneaks – No one can argue about the usefulness of sneakers, we get that — but a super shiny metallic one? It’s gonna be future-proof! You could comfortably walk in the future and claim that … you were first.

Periodic Rings – These are just hot … and, well, the function they provide is … to remind your guy friend about the symbols for Gold, Platinum or Silver in the periodic table of elements.

Queen Rania’s Call to End Stereotypes

April 4, 2008 at 3:42 am | In Advocacy | Leave a Comment
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In just a little under 2 minutes, Queen Rania asks for help on clarifying the people in Jordan, mentions Jack Bauer and explains how YouTube acts as a platform for addressing concerns.

Isn’t this amazing? It’s pretty hard to imagine other politicians doing something like this and getting to pull it off without it seeming like a campaign plea.

Getting back on the video, it’s just beautiful. Having a queen make the first move, on clarifying stereotypes and maybe ending pre-judgment on the Arab people, is maybe the first step to ending not just stereotyping, but racism.

There have been several replies to her call, and have mixed reactions. Some answered the call and responded with a stereotype question, some have posted montages of reactions to terrorism, while others replace the question with another question.

I’m looking forward to the response that Queen Rania will make. Will it be a step forward to ending persecution of other races for being, or will it become a mini-solution to ending people from exercising undue prejudice?

The question though, is, if she does answer the questions, will it change the world? It’s a pretty big step and I myself think it’s in the right direction, not only for Arab people, but for people of different races and cultures to get an understanding of each other.

8 Things A Girl Can Do in Her Alone Time

April 2, 2008 at 3:41 am | In tips | 8 Comments
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Friday night, everyone’s out partying, drinking, having the time of their lives … and where are you? At home, feeling like you’ve outgrown all of these juvenile partying. Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun, but now that you’re alone at home, by yourself, while every single one of your friends is out there, what do you do? I mean, watching a movie alone or eating in a restaurant facing an empty chair is depressing enough, why make your very own home as depressing? Though you must admit, even if you have tons of friends, a boyfriend and family, the only way to become a truly multilayered person is by doing things on your own.

Here are a couple of suggestions for those “stay-at-home” situations:

Zen time – You could do your work-outs / meditation / yoga / dance with matching instructionalalone time DVD without the hassle of people watching your butt while you do ‘em! Yes, you may now do Hip Hop Abs without awkward looks!

Blog time – Go on over to wordpress.com and start up a blog! Write down things you find profound, write about your great friends, or your beau. It’s also a great outlet for stress and creativity.

Vacation time – Plan a surprise trip for your boy, friends and family online! Just imagine their surprise after partying that, by the next week-end, you’d be off to some paradise for quality time.

Pampering time – Time to take that extra long bath tub fun. Add a couple of candles and aromas to the mix, and you’ve got a party! Throw in that nice hair treatment, or even just your plain old conditioner! There’s no rush!

cheesy movieCheesy time – Time to rent that movie you’ve secretly been dying to see! The one you were too ashamed to admit that you wanted to watch with your beau in the theaters. Plus, you could laugh your brains out, and no one would mind!

Cleaning time – Cleaning up the house is a spiritual experience. If a home truly is the extension of your being, then keeping it clean by scrubbing, vacuuming, mopping and sweeping would certainly project the person living there!

Rest time – Catching up with overdue rest and relaxation from the week’s hustle and bustle never did hurt anyone, plus, it’s bound to make you the only one feeling refreshed after the weekend.

Catch-Up time – Work work work. No one will expect it, plus, it’ll give you a lead on the week ahead. You may also catch up with your studies, or research, or your reading. There’s just no better way of doing better at your job than actually doing it!

Time spent on your own is usually the best time to focus on your own, personal growth, though it doesn’t mean that you aren’t concerned with the people in your life. I mean, solo time is also a time to look back and reflect reflect on the blessings that are the people in your life. Just make sure you have a fun solo night!

How about you? What do you do on your “alone time” (whether you’re a man or a lady), do share! :)

 

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