Five Fun Activities during Rainy Season

image from vrkmphoto.com

Rainy days are here again. A beach get away is not so fun with the monsoon rains and typhoons to hit our country. But it shouldn’t feel gloomy and blue. There are lots of fun activities in and out of your home to beat the rainy day blues away.

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Look Natural! Master the Art of the No-Makeup Look

Image: Ohmega1982

Gone are the times when dark eyeshadows and heavily lined eyes were the "in" thing. In fact, a great challenge among girls nowadays is how to look flawless and fabulous like they're wearing no makeup at all. With this growing trend that paves the way for the best "everyday versions" of ourselves, we're sharing with you three of our favorite no-makeup look tutorials by reliable Youtube beauty gurus.

Image: artemisphoto

Look as if you didn't put much effort through these helpful tips:

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Which Avengers Super Hero is Your Ideal Guy?

Image: fanpop.com

If you can have any of the Avengers as your boyfriend, who would you choose? Take this quiz to know which Avenger super hero is your ideal guy.

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Dating 201: How to Lose a Guy on the First Date

Image: digitalart/freedigitalphotos.net

There are hundreds of articles written about the dos and don’ts of dating, we'll probably be able to come up with a book. But there is really no magic formula when it comes to it. One strategy may work for Aida but maybe not for Lorna or Fe. But there are universal principles and proper etiquette in handling your dates, dear single belles! We'll let you in on some tips.
Have you experienced dating a great guy but he suddenly disappeared in your radar after the first date? You may not be aware but you might be doing something wrong. This article will give you a checklist of things you might be doing to scare the guy away. Or if you really want to avoid having a second date with the wrong guy, these tips can also be useful (haha!).

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Want to Look Younger? Tie Your Hair!

Image: Dancemania.biz

With this intense summer heat, it takes patience and super kikay powers to keep our hair down and look fabulous. Most of us are left with no choice but to chop off our locks or tie them up in a ponytail. Well before we whine, here's the great news! A Prevention beauty article shared New York-based senior stylist Nunzio Saviano's revelation that pulling hair back focuses attention on our cheekbones and gives our faces a lift! This season actually paves the way for a few years to be taken off our faces. :)

Check out how these local and international celebrities pull off their ponytails:

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Money Matters: How Financially Savvy Are You?

Image: Sujin Jetkasettakorn / freedigitalphotos.net

Money, money, money, why do we have to talk about money? We often hear money cannot buy happiness. There's a degree of truthfulness to it. But whether we admit it or not, having money (or lack of it) has a big effect on a person’s happiness. Having money is connected to our dreams and passions. We all want to build our dream house, spend vacations around the world, help the less fortunate people to name a few. But, how can we reach our dreams if we don’t have money? It's important especially for women to be financially knowledgeable these days. Single women should be smart about handling money because gone are the days when women will just rely on their future husbands to provide for the family. That should be the case unless your main goal in life is to marry what we commonly refer to as the 4M kind of guy – Matandang Mayamang Madaling Mamatay. :)

The question now is, how financially savvy are you? Normally, we acquire our spending and money habits from our parents or anyone we grew up with. The people around us highly influence us on how we handle our money. The issue is that they don’t really teach money matters in school. So whether your parents' financial habits are right or wrong, it is highly likely you'll adopt those which you have been exposed to. Due to lack of financial literacy, a lot of people have wrong spending habits or acquired misconceptions on money matters.

If you think you have financial issues or you don’t know if you’re spending or investing your money the right way, here are a few tips on gaining financial literacy.

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How to Keep an Attitude of Gratitude

Have you said "Thank You" today?

With so many things happening around us today, distractions abound. We may find ourselves running from one task to another, often spreading ourselves too thinly and losing track of the essentials. If this continues, we won't be surprised to find ourselves sighing at the end of the day or engaging in another ranting session. That's exactly what we need to avoid. 

Cliche as it may sound, everyday is a gift. The opportunity to spend another 24 hours alive is reason enough to celebrate. Law of Attraction experts remind us that the sooner we realize this and the more we incorporate the feeling of being thankful for each day, we'll notice that more good things happen. So, how exactly are we supposed to shift our ways? Here are our simple suggestions:

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The Five People You Meet in Workplace

The corporate jungle is an interesting place because there are several kinds of people (who might not necessarily jive) trying to work together to achieve a common goal. And you can’t choose people you’re going to work with. You are dealing with a mix of people, both the good and the bad. Consider yourself lucky if you have cool and kind co-workers. But it’s also expected to encounter the difficult ones. Based on observations, there are five people you meet in the workplace who make the corporate life more colorful (or not).

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The Powdered Milk Face Cleanser

Image: Danilo Rizzuti

This summer, there is a greater need for us to put a premium on taking care of our skin. The heat alone is enough to remind us of common skincare tips -- hydrate (at least 2 liters of water each day!) and load up on sunscreen. As the old folks say, we reap what we sow. So we better work hard on saving our skin from harmful sun damage. 

As we scoured all over for beauty tips this season, we remembered a beauty secret that worked well for us from years back. We realized that our tools for getting a healthy summer glow are right there in the kitchen!:) Check out our homemade beauty recipe for a milk face wash:

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Swimsuit Guide for Every Body Type

Image: www.1sattraction.com

Can you feel the summer heat, dear Single Belles? It’s time to pack our bags and head to the beach or pool to cool off. But wait, do you have the perfect swimwear already? Before buying your swimsuits, it is important to know your body type first. Your choice of swimsuits should enhance your assets and conceal  your flaws. Check out our swimsuit guide for every body type to avoid swimsuit disasters.

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SB's Top 5 Comfy Summer Hairstyles

No matter how much we love this beach season, there's no denying that too much heat can take us to sticky (literally!) situations.  This fact calls for a lot of adjustments we need to make - changing the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the way we style our hair. Yes, our hairstyles significantly affect our comfort in the midst of humidity. Arm yourself with a comb and join us as we beat the summer heat with our top 5 comfy (and easy-to-do!) summer hairstyles:

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Diet = Happiness? :)

The Happiness Diet 
Image: lizhogon.com

We have yet to find a person who associates going on a diet with being happy. But new research reveals that changing what we eat can help regulate our mood and improve our brain health. It is also claimed to aid in weight loss (woohoo!). As Prevention* shared, this method is called the Happiness Diet!

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Secret Summer Destinations in the Philippines

Image: pinoymanila.com

Summer is officially here! Where are you headed to, dear Single Belles? Most of the tourists' top-of-mind destinations would probably be the more famous vacation spots in the Philippines such as Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu and Davao. Local and foreign tourists alike flock to these destinations yearly. But much has already been said and written about these places. It’s about time we give the spotlight to uncharted places in the country and explore what these less known places have to offer.

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Summer Must-Try: The Body Clock Reset Diet

Some people drop up to 8 pounds in just 3 days!
Image (Abs): americanhealthandbeauty.com

Summer is here. It's that time of the year again those who worked hard to get fit and lean can finally strut their stuff under the sun. Others (ahem!), unfortunately, are now cramming their way to get rid of the flab. Sounds familiar?:) Well, with all the slimming products available, there sure is a growing market for what we'd like to call "fitness procrastinators." These are the ones who won't feel the need to deal with the weight problem until a scheduled beach trip is near. Whether we admit it or not, it's the sad truth. That's our main purpose for sharing with you a discovery we had from a recent issue of Prevention magazine*. This might be of help to those sulking in regret now for putting off hitting the gym (and those who succumbed to the power of chips and M&M's).

The magazine feature showed us a glimpse of The Body Clock Reset Diet adapted from The Belly Melt Diet book. Join us as we try this one out. We have the summary of the hour-by-hour slim-down schedule and 3-day meal plan described to help us take control of hunger pangs, cravings, and get fit at the same time. 

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Patty Laurel's Love Letters ♥

Patty Laurel
Patty's photo courtesy of Mango Red

We've seen her growth from a UAAP courtside reporter to a media practitioner, preschool teacher, college professor, and lifestyle blogger. Thanks to her personal blog, Patty Laurel generously shares her life experiences (from random food trips to major travels!) with us online  for years now. She has undoubtedly found her niche in the digital world. Through her blogging, we get to witness not only  the evolution of her online space but also the wonderful transitions in her life - one of which is her recent engagement to boyfriend Patrick Filart.

Just like many of us, we know Patty also had to go through tough and painful times when it comes to matters of the heart. It's just amazing how everything turned out so well in the end. Her journey to finding love should serve as an inspiration to every Single Belle. 

With her permission, we'd like to share with you parts of Patty's heartwarming posts this year. One is her "Love Letter to the Big Guy" and another is her "Love Letter for Singles." 

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The Single's Guide: Dreaded Questions Part 2

The Love Life Edition

For most singles in their late 20s or early 30s, it's so common to hear these questions: “Kailan ka ba mag-aasawa? Hindi ka pa ba mag-aasawa? You’re not getting younger ah, when are you getting married? Kailan ka ba magsasama ng boyfriend/girlfriend sa bahay? Wala ka bang ipapakilala sa amin? Kailan ka ba magkaka-boyfriend/girlfriend? Bakit ka walang boyfriend/girlfriend?” Choose whatever suits you as we’re sure there are different versions of the dreaded question. Phrased in numerous ways, the same question really drives at a similar point. It simply puts you on the spot for the lack of someone special in your life. We know you’re also possibly fed up with the awkwardness it brings. If you think you've had enough, join us as we "prep up" with some possible answers. There's no better way to face your tactless Tita and the rest of the nosy gang but with a set of ready-made remarks.

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Bianca Gonzalez: Learnings from a Supergirl

Image: Bianca Gonzalez's Official Facebook fan page (Pinoy Big Brother Unlimited photo)

TV and print personality Bianca Gonzalez solidified her celebrity status when she joined the Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition in 2005. The reality series stint contributed a lot to her being a household name today. Since then, we were able to witness the developments in terms of her relationships, career, and life in general. We find it inspiring to have seen her build confidence in the hosting field and grow as an individual through various endeavors. And when it comes to love, we recognize her wisdom and maturity. We can  recall there was a phase in her life she was always interviewed about her thoughts on love and moving on. Now that she's in a happy relationship, we're convinced she's a perfect life peg for all the single girls out there.

Read on as we bring you the top 5 life learnings we got from Bianca and her personal thoughts on singlehood and relationships.:)

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Why Are You Still Single?

Image: All the Good Ones AREN'T Taken book cover, goodreads.com

Being single shouldn't be a burden. Spreading this belief remains to be one of the driving forces in maintaining this blog. However, we are very much aware that society equates happiness and success not only to a stable career but also to a  steady relationship with a special someone.

We have probably lost count of how many times we've been asked about our relationship status. Because of the pressure, what gives more discomfort than revealing we're unattached is answering the follow-up question, "Why?" Many of us often just give off an embarrassed smile and blindly accept accusations of being picky and idealistic (watch out for an upcoming article to tackle this issue!).  But seriously, aside from constant ranting sessions with friends about how hard it is to find "The One," have we really thought the situation through? Have we sat down and reflected on what the possible reasons could be that we're still single (that is if you're seeking to be in a relationship)? 

Image: archive.blisstree.com

A random find at a local bookstore helped shed some light on this. The title All the Good Ones AREN'T Taken (Change the Way You Date and Find Lasting Love) was quick to catch our attention (not to mention the book had a chocolate truffle on its cover!) and give some semblance of hope. What kept us reading through it was the author's interesting classifications of unhappy singles. 

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The Single's Guide: Dreaded Questions Part 1

Image: journeyoffitness.blogspot.com

Hello Single Belles! I’m sure all of us have encountered at one point or another people who ask about the touchy subjects -- weight, age, and love life. Tired of dealing with such awkward situations? We’ve come up with suggestions on how to answer annoying questions and hopefully put an end to the tactlessness. For now, allow us to deal with one of the major concerns – the weight issue. (Love life questions deserve their own spotlight.)

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Hazel Chua: What She Gained from Losing!

Images: Hazel Chua's Facebook fan page & Good Housekeeping Jan-Feb 2012 (Summit Media)

The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition was certainly a primetime hit in 2011. In the span of a few months, a bunch of weight loss challengers instantly became household names. Apart from their astounding physical changes, what really struck us in the program were their amazing  transformations in life. One particular journey had a huge impact on us throughout the season - that of Hazel Chua's. Her story mirrored the struggles of ordinary single girls, overweight or not.

Read on to discover her journey and get a few fitness and life tips.

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Being Alone May Boost Your Social Life

Being Alone ≠ Loneliness

Images: Flickr Creative Commons - bench (DieselDemon) and cup (pj_vanf); socialprecision.com

Being alone is not synonymous to loneliness. As a matter of fact, it can actually contribute to being a happy and well-functioning individual. Studies show that spending some time away from family and friends leads to a better appreciation of time spent with them. 

Read on to find out the reason behind and what you can do about it.

Taking the LEAP: Would You Propose to a Guy?

Images: bossip.com, celebritywonder.ugo.com, 

universalstudiosentertainment.com, potsofhoney77.com

Will you marry me? This is probably the most anticipated question by girls who feel ready for a lifelong commitment. No matter how prepared (and excited!) they may be, many of these girls just opt to stick around and wait for the guy to take things to the next level. After all, that's what society expects them to do since it is customary for the man to pop the question.

Image: extraordinary-thing.com

But what if tradition breaks its own rules and turns the table? Would you grab the chance? Read on and share your thoughts on an interesting tradition that only takes place every four years. ;) 

Single Belles Rock!

In life, there are two perspectives - you either see the glass half-empty or half-full. And we choose the latter in how we see being single. Sure, we’re all dreaming of that day when we’re finally getting attached to the one we love but waiting doesn’t have to be a burden. In fact, we should be enjoying life at this point!

Here are our top 5 reasons why single belles rock:

SINGLE BELLES, SINGLE BELLES!

Hello there, Single Belle! 

We’re K, C, and P. Welcome to our little online space which we wish to share with you. Our not-so-secret sisterhood is open to everyone! Whether you’re single by choice or you’re left with no choice (just kidding!), we’re here for you. 

In this social media culture where everyone’s dating, getting engaged, and getting married right before our very eyes, some may feel an inner panic. Don’t worry, there’s a whole bunch of other girls who feel the exact same pressure. And instead of wallowing in a society-imposed pity party, we should relish the fact that this is the best chance for ME time.  All we have to think of for now is ourselves – what we want and what will make us truly happy! So together, let’s embrace the freedom and work on having exciting adventures every single day.

Always remember: You may be single but you don’t have to be alone. :-)

We got your back, SB! Tight Hug!:)