Opinion – C. Militar Writes

From ‘boob mugs’ to makeup, here’s a review of my most recent online purchases

Just like many millennials nowadays, I like to look through online shopping websites for new items or accessories. Most of the time, what I buy are necessities like toiletries or stuff for my dog (and yes, I do classify those items as essential). But this time around, I was lured by the much-awaited payday deals of these local, online platforms–and I (inevitably) ended up giving in and checking out some items.

Here’s my review of those purchases:

Boob Mug

I’ve been eyeing the boob mugs of peek a boob ph ever since I saw them on Instagram. They were cute and quirky; and they celebrated the feminine body in all its imperfect glory.

They even stated in one of their posts, “Our boob mugs are meant to express the value of women in our lives–how individuals, represented in boob form obviously, are perfect in all shapes and sizes.”

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A post shared by Boob Mugs (@peekaboobph)

Given this, I was excited to get one of these mugs… and as luck would have it, the store offered a 10% discount on some of their on-hand items. Through this month-end sale, I was able to purchase a medium-sized Birthday Sprinkles Boob Mug for only 630 PHP (original price was 700 PHP).

The ceramic mug measured at around 4 inches tall with a diameter of 3.5 inches. According to the brand’s post, it can hold 300 mL of liquid.

What I liked about it was that you can clearly tell it was handmade. It had a large handle that drooped down and a pair of sculpted breasts that were not 100% symmetrical (just as most boobs are). But it’s this rustic look that makes it that much more unique and special.

I also liked how it was handcrafted by Filipino artisans. This just goes to show how innovative and creative many of our artists are.

I’ve been drinking from this mug for a few days now and I enjoy it’s size and its colorful appearance–it really does make my morning coffee sessions that much more enjoyable!

2. Benefit lip tints

I’ve been a fan of Benefit Cosmetics ever since I tried their eyebrow gel in 2017. Although I absolutely love their products, any makeup enthusiast would tell you that their items are NOT cheap.

Thankfully, National Lipstick Day happened and with it, came an awesome deal for their lip tints. Because for the price of 1,190 PHP (and free shipping), I was able to receive (1) 6.0 mL BeneTint, one (1) 2.0 mL ChaCha Tint, and one (1) 2.0 mL Love Tint.

These lip tints all came safely in a colorful Benefit box.

I first tried BeneTint, which had a see through, light red hue to it. What I liked about this product is that since it’s water-based, you can easily build color by dabbing some more of the liquid on your lips and cheeks.

It’s also long-lasting–I barely had to reapply throughout the day–and it has an addicting rose scent to it.

I highly recommend this product for those looking for natural-looking and buildable lip and cheek stains for their virtual meetings.

Next, I sampled the Cha Cha Tint from the package. It had a light orange hue and was much thicker in consistency than the BeneTint.

It also had a pleasant mango smell and when applied, it gave your lips a subtle peach color.

This item is definitely for people like me, who like to rock the subtle makeup look.

Lastly, I tried the Love Tint. This lip and cheek tint had a thick, dark red color to it and definitely gave your lips a striking scarlet look.

Personally, it’s not my favorite color out of the three; but it is very pigmented and easily buildable when worn both as a lip tint and blush.

Overall, I am very happy with the Benefit products I received and will surely use them during many of my virtual meetings.

Here’s to hoping my next shopping haul can be as nice and awesome as this one!

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Holiday royal romance movies are cheesy and predictable–but that’s what makes them so fun to watch

Almost all of my family and friends know that I am a sucker for this subgenre of romance movies. For years, I have watched a lot of these kinds of films from Hallmark and most recently, Netflix.

So, when my good friend Niña came across this video of YouTuber Jack Douglass discussing the “terrifying world of ‘Princess Christmas’ movies,” she knew I had some thoughts on this matter.

First off, I actually agree with everything Douglass had to say about these movies, especially on the following points:

– These kinds of movies revolve around three plots, namely the “ordinary woman becomes a princess,” “a princess pretends to be an ordinary woman,” and “a princess and an ordinary woman swap places.”

– The names of these movies sound similar (if not the same).

– All of the royal romances take place in imaginary countries that all sound the same–citing examples like “Belgravia,” “Aldovia,” and “Maldovia.”

– The Prince always seems to have a “pronounced english accent.”

– How these kinds of movies use the same actors and actresses in other films that feature the same plot.

He even makes a valid point in saying how strange it is to know that even though these movies follow the same formula, they manage to become franchises–citing the Christmas Prince films as an example.

With all of this in mind, you, as a viewer of his video, would even start to wonder, why would anyone want to watch these films after knowing this?

Now, I can’t speak for everyone… but as someone who has seen many of these holiday royal romance movies (and would probably continue to watch them in the future), what entices me is its predictability, overall feel-good vibe, and Christmas spirit.

From the get go, I can already tell many of the things that are going to happen in these kinds of movies. For instance, I know there will almost always be some grand ball wherein the prince will be left in awe over the girl’s appearance or that the prince will always choose the “normal girl” over his betrothed.

But it’s this cliched storyline that keeps me interested because there is a certainty that it will always end in a “happily ever after.” And in this world where anything can go wrong, it’s nice to watch something that promises a happy ending.

Moreover, these are the kind of feel-good movies that won’t leave you stressed or worried about the characters. Since it’s predictable, you won’t have to agonize about the girl not getting the guy or of someone dying during the course of the film. It’s almost like the ideal kind of thing to watch when you are tired from work or household errands and you just want to relax.

Lastly, it features a picture-perfect version of the holidays, where everyone is happy and together. And I am guessing this is almost everyone’s ideal scenario when it comes to Christmas.

So, before you write off holiday royal romance films, I recommend you try watching a few of them first. You never know, you might even end up actually enjoying them!

When it comes to Disney sidekicks, Charlotte deserves more recognition

Through the years, Disney has created some endearing sidekicks to our favorite animated princesses. From Snow White’s seven dwarves to Elsa and Anna’s silly snowman Olaf, we, viewers, have enjoyed their antics and overall lovable personalities.

But in this lineup of side characters, there is one that doesn’t get enough recognition as the rest–and that’s Charlotte La Bouff from the Princess and the Frog.

Unlike other members of the Disney sidekick group, Charlotte doesn’t get talked about as much. And despite her hilarious personality and selfless nature, she doesn’t even get a spinoff short film like that of Olaf (and she rightfully deserves one!).

So, in honor of one of the most lovable characters in the Disney cinematic universe, I am listing down three reasons why Charlotte deserves the title of “everyone’s favorite sidekick”.

She is one of the funniest characters in the film

Just from the start of the movie, you could already tell that she was a quirky character. And her overdramatic demeanor and crazy responses to events gave the film its much-needed comic relief.

One of her funniest moments was her reaction to seeing Prince Naveen for the first time. In the scene, she immediately stopped crying, touched up her makeup, and went down the staircase like the queen she truly is.

And sure, Louis was entertaining but Charlotte was the one that gave viewers all the laughs in the film.

She treated Tiana like her equal

Charlotte and Tiana obviously came from two different social classes. Charlotte was the daughter of a sugar baron and could buy almost anything she wanted, while Tiana’s family worked hard just to make ends meet. And yet despite their differences, Charlotte always treated Tiana as her friend and her equal.

In fact, when Tiana’s dress got ruined at the party, Charlotte generously lent Tiana one of her dresses. She even completed the look by placing a tiara on Tiana’s head–prompting Prince Naveen to think Tiana was a princess.

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/PrincessandtheFrog

Now, I know some people have wondered why didn’t she just give Tiana the money to start her restaurant. To explain this, I found a video from YouTuber Story Diver that explains how Charlotte and her father may have possibly offered Tiana the money. However, given Tiana’s can-do attitude and belief that to get what she wants, she must work hard for it, Tiana must have denied the offer and chose to save up for her dream restaurant.

I believe this theory is highly probable considering Charlotte’s final act of kindness in the film (which I will talk about in the next section).

She selflessly gave up her dream of marrying a prince to help a friend

When Charlotte finds out about Tiana’s true feelings for Naveen, she immediately gives up her dream of marrying the prince and without hesitation, kisses Naveen in an effort to break the curse. This is evidenced in the movie when she tells Tiana, “I’ll kiss him for you, honey. No marriage required.”

This selfless act of friendship on her part shows that she is more than just the “spoiled, rich girl” that everyone makes her out to be. She has a heart of gold and she is one that deeply cares for her loved ones.

All of these reasons put together is what makes Charlotte such a great character. And I hope you will include her in your list of favorite sidekicks!