UNDERSTANDING GIRLS

For the Shopaholic Girl

To all the girls who shop a lot,

Hey there girls! I know well that a lot of us are struggling to make ends meet, not with our lives, but with shopping everything that we want in one go!  From top to toe. When we’re that type of girl who didn’t grow up being bought with branded clothes from Milan, Italy, or the states by our parents (other way of saying if you were not born with a silver spoon in her mouth), then there’s a big chance you’re that girl who’s always on the budget for a shopping spree.

This is my open letter to you.

There are those students and there are those who are employed and living on their own. Let me give you the pros and cons of these two kinds of shopaholics.

THE STUDENT

PROS

1.       You have all the time to just daydream about what you want to buy and what you’ll buy next.

2.       You can shop for free with your mom’s credit card or by asking your parents to buy you this and this.

3.       It feels so rewarding to buy something you’ve been eyeing online or to buy that sexy top you hid at your favorite shop. And because you’re only doing it once or twice a month, it is fulfilling.

CONS

1.       You’ve got a lot of time but you get it wasted just hovering the mouse over some cute dress or fierce Nike shoes online. It is on sale but still is expensive for you.

2.       You can ask for a shopping spree allowance from your mom or dad (if he understands how a girl badly needs a girl time), but it has to come with an award or achievement in school.

3.       It has to be only one or two items every month. You can either buy that shoes OR that dress. Not the shoes AND the dress.

4.       You have to have a very good convincing power, otherwise you’ll have nothing.

5.       You have to be a very good daughter. And when I say a good one, a really good one.

6.       You are always agonizing if that sexy top is still on the rack where you saw it the last time you visited or if it was already taken by someone else. Really, this is a hard part. Girls, agree?

**sometimes we even try to hide the item we love most.

7.       You can only wait for the cheapest bazaar there is to open. Like during town fiestas or special mall events. LOL.

8.       School needs are priority. Just because we cannot afford to sacrifice them for a pair of cool shoes. Not this time.

       THE EMPLOYEE

PROS

1.       You can shop anytime you want even if it’s on a workday. I don’t believe in others saying they don’t have time. Tip is you just have to be very determined to get that item to your own closet or you’ll end up not having anything at all.

2.       We have our own money, yooohooo!

3.       We do not need to be a good daughter.

4.       We do not need to please our parents. They should trust us with our girl instincts. And I am so lucky I a one with the most supportive parents!

5.       We can always eat after shopping. Of course you’ll have that extra budget on a good food.

CONS

1.       We have the money, and we think we have more than enough to use for shopping. But then again, we always end up letting ends meet with our bills, better not think about money that way. It’s always best to set your budget when you’re going out. And set aside a little extra. Nothing more, nothing less. That should stay as a rule to us, working girls!

2.       Everytime we get our paycheck, we think that we need a reward. It’s not bad at all, what’s not good is when we think of rewarding of ourselves more of what we just need.

3.       What we need and want should be well identified. A shopping list is a great help.

          MEAGAN’S TIPS:

            *Shop when it’s near payday, usually, malls go on sale from 30%-70%.

            *Shop on weekdays. There are fewer people at the mall.

            *Always look for the cheap ones with quality.

*It’s a risk to shop online, but you can try one like Lazada or Zalora and look if their items pass your taste. ALWAYS do it on a COD, never by credit card or debit. You don’t want to end messing up your bills.

*Follow online shops or fashion enthusiasts like VS models on Instagram. I don’t shop online though, I just use them as basis for some new fashion styles and then I look for same style at bazaars.

*Look for shops that sell overruns, they’re a great help to your budget. Always half the original price or even more, you just have to look close at the seams and stains.

*Learn to haggle when you’re in a night market or bazaar. They’ll give in with your charm. Bargain with them too! Getting a Php50.00 discount on two items you bought at the same shop is not bad.

*Since I am in Makati Central Business District, I am always at Glorietta or Greenbelt and every month, they have activities that include bazaars and food stalls selling pasalubongs and other temptations. If you’re an art enthusiast, Greenbelt has more of that.

*There’s this shop that I always visit in Glorietta 3, second floor, THE POP CULTURE. They sell various items with various brands, froom bags, bikinis, shoes, sandals, perfume, formal dresses, beach outfit to girly accessories.

*For those who are residing in North Manila, SM North Edsa, Trinoma and SM Megamall are on sale most of the time.

I hope I was able to help you with my tips! And for the pros and cons for students and employees, those are so far the things I was able to notice and I am sharing them with you. If you want to add something, go ahead and put them as comments. I’ll make sure I’ll take note of them.

I believe the fastest way to a woman’s heart is not only being chivalrous and treating her with a real nice food. It’s also having that patience when she sees every shopping store as a maze game. A LOT OF TURNS AND STOPS. You can just sit and wait there for her, I know you already bought what you want two hours ago (wink).

                                                                       

                                                                                                                        Love,

                                                                                                                        Meagan

How To Be Effortlessly Visibly Beautiful

Everyone’s dream seems to be related, if not always, almost related to fame and privilege.

Being visible to everyone, noticed by anyone, somehow boosts someone’s confidence.

Do you even remember the first time you dressed up like a Barbie girl or like one of the princesses in one of the fairytale books you have read?

Do you remember when you told yourself, "gosh, I'm a total hippie!" or "damsel in distress"?

When was the last time you saw a guy looking at you like you're the most beautiful girl he has ever seen? Or when did your classmates ever mentioned that you are looking beautiful and astounding?

Do you miss these times? I know everyone would. All the flattery words and motvational speeched we’ve heard have always been hee, we just have to appreciate what we’ve had and what we have now.

I am not a perfectionist, nor an expert fashion icon yet I know something about adding a fashion to your attitude. The millenial style you might say. LOL. But these might help you somehow.

First, I usually deal with lots of trends in women's society created for guys to explore their interest with girls that are, well, classy, sassy, trendy, pretty, whatever. I check it out via scoial media outlets like instagram, facebook, twitter, tumblr.com and other portals that are easily managed for exposing a person’s lifestyle and creativity.

Second, I always keep in mind that acting like a lady while still young makes you a respected person though you are not a duchess in a mansion or a daughter of a lord like, let's say in British community. I have books with the same exact theme like Anita Burgh’s ‘Azure Bowl’ and Nora Roberts’ ‘Dream Trilogy’.

The truth is, you just have to know what you really want and be the star on your own. Meaning, each one of us has a light within that we are yet to discover. Don’t be sad if you haven’t found that light yet, but one sure thing is that it’ll shine, one day, and you haven’t even thought about it.

These are not tips, not even forced propositions but if you would accept these challenges of mine to boost your confidence more, better get your nerves to where you actually want to start and act on it. Do remember that the gap between dream and you is ACTION.

Think simply of the moments when you were still a kid and your mom would wipe your tears when you cry or change your diapers in the middle of the night. Now, you transformed into a superwoman and you want to be like someone else, but the best thing to be 'someone' is to be yourself, The one who thinks independently, mature, smartly, creatively, not judgmental, kind, and optimistic.

Think of one famous person who you really look up to and that you want to become like him or her. Have you noticed that they have also gone through a lot of rejections, struggles, and stayed humble as they are now that they are on top? If you have, then you're looking up to someone who is a real inspiration, at least for you.

I'll share mine. I absolutely love Taylor Swift. She is America's sweetheart and a real influential woman today. Through her music since 16, she showed her fearlessness and her patience of waiting for her dreams to be right in front of her. Through the years, since I was thirteen, five years ago, I started listening to her music. She's a philanthropist.

 She gives everything back to people who adores her! Taylor's brilliant and passionate too as the president of the Big Machine Records, Scott Borchetta, said in an interview when Swift was still in her teenage years and trying to live her dream.

Like her, I want to explore every opportunity that is there for me. Because I love music, I went back to my compositions when I was seventeen and started playing a melody for them. See people sing to mys songs, record again and again, make albums or novels. Yet, I still don't know where to start, really.

I'm a graduating student and I would dare starting my journey now.

This is for you, if you are reading this, your attitude is very important in achieving what you really want to be. Your style should be different. You should show your charisma, your adorable face.

Be humble, think of your habit, what you love to do, your interest and then your dreams. Then start walking to your aims. Is it too big? don't worry, in your head, everything is possible. don't forget that. If it's in your head, then you're on your way. 

And to make all of those real? Start chasing what you want. Rock the world, rock with your friends, share your talent and be an ultimate rockstar! If you are, but if you're a dreamer like a business kind of life, then start on your own, growing takes time.

This is for all the young girls out there, because you are young, you feel the urge to start over easily eagerly, because we have burning passion in everything we do.

When you are into writing, still, you can hit the road to success! Start blogging, writing journals. Anything that exercises your writing abilities.

Oops, don't forget to get yourself a god coach, Everyone needs that, we may start with our parents, friends, teachers. Someone you can rely on, show your true self to. In business talks, market yourself, know everybody in the market, learn the strategies and think about all the aspects of the industry you want to enter.

And if being a rock star is your option, don't deny it, show everyone though they laugh at you, enjoy what you do. It definitely makes them sad I tell you. Seeing you in that stage, singing or speaking about something that's inspiring and important, they will feel ashamed. Again, you're standing on your feet, keep them on the ground baby.

Your friends, I mean the true ones will help you, and will look up to you. Your family on the other hand will hold you and support you wherever you might be. A lot pf people love you.

Reach out to people. don't be too timid or shy, create a beautiful mess!

The society is the key to knowing what you really want. It's defining what they want to see so you could deliver it to them in your own way without pretending.

Time is to come, over the years and the next generation, Time will never stop ticking and moving for everyone to see that the world is ready to open. The earth's core sees the spin frequency and you have to target, you have to know, when do you really want to go and push your dream to reality?

Take a pause, don't end everything just reading this, why don't you go and sit right there, think of all the possible opportunities you can have for yourself. Do it. Go for it! Think right and be the rockstar of your life!