I Miss Working in an Office... Nahhh

It's been over a year since I started working online. I love every minute of it, but there are days when I miss working in an office.

Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I don't have to wake up 3-4 hours before the start of my shift to prepare and travel to the office. I can even wake up a few minutes before my shift and I'll be okay.

Working from home has benefitted me because I was able to actually save money. I also get to rest more and have more time for my family since I don't lose almost 6 hours for traveling to and from work.

With that said, though, somehow, I miss getting up early and preparing for work. I miss getting dressed up and made up. I guess I miss having to look professional at work.

Not that I'm not professional in my online work. But, this time, there's no pressure. I can even work while in my pajamas!

I'm sure I'm not the only one. Many of my fellow online workers miss that too. Men wearing their polo or suits to work, armed with their briefcases or man-purses. ;) Women wearing their high-heeled shoes, skirts or slacks on with their face all dolled up.

Of course, aside from this, I miss bonding with colleagues. Sure, I have fun with my team through Skype, but actually being around people is exciting and can be very entertaining.

With all that said, however, I wouldn't trade my current online work to any office job. Well, unless the office is just a 15-minute ride away from me. That might change my mind. ;)

To my fellow online workers out there, tell me: what do you love most about working from home? What do you miss about working in an office?

Looking Fabulous in a Dress

As I turn a year older in a few months, there are many reservations I had back when I was younger that now seem to just fade away. Maybe it comes with growing old, or maybe, I'm feeling more of myself now, and a lady at that. One of those restrictions I had was about wearing skirts or anything above-the-knee like homecoming dresses or even a more casual summer dress. And I want to change that.

Though I have always loved myself and the way I look, it was only the past two years when I started really taking care of myself. I may have gained weight, but I'm actually more comfortable now about how I look than ever before. When I look at myself in front of the mirror, I always ask myself why it took me too long to be more lady-like.

The last time I remember wearing a dress was for my friend's 18th birthday. I wore a long, beautiful peach dress as part of her cotillion and another black dress for ballroom dancing. I kept both dresses, and I wish someday, they’ll fit me again. ;)

I'm currently online window-shopping for the first dress I'll be wearing in 15 years (!). I saw a couple of gorgeous dresses on DressFirst that I love, love, love. Of course, I initially looked at their stylish black dresses.

But, that's another of my reservations. Well, it's really a preference even when I was a kid - I'm not into wearing any color (black is technically not a color ;) ). I guess that rooted from my mom forcing me to wear colorful clothes that were just nasty. :D Sorry, I love my mom but her taste in clothing back when I was in my early teens was ridiculous! Well, now, she has more fashion sense. I think that's what happens with us ladies - when we grow older, we suddenly get this need for transformation that includes our fashion choices.

Just look at these red dresses that I think are just fabulous!

In a few months, I'm hoping I'll be fit enough to strut my stuff in these cute dresses. When that happens, expect me to post my photos all over my blog.

How about you? Do you love wearing dresses? What’s your favorite style?

Go Ahead, Put that Makeup On

Over the last three years, I would have to say that I discovered myself again. It was during these last few years when I realized I should take care of myself, emotionally, physically and mentally. I learned many things about myself and I decided that I'll never let myself go for anyone or for anything. Let's say that I learned to love myself again.

One of the many things that led me to the realization of my self-worth was makeup. I know, that sounds ridiculous, but when I started to learn how to put on makeup well was when I felt I was taking care of myself for a change. I don't have any professional makeup experience. I learned on my own through gurus on YouTube. And this has extensively affected my life because I no longer put myself as my last priority.

I started to care about how I look, not because I wanted other people to accept or love me, but because I wanted others to see that I care about me. I will no longer neglect my own sense of being.

Women wear makeup for various reasons. Sure, makeup does improve one's self-esteem. It is of equal importance for me, though, that I know I am beautiful even without makeup on. Which is also why I started to spend money on products that I know will improve my physical appearance without the coverage of makeup. Now, I feel makeup is more of an enhancement of one's beauty.

That's why I hate it when people bash on women who wear makeup, or too much of it. If that's what they need to improve their self-worth or self-esteem, or if they simply like it, let them be. As long as they're happy with the person they see looking back at them in front of the mirror, I don't think anyone else should have a say about that. We all deal with our issues with confidence in our own ways, so let's not hate on women who chose to wear makeup to boost their self-esteem.

For me, it's not necessary to buy expensive makeup or even tools for that matter. There are many stores out there, including websites like tmart.com, that sell makeup for beginners and professionals. I've also personally purchased drugstore cosmetics and I managed to look like I spent thousands of cash on my makeup. It's all in the application and your own individual taste.

I consider myself a makeup geek, though I still don't like spending too much cash on various products when a cheaper version can deliver the same results. Just recently, I have influenced my mom and she has improved in applying makeup too. It was with her that I saw how makeup can suddenly change your mood. So if you think makeup is just a camouflage, a way for people to hide what they actually look like, think again. Maybe you need a little blush or a red lipstick yourself. ;)