There's hope for me!

"She has learned that if she makes herself stay for a fixed period, she often gets over her social awkwardness and ends up having fun."

—Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer on wanting to leave any party within the first fifteen minutes and disciplining herself to deal with shyness; Vogue September 2013

Harper’s BAZAAR, we meet again :)

The Moroccanoil print ad I wrote is in the March 2013 issues of Harper's BAZAAR (where I worked in international marketing when I had just moved to NYC), Elle, InStyle and the gigantic Vogue with Beyoncé on the cover!

The universe has a sense of humor—I've always wanted to write for magazines here in the U.S., picking up from where I left off as beauty editor at Hearst international titles Seventeen and Cosmopolitan. I've also contributed to sister publications Good Housekeeping and Marie Claire. So, now, my words are actually in these well-respected magazines, at least in the advertising section.

Now, if only I could make the jump back into the editorial pages, that would be FANTABULOUS! :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 28

Yoga Journal

Tuesday night reading; channeling peace, kindness, and relaxation: #yogajournal #magazine (free, w/ my teaching liability insurance!) 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 26

How to worry less about offending people:

"All you can do is keep your motives pure. If you do offend, you’ve likely hit on something they need to look at—in which case you’ve done a good deed."

—Joy Behar, host of Current TV’s Joy Behar: Say Anything

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 7

(Source: oprah.com)

How to let go of anger

I’ve been reading O Magazine’s “101 Best Pieces of Advice” and #65 is a mighty long quote, but makes great sense:

“Anger is like a storm rising up from the bottom of your consciousness. When you feel it coming, turn your focus to your breath. Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body. Then look at, or think of, the person triggering this emotion: With mindfulness, you can see that she is unhappy, that she is suffering. You can see her wrong perceptions. You can see that she is not beautiful when she says things that are unkind. You can also see that you don’t want to be like her. You’ll feel motivated by a desire to say or do something nice—to help the other person suffer less. This means compassionate energy has been born in your heart. And when compassion appears, anger is deleted.” 

—Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk and author of Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 7

Love Emma and Andrew!

Amazing Couple. (Arf!)

If there's a Hollywood pairing that I absolutely adore, it's Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield. In a world of "arranged" celebrity couplings, it's refreshing to see two people who look truly in-love and have extraordinary on-screen chemistry. Saw The Amazing Spider-Man last night and the kilig was palpable.

Oh, and yes—the movie was quite awesome too.

Here are lovely pics of Emma and Andrew courtesy of Teen Vogue:

She's a trooper…and the real deal!

Absolutely adorbs ♥ (Love the embellished orange-red coat too.)

He's American-English, with a stellar theater/acting background. Legit!

Fragrant Pause

I rarely blog about beauty…because I work in beauty! It's the makeup and cosmetics version of a bus driver's holiday: If I muster up the energy to go on the computer by the time I get home (ideally, after a snack, nap, dinner, laundry; not necessarily in that order), the last thing I'd want to talk about is how you can perfectly apply eyeliner or what your lipstick is made out of. I would much rather talk about food and other things. And, maybe at some point, write an inspiration post, or maybe blog about things I found on Zara.com.

That said, I did chance upon two intriguing, blog-worthy scents, courtesy of the May issue of Vogue, with Scarlett Johansson on the cover.

First, Elie Saab Le Parfum. The bottle somewhat reminds me of Hilary Duff's With Love Eau de Parfum, they're a bit similar in shape—the flat, rectangular top and the jewel-like, faceted body (whereas Saab's is more diamond and Duff's, citrine). Eliesaab.com describes the fragrance as "an ode to light [that] celebrates, the splendor and the brilliance of radiant femininity with a floral solar woody theme. Orange blossom, jasmine absolute, and cedar woody notes unveil an elegant, enveloping trail like the train of a Haute Couture dress."

I should drop by the counters one of these days to catch a whiff.

Second, is Valentino Valentina Eau de Parfum, which actually came with a scent strip in the mag. It's been a long time since I've had to work on beauty awards, meaning, it's been years since I've had to sit in a room for an afternoon perusing bottles and bottles of perfume in between sniffing coffee beans and attempting to dodge an imminent headache. This one is easy on the nose, with a sophisticated-sweet lingering finish. It contains notes of bergamot, white truffle (how does that translate into a scent?), orange blossom, jasmine, cedar, and vanilla. More than its scent, it's the bottle that caught my eye, with floral appliqués that either look like smooth, posh ceramic—or delicious icing sugar flowers.

Images courtesy of Fragrantica.com

On Lazy Days

For as long as I can remember, people in my stream of consciousness have held several occupations at once. When my dad was a bookstore owner, he also dabbled in writing and editing for the local paper (eventually becoming a journalist full-time, and now he's back to being an entrepreneur). During my early years working in the magazine business, all the editors I knew had other things going on besides turning over the monthly issue. Whether it was in the form of writing for sister publications, fashion styling, or makeup artistry, it was the side jobs that paid for cars, trips to Europe, and so forth.

I've pretty much kept the same outlook when it comes to my own work and career: have as much on my plate as possible.

So, suffice it to say, whenever I feel lethargic and all I want to do is stay in bed and watch cooking shows—eating and snacking along the way—I tend to feel guilty. Whenever I skip my to-do list for the evening, it becomes some sort of existential inner debate.

Last night was one of those moments: I had a ton of laundry to do, invoices to work on (for my other job), taxes to file, blogs to write…but all I did was remain in bed, watch TV shows on the desktop, and flip through an unfinished magazine. I simply felt tired—I didn't even feel like making dinner (although I did prep the pastry cream that will go into cream puffs that I have yet to make).

This morning, on the train to work, I read the following in this month's O, The Oprah Magazine:

"Georgia was a proto slacker," writes Karbo. "There were days and weeks when she would read, spend hours tramping around outside, write letters, sew, and play dominoes…. But when Georgia worked, she worked her ass off."

[Sidebar on the book, How Georgia Became O'Keeffe where writer Karen Karbo spotlights the life and times of "a Midwester farm girl as she becomes a self-assured art world phenomenon."]

I immediately felt a sense of relief after reading that paragraph. And, as the day went by, I realized that all these years and even leading up to today, I have benefitted from pockets of listless time. Whether it was a 30 minute afternoon milk-tea break, wasting the living daylights out of one weekend, or even a full-year sabbatical (which I did back in 2009 resulting in a page in a cookbook, among other fun stuff!), so-called lazy days have surprisingly yielded productive results.

A couple of months ago, on a bus ride out of town, I sat next to a writer and editor named Sara Marcus, author of the book, Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution. We were talking about writing books and self-imposed deadlines, and I told her about this long overdue novel in the works. She asked, "What's stopping you?" But during the course of our conversation (it was a long bus ride), she turned to me and said—and, I paraphrase—"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. In the last four years, you immigrated to a new country, worked on becoming a citizen, got married…that's a lot."

These days, it's good to be reminded to never underestimate slower-than-usual moments, or even one's self—knowing and having faith that a productivity boost is just right around the corner. In the meantime, enjoy the slabs of dark chocolate.

Long-distance Lovin'

Our feature is out now in the February/March 2012 issue of Maven Magazine!

That's actress Kim Chiu on the cover, oh, and I just noticed, the blurb on the righthand side for the article, "Real Long Distance Relationships That Work," yay!

Grab your copies now! :)

Lead photo: Pat Dy. Dress and suit: Kate Torralba. Makeup: Peddy Acebo. Hair: Bong Vicentico.
For wedding supplier info, read this post.

Superserum

My editor friends will probably laugh at me for
being impressed by this: I got the usual press folder,
and in lieu of the accompanying CD/DVDs of
product info and images, this time there was
a bowl of USB sticks one could dip into.

Speaking of my affinity for many things European, I recently went to the US launch of BioEffect at The Library in the superposh SoHo House New York. The Iceland-bred "magic" serum is touted as "a next-generation serum that improves the appearance and health of your skin by encouraging the the skin to repair its own cells."

Now, having been a full-time beauty editor, I've gone to countless beauty events. Hence, exactly why these days, I tend to shy away from parties and nighttime shenanigans (and why you'll never get me to go to Happy Hour anywhere and for whatever reason). I'd much rather hop on the train home straight from work, or head to yoga class and find an excuse to indulge in a bowl of Japanese ramen post-session.

Anyway, back to this new skincare find, I did manage to RSVP for BioEffect, without knowing that the publicists were based in London and that the phenomenal product took 10 years to develop in Iceland. What sets the serum apart from others in the market are the following two key points:

EGF is grown inside barley seeds—planted in pure volcanic pumice—
in this geothermal-energy-powered greenhouse.

1) The active ingredient is Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), "a substance which occurs naturally in human skin and has the ability to speed up the rate of cell turnover." Now, before you get totally freaked—like I tend to with certain products, for example, that have the word "placenta" in them (not this one though)—the EGF in BioEffect is developed inside and extracted from barley seeds in state-of-the-art greenhouses. According to the brand's press release, "Producing EGF in plants, rather than in bacteria or animal cells, is very important to get an active, clean, and stable EGF [that is] suitable for a highly effective skincare product."

"Barley seeds act like mini-factories for the production of human-like EGF cellular activators."

2) The tiny bottle of potent serum contains only nine ingredients: glycerine, aqua, sodium hyaluronate, tromethamine, alcohol (less than 0.9%), calcium chloride, sodium chlodride, Hordeum Vulgare seed extract, EGF (transgenic barley SH-Oligopeptide-1—all clearly labeled in the packaging. This is great news if you're looking to streamline and simplify your beauty routine. And, when using BioEffect, all you need are two to four drops for the face, eye area, and neck.

The only possible drawback is the price tag: $210 (which includes the cost of shipping to the U.S.). Is it worth the investment? Ask me in a month's time. For now, if you'd like to read up further on the brand and this product, check out BioEffect.com and BioEffect.co.uk.

This photo (of the greenhouse) makes me want to go to Iceland.
The country currently has a population of about  318,452!

How to Jojoba

Oil like it.

Given that my latest skincare addiction is Jojoba Oil—pure, organic Simmondsia Chinensis extract—which I've been using as a moisturizer, makeup primer, remover, undereye 'cream,' and leave-on hair conditioner, it's been a little easy to push other products to the beauty backburner. If you're scoping the cosmetic scene though for new face loot, you may want to check out Noevir (a Japanese skincare line that my aunties sell) and Obagi Clear—the latter brand known for products containing vitamin C and Hydroquinone; active ingredients that promise to improve age spots and skin color. When I was a beauty editor, I was a little wary of anything that had Hydroquinone (and mineral oil, for that matter). My guess now is that newer formulations have come a long way, but to be safe, always, always patch test a small area before slathering anything all over your face and neck, especially if your skin is overly sensitive and/or tends to develop rashes quite easily.

Speaking of "slathering," if you grew up in a tropical country like I did, the thought of swathing skin in oil may seem a little weird, since you get the shiny effect regardless of your skincare regimen—or lack thereof—thanks to the heat and humidity. At the most, after showering (which is usually daily for many people back home), one would apply a body oil like Neutrogena or a lightweight lotion.

I first came across the concept of pure essential oils in skincare many years ago when I interviewed a local actress, who, at the time, was using Decleor Aromessence Ylang Ylang—an oil-based serum formulated for (surprise!) oily and combination skin. Back then I found this odd.

Fast forward to now, I can't get enough of these oils! Perhaps having experienced winters in North America where one's skin gets extremely parched has contributed to this fascination/fixation. I now liken applying Jojoba oil on my face to applying lip balm when lips feel dry. It's the same feeling.

How about you...do you Jojoba?

IT'S A WRAP!

DAY 30

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

"Celebrate good times, come on!" [tanananant-tant-tanantant] "Woo hoo!"

Ooh la la! I've made it to the last day of this year's 30-Day Blog Challenge! This has been my third year of doing this around mid-July and I can truly say that the longer I do it, the more challenging it feels…which is a little surprising because one would expect things to be easier after having done it a few times. I am quickly reminded of my first major, Business Economics, wherein my third year, I still struggled with the economics subjects (hence, the shift to the more apt—for my personality and inclinations, at least—to Journalism). And, like college, I should probably keep at this until the fourth year, or even beyond.

Anyhow, sharing my thoughts about this whole process of blogging for 30 days straight!

1) Super (Mommy) Bloggers
I have newfound respect for daily bloggers in general. I know for many people out there, publishing a post everyday is the norm rather than the exception. Whereas I strive to follow a decent personal writing schedule, many of you just do it. I particularly admire the moms who find time to write posts on a regular basis, and even find the time to read blogs like mine (you know who you are!). While doing the Challenge, I struggled with getting everything done in one day—a full-time job, yoga (I've skipped some classes), my online part-time job (I've already missed a deadline…or two), updating my accounting Excel sheet (it's backlogged/back-dated as I write this), the occasional magazine article, and making it to the 12 midnight blogging deadline. I can only imagine what it's like for busy mommies out there who juggle jobs, PTA meetings, birthday parties, breastfeeding, and so forth. Hence, my virtual salute to all of ya!

2) Car Service
I recently asked a new friend how her boss—a famous person in the publishing world whom I shall not name here—managed her time and how it was possible for said boss to do everything that she did (books, magazines, speaking engagements). Even without asking, it's quite obvious that in order to successfully multi-task, one has to have top-notch staff. That's a given. But my friend gave two answers: One, the publishing executive woke up early and went to bed late. Two—and literally, two words: "car service."

You see, we all spend an inordinate amount of time commuting, running errands, and going from point A to point B on a daily basis. Being chauffeured to wherever means having pockets of space and time to zone out with one's Blackberry, iPhone, laptop, or iPad and do what one has to do…like blog! Even if it's as simple as doing your hair and makeup, being able to tick off something on your agenda while in motion gives you plus points in the productivity department. So, here's my friend's advice, and I paraphrase: "If you're negotiating a new job and it comes down to benefits and less money offered, ask for the car service."

Noted!

3) Gadgets To Go
Speaking of the things above, there have been times in the last 30 days that I've typed up drafts in my phone, or ducked into Starbucks and tip-tapped on the iPad (I recommend the Blogpress app, by the way). Once, I even worked on a post on the bus. If you're planning to do the Challenge, great gadgets are a big help, especially on days when you're pressed for time or when your schedule is packed; or even when you're just being lazy.

4) Bloggerjuice, Bloggerjuice, Bloggerjuice
I've said—or read?—this time and again: Writing is a muscle, and it needs regular exercise. I'd say it's like going to the bathroom; you need to do it everyday. The nice thing about having to blog everyday is that ideas flow and even when you're stumped for a post, something still comes up; the blogger juices flow. While I've mentioned that the Challenge gets harder every year, it's actually more of a function of time and scheduling, because it's more difficult to write after a long day when you're tired or sleepy, or, again, lazy. But, in terms of ideas presenting themselves or sentences/phrases/paragraphs forming in your head as you wait for the train to arrive, you get more of those as you write more often.

5) What's Next?
Truth be told, I doubt if I'll ever get to blog daily. It also comes down to quality vs. quantity. And my take on that is to have hearty helpings of both: quality, for when you want to tone that muscle and hone this skill; quantity, for when cardio and consistency are called for.

If you don't hear from me as often, that means I'm actually spending time finishing my long overdue Manila novel…and then hopefully have the discipline and fortitude to start the next one for here in New York. Friend and former Seventeen boss, Maya Calica, blogged about writing a novel in 30 days in her post, "Who wants to write a novel?" You'll also find her Suite 101 article linked up, "Writer's Block Be Gone—Tips on How to Write Your First Novel," which is very insightful and a must-read.

A bit of trivia, it was actually a blog post of Maya's that prompted the 30-Day Blog Challenge back in 2009. In it, she said, "Do something regularly over a period of 30 days and you will create a habit."

So, off I go, and onto the next challenge! Thank you, everyone, for the pep-comments and, of course, for reading my blog! It means a lot and it makes sense out of what I do and why I should keep doing this. Again, thank you, from the bottom of my heart (and chocolate-starved stomach).

Freshman 15 Sneak Peek

DAY 29

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

A preliminary PDF proof.

I recently had a non-fiction book published, "The Official Guide to ZAPPING the Freshman 15"—a health and lifestyle primer co-authored with Marsha Irving (a fitness trainer, model, and actress). I first blogged about it here, and mentioned I would post select pages "one of these days." Today is one of those days.

It's a thrill to see your work in print, especially if you're a paper girl at heart like me. When I was little, my parents had a bookstore and I grew up having free access to many books—Archie comicbooks, in particular—and magazines (I attribute my hypochondriac tendencies to having pored over issues of Reader's Digest as a tween.).True, I have a keen appreciation for the online world and the web of opportunities made possible by its existence and success in the realm of publishing. But, nothing still beats the feel of printed paper in one's hands. All of the above explains why I own an iPad and still impulse-buy magazines at Hudson News (and also why my fascination with companies like Hearst and Condé Nast will never ever wane).

So, PAGES!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: First! Starting Freshman Year Right

Chapter 2: Stressbusters

Chapter 3: Go, carbs!

Art, layout, and design by CLAUDE RODRIGO.

Freshman 15 is available on Amazon, (paperback and Kindle edition), Barnes & Noble online and Xlibris (our publisher).

Orange-Spotting

DAY 19

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Lately I've been seeing plenty of orange. Or, make that noticing a lot of orange. It started when I saw a tangerine-themed page in the June issue of InStyle with Taylor Swift on the cover (rocking—what else?—a citrus shift dress!).

And then one Friday evening while grocery-shopping at Trader Joe's, one of the associates and the person behind me in line started chatting about these clementines. In New York, where people talk to each other randomly, I chimed in and expressed interest in the supposedly sweet little things. The associate, in true TJ fashion, got a bag for me to add to my cart. Nice, right?

Last and definitely not the least, is the August issue of OK! Magazine Philippines, helmed by my good friend Frances of Topaz Horizon, Topaz Mommy, and Beauty for a Living (yes, she has three blogs on top of the EIC job and being a mom!). What's special about this cover? Other than the punchy, citrus hues, it's the first one by former Cosmo art director, Red De Leon, whom I've had the pleasure of working with back when I was beauty editor. He's one of the best ADs around and also happens to be fun to talk to. I'd quoted him in my On My Mind "Comfort Clause" piece a while back.

Hope you're orange-joying your weekend!

Gadgets 'n' Things

DAY 17

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

So I really like my Nokia C5-00 phone, and I'll probably be one of the last persons to own a handset with a QWERTY keyboard, or an iPhone for that matter. I guess I'm old school that way.

Or, maybe not. While browsing the September issue of Glamour on the train today, I saw an ad for the new HTC Status, "the first device with a Facebook share button":

The two phones look a wee bit similar, don't they? The white, silver, and black design, for one.

Now, I'm not looking to make any big-ticket purchases anytime soon, but the Android-based Status looks promising, given that it features a tactile, clickety keyboard—the one thing I look for in any gadget that has inputting capabilities. (Yes, I did finally buy a wireless keyboard for my iPad.) If I switch from my AT&T prepaid plan to a two-year contract, the HTC phone would cost $50—that's the same price that the iPhone 3G is currently going for. And, if you're curious, it's $200 for the iPhone 4.

Like I said in my "Gadgeteering" post, tech-quisitions aren't exactly my thing, I only buy gadgets as the need arises. Or, in the event that something does fall in the "want" category, I'll most likely buy the best of the moment and hold on to it for years and years until it's obsolete.

Tell me: How do you like your gadgets—vintage, practical, or brand spanking new all the time?

Images courtesy of Nokia Europe and BGR.com.

Reading Room

A must-read!

DAY 12

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

It may come as a surprise to some of you that I have subscriptions to the following men's titles: Popular Science and Esquire. It all started when my husband was promoted to associate publisher and was responsible for launching Men's Health in the Philippines. First, he flew out to New York for training and brought back Rodale titles, including MH editor David Zinczencko's "Abs Diet" book. Next, he started getting US editions of both Men's Health and Esquire in the mail. At the time, I was working at Cosmo in Manila, and reading women's magazines as a form of relaxation had lost a bit of its luster as it would somehow feel like work. Let's say I was reading a foreign women's mag and am impressed by a story or would get fascinated by some photos, so I'd end up checking the gutter for credits, maybe even start poring over the masthead…not the kind of reading one would enjoy doing in the bathroom.

Men's magazines, on the other hand, provided a more straightforward form of entertainment and relaxation. I couldn't care less who shot what story or who did the grooming or who worked in what department (fine, maybe I still did a quick peek at the masthead)—it was pure reading pleasure.

These days, I no longer work as a full-time magazine staffer, which goes to say that I can go back to reading women's titles without internalizing how its pages were, or a particular story was produced. Next to my Popular Science (if you have kids, I definitely recommend having this mag lying around the house for them to pick up; it's a treasure trove of fascinating information) and Esquire are O, The Oprah Magazine, and random purchases of other fashion and lifestyle titles. What can I say? I'm a magazine girl at heart.

Image courtesy of Popular Science on Facebook.

Choux-in

I'll huff and I'll puff...

Pâte à Choux ("pat-teh-shoo") is the building block for all cream puffs, eclairs, and profiteroles. And, I just found out that it's the same dough used for churros (usually dipped in chocolate, once fried). Same goes for donut holes, and, if you wish, for savory chicken or tuna salad sandwiches.

I first chanced upon the idea of making cream puffs at a birthday party, where my cousin-in-law's former roommate prepared these delightful airy treats. She said they were easy to make, and shortly after that party, I saw a recipe in an issue of Martha Stewart Everyday Food. I've made it twice so far ever since, but it was only last week that I decided to make a full-fledged batch filled with pastry cream made from scratch, folded with Crème Chantilly (a.k.a. sweetened whipped cream) and dipped in melted dark chocolate. The results were phenomenal, and the cream puffs even tasted better once refrigerated.

I referenced three recipes—Martha Stewart's, Alton Brown's, and Chef Eric Crowley's (of The Culinary Classroom in L.A.). I went  with Crowley's, whose how-to video may be viewed on YouTube. But, note that if you're making smaller cream puffs, to go with the oven temperature in Stewart's version. Brown is usually my go-to for precise measurements, but given that I do not own a kitchen scale here in NY, I had to skip the Good Eats host's Pâte à Choux. But, I highly recommend watching his "Choux Shine" episode—educational and entertaining as always.

For the filling, again, it was a combo of Francois Payard's Pastry Cream recipe from Marthastewart.com and Crowley's Crème Chantilly (you basically just have to fold in the aerated cream into the cooled custard).

Recipes follow (modified and edited as applicable). You'll find the rest after the jump. Enjoy!

You'll need:

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
3 oz butter (6 tablespoons)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 to 5 eggs

powdered sugar to sprinkle on top of finished dessert (optional)
muffin tin or baking sheet
parchment paper (a.k.a. Glad Bake and Cooking Paper)

DVF on Oprah.com!

These would go perfectly with my Bialetti Moka Express pot!

 Before I go on with the Travel Series, I'd like to share with you these screenshots from the "Win a Diane von Furstenberg Home Makeover!" at Oprah.com (also in the February 2011 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine). As you may know, I'm a huge fan of Furstenberg's; my wedding motif was inspired by the colors of a DVF silk romper that I got with my first copy editor paycheck. And now, the fashion icon has come out with a delectable, gorgeous line of housewares and linens. Adorable!

Dinner, is served!

Images/screenshots courtesy of Oprah.com.

Martha My Way

Martha Stewart Weddings, September 2010–February 2011 issue.

Yahoo! I'm one degree less separated from one of my favorite people in the world, with the recent feature of our beautiful/wonderful/fun/exciting wedding in Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines. Special thanks to editor-in-chief and my good friend, Tata Mapa, who had requested for the exclusive 'rights' to be the first to feature our wedding in a publication—print or online. Now, I'm not one to say no to anything Martha, so, here we are! Tata had actually met her in New York City and later on received a handwritten note from the domestic diva and kitchen maven herself. Love the gracious gesture and manners.

So now I can really share our photos with the rest of the world. You'll find some in my blog posts, "I got married!" and "Talking about suppliers," and of course, the YouTube slideshow below that I doubt I'll ever tire of viewing (and listening to) by photographer Pat Dy and team.

(Music by Jon Schmidt, "Love Story Taylor Swift meets Viva La Vida Coldplay Piano Cello" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfH2BY5pdLw.)

A Beauty Lesson

There's more science in the beauty and cosmetics industry than meets the eye.
At the Pond's Institute in Trumbull, Connecticut back in 2006.

I never thought I would become a beauty editor. Not once did it even occur to me that I would be working as one. True, at 18, I told myself I wanted to be an "editor" by age 24. But, at the time, I actually had no idea how to go about it and what kind, actually. (I did manage become an editor at 24, but that's the subject of another blog post.)

So what happened? I started as an intern at Seventeen Magazine back in 2000 when it launched its first international edition. Shortly before graduating, I was hired as an editorial assistant—not an unusual career trajectory for people who intern at magazines. The "beauty" part came in about two years after being hired for the position. I was getting fidgety, watching my contemporaries rise up to fashion, features, and managing editor positions, while I remained a work-all-sections EA, which quite frankly, was actually fun because I got to do everything. But, I probably had that particular career timeline at the back of my mind—or not; I was simply feeling envious of my colleagues. I brought this up to Maya, my first boss (see previous post) who earnestly told me and I will never forget this:

"Mariel, don't compare yourself to others."

I actually forgot exactly what she said after that, but the gist was that I shouldn't indeed be comparing myself with the other EAs who have already "moved forward" because 1) Seventeen was a different magazine, and 2) The position I wanted for myself—lifestyle and fitness assistant/editor—didn't exist in our magazine's masthead at the time.

But more importantly, Maya wanted me to make a decision. To paraphrase, "I don't know where to place you, what do you want to do? You can choose between beauty or features." At the time, Maddy, the fashion and beauty editor was getting ready leave for New York and the position was going to be shared by a fashion editor and a beauty editor who were yet to be hired.

Lille, the features editor (who remains a very very good friend, like most of the Seventeen girls), nudged, "Why don't you do beauty? You just got a car and you can drive to do pull-outs?" It was a simple as that: I could now physically go to the stores and borrow merchandise to write about.

So, that essentially was how I got my start in beauty. And then I walked the walk, talked the talk, worked the work. As the years went by, I no longer had to pull from stores because products simply arrived at my desk, beautifully packaged and brimming with all the science I've come to love to digest.