IBN Battuta Mall

Goodbye #109: Paper Bag

Throwing away this paper bag from 2014! Imagine that. And honestly I do not know why I am keeping these garbage all these years! So guys if you are like me who wants to have a clutter free life and be a minimalist, you can do it too. One step at a time. Will take time but you will get there definitely. Someday.

Monochrome Series 36

Monochrome Series 35

Hersheys Chocolate Shop in Dubai Mall

Goodbye #108: Magnet

Another mundane item from my mountain of garbage. Magnet from 2014. Never used. And will never be. So saying goodbye to it now. I am just be throwing little items these past few days but it feels good. Baby steps toward my goal of having a clutter free space. Now searching for 298 items more to throw.

Empty Bottle #110: BBW Aromatherapy Body Mist 🌸

Bought this last year during the Bath and Body Works Buy 1, Take 1 promo. Back then the price was 60.00AED or 65.00AED but this year they increased between 10AED to 20AED for Aromatherapy Line. 

I will not repurchase this. Well it smells good but I am not into perfumes. I did not use it as pillow mist. Instead I used it to see if it can battle out the smell the cooking emits inside the tiny flat. But it did not. Finished it for the sake of it. Nothing more. Just at least one more bottle off from my dresser.

Goodbye #107: Plastic

Please do not scratch your head as to why am I posting something as little as this. For my goal is to have a clutter free space. And the mess in my tiny space consist of little things like this one in the photo. This is a small plastic package of a Korean blusher I purchased in 2015. And I do not know why I have it until now. Throwing away little items like this someone helps a lot. At least for me as a recovering hoarder. My goal this month of Ramadan: to let go of at least 300 items.

Sneak peak of my drawer. 2 drawers down not yet included in the photo. Would you believe that this alone contains 100 items? And so I badly wanted to clear it off.

Monochrome Series 34

Monochrome Series 33

Empty Tube #109: Skinfood BB Cream 🌸

Bought last 2015 from an online seller. Finished on 2017. Another one less item from my stash (which number I do not know). Skinfood is a Korean brand of cosmetics. Said to be having a branch in DFC. Which I haven't visited until now. I am sorry to disappoint those who landed on my page hoping a thorough review of the product.

I am not so keen in using foundations and even BB cream. I am just using it because almost everybody does. It does not hide the whiteheads on my nose nor the sunspots on my cheeks. That for me using a BB cream is pretty useless. Using it just to finished it off. 

Goodbye #106: Essence Lipsticks

Essence is a European brand of drug store cosmetics. Germany brand? Said to be cruelty free brand. In UAE it is available in some Carrefour Express. And I ended up buying almost all the lipsticks they offer. Beats me if I know why I purchased them all. And now it is time to say goodbye!

I cannot find the time to take photos on daylight or outside. Time is my biggest enemy while living in UAE. Maybe the colors will really stood out on a natural light.

Each tube is only 12AED and all are made in EU. The most affordable you can get in the market. But maybe prices will go up next year when they introduced the Value Added Tax in goods. Makeup sadly happens to be not necessary so it will have a VAT.

It is a good brand. Does not bleed. Does not dry out the lips. But The colors are not my type. Unlike the Mac nudes that I have right now. I am just thanking these tubes for the memories. And that just it.

I do not mind that these tubes did not come with a box. A box would be a waste of paper anyway. And these lipsticks are in their permanent collection otherwise stated. All are okay to wear in the office setting. I mean even the colorful ones are not loud.

I am not updated in their collection so I am not sure if they are updating their colors and looks on yearly basis or not. I know in Europe they are having limited edition but unfortunately it never reaches UAE.

I know that somehow some colors will pass off as dupe for Mac but I simply cannot find time yet for that.

These 2 shades from the Nude Collection and I am not sure if they are permanent or Limited Edition. It came out in 5 shades but they are all suites women with fair skin tone.

Looks good on swatch upon my hands but tells a different story when applied to lips. This is available in UAE. Affordable. But simply not my type. 

Actually Essence has a sister company called Catrice. Prices are bit high compared to Essence but still fall under the category of affordable. Catrice is not available in physical stores in UAE but some online sellers from Souq are offering them. You can buy them online from outside UAE but then next year when they introduce VAT I do not know if it is still advisable to order online. I mean at least from outside the UAE.

Essence is perfect for those who are on budget or budget conscious or simply new into make up. Essence has good items like mascara and eyeliner. My aunt loves their eyebrow liners. But then when it comes to lipstick I prefer their sister company Catrice. I am saying goodbye to my Essence lipsticks but then at the same time I accumulated a few tubes from Catrice. 

Une Breezy Cheeks 🌷

Goodbye #105: Catterpillar Bag

Has it been 5 years since I purchased this bag? I got it on sale from Safeer Mall as Cat do not have a branch in Ajman. I bought it for only 70AED or 90AED and it is a good buy. But I am letting it go now as I already have many bags that I am currently using. Maybe at least 10 bags. I am not so sure.

Been buying lipsticks since March and I think by now I have a dozen new lipsticks. Which is the exact opposite of my promise to myself to live a minimalist and frugal life. But since I cannot turn my back yet on lipsticks, I will just try to discard as many items I could this month. You know when you bring in something then you have to let go of other things in return. One in, one out. To adding up a mess in the tiny space.

But in my case it should be one in, three out. If I will not do it that way then this clearing out my mess will seem no end.

Empty Tube #108: iWhite Nose pack 🌸

iWhite Nose Pack is a Korean brand of nose pack available only in the Philippines (not sure) and I can say that it is indeed the best nose pack I ever used. But I won't be stocking up anytime soon. And I am just glad that I'm able to finish this tube. As it is another one less item sitting in my dresser.

Une Breezy Cheeks 💐

Empty Box #107: Sebamed Cleansing Bar 🌸

Back in 2014 I do not know what was on my mind that I bought far too many bar soaps. As if end of the world or a zombie apocalypse was coming. Seriously I do not know what was on my mind. As an end result it is now 2017 and I still have 30 boxes to finish. Don't know until when am I going to finish them all. 

Pay Bills With Hug?

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Goodbye #104: Ramarim Sandals

Purchased in 2014 or 2015  for around 60.00AED at Safeer Mall. Used it last year. But just for a few occasions only. I am no longer confident to show my feet. And I would rather have a dirty shoes than a dirty feet. Means as much as possible I am wearing shoes all the time. Even on going to supermarket. Giving this up as I already have way too many sandals now. And will be discarding some again after a month or two.

Monochrome Series 32

Goodbye #103: Vizzano Sandals

A gift I received back in 2010 or 2011. But that time I had at least a dozen or two high heels that I was not able to wear it much. Kept it and decided to use it this year. Huge mistake. One of the straps gave out. So that leave me no choice but to just let it go. I wish next week to have an ample of time to clean up and discard as many items as I can. 

Goodbye #102: Neostrata Pigment Lightening Gel

Purchased back in 2010 or 2011. The first time I tried going to dermatologist to make my skin even. Well going to dermatologist works but it should be continuous and sadly I ran out of budget. Aside from the procedure in the clinic I had to take some creams too. This is one of the creams they recommended. That I should use at home. Well by the looks of it I did not use it much. And now it is time for it to go. 

Ramadan is here soon. I am hoping by then I will be able to discard at least 1/4 or 1/2 of things I own. I have at least a 1,000 but sadly none of it has a value. None is something I can sell to have money. Aaahh the regrets of being a hoarder.

Affection 💫

Penotti Cappuccino Speculoos Spread

Found this at Lulu Hypermarket in Ajman. I think price was between 18.00AED to 22.00AED. Sharing information for those who are looking for this Penotti Cappuccino Speculoos Spread. But as of me I would rather stick to Lotus Biscoff brand.

Empty Bottle #106: Victoria's Secret Sheer Love Body Mist 🌸

From the last batch of my hoarded items back in February 2016. Victoria's Secret Body Mist in Sheer Love. In old packaging. Just like all the other perfumes I own, I did not use it for my body. Instead I used it as air freshener to test if it can fight the cooking smell or any other unpleasant smell in the tiny flat. Failed. Big time. Smell in the air can only last up to a few seconds. Managed to finish it this May 2017. Just to finish it off. Will not repurchase.

I am continuously doing Pan Project but then there is something else that I cannot turn my back on just yet. And that is lipstick. Because of the Dubai Mega Sale last weekend I purchased 6 lipsticks. So more than ever I have to discard more items to accommodate the new items I purchased. You may think lipsticks are small. But then because of these small items that I have a mountain of stash that later on becomes garbage.

Japanese Tamanoi at Carrefour 🇯🇵

Jollibee at Dubai Mall

Empty Bottle #105: Corine De Farme Baby Perfume 🌸

Another bottle down. Purchased in 2015 for only 19AED but I did not used it as body mist. Instead I experimented if this can battle the cooking smell that has always been my concern. In short used this as air freshener. Did not work. I finished it off just to avoid wasting it. Will not repurchase.

Ramadan is coming. I am hoping I will be able to discard at least 300 items in one month. Inshallah.

Korean Calbee Sweet Potato Chips

Empty Bottle #104: Corine De Farme Micellar Cleansing Foam 🌸

Cannot remember if this has been purchased last 2015 or 2016 but managed to finish it before 2016 ends. But only this May 2017 that I am throwing out the bottle. I was supposed to recycle it into something else. But because TIME is my enemy I never got around doing it.

Corine de Farme is a brand from France. Available in Carrefour across the UAE. Affordable but I will not repurchase. I love that this foams up so well and I think I bought it for only around 30.00AED, but then feels like it is not enough to clean my skin. So I moved on to another brand of cleansing foam afterwards.

That's all for today. Thanks for dropping by.

Thailand Biscuit Sticks 🇹🇭

This snack used to be available in Giant Supermarket in Ajman but not anymore. I'll try to look for it in other grocery stores that sell Asian goodies. 

Fish Roe 🎌

Just want to share another kind of fish roe that Dean's Fujiya is offering. I'm sharing the information for someone might be looking for it in the UAE. But as for me I did not bother buying due to the price of 200.00AED

My life as an OFW and February Empties

A lot has been going on and mostly they are, uhm, I forgot the positive term for problems. But anyway even though I created this account so I can release all my rants in life, I still have to filter them most of the time. To avoid getting into trouble... The current market is not so good and I do not know until when will I be on this job. And a friend who is not here asked me if there will be no other companies nor job once I am out of my current company? Well there are so many jobs out there. But since they do not have a minimum wage law most of those jobs are really, really underpaid. People asked me how much the salary should be when you are here but I cannot give them an exact figure because it all depends on how badly you wanted or needed the said job offer.

Rough figure of expenses: 750AED and above for bedspace in Dubai. Lucky if there are only 6 of you in the room. Not sure if all bills are included. Let us say you need at least 1,000AED for the rent and bills. So imagine life if you accepted a job for the salary of 2,000AED or 2,500AED only. You have to be extremely frugal and do not need to send money back home. Otherwise you will survive but will be living a life full of debts. I hope you know what I mean and you get my drift. Other people upon hearing my salary are saying how lucky I am but they do not know my problems and struggles.

Actually since last year I know deep in my heart that one day or one of these days I will be out of the company so I was sort of mentally prepared but there is no way that I will ever be financially prepared. I still don't know what will I do next. It is much easier to discuss not so important things like skin care products and make up. Than discuss about where my life is heading. Right? I will just face my life concerns some other time.. 

Since last year even though I didn't feel yet that my time to go is about to come, I decided anyway to go the path of a minimalist and frugal. I am glad I did. I had my 2 years hoarding phase/spree that at first seems to be harmless but when I counted the money I spent, well I could have purchased a plane ticket instead with that money. But anyhow it is over and done. Just lesson learned for me. Been doing Pan Project. And will keep on doing so until I finished the items I hoarded for the last 2 years. Here are some that I was able to record for the month of February. Well I actually have written separate posts for each already. 

On the photo: Botanics Cleansing Toner, Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Pillow Mist and La Roche Posay Physiological Toner ~ you know what? Every time I write an Empty Bottle Post or Goodbye Post series only then I realized that most of the purchases I made were the things I can live without. I do not even remember them at all not unless I see my posts as a reminder that once I used those brands. There has been no repurchased items either.

Empty Bottle #103: Hype Angelica Body Mist 🌸

Pan Project Update: I am not on my 103rd bottle (and some undocumented) but it does not mean that I am so close into having a mess free room! But anyway I need to keep on doing it until such time I achieved my goal. For today I am saying goodbye to Hype Angelica Body Mist.

Hype is a US brand. Available in Centrepoint. I cannot remember how much I paid for this bottle but it was on sale. And just like all the perfumes I own, I used it to see if it can overwhelm the cooking smell inside the house. But it can't. So I finished it just for the sake of it. Not because I like it or it is useful to me.

As of May 2017 ~ I still have a dozen perfumes/body mists that I must go through and even if I finished them all I do not see myself having the need to buy another in the future. Since none of them can combat the cooking smell inside the house. Each house just needs a good ventilation. And nothing in the world can replace that.

Flying Fish Roe

Flying Fish Roe is available in Dean's Fujiya for 50.00AED per packet. I think this packet is at least half a kilo.

Empty Bottle #102: Victoria's Secret Ultrarich Cream Wash 🌸

Another one bottle down as I am still doing Pan Project. As much as I want to finish this thing and start blogging about something else, I can't as simply I have way too many cosmetics in my stash that I have to finish. Cannot throw them away either. Cannot give them away too as I do not have anyone around me who might want them. I am working in a company dominated by men. In this branch alone there are at least 50 men staff. And the women? There are only 2 of us here.

This is not an in depth review as I cannot think of anything else about this Victoria's Secret Ultracream Wash in Verbena. All I can say is the scent is soft and feminine but this scent has been discontinued a long time ago. I am not even sure if this line still exists right now. This body wash retails for 85.00AED per bottle but I got mine on clearance sale for only 25.00AED ~ after this purchased I've never been to Victoria's Secret shop again. That will be almost a year now. 

As of May 2017 ~ there is no need for me to buy any body wash as I still have at least dozen bottles to go through. Actually I do not need to purchase anything else this year. With the exception of my nose strips and foot peeling gels of course. There are times that I am irritated as I want to clear all the mess in my room as soon as possible. But no matter how irritating it can be I do not have a choice but to wait. Not unless I am willing to waste money by just throwing out everything away.

Spaghetti Sauce Cod Roe 🎌

Supposed to be spaghetti sauce even though it is a fish egg but I am also using it for rice or egg. The only downside is, very expensive in Carrefour. But Dean's Fujiya is selling it for 14.00AED.

Francis Kong

Goodbye #101: Botanics Spot Treatment

Purchased in 2015 not because I needed it but because it was on sale. Buy 1, Take 1. But then bidding farewell to it this May 2017. As I was not able to use it for the last 2 years. And I don't think I will be using it in the near future either. It has to go. At least is it one less clutter in my space.

Confidence 📌