The Sex and the City tv series takes you through the lives of four not so young but still desirable New York City bachelorettes. The show though focuses mostly on Carrie Bradshaw, columnist and writer about sex, love and relationships. She is hopeful and ever-searching for Mr. Right but always seem to go back to Mr. Big.

Her other friends are Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. All equally independent, gorgeous and demanding. Together with Carrie, they too go through their ups and downs and insides before finding that place and that man they want to settle down with.

The movie starts out with their settled lives. Carrie with Mr. Big, Miranda and Steve with their baby, Charlotte and Harry with adopted Lily, and Samantha and gorgeous hunk Smith in Hollywood. Then watch as conflicts occur in each of their lives and watch them fall back into each other’s comforting arms.

Many people think SATC is all about fashion, sex and selfish women but this movie will prove them wrong. There are a lot of heart-wrenching scenes that make you want to shout - Life is not fair!. And that is what captures me about the movie. I expected more labels, designers, frivolity, sex and more sex. But what I got are passion, family, reality, and most of all friendship. It was so fun to see how her three friends equally gave dagger looks to another woman at the auction who outbid Samantha for a ring she was dying to have. Talk about standing by your girlfriends in any and every way possible.

My favorite scene is the one at the Library where Carrie was getting married to Mr. Big. She was told that he still wasn’t there so she called him and then listened to him in shock realizing he was not coming to their wedding… she is being jilted! The phone slips from her hand and she hyperventilates and screams take me out of here. Her friends rush to her side and take her away to the waiting limo. They encounter Big’s car on the street and Carrie jumps out of the car and runs towards Big in her flowing designer gown and raises her bouquet and hits Mr. Big over and over again until all the petals fall away. Her face is distraught. Her emotions raw. And I felt my heart constrict as I watched her scream and curse and cry all at the same time. My head ached from having to swallow my tears and I could not even attempt to laugh when the camera zoomed in on Charlotte’s face as she stared darkly at Big and walked like a penguin to the car.

So maybe that is why my hubby wasn’t impressed with the movie. Because he was expecting the same kind of light, sexy banter he watched for years on TV. What he got was real life and more meaning than he really cared for.

Sex And The City the movie is enchanting and surprising at the same time. Fall in love, get hurt and be comforted. Its the perfect end to the delightful TV series.

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Lately, my friends and I have come to talking about our past lives. I cannot remember how it all started and why. I can only guess that because of the years between the past and the present and the fact that we were all happily married now, we can all look back and laugh at all the stupidity of youth we once called our lives.

The topic that day centered on the lengths one would go to for the man they loved. Calm down! I know what you’re thinking! It was the same way that day. Everyone talked at the same time. Each wanting to share their experience and all wanted to be the most stupid of all. Oh yes, we can forgive ourselves and laugh at all our antics now but I’ll bet during those times, we were all lovestruck, blind and deaf. Even I cannot forget the years I used to run around in circles trying to please my guy.

Just take a look at my list…

• There was a time that I used to hoard big bottles of honey mustard sauce just so “this guy” would eat dinner at our apartment every night
• Once I pretended I had free gift cheques to a famous SPA and invited my guy out for a body massage
• I used to call up this guy to ask him to help me do man-stuff around the apartment… like hammer a nail to the wall (hehe)
• Hearing myself say… “you’re the first”
• Enrolled in the university where he studied in
• Waited in SM Megamall for him for 6 hours (this was the time when there were very few and mostly expensive mobile phones so I did not have one.. tsk tsk too long ago)
• A couple of years ago, I blocked out my 6PM onwards so that when this guy called I could easily jump up and join him for dinner or a movie… or both
• I forced myself to learn and appreciate cars and car mods. Words like spoiler, side skirts, spoon, sparco, evo, amplifier, turbo, venom, 17″, chrome, hydraulics, momo , tanabe, mufflers, capacitor, skyline, greddy, and rockford fosgate float in my mind. Whew! Let’s just say I was even crazy enough to go for a joyride when my guy went drag racing at White Plains (eons ago)
• Joined a choir
• Learned to play badminton

I am shaking my head and laughing inside as I type this list. No, they did not all happen with one guy or one each. Let your imagination fly… just like mine did at the time. So what’s on your list?

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Are you a shopaholic? Do you go to the nearest mall when you have had a row with your boyfriend? Do you buy the latest trends because your this girl at your office does? Do you avoid calls from credit card collection officers? Do you feel compelled to buy those new shoes you saw by the shop window? Are your credit card bills piling up unopened inside your desk drawer? Do you lie to your parents when they ask you about money?

Shopaholics lack the self-control to resist the temptation of shopping – even at the expense of their finances and relationships. They have this insatiable need for a certain high that they feel when they have purchased something. If you find yourself answering affirmatively to the questions I asked, then you just might be a shopaholic. And if you are, you will definitely see yourself in Becky Bloomwood - the chic and sassy heroine of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic book series.

Confessions of a Shopaholic takes you through the seemingly unbelievable life of Rebecca Bloomwood, a financial journalist in New York City. Each page brings you closer to strangling Becky as she makes purchase after unnecessary purchase and purposely avoids her credit card bills. Initially I was able to relate to her compulsive behavior and even found some situations funny. I could feel the embarrassment she did when she had to borrow money to buy an expensive new scarf and lie about it. I felt her discomfort whenever she was asked about her finances. I also felt her confusion as she tried so hard to justify that her spending was going to lead her to saving money.

The book is light and endearing to those who appreciate the brashness of youth and the recklessness of someone who only cares for themselves. It may appeal to those who feel shopping is therapy and the best way to reward yourself is to go and have dinner at one of the finest restaurants in the city. The book is not for the overly critical and judgmental… and of course thrifty. It is easy to be frustrated with the decisions Becky makes that lead her deeper and deeper into debt. Becky admittedly is such a shallow character that makes you want to hug her and slap her at the same time. By the time I finished reading, Becky was my best friend.

Personally, I like the reality portrayed in the book. It hits me where it hurts and reminds me how much my life can turn chaotic if I let myself become carefree about my finances.

Will I read the rest of the books in this series?…. definitely.

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Everyone knows I am kikay. One look at me and many will say… Ahh, yes you definitely are. Because I am like that, I take great effort to take care of myself and to try to look good. I am very particular with the clothes, the makeup brands, the shoes, and the skincare I buy for myself. I also make sure that my body gets a good de-stressing by getting a good massage once in a while or visit spa’s to get a quick facial.

But… this is the first time that I have experienced the diamond peel.

Diamond peel is a non-surgical method of encouraging skin renewal. This treatment uses a wand with a disposable diamond tip that propels crystal flow to the skin and also vacuums away the dirt and dead skin cells.

I had mine at the Clarity Aesthetic Center. The attendant first slathered some cream that was cool to the skin all over my face. She then wiped it off after giving my face a quick and light massage. Then she turned the machine on and I just felt this pencil-like thing on my face. Then I felt my flesh being sucked by that pencil bit by bit. It wasn’t painful at all mind you but I felt awkward at first. Since I could not see what was being done to my face, I really couldn’t tell what all the vacuuming was doing to my skin. I doubt that whatever was being removed was visible to the naked eye. After about 30 minutes, it was over. She showed me the “dirt” that was removed from my face and I saw a very small wad of cotton that was black with the dirt she said came from my face. Oooowwwws - I was tempted to challenge her.

I looked at my face and it was red and raw (or at least that’s how it felt). But my skin felt lighter and somehow cleaner. I was told to ensure I put on sunblock so that my skin does not get sun-damaged.

About three days later, I finally noticed the difference. My skin had always felt thick, and slightly grainy… there was dirt on it all the time regardless how much I scrubbed it clean. Also, there used to be spots on my face that were so dry they were actually peeling. And of course I have the large pores and the white heads and black heads. Now… I cannot keep from touching my face. My skin feels so soft and smooth. My pores have been diminished to oblivion and my nose is free from white heads - as in!

So ok. I am a believer. I guess that’s why many celebrities have such good skin. I am sure many of them go through the same if not similar procedure to take care of their faces, especially since its mostly their faces that sell. Now I can have my own diamond peel session at an affordable price at the Clarity clinic.

I am totally loving my face right now… hehe.

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A before and after look at David Cook.

American Idol has come out with another hunk of a musician in the form of David Cook. His initial performances did not really have an impact on me because he looked like another awkward rocker on the show. But each performance has brought him closer to becoming the next Idol. Despite the controversy of the arrangements of his performance, I would like to have him come out on top.

One of his best performances that instantly turned into a hit is his rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Always be my Baby”. You can even hear this performance played over radio stations. I have included a video of this here so that we (my readers and I) can fall in love with him at the same time.

** Update 5/7/2008 **
I know my best friends are reading this right now… so this if for them… Doesn’t David Cook remind you of a certain… aj? Hehe…

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