TOPAZ HORIZON

My sister-in-law Rose is the perfect example of silent strength. She's very feminine and quiet, traits which people mistake as shyness or weakness. I certainly thought so and how wrong I was!

In my last post on my Magnificent Women Series, some of my readers didn't believe me when I said I can be very unpleasant. Well, this confession might change your mind!

I have caused Rose unimaginable pain because I had treated her as someone who wasn't good enough to marry my younger brother. Despite her deep commitment to him, despite her utter devotion, despite their being together since they were toddlers, despite everything! I was immature and cruel, a sister's jealousy gone bad. And my jealousy can be nasty and extreme. If this were a telenovela or a soap, Rose would be played by a long-suffering Kristine Hermosa and I would be played by... hmmm, I dunno, just someone really bitchy and speaks English all the time!

She did tell me off finally--gently but firmly--which shocked me to offer an apology. Though you might think it would be war from then on, Rose has embraced me and loved me and shown me that her formidable strength of character lies in patience, forgiveness and grace--traits which I now hope to instill in my own life.


Rose, thank you for showing me how a wife can serve her husband without losing herself and for taking care of my brother who can be the most absent-minded person ever. And though I resisted welcoming you into our family, you have only opened your arms wider and instead took me in... and my family, too! You take care of everyone I love even more than I do, showing me in your quiet way how a daughter, a sister, a woman should be. You have shown me that a woman's heart can be immense and that to take the world into one's heart is most possible, most important and most beautiful.
Ate

Magnificent Woman 1: Jacqui

I have never seen myself as a good person. Impatient, judgmental, quick to anger, selfish, proud, rude... those adjectives are all appropriate in describing me. I do have a few redeeming qualities--I am fair and just and I am fiercely loyal. That's about it!

Because I am quite unpleasant, I have few friends. And if I had been any unluckier, I would have no friends at all. But God is good and He, in His infinite wisdom, saw that punishment would only harden me and that the best way to break my hardened heart is with love. So He sent some of the most magnificent women my way, and these women have all broken my heart with their kindness, uncovering within me someone who can actually be good.

In the tradition of my friend Mariel's Inspiration Series, I'm embarking on the Magnificent Women Series to honor the women who inspire me every day. I'm starting with my sister, Jacqui.

If there is anyone in the world who has most reason to hate me, it is Jacqui. Not only have I cut her down so many times, I've also neglected her.

And yet Jacqui is always happy to be with me even though I am sure to make her cry sooner or later. I know that she looks up to me, which strikes me as strange since I'm hardly a role model. But because she constantly forgives me and just by the sheer force of her devotion, I have found myself changed, and I want to be a good sister to this gentle soul.


Dear Jacqui, I love you. You've taught me the value of second chances because you've certainly given me new chances to redeem myself over and over again. You may be 12 years younger than me but you've taught me more about love than I can ever hope to teach you. Thank you!Ate

August is almost over and if you haven't done so already, please grab a copy of OK!'s August issue--if you can still find a copy! We dedicated the entire issue to Hollywood's cutest babies and so far, it's been a hit. My personal favorites are Suri Cruise and Harlow Richie Madden--such adorable cuties, so animated and present and alive! Vince also likes Suri. He and I want a little girl like Suri.

Meanwhile, while I'm promoting the August issue to you, my staff and I think it's already another month--as I type, we're working to finish the last few pages of the October issue. While everyone's talking about rain fashion here, the OK! staff is all about warm clothes for the -ber months and we're already lining up gift-giving ideas for Christmas. This is why I do my Christmas shopping in September and have all my gifts wrapped by October because I think it's December!

While all that chaos is happening, our September issue is now available and it looks oh so good!!! It has our annual Hollywood's Most Beautiful List and--surprise!--Robert Pattinson is this year's easiest on the eyes. I'll have to re-read this issue, though. Because we made it in July and my head is filled with October pages and plans for November-December, I don't remember September, which makes it tricky for me to promote it when I'm on my radio/TV tours! Did I make sense?!

I do want you to just take away one thing from all that confusion above--pleeeeeeease get a copy of OK!'s September issue! Not only does it feature 20 stunning pages of this year's hottest stars, it's also bursting at the seams with celebrity beauty secrets, explores the sexy ten-year marriage of Posh and Becks... and, well, you'll have to grab the issue to find out more about the issue's other treats! Hope you get a copy this weekend!

Meanwhile, here are the things I'm going to do this weekend:1. Sink into InStyle's September issue. It's thick again! Yey! The past few issues have been alarmingly thin, making me fear that my favorite magazine will suffer the same fate as the other magazines that were killed this year.
2. Check out Pluey's fab promo at the Rockwell Urban Bazaar. It's been awfully rainy; my Rain Skimmers aren't enough. Must buy boots! Then I just might win an extra 6 pairs!3. Add more products to my Help Mio Fight Cancer campaign. I've already added some new products donated by my fellow editors. As I type, we've already raised PHP 14,000++! Thank you! But we need to raise more so I hope you drop by my beauty blog and shop, shop, shop!

My friend Anna Go of Rustan's just told me the cutest news: Stuff at Rustan's is now available! Stuff is all things quirky, fun and crazy. I'm delighted just looking at Stuff's stuff. And since I'm already starting to shop for my Christmas gifts (it's never too early, folks!), I'm over the moon because I have a new place to buy (and request!) gifts!



Love, love, love them! There are more Stuff stuff ranging from silly shower caps and pencil holders to funkily designed socks and jewelry! Stuff by Rustan's is available at the Young Adults Section at all Rustan's Department Stores. Drop by soonest!

P.S. If you're in the mood for beauty products, do check my beauty blog. I'm selling beauty loot to raise funds for a little boy's chemotherapy.

I got this from WendyB's fantabulous fashion blog, Wendy Brandes Jewelry. I plan to follow in her footsteps--she used to work for CNN and People.com and now she's a jewelry designer and woman extraordinaire! Someday, I'll be just like that!
Now, this award is funny--WendyB made it out of guilt (haha) for all the people who gave her awards or tagged her and she forgot to thank them or pass the awards/tags along. Since I tagged her twice and may have given her an award, too, I grabbed and claimed this Seal of Approval! I know WendyB will approve.

Kae of Accidentally inLOVE also told me that she nominated my blog for Nuffnang's Asian Bloggers awards. Wow, thanks! I hardly qualify, though--this blog is not well designed, not influential and everything else Nuffnang requires an award-winning blog to be! But super duper thanks, Kae! And happy birthday!