TOPAZ HORIZON

I'm eagerly anticipating and simultaneously dreading the final episode of Breaking Bad next week.


I've also been thinking about what makes good people go bad. Or if we're really all evil anyway and it is when we choose moral choices that we are truly exercising free will. Philosophers and theologians since time immemorial have all been arguing about human nature, free will, and good and evil. I like best what Kant says about free will—that we are only really free when we choose to do good. That makes the most sense to me. Human nature is inherently evil so when evil things happen, we shouldn't be surprised. People think that free will is the power to choose between good and evil, but I think free will is the power to rise above our evil nature and do good. There's a difference. The former says we have a choice between two states, the latter says we already are actually in one state (evil) but that we strive to get out of it (be good).

That philosophy also makes the most sense to me as a Christian. In Romans 3:23, it says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." In Romans 3:10, it says, "There is none righteous, not even one." Basically, we are all doomed to sin from the moment we are born. That's why I don't understand parents who are shocked when their toddlers lie. "Who taught you that?!" Little kids don't need to be taught to do wrong. It is in our nature to be evil. So when we choose to do good, when we choose God, when we give our lives to the Lordship of Jesus, then we are saved from ourselves and become truly free!


But in Breaking Bad, it's about we're all good, safe, normal, middle-class people. And the question is how do good people become bad?

In Walter White's case, it was when he, a high school teacher, was diagnosed with lung cancer and he needed to make money for his treatment and to provide for his family. I confess: I thought there was nothing wrong with that. He's dying! His wife is pregnant! His son is disabled! He's just going to make crystal meth, y'all! It's not like he was going to steal, rape and kill. Right? Right? There's my evil nature for ya.

Of course, evil begets evil. Walt gets deeper and deeper into the drug business. Hordes of people die in his wake. And yet we still root for him because he insists that he's doing all of this for family.

It's all about family, every man in Breaking Bad says. When Walt falters in the meth business because his wife left him, Gus Fring says it is a man's job to provide for his family even if his family hates him for his job. The show is steeped in devotion to family—Tuco takes care of his wheelchair-bound, bell-ringing Uncle Hector, Todd respects his Uncle Jack, Walt begs for his brother-in-law Hank's life. As long as you're doing it for the greater good (your family!), then evil is okay.

Which brings me back to our own country. What about the Napoles family? What started it? I'm sure it started as a little deal. The same way our senators and congressmen maybe just started with a million or so. With us, it could be just bringing home office supplies because our kids need them for a school project, or lying about being stuck in traffic when you actually haven't left the house, or stealing a photo for a contest because you needed the prize money for your family.

When we give in to our human nature, even just a little bit, it's a slippery slope to hell.


Next week's final episode of Breaking Bad, we'll witness the complete hell that Mr. White plunges into. Or maybe his redemption, maybe even salvation. I know Walt needs to pay for his sins, but at the same time, I'm hoping he redeems himself. Because it's never too late to do what is right and be free from evil.

*all images from the Facebook page of Breaking Bad.

Vince, we must watch this! You know I love anything with Bill Nighy! And this might be a better movie of Rachel McAdams married to a time traveler haha



This made me cry! Traveling back in time always meant correcting my mistakes but this movie is also about reliving and celebrating "my extraordinary, ordinary life."

I'd love to live through—again and again and again!—my first kiss with Vince, our first time to make love, all our first times actually, our crazy dance in the rain, our wedding, when we got pregnant, when I gave birth, the boys' first smiles, whenever they smiled and laughed in their sleep, every time they smiled and laughed when awake, and I guess every day of our kids' life!

My life has become ordinary but it's become more special. Given the chance to live my life all over again, I would. My life is so amazing!

And I don't know why I'm bringing it back because it's not like I'm dressed fashionably every day! Being a work-at-home mom, I'm usually in a soft shirt and denim shorts. I suddenly recalled recently that before I gave up my job last year, I promised WAHM guru Dainty Mom that I will never be reduced to that horrid uniform of ratty shirt and shorts! So, like I said before, maybe Topaz Fashion will help me make an effort to look good again, if only once a week!

Here's what I wore recently:
Vince calls this my Day Off Outfit because I look like I just threw on things haha. I kinda did actually. Then just before I ran out of the house, I saw myself in the mirror, thought I looked so boring, so I wrapped a scarf around my neck and changed into heels. That's a Sexy White Shirt V-neck, Uniqlo jeggings, Pedro heels and the softest, thinnest, fluffiest scarf from Muji. Oh, and my Cole Haan bag.
That's a little style tip for ya: If you're feeling absolutely lazy, a scarf is a great accessory to a plain outfit and nice heels always makes people think you're going somewhere nice, even if you're not necessarily dressed up! Plus, a scarf is useful when you're a breastfeeding mommy!

This is what I wore to a meeting. I wore my Ojay raw silk blouse, Uniqlo jeans, Karimadon woven belt, VNC sandals, Charles & Keith sunnies and my Fino doctor's bag.

I like that my blouse and jeans are a bit roomy. I have a mommy body now so I need space haha but here's a style tip: Don't wear clothes that are too baggy since those will make you look even fatter. Try clothes that skim your figure, not hide it. That way, you still look like you have some shape!

This is what I wore to the events of Pampers and Sangobion (I'm a brand ambassador to both), which happened on the same day and almost at the same time! Lagare ang beauty ko grabe!

I'm wearing a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, Zara pumps, and I carried my Kate Spade tote (it's on the crib). My style peg was Kate Middleton. Wrap dresses are super nice. I love them! They're perfect for any kind of body!

And that's Topaz Fashion this week! Yes, I know. Sooo stunning in its ho-hum-ness. See you next week for (hopefully) more fabulous fashion!

I just got my September BDJBox subscription but I wanted to say that I was so inspired by last month's box. It was the Shiseido Box!

I love the luxe-ness of this particular edition. I like that I can discover different kinds of brands and products with each box but getting a special box of products from the same brand (and a really nice one at that!) feels like a real treat. Thanks, BDJBox and Shiseido!

You know what excited me about this box? It inspired me to come up with my own box! How about that, dear readers? Would you love a special beauty box filled with my favorite beautifiers?

BDJBox, call me!

To subscribe to a BDJBox service, click here!

That Miley Cyrus really knows what she's doing. Everyone hates her new image but everyone loves her songs! They can't stop and won't stop doing covers of her "We Can't Stop"! These are my favorite covers:

Acoustic


Doo-Wop


And I don't know what genre of music this is but I do love the British accent, the strings and the achy-breaky part!