Bugs in the Brain

Review: Audio Technica Dip Earphones

2013-04-07T12:17:00.001-07:00

My last pair died once again because of the darned rats. I checked out the mall and saw these chocolate-colored ones on sale. There are other candy colors but I figured brown is a good choice in case I give it over to hubby.

This pair is definitely worth the money I paid for it. The sound balance is great as ever, I can hear a good rhythm even with the sounds played quite low. I also like that my ears don't hurt a whole lot even if I play songs too long. I really love Audio Technica quality.

The package includes the instruction manual, a winder and 3 other sizes of the rubber thingies. I really like the winder as I can wind the wires and pin it on top of my shirt. It really helps whenever I pull out the phones from my ears and it doesn't wind down on the floor.

I also like the extra rubber thing. It's good to have a winder range of choices for a comfortable fit.

No regrets over the purchase. A great buy.

Review: Stila Smudge Crayon Set

2013-04-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

I passed by the Stila Counter in Rustan's one day looking for a dark and a light liner as they have one of the better liners around, according to a lot of reviews. I came across their Smudge Crayon Set, which promises to be an eye primer, shadow and liner in one product.

Trying to be a smart buyer, I swatched it on the back of my hand before anything else. I liked how it swatched with nary a tug and with great pigmentation. The colors were delightfully neutral and complements one another. I didn't erase the swatch and went on my way right after.

I checked it later that day and noticed very little fading in spite of my having washed my hands right after. The pigmentation stayed true for all of the colors. Considering the price, which wasn't overly inflated compared to US prices, this was a really great buy.

This is really good make-up for newbies or people like me who has gotten a little lazy and forgotten how to apply make-up. You line it over the eyes, smudge the edge if desired, and it sets for quite some time. Once set, though, it's a good idea not to overly fret and line some more, because then the product gets a bit too thick and I got some fallout after a while. Doesn't it just suck when dark shadow fall down to the undereye area?

I haven't been able to try it as a primer as I'm a bit too lazy for that. As shadow, the umber shade, the reddish brown one pops and the smoke shade, the shiny grey one is a great highlighter. Great stuff, this set. Another good thing is that it's retractable. They're minis of the full size product but I personally love the size as it's like lipstick that I can slide into my pocket if I need a quick line or shadow.

As mentioned, they've got a full-size available and the full size includes a sharpener but I prefer the soft edges so I'm fine with this set for the colors I already have. It's a great starter kit and I've got no regrets over the purchase at all.

Review: Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Cover

2013-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

I'm on the fence regarding Majolica Majorca's Pressed Pore Cover. On one side, it's a very pretty compact to tote around. On another, I can't seem to make it work for me. Major confusion and a disaster.

As with most products I purchase, I got this on sale at about half-off. Or thereabouts. The SA was trying to convince me to get the skin remaker foundation instead of this one but I hung tough as I don't feel like using powder foundation nowadays, preferring BB creams, mousse and liquid foundation. I insisted on a translucent powder. This one fits the bill.

I've tried applying it using the included sponge but I've found it applies too thickly that way. I tried it with a brush but there's too many powder residue on the pan if I do that. It seems like I'm wasting too much of the product. Also, I'm trying to go for translucency but I seem to be getting even more coverage with this thing. It so confuses me.

So the best application for it is to use the sponge to pat it over my face and sweep a brush through the powdered areas to even out the application. I know I'm lazy but I'd rather go with either simply puff or brush and not have to do both, especially when it's the last step in my make-up process. I gotta hand it to the brand, though, if applied right, my skin looks smooth and perfectly made-up.

Sadly, my little one has taken a liking to pitching the compact around and the powder has crashed after the third time. I have to really admire the packaging as it took three different crashes before the product cracked. The compact did not suffer any hinge, lock or mirror injury in the said crashes. Also, putting back the pan into the compact made me appreciate how it's surrounded by a thick plastic lining that clicks into place.

I'm no longer able to tote this anymore and I have to think of where to put the cracked powder after. This gives me an opportunity, however, to try some other products to put into the perfectly serviceable compact. I could try the foundation from Majolica Majorca or even a Shiseido one. It's not truly a disaster. It's just an opportunity for change.

Review: Ellana Make-up Primer

2013-03-23T00:38:00.001-07:00

When I got myself the Ellana Liquid Primer, I had high hopes for the product but wary on another side. It was all due to the silicone, the main ingredient.

This will do to you what you want it to. It will make foundation, either liquid or powder easier to apply and stay on longer. You might even look as close to flawless as you can possibly want. You’ll only need one pump to use on the whole face.

However, silicones scare the crap out of my skin because they absolutely break me out and this thing did. Beware, if silicones have done you harm before, it will haunt you if you try this product. If it’s proven to be friendly to your skin, please try it. Also, the price can’t be beat and the small bottle will last a while.

Review: Semk Mumals

2013-03-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

I like sleeping with this Mumal from Semk. It may look like a typical stuffed toy but it’s a perfectly serviceable speaker. I connect this to my iPod and hug it close at night and I can sleep with some tunes on without disturbing my sleepmate. No additional power needed for this.

They’ve included an amplifier powered by double-A batteries but I’m happy enough with the cute golden alien bunny speakers so I haven’t had a chance to try it.

Love: Majolica Majorca Honey Plump Gloss Neo

2013-03-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

I like the Honey Pump Gloss Neo from Majolica Majorca. It’s my go-to gloss these days when I feel my lips getting a tad too dry. It’s not so much a cosmetic thing for me. It’s more of a balm for the dryness, because it babies my dry lips and leaves it very moisturized.

Part of the charm is the packaging that makes me want to swipe it on more as it’s quite easy to stuff into my pockets. It’s very pretty, like all Majolica Majorca products, while being a very convenient size.

It’s got a very glossy feel on the lips when applied. It settles in and feels lightweight after a bit. I initially thought it was thick-feeling but when I press my lips together with it on, I noticed it didn’t feel sticky at all. It also has a sweet mild scent that somewhat reminds me that this is made from honey. No detectable taste on it. It doesn’t give me any discernible colour on my lips but it gives a very subtle wet shine.

You could consider it a love affair. I may or may not repurchase once done with the tube but if there’s another sale, I’ll take the opportunity to stock up.

Review: Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara

2013-03-22T22:48:00.002-07:00

Majolica Majorca is the little sister line of Shiseido. It’s like buying a high-end product except it’s cheaper with the same quality.

I have absolutely no complaints over the Lash King mascara. Like most Japanese and Korean mascaras, they’re waterproof and produce thicker, longer lashes. They’re also quite long-lasting, staying on all day from morning till night. The brush head for this one isn't too funky but there are tons of fiber to make the lashes longer.

As for removal, I generally use an oil cleanser on a made-up face at the end of the day and have had no issues. I slap it on a dry face and wash it off with water. It rinses right off. If you don’t try removing it though, it might start bugging you as it coats your lashes so thickly it feels weird when you touch it. Also, if you’re like me, you might wake up while rubbing your eye area and that just sounds disgusting.

Generally, a great mascara all around and the packaging is tops. Lash King indeed.

Review: Semk B-bear speakers

2013-03-20T12:22:00.003-07:00

I needed some portable speakers and these cute ones from Semk, the B.Bears were top on my list. It wasn’t the base quality or noise-cancellation that enticed me to get these. Nothing but cuteness overload made me want them.

These bears need a two-hour charge before use but once charged, they last for some time, about half a day or more. As for audio, I only wanted these to be audible enough for my kid to play on our 1st-gen iPod and we’re happy enough that they deliver, compared to some of the cheaper ones.

Picspam follows...

Love: VMV Monolaurin Hand Sanitizer

2013-03-20T12:07:00.001-07:00

As is usual with a sale at SM, VMV have most of their products at a quarter off. I took advantage of the sale and got myself a bottle of Grandma Minnie’s Instant Moisturizing Antibacterial Disinfectant Kid Gloves Monolaurin Sanitizer. A mouthful, right?

Now I like the Boo boo balm but I’d rather have a big bottle of this handy as my little one has been scratching himself something serious. It’s got a bit of a sting compared to the boo boo balm but it's so much better than a bottle of alcohol and moisturizing to boot.

I love the included pump, though I can never get these things to close right without squirting all over myself but I’m happy with the handyness whenever I need to pump some out to rub over my little one’s legs. Also, when I can’t find my tea tree oil, I use this over my face before I sleep. I have a lot of faith on the monolaurin thing, being antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and antiprotozoal.

The best thing about this purchase is the freebie. Who wouldn’t be happy with a tube of the best ever lipgloss? Not me.

Review: L'oreal Professional Mythic Oil

2013-03-19T11:15:00.001-07:00

Ever since it came out, I’ve been thinking over getting the Mythic Oil from L’oreal Professional. I finally bit the bullet and got myself one from the nearby salon at the nearest mall.

First off, very pretty packaging and the price is comparable to US. There’s no need to buy internationally for this baby. Also, the oil used is avocado and grape seed oil, which is tops on my book. And the scent, is a very pretty one.

According to the packaging, I only needed one to two pumps. I’m probably fine with just one pump with my fine hair but I went and tried two anyway just for fun.

It was very slippery due to the silicones. I like that it didn’t make my hair feel droopy in spite of all the slip when I hand-combed it over dry hair. Said hair was all over the place before I tried the product on that particular day and I was happy that it tamed it a bit without losing bounce.

I tried it over wet hair the next day and blow-dried my hair with additional help with some heat protector. The slip made the blowdrying smoother and while it didn’t end up stick-straight, it helped settle my unruly hair for most of the day, with a bit of wave left here and there.

Earlier, I tried it with wet hair once again, letting it air dry and I’ve finally seen a bit of droop on my hair after a week's use, though I don’t feel it when I hand-comb through. I’m guessing the silicones have accumulated and I’m not too happy over that but I find it an acceptable consequence as my shampoo isn’t the stripping kind.

All in all, I’m actually happy over this buy and see myself using it everyday. It leaves my hair feeling soft and I'm all for self-satisfaction.

Love: Case de Lorenzo Castile Soap

2013-02-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

Our little baby’s skin is so sensitive and he’s had a neck rash since we’ve brought him home from the hospital so we always stick to unscented, hypoallergenic and for the most part, organic, in the products we use on his skin. We’ve started him off on Castile soap when he was still very small and have since moved on after a few more months, always steering clear of the sulfate-based ones.

December has given us a chance to get back to using pure Castile soap on him once again, liquid version this time. We actually haven’t used up on the soap we used to use on him before that but I couldn’t resist the lure of 50% off on the Case de Lorenzo soaps so I decided the old soap was for adult use and he could use up the 1 litre soap I got. Yup! I got a litre of their unscented version. They offer COD for an extra P20 charge and that was a plus for me as I’m really bad at catching the bank before they close. (I prefer bank payment over other payment methods.)

Ordering and delivery was really easy. They even answered my mail in the middle of the night to inform me that delivery will be on the day after. There were no unforeseen delays and they kept me informed on delivery through the mobile number I provided.

What do you do with a litre of Castile soap? We poured a bit on a separate container with a pump for baby’s wash. We used a capful for laundry when we ran out of baby’s laundry soap. We used a pumpful on a litre of water for baby bottle washing. We poured a bit on a separate container, added a few squirts of virgin coconut oil and/or almond oil, a few drops of essential oil scent and used it as body wash for the adults.

I like how easy it is to wash off. I do believe it helped with baby’s rashes and it has healed up some. For those who like suds, better use a bath pouf, otherwise don’t expect much. I prefer bath poufs. I like bubbles and I don’t use up a whole lot of soap when I use one. I tried it for shampooing on myself but I got a bit of dandruff so I gave up on that.

As they extended the promo in January and there can never be enough of a good thing, I got a gallon of the soap. It gives me a thrill to buy soap by the litre and gallon. I’m weird that way.

All in all, I’m very happy with the unscented soap and even got their Valentine-themed soaps this month as they sell both for the price of one. A rose-scented Castile soap and a chocolate-scented old-fashioned soap (a blend of Castile, coconut and palm oil-based soap) that supposedly suds more. I’ve been using the rose for hand washing. I’m not a fan of the scent from the bottle itself but it lingers in a milder form once washed off. I don’t use a whole lot when washing my hands, using only a third of the usual soap I use but it cleans just fine and does not dry my hands. I’ve got the chocolate soap in stock as really, we have a whole lot of soap to use up who knows when.

Love: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil and Tea Tree Blemish Night Lotion

2013-02-09T08:27:00.001-08:00

Tea tree oil is as effective as benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of moderate acne. As my hormones are out of whack lately, I’ve decided to try the Body Shop’s 15% formulation. It has become an everyday essential and my acne sure dried up fast after using this. I let about three drops on my fall on one hand and apply it with a finger directly on problem spots with the other. I could use a cotton bud tip but I’m lazy and the method works fine with me.

I’m getting another one as I’ve still got the acne problems and my little boy played with the bottle once and I haven’t seen it since. Thank goodness it’s got a child-proof cap so I know he didn’t chug it. Warning: It’s toxic when swallowed so please get it away from children and pets.
Hubby tried it as well before it disappeared but he’s a baby when it comes to stings and he refuses to use it again after trying it once. His skin really is too sensitive.

I also tried the Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion. I’m a sucker for blog reviews and this one got tops. Personally, I’m liking it as my blemishes don’t darken as much as they used to. That’s as straightforward as they come. I don’t have dry skin and I add another night-time moisturizer so I can’t vouch for the moisturizing property. One pump is good. Half-pump does as well, in my opinion.

I’m loving these two so much I’m considering getting the Tea Tree Pore Minimizer next time I stop over the Body Shop. The reviews on that one is great as well. We’ll see. I’m so lazy to shop lately but I'll gladly get off my butt for a great deal.

Looked Up: Samsung WB100 and WB150F Smart Cameras

2013-01-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

Our camera has given up the soul less than a year after we bought it. Yes, we still have the warranty but the tech people from Sony would like to charge us roughly 80% of the camera price for having put it underwater or some such. No such thing happened so I'm going to give up on that brand and move on.

Samsung has some amazing deals at their mid-range cameras. These aren't the average point-and-shoot and at the price point they are currently being offered, I've started bugging hubby over it and have convinced him to come over to the dark side of spending. Also, we really need a good camera for taking pictures of our cute little baby. It's been a while.

I would love to get the WB100 though it's big and not too handy because the zoom is amazing at 28x. If I have that much zoom power, I can spy on the neighbors across the street and more. Not that I have any plans of doing so but you get the gist, right? I also like the Eneloop charger with 4 batteries included. The price for these are steep already and they come free with the camera. I've been wanting a good charger for a while.

The other lovely choice is the 150F. It's more portable and has WIFI. Hubby likes it better because it's got a li-ion as compared to the usual AA batteries of the other model. I'm willing as they've got white as a color option, and there's a thousand pesos off when we fork over cash, which we always do anyway. Also, I have no plans of spying on our neighbor and as long as the photos come out pretty in most light conditions, I'm game.

Promos are with Picture City. Pictures are from the product website.

Share: Nutella on Palitaw

2012-12-15T08:24:00.001-08:00

Not the best shot, I know, but heavenly nontheless. Nutella is well-loved while the humble palitaw has been a hit or miss, personally. Combined, these two are second only to the Nutella mochi by Sophie's Mom.

What is palitaw? It is glutinous rice flour mixed with water and formed into little flat cakes. Water is heated and once boiling, the little cakes are carefully dropped into the water. Once they float, they are done and ready for some nutella spread. This will change my new year.

Wish List: Hair

2012-12-15T07:45:00.000-08:00

I definitely need to take better care of my hair as it’s not the wash and wear kind. It’s my fault for not taking care of it for the last few years. It’s got style damage and root damage.

I’m hoping to stock up on hair masks. I like Neutrogena because it’s cheaper and bigger while I like the L’oreal lines because they are sulfate and silicone-free.

I'm looking for moisturizing, smoothing and damage-repair. So I'm willing to try a bunch out to check which ones will work.

I was born with curls but I’ve never embraced it before so I’d like to try Tigi Curls Rock to try to get bounce and style into the curls. This line is ridiculously overpriced in the Philippines, by the way.

Bed Head from Tigi has always been something I’ve wanted to try but even when it became a price point I could afford, it grates that it’s got such a big overhead. Nevertheless, it’s a salon favourite that promises to last a long time and I've always been easily swayed by hype.

Small Talk isn’t for me. I’d like to give it to hubby as a gift. I’m loving the packaging though. But then, Tigi has always had the funky-cool packaging down.

Lastly, I’m considering buying a heat-styling guard as my current one leaves me quite frustrated. I used to be able to blowdry my hair into something that resembles styled hair but my old product got discontinued and the latest one I've tried has left it into a greasy frizzy mess that I'd rather leave it alone by its non-greasy still-frizzy self.

I'm pinning my hopes on Chi. They've got great hair irons so they would have some of the best thermal protection right? Whatever else, the reviews for these products are great.

Wish List: LeapFrog

2012-12-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

I wanted to get this list out before Christmas comes. I’ve got loads of lists from different products but this particular one isn’t for me as I love the LeapFrog toys for baby. It’s overpriced in the Philippines but it’s one of the best, in my opinion.

First off, I’m hoping my child would be able to read as soon as possible because the joys of reading are infinite and the Tag Junior would help start him off as it reads the books to the little one. We can start with letters and move on from there. Storytime is going to be so much fun with this. It’s cute too.

My Pal Scout is another cutie. It’s not just a cuddly toy but it also says the child’s name, favourites and plays your choice of music, including the spelling of baby’s name. I’m hoping my son learns a lot from Scout.

My baby loves music, and he loves pushing buttons. These are perfect. It might even save our phones, remote controls and camera from being thrown all the time.

Baby loves laptops too. Out of all the other laptops I’ve tried, the My Own Leaptop has the best possibilities. It’s not that it’s got the best and most games but the fact that it’s perfect for the age group it’s being marketed to.

I like piano portion as well as the alphabets in the Touch Magic School Bus. It’s touch screen so it's easy to clean. So many fun things in this baby for baby.
There are lots more from LeapFrog I want but these are the ones that are appropriate for little baby’s age group. Once he gets older, there are many more possibilities. I don’t want to rush it. I enjoy watching him grow and learn.

Share: Inside My Bag

2012-12-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

I was hoping to get a satchel bag but things didn't fall through. Long boring story so I'll share my new bag and its contents instead.

To start off, this is my new Secosana bag. it was on sale. It’s roomy and not so wide. It’s the kind of bag that I can chuck everything inside without feeling too overfull. Not too structured but not that saggy either. I like using the shoulder strap instead of carrying it by the shorter handles. Hearts and pink ribbon and yet not too loud. It's so girly it embarrasses my hubby to carry it but he still does and that's love.

The contents are the kikay kit (cosmetics and other girly stuff), sunglasses case, spoon and fork container, techie and ballpen kit, iPod touch, company ID, journal half with black pages, cellphone, wallet and coinpurse. I like using the mesh containers for the small stuff so I can put similar items in a container and see what's inside without needing to spill them. I think I'll get another one for some of the other stuff.

I've had my sunglasses for a while now. They're wide and they're girly and dark but not black. I use the shiny flowers at the side as a small mirror sometimes. It's a definite essential when I'm on night shift.

My kikay kit contains two lipsticks, two lipglosses, a mascara, a BB balm, neutral eyeshadow, two lip balms, an eyeshadow primer, baby wipes, a comb, a mini hairbrush, eye gel, pencil sharpener, brow brush, lotion, toothbrush, dental floss and toothpaste. I'm missing the toothbrush holder as my little one played with it earlier before the shot. I'm hoping to include face powder and a retractable brush but I'm still looking for the perfect ones as I want them to be small but serviceable.

My tech kit contains the plug for the usb connectors, the iPod connector, the phone connector, my ballpens (3 metallic gels and black), a girly essential in the wrong bag, pink earphone buds and my earphone case. I sometimes throw in my cellphone and iPod inside this kit.

Should I talk about these more?

Share: Bangus Egg Casserole

2012-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

The picture reminds me somewhat of balut. But it's not and it's something I'd just like to share as it's one of the easiest things to prepare for me, while being quite delicious at the same time. It's got my hubby's approval and that guy can be hard to please.

I start with canned milkfish in oil (Century). I separate the fish from the sauce in the can and toast it a bit over a spoonful of margarine. I flip it to the other side after it has browned a bit. Once sufficiently brown on both sides, I add in two eggs, put the cover on and wait for the yolks to turn yellow. I toss in the sauce, turn the heat off and cover it once again and it's perfect

It's so easy and I can prepare it in less than 5 minutes with the fire on low on a 10-inch nonstick saucepan. Spanish style is also good and it adds some spice. Sometimes, when the milkfish are leftovers, I flake it by grinding it into the pan and toss it around until it's a light brown. And other times, I add a bit of grated quick-melt cheese on top before I toss in the sauce. I don't always wait for the egg yolks to turn yellow before I add in the sauce but I wait just a bit more before I lift the cover when I do that.

I hope that those who try this enjoy it as much as we d.

Love: Outland black round toe flats

2012-11-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

I wasn't able to get the particular style name for these Outland flats I picked up from Olympic Village earlier last week but these are my current favorites. I've been wanting a pair of black round toe ballet flats for a while now and the metal-tipped ribbon, the hole details and the soft dark silver insoles make these pair a winner in my book.

As with most shoes, the first days are the most uncomfortable for one reason or another. For this pair, the chafing at the back of the heels was irritating. Thankfully the chafing period has passed. I love that the size 35 is a good fit for my wide feet.

This was initially paired with a dress but was also easily paired with pants. With the color and design, it's a good all-around pair of shoes. I'd love to get the brown and the dark navy as well but these will do me for now.

Love officially.

Love: VMV Hypoallergenics Lipstick in Babe and Lipgloss in Explicit

2012-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

As previously mentioned, I wanted to try out VMV's lipstick and lipgloss bundle due to their 50% off sale on the Landmark counters and specialty boutiques for October. After a bit of hemming and hawing, I got myself a pair and loving them a whole lot.

Packaging of these two cuties sure are a joy. Not a whole lot of guilt for the recycled glue-free boxes with soy-based ink. I came out of the store with a small paper bag with similar ink and paper note, though this one most probably has been glued. Below are the opened boxes with the cuteness.

I got the pink matte lipstick in "Babe". It's a hot pink matte but not so pigmented as to be too pink for me. What I love about these is that it does not dry me out at all. Wear time is so-so but I say that about long-wear lipstick and lipgloss as well so my opinion on that one does not carry a lot of dice. It's housed inside my favorite kind of tube, the one where you can look at the flat part of the removable top and use it as a mirror when putting some pink on. So cool, literally, as it is a metal tube. A little bigger in diameter than I'm used to but not by much. The lipstick inside the tube does not have any give so I'm guessing it won't suddenly tip off when applying. I hate it when that happens.

I got an orangey gloss in "Explicit". Again, not a lot of wear time on me. I love that it is not sticky at all. Pigmentation is as can be expected with a gloss. There was actually a lot of pigments when I swatched it on the back of my hand, but it came off as a natural gloss on my lips. I hoped for a darker shade but silly me for getting a second opinion instead of sticking to my first choice. But for the non-stickiness, love. Very classy packaging. There was an expiration date on the box about 3 months from now and I asked the counter lady about it and she said there was an additional 6 months after the date on the package. Iffy though.

Looked Up: Casa de Lorenzo

2012-10-22T11:48:00.001-07:00

I'm so easy. I can get hooked straight with words such as made in the Philippines, Pure Castile Soap, olive oil, virgin coconut oil, no additives or enhancers. They are music to my ears when it comes to products. I wonder how I can get this past hubby when we've stocked up more than a dozen of the last batch we bought. Probably not a whole lot of passing past him over this but I'll think of a way. Maybe not this month but there's always a someday.

Meanwhile, happy dance and thank you to the commenter who told me about Casa de Lorenzo. I'm looking forward to some spending and experimenting from this. Free delivery is also yay...

Pictures from the product website.

Review: Anthology Piccadilly Blue

2012-10-21T17:52:00.002-07:00

I so wish my feet aren’t as sensitive as they are as this pair of dotted banana flats from Anthology are too adorable not to be worn but they are and I don't think I'll wear them as often as I wish I could. Or maybe after a month, my feet will get used to them and I'd be able to do so. A girl can hope.

I already loved these before I even bought them when they came out a few months ago. The mismatched pair of dotted bow-tied shoes totally captures my whimsy. When they were delivered the other day, the rubber soles and the soft, soft inner soles just made my day. They seemed so perfect, really.

But when I spent the day in them, It was too much for me. The elastic around the edges of the shoes pulled slowly but surely, getting tighter and tighter. It fit so perfectly at first but by the end of the day, I was giving up the fight. I’m just not the type to give up comfort over vanity.

Maybe I can alleviate the hurting until I get used to them by buying something to put in between but I'm not sure how that will work out. I just want to wear these as much as possible. They look too pretty to be left at home.

Looked Up: Zuru Robo Fish

2012-10-19T17:53:00.001-07:00

I’m loving the concept of the Robo Fish. We have a little blue fighting fish at home that has survived quite a long time in spite of living in a space much smaller than a fish bowl. My mother got it for the little babe to play with but he really can’t do anything more than stare at it as fish and baby don’t really match.

With the Robo Fish, all those worries over the fish can go out the window. He can poke it, play with it, even in the tub when he takes a bath because it’s going to wiggle its little robotic heart’s out as long as there is water. Battery life is a little harsh for these little things. It supposedly lasts only 2 hours. We’ll see.

I’d like to disclaim that we have no plans of baby playing with the thing unsupervised. He really is never unsupervised. This thing has parts that can be swallowed and stuff like that are never a good thing.

Video from youtube.

Haul: Human Nature

2012-10-19T12:11:00.002-07:00

At our last grocery stop, I’ve decided to try some more Human Nature products. I got the Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner in Lush Vanilla, a toner and a feminine wash. There were some other stuff I wanted to try from them but I was sneaking them past my hubby into the cart so I didn’t bother getting a ton. Also, it’s available online so I could order there.

I’ve been using their shampoo for a while and I didn’t bother to get a bigger bottle because the small ones suit me just fine. When shampooing normally, you only need to wash the scalp area really, because that’s where the oil and dirt gets trapped and the ends are too dry to strip of their remaining oils. I can’t smell right now because of a cold so I have to trust in hubby’s olfactory nerves that the Lush Vanilla smells delicious.

The conditioner, I decided on getting in the big bottle because I have no compunction in slicking it in and all over the strands. I like that the dispenser isn’t one of those things you have to screw up and then end up making a ton of mess because you have to push it all the way down after and getting way more than you wanted to in the first place. But on the con, you’re gonna have to pump a whole lot to get the amount you want.

I don’t ask for much from my shampoo other than not having any SLS. As for conditioner, I used to subscribe to the thought that silicones are key but with most of my hair not having gone through a lot of processing lately, I’ve realized that nourishing it to make it softer is better than coating it with something slippery to make it smoother. The long-term benefit is always more important than the short-term one.

As for the toner, I got the one for sensitive and normal skin. I used to use products for oily and combination skin but as I use plant oils as moisturizer instead of lotions nowadays, the sebum on my face has normalized and do not overproduce anymore so I can get away with the mid-range products these days. However, even without being oily, I still get my break-outs and I’ve decided to try toners to prevent them.

I wanted to try a different product but I figured I’d try this one first so as to know if I might be too sensitive. So far, I’ve felt a little sting but I can’t judge it as of yet because I’ve only used it for today. I’ll write a proper review once I finish off the bottle.

For the feminine wash, I don't have much to say other than that it’s very cooling. The bottle is very small but one is instructed to use a pea-sized amount that will probably last a while. I’m satisfied so far.

Human Nature is really surprising and I can’t help but feel a little stupid for not having tried them earlier. The prices may be a little higher than my old brands and they may not seem like much at first but continued use makes me a believer.

Sorry for the crappy backgrounds.

Looked Up: VMV Hypoallergenics Make-Up sale

2012-10-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

The lipstick and the gloss is on sale if you buy one of each at their specialty boutiques and at the Landmark.

I have never regretted buying their products and their 50% off sales are the best. Also, I still don't have the perfect lipstick shade and I'm going to search high and low to get the absolute most perfect one ever.

The eyeshadow, powder and blush are on sale too, at 40% off. The packaging is great, I can't deny and the hypoallergenic numbers are so good but should I get one of each?

The ingredients are the tops (from the product website) :
Green tea and rice phytic acid for antioxidant benefits.

Virgin coconut oil for intensive moisturization.
Monolaurin for skin-safe disinfection.
Titanium dioxide + iron oxide pigments for added sun protection.

But should I get them now or should I wait a little more for their Christmas packages? I know those ones will be great too. I have till the end of the month to decide.

Pictures from the product website.