Kenosha says...

Spending Midsummer in Finland (Juhannus) For The First Time

2013-10-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

It was quite a memorable and lovely experience spending 2013 midsummer in Finland (June 21)...the sun never sets and I had to make a conscious effort to take a nap or sleep before midnight or else I will never get over the sore throat I have acquired on my 5th day of visit!

Before anything else, here is a list of items I packed and I suggest you should too if you are thinking of visiting Finland (during its midsummer) for the first time:
1. A reliable thick all-around jacket with hood and pockets
2. plenty of socks or tights
3. scarves
4. shirt for those weird times that the weather in Helsinki is at 28C (I found it funny that they call this "oppresively hot" weather...at least coming from the PHL, 28C is already heaven-sent!)
5. a good camera with reliable memory cards (the nature views are spectacular, take note if you have a wide-angle lens, please do not hesitate to bring it)
6. sunglasses
7. sunscreen
8. lip balm
9. formal wear for some formal gatherings
10. leather boots for some hiking or cherry picking
11. bathing suit for the sauna and swimming in the lake (I do not do the nude, sorry..When in Rome, I still do not do as the Romans do...)
12. shoes that are fine to get wet, i suggest crocs - good for lake visits like rowing and simply admiring the view
13. Multivitamins and Vitamin C to prevent getting sick on a lovely holiday
14. Do not forget to bring at least 2 pairs of jeans, thicker the better
15. Pasalubong - the Filipino culture of bringing "pasalubong" (items or food brought to places you would be going to OR items/food brought to PHL friends and relatives from where you came from) is never lost in me. I brought very rare and authentic Barako coffee beans (Liberica) as well as Filipino sweets that everyone from Finland fortunately took to liking :)

The first thing I noticed when Finnair was about to land in Helsinki Vantaa Airport was that Finland is thick with trees! The city was a grid of trees. I can tell right away that the visit will do my lungs good-- all that clean air!

20 things I loved about Juhannus and my visit to Finland:
1. The sun never sets!
2. Barbecue!!!
3. Unlimited Sauna as long as you like
4. I can get lost in the view of the lake

5. The color of the sky and the silvery puffy clouds

6. Licorice:I have never been weirded out by licorice so bring it on Licorice candy, licorice ice cream, licorice shots (yes alcohol! and I loved it)
7. Seeing rudolph(s) for the first time and actually eating rudolph's meat!!!

8. the weather
9. the people are very polite
10. I appreciate the Finn culture of not being wasteful: that I learned to finish the food on my plate all the time!
11. rowing on the lake, of course I wasn't the one doing the actual rowing

12. Waking up in the morning and getting out on the front porch to admire the lake view

13. Sausages and steaks
14. Kallen Fish roe

15. Finnish mustard is not sour at all!
16. I have tasted cider in all possible fruity flavors

17. The trains reach all over the country, are reliable,clean, and they tell you if the ride is going to be late and in how many minutes.
18. Finnish ice cream
19. watching the opera for the first time, it was at Savonlinna Castle
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=savonlinna&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=WDlWUufsJOTsiAeP_YHgAQ&ved=0CEEQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=677&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=kxBQDw1uwicNVM%3A%3BAzbxm7SVAk5FdM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwikitravel.org%252Fupload%252Fshared%252F%252Fthumb%252F2%252F2b%252FSavonlinna_hein%2525C3%2525A4kuu_2002_IMG_1635.JPG%252F400px-Savonlinna_hein%2525C3%2525A4kuu_2002_IMG_1635.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwikitravel.org%252Fen%252FSavonlinna%3B400%3B300

20. Heureka (body shots museum) - this is a nice museum showing real human body parts, cross sections or actual preserved, isolated, and chemically treated muscles, nerves, bones, etc... Truly amazing and interesting!

My visit to Finland was a truly lovely one...I am a very lucky girl! I wish I can come back again next year 2014 :) But that is a very very very fancy wish............ We will see!

What To Wear in Manila

2013-06-12T01:58:00.002-07:00

I have not been prepared for the rain last night. Luckily I had my really big samurai umbrella so I quickly went back to my office desk and took out that umbrella. If you have ever been in Manila, you will know that a little rain can really change the world. That is when transportation becomes scarce, people flock for cover in one small spot, and seriously with all that rain you would expect a little change in the weather, but no. It is still as hot as a summer’s day.

I always joked that in Manila there are only 2 seasons: summer and summer. It may rain and we might enjoy a bit of warmth, but quickly soon, it will just be as humid as it had always been.

So if you are travelling to Manila for the first time, what should you bring?

January to February is the best time to visit Manila. It is warm and windy, with very little chance of rain. You would be very comfortable in jeans and shirt and maybe even add a hoodie to help at night or if the airconditioning gets the temperature down low. By March, it will start to get hot so do not bother with scarves and jackets, you won’t be needing them. Rather focus on looking for beach wear in preparation for April to May which are the best months to hit the beach. You can book a flight from Manila with no problem, but promo flights will be impossible by April. Everybody goes to the beach at this month.

In some years, rains may come as early as May but they normally are prevalent in June to July. Come these 2 months, the better to have boots. Yes, rain boots! It doesn’t matter if they can just reach up to your ankles, as long as they cover your feet.

Flood in Manila can be bad, especially on great rains. So make sure that if there is an advisory on a storm, stay at home or in your hotel. Some malls are open even during the storm, and as you might think they can be a safe haven, it still depends on the sewerage system of that town. June and July can have typhoons or none at all, just non-stop rain for no reason. Pack a foldable umbrella.

There is no dramatic change in weather during August. It can be really hot and then switch to rains, and then back to hot again. You can visit beaches if there is no typhoon. That would in fact be a great thing to do in August to September as it is the off-peak season for the resorts – rooms are cheaper and you won’t get annoyed because there are only a few people in the beach. There are people, just not as thick as in April-May. Make sure to pack a bottle of insect-repellant when you hit the beach or if you decide to attend some nature trips away from Manila.

September is the time when people start believing that Christmas has started. In Manila, the first day of September will be time to greet everyone Merry Christmas. Yes, it is the beginning of the “ber” months. Don’t get fooled though, it won’t get cold or warm. It will still be as hot as a summer’s day.

October and November can get rainy, some floods can happen, so pack a pair of rain boots or buy from Manila. There are a lot of cheap stuff in malls and flea markets, if just to get you through the puddles. I cannot say much for October, but this is quite a nice time to check out the bars. Year round, there can be a lot of happy hours, however, I would suggest hitting the bars during October because odd as it may sound, Manila observes the Oktoberfest in this month. Good food, cheaper cocktail selections versus other countries, and there is always a reason to buy a bottle of beer because not only does beer taste great in Manila, it is also affordable. Attending Oktoberfest doesn’t mean it is expensive, there are many offerings that can get you not just a beer, but whatever you want to drink, on a promo. Just make sure to pick a good bar that offers your favorites. They are usually low priced, as long as you are not in a hotel or a very fancy bar. Some bars in Manila often ask for proper attire – men cannot wear open-toed footwear and short pants. Women can wear anything except flipflops.

November can get really exciting. Christmas is fast approaching and every place in Manila will surely have the most intricate Christmas lights at night. There will be a lot of promotions, choir shows and carol contests in the malls and parks.

In December, avoid the malls if you hate the crowd. Everyone either does or pretends to finish the Christmas shopping. In reality, the shopping – online, window, or real – never ends. People are just comfortable in the malls because the airconditioning can be awesome. Yes, December can still pack on some heat. You can still wear shorts and thin cotton shirts. December is also a time for endless Christmas dinners and get-togethers. It is the only time that friends realize they can meet and catch up, companies conduct their annual Christmas parties, hotels prepare for their Christmas and New Year gimmicks. Every function room, bar, or hotel can be fully booked on all the Friday nights of December. If you want to meet a lot of people, December in Manila is great :)

Napoleon Perdis Mascara : Review

2013-04-14T01:33:00.002-07:00

Product Description:

"Fluttery will get you everywhere” - NAPOLEON Embrace your inner screen siren with the ultimate pick-me-up. This innovative formula delivers lash-loving conditioning, thanks to Allantoin, Candelilla Wax and Beeswax. Anti-irritant ingredients make it ideal for sensitive souls. A double shot of black pigment sets the stage for intense dramatic eyes. The bent wand applicator acts as a built-in lash curler and gives good contour and control over unruly lashes. Now you're ready for your close-up!

I started using my Napoleon Perdis Long Black Mascara in Double Black last week.
It is actually not "long", it is very short and tiny! (But I think it is because mine is the sample size!)

Loved the packaging, it is a gold tube all over. Opening it for the first time, as soon as I popped out the brush, I immediately loved that it is angled. Products with such attention to detail catch my attention because this means the brand also considers ease of use.

The consistency is thick and it might seem clumpy but no! Thanks to its brush, it separates each lash strand and the end effect is just wispy, I love it! You can see from the bottle that there are wispy hair-like material coming out, but there are no extenders or fibers on this formulation. That's all just mascara. I am also surprised that although it seems like a dry formulation, building it up won't cause any flaking, clumping, or any sort of sticky feel (I have had mascaras that somehow make my upper and lower lash stick together each time I blink!).

Because the brush is short, I can easily have that doll-eyed look by putting some in my lower lash. Again, it adds to the overall wispy fluttery eye look!

You can check out this product at their website: http://napoleonperdis.com/usa/makeup/eyes/mascara/long-black-mascara.html

Faster Way to Apply for NBI Clearance

2013-03-28T03:40:00.001-07:00

The best way to apply for the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) Clearance would be to:

1. Have a globe mobile number

2. Have a personal email address

3. Be in metro manila to make use of this method of application

In paying via Gcash, it also means you must have a globe number. Also, after paying (Fee varies depending on the purpose of applying for the NBI Clearance), you need to use a globe number to send them a text message. This text message is your appointment schedule for your photo and biometrics.

Purpose of Application and Clearance Fee

P415.00

Naturalization

Cancellation of Alien Certificate

Of Registration (ACR)

Repatriation

P165.00

Business Requirement

Change of Name

Permit to Carry Firearms

Adoption

NFA, POEA, PRA, SEC Requirement

P115.00

Travel Abroad

Visa Seaman

Local Employment

Other Requirement

Choose a globe store which has very minimal people and transactions because you will fall in line for the NBI Clearance payment. After payment, you will receive an email stating a reference number and steps on how to schedule your appointment via text messaging. This is what you need to send:

BOOK<space>Ref#<space>LocationCode<space>MMDDYYYY<space>HHMM<space>Name

Sample: BOOK AAAABT9 NBIMAIN 11202011 0800 Juan dela Cruz

Send to 09175638054

You have to choose an office (or satellite office) to schedule your appointment, that is what the location code is for. I listed the outlets below with the corresponding text location code. Only people who are in metro manila can avail of this process because only metro manila offices have the location code.

After 2 hours, I received a confirmation schedule. It was 2 hours off my requested hour of appointment but it is still the same day I requested for so it was fine. I went to the satellite office immediately, and did not have to fall in line. They took my photo and biometrics, and then they told me to come back in 7 days. A piece of paper will be handed over to you with a schedule of your return. You will have to surrender this paper on the said schedule.

I returned 7 days after (including weekends in this count) and I got my clearance after 7 minutes.

NBI Clearance Outlet Address

NBI MAIN OFFICE

U. N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila

8AM-5PM

Text Code: NBIMAIN

ROBINSONS PLACE ERMITA

Basement I Ermita, Manila

10AM-7PM

Text Code: ROBERMITA

ROBINSONS OTIS

Level 2 Guanzon St Paco, Mla

10AM-7PM

Text Code: ROBOTIS

ROBINSONS GALLERIA

Basement I Ortigas Ave QC

10AM-7PM

Text Code: ROBGALLERIA

ROBINSONS METRO EAST

Level 4 Marcos Hi-way Pasig

10AM-7PM

Text Code: ROBEAST

ROBINSONS NOVALICHES

Novaliches, Quezon City

10AM-7PM

Text Code: ROBNOVA

EVER GOTESCO MALL RECTO

3rd Flr Cinema 3 Recto Ave, Mla

8AM-5PM

Text Code: EVERRECTO

EVER COMMONWEALTH

2nd Flr Cinema I Comm., QC

8AM-5PM

Text Code: EVERCOM

Schengen Visa for Filipinos Going to Finland

2013-03-28T02:41:00.004-07:00

My experience in applying for a Schengen visa was a breeze and I would like to share it with you. I applied for a tourist visa, going mainly to Finland, and as such I went through the embassy of Finland in the Philippines. My hosts are 3 of my good friends so the classification falls under: Visiting relatives/friends.

First of all, the Finnish Embassy in Manila may be contacted through the same office of the Norwegian Embassy in Manila (NEM) which is at the 21st Floor, Petron Mega Plaza Building, 358 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue 1209 Makati City, Metro Manila. The street is formerly known as Buendia. As such, the website for the requirements also goes through the NEM website.

At first, the website (http://www.norway.ph) was quite intimidating; simply because I was scared I might land into a different embassy. The NEM also handles the visa applications for all Nordic countries (Iceland, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Denmark). But nothing to worry! All you need to do is click on this link http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/ and choose which country you are planning to apply a Schengen Visa for. Since my main purpose for the travel is to visit friends in Finland and not to go on a tour, I am sure that my main destination is Finland. If you are backpacking or going to a cruise or a tour, this is not the visa application for you. Such type falls under Tourism (Organized tours, or private tours) and the Schengen visa will have to applied from the embassy of the country where you will have the most number of days of stay. For this matter, I am only going to speak of my experience in applying for a Schengen Visa with Finland as the main destination, and “Visiting Friends” as the category.

The following are the categories which will have different checklists. All of the categories listed below may be found at the right column of this web page: http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/Visa-and-Res-permits/Schengen-Visa-Finland-Type-C/

To visit daughter/son

To visit mother/father

To visit sister/brother

To visit spouse

To visit fiance/boyfriend/girlfriend

To visit other relatives/friends

Business trip

Tourism

Seafarer who will be joining a vessel/transit

Seafarer who will attend meetings/trainings

Upon downloading the checklist, you will find all the documents you need to prepare for the interview, filed in that list’s order, with 2 copies: The original and the photocopy. The requirements are pretty much the same, but the questions at the second page differ. Basically, it asks about your purpose for travelling to Finland, who is going to shoulder your travel and accommodation, the name of your sponsor(s) and how you met them, etc. This checklist has to be signed by you.

Even if you have two copies of the required documents, you only need to submit one picture. Just go to any Kodak store or a studio that does visa photos and they will know what to do when you tell them you need a photo for Schengen visa. I only paid Kodak PhP75.00 for four copies of my Schengen Visa photo. As for all other documents, the embassy took all originals except for my travel insurance certificate and my payslips for the recent 3 months. I gave them photocopies of both travel insurance certificate and payslips.

TRAVEL INSURANCE & FLIGHT BOOKING

I had this arranged for me by this travel agency:

St. Raphael Travel & Tours (SRTT)

Unit 105 State Condominuim Bldg.

Ortigas Avenue Greenhills

San Juan City 1500

Tel: 724 8098 Telefax: 724 1629

Office hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-12pm Sat

Website: www.santraphael.com

SRTT is very courteous and prompt in responding by email. You may also contact them over the phone and they are very happy to assist you. I have purchased my tickets to and from John F. Kennedy Airport from them and I did not hesitate to try asking for their assistance for the Travel Insurance and my flight booking reservation for Finland.

SRTT bought my travel insurance from Blue Cross (http://www.bluecross.com.ph/). You have the option to contact Blue Cross personally. However, SRTT responds faster. In my email to SRTT, I need to give them the following information:

Name

Date of birth

Age

Home address

Telephone number

Benefiiciary and relation w/ beneficiary

I also indicated that I need coverage for a specific number of days, and the specific dates of my travel. The requirement for insurance coverage when travelling to any Schengen area is 30,000 Euros. I added 2 days for the travel insurance to cover me (1) the moment I leave the country before I even reach the Schengen Area and (2) just in case my flight gets delayed. All in all, I paid PhP2,453.40 via BPI bank deposit (This amount may depend on the number of days you wish to be covered with insurance worth 30,000 Euros). I emailed them a picture of the bank deposit slip and in 2 days, my Travel Insurance Certificate is at the address I told them to send it to. Just in case your visa is disapproved, you can return the certificate to SRTT and they will return the amount you paid, less PhP350 for assisting you with the insurance.

Now for the flight booking, SRTT can give you 2-3 weeks of reservation. It is impossible to do this online as those budget deals will ask you to purchase the ticket on the spot. Even the embassy tells you not to buy the tickets but simply to book them. So there was really no other choice but to get an agency to do that for you. SRTT does not charge you for anything in making this reservation, but be courteous enough to cancel or confirm – using it or not.

It is important that you follow all the requirements of the checklist. It took me a month to have everything completed leisurely. Actually it was 26 days in total, and I even got an NBI Clearance just in case, but it is not needed. I repeat: The Finnish embassy does not require you to submit NBI Clearance so you can take away that hassle. I will post a separate blog about my experience in getting my NBI clearance and you can get that from this link (http://bengmercado.blogspot.com/2013/03/faster-way-to-apply-for-nbi-clearance.html).

There was one boo boo for me. I did the online visa application through the Application Portal Norway link (link may be found in this page http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/Visa-and-Res-permits/Schengen-Visa-Finland-Type-C/) and accidentally submitted it to the Norwegian Embassy in Helsinki instead of Manila. Luckily, an officer from the Helsinki embassy forwarded my application to the NEM and also took the time to email me that he did it but I need to call the NEM at once. I did call, and the NEM officers were very nice. They made a manual booking for me, only because I can no longer edit my application to my desired interview schedule. The mistake made it impossible for me to schedule my interview, as I submitted it to a faraway embassy, what a boo boo!

You are allowed to schedule your appointment at most 3 months prior to your travel date. I applied exactly 3 months because I do not want to purchase expensive flight tickets which usually happens just because your travel dates are fast approaching.

THE ACTUAL INTERVIEW

My appointment was for 10:15. I arrived at Petron Mega Plaza at 9:45am. You will not go inside the building. First, you must go through the side, a security guard can tell you were the NEM office is for Schengen Visa applicants. Here is where they screen your documents and do the actual interview. I was 30 minutes advanced but that is okay because they will ask you to take out all your documents from your folder or envelope and file them in the checklist’s order. The security asked me to turn off my cellphone, and made me leave both my precious bag and cellphone in a pigeon hole near the entrance. A card with a number was given to me that I may use to retrieve my stuff after the interview.

At exactly 10:30 AM, my name was called and I was asked to go to one of the tables occupied by an interview officer. The front desk lady, a very respectable one, gave me the first name of the interviewer. The names of the interviewers are by the way posted on their desks.

The interviewers/consuls were all Filipinos. Mine was a very nice, no-nonsense Filipina. It was not an intimidating experience at all. She was the same person who was kind enough to make a manual booking appointment for me, because she recognized me when I mentioned it. The atmosphere was very encouraging and not at all judgmental. There was never a sign of prejudice on anything whether it be your clothing, manner of speaking, relationship with the hosts. They were not nosy at all and pretty much stuck with only what is necessary for me to share. I would say it only took a maximum of 15 minutes for me. She also encoded my 2 other hosts’ names and details because the application portal only allows you to plug in one name for your host. There was no need to show photos as proof of my relationship and time together with any of my hosts, however, I brought print outs just in case. I have read in some blogs that other embassies accept photos as proof. That was not the case for my application to Finland.

What I find very odd is that the other applicants seem to not have any idea about the checklist. The front desk lady even hands it to them and it seems like that was the only time they saw the checklist. As a result, some had to leave the embassy to take photocopies of the pages of their passports with stamps, and pages that indicate they have visas to other countries. I was just surprised because the checklist also requires that you submit the proof that your host and you were together at some point (like stamps in the passport indicating an entry to the Philippines when your host visited you, or stamps in other countries that you had a vacation together, or if you visited your host some time in the past). How are you gonna get a copy of the used pages in your host's passport on the same day you are being interviewed? However, I have heard from a friend whose parent also applied for a visa to Finland that the embassy usually will tell you to come back with the missing documents and will email you if your visa has been approved. But who wants that hassle? Of course you want to do it right the first time! Try to be as complete in your documents as possible, sticking to the requirements stated in the checklist. If you do so, it is as easy as a few minutes and you are done with the interview.

The consul stamped a page on my passport (a box frame using a rubber stamp with a date on it, which later I understood serves to indicate the page where they are sticking the Schengen visa on) and wrote something on my application paper. She told me to proceed to the 21^st floor, handing me a card which will serve as my proof that I have been to the interview. I went up, and the embassy at the 21^st floor had two people: One security guard, and another man in blue barong whom I later found out to be a local policeman – a requirement for the NEM’s protection. I was told by the security to proceed and take my seat because I will be the next to approach the window. After 7 minutes, I approached the window, I submitted all documents by sliding it through the hole below the window. The Filipino guy in the window asked me my full name, which country I am headed, and if I am visiting friends (to the last question, I only answered a short "Yes"). Then he told me to face the camera, took a click and informed me that an email will be sent to the address I indicated in the application form. This email will tell me how to proceed. I clearly asked the following:

1. Q: Am I picking up my passport or are they shipping it to my address?
A: The email you will receive will tell you how to proceed.

2. Q: Does this mean my visa has been approved?
A: This means we are processing your visa.

So I left and told myself, waiting is the only thing I can do now. Total time passed was an hour and 15 minutes including my early arrival to the interview area.

Fastest processing time ever – Credits to the Norwegian Embassy in Manila! I applied on a Friday morning, and at 10:56 AM Monday morning, almost the same time as I went up the 21^st floor last Friday, I got the email to pick up my visa. That was fast! I quickly went to the embassy and showed the security guard a print out of the letter. The only bad experience about this was that the policeman was very rude. At first he will intimidate you by asking if you have ever received a call from the embassy which was really odd because calls are so retro. Why would the embassy bother to call me when it was mentioned to me personally that I will receive an email. So next the policeman asked what time I was asked to retrieve my passport. I said there wasn’t any specific time, just that it was today. I recognized that the security guard is the right person to talk to because he was expecting the letter print out, like he knows what document to ask for, which I gladly handed over. The security guard joked and told me “Ma’am, there is a time, it is 9am-3pm,” and he smiled, obviously just kidding me. The policeman however took this seriously and told me “Huwag mong sasabihing walang oras kung meron!” (Do not say there is no specified time when there is). To which I replied that the time stated was their normal office hours. And then he muttered to me “Suplada!” which means sarcastic/curt / trying to be smart. I was bewildered that a policeman for the embassy had the audacity to say that to me. He was not there to say those words. He was not there to intimidate people. He was not there to raise issues about me, an applicant who was just approved of a visa and has every right to retrieve my own passport. He is simply there to ensure the safety and security of the embassy, nothing more and nothing less. I raised this issue to the consul at the window, she was the same person who interviewed me. She told me to submit my concern to the chancery office. I was like never mind. I mentioned this to the ground floor where I retrieved my ID and the security guard there took my story and told me that he will relay the complaint to his supervisor. All in all, who cares? This is just a warning for future applicants, if the policeman there stays the same – both in person or in attitude.

The visa indicated the exact date of departure in my flight, so it pretty strict. If you want extra days, in the beginning you should have applied for a travel insurance coverage for so and so days and flight booking for that period, and the approved vacation leaves by your employer. These are the 3 major considerations for me. They did add a 16 day grace period but I can only use this if I am unable to take my return flight due to sickness or any flight delays. For sickness, I am sure they will require me to hand over a medical certificate.

It was an easy and efficient process, but the details should all match and your documents must be complete. I am really impressed by the embassy’s efficiency. Best ever! Now all I have to do is plan my itinerary because this girl is going to Finland! :)

Lorac Lips with Benefits Lip Gloss : Review

2013-03-24T05:44:00.002-07:00

There is that moment when you find the best among the many lip glosses you have ever tried. For me it is the Lorac Lips with Benefits Lip Gloss that came from their TANtalizer line. The color I have is Andy. I like this product because its color is a very warm shade of nude-baby pink, which matches a lot of skin tones and does great wonders with a smokey eye make up. I also like that it smells and tastes like choco candy. It is really a treat for the lips!

The name mentions "lips with benefits". I never noticed that it does anything super special to my lips but it keeps my lips soft without any annoying greasy or chunky feel. The scent and the consistency of this lip gloss will just make your day because it goes on light, and one application is sometimes enough for your day wear makeup --that is if you have not yet gotten addicted to its scent!

The tube comes with an applicator that gets stuck back inside. However, I never noticed it smelling funny, it still smells like choco candy. Just one note: I use this almost everyday, so it will be hard to expect it to get stale.

Indeed this lip gloss is a must buy :) Highly recommended!

I do not know if Lorac still sells this color but you can check out their website: http://www.loraccosmetics.com/make-up_lips-with-benefits.html

I cannot remember how much I got this but mine came from a full TANtalizer box set. Please, feel free to try it. You will not be disappointed.

Easy to order lunch at Teriyaki Boy

2013-02-02T02:49:00.003-08:00

I was really craving for Japanese food the other day and this combination is probably the easiest to order: An order of Salmon Sashimi, Gyoza, and Gohan rice.

Frozen when served so i had to let it thaw out a bit

This Gyoza is a light kind of pork dumpling, I also like the texture of the wrapping

Served with house tea

Up close

I also like the soy-based sauce that Teriaki Boy serves with this Gyoza, it amplifies the taste of the dumplings!

This whole meal is PhP 380.00

Bibimbap from Bulgogi Brothers : Review

2013-02-02T02:30:00.002-08:00

First time to try out this nice restaurant called Bulgogi Brothers and you bet I ordered the classic Korean food: Bibimbap.

First to arrive were the appetizers corn on the cob : about 2 slices as shown above, 3 pieces of quail eggs, and 2 small pieces of sweet potatoes, sweet and fresh!

Next to arrive was the complimentary hot tea.

Next were these appetizers: Salad greens with balsamic dressing, eggplant, radish kimchi, and kimchi. These appetizers alone can make me full, but it also gave me the feeling of eating in a classic Korean restaurant!

Here comes the main event: My Bibimbap! It is a medley of vegetables combined with sticky rice and fresh egg added on top, served on a hot ceramic bowl.

There was also a miso soup and of course the korean spicy red sauce to complete my Bibimbap experience!

Here it is up close. I loved their Bibimbap because you can tell that every ingredient is fresh and the taste was not shortchanged. It is however not an everyday kind of meal because it can be quite pricey. This meal is PhP430. The service is great, they were very attentive, although I cannot say for sure on a peak hour because I had a late lunch around 2PM.

Really nice table with drawers where you can get table napkins, etc.

Bulgogi Brothers coaster on your table

Tong Garden Pumpkin Seeds : No need to pop

2013-02-02T01:48:00.002-08:00

Tired of popping a pumpkin seed but couldn't resist this snack? Well look what I just found: the Tong Garden brand of pumpkin seeds spiced with paprika: You can eat the pumpkin seed without the need to remove the skin! It is really crunchy and less of a hassle to eat. Sure they say you took out all the challenge of eating this but who cares? It tastes great!

This pack is 170 calories and retails for 36PhP in 7-11 stores. In groceries, it will just be about PhP23.00

Try it!

Bestseller Ensaymada and Mamon

2013-01-26T02:02:00.000-08:00

If you are anywhere near San Pedro Laguna, be sure to get to one of the branches of Universal Bakery. One is at Pacita Complex (National Road), San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines
and the other branch is along San Pedro highway beside McDonald's.

The right columns in this box are the ensaymadas and the left columns (light buttery color) are the mamons

The specialties are the Ensayamada (has really great-tasting bacon slices and bits inside) and the mamon. Both are really good treats! It is that kind of pastry that has become a local favorite and everyone I have given these stuff to would always come to me just to say they finished both in under 2 minutes. Well who wouldn't? Try it out! The ensaymada retails for PhP20 each while the mamon is sold for only PhP15.

Unboxing the Glamourbox : Review

2013-01-25T18:42:00.003-08:00

I just heard of this website patterned after US sample sites. For a fee of PhP595, you will get a box of make-up and beauty products (www.glamourbox.ph). I am a fan of online shopping and I am so glad whenever a new one comes for the Philippine market because I envy other countries with a wide range of online shopping options.

The February box got sold out too fast! I opted to buy their November box, no discounts, but still available. I paid on a Tuesday night, emailed them the following day for confirmation of my box delivery date. The customer service was quick to reply saying it will arrive by Friday. True enough, on Friday afternoon, I got my box! And here is the verdict. But before that, let me show you the description of the box to kind of give you an idea what made me want to buy the November box, apart from the fact that I wanted to try this site.

Here is the link for the description of the November box for you to see: https://glamourbox.ph/index.php/view/box/9

PREMIERE GLAMOURBOX

Finally, our first Glamourbox is out! This month, we trotted from East to West to bring you beauty innovations from all over the map. We hope you'll enjoy this box as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

1. Eye of Horus Mascara

If you’re after perfect natural mascara that won’t run, smudge or clump, Eye of Horus natural mascara is exactly what you are looking for. Formulated in the style of the ancient Egyptia...

2. Shiseido WrinkleResist24 Night Emulsion

An age-defying nighttime moisturizer that intensively addresses lines and wrinkles before they become more serious. Offers visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles, and helps promote silky s...

3. Shiseido WrinkleResist24 Balancing Softener

A comprehensive age-defying lotion that contains the effective ingredients to challenge signs of skin aging. By generously moisturizing the skin, this sumptuous softener instantly helps to retextur...

4. Shiseido Pop-Up Mask

A concentrated treatment sheet mask that encourages skin's natural recovery function and provides a rich infusion of moisture to help improve texture. Restores youthful suppleness and radiance with...

5. Shiseido WrinkleResist24 Night Cream

An age-defying nighttime moisturizer that intensively addresses lines and wrinkles before they become more serious. Offers visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles, and helps promote silky smooth skin...

6. Shiseido WrinkleResist24 Day Cream

A powerful protective day cream created especially for mature skin experiencing wrinkles, discolouration, and loss of resilience associated with hormonal changes due to aging.

7. Ofra Lip Palette

A professional magnetic palette developed by OFRA Cosmetics, a Florida based company. It contains a playful array of clear, light pink, dark pink, burgundy, orange tone, light brown and dark brown …

8. Yves Rocher Slimming Action Concentrate

Anti-cellulite action. 3 times more effective than caffeine , the green coffee bean slows down the storage and therefore the pressure of fatty cells and the skin appears smoother.

9. Calvin Klein Eternity Acqua Fragrance

10. ETERNITY AQUA

11. Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste

12. Bvlgari Man

13. Burberry Sport

Now for these descriptions, one would assume I would get everything right? Here are pics of what I got. See below.

What I am excited to try: Eye of Horus Mascara

Which sizes I loved the most: Again, the mascara, Ofra Lip Palette, and Yves Rocher Slimming Action Concentrate

Look! There's a 200php voucher for Yves Rocher!

Ofra Lip Palette

Areas for improvement:

I am a fan of Shiseido skin care products, I think they are the most amazing skin maintenance products for my skin type. I know how much the Shiseido brand sells for and it is no problem if I can only get small testers for their Benefiance line. This was my greatest reason for buying the old November box. I perfectly remember the description on the boutique page of glamourbox.ph said I will get one of each Shiseido product, unless it was misleading. I only got a tiny tube of Benefiance WrinkleResiste24 Day Cream. I only got 9 out of 13 items in the list above.

Here are the perfumes, in mini tester sizes:

I have a lot of high hopes for glamourbox. I hope they beef up on the contents. The descriptions can get the products sold, no doubt. They got me buying!

I also hope a site will be able to send out not just tester sizes but mini replica sizes. Like smaller counterparts but same bottle design (as for perfumes), and skin care products too.

My verdict: For the price of PhP595, I cannot complain because I did get a nice size of mascara that I am excited to try. The Yves Rocher is also in a nice size and the Ofra lip palette would be nice to test. However, I will subscribe (like pay for a straight year) monthly if only there would be more in the box that would be in nice sizes. I did not get some of the Shiseido products I was looking forward to, and I also expected nice sizes for the perfumes (not tester sizes). I do not mind it if I only get:

a) A few items if the sizes are good. Or

b) Plenty of small sizes but the description itemizes which ones I am really gonna get. No misleading descriptions whatsoever, that is bad marketing for me. The kind that won't get you more repeat buyers or subscriptions.

~~~~~~~~ Feb 2, 2013~~~~~~~~~
I have tried some items and here are my comments:
1. Eternity Aqua is surprisingly a nice scent, I love it! I never thought it would be far from the other aqua type perfumes out there. This one is lovable and fresh yet feminine.
2. Ofra Lip palette tastes bitter, yuck!
3. Eye of Horus Natural Mascara does just as is promised: A natural looking set of lashes. It did not say it was waterproof but when you take it off with your usual facial wash, it comes off easy but it looks like the particles that get removed have the same consistency of a waterproof mascara. It also does not smudge or clump. It won't give you thicker-looking lashes but it will give you natural looking defined lashes.
4. Shiseido wrinkle resist - I love every skin care of Shiseido but this one has fragrance that I think is not necessary for being a skincare product. All the same, I still love it. Too small a pack for me to tell the effects as of now though but I trust this brand as I have been using their Moisture night Recharge for years and it does make my skin get back it elasticity the following morning.
5. Bvlgari Omnia Amethyst - scent doesn't last long on my skin, maybe the chemistry of this perfume is not suited for my skin's acidity.

My Urban Decay Book of Shadows III Redux

2013-01-22T03:41:00.000-08:00

Oh my lover! Urban Decay is just an amazing brand and amazing styles too! I have been using my Urban Decay Book of Shadows III (Redux version) for over a month now and I swear everyday, every color is still a surprise.

It looks like a book and it has this top cover that pops up into my beloved city of New York. It even lights up! Oh so glamorous, as if you have your own mini vanity mirror. The mini lights turn off after a while so do not worry about the batteries. I do not know how to replace the battery though, hahaha...

The eyeshadows are on a slide case at the front. 16 amazing eyeshadow colors that are probably in their 'de luxe" portfolio. Here they are row by row, left to right:
Oil Slick - Black with diamond shimmer
Uzi - Silver with diamond shimmer
Stray Dog - bronze
Mildew - Green
Midnight Cowboy Rides Again - Pale gold with diamond shimmer
SWF - baby pink with shimmer
Last Call - Raspberry with shimmer (I love combining this with smog for my eyebrows to match my red hair color)
Rockstar - Deep purple
Haight - shade of blue
Maui Wowie - Gold with shimmer
Aquarius - aqua blue
Smog - golden bronze
Goddess - Deep blue with diamond shimmer
Sin - nude with shimmer
YDK - pale bronze with shimmer
Ecstacy - purple

It comes with this amazing 24/7 black eyeliner - my best eyeliner so far. This has a similar effect as a gel eye liner. Then of course, who doesn't love the Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion? I swear that this product has taken out the need to retouch the eyeshadow for within 15 hours. I even go to the gym or run outdoors after work and my eyeshadow stays intact. Impressive. Anyway I have a mini version of the eyeshadow primer inside the Book of Shadows.

I love this product. Highly pigmented. The diamond shimmer has a little falling off but for the overall effects, it is a minimal problem that I am sure they are working on by now as I noticed that they keep on reformulating the current lineups.

Indeed, I am sold with it. Urban Decay has not done anything to upset me as of yet. Urban Decay is my go-to brand when I need an all-nighter make up. I really have to buy that Naked palette 1 for my day wear too :) Soon in my list.

Dior Show NEW LOOK Mascara : Review

2013-01-22T02:36:00.000-08:00

My first time to try a Dior mascara! I remember lookin forward to using it. By now, I have used it for about a month and I must say I am not quite impressed. I think this brand can do absolutely much much better.

The product description goes: "Inspired by models' behind-the-scenes runway tricks, the result is ultra-glamorous lashes that are lengthened, thickened, and curved to the nth degree." It retails for $25 and is something that you would want to try because, my gosh, it is a Dior brand.

Nah. It is a clumpy formulation. And the brush does not do justice for the upper lashes: The more you comb, the clumpier and unrealistic the lashes get. I am always having some smear here and there trying to achieve a natural look for it but really it is quite a messy thing to use. You cannot be happy with one application either so if you would think of minimizing the application, it is also not a happy result. I resorted to using it on my lower lashes. The brush is too small but it can pick up my lower lashes nicely. It indeed lengthens, that much I agree, but it does not do anything fantastic to hold the curve of your lashes or to thicken, unless by "thicken" Dior meant "clump".

I had such high hopes... But there is this trick that my sister and I do with mascara: we put on a different brand on next application. Kind of like combining the effects of 2 different mascaras. The effect is stellar. It is still clumpy so I just have to dab it a little with cotton buds or a lash comb. I think I can manage with it, but this is one mascara that I will not think of repurchasing again. It is simply a miss.

The Face Shop Power Perfection BB Cream Review

2012-12-30T22:05:00.000-08:00

Foundations cause my skin to break out, so I never use one. At best, I would use a tinted moisturizer. However these tinted moisturizers do not work well under extreme heat and does not control facial oil. As such, I have been on the look out for facial care that will not block my pores yet will provide a decent coverage to even out the skin tone.

Here comes The Face Shop. I love this brand because for every purchase, it keeps on proving to be good value for money.
I recently bought their Power Perfection BB Cream. Unfortunately, this only comes in 2 colors: light beige and natural beige. The box says it is a wrinkle improvement + sunscreen + whitening beauty blemish cream, thus earning its name as the brand's perfect BB cream. It retails for PhP1495 per tube of 40g.

At first I was hesitant to buy this because I had been hovering over the Matte BB Cream which sells for PhP 1200. The face shop lady told me that I better use their Power Perfection BB cream instead in order to enjoy more skin benefits. I figured why not go for it. Some youtube reviews would say that there are matte BB creams that can be flaky or too dry so I guess going after the Power Perfection variant will yield better results. Also, the trick with drugstore products is to ask the sales lady what she uses. I did that when I discovered the maybelline gel eyeliner, I did that when I purchased the Majolica Majorca eyeshadow palette, and a couple of other beauty products where I have no idea how to know the quality of. Also, the branch where I bought this tube from is on its soft launch, and they were actually having a bit of an airconditioning issue. Yet, the sales lady looks glam. She wasn't all matte, but she looked polished. I figured, in that heat, it might as well be a good buy.

The snout pumps out just a little amount which you can control. I don't know how this tube will last but it looks like I only need a few beads and I'm all covered in the face and neck. One thing I noticed is that you will have to use a brush to spread it evenly because using your fingers will require you to tug a lot on your skin, and that's not good for keeping away the wrinkles. You do not need too much because it indeed provides good coverage. It seems to me as a buildable product so I do not use too much or else I would look unusually white. The finish is somewhere in the middle of matte and dewy so no problem with going flaky or being too dewy.

As for the staying power, I tried it on for 6 hours under airconditioning with a little walking outside during the lunch break, no retouching. I still looked decent, and my t-zone wasn't oily. It looked like my natural skin, only less oily. I also tried it for 8 hours without airconditioning, I did get oily afterwards and I felt the gunk on my face somehow, like there was something thick on my face, but it stayed on my skin without melting (tinted moisturizers melt really bad).

I cannot say this is a steal because it is not, but it provides good coverage and controls my oily t-zone. It also makes me look polished. I have yet to prove the whitening and anti wrinkle benefits. The spf is at 37 and I guess most beauty products can easily throw that out as a benefit so I am no longer questioning if that is true. However, what is important to me is that this is a BB cream and not any pore-blocking foundation which can be a great risk for me to have pimples.

I like that The Face Shop always gives some freebies if you reach a certain amount. They gave me a free 70mL cleansing foam (pic shown above) for reaching PhP1500 because I also bought a mask for PhP65.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is now April 7, 2013 and I still have this BB Cream. I use it everyday and believe me - everyday. It deserves a Best Buy Stamp Award. Good coverage, good oil control yet you look dewy in a put together way, really reliable, and you only need a few beads to cover the face and neck. I need to get a smaller tube for my travel kit, because I found out that it also comes in a half sized tube!

UP Lantern Parade 2012 - College of Engineering's DeceptIKOT

2012-12-17T06:46:00.004-08:00

I landed upon this video on youtube showing the entry of the College of Engineering in the 2012 University of the Philippines Lantern Parade. Guys, you must understand that the UP Lantern Parade is a festive activity showcasing lanterns made by students (and sometimes some people within the UP community join too) using minimal budget. Year on year, we expect the UP College of Fine Arts to win this category.

I have always watched this parade and I must say this year, the College of Engineering did a fine fine job indeed at making a Decepticon Robot out of a jeepney! This they called the DeceptIKOT, derived from the Decepticon Robots and the UP Ikot which is the route of the jeepney inside the University (Ikot means to go around or turn around). I must say I was in awe of this! Great job, and great video. The one who posted this video was on the best angle to showcase the transformation of a jeepney with the UP logo on the side into an Optimus Prime looking "Decepticon".

Here is the description according to Ji Reyes who was kind enough to share this on youtube:

"One of the crowd favorites of the night. The mechanical design and construction were done by the UP Department of Mechanical Engineering and the UP Gears and Pinions. The lights and electronics were done by the Power Electronics Laboratory of the UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute.

The frame was a single input linkage using a dc motor with gearbox as the prime mover. The turntable was manually operated. For a tight budget, this was a big achievement."

I am really proud of this, a really interesting entry from my college :) I understand how minimal the budget can be, and how limited the time is to create this huge lantern. Midterms and all other types of exams happen right before the Engineering Week so this is a huge task for the assigned students and the supporting faculty who made this happen. Applause for you guys!!!

Here's the link: http://youtu.be/BM0HPwmMU0o

Majolica Majorca Eyeshadow BR 751 Review

2012-12-16T02:05:00.001-08:00

I tried the Majolica Majorca mini palette in BR 751. This brand is owned by Shiseido, and as such, I wanted to try out the pigmentation. I was also on the look out for a nice gold eyeshadow. Every time I run out of my staple shade, I run to the nearest drugstore.

Glad to have seen a nice combination of colors in the BR 751. I am into 4 colors usually and this one just does the trick.

From Top Left, clockwise: Gold, gun metal, baby pink silver (what MM call's the "Trick on Powder"), and brown with shimmer.
I use the gold for the lid, the gun metal and brown for the crease using an angled brush and blending brush, and the silver for the outer tear duct corner to brighten the eyes using an angled brush or a thin brush.

This palette retails for PhP795 at watsons and comes with a sponge applicator. It can last for 4 hours without any eyeshadow primers. I only noticed that the colors are more vibrant if you do not use any eye primers or brush, and instead use your finger tips to apply. The only trade off for not using the eye primer is that you have to retouch the eye shadow after a few hours, approximately 4 hours.

The color combination is so detailed that they considered the right shade to put on the brow bone as highlighter and the tear ducts. I really love this combination! I also like the consistency of the gold eyeshadow because it is a bit creamy but only if you apply using your fingertips.

The gun metal and the brown colors last longer than the gold. The pinkish silver fades over a few hours but retains its shimmer so that is okay with me.

Overall, I would recommend this palette because it is a nice nude combination in 4 colors that come in a handy pack. I would however still gear towards the color pay off of The Face Shop's Face It Styling Triple Eyes.

My Costume for "White Christmas Party"

2012-12-15T23:37:00.002-08:00

I had some difficulty trying to find a getup for the white Christmas party. But somehow, it all came together with this dress I bought from People are People, which was on sale for only PhP600. For the inner tube, I wore my Terranova tube dress in yellow. I used a NY and Co. white knit scarf to put on my hair and tied it in a bohemian knot but it somehow looked like a bonnet. For shoes, I wore brown aerosoles ankle boots. I had an Aldo lips necklace too.

For make up, I used the following:

1. Revlon Photoready Compact Make up in 100 Vanilla - as base

2. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

3. Urban Decay De luxe Eyeshadow in Fishnet

4. Majolica Majorca mini palette in BR 751 (hover on the name Majolica Majorca to get the link for my blog on this brand :) )
5. Shu Uemura glitter eyeshadows in G White Gold 311 and G Pink 135
6. Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Black
7. My Big Fatty Mascara by Urban Decay

Check out my left eye which is the color combination I followed:

For the cheeks, I used
1. NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in 723A Pink Cheek Glow - because I accidentally left my bronzer, the ever reliable Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

2. Urban Decay After Glow Glide On Cheek Tint - as highlighter

For the lips I used
1. Avon Glimmersticks Lip Liner in Red Brick

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Matte 006 Really Red"

Here's the final look:

For an affordable Angus Beef Burger - get it from Burger King!

2012-12-15T21:11:00.003-08:00

Hey guys,

I was doing my search for dirt cheap yet stylish and comfy ballet flats (which I will blog about soon after the break ins are done!) when I passed by Burger King. I figured what the hell? Let's get some really tough burger this time! Lo and behold: I landed upon the most affordable 100% Angus Beef Burger. For only 200 PhP, you get a value meal for a decently sized burger, square angus beef patty with excess on the sides of the bun, cheese, glazed with steak sauce, plus some crunchy bits (crispy onions and they added to the flavor). Now I wanted an upsize apple Hi-C, so my total bill was PhP215. Not bad baby!

I made the image larger so you can see the burger clearly.

Now I hate to compare this with Shake Shack, because what I had there was really pumped up. It had bacon. I had the Single Smoke Shack, and according to the menu from the branch in Flat Iron District NYC, it is : cheeseburger topped with niman ranch all natural applewood smoked bacon, chopped bacon, chopped cherry pepper and shacksauce.The dressing of Shake Shack is superb. It is something that they must have created on their own, I am not sure, but the thing is I have not tasted it anywhere in all the steak sauces all over grocery stores. That I say, hats off to you Shake Shack. However, the bacon is a wrong idea because everything you put with bacon tastes great. I made that mistake. It kind of drowned the taste of the Angus Beef. So maybe that was why I wasn't too impressed. Not to mention the line was amazingly long: 30 minutes to line up, about 7-10minutes to wait for your order to buzz (they give you a puck that vibrates with lights) --- all for an Angus beef Smoke Shack burger (has crunchy bacon), really good cheesy fries, and 650 calorie Fair Trade Shake. Total Damage? Aproximately 12 USD. See the long line below:

I am not a burger lover, but this one from Burger King really made my day. So try it out, it is super affordable :)

Gel Nail Polish: Are they really worth it??

2012-12-15T20:13:00.002-08:00

My nails on my hands rarely have nail polish and I always keep them short. I find nail polish to be too much of a hassle because it breaks, it cracks, and it doesn't last long enough. Give it 3 days and you need to get that bottle of nail polish remover to make sure your hands don't look like you do not care about hygiene.

I found out about these gel nail polish from a colleague and saw that hers lasted for 4 weeks. 4 weeks is like bliss! So I went to California Nails and Day Spa to have it done.

The entire nail color application together with the gel lasted for about 1 hour. They put the gel first, then you will have to insert your hand in the gadget with a lamp which cures the nail polish and makes it set so hard so fast. Then there will be around 4 rounds of nail polish + curing (about 25-30 seconds under the lamp). So in total, about 5 repetitions of polish+curing.

How did it look? See below. It is actually very very pretty. The edges look like they are done so well, so gelly, and appears to be wet but with enough surface tension that it doesn't smear. But actually, there is no surface tension there. It is in fact well cured, really dry, and really polished. Now I have done many things with my hands, name it: replacing phone cases, laundry, cooking, what have you! It never cracks and it doesn't chip on the tips at all!!! Amazing!!!!

I am not one to indulge on these things. I always look for bargain finds so I can blog about it and spread the good news. Now what made me want to try it out? It was PhP500 at California Nails and Day Spa. That's not cheap, that is actually ridiculous. However, if it can last me 4 weeks, that is already a great deal, considering the cheapest decent manicure with polish will cost around 100php and will last you for 3 days...6 days for nail polish brands like OPI, China Glaze, The FaceShop, or Ulta.

So how long did it last on me? Day 12 showed signs of minor chipping on the sides. Here is day 16, where you can see my nails have grown so fast as seen on the base:

Today as I post this new photo, it is Day 19 of the gel nail polish done by California Nails and Day Spa. I definitely need to have this taken off. The said salon charges about 150php to take them off but they will remove it for PhP100 if you will have another round done by them. If they are not the ones who initially placed the gel polish on you, they charge about 250php for removal.

Will I have this done again? Probably............but not as frequent. I do recommend it if your nails do not grow as fast as mine. My colleague still has her gel polish intact, we actually went to the salon together to have it done. Hers are still a-ok, and there is no sign of nail growth at all. If your nails grow too fast, and you will notice this because your hair grows fast too, then this is a bit of an indulgence for you. You might want to reserve this for a really good event or a planned holiday/vacation, the sand on the beach cannot damage this at all! It will last you more than 6 days for sure, no chipping, no breaking. And that is still a breakthrough, but yet again, only IF price is not an issue.

Memories of pearl farm...sometimes i keep still and relive the moments... Created with PhotoShake for Android

2012-12-01T00:31:00.001-08:00

Autumn in New York

2012-10-27T19:42:00.002-07:00

October 27, 2012 - Finally! After 3 attempts at Bryant Park, 2 visits at Central Park, New York has turned auburn and amber at Riverside Park!

Here are some photos. It is just in time before hurricane Sandy arrives tomorrow Sunday until Tuesday. Calling all photo and Instagram enthusiasts! I hope the hurricane doesn't take all those orange leaves away.......and you get to see it by Wednesday :)

Autumn in New York = "Fall" in Love!

I have found my favorite mascara: Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara

2012-10-25T19:04:00.002-07:00

I have been using mascara here and there, often to just darken the tips of my lashes because I hate the clumpy look and the heavy feel. Without any particular requirement, I have used types such as basic black, brown shades, volumizers, lengtheners, waterproof (the rainy days can get tricky with mascara, but I hate these because I lose my lashes by the time I wash my face).

I was neither pleased nor unhappy with my many mascara brands. I used 1 or 2 brands at a time in no more than 6 months. Then I just replace with any new brand that I wanna try.

Now the search is over! I had the opportunity to try Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara. It is categorized as a Thickening and Lengthening Mascara, and I'm telling you, it is a game changer in the field of mascaras. Its brush is too pretty that it combs all your lashes no matter how thick or close together they are. The end result is a natural-looking lash but defined at the tips so they look longer. For some reason, I never had the need to put so much, it never gets clumpy, and it's very light. I do not have that feeling that I have bushy lashes if you know what I mean, like some mascaras make it annoying to blink.

Above are photos of the box and the brush up close. It is priced at 20USD. Urban Decay reformulated this and I think they redesigned the packaging too, but hey, this old one suits me great! How much more for a reformulated version?

The only problem I had with this mascara is that when you use it in places with hot weather, it does not dry up fast enough. So be very careful that you do not smear it after applying. It must have something to do with the oil in the formula. Nevertheless, I still love it because it lasts longer unlike other tubes which dry up so fast even before you use the entire bottle.

The box reads: "It's big, it's fat, it should be illegal. Infused with hemp oil, this mascara is a trip, taking lashes to a new realm where fantasy and reality collide. The big, fuzzy brush makes lashes look so full, so dreamy... so surreal! The creamy formula thickens, lengthens, and glosses lashes. Just one use, and you're addicted."

......and indeed, I am.

My Central Park Tour

2012-10-17T19:41:00.001-07:00

As I was waiting for Central Park to get all auburn and amber, here are some photos I took in October 2012. It is a nice chilly weather where you can go around the park leisurely from 2pm-5pm. I followed the recommendation of Lonely Planet to make a walk tour that will lead me to the lake, the Bethesda Fountain, the Great Lawn.

I got off the train at 72nd West Central Park. And here begins my phototour.......

The Bethesda Fountain is amazing and I wonder how it looks like in winter...

Shakespeare Garden

The tree right on top of Strawberry Fields "Imagine"

The park is a nice place to walk the dog, read a book, stare at the lake... Autumn in New York is indeed something :)

Lovin' Korean Air

2012-10-03T05:34:00.002-07:00

Took a long flight via Korean Air recently and I am just satisfied with it. First of all, as described by the ticketing office, the airline has enough legroom. I do not have long legs, but I do crouch and extend my legs a lot and always have stuff to put underneath the seats, so the need for space. Not only is it roomy underneath, the aisles and overhead bins also have good space. The curvature of the overhead bins were constructed in such a way that it does not look like it is sticking out or anyone can bump their heads into it.

My connecting flight was a nice experience- I got to see Incheon airport. It is clean and spacious, comparable to Hong Kong airport, which is my favorite airport. It is also very easy to navigate, wide spaces with bright lights, and wifi runs superfly for free :) On airplane mode, my Blackberry Messenger, Gtalk, and other networking sites ran well on my Blackberry phone.

With all the problems that airlines are experiencing right now, it is very fantastic that Korean Air just comes to the destination earlier than expected. My connecting flight brought me to Incheon Airport 20 minutes advanced. The next flight towards my actual destination was a 14 hour flight that still managed to arrive 45 minutes in advance. I was like, this is just a really nice change! I also arrived at an appropriate time of 7:45pm. Other airlines take you to your destination during midnight or dawn, but not Korean Air. I did not leave Manila at a very early time either. My flight's ETD was 12:30pm which allowed me to leisurely go through the Monday morning Manila city drive.

When it comes to food, I specifically tried the Korean food they serve and I enjoyed it. They serve Bibimbap in both the connecting and the last leg of the flight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap) with this really nice spicy paste shown in the pic below. The paste is similar to Hoisin sauce but not as sweet and it is just a lil bit spicy, so don't get too scared with it.

The Flight Attendants of Korean Air are prompt and respectful. One even taught me how to enjoy Bibimbap - like how to eat it by mixing the veggies and meat with the rice, put on the paste, and do not mix it with the soup!

TV? no problem. You have your own in your seat. The movie collections are nice. I managed to watch 3 movies and 1 documentary. The Audio collection is acceptable, i navigated through it, although it needs more of the recent Western Pop. I did like their "relaxation" albums. You also do not need to bring a 2-prong adaptor (shown below). Just bring your favorite headset with a 3.5mm jack and you're good to go! They do provide headsets but I would recommend you bring your own if it is a long flight to enjoy the sound. I had my very own Action Fit Philips earphones that I use for running and I am so happy I did not bother to buy the more expensive Travel Fit Philips earphones because I do not need it. Any standard earphones will work as long as it si 3.5mm. Before landing, I turned on the skyview which shows the view of our landing. A bit blurred, but it is a nice thing to see.

I am proud of Cebu Pacific for how they land their planes. Korean Air is not so bad either. I did not experience any luggage falling off from inside the overhead bins, it wasn't a scary noisy landing, it was nice actually.

I called Korean Air 4 days before my schedule and the customer service officer booked me my seats for both the departure and the return flights. In case you're wondering, this was done for free. I did try the web check-in a day before my flight, and there is no need to print anything so it was pretty efficient. On the day of my departure, true enough, my seats were booked just where I want to be, including my connecting flight seat number.

I think I may have found a reliable airline (and cheaper alternative) for long flights, or possibly when I get to visit Korea! Korean Air is just superfly :)

My Pearl Farm Davao Getaway

2012-09-16T04:34:00.002-07:00

<August 31, 2012 - September 2, 2012> I had no idea Pearl Farm in Davao can be reasonably priced. All you have to do is pack up your gang of at least 10 people and you are all set for an impressive accommodation.

Pearl Farm has a grand accommodation in Malipano Island worth PhP18,600. This can bring together 10 people comfortably. It can be reached via speedboat transfer, care of the resort itself. This means, once checked in at any of the large huts in Malipano Island, you can go to and from Samal Island (where the restaurant and infinity pool are), free of charge anytime you need to.

Samal Island

Malipano Island

The Hut in Malipano Island, and this is the view!

Hut in Malipano Island - dining area

Samal Island Infinity Pool

A view of a small speed boat in Malipano Island dock

The beds are spacious and lovely! :)

This is how the receiving area looks like inside the Malipano Island huts

The food is better if you go for the buffet which is PhP850 tax inclusive. Breakfast buffet is open at 7am-10am, and Lunch buffet opens at 1130am. The ala carte is available, however, it is almost same in price as the buffet. I suggest choose the buffet and eat at your hungriest time :-P Brunch is a great idea. In any case, if you ever feel lazy, you can order room service at Malipano huts, very easy. Just call the reception and they will bring it via speedboat.

Samal Island Restaurant - where buffet is served

I went here for the wedding of a friend, so we rented 3 huts at Malipano Island for 3 nights. They further reduced the cost of each hut since it was also the venue of the wedding: both the ceremony and the reception (there’s a chapel and function hall a few steps away from the huts).

Chapel where the wedding ceremony was held

I'm the impromptu bridesmaid!

Inside the hut, everything you need is there: hair blower, lots of closets and drawers, towels, coffee, water heater, complimentary drinking water in the form of barrel type with faucet (not by the bottle). Oh my gosh the view! You should understand why the view can really be the best deal in this hut, as shown by the photos below.

The pool and the beach are the best! The infinity pool has warmer water, with consistent depth of 4 feet. The beach in Samal Island has a nice depth and smooth sand. In Malipano Island, the beach front has nice sunbathing areas and weaved hammocks where you can enjoy the view, however, I do not advise swimming without a footwear – the corals here are sharp.

Beach front of Malipano Island

Consider Pearl Farm as one of those resorts where you can just get lazy and comfy. It is truly an unforgettable getaway for me, and I am glad I spent 3 days and 2 nights in this place!

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This is the daily schedule for the ferry ride to and from Pearl Farm Resort.
To Pearlfarm: 8am, 1:30pm, 4:00pm and 6:00pm
To Davao City: 6:45am, 10:00am, 1:00pm and 4:00pm
The boat ride will approximately take 45 minutes to 1 hour and costs PhP250 per ride. To get here, the taxi ride from the airport is only 15-20 minutes (depending on the traffic).