Animetric's World

Maybelline Lip Gradation Review

2016-03-13T23:22:00.000+08:00

I have a thing for lip color lately, which is ironic considering I considered lipstick as a non-essential beauty product before. I was perfectly content with colorless lip balm. It took one instance of having made up my entire face and then forgetting to put on lipstick to make me realize just how lip color seals the deal when it comes to your look.

Anyway Maybelline Philippines sent a few shades of their latest lip color product, Maybelline Lip Gradation, for review some days ago.

It's a dual-ended lip product with a sponge tip on one end and lip color on the other end.

I got three shades to try: Mauve 1, Pink 1, and Fuschia 1. Wow, the level of pigmentation is amazing!

Maybelline Lip Gradation is a actually a matte lipstick which you can apply several ways thanks to the sponge blender tip. This is Mauve 1. You can do it Korean gradient style and just apply color to the center of the lips and blend outwards using the sponge tip.

This is how Mauve 1 looks indoors under artificial light.

This is Pink 1. I love how the lipstick glides on smoothly despite being matte.

Indoors with Pink 1.

I found Fuschia 1 to be surprisingly likeable. I normally steer clear of hot pink or fuschia but I like this one! If you want full on matte lips just use the lipstick as you would any other normal lipstick.

It looks surprisingly natural indoors.

What I like about Maybelline Lip Gradation:

They're all highly pigmented. As in wow, one swipe and you get a load of intense color!
I love how versatile they are, you can wear them in so many ways.
They glide on smoothly.
They're not drying unlike other matte lip products I've tried.
They're not hard to remove.
Price is very reasonable at P399 per tube.

Downside? It will be a challenge to use this product on severely chapped and dry lips. I recommend using a lip scrub and moisturizing treatment (lip balm, lip mask, etc.) before using this product for best results.

Maybelline Lip Gradation is available at P399 per tube at leading department stores and drugstores nationwide.

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Sweetea's at SM The Block

2016-03-12T23:50:00.001+08:00

I stopped by Sweetea's at SM The Block last Tuesday for some high tea with blogger friends. Sweetea's serves all natural brewed full leaf teas.

Sweetea's interiors are as unique as the tea blends they serve. The seats are inspired by the rice terraces of Benguet. You can find your own corner and just get cozy.

What sets Sweetea's apart from other tea places is the fact that you can create your own one-of-a-kind drink in three (3) simple steps:

Choose your craft tea - I picked Maple Walnut (P130)
Choose your style - I picked Icy and Milky (+P20)
Add-ons - I had Banana Fruit Bombs (+P25)

My drink's total cost? P175. You can customize as much as you want -- make it Slushy, Juicy, and Zesty? Go! Want Flavors, Fruit Bombs, and Nata De Coco? Yes you can have them all.

Can't decide? You can just have a Sweetea (P60) which you can make Milky (+P20) or Slushy (+P25). Or you can order Coffee (P95) which you can also make either Milky or Slushy.

Before you decide on a tea blend, you can take a whiff in the sample jars placed on the counter.

The Maple Walnut blend I picked is green-tea based.

Each order is manually brewed from full leaf blends.

Finally I got my Icy milky Maple Walnut tea with Banana Fruit Bombs.

I took of the lid because I wanted to see what my drink was like. I even caught a fruit bomb with my straw. Even the fruit bombs are all natural as they're made of seaweed and real fruit juices and extracts.

I ordered some pastries to go with my tea -- a Bacon and Cheese Scone (P110, above right) and a Buttermilk Scone (P90, above left). Both are really yummy! Slightly sweet and slightly salty at the same time.

For something more unique, Sweetea's Wafingka (Waffle + Bibingka). It's a waffle filled with cheese, salted egg, and coconut. It's pretty amazing too.

I liked how my tea was so light and refreshing all throughout. It didn't feel heavy at all, unlike some of the other milky tea drinks I've tried in the past. Next time I'll try one of the fruity blends. :)

You can also purchase loose leaf teas, teapots, tea cups, and other tea paraphernalia at Sweetea's so you can recreate the experience at home.

Sweetea's is located at the ground level of SM The Block, North EDSA.

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Presenting Cyma Greek Taverna's delicious new menu!

2016-03-10T23:27:00.000+08:00

Cyma Greek Taverna has always been one of my favorite places to eat with my girlfriends. In fact I've blogged about it a couple of times in the past. Food is always good and it's the home of my most favorite salad in the world, Roka Salata. I first tried Cyma back in 2009. Imagine my surprise when 6 years later, I was invited to the launch of their new menu! :D

Chef Robby Goco had a lot in store for us -- 7 new appetizers, 5 new main dishes, and 2 new desserts. He made it clear that what he is serving is progressive Greek cuisine, a fusion of Greek flavors and cooking styles with Filipino tastes and preferences. Anyway, we started off with the Krii Vegetarian Sampler Mezedes, a vegetarian appetizer which consisted of olives and feta, roasted peppers, watermelon and feta, roasted beets skordalia (a thick puree made of crushed garlic, potatoes, olive oil, etc) and dolmadakia (rice mixture wrapped in leaves). It was surprisingly good. If all vegetarian dishes are this yummy and refreshing I'd gladly forego meat. I especially enjoyed the dolmadakia, which was kind of like a savory suman.

Then we had Dips with Homemade Pita. OMG, the five dips were all soooo good! There was classic tzatziki (yogurt and cucumbers), pine nut melitzonalata (eggplant-based dip), htipiti (red pepper and feta cheese), taramosalata (carp or cod roe -- no wonder it tasted like fish!), and Kalamata hummus (olive-based hummus). I can't make up my mind which one I like best, they're all really delicious!

Dakos is crunchy Cretan rusk topped with tomato, feta, capers, oregano, and EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). It's like levelled up bruschetta. It was surprisingly wonderful, I had to control myself from eating more than two pieces lol.

I initially thought Mezedes Tis Oras was one of the main dishes but no, it was still a starter! Baby scallops, calamari, octopus, shrimp, and clams in garlic, herb EVOO, lemon, and Greek oregano make up this hearty dish. I love how flavorful all the seafood was.

Mezedes Tis Oras is served with EVOO toast on the side. Wow it may look like ordinary toasted bread but these are so crunchy, chewy, and tasty all at the same time that they're addictive.

Oh my... one of my favorite starters at Cyma has always been their Saganaki or flaming cheese. This is Saganaki with Figs. Fried kefalotiri (Greek salty yellow cheese) is topped with peppered fig jam and like the previous dish, also served with EVOO toast on the side. The fig jam makes the smokey melty cheese buttery, toasty, and sweet all at the same time. It's sooooo good, I swear I can finish an order by myself.

I can probably live on Cyma's Roka Salata forever so from the start I doubted if the new salads could live up to it. This is the Watercress Salad, it's comprised of fresh watercress, bleu cheese, sweet pears, walnuts, and romaine in summer herb vinaigrette. It's actually quite refreshing but Roka Salata still has my vote.

This is the Fried Calamari and Black Rice Salad. It's tomato, cucumber, parsley, sultanas, and walnuts in red onion pomegranate dressing. The way to eat it is to mix it all up so that the rice and the parsley get spread around. Like the Watercress Salad, this is really refreshing and quite perfect for the hot summer months. Yep, still Roka Salata for me hahaha!

I had to go somewhere and so I had to cut my meal short (boo!). I missed the 5 main dishes (they had Roasted Alaskan King Crab Legs!!!) and 2 desserts (darn I was really curious about the Olive Oil Cake!). Anyway, I'm pretty sure I'll be back in Cyma soon since their Robinsons Magnolia branch is in my side of Metro Manila.

Thank you Chef Robby Goco for the lovely lunch!

Cyma Greek Taverna
G/F Greenbelt 2, Greenbelt Drive,
Makati City 1223
729-4837

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Cream Silk celebrates the Modern Filipina

2016-03-09T23:59:00.002+08:00

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Cream Silk pays tribute to the Modern Filipinas who have experienced their own transformations. Championing women and their ability to achieve limitless possibilities, the number one conditioner brand in the Philippines further empowers them to go beyond beautiful and leave a mark in the world.

Earlier this year, Cream Silk launched Transformations, its latest campaign, with five new ambassadors who perfectly embody the Modern Filipina, and who have all undergone personal journeys of change. Leading the way in inspiring women are Nadine Lustre, transformed to light up more screens; Coleen Garcia, transformed to conquer new heights; Julie Anne San Jose, transformed to own the spotlight; Yassi Pressman, transformed to take the lead; and Rachelle Ann Go, transformed to take on the world stage.

To kick off the celebrations, Cream Silk unveiled a music video honoring these Modern Filipinas, as they were serenaded with a reworked rendition of the popular tune, “Balisong” by OPM icon Rico Blanco. The music video was made to remind women of the true power of transformation, as embodied by the new Cream Silk ambassadors.

In the video, each of these women relived their own incredibly inspiring transformation stories. Their dedication, hard work, and success are proof that there no limits to what a Modern Filipina can achieve, once she has transformed to go beyond beautiful.

To further highlight the women who inspire others every day with their talent, beauty, and heart, Blanco went as far as adding new lyrics to his beloved song to express what he thinks of the Modern Filipina:

“You are the sun in my skies,
you are the days in my nights.
You are the reason I smile,
you put the worth in my while.”

More than anything, however, the video is a tribute to laud every Modern Filipina whose beauty inspires, creates, and makes a mark in the world.

Personally I love how their hair went from drab to fab in the video! What do you think?

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Belo Intensive Whitening BB Cream SPF 50 PA+++ Review

2016-03-08T23:35:00.000+08:00

Got a Belo package from Sample Room containing two exciting new products: Belo Intensive Whitening BB Cream and Belo Intensive Whitening Soap.

I've tried the original version of the Belo Intensive Whitening Bar and I can vouch for its effectiveness in evening out my skin tone. It's able to lighten darker areas so that my skin wouldn't look multi-shaded. The new Belo Intensive Whitening Bar is an exfoliating variant with lemon scrubs so aside from lightening, it can actually slough away dead skin cells for skin that's brighter and more radiant.

Anyhow, today I'm reviewing the Belo Intensive Whitening BB Cream SPF 50 PA+++ (P349.75). This is my 32nd BB Cream review and it's a local homegrown brand at that.

Okay I must admit when I read on the tube that it's Medium to Deep, I was afraid it was going to be too dark for me.

But it's surprisingly not dark! I noticed the lightweight and water-like texture right away.

When I spread it onto my skin I confirmed that it's not dark at all, not even medium lol.

I wasted no time in applying it all over my face. I like how lightweight it is. It dries to a natural matte finish. I like it.

I'm surprised I can use Belo Intensive Whitening BB Cream without having to do my eyebrows, put on eyeliner, and what not. I will need concealer though because it can't quite cover my dark undereye circles (I've been super sleep-deprived these past few days). It did a good job concealing some minor facial redness though. Other BB Creams end up overpowering my features so I really have to define my eyes and lips at least.

This is how it looks under natural light. I like how it infuses my pale skin with just a bit of healthy-looking color. I'm impressed that for a high-SPF product, there's no white cast.

What I like about Belo Intensive Whitening BB Cream:

I love its lightweight and water-like texture. It's pretty easy to spread all over your face.
It's non-sticky and non-greasy.
It dries to a natural-looking matte finish.
The shade is perfect for me!
It's got SPF 50 PA+++ so it gives optimal sun protection.
My skin still feels like skin after application.
I can use it alone, no need for other makeup products (well except maybe concealer).
It's formulated with Kojic Acid and Tranexamic Acid so with extended use, it can improve skin clarity and reduce the appearance of stubborn dark spots.

Downside? I'm not a fan of the scent, thank goodness it fades fast. Also, the coverage is on the light side so you may need concealer if you have blemishes or really dark spots you need to hide. I would probably use this as a daily facial sunscreen since it has a lot of other benefits aside from the SPF 50.

Belo Intensive Whitening BB Cream is available in all leading department stores, supermarkets, and drugstores nationwide for P349.75 per tube. You can grab a free full-sized sample from Sample Room until stocks last!

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Leaders Insolution - a solution for every skin concern!

2016-03-07T23:11:00.000+08:00

I rarely get excited over events. Just thinking of the traffic is enough to dampen whatever enthusiasm I might have. Anyway, when I got the invitation to a spa day with Leaders Insolution, I was pretty stoked. Skincare is like a religion to me, I can forego everything beauty-related except for skincare. No makeup? Sure, haha! But I must have my skincare routine and Leaders Insolution is a big part of it.

Leaders Insolution is a Korean cosmeceutical brand most known for their facial masks. There's one for every skin concern or combination of skin concerns.

The Leaders Coconut Bio Mask was the first ever Leaders product I've tried. It was actually what convinced me to incorporate masks into my skincare regimen. It's still my favorite Leaders mask to date.

I recently bought a Leaders Aqua Dressing mask from Zalora -- will try it and review it soon!

Anyhow during the event we were asked to pick a facial mask to try and I went for the Leaders Vita Bright Skin Renewal Mask (P98). I had a work-related event to attend that evening so I figured I may as well get a glow. That and well, this is a mask I've not yet tried.

We were all asked to go to the event bare-faced, so I did. We changed into personalized Leaders robes and had a facial massage before the mask application.

What do you know we were there to try not just the facial masks, but the hand mask and the foot mask too! This is the Leaders Dr. Therapy Hand Mask (P178), a hydrating snail mucin-infused glove type mask which is also enriched with aloe vera and beeswax. You leave it on for 20-30 minutes. Upon removal, you just need to pat in the essence for the skin to fully absorb the mask. I was so amazed by the results! My hands were incredibly soft and smooth afterwards... baby soft I think!

My bad I didn't see the foot mask they used on me but it was pretty nice too! The Leaders Dr. Therapy Hand Mask stole the show for me though.

Thank you so much Leaders Philippines for the relaxing spa day!

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Choobi Choobi along Panay Ave., QC

2016-03-05T22:25:00.001+08:00

I started this week quite nicely. Last Monday, I had a hearty and delicious lunch at Choobi Choobi, a newly opened restaurant along Panay Avenue in Quezon City.

Choobi Choobi comes all the way from Cebu and the Panay Ave. branch is their first one here in Metro Manila. To help spread the word, Choobi Choobi enlisted actress Erich Gonzales.

Each table had their own set of alcohol, wet wipes, and candies -- just in case you prefer to use your hands to eat.

We were all given utensils and plastic gloves. I decided to cool off with their Cucumber Pineapple Shake (P140) since it was a pretty warm and sunny day. It was refreshing but I couldn't really taste the pineapple.

They served some Cha Tao Miao (P180) to start us off. It's actually snowpea sprouts. It's kinda like a combination of grass and bean sprouts in terms of taste. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it because it was crisp and garlicky -- just the way I like my greens.

My favorite dish for the day was hands down the Seafood Barkada Bag (P645), a mix of fresh shrimp, mussels, sweet corn on the cob, and chunks of Cebu longganisa all cooked and drenched in Choobi Choobi's original sweet cajun sauce. Take note I don't like seafood. In fact I don't really eat mussels or shrimp (well also because I'm allergic to shrimp) but wow, I had a lot that day.

See, I did have them all lol!

But Choobi Choobi doesn't just serve seafood, they also have meat! We had the Choobi Pata (P445 M / P465 L). The skin is incredibly crispy, as in chicharon levels. The pork is really soft and tender, you don't even need a knife to slice through it.

Next we had Singaporean Style Salted Egg Shrimp (P440). Whoa! It's sooo tasty I had to really control myself as not to overindulge. If I have too much I may not make it to the other shrimp dishes because of my allergy. The salted egg paste would go so nicely with hot steamed rice and just look at how big and plump those shrimps are!

Choobi Choobi's signature shrimp dish is however Stan's Fried Black Pepper Shrimp (P440), named after the owner of Choobi Choobi who came up with it. The sauce is to die for. I don't believe I've ever had this much yummy shrimp in my life. Each dish elicited oohs and aahs from almost everyone at the event.

Lola Pepang's Fried Manok Regular (P345) is a family recipe passed on for 4 generations. It is rather ordinary compared to all the other dishes which came before it but still quite good overall. The chicken is tender but I can't eat it without the sauce which gives it taste. Sorry I'm really not into chicken haha.

Their Pork Barbecue (P30 per stick) is pretty good too. The meat is lean and tender, the marinade both savory and sweet.

I wasn't expecting Choobi Choobi to have desserts but they actually do have several on the menu. We were served with Choco Molten Kiss (P175) to cap off our hearty lunch. OMG. What a surprise. This cake is really decadent and chocolatey, moist, and filled with melty rich liquid chocolate. The scoop of vanilla ice cream on top complements it perfectly.

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I went to Choobi Choobi but wow, I'm already excited to go back with my hubby and kids. I'm definitely ordering the Seafood Barkada again and maybe try some of the other items on the menu. For what we're getting, I think the prices are pretty fair.

Choobi Choobi Lingaw Lingaw Kaon
102 Panay Ave., Quezon City
372-3654

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Start Summer at Robinsons Department Store!

2016-03-05T12:43:00.001+08:00

Before you go off to the summer getaways you've probably been lining up since last year, a pit-stop at Robinsons Department Store is in order for this season’s hottest wardrobe selections and beauty must-haves.

Where all roads lead to beach trips, music festivals, and outdoor parties, the hip new selection of swimwear and accessories at Robinsons Department Store will definitely keep you looking cool.

You can travel light with trendy bikini tops and cover-ups from Angelfish which work double time as chic tops over your other clothing pieces. Exciting and colorful swimwear styles from Sassa simply gets everyone in the mood to mix and match. Nivea is around to shield your skin from the sun's damaging rays while the latest eyewear picks from Hawaiian Sun protects your eyes in style.

For more information, check out http://www.robinsonsdepartmentstore.com.ph like Robinsons Department Store on Facebook and follow @RobinsonsStore on Twitter.

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Ready, Set, Glow with Watsons starting tomorrow!

2016-03-04T22:32:00.001+08:00

Almost every woman I know is multi-tasking somehow... especially moms like me! We have to work, take care of the household, and make sure the kids are okay... our duties are never really done. It's a neverending cycle really.

Well this Women's Month, Watsons wants us ladies to look good and feel great by achieving holistic health, beauty, and wellness through Watsons' Glow with Wellness campaign. This holistic approach merges the benefits of proper nutrition, exercise, supplements, and beauty care... because looking good and feeling good is more than skin deep, it has to start from within.

Watsons provides a simple 3-step approach to ultimately achieving every Filipina's wellness goals:

Step 1: Ready - Start with a checklist of your wellness goals. The list will be comprised of activities that will push you to be a better version of yourself. In my case, that's losing weight because I am still overweight. Not as obese as I was before but still no at my ideal weight.
Step 2: Set - Prepare everything you need to achieve the goals on your checklist. Whether it's making dietary changes or incorporating more exercise to my daily routine, I need to prepare.
Step 3: Glow - Let Watsons support your wellness routine with its wide range of vitamins, supplements, as well as health advice.

So I went around Watsons to check out what products I can get to improve my overall well-being. I saw this big bottle of Organique Acai Food Supplement. It's an antioxidant-rich drink that help combat cell damage. I'll be sharing my Organique Acai experience in the coming days!

Oooh Belo Collagen Powder Drink! I've actually tried this before and I kinda liked it. It's got 5000mg of collagen and hyaluronic acid, both of which have a host of anti-aging benefits. Collagen is responsible for making skin soft, supple, and elastic and so it's all good.

So that we don't get sick easily, we need our daily dose of vitamins!

Guess what I'm picking up from this shelf?

Sangobion! When my dad passed away 2 years ago, I was extremely sleep-deprived during the week of his wake. Sangobion kept me going through it all so yes, this is tried and tested -- really handy in times of stress and sleep deprivation.

I'm so happy to have been able to catch up with these ladies for coffee -- Janeena, Marj, and Jackie (although we were just together the week before lol).

Anyway Watsons' Glow with Wellness campaign will be kicking off tomorrow at SM North EDSA The Block Atrium. The event will be graced by the country's top female celebrities who will share their personal tips on how to achieve holistic wellness:

Sarah Geronimo for Sangobion
Marian Rivera for Belo
Kim Chiu for Fat Out
Ruffa Gutierrez for Cosmo Skin
Danica Sotto-Pingris for Fern-C
Coach Toni Saret for Capsinesis

Shoppers can avail of exclusive discounts, free services, and fabulous freebies during the following Glow with Wellness legs:

SM North EDSA - Feb. 25 to Mar. 5, 2016
SM Fairview - Mar. 11 - 16, 2016
SM Megamall - Mar. 26 - 30, 2016
SM Mall of Asia - April 7 - 13, 2016

There are activations being lined up for Cebu and Davao as well.

For more information on the Watsons Glow with Wellness campaign, log on to http://www.watsons.com.ph. Like Watsons Philippines on Facebook for more updates and promos.

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Perfect natural-looking lips with Tonymoly!

2016-03-04T11:51:00.001+08:00

I'm not really a fan of heavy makeup or looking super made up. Why? Simply because it spells out OLD. Mature. Tanders. At my age of 41, the last thing I want is to look 41. The goal is to always look maybe 10 years younger hahahahaa! But that's just me... my thing. Some people actually like looking their age and that's perfectly fine. :D

So anyway, I recently discovered an easy way of achieving perfect natural-looking lips using two (2) Tonymoly lip products -- Tonymoly Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub (P348) and Tonymoly Bam Bam Tint Delight (P548).

It's actually easy! Take out your Tonymoly Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub and twist to unscrew the lips-shaped cap. I initially tried pulling it off but duh... it turned out to be screw-on cap, lol.

Tonymoly Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub is unlike other lip scrubs I've seen and tried. For starters, it's not as grainy as others (most of those I've encountered seem to be made up of all grains for exfoliation). It's actually very creamy and the grains are very fine. This product is recommended for thin and vulnerable lip skin due to its anti-aging properties (which means it's GREAT for older people like me hahahaha). It's formulated with Jojoba, Macadamia Oil Butter, and Honey so it moisturizes, nourishes, and exfoliates your lips.

Here's a swatch to give you a better idea of Tonymoly Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub's consistency.

It's easy to use -- simply massage the product all over clean, makeup-free lips for 1-2 minutes, making sure your entire lips are covered. You can rinse your lips with water after or wipe the product off with tissue. Wow, I was so amazed by how smooth and perfect my lips looked and felt after I used the Tonymoly Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub! But this is only the beginning of your perfect natural-looking lips!

The next step is to use the Tonymoly Bam Bam Tint Delight, a 2-in-1 lip color product. I got it in shade 02 Kiss Me Pink.

One end is a sponge tip you can push to dispense liquid lip tint while the other end is a tinted lip balm.

Here are swatches of Tonymoly Bam Bam Tint Delight in 02 Kiss Me Pink. The top swatch is the lip balm, the bottom swatch is the lip tint.

Here are photos of my lips using Tonymoly Bam Bam Tint Delight in 02 Kiss Me Pink. On the top photo I used only the lip balm. On the bottom photo I added the lip tint by pressing the sponge tip all over my lips. I love how my lips look so smooth and natural -- this is definitely an MLBB (My Lips But Better) product.

And this is how the Tonymoly Bam Bam Tint Delight in 02 Kiss Me Pink looks indoors under artificial light. Still MLBB!

What I like about Tonymoly Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub:

It smells and tastes fruity!
It's moisturizing without being oily, greasy, or sticky.
It effectively sloughs off rough, dry, and chapping patches of skin.
Your lips look and feel soooo smooth and soft afterwards it's impossible not to be amazed!

What I like about Tonymoly Bam Bam Tint Delight:

It's very versatile. You can use it in a variety of ways -- balm only, tint only, layered... you can even easily sport Korean gradient lips with this.
It's lightweight and feels nice on the lips.
You control just how light or dark the color comes out.
This product is also fruity in terms of taste and smell.
It's convenient because now you need to bring just one tube for both lip balm and lip color.
The price is very reasonable at P548 since it is essentially 2 products!
There are 5 different shades available.

Downside? None. I love everything about them both and they're now my go-to products for perfect natural-looking lips!

Tonymoly Kiss Kiss Lip Scrub is available at Tonymoly counters and boutiques for P348 while the Tonymoly Bam Bam Tint Delight is available for P548. Log on to http://www.tonymoly.ph for a complete list of stores.

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Cool summer tech accessories from Digits Trading!

2016-03-03T08:56:00.001+08:00

Summer is coming and that only means one thing for a lot of people -- travel and leisure! Beach trips... outdoor activities... you name it!

If you're going to be chilling outdoors a lot, this Braven BRV-PRO (P6,750) is perfect for you. This wireless and rechargeable bluetooth speaker is waterproof and built to withstand the most extreme conditions. You can take it with you whenever and wherever -- and because it's Braven, you can be sure it sounds great (we actually use a Braven speaker at home so I speak from experience).

If you're going to chill outdoors, this Braven Solar Panel (P2,450) is just what you need so you don't have to worry about charging your speaker. You can just use the sun's power to boost your battery. It's waterproof too! Just attach it to the top of your Braven BRV-PRO speaker and you're good to go.

Compatible with most GoPro and popular action mounts, you can use the waterproof Braven Action Mount (P750) so you can take your music surfing, riding, driving, etc.

Staying outdoors till night time? The Braven Glow Deck (P1,450) attaches and connects to your Braven BRV-PRO speaker and uses luminous LEDs to light your path, tent, or campsite.

If you like your music loud, you can use the Braven BRV-PRO Stacking Plate (P950) to stack two or more Braven BRV-PRO speakers for more volume.

With Titan the toughest cable on Earth (P1,950), you'll never have to see frayed and knotted cables... ever. It's the last charger cable you'll ever need for the iPhone.

There's a keychain version too -- Titan Loop, the toughest key chain cable on Earth (P1,650). It extends to nearly 25cm (9 inches) so it's easy to reach USB ports but loops in half to attach to your belt loop, backpack, etc.

Got an Apple Watch? Meet the Bobine Watch (P1,350), hailed as the world's most flexible Apple Watch dock. Charge your Apple Watch within view on your nightstand, desk, or even while driving with the included Dash Stabilizers.

If there's a Bobine for the Apple Watch, there's a Bobine for the iPhone (P1,950) too. This iPhone dock can hold your iPhone practically anywhere yet it's small enough to fit in your travel bag.

But wait, there's a Bobine Auto (P2,200) iPhone car dock too! Perfect for Waze (or any GPS driving app), hands-free calling, and audio streaming.

A laptop emits radiation from the battery, wifi antenna, and cellular antenna in some models, particularly at the bottom side of the device. The Vest Laptop Radiation Shield (P3,450) reduces radiation exposure by up to 92% while providing the user maximum comfort and heat reduction. Just put your laptop on top of it and you're good to go.

Vest Anti-Radiation Cases (price starts at P1,850 depending on the model) are the iPhone versions of the Vest Laptop Radiation Shield. These reduce radiation exposure by 89% while protecting your phone from the impact of drops or bumps.

There are Vest Wired Anti-Radiation Headsets (P1,850 each) too! There's a bluetooth version you can use for hands-free calling that retails for P3,950.

All of these products are available at Digital Walker and Beyond the Box stores nationwide.

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New Shakey's Mediterranean Flavors!

2016-03-01T23:20:00.000+08:00

Shakey's, our all-time favorite pizza place, has some new guiltless and (red) meatless dishes for us to try... inspired by the lush vegetation and sea fare found in the Mediterranean!

First we have the Greek Salad -- comprised of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, salami slices, and feta cheese with sweet tangy dressing. Perfect if you just want something light and healthy.

Then there's the Mediterranean Tuna Pasta (P195). It's a light olive oil-based pasta with tuna chunks, black olives, tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese. I'm interested, haha!

Last but not least we have the Grilled Vegetable Pizza (starts at P220). It's an all-vegetable dish with roasted eggplant, zucchini, and red bell peppers topped with caramelized onions and fresh garlic bits. Honestly I find the description so intriguing I want to order it.

For more information about these new dishes, log on to the Shakeys Philippines Facebook Page or follow @shakeysph on Instagram.

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Keeping it fresh with Glad Kitchen products!

2016-02-29T21:27:00.000+08:00

We've been using Glad products at home for the longest time -- specifically Glad Cling Wrap and Glad Sandwich Bags. We use Glad Cling Wrap to keep food that are already in plates or bowls fresh... like cookie dough that needs to be refrigerated! Now that my daughter and I bake, we need Glad Cling Wrap more than ever. Wrapping food with Glad also ensures that the odors don't mix inside our refrigerator. The sandwich bags meanwhile are used daily for my kids' baon. We usually put sandwiches, cookies, or crackers inside Glad Sandwich Bags.

So anyway Glad sent over some nifty Glad Kitchen products a couple of weeks ago... specifically Glad Storage Bags, Glad Cling Wrap, and Glad Press 'n Seal.

So what's the difference between a Glad Storage Bag (above left) and a Glad Sandwich Bag (above right)? Glad Storage bags are made of thicker and hardier material. They can withstand more stress so you can store heavier items in them. They come in different sizes too.

For example, we love snacking on Pistachios here at home. We usually buy big 3 lb bags since it's more economical that way. The big bags are usually not resealable and so we transfer the nuts to smaller bags like the Glad Storage Quart Zipper Bags. That way, we can take a bag each and snack on them at our own leisure.

What really blew me away was Glad Press 'n Seal.

You can actually use it to cover a glass of liquid (one side of Press 'n Seal is sticky so you can actually just press and seal) and it wouldn't spill.

I'm so amazed by this product. It costs a bit more than Cling Wrap though so Glad Cling Wrap is still the more popular choice.

Love that Glad Cling Wrap comes in two different sizes now. I used to have to cut the Glad 30cm Cling Wrap (P89.40) when I was wrapping smaller plates or bowls. If you've tried using cling wrap you'd know it isn't very easy to cut. Now that there's Glad Mini Cling Wrap (P55), there's no need to cut anymore, it fits over smaller plates, bowls, and containers perfectly!

Glad ClingWrap and other Glad Kitchen products are available at major supermarkets, 7-11 outlets, and self-service Mercury Drug stores nationwide.

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Nivea In-Shower Whitening Body Lotion Review

2016-02-28T22:17:00.003+08:00

It's no secret that I'm not very fond of body lotion (sunscreen lotion is a different story, lol!). I've never been fond of the entire process of slathering something creamy (and potentially greasy and sticky) all over my body. That said I prefer using moisturizing body washes. They're very convenient because they cleanse and hydrate the skin at the same time. I just rinse off like I always do when I take a bath and I'm good to go.

Anyhow I scored this Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion 100ml (P124) from Sample Room a while back (maybe a week ago?). This is a first -- a body lotion which I use in the shower and rinse off! Sounds like my kind of product.

It looks like regular lotion, the thick and creamy type anyway. I immediately notice the fresh and revitalizing fragrance.

It's definitely thick and creamy.

Here's what happens when you spread it onto your skin. It is thicker than regular lotion but then it's meant to be applied to wet skin after you shower and then rinsed off.

Anyway I've been using the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion for a week now and all I can say is wow, had I known about this product last year I would have brought some with me to the US last December. When I was in the US, my skin became sooo dry that even if I applied lotion after bathing, it wasn't enough! My skin cracked because of dryness. Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion coats your skin with a protective layer that keeps your skin moisturized throughout. My skin actually feels smoother when I use this as compared to rubbing body lotion all over.

What I like about Nivea In-Shower Whitening Body Lotion:

It thoroughly moisturizes my skin and since I rinse it off, there's no sticky or greasy feeling.
Skin feels super smooth and smells nice after use.
I can feel it coating my skin with a protective film -- this is definitely a must-have in cold and dry countries.
It's very convenient to use. You shower and then apply this after you're done cleansing. Rinse it off and you're good to go!
It has Vitamin C which can brighten dull skin.

Downside? For some reason I use it up faster compared to regular body lotion. I might be over-applying though.

Nivea In-Shower Whitening Body Lotion is available for P124 per 100ml bottle / P239 per 250ml bottle at leading department stores, supermarkets, and drugstores nationwide.

This is highly recommended for people like me who don't like the sticky or greasy feel of conventional body lotion.

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Dove says... Go Shave!

2016-02-27T10:38:00.001+08:00

Do you wear sleeveless clothes? I do! One of my concerns is always my underarms. Are they hairy? Will it show? Wahahahahaa! I often wish I can just blast all the hairs away with a laser. I have a very hard time tweezing because it's so hard to actually look at your underarms and pluck hairs one by one. Like it or not, the quickest and most convenient way to get rid of hair is still to shave.

So anyway Dove invited us to find out more about shaving and our underarms in an event dubbed as Dove Go Shave held at the rooftop garden at Greenbelt 5.

Dove ambassadors Patty Laurel, Dani Barretto, Kelly Misa, and Saab Magalona talked about shaving and underarms along with dermatologist Dr. Anna Palabyab-Rufino (not in the photo). Did you know that whenever you shave, 1/3 of what you shave off is skin? Scary!!! I mean I'm pretty sure that 1/3 isn't even all dead skin. Shaving takes away the topmost layer, leaving the shaved area raw, sensitive, and prone to further damage. If the skin is unable to heal itself, it becomes dark and bumpy -- now that's a nightmare in the making!

The answer? Dove deodorant, which is made of 1/4 moisturizing cream. We all got to make our own Dove Go Shave kits to take home during the event -- we also got to send a smaller travel-sized kit to a friend! Dove deodorant soothes and protects sensitive underarm skin from redness and irritation. It moisturizes and whitens too, so you'll eventually have smoother and fairer underarms.

In line with Dove's advocacy of providing real care for real women, Dove encourages women everywhere to go shave and live life to the fullest. You can leave all your underarm worries and concerns to Dove.

Guess what? At the start of the event guests were all asked to write messages to their shavers and to hang them by the photo wall area for random raffling by the end of the event. I had no intention of joining but Jackie kept telling me to go make one (see what I wrote was utter nonsense lol) while I was waiting for her novela. Imagine my shock when brand people started picking out Doves and Patty Laurel called my name. I won a shopping spree care of Dove deo! Wooot! Luck must be contagious because Jackie ended up winning a trip to Palawan hahaha!

Anyway, you too can win a trip to El Nido, Palawan! For the regular price of a regular Dove roll-on or aerosol, you get a free Dove deo zip pouch and a chance to win a trip to El Nido, Palawan with 2 friends!

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Boulangerie 22 at One Legaspi Park Condominium

2016-02-25T22:05:00.000+08:00

I've been on overdrive where events are concerned in the last couple of days (I attended 5 in 2 days hahaha, that almost never happens!). I was so tired I spent the entire EDSA holiday today sleeping. I was literally in bed the entire day. While I normally don't make a career out of attending events, it just so happened that all the brands holding them are good friends of mine.

I'm going to start with Boulangerie 22, a fresh new French-Korean bakery concept located right at the heart of the Makati CBD. Well they actually have several branches already but this is the first I've been to. I attended their launch yesterday.

OMG, it's so quaint! They have separate sections for sweet and savory breads and pastries. I love the bright and neat interiors.

There were so many yummy things on display I got confused which ones to try. If only my tummy could accommodate them all, hahaha!

Boulangerie 22's French Macarons are to die for. At P39 a piece, they come in unique flavors (my favorite is the Maple Macaron) and wow, they are almost TWG level in terms of texture and taste. You can taste the almonds when you bite into the crisp shells and each one is oozing with the smoothest buttercream filling. I love that they're not overly sweet. At the moment they have Chocolate, Grape, Strawberry, Green Apple, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Maple macarons.

I love the cute cakes! They cost P699 each, my favorite is the What's Up Wabbit Cake... a super loaded carrot cake that's just teeming with fresh carrots, coconut, pineapple, walnuts, and then covered with a cream cheese frosting and white chocolate ganache. It's SOOOO good, probably one of the best carrot cakes I've ever tasted.

Boulangerie 22 has a lot of savory offerings too. I tried the Cheddar Chicken Floss Bread (P59). Love how soft the bread is and how they don't skimp on the cheddar chicken floss.

Love how their Italian Sourdough Focaccia (P129) isn't greasy like most Focaccia breads I've seen.

We were all served a big slice of Sourdough Pizza! It's overflowing with melty mozzarella cheese... so yummy! I bet kids will love this. It's best eaten hot.

Boulangerie 22 has a lot of Korean drinks with prices starting at P39. They also have bottled fresh fruit juices from New Zealand.

Okay so I finally settled on these yummy baked treats -- Vanilla and Chocolate Financiers (love the chocolate -- so rich, moist, and dense!), Butterscotch and Chocolate Rusks (you know those bread toasts they sell in the grocery that are topped with butter and sugar? they're kinda like that), Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie (nice and chewy just the way I like it!), and a Cheddar Chicken Floss Bread. I ended up slicing/breaking everything to pieces to share with my friends as it was hard to finish a tray full of goodies on my own.

Okay this is my first blog post using my new Fujifilm X-A2 camera and here we are (with fellow blogger Tina Villa) trying out the selfie mode lol. I'm not used to it yet so it's a little awkward. I promise to practice more, hahaha!

Boulangerie 22 is more French-inspired than Korean actually. Their croissants are actually made with butter imported all the way from Normandy! You just have to taste to believe. I can't wait for them to open their store in Greenfield so it's at least closer to our office! Like Boulangerie 22 on Facebook for information and updates.

Boulangerie 22
GL2 One Legaspi Park Condominium
Rada St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

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Starbucks Macchiato: Team Roasted Caramel or Team Chocolate Hazelnut?

2016-02-24T09:24:00.000+08:00

There's nothing quite like a buy 1 take 1 deal at Starbucks to inspire everyone to drop what they're doing and line up, lol! Well, we get another chance to get 50% off our favorite drink simply by voting for it.

So which team are you: Team Roasted Caramel or Team Chocolate Hazelnut? Vote at http://www.starbuckspromotions.ph from now until Mar. 4, 2016. The winning Starbucks Macchiato beverage PER REGION (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) will be celebrated with a Buy 1 Take 1 deal on March 7, 2016 in ALL Starbucks stores in the Philippines.

So let me tell you a bit about these drinks we're voting for:

Chocolate Hazelnut Macchiato (Short P150 / Tall P160 / Grande P175 / Venti P185) - Espresso + chocolate + hazelnut... um why does Nutella come to mind?

Roasted Caramel Macchiato (Short P150 / Tall P160 / Grande P175 / Venti P185) - Espresso + milk + caramel... for those who like their drinks milky and sweet.

Caramel Macchiato Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Tall P150 / Grande P160 / Venti P170) - This is the frap version of the Caramel Macchiato, if you're not an espresso person and you want your drinks thick, rich, and cold.

So what team are you on? I think I need to head on over to Starbucks for a taste before I cast my vote!

With new drinks of course come new food to pair them with. Aiming for a healthier lifestyle? Try the new Banana Chocolate Chip Cookie (P60 per piece). It's vegetarian for starters... made of banana, granola, oatmeal, and dark chocolate (the healthiest kind!).

The decadent Belgian Chocolate Chip Cake (P130 slice / P1,150 whole) combines vanilla sponge cake with chocolate chips, milk chocolate ganache, and Belgian milk chocolate. Truly a chocolate lover's dream come true!

Fish and Potato Wrap (P165) is new to me... I'm used to these wraps filled with chicken or beef. So inside this wrap is a breaded fish fillet, baked potato wedges, and egg mayo dressing.

Monte Cristo (P170) is a simple straightforward sandwich with Farmer's ham and sharp parmesan cheese in between sweet savory brioche French toasts.

Tuna Wasabi Turnover (P120) is flour tortilla filled with wasabi tuna flakes topped with crunchy Japanese breading and roasted nori (seaweed) strips.

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookie (P50) kinda reminds me of the Gingerbread Cookies they have every holiday season except that it's vanilla lol.

Look, we have new Starbucks Cards too! These Easter Egg Starbucks Cards are available now, and you can get them for a minimum load of P500!

Or you can go for the special edition Starbucks Siren Card, also available now for a minimum load of P300.

As for me I'm excited to try out the Starbucks VIA Tribute Blend (P375) which I can conveniently bring anywhere I go. It's also available in coffee bean form for P425 in case you prefer brewing the old-fashioned way. The Starbucks Tribute Blend is a dark roast which celebrates the 40th anniversary of Starbucks. Although their new 3 Region Blend (P425) is probably more my taste when it comes to coffee beans since it's a lighter roast (I prefer light to medium roasts when it comes to coffee) which combines floral, citrus, and berry aromas and flavors.

All the above items are already available at Starbucks stores nationwide.

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Marj and Ro's Vikings x Strip Birthday Bash!

2016-02-23T08:39:00.000+08:00

Okay so this is actually a long overdue post since our joint birthday bash happened last October, during our birth month. Yes, twinnie Marj Sia and I were born on the same month, lol!

So anyway Marj and I had a few of our close blogger friends join us for a buffet lunch at Vikings Megamall.

I personally love Vikings (and all its sister restaurants namely Four Seasons and Niu). It's our family's go-to place for celebrating special occasions and entertaining guests. Nothing quite beats the vast selection of cuisines you'll find at any Vikings restaurant. You really get excellent value for money every time.

They have just about every type of popular dimsum item available.

Wow I was surprised Vikings Megamall had Oden too!

There's Roast Angus Beef, Roast Chicken, Roast Lamb, and Binusog na Lechon at the Carving Station.

I always get confused what to drink whenever I'm at Vikings, lol!

Binusog na Lechon is my forever favorite dish at Vikings and we actually requested it instead of the usual birthday cake. Marj and I literally popped a candle in the middle of the dish and blew it out, lol. I love how crunchy the skin is and how melt-in-your-mouth tender the meat is. This is what I always go for first whenever I'm at any Vikings resto.

So after our hearty Vikings buffet lunch we went straight to Strip's Megamall branch. We were there to try out their new waxes -- the moisturizing Cucumber wax and the whitening Lemon wax.

Of course we brought our friends along with us!

If Vikings is my go-to place for celebrating and entertaining, Strip is my go-to place for waxing. They do it best. After trying out several places I can conclude that Strip is the cleanest, most efficient, and most effective waxing place around. See you get your own hygiene kit whenever you book a service so all the things that will be used for your session are yours and yours alone. They're disposed of right after and the next customer gets brand new kits.

The wax smells so yummy plus it looks like candy (actually all their waxes are like this)... but this isn't the wax I tried, I opted for the Lemon Wax for the underarms.

After my waxing session at Strip, I hopped over to Browhaus (which is just beside Strip) to have my eyebrows threaded.

Thank you Vikings and Strip for our birthday treat!

Vikings SM Megamall
4/F Mega Fashion Hall Bldg. D,
Julia Vargas cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City
656-3888 / 656-4888 / 656-5888

Strip SM Megamall
5/F Mega Fashion Hall Bldg. D,
Julia Vargas cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City
531-5083

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Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery BB Cream Review

2016-02-22T09:55:00.000+08:00

I used to be super addicted to BB Cream... as in I kinda made it like my mission in life to try all the BB Creams out there. Thirty BB Creams later, I stopped trying to grab every single BB Cream I came across. Besides I had found my one true love when it came to BBs so I stopped buying (well also because my dresser was already overrun by unfinished tubes and compacts of BB). I think 2015 went by with only 2 BB Cream reviews, lol! I've pretty much eliminated most of the excess I had accumulated and so now I'm ready to take on some new ones again.

So for my 31st BB Cream review, the first for 2016, I tried out Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery BB (P450). Biore is a brand I've known all my life. I remember washing my face with Kao Biore during my teenage years. Suddenly the brand disappeared off the face of this country. But I would still buy Biore products whenever I'd go abroad -- Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan... you name it. Last year, I got wind of Biore's return to the Philippines. They sent over a few products for me to try and I'd like to start off with the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery BB.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery BB promises a lot of things:

Long-lasting high SPF sweatproof UV protection
Weightless texture with BB coverage
3D Brightening effect
Hydrating oil control

There's only one shade available for Biore UV Rich Watery BB Cream.

I like the shade -- it matches my skin nicely. It's got more of a yellow undertone so it's pretty perfect for Asians.

So this is how it looks like when applied, under natural light.

This is how it looked like some 8 hours later when I got home past 9pm.

What I like about Biore UV Aqua Rich Water BB:

For a high SPF (it's SPF 50 PA+++) product, the texture is still lightweight and sheer. Usually the higher the SPF, the thicker and more opaque the product becomes. This one looks natural. That said you can use this as your daily facial sunscreen.
It's reasonably priced at P450 per 33g tube.
The finish is just right -- your face glows but doesn't look oily and there is a decent level of oil control. I didn't powder up or blot in that 8-hour later photo above and I think I still look okay.
It's fragrance-free so it won't clash (at least scent-wise) with your other facial products.
It contains no mineral oil which can clog pores.

Downside? There's only one shade and it's on the light side. Coverage is also on the light side so you'll still need concealer for darker spots or blemishes you want to cover.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery BB Cream is available at P450 per tube at Landmark, Cash & Carry, PCX, SM Makati, and most Watsons stores nationwide. Log on to the Biore Philippines Facebook Page for more information and a complete list of outlets.

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Animetric's Favorite Things Year 7... not!

2016-02-20T18:33:00.003+08:00

It's February 20 today. I posted my very first blog post on Blogger back in Feb. 20, 2009. Yes, today officially marks my blog's 7th year online. True to my word, there will be no Animetric's Favorite Things Year 7. I'm doing way way way more stuff now work-wise compared to all the past years and the last thing I need is more stress. It's clearly a no-win situation for me where such an ambitious Oprah-inspired giveaway is concerned because as the prizes get nicer (and they do every year), the competition just gets nastier. I don't want to NEED to justify what I do here. I was supposed to be giving back to readers who've supported my blog all these years, not arguing with contest joiners. I still give away stuff, I'm just not doing favorite things anymore.

Moving on, I've finally decided to replace my official blogging camera since 2011, the Sony NEX-5N, with a Fujifilm X-A2 which I bought from Henry's Professional in V-Mall yesterday. What finally prompted me to do so was the pics from my son's birthday dinner at home. When I was taking them, everything looked very bright and nice from the Sony screen. But when I transferred them to the computer, they were ALL dark and dull. I couldn't re-shoot because the food had already been eaten. It took all of my Photoshop manipulation skills to make them look sort of decent but I could only do so much. I can't imagine wasting precious time Photoshopping every single image that camera was going to take and so I promptly purchased a replacement.

And just like that, I suddenly have a 15-year old kid. We had his second birthday dinner with the entire extended family last night at Four Seasons Buffet in Cubao. My son's birthday is a few days shy of my blog's anniversary. He's taller than me now. Where did the time go? Why does it have to fly so fast? Oh well as long as I don't look like a granny lol...

Anyhow back to my blog. If you've noticed, I recently had it redesigned (sometime back in November 2015). I needed a change. The old design was a basic Blogger template which I fiddled with and it was, pardon the pun, getting old. I wanted something fresh and new. The OC person in me wants to fix all the old posts so they mesh well with the new design but wow, that is going to take FOREVER. I have well over 2,500 posts and although I'd like everything to look perfect I really don't know how I can do it.

As for future plans for my blog, I don't really have a definite to-do list but they include:

Another joint beauty workshop with Marj Sia -- we're actually 80% done with the preparations. It will most probably happen in the summer. All I can say at the moment is Olay, Celeteque, and Biore are three of the brands we have on board.
I'm thinking of conducting a blogging workshop because honestly I get a lot of people asking me how to do it (blog that is). I believe I can do a good job, but that workshop idea is all still in my head.
Improving my blog -- I should come up with more original content (and better-looking... I hate going through my old old posts they look gross)... helpful content... by that I mean stuff others don't blog about lol! I don't know how I'm going to do that but I want to!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who've been continuously reading and supporting my blog. Can't believe it's nearing the 10 year mark. None of this would have been possible without my dear family, friends, and readers. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can really never say it enough.

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Birthday celebration at home with Seven Comfort Cuisine!

2016-02-18T09:51:00.000+08:00

My son celebrated his 15th birthday a couple of days ago. I asked him where he wanted to eat. He said he didn't feel like going out on a weekday since he gets home kind of late from school. That and well, he gets up at 5am every morning. He said he'd rather eat out during the weekend. Hubby and I really wanted to celebrate though, so we thought why not order some party trays so we could indulge at home?

Lucky for us our good friend Frannywanny recommended Seven Comfort Cuisine, a Quezon City-based party tray service we could easily order from. Since there's only four of us at home plus our helper, we had the smaller sized orders (good for 6-8 pax). We went with Seven Comfort Cuisine's recommendations (it was our first time to try their food so we had no idea what to order).

They suggested Cheesy Pork Mushroom Gravy (P850). I was iffy about this at first because overly cheesy dishes usually give me that annoying cloying (umay) feeling which later develops to some form of heartburn but surprise surprise -- Seven Comfort Cuisine's Cheesy Pork Mushroom Gravy is surprisingly light and not the least bit cloying. It's basically tender pieces of lean pork and button mushrooms cooked in a light milk-based gravy (reminiscent of chicken ala king actually) then topped with melted cheese. We were all surprised by how yummy this dish was!

We paired the Cheesy Pork Mushroom Gravy with Veggie Red Rice (P500). Our kids usually don't like red/brown/black rice but surprisingly they loved this one. The red rice is really chewy and the way this is cooked is the rice and veggies are steamed so it's not greasy! It was actually perfect with the rich pork dish we were having.

Ever heard of the saying that when it's your birthday you should eat noodles for long life? Lol, for that we had Savory Chicken Mushroom Pasta (P600)! It's yummy -- quite reminiscent of Yellow Cab Pizza's Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta except that well one single order of Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta costs around P300 while this, which can serve 6 people, would cost only P100 per serving!

For dessert we had Molten Chocolate Lava (P65 each).

The Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes are served in quaint glass jars. I was told it's best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. We loved that the cakes were rich and not overly sweet but when you say "molten" I kinda expect some sort of melty chocolate in the middle, lol -- there wasn't any, but the cakes were good all the same.

Five of us had these for dinner last night and we still have about half of each dish left (except dessert) for another meal. We loved the food and the service. Everything was hot and freshly made when we got them, even the cakes! Highly recommended for potluck parties, home celebrations, and well anytime you just don't want to cook and you have a lot of people to feed haha! Anyhow, check out their menu which I'm posting below.

Seven Comfort Cuisine can deliver for a minimum order of P3,500 + delivery fee. Orders below P3,500 are for pick-up at Puregold QI Central along E. Rodriguez (convenient for us yay!) or Retiro cor. Araneta Avenue. Orders worth P8,000 and above get free delivery within a 20km radius from E. Rodriguez. You can text 0920-2726588 for orders and inquiries. Everything on the menu is currently 10% off so do check them out! :D

For more information, log on to the Seven Comfort Cuisine Facebook Page.

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Dinner at the iconic Max's Restaurant

2016-02-16T22:30:00.000+08:00

Whenever I go to a mall and pass by a Max's Restaurant, I always marvel at the long line by the entrance. Max's has been around practically forever and I find it quite amazing that up until now, people queue up for it!

Anyway sometime late last year, we attended Max's 70th birthday celebration (in the photo with me are my blogger friends Paul, Ava, and Anagon).

It was an evening of nostalgia. They had all sorts of Max's mementos, including this menu from the 1950's. OMG, a whole order of steak or chicken only cost P5! Halo-Halo was just P1!

They even showcased Max's staff uniforms. This particular style was worn from the mid-1990's to 2005.

Lexi Schulze hosted the momentous occasion.

Food was served buffet style during the event. It was kind of hard to take photos so I waited until I had a chance to dine at Max's with my family for some food pics. Yes, we went to the same branch where the celebration was held -- Max's Scout Tuason, Quezon City. Incidentally, it's also Max's very first branch.

We went for a simple dinner one Sunday evening when our helper took the day off. Hubby and son ordered Max's Platter Meal (P250). It consists of steamed rice (or you can opt for rolls), a quarter chicken, pancit canton (you pick if you want it with chicken or pork), a caramel bar from Max's Corner Bakery, and your choice of Pepsi or Iced Tea.

We all opted for Iced Tea.

Then we ordered Chicken Sisig (P213) to go with our meals. Pretty yummy, I like it with calamansi sprinkled all over. I imagine it would go so perfectly with garlic rice.

Daughter went for the Boneless Bangus (P213) -- crispy fried milkfish is served with garlic rice, fried eggs, and atchara (pickled vegetables).

Meanwhile I opted for the Fiesta Plate Meal (P245). It comes with a quarter of Max's signature fried chicken with a choice of steamed rice or rolls, fresh or fried lumpiang ubod (I chose to have it fresh), a caramel bar, and Iced Tea or Pepsi.

I generally don't like chicken but I like Max's Fried Chicken because it's cooked the way I like it. It's fried perfectly and the skin is deliciously crispy. I like eating it with banana ketchup and their trademark kamote fries. :D

Even with the modern interiors, dining at Max's never fails to evoke feelings of nostalgia. I don't know. I feel like I'm going to a grandparent's house whenever I visit Max's at Scout Tuason.

For a complete list of Max's Restaurant branches, log on to http://www.maxschicken.com/.

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Melissa Spring Summer 2016 Collection

2016-02-15T09:50:00.001+08:00

Before I show you my favorite shoe brand's (Melissa of course!) Spring Summer 2016 Collection, let me first share their ongoing promo...

For every P2,000 purchase of Melissa shoes from today until March 31, 2016, you're entitled to one (1) raffle coupon. On April 15, 2016, a raffle draw will be conducted to determine the following winners:

1st Prize: One (1) winner of a 3D/2N All Expense Paid Trip for 2 to Club Paradise Palawan with P5,000 pocket money
2nd Prize: Two (2) winners of an overnight staycation for 2 at Discovery Primea with P4,000 worth of Melissa GCs
3rd Prize: Three (3) winners of P8,000 worth of Melissa GCs

I don't know about you but 3rd prize is the most attractive prize for me, lol! For complete promo details, log on to http://www.melissaphilippines.com/Take-Me-to-Paradise.html.

So anyway last week I dropped by the Melissa store in SM Megamall to check out Melissa's Spring Summer 2016 Collection. I was greeted by a really colorful lineup of shoes! Because summer is coming, there were a lot of slip-on and sandal type styles. If I was the type to wear flats, I'd probably get the Melissa Good Vibes (P3,495) -- it's the style with thick criss-crossing straps on the bottom right of the photo.

This is Melissa Flox III (P4,599) -- quite reminiscent of the Melissa Flox High I got last time. I prefer my Melissas with a bit of height.

Check out the brightly colored slip-ons -- they're perfect for your upcoming beach trips!

But what really caught my eye was Melissa Hotness (P4,995). I couldn't decide whether to get White, Pink Brown, Green White, or Black! Most of my Melissas are high and so I thought it was about time I got a pair on the flatter side (but still not that flat -- I can't stand ballet flats, these are the flattest I go!).

So I tried on Melissa Hotness in Pink Brown. It was love!

So I took home the Melissa Hotness in Pink Brown! What do you think? I was treated to a relaxing foot spa at Nailaholics right after too!

The Melissa Spring Summer 2016 Collection is currently available at all Melissa stores and outlets nationwide. Log on to http://www.melissaphilippines.com for a complete list.

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Studex, the earrings she wore for 10 years!

2016-02-13T20:00:00.000+08:00

After spending a few days in Las Vegas last December, my daughter and I both went back home to Los Angeles missing an earring. I lost a small diamond earring which I had bought from Singapore during a business trip back when I was single. Meanwhile my daughter lost a Studex earring which we had gotten from the pediatrician when she had her ears pierced at 6 months old (she's 11 now). I remember it cost P600 back then, inclusive of the ear piercing fee.

We made a pit stop at an IHOP just before driving into Las Vegas, this is probably our last photo wherein we had both earrings (although mine are covered by my hair lol). I figured we lost our earrings because of all the layering whenever we would get dressed as it was just 1 °C in Las Vegas when we were there.

When we got back to Manila, I thought of getting her another pair of Studex. I mean, she used it from the time she was 6 months all the way to 11 years old and wow, it still looked the same way it did when we first got it. It was still gold, not tarnished or faded. Plus it never caused her any allergic reactions or irritation. Then I found out one of my friends was actually the distributor of Studex here in the Philippines! I decided to just order from her -- but then she said she would just give them to me. Lo and behold, 2 dozen Studex earrings arrived at my doorstep a couple of days later.

Each pack contains 12 pairs of stud-type earrings. They're hypoallergenic. These particular ones are made of gold-plated surgical stainless steel.

This was the exact pair my daughter lost in Las Vegas.

Now that there were other designs to choose from, she said she wanted a change so she opted for a star-shaped pair with a cubic zirconia crystal in the middle. The earrings are actually called Starlite.

What I like about Studex earrings:

They're hypoallergenic and don't cause irritations. Our pediatrician was the one who introduced us to this brand when my daughter was 6 months old.
They're sealed and completely sterile upon purchase.
They don't tarnish. You can shower, swim, and do whatever you want while wearing them. The pair my daughter lost was still golden even after 10 years of wear.
They're difficult to remove so chances of losing one are slim to none. I figured hers must have loosened because we had removed them a few times in the past.
They're very affordable. If you go to Broadway Gems, they're sold for P249.75 per pair and that price is inclusive of the ear-piercing service via the Studex system -- and I thought P600 10 years ago was cheap lol!

Downside? OMG they are CRAZY HARD to remove. The struggle is real. My daughter and I took a while trying to remove the remaining earring from her earlobe. But hey, if a kid is going to wear them it's probably better that way.

Studex earrings are available from Broadway Gems for P249.75 a pair. There are lots of designs to choose from! They actually have some on their website at http://broadwaygems.com.ph/.

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Leaders Derma Soul Detox Mask Review

2016-02-12T11:51:00.000+08:00

Almost every week, I have at least one (1) crash and burn night. By that I mean I fall asleep in my work clothes and sometimes I don't even get to wash my face lol. Often I'd wake up in the middle of the night and get up just to wash my face and sleep again. This is what happens when you're in a constant cycle of sleeping very very late and waking up very very early.

So this particular week, I had one such crash and burn night. I couldn't even get up to wash my face. When I woke up it was already 5am. Given that I use an SPF product on my face daily, that's BAD. True enough when I looked in the mirror my face had telltale tiny little bumps! DARN! My thoughts immediately went to the Leaders package I received late last year. I seem to recall there was something called a Detox Mask so I hurriedly dug it up.

I found that batch of Leaders facial masks and there were 4 variants:

Leaders Derma Soul Detox Mask (P78) - Formulated with Algae extract, it's a detoxifying and brightening mask that gently removes dead skin cells and other impurities.
Leaders Derma Soul Anti-Sebum Mask (P78) - Controls oil while maintaining skin moisture, it's main ingredient is Pine Oil which has anti-bacterial properties. It can help treat pimples, psoriasis, and eczema.
Leaders Derma Soul Bright Mask (P78) - Lightens, clarifies, whitens, and clears up skin with Berry Complex.
Leaders Derma Soul Anti-Trouble Mask (P78) - Formulated with Green Tea extract, it helps prevent treat pimples and other skin troubles.

Given my problem, I figured the Leaders Derma Soul Detox Mask (P78) was what I needed to use. I think I'll pass on the Anti-Sebum and Anti-Trouble masks to my hubby since he is more acne-prone than I am, lol.

Looks like the usual mask sheet upon opening. It's immersed in essence.

See the wavy pattern? It's one of the things that makes the Leaders Derma Soul series of masks unique. It's indicative of the material used to make this sheet mask -- TENCEL. TENCEL is a natural fiber made from cellulose from found in wood pulp called lyocell. TENCEL is known for it's "drape" so using it as material for a sheet masks ensures that the mask will hug the contours of your face perfectly.

And yes, it does go on your face nicely. I've tried some very ill-fitting masks and they're a pain to use.

I washed my face and left the Detox Mask on for about 25 minutes and it was still pretty moist when I removed it. I patted in the excess essence and it felt a little sticky. I didn't want to wash it off because I was afraid it might negate the effect. What I did was wait for my face to dry before starting to put on makeup.

What I like about Leaders Derma Soul Detox Mask:

It's cheap at only P78 per sheet.
It felt soothing and refreshing at the same time.
You can put on makeup right after you let your face dry.
Your skin looks quite bright after use.

Downside? My face did feel a bit sticky after I removed it but it was alleviated when I patted in the excess essence and let my skin dry. I was able to put on BB cream all over my face afterwards. Did it detoxify? I'm not really sure lol! But I liked that it soothed and brightened my skin. I'll try to avoid not washing my face before sleeping next time lol!

Leaders Derma Soul Detox Mask is available for P78 per sheet at Leaders stores located in Festival Mall and Lucky Chinatown Mall. I'm hoping they open a store near me soon! Good thing you can buy Leaders products online at Beauty Mnl and Zalora.

Moral of the story: Don't ever go to sleep without washing your face, lol!

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