Animetric's World

The Winebar at Cafe 1771 at El Pueblo, Ortigas

2012-02-12T01:00:00.001+08:00

We were invited to dine at The Winebar at Cafe 1771 last Feb. 3, 2012. It was still known as Chateau 1771 the last time I had dinner there and that was more than a decade ago. For those of you looking for a classy date place, this is a nice establishment to check out. It's located on the second floor of Cafe 1771 at El Pueblo, Ortigas.

There's a chandelier and fully upholstered leather chairs. The interiors reminds me of a luxurious mansion's study.

You're served a complimentary bowl of popcorn while you order.

First dish out was Oyster Rockefeller (P550 for 8 pieces, pictured above). Baked to perfection, the oysters are topped with spinach, bacon, and cheese. It was heavenly, hands down the best Oyster Rockefeller I've ever had in my life. Although I'm now watching what I eat, I could not help but eat two oysters!

Then we had a pizza called Holy Cow (P300, pictured above). Don't know why it's named that as it had no beef or any type of meat. In fact, it's a very simple pizza topped with mozzarella cheese, kesong puti (goat cheese), and arugula. It's delicious, especially if you eat a slice topped with an arugula leaf. I quite enjoyed the clean taste.

Next up was Spicy Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip (P380, pictured above). Crispy, tasty, and not overly spicy, it's pretty good and that's high praise from someone like me who disliked chicken. I loved the carrot sticks and blue cheese too.

We also had Lacquered Salmon (P580, pictured above), which is salmon glazed with a soy sauce and honey reduction. Yummy!

One of our group's unanimous favorites was Grilled Angus Striploin (P1,400, pictured above). 300 grams of certified angus beef is served with your choice of sauce (Mushroom Gravy or Bearnaise) and salad greens on the side. The beef is very tender and flavorful even without any sauce. Definitely one of the better steaks I've eaten.

Winebar Burger (P410, pictured above) is a unique and sinful offering. 200g of certified angus beef patty is sandwiched with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, a giant house pickle... and served with french fries plus a side of bone marrow. You're supposed to get some of the bone marrow and rub it onto the burger patty for added richness and flavor. I just had one small morsel of the burger and it was good. It's one of Winebar's more popular dishes.

Spicy Spaghetti Sardines (P350, pictured above) is another favorite of mine. Spanish sardines, capers, toasted breadcrumbs, and chili flakes are tossed together with perfectly al dente spaghetti for a scrumptious pasta experience. I took home an order because we couldn't eat anymore and even my kids loved it when I served for breakfast the next day.

For dessert, the waiter recommended Monroe Bread Pudding (P250, pictured above). Instead of the usual sloppy juicy bread pudding this one was built like a cake, as standing firm as a slice while topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate chips. I thought it tasted more like egg tart instead of bread pudding but it was divine all the same.

Another dessert I liked was Valhrona Chocolate Caramel Mousse Cake (P250, pictured above). The cake is very soft and it's enrobed with rich caramel for a toasty sweet aftertaste. Mmm...!

Coffee Pie (P220, pictured above) is Chateau 1771's signature dessert. Coffee filling on a chocolate-cashew crust, cream topping, and toffee sauce drizzled over it. Definitely a fitting end to a perfect meal!

Excellent food and service complement The Winebar's opulent interiors. If you want to impress someone, this establishment fits the bill. As the name suggests, there's a sizable selection of wine for your enjoyment... it's just that our group isn't really comprised of drinkers. I'm not keen on celebrating Valentine's Day, but if you are, you might as well consider The Winebar if your wallet can take it.

The Winebar at Cafe 1771

El Pueblo Real De Manila

J. Vargas cor. ADB Ave.,

Ortigas Center, Pasig City

631-7340 and 39

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Beauty and Butter Lovers Paradiso for Valentines!

2012-02-10T23:04:00.004+08:00

Doing anything special this February? Most are off to celebrate Valentines Day but the good news is, you don't have to brave the crowds on February 14.

Beauty and Butter has something special for couples this February. For P1,500 you and a special someone can avail of a pampering session consisting of:

Manicure
Pedicure
Foot Spa

I've actually tried the Foot Spa with Reflexology and Pedicure at Beauty and Butter a year ago, you can check out my experience here.

My feet were looking pretty spiffy afterwards! :D

Log on to Beauty and Butter's Facebook Page for a complete list of branches. Personally I prefer the SM Megamall branch because it's closest to me. :D

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The Cheese Steak Shop Manila's Valentine Royal Feast

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000+08:00

If there's one thing I absolutely hate, abhor, and despise it's going out on Valentine's Day. Traffic is a pain, restaurants and other places deemed as romantic are jam-packed and crowded, plus you don't get the usual array of choices when you dine -- you have to stick with the set menu which is most probably exorbitantly priced.

So why am I posting about The Cheese Steak Shop's Valentine Royal Feast? Well, for starters it's available for the whole month of February so you don't have to go on the 14th. For P1,500 per couple you get:

1 10" King of Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich (beef)
1 7" Queen of Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich (chicken)
2 Specialty Drinks
1 Teddy Bear
Unlimited Dessert Bar

The Cheese Steak Shop is literally a bright alternative to the dimly lit places where people usually spend Valentine's Day. It's got that American 50's diner vibe.

Anyhow, hubby and I got to try out the Valentine Royal Feast. First up was the 10" King of Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich. Freshly fired up, it's served hot on imported Amoroso bread and filled with double the amount of beef and cheese compared to the normal sandwich.

Hubby and I split it in half. It's soooo good.

Queen of Philly is a 7" Philly Cheese Steak sandwich which also has double the meat and cheese, only this time it's chicken instead of beef. We split this in half too, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the beef because the chicken just seems bland and tasteless after having the savory and flavorful beef sandwich.

The Specialty Drink is actually 7-Up with grenadine syrup. You get two glasses of this. For the free teddy bear, you have a choice between dark brown, light brown (pictured above), and white in terms of color.

This is the dessert bar. You get unlimited trips. :)

There are chocolates, of course. It's practically a Valentine staple.

There's also strawberry pudding, cookies and cream yema...

...brownies, revel bars, lemon bars...

Guess what, the free teddy bears are from Harrod's! Harrod's is just the world's most famous luxury department store... I checked their website and it retails for £6.95!

Again, The Cheese Steak Shop Manila's Valentine Royal Feast is available for the whole month of February.

The Cheese Steak Shop

G/F The E-Hotel Makati,
906 A. Arnaiz Ave., (formerly Pasay Road)

San Lorenzo Village, Makati City

http://www.cheesesteakshop.com.ph

Call 555-1818 for delivery (within Makati CBD)

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Laneige Snow BB Cream SPF 41 PA++

2012-02-09T10:43:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! The BB cream addict (that's me) is in the house. While Laneige Snow BB Essence Balm SPF33 PA++ was my last BB Cream review for 2011, Laneige Snow BB Cream SPF41 PA++ is going to be my first for 2012!

Like most BB creams, Laneige Snow BB Cream SPF 41 PA++ comes packaged in a tube. Since I already have a lot of regular, natural toned BB cream I'll be reviewing the #01 Shimmer Brightening variant this time. Shimmery BB creams are actually quite popular in Korea since a lot of them already have fair and even-toned skin. A product like this gives the face a luminous glow much like what you see on actresses and models on Korean print ads.

I love the tube's thin spout since it doesn't get messy when dispensing the product. You can conveniently use your fingers to apply BB cream with a tube like this because you can control the amount of product that comes out easily.

I noticed that Laneige Snow BB Cream #01 Shimmer Brightening is a lot lighter and more yellow-toned compared to the #02 Natural which I have a tiny sample tube of. #02 Natural is darker and more flesh-toned. I was admittedly iffy because although my skin tone is naturally light in color, I'm not as snow white as the Koreans that this product normally caters to.

Oh but I was in for the surprise of my life. The Shimmer Brightening variant actually matched my skin better than the Natural variant. I think it's because the strong yellow undertones counteracted my face's natural ruddiness. Putting on this BB cream actually makes my face match my neck better because my neck isn't rosy at all. I just used my fingers to apply the BB cream in this case.

I really like this BB cream's finish. There's no setting time at all, I took this photo right after applying and blending. It evened out my cheeks' pinkish cast with the rest of my face and left a slightly dewy glow that's not too shiny. It's just perfect. In fact I daresay it looks like I have nothing on my face.

What I like about Laneige Snow BB Cream SPF 41 PA++ Shimmer Brightening:

It's very easy to apply and spread because the consistency is just right -- not too thick, not too watery, and it doesn't dry too fast giving you time to blend.
The coverage is light so it doesn't look cakey and made up. Perfect for daily use!
It feels light on the face and it smells soooo nice.
It's cheaper than the Laneige Snow BB Essence Balm SPF33 PA++ at P1,650 per tube.
It gives your face a luminous glow just like those pretty Korean girls in print ads.
It has SPF 41 to protect your face from the sun.

Downside? For me, nothing! Price, performance, and quality are all perfect! This can't really replace foundation but it's awesome if you don't need heavy coverage.

If you need more coverage for blemishes and flaws Laneige Snow BB Essence Balm SPF33 PA++ might be a better option. Also, please take note this is not an oil control product so if you have oily skin you might shine a lot after a couple of hours. This can be easily remedied by some oil-blotting paper or facial tissue though. My skin has been dry these last couple of months so I haven't had the need for oil control.

This product has become a real favorite of mine. :D

Laneige Snow BB Cream is available at Laneige stores in Trinoma, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, and SM Mall of Asia for P1,650.

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Kanebo VIP Beauty Affair Invitation

2012-02-09T00:07:00.006+08:00

Do you love beauty as much as I do? Have a penchant for Japanese brands? You're in luck! Kanebo is about to hold its first ever beauty event and you're invited!

There will be product previews, beauty stations, and a private sale!

Kanebo Japan's Chief Trainer Jenny Liang will also be there. I hope she does a make-up demo because I really want to see her technique. Woot! This is also a good opportunity to haul in some loot from one of Japan's premiere beauty brands at a discount. I sure hope they have a credit card facility, haha! Just click on the invite above for a closer look at the fine print. :D

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Win special screening tickets to The Vow!

2012-02-08T00:15:00.005+08:00

It's THAT time of the year again, and I'm talking about Valentines Day! If there's a perfect movie to watch with your special someone this love month it's The Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum.

A romantic film inspired by true events, The Vow is about a married couple whose lives are forever changed by an accident which erases the wife's memory. Sound like your kind of movie? Well, the good news is, I'm giving away 5 pairs of tickets to a special screening of The Vow right here and now. Yep, 5 lucky folks will get 2 tickets each.

The Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum

Where: Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center

When: Feb. 12, 2012 (Sunday) @ 4pm

This will be a simple raffle. I will draw the winners later at 6pm today so send your entries in before then. Winners may claim their tickets at 3 venues: Greenhills, SM Mall of Asia, and Power Plant Mall. Obviously, this contest is only open to those in Metro Manila who will be able to actually claim the tickets and attend the screening.

Mechanics:

Like Carmex Philippines and Animetric's World on Facebook.
Add Zoya Manila as a friend on Facebook.
Share this contest post on Facebook.

Click on the Share button on top of this post. On the blank box above the title of the blog post, tag Animetric's World and post "Animetric's World, I want to win a pair of special screening tickets to The Vow!"

To tag, type in the “@” symbol then follow it with the word “Animetric” This will prompt a drop-down menu box which will present you “Animetric's World”. Click that and you should see “Animetric's World” become a blue link. After completing the sentence, click the Share. Make sure your profile is set to everyone or else your entry won't appear on my FB page.

Post the url of your FB post along with your name and email address on the comments section below so I can contact you ASAP if you win.
Contest deadline is 6pm today. Winners will be determined by random draw.
Winners will be required to post a shout out to Animetric's World, Carmex Philippines, and Zoya Manila as their FB status (i.e. “Many Thanks to Animetric's World! I won free movie tickets to the special screening of THE VOW care of Carmex Philippines and ZoyaManila!”).
Tickets must be claimed at the following areas: Greenhills, SM Mall of Asia, or Power Plant Mall.

Congratulations winners! I will email you with regards to prize claim details. Please do fulfill the last requirement -- post a thank you shout out on Facebook tagging Animetric's World, Carmex Philippines, and Zoya Manila. :D

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Ariel Scan, Watch and Win with P&G Virtual Quest!

2012-02-06T15:30:00.000+08:00

I'm the type who keeps tabs on what's new via the internet instead of traditional media channels like print and TV. I find it so much more convenient and efficient. In fact, I can actually live without a TV but I absolutely can't be without a computer and internet connection.

Android is my choice of operating system when it comes to mobile devices. I love checking out the Android Market and downloading the latest apps that help me become more productive and well, let me have a bit of fun (think Tiny Tower!). Lucky for me the latest groundbreaking technology in digital marketing was just released on Android! I'm talking about P&G Virtual Quest, Procter & Gamble's (you know, the company behind products like Tide, Downy, Olay, Pantene, Ariel, etc.) augmented reality application which lets you interact with their products on a whole new level.

Instead of simply reading about a product on a print ad or watching a TV commercial, you can now actively participate in the campaign by exploring the options available on the P&G Virtual Quest app. For Ariel Stainlift, you can choose to join the daily raffle wherein you can win a Sharp Washing Maching worth P14k.

Step 1: Get your Android device and go to Android Market. Search for "P&G Virtual Quest". Download and install. I did this in two Android devices, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 and my personal phone the Samsung Galaxy S2. This app is not limited to Samsung devices. You can get it via your HTC, Sony, etc. -- any device running the Android OS.

Step 2: Get any Ariel Stainlift product. The app currently features Ariel Stainlift products so it has to be Stainlift and not the other variants. I used Ariel Stainlift AntiBac.

Ariel Stainlift features Ariel's exclusive 3D Deep Cleaning technology. Whenever you get a fabric is stained, it's not enough to clean the surface because the stain can embed itself deep within the layers our naked eye cannot see. There is dirt and grime trapped within and this can make out clothes look less than stellar. Ariel's 3D Deep Cleaning technology penetrates into these layers to completely and effectively remove deep-seated dirt and grime. As a result, clothes look as bright and new as the day you bought them. :)

Step 3: Click on the P&G Virtual Quest icon on your screen. Your device will switch to camera mode and you will need to "Scan any Ariel Stainlift logo". Just aim your cam on the logo.

Step 4: Tap on your screen when you've focused on the logo. If you don't, the app will still automatically scan the logo for you once it focuses. This app is very smart. I tried scanning an Ariel Scrubber logo (which looks similar to the Ariel Stainlift logo) and it didn't work.

Step 5: A video of an Ariel TV commercial will play on your device. You will get a prompt to "Tap screen to submit an entry". Tap your screen.

Step 6: After tapping, you will see the Ariel Scan, Watch and Win graphic. Tap "Get Code".

Step 7: Your unique raffle code will appear on your Android device's screen. Click "Submit Code".

Doing so will open up a form you'll need to fill up with information.Tick the box to agree with the terms then click "Send".

Voila! You've earned a raffle entry for Ariel's daily washing machine giveaway. You can join and win until February 10, 2012! I myself submitted 5 entries last night (because you can only join 5x a day) as I was writing this post, haha!

You can also click the "Share" button and you'll be given a choice to share this app via Facebook, Twitter, etc. I shared via FB. :)

You can even watch the TVC again in case you didn't see it properly the first time.

I quite enjoyed using this app. TVCs are useless to me because I don't watch TV but I actually enjoyed watching the TVC video on the tablet and cellphone. Of course, the ability to instantly participate in the raffle without having to download lame cellphone logos, ringtones, and ringback tones made it a lot more fun. After the Ariel Stainlift augmented reality experience, I'm really looking forward to how P&G will continue to use and develop this app. :D

P&G Virtual Quest will also be available for Apple iOS soon. But for now, I urge you to download it on your Android device! You can even win a washing machine for trying it! Check it out here - https://market.android.com/search?q=p%26g+virtual+quest&c=apps

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Aria Cucina Italiana at Bonifacio High Street!

2012-02-06T09:30:00.000+08:00

We decided to visit Aria Cucina Italiana at Bonifacio High Street for an early lunch yesterday at Bonifacio High Street. We attempted to eat in Aria during our trip to Boracay a few years ago but was unsuccessful since the restaurant was packed and we didn't have reservations. It's a good thing they've decided to open a branch here in Metro Manila. :)

Aria Cucina Italiana is located on the same side of BHS as The Spa on the second floor of the new complex across Kabisera ni Dencio. I quite liked Aria's bright and cleanly designed interiors, it's much much better compared to the small corner stall it occupies in Boracay's D'Mall.

We didn't have breakfast since we woke up late so without further ado we started off our lunch with an order of Aglio Olio e Peperoncino (P345, pictured above). There were four of us, so we asked the waiter if he could portion the dish on our plates. He willingly obliged so that's plus for service! I loved how perfectly al dente the spaghetti was. Olive oil and garlic check, unfortunately I couldn't really taste the chili much. Still I thought it was quite good. It's an ideal accompaniment to their tasty meat and seafood dishes.

Next we had Tagliatelle con Tartufo, Asparagi, e Prosciutto di Parma (P460, pictured above) which was recommended by our order taker. It's homemade pasta with white truffle, asparagus, and parma ham. The divine aroma of truffles wafted through our table as it was served. It's a pretty big serving and definitely good for sharing. We all agreed it was delicious! :D

Since we couldn't decide which pizza to get, I opted for Quattro Stagioni (P540, pictured above) which combines four variants into one -- Aria (tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parma ham), Frutti di Mare (tomato sauce, garlic, tuna, squid, and mozzarella), Napoli (tomato sauce, anchovies, and mozzarella), and Boscaiola (tomato sauce, ham, mushroom, mozzarella). Aria's pizzas are made fresh to order and baked in a wood fire oven, yielding a wonderfully crisp yet non-greasy crust. Yummy! Pizza is really a must-order in this restaurant. :)

I tried ordering one of their beef dishes but both were unavailable. I asked the server to recommend a fish dish instead and he suggested Tanguige con Salsa Verde (P525, pictured above). Two Tangigue steaks topped with green salsa (which was kind of more like pesto) served with roasted potatoes lightly drizzled with olive oil. We all loved this dish. The clean taste of the fish and the zesty salsa verde complimented each other perfectly.

We were all surprisingly full after sharing four dishes so we skipped dessert altogether. Although Aria was still in its soft opening phase when we dined, the service was impeccable. The servers are very attentive to the diners' needs, they're already there beside your table before you even call them for anything. Food is good -- very natural in terms of taste and you can just tell only the best ingredients were used in making them.

Reservations are recommended. We intentionally went in at about 11am so as to avoid the lunch crowd. It was the right decision since the restaurant was packed an hour later. It's amazing how Aria Cucina Italiana is the only restaurant in that building which had a crowd right outside it waiting to be served considering it hasn't gone full blast yet with advertising and promotions.

Aria Cucina Italiana
2/F Bonifacio High Street Central

Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Call 0917-5195368 for reservations

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Disney School Skills by Summit Media!

2012-02-05T21:03:00.001+08:00

Our dear friend Frannywanny handed me this book a couple of nights ago. It's a Disney-themed math exercise book by Summit Media called Disney School Skills.

Apparently, this is a new line of books from Summit Media. It's only available for early levels of school at the moment, specifically Pre-K to Grade 1. The one I got is entitled "Let's Learn Addition and Subtraction". It's very timely because around a week ago my daughter's first grade class failed their math quiz on subtraction and had to take a re-test. Additional practice would be great! There are Disney School Skills books for Math and English.

The book is in full color. There's a storybook portion too.

It explains math concepts in the simplest way possible so kids will readily understand.

Then there's a wide variety of exercises for the child to answer.

Answer keys are available at the back portion of the book.

The book costs P195 and is now available at leading bookstores and newsstands nationwide. So far my first grader is having fun going through the math exercises. :D

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200 Calorie Meals here and now!

2012-02-03T07:30:00.002+08:00

I sampled a few of 200 Calorie Meals' offerings the other night for dinner. As its name suggests, 200 Calorie Meals is a food delivery service which specializes in tasty low fat and low calorie dishes. Their offerings help you lose weight without feeling deprived. :)

Since my ultimate goal this 2012 is to lose weight, I decided to roadtest a few meals for myself. It was delivered at around 6:30pm, which was the promised time. It was dinner.

I unpacked three meals from the big brown paper bag. They were cold because you can choose to store them in your refrigerator for future consumption or microwave for about a minute to eat right away.

I was impressed by the sturdy plastic containers they used. They're microwaveable too, just remove the covers.

I had Chicken Stir Fry (P155, pictured above). Brown rice, boneless chicken pieces, and julienned carrots are cooked in a light, savory sauce. I liked this dish best among the three. The serving is small, just enough to tide you over your next meal since it's suggested that you eat five small meals a day if you're trying to lose weight.

I also ordered Napolitana (P150, pictured above). It's spaghetti with a light, tomato-based sauce that's flavored with garlic and parsley. This one fills you up more than the Chicken Stir Fry since the pasta noodles are heavy. I only ate a few mouthfuls and stored the rest for the next day since I already had Chicken Stir Fry.

There was also Vegetarian Casserole (P150, pictured above). It's vegetable broth with cauliflowers, carrots, baby potatoes, celery bits, and straw mushrooms. The soup is very clean-tasting and it was amazingly oil-free. I liked this dish except for the cauliflowers because I really don't eat cauliflowers.

Next time I'll order their Meal-in-itself offering, the Tomatoes with Creamed Tinapa and Peanuts and Arugula Salad. It wasn't available earlier this week, but I'd really like to try it because it sounds so yummy based on the website description.

Log on to http://200caloriemeals.com.ph for orders, inquiries, and more information. They even have a Calorie Calculator on the site to help you compute just how many calories you should be eating.

Losing weight is not about deprivation, it's about making healthy choices and eating in moderation. :)

You can also find these meals at Beyond Yoga in Il Terrazo, Quezon City.

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Skin Food GoldKiwi Mask Sheet

2012-02-02T07:25:00.001+08:00

When I went to the Baby Company Grand Baby Fair at SM Megamall last Saturday, I saw Skin Food selling everything in their store for 50% off. The sale was only for the Megamall branch during that particular weekend.

Given my addiction to beauty products of course I had to check it out... the way I also checked out Tony Moly's 50% off sale, hahaha! Anyhow, one of the things I ended up buying was a Skin Food GoldKiwi Mask Sheet. The three magic words got me: moisturizing, whitening, and clarifying. My skin is currently dry, patchy, and well... it needs clarifying. I had too much sun during our out of town trips last December and one more thing this mask does is repair sun damage. The SRP is P325, so if you went to Skin Food last sale weekend like I did it would've cost around P160+per sheet instead.

The foil pack contains a single mask sheet.

It's cold, wet, and it has holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth. You put the entire thing over your face and smooth outwards to remove the air bubbles. Then you let it stay on for 10-15 minutes.

You take off the mask after 10-15 minutes and massage the excess moisture onto your face. The mask was still a bit wet when I took it off.

I was pretty happy about the result when I took the mask off. My face felt nice and perfect -- neither oily nor dry. It looked brighter too. I would probably get more of this when I go to Korea this summer. :P

Skin Food GoldKiwi Mask Sheet promises to do the following:

Help repair sun-damage
Moisturize and whiten
Clarify and brighten

Very nice! As I've mentioned earlier, the mask costs P325 under normal circumstances... up to 50% off if you get lucky and chance upon a sale like I did. :D

Check out http://eng.theskinfood.com/skinfood/store.asp?cid=6 for a complete listing of Skin Food stores in the Philippines. I bought this product at the SM Megamall store.

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Domino's Pizza at A. Venue Mall, Makati City

2012-02-01T07:30:00.002+08:00

We found ourselves at Domino's Pizza last Sunday. It's standing where the now defunct New York Pizza Palace used to be. It's been several years since we last had Domino's Pizza so we decided to eat there. I didn't have a camera on hand so I used my Samsung Galaxy S2 to take photos.

The place seems smaller compared to when it was New York Pizza Palace. There's an order counter, a refrigerator for drinks, and a few tables and chairs. We placed our order for Big League Combo 1 which includes:

12" ExtravaganZZa
7" Cheese Mania
1.5L Coke

There are three kinds of Big League Combos and each cost P750. You can choose the type of crust your pizza will have -- classic hand-tossed dough or crispy thin crust. We opted for classic hand-tossed dough.

We were served paper plates, utensils, napkins, and hot sauce while we were waiting for our order.

You can see the status of your order through the LCD monitors that are attached to the walls.

The Coke came first.

It was followed shortly by two pizzas.

The 7" Cheese Mania is very small. You can probably eat it by yourself. It's sliced into four because of the size.

The 12" ExtravaganZZa isn't too big either, I'd describe it as medium at best. It was topped with beef, olives, green bell peppers, button mushrooms, ham, onions, and pepperoni. Taste was okay. The dough was pretty good, soft to the bite and chewy.

We were kind of full after the meal (four of us shared it) but I felt kind of short-changed. P750 for these two pizzas is pretty expensive! I remember getting a 30" pizza from Calda Pizza for P970.

Domino's Pizza
G/F A. Venue Mall
Makati Ave., Makati City
Call 754-3030 for delivery

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Studio SnR x Bobbi Brown Mastering the Basics Makeup Workshop!

2012-01-31T15:41:00.004+08:00

Yey! It's time for another make-up workshop with Bobbi Brown Philippines and Studio SnR! I joined the one held last October 2011 and I must say, I still learned a lot even if I already graduated from a professional make-up artistry course.

Bobbi's Mastering the Basics workshop will take you through everything you need to learn to become your own make-up artist. Think of all the money you'll save in future events where you would normally go to a salon or get the services of a make-up artist.

Certified Bobbi Brown make-up artists will help you find your perfect shades for that flawless look to take the guesswork out of enhancing your features. You'll be taught tricks and techniques that pros actually use to beautify their clients. After the class, you're guaranteed to be able to make yourself over for any occasion. What's more, you get to enjoy refreshments care of Serenitea! Early birds also get a P500 Bobbi Brown GC.

The workshop takes place on February 11, 2012. The fee is P3,500 per person. Check out my own Bobbi Brown Makeup Workshop experience HERE.

For more information email workshops@studiosnr.com or call 584-5988.

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Dove Damage Therapy for my hair!

2012-01-31T09:30:00.002+08:00

I've always loved Dove hair care products. I'd stock up during trips to Hong Kong. Around a week or two ago, I saw the Philippine Dove Hair Therapy FB page and Twitter account materialize. I was really excited because it only meant one thing -- Dove hair care products have finally made it to Philippine shores!

It was very timely since I was slated to make my monthly trip to the supermarket that weekend. Needless to say I immediately set out to find Dove hair care products. I was only able to buy the shampoo, conditioner, and hair treatment mask. I also wanted to get the overnight repair and the 2-step treatment but they weren't on the shelves!

I bought six products total -- blue (Intense Repair) and pink (Straight & Silky) variants of shampoo, conditioner, and treatment mask from Hi-Top Supermarket. Prices are as follows:

Dove Damage Therapy Shampoo (P101.50)
Dove Damage Therapy Conditioner (P98.50)
Dove Damage Therapy Treatment Mask (P198.50)

Dove Damage Therapy Hair Treatment Mask comes in a tub. They were aggressively sampling this in Hong Kong when I went there last March 2011.

It's very thick and creamy plus it has this strong yet mild scent. Doesn't make sense right? You have to smell to understand how I can describe it that way!

My hair was at its worst. It was dry and well... "crunchy". I guess it's because of all the chemical treatments I subject it to -- straightening, coloring... then there's also heat styling. It was made worse by a particular brand of shampoo and conditioner which I will not name. In the spirit of giving the brand a chance, I've tried all their variants (except the one for falling hair) and all yielded the same result -- sticky hair when wet, really dry and unmanageable when dry. Di talaga hiyang.

So I immediately used Dove Damage Therapy when I got home from the supermarket. I couldn't stand my hair anymore. The moment I used the shampoo, I immediately felt the big difference. My hair was already smooth and slippery while wet in the shower, it was unlike the sticky feeling most other shampoos often leave my hair with. Since my hair needed lots of repairing, I used the treatment mask instead of the conditioner. I knew how it would work since I brought home some from Hong Kong last year. I was quite happy with the immediate results after use.

My hair was instantly softer, smoother, and more manageable. The strong yet mild scent kept it smelling fresh all day too.

Yey no more rough, dry, and unmanageable hair! Now if only I could get a hold of the 2-step treatment and the overnight repair. Even my hubby loves the shampoo!

I love Dove Damage Therapy hair care products. The best part is, it's now available in leading supermarkets and department stores nationwide! <3

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Techni Ice for your cooling and heating needs!

2012-01-30T22:00:00.001+08:00

We've all used ice packs, dry ice, and hot water bags some time or another. Some years back, our suppliers from Japan brought over some custard pastries which had to be kept cool during transit. They padded a plastic container with gel ice packs and put the pastries inside. We got to enjoy the custard pastries scot-free thanks to their efforts and I've kept those little gel ice packs in my fridge ever since.

Of course, those little gel ice packs couldn't possibly last forever and so I had to throw them out after some years had passed (yes, I held on to them as long as I could!). I used them to soothe my children's bumps and bruises, cool down their feverish foreheads, and well... pad plastic containers to keep certain food items cool. Anyhow, I got an email from Techni Ice some time ago asking if I would be willing to review their product. Knowing how useful these things are, I said yes. So I got a couple of sheets in the mail.

Opening a pack reveals a flat plastic sheet that can be divided into 24 individual squares. There's also an instruction pamphlet included.

See how thin the sheet is right after removing from the package? I was expecting some gel packs which I could immediately pop into the fridge. Turns out it's not so simple. It's not difficult but using Techni Ice does require a bit of preparation.

Step 1: After taking out the sheet from the packing, fill up a basin (or your sink, like I did) with water. Scrunch the sheet in your hands and fully immerse it in water.

Step 2: Massage each cell (or square) until it is swollen. Don't make it too plump though because you will need extra room for expansion when you freeze it.

Check out how inflated the plastic sheet has become after immersing in water and massaging.

All the squares are now plumped up.

Step 3: Pop the whole thing in your freezer. Let it stay there for 12 hours. You have to lay it flat because folding it up may cause Techni Ice's surfaces to stick to each other.

This is well more than 12 hours later since I did the plumping at night and I had to work during the day. The sheet is frozen solid. I'm thinking I might have overdone it. XD

Yup, definitely frozen solid. I can't squeeze what used to be gel between my fingers even if I wanted to.

I decided to put Techni Ice's cooling power to the test by getting an unrefrigerated can of Pokka Milk Coffee right out of the box.

I wrapped the Techni Ice sheet all around the coffee can. Then I set it aside in the bathroom. I forgot it was there until something like 2 hours later. O_o

Ah but even so, it was cold! I think it would have been colder had I remembered to take it out after an hour instead of two. The Techni Ice was no longer cold after I left it exposed in the bathroom for 2 hours. However, if you put the Techni Ice inside an insulated container or cooler, it would stay ice cold for much longer.

In order to use as a hot pack, instead of popping it into the freezer, microwave the sheets for 2-3 minutes instead. You can even use this as a bottle warmer if you have a baby in the house. Just wrap the hot Techni Ice sheet around the bottle. You can also cut the Techni Ice sheets into your desired size since they're segmented into squares.

What I like about Techni Ice:

It's versatile. I can use it as either a hot or cold pack.
I can customize it by cutting into my desired size.
It's relatively easy to bring along because you just wipe it down and fold it up after use -- although it never becomes as flat as it originally was inside the packaging.
It's reusable, washable, safe, and non-toxic.
It's lighter and less messy than regular ice or dry ice.
It's reasonably priced at P250 per sheet.

Downside? It's not readily available in stores yet because the distributor is still looking for dealers. In the meantime, you can log on to http://techniicephilippines.blogspot.com for orders and inquiries. :)

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Nutrilite Positrim Protein Bar for weight management!

2012-01-30T07:30:00.000+08:00

If you've been reading my blog since last year, you would know that I have a weight problem. All the years of sedentary living has caught up with me. The last time I got any exercise prior to starting to go to the gym last November 2011 was back in 2008 when I lost 10 lbs. after doing 6 weeks of Bikram Yoga for my sister's wedding.

Anyhow, I dropped by briefly at Amway's Nutrilite event last January 7, 2012 and decided to participate in a fitness challenge which involves controlling your diet. The last challenge I did was all about working out at the gym and drinking a fat-burning beverage. This one revolves around calorie-counting and limiting food intake. They gave me a food diary to record my food consumption with. I had a session with Amway's nutritionist who prescribed the optimal amount of food I should eat to promote weight loss. She suggested that I replace something like one meal a day with either a protein bar + some fruits or a meal replacement shake. It's also recommended that instead of 3 big meals, you have 5 small meals a day.

Anyhow I'm here to talk about Amway's Nutrilite Positrim Protein Bar which I've been having for merienda (snack) the past week. So yeah, instead of the usual snack fare (that includes midnight snack heh) I've been having this. I have a box of 9 bars in Fudgy Brownie flavor. I love chocolate so this is perfect for me.

Anyhow, each bar is individually foil-wrapped. It's the size of a typical chocolate bar but it's markedly heavier.

I was surprised at how chocolatey, fudgy, and delicious it looks. It doesn't look like diet food at all. It even smells like a chocolate bar! XD

I bit it and it tasted just like a fudgy brownie, living up to what the box says. It's moist, chewy, and well... it's just like eating an actual yummy brownie. It's a lot thicker and heavier in terms of texture though so I take smaller bites and make sure I chew it properly. I also drink a lot of water. It's recommended that you eat this with some fruit if you're planning to replace your meal with it.

Why I like it:

I like how it tastes.
It's surprisingly filling.
It's sugar-free. My paternal side is diabetic so I need to be careful about diabetes.
It's only 250 calories.
It contains 22g of protein.

Downside? It's expensive. A box of Nutrilite Positrim Protein Bars containing 9 pieces costs P1,950 -- so it's about P217 per bar.

You can order Nutrilite Positrim Protein Bar and other Nutrilite weight management products from Amway Distributor Centers nationwide. Log on to http://www.amway2u.com/c1/amw_corp.jsp?cat1=1007&rfnbr=1109&mid=3 for the complete list.

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Baby Company Grand Baby Fair at SM Megatrade Hall

2012-01-29T10:13:00.012+08:00

I went to visit the Baby Company Grand Baby Fair at the SM Megatrade Hall yesterday morning. My kids are far from being babies and toddlers but I figured it was still worth checking out because they still have a lot of consumables like soap, shampoo, vitamins, etc. Just about all the children's brands you can think of have a booth and so you're bound to find a good deal.

I was just in time for one of the programs when I arrived. TV personality Lexi Schulze was hosting a segment for Johnson's Baby.

It was all about skin care for babies, children, and even mommies. Pediatrician Dr. Alyce Gail Arejola-Tan was the resource person. What a coincidence, I happen to know the doctor personally and I was quite surprised to see her at the event. Shockingly, most of the people in the audience do not use sunscreen on a regular basis. I'm so obsessed with sun protection that I never step out of the house without any.

Johnson's is coming out with a new product line... yup, you guessed it! Sunscreen. I have way too much sunscreen for the whole family so I didn't buy any.

I was happy to see one of my favorite brands Mustela at the fair. Everything was 10-30% off too! We really, really love Mustela products.

Pigeon is another brand that I really used when my kids were babies. I highly recommend the Pigeon Steam Sterilizer. After two babies, ours still works perfectly! It's so easy to use and it sterilizes even the most delicate bottles and nipples without damaging them.

Ceelin, the vitamin C brand my kids take, was offering everything at 5% off.

I remember buying Enfant pajama sets for my kids when they were still babies and toddlers. :)

Both of them used Playtex Ventaire bottles from the time they were born to the time I had to wean them off the bottle. :)

There's a lot of product sampling going on at the fair too.

The Avent booth was named the top seller and the best designed booth in the fair.

I bought some Cetaphil for my kids since they use it to cleanse their faces. I used it to cleanse mine too while I was undergoing the Obagi Blue Peel. You get a free small bottle with every purchase of a big bottle. There are freebies like this cosmetic bag too. I like the small bottle for travel. This purchase cost me P580 in all. :)

For a minimum purchase of P500 you get a Mom Card which entitles you to 1 point for every P50 worth of purchase of baby products from Baby Company or SM Department Store. It earns points faster compared to the SM Advantage Card (SMAC) which earns 1 point for every P150 purchase. BUT the SMAC earns from Toy Kingdom, Watson's, SM (supermarket, department store, hypermarket), Savemore, Ace Hardware, Forever 21, etc. If you're pregnant or have a baby/toddler though you can theoretically earn a lot more points with the Mom Card since you'll be purchasing things like diapers, nipples, soap, shampoo, etc. repeatedly.

Since my kids are already in grade school, I gave the Mom Card to my sister whose child is still a toddler. :)

As I've mentioned in my previous post, you also get this free Swag Bag for every P2,000 single receipt purchase at the Baby Company Grand Baby Fair.

Today is the last day of the Baby Company Grand Baby Fair. You can still catch some good deals if you go now! :)

Other brands I remember seeing which are not shown in my photos:

Firefly Toothbrush
Farlin
Fisher Price
Looney Tunes
Disney Babies
Precious Moments
St. Patrick
Aprica
Nivea Baby
Lactacyd
Tender Luv
Wet n' Wild
Gingersnaps
Gymboree
Sans Fluo
Evenflo

...and lots more as there are 100 exhibitors!

Incidentally, today is also the last day of the Skin Food 50% off sale (all items) at SM Megamall. Tony Moly is also having a 50% off sale. :)

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Dove Real Beauty Basics is here!

2012-01-27T20:23:00.005+08:00

Before anything else, let me just share with you that for some reason, my skin started being overly dry this January. Anything I use on my face stings and there are times I even experienced a bit of chapping and peeling. It doesn't help that most of my skin care products are formulated for oily/combination skin which has always been the norm for me. I've since switched to Dove Beauty Moisture Facial Cleanser for normal to dry skin and I'm seeing some improvement. Anyhow, I'll talk about my stash of Dove products in detail on another post. For now, I'd like to tell you about Dove Real Beauty Basics. :)

Dove Real Beauty Basics is Dove Philippines' beauty and lifestyle blog. You know how Dove always promotes real beauty as opposed to the "ideal" as set by society and stereotypes, right? Dove Real Beauty Basics is an online extension of that philosophy, tackling real concerns of real people -- anything you want to know about skin, hair, nutrition, fitness... it's all covered by Dove Real Beauty Basics.

Browsing through the site, an article about how to use curling/straightening irons caught my attention. I rely on rebonding to keep my hair manageable but I can't do it too often. After a couple of months I usually have unsightly roots showing and so I use a blower and a straightening iron to fix the problem. Then there was this one time I tried styling my daughter's hair for a party with a curling iron and failed miserably -- no curls! Hahaha. So yes, this primer on using hair styling irons has been very relevant and useful to me. :)

You can access Dove Real Beauty Basics by logging on to http://www.dove.ph and clicking on the real beauty basics tab on the upper right hand corner. The site's cover page currently features Dove's hair care line which has finally reached Philippine shores! I actually bought something like P1k worth of Dove hair care products from the supermarket last weekend, haha! I'm just so happy they're finally available locally because I used to horde these products from Hong Kong.

Anyhow, check out Dove Real Beauty Basics. It's a treasure trove of practical information you can use to enhance your daily beauty routine. :)

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Kuretake at Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center

2012-01-26T22:30:00.001+08:00

We found ourselves in Kuretake at the Power Plant Mall one Sunday afternoon. I was able to buy a lovely P995 crimson-colored top from ZARA sale before we decided to break for lunch. All the restaurants were jam-packed.

I've never seen Kuretake this full!

We ended up sitting at the bar area since there were no tables available.

The bar area was where the Japanese chef prepared the sashimi and sushi. He would wash his hands countless times while doing so too, a good indication of the restaurant's hygiene.

We were served cold house tea (Mugicha or Barley Tea), a small plate of sweet and crunchy dilis, and a cold towel as we were placing our order.

Hubby decided to have Oyako Ju (P310, pictured above) -- thinly sliced chicken, vegetables, and egg on rice. It was a pretty generous serving and he liked it a lot.

Both our orders came with a bowl of miso soup.

I opted for the Gyu Don Set (P500). Aside from the miso soup it came with pickles...

...and a beef bowl (gyu means beef in Japanese) with some stray strands of sukiyaki noodles. I don't know if this is normal but it was frantic at Kuretake that day. I didn't mind though because it all tasted good on top of the piping hot steamed Japanese rice.

My Gyu Don Set also came with a small plate of mixed tempura -- two big prawns and veggies (specifically okra and squash). The crispy batter was done perfectly... loved it!

We both got complimentary dessert consisting of fresh fruits after our meal.

Kuretake serves delicious and authentic Japanese food but the price is a notch higher compared to other Japanese restaurants. They make up for it with larger than average servings though. Service was extremely slow that Sunday since there were so many people. It took around 45 minutes for our food to come out and they weren't in order. Miso soup was actually served last because they had run out and I had to repeatedly ask for my pickles. Still, Kuretake is one of our preferred dining places in Power Plant Mall.

Kuretake

G/F Power Plant Mall

Rockwell Drive cor. Estrella St.,
Makati City
898-0509

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Baby Company Grand Baby Fair Year 2!

2012-01-26T07:30:00.000+08:00

Are you a mom or a mom-to-be? This is your chance to get up to 70% off on selected items from leading children's brands. With over 100 exhibitors, there's bound to be something for every mom!

From January 27 -29, 2012, Baby Company will be holding its 2nd annual Grand Baby Fair at the SM Megatrade Halls 2 & 3 of the SM Megamall from 10am onwards. Apart from the chance to grab good deals on infant and children's items, there will be celebrity moms (the list includes Tintin Bersola-Babao, Christine Jacob-Sandejas, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, and lots more!) and interesting activities like parlor games, product sampling, workshops, raffles, and talks during the fair.

What's more, you get a Swag Bag for a single receipt purchase of at least P2,000. I'm sure you're wondering what's in the Swag Bag and if it's worth it...

Here's a sneak peek at what's inside the Swag Bag:

Playtex pacifier, breast milk bag + clips, nipples
Pampers diaper sample pack
Mimiflo hangers
Johnson's Baby Milk Bath
Johnson's Baby Cologne
Johnson's Pure Essentials Soap
Enfant baby soap
Chicco pacifiers
Farlin cotton swabs
Farlin nipple
Avent resealable breast milk storage cup
St. Patrick bib
Pigeon breast pads
Lactacyd sample sachets + rubber ducky
Baby Looney Tunes Fingertip Toothbrush with Tongue Cleaner
Cetaphil sample sachet
face towel
ballpens

I was told that this is just the partial swag bag that had been assembled as of press time. There could be some additions and/or variations come event day itself. It's pretty useful if you have babies or toddlers and if you're on the family way. :)

So there you go, do drop by the Baby Company Grand Baby Fair this coming weekend!

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Pinkbox for baby, Pinkbox for mommy!

2012-01-25T15:30:00.000+08:00

Well, not baby exactly... my little girl is 7 years old but you know how daughters will always be baby girls in their mommy's eyes. Anyway... I admit I spend a lot on hair accessories for my little girl. She actually has more than I do since she likes to keep her hair long and I can't let her go to school looking disheveled! When I'm abroad I always keep an eye out for more unique designs -- I still remember getting her tamagotchi (yes, the virtual pet!) ponytail holders when I went to Japan.

I've always known Pink Box as a children's brand endorsed by Carmina Villaroel's daughter Cassie and I've actually visited their mall outlets in the past. I was pretty excited when I got the invite for the Pink Box Tea Party which would also launch accessories for us mommies. I was just getting settled in my seat when we were handed welcome gifts consisting of a colored rubber bands and a pair of silver hoop earrings. I've been looking for silver hoop earrings for a while now so it couldn't be more timely. :)

It was a very intimate affair. There were lots of girl talk among fellow bloggers while munching on cute and tasty nibbles like these mini vegetable sandwiches. We also had yummy pizza, pasta, and French macarons! :D

The owner of Pinkbox, Nelly See, talked about how the business sprung from her frustrations as a mom ten years ago. She just couldn't find nice accessories for her daughters -- the good ones were branded and overly expensive. The cheap ones were of low quality. Most of the designs being sold were of Disney characters as well and Nelly wanted something different! She went to China and had a look at what was available. She imported accessories and started selling to family and friends. Soon, she had enough volume to have her own designs. Pinkbox now has 27 company-owned stores and numerous franchisees all over the country.

We were all asked to come dressed in pink, and for good reason -- the best dressed blogger gets a special gift from Pinkbox! Fashion blogger Vern Enciso bagged it with this Alice in Wonderland tea party-inspired look.

Since the Chinese New Year was coming up at the time of the event we all got to take home a beautifully wrapped box of tikoy.

We also got to pick our own Pinkbox loot at the event. I got these colored ponytail holders and clips for my little girl.

These colored bands are my favorite. They come in a pack of five and cost only P49.75.

They're very versatile, secure, and easy to remove. No snagging or tugging, it just slips off the hair.

Pinkbox clips are cute too! My daughter actually used these to school the very next day. :D

I grabbed some accessories for myself as well. The silver hairband costs P219.75 just to give you an idea.

Pinkbox accessories are not limited to hair ornaments, they now also have fashionable earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

I love these silver hoops!

The bracelet set I picked fits me perfectly too!

You'll be in for a real treat the next time you stop by a Pinkbox outlet since you can now shop for yourself and your little girl at the same time! :D

For a complete list of Pinkbox outlets, log on to http://www.pinkbox.com.ph or visit Pinkbox's official FB page at http://www.facebook.com/Pinkboxaccessories.

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SumoSam Gilmore at Greenhills Town Center on Granada St.

2012-01-24T08:15:00.000+08:00

I attended the grand opening of SumoSam at Greenhills Town Center along Granada St. last Saturday. I was surprised to find out that it was actually franchised by one of my high school classmates!

I didn't know SumoSam had a mascot, haha!

Tables were already set when I got to the restaurant.

Big bento boxes were placed in front of each diner.

I opened it and saw a complete meal! This is actually the Samurai's Choice Bento (P488) which you can order only from SumoSam Gilmore.

The Samurai's Choice bento box contains Tuna and Salmon Sashimi with Kani (crab) sticks, sweet and crunchy dilis appetizer...

...steamed rice garnished with black sesame seeds...

...beef misono with yasai itame (sauteed vegetables)...

...chicken teriyaki, dory teppan, and bean sprouts... whew! There's so much food all in just one bento box. It's guaranteed to wipe out all your hunger pangs. I couldn't finish it, I think I can share a Samurai's Choice bento with my 7-year old daughter and just order some extra rice for her.

After our filling meal, cupcakes were served. These aren't part of SumoSam's menu, they were ordered especially for the occasion. :)

SumoSam president Marvin Agustin dropped by during lunch in order to welcome us and answer a few questions. I asked him how his Japanese restaurants are different from each other -- after all, aside from SumoSam he has John & Yoko and Mr. Kurosawa. Marvin told us that SumoSam is more of Japanese-American, John & Yoko cosmopolitan Japanese, and Mr. Kurosawa Japanese-European.

We had a photo opp with Marvin as well. He actually did a sushi demo later in the afternoon but I couldn't stick around to see it.

There are 5 kinds of Yokozuna Bentos and they are available only at SumoSam Gilmore from 11am to 2pm. We were served Samurai's Choice which is the most expensive one.

If you visit SumoSam Gilmore this month, you will also be given a red lucky packet for the Chinese New Year. The packet contains 12 coupons which you can use from January to December 2012. For every P1,000 purchase you get the freebie of the month:

January 2012 - Free Fortune Cookies
February 2012 - Free Tempura Banana Split
March 2012 - Free Best of Both Worlds (dessert)
April 2012 - Free Thirst Quenchers
May 2012 - Free Thirst Quenchers
June 2012 - Free Dory Teppan Bento
July 2012 - Free Dory Teppan Bento
August 2012 - Free Dessert
Septmber 2012 - Free Dessert
October 2012 - Free Beer
November 2012 - Free Halloween Loot Bag
December 2012 - Free Dory Teppan Bento

SumoSam
Greenhills Town Center

#2 Granada St., Bgy. Valencia, Quezon City

729-6292 / 895-7532

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Gluta-C Intense Whitening -- putting the products to the test!

2012-01-23T10:47:00.010+08:00

I was invited for an evening of fun and pampering at Freyja Day and Nail Spa last December 2011 by Gluta-C, a local skin whitening brand endorsed by the now super fair-skinned actress Jodi Sta. Maria. I've seen Jodi during her pre-Gluta-C days and I can assure you that she's not what you'd call maputi (white). Not dark, but definitely not maputi.

Now if Jodi's Gluta-C promo materials are any indication of the current state of her skin tone, you can now describe her as maputi. Of course, I have yet to see her in person again because I know too well how lighting and make-up can make anyone come off as maputi.

Anyhow, back to the Gluta-C event. Fashion stylist Alyanna Martinez gave a brief talk on personal style, giving us tips on how to highlight our best features. She's living proof that you don't have to be model-skinny to look good. It's all about working with what you have -- wearing clothes that fit properly, accessorizing, choosing the right footwear... of course, being at your best includes having flawless skin!

After Alyanna's talk we were given a brief product orientation and some of us got treated to a Gluta-C Facial. We couldn't all do it at the same time so I chose to go ahead with the Vanna Goddess Whitening Hand and Foot Spa.

The treatment involved pampering my feet and hands.

I'll blog about this treatment in detail on a separate post as we're here to talk about Gluta-C.

All I can say for now is my hands and feet got a real treat!

Gluta-C has a complete line of skin care products formulated to whiten, nourish, and protect your skin from the sun. All the products use Glutathione and Vitamin C as the main ingredients. There's soap, toner spritz, day cream, body moisturizer, and night serum.

For this post, I decided to give the Gluta-C Intensive Whitening Body Moisturizer a test run. My skin has been very dry ever since 2012 started and regular sunblock isn't cutting it. I need something that will protect me from the sun AND moisturize my skin at the same time.

Upon opening the bottle, a light and refreshing citrus scent greeted me.

Gluta-C Intensive Whitening Body Moisturizer is heavier than regular lotion, notice how it doesn't run after dispensing from the bottle.

It looks thick and creamy but it actually spreads easily and absorbs quickly. A few moments after massaging it into your skin it's completely gone with not even a hint of greasiness. Your skin also feels soft and smooth right after application. I really like the light, fresh-smelling citrus scent. It has SPF 25 so it's good for daily use. I don't recommend this for serious extended sun exposure like going to the beach or engaging in water sports (you will need something waterproof/sweatproof with a higher SPF for those activities) -- but this is sufficient for your daily traverse like driving/commuting to work.

A 125ml bottle of Gluta-C Intense costs P164.75. It's available at leading drugstores and department stores nationwide.

I went swimming a lot last December and so I've darkened quite a bit from my original skin color. The watch mark on my wrist proves it. I'm putting Gluta-C Intense Whitening products (soap, moisturizer, and the night serum) to the test by using them on my arms to see if they can whiten enough to even out my skin tone. I guess I'll see if it's effective after a few weeks? :)

Have you tried Gluta-C? How did it work for you?

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Forest House in Baguio City!

2012-01-22T00:00:00.001+08:00

Since it's a long weekend, I've decided to blog about this place we visited during one such long weekend last November 2011 -- Forest House in Baguio City.

Forest House is a Bed and Breakfast, a restaurant, and a bar of sorts all at the same time. When we visited, the place was jam-packed even if we had reservations so we could only stay on the second floor. Thus we couldn't watch the live band that was playing on the ground floor. They set up a long table for us since we were a big group.

It was nearly the holiday season at the time so the whole place was decked out in Christmas-themed decor.

We were served plates of this complimentary appetizer which I can only describe as a small, crisp flatbread. It was nice to munch on as it was not greasy and it had a clean taste.

I ordered Sesame Crusted Fish Fillet (P245, pictured above) which was marked as one of Forest House's recommended specials on the menu. Pan-seared cream dory fish fillet is crusted with black sesame seeds and topped with mango salsa. It's served with mashed potato and a tortilla chip on the side. Sounds nice, looks nice, but unfortunately it's a bland dish that made me realize cream dory can never be satisfying no matter how you cook it.

Hubby decided to get Forest House Wine Sauced Chicken (P245, pictured above). It's also marked as a recommended Forest House special. It's served with your choice of either steamed rice or mashed potatoes with fresh vegetables on the side. I liked this better than what I ordered. The rich and creamy wine sauce is very flavorful and it's good to eat with steamed rice.

Our son opted for Fettuccine Carbonara (P230, pictured above) which he finished to the last noodle. The white cream sauce had smoked ham and mushrooms, plus it was topped with bacon bits.

Meanwhile our daughter chose English Fish and Chips with Tartar Sauce (P275, pictured above). It's crunchy outside and soft inside, served with potato wedges. Our little girl liked it.

After dinner we decided to check out the unoccupied rooms that are also located in the second floor dining area. This one is called Keanu's room. It's good for two people. It costs anywhere from P2,750 to P3,700 a night depending on when you stay.

This bathroom belongs to Kahlil's room which is good for 2 adults and 1 child. It has a queen-sized bed and a foldable sofa bed which can fit one child. It's markedly more expensive at P3,450 to P4,700 depending on when you stay.

We saw around three rooms and all of them have quaint, country-themed interiors that match the rest of the place.

Forest House is worth visiting if only for taking in the charming country-style ambiance. Food is so-so (average taste + small serving portions), service is really slow (either that or it's because they were full that night) -- our orders took nearly an hour to materialize. The rooms, while pretty to look at, are located right next to the dining area so I can just imagine the noise. I don't like the idea of leaving the room and being met by a hall full of diners too.

Forest House Bed & Breakfast
16 Loakan Rd., Baguio City

+63 74 4470459

http://www.foresthousebedandbreakfast.com

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Dambana ng Kagitingan on Mt. Samat, Bataan

2012-01-19T23:16:00.010+08:00

Our family went on a long drive to Bataan with friends over the December holidays last year. We wanted to go somewhere different, not the usual weekend family haunts like Ocean Adventure or Zoobic. We decided to go up to Mt. Samat in Bataan and visit Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor), a memorial to both Filipino and American soldiers during World War II.

The road up Mt. Samat is long and winding. There are steep turns and a lot of climbing, so good driving skills and a reliable vehicle with sufficient power are a must.

Upon arriving at the gate, you will be charged a minimal entrance fee... something like P10 for students, P20 for adults, and P30 for foreigners. A large cannon greeted us the moment we got down from the car.

You climb the stairs in order to gain access to the memorial.

It actually reminded me somewhat of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial in Taipei, Taiwan... minus the uniformed guards who stood like statues.

The open air marble structure is bright and spacious. A part of Philippine history is chronicled on its walls.

It's really just a rectangular open space with a story to tell but it's nice to hang out because it's so well-lit and breezy. The marble is literally cool too, some of the kids would actually sit on the floor.

Aside from these writings covering the wall, there's also a map which illustrates the historic battles that took place in World War II. Couldn't get a good photo of the map because it was encased in glass and the reflection ruins the view.

There are some weapons on display outdoors.

Our ultimate goal was to visit the memorial cross on top of the mountain. You will have to drive up some more to reach it.

So we drove and went to see the cross up close. You can go inside it and take the elevator to the top for P10 per person.

We paid and rode the elevator to the top. There are viewing decks where you can sit and take photos. It's quite windy here. We all loved the cool mountain air!

This is the view from the top of the cross.

Our kids enjoyed our visit to Dambana ng Kagitingan on Mt. Samat. I think it's a good alternative to the usual theme parks and zoos. This place is something my kids would read about in their civics / social studies text books so they were pretty pleased when they saw it with their own eyes.

Dambana ng Kagitingan is about a 2-hour drive from Manila. There are some stalls which sell hot dogs and drinks but there's no serious dining facility there. Toilets are not so nice plus you have to pay P10 per use. Still, I maintain that it is worth a visit. We found it quite enriching. :)

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