christhingsss

Goodie Box

2013-05-05T23:17:00.000+08:00

Who likes receiving a loot bag in a party? Raise your hand if you do!

If you've read my blog recently, I've been talking about my two daughters' birthday celebrations this year. The last bash we had was my eldest's slumber party with her three best friends and I made sure to prepare a special giveaway for them.

The boxes were from Papemelroti. I absolutely love that store! I've been a loyal customer since I was a kid. I collected their notepads and my favorite was the one with a girl sitting on a desk with weather choices to tick off and a blank clock to draw on.

Anyway, each girl got a sleeping eye mask, a floral journal, a ribbon cord holder, a roll of washi tape, a cute pen, a bracelet, a mini stamp set and personalized metal hooks which are my absolute favorite amongst all the items! They're also from Papemelroti and they're unbelievably super affordable - about Php175.00 each (USD4.29)! Can you believe it?! I'm totally doing this again this Christmas! Friends, you already know what you're getting from me! ;-)

I also got this interesting paper making kit from Papemelroti. I haven't tried it but I definitely will with my daughter soon! :)

And to finish the goodie box, I tied jute string around the box and did a horrible calligraphy writing on the tags. Hahaha. I'm currently obsessing over calligraphy writing and I have this book from a couple of years ago that went missing but I found it the other day so I've been practicing a bit and seeing this photo makes me cringe a bit. Calligraphy writing is really hard!

Anyway, back to the goodie box, the girls loved it! I would love it too if I got one! I think it's such a fun box! Wouldn't you want one too? :)

Handmade Apple Invites

2013-05-04T11:14:00.000+08:00

Here's the apple invitation I made for my eldest daughter's slumber party.

My daughter and her friends are into apple juice (I don't know why) so I used that as the theme. I searched online for some apple-themed invitations as inspiration but I didn't see any that I liked. I did find an awesome apple mini album from favecrafts.com and there was a free template available for download. Jackpot! Thank goodness for generous crafters!!! :)

Here are the materials I used for the project:

Scoring tool - I use ScorPal which I absolutely love
Template printouts *
Scissors
Glue - I use Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue which is one of my faves!
Alphabet stamps & ink pad
Ribbon
Clothespin
Black scrap cardstock
Green scrap cardstock (polkadots)

* I used three sheets of red cardstock and two sheets of white cardstock per invite.

I had to cut out five apple shapes first, scored and folded in the middle then glued four pieces together.

Before gluing the last apple shape to the bunch, I glued a 16-inch long ribbon on the left part of the apple and a 9-inch long ribbon on the right side. Then I went ahead and glued the last piece of apple to finish the base (book).

Next, I printed out the apple core sheets. I actually edited the template that I downloaded and added details of the party using Photoshop. I cut the pieces out and glued them on the pages of the apple.

Using the black scrap cardstock, I cut out little apple seeds. I placed six at the back and just three at the front - as one side had a print.

I stamped the names of my daughter's friends on a green polkadot scrap paper and drew a leaf around their names by hand, then cut. I glued the leaf by the center of the apple next to the crease.

I then clipped on a wooden clothespin at the center as the apple's stem. This is my favorite detail of the invite!

And here's the finished product. A ten-page apple invite!

I had fun working on this project but my hand really hurt from cutting the apples, core pages and those itty-bitty seeds. Thank goodness I only needed to make three pieces for her three best friends (I actually made four, the extra one was our copy)! I'm glad my daughter absolutely loved her invitation and so did her friends and even their parents! So it was all worth it! The things we do for our loved ones... :)

Hello, May!

2013-05-02T22:19:00.000+08:00

Time flies sooooo fast! Can you believe that we're half-way through summer already? The kids are very much enjoying their free time and summer activities and I love seeing them around the house and hang out with them. I just hope they'll soon miss school and be excited for the new school year. I remember I always was because I get to buy school supplies! Yipee! :) So let's make the most of what's left of our summer season with Fat Mum Slim's Photo A Day Challenge:

Sadly, I was not able to finish last month's challenge. I stopped midway through the list. I kept saying I'll post today's challenge photo tomorrow but, yeah... So I will try my best to post on time like how it's really done. Haha! But anyway, here are the challenge photos I was able to post last month:

Darn! Now, I regret not finishing last month's challenge. It would be really awesome to have completed all 12 months and have a photo for every single day for a year!

Celebration No. 3, 4 & 5

2013-05-01T21:39:00.000+08:00

Here's a continuation of my daughters' birthday celebrations journal for this year. Click here and here for the first two parties if you haven't seen them yet. :)

Celebration #3 was on the day in between my two girls' real birthdays and the our families gathered at their favorite pizza place, Shakey's Katipunan. The kids love this particular branch because it has its own arcade. And I must admit, it is pretty awesome! I mean, we never had this kind of place when we were their age! So while waiting for our pizza, pasta, chicken and mojos (our faves) to be served, the kids and kids-at-heart enjoyed the games.

Go, Ate, go!

I used to play Dance, Dance Revolution a lot at home on the PlayStation back in college. We had the portable dance pad (and had to wear socks, yes!) and there was this particular song I absolutely loved dancing to and have perfectly memorized the steps. I just couldn't locate the song in the machine but I'm 99% sure that I still know the steps! Hahaha!

Here's my Zoe girl hitting the jackpot - 100 tickets!!! And she made sure each kid took a prize home when she had them exchanged for whatnots at the redemption booth.

ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!

Since I ordered a total of four (!!!) birthday cakes for this year's celebrations, I got them cupcakes for party #3 instead. Of course, they did the birthday candle blowing and we served mini red velvet cupcakes to our loving guests. The cupcakes were from Cupcake Lab, of course!

These are Cupcake Lab's Oreo Surprise cupcake

*****

The following day was my eldest's actual birthday. We didn't plan anything big but it was all about stuff she wanted to do, just like last year. It was also my youngest's first day in ballet summer school so we had to take her to class and while waiting, we popped in a bookstore and got a book for the birthday girl.

After ballet, we went to the mall to watch The Croods which we really, really enjoyed! After the movie, we had a quick dinner at Sbarro - one of her favorite pizza places!

The mall was about to close after we finished having dinner and we saw this huge gift box and told Zoe that that was our gift to her. All she said was, 'haha' with a matching mocking face.

Of course, it a birthday wouldn't be complete without a fabulous cake. A pretty ombre ruffled red velvet cake from Cupcake Lab at that. And it is the same as Chloe's but just in her favorite color.

Happy birthday, love! You'll always be our baby girl! :)

*****

For the last (but definitely not the least) birthday celebration, we hosted a slumber party for Zoe and her BFFs. We rented out a two-bedroom suite in a service apartment hotel so that we get to enjoy amenities and the feel of hotel-living, even just for a night, as well as not to have to worry so much about clean up, pre and post party.

First activity of the day was swimming. We probably stayed for just half an hour as it was quite windy (the pool was on the 4th floor) and our food delivery arrived shortly and the pool area didn't have a proper place to consume food.

The little saling pusa

We ordered pizza and pasta from Shakey's (again!!! Waaaaaaah!) for our afternoon grub. The girls washed up, had some food then played board games.

Then they watched Wreck-It-Ralph and had popcorn. We also had burgers and fries delivered for dinner as requested by the girls. They asked for hot choco right after eating and I was surprised they still had space for it!

And to cap the day off, it was time for the birthday song and blowing of the candle! I had her cake made by Cupcake Lab (again and of course)! She and her friends are currently into apple juice (I absolutely have no idea why!) and her invites were apple-themed as well (I'll post that soon). But seriously, I probably had Cupcake Lab's cakes and cupcakes for almost two weeks straight! I mostly ate red velvet and it's just so good that it's not funny! Anyway, this is a rainbow cake inside, exactly how my birthday girl wanted it. :)

I was pretty tired afterwards but of course the girls still had A LOT of energy! I headed for bed while they stayed up a little longer, playing Club Penguin. I was looking forward to have breakfast with everyone the following morning but unfortunately, my two girls weren't feeling well. I was glad that we were going home that day.

Anyway, we all had a great time this year but five celebrations are a bit crazy. I have a year to plan next year's festivities and hopefully I can lessen the days and be more cost-efficient!

BDJ Elite Box

2013-04-26T15:57:00.000+08:00

BDJ sent me a surprise package yesterday - their first ever limited edition Elite Box! Coolio!

In the Box:

1. Celeteque Dermoscience Advanced Anti-Aging Anti-Wrinkle Ultra-Hydrating Cleansing Oil

2. Viva La Juicy La Fleur

3. Davines Nounou Conditioner

4. Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50

5. Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer

6. Davines Nounou Shampoo

7. Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Backstage

8. ISkin New York Daily Sunshield SPF 25

9. SureSlim Wellness Center Php1,500 Gift Voucher

This is another impressive selection from BDJ! I love that it's like a whole body kit - there's skincare, haircare and makeup products and even something for those who are watching their figures! Absolutely perfect for summer!

Off the bat, I love the lipstick! I recently bought my first ultimate suede lipstick and I really like it (will post a review soon) and I'm thrilled to get another shade which I think is really gorgeous! Plus, berry red lips is a huge Fall 2013 beauty trend! :)

I also like the perfume. It has a lovely and intoxicating scent. It's floral (which I normally hate) yet fruity (which I love) and light enough for everyday use. This might be just what I've been searching for for years! It's now in my fridge and I can't wait to try it!

I've used Davines Nounou shampoo and conditioner before and they're really great! They leave hair feeling soft and makes hair color last longer.

I love Neutrogena products and I'm glad some of their stuff are slowly making their way to our shores. I currently use this but the one with SPF 70 which I ordered from the US. It is really light-weight and I like that! And children (6 months old and up) can use this too. One sunblock for the whole family! Yay!

Congratulations to the BDJ team for an amazing box yet again! Everything is bigger and better! The individual product info cards are great too! I love that your wonderful team took the time to tell us what each product is, how they can benefit us and tips on how to use them! High five, lovelies!!! :)

Crafty Easter Sunday x Birthday Celebration

2013-04-26T12:17:00.000+08:00

Here's a late installment to the series of birthday celebrations we recently had for my two girls. I have another post or two to complete this year's birthday festivities, then hopefully, I'll be able to post all the other stuff I've been itching to write about for months now.

My youngest's birthday fell on Easter Sunday this year and since we were all in the city for a staycation during the Holy Week, my sister-in-law invited us over to her place and we prepared activities for the kids to celebrate the two special occasions.

First thing the kids did was go swimming. It was a perfectly hot day for a dip in the pool - don't you just hate the scorching summer heat we've been having??? While the kids were busy in the water, Oma (grandma) went around the pool area and hid a bag full of plastic eggs.

After the kids freshened up, it was time for some egg hunting.

The kids exchanged their eggs for a prize which the SIL prepared (thanks, Wing!) and they all got a bag filled with goodies - a book, a box of crayons, a coloring book, etc. :)

Afterwards, we did some Easter arts & crafts. Each kid got a bag filled with materials for the four projects we did. This made the distribution a whole lot easier and faster!

For the first activity, the kids made a bunny mask. The husband helped me prepare the materials the night before and he cut-out the masks and pink ears. The kids glued cotton balls on to the mask and I just find it funny how these kids hate touching the gooey thing. They would literally panic and run to the bathroom the moment they get glue on their fingers.

Next, they made egg puppets with moving eyes! Very simple and super cute! :)

The Ws

Then the kids made a peek-a-boo chickadee and decorated the cracked egg with colorful shapes which I punched out from my stash of scrap paper.

And lastly, they each made a cute handprinted bunny.

Here's the birthday girl with her masterpiece! This is my favorite among the four projects they did! Definitely a keeper and worth framing! :)

After dinner, we had the blowing of the birthday candle and of course, the opening of presents! Here's Chloe's beautiful ombre ruffled red velvet cake from Cupcake Lab. I swear, they make the best red velvets in town - perfectly moist and not diabetes-level sweet!

Yes, I'm doing the nakikiblow-ng-candle face! Hahaha!

And here's Chloe with Opa, Oma and Koku (my husband's brother who is currently working abroad and who we all miss terribly) on Skype!

I also prepared some Easter games for the kids. The first one was a movement game where I printed out directions that were easy for kids to do (like hop like a bunny) and rolled up the strips of paper and placed them in a big egg. For a really short period of time, they enjoyed taking turns picking out a piece of paper and acting out whatever was being asked of them.

Then I prepared a memory game where I hid small identical toys in eggs for the kids to match. I had to rummage through my daughters' room to find random itty bitty toys in pairs and I swear, they have too much stuff! The kids didn't really play the game but they liked shaking the eggs and the sound it made.

As expected, the kids had their own idea of fun!

I also prepared a small giveaway for the kids. Inside was a plastic egg with a cute little stuffed toy. I wrapped them up in japanese paper and colored twine.

Here's Chloe with her Easter egg cookie from Oma. Thanks, Omie!

So that ends Chloe's second (for the year) birthday celebration! Check out her previous party here if you haven't yet. Anyway, we all had a great time! We're definitely doing more arts & crafts activities again next Easter! Here's a photo of the kids' artworks:

How did you celebrate Easter Sunday? :)

Necklaces & Ladders (not snakes)

2013-04-16T23:54:00.001+08:00

I had this sudden urge to clean and organize our room this morning when I woke up. Seriously, it was the only thing that was on my mind the moment I opened my eyes and I was really excited about it which is totally rare, I tell you.

I cleaned up my vanity table and threw out the products I don't really use. Then arranged my shoe shelf and removed the clutter around the space. And I finally gave my necklaces a chic new home.

I think the ladder is upside down. Haha. Probably because it was originally used for our towels and the topmost row was just too narrow for me. I thought it was absolutely the perfect accessories holder when I saw one being used as one here. And I love how I can see each and every item better now than when I had them piled on wall hooks.

You know what I love when spring cleaning? Finding long lost treasures! I found this bug necklace from H&M that I've had for months now but haven't worn yet! Can't wait to take the little creature for a ride! :)

How do you organize your baubles?

Mommy, I'm Scared...

2013-04-14T02:28:00.000+08:00

My eldest recently celebrated her birthday and she asked if we could watch The Croods so we did. It was hilarious! We loved it! My youngest, who just turned 4yo, refused to come with us though. Such a shame because I'm very sure she would have loved it. The movie had a lot of silly moments and that's her thing.

The first movie she ever watched in a movie theater was Hotel Transylvania. The second she sat on her chair, she was quiet and rigid. She had no reaction towards the trailers that were showing when she would usually let out a hearty laugh when watching something funny. When the lights dimmed, she panicked and cried a bit and we had to comfort her and gave her milk and she fell asleep. Just when the movie was about to end, she woke up and cried a little more.

"I don't like big TV, Mommy. Only small TV." That's what she said. She was three years old then. Before we even stepped in the movie house, we did try to explain what to expect but of course toddlers would never imagine to see something so vast and dark with vibrating loud sounds and a huge screen. I could just imagine how overwhelmed a child would feel. Which brings me to this question: when will kids be ready for the big screen? Is there an appropriate age or like some sort of rule out there?

When I asked my little girl if she would like to join us to watch The Croods in the movie house, she said, "I can't, Mommy. I'm scared. I'll just wait for you at home." :(

I really hope she'll be able to watch Monster's University and Despicable Me 2 with us.

Wreck It Ralph Party

2013-04-11T22:29:00.000+08:00

March went by like a blur. There was this one week where I had to rush and prepare my youngest's party at school, then made some tedious-to-create invites in just one day for my eldest's party and to top them all off, it was also exams week and my husband and I had to help our daughter review. Whew! That was stressful and I'm so glad everything's all done now. My two daughters' birthdays are just two days apart and we had a total of FIVE celebrations this year. FIVE. Versus last year's three-day celebration. I seriously have to reassess what we'll do next year.

Anyway, I just want to share what I did for my little girl's party at school. Since her actual special day fell during summer vacation, we threw a small party two weeks early. I worked around her current favorite movie, Wreck It Ralph. She absolutely loves it. She watches it everyday. And she likes Vanellope Von Schweetz, the little girl from the Sugar Rush game who gets bullied and who's ultimate dream is to race. Unfortunately, there aren't any Wreck It Ralph party supplies available locally so I had to make some.

I didn't tell her about the party and her teachers and classmates gamely helped us to surprise her.

Here's the cake I designed and ordered from Red Ribbon. We actually just got lucky to find a bake shop that makes picture cakes in such short notice. My husband & I first went to Shoppersville in Katipunan where I ordered my eldest's picture cake six years ago (her birthday theme then was High School Musical), only to find out they no longer offer it. We checked out Kink Cakes but their price was waaaaay over what I was willing to spend so we decided to try Red Ribbon just in case they have it and they did! I think they only have one design for a picture cake. I was absolutely not allowed to change the decor on the sides around the cake and good thing it tied in with my design. Pretty limiting, right? And I'm not sure if they have this in blue (for boys).

I also bought plastic containers so the kids can bring home a slice of cake. Of course I had to personalize it so I made these sticker labels.

And for giveaways, I found a Fix It Felix Jr. arcade paper craft template and thought the kids would love it! Download the template here.

So I had to hand-cut (big thanks to the hubby for helping), score and assemble a bunch for the kids and teachers.

And I added a small packet of chocolates inside the arcade machine. Giveaways will not be complete without some sweets, right?

Since the arcade machine was completely glued on top, I used washi tape to secure the chocolate from under.

And to add a touch of personalization, I made another set of labels with my daughter's name and party date.

We ordered food from McDonald's and most of the kids didn't finish their food had to bring them home because they were pretty busy singing and laughing.

And what's a party without balloons? These were from National Bookstore. Inflating courtesy of my husband (he used a pump, in case you're wondering).

And here's my daughter enjoying her Wreck It Ralph party! Happy birthday again, baby cakes! :)

Hello, April!

2013-04-01T17:36:00.000+08:00

The weather isn't so terrible today, huh? Thank goodness. I'd say it's a pretty good start for new beginnings since we just celebrated Easter Sunday yesterday and it is the first day of April after all! And to start this month off with some daily creative inspiration, here's Fat Mum Slim's April Photo A Day Challenge List:

March was pretty busy for me, hence the lack of posts and I do apologize for that. But I have a couple of craft projects to share with you and some makeup reviews as well so I do hope you can check back here again for those. And just like last month, here's how March went by for me (based on the photo challenge):

There you go! I hope you're having an awesome day as I am! :)

Oooooooh, I tweaked my blogsite a bit if you haven't noticed! Do you like it? :)

DIY: Gold Flecks Mani

2013-03-04T15:44:00.000+08:00

I missed out on OPI's Man With The Golden Gun 18k Gold Top Coat from their Skyfall collection and while there are some available online through resellers, I will never spend $50 for a bottle of nail polish (eBay)! Talk about greedy businessmen! And to my shock, someone on Amazon.com is selling it for $62!

OPI Man With The Golden Gun Top Coat

In all fairness, it is absolutely gorgeous so I am not surprised that there are people actually shelling out good money on it. Good thing, it is totally DIYable! So save your money or get yourself something else that is worth your $50!

Here's what you'll need: (clockwise, from top left)

Dark Nail Polish - I used Make Up For Ever's Black With Blue Highlights from their Black Tango Collection
Base Coat - I use OPI Ridge Filler
Gold Leaf
Tweezers
Top Coat - I use Essie Good To Go
Scissors

I got the gold leaf from Bangkok during a trip a couple of years back. It was from this super cute store, Loft (a wasteland heaven!). I bought it because I immediately had an idea to create a really cool makeup look with it and it was pretty cheap. So, why the hell not?

This should be available in craft stores or try this.

The gold leaf I have is super thin and breaks easily. It almost feels like nothing when you touch it - like air. I find that it is best to use tweezers when handling it. You'll need very small flecks of this for the mani. Grab a small pair of scissors and cut repeatedly.

Apply base coat then two coats of your choice of dark nail polish (deep red, dark purple, etc.). Work with one nail at a time and while the second coat is still wet, randomly apply the flecks. Gently press the fleck on the polish even if the polish isn't completely dry just to make sure the pretty gold specks are secure. And lastly, apply top coat once the nail polish is dry.

And that's it! Pretty easy, right? :)

Hello There, March!

2013-03-02T22:38:00.000+08:00

With the intense heat we've been experiencing the past couple of weeks, it looks like summer has knocked on our doors a wee bit early as I would have wanted. But before summer vacation begins, we still have my fourth grader's final exams (I have to review too, you know) and a whole lot of planning on my part for my kids' birthday celebrations (their birthdays are just two days apart). Plus, I still have no idea what kind of activities/summer classes my girls would take to keep them occupied for two whole months.

Aside from my tasks on hand, I am very much looking forward to lots of fun times with my family starting this month. And on this note, here's Fat Mum Slim's Photo A Day Challenge List for March 2013:

And for the first time, I've collated all the photos I've taken for last month's challenge and it's pretty interesting to see them all together and remind me of how the previous month went by for me.

And for the last day of February, the photo challenge asked for "upside down" and here's a photo of our new French Bulldog puppy napping. Meet our dear Mugsy. He's about three months old. :)

Isn't he adorable? I'm absolutely crazy about him! :)

So, what are you excited about for this month?

Tarte Carried Away Collector's Set

2013-02-27T09:19:00.000+08:00

I'm a lucky girl. I've been dreaming about this limited edition set from Tarte for months now (see my post, Makeup Palettes/Sets To Look Out For) and while I had plenty time to purchase one when I discovered it, I held back and it sold out. Bummer.

But thank goodness for a local reseller I randomly found on Facebook. I rarely check my Facebook account and this one time I did, I saw a photo of the Tarte set I've been coveting among other makeup products for sale in my timeline. I panicked a bit when the seller said they only have one set arriving in a few weeks. I must have it!!!

But it's my dear husband whom I should really be thanking. He asked what I wanted for Valentine's Day and told him that he could just get this for me and he gladly agreed! Thank you for your amazing (and forced upon) gift, Hon! ;-*

I've noticed that Tarte makes great packaging, not that it's more important than what's inside but I think it is important nonetheless. And I absolutely love the Moroccan-inspired packaging - very, very pretty! The whole thing is huge and it is not something you can carry around everyday. It is, however, a great portable kit to bring along when traveling. Not only does it have lots of space but the big mirror is just perfect!

The 24 full-sized eyeshadows are placed in a palette tucked behind the mirror. It's great that the eyeshadows are grouped together further so it's easier to combine colors and create different eye makeup.

The set also comes with:

1. Lights, Camera, Lashes! 4-in-1 Mascara which lengthens, curls, volumizes and conditions the lashes.

2. Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder which is a silky translucent powder to set your makeup and diffuse imperfections.

3. Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Adventurous which is a shimmering rose shade with long wearing power.

4. Blushing Beauty Domed Blush Brush which surprisingly has super soft bristles.

There are eight tubes of Maracuja Lip Gloss too and they're packed with ingredients good for the skin. I'm impressed with the color choices - you get some nudes, punchy bursts of colors and deeper and richer shades. The second lipgloss on the top row (with the star) is my favorite. It's called Mer and it's a soft peachy coral shade with tiny gold shimmering specks. Absolutely beautiful!

I'm very happy with my new makeup! Thank you again my dear husband and thank you Beautyholic Manila for bringing this to Manila. And thank you for the freebies! :) I'm very excited to try the Laura Mercier Secret Finish! xx

Beauty News: Sigma's Spa Brush Cleaning Glove

2013-02-20T01:13:00.001+08:00

Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, a makeup genius comes up with something totally spanking new! Have you seen Sigma's newest brush cleaning tool?

Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove

I've never seen anything like it before and after watching their how-to video, I totally get how this nifty thing can actually work. Look Ma, no more prune-y fingers!!! :)

Costs USD39.00 or about Php1,580.00 here. Quite steep but would love to own one if it would make my life easier. Squeaky clean brushes are super important to me!

What do you think of this brush cleaning glove?

GIVEAWAY CLOSED Win a Shiseido BDJ Box!

2013-02-19T18:31:00.000+08:00

CONGRATULATIONS JUNIE PEREZ!

You won the giveaway! :)

Thank you BDJ Box and to all who joined my giveaway!

Here's hoping to more awesome giveaways in the future! :)

BDJ Box just sent me another set of their Shiseido exclusive box and I'm sharing the love to one lucky reader!

Let's keep things simple... To enter, just leave a comment about anything below. That's it. :)

RULES AND GUIDELINES

This giveaway is open to anyone with a registered mailing address in the Philippines.
Make sure to use a valid email address when you enter the giveaway.
Only one entry per person please.
The winner will be randomly selected and notified within 48 hours after the deadline.
Deadline to enter the giveaway is Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 11:59pm.

If you want to find out what's inside the box that could possibly be yours, please check out my previous post. :)

Good luck!!!

What's in the BDJ Box this Month?

2013-02-16T23:21:00.000+08:00

In the middle of spring cleaning our room, this came in for me. Now who doesn't love receiving a package in the mail??? It totally called for a break from the dust-busting action I've been doing earlier.

In the Box:

1. Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum

2. Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Brightening Mask (6 sheets)

3. Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist24 Night Emulsion

4. Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist Balancing Softener

5. Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick

6. Nippon 5-Minute Touch-Up Kit

I must say that this month's box is very impressive and I'm very happy. For the first time, I want to try everything in the box! My second favorite was the debut box from last November (I am a converted Syoss user now, thanks to BDJ Box!) and it got me really excited and got me looking forward to more awesome discoveries every month. But I'm really, really glad with this month's goodies because I immediately have favorites upon opening and inspecting the box! :)

This is my absolute favorite item in the box:

Genius and convenient! This is going straight to my work makeup kit.

I love this cute lipstick too! I was very much surprised how pigmented it is. And I also love the color - this is RD142, by the way.

Congratulations, BDJ Team for a super box this month! Keep it up!

And thank you for the Celeteque cleansing oil. I'm very excited to try it! :)

SP Article: 5 Common Skin Problems

2013-02-14T22:13:00.000+08:00

Sharing with you an article I wrote for smartparenting.com.ph about common skin problems that women encounter and the products that can help remedy them. Check out the splurge vs save options which are perfect for budget-savvy gals!

To view the full article, click here.

Handmade Valentine Swap

2013-02-12T01:23:00.000+08:00

Craft time!!! :)

So, I joined a Valentine card swap hosted by The Stationery Place and honestly, I couldn't remember that I signed up for it. I was quite surprised to receive an email about it and the details of my swap partners. Good thing I didn't trash the email or worse - mark it as spam! (Oh no!)

Regardless, I was so up for it. I've never joined a swap before, but always wanted to. So this was pretty exciting to me! Plus, it gave me the perfect excuse to bust out my crafting stash again and use some of the stuff I've had for a year or so but have never used.

The cards I made were very simple. I was given four swap partners and I made four different cards so I could play around more. I really, really hope they'll like them! Here they are:

Handmade Valentine Swap

Here are some photos I took during my crafting session:

Before I even started. And NO, it definitely didn't look as tidy as this when I finished! Hahaha!

I went to the post office early last week to mail the cards. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever been to the post office to mail something before. Of course, I've sent a few letters from my younger years but I always had someone do it for me like through my dad's office. I have been to the post office several times but only to pick up packages.

Here's what the post office looks like in Quezon City. I had my camera in the wrong setting that's why this photo came out all yellow. This place is a whole different world compared to the one in Taguig City where I used to live. That place is really really tiny and unorganized plus they don't even have parking for cars.

I gave the postwoman my cards. She weighed them and told me to buy this much worth of stamps.

With the magic of an old (and dirty, I'm sure) wet sponge that was readily available, I placed the stamps on the envelopes.

Then I was instructed to go to window 29 where the dropbox is. I don't know if it's just me but when you say dropbox, I expect something like the traditional tall silver steel dropbox that looks something like a garbage bin at fastfood chains with a chute that you open and place your mail in.

Hmmmm... I guess this set-up works for them. But seriously, I was a little bummed. Hahaha. Bye-bye cards! I hope you get to your destinations on time! :)

Oh, here's my daughter running around the post office. I picked her up from school and went straight there. She enjoyed our little trip!

Oh, I can't wait to receive my Valentine cards! It really is very exciting! :)

How about you, have you ever joined a card swap before?

Gone Too Soon

2013-02-10T15:30:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was a very sad day. My husband's dog, Knuckles - a French Bulldog, passed away. I heard the devastating news when I was at work. You see, he's been at the vet's clinic since Tuesday. He wasn't his usual perky self and wasn't eating. He was also coughing and vomiting.

The doctor did lab tests and everything came back normal except for the wheezing sound of his breathing. It was probably due to the weather, just like what happens in humans. While he was at the vet's, Knuckles would eat but sometimes vomit. The doctor said he had a bacterial infection in his lungs so he was being treated with antibiotics. The doctor also said that he's been showing signs that he was getting better so he suggested to continue his recovery at home where he could be with us which actually helps sick dogs get better faster.

He was supposed to come home yesterday. When my husband called and said he was at the vet's, I excitedly asked if he can come home already. And he told me the bad news. I was really shocked. He's only been with us for about three months. It was like impossible! Dogs live waaaaaaaay longer. When he was brought to the vet, I never thought that he had something real serious because he was still a baby. It's just too fast. Too soon.

Knuckles was 8 months old when my husband got him. Initially, I wasn't so fond of him because I'm used to cute and furry dogs like Shi Tzus and Japanese Spitzs. And he was big and really rowdy. He'd walk along with me and would always hit my legs and would cause me to slightly trip.

The other dogs in the house (we have seven) wouldn't play with Knuckles so much because he likes it really rough.

Our daughters didn't play with him often too, especially our three-year-old. They couldn't keep up with his energy. And he loved teething on their toys.

But he was really a sweet dog. He liked hanging around with me especially when I'm working and he'd play under my table and then sometimes just stare at me.

He was a nice and good dog. And soon enough, I found him really endearing! And I have already memorized his cute scrunchy face in my mind.

Knuckles was our little baby boy!

And he is dearly missed. So very much.

RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Until we meet again, Knuckles... xoxo

Multiply Shopping: Crafty Loot

2013-02-06T22:03:00.000+08:00

One of my current obsessions are washi tapes. The different designs are so darn pretty that they make it VERY hard to get just a few. Hooray for Multiply's Php250.00 off discount (Multiply should start paying me, seriously), I was able to afford a bunch and some.

Locally, one roll of washi tape normally costs Php100.00 or USD2.47 and to maximize my savings, I placed 4 orders on Hobby Depot's site, just like what I did with my Digital Traincase beauty spree. So these washi tapes came out a little less than Php60.00 or USD1.48 each, including shipping. Not bad, right??? :)

So, here's a closer look at the designs of my washi tapes. I love them all! I actually wanted more, but told myself these are too much already so I stopped at 18 rolls. Tell me, which is your favorite design?

If you're wondering what the two packs of stickers are for, they're for my planners. :) Here are some photos to show you how I use them.

Photo collage from Hobby Depot

Cute, right? I used to do this back in grade school!!! Love it!

And if you're also wondering what the hell I am going to do with all those rolls of washi tape, here are some awesome ideas I found on Pinterest:

1. Ribbons

2. Washi fashion

3. Frames

4. iPhone case

5. Greeting cards

6. Monogrammed card

7. Pencils

8. Bunting wrapper

9. iPhone chargers

*You may also check out this old post.*

So cool, right? :)

I know that some people will think that these are just plain silly and such a waste of money. But I love making things prettier and doing crafty projects. Why? Because...

Photo Source

Multiply Shopping: Beauty Finds (Part 1)

2013-02-05T21:54:00.001+08:00

I've never enjoyed local online shopping this much until Multiply's recent P250 off deal! First order of business is, of course, beauty stuff from Digital Traincase!

Actually, I was only looking at purchasing the Lucas' Papaw Ointment and the Embryolisse but I ended up getting more than planned. These are just a third of the stuff I ordered (oh no!). The others are still in transit. And aside from Multiply's Php250.00 off coupon, Digital Traincase also has (still ongoing, loves!) a 20% off coupon. You are only allowed to use one coupon per transaction but you may use either one of them again and again in different transactions. So I grabbed a pen and paper, listed down the stuff I wanted to get, figured out which coupon will let me save more money and I ended up with 12 different transactions with savings of over P3,000.00! You gotta do what gotta do to, right? Sneaky! :)

Anyway, these are all new to me (except the Z Palette). I have never tried them before but have heard and read a lot of good reviews about them. So let me do a little research and share with you more info about these products.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Lucas' Papaw Ointment is an all-natural antibacterial product that remedies minor burns, sunburn, rashes, cuts and minor open wounds, insect bites and splinters. It can also give temporary relief to symptoms of dermatitis and eczema. Sounds like an ultimate skin saver. This will be perfect for the whole family. I shall fill up small containers and give each member of the fambam.

2. Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation is a lightweight foundation with a natural-looking and long-lasting finish that gives serious coverage. Sounds pretty perfect to me already! It can effectively hide redness, acne scars and pigmentation disorders and has about 12 to 16 hours of wearability. I ordered 2 more shades over the weekend. Watch Lisa Eldridge (I absolutely looooooove her!) use this foundation in action and you'll know why I want this foundation! Click here for the video.

3. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre, aka "the 24 Hour Miracle Cream", is a gentle yet rich moisturizing lotion that acts as a natural barrier protecting your skin while making it smooth and supple. Their website says that makeup artists use this as a moisturizer, primer and makeup remover. It also helps soothe irritation after shaving so I'll let the husband try it. I've tried it for about three times already and I'm liking it a lot. I'll use it some more and do a detailed review soon if any of you are interested. :)

4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Targeted Breakout Corrector is a treatment that helps clear skin of imperfections, prevent blemishes and regenerate skin. Blog reviews say that although it is not a miracle product (takes a few days to work), it is effective in stopping blemishes before it gets full-blown. I really think this is worth a shot. Who doesn't get that occasional annoying zit, right? Even if it doesn't work instantaneously, if it can do its job then that's good enough for me.

5. Swissco Glass Nail File - I recently read somewhere that glass nail files are much better. Not only are they gentler on your nails but they last forever too (just don't drop it - it is made of glass after all). Plus, it's sanitary - easy to clean and can be sterilized. I chipped my nail the other day and used my new nail file and I loved it. My nail didn't turn into white sand when I fixed the damage like how it is with an emery board.

6. Z Palette - We actually carry Z Palette in our online shop, We Heart Makeup. But this was on sale at Php580.00 and with Multiply's Php250.00 off coupon, it came out to just Php330.00! Score!!! I've been meaning to get this small palette for my retouch kit so I won't have to carry my bigger palettes.

That's all for now. Do leave a comment if you use any of these products and please share your thoughts on them. Can't wait to get my other stuff! Reviews soon!

Multiply Sale

2013-02-02T13:19:00.000+08:00

Have you seen this ad lately?

I hope you have because I scored big time. I'm just not sure until when the promo code is valid. I tell you, it is such an awesome deal!

More about my Multiply finds soon! I'm off to the gym now. Yes, I go to gym. Well, I try to. Especially when I can no longer come up with excuses not to. Like, today. Haha.

Happy weekend and shopping everyone!

Wasteland Heaven

2013-02-01T20:22:00.000+08:00

I'm back. Thanks to this wonderful yet cheap find, it made me decide to blog again.

I love how something so simple is inspiring me to continue to write about stuff I like. I think my blog this year will just be really fun and light - just like these cute planners!

If I'm not mistaken, I believe these diaries are from Korea. I've seen it on several local online stores on Facebook and Multiply. And if you look at their sample photos, users normally decorate them with lots of cute little stickers (which they also sell)! So grade school, right? I love it!!!

The inside is great. It has a yearly planning page which is perfect for birthdays and other important recurring events; a monthly checkpoint with all 12 months in one spread where I could put in my monthly goals; then there's the usual weekly planning pages (but with different designs) which are sandwiched in between the monthly planners. There are also a few pages for notes or projects at the back part of the planner. I think it has everything I need to maintain and organize my blog. And I love that it's not the usual boring planner.

Best part is, it's just Php79.75! So much cheaper than the online stores. Where? Landmark. Love that place.

And in case you're wondering, I have two because the other one will be my personal diary. :) :) :) Goodness, I'm kinikilig. Hahaha! It's just so damn cute!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of planning to do. ;-) Toodles!

Happy New Year!

2013-01-01T21:11:00.002+08:00

Here's wishing all of you a fabulous new year filled with sparkle and gorgeousness! :)

My Favorite Find at the Moment

2012-11-20T01:10:00.001+08:00

A couple of weeks ago, my sister came home from a trip to Korea. My Mom, and my other sister and I begged her to go to Duty Free so we picked her up at the airport and went straight to the place. Our Duty Free is nothing compared to the ones in other countries but regardless, it is impossible to go home without buying anything. Even just a pack of chocolates.

I found this beautiful tissue holder. It wasn't something I need. But I wanted it. I "ooooooh"-ed and "aaaaaaaah"-ed when I saw it. And it was just USD18.00. How could I leave the place without it?

I absolutely fell in love with the design - the print, the scalloped edges with a shiny thin silver outline and the embossed floral detail at the bottom.

Bonus part: the opposite side has a totally different design. Very masculine.

Of course, I prefer the lovely women design. And so do my girls when I asked them which they liked best. Maybe I could pass this on to one of them when they're older. Oooooh, I hope they won't fight over it. Darn! I wish I bought another one.

christhingsss

Goodie Box

Handmade Apple Invites

Hello, May!

Celebration No. 3, 4 & 5

BDJ Elite Box

Crafty Easter Sunday x Birthday Celebration

Necklaces & Ladders (not snakes)

Mommy, I'm Scared...

Wreck It Ralph Party

Hello, April!

DIY: Gold Flecks Mani

Hello There, March!

Tarte Carried Away Collector's Set

Beauty News: Sigma's Spa Brush Cleaning Glove

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED* Win a Shiseido BDJ Box!

What's in the BDJ Box this Month?

SP Article: 5 Common Skin Problems

Handmade Valentine Swap

Gone Too Soon

Multiply Shopping: Crafty Loot

Multiply Shopping: Beauty Finds (Part 1)

Multiply Sale

Wasteland Heaven

Happy New Year!

My Favorite Find at the Moment

GIVEAWAY CLOSED Win a Shiseido BDJ Box!