big pouffy skirt

Taipei '11: Of Dried Goods & Vegetarian Fare

2011-12-31T13:38:00.001+08:00

Royal Palace Hotel: clean, compact and convenient with free wi-fi and flowing coffee

Neighbors: Hello Kitty Sweets

The Natural Ideas vegetarian restaurant

Locally grown fruits and vegetables are abundant and, more importantly, sweet and juicy.

Minder Vegetarian have branches in most malls. Choose from a buffet of vegetarian options. Food is measured by weight.

Easy House Vegetarian Cuisine: naturally tasty vegetarian meals in a relaxing atmosphere

The new: Xinyi District

and the old: Di Hua Jie

Favorite find: multi-purpose French soap with olive oil from Sogo grocery

Ah Yuan: local organic soap shop

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T11:13:00.001+08:00

Santa and mallows from Le Gouter Bernardaud

Flowers and breakfast at L'Hotel J

Topshop Vectra studded slippers

Best sansrival, King Oscar from Peninsula Boutique

A newfound interest in small, feminine bags. Longchamp Planetes handbag

Required reading from JGR

Night drive mix tape by JGR

Hair by Ito-san of AR Salon. 11/f Golden Bloom Centre, 25 Jardine's Bazaar, Causeway Bay, HK (beside 7-11 across Bee Cheng Hiang). Tel 22414600

Dita, Empollon eyeglasses from Berlin Optical in IFC HK

Achieve That Dewy Look with Guerlain's L'Or Radiance Concentrate

2011-11-07T09:07:00.000+08:00

It's that coveted, glowing look that gives your makeup a well-blended, natural feel. Often seen on models and stars, the dewy look can be easily overdone with bronzers, which only emphasizes oily skin. For a more natural glow, try Guerlain's L'Or Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold Makeup Base before applying your usual makeup.

Unlike other makeup bases which have a powdery finish, L'Or Radiance Concentrate resembles a light moisturizer. It spreads easily and one to one & a half pumps of it is enough to cover the entire face. Wait 5 minutes to let your skin absorb the product before putting on your makeup.

Some comments:

It has a slightly sticky finish that needs getting used to, but this easily goes away once foundation/powder is applied on top of the base.

During the first few times I used the product, it felt a little hot on the skin, although it's something that I've gotten used to and don't notice anymore.

Ingredients: AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN, ALCOHOL, BUTYLE-NE GLYCOL, POLYSORBATE 20, PEG-8, SORBITOL, PHENOXY-ETHANOL, GLYCERYL ACRYLATE / ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE / VP COPOLYMER, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, METHYLPARABEN, IMPERATA CYLINDRICA ROOT EXTRACT, CELLULOSE GUM, GOLD, BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL, PROPYLPARABEN, LINALOOL, CITRONELLOL, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, BENZYL BENZOATE, GERANIOL, CARBOMER, ROSA CENTIFOLIA FLOWER EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED RICE PROTEIN, ASCORBIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, BHT, BUTYLPARABEN, ETHYL-PARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN

Oh, Girl..

2011-11-06T20:16:00.000+08:00

When ballet flats became popular, I quickly outgrew my wear-flip-flops-with-everything phase. I rarely wear my n pairs of Havaianas now as I prefer the more feet-friendly Birkenstocks. But when Havaianas go on sale, it's still hard to resist getting new ones. After all, I never got around to getting myself a pair of plain white ones.

Havaianas (in all shops, available at Rustan's, All Flip Flops, and other shops) is on sale until November 30. Get one pair for 20% off, two pairs for 40% off, accessories at 10% off.

When do we become too old for cute printed shirts? I'm not quite sure. Tell me, do you think these doggies look a little sad?

Revive Tired Skin with The Body Shop's Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask

2011-11-06T11:32:00.000+08:00

Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask

Description: Cleanse, exfoliate and purify with Community Trade Blue Corn powder for normal/oily skin.

With kaolin clay to draw out impurities, moisturizing corn oil and uplifting bergamot, geranium and ylang ylang essential oils.

Directions: Apply to wet skin, leave for 10-15 minutes. Massage to exfoliate, rinse. Use once or twice a week.

Click here for ingredients.

Review:

A product that delivers on its promise to exfoliate and moisturize skin, The Body Shop's Blue Corn Mask is the most effective cleansing mask I have used so far (pitted against Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask with Pink Clay and Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Mask). After washing off the mask, I can see the dirt peeking out of my pores, which can then be easily extracted with the help of a steel blackhead remover.

Some tips for using the mask:

While it says on the package to apply the mask onto wet skin, I find it hard to spread the mask when applied that way. Instead, I pat my skin dry after washing before applying the mask.

The mask dries after about 10 minutes. Before completely rinsing off the mask, massage it first, like you would with a facial scrub, to exfoliate skin.

Comments:

During the first few times I used this cleansing mask, I felt a cold and slightly stinging sensation on my skin. My skin is not very sensitive, so it didn't result in any breakouts, and I just kept on using it.

An option for those with normal to dry skin is the honey & oat 3-in-1 mask.

Both the blue corn and honey & oat masks are not available in The Body Shop Philippines. The mask is available in Hong Kong for HKD 209.

Like Indian Food? Try Legend of India

2011-10-23T19:01:00.000+08:00

Spicy mixed chips for appetizer. Also sold in takeaway bags along with other chips and desserts.

Their samosa is a winner. The skin is thin and slightly crispy and not greasy at all. Php 120 for 3 pcs and comes with mint and tamarind dip.

Tandoori roti, Php 80 for 2 pcs

Clockwise from top: Paneer butter masala (Php 280), basmati steamed rice (Php 80) and aloo gobi (Php 260) for the main course

Their menu has an extensive selection of vegetarian dishes. Jain dishes (no garlic and onions) also available. (Click to enlarge)

Legend of India offers buffet at Php 650. Buffet on Tuesdays and Thursdays come with beer. Set meals for Php 200-250 are also available during lunch (12nn to 3pm) from Monday to Friday. No service charge.

Legend of India is located at 114B Jupiter Street, Bel-Air II, Makati City. (632) 836-4232.

What's Up, BPS?

2011-10-22T11:38:00.000+08:00

I am coming out of hibernation.

After my last scheduled trip for the year was over, I felt that a cleansing was in order. Aside from indulging in lots and lots of fruits, I also took stock of the things that I did during the first half of the year and decided to just sit back and take a breather. These are some of the seriously mundane stuff I've been up to so far.

I became hooked on Booksale and scoured their shelves every week for "new" cheap books I could add to my pile at home. I'm slowly going through my takeaway at the rate of one to two books a month. Also, I finally shook the nine year old layer of dust from my LOTR series and found the series enjoyable.

Some good reads that I walked away with from Booksale are The End of Oil by Paul Roberts, The Last Empress by Anchee Min, The Gospel of Food by Barry Glassner, and The Best American Non-required Reading 2007.

I cleaned out my closet but then realized that I am left with very few normal, everyday clothes, so I set off to find me some new ones.

Shopping for good quality, well-fitting clothes can be a real chore. There is almost always something wrong with the fit, fabric, color or cut in the clothes I pick out even in usually reliable Zara and Mango. I had to get creative, taking into consideration the very limited retail options here, and walked away with these from Gap, Promod and Bayo.

These flared, stretchy Gap jeans were really hot when in the store because they gave the illusion of shrunk thighs. I was worried that they might shrink further after washing as is the usual case with new pairs of jeans. These, however, expanded, so worry not when you have to jump up and down a couple of times to get into these jeans when trying them on in the store. Chances are, they'd fit just right after they've been washed.

My youthful godfather who has very good taste in bags, shoes and everything fashion-related gifted me with this printed tarpaulin shopping bag from Marni. I haven't said Thank you! yet only because he's so far away. So I'm saying it here and now: Thank you, Ninong, I looove it.

I'm trying out a new look. I haven't had the chance yet to give the maxidress and sneakers look I last posted here a try, but I've already worn my Chucks with other outfits and I'm pretty pleased that they look quite worn now, just the way I want them to be.

And lastly, my big news (my friends would know that for me this is worthy of the terms "big" and "news") is that I'm finally roaming and endangering the (back) streets of Western Metro Manila with me behind the wheels, of course.

New Retro

2011-08-21T15:15:00.001+08:00

Look that I'm looking forward to try: jumper over maxi dress/skirt worn with sneakers

Topshop ad from British Vogue September 2011

Serenitea's Pepper Sweet Corn

2011-08-07T13:15:00.001+08:00

Grilled to perfection, Serenitea's pepper sweet corn easily falls away from the cob while the sweetness and juiciness of the corn are retained, and there are no unhealthy, burnt parts. Also, the spiciness of the pepper can be tolerated even by the faint-hearted. Here's a definite must-try for corn lovers!

deborah lippmann: I Know What Boys Like

2011-07-31T20:30:00.000+08:00

deborah lippmann nail polish in I Know What Boys Like gives nails a unique, cornflower blue shade that's fun, attractive and soothing to the eyes. The consistency of this polish is less dense than that of a thick, creamy Chanel. The application is smooth but can be a little tricky. I found that painting it on the nails using normal cuticle to tip strokes leaves some bald spots. Instead, I had to dot the polish onto my nails to even out the color. (available in Lane Crawford for HKD 150 each)

ONE Naturals: Environmentally Friendly Local Skincare

2011-07-31T15:30:00.001+08:00

ONE Naturals, my new discovery during the mid-year sale, is a local brand that boasts all-natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging. The attractive sky blue polka dotted counter can easily catch the eye, and the helpful sales assistant is familiar with most of the products.

The item that got my attention was the stack of massage bars shaped like soap bars (Php 469 each). Below, massage bar with red beans. I got the plain calming bar which also whitens and reduces stretch marks. I'm not sure about the last two, but it definitely soothed my aching leg muscles after a long day of shopping.

Hand and body lotions come in interesting and delicious sounding flavors such as "Hollywood." I got one in vanilla almond custard. The creamy moisturizer leaves skin smooth and shiny but is a tad heavy and can be a little hot on the skin. I recommend to use this as a hand/foot lotion or as a body lotion only during colder months.

Generous freebies complete with soap, scrub and lotion, perfect for traveling.

ONE Naturals was featured last year in Philippine Star. Read about it here.

I Think I'm In Love

2011-07-31T14:06:00.000+08:00

Adding romance and luxury from Guerlain to my pragmatic and understated Chanel cosmetics. (Reviews to follow)

From top: L'Or radiance concentrate with pure gold make up base, Two brush mascara 360 degrees lashes in 10 noir, Terracotta Touch glow enhancing perfector with pure gold, Meteorites in 02 teint beige and powder brush, Rouge automatique hydrating long-lasting lipcolour in 143 Nahema, personalized pocket mirror

It's About Time

2011-07-31T12:18:00.000+08:00

Veg Haven

A Comprehensive Guide to Vegetarian Restaurants

includes Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines

Bystander at Tzu Chi's Rice Relief Program

2011-07-05T22:20:00.000+08:00

Fourteen thousand residents of Marikina trooped to the city's sports complex on July 3rd for Tzu Chi's (慈濟) 2011 Prayer Vigil and Rice Relief Program. Rain poured for half an hour ninety minutes before the program was set to begin. In retrospect, the weather was actually in favor of the charity event as the wind and rain cooled the scorching heat from the midday sun. The program culminated in a prayer led by priests and monks from different religious groups before the sacks of rice donated by the Taiwanese government were distributed. Political figures present that day included Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman and Congressman Miro Quimbo. In Tzu Chi fashion, the giver and receiver must both bow to each other before the exchange was to be made as those in the last photo were preparing to do. Read more about it here.

Manila's Mid-Year Sale: BPS's Take-Away

2011-07-02T23:21:00.001+08:00

It's true we have a mid-year sale here in Manila! It's not the same scale as the summer/winter sale in HK, but the state of end-of-season sales here has been improving. More stores are participating now, discounts go as high up as 50% off, and more importantly, the stuff on sale are not all that crappy anymore. I don't have photos of what are up for grabs since most stores are strict about taking pictures of items for sale. Best to just pick a mall and check out the mid-year sale for yourself.

My pick: Makati. I started at F21 in SM Makati, crossed the street to check out Zara, 9 West, Mango, Gap and Rustan's in Glorietta, skipped Landmark and headed straight to Topshop (and Zara and Mango again) in Greenbelt.

Here are what I got away with: loose tee for half off, basic tank tops, heels and skincare items at around 20-25% off.

During sale season, my shopping strategy is to stick with the basics. Over the years, I learned that impulse buys could be a burden when the highs of discount shopping began to wane and the realization that I didn't really need/like what I got finally kicked in. But it's almost impossible to go wrong with basics, and getting them on sale is a plus. Above, Zara tank tops at around 20% off and an impulse buy loose Mosaic top at half off for lazy days.

Below, a pair of Zara TRF navy blue heels I spotted last week but had to leave behind because of a crooked left heel. They're the main reason I was out and about this weekend since I normally don't go to malls when there's a sale going on to avoid the huge crowds. Fortunately, there was one pair in my size in GB5 without any damages. I stopped getting my shoe fix from Zara after a few disappointing pairs, but these are surprisingly comfortable especially for 4-inch heels, at least for the 5 minutes I was in them in the store.

Another impulse buy, a new discovery in SM Makati, O.N.E. Naturales all natural products. I got a massage bar and a tube of hand and body lotion and got 2 mini sacks of samples. More on this to follow.

Snacking is a must to keep energy levels high.

Cheap thrill: Tokyo Tokyo's tempura style onion rings for only Php 55

And fuel for an afternoon of shopping: sugar-filled coffee slush

P.S. All the items in Mango are on sale as is its usual practice. In Topshop and Zara, more than half the store are sale items. Check out your Zara picks online to find out if they're on sale, original and discounted prices are listed.

Charlie's Shrooms

2011-07-02T00:06:00.000+08:00

Indulging in a burger is a rare occasion for a vegetarian living in a vegetarian unfriendly city. Here's Charlie's Shrooms Vegetarian with a side of fries and weird beer.

My top 2 choices were Rogue Juniper Pale and Ipa Hop Ottin'. Rogue looked exciting but a little too masculine. I went for Ipa which was recommended by the cashier.

Good choice but it took me a few sips to get accustomed to the taste. Php 205 per bottle

The tag has a brief description of the beer but it doesn't come close to capturing its taste. Best to just give it a try.

Finally, my Shrooms Vegetarian arrives. It turned out the portobello patty was breaded and deep fried with cheese. Garnishes included raw onions, lettuce and tomatoes, mayo and mustard. Everything blended well to create a tasty vegetarian burger, but I was hoping for a grilled version that would bring out the natural taste of portobello mushrooms. Instead, I get a guilt-filled number perfect for satisfying cravings. Buns were also not very fresh. The fat fries were not bad but the crunchy edges were fantastic. Php 315 for the burger, add Php 30 for the fries

To cap the night, we had an extra order of garlic parmesan fries which I paired with a bottle of Corona Extra. The fries were nothing like I expected (again). I was thinking of something along the lines of powdered flavoring, instead we got fries that were dunked in garlic mayo and parmesan. I loved it but agreed with the others that the garlic overpowered the taste of the parmesan. Php 125 for the fries, Php 140 for a bottle of Corona

One more thing, I hated the cheap tables and uncomfortable chairs but commend the guys behind Charlie's for thinking of a way to encourage fast turnover of customers. Overall, I'm happy I tried the portobello burger out but found it to be a little pricey. I might go back, though, to satisfy a burger craving.

Heal Those Hands

2011-06-19T16:03:00.000+08:00

For those whose hands become uncomfortably dry after washing, applying hand cream is more an act of necessity than vanity. Over the years, I have learned to keep a tube, pot, or bottle of hand cream inside my handbag and on my office desk. Here are a few of the best I have tried so far.

From top right, Vaseline intensive rescue healing hand cream, Avalon Organics hand & body lotion in peppermint, The Body Shop body butter in moringa, L'Occitane hand cream in honey & lemon, and Baume de Dalmatie spotted hand cream (for velvety paws - it really says this on the tube). All the hand creams above have thick consistency and are easily absorbed by the skin without making hands feel greasy and slippery.

Vaseline lotions are one of the best and most affordable lotions available in the supermarket, so it's not a surprise that their intensive rescue hand cream works like magic on extra dry hands. The only downside, this scentless cream can get a little dull and boring sometimes.

According to its tag, Avalon Organics products are "vegetarian and hypoallergenic," and the brand promotes "consciousness in cosmetics." Hoorah for this environmentally friendly brand! Not only is its hand cream really effective, the peppermint flavor smells like a relaxing spa treatment. Avalon Organics products are available at Healthy Options.

The Body Shop's Body Butter is a fantastic body cream but only during cold weather. Applying this thick and heavy cream all over the body during the summer is certainly not recommended. To treat myself to the sweet scents of body butter all year round, I use it as a hand cream instead.

Tiny tubes of hand cream like L'Occitane in honey and lemon and Baume de Dalmatie are perfect for stashing in handbags, whatever the size. I love all things L'Occitane and this hand cream is no exception. Baume de Dalmatie is a luxurious French hand cream given to me by Queen J. A small dollop of this is enough to moisturize dry hands. Another upside of this, it really has tiny black dots inside. Its small opening is perfect for targeting specific areas such as cuticles; it also ensures minimal wastage since a tiny 15mL tube of this costs around HKD 150 in Lane Crawford.

Recommended Hair & Makeup Service at Fanny Serrano

2011-06-19T13:36:00.000+08:00

For Pin's recent wedding, I had a bit of a hard time finding a reasonably priced, tried-and-tested hair and makeup service that's also near the location of the wedding. Online reviews are limited and the average price for this service in the Makati/Rockwell area ranges from Php 2,000 to 2,500, well more than what I'm willing to shell out. In the end, I went back to my go-to salon for hair and makeup, Fanny Serrano, even if it's rather far from the church, hoping that the hot June sun wouldn't cause my makeup to melt before I reach the church.

Here's my inspiration for the hair. (photo from www.beautifulhairstyles.com)

For makeup, I simply requested a look that's not too matte. And here's the overall result (pardon the water bottle):

I think Bambi did a good job with my makeup. He was fast but precise, and more importantly, I still looked like me. My hair, which was done by Joan, didn't come out exactly as I expected, but understandably so considering that I don't have bangs nor highlights.

Fanny Serrano has moved to a smaller location across Il Terrazzo in December of last year. Hair and makeup costs Php 1,500 by appointment and Php 1,350 for walk-in clients. Falsies are an additional Php 100. To set up an appointment, call 3511698.

Singapore Top Things

2011-06-19T11:24:00.001+08:00

I picked out my top picks from the nearly 800 shots I took during my recent trip to SG with DJ. Here they are in no particular order.

It's hard to miss the elegant interiors of a TWG Tea shop. Their brightly lit stores are visible from the outside through the all-glass panels like their store in ION Orchard below. Apart from various fragrant tea flavors, TWG also has candles, porcelain teapots, macarons and ice cream and some shops have a small dining area perfect for afternoon tea, of course. I brought home their signature 1837 black tea and New York Breakfast tea (SGD 32 each). The former is black tea with mixed berries while the latter is black tea with malt. I also tried their caramel macaron (SGD 2 each), a little crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside with creamy caramel filling; the sweetness is also just right.

The next two photos are from our lunch at Restaurant Andre. I requested for a vegetarian lunch and my favorites were the soup, beautifully arranged mushroom, onions, and seaweed cooked in kaffir lime consomme, and the main dish which consisted of grilled white asparagus rolled in crunchy parmesan cheese topped with wild mushroom and garnished with leek flowers. It's impressive how the cooking was very precise in that the vegetables retained their taste and texture and how the each dish derived its taste from fresh and natural ingredients.

The zebras in SG Zoo looked like they belong in a National Geographic documentary.

Birds n buddies show in Jurong Bird Park: fun, informative and interactive for both kids and adults.

Some SG buses are equipped with announcement boards that show commuters where the next stop is. It's a really helpful for tourists and I'm hoping that bus companies in HK will install one in their buses soon.

Jones the Grocer's cheese room..

..and vanilla almond nougat, soft, fresh and lightly sweetened

The Marmalade Pantry's lemon meringue cake was moist and big enough for two persons to share or for one person who needs enough sugar rush to fuel an afternoon of shopping.

The Sultan Mosque was just one of the stops in the Kampong Glam walk by Original Singapore City walks. It was enjoyable and full of trivia about SG's Malay history.

My night shot of the city from Marina Bay

and a sunset shot of the city from the highest point in the SG Flyer.

Lastly, here's a pic of me at Ann Siang Hill just outside PS Cafe. It's a tiny garden on top of the hill which I imagine would look lovely at night.

I often hear that there isn't much to do in SG, but with a bit of research and planning, one can easily fill a 4-day trip in the city with various activities. I have to credit DJ, my SG trip buddy, for researching and organizing our itinerary.

Clutter-Free Desk & Other Things

2011-06-04T21:01:00.000+08:00

I'm happy to share that I finally found a way to move some stuff off my workspace/vanity table. Magazines and books now belong on the bedside floor as that area got a facelift with a new Ikea lamp. Next, my makeup stuff get to have their own drawer instead of being openly exposed on my table. Don't you agree that an organized desk allows the mind to think clearly? Next on my organization project, my closet, yet again.

Moving on to other rather unrelated things, it's about time that I found a decent thin, braided belt as my dresses and pants are getting lonely. It sure is much easier to find stuff when one isn't looking. This belt from Bayo smells like real leather and costs only Php 345 (free size, around 43 inches in length).

Lastly, if only I'm not afraid to turn my room into a plastic-rack-filled space, I would buy most of the stuff in Japan Home/Daiso. Everything is worth Php 88 (unless otherwise indicated) with the promise of a more organized kitchen, room, living room, office, etc. Below, a pack of plastic ziplock bags for storing all sorts of stuff for only Php 66.

Hong Kong, Never Gets Old

2011-05-22T16:22:00.000+08:00

Restored Rayban Aviators

2011-05-22T15:40:00.001+08:00

The search for original Rayban lenses in Sunglass Hut, Optical 88 and other optical shops in HK was a failed quest. So, who knew I'd find just what I was looking for in a hole-in-the-wall shop right in my neighborhood.

Happy Mother's Day with Cake from Choco Kiss

2011-05-07T12:19:00.001+08:00

We had an early Mother's Day celebration this year with cake from The Chocolate Kiss Cakeshop. I had their Quezo Chiffon Cake many times before and was satisfied every time. The cake has just a hint of cheese on a layer of icing that's neither too thick nor too sweet. Its two layers of chiffon cake is dense enough that a slice of this cake can serve as a filling snack. A simple yet delicious cake for a reasonable price of Php 600 for the whole cake, Php 85 per slice.

The Chocolate Kiss Cakeshop is located at 91 Roces Ave, cor. Scout Tobias, contact no. 4127876.

D-I-Y Spa Party

2011-04-22T22:35:00.001+08:00

The beauty in doing DIY pampering such as facials, body scrubs, and mani/pedi is that you can do everything on your own time and schedule. Time usually flies when I watch sitcoms while doing my facials & mani/pedi, and I prefer this to lying down for 3 hours and letting someone else do all the work. After all, the process itself is part of the fun in getting pampered.

A couple of weeks ago, 2C helped me organize my first ever DIY spa party, and here are a few things I learned from all the research, brainstorming and preparations:

Location is crucial. Sunbathing and use of sauna and steam rooms add to the activities you can enjoy together during your spa party. While in the steam room, apply conditioner or hair mask to protect your hair from the drying effects of excessive heat. I like to think of it as DIY hot oil. My favorite treatment is L'Occitane's Shine Mask for Dry and Damaged Hair.

Mimic the ambience of spas with an oil diffuser. The Body Shop has a wide range of scents to choose from. For this event, I chose Lavender Home Fragrance Oil (Php 450). Other scents range from woody to minty to flowery. Diffusers are also available at The Body Shop, tea candles are available at supermarkets and most convenience stores.

Renew & replenish. Include a body scrub option even if it's not a shared activity. I'm currently using Origins Modern Friction for the Body. Scrub onto dry skin then lather with a bit of water before washing off. This should take care of that layer of dry skin that you're not even aware of. Finish off with a heavy moisturizing cream such as The Body Shop's Body Butter for totally smooth skin all over.

Neutrogena's body scrub, available at SNR for around Php 600, is another fantastic option. Less harsh than other body scrubs, Neutrogena's scrub melts when rubbed onto wet skin. Upon washing off, the oils from the scrub leaves skin super smooth and moisturized for the next 24 hours.

Facials are super simple. At home, I prefer a 2-step process which includes a cleansing mask to get rid of blackheads followed by a moisturizing mask for pores to close off and minimize any swelling caused by digging into blackheads. For this event, I decided to just go with the moisturizing facial since we would be coming straight from the sauna & steam rooms, which should already take care of some of the impurities in the skin. For fun-flavored masks such as strawberry yogurt & black pearl, I prefer a Taiwanese brand from Sasa or Mannings in HK. Each piece costs less than Php 30.

Simplified mani & pedi. If you opt not to swim, fill the tub with warm water and a bit of baby oil for a DIY foot spa. Proceed with doing your own nails or apply nail polish on each other.

Recharge with afternoon tea. A DIY spa party could take the whole afternoon, and tea time is a great way to take a break from all the activities. In our case, we decided to go for Starbucks' wide selection of sweet and savory snacks.

Fruity, Taiwanese Style Cake from Formosa Bakery

2011-04-22T19:09:00.001+08:00

Formosa Bakery's Taiwanese take on the birthday cake mixes fruits, chocolate, smooth & thick (as opposed to airy) icing, & gelatin in one chiffon cake. The choice of ingredients is different but interesting, and they all blend well together. The sweetness level is just right. The chiffon cake is light and not too dense, just the way I want my chiffon cake.

Formosa Bakery is located at 518 Banawe St., Quezon City

Update: Formosa Bakery along Wilson in Greenhills is now open beside Bubble Tea & Honey Bee.

Vegetarian Cafeteria Food at Manila Sanitarium

2011-04-22T18:29:00.000+08:00

A great place for a quick vegetarian lunch in a restaurant-like setting. Average cost at less than Php 100 per person.

Manila Adventist Medical Center (Manila Sanitarium) is located at 1975 Donada St, Pasay City. 632 5363684.

Balancing Act

2011-04-22T11:04:00.002+08:00

Chanel's White Essentiel Nourishing Whitening Cream is by far the best moisturizer I have ever used. I know I had been rather loose with the term "best" only because there is more than one product out there that satisfies each one of us whether in terms of performance, price point, or even fragrance, packaging and brand.

I had second thoughts about the product when I bought it mostly because it cost me a whopping HKD 765 (roughly Php 4,000), by far the most I had spent on a pot of moisturizer. I was feeling adventurous when I shopped for skincare and cosmetics that day and simply asked the sales staff in The Lee Gardens branch of Chanel cosmetics to recommend a moisturizer that (a) suited my combination skin & (b) one that I could use in hot weather. Soon enough, I found myself shelling out more than what I had budgeted for, which was around HKD 500. At its price tag, I expected a moisturizer that came in a glass rather than a plastic container and a cream so thick I only had to use one tiny dot per application. I decided to go with the product, though, since up to that point Chanel skincare never failed to deliver and satisfy.

And so with all my expectations intact, I waited for the product to blow me away day after day. The realization that my new moisturizer is in fact a super cream came a couple of months into using the product. See, when it comes to beauty products, the worn out adage Never judge a book by its cover always applies. In this case, never judge creams on the first week of using it unless of course the product caused rashes and breakouts. Going back to the cream, I noticed only recently, that is 4 months into using the product, that my skin was noticeably glowing, smooth and hydrated. My cheeks developed a natural rosiness that neither came from being exposed to sunlight or from blush ons. The usual one or two red spots that I had grown accustomed to were nowhere to be found. The super lightweight cream that I had almost deemed not worth its price was actually gradually changing the overall balance of my skin. Now, I'm thinking about picking up my next pot to see if it will continue to work its magic on me.

Update: as of my latest purchase, Chanel White Essentiel has been renamed as Le Blanc Whitening Moisturizing Cream. Everything is the same except for the packaging which is now a glass jar instead of a plastic one.

First Essie Nail Polish

2011-04-22T09:16:00.000+08:00

Essie nail polish piqued my interest a while back when I saw their fresh colored pastels, a breath of fresh air from the dark shades of nail polish featured in magazines and sported on many fingernails, including mine. I recently discovered Essie at Essences in Rustan's but found only a very limited number of shades that got me interested in the brand in the first place and an even more limited number of samples. Didn't matter, though, I got all excited and immediately picked out a bottle of Red Nouveau, a fire engine shade of red that I still don't have.

Essie is more diluted than what I'm used to, which is advantageous for DIY mani/pedi beginners. It makes me wonder, though, about the longevity of the polish on the nails. Additionally, its thinner composition makes the polish easily absorbed by dry nails, giving nails a matte appearance, so base and top coats are definitely in order. On the other hand, a thinner nail polish means it's quicker to dry, a plus for on-the-go ladies. Overall, I'm happy with the color and ease of application of the product.

Essie is available at Essences in Rustan's at Php 425 per bottle. As a side note, there was an abundant selection of O.P.I. nail polish in Essences sold at a lower price point than Essie and definitely way, way cheaper than their average HKD 150 (around Php 1,000) price tag in HK.

The Boracay Experience: In My Own Words

2011-04-22T02:52:00.000+08:00

Stats: No. of times I've been to the island 1, No. of days on the island 3, Restaurants visited 5, Water sports participated in 2, Alcoholic drinks consumed 3, Clubs visited 0, Coffee shops visited 3, Photos taken 0, Unfortunate events that happened to me 4

Lodging: Crown Regency, Station 2

Coupons were purchased from Buyanihan.com for 5,444 pesos/pax, which included accommodations for 3D/2N, breakfast, boat transfer from/to Caticlan Jetty Port, and a choice between 15 minutes of parasailing or jet ski. Just a side note, for an additional round trip fee of 720 pesos per head, the hotel helped us arrange our land transfer from Kalibo airport to Caticlan. No lines, no negotiations required, zero hassle on our part. Crown Regency is the latest, still unfinished, project of the Regency chain of resorts in Boracay. While the lobby and a few buildings are ready, a good portion of the back part of the resort is still under construction. Advantages of staying here include the spacious rooms, friendly and helpful staff, and a 24-hour convenience store. It is a good 15-minute leisurely walk, though, from d'mall, but it can easily be thought of as a short workout.

Restaurants & coffee shops visited, both planned and spontaneous

I left my list of restaurants/coffee shops at home, but it turns out, none of the places I wanted to visit were super secret since I was able to hit 5 out of the 7 spots in my list just by following my friends. Here's a list of the places we got to try and a brief description/review of each.

True Food (Indian, Station 2) - Relaxing atmosphere, around Php 600/person. Patience required as food may take a while to be prepared. Sweet lassi, highly recommended. Numerous vegetarian options.

Jonas Shakes (Station 1) - Sipped from a friend's mango-banana shake, could have been a while since it was served which was why it was at room temperature. Too thick and sweet for my taste, which might be their selling point.

Fish Bar (d'mall) - Generous serving of fish & chips, just right given its 300 something price tag. Everyone did find the fish rather greasy, though. Only option for vegetarians was breakfast food.

Real Coffee (Station 1) - I had their Real Iced Coffee to go (Php 110). It was conveniently served in a re-used water bottle, the cap of which was punched with a hole to fit in a drinking straw. Strong stuff, perfect to start the morning with. A friend would later on help me pre-order their famous calamansi muffins, my only souvenir from the island. The muffins tasted like lemon squares and were dense and moist, definitely recommended. Shelf life was 3 days at room temperature and a couple more weeks when stored in the fridge.

Gasthof (German inspired, d'mall) - We just finished our first water sport activity for the day and after having skipped breakfast, everyone had a feast of grilled everything here, baby back ribs (what they're famous for), squid, fish, and chicken. I had eggplant ensalada made tasty with my concoction of chili, soy sauce and vinegar, and their chunky home-made mashed potato, highly recommended. If, like us, your room is not beachfront, Gasthof has lounge chairs for rent by the hour or free with a minimum order of Php 500.

Manana (Mexican, Station 1) - I'm currently on a Mexican food phase and was super excited to try out this place (although I was only able to match the names upon returning home and seeing my list). I had high expectations about the place since it was recommended in blogs and by friends. Too bad their unconventional burrito was what failed me miserably. The rice was replaced with cabbage, and the usual tasty beans was replaced by a flavorless red bean paste. On the plus side, the pumpkin soup was thick and not artificially tasty, and the taco served with it was perfect for scooping up the soup.

Lemon i Cafe (d'mall) - The mango ref cake came highly recommended. As a habitual coffee drinker, I would suggest instead for coffee lovers to stop by the cafe to have a go at their super strong and super smooth coffee. Half-caf-decaf option available upon request for those who are not used to drinking strong coffee.

Cafe del Sol (d'mall) - Iced Americano, ho-hum.

Zuzuni (Greek, Station 1) - Hot off the oven, molten chocolate cake topped with ice cream, need I say more? (City dwellers can find such treats at Wicked Kitchen beside ABS-CBN.) Oh yes, their Greek food was also fantastic (according to everyone else). As for me, I had the vegetarian mousaka here which was still good even after the first few heavenly bites of creamy cheese, grilled eggplant and tomato sauce. The calamansi slush which had just the right amount of sweetness was refreshing, especially on a hot day by the beach. I had to agree that this was the best send-off lunch.

Water sports

Water sports liaisons barked prices at us left and right wherever we went. We found out that they eventually led interested parties to one of the companies that organize all sorts of water sports in the island, so fear not. I'm not the type to balk at moderate adventures such as roller coaster rides, so flyfish was fun but uneventful especially as our batch didn't fall into the water. Parasailing was what knocked me to my knees. Let's just say that my unfortunate experience # 1 occurred while parasailing. Just a word of advise, it's completely unwise to go out to sea by mid-afternoon as the strong waves are no match even for the least seasick person. Afterwards we would be told that the best time to go parasailing was at 1pm but were not warned about the dangerously strong waves when we initially booked our parasailing at 5pm. When other plans fell out, we set out at around half past 3 on an afternoon just before a storm hit the island. Whew.

I think this about sums up my Boracay trip. After all, not many words are necessary to describe how the white sand on the island was so fine and cool to the touch that all I wanted to do was sink my toes in them, and how when it became really hot, the low temperature of the clear water cooled me off right away. If there's anything I didn't get enough of during my trip, it would have to be sunbathing, swimming and lots and lots of R&R by the beach.

Quick Review: ck Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick in #108 Naivete

2011-03-27T20:18:00.001+08:00

I recently got a ck gift set that included this lipstick and a duo eyeshadow and nail polish that I haven't tried yet. I wanted to write a short review right away about the lipstick, which I found to be quite nice.

The lipstick, as the line indicates, was creamy and moisturizing, and it left a nude sheen that blended well with my skintone. The creamy texture reminded me of a less heavy version of Bobbi Brown lipsticks, so this is great for those who find BB lipsticks a little too thick. I had to reapply every two hours, though, to keep my lips moisturized and the color intact. I guess this is the trade off for the lighter consistency of the lipstick.

Below are swatches of the shade under yellow and fluorescent lights. I always love to pair nude lips with smoky eyes, although I'm not wearing any makeup below to show the natural effect of this shade.

Just a final note, upon doing a bit of research, I found out that ck makeup was already discontinued but might still available in some online makeup retailers and probably in Sasa in HK.

LC SS 2011 Collections

2011-03-13T22:15:00.002+08:00

Better late than never, here are a few favorites from their catalogue.

As always, thank you Queen J for remembering to send me such wonderful treats.

Product Review: Dermalogica Clean Start

2011-03-12T22:52:00.000+08:00

During one of my visits to Sasa (HK), I was going to quickly pick up a couple of pots of Olay after having experienced its wondrous effect on my skin when a sales staff approached me and questioned my choice of moisturizer. According to her, Olay is more suited for the mature woman and proceeded to introduce me to the item sitting just next to Olay, one that's around 4 to 5 times Olay's retail price, and this item happens to be Dermalogica Clean Start. I must note, though, that I am often a smart shopper, so I picked up the Clean Start set instead of just the moisturizer and saved myself about a hundred (HK) dollars.

Anyway, I discovered that Clean Start, with its salicylic acid content, fruity scent and colorful packaging, is intended for the younger set (teens). Despite this, I'm pretty satisfied with the items that I got. Here's why:

wash off: The tangy smell of orange peel helps to energize me in the mornings. More importantly, the semi-gel-like consistency of this facial wash is gentle on my skin even with its 0.5% salicylic acid. I wouldn't call it a foamy facial wash, though, as they do on their website as it doesn't foam up at all.

all over clear: The directions on this toner is to spray it all over the face and neck then wipe it off with a cotton pad. Since I believe in maximizing my skincare products, I do the opposite, that is, spray the toner on a cotton pad then apply it on my face. I would certainly prefer it if the packaging of this item were more conventional. It pretty much does what toners do, which is to prep the skin for what's coming next, the moisturizer. One thing I like about this item is the combined scent of lemongrass and sesame seed extract, which makes me feel fresh and healthy.

Finally, welcome matte with SPF 15: This item is described as a "moisturizer with oil controllers to minimize shine." On my fifth day of using it, however, my skin felt taut and super dry. I began applying my night cream before welcome matte, and doing this instantly made my skin feel better. It does deliver on its promise of minimizing shine, though, which makes it perfect to use with makeup.

Clean Start set including wash off, all over clear, and welcome matte spf 15 at HKD 498 in Sasa HK.

Overall, I am happy with my this skincare set, but I wouldn't say that I'm not excited about my next discoveries after I finish my Dermalogica Clean Start.

Not Quite Summer Yet

2011-03-12T21:36:00.000+08:00

But I'm ready for it.

Forever 21 sunglasses and dress

A failed attempt to visit Mactan Shangri-la Cebu during February for my early dose of summer fun is not going to stop me from getting an appropriate amount of sunshine by the beach this summer.

The weather is still playing tricks on us, though. By the last week of Feb, it was still cold enough to get away with sweaters and tights. When March finally greeted us, it was not with the promise of fun in the sun. Instead, we were greeted with heavy rains. And when it's not raining, it's so hot that the heat is painful on the skin. The balance in nature is certainly going bananas, and it's not just here, it's everywhere. My point..I just wish everybody a safe summer, and let's try our very best to eat less meat for the health of our environment.

At Last, Hello Clogs!

2011-03-12T15:25:00.000+08:00

My quest to find the right pair of clogs started when I spotted this pair from Zara. I loved them because they instantly added 3 inches to my height but were still comfortable, plus they're made in such a way that I could walk normally in them. On the other hand, clogs are basically modern bakya, and I felt there should be a limit to how much I spend on a pair.

*photo from alltheprettybirds.blogspot.com

A few months later, I saw the same pair in Zara HK where the original price (no discounts) was way cheaper than here in Manila. I was relieved I let them go the first time even though they're so pretty. Unfortunately for me, they weren't available in my size anymore.

Anyway, fast forward to the present, I still see clogs in spring/summer 2011 catalogues which means I shouldn't completely give up my search yet. Luckily for me, I love to window shop just to have a look at what's new. So, finally, I come across this pair from (um) So Fab! (one has to be completely perky in order to properly say the store's name). A twin of the pair from Zara at a third of the price but just as comfy. They're also a notch above the other clogs made of plastic "wooden" heels. I can't wait to wear these with my skirts, dresses and even shorts!

Lane Crawford x MO Bar: Afternoon Tea with Stella McCartney

2011-03-02T09:21:00.001+08:00

I'm disappointed that I will miss this.

Afternoon Tea with Stella McCartney

A vegetarian affair available this March only, HKD 200 +

HK Vegetarian: Afternoon Tea at Paramita Vegetarian Restaurant

2011-02-10T20:49:00.000+08:00

Due to the lack of really good, purely vegetarian places here in Manila, I was determined to find and try as many new vegetarian restaurants in HK during my last trip. One of the places that Queen J and I tried was Paramita Vegetarian Restaurant at Lee Theater Plaza in Causeway Bay.

To drive customers during lean hours, dimsum in the afternoon is discounted in many yumcha places in HK. Unfortunately, the afternoon tea menu in Paramita was in Chinese (although the main menu had English translations)! I did recognize some of the items while the manager helped translate the rest for us.

She failed to mention, though, that some of the stuff we ordered were (a) similar and (b) fried. So we ended up with 2 orders of these fried lumpia, which made us full right away.

It's my first time to try vegetarian "shark's fin" soup, which, in my opinion, was as close to the real thing as fake could get. It's shark's fin soup minus all the oil and guilt.

We also ordered my favorite, beancurd roll (bottom right), ma lai ko, and one forgettable dimsum wrapped in seaweed. The beancurd roll was much better than the one in Kung Tak Lam since it wasn't overstuffed and the beancurd skin was still slightly crispy.

Finally, my other favorite dimsum, radish cake. A really good radish cake must have chunks of radish in it. It's also better if it's slightly greasy, like this one from Paramita, rather than dry and full of flour.

Overall, I had a good dining experience in Paramita. The service was excellent, and the place, spacious and clean. Given the convenience of its location, I can now add it to one of the places I will visit regularly (when I'm in Hong Kong). Plus, Paramita has more and better dimsum variants to offer than Kung Tak Lam.

Paramita Vegetarian Restaurant

Shop B, 7/F, Lee Theater Plaza

99 Percival Street

Across the street from the back entrance of Times Square

Afternoon tea dimsum around HKD 18-22 each

To Primer or Not To Primer?

2011-02-08T20:50:00.000+08:00

One of the generous, travel-sized samples I received from YSL was their Oil-Free Complexion Enhancer. Recently, sales assistants in many cosmetic counters have been pushing their primers or makeup bases. According to them the purpose of the primer is to protect the skin from and enhance one's makeup.

My initial stand on primers: an additional, previously non-existent therefore unnecessary, step to the whole makeup process

The YSL primer experience: I applied this 5-10 minutes after I put on moisturizer and before I applied concealer or powder foundation. Its consistency is thick and it blends in well with my skin. I am left with a matte and smooth canvas for makeup application. During days that I used this primer I noticed that it took longer for my skin to become oily, therefore, less makeup smudging.

The downside: The primer doesn't blend well with thicker moisturizers such as Olay, which I used during the colder months. This might be an issue of not allowing enough time for the moisturizer to be absorbed by the skin before applying the primer, but I can't be entirely sure.

The conclusion: I found the experience to be so positively satisfying that I was tempted to get a bottle of primer to replace this sample, but I'm not completely sure yet that I would want to add one more product to put on my skin. Maybe another time when I finish my sample.

Honeybee Cream Puff with A Twist

2011-02-07T20:33:00.000+08:00

It's your usual cream puff but with mango bits. The bread, which has that slightly biscuit-y crispiness that cream puffs have, is fresh, while the amount of cream inside is just right so that there's a bit of cream in every bite.

Honeybee Patisserie branches are located along Wilson in Greenhills and Tomas Morato in Quezon City.

Yellow & Braided

2011-02-06T11:29:00.000+08:00

Dress: Topshop

Tights: Gap

Hair: by Yaya, inspired by Nicole Richie's bohemian braid phase

Accessories: Nina Ricci shoulder bag from the mid-90s and usual duck necklace

HK Vegetarian: Kung Tak Lam, Possibly the Best Vegetarian Place in Town

2011-02-06T10:43:00.001+08:00

A trip to HK is incomplete without stopping by Kung Tak Lam. The food is superb, the service excellent, and the ambience perfect for a long and relaxed meal.

From top: spicy mixed veggie appetizer, salted peanuts appetizer, siumai, beancurd roll, fried rice, seaweed and pine nut fried rice, vegetarian dan-dan mien (noodles in spicy peanut sauce), sweet and sour mushroom, taro hot pot, veggies with egg whites and mushroom ears

Kung Tak Lam is located on the 10th floor of the World Trade Center in Causeway Bay across Excelsior Hotel. Roughly HKD 50-80 per viand. Lunch set available. Also another branch in Tsim Sha Tsui (but I've never been there before).

Creating Space

2011-02-05T12:01:00.000+08:00

The survivors of my ongoing effort to maximize closet space by selling, giving away, and getting rid of clothes (mostly) and bags (a few). Most of the remaining items hold sentimental value or are phased out items such as the giant plaid Polo Ralph Lauren weekend bag. How about you, how do you manage a limited closet space?

Papa John's, Just Another Pizza Place

2011-02-04T20:19:00.001+08:00

The Annapolis Greenhills branch of Papa John's is now open, located behind Promenade, across the Teriyaki Boy exit.

9-inch Garden Special ordered to-go. Php 280. Delivery from this branch won't be up and running until after 2 weeks, according to the staff.

The thick crust is reminiscent of Pizza Hut's pan pizza minus all the grease. Personally, though, I prefer the oily thick pan pizza crust. The best thing about this pizza is that it's freshly prepared, and I could still feel the cheese melting inside my mouth. I must add that I didn't feel sleepy and gross from ingesting too much MSG afterwards, which is a huge plus for me.

Criss-cut fries at Php 90 are soggy and also not what I ordered. I was supposed to try the waffle fries with pizza dip but only realized the mistake when it was too late.

Lastly, ambience-wise, I think I prefer, Pizza Hut's or Shakey's Pizza's homey wooden interiors and slightly dim lighting. Whether I will return to Papa John's or call for delivery all depends on how much I'm craving for a slice of pizza and the amount of time I can wait to get my hands on one.

BPS at Blog Lovin'

2011-02-03T20:14:00.003+08:00

follow big pouffy skirt @ blog lovin'

Minus 10 Inches

2011-01-30T21:36:00.004+08:00

I finally got around to having my hair cut to a much shorter length when I visited HK recently. For drastic haircuts, I prefer to go to one of the Japanese hairdressers in Hair Do.

Last shot of my waist length hair while waiting for Ito-san

The inspiration: Drew Barrymore's hair in Going the Distance. Other inspirations include Alexa Chung's shoulder length bedhead with fringe and Anne Hathaway's short, wavy hair last year.

Glee's Jayma Mays's hairstyle was also in my reference archive, but I didn't show this to Ito-san. Somehow, my hair turned out to be closer to hers than Drew Barrymore's, which was what I showed him.

Posing outside Sogo in Causeway Bay right after the haircut, which reduced the length of my hair by 10 inches. I didn't regret it one bit!

For the new year, I decided to change the parting of my hair to give my new look a newer look, so this is how I wear my hair now.

Hair Do has 5 branches in Causeway Bay. The one in Sogo is the easiest to locate but also the busiest. During peak hours, which is anytime after 5pm during weekdays and all of weekends, the wait can be as long as an hour or more. Ito-san is currently in the Causeway Bay Plaza II branch.

Haircut under a junior stylist costs around HKD 320 with 10% discount for first timers, while for senior stylists, the charge is HKD 390.

New Year, Some New Products

2011-01-08T19:46:00.008+08:00

During my recent HK trip, Queen J surprised me with not one, not two, but all three Chanel nail polish shades featured in last year's FNO (Fashion's Night Out), instantly doubling my [Chanel] nail polish collection! I had to wait a few months to get my hands on these, all the while wondering what surprise was awaiting me in HK, I'm not complaining though.

Some friends have been complimenting my nail polish despite them being on my squarish, childlike nails, and I tell them it's just really good nail polish. I stopped getting a mani/pedi after getting minor cuts a few times, investing instead in good nail polish and top and base coats.

From l-r:

lilac sky (210) - an icy pinkish lavender shade

kaleidoscope (479) - heavy metallic unidentifiable shade of gold/silver

particuliere (505) - gray with brown base tone, my favorite shade which I used repeatedly last year

red dream (215) - burgundy with specks of gold dust

new colors: khaki vert, khaki brun and khaki rose (I have yet to try on the last 2).

Lilac sky and Khaki vert

In addition to the nail polish, Queen J also got me Chanel's holiday quad eye shadow called Tentation Cuivree which features 2 shades of brown, one light and one dark, light pink, and pearl. At first, I found the shadow a bit too glittery and felt some glitter falling into my eyes, but once it set, my eyelids were left with just a hint of sparkle, perfect even for the office. It's my first time to use Chanel eye shadow as I have always found M.A.C. colors to be nice and long lasting. Chanel colors are less strong than M.A.C. upon application but lasted the whole day too.

Finally, after a year of using YSL powder foundation, I find myself going back to Chanel, which was what I was using before I switched to YSL. I found that the YSL one tended to cake giving an appearance of an additional layer of powder rather than blending in with my skin which is what the Chanel compact does. The new Chanel Vitalumiere Eclat Comfort Radiance Compact Makeup which has SPF 10 comes with a nice velvety pouch, a thick sponge for more coverage and a brush for a more luminous application.

Mix Tape

2011-01-05T20:47:00.003+08:00

This 1990s mix tape was a long time coming (a year late to be exact). I'm glad I got it just in time for Christmas 2010. JGR, I know (because you told me) that it took you sometime (a month) to streamline the songs that will go into this very limited compilation. So for this, a BIG thanks! *grin*

Forever Young

2011-01-02T10:05:00.003+08:00

Happy, happy birthday Queen J,

the ultimate drama queen who'll stay forever young,

my favorite subject to photograph,

and the best sister in the world.

Cheers!

(First 3 pictures taken with my new M. Zuiko 14-42mm lens, the last picture taken with my old pancake lens.)

Philosykos

2010-12-10T00:24:00.003+08:00

diptyque PHILOSYKOS eau de toilette

A white cedar base gives this slightly masculine, fig-scented fragrance its unexpected note of sweetness.

available at Joyce Boutique in Hong Kong

Highlights of DFW's Styling Workshop, Sep to Nov 2010

2010-11-29T19:30:00.010+08:00

I'm so used to having a routine during weekdays that not having one on weekends sometimes drove me to bouts of insanity. So when I saw DFW's (Designer Fashion Workshop under iAcademy) workshop details at manilafashionobserver.blogspot.com, I immediately thought of joining.

The workshop would be under Noel Manapat, a name that was unfamiliar to me and one that did not return many results in Google. I went through with the class, though, basing my decision on the famous name of the other mentors, who included Jojie Lloren, Inno Sotto and Lulu Tan-Gan among others. (I would eventually find out that styling-wise, Noel is of the same calibre as those mentioned.)

The workshop consisted of 8 Saturday afternoon sessions that ran from September to November. Classes were often hands-on and held outside of the school and went beyond the allotted 2-hour schedule so a flexible schedule was a must to make the most out of this class.

These are some of the highlights of our 8-week session.

Randy Ortiz for Kashieca Luxe Fashion Show at Greenbelt 5

Backstage at the Randy Ortiz for Kashieca Luxe fashion show which was teeming with models and familiar faces. Fashion shows like these often occurred after the 3 to 530 schedule. I often stayed behind with a couple of classmates to "help" dress the models, but more than 50% of the stylist's work was done days or weeks before the actual show.

Models posing with Randy Ortiz backstage. The show churned out 90 (!) looks but my favorite would have to be the colored dress on a pair of different colored tights.

Furne One Show at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La Hotel

Noel was the stylist for the Furne One show so we got to tag along to this show as well. Although I'm not a fan of romantic, overly embellished dresses, I liked how the models were transformed to look like fierce Amazon women with their chunky 5-inch, knee-high, lace-up wedges and over-the-top headdresses. (Click here for pictures from the show.)

One of the more than 50 pieces of Furne One dresses which were flew in from Dubai just for the show. The intricate beadwork was evident in the stiffness and the weight of each piece, which, based on my estimate, would be around more than 10 pounds per dress.

Individual Projects: The New Minimalist

Each student had to come up with a white shirt idea that would fall under the new minimalist theme. The models, photographer and schedule were arranged by DFW and Noel, but we had to provide the clothes for our own ideas. Model-slash-photographer Joan Bitagcol did the photo shoot at her studio near Rockwell, and the model assigned to me was Ornussa Cadness.

My idea for this shoot was comfortable cool. I dug into Queen J's collection of goodies from the '90s (gasp!) for the bottoms to use for this shoot since she's as thin as should be legally allowed. The rest I picked up from inside my closet, and this was what I came up with: Mango cardigan, Zara button-down shirt, Esprit scarf, and Bossini high-waisted hotpants. The tights were Mom's from the '80s (double gasp!), and the shoes were Ornussa's. I wasn't prepared at all for this project. If Ornussa weren't wearing here own oxfords I would have a shoeless model posing for a whole-body shot.

My original idea was a running pose, but I was the last to arrive at the studio and this had been done already, plus Joan and Noel didn't think it was the best choice for my look. Anyway, this was one of my favorite poses of Ornussa. After the prints came out, we were asked what we would have done differently, if any. I think that I would have pushed through with the same look but if time and resources allowed, I would have brought more pieces with me in shades of light brown because even though no two pieces in this outfit were of the same color, they all looked rather washed-out in the picture.

A summary of everyone's work. Funny how each project reflected each one's personality.

Graduation day, receiving our certificates from Noel Manapat.

This is DFW's Jan to March schedule. Receive 15% off of classes when you sign up by November, that's tomorrow!

Overall, it's been a fun experience that brought me to many different places I wouldn't have been in if I didn't sign up for the class. A few of the opportunities that I missed were some of the major ones too such as Philippine Fashion Week (I could have secured tickets to shows by SM, F&H and Cesar Gaupo) and Inno Sotto's recent show.

That's it for my stint as a student of fashion. The question lingers, of course, why take a styling class instead of, say, a language or cooking class. I took this class not because I want to become a stylist, the lack of a day-to-day routine and the absence of a steady source of income (at the start if lucky) are enough to push me over the edge, but because I love to shop and I'm good at finding little knickknacks here and there, so I think I may have a future as a personal shopper, for part of the time at least, weekends maybe? But until someone decides to pay me for my services, I will be shopping the normal way, that is for myself. After all, it's almost Christmas and there are still tons of items to be crossed off my Christmas shopping list.

Bubble Tea @ Wilson Greenhills

2010-11-27T22:24:00.004+08:00

I find the name to be a bit misleading. Of course, Bubble Tea offers pearl milk tea (and milkshakes!) in various flavors, but the majority of its menu is devoted to Japanese fusion dishes. Pages and pages of them, in fact. They have takoyaki balls made famous by Samurai as well as okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), rice toppings, sushi, soup, and sandwiches.

The newly opened Bubble Tea along Wilson in Greenhills West. Honeybee, the pastry shop, has yet to open, though.

My honey dew melon milk tea with pearl and mango bits smelled really good, but it was more a sweet flavored drink than real tea.

For starters, I had the potato soup which was creamy but also very salty. I would have liked it better too if it had bits of potatoes in it.

For the main course, I had garlic rice which was normal and not "authentic Japanese" (see Omakase's garlic rice below).

I paired my garlic rice with vegetable tempura consisting of potatoes, okra, red bell pepper, and eggplant. Nothing spectacular about this, I regret not getting the grilled skewered veggies instead.

I think my non-vegetarian friends enjoyed this place much more than I did. Nonetheless, we were all really full after our meal as we all had large drinks with our main course, which, it turned out, was not the smartest thing to do.

Omakase @ Greenhills Carpark

2010-11-27T19:38:00.005+08:00

N and I finally found the time to celebrate his birthday (one month after the actual date) and to catch up. I suggested that we dine at Omakase in Greenhills Carpark since I had never tried the restaurant before. I went there not knowing what to expect with the food, but knowing N and me, I was prepared to stay awake for another couple of hours after dinner as we both tend to order too much food.

I started with the seaweed salad, which I was delighted to find in their menu as it is my favorite Japanese snack from Sogo in HK. It tasted exactly as I remember it, crunchy and lightly seasoned.

N ordered tamago sushi and crunchy California maki to share. I think the sushi was passable but not special.

For the main course, I had kakiage, a mix of thin strips of veggies and squid in tempura batter (I requested to have the squid removed), and an extra order of garlic rice. I appreciate that the kakiage didn't taste like it was cooked in old oil and that the batter was not thick.

My favorite would have to be the garlic rice. The Japanese version of this Filipino breakfast staple is fragrant and slightly brown, the rice round and a little bit sticky but not clumped together. When done right, Japanese garlic rice is so good that it can be eaten without any viands. Omakase's was exactly like this.

Unfortunately, N wasn't too happy with his aspara-beef roll (no picture).

I washed down my fried meal with hot tea, which I'm happy was not diluted.

Overall, it was a very satisfying meal in a nice restaurant. (Thanks N for dinner.) One downside was that the place was slightly cramped. The tables were so near to each other that one could hear snippets of conversation from the next table if one chose to.

Omakase is located at the carpark right across Mister Donut. The ground level entrance is right beside Globe. The restaurant is located at the second level and there is an entrance there as well from the carpark.

Trying Out the Socks & Oxfords Look

2010-11-21T20:28:00.003+08:00

Any thoughts? I got the socks from Zara a couple of months ago and have been trying to come up with ways to wear it. It's so beautiful inside Adora, it's the perfect place for an outfit shot, but where are the full length mirrors, without obstructions, that is? Anyway, here's a clearer shot amidst SM Department Store's harsh fluorescent lights.

Product Review: Olay Moisturizing Cream, Two Thumbs Up

2010-11-20T12:39:00.004+08:00

I recently used up all of my day and night creams and still had a month to go before I could buy a new set of skincare. I couldn't go a month without any moisturizer, but, if I were to buy here, I could be shelling out a few hundred or thousand pesos more for the same items. So, for the meantime, I picked up a pot of Olay Moisturizing Cream from PCX for Php 268.50 and was amazed that such an affordable moisturizer could be so good for my skin.

A week into using Olay Moisturizing Cream both for day and night, I began to notice my skin looking more radiant and glowing, if I may say so myself. Could it really be due to my Olay cream since I wasn't doing anything else differently? Before Olay, I was using Chanel Precision Hydramax Active Moisture Gel, a light cream most suitable for hot summer months, and this might not have been enough for the colder weather we experienced recently. The thicker Olay cream instantly helped to replenish my tired and thirsty skin. A big plus is that even though the cream is heavy, my combination skin doesn't easily become shiny with oil. I think that I might actually use my Olay far longer than the one month that it was intended for. If I had to name one fault that I found with it, though, it's that it smells like medicine. Other than that, it's a fantastic product for its price.

*Photo from Sasa.com

Happy Lemon @ Greenhills Now Open

2010-11-16T16:26:00.007+08:00

After waiting for a couple of months, Happy Lemon in Promenade, Greenhills, beside Starbucks and the previous location of the ground level entrance to Fully Booked is now open. I'm very curious and excited to see what this place has to offer given its prime location.

Happy Lemon offers both coffee and tea beverages, but there are more variants of tea than coffee. I found its line of rock salt with cheese to be quite interesting and ordered the Green Tea flavor.

Customers are asked for their names a la Starbucks, but unlike the popular coffee chain, Happy Lemon gives out numbers as well and uses this to match customers with their drinks. I was also asked how sweet I wanted my drink to be. I was given the option to get the regular, which was 100% sweetness, 50% less, 30% less or no sugar at all. Not knowing how sweet their drinks were, I opted for the regular sweetness. I'm quite pleased with this as I find beverages in many restaurants here to be too sweet for my liking.

My green tea with rock salt and cheese drink came less than 5 minutes after I ordered. The staff recommended I drink this without a straw. The first thing I tasted was the milky, savory goodness of the melted cheese on top. Then came the green tea, which had the perfect level of non-sweetness. Its slightly bitter taste offset the creaminess of the cheese on top. After the first sip, though, I couldn't taste the saltiness of the cheese anymore. Perhaps next time I will try to drink from a straw so I can sip all the cheese first.

So far, my first experience in Happy Lemon was a success. I can't wait to go back and try their pearl milk tea and other flavored teas such as the grapefruit with aloe, which was my first choice. I'm glad to finally have this refreshing alternative to coffee, which I have been off of for a month now.

Trying Out Cookbook Kitchen in Eastwood

2010-11-16T11:44:00.009+08:00

After having heard many good reviews about Cookbook Kitchen, I was finally able to try their branch in Eastwood. I was disappointed that the food was not what I had expected at all.

Nice interiors, simple but very spacious and relaxing

Started off with Parmesan herbed fries, not very crunchy and completely bland

Squash soup was thick and could serve as the main course already. Not too tasty but passable. Best to finish this while it's hot, though.

Alla Checca, pasta with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese, was completely bland like the fries. Pasta was soggy and not al dente. I would recommend to change the spaghetti to penne or macaroni as the pasta hardened when it was not hot and fresh anymore due to the mozzarella.

Kittin's Scarlet Cake was the only good thing we had. The cake was heavier than chiffon cake and the consistency kind of resembled puto (rice cake). The icing had a hint of cream cheese and complemented the cake well. It was also not too sweet, which was a plus. Perfect as a snack or with a light lunch or dinner.

Ordered the house wine which had a terrible aftertaste.

I wonder if their main branch near Shaw Boulevard is any better. Cookbook Kitchen in Eastwood is located across the new Eastwood Mall, behind Make Room.

Travel Cafe Philippines

2010-11-13T12:14:00.005+08:00

I came across Travel Cafe Philippines when I was looking for a place where I could grab a snack in Greenbelt 5. I was thinking of trying something new but all the places I could think of were lunch or dinner restaurants. Coming from the Beauty Bar side, I was already towards the end of Greenbelt 5 and about to just go to one of the coffee shop chains over at GB3 when I saw Travel Cafe Philippines.

The interior of the coffee shop looked inviting at first glance--comfortable chairs, marble tabletops, and lots of space, but the ambience was quiet and cool, very un-Filipino-restaurant-like if I can say so, as conversations went on in hushed tones. I'm very used to being surrounded by a celebratory mood whenever I'm in a restaurant that serves Filipino cuisine, even in higher end places such as Abe.

I ordered fresh lumpia, which was the vegetarian dish recommended to me by the wait staff. It was fresh and very filling, but the veggies might be a little bit overcooked and soggy. The sauce was sweet and savory but not salty.

I also tried the ube with macapuno and cheese. The ube was not too sticky and had a soft-candy like consistency. The sweetness was just right and the cheese and macapuno complemented it well.

All in all, it was a pretty good and relaxing snack. The place was wonderful, though the food I tried was rather common, the service was excellent. Before I left, the wait staff asked me how I liked the ube, which she had suggested to me when I was choosing between that and the sinukmani.

Travel Cafe Philippines is located at the 2nd level of GB5.

101st

2010-11-01T21:43:00.000+08:00

I now have 100 posts since I started to blog in April of last year. I decided to go through my old photos as lately, I feel that I've been wearing the same stuff over and over again. Seeing my photos made me realize how true this is. Moreover, my hairstyle hasn't changed for two years now! Thankfully I have something to look forward to that's coming up really soon. For now, here are some photos I didn't get the chance to post before.

Hair Do's Daisu-ke San from the salon's Sogo, Causeway Bay branch in HK did the best job on my long hair in July last year. Nobody was able to cut it the same way since, and unfortunately, Daisu-ke San left HK shortly after this haircut.

This was how my hair looked less than 6 months after Daisu-ke San cut my hair. It was long, heavy and shapeless, but I'm not sure who to get my haircut from here in Manila. In the end, I gave in and tried Park Jun and came out with hair that was only half an inch shorter. On an altogether different note, I'd been rolling up my pants since last year.

Before I switched to using my Olympus E-P1, I was using my 4 year old Sony T7, which yielded blurry photos in low-light settings. During that time I was still shy to have a full body shot taken in public, hence this headless elevator shot. Nevertheless, this is still one of my favorite outfits, so I'm posting it here.

I tried Cafe Juanita in December last year but never got around to making a post about it as the lack of photos (camera was no good) wouldn't do the place justice. All I've got here is a hint of the place's hippie decor. The smoked eggplant dish in the next photo was by far one of the best eggplant dishes I have had and it was vegetarian too.

There's more to Podium than Pagliacci. One of our other favorite places there was Terry's Selection. Unfortunately, they have a very limited vegetarian selection so we haven't gone back since last year. Potato omelette is one of their specialties and this vegetarian version was really good especially with some hot sauce.

Finally, these are two of my more exciting outfits lately, but even these were just recycled stuff. I mostly go about in comfortable jeans and shirts nowadays. I've also been doing a lot of the behind-the door shot lately.

Finally, I only came up with this outfit because the theme of this year's PTC or dice-throwing game was Rad in Plaid. (photo by DJ)

Muji @ High Street

2010-10-31T22:46:00.009+08:00

Finally got around to visiting Muji. Mom had been there before and her only comment, there's no food in Muji here. We, that's me, Mom and Queen J, all love getting nuts, chips, chocolates and even spaghetti sauce from Muji in HK.

There's an abundance of skincare items, although I don't think I saw their makeup line.

The pen selection was also very few and I couldn't find their basic ruled notebooks.

But Muji's trademark minimalist furniture was present.

As well as kitchenware and china.

On the other hand, what Muji here lacked in food and stationery, it made up for in clothes, which covered half the area of the store. Here are some of my favorites:

Very Chloe-esque denim long sleeved top. Unfortunately, I don't have camel pants to pair them with.

They even have Ugg-boots-like boots!

Muji will be opening soon in Powerplant as well beside Fully Booked. I hope to see Muji's food line in Manila soon!

Other Recent Vegetarian Discoveries

2010-10-31T17:15:00.010+08:00

I'm always delighted to find restaurants that offer vegetarian dishes other than salad. Here are a few more I discovered recently.

Grilla

I love having Filipino food--garlic rice can definitely make any dish more delicious. These two dishes had neither meat nor seafood, although the kare-kare was served with bagoong on the side.

Vegetable kare-kare, a mix of veggies including string beans, Taiwan pechay, eggplant and artichoke in thick peanut sauce

Not the usual garlic kangkong, this was served with sweetened soy sauce.

Cute interior as noted by Queen J.

Hanobe

This HK food place serves vegetarian dishes upon request. But of course, the selection is still quite limited.

Fried vegetarian noodles, quite tasty but nothing spectacular about it

My favorite eggplant dish before I became a vegetarian is eggplant hotpot with minced pork and dried fish. I've seen a vegetarian version a few times and was really glad that it was one of the veggie dishes in Hanobe. Mushrooms were the substitute for the minced pork and dried fish.

Fried tofu skin and potatoes in thick curry sauce. I was looking forward to this dish but found that the curry sauce didn't complement the tofu skin well.

Hanobe is located at 99 Maria Clara St in Banawe.

I must note here, though, that after both meals I instantly felt lethargic and dehydrated. I believe these are both side effects of MSG, so it's best to request no MSG upon ordering.

Tofu Skin

2010-10-30T19:46:00.010+08:00

One of my favorite ingredients is tofu skin or what I usually call beancurd sheet. Tofu skin may be a misnomer as it is actually derived from soy milk. Anyway, the reason I love tofu skin is that its dried and tasteless nature allows it to absorb the sauce of whatever it is cooked with. At home, we usually do a simple dish with dried mushrooms, carrots and a light soy sauce. Before I became a vegetarian, I always used to have beancurd roll in dimsum places. As the name connotes it's basically a combination of veggies and pork wrapped in the sheet and steamed with a light sauce. Here are some vegetarian preparations of the tofu skin I've encountered recently:

Nomnomnom's crispy tofu skin on a tub of rice. It comes with a thick sauce but the dish still seemed a little bland. The pieces were also too crispy and a bit hard to chew.

Since Nomnomnom has been mentioned, I'd like to share the only dish I liked from there, fried mushroom and spinach ravioli. However, even this was not especially noteworthy.

I think Nomnomnom's appeal lies in its kitschy interior and the abundance of vegetarian choices in their menu. The restaurant doesn't serve any beef. Nomnomnom is located on the corner of E Rodriguez and Tomas Morato behind the 24-hour Persian place.

I found this sizzling tao pao from Happy Veggie to be far more appetizing. It is mix of diced celery, mushroom, and carrots wrapped in a thick swath of tofu skin, where only the outermost layers are crispy, then served with light soy sauce.

Happy Veggie serves only Chinese vegetarian dishes. It is different from Bodhi in that Happy Veggie serves some fusion dishes such as the burger on rice and some more complicated dishes such as sukiyaki and hotpot. It also sells some frozen vegetarian items such as veggie meat, chips and siopao. It is unfortunate that its Banawe branch had been closed down a while back. The only Happy Veggie branch now is located all the way downtown along Masangkay Street in Binondo.

Another one of my tofu skin finds, well it was actually discovered by my friend, is the soy chicken in Greens (not in the pictures). It is very similar to Nomnomnom's crispy tofu skin except that it is made to look and taste very much like soy chicken.

Romulo Cafe, The Vegetarian Way

2010-10-30T19:07:00.006+08:00

After passing by Romulo Cafe a few times and seeing it packed with cars from the outside, I finally got the chance to try it. The following are some vegetarian-friendly dishes:

Filipino style nacho chips are made from taro and sweet potato topped with cheese and tomatoes. My only comment, not enough toppings, otherwise the chips were fantastic!

Ensalada done the Romulo Cafe way. It's quite disappointing at first glance but I enjoyed eating this medley of fresh, boiled veggies seasoned with soy sauce as I also don't eat bagoong (shrimp paste).

My favorite was this lime juice drink with a hint of cucumber recommended to me by the wait staff. It's very refreshing and not too sweet.

I also had some fried canton noodles topped with veggies (not in the pictures) which looked deceivingly simple but was made really tasty from the mushroom broth used to cook the veggies. All in all, though, after seeing what my non-vegetarian friends ordered, I would have to say this place is a little overrated and a little overpriced.

Frozen Yogurt, Two

2010-10-30T18:40:00.007+08:00

I'm back with another frozen yogurt post. Some of these are taken from way back as I've been quite busy doing stuff lately and I've also been feeling lazy. I must say after my fro-yo craving, I can live without it for a while. Scroll down to see what else I've tried!

Teriyaki Boy with meringue and walnut toppings cost me around Php 120, nothing remarkable and slightly watery.

This one is from Pancake House. PH and TB must be using the same kind of frozen yogurt since they taste the same! I got one with meringue and pastillas toppings, which were too sweet for the frozen yogurt. It's also quite pricey at around Php 135 as I was charged some 8% service charge even when I had it to go.

I also finally got to try Red Mango with cheesecake, mango and crushed graham toppings. The price, Php 120 for regular size with 3 toppings, is quite alright but I didn't find it to be as fantastic as others claimed it to be.

There are still a lot I haven't tried but I think I'd settle for Yoh-gurt Froz if I want to have fun with my choice of toppings or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for the more serious stuff. While I'm off my craving for now, I won't be able to stay away for long as I have not one, but two, coupons from CBTL!

Kanawan, Bataan

2010-10-15T22:00:00.007+08:00

The trip was called A Sweet Escape to Kanawan. I can't remember the last time I'd been to a place that's green as far as the eyes could see. It was a wonderful sight, and I couldn't wait to dip my feet in the clear brook far below. But the real purpose of our trip was a half-hour hike up the mountain to where the natives reside. It was also the location of our activity, which would last 4 hours or just as long as it took us to get there from the city. The program included a drawing competition for the kids and giving out of hot meals and clothes to the families. We were left to help however we wished so I went around and took photos and discovered that everyone there loved to have their pictures taken. Overall, it was an entirely new experience for me.

Capricciosa

2010-09-26T09:26:00.008+08:00

One of our family's favorite "Italian" places lately is Capricciosa. I put quotation marks in Italian because this restaurant is actually of Japanese origin. I think it has been around for quite some time now. I first tried it 4 years ago in Greenbelt 3 and thought that the food was actually great. For some reason though, I never went back until recently. It seems to be the kind of place that serves great food and has fantastic service but is never the top-of-mind choice, perhaps due weak marketing or poor location choices.

Capricciosa along Connecticut in Greenhills

Favorites: thin crust Quattro Formaggio, best while still hot and fresh

And tomato and cream pasta with mushroom, most dishes come in regular or family size. Family size, which is usually around Php 600 per plate is already good for 3 to 4 persons.

Capricciosa in Connecticut holds Quiz Night every Wednesday night at 9pm. It's the only time that I see the place packed.

Otherwise, it's empty on most nights, which is sad because right beside Capricciosa is Conti's, where food is nothing extraordinary but is busy with customers all day long.

Yes, yes, I got myself a Columbia University shirt when I visited NYC. Too bad, Queen J deliberately forgot to get me a Harvard shirt when she was in Boston. And also, this is a shot of me taken by Dad using his new Voigtlander 17mm lens on his M8. I can't wait as he promised to pass it on to me as soon as he gets an M9!

Making Progress

2010-09-26T08:46:00.005+08:00

Recently I:

1. Joined a styling workshop with Noel Manapat in iAcademy. I will tell more about this once I have completed all 8 sessions. So far, we have observed the preparations for a mini fashion show and discussed various inspirations for styling.

2. Went to my first charity event in Dreamland with Tzu Chi, the organization responsible for the successful separation of the conjoined twins from Cebu. Activities included cleaning up the place, reading to kids and feeding them, and giving away goods. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of my involvement here.

I can also tick off driving from my list as I expect to be going about on my own really, really soon. It's turning out to be quite a good year, and I have one more quarter to tick off a few more things from my 2010 list. How about you, how has your year been so far?

Frozen Yogurt, One

2010-09-12T23:54:00.004+08:00

It is only recently that I've come to appreciate frozen yogurt, the lesser evil substitute for ice cream. This is only part one since there are still many others I haven't had the chance to try, particularly the popular Korean franchise, Red Mango, but I can't wait to share these:

Froyo - At Php 120 with 3 toppings of your choice, this has the most value for money among the 4 I've tried recently. Plus, it tastes great, especially with the toppings.

Lulu Belle - More ice cream than frozen yogurt, Php 120 comes with only one topping, and my choice of brownie bits looked sad on top of the frozen yogurt.
Golden Spoon - I tried Cake Batter, their bestseller as I was told. It was more like ice cream than frozen yogurt, plus the cake batter flavor was vanilla-ish and didn't quite taste like actual uncooked batter. At Php 85, I only got a kiddie size.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - Perhaps the best frozen yogurt, it's great even without toppings. There are many flavors, which are categorized as either sweet or sour. The only downside, it's more expensive than other brands, and there are no toppings to make the whole experience more fun.

Daunting Trends

2010-09-05T13:54:00.005+08:00

These are some looks that I find interesting but not easy to pull off.

socks:

platform wedges:

socks AND platform wedges:

ankle boots and knee-length skirt:

and slightly-above-the-ankle boots:

(Sources: Harper's Bazaar and NYLON August 2010 and Vogue September 2010)

Lacy Days

2010-08-22T18:31:00.006+08:00

A couple of lace stuff I got recently:

A similar top in F21, which has softer fabric and looser fit