Just a quick post before I doze off. I got my Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover maybe last year and honestly, I didn’t exactly give it much thought. See, I do not felt the need for it back then so I neatly stashed it away in the deepest parts of my drawers. Just recently however, there is this growing fascination towards beauty products in me. This sudden interest made me and my good friends avid visitors of a boutique selling heavenly Korean beauty products. Now, the saleslady offered me a make-up remover. She said it is very important for women to totally rid themselves of makeup residue before sleeping. I suddenly remembered that I have one back at home- and that it was even a Lancome product- a truly wonderful brand if I may say so. For the many months that it has been with me I tried it out and holy macaroni, it was absolutely magic!
At first, it seemed oily for me but then I realized that the oiliness actually makes the removal of the eye makeup easy and fast. Afterwards, all the oily feeling magically disappears leaving behind dry and uber smooth skin. I love it to bits!
Definitely, this product will be an important addition to my nightly beauty regimen.
Archive for the ‘Mommy Thingies’ Category
Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover Review
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012Preschoolville’s Kiddie Cookfest 2012
Monday, January 30th, 2012One thing that’s so great about having your own school is that when it comes to activities- it’s sky’s the limit! In Preschoolville, we have conjured up relevant learning experiences that I’m sure the kids will remember forever. One of which is our recently held Kiddie Cookfest.
That's my daughter, Amber and her classmates doing their own rendition of pizza!
Our babies are also doing their own thing- whipping up a delicious buttercream frosting!
It's graham cake for our prep kids!
As a parent, I am truly happy to see my daughter, Amber, having the time of her life. She enjoys every minute of being in school and that is what matters most.
Always the Matron of Honor, Never the Bride (well, not yet :))
Sunday, January 29th, 2012
While being an emcee seemed like a huge task, being the Matron of Honor was easy breezy, especially since I did that already in my other sister’s wedding three years ago. The Matron is more like a ‘dakilang alalay’ or a personal assistant. I had to make sure that I keep the bride’s veil in order, the pins intact, and do other menial tasks.
The Matron of Honor walks before the bride's parents. It's nerve wracking to walk with all eyes on you!
The next day, we are yet again preparing for a wedding. Good thing my sister has a co-worker with a bunch of to-die-for BCBG Maxazria dresses that she’s willing to lend to needy women like me haha. So as regards to clothing- problem solved! I was merely a spectator in this wedding so no problems here. Amidst the hassles of trying to put myself inside a skimpy, cleavage-popping, black sequined ensemble, I did truly enjoy looking elegant and sophisticated that day. Thanks to youtube eyeshadow tutorials, I was able to do a decent looking make-up of myself. Will be posting more pics soon.
This dress was so tight-fitting that I literally was out-of-breath after eating. Even so, I tried to carry it with poise. After all, it's only rare that I get to wear something as fancy as this!
I tried to do a simple make-up. I did not want to get too much attention on myself (especially since my dress is already doing the job!)
Easy Breezy Shakey’s Birthday Party
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
This year, I had to focus on Padma’s 1st birthday. Now when you say 1st birthday, well that’s a big deal! I remembered putting in a lot of effort during Amber’s (my 2nd daughter) 1st birthday. It’s only fair that I do the same for our new baby. But honestly, it would be too stressful for me to think of everything- games, food, host, cakes, balloons, etc.etc., especially on a January when I needed to renew all sorts of business permits and prepare school letters. So given this premise, I looked into the birthday packages of popular fastfood joints. When Amber turned 4, we had her party in Jollibee. The whole thing- food, games, host, balloons, give-aways, cake, and prizes cost us roughly around 16,000 pesos. The party was great- the hosts tried their best to communicate with the kids in english. No problem also with the food because you can never go wrong with a jollibee chicken and spaghetti. However, I was a bit disappointed with the prizes and give-aways. Good thing my guests still avidly participated with the activities even with lame prizes haha. Because of my mixed feelings with Jollibee, I turned to Shakey’s for Padma’s birthday.
Shakey’s proved to be a better alternative. We had her party in Shakey’s Waltermart, San Fernando City. I was a bit taken aback to see that only one person was manning the whole thing. She turned out to be an expert after all- handling multiple tasks at once. Also, they had great prizes and give-aways which I love. Food wise, it was OK. Again, you can also never go wrong with a bunch-of-lunch. The whole Shakey’s package- party, prizes, games, balloons, food for 50, except for the cake, cost around 12000 pesos… truly a great value for my money.
If you ask me if any of my kids will celebrate their birthday again here, then I’d say yes, definitely.
Celebrate your children’s birthday parties at Shakey’s. Just go to Shakey’s, reserve a date, pay a small reservation fee/deposit (minimum of 1000 pesos), then you’re set to go. You can even have some add-ins in your party like face-painting, photo booth, and the like.
In Love with BB Creams: Missha M Perfect Cover
Sunday, January 8th, 2012
Missha was my first love and yet again, it never fails to impress me. M Perfect Cover BB cream is perfect in many respects- it has very good coverage, effectively concealing skin imperfections, it is light and easy to apply, it has shades to choose from- to make sure the product matches your skin tone, and lastly, it has SPF 42 PA+++. As I am almost in my mid-30′s, sun protection is becoming a high priority in my cosmetic selection. Here are snapshots of my BB cream.
My Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in a 20 ml tube. I decided to get the small one because it takes years for me to finish a tube.
It may initially look paler than my skin tone but eventually, the formula adopts and evens out my color.
This BB cream is light and is easily absorbed by the skin. See how the veins on my hand seemed to have lightened.
That's my old Missha BB cream in silver packaging plus a sample sachet of BB Boomer. I put the Boomer first so I can fully maximize the 'powers' of my BB cream.
Missha M BB Boomer is a BB boosting cream, which boosts the adgerence and duration of BB Cream and makes your skin look brighter when applied before BB Cream. Its pearl, antioxidant and moisturizing ingredients make your skin more radiant while leaving it moisturized.
Buy them from my seller and get freebies! (for purchases 300pesos and up!)
The 2011 Highlights of My Life
Friday, January 6th, 2012With the happenings of New Year still lingering in the air, I came across my end of 2009 post: The 2009 Highlights of my life and I wondered why I did not do the same last year. Was I too busy to reflect and write down my thoughts for the year that was? And since I remember now, I guess it is but right that I sit down and give myself a moment to travel back in time. Here are the 2011 Highlights of my life
1. Padma joins the family
I now share January with my bunsoy- Padma. She was born the day after my 33rd birthday. Oh, having a new baby around brings tremendous happiness to our household. Like my other kids, I absolutely adore her! Before she was born, I thought I wanted a baby boy for a change, but having another girl is not bad- in fact, I am elated! I am able to transcend my ‘kakiyan’ to my girls. They are my gifts, my joy, my life. They make me whole. They make me dream big. Everything I do- may they be little or monumental steps- all of these are for them.
2. Being a Working Breastfeeding Mom
Who would have thought that it was possible to be a full time working and breastfeeding mom? Until now, I am still overwhelmed at having to accomplish such a magnificent feat. For almost a year now, I have and continue to breastfeed my daughter purely… no formula, no anything! This is a new and remarkable achievement for me and I believe I deserve a pat on the back. I vow to share my amazing adventure to other pregnant momma’s out there. Breastfeeding is the best!
3. My Growing Bag Collection
Times are hard and money is scarce but it is definitely not a sin to indulge! I love bags and being a good mom and a hardworking person, I truly deserve some luxury in my life. Hence this year, I add to my meager bag collection my Dooney tote, Longchamps, Tory tote, and my much-coveted Louis Vuitton Alma Multicolore Noir (my 4th LV)
4. Preschoolville’s Second Year
Our other baby- Preschoolville Learning Center, continues to grow! On our second year of operations, we’ve had a 100% increase in enrollment! I say, not bad… not bad, at all! With God’s help, we look forward to bigger leaps this 2012.
5. Moving Out From My Parent’s House
It’s been actually more than a year since me and my husband finally decided to rent our own place and so far, it’s been OK. The transition was actually the most challenging part- the first few months, my husband and I would constantly fight. It was a struggle really. It was like he took advantage of our newfound independence and saw it as an opportunity to party and drink with his friends often. This, plus the fact that I was very pregnant, made me nuts! I would nag all day and all night and we’d end up hating each other- I was mad at him for drinking and he would be mad at me for not understanding. Our constant quarreling eventually lessened the moment we moved into a new house. Here, we tried our best to understand each other’s side and thankfully, it’s been so much better since.
6. Scammed!
This year, I had the misfortune of being lulled into an absurd deal. A friend of mine persuaded me to loan money to her and in a week’s time, she promised me that she would return the money plus a huge interest! Despite my hubby and mom’s blatant disapproval, I followed my faulty gut and gave it a go. To my dismay, it was an epic fail. Who would have thought that the phrase “too good to be true” would become a horrible reality for me?
7. Apple Galore
With the purchase of hubby’s MacBook Pro, the kids’ iPad, my iPhone, and just recently, my daughter’s iPod, Apple is becoming a familiar household name. My hubby’s adoration over all things Apple started way back 1996 I guess. I remembered going to their place then and wondering what the brand name of their weird looking PC was. With much reverence, he mentioned the word Macintosh which, at that time, made me recall red, plump apples… yum. And to my surprise, using their Mac was as easy as ABC. Back in highschool, MS DOS was alien to me. You can just imagine how impressed I was with that new invention haha. That’s why my husband’s love for all things MAC is fairly grounded. His next goal: reward himself with a 21.5 inch iMac.
8. Out of Town Trips
Our meager finances last year prompted us to postpone our dream HK and SG vacations for the meantime. But I believe that wherever you are, for as long as you are with the loves of your life, you’d still have absolute joy and contentment. Talk about consoling myself haha. No seriously, our lost airplane rides was compensated with several short but fun out of town trips in Morong, Bagac, and Pilar Bataan, Subic, and Tagaytay. Well, as I’ve said, regardless of the distance, they are still time well spent with the family. That’s all that matters, really.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish this post if I don’t stop now. Anyways, I can always edit if ever I remember more of my 2011 highlights. And yes, like all of you, I pray for a better 2012. Amidst the heartaches and failures there are still so many things to love and be grateful for. With this I close and save this post. Happy new year to all of you!
Tory Burch Tory Nylon Tote in Black: My New ‘Mommy Bag’
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
This bag is gorgeous! It is simple yet sturdy- definitely a very good alternative for mommies who want to be subtly fashionable yet still be effective in performing various mommy duties and responsibilities. I also love that I got one in black nylon- which essentially means, baby friendly.:-) I am so loving this brand right now that I may soon buy myself matching Tory Burch shoes.
Definitely a momma's BBF (best bag friend)! Alongside my everyday necessities, I also stash diapers, baby clothes, an iPad, and other what-have-you's in this super roomy bag!
I love the iconic logo of Tory Burch. It's a shame not many people are aware of this brand. I think they make absolutely amazing products!
Like many well-known brands, Tory Burch is not safe from counterfeiting. To ensure that you are buying authentic Tory Burch, check out their website- http://www.toryburch.com/counterfeits-faq/content-counterfeit-faqs,default,pg.html
Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-puffing Eye Massage
Saturday, November 19th, 2011
According to my dear ol friends, I am one of those lucky few who have been fortunate enough to have small pores and dry to normal skin. I rarely… as in rarely have pimples. I do not do or use anything special on my skin. Just recently, I came to the realization that I am not getting any younger and at 33, I should start using some kinda moisturizer on my face. I’ve been interchangeably using Olay age defense and Skinfood omija whitening serum (a gift from a friend)on my face… Just for the sake of delaying aging. However, if there is something that I would really want to get rid off that would be the seemingly permanent dark circles under my eyes and irritating eyebags. That’s why I am extremely thankful to come across such a great product from Clinique. Clinique’s all about eyes serum is heaven sent! Besides targeting dark circles and eye puffiness, its rollerball extemely relaxes tired eyes… Especially my contact-lens-tortured eyes. Seriously, after a day of wearing contact lenses, my eyes feel like they want to fall off from their sockets. It’s like they are the most tired part of my body. A good friend of mine recommended this product to me and it really does wonders!
Breast Pump Review: Unimom Forte
Thursday, November 17th, 2011My baby just turned 10 months and after all this time, I am proud to say that she’s still purely breastfed. I wouldn’t be able to accomplish this feat without my handy dandy Unimom Forte.
The Unimom Forte is not exactly ‘handy dandy’. With its size and weight (4.4 oz), it’s not exactly comfortable to bring along. That’s why, my pump stays in the office for most of the week. However, at times when I do need to attend long out-of-office meetings, I bring it with me and keep it in the car. I used to think that this kind of pump cannot be used in public. But I guess continuous breastfeeding and pumping for 10 months pretty much erased all my inhibitions. I lag it with me and plug it in Starbucks for all I care, lol… I’d rather do this than endure the pain of swollen breasts. Most of the time, my friends are more squeamish than me, which is rather funny really.
Anyway, I super highly recommend Unimom Forte to all working/breastfeeding moms out there. It’s hospital grade therefore highly durable. I used the Unimom Allegro before and even though it was easy to use and comfortable, it cannot handle multiple pumpings in a day. Switching to Forte is the best choice I made. I don’t think I would be able to sustain breastfeeding this long without the Forte.
Basically, the following are the plus points for me:
1) reliable and durable
2) relatively cheap as compared to other dual electric pumps
3) quiet and private
4) parts easy to clean
5) comes with a 1 yr warranty from babymama.ph
The only disadvantage I see is that it is not exactly portable. It is quite heavy and not battery operated. Other than this, it’s the best!
I cannot exactly tell how long I will be able to breastfeed my baby but hopefully, my Unimom Forte can bring me to a longer and happier nursing journey with my baby!
Preschoolville’s Spooky Fun Party 2011
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011It’s that time of the year again when oldies like yours truly get to relive fond childhood memories, wear costumes, and eat tons of candies. Yep, it’s Halloween… Halloween is undoubtedly one of my most favorite programs that we organize in the school. Though it is something that entails tons of preparations, it is definitely worthwhile because kids enjoy every minute of it. For this year, the teachers decided to go for the popular gypsy look. We did not want to stress ourselves much with costumes that’s why we went for something that is easy, affordable, and hassle-free. We’ve worn gypsy costumes before that’s why we knew what items of clothing to pick. Now the best place to pick out gorgeous and bold-printed skirts is none other than the local ukay-ukay shops. So we headed for Robinsons Angeles and patiently sorted racks and racks of clothes to pick out the best outfit for a gypsy wannabe. The pictures would tell you that our efforts were a success! To complete our outfit, we headed to Vente store in Marquee and got ourselves super affordable accessories. Thus, the finish product!
Of course, I also needed to worry about the costume that my daughter is going to wear. Last year, she was able to successfully impersonate Lady Gaga. We were hoping to transform her into Mystique of the X-men or Smurfette but our attempts to dye her clothes blue failed. We had to make last minute changes to our plan and decided to go simple instead. With an old frilly dress, a few tubes of face-paint, and a white wig, she emerged a beautifully creepy living china doll. Here she is.
At a very low budget, we were able to pull of quite impressive costume results. Can’t wait for next year’s spooky fun party!
