In Love with BB Creams: Missha M Perfect Cover

January 8th, 2012

If there is one thing that I definitely cannot do without- that would be BB creams! I’ve been using BB for more than two years and until now, I cannot help but marvel at this amazing invention. Yeah I know tons of women swear by its effectivity and testimonials about them come in droves. However, amidst the hordes of this information, hear me out please. I love BB creams a lot before and now that they are still continually evolving, I love them even more! Since sharing my thoughts and good experiences is something I enjoy, I will be writing about my BB encounters. As I go along this, I hope to find the best BB cream for me. Oh, don’t get me wrong. So far, I’ve tried a few of them and I must say that my experiences have been positive. But again, the journey has just begun. For now, let me just share with you my thoughts about my latest BB cream- Missha Perfect Cover BB cream.
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!)

Posted in Beauty 101, Crazy Ramblings, Ebay Finds, Mommy Thingies, Whims and Wants | 1 Comment »

The 2011 Highlights of My Life

January 6th, 2012

With 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!

Posted in Crazy Ramblings, Inspirational Quotes, Mommy Thingies | No Comments »

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Day Tour

January 2nd, 2012

Before we bid goodbye to 2011, my family thought of making a quick out-of-town trip. Originally, we planned to go to Vigan. Vigan is heaven for photo-enthusiasts such as my hubby. I, myself, is dreaming of strolling and maybe posing ala-supermodel along its cobblestone streets laden with ancestral buildings reminiscent of colonial European and Oriental architecture. But this dream of ours is not yet in for the taking, well, at least not at the moment. For now, it will be extremely difficult to do a 10 hour++ travel with our barely a year-old baby around. Thankfully, there is a nearer and a more convenient substitute to a blast-from-the-past adventure. Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan is merely a 2 hour drive from Angeles City via SCTEX.  This genesis heritage resort is one of its kind- highlighting the architectural pieces of a bygone era and bringing to life the customs and traditions of long ago.  It is a truly magical and wonderful place to see.  Right there and then, you can give your children a quick lesson in Filipino history.

Bahay na batos are restored in a picturesque setting reminiscent of a Juan Luna or Amorsolo painting.

How to get here. From SCTEX, take the Dinalupihan exit and drive along the streets of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, and Pilar. Along Pilar, you will see the road leading to the majestic Dambana ng Kagitingan in Mt. Samat. Just a few more minutes from here and you will finally reach Bagac. In Bagac, there are signages all over directing you to Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar.

The journey through history begins by the time you reach the gates of the place. You will soon find yourself being greeted by serious looking guwardiya sibils. Actually, all their employees are geared up to match the place- wearing the traditional barong tagalog and baro’t saya. True enough, Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar is indeed a living museum of Philippine customs and traditions.

A real blast from the past adventure.

The guwardiya sibil greets you at the gate and surveys the number of passengers in the vehicle.

A closer view of the restored stone houses.

 

Picture taking time:)

take a dip into Las Casas' batis inspired pool overlooking the sea.

What not to forget. Last time we went, it was sunny but windy. I could just imagine how hot the place would be during the summer. Anyways, better gear up for long walks under the sun. Dress lightly and apply sunblock lotion. Also, bring a hat and umbrella. I had to buy a hat for Php500 in one of their novelty shops out of desperation. Last and most importantly, prepare yourself financially, especially if you are going to stay overnight. Accommodations here are pretty dang pricey. For you to have an idea about this, read on.
Day Tour Packages: Entrance Fee Only-650/adult,4 yrs.and below free; Entrance Fee with snacks-850/adult, 425/child; Entrance with set meal 1200/person; Entrance with buffet meal 1500/person.
Hotel Accommodations. Fees range from 3825 to 8500 pesos.
Heritage Houses for Rent. Fees range from 15750 to 45000 pesos.
Contact Information. Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, Bo. Pagasa, Bagac, Bataan. (63 2)332 5338, (63 2)332 5286 (63 917) 8729361, or email them at reserve@lascasasfilipinas.com.

Old school fountain.

Take a romantic walk with your loved-one along Las Casas' cobblestone streets.

Street names

Another majestic view

Signage at the Registration area

Posted in Crazy Ramblings, Uncategorized, Whims and Wants | 4 Comments »

Tory Burch Tory Nylon Tote in Black: My New ‘Mommy Bag’

December 28th, 2011

I love bags. No, let me get that right, I LOOOOOVE BAGS!  However, as much as I want to indulge myself, I do try my best to be reasonable in choosing bags.  My criteria includes- brand, style, material, aesthetics, and because of my very important role as a MOMMY, I’ve added ease of use, and size!  Oh, over and above anything else, Louis Vuitton remains to be at the top of my list.  But I gotta admit, they don’t bring me happiness all of the time!  I love my Speedy and Alma but these handheld bags are honestly, torture to lag around if you have a baby who wants to be carried, too!  Yes I know, I should get a neverfull or a totally, but seriously, I don’t think a Louis Vuitton purse deserves to be stuffed with all sorts of mommy and baby thingies.  That’s why in moments where being a MOMMY is of top most priority, I turn to my handy dandy totes- my large and medium long handle Longchamps, my Dooney, and just recently, my beautiful Tory Burch Tory Nylon Tote.

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

Posted in Bag Love, Ebay Finds, Mommy Thingies, Whims and Wants | 1 Comment »

Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner

December 28th, 2011

From my first BB cream back in 2009 to my recently acquired Skinfood goodies courtesy of chicsassymom.com, I could say that I am gradually developing a cosmetic love affair with these amazing Korean products.  My new love- Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner in Black.  From the moment I set eyes on them on ebay.ph, I knew that it was the one.  Oh, I so love eyeliners.  I consider them, my special occasion make-up.  I don’t put eyeliners everyday- I feel it’s such a waste because I’d just hide my eyes behind my thick-rimmed glasses.  But on instances where I have extra time to wear contacts instead, I do make it a point to leave the house with more dramatic eyes- hence, the need for a really good eyeliner.  For the longest time, I have only patronized Bodyshop’s Liquid Eyeliner.  I’ve tried others and none of them are, in my opinion, at par with Bodyshop’s excellent product.  Now that gel eyeliners are seemingly in-fashion, I thought why not try it out.  I am truly glad to know that my first option for a gel eyeliner turned out to be great.  Tony Moly got it all right for me- the packaging was classy and cute, the brush was perfect- especially for a fine-motor challenged person like yours truly, and most importantly, the gel itself was great- it’s creamy and easy to apply, yielding out a very prominent color.  I am so saving up right now so I can buy their gel eyeliners in other shades!

The white cover prevents the product from drying out. Because of the very good pigmentation that it offers, you don't need to apply lots. I think I will be using this eyeliner for a very long time.

The packaging allows for an easy and sanitary storage of the brush. Also, the gel does not dry out easily like others.

Korean products are never boring! Check out the cute packaging!

 

Posted in Beauty 101, Crazy Ramblings, Ebay Finds, Whims and Wants | 1 Comment »

Blogging via iPad 2

November 22nd, 2011

At last, we have finally joined the hordes of people who went gaga with iPad. Our new ipad2 has joined its other apple relatives in our household-all the more pushing us to consume… consume… and consume anything and everything in the Internet. But of course, as hubby would endlessly say, the Internet should not entirely be about consuming… Most importantly, it should be about contributing.. What can we contribute to make the Internet more productive? What can we share to its increasing database? How can we take part in its evolution and progress? Ok, enough being overly dramatic lol… My simple way to make the net a better place is to simply blog. Thanks to this WordPress application for iPad, this gadget will not be entirely used for games, Facebook, twitter, and eBay. I will (hopefully) try to maximize it’s potential and usage by blogging.. blogging … and blogging… I just hope that my articles would indeed by contributory in making the internet a better place to surf.

Posted in Crazy Ramblings, Uncategorized, Whims and Wants | No Comments »

Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-puffing Eye Massage

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!

Posted in Beauty 101, Crazy Ramblings, Mommy Thingies | No Comments »

Breast Pump Review: Unimom Forte

November 17th, 2011

My 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!

Posted in Mommy Thingies, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Preschoolville’s Spooky Fun Party 2011

November 3rd, 2011

It’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!

Posted in A Preschool Venture, Crazy Ramblings, Mommy Thingies | No Comments »

DFA Passport for 1 yr. old and below: No Appointment Needed!

November 2nd, 2011

In my quest to fully maximize my one week vacation, I decided to finally get a passport for my youngest daughter- Padma. I was racing through time because in less than 4 months, she will be 1 yr.old and the ‘No Appointment Needed For 1 yr. and below Rule’ will not be applicable anymore. I did not really know that infants have this kind of privilege. Actually, I have attempted to get one for her months before but her birth certificate was not yet available in NSO. NSO needs like 6 months to update their records and if you are in a hurry, then you should expedite the process yourself by writing a request to the municipal office of your child’s place of birth. I did not want to travel to Xevera, Mabalacat just to do this and besides, we do not really have an overseas trip planned so I decided to forego Padma’s passport application. This short sem break we have is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for and so I immediately scheduled a trip to DFA San Fernando. However, lazy me woke up late and when we were ready to go, it was already 3pm… 2 hours to go before government offices close shop. My hubby was hesitant to leave… he was sure that it’s going to be a useless trip because it was already so late. I, however, insisted and so we left. About 10 minutes in our trip I realized that I left my passport and so we had to go back- my unpreparedness so evident at this point. I was now so restless because we had to stop by NSO first to get an NSO certified birth certificate. Thankfully, our NSO trip did not take long. At about 4pm we are ready to go to DFA. I’m glad because people seemed innately kinder to mommies with babies slung on their hips and so I got off pretty easily– breezing through the whole process hassle-free. The only little problem we had was when Padma had to have her picture taken. She kept moving and so they can’t get an appropriate shot of her. Anyways, at about 4:45, we are all done! Wasn’t that great? Our next DFA trip will be on Dec. 14- this time for the releasing of my daughter’s passport. For everybody’s info, DFA now utilizes the appointment system for the processing of new passports as well as for renewals. Nobody is exempted from this rule except for those who are:
- 60 years old and above (they can tag along one companion who also gets an appointment free passport processing)
- 1 yr. old and below
Hope this post helps!

Posted in Crazy Ramblings | No Comments »
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