Forever 21… Finally!

I was finally able to visit Forever 21 last weekend. It was overwhelming. I felt “sawa” afterwards. We went there early but there were still lots and lots of people. Nakakainis  because they have a lot of counters but only 2 were open so the line was really long. (Hello, F21 Management! Please do something about this! Don’t boast of numerous cashier stations when you’re only going to man 2!) Good thing I got there earlier. About 5 minutes of waiting, I looked back and saw an awfully long line forming!

Anyway, I got a few clothes and accessories. Here are the earrings that I bought:

Forever 21 earrings 

The silver one was broken when I got home. Good thing I have tools so I was able to fix it

I didn’t get any necklaces because as you may know, I can make bead necklaces. I only buy jewelry which I know I can’t make because I don’t have access to the materials. I sure hope we get more suppliers here. By the way, if you know any bead, pendants, jewelry materials supplier, please let me know. I’m itching to make new  pieces but I’m just too bored with my materials at home.

Price range of the above is Php178.50 - Php328.50. It’s still cheaper online but you still have to pay for shipping so I guess that's fair.

I have mixed feelings about our local Forever21. I didn’t quite enjoy shopping there because it was a fashion overload and I didn’t see the things that I wanted to buy. But, here’s what I did to avoid spending too much time in the boutique.

First, I surveyed everything, from the entrance down to the back. I took a mental note of the things I like. I could have put them immediately in the tote but I didn’t because I might go crazy and go over budget. For example, I spotted a skirt that I liked but found a better one at the back. Had I gotten the first skirt and saw the second one, I would have been torn between the two and ended up buying both then felt guilty about it afterwards.

Decide on all the pieces that you want to fit then head to the dressing rooms and fit, fit, fit! It’s not fun to wait in line. They allow you to bring several pieces with you. They just put a number on the door saying how many pieces you’re bringing inside.

I’m proud to say that out of the several pieces I took to the fitting room, I only ended up giving back 2 because one was too big and the other one was too short. All the other purchases fit well. I was right on budget as I calculated everything while I was in the dressing room. I was actually surprised because I was about Php700 less than the original budget. Savings for me, yay!

When you’ve got your pieces, head to the cashier and do not look back, that is, if you’re on a budget. And ladies, please don’t, and I repeat, DON’T take your boyfriends with you. They will go crazy over the chaos and girls (and gheys) walking around. MB didn’t last and said he’d go out to pay the bills. And MB is usually very patient with my shopping habits. Or probably he was just in a foul mood that day.

It was a weird experience, falling in line with old ladies (we’re talking 60 and above here, girls) with big, bright flowers in their hair and toting neon pink, ruffled one shoulder (arm?) blouses. Oh. my. gosh…

All in all, it was a 50/50 experience for me. Will I shop there again? Maybe yes, maybe no. I’m going out with my best friend one of these days and we’re going there because she hasn’t been inside yet. I’m 70% sure I won’t be purchasing anything because I’m saving up for something(s) else.

I’ll show you the clothes I bought soon.

What’s your Forever 21 experience?

Pick Me Up

I always need a pick-me-upper when I wake up and this never fails to brighten up my mornings:


I have a confession to make. I don’t own any Havaianas. Seriously.

When it first entered Philippine shores, I felt that the prices were ridiculous. Never mind that it’s “indestructible”. I wouldn’t pay Php3,000 for a pair of tsinelas. That was years and years ago. Fast forward to today most pairs are affordable. 

Another reason is I want variety in my wardrobe whether it be shoes, bags, etc. and I want to see a lot of pieces. If I want flip flops, I must have several different flip flops. Had I bought Havaianas, I would have been stuck with just a few pieces because I’m watching my budget. That’s why most of the time, I prefer cheaper items because I can always change them. When Banana Peel started, I was hooked because they had colorful flip flops at very affordable prices. I would buy several pairs per week. I would buy flip flops for all my family just so I can see different flip flops everyday!

I had these brown Banana Peels that I’ve been using for 5 years and last week, the right flip flop broke. These were my bath slippers. I didn’t want to buy a new pair because I still had my HerBench flip flops but I slipped in the bathroom while taking a bath and hurt my foot so MB said that we should buy new bath slippers.

MB was looking for a new shirt last Sunday and we went to Penshoppe and I was lucky to find these:

They might be too bright for other people but it’s the perfect color to wake me up in the mornings. I say lucky because they were on sale at only Php119. = )  It makes me happy to look down on my feet every once in a while, while cooking, doing chores or taking a bath. Cheers me up every time!

The quality of the HerBench slippers is starting to deteriorate (they make my feet hurt and I get blisters whereas before I was completely happy with them) and so I’ve decided to invest on higher end flip flops like Havaianas, Ipanema and Grendha but I’m leaning towards the last 2. 

What’s your favorite brand of flip flops?

More on Eyebrows…

Php114.75. That’s how much this product costs… and it has changed my life forever.

Trim Silk Slanted Tip Tweezers

I don’t pluck my eyebrows. I use an eyebrow razor to groom them because I just don’t have the time to pluck stray hairs one by one. I have absolutely zero patience for it. I also don’t like the stinging sensation in my eyes. I can tolerate the pain on my skin but my eyes are very sensitive. They tear up at the slightest irritation.

I saw this pair of tweezers at The Landmark and was drawn to the color. I was intrigued because it looks really different from its counterparts on the shelf. Since the brand is Trim, I thought that the quality is good. After all, all my nail clippers are Trim and I’ve been using them for more than a decade already! I was right!

It’s a deep magenta and the body feels rubbery. Matte and rubbery, you can grip the tweezers firmly. I like the cover that keeps the tip clean.

The tip is a bit sharp but not enough to cut you and it’s very thin, perfect for pulling out thin hairs. The label actually promises that it can pull even the thinnest of hairs. I agree. I can even pull out tiny ones. You just have to be careful as your skin might get snagged when pulling out thin or growing hair.

Even better is I can’t feel it when I’m pulling out thin hairs. This tool is very efficient and does the job quickly. I still use a razor for days when I’m in a hurry but now I’m in the process of growing out my brows to re-shape it and this tool comes in very handy when pulling out stray hairs.

I haven’t tried other brands yet but I’m giving this product 5 out 5 stars because of the affordability, quality and value for money.

What’s your favorite brand of tweezers? Share please!

This is the start of something new…

 Instead of makeup and skin care products, I chose to buy these:

 Chelsea Sandals, Caronia Blue Velvet Nails

I originally wanted 3 pairs of shoes from The Ramp but sadly, they didn’t have stocks. The SA said that there’s only one stock per size and the display was “new”. So not true! I’ve been eyeing those shoes for more than 2 weeks plus the shoes were already very dirty and they call that new?? Don’t you just hate it when SA’s do that? Sometimes they’re just too lazy to get new stocks that they’ll just push whatever’s on display even if it’s dirty or damaged.

So off I went to SM to just look around. I spotted a pair that I liked but changed my mind after I went back to it. That’s how I shop. I take a look around, make a mental note of the things  I like then walk around some more. When I come back and I still like it then I buy it.

I went to Chelsea just to look around. At this time, I was totally resigned to the idea of buying new shoes. It’s just my luck that I spotted this pair. I couldn’t decide which color to get so I got them both. When I see shoes that fit me, I immediately buy several pairs. My feet are size 5 but it’s really hard to find shoes that fit me. The size 5’s in the mall can sometimes still be big and the size 4’s are too small. These fit perfectly. The best part is, they were on sale! They were going for Php600 and I got them for only Php540/pair.

It seems that Chelsea/Chesca is the only brand that truly knows my feet. Almost all my shoes are from this brand and I’ve been a loyal customer over the years.

How about you? What’s your shoe adventure lately? And what’s your favorite brand?

What a way to start the week!

 Without further ado, let me present my completed Project 30-Pan:

Project 30-Pan 

I survived about 1-2 months without buying anything new, just the everyday essentials. My Project Pan works a little different. You see, I hoard products. If I like something, I buy it. If it works, I’ll buy about 5 more in one go. I have several products at home that are waiting to be opened and tested. I do a Project Pan to limit my hoarding and at the same time, be able to use the products before they spoil or something. It also controls the budget. = ) I don’t pick out products to empty. I just use products until I reach the desired number of pans, in this case 30, before buying new stuff again.

Here are my finished products:

TFS Hand Lotion

3 Monea Curling Lotion

2 Grape Bella Body Wash

2 Grape Bella Body Scrub

Nivea Happy Time Lotion

Nivea Q10 Firming Lotion

Human Heart Nature Strengthening Shampoo

Eskinol Calamansi Toner

Celeteque Toner

2 Holy Seat

GenTeal Eye Drops

Nivea Angel Star Body Souffle

J&J Calming Oil

Caronia Nail Polish Remover

J&J Lavender Powder

Garnier Moisturizer

TFS Clear Polish

TFS Red Polish (it actually dried up)

Human Heart Nature Body Butter

Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara

Nichido Final Powder

TFS Lipstick

Avon Lipstick

Ellana Brush Cleanser

Dove Go Fresh Body Wash

So does this mean I’ll be buying skin care and makeup soon? Hmm.. Probably not. You see, my first love is fashion. I’ve been addicted to clothes, shoes and accessories since I was a little girl. I got it from my grandma and mom but I guess I’m the worst shopaholic among the three. When we had very little money and had to skimp, I stopped buying clothes. I was contented with looking at magazines filled with beautiful clothes. My wardrobe consisted of jeans and shirts whereas when I was a teenager, I had skirts, dresses and beautiful tops from reputable brands. I had new clothes almost everyday. I had more than 30 pairs of shoes, more than 20 bags and an accessories organizer filled to the brim. I had to sell some of my stuff to be able to buy food. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

When I started working, my closet was filled with boring corporate attire. You have to admit that it’s only recently that designers amped up their game. Now I’m thankful that we are not required to don a corporate attire except when we are meeting clients. We are allowed to wear “smart”, casual clothes everyday. I think the shirt and jeans girl in me stuck and it’s only about 2 weeks ago that I had a reality check. I wanted my old wardrobe back! The feeling was so intense that I kept dreaming about it. I had to do something to update my wardrobe. The only thing stopping me was budget. I actually didn’t have money to buy clothes! When I checked my budget, I realized that I’ve been spending more on beauty stuff. I did an inventory and I decided I needed to stop for a while. I still have enough to last me a few weeks.

I will still buy beauty stuff but now I’m challenging myself to use what I have to their full capacity. I go crazy over shopping but I make sure that I still have enough in the bank for a rainy day. I don’t want to become one of those women who have makeup to last them 2 lifetimes. 

So yes, I will still buy cosmetics but hoarding is not allowed anymore and I will fix my budget so that I can buy clothes, shoes, accessories every now and then. There must be a balance in my life and this is just one of those things that need it badly.

What’s your shopping story?

My Little Helpers

You might think that the following products that I will feature are trivial but remember that a workman is only as good as his tools or in our case, an artist/beauty enthusiast.

Baby Company Cotton Swabs, Watsons Soft Square Puffs, Hello Kitty Baby Wipes, Watsons Velvety Soft Tissues

When I was younger, I didn’t care what brand of cotton or tissue I used. I always got the cheapest. That was until I decided to take care of my skin more and apply make up more(!)

The Watsons brand of facial square puffs is one of the best for me. It’s soft and smooth and does not have those annoying bits of hard cotton (skin?) It doesn’t leave trails of cotton on my face even when I use it to remove makeup using my Etude House Makeup Remover which is cream based. It’s also very cheap at Php98 for two packs.

Another Watsons product that I like is this Velvety Soft Tissue that comes in a box. I use it as my vanity tissue for wiping hands after applying hair products, to blot lipstick, and to spot clean my brushes. Regular tissue just won’t do. The size of one sheet is perfect for the above tasks. The price? I got one box for only Php20 when it was on sale.

Next is my Hello Kitty Baby Wipes which I gush so much about. It’s only Php79.75 at Landmark. Again, don’t buy at SM or Watsons because it costs Php90+ there. I use these wipes to remove the excess hair products on my hands and the excess makeup/makeup remover on my face and neck.

Finally, the cotton swabs from Baby Company is one of the best that I’ve tried. The other brand that’s also good is The Face Shop but I only buy that when it’s on sale. This one from Baby Company only costs Php69.75 whereas TFS sells for Php75 for one small measly pack. It’s great for removing excess eye liner and eye shadow and for blending. The handle is sturdy enough so it’s really safe for cleaning a baby’s ears and your ears too.

How about you? What are your favorite helpers?

For the Boys

When I buy new products, I allow myself at least 2 weeks to a month before I do a review. It might seem that the products I feature here are always new but in truth, they’ve been sitting around in my vanity or bathroom for quite some time now, being tested. There are even times when I feature a product that has already reached pan i.e. Nivea Angel Star Body Soufflé.

This product is no exception:

 L’oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Detoxifying Foam 

MB has been using this for a month now and so we can safely evaluate it. It claims to instantly detoxify skin – Check. Reveals more radiant – Check, even skin – X.

MB is fair. He’s actually 5x whiter than me but his face is oily so the oil makes him look darker. After using this, his face became brighter but the oil is still there. I’ve noticed that his face is softer now. His face is still oily but not as oily as before. So I guessed this facial foam controlled that a bit. He also didn’t break out and didn’t get allergies. Sometimes he has sensitive skin.He used Pond’s before and he broke out.

It’s funny how men say that they’re not vain or that they ‘pretend’ to cringe whenever we buy them ‘beauty products’. When I was shopping at Watsons, I happened to see this and asked MB if he wanted to try it. He said no. I insisted and went to the cashier immediately to pay for it so that I won’t hear any buts or no’s anymore. When we got home, he was very excited to take this out of the eco tote and carefully read the label. See, they’re vain. Who doesn’t want to look good anyway?

Next time I’ll be purchasing the oil control variant to see what works better for him. The L’oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Detoxifying Foam costs Php195 at Watsons and Beauty by SM.

Fabulous!

The MAC Fabulous Felines Collection will be released internationally on September 10! I'm so excited! I promised myself that this collection will be my first MAC cosmetics buys. I just hope they will have enough stocks for everybody.

Clean It Up!

I’ve become OC with brush cleaning that’s why when I read somewhere in Oprah that you “need to wash (or was it clean?) your brushes ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS”, I cringed. I’m sure most of you wash/clean your brushes every after use.  I sure do. I deep cleanse them once a week and clean them with a brush cleaner after every use. This particular product is what I use:

Ellana Clean It Up Brush Cleaner

I’ve never tried any other brand because the others that I’ve seen are quite pricey. This one from Ellana fits my budget perfectly. This is the new formula and costs Php170 but I only got it for Php150 because the sales attendant that was in charge of the booth was MIA and so the other SA’s from the other booths subbed for her. They couldn’t find the price tag for the brush cleaner and I was already waiting for 20 minutes so the girl just decided to stick the Php150 price tag. That’s a 20-peso savings. Score!

It’s funny because on the label it says it’s an oil-free formula then at the bottom it says it has tea tree oil. Isn’t that oil too?

 Oily

At first I was concerned with the oil but it dries up after a few seconds. It really is fast drying, faster than the old formula.  It also made my brushes softer after a week. It even made my HerBench brush soft. It’s one of the first brushes that I bought and I have to admit that it was quite rough and scratchy but this brush cleaner made it softer. It is now comparable to my Charm brushes. It also cleans better than the original formula. Maybe it’s because of the oil. They’ve also retained the original scent. Or maybe it just smells the same to me. = )

Of course I will repurchase because I haven’t found a brush cleaner that compares to this in terms of price and quality. What about you ladies? What brand of brush cleaner do you use?

Pink Soufflé, Anyone?

It’s Monday and I’m bummed out. The cold really gets to me. It’s nice that the sun has let up a bit but boohoo for my aching joints and muscles. Woke up this morning feeling awfully tired with my limbs hard and useless. Half of me was paralyzed again. I kept thinking that I need to go to work to supplement my shopping trips because my Project Pan is done! That’s the only good surprise for me this morning. I was able to finish the last Project Pan participant. Teehee..

But enough about that and let me introduce you to one product that perks up my day.

 Nivea Angel Star Body Soft Soufflé

Packaging is very cute. It’s a nice baby pink shade. It gets better inside:

Keep it in

The product itself is covered with foil. I love it!

It looks like this when you open it. It’s called soufflé because it really looks and feels like soufflé! It’s very light (like a perfect soufflé) and smells amazing.

No need to worry if it’s hot outside. Nivea Angel Star Body Soufflé is non-sticky even when you perspire. It disappears on your skin a few minutes after application. The faint smell of raspberries stays on your skin the whole day long.

Close up

Don’t be concerned about the tiny specks of shimmer. It actually makes you look glowing. The shimmer is also more subtle than Myra E’s tinted moisturizer. 

I didn’t have high expectations for this product at first. I thought it would be great for my arms but not for the uber dry skin on my legs. But surprise, surprise! I did a scratch test and no white lines!

There are two sizes. I got the smaller tub for Php59.75 at The Landmark Makati. I really liked this product so much and so this small tub became an accidental part of my Project Pan. = )

Update: You might also want to be careful when opening the tub as the product is like very soft jello. You might accidentally spill the contents.

Energy Audit

I found this very useful quiz about the energy that we use everyday. It makes me reflect on myself and my work. Hope you find it useful too.

Eyebrows Are A Serious Subject

Even in beauty school, the students admit that perfecting the eyebrows is one of the hardest lessons to learn. About more than a decade ago, I read an interview with Myrza Sison in one of the local magazines. She said that when she does interviews, she immediately looks at the eyebrows. If they’re not groomed, then she doesn’t bother with the interviewee anymore. She says how can a person take care of her job when she couldn’t even take care of her brows? Of course in their world, this applies a lot. In other parts of the corporate world, not only do your looks matter but more importantly, your brains.

Myrza’s statement made an impact in my life. From then on, not only did I pay special attention to my brows but to the rest of my appearance as well. After all, it was only a matter of years (back then) when it would be my turn to be the interviewee. And looks, as we all know, can be powerful especially when applying for a job.

I never learned how to use eyebrow pencils so over the years I just groomed my eyebrows using an eyebrow razor or tweezers. Now, I’m thankful that cosmetics companies are producing eyebrow powders. Since I was scared to try this out, I picked out a set that has 4 shades just to be sure.

Fanny Serrano Eyebrow Powder

I am amused with the Fanny Serrano Eyebrow Powder packaging because it’s like Chanel. Sometimes it’s really funny when local brands imitate the imported brands’ packaging then fail to deliver with the product itself. I’m just glad that the FS line has good quality, what with all of Fanny Serrano’s years of experience in the industry. I’ve seen him in the Makeup and Cosmetics Fair at the World Trade a few months ago and he’s very nice, obliging to photo ops and very willing to learn new tricks of the trade. He was one of the judges in the makeup competition and he was proud to say that he was learning a lot of techniques from the newbies.

     

There are 4 shades in this palette and 2 useless applicators, as usual. Here are the swatches:

I use the 2 lightest shades on the right of the palette. I use the darker one at the end of my brows, a little bit over the arch. The eyebrows should be darkest at the ends.

Staying power is great. It lasts the whole day after I set it with a clear mascara. Pigmentation, as you can see, is also good. I tap the brush after I swipe it on the powder as there’s a lot of excess that sticks to the brush that falls on my face. I’ve experienced no itching or rashes in the month that I’ve been using this. This product is made in Taiwan. The palette costs Php350 at Beauty by SM.

Do you have a favorite brand of eyebrow powder? Spill! I wanna know! 

Firmer Skin Without the Pain

They say no pain, no gain. I say work smart, not hard. Why would you want to suffer when there’s an easier alternative, right?

I became curious with skin firming lotions after trying Nivea’s. Nivea worked but it was way too sticky for me and I don’t like sticky lotions. I chanced upon this, one day while in the mall:

St. Ives Skin Firming Lotion

St. Ives products have been in my family for years so I didn’t have any qualms in purchasing this.

I’d say that it was a wise decision indeed. The product promises firmer skin in 2 weeks. It did make my skin firmer. Just be sure to apply this religiously. I only apply this at night on trouble areas and I’ve seen results. What more if you apply this twice a day, everyday! I am certain that I didn’t apply this for 2 weeks straight on my first run. I tend to forget these things especially when I’m too tired or have too much in my mind.

   In case you want to read the label

This pump bottle costs Php210 at Watsons. Plus points for the all natural ingredients and the recycled material.

The lotion is just a tad bit sticky but you’re okay if it’s not hot and you’re not perspiring. There is a mild smell that’s not irritating. It’s actually quite nice. No allergies whatsoever. I rub the leftovers all over my hands and I’ve noticed that they’re smoother and firmer. If you want top notch results, you may want to use the St. Ives Firming lotion with this, this and this. If you’re looking for miraculous results that only surgery can give, then I guess this product isn’t for you. This is just a cheaper, pain-free alternative. You get what you pay for.

P.S.

Hope everybody is okay after that terrible typhoon which left me up almost the whole night. I was scared of the constant lashing of the rains and winds on our windows. It brings back memories of Ondoy and Milenyo. We reallly have to fix the Earth fast!

Becoming Ageless

Wouldn’t it be nice if people stopped ageing when they’ve reached their best appearance? Well, until someone finds the Fountain of Youth or everybody turns into a Cullen then beauty products would have to do. One such product line that promises an ageless beauty is Eskinol Ageless.

Eskinol Ageless Toner

I was drawn to the container that looked like a mini missile. = ) The actual bottle really looks nice. The power of packaging at its best.

The Eskinol Ageless Toner promises to help reduce fine lines and visible signs of ageing. It also deep cleanses and prepares the skin for the day or night creams (which I reviewed) in the same line. Lastly, it minimizes pores and helps firm skin.

First time I used this, I instantly felt my face tighten. It also cleanses nicely. I can’t really say that the fine lines disappeared but my skin improved a little after using this for 2 weeks. After that, my face broke out into very itchy rashes which eventually turned into pimples. Yikes!

So I stopped but I still had about half a bottle left and so I used it on my stretch marks. Yeah, I’m weird like that and kuripot too. Heck, it promises to help firm skin so why not right? I don’t have anything to lose anyway. Did it work? It’s still actually working. The skin on my thighs have firmed up. (Plus I use another product that complements the effects of the Eskinol Ageless Toner). I’m almost through with this bottle and I’m quite happy with the results. Maybe I’ll buy one for mom because I wouldn’t repurchase for myself.

One 50mL bottle costs Php69.75 at Watsons and Beauty by SM.

How about you girls? What’s your favorite toner?

Cheap Chica Find: Soft Hands for Only 15 Pesos?

Does that sound like a commercial or what? I know most of you are already familiar with this product but allow me to feature it here as I was amazed when I saw this on my officemate’s table about a few months ago.

 Vaseline Total Moisture Nourishing Lotion

Imagine, Vaseline can afford to offer a product worth Php15?! And with a nice packaging at that. It kinda makes you wonder how much they’re really earning with one bottle of lotion.

So anyway, this is the original lotion. It still retains the original scent which I’m not crazy about. I totally hated this lotion when I was a kid. I didn’t like it when my mom would slather this on her legs and arms because I didn’t like the smell and it was so sticky.

Fast forward to a couple of decades, give or take, and I find myself buying this product. It comes in 2 variants. The other one is the whitening lotion. I don’t like that so I purchased this one. This is totally for my hands and feet. I’m not putting this on my legs or arms No way!

In spite of the smell, I actually like this product. It does a good job of nourishing my hands. MB uses this to massage my hands. I almost want to put gloves on so that I can wake up with extra soft and smooth hands but I’d probably get annoyed doing that. I don’t like wearing socks and gloves when I sleep no matter how cold it is. Mom and MB find it very difficult during the cold season when I refuse to cover up come sleeping time. The cold weather is very bad for my body and a blanket just wouldn’t suffice.

I think this lotion will be especially useful when it gets cold. It’s a nice way to keep your hands and feet moisturized. It’s also non-sticky so you can go back to your regular work/chores after it has been absorbed by your skin. Since I only put this on my hands, I’ve had no allergic reactions whatsoever.

Will I repurchase? That depends. There are still a few more hand lotions out there that I want to try.

How Do You Kick Start a New Week?

I've been out of commission for the past few days because I had a terrible, hectic, exhausting weekend. I lost 6 cats to the flu virus. Apparently, this type of virus is deadly to cats. But it's really funny that the virus can be killed by regular household bleach. I had to file for under time last Thursday afternoon to help my mom control the flu in my kitty colony. I filed for leave on Friday because almost half the population was sick. Add to that, MB was suffering from migraines so early in the morning and had to skip work. So it was just me and my mom fighting this awful virus. 

We took care of our cats almost round the clock. As soon as we finish giving meds, I'm already in the kitchen busy preparing their next meal. It was a whirlwind of food, syringes, meds, vitamin C, milk, Lightwater and Hydrite. Not to mention Lysol and Zonrox every few hours. 

Some might think that this is a little bit exaggerated but I think one can never understand the devotion and love an owner has to their pets until one actually takes care of a pet. It doesn't matter if it's a dog or a cat as long as it's something that interacts, that has a high intellect. Nope, fish are not included in the list. 

Yesterday, one of my cats had a miscarriage. That's also because of the flu. She's okay now. On the other hand, I have this darling of a cat aptly named Chanel who had the virus and we fought really hard to make her feel better. I'm glad to say that she's okay now. She wouldn't eat but it only took some chicken soup to whet her appetite. Chicken soup! Why didn't I think of that earlier? It works for humans so now I know that it works for cats as well. I said Chanel was a darling because every time she would see me, she would lie on my feet and hug and kiss them. She would even stop eating just so she can nudge her forehead and face on my feet. She's that sweet.  I have 3 cats like that and I'm glad that they're all okay. 

We really thought that everything's going to be okay by Sunday but yesterday morning I had migraines! I'm surprised because I haven't had a full blown migraine attack for like 10 years now! And I had 2 bouts! It happened again in the afternoon. Then last night, while we were eating dinner, MB had a migraine attack again! So I did all the cooking and the chores last night. I rested early thinking I had to wake up at 5:30 am the next day to prepare breakfast for us and the kitties but lo and behold, I woke up around 3 am because my legs were numb. Woke up again at 4 because my arm was also paralyzed. Then again at 5 to find out that my back was aching like crazy. By 6 am, both my arms were already numb, hard and paralyzed. I couldn't move. So you guessed it, I'm in bed again. I think all the pressure and hard work during the last 3 days finally took a toll on me. It's really very bad for a person with an autoimmune disease to get tired. That's when the illness takes advantage of you. I was only able to move my fingers at 9:30 this morning and took sheer will to be able to do so because I wanted to check on the cats. I forgot to tell mom last night where I put their food and also forgot to tell MB that I already packed our baon. So MB left this morning without breakfast and baon and even left me money and texted to just order breakfast. And he had very little money left. Isn't that sweet? I didn't order in because we already have food in the ref. I just waited for my legs to fully recover and I went down to get some breakfast, at 10:30 am. Sheesh. Talk about a horrible weekend.

And did I mention that my phone had some problems? I wasn't able to receive messages for 3 days and I only knew about it when people started calling me up asking why I'm not answering to their texts.

So now, I ask you dear friends and readers, how do you kick start a new week after that?

DIY Foot Scrub

I’m a huge fan of scrubs. I guess I feel a little too weird about a stranger handling my feet. Or maybe because I’ve had a bad experience with foot scrubs at the David’s Salon near our place many years ago. After that, I opted to just buy DIY treatments, anyway, we have that massaging foot tub at home similar to the ones they use at the salons.

Over the years, I’ve tried different brands of foot scrubs, both local and imported. This is the brand that I’m using now:

 Caronia Renewing Foot Scrub

I’m pretty sure this is not a new product as I’ve already tried this years ago. I guess they just repackaged and re-marketed the brand. The formula is also better.

The green tea scent is great. It calms my nerves. The minty feeling is very good for my tired feet. The beads are just the right size. They don’t hurt nor do they tickle even when I scrub really hard using a pumice stone.

The directions on the back suggest to use the scrub for the hands too. I do this when I remember to. I must warn you though that the minty feeling lasts for a few minutes. It feels like putting Katinko or Efficascent Oil on your feet (and hands).

I use this twice a week and my feet are now free from dead skin cells and cracked heels. Just be sure to put lotion or body butter on your feet before you sleep for maximum effect. I also do that when I remember to or when MB massages my feet.

And to cap off this week’s theme, here’s a photo of my new haircut:

Photo taken using my laptop cam. I have no makeup here! Eeep!

I used to sport long, curly hair but the curls are not nice anymore and my hair is too long already so I decided to have a haircut last weekend. I terribly miss my curly hair though. I’m too lazy to comb that’s why I had my hair digitally permed a few years ago and have maintained that look.

I’ll probably get a perm again in a couple of weeks because I really can’t stand combing/fixing my hair every now and then.

So, if you’re stressed out this week, I suggest you head to your favorite salon tomorrow!

Calming Colors

It’s Thursday! Surviving the week so far? Well, we have to right? For me, shopping is a very good motivation that’s why I try to drag myself out of bed every morning and just think about all the beautiful things that I can buy with the day’s salary. Boy, if you’ve got an auto immune disease, waking up in the morning can be quite a struggle.

Anyway, to keep you sane (and pretty!) may I suggest these colors to brighten up your mood:

 Caronia Nail Polish in Bliss and Mint Frost

Even the names are very appropriate, don’t you think? If you like Caronia Nail Polish, I suggest you buy them anywhere else but SM or Watsons. One bottle costs Php32 at Beauty by SM whereas at Landmark, it only costs Php24.75. That’s a huge difference, enough for a jeepney fare!

Hope you ladies are having a slammin’ week. One more day to go!

Happy Time!

Since I am burning out from problems at work and stuff, I’ve decided that this week, bits + treats will feature pampering products. These are products that I look forward to when I get home or wake up in the morning. I already started with the foot spray yesterday and today is no exception.

Nivea Happy Time Body Lotion

I’ve had this lotion since December or January, I think but I only got around to using it last May. I bought this only because I needed a Nivea product to get a crystal encrusted butterfly bag chain from Watsons. I guess you’re familiar with that since most of you are Watsons regulars.

I thought this lotion will just be normal, regular, nothing special but I was surprised when I tried it. It had a nice citrus-bamboo smell that really makes me feel good and awake in the morning when I slather this on after bathing. The scent is very light and very pleasing to my nose. It makes me feel energized to start my day.

The lotion itself is non-sticky and is very light, perfect for summer. This is for normal skin. I have dry skin but it keeps the flakes at bay. It also doesn’t make me itch when I sweat.

The Nivea Happy Time Body Lotion costs Php89.75 and is available at Watsons, Beauty by SM and The Landmark. Check out Mercury and your favorite supermarkets as well.

I Love Your Blogs Too!

 A big shoutout to Lady Mitchelli and the Peachy Pink Sisters for this award:


Thank you dear lovely ladies for this first award!

The rules from Lady Mitchelli are:
1. Post the award on your blog
2. Link to the person who has given you the award
3. Pass the award to other 15 blogs you've discovered
4. Let these 15 bloggers know that you've given them an award

I haven’t really “discovered” new blogs recently so I’m giving this award to these wonderful persons, in random order:
1. Kitten
2. Sugar
3. Peachy Pink Sisters
4. Donnarence
5. Renay Shanel
6. Jing
7. Lady Mitchelli, of course!

I’m kinda breaking the rules here as I’m only posting 7 blogs. 7 is my favorite number, after all. I’ll get to the other 8 when I’ve discovered them. But for now, I sincerely love these girls’ blogs.

Do You Like Foot Sprays?

If there is one product that Migraine Boy and I agree on, it’s…

The Body Shop Lemongrass Refreshing Foot Spray

We absolutely adore this product! When we get home after work, after about 15 minutes of walking to the jeepney stop then to our house, this lemongrass foot spray is a savior. It really refreshes your feet after a hard day’s work. It keeps your feet smelling nice too.

We both love the cooling effect and the subtle smell of lemongrass. It’s not overpowering. The spray is non-drying although it doesn’t make your feet soft either.

I think MB appreciates this better than I do because I always wear sandals and open shoes whereas his feet are always enclosed. He really looks forward to taking his shoes and socks off and spraying his feet.Well, I do the spraying because it’s his way of making lambing. I would also do it that way because if I give the bottle to him, he might spray half of the bottle away!  And I’m trying to stretch the use of this as much as I can. This was a gift from my best friend last Christmas and it was only last May that I was able to try it.

I don’t know how much it costs but I’m sure it will be easy to find out. This is the best refreshing foot spray that I’ve ever tried.

Sample: Avon Anew 360

First of all, this sample doesn’t have enough for you to really test it. When applied on the face and neck, it will only last for about 2-3 uses. That’s really not enough time to gauge the effectiveness of this whitening product.

I tried this on my face and in only 5 seconds, my face broke out into large, very itchy rashes. I had to wash my face again just to get rid of the itchiness. Sadly, the rashes stayed on for days.

The rest of the product I tried on my elbows and knees to no effect, of course. The sample amount was too little. I got this from Cosmo magazine and it came with a 10% discount voucher. So I guess you know that I won’t be using it. 

Cheap Chica Find: Joy Tissue Holders

Saw this yesterday at Mercury while buying MB”s migraine meds:

 

So cute! And it’s only Php35! I checked at Landmark Super today but they don’t have these canisters.
The only thing I don’t like about this is the tape that they use to seal the top.

The print sticks to the edge of the cover. But I can live with that. I only saw 2 designs so I got them both.

On a side note, if you have moderate to severe migraines, you might want to ask your Neuro about Lyrica. MB’s neuro suggested he take this at night when he gets a migraine attack during the day to prevent further attacks the following day. It’s sort of a happy pill. It makes you sleep very soundly. I tried this for my polymyositis and it works. It’s non-addicting too. But you do get very vivid dreams. You’ll be able to remember most of your dreams when you wake up. = )

Oh, and one thing more. If you regularly take Ponstan SF and Lyrica, you can ask your doctor for a discount card. It’s a lifetime discount card but it’s only limited to about 20 pieces or so a month. Huge savings, I tell you. We save around Php40 for just a few pieces of meds. You save more when you buy more.

Happy Sunday everybody!

I Need Your Help Please!

Dear Friends,

As you may or may not know, I've been designing bead jewelry since I was 16. What started as a hobby resulted to a part-time business which helped pay for my tuition, medical bills and of course, emergency shopping! 

It's been going on and off for a few years now. I've joined several bazaars in the past and my creations have been featured in a magazine. Now I'm using this as part of my final project in Ateneo. The original name is La Rue des Bijoux but now, I'm using the translation - Street of Jewels.

Please visit this new blog of mine, Street of Jewels and comment/critique on how to make it better, what things you want to see, etc. If I may also ask, please click on the Follow button. It will really help a lot in terms of evaluation. This is just a portion of the final project which is due on Saturday, July 3, 2010. I will be honest. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update this regularly  because I need time to make jewelry and time is a very limited resource in my life nowadays but when I do, I'll be sure to post it on the blog.

So thank you in advance and I hope to see you all there!

Love,

Lady E

Cheap Chica Finds

I got these 2 weeks ago and just didn't have the time to take photos of them.

Herbench Cream Wallet and Tapestry Print Notebook from National

The notebook is not exactly cheap at Php389. Hey, it's no Moleskine but it suits me just fine. I like that it's hardbound and it has an elastic to keep it closed at all times. That's important for me because I have a very cluttered bag and I don't use a bag organizer. It also has a pocket on the back cover so you can put receipts, small notes, etc. I bought a notebook because my eyp organizer died on me. I didn't buy any of those fancy organizers back in January because I already had one which I got for free. It was a very simple organizer but it was just not made well. The pages came loose and so I had no choice but to get a notebook.

I chose a notebook because I don't really need the dates. I use this notebook for budgeting, jotting down important things, listing the things that I need and want to buy and so on. So, I really don't need the dates as I only write the dates on the important entries. 

I'm such a sucker for tapestry prints

Here's the wallet:

I put my lunch/grocery money on the top side for budgeting purposes

I wanted to show you the other side but Blogger won't allow me to. I'm really getting fed up with this issue. Anyway, I put my other bills on the other side, my ID and some cards. If you've noticed, only the Celeteque card is in the card slot. That's because it's the only card that can fit in the slot. That's the only thing that I don't like about this wallet - the card slots are useless. But it's okay because I have a separate card case for credit cards and other membership cards. 

I used to shy away from this type of wallet because I was so ever loyal to a checkbook type wallet until Migraine Boy convinced me to try this. I immediately fell in love on my first use! It's just so convenient especially when you're in line at the cashier and she gives you tons of change in bills and coins and you have several people waiting at your back. I just dump everything inside and just fix them later. It also saves me space because my coins fit right into the zippered part. Before, I used to bring a coin purse, a wallet and my card case so imagine the hassle that I go through putting the coins in the coin purse, putting the bills in the wallet and then putting the cards in the card case. It was absolutely crazy! Add to that, the checker who keeps nudging your purchases in your face while you fumble to organize things. Now, there's just the wallet and the card case. I just dump everything including the card inside this wallet then I'm good to go. I finish the same time as the checker. 

This wallet costs P249.75 and I got it at Bench G5. It's also available in black. I'm really very happy with these purchases!

How about you? What's your cheap chica find this week?

Questions

1. Do you girls follow the 3-month rule when it comes to mascara? Do you use them until they run out or dry up?
2. I've read some reviews about the Carmex lip balm saying that it actually dries up your lips. Is this true? I've always wanted to try this but the reviews are stopping me. 

Hope you can enlighten me.

I Can't Get Enough of You Baby...

I just can't get enough of Maybelline Watershine Pure lipsticks. I always buy my Maybelline lipsticks when they're on sale because 20% savings is not bad! I bought my first Maybelline Watershine lipstick a few months back. It hasn't failed me ever since. It is still a favorite especially on days when I want a no-brainer lip color. 

Maybelline Watershine Pure R22 on lip concealer

Maybelline Watershine Pure R22 

The photos above were taken with flash. The color is actually redder. It looks pink on the photos. This is my first red lipstick.

I love this lipstick because it doesn't dry up my lips, it stays on for a considerable amount of time and is affordable. And a red lipstick always make your teeth look whiter. This lipstick usually retails for about Php249+ but I got it for only Php199. 

Note:

This is a backlog post so the price may be different now. 

I maintain only 12 lipsticks at a time to ensure that I get the best out of each one. I'm almost done with yet another Project Pan so I'll probably buy more lipsticks in the coming weeks.