Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Have a hairy new year!

It's a few hours before January 2009, and I must say 2008 has been an interesting year for me.

I have eaten in countless restaurants to satisfy my cravings and curiosity; I have been to a lot of places I have never been to; Countless products have come and touched my skin, a few have become staple in my regimen.

One of the products that I have been using for the longest time is the A Bonne Vitamin Complex Intensive Vitamin Hair Treatment. A Bonne Intensive Vitamin Hair Treatment

I have been a loyalist of this product since 2005 and I must say, this is the one conditioner I keep coming back to.

Consistency is really thick; you have only to scoop a 5-peso size blob, spread it on you palm and on your hair. Leave on for about five minutes before rinsing and you'll come out of the shower with shiny, silky hair.

I don't feel comfortable with going out of the house with wet hair. Imagine the dirt and dust clinging to it, ugh. I sit in front of the fan while putting on lotion (Let's save the lotion blog for another day) and by the time I step out of the house, I have shiny, smooth, silky hair! This lasts the whole day too, no stringy and rough hair by the time office lets out as I have experienced with other conditioners.

This has been with me for a long time and will surely be with me for a looong loong time to come. Ü

Photo credits: Sheyz Go

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Help a friend.

The Philippines Master Rapper, FrancisM is diagnosed with blood illness and is in need of your blood donations and also your prayers. For those of you out there who would want to donate blood, read on below for the requirements.

Whole blood donors are also needed for his blood transfusion (preferrably type O, but any type will be accepted by the hospital to replace those that FM had already used up).

If you intend to donate platelets or whole blood, then proceed to the Blood Bank, Lower Ground Floor, The Medical City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City (you can call the hospital at 635-6789 or 631-86-26 for any questions on blood donation). Inform the hospital that you are donating for the Francis Magalona account.

Platelet donor requirements:

  • type O blood
  • at least 110lbs/50kg in weight
  • no alcohol within 24 hours
  • no yosi within 1hr
  • no menstruation (for women)
  • no aspirin/medication intake within 24hrs
  • in good health (no cold/cough/etc.)

    You will also undergo an interview when you get to the blood bank.

    The son of local matinee idol Pancho Magalona and actress Tita Duran, Francis created his own mark in the entertainment industry as a rapper-performer when he released his debut album, Yo! back in 1990. The said record spawned the massive nationalistic rap hit song "Mga Kababayan," which in effect introduced Pinoy style rap music in the mainstream.

    The ‘90s band explosion failed to deter Francis's popularity and significance in the music scene as proven by the number of hit albums and good singles he churned out since Yo! He even collaborated with other artists and most of the time experimented with various sounds and genres so as not to remain stale before the listening public.

    Some of his memorable songs include "Mga Praning," "Meron Akong Ano," "Man From Manila," "Cold Summer Nights," "Bahay Yugyugan," "Ito ang Gusto Ko," "Girl Be Mine," and "Kaleidoscope World."

    Aside from singing and writing songs, Francis also plunged into hosting. He served first as a VJ for both MTV Philippines and Channel V before joining the country's longest running noontime show Eat Bulaga! as one of the regulars.

    Francis was also tapped as one of the judges, along with music maestro Ryan Cayabyab and Pilita Corrales, of Philippine Idol's maiden season in 2006 aired on ABC-5.

    He also ventured into photography and music video directing, megging videos for artists such as Sponge Cola, Join the Club, Gloc 9, Shamrock, Join The Club, Pikaso, Death Threat, and Pupil.

    Francis is married to Pia Arroyo and their union is blessed with eight children: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Isabella, Elmo, Arkin, Clara and young actress Maxene Magalona.

    To Piapie, we will praying for FM's speedy recovery. Hang in tight.

  • Sunday, July 20, 2008

    Tuesday, July 8, 2008

    Philippines' first Mac Magazine

    To all the Mac users, and possible switchers, worry no more that you don't have the capability to fully explore your much-loved Mac.

    Digital Photographer Philippines launched the country's first Mac magazine yesterday. iCreate Philippines

    iCreate is different from other Mac magazines. It features more tutorials that targets first time novice users, shifters and expert-level mac users. iCreate will tackle a wide range of applications, from Apple's iLife and iWork to Adobe's Photoshop and Apple's professional apps. We will even teach you how to create your own wireless network and troubleshoot your mac.

    You may buy your copies now!

    It's at Php295 per issue, six issues per year, so it only comes to Php1,770 a year.

    Pretty cheap for a fountain of Mac info eh? :)


    Photo credits: Nino Carandang

    Friday, July 4, 2008

    FlyKandi

    Flying to Europe?

    Do so with style.

    Hed Kandi design

    Monarch Airlines launched their fully branded Boeing 757 aircraft designed by Hed Kandi illustrator Jason Brooks last May 2008.

    If glamour is your thing then the only way to enjoy this summer is with Hed Kandi and Monarch as together we FlyKandi to some of the hottest party destinations across Europe and beyond.

    This year the FlyKandi season reaches further than ever before with events taking place at Hed Kandi's residencies in Barcelona, Puerto Banus (Marbella), Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca and Magaluf (Mallorca) as well as Ibiza.

    Feel the party vibe even reachinig your party place.

    For more information, please visit FlyKandi.


    Photo credits: FlyKandi

    Thursday, July 3, 2008

    DO NOT BUY AT WATSONS GB1!!

    I went to Watsons Greenbelt 1 branch earlier this morning at about 9:55am. It was a two-minute walk from GB3 to GB1 so my officemate and I waited until 10am before we decided to knock on the still-half-closed sliding door.

    We asked the lady guard there if they are already open, the lady guard turned nasty and said in an irritating tone "Hindi pa pwede, hindi pa kami ready (pronounced as REEDEE)!" (We can't, we're not yet ready) and then proceeded to close the door!

    I was surprised at how rude she is.

    Me: What time kayo nagoopen?" (What time will you open?)

    Lady Guard: Late ang cashier namin hindi pa reedee!" (Our cashier is late, we're not ready!)

    I was really pissed at how rude she sounded, as if she doesn't know a thing about customer service.

    In the first place, all the lights were already on inside the store, there are a LOT of staff there just laughing about whatever they are talking about.

    Me: E anong oras kayo magbubukas? (So what time will you open?)

    She turned to the far end of the store and shouted.

    Lady Guard: Ano, pwede na ba?? (What, can we?)

    At this time, I was really really irritated at how we are being treated. I was there just to buy a Php500+ worth of medicine.

    Lady Guard: O sige na! (Ok *in a very reluctant tone*)

    Me: Di bale na, ayos ang service nyo ah! (Never mind, you have some kind of a service!)

    And she proceeded to close the door fully.

    I really wanted to smack the lady guard's face, I was that pissed!

    Whoever wants to shop there, think again.

    From now on, I will be patronizing Watson's at SM Makati even if it's farther from my place of work.

    Does anybody know where I can raise this matter to?

    Wednesday, July 2, 2008

    Starbucks to close!?

    Starbucks Corp. has announced that it will be closing six hundred (SIX HUNDRED!?!?) underperforming stores in the United States.

    It also announced that it will opening less than two hundred new company-operated stores in the fiscal year 2009.

    Source here.

    Does this mean it's closing the six hundred then opening NEW two hundred stores? I just don't see the logic.

    In my opinion, even if some of the store are "underperforming", I don't think it's THAT underperforming. C'mon, are there any underperforming Starbucks branch? :D hehe

    Starbucks is my favorite and I would be sad if the Starbucks nearest me closes down. Not that I am in the US. :)

    What's your take on this?

    Tuesday, July 1, 2008

    Yipee!!!

    I spent last Sunday at Power Mac Center for the Aperture workshop conducted by the internationally multi-awarded Australian photographer Gunther Deichmann.

    The session started off with GD asking us to go around Greenbelt and take shots. We came back twenty minutes later and uploaded our shots to our laptops, then GD proceeded to teach us all these neat tips and tricks using Aperture, without ever leaving the application! Neat!

    I had a lot of fun, too bad I didn't get to take the photos I really wanted as they were A LOT of people milling around the mall. Can anybody say "landscape"? Hehe

    The session ended with us applying what we have learned to our photos and with GD going around rating our work.

    I was really happy with the result of my work, almost all of them got stars! Hehe I will post some of them here a bit later.

    As if the stars weren't enough, GD sent me an email with a link to his blog, and guess what, some of my shots were featured!!!

    Thank you for featuring my shots, and I hope to shoot with you soon. :)

    Featured 1

    Featured 2

    Group Pic!

    The attendees also got a free shirt, camera strap and and I Love Mac tattoo. :)

    Your best shots. Made even better.

    Power Mac Center camera strap

    My two "bodyguards" :)

    GD in action

    ;)

    GD and me


    Photo credits: Hermes Singson and me

    Girl Power Planner

    Yes, I am talking about the Belle De Jour power planner.

    Belle De Jour 2008 Power Planner

    Up till now, I am still very much in love with my planner. Literally everything I need is in there!

    It has a vacation planner which pretty much lays out what you have to consider:

  • the date and duration of your vacation
  • who you're going with
  • where you want to go
  • what you want to do during your vacation
  • your budget for the trip
  • where you finally decide to go
  • the weather / climate there
  • itinerary
  • transportation
  • where you are staying
  • things to bring.

    It also has a birthday list, a menstrual tracker (great idea!), expenses tracker (I am still afraid to use this), and most important tasks for each day.

    It makes your life a whole lot easier, not mention a whole lot more organized!

    For the clueless, the planner offers tips from beauty to finances and everything in between!

    Surprises every month in the form of 36 (yes THIRTY-SIX!) discounts and freebies coupons keeps me looking forward to the coming months where I can get to use them. Participating stores include all flip-flops, my most favorite store in the whole wide world :), Crustasia, Freeway, Kashieca, Celine, Flywear, Cupcakes by Sonja to name a few.

    tips and freebies

    Whenever I feel down,I always turn to the first page and read what's written there.

    by Thoreau

    Doesn't that inspire you? :)

    The girls behind Belle De Jour really knows how to take care of us by keeping us abreast of what they have in store for us every month. Check out their website to get the latest news and events.

    Chiso Havaianas are available at all flip-flops at 10% off courtesy of the discount coupon. Hmmm.....


    Photo credits: me

  • Monday, June 30, 2008

    Larger than Life Fred

    I saw something in Power Mac Center GB3 branch that made my chinky eyes go big and round.

    Fred 500XL Huge Earbud Computer Speakers

    A set of speakers that looked just like iPod earphones, only 500 times bigger! It is being marketed as desktop speakers but you can bring this with you on your trip. Bring it out when you need music and it instantly becomes a converstaion piece. Hook this up to your computer or MP3 player and enjoy great sounds.

    Side view

    A "Honey-I-blew-up-the-kid" version of the reliable earphones. Don't try and put this in your ear though. Haha

    Curious how it works?

    Fred in action

    Best of all, it is affordable! Available at Power Mac Centers.

    Need-to-know-info

    Now if only this comes in pink.. :d


    Photo credits: me

    Sunday, June 29, 2008

    Pink Webcam

    Someone, knowing my addiction for all things pink, gave me a PINK webcam (Thank you! :) ) for me to try. It's really small, just about 2 inches wide by an inch tall, and it has a clamp that makes it laptop and flatscreen compatible.

    Genius Webcam Eye

    I tried installing this in a MacBook but it wouldn't work. Maybe because MacBooks already have Built-in Eye Sights?

    Updates and sample shots after I install this in our Windows PC at home. :)

    Saturday, June 28, 2008

    Olay Total Effects Sample

    Olay is giving it out free 8g samples of their new Total Effects, and I claimed mine at SM Makati last night.

    Olay Total Effects sample cover

    I like the packaging. The color kind of reminds me of Pantene (click here to see what I mean), but it gave off a class and no-nonsense vibe.

     :-)

    Olay Total Effects 6g sample

    Not only did I get an 8g sample that is good for three days, I also got a P100 discount voucher.

    P100 discount voucher

    I'll be asking my dad to try this as he has dry skin, and because I am under a beauty regimen that I am reviewing. :)

    Check back for results!

    Photo credits: me

    Friday, June 27, 2008

    Puss in Boots

    Ankle high, mid-calf, knee high.

    Platform, chunky, stilettos.

    These are just some of the boot styles. I have been contemplating getting a pair of boots for the longest time.

    Here are some of the drool-worthy pairs I found.

    BCBGirls Karen Ankle Boots - $99.99

    Michael Antonio Dollar Ankle Boots Black - $14.99

    Michael Antonio Plenty Mid-Calf Boots - $39.99

    Wild Diva Moda14 Mid-Calf Boots - $19.99

    Go Max Havana03 Knee-High Boots - $37.99

    Go Max Tina14 Knee-High Boots - $9.99

    Bamboo Yamaha17 Knee-High Boots - $12.99

    See how cheap the prices are???

    I am getting myself some at CutesyGirl. Now I just have to choose which ones I really like. And that is a problem because I like all of them!

    See if you can resist. :)


    Photo credits: CutesyGirl

    Monday, June 23, 2008

    House Bunny

    House Bunny

    I saw the trailer on Apple.com.

    Synopsis:

    Anna Faris charms as Shelley Darlington, a Playboy Bunny who teaches an awkward sorority about the opposite sex – only to learn that what boys really like is what’s on the inside. Shelley is living a carefree life until a rival gets her tossed out of the Playboy Mansion. With nowhere to go, fate delivers her to the sorority girls from Zeta Alpha Zeta. Unless they can sign a new pledge class, the seven socially clueless women will lose their house to the scheming girls of Phi Iota Mu. In order to accomplish their goal, they need Shelley to teach them the ways of makeup and men; at the same time, Shelley needs some of what the Zetas have – a sense of individuality. The combination leads all the girls to learn how to stop pretending and start being themselves.

    Here are some screenshots to whet your appetite. :)

    House Bunny screenshot

    House Bunny Screenshot

    House Bunny screenshot

    House Bunny screenshot

    Watch the trailer.

    In theaters on August 22, 2008 (at least in the US :) ).

    I can't wait to watch this. :)


    Photo credits: Sony Pictures

    Sunday, June 15, 2008

    Palm Beach Resort

    My neighbor SU and I, together with her friends RM and SM, went to Batangas last weekend for a much-needed bout of relaxation.

    We decided on Palm Beach Resort because it is the only one with acceptable-to-SU's-standards (a really good basis for judgment) room available. Said resort located at Barrio Hugom, San Juan, Batangas near Laiya.

    Getting up at 5am to get ready is no easy feat, but the excitement of getting to be ONE with nature, particularly the beach, had me waking up with no repeated bout snoozing the alarm clock. SU and I drove to the South to SM's place and hitched in RM's car to Batangas.

    We had the map and directions printed out from Palm Beach's site to help us, but they need to update it as the Star Tollway now stretches up until Batangas City, not Lipa City as it originally did.

    We got to the Laiya stretch, lo and behold, they are starting to pave the dirt road! Hooray! Bad news is, lowered cars are still a no-no for this stretch. It is literally impossible for said rides to pass through the worse dirt road leading to Palm Beach and the downward slope from the hill to the resort itself.

    This is what the dirt road looked like

    We didn't get to take photos of the mountain-like dirt road and the downward slope leading to the resort as we had our mouths open in amazement and our fingers crossed the whole time.

    After five hours of travel (stopovers included), we finally arrived at the resort. The room assigned to us is simply divine! It can fit up to six people, with two on each bed, one on the sofa, and one on the pullout underneath the sofa. Mind you, even I, a 5'9er, can fit on the sofa comfortably.

    View from the room

    Two king-sized beds

    Sofa with pullout

    Here are some of the shots around the resort.

    Casita

    Helpful signs

    The casa at night

    I fell in love with the beach, but the click-happy me willingly gave up swimming and tanning (reason here) in favor of capturing the landscape.

    Beach

    Nice view

    Sunset

    I will definitely go back to Palm Beach as I find their accommodations above my expected standards, but only when we are in SUV's.

    Super thanks to RM who agreed to let SU and me hitch so I can leave my a-bit-lowered car in Manila.


    Photo Credits: me

    Friday, June 13, 2008

    Beauty is Skin Deep

    Hi, I am S, and I am a sun worshipper.

    Or at least I used to be a sun worshipper.

    I TEMPORARILY (sorry I'm not ready to put a permanent closure on my tanning opportunities) abandoned my quest for golden caramel skin when my boyfriend, who shall be named CF, sweetly informed me he likes my fair-skinned look better than my tan.

    For as long as I can remember, I have always brought tanning lotions with me to the beach while the rest of my friends brought sunblocks with the highest SPF's. Sometimes, I even forgo the tanning lotion just for the sake of getting the most out of the sun. Bad, I know.

    The last time I went to the beach, the obedient me packed a bottle of sunblock with SPF75, a que horror accessory in my tanning days. I didn't get to use it though since I skipped the swimming part in favor of shooting landscape and portraits.

    Bottom line, do guys like Snow-Whites or Sun Goddesses?

    Fair vs Tanned

    I would appreciate you dropping some of your inputs.


    Photo credits: Picasaweb, Shisheido