Tomorrow is Mothers Day

...have you decided where to celebrate Mothers Day tomorrow?


Max's Restaurant is our favorite restaurant and it was awesome that they now have the Kare-Kare 4 Sharing Meal! I really love the 4 Sharing Meals - basically because we are a family of four, and having a satisfying meal for less than 1 thousand pesos is a very great way to spend hard-earned money.

Included in this meal is - Kare-Kare, one whole Max's Fried Chicken, 4 cups of rice, and 4 glasses of drinks. It's only p899, and it is already enough to make us full and come out of the restaurant as happy foodies. It's available until June 23, so if we can't dine there on Mothers Day, we might dine there on sister's birthday.


By the way, since tomorrow is Mothers Day, Max's Restaurant is giving away free The Body Shop soap (choose between Olive, Strawberry or Moringa) for every p1500 food purchase, single receipt - available for you dine in, take out, or delivery. This is only available until tomorrow (May 12), but you can still claim your free treat 60 days after that, so please keep your receipt (purchase has to be made on days between May 10 and 12 to be qualified).

These treats are available in all Max's Restaurant branches nationwide, so if you still haven't decided where to take your mom (or your lola or aunt) this Mothers Day, why not treat her at Max's Restaurant?

More more information about this treat and to keep updated, please check out Max's Restaurant website - www.maxschicken.com - or like their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant.

Etude House Milk Talk (Choco)

My sister Jessie and I love Etude House. Whenever we would visit the store to buy the usual products - the BB Cream and Eyeliner for her, Nail Polish for me - we always make sure we buy at least p500 worth so we could have a freebie. Actually, it was through this freebies that we get to try other Etude House products, which prompts us to buy these products on our next visit (that happened with the Baking Powder facial wash).

I'm wearing Etude House nail polish, if you wanna know. :)

One shopping day, when sister decided to buy the big tube of the Baking Powder facial wash, we were a bit sad that the store crew was about to put in a little sample pack of the same product. My sister expressed her sadness, and they decided to change the freebie and gave us this.

Now, because we were at the store when this was given, we knew that this is a shower gel. However, if I am to receive this from my sister as a gift (or if I would give this to someone), I surely won't know what this is, because it doesn't have any indications what the product is. Given it's light brown color and the yummy image, I would really mistake this for a food!


The back side of the product didn't have any English translation, too, giving more confusion. Overall, this is my main complaint about Etude House products.

But like what I have said, my sister and I love Etude House products because all the products we've used were so good that we have our full trust on their company. As for this shower gel... it really smelled like chocolate - but not the sweet type, it smelled a little of bittersweet chocolate, like cocoa. The product in this little pack wasn't much, enough for my palm to "hold" it, but I used it like I always use my shower gel - diluted in some water (using a dipper). It produced a good amount of suds, and it smells so good!

After the shower, it leaves a subtle chocolate-y scent on the skin, but maybe because I didn't get to use that much, the scent faded after a few hours. Still, if you wanna smell good, you might wanna try this one out.

Would we repurchase? Maybe. I do loved it, but I am not a big shower gel user (I still go for the old-fashioned soap), so I still am not sure.

This Weekend, I...

Emotions start to pick up this weekend, but there were still moments I felt quite low, which wasn't so bad. I am ready to face another full week of helping myself get fit, and I need to help myself recover from this low feeling. I think watching a few episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (season 8) helped. :)

This weekend, I...


Enjoyed reading a few pages off "Double Cross" while eating breakfast. What's so sweet was that my ever cutesy cat jumped on the table to sniff on my cereal bowl, try to act silly by distracting me and scratching a bit on the book to grab my attention, but after a while he just stayed there, allowing me to do what I wanted to do.


I signed up on Goodreads to keep a list of the books I have read and currently reading. I know, I told bookish topics will be shared every Thursdays, but I am pretty sure I'd finish a book (or two) by Thursday, so I am showing this now.

I also know that I said I'll read the books I borrowed from my uncle (the James Patterson books), but when I go to bed, lights off... I still want to read until my eyes get tired, and I don't want to go re-read Fifty Shades for I already read "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Fifty Shades Darker" two times and if I read "Fifty Shades Freed," that would mean using precious time I could spend reading a new book, so I decided to start reading "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." I was able to finish 96 pages before I dozed off... and I think I am liking this book a lot.


I received and used a sample product. Many, many months ago (maybe even a year ago), I remembered seeing a post from HHN asking people to give their details if they want to be a part of the sampling team for new products. I actually have forgotten about that, until last Friday, when I received a call and an e-mail to ask if I still want to sample this particular product. I received the sample yesterday (Saturday) and I loved the product. Of course, I can't tell what the product is, but I am all raves and I am excited for this to come out in the market.


It rained today (very heavy rain), but yesterday was a very hot summer day, and I got to see the little yellow bird again! It was tricky to photograph the pretty critter because it moves after a few seconds, but even if I am not super duper satisfied with the pictures I've taken, it gives me hope and anticipation to see the bird again and attempt to get a pretty photograph.

This weekend, too, I did the laundry and updated my Aldiko Library. Lotsa books to read... making mom happy to know that I am enjoying using my phablet as an eBook reader. Speaking of mom, at the dinnertable while watching the replay of "American Idol," she suddenly said, "Oh, the curly hair guy from the previous American Idol is having a concert." That gave me a puzzled look because I didn't hear any of the previous contestants coming over for a concert (last one I heard was Jessica Sanchez with Colton Dixon concert last Valentine's Day), and after a few minutes of thinking, she blurted out, "Oh, Aerosmith! I know you like that guy... you gonna watch?" Wow, my mom knows I like Steven Tyler? Amazing! :) Well, I am not a very big fan of Aerosmith, but yes, I do like the band (their "Get a Grip" album was the very first cassette tape I bought with my own money in 1994), but because the ticket is way too expensive, I won't be watching the concert.

Yesterday, I ate two oranges - one after lunch, one after dinner, and my sister was so surprised about it. I don't eat that much fruits, but they bought quite a lot of oranges and apples... least I could do was help them eat the fruits. :) Well, the oranges tasted really good, maybe I'd put some on my salad tomorrow.

Smell Good with Fiona Cologne

I am such a cologne person.  I like that it allows me to smell good without having too much of an overpowering scent, and that I can splash or spritz on some cologne every now and then, which I can't do with perfumes. I don't have a favorite brand, but I do have a soft spot for fruity scents.


It was in 2009 when I first discovered Fiona Cologne. That time, I had to attend a meeting, but because I fear I might be late, I decided to run to get there in time. Thankfully, the meeting hasn't started yet, but the hot, humid weather made me a bit uncomfortable at how I smell like. I was a little shy to ask any of my friends if they have cologne or perfume, so I just went out to check the nearby pharmacy. I just needed something to make me smell good (not that I smell so bad, okay?), so I bought the Fiona Cologne "Raspberry Drops" in 25ml, which was only 13 pesos that time. For such a small price, I gained my confidence back.

I have had such raves about that small cologne. It did smell like raspberries and the scent wasn't so overpowering. I tried to look for the bigger bottles (if they have any), but the supermarket where we always do our grocery shopping doesn't carry the brand, so after I emptied that itty bitty bottle, it's either I take a trip to the pharmacy where I first bought it, or I'd just use a different one.

Last Saturday, I received an invitation to a special movie screening of Les Miserables, and in the event, Skintec also re-introduced Fiona Cologne, along with the launch of their newest product (which I will talk about next time).


Currently, there are seven scents:

> Cool Burst - A fruity sweet scent that captivates, with cucumber, melon, and musk.
> Raspberry Drops -  Wonderfully sweet, fruity blend of raspberry, white flowers, and white musk
> Bubbly Pink - A bubbly fruity-floral burst of cassia and peach


> Youthful Bliss - A nostalgic fragrance that's fruity with freesia, jasmine, and sandalwood
> Pretty Mist- Leaves skin lightly fragrant with the pretty and pure scent of flowers and strawberry
> Ice Glacier- A sensational mix of nectarine, green notes, and lavender
> Snow Breeze- A cool refreshing splash to revitalize your senses (not pictured)

Among the six scents I have tried, my favorites (aside from the obvious Raspberry Drops) are Bubbly Pink and Youthful Bliss. Actually, at first, I didn't like the smell of Youthful Bliss, but as I smell my wrist to check if the scent was still there, I started liking it. "Fiona" might be a girl's name, but the Ice Glacier scent can also be used by boys, guys, and men. :) I wonder if Snow Breeze also has that masculine scent.

Fiona Cologne uses top quality fragrance oils (the same kind used by worldwide brands). It takes pride that each of the variants last up to six to eight hours, making it one of the longest lasting fragrances in the Philippine cologne market. It is safe to use on babies and little girls, and is available in most supermarkets, sari-sari stores, and pharmacies.


Fliptop bottles carry different sizes - 25ml (15 pesos), 50ml (25 pesos), 75ml (35 pesos), 100ml (39 pesos). The 100ml bottle may be the best buy given the price range, but I suggest you also buy a bottle of the 25ml (aside from the100ml) so you can put it in your little kikay kit or purse - truly a space saver. I also like that this kind of bottle allows users to control the amount of cologne they want to use, but pouring the cologne on to the palms before applying it in different parts of the body can be a little difficult (especially on the back). Also, there will also be instances that one would pour a lot on the palms and that may cause a little problem, because of course, it would mean wasting precious liquid.


The spray bottle on the other hand is only available in 50ml (32.25 pesos). Personally, I prefer the spray bottle more than the fliptop because I can just spray and spray when I want to (no need to worry if the palms are quite dusty already). The 50ml bottle is just the right size for me, but I hope there will be 25ml spray bottle available, so it can fit my little kikay kit.

Aside from its awesome scents, I also love the shape of the bottles. It's slimmer at the upper half part of it, making it easier to grip when using the product.

Ease of use, affordability, and long lasting scents. I just love this product!

To know more about Fiona Cologne, please check their Facebook pages - facebook.com/FionaCologne (Twitter - @FionaCologne) and facebook.com/skintecphilippines (Twitter - @SkintecSocial).




PS - I just realized... it's nearly 4 years since I first used Fiona Cologne and there was only 2 pesos price increase? Wow!

Thank God It's Monday!

Yesterday was such a fun day for the family. Thirty five years ago, mom and dad vowed to love each other forever, and although dad only celebrated twenty nine years of it (he died in 2007), us four remaining members of the family see to it that we celebrate this day, even in the simplest manner.


For this year's celebration, we went to eat lunch at King Bee Chinese Food in Commonwealth. Mom filed a leave of absence to process some documents (she's retiring this year), and suggested we eat lunch at Little Quiapo, where they held their wedding reception. Personally, I am not much raving about their food, so I suggested we eat at King Bee instead, because I still haven't used the GC they gave me when I attended a blogging event at the restaurant. My mom loves to eat dimsum (she's super crazy about Siomai and Hakaw), and she hasn't tasted Siomai here, and I figured this might be a good chance for her to try it out. Thankfully, Jessie's shift at work changed and she was able to celebrate with us.

The family feasted on: Dimsum (Siomai, Hakaw, and Bird's Eye Siomai - which can be seen on the pictures above), Buttered Chicken, King Fish in Thai Sauce, and Pancit Guisado. All of the food served were delicious, but the one thing I loved the most about this food trip was how efficient their staff were. They were quick to attend to our needs, and they would refill our tea and water even if we don't ask them to.

After the lunch, brother accompanied mom to the office for the document processing. Jessie and I on the other hand went to the mall to walk, enjoy the day, and shop! Main item we were looking for is a nursing blouse, which our cousin is requesting for us to shop for her because she's breastfeeding and doesn't own any blouses she could use when going out with her baby. We weren't able to find one, so we just shopped for our personal needs/wants instead.


Jessie bought:

• Megan Hair Removal Cream - first time that I saw her buy something like this, we don't have thick, long hairs on our arms and legs, so this product she will use on her underarms, as she doesn't like using tweezers like I do and fears shaving makes her underarms darker.
• Colgate Optic White Toothpaste - she works at a restaurant dealing with people everyday, she has to have a good set of teeth. :)
• Petroleum Jelly - for her chapped lips.
• Off! Lotion - simply because there are a lot of mosquitoes at home recently.
• Caribbean Flip Flops (Red) - just because her last pair of rubber sandals is showing signs of retirement. 

I bought:

• Caribbean Flip Flops (Purple) - aside from nail polishes, I love buying flip flops every now and then. I intend to buy the purple with black straps, but Jessie said the one with clear straps looked much better.
• Nivea Intense Whitening Lotion - the cold weather makes my skin so dry, and because I tend to get dark rather easily,  I always go for the whitening kind. This is my second 50ml bottle.
• Vaseline Hand and Nail Cream - I am now blogging about my nail polishes and my hands need to be presentable for pictures, so I bought this.
• Human ♥ Nature Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner - Our neighbor who sells this product is always out of town lately, so when I saw this available at the mall, I knew I had to buy it because I just emptied my bottles of shampoo and conditioner.
• Sassy Colors Nail Polish Remover - for 28 pesos per 120ml bottle, this was the cheapest and the best nail polish remover I have used.
• Nail Polishes - I seldom go to TriNoma, so I made sure I bought enough to satisfy my budding addiction. While in SM MOA last Saturday, I saw some of the Bobbie Nail Polishes and was so tempted to buy bottles of their Holoprism Collection (at that time I saw 6 of 7 shades). Good thing I didn't buy it because while in TriNoma, I found out that they sell Bobbie Nail Polish for only 29.75 pesos, very cheap compared to the 36 pesos per bottle at Watson's SM MOA. I only bought 5 bottles - "Mudslide," "Margarita," "Mojito," "Mint Daquiri," and "Vodka on Ice" - because they don't have Weng Weng and I didn't know that Purple Passion was part of the collection (they named 99% of the collection to cocktail drinks, so it didn't occur to me that Purple Passion was part of it). I also bought Klik "Candy Pink," which looks a lot like the strawberry flavored Skittles. There were a lot of Klik nail polishes at that time, but I just refrained myself from buying because I might use up all of my money! Lastly, I also bought OMG (Oh My Golly) nail polishes. The last ones I bought were the Crystal Sand collection (I still don't have the Hematite though), and I wanted to try their creme nail polish so I bought four bottles - "Sunset," "Atlantis," "Happy Hour," and "Stiletto." 

Jessie used up all of her 500 pesos budget, while my purchased summed to a little over 800 pesos. I know I can be real thrifty, but there are times that I splurge as well. The Landmark Department Store in TriNoma sells a lot of nail stuff, and I am thinking of going back there to buy other nail polishes (I saw a brand called Elena and thought it looked pretty) and nail art supply - glitter and brushes. I am not going to divert into nail art as I seriously don't have the talent for it, but I think buying the brushes is much better than buying bottles of nail polishes with special brushes. Even if I am not going to pursue nail art, I know there will be times that I would want to re-create nail arts I've seen on blogs and YouTube, and these brushes will come in handy.