AFFORDABLE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA

What type of presents do you want to receive this holiday season? Personally for me, I wanted something that I can use. It doesn’t matter if it’s low-priced or high end, as long as I can make use of it – I’m GOOD!!

Since Christmas is just around the corner and most of you are still doing that last minute shopping, I wanted to share with you a super affordable gift idea you can give to your GIRL friends! (Yes, For Girls Only)

Maybelline Starter Pouch

Included in the box is a Maybelline Clear Smooth All in One Shine Free Cake Powder, Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm and a Make-up Pouch – all for a super affordable price of 299.99pesos.

Not only it is reasonable, it is readily available too in all Watsons and leading Malls in the Philippines.

I’m pretty sure that your female friends will love this – because I did!

Body Shop's ATLAS MOUNTAIN ROSE

I love the smell of roses – and what better way to incorporate it in my life by using a perfume of its kind!!!

The Body Shop Atlas Mountain Rose provides timeless, refreshing blend of citruses, rose, musk and amber. This new scent actually replaced the Moroccan Rose collection. (If you’re familiar with that)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Escape to the valley of roses. Inspired by dawn in a field of blossoming roses, this bright, dewy eau de toilette from our Scents of the World fragrance collection features a blend of floral accords.

I got the Eau De’Toilette since this kind has a longer staying power than the body mist.

It comes in a very sleek, glass packaging adorned with rose design in pink. 

It contains 50ml of product / 1.69 US Fl Oz.

It retails for 1,395 Pesos.

I would say that the staying power is around 8-10 hours, which is already pretty decent. You can actually 

layer it with other Atlas Mountain Rose products to achieve a super long lasting effect.

The smell is AMAZING! The rose scent is very light – not overpowering but still very distinct.

Will I repurchase? DEFINITELY! I just hope that Body Shop won’t discontinue this line since they have this habit of changing their products all the time. 

BEAUTY: My Eyebrow Routine

Hello December! I know that for the past 2 months, I haven’t been consistently writing in my blog. I have so many ideas but so little time. WHHHHYYYY???

Anyways, this post was requested by a friend – so here it goes.

Like what I’ve said in my previous post (read here), one of my addictions is my brows. I just can’t leave the house without doing this routine and I would love to share it with you.

Currently, I had my hair colored lighter than normal so my brow color should follow as well, thus changing some steps on doing it.

TOOLS

Tweezers – to remove excess hair and to shape your brows to your desired shape.

Brow Powder – use any type of brow powder or even a matte eye shadow will do. I will be using a matte eye shadow since my brow powder is already too dark for my hair. (magmumukha akong aswang kung light brown ang hair ko tas black ang eyebrow ko LOL)

Note: I never used pencil for my brows – EVER. I feel that it looks so strong and so fake since you can see the harsh outline.

Brow Gel – to color the eyebrow hair and to set it in place.

Angled Brush & Spoolie – use any brand of your choice. You need this tool to apply the product and brush the hair.

STEPS

See my brows?  It is very BLACK in color and ugly. I’m trying to grow it since it is so thin.

Remove any *nagkalat na hair* around your brows using your tweezer. Mine already has a shape; I just need to clean the surrounding area.

 

Outline. I use a darker color to create an outline of the shape that I want.

I prefer thicker brows since it makes you look younger.

Fill in the brows. I use a lighter shade to fill in the brows. Brush it using a spoolie to make it look more natural and to remove excess colors from the powder.

Apply Brow Gel. Can you see my original brow color? It is very dark and it looks so obvious that I just lined it.

I am currently using ELF’s Treat and Tame in the color Light. It has hair-like fibers that make the appearance of brows more natural. AMAZING! After applying the gel, your brows will instantly look very real looking.

Can you see the difference between the bare brow and the fixed one? 

FINISH PRODUCT! Voila! Perfect Brows Everytime!

*My brow routine changes from time to time. It depends on my hair color as well as my mood.

*The things listed above are only for this look. I do use other tools and makeup as well for my brows.

FOOD POST: WHAM BURGERS

I consider myself more of a Pizza lover than a burger lover. But who doesn't like to have a nice serving of burger once in awhile, right?

Monster and I stumbled upon Wham Burgers while looking for a place to have a quick bite. Their posters look appetizing. And like what Andrew Zimmern use to say – “If it looks good, eat it!”

I ordered Wham Burger with Cheese. (160pesos)

Signature 1/3 pound pure beef patty topped with ketchup, mustard, lettuce and tomato.

I asked the lady to cook it to medium only. JinLovestoEat said - If you want a well done burger, go to Burger Machine. HaHa!

The burger was nice but I had better.

Monster ordered Premium Chicken Sandwich (155pesos).

Crunchy fried chicken on a brioche bun with lettuce and mayonnaise.

Sad to say, the chicken was overcooked, dry and tasteless. One of the worst chicken burgers I had tasted.

Potato Wedges (70 pesos). Forgettable. 

For drinks, we just ordered Iced Tea – which as usual, was just the powdered one. 

OVERALL

We ate here around 5 pm and the place was empty. Not half empty, but empty. (Not a good sign at all). Even the drinks display is empty. (Refer to the first photo)

Price is reasonable. Food is just OK.  It is nice but we definitely had better.

The only good thing I can say is that they don’t use MSG.

Maybe it’s just this branch? I don’t know! I have seen some reviews about this and it looks pretty good.

What do you guys think? Let me know!

Ground Floor, North Wing, 

Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City

BEAUTY: IN2IT LINE DEFINE MATTE EYELINER

My love for liquid eyeliners began in 2010. The very first one I bought was from E.L.F. It was love at first site! I already lost count of how many times I repurchased the product. I started trying out different brands as well, local and high end but I kept coming back to E.L.F.

Recently, I noticed that they (might have) changed the formulation because it smudges a lot, not that pigmented anymore and it fades immediately after a few hours.

My eyelids are very oily so I need something that won’t smudge and won’t give me that double eyeliner look in the middle of the day.

So, low and behold. I introduce you to IN2IT’s line define – matte liquid eyeliner.

I got the line define MATTE version. I believe they have a shiny version as well.

packaging is very simple

fine tip brush applicator to create that perfect wing

PRODUCT CLAIMS

• Dries in 60 seconds to a matte finish
• Easy to remove with peel off formula
• Long wearing
• No  smudging
• No bleeding
• Nylon hair brush applicator

-         

PRICE 239.75 Pesos

OVERALL

               

First off, I already threw the box that’s why I don’t have the complete product details, but I know it has around 3.5 g of product. I’m not sure how much is that in ml.

It is really true to its claims. First, it does dry fast. It actually dries after 10-15 seconds after application. It is indeed long wearing. It fades off a little after 6-7 hours but I think that’s just normal and 6 hours is not that bad at all. It is smudge proof, but not waterproof like what it says in the packaging. It didn’t bleed or gave me that double eyeliner look which is TOTALLY AWESOME, if you know what I mean. The color payoff is AMAZING. And lastly, the hair brush applicator is a plus for me. I don’t like felt tip because it is so hard to work with and the tip gets dull after sometime.

It is pricier than my E.L.F one, but absolutely worth every penny. I just can’t stand the constant checking of smudging and wiping my eyelids with E.L.F.

I think this is an amazing product from IN2IT and I will definitely repurchase. I am sad to say that my love affair with E.L.F already ended.

FOOD POST: Flavours of China Revisited

I’m back!!! I know I haven’t been diligent lately in updating my posts, and I have tons of backlogs already. I’ve been crazy busy the past month preparing for my upcoming Thailand trip (which of course I'm gonna blog about) and I just was not able to find time.

As usual, this is going to be a food post – BUT – moving forward, I’ll also be posting products I purchased and so on.

Flavours of China! This is my go to restaurant every time I am in SM Sucat , just because this is the only decent place they have (aside from Classic Savory). The service is fast, the price is cheap, and the food is GOOD.

The complimentary crackers with the same bland vinegar.

Yang Chow Fried Rice! Always a must! (110pesos)

Lumpiang Shanghai. Forgettable. (155pesos)

Buttered Chicken. Crunchy and Tasty. (220pesos)

 

There is nothing fancy about this meal. It is comfort food for me. Everything was seasoned well except for that vinegar! Damn, I hate that vinegar HAHA!

Flavours of China

Ground Floor, SM Sucat Annex

FOOD POST: Persia Grill

Persian food is among the healthiest type of cooking in whole world...from only using genuine spices, absence of preservatives and artificial flavorings to using mainly grilling as a form of cooking. In this mantra Persia Grill was born! Serving food that honors the natural taste of the cuisine and only using the finest ingredients was the top priority, sacrificing commercialism and focusing on personalized services. (Information from Persia Grill Website) http://www.persiagrill.com.ph/

Do not confuse Persian food to Arabic or Indian cuisine. All are totally different to each other.  As what the Persia Grill website said, it is healthier. Persian Food is also less oily and less spicy. Although you may find some similarities, again – it is totally different.

Enough of the introduction, let’s proceed with the place and the food. Persia Grill ambiance is very comfy and not intimidating – HOMEY would be the perfect term. The place is small – probably can seat a max of 30.

First up is appetizer. Hummus (120pesos) served with pita bread. Hummus is basically a dip made of mashed chickpeas, olive oil and Persian spices.

Their Hummus is a bit weak for my taste, but still good. Bread is warm and soft. (The one is Behrouz is more properly seasoned in my opinion).

Whole Wheat Pita (30pesos). Pita bread made from wheat flour rather than normal flour.

One thing I like about this is that it doesn’t get tough. Most pita breads get tough after a few minutes or once exposed to air, but this one stayed soft. I dipped it in yogurt and their SUPERB Shawarma Sauce – which I’ll talk about in a while.

Chicken Biryani (335pesos). A blend of different herbs slow cooked to make the chicken tender and combining the Biryani rice topped with caramelized onions, served with Biryani sauce and side salad.

For me the Chicken Biryani is good – in Persian style. The flavor is very delicate. The chicken is so tender – almost fall of the bone and very flavorful. YUMMERS! I also like the vegetable side dish, the yogurt -which I almost lick from the cup (I know it’s gross) and the Biryani sauce to pour over your rice. My hubby didn’t like it though, probably because he is used to Indian Biryani – which is spicier and bolder in terms of seasoning and flavor.

The serving is just good for one, which is sad, OR maybe 2 - if you’re anorexic. HAHA.

Beef Shawarma (85pesos). What more can I say, it is a typical Shawarma with meat and vegetable wrapped in bread.

The beef is tasty, but is too done for me. It’s almost on the verge of being overcooked. What I love is the garlic sauce. It totally made the shawarma better. The garlic sauce is PERFECT. Properly seasoned and has the right consistency – not runny like water and not thick like a mayo. I just have no words to describe it. 

It is one of the tastiest garlic/white/shawarma sauces I’ve had.

For drinks, I got the house blend ice tea for 50pesos.

Total food bill is 620 + Service Charge of 49.60 = 669.60 Pesos  for 2.

OVERALL

I REALLY ENJOYED EVERY ASPECT OF MY DINING EXPERIENCE – place, staffs, price and food. Well, food still needs improvement. They can still improve the taste of the food from good to great. I also wish that instead of serving mediocre desserts like chocolate cake and leche flan (which I didn’t bother ordering), that they serve Persian desserts also like Bastani or Persian Halva. Nevertheless, the experience was good and I’ll definitely come back. 

Ground Floor, Blue Sapphire Building, 

2nd Avenue Corner 30th Street, 

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Open 24 Hours

FOOD POST: Xin Wang Hongkong Cafe

 

We went to SM Mall of Asia for a quick lunch not knowing that they are currently having a 3 DAY SALE, making almost all food establishments jam packed.

I know a place that is not too familiar and hoping that the place is not as occupied as the others, and 

VOILA! Only a few are dining and there’s a lot of room for me and chaka (my hubby).

I’ve been here only once and since their menu is so vast (and I’m already starving and I don’t want to waste any time looking and deciding within their menu), I opted in ordering the most familiar and for him, the safest.

Black Pepper Chicken with Fries (225pesos)

The chicken was tender and flavorful on its own. The gravy is just ok. It is not spicy at all and very salty (I think it is soy based and just loaded with lots of pepper, hence the name). The beans are just the ordinary pork and beans in a can, sunny side up lacks flavor and overcooked. The French fries is crispy but bland.

Cheese Baked Rice with Fish Fillet (245pesos)

For me, this is a must try. The fish fillet blended well with the tomato based sauce mixed underneath the generous topping of melted cheese. It is like a comfort food – Singaporean/Chinese style.

I like this but it has an UMAY factor because it is very oily.

Yang Zhou Fried Rice (200pesos)

Now this, I can’t even explain. It tasted horrible. I was wondering if fried rice in Singapore – Macau – Hongkong tastes like this, or is it supposed to be like this? I have no Idea.

The rice looks fluffy but in reality it is very sticky, almost the same consistency with a nearly spoiled rice.

It is also very bland compare to the other Chinese fried rice I’ve tasted. Chowking’s Chao Fan is much, much better than this. (and take note , hate ko ang food sa Chowking)

Iced Peach Tea (70pesos)

This is YUM. My taste buds scream HAPPINESS every time I take a sip of this lovely concoction.  I love that it also has sliced peaches inside the drink, thus the presence of the spoon so you can get it and eat it.

Our total bill is 735pesos for 2.

OVERALL

I have mixed feelings regarding this place. Some are nice and some just went wrong. According to my research, their food is a mix of Singaporean, Hongkong, and Chinese influence – with a Western twist for the modern generation of those places.

First would be the service and ambiance. For that I will give it a 2 Thumbs up. I like the minimalist look of the place. The interiors will really make you feel that you are dining in Singapore / Hongkong. The servers are attentive and very courteous.  The place is also very clean.

Second would be the food. The food arrived very quickly (like in 5 minutes), making you wonder – Are they just reheating the food? I was thinking if they already have a pre cooked food and once the order comes, they will plate it and serve? If that is the case, it should be tagged as a fast food joint rather than a restaurant.

Anyways, some of the food I’ve tasted even from my previous visit is pretty good. I just really hated the rice now and how ordinary the sauce and side dishes of the chicken are.  One thing I would like to blame also for the inconsistent and bad food is the gigantic variation of food in the menu. It’s just so many and very confusing. Food variation is a good thing, but only in moderation. If you will look them up in Zomato, their menu is 17 pages long (SCREAMING 17 PAGE), and that is not all, some items are still missing from there.

I will still go back to try their bestsellers like the bamboo rice and their noodle selection. I mean, it’s not that bad, maybe I just ordered the wrong dish or maybe my palate is just hard to please. J

Rating: 6/10

Read other food bloggers review here and here.

Xin Wang Hongkong Cafe
Ground Floor, North Wing
Mall of Asia

FOOD POST: Flavours of China

 

It was a sizzling Saturday afternoon and our stomachs are asking for anything Chinese, and the only one existing in SM Sucat is Flavours of China. So Flavours of China it is. 

(And YES, FlavoUrs is spelled with a U)

While waiting for our food, the server gave us these complimentary crackers. It came with some bland vinegar, but who am I to protest. It’s FREE.

Shrimp Crackers for FREE

First up is this Steamed Sharksfin Dumpling. It is not actually made of sharks fin (duh), but is rather filled with generous amount of pork and shrimp. I find that the wrapper is too yellow-ish (don’t you think?) but texture wise, it is good. I like my wrapper thick and a little chewy. I suggest eating it right away or else it will go from chewy to bubblegum rubbery.

Steamed Sharksfin Dumplings (98pesos)

Yang Chow Fried Rice.  This can be eaten by itself with some chili sauce. It is fluffy and savory. My hubby LIKES this, a LOT!

Yang Chow Fried Rice (110pesos/good for 2-3)

Szechuan Chicken.  I am a bit hesitant to get this because my perception is that, it is a fried chicken smothered in chili sauce with loads of butter. But I am wrong. I was delighted with this dish. It has the perfect blend of crispy, spicy, juicy, salty and oh so yummy flavors. You can’t beat the price also.

Szechuan Chicken (220pesos)

For drinks, we just got refillable (powdered) iced tea that we had refilled for a couple of times (sinulit lang namin hehe).

OVERALL

Flavours of China is a straight to the point restaurant that serves good food for a good price. It favors the Filipino palate by creating a fusion between Chinese and Filipino cuisine. I won’t say that the food is authentic; rather the food will give you a glimpse of what Chinese cuisine is about.

NOTE: If you are looking for AUTHENTIC Chinese-Cantonese Food, you can try Gloria Maris.

Flavours of China

Ground Floor, SM Sucat Annex