Monday, September 2, 2013

Kaya Spread from Toast Box

While everyone is going crazy over Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter and Ovomaltine, I am enjoying my own jar of Kaya Spread from Toast Box. I bought it from Toast Box, Greenbelt 5 for only P135.00.



 If you're not familiar with 'kaya', it's the Malaysian version of our coco jam and it's popular in Singapore. While I enjoy coco jam with plain hot pandesal, I enjoy my kaya spread with toasted wheat bread and butter. (Forgive my slightly burnt toast. I like it really crunchy).




To complete my Singapore-inspired breakfast, I combine it with a hot cup of Gold Roast Teh Tarik (milk tea) which a close friend got me from SG.


If you find coco jam too sweet, then you will surely love kaya. You could also pair it up with brewed coffee or hot choco. Visit your nearest Toastbox branch while they still have supply =)

Friday, August 30, 2013

Brow Lounge

One of the pains of having thick brows is keeping it groomed. I used to think that the stray hairs would be unnoticeable, but after some time I realized having tidy brows makes my face look fresh and neat. I usually have my hair removal sessions at Laybare but I decided to try Brow Lounge at Robinsons Magnolia for a change. I had the Brow Tidy (maintaining shaped brows by removing excess brow hair using a combination of threading, trimming and tweezing) for P180


They had a common room for all eyebrow-related services and was assisted later on into a private room for half-leg waxing (P300).
 
What I liked about the service:
1. The technician clearly explained some issues involving my brows. She pointed out a part of my brow that I had to grow out to make it even.
2. They use 100% anti-microbial thread and not the ordinary sewing thread.
3. For the waxing, they used hot wax which was less messy and took shorter time and less pain compared to cold wax.
4. No long lines.
5. The place had nice interiors and was very clean.
 
They also offer other services such as brow tinting, and lash extensions. Check their full list of services and prices here.


While their eyebrow 'cleaning' service is slightly more expensive than that of Laybare's, I think it was worth it. Overall, it was a good experience and I would definitely visit again.

Visit The Brow Lounge
2/F Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; Tel. No. 403-5803
3/F Robinsons Magnolia Town Center,  Quezon City; Tel. No. 625-4301
Lower ground floor,  The Annex, SM City North Edsa, Quezon City; Tel No. 352-0343
4th Floor, Robinsons Magnolia  

Monday, August 19, 2013

Room 512

 
     After 7 months of being in the hospital along with a series of dialysis, infections, sores and blood transfusions, I don’t know if I should be relieved that all your pain has ended or to dread that we wouldn’t be with you anymore. Upon hearing the news at around 8 am last Thursday, I was still hopeful that it was just a false alarm and that the meds could still do their job. I don’t know if it was a selfish hope to prolong your life but I have always carried that optimism that one day we could bring you home. All of that wishful thinking faded the minute I had a last glimpse of you wrapped in white, without your usual blushing cheeks. and I realized the time has come.
     I wasn’t there when you breathed your last but there’s a picture in my mind on how it happened. A beautiful lady wrapped you in her arms as you were carried away by beings with faces so pure and together you rose up to the light. That day, August 15, 2013, was the feast of the Assumption, the day the blessed Mary went up to heaven and on that day, she brought a faithful servant.
     When we bid you goodbye last Sunday, heaven was also crying with us. The last mass, taught us all a very valuable lesson in life: that we all die when we start loving. The moment we love another, the concept of self-centeredness dies because a person loving lives for another. We all know you were in so much pain yet you never complained. We know it was your love for us that kept you fighting. Thank you lola for showing us what true love meant. Thank you for instilling in us the importance of values and family. It hurts that we can no longer stroke your golden white hair and touch your rosy cheeks, nor smell your baby-like scent nor hug you or kiss you, but we all know you need to rest. We know you're perfectly happy right now, free from all pain and sorrow and finally reuniting with lolo. Please watch over us from up there. Please always guide us and protect us. Every time we will miss you, we'll look up to the skies, close our eyes, and put our hands near our hearts; because that's where you are and where you'll always be.
    
     Goodbye for now our dear lola. We love you so much.
 
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15

Friday, July 19, 2013

Alonso Mateo: The Swaggest Kid

Do you know Alonso Mateo? Sounds like a hunk model right? But he’s not. He is just a 5-year old boy who is making his name in the Instagram world. While regular kids wear jerseys, stained shirts, or jumpers, this kid is already wearing Dior, Tom Ford, Gucci and All Saints. He's the youngest fashion icon being followed by 30,000 followers. His fame began when his mother, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, a free-lance stylist, started posting photos of his looks on her own account.
The below photos are my favorite looks from his Instagram







I'm amazed that in a young age, he already has a keen eye for good style while most boys are still busy being a kid. He makes the word 'stylish' look so easy and effortless. I noticed that he poses like a pro and he was born to strut! His funny faces, smirks, pouts and his big smiles will always make you see the essence of him being a kid making him even more adorable.
 Move over JT, Ryan Gosling, Biebs, Zac Efron and David Beckham. 
I think someone's bagging the awards for best dressed male and style icon of the year =)

Photos are from his instagram account. Discovgraphies creates no claim or credit for images featured on this post unless otherwise noted. 
All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. If you own rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear here, please contact me and they will be promptly removed.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Tattooed in my Mind

I posted this pic in FB a long long time ago captioned "inked". It was literally ink because it was from a free stamp from Jollibee bwahaha.


I also had a henna tattoo from my 2009 Boracay trip.


And that's it. No real ink on me. I'm not really a fan of tattoos but I don't disdain it either. In fact, I already have some possible designs in mind. I also admire a lot of jaw-dropping ones and even watched several episodes of Best Ink. Besides the fact that I'm scared of needles, I just don't have the guts to do it. I also know that I have a fickle mind and erasing it is not that simple. I'm scared of how painful and permanent it would be and I believe a lot of people have that fear too. With that, I'm sure you're going to love Tattly - a shop that designs temporary tattoos created by Tina Roth Eisenberg, the brilliant mind behind one of my favorite blogs Swissmiss.
 
Here are some of my favorites.

I would place Be Happy by Lila Symons on the outer side of my arm -- a reminder for others to smile.


A pop of color on my nape would be fun - Rainbow by Jessi Arrington

A reminder that it's time to PARTY! - Party Watch by Julia Rothman
 
Isn't this fun? It's not just for kids, but for the kids-at-heart too =)
You get to change it once you're tired of it and there's zero pain.

Click here if you want to see more.

Do you dig it or you're in for the real thing? Share your experience or your dream tatts with me =)

Discovgraphies creates no claim or credit for images featured on this post unless otherwise noted. 
All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners and I have made every effort to link back to the original content whenever possible. If you own rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear here, please contact me and they will be promptly removed.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Do you carry a jotter?

I know it’s a petty and childish topic but I just wanted to know if I’m the only adult left in this world who still carries a jotter. Am I alone? Being in the digital world, I know most people have already thrown their notebooks and journals and switched to tablets and smartphones – but not me. Yes I’m still stuck with the classic pen and paper combo to write anything that comes to my mind. For some reason writing helps me to remember things more.
 
So what’s inside my jotter?
 
  • Nice songs I hear from the radio. It's nice if it would make me dance and/or sing. (Since I wouldn’t immediately know the title and artist, I would write bits of the lyrics then Google it later)
  • Interesting and Inspiring blogs that I come across. (As you all know a blog could lead to another blog and another blog and ...)
  • A good quote or a joke. (There are just some quotes that hits you hard and there are quotes that make me say " THAT'S SO TRUE!". Funny quotes come in handy as ice breakers.
  • Possible blog topics (Moments when the light bulb appears above my head "TING!")
  • Shopping List and Wish Lists. (Things that I should buy including stuff that I want to buy but could not)
  • Phone numbers and emails  (not of cute guys but of friends and business contacts)
  • Some reminders (update blog, edit this, do that)
  • Places I would like to visit one day. (dreams... dreams... dreams)
  • Expenses (To avoid my usual question "Where did my money go?")
  • Sale announcements. (I'm a thrifty queen)
  • Tips (how to lose that belly fat, yoga positions, what to drink to improve digestion, remedies etc)
  • Book Titles (I'm not a librarian. You know why.)
  • What I remember about a previous dream (There are times when I still remember bits and pieces from my dream then after a few seconds my mind automatically goes Select All + Delete)
  • Simple recipes (I don't cook but I would like to learn how to)
Here are some awesome jotters that would suit each personality:

For artists and nature-lovers
1. Journal pocket notebook from Maotu from Etsy
 
2. Owl pocket notebook from PaperTuli from Etsy

For the kikay, and fashionistas

3. Jordi Labanda notebooks

For the writers and those who love classics.
I think this is the most used jotter. Moleskine now has smaller versions which are more handy. A lot of people now use this as a jotter instead of a formal journal. Speaking of, I can't help but admire Mike Rohde's notes and Kouji Hayateno’s analog blog. Check them out! I was also pretty amazed by the idea of an analog blog.

As they say, change is always a good thing -- but not for my jotter. Call me old-fashioned but I'm keeping it. Besides, where's the fun in typing your random ramblings? Writing it down makes it more personal and makes it more you. The doodles and handwriting can't be captured by our gadgets.

If you're planning to get one, there are nice, adorable and affordable jotter notebooks at your favorite bookstore, at Landmark, and at Saizen. If you already have one, I hope you could share with us what's inside yours =) Get a jotter and capture your ideas now. It would be fun I promise.
Who knows? Your next idea could change the world!

Have a great week ahead! =)

Monday, July 1, 2013

Shopaholic's Cheat Sheet

Half of the year is over. It only means a lot of shops will be having their semi-annual or end of season sale. Yey for shopaholics! My FB feed is loaded with Sale Alerts and a lot of blogs that I've been following have been posting sale announcements. To make it easier for my dear shopaholic friends and readers (if there's any) here's a compiled list shops on sale that you could and should check out =P


-->
shopper.gifGirbaud - until July 14, 2013
Regatta - until July 31, 2013
MUJI - until July 31, 2013
GAP - until July 25, 2013
Charles and Keith - until July 21, 2013
True Value Sale - until July 31, 2013
SM Dept Store Clearance - until July 7, 2013
Topman, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins - until July 28, 2013
Forever 21 - until July 14, 2013
SM Megamall - until July 7, 2013
Zara - until July 26, 2013
Promod - until July 31, 2013 (except SM North Edsa)
Marks and Spencer's - until July 17, 2013
PUMA - until July 15, 2013
Greenbelt Sale - until July 14, 2013
Debenhams - until August 1, 2013
Yishion - until July 21, 2013
La Senza - until July 31, 2013
Original Penguin - until July 31, 2013
Unica Hija - until July 31, 2013
Mothercare - until July 31, 2013
SuperSale Bazaar at World Trade Center: July 12-14, 2013
Big & Small Company/ Orange Juice, Spin - until July 31, 2013
Miss Selfridge - until July 28, 2013
SM Mall of Asia End of Season Sale - until July 7, 2013
Trinoma Stylephile - until July 7, 2013
SM City North Edsa End of Season Sale - until July 7, 2013
Wade Shoes & Accessories - until July 21, 2013
Mango, H.E. by Mango - until July 31, 2013
So! FAB Sale - until July 31, 2013
CMG - until July 31, 2013
Tomato - July 15, 2013
Payless Shoesource - until July 13, 2013
The Ramp Crossings & Crossings Home - until July 21, 2013
Gourdo's, Living Well, Sleepcare - until July 31, 2013
Mossimo - until July 21, 2013
Aloha Boardsports South Swell Sale - until July 31, 2013
I'm Shoe in Love Year 3 - July 20 and July 21, 2013
Howards Storage - N/A
Banana Republic - until July 31, 2013
Metro Department Store - July 5-31, 2013
Compiled from different sources:
Official Facebook Page of the Stores Mentioned
manilaonsale.com
manilashopper.com

Disclaimer: up to 10-70% off on selected items depending on store and specified dates may not be 100% accurate. 
HAPPY SHOPPING! =)