My 2016: Year in Review and Things I am Thankful For

In 2015 I went thru one of the hardest times of my life. Yes just one of the hardest, because in my 30 something years of existence, it wasn't the only event that shattered my life into pieces. Growing up I had my fair share of difficulties in almost all aspects of my life. But what doesn't kill you always makes you stronger right?

It took me some time to go thru the grieving process. I actually took my time and not hurriedly went thru every phase. And the aftermath is that I have come out of that road block renewed - stronger, stable, content and joyful. Yes not just happy, because happiness is based on events but joy is something deeper.

Beauty Tips for the Most Beautiful Smile

There is nothing more beautiful than a crystal-like smile that makes a person look young and healthy. However, in order to achieve this goal, you have to make an effort and follow these tips for proper oral care.  

Daily brush The essential rule of everyday oral care is regular teeth brushing. In order to keep your teeth healthy, you have to keep all the harmful bacteria out of your mouth and the best way to do this is by brushing your teeth at least twice a day – in the morning and in the evening. Aside from your teeth, you should clean your gums and tongue, since this way, you will eliminate bad breath easier. Furthermore, you should also pay attention to the brushing technique. You should use up-and-down movements along the outer surface, paying attention not to hurt your gums.

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77 Food Haven Kapitolyo - Xurreria

There's a new food park in Kapitolyo yet again.  But this time it's different food scene altogether. It's an old house (or shall I say mansion, judging by the size of the house) turned into a foodie heaven housing different kinds of food stalls. Food Haven 77 is a multi-concept indoor/alfresco resto-hub that houses over 20 unique and craving-worthy food and drinks stalls. Food Haven also has its own bar that serves local and imported beers and other spirits.

Food Haven 77 is the newest place to have your next food trip. 2-story full of stalls to choose from so you wont run out of choices.  It's actually the first food park that I visited that is fully-air conditioned. We visited this after having a boodle fight at Gerry's Jeepney which is just right across the street. 

77 Food Haven Kapitolyo - Cone Head

There's a new food park in Kapitolyo yet again.  But this time it's different food scene altogether. It's an old house (or shall I say mansion, judging by the size of the house) turned into a foodie heaven housing different kinds of food stalls. Food Haven 77 is a multi-concept indoor/alfresco resto-hub that houses over 20 unique and craving-worthy food and drinks stalls. Food Haven also has its own bar that serves local and imported beers and other spirits.

Food Haven 77 is the newest place to have your next food trip. 2-story full of stalls to choose from so you wont run out of choices.  It's actually the first food park that I visited that is fully-air conditioned. We visited this after having a boodle fight at Gerry's Jeepney which is just right across the street. 

Holiday Dressing with StyleWe

Christmas time is the busiest season of the year (well, besides summer of course). And for sure there's going to be a lot of parties and gatherings that will happen left and right and one after the other. And that requires for a girl like me to dress up, always ready for the close up or group shot.

Holiday dressing doesn't have to be too extravagant and too expensive. I, for a fact (would like to think) that have mastered the art of dressing well yet inexpensive. Why? Because I know where and when to shop for fashionable clothes. I am always on the look out for sales and promotions. Most often than not, when I browse an online clothing store and find something that I like, I don't go berserk and purchase an item right away, even though I like them way too much. I usually put them first on my wishlist cart and wait until they go on sale.

The Sunday Currently: Vol. 7

Today is Christmas Day! So before everything else, I want to greet everyone a Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays! Where ever you are in the world or whatever your belief is I'm wishing you all a season full of love, peace and prosperity, also that you are spending this holiday season with your loved ones! 

So I wasn't able to write the Volume 7 of my TSC series last Sunday because I attended our team's Christmas party in a hotel in Makati City which lasted until 6:00 in the morning. It was super fun and we got pretty drunk but definitely twas an event one for the books! And the following day, which was a Sunday, I woke up at noon, ate a quick late lunch and left my apartment to meet up with someone. I spent the rest of my Sunday and half of my Monday with that someone before that someone head back to that someone's home country. I was in mixed emotions, but in that moment that I got to spend that time with that someone, I know I am happy. That someone is one of the best things that happened to me this 2016. It was short but sweet and I am grateful. 

The Yard at Xavierville: Dip N Dough

Filipinos love to eat, that’s why the food industry here is steadily growing for years. Malls and town centers are rising up from the ground like mushrooms filled with both old and new restaurants. Also, I have noticed that after the success of Maginhawa, Lilac and Kapitolyo, a lot of food parks are springing around the metro. This is great because you can just go to one place, eat and try different kinds of food and cuisines to your heart’s content. Something new and a far cry from going to a single restaurant. Yeah, talk about food tripping! 

Just like this newly opened gastropark in QC: The Yard at Xavierville. The yard is a 3-floor food park built from steel shipping containers. The first and second levels contain the 30 vendors offering almost every type of food and cuisine you can think of – from appetizers, to mains, to drinks and desserts. At the third level is just an al-fresco dining area where customers can stay when the seats at the first and second floors are full. 

Gerry's Jeepney - Kapitolyo

In every country there will always be something unique about it. In the Philippines one of the "unique" things that you would encounter is the jeepney. They are known for their crowded seating and quirky decorations, which have become a undeniable symbol of Philippine culture and art.

This is a mode of public transportation which had its roots during the World War II. After the American troops left Philippines at the end of the war, hundreds of surplus Jeeps were sold or given to the Filipinos. The Jeeps were stripped down and altered locally: metal roofs were added for shade; and the vehicles decorated in vibrant colors with chrome-plated ornaments on the sides and hood. The back saloon was reconfigured with two long parallel benches with passengers facing each other to accommodate more passengers.The size, length and passenger capacity has increased as it evolved through the years. *

Here comes Christmas!

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Newchic.Com Haul # 4 + Review

Hello there lovelies, I am back with my latest haul from Newchic.com! And this is the fourth time. I only got two items this time around but I am very much excited and pleased about the pieces I received.

Newchic.com offers fashion items, for both men and women, that are of the latest trends without burning your pockets. Not only that, I have had the one of the best customer service experience with this site. The customer service rep always emails me for updates about my order. Their website is also fairly easy to use, providing customers with language, currency and shipment options. It is the only Asia-based online clothing store that I visited which provides Philippine peso as currency, they were able to consider the fact that the Philippines has a huge market for online buyers. And I'm definitely giving Newchic kudos for it.

Christmas Gifts Every Fashionista Will Go Crazy For

Christmas is getting close and if you haven’t done your gift shopping yet (or at least made a shopping list) you are probably in big trouble. Not only will you have to come up with some great gifts for your loved ones, but you will also have to wait in long lines with all the other people who waited for the last minute. If you think that buying a Christmas gift for a friend/family member with passion for fashion is a piece of cake – think again. Fashion enthusiasts fall into hard-to-please category, because you have to worry not only about their unique taste, but also about trends. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are few gift ideas for your fashionista friend.

Fashion Pilgrimage You know what comes after January? February. And you know what’s in February? Maybe not, but we bet your fashionista girl knows that it is the time of Fashion Week. Of course it is very difficult to get in to the 4 giants of fashion weeks (New York, London, Paris and Milan), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try or that you can’t get tickets for your own city. Another interesting (and cheaper) way to get her into the center of fashion is to apply her for volunteering at the shows. 

The Long and Short Of Things

There’s always a problem with being petite and being tall and you’re lucky if you’re on middle ground. Being petite or tall comes with pros and cons of their own. Tall people often have the problem of finding clothes that have the right lengths for their heights, if they don’t find the correct length for their height they almost can’t do anything to remedy it but to have their clothes custom made. For petite people, I think it’s more advantageous when it comes to buying clothes because if the length doesn’t correspond to your height, you can always have the option to cut it to your height.

I used to think that maxi dresses or maxi skirts wouldn’t be flattering at all for a petite lady like me. I used to believe that wearing short dresses and always wearing high heels or wedges were always the way to go if I want to look tall. But actually wearing petite maxi dresses or maxi skirts can be a trick to making people believe that you are taller than you really are. You can wear sky high heels or wedges without them being seen thus giving an illusion that you are like 5'8 or more. 

The Yard at Xavierville: The Ice Box

Filipinos love to eat, that’s why the food industry here is steadily growing for years. Malls and town centers are rising up from the ground like mushrooms filled with both old and new restaurants. Also, I have noticed that after the success of Maginhawa, Lilac and Kapitolyo, a lot of food parks are springing around the metro. This is great because you can just go to one place, eat and try different kinds of food and cuisines to your heart’s content. Something new and a far cry from going to a single restaurant. Yeah, talk about food tripping!

Just like this newly opened gastropark in QC: The Yard at Xavierville. The yard is a 3-floor food park built from steel shipping containers. The first and second levels contain the 30 vendors offering almost every type of food and cuisine you can think of – from appetizers, to mains, to drinks and desserts. At the third level is just an al-fresco dining area where customers can stay when the seats at the first and second floors are full. 

Dare To Go Mini

There's a study that taller people have more advantages than shorter ones and I believe that to be true. For one it is a confidence booster, it's literally being able to stand tall. You're also being noticed easily - always. There's least chance for you being bullied or pushed around. Some jobs also require strict height requirements, so even if you're not that qualified you can sometimes get in.

There are some advantages of being short too but it's not a lot. But the things is we must not dwell on those instead love and accept the body that we are blessed with. Also there are things we can do to make us short girls look tall than we really are. You know, stuff that we can fake 'til we can make it. 

History of Unisex Fashion

The unisex fashion style has been around for a long time and has had its ups and downs for the last century. Lately it has seen a rise in popularity after large flying under the radar of pop and fashion culture. It wasn’t until 2015 when Jaden Smith caused some rumblings when at the Coachella festival he rocked an outfit of gender blurring bravery.

Also in 2015 the department store chain Selfridges created in London a three level exhibition of multiple styles of gender neutral outfits and individual clothes from designers Haider Ackermann. The experiment was referred to as “Agender” and while it did not cause a major commotion it certainly worked from a marketing standpoint.

The Sunday Currently: Vol. 6

It's the holiday season, you can already feel it. Every morning I have a hard time getting out of bed because it's so cold I don't want to move any bit of muscle. Taking a bath at dawn is also equally difficult; I always feel like I'm being wrapped in ice every time the cold water comes out of the shower. The change of weather also causes my allergies to flare up. 

Don't get me wrong, I love the holiday season, but I just can't bear the chaos and the traffic that comes with it.  So today, I'm not leaving the house until late this evening, when everyone is on their way home, I'll be on my way off to somewhere. 
Currently:

Secret Bar: RM-16

I've always wanted to go a Speakeasy bar but it's only recently that the Manila nightlife started embracing this type of bars. When I was in college, what were popular were disco bars where you couldn’t barely hear one another, dance 'til your feet hurts and get wasted AF.

But it's the era of millennials and I believe this generation have a good grip on mixing the old and the new. Night outs tends to be more relaxed, where you can just sit, chat and enjoy a drink or two. Doesn't really have to do with aging but after a busy week more people nowadays are opting for something that's chiller.

Secret Bar: ABV

Those who know me well, know that I am big big fan of the 1920s era. Name it, Great Gatsby, Boardwalk Empire, The Godfather, Gangsters of New York, Public Enemies - I've watched it. I also love anything Art Deco or Art Noveau. I listen to Eddie Cantor, Bessie Smith and Mamie Smith once in a while too... yeah "The Crazy Blues", "Life's a Funny Proposition" and "Some of These Days" are some of my favorites. And oh the Roaring 20s and Flapper girl fashion, I'm in love with them!

I've always wanted to go a Speakeasy bar but it's only recently that the Manila nightlife started embracing this type of bars. When I was in college, what were popular were disco bars where you couldn’t barely hear one another and get wasted AF. But it's the era of millennials and I believe this generation has a good grip of mixing the old and the new. Night outs tends to be more relaxed or chill, where you can just sit, chat and enjoy a drink or two.

Melt Grilled Cheesery at Uptown Mall BGC

One word. CHEESE! Yassss!!! Cheese-lovers unite! High-fives! When I was invited to try out this new restaurant that offers all dishes with cheese, I immediately said yes and the lyrics of a song already started playing in my head: "I'll stop the world... and melt with you..." ♪♪♪ Hahaha! I'm that so into cheese that the mere mention of it makes me all giddy! 

OMG, I can't even describe how much love cheese! Even the worst smelling cheese, yeah I can eat it and I.will.eat.it! Go ahead and dare me. Whenever I pass by my ref, I would take a bite from the cheese bar that is stored in there. I can go on and on about how much I love cheese and it'll take me forever so let's get on to the review of this ah-ma-zing restaurant dedicated to all things cheese!

Pinac: Heirloom Kapampangan Cuisine

Pampanga is not only well known for it's  dialect, beautiful locals and tourist attractions, but also of it's unique and homey cuisine. I have a lot of favorite Kapampangan dishes (except for the exotic/Fear-factor-ish ones) that's why I was excited when I had the chance to try this U.P. Town Center resident: Pinac.

Pinac is located at the second floor of UP Town Center, the building facing Katipunan Ave. Pinac is a Filipino restaurant owned by the Pelayos of Pampanga and offer heirloom recipes passed down from one generation to the next. 

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Soban K-Town Grill at Eastwood City Mall

I always deny that I like things that are Korean, but actually, I do. I buy a lot of make up and beauty products from Korean brands. I like their fashion style, a select few of their K-Pop bands and I've watched 1 or 2 of their telenovelas too (back in college). As for their cuisine, I was just ok with it. My liking of Korean food was turned 180 degrees until I tried Soban K-Town Grill. 

I have tried a few Korean restaurants before, even during my childhood (my late father loved it) but all I can remember was that how I hated Kimchi because it is super spicy and I'm not really big into spicy food. For more information on Kimchi, check out this post: How To Make The Most Of The Amazing Benefits Of Kimchi

The Sunday Currently: Vol. 5

So I'm back to writing my TSC series after almost a month of entering an unintentional blogging hiatus. I had a lot going on in my life recently that blogging or writing is the least that is on my mind. I'm always too tired and sleepy from everyday's work and most of the time I just go straight to bed when I get home. 

Thus, the pile up of stuff to write about (mostly restaurant reviews though). Good thing that the PR people from those places aren't that particular as to when a blogger needs to post a review. But yeah I am waaayyy past my personal deadline. Also that these past few weekends I've chosen to go out and hang out with friends and officemates; which means I always go home late. Not to forget the tad too many holiday parties that I needed or need to attend. 

The Yard at Xavierville: Takami

Filipinos love to eat, that’s why the food industry here is steadily growing for years. Malls and town centers are rising up from the ground like mushrooms filled with both old and new restaurants. Also, I have noticed that after the success of Maginhawa, Lilac and Kapitolyo, a lot of food parks are springing around the metro. This is great because you can just go to one place, eat and try different kinds of food and cuisines to your heart’s content. Something new and a far cry from going to a single restaurant. Yeah, talk about food tripping! 

Just like this newly opened gastropark in QC: The Yard at Xavierville. The yard is a 3-floor food park built from steel shipping containers. The first and second levels contain the 30 vendors offering almost every type of food and cuisine you can think of – from appetizers, to mains, to drinks and desserts. At the third level is just an al-fresco dining area where customers can stay when the seats at the first and second floors are full.