Packages everywhere: The Hipstyle Way

My GMarket order is in customs!!!  Huhuhu, it's delivered in the place where I live in but the guard said there's no one around to received my package and just gave me a slip of paper and have to go to Philpost that is far away from my place to claim it T_T.

Got dead worried when I saw in the EMS tracking that my package is already in the Philippines and was held hostage in customs and two days after the update went "Worldwide Shipping Failed" so getting the slip somehow is a relief (customs wait and be good to me!!!!)

Anyway, one of my FB newsfeeds catched my attention one Thursday evening close to Friday already (I paid on Friday morning February 8, 2013)  It's from Hipstyle Online Shop and boy, it's having a sale.  I computed the prices in korea + the should be shipping fee and I only have to add some moolah which I think is just enough compensation for not having the headache wondering where my package is and baammm, I got my package last Saturday afternoon (February 9, 2013).  That was FAST!

So here's my neatly pack package complete with bubble wrap, ribbon and a note.

neatly and carefully packed

Ahhh, love the personal touch!  I know that every order has a note but adding something hand written is a good marketing strategy to make a customer remember a seller.  I truly appreciate it Kat!

the good note

And here's my orders.

the washes

The Enprani White Cell foam cleanser looks really sosyal.  The Naive one is for my friend Pink!

for a baby foot feet?

I'm currently having the peel using TonyMoly and would love to compare it with this Baby Foot Deep Skin Exfoliation.  I've seen the pictures of peeling foot and I'm sold.  Must use it before June 2013 though.

can I hang this masks?

Of course mask!  I still have tons of mask but I can't help buying them as they are just P35.

where are the other freebies???

And of course freebies!!!!! I already ate the 3 candies/chocolates by the way :p Kamsa Hamnida Hipstyle!

I'll be getting my GMarket package tomorrow, wish me luck and get ready for another haul post.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!!!

Packages everywhere: Sample Room for the Second Time Around

It's the first time that items are not immediately out of stock from Sample Room, so what to do? Order! I used the points of my nephew (take note: his already at a legal age which makes me think really old even if I'm just in my 20's).  I like the Pevonia facial scrub and ordered a fragrance for my nephew and there's still 20 points left so I also ordered a soap.

Sample Room's cute paperbag with the cute pink sticker at the back

I got full sizes the first time that I order from Sample Room I kind of expecting their samples are good for at least a week but to my surprise:

Pevonia Botanica Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser
United Colors of Benetton Let's Move for Men
Mir & Ryvi Lightening Papaya Soap

Ahahaha these items are sooooooooooo tiny!  Well the full sizes of these products are quite expensive so P100 for these kiddos are okay.  My nephew was hesitant at first to try the fragrance thinking that it's for women but then 2 spritz changed his mind.

cap is the same size with my thumbnail

 The Pevonia Botanica Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser is the one that I really like.  Hope that Sample Room would restock and offer maybe a 10ml tube?

the smaller package is the one from Sample Room

Yes, there's another package (and another one that is in customs and I'm expecting another one next weekend and another bigger package on March) and look I used my blogger name (｡◕‿◕｡).

Love packages!!! How about you, do you feel excited too when opening a package ♥‿♥?

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

The Liebster Award -Yehey!

It's my first time to received a Liebster Award thanks To Eva Nyah of Bunny Kiss.  And well, I'm not familiar with the mechanics so thanks to thanks to Jenny of almightlyturtles  (she nominated Eva Nyah who in turn nominated me (see the link?)).

About the Liebster Award
from almightyturtles with some color edit by me
Bloggers nominate other bloggers that they like with 200 followers or less. It doesn't matter what kind of blog you have, or in what language. If you have a blog then you can be nominated! It's to get to know new bloggers a little better and go networking with them, it's going on for a few years I guess. It's never ending! And.... yes.. there are rules, that's why it's never ending!
The rules:
1. List 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger who nominated you left
3. Ask 11 new questions for those you nominate
4. Choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate
5. Go to each blogger's page and let them know about the award
6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog

11 Facts About Myself

1.  Arya De Guzman is not my real name but I derived it from my real name.
2.  I always ruin my body clock especially on weekends so every Monday, I'm like a walking dead in the office.
3.  I love music and books.  I can create different kinds of world out of them.
4.  I always change my hobby and as a result I gain just a general knowledge and never had a mastery on anything.
5.  I only got my passport last year (hehehe).
6.  I'm shy but loud and I'm not a good conversationalist.
7.  I suck in sports and I always eat and as a result I have a chubby built.
8.  I always have my hair cut and I always lose in bet about getting my hair long.
9.  My hair is always magulo (messy).
10.  Ice cream, pastries, chocolate:  I can't resist their temptation.
11.  I love anime.  My crushes are anime characters.

And here's Eva Nyah's Questions

1. If you had to pick one flavor of ice-cream to eat for the rest of your life, what would that be?

Vanilla almond.  Luscious vanilla ice cream with caramel and almonds.

2. If you had wings, what type of wings would you have?

Angel Wings in white even just for one day so I can be what's the meaning of my real surname.

3. What is your favorite animal?

Never had a pet but maybe a fish (I grew up in a place with lots of fish).

4. Where do you like hanging out the most?

Bedroom (alone)

5. What do you eat for breakfast?

Eggs and fruits most of the time.

6. If you could be a cartoon/anime character for one day, which of the famous cartoon/anime characters would you want to be?

Naruto!

7. Do you watch Korean Dramas? If yes, what's your favorite?

Yes, I watch Korean Dramas sometimes.  My latest watch is Rooftop Prince so it's also my current favorite.

8. Your three wishes from the Genie?

-To be the happiest and safest multi-millionaire in the world for the rest of my life.

-Peace in every person and to the whole universe (I'm serious!)

-My mom to get well and fully enjoy her life. 

9. Your ideal job.

This is hard! I can't think of any...wait Pâtissière!

10. What colour toothbrush do you currently use?

Green.

11. The first song that you can think of!

Yellow by Coldplay~Classic!

My Childish Questions to the Nominees

1.  What's the last book you read

2.  Your favorite song and band is

3.  Where do you want to go for a vacation

4.  What's the silliest pose you did in a pic

5.  What's your favorite shop

6.  When was the last time you wrote a whole paragraph using a pencil or pen

7.  Have you ever watch/read an anime/manga

8.  Rainy or Sunny day

And some classics!

9.  What's that one thing you can't live without

10.  Love or Money

11.  What inspires you to blog

Since I'm shy and not a good conversationalist, I'm having a lot of hard time commenting and connecting  with other bloggers but kakapalan ko na mukha ko so here are the nominees:

almightyturtles -Jenny's

kissokill.net -Robin's
anything in my drawer, shopping bag, kitchen -galleryibu
dolcellita -Arian's
littlebratontheloose -Elle's
my beauty vanity -La Vanilla's
one-winged angel -Rin-chan's
meteji ustvarjata -Mateja and Mateja's
bunny kiss. -Eva's (this is okay, right?)
cakepie -Tiffany's
bargain blabber -Jenna's

Whew that was hard but enjoyable!  Now it's time to notify the bloggers.  Wish me luck (fighting!!!)

Sunset Photos

Just want to share some sunset photos that I took this week.  Never know the reason behind my fascination with clouds and sunset, they're just dreamy, intense and sad at the same time.  In short, sunset and clouds for me are dramatic.

sunset clouds

my first  time to capture the outline of the sun this big

My camera is just GEX500.  Took the photo under sunset setting. Crop a little then re-sized for easy upload.

On Serum

photo from katasher.com

Serum is a thick liquid-like product that targets the deeper layers of the skin which regular moisturizers are unable to reach.  It's a beauty product that has an active ingredients to target specific skin problem like wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and dullness and some serums also promises to prevent acnes.

In choosing a facial serum, keep in mind the skin type and complexion of your skin and the effect you wanted to achieve or the issues that you want to address or prevent.  For example, look for a serum that has a Vitamin C as it's key ingredient when you are after an anti-aging effect as Vitamin c helps in fighting free radicals from our environment.  For hydration, it's best to have a serum with hyaluronic acid as it helps in moisturizing and improving the elasticity of the skin.

The serum for your skin greatly depends on what your skin needs.

Now let's go to how to apply serum.  Actually it's more of how I apply a serum.  I start with a freshly clean face.  After toning, I quickly spread 2 to 3 pumps or pea size serum to my palms then pat it to my face and neck.  pat a little more to help my skin absorb the serum faster and at the same time provide a light massage to my face.  Then to completely seal the serum, I top with with a moisturizer.  I have dry to very dry skin type so I still need moisturizer to fully hydrate my skin but based on my readings, you can skip to apply the moisturizer.

Here some links/sites that may help you in knowing what serum is best for you but of your course nothing beats your dermatologists

About.com -http://skincare.about.com/od/extraskincaresteps/f/SerumFAQ.htm
wiseGeek.com -http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-face-serum.htm
APIVITA -http://www.apivita.com/new/natural-serum/

Holiday Food/Drink Favorites

It's December, it's holiday and it's time to eat a lot!!!  Diet is not an excuse.  Here are some of my favorites that can't get out of my head (and belly!)

Peppermint Attack
I love food with peppermint although many find it weird.  It's just refreshing and minty with just the right sugar (although I know it's made out of lots of sugar!)These candy canes are not just yummy but they look festive too with the colors of Christmas of green and red.

bought it from Candy Corner

Another Limited Edition from Mogu Mogu (why are the products nowadays have limited edition printed on it? great marketing strategy by the way!).  This drink has strawberry flavor with Nata de Coco so it's refreshing and filling at the same time.

Mogu Mogu Strawberry Juice a product of Thailand

And look how cute the cap is.  Kyot kyot talaga!

cute cap with my spare glasses

Any favorite you wanted to share?

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

What is BB Cream?

photo from http://www.etsy.com/listing/82184444/20x-question-mark-button

So what really is a BB Cream that shake the beauty world by storm.  Of course, let's ask Wikipedia:

"BB cream stands for blemish balm, blemish base, or beblesh balm (apparently because of a copyright in Korea on the word "blemish"), and in Western markets, beauty balm. It is a cosmetic item sold mainly in East and Southeast Asia, although larger beauty brands are increasingly introducing BB creams to Western markets.^[1]

BB cream is promoted as an all-in-one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock.^[2] It can be worn alone as a tinted moisturizer, over serum and moisturizer as a regular foundation, and under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage.^[1]

History

What was to become BB Cream was originally formulated in the 1960s in Germany by dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek to protect her patients' skin after surgery.^[3] Introduced to South Korea and Japan in 1985 – where healthy-looking, porcelain skin is heavily prized – the cream was hailed as "the secret of Korean actresses," and was heavily endorsed by Korean celebrities.^[4]

[edit]Formulations

BB cream for men from Etude House

BB creams come in a variety of different formulations.^[3] Because Korean companies focused initially on the Korean and East Asian markets, they are offered in a limited number of hues. Instead of offering multiple shades for different skin tones, most formulas are designed to oxidize to match the user's skin tone. ^[5] The skin-whitening properties of the cream, as sold in the Asian market, are an important element in its popularity.^[6]

The cream is promoted as a multi-tasker, an all-in-one treatment, but Korean women mostly use it as an alternative to foundation, especially Western foundations that tend to be too heavy for their taste. The coverage is often mineral-based, and is intended to both cover and treat blemishes such as acne, sun spots and age spots. It also has anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. Several contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C. The Huffington Post reports that some companies say BB creams have skin-regenerating properties, though one dermatologist – Dr. Jason Rivers of the University of British Columbia's Department of Dermatology and Skin Science – expressed skepticism that a product that is not retinoid based could do this.^[1]

[edit]Markets

BB creams make up 13 percent of the cosmetics market in South Korea. Some Korean brands also offer BB creams for men.^[7] Leading Korean brands include BRTC,Dr. Jart, Etude House, Lioele, Missha, Nature Republic, Rachel K, Skin79, Skin Food, Sulhwasoo, and The Face Shop. Western cosmetics companies began to launch BB creams in the Western market in 2012, though some of these creams have been criticized for lacking the skin-caring functions that BB creams normally have, and for being no more than tinted moisturizer. Early arrivals included Boscia, Clinique, Dior, Dr. Brandt, Estée Lauder, Garnier, Marcelle, Maybelline, Omorovicz, Revlon and Smashbox.^[8] Lab Seriesmakes a BB cream for men.^[9] Certain BB creams have been tailored for Western markets: Estée Lauder, for example, has not included the whitening properties in their formulation for North America.^[10]"

^{from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BB_cream}

^{Thanks very much Wikipedia! So, overall Blemish Balm or BB Cream is an all in one product that has a built in moisturizer, sun block and foundation which blends to the skin to give it a natural flawless finish that; by the way, can also treat blemishes like acne, sun spots and the like.  Most BB cream also have anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, anti inflammatory and soothing and whitening formula.}

Here are the General BB Cream Characteristics according to beauty.lovelyish.com

1. Provides a natural and flawless look.
2. Provides perfect coverage just like a foundation but without clogging pores or damaging the skin
3. Conceals all types of pigmentation, discoloration, acne and marks
4. Healing properties which soften, smooth and refine skin
5. Encourages skin regeneration to create and maintain youthful skin
6. UV Protection for healthy skin
7. Some BB creams have additional features such as wrinkle improvement, whitening functions etc.

For starter, choose a bb cream that is good for all skin type. But in choosing the right bb cream, you have to consider the type of your skin: is it oily, dry or normal.  Next is the effects or functions you want to have or achieve like anti-aging or whitening effect or a natural healthy looking skin.  And then, also consider the color that matches your skin though most bb creams tends to naturally adapt to the skin tone.  Then research:  read post from different blogs about the formulation, ingredients and effects (like breakouts) and how other use it, you could also ask your dermatologist or your make-up artist or you could go to the store and sample it and ask the sales assistant about the perfect bb cream for your skin and course your budget.  I usually buy in sample sizes and so far Hanskin  gives me the things that I'm looking for a bb cream (though I think I would still buy different kinds of bb cream in sample sizes for me to try).

Here's how to normally use a BB Cream:

photo from http://www.etudehouse.ph

Boxes in the Philippines

Here are the subscription boxes that are currently available in the Philippines that might interest you.  I'm thinking of getting one for the sake of having a monthly surprise but I think it's more economical for me to get a tiny sample of what I really want.
Anyway, here are the boxes!

GLAMOURBOX

photo from Glamourbox website

Official Website:  http://www.glamourbox.ph
Founded:  August, 2012
Email:  info@glamourbox.ph
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GlamourboxPH
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GlamourboxPH/
How it works:

photo from Glamourbox website

SALADBOX

photo from Saladbox website

Official Website:  http://saladbox.com.ph
Founded:  February, 2011
Email:  info@shopsaladbox.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shopsaladbox
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/shopsaladbox
How it works:

photo from Saladbox website

BDJ BOX

photo from BDJ website

Official Website: http://bdjbox.com
Founded:  October, 2012
Email:  through BDJ's website at http://bdjbox.com/contact.php
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bdjbox
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BDJBox
How it works:

photo from BDJ website

SAMPLE ROOM

photo from Sample Room website 

Official Website: http://sampleroom.ph/
Founded:  2012
Email:  marketing@sampleroom.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sampleroomph
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/sampleroomph/
How it works:

photo from Sample Room website 

That's all for now.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

How do you take care of your crowning glory?

To be honest, my hair is the least of my concern...well before.  Especially when I'm still studying, I step-out of the house with wet or uncombed hair and my older sister's scold me whenever they see my unruly strands.  Through my sisters' bugging, I slowly become aware of my hair needs but I want a quick fix so I go for treatments like coloring and rebonding  leaving some parts of my hair dry and coarse which is partly my fault because I never treated my hair right.  Aside from laziness, I also thought that I have to regularly go to salon and buy products to have a shiny, beautiful hair which involves a lot of moolah (yikes!).

So how to really take care of the care in a simple?  Well, here are some ways and tips that I found (of course) from the web world.

photo from http://www.buzzle.com

FEED YOUR HAIR
Think of protein, colorful fruits and vegetables in nourishing the hair.  Eating protein rich foods like egg, fish and dairy products will help in keeping your hair grow full of life.

Healthy scalp can equate to healthy hair too so eat lots of fruits and vegetables and other food that are rich in Vitamins A, B and C like tomatoes, apples and green leafy vegetables.

photo from http://bettybooppicturesarchive.blogspot.com

WASH WITH CARE
How to wash your hair depends on what type strands you have.
Wash your hair daily if you have fine or oily hair.
Coarse or dry hair just need to be wash every second or third day.
Every other day washing is best for those with normal hair.

Since I live in a tropical country, I can't help but sweat and sweat attracts dirt and pollution that makes my body and hair, well dirty so daily washing of hair can't be avoided and I greatly rely on shampoo and conditioner.  Here's some simple tips in choosing the right one.

Choose hydrating and moisturizing shampoo and conditioner when you have coarse/dry hair.
Clear shampoo and lightweight conditioner are perfect for those with fine/oily hair.
If you have normal hair type then congratulations, you can use whatever pleases you.

photo from http://sweeps4bloggers.com

WET AND DRY HANDLING
I do a lot of don'ts in handling my hair.  Bear the following in mind when handling your hair.

Wet Hair
Hair is prone to breakage when it's wet so don't rub it in removing excess water instead blot it with the towel.  Also, avoid sleeping with wet hair, it can damage it and you will also wake -up with an unruly hair.

Dry Hair
Metal fasteners can tangle, cut and cause split ends to your hair so use an elastic band that doesn't have one. Use a wide tooth comb first to remove the tangles before brushing to avoid hair breakage.

It's nice to touch the hair especially when it's soft and smooth but excessive touching can transfer the dirt from your hand to your strand that can probably make your hair oily so try to avoid doing it.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

sources:
www.thehairstyler.com
www.vanguardngr.com
arya de guzman's experience and imagination :P

Grocery Finds

I am a regular visitor of a grocery store so if there's something new to my eyes, I usually try it.  Here's two that caught my attention

Tropicana Coco Quench Coconut Water

Ah buko juice.  Coconut is abundant here in the Philippines.  Our home in the province have coconut trees scattered all over the yard but in manila, it's rare to find a tree with fruits on it.  Almost every morning, I drop-by a street vendor to buy coconut fruit but there are times that deliveries are delayed and so it's good to know that I can now go to the nearest grocery or convenience stores to grab a tetrapack of it.  It's almost like the real thing only a little sweeter and of course, the flesh that make me 100% full is not present.

Lactasoy Soymilk Light Plus Collagen

Vitamin E and collagen in my soya milk?  Well I just have to try it!  It cost and taste like the other soya milk so I guess I have nothing to lose if I keep on drinking this stuff.  Seems like adding Collagen to a drink is a trend like now.

Any grocery finds you can recommend?  Let me know.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

5 Korean Skincare Routine

When I was a kid, I just wash my face.  When I'm in my adolescent stage, I wash my face then moisturize if only necessary.  When I'm already in my early 20's I learned a little about toning but never bothered to include it in my wash and moisturize routine.  So, I'm shocked when I heard that Koreans have 5 steps in their skincare.  Most of you probably already know this but for the benefit of all latebloomers out there like me, here's an intro on how most Koreans take care of their skin.

photo from bellasugar.com.au

1. Double Cleanse
Nowadays when all kinds of dirt and pollution are present in our faces and with the trend of wearing make-up, double cleansing is a must.
A good cleansing cream or cleansing oil removes dirt and makeup while a cleansing foam washes away anything that is left behind your face, leaving it clean and refresh.

photo from http://trendnstylez.com

2.  Massage, Scrub and Mask

Now to make the skin look brighter and looking healthier, regular massaging and scrubbing should be part of a good skincare routine.

It is said that facial massages improves blood circulation leaving your skin looking stress free and glowing.

Use a mild scrub once or twice a week as scrubbing slough off dead skin cells and will help in resurfacing new cells though this part is not advisable for those with oily or acne prone skin type as it will irritate the oil glands.

Once in a while when you are not massaging your face, you can use facial mask/sheet mask.  I use whatever kind of sheet mask that is available in my closet once a week but if undecided as to what sheet mask to get then a cleansing and/or a moisturizing one are the best options.

By the way, massage, scrub and mask are part two of the routine but whenever I use facial mask/sheet mask, I first tone my skin.

photo from holisticmamas.com

3.  Tone

For many years, I neglected this part of the routine because I thought it's unnecessary.  I mean toner for me before is like an ordinary liquid or water put into a cotton pad.  But of course I was wrong as toner removes any residue left behind by foam cleansers and make-up.  There are a lot of kinds of toner that are available in the market that can help remove dead skin cells, balance the skin PH and other features depending on your skin type.  Toners also prepare the skin to the next step of the routine.

from realsimple.com
most serums in the market are in pretty bottles 

4.  Essence or Serum

Essence or serums are liquidy concentrated substance that penetrates the deep layer of the skin to nourish and help treat specific skin problem.  There are brightening, whitening, nourishing, moisturizing, anti-aging and whole lot more.  Just ask the sale assistants in the shops or your dermatologist as to what is the best for your skin type.

I just started to use a serum this year and it did help in smoothening and hydrating my skin.

photo from http://www.123rf.com

5.  Moisturize

After letting the skin absorb the essence or serum, apply moisturizer or emulsion to keep the skin well hydrated.  The outer layer of the skin will benefit the most from this step.  Creams are more advisable for those with dry skin while emulsion is more for those with oily skin type because it's more liquidy and lighter than a cream.

I'm still learning as to what is the best for my skin but maybe in the near future I'll post my discoveries and more specific topic on each step.  How about you what's your skincare routine?

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

sources:
k-popped.com
http://tonymoly.ph
arya de guzman's brain and experience :p

Buttons on the Sidebar: Check them Out!

So I added some buttons on my sidebars becuse finally, I have now a Twitter and a Facebook Page!!!
Quite new with these social networking sites so I really don't know what to do but I have been posting my reviews and my entries to some giveaways. I also ask two of my friends who knows my blog and personally know me to help me out with the facebook page.

These two networking sites that I have are actually a bit lonely so feel free to drop by and post anything that is on your mind (wholesome please or I'm going to delete it).  Enjoy the songs that I've been posting on my facebook page too!

my twitter and facebook links can be found in the "Follow Me" section of my blog

 Here are the links:

Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/TheCertifiedLatebloomer

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/tclatebloomer

Thanks and I'll be waiting :D

Nail Experiment

So I am supposed to recreate the nail art from Etude House Philippines' Nail Art Tutorial featured in their latest Princess Talk.

check their facebook page here for clearer view.  image from Etude House Philippines

As a newbie, I know it will not be an easy success.  Once is okay but twice???  I got frustrated so I went to my room, grab a pen and wrote in my nail "A" for Arya.  The result is this...

horrible!!!!!

I know the result is terrible :( I'll practice and try my luck next time :)

Thanks for reading this lousy post.  Till then.  Bye!

Love Body Butters?

Lover of Body Butter like me?  Then check The Body Shop Philippines' early christmas treat.  Get 50% off on all their famous body butters.  Check their FB Page here.

image from The Body Shop, Philippines facebook page

Also, don't miss their 40% off  promo on Olive Dry Oil Mist happening this September 23, 2012.  Check their FB Page here for more info.

Happy Shopping!

Traffic Sources

From time to time I'm checking my traffic sources since...sometimes it's fun!  Just now, I'm wondering why my blog has been linked to a youtube channel and to this yet another interesting link http://seovalidator.net

Not really aware about this site but while reading it's analysis,  I kind of realized how "innocent" the certified latebloomer blog and the owner of the blog (~me!~) is.  I will seriously look into it's tips this weekend and let's see if my baby blog will flourish.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

A Tree can tell your personality?

I'm just gonna share some interesting article (I think this can be considered as an article) from this site, http://www.wowzone.com/whattree.htm.  My friend actually sent me an email with birth dates and trees and then she look into the tree that corresponse to my birth date and surprise (I'm really surprised!!!!), it's kinda true (my friend said akong ako).

CEDAR TREE (the Confidence) - of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined, impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.
Many talents? Me? Let's see.  Eating.  Reading in a peculiar position.  Complaining.  Doing nothing.  Daydreaming.   Ahahaha I guess those are some of my talents.

Give it a try so that you'll also be surprise like me. :D

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

Patience is a Virtue: Happy Lemon + J.CO

Been to the North yesterday and what else to do if one is not interested to buy anything?  EAT! (and drink)

Warning! Crappy pictures and views ahead.  This is totally not a review ( I guess).

HAPPY LEMON
Amazing how Milk Teas are a still a craze in the Philippines.  I myself love Milk Tea and visited some tea shops around the Metro so while at SM the Block, I tried Happy Lemon.

I'm not use to capturing what I eat and drink in public so here's a pic from Happy Lemon Philippines' FB page

 Surprised that almost half of my order was filled with different add-ons (not sure what to call them).  I ordered Royal Milk Tea with pudding so I'm confused as to why it has other contents aside from the pudding.  Added to my confusion are the quick flashing screens of orders.  It's useless I guess because it's hard to read them and also another to complain is that the menu is not adjacent to the counter; you have to take 2 or 3 steps away from from the counter just to take a look at it.  I have other ramblings about the store but I'll just focus on the Milk Tea.  The pudding is great.  It has the right sweetness and softness that blends well with the milk tea but the pearl and the jelly are a bit hard that I got tired of chewing them and swallowed them whole.   The sweetness of the milk tea itself is just right at 100% but I can't appreciate much the taste of the tea because it's a little bland to my taste although it's just okay with my niece taste.  With this order, my 20 minutes of ordering and waiting is a waste of time.  Sorry if you're a fan of Happy Lemon but do suggest your favorite and might order it the next time I visit one of their store.
Website: http://www.happy-lemon.com/en/characteristic.aspx
Facebook Philippines' page:  http://www.facebook.com/HappyLemonPh

J.CO Donuts & Coffee
It's the newest craze of the town and so I'm in the line for almost an hour (whew,  congratulations to my niece and my patience) yesterday just to get ahold of J.CO doughnuts.  By the time I got to the counter their best seller, Alcapone and the Green Tea variant are already temporarily out of stock and will be available after 30 minutes  (this is in Trinoma branch so be early if you want to try them, I ordered at around 5pm).  An hour of waiting is already too much, so I just ordered whatever is available on display.  Messy picture ahead!

funny names:  avocado dicaprion, heaven berry, oreology, why nut, blue berrymore, jacky chunk, caviar chocolate and black jack not in the picture

My niece and I immediately grab donuts as a celebration of our patience.  I tried the Avocado DiCaprio and liked it.  The doughnut is very soft and unlike in other stores, the sweetness is just enough for me not to cough and gulp a pitcher of water.  I can't taste any avocado though. Coffee? yes! I'm tasting coffee in the doughnut.  Better to eat in store (though I can't probably fully enjoy the eating experience because of the huge crowd) the doughnut toughens when already exposed to air and the frosting easily melts (just look at the picture above, except for the three chocolate flavored donuts the rest's frosting where melted.

Additional opinions:  my nephew and my brother was not impressed with these J.CO doughnuts and are sticking with Krispy Kreme.  My niece and I love them though!

Website: http://www.jcodonuts.com/
Facebook Philippines' page: http://www.facebook.com/JCoDonuts.Pilipinas


Thanks for reading.  Enjoy eating!  Till then.  Bye!