Manila Living

When you've been to places that value space, structure, urban planning and trees, you will feel sorry for yourself, especially if you live in Metro Manila.

City living in the Philippines can be very detrimental to your health.

• Pollution
• Dirty public toilets
• Garbage
• Plastic bags everywhere
• Too much traffic
• Too few trees
• Poor conditions of streets and highways
• A lot of beggars, street kids, snatchers and criminals of all sort

Don't get me wrong, I am a proud Pinay. I am proud of my brown skin and not too tangos nose. But when you have a 16 month old kid who loves insects, flowers, tress, birds, dogs and anything nature-y you will have to think twice where you will raise her.


Lil Lily loves running in parks. Salcedo Park, Ayala Triangle Gardens and Legazpi Park are the only places in the heart of Metro Manila where you can enjoy fresh air.

If you have a kid, as playful, as curious and as adventurous as Lily, you will have to think of her future.


I don't think we will have public spaces for small kids to play in the near future.
I don't think we will have a decent zoo where you can see a variety of animals and not only snakes in the near future.
I don't think I will be able to see decent trees and plants along EDSA in the near future.

I think it is unfair for Lily if I raise her here. If I do, I will be depriving her from all the beautiful things she should see, touch, feel and enjoy.




:)

P.S.

Later, my girl will be walking down the aisle to shower my cousin's bride with flower petals. I am so excited!

3 Idiots

This is not a movie review.

Bollywood movies amuse me. The dancing, the Soundtrack, the beautiful costumes and the crowded plot - These are the common things you'll see and watch in each Bollywood flick.

I've watched quite a handful of Indian movies but only a few is worth remembering. 3 Idiots is one of them. Never mind if Aamir Khan is gwapo and the plot is well, a little crowded, the flick boasts morals, comic lines and cute songs.

3 Idiots is highest grossing Bollywood film in net grossing as of today.

And I tell you, Aamir Khan is gwapo.

Watch the trailer here.



Watch it!

Love,
Me

My Cheap Thrills

I've been wanting to share with you my cheap thrills ever since I restarted this blog =) I managed to have extra 15 minutes (Read: Husband is doing his Spartacus workout, daughter is watching Mickey Mouse) to write this quick post.

I drink too much coffee. Right now, I am loving Kopiko Brown Coffee 3-in-one. It's probably the best 3-in-one coffee that is below Php 10. Would've preffered Starbuck's Via pero mahalia sha. I hoard Kopiko Brown Coffee sachets every time I see them in the supermarket. They always run out of stock.




To enjoy your coffee, you must always use your favorite mug, I'm using my Martha Stewart mug. I bought the Maple Leaf set 2 years ago and they're a bargain, roughly around 50% off. I could also use my Starbuck's tumblers which I collect every time I visit a new city but they're "for display only". Jeje.


Lastly, I bought these wall stickers at Landmark's baby section (around Php180/$4.00 for 6 animals) . Lil Lily loves them. I "skillfully" placed them around the bedroom so that the baby can see them all the time. She now knows how to say Pig, Giraffe and Pant (Elephant). She can point at the correct animals too.


I'll try to take pictures of my other cheap thrills soon. Obviously. there are a lot of them. I am a sucker for anything cheap.

I hope you had a good weekend.

Kiss Kiss,
Me!

The Art of Preaching

A lot of people talk a lot.
A lot of people give advises as if they know it all.
A lot of people think they deserve to give advises just because they think/know they are experienced.


But not a lot of people practice what they preach.

Lesson for today.

Skin Regimen

After years of trying to find the perfect formula for an effective skin regimen, I have finally found a regimen that works for me and for my budget.

Note: The stuff I am using are not in any way expensive nor sushal. I would've wanted to try Murad or La Mer but I am just an employee with meager salary. I am no general's wife nor an artizzta. Keri?

Whatchunid: You will not use all of these in one day. Don't worry. Overkill yun.

1. Beauty Formulas Apricot Scrub sold at Php 159


2. Active Carbon Soap sold at Php 99 on eBay


3. Glycerin Facial Soap sold at Php80 on eBay


4. Ardent's Moringa O2 toner spritz at Php 199 in Watson's
5. Watson's Green Tea toner at Php 80++ in Watson's


6. Myra E Vita Glow Moisturizer with SPF15 for day use at Php 119 in Watson's


7. Pond's Anti Ageing Night Cream at Php 549 in Watson's
8. Any Eye Cream
9. Used green tea bags
10. Black Pearl mask - I buy boxes of this whenever I am in HK. A box with 10 individually packed masks costs around Php300

11. Blistex Lip Tone with SPF15
Set A -Weekdays
Set B - Weekends


Set A: Morning
1. Wash face with Glycerin Soap. Glycerin soap does not leave your skin dry. Your skin will just be squeaky clean. Use cold water to tighten the pores.
2. Use a cotton or just your hands, smother a good amount of green tea toner in your face and neck.
3. Apply Myra E Vita Glow. This will also serve as your make-up base.
4. Apply Blistex Lip Tone to protect your lips from cracking and the UV rays.

Set A: Night
1. Wash face with Carbon Soap. Carbon Soap absorbs all the impurities that your face has after spending the day out. Imagine the dirt and other pollutants in your face especially if it is oily like mine. Use warm water then rinse with cold water.
2. Apply Moringa O2. This toner is amazing. The olive oil and moringa extracts act as multivitamins to protect your face from ageing!
3. Apply Pond's Age Miracle Cream
4. Use any eye cream that you have
5. Apply Blistex Lip Tone para kissable pa din even at night time :)

Set B: Morning
1. Wash face with Glycerin Soap. Again, use cold water to tighten the pores.
2. Apply Moringa O2 toner.
3. If you are going out, apply Myra E Vita Glow. This will also serve as your make-up base. If not, do not apply any moisturizer. Moringa O2 will serve as your moisturizer already.
4. Apply Blistex Lip Tone

Set B: Night
1. Place 2 used green tea bags in both your eyes. Leave them for 15 minutes
2.Wash face with Apricot Scrub. You have to do a lil scrubbing at least once-twice a week. Use warm water first then rinse with cold water
3. Apply Moringa O2 OR if you have a face mask, use it during the weekends.
4. Apply Pond's Age Miracle Cream
5. Use any eye cream that you have
5. Apply Blistex Lip Tone

This regimen works for me. I have normal-oily face. My eyes are small and puffy every morning hence the green tea bags are a must for me.