Ready for our Summer Escapade

This week is going to be an exciting one for AJ and me.  We’re going to fly to Puerto Princesa in Palawan for a much deserved R&R.   We were finally able to get cheap airfare tickets from Cebu Pacific last February and we scheduled our trip in time for our 2nd wedding anniversary  =)

The last time I was in Puerto Princesa was in 2006 (for work and leisure) and I had so many fond memories of the beaches, restaurants and tourist spots we’ve been to.  I know the fun is going to be double this time because (1) my trip this time is purely for vacation, (2) I’m traveling with AJ (it’s his first time in Palawan) and (3) I know where to buy the Palawan pearls na!  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll be able to find the gold pearl varieties that Palawan is known for, and at a price that I can afford.

We have started packing today the stuff we’re going to need in our 4-days, 3-nights trip (we’re leaving Friday and will be back Tuesday next week).   We figured that since we’ll be reporting to work until Thursday, we might not have the time anymore to double check everything.  So  better be packed now than cram on Friday morning.

Below are some of the stuff I’ll be bringing with me:

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The blue cloth in the upper right corner is a vintage “malong” pants that I bought in Bangkok in 2005.   The fabric has since faded but it’s super soft to the skin so I’m keeping it to this day.  The white tee is newly-bought at Stradivarius, one of the newly-opened boutiques at the newly-renovated Glorietta 2.

I’m also bringing scarves with me to serve as my robe, top cover, head cover, cape or bag.  I got these colorful, crumpled scarves at Greenhills for only P100.00 a piece (can’t make anymore tawad below P100.00 hehe).

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My skin essentials for the beach trip:  Pond’s Anti-Bacterial Facial Scrub to clean the face and Nivea Sun face lotion (with SPF 50 PA++) to protect it from harmful sun rays, and for the body Nieva Sun body lotion (with SPF 30 PA++) and Vaseline’s Aloe Fresh lotion as my cooling after-sun lotion.

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I didn’t plan on buying some protective sunglasses but I couldn’t resist getting this one at the Landmark under the brand name Hawaiian Sun.  The plastic frame looks sturdy and the design is perfect for my round-shaped face.  It also has polycarbonate lens with UV 400 protection.  The price?  Only P249.50!

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Not in picture are my swimwear (not picture-worthy, haha!) and my beach bag.  I’m actually still deciding on what beach bag to bring.  It’s a toss between the Cath Kidston PVC bag (mainly because it’s water-proof) or this satchel-type canvass bag that I got as gift last year because it’s light.  I wish I’ve kept some of the native bags I bought from Naga last year but they all have been given as gifts to my US-based aunties went they went here last year.   Oh, how they love those bags.  My mom said they wanted more of those and they’ve actually asked her when I’ll be back at Naga hehe!

Anyway, if I still can’t decide by Thursday then I’ll just bring the 2!

For now, all I could think of is our upcoming weekend in this paradise (photo source here):

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Can’t wait!

 

Summer Heat Relief Efforts

I did a little shopping last weekend to help me combat the heat wave we’re having right now:

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Although I always have my hair in a bun using big hair claws,  I still feel hot and uncomfortable. With the weather at 34-36 degrees Celsius everyday, the simple hair bun doesn’t help anymore.  So I tried a mid-high hair bun using the hair claws and while that greatly helped in relieving me of that burning feeling, it was only temporary because the hair claws doesn’t hold too well for a mid-high bun.  It loosens up after a while.

The spin pins from Goody at PCX Rockwell helped me achieve the my own mid-high hair bun look at minimum effort and without any scalp pain.  I love how natural it looked (no need for hair nets!) and how easy it is to put the screw-type pins on the hair.  Whether you like it sleek or messy, you can do that in minutes with these Goody pins.

I started using the spin pins this week and they hold up really well, there’s no need for me to re-fix my hair at all.  I only remove them when I get home to allow my hair to breathe.

I also bought myself a Carmex lip balm because my lips have been drying up quickly since this abnormal summer started.   I got the Cherry-flavored lip balm and it smells really nice.

Finally, no more burning feeling at the nape and no more over-drying of the lips for me.  I hope my relief efforts will help me through the rest of this unbelievable summer heat.

 

Shopping Galore at 168 Mall Divisoria

I love Divisoria!  This is my shopping mecca for clothes, housekeeping items, art and craft materials and everything in between.  Like other 168 Mall shoppers, I am drawn not only to the variety of commodities available and their wholesale prices but the place itself – it’s clean, organized and air-conditioned, just like in a mall!

What I enjoy most in shopping at 168 Mall are the clothes.   You can find the latest fashionista clothes there.  Right now, it’s Korean fashion all over.  Lots of loose and printed blouses, lace-collared blouses, chiffon blouses, maxi-dresses, floral pants and skirts, etc.  You name it, and they most likely have it.  And the prices?  Incredibly cheap!

When you’re surrounded by all these beautiful and cheap clothes and you are shopping with ladies who also love clothes, your EQ (emotional quotient) is bound to go haywire.  I know that I will not be spared from this shopping temptation, so to avoid overspending, I set a budget for myself.  I had fun scouting for best bargains and thanks to my Chinese SIL, Juvvy, I scored additional discounts from Chinese sellers.  She also helped me choose the clothes to buy (because it’s so hard to pick just one when everything’s pretty!), along with my cousin Mae Anne who is a self-confessed fashionista.

Here are my shopping loot from 168 Mall:

2 pairs of black thermal leggings that are so “in” these days.  Only P120 per pair.

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Fashionable loose blouse with ‘Mexican’-stripe design (P250.00).   This is a see-through blouse, perfect for the hot, hot summer!

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Another loose blouse, with black lace on the shoulders (sorry, I can’t think of a better description).   It has a sheer cover underneath so you don’t have to wear a tank top inside.  I got this also for P250.00.  I love the ‘glam rock’ feel of this one.

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Side story:  Juvvy was the one who first spotted this and Mae Anne liked it too.  The blouse came in 3 color sets (red-blue-yellow, orange-green-white and this one in purple-black-white).  Juvvy got the red blouse and Mae Anne got the orange one.  Then they asked me to get the purple one as well!  The Chinese seller must be so happy to have sold 3 blouses at a time!   So each of us now has this same blouse but in different colors   =)   Pwede na k’meng mag-perform as The Supremes!

I fell in love with the “Cath Kidston” look of this blouse, and you all know how crazy I am with anything Cath Kidston.  So obviously I have to have this!  Also priced at P250.00.

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I hope you’re not bothered by the door knob in the pictures.  I couldn’t find a better spot in our apartment to take pictures of these clothes on a hanger.

There were lots of printed fleece and cotton pajamas on sale there also (only P100 a pair) and I got myself one with candy-colored frogs design.

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Pasalubong for AJ:  Voltes V shirt (P280.00).

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On our way home, we passed by this stall that sells stationery and craft items.  They sell washi tapes in different patterns, colors and prints at only P25.00 per roll.  I know that these tapes sell at much higher prices in malls (I think P80.00 is the cheapest I saw) so I got all the designs I want already.   Can’t wait to use these with my baker’s twines from Paper Chic Studio!

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I was hoping to buy little watch lanterns as decorative pieces for our apartment but this seller I found was so rude she turned me off.  Too bad she really has nice stuff on display.

Lastly, I almost bought packages of these “Princess Tiara” loot bags, which sells at P200 for a dozen.  But I couldn’t think of an occasion where I could use them.  Very pretty, noh?

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Overall, t’was a very good retail therapy for the 3 of us and I hope we can do this again, but not too soon, though haha!

Thanks Juvvy and Mae Anne!  I had a blast shopping with you ladies!

 

168 Shopping Mall  |  168shoppingmall.com

 

Hello Kitty London x Marks and Spencer

My happy purchase last weekend:

It’s a Hello Kitty body spray from Marks and Spencer!  A bit pricey at P395.00 for a scent that lasts for only half a day but who cares?  It has Hello Kitty and my favorite city in it and I just have to get it for my collection!

Check out more of the Hello Kitty products exclusively made for Marks and Spencer here.

 

Kate Middleton wore a Hijab

Much have been published about the Duchess’s topless photos (which I can’t bear to search over the internet) but a look at her fully-clothed self in Malaysia (during the Southeast Asian tour with Prince William) just makes you forget about the whole thing.

And what irony it was: at the time that the photos are making rounds at the internet, the couple was in Malaysia where where they visited a Mosque.  The Duchess wore a hijab with her long-sleeved, sheer fabric dress.    What a sight to behold, even if almost fully covered.

source: yahoo.com

A lot of people will try, but will never succeed, in putting down the good Duchess in Kate.    Let’s just enjoy and be inspired by her works, her effortless style and her dedication to her royal duties.   No room for haters here!