I don't think I'll ever get used to big companies sending me products to try. I get this overwhelming sense of "kilig" every time I come home and a huge package is waiting for me thatswhatshesaid.

I'm very blessed to be able to try new releases, old favorites and cult products and I always try to give my honest and objective opinion. I don't always love what is sent to me, but when I do, I make sure to let you guys know that IZ DA SHIZ. Like my current Holiday favorites.

There is nothing I love more than buying gifts for those I love during the Holiday season. I honestly love it. A lot. But every year, things get a little more difficult. Tastes change, trends fade, and sometimes they throw in the phrase I hate the most: "It's okay, I don't need anything this Christmas."

Uh oh.

So you can imagine the stress I felt when I couldn't think of anything special to get them. Luckily the stress didn't last very long this time around.

I've always been a fan of Planet Grapes and everything they stand for. Great wines, delicious food and awesome company. "Wine without the Drama" as they would say. So you can imagine my joy in learning about their new Enomatic Gift Card- perfect for this holiday season.

So I've been prepping for a while now (and by "prepping" I mean opening Keynote, closing Keynote, opening Keynote again, you get the picture...) because I was recently asked by the girls over at Miriam College to give a talk on Self Worth whilst in a Relationship.

**SIDE NOTE: I've done the talk... months ago. I just found this entry floating around my "drafts" sections of the blog.. oops.

Now by no means am I an expert at "feeling good 100% of the time" nor am I a "relationship guru" but after being asked to give this talk, it got me thinking. A lot. So I thought I'd share with you a few things that came to my mind when I was reflecting on life and being happier with yourself.

Current Mood:


And no, it doesn't have anything to do with relationships- don't worry! It's more on being happy with yourself. The relationship part is still in the works (I should definitely start working on my presentation for that talk...)

If there's one thing my family and I love to do, it's eat. As long as there's good food, we'll be there. And birthdays are no exception. So for the past few months, my older sister Trina and I had been planning my Mom's birthday weekend. We wanted it to be as special as ever, as this year has been topsy-turvy for our Mom. God obviously saw our intentions and my Mom's actual birthday, September 25, fell on a no work holiday (hooray!) so we were able to go out on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday!

Talk about a random bunch! Just thought I'd share with you guys some of the things that I've been reaching for the most these past few weeks.

Our Bible study sessions these few weeks have been about how we, as people, can live, see and make our lives better. One of the sessions that struck me the most was entitled "This May Take A While" Such powerful words. Based on a sermon from a Pastor at Elevation Church, it spoke about how we always expect things to go according to plan, the way we plan it. It really hit me because I've been faced with a lot of ups and downs, a lot of why this and not that and situations that I find myself in that test and stretch my patience to its limit. So hearing those words, that sermon, gave me a sense of comfort and a better understanding of how things go in this world and how I can deal with them better.

So lately I've been finding myself researching on different recipes, listing down ingredients and tweaking certain dishes to my liking. Yes, I've finally found myself a little bit more comfortable in the kitchen. And I'm not complaining (neither is my family).

Since breakfast is "the most important meal of the day," I wanted to try and make something that I had seen on numerous food sites and health blogs- Overnight Oats.

So lately I've been finding myself leaning towards healthier food choices. I don't know if it's cause of the fact that some of my clothes no longer fit sudden change in weather or the different recipes I've been reading on websites but I've decided to start eating healthier and smarter food.

In line with this, I've done some research and found out that "Breakfast Smoothies" are actually very good for you. Being a lazy chewer in the mornings (yes, there's such a thing), the sound of something quick, easy, and drinkable through a straw, peaked my interest. I decided to start loading up on fruits and veg at home and with a few tweaks to some Jamie Oliver recipes, I've managed to make two kinds of smoothies that I absolutely love and am obsessing over.

Please take note that I am not a dietician nor a nutritionist. I just like to experiment in the kitchen and learn as I go when it comes to food and eating healthy. So here are two smoothie recipes that you may have already seen on my Instagram. Just dump all the ingredients into a blender and you're good to go! Let me know if you guys try them :)



1 frozen banana
1 handful of uncooked rolled oats
1 apple
3 tablespoons of non fat yogurt
Splash of almond milk
1 handful of raspberries/blueberries/strawberries

Don't let these smoothies fool you, they're not only packed with loads of vitamins from the fruit and veg, but also keep you nice and full because of the oats. That's the part that makes this more of a full on breakfast- the oats release energy all throughout the morning, keeping you fuller for longer and without that pesky sugar crash.

You don't have to use frozen banana, but I find that when the fruit is frozen, you no longer need any ice cubes- making it a smoothie made purely with fruits and milk. :)

When it comes to concealing pesky blemishes, budge proof brows and an all-day matte face, I never kid around. So when these three new treats fell into my forever grateful lap (thank you, Thirdy) I could not wait to give them a go.

Don't get me wrong- I love a good cut of meat. But it really does have to be a good piece. An excellently cooked, deliciously seasoned and perfectly plated dish for me to really want to try it. So you can imagine my excitement at heading to The Butcher Shop, a recommendation from my sister Trina, who we all know, is a certified foodie. Just check her Instagram for proof (but I warn you, you will scroll down feeling hungry as ever).

For those that know me well, these are my type of sandals. Perfect for a lazy daisy or a busy bee or a hipster happy day.

I'd like to think that there is no better place than when two, completely different yet beautifully similar places come together in one delicious merriment of flavors. This could definitely be said for yet another one of Hole in the Wall's treasures: Kwong's.

I mean, look at that hair.


And scruff.



And arms.


And those eyes.




And that smile.

Over the past few years I've been saving up money in order to travel and explore different countries with my Mom and sister Trina. I think I realized quite a bit back that at the end of the day, to go shopping and buy new things is great and fun, but to be able to go off into a new country, explore and experience a new culture and make so many fantastic memories is priceless. With that being said, my family and I jetted off to Vietnam for a couple days last March.

Going to Vietnam was truly an eye opening experience. From the busy streets that were filled with motorcycles (that didn't know when to stop- Pedestrians beware!) to the delicious (and quite deceivingly strong) coffee and healthy noodle soups- the vacation was a true test of my Faith and willingness to "explore."

Let's face it- the summer season is upon us. And with that, comes the unbearable heat. But hey, summer isn't that bad- we have an excuse to plan a trip to the beach with friends, a trip abroad with the family, there's no school which means there's less traffic and we can finally bring out our little shorts and cropped tops without people judging us (okay, maybe I judge from time to time- who wears skimpy shorts and cropped tops in December?!)

Even if the season has a right to be hot (like, ridiculously I'm-going-to-faint-get-me-out-of-here hot) it is only enjoyable when one finds themselves at the beach, sipping on a cold fruit shake, getting that nice golden tan. But for the rest of us stuck here in the city, looking good and feeling fresh despite the heat can be a big challenge. On a normal hot day, I'd choose to simply slap on a bit of my Chanel Le Blanc (since it has SPF 35) with some baby powder and then do my brows. Or you know, go out without any makeup on. But on those days where we have a little bit more to do and more places to go, it's nice to look good despite the heat.

I was able to find a couple of products that can actually withstand the Manila heat. I've found that these products stay on your face all day, not ending up all melted on your shirt.


Base- Chanel Le Blanc Whitening Makeup Base
Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection in Light 02
Powder - Mac Studio Fix Powder in NC30
Blush - Tarte 12 hour Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
Bronzer/Contour - Mac Maleficent Sculpt Powder* limited edition
Brows - Etude House Brow Pencil (Dark Brown) and Maybelline Fashion Brow Tint (Dark Brown)
Eyes - Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows
Mascara - Maybelline Great Lash
Lips - Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw, Mac Velvet Teddy and Candy Yum Yum, Marc Jacobs Kiss Pop in Pop Rock