Torta Og Uban Pa

      Christmas celebration is almost over and New Year is about to come. Before the year 2015 ends, I discovered this delicious cake bars from the Province of Catmon Cebu. Thanks for the Christmas gift from the Rural Bank of Catmon that made us officemates discovered this delicious delicacy. And because of  that box, I bought another box for my Achi's birthday.
     A box is composed of 15 assorted cake bars like carrot cake, chocolate cake with mallows, marble brownie etc.  It is sold for Php180 per box which is sooo affordable.
      Surprisingly, our Pastor told me that he had been in the shop and not only the cake bars are good but also the torta, coffee and other Filipino delicacies.
      Im looking forward to visit the shop and try other products. Happy New Year!

my break up playlists

      We all experienced hearts broken. Whether it is a small fight or a huge break up, we Pinoys would love to listen to the songs which tell the story of our hearts.
       I just want to share my five paulit-ulit break up playlists everytime I feel my heart is being crumpled.

1.) Someones Always Saying Goodbye by ALONA

            Feeling in love is temporary because everyone is leaving. In this song, I came to wonder how love play our feelings. They come, they go. They don't realize how difficult to move on. Everytime I listen to this song, I feel that I was created to become an island where special people do come and go.

 Favorite line: 

" Why do people fall in love and they end up crying...Why does gladness becomes sadness, things that I don't get. Someones always saying goodbye I believe it hurts when we cry.  Dont we know parting's never so easy."

Listen to the song:

2.) Heaven Know by RICK PRICE

               I remember my first love in this song. First heart beat, first heart ache. I am deeply amazed how each word of the song describes my feelings for this guy. Everytime I listen to the song, I dont only remember my first. I also feel every word of this song for my present and I cant help but hope and cry. I feel that Rick Price sang this for my guys, nyakz!

Favorite line: 

"He's always on my mind, From the time I wake up 'till I close my eyes, He's everywhere I go, He's all I know. Though he's so far away, It just keeps getting stronger everyday.. All the time I act so brave Im shakin inside, Why does it hurt me so?"

Listen to the song:

3.) Waiting For Your Love by STEVIE B

                  Waiting is never been easy. Waiting causes much pain than being rejected straight. You don't know if he's coming or not. You cant move on because there's no sign even a drop of a hint. The struggle in waiting is indescribable just like in the line "How can I explain, the sorrow and my pain?"...

Favorite Line:

"But now you're gone, gone away. All I do is pray for you each and everyday. I'm waiting for your love. I'm wondering where you are. Are with another girl? Are you showing her your world?"

Listen to the song:

4.) Bakit Nga ba Mahal Kita? by ROSELLE NAVA

               Oh! Love can't really give you answers. Love has full of "whys". In this song, it says how love can do everything. You may be hurt. You may act like a fool but you cant help but love, love and love the person. You are willing to do everything, as in every thing because of your love. In the midst of heartbreak, you hear no complains or confrontations but tears.

Favorite Line: 

"Bakit nga ba mahal Kita? Kahit di pinapansin ang damdamin ko.  Di mo man ako mahal heto pa rin ako nagmamahal ng tapat sayo..."

Listen to the song:

5.) I Miss You by BOYS2MEN

What do you do after you realize that the thing you used to have is already gone? How do you react if you cannot do the things you usually do? I guess just like this song, you keep on reminiscing, hallucinating, and praying that those things will be back again.

Favorite Line: 

"Thought I heard your voice yesterday, Then I turned around to say

That I love you then I realized, That it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

And it seems colder lately at night, And I try to sleep with the lights on

Every time the phone rings I pray to God it's you, And I just can't believe that we're through

I miss you...."

Listen to the song:

Shiseido Shampoo and Conditioner Review

                Last week, my sister  brought us Shiseido Shampoo and Conditioner to try on. She discovered how amazing it works during her trip in Japan. Actually, she only fell in love with the conditioner only. So when she had her vacation here in the Philippines, she brought us the complete package.

 Shiseido Shampoo

 Shiseido Shampoo for Damage hair

 Shiseido Conditioner

               Though I have a rebonded hair, I still tend to suffer may sabit hair since I dont condition my hair everyday. For everybody's information, I condition my hair every other day only.hahaha. So after my first try of Shieseido shampoo, not more  than a second, I declared to myself how I love the shampoo.
               Aside from that I love the smell, the texture and formula of the shampoo is so smooth that made it obvious that it will leave the hair smooth. When I combed my hair after shower, my hair is so soft to comb as if I applied a conditioner. The softness of my hair made me feel so light and I can now comb my hair using my hand. Its like all the promises of Philippine brands are put in here. "Ang gaan ng feeling", "Kinamay lang umayos na", and "Walang sabit" ! Uh-uh, no exaggeration. I love not only the shampoo but also the conditioner. It functions as its name implies.
             Unfortunately, the said product are not yet available in Shiseido stores Philippines. In other words, I have to order the products in Japan. Whatever the mode of purchase, there is one thing for sure, for my complete hair care,  I definitely switch to Shiseido. =)

Im going DARK and ORGANIC

             I love chocolates!.. and i will always love chocolates. In fact, its sooo sooo hard for me to say 'NO' when someone offers me a chocolate. Ang hirap magpakipot. How can i even say "no" to the sweet tasting mouthwatering  tongue satisfier?Uuuhhh. Super duper hard. Promise! No joke!...And whenever I eat more than enough, I always feed my mind "That's alright Minie, those chocolates are antioxidant and a broken herat healer. besides, it reduces the risk of heart disease, provides good memory and helps lower cholesterol level." O, lusot di ba? hahahaha...But unfortunately, though I tend to feed myself with positive effects of chocolates I still couldn't hide the fact that chocolates contain high sugar and fat which leads to weight gain and my biggest enemy, PIMPLES....And because Im trying to lose weight and achieve good skin, I dont have a choice but try to avoid these ooohhh-so-heaven chocolates.
              But hey, dont feel sorry for me for depriving myself from eating these chocolates. 'Cause from now on, I am going dark and organic.And to start my year with sweets, I  will reward myself with these favorites:

LINDT EXCELLENCE

Lindt Excellence gourmet chocolate is prepared especially by master chocolatiers who, from selecting the highest quality cocoa can offer, demand nothing less than perfection. Contains cocoa solids 70% minimum.

TRADER JOE'S

Trader Joe's with raisins and peanuts. Sweet raisins and flavorful pecans are blended with 57% cacao dark chocolate. The result is a sophisticated chocolate as with the intensity of fine dark chocolate and the texture of premium ingredients. A classy bar with a sassy attitude.

Ingredients: organic dark chocolate (organic evaporated cane juice sugar, organic cocoa butter), organic raisins, organic sunflower oil, organic pecans, dry cocoa solids 57% minimum.

 Trader Joe's with almonds. Premium roasted almonds and 73% cacao dark chocolate are stars of this bar. Together thay form a decadently delicious sweet treat that has an intense chocolate bite and a delightful nutty texture. Ingredients: organic dark chocolate (organic cocoa mass, organic evaporated cane sugar, organic cocoa butter), organic roasted almonds, dry cocoa solids 73% minimum

CAVALIER

Belgian. No added sugar. Dark Chocoalte sweetened with maltitol-lactitol. Ingredients: cocoa mass, sweetener (maltitol, lactitol), inulin (alimentary fibre), cocoa butter, emulsifier: soy lecithin, natural vanilla. Cocoa solids: minimum 55% produced in a plant processing milk protien, wheat and nuts. Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Contains naturally occurring  sugar.

GHIRARDELLI

A perfect combination of rich slow-melting cool mint filling. Ingredients: sugar, unsweetened chocolate, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, cocoa butter, water,milk fat, corn syrup, soy lecithin-an emulsifier, vanilla, peppermint, potassium sorbate-a preservative gelatin.

             Dark chocolate have much higher cacao content compared to other chocolates. Cacao appears to have an anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. Cacao powder, reportedly, has nearly twice antioxidants than red wine and up to three times antioxidants found in green tea says Nibmor.com. In addition, cacao has a high content of beauty minerals, Sulfur, that builds strong nails and hairand promotes healthy and beautiful skin. So the more chocolate is processed, the more benefits are negated since more flavonoids are processed away. Plus fats found in cacao are healthy fats.

              Friends, if you wanna change you chocolate diet, lets change together. But remember, everything that is too much is not good. Have a happy sweet day!

Sweets from Japan

I can't get enough with this another sweet from Japan!!!

Last week, our neighbor who married a Japanese nationality gave us a few slice of this sweet snack monggo flavor from Japan. This week, she gave us another one whole piece of the same kind of sweet snack but this time GREEN TEA flavor.

She said this sweet snack is  a kind of chocolate in Japan. I just don't know the name of this chocolate because the packaging is labeled in Japanese characters which is unfortunately I don't know anyone who can read it for me. Can anyone read the label for me? 'Coz I wanna buy another like this.

When eating this, I am reminded of "dodol" a kind of suman made by Maranaos. They both have the same texture but this Japanese sweet is sweeter and more fragrant than dudol.

Another chocolate I love is also from Japan, ROYCE CHOCOLATE....

My sister gave us two boxes of Royce fresh from Japan while I was in bangkok. The taste is like heaven that lets you savor and feel the sweetness until your last bite. Worry not if ever you have eaten too much because it is made from healthy and natural ingredients. I don't even worry of my skin and pimples when eating this. And because it is natural, the shelf life is shorter than typical chocolates. When it comes to price, Royce is pricey but I guess it is reasonable. While shopping in Siam Square, I saw Royce at the food center at around 500 Thb. In Philippines, Royce is available at Greenbelt and Eastwood Mall for more that 500 Php.

I must say you guys must try it. Once you taste it, it makes you ask for more!

My VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Savvy 60 Review

Hello buddies! Are you a make-up dependent like me?? If you were put into a situation when you only have to save one make up of yours what would it be??

They say foundation is the most important kind of make up because it's the "foundation" of all make up as the name itself describes. It is the first thing you put on the face. It holds the color of the rest of your make up. That is why I am always choosy when it comes to foundation.

My skin type belongs to oily, very unfortunate for me because my face tends to shine in the middle of the day and my face easily perspires. And when it becomes shiny, the foundation is erased. So my pimples and blemishes that I intend to hide starts to become visible.

I was really curious of VMV Hypoallergenics at Ayala Mall Cebu. I wonder how their products work so I browsed the internet and read their "Take me home" magazines. I then decided to give it a try since I was convinced of their product features. I have tried some of their products already but right now, let me share to you their Skin Savvy 60 Foundation.

Skin Savvy 60 is an ultra-high protection, flawless-finish, medium-full liquid-cream foundation. 100% All types of fragrance free and Dye-Pthalate-Paraben+Preservative Free, Usage+ Clinically Tested, Non-Comodogenic, for all skin types, SPF 60, full-spectrum protection against indoor and outdoor UVA, UVB, infrared and visible light and helps prevent hyperpigmentations, photoaging and skin cancer.

The sales consultant recommended W-3 under yellowish  line color.

                                   * This is what my bare face looks like. No make up at all.

                                                                     

* My face after putting on VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Savvy 60

                                                      * My face with complete make-up 

After putting on the foundation in the morning and set it with powder and blush on, I seldom do retouching during the entire day.

* This was taken before I went home. After long hours of work, my foundation  was still there. Take note, I didn't do retouch during the day.Very confident during the entire day!

                         

If you would ask me if I'll repurchase this product? Definitely YES! And before I forget, I don't break out as much as before. I am now more confident with VMV Hypoallergenics.

Pimple Problem; My Nu Skin Experience

Pimples. Pimples. Pimples.

I am also a victim of these small swelling of the skin called pimples. I am also one of those unfortunate men and women who almost pray and beg God every night that someday he will make a miracle on my face. Having a lot of pimples on the face reduces self confidence which made me stop from pursuing some of my dreams. Dreams like joining organizations and meet new people, learn new things and acquire new friends. All of those dreams were shattered because of my fears. People keep talking about you, even relatives criticizing you. I have even experienced crying secretly in the office's toilet because office mates  backbiting against you. Name it! I have experienced all that.

My face full of pimples

This is what my face looked like without Nu Skin

I have tried many different products, went to different dermatologists, wasted money just to help God perform the miracle that I was asking until someone introduced me with this product.

Nu Skin Clear Action System

Nu Skin Enterprises is a U.S. based direct selling company that distributes premium quality products and services through three core brands--- Nu Skin, Pharmanex and Big Planet. As soon as I met my Nu Skin Consultant, she explained to me the origin of pimples and let me try Nu Skin products. She recommended me to use Clear Action System since I am prone to acne. Clear Action System is composed of foaming cleanser, toner, day treatment, night treatment. She also added Clay Pack and  Tea Green which is under Pharmanex Line to cleansed my body inside. I spent P10,000 for all the products mentioned but the Clear Action System lasted for six months so it is still practical. 

I have been using Nu Skin for more than a year already. To be honest with you, I only took Tea Green for about three months and its been two months already that I stopped using Clear Action Foaming Cleanser and Toner. And this now what I look like.

The truth is my skin currently is not 100% flawless. I still suffer pimples especially during my period but at least I don't go to derm clinics anymore and let them prick it which is a better according to them.

I can now dare to go outside without make-up