Internet Shopping: Where to Go and What to Buy

As someone who spends 75% of every waking moment online and in front of the computer, I've had to get seriously creative with my shopping time. If one gets a paltry hour free for lunch, it tends to be difficult to run to the store for, say, that new pair of shoes you totally need to get or that awesome dress you saw in the window.

Internet shopping has become more and more popular due to the working girl's need to multi-task, and here are my favourite online destinations to browse and buy.

Some awesome ebay finds from powerseller Isabel226

Ebay.ph - This probably doesn't need any sort've intro, but ebay.ph is the #1 place to go for all your shopping needs. Looking for a sexy red dress? A pair of purple heels? A new cellphone? Ebay has got it all. I personally love to browse Ebay because of all of the great clothing bargains that can be found there, and I'm happy to say that after 70+ transactions, I've never been scammed by any sellers there. (Just be careful to buy from high-ranked sellers and you'll be okay.)

Ukay Manila dresses

UkayManila.com - Their website is currently down so this leads to their multiply site mirror. Lauren and Liz specialize in shopping at ukay-ukay stores, cleaning up the dresses, and reselling them to us at reasonable prices. It sure beats having to sift through racks and racks of clothing at ukay-ukay stores, and I for one am happy to have someone pick out the best ones for me to look at. The only problem is that they have pretty limited sizes and stocks, so it's an online battle to get the dresses you want. Lol.

One of Lucky Doll's less racy offerings

LuckyDollStore.com - I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of Luckydollstore by now, as it's the best place to get sexy lingerie, corsets, bathing suits, costumes, fishnet stockings, and all sorts of intimate apparel. They also sell "toys for the big girls" (wink wink, nudge nudge), which is pretty much the only place where you can get things like that. (This album is viewable only to contacts, though. ;)) I think that the reason this store is so successful is because women in this country are generally shy about buying sexy lingerie, and that being able to do so in the privacy of their own homes (without having to pay exorbitant customs fees) is an awesome thing.


Listia.com - Consider this a follow-up to my last post about this little gem of a site, but I just finished my first "purchase" through Listia! I got these sexy little croc boots for a measly 20 credits plus the cost of shipping, and now all that's left is to wait for the gorgeous things to arrive. I wish more people from the Philippines would sign up and put their stuff up, because the cost of shipping from the US is pretty damned high. Lol. Anyway, the process is simple: you put your stuff up, people pay "credits" for them, and then you can "spend" your credits on other things on the site. The kicker is that you get 300 credits right off the bat when you sign up and list something (anything, really), and you can spend them however you like. As this is my first transaction with the site (I just finished paypaling the shipping fee to the seller), I'll let you all know how it turns out. :)

What are you fave online shopping destinations? Post 'em below and share! :D

Holy Crap, An Ebay For Free Stuff??

Now I really *have* seen it all. Listia.com is like an Ebay, except for free stuff. If another man's trash is another man's treasure, then this is the place for you.

Auction here: http://www.listia.com/auction/15063

This skirt, for example, is going for 100 credits with free shipping to the US (you pay for shipping if it's outside the US). You get 300 credits free when you sign up and list something, so this little baby could be yours for the paltry sum of a shipping fee! :D This is like a barter-type of Ebay, where you give away your things in order to get credits, and you can spend the credits that you get on whatever you want.

As a certified shopaholic, I've got a ton of stuff that needs letting go off in the back of my closet. And wouldn't it be awesome if I replenished my library whilst getting rid of some old books that I never read? The possibilities are endless. :D

You should join me on Listia to get 300 free credits plus a bonus gift here: http://listia.com/signup/11719

Remember, if you use that link, you get an extra 50 credits on top of the original 300. :D What are you waiting for? List now! :D

JIV Manila Presents: Otherworldly Journeys

JIV Manila's 6th Public Show, "Otherworldly Journeys" will be at the Mag:net Café, Bonifacio High Street from November 5 to 29, 2009. See new works by old and new JIV Manila artists! The opening is at 5pm onwards.

Featuring art by: Alain Austria, Liezl Buenaventura, Joel Caballero, Lito Casaje, Jeremy Malcampo, Juno Parungao

Check out JIV Manila's website here.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE! LolDogs Salut!

The Mardi Gras Puppy On Loan For Photo Op

So I went with the boy and my German friend Steffi to last weekend's Halloween Scaredy Cats and Dogs costume contest at Eastwood City Walk, and I ended up getting a ton of great pictures. And what's a bunch of great dog pictures without some awesome loldogs-style captions? :D

(Note: Please forgive my corny sense of humor. Puppies in costume just bring out the worst in me, I guess.) :D

My very first dog was a hotdog. I named her Twinky.

I love Chow-Chows. They look so... dumb. Lol.

Gorgeous, evil huskies.

Sleepy shi-tsus are LOVE.

This puppy made me want to pick it up and eat it. :D

Aaaaand that's a wrap, folks! Happy Halloween and don't let the bed bugs bite! Or something. Lol.

Freeway Art: National Artist's Collectors Series Features Ang Kiukok

The Line-Up

There are few things I love more than art and fashion, and when the two are combined I am in absolute bliss. "I Draw For A Living" was lucky enough to be invited to Freeway Art's runway and press event for their latest national artist's collection, and I was completely floored at how well they melded fashion and the legendary Ang Kiukok's art.

National Artist Ang Kiukok's easel and brushes on display

I'm always a little in awe of cubist painters, and the layering of Kiukok's work atop such contemporary pieces worked very well. Assymmetry was the word of the night, as even the juxtaposed clowns on the too-long hoody (without the hood, haha) were artfully disarranged.

My favourite piece of the collection!

As my readers will know, I'm absolutely in love with girly dresses, ruffles, and lace, so I guess it's no surprise that the pieces I want to highlight fall in that vein. There are, of course, the requisite colorful prints on ultra-soft t-shirt material, but since those are fairly common to the art world (Tokyo Design Festa comes to mind), I'll skip to the good stuff.

First up is this *gorgeous* little dress. I love everything about it-- from the lovely little lace collar to the length to the simple, stark clown print perched asymmetrically from hem to hip. Maybe I don't quite have the guts to pair it with hot pink tights, but I can think of a million things I could wear this gorgeous number to.

Next up we have this long top/mini dress with the lovely puffed sleeves. Yet another supremely versatile piece that every girl should have in her closet-- you can wear it with leggings and flats, formal shorts and heels, a black mini skirt and a thick belt... the possibilities are endless!

On the other side we have one of those simple art print t-shirts that I was talking about earlier. You don't really want anything too crazy on your man (or brother, or dad), so I thought this was a perfect blend of wild and wearable. Bow-tie notwithstanding, of course. ;)

Women's print t-shirts and samples of how to wear them! I really love how the middle shirt's sleeves are super short. If I were to put this into a more wearable combo, I'd pair it with a black pencil skirt, blazers, and heels-- perfect for a day at the office!

What's a collection without accessories? Check out these gorgeous little clutch bags and totes-- each piece is produced in limited quantities, so it's the perfect unique gift for that special someone.

Yours truly modeling "Clowns". Love, love, love!

Lizz's Pick of the collection: Can I just say again how much I love this no-hood hoody? The fact that it's slightly longer than most hoodies means that your torso looks that much longer while you wear it, and it's funky enough to ensure that you stand out in any crowd. This style is limited to 286 pieces ONLY (I have number 82 out of those 286 pieces), and for a reasonable P1,795 you could own a piece of artistic history in your hands.

So what are you waiting for? My photos are merely the tip of the iceberg for this truly unique and innovative collection. Head on down to any Freeway branch to see these gorgeous pieces for yourself.

For store locations, news, and info about the collection, please check out their website at http://www.freeway.net.ph

Breast Cancer Awareness: The Importance of Knowing

A family member was very recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

The news was overwhelming for me, and in the span of two weeks she had gotten the diagnosis, surgery, and is currently in post-op recovery. We are not sure if she needs chemo yet, but we are in good spirits. To those who pray and to those who don't-- please keep my family in your thoughts.

While our story seems to have a happy ending in store for us, I wanted to share my experiences with others who may be in a similar situation.

I have never been so grateful for the internet, as knowledge about breast cancer, its stages, what type of tests to take and what kind of symptoms to expect has provided great comfort for us. It has been difficult for me to keep my head straight the past couple of weeks, but simply knowing about how bad breast cancer is/isn't has been a great help.

That said, I would like to share the following pieces of information that provided me the most comfort:

1) 1 in 8 women develop breast cancer. 1 in 5 of those don't beat it.
2) Early detection saves lives.

Stage	5-year Relative Survival Rate
0	100%
I	100%
II	86%
III	57%
IV	20%

*She was stage I/IIa, and so this simple chart went a long way in assuaging my fears.

3) Be strong when speaking to/being with the patient. This may seem like an odd bit of advice, but my personal experience was that I was incredibly emotional. However, crying in front of the person or expressing too much worry isn't a good idea, and if you need to let your emotions out, you should do it in front of someone else.

4) Listen, and don't tell her what you would do in her position. Letting the person you love make their own decisions about the whys and wherefores of their treatment is a must, even if you would personally do something else. Again, this may seem like a silly bit of advice, but when you're in my shoes and you want nothing more than your loved one to be well, you'll probably want to start calling the shots. Don't.

5) Other helpful links: http://www.cancer.org, http://www.locateadoc.com/articles, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer, http://www.breastcancer.org/

Please help promote breast cancer awareness. I cannot stress how important early detection is, and how grateful I am that she caught it sooner rather than later.

(Back from Hiatus!) Flavors of Spain 2009

I'm finally back from a 4-day vacation at Boracay (obligatory vacation post to follow)! I was also sick for a week afterwards (damn you, oysters, damn you!), but let's not talk about that. Instead, let's talk about food.

Last September 24th (coverage had to wait because Ondoy hit right after the event), several bloggers were invited to go to Tower Club in Makati to sample fine wine and Spanish cuisine. The food was unlike anything I'd ever had before, and everything from the paella to the cold meat and h'or d'oeuvres were pitch perfect.

Quail eggs and/or meat on bread = heaven

A movable feast! (Because it's on a lazy susan, get it? No? :P)

A fine selection of meat.

The biggest paella I have ever seen in my life.

Our compliments to the chef!

Red and white wine by Bestworld Beverage Brands Inc. = love

Happy, tipsy bloggers at the end of the feast!

The event was hosted by Fuego Hotels and Properties alongside the Economic and Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy.

To celebrate the event, Taal Vista Hotel, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, 7Stones Boracay Suites and Club Punta Fuego is offering falvorful Spanish buffets for the entire month of October!

National Thank You Day Philippines and Toblerone!

There are many things to be thankful about during the past few days. If we don't dwell on corruption or tragedy brought on by greed, we can get to the bits where our neighbors save lives, where people we don't even know give up their own lives to help others, and for the help that volunteers have given people in the devastated areas.

The aftermath of Ketsana may not seem like the best time to say "Thank You", but we should never forget the heroes that stepped up during the floods and give them our heartfelt thanks.


Spearheaded by Swiss chocolate brand Toblerone, the 2nd National Thank You Day on October 20, 2009 aims to bring people together to honor extraordinary and inspirational people in the Philippines who deserve to be shown the sincerest appreciation.


You may cast your votes for who you think the Philippines' should thank at www.thankyoudayphilippines.com

How the Floods Ate My Car (EDIT: Emergency Numbers Added)

EDIT: Emergency Numbers for those stranded and/or in need of help:
Red Cross:143, 527-0000
MMDA:136
Coast Guard: 527-6136
Rubber boat requests to: 838 3203 or 838 3354
Office of Sen Villar to rescue stranded people may also send SMSs to: 0917-4226800, 0917-2414864, or 0927-6751981

Also: The LRT and MRT will be running 24 hours today.

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Today was supposed to be a nice, normal day. Maybe a little rain, maybe a little wind, no big deal. But then a horrible force of nature came and ruined my day:

Climate Change Sucks Ass

I woke up at 8:30am and there was quite a downpour. I had a breakfast date with my brother and father at a cafe across the street, so I put on my rain skimmers and headed down. We were at the coffee shop until about 11:00am, with the rain pouring continuously around us.

The View From My Window: Gray Skies on a Rainy Day

My father left for home (in Katipunan), whilst my brother and I walked back to our respective apartments in Eastwood. It wasn't long before reports started to come in that different parts of QC were flooding, and at around 2:00 pm I went down to the lobby to check what was going on. I overheard that rubber boats were being dispatched to some of the farther areas because of the height of the floods, and that people were standing on their roofs to avoid it!

Our housekeeper rang me to say that my car (which I keep in my parents house), had been completely submerged in the garage. The first floor of the house had also flooded up to the waist, and she was moving as much of the living room and dining room that she could to the second floor.

My dad called me a couple of hours later to say that our street was inaccessible, and that he was staying at the clubhouse. My mom's car had not been parked in the garage, and had actually floated away. Let me repeat: FLOATED. Away.

Here's a clip of part of the Katipunan road, right across from Ateneo de Manila university.



It's now 5:30pm and the sky is completely black. I went downstairs to check how things were, but so far the floods haven't damaged Eastwood overmuch; Ortigas still happens to be accessible, but you can't get very far on C5 due to it being submerged.

One of Makati's Many Underpasses

They say that this is only typhoon signal 1, but damned if it doesn't look much higher. All my family members and the boyfriend are accounted for, though, so I think I should just count myself lucky. Stay safe and dry, everyone! :(

Other photo updates: (click to enlarge)

That little bit of white you see? That would be what's left of a car. :(

the Fort

Photos of various areas also viewable here: http://ondoy.tumblr.com

Catching Up On UP's UAAP Turn-Out!

UP Pep Squad's Competition Performance

So it seems that UP Pep Squad's routine landed them 3rd place at the 2009 UAAP last September 13, and I can't say that I'm surprised. While technically sound, I was a little disappointed that their performance lacked the unique flavor that they're known to bring year after year. I mean, who could forget 2008's Tribo: Sugod theme (tribal techno theme + grand finale disappearing act + The Naked Man), or 2007's UP Rocks theme (hello, they danced to the Ghostbusters theme? How awesome is that??)?

Don't get me wrong, though: I was impressed with this year's finale of "transforming" a carboard IKOT jeep and a bunch of pom-poms into our UP Seal (i.e. a parrot, haha), and that stunt was probably what got them into medal range. Still, I was hoping the 2-year championship streak would turn into a 3-year streak, if only because the UP Maroons basketball team is fricking hopeless (11 losses to 3 wins = 6th place out of 8 universities, sigh).

Other scores include: 1st place in Football (men's; why isn't football more popular in this country?), 1st place in Judo (women's; 3 years in a row, yay!), 2nd place in Volleyball (men's), 2nd place in Baseball (men's), 2nd place in Basketball (women's; hahahahaha, are you noticing a trend, here?), 2nd place in Swimming (women's), and a bunch of 3rd places for Tennis (men's), Table Tennis (men's and women's), Swimming (men's), Fencing (men's), and Tae Kwon Do (women's).

So to recap: UP women's teams place in medal range for Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Basketball (hahahahaha), and Swimming, while the men do well in Volleyball, Fencing, and Football. Yes, UP women are macho. :D

Also, I had hoped to see Arnis enter the UAAP before my college years were over, but I guess we've got a bit longer to wait. The last time I competed in what our association would call Pre-UAAP tournaments, we'd already had UP, ADMU, UST, and DLSU with legit teams, so all that was left was actually doing the paperwork. :( Oh, well.

I'm admittedly not much of a sports fan, but what graduate doesn't want to see their alma matter do well? Hopefully the UP Pep Squad will retake their throne next year, and here's hoping that our Basketball team (Women's, hahahaha), continues their uphill trek!