ECigarettes: The Healthy, Fashionable Way To Feed Your Fancy

The funny thing about smoking is that, while distinctly upping one's coolness factor, it inevitably shortens one's lifespan. I remember my college days of smoking my way through plates, projects, and various deadlines, and I can't help but feel nostalgic for that one long drag from my favourite menthol brand.

Still, it behooves one to note that as you grow older, things like "living longer"and "staying healthy" actually start to mean something. Also: the boy made me quit. :P

Smokes with style.

Still, smokers from around the world can now rejoice: the dawn of the e cigarette has come! Featuring a healthy alternative to traditional tobacco and tar-filled pipes of doom, the e-cigarette ensures that you can happily puff away on your designer smokes without worry.

The initial cost of a starter kit is about $120, but considering that it will be your only expense (apart from the cartridges you purchase when your stock runs out-- apple flavor, yum!), it actually comes out much cheaper than maintaining your regular habit.

And have I mentioned they look awesome?

As any fashionista will know, design is 70% of any product. You can now happily toss out your overpriced menthol slims for the chance to smoke one of these gorgeous ciggies! They have close to two hundred skins to choose from, eight yummy flavors, and of course, lovely cigarette carrying cases.

With designs like this, I think it's safe to say that the e-cigarette is going to be an instant classic. It's style, substance, and class all the way. I'm also guessing that electronic cigarette-smoking is going to be the next big thing to hit the runway. After all, it caters to the quintessential rule of fashion: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! ;)

Rain Skimmers: The Perfect Meld of Fashion and Function?

I've been absolutely hating the rainy season lately because it has summarily destroyed two of my favourite pairs of shoes. Also, splashing about in the rain does absolutely nothing for my fashion sense! A couple of days ago, I managed to brave the rains with my white canvas boots, but one particularly huge puddle was all it took to ensure I had soaked feet for the rest of the day.

I've never been able to bring myself to buy those rubber rain boots (regardless of how stylish some stores manage to make them), but just a couple of days ago the answer to my rainy day problems arrived! JillSabs of Kikay Exchange blogged about Plueys Manila's new Rain Skimmers-- rubber ballet flats lined with comfy cotton to brave the hateful puddles. :D

It took me all of 2 seconds to whip out my credit card and have my pair delivered, and it took exactly one day before they arrived in my greedy little hands.

Exhibit A: Audrey Rain Skimmers, Php1450 and worth every penny!

There are currently only four designs available, and I picked (surprise, surprise) the black and white ones. They were named after the classic Audrey Hepburn, and I figured since most of my clothing was black and white anyway, they'd be a perfect addition to my collection.

The shoes are made of rubber so they've got a very matte finish, and the little white dots make this a classic shoe. The insides are quite comfy, though I did notice that the backs of it were (predictably) sharp and blister-inducing. Good thing my pair came with free heel protectors, which I promptly slapped on and fell in love with.

Seriously. No shoe should ever come without free heel protectors. Thank you, Plueys, for anticipating my complaints, hehe. :D

I paired it with a simple color block dress and was ready to go within minutes!

Of course, after taking them out for a spin and walking around (the slightly damp) Eastwood City, I realized two very important things:

1) Wearing shoes made of rubber are quite warm.
2) I laugh in the face of All Puddles (hahaha...ha...ha...).

Seriously, though. My feet were completely dry in spite of my purposely stepping into some puddles, and I am 100% blister free even though my shoes were slightly tight. I don't recommend using rain skimmers as everyday shoes because they'll make your feet sweat in non-rainy weather, but on a rainy day they will be your Best Friend. :D

Also, since they're made of rubber, they will come out to be slightly small for their measurements. I'm a US size 9 and I got a Pluey size 9 (they're one size bigger than regular US sizes), and it's still a little tight. Rubber doesn't breath and I don't know if it'll ever get looser, so if you check the measurements and you're a Pluey size 8, I recommend going up one or two sizes. While I don't experience any horrid pinching with the size 9s, I generally prefer looser shoes and would generally recommend that as well. :D

Plueys may be purchased online or at LUNA (Serendra, 2nd floor). You can also check out their website for their rain boots here: http://plueysmanila.com but they haven't yet updated it with the rain skimmers. I recommend checking out their multiply site over here instead: http://plueysmanila.multiply.com

Happy rainy days, girls!

Free Fashion Workshops from the School of Fashion and the Arts Manila at Eastwood!

The title says it all, I think. For all the budding fashion designers out there, this is your chance to see if the industry is something you have a future in!

Are you in or are you out?

SoFA Manila will be giving out free workshops for just two days in Eastwood Mall on Friday and Saturday, July 24-25, 2009. There will be workshops on Fashion Design, Basic Draping, Beading and Embellishment, Fashion Styling and more! Seats will be available on a first come, first served basis, but you may reserve a slot by calling SoFA Manila at 8928807 loc 106!

I'm definitely going to check out the Saturday workshops! Can't wait. :D

For those interested in checking out the other locations, here are their schedules:
Eastwood Mall- Saturday July 24-25, 2009 2pm tp 6pm
Podium Atrium- Saturday Aug 1, 2009 2pm to 6pm

Guy Fashion: My Brother Gets A Hairstyle Change for the First Time in 10 Years

As most of my readers know, I have something of an obsession with trying out different hairstyles. I change my haircut and/or color on the average of once every month or so, and I just love the feeling of waking up with a brand-new head of hair.

My big brother, however, is exactly the opposite. He hasn't changed his hair style since he was in college (i.e. almost 10 years ago!), and he's steadfastly maintained the style through university, work, and even when he became a director over at Exist Global.

We were having breakfast on a sunny Sunday morning when he mentioned that his hair was getting longer and that he needed a trim. I, of course, being the consummate hairstyle changer, casually asked him if he wouldn't want to try a new hairstyle. Or maybe some color. Or both.

He looked down thoughtfully, and I could hear the wheels in his head turning. Click. Click. Being something of a fashion lover himself, I knew all I had to do was push just a little bit more. I casually mentioned that a lot of people were sporting his goatee-and-ponytail look nowadays, and that I'd actually mistaken other people for him from afar. That pretty much clinched it. (He hates being common, haha.)

It wasn't long before we were sitting in Azta Salon and thumbing through magazines, and whenever he'd try to change his mind, I'd come up with clever counter arguments. I don't think anything moved him too much, though I did mention that he could maybe copy RDJ's hair in Iron Man. Lol.

Minutes passed quickly, and before he knew it, he was in The Chair.

The Chair.

I personally have a love-hate relationship with The Chair, as it has been my prison for hours on end (during rebonding and digital perming, coloring and cellophaning, cuts, trims, and texturizing). The stylist came up and I showed her the picture we selected. My brother sat quietly. Pensive.

She started to cut.

Pretty soon, all that was left of my brother's perpetual ponytail was a few inches of wet hair. We stared at in silence, then he asked them to put it in a paper bag to go (seriously).

Goodbye, ponytail.

The cutting, texturizing, and highlighting came next. The entire process actually took three hours, and believe it or not I actually spent the entire time hanging around there. (No, I didn't get anything done myself, just sat around taking pictures and tweeting periodically.)

Snip, snip.

I personally found the process quite interesting, as the shorter his hair got, the quieter he became. He always says that he never regrets doing anything once, but maybe he was starting to.

Almost done!

I personally didn't think he had anything to worry about. Shorter hair made him look a lot younger (and cleaner), haha.

OMG, I can see the back of your neck now!

The post-shower haircare prep should generally take about 5-10 minutes, depending on his diligence with a blower. For guys with his face shape and affinity towards facial hair, I greatly recommend this cut. It's a shorter variation of the longish cut that many Japanese and Korean pop stars wear, and when paired with a goatee, it still maintains the wearer's edge.

Cheer up! It'll grow out in a year or so....

Many thanks to Luis for letting me take so many pictures of him, and to his stylist Maggie of Azta Eastwood for doing such a good job. Luis blogs at guttervomit.com and is often seen around big Web events doing talks and trying to pick up girls. ;)

You're the 1, Goldilocks!

I was just a little girl when I had my very first Goldilocks brownie. My mother brought my brother and I to the store for a special treat, and as soon as I got my first bite of the chewy, chocolatey treat, I was hooked.

I've tried brownies from stores all over the Philippines (and plenty outside of the country as well), but none remind me of my childhood as much as Goldilocks brownies do. The taste, texture, and consistency are simply divine... a burst of chocolate flavor with just the perfect mix of nuts!


Of course, brownies aren't the only thing that I'm addicted to at Goldilocks. Who hasn't attended a birthday party with a giant Goldilocks cake as the main treat? Small gatherings, larger parties-- Goldilocks is present at all of them.

Layers of thick chocolate icing frosted on moist, scrumptious chocolate cake, topped with the sweetest, most delicate little sugar flowers. (I used to eat bucketloads of those sugar flowers when I was a kid, haha.)

And what about their cake rolls? Perfect for sharing, perfect for parties! I remember getting my first taste of that delightful mocha roll topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at my sports club's party. Sheer bliss!


Nowadays, though, I tend to think of pastries as a reward for a solid nine hours at work. During the weekends, I treat myself by stocking up on goodies that I can snack on during the coming week. Of course I ration them out, (calories are my enemy, lol), but the beautiful part of Goldilocks pastries is that they're still moist and fresh even after several days have passed!

I usually have a mocha slice with a cup of coffee for breakfast, or a yummy, buttery mamon with some tea in the afternoon. I never get tired of Goldilocks pastries because they have so much variety. I can literally have a different baked good every day of the week!

Doesn't that look great? :D

In any case, I planned on ending this entry with a series of pictures depicting a typical relaxing evening at my parents' house. Whenever I visit them, I like to kick back on my favourite armchair, grab my favourite Goldilocks treat, and relax with the family puppy.

As you can see, things didn't quite go as planned...

"Are you taking the photo, mum?"

"What do you mean Yumi's eating my mamon-- OMG!!"

Eat your heart out, lolcats! :D

You’re the 1 Goldilocks, because you always put a smile on my face!

Recession Vacationing: How To Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too

Vacations: Spend Vs. Save

During these rather trying times, one wonders whether the need to take a break from the rigors of your 9 to 6 outweighs the need to have money in the bank. On the one hand, you desperately need a break from your tiny cubicle. On the other hand, you just can't afford that trip to Bora this summer.

What to do? The answer to that is simple: vacation on a budget. I, for one, tend to overspend drastically when I'm on vacation. It's a new environment and when I see shiny, pretty things... BOOM! Out comes the credit card.

Discipline is important when you're dealing with family vacation budgeting, as you've got to prioritize and plan ahead about what you want to do. For one thing, if you prioritize sightseeing over shopping, you'll naturally gravitate towards tours and should budget accordingly. Ditto on other vacation activities such as sports, shopping, and sampling the local cuisine. Decide what your priorities are and budget accordingly!

Another important tip is to save up for your vacation. This seems like a no-brainer, but it's important to save up for your vacation months in advanced. That way, your weekly monetary allotments don't suffer. I've experienced blowing quite a bit of cash on one awesome weekend, then summarily having to eat cup noodles for the next month to make up for it. Trust me when I say it's not fun. ;)

Of course, when all else fails, there's always debt consolidation. When you've splurged on your dream vacation and return home to credit card bills and don't know what to do, it's probably time to seek professional help.

I attended a personal finance seminar a couple of months back and while I hope I never get into such dire straits as to need financial advice, it's nice to know that the option's there. Professionals who specialize in debt management and credit counseling provide both a guiding hand and teach you better financial habits to boot.

Still, as great as financial advice can be, I'm happy that I'm debt-free and have been for my entire adult life. Here's hoping that I can keep it that way, hehe! ;)

I Heart Accessories! Stockings, Scarves, and Jewelry

As every fashion lover knows, accessories can make or break an outfit. You can pair statement jewelry with a drab dress and end up with something gorgeous, or you can use simple stud earrings as a finishing touch on a completely wild dress. I've always liked big jewelry, but lately I've been accessorizing with stockings and scarves more often. I find that they provide much needed warmth for the colder season (I'm a lightweight when it comes to chills), and they tend to make any outfit really unique!

Here are some favourites from my collection:

Rose-patterned stockings are LOVE

I've been steadily building up my collection of stockings for the past month, and this pair is my latest find. They've got this absolutely perfect chain of roses winding down a diagonal path on sheer black stockings, and they're wonderful for a night out with the girls!

(You can get them at 168 or various multiply resellers. Check out my previous stocking post for more info.)

Handmade jewelry by me! :D

Next up is a simple handmade piece of jewelry by yours truly. I made this rather large pendant with sculpey, some tiny gold beads, and acrylic gold paint. I was trying to learn how to use the medium, and after several burned and/or deformed pendants emerged from my oven, this little baby finally baked perfectly!

It's not on par with professional stuff or even multiply artisans, but I'm very happy with it because it was the first piece of jewelry that I made that I didn't screw up. Hehe.

Crimson and Black Scarf

It's hard to explain my love for red and black combinations, as I hadn't really realized that most of my clothes were in these hues. I've been rooting through my closet and all the clothes I find are either red, black, white, or some combo of all three. There are a few purple or blue pieces every now and then, but yes. Red is apparently my color of choice. :P

In any case, I find this weather perfect for dressing up a simple top-and-jeans outfit. It keeps things delightfully simple with the small added quirk, and best of all, it keeps me warm!

Scarves make me smile. :D

What items do you usually accessorize with? What do you usually pair them with? :)

7-Day Gladiators Fashion Mini-Challenge: Outfit #4

Okay, so maybe this whole taking-pictures-of-yourself-everyday thing is actually harder than I thought, lol! Seriously, when you have to document every outfit you put on (I'm ashamed of outfit #3 because it's not very imaginative, hehe), it's really tough to balance out the whole "statement fashion" bit with the "gee, I want to not look like a fashion victim at work". :P

Still, one of the best things about my new design job is that I get to be around beauty products all day, and this naturally means that everyone at the office is well-dressed. Henceforth, one doesn't feel too out of place traipsing around her desk in outfits like this (coupled with a tasteful, if unpictured, blazer):

click to enlarge

Top: Details, Skirt: Nordstrom's, Rings: Eastwood Bazaar a couple of weeks ago, Necklace: Handmade by yours truly! :D

You'll have to forgive the pose, as I noticed the monotonous nature of my earlier photos and wanted to change it up a bit. I'm not sure what I was going for, here--naughty school teacher who lost her blazer, perhaps?

To check out Day 1, join the challenge, or just to read how this series came about, check out my "7 Days, 7 Outfits, 1 Pair of Glads" post here.

7-Day Gladiators Fashion Mini-Challenge: Outfit #3

Day 3 of the challenge! I couldn't put an outfit together yesterday because the boy and I played basketball, and no matter how inventive I tried to be, I just couldn't play ball in gladiators. Lol. In any case, here is my third outfit in the collection. Unfortunately, the ruffles on the blouse can't really be seen (which actually made the outfit quite interesting IRL), but hopefully you still get the idea.

I wore this outfit around Eastwood when we went out to dinner and did a little clothes shopping (for him, not me), and there was a perfect spot right in front of the fountain where the light was just lovely.

click to enlarge

Top: Cocco Couture, Pants: Greenhills, Scarf: SM Department Store, Earrings: Liz Claiborne, Bracelet: Multiply, Bag: Greenhills

I guess you could say that this is the first outfit where the gladiators couldn't be seen in their entirety (which is something of a shame since their height is kind of the point), but I wanted to include at least one outfit with pants. Ah well. Perhaps a skirt tomorrow, then. :)

To check out Day 1, join the challenge, or just to read how this series came about, check out my "7 Days, 7 Outfits, 1 Pair of Glads" post here.

*This photo was taken by my boy. :3

7-Day Gladiators Fashion Mini-Challenge: Outfit #2

The 7-Day Fashion Mini-Challenge continues with day 2. I wanted to put together something different from yesterday's very prim and proper outfit, and I ended up going with a shorts-and-top combo. It was a little tough to find a top to go with the challenge's requisite gladiators, but I found that my silver-and-black gem-encrusted top did the trick quite nicely. I do regret that it was black and white again, and trust me when I say that you will be seeing color quite soon!

In the meantime: Outfit Number 2, worn to the SM wi-fi test at Megamall, followed by a trip to the nearby SanFo Treats candy store. (I overdosed on saltwater taffies and caramel-covered coffee beans).

click to enlarge

Top: People Are People, Shorts: Greenhills, Necklace: Multiply, Earrings: Cleo (these are made of carabao horn!), Ring: Eastwood Cybermall, Laptop Bag: Punch-drunk Panda

To check out Day 1, join the challenge, or just to read how this series came about, check out my "7 Days, 7 Outfits, 1 Pair of Glads" post here.

NOTE: I apologize for the crap textures on the photo. I had to spruce it up a bit because my camera pixellates like crazy under low light, and apparently things don't get much worse than a dimly-lit hallway. Oh well! :(

Also: This photo was taken by my personal boy wonder. :)

7-11's BIG BITE MATCH: The Latest Sport to Hit Manila!

Last July 4, 2009, 7-11 launched the "Big Bite Match"-- the Philippines' first competitive eating competition. Members of the press and various bloggers were invited to Rockwell tent to witness the launch of the competition as well as a live demo from Tom "Goose" Gilbert-- one of the top contenders in the world of competitive eating.

We were treated to a fair-type feast of 7-11's finest: The big bite hotdog, shredded corn, mini-pizzas, slurpees, cotton candy, and all the soda you could ever want!

Brings Back All The Childhood Memories...

After we got the chance to gorge ourselves, we were treated to the full slew of Big Bite Match's campaign materials. There was a trio of pretty hilarious commercials introducing the contest with celebrity impersonators galore. Katrina Haligi Vs. Dicky Fellow in a hotdog eating contest was truly inspired, lol!


And how can I not mention the comedian dressed as a Big Bite hotdog? Chock-full of sexual innuendo-laced hotdog jokes, I can safely say that he made the event one of the most unique I've ever been to.

Still, with all his entertainment value, I think I can safely say that pro-eater Tom "Goose" Gilbert was still the highlight of the event.

Watching him demolish 10 hotdogs in a handful of minutes was pretty damned amazing, and I have no doubt that it's going to be inspiring a veritable slew of Filipino competitive eaters who want to follow in his footsteps.

The Big Bite Match contest actually runs from now until August 15, 2009. From Mondays to Saturdays at 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, eating hopefuls can go on down to any 7-11 branch and test their mettle. The challenge is to eat 5 Big Bite hotdogs in as little time as possible, and the nation's fastest eaters will be able to join the final competition, where the grand prize is P500,000 in cash!


All you have to do to enter is pay P150 and you get this box full of hotdogs in buns, plus a large beverage of Big Gulp. A 7-11 employee will then time you while you attempt to scarf down the meal as quickly as possible (hopefully while your friends cheer you on), and if you beat that branch's best time, you get put in the running for the finale!

So what are you waiting for? Go on down to 7-11 and try it out! You could be the next gastronimic champion to hit the restos. :D

*This entry was live blogged from SM Megamall's wifi test location at the Atrium.

Fashion Mini-Challenge: 7 Days, 7 Outfits, 1 Pair of Gladiators

So. The boy gave me a pair of gladiator sandals from People Are People last week (early anniversary present), and I've been wearing them everyday since then. Putting together outfits that go with gladiators was a lot of fun, and I got to thinking that it would make for an interesting fashion challenge. I mean, everyone knows that I'm a bit of a shoeholic, and I tend to plan my outfits around my shoes rather than vice versa.

So I got to thinking: If you could wear one pair of shoes for a week, what different outfits and accessories would you pair it with?

First up: The lovely Gladiators.

Boutique, carried by People Are People

Second: Outfit Number 1, worn to a Geiser Maclang event at Rockwell, followed by a Cafe Scientifique seminar at the Fort.

Tube Dress: Cocco Couture, Bolero: Ensembles,
Flower Brooch: One of Beijing's many bazaars,
Bag: Greenhills

Note: I apologize for the quality of the photo, as this was the only full-body photo that I was able to get. I'll most likely be shooting the next 6 photos before I leave my place and not during whatever event I'm at, lol!

I will be wearing (and posting) my remaining 6 outfits with these shoes over the next few days, and I invite the other fashion bloggers out there to come up with 7 outfits to go with their favourite pair of shoes as well!

Just post an initial picture of your shoe-of-choice , post 7 wearable outfits to go with them, and drop me a comment so I can check it out! ;D

Events Round-up: Science Centrum, Randell Tiongson, and the Flippish Launch

I've been a busy bee the past couple of weeks, and in an effort to refrain from spamming my dear readers, I've decided to combine my coverage of three events into one entry. Capsule event reviews are quick, concise, and to the point, plus they're lots of fun to read! Right? Right?? :P

Events = Love!

(ahem) In any case, first up on my literary plate is none other than...

1) Philippine Science Centrum's New Exhibit Launch

Finally, the space gallery is open to the public! I blogged about the renovated PSC's launch a couple of weeks ago, and now their new exhibits are finally up and running. They've got a new chem lab, an updated computer bank, and several space-and-constellation exhibits brightening up the place.

The Astronaut Exhibit

Me using the astronaut exhibit. :D

The PSC is located in Riverbanks in Marikina city. Please check out their website for more details and an exact address.

2) Randell Tiongson's Talk About Personal Finances

This was, without a doubt, one of the best seminars I've ever been to. It was about how to manage your personal finances and how to budget what you make every month. I've actually started doing a lot of Randell's suggestions, and it's great that I'm seeing where all my money is going everyday.

Mesmerized by Money Talk

I had the chance to talk to Randell after the seminar for a bit, and when I mentioned that I had 60 pairs of shoes, his theory about "Women and Shoes" was pretty much cemented. Lol! I've been following his money-saving suggestions for about a week and a half now, and I can safely say that I'm not impulse-buying stuff as often anymore. (It's a wake-up call when you have to write it down, lol!)

I highly recommend checking out Randell's blog about finances and money here, and to pick up Money Sense magazine whenever you have the chance. It's basically financial stuff in layman's terms, and I have to say that for a mathematical lightweight like me, it really makes stuff simpler to understand.

3) Flippish.com Launch: The Death of TV

Partying on a Thursday Night

Flippish.com's launch party at Fiama proved that the Philippines is finally moving into the future! As the first online video channel in the Philippines, Flippish provides interesting and relevant shows that you can watch online whenever you want.

A Band Whose Name I Can't Remember, But Boy Do They Remind Me of Flight of the Conchords. And I Don't Mean Their Music.

The Boy Is Surprised, But He Is Holding The Camera

I'm personally really happy that Flippish came to fruition, because I think that it's high time we got great shows with great content produced by our very own. :D

So what are you waiting for? Check out Flippish.com now!