Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts

Fashion envy: Stealing Bella Hadid’s latest looks



The Hadid sisters have taken the runways by storm and have risen to the ranks of today’s hottest fashion icons in their own right. Following her big sister’s taste in style, Bella Hadid has been seen in local fashion house Penshoppe’s Generation Now collection.

The curated Generation Now pieces aren’t just made for everyday wear, it’s here to dictate the trends for the 2017 pre-holiday fashion season. And if there’s anything Penshoppe’s mix-and-match friendly pieces have perfected, it’s the balance of sass with a touch of kickass—and there’s no one like Bella Hadid who works this style best.

Taking notes from the 21-year-old model, I looked into the pieces of Bella’s outfits and figured the perfect days to wear them on.
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Common Table’s comfort food


Salcedo Village is home to a lot of restaurants offering comfort food. Be it gastronomic fusions of different cuisines, or traditional recipes with a twist, you’re bound to find a place for every kind of craving here. Each of their best-selling dishes are just waiting to make it to your list of favorites.

And it’s no surprise that included among its ranks is Common Table at Valero Street, Makati. Their specialty? Comfort food that upgrades a recipe’s common ingredients for a remarkably satisfying dining experience.

Here are the must-tries on a Common Table visit:
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Finding everyday lippies that are sure-fire MLBB shades


Make-up is a creeping addiction. You start with the essentials, then you’ll find one item or brand that you’ll eventually swear by and will shower (monetary) devotion on. Then, in your beauty enlightenment, comes the next phase: hoarding. You’ll tell yourself every shade of whatever it is you’re eyeing is a must-have—and it probably is. (After all, the customer is always right.)

That’s often the lie I repeat in my head whenever I face a lipstick counter. There are just so many gorgeous colors, but I take pride in being disciplined enough to remember what shades are in my make-up arsenal, and just stay away from the usual colors my eyes often gravitate to. Most often than not, every time I visit make-up stores, I would be able to walk away empty-handed.

But price matte lippies for just P200?? You’ve definitely cracked my beauty abstinence.

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Where to find a matcha-ddicting lava cake


The current weather is quite unpredictable, but I found a hot-and-cold combination that surely beats it both ways. And in case you’re not quite aware yet, the foodie’s cardinal rule is: Always have room for dessert. If there’s something I bet you already know, though, it’s that matcha-infused goodies are always so intriguingly irresistible with its earthy flavor.

 If you’re a fan of Royce’s Nama chocolates, rediscover its ooey-gooey goodness in Hanamaruken’s Matcha Lava Cake with Ice Cream (P180). The creamy, melt-in-your-mouth taste of matcha in every bite will make you order dessert as an appetizer.
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llaollao madness

llaollao’s fourth branch is now open at Trinoma
Since it first opened in 2016, llaollao (pronounced as yao-yao) still isn’t in every mall I frequented as I hoped it would had by now. It currently has branches in SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Glorietta, and—finally, right in my home turf, Quezon City—Trinoma!

The malls in Fairview don’t offer any froyo, which is a complete disappointment. So when I drop by malls that actually do, I try to grab some frozen yogurt goodness whenever I can. While there are other stalls and stores that offer this cold treat, it’s the different toppings this Spanish franchise has that make me want more of it.
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Falling for Uniqlo’s Fall/Winter 2017 collection


Uniqlo has done it again.

They take well-loved traditional fashion pieces and weave in Japanese innovation into every fiber of their clothing. We’ve all fallen for the brand’s signature combination of simplicity and functionality, but it’s always the seasonal collaborations that blow us away.

 For this year’s Fall/Winter 2017 collection, Uniqlo worked with designers JW Anderson and Inès de la Fressange to bring the traditional British charm and Parisian chic into everyday clothing for both men and women.

 Adding the Uniqlo U and the denim lines, the brand beefed up a solid rotation of wardrobe classics that will come out on Sept. 22.

 Some people would come up with any excuse to shop. Whether it’s an upcoming autumn trip abroad or you’re just getting ready for the rainy weather, here are 10 Uniqlo F/W 2017 pieces you shouldn’t miss:
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Getting into Yokohama’s Pikachu madness


YOKOHAMA, JAPAN—Tokyo is a quiet city.

 Besides the sounds of trains on railway tracks, the pedestrians stomping on street crossings, employees shouting their oishi menu promos, and even the noise of crickets at night, the city of 13 million people generally lives in serene silence.

But that silence can easily be broken by seven syllables, said by a familiar voice that goes: “Pika-Pika-Pikachuuu!”

 You’ve probably seen viral Facebook videos of Pikachu mascots in droves dressed in different costumes. In their yellow tubby form, with an ever-smiling face and thunder-shaped tail, we see them walking in sync, waving hello and dancing—making them cuter than they already are.

Outside of your screens, these Pikachus can be seen in the city of Yokohama every day of the week starting Wednesday, Aug. 9. The Pikachu shows run until Aug. 15 this year.

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Cookies that match your Butterbeer


Accio, cookies!

The moment I saw PRESS by Fully Booked post about their Harry Potter-themed cookies, I knew I just had to get my hands on them. I loved sugar cookies, after all, even if it stained your tongue with the crazy colors of its designs.
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Dibs on the Biebs


He may have dressed down his Hollywood glamour by sporting a comfy and relaxed style, but Justin Bieber is still a head turner with his effortless street swagger.

Oversized tees with structured sleeves, ripped baggy jeans and cool snapbacks—these essential pieces to channel that inner Harlem swag are finally here. Inspired by Bieber’s latest album and his current style, local fashion brand Oxygen has teamed up with the pop star himself to come up with one of the edgiest streetwear collections to date.
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The local flavors of Locavore


Filipino food is something we’re all familiar with—but it’s always a welcome surprise when these well-loved and familiar dishes are prepared at a higher level.

Our local cuisine is nothing short of a gastronomic adventure. While other cultures tend to stick to their salt and pepper garnishes, ours lean toward more complex preparations. But even as we can indulge in Filipino food in the comfort of our homes, Locavore is a good option when we want something a little bit super to our usual dishes.

The restaurant’s name is quite a giveaway to the kind of food that it wishes to present, and more importantly, represent—food that is loved locally, with ingredients that are locally grown and produced.

Locavore is proud to be local—and it’s obvious in its reinterpreted all-Filipino menu.
The restaurant currently has branches in Kapitolyo, Pasig, and Forbes Town Circle, Taguig.
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Innisfree haul


It was a few years ago when my dad brought us home huge-ass facial washes from this Korean cosmetics and skincare brand Innisfree. He told us it was a popular brand loved in Korea, and until now, it still hasn’t set up its own flagship store in the Philippines—which I hope will change soon.

Before using the wash my dad gave me, I did a bit of research on the brand, making sure it was cruelty-free and made for sensitive skin. And lo and behold—it is!

Innisfree has an all-natural philosophy, and is, in fact, Korea’s first natural brand. That means majority of the ingredients they use are extracted from natural and local produce, while their pigments are derived from minerals.

The brand prides itself of using natural ingredients from Jeju island, which is known for its pristine environment. There is fresh air, fertile soil, and unpolluted waters in the island. Its green tea, volcanic clay, camellia oil ingredients, among many others are sourced directly from Jeju.

Another reason to love the brand is its green causes. It has collected over 8 million Innisfree bottle containers from its patrons for recycling, and continues to promote the use of eco-friendly materials like recycled paper and soybean ink for its packaging.

It took us months to finish the 300-ml products my dad had as pasalubong, and since it was such a bang-for-the-buck buy, I was determined to bring home another bottle—among many others.

My first day in Seoul made me realize I had forgotten my makeup kit at home, but that just gave me an excuse to buy more than what I intended, and even try out their basic products.


I now present my Innisfree haul:
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Explosive flavors at LAVA



One of the things I keep a tab on is places that offer ice cold Tiger beer.

The Singaporean lager is popping in our local restaurant scene and I am very pleased to announce that LAVA Timog is one of the few that carry this brand. I love this drink, and it’s always one of the reasons why trips to Singapore are always welcome—Tiger beer is available on tap!

But that’s not the only reason why I’m writing this blog post solely dedicated to LAVA, a comfort food nook that you should keep under your radar.

When one hears of the restaurant name, you immediately look forward to a molten cake dessert—but let me just stop your sweet-tooth drooling there. LAVA takes its name after the most important part of their kitchen: Lava rocks.
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Letters for Ladies


March is over but celebrating women never had an expiration date.

Behold, there’s an ongoing initiative called Letters for Ladies by Keds Philippines to culminate International Women’s Month where each one is encouraged to send out their feel-good and supportive messages to every woman out there.

Whether it’s a personal message you want engraved in your head (and in your heart), an empowering quote, or even an inspiring story you wish to share, write it down now! The beauty of these messages are not only discovered through the words used but also the sincerity it holds.

Here’s my Letters for Ladies message: You deserve all that you think you do. (This is somehow inspired from HONNE's Gone Are The Days.)


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Bravo Buku-Buku


SIBLINGS Nico and Jessica Santiago have a mission: Bring the northern food and pop culture crazes to the south.

And the duo, with the help and support of their parents, has accomplished just that after establishing two book cafés on their turf, the first in Cavite, and, just recently, in SM Southmall in Las Piñas.

“It was a chance to give what we knew the south wanted,” Jessica said. “Not just the food but the indie scene—we wanted to bring what’s monopolized up north down south.”
The southern café prides itself with a menu dominated by Filipino and Southeast Asian fusion dishes. Offering casual dining, it presents comfort food favorites with some ingenious, if not local, twists.

And in a space full of art, books and good food—which doubles as a venue for expression and exploration for creatives—what is there not to love?
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Diary of an ‘ukay’ virgin


CLOTHES for only P150 a piece? I’m never shopping retail again.

For expert thrift shoppers, a P150 price tag is already too much. But for someone who got her entire wardrobe from the mall, the ukay-ukay is enlightening—that is, after you get overwhelmed with the variety of clothes right in front of you.

But I knew my first thrift shopping experience wouldn’t be a bust, especially when I had the ultimate ukay junkie Shaira Luna with me to get me through the basics.
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The grub up north: Commonwealth StrEAT Part II



Visiting a food park once will never be enough, there are a handful of stalls to try and a mouthful of tastes to discover. Cake and I visited Commonwealth StrEAT thrice, and on our last visit we decided to cap our food adventure with (goblets of) margarita.

   OZAWA   
Budget: P140-P165


Their Noritako is a different take on your usual sushi roll. A crispy, wafer-thin taco shell is followed by nori and sushi rice, topped with a choice of crunchy karaage (chicken) or beef tenderloin steak, julienned carrots and drizzled with Japanese mayo.
Don’t bother using the chopsticks that came with it. Instead, put your hands to good use. Its generous meat and chewy Japanese rice will more than make up for the messiness. Make sure you wash it down with their raspberry iced tea slush that’s big enough to share.

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The grub up north: Commonwealth StrEAT Part I


People of the North rejoice! 

 The foodie hotspots keep shifting on Metro Manila’s map, and they finally found their way to the open, empty spaces of Quezon City’s Fairview (or Far-view, as most people call it).

 Back then, the foodie capital was Kapitolyo in Pasig, until residential Maginhawa Street in Quezon City evolved into a gastronomic strip offering international flavors.

 Fairview was among the more suburban parts of the largest metro city that had long been cut off from the more cosmopolitan and innovative taste bud offerings. But now, a single jeep ride is all it takes for its residents (and other QC folk) to become instant gourmands (or food coma victims).

 StrEAT of the Maginhawa food park fame has set up another branch along the North Fairview end of Commonwealth Avenue.

 Although it’s under the same brand, Commonwealth StrEAT boasts a different set of food stalls and trucks from its Maginhawa counterpart. There are some familiar treats, but most are unique finds that you can find only at this far-off food spot.

   OFF DUTY   
Budget: P100-P160



The Mexi-grill has the perfect appetizers if you’re feeling less adventurous on your trip to StrEAT. Their regular nachos are topped with ground beef, sour cream and salsa (which tastes kind of like fancy ketchup). The quesadilla isn’t as thick as we would’ve wanted, but is still a bang for the buck with its stringy cheese and flavorful meat.

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Hanging out at Naxional



“X” marks the spot, the spot being in Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City where you can get some really good grub.

For South American diner Naxional, “X” also represents 10 of the continent’s nations, introducing a wide range of comfort food developed straight from home cooking recipes of Latina mothers.

With the Philippines’ undeniable Hispanic roots, most South American dishes may come off as familiar, but there are a huge number of dishes with festive flavors that remain uncharted—and yet easily welcomed—by the Filipino palate.
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Lunch at Flame Restaurant



IT WAS a meal made for champs.

We were served with a 7-course lunch, a taste of what Discovery Primea's Flame Restaurant will be serving for the quick, on-the-go (and personally, what I think is the most important) part of the day.

"Not everyone has time to linger over lunch," general manager David de Ayala said. "So we have a quicker cooking time and somewhat more relaxed menu entries for lunch."
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Sights of the city from Flame Restaurant


Armed with good coffee as I binge-watch Manila's city sights. Photo by Alex Castillo

GROWING up in the city does not make concrete jungles wherever I go less mesmerizing.

Architecture of towering concrete in repeated patterns creatively designed to stand out from its adjacent neighbors. And as it soars with height, competing with the clouds for a space in the sky, it gives you calm and perspective.

Now you don't have to imagine the experience of indulging Manila's city sights with Discovery Primea's modern European restaurant called Flame, they now serve lunch and dinner and has been open for almost two months now.
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