Wordless Wednesday #102 | Double the Fun!

The Best Salon and Spa Treatments You Can Enjoy on Your Lunch Break.

There is nothing more relaxing than sitting in a salon and spa and letting someone else pamper you. You can easily spend a whole day there without enjoying all the treatments it offers. Many women tend to think that spas are expensive and that they can only go on the weekends or when they have a few hours. There are some great salon and spa treatments that you can enjoy on your lunch break.

Playing with makeup!

Makeup Lessons
Have you ever caught a glimpse of your reflection and noticed your lipstick bleeding off your mouth, that your eyeliner is crooked or that you can see the line between your foundation and neck? A simple makeup lesson can teach you some tricks that professional artists use, and lessons only take an hour or less.

Hair down there?

Body Waxing
Head into the salon on your lunch hour and walk out with no more unwanted hair. While waxing your legs usually takes some time, you can opt for a face wax that removes unwanted hair from your upper lip or chin. Waxing professionals can also remove the hair from your lower and upper arms or eyebrows in less than an hour.

Dolled-up nails.

Manicure
The classic manicure usually takes around 45 minutes, but if you have a little extra time, you can choose a gel manicure or another specialty manicure. You'll love the feel of soaking your hands in warm water and the way your hands and nails look later. Click here to find other spa treatments you can enjoy on your lunch break.

Scary fun at Ocean Park Hong Kong Halloween Fest 2014!

Halloween is just around the corner, and Ocean Park - Hong Kong's unique, homegrown theme park - is now set to give its visitors a memorable, spook-tacular, scream-tastic experience.

Performers from Ocean Park Hong Kong.

At a media launch held two weeks ago, characters from Ocean Park Hong Kong flew all the way to Manila to give us a sneak peek of their Halloween attractions. Some of the attractions include:

H14 at Thrill Mountain, The Summit.

H14 presented by Modern Education.
Admission to this ultimate haunted attraction will be restricted to persons aged 16 or above, and requires online registration in advance. Those brave enough can take the challenge alone, or go in a group of up to six people. Different from the usual spooks, H14 is designed to challenge the limits of the senses and the fright tolerance of each guest, who must overcome their phobias to complete different tasks as they advance through a series of locked chambers. More hauntingly still, the experience of each guest is specifically customized based on personal information collected before entering the attraction.

Rigor Mortis Live at Cable Car Plaza, The Summit.

Rigor Mortis Live presented by Yahoo! Hong Kong.
Together with film director Juno Mak, this attraction brings to life scenes from his award-winning movie, Rigor Mortis. This attraction will have its guests walking through dark corridors while being chased by a masked vampire.

Horror-wood Studios at Waterfront Plaza.

Horror-wood Studios.
One of Ocean Park's 'transforming attractions', Horror-wood Studios is actually Phantom Studios during daytime. At 5pm, the lighting, music and even the set design will change to reveal a new adventure of terror, thereby transforming the attraction into Horror-wood Studios. After guests leave the attraction, they can review their journey as captured on camera. A selfie video camera is also available for rent – a first for haunted attractions worldwide – so guests can capture and take home their most frightful moments.

Forest of Doom at Thrill Mountain, The Summit.

Forest of Doom.
A second transforming attraction is themed on the forest, changing from Forest of Legends during the day to Forest of Doom in the evening. In both incarnations, guests can collect unique commemorative seals on a complementary Ghost Journal at different spots throughout the attraction.

Chinese Mad-icine Hall at The Abyss, The Summit.

Chinese Mad-icine Hall.

Not for the faint of heart, this 'intense scare' attraction  features floating organs, a maze of corpses, and a mad doctor ready to experiment on his guests.

Doraemon Halloween Party!

Doraemon Halloween Party.
Asia's first Doraemon-themed Halloween attraction, Doraemon Halloween Party is catered to families for some good, clean, child-friendly fun. Doraemon & friends will showcase their new Halloween looks in Asia for the first time at Whiskers Harbour, where they can interact with the visitors.

Halloween fun!

Guests will be able to visit the Doraemon House of Gadgets, featuring his favourite gadgets such as the “Time Machine” and “Anywhere Door”, and take photos with various Doraemon decorations and meet-and-greet the gang of characters. Doraemon fans will also love the Doraemon-themed food and drinks, and merchandise.

During Halloween Fest, guests can enjoy fun and scares all day and night for the price of one regular ticket. As an added treat, Philippine Airlines passengers with valid boarding passes will enjoy a 12-percent discount on Ocean Park admission tickets. This promo will run until December 31, 2014. In addition, Ocean Park visitors can get a 10- to 15-percent discount on admission to 21 other theme parks worldwide, including our very own Enchanted Kingdom.

Globe Project 1 Phone | A Call for Good.

How many mobile phones have you owned in the past five years? One? Two? Maybe even five or more? Technological changes sure happen at a very rapid pace these days, especially in the field of telecommunications. Continuous popularity of social networking sites, the high demand for mobile browsing, and the availability of very affordable communications gadgets encourage more people to replace or upgrade their mobile phones almost yearly.

With this development, old gadgets often end up abandoned or worse, thrown into the trash together with drained phone batteries and broken chargers. These obsolete and unwanted electronic and electrical devices add up to millions of metric tons of e-waste disposed worldwide every year which cause toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and beryllium to be released into the air and seep into the ground and waterways.

Through the years - some of the old phones that I have owned.

To combat the dumping of e-waste and promote stronger social and environmental practices, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom is embarking on the biggest and most ambitious mobile recycling program in the Philippines. Dubbed as Project 1 Phone, it is designed to create awareness on proper e-waste disposal and to promote sustainability.

By donating unused, non-working, or damaged phones and tablets, mobile phone batteries, and even personal computers to the campaign, each Filipino would be able to do his share in minimizing not only the environmental impact of e-waste but also counter its harmful effects on health such as skin diseases and possible damage to vital organs and the skeletal system.

#Project1Phone.

Globe also makes it easy for its customers and other stakeholders to participate in the drive by providing donation bins in participating Globe Stores in various parts of the country (for the complete list, please visit the Globe Telecom website www.globe.com.ph/project1phone).

Schools, corporations, local government units, and other private and non-government organizations may also participate in the program by adopting recycle bins. Interested parties may email Globe at bridgecom@globe.com.ph.

All devices and accessories that Globe will gather shall be turned over to TES-AMM, a leading electronics waste recycler which will take responsibility for at end-of-life products to ensure that they are managed responsibly.

TES-AMM will, likewise, work on recovering precious metals and plastics from the recycled gadgets. Globe has committed to build at least 40 school buildings in the province of Aklan and proceeds of Project 1 Phone will be used to add to the said number since hundreds of classrooms are still needed in the area.

Spreading Hope on Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

Unbeknownst to many, there is a thing called 'Mesothelioma Awareness Day', and it's celebrated every year on September 26.

Meso-what?! Mesothelioma, or more precisely, malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that affects the membrane lining of the lungs and abdomen. Mesothelioma is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos, and is the most deadly among all asbestos-related diseases.

Symptoms or signs of mesothelioma may not appear until 20-30 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. Such is the case of Heather von St. James, who was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in November 2005 - barely three months after giving birth to her child.

When Heather was a little girl, her father worked in a construction company, where asbestos fibers are commonly used. Her dad would come home from work with his coat covered in white dust, and little did the family know that exposure to his clothes would put Heather's life at risk.

Heather was given just 15 months to live, but with proper treatment, support from her husband and family, and with her daughter as her inspiration, she was fortunate enough to make it through the ordeal. It's been eight years since Heather survived the big C, and she has made it a mission to spread awareness and help mesothelioma victims around the globe.

Heather, with her husband Cameron and daughter Lily.

Today, I am joining Heather and her family in raising awareness for mesothelioma. And in honor of Meso Awareness Day, I am giving my voice to the victims of this deadly disease. You too, could help. One simple message could save lives.

September 26 is Mesothelioma Awareness Day. 

Some Facts about Asbestos

- Asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye.

- In the US, roughly 30 million pounds of asbestos are being used each year.

- Asbestos remains as the number one cause of occupational cancer in the US, even 30 years after the peak of its use.
- Asbestos was once used in common household items such as toasters and hairdryers, and over 3,000 consumer products.

- Asbestos can still be found in many homes, schools, commercial and industrial buildings.

Tips to Become The Best Mom Ever.

Motherhood is an amazing period in each woman's life. This is the time to enjoy pregnancy, birth, and that astonishing time when your baby grows and you do your best to educate him.

Motherhood is made up of various stages and each of these stages comes with different questions and concerns. What we are here presenting you with is an amazing site that offers all the information you might be looking for, if you became a mother and still have some questions to ask.

Photo credit: Huffington Post.

This is the spot where women all around the world connect with each other and get the support they need in order to enjoy a happier motherhood. We are talking about the greatest pregnancy guide you could ever find on Mom's.com and all the answers for the questions that might arise in terms of pregnancy and motherhood as a whole.

If you need some added information about pregnancy and motherhood, this is the site you should take into consideration. This is all about telling stories, asking for advices, give likes and comments, share news, find brand new friends and talk to each other about any topic you might be interested in. You can just sit back in front of your computer and talk to other mothers from all over the world about labels that you’re interested in.

There is no better option for you if you want to find information about pregnancy week by week, breast feeding, moms with twins, young mom and even a lot more. Mothers throughout the world have already discovered this website and visit it each time they want to communicate and get the right answers to their questions about motherhood.

Moms expertise is a permanently growing community based on collections of genuine moms' experiences. We are not talking about fake theories, but authentic stories, experiences, and advices from mothers from all around the world. All you have to do now is just check out this page and find the solutions for your issues and the help you might be looking for. You can now share your advice or perhaps get the advice you need easier than ever before.

Sharing stories at Moms.com.

Remember, each mom is the best mother for her baby, therefore, each mom is a genuine expert in motherhood. Each moment as a mother is unique and has to be lived at the fullest, this is the main reason why we chose to develop this site and help you get the information you require.

There is nothing as emotional as pregnancy and motherhood. Just check out this page and see how proud, happy and loved you are going to feel close to your child, after you get all the information you might be looking for about motherhood.

Wordless Wednesday #101 | Barbie Birthday Bash!

Bienn, Yue's friend and classmate, turned seven last week. Her parents threw a birthday party for her over the weekend, to which the little man and their other friends and classmates were invited.

It was a Barbie-themed birthday party and the girls were asked to dress up as Barbie, complete with (blonde) wigs and all. The boys, on the other hand, dressed up as Ken.

On Yue: Short-sleeved Stripe Polo Shirt from Wrangler Kids,
Khaki Cut-offs from Wrangler Kids,
Navy Chukka Mid-boot from Next Kids,
Fedora hat from The SM Store.

Move over, Justin Timberlake!

Little Kens.

Little Barbies.

The kids had a special number during the party, a mini fashion show where they walked down the 'runway', and a dance number afterwards.

Walking down the runway...

And strutting his stuff. :)

Bienn as Mariposa Barbie.

The kids had so much fun, and us parents had a wonderful time, too. :)

Sweet treats for everyone!

Happy Birthday, Bienn!

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Vanilla Exfoliating Bar.

One of my all-time favorites from Human Heart Nature is the Bamboo Body Scrub, which I have raved about here. Unfortunately, this product was pulled out from the market sometime last year, much to my dismay.

This year, Human Heart Nature launched an alternative to this product, only this time it's in soap form. It's called the Vanilla Exfoliating Bar, with Loofah Exfoliants to boot.

Human Heart Nature Exfoliating Bar.

Human Heart Nature says this Exfoliating Bar will 'give your favorite spa a run for its money' as this product gives you the same spa-mpering experience at the comforts of your own bathroom.

Product description at the back of the box.

Infused with loofah extracts, this cleansing bar deeply cleanses as it sheds off your unwanted, dry skin. It's cold-processed and enriched with natural glycerin from coconut oil to keep the skin smooth and supple, and it soothes and invigorates the senses with it sweet vanilla fragrance.

Chemical-free!

And like all of Human Heart Nature's products, the Vanilla Exfoliating Bar is free from chemicals such as parabens and sulfates.

Those green thingamajigs are the loofah extracts. :)

What I love:

- It reeks of vanilla, my ultimate favorite scent!

- Exfoliates, without leaving the skin feeling tight and dry.

- Proudly Philippine-made.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Chemical-free.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- Some of you may find the loofah particles a bit rough at first, especially those with super sensitive skin. Hence, take extra care when rubbing against the sensitive skin parts. Also, I do not recommend using this on your face.

Priced at Php 84.75 each, the Vanilla Exfoliating Bar is available at Human Heart Nature stores nationwide, at their online store, and at select Beauty Bar outlets, Shopwise, Rustan's, and Robinson's Supermarkets in Metro Manila.

Globe for Social Good!

Last September 16 and 17, a two-day conference examining the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world was held here in the Philippines.

Dubbed PH+SocialGood: Manila #2030NOW, the two-day Manila leg of the New York-based initiative took place at The Mind Museum in Taguig. The said conference focused on how technology can be used to deal with climate change and the impact it leaves behind; how businesses can transform and empower women; how efforts to collapse the digital divide are helping bring the Internet to everyone; and finally, how people can help ensure that there will be no casualties when the next typhoon comes.

The event was made possible by Rappler, the country's leading social news network, together with Microsoft, and the Global Center for Journalism and Democracy. One of the major sponsors of this event was Globe Telecom, the Philippines' leading telecommunications company, which is also well-known for its “0916” and “0917” prefixes.

Globe Telecom talks about Disaster Risk Reduction during the Social Good Summit in Manila.

“Telecommunications is a vital component of DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management), thus, Globe continuously works on ways to limit the impact of any disruption in its operations especially during calamities. It has a business continuity management policy in place which prioritizes the safety of the people and ensures the delivery of products and services even during disasters," said Yoly Crisanto, Senior Vice President, Globe Corporate Communications.

While nothing can provide absolute guarantee that a severely disruptive event will no longer occur, Globe has a commitment to its stakeholders that it is ready to respond to and recover from any incident, including those not anticipated.

For instance, despite the massive damage inflicted by Super Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban City which left the area isolated from the rest of the world, Globe network people were fast to respond to the emergency through partial restoration of communications services within two days.

The company is currently the development sponsor of Aklan, one of the 14 provinces severely hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in November last year. Through the project “Bulig 4 Aklan,” Globe has committed to provide education, housing, health, and livelihood assistance to seven affected towns, namely: Libacao, Madalag, Banga, Batan, Altavas, Balete, New Washington.

Globe is, likewise, very active in helping communities affected by disasters not only through quick assistance such as Libreng Tawag and charging activities and relief operations but more importantly, by providing them the means to get back on their feet and live normally again.

Using Drastic Measures to Turn Boys' Lives Around.

When a young man becomes a problem, there are many different potential ways to deal with him. Some parents simply choose to let things play out, allowing the child opportunity after opportunity to fix their behavior. Others believe that it makes sense to try something more dramatic. This is where places like Wood Creek Academy come into play. Modern parents have figured out something important about their parenting strategy. More and more, they are willing to take their kids out of bad environments, placing them in the hands of people who will hold them into something better.

Many of today's parents have figured out that what their boys need is a juvenile boot camp. The military does a lot of things correctly in terms of turning older men into better men. Some use the military in order to grow up, enlisting after high school in search of something better. What makes the military so good at this? They have a regiment and require discipline of those people who enter their ranks. These things promote continuity, and they can help men find a sense of purpose. Today's academies have come up with a way to apply this model to young people.

Photo credit: Texas Observer.

If the name "boot camp" sounds too dramatic, then parents should not worry. Kids are not being subjected to any sort of abuse. Rather, they are simply being asked to complete a number of duties that make them a part of a team and a part of something bigger than themselves. Research suggests that one of the biggest problems for kids is that they lack a sense of belonging. This is why they often reach out to gangs in order to feel at home. Today's academies for boys are dedicated to using this model to give troubled kids precisely what they need.

The good thing about young men is that they are still malleable. They can be changed if they are put into the right environment, and their behavior can be modified with the proper behavioral approaches. Today's academies are teaching them more than just knowledge out of books. Rather, these academies are demonstrating to young men the things that they need to do in order to be productive, law-abiding citizens in the modern world. As more parents recognize that this option is available, those parents are taking full advantage of academies in remote places like the hills of Montana.

Spotify Asia launches the best of K-Pop playlist!

Attention all music lovers - hallyu is taking Spotify by storm!

The world’s leading music streaming service today rolls out its first-ever curated Asian playlist bringing music fans the best of K-Pop.

K-Pop Daebak!

K-Pop Daebak (that's the Korean word for 'awesome') features the hottest songs from all-time favourite Korean idols, such as BigBang, 2NE1, EXO, and Girls’ Generation, upcoming rookie groups BTS, Boys Republic, Akdong Musician & Red Velvet, as well as the latest releases from Super Junior, Taemin, B1A4 and HyunA.

The playlist also includes the debut single from YG Entertainment’s newest group, WINNER, who has recently launched their album, 2014 S/S, on Spotify. WINNER’s track, Empty, has been dominating various music charts for the entire month since the album launch. The five-member boy band is YG Entertainment’s first boy group in eight years since BigBang.

K-Pop fans can now bob their heads to the latest hits and all-time favorites in the Hallyuwood sphere on the Spotify Asia page with a playlist that’s going to be updated regularly. Check out Spotify’s K-Pop Daebak playlist here.



About Spotify
Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 20 million tracks. Our dream is to make all the world’s music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever you want it.

Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is now available in 56 markets globally with more than 40 million active users, and over 10 million paying subscribers.

Since its launch in Sweden in 2008, Spotify has driven more than US$1bn to rights holders. Spotify is now the second biggest source of digital music revenue for labels in Europe, and the biggest and most successful music streaming service of its kind globally.

*Number of tracks licensed globally. Catalogue size varies per market and can also change over time.

Wordless Wednesday #100 | Pretty Boys.

The little man with EXO's Kai.
Oh, and can you believe it? It's my 100th Wordless Wednesday linky party! :)

Pucker Up! | Nature Republic Provence Long Lasting Lipstick

Mum came home for her bi-annual vacation last Saturday, and as customary, the sibs and I swung by Festival Mall before heading to the airport. After a quick lunch at Wendy's (where I finally got to sink my teeth into their all-new Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger), the little man and I went to some of my favorite stores, including Nature Republic.

I made it a point to visit this store, as I've been wanting to try their Bulgarian Rose toner. Whilst there, I tested, tried, and swatched some of their products and ended up purchasing more than what I had planned to buy. That includes this new lipstick. Yes, another new lipstick. Haha!

Nature Republic Provence Long Lasting Lipstick.

One of the reasons why I bought this lipstick was its unique, rosebud-shaped tip. That, plus the fact that I got this lipstick at 25% off its regular price. (Originally priced at Php 525, I bought this for only Php 394. Not bad, according to my wallet. Lol.) Anyhoo, the lipstick looked so pretty that I actually felt a pang of remorse as its tip touched my lips. I didn't want to ruin such a pretty, dainty little thing!

Pretty rosebud!

Even the packaging is pretty, with the ombre design on the tube, and the rosebud-shaped cap.

Hangul text at the back of the box.

This lipstick is formulated with various oils such as macadamia oil, almond oil, and rosehip oil to keep the lips moisturized and healthy-looking. It also has a lovely, floral scent. If you love smelling rose, then you'll love taking a whiff of this lipstick, too.

Product description on the side panel.

There are thirty shades in the Provence Long Lasting Lipstick Collection, and the one I got is BE102 - also known as Angel Beige.

BE102, or Angel Beige.

It's a nude, peach-brown shade with a hint of shimmer. Kinda reminds me of my Chant d' Aromes, though this one has a slightly lighter shade. Color is buildable, with a semi-opaque coverage. When worn, this shade looks very natural and makes the lips look healthy.

One swipe on the left, two swipes on the right.

It has a creamy texture, which allows for easy application. Its formula is lightweight and non-drying, and I love how this lipstick doesn't settle into the fine lines on my lips.

BE102 (Angel Beige) when worn.

My only gripe about this product is that it doesn't last on the lips for very long. Quite the contrary, since it's tagged as a Long Lasting Lipstick. On the average, I was able to wear this for about three or four hours with a bit of eating and drinking. I don't mind reapplying, I just find it ironic that they called this a long-lasting lipstick.

What I love:

- Pretty packaging.

- Luminous finish.

- Buildable color.

- Creamy texture.

- Lightweight, moisturizing formula.

- Easy to apply.

- Makes the lips look healthy, without looking too made up.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- Doesn't last on the lips for very long. 

Products used:
FACE: Missha Wrinkle Filler BB Cream, Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Markwins Bronzer Powder, Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner, Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Nature Republic Provence Long Lasting Lipstick in BE102 Angel Beige.