The Wait is Over | UFC Fight Night in Manila!

Finally. Finally. Finally! :)
Having been a fan of mixed martial arts for years now, it has long been my dream to watch UFC fighters battle it out in Philippine soil. My wish has finally been granted as today, the UFC announced its much-awaited, first-ever Fight Night event in Manila.

UFC Fight Night Manila!

Scheduled on the evening of May 16, UFC Fight Night Manila will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Its international broadcast will be through UFC Fight Pass, and will air on the morning of May 15 in North America,

Ken Berger, Executive Vice President and General Manager of UFC Asia said, “We are thrilled to be kicking off our Asia event calendar in Manila this year. The UFC has a loyal and passionate fan base in the Philippines and we’re looking forward to bringing the very best of mixed martial arts to Manila for the first time. We have found a great event partner in SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. and are excited that the SM Mall of Asia Arena will be home to a historic UFC event that fans will remember for years to come.” 

Berger also noted that this will be the first and only South East Asian card for the year.

No fights have been officially announced as of this writing, but it's most likely that homegrown talents Mark Eddiva and Roldan Sangcha-an will be in the line-up. Fighters will Filipino roots such as Mark Munoz, Chris Cariaso, and John Dodson could also be included in the fight card, as well as notable Asian fighters such as Kang Kyung Ho and Hyun Gyu Lim.

Tickets will go on sale in March, launched in conjunction with SM Tickets.

Ornament Opportunities Throughout The Year.

Christmas lovers can stay in festive spirits all year long while searching for the next ornaments to put on the tree. There are many adventures and special events that you can commemorate with tree decorations, so keep looking for opportunities while counting down the days until it is time to bring out the tree again.

Photo credit: Fan Pop.

Christmas And Team Spirit
Sports like baseball and soccer take place in the spring and summer when most people are not thinking about winter activities anymore, so fans may miss out on the opportunity to express team loyalty. When going to games in any season, check out the gift shop for ornaments. Team ornaments generally take the typical circular form, but player pieces might be miniaturized versions of popular athletes.

Informed Decision Making 
A family already knows what to expect when using an artificial tree, which makes it easier to plan ahead. For example, Balsam Hill reviews list the size, color and lighting options for a tree, so a couple can decide which color schemes look best with their own tree. Home decor stores usually offer inexpensive, simple ornaments throughout the year that have multiple purposes. You can purchase these ornaments in bulk to add color and a unified look to a Christmas tree.

Photo credit: Zazzle.

The Highlights
There are baubles that represent the many milestones in a child's life, but do not forget a few to show off adult achievements as well. Companies like Zazzle allow you to create personalized ornaments for graduation, anniversaries, owning a first home and more. There are many big moments throughout any year that might be worth celebrating and remembering, but even unique but small moments might make great ornaments. Look for ornaments that remind you of concerts, meals or other activities the family did together.

Around The World
Vacations cannot last forever, but the ornaments brought back from them can hang on the tree many years after the trips occurred. There are many versions of the Eiffel Tower that exist as souvenir ornaments for those who journeyed to Paris, but you can look for ornaments whether taking a long vacation in Europe or just visiting a new state for the first time.

Christmas ornaments do not have to be the same every year or consist solely of holiday themes. Something special that occurs in April or August could make for a great tree ornament, and this means that there are opportunities to collect decorations for Christmas all year.

Wordless Wednesday #119 | Still Feels like Christmas.

Teaching Your Dog To Obey.

No matter what kind of dog you own, you can take it to a pet training facility so that they can teach it to obey commands if you don't have the time. The staff will work with dogs on an individual basis as well as in a group. Staff members will use positive reinforcement to teach commands instead of using negative methods that might scare the dogs.

One of the things to keep in mind is that the business might want you to come participate in the classes so that the dogs will learn your voice. This will make it easier to teach commands if you are a part of the process.

Photo credit: Pet Finder.

You will be able to see the proper pet training methods as well as approaches that you can use when your pets are in various situations, such as with children or when visitors come to the home. As long as you take the advice of the people who are training the dogs, you should be able to take those commands to your home so that your dog will know that you are in charge.

If you ever have any concerns, the facility will be able to answer questions so that you can continue in the training process.

Pucker Up! | Tony Moly Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint.

I made a resolve to not buy (or experiment with) new makeup, at least until I have tried and tested all the items in my 'to-blog' box. I really have one at home, where I place all the makeup that I need to swatch, try, and blog about. That box is now almost full, my goodness, but I will try my best to go through all (or at least half, lol) of those items within the next few weeks. (Take note of the operative word 'try', haha.)

Let's start with the Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint from Tony Moly. It's a color-changing, strawberry-scented lip tint in gel-form, and one of the best-selling products from the brand.

Tony Moly Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint, still sealed.

It comes in a clear and sturdy plastic pot. And I say sturdy because the clumsy ol' me accidentally dropped this while removing the seal, but it didn't crack or break. Whew! :)

Clear plastic pot.

The view from the bottom.

The Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint comes in three variants - 01 Clear, 02 Green Apple, and 03 Grape. Mine is the clear one, as you can see.

01 Clear.

It has a gel-like consistency, and you can apply it using your pinkie or with a lip brush. I prefer using the latter for hygienic purposes, and because I don't like staining my fingers with it. Yes, it stains because this colorless product turns into a lovely shade of pink! Magic! :)

It gives a hint of pink when swatched on the skin.

Pink stains on my pinkie.

Here's how it looks like when worn.

Bare lips.

With Tony Moly Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint 01 Clear.

I love how this product moisturizes my lips (I actually skip the lip balm whenever I wear this), and gives it a pop of color at the same time. The color is buildable, and has great staying power, too. It fades a bit after eating and drinking, but it leaves your lips with a natural-looking, pinkish stain. 

Now if you're thinking of buying this from Tony Moly, look for the Delight Magic Lip Tint instead. It's the repackaged version, which was launched sometime last year. (I told you my blog backlog goes back to ancient times, haha!) 

Tony Moly Delight Magic Lip Tint.

The potted packaging and color-changing formula is the same. It's also priced at Php 198 (around $5), like its predecessor, the Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint. The only difference is that there are now four colors to choose from. Oh, and they tweaked the cap design, too. They added the name of the product, instead of just writing 'Tony Moly'.

Products Used:
FACE: Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium, Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown, BYS Waterproof Eyeliner,
Love & Beauty Eyeliner in Dark Brown, Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Tony Moly Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint in 01 Clear.

Have you tried color-changing lip products before? What brand/s are your favorite/s?

Foodie Goodie | Crispy Tofu Bites.

Tofu is love!
You all know how fond I am of tofu, having professed my undying love for this ingredient in some of my previous food posts.

If you love tofu as much as I do, I'm pretty sure you'll love this dish as well. It's easy to prepare, and kid-friendly, too. My six-year-old claims this is his new favorite dish - next to chicken curry. Haha! :)

Crispy Tofu Bites

Ingredients:
1 package tofu, drained and cut into bite-size squares
Potato flour or cornstarch for coating
2 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon green onions, finely chopped
Oil for frying

Procedure:
1. Coat the tofu generously with potato flour/cornstarch. Fry it until all sides are brown. Place it in a paper-towel lined plate, let drain, then set aside.
2. In the same pan, add the ginger, soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. Cook for a minute.
3. Pour the sauce over the tofu.
4. Garnish with green onions and serve.

Happy weekend eating! :)

Kids, Gadgets, and Social Media.

Is your child surfing the ‘bad’ websites? 
This is not the only question that comes to our mind when we think about how social media can destroy a young mind. But this issue is on the rise. Moreover, we have given them some devices that are only for their usage.

If this is the scenario, can we prevent them from surfing the bad links? Yes! Here are some tips that should be noted and followed to save the day.

Tech-savvy tots.

Know more about social media terrors.
As a parent, you should know about social media terrors. If you know about it, you will be in a position to tell your children about it. Again, every social network has different risks. Don’t relax once you have understood the risks related to Facebook. There are other popular social media platforms your child might use such as Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, etc. So, educate yourself about the platform before your child uses it. Once you have adequate knowledge about it, you can tell the DOs and DON’Ts of these platforms to your child.

Check for the age limit.
If Facebook says that your child should be at least 13 years to use that social network, understand it and keep your child away from it until the age of 13. However, if you have understood the risks and feel that your child should be at least 16 or 18 to be on that particular social network, take necessary steps to keep them away till they can understand the risks and face it on their own. Having said that, we are not suggesting that you should keep them away from social networks till you are alive, but let them use it once they are old enough to tackle basic issues on their own.

Enjoying Totoro! :)

Have a computer, not a tablet or laptop to help your child while studying.
If you are planning to buy a tablet or laptop to help your child study, you should change your plans and get a computer instead. This is important because you can place the computer in the common area in your home and keep a watch on your child’s activities. So, get a computer for him and make your task simpler. If you are planning to buy a computer, visit ChameleonJohn and look for matching coupons that will help you get the same at a discounted price.

Privacy settings.
On every device they use, you should check the privacy settings. On your computer, you can modify the section ‘parental control’. Similarly, if you have gifted your child a smartphone or a tablet, you can check ‘content filtering’ and modify it accordingly. You can also know about the sites they have visited by looking at the history of sites visited.

Your child is vulnerable. Don’t make the mistake of letting him stay alone and do whatever he or she wants. This can be risky, very risky!

What else have you tried to keep your child safe from social media terrors? Share your views in the comments.

Wordless Wednesday #118 | Frozen Birthday Party!

Oh yes! Another birthday party to which Yue, his friends, and the rest of the Grade 1 class were invited. Marianne, the celebrant, had Frozen for her party theme, and she was dressed as Elsa for her event.

Yue, Marianne, and Bienn.

There was a face painter at the party, and the kids took turns in having their faces painted.

Little man on the hot seat. :)

Little man had Olaf painted on his face.

Do you wanna build a snowman?

While some of his friends sported Adventure Time characters on their faces.

Olaf, Finn, and Jake.

No party would be complete without parlor games...

Fun games for the kids!

And a magic show, too. Yue even had the chance to be an apprentice for the day. :)

Yue the apprentice.

Looks like he's having a blast. :)

And here's Marianne's super cute birthday cake. With cupcakes to boot.

Happy Birthday, Marianne!

Let it go... let it go... ;)

Hair Story | Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring in Mocha Pink.

If you've been following this blog for quite some time, then you probably know or have read about my DIY hair coloring adventures. I've been using DIY hair color for the past two years or so, and have tried different shades of this Bubble Hair Coloring from Etude House.

Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring in Mocha Pink.
Box contains Bubble Coloring Solution, Pump Bottle,
Silky Perfumed Hair Treatment, Latex Gloves and Plastic Cape.
View the contents here.

This one's Mocha Pink, the most elusive shade in the Bubble Hair Coloring line. Well, at least from my experience, that is. I've always wanted to try this shade but it's always out of stock whenever I visit Etude House. I finally managed to chance upon one from Etude House Festival Mall a few months back, though I wasn't able to use it right away.

The reason? I had my hair colored at the salon (for a change, lol) last August, and well, it took awhile for the color to fade.

So anyway, here are the before and after photos of my hair. (For the step-by-step instructions on how to apply the product, click here.) My previous hair color was a combination of Schwarzkopf Medium Blonde and Warm Copper, and you can still see hints of it in my now grown-out bob.

Before.

It turned into a Medium-kinda-Brown after dyeing it with Mocha Pink. You may not be able to see it in this photo, but the roots of my hair are brownish pink. 

After.

I love! :) This is now officially my favorite shade in the Bubble Hair Coloring line. :)

Wanna go for DIY hair coloring, too? The Hot Style Bubble Hair Coloring is available at Etude House branches for Php 428 per box.

Spotlight | Etude House Slim & Long Sharp Liner.

And I almost forgot that I have this in my stash! It's the Slim & Long Sharp Liner from Etude House, which I have had since... I can't even remember. My bad, haha!

Etude House Slim & Long Sharp Liner.

Thanks to my son, who went rummaging through my things in search of a new pencil, this eyeliner managed to come out of hiding. I am relieved that he showed me his 'discovery' first before actually using it on paper. Lol!

Product description.

The Etude House Slim & Long Sharp Liner is a 'super slim waterproof eyeliner' that 'thoroughly covers in between lashes with its ultra-thin lead to provide eyes with natural, long-lasting intense definition.'

It's this thin!

True enough, it really has a super slim point at 1.5 mm in diameter. It's actually the smallest and thinnest that I've used by far. Perfect for tight lining!

Directions.

And since it's an auto pencil eyeliner (that's packaged like a ballpen), you simply twist it so the lead goes up. No need to sharpen! You have to be extra careful in twisting it, though. The lead tends to break when extended too far out.

Cautions.

Here's how the product looks like when swatched. It's quite pigmented, as you can see, and the color is buildable, too. It comes in three colors - #01 Black , #02 Gray, and #03 Brown. Mine is the #01 Black.

Left, lined once. Middle, lined twice and then the tip broke.
Right, lined thrice.

And here's how it looks like when worn.

Etude House Slim & Long Sharp Liner on my upper and lower lashlines.

Like what I've said earlier, this product is great for tight-lining. You can use it on both upper and lower lashlines, though it did tug a wee bit on my upper lashline. It didn't irritate my eyes, though, and that's one of the few things I like about this eyeliner.

What I like:

- Super sleek and uber cute packaging.

- Nicely pigmented.

- Buildable color.

- Great for tight-lining.

- Waterproof and smudge-proof.

- Non-irritating; safe for sensitive skin.

- No need to sharpen.

What you might not like:

- Tugs a bit; doesn't glide smoothly.

Products used:
FACE: Missha Wrinkle Filler BB Cream, Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown, Etude House Slim & Long Sharp Liner in Black,
Missha 4D Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: EOS Lip Balm in Blueberry Potion,
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan, Korres Cherry Lip Gloss in Light Purple

Wanna give the Slim & Long Sharp Liner a try? This baby sells for Php 398 at Etude House branches nationwide. :)

Foodie Goodie | Yujacha (Honey Citron Tea).

So here I am feeling under the weather again. I spent most of the day under the sheets, sniffling, coughing, and catching up on two of my favorite currently-airing Korean dramas - Kill Me, Heal Me and Healer. (I'm actually catching up on the latter, after being cajoled by a fellow Kdrama addict that this drama is pretty good despite being a Park Min Young starrer. I'm glad I took her word for it.) 

Normally, I would not blog on a weekend especially when I'm sick. But I just had to blog about this Honey Citron Tea, which I'm sipping as I write. One of my readers asked me about it (she probably saw my post on Instagram the other day) so here it is.

Yujacha, as Koreans would call it, is made by preserving slices of yuja fruit (that's citron in English) in honey and sugar. The end result is a syrupy, marmalade-like substance that is packaged in a jar like jelly. Add a couple of teaspoons of yujacha to a cup of boiling water to make a soothing herbal tea that tastes like dessert. It also comes in powdered form, packed in single-serve sachets. Simply dissolve in water (you can enjoy it hot or cold) and that's it. :)

Yujacha in sachets.

A traditional tea in the Land of the Morning Calm, Yujacha has been used for hundred years in Korea, and is a well-known stress-reliever and a cure for colds. They say it's also a cure for hangovers.

Can't find Yujacha in the supermarket? You can make your own! :)

Yujacha (Honey Citron Tea)

Ingredients:
4 citrons (or any other citrus fruit)
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey

Procedure:
1. Wash the fruit well in cold water. 
2. Peel then remove and discard any white remaining on the fruit.
3.  Cut peel into thin strips.
4.  Segment the fruit.
5.  Place fruit and peel in a bowl in layers, covering each layer generously with sugar.
6.  Cover and let stand at room temperature for two to four hours. (Sugar should be dissolved or be transparent).
7.  Place in a jar in layers, drizzling honey over each layer, and close tightly. Refrigerate for one week.

Usage:
Add 1 tablespoon of the syrup-like mix to one cup of boiling water.