Foodie Goodie | Nacho Salad.

It's almost the weekend! And you know what I'm most excited about?
UFC 187!
The card is stacked with awesome fights - from the prelims all the way to the main card, and two - yes, not one, but two - titles are on the line!

Chris Weidman will defend his Middleweight title against top contender Vitor Belfort, while Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson and Daniel Cormier will square off for the Light Heavyweight title, vacated by the former champion Jon Jones. It's gonna be one epic night, I tell you!

Well in my case, it's gonna be morning. Sunday morning to be exact. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to cook a proper meal in the kitchen because I'll be glued to the telly, so I'm thinking of making a huge platter of Nacho Salad for us to munch on while watching the fights. Best paired with an ice-cold beer! :)

Nacho Salad

Ingredients:
1 pack baked tortilla chips
12 ounces ground beef
3 tablespoons lettuce, shredded
2 tablespoons tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon cucumber, chopped
1 tablespoon green onion, sliced
1 teaspoon fresh cilantro, chopped
2 cups salsa
1 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded

Procedure:
1. Cook beef and bell pepper in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until beef is browned; stir to crumble.
2. Add salsa; bring to a boil.
3. Stir in cilantro; keep warm.
4. In a large platter, layer the chips, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and onion on serving plate.
5. Add the meat, then sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
6. Serve with sour cream or guacamole on the side.

Keeping Time.

A watch is an ideal gift for any time of the year. You can give it for a holiday, birthday, retirement, graduation or anniversary. There are several kinds of watches that you can purchase, but there are some tips to keep in mind so that you get the best deal possible when you shop today.

Photo credit: Discover Hongkong.

Think about the person who is receiving the watch. It could be someone who likes items that are fun and whimsical or someone who likes more of the elegant look when it comes to accessories.

This can also help in determining the price you spend on the watch. When you purchase the watch, think about the message that you want to get across. Is it something to say you love the person or a simple gift because you don't know what else to get?

Make sure you get the appropriate size of watch when it comes to the wristband and the face of the watch. Some aren't able to see smaller faces on watches, and there are some who like a digital watch best.

You can get the watch engraved with the initials of the recipient or a short message. There are numerous kinds of bands to get, making the selection of watches somewhat hard, but there are options for the special gift that you need.

Wordless Wednesday #135 | Traveling Tots.

Win a Skincare Getaway with the Cetaphil Experience!

Not too long ago, I shared with you my experience with the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Now here's your chance to share your own experience with Cetaphil products - and win a prize while you're at it. And it's just not any prize - it's a once-in-a-lifetime skin pampering experience that most women would lust for!

Just recently, Cetaphil - the world’s #1 dermatologist-recommended skin care brand - has announced the launch of its latest campaign, which focuses on giving women the opportunity to improve their skin confidence.

Dubbed as 'Cetaphil Experience' the campaign is run on social media and is designed for women to express what skin confidence means to them. The campaign aims to give women a chance to celebrate and see how they can enjoy themselves and learn from the experts on how to balance the day-to-day demands on their skin.

The Cetaphil Experience.

The new campaign includes a contest that will see a lucky Filipina win an award-winning retreat at the luxurious The Farm at San Benito. In addition to this relaxing wellness retreat, the winner will likewise get an empowering educational experience with skincare experts leading group workshops and one to one sessions.

Contestants can join the competition by registering through the Cetaphil Experience app in Cetaphil Philippines Facebook page. Every contestant that takes a stab at the grand prize also has the chance of winning a Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser!

For more information, visit Cetaphil Philippines on Facebook http://bit.ly/1IBUGuT

About Cetaphil
Cetaphil range of cleansers, moisturizers and sun protection products belong to the Cetaphil family of skincare solutions developed for use by dermatologists worldwide for over 40 years. During this period, Cetaphil has received numerous awards and seals of approval from beauty insiders and the healthcare community.

Cetaphil shares a well-established medical heritage. The iconic Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser was originally founded by a pharmacist in 1947 as a compounding vehicle for dermatological remedies. It was the first skincare product formulated by dermatologists as a stand-alone skin care product gentle enough for all skin types.

Today, about one bottle is sold every minute across the globe and its formula developed in 1947 still holds true to tradition, without change – even to this day.

About Galderma
Galderma is a global company founded in 1981, committed to delivering innovative medical solutions to meet the dermatological needs of people throughout their lifetime while serving healthcare professionals around the world. The company has 34 wholly-owned affiliates with a worldwide network of distributors and more than 5,000 employees.

Galderma’s extensive product portfolio is available in 80 countries and treats a range of dermatological conditions including: acne, rosacea, onychomycosis, psoriasis and steroid-responsive dermatoses, pigmentary disorders, skin cancer, and medical solutions for skin senescence.

Foodie Goodie | Good Shepherd Ube Jam.

As you might recall, my son and I spent Labor Day weekend in Baguio City together with my in-laws. And if you're following me on Instagram, then you might remember seeing photos of how my son enjoyed every minute of our vacation.

Of course, no trip to Baguio would be complete without shopping for pasalubong. And by that I mean strawberries, strawberry jam, and my all-time favorite - ube jam.

Ube Jam! :)

My ube jam of choice are the ones from the Good Shepherd Convent. Made from fresh ube harvested from the nearby provinces of Benguet and Ilocos, the Ube Jam is Good Shepherd's most popular and best-selling product.

The Good Shepherd Sisters' mission.

No artificial flavoring or coloring are added to this ube jam - just Anchor butter and Alaska condensed milk, and that's it!

Nutrition facts.

I love the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of this ube jam. The texture is smooth and creamy, with just the right sweetness. 

Ube yum!

My son isn't very fond of the ube that we have here in Laguna (think the ones served during fiestas and parties) so I'm surprised that he actually enjoyed this ube jam. He would usually ask for a spoonful or two after meals as his dessert.

Dessert, anyone?

Had I known, I would have bought the bigger 24 oz bottle. This one's the 12 oz bottle, which sells for Php 180. Yeah, they're a bit pricey compared to the 'unbranded' ones sold at the stalls around Mines View Park, but the taste and quality is worth every cent. Also, you help send a Cordilleran youth to school with every jar you buy. 

Food for a cause.

The Good Shepherd Convent is located along Gibraltar Road, a walking distance from Mines View Park. Aside from this ube jam, the nuns from the convent also make and sell other food items (e.g. peanut brittle, lengua, alfajor, crinkles) which are also very popular among tourists.This popularity is evidenced by the long queues of shoppers day in and day out at the Good Shepherd compound. 

If you're in Baguio, or have plans of visiting soon, make sure to bring home a jar or two of this Ube Jam. :)

Wordless Wednesday #134 | Hello, Chopper!

Chopper is home! :)

Spotlight | Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist.

After having discovered the wonders of face mists about a year ago, it has become a habit to bring a bottle (or can) in my purse wherever I go. My current favorite is the Green Tea Mineral Mist by Innisfree.

Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist.

A brand made even popular by its endorser, the Prince of Asia Lee Min Ho, Innisfree also takes pride in being one of the most environment-friendly skincare brands in Korea with the use of organic ingredients for their products and eco-friendly materials for their packaging.

A product of Jeju Island! :)

Case in point, the 4-Free system, as indicated in this Green Tea Mineral Mist. The 4-Free system means this product is free from these four ingredients are harmful to the skin - ethanol, artificial dye, animal material, and mineral oil.

4-Free System.

Now here's a brief description of the product which I stumbled upon on the web:

"Enriched with Green Tea and Green Complex from Jeju island, Green Tea Mineral Mist revives dry, stressed skin by supplying abundant moisture. Formulated with moisture from our freshly-squeezed green tea, this hypoallergenic and ethanol-free facial mist instantly replenishes moisture to your thirsty skin."

Made with organic Jeju green tea.

Grown in healthy, volcanic soil, the green tea from Jeju Island is known for its pure quality and its richness in amino acids and minerals that help keep the skin hydrated. In addition to the organic green tea water,  this product also contains panthenol which encourages cell growth and the production of moisture.

Green Complex.

To use, hold the can a few centimeters away from the face, then spray with your eyes closed. Afterwards, gently pat your face for better product absorption.

Spritz!

I love the cool, refreshing feeling I get each time I spray this mist on my face. And I love how this product leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth afterwards. It's light and non-sticky, and the scent is amazing, too - fresh and sweet, yet very subtle. 

A spritz or two to get me through the hot summer day.

Spray this on your bare face to give your skin a nice, healthy glow. Or you can spray this over makeup for that instant dewy effect on the skin. And because the product dries quickly, you need not worry about your mascara running or your foundation caking. 

Here's how the product looks like when sprayed on the skin.

And how your skin looks like afterwards.

My only gripe about this product is the nozzle. It doesn't spray as fine as other face mists that I've tried, and the nozzle is a bit hard to control. I usually end up with a bit of white residue on my face, but nothing a good pat (or a dab with a tissue) can't fix.

What I love:

- Handy, travel-friendly packaging.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Chemical-free.

- Light and non-sticky.

- Easily absorbed by the skin.

- Makes the skin feel cool and refreshed.

- Moisturizes the skin.

- The scent.

- Hypoallergenic; safe for sensitive skin.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

-  The nozzle is a tad difficult to control.

- Not locally available, so I purchased mine online.

After spraying my face with some Green Tea goodness. :)
Products Used:
FACE: Etude House House Beauty Shot Face Blur,
The Saem Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
K-Palette Real Lasting Micro Eyeliner in Black,
Forever 21 Love & Beauty Eyeliner Pencil in Brown,
Missha Viewer 270 HD Lash Curl Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Laneige Silk Intense Lipstick in Beige Chiffon.

The Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist comes in two sizes - 50 mL and 150 mL. I bought my 50 mL can from Kkochipida for only Php 195. I'm thinking of buying asking the husband to buy the bigger size next time, and I reckon it won't be long before I do he does. I checked the price on Emart, and the 150 mL bottle sells for 11000 Korean won (around $10 or Php 450).

Are you a fan of face mists, too? Which brand is your favorite? :)

My Grandma is on Facebook!

Yes, my 79-year-old grandmother is on Facebook. And she's killing it.
She likes browsing through her friends' profiles - most of which are her former students (she was an elementary school teacher), she posts quotes as her status updates - and on a daily basis at that, she likes sharing graphics and memes on our walls, and she likes commenting on our photos. She loves Facebook so much, she'd be up at 3 in the morning composing her status update for the day!

My son and my grandmom love taking selfies!

These days, she's into posting old photos even when it's not even Thursday. You know, Throwback Thursday - the weekly social media posting trend where you upload photos of yourself from a different era. She rummaged through more than a dozen old albums, took photos of old photos (Polaroids included), and went on an uploading frenzy.

But wait, there's more! She even tagged people in her photos - much to the chagrin of my Mum, my Aunt, and my Uncles. I can just imagine my Mum's horror when she saw photos of her sixteen-year-old self wearing 70s disco costumes now posted on social media for all the world to see. Haha!

Well, I know the feeling because she also posted an old photo of me sporting bangs and butterfly clips and wearing bike shorts at that. OMG, '90s fashion. I just had to unsee that photo! If only I could go through her Facebook account and take that picture down, lol!

Is your grandmother on Facebook, too? I hope she's enjoying social media as much as my grandmother does. :)

Show You Care with Bereavement Gifts.

Losing a loved one is a trying, stressful and upsetting experience. When you see a close friend or loved one struggling with a loss, you might not know what to say or what to do. Bereavement gifts are one way to offer some support and let them know that you care.

Photo credit: Vivastock

Gifts for the Home
Many of the top bereavement gifts are designed for use inside the house. A Christmas ornament is one example. These ornaments come packaged in a velvet lined gift box and has a small poem inside. Some ornaments also come with a holder for those who want to display the gift year round.

You might also opt for a figurine like a Willow Tree angel. Willow Tree is the manufacturer behind an extensive line of figurines for the home, including angels designed to help those dealing with a loss.

Gifts for Outdoors
When shopping for bereavement gifts, also consider gifts designed for outdoor use. Many companies make wind chimes that play the opening notes of Amazing Grace when the wind hits the chimes. You'll also find plaques and angel figurines that they can place outside in their gardens or on their lawns.

If you have a little more to spend, consider a memorial garden bench with the name of the loved one engraved or printed on the seat or back. Losing a loved one is never easy, but when you don't know what to say in the moment, let one of these bereavement gifts speak for you.

Fashion Pulse | Easy Ways to Spruce up your Look.

Going to a cocktail party or attending a formal event can be a little confusing for many modern women. For some, a pair of slacks or a business suit would be more than enough for the occasion. The casual dresser, on the other had, would prefer a frilly top and a skirt or the usual jeans and shirt.

However, when you’re going somewhere a bit nicer, there are some big differences you need to think about. If you don’t, you could look really look out of place and feel incredibly uncomfortable throughout the whole event.

But don't fret. It is possible to quickly spruce up your look though. Here's a quick guide that can help you in choosing what to wear.

Yoon Eun Hye wears fur in the 2013 drama 'I Miss You'.

Think Fur
When you’re just about to step out the door and your look just doesn’t seem formal enough, what exactly are you to do?

One of the simplest and most elegant things you can do is to simply throw on a fur. No matter what your outfit is like, a fox fur coat or a faux fox coat can make you look like the most sophisticated woman in the room. Other furs can work well, but fox is a classic that’s also quite trendy right now.

Try Statement Jewelry
Like furs, jewelry can alter your look quickly. For elegant engagements, consider large pieces of statement jewelry like big necklaces. They don’t have to be covered in diamonds, but you do want them to make a visual statement and not be “everyday” looking pieces of jewelry. You want to stand out from the crowd!

The Highest Crowdfunding Projects in History.

Crowdfunding serves as a new way for individuals to make investments in companies. Instead of spending weeks or months researching projects and companies, investors can simply log on and find all the information they need. Though Kickstarter still ranks as the most popular crowdfunding website, other platforms like Indiegogo and Go Fund Me popped up in recent years.

Crowdfunding works!

Many of the companies that use these sites reward investors with free products and other goods in exchange for making an investment. Experts in investing like Pete Briger might want to take a look at some of the highest crowdfunding projects in history and how much those projects raised.

Star Citizen
Chris Roberts had a long history of success thanks to his hit video game Wing Commander. Despite that success, Roberts struggled when it came to finding new investors and companies willing to take a risk on a new video game. When the top companies turned him down or demanded that he turn over control of his game, Roberts began taking donations on his website. He later turned to Kickstarter and gained support from more than 800,000 people. Though he initially asked for $500,000, he eventually raised more than $80 million for his game.

Pebble Watch.

Pebble Time
Smartwatches existed for a number of years before Apple joined the field, and one of the top smartwatches is the Pebble Watch. When the company decided to design and introduce a new watch, it turned to Kickstarter for help. The company originally asked for $500,000, which would go towards the development of the new software used by the watch, but it actually raised more than $20 million. Many of the donations came from fans of the previous watch who wanted advanced notice of when the new design dropped.

Coolest Cooler.

Coolest Cooler
Ryan Grepper had an idea for a new best cooler for money but had problems finding anyone willing to take a chance on him. Though he approached investors and companies that manufactured coolers, he found no one interested in his concept. The Coolest Cooler is a cooler with a capacity of 60 quarts that contains a speaker that works with any Bluetooth device, a blender and a USB charger. The cooler also features a rechargeable battery that provides hours of power to those devices, and it also has storage space for plates and utensils. Grepper raised more than $13 million, which he plans to use to develop and implement his cooler design.

Crowdfunding sites helped developers and designers raise millions of dollars to fund their projects. Those interested in donating can give a few dollars or thousands of dollars to their favorite projects. Coolest Cooler, Pebble Time, and Star Citizen show that people are more than willing to support independent developers.

Wordless Wednesday #133 | Baguio Weekend!

Together with my in-laws, we spent the Labor Day weekend in Baguio City - the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Here are some snippets of our vacay!

Biking at Burnham Park.

Old skool playground fun at the Children's Park.

Slide... weeeeee!

Horseback riding at Wright Park.

Enjoying the scenery at Mines View Park.

Visiting the Philippine Military Academy.

Photo op at the Korean War Memorial.

And yes, there are real tanks on display!

At the Farmer's Market beside the Baguio Cathedral.

Visiting the Lourdes Grotto.

How was your weekend? :)

Shiatsu and its Health Benefits.

Shiatsu massage, an age-old massage technique, has been used for many years around the world to treat muscular stiffness and tension. Proven to help circulation, promote relaxation and regulate body energy, shiatsu massage offers many health benefits for Asian massage in NYC.

What is Shiatsu Massage?
Shiatsu massage is a type of acupressure technique that uses the thumbs, fingers, hands and feet to apply pressure to different parts of the body. Using circular motions, gentle pressure is used to create relaxation, while heavy pressure is used for improved circulation and muscular therapy. To loosen the muscles, techniques may also include deep rubbing and kneading motions to stiff muscles. Typically given on a padded floor mat or massage table, shiatsu massage is a vigorous type of massage that's proven to help various health conditions.

Headaches and Neck Pain
Shiatsu massage has been proven to ease the intense pain of migraine headaches, as well as neck pain and stiffness. Migraines, typically caused when the blood vessels in the head or brain constrict quickly, can cause debilitation pain, nausea, sensitivity to sound and light and changes in vision. Anyone who has ever had a migraine headache doesn't want to have a second one. Shiatsu massage offers pain relief by promoting circulation and increased blood flow to restricted blood vessels, promoting relaxation throughout the entire body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic joint condition that affects millions of people of all ages. It causes pain, swelling, stiffness, soreness and inflammation of the tissues located around joints. Although typically seen in the hands and fingers, it can affect any joint in the body including the neck, spine, shoulders, elbows, knees and feet. Shiatsu massage treatments, done on a recurring basis, help to relieve joint pain and stiffness by stimulating circulation and blood flow. Various pressure techniques can be safely applied to any body area that's affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

Skin Rejuvenation
Shiatsu massage does wonders to rejuvenate skill cells and promote increased blood circulation under the skin. This promotes new skin cell growth and gives the skin a healthy glow. Massage techniques stimulate sebaceous glands and tissue under the skin which helps to keep skin moist and elastic, a necessary process to prevent lines, wrinkles and aging skin. Shiatsu massage is used in some of the world's most prestigious spas, like the Garden Retreat Spa in New York City, to promote beautiful, healthy skin.