A Quarter Of Our Lives

Do you realize that we spend nearly a quarter of our lives sleeping? Ideally we should have atleast 6-8 hours of sleep in a day.  Anything below 6 hours, I'm already feel as if my head is floating.

Because sleep is so important, I really invest in making my sleeping space very comfortable. I may not be able to control my dreams but my comfort is in my own hands.

The perfect aircon temperature for me is 23'C. We only turn on our aircon for 3 hours every night. #barat.

We have an orthopedic mattress. It's not tempur but it's amazing.

My preferred sleeping aids are Melatonin, Sleepasil and ZZZquil.

For very personal reasons, my favorite bed sheets are by DWELLSTUDIO.

DwellStudio is a New York-based brand  famous for its bold, colorful and chinoiserie-esque prints.  The sheets are manufactured in Portugal, India and Peru and are made with the finest cotton.

What I love about their sheets is, when I turn the air-conditioning on, the sheets absorb and keep the coolness. So even after we turn the aircon off, it's still quite cold for a good 3-4 hours more.

DwellStudio is available in Rustans and select interior boutiques. You can also buy the sheets and duvets online at DwellStudio Philippines.The website is owned by the official distributor. It's exactly the same price as the stores here in Manila.

Now, if anyone here knows where I can buy a pill that can guarantee good dreams, please let me know.


Sleepy,

L

Summer Job and Back to School Memories

I started working when I was 9 years old. Sounds like child labor, noh? In a Fil-Chi family, this is called TRAINING.

It started the summer of '91. My dad told me it was time na mag "ko tiam" na ako. No more playing with the kids in our neighborhood. It was time for me to start my right of passage...

Well... I didn't really do much work. I simply took out the trash, swept the floor and arranged boxes of stocks.

However, the "training" was centered around discipline. I went to work from 8 am until 4 pm. If I was late, I was made to stand outside our store. It was embarrassing but I learned at a very young age that I should never be late for work.

I  also got paid 15 pesos/day and when my salary increased, I started working during weekends too!

Every summer, I would save up all my earnings and I would use that money to buy everything I need for school.

Do you have any idea how empowered I was at the age of 9? Having work and money shaped my confidence and self-esteem at a very young age.

Back to school shopping was shopping madness for me! It was the only time of the year when I could binge shop for myself.  I really enjoyed buying my own things with my own money! My mom respected my choices. I decided on everything!

Every year, I got myself a new pair of BANDOLINO shoes. And when I could finally afford an expensive bag, I got myself a Jansport! Even as a kid, I had a good taste in bags and shoes.

Yesterday, I bought the June issue of Yummy and I saw a full feature on BEATRIX.  Oh, I wish I had this when I was growing up. They are so !!!!

Beatrix is NewYork-based brand of kid's bags that became famous in the US because many Hollywood parents and celebrity kids have been photographed using it.

It is also distributed by someone from our family. Yay! Full Support Please!

The bags are very well constructed using HEAVY DUTY NYLON. ( It is a far cry from the bags from 168 na after 2 months, sira na).  BEATRIX bags are very DURABLE!

The designs are embroidered and not just digitally printed.  The bags are comfortable and very light too!

The materials used to make BEATRIX bags are all food-safe and free of all the bad stuff: No lead, No phthalate, No PVC.

I've been warned that those food containers in Divisoria may have lead... I'm not sure but best to be on the safe side especially when it comes to something that has contact with food!

The best thing about BEATRIX is the bags are MACHINE WASHABLE. It's so easy to remove the stains and the stinky smell. Just throw into the washing machine and it comes out clean and smelling nice.

I used to bring Iced Milo to school and I'd always spill it all over my lunch box. Mama would get so upset. She is not a believer of Breeze's tagline, DIRT IS GOOD. She hated (and still hates) spills and  stains. Sermon galore talaga everytime I spill ulam, juice or milo. #traumaticchildhood.

I wish I had a Beatrix lunch box when I was growing up!

Oh wait! Come to think of it... No one is stopping me from getting one! I can bring baon to the office and eat on my desk.

Beatrix is available in all branches of Rustans, Hamleys Toy Store, Mamaway and Baobao Babies in Cebu!


Happy Back to School Shopping!!!



Reminiscing,

L

Facials at Dermalogica Rustans

One of the very few luxuries I enjoy in life is a 1 hour BASIC FACIAL in Dermalogica at Rustans.

I usually do this during Christmas, my birthday or when I'm feeling really ugly.

It doesn't cost an arm and a leg. A basic treatment is only 900 pesos. 

The facial in Dermalogica is different from the typical painful session at the doctor's clinic. One main difference is the ABSENCE OF NEEDLES.

The next most obvious difference is the "chi-chi" ambiance.

As soon as you walk into your private room, you are asked to change into a robe.

Spa music fills the dimly lit room.

You feel relaxed even before it starts.

Once you are ready, a trained therapist will pamper your skin for 1 hour using only the best Dermalogica Products.

The facial is very indulgent, complete with cleansing, exfoliating and ending with a massage

The therapist do extract blackheads and whiteheads but they only use their hands. Yes, expect some pain but seriously, it's nothing compared to having those pesky things pricked with needles.

I swear after my treatment,  my skin is glowing. Best of all, no prick marks!

You can find Dermalogica inside Rustans. I usually go to Makati but today, I went to Shangrila Mall because we had lunch in the area.

Right beside Dermalogica is Nail Tropics. 

IDEA: You can schedule a day of pampering. Start by having brunch. Then go have facial. After your facial, have merienda at EAST restaurant. End your day of Self Love with a mani and pedi at Nail Tropics. 

Cost of Self Love Day: 2,500 max!

To Make Reservations CALL:

Ayala Center Ayala Avenue Makati City 1226 +63.2.813.3739	Shangri-la Plaza Mall EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard Mandaluyong City 1552 +63.2.633.4636

Enjoy!

Feeling Fresh,

L

STAYCATION PROPS

There are days when we feel the need to be all romantic, to connect on a "spiritual level" and to do all those sappy stuff. 

Unfortunately, an overnight stay in a nice hotel is expensive. It will cost us atleast 5,000 pesos for one night.

So, we just replicate the staycation experience in our own room.

Here are some of our essentials:

1.  Gorgeous, Soft, Smooth and Hotel Quality Bedsheets- The one below is my favorite, the DwellStudio Peacock Citrine.

2. Tray!- To replicate the room service experience! CHAROT!

We got this tray from Rustans. It was around 2,000 php.

3. Wine- The best choice is to get a bubbly. Put some cherries and you have a Bellini-ish drink.

4. Strawberries or Grapes

5. Cheese- Please don't get the stinky ones

6. Chocolates- I love Fauchon and Royce. If on a budget, Cadbury! 

7. Lastly...NO INTERNET.

Oh di ba! And this is how we ROI on our bedsheets and our room!

Please don't serve rice and ulam. Hindi bagay.

Missing my husband,

L

How To Use A Fan To Communicate

I don't know why the ladies in the big city don't use Abanicos or "Folding" Fans. Perhaps, it's because there are aircons everywhere they go.

In my hometown, a number women still use Abanicos. The richer they are, the more beautiful and the more exquisite their fans.  I think this is how they look mayaman over here. How To Look Mayaman

The ALTA props in my home town are not bags but Abanicos and Handkerchiefs.

It's very common to see the "altas" attend mass with fans that match their outfits. Mama said, "If hindi alta, pamphlet or misalette ang pamaypay".

My mom explained that this is because of our strong Spanish influence. Iloilo was once awarded "The most loyal city of Spain" and was the last one to revolt. While we don't speak broken Spanish like the Zamboanguenos, there are a lot of Spanish words in our dialect...including our most common curse phrase, "Iho De P#T@".

That or maybe, the ladies here still use Abanicos  because Iloilo has one of the highest electricity rates in the country.

Whatever the reason is, my mom collects Abanicos. She especially loves those that are handcrafted in Spain. She has been collecting since she was 20 years old. Her collection is huge!

Here are some of her favorite pieces:

I got her this when I went to Madrid.

This one is from Seville.

From Granada

This one was from my dad. This is more than 40 years old. He gave her a fan when he was still courting her.

This is one is also gorgeous but she told me that this from HK.

Do you know that you can communicate just by using your Abanico? No words!  I saw online an article called " The Language of The Fan".

This Christmas, I'm giving my mom 2 Abanicos from Rustans. Rustans sells gorgeous Abanicos, handcrafted from Spain. Apart from the fact that they sell reasonably priced Abanicos, Rustans also has the best gift wrapping service in the whole country!

Come to think of it....fans are very useful too when you have sore throat.

Adios!

L

CREDIT: http://morenaforza.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-language-of-fan.html