Monday 28 September 2009

Ondoy Flood Victims: How to Help

Typhoon Ketsana (PAGASA: Ondoy) devastated Metro Manila, Philippines and other parts of Luzon on September 26, 2009. The latest tally from NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating Council) the number of casualties has risen to 100 and the damage to infrastracture and crops estimated at P109 million. (source: inquirer.net).



Though Ondoy has left the country, its wake has left many Filipinos displaced, without homes, without access to clean food and water. Please help. Any amount will do.
You can donate online thru Bo Sanchez or Kerygma Family Foundation.

Help Ondoy Flood Victims Today

or thru OnePhilippines.co.uk

Please do all you can to help. Pass this on.

Read more...

Sunday 27 September 2009

Honeymooning in Bohol

Harley is giving me my dream wedding, so I am giving him his dream honeymoon. Thankfully he doesn’t demand a European tour (Although I do!  But I can wait. LOL.). He is a simple guy, so easy to please. I could not have been luckier.

Whenever we go home to the Philippines and our schedule permits we make time to island hop to Bohol. Harley adores white sand beaches. So it is a no brainer choosing where to go for our honeymoon. Our beloved country, with its 7,107 islands both high tide and low tide, boasts numerous beach getaways flocked by many tourists from around the globe. As there are so many to choose from, the challenge is choosing which island to go and which resort on that island to book.

Since I don’t possess a bottomless pocket, I have to choose wisely.  I am looking for a destination that will blow his socks off but not outrageously expensive or it might turn out I can only afford to send him there. Alone. Without me. Yeah some honeymoon...

Are you are in the same predicament and looking for an unforgettable beach honeymoon destination? Or are you planning a perfect romantic getaway with your loved one. Why not visit one of the gorgeous beach resorts in the Philippines? Convinced? Well to jumpstart your planning, read on for some stuffs I have researched.  Let me start with Bohol first.

Bohol
HOW TO GET THERE?
Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have as many as Manila to Cebu flights a day. A MNL-CEB flight usually takes around an hour and 15 minutes. Of course waiting at the airport takes longer than that and make allowances of your flights getting delayed. Typical of Filipino’s infamous habit of tardiness. As a precaution, it is better to take the first flight of the day.

To go from Cebu to Bohol, you need to take a “fast craft” ferry. Journey time is around 2 hours and 40 minutes. As far as I know there are only three (3) ferries with route CEB to TAGBILARAN (Bohol). These are:
Oh yes their names blatantly say they’re fast. But I would have to agree as on the bigger ferries like Cokaliong Shipping Lines and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines it takes approximately 5 hours.
From Mactan International Airport (Cebu), take the cab to the Cebu City Pier 1 for SuperCat , Ocean Jet and Cokaliong.  Pier 4 for Weesam Express and Trans-Asia.

If you haven’t got ferry reservations or tickets yet upon arriving at Mactan International airport, you can go directly to the Cebu City Pier. The ticketing office per shipping line is also located at the pier area (number) mentioned above. Or if you are a bit scared to wander aimlessly at the port area, go straight to Ayala Center Cebu. There are ticketing offices there. Just ask around.

To get from Tagbilaran Pier to Panglao Island (where all the good Bohol beach resorts are located) you can arrange with your chosen resort for a van/car to collect your party. Or if don’t have resort booked yet and want to shop around, there are vans / cars at the pier area that will take you there at a fee of course. I don’t know how much it is but haggle. You can always negotiate for a lower rate.

WHERE TO STAY?
Bohol is perfect getaway for newlyweds who want to cocoon themselves from civilization, and just spend time together rolling around on a white sand beach, basking in marital bliss. It is not as crowded and not as commercialized as Boracay but there are still plenty of things to do.  I have shortlisted here resorts in Bohol that I highly recommend to honeymooners:
This resort is nestled on a cliff at Alona beach. Harley and our families spent two days there on December 2008 and we definitely want to visit again. I highly recommend this resort. Food is great although a tad expensive but really could not complain because the service we got was top class. Whenever you bump to someone from the resort, you’re greeted with a smile. The staff easily provided us with a relaxing atmosphere.



For packages and rates, click here.
At the moment, this must be the most expensive and exclusive (yes because it’s very expensive) resort in Bohol. It has villas with their own infinity pools and whirlpool baths. I have no idea what a whirlpool bath is I’m afraid.

For packages and rates, click here.
The beach strip of this resort is to die for.  I’ve heard that the service here is also world class; it was after all the top resort before Amorita and Eskaya opened in Bohol. Reviews of this resort in TripAdvisor are generally high.

For packages and rates, click here

MUST DO / MUST SEE
  • Dolphin Watching
Make an arrangement with your resort for a boat tour or you can contract a local boatman for a cheaper price (usually you can haggle a thousand pesos cheaper than what the resort charges).  You need to wake up early so as not to miss the dolphins. Arrange for your boatman to collect you from the resort at around 530 AM.

The last time we did this our boatman was able to get very near to the dolphins. We could almost touch them! So don’t forget to ask your boatman to get as close as possible. Dolphins in Bohol I must say are born entertainers. They love giving a show. And it is such a joy to watch them playing at their natural habitat.  This is really a must do activity, a real treat enough to make want to come back to Bohol again and again.
  •  Snorkel at Balicasag Fish Sanctuary
When the dolphins have decided they’ve entertained you enough and they scatter away to wherever they spend the rest of the day, your boatman will then take you to the Balicasag Reef / Fish Sanctuary where you can spend the rest of the morning snorkelling! Floating on top of thousands and thousands of colourful fishes is an experience one will never forget. Remember though to bring enough cash with you as you still have to pay for your snorkelling gear and for the banca (as only shallow hulled banca can get near the sanctuary). You can inquire about these beforehand from your boatman so you’ll get an idea how much these extras will cost you.
  • Virgin island / Sandbar
After you’re thoroughly scorched from hours and hours of snorkelling and decided you’ve had enough swimming with the fishes, ask your boatmen to take you to what they call the Virgin island. You and your hubby or loved one can do a HHWWPSSP (holding hands while walking pa-sway-sway pa) on this crescent-shaped sandbar. How romantic!






You can also arrange with the resort you’re staying for a day sightseeing tour around Bohol. Or if you want to get a cheaper deal, as we all know resort hotels charge a lot that even their local rates are still pretty steep, ask some locals you might see around the resort. Even ask one of the staff or the guards secretly for some local tourist guides they can recommend. Haggle. For the Bohol day tour I think we were able to get it for 2500 only, compared to Amorita’s 4k price. Not bad, eh?

A Bohol sightseeing Day tour usually includes trips to the
  • Hinagdanan Cave
This is an underground cave with fresh spring water and old stalactites and stalagmites located at Dauis. Click here for more about Hinagdanan Cave.
  • Blood Compact Site
The blood compact of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna happened at Barangay Bool Tagbilaran City on March 1565. It marks the first treaty of friendship between the Spaniards and the Bo-ol natives. Click here for more about the Blood Compact in Bohol.


  • Baclayon Church and the Church Museum
The spot where the Baclayon is was just a visita erected by the Jesuits in 1595. Sometime in 1717, the construction of the church commenced. Native Baclayanon forced labourers constructed the church from coral stones, which they took from the sea, cut into square blocks and piled on top of each other. They used bamboo to move and lift the stones in position and used the whites from millions of eggs to cement the coral stones together. (source: http://www.bohol.ph/article8.html)
  • Loboc River cruise. Don’t miss the eat-all-you-can lunch experience on a floating banca/restaurant that can accommodate up to 50 people while being serenaded by local musicians. The cost of this is outside the day tour package. I think the buffet costs 280 per person.
  • Tarsier
The tarsier is the world’s smallest primate. Usually the Bohol Day Tour package will take you at Tarsier sites along the Loboc river. But it is strongly advised not to patronise these sites as the tarsiers are kept for tourists or display purposes only... they live shorter lives than Tarsiers living in its natural habitat. Please visit and support instead the sanctuary of Philippine Tarsier Foundation, located at between the municipalities of Corella and Sikatuna in Bohol. Corella is 14 km northeast of Tagbilaran City.

  • Man-made Forest
On the way to Carmen for the Chocolate Hills, don’t miss the man-made forest of mahogany trees. If you don’t want to get off, just open the windows of your car, stretch out your hand and feel the cool breeze these 2 km rows of giant trees bring. Click here for more about the man-made forest.
  • Chocolate Hills
Bohol is world famous for its 1268 (or more) chocolate hills that spread the towns of Sagbayan, Batuan, Carmen, Bilar, Sierra Bullones and Valencia. They are not made of chocolate, which what my parents had led me to believe when I was a child and was terribly disillusioned when I first saw them and realized I couldn’t lick them. They are strange geological formation and actually look chocolatey (brown) during the summer. There is a viewing deck atop one of the hill at Carmen town that provide a 360° view of the hills.

Read more...

Sunday 20 September 2009

Hearthrobs London 2009 LIVE!

Kapamilya Fiesta in cooperation with KCC Productions proudly present…

SAM MILBY, PIOLO PASCUAL and JOHN LLOYD CRUZ
with Pokwang and Bea Alonzo in London

on 8 November 2009, Sunday
at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane Catherine St. London WC2B 5JF

UPDATE!
I received an email this morning (30th of September) from Ms. Roselle Collado on behalf of Kapamilya Fiesta / KCC Productions that for every ticket sold £1.00 will be donated to Typhoon Ondoy Victims.



Of course I am going. In fact I already reserved a ticket.  JLC watch out! *evil grin*

How to reserve and book a ticket? Click here.

Indeed I wouldn't miss this for anything. It's a rare opportunity. Imagine Sam, Piolo and JLC under one roof?  This is going to be the grandest jologs moment of my life and here in London no less! Finally I will see JLC in person! Gosh I think I'm gonna swoon. Help.

Map of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Nearest underground: Covent Garden


View Larger Map


Read more...

Saturday 19 September 2009

Wedding AVP Songs (3rd List)

Here's another list of music that you might want to use for your wedding AVP.

  • Yellow (Yellow)



  • Hopelessly Addicted (The Corrs)

I know this is very outdated but this is the most favourite song of my favourite band ever... the Corrs. I just have to include it here because I hopelessly miss them :(





  • Giving Myself Over To You (Jennifer Hudson)

Now this is a gem, definitely a keeper from the famous American Idol alum, Jennifer Hudson.

Thanks to my good friend Noel for this. I don't know how he does it but he can always find the right songs for you. Those that are sentimental and touch you to the core.

This song of Jennifer's is on the top of my list. Most likely I will use this for our Wedding AVP. It conveys my feelings towards Harley perfectly.





Click this link for a non-live version in YouTube.

Read more...

Tuesday 15 September 2009

A Wedding Dress Tip: Not Your Mom’s Girdles

I am not overweight but like most girls I am not blessed with taut midriff. I have soft tissues on it. Front and sides. Love handles.

Since I am daring to be ambitious with my choice of wedding dress, (yeah it’s kinda body hugging) I am considering of cheating...

Oh no, not liposuction. No way! But yep, as the title of this post suggests... GIRDLES!

Oh okay maybe when you think of girdles you cringe as you can’t help visualizing those hideous "diapers" your mother used to own. So let’s just refer to it as shapewear, shall we?

Shapewears available nowadays are not only fashionable but really do their jobs. They are made with lightweight materials cleverly designed not only to make us look sexy but also to feel sexy and comfortable wearing one.

Click on this very informative article at Oprah.com regarding how to choose the right panty solution per type of dress.
For my wedding dress I think the best shapewear for it is the second one below:


Where to buy one of those?

Well there's La Perla if you want the high end, expensive one.


With its hefty price tag of $272, it better be effective!

Or you might want to try SPANX. They have a cool range of shapewears. The one below that I like is 75% less than La Perla’s.


Or Fleexes Shapewear by Maidenform is more affordable, price is just £32 or $52


Wacoal sadly doesn’t have that many choices of shapewears. I like the one below but no idea how much it is!


I am sure in the Philippines there are options from Triumph and Avon.

But the question in my mind is (and I'm sure most of you are thinking of this too), how would I pee with one of those?!?

UPDATE!!!
If you're interested of getting a SPANX, a fellow Cebuana W@Wie got hers from another W@Wie. Visit her online shop: http://shoppingabroad.multiply.com/

Read more...

Saturday 12 September 2009

Debenhams SALE: Excuse for early Christmas shopping

Debenhams is having a 4 day sale. Again. This started on Wednesday, so it is on its last day today. I went there this afternoon, just out of curiosity. I did not have high expectations about it since the posters just say up to 25% off all departments. But to my glee I did find some racks with items on sale up to 70%! It would be stupid of me to pass up the opportunity and start shopping Christmas presents for my gorgeous girlfriends, wouldn’t it? So definitely you can’t blame me for buying a basketful of really good bargains. Yeah I know. Credit crunch is not yet over. But the world economy is already on its way to recovery, right?

After having combed Debenhams to my heart’s content, I made a beeline to Dorothy Perkins just in case they also have a sale. Lo and behold I couldn’t be more right. (I think I have a sixth sense on these things or something like that). Although there are only a few racks of sale items, I was still able to pick up really lovely pieces discounted to as much as 70% too.

So today I have officially started my Christmas shopping. It’s already a “-ber” month after all.

Below are some photos of the haul I got. I hope the recipients of these will love them.  But I do hope more that I can resist from keeping them all to myself and part from them without bawling over. LOL.




Read more...

Wednesday 9 September 2009

A Payroll System for the Philippines

Four years ago, my cousin who owned a distributorship business at that time asked me if I could create a program that could aid him in his payroll and inventory system. He wanted something he could run on his laptop at anytime and from anywhere he needs it. It may be an easy system to make but as an IT engineer who worked for a demanding company, I never got to start the project he requested. Instead I referred him to a small-time software company who could make the system for him at a reasonable cost but even then he still find it expensive as he didn't have that much capital yet to spare for automation of the system.

This was the first thing that came to my mind when I came across SerBIZyo! technically it's called Sotware-As-A-Service but to put it simply, it's a software program that anyone can access and use anytime, anywhere at no initial cost. In short, a free philippines payroll software.  You just need a computer and an internet access, you don't even have to use your own server computer!  because your data (e.g. employee list, stock list) are stored securely in SerBIZyo's server, Meaning having your very own system that is accessible through the internet, all you need are your username and password and voila! you can finally do your payroll calculations while lounging in Boracay!


Finally the best thing with SerBIZyo! is that you don't need to allot a big slash on your company's operational budget to automate your system because with SerBIZyo, you only pay when you access your system, pretty much like a pay-per-view movie.  And if you try it now, you'll get it for free software in 3-4 months!

Now SerBIZyo! is certainly heaven sent for businessmen like my cousin who can finally enjoy the luxury of having an automated payroll and an upcoming inventory system without causing an arm and a leg!

Read more...

Monday 7 September 2009

Wedding No-Nos: A list of Wedding Superstitions

We Filipinos are very superstitious lot. I personally did not really believe, did not plan to follow any until my brother passionately cautioned me against fitting my wedding dress (before the wedding). A retort of “Sus, I don’t believe in that.” was in the tip of the tongue but after a few seconds of intensive parsing the words that rolled out were “Opo kuya.” Oh before you accuse me of being a sissy, I am agreeing to his well meant advice because it is not wise to tempt fate. It’s better to be on the safe side than sorry, right?

Well I did some researching of what other wedding superstitions are out there (just so I can make a list of what to avoid hehe). Gosh there are so many! I am so relieved that I have not yet violated any. I was surprised to know that here in UK they have more wedding customs and superstitions than we have. In fact I suspect most of our superstitions originated here.  Read on.

The following information are lifted from www.weddings.co.uk
  • PROPOSAL
In the past when the marriage proposal was a more formal procedure, the prospective groom sent his friends or members of his family to represent his interests to the prospective bride and her family. If they saw a blind man, a monk or a pregnant woman during their journey it was thought that the marriage would be doomed if they continued their journey as these sights were thought to be bad omens.

If, however, they saw nanny goats, pigeons or wolves these were good omens which would bring good fortune to the marriage.
  • SURNAMES 
It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The sentiment was summarised in the following rhyme:


To change the name and not the letter
Is to change for the worst and not the better

The bride should not practice writing her new name before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate.
  • CHOOSING THE DAY 
Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th. The famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week:

Monday for wealth
Tuesday for health
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday for no luck at all

Advice on which month to marry in is given by the following rhyme:

Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true.
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Marry in May and you'll live to rue the day

May has been considered an unlucky month to marry in for a number of reasons. In Pagan times the start of summer was when the festival of Beltane was celebrated with outdoor orgies (what?). This was therefore thought to be an unsuitable time to start married life. In Roman times the Feast of the Dead and the festival of the goddess of chastity both occurred in May. The advice was taken more seriously in Victorian times than it is today. In most Churches the end of April was a busy time for weddings as couples wanted to avoid being married in May. Queen Victoria is thought to have forbidden her children from marrying in May.

Marry in Lent, live to repent

Lent was thought an inappropriate time for a wedding as this was a time of abstinence.

June was considered to be a lucky month to marry in because it is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage.

The Summer as a whole was considered a good time to marry and this is partly to do with the sun's association with fertility. In Scotland one popular custom was for the bride to "walk with the sun" to bring her good. She would walk from east to west on the south side of the church and then continue walking around the church three times.
  • SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW ...
Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in your shoe

The rhyme originated in Victorian times although some of customs referred in it are much older.
The something old represents the couples friends who will hopefully remain close during the marriage. Traditionally this was old garter which given to the bride by a happily married woman in the hope that her happiness in marriage would be passed on to the new bride.

Something new symbolises the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future.

The something borrowed is often lent by the bride's family and is an item much valued by the family. The bride must return the item to ensure good luck.

The custom of the bride wearing something blue originated in ancient Israel where the bride wore a blue ribbon in her hair to represent fidelity.

The placing of a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was to ensure wealth in the couples married life. Today some brides substitute a penny in their shoe during the ceremony as silver sixpences are less common.
  • THE WEDDING DRESS
It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress.
It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before until she arrives at the ceremony.
The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stich on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed.
  • WEDDING DRESS COLOUR 
Most brides today marry in white which symbolises maidenhood. This tradition started by the rich in sixteenth century. The tradition was given a boost by Queen Victoria who chose to marry in white instead of silver which was the traditional colour of Royal brides. Before the white dress brides wore their best dress. The colour was a matter of preference. The following is a traditional rhyme offering advice on dress colour:

Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.

A green dress is thought to be unlucky unless the bride is Irish. The old expression that a woman has a 'green gown' was used to imply promiscuity, the green staining being due to rolling in grassy fields. (LOL.)
  • THE VEIL
Traditionally, brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and many of the customs and traditions associated with weddings are to provide protection. The veil was originally worn by Roman brides. It was thought that it would disguise the bride and therefore outwit malevolent spirits.
  • FLOWERS
Flowers have always been used for decoration at weddings.

Some people choose the flowers at the wedding on the basis of their symbolic meaning. For example orange blossom has always been associated with weddings because it signifies purity and chastity.

Peonies are avoided by some as they represent shame; azaleas represent temperance: roses symbolise love and snowdrops represent hope.

A combination of red and white flowers is avoided by the superstitious because they stand for blood and bandages.

However, people from different regions may attach other meanings to the same flower. For example lilies symbolise majesty to some but are thought unlucky by others because of their association with death.

The groom often chooses a flower for his buttonhole which also occurs in the bride's bouquet. This is a vestige of the time when a Knight would wear his Lady's colours to display his love.
  • ON THE WAY TO THE WEDDING
When the bride is ready to leave the house for the wedding ceremony a last look in the mirror will bring her good luck. However returning to the mirror once she has began her journey will result in bad luck.

Seeing a chimney sweep on the way to a wedding is though to bring good luck and it is still possible to hire one to attend wedding ceremonies. Other good luck omens when seen on the way to the ceremony include lambs, toads, spiders, black cats and rainbows.

Seeing an open grave, a pig, a lizard, or hearing a cockerel crow after dawn are all thought to be omens of bad luck. Monks and nuns are also a bad omen. This may be because the are associated with poverty and chastity. They are also though to signal a dependence on charity by the newlyweds.

Bad weather on the way to the wedding is thought to be an omen of an unhappy marriage, although in some cultures rain is considered a good omen. Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy marriages. Snow on the other hand is associated with fertility and wealth.
  • BRIDESMAIDS
Bridesmaids were dressed in a similar way to the bride for the same reason as the origin of veil. The bridesmaids were thought to act as decoys to confuse evil spirits and thus protect the bride.
  • THE WEDDING CAKE
Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations at the reception. The couple make the first cut together to symbolise their shared future.
  • CONFETTI
Confetti is Italian for sweets which in Italy are thrown over the couple as they emerge from the Church in that same way we use paper confetti. Raisins and nuts may also be used.

Before the use of paper confetti the married couple were showered with flowers, petals, rice or grains. This was to bestow prosperity and fertility on the couple.
  • SHOES
In the past there have been a number of customs involving shoes which were thought to bring good luck. The best known, which is still upheld, is to tie shoes to the back of the newlyweds' car. This has evolved from the Tudor custom where guests would throw shoes at the newlywed couple. It was considered lucky if they or their carriage were hit.

The custom of the bride throwing her bouquet shoulder, described below, was originally performed by her throwing one of her shoes over her shoulder.
  • BOUQUET
After the reception the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder where the unmarried female guest group together. Tradition holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next one of those present to marry.

A parallel custom is for the groom to remove the garter worn by the bride and throw it back over his shoulder toward the unmarried male guests. Again the one who catches it will be the next to marry.
  • CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
After the wedding the bride must enter the new marital home through the main entrance. It is traditional for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold when they enter for the first time. The reason for this is uncertain. One explanation is that the bride will be visited by bad luck if she falls when entering. An alternative is that the bride will be unlucky if she steps into the new home with the left foot first. The bride can avoid both mishaps by being carried. A third explanation is that it symbolises the old Anglo-Saxon custom of the groom stealing his bride and carrying her off.
  • THE BEST MAN
It is the best man's duty to protect the groom from bad luck. He must ensure that once the groom has began his journey to the church he does not return for any reason.

He must also arrange for the groom to carry a small mascot or charm in his pocket on the wedding day.

When the best man is paying the church minister's fee he should pay him an odd sum to bring luck to the couple.
  • THE HONEYMOON
The term "honeymoon" is though to originate from the times when a man captured his bride. The couple would hide from the bride's parents before marrying. The couple would remain in hiding for a further cycle of the moon after the wedding. During this period they drank honey wine.

In Scotland the custom was for a woman with milk in her breasts to prepare the marital bed to encourage fertility in the newlyweds.

In Ireland a laying hen was tied to the bed on the first honeymoon night in the hope that some of its fertility would be passed on to the couple. Eating a double yolked egg was also thought to bring fertility.

Read more...

Sunday 6 September 2009

VMV Sale and Mandelic Acid

To all VMV Hypoallergenics users, VMV is offering 15% discount until tomorrow, 7 September 2009. Since they’re offering the discount online, I conclude that all their stores nationwide are offering it as well.


I am great fan of VMV because their Clindamycin toner is very effective for my acne. Oh yes I do suffer from adult acne regularly... whenever my irregular period nears. Or should I say “was effective” because it has been discontinued - a discovery that I just chanced upon when I browsed their website few weeks ago when I realized I was seriously running out of my Clindamycin stock. It has been replaced with Mandelic Acid Primer 2 toner and according to Wikipedia:

Its use as a skincare modality was pioneered by Dr James E. Fulton, who developed vitamin A acid (tretinoin, Retin A) in 1969. On the basis of this research, dermatologists now suggest mandelic acid as an appropriate treatment for a wide variety of skin concerns, from acne to wrinkles; it is especially good in the treatment of adult acne as it addresses both of these concerns. Mandelic acid is also recommended is a pre- and post-laser treatment, reducing the amount and length of irritation caused by laser resurfacing.

What a joy! Treatment for both acne and wrinkles? Hmmm this might be better than Clindamycin after all. I will take advantage of this 15% discount and try it myself. Also, my period is fast approaching. Sigh.

Read more...

Thursday 3 September 2009

YOOX - Posh for Less

While looking for the this-is-it bridal shoes, I accidentally googled this site - www.yoox.com. Go to the SALE tab and you will see drool-worthy, famous designer brands slashed off as much as 70%!


Still expensive? Well don't be disheartened. There are also items that are more affordable.

KENZO wedge from £149 to £45 only.
Claudio Fracassa from £214 to £65 only.

Aside from shoes www.yoox.com also offers fantastic deals on designer bags, clothes, accessories and many more.
I ordered a pair of shoes yesterday (just couldn't resist it! lol). I am excited, can't wait to receive my order :) Will update you if I will be satisfied or not with the product.

Read more...

Blog Archive