A Spa-rty with SoMoms at The Nail Room Libis

Posted on by jane

ME time is special because that is the time I get to myself. On those days, I treasure a trip to a nearby salon or spa for my mani-pedi or a hair trim. But what could be better than having a spa-rty session with my SoMoms friends upon the invitation of Janine Go and Jay Tiu of The Nail Room at Libis!

It is located right beside Nuat Thai Libis (owned also by Janine and Jay). Two years ago, some of my mommy friends and I spent a wonderful afternoon having foot and body massage treatments at Nuat Thai.

Read about my Nuat Thai Libis experience here.

A delightful food spread met us as we opened the door – a truly gastronomic delight because I thought we’d just have simple food and drinks.

Only the best brands of nail polish are used at The Nail Room. I specifically noticed that they had Chanel and Orly, popular nail polish brands that not only harden fast but also leave an evenly coated look and last longer on the nails without chipping.

The Nail Room can accommodate 9 people at one time. Each upholstered couch is wide enough to move around in, has its own cushy pillows, its own footstool and printed towel. Right underneath the footstool, hidden from view, are the foot sinks where our feet are washed.

We started off with a really great foot scrub, complete with a pasty, minty white exfoliating substance applied on the lower legs to remove old skin. And while the attendant was doing that, we were enjoying a glass of bubbly (but non-alcoholic) drink with a nice touch of Maraschino cherry at the bottom. Oh gosh, this is the life!

Exfoliating Paste

My ‘foamy white’ legs being exfoliated

Ahhh this was so good! I had two glasses…

See why we are called Social Media Moms (SoMoms)?

With the two SoMoms on my side of the room, Noemi and Patty

Now came the hard part — what nail polish color to choose? It was made harder by the sheer number I had to choose from — 3 palettes!

Two of the three nail palettes

But finally, after listening to my SoMoms’ advice, I went for the Chanel brand and chose a rose pink shade. And here I am with 3 of my SoMoms and the final product of our afternoon at The Nail Room (my feet are at 6 o’clock). So happy with the color and the service!

4 pairs of pretty feet

To give you an idea of prices, here are some of them:

Manicure: PhP 160
Pedicure: PhP 180
Spa Manicure: PhP 300
Spa Pedicure: PhP 380
Deluxe Foot Spa: PhP 280
Paraffin Treatment: PhP 560 for hand; PhP 600 for foot
Add PhP for an Orly nail polish and PhP 100 for a Chanel nail polish. Add only PhP 80 to change polish.
They even offer mini manicure (PhP 120) and pedicure (PhP 150) for kids 12 years and below. So kikay!

Thank you once again, Janine and Jay, for a wonderful afternoon at The Nail Room. I am definitely going back!!!

The Nail Room
2nd Floor, #90 E. Rodriguez Jr. (across Shopwise, above Allied Bank and RCBC)
Libis, Pasig City
Telephone: (02) 451-2325
Mobile: 0922-7002337

Travel More with BPI’s Get Out More 2 promo

Posted on by jane

Be bitten by the travel and cultural bug! BPI will reward lucky clients who avail of its 24/7 Banking Channels (BPI Express Online, BPI Express Mobile, and BPI Express Phone) with dream vacations. You can be one of them.

Last year, BPI’s Get Out More promo gave away 7 all-expense paid trips for four to local tourist spots: Bohol, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Legazpi, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa. BPI 24/7 Banking gives you the chance to get farther away from your home, your city or your province. This year, the Get Out More 2 promo is even bigger because the lucky winners will be going Asian!

Up for grabs this time will be exciting places both here and abroad: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur (KL), and Boracay. Every winner also gets pocket money worth PhP 24,700. If you’ve been dreaming of traveling and seeing the world, you now have the chance to cross that off your bucket list.

And why not? Aside from seeing our own beautiful Philippines, visiting our Asian neighbors lets us see the cultural diversity and beauty of nature and tourist attractions of our neighbors. I’ve visited at least half of the places covered by the promo and I certainly won’t mind visiting the remaining places (if I win, cross my fingers).

Marvel at the cosmopolitan air of Shanghai with its ultramodern architecture mixed in with traditional Chinese sights; eat your way around Hong Kong’s popular food spots and shop till you drop; visit the centuries-old Korean palaces dotting Seoul’s metro and maybe sneak in a visit to KPop sites; enjoy the hospitality of Kuala Lumpur and its rich cultural mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian races; and bask in the sun at our very own Boracay, world known for its white sand beaches and clear waters.

Watch this short, exciting video and see where and what you can do in these places.

It’s really very easy to earn raffle entries. From August 1 to November 30, 2013, all new and existing BPI, BPI Family Savings Bank and BPI Direct Accountholders who use the services of BPI 24/7 Banking are qualified to earn raffle entries. Just pay your bills (utility bills, telco bills, and other kinds of bills) using any of the 24/7 banking channels of BPI and you automatically earn raffle entries. Each payment must be at least P50 and above and must have a unique reference/account number within that month.

For Boracay, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai, BPI will pick one (1) winner for each place who will get a free trip for two which includes roundtrip airfare, accommodations and pocket money. For Hong Kong, three (3) winners will be chosen, each one getting also a free trip for two (roundtrip airfare, accommodations and pocket money).

For more details on promo mechanics, click HERE.
To enroll in BPI Express Online, click HERE.

BPI Team behind Get Out More 2

Bono Artisanal Gelato comes to the Podium

Posted on by jane

Gelato is Italian ice cream. There are many different brands of gelato in the Metro but one that stands out is Bono Artisanal Gelato which recently put up a branch at the Podium in the Ortigas Center.

Rea Gomez-Harrow, one of the cool people behind Bono Artisanal Gelato

Bono Artisanal Gelato is located on the ground floor of the Podium along ADB Avenue in Ortigas Center. It’s right behind the escalators, fronting the side entrance of Podium leading to SM Megamall.

I got to speak with Rea Gomez-Harrow, the Marketing Director of Bono. She and her other partner studied the art of artisan gelato-making at Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Italy (gosh, I thought Hamburger University was something and now they even have a university for teaching gelato-making!).

Everything at Bono is made ON THE SPOT and is not kept beyond 20 hours unlike others that are often kept in freezers. The gelato ingredients, while pre-blended and pre-packed for consistency, are churned by hand right there with a special gelato making machine, the Cattabriga Effe 6, from Italy, which is regarded by those in the industry as possibly the best gelato-making machine to-date.

Churning gelato by hand (photo taken from Bono’s Facebook photos)
Pozzetto gelato cabinets like these keep the gelato clean (not exposed)
like other ice cream or gelato brands and are temperature-controlled
(photo taken from Bono’s Facebook photos)

Even the wafers stuck on top of each scoop of gelato, wafer cones and waffle cookies are made daily  so that it stays fresh and crisp. The whole process is truly artisanal.

Healthy buffs, you will love this bit of news. Rea said that they only used the finest ingredients (fresh strawberries from California, finest Belgian chocolate, and so on) and one of the signs on their wall and counter say it all —

The finest ingredients are sourced from different parts of the world…
…but other locally available ingredients support local farming.
Flavors? Bono has a LOT! And I actually had fun trying them all out with tiny, colorful sample spoons given to me.
Speculoos (Belgian cookie butter) was yummy! I’d go for that again. For that Pinoy touch, Bono was able to concoct a Taho variant. I tried it and it really had a taho flavor. It takes getting used to though because I am always used to taking my taho the traditional way. Another winner was the Matcha & Azuki (Japanese stone-ground green tea & sweet red beans). And if you want to try something so totally unexpected, try Movie Night (chocolate-dipped potato crisps and caramel). No kidding, it tasted like a caramel gelato mixed with tiny, crispy Pringles chips in it.

After trying almost all, I chose my full serving variant – Fragola. I could not resist the California strawberries, hahaha.

A beautiful wall (artfully created by Rea herself) beside the Bono counters says everything you want to know about Bono Artisanal Gelato.

Prices are more expensive than what you’d pay if you bought scoops of ice cream, frozen yogurt or other gelato brands but the taste experience, ingredients and process that Bono Artisanal Gelato goes through makes it worth the price. A small cup is PhP 85. A single scoop (1 flavor in cup or cone) is PhP 130 and a double serving (2 flavors in cup or cone) is PhP 200.

I found out that they also deliver! If you are hosting a party or group of friends, or if you are just craving for gelato from the comfort of your home, they can deliver fresh, all natural and frozen gelato to you on demand. A pint is PhP 450 and a tub is PhP 850. This is a photo taken from their Facebook page showing the delivery area (FREE delivery within 5 km of Podium with a minimum purchase of PhP 1,000). To enumerate, they cover: New Manila, San Juan, Greenhills, Horseshoe, Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong, Kapitolyo, Ortigas Center, Corinthian Gardens, Corinthian Hills, Valle Verde, Pasig (parts), Acropolis, Greenmeadows, Eastwood, White Plains, St. Ignatius, Blue Ridge, Cubao (parts).

(photo taken from Bono’s Facebook photos)

Bono Artisanal Gelato
Ground Floor, The Podium
ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center
Website: www.gelatobono.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BonoGelato
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bonogelato
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BONOgelato
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/bonogelato

New Human Nature Products: Clarifying Shampoo, Peppermint Strengthening Conditioner and Pocket Hand Soap!

Posted on by jane

Recently, I received samples of 3 new products from Human Nature.

100% Natural Clarifying Shampoo

Even if you love a particular shampoo brand, hair experts have always recommended the use of an anti-residue or clarifying shampoo which scrubs out all the residue on your scalp from chemica shampoos, styling products, environmental pollution and the effects of stress. The Human Nature 100% Natural Clarifying Shampoo, as its name suggests, is 100% natural — made of natural fruit acids, betaine, and aloe vera.

PhP 149.75, 200ml; PhP 319.75, 500ml

Most anti-residue shampoo products can only be used around twice a week because the chemicals, while great for stripping away impurities and build-up on the hair, are quite strong that they also strip away the hair’s natural oils. But since Human Nature 100% Natural Clarifying Shampoo is entirely natural, it is safe to use daily without damaging hair or overdrying the scalp.

The Green Apple scent is very pleasant and makes hair smell really fresh. What you will find surprising with this shampoo is that it actually is very foamy. We know that the foamy lather in cleaning products, like shampoos and laundry detergents, is chemically induced by the ingredients sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). But the researchers of Human Nature have discovered that coco fatty acid sulfates are able to create that very same foamy lather WITHOUT the harmful chemicals. Not only are the coco fatty acid sulfates non-toxic but they are also fully biodegradable. And of course, they are sourced totally in the Philippines.

Watch this video.

Peppermint Strengthening Conditioner

If you loved the Peppermint Strengthening Shampoo, then you’ll welcome its partner, the Peppermint Strengthening Conditioner.

PhP 49.75, 50ml; PhP 144.75, 200ml; PhP  299.75, 500ml

Soybean, avocado and sunflower oil combine to nourish hair from roots to tips. Topped with hydrolyzed wheat protein, the potent combination is meant to protect the hair from hair fall. I’m excited to try this variant out since I already use Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner of a different variant.

Natural Pocket Hand Soap

This one I have been waiting for. Because I’m frequently out of the house, I always bring Human Nature’s hand sanitizer. Now they have a Natural Pocket Hand Soap which is a great addition for me because not all restrooms are equipped with soap.

PhP 59.75, 50ml; PhP 139.75, 200ml

What makes the Natural Pocket Hand Soap natural is the absence of chemical-based hand soaps. Most anti-bacterial soaps likely contain Triclosan, which independent studies have reportedly linked to endocrinal and reproductive malfunctions. The Natural Pocket Hand Soap has none of those. Instead, it contains natural glycerin (to protect hands from drying), a naturally derived surfactant that cleans hands, and is environmentally friendly. It comes in an Energizing Citrus scent, just like the hand sanitizer that I like.

Get Your Starbucks Card: A Stored Value and Loyalty Card Rolled into One

Posted on by jane

(Updated Aug. 8, 2013)

IT”S HERE!

The Starbucks Card is finally here in the Philippines. Now you need not carry cash when buying beverages, food and Starbucks items because all that can be bought with the card. The Starbucks card is being introduced with a dual feature. It’s both a stored value card as well as a loyalty card which earns you rewards points every time you purchase a Starbucks handcrafted beverage, 250g of whole bean coffee, or 12-pack Starbucks VIA Ready Brew.

My Starbucks card

Here are answers to some of your questions:

How do I get the Starbucks Card?

Just go to any Starbucks branch nationwide. The card needs to have an initial load of P300 (cash, debit card, credit card) for it to be activated. Future reloads can be as low as P100 only and the card can have a maximum stored value of P10,000. Activation of the card can be done by visiting www.starbucks.ph/card.

Customers with activated cards immediately get a complimentary GRANDE handcrafted beverage (valid for 60 days from the time it is given) and will get a FREE slice of cake every year on their birthday AFTER the purchase of a handcrafted beverage (valid for 60 days from birth date).

How does it work as a loyalty card as well?

Stars are the “currency” of the Starbucks card. You earn 1 star with every purchase of any handcrafted beverage, 250g of whole bean coffee, or 12-pack Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. (Note: The type of star you earn depends on what you buy. If you purchase a beverage, you get a Beverage star; purchase whole bean coffee and get a Whole Bean star; and purchase Starbucks Via Ready Brew to get a Starbucks VIA star)

What can I redeem with my stars?

Here’s what you can redeem with your stars:

* 12 Beverage stars = Any Grande handcrafted beverage
* 10 Whole Bean stars = Any 250g of whole bean coffee
* 10 Starbucks Via stars = Any 12-pack Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew

Is there any expiration of my load or stars?

Your Starbucks card’s load has NO expiration because that represents your money; however, if the card maintains a ZERO balance for 3 years, the card will expire also after that period as it is presumed you no longer have any interest to top up the load. Stars expire every March 1 of the calendar year following the year when stars were earned. To illustrate, all stars earned from today, Aug. 7, 2013 till Dec. 31, 2013 expire March 1, 2014.

What happens if I lose my Starbucks card?

You are protected from card loss if you register your Starbucks card online. You can track your 90-day history, protect your balance and even register up to 10 Starbucks cards under 1 account. All pooled cards mean you only need to remember 1 amount for load and stars.

What else do I need to know?

I asked the Loyalty Manager of Starbucks if beverage purchases during the promo for the Christmas planners also count towards stars. The answer is YES!!!

One more thing. This Starbucks card is only good within the Philippines. Conversely, any Starbucks card you may own from another country CANNOT be used in the Philippines.

Promo from Aug. 7-9, 2013

Here’s good news for all those getting Starbucks cards. For 3 days (Aug. 7-9, 2013), load up your Starbucks card with P1,500 and you get a P1,800 value. That’s an EXTRA P300 value for you. Sulit!

Go get your Starbucks card now and find out how much more convenient it is to enjoy Starbucks food, beverages and items.

J.Co opens its 12th Philippine branch in Glorietta 2

Posted on by jane

Aside from being a very popular donut shop, J.Co is marked by another feature readily observed in the Philippines in practically all its branches – long queues!!! That is the mark of the popularity of this Indonesian-based donut and coffee chain operating throughout Southeast Asia with 125 branches in Indonesia, 12 in Malaysia, 4 in Singapore, and 2 in China.

Just recently, J.Co inaugurated its 12th branch in the Philippines – located at Glorietta 2 (for those old enough to remember, it is in the old location of National Book Store, right across SM Makati).

Occupying a spacious 236 square meter corner location, J.Co Glorietta is conveniently located in the heart of Ayala Center. All around its two store sides are ceiling-to-floor see-through glass walls since there are al fresco dining areas. This allows diners in the al fresco area to enjoy laid-back dining while enjoying the brightly lit, colorful and modern interiors of the store.

View of the ordering station

Stage area during the launch

The taste of J.Co donuts appeals to me because they are not as sweet as other brands. My sweet tooth, over the years, has mellowed down and I avoid too much sugar intake so J.Co is really a compromise for me – allowing me to indulge my sweet tooth without the hard-core sugary taste.

To introduce some of the popular flavors of J.Co, the bloggers got a chance to be selected to play a trivia game. Together with emcee Sam YG of Boys Night Out and celebrities Gretchen Ho and Robi Domingo, bloggers whose names were drawn had a chance to pair up with Gretchen or Robi in playing several rounds of tic-tac-toe. As each team uncovered a square, they had to first correctly answer a trivia question before they could put either their X or O on the square. Even those of us in the audience who were not picked to join had fun trying to guess the donut variants.

(L-R): Gretchen Ho, Sam YG, Robi Domingo

The J.Co donuts have very interesting flavors but more than that, they are matched with quirky names as well. Just take a look at this sampling of their more popular variants: Alcapone, Oreology, Tiramisu, Avocado Di Caprio, Mr. Green Tea, Why Nut, Blue Berrymore, Don Mochino, Choco Caviar Chocolate, Crunchy Crunchy, and Crème La Fame. It’s actually fun trying to figure out from which celebrity or what object/place each name is derived from.

My all-time favorite and probably the company’s bestseller is the Alcapone donut. A bite reveals the generous spread of Belgian white chocolate on the inside with the donut topping filled with toasted almonds. Very creamy and almond milky.

The Alcapone donut with Strawberry Frappe

Different variants of J.Co donuts

Aside from this newly opened Glorietta 2 branch, J.Co donuts can be found in these other places: SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 3, TriNoma, SM City Fairview, Alabang Town Center, Eastwood City, The District-Cavite, Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City, SM City North EDSA, and SM City Pampanga.

Watch out for more branches to come in Araneta Center, UPIS Katipunan Ave., UN Ave., SM Southmall, Greenhills, and General Santos City.

Family Bonding with Globe MyRewards

Posted on by jane

I just discovered a new way to bond over food and recreation with my family without spending a cent – Globe MyRewards!!!

To be honest, I never paid much attention to telco reward points. Every so often, I’d get a text saying I had these much points but I was really never interested in redeeming them because the redemption options at that time were not really relevant to me. So those points sat on my phone for quite a long time.

But at the launch of Globe MyRewards some time back, I was totally surprised that they had reworked the rewards program so that it was now more relevant and meaningful to subscribers. New Globe MyRewards partner stores included Petron, Figaro, Enchanted Kingdom, Rose Pharmacy, Wendy’s, Ayala Malls Cinemas, and Sunglass Hut.

Both prepaid and postpaid subscribers in Globe and TouchMobile (TM) can earn points. How? For prepaid subscribers, every load earns points. For postpaid subscribers, points are earned based on billed amount.

Unlike some other reward programs where several points are equivalent to PhP 1, each point you earn under the Globe MyRewards program is equivalent to PhP 1. So if you have 500 points, that’s PhP 500 worth you can spend any way you want at any partner store.

Using Globe MyRewards points is a no-brainer actually. Here are the steps you need to follow:
1. To check your available points – Text BAL to 4438. You will get an SMS with the info.
2. Go to any Globe MyRewards partner store and the cashier will willingly assist you.
3. To use the points as cash payment – Text BUY(space)<10-digit no. of cashier>(space)<points needed> to 4438.
4. You and cashier both get confirmation of points transfer. THAT’S IT!

One day in June, my older son and I were ‘trapped’ inside Promenade in Greenhills due to a very heavy downpour. We had already ‘cased’ Fully Booked as well as other shops, our feet were killing us, and we were hungry. Since we were right in front of the cinemas at that time, the only cafe in sight was Figaro.

As we were ordering, I spotted the Globe MyRewards poster on the counter. Savior! I hurriedly checked how many points I had (I had a lot of accumulated points to spend!). We ordered our food. I texted the number of points to be deducted using the given syntax, and almost immediately, the points transfer was done. Just like that. Our entire Figaro merienda was on Globe MyRewards.

With that very successful and burp-ful experience, I was excited to try using my points on another family bonding moment.

The opportunity came when a nephew came visiting. The kids were excited to have their cousin over and it seemed like a good time as any to bond over food. So I took them out. Our destination this time? Wendy’s!

Wendy’s has always been a favorite fastfood place for me. They used to have a fresh salad menu with different dressings (my favorite was blue cheese) but for some reason, they stopped offering it. I am happy though that they retained the baked potato line because I could never go to Wendy’s without ordering the one with bacon and cheese.

At Wendy’s Greenhills where we ended up, the Wendy’s team, including their store supervisor, was very helpful. It took a while for me to round up the orders of all the kids but they patiently took all of them down, totalled them up, and waited for me to send the SMS with the corresponding points. It took just a few seconds again before I heard the store supervisor’s mobile phone go off. Hooray, point transfer successful! We were ready for lunch!

The store supervisor himself helps me out

Our Wendy’s orders. Who says my kids are not hungry?

Happy son and mommy

By now I guess you could tell that we had quite a hearty lunch with the kids wolfing their food down while chatting and telling all sorts of stories. I was looking at them and wishing there were many more times like this one. I know people say that bonding comes in many forms but the favorite bonding form of Pinoys is over food. It’s great to know that just by continuing to top up my Globe prepaid phone, I am also accumulating Globe Rewards points at the same time. 

For more info, visit rewards.globe.com.ph
For more FAQs, visit rewards.globe.com.ph/faq

2013 Midyear Offerings at Starbucks — Beverages, Sandwiches, Desserts and Contests!

Posted on by jane

It’s the middle of 2013 already and it’s time once again for some things new from Starbucks.

This time, its more exciting because not only are they offering a new concoction of beverages and food items but there are exciting digital contests for Starbucks fans to join.

First, the yummy beverages.

Something’s different with these two frappuccinos you’ll get to try from July 16 to September 9, 2013. Starbucks has introduced a white chocolate pudding as a twist to the usual frappes. I tried both of them and the pudding has the texture of the pudding in the milk teas I’ve tried. But….this one’s white chocolate-y!!!

Dark Mocha (Tall- PhP 190; Grande – PhP 200; Venti – PhP 210)
Green Tea (Tall – PhP 180; Grande – PhP 190; Venti – PhP 200)

The Dark Mocha Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino combines the deep flavor of dark chocolate with the velvety smooth white chocolate pudding, the signature Frappuccino Roast coffee of Starbucks, chocolate chips, milk blended with ice topped with whipped cream and chocolate powder.

The Green Tea White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino, on the other hand, combines premium green tea with white chocolate pudding for a soft creamy texture, and tops it with whipped cream.

They’re both yummy, trust me. But if I had to recommend which one to try first, it would be the Green Tea variant!


Next come the new Sandwiches and Desserts.

Now that your appetite has been whet by the new beverages, it’s time to check out the food items.

The Spinach Artichoke and Mushroom on Herbed Multi-Grain Bread (PhP 160) is something vegetarians will go for. A warm artisam multi-grain rye bread is stuffed with a blend of cheese, spinach, artichoke, mushrooms, garlic and onions.

A super cheesy grilled sandwich with 6 different kinds of cheeses is in the Bacon and Cheese on Herbed Ciabatta Bread (PhP 165) . A combination of Gruyere, Emmenthal, Provolone, Mozzarella, Feta and Cheddar are mixed in with crispy bacon strips. This is finished off with a seasoning of creamy pesto sauce on herbed ciabatta bread.

A tuna lover? The Tuna and Cheese on Dark Ciabatta Bread (PhP 175) is for you. Inside is a hearty healthy classic tuna dill salad, slices of hardboiled egg and creamy melted cheese.

The Salami and Cheese on Marbled Rye Bread (PhP 165) is a soft and chewy bread, filled with slices of salami, provolone and cheddar cheese.

Available only in Metro Manila outlets is The Clubhouse (PhP 175). This popular sandwich is stuffed with roasted moist chicken breast and pickle relish mixed in mayo mustard dressing, tomatoes, slices of honey ham, bacon and cheese slices on country bread.

A returning favorite is the Roasted Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushroom on Flat Bread (PhP 165). You can’t have enough of chicken breast fillet tossed with pesto mayo sauce and Shiitake mushrooms. Melted Emmenthal and cheddar cheese serves as the topping and placed in between grilled flat bread.

The very colorful Outrageous Cheesecake (PhP 130/slice; PhP 1,450 whole) is actually a rich, creamy cheesecake filled with bits of mangoes, blueberries and strawberries. These fruits are also generously used to decorate the top of the cheesecake together with white chocolate snowflakes. It looks like an early Christmas dessert!

You know cookies. What about a cookie SANDWICH? Starbucks took two soft and chewy cookies and made them the sandwich ends with Belgian chocolate chunks and roasted marshmallow cream icing in between. That is what the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich (PhP 80) is made of. Great with any Starbucks drink!

The Beef and Mushroom Pie (PhP 95) on the outside is a golden brown, flaky and buttery pastry crust (almost like a croissant). But on the inside there are tender beef strips, sliced mushrooms, carrots and creamy mashed potatoes. Biting into this is more like a surprise because you can’t seem to tell from the outside what it is you’ll discover upon eating it.

I’m a fan of warm, soft pita bread so the Greek Chicken Wrap (PhP 170) is something that appeals to me – filled with tender chicken breast fillet and flavored with roasted fresh zucchini, tomatoes, bell pepper, sliced black olives and drizzled with sour cream.

And there’s more! Here are 3 digital activities that can win you Starbucks items and merchandise! Read on…

#1: Facebook App: Snap of the Week

This runs from July 16 to August 8, 2013. Remember Starbucks’ Snap of the Week activity before? This time they’ll run it including the new beverages. Starbucks fans need to upload photos based on a weekly theme using the Facebook application. Chosen photos will be winners of various Starbucks items and merchandise.

#2: Instagram #StarbucksCoffeeJourney Photo Contest

From August 15-31, 2013, Instagram followers (Philippine residents only) can upload a photo of themselves with Starbucks’ featured beverages anywhere in the Philippines using the hashtag #StarbucksCoffeeJourney. Chosen photos will be awarded a Starbucks item.

#3: Blog Contest

All bloggers can join this one. All they need to do is write a blog post on the featured beverages. The chosen blogger will be featured in the Starbucks Facebook page and will be given Starbucks prizes he/she can use for his/her own contest. This contest will run from July 16-31, 2013. Four (4) winners will be chosen and featured each week. For more detailed mechanics, visit their Facebook page.

Extreme Singing Fun with Xtreme Magic Sing

Posted on by jane

If there is one thing inherent in our culture, it is the love for singing. Go to any Pinoy reunion, office gathering, wedding or house party and there is sure to be singing somewhere.

I remember that our first karaoke of sorts was a standing cassette player. It had large speakers down its front. The control panel was on top for volume as well as speed and pitch adjustments. It served as an ordinary cassette player as well as a karaoke with the minus one cassette tapes. A wired microphone plugged into an audio port for sing-a-longs.

One day, someone gifted us with a Magic Sing and that revolutionized the way sing-a-longs were done. We had a wide selection of songs to choose from, ranging from the 50s to the 90s. Still pictures of tourist spots in the Philippines, scored singing, and lyrics onscreen made karaoke the entertainment of choice in many households. Different song chips gave even wider choices of favorite hits and genres began popping like religious songs, OPM (Original Pinoy Music) and others.

Well, guess what. In a recent event hosted by Xtreme Magic Sing at TeaTap Cafe, the bloggers were given a glimpse of the innovations that have come to the simple karaoke machine.

Here are the 3 variants available now on Xtreme Magic Sing:

Xtreme Magic Sing Diamond

The top-of-the-line Diamond comes with 2 digital wireless microphones with controls. Some of the its features include:

* 2,627 built-in songs (with a mixture of English and OPM songs)
* Built-in high definition (HD) picture and video background
* High fidelity sound quality
* Personalized video & picture background (customizable with your own photos)
* Real-time search by title, artist and 1st lyric line
* Plug and play into any TV (CRT, LED, LCD)
* Personalized playlist that can save up to 100 songs
* Unlimited song recording using its internal memory that enables you to transfer the recording directly into the USB device in mp3 format
* 4-song chip slots
* Dual video output (RCA jack and HDMI cable connections)
* USB 2.0 slot for USB devices (can handle flash drives up to 16GB or hard drives up to 1 terabyte)
* 2-year warranty on parts and services

The Diamond retails for PhP 19.899.

Xtreme Magic Sing Platinum

The mid-range Xtreme Magic Sing Platinum comes with 1 digital wireless microphone and 1 wired high-quality microphone. 2,422 songs (English and OPM) come with it. Some of its features are:
* 80 picture backgrounds (local and international)
* Real-time search by title and artist
* Personalized playlist up to 100 songs
* Plug and play into any TV
* 6 song chip slots
* External video function using live source (videocam or player)
* 8 interactive games
* 2-year warranty on parts and service
The Platinum Xtreme Magic Sing retails for PhP 15,499.

Xtreme Magic Sing Karat

The newest and most affordable addition to the Xtreme Magic Sing family is the Karat.

The Karat comes with one (1) videoke microphone with controls. 2,300 songs are built into it (both English and OPM). Some features of the Karat are:

* Plug and play into the TV
* Real-time search by title and artist
* Recording function via recording chip (100 minutes)
* Personalized playlist up to 100 songs
* 4 song chip slots
* 8 interactive games
* 2 years warranty on parts and service

The Karat retails for PhP 6,900.

Just one note: If you are thinking of buying a portable karaoke like this one. There are 2 brands out in the market that look almost similar. Look specifically for the Xtreme Magic Sing brand if you want to get any of these 3 variants.


Xtreme Magic Sing
Showroom: 3/F Richbelt Tower, 17 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila
Tel. (02) 726-2442, (02) 726-9999, (02) 726-2443, (02) 726-2449
Website: www.magicsing.com.ph
Facebook: www.facebook.com/xtrememagicsing

Bienvenue! Parisian sneaker Bensimon comes to the Philippines

Posted on by jane

C’est la vie!

For one night, we were transported from the streets of Manila to Paris, complete with French music, a French chef, a Parisian menu, and the ambience of a Paris flea market.

Parisians have a passion for life. When I think of a romantic place, there is no other city that comes to my mind other than Paris. I’ve been there, done the Eiffel Tower and Louvre tours, walked around Champs Elysees, Notre Dame and Arc d’ Triomphe. It is the French who tell us not to swallow our way through our meals but rather, to dawdle and savor each and every spoonful. It’s no wonder that in France, on our way to a local concert, we passed a group of Parisian diners in a restaurant and still saw them there AFTER the concert. Even now, I remember being introduced to a French guy at my school in the U.S. who promptly took the hand I proffered for a shake and instead, kissed it. Oooh la la!

It is memories like these that wafted through my mind as I sat listening to how a Parisian brand of sneakers is making its presence felt in the Philippines. Two brothers, Serge and Yves Bensimon, created the perfectly imperfect classic design for a line of sneakers they aptly called Bensimon. Inspired by travel, military and true Parisian fashion, the sneakers of Bensimon come in a wide array of styles, colors and prints — for men, women and even for kids.

Parisian chic oozes, whether they are in formal or casual garb. And the casual Parisian lifestyle is what Bensimon captured perfectly. Don’t look for perfection in a pair of Bensimon sneakers because you will find a lot of imperfections in it. On the outside, the part where the rubber meets the colored cloth shows unevenly colored areas, with whites showing very close to the seam meeting the rubber.

But it is this very imperfection that adds to the chic elegance of the sneaker. The look is laid back with a rugged feel. The underside shows that it is made not only for casual walks but also for tougher use.

But the real surprise for me was that despite its seemingly rugged look, the moment I wore my own pair of Bensimons, it felt really soft and pliable. I tried bending the sneakers and they actually could be bent so toe touched heel! I walked around in them, jumped, jogged a bit and walked some more. Super comfy! I think this will be a favorite active footwear!

Prices range from PhP 2,095-2,565 for the men’s and women’s lines and PhP 1,295 for the kids’ styles.

Bensimon sneakers will be available in Center of Gravity )Forbes Town, Burgos Circle and Centris Walk), Shoe Salon (Glorietta 3, Power Plant Mall Rockwell, Robinson’s Ermita, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Trinoma) and Shoe Thing (kids’ styles only: Bonifacio High Street, Eastwood Mall, Greenbelt 5).

Website: bensimon.com.ph
Twitter: @BensimonPH
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BensimonPhilippines
Instagram: BensimonPhilippines
Hashtag: #BensimonPH