HydraInfusion Jet Peel Date with the Hubster

If you're new to this humble cyber kingdom, I am married to a Philippine Army officer. That means, we rarely see each other. He's deployed somewhere out there and can only come home once in a while. With that said, we rarely go out on dates, too. Heads up, though, dates mean to me as doing things together without the kid and not just dining on a swanky restaurant. 

Alright, now here's the kwento. So he was home few weeks ago and his blogger wife was luckily invited again for a facial treatment at Aesthetic Institute of the Philippines in Greenhills. Remember that I experienced RevLite in 2013? Since then, my face craved for its much-deserved pampering. Double luck, too 'cause the hubster also got to try the treatment! So yes, it was like a facial date of sorts. 

My RevLite Laser Experience

There are days when I don't feel like putting anything on my face but baby powder. However, my skin isn't like a baby's anymore that it needs to be covered up with BB cream, pressed powder (or when the occasion calls for it, foundation), tint for the cheeks and lips, eyebrow pencil and light mascara. Also, I have this adult acne marks, which fortunately weren't there during my adolescent years. My skin type is the usual "combination": oily on the t-zone and dry on the cheeks. This type is not so easy to manage since I can't use facial creams too much as it could block my pores and would eventually lead to humongous pimples. I still have to use moisturizer, though since we're not getting any younger (early prevention is better than cure).

Oh, petty problems of a girl. I know, I know. So I'm lucky to have been chosen to try the new RevLite Laser by Aesthetic Institute of the Philippines two months back. Royal thanks to Mommy Practicality and our friend from Spectrumed who made it all possible. Anyway ― the whole procedure was done around 12-15 minutes only. Would you believe? And after those exciting minutes, I instantly saw a matte-looking, fresh-feeling face that was not-so-fabulous earlier. 

The Pimple Under the Skin (Plus Moringa-O2 Toner Review)

When I was younger, so much younger than today (yes, it's a song! lol), I never had problems with pimples. As in, I only get to have one once in a month when I'm PMS-ing. But hey, my hormones changed when I became a mom. I get my pimples one time big time! Sometimes, it's even too mysterious, it hides under my epidermis. I abhor the feeling as much as how it looks. It throbs so crazy like someone's drilling from the inside. On the outside, it looks horrible. It's a giant pus-filled red mountain of sorts. Sorry. Heehee. I just really need to describe. Hey, you want a picture? This.

Ouch, right?

My Chic Chick Got Chicken Pox

Yup, you read that right. LB got it at this early. My siblings had it during their gradeschool years. As for me, well, I'm one of those very unfortunate adults who never had. La-dee-dah. So... I'm waiting to have it anytime... or not! Waaaaaah. I'm still hoping I won't have it anymore. Say, like a mutant who could never get sick. What a horror to see fine lines around my late 20s eyes and a scar brought by the pox. What the pox. Anywaaaaay, curious as where she got it? I was dumbfounded at first. I even blamed her pop for bringing some bad virus at home. Felt better (not really, actually) when her teacher, TS, told me that one of her classmates recently had. The boy went to school last Monday, no traces of pox blisters. But according to the the pediatrician we consulted earlier, it's more contagious when the blisters had dried up. Sigh. I wish the parents of the boy knew about that and had not allowed their son to go to school yet. 'Cause you know what? All his 7 classmates got it, as of today! Including my one and only. Oh, poor momma's heart. *cry with me now* 

So this is how she looked like last Tuesday, on the way home. She was slightly feverish with colds; hence, the beanie. It's a Dora kind of day. Yuhh, we're Ghetto like that.

Review: Cynos Argan Oil Thairapy

Exactly a month ago, I received hair care products for review that contain Argan Oil. It is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, endemic to Morocco, that is valued for its nutritive, cosmetic and numerous medicinal properties. It is also known in cosmetic use as moroccan oil. 

I was very fortunate to be able to try Cynos Argan Oil Thairapy, because argan oil worked wonders in my dry skin and hair. I think that's what I really don't like about my physical features - my being dry; that's why I love lotion so much. When I got to try the shampoo, I was not expecting that it'll do magic to my hair instantly. It also smells really, really good. Amoy-mayaman, hehe. And then I followed it up with the conditioner, which smells super fragrant! The instructions say that you have to towel off the wetness from your hair first before you apply it. I did.

The Soldier, the Queen, the Mermaid and Hundred Islands

We paid Php1500 for the boat that toured us around, brought us to Quezon Island (the most commercialized out of 100+) and picked us up so we could go back to reality. It's big and sturdy enough to hold around 20 people. The manong bankero was also kind to inform me (his most inquisitive passenger, btw) of what the islands are known for. Turtle Island because it's shaped like a turtle; Crocodile Island because it's shaped like a croc; Bat Island because that's where thousands of bats live; Children's Island because it's small (most well-thought name noh?!); but he didn't tell me there was an EMPI ISLAND there. The island looks like a floating bottle of Emperador. Hehe. #imbento (no photo though). It was a great experience; except for 1) the population of Quezon Island's vacationers during weekends, 2) my burnt shoulders that Beach Hut didn't cover up well, 3) the 100-peso payment for the 5 gallons of non-salty water you can use if you will take a bath, 4) one fresh buko juice costs Php100; and 5) the sleeping bats in Bat Island, which were supposed to show off. I'm 28 and it was my first time there so the complaints observations I made were very petty. I only knew about Hundred Islands during HEKASI class in gradeschool and now, I actually stepped on it. I think if there were less people, the trip was close to perfection.

What made my Saturday super worthwhile was that I saw how happy my little traveler was. Her pink Dora life vest helped her swim without my assistance. It's Php149 only! Her independence and enjoyment were affordable, in fairness. She didn't complain about having burnt skin. It was her tired legs that made her sleep for 14 straight hours! She woke up the next day telling me and her pop about the beach that she dreamed about. Cuteness. R and I promised that we will travel to different places more whenever we can. And now that our preschooler is beginning to appreciate what her innocent eyes can see, every trip we make should be worth for her to remember. I hope these photos could help her reminisce this experience once she gets to study Hundred Islands in school.

*photos taken using a Samsung S3 Mini, Samsung ST66 and iPhone 4s. 

Rayala Dialogues: Wisdom

As in this happened like 10 minutes earlier lang. I can't help but blog about this habang iniinin ang sinaing. LB has chapped lips kasi. She always has it when she's sick. Kulang na kulang sa vitamin C ang bagets.

Source

LB: Look Nanay, blood ang mouth ko.

B: We'll put lip balm later.

LB: Okay.

Then I gave her my compact mirror habang tinutuklap niya ang lips niya. Naawa na siguro sa sarili when...

LB: Nanay, can I have wisdom?

B: Anong wisdom?

LB: It's like lipstick, but it's wisdom.

Hahaha! Until now, tawang-tawa ko habang tinatype ko ito. Remember, when you have chapped lips, ask for wisdom! :D

Her Lesions and Hospital-Hopping

The day after we moved in to our new house, we went out with R for some huge errand. We bought our first car, a pre-loved gray Vios. Sophia already had mean red rashes all over her face that resulted to absences from school since it obviously showed.

Still smiling, despite of.

I didn't know what it was then, so my only reasons why I didn't want her to go to school was for her not to catch more germs. She was actually makulit, malikot and ever a ball of energy but her face said a different story. Nakakaawa talaga. Everything was normal, she even had a cup of strawberry ice cream before going to the hospital. But her nose was somehow rotten na. :(

On Cosmetics, Prices & Jar of Hope Review

At last, finally got to talk to my kawal who's so barado ang ilong. Ang saya nito when we kiss, paunahan tumulo ang sipon. Mate-test na naman marriage namin! Fireproof moment. Well, you might be thinking that I find it gross eh asawa ko naman siya. Eh ano pa nga ba? Oo naman, gross yun. Hahaha! But no, I love my husband --- booger, fart & all. Whoever says athletes have the stinkiest feet is so judgmental. Duh, naamoy na ba niya army men's feet?! With my husband's allowance, kasama sa budget ang foot powder. Uhm, I think when he gets to read this, reresbak yun. Unahan ko na. My feet get stinky din naman when the shoes has bacteria na. Like, for example, I have used it for walking in the flood; even after washing, and especially if it's made of cloth (like my SM Parisian flats --- kainis), ang jontot pa din. Diyahe nga. So I threw it away na. Nagbagong-buhay na paa ko. Now I can eat using my feet (not true). I think aside from alcohol (isopropyl not Tanduay), Nivea Men Deospray and shaver, Rhambo's staple hygiene product is his foot powder. Yun lang. As much as I would like to influence him on using what Jericho Rosales or Derek Ramsay are endorsing, eh bukod sa tamad siya, lagi niyang sinasabi na "baka sa akin lang masira pangalan ng mga yan!" I got his point. My soldier is a fuss-free kind of guy. Super my opposite.