The Lip Balm Junkie

Confession: I'm lip balm dependent. I've never used lipstick without first applying a layer of balm underneath. That's why I've never experienced the effects of a drying lipstick or gloss. As a pre-teener, my first ever cosmetic product was a tube of (strawberry? bubblegum?) lip gloss from Sasa. Originally, I was looking to get lip balm, but being the makeup newbie that I was all those years back and because of the language barrier between me and the Cantonese sales woman, I mistakenly asked for lip gloss instead. Confusing, I know, but that's the start of my balm obsession story.

In my conservative high school, makeup was a big no-no, so I had to make do with Chapstick and Johnson's white face powder for dry lips and oily face, respectively. Girls will be girls, so lip balm became a hot accessory we could tote around without getting reprimanded. Before all the sheer variety of imported products started coming in droves, we had a select staple like Bonne Bell Lip Smackers and The Body Shop Born Lippy.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="390"] Born Lippy and Lip Smackers were all the rage[/caption]

Despite the fact that most girls of my generation have owned and applied those brands of lip balm, the truth is they tasted terrible. The tantalizing smell of the testers were always what drew you in at first. Then there was the collect 'em all mentality. But they all tasted as fake as can be. I don't know how to describe it, but it's not even like the artificial flavorings in candy. In fact, I would have preferred a pleasant scent and no whatsoever flavor. These days, I'm not certain if those brands have improved the flavor element of their cosmetics, but I haven't gotten any of those recently.

Sweet lip balms are no good either. They make me nervous as they might have sugar content that'll mess up clean teeth, especially when applied before bed.

Thank goodness for new formulations! I'm in love with Bloom's Aromatherapy Vanilla Lip Balm. It has the most endearing yet subtle vanilla smell but is flavorless. Perfect for bed time lip treatment. The only con is the packaging. Pots are cute, but when you're out of the house and you're not sure how sanitized your hands are, you'd think twice before applying with fingers. I have to bring a lip brush, which now makes it a small hassle.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] What I'm using now: Bloom, Urban Rituelle, EOS, and Human Nature[/caption]

Another one of my faves is Human Nature lip balm (both tinted and non-tinted varieties), as mentioned in my BGC post. It's insanely inexpensive, especially for a natural-ingredients product (PHP 65). The scent of Tutti Frutti is okay, but I'd go for Chocolate Fudge next time. Oh, and how I wish they had vanilla.

My newest addition to the balmy collection is the much talked-about EOS (PHP 250 from online sellers in Manila). It's notorious for melting like crazy in summer weather, which means I have to pop it into the fridge until I'm ready to use it.

So that's basically it. If I'd been asked what 5 cosmetic items I must bring to a desert island, lip balm would certainly make the cut. What can I say? I'm a lip balm girl.

*Photos are all from the products' official sites.

IHOP to It

My dining adventures with M (and friends!) have resumed once more, I'm happy to say. What was supposed to be a visit to the 2013 Pyrolympics in MoA was cancelled last minute because of the heavy traffic (a blend of Pyrolympics attendees and provincial buses bringing people home in time for Holy Week). We left the house at around 4:30pm and had to wait in gridlock until we finally got to World Trade Center for the 5th Megabrands Sale at 7. Just approaching MoA was looking to be a pain in the butt, so it was decided that we were better off trying out the brand new IHOP in Fort Bonifacio instead.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Sign of the times[/caption]

First and foremost, the legendary waitlist was no exeggeration, even at 9pm. The waiting lounge was only big enough to seat 7, so there were small groups of people standing around outside the restaurant waiting to be called. It looked a little crazy, so we took our sweet time with the window shopping and opted to go back later for dessert. By 11pm, there was still a line, but we only had to wait 10 minutes.

IHOP is an old-fashioned diner in the US, but its Manila branch looks much more dressed-up in a swanky place like BGC (Bonifacio Global City). The well-designed establishment features lots of polished wood paneling and floor-to-ceiling windows. The main dining floor is upstairs, while there are a few tables on the first floor.

Still full from our dinner at Quiznos, M and I shared an order of CINN-A-STACK Pancakes (PHP 235) while drinking refillable Iced Coffees (PHP 145). Let me just say that I love CINN-A-STACK pancakes! Aromatic Cinnamon roll-flavored pancakes? Yes, please! I first had them in Los Angeles, so I was thrilled to try them here.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Lip smacking CINN-A-STACK[/caption]

Fresh out of the kitchen, the 2-piece pancake stack was warm, fluffy, and moist. Cinnamon sugar filling was spread in the middle and on top of each layer and a thick cream cheese sauce was drizzled on top. Though the pancakes weren't shaped into perfect circles, I found them more endearing because they gave off a homemade feel. The only thing I didn't like was the slightly "sandy"  texture of the pancakes that may have to do with the flour they used. Maya's wholewheat pancake mix has that same sandy texture.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Syrups in Old-Fashioned, Strawberry, Butter Pecan, and Blueberry[/caption]

Because of the strong cinnamon taste, adding the flavored syrups on our table didn't seem necessary but I tried them out anyway. Much to my surprise, I found that each flavor of syrup tasted good. What I honestly expected was for the blueberry and strawberry syrups to have that overly sweet candy flavoring taste, but they tasted more like the syrups for berry preserves.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Mocha and Vanilla Iced Coffees[/caption]

The bottomless Iced Coffees were okay, but not particularly strong or milky. There were 3 flavors to choose from: Original, Vanilla, and Mocha, with the flavors coming from syrups pumped into the bottoms of the glasses.

I found the service to be impeccable. The waitstaff was super attentive to the point that refills for iced coffee were already on the table even before my first glass was completely empty.

Though I'm not much of a breakfast person and wouldn't easily think to visit a restaurant that specializes in breakfast food, my IHOP late-night run turned out to be a pleasant dining experience. I would come back to satisfy my CINN-A-STACK craving or try out the yummy-looking Specialty Broccoli Cheese Omelette.

IHOP - W Global Center, 30th Street corner 9th Avenue, BGC, Taguig

The (Doubled) Price of Beauty

My favorite pastime is browsing cosmetics online. I frequently lust over all the new collections and lament the fact that not all those products get to be sold in local stores. That said, I've paid close attention to price

What's In Their Bags?

Aside from food, beauty stuff is my universal conversation topic, although it's mostly reserved for talks with girlfriends. I always ask people what things they're using now, then I am often shown the contents of their makeup kits. It's fun to see what products they love, not to mention that it's also very telling of their personalities.

If you look inside my kikay kit right now, it'd take you forever to get through all the stuff. I tend to carry a lot of makeup with me, since I always want to have touch-up items at hand. The only two things I rarely bring along are my eyelash curler and mascara.

 

Lunching at Lunch Lady

Want to eat the freshest veggies while on your Asian vacation? Vietnam's the place to be. In a more formal dining room or at a roadside eatery, the herbs and vegetables don't disappoint. It's amazing to consistently see all that vibrant color and wondrous crisp every mealtime. Refreshing!


At the top of my must-eat list was a stop at Lunch Lady, a simple outdoor dining place that's 100% true to its name. Only available for the early lunch rush as the soup runs out in a snap, this hidden soup "cart" caters to plenty of locals and tourists in its daily operations. A kindly-looking Vietnamese woman does the buying and cooking of all the ingredients. I know that because I discovered Lunch Lady through Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="498"] Lunch time![/caption]

It took me 2 tries to finally find her! The first day, we arrived a bit late from our exploration of the city. No dice. Lunch Lady had already packed up and left. We were told by other vendors to come back earlier the next day. Well, day 2 almost never happened as the cab driver wasn't familiar with the address I gave. After never-ending turns and multiple attempts at asking for directions, we miraculously arrived, smack in the middle of lunch service.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="498"] Lunch Lady in action[/caption]

From what I've read in my research, Lunch Lady has a daily menu roster. There's a different kind of soup and side dish every day. No need to browse through any menu. Upon sitting, a man comes and counts the people at the table and brings the right number of soup- and side-of-the day. We were able to effectively communicate our drink orders through gestures and pointing to the display case.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="498"] Soup du Jour (think it's called Canh Chua Tom)[/caption]

A seafood-y noodle soup was served, complete with the ever-present herbs for extra texture. It's an explosion of flavor, really. I say 'seafood-y' as there are many other components to the soup such as tripe and okra. The taste is comparable to a mild version of Tom Yum: a little sour and super fragrant.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="498"] Spring Rolls[/caption]

Along with it comes a plateful of Vietnam's famous spring rolls. Again, FRESH sums it all up. The shrimp was cooked perfectly.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="374"] Rau ma (Pennywort)[/caption]

As for libations, I ordered a glass of Rau ma, which I can only describe as resembling wheatgrass. My companions, on the other hand, preferred the more familiar avocado drink.

The bill is reasonable. For around PHP200, there's noodle soup, drink, and side dish. Try to get a complete meal that's this fresh in Manila for that price. I dare you.

One thing is for sure, this healthy lunch is a FULL and balanced meal with its carbs, proteins, and veggies. A month of this, I'm guessing, is the equivalent of a cleanse.

Scouting for this venue was well-worth the frustrating search on-taxi, but here's a little tip: To avoid the hassle of going in circles, it's best if you had a google map image of the area saved on your phone to show the cab driver.

Lunch Lady -  23 Hoang Sa St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Clean Air Act?

The outdoor areas of Eastwood City are death traps of pollution. Yeah, it sounds a little extreme, but it sure feels that way. Before the smokers of the Philippines hasten to defend their preference, I want to point out very clearly that I don't really care whether or not a person smokes. WHERE they smoke, on the other hand, proves more of a concern.

I love Eastwood City. It's a great late-night hangout with just about everything in it. Even during the mornings, it's abuzz with activity. However, there is a HUGE failure in implementing rules on proper smoking areas. I've seen all the signs that indicate where to take cigarette breaks, but it's so obvious that very few pay heed. This, of course, worsens on workdays. I've seen guys walking through crowded public areas while puffing away, completely oblivious to the people behind them who are subjected to their smoke clouds.

What ever happened to consideration for others?

 

When in Napoli...

Meaty (literally!) and satisfying Italian food right in Quezon City is what Napoli offers.  The quiet restaurant has been in operation nearing a decade, and I've spent some happy birthdays and enjoyable mealtimes there.

Last week, I had to drop by ABS-CBN with my mom for an errand I had to do ASAP (no pun intended). Somehow, my Chinese food-loving mom started to crave Italian, so we walked all the way to the Scout roundabout (rotonda) in Tomas Morato for some pizza and pasta.

For 2 people eating dinner, what we ordered was a bit too much. But if there was a 3rd member, it would have been enough.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="464"] Cream of Tomato Soup[/caption]

Their Cream of Tomato Soup (PHP150) is simply lovely. I'm a fan of garlic, so I appreciated the zesty blend of garlic and tomatoes. So savory and so fulfilling. The soup is served with a cheese topping, though I only took a photo after I dug in. What makes the PHP150 price worthwhile are the bits of shrimp in this soup. Plus, that one order was big enough for 2 as we had the servings split.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] All Meat (left) and Taco (right) Pizza[/caption]

Next up for us was pizza (of course)! Did you know that you could order 2 flavors in 1 here? They charge half the price of each flavor. We had a combination of Taco and Meat Lovers (around PHP270 for the small size; cut into 4 slices) to balance out the flavors. I found Taco lighter and, therefore, friendlier to my tummy. The meaty overload was too filling. I like a seriously cheesy pizza with simple toppings.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Seafood and Asparagus Fettuccine[/caption]

Finally, there was Seafood and Asparagus Fettuccine (PHP330) that was meant for 3 people. It was too much! The pasta had curry powder in it, which I didn't much care for, but the asparagus and seafood (squid, crab stick, mussels) bits were nice and plenty. The only other thing I didn't like was that the mussels hadn't been de-bearded. I'd try the Carbonara with Chicken next time. Even with pasta, simple but rich i the way to go for me.

What else to order? The hero sandwiches have gotten mentions from local celebrities. Personally, I've never eaten past their pizzas and pastas, but I'm very tempted to try it out.

Napoli Pizzeria Ristorante - Imperial Palace Suites, Tomas Morato, Quezon City (right by the Scout roundabout)