Thursday, January 30, 2014

We Found Heaven Baby Diaper


A few days ago, ACS Manufacturing, the makers of Pride Laundry Detergent, Starwax Floorwax and Unique Toothpaste, which are known for quality and affordability, sent us a pack of their Heaven Baby Diapers to try. 

It came in the nick of time, as we were about to run out of nappies too! 

We’ve been doing mixed diapering (parang mixed feeding lang) with Xavi ever since he was born. He uses cloth diapers at home, and disposable diapers when we go out, and for nighttime sleeping. 

It feels good that we get to save on the cost of disposable diapers with cloth diapering, but still, I really do have to resort to disposables at times for the sake of convenience. 

Quality-wise, I really don’t have any problems with Huggies and Pampers, the two brands that we use interchangeably which I buy at S&R. Save for the fact that I cringe a little whenever I spend close to Php800 everytime I buy 2 packs of diapers for Xavi, I just charge it to c’est la vie. 

Coming from that, I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised with Heaven Diapers. The diaper was soft, and cotton-y. Just like the more expensive brands that I buy. It was folded into three parts, which also made it more compact, handy and less bulky. 


It had a light, powdery scent and overall, I have to say I was impressed. 

It has everything that our usual brands have - Elastic waistband, adjustable security tape, side leak guards, extra absorbent core & locking layer and anti-leak channels, except that it was just a lot more cheaper!

Elastic waistband, adjustable security tape, side leak guards, extra absorbent core & locking layer and anti-leak channels

The imported brands cost about Php11.50 a piece, whereas Heaven Diapers only come out to about Php8.75 per diaper.


Not bad. Not bad at all!

Heaven is available at Waltermart stores in four sizes at very affordable prices:

Small (for babies 3-7kg): Php 138 (24pcs.)
Medium (for babies 6-11kg): Php 162 (24pcs.)
Large (for babies 9-14kg): Php 186 (24pcs.)
Extra Large (for babies above 12kg):Php 210 (24pcs.)

Hong Kong, January 2014: Day 2 at Horizon Plaza in Ap Lei Chau

Vietnam vet meets Mary Kate Olsen

The one thing I love about going to Hong Kong in January is that I get to wear the Fall/Winter clothes I've accumulated during the early years of my married life, when Dada was still a lawyer in Manhattan. They've been unused for close to 3 years now, ever since we moved back to Asia. 

I excitedly packed my old Lanvin boots for this trip. I've had them since 2008, back when I was still pregnant with Berry.


Honeys, let me tell you. Don't scrimp on shoes. I've had these for 5 years now, and they still look great, considering they have survived 2 East Coast fall/winter seasons, and 3 years in storage. I remember searching high & low for them, ever since I saw Mary Kate Olsen wearing a pair back in 2006.


It was love at first sight then. It's still love when I slip into them. Even if I just wear them with Topshop leggings, an Isabel Marant pour H&M linen tee, and a Gap army parka, it makes the whole look I think. Plus, these boots truly are made for walking. 

The whole of Saturday was devoted to outlet shopping, window shopping and eating. The first order of the day was brunch at Tim Ho Wan.


Since we were staying in Admiralty, we decided to go to the Tim Ho Wan in Hong Kong Station, Central. Take note that even if the address on the website says IFC Mall, it is not in IFC Mall per se but at Podium Level 1, at the Airport Express check-in area, close to the elevators.

If you step out the train at Central station, just walk towards Hong Kong Station/Airport Express and Tung Chung. When you take the escalator up to Hong Kong Station, you'll reach the level where the taxi stands are. Walk straight and then take another escalator up to Podium 1. That's where Tim Ho Wan IFC is at.

We got to Tim Ho Wan at about 10:45, and we found ourselves seated in just about 10 minutes, with just 2 groups ahead of us. Shortly after 11, seemingly appearing from nowhere, a throng of about 20 would-be-diners were outside, waiting for a table. I strongly suggest that if you intend to eat at Tim Ho Wan, make sure you get there before 11 am.

That said, the baked BBQ buns were as good as I remembered, and Dada & I enjoyed them a lot.


We had the steamed egg cake, shrimp rice rolls, hakaw and pork& shrimp dumplings too, and while they were plump and filling, I am of the opinion that one goes to Tim Ho Wan to enjoy those delicious pork buns. I am so happy that Tim Ho Wan is finally opening in Megamall so I don't have to wait for the next trip to HK or Singapore just to get my fix.



With happy tummies, we went down the elevator to get a taxi to take us to Horizon Plaza in Ap Lei Chau.


Horizon Plaza at Ap Lei Chau is the outlet mall where shopping legends are made of, consisting of 28 floors of fashion, food, home decor and furniture finds.


This is where Lane Crawford, Joyce, Goods of Desire, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Armani, Marni and the distributors of Carven, Anya Hindmarch, Repetto, 3.1 Phillip Lim and more bring all their past season stuff to be marked down to sometimes, almost nothing. 

Love Carven? Check out bluebell warehouse on the 19th floor, which also houses past season Anya Hindmarch, Nancy Gonzalez, Blumarine and Moschino

Lane Crawford had stuff down to up to 90% off.


While a lot of the shoes were too wild for my taste, such as these platform Alaias...


...and studded & beribonned Birkenstocks...


Lane Crawford had Swedish Hasbeens in my size and within my taste range. Reasonably priced too at just about HKD1000.


The cream Celine sweater was at extra 20% off and the white Celine jacket was being sold at an extra 30% off the marked down price...


The last time we were in Hong Kong, my friend Naomi was able to buy Isabel Marant pumps at the  IT Outlet.


Unfortunately for me, there were no shoes to be found. They only had a paltry rack of about 10 pieces of Isabel Marant clothing, with a pair of jeans (not in my size) at 70% off.


Joyce had dresses by Mary Katrantzou, Galliano, Margiela, and more plus a vast array of shoes.


Including Rick Owens and Rodarte. Incidentally, just across is Pollux Books, where you can leave the husband and kids while you peruse the designer-filled racks at Joyce.

Rick Owens wedge and calf hair trimmed Rodarte heels

Girls like me who love flats will love J. Journey Outlet - home of marked down Repetto, Cath Kidston & Uggs.


When I was there, they were selling Repettos BBs for HKD1000 to HKD1500.


As well as the Zizi oxfords and Jackson loafers. There was a even a small section of Repetto for little girls. OMG.


MaxMara offered an extra 20% for the purchase of 4 or more items.


YSL had Belle du Jour clutches for only HKD4000


And Tribute pumps for HKD4400, with some at an additional 30% off for certain sizes. If you are sized 37.5 to 39 in YSL, there's a wide selection of colors to choose from!


Moms would love Bumps to Babes,


They had ELC toys at 50% off!


Architect/Interior Designer Kellyn See frequents Horizon Plaza to check out the furniture and home accessories stores and of all the stores here, I cannot wait to go back to explore the home goods stores more! She says I can actually arrange to have my purchases shipped to Manila too!

At a store selling lacquerware:


At Lene Bjerre



Tree at the 28th floor


OVOstudio


Pet lovers would have a field day at Whiskers N Paws, and if you get hungry from going through all 28 floors, there are a host of cafes and pastry shops such as Sift where you can stop by for coffee and a sweet treat to recharge.

Whiskers n Paws, a shop devoted to supplying the needs of your furry friends

Some tips to help you get to Horizon Plaza & navigate all 28 floors if you are short on time:

- Forget about taking the bus or a shuttle. Just cab it. It will cost you anywhere from HKD95-115 if you are coming from Central
- Get a copy of the directory from the front desk at the ground floor so you can easily find the stores you want to see
- Instead of waiting for the elevator at each and every floor, take the elevator all the way up to Tree at the 28th floor and take the stairs going down
- Leave the husband at home or at the hotel. Let him do his own thing, send him off to a computer shop or bookstore while you devote a few hours or half a day at Ap Lei Chau. Remember, SPACE aka the Prada outlet is also just a few minutes away. Impatient husbands/boyfriends are programmed to kill the shopping mojo or at least curb your spending. Haha.

Horizon Plaza
2 Lee Wing Street
Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2554 9089
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Get FREE tickets to 7107 International Music Festival from SMART!


Smart, along with its online music portal SPINNR, has just announced its partnership with the 7107 International Music Festival, the music event of the year that everyone has been talking about. 

Which only means, if you are a Smart subscriber, you may be one of over a thousand lucky subscribers who will get the chance to experience the 7107 International Music Festival for FREE on February 22 to 23 at Global Gateway Logistics City, in Clark, Pampanga.

Headlined by the best international acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kaskade, Empire of the Sun, and Kendrick Lamar, and the most talented local bands such as Up Dharma Down, Taken by Cars, and Radioactive Sago Project, to name a few, the 7107 International Music Festival is poised to become the biggest music festival in the country, ever.

Smart’s Media, Trade Activation and Touchpoints Group Head Darlene Chiong and Data and International Services Marketing Head Michele Curran with Tina Herrera, Executive Producer of the 7107 International Music Festival, Smart Innovations and Product Development Group Head Melissa Limcaoco, and Smart Prepaid Marketing Head Joel Lumanlan

In the coming weeks, Smart Prepaid, Postpaid and Broadband subscribers will have the chance to earn the privilege of witnessing some of the best international and local music acts just by being with the leader in mobile. 

“We are making sure that our subscribers will have the best music experience during the 7107 International Music Festival that only Smart and SPINNR can provide,” said Charles A. Lim, EVP and Head of the Wireless Consumer Division at Smart. “We have made a promise that our subscribers can ‘Live More’ by being with Smart. And we believe that the 7107 International Music Festival is a perfect avenue for that.” 

More than just providing a number of ways to get access to this much-awaited music event, Smart has prepared a wide array of exciting events and attractions exclusive to subscribers that will truly make their 7107 experience one for the books—including a dedicated Smart headquarters where subscribers can lounge and hang out for the duration of the entire event. 

Lucky Smart subscribers will also get the chance to meet and greet the artists back stage, take home exclusive merchandise, and get exclusive perks on the festival grounds. 

For a truly interactive 7107 experience, Smart subscribers will also be able to instantly share with the rest of the world the best of their 7107 moments. Smart, which has the ‘nationwidest’ and most reliable mobile and broadband network in the country, is providing free WiFi at the music festival, which will enable everyone to stay connected to tweet and post photos and videos for all the world to view and love. 

These and other surprises await Smart subscribers at the 7107 International Music Festival next month. 

To get the latest updates on how you can hop aboard this one-of-a-kind music experience brought to you by Smart and SPINNR, visit smart.com.ph/7107 or follow @SMARTPromos on Twitter and like Smart Communications on Facebook. 

SPINNR, powered by Smart Music, is the country’s biggest online music portal with more than 3 Million songs from a wide range of local and international artists available for download. For as low as P49, users can enjoy unlimited music streaming from SPINNR on their PCs, smartphones and tablet with no data charges for 30 days. For more information, please visit www.spinnr.ph

Hong Kong, January 2014: Day 1


I had Air Asia tickets for two expiring next month, so Dada & I decided to fly to Macau last weekend. Thing is though, we don't really go to casinos, and so we had this brilliant idea to fly to Macau, but stay in Hong Kong for the duration of our stay.
 
One thing I like about flying Air Asia? No lines. 

No lines at the x-ray machine, no lines when you pay the airport tax and terminal fee, no lines at the ticketing counter, no lines at immigration. We literally breezed through the normally arduous airport process at the other NAIA terminals.


Getting to Hong Kong was another story. Due to flight delays, it was almost 6 pm by the time we arrived in Macau.

Right after we cleared immigration and picked up our luggage from the carousel, we headed out to the Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal to catch our ferry to Hong Kong. We got our tickets and went through immigration in 10 minutes, enough to catch the Cotai Water Jet bound for Hong Kong that was leaving in 5 minutes.

That's not bad at all, I know. But see, riding the ferry was not pleasant. At all. 

When my friend Miriam told me to take Bonamine, I should have taken her advice seriously. I was practically singing myself a lullaby, convincing myself that I was being gently lulled to sleep when in reality, I was thisclose to throwing up. Thank goodness for the Rio Mints I had in my bag, that somehow distracted me from my ordeal.

I told Dada as we stepped out, "Never again will I take a ferry! Ever!" Which I belatedly realized was something we had to do again when we leave for HK to fly out from Macau. Eeeeek. So I said, "When we go back, we have to stay at the top deck of the ferry na, Cotai First Class, baby!" Lolz.

That's what I get for thinking this Macau-HK-Macau sojourn was going to be a fun adventure. Well it was naman.

Because once we stepped into Pacific Place, all was forgotten.


Still, tired, hungry and having no energy to venture out into the famous streets of Hong Kong to look for food, as soon as we checked ourselves in at JW Marriott (Hello Mr, & Mrs. Stoeckl!), we headed out to Great Food Hall at the basement of Pacific Place, where we ended up at Triple-Os by Canadian burger chain White Spot.


Because when you're tired and hungry, it seems nothing satisfies that empty pit in your stomach like hunkering down to a big, greasy burger and fries. Or maybe that's just us. Haha.

I mean, just look at this baby. Nothing close to a Shake Shack burger, but I'll take it.


By the time we finished dinner and had walked around the grocery store, enthralled by all the food choices, all we wanted was to go back to our room and rest. Friday gone, just like that, but it was an experience like nothing I have ever experienced before. All in all, I was happy to be back in Hong Kong. Besides, I was looking forward to the whole of Saturday which was dedicated to eating and shopping!

That said, I just wanted to share with you at how pleased I am to have realized that all those sample sized tubes and bottles of cleansers, moisturizers and serums can come in very handy during short weekend trips! I used to lug around all my regular sized products, too resistant to transfer them into travel containers. But then, I had this eureka moment! Why didn't I even think of this before?


Since I still breastfeed Xavi, I also brought along a sample sized pouch of  Cradle bottle cleanser to wash my bottle and breast pump parts with, that was just enough to use for our stay! I don't know if it's just me, but I really get a kick out of these things. Heehee.


Day 1 was not heart pumping exciting, but tomorrow, I shall regale you with my Ap Lei Chau finds! OMG!

L'Eau Jolie by Lolita Lempicka


There is something about Lolita Lempicka's L'Eau Jolie that reminds me somehow of Laduree.

Maybe it the pretty packaging, the gold embossed letters, and the fact that it's French. Or maybe because there is something sweet and youthful about it, just like the face of L'Eau Jolie, the young actress Elle Fanning.


L'Eau Jolie is a fruity-floral Eau de Toilette that brings to mind a deliciously refreshing Peach Blossom-Blackcurrant sorbet. It's a scent that is appropriate for young teenage girls, but still appeals to girls my age.

The top note consists of Blackcurrant and Nashi Pear, sprinkled with violet leaf. A round bouquet then releases elegant notes of Neroli, Peony and Peach Blossom The base note is of Musk, Cedar and Sandalwood.

Plus, the bottle is divine! Shaped like an apple, it fits perfectly into the palm of my hand.


L'Eau Jolie comes in two sizes,  30 ml and 50 ml and should be available locally in your nearest department store.

Bon Chon Delivers!

When I was pregnant with Berry, I was crazy about Korean fried chicken.

It was the original Bon Chon in Koreatown in Manhattan that got me hooked, and while they never served their chicken with rice, I learned to eat it with a siding of pickled radish cubes that still makes my mouth water at just the mere idea of it. OMG.

So when Bon Chon miraculously opened in Manila, it was just wow. What's doubly wow is that Bon Chon delivers now!


I had an impromptu lunch at home the other week, because my friend Gretch was in town and only had an hour to spare for lunch. Then Kris aka OC Mom in Manila and I made plans to check out our neighborhood pilates studio before she had to go to another meeting. With little time to spare, it was a relief that Bon Chon came to my rescue!

BonChon here in Manila is so different from the Bon Chon I knew in New York. Back there, Bon Chon is more of a bar that serves chicken, while here, it's a full on fast food concept that features not just their delicious double fried chicken, but also deep fried seafood, japchae, bulgogi, soups, sandwiches and salads, as well as the new Crispy Crepes.


Whether you are in Manila or in a city where BonChon is at, there's a delivery hotline that you can call when that Korean fried chicken craving starts kicking in.

Just make sure you order a minimum of Php300 and expect to pay a 10% delivery charge. Craving solved.

Bon Chon Delivery Hotlines:
Metro Manila - 633-1818.
Marilao, Bulacan - (044) 815-1818
Baliwag, Bulacan - (044) 761-1818
Cavite - (046) 424-1818
Central Cebu City, (032) 266-0488
Davao, (082) 285-1704 *charges a flat P40 delivery fee

For more information, log on to www.bonchon.com.ph
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