Brown paper packages tied up with string...

I have another new favorite thing: Coupons from exclusive online deals!

A blogger friend wrote an entry about dealies.ph, a site that compiles the online discount deals of various sites into one user-friendly location, a few weeks back and after reading her positive review on it, I decided to give online coupon shopping a shot. And another shot... then another!

So yeah, I'm kind of hooked. I'm now a registered user of multiple sites such as cashcashpinoy, metrodeals and dealgrocer, and have thus far purchased for mi'self:

• A yoga exercise set by Made For Movement at 73% off, delivered straight to my doorstep, and came in my favorite color! *blush*

• Two laser hair removal treatments from Power Peel 90% off (from 3k to 300!), conveniently usable on weekends, and not all that difficult to get to (their clinic is on Panay Ave. I can do a stopover at Tops Timog on my way home!).

• And most recently (i.e., just a few seconds ago), multiple Manels GCs being sold at 50% off, in 400-peso denominations. I got 6. I'm not kidding. That adds up to Php2,400 worth of Manels stuff. That's got to be at least 2 pairs of shoes. Three if I hunt good. Plus a bag if I do better!

Ain't it amazing what one can do on the wonderful world wide web of today! :)

Give online deals a shot. It's shopping from the happy convenience of your laptop.

Untitled

I've been wondering what my "Hell yeah" is for a while now, since that entry by Chris G. I think I've finally figured it out.
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What I do for a living is stressful. It eats up into my weekends, makes my week hours unpredictable, and hopes to destroy whatever semblance of balance I have left in my life.

But I love it. I was telling my best friends that, while others feel bad when work takes over their lives... I feel no remorse. Sure I complain when the long hours come but I still get up the next day and head off for work bright and early. And it's not like the stress-levels are overly dreadful. Actually, compared to some of my colleagues in creatives, my job is a breeze!

I can't even pinpoint exactly what about working in media that gets me so riled up. The politicking is horrid, HR needs work, I still haven't been issued a proper computer, meetings are too long and sometimes painful... and although I am still trying to perfect the ability of looking past these flaws, I have to say they're really just pebbles in the grander flow of it all.

I'm happy. And at peace with the choice to come back. It feels more like coming home than anything else and I can't wait til I hit my first year again.

In loving memory

That's our Lola Becky in the middle. She was 84 in this picture, when we celebrated her birthday last year. We were supposed to get all together and celebrate again tomorrow for the big 8-5, but she passed away... just a few moments ago actually.

Didn't think it'd be painful to write but it is.

Lola Becky (or Auntie Becky, as I'm more comfortable calling her) is my 3rd lola's sister (our family tree's complicated). We're actually not related by blood but she's still always been family.

Mama and Papa are heading out to Antipolo now to help with the wake arrangements. Days like these I wish I could drive and be more useful.

Shoe Fix

Dear Lord,
Please don't ever let me loose on Rockwell again. I spend too much...
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It's finally happened, boys & girls! My season-long drought has been quenched by a much deserved spree in shoe shopping goodness. I say season-long because I don't really recall when the last time I bought mi'self a new pair of shoes... Ah, wait I do... (Ahihi!)

BUT ANYWAY!

Yesterday, the stars aligned and I ended up with a bit of time to kill at the Powerplant. That mall, I swear, is the weak chink in my chain. Last time I was there by my lonesome, no one was around to stop me from buying the entire Temeraire series of Naomi Novic from Fully Booked. Then last night, about an hour before closing, as I meandered aimlessly through its upscale halls... okay it wasn't aimless. I was supposed to head for CBTL on the 3rd level when ... Aleluia ... like a miracle, this store beckoned and I had no choice but to oblige.

Payless Shoesource 3/L Rockwell Powerplant (aka Heaven on Earth)

I'm telling you, my first thought was... "Have I died and gone to heaven? Is this for real?"

Since the Payless Shoesource franchise opened on Philippine soil in July 2010, I've been wanting to visit and scour its vast shelves. But I'm hardly in the locations they decided to open up in so the chance never presented itself... until yesterday! Oh, happy day!

Payless Shoes aren't, by Manila working girl standards, the cheapest in town... I'd normally go to Tutuban or Greenhills or Divisoria with just a thousand bucks in my wallet and come home with 4 pairs of shoes, but of course, those would be generic-looking things that one wouldn't really take notice of when on one's feet... Shoes from Payless, however, are PRETTY!

Pretty darn hard to find too, but when you do find the golden nuggets, they are things you do NOT let slip thru your fingers. The only sad thing about Payless is their slightly small selection for the size 6-6.5 foot (my size. Cry.) when compared to numerous size 10's and 12's. They do have a wide array of designs for men, but apparently I'm so much easier to please, shoe-wise, than my dad. He walked away whole, while I stepped out nearly 3K less. But it was worth it!

So, let's move on to the latest additions to my ever growing shoe collection!

:) And they came in a reusable bag to promote eco-friendliness :)

 Yes, I bought two. TWO and proud of it!

Fioni demiclogs in brown suede.

These Fioni Bootie Clogs came in grey-blue, too. But I figured that brown would be the more practical pair to purchase.

Black Glads from Zoe And Zac

This pair caught my attention just before I was about to check-out.

Last pair in my size = It was meant to be mine.

Thing is with Payless, you have to be patient and really let the experience of going through the stores collection take you. I know I sound like an addict, and I am, but seriously, I was so happy to have finally been able to shop in its heavenly walls. The overall shopping-as-if-in-the-supermarket style really got me going!

This first trip, unfortunately for my debit card, won't be the last. *Sigh*

Payless Shoesource has 9 (and counting) stores in the country: Powerplant, Shang, Market! Market!, Marque and Ayala Mall Cebu are the branches I recall now. Visit a store near you. :)

Pamper Thy Self

I'm not vain.

I've lived some twenty plus years without make-up and moisturizer and whatnot, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a luxurious massage or spa session every now and then. Actually, my real prettify-me indulgence is an afternoon at the nail salon.

I was a nail biter in my younger years. Sometimes, the horrid habit manifests itself; especially when I'm stressed out but I kicked it years ago with the help of the manicure (plus my stint as Caronia brand manager, that got me in the mindset of loving my nails a bit more). The wonders of manicure taught me polish colors and cuticle pushing and how hands simply look cleaner when topped off my perfectly manicured fingernails. Of course, the pedicure wasn't too far behind then. And ergo the foot spa.

Heading off to the nail salon has been my thing for a while now, so imagine my happiness when a very posh yet professional place opened up oh-so-near our house!

 

The Nail Fairy And Day Spa is my kind of place.The ambiance is perfect, the simple combination of teal with white and pink is enough to sooth the tired sole. Their black chairs lean all the way back and the playlist isn't obstructive to the chill process.

Great spacious set-up. Perfect for Spa parties!

The fact that their services aren't badly priced either is just icing on the cake!

I had a luxurious foot spa with wax mask, mani/pedi cleaning with Orly polish all for under 500 bucks. It was too good. I'm coming back soon for a deep cleansing facial and a whole body massage. :)

If anyone's interested to have a fun spa day with me, here are the contact details of The Nail Fairy:

126-B Speaker Perez St. Brgy. Maharlika, Quezon City.

(Near Starbucks N.S. Amoranto, formerly Retiro St.)

Call ahead for appointments!

Tel. (632) 806-1078

Mobile: (0923) 588-8742

See ya there!

Love sings when it transcends the bad things

Wise words from Brandon Boyd, god of rock hotness.
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I'm not an Incubus fan... really I'm not. I just thought, why waste the opportunity to hear good music live for cheap? My sister's friend offered his lower box tickets to us at half price; the deal was simply too good to pass up.

So yesterday, July 28, 2011, I ushered m'self into the throngs of rush hour MRT in vain hope of getting to the Smart-Araneta Coliseum before the orcs do. Of course they got there before I did. Orcs are jobless halfwits who have rocks for brain matter. Thank God they were mostly in Gen Ad. I'm so going to hell for those last two sentences.

The normally cramped ways of Cubao was tripled by a rowdy crowd of young ones on the verge of bursting with noise anticipation. Not entirely the most ideal place to be for claustrophobes like me but I huffed and I puffed and just took it all in, 'cause just like the tour title said "If not now... When?"*

Incubus has been making waves in the international music industry since 1995. They've released anthems like Megalomaniac (the opening number), Drive, Promises Promises and Nice To Know You (their last song last night), and have earned a generation's love and respect for the kind of music they produce. My generation's love and respect. I only wish they slotted in Are You In instead of Talk Show On Mute in the concert playlist. Are You In has been haunting me for weeks and I really wanted to hear Brandon Boyd croon "oooh-wooo-oooh-oooh!" I guess seeing his lankyman abs blown up on big screen will have to do.

Okay so I am a fan. Just not the hardcore, lyric memorizing addict kind. Watching the concert at the big dome was well worth the effort, it reminded me of my 'Guijo hoppin' days, sans the overcrowdedness (I know that's not a real word. Deal with it!).

But you know what really made the worth every penny? The fact that I didn't even have to pay for my ticket. Yes, Incubus for free... it's a good thing.


*By the way that, my non-rocker friends, is also the title of Incubus' latest album. Download-worthy.

Gaining A New Perspective

This one song by The Script has been my Achilles' heel for about a year now. "If You Ever Come Back" broke my heart because it sentimentalized emotions I was going through, and I both loved and hated Danny O'Donoghue and his crew for penning such brilliance.

A few days ago, however, I came across the band's official music video of the song and it offered a new perspective.

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I never thought about listening to the song from a parent's point of view, talking to her runaway daughter. I guess I was too hung up on what the song meant to me to realized they were personifying something even more meaningful.

Now, when the song plays on my iPod, it doesn't hurt as much. Maybe the new perspective was just what I needed to take yet another step in the right direction.

IF YOU EVER COME BACK
Songwriters: KIPNER, STEPHEN / FRAMPTON, ANDREW / O'DONOGHUE, DANIEL / SHEEHAN, MARK

If you're standing with your suitcase but you can't step on the train
Everything's the way that you left it, I still haven't slept yet
And if you're covering your face now but you just can't hide the pain
Still setting two plates on the counter but eating without you

If the truth is you're a liar when you say that you're okay
I'm sleeping on your side of the bed going out of my head now
And if you're out there trying to move on but something pulls you back again
I'm sitting here trying to persuade you like we're in the same room

And I wish you could give me the cold shoulder
And I wish you could still give me a hard time
And I wish I could still wish it was over
But even if wishing is a waste of time
Even if I never cross your mind

I'll leave the door on the latch
If you ever come back, if you ever come back
There'll be a light in the hall and a key under the mat
If you ever come back
There'll be a smile on my face and the kettle on
And it will be just like you were never gone
There'll be a light in the hall and a key under the mat
If you ever come back, if you ever come back now

Now they say I'm wasting my time 'cause you're never coming home
But they used to say the world was flat and how wrong was that now
And by leaving my door open I'm risking everything I own
There's nothing I can lose in a break-in that you haven't taken

And I wish you could give me the cold shoulder
And I wish you could still give me a hard time
And I wish I could still wish it was over
But even if wishing is a waste of time
Even if I never cross your mind

I'll leave the door on the latch
If you ever come back, if you ever come back
There'll be a light in the hall and a key under the mat
If you ever come back
There'll be a smile on my face and the kettle on
And it will be just like you were never gone
There'll be a light in the hall and a key under the mat
If you ever come back, if you ever come back now

If it's the fighting you remember or the little things you miss
I know you're out there somewhere, so just remember this
If it's the fighting you remember or the little things you miss
Oh just remember this, oh just remember this

I'll leave the door on the latch
If you ever come back, if you ever come back
There'll be a light in the hall and a key under the mat
If you ever come back
There'll be a smile on my face and the kettle on
And it will be just like you were never gone
There'll be a light in the hall and a key under the mat
If you ever come back, if you ever come back now

Oh if you ever come back, if you ever come back now

And it will be just like you were never gone
And it will be just like you were never gone
And it will be just like you were never gone
If you ever come back, if you ever come back now

:)