My Cookie Butter Story

Cookie butter this, cookie butter that. Did you know that a jar of this Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter costs around 450Php <average> online? No wonder my friends who have great/kind/nice/uto-uto family members abroad opted to just request them to be included in the next balikbayan box. Hah!

My panties actually weren't really in a bunch to try this and there's no way I'm going  to ask friends and relatives to send me a jar from abroad, for this ~ maybe for other more important things, like limited edition MAC lipstick or perhaps that cute mouth/teeth pacifier which my son won't use <just because he loves my nipples a little too much. Yes, we're still breastfeeding. he's age 2 and half>

But of course, if opportunity presents itself, like when one day while walking in the supermarket, looking for Nutella, these two jars hello-ed. They were eye-level, Nutella was knee-level. I took it as a sign.

*find price scanner. quick*

Tada! it's only $7something (288Php) Obviously I took both jars (the other one I brought home for my BFF whom I stood up prior to this trip) I also bought a loaf of bread.

Trader Joe's Speculoos Crunchy Cookie Butter

Lemme tell you this, a tip from one mom to another, let's skip this and go look for something really worth your money, unless of course if you can get this for 288Php or less. Sure, it's interesting BUT it's not headbanging sarap. <2 weeks after> my sad looking jar is still sitting there undisturbed, begging to be used. I even bribed the kids with Timezone money just to eat it with their pandesal instead of Cheez Whiz. 

As for the taste, it's just a wee bit less sweeter than peanut butter, but tastes more or less the same, and since I got the crunchy kind, well, that surely helped a lot because it added a little "oomph" to eating experience.

choco ensaymada + cookie butter

Pair it with something else other than your boring Gardenia white bread. It's better that way ;)

Find them at Royal Choices (Subic, Zambales)

#hungry.again.bye

Quick Review: Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser

Just a quick post/review about this pore eraser from Maybelline ~ my very recent discovery. Yay!

Basically this is a primer and if you're in the Philippines right now, make primers like this your BFF ~ it's freakin' hot out there! well, inside our house too. sheesh.

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser 299Php Watsons

I've been using this since uhm, Monday, and so far no complaints. I've been testing it under various conditions and yeah, still satisfied. It's lightweight, no smell, just soft and silky skin after application. and it does stay that way too for a long time. I even got my primed face wet and it's still there. *oh, just primed, not with makeup, okay? I forgot I already primed it when I decided to wash my face. lol*

My ultimate test for primers is when I take off my makeup before going to bed. There should be a respectable amount of makeup to take off, if not, the primer obviously didn't work right? This one passed.

That one time I wore it under heavy undereye concealer then I had to take it off to test another concealer *brand* (for skintone matching), the kind lady handed me a cottonball with makeup remover and we were both amazed how much makeup/concealer I was able to take off both eyes. I am not going to give credit to the concealer because I'm dumping it. it's useless ~slides and vanishes to nowhere! Gahhh! Only with this primer it was able to hold. But bye, bye concealer, this girl is moving on!

Anyway, selfies are more fun with this primer. bye bye large pores and fine lines. Hello baby skin *even without Camera360's Magic Skin filter* Hah! ^^

so there. give it a try. won't break your wallet too, only 299Php although I recommend skin testing first before buying since this primer has silica in it (just in case you are allergic to it) I'm not, and I'm comfortable using it too ^^

#ineedcoffee.iced.

Current Hair Favorites: Hair Loss Conditioner and Curl Sprays

First off, let me just tell you that I have extremely fine hair {think baby strands} and have been combating hair loss since.. uhm.. childhood? :D this is the reason why I chose to have it digipermed {fine hair part, not the hair loss part}

Honestly, my idea was to have it digipermed *voilà* all my hair woes solved! Obviously I was wrong, since I now have to deal with its aftercare which I would consider as a blessing in disguise since I am now more interested in haircare products than before.

*i still love my curls though. never going back to straight ;)*

minus limp, lifeless hair problem that digiperming was able to solve, my hair concerns now are: hair loss and digiperm aftercare.

For hair loss, I found this excellent hair loss conditioner {NaturVital hair loss conditioner, 495Php} at Beauty Bar just last month. It is a leave-in conditioner and it really does work - I've been using it for 2 weeks straight, applied immediately after washing. It passed my hair fall tests - that being how much hair strands falling when washing and how much on pillow in the morning - so that, for me, is a good enough sign that the conditioner is doing its job. It provides heat protection which I find helpful since I run mornings and it worries me when I expose my hair to the sun too much. I do think this is also a good product for digipermed hair since I didn't lose my curls even when used alone. not sticky at all. very light. i *love*

a friend recommended Pregroe shampoo as she is currently having a success in using it. I have yet to give it a try.

This one from Nature Republic is a hair essence {NATURE REPUBLIC Professional Pro Curl and Volume Boosting Water Hair Essence, 330Php} which I use to freshen up when traveling since it is small enough to fit my travel bag/baby bag. However, this is a bit sticky when worn especially when it's hot and humid outside.

Now my ultimate favorite! Yay! 

Prostyle Fuwarie Curl Styling Mist {Beauty Bar, 450php} is an excellent styling/setting mist. Since it provides heat protection too, it works well with curling irons. I don't really use curling irons, although I am a tiny bit interested in purchasing one, since I have a hubby who nags when I spend too much time preparing myself when going out. So, I just apply this styling mist, scrunch my curls real good then go. Believe me, the curls last all day - and *bouncy, bouncy* too! My curls have this nasty habit that when I leave them alone, they will all be straight by the end of the day, except for the ends which freakishly always flip to the wrong side! gaah! I love that it is not sticky when applied and doesn't weigh my hair down. also, not stiff on hair. Overall, great hold, not stiff, natural looking, bouncy curls. pretty awesome :)

NaturVital Hair Loss Leave-In Conditioner, NATURE REPUBLIC Professional Pro Curl and Volume Boosting Water Hair Essence, Prostyle Fuwarie Curl Styling Mist

#needcoffee.bye.

Wet 'n' Wild Silk Finish Lipstick Swatches

I spring-cleaned my makeup collection the other day, throwing out old ones and setting aside the ones i barely use as well as the ones I haven't gotten around to using yet - so they'll be ready when someone interested to give them a new home comes by. In order to use everything I have in my collection, I actually do a monthly "makeup rotation". FYI, my makeup collection isn't that big - I'm more of a "skincare" girl and I'm not really into buying makeup these days but I'm happy with what I have FOR NOW ;) 

When I was still testing out shades to know my "best" shades and "safe" shades, Wet N' Wild and NYX were my best pals - and Makeupalley.com. lol :D WnW Silk Finish, in particular, was my favorite line because it is not drying on lips and coverage is usually good. well don't expect them to be long lasting because 1) they are creamy and 2) they are cheap - around $2.50 each :D like I said, they are good for testing out a shade and you can just toss them in the trash if they didn't work, sans guilty conscience ^^ 

My good research skills served me well because these three shades actually worked on me ;)

Wet n' Wild Silk Finish in 521A, 520E and 514A

Just for reference, I am NC25 {MAC}, 520E Hot Paris Pink {pink} and 514A Cherry Frost {red} looked good on me while 521A Fuchsia w/ Blue Pearl {fuchsia}, hmm, not really, but on good days, yes. 520E Hot Paris Pink and similar shades are my everyday go-to pink lipstick shade, they compliment my skintone well :)

521A has blue shimmers while 514A has gold shimmers however no need to be scared wearing these because those shimmers are so tiny - barely noticeable, and look really really good on photos. three swipes to get the kind of intensity as above swatches which only goes to show that these lipsticks are buildable.

These babies are so cheap! 119Php. SM-Watson's carries WnW brand but popular shades are usually OOS. I bought 521A and 520E online for about the same price.

#lunchtime :*

Foodspotting: Isang's Pansit Malabon

Here's a small bilao of Isang's Pansit Malabon

Isang's pansit malabon (200Php)

Tastewise, it's very good but could have been awesome if thin slices of pork were used instead of pig ears :( 

and no, it's not gross but i do not eat pig ears so..

Bulacan's pansit malabon still holds the crown in my foodie book ;)

I'm new here and there's not much info about Isang's but I do know that they operate a small stall in front of WalterMart *the one nearest to Enchanted Kingdom* so that makes it Sta. Rosa - Balibago Rd, Sta. Rosa, Laguna right? lol. roads and directions make me dizzy, you know. :D It's right beside Atoy's Porkchop *our favorite porkchop place*

#mommymodeon.bye :*

NARS Hot Pink Lipsticks [Swatches]

Please bear with me and my quickie posts. I've been running around like crazy these days because I was stupid enough to accept another part-time work when I already have enough on my plate. Oh well, I shouldn't complain. More work means more $$$ yes? ^^

Anyway, may I entertain you with some NARS hot pink lippie swatches this morning? I'm torn between Schiap and Carthage. What do you think? Funny Face is deeper, leaning towards red, Schiap is a cult favorite and a true hot pink (both are semi-mattes) while Carthage, a pure matte, is quite coral-ly to me which I like. There beside Schiap is a dab of NYX Addis Ababa just for comparison. Is it a dupe? Maybe. But I find NYX soft mattes too drying on lips so I'm not picking NYX up even if the shade is gorgeous.

NYX Addis Ababa, NARS Funny Face, NARS Schiap, NARS Carthage

These are all available in the Philippines. I swatched this at Rustan's Alabang Town Center. NYX Addis Ababa is available at Pop Culture [2nd floor, beside food court] 300Php a piece. NARS pure mattes will set you back 1,450Php while semi-mattes for 1,250Php

#timetogonowbye :*

Havaianas Moving Out Sale at Paseo de Sta. Rosa

Just a quick share because I have a bazillion things to do and I really really need to shower before anything else ~ omg it's awfully hot today :(

Check out Havaianas Outlet Store in Paseo de Sta. Rosa (Laguna) the soonest (sale is from Feb 1 to 28, 2013) because everything is 50% off . This is a moving out sale so a part of me is quite sad to see them go :( They are just a stone's throw away from my place and I will surely miss seeing them when passing by

but do check them out. and buy. I spotted a couple of glow-in-the-dark slippers for kids :)

#shower.now.gaah.hot.