A month ago, I came back from my birthday trip in Siargao and Manila. I feel rejuvenated staying in the Philippines for a week. Although my ideal tita vacation is very simple and domesticated (such as locking myself in my pad, grocery shopping at SM Hypermarket, and getting a full body massage at Nuat Thai), I haven’t done anything to pamper myself.

Magpupungko Beach, Pilar, Siargao

Right after Siargao, I had to run errands for 3 days straight in Manila. I barely had time to stay at my own place (my first big investment), which made me feel a bit miserable (to be honest) by the time I hopped on the plane back to Singapore.

I used to wear a full face of makeup when I step out of the house. But now that I’m settled in with powder as my daily base, I find how blushes and bronzers do their magic when you only have 15 minutes to look put together.

Although these makeup aren’t new in the beauty community, it was my first time trying out these products, especially the ones from NARS. Keep on reading if you’re curious about my new bronzer and blushes!

It's so hard to resist buying new makeup, especially if you consider yourself as a beauty enthusiast. I’ve told myself time and time again that I don’t need to buy a new lipstick or blush, but that didn't stop me from testing out these beauties. Heck, I've even strongly written it down on my NY’s resolution that I'm only repurchasing makeup that I've already used up, but nothing happened (LOL!).

With so many brands and products in the market, it’s difficult not to get enticed with the new product offerings, especially when they are being so raved about by your favorite beauty vloggers. In the past year, I’ve collected a total of 33 42 new makeup which I think will be my go-to essentials for 2019.

From drugstore and Philippine local brands to high-end products, I’m giving a rundown of my new collection, beginning with base makeup!

The Louis Vuitton Agenda PM refills aren’t exactly budget-friendly. Although they fit in the LV small ring agenda cover very well, not everyone is willing to spend much on these planners. That’s why I scouted for an alternative refill that's more affordable, but still functions like the LV ones.

Here in Singapore, I found a stationery and gift store called kikki.K. The stylish gifts and paper products of Scandinavian designs got my attention as I was walking around VivoCity. Some of their newly-released products are still pricey, but they often have discounts.

Have you thought about getting a Louis Vuitton PM agenda refill for 2019? January will be over soon, but some of you might still be unsure whether to get this year’s LV agenda refill or not. I personally prefer last year’s design and concept. However, I’m already used to the layout of LV refills, so I decided to give this one another try.


The theme for this year’s refills revolves around the journey of the Alzer, Louis Vuitton’s iconic hard case suitcase trunk. The Alzer was born in the 19th century, a legacy that the brand imprinted in the history of luxury travel.

I’m back in Singapore and I’m easing my way again to normal, daily living after the long holiday break. Looking at the past year, it was one of my best years so far. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, the times of uncertainty, and the abrupt need to move places, 2018 was a year of answered prayers.

I had to admit though, the beginning of 2018 for me wasn’t great. I felt like there was a spillover of depression from 2017 that trickled down to early last year. Trials after trials, bad decisions, goals too far-fetched no matter how hard I tried – these all had broken me down into panic attacks and mornings when I just didn’t want to get out of bed.

I’m currently at NAIA Terminal 1, waiting for my flight back to Singapore. Since my move to The Lion City in June, I’ve been home thrice and the time spent there is always never enough. I know OFWs who live farther miss home so much more than I do – but in reality, I still do. Even if the flight time takes only 3-4 hours, I still get enthusiastic thinking about going home, seeing family, friends, and familiar faces, and lying in my own bed!

But don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the convenience that Singapore brings, three of which are the high-speed internet, convenient means of transportation, and almost zero crime rate. However, there are things I just miss about Manila that I didn’t think I would.

A visit to Trsteno Arboretum completes the ultimate Game of Thrones walking tour in Dubrovnik. Although the place isn’t as magnificent and as magnified as the Old Town, this is one of the places in Dubrovnik where you can appreciate the coastal views and stillness of nature, without the large group of tourists.

As part of our GOT walking tour, we headed to the arboretum by car from Pile Gate. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the place, not knowing what to expect when we see the private estate.

I can’t believe there are only 44 days left before Christmas! I’ve been very busy lately, mostly because of work. To be honest, it saddens me that I don’t get to travel right before the holidays, but I just think about going home for Christmas and that’s something I’m super thankful for.

After more than four months of working in Singapore, I don’t think I’ve ever treated myself to a massive shopping haul (except that time when I went crazy with Playdress' dresses and my need for a Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro. Lol!). I did some shopping recently, but that’s when I bought Christmas presents for family (75% done!). For myself? Nothing yet.

This season is a season of giving and it’s not all about material things. Even if I don’t get 5/6 of these for Christmas, it doesn’t matter. It just feels nice to do a bit of retail therapy after a stressful season of work.

So what do I have in mind for Christmas 2018 and New Year 2019?

Just over two hours away from Seoul is a massive, private estate called The Garden of Morning Calm. I found out about this place as I was looking for K-drama filming locations within or nearby Seoul. And since it was my third time in the South Korean capital, I thought of finding a place my family and I haven’t been before.

It is called as a garden, but in reality, it’s an enormous hidden arboretum full of 5,000 kinds of plants, flowers, trees, and other elements that are very Korea. Every year, about 600,000 tourists visit this place, with the busiest months happening from March to November.

Before I got into the K-drama wave, I was already an avid user of Korean beauty products for years. I don’t remember what my first K-beauty product was, but I believe it was a BB cream from Nature Republic. And although my relationship with BB creams is short-lived, there are still plenty of products which remained loyal to me. Mind you, I don't have the best skin in the world (and I blame genetics for that, lol!), but my skin has improved tremendously over the years.

Trust me: I’ve gone through so many bottles, tubes, and jars of western and Korean beauty products, but I have an affinity with the latter’s formula because it’s best suited to Asian skin. And I’ve got to say, I already knew which ones benefit my skin the most. I wasn’t born with the best skin but I saw the improvement after regular use of these products. Now that I understand what my skin loves, I always restock on my 14 holy grail beauty stash whenever I set foot in Korea.

Korea is one of the best places in the world to shop. Not only are the products affordable, but they are of good quality, too. Staying in Myeongdong, Seoul this 2018 allowed us to access so many shops within walking distance from our hotel.

When I shop in Korea, I usually spend a bigger percentage on skincare items because I use them daily. Although Korean fashion is so cute and feminine, it’s usually focused on trendy pieces which can go out of style quickly. Being the basic human being that I am, I skipped on clothes. Nonetheless, I still got myself a few items on a whim! After all, I was only in Seoul for four days.

Other than my usual must-buy in Korea, I also picked out new things I’ve yet to try. So what have I spent my money on? Keep reading to find out!

Aside from tax-free shopping, the best way to experience Guam is to stay at a beachfront hotel. On my third trip, I was able to book two rooms at Fiesta Resort Guam along Pale San Vitores road. With only three days to spare, my main intention was to enjoy the beach at least two times before flying off again for work.

Choosing an accommodation in Guam must be planned carefully depending on your top activities. Because we are five people in the group who want to do different things, I picked Fiesta Resort for two main reasons: location and affordability. Of course, there are other factors you should consider when choosing a hotel in Guam, especially if it’s your first time. Let me tell you all the details during my stay at Fiesta and decide if you prefer to stay at this hotel as well.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio is one of the easiest pasta recipes you can make in your own kitchen. With garlic and olive oil as your base ingredients, making this dish is not only simple but affordable, too. This is perfect for dinner, especially when paired with a glass of white wine or moscato. In 25 minutes or less, you already have a fine meal set on the table.

The key in achieving the “perfect” aglio olio is to cook the garlic just right. You don’t want to overcook or else your pasta will taste like burnt garlic. On the other hand, you don’t want your garlic undercooked because you won’t get the natural garlic flavor you’re after.

Sunnies Face is another business venture of the Sunnies company, popular for their line of sunglasses, optical wear, and cafe. Now introducing their makeup line beginning with matte lipsticks called Fluffmatte, the well-known brand in the Philippines has been raking in sales for their new product. Affordability and millennial style are the brand’s strongest edges, but we shall see if these new lipsticks are worth the hype or just another local lipstick brand.

I swear by my Longchamp Le Pliage bags as durable, everyday work bags where you can throw in anything and they will stay strong for years. Because of its quality, I thought of owning the Le Pliage cosmetic case as well. Fast forward to three years later, my everyday pouch has stood the test of time in every bag that I carry.

I got my Longchamp Le Pliage Cosmetic Case at Duty Free Fiesta Mall, which was around Php1,800-2,000 at that time. I picked it up because the size was roomy enough to carry my cosmetics and other essentials, but small enough not to consume a huge space in my bag. The most important thing: it’s lightweight.

I cannot let my LA vacation pass without shopping at Ross and Marshalls! A trip to these discount department stores is worth it, especially if you’re looking for new items to purchase. The first ever item I bought in Marshalls is a Ralph Lauren button down shirt from two years ago (around $25) and I’ve been using it until now. From Ross, I still have my Ralph Lauren backpack which I bought in Guam last December.

My agenda in checking out these stores was to get some small stuff I need and items I can share with my friends after my trip to the US. Each item here is only less than $7 (before sales tax). Without further ado, here are my 5 purchases from Ross and Marshalls.

"I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan," sings Miley Cyrus. The song kept replaying inside my head during our 15-hour flight.

When it comes to traveling to the United States, if you’re a Filipino and you have relatives living in America, there’s a big fat chance you’ll be spending quite some time in California. In our case, it’s Los Angeles.

What makes this vacation different from when you visit other countries is that you don’t need to worry about itinerary - your relatives mostly do that for you. And if you surpassed the two-hour long queue at the immigration in LAX (and the interrogation of why you’re in the Land of the Free and if you’re bringing in chicharon or balut), congratulations – you’ve finally come to America.