Miniso Opens in SM San Pablo!

After months of eager anticipation, an unexpected change in schedule, and a few more weeks of waiting... Miniso SM San Pablo is finally open!

The first lady of San Pablo City, as well as Miniso VIPs, gracing this momentous occasion.

The Japanese fast fashion brand, which has gained global popularity for its wide range of household and consumer goods, has found a new home in SM San Pablo. And together with my friends, we trooped to the mall today to witness the opening ceremonies, and of course, do a bit of shopping.

We Bare Bears at Miniso!

Attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies isn't exactly my style, but I was willing to make an exception for Miniso. I've developed quite an interest for the brand after its breakthrough appearance in the hit 2016 Korean drama Goblin, where the lead characters Kim Shin and Ji Eun Tak were seen shopping at the Miniso store in Lotte World Mall. But what solidified me as a huge Miniso fan was their collaboration collection with one of our favorite animated shows, We Bare Bears. 

We Bare Bears plushies, Php 399 each.

These adorable bears were the main reason why I wanted to be at Miniso today as soon as the store opened. I wanted to get my hand on these plushies as early as possible, because from what I've heard, these items sell like hotcakes! True enough, almost everyone headed straight for the bear stack as soon as the ribbon was cut and the store was declared officially open.

Here are some of the We Bare Bears items that you can find at Miniso SM Pablo.

We Bare Bears water bottles, Php 179.

We Bare Bears neck pillow, Php 229.

We Bare Bears facial tissues, Php 149 per pack.

We Bare Bears tote bag, Php 229.

We Bare Bears steam mask, Php 179 per box.

Aside from these three adorable bears, Miniso also has Pink Panther and Moomin products, all licensed by MGM and Moomin Characters Ltd., respectively.

Pink Panther plushies, Php 299 - Php 499.

Pink Panther key ring, Php 179.

Moomin hand mirror, Php 179. 

Pink Panther notebooks, Php 179.

Pink Panther makeup palette, 299.

Moomin power bank, Php 799 - Php 999.

Other interesting finds at Miniso include these makeup brushes, perfumes and body mists, makeup, and toys. They also have arts and crafts supplies, computer peripherals, and even kitchen tools! 

Beauty brushes starting at Php 179.

Perfumes and body mists starting at Php 99.

Makeup items starting at Php 99.

Toys starting at Php 149.

If one-stop shopping and affordable prices are your thing, then swing by Miniso this weekend and check out their wide array of products. Their San Pablo branch, which happens to be their first in Laguna and the 59th store in the country, is located at the second floor of SM San Pablo right across Kidzoona.

And before I end this post, allow me to share with you my Miniso haul. I got all three bears, yay!

My Miniso haul!
We Bare Bears plushies (Php 399 each), We Bare Bears Children's Towel (Php 179, pack of two),
We Bare Bears Steam Eye Mask (Php 179 pack of five), Pink Panther Makeup Palette (Php 299),
Screen Cleaning Kit (Php 99),
TOTAL: Php 1953.

Foodie Goodie | Uni-Pak Sardine Curry Recipe + Giveaway!

I love cooking. It's one of the many interests that I share with my husband, and one of the very few household chores that I actually enjoy doing. I find a sense of fulfillment in preparing meals for my family, and seeing them enjoy the food that I cook brings me great satisfaction.

But like most moms who work or have other chores to do, there are days when I feel too lazy or too tired to slave in the kitchen. In times like this, I count on my stash of canned goods for a quick-fix meal. Yue loves fish, so I make sure that we always have canned sardines or mackerel at home. And when it comes to canned fish products, our brand of choice is Uni-Pak.

Pak na pak sa Uni-Pak!

The flagship brand of SLORD Development Corporation, Uni-Pak products are made with the finest ingredients and are packed and produced under the most sterile conditions. Kris Aquino's recent tour of the SLORD plant in Navotas City is proof that Uni-Pak products are manufactured in a sanitary environment and go through strict quality control.

Clean Production, Safe to Eat.

Going back to quick-fix meals, one of my favorite ways of enjoying sardines is by simply squeezing some lemon on it after I've taken it out from the can. Yue, however, prefers them sauteed or curried. It's my son's penchant for curry-flavored food that inspired this twist to a simple can of sardines.

Uni-Pak Sardine Curry

Ingredients:

2 155g cans of Uni-Pak Sardines in Tomato Sauce

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 small onion, sliced

250 mL coconut milk

2 tablespoons curry powder

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Yue's new favorite curry dish - Uni-Pak Sardine Curry. :)

Procedure:

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Saute the garlic and onion until softenend.

2. Add the coconut milk and curry powder, mix them well.

3. Add the sardines together with the tomato sauce. Mix gently and cover and cook in low hear for at least five minutes.

4. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

5. Serve with warm rice.

Now as a treat for my readers and followers, I'll be giving away a Uni-Pak Gift Pack so you can try this recipe at home, as well as Uni-Pak's wide array of products. It's been awhile since I hosted a giveaway, and it's nice to be doing this again with a brand that I truly believe in.

An assortment of Uni-Pak products!

To enter the giveaway, simply complete the tasks on the Rafflecopter below. This contest will run from August 6 until August 13, 2018, open to Philippine residents only. One lucky winner, randomly chosen, will receive a Uni-Pak Gift Pack. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Uni-Pak on social media to know more about their products:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialUniPak/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialunipak/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/officialunipak

Good luck, and hope you all have a Pak na Pak week ahead! :)

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Jiggly Bath Jelly.

It was in Myeongdong a few years back when I first came across this thing called 'shower jelly'.

I was on my way to the main shopping street when I passed by the LUSH store near Myeongdong Station and saw one of their staff doing some sort of product demo with what appears to be a big blob of gelatin. The curious cat in me just had to stop by and see what the crowd was gawking at, (also because the scent of whatever thing that the LUSH guy was holding was very inviting) and turns out, it was indeed a big blob of gelatin that works as a cleansing body wash. LUSH calls them Shower Jellies, and these soft, jiggly soaps give a whole new meaning to the 'bath time is fun time' concept.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, one of my favorite local beauty brands launched their own version of this fun bath time treat. Say hello to the Jiggly Bath Jelly from Human Heart Nature!

Human Heart Nature Jiggly Bath Jelly.

Made with coco-derived cleansers to flush away dirt and grime and vegetable-derived glucose and glycerin to moisturize the skin, the Jiggly Bath Jelly is dubbed as 'the fun way to sneaky clean.' The product is contained in a 300-gram plastic tub and is available in just one variant - Bubbleberry.

Jiggly Bath Jelly in Bubbleberry.

It looks and jiggles like a jelly, and has a sweet yet subtle strawberry scent.

Looks and smells good enough to eat, haha!

According to instructions, you can use this product as a hand wash or a body wash by either tapping the whole jelly out onto your palm or just scooping out a small amount.

Usage instructions.

We prefer doing the latter as the consistency of this Jiggly Bath Jelly isn't as springy or as resilient as the ones from Lush. This bath jelly is crumbly and tends to fall apart when you scoop it out, unlike the Lush jellies that you can actually rub on the skin like soap.

Crumbled jelly on the palm of Yue's hand.

On the bright side, at least it's effortless to crush the jelly into a loofah and build a smooth and soapy lather. Also, you only need a small amount to clean the entire body so I reckon this tub of bath jelly will last us longer than a regular bar of soap or a bottle of body wash. 

List of ingredients and other pertinent information.

Although this product is marketed to kids, that doesn't mean adults can't use it. I've bathed with this product several times already (sssh, don't tell my son I'm using his bath jelly, lol) and I love how it cleanses without drying the skin. The scent is lovely too, and it lingers even if you've patted your skin dry.

Someone's having a blast during bath time. :)

If you want that refreshing, cooling effect on the skin, you can store the Jiggly Bath Jelly inside the fridge and take them out before you hit the shower. Very relaxing, especially after a long and stressful day at work (or school, as far as my son is concerned).

The Jiggly Bath Jelly retails for Php 299.75, and is available at the Human Heart Nature online store, at Human Heart Nature Laguna, and other Human Heart Nature branches nationwide.

Interventions and How To Plan Them.

Interventions are one way to get people to get help. You might want to have an intervention so that you can get people to help you. You might want to have people around you who can help you, or you might be working with a therapist who wants to help someone that you know. You can plan an intervention with the therapist, or you can plan it yourself. You need some tips for how to handle an intervention, and you can use this information to change your life or someone else's life.

Making decisions that can change your life.

1. The Intervention Is Important
You have to treat the intervention like it is important, but you cannot take yourself so seriously that it becomes about you. You have to remember that people who are trying to get better just need to get pushed over the edge, and you might be the first person to bring it up. You might be the person who has all the information, and you also have to tell the stories that make the intervention worth your while. This also means that you are getting it all out there.

2. There Are A Lot Of Things That Happened
There are a lot of things that have happened, but you have to get this person to realize how it might have been hard on the people around them. You do not have to accuse them, and you do not have to air every little grievance. It is better to give them the information that makes the intervention all that much more necessary. This could make it hard for you to work out what you will talk about, and it is better to have a list of talking points.

3. The Intervention Should Be Gentle
The intervention should be gentle because it has to be a way for you all to come to a resolution that will help everyone. You need to be nice about it because that might be the only way that they hear it. They need to hear what you are saying, and they are trying to be accommodating of you if they are trying to get better. You also have to speak back gently so that you can all have a conversation that is helpful to everyone.

4. The Intervention Should Be Long
The intervention should be as long as possible so that you can all get all your information out. If you are not all talking this whole time, you will need to remember that you are missing out on chances to make things better. This is one of the best things for you to do when you are trying to have a much better life after the intervention. If you can really have a big discourse, it is better for everyone.

You could try a lot of places for rehab, and Singer Island Rehab is the best place for you to go when you want to change your life. You might have gone through an intervention, or you might have planned out an intervention with the people that are mutual friends with this person. You might even go through with the intervention knowing that you have a problem that you need to deal with. Interventions do not make it better, and but they do not make it easier for you to seek help.

Spotlight | Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer.

If you've been following me on social media, or have been following this blog, then you probably know that I'm a fan of all things Korean - pop music, dramas, variety shows, food, and most of all cosmetics. I reckon it's this great fondness for Korean beauty products that landed me a stint in Althea's Beauty Ambassador Community. I was over the moon with excitement when I learned that I've officially become an Althea Angel, and even more so when I received my Welcome Gift from Althea with these lovely surprises inside.

Yay! Welcome Gift from Althea! :)

One of the (many) things that I love about being an Althea Angel is getting first dibs on new products and Althea exclusives, such as the Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer.

Real Fresh Skin Detoxer set.

A collaboration between Althea and Get It Beauty, Korea's number one beauty show, the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer is a 2-in-1 cleanser pack that deep cleanses the skin while boosting it with an array of nutrients. It comes in two variants - Rose and Green Tea.

Green Tea and Rose.

The Rose Variant contains natural extracts from the May Rose which bloom once a year in Grasse, Southern France. These roses are then handpicked to create this special formula that soothes, smoothens, and deeply hydrates the skin. This product also contains real rose petals which gently exfoliate the skin and gives it a sweet and subtle fragrance.

English text on the side of the box. Everything else is written in Hangul.

Contains real rose petals. :)

The Green Tea Variant, on the other hand, is made with Green Tea goodness from Jeju Island. This product is formulated with green tea extracts and finely grounded green tea powder that are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to help purify and brighten the skin. Each tube also contains real green tea leaves which exfoliates and leaves the skin with a nice, refreshing scent.

English text on the side of the box.

A closer look at this green tea goodness.

To use these products, simply apply a generous layer onto your face and leave it for ten seconds. Then add a little water and massage in circular motions before rinsing off. The Rose variant is recommended for morning use, while the Green Tea is recommended to be used at night.

Green Tea (left) and Rose (right).

I've been using both products for a little over a week now, and I love how my skin feels squeaky clean and super smooth after every wash. Both variants are gentle enough for daily use, but I prefer using the Rose on a daily basis (the scent is definitely a pick-me-upper in the morning) while the Green Tea as a twice (or thrice) a week deep cleanser. I also prefer applying a thin layer on my face, as the texture of both products are already thick to begin with. If you have sensitive skin, you'll be glad to know that these cleanser packs are hypoallergenic, and they're cruelty-free, too.

Bare-faced, after-shower selfie. :)

Even greater news - the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer is now available on the Althea website! They're currently sold as a set for Php 1100 - eligible for free shipping to the Philippines! :)