A World Of Glass.

There are occasions when you want to give someone something special, such as a birthday or holiday. Hand blown glass creations come in various sizes, shapes and colors. There are creations that can be placed outside in a yard or garden. These capture the light of the sun, giving off a sparkle to beautify the area. They can also be kept inside.

When used indoors, they can be set on a table, fireplace mantle or on the floor. Larger creations work best on the floor as they are usually heavy and don't tend to tip over as easily as a smaller one would sitting on an end table.

Photo credit: Fine Art America.

These creations make wonderful gifts for special holidays like Mother's Day or Christmas. You can add something to the creation like a flower or card to make it personal. These items can also be purchased for yourself. They look wonderful in kitchens, bathrooms and any other room of the home that needs a decorative touch.

Photo credit: Art Light.

Because they are hand blown, all of the creations usually have a unique look, even if it's the slightest curve or angle. When you are looking for a housewarming gift, this would be something that you could purchase. It could also be a wedding gift or something for a retirement.

Wordless Wednesday #92 | An Unexpected Guest.

Two days after the onslaught that was Glenda, an unexpected guest flew into my grandmother's home.

From Hogwarts? :)

Yes, it's an owl!

The poor thing must have lost its way during the typhoon, so we decided to take care of it for the meantime. Everyone was so excited to have this feathered friend around, especially my little man. He even named it 'Hedwig', after Harry Potter's ever famous owl.

Showing off.

I believe this is the Philippine Scops-Owl aka Oriental Screech Owl, though I don't remember hearing it screech while he was here.

That stare.

We were supposed to turn this guy over to the folks at DENR this week, but my grandmother decided to just let Hedwig leave on his own. She was worried that the poor thing might die, since we don't know exactly what to feed it with. I know owls eat mice and lizards and stuff like that, but how on earth am I supposed to give him those? Lol.

Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Hedwig. I hope you're safe and sound and happily eating wherever you are. :)

Spotify Makes it to the Top!

And by that, I mean the top of the charts in both Apple iTunes and the Google Play Store. Among the free and paid apps, Spotify is the first and only music app to make it to the top ten!

It's no surprise, actually. Especially when you have 40 million users in 57 markets worldwide, plus a catalogue containing more than 30 million songs. I'm a huge fan of Spotify myself (it's one of the most used apps on smartphone), and most of my friends are, too (I know because we share our playlists on our Facebook pages, haha!)

KPop x Spotify! :)

Now if you're a Globe subscriber such as myself, you can enjoy streaming your favorite music for free with a GoSURF Data Plan. Aside from the premium access to all the music on Spotify, this postpaid plan also gives you access to the internet for sending e-mails, updating social networks, sharing photos or playing games. Streaming Spotify is completely free and won’t eat up a GoSURF data plan’s mobile internet allocation.

So whether you’re a social media spectator - busy checking everyone else’s status, posts, selfies, or a social media butterfly - constantly posting hilarious videos, quizzes for your friends to take, and responding to comments in a flash, GoSURF has the right data plan that fits your digital lifestyle. Stay online for as low as P10 for 10 MB of data valid for 1 day. If you want to stay online longer, you can register to GoSURF299 with 700MB of data for 30 days plus free Spotify Premium. The best part about Spotify Premium? You can listen to music without any advertisements, stream music with the highest quality audio, and download music using offline mode so you can listen to songs even without an internet connection or WiFi!

Make your world sound wonderful with GoSURF and Spotify!
Prepaid subscribers can register to GoSURF10 which gives 10MB of data and free access to Spotify for 1 day, while Postpaid subscribers can avail of GoSURF 299 with 700MB of data valid for 30 days plus free access to Spotify Premium.

Spotlight | NeoCell Skincare Products + Giveaway!

A few months ago, I had the privilege of trying out some of NeoCell's best-selling products - the Beauty Bursts and the Keratin Hair Volumizer. Using them for weeks led to amazing results, hence I grew really fond of the brand. And so when NeoCell sent me a second wave of their new products, I was more than thrilled, and ready to be impressed all over again.

Today I'll be doing a capsule review of these three products - the Alpha Cell Exfoliator, the Hydra+ H.A. Serum, and the Refreshing Herbal Mist. I've been using all three for more than a month now, and I must say, NeoCell does exactly what it says it can do for your skin.

L-R: Alpha Cell Exfoliator, Hydra+ H.A. Serum, Refreshing Herbal Mist.

Made with natural fruit extracts, the Alpha Cell Exfoliator removes dead skin cells on the surface to make the skin look fresh and radiant. It contains green tea, a product that is rich in anti-oxidants, and has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.

Alpha Cell Exfoliator, $5.73.

To use, simply pour a moderate amount on a cotton ball, and apply it on clean, dry skin while avoiding the eye area. I use this every morning, before applying moisturizer on my face.

Clear liquid, comes in a clear plastic bottle.

Push-down cap.

I love how this product penetrates easily, and how it makes my skin bright and tight sans the redness and irritation. For those who detest heavily-scented skincare products, you'll like how this product has no scent at all, although I was kinda hoping for it to smell like green tea or something.

NeoCell details.

The Hydra+ H.A. Serum, on the other hand, is a 'penetrating time-release serum' that contains natural hyaluronic acid (H.A.). Hyaluronic acid plays a critical role in skin health with its unique ability to hold in moisture.

Hydra+ H.A. Serum, $25.17

When applied topically, hyaluronic acid forms an air permeable layer and penetrates into the dermis, thus boosting the elasticity and hydration of the skin. The protective barrier on the skin locks in moisture, which gives the skin a youthful appearance.

Time release serum.

NeoCell's Hydra+ H.A. Serum does exactly that - it makes the skin glowing, plump, and youthful-looking. My skin felt tight right after the first application, and with continued use, the fine lines under my eyes started to fade away.

Paraben-free!

This product has a nice, citrus scent - subtle and not overpowering at all. It comes in a pump bottle, which dispenses the product easily and hygienically.

Pump bottle.

The serum has just the right consistency - not too thick, not too runny, and is easily absorbed by the skin. One pump is enough to cover the face and neck, so just a little goes a long way. I use this product twice a day, morning and evening, in lieu of my regular moisturizer. I love what this product does for my skin, so I don't think I'll be going back to my old moisturizer anytime soon. :)

One pump is all you need.

Finally, there's the Refreshing Herbal Mist, NeoCell's 'on-the-go moisture complex'.

Refreshing Herbal Mist, $7.17

This cooling mist contains collagen, skin balancing herbs, and soothing aloe vera that makes the skin hydrated and revitalized.

On-the-go Moisture Complex.

It comes in a handy 30 mL spray bottle that fits even in my smallest purse. I love that I can take this product wherever I go, and use it whenever my skin needs a little 'pick-me-up' - especially on days when I'm busy running errands while going to and fro my son's school.

Paraben-free!

Light, non-sticky, and lightly-scented, this product dries easily and can be spritzed even with makeup on. So yeah, I love that I can freshen up my face without worrying about my mascara running or my foundation caking. :)

Spritz!

These NeoCell products are available on iHerb, and at retail stores such as GNC, Whole Foods, and Better Health. Here in the Philippines, NeoCell products are distributed by Power and Beauty. You can make a purchase through their website, or at their physical store located at Trinoma Mall, Level 1.

One of my readers, however, will have the chance to try these products for free! And because I love my readers and followers so much, I'm even adding a bag of Beauty Bursts to the prize pack! And you know how much I love these collagen supplements because of the wonders that it did for my skin. :)

Beauty Bursts in Super Fruit Punch flavor.

Once again, I will be using Rafflecopter for this giveaway. The rules are simple - complete ALL of the mandatory tasks for your entries to be valid. You can earn more entries by doing the optional tasks. Giveaway will run until August 21st and is open worldwide.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Glenda's Aftermath...

With signal number 3 raised in Laguna on the evening of July 15, I knew Glenda (international name Rammasun) would hit our province our hard. The typhoon was expected to make landfall in the Bicol region at around 3 or 4 am the following day, and true enough, heavy rains and howling winds kept me up during the wee hours of July 16. I could hear the trees rustling in our backyard, while in the front yard, I could hear ripping and crashing sounds of what seemed to be roofs and pole posts.

I was scared as hell the entire time, while my little boy was sleeping soundly beside me. I have never prayed so hard in my entire life, asking for this ordeal to be over and done with, for the typhoon to finally leave, and for our house to be safe from falling and flying objects. Floods don't scare me (as this is a rare occurrence here in San Pablo City) but falling coconut trees do.

It was around 10 am when the rain finally subsided and the skies began to clear. It was only then that I had the courage to step outside the house and check the damages that Glenda left in our compound.

Flooded garage and front yard.

Fallen trees and flying roofs.

Here's how our backyard looks like.

I'm thankful that bananas, and not coconuts fell on our backyard.

Electricity, phone lines, and cellphone signal were down and out, but luckily we had potable water. By nighttime, our telephone line had been restored, much to the the relief of our loved ones abroad. And as of 5 pm today (July 18), after almost three days of darkness, power has been restored in our barangay and in most areas here in San Pablo City.

Earlier today, the little man went to the mall to eat out and do some grocery shopping. Here's the devastation that we saw along the way.

Photo credit: ANC Facebook page.

Who would have thought that the biggest mall here in my hometown could be damaged to this extent? Well I never.

Photo credit: ANC Facebook page.

Pizza Hut along Rizal Avenue.

I heard there's another typhoon coming, so I stocked up on batteries, canned goods, and drinking water. I am hoping this new weather disturbance (he now goes by the name 'Henry') will not be as threatening as Glenda. Stay safe and dry, everyone!