Budget-friendly Home Improvement Ideas.

If you are looking to better the looks of your house, you can do it inexpensively when you hire an expert to get the work or jobs completed for you. Although you are not spending a fortune, you can have the house of your dreams.

DIY painting.

Paint it.
The simplest thing to do that as an affordable home improvement idea is to paint. By putting a new coat of paint, you are making your rooms appear more clean and vibrant. You can pick a crisp and perfect white or a color that is stylish at this time and goes perfect with your decoration and furniture.

New kitchen cabinets can make a difference.

Upgrade your kitchen.
Another one of the affordable home improvement ideas to update your kitchen by having latest fixtures on your kitchen cabinets. This is a lot affordable than installing fully new kitchen cabinets. You can replace the look of your full kitchen by changing the fixtures of your kitchen cabinets. If you want to replace the color of your wood cabinets, you can do a weekend job to paint them. Put new handles on your kitchen cabinets for a fully different look.

See the big picture.

Add picture window.
In the living room, you may plan to add a picture window. The big window will provide you a view of the amazing outdoors. This is especially vital if you have a wonderful view. Perhaps you live in the countryside and you have rolling trees and hills to look at. Think of how clam just looking at this picturesque view. Place a recliner where you can look at this incredible view every time you relax in your favorite chair. If you live in the city have a perfect view, why not hire an expert to put a big window in your living room so you can look over all of the bright lights at night?

Level up with new bathroom fixtures.

Level up your bathroom.
In your bathroom, one of the affordable home improvement ideas is to also replace the fixtures of your bathroom. You can make them look country, contemporary, Victorian, etc. You can level up to laminate flooring, add a new mirror, switch to stand alone tub or upgrade to a walk in shower. Ask the expert that you hire what are your top affordable options.

Foodie Goodie | Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese.

Japanese bakery Kumori has been making waves in the Philippines for almost four years now, but it wasn't until this weekend when I finally got to try their pastries and realize why people rave about them. Blame it on my geographical location (I live in the province), and the fact that I hardly go to Metro Manila these days because I hate traffic.

Thankfully, my sister now goes to Manila every so often, and she remembered me while passing by the Cafe Kumori at Festival Mall. She got me a box their Signature Hanjuku Cheese, one of Kumori's best-selling and well-loved products.

Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese - best with coffee. :)

Palm-sized and individually-wrapped, the Signature Hanjuku Cheese is a half-baked Japanese-style cheesecake with a rich and moist cream cheese center. It has a mousse-like texture with just the right sweetness.

Also comes in chocolate flavor.

No wonder Kumori's tagline is 'Bite Into Clouds' - you'll really feel like biting into one with this soft and fluffy cheesecake and its melt-in-your mouth goodness.

Melt-in-your mouth cheesecake.

I did my best not to finish the entire box in one sitting, haha. Each box contains six pieces and sells for Php 294. My sister got me the assorted box, which contains three chocolate flavored cheesecakes and three original Hanjuku cheesecakes. You can also buy them individually for Php 49 each.

Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese box, Php 294.

Cafe Kumori is located at the following malls: Festival Mall, Robinson's Galleria, Robinson's Manila, UP Town Center, Gateway Mall, Ayala Malls Makati, and SM Mall of Asia. Kumori kiosks can be found at Landmark Makati, SM Makati, and SM North Edsa.

Spotlight | Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser + Althea Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist.

2018 was a year of rapid growth for Althea's in-house brand, having launched new products almost on a monthly basis. I'd say it was a successful year too, as these products have all been met with rave reviews from skincare junkies, beauty bloggers, even K-pop idols. And before 2018 came to an end, we saw another 'expansion' of the Althea line with the addition of these two products - the Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser and the Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist.

New Althea exclusives - Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist and
Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser.

The latter is actually another milestone for the brand, as it's their first-ever celebrity collaboration product. Althea worked closely with top Indonesian singer and actress Titi Kamal to create this lightweight body fragrance with a mix of floral and fruity notes.

Althea's first fragrance and firs celebrity collaboration product!

Very girly packaging. :)

The Althea Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist is a zesty combination of orange, peach, and rose - Titi Kamal's favorite scents. The fragrance is mild yet long-lasting, flirty and feminine without being too overwhelming. It has a non-sticky formula that feels light and does not irritate the skin. This has been my go-to perfume for the past few weeks, and I love how its scent reminds me of Burberry Weekend, one of my favorite fragrances of all time. 

Titi Kamal x Althea.

The Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser, on the other hand, is a hydrating cleanser that purifies pores, moisturizes the skin, and maintains its pH level for a healthier complexion.

Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser.

Formulated with the Dual Moisture Cell System, the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser is a combination of water and oil in overlapping layers to gently yet effectively remove makeup, dirt, and residue. It has the same texture and non-greasy feel as the Clio Microfessional Lip and Eye Remover, but with a slightly thicker consistency.

Formulated with the Dual Cell Moisture System.

This serum cleanser also contains tea tree leaf extract to purify the skin, mint leaf extract to soothe irritations, and jojoba seed oil that deeply moisturizes any dryness without feeling heavy on the skin.

Typical flip- top cap.

Currently, I'm using the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser as the first step of my double cleansing routine. I pour an ample amount of product on the palm of my hand (about 3 or 4 drops will do), massage it on my face until all the makeup I'm wearing is dissolved, then rinse it off with water.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink and Clio Kill Black Waterproof Liner on the back of my hand.

I love how this product easily melts makeup - even the long-wearing, waterproof ones like the Clio Kill Black Waterproof Liner and the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick.

A few drops of the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser...

I also love how it cools the skin as it cleanses, and how my skin feels soft and silky after every use. Plus points for its mild scent, hypoallergenic formulation, and cruelty-free production!

All clean!

The Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser retails for Php 430, while the Althea Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist retails for Php 450. Both products are exclusively available on the Althea website.

I have a strong feeling that it's gonna be another exciting year for Althea. They'll be launching their own makeup line very soon, and right now they're having a pre-launch event where you can get a 50% discount on the new products! Check out the Althea Color Makeup pre-launch event here! 

Pucker Up! | Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet.

New year, lippie!
Well, not-so-new, actually. I bought these lippies while I was in Korea last spring but never had the chance to use them, let alone open the sealed boxes. I only remembered that I had them in my stash when I saw these lippies listed on the Althea website, lol.

Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet.

Mostly Hangul text at the back of the box.

Meet the Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet - by far, one of the prettiest lip products that I brought home from Korea. I mean, just look at the packaging. And you all know I'm a sucker for products with cute and quirky packaging.

Lovely, crystalline-shaped packaging.

Its crystalline shape and sparkly appearance resembles that of a sunstone, one of the lesser-known yet relatively affordable gemstones in the world of jewelry.

They're glittery, too!

Its applicator is quite unique, too. The wand is long and the applicator itself is shaped like a pentagon.

Shade #15736 aka Chic Red.

Shade # 15738 aka Pretty Brown Pink.

There are five different shades in the Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet line, and the ones that I have are shades #15736 Chic Red and #15738 Pretty Brown Pink. The former is a bold, classic red while the latter is a dusty rose with brown undertones. Both shades are nicely pigmented and can be worn full-lip or gradient-style.

Swatched - Pretty Brown Pink on the left, Chic Red on the right.

Aside from the packaging and pigmentation, I also love the velvety, meringue texture of these tints. They glide smoothly on the lips and leave your kisser with a soft, matte finish. And because the Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet is formulated with nourishing ingredients such as plum seed oil, calendula, and avocado extracts, your lips won't feel dry even after hours of wear. 

Swatched - Pretty Brown Pink on the left, Chic Red on the right.

Speaking of wear time, these tints stay solid for six hours at the most. The color will last through a coffee break, but you'll need to do a touch-up after a complete meal.

Swatches, about three hours later.

Personally, I'm okay with the retouching part. That way, I get to take these beauties out of my purse and take a whiff of their yummy, cotton candy scent. If you're not a fan of scented lip products, this might be a bit of a turn-off for you. 

After doing the dishes and taking a bath, there's still a hint of color from the swatches.

But overall, these lippies are definitely worth-trying - all the more because they're pretty affordable. They're priced at 6500 won each (around Php 300 or US$6), but I was able to buy both tints for the price of one, thanks to Missha's 1+1 Sale Event during that time. Althea currently sells them at Php 260 each - still a budget-friendly price.

Chic Red on my lips, gradient style.

Pretty Brown Pink, worn full-lip.

Shopping at Althea? Don't forget to use my referral code to get 20% off your first order! 

Offer is valid for new customers, with a maximum discount of Php 200.

2018 | Goodbye with a Grateful Heart.

And just like that, we're down to the last few hours of 2018.
It seems like it was only yesterday that I was writing about the ups and down of 2017, and now here I am, wrapping up the past 365 days with yet another year-end post.

If I were to rate 2018, I'd say it was a 7 out of 10.
Health-wise, it was not the most fantastic year for my boys - Yue had pneumonia early this year and was hospitalized for almost a week, he had the stomach flu while we were in Korea last spring/summer, and just last week, both of us caught the flu. As for my husband, he had to go through several dental procedures this year, and oh my goodness, dental treatments abroad don't come cheap. (Pain was the least of his worries, lol.)

Thankfully, we had our bases covered. He's back with his old employer, and work - for the most part - is good. As for me, I had the opportunity to work with some very generous advertisers this year, not to mention the PR agencies that collaborate continuously with this blog. Thank you again and again! :)

A few more things that I'm grateful for this year:
- Ten years of marriage, and finally being able to celebrate our anniversary together.

Sun-date with my boys. (Seoul, June 2018).

- The opportunity to travel, and being able to spend time with family and friends abroad.

Coffee with Unni! (Seoul, June 2018).

- My family abroad coming home for a vacation.

Coffee with sibs and cousins. (Laguna, August 2018).

Mum is home for the holidays!

All the Ocampo grandkids, complete!

- Meeting new friends and reuniting with the old.

With Ela and Maan. (Seoul, June 2018).

- Friends that inspire you to dream big and work harder.

My forever friends, my UPRHS barkada!

- My son's achievements and his continued pursuit for excellence.

Another medal for my little man. :)

- Being part of Althea's Beauty Ambassador Community, and all the K-beauty awesomeness that comes with it.

I'm an Althea Angel! :)

- My readers and followers and their unwavering support for this blog! Thank you for the visits, the comments, and all the kind words that you've sent me this year and in the previous years!

Thank you for the likes! :)

Happy New Year, everyone!
May 2019 bring us good health, good fortune, success, and happiness! Ever onward! :)