The #NationalPamperingDay Experience.

Stress has been my best friend for the past few weeks. I had writing deadlines to meet, business transactions to complete, Yue's summative exam's to prepare for (if you're following me on Instagram then you know how OC I am when it comes to reviewers and exams), and social media projects to accomplish. To make things worse, Yue got sick which entailed sleepless nights, several trips to the doctor, and missing school for a few days. Pretty taxing, right?

And so when I received the invite to partake in this year's National Pampering Day, I said yes in a heartbeat. Held last October 17, the nationwide event was hosted by Nailaholics, the country's most popular nail salon and spa. With the aim to give every hardworking Filipino a well-deserved treat, all Nailaholics branches in the country offered free services from 10 am to 1 pm.

October 17, 2017 is National Pampering Day!

The very first National Pampering Day was held last year, and was widely-received by the public. As such, Nailaholics decided to run a sequel and make it more meaningful by adding more options to the free services that they offer. This year's event now had a foot spa and a foot massage, as well as the free manicure that had been a big hit the previous year.

Nailaholics SM San Pablo.

Anticipating a huge crowd of patrons, I visited Nailaholics SM San Pablo as soon as the mall opened. True enough, there were already plenty of customers when I arrived. Most of the seats inside the salon were already occupied, and almost all of their nail technicians had customers to attend to.

National Pampering Day is free for all, women and men alike. :)

Miss Jen, the branch manager, ushered me to an empty seat in the corner. She asked me which of the free services will I be getting (foot spa, of course) and was a bit apologetic that I had to wait for a few minutes for my turn. I told her that I don't mind the wait, and it was nice to see that many customers came to the event despite the nationwide transportation strike.

Miss Jen making the rounds, checking if each customer is satisfied with their service.

You see, for every customer who will avail of the free service, Nailaholics will donate Php 10 to a charity of the customer's choice - World Vision for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, Save the Seas to help protect the country's marine and coastal resources, or PAWS to support their campaign of adopting stray dogs. More customers meant more donations for the charities mentioned.

My nail technician, Angel.

After a few minutes of waiting, my turn finally came. Angel was my nail technician for the day, and as she sat in front of me to scrub the callus off my feet, I realized that I have not had a foot spa since my last trip to Seoul! And that's already half a year!

Getting a well-deserved and much-needed pampering on National Pampering Day!

My nail technician did a good job of exfoliating my feet and massaging my legs, asking me from time to time if the heat of the water is okay, if the scrubbing tickles, or if the pressure on my legs and feet were just right. She gave me the most relaxing foot spa I have had in years that I will most likely book her for my next appointment at Nailaholics.

The technicians in action.

Kudos to Nailaholics SM San Pablo for a job well done, and congratulations to Nailaholics for another successful run of the National Pampering Day! Thank you for having me this year, and will look forward to next year's festivities! :)

Freebie Alert | #NationalPamperingDay.

The long wait will finally be over as Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa welcomes you once again tomorrow, October 17, 2017, for another real pampering treat at the celebration of the National Pampering Day.

See you tomorrow! :)

Relieve your stress and make sure to drop by at any Nailaholics branch nearest you from 10 AM to 1 PM to get a free pampering service of your choice. You may choose to get a soothing manicure, relaxing foot massage or a calming foot spa.

And best of all, by simply participating in this year’s National Pampering Day, you will be able to support the cause of your chosen organization. You can extend your help in the rehabilitation of Marawi City by supporting World Vision, help protect our country’s rich but threatened marine and coastal resources when you support Save Philippine Seas or support The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in preventing animal cruelty.

“With all the preparations we’ve made, we are very excited to welcome everyone tomorrow and make them feel that they deserve real pampering” said Arvin Amaro, Marketing Head of Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa. This is a once a year treat only from the number one pampering destination in the Philippines – Nailaholics.

See you all tomorrow and Happy National Pampering Day!

Visit www.nailaholics.com to check their services and find the branch nearest you. Get updates through their Facebook Page Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa, Twitter @nailaholics and Instagram @nailaholics.

October 17, 2017 is #NationalPamperingDay!

When it comes to pampering on a national scale, Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa holds the only spot. After introducing the celebration of the National Pampering Day last year, Nailaholics is back at it again this 2017 with an amplified nationwide celebration of relaxation that everyone is looking forward to this October 17.

The National Pampering Day got off to a good start last year where Nailaholics offered free manicure service and a stress relieving hand massage from 10 AM to 12 NN on all their branches nationwide. This year, everyone will be treated to a free service of their choice: a soothing manicure, calming foot spa or a relaxing foot massage.

Save the date!

“We Filipinos are very hardworking in any given aspect of our lives and a nation of energetic and industrious people best deserves real pampering once in a while. This year, as Nailaholics celebrates the 2nd National Pampering Day, we go deeper and dedicate this to everyone and remind them to take it slow, take it easy, zone out and relax for a while.” said Arvin Amaro, Marketing Head of Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa.

“With last year’s success of the National Pampering Day, we are back this year with a bigger and much more enjoyable day of pampering. In partnership with the number one salon brand and most beloved nail lacquer brand in the world, O.P.I., National Pampering Day 2017 will accommodate more guests with the extension of pampering time until 1PM. Also, the best thing about this year’s National Pampering Day is that it will be in support to World Vision, The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and Save Philippine Seas” added Amaro.

So save the date and get ready to park away any thoughts of work because the only responsibility you have is to loosen up. Wind down and head down to any Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa branch on October 17, 2017 (Tuesday) from 10 AM to 1 PM and get yourself a free relaxing manicure, foot spa or foot massage.

Let Nailaholics’ skilled nail technicians take care of you for a little while and walk out of this Hamptons-inspired nail salon feeling refreshed and ready to bring it on again. Grab this once a year treat only at the country’s top destination for relaxation and real pampering.

Visit www.nailaholics.com to check their services and find the branch nearest you.
Get updates through their Facebook Page Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa, Twitter @_nailaholics and Instagram @_nailaholics.

Nailaholics is an urban destination that offers its customers an escape from the daily grind through its exceptional interiors and exceptional pampering service. It currently has more than 50 branches nationwide, including in Gateway Mall, Eastwood Citywalk, Cash and Carry Makati, Harbor Point Mall Subic, SM Cebu, SM Bacolod, and SM Lanang.

Discovering Mary Kay.

Some two weeks ago, my friend Precious came over for a visit. Having been friends for almost twenty years, she comes to my place every so often (and vice versa) to hang-out, bond over food, and play with Yue -who also happens to be her godson.

This particular visit, however, was quite special. Because aside from the usual chatting and laughing and catching up with each other's lives, we also bonded over one of our favorite things - makeup. Precious has become a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant not too long ago, and she came with an array of Mary Kay products for us to play with.

Here are some of the products that she brought over that day.

Clockwise from L-R: Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set (Hand Softener, Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub,
Hand Cream), Lotus & Bamboo Loofah Deo Spritzer, Botanical Effects Formula 3 Hydrate, Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser,
Compact Pro Color Tiles, Mineral Powder Foundation, Lotus Bleu Nail Polish.

Satin Hands® Pampering Hand Set (Php 2,600)
An easy, three-step system that soothens, pampers, and protects the hands, this set includes the following:
Fragrance-Free Satin Hands® Hand Softener that helps maintain skin’s natural moisture. Use it on hands before washing, or anywhere else skin is dry.
Peach Satin Hands® Satin Smoothie® Hand Scrub cleanses and exfoliates.
Peach Satin Hands® Hand Cream provides instant moisturization that lasts up to 24 hours. It lasts even through several hand washings.

Lotus and Bamboo Loofah Deo Spritzer (Php 1,250)
Freshens and deodorizes the skin with the calming scent of lotus and bamboo. I fell in love with this product at first spritz.

Botanical Effects Formula 3 Hydrate (Php 850)
Formula 3 for Oily Skin provides hydration while helping control excess oil, leaving skin with a beautiful matte feel.

Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser (Php 1,175)
The TimeWise® 3-in-1 Cleanser combines anti-aging benefits, plus three essential benefits in one product to cleanse, exfoliate and refresh - revealing younger-looking skin. For those who are too lazy to go through the entire cleansing, exfoliating, and toning routine, this product is for you!

Mary Kay Timewise Liquid Foundation + Complexion Corrector CC Cream.

Matte Wear Liquid Foundation (Php 785)
Recommended for combination to oily skin, this product contains special microspheres that absorb oil and control shine without the heavy makeup feel. This foundation makes the pores less prominent and  leaves the skin with a matte finish.

Complexion Corrector (CC) Cream (Php 825)
This lightweight cream moisturizes and brightens the skin, covers blemishes and counteracts redness, and protects the skin from sun damage. Coverage is sheer, but works just fine if you want a more 'natural' look.

Mineral Powder Foundation (Php 850)
For those who prefer powder foundations over the liquid kind, this weightless skin-perfecting product blends easily and provides buildable coverage. It's a great finishing touch to the CC Cream, or you can wear it by itself for a more natural look.

Mary Kay Compact Pro.

Mary Kay Compact Pro (Php 1,500)
An all-in-one compact that keeps your color products and applicators organized. This comes unfilled so yes, the Php 1500 is for the case alone. You have to buy the makeup products separately.

My face became Precious' canvas that day, and here's the final product. Haha!
I now have a growing fondness for bronzers and highlighters, and I'm glad I learned a few contouring tricks from her.

Precious and I. :)

Have you tried Mary Kay products before? What are you favorites?  :)

Mum's Night Off!

As a mum, your average day is jam packed with running errands, doing chores, and taking care of the kids. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done and have a little time to yourself. That’s why when you get a rare night off from taking care of the kids, you should do something extra special with it. Here are a few suggestions for ways to treat yourself:

Get the spa treatment at home.
Have the entire house to yourself for the night? Use the opportunity to pamper yourself with an at-home spa treatment. Have a relaxing soak in the tub with some mood-boosting aromatherapy bath salts, making sure to use an exfoliating scrub and a deep conditioner. Do a steam facial by boiling hot water on the stove, then curl up in a cosy robe and give yourself a mani and pedi while watching your favourite flick. You’ll feel the stresses of everyday life slowly start to melt away.

Have a date night out.
Leaving the kids with a loved one or a sitter for the night? Slip into one of the most gorgeous cocktail dresses in the UK for a much-needed date night with your hubby. Make reservations at that new restaurant you’ve wanted to try for months, then head to a show or out for a few post-dinner cocktails. Spending some alone time with your partner will allow you to revisit the romance of your relationship, which often gets neglected when you’re trying to figure out who is going to make lunches or pick up the kids from their after school activities.

With my lovely mommy friends. :)

Reconnect with your friends.
Remember when you had unlimited time to spend hanging out with friends at the local café or pub? Those were the days, weren’t they? While your friends probably occupy an increasingly small amount of your time these days, it’s important to reconnect with them every once in a while to remind yourself of the world beyond changing nappies and packing school lunches. Plan a ladies night out so that you can get all dressed up and enjoy some cocktails and dancing. Fancy something quieter? Buy a bottle of wine and some snacks and have a movie night in.

Rediscover yourself.
Before you had kids, there was plenty of time for lingering at museums and hanging out at poetry readings. Use your night off from the kids to rediscover one of your hobbies or passions that you just haven’t had time for. Watch out for special events and activities in your local newspaper listings, then schedule your coveted night off around the one that most excites you. Who knows? You could end up making some new friends in the process.

Everything Zen.

Two weeks ago, I had the rare opportunity to go to the spa and get a massage. And I say rare because 'me-time' is a little difficult to come by when you're a work-at-home mom, especially when're the only one who does the chores at home and have no one else to look after your child.

But thanks to my 'balikbayan' cousins, who were in town for a quick vacation and practically took Yue wherever they went, I had the chance to pamper myself a bit at Lake Zen The Medical Spa.

Fairly new in the business, Lake Zen has been operational since March and is owned by the husband and wife team of Dr. Cathy Villero, an OB-Gyn, and Dr. Reden Villero, an orthopedic surgeon.

I guess it's their professions that inspired them to open a spa such as theirs. After all, a spa can only be called a 'medical spa' if it is operated under the supervision of a medical doctor. (In their case, it's doctors.)
Also, what sets a medical spa apart from the traditional day spas is that the former not only offers rest and relaxation, but also focuses on long-term healing and beautifying treatments that require a doctor’s expertise.

At the waiting area of Lake Zen.

Some of the services offered by Lake Zen include traditional massages (e.g. full body massage, hot stone massage, reflexology), treatment massages (e.g. pregnancy massage, infertility massage, baby massage), and aesthetical procedures such as facials and slimming massage. They also offer hand and foot spas, manicure and pedicure - with nail art, even.

Isn't this cute? :)

I went for the Traditional Full Body Massage (Php 250), which lasted for one hour. I forgot to tell the spa consultant beforehand that I would like Moroccan Rose Oil (additional Php 50 for essential oils) to be used for my massage - my bad. And to think their collection of oils were impossible to miss as they were just sitting in the counter, lol.

Essential oils, take your pick.

Oh well, there is always a next time. After that pleasant first visit to Lake Zen - with their warm and accommodating staff plus the soothing and relaxing massage - I will definitely be coming back for another round of R&R. The curious cat in me is dying to try their Slimming Massage (Php 400), so I might give that a try the next time I visit.

Oh, and I heard that Lake Zen has a lot of stuff happening this July. They've announced that they'll be expanding, so I guess that's additional floor area to accommodate more customers and to cater to bigger spa parties. They'll also be launching their Loyalty Card, with a special treat for its repeat customers. Now that, I want. Haha!

For updates on promos and special spa packages, like Lake Zen The Medical Spa's official Facebook page.

Lake Zen The Medical Spa

GMC II Bldg, Unit 4 20 Barleta St., 

San Pablo City, Laguna

(049) 5736744/ 0922-8871513/ 0906-3544800

Rest, Relaxation, Reunion.

I just got word from my friend who's been working in Canada for the past three years or so. She's coming home to the Philippines and would like to hang out with me (and the rest of our group, of course) while she's on vacation.

Ever the massotherapie addict, the first thing my friend asked was if I know any good spas or saunas in our hometown, and if I can have a 'spa-rty' booked for us girls. I wasn't surprised that she gave me this task of hunting for the perfect spa. We both love spas and massage montréal after all, and this used to be one of our favorite bonding activities back in the days.

Thankfully we now need not go far to enjoy a soothing and relaxing massage. I remember how we used to drive all the way to Alabang just for an hour's worth of massage at The Spa. It's a good thing the wellness industry is now booming in our hometown, and spas and saunas have mushroomed over the years.

Now that our sparty cum mini reunion has been booked and the girls have been informed, all that's left is for our 'balikbayan' (overseas worker) to arrive. See you in two weeks, my friend!

Spa-turdate at Maja Thai.

After several rainchecks and countless cancelled appointments, my friend Sylvia and I somehow made our weekend schedules to jive. And so yesterday, we finally had the chance to check out Maja Thai - the newly-opened spa in town.

We've been planning to go to the spa together for the longest time. Sylvia and I had been planning this since the start of the year, our busy bodies and tight schedules just wouldn't permit. Until yesterday, that is. And so off to Maja Thai we went, for some much needed and well-deserved R&R.

This hut thingy sits just beside the spa's entrance.

See?  And that's my friend, Sylvia, by the way.

OOTD: Striped Top, Forever 21. Shorts, Dorothy Perkins.
Flipflops, Havaianas. Tote,  Bijoux Terner. Wristwatch, Vera Wang.

First impressions of the place? The atmosphere is very welcoming - with its well-lit and spacious waiting area, minimalist interior design, decorative pieces that scream Thai, and furniture that's very Kenneth Cobonpue.

Lovely furniture

My favorite spot in the waiting area.

Pretty lantern sitting by the counter.

It doesn't get more Thai than this. :)

Chic lighting.

Their staff are very cordial and friendly, too.

Sylvia at the counter. :)

Sylvia and I actually had GCs for this particular visit, which were given to us by our friend Aljer. (Thanks, bro!) Our GCs were good for any of these three Massage Services: Thaw Relaxation (foot massage), Klatem Bliss (back massage), or Totem Vigor (body massage).

We went for the latter, and added a 30-minute foot massage (Php 200, regular rate) on top of the body massage. The foot massage was given first, and we were ushered to this room with massage chairs and foot spa machines.

Photo credit: Maja Thai

Those chairs are the comfiest ever, and Joan, my masseuse for the day, was pretty good. My only gripe was how cold this area was. Or it's the spot where I was seated that's cold. I could feel the A/C blowing towards me, and by the time my foot massage was over, I was sniffling like crazy.

We were then transferred to this room for our body massage. As you can see, the mattresses are laid on the floor. That's because the form of bodywork of the traditional Thai massage is done this way - on the floor.

Photo credit: Maja Thai

In a Thai massage, the receiver (ergo, the one being massaged) is positioned in a variety of yoga-like positions during the course of the massage. Deep static and rhythmic pressures form the core of the massage, which energizes the body, rejuvenates the spirit, and calms the mind.

Just to give you an idea of what happens in a Thai massage, there's cracking the knuckles, pulling fingers, toes, ears, even hair, walking on the recipient's back, and arching the recipient into bhujangasana (or cobra position). Quite a challenge, huh? But believe me, your body will feel light and relaxed once all the pulling and cracking are done.

And then you can cool down with your drink of choice - a glass of water or a cup of ginger tea. I went for ginger tea, and so did Sylvia.

Tea time!

This pitcher is so pretty. 

After our one and a half hour massage. :)

All in all, our 'spa-turdate' at Maja Thai has been nothing but pleasant. This visit will not be the last, and I'm already looking forward to our next 'spa-turdate'. I'm thinking of getting the Holistic Rejuvenation (Php 525, promo rate) next time; it's a combination massage that covers the foot and the entire body. I just hope this date will not take another four months to happen, haha.

Girl bonding at Maja Thai! :)

Maja Thai Massage and Wellness Spa
2nd Floor Allysa's Arcade
Brgy. San Benito, Alaminos Laguna
(right across Toyota San Pablo)
049.527.3839 / 0932.877.9959
0928.447.8369 / 0926.747.0879

Sunday at Sparadiso.

The little man was at my in-laws yesterday, so I pretty much had the entire day all to myself. I took advantage of this rare 'me-time' opportunity and decided to give myself an early birthday present - a much-needed, well-deserved massage at Sparadiso!

Sparadiso!

It's been six months (can you imagine?!) since my last visit, which is why the receptionist cheerfully greeted me with "Ma'am ang tagal nyong nawala!" (Ma'am you haven't been here in awhile!) I gave him a bright smile, but in my mind I was like, "I know, I know, woe is me!" Haha. This is one of the things I love about Sparadiso - their staff are congenial, and they have great customer service.

I love the warm and inviting atmosphere of the place, too.

Welcome to Sparadiso! :)

The fountain, which resembles a Lladro figurine, is sure to catch anyone's eye.

What a lovely pair!

The building, which was once home to one of the prominent families here in San Pablo City, is your typical Filipino ancestral home. In our vernacular, we call it 'bahay na bato'. My grandmother's house, where I grew up, used to look exactly like this before it was reconstructed - which makes me all the more fond of Sparadiso. Just looking at it brings back a lot of childhood memories.

A reflection of Spanish influence - the bahay na bato.

This sign hangs by the door.

Open daily, 11am to 11pm.

At the ground floor is the reception area, where you can wait for your turn to be served.

Reception area.

You can sit back and relax on the couches as you wait.

My favorite seat in the house.

I'm not sure if this is still working, but this reminds me of our good old phonograph and my grandfather's 78s, 45s, and LPs.

The Sound of Music!

The Nail Salon is also located in the ground floor. Services offered include manicure, pedicure, foot spa, hand spa, and nail art.

Colors on display.

The Spa, on the other hand, is at the second floor.

Staircase going to the Spa.

There's a total of five rooms upstairs - two single rooms, two couple rooms, plus the restroom. I was accommodated at Solace, a single room.

Time for some R&R!

I was actually thirty minutes late for my 3pm appointment (I had to finish the laundry before I leave the house), but the nice people of Sparadiso accommodated me nonetheless, despite their jam-packed Sunday schedule. And so for the next sixty minutes I was in spa-radise. I enjoyed every single second of my Combination Massage to the point that I slept halfway through it, lol.

When the massage is done, and you're finally awake, you get to enjoy a cup of salabat (hot ginger tea), which helps to rejuvenate the body. It's a great cure for sore throat,  and helps remove toxins from the body, too.

I'm a little teapot...

A trip to Sparadiso never fails to make me happy. I'd do this every weekend if I could, haha! A great way to kick off my birthday week, don't you think? :)

Sparadiso Spa & Nail Salon

27 Gen. Luna St., 

Brgy. IV-B, San Pablo City, Laguna

(049) 562 4255