Fashion Pulse | Trendy Black Dial Watches for Men.

Black is the color that defines style, sophistication, and panache like no other. It is a colour that is versatile and goes well with both formal and casual outfits. Here is a collection of some of the trendiest watches for men with black dials to spice up your wardrobe and add sparkle to your collection of luxury watches. These exclusive timepieces are available in all Ethos stores across the country.

Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback.

Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback
The Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback is a showstopper. The classic black dial and black leather strap set off by the rose gold case are sure to attract envious glances. The chronograph with the flyback function makes it the owner's pride. The hour markers and the hands are also rose gold. The promise of Swiss engineering and the classic good looks take this watch to the top of our pick when it comes to trendiest black dial automatic watches for men.

Raymond Weil Maestro.

Raymond Weil Maestro
If you thought complexity does not go well with fashion, think again. Better yet, gift yourself a Raymond Weil Maestro. The Maestro collection was launched in 2010 and this black on black model has been a coveted timepiece ever since. The jet black dial is offset by the silver case and silver Roman hour markers. The two sub dials showcase the phases of the moon and the date. This makes your watch as unique as your personality. The black alligator leather strap spells luxury and style.

Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph 45 MM.

Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph 45 MM
Hublot is one of the top brands when it comes to luxury watches. Hublot watches are considered style statements and are often passed down as family heirlooms. The Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph 45 MM is one such treasured timepiece featuring a black dial and a titanium case. The steel bracelet and the steel hour markers add to its classic good looks. The two sub dials feature a chronograph and add elegance to this masterpiece.

Rado Diamaster XL Automatic.

Rado Diamaster XL Automatic
If you are a connoisseur of luxury watches you are sure to count Rado among your best, most loved possessions. Here is an all-black Rado that will let you step into the limelight. The Rado Diamaster XL Automatic is a clean and classic beauty with a black dial. The power reserve indicator and the date window complete the dial and the black ceramic case adds to the fashion quotient. The black leather strap is a comfortable but elegant one. Aesthetics and precision – that is what puts this watch on our list of black trendy watches you must own.

Breitling Chronomat 44.

Breitling Chronomat 44
Designed in the 1980s for the Italian Air Force aerobatics team the Chronomat collection of Breitling is known for its sturdy construction, precise timekeeping, classic aesthetics, and bold appeal. The Breitling Chronomat 44 features a sporty look with a carbon black dial and a steel case. The automatic chronograph movement is the highlight of the watch. The sub dials feature a chronograph and a date display window. The black leather strap completes the beauty of this timepiece.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris
The Jaeger-LeCoultre brand spells excellence and superior Swiss engineering. Add to it the stunning aesthetics of the Polaris collection and you have a winner on your hands - quite literally. This model is a stunning black dial timepiece featuring a chronograph and a tachymeter. The jet black dial is matched by a fine black leather strap. The case and the hour markers are stainless steel making it the perfect accessory for both formal and casual dressing.

Seoul Searching | Highlights of my Spring/Summer 2018 Trip.

I've finally unpacked everything from my luggage, sorted out my K-beauty haul, and transferred more than a thousand photos from my phone to my hard drive. It's been two weeks since we returned to the Philippines and now I can finally say that we've settled back in!

That being said, it's back to the daily grind for me, and I'm just about ready to blog about all of the places that we've been to and all the food that we had in this year's Seoul Searching trip. But first, let me share with you some snippets of our Korean adventure:

Meeting Edward Avila... and sitting next to him on the plane!
K-beauty vlogger Edward Avila was in Manila last May for a Meet and Greet organized by Club Clio Philippines. The event was scheduled the day before our flight to Korea, making it impossible for me to attend much as I wanted to. As I watched live videos of the event on Clio's Instagram, I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could chance upon Edward at the airport if he happens to be flying back to Korea on the same day that we were.

I got more than I wished for because lo and behold, as I was fastening Yue's seatbelt, a guy with silver purple ombre hair peeking out of his black baseball cap took the seat beside mine on the plane. I knew right then and there who he was.

Flying all the way to Incheon with THE Edward Avila.
AirAsia Premium Flex seats are the best seats in the house!

"Edward?" I asked, stifling the urge to scream.
"Yes?" he replied.
And I was like, "Ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod, it's really you!"
And then I started gushing about how sad I was that I couldn't make it to his event and how lucky I am to actually be flying all the way to Incheon with one of my favorite vloggers! Edward was very friendly and congenial, and we chatted for the most part of the flight - well, at least during the times when we were both awake. We even took photos together, even if I look like I haven't slept for a week, haha!

Catching-up with friends.
My childhood friend Ela and her partner Maan were in Korea for a few days, and I made it a point to meet up with them - because reunions are more fun in Korea, lol.

Samgyeopsal with Ela and Maan.

I went to Hongdae where the girls were staying, and we had a hearty meal of samgyeopsal at one of the local restaurants in the area, capped off with the best churros in the world for dessert.

Customary photo with Brown, this time in Hongdae!

We also did a bit of shopping - well, more like pimple patch hunting since Ela wanted to try those popular pimple patches. As such, we went searching for the ALand branch in Hongdae, because I know for a fact that COSRx products are sold in ALand stores. Ela loved the COSRx Pimple Patch so much that she regrets not buying more even when I told her to, lol.

Bonding with family.
Despite their busy schedule, Kuya JR (my husband's cousin) and his wife Youngsook unni took the time to spend the day with us, one fine Sunday in June. We had barbecue and soju at our favorite buffet restaurant, Meat-ing, as a celebration of sorts - post-anniversary celebration for us, and advance birthday celebration for Youngsook unni.

The boys. :)

Chill Sunday with Kuya JR and Youngsook unni.

Then we enjoyed the Seoul sunshine by exploring Kondae Rodeo, shopping for sneakers, and having coffee at Holly's.

Celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary.

Would you believe that for the past nine years, the husband and I have never celebrated our anniversary together? This is the main reason why I wanted to be in Korea in June - so that we can finally celebrate our anniversary together, in one country, under one roof. It's our tenth year of marriage, after all, and our fifteenth year as a couple. 

Mocha Cream Cake from Paris Baguette.

Our anniversary fell on a weekday so we only had a simple celebration at home with some pasta (which I cooked), a bit of wine, and a lovely cream cake that the husband bought at the nearby Paris Baguette. But on the Sunday a few days ahead of our anniversary, we did celebrate the occasion by hearing mass at Hyehwa Catholic Church and having lunch at Yoogane - because no trip to Korea would be complete without enjoying my all-time favorite dak galbi.

Celebrating Father's Day.

Similarly, this was our first time to celebrate Father's Day together. I wanted this day to be extra special for the husband so I went the extra mile to get him the Curry 5 sneakers in the colorway that he wanted. 

Shopping for sneakers at the Under Armour flagship store in Itaewon.

My boys who love 'sole searching'. :)

Many thanks to the staff of Under Armour Garosugil and Under Armour Itaewon for the excellent customer service! You guys are daebak! (You can read the full story on this Instagram post.)

Feeling the football fever.
It sure felt different to watch the World Cup in a country that's actually playing in the World Cup, and I was so glad to still be in Korea during their first two group stage matches. The entire country was in a very festive mood during that time, especially in the evenings when cheering parties were held in open spaces such as Gwanghwamun Square, City Hall, and the COEX Convention Center.

Street cheering/viewing party at Gwanghwamun Plaza. Photo credit: Korea Times.

K-Stadium at Lotte World Mall.

BTS x Coca Cola World Cup pop-up at COEX Mall.

Although it was sad that Korea's World Cup dreams ended in the group stage, they did bag the honor of being the only Asian country to beat Germany, champions of the 2014 World Cup.

As for me, Korea bags the honor of being the country that I have traveled to the most (five times in total), and I will never grow tired of visiting this country again and again. If only we could live here permanently, I would pack my bags and go even at a moment's notice!

Dental Care - 5 Important Things You Might Be Doing Wrong.

Oral hygiene is an essential part of good health and well-being, and there are many different ways to promote good oral health. The way you brush your teeth, for example, has an effect on the cleanliness inside your mouth, which is why, as children, we were taught correct brushing techniques. For many people, incorrect brushing technique has a negative effect on general oral hygiene, as trapped food particles remain after brushing, which leads to the onset of tooth decay. If you would like to ensure that your daily oral hygiene practices are effective, take note of these things that you might actually be doing wrong.

Photo credit: Friendly Dental Group.

1. Incorrect Brushing Technique 
If you were never taught the correct way to brush your teeth, this might well be the cause of any dental issues you might have. It is not effective if the bristles merely travel over the tooth enamel, as the correct brushing technique requires that the fine bristles come into contact with every part of the teeth surfaces, thus removing minute particles of trapped food.

2. Type of Toothbrush 
If you are the kind of person who buys a toothbrush based on aesthetics, this has very little to do with its ability to clean. Soft, medium, or hard bristles are available and the general consensus of professional opinion is that medium is the best for effective brushing. A soft bristle toothbrush will not be able to remove trapped particles and this will result in bad breath and the onset of tooth decay. If you are in need of a BUPA dentist Brisbane locals trust, an online search will reveal the whereabouts of local dentists.

3. Shape and Size of Brush Head 
The size and shape of the toothbrush head is another consideration, and a dentist will tell you that small and slightly tilted is best, as this allows you good maneuverability when brushing. In fact, it is a good idea to ask your dentist to recommend a toothbrush, and they will likely stock some of the better brands. Effective brushing will keep your teeth and gums clean and this will prevent the onset of tooth decay.

4. Flossing 
It is possible that you are not using dental floss in the correct way, or even worse, that you don’t actually floss at all! Flossing reaches those otherwise impossible regions, especially between the teeth, where bacteria can thrive and if you are unsure about the correct flossing technique, there are plenty of instructions online that you can follow.

5. Brushing Frequency 
If you only brush your teeth in the morning and before sleeping, this is not sufficient. Of course, both morning and evening brushing in necessary, but you should also brush after every meal. Simply carry a travelling toothbrush that also has some toothpaste and you can easily pop into the restroom after lunch.

By ensuring that all of the above are addressed and that you adopt these practices on a daily basis, your teeth and gums will always be in good condition. And with regular dental check-ups, should there be a problem, it can promptly be treated.

Picking The Best Child Care Facilities.

One of the best things that you can do for your child to give them an excellent start in life is to choose a quality child care facility that they can start the academic careers. If it is your first child and you have not had to look for a child care before, you can get some excellent tips on the parents.com website, so you know what to look for in a facility. You should start your search early for a child care center so that you will have plenty of time to find the perfect environment for your little angel.

Make Yourself A List Of The Different Facilities
The internet is an excellent tool, and you can find a child care in Victoria or anywhere else in the world with just a few clicks. Use the internet and find all of the facilities that are located within your area. You will need to check the prices of each child care, what hours they operate, and also if they have spaces available for your child. Draw up a list of all of the facilities that you can afford and is within travelling distance, and then visit each one.

A good child care facility can give your child an excellent start in life.

What To Look For When You Visit
When you visit each of the child care centres, you will want to pay attention to certain factors such as:

• The amount of qualified staff each facility has and how many children are in each class.
• Look for happy children that are working with purpose while having fun at the same time.
• The premises appear to be clean and safe, with secure gates and safe playing areas for the children.
• Bright and friendly welcomes when you show up and a keen interest in you and your child.
• Plenty of amenities including stimulation for the children, with exciting but safe play equipment.

You can even make yourself a checklist that you can use when you visit each location, which will also allow you to take notes during your visit. Making your notes as detailed as possible will help you further down the line when it comes to choosing the best one for your child.

Just as a sidenote, it might be better to have childcare services come to you. Sites such as Care.com can help find the most reliable, suitable, and certified care services you need.

Look for happy children inside the facility.

Questions That You Need To Ask
There are also certain questions that you should be asking when you visit each of the facilities, and again you can takes notes when you are given the answers.

• You should ask what the ratio of children to staff members is.
• What qualifications and experience do the members of staff have?
• What is the curriculum for learning?
• How will learning also be made to be fun?
• Will your child be looked after one main carer, or would there be many?
• Do you provide drink and snacks or do you need to provide them?
• What are the rules and procedures for things such as discipline?
• There are much more besides, but this will give you an idea of what else to ask.

Will learning also be fun?

Check Their References
The last step will be to check the references of each facility and ensure that they are registered with the local council, as well as have all of the necessary insurance. Try and get opinions of parents who sent their children to the facilities in questions, and use these to help make a decision. If you do this in advance, you will have plenty of time to make your decision and choose the best child care for your child, where they will thrive and flourish.

Spotlight | The Face Shop x Coca Cola Collection.

A few months back, I blogged about the release of this collaboration collection between Korean beauty brand The Face Shop and one of the world's biggest and most recognizable brands, Coca-Cola. The collection featured an array of lip tints, lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes, a pact, and a cushion. I've been lusting for these products ever since they hit the market (because you all know by now that I'm a sucker for collaboration collections and cosmetics with cute packaging), and I finally got my hands on them last month when I went back to Korea for our (bi-)annual vacation.

The Face Shop x Coca Collection still on display. :)

I was initially worried that these products might no longer be in stock - they're limited edition, after all, and it's been months since this collection was released. Thankfully, they're still available in all of The Face Shop stores that I've seen and been to in Seoul's shopping districts (Myeongdong, Hongdae, Edae, Gangnam, Sinsadong).

My mini haul from The Face Shop. :)

Here's what I got from the collection - the Oil Clear Blotting Pact, the Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red, and the Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red. I was supposed to buy the cushion instead of the pact, but my son, who was with me that day, made me realize that I still have a bunch of unopened cushions back home. Okay fine, I'll get the pact instead, lol.

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Oil Clear Blotting Pact.

The Oil Clear Blotting Pact is a blotting powder that absorbs excess oil and keeps your face shine-free. Colorless and translucent, this product is an ideal setting powder as it 'mattifies' the shiny areas on your face without adding texture to the skin. (Read: No caking!) I use this mostly for touch-ups, when the midday oil slick hits my T-zone.

Colorless and translucent.

Finely milled. :)

The pact comes with a mirror, a puff, and a plastic 'separator' placed in between the puff and the powder. I love how soft and bouncy the puff is - it picks up a good amount of product and makes blending such a breeze.

Comes with a super soft puff!

Right side of my face has the Oil Clear Blotting Pact
on top of my Innisfree Longwear Cover Cushion.
Left side of my face has only the Innisfree Longwear Cover Cushion on it.

The powder has a subtle cola scent which I find quite nice and quirky. Even my son was fascinated with how my makeup 'smells like Coke', haha. Well, everything in this collection is cola-scented, including the eyeshadows. The scent on the Velvet Lipsticks, however, is much fainter that you'll hardly notice it unless you sniff on the bullet closely.

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Velvet Lipstick.

These Velvet Lipsticks come in five different shades. I chose shade number 05 Vintage Red, a medium pink with a warm, peachy undertone. I super like the color, but I love the packaging even more. Just look at those adorable candy cane stripes on the bullet. Christmas vibes, yes!

How adorable is this packaging?

The Velvet Lipstick, as its name implies, has a creamy, velvet texture and a flat matte finish. It's easy to apply and glides smoothly for the most part, but it did tug a bit when I first applied this on my lips. I love that it's highly pigmented and that the color stays on for a decent period of time (about three to four hours, with a bit of drinking in between).

05 Vintage Red.

But when it comes to wear-time, the Coke Bear Lip Tints are far more impressive. The color stays put for more than six hours before it starts to fade into a soft, rosy stain on your lips.

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Gel Lip Tint.

Snow globes are such pretty little things.

This lip tint is the product that I was most excited about in the entire collection, and yes, the packaging has everything to do with it. The moment I saw the cap with the Coke Bear snow globe, I was sold!

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Coke Bear Lip Tint.

02 Coke Red.

The Coke Bear Lip Tints are available in three shades, and I chose 02 Coke Red, a vibrant, orange-based red. The lip tint is housed in a clear plastic tube (the color you see on the tube is actually the product) and comes with a slanted doe-foot applicator. It has a soft mousse-y texture which settles into a velvety, semi-matte finish. Lightweight and moisturizing, this lip tint also has buildable coverage and can be worn full on the lips or applied on the inner part to achieve the gradient look. 

Here are swatches of the Velvet Lipstick and the Coke Bear Lip Tint:

Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red on the left,
Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red on the right.

Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red on the left,
Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red on the right.

And here's how they look like when worn.

Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red on my lips.

Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red on my lips.

If you're into collaboration collections, love makeup items with unique and quirky packaging, or simply someone who finds joy in owning Coke/Coke-related products, then this collection is right up your alley. Definitely worth-investing - not that it will cost you an arm and leg. They're pretty much within the affordable price range, and now that this collection has just been released in the Philippines, you won't need to fly all the way to Korea or spend a fortune on shipping fees just to try/own these products. :)