Unboxing my Bellabox #bbSummerFresh Prize

I'm just a happy girl today! Thanks Bellabox! Didn't expect I would received my prize so soon.

Here are the things I got:

LUXE

I'm not a traveler because I don't have the luxury to travel from places to places. But for some reason I was thrilled to received a Luxe City Guide to Phuket as one of the prizes I've won from Bellabox Asia #bbSummerFresh. I may not be familiar with Thailand's Cities but it is one of the places I've been wanting to visit outside Philippines. (Maybe someday my husband and I will be able to go there when the kids are old enough to leave them or bring them along with us.) 

The Luxe City Guide to Phuket however, gave me an idea on how, when and where to visit the Island. It also has the list of places like shopping malls, restos, hotels and all that are there in Phuket, as well as the list of what you need and what you don't. A great guide indeed for travelers/adventurers. So If you wish to travel to other places, Luxe is a very helpful tool to guide you on your journey to places you wish to visit.

Bellabox Pout Pencil in Pinky Promise

Product Details:

"A highly pigmented lip crayon in a stunning shade of hot pink, this is your go-to lip pencil for any lippie crisis! Enriched with vitamin E and beeswax, this nourishing formula hydrates your sugar lips, giving it a long-lasting pink finish."

I really really like the shade I got and the fact that it hydrates my lips. It is indeed great and cool to wear for summer because of its vibrant color. Although summer is over here in Philippines I would still want to wear this for everyday use not only because of its nourishing formula but because I love how good it looks on me. Haha.

Twistband

I've been wanting to get one of this ever since I saw this on one of Michelle Phan's videos, but I have no clues where to get one here in Philippines. That's why I'm so very happy and lucky to received this as one of the prizes I got! I wish Bellabox Philippines would open very soon and sell this stuff here so I could collect more of this.

Teaism

I love teas because of its soothing effect and how it relaxes my body. I have my favorite teas but I'm always willing to try new teas on my cup. Can't wait to try and dip-stir-enjoy this new kind of tea wand in Ginger Black Tea (for comfort) and Green Tea (for balance).

Product Details:

"Featuring delicious and healthy tea for people on the go. An epitome of convenience it is available in a disposable wand. All you need to do is drop the wand into a hot cup of water. Each disposable wand contains high-grade loose tea leaves and is made of FDA-approved aluminium wand." 

Available in:

- Ginger Black Tea (for comfort), 

- Green Tea (for balance), 

- Fancy Black Tea (for energy), 

- Blueberry Tea (for protection) and 

- Osmanthus Oolong Tea (for restoration).

Indio Spot Defy Pigmentation Serum

Of all the prizes included I think this is the most expensive one amongst them. It's not currently available in Bellabox Asia though so I'm not sure how much this is but in Bellabox.com.au this costs AU$78. I can't seem to find some reviews regarding this product but I'm still as excited as bee to try it on and see if it will do wonders on my dark spots, especially those dark circles under my eyes.

Product Details:

"Indio Spot Defy is a skin treatment formulated to even out skin tone, reduce the appearance of age spots and sun damage, while fighting free radical damage. The treatment has been formulated with chamomile flower and green tea extract to soothe the skin, while vitamins E and C act as natural antioxidants with skin-lightening effects."

Lemongrass House Shower Gel in Lemongrass

The fact that this is a paraben and sulfate-free, made with all natural ingredients and preservatives, and scented with essential oils not artificial fragrance this product is a plus for me. The smell however isn't as pleasing as I wish it could be, for me at least, maybe because of its all natural ingredients and no artificial fragrance.

Product Details:

"Pamper your skin and awaken the senses with Lemongrass House All-Natural Shower Gels. Made with infusions of skin-loving botanical extracts such as green tea and sea kelp to moisturize and soften, refreshing cucumber, and topped with softening aloe vera and glycerin, this vegetable-based concoction will cleanse your body without overdrying.

Lemongrass House Shower Gels produce tons of fun lather without the use of harming sulfates, and uses a gentle grapefruit based preservative for your safety. All shower gels are scented with fragrant essential oils such as Jasmine, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang to suit any personal taste. A little gel goes a long way!"

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo

Whenever I have an early morning errands and know for sure that I won't be able to to do all the beauty stuff (make-up and hair) so early in the morning, I would just shower at night and blow dry my hair. That is so in the morning when I wake up I would just cleanse my body then Iron style my hair. Problem is, if I would take up the whole day without shampooing, my hair would get oily and sticky. This is when I would want to try this dry shampoo I got. This might be the answer to my problem. So excited over this product.

Product Details:

"Flip that gorgeous hair and radiate your best Caribbean goddess look with Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo! It contains a starch-based formulation that cleanses just like a shampoo, but without the water, the blow-dry hassle and more. It pumps up your hair and gives it visible texture, while its limited edition Coconut scent leaves you smelling like a tropical dream!"

Skinlite Intensive Nourish and Color Protect Hair Treatment

Product Details:

"An easy, two-step hair treatment that protects the vibrance of color-treated tresses

Step 1: Nourish & Color-Protect Hair Mask

- Restores radiance to hair weakened by coloring, bleaching, and perming

- Defines shape and spring of curls

- Enriched with a blend of lavender, rosemary, chamomile, and sage leaf extracts

Step 2: Hair Protecting Serum

- Controls frizz, increases shine, and prevents hair damage caused by styling

- Laced with camellia japonica seed oil, mineral oil, and Vitamin E"

And lastly...

Bellabox Tote Bag

All in all, the prizes makes me a really happy happy lady. I could see myself using all of them. That is why I just couldn't wait for Bellabox Philippines to open very soon so I could subscribe for their monthly box. I know for sure they give great surprises for their subscribers. Just can't wait for my first unboxing experience with their monthly subscriptions. Once again thanks Bellabox Asia and #bbSummerFresh. :)

Ravioli

Ravioli has been my all-time favorite restaurant since a friend brought me to this place back in 2010. I love Ravioli and every thing in the menu are my favorites. Although they offer only a number or limited meals (even at Ravioli Bistro) at least they made it sure that everything will be favorited by their customers. Everything were made fresh which made everything taste so good!

Below are three of their meals that you may want to try whenever you wish to visit Ravioli: Creamy Ceasar Salad, Grilled Foccacia with Spinach Dip, and Mozarella Mushroom Ravioli.

Unboxing My First BDJ Box (September 2014 BDJ Box)

When the box arrived I was so very excited as it was my first box ever. When I've opened it my first impression was nothing so special that would surprise me with joy. All the excitement just went down the drain. Not that I'm super disappointed it's just that the products included were not something I would look forward to using it and here's why...

Cream Silk Daily Treatment Conditioner, 180ml P134

I never went back to using Cream silk after I found the best tandem (1 brand shampoo and conditioner) for my hair. I've already tried many brands before but I always end up using Pantene for my hair. It isn't the best brand though but this is the only one that never dries my scalp nor my hair so far.

Also, when I use a conditioner I make sure it matches my shampoo for best result.  But who knows this might work well with my Pantene shampoo too and see how their innovative new formulas and latest ingredients works wonders with my hair. At least I didn't have to spend much just to try them out. I just couldn't complain you know. Just glad I got something for hair fall defense to match my Pantene Pro-V Anti Hair Fall and the other is for standout straight.

 



Dove Intense Daily Hair Vitamin, 6ml x 6 capsules P75/pack
 

I like Dove for my skin and I'm currently using either Dove Go Fresh Revive Body Wash or Bar Soap. But for my hair? I might skip it. I've already tried both of their intense repair shampoo and conditioner but I wasn't so happy with it. It did not only dried my scalp but it also dried my hair as well. Even with a conditioner it still left a sticky feeling on my hair that results to more hair fall especially when brushing. So honestly I'm a bit hesitant to use this one but I would still give it a try.
 

Pond's Dewy Rose Gel, 10g P150

I was about to finish a pot of this (my first pot of Pond's Dewy Rose Gel) when I found out that propylene glycol is a no-no to pregnant women like me I then stopped using it right away (just the other night). Also, using it for almost 2-months  honestly, i still don't see any difference on my skin. I would still want to give it a try though for further results, but maybe after I give birth.

Jergens Moisture Pack

• Jergen's Ultra Healing Lotion, 100ml P88 and
• Jergen's Daily Moisture, 200ml P133

I love Jergens lotion and I am currently using Jergen's lotion for my skin. I love how it doesn't leave a greasy feeling after applying it on my skin. It has a powder finish to it leaving you fresh and smooth. So I'm happy receiving 2 of these products. But then again, it's nothing too exciting about.

Godiva Cleansing Kit

• Godiva Licowhite Whitening Facial Wash, 6ml (4 sachets) and
• Godiva Licowhite Whitening Toner, 60ml P60

I may want to try this after I give birth to my baby #2. Like Pond's Dewy Rose Gel it contains propylene glycol and some AHA that I would want to avoid for now. Also, I have oily/combo skin and it said that this product is good for normal to dry skin so I might give this away instead.

Beach Hut Clear Spray, 180ml P390

Is it summer time? No. It's pretty much a rainy season and I don't think I need much of this nowadays. I even rarely use my Beach Hut Max 100++ SPF. It's still a good keep though.and this is the most expensive one amongst all the items included in the BDJ box.

FS Cosmetics

• FS Single Eyeshadow, 4g P150
• FS Gel Liner, 5ml P299

Of all the products I received, these 2 products from FS Cosmetics are the ones I look forward to the most. I haven't tried any of FS products before and I've only been familiar with this recently. As a local product I'm pretty much curious of its quality and how it could compete to other imported drugstore cosmetics.

 and lastly...

Free Make Over Worth P1500 by Professional Artist Cosmetics

Overall, it's nothing too special or exciting about. Am I happy about it? Umm... I think I'm okay with it. On the brighter side, at least I still got more than what I paid for.

Sabi nga sa stickers...

"S E E K  T H E  B E A U T Y  I N  E V E R Y T H I N G  Y O U  S E E."

Our 1st Dine-in Experience at Mary Grace, SM Aura

I thought Cafe Mary Grace offers only pastries and cakes. Little did I know, they also offer meals or snacks and other variety of drinks to dine-in with too. Thanks to the standee posted outside their cafe, my husband and I were surprised upon seeing that they also offer pizza (meaning they might be offering other meals as well). Due to our curiosity we then entered their cafe and sat down for dinner before we proceeded to the grocery.

The ambiance? I super like it. It has a good feel to it, it's very welcoming and their services are very promising. Thanks to our server name Sid; he was generous enough to accommodate my queries when I was ordering. Also the food were served on time, maybe because the place wasn't that crowded  during that time and the flow of their service was just right for people that are coming in and out.

The food were great. My husband and I enjoyed it very well. We ordered a different set of meal called the "Perfect Plate". It's a set of meal that has salad for appetizer, pasta for entree, and a slice of cake of the day for dessert.

For my Perfect Plate I had a scrumptious meal 'Tomato and Herb Plate' (P361)

• It has Fresh Tomato & Herb Pasta with garlic bread on the side, Grilled Chicken & Oranges Salad w/ Black Olive Dressing, and 2 choices to choose from the slice of cake of the day: either Black Forest or Chocolate Truffle, and I chose Chocolate Truffle which is very soft and rich and super duper yummy. 

 

I also had Peppermint and Fruits Home Made Iced Tea (P84)

For hubby's Perfect Plate he had a good looking 'Chorizo Plate' (P361)

• It has Chorizo & Green Olive Pasta with garlic bread on the side, Local Greens w/ Chili Daing Dressing & Crunchy Garlic, and he also had Chocolate Truffle for a slice of cake of the day instead of Black Forest.

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Both meals got our palates really stimulated. We both emptied our plate, as in literally.

For our yaya I ordered a Classic Carbonara (P230). I wasn't able to capture it but I tell you the bowl was huge, the pasta looks creamy and yummy too with enough toppings. She wasn't able to finish her bowl though because of her small appetite and she's pihikan (picky-eater) too (she doesn't like garlic so I ate her garlic bread and she doesn't eat veggies, ugh!). My son were sleeping at his stroller that time so I wasn't able to get him something.

After we're done we stayed a little while because we were too stuffed at the moment. And while waiting for the bill I grabbed one of the books that were hanging at the wall beside me. I grabbed this "Words Every Woman Should Remember" and thought of buying one for myself. There were magazines too to make yourself busy while waiting for someone or something. It was really a nice place.

Baby's Gender (My 2nd Pregnancy)

When I've learned that I'm pregnant again with a baby boy I honestly felt sad. I was hoping and praying for a baby girl, because I know for sure that I could express myself more to a daughter. Having a son isn't bad, in fact my 1st child is very malambing (very sweet) and I love him so much for that. It's just that having another son isn't as exciting as before unless if it is a girl. There'll be not much of a preparation needed anymore besides the name and the new arrangement of the room to set up the crib again.

After a day or 2 I felt okay na and realized that God prioritizes our needs more than our wants (Psalms 4:19). I just cannot question His sovereignty. He knows what's really the best for us and maybe He saw the true desire of my heart (Psalms 20:4); which isn't really about wanting to have a daughter but to help us prepare with our finances. I'm not saying that having a daughter is magastos (although c'mon we all agree naman it's really magastos but it still depends on how we treat or spoil a child I think) but to have yet another son we won't be spending much anymore because good thing I kept all the old stuff that my 1st son had and they're all as good as new. Also the transition to a bigger family wouldn't be as easy as we think especially preparing our panganay (1st child) to school by next year.

Whatever the gender is, having yet another baby is still a blessing from the Lord. We're even blessed that the baby inside is normal with a complete limbs and facial features. I also thank the Lord that I'm now safe from placenta previa, meaning I will be having a normal delivery again.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11