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Wednesday, November 26

Candles, Toddlers and Diaper Rash Creams


They really shouldn't go together. Last All Saints' Day, we visited our dearly departed ones at the cemetery, and Allie went with us. Sadly, a little accident happened. She was playing with flowers and tripped towards this candle holder with the metal cover. She burnt a part of her forearm. Yes, ouch. Yes, there were a couple of blisters. Yes, she cried. Yes, I felt so bad I wanted to cry too.

Photo credit to my father-in-law

I read somewhere that diaper rash cream can be used for minor burns, and being in a cemetery with no first aid in sight, I used my handy dandy diaper rash cream on her burn after we washed her arm with water. I know that it really helped soothe her because she stopped crying almost immediately.

I was so glad that I had the diaper rash cream in my bag then. I am forever grateful to Mustela because when I attended this Mustela launch event a few weeks ago, among the stuff they gave out was this tube of their Vitamin Barrier Cream. I started using it on Allie's behind everytime we change nappies, and I always carry it with me.


I am a convert now, just so you know. Not only does the Vitamin Barrier Cream work effectively on diaper rashes, but on burns too! It doesn't have that nasty fish smell. I love that it is very affordable and very available at local department stores.

So what happened to Allie's burn? When we left the cemetery, we went to the drugstore and bought silver sulfadiazine. It's an antibiotic, and because she had blisters, my doctor friend suggested to apply it thickly twice a day, after washing, and cover her burn with sterilized gauze. After about a week, her skin is completely healed. Now, I just apply some moisturizer and prevent sunburn on her arm to lessen the discoloration. A dermatologist told me it will take about six months for it to become less noticeable. But really, I barely notice it on her arm now.

Holiday Deals: Pizza plus Pizza plus More

It's the holidays once again, and there are so many parties to go to. I, for one, will be hosting a mini get-together for a few friends pretty soon, and I just saw this cool pizza deal from Shakey's. I just wanted to share this with you in case you get hungrrrry or you're in a rut (like me) on what to serve to your guests. So yeah, if you're reading this my few friends who are coming over soon, get ready for a pizza feast from Shakey's ha? Hihihi.



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Pizza plus Pizza plus More!
Shakey’s Super Grand Slammin’ Deal

MANILA, Philippines – There is something about the appetizing look of pizzas that whets every food lover’s appetite, no matter what time of the day it is. Much more so when a slice of your much-loved treat is paired with its usual bedfellow—pasta or chicken.

It’s a different story—or maybe, it’s arguably a better deal—with Shakey’s latest Grand Slam offering. The Shakey’s Super Grand Slammin’ Deal allows guests to pair their favorite pizza combination with a generous serving of signature starters or pasta, plus a pitcher of Nestea Iced Tea or Coca-Cola softdrink. It’s an immediate feast, no matter what the occasion is!

So here’s how the Shakey’s Super Grand Slammin’ Deal works. First, choose any of your favorite starters or pasta; this could be the seasoned and deep-fried Calamari Crrrunch or the tender and juicy Buffalo wings or the hot and crispy perfection of Wings’n’Rings. If you’re a pasta lover, perhaps try the deliciously creamy Carbonara Platter or the delightful Spaghetti Platter. Second, select
your 18-inch Grand Slam Pizza flavor combination, Original four delicious flavors: Shakey’s Special, Pepperoni, Classic Italian Sausage and Friday Special or New Combination flavors: Angus Steakhouse, Hi-Protein Supreme, Pizza Castellana and Managers Choice. And lastly, top it all off with a refreshing pitcher of your choice drink.

If that treat isn’t enough, ordering the Shakey’s Super Grand Slammin’ Deal also entitles you to one (1) free SuperCard, all for only Php999! Shakey’s SuperCard allows card holders to enjoy discounts and freebies, including a free pizza for every pizza delivery order with drinks to match. So upon having the SuperCard, you can start enjoying all the amazing treats from Shakey’s.

The promo runs until December 17 only, so make sure you get your Shakey’s Super Grand Slammin’ Deal in any Shakey’s branch near you.


Friday, November 14

Planning a Clean & Green Township



Living in an urban jungle called Metro Manila makes me think of little ways on how to make the city better for everybody. My background in architecture and design obviously helps but just by experiencing the day-to-day life here compared to how life is abroad opened my eyes to the harsh reality (and a hopeful future) that Metro Manila is far from ideal and could definitely be better. 

It was in the home of Sylvia Tay van Remoortele, the wife of Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines, that I was acquainted with this wonderful project called Planning a Clean & Green Township, which Sylvia started in 2012. It is a competition for youth leaders 14-20 years old, and they are tasked to come up with a master plan for a clean and green township. They use real cities as subjects, and they have already featured Hanoi, Vietnam (2012), Iskandar Johor, Malaysia (2013), and Yangon, Myanmar (2014). For 2015, the city of Manila will be taking the spotlight. 

It is a great way to envision what Manila would look like if you were to rebuild it. Registration has already started, and while I can't join because I'm too old, I hope you guys can spread the news to your schools and friends who you think might be interested. Oh, and one more thing, Sylvia mentioned that the registration fees (and I think the SG expenses too) are waived for public schools. Very cool, right?

Read on if you're interested. 



According to Sylvia, the aims of the competition are:
  • Ensuring that young people are capable of taking on the 21st century challenges of global warming and climate change, social inequities, unsustainable lifestyles and the urgent need for proper management of our natural resources like forestation and energy.
  • Appreciation for global issues such as poverty, inequality, hunger and environmental degradation that often afflicts developing countries.
  • Promotion of learners' growth and development with values such as respect for the environment and sustainability.
  • Encourage responsible lifestyle choices, heighten awareness of global environmental issues, create awareness of cultural and societal sensitivities.
Teams will have 4-6 members and they need to write a 15-page sustainable and viable plan for the city of Manila for the preliminary round. A workshop will be held on February 7th, 2015 at the Mind Museum to help the teams write an effective proposal.

Once the teams get selected, they will be invited to Singapore for a 5-day study trip from March 31st to April 5th, which will also include the finals and awarding ceremony. 

The competition is endorsed by the city of Manila, Department of Tourism, Department of Education, Bases Conversion Development Authority, The Mind Museum, Centre for Liveable Cities (Singapore) and other research and education centers.


If you'd like to know more, visit:
Facebook: /activistarads

Monday, November 10

The Missoni Home Nabarniz Rug

Recently, I partnered with Chairish, an exclusive, curator approved, online marketplace for vintage and used furniture, to come up with a mood board centering on this very colorful rug. I decided to create an office space mood board and started with the rug. I chose this Missoni Home Nabarniz Rug from Chairish because of its unusual shape and its vibrant display of color. I am currently decorating my office studio at our new home, and this style study makes me want to splash the room with tons of vibrant colors because of this amazing piece.


[1] Missoni Home Nabarniz Rug's fun, octagonal shape creates an interesting conversation starter in any space. It is made from New Zealand wool that is dyed in pink, purple and green. The 3.6" thickness doesn't hurt a bit either. $843, Chairish.

[2] Studio Mirrored Desk $499, Z Gallerie.

[3] Saarinen Executive Armchair with Casters, Chartreuse. $2,067, Design Within Reach.

[4] Dupioni Silk Drape, Indigo. $189, Pottery Barn.

[5] Rubber Coated Orange Wastecan $24.99, CB2.

[6] Arod Work Lamp, Gray. $39.99, Ikea.

[7] Tanner Bookcase. $479, Pottery Barn.

[8] Iron Circle 30" Wall Clock. $79.96, CB2.

[9] Gerrebo Picture, Gingersmere. $29.99, Ikea.


Monday, October 20

Travel: Dream It, Build It in Grand Rapids

Before we went to Legoland in California, we had a glimpse of some Lego masterpieces at Grand Rapids Public Museum. The exhibit was titled "Dream It, Build It", and it featured famous architectural buildings. These aren't the retail ones you see sold in Lego stores. It was built by Certified Lego Professional Adam Reed Tucker.

I know this is super late and the Dream It, Build It exhibit has already come and gone, but here are some of the photos we took.

Here's Burj Khalifa (located at Dubai, UAE and designed by Skidmore, Owens and Merrill) at the entrance. See? It's sooo tall that I can't even fit the whole building in the frame.



Gateway Arch (St. Louis, MO) designed by Eero Saarinen and Haanskarl Bandel



World Trade Center North Tower (New York, NY) designed by Minory Yamasaki with Emery Roth & Sons | Empire State Building (New York, NY) designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon



Marina City (Chicago, IL) designed by Bertrand Goldberg


Look at the gorgeous details.




Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright



Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco, CA) designed by William Perreira



They also had this area where kids can play with Lego bricks on the table and on the wall.



Another area was dedicated to little (and big) spies. You get a list of items and you have to look for them in this Lego town.




Someone was so tired, she had to sit down on the ledge.


Monday, October 13

The Next Big Food Entrepreneur


I love food-related events, and I try to always go find new stuff (food, that is) to taste and enjoy. So to you, my budding food entrepreneur readers, here is something that might interest you.

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HOW TO BECOME THE NEXT BIG FOOD ENTREPRENEUR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON


Aside from being the country’s premier night food market destination, Mercato Centrale has helped give birth to some of the country’s newest and most innovative food concepts.  Popular chains like Manang’s Chicken, Merry Moo Ice Cream, Mochiko, Brasas Latin American Street Food, Spring by Ha-Yuan, Kristina’s Premium Inutak, Baked by Anita, and many more started off as food stalls in Mercato Centrale before they became successful food businesses. 

But prior to their multi-million food ventures, many of these entrepreneurs started off as home-based food businesses or just passionate cooks and bakers who had a pioneering food concept, unique style of cooking, or a secret or heirloom recipe that they ‘incubated’ in the Mercato Centrale food market.

Building on its commitment to support food entrepreneurship, Mercato Centrale brings back its much-awaited “Next Big Food Entrepreneur Contest” along with www.ourawesomeplanet.com, Mastercard, Globe My Business and partners Entrepreneur Magazine, Yummy Magazine, Yummy Ph, Philippine Star, WhenInManila.com and Go Negosyo.

Now on its third year, The Next Big Food Entrepreneur contest is a culinary showdown that provides an opportunity for budding food entrepreneurs from all walks of life to turn their food business concepts into reality! The winner of the contest will get PHP 100,000 start up capital, a rent-free stall in Mercato Centrale for six months, and a feature in Entrepreneur Magazine, Yummy, The Philippine Star, WhenInManila.com, Globe My Business Digital and Our Awesome Planet.

The Next Big Food Entrepreneur is open to all aspiring food entrepreneurs, ages 18 years old and above, residing in the Philippines.  The contest is divided into three parts: a food taste test activity for all interested participants, a four-weekend open market selling event at Mercato Centrale, Bonifacio Global City for all participants who pass the taste test, and finally, the submission of a business plan.  The cut-off for all interested participants for the food taste test is October 31, 2014. 

For more information on how to join the contest, please visit Mercato Centrale on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/mercatocentrale,  or contact +639178401152 or +6329175857989.

Wednesday, September 17

QiWellness Living -- An Epitome of Relaxation


Pronounced as chi, qi in Mandarin means energy -- the life force in everything. Aptly named after this term, QiWellness Living in Tagaytay promotes a very sensorial experience and a place to relax and unwind from the urban jungle that is Manila.


QiWellness Living is discreetly tucked along the main road in Tagaytay, and even if we frequent Tagaytay, we weren't able to notice it when we went there a couple of Saturdays back to sample their 8-course Yin-Yang dinner menu. I was told that the place has an unobstructed view of Taal but we didn't get to see it because we arrived well after the sun has already set.


A couple of red doors with brass lion door knockers greeted us from the entrance. The same brass lion door knockers adorn a couple of other rooms inside but with a black door. The good people of QiWellness gave us a tour of the place. As with most places in Tagaytay on the side of the volcano, the entrance is located on the topmost floor. We also found the kitchen and a big dining table in the Ming-era style on the same level. As we went down, there is a really old-looking tree that was very nicely lit. I thought that it contributed to the ambiance of the place.



I was a bit surprised that as we entered, there was a loud sound of a gong. They sound it every time a guest arrives. It was alright during the first couple of times, but I felt that it became too much after a while. Haha. Nakakagulat lang everytime they sound it.



On the floor below, we saw the tea house complete with a tiled roof that reminded us of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Countless tea kettles adorn the back wall of the bar. Clear glass railings sits on the Taal viewing side. More seating for al fresco dining can be found here. On the other side of the floor, we were ushered to the Opium den, where you can get the Qiharmony or Qireflexology services. It was dark and red, but air conditioned. The area was divided by curtains. I guess the only thing missing was actual opium. Hahaha.


Further down are a couple of jacuzzis, which comprise most of the bath house. The yin yang pools reflect the opposing nature of yin and yang -- black and white, hot and cold. Oh, did I mention that while you're soaking in the pools, you see the view of Taal? Wow, right? I am so coming back here during the day. There's also a steam room nearby and a couple of private massage rooms on the side. These rooms may be converted into bedrooms for those who want to stay overnight.

After the tour, we got ready for dinner. Because it was evening and I only brought my phone with me, these photos don't do the food justice.


My favorite was the scallop dish.


I think it was reasonably priced and we loved the food they served. My husband and I are both fans of tasting menus and the summer dinner menu of QiWellness Living definitely didn't disappoint.


QiWellness Living
Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy. Maharlika East,
Tagaytay City, Philippines
+63 917 522 6969
www.qiwellness.ph


Thursday, September 4

Crafts/DIY: Chalkboard Paint Tutorial


I've been looking for chalkboard paint, and although I've found some, there are only a few colors available. Well, what do you know? You can customize your own chalkboard paint color by using just two materials:

* 1 cup of latex paint -- This can be any color of your choice so there's unlimited colors you can use.
* 1 to 2 tbsp of unsanded tile grout

All you have to do is mix them extremely well and there you go, you can now start painting using your own chalkboard paint.

Wouldn't it be cuter if these black backgrounds were another color, say pink?



Wednesday, August 27

Paper Flowers Workshop


My paper flowers workshop in Metro Manila is just around the corner. You can choose to attend either of the two dates -- September 13 or September 20. They're both Saturdays, at 1pm to 4pm. The first workshop will be held at Gourdo's in Bonifcatio Global City, Taguig. The second one will be at World Market down in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa. If you'd like to know more about it, send me an email at crafted_ph@yahoo.com or call Gourdo's 24-hour hotline at +632 812-3022.

I am super excited as this is my first collaboration with Gourdo's and my family knows how much I love that brand especially now that they have craft supplies in their stores.

I've been practicing and perfecting the art of getting color effects on my paper flowers, and yes, I will be teaching how to do those during the workshop and I will be giving a handful of these dyed and bleached paper sheets in the kits too. I tried using my dip-dyed and bleached paper sheets on peonies and camellias, and the result is kinda awesome. I am so in love with paper flowers that my workspace is covered in them.

I made some crepe paper peonies using three different types of technique: plain, dip dyed, bleached. I used plain luxe crepe paper for the cream-colored peony. For the pink peony on the right, I got some plain pink crepe paper that was bleached and then dip dyed. The white, dip dyed in pink, peony on the top left is probably the most "favorited"of the three in my other social media accounts.


For these tissue paper camellias (I think that's what they look like), I used plain tissue paper (purple) and bleached tissue paper.



Thursday, August 14

Crafts/DIY: Dinosaur / Lizard / Frankenstein Gift Wrap



This week's gift wrap theme is dinosaur-inspired. Well, it turned out like an iguana. Haha. At least they're in the same family of lizards. On second thought, it kinda looks like dino-Frankenstein. Oh well.

Resources after the jump...

Monday, August 11

Crafts/DIY: Orange Jasmine a.k.a. Kamuning Paper Flowers


I tried my hand on dyeing my own tissue paper for my paper flowers and this is the first time that I used a Philippine flower as inspiration. We have a lot of kamuning plants (or orange jasmine) on the front of our house. I love it when they're in bloom because they really smell good.


A few weeks back, I dyed some tissue paper to give them a little blush. I decided to use this to make my paper kamuning. I know, I know, kamuning flowers are white, but I wanted some pink in it too.

I tried it out on a few flowers first. They turned out cute so I kept going.


Here's a bunch of them.

Now, with leaves.


Small flowers like these are actually a bit more difficult to make than medium-sized ones because of their size, but seeing them all together just makes it worth it. 

Happy Monday!

Wednesday, August 6

Crafts/DIY: Bumblebee Gift Wrap for Toddlers




Here's another gift wrapping inspiration for you. I made this for Allie's classmate who I hope had a wonderful Bee-day last week. 

Resources after the jump...

Wednesday, July 30

Crafts/DIY: Wrap Gifts for Toddlers

There are about 30+ kids in my daughter's school. Although the teacher-to-student ratio is just 1:7, everyone in school is invited whenever kids have birthday parties. You can just imagine how many birthday parties my daughter goes to. The first birthday party gift is easy enough to wrap. I just took whatever wrapper was available in my house. 

Eventually, I had to be more creative in wrapping the gifts because I wanted them to be different each time. I'm on my third birthday this week, and I think I've finally figured out how I can make unique and cute wrappers by just investing in a few materials -- plain sheets of double-sided kraft paper.

Inspired by saksblogg's Instagram page, I created this cute owl gift wrap, and I loved how it turned out.


Resources:

1. Light blue/kraft two-sided paper: National bookstore
2. White bond paper, punched using EK 2" circle punch: Scratch paper from home
3. Black crepe paper for eyes, cut manually: National Bookstore
4. Gold crepe paper for beak, cut into a triangle: National bookstore
5. Scrapbook paper for head, fringe-cut: Gourdo's


I'll definitely be making more cute animal gift wraps. I hope this inspires you too. Have fun wrapping!

Saturday, July 26

Body: Style Origin 2014 from My Point of View

I've always admired ramp models and fashion bloggers. They just exude that special confidence. Models walk like it's nothing. Fashion bloggers post their own photos on their blogs. I am neither of the two. First, I don't have the height and the body to become a model. I'm 5'5" and I weigh ... uhm, let's not talk about specifics. Fine, I'm a size US 4 for tops and 6/8 for pants. Second, I haven't dwelled too much on the idea of becoming a fashion blogger, and it's really because I feel insecure about my body, especially after I've given birth to Allie. I know I shouldn't but I really do. Although I'm almost at my pre-pregancy weight, I don't think I'll ever have my pre-pregnancy body ever unless I have plastic surgery.

Mommies, you know what I am talking about -- stretch marks, preggy tummy fat, and oversized hips. Oh yeah, put that bigger boobs on that list, too. I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually prefer smaller ones. Don't tell me husband I said that. Haha.

I've tried quite a few workouts - I had a personal trainer at the gym once upon a time, then I tried anti-gravity yoga, then just plain yoga, and more recently, crossfit. Nothing kept me going. Going to the gym just makes me super hungry afterwards, and I actually gained weight from it. I had a bad experience with anti-gravity yoga -- never again in a million years. Ordinary yoga was kinda alright, and I'm willing to try it again. But crossfit and my body are still incompatible as of today. I will try it again soon when my body's stronger, but not yet. It's too strenuous for me. But I am about to embark another fitness regimen to make my body more fit and leaner. I'll talk about that next time.

A few weeks back in June, I got invited to guest at a fashion show for Style Origin that was held in Trinoma. I figured it was going to be fun, and I get to tackle my body insecurity head on. So I joined. Well, I was in for a big surprise. I didn't expect it to be big, BIG. But it was BIG. I walked the ramp with professional models, fashion bloggers and celebrities. Oh my gosh. It was even directed by Mr. Robbie Carmona himself.

First, I got to pick my own clothes from Ensembles, a local brand that I really like. We were asked to bring our own shoes, so that really helped my confidence. Then, I met with my fellow bloggers and practiced walking. Eek, I think I was the most inexperienced one. But I told myself, I can do this, I can do this, I can do this. 

I had my hair and make-up done by the Shiseido team. They transformed administrative offices to temporary hair and make-up studios. The place was insanely busy. So yeah, I felt really out of place, and my insecurity was just building up. My consolation that time was that my make-up artist told me I had really, really good skin. He even asked me what products I use.

Okay, so when the time came for us to go backstage, the professional models and celebrities were there with us.  The organizers were arranging the clothes to be worn by the models. It was crazy messy. It was like they were having a warehouse sale. Well, that, and there were tons of abs everywhere. Yes, those abs made me forget about the butterflies in my stomach for a moment.

I was the first blogger to walk, and I was still getting the jitters at the last second. Bloggers walked alone. I came after these beautiful, skinny models. Thank goodness, I was able to go through with it. Here's proof that I was there. Haha.


Yes, I know I probably was the one with the fattest body who walked. I felt like it too. I learned not to care what other people think by then, as long as I feel comfortable and beautiful like the Dove women that I see on commercials, I'll be fine. Just keeping it real folks. Besides, I think I was the only mommy blogger there, so kudos to me. Haha.

I'm glad I joined. I felt I could do anything. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

Monday, July 21

Crafts/DIY: Paper Flowers Workshop with Gourdo's

My workshops have been scarce and far between because of work and travel. But this coming September, there will a couple coming up. Both will be about paper flowers. This time, it will be held in the south of Metro Manila -- woohoo!

There will be new materials to use. I know you've been waiting for this folks. This is the first time we'll be using premium crepe paper so come and join us okay?

Here are some of the flowers we can make using the new materials.




Inspired yet?

Here are the deets.

* September 13 (Saturday) | 1-4pm | Gourdo's Fort
* September 20 (Saturday) | 1-4pm | World Market Alabang Town Center

For sign-ups and registration, please call Gourdo's 24-hour hotline at 812-3022.


Monday, July 14

Travel: Bellagio in Las Vegas



There is something about Bellagio that keeps me coming back. Come to think of it, it's probably the dancing Fountains of Bellagio. Morning or night, they never fail to keep me relaxed. If I get to choose a spot on the Strip to stay put for the day, it's in front of the Bellagio fountains.


Shows run every 30 minutes starting at 3pm to 7pm, every 15 minutes from 7pm-midnight during the weekdays. During the weekends, they start earlier at noon.

Aside from the famous movie-worthy view of Bellagio fountains, we also went inside. If you've been to Seattle's Space Needle and the garden beside it, you'll be familiar with the ceiling sculpture/chandelier called Fiori di Como (literally translated to Flowers of Como) at Bellagio's lobby. It's by world-renowned glass sculptor Dave Chihuly. The installation has about 2,000 glass blooms.


Another area in Bellagio that I always go to is the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Until September 7th this year, you get to enjoy the Summer Garden Party exhibit. We got to go when we went to Vegas last May. It's not that big of an exhibit but it is definitely magical. It was like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Fresh flowers were everywhere.


Huge sculptural display showered the area -- raindrops, tulips, daffodils, butterflies, ladybugs, and more.


There's this floral interpretation of Polly Thayer's "My Childhood Trees", too.


Take a closer look.


Check out the real painting at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston if you're in the area, or take a look at their website.

The exhibit at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is open to the public 24 hours a day. Enjoy your Vegas visit!

Tuesday, July 1

Getting It On with Shellac


I usually don't get manicures. I feel like my fingernails grow really fast that I only get to enjoy my painted nails for a few days, because then, they will either chip or the bottom part will show because of nail growth.

My sister-in-law invited us to get our nails done at her favorite nail salon in Grand Rapids. There were four of us -- me, my niece, my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law. We all got the Shellac because of the raves we've heard.


I fancied the color City Scape. It's similar to the color of concrete. I am so into khakis and greys right now that I instinctively got that one. While soaking our feet, we were seated down the most amazing massage chairs/recliners ever. It felt like I was back in Bangkok where manang masseuse was pushing my muscles to their limits using her elbows and hands. The chair even has a remote control so you can adjust the pressure and location.

Oh em gee. I didn't want to get off that chair! I think I pouted when my nail technician asked me to go with her so she can apply shellac to my nails. Haha.


Applying shellac takes twice as long as applying ordinary nail polish. But the results are awesome. After each coat of shellac, your painted nails are exposed to UV light for about a couple of minutes, and it's instantly dry. It's so smooth that it seemed fake to me. Fake in a perfect kind of way. Haha.

Needless to say, the cost was a bit too much -- probably about $70 for both hands and feet. But everything will be expensive if you're used to $5 mani-pedis back in the Philippines.

My shellac manicure lasted about 2 weeks. Kinda gross in the end because of my mutant nail growth. But there wasn't a paint chip in sight. The shellac was still solid as it can be. I tried scraping them off with my nails, which is a major blunder in the world of gel polish. I failed miserably. In the end, I took them off the traditional way. I soaked them with acetone-filled cotton ball and wrapped each finger with aluminum foil to keep them in place, like this photo below.


Will I try it again? Not on my fingers. Maybe my toes again though.