Midweek Food Trip at: La Vita

I love a good pasta and a good pizza. 

And when I travel 2 hours one way to a restaurant, I pray to the food Gods it must be worth it!

Thankfully, La Vita restaurant located at Podium Mall did not fail!  

I was lucky enough to be invited for a small gathering with fellow Blogging friends.  Our schedules were all different but I am glad we made it to this gathering and we are even more fortunate enough to meet Chef Maurizio Gibillini - Chef of La Vita Restaurant.  This man is a character, full of stories to tell and ingredients to share!  I love how he was able to establish authentic and modern Italian cuisine on every single plate that was served that night.

We were told by Chef Bibillini that all the main ingredients such as tomatoes, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and pasta are imported from Italy while other food components such as vegetables, fish and clams are sourced locally to guarantee freshness.

Birthday Food Trip at: Nono's Comfort Food, Podium

I told you so many times that February is my favorite month because ---
1. Cool weather
2. Valentine's Day
3. Chinese New Year - most of the time, my brother would come home for family reunion.
4. My Birthday!

Well, the last part, I'm not that excited anymore, who's excited growing older? 

But, what excites me is the fact that I get to celebrate so many times!  With friends, with both families (mine and Mr. AMW) and just US (the AMW Fam!)

My language of love will always be bonding over food (that explains why I'm not losing weight!)  And February definitely is a month of CELEBRATION!  (Can we play that song over here?)

Why Collagen in Skincare?

Whether you are aging or not, it is very important to jumpstart your skincare routine so you don't have to worry about droopy or sagging skin, too oily skin, dark spots, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles!  

Sometimes, these skin concerns may appear as early as early 20s or mid-20s if you don't take care of your skin.  One important ingredient that is a building block of the skin's structure is COLLAGEN.

Let's talk about Collagen.

Collagen is naturally produced by our bodies. Unfortunately, as we age, coupled by stress and lifestyle choices, collagen production slows down or weakens.  Nourishing the skin with collagen can help address various skin concerns. 

Because Watsons, is aiming to be a one-stop shop for all health and beauty related products, they brought in their own brand of a simple and effective skincare solution under the Collagen by Watsons line.

This skincare concept is originally developed in Korea and has been dermatologically tested and proven to help boost the skin's natural collagen levels.  All products are designed with Tri-Collagen Complex, a unique formulation of three collagen moleculres working together, penetrating down to deeper layers of the skin as it purifies, regenerates the skin cells and improves elasticity.

Best of all?  If the products are available in Watsons, you'll know that the retail brand strives to make their product affordable.  Stress-free on the outside, also on the inside!

How to Kiss Aging Goodbye?

One of my ultimate anti-aging secret is to stay happy!  I kow it's easier said than done!  I've had my fair share of problems and challenges, but as I always share to my friends: "Live each day like there's no tomorrow."  That really works.

BUT, as much as staying happy is the key to looking youthful, I can't control mother nature!  It is normal for every human being to "age" due to stress and bad habits!  Unfortunately, laughing too much can also add up to aging!  *sniff* Okay, that's complicated, stay happy but NOT TOO HAPPY!

But instead of controlling my inner happiness, I'd rather do something on the exterior!  How?  By using anti-aging products!  I may have started out late (around 28 or 29?).  But for YOU my dear young readers, it's never too early to start taking care of your skin, body and HAIR (yes!  Hair!) 

 

Thankfully, Watsons (my favorite one-stop beauty store) came up with a campaign that will remind each one of us to start taking care of ourselves as early as 20s with their latest anti-aging campaign --- KISS AGING GOODBYE!

Hairshaft Balayage and Brazilian Blowout Review

If you follow me on Instagram (@AskMeWhats), you've probably seen this photo of me smiling THIS BIG while caressing my tresses!  hahaha Silly me, but that's how I feel whenever I touch my hair --- giddy AND silly!  I am so in love with my refreshed Balayage Ash Tone Brown Color which is a Signature Tone that I've done for the second time around at Hairshaft Podium under the magical hands of Fred Penales.

If you follow my "hair color" journey, you know that I've done a lot of hair coloring for the past years!  I've done "boxed treatment" (Hello Revlon and L'Oreal!), I've done random salon visits and recently, it was with HairShaft Salon that I got the MOST COMPLIMENTS!

Whenever I post photos of me reviewing a product or me endorsing ANOTHER product, readers tend to comment about my hair and ask what the color it is!  So today, is the day, I'm formally spilling the beans!  (May formal pa talaga!)  

I have to thank my dear friend Angela for introducing me to HairShaft Salon!  Given my busy schedule, I wouldn't go ALL the way to Podium to have my hair done if not because of the constant "Hair Date" invite from Lush Angel I had to give in!  (hehehe, napilitan pa talaga ako no?)  But seriously, I have to thank her for introducing me to the master of hair color Fred because I really love the result!  It was actually a planned hair-date with both Angela and Alyssa but we weren't able to take photos together!

Now let's talk about Hairshaft Salon, they have a branch at Podium, Fort and recently, I spotted a soon-to-be-opend HairShaft Salon on my turf!  Robinsons Place Ermita!  I haven't visited the other branches because I want to make sure Mr. Fred is there whenever I visit the Podium Branch.  Thankfully, he was there giving all smiles to ALL the customers no matter how jampacked the salon was when I visited last week!  

Weekend Food Trip at: Shitamachi Japanese Chashu House

Happy Heart's Day!
Today marks the most romantic day of the year, as for me, (cheesy-ness aside), everyday is Valentine's Day because both Mr. AMW and I are sweet individuals!  :P  So we aren't planning anything special but to probably stay home and just enjoy quality time with Kyle Nash!

Now, if you're off to have a date with your loved ones, one of the most uncrowded mall in the Metro is Podium!  And if ever you chanced by that mall, do visit the restaurant Shitamachi: Japanese Chashu House.  It is located at the top most floor of the mall next to the cinemas! 

To tell you how much I loved our experience dining here (note: Experience because of good service, location and presence of high chair!)  I brought my family back when we stayed overnight at Discovery Suites Ortigas over the weekend.

Set C 

Miso Ramen, Karaage, Gohan with Dessert

Php449.00

If you are new at the restaurant.  I highly recommend trying out their set dishes because you can try 2 dishes at once with dessert!  We opted for Miso Ramen because I'm a fan of miso-based soup and it doesn't hurt that my son loves Karaage.  The Miso Ramen is just okay, nothing spectacular, as for the Karaage, I'm glad it tasted really good!

HairShaft Podium Balayage Experience #Fredified

When Angela visited me during my salon treatment more than a year ago, I knew back then that she will be my perfect "hair salon date"!  No amount of blow-drying and hairwashing can stop us from sharing stories!  

And as you all know, I had my last Hair Coloring Treatment done at Vivere Salon last April, it has been more than half a year so my hair badly needs some TLC.  And that day finally arrived!

All thanks to my dear hair-salon friend Angela for working around my schedule to have our hair #Fredified !  I've seen how her hair transformed (all #Fredified) and they all look amazing!  So I mentioned to her I definitely wanted to tag along with her on her next salon trip!

I love my ash brown color which I have been sporting for more than a year!  But I seriously needed a change and I'm definitely comfortable to have it done at HairShaft salon!  If you search for the hashtag #Fredified on Instagram, you'll definitely see amazing hair transformation so I'm really excited to leave my hair to the hands of the hair master Mr. Fred Penales.