Weekend Food Tripping at: Emerald Garden

Happy Sunday!!! It's another weekend food tripping, I am glad a lot of you likes my food tripping posts! I can't believe people enjoy salivating on food pictures just like ME and my hubby! :)

Are you ready for Chinese food galore? Well today is the day! If you're hungry, do not blame me if you continue to scroll down! lol

We had a mini reunion because my Uncle will be going back to Canada soon and my brother also will be leaving for Shanghai again! It was my dad's birthday too so it's triple the celebration. Those who read my twitter knows what me and my family has been going through so a mini celebration is great to lighten up the mood! I want to thank those sweet messages too! I appreciate everyone's concern! Love ya all!

We've decided to dine in an authentic Chinese restaurant. Emerald Garden --- I love Emerald Garden that's why I celebrated my engagement party 2 years ago (July 7, 2007) on this exact restaurant! I believe it was the exact function room too! :)

We had a Lauriat Party for 2 tables :)

Hot & Cold Cuts Dish

Birthday Noodles



Corn Soup Crabmeat



Yang Chow Fried Rice (again lol)



Slice Beef with Gourd (Ampalaya)



Fried Shanghai Pork Springroll



Fried Fish Fillet with Separate
Sweet and Sour Sauce



Quick Fried Chicken with Kropeck



Mixed Seafood with Tausi Sauce
(this came in super late and everyone's already full! lol)



Plain Almond Jelly
My favorite!

Table for 12 for all those dishes costs around Php5,500 (approx $115.00) drinks NOT included. Come to think of it, you can feed 12 people and make them happy and full for that amount? Worth it! :)

You want to eat good quality Chinese dish? You can dine in here and order A La Carte! Trust me, its worth it :) Love this restaurant, never fails to satisfy our tummy!

Emerald Garden
1170 Roxas Blvd., Ermita
Manila
tel no: 632-523-8510, 632-523-8515

What's your weekend food tripping?
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

I Wonder: "What's Your Favorite Neutral Eyeshadow?"

On days I want a simple wash of color, on days I don't feel putting up too much makeup, on days that I have makeup gigs, I make sure to have a "safe", "matte", "brownish" eyeshadow along with me. Aside from giving me an "Au Natural" look, it's safe to use on gigs because it photographs well and it works on anybody of all ages!

I've found myself reaching out for Stila Eyeshadow in Champara several times on different occasions.

Stila Eyeshadow in Champara is a Mineral Matte Eyeshadow that gives out a light brownish wash of color with a very smooth texture. It's made to "deepen" the crease area and the shade is definitely build-able! I love using this for clients who wants the "No Make Up" look and this shade works well for the more mature clients too! This is my favorite for the moment!

Now I Wonder:

"What's Your Favorite Neutral Eyeshadow that you think would work on anybody?"

Spill the beans!
Love to hear from you!


P.S. Thanks to Dollface Cosmetics for featuring me as the
"Featured Make-up Artist"
Smile and click here to read the article!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Version: "Fantasy Lashes" Look

Happy Friday everyone! I haven't been doing much FOTD lately as I've been super busy. Thanks to my dear friend Toma, I got inspired to do a look as she sent me Revlon's Fantasy lashes and I got inspired to create a sparkly Fantasy Lashes look.

Here's my final look

AMW Diagram

Step 1:

I did not apply any base as I don't have oily lids and I want to show how pigmented these Urban Decay eyeshadows are. I use my MAC's 217 brush to gently brush on Urban Decay Book of shadow's Last Call on the outer crease area blending inwards.

Step 2:

Using any flat shader brush, pat on Urban Decay Book of Shadows' e/s in Grifter to the inner lid area. Adding as desired. Do not worry about fallouts as it gives out a sparkle to the whole look.

Step 3:

Deepen the outer v by applying Milani's Storm eyeshadow, blend the colors well.

Step 4:

Line the upper and waterline with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye pencil in Zero.

Step 5:

Line the lower lashline with Maybelline's Eyestudio Vivid and Smooth Liner in Dark Purple.

Step 6:

Line the inner waterline and inner lower lashline with Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Yeyo to create brightness.

Step 7:

Apply Revlon's Fantasy Lengths lashes in Intensifying. I did not use any lash glue.

Fill in the brows with your desired brow pencil or powder I applied Maybelline's Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara



For the face:
Primed my face with SkinPrep FX (thanks Gracie)
P&J Moisturizing Compact in no. 30 Set with The Body Shop's Mineral Foundation no. 02



For the cheeks:
L'oreal True Match Blush in Apricot Kiss



For the Lips:
L'oreal Colour Juice stick in 460 Island Punch



Now my eyes look huge! Too huge! lol



Hair products used:

L'oreal Tec Perfect Shimmer
for my straight hair to look shiny! :)

Where are you going tonight? Any exciting plans? I'm off for a family reunion! My uncle will be going back to Canada soon so he wants us all to have a nice quiet dinner :)

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!
Happy weekend!

Thank you....thank you... Angels

**video taken from Go Shorty,
thank you for making such wonderful video
that touches our hearts

Dear Friends:

Let me tell you a story. A non-beauty related one.

Everyone probably knew about the Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) that hit our country hard last September 26th. I took action by helping out our dear friends who weren't as lucky as I am, people who lost their homes or worst, even loved ones. My help was small --- old clothes, water, food ...

When I told this story to my dear friend online (a friend whom I met because of blogging), and shared some a video via twitter on what really happened on that fateful day... it was just my way of sharing what's happening on our side of the world and it's just a way for me to relieve the stress that's going on in my life too....

The dear angel said: "We will help, I'll get back to you next week".

I forgot about it... went on with my usual stressful day...
When I opened my mail, I got a message saying:

"Please check your paypal account"

Seriously, I've got the help from people whom I haven't met personally, but only through blogging. Now, who says beauty blogging is superficial? I am seriously touched... and with the generous amount...it says....

"Hope it comes useful to help your community"

I am seriously in tears. These are the group of people who took the effort to come together, to collect donations just to help other people, yes, not even their own countrymen...they are seriously angels...

On behalf of the victims from the Typhoon, I want to say THANK YOU so much from the bottom of our hearts, for the food, the water, the blankets that I can purchase with the amount received.

To the Group of Angels, I know all of you would like to keep this confidential and I respect the request, but I've said it before and I'll say it again...THANK YOU for answering the prayers of my countrymen. I will be purchasing more necessities for the victims. I assure you, the amount I received will be going to the rightful places! I will keep you girls informed!

GOD BLESS your kind hearts!
You girls know who you are!
*hugs*

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!
Stay positive!

Askmewhats Reviews: Paul & Joe Protective Foundation Primer UV

I had this P&J Protective Foundation Primer UV for the longest time, I just didn't have the chance to review this as true to what Gracie, my dear friend said, I am a primer lover, so I have loads of primers to try daily! It is quite difficult to stick to one! lol But I guess after several usage, now is the right time.

I've always been a P&J brand lover as it really works for my type of skin, sensitive, dry and just plain weird! lol Do you think I'll rave about this product as much as I've raved the Protective Dual Powder foundation? Read on!

Paul & Joe Protective Foundation Primer UV says ---

Paul & Joe Protective Foundation Primer UV gives a cool, sensuous finish and enhances the natural beauty of your skin tone without any chalky or cakey texture. Holds tightly to the skin and is super long-lasting. A makeup base that shields against the damaging UV rays of spring and summer.

size: 26.9ml

made in : Japan

Benefits are:

• No cakey texture. Gives cool, sensuous skin.
• Applies smoothly and is super long-lasting.
• Protects the skin from UV rays.
• Supple makeup layer lasts all day.
  

Ingredients

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 3.0%, Titanium Dioxide 5.9%, Zinc Oxide 8.1%
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cyclomethicone, Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isothidecyl Isononanoate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Water, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Bht. Butylene Glycol, Cellulose, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Peg/Ppg-19/19 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Polysorbate 80, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Stearic Acid, Methylparaben, Fragrance (Parfum), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica, Ultramarines (Ci 77007)

AMW says ---

Pros

• has SPF and it's just not regular SPF, it's SPF 40 baby!
• non-drying
• For scent lovers: this has a hint of flowery scent
  
• thicker in consistency as compared to the previous primers P&J came out with
  
• skin felt moisturized all day
• cute simple packaging, easily to take along

• gives out a nice dewy glow
• for dry skin: I can use cream or powder foundation without the flakiness
• no heavy feel
• no silicon feel, felt just like regular sunscreen
  

Cons

• not the bad-ass oil controlling primer as you've expected
• for super oily skin: you may need to retouch
• I am not a fan of flowery smell for primers, so it's a no no for me, I'd rather have the citrus-y scent that P&J skincare has
  
• if you're into matte looking skin, this is not the one, this primer gives out a bit of glow
• does not fill in lines like other primers
  

Overall

This makes our makeup routine quicker. This acts both my Primer and Sun Screen. I love that I don't need to pile on products to get the result of 2! Again, I am just not a fan of fragrance/scents for my primers, I'd rather have them just a tiny bit, as the scent stays til half a day! or maybe it's just my nose?

Overall, this works well for dry-skinned, mature skin. I love that this primer is non silicon base and it makes my foundation application easier. I have tried this primer to my "oily" friends and so far, it still works good but not as great as the Smashbox Photo Finish Light.


Tips

• I prefer to use clean fingertip to apply all over the face
• making sure the product absorbs to the skin before you go to foundation application
• if you will be taking a lot of photos, try not to use this as this contains high SPF which makes your skin glowy on photos (or oily to some)
• a little definitely goes a long way, try using a small pea size first and increase as needed.
• do checkout sales every now and then
  

Will I repurchase?

Yes, if they're on sale :)

Where to purchase and how much?

At P&J Rustan's, Makati for Php1,650 (approx $34.00)

A close up on the cute box

Size comparison with
Smashbox Photo Finish Light



Light Beigey Pink shade
L- no flash R- With flash




See the shine it gives on photo?



But this can be fixed with a pat of powder
I've used P&J Dual Powder Foundation

This isn't as expensive as compared to other primers available in the market as this is a 2-in-1 product. And 1 tube will last me months as I don't need to use too much. I know a lot of my dear friends have tried this and loved this. Share me your thoughts! :)

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!