Happy Lunar Year of the Metal Ox!

 

Serving you some reds and style for the year of the Metal Ox!

I am full blooded Chinese (Both parents are Chinese) and to be exact, both sides are Cantonese so yes - full blooded Cantonese but born and raised in the Philippines so I am accustomed to both cultures and traditions.

Up until this very day, we follow Chinese traditions and celebrations and the Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebration!

We may have some changes and not be as strict as my grandparents’ times - I won’t be able to wear that black belt with my Lolo and Lola around!  

Born on the Year of the Goat, we were told the year of the Metal Ox is not compatible people born on the Year of the Goat, but I am quite positive these are just guides and I am in charge of my own happiness, success, failures.  

How 2021 will look like?

We all can’t tell, no one can!  But I pray for your constant peace, happiness, good health and fortune!

Happy Lunar New Year AMW Friends!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

 

Hairstyle Tip: Half Up Half Down Classy ‘Do

Hairstyling, aside from makeup and skincare has always been my insterest for so many years!  

I purchased hairstyling tools first before I started on Cosmetics!  I saved my allowance on hair serums, hair sprays, mousse for as long as I remember.  So it is obvious that I am including hairstyles on my blog because I started doing so on my Instagram - I’d like to share it here for those who aren’t really into Instagram!  

I felt cute - will note delete !  LOL

This is my longest hair length to date - all thanks (and no thanks) to COVID-19!  I have been so scared to go out to malls where I usually have my haircut.  I’ve cut my own hair once and have been doing so for my husband and son on a 3rd weekly basis so I am so tired and lazy to cut my own hair again!

But if you are interested, my haircutting tutorial is HERE.  It is simple and easy and my sister swore on this!  She has been cutting her hair on her own since the Pandemic around 4-5 times already!

 

YES - Thanks to ME :P. 

NARS Claudette Audacious Lipsticks Review

“Drawn from nostalgi and the spirit of the 1970s Paris Rive Gauche, each pattern and boldly wearable shade paints an intimate portrait of unapologetic style.”

This statement fits NARS The Claudette Collection.  This is a limited collection inspired by Claudette - inimitable Mother and Muse to Fracois Nars.

Cardboard packaging looks to same at a glance but once you go to the lipstick bullet itself, you’ll know the difference - Audacious Sheer Matte in Red magnetic packaging while Audacious Matte  in Black.  Simple design with stars and hearts but they scream classy!  

NARS Audacious Sheer Matte Lipstick

Shade: Berenice

This is a red-orange lipstick with warm undertone.  Coverage is buildable and can be applied sheer to powdery matte.

I can apply only a layer or 2 to create blurred lips effect!  The color looks strong but can be natural-looking if applied sparingly!  

Maybelline FIT ME Foundation Swatches and Thoughts

 

If you ask me what my favorite Maybelline Foundation is, the anwer is quite easy, it’s the Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation!  But whenever I ask my Beauty Blogger peers, they always go for Fit Me!  Why?  Because most of them have oily skin and they love the Oil-Control.  

I, on the other hand, have normal and a bit of dry complexion (on bad days!)  though the Fit Me Foundation surprisingly works for me, I would still go for SuperStay for the wonderful coverage and more dewy finish!  

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

Php399.00

Fit Me® Matte + Poreless Foundation face makeup. This lightweight foundation mattifies and refines pores and leaves a natural, seamless finish.

When it comes to shade choices, kudos to local Maybelline for having a good variety of shades that would fit most Filipinas!  I separated the shades to Light, Medium and Dark.

112, 120 and 125 for Light 

128, 220 and 222 for Medium

228, 230 and 310 for Dark

As for any foundation, since these are liquid, it is easy to mix 2 shades to create a perfect shade for you.  If you can find a single shade that works well on you - lucky you!

AMW Cooks: Japchae

 

So you all know by now I am not a professional cook or chef!  I just love the idea of cooking healthy adn delicious food for the family and I try to make many types of variations and different types of dishes because I want them to really like eating homecooked meals rather than order out!  

I was recently craving for Japchae and I found my cupboard to have glass noodles (I usually have these types of noodles for soups!)  For some reason my ingredients for Japchae are almost complete - I finally bought fresh spinach and I have mushrooms so I made it a go!

Who would’ve thought I made this dish 2x a week as it won the hearts not only of my husband but also my in-laws?

Here’s how I cook my JapChae.

Ingredients:

• Korean sweet potato starch noodles
• Pork/Chicken/Beef (I cooked chicken on the side as main dish)
• 1 carrot
• Baby Spinach 
• Bell Peppers
• Shiitake Mushrooms
• Sesame Oil
• Sesame Seeds
• Soy Sauce
• Mirin
• Black Pepper
• 1tsp sugar
• 1 large egg to top the dish at the end before serving

Steps:

1. Cook the meat separately by marinating it with soy sauce and other spices.  Pan fry them on low to medium fire.

2. Boil glass noodles and set aside to cool.

3. Cook each vegetable separately by stir frying them.  As for spinach, blanch them on boiling water and cool with running water.

4. Add the Soy Sauce, Mirin, and the rest of the ingredients on a large pot and pour the noodles .

5. Season with sesame oil and sesame seeds. 

6. Fry egg separately and transfer on top of Japchae noodles after and serve!

That easy!  And you get yummy noodles for the whole family!  Filling, delicious and healthy!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!