Sunday, December 23, 2012

Weekend Food Trip at: Kenji Tei Ramen House

It is Sunday and a couple of days left before Christmas!  Let's talk about food!  

Last weekend, I went to Benefit's First Birthday Party and before I left Greenbelt 5 for  my doctor's check, we've decided to fill our tummy with warm, feel-good food before we brave the traffic.  We originally wanted to visit Bulgogi Brothers but we want something filling but not too heavy!  Off we went to Kenji Tei.. a Ramen House.

What I usually do, is to check in Foursquare and read various tips from people who have given this restaurant a try!  Do you do that too? :)


Miso Butter Corn Ramen
Large: Php348.00 (approx $8.70)
Chasu Miso ramen with butter and corn
 

Since I'm over with my morning sickness which started happened just 2 weeks ago, I am into sweet corn and the "butter corn" ramen + my liking for miso soup is a great combination that made me decided to go for this ramen dish out of all the choices they have!

So far, the dish didn't fail, I would prefer to have the butter on the side int he future but the noodles are very fresh and tasty, there were around 4 pieces of thinly sliced Chasu (braised pork).  You can pick a regular sized or large sized dish but we went for the latter as Mr. AMW and I like to share our food!  I would prefer it if there would be more noodles! 

The miso soup tastes good but for the first time, I can't finish up a bowl of soup because of the oily feel of butter!  Again, note to self, butter on the side in the future!
 

Crispy Chicken Teriyaki
Php228.00 (approx $5.70)
Grilled Crispy Chicken Teriyaki Glazed in Teriyaki Sauce 
Reading some of the tips from Foursquare, one dish caught my attention as a lot of past customers recommended this dish --- The Crispy Chicken Teriyaki!  When the dish arrived, I was in high hopes expecting some "zen" moment but it didn't happen!  Personally speaking, I will enjoy it much better if I can taste a bit of the chicken but that didn't happen as the chicken was sliced too thinly.


 Yaki Gyoza
6pcs for Php188.00 (approx $4.70)
Grilled pot stickers 
My favorite Gyoza to date (spoken by someone who's not really into Gyoza) is the one we had from Kokoro Ramenya.  This probably comes in second.  I like it that I get pork and vegetable on each bite.  Very tasty and smells really good.





Of course, there's always going to be a Coca Cola for Mr. AMW and I usually go for water but for today, I wanted Iced Tea and I'm happy with it!


Overall, the experience was good.  We will return to try other Ramen or rice dishes.  Service was really good and the ambiance is very comfortable I can probably eat on my own!

Kenji Tei Ramen House 
3/F Greenbelt 5, Legazpi St Legazpi Village, Makati 
Tel. no: (632) 754-3098



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Saturday, December 22, 2012

AMW Makeovers: Last Wedding for the Year 2012!

Happy Saturday AMW Friends!  Today, I will be sharing my final Bridal gig for the year 2012!  I am very thankful as I have prettified so many men and women this year and I'm looking forward for more!

Thankfully, I am feeling so much better on my last Bridal Gig and I was able to enjoy and savor the prettifying session with our gorgeous family featured in this post!


The Bride
Skin type: Normal
Request: Smoky eye makeup
Seldom do I get "smoky eye makeup" request from brides so it was a bit of a shocker for me coming from a Bride who's not used to having her makeup done!  It was a request I can't deny as I can immediately imagine a daytime smoky eye makeup look that would work well for her features, skin tone, dress and hair!

Let's start with her skin, the Bride has lovely skin to start with, not oily, not dry.  So I picked Laura Mercier Foundation Base and applied it all over her face and neck for a smoother foundation application.  I want her special day to be her "most radiant" day, I took my time applying layers and layers of medium coverage liquid foundation using the same foundation to cover the darkness under her eyes.


As for her requested Smoky Eye Makeup, I picked a medium gold eyeshadow color and applied it all over the crease blending and applying more.  I layered the eyeshadow with medium brown eyeshadow in matte and finished the rest off by applying glittery black eyeshadow near the lash line for a perfect "gradient" effect.

Gel liner was applied very close to her lash line and strongly recommended her full falsies for an extra drama!


I contoured her face and applied a matte peachy-pink blush finishing up with a similar shade of lipstick.


I love how the Bride is in a festive mood!  She was smiling and laughing the whole time which made her even more beautiful! :D


The Groom
Skin type: Combination (Oily on the T-zone)
Request: None
The very sweet groom was there all the time to help out with the wedding preps!  Most grooms are just in their rooms waiting for photo-ops while this groom was very hands on!  I even had to ask him to relax and savor his special day!

When asked about his skin condition, he groom complained to me his oily T-zone so I applied an oil-control primer generously on the said area and applied a shade darker powder foundation all over his face applying a bit more on under eye area for more coverage!  I did a lot of contouring for a nice dimension both on and off camera!

A brow gel was used to maintain the shape of his brows and a very natural colored lip balm was used for that wonderful "You May Now Kiss the Bride" moment!  (The lip balm tastes great by the way!)


MOG (Mother of Groom)
Skin Type: Dry
Request: Natural-looking
MOG is very young at heart!  I enjoyed prettifying her as I get to hear her share her stories! I took time preparing her face by applying good amount of moisturizer all over her skin waiting for the product  to set in before I proceeded with foundation application.

I gently drew her brows and redefined it before I apply liquid foundation.  As soon as the moisturizer was set, I tested on various foundation shades and was able to prepare her most matched shade by mixing 2 colors!

A matte colored eyeshadow shade was used mixed with shimmer-gold shade applied carefully at the center of her lids giving her the feel of her makeup. 

Matte peach blush was used and a brownish orange colored lipstick was used.


MOB (Mother of Bride)
Skin Type: Normal
Request: None

Looking at MOB's facial features, I've decided to focus on giving her eyes a lift and cover some of the pigmentation around her cheeks.  

After moisturizing her skin with an oil-free moisturizer, I applied 2 layers of cream foundation and used concealer for some dark spots.

MOB's tattooed eyebrows were fading a bit turning into a grayish shade.  Armed with my K-Palette 1-Day Tattoo Lasting 2 Way Eyebrow in dark brown, I gently filled her brows with a gray-colored eyebrow powder as well to make her brows look more natural than ever!

As for her eye makeup, I focused on creating a "lifting effect" so I applied darker shadow shades on the outer-V and used light reflecting shadows on the inner corners of her eyes to the center for brighter-looking eyes!

Red lips would make her look gorgeous and I'm glad she agreed! 



If  I were to do your makeup for a special occasion, what would your request be?
I'd love to hear from you!

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Friday, December 21, 2012

AMW Reviews: Guedez Industria Bag

I am very picky with the bags I use!  No, it doesn't have to be branded but it has to be made with good quality!  I can easily say "NO" to a branded bag 70% off if the materials used aren't worth the price or the way it was stitched was messed up.

Last but not the least, it has to fit everything that I need to bring, friends who knew me personally know I take with me loads of stuff!

After harassing my Longchamp Planetes bag for years, I finally put it to rest and used my newest baby for a Christmas Shopping Trip!

Guedez Industria Bag in Desert
**photo taken from Guedez website

I originally like the color Firetruck (Bright red) but decided to pick Desert (light mustard yellow) shade as the color would work well on most outfit and I can easily take this with me on formal and casual affairs!  I made the right decision as the bag goes well with my skintone too! 



Guedez Industria ---
A structured box bag with adjustable handles and a matching removable long strap.  Includes open pockets and an interior zipper with a featured flap closure.  Can fit a small water bottle and a foldable umbrella, a tablet or your netbook, various reading materials and your coveted diary.  Or you could just have a few things and your Chihuahua.  Fully-lined, medium-weight.

Comes with a dustbag.



Dimensions: 12x10.5x5 inches

Colors available:





AMW says ---
Pros
  • Nice color choices.
  • Made with good quality leather.
  • Can be used as an arm bag, shoulder bag or body bag!
  • Can store a lot of stuff! 
  • Both hand and shoulder straps are adjustable. 
  • Made locally! :D
Cons
  • Online shopping!  Not all bag-shoppers are comfortable with this idea.
  • Some may find the size still too big for their taste.  (True for those who are into small bags)
Overall
Sturdy, works for all occasions, trendy and definitely worth the price!

Tips
  • For people who likes to use this for travel, go for Industria Gran.
  • Wipe your bag with clean damp cloth to remove dust and dirt after every use.
  • Fill your bag with bubble wrap to keep the shape of the bag during storage.
  • Put your bag inside dust bag after every use.
  • Do not hang your bag as it may stretch the handles.
  • If you plan to store your bags inside a cabinet, make sure the area is not moist or under direct sunlight.
Will I repurchase?
Yes and I'm waiting for more designs from the brand!

To whom do I recommend this to?
Women on the go who wants to store their stuff inside a sturdy bag .

Where to purchase and how much?
Visit  www.shopguedez.com to order.  The Industria Bag costs Php 2,690.00 (approx $67.25).Follow them on Twitter: twitter.com/shopguedez 

Photos

Guedez Industria Bag with shoulder strap

Guedez Industria Bag as hand bag

Very spacious inside and I love the extra pockets!

Since there are times I don't want to carry a "super structured" bag, I can easily tuck both flaps inside and create a more casual shape!

The Guedez Industria Bag can fit my iPad and netbook!
I can seriously fit CharChar (my Pomeranian dog) inside!  

Here's how I would normally carry my stuff using my new found favorite bag!
Inside: iPad, Black bag organizer (large size), wallet, mobile phone, makeup pouch and a short umbrella at the bottom part of this bag as I dislike seeing umbrellas inside my bag but I can't go out without it!  *laughs*


Since it was just a short, Christmas shopping day for me, I've decided to use this as a body bag and I can easily maneuver the bag on the side or front of me which made me feel more secure of my belongings.


What's your newest bag to date?
So far, the Guedez Industria Bag is the newest in my small bag collection!  This is also a perfect Christmas/New Years gift to our loved ones who are into leather bags!

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

AMW Bulletin: The Supreme 4 for SM Accessories

I bet by this time, you're already aware of SM Accessories' Supreme 4!  I see them even on public buses!


Anne Curtis
 

Georgina Wilson


Richard Gutierrez

and
Xian Lim

I have always been a fan of SM Accessories and have bought several for myself and as gifts to my friends and loved ones!  I like how affordable they are as compared to other accessories brand!  I am actually posting this today as I'm heading to SM mall tonight to shop for last minute Christmas Gifts!
 
SM Accessories offers necklace, bracelet, earrings, cap, bags, belt, watch, wallet and others. 
Visit SM Accessories section in all SM Department stores nationwide.

Do you own any SM accessories?

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AMW Reviews: Fairydrops Creamy Treatment Base Mascara

For someone who has non-existent lashes, using falsies is the best way for more defined eyes but I prefer not to use this  method on a daily basis as I love my existing lashes, I want to enhance what I have and of course, protect them while I can!

One of my recent favorite mascara brand Fairydrops came up with a Creamy Treatment Base.  Hailed as a lash base that protects your lashes from mascara application with extra "fibers" that could increase volume/length, who can say NO to that?


Fairydrops Creamy Treatment Base Mascara comes with unique 3 teardrop mascara wand patented in Japan and USA.  This patented wand makes my mascara application fun!  (Check review on Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara Waterproof and Fairydrops Platinum Mascara Film Type Water Resistant)


Fairydrops says ---
Pearl gray color won’t look too obvious (compared to white colored mascara base) if some lashes are missed during mascara application

Can also be used as a base for waterproof mascara. If applied before the waterproof mascara, one can easily remove the waterproof mascara with lukewarm water.
Has a light Sexy Vanilla scent.

Ingredients:



AMW says ---
Pros
  • Super cute packaging!  I love that the Creamy Treatment Base Mascara comes in white tube making it easier for me to spot inside my makeup case.
  • The fiber shade is gray so even with uneven mascara application, it won't be obvious you have a base underneath like most white colored mascara base.
  • Has a faint vanilla scent but not too much.
  • Does a great job in adding thickness to my lashes.
  • Works well especially on my bottom lashes.  I can't seem to use regular mascara on my bottom lashes but I can with Fairydrops Creamy Treatment Base Mascara.
  • Makes waterproof mascaras easier to remove with the base underneath.
  • Doesn't stiffen my lashes.
  • Has 5 treatment ingredients claiming to retain moisture, soften, hydrate and add volume to lashes.
  • Hard-to-remove mascaras are easier to remove with this base underneath.
Cons
  • Can't tell regarding the treatment as of this early stage.
  • May clump if not applied properly.
  • May weigh down curl.
Overall
I love the shiny gray-colored base as I don't have to end up going out with white lashes.  The fiber gives extra volume and length.  The treatment base from the brand helps treat your lashes at the same time protect it from constant waterproof mascara usage which could dry and weaken our lashes.
 
Tips
  • Curl your lashes before applying the Fairydrops Creamy Treatment Base mascara.
  • To keep the curls from weighing down at the end of the day, apply maximum of 2 coats of mascara!  
  • Try combining the Fairydrops Creamy Treatment Base Mascara with various mascara brands and see which one gives the best result.  As for me, I enjoy using this with my K-Palette Tattoo Mascara.
  • Be very careful with application to keep the fibers from getting into your eyes.
Will I repurchase?
Yes.

To whom do I recommend this to?
Daily mascara wearers who likes the treatment and protection.

Where to purchase and how much?

Available in all Beauty Bar stores for Php795.00 (approx $19.88)LIKE FairyDrops Philippines on Facebook for more product updates.

Photos 

The usual gorgeous packaging you get each time you buy something from Fairydrops.


Clear diagram on how to use the mascara base.

  A closer look on the treatment base.  
You can see fibers and the shade is in gray which works so well on our natural lashes.

I like looking straight and gently wiggle the lash wand starting from the roots to the tips.  Re-application maybe needed depending on how much of the creamy treatment base you want.  Apply both upper and lower lashes.

Front view after application
Looking close, you can see some fibers extending the length of my lashes in a very subtle way.

The fibers blend into my lashes making it look very natural, I can even leave home without applying mascara on top.

Side View


Are you currently using a mascara base? 
If yes, which brand? 

I am currently enjoying my Fairydrop Creamy Treatment Base Mascara because it gives a very natural effect.  I like the fact that my lashes are soft and waterproof mascaras are easier to remove at the end of the day!

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