Friday, April 29, 2011

Shop love: Izzo Shop


I bought my uncle's DSLR last month in the hope of pursuing my love of photography. I was skeptical in buying his Nikon D70 at first but after a lot of research and reading I decided that it was a great buy for an entry level DSLR. I had the kit, spare batteries and 2 other spare CF cards and that's all. I still had to buy a lot of things like screen protectors, lens cleaning sheets and a camera bag. I searched for camera bags in the internet and found a flurry of black padded and bulky mannish- looking bags and then I saw "the satchel". I inquired with A LOT of online sellers, and every one of them was out of stock. It was funny though, I am a Multiply seller and I almost forgot to search for it in the multiply market place. And then I did! luckily, I found this cute shop, selling mainly camera bags, straps and gadget cases. IZZO SHOP

I immediately filled up an order form and texted Madz. I was so relieved that the design that I wanted was on stock and they have the lowest price from everyone that I inquired from! Here is a description taken from their site.

Our most chic cam bag to date, you can also use it as a regular bag!

- thick plain printed canvass exterior with synthetic leatherette trimming
- fully padded body with 8mm thick foam
- with grey nylon oxford inside
- with fully padded adjustable dividers
- metal snap closure
- 11.5 in x 8 in x 4 in
- outside pocket measures 9.5 in x 5.5 in x 1.75 in
- 750php only!


After everything was cleared up, I paid for my MOLLY BAG the next day, and got my package on Thursday, just as it was scheduled. Happiness!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Get these summer looks for less!

After a very hectic day, I went to Megamall yesterday :) and I was surprised to find some pieces that were similar and even exactly what my shop is selling for a LOT LESS.

So here they are:

1. PEACH GRECIAN DRESS- spotted at SM Megamall department store

Their price: PHP 600
PLETHORA: PHP 350


 

Sunday, April 17, 2011

cashflow workshop



Spicy Fingers Greenbelt, fully packed
My sister and I attended the Cashflow Workshop yesterday by ICircle at Spicy Fingers, Greenbelt Makati. We were texted the night before to be registered for the workshop, by 9-10 am, we were told to bring our vouchers, a valid ID and a calculator. So there we were, 9:30 am sluggish and sleepy because it was a bit too early for us to wake up.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

site love: free people, ruche, BHLDN and mod cloth

I love checking out these sites once in a while for inspiration; for what I would wear and what I could sell.

1. Free People

Their site is so clean, fresh and laid back. I definitely love the simple white background and pencil effect logo. Plus, I super love the looks! Nudes, pinks and chiffon are a must-have for the vintage girly girl like me, hehe..



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Watson's sale!


I dropped by Watson's on my way to work this morning to buy my fave facial wash and to my surprise,they were on sale! I bought two for the price of one! What a great deal!


The saleslady told me that it was a once a year sale so I got to take advantage of it, and by the way that she's stocking up the shelves with my fave brands, it looks like the stocks are selling fast. Too bad I have to go back to the clinic and work. Anyway, we still have a few days to hoard girls, the Watson's sale is till April 27, 2011 only.


Simple Budgeting tips for the single girl: How to save and earn more money :)

I am a single girl, middle class and minimum wage earner. If you are like me and you want to save and earn more, try these tips and make them work for you :)

1. Make a budget.

Income- Expenses= Savings. On the first month list down ALL your expenses, transportation fare, food, dates, hehe...Try installing the Expense Manager app on your Android phone or making a pocket paper organizer (Pocketmod)  that you can place on your wallet so you can list down your expenses whenever you pull your money out of your wallet or even install this free expense tracking sheet on your computer and be organized. After that month, you can now see where you are spending most of your money and then make a plan on how much you are really allowed to spend a month. All that is left will be placed on your savings account, hopefully at least 25-50% if you can every salary cut- off.

2. Avoid debt, or slowly pay off your debt.

This is self- explanatory, start paying off your debt to add more to your savings. Make sure you are not spending more that what you are earning.

3. Open a separate savings account.

Even though how small, placing your money in a savings account can make it earn interest which a payroll account doesn't have. It also a good thing that you can withdraw a constant amount of money and deposit it to your savings account. Just make sure that you keep in mind that the money in your savings are for emergency purposes and long term goals only. If you are saving for new gadgets or a future wedding :) this free savings goal tracker can be very useful.

4. Cut off with your old habits.

If you're smoking and spending 34 pesos for a pack of cigarettes a day and cut it down to spending only 3 packs a week, you can save 136 pesos a week x 4(a month) that's 544 a month you are saving! not only that, you are also saving your lungs :)

Another example would be spending 80 pesos for a pedicure every week, that would be 320 pesos a month. If you cut back and have a pedicure every two weeks, you'll be saving have of your 320 peso budget. Better yet, buy a nail cleaning set and your favorite polish colors and place all your pedicure budget money to your savings! :)

5. Have an alternate source of income.

We might not have those hundreds of thousands of pesos yet to invest in stocks or properties but we can start with what we have right now. Take a look around your house or your room. If you have stacks of old magazines, collectibles or slightly used clothes; open an Ebay account and auction them all off! Not only you are making money out of it, you are also making room for new stuff!

If you know how to make crafts or make cute websites, make money out of it. You can also try opening an ODesk account start working from home and add dollars to your savings.

6. Learn something new.

We might be professionals but you must accept that what we are earning now is not enough. If you have other interests like dressmaking, hair and make up, web design or doing crafts, learn more of them and who knows, you might earn more from it than what you are earning now from your day job.

7. When shopping, Identify if it's a "want" or a "need"

To avoid impulse buying, leave the mall and go back to the item after a week; if you still want it, buy it. If in doubt, don't get it. Identifying if the item is a necessity or just a "want" would make you think of the more important stuff that you have to spend on.
8. If you have to shop, make sure you have a great deal.

Get great deals for as much as 35-70% by subscribing to verified groupon sites here in the Philippines. Recommended sites would be, Metrodeal, Ensogo, Beeconomic, Buyanihan, DealGrocer and CashCash Pinoy. For deals on restaurants, spas, pastries, workshops and summer getaways;  Shop online, at flea markets and in vintage stores for unique and cheap finds. Yes you can spoil yourself once in a while,. just make sure you're not ruining your budget.

9. Educate yourself.

Read more about financial planning, attend seminars and workshops to be updated with new investment opportunities. 
 
10. Research for what you can have for free.

May it be software, lessons, audio books and ebooks; you can get it online for free! Pay a minimum amount for shipping if you want free make up samples from Ellana mineral make-up. 


Stay tuned girls and I'll be blogging more money tips soon! :)



Monday, April 4, 2011

My top 10 tips of having clearer skin

I just want to share how I got my skin cleared of acne and other blemishes; you might have heard most of the tips before but I'll also share some new treatments and procedures that would help your skin look and feel its best. Obviously these tips may or may not work for some, but these tips are what worked for me :) So read on and if you have more tips you can share it to me too :)


1. Have a simple skin care regimen.
Cleanse, tone, moisturize- yep! I know you've heard that before! but I bet, most of you don't have a skin care regimen like this. Try to buy products that are designed specifically for sensitive skin and NOT the ones that are for pimple/acne prone skin. Salicylic Acid in most products can sometimes be more irritating than help clear the skin. I personally recommend Celeteque' s 3-step kit because it is made for sensitive skin. 

It's facial wash is fragrance- free and has chamomile extract which has anti- inflammatory properties that soothes sensitive and irritated skin

The Toner is alcohol- free and has witch hazel extract. It is a strong anti-oxidant and astringent, which makes it very useful in fighting acne.

Their Moisturizer is surprisingly oil-free and colorless :) It's a joy applying the gel- form moisturizer that contains another organic ingredient; Aloe Vera. It is mainly for soothing the skin and keeping the skin moist in harsh or dry weather. aloe Vera also has the ability to stimulate healthy cell growth and repair damaged tissues



2. Don't dry your face with your Bath towel. Use Tissue/ Facial Tissue instead.

Bacteria can sometimes harbor on towels that are not properly dried and then reused. Of course as economical as we are in the Philippines, we reuse our towels every bath, let it dry under the sun and change it every week. As my very wise dermatologist said, "Dry your face with Tissue" . Use a separate set of tissue paper that you could use to dry your face to prevent bacteria from getting to your face.

3. Change your bedsheets, pillow cases and curtains. Clean YOUR room! :)

4. Disinfect your cellphone

5. Get your Hair out of your face

6. Eat Healthier, Drink Water and Fruit Juices and some coffee

There are a lot of aesthetic procedures out there to take care of our skin externally. But it is true that you are what you eat so fill yourself up with these foods for the skin.

Carrots
Carrots are a good food for skin because they are a high source of beta-carotene. The body coverts beta-carotene to vitamin A for use within the body. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that mops up free radicals, such as those produced by overexposure to the sun, that lead to the premature aging of skin. It also aids in skin collagen formation. Collagen helps skin look young and plump.
Vitamin A aids in the development of skin cells and the maintenance of proper skin cell health. A vitamin A deficiency can lead to dry skin.
Eating carrots can be a natural sunscreen, providing a SPF factor of 2 to 4 in people with light colored skin.
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and vitamin C as well. In addition, these potatoes contain vitamin E. Vitamin E helps the body regenerate vitamin C and therefore is necessary in order to maximize the effectiveness of vitamin C. Foods that contain high quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E are very effective antioxidants for skin protection.

Salmon Salmon and other oily fish (sardines, mackerel, fresh tuna ) play an important role in skin health. Salmon contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids which the body cannot manufacture on its own. These fatty acids improve the skin by decreasing the occurrence of clogged pores, reducing the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can lead to skin damage, reducing skin dryness and skin dryness related problems such as eczema, and improving the skin’s elasticity. These fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes. They prevent harmful substances from entering the cells, but allow essential nutrients in. Because these substances strengthen the cell membrane, they help to keep water in and keep the cells hydrated. This helps the skin maintain its proper moisture level resulting in skin that is plump and younger looking.
Salmon is also high in selenium, which improves various skin problems and overall skin health.

Dairy Products
Dairy products are a good food for skin because they provide vitamin A. As previously stated, vitamin A is important for proper skin health. Unlike foods containing beta-carotene, which is the precursor to vitamin A, dairy products provide vitamin A directly. Therefore, individuals with certain health problems that interfere with beta-carotene to vitamin A conversion will still get vitamin A into their bodies if they consumed sufficient amounts of dairy products.


Whole Grains
Whole grains, as can be found in certain breads and cereals, are a good food for skin because they are loaded with the B group vitamins. B group vitamins are essential for normal skin functioning. They are required for the growth of new cells, replacing those that have died, and help strengthen the skin against infections and stress. Specifically, whole grains help prevent the peeling and cracking of skin, rough skin on the hands and feet, and conditions such as mouth ulcers.

Green Tea
Green tea is a valuable food for skin. It provides a wide range of benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to play a role in preventing certain types of skin cancers by reducing the risk of damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Green tea is loaded with a variety of antioxidants and is a good food for skin and overall good body health. It is high in vitamins C, D, and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron.



7. Drink VITAMINS for the skin

I personally take USANA's Proflavonol, a supplement that supplies powerful bioflavonoids from grape-seed extract, which is clinically proven to sustain sound cardiovascular health. It also maintains a balanced immune function and healthy, younger- looking skin. I only take 1 tablet a day :)
 



8. Change your make- up and clean your make-up sponges/brushes

Its better to use make-up and beauty products that has less chemicals and has more ingredients that are more organic and safe for the skin. I personally use Skinfood Aloe Sun BB cream, A multi-function BB cream that protects skin from UV rays and moisturizes skin with aloe extract, while achieving a clear, radiant skin tone., I have less on my skin and have the benefits of having SPF and a fresh face throughout the day :) Make sure you also know the expiration date of your beauty products.


9. Get More SLEEP

Accept it, You look better when you get more shut- eye. Progressive loss of cellular water may be one reason sleepless nights affect our skin more visibly as we age, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad. Water retention is key to keeping skin moisturized and supple, which can translate to fewer lines and a smoother complexion.But if there's really a need for you to stay up at night, make sure you are hydrated.