Don't Miss the Big Sale at SM Southmall This Weekend!

What are you guys doing this weekend?

I don't know about you, but I've had an incredibly hectic week. I've learned that some "friends" that I thought were real friends actually weren't. I've nursed a sick child; which, by the way, really is no joke. I've experienced tremendous heartbreak within the family and witnessed sadness within another family. And I've gone through a big decision in terms of love, as well.

"Hectic" and "stressful" are complete understatements for the week that I've just been through.

So, to say that I need some retail therapy really isn't out of the question. Since I've been tweeting about a few pairs of SM Parisian shoes that I've just been dying to get my hands on, I'm so glad that I finally have the chance to splurge now, thanks to SM Supermalls and SM Southmall.

Yes, this weekend, SM Southmall is having their Big Sale, which will last until March 3, and you can geta chance to win a Smart 3D TV or an iPad Mini while you're at it.

The chance of winning these items is just a bonus, though, seeing as you can get up to 70% off all sorts of items during the sale, too. I'm gonna be up bright and early tomorrow later to head to SM Southmall and shop for those four pairs of SM Parisian shoes that I've been eyeing!

Since it's such a huge sale, I might even have something leftover for my mini me's feet. :) Will blog about my haul right away - don't you worry!

Don't miss out!!!

For more information on The Big Sale, like SM Supermalls and SM Southmall on Facebook. :)

Chops Chicago Steakhouse: The Ultimate Powerhouse for Steak

The minute you walk into Chops Chicago Steakhouse (located on the 4th floor of Greenbelt 5, Makati), you'll know it isn't any ordinary steakhouse. In fact, the words I would use to describe Chops best would be 'intimidating' and 'powerful' - and I mean that in the best way possible.

Chops generally exudes a masculine vibe with the strong elements of stone, brick and hardwood panels in the restaurant that definitely made me want to don a suit and channel my inner bro.

With its minimal lighting and dark vibe, Chops caters mostly to power lunches, business meetings, gentlemen's nights out, and dinner dates.

Here are some of the dishes that I was able to try out there:

Soup of the Day (P170)

The soup at Chops is made fresh daily and only in small batches.

Shrimp Cocktail (P430)

Definitely one of my favorite starters in account of the fact that it brings together two of my favorite foods: seafood and fruits. <3

Classic Caesar Salad (P285)

Steak and Kidney Pie (currently not on the menu)

I was definitely intrigued by this because it wasn't on the menu yet and I had never tried kidney pie before. Plus, I've always been interested in trying pies ala Sweeney Todd. Haha!

In the end, I must say that kidney pie is an acquired taste, unfortunately. I kinda wish it was heart pie or liver pie instead... But, hey, to each his own!

Skillet Buttered Corn (P180)

This was one of my favorite side dishes, next to the Creamed Spinach. :)

Wisconsin Beef Tenderloin (P850)

Ah, yes. The steak... The steak... Definitely the most perfect part of the entire meal. I usually order my steak Medium Rare, but we were advised that the Medium cooked steak is their specialty and that they ensure that the steak still stays just the right amount of red inside - and it was true. I still have dreams about their steak to this day. Take me on a date there, please!!!

Dark Chocolate Cigars (P290)

Another thing that I have dreams about is their dessert. Chops' Dark Chocolate Cigars are to die for!

Make sure to order Chops' Signature Iced Tea (P110) to cap it all off! Delicious! The best part is that they a have a fast wi-fi connection, a fax machine, a copy machine and a scanner available, as well - everything you need to make your next power lunch an incredibly productive one!

If you have a tight budget, then the Executive Lunch Set Menu would be perfect for you! For only P888, you can get a soup of the day or a caesar salad, a Wisconsin tenderloin steak with siding and sauce, and dark chocolate cigars! They have a kids menu available, too. :)

For more information on Chops Chicago Steakhouse, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter today. :)

Freeway’s Summer 2013 Swimsuit Collection - Are You Ready for Summer?

Are you ready for summer? Despite the occasional showers of rain within the week, it is pretty clear that summer is almost amongst us, what with everyone getting into the fitness zone and the weather turning the heat up like crazy.

Well, with these summer rituals, there is another one that every woman looks forward to: swimsuit shopping! Woohoo! XD Just check out what Freeway has in store this year with their Summer 2013 Swimsuit Collection out this March:

Very sporty, no? :)

As you can see, Freeway's goal this year is to define the female silhouette and shape with cut-outs, lines and curves that are meant to emphasize and bring out a more confident and sexier woman in you. That is what summer is about, in general, after all.

As for the colors, Freeway's summer collection focuses on bold colors, like red, purple, orange and teal, matching the colorful and vibrant look and feel of the season.

Naturally, you can also turn to Freeway for other trendy summer pieces, like cover-ups, dresses, tops and bottoms perfect for that fun and fresh vibe this summer! :)

So, whether you are sunbathing or partying on the beach, Freeway's summer pieces will easily turn you into a trendsetter. Watch out for these pieces this March! Will definitely be donning a couple of them in Zambales for my birthday! :) Will you?

To view the whole collection, please visit Freeway's official website, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter! You can also add them on Instagram: @FreewayOnline :)

DVD Review: Hotel Transylvania by Magnavision

"Hotel Transylvania" is one of those movies that I surprisingly loved. I watched it without really expecting much out of it and I found myself laughing out loud from beginning to end.

The voice talents of "Hotel Transylvania" stand out for various reasons: they are all comedians (Selena Gomez aside - or is she?). So, even if you don't actually see their faces, you can totally imagine Adam Sandler's over-the-top acting as Count Dracula and Andy Samberg's awkward but funny acting as Johnny. And who doesn't love Andy Samberg? Seriously.

However, the characters that truly stand out in this movie are the side characters: the werewolves and their hundreds of baby-werewolves, Frankenstein who clearly still doesn't have a good brain on him, the Invisible Man and that tiny old womanly creature who eats everything, to name a few... No idea who that lady was supposed to be, but her line "I didn't do that" is the most memorable one in the movie for me, aside from the Zing lines.

One reason why I love this movie to bits is because Dracula is a single dad in it. Yes, yes, I can relate. And I am so dreading the day when Syrena is old enough to make her own decisions and leave me alone for good. But, hey, the whole point of the movie is to teach parents to let go and that change is all around us, so the least we can do is embrace it. :) Haha. pretty deep for a cartoon, but that's how cartoons have always been.

I actually know everything that I know from cartoons, comic books and fairy tales.
True story.

Of course, the other reason why I love this movie is because of the subtle cheesiness in it. The big quote of the movie is "You only Zing once in your life." Or... wait for it... YOZO. Chyeah. I totes just did that.

There is also a poem in it that I loved:

Two bats crash in the night.

They felt a Zing! Love at first sight.

They knew from that moment,

they'd be husband and wife.

For a Zing only happens once in your life.

Yayuh! Bring on the cheese!

You guys already know that I've found my Zing. I hope you find yours, too. :) If you still don't get what YOZO or Zing means, then that just goes to show that you have to get a copy of "Hotel Transylvania" at your nearest Astroplus branch soon. Massive thanks to Magnavision for mine! :)

Have you seen "Hotel Transylvania"? What did you think of it? I'd love to know! And tell me about the Zing in your life, if you have one! :) Don't forget to like Magnavision and Sony on Facebook and follow Magnavision and Sony on Twitter btw! :)

PLDT myDSL’s best commercial for me is…

Have you seen the Anna Banana series of the PLDT myDSL commercials yet? They're too cute! You haven't? Then here they are in succession for you to enjoy:

Did you like them? I think they're adorable. My favorite, however, has to be the second one. Mostly because of how relatable it is.

For starters, everybody in my family has some sort of gadget that can connect to the Internet. I'm sure the same can be said of your household. In fact, we are always all so glued to our gadgets at home that we hardly talk anymore. When I want to tell my brother something, I send him a quick chat message on Facebook, even though he's just in the other room.

Secondly, news travels extremely fast because of the different social media networks available nowadays. When Gerd and I became an official couple, there was no need to tell anyone in my family. They just saw it on Facebook.

Now, although the personal experiences that I shared above aren't exactly family-oriented, the second PLDT myDSL Anna Banana commercial does otherwise. It reminds us of how positive and helpful the Internet can actually be in terms of connecting us to our loved ones, near or far.

What I loved about it the most, though, is how they all acted as a family to comfort Derek - something that really made me go "awww" and made me wish that my family would remember to do the same if the time ever comes when a guy tells me I'm not the one for him on the World Wide Web. :p

Make sure to subscribe to the PLDT myDSL Anna Banana YouTube Channel for more updates on the cute commercials above! :)

Remember: your home deserves unlimited sharing from the strong, reliable, family-sized connection of myDSL. The strongest connections are at home, so visit www.pldthome.com to get your family connected today!

Live Well.

Growing up, I always tried to be someone that I was not.

When I was four, I tried to be Demi Moore, in that I cut my hair super short and practiced crying as beautifully as she does in "Ghost" while I was in front of the mirror. Her husky voice aside, I haven't really adapted anything Demi Moore-ish, though... except maybe her taste in younger men. Badum-tss!

But seriously. During my teenage years, I pretended to like music that I didn't like just because cute boys that I liked liked it (how many times did I, like, say like in that sentence?) and I even tried all sorts of stupid things just to fit in, even though I wasn't enjoying myself half of the time.

I'm proud to say I'm past that stage, though, and have evolved into a stage where I no longer care what unimportant people say or think about me and I no longer strive to please other people or try to get other people to like me.

If people don't accept me for who I am, then that's too bad. I move on.

What matters is that I'm in a happy place, and that's what the smiles in the following photos are all about. :) These photos were taken by Gerd after we watched the rehearsals for Ballet Philippines' "A Midsummer Night's Dream", by the way.

pink slip-on sneakers from Keds

blue denim top from Folded and Hung

colorful peacock bangle bracelet from Bangkok

tribal print skirt from Fashion Infinity

This is the first piece I'm posting from Fashion Infinity and I've got to say I love this skirt to bits!!! It doesn't hike up when I try to walk (a common problem that I have with tight skirts because of my not-so-small bum); it's eye-catching; and it goes with practically anything. No fuss! Plus, their clothes are super affordable - I can't wait to get more stuff from them! :D

I strongly believe that instead of striving to be as pretty, as sexy, as thin, as talented, or as famous as insert-anybody's-name here; one should instead strive to be as happy, as kind, as compassionate, and as bubbly as possible - even if that means having a bit of extra jiggly bits in places you'd rather not have them, having a low follower count, or having a voice that will make the rain pour like crazy outside.

Own your unique qualities and happiness and contentment will follow.

:)

Why You Should Shop for a Nokia Lumia at Abenson

Most people nowadays opt for Samsung or Apple smartphones when looking for a new mobile phone. However, every now and then, Nokia comes out with a new mobile phone that I end up staring at and debating about until I end up getting it myself.

Aside from being available in my favorite color (yellow!), the fact that the Nokia Lumia 620, Nokia Lumia 820 and Nokia Lumia 920 come with the following benefits is making me think that maybe I should get one as a second phone:

The best part is that Abenson has some great packages available for the aforementioned Nokia Lumia phones right now, so you can pay a small amount every month and end up with an awesome phone in your hands right away:

Tempting, huh? I am definitely debating whether a second phone is a good idea for me right now or not. What do you think? Are second phones necessary in today's day and age?

Plana Forma - My New Fitness Addiction

When it comes to fitness, I tend to have a hard time sticking to something. I tried circuit training, for instance, but got pretty bored with it after a couple of months. I also tried Zumba and that didn't even go past two classes.

Of course, I'm not knocking circuit training or Zumba; I'm just saying that they're not for me. I am, after all, a yoga girl at heart. However, yoga aside, I haven't really met a fitness regime that I fell in love with at first sight try... until I met Plana Forma last Sunday, that is.

Yes, last Sunday, I dragged my lazy butt all the way over to Centris to try out Plana Forma with the boys. Please take note that I live in Paranaque and that our class was at 8:30am. This meant that I had to get up by 5:30am and be on the MRT by 6:30pm. Talk about dedication. Woot! (I will lose weight. I will lose weight. I will lose weight...)

When we got there, we were welcomed by the very friendly staff and escorted to the lockers to change and then to the exercise room to start our workout. The North boys were running a bit late, but we got there just in time. Thank goodness we did coz Plana Forma classes always start on time! No room for late birds here!

To be honest, I was a bit worried because...

1) It was my first time to try out and even hear about Plana Forma, but I'm pretty much up to trying anything new in terms of health and fitness right now because I am desperate to go back to my old skinny self, so nothing was gonna stop me!

and

2) I was a bit too cocky when I downloaded the Nike Training app that I skipped the Beginner levels and went straight to Intermediate. I ended up dying 10 minutes into my first sesh. Lol.

I was basically worried that the same thing would happen here. It didn't. :) In fact, I found myself in my element the minute we started.

Spot me and my pink socks in the background! :)

Plana Forma is basically a 55-minute workout that brings together yoga, pilates and dance - my three favorite forms of exercise! So, if you do any of the three (as mentioned earlier, I do yoga!), you are sure to love Plana Forma.

However, even if you don't do yoga, pilates or dance; you are sure to love the challenge that comes with Plana Forma anyway. Some of the boys, for example (not naming names! :p), usually only work out their upper bodies, so they had some trouble with the leg exercises. Their legs were literally shaking. But, as our teacher Ace told us, "Shaking is good. It means the exercise is working." :)

With our Plana Forma teacher Ace - my new fitspiration! :)

The minute the session ended, I couldn't wait to go back. Unfortunately, I have mommy duties and work in the way. Plus, I live in the South, so it simply isn't possible for me to do it every day. (Otherwise, I would!) The good news is that the boys and I have already planned for another round! Wait for my tweets about it! :)

Plana Forma also has a branch in The Fort, by the way, and they have free trial classes for newbies for the rest of the month, including Zumba and other special classes! So, what are you waiting for? Join us in this fitness craze! :D

Photos by Miko Carreon and David Guison.

Sorry for not making paalam, Dave. Was in a hurry to post. :( :p

To find out more about Plana Forma, visit their official website here. You can also follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram! :)

Couple Shots: Proof of Love.

One of the earlier traditions that Gerd and I set together - before we even became a couple! - was to take Instax pictures whenever we saw each other.

Now that we see each other almost everyday, though, that simply isn't a practical thing to do anymore money-wise. :p As such, the edits that he made to our latest couple shots are more than appropriate for this we're-four-months-old post :) Hope you like them!

See my complete outfit post here.

Four months! Yay! :D

A lot of people say that they love the rain and then open an umbrella when it rains. A lot of people say that they love the sun and then look for shelter when the sun shines.

Gerd isn't like that. When Gerd says he loves something, he really loves it. The first time that we went to an event together - just the two of us - he told me that he loves Dragon Ball Z. And then he proceeded to show me complete episodes that he had saved in his mobile phone. :p

The last time we were at the Supersale Bazaar, he told me and Tin that he loves hotdogs. And then he proceeded to eat six hotdogs in a row while Googling who invented them, so that he could thank him properly in a tweet. :p

Yes, when Gerd says he loves something, he really, really does - and he does things to prove it, as well.

This is why I feel so blessed and lucky to have him in my life and to have been his girlfriend for the past four months. :)

Yihee!

Bring on the cheese!

Happy four months, weirdo!

<3

Libre mo mamaya ha! :p

Souls and Dreams

Becca maintains her lovely figure by eating nothing but the souls of kittens and the dreams of impoverished children.

- Quentin Jacobsen,

Paper Towns by John Green

Lately, I've been thinking that maybe I should do the same. :p Exactly a year ago, I was a size 0. How I ever ballooned into a size 6 is way beyond me. However, this 2013, I have promised myself to at least move back down to a size 2.

I'm still very, very far from that goal; but now that I'm eating super healthy (most of the time, anyway), am back to doing yoga and am following the Nike Training Club app as much as I can, I'm hoping that I will go down a couple of sizes before my birthday trip to Zambales this April. :)

One major improvement that has happened so far, thanks to my return to yoga, though, in my posture. I was a bit shocked when Gerd sent me these outfit shots, actually. After all, I am notorious for slouching... so what is up with that straight body in the first photo?!?? Lol.

blue and white striped top - gift from my mom

red leather pants from Cotton On

gold wired initial necklace from Sister's Act

stars and stripes flats from Topshop

I still remember exactly when I impulse-bought this pair of flats. Kelly pointed them out to me and I just decided that I had to have them - so I bought them without even checking the price tag or the size. Lol.

I ended up going home with the wrong size of flats and going through a lot of headache and trouble getting them exchanged. But: all's well that ends well. They're perfect!

Aside from better posture, courtesy of yoga; great hair, courtesy of Bee Choo; and the utmost happiness, courtesy of Gerd Perez; I am also blessed with loyal, honest and true friends this 2013 - friends who support the new health freakness in me and whom I will therefore be Plana Forma-ing it up with tomorrow morning. In the North. Wish us luck! :p And wait for the Instagram goodness that will definitely ensue. Good night!

Follow me on Instagram, please: lilmisswonderwoman

Bee Choo: The Secret to Healthy Hair All Year Round

Who hasn't had a bad hair day before? I gotta admit: what with all of the curling, straightening and coloring my hair has gone through in the past, there was a time where I just completely gave up on ever having healthy-looking hair again altogether.

I've already tried various hair treatments in the metro, as well, but to no avail. When I accompanied Gerd to one of his hair treatment trials one day in BF (where I live!!!), though, I got really excited to try it out myself. Why?

Well, for starters, the Bee Choo treatment is all-natural, so you won't suffer from more chemicals in your hair just to treat it. Secondly, they promise to restore your hair's natural beauty at an affordable price; so, really, what did I have to lose?

This is what went down when I tried the Bee Choo treatment myself:

Bee Choo is available at Taylor Tyler Herbal Hair Spa and Salon, which can be found in Pergola Mall, BF Homes, I and in SM Mall of Asia.

Since I'm just a stone's throw away from the BF branch, that's where I decided to go. Lucky for me, there is a Starbucks right in front of Pergola, so I went in armed with my favorite drink and experienced step one: the Bee Choo Origin Ginger Oil.

The Bee Choo Origin Ginger Oil is basically a leave-on product that opens the pores and preps the scalp for the actual treatment. The herbs of this product leave a relaxing scent reminiscent of aromatic tea.

After that, the actual treatment is applied to the hair.

It looks muddy, but smells really good, like tamarind. :)

The treatment generally takes around 1.5 hours for hair as long and as thick as mine.

If you are going there alone, it would be highly advisable to bring a book or some sort of gadget to keep yourself occupied while waiting for the treatment to finish. Fortunately for me, I went with Paul and Miko on my first visit, so we ended up catching up instead.

Once the treatment is over, the hair is washed off with the Origin Purity Scalp Shampoo and Origin Purity Repair Hair Conditioner - my favorite part of the entire process! :) Since the shampoo is minty, it leaves the scalp feeling incredibly fresh and cool afterwards. :D

And then, the amazing stylists at Taylor Tyler blow dried my hair, so that I could instantly see - and, most importantly, feel - the effects of the Bee Choo Herbal Hair Treatment.

My hair really did feel much bouncier, shinier and healthier afterwards, and I couldn't stop touching it for the rest of the day. The best part is that the herbs from the treatment will keep nourishing your hair for another three days.

The stylists at Taylor Tyler advised me to go back every month because I have a mini dandruff problem, but I wasn't able to go back until three months later - this time with Megann and Gerd for their official launch. And check out how awesome healthy my hair looks now:

Amazeballs! If you've been following my blog for a while now, you have to admit that my hair is 10,000 times better looking now. This is mostly also because I've been using Bee Choo shampoo and conditioner for the past couple of months. Yup. I'm a convert and will definitely be getting monthly Bee Choo treatments from now on! :)

Interested in finding out more about the other Bee Choo products available in Taylor Tyler stores? Want to read my review on their shampoo and conditioner? Then wait for my next blogposts. You'll definitely be reading more about Taylor Tyler and Bee Choo in my blog from now on!

Anyone wanna join me sometime? I've got 10% off coupons to share! :)

For more updates, visit Taylor Tyler on Facebook! :)