Solo’s His & Hers Graphic Tee Design Winners - Join the Next One Yourself!

Solo’s His & Hers Graphic Tee Design Winners - Join the Next One Yourself!

They are here! The winning tees of Solo's His and Hers Graphic Tee Design Contest are out! Last November's His & Hers Graphic Tee Design competition themed "Musika" received over creative 200 entries.

Check out the 5 winning entries and its creators here:

Eargasm by Gino Jardinico features earphones dancing to good music

Musikang Pinoy by Jennieca Paulene Dayrit takes us back to the early meaningful years of Pinoy music

Rock My World, Hear My Heartbeat by John Theli Bien is all about a man and a woman’s music diversity

Music Love and Astronauts by Vincent Mark Baquiran is a vivid illustration of astronaut lovers keeping in touch through music

And my ultimate favorite: this interesting guitar graphic by Randy Pagatpatan named Gitarista.

Inspired yet? You can be Solo's next His and Hers Graphic Tee Design Contest winner! Show off your creativity this year with the Theme Pinoy Prints and Patterns!

Solo’s His & Hers Graphic Tee Design Winners - Join the Next One Yourself!

Submission of entries is from May 1 to June 15, 2014! So, what are you waiting for?  Turn those ideas into an actual wearable tees by being one of the 3 winners of the next His & Hers Graphic Tee Design Competition!

Learn more about His & Hers Graphic Tee Design Competition mechanics and rules at http://www.solo.com.ph You can also like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mysoloonline or follow them on Twitter and Instagram: @MySoloOnline

Solo’s His & Hers Graphic Tee Design Winners - Join the Next One Yourself!

Superhero Complex

I have a superhero complex.

I'm not sure if this is an actual real-life condition; but in my head, a superhero complex refers to this intrinsic need to help other people out. I'm not sure when it started, but I'm pretty sure I've had a mild case of it even when I lived in Bangkok.

Anberlin shirt from the 2010 Anberlin concert / plaid cover-up from Forever 21 / distressed leggings from Romwe / sneakers from Pony

The first superhero complex case that I remember here in Manila, though, is when Ava was looking for a BlackBerry cassette-themed case and then again when she was looking for a certain newspaper. After that, everything just kept piling up. "Oh, you want that dress? It's your birthday soon, right? Let me get it for you." "Oh, you need a basketball? I haven't used mine in ages. Have it." "Oh, you need knee support? I've got some GCs you can use." You get the picture.

Quite recently, I tried to help someone out again, but things didn't work out quite as planned. That person ended up getting really disappointed and for a few days, I felt like a complete failure. I beat myself up over it. I talked to other people endlessly about how I could have done better, how I could've tried better and how I could have gotten the job done if given another chance.

And that's when it hit me: this wasn't even my problem to begin with… so why was I stressing out so much? Why did I give this person the power to hurt me when all that I wanted to do was lend a helping hand?

While I truly believe that this superhero complex is part of my nature, I have to admit that making other people happy isn't as easy as it used to be. Yesterday, I felt like I no longer had the power to make people happy, in general. I felt like, no matter what I did, it simply wasn't enough.

Today, however, someone reminded me that I don't need to try and make people happy. I can just be me and get the job done just as easily. And the people who don't find happiness from the way that I generally am simply aren't worth my time and effort.

When making people happy starts to feel like an actual struggle, it's time to stop. When they don't show even an ounce of gratitude or appreciation and you end up feeling worse than you did in the beginning, it's time to stop.

Being a superhero in the real world doesn't require being a superhero to the fullest extent. While there is nothing wrong with helping people out when it makes you feel good about yourself in the end, never let people walk all over you and make you feel inferior.

Coz I haven't done this pose in a while. XP

On the flip side, if somebody saves you in one way or another, do not forget to say thank you - sincerely and genuinely. Even if they just tried to save you but failed, the point is that they tried. Even a small amount of appreciation can save their heart from breaking. Keep hearts intact. Say thank you. Appreciate. :)

Dark Spot Removal from Face - 5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Them

Dark Spot Removal from Face - 5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Them

I generally don't have a lot of skin problems. In fact, aside from the occasional unexpected huge zit that appears smack in the middle of my nose or on my chin when I least expect it; I don't really have anything to complain about in terms of my facial skin.

However, I do have a lot of friends who have been complaining about unwanted dark spots recently (read more about dark spots here: http://dermatology.about.com/od/skincareproducts/a/darkspotcause.htm) and, being the superhero that I am, I have decided to try and help out a lil bit. Listen up coz the heat is currently unbearable in the Philippines and this is sure to be your saving grace!

Apparently, there are five very easy ways to get rid of dark spots on the face.

Dark Spot Removal from Face - 5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Them

1. Wear Sunscreen.

If you tend to get a lot of dark spots, then start using some sunscreen. Ideally, you should use facial sunscreen all the time to prevent sun spots altogether. Just apply some half an hour before going out and re-apply as needed.

Ideally, you should go for quality sunscreen, though. If you go for something cheap, you might not prevent the sun's UV rays and get even worse skin problems because of it.

2. Use Lemon Juice.

That's right. Lemon juice is known to be very beneficial at dark spot removal. In fact, it can even reduce dark patches, freckles, melasma, age spots and rosacea. To make it work even better, add a bit of apple cider vinegar or honey to the mix.

3. Use Green Tea Extracts.

If you love to drink green tea, then you can keep the tea leaves in the fridge and make a pouch out of them. Then, once the pouch is cold enough, voila! Place it onto your face as needed to lighten any dark spots.

4. Use Sandalwood Powder.

Not everybody has sandalwood powder at home, but if you do, then you will be happy to know that it can remove dark spots, as well. Just mix some sandalwood powder with rose water and glycerin and leave the paste on your face for several minutes. If you don't have any rose water, though, then just use honey or milk to replace it instead.

5. Apply Milk to Your Face.

Milk can easily remove black spots and various other skin discolorations, as well. If you apply milk topically, the lactic acid will reduce the skin's pigmentation and even tone, lighten and brighten the skin's complexion. Just use a cotton ball and directly apply the milky ball to your face. Then, leave it there for about 10 minutes before washing it off. Easy peasy!

Naturally, these are just a few of the best homemade remedies that you can use for dark spot removal from face. For more speedy remedies on how to get rid of dark spots on the face, read this: http://www.speedyremedies.com/how-to-get-rid-of-dark-spots-on-face.html and this: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hyperpigmentation-hypopigmentation

Dark Spot Removal from Face - 5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Them

Adventure Time Live Show is Coming to Ayala Malls! Win Tickets Here!

Adventure Time Live Show is Coming to Ayala Malls! Win Tickets Here!

Exactly a year ago, I met the Adventure Time characters with my buddies and went absolutely crazy taking selfies with them and splurging on Adventure Time merchandise for outfit posts. I even brought a Marceline bag with me coz I was just that much of a fan.

One year later and I still enjoy Adventure Time to this day - and on a whole new different level to boot because now that my daughter is 4 years old, she enjoys the show with me. As such, I was more than ecstatic to get an invite for the Adventure Time live show press con today.

That's right. The Adventure Time madness is back - this time brought to us by Ayala Malls who promises to provide an exciting journey full of awesome games and surprises starting this weekend all the way until July!

The Adventure Time Live Show will take you on a trip to Finn's candy-tinted world. Join Fann, a mad Adventure Time fan who tries to write a radical fan fiction story for the show that will turn into an actual adventure. Here, Finn and Jake will get sucked into a wormhole between the Land of Ooo and Fann's bedroom closet! Exciting! XD

Get ready to groove, bust a tune and sing your heart out as they try to accomplish their mission: rescue Fann and his friends by coming up with a story that doesn't sting.

The Adventure Time Live Show will come with a meet and greet for the cast spelling the utmost epicness on the following dates:

April 26 & 27 at Glorietta: 1pm, 4pm and 6pm

May 2 - 4 at Abreeza Mall: 1pm, 3:30pm and 6pm

May 9 - 11 at Centrio Mall: 3pm and 6pm

May 17 & 18 at Fairview Terraces: 1pm, 4pm and 6pm

May 24 at The District Imus: 4pm and 6pm

May 25 at The District Dasma: 5pm

May 30 - June 1 at Ayala Center Cebu: 2pm, 4pm and 6pm

June 7 & 8 at TriNoma: 2pm, 4pm and 6pm

June 13 - 15 at Market! Market!: 1pm, 3pm and 6pm

June 17 at the Pavillion: 5pm and 7pm

June 20 - 22 at Alabang Town Center: 11am, 3pm and 6pm

June 27 & 28 at Harbor Point: 11am, 3pm and 6pm

July 5 & 6 at Marquee Mall: 1pm, 3:30pm and 6pm

Wanna catch the show for free? Then join my giveaway! Just fill up the Rafflecopter form below to get a chance to watch the show with a friend on April 27, 6pm at Glorietta:

Adventure Time Live Show is Coming to Ayala Malls! Win Tickets Here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Adventure Time Live Show is Coming to Ayala Malls! Win Tickets Here!

Mermaid Wedding Dresses with a Twist at DressV

Mermaid Wedding Dresses with a Twist at DressV

When people think about mermaid wedding dresses, they normally think about tight, sexy and silhouette-hugging pieces such as this one (at least I know I do):

While DressV does have traditional mermaid wedding dresses such as this one, what I love about their selections the most is that they also have mermaid styles available with a twist, as well. Here are some of my favourites:

Mermaid Wedding Dresses with a Twist at DressV

You can get the bottoms ruffled up (left) or puffy (right).

You can get them in different colours, depending on whether you preferred the Red Wedding or the Purple Wedding of Game of Thrones. :p

Or you can stick with a simple and elegant look while becoming the real belle of every ball with stunning details and sequins with this number:

Check out all of DressV's mermaid wedding dresses here: http://www.dressv.com/mermaid-wedding-dresses-c103392/

Although I don't have any plans of getting married soon, I do still thoroughly enjoy seeing what types of dresses are available for brides nowadays. I also enjoy seeing that more and more brides are starting to veer away from the classic and adding new twists to their weddings with dresses like these.

Not looking for wedding dresses at the moment? You may also see their other dress collections at the main site: http://www.dressv.com/ Either way, DressV always provides stunning dresses at great prices!

Mermaid Wedding Dresses with a Twist at DressV

True Friends are Like Superheroes.

I was clearing out my phone's pictures when I stumbled upon these old photos that Gerd took of me during the start of the year - back when I wasn't as fat or as depressed as I currently am. Lol. See, when I get depressed, I eat my feelings and then I get fat. Yes, this is the reason why I gain an intense amount of weight every now and then.

Things haven't been going well for me, in general. Things are shitty at home. I disappointed someone important to me. The babydaddy is making things difficult once again. I had a falling out with one of my oldest friends. Plus, I recently found out that the guy that I like has a girlfriend. Such is my life.

I also recently realised that I don't have a lot of true friends, in general. What are true friends, in my opinion? The friends who contact you out of nowhere just to ask how you are. The friends who actually find and make time to see you, no matter how busy their schedules are. The friends who really give a genuine shit about you, basically.

Like superheroes, true friends don't ask for anything in return when it comes to favors, either. They help out because they want to.

On the flip side, true friends also appreciate the help that is given to them and are humble and grateful, whether things work out the way they imagined them to or not.

Today, I have decided to no longer waste my time on people who give me conditions or people who don't appreciate my efforts. Instead, I vow to only focus on the ones that matter, grow my bonds with them and let those bonds grow.

Hopefully, by cutting off all of the people who are merely there for convenience or entertainment, I can find it in myself to be happy with my life, stop binge-eating and work on a better and healthier me. Wish me luck!

Austenland: DVD Review and Giveaway

Austenland: DVD Review and Giveaway

If you know me and if you have read any of my movie reviews in the past, you should know I'm not much of a chick flick girl. In fact, I abhor chick flicks and steer clear of them altogether.

While I am also a bookworm, I don't read any romance novels nor have I read a single Jane Austen novel in my life (so far… I'll get on it - I promise!)

So, I really wasn't very excited to watch "Austenland". I hadn't even heard of it before. Since I like the element of surprise, I didn't even read the back of the DVD. All I knew was that Felicity was in it and that it had something to do with Jane Austen novels. Lol.

Austenland: DVD Review and Giveaway

The premise of "Austenland" was pretty easy to figure out from the beginning. There's this girl who's obsessed with Jane Austen and she spends all of her life savings to go to "Austenland" for the 'ultimate Jane Austen experience'. How chick flick-y could you get?

I found myself rolling my eyes by this point, but fortunately, I find Jennifer Coolidge downright entertaining. So, when she showed up - in full insane pinkified attire, I might add - I figured I'd be able to survive the rest of the movie. 

What happened to me after they reached Austenland, however, was intense. I found myself jumping up and down on my bed with a huge grin on my face. I sat up. I inched closer to the TV screen. And I paid so much more attention to the movie, completely ignoring the text messages on my phone and just gushing and gushing and gushing. Why? I'll show you why:

via clotureclub.com

Let me explain: I AM IN LOVE WITH TOM HIDDLESTON. Like, no matter how bad things get in life, show me a meme of Tom Hiddleston and I'll get an instant grin on my face, no matter what.

Well, without my glasses, this guy looked exactly like Tom Hiddleston. In fact, I didn't even realize he wasn't Tom Hiddleston until the end credits rolled. Mega fail on my part, but I don't even care. THEY LOOK ALIKE. COME ON.

via moustacheislove.deviantart.com

I actually plan on watching "Captain America" now coz of him. <3

Anyway, yes, the non-chick-flick-lover that is me ended up loving this movie coz of the eye candy. And, because I want to share this awesome new eye candy discovery and his uber sexy English accent with you, here's a giveaway for a copy of "Austenland" that you can keep and re-watch for yourself. :D 3 winners for this!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Whether you are a fan of chick flicks or not and whether you read Jane Austen novels or not, "Austenland" is definitely an entertaining (and eye candy-filled!!!) watch. It's the kind of movie you can watch over and over again (well, in my case, anyway coz I'm mababaw) and will make you giddy like a lil school girl.

And OMG! Jane Seymour (of "Somewhere in Time" fame) is in it, too - and she's still a beauty after all this time.

I give it 3.5 stars out of 5. :)

This delightful rom-com is now available on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Magnavision. It is based on a novel by Shannon Hale. :)

Austenland: DVD Review and Giveaway

Solo Summer x Online Model Contest Winners

Solo Summer x Online Model Contest Winners

Summer is slowly kicking in!  Are you ready?

Well, the Solo Summer Collection 2014 is up to complete your summer essentials and set your summer vibes high!

Solo Summer Collection 2014

The Solo Summer collection is composed of wide-range swimwear pieces that cater to different types of young.

Boasting different looks for Him and Her, such as tribal prints, floral patterns, and solid colors strategically placed on bandeaus, bikini tops and high-waisted bottoms, these pieces create a fun statement!

The hot collection features this year’s Solo Online Model Contest Grand Winners, Renee Soraya Hassani and John Edward Custodio who stood out among almost a hundred hopeful ladies and gents! The photo shoot was directed and photographed by hot fashion photog Doc Marlon.

Renee, 22, recently finished Interior Design at Philippine School of Interior Design, and is now part of their family business. “I want to contribute among the wide varieties of beauty our world has come to define today,” Renee said.

 

John Edward, 21 is set to fulfill his dreams of being an actor by venturing to modeling.

Brush the summer jitters away and conquer the hot season in tribal or floral prints from this year’s one-stop summer shop - either online or offline!

For more information, please log on to http://www.solo.com.ph or like Solo on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mysoloonline. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @MySoloOnline :)

Solo Summer x Online Model Contest Winners

Need a Skin Whitening Miracle?

Do you remember my last SkinWhite blog post? If so, then you should know that I am an avid fan and believer of the brand. As such, I got really excited when I heard about their latest product offer through social media.

Generally speaking, I am proud of my morena skin. However, there is a fine line between being beautifully morena and looking like you basked under the sun without sunblock for days on end.

Unfortunately, I'm quite the forgetful type. A couple of months ago, we went to Clark, Pampanga for some fun in the sun and the minute we reached Pampangueno territory, I realised I had forgotten my sunblock. So, after basking under the sun all day, I got darker - and not the sexy tan kind of dark, either. I ended up looking like a burnt piece of paper - un-moisturized and all.

Thank goodness for the SkinWhite PowerWhitening Lotion. :)

What I love the most about this new lotion of SkinWhite is that it has an INSTANT effect. This means I get to look whiter the minute it settles onto my skin – or, at the latest, a minute after I apply it. This is all due to its Tri-Power Technology that also significantly whitens in as fast as 7 days, and when used continuously, reveals skin's whitest white!

It kinda works like the iWhite Facial Cream, basically. My biggest problem with that facial cream, though, is the fact that I end up with a white face and a dark body afterwards. Lol. Now I have an all-body "BB cream" that whitens the rest of my body and evens things out.

It gets even better: after just a week of using it, I had my regular non-burnt-paper-looking skin back. Booyah!

Seriously: how cool is that? You can see the change pretty clearly! I literally brought the lotion with me to demonstrate it to my friend last night and she was amazed by it - BB cream for the body!

Gotta love SkinWhite!

SkinWhite PowerWhitening Lotion

50 mL, Php71; 100 mL, Php123.25; 200 mL, Php 235

The SkinWhite PowerWhitening Lotion is made by Splash Corporation, the biggest Filipino-owned personal care company in the country.

For more information on SkinWhite products, like them on Facebook or watch the PowerWhitening Lotion commercial here.

You can watch the SkinWhite PowerWhitening Lotion commercial via this link: http://bit.ly/InstantWhite and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V9JYVmfFYo

FutureMe.org - A Surprise Birthday Message for Me From Me

It's my birthday today.

Compared to my past birthday celebrations (most notably, bowling+beer day and Zambales weekend), this one was exceedingly tame.

I spent my salubong night pigging out at Sofitel with my When in Manila family, and then ended the night at my Southern friend's newest crib YOLO-ing like a teenager. Today was spent having halo-halo to beat the heat, and getting meetings and errands done before ending it with a short busker listening sesh with the child.

My only gift this year was a so-me treasure chest, and nothing extremely eventful went on; however, I did collect a lot of memorable conversations and one extremely inspirational and straight-to-the-heart surprise birthday message from none other than... my past self!

I am sharing the message here with hopes of inspiring you to write your future self some messages, as well. After all, nobody knows you better than you, and things like this can really, truly make you feel better later on down the line - especially when you've already forgotten you sent it. Take it from me.

Here it is:

(click photo to enlarge)

(I had to Photoshop-whiteout certain names and events, but I hope it still makes sense.)

Want to write your future self some inspirational letters? Visit FutureMe.org - it's a great pastime! While there have been times where I hated Past-Anj for sending super vague letters with events that I no longer remembered, there are times - like today - where everything just made perfect sense.

Thank you, Past-Anj. You rocked my birthday socks. :)