Human Heart Nature

Being a consumer, and trying to be a thrifty consumer, I always try to make my purchases "make sense." While my small aparador is bursting to the seams, my beauty products are limited and well-edited. I am not a beauty junkie and do not hoard a lot of beauty stuff. I always want to keep things efficient. To illustrate, I don't want to waste water, and money, and products, I shampoo my hair every other day. This habit eliminated too much build-up in my scalp. While my hair is thin and fine and straight, and does not need chemical straightening, my scalp is a problem. I feel that my scalp is undernourished. I have tried several hair conditioners but they all failed me -- Creamsilk, Pantene, and L'Oreal. They were boo. Creamsilk was too heavy and left my face oily. Pantene was not effective and only left my scalp drier. L'Oreal was worse. I could not comb my hair after. It got tangled and was not smooth. Then I discovered (advertisement?). Ok, ok. I've had a Human Heart Nature Catalog in my bed stand for almost 4 months when I finally decided to buy a conditioner. I was actually going to buy a line of products but I still had enough soap and shampoo, so I didn't think it was practical. This conditioner lasted me about a month, or less. I used it generously because I liked that my hair felt very clean after rinsing. I also used it every other two days. I felt I met my conditioner soulmate. :P But no. I did not like the calamansi smell of this, so when I finished this whole bottle, I bought another one, the one with Gugo and Calamansi and Peppermint, and I could truly say I was in conditioner heaven. I loved the peppermint and the cool feeling when rinsing. What's even better with Human Heart Nature products in general is that they are "100% no harmful chemicals and 100% made in the Philippines." Based on this conditioner alone, I can say the product is of good quality and is well-priced. I don't and won't feel guilty buying these products, knowing I am not adding pollutants and not harming myself; instead, I am helping. The company, which is related to Gawad-Kalinga, has been in the market for some time and I regretted that I only discovered it last year. But it's never too late to make a positive switch right? More of Human Heart Nature in this Web site and Facebook page. *** This is not a paid write-up.

Beauty and Butter

Last Thursday, I got invited to the launch of Beauty and Butter's branch in Cebu -- at SM Northwing, near Forever Flawless.  I am admittedly not a fan of mani/pedi because (a) I don't want another person poking into my hands/feet, (b) it takes too long, and (c) I don't want to spend money just having my nails cleaned.  I can very well do them myself.  But then, Mac invited me and I wanted to see her and catch up.  So there I am. :)

To say I'm sold is an understatement.  I tried the hand paraffin and it was hot! :) But very relaxing afterwards, esp. if you're like me who spend most of my waking hours typing words in a computer.  The staff was very friendly.  The lady who attend to me had very soft and gentle hands I could not feel anything.  Of course I was already very tired [see picture above], and I felt like sleeping all throughout.  And they use top-quality organic products. [I super laaav et!]  Thanks to Mac and Kwey.

Visit Beauty and Butter's tumblr here

Lunchbox Notes

I am not (yet) a mother, but when I read this article from The Wall Street Journal, I found it cute and caring and loving.  Lunchbox notes are easy-to-make, thrifty, do not cost a lot, and very personal.  I think children would love these...and I think we need these, especially with the rising incidents of teenage suicides.

Life's Greatest Pleasures

can come from the smallest of all things.

I've been really busy the past five months because of school, and I did not have enough time to do the many things I love to do -- like thrift shop and cook(!). Now that the semester's over, I have more than enough time in my hands to do many things, and/or do nothing (which I love doing!). :)

So, last Sunday, my sister and I went thrift shopping to our hearts' desire and I am just waiting for the clothes to dry so I can wear them. We also went out to see Eat, Pray, Love, which for me, was a beautifully crappy movie. (Julie Roberts + Javier Bardem + food + Italy = beautiful!)

And I got to cook! I am not a very good cook. In fact, in our family (which, by the way, consists of my father, my mother, a sister, a brother and a nephew), I think I am the least gifted when it comes to cooking, aside from my brother, who's just so lazy he doesn't cook unless left on his own, and my nephew, who's just seven years old and is barely tall enough to reach the oven top.

But I love cooking.. often, it's only I who eat what I cook. It's pathetic. That's why I only sometimes cook for myself. And, so, I cooked spaghetti, which is, probably my what you'll call, "comfort food." :)

some photos

thanks for your sweet comments. :) here are some of my photos I made into a collage. :) by the way, i keep a tumblr site for them.

Inside the ANThill

Pictures inside the ANThill.

clothes . . . fabrics

woven mats . . . native necklaces

dress/fashion book

the gallery's line: Re/Dress

pouches

ANThill Fabric Gallery
cor. Acacia & Mariposa Sts.
Cebu City
Web site here

What I Did Today

Have You Seen These?

originally from this article at Refinery 29

Birthday Food!

Cheap Food: Bais/Dumaguete

This blog is not just about cheap finds (clothes) at the thrift stores. This blog is also about cheap finds outside the thrift stores -- cheap ways to travel, etc.

Whenever my boyfriend and I travel, our top priority is always to see to it that the place we're going to has decent places where we can eat. While Dumaguete City is bursting with food places, Bais City is the opposite.

Photos (top to bottom):
- Hotcake & Ice Crumble (P10)
- Cheeseburger (?)
- Egg & Cheese Sandwich (?)
- Beef Stew, Potato Croquette, Greek Salad, and Chicken Asparagus Soup (P300 or less)
- Spanish Chorizo, Scrambled Eggs (P150 or less)
- Spanish Omelet (P150 or less)

first 4 photos by Joel Lopez
last 2 photos by me