I'm still on a self-imposed makeup ban but this is an exception! What is? Well, I saw this really nice vanity case by Suesh at http://beautymnl.com while window shopping, or should I say, monitor shopping.


With too much makeup on my table, I've honestly run out of places to stash them. Which I think very well justifies my need to get this... ASAP!!! Also it's very hard to find vanity kits and makeup cases locally, so my best option is to buy online. I know these things are limited in quantity and very much in demand, so I went ahead to order it before it got sold out. Note: That was 5 days ago (if you count the weekend).

Ordering is easy as 1, 2, 3!

You simply add the item in your cart and when you're ready to checkout, you can input your shipping details. They deliver NATIONWIDE. They also have this box that let's you put in an authorized recipient's name and phone number just in case you're not there to receive the package. Awesome added security!


Then you choose your payment method with whatever's convenient for you and there are 4 options. You know what? I've been doing online shopping for a decade now and I seem to have developed a radar to detect legit and scam sites. A lot of my friends come to me before they buy something online and they ask, "Hey, is this site for real?" Even since I got scammed some years ago, I'm always wary of sites that only allow online payment transfers (you know, LBC Pera Padala, Western Union, GCash, Smart Money and the likes). That's a big red flag there. If an online store, in this case BeautyMNL, offers CASH ON DELIVERY or BANK DEPOSIT payment methods, it's a green light for me. Moreover, I prefer paying via credit card or Paypal, so that's a plus for me, too!


Then you get a payment confirmation in your email once your transaction goes through. And you can also track your order under your account at BeautyMNL.


And because I'm geographically challenged, I was expecting my order to arrive sometime around October 1st because of the long weekend, but lo and behold, it's here!!! It arrived today, the 28th of September!


Well, that was fast and I am totally impressed! Great job, BeautyMNL! I think LBC also did a great job packing up my order, so *clap*clap*!


Wrapped like a boss and after inspection, item has no damage! First time buyer here and they definitely made a good first impression. BeautyMNL isn't just an online shop that sells a curated assortment of makeup and skincare products from the most basic beauty staples to the elusive Moroccan Argan oil and Korean snail cream. BeautyMNL has an online magazine called Bloom, that "provides fun and insightful articles tailor-fit to the Filipina’s lifestyle, whether it’s finding a good sunscreen for Philippine weather or the best shade of red lipstick to match your skin tone." With the help of known celebrity gurus, BeautyMNL brings you tips, easy how-tos, and great beauty trends you can actually rock in the tropics.

So yeah, back to my order. It's a Pink Quilted Vanity Case by Suesh. I didn't expect it to be this big actually, even though the website clearly specified the dimensions. I suck at Math... so there! Nevertheless, they actually do have full descriptions of the listed products on the website. Well, I'm very happy with this purchase and here are some photos I took to preserve this unboxing moment.




It's so nice!!! It's perfect for travelling and perhaps I can start doing freelance makeup artist gigs (when I have the time) now that I have this additional vanity case to stash all my beauty weapons. All in all, I'm definitely going back to shop some more at BeautyMNL (soon after my beauty ban is lifted!) and I highly recommend you guys check them out at http://beautymnl.com!

Growing up, I may have amassed a huge collection of borloloys and kutingtings. I probably got it from my mom who also likes collecting these accessories and adding them to her ensemble. I remember going to bazaars and scouring malls to find these trinkets. As much as I have enjoyed hunting for rare and unique pieces, alas, I am a SAHM now and my mom is not so much the travel bug that she used to be.

Borloloy queen circa 2006 #throwback

But here comes the Internet, which is an amazing place and with the boom of E-commerce, I found an online shop that caters to such whimsy. Introducing TRINKETS & STONES!

http://instagram.com/trinketsandstones

This Cebu-based craft shop specializes in stone settings and charm bracelets, one of my weaknesses. They have an amazing collection of these unique pieces that you can customize and personalize all you want. It's really the sweetest gift you can give to someone or even perhaps as a giveaway to your friends during weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and other special occasions.

Very classy packaging!

Now check out my very own "Basta Igat, Sikat!" Charm Bracelet. And yes, they do metal stamping, too! I am in love, love, loooooooooove!!!


My customized charm bracelet's got everything I stand for as of the moment and also tells you want I'm into. First and foremost, my slogan, Basta Igat, Sikat! and then there's the passport which signifies my love for travel, scissors for my crafts, a camera because I'm still very much into photography, a cute cookbook since I cook a lot, and of course, a butterfly because that's always been my symbol (but you already know that if you've been following me since my blog's inception).

Spot the hidden message! #trinketsandstones #handstampedjewelry #handstampedcuff #cuff #cebu #manila #handmadeph #customizedph

A photo posted by Trinkets & Stones (@trinketsandstones) on Apr 14, 2015 at 5:50am PDT

I'm going to order this metal cuff bracelet next. Isn't it gorgeous?! Their creations are so beautiful and the possibilities are endless because you're the designer and you can create just about anything you can think of. I assure you that anyone who receives a personalized gift will be very ecstatic! Come on, let's spread happiness!

It's always a joy to create something unique and personal. Here's one of our recent projects, a set of customized hand stamped necklaces for J&J's bridesmaids, each with a charm matching each lady's personality. How cute and thoughtful is that? #trinketsandstones #handstampedjewelry #charmnecklace #necklace #manilaweddings #cebuweddings #manila #cebu #bridesmaidgift #customizedph

A photo posted by Trinkets & Stones (@trinketsandstones) on Mar 18, 2015 at 1:52am PDT

Natural wonders. #trinketsandstones #quartz #druzy #amethyst #necklace

A photo posted by Trinkets & Stones (@trinketsandstones) on Jan 28, 2015 at 7:50am PST

For more handcrafted goodness, you can follow TRINKETS & STONES on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, and TUMBLR.

"When you learn, teach. When you get, give." — Maya Angelou 

Check out my first ever beauty session with these lovely ladies... I'll let the photos speak for themselves. *wink*



That's 6 hours of sheer beauty fun! Get your kikayness on! Message/email me if you're interested to do a beauty session with me here in Ormoc City, Leyte. Minimum of 2, maximum of 4 persons. Lunch will be served. Preferred schedule of class is either Sunday or Monday, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Beauty BFFs - Caine, Claire, your truly, Roma, and Marian

Thank you to my sponsors, SALA Lounge + Café and Pretty Angel Shoppe with the invaluable support of cariño mio Noodle Boy and the assistance of Mary Anne Pepito. Thank you Lord for this amazing opportunity.  All for your greater glory and honor!



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Living out here in the province has its ups and downs, and one particular disappointment is the unavailability of certain "wants". Okay, I said wants because frankly speaking, I have everything I need here and wishes not to move into some urban jungle anytime soon. But thanks to the Internet, somehow the world has become smaller, people are much closer, and well, everything you can possible want can be bought online.

For this post, I'm going to show you how I "ombre'd" my dull lifeless hair. I'm not sure we have salons (parlors) that specialize in this and honestly, I didn't want to spend a fortune on something I feel I can do on my own. Ahem, with the help of the girls at home though. We're talking about bleaching here, so I can really use all the help I can get.


Thanks to blogs and tutorials I found online, I accomplished this little experiment for only like 1/8 of what I'd pay for had I chosen to have it done professionally. Ah well. I've my guts to thank too and HBC/Hortaleza for having everything I need to do this. Here are the things you'll need if you want to do-it-yourself:

1. Powdered bleach (DO NOT *under any circumstances* SNIFF THIS! LOL!)
2. Oxidizing lotion or developer 6% and/or 9% (or 12% if you will)
3. 7.0 Medium Blonde hair coloring cream
4. 7.5 Light Chestnut Brown hair coloring cream
5. Hair spa treatment (a must if you want to breathe in life to your dead hair)
6. Gloves (because the bleach will burn the hell out of your hands!)
7. Plastic bowl and comb/dye applicator


Alright, so first things first. Sectioning your hair to get that gradient effect. Bleach the tips of your hair first then cut the rubber bands and proceed to bleaching the next section up. Make sure to check on your hair (obsessively-compulsively) to reach the desired color. It took just a couple of minutes for my hair to go super light. Maybe because my hair was light to begin with. If you have dark hair, I suggest you leave it on for a while.


The last two top sections of my hair I did not have to bleach because I want them darker so I used the MEDIUM BLONDE and LIGHT CHESTNUT BROWN colors. This is so I can have that fade effect. I know it's not perfect, but hey I'm no professional. I can live with the uneven colors. ;)

Ombre hair by MyMaria

So this is how my hair looks like and how I managed to get it to look like that. It's not really that bad in real life. I actually did the hair spa treatment for 3 days in a row just to make sure I didn't actually [double] kill whatever fine hair I have left. Also my hair was layered to begin with so getting the colors right was really challenging enough. But I'm very happy really. I mean, for less than P500 give or take (since I used leftover hair dye so I can't really say how much I spent) I think we did a terrific job attempting ombre hair.

Filtered and posted at Instagram. Follow me @mrsnoodleboy!

My hair unbrushed and unwashed. It got curly because I twisted it into a ponytail bun the night before.

Anyway, if you can have a professional do it for you and you can afford it, by all means, why not? But if you are up for a challenge, then go for it!

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

Tweet/Instagram/Tag me in your photos should you decide to do the ombre hair yourself! Good luck!




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