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The more you give, the more you receive.

Yes, and it takes only one book to pay it forward when you join our book exchange. Right now we have so many people getting into this and spreading love and good vibes to all! It's based on a very simple idea. Give one book, find 6 friends to join you, and you get 36 books in return... and even more if you tell ALL your friends about it and let them join in the fun, too!



Curious? Leave your name and email and I'll tell you how it works and how to join. Okay? Trust me, it's very simple.




So if you're a mom, mom-to-be, or a dad or even a grandparent who wants to do something AMAZING for your kid(s), what have you got to lose? Even if you don't get a book back (which I doubt would ever happen!), the thought that you've given just one book to make one kid happy, then that's all that matters.


In this digital age, I think it is our responsibility to teach kids the value of books.


Stay happy!

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!

I wasn't always the most organized person in the world. In fact I was "The Greatest Slob of All". But all that has since changed... just like I predicted back when I was young and seventeen.



Eventually life takes you down a path where you have to stop and take a good look at your life and think about how you can make it better. You don't need to wait for life to throw lemons at you to make lemonade. Why? Because every day we have a choice to make one if we want to. So yes, life is what we make it. That's the real truth.

So the question that I am recently faced with is “What do you do 2x a week to keep you feeling clean and sexy?” That's a no-brainer. I'm vain and I know it and because of that I have a routine I'd like to share with you and this really helps me to boost confidence and even feel sexy. It's all about the attitude and discipline. Take a look at my weekly routine below and as you continue reading my blog, you'll see why #IDoItTwiceAWeek.


For me, the formation of habit is really important. Once I'm set on a routine, it's just automatic. You don't have to drag yourself once you get the whole thing dialed in. My weight gain/loss journey is something that's a rollercoaster ride but no matter how much I'm tipping the scale, I always feel sexy. How so? Because sexy is not your vital statistics. It is how you feel when you're comfortable and confident in your own skin. Here, let me explain it some more.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. 

While cleaning is still not my strongest suit, there really is a huge difference when everything is spic and span. There's just more positive energy flowing and you get to do things quicker and more efficiently because you don't waste time looking for stuff you've misplaced or forgotten. My husband's belief of a having "a place for everything" has rubbed off on me. So glad I married a neat freak. Although I don't have time to clean stuff up everyday, #IDoItTwiceAWeek.(Saturdays and Sundays)



Three decades and more of existence has taught me one very important thing -- the power of your mind. Remember that dude, Rene Descartes? I totally agree when he said, "I think, therefore, I am." Cogito ergo sum. This is open to many interpretations but it doesn't change the fact that when you stop and think, breathe and reflect, focus and concentrate... your purpose becomes clearer and life just gets better. Try it. #IDoItTwiceAWeek (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Everything starts from within, right? That's why I love my coffee with grass-fed butter and MCT oil because it just clears my head and lets me think straight. But we also need to take care of our body externally and we can do this by sweating the bad stuff out, ergo, exercising.

I'm no longer gym rat because honestly, I don't have time for that. But I am a fan of high intensity interval training and circuit training. You can do them without a gym membership, in your own time and place. (Wednesdays and Saturdays for me.) Another favorite of mine is a quick nature trip and ending with some earthing or grounding to neutralize all my energy and feel like new. And yeah, #IDoItTwiceAWeek. (Tuesdays and Thursdays)


As mentioned, vanity is my weakness and even though most people really can't be bothered with exfoliating their skin, I am one who actually does this... like religiously. If you don't do this, you're missing out a lot and if you've got skin problems like me, this is your golden ticket to achieving healthy and glowing skin. That's why #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Tuesdays and Fridays)

You are what you eat! So even if I cheat a lot, I am determined to eat clean and eat healthy as much as possible and if I can't because I'm only human and I get tempted to eat all those unhealthy food, I always make it a point that I get to eat my servings of fruits and veggies and #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Tuesdays and Fridays)

Juicing has done me a lot of good and I'm always happy to share my juicing experience and recipes to anyone who wants to lose weight and just feel healthy overall. I mostly do it for cleansing nowadays and it's always effective and has nothing but good side effects. That's enough reason for me and #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Mondays and Wednesdays)

As a woman who gets crazy periods and hormones enough to drive me to the brink of insanity, I am particularly interested in relieving every kind of feminine discomfort. I mean, who can stand irritations down there? Not to mention the possibilities of infection! And it's not very easy to hide this feeling of being self-conscious, distracted and simply un-sexy. You know, that's why prevention is always better than cure. Fortunately, BETADINE® Feminine Wash is here to help. That's why Clean is the new Sexy and #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Mondays and Thursdays)

Join the #SexyCleanRevolution and use BETADINE® Feminine Wash TWICE A WEEK to stay clean down there and feel confident and sexy always.

No more worrying about odor for that extra confidence boost especially when Aunt Flo comes to visit during RED DAYS. BETADINE® Feminine Wash is a Povidone Iodine 7.5% antiseptic feminine wash that offers protection from common germs which is the cause of feminine discomfort. Mothers are often prescribed this product by medical doctors after giving birth. Do you know it ranks #3 in the Feminine Wash Category? Yup and it’s also #1 in Liquid Antiseptic Feminine Wash Category.


I believe that all of us women need to take care of ourselves and we can always start by staying clean in our intimate area to harness our inner sexiness. *wink* 

Remember, Clean Living... Clean Mind... Clean Body...

because CLEAN IS THE NEW SEXY!

I broke out like a b*tch the past few months, primarily because of my crazy hormones. I had a 60-day period (TMI!) and my adrenals have been out of whack. Due to all kinds of stress I'm dealing with, my skin suffered a whole lot... obviously. Which brings me to feature my latest acne skincare routine with Rucy's Vanity Foam Cleansing Green Tea, Acne Toner, and Acne Lotion.


It's not that all my other acne regimen aren't working but this time I wanted to try something new. So here's my personal review of this acne skincare routine.

RUCY'S VANITY FOAM CLEANSING GREEN TEA (Php 130.00) - This product is surprisingly mild. Maybe I was expecting something a little more "chemical" but considering it's main ingredient is green tea, it definitely exceeded my expectation. What I love about it is its cleansing power and of course, it does contain collagen! WOOT! I'm a huge fan of all things collagen especially now that there's no way to turn back the hands of time. Might as well try and stop aging early on and try to preserve whatever youthfulness I can. Accordingly, green tea extracts effectively remove harmful bacteria in your skin caused by makeup and environmental pollution. So this product does actually get rid of excessive oil and you know I am like a greaseball! It doesn't sting my face or anything like that even when my skin broke out.  As far as fragrance, I can't really tell because it's that mild for me.

RUCY'S VANITY ACNE TONER (Php 140.00) - First and foremost, NO STING AT ALL! In fact, because it contains tea tree and aloe, it has a rather soothing effect on my acne and very beneficial for its topical antiseptic and infection-reducing properties. It helps control inflammation and for oil-control, too. This toner is suitable for acne prone, oily and sensitive skin. Definitely something I would recommend for people out there who are suffering from breakouts and acne. Fragrance is also mild (if there is any at all!) so it shouldn't be an issue for anyone who wants an additional product to cleanse their face of impurities.

RUCY'S VANITY ACNE LOTION (Php 160.00) - This works perfectly with the acne toner with all the similar beneficial ingredients. I highly recommend using this as the final step of your Rucy's Vanity acne regimen to keep that acne at bay.

As you can see, these products are super affordable and definitely worth a try for those of you who are looking for a new acne skincare regimen and/or if your current products aren't working anymore. Sad to say, I've discovered something like my skin eventually gets "immune" to certain products if I use them for a long time, which is why I tend to rotate my skincare regimen every once in a while. These do have parabens in them but we know that cosmetics need that for shelf life. It's also not as bad as people deemed it is. Studies have already revealed the truth that "on a global scale, there has been an exhaustive degree of scientific and medical studies demonstrating the safety of parabens used in skin care and cosmetics. The tiny levels used in your personal care products are not harmful."

Alright, moving on. Here are some basic makeup and Korean cosmetics from Rucy's Vanity which I find essential for daily use.


RUCY'S VANITY WHITENING COLOR CONTROL CC CREAM (Php 320.00) - Comes in 2 shades, #21 Natural and #23 Oak. I always prefer CC creams over BB creams chiefly because of the "color correction". With all the redness and blemishes on my face, I could definitely get more from a CC cream over any BB cream. Also, a lot of BB creams broke me out. CC creams tend to be more forgiving on my skin. With all the benefits you can get like UV Protection with SPF 30 PA+++ (and don't get me started on sun care), anti-wrinkle and whitening effects, soothing the skin and evening out imperfections, and acting as a moisturizer and makeup base, I think this is something you should check out as well.

RUCY'S VANITY TWO WAY CAKE (Php 320.00) - It comes in two shades, #21 Natural Beige and #23 Dark Beige. Yet another affordable Korean cosmetic from Rucy's Vanity which I am loving to bits! I mean, come on, it's got a lid on the powder which prevents it from spilling should you happen to break it (though I don't see why you'd do that but hey, accidents happen!). The foam/puff that comes with it is small so you might want to use a brush for full coverage application instead. The foam/puff though is great for touch-ups. Remember DAB, NOT RUB! (Watch my Korean makeup tutorial video below and you'll see what I mean!) I'm using this as my go-to daily face power foundation now.

RUCY'S VANITY LIP & CHEEK RED TINT (Php 80.00) - For all lip/cheek tint fans out there, here's something for you. I love that it doesn't necessarily stain your fingers during application like most similar products do. It's not so sticky either and leaves a very pretty not so subtle tint. And yes, it's got green tea and collagen in it! Need I say more?

So there we have it, ladies and gents, for my Rucy's Vanity Korean Cosmetics review. Because I've reached 1,000 subscribers in my YouTube channel, I feel I owe it to my viewers and blog readers to give you a little something extra.