Gold Facial, Anyone?

I love gold. In fact, I’m so fascinated of this metal that I started collecting small pieces of jewelry when I begun earning my own money. You can never get wrong for wearing a gold, it’s elegant and timeless. But what about using them for facial? Yes, as in facial. Would you?

If you think that wearing gold jewelry is the only way to shimmer and make heads turn, think again. There has been a lot of news and advertisement lately about gold for improving skin and beauty. It has been claimed by cosmetic companies that this desirable metal really works magic on skin as it can make one look younger and considered to be a powerful anti-ageing treatment. Who wouldn't one a younger looking skin?

Then one day, I got a window of chance to experience this promise of a “sparkling smooth skin” and “without wrinkles” when I bumped into an Orogold Cosmetics promoter along the newly-opened mall in Singapore (Westgate). The promoter or sales person invited me to their newly-opened shop and had me sit down. He started asking my beauty regimen, products I'm using and other stuff while he was applying some sort of gold scrub on my hand. We waited for a few seconds then he tried rubbing it off taking some of my dead skin. He asked me to rinse it off quickly and wipe it dry. Afterwards he held my two hands together asking whether I can see the difference. At that time, I can hardly see the difference maybe because I regularly scrub my skin with my “trusted” beauty brand.

He then showed me another one, a facial scrub which he said were made of 24k gold. He started applying it on my face while talking about the benefits. According to him, this gold facial reduce fine lines, prevent ageing, enhance elasticity and among other things. After a while, he asked me to rinse it off and feel my rejuvenated skin. In fairness, it smoothen and lightened my skin a bit. Somehow, it may have removed some of the wastes and toxins in my skin. And it was just one application. Imagine the difference if the product will be used in a regular basis.

There’s one catch though, the price. It is gold, literally gold. I decided not to take any of the products the sales person offered. Even though their gold facial scrub products do actually work, I wouldn’t buy one. I know I could find an alternative facial that will give me same or better results without paying a gold price.

I will still buy 24k gold though, only jewelries. 

Would you like to try Oro Gold Cosmetics for yourself? You can find them at the following locations:

Orchard Gateway

218 Orchard Road SINGAPORE 238851

Directions

Raffles City	252 North Bridge Road Raffles City , SINGAPORE 179103	Directions
Suntec City mall	3 Temasek Blvd. Suntec City, SINGAPORE 038983	Directions

Marina Bay Sands Hotel	10 Bayfront Ave Singapore, 018956	Directions
West Gate	39 Robinson Road West Gate, SINGAPORE 068911	Directions

Getting Inspiration from the "Innocent World"

I haven't been writing or painting for quite some time now. It's been almost two months since my last blog. I've been quite busy in the past few days. Or maybe am I just pretending to be busy in my life? Well, honestly, I wasn't that busy... I guess I just don't have enough inspiration to write or paint something lately.
 

That's why I abandoned my comfort crib for a while and journeyed to the city to be inspired by “Innocent World”. It is a solo exhibition by a Japanese Painter Tomoyuki Kambe. The exhibition features various aspects of traditional Japanese painting styles that depicts the artist’s observation “that the big world is made of many tiny elements and living things around us”. The artist combines traditional art medium with modern technique to create art pieces that illuminate on the philosophy of seeing a world in a grain of sand. This is really evident on his latest and exquisite paintings displayed at Japan Creative Centre during the exhibition.

Some of the artworks at the exhibition

 

Impressive representation of nature...
the pebbles, small animals, and tiny plants...
Very detailed work of art

"Reaching Out"

 

In this big big world, it's the small thing that makes it more interesting. Now, I'm inspired.

Putting Some Orange in Life, Literally & Figuratively



"Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions,
it is governed by our mental attitude." -- Dale Carnegie

In today's fast-paced living environment, every one of us is facing myriads of tough life's challenges such as demands from works, families, peers or friends. As a person with multiple roles in life, we are expected to do more than what seems we can do. We are required to fulfill duties and responsibilities beyond our available resources and even beyond our preferences.





More often than not, these demands create more pressures to our already stressful life. We either embrace or shun away from these demands. When we try to clinch too hard on these, we could end up sabotaging our own health and sometimes, even our relationships with other people. And when we try to avoid these additional stresses, we’re running away from changes, possibilities and opportunities that can help us grow further. If too often, we continue to resist change and always do the same thing over and over again, we will get bored, we will languish. It’s fine to welcome additional responsibilities and demands in life, as long as we can keep up in caring ourselves and others. It’s also ok to do things over and over again, especially if the method is a proven success, but we must welcome change and improvement. It is important to spice things up in our lives once in awhile to discover new things and find new successes. As some say, we need to put some orange in our lives. If I say “orange”, I mean, literally and figuratively.



"When life gives you lemons, make orange juice
and leave everyone wondering." - Anonymous

In color psychology, orange is the color of adventure, cheerfulness and inquisitiveness. It has a “freeing action upon the body and mind, relieving repressions”. So whenever life feels dragging, it’s time to get some orange to refresh, reenergize and relax.

Below are some of the “oranges” that can improve our lives in some way or another: 

Orange for Relationships

Happiness – not necessary smiling at all times or getting what we want, but rather its being contented with what we have and living with a thought and meaning

Kindness - practice random acts of compassion at any time, in anywhere to anyone.

Encouragement – praise others even for a small success and inspire to do better

Orange for Work

To order g3, please leave a message.

Creativity & Energy – inject new ideas to what we do; put some humor at work; play and celebrate good times

Optimism – never lose hope and keep positive.

Motivation – learn the “whys” of what we do to keep us going.

Orange for Health

Orange/Citrus – take powerful natural antioxidant which helps the body develop resistance against harmful body agents.

G3Juice – take Superfruit blend that contains so much good stuff to increase energy and enhance longevity; promotes health in muscles and joints protecting and strengthening vital tissues.

Last but not the least; try to wear orange from time to time. Based on color psychology, wearing orange can help to balance your emotions. Especially if you are in distress, it can lift up your spirit. If you are not a fan of bright or colorful dress, just try once and have some fun.

Power Up Day

Rising Sun in Batam

Rising Sun in Batam, view from my hotel room

 

If you are living in Singapore for quite some time, you will probably get bored after visiting all the malls or you will probably get tired after working for long hours. You will probably reach to a point where you will like to go somewhere different… either to a fancier place or even to a lousier one. So one gloomy Saturday, we boarded on the ferry to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. In spite of the fatigue from the long work week in the office, I was a little jumpy while we were sailing the Singapore coast.  It always excites me to go on an adventure in a place I’m visiting for the first time.  And it was my first trip to Indonesia! We were heading to Batam which is located less than 20km from Singapore. It took us an hour before we finally reached our destination. After we pass through Immigration clearance, we hurried to collect our luggage and hopped on the tour bus.

We opted for the package tour since we didn’t have enough time for the free and easy one. Most of our companions were Chinese Singaporean; luckily, our tour guide, who is an Indonesian with Chinese descent, spoke both in English and Mandarin fluently.  Our city tour was rather too rushed. I felt like we were just given a time to take a glance and not really experience the town.  We first visited the Thua Pek Khong Temple which is said to be the oldest historical temple in Batam. I didn’t even have the chance to get in and we only managed to take a snapshot outside the temple. Then we passed by the Nagoya China Town and headed to the very popular Polo Shop. According to our tour guide, the shop sells authentic Polo by Ralph Lauren at a cheaper price. I wasn’t a fan so I didn’t buy one; rather we went to see the sidewalk shops where we met one Filipino vendor (kababayan from Mindanao) who sells woodcarvings and other home decors.

It was almost twelve noon when we finished the shopping tour. And I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and was a little starving too, but we had one more stop before lunch. A few minutes later, we finally arrived at The Batam Folk Culture Villages Miniature (Taman Mini Indonesia). It’s an open space park where you can find dozens of miniatures of local houses in Indonesia. There are several trees in the park but they aren’t fully grown yet. Thus, going around the miniature houses during the day when the sun is up wasn’t really enjoying. It was very hot and extremely humid. But in fairness, the houses were cute and lovely.

We had our seafood lunch at the seaside restaurant called Golden Prawn. Being a fan of seafood, I found the food very nice and delicious. The fish, prawns, clams, crabs, squids... what else… It was the best part of our tour. My tummy was extremely happy.
We were dropped off at our respective hotels after the sumptuous lunch. We relaxed at our room while waiting for our scheduled aromatherapy full body massage at a nearby spa. The hotel we stayed in was rated 4-star in Batam but if compared to Singapore standard, I’d think it’s below 3-star. Smoking in the reception area and even on the second floor lobby, is allowed. The hotel has only two restaurants and one bar. The breakfast menu was quite ok, mostly local food. There’s a small yet clean swimming pool and a gym too.

Batam is seemingly ordinary place to visit. It’s like a typical town in the Philippines where anyone can cross anywhere on the street or jaywalk. It’s a place where people don’t mind tossing trash left and right. But if you’re just tired of waking up day in and day out in a very stressful and workaholic type of environment and you just want to have a quick break then taking a short trip to this idyllic place is a good option.

What I love most about my Batam experience was its rising sun. The hotel room I stayed in has an unblocked view of the sea. And waking up in the morning with stunning panoramic sunrise view was priceless. It was a beautiful thing. It reminded me that every day is a new gift.  It’s a new chance to experience and appreciate both the good and the not so good in life, no matter what we’re going through, no matter where we are and no matter who are we with. The rising sun in Batam is just a simple reassurance of God’s abundant love to everyone.

 

What Is It In Iskandar Puteri (JB)?

The skyline of Johor Bahru, seen from Woodlands Waterfront

 

Most of my visits to Johor Bahru are not a matter of want, but rather a matter of need (napilitan lang, kailangan eh J).

Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim with a beautiful model

 My first visit was when we went to Kuala Lumpur where we took a bus from Larkin Terminal which is situated within Johor Bahru Sentral. Other succeeding trips were mainly to tour around families and friends visiting Singapore for the first time. Johor Bahru, commonly called as JB, is Malaysia's southernmost city, just across the border from Singapore. Currently, I live in a suburban town in northern Singapore; thus, going to JB is as easy as going to the downtown. I can even see the buildings in JB from our flat!

Getting across to Johor Bahru from Singapore is quite cheap. Bus fare to and fro will only cost about S$4.00 (roughly about Php130.00). If crossing the border by foot is allowed, then it will only cost a few calories to get there. Unfortunately, walking is prohibited. One must travel by bus or a car.

Based on experience, it was very stressful travelling during rush hour on weekdays (morning 7am-8am/6pm-8pm) and almost all day during weekends and public holidays; as there were too many people pushing and shoving, not to mention the long queue for the bus and to get through immigration. It would be more orderly and quite to travel during weekdays.

The city doesn’t have that “wow” factor that you could get from other places in Malaysia. Though JB does have tourist attractions like Legoland, Hello Kity Town, Pulai Waterfalls, Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, Danga Bay, Johor Zoo and among others, these are not within the JB Sentral. During our past visits, we only had day trips. So we only walked through the city center which seems a little run-down, scary, smelly and a bit messy. It is really not a tourist-friendly place. Travelling alone for a foreigner is a “no” “no” unless you’ll just stay inside the mall. Speaking of malls, there are myriads of shopping complexes in the city. Some offers quite competitive price compared to shops in Singapore. However, if it is compared to other cities in Malaysia, it’s a different story. I think shopping for souvenirs and other local brands in JB is much more expensive compared to Malacca or Kuala Lumpur.

Nonetheless, we managed to enjoy our little adventure by visiting some of the popular landmarks in the city. First stop, we went to Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim. It wasn’t allowed to go inside the gate, but we sneaked in while the security guard was sleeping. We get caught in the end and we were shooed away. After a few walks here and there, we reached the seemingly bizarre Bazaar St and paused for a while at the Red House in China Town. As we went on, we found ourselves in Little India. We climbed to the Hindu Temple and we walked around barefoot just like the others. Did we pray? Hmmm, we took a photo that’s all. J

After the long walks and laughs, there was nothing more to do than to fill the growling stomach. So we ended our day at the City Square Mall where we enjoyed a fresh juice and seafood delights. What’s really in JB? Nothing much, it’s just a perfect short escape from Singapore. Whether you just want it, or need it.

Family poses in front of the KTM station

Sumakay sa bas. Tumawid tulay. Sumakay naman ng teksi. Bumaba sa bangunan. Nakipagpatentero sa tawiran. Naglakad sa d mataong bazaar st. Nasilip ang bahay-tsino. Lumiko sa gawing little india. Pumanhik sa templo ng hindu. Nakarating sa City Square. Kumain, nagpalamig at nag-window shopping. Umakyat sa escalator. Sumakay ulit ng bas. Tumawid sa tulay at nakabalik sa bahay. Ganun lang kabilis ang maglakbay. J

 

Flashback: Day & Night in Shah Alam



Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque

It was another day of work away from office, this time in Shah Alam. When I heard of the meeting venue from the client, I turned to my iPhone and googled the place. Alas, it is where the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque is, also known as the Blue Mosque. Shah Alam is the state capital of Selangor, Malaysia which is located about 25 kilometers west of Kuala Lumpur. It replaced Kuala Lumpur as the capital city of the state of Selangor in 1978 due to Kuala Lumpur's incorporation into a Federal Territory.

 



 Excited about the trip, I dragged a 'pinsan' ("hoax" cousin) to come along. We took the Air Asia flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur then a cab going to Selangor. It took us about 45 minutes to reach Shah Alam from the LCCT Airport. Compared to other cities in Malaysia, Shah Alam is rather a quite place. There are fewer malls, less traffic jam and I haven’t seen any single bar around. You seldom see people walking down the street at night unlike Kuala Lumpur that seems very busy even in the wee hours. In fact, Kuala Lumpur never sleeps.



Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam

When we arrived at the Grand BlueWave Hotel, we specifically requested for a room with the Blue Mosque view. Without a doubt, the room has a magnificent view of the blue dome. It is indeed one of the most stunning structures in Malaysia. But we didn't know the real price of getting the grand view until the night and early morning came. We were awakened several times due to the loud sounds of early Morning Prayer of the Muslims. "Allahu Akbar...allahu Akbar" and the sounds went on and on.





It was still a good experience, a different one. It felt like I was in the middle of "middle east" or somewhere else. At least I had a big breakfast and delicious pizza for lunch at the Semarak Café. After a short yet tiring event in Shah Alam, we headed to Kuala Lumpur for another workshop.



View from my hotel room

Beauty & Words - Simple Inspirations

Flowers Are Happiness

More than a decade ago when I was still in college, I used to live in a well-kept dormitory in Km. 5 La Trinidad, Benguet. Although the place is quite far from the University I was attending, I really liked it.

 

 

The landlady was very nice and so were my co-tenants. It’s a pretty convenient place, a walking distance to the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post, hospital, transport terminal and shops including Ukay-ukay. A few minutes jeepney ride to the strawberry and flower farm. Beside the dormitory, there was a relatively small vacant lot with toe deep water where calla lily plants used to grow. I used to pick some of those lilies once they’re in full bloom. Calla lilies are simple yet elegant flowers. They are lovely. They are a bit pricey compared to other lilies available in the market. I was so delighted to have them for free during those times in La Trinidad.

 

When I moved to Baguio City, it also means goodbye to free Calla Lily. Even though, I was just an ordinary student with nothing but a meager allowance, I still managed to always have flowers on my study table. I used to hunt in Baguio public market for bargains. Most of the time I got mums, but if I got lucky, I can have half a dozen roses. That’s all I can afford at that time. I just love fresh flowers!

 

Until now, I still do. I buy fresh blooms on a weekly basis. Having a fresh flower in the room lightens up my mood. A single stem of rose can add a little joy and sparkle in a very dull environment. It takes me ages to select a few fresh cuts whenever I go to the store. Sometimes, I just stand there enjoying the colors and smiling like a fool, sniffing most of the white lilies and roses, or comparing them to the people I used to know. Yes, flowers are like humans. They come in various color, shape, size and texture. Some are vibrant, others are plain. Some are trumpet-shaped, while others are star-shaped. Some are big, and there are also small. Some have light fragrances, others have strong scents. Some are delicate and soft while few are not. They represent different personalities too. Nonetheless, all is bright and beautiful!

 

If I were a flower, I think I would be a Calla lily – plain and simple yet deadly. :) Not really deadly, the plant is said to be poisonous but it also has medicinal values. What about you? What's your favorite flower? Which of the gorgeous flowers below can best describe your personality?

 

Azalea – temperate, independent, leader

Carnation – flashy, joyful

Chrysanthemum – exciting

Daisy – cheerful, gentle, charming

Hydrangea – arrogant, cold-blooded

Iris – inspiring, loving

Orchid – delicate, fickle

Rose – romantic, passionate, affectionate

Sampaguita – simple, loving, kind

Sunflower – outgoing, strong, resilient

Tulip – confident, enthusiastic

 

Have you found your flowers yet? If you want to learn more about flowers and personality, please visit Aunty Flower.

 

I believe that flower is for the living, not for the dead. It has to be enjoyed while we can still see its richness, smell its fragrance and touch its softness. I often teased my husband, “Don’t wait for my funeral to give me flowers, do it while I’m still alive”. But, he’d rather buy me an ice cream or just give me notes. I do, instead, set aside some of the notes to buy flowers for myself! While it may not seem like a romantic or practical thing to do, I'm just happy doing it. I love flowers; they are really one of life's simple pleasures!

 

Show some love this Valentine's Day. Make someone feel special; send them a bunch of fresh flowers. In Singapore, the best place to get one is from Fareastflora. They deliver to different countries. Other flower shops that provide a wide selection of bouquets include NoelGifts, Prince's Flower Shop, Angel Florist and Orchard Florist. Alternatively, if you are on a budget, just get those fresh blooms from a local market and do your own flower arrangement. Spread the love and you'll surely loved back!

 

Because I can’t get enough of flowers, they are always part of my photo-fun shoot. I will defintely going to see the Sentosa Flowers in Singapore. To check the highlights of the event, check out their page.

 

Some of the flowers I photographed from various locations and occasions for the last few years. Enjoy watching!

 

 

Simple Fun - Playing with Angles & Lens

Recently, I suggested two ways to relieve stress by "being creative" -- painting and writing poems. Well, if you're not into playing with colours or playing with words, try another one - playing with angles and lens or photography.

Exploring photography is another way to unwind. If you have a camera, get out and shoot for the fun of it. See the world through the eyes of a photographer; you will be amazed how you can make dull things interesting through your camera lens. 

Photography can be a great hobby as well. And with today's technology, you don't need to learn all the "professional stuff" to capture great photos. For a start, you can just use a point-and-shoot camera. It has many pre-set modes and settings that shooters can use in different situations. Why not give yourself a chance to be a "photographer for a day"?

If you don't feel like being a "photographer for a day", you might want to be a "model for a day" instead. I do fun shoots from time to time to hone my skills and to relax. Give me a chance to be your "photographer for a day" and experience what it's like to be a "model" without any cost.

All you need to prepare are three sets of outfit, a little confidence, a smile on your face and about 3-4 hours of your time.  If you're in Singapore, let's hang out sometime. Drop me a note and let's see how we can schedule a photo-shoot.

However, if you are looking for a professional photography for your upcoming engagement or wedding, please contact KuatroMedya Photography. They offer a quality photography at a very competitive price. They have covered our simple celebration of love (wedding) last year and we were happy with the results of the images and album.

Hope you will find time to go out and take photos of some ants, flowers, buildings, people on the street or whatever you like. Good luck and have fun, fun, fun!

Certified Probinsyana - Living A Simple Yet Good Life

I'm a certified "probinsyana" even if I'm now living in a first world city country, Singapore. A "probinsyana" is a Filipino term for "a lass from the province". I practically grew up in a small town in the Philippines. I am the youngest among five siblings. We lived in a simple house not too far from our small farmland in Camiling. We're not rich, but we're not poor either (at least in my perspective). We had pretty much of everything we needed. We had food from the farm as we used to grow vegetables and fruits and raised poultry as well. We had a shelter where I shared room with my siblings. It wasn't big, but it was comfy and cozy. We had fun like buffalo back riding (our "alaga" (pet) named Bernardo on inserted photo), climbing trees, dancing in the rain, fishing frogs and among other things. We lived within our means, we lived a simple way of life.

My Father together with my siblings and our buffalo.

However, our father kept on reminding my siblings and I to study hard and get a good job to get a better life. Being a very obedient child, I did. I studied very hard, strove to be on top, entered in a good university and found a "good job". The question now is, “do you have a better life after having a good job"?

Having a good job doesn't necessarily mean having a better life. Yes, truly it may provide financial "freedom" or "security" but it may also create "more wants" in life. After thinking for three hundred and fifty-six times I finally decided to go back to basics. I'm going to live the life of a "probinsyana". No, I’m not going back to my small town, but I’m bringing the simple way of life in the city. And I want to share the “probinsyana” life – living a simple life, living a good life and appreciating simple things that can bring great joy in life. 

How about you, what's your idea of a "good life"? Feel free to share your thoughts, comments, reactions and consructive criticisms

Hate, Like & Love

"The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for." I heard this from one of Zig Ziglar's videos in YouTube and it struck me.

I must admit, I'm a constant complainer. I'm like "I hate this, I hate that, I don't like this, and I don't like that". I hate so many things about life! Most of the time, I don't like things the way they are. I'm also like "oh that won't work; I don't want to try, that's impossible", a very negative person it is. If I list down the things I hate about life, then definitely this space will not be enough. But what do I get if do that? It will only reinforce negative thoughts in my subconscious mind.

Today, I will exactly do the opposite and this is my purpose in putting my thoughts in letters, words, phrases and sentences. Besides it’s a brand new dawn, another chance to start right, a new beginning full of hopes and promises. Before stepping on the next stone, I need to recognize first few things I like and love about my life.

I like/love...

• ...being wake up early in the morning and feel that I'm still alive
• ...being with my husband John
• ...cooking dishes even if it doesn't taste good
• ...having money to spend to for the things I need and some wants
• ...having more free time
• ...talking with my Nanay on the phone
• ...travelling or taking tour to far or nearby places
• ...bonding with friends, chats online, eat out and just laugh
• ...taking photographs, writing poems, paintings and designing
•  ...read books, watch movies, do facebooks

 ...the list continues.

Although, doing the things I like and love is an easy task there are also few things I'm not really into (things I thought I hate to do) but would like to learn to love. I believe that this is a crucial step to open up my mind and be more positive in life. It’s one of the bravest things that a person can do, instead of just complaining, abandoning and not trying at all.

I like/love to learn...

• ...do business
• ...how to be a successful in sales
•  ...to be more patient about people/neighbor
• ...more friendly
•  ...network with different people
•  ...accept "no's" or rejections
•  ...cold calling ...have a good talk to strangers
•  ...swimming
•  ...be more outgoing

There's no short cut in learning these things, but I'm taking the initiative by accepting that I'm not good about these and that I need to do something about them. I'm grateful for tools and resources like computers and internet which can give me access to great teachers and coaches of all time who can motivate me to be more positive and accomplish certain goals I set for myself. I'm grateful for family and friends who encourage and discourage me in some way or another. And above all, I'm grateful to the one above who gave me one life to live and provides me with all the strength I need.