Hit Pan: January 2012

These are the products I've used up this month:


Click on the links for a detailed review:

1. Kerastase Nutritive Lait Vital Dosage-Glucoactive Sample - Will not repurchase. There are less pricey hair care products that can work better than this conditioner.
   
2. Human Nature 100% Natural Strengthening Conditioner - Still thinking if I will repurchase this, as Snoe's Hair Heroes Intense Argan Oil seems to work better.
   
3. Human Nature Natural Feminine Wash (Chamomile Fresh) - A must buy! I will repurchase for as long as Human Nature sells this. Now that I've started shifting to natural beauty products, I don't like using chemical-based cleansers for that sensitive area anymore. You should try this!
   
4. The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Africa Spa Salt Scrub - Will not repurchase as I like fruity scrubs better, but this one is less greasy than my The Body Shop Body Scrub in Mango.
   

What products have you finished this month?

Love,
Helen

Chef Robert

I could go on and on about the things that I love, and this restaurant is one of them. You may have passed by Banawe in Quezon City, that street that houses one restaurant after another, and in it lies this little gem that you might not have noticed yet. Ever since my sisters and I introduced Chef Robert (beside Lord Stow's and Pancake House) to our parents last Christmas, we have been regular customers since then. I have yet to taste anything that I did not like here; this restaurant can do no wrong.


This post was just meant to inform you that Chef Robert has a new item in their menu, which are milkshakes! You see, I am a sucker for milkshakes so when I received a text blast regarding that, I just had to try it. And then I decided to just add more pictures so you'd get the idea on what other types of food they serve. Enjoy! :)

White Chocolate Milkshake

Since I can't decide which flavor to get, I asked what was their best-selling milkshake flavor to date, and found out that it was strawberry and white chocolate. So white chocolate it is! The milkshake tasted like ice cream; super yummy that I wish I could drink this everyday. (Hooray for weight gain!) Other flavors available are strawberry, blueberry, caramel, mango, etc.

If you're craving for hot drinks, they also serve coffee and tea to with your meal or snacks. Gotta love that latte art!

Cafe Mocha

If I remember it correctly, all drinks are less than P100.00.

They also serve appetizers like soup and this one, which is a family favorite.

Calamari

If you're craving for pasta, then this is good news for you. Their serving of pasta is big enough for sharing, as I had a hard time finishing this one by myself.

Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti
Parmesan breaded chicken cutlets in Marinara sauce

And for the rice lovers (like me!), their rice meals certainly are a must-try!

Fish Fillet in Hollandaise Sauce

You can never get me to eat fish in its normal form, bones and all. Ever since a fish bone got stuck in my throat way back when I was in high school, I never ate fish again. Now I find myself ordering fish dishes from Chef Robert. Another favorite is their Crispy Tilapia Strips (I'm not sure what it's exactly called, but that one is delicious) and Dory Fillet in Soymansi. See, they're that good!

Cheesy Chicken Rice Melt

This one is a classic. We never miss ordering this in our every visit. A seafood version of this is also available (Seafood Rice Melt).

All regular sized meals go for a little over P100.00.

To cap off your meal, treat your sweet tooth into this heavenly dessert:

Triple Chocolate Mousse

Layers of bittersweet, white, and milk chocolate sprinkled with chocolate chips. A chocolate lover's sweet delight.

I hereby declare Chef Robert as a Blas Family Favorite Restaurant! We enjoyed the meal as we celebrated our youngest sister's 11th birthday. Happy birthday, Cheska! I forgot to let the crew sing a happy birthday song for you. :o

One big happy (but incomplete) family. My sister, her husband, and my lovely niece weren't able to come.

Enjoy less 30% during happy hours from 2PM-5PM, everyday, for cash transactions. (25% off for card transactions). Have your favorite Chef Robert food be delivered to your doorstep. Call 87878 for beyond 2km radius and 740-9330, 413-0674 for within 2km radius. (Free Coke 1.5L for deliveries worth P750.00 for in house deliveries).

See you soon at Chef Robert! :)

Love,
Helen

Lucky Citrine @ The Philippine Star

Today's post will be a short and quick one. I haven't been online for almost 2 days (which is a long time for me!) since I just came home from a trip yesterday and it's my sister's birthday today. I got a pleasant surprise when I found out about this photo!

Photo Credit: Bec

Bec and I were featured in The Philippine Star (January 27, 2011) for Strip Manila. I searched for a copy of this in our old newspaper pile right then and there. Good thing I found it! :D Ever since I've tried waxing in Strip, I don't think I'll ever step into another waxing salon. They're that good. You may read about my Strip experience here.

Love,
Helen

P.S. Thanks Bec and Angel for the heads up!

Etude House Yogurt Peel Cleansing Foam

My favorite facial cleanser would have to be Etude House's Happy Tea Time in Lemon Tea. I already used up a whole tube a few months back, and am planning to get a new one from another Etude House branch (and not SM The Block even if it's closest to my area). So for some time, I experimented with other facial cleansers (from L'oreal and Human Nature), but they did not work for my skin - back came my little whiteheads and pimples. At home, I saw a small sample of Etude House Yogurt Peel Cleansing Foam in Super Berry Mix, which my sister got for Christmas. Since she's a Pond's girl, she let me have this!

This one's just a sample, and I'm not so sure if it is sold in stores. Despite this variant being called "Super Berry Mix", it smells powdery to me. I actually expected it to be an exfoliant because of its name called "Yogurt Peel" and the design of the packaging (with small dots all over it). I don't know if there is something special in this product (other than AHA) or if it is for daily use since I can't read Korean words. It works like a regular facial wash, with just a few bits of round scrubs which I can barely feel. I use this twice daily; it leaves my skin soft and it helps clear up my skin from past breakouts. But of course when I use makeup, I'd still have to use a makeup remover before washing my face with this. I think my skin loves Korean or Asian skincare products more than Western products. If this were available in full size, I'd consider getting this (but only if Happy Tea Time is out of stock, since that is really a favorite of mine).

Have you tried Yogurt Peel? And also, what variant of Happy Tea Time Facial Wash do you recommend? I'm thinking Green Tea would be my next purchase, but I'd love to know your inputs as well. :)

Love,

Helen

NYX Round Lipstick in Doll

Who wants to sport sweet, Doll-like lips? I know I do! Back when I was a kid, I liked putting on makeup on my dolls with colored pens and markers. Here's another swatch of NYX Round Lipstick from my sister's makeup stash.

On the tube, it looked like a common shade, but I love, love, love how it looked like when worn!

Swatch

I like the pinkish-brown shade of this versatile shade. It's a pretty, rosy shade that's perfect for everyday wear.

What lipstick are you wearing today? :)

Love,

Helen

Pasta Plate

Being in Taft Avenue almost every day of the week sometimes does has its perks - and being surrounded by countless restaurants is one of them! I love restaurants that serve great food at student-friendly prices, even if I am a student no more. Food tripping is one of the things I miss the most during long breaks. If you're sick of the usual fast food chains like I am, then you have to try out this cute and quaint little restaurant called Pasta Plate, located just outside the De La Salle University - Manila campus.

I'm loving the look and homey feel of this place, with wooden chairs and checkered tablecloth.

They also have a second floor for large groups, so you won't have problems with finding a seat. (Finding parking is another story and can be a pain.)

Pasta Plate serves Italian food fresh and fast. Their menu contains a wide array of pastas, pizzas, paninis, confections, and more.




Just looking at the pictures already makes my stomach grumble, even if I just had spaghetti for dinner. I think I'll have some Banana & Nutella Panini or Churros con Chocolate for dessert next time, together with my pasta order. (Oh, was that supposed to be a snack? Haha.)




Great food aside, the prices here are so friendly to the pocket! With just P100.00, you'll already get to enjoy one of their best selling pasta meals plus a glass of iced tea.

They also have desserts, but only crinkles were available during the time of our visit.

Crinkles

Ham & Bacon Carbonara (P80.00)

This was not my order, but my friend's. I loved that they did not skimp on meat toppings - and look at the generous amount of white sauce. The creaminess was just right, not nakakaumay.

Cheesy Chicken Pesto (P100.00)

Since it was my first time to dine here, my friend recommended the Cheesy Chicken Pesto, which was her favorite thing to order. The pasta was pale and I thought "aww walang sauce", but then it's a pesto pasta so it's supposed to look like that. At first I though that the chicken was just regular chicken fillet, but lo and behold, it was oozing with cheesy pesto inside! Sorry, I did not take a picture anymore since I was too busy enjoying it, but you can check out their menu above for the picture. The pasta lacked a bit flavor on its own, but together with the chicken, it's a winning combination since the pasta served as the "rice" for my ulam (chicken). I will definitely reorder this dish again. But then again, I want to try all their dishes, especially from the "Ultimate Meals" part of their menu. All meals come with a glass of iced tea.

Anna, Cristy, I, and Girlie all had a grand time in Pasta Plate.

Pasta Plate is located at 2313 Taft Avenue corner Castro Street, Malate, Manila.

Love,
Helen

Lipstick Love

When Jen of Jenponix e-mailed me that she was giving me a treat because it was her blog's first monthsary and for being her very 1st follower, I got so kilig and excited! We got to discover each others blogs because of our love for Cosmopolitan Magazine. Last night, I went home to find this.



Jen saw from my blog my love for lipsticks and gifted me with these! I love both pretty pink shades of Careline's Lipstick in Cotton Candy and Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in Bonbon Pink! Both shade names sound so sweet and yummy. I actually had the Bonbon Pink shade before, but it got broken so I can't bring it out. Now I'm thinking of melting it and transferring it to a cute container since I have a new tube of the same lovely shade! I also loved the thoughtful note (which I'm sticking to my Belle De Jour Planner) and Get Laud coupons. Hooray for discounts!

Thank you for the treat, Jen! Now I have more lippies to review. Plus, these ones have sentimental value, so I'm keeping the (empty) tubes even if I have used them up already. Haha! Do visit her blog here to get to know her more. ♥

Love,
Helen

Now Open: Teresita's of San Fernando

If you're looking for delicious Filipino cuisine, all day breakfast meals, and the famous Razon's Halo-Halo, then you'll love the newly opened Teresita's Halo-Halo & Palabok of San Fernando in Waltermart North EDSA. Teresita's of San Fernando is an original offshoot of Teresita R. Razon's Halo-Halo and Palabok in Pampanga that began in 2002.

I personally love how convenient it is to visit this branch - just go down Roosevelt Station of LRT Line 1 and get in the nearest entrance. You'll immediately see Teresita's just outside of the supermarket, across McDonalds. If you want to avoid the crowd in Trinoma just to get your Razon's of Guagua Halo-Halo fix, go to Teresita's for a more peaceful yet satisfying dining experience.

Menu

On the counter area were sweet snacks and delicacies that are proudly Philippine-made.

A must-try! My baby niece, Daphne, loves this!

And of course, your visit to Teresita's won't be complete without ordering their Original Halo-Halo! When it comes to halo-halo, I never would have thought that the simpler it was, the better it would taste. Teresita's Halo-Halo, which has gained popularity through the years, is simple but packs on a lot of flavor. It is made of 4 main ingredients: minatamis na saba, macapuno, fresh milk, and a generous serving of creamy leche flan topped on a tall glass of finely shaved ice. Way better than any halo-halo you can buy from fast food restaurants. The glass is so tall, but it's so good I can finish it on its own! Don't wait for summer to come to try this treat; this Halo-Halo is the creamiest and the best one I've tasted!

Do visit Teresita's soon! They have another branch in Tomas Morato, but looks like I'll be frequenting the Waltermart branch more since it's just a stone-throw away from my place.

Love,
Helen

Human Nature Body Butter in Mango

I'm a fan of body butters and all good, natural products. Combine the two elements together, and you get Human Nature's Body Butter in Mango. This is the most delicious smelling body butter I have ever tried. And perhaps this is one of the reasons why I wanted to become a dealer back then, since this product used to be marked as "Dealer Exclusive" in the brochure. (It's not dealer exclusive anymore though in the new magalogue launched last January 14, 2012).

Human Nature Body Butter in Mango

What I Love About It:

• The label on the base of the packaging is so informative, and it's good to know that this product has absolutely no harmful chemicals or preservatives.
• When I read the ingredients, this product contained cocoa butter, goat's milk, water, vitamin E, and mango oil. Almost good enough to be eaten!

• Upon opening, I immediately got a whiff of a delicious, sweet, mango puree scent! It's so tempting! I've used body butters before, but this is great stuff. It smells like fresh, real mangoes!

• It has no additional colorants. I expected it to be yellow because of its mango scent, but it's white.

• For those who have sensitive noses or don't like scented products, an unscented variant is also available. I tried smelling the unscented one, since some products named "unscented" still has a "clean" smell, but it lives up to its promise. The unscented version is great for when you want to use another fragrance since it won't mix or affect your chosen scent. Instead, it will make your fragrance last longer since your fragrance will have something to cling to.
• Compared to The Body Shop's Body Butters, Human Nature's less greasy. It's easily absorbed with no sticky afterfeel.
• However, some dry patches on my legs are still evident when the weather gets really dry and cold. On our usual weather, this works perfectly fine.
• You can slather this on your skin all you want, since it's non-sticky, all natural and all good!
• It's available in 3 different sizes.
• It's so affordable.

What I Don't Like About It:

• Comparing it to The Body Shop's Body Butter, Human Nature Body Butters are not sealed. But then, all Human Nature products are not sealed anyway.
• Manufacturing/expiry date is not indicated in the packaging.

Price:

• P109.75 for 50g
• P174.75 for 100g
• 274.75 for 200g

This makes for a nice alternative to more expensive body butters. My mom and I can't get enough of this and we'll surely repurchase when we use up the big tub.

Love,

Helen

NYX Round Lipstick in Tea Rose

Another day, another lippie swatch! Here's a natural but oh-so-pretty shade: NYX Round Lipstick in Tea Rose.

Swatch

Tea Rose is so lovely and perfect for everyday wear. If I had to sport lipstick in a natural shade, this would definitely be my pick! It's more pink and girly than Minimalism (which is a neutral shade).

See more of my NYX Round Lipstick swatches here. How about you, what's shade of lipstick are you wearing today?

Love,
Helen

Etude House I Need You, Honey! Wash-off Pack

Now that's a catchy name for a product, don't you think?

My sister got an Etude House Dry Sauna Kit (GWP) as a gift, but looks like I'm the one using it! Haha. Inside it was this cute little face mask called "I Need You, Honey!". This is a sample-sized version of what they sell in-store - with only the Cactus (top) and Red Ginseng (bottom) variants. The full-sized version of this has 4 variants: Red Ginseng, Ginseng, Angelica, and Cactus.

Formulated with Honey and Eastern Medicinal Herbs to tighten skin and supply saponins and minerals.

Cactus

Red Ginseng

Cactus (opened)

Red Ginseng looked like the Cactus variant when opened, less the red beads. Both masks look and feel like honey. With its thick consistency, I think this is good for 2 uses (or even 3 if you don't use a lot). It smells a little herbal, but I find Cactus to smell better than Red Ginseng (because the latter smelled a bit like ancient Chinese medicine). The scent is tolerable, but it was not as sweet as I expected it to be. Rubbing it on my skin felt like a dream because the mixture was thick and it felt velvety on my face. Cactus had soft red beads that popped and blended with the mixture when you massage it on - I felt that my skin was being nourished by some sort of vitamins, even if I don't know what the red beads are for. Removing it was a pain though - it took a while for me to completely wash off the thick mask.

The result? My sister and I both shared this product, and she is a real fan of face masks, so she'd know when it worked or not. We did not see any remarkable difference, like brightening or softening of the skin. But maybe the honey was sticky enough to pull the excess dirt away from my pores, but that's about it. In short, we were not impressed with its outcome.

Would I repurchase? No. But the "I Need You, Yogurt!" Wash-off Pack looks interesting though.

Price: P198.00 (for 4 packets of masks)

Available in all Etude House stores and department store kiosks.

Do you think real honey will work better? I'm thinking of making face masks the DIY way! :)

Love,

Helen