Vania Romoff!

From Vania Romoff's Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

Her super adorable, sophisticated, and girly pieces made me want to Pin and blog!

While checking out this new website called Kristn.com from back home, I read a piece written by one of my good friends, Ana Kalaw, who is a columnist for the site. In "7 Designers That Shone in 2012," she showcases some of young designer Vania Romoff's creations. If I were still the event-going person that I used to be (magazine editor days), I would definitely make a beeline for her atelier. Well, on our next trip to Manila, I plan on dropping by anyway!

Loove... Oh where to wear this lovely dress?

I know it's alread Fall/Winter out here, but it's never too late to find a pretty summer—or all-weather!—
dress and designer!

Images courtesy of Kristn.com and Vania Romoff (opens to her Tumblr page)

Sprinkles of Fun

Now one of my favorite NYC stopovers!
Sprinkles Cupcakes, 780 Lexington Ave. New York, NY 10065

Speaking of happy, vibrant, and colorful things, on a recent trip to California, my sister-in-law got me into Sprinkles Cupcakes. Here's what the brand says about their delectable concoctions:

"Since we opened the world's first cupcake bakery in Beverly Hills, our freshly baked treats have inspired long lines of devoted Hollywood stars and serious epicureans alike."

I first bought their red velvet, raspberry, and S'more cupcakes at the Newport Beach branch and then went on to happily devour the delicious little cakes at a nice mini-picnic patch by Laguna Beach, while enjoying the picturesque views with family. What set these cupcakes apart were their moist texture and not-too-cloyingly-sweet frosting. Whereas most cupcakes here in the U.S. are pretty, some are sugar bombs with dry, crumbly interiors. Sprinkles ranks first on my plate in terms of presentation, flavor, and texture. It's also a plus that the shop only makes 12 variants a day and comes up with limited-edition specials, such as this month's vanilla hazelnut chocolate cupcakes.

Back in New York and back at work, I couldn't stop raving about these treats. THEN a coworker mentioned that we do have Sprinkles in town, right by Bloomingdales on 60th St. and Lexington!

So guess who's gone back more than four times to date?:)

Perfect for picnics! Red velvet and S'more cupcakes. 

Cute cupcake "schedule" card!

Keep at room temperature, do not refrigerate, eat within two days.
(For more info, visit http://www.sprinkles.com/about-sprinkles-cupcakes/faq/#)

Fashion's Night Out version! 

What's not to love?

Bottom, left: limited edition raspberry cupcake from August—absolutely delicious!

Superserum

My editor friends will probably laugh at me for
being impressed by this: I got the usual press folder,
and in lieu of the accompanying CD/DVDs of
product info and images, this time there was
a bowl of USB sticks one could dip into.

Speaking of my affinity for many things European, I recently went to the US launch of BioEffect at The Library in the superposh SoHo House New York. The Iceland-bred "magic" serum is touted as "a next-generation serum that improves the appearance and health of your skin by encouraging the the skin to repair its own cells."

Now, having been a full-time beauty editor, I've gone to countless beauty events. Hence, exactly why these days, I tend to shy away from parties and nighttime shenanigans (and why you'll never get me to go to Happy Hour anywhere and for whatever reason). I'd much rather hop on the train home straight from work, or head to yoga class and find an excuse to indulge in a bowl of Japanese ramen post-session.

Anyway, back to this new skincare find, I did manage to RSVP for BioEffect, without knowing that the publicists were based in London and that the phenomenal product took 10 years to develop in Iceland. What sets the serum apart from others in the market are the following two key points:

EGF is grown inside barley seeds—planted in pure volcanic pumice—
in this geothermal-energy-powered greenhouse.

1) The active ingredient is Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), "a substance which occurs naturally in human skin and has the ability to speed up the rate of cell turnover." Now, before you get totally freaked—like I tend to with certain products, for example, that have the word "placenta" in them (not this one though)—the EGF in BioEffect is developed inside and extracted from barley seeds in state-of-the-art greenhouses. According to the brand's press release, "Producing EGF in plants, rather than in bacteria or animal cells, is very important to get an active, clean, and stable EGF [that is] suitable for a highly effective skincare product."

"Barley seeds act like mini-factories for the production of human-like EGF cellular activators."

2) The tiny bottle of potent serum contains only nine ingredients: glycerine, aqua, sodium hyaluronate, tromethamine, alcohol (less than 0.9%), calcium chloride, sodium chlodride, Hordeum Vulgare seed extract, EGF (transgenic barley SH-Oligopeptide-1—all clearly labeled in the packaging. This is great news if you're looking to streamline and simplify your beauty routine. And, when using BioEffect, all you need are two to four drops for the face, eye area, and neck.

The only possible drawback is the price tag: $210 (which includes the cost of shipping to the U.S.). Is it worth the investment? Ask me in a month's time. For now, if you'd like to read up further on the brand and this product, check out BioEffect.com and BioEffect.co.uk.

This photo (of the greenhouse) makes me want to go to Iceland.
The country currently has a population of about  318,452!

Let's Talk Beauty

DAY 28

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Whether it's magazines, brand work, or makeup artistry, opportunities in beauty abound.

Every time I get close to saying goodbye to my career in beauty, new opportunities always seem to present themselves within this realm. A number of times I've said to myself (or to a friend), "I'm done with beauty, I'm ready for a career in food." As some of you know, it's still a dream of mine to work for the Food Network. Chalk it up to summers spent in Colorado, lazing away and tuning into the network all day.

Some of you may know that I've dabbled in makeup artistry in all these years (not uncommon for current and former beauty editors). Again, every time I decide to be "done with it," a new opportunity to practice comes up. Just recently, I was ready to donate my makeup kit to a cousin of mine—a nurse by profession—who is exploring makeup artistry as a hobby. And then within a day or two after, my aunt asked for "smoky eyes" minutes before heading out to a party. Times like these, I listen to the universe.

Last week, our interns at work approached my desk and asked, "Do you have a blog?" I gladly answered "Yes!" and went on to show them this site, as well as the very neglected All My Sugar. They asked if I had a beauty blog too. I explained that I had an archive of published beauty articles, but not exactly a blog. "I find it challenging to blog about beauty because it tends to feel like work," I said. Even back when I was a full-time editor, I rarely ever wrote about beauty products in my leisure time.

Don't get me wrong, I love beauty. And I appreciate every job that has come my way. Because of skincare, haircare, fragrance, cosmetics, and bath and body products, I've been able to travel the world and follow my publishing dreams. It has all been a pleasant and wonderful surprise—and I am so not complaining!

All in a Day's Work

A small, but very functional space.

DAY 5

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

It's no secret that I've experienced job loss before. This happened not once, not twice, but three times (a lady…sorry, had to say that).

The first time it happened, all I wanted to do in the days that followed was sleep, and maybe make brownies.

The second time it happened, I shipped out, and told myself I never wanted to live in New York again, how overrated the city was. Besides, I also had a wedding to plan: my own.

The third time it happened, I soldiered on. It also helped that I had a part-time writing and editing job that paid very well so I could somehow live decently without going flat-out broke. That, and I have a very generous and hardworking husband who can tell when my wallet's close to empty even without my mentioning it.

So, what is the moral of the story? You simply have to look at the big picture, or wait for enough time to pass so you can see and find meaning in the larger scheme of things. I've always said in this blog that there's a reason for every setback. Had #1 not happened—had I not lost my "dream job"—I wouldn't have met my co-author, Marsha Irving, with whom I collaborated on the Freshman 15 fitness book.

If #2 hadn't happened, yes, I would have had a lucrative proofreading and editing job with a popular fashion retail brand, but I probably wouldn't have gotten around having that fantabulous wedding, AND, I would still have undiagnosed lumps lurking inside my breasts. I'm serious.

If #3 hadn't happened, I wouldn't have been able to embark on the Travel Series, among many other "pluses" and experiences that have occurred since so far. (A number of them, leading to the job that I'm doing right now.)

When something sad happens with one's career, it's almost always a jump-off opportunity to pursue a different kind of success, except that the experience is disguised in a very unpalatable package. To me, it's exactly like a break-up, given how I take my jobs seriously. One still has to go through the requisite living-in-pajamas-not-wanting-to-get-up-and-eating-ice-cream phase, but past the pain, heartbreak, and aggravation is a journey that opens up doors to new opportunities.

Meanwhile, the three instances above are partly, if not, majorly the reason why I have three jobs right now—one, I do full-time, while the other two, part-time and at a very languid, leisurely pace. I have a working home office that can accommodate my writing, editing, and printing needs. While I've had to streamline my freelance writing career at some point early this year (I no longer contribute to the newspaper back home) I tend to welcome assignments without much hesitation. I'll take the $400 articles, next to the $5 tasks, next to the pieces that pay in Philippine pesos that my husband wishes I no longer did because they take up time and pay the equivalent of a trip to Whole Foods (not complaining!). Still, I do not discriminate; work is work, and I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing.

PS—
Have you experienced a career slump lately or have just been feeling down? You may want to read/reread the Inspiration Series :)

Times Squared

Walking to Times Square.

DAY 2

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

The funny thing about Times Square is you would rarely ever see native or longtime New Yorkers roaming around. Even the subject of this landmark alone can make eyes roll, especially if you bring it up to a very, very busy, Blackberry-toting local.

To be honest, there have been times when I've adopted this sentiment, and the last place I would ever want to meet up with anybody is midtown West, or Theater District, or Toys "R" Us (unless you work in Condé Nast, have tickets to a show, or are eight years old).

However, the universe seems to be sending a message, because even though I consciously and intentionally NOT plan on being in Times Square, I always end up there, for one reason or another. For instance, a friend whom I haven't seen in a long time may want to try out the new Shake Shack branch. Or, an impromptu West 34th St. H&M shopping trip with house guests may turn into a leisurely stroll up north and a picture-taking session where the bright lights are. Or, my husband may simply want to line up for Broadway show tickets at TKTS. Even on a day-to-day basis, I don't escape this busy hub: My yoga studio is just a couple of blocks up, and there's a Maoz Falafel branch on 43rd and 8th.

During my early days in New York, I took to watching movies in one of the theaters in the district, simply because the area was crowded—ergo, safe—enough to make it okay to see a film alone. Fast-forward to 2011, and taking into account that I was born and raised in the Philippines, I simply akin the mob of tourists and sightseers to the holiday shoppers in SM Megamall, or the weekend crowd in Mall of Asia.

Where the bright lights are.

If you do the math, New Yorkers—migrants and natives alike—should have no reason to be disgruntled by leisurely-walking out-of-towners, clicking away on their cameras.

In 2010, the number of visitors to New York City totalled 48.7 million, up from the previous year's 45.6 million—both record-breaking numbers with regards to the most-visited city in the United States, according to nycgo.com and travel-industry.uptake.com. Those 48.7 million tourists spent $31 billion last year, and the 45.6 million people who came to town in 2009 spent $28.2 billion and generated $16.6 billion in wages. And even for those who didn't work in the industry, each household still "benefited by an average of $1,200 in tax savings as a result of travel and tourism."

I don't know about you, but I am so not complaining about tourists crowding in the city.

Come one, come all!

Chicago

Sixth post of the Travel Series.

Chicago Theater

If you regularly read this blog, you'd know that my husband and I live miles and miles apart (sniff!). So, whenever the chance to spend time with him comes up, I'm quick to snap up the opportunity. For example, when I found out he was being sent to Chicago for work back in early January, I booked a flight for myself and looked forward to two weeks in the Windy City.

I know seasoned travelers would be aghast when I say that my fondest memory of President Obama's hometown is a cozy room in a midtown hotel off of North Michigan Avenue (that, and the delicious Chicago-style deep dish pizzas from Lou Malnati's and Pizzeria Uno).

Before and after… Burp!

Because of the weather—windy, chilly, slippery—I found myself within the confines of my husband's air-conditioned room. However, I was surprisingly very productive there: While he went to work during the day for almost two weeks, I'd managed to create the backup of my old blog template and successfully revamp this one. You can imagine the hours of testing, tinkering, tweaking... The result of which is what you see here now.

It was frreezing…

…but the food was good. Here we are having breakfast at the Corner Bakery: Crunchy Honey Banana Oatmeal for moi, and the Chicken Pomodori Panini with Cheddar Broccoli soup combo for the husband.

Suffice it to say, I didn't get to take a lot of pictures, at least compared to Breckenridge, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and all the other places featured here in the Travel Series. But, still, I had a blast in Chicago and would most likely vacation there another time.

The beautiful Holy Name Cathedral.

Chicago has actually been dubbed, "The Architect's Playground," because of its dynamic architecture
ranging from classic and historical buildings to ultra-modern high-rises.

Trump International Hotel & Tower at night.

Walking on East Wacker Drive by the River Hotel.

READ the Travel Series starting with...

1. DENVER
2. SILVERTHORNE & BRECKENRIDGE
3. SAN FRANCISCO
4. SONOMA COUNTY
5. NAPA VALLEY
6. CHICAGO
7. NEW YORK

Napa Valley

Fifth post of the Travel Series.

Scrambled eggs, fingerling potatoes, and salsa served with a fresh white corn tortilla.

In Napa Valley, be prepared to wine and dine to your heart's content. Rolling fields, A-list restaurants, and bottles and bottles of wine greet visitors in this sunny locale north of San Francisco. Most tourists and California residents stop by Sonoma County before heading for the wineries in Napa County. As an East Coast resident, I am pretty much satisfied seeing clear blue skies and staying somewhere warm (although it was a little bit nippy when we were in CA); after all, good food and great restos are abound in New York City. So when my sister-in-law and her husband—both foodies/food enthusiasts—took my husband and myself to Napa, I was pretty much blown away by the amazing and delicious culinary fare.

Tex-mex seems to be a staple in the area, but before you say "greasy," note that chefs and restaurant owners seem to take the cuisine very seriously, as in the case of Catherine Bergen, who, last year, opened C Casa, "an innovative taqueria," in the Oxbow Public Market. We had breakfast there, and, while in the past, I have shied away from any Huevos Rancheros-type meal in the morning (too early for something savory), I tried one of the Egg Plates on the menu (above photo). The serving was small yet tasty and surprisingly substantial. My favorite part was the fresh white corn tortilla that they make right there at the stall. It's nothing like I've ever tasted before. You really can't beat homemade/handmade.

Sweet—my husband and the maple walnut ice cream he's holding :)

Also at the Oxbow market was Three Twins Organic Ice Cream Factory, where, hands down, I've had the best ice cream in my life—not kidding. The closest to the experience would probably if I churned my own ice cream at home.

And, yes, in Napa it's all about the cheese...

And, of course, the wine. Here I am holding a bottle of Vintage Port (which pairs well with chocolate, ahem).

Thinly-cut onion strings.

Last but not the least (and still, barely skimming the restaurant scene in Napa), is Mustard's Grill, supposedly where one could have the best porkchops in town or ever. My husband can probably attest to this, as I am some sort of pesco-vegetarian so I can only infer. But, here's a pic:

Famous Mongolian Pork Chop with sweet and sour red cabbage,
mashed potatoes (which were excellent!), and housemade mustard.

Like I said, in Napa Valley, the wining and dining never stops :) Cheers!

READ the Travel Series starting with...
1. DENVER
2. SILVERTHORNE & BRECKENRIDGE
3. SAN FRANCISCO
4. SONOMA COUNTY
5. NAPA VALLEY
6. CHICAGO
7. NEW YORK

Sonoma County

Fourth post of the Travel Series

Clear, sunny skies...welcome to California!

Through the looking glass...

Now, if you love food as much as I do, you can't go to San Francisco without spending a day (or two) in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

I'll be talking about Napa in the next post, but for now, let's focus on sunny Sonoma, located just about 45 minutes north of Sanfo. Our first stop en route was CornerStone, "an eclectic collection of shops, wineries, and a gourmet cafe set amidst nine acres of garden installations created by the world's leading landscape architects," according to the website.

I've had plenty of salads before, but the one I had at the CornerStone gourmet cafe was different: fresh, crisp...it must be the whole "California" thing.

My husband and sister-in-law both ordered sandwiches that came with green olives.
Neither wanted them so they went to yours truly.

A few minutes' drive from CornerStone, is Sonoma Plaza—a small town square of sorts, where one could find several quaint shops, restaurants—including this smoky outdoor grill (you won't believe how good it smells when you walk past it!)—historic sites, and more.

And, of course, plenty of wine, cheese, and chocolate. Many of which, you could sample for free. Yum!

There is no shame in good chocolate.

READ the Travel Series starting with...
1. DENVER
2. SILVERTHORNE & BRECKENRIDGE
3. SAN FRANCISCO
4. SONOMA COUNTY
5. NAPA VALLEY
6. CHICAGO
7. NEW YORK

San Francisco

Third post of the Travel Series

Got bread?

Before the recent holiday season, would you believe I had never set foot in the city of San Francisco other than its airport?

So, when my sister-in-law invited us over to spend New Year's with them, I was actually excited: The prospect of visiting the Golden State—plus a side trip to Sonoma County and Napa Valley, which I shall talk about in the next post of the Travel Series—definitely caught my fancy. That, and of course, hopping on a plane with Alvs and spending more time together.

I'll let the pictures do the talking/blogging :)

Canon PowerShot S95

OH, and I almost forgot to mention, you may have noticed my extra-vibrant and inspired photos in recent posts. That's because, over the holidays, my husband gifted me with the Canon PowerShot S95 I listed in my All I Want for Christmas post! I'm still keeping my old and trusty Cybershot for posterity (I doubt if I'll ever get rid of it; it's one sturdy gadget). So, I hope you're enjoying the new pics as much as I have taking them!

There were plenty of things to get excited about in SFO...

1) New Year's Eve with the husband.

2) Japantown with all its quaint trinkets and delicious food.

3) Cute and entertaining things from a store in Sausalito.

4) Sourdough bread, clam chowder, and shrimp sandwiches from Boudin.

5) Seeing One Big Table for the first time in a small bookstore
in the bay area!

READ the Travel Series starting with...

1. DENVER
2. SILVERTHORNE & BRECKENRIDGE
3. SAN FRANCISCO
4. SONOMA COUNTY
5. NAPA VALLEY
6. CHICAGO
7. NEW YORK