Watson's Health, Wellness & Beauty Awards 2013

Watsons, the leading health and beauty retailer that provides you with everything you need to look good and feel great, honors this year’s biggest and brightest brands in the Watsons Health Wellness Beauty (HWB) Awards.  

Because aside from great savings, exclusive member privileges, and freebies, Watsons wants to recommend the most effective products for your daily health and beauty needs.

Now on its ninth year, The Watsons HWB Awards 2013 recognizes the most outstanding brands in terms of sales, promotions, customer service, and overall product excellence. 

Watsons holds the annual HWB Awards to help consumers choose only the best health, personal care, skincare, cosmetics, and hair care products, so they get more value for their money.

Among this year’s Beauty winners of the HWB Awards are the following: 

Maybelline for Mascara Brand of the Year, ProActiv for Acne Care Brand of the Year, Dove Hair Care for Shampoo Brand of the Year, Kojie San for Bath Soap Brand of the Year, Colgate for Oral Whitening Brand of the Year, Ralph Lauren for Prestige Fragrance Brand of the Year, and Nivea Men for Men’s Grooming Brand of the Year. 

For Health &Wellness categories, some of the winners are:  

Myra E for Adult Vitamin Brand of the Year, Ceelin for Children’s Vitamin Brand of the Year, Ascof for Cough Remedy Brand of the Year, ATC Redoxfat for Slimming Brand of the Year, and Belo Glutathione for Whitening Brand of the Year. 

Spot the winners of the HWB Awards. Visit any Watsons branch and look for the Watsons Recommends Seal of Excellence: 

For the complete list of the winners, visit www.watsons.com or visit www.facebook.com/WatsonsPH and follow @watsonsph on Twitter.

Nautical by Nature

Façonnable knit top, Marni belt, Rugby Ralph Lauren short, Isabel Marant sandals

This is what I wore to run errands in Megamall, not to go yachting. Hehe. What's so special about this outfit? I got everything on sale! Well actually, the same goes for most of my stuff. I normally will not pay full price on clothes and shoes. I always wait for items I like to go on sale, my belief being "If it's still there, it's meant to be."

The striped top, I got at Nordstrom Rack. The shorts I bought online from the Rugby Ralph Lauren website. (After searching for "white shorts" via Shopstyle). The belt was from the Net-a-Porter sale, and my Isabel Marant sandals from Totokaelo's spring sale.

I think there's a lot more fulfillment from buying items I like on sale. It's like the Universe conspired to save that piece in my size, especially for me. Does the same go for you? Do you feel the same way too?

Mongha

Just when I thought I was done with oxfords, I found another style to get obsessed about - monk straps, specifically, double monk straps.

My friends, these three up above, these are no mens shoes. They are monk straps specifically made for the ladies, hence our title Mongha, heehee. 

Discovered these at net-a-porter and I like the Ralph Lauren and Burberry ones the best. The style is still very masculine, but made with feminine proportions in mind. My cup of tea.

Anyhoo, here is some bit of information about monk straps, courtesy of Esquire's The Handbook of Style, which in my opinion, is a must buy for the guy in your life. It's filled with chockfull of background stories and tips, that will hopefully educate your man about style:

The Hallmark: A buckle-and-strap closure that replaces traditional eyelets and laces.

Variations: Navy suede and the quirkier two-strap model.

Wear it with: A serious worsted suit - and almost any other style of suit or tailored trouser. Of course, the rules are different for us girls, we can wear these monk straps with anything! 

Wear it to: Work and play - it's a true chameleon.

Wear it at your own risk: On very formal occasions

Berry's New Friend

Berry loves dogs, especially the teeny tiny ones. She enjoys running after them, but sometimes I get worried, because she likes touching them on the face and tapping the nose. I really have to train her to be careful and to be more gentle.

Last weekend, we went to a birthday party in Connecticut, where she met Killy, a Pekingese. Good thing Killy is a gentle one, I read that Pekingese aren't exactly child friendly. Actually, when Berry first started running after her, she did her best to avoid Berry, hahaha! But eventually, they got along, and Berry even tried kissing her on the face! To much success! I guess she realized Berry didn't mean her any harm, so she responded by licking Berry's face a couple of times, to Berry's delight!

Now, for the requisite outfit shots! Just keepin' it real. Berry wearing a dress stained by strawberries.

Striped dress from Ralph Lauren, Saltwater sandals

Here I am in mommy clothes. Hey, it's all about dressing for comfort! It's no joke running after an active 14 month old. Ever since Berry came into this world, I've come to appreciate and respect nannies more than ever! What a tough job! When Berry was still a newborn, I told my friend Paz I couldn't wait for her to be more interactive and start walking so I could play with her, and Paz told me to enjoy every minute of their babyhood because it doesn't get any easier. True enough, these days I wish Berry could sit still even for just a minute! Then again, taking care of Berry is a workout in itself. On the bright side, my arms have never been as toned as they are now, what with all the carrying I've been doing!

Karen Burnout tee from Nation Ltd., ripstop cargo pants and necklace from J.Crew, 
flats from Miu Miu 

Speaking of workouts, isn't that all the more reason why I deserve pretty and comfortable shoes! Wahahaha! Where's the connection?

A Summer of Soy Milk & Swimsuits

The weather is getting so much nicer these days! I can't wait for SUMMER! I finally got myself a maillot (the one I've always wanted from OndadeMar! On major sale at Anthropologie too! Long story short, I put it in my cart, got sold out, decided to buy my second choice months later and when I checked out, Voila! this one I really wanted magically appeared! Shopping serendipity! Cue angels singing!)...

...and I've started scrubbing the winter skin away with Kiehl's Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish! Such a great start to welcome sunny days ahead!

Can I just share? Kiehl's makes the best body scrub, ever!!! I got it from my cousin Brenda, and now I'm hooked! Brenda, if you're reading this, you've made me a customer for life! It smells so good, very tropical! I know it's made from soy & honey but it has that summery-y smell of coconuts somehow. I feel like I'm transported to a palm tree lined beach, the sun warming my skin, waves softly rolling into the powdery white sand...ok Tin, snap out of it!

Berry is ready for summer too! We got her this majorly preppy red & white striped one-piece swimsuit (Dada says no bikinis for babies, hahaha!) from Ralph Lauren, we can't wait for her to wear it for splashing in the pool! Dada deserves a new pair of swim trunks! Too bad I missed the Vilebrequin sale at Gilt! Boo!