A Whole New You at Rustan's

Whether it’s committing to a healthier lifestyle or taking better care of our selves, there’s no better time than now to get started! Helping everyone to jumpstart their journey to wellness, Rustan’s launches its “A Whole New You” campaign this January.

Sample healthy and beverages and get discounts on Klean Kanteen:

Enjoy fruit and vegetable shakes at home, whatever your budget is. From the affordable Magic Bullet to the premium Vitamix, Rustans has it in store:

I got to watch this Grayns demo and I loved it!



I often see this "rice cooker that takes the sugar out of rice" pop out on my Facebook feed but I thought it was just one of those concept products that have yet to be produced.

It takes 45 minutes for the rice to cook in it, but in fairness, the taste wasn't drastically different.

I got to try the rice cooked in a Grayns rice cooker and apart from taking out the sugar, it also made the brown rice come out fluffier and softer than it would if it was cooked in a conventional rice cooker. Same for the white rice. But I was really impressed at how it made eating brown rice less of a sacrifice

But at Php27k for this, the Lolo beside me who did a taste test said magka-diabetes na lang daw sya, haha. Although hey, if you're serious about keeping your blood sugar and diet in check, this comes out cheaper than spending for insulin shots and diet delivery meals.

The health and wellness fair happens across all Rustan’s stores and The Beauty Source branches from January 20 to 31, 2017.

Participating beauty brands include Neal’s Yard Remedies, Acca Kappa, Murad, Clarins and L'Occitane.

For the Home, look out for Bugatti and the Philips Airfryer as well.

Capping off the month at Rustan’s Makati is an event hosted by Heart2Heart, founded by the Queen of Hearts, Rica De Jesus. Rica celebrates a decade of love, friendship, food and fun as she hosts a relaxing day for wellness with its Facial Mist Bar by Sisley, and Areum, nail bar by O.P.I. and Deborah Lippmann, hairstyling by Phyto in partnership with Dyson, Murad’s wellness bar and youthcam, Neal’s Yard Remedies’s Organic Aromatherapy, healthy cooking by Russel Hobbs, Gelato Bar by Nemox, and juicing bar by Vitamix, NutriBullet, Breville, Matstone, Kuvings, and Hurom. Of course, Rica will also surprise guests with “hearted” treats from Baylis and Harding, Acca Kappa, L’Occitane, Laura Mercier, jane iredale, and Clarins.

From self-care to home care, healthy skin to healthy eating, discover wonderful ways to celebrate unique beauty and the journey to wellness with Rustan’s.

For the complete schedule of activities, visit www.rustans.com.ph

Celebrate with Shorts Gourmet + A Giveaway!

Mannix Pena of Shorts Gourmet always gives the most memorable presents that come in the form of Shorbs. Just look at what I got from him last Christmas.

 Now check out this his early Mother's Day present.

They're too pretty and precious to look at, I have a hard time breaking them open.

If not for the yummy Belgian chocolate-filled short bread cookies inside the Shorbs, I would probably end up keeping these for months (they last long, about a year)!

Unique, picture-pretty and yummy, Shorbs are the sort of presents you'd look forward to receiving year after year.

Thankfully, we can buy the short bread cookies year round.

Shorts Gourmet cookies are stocked at Rustan's Marketplace Rockwell, San Antonio, Century Mall, Shangri-la, Alabang, P. Guevara and Katipunan.

They come in three flavors, Choco Mist, Mocha Latte and Dark Divine.

While Short Gourmet's shortbread cookies make delicious presents, it's really the Shorbs that that take the cake. Each Shorb has 12 individually wrapped, handmade shortbread cookies inside, and I swear, are guaranteed to make anybody with a sweet tooth swoon. They just look special.     

Order this special edition Mother's Day Shorts at a reasonable time before Mother's Day,  and receive 10% OFF and FREE delivery within Metro Manila. Call 09178788818 to place your order.

Of course, to see and taste is to believe! As an extra treat to my readers, I am giving away some Shorts Gourmet treats for you to try!

Join by using the Rafflecopter widget below. Make sure to Like Shorts Gourmet Manila on Facebook, Follow @shortsgourmet on Instagram and comply with the contest requirements so your entries will be counted!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
FUN FACT: Shorts Gourmet is served on the presidential flight of Philippine Airlines and was served to Pope Francis during his flight back to Rome from Manila after his papal visit in the Philippines.

Shorts Gourmet Manila
Facebook: Shorts Gourmet Manila
Instagram: @shortsgourmet
Mobile: +63917 878 8818

Shop for FREE with your BDO Rewards Card!

Saving and Shopping has never been this rewarding! 

If like me, you have a BDO Rewards Card that is!

Because from now until December 31, 2014, BDO Rewards cardholders get to shop for FREE at our favorite stores! Just imagine if you have 100,000 rewards points. That’s equivalent to a Php100,000 shopping spree! 

How? We just simply convert our BDO Rewards points from qualified BDO bank transactions, SM and retail partner purchases to gift certificates from RSSI (Benefit Cosmetics, Shiseido, Topshop, River Island, Warehouse, Howards Storage World, True Value, Daiso Japan, etc), Resorts World Manila (Adidas, Bally, Beyond the Box, Bvlgari, Pandora, Rimowa, Rolex, etc) and select Lucky Chinatown Mall stores, Rustans, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Mango, 7 for All Mankind and more. 

Redemption is easy! If you are already a BDO Rewards cardholders just go to your BDO branch of account and look for the branch manager or marketing officer to fill up the redemption form. Another way to convert points is through the BDO Rewards call center hotline, at +02 631-8000 

Branch or call center will then submit request to BDO Rewards Marketing and your GCs will be delivered to your branch of account so you can claim your GCs. 

If you don’t have a BDO Rewards card, but your parents or a sibling has one, you may redeem their points for shopping GCs, with their permission, of course. To save them the hassle, you can even be the one to do the redemption for them, all you need is an authorization letter! 

To get a taste of what’s it like to shop for FREE with a BDO Rewards card, join the BDO Rewards Giveaway! 

Three winners will each get Php2,500 in SM Movie passes and 2,500 Starbucks GCs. 

Just retweet “I want to win the #BDOrewardsGiveaway!” and link to https://www.bdo.com.ph/bdo-rewards/special-offers 

Contest starts on Nov 20, 2014 and last day for entries is on Nov 29, 2014 at 11:59 PM. Join, Join, Join!

Phyto Phytomiel for Bébé

my shampoo on the left, Xavi's on the right

I have been using Phyto shampoos for two years now, since I read a feature on Laura Garcia at theglow.com. This mom with gorgeous locks shares that she uses Phyto, and her photos were enough to convince me to splurge as well.

So I was super pleased to know that Phyto has a variant that is specially formulated for babies.

One of the shampoos I switch around with Xavi's Mustela is PHYTO phytomiel, a gentle hypoallergenic shampoo for babies formulated with Honey wax absolute & Apricot Phytomiel.

With a botanical washing base, it washes hair with ultimate gentleness, does not sting the eyes and  rinses out rapidly. As if these weren't good enough, it leaves hair easier to detangle and soft to the touch.

Available at Rustan's Department stores, a 100ml bottle retails for Php 695.

ClarinsMen Super Moisture Gel and Balm

Girls, here's something for the boys!

I often find myself looking for moisturizers for Dada's face, because let's face it, men these days are conscious about their skin too. While they may be happy with drugstore moisturizers, you might want to get him ClarinsMen Super Moisture Gel and Balm for him to feel the difference.

Why? Well, for one it will help justify how much you're spending on skin care. Once he's hooked, thrown in some Clarins for you too! Hahaha!

But seriously, ClarinsMen makes use of Calcium hyaluronate (the moisture trapping properties also found in Hada Labo), a high performance ingredient used for the first time in men’s skin care. It's super hydrating so it will keep his skin smooth underneath the stubbles.

ClarinsMen Super Moisture Gel and Balm is exclusively available at all Rustans stores: Ayala Center Makati, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Skin Spa, Ayala Center Cebu, Robinson’s Plaza and Gateway Mall.

Gimme Kimmi

Berry & I received the cutest package from Me-Ann Macaraeg of Red Dot Laoag. The packaging by itself is so cute! It's like gifts within a gift! Without peeking I could tell it was filled with goodies from Kimmidoll and Kimmi Junior. Eeeeeee! So cute!

Kimmidolls are collectable dolls that are pretty much the modern version of Japanese Kokeshi dolls. Each is 'lovingly designed and represents one of “Life’s True Values”' - such as kindness, happiness, joy and respect. Each Kimmidoll comes with its own collector’s card.

More than just collectable dolls, Kimmidolls also make the cutest accessories such as these necklaces with the most adorable enamel pendants...

Compact mirrors...

 

Jewelry boxes...

Mugs...

and charms...

Berry loved her Kimmi Junior too! I placed "Mimi" beside her while she was sleeping, so that when she woke up, she'd see her new doll. About an hour later, she was running towards me, clutching "Mimi" with a big smile on her face, calling her new doll, "Baby". Awwww!

Kimmi Junior also has keychains, which are miniature versions of Kimmi Junior dolls...

Kimmi Junior also has a line of coin purses, pencil cases and shoulder bags for school. Adorbs!

With the way these Kimmis brought us so much joy, I think these make great presents for both big and little girls alike! =) 

In the Philippines, Kimmidoll and Kimmi Junior are available at:

Red Dot Boutique
72 F.R Castro Avenue
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
(077) 7722046

Red Dot Specialty Shop
Bonifacio St corner Gov. A. Reyes St
Barangay 1, Vigan City
(077) 6321168

Red Dot Apparel & Accessories
#57 College Avenue, Centro 08
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
(078) 8440491

Tutti Footie
AB Fernandez East, Eastgate Plaza
Dagupan City, Pangasinan
(075) 5162900

Fetiche Fashion Accessories
Pacific Mall, M.L. Tagaro St.
Lucena City, Quezon

Rustans Makati

Rustans Shangrila Mall

Rustan's Alabang

More of DwellStudio 2010

As promised, here are more pieces from DwellStudio's current collection out in Rustan's now! The new prints plus the more popular prints from 2009 were used in these super cute pieces - watch and want:

Lilac Sparrow Backpack

Paper Dolls Weekender bag, a duffel-style bag that comes with an ID tag for easy identification. The best to lug around for short trips!

Insulated lunchboxes in Transportation and Paper Dolls

Animal-shaped bag tags - because DwellStudio bags are too precious to lose!

Because drooly babies need their shirts to be dry and Dwell-protected:

Owls bib

  Sparrow bib

Older kids and even us mommies, might want these for ourselves too!

Scribble kit, which is like a handy pouch that comes with a box of crayons and pad of paper. Great for storing mommy calling cards and a pen, for scheduling play dates, right?

Photo albums in Transportation, Paper Dolls & Sparrow prints

Here's a tip, brag books are a great gift idea for grandparents who want to show off their precocious grandchild! Small enough to store in a handbag, it's easy to whip out for sharing/bragging sessions with their friends, hahaha! It can double as a passport holder too!

 And since it's the season for trips to the beach, how about packing:

a hooded towel (in Owls)

or bath robes (in Paper Dolls, Sparrow & Chocolate Dots) 

for the wee ones?!

Aren't these the cutest? There's actually more to watch out for from DwellStudio in the next couple of days!

And if that isn't enough, we're brewing a blog contest sponsored by DwellStudio coming soon! Readers, get your cameras ready and take a snap of your child/niece/nephew/grandchild/godchild using any piece from DwellStudio! We've got a bundle of goodies from DwellStudio for the winner! Details on that, coming soon! ;)


Quirks Marketing is the exclusive distributor of DwellStudio in the Philippines. DwellStudio's 2010 Collection is currently available in Rustan's.

Bravo for Bravado!

Hey breastfeeding mommies in Manila! I have super good news for you! My favorite brand of nursing bras - Bravado Designs is now available in Rustan's!

I highly recommend these, because I have and I love this:

Original Nursing Bra Plus in White (P1,950). I have this in white, black and nude, but it also comes in blush, and get this - leopard! Features flexible sizing which accommodates up to 3 rib bands and 2-3 cup sizes. This is perfect because you don't have to worry about buying a size too small or too big because it can work with your changing cup sizes. I also like the wrap style. I can wear this under a dress or a shirt with deep V-neck, and they just blend in like I have a tank underneath.

and this:

Lifestyle Nursing Bra in Pink (P2,250) is for when you've settled into your nursing cup size. This bra has premium microfiber on the outside of the cups and cotton lining inside. Microfiber is fabulous for support and the cotton makes this bra breathable. I also like it that it's pink! It's just fun to wear, haha!

These are all I've been using, thanks to my friend Belle! She was the one who told me to buy Bravado when I was still pregnant with Berry. She also said this was "the line of bras that Angelina Jolie uses! Hihihi!" (Her exact words! Hahaha!).  But seriously, for me, Bravado is really the best in all fronts (no pun intended!). Let's put it this way, the material is soft and breathable, it's super comfortable, and it's so easy to unclasp and clasp! Also, the strap that the flap hangs onto doesn't hinder baby's mouth when sucking!

In my last trimester, I bought one initially, just to try it out. It felt so good! Way better than a cheapo maternity bra I bought in Target for less than $17. I mean, seriously, don't waste your money on cheap nursing bras. Just go for the best, you won't go wrong. In the end, I bought 7 Bravado nursing bras, and it's all I've been using it since the day Berry was born. So see, it lasts a long time too. It's been almost a year now and they still look good.

There are actually more designs to choose from. I haven't tried these but judging from my satisfaction with 2 of Bravado's nursing bras, these are worth checking out as well:

Body Silk Seamleass Nursing Bra in Pink Ice (P2,450) is designed to melt onto a woman’s body. The molded foam cup bra offers a seamless silhouette, lovely shape and great support. The foam cups are removable. You can keep the cups in to hide nipples and breastpads when you need to. It can also fit up to 4 cup sizes!

The Exquisite Nursing Bra (P3,750) beautifully combines fashion and function. This unique bra features thoughtful details like cups that comfortably stretch to fit a woman’s changing shape, lace that isn't scratchy, a unique and nickel-free gold clip, and exclusive Bravado! Cotton FlexTM fabric inside the cups.

The Essential Nursing Bra Tank (P2,450) has a full, molded-cup bra inside a stylish nursing tank. It has phenomenal support, all the way up to a G cup! Perfect for maternity (it'll stretch and come back to its original shape after washing), transition and nursing, this can be worn for daytime, sleeping, yoga, or layering — the possibilities are endless, making this truly the "essential" tank in a nursing mom's wardrobe!

Bravado also has a line of undies to pair the bras with - from Exquisite Boy Shorts (P1,450) to Maternity Bikinis (P1,250) and Maternity Briefs (P1,450). I didn't bother buying these as I just used my regular undies, but if you want to go all matchy-matchy, then no worries, Bravado's got you covered! Well, sort of!


Bravado is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Edsa Shangri-La and Alabang Town Center.

DwellStudio Sale in Rustan's!

There's a DwellStudio sale in Rustan's now! Ongoing until May 31! Get up to 35% off on ALL 2009 Baby and Home items.

Yup, until end of May. But now's the time to go, you just might find something special for Mother's Day!

While you're there, check out the 2010 Baby collection too! Will show you more of that this week. So pretty! Makes me want to buy everything. Seriously!


P.S. Sex & The City Tour Blog Giveaway ongoing until May 8 EST! Join -- here!

Look Who's Wearing Burberry!

Alexa Chung dressed in Burberry at the Burberry Prorsum Spring Summer Womenswear Show in London 

Blake Lively wearing Burberry in New York  

Keira Knightley wearing a Burberry Trench Coat to The Little Dog That Barked after party in London

A Burberry trench coat is on my wish list and one day, I will have one in my closet!  My friend Naomi, who is currently based in London tells me she's seen Burberry trench coats in my size at the outlet stores there! So tempting! I'm scared that I might bite the bullet and tell her to go ahead and get one for me! Heehee!

The exact one I want is the classic trench in Honey. Although the Ivybridge isn't a bad second option since I like that it's a bit more fitted. But either in Honey is my kind of trench coat!

The trench worn by Alexa is cute too, but not as classic. Kiera's is more my thing, but I won't go for black. Incidentally, the coat worn by Blake Lively is from Burberry too! Yes! They do make outerwear other than trench coats!

In the Philippines, Burberry is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Department Store Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

P.S. Sex & The City Tour Blog Giveaway ongoing until May 8 EST! Join -- here!