supermodel designs a model

First there was Heidi for Birkenstocks. Then Kate for Tophsop. Now, we have Gisele for Ipanema!

To tell you the truth I am a die hard Havaianas fan but when I saw Ms. Bundchen's designs in a shoe salon store, I quickly forgot about my fandom. haha! I wanted to grab, fit and buy most of the Ipanema shoes (by gisele) that I saw there.

What's great about her designs is that it doesn't look so much like slippers anymore. So her designs are great for gals who love to wear slippers but hate being caught off guard by people who ask them why they're wearing slippers for going out (this usually happens in the province, when you wear havs.tsk. sad but true)

Wanna buy some? Go to any mall that has a shoe salon or check out her other designs by clicking here (p.s. you might want to check out her summer designs! They come in the funnest colors of summer!)

I scream for ice cream!!!

Hot, hot, hot! I know you all feel the summer heat! Even if during the past few days, it has been drizzling in Sunny Manila, you could still feel the humidity in the air! Well, what's a girl to do? Go eat some ice cream! Yeah! Nothing beats good old fashioned ice cream to keep us all cool this summer :)

Well, NJ and I wore our travelling pants and tried 6 different ice cream parlors to give you all the low-down (and to beat the heat too!) on these creameries! But wait, before you read this, I advice you to forget your diets first and go through the list with an open mind and mouth! *wink wink*

1. DAIRY QUEEN
When I was little, I always looked forward to going home from the mall because we had a little tradition of buying a blizzard from DQ! Sadly, that DQ branch had to close. So imagine my delight when I saw a Dairy Queen branch being constructed in Eastwood! (Now, it is OPEN) The McFlurrys at Mcdo are NOTHING compared to the original. The DQ Blizzard is the real deal. They use their signature soft-serve vanilla ice cream and let you decide on which toppings you want to mix in your cup. After this, they use the blizzard machine and turns your cup upside down to let you see that there's no air in it and that it is compact.

Must scream: Concocting your own BLIZZARD
Hush hush: Chocolate covered sundae - this always made me feel a little dizzy. I associated it with the hard chocolate coating, I don't know why but I did (and still do)
Where to scream for it: Eastwood Libis, by the McDonald's entrance

2. NESTLE CREAMERY
Second year college days are what I remember when I hear 'Nestle Creamery'. We used to daydream about going there and eating tons and tons of ice cream. We loved how far it was from our school because it served as our escape. The heavenly treats added to it's "slightly-remote" charm. Nestle creamery uses Nestle ice cream, of course. What makes this unique is the presentation of the ice cream. They have interesting combinations that would really make your mouth salivate!

Must scream: for some Caramel Oaty Rhum Sundae. This is really gooood! I tell you, NJ was actually the one who ordered this but when I tasted it...I fell in love with it! hah!
Hush hush: Main course-- they need to improve their meals! (2) ordering a scoop of ice cream-- you're in an ice cream parlor! a scoop of ice cream is a no-no, learn to take chances! Try their amazing combinations!
Where to scream for it: along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, it's near St.Paul's College QC
in the picture: choco marshmallow panache, chocolate decadence and caramel oaty rhum sundae

3. COLD ROCK
If you want your ice cream chunky, Cold Rock is the place to be! It is a bit expensive but if you're going there to splurge and treat yourself it still is worth it. You get to choose your ice cream flavor and all the toppings you want to mix in. There's a huge selection of toppings. I personally like marshmallows, cookie dough and reese's. After you choose the ice cream and the toppings, you get to watch the staff smash your dessert on an icy countertop.

Must scream: creating your own ice cream flavor! (Adding cookie dough is a must! Sooo good!)
Hush hush: Plain ice cream-- the folding on a frozen countertop is the fun part. if you have no toppings and a plain flavored ice cream there's nothing to fold; too pricey!
Where to scream for it: Greenbelt 3 and the Fort strip

4. GELATONE
Gelato used to be for "health-conscious" girls only but with more and more people being more concerned with what they put in their mouths, gelatos are slowly becoming the in things! Gelatos are actually much, much more expensive than usual ice cream but the flavors are soooo unique and you just know you're getting the real deal! Plus! Gelatos give you a taste of Italia! So if you want to act like an Italian for a day, why not start by consuming this delectable treat? ;)

Must scream: Tasty flavors such as hazelnut and tiramisu (just ask what those are because their names are in Italian); ambience-- like you're really in Italia!
Hush hush: So much more expensive than usual ice cream (1oophp per scoop); dining in because they have service charge which adds to the already expensive price of your treat
Where to scream: Greenbelt 3

5. FIVE COWS
The first time I heard about Five Cows, I immediately wanted to drag NJ there and so the moment we had the chance, we immediately travelled to Trinoma in search of the "five cows" (hehe) Well, the first time we went, we couldn't find the resto, turns out it's located at the top most level of Trinoma so you could only imagine our joy when we finally found it! The place itself is so cute complete with white washed chairs and purple walls which adds to its sweet countryside charm. The place is also well lighted and the staff really friendly so even if it took us hours to finally settle our hungry arses there, it was all worth it! And a huge plus: the food are not too expensive too! ;)

Must scream: Cheese Fondue!!! Yes, surprisingly, it was really, really good and shareable at that!; The ice cream cakes (they're big too so sharing is doable:)
Hush hush: Their pizzas--although they taste wonderful, the crust is just too tough
Where to scream for it: Trinoma

in the pictures: ferrero crunch supreme, cheese fondue, tarta de manila

6. HAAGEN DAZS CAFE
When I hear Haagen Dazs, I am reminded of Little Manhattan, I can still hear Gabe bragging about his date, saying, "I'm a big spender! Haagen Dazs all the way, baby!" lol! :) Well, true to Gabe's words, Haagen Dazs is a bit on the pricey side but if you want to have a taste of the ultimate ice cream, then I say go for it! Well, the Haagen Dazs cafe serves the best of the Haagen Dazs flavors plus more! The treats they have combines fruits, their trusty ice cream flavors, and their own unique syrups! The treats themselves are rather simple (not much mix-ins) which reflects the image of Haagen Dazs itself-- fine and elegant. I say you have to save up and try it for yourself for I'm very sure the ice cream here wouldn't disappoint you!

Must scream: their chocolate fondue!; their chocolate line of ice cream flavors
Hush hush: Coming unprepared to pay! (lol!)
Where to scream for it: Shangrila Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Powerplant, Eastwood, Trinoma

7. Crepes and Creme
I always pass by the Crepes and Creme branch in Mall of Asia but it wasn't until they opened a branch in Robinson's Midtown that I was enticed to try their treats! Well, well, well, treat me they really did! The crepe filled with ice cream was a really delightful surprise for me! First, the ice cream flavors are unique and tasty on their own. Second, the crepes themselves are soft and delicious! Third, you can even customise your ice cream by adding mix-ins! Crepes and Creme really gives a fresh twist to an old-time favorite!

Must scream: the chocolate peanut butter ice cream; adding fruit and condensed milk to your crepe!
Hush hush: it can get messy at times as the ice cream tends to seep through the crepe (our tip? ask for a spoon/fork and a plate and put your crepes there!)
Where to scream for it: SM Mall of Asia, Podium, Rockwell Powerplant Mall, The Fort, Robinson's Midtown

Well, there you go girls! Have fun trying out the ice cream parlors above! We had so much fun "researching" for this post. lol! :P Here's to a fun and 'ice creamy' summer for all of us! ;)

Trend alert: Summer fashion!

If I'd have to pick one fashion season I'd wear for the rest of my life, summer fashion would be on top of my list! Tell me, doesn't all the funky colors of summer look sooooo appealing? ;)

Well, every summer there's something new to look out for in the world of fashion and we at PK of course would like you girls to be up to date with what's cool this summer season so read on!

Wayfarer shades - Say goodbye to the aviators and Jackie O's, this season, the wayfarers are taking centerstage! Originally done by rayban, this style of sunglasses are slowly making its way here in the third world as we all take inspiration from the A listers donning them in Hollywood. Wayfarers are really cool because you can pair them with anything from casual attires to dresses! They also come in really cute colors! And the thing with Wayfarers is that it looks good on almost every face shape! It's amazing! A word of caution though: you have to be brave when you wear them out as this fashion accessory is relatively new so it may not be accepted by most people.

Where to buy: Flywear (210php), Tomato (300php), The I Love You Store (800php), http://stunnershades.multiply.com/ (200php)

Applique shirts - I made that name up so excuse me but I just do not know what to call them! lol! What am I talking about? Those shirts with sewed on appliques on them! They're the rave this summer season especially the ones with animal designs. Think: owls and cats!
The fun thing with the applique shirts is that they give life to boring outfits in an instant! The appliques make it look 3d which adds to the overall appeal of the shirt! Another plus is that, you can wear these no matter what age you are! A PK tip: Try checking out the Pre-teen's section of department stores, there are a lot of these there! Just get a size 14 or 16! :) And oh, you can check out Gingersnaps too! They have the cutest animals designs! Just don't be afraid to ask for a bigger size ;)

Last tip: Pick, pick one with funky colors! They're in this summer!
<--this one's from Penshoppe, and retails for 399php (a plus! penshoppe is on sale right now girls and this one is cut by 20%!)

Neon makeup/ nail color - Nothing screams summer than these funky colors! Since March began, I've been seeing a lot of celebs donning orange, purple, and green eyeshadow and nail polish! They're the coolest colors this season! I myself has been bitten by the rave and I found myself scouting around elianto for fab eyeshadow colors! lol!

Where to buy: for really bright and funky makeup and nail colors, go to Elianto! The nail polishes are at 99php each while the eyeshadows are at a special discounted price of 98php!

Summer has just begun so go girls! It's not too late to update yourself with the coolest trends! It's great too because most malls are on sale right now so hustle! Get them while they're hot! :)

Kill the boredom

Tell me honestly, is your summer turning out to be as fun as you hoped it would be? Good if you say yes, baaaad if you say no! lol! But don't worry girl! Summer doesn't have to be boring for anyone. There are so many ways to keep you occupied this summer and that exactly is what we have compiled for you!

1. read a book - suggestions: gossip girl series, lovely bones, mates & dates series

   

2. summer workshop - go girls! It's not too late!
3. go on movie marathons - how bout the complete OTH, OC, or Gossip Girl season ey?
4. start a business - go start that halo-halo business you've always wanted to start!
5. do make-shift pictorials - turn your home into a photo studio, dress up and snap away!
6. listen to tracks - why not browse songs in imeem.com or check out new artists at purevolume?
7. play online games - check these pages, it'll be fun! www. weffriddles.com
8. play with your pets - teach them new tricks! bond with your little darlings!
9. reunion with friends - miss your HS, GS or college friends? Why not set a get together?
10. do old fashioned telebabad - it's so much more funner (and cheaper)!
11. sleepover with friends - do the Ultimate Bonding Experience (UBE!) and plan a fun sleepover!
12. roam around the neighborhood - check out what has changed in your village! Who knows you might even bump into someone really cute! lol!
13. draw, create masterpieces - practice your drawing skills! Even if you're not good, just do it! It's fun nonetheless ;)
14. play with photoshop - learning isn't hard if you're willing to experiment! Just thinker around with and I'm very sure you'll be a pro in no time :)
15. exercise - Yes! Now you have time to exercise!
16. engage in sports - Have your friends join you for badminton, volleyball, or any game that would entail group work! It'll be so much fun! Plus, it helps keep away that inevitable summer fat!
17. bake/ cook nonstop - experiment with the stove! Cook anything, bake anything! It doesn't matter if it doesn't taste good at first, you'll get the hang of it, soon :)
18. Create videos - get your trusty handycam and shoot yourself, your friends or anything in between, you can then create a short clip of your summer vacay!
19. write testimonials - yes, it's Friendster time! Leave all your friends sweet testimonials this summer, I'm sure they'll love it!
20. blog - You get to practice your writing skills too!

There you go girls! Some stuff to keep you preoccupied this summer :) Feel free to add more to our list! We would be very glad! I mean, who wouldn't want to get tips on how to have a fun summer, right? *wink!

Smelly welly

It's getting hawt in herrrr! Yes, summer is upon us! And it only means one thing: HEAT! Yes, yes! In a country as ours, who could not notice the extreme hotness?? Well, the thing with the Philippines being hot is that there is also this huge chance of getting body odor. Nyay. I mean, with all the sweating, it's rather inevitable! But don't worry girls, body odor in summer is normal and I assure you that there are ways to keep yourself smelling fresh all summer long! :)

1. Take a bath everyday! You should you know! And if you can, do it twice a day, one in the morning and one at 6pm. That'll sure keep you smelling fresh!

2. Dress in comfortable and light clothes! There's a reason why dresses are so in on summers and this is exactly it! Avoid clingy fabrics and go for pieces in pastel and light colors.

3. Bring a ponytail! (that is if you have long hair) I think one of the worst sights on summer is when you see someone sweating like a pig and has wet hair sticking to her forehead. Big no-no! Spare yourself the discomfort and ridicule and just go tie your hair!

4. Put deodorant! Some girls are not very keen on putting deo and I have to say I am one of those who are often too lazy. But girls! It's summer! Even if you're not the type who sweats a lot, I tell you, everything changes in the summer! You'll be sweating like a pig what kind of body chemistry you have so you better be prepared!

5. Drink lots of water! It's not just to keep you refreshed. Drinking water actually helps in keeping body odor away. Stick to drinking water than going for other flavored drinks because these drinks come sometimes even cause body odor (did you know that drinking coffee regularly even for a week can give you BO?)

6. Bring alcohol and a towel everyday! So maybe you did sweat out, so what do you do? Go freshen up of course! Just take a piece of cotton, tissue or whatever, put alcohol and then rub it in your underarms, neck, back of the ears and other parts that sweats a lot. After that, you put baby powder, or if deo (if you brought some). That'll really do the trick for you! Goodbye BO!

7. Apply cologne! Yes, I say cologne because colognes are lighter in scent and works best in the summer :) Just make sure to freshen up first with your trusty alcohol before applying cologne as cologne + body sweat = smelly you!

So that's it for the simple tricks to keep you fresh this summer! But wait! We at PK want to give you all we got so we won't end there! I have here a list of things that have been tried and tested to remedy your body odor (in case you unfortunately are victim already):

a. Alcohol. Wipe your armpits with alcohol or white vinegar instead of deodorant
b. Alum (yes, tawas for you!)
c. Apple cider vinegar. So you won't smell too "vinegary"
d. Baby powder. Apply often esp. when you're starting to perspire
e. Baby wipes. Much like your cotton with alcohol, it'll be a temporary solution
f. Baking soda. Very good for excessive sweating!
g. AXE Dry. Yes, axe darlings! It's strong and very foolproof, just don't use often co'z it darken your armpits
h. Driclor. The best of the batch! Driclor will eliminate body odor and control excessive sweating. It can be bought in Mercury Drugstore for about 800 bucks. Just be careful in using it as it may itch. Email us before using it for more guidelines :)

Here's to keeping yourself smelling fresh all day during the summer girls! Don't ever let BO keep you from having fun!

Summer soundtrack

It's summer once again! yay! And so to formally open this season of sun, why don't we welcome it with a killin' soundtrack that screams summer all the way? *wink!

1. Here comes the sun by the Beatles


2. Soak up the sun by Sheryl Crow


3. Kokomo by Beach Boys


4. All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow


5. Wishful Thinking by Duncan Sheik


6. Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the waves


7. Upside Down by Jack Johnson


8. The Thong Song by Sisqo


9. Summer Sunshine by the Corrs


10. Summertime Girls by LFO


11. Pure Shores by All Saints


12. Underneath the Waves by Hale


13. Grace Kelly by Mika


14. Hot In Here by Nelly


15. Sunburn by Sandwich


16. Come Rain, Come Shine by Tata Young


17. Summer Song by Silent Sanctuary

If you have time (and free cd on hand) why don't try burning these songs? Or maybe you could even create your own playlist in your ipods! It'll sure come handy on a boring summer day when you aren't feeling very "summery". Have fun with the songs girls!

p.s. feel free to add more to our list. It'll be very appreciated ;)

Bikinis 101

Hey girls! Summer is upon us and for most, this only means one thing: SWIMMING! Yes, in a country like ours, swimming during the hot summer months is not only common but logical as well. Time to take out our trusty swimwear and flaunt those gorgeous curves! (I know you want to!) But before that, let me first take this time to educate you on the different types of bikinis out there. I mean, we wouldn't want to be sexy but stupid girls in our skimpy outfits right? *wink!

So, here's the basic things you should familiriaze yourself with:

What works best for what body type?

Broad shoulders - Be very careful when adding yourself to this group as sometimes having broad shoulders is not the same as having wide shoulders. The difference? Those with broad shoulders doesn't have just long shoulders, they are also muscular in form. Most of the time, people who have broad shoulders are those who engage in sports as the physical work adds muscle to that area. Well, what swimwear works for this type? Those with broad shoulders should go for those with wide shoulder straps and square necklines (like those of a ballet bra for two-piece ensembles). Avoid wearing string bikinis and v-shaped tops as it does nothing to flatter your figure. It's also helpful if you keep your bottom funky and colorful so it would balance the look of your broad shoulders. You can also go for swimwear with accents near the waist like belts, ribbons, folds and others. This model below is one example of someone with broad shoulders but looks good in a swimsuit:

Small bust - My friends and I have small busts so the things I'll be adding here would really come from experience.*wink! So, what works and what doesn't? For small busted women, the best way to go is to look for triangle bikini tops and v-shaped necklines. Also, when you're in the skinny side aside from the fact that you have a small bust, I suggest you try out stringed ones as they are the most flattering of all the types. Basically, the key to looking for the best swimsuit top for you is to choose ones which has a smaller cup and has padding. I do not particularly suggest going for the ones with the scrunched up fabric at the bottom like that one in on the right --> When you have small busts, instead of making it bigger, it makes it look smaller because you'd have "spaces" on the bikini top. Bandeaus also look very good too on small busts but be careful if you're a little chubby on top as you'd have these fat "overflows" in your underarm area which is so not good! Last advice: Try to go for printed bikinis for a fuller look :)

Big Bust - Whoa girl, you're lucky! But you know, finding the right bathing suit when you're so gifted is a task too. You should stick to tops that give you full support and avoid stringy ones unless you're going for that "Baywatch" look. I suggest you go for halter tops with wide support in the bottom and stick to neutral colors with small prints. The key here of course is support so do look for tops that would give you the coverage you need!

No waist - So maybe you have an athletic type of body. Well, no worries! There are still great swimsuits for you! If going for a two-piece swimwear, choose ones with plunging necklines and high cut legs. But really though, the most flattering suit for you is a one-piece bathing suit. Yes, yes! The monokini! The monokini is a one-piece suit with holes in the side that'll expose your waist in the right areas. It will give straight waists the image of being curvy! But if you really insist in picking a two-piece suit, why not try a tankini instead? ;)

Large thighs (pear shaped)- When you have large thighs, you have to be smart and buy a top which would take the attention to it rather than your bottom. Go for fun and light colored tops and stick to dark colored bottoms. It is advisable to choose bottoms which are high cut so as not to emphasize the wide hips however if you're not comfortable with wearing such revealing bottoms, I suggest going for brief cuts and hipsters instead.

Other tips:

• Do try on your swimsuit first before buying. There's no harm girls! Plus, it's fun to go swimwear shopping especially when you're with a friend!
• Do consider the fabric. Make sure that it is sturdy and will not easily rip.
• Go for comfort before fashion! It may look really cute but it may be too skimpy for your body so I say, go for one that flatters your body rather than one that just looks cute. Remember, when it looks good on you, it'll look cute in others' eyes too!
• Look, look, look! You don't have to rush buying for a swimsuit. Go around the mall and try a lot first before settling for one.
• Don't be fooled by the price or brand. Sometimes, the cheaper swimsuits in department stores are more flattering than those sold by labels so don't ever equate the price and brand to comfort and perfection!

So go on girls, let's go shopping! Summer will be over in no time so chop, chop!