Pilipinas Kitchenware

To continue with the "Pilipinas" themed items, let me share with you these most adorable cooking pans I saw on display at the mall:

Pinoy Pans! So cute!

The cool thing about these is that they are made of Teflon, which means they're non-stick and rust-free!-- and oh, the best part is, they're on sale!

I get trigger happy whenever I see items that promote the Philippines and these pans make me happy because Filipino food is one of the things I really want to promote. And since I believe that love for country should start within, I think these pans would help more Filipinos love our own cuisine :)

Hooray for the Philippines! Happy cooking!

Let's go Azkals!

Today is the away game of the Philippine Azkals vs. Singapore and I almost cannot contain my excitement! Our country is not a Football-playing/watching country and it has only been very recently that we learned to appreciate the sport-- this, being brought about by our strengthened national team.

I cannot be more prouder of our boys for getting where they are right now. Semi-finals. Wow. It may not be big deal for other countries but it is big deal for us.

Good luck Azkals!!! I am so excited! I am looking forward to the Finals and hoping that I could watch you again live here in the Philippines! (with Team Thailand! haha. I'm rooting for you Thais!) Go Azkals, bring home the cup!

First time to catch the game live! And it's the semi-finals! Soooo happy!

Catch the game on IBC 13!

Treat yourself to a Brazilian

I've been wanting to do something to my hair for the longest time but I didn't quite know what. I deliberated on getting it colored but based on my experience, my hair resists hair dyes and after a few weeks, it's back to its original jet black color. I thought of having it digipermed but since I've discovered the convenience of using a curler, getting it permanently curled no longer sounds enticing. So, what to do?

Get a Brazilian blowout.

Got my brazilian at Edwin Samot salon in Imus, Cavite

I first heard about the Brazilian blowout when I got a haircut a few months back and the stylist offered the treatment. She claimed that it would be good for my limp hair because it will smooth out the frizz, straighten it a bit and generally make my hair healthier. The moment she told me about it, I was sold! That's exactly what I need!

I researched about the treatment and the first thing that made me happy was when I learned that it will only take 1 to 2 hours. Yes! Just 2 hours! The last time I got my hair rebonded I had to endure being in the salon for more than 5 hours and I tell  you, it ain't fun!

The procedure itself is very simple. The stylist applied the solution which was just like hot oil cream on the hair. After around an hour, he blew dry and flat ironed it and voila! Perfection! (Sorry, no pictures! Everything happened so fast, I was done before I knew it! haha)

The peculiar thing about it is that the treatment is left on your hair for a day. You mustn't rinse it off. To be honest, I felt a bit bummed out about this at first because it was a bit sticky and I had a jampacked day then and I didn't want to look so unkempt. So big advice, if you're getting a Brazilian blowout, do it on a free day when you don't have other plans-- especially when those plans include getting photographed. Flat sticky hair on pictures is just the worst! And oh, don't worry about the smell, the solution itself smells good actually so even if you haven't rinsed it yet, people won't think you just came from the salon.

I rinsed and shampooed my hair the next morning and I was so happy with the results! It was so soft! Plus it didn't look like I had a treatment-- unlike when you get your hair rebonded and people can tell. My hair looked like I just flat ironed it. It looked so natural and beautiful :)

I cut my hair after this photo. It's a bit shorter but the effect is still the same.

The treatment is said to last just around 2-3 months, a bit short compared to other treatments but I'm okay with that. I absolutely love how beautiful and manageable my hair has become. It just feels so healthy and naturally beautiful, I don't mind getting another Brazilian in the next few months :P

Starbucks Pilipinas

Was at Starbucks the other day and saw these:

*gasp!* Pilipinas tumblers!!!

So happy! I've always been  thinking of how drab the "country" tumbler of Starbucks was so I was doubly happy when I saw the design!

From these:

To this:

So pretty! I love that the colors are not cliche-- red, blue, yellow, white. It's more festive and the reference to the Philippines is so tastefully done, I absolutely love it!!!

These are limited edition you guys so if you want one, you better hurry! One thing I've learned with Starbucks tumblers is that they run out really fast-- and I'm not talking weeks. I'm talking days!

Thank you Starbucks for the cutest Tumbler! My collection is growinggg! Happy 15th!

...because at Starbucks, they always know me as Ninia :)

♥ your loyal patron,
Ninia

The Taiwan Experience

It's almost a week since I came back from Taiwan but I feel like I'm still in a Taiwan high. I met a lot of amazing people there which made the experience so much better. I started the trip feeling a bit lonely and homesick but after a few days I realized, no one is really truly alone. It's just a matter of perspective. Being alone allows you to widen your horizon, meet new people and maybe establish ties with some of the most wonderful people you'll ever encounter in your life.

So to all you young professionals like us, I say do not be afraid of the unknown. Step out of your comfort zone. Remember that every single experience is a life lesson :)

The view from below Taipei 101. It was too misty that time.

My experience in Taiwan is truly one for the books. I know I fall in love with almost all the places I travel to but I'm not lying when I say that I fell in love with/in Taiwan. It's a beautiful place and the people are so friendly, it is impossible not to fall in love.

It truly was a wonderful experience. To my new found friends, again, my heartfelt thank you. I know this is a once in a lifetime experience. That "once" qualifier is the sad part. But it's true.We'll probably not get together as a group ever again but despite that, I still hold on to the belief that our paths will cross again in the future. As my favorite German saying goes, "Jeder trifft sich zwei mal im Leben!"-- which in English translates, "everyone meets twice in a lifetime" :)