Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Atkinsons London 1799 Celebrates 200 Years of Perfume Snobbery with New Fragrances

Atkinsons has a history as rich as the fragrances it carries. Established in 1799, the British perfume house created scents for royalty and fashion-obsessed aristocrats. It was considered the Chanel of its time having clientele such as Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, the Tsar of Russia, the King of Italy, Sarah Bernhardt, and Beau Brummel, father of modern menswear, among others. 

What's with the bear? Read this :)

Now also available in the Philippines, Atkinsons has brought in classic and contemporary concoctions that are set to transport your senses to England in an era of your choosing. 

I had the pleasure of attending the Atkinsons launch yesterday in Pangea at the City of Dreams where guests were treated to an elegant afternoon tea time while infusing our olfactory senses with lovely scents for both men and women.

lovely event setup

Presenting Atkinsons' new line of fragrances …

THE EMBLEMATIC COLLECTION - 24 Old Bond Street

In 1800, James Atkinsons invented the English Cologne with an uncommonly fresh yet textured and tenacious scent akin to the confidence of the British Empire. Because of this breakthrough, Atkinsons was proclaimed Official Perfumer to the Royal Court of England by King George IV who, needless to say, loved the scent. This brought Atkinsons to its new headquarters at 24 Old Bond Street.

24 Old Bond Street

The original Eau de Cologne now comes in its 21st century form -- 24 Old Bond Street. This emblematic scent is a mixture of juniper, rose and black tea, and smoky, oak-casked whisky accord. The perfume version, on the other hand is triple-distilled for fuller character and intense dramatic contrast. Triple Extract is whisky-infected, has super-fresh floral infusion, spices and wood, making it  three times more potent than its cologne counterpart.

We were told that 24 Old Bond Street is a scent that can be used for both men and women. I tried some on and loved how the beautiful scent stayed on my skin for several hours. I could still smell it on my wrists when I got home last night!     

a touch of the Orient

THE LEGENDARY COLLECTION - Modern Vintages

Three heritage scents, Eaux de Toilette, that withstood the test of time have been reinvented and updated in the perfume house's traditional yet trendsetting style.

Love In Idleness (1922) is a neo-Victorian love potion made of raspberry, violet, orris, heliotrope, tree moss, and patchouli. This scent of love at first sight is a tryst between a feminine orris-violet accord and a seductive woody chypre dry down.

The Excelsion Bouquet (1919), created for modern adventurers, captures the adventurous and heroic spirits of history's best-loved explorers with a high-spirited masculine blend of flint, sage, and spices. 

The British Bouquet

Amber Empire (1927) takes you on a sensual voyage into the languorous, enigmatic areas of the Orient. It is carved out of precious amber accord captured in drifts of earthy and rich oolong tea, making the scent equally exotic and cosmopolitan.

Other fragrances in this collection -- The Odd Fellow's Bouquet, Fashion Decree, The British Bouquet, and The Nuptial Bouquet (I love this one!) -- is reminiscent of a past where dandy gentleman's clubs and Victorian finery were still the rage. 

The Nuptial Bouquet

THE OUD COLLECTION - An Emir In England

In the 1920s, Egyptian boxer, race car driver, and adventurer Crown Prince Mohammed Ali Ibrahim, arrived at Atkinsons in London to request for original perfumes for himself and his paramour Mabel Normand, a Hollywood starlet. He carried with him a precious ingredient called "oud" that was considered the "liquid gold" of the Orient.

That luxurious resin became the key to the Oud Collection, a revival of fragrances inspired by the prince, featuring accords of Central London, Earl Grey tea, wood, and leather for him; and jasmine and citrus for her. The resulting bouquets are a rich entente between England and the Orient: Oud Save the King and Oud Save the Queen.

Oud Save the King

THE CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION - Classic Unconventionality

Atkinsons' definite perfumery line are contemporary visions of iconic perfume ingredients that transform the familiar into the distinctly intriguing. It includes the feminine Rose in Wonderland, Jasmine in Tangerine, Lavender on the Rocks, and the sportsmanly Posh on the Green

Two centuries may have passed but the English's eccentricity and impeccable style continue to live on in Atkinsons' new scents that are set to captivate the senses with nostalgic originality. 

Fashion Decree

Atkinsons is available in fragrance boutique ART of SCENT, a luxury retail store that instills in consumers a deeper appreciation of the nuances in choosing the ideal fragrance for themselves. ART of SCENT offers Fragrance Education where clients can try a unique tester bar with trays. Each tray has its own distinct element that signifies the fragrances family it represents. This tester bar guides consumers in choosing the scent they like and would suit them best. 

To further uplift the customer's overall shopping experience, one will be assisted by an extensively trained and industry-first Fragrance Concierge who is knowledgeable about all the brands in the store and would help you discover your ideal scent profile.

ART of SCENT City of Dreams

ART of SCENT's flagship store is located at the East Wing in Shangri-la Plaza Mall while other shops can be found at City of Dreams and Resorts World Manila.


Sunday, September 27, 2015

Skin Care Product Review: MUZ Facial Sheet Mask

It's a fact that women feel more confident when we feel good about ourselves. And one thing that can boost confidence is having good skin that you don't need to hide behind layers of makeup. 

MUZ Facial Sheet Mask (blue variant)
has whitening + collagen ingredients
If you have no time or the budget to visit a skin care clinic as often as you'd like, here's a simple and effective way to take care of your face. One MUZ Facial Sheet Mask (P50 each) can actually already help nourish your face with just one sheet!

I had the chance to try the MUZ Whitening Plus Facial Sheet Mask that has Whitening + Collagen ingredients and liked the results. This product's benefits include skin whitening, anti-ageing, tightening, and rejuvenation as well as reduces oiliness. It also contains anti-oxidants that protects cells from damage caused by free radicals.

make sure to lay the whole mask flat on your face 

Saturday, September 26, 2015

TV Series About People with Extraordinary Abilities is Back as Heroes Reborn!

I seldom get to watch TV shows religiously nowadays. Work has taken precedence over much of my leisure time. A few years ago, however, I got hooked on Heroes, a series about ordinary people with special abilities. 

original Heroes cast
I guess the popularity of these kinds of shows is an indication of our continuous fascination with superhero themes and characters. And why not? It makes for great entertainment to see "what would happen next?" in every episode shown.

Heroes was somewhat a melting pot where you can "meet" a lot of individuals with various extraordinary capabilities. They range from the very young to senior citizens and go beyond race, color, and social status. I think, what made this show attractive to viewers is that, at one point or another, we can identify with one or more of the characters or are reminded of someone we know.

Heroes 2006 - 2010
Thus, it was quite disappointing when the series abruptly ended after four seasons, just when the stories have become more and more interesting. By then, I've known the characters for a long time and knew I would miss seeing them -- Peter, Claire, Hiro, Ando, even Sylar -- on TV from then on.

So, I was really glad to find out some weeks back that creator and producer Tim Kring is bringing the series back with new characters and story lines. Yesterday, I joined other Heroes fans at the Solar Screening Room to watch the first two pilot episodes of Heroes Reborn on Jack TV.

Heroes creator and producer Tim Kring

Friday, September 25, 2015

Experience Natural Care "Down There" with pH Care Papaya and Guava

The buzz on going all-natural continues to make waves as many of us become more conscious of the things we eat and use. Aside from putting importance of organic food and health supplements from plant and animal extracts, personal care and beauty products are also being put under the spotlight by those who want to live healthier.

papaya and guava
photo credit: dutyfreesalon.com
And, why not? It's not enough that we have proper diet and exercise, we also need to make sure that what we apply on any area of our bodies won't be harmful to our skin -- especially on the most sensitive parts!

The folks behind best-selling feminine wash pH Care understand the importance of using natural ingredients in their products. Thus, they came up with an all-new pH Care Naturals line in two variants: pH Care Naturals Papaya and pH Care Naturals Guava. 

Women, admittedly, have confidence issues when it comes to the bikini area. For many, having dark skin on that part of the body can make them self-conscious even in the privacy of their own bathrooms. What more on the beach? And while there are many products for whitening dark skin on various body parts, most of them are not safe for use in intimate areas. 

pH Care Naturals Papaya

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Veloci's Holiday Collection Highlights Exciting Camouflage Designs

Camo is back! Earlier this year at the Paris Fashion Month, Valentino garbed Ben Stiller's Derek Zoolander and Owen Wilson's Hansel in fun and funky custom fatigues. This move by the Italian fashion house sparked a renewed interest in camo, which has also been seen worn by female celebrities like Rihanna and Miley Cyrus.

photo credit: www.stuff.co.nz
Veloci, the Italian-inspired watch brand, embraces the trend with the launch of its Holiday Timepieces. This latest collection features the distinct camouflage print, revamped in brighter colors and bolder designs.

attractive camo design and colors
The Veloci Holiday Collection comes in two styles:

1) Camo takes design inspiration from the bestselling Pulse and contains the same power-packed features: dual-time display, stopwatch and alarm, illuminator, and water resist of up to 100 meters. Wherever your next getaway may be, this is a great watch to bring along.

Hideo Muraoka and Catriona Gray
wearing Veloci Camo watches

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Restaurant Review: Genki Sushi Uses Digital Technology to Inject Fun and Coolness to Dining Out

If you've been to Japanese-themed restaurants with conveyor belts, you also probably found it really cool to have your food "delivered" right to your table or, to be more accurate, have the experience of personally "plucking" the dishes you want before they go past your table.

Chirashi Don (big bowl) taking center stage
At Genki Sushi, this concept has been revolutionized to a higher level. There, diners get to place their specific orders via a touchscreen tablet and have those particular dishes freshly prepared in the kitchen. Immediately after, food items are placed on mini trains that are programmed to stop right beside your table. It surprised us when Mr. Eric Teng, CEO of Mother Spice Food Corp., told us that the chefs who prepare all the food are Filipino who were trained in Japan for one month. Wow!

each table has its own touchscreen tablet 
The system is very efficient such that if you don't retrieve your orders after a certain period of time, a buzzer would sound and a lighted button would blink in the panel to remind you to press it and send the train back to the kitchen so that it can deliver food to other tables. Watch this video to see what I mean.



Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The KL Tower Serviced Residences in Makati City, Philippines: A Great Place to Unwind with Family

For many of us, parents, having the opportunities to take our family along with us to work-related activities is a great bonus. After all, our loved ones are the reasons why we strive to become better professionals and colleagues in our fields.

Room 17K's bed and easy chair
This past weekend, I had a couple of events I needed to go to and which I knew would take up a lot of time away from my family. Given Metro Manila's infamous horrible traffic that steals hours from anyone who lives far from the city center, I opted to find a hotel in Makati City where we could stay for a night so it would be easier to come "home" especially since it was my special child's birthday last Friday.

Room 17L's living and dining areas
I am so happy to have found a great venue in KL Tower Serviced Residences. We were able to book two rooms with a connecting door so it felt like we stayed in a two bedroom suite instead of one! :) What's more, the hotel staff thoughtfully prepared a cake and balloons for our James, making our stay extra special. 

Room 17K's dining and kitchen area
The rooms are stylishly designed with lovely furniture, a really nice color scheme, and wonderful amenities. I love how the kitchen area is fully equipped (pots, pans, stove, a microwave, refrigerator, etc.) with everything guests needed to make a good meal in case we would like to cook something. The huge mirrors on the walls also made the spaces feel more airy and bigger that they are.

KL Tower makes it convenient to prepare your own food
Both rooms also have dining utensils neatly laid out on the table. There were also electric pots where we could heat some water to have coffee or tea. Hubby and I got full use of ours at 3AM the next morning before we headed out to join the SyncRUNize race (read about our experience, here) in Arca South

there's provision for free coffee and tea
From the 17th floor, we had great day and night views of the Makati skyline. The rooms were equipped with balconies but one has to request for the glass doors to be unlocked by management before you can go out. That's actually a good safety feature especially if you have young kids with you.    

a night view of Makati's Legaspi Village
Room 17K has its own bathroom, kitchen and dining area, a comfortable easy chair, TV, closet, and bed while Room 17L has its own living room (with a plush sofa to watch TV in), two bathrooms, and a separate bedroom that also has its own TV. 

one of three bathrooms we got to use
There's a spacious area between 17L's bedroom and second bathroom where the closet is. It has a dresser and mirror and an ironing board, making it very convenient for those who are there on business to groom themselves well before an important meeting. The free Wi-Fi is fast enough although there were times we couldn't connect to the network. It was a good thing I have a mobile postpaid line so getting data service was not much of a problem. 

Room 17L's dressing room (closet and ironing board not included in the photo)
Indulge me a bit as I gush that one of the best features of 17L is the beautiful lighting on top of the breakfast bar-like table. On our way back from the Manila International Book Fair where the book I edited was launched, hubby and I dropped by Papa John's in Greenbelt to buy a couple of pizzas and pastas for our midnight snack. My son, Gab, took a photo of me while we were having a midnight snack and below is the no filter result. Nice light, right? :)

disclaimer: that's Coca-Cola in the glass :) 
Gab had a chance to take a dip in the swimming pool (open until 10PM) located on the 7th floor that night. It's too bad hubby and I had a lot of things to attend to outside so we weren't able to bring James for a swim. We also didn't get to use the gym but, hey, there may be a next time so let's see.

KL Tower's indoor swimming pool
On Saturday morning, hubby and I went back to KL Tower after our race to take a shower and remove all the muddy remnants from our fun, fitness adventure. Later, we ate in Kitchen 1B located at the ground floor of the hotel. We were so glad we made it before they made the last call for breakfast. We enjoyed a hearty meal before heading back to our room to rest a bit before we checked out and headed home.

a hearty breakfast at Kitchen 1B
By the way, one other thing to appreciate at KL Tower is their ample parking spaces. We were given a specific slot on the 4th floor and it has access to a wheelchair ramp going to the elevators. That made it very easy for us to bring our son with special needs in and out of the hotel. Too, KL Tower's staff members are friendly and helpful, making our stay an even more pleasant one.  

a view of the park from the 17th floor
KL Tower is located along Gamboa Street in Legaspi Village. It's just a few minutes' walk from the Greenbelt group of malls so looking for somewhere to eat or buy take out food from is not a problem. Across the street from the hotel is a park where you can bring the family for a stroll.

Room 17L's bedroom



Basically, you don't need to go very far to find other places to unwind. For me, though, if I could simply stay the whole time at KL Tower, I would because it already has everything I need for a fantastic staycation in the city.   


Sunday, September 20, 2015

ARCA South's SyncRUNize Uses the Power of Technology to Create a One-of-a-Kind Adventure Race

Running has allowed me to experience a lot of firsts. Although I'm already using Runtastic to keep track of my practice and actual runs, I've never used a mobile app that I need to check every time I encounter a pit stop. That is, until hubby and I joined the SyncRUNize race held at ARCA South in Taguig last Saturday.

a shot with the jovial members of the Philippine Army
SyncRUNize is a unique running and adventure race because the organizers prepared 15 stations where runners have to finish various physical and mental challenges first before we could go on to the next levels. 

hubby conquered the inclined wall, yey!
I can't recall the exact order of all the activities we did but I can definitely say many of them are VERY challenging. For instance, I tried to cross the monkey bars but just couldn't make it past the halfway mark. So I had to take the five minute penalty. 

I couldn't jump high enough so I posed for a photo instead :p

Saturday, September 19, 2015

UNICEF Celebrity Advocate Anne Curtis Organizes Heroes for Children Run 2015

UNICEF Celebrity Advocate Anne Curtis is very much into fitness. "I thought a benefit run that demonstrates health and wellness is a great way to raise resources to support children to have the best start in life!" 

Lotta Sylwander and Anne Curtis
During the recent launch of Heroes for Children Run, Anne explained that proceeds from the event will help fund UNICEF's '1000 Days of Life' campaign, which materialized last July via a series of legislative advocacy forums with the House of Representatives and the Senate. The central theme is, 'Ensuring the Right Start to Life through Optimal Maternal and Child Nutrition: Building a Stronger Nation.'

Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Country Representative, revealed that at least 3.4 million Filipino children are stunted. "Undernutrition accounts for over half of the 95 daily under-five child deaths. The '1000 Days' campaign will focus on much needed health and nutrition support in the critical first thousand days of the life of a child: from conception through pregnancy, to childbirth, and through to the child's second year and beyond," she illustrated. 

click photo to enlarge to see
race fees, inclusions, gun starts, etc.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Discover Robinsons Townville in BF Parañaque and 8 Other Locations

Shopping for stuff is more convenient if you can find everything you need in one place. This is the idea behind Robinsons Townville where consumers can find a good tenant mix anchored by Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Appliances, Handyman, Daiso Japan, and Southstar Drug

Mime artists welcomed guests to Robinsons Townville 
Complementing the archer stores is a bank, ATMs, quick service restaurants, food kiosks, a bookstore, spa, salon, boutiques, amusement center for kids, and other services designed to meet the needs of a growing community.

join a game, win a prize!

Red Kitchen + Bar at River Park, Festival Supermall Hosts Comedy Cartel’s Southern Exposure Show

I love going to River Park in Festival Mall, Muntinlupa City. It is a great place to unwind because aside from seven different dining concepts, it is surrounded by lush greens and centered on a flowing river that's 1.5km long. 

the beautiful River Park
Last year, Alabang residents and visitors enjoyed watching a Light and Sound Show and performances from different celebrities during the Christmas season. Early this year, my husband and I celebrated Valentine’s Day by dining at Mati’s Meat and Bread

Triad Churrasco (P685)
 a combination of beef, chicken fillet, and prawn churrasco
served with rice pilaf, grilled vegetables, and sweet corn
Recently, we had dinner at Red Kitchen + Bar, another great place located in River Park. There, sports enthusiasts can cheer for their favorite teams with the lounge’s high-definition TVs. 

Steak Nachos (P385)
Tex-Mex nachos with steak, olives, cheese and homemade salsa 

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Rebisco Combi World's Biggest POPulation Song Blends Various Sounds Into a Musical Marvel

We hear different sounds every day but I bet you also don't really notice many of them. For me, it's normal hearing our dog bark, waking up with the alarm clock sounding off in the morning, or flicking a light switch when night starts to fall.

Kat DJ
Last June until July, Rebisco Combi encouraged people to send in video sound clips that matched certain weekly themes. The clips will be used to create an extraordinary song where all sounds are combined. The best clips for each time period were chosen and rewarded with cool Humlan headphones from notable audio specialist Urbanears.

Buganda Drumbeaters
In just over a month, more than 500 video sound clips were submitted. Sources of the interesting and creative sound bites came from household items to animals as well as body parts! The result surprised everyone who went to URBN Bar and Kitchen in Bonifacio Global City the other night. There, Rebisco launched the Combi World's Biggest POPulation Song made with the submitted video sound clips, which highlighted how unusual combinations can turn into something amazing.

Alodia Gosengfiao

Saturday, September 12, 2015

CSM Publishing Provides an Early Christmas Shopping Experience at the 36th Manila International Book Fair

Manila's much awaited yearly book fair is happening this September and Church Strengthening Ministry (CSM) Publishing will once again offer big discounts, book signings, and a large selection of good reads. 


The 36th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) is a great avenue for publishers and authors to meet the community of Filipino readers. CSM Publishing, a pioneer of the P100 Book Craze, has set the benchmark of promoting the Filipino talents through its homegrown pool of authors. The sale, offering titles at low prices, provides book lovers an early Christmas shopping experience where they can find good gifts for their loved ones.

This 2015, CSM is launching a solid all-Filipino book lineup from different generations with quality content good for people of all ages. Here are some offerings to look out for:

Kapamilya o Kapal Nila?

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Jaimie Alexander from THOR Stars in Blindspot, Warner TV's Intriguing New Series

A mind erased, a body of clues. That's the very intriguing tag line for Blindspot, a new series to premier on September 22 on Warner TV at 9:50PM. This show tells the story of a mysterious woman left inside a duffel bag in the middle of Times Square in New York City. The lady is completely naked but covered in hundreds of intricate tattoos. She doesn't know who she is and how she got there.

a naked woman found in Times Square
One tattoo, however, stood out from the rest -- the name of FBI agent Kurt Weller. Soon, Jane Doe (played by Jaimie Alexander, THOR) and the FBI realizes that each mark on her body leads to clues about a crime and her true identity. Weller (played by Sullivan Stapleton, Strike Back, 300: Rise of an Empire), along with his team and Assistant Director Mayfair (played by Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Without a Trace), then helps Jane piece her past together and solve a larger crime conspiracy one tattoo at a time. 

Another interesting twist is the revelation of Jane's kick-ass skills, one by one, without her understanding how she acquired them. Meanwhile, Weller strives to connect and figure out why they were put in each other's paths.

Jane Doe and Agent Weller