What's So Special About Magnum?

Source

So I was out with my college friends the other night. We were buying drinks and pulutan for our inuman session when Wjoemark decided that he wanted a Magnum for the night. After much prodding and kulitan, Perlito obliged and bought two popsicle in a nearby Mini Stop for the four of us to share. So after a couple of weeks since its arrival in the local setting, I finally got a taste of the ridiculously much-hyped and over-rated ice cream.

So what's my take on Magnum? Well, it's delicious, that one is true. But for P50-60 a stick, is it worth it? I say, NO. Why? I can easily buy a McDonald's coke float and a regular fries for the same price and get my money's worth. I even get to satisfy my ice cream craving!

Okay, I know I'm comparing two different food categories. So let's make it fair. Let's put it at par with Dairy Queen's Blizzard.

Source

Ah, Blizzard. I remember when I used to live in Manila (that was just early last year), whenever I ran errands for the ill-fated company that I used to work for, I always drop by at SM North Edsa Annex's Dairy Queen store to give myself a dose of Blizzard goodness for just P60! (Just thinking about it makes me want to eat it. Now, if only there's a Dairy Queen here in Olongapo.) You can even share it with a friend. Now, is it worth it? Every.Single.Cent. I'll definitely choose DQ's Blizzard over Magnum any day. And don't let me get started on DQ's yummy Banana Split.

Source

Then again, you might be thinking that I'm being biased since I'm an avid DQ fan. But not really. For an average Filipino who earns a minimum salary, which pretty much comprises the majority of the Philippine population, Magnum is a luxury at its finest. Imagine if I want to buy this popsicle for my whole family, I will be splurging a good P330 for just 6 Magnum treats! Definitely not practical, especially for someone like me who's always on a tight budget. So why settle for an over-rated social climbing popsicle when you can go for a totally cost-effective "dirty" ice cream?

Source

That said, here's how to properly eat Magnum. Enjoy!

Source

Tropic Spring 2012: What to Do, What to Wear, How to Survive

Spring’s up, and yet here in the tropics it still feels the same. The pains of only having two seasons kind of limits your wardrobe choices, doesn't it? If you’re into fashion like me, it’s a little bit constricting. Luckily for us in the tropics, spring collections and trends come out early and we get in on the juice as early as February.

So if you’re with me on the dilemma of what to don this spring 2012, read on. The tropics may just turn out to be a good thing for us fashionistas.

Colors

Source

For starters, let’s look at the colors we should look out for. Pantone colors are somewhat the authority when it comes to seasonal hues. For spring 2012, the trendiest hues are tangerine tango, solar power, bellflower, margarita, cabaret, sodalite blue, driftwood, sweet lilac, starfish, and cockatoo. If you look at the color report below, you’ll see that all these colors blend with each other very well. This will be your shopping guide this season.

Going Hippie and Retro

Source

So designers have conspired to make the universe go back in time to the 60’s and 70’s. This means you’ll be seeing plenty of paisleys, stripes, color blocks, flared jeans, and Charlie’s Angels.

Caftan Tops

Source

A caftan is a piece of clothing worn is in a variety of cultures. It is an overdress donned by both men and women. You will typically find these in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and Russia. It’s like a tunic, but it’s much much longer. Kaftan tops have a distinctly wide set of sleeves and waist that looks best when worn with a belt. They look great as beach outfits and coverups. Paired with gladiator sandals, they scream laid-back summer.

Dresses and Skirts

Source

Source

Wearing dresses is no problem for ladies like us in the tropics. For what it’s worth, you’ll find dresses almost everywhere! For this season, try to go for light fabrics lest you look forward to fainting fashionable on the hot concrete. It’s getting warmer by the day, so do yourself a favour and wear silk, satin, chiffon; steer clear from nylon, polyester, cotton, and wool. Go for bright colors, small flowery patterns, stripes, or color blocks as well.

Pixie Cut

Source

Okay, a pixie cut is not a new trend in clothing. Let’s stick to the hairstyle. Since the temperature’s getting higher and higher each day, wearing your long hair down might feel a bit heavy, messy, warm (I just can’t stop complaining about the heat), and greasy.

Going back to the seventies theme, look at how Mia Farrow chopped off her locks in Rosemary’s Baby. It brought her delicate features to the forefront. In fact, it made her beautiful round eyes pop.

Going pixie has its perks. You ALWAYS look put together and chic even if all you have on you is a pair of pear studs and lip gloss. You don’t have to style it that much, (and if you’re a lazy daisy like me, this is such a treat), but it still looks great all the time. You can make it spunky or chic in such a short time with very little accessories.

What’s the Best Way to Lose Weight Safely?

It's been three weeks now since I started my stay-at-home project. And as I continue to earn money, my weight also continue to grow. The last time I checked - which was only yesterday - I gained a whooping 6 lbs. Since my worst fear is to gain back the 30 lbs. I lost last year, I decided to re-think my eating habits and get back to the basics. So I decided to write an educational post on how to lose weight safely. I hope this will be beneficial for you and me.

If you’ve been trying to get rid of your extra poundage for quite a while now, then you probably already know that there is no fool-proof and absolutely guaranteed way to ensure effective weight management. While people who’s experienced any kind of success in losing weight—whether it be through a particular diet or exercise regimen, will give you all the reasons why their particular weight loss method works best. Remember that weight loss is a very personal matter, and what works for one person will not guarantee that it will likewise work for you.

Going back to the question though. What is the best way to lose weight? And to do it safely? Here are a few things you might want to consider:

Re-evaluate Your Eating Habits
Keeping an eye on your food intake does not require you to deprive yourself of food. Not by a long shot. Never lose sight of the fact that one of the most effective ways you can lose weight is if you gain control of your food, and not let it be the other way around. Take a long, hard look at what your triggers are that enable you to chow down on food that you don’t really want or need, and then later find a way to address and avoid them. By doing so, you also rid yourself of the consequences that come with them.

Get a Move On
After you’ve taken a good, hard look at your eating habits, and have taken a step towards making an improvement, the next thing you might want to look at is developing an exercise plan of sorts. It doesn’t have to be a big one, like going to the gym and such. The fact of the matter is that exercise and diet are the perfect combination if you want to achieve effective weight loss. While one without the other will get you results, if you’re committed to being healthy, then might as well do it the right way. Start small—don’t take the elevator, take the stairs; walk your pooch ‘round the neighborhood; go hiking, and so on. The goal is to up your cardio, which in turn will boost your metabolism, and later on allow you to get rid of the extra and unwanted poundage.

The Long and Short of Things
Never forget that slow and steady works. While there are any number of workout plans and diets that guarantee results almost at the speed of light, you should be thinking of the long term effects as well. What’s the sense in dropping 5, maybe 10lbs. in a week, when you’re going to gain about 20lbs a month or so later? Never mind the quick-fixes that will give you short-tem results. Instead try to find something that will not only enable you to get in shape, but have a more long-term and positive effect on your overall health.

I hope you find this post useful the way I did. Anway, I use Livestrong to record my daily caloric intake. It helped me lose weight before. And I'm confident that it will help me again. Oh, look at the time. Off to a crazy dancing routine for now..:)

Summer Getaways: It's More Fun In The Philippines

Ah, Summer..! Everybody’s favorite time of the year when you can flaunt your well-toned physique and trendy summer outfits at lush and exotic beaches. A time when sun-kissed bronze skin is the “in” thing. (Just don’t forget to apply sunscreen to block your skin from the harmful UV rays and any damage that the sun can cause). And what better place to experience summer at its finest? So here is the list of famous tourist destinations during this hot season:

1. BORACAY

Boracay is a typical island paradise in the Pacific. Considered as one of the world’s best beaches and known for its white sands, the island is lined with plush resorts, luxurious hotels, lodging houses, and other tourism-related businesses. Not only does the island provide attraction through its fine white beaches, it also offers magnificent selection of pleasure and adventure that would leave you wanting for more.

2. Dakak

While its main attraction is its remarkably shaped bay and powdery white sand, Dakak also boasts of its immaculate blue waters and marvellous dive sites. It offers the ultimate hideaway for it is encircled by large island and surrounded by mountains; and its natural reservoir for indigenous plants and animals makes it a place to be for nature lovers. The guests are sure to be pampered by luxury while being snuggled in serene solitude.

3. El Nido

El Nido is one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines. Known as the country’s last frontier, it is a home to a showcase of geology and wildlife. Its picturesque landscape, crystal clear waters, and virtual isolation draw and captivate tourists, making it one of the top destinations. Kayaking, Mangrove tours, Diving, and Island Hopping are some of the activities that can be enjoyed and explored in the island.

4. Siargao

Siargao is a tear-shaped island that contains the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao. The secluded tropical island surrounds itself with coral reefs and dozens of coconut palm trees. Aside from hosting one of the most beautiful beaches in the country; it is also a home to the famous surfing break (CLOUD 9), making it the surfing capital of the Philippines.

5. Puerto Galera

Starting from “backyard tourism”, Puerto Galera has progressed into one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort in the country. The island’s main attraction is its crystal clear water that shimmers during summer months. It is also well known for its loads of pocket beaches and numerous snorkelling and diving spots. Its impressive seascape is ideal for activities like swimming, snorkelling, sailing, and scuba diving.


Philippines is, without a doubt, filled with magnificent and spectacular beaches that can be showcased around the world. Truly, these islands offer satisfying yet affordable packages. Who says that fantastic summer getaways can only be done by the rich and famous? Now If I can only pack my luggage and explore these beaches in one go. The heat is on!

What's so Challenging about a Cinnamon?

I was already feeling sleepy last night and momentarily giving myself a break from too much work when I saw this funny video posted in Facebook. It totally perked me up and had me crackin' for a good 30 minutes.

Indeed, what is so challenging about a Cinnamon?





After watching the video, I instantly became a fan of Glozell. Who wouldn't? The woman is naturally funny.

And because of her video, I might try the cinnamon challenge, just to satisfy my curiosity. But instead of using a ladle, a teaspoon would suffice. I definitely don't want to end up in a coffin. LOL

So go ahead, take a break from your stressful schedule, and have a hearty laugh just like I did. Enjoy!=)

Is Kindle Fire the next technological sensation?

Do you want to get a hold of the coveted iPad series but can't? Is your budget keeping you from buying the high-end gadget? Then the solution to your problem is over. Introducing the Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi



Don’t let its simple appearance fool you. As far as hardware specs go, it may just be it. The Kindle Fire’s RAM, dual core processor and screen processor is on the same level as that of the coveted iPad. Its vibrant colored 7" touch-screen enhances your viewing pleasure because of its high resolution. It also has an anti-reflective treatment for the convenience of e-booklovers.

This android-powered device has a WiFi connection, Micro-B connector and includes 8 GB of internal storage. The keyboard touchpad and sound quality is great, and it is more portable compared to bulkier tablets on the market. Kindle Fire ideal for those of you that travel a lot. For the ladies, it is small and light enough to fit in your cute Juicy Couture purse as it weighs a mere 14 ounces.

Now you can watch a huge array of movies without disturbing your snoozing travel-companions. That being said, millions of and books are available for download at The Kindle Store at $9.99 or less.

The Kindle Store also has a lot of free books available; such as the great literary classic Sherlock Holmes Adventures. Magazines and Children Illustration books are also available in rich, glossy colors. (I’m talking to you, mommies and daddies!)
Internet addict and gamer? No problem. The Kindle Fire has received lots of positive review with their amazingly fast browser called Amazon Silk. Millions of apps are also available for you to choose from. I like the fact that everyday, you can get one paid app for free. So even if you’re low on cash, you can still download Angry Birds when you’re bored.

The bad thing about having tablets is you get addicted to downloading your favorite apps. Sometimes, 8GB is not enough. Don’t worry, Kindle Fire gives you access to Amazon Cloud where you get 5GB of free online storage. So you can keep some of your rarely used files safe, sound and download-ready.

Now let me get to the fun parts.

Kindle Amazon offers a free month of Amazon Prime membership. For those of you who don’t know, Amazon Prime members are able to stream thousands of new movies and TV shows for free! You may also try out over a hundred-thousand popular eBooks such as, my favorite, The Hunger Games. And yep, it’s STILL for free.

I always hate the feeling of worrying when my online purchases will arrive. If you’re also an online shopaholic like me, you can take advantage of your free Amazon Prime membership by making use of its (you guessed it) FREE two-day shipping.

Ooops. Did I mention that it only costs $199? Compared to the super-expensive iPad, Kindle Fire provides high-quality entertainment and functionality at a very low price. That bargain alone is a HUGE STEAL.

Anyone can afford and enjoy this cool gadget. And for bookworms like me, the Kindle Fire is as good as it gets.

The Intersecting Roads

"There are two ways to go when you hit that crossroads in your life: There is the bad way, when you sort of give up, and then there is the really hard way, when you fight back. I went the hard way and came out of it okay. Now, I'm sitting here and doing great." --Matthew Perry

There comes a time in our lives that we are presented with intersecting roads that we have to choose from in order to continue with our journey. When you reach that moment, what will you choose? The new and unfamiliar path that no one in your circle or anybody you know has ever walked on? Or the conventional, tried and tested path that almost everyone you know has sauntered into? Will you reach the end of the road you chose? Or will you go back, change path, and start your journey all over again?

The truth is, we come across these roads more than once, in different aspects of our lives. And most of the time, we deal with them in two ways: either we go for it no matter how bumpy the road gets, or we give up and stop midway through the journey.

As for me, I'd rather finish the road to see what lies ahead and give myself a chance to explore the possibilities than to just give up and call it off altogether. It's a little intimidating since the road that I'm treading on right now is one that nobody in my inner circle has ever walked on. I have no qualms, though. Because I'm willing to take chances and risk it, knowing that the end result will be worth it.

Besides, it's not everyday that you're given a clear shot to prove what you got and show the world what you can do. My motto in life is really simple, cliche even:

"Life is too short to waste on the things that you don't want to do. Too fast-paced to let go of your ambitions. Too precious to feel sorry for yourself. And too sweet to live with resentment and lamentation."

And as David Frost put it,

"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally."

How about you? Have you found your intersecting roads yet?=)

Thank You, Muse Of Productivity

*Le me just take a little break from my busy schedule and overwhelming work loads and blog a bit.

Blogging is like a breath of fresh air in my fast paced and ridiculously busy schedule at the moment. Yes, you read it right. I am no longer procrastinating. It's been almost a month after I finally decided to be productive again. And, boy, it felt really good and fulfilling. And this week, I decided to stay at home and concentrate on my work. The outside world can always wait.

Apparently, I made the right choice. It's been almost two weeks since and I managed to nab 6 projects, if I'm not mistaken. And they all pay well. The beauty of productivity (sigh). The last couple of days saw me going out of the house to withdraw earnings from my debit card consistently. They may be in small amounts at the moment; but I know that I'll be able to triple it in the long run.

I'm so productive that all I ever want to do is work, work, and work. Yep, you read my thoughts. I'm turning into a workaholic!

But then, I can only push myself too far. Early on, I'm realizing the negative consequence of working hard - deteriorated health. Not that I'm seriously ill or something, but I suffered from a high fever the other day. At the rate I'm going - abnormal sleeping habits, non-stop work, restless days - , I might see myself ending up in serious trouble.

So I calculated the total amount I was able to raise in 3 weeks of outsourcing - a whooping $700 or P29,000.00! Okay, you may be thinking, "$700? Bitch please, that's small!" Yeah, maybe it is. But guess what? I started from scratch. My only investment was $13. Barely enough to get me started yet it managed to get me through.

And I've never been so proud of myself. You know, if there's one thing that I'm not ashamed of flaunting, that would be my skills and inherent abilities. I know what I have and I'm not afraid to use it to my advantage. And most importantly, I'm not afraid to take necessary risks. Duh, I even entertain them.

Finally, I'm doing the very thing that I've always envisioned myself to do -earning money without leaving the house at all, leveraging through other people, and exploring new things as I go along. As a matter of fact, I intend to include eBook publishing in my blogging and outsourcing activities. How, you ask? By purchasing Kindle Fire. This gadget will help me publish my eBooks in Amazon for free. I really hope to get a hold of it next month (fingers crossed).

So excuse me for now, I have a handful of BMR articles to upload to. Till then..:)