Aside from hair and skin care, nail care is of primary importance amongst women---students, housewives, and career-empowered ladies.  In fact most ladies (and some men too) deliberately give time for some self relaxation, pampering and maintenance to project a good image of one’s self amongst significant others—friends, colleagues, strangers we meet.

This image doesn’t just entail the physical aspect.  While it is true that caring for our hair, skin and nails through availing hair spa services or perhaps body scrub and some classic manicure and pedicure services can help us enhance our looks, these services when done on a regular basis (like once or twice a month) can help us mitigate stress and overcome anxieties brought about by the daily problems we encounter in our lives. 

 This is true as the very idea of seeing yourself given care or being pampered makes you feel good about yourself in an instant! 

Perhaps the only problem is, we do not want to be spending too much on these right?

Good thing that there are spa centers that offer services at a very reasonable rate without having to sacrifice the quality of service and the presence of good available options to help us achieve that goal of pampering ourselvesJ

Being a single mom, I consider this a major concern.  Having a baby while thriving to succeed at work, juggling the two while maintaining a good positive image is in fact a tough work. 

I am working on something that I owe to myself—to my body, including my nails!

“Mad About Nails”

I have been staying in Bulacan for two years now.  Bulacan being a province far from Manila ( I meant San Rafael Bulacan; 2 hours away from Manila under normal traffic conditions), gave me a hard time looking for the places I used to go to such as my favorite/ trusted salon, waxing station, nail spa center, body massage center or facial care center. I figured out that, I have yet to explore the nearby towns such as San Ildefonso and Baliuag, Plaridel and Pulilan to check out the available establishments I can go to for my pampering needs.

There are a number of centers actually but only a few I can trust.  Mad About Nails is one them!

Today was my fourth visit to this nail spa center and they haven’t failed me since; I even referred them to my relatives.  Here are some points why I LOVE this nail spa center that it made it to one of Everything Lovely’s top picks!

1.     Mad about Nails offers reasonable rate for manicure and pedicure and foot spa packages, with no additional cost for the type of nail polish brand you want to use.  I always avail their manicure-pedicure-foot spa package because it is budget friendly especially to a single working mom like me!

2.     Unlike in other mall-based nail spa centers, Mad About Nails carries sophisticated and high quality nail polish brands, all imported and have complete collection. Check out the photos!

 I tried OPI lacquer limited Edition Mariah Carey Collection. The liquid sand texture is lovely and suggests sophistication. I’m happy with my pick!

3.     Friendly staff, competent nail technician.  Like other mall-based nail spas, Mad About Nail’s (nail techs) trim toenails and finger nails in a gentle manner. They remove only the dry skin unless you ask them to remove your in-grown.  In this way, the toenails do not look off and unsophisticated.

4.     They offer waxing services at a reasonable rate compared to mall-based spa centers!  I have tried their underarm waxing, the brand that they use doesn’t contribute much to the darkening of the skin. 

5.      Cozy place! I love the ambience.  The interior design gives you that ohh-factor.  You’ll think you are in a city mall or something like it, when actually you’re in Bulacan! Nice interior, whoever designed it, good job. 

Mad About Nails also offers Hand Care, Nail Extension, nail art, foot care, paraffin spa treatment, Mani and pedi for kids, eyelash enhancement, threading, waxing, whole body scrub and ear candling.  Avail any with discount when you get a pampering card! 

They likewise accept nail spa parties.  Visit Mad About Nails at 2nd floor PLM building DRT hi-way corner Benigno Aquino Ave, Bagong Nayon, Baliuag Bulacan.  The building in front of Jolibee flyover across Puregold Bagong Nayon Baliuag.

What’s your mad nails story?

Xoxo
Caroleen

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Aside from the usual lectures, note-taking classes, working in a kitchen laboratory and the like, the Academy for international Culinary Arts has fused Restaurant Simulation as one of its most challenging activities or evaluation tests for its culinary students that would not just give a heap of knowledge on practical applications but an activity that enhances the students’ quick response to situations such as effective trouble shooting in the kitchen and the like.

What can you expect in a Restaurant Simulation?

And just like that, Palawan had me wanting her so bad.

It was just last week when I explored Palawan Philippines with my family.  After so many years, a family get-away finally transpired---the Iletos and the Macaraegs (my dad's sister and her family from California) enjoyed a four day trip in such a beautiful place as Palawan.

In fact until now, I am so confused on what to write about this trip, I just felt there are so many things that are worthy of sharing that I really do not know where to start.  Do i post pictures? Do i discuss the place? My personal experience with my son? Write a travelogue perhaps? Really this has made me thinking for days that only NOW I sit down and write down my thoughts.  

Perhaps to sum up my experience, I felt like I was a "lakatsera sa Palawan" for a time.  From beaches and river to restaurants and churches, to wet and dry market tours, I can say that I have conquered Palawan pretty well:)

I know very well that Palawan is too famous already that every Juan knows about the wonders of nature you can find there.  So, I will not write about that.  Perhaps I just want to share some points I learned about Palawan and why it became so memorable to me:

First: It's our first travel destination! Me and my little bieny!  I enjoyed him so well from our flight going to PPC and then our adventures in the city and then back in Manila. My son's smile is priceless.  I know he learned a lot from our trip!

Second: I learned that Palawan is the safest place in the Philippines when it comes to natural threats due to erosion. earthquakes and the like. Palawan has no fault line, therefore no quakes can rattle this place.  I'm actually considering buying a lot here where I can build my dream house!

Third: People are very hospitable, kind and soft-toned.  I think they will make great neighbors! hehe.

Fourth: Of course I love the beaches!  I love the salty air! I love the beautiful rock formations, the place is just jam+packed with many wonderful things to see!

Fifth: Tourism is good, I don't think there is a dull business operating in this place. I would consider opening a travel agency, or a hotel or a canteen of some sort!

So there!  If you haven't gone to Palawan, it's about time to think about saving some of that allowance for this heaven!  

Id definitely go back to this place.  El Nido and Coron will surely rock my world.:)

Travel with your loved ones. Explore Palawan. Explore Philippines:)

Lovely as an Orchid.

A trip to an orchid farm--one of the activities I did last May with my dear tita who is a member of the Philippine Orchid Society.  Perhaps, it was a perfect event to spend my mid summer month-dream this year.  I must admit, I have never been to such farm with really colorful, lovely and precious flowers such as orchids. Hence, the reason why Im so excited to share this with you!

The farm is situated in Malvar, Batangas.  Almost a 2-hour trip from Manila.  Owned by former Justice Secretary Hon. Nani Perez, Malvarosa Orchid Farm has its own laboratory for breeding of new orchids. After coming up with a new breed they would send it abroad for proper identification, study and to verify that indeed a new breed has been produced, it is a long process and would definitely take years hence, the cost is likewise high should there be a client wanting to have a new breed of orchid named after him/her/ another person.

Sec. Perez's farm takes pride in their beautiful cattleya farm that houses popular breed such as Corazon Aquino in brilliant yellow, Cristine Bersola, a large white and really lovely cattleya, the eye-soothing orange President GMA cattleya and others such as Malvarosa Sunrise, Why Not Round About and many others. 
My tita got Malvarosa Sunrise and the Why Not cattleya, really pretty orchids for our small garden here in Bulacan.  

Meanwhile, grapes, dragon fruit, avocado, bananas, other fruits and vegetables are being grown there as well. in fact during our visit, they have just harvested their sweet dragon fruit---the inside is pinkish and the taste, real sweet!  This surprised us because most dragon fruits available in the market are tasteless and the inside color is either yellowish or whitish.

We ended our tour in Malvarosa Farm with a good lunch prepared by cooks of Malvarosa Farm!
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Earlier we visited an ornamental farm in batangas as well---Unigreen is owned by a Japanese businessman who provided job opportunities for the Batanguenos residing nearby the farm.

Ornamentals refer to any plants that that are grown for decorative purposes in a garden.  There are indoor and outdoor types depending on their characteristics. Some ornamental plants need to be watered daily while others can survive even without water in three or more days.  Further, some plants need direct sunlight while others do not.  Hence, if you are planning to purchase ornamental plants, analyze first where you intend to put it.  I bought some plants that I intend to place as decor in our bathroom, while my tita took the ones that can serve as highlights for her garden.

In totality, the trip with the Philippine Orchid Society was so cool and refreshing.  It's like being exposed to a green world where flowers serve not just candies in one's eye, but a good stimuli to start something new---such as a hobby:)

Take care of an orchid and feel good about this new hobby. Visit philippineorchidsociety.com for membership and other inquiries.

The said organization provides annual orchid exhibits and other ornamental plants, promotes environmental-awareness through lectures on how to grow orchids in our home/garden, holds monthly trips in different vegetable/orchid/ornamental plants and farms in the Philippines.

Maillot is--as stated in Wiki, a designer's label or name for a woman's one-piece swimsuit. 

The term is commonly used by designers and swimwear retailers, hence, for some people who do not really pay attention to labels the term is quite unfamiliar. 

Maillots fit perfectly to a woman's body no matter how petite, skinny or thick they are.  This is so because women have natural curves and a maillot, designed as a body hugger ca n expose women's curves subtly and with class.

Perhaps, one of the best maillot styles i have seen is ilovekoi's two tone maillot. I've seen their styles from ilovekoi.com.ph and amongst the available maillot designs they have, this rust-purple two tone maillot caught my attention. 

Why do i love it?
 

First, the color combination is perfect for my fair skin type.   It promotes a fine blending with my skin hence it was not too bright to wear. 

Second, the V neck detail is SUPER sexy. It shows your collar bone and the cleavage for a daring effect. I love it even though I don't really have that Victoria's Secret model body (haha).

Third, it has a sexy feminine back detail.  It shows too much skin at the back. The ribbon is adjustable.

Fourth, the bikini cut is not too high to expose too much waist. Perfect for those who do not really want to go for thin bikini strings:)

I did make some adjustments though especially with the V neck as it shows too much... (bones? right. LOL). Kidding aside, I actually got the larger-than-my-size size during the Bazaar at the Word Trade Center last February, because there was only one of this type left! And i BADLY WANT it. 


So i thought, i can ask my auntie to alter that part so I can wear it more comfortably at the beach. (Yes, that's what you will do when you really want something)!

And so that March when we headed to the beach in Morong Bataan, I was able to wear it, the altered one and this is how it looked:

Fine and perfect, I even played with the kids of Morong Bataan, without worrying about the V neck area.

As a mom, I used to worry a lot about the clothes I wear, much more with swim suits, as my body has changed due  to pregnancy. Somehow with right aerobics training and by eating well, I have managed to be back in shape. I guess, the best learning I realized during the whole journey of being thin to becoming huge (carrying Bien inside) and then thick or chubby down to my-almost-there-ideal-weight, is that:

No matter what size you are and what color you have, you will only be beautiful in others' eyes if you can see that in your own. Every girl can wear swim suit! Just look for the best style that you feel comfortable with.