Crazy for Crocs campaign ends, holds victory party
A few months ago, this humble space announced the holding of the Crazy for Crocs online video challenge. Time indeed flies so fast because the competition has ended and its wake are happy, contented winners who are holding their high-ticket prizes just in time for Christmas, thanks to Crocs.
Congratulations are in order to the following monthly winners of P100,00 each: Jeric Herrera, Jamielyn Ira Dy and Kimberly Tan. Crocs customer Priscilla Roco likewise won a brand-new Honda Jazz in the grand raffle. The others won Canon PowerShot cameras and Samsung LCD TVs.
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December 2009 bazaar schedule: for that last-minute Christmas shopping
With Christmas barely three weeks away, holiday shopping is now at a feverish pitch. Luckily, the season is also the peak time for bazaars, which enable shoppers like us to get everything in one roof. I like bazaars, for as long as my energy level allows me. That’s because I find items here that I don’t usually see in department stores. Best of all, you can haggle!
Here’s a list of bazaars for the remainder of December 2009 in Manila, or what remains of the holiday season:
December 4 to 6 The Big Holiday Outlet Sale (SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia)
December 4 to 16 9th World Bazaar Festival (World Trade Center, Pasay City)
December 3 to 6 Converse Mega Sale (Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall)
December 3 to 5 Baratillo sa UP (UPSSI, Diliman QC)
Online shoppers flock to Shop and Share
My friend Maricel was the one who tipped me on this nifty new site called ShopandShare where celebrities like Kris Aquino are putting up their precious designer items on auction to help victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.
I’ve been eyeing Kris’ LV Stephen Prouse bag myself, but the current bid now is at $3,600 (from a starting bid of only $799).The highest bid now is for Angel Locsin’s Prada Nappa Tote ($4,150, as of this writing.)
Either the ones bidding are avid Ebay shopaholics or simply Good Samaritans. But it’s nice to know that some people won’t hesitate to join an auction for a good cause. Even nicer still that the showbiz personalities we admire are selfless enough to use their face value and pulling power to donate to typhoon victims.
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Got skin allergy? Look for the hypoallergenic seal in your laundry products
One of the things am not happy about is the fact that my skin is highly sensitive, and prone to certain types of allergies, like contact dermatitis. Unfortunately, my son inherited this predicament and when allergy strikes, it’s the time for him (or me) to visit the doctor and get the much-needed prescription.
During a recent forum, it was quite enlightening to find that one out of five kids worldwide suffer from a form of skin allergy or another. It seems that children who haven’t been sufficiently breastfed are susceptible. Environmental pollution, allergen levels and dietary changes can encourage the development of allergies. Allergy-causing foods like soy, milk, peanuts, egg and seafood are also a trigger. And so are seemingly innocuous items like the nickel found in buttons, fiberglass toys and common household products like shampoos and detergents.
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Be the next YouTube star in Crocs online video challenge
Be the next internet sensation like the funny duo Moymoy Palaboy. Crocs, the popular American footwear brand, has just launched an online contest which makes it possible for talented individuals to be the next YouTube stars just by uploading their videos on the site. Participants to the contest must watch out for the weekly challenges to be issued by the DJs from Magic 89.9’s Good Times radio show and on the official contest website crazy4crocs.com. Then, they must act out the challenges, capture this on video, upload to Youtube, and post it to crazy4crocs.com as an official entry.
Looks like a very entertaining, exciting contest – and financially rewarding as well. Contestants to the weeklies will win prizes such as Canon digital cameras while monthly winners get to grab as much as P100,000. To win, entries must be voted as the most popular by registered visitors to the website.
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Make-up class with Artistry’s Victor Ortega
Last weekend, I was up early for one class I didn’t want to miss – make-up lessons with Victor Ortega of Artistry, the high-end make-up brand of Amway. Prior to this event, I’ve been canvassing make-up schools in Manila, more out of interest than anything else. Am not about to open a beauty salon soon, but it is one thing I really want to learn.
Even though I hardly use make-up myself, except for the reliable lipstick, I do believe that it goes a long way in enhancing one’s looks and aura. We should approach it like art, and used wrongly, it can make us look like zombies, hehe.
Thankfully, Mr. Ortega is a proponent of the “natural look,” and this has made him popular in these parts (plugging:he has his own eponymous salons in Boracay).
For our class, he taught about how to do daytime make-up and transforming it with a few touches for the night. I caught a few precious lessons along the way.
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VNC shoes, for showing off your feet
As a woman, I have a love affair between shoes ~ and bags. I still have to think about what weighs more in my heart. Although logic should easily tell us you wear your shoes wherever you go, but a bag is something you can leave sitting on a chair or desk. So yes, shoes will always be a practical option. Just ask Madam Imelda Marcos 
Being a shoe lover, I was quite thrilled when the company behind VNC shoes (through their publicist First Tier) invited women-bloggers to view their latest collection. I haven’t been attending blog events lately, but this was one I couldn’t resist. VNC is one of my favorite brands. In fact, my preferred pair these days is this VNC strappy sandals I bought for a little more than P1K at a recent sale in MOA.
The predominant shoe color in my closet is black, but a review of VNC’s spring-summer collection shows that bright colors are “in.” And yes, they do have bags too!
Saizen store shopping tips, when everything is 85 pesos…
Mind you, 85 pesos sounds cheap, but when compounded to 25 or so items, can add up to a lot already. This is what happened to me when I bought 36 cute knick-knacks at the store, while still promising to come back for more. It’s just good that the staff and cashiers are friendly and helpful. Here are my own tips for shopping sanely and effectively in Saizen, the authentic 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop in Manila, after Japan’s very own Daiso chain of stores:
1. Look out for their products labelled Made in Japan. Some of the stuff is Made in China, and if you say China, you might as well look in Divisoria. Japan-made means you’re assured of the quality and the uniqueness of the item, such as those bento picks, onigiri rice ball maker and other kitchen accessories I chose.
2. Have a shopping budget, and stick to it. It’s hard when everything you see is cute and pretty so you might as well set money aside. The difficult part is that the store accepts credit cards, which brings you the illusion that you can have this and have that 
3. Be ready with your own shopping list. Related to No. 2. Having a list means you’re guided on what to buy, and will not act on impulse.
4. Look elsewhere before you buy. The shopping savvy would do well being familiar with various shopping destinations in the metro and compare prices. This is so you’ll not be overwhelmed on your first Saizen visit and scoop up something you see at the first opportunity.
Saizen, 85-peso shop in Robinsons Galleria: the house of cute
Truth to tell, during my first (and only) visit to Tokyo in ‘05, budget constraints forced me to visit the 100-yen stores as my only option for buying ‘pasalubong.’ They were huge, housed in three to four-storey buildings with all kinds of stuff available.
Fast forward to 2009, one need not fly as far because the real 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop named Saizen opened its first branch at the Robinsons Galleria last April 29. Everything at 85 pesos each! I have to admit: the extent of their offerings makes Japan Home Center a poor cousin. Must-buys here, in my opinion: beauty aids, home organizers and kitchen tools, including bento accessories that I’ve been looking for. And of course, things related to Japan!
I just wish Saizen would go forth and multiply soon, and not limit its store to faraway Ortigas.
Havaianas for a cause
Shortly after we covered the Ipanema event inspired by supermodel Gisele Bundchen, a colorful big box arrived on our doorstep, this time from another well-known flip-flops manufacturer, Havaianas. In it was a denim bag and the “original” Havaianas with a monochromatic color for its strap (we had blue). I equally love this pair as it is simple and classic.
Havaianas was inviting the media to the launching of its collaboration with Rock Ed on the search for the most original youth-targeted projects. It was quite ironic because right after the launch, news came out in the papers about children’s styles of the brand being recalled from the US market because of high lead content in the paint being used to decorate the sandals. The official distributor in the Philippines, Terry SA, promptly issued a disclaimer and said they have pulled out the kiddie flip-flops in question, and will conduct further testing soon.
Blogging since 2004 and recently married to Mr Z. I can't live without coffee....and brown sugar.
