Duty Free Iloilo Now OPEN

Good news, Ilonggos! Duty Free is now open at the arrival area, Iloilo International Airport!

The Play Hub - Iloilo

The Play Hub
Iloilo Esplanade Tabucan, Mandurriao,
5000 Iloilo City Philippines

For sure, last Saturday was a grand time for the kids, they get to spend almost 3 hours of outdoor play. We moms also liked that the kids we're able to run around and actually do action play other than just have their fingers do all the playing, if you get what I mean.

At home, I actually ask G to stop with the iPad and the computer, to play outside but it's sometimes hard to make her go out and play. She was always engrossed on youtube; watching her favorite LPS mini movies, browsing on songs and music videos. Also, lately, she asked me to teach her how to use Facebook and already, chats with her classmates, but I'm vigilant to regulate, of course.

It was refreshing to bring the kids in a place where they don't ask for the gadgets.

photo from The Play Hub FB page

The Play Hub's an outdoor playground and pedal go kart for the kids and kids at heart. 

Yes, even the adult can rent the go kart and burn some calories ;)

First stop, the outdoor playground. 

They really enjoyed their time at the playground, kids were all sweaty after!

Play Rates

The go karts' next. G and her cousins are all excited, 

they patiently wait for their turn on the go kart.

Kids waiting for their turn for the go kart.

Bike Rules

Go Kart Rate

G's absolutely having fun!

Large area is yet to be developed.

They also have trampoline.

While waiting on tent covered tables and chairs, groups can order 

foods and beverage from the adjacent Cholabite.

It was a fun and active afternoon for the kids! A nice place to go to break a sweat while enjoying. 

Surely this place's a hit once visited, G's already asking to go back next Saturday.

Open Daily 2pm-10pm with ample parking.

XO

Cholabite - Iloilo

Cholabite
Iloilo Esplanade Tabucan, Mandurriao,
5000 Iloilo City Philippines

Cholabite, another addition in Iloilo's must go places. They opened last May 2013 and last Saturday, we finally got the chance to check out the place. It is hard to miss Cholabite as it's driveway is across Zyron's Club. Yes, the one with a mouth of a fox (?) for the entrance.
Actually, what really attracted us was the outdoor playground and and pedal go kart of it's adjacent The Play Hub.

We loved it at Cholabite though. While waiting for the kids playing at The Play Hub, we get to relax in the afternoon's cool breeze and fresh air at their outdoor seating. It didn't feel like a chore waiting on the kiddos as we get to laze around ourselves with a tall refreshing drink and some finger foods.

Cholabite has a small indoor seating, maybe for 20 pax. I guess they made it so to encourage customers to lounge outside. Well, we don't have complains on that since we love the fresh air and the opportunity to people watch haha! Of course, except when it rains, outside seating are sure to get wet.

me, all smiles with my 'dyosa' sis-n-law :)

view of the boardwalk and the Molo Church at afar

It's a breath of fresh air to sit and just be entertained by an unobstructed view. I can sit here the whole afternoon with a book, read and as it gets dark, witness the sky change it's color and the beautiful lights of the boardwalk where people do their afternoon-evening jog.

Late afternoon, lighted jog path of Iloilo's Esplanade in the background.

 No doubt, the kids enjoyed the afternoon. Only, poor hubby we dragged him after his full day training on a Saturday, he was so tired that he fell asleep sitting.

 

It's good to see kids running around, some are just sitting on the manicured grass, this is one place I notice kids actually put aside their gadgets and just play! Even G didn't ask for the iPad. She was busy playing and still hyper even after The Play Hub (read more).

photos from Cholabite FB page

We joined hubby for a late lunch before going to Cholabite, we we're pretty full and settled for the fruit punch and fries. I found it too sweet though or I was just too full to appreciate any food that time. I even shared the glass of fruit punch with hubby. Be ready with water, kids will surely ask for it after all the running and pedaling from The Play Hub.

Cholabite's affordable menu list

Cholabite's food and drinks are very affordable with only 145php as the most expensive in the list.
We love it there, already, we're planning to give up mall playpens for late afternoon rendezvous at Cholabite while kids play at The Play Hub.


Open Daily 2pm-10pm with ample parking.

How to go to Cholabite?
It's easy to spot Cholabite, You can access it from the Esplanade walkway, also from the main road after the Mandurriao Carpenter's Bridge across Zyron's Club a cemented road leads to Cholabite and The Play Hub.

The Face Shop Diamond Shine Lip Gloss

The Face Shop Diamond Shine Lip Gloss.
I got this gloss as a birthday gift from my sis-n-law, the more fun to wear it, hey, it's free! Haha!

I like the long wand and at 4.5g, it would be a while for a repurchase. I love this gloss, it's not too sticky and it's smell is not overpowering.

The swatch reminds me of a yummy strawberry jam, it looks red and concentrated. But when you apply it, it really is just a gloss.

It really is a pretty color on the tube but when I apply, it doesn't show much color. However, I like it on top of a loud color lipstick. The third lips, I got a random lipstick and layered the gloss. It ads so much omph, I love it!

I had Russian Red on, and a layer of the diamond shine just for fun. 

See the teeny sparkles? 

XOXO

Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted Perfume

Originally, I asked for MAC lippies but lo and behold there's no  MAC counter at Doha duty free where hubby got me the Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted Perfume.

I really wanted lippies but since the brand I asked for is not available, hubby volunteered if I want a perfume instead. Frankly, I still got quite a lot of perfume bottles lying around half full, but I thought maybe hubby's thinking of a no fail homecoming gift so, I spared him the hardship and asked for the Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted perfume since I've been meaning to get one once I use up the Taylor Swift Wonderstruck.

Like the Wonderstruck, the box is so nice, this time it is in red and gold colors which makes it more elegant.

This time, at the back of the box is Taylor's photo seated in a couch in what seemed like an enchanted forest.


The fragrance

Top notes: wild berries, pink poppy, passion fruit
Middle notes: peony, sugar-glazed champaca petals, white freesia
Drydown : white musk, hypnotic vanilla, blonde woods

Like it's predecessor, it has cute charms near the cap. This one got a bird, crystal, feather and flower; aren't they cute!? If you look closely at the cap, it has a repeating pattern with Taylor's lucky number 13 engraved.

The bottle, like the original Wonderstruck, remains as vintage, treasure like and magical with its beautiful golden bottle cap and iridescent finish. It's beautiful.

Enchanted is very different compared to Taylor's first perfume. Which I think is a good thing. Some say, this is wonderstruck's 'sexier, older sister'. I agree, this would be perfect to wear on a seductive night. However, there is something in the smell that I find generic. Like, I haven't left the perfume store smell. I'm not a big fan don't get me wrong though it's not bad at all. I think I'm just used to refreshing, clean smells. This one, I find kind of sad; I think this is the sad chapter of Wonderstsuck as I find the latter fun and fresh. I am not reaching for this bottle often, I guess. Staying power is good lasts 5-7 hours.

"Wonderstruck Enchanted is the next chapter in the story of my Wonderstruck fragrance. Wonderstruck is about that moment when you instantly feel a connection to someone, but then there’s that feeling of being completely enamored — enchanted — when you know a little more about that someone and still feel that strong connection," Taylor Swift

Right, Taylor. But I find Enchanted very short of enchanting.

XOXO

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray

Elizabeth Arden green tea scent spray has got to be one of my favorites. 

I've been using this perfume for quite a long time, maybe used up more than ten 100ml bottles. 

You see, when I like something and when it works good on me, I tend to repurchase and hoard. 

The packaging is simple and fuss free. Also, the bottle have clean line and is transparent so you see when it's about to run out. It's not as fanciful as other perfume bottles but it is convenient to carry on your purse, tall 100ml bottle but slim. Yes, I carry the big bottle since
I can't find a 50ml or 10ml ones.

Maybe fuss free packaging and a simple bottle's one reason why this perfume sell cheap. A plus since I tend to spray myself shamelessly with this one, so I use it up quite fast and I always make sure that I don't ran out of this green tea scent spray hence, the frequent repurchase. What's good about  Elizabeth Arden green tea is it's smell is not overpowering so you can over spray and respray every time. It is mild and refreshing. 

Being cheap, you get what you pay for, a medium staying power minty green tea scent. However, for me, it has a great ability to lift the mood and energize. It is a good go to boring day (haha!) perfume. I really like it's burst of freshness that I also spray this on linens and my drawer of lingerie since I also find it good for falling asleep. 

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea scent spray came out in
1999 and I've been using this since year 2001. 

I thought it was created far back since it smelled like a classic.

Great if you like simple non offensive scent and you just want to smell nice for no reason
for a low price tag. 

You might find it's very little to medium staying power annoying that
you have to respray every time.

Maybe a visit to the perfume counter will help you decide ladies! 

XOXO

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick is retro-matte and part of MAC's permanent line.

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Price: around Php1000
Available in MAC counters: SM MOA, New Eastwood Mall, Trinoma, 
Glorietta 2, Powerplant Mall, Ayala Center Cebu
Finish: Retro-Matte

As I'm halfway on my Russian Red, I wanted to repurchase but I remembered that
I also wanted Ruby Woo at the time that I got the Russian Red.
So, I went ahead and bought this instead for a try.

Another thing I like about MAC lipstick is it's simple bullet like tube.

Because Ruby Woo is a retro-matte finish, it is super matte. It could easily dry out on the lips. What I do when I use this is to exfoliate my lips first and apply a lip balm for base. At first, I really have a hard time applying this lippy, it wouldn't glide that I rather use Russian Red. But hey, I always try to like what I buy, after all this purchase is a bit pricey. Other trick I do is layer on top some lip gloss, the color is beautiful.

One application doesn't do it for me, Ruby Woo is not as pigmented as Russian Red. 

Or maybe I'm just afraid to swipe harder, afraid I might break it tsk.

On my lips on it's own. Ugh! I really had a hard time applying this lipstick the first time. But see, how matte it is, looks like I used a lip pencil. Two more strokes and the color really popped beautifully!

Pros:

1. Pigmented. As I learned to prep my lips with a good moisturizer or lip balm; this gives good coverage in one swipe.

2. Long staying power. Though it makes fine lines on the lips visible and becomes dryer every passing hour, this definitely is the longest wearing lipstick in my list.

3. Super matte finish. Doesn't bleed or transfer. (hubby noted it too)

4. Vanilla scent.

5. It could easily brighten up your face!

6. Versatile. You could make it sheer with one swipe, then bold with one more.

Cons:

1. Yes, a little pricey. But you get what you pay for, I'm partial on this aspect. :)

2. Could be very drying.

Tips:
It's a must to exfoliate the lips and prep it with a good moisturizer or balm. 

Because of the beautiful color and it's very long staying power, I'm willing to overlook 

Ruby Woo's flaw being so dry as a desert! 

This is another must have red lipstick if you could just be patient on application and lip prep.

Would you purchase this, lovelies?

XOXO

Amalfi Cucina Italiana

             

 Amalfi Cucina Italiana is a famous restaurant in the city that serve authentic Italian dishes. 

The Avenue Complex,
Boardwalk St. Lecerio Pison Ave.
Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao,
Iloilo City Philippines
(033) 3295289

One night, after we (my sis in law & I) closed the mall, as in, we waited til mall's closing hour, occupied ourselves with all the dress shops and window shopping; we're set for dinner. We're keen on the usual Plazuela dinner at Steps of Rome but decided to head to Smallville Complex at the last minute. There we discovered our what we call "will be our favorite restaurant of them all".  Sure enough, few days later we came back to dine.

A complimentary bread for dipping in a tangy soy and olive oil dip with parmesan cheese is 

served upon sitting. If you are a light eater, easy on this for it could be filling!

We love the Prawn and Grape Salad. Amalfi servings could easily be shared by 2 non-voracious eaters. Not a problem with me since I'm with very picky and light eaters. Four girls get to share this one serving!

The seafood pasta, Al Frutta Di mare. We love the big chunks of fish and squid. 

We opted for the linguine pasta. 

A personal favorite, Manzo Alla Griglia Con Funghi. 

Best of the house, Steak Florentine. Although, we found it a little dry that night. 

Still, we love it's taste and sauce.

Our choice of wine, Ventisquero. We love Chilean Merlot for it's relaxing buzz 

which makes us more chatty hahaha!

Of course, desserts! 

Panna Cotta, Tiramisu and Cassata Siciliana.

By this time, we're already full 

and happily chatting the night away!

We love it in Amalfi, the classy, cool and elegant interior design, well appointed tables and chairs which set a comfortable and engaging mood for the guests and intimate atmosphere of the restaurant. 

We love the food and elegant presentation add to this, the attentive and efficient staff, 

Amalfi live up to it's name as one of Philippines Best Restaurants.