Food Talk: Gavino's Japanese Donuts

Hi. To say that I've been wanting to try Gavino's Donuts for so long would probably seem like an understatement. I don't know exactly when I found out about Gavino's but I've been planning to go there. In my head. Just because Greenhills Town Center just seemed to far for me to go to. Then I read from Helen of Lucky Citrine that Gavino's has a branch in Il Terrazzo. Still a bit far from where I'm from but this place I'm quite familiar with. I think I squealed like a little girl when I was reading her entry about it. That exact same weekend I made, yes made, my dad drive us to Il Terrazzo for the sake of my hungry tummy.

What's so special about their donuts anyway? Well, what attracted me of course is the shape. Their donuts are called pon de rings. These donuts are actually popular in Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. They're like big beaded bracelets, which, if I may add, made it so much fun to eat. They're also quite chewy and light with a distinct flavor. Probably because they're made from rice flour.


We had our second trip a few hours ago. It's my sister's finals week and she needs sweets to help her through. No, seriously. She had like a couple of chocolate bars already. Yes, bars. And then she just started thinking about Gavino's so...She took all the pictures by the way.

The regular ones (the ones in purple cardboard) cost 29 each, 27 when your buying half a dozen and 25 when you'll be bringing home a dozen. Some flavors I've tried are sour cream, sugar raised, glazed, my favorite green tea, and cinnamon. For the premium ones (red tags), they're priced at 39, 37, and 35 with the same concept. I haven't tried any but they have one's with filling, and they have ensaymada and ones with almonds and some with M&Ms.

 These are their pon de balls, which are like munchkins with filling that range from bavarian, strawberry to hazelnut and red velvet. All awesome. They're priced at 15 each, 90 for a box of 6 and 200 for a box of 15. BTW, they have regular donuts too but I was to busy ogling the cute ones. =)

Well, what can I say about them.. I think I've let on more than I should. *haha* I absolutely love them. Great light chewy donuts which aren't too sweet. Probably the best donuts I've tried. My family loves it too. Let's just say I think we'll be making more late night trips just for a box of Gavino's.

Gavino's Japanese Donuts are available at Il Terazzo (it's just a stall somewhere in the ground floor near Yoogane, a Korean restaurant that I'm now dying to try), Greenhills Town Center (this one's a cafe I think), and Banawe.

UPDATE(08/03/2013)- Gavino's Japanese Donuts is now available at Landmark, Trinoma!

Have you tried Gavino's? What do you think 'bout their donuts? Lemme know. Cheerio!

Movie Buff: Revenge of the Bridesmaids

Hey guys. Before Saturday officially ends, I just wanted to share with you this very cool movie that I got to watch a few weeks ago.

I don't know how many of you feel the same way, but I think movies made for TV are just as good as the ones shown in cinemas. There are actually many of them around but if you don't have cable, YouTube will be you BFF, like me. ^-^ Disney Channel has many of my favorite TV movies, but lately, I've been loving the works of ABC Family. One of the many movies that I loved is Revenge of the Bridesmaids.

1.bp.blogspot.com

If you're a big Disney kid like me, then you'll recognize that feisty girl on the left. I think I've been watching Raven Symone on Disney since forever. Well at least until they completely pulled out That's So Raven.

Anyways, Raven plays the role of Abigail Scanlon, a writer who reunites with her childhood best friend Parker (Joanna Garcia) in their hometown. However, when they found out that their other best friend Rachel (Chryssie Whitehead) had her boyfriend stolen and made fiance by their used-to-be-childhood-friend-too-but-she-turned-out-to-be-so-evil Caitlin, Abigail and Parker's wheels start turning as they hatched what could be the best undercover assignment--Be bridesmaids and "kick the bride's ass." Trust me, their determination to have Caitlin cough up the real reason she goes around stealing and marrying someone else's boyfriend is downright hilarious.

Call it fan-girling but I just can't stop laughing when Raven is on screen. I don't know-there's just something about her that's naturally funny and witty and entertaining.

Anyhow, if you'd have the chance to watch this--either by downloading it or poring over YouTube or catching it on TV--please do. It's just one of those movies that'd make your day seem a little less stressful.

Cheerio!

New Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in Peach

Hi. I'm doing another lip tint review for today. I guess by now you already figured how much I love tints. Mainly because I'm not much of a fan of constant re-applying.

Anyways, this Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in Peach is one of my very first purchases from Etude, and of the first things I reviewed (check original review here). My old one is almost empty so I requested a new one from my sister, stressing out that I wanted the one with the new packaging. *haha* for comparison purposes of course. I got this last Christmas. This lip tint has got to be my ultimate favorite. I haven't risked using it on my cheeks though because the color develops when it dries. =)

The one on the left is the new one and the one on the right is the old one. I think the new one has a prettier look. =) The new one has also more product. Just a little more. Price is still the same. A bottle costs 328. It's also available in Hot Pink, Baby Pink, and Red (at least that's how I remember it) =)

The Verdict:

When I did my review last year, I could've sworn that what my tint had a more pinkish hue to it, but compared to the new one, it actually looks more of a peach color. The one on the left side is the old one and on the right, the new one. The milky consistency is still the same, but no more tingly sensation when applied. 
It smells better too. The new one smells like Jellyace. =) I'm not sure if it's just me though but I feel like it's staying power just shortened quite a bit. The only thing that drove my disappointment would probably be the color. I figured that it would have the same peachy-pink shade but it's more of a pink now. But it's not actually too bad. It actually gives my lips a natural looking rose shade which is cool and all.

Having said all that, I think the new one is about a few points better. But I wished they made the color more peach-y. Nonetheless, it's still my absolute favorite.

*waiting for Etude House's ice cream loofah*...Cheerio!

February 2013 Hit Listers

Hi. Another weekend coming to an end. =( I might just be suffering from Monday sickness. Anyway, before I completely forget, again, to do a round-up of my fave things this February, I might as well try to do it now.

February was different for me, probably mainly because of my new job, which tweaked everything in my schedule and all. But I had all these things that kept me happy.

 1. Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel
- I'm now on my third tub of this awesome multipurpose aloe gel. I mainly use this for my face before I put on make-up and at night, before I sleep. Read my review here.

 2. The Body Shop Lily Cole Lip and Cheek Dome in Crazy for Coral
- It might not be a completely great product because it's a little to sheer, but I have found myself constantly reaching for it to give my cheeks a subtle peach-y glow. Read my review here.

3. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+
- This is actually my mom's. But when I ran out of my Snoe sun cream, I decided to give this a whirl. I like this because it's a bit more water-y than most sunblocks so blending it is a breeze. Plus, it has a high SPF.

4. Kicks Rubber Shoes/Wedges/Booties
-Sorry I have no idea what to call this pair. Although I fall over every time I wear heels, I made an exception with this one. It's chic, it's cute and pretty much easy to pair up with the stuff I have in the closet. I bought it on sale for about 1000 bucks. A lot more than what I usually spend for shoes but I think it was worth it.

5. Oversized Ribbons
-These were given to me by my sister. I have a couple more that didn't make it to the shot. I love ribbons like these because they give that extra "oomph" to an outfit.

6. BYS Lipstick in Everything's Peachy

-This was given to me by my sister because she knows how I love everything orange in lippies. This color's a little hard to pull off on its own, but with a little tint, it looks great.

7. Flower Boy Next Door

-Cute, witty, funny, and plain genius. Flower Boy Next Door tells the story of Go Dok Mi, played by He's Beautiful's Park Shin Hye, a shy editor who refuses the leave the four walls of her tiny apartment and spends time writing and peeking at her neighbors. Then she meets Enrique Geum, a video game genius from Spain who tries to get Dok Mi to explore the world outside her box. One of the best series with a flower boy or "pretty boy" concept, aside from Boys over Flowers, Shut Up Flower Boy Band, and Flower Boy Ramyun Shop. I wish local channels will take series like this one.

8. Queen Inhyun's Man

- This one I think will be shown in GMA 7 as Queen and I. This one reminds me of The Rooftop Prince, in terms of the time-traveling concept. But what actually got me to like this series is that the play of things was quite different. Maybe because I think the characters in the story played along the time-traveling thing in a less shell-shocked manner. And it was quite nice to see Secret Garden's Yoo In-na get the spotlight as the lead.

 9. The Closer

-If you're into police procedurals that are funny and just jaw-dropping, I suggest you give The Closer a try. I've been watching this for years and have recently watched the seven seasons again. This series is about the cases of Brenda Leigh Johnson (played by Kyra Sedgwick), the LAPD's best case closer. How she gets suspects to confess to their crimes is just plain awesome. She just gets to you, too.

10. Refinery29.com

- From time to time, I check out new make-up concepts from fashion shows. That's how I came across Refinery 29 a few months ago. Refinery 29 also has fashion tips, beauty tips and news, and tutorials that are easy to follow. 

Hope you had a great weekend guys! Cheerio!

4u2 dreamGirl Touch Loose Powder in #2

Hi. When I ran out of my favorite BB powder from 4u2 and again, there were no stocks of the one in my shade, I decided to try this Touch Loose Powder type. It has a little more product (I think about 2g more) but has the same price (194.00). I bought the one in the same shade which is #2.

The Verdict:
The first thing that I thought when I got this was that it was quite cute. I don't really like pink but for 4u2 products, I'm seemingly making an exception. The puff has a faint pink color. It's quite sturdy but the ribbon isn't. It fell off once so I had to sew it on. But it does pick up enough powder. It actually has a lot of product, so finishing this will take quite a while.

Unfortunately, unlike the BB powder, this one has a sheer finish. Not much coverage, but because it's sheer, I don't worry applying it without a mirror. It was just like putting on a finishing powder. I like my powder to offer some more coverage. It also has a shorter oil-free-look span. In about 2-3 hours, including jeepney travel time, I already start to oil up. So by the time I get to the office, I need to reapply the powder.

I think I like the compact one better, in terms of oil-control and coverage. But if ever I'm in need of a tinted loose powder, this could work.

Any loose powders I should try? Shoot me a message. Cheerio!

San San Hortaleza, MD BB Cream

Hi guys. Just got home a little while ago, from work then finally got to try Gavino's Donuts (*thanking heavens*. Review to follow). *haha* My weekend, well it's more of a weekend-day, is just about to start. Anyways, I just wanted to share this San San Hortaleza, MD BB Cream with you. Aside from the one from Avon, which I've emptied, this is my second local BB Cream.

This BB cream has 30 ml product. Costs 149 pesos, which is quite affordable for a BB cream. Unfortunately, it comes in only one shade. A dark neutral toned shade. Can work for both with yellow and pinkish skin tones. I think. =)

It has SPF 43, which is pretty high. Has squalene, which apparently is an anti-oxidant and can make your skin feel soft, and has hyaluronic acid, which works as an anti-aging agent and moisturizer.

Box contains expiration and manufacturing dates.

Half a pump of product

Hygienic pump

Pros:
1. Very affordable
2. No funny scent. Smells like a typical foundation.
3. Comes with a pump that works well. You can actually control the product
4. Easy to blend
5. Has high SPF
6. Coverage is awesome. About medium to heavy coverage.

Cons: (just for me)
1. Though it's easy to blend, the product itself is kinda thick. I like my foundation/BB cream a little runny because it dries easier. I mix it with a bit of moisturizer to make it a little more runny.
2. Comes in only one shade, which unfortunately is a little dark for me. On the pic above the right side of my hand has the BB cream. I don't know if you can tell, but in person, it's not right for me. I actually get left with a map-like residue on my hand when I put this on in the morning. I hope more shades come out.
3. Has a semi-matte finish. It has a bit of a dewy glow to it, which can work for those who like a somewhat dewy finish.
4. Not much of an oil control product. I'm oil free for only about 3-4 hours when I put this on.

Despite the things that don't work for me with this product, I think it's still a good BB cream. With its high SPF, I actually just go for this with a bit of moisturizer to lighten the color on days that I'm in a hurry. 

Have you tried this BB cream? Lemme know. Cheerio! Have a great weekend. =)

The Body Shop Lily Cole Lip and Cheek Dome in Crazy for Coral

Hi! Can't believe its March already. Having graduated only last year, it seems like that time    flies just a little too fast. Later this month, it'll officially be a year since I've lost the "student" title. =)

Anyhoo, back to the review. I grabbed this during one of SM North's monthly sales. I think it was last month. This limited edition Lily Cole Lip and Cheek Dome from the Body Shop was already on sale earlier this year (I found out from Helen of Lucky Citrine), it was like on 70% off, but it was for a limited time only. And..by the time I had the time to drop by the mall, bye-bye cute blush on. So, imagine how happy I was to see that another branch of The Body Shop in SM still had stocks during the recent sale.

This one is about 4 swipes. It's a real challenge to get the color to show off. The original price is 895. Marked down to 268.

With a little blending. Cream blush but with a powder finish

This is actually my first The Body Shop item ever. I mean, I tried once to buy their lip balm, you know the one in pots, but argued against the idea. Then I fell in love with their uber-soft brushes I got to use during a school prod, but I never did get the chance to really buy anything from the shop.

The Verdict:

To be honest, price-wise and if it wasn't on sale, I wouldn't be caught red-handed buying this blush because of the hefty price tag. It's quite expensive for a blush on. Thank heavens for big price slashes. The good things about this blush are it glides on smoothly, great powder finish, cute packaging, and small enough to lug around. However, the color is quite sheer. The color you can barely see above is already more than 3 swipes of the product, hardly blended. To achieve the natural glow, I'd bet around 5 swipes will do. When used on the lips, I personally looked a little washed out. It was more like I put on concealer on my lips with a bit of peachy matte sheen. But above a pink lip tint, coral beauty. =)

It doesn't last that long. On my oily combination skin, 3 hours tops. But with a good dusting of powder blush before it completely dries up, a good 5 hours I think.

The other shade of this is a pink one which I didn't see, but I'm more inclined to peach/orange shades so this one's an easy pick. Not completely disappointed with the purchase because I can actually put it to good use. Plus, it's animal-friendly. Cruelty-free. =)

Have you tried this blusher? Lemme know. Cheerio!