Way More than Just a Bed for the Night: Capturing that Luxury Hotel Experience

There was a time when an ensuite bathroom was considered the height of luxury. Deciding what counts as a luxury hotel is a bit of a moving target. As people’s expectations change, so the hotel trade has to move to catch up with them. Then there is the matter of personal taste. Just how do you decide if your hotel lives up to its claim to be luxurious? 

A Touch of Class 

It’s the hardest thing to define, but when you see it, you know it. A luxury hotel should have something about it that you can feel is unique. It might be the décor, or it might be the story behind it. Something will tell you that a person or team with imagination and flair has been behind this place, and they still give it an atmosphere that you will not find elsewhere. 

Every Guest a VIP 

A luxury hotel does not reserve its special treatment for the top paying guests. When you arrive you will not have to wait at the reception desk but will be greeted by a member of staff equipped with a tablet to book you in while you sit comfortably in the foyer. Checking out will be as quick and easy as checking in. Transfer services to and from the airport will be smooth and comfortable. 

Stand-Out Amenities 

Most hotels have a pool and fitness center, so a luxury one should have something extra. The Protea Marriott Durban Umhlanga Ridge, for instance, has a rooftop pool and an outstanding spa treatment facility. 

A luxury hotel will usually be in a stunning location, with mountain views or access to a world-class beach, and it will take advantage of those features to give guests a sense of privilege. Transport to the main local places of interest should be laid on. 

Something Extra 

When you stay in a luxury hotel, you can expect that your room will stick in your memory. The décor will have a personal touch. The coffee-making facilities will be state-of- the-art. The bathroom will not only be clean and provided with good toiletries and robes, but will also be spacious and decorated with style. 

You would expect every room to have a fine view, preferably with a balcony, or at least some internal features that will make it stand out from the ordinary. 

Great Food 

A luxury hotel will, unless it is a small boutique establishment, have at least one excellent restaurant, with menus that change regularly and food prepared by a top chef. The furniture will be comfortable and well-spaced, and the service will be friendly, efficient, and well-informed. The room service menu will also be imaginative and the presentation stylish. 

We Are All Different 

 All guests and all hotels are different, and not everyone will appreciate the same things. However, apart from the basic requirements of comfort and cleanliness, a visit to a truly luxurious hotel will be a memorable experience for most of us.

Food Getaway: Celebrating The Orange Bucket’s First Anniversary

Bagged as Pampanga’s Best Seafood Restaurant, The Orange Bucket recently celebrated their 1st anniversary last October 19, 2017. It is with great love that we were invited to a thank you meal by their owner and staff. 

Below are some of the dishes they served to us. They have their newest dish that they're planning to add on their menu which is the Pomelo salad. I like the tangy take on its taste and the crunchiness of the nut. Perfect appetizer. Plus their lumpia has always been a hit. 

Soups are always great in any occasion. Love the texture on this soup. 

Since the resto has an Asian Fusion concept, there's also Bulgogi if you are fond of it. And their newest addition on their menu, the Baby Back ribs. The meat was just super soft it falls right on the bones. 

And of course, The Orange Bucket won't be complete without their special Cajun Seafood Bucket which has been always a fave of mine. My friends and I always comes here whenever we wanted to eat seafood. For me, they’re the best seafood restaurant here in San Fernando.; 

.. and to top everything off, they also served us their dessert which is a combination of different taste of some sort. This is liek their version of halo-halo. 

Once again, congratulations on your success and thank you again The Orange Bucket for inviting us. I super love the overwhelming huge crabs and shrimps. Lovin’ the Back Ribs too! 

(c) Armela Patalud

See you on their opening on their Balibago branch on the 29th of October, 2017! Cheers!

Food Getaway: Bagnet House

I am back. I am definitely back! 

No, this is not a drama or a film of some sort. I am back to blogging again after a very long time of hiatus. Motherhood took its toll in me and I don't know if I am having post-partum depression again or what. I just feel that I have so a lot of things in my hand. Anyhow, I cleared my mind and my body now to give way to more hectic times ahead. I need to multi-multi-multitask to achieve more of my goals. (Yeah, that's a triple multi because it's a lot!)

So this weekend, I once again opened my schedule, (and my hubby as well) to give way to another invite I can't declined. (Hi sis Arms! Haha) It’s an invite from the newest resto in the area, the Bagnet House. It is situated in front of Maligaya 168 in San Fernando, and caters the yummiest bagnet and pizza. 

Bagnet House is a mini-resto that can cater around 30-40 person. The place provides a homey feel to it. The place may be a bit small but the service was superb. All the staff were friendly, including the owner Miss Rowena. She discussed some details on how they conceptualized the resto. 

Their business started when they ventured into food park. She kept herself busy while her husband was outside the country. Later on, they decided to rent up a space to go all out with their biz. Since she had experience in tasting authentic Ilokano bagnet, she then decided to do it on their menu alongside with some home-made pizza which you will surely love. 

Their selection of dishes were all superb. Upon serving the food though, I discovered they have a different take on offering their menu.  You have to dip the bagnet in your choice of sauce. You can choose between kare-kare, spicy gata or binagoongan. I was used in ordering it as one dish, no dipping needed, Bagnet and the sauce mixed altogether. Bagnet House however, has a different take on that. And I think I like theirs better. Why? It's because I get to feel the crunch of the bagnet before dipping it or I can simply have the option to eat it freely as plain. Gosh! It was so crunchy that I opted to eat it in solo than dipping it. 

Spicy Gata Bagnet - P349.00

Kare-Kare Bagnet - P349.00

Aside from bagnet, their thin crust pizzas are the bomb! No wasted piece of pizza. They have Hawaiian flavour, which is loaded with pineapples, ham and cheese. It's not the traditional Hawaiian type you eat outside. I prefer this than those commercial ones. They also have the Bagnet Sisig Pizza which of course tasted like sisig but it has a different twist because of the cheese in it. Their Shawarma Pizza which was a fave of mine because of it's generous serving of meat and vegetables with the mayo and lots of onions on top. There’s also the Cheezy Garlic Pizza which is an absolute favorite. I was actually the one who finished this variant because of the power of the different cheeses tasted really heavenly! The pizzas were all perfect especially if you partner it with their special chili oil sauce, They mixed olive oil and shredded chili on it and perfected its boling process. 

Cheesy Garlic - P270.00

Pepperoni - P270.00

Shawarma Pizza- P270.00

Hawaiian Pizza - P270.00

For drinks, they have house blend iced tea which was really sour at first but its taste eventually changed when the ice on the drink melts. You will get to appreciate the taste after quite some time though. Our palate was just familiar with sugary drinks that’s why this iced tea will break the classic iced tea type. They used muscovado sugar in it too.

Overall, the place was great if you’re looking for affordable bagnet recipes without breaking the bank. Their pizza selection was superb too. Soon, they will have more dish added to their menu and they are also planning to create promos for the holiday season. Come and try them out!

 Resto Name: Bagnet House

Address: B2 MC7 Bldg., Mc Arthur Highway, City of San Fernando, Pampanga

(Infront of Maligaya Village)

Type of Food: Filipino and Pizza

WIFI: Unavailable

0910-971-6218, 0975-298-9321

National Pampering Day 2017

Freebies are always magical. It always makes someone happy. Nailaholics surely knows how to deliver that by making sure that their patrons are happy by giving them free pampering every year. Now, they're on their 2nd year of giving free services such as free manicure, foot spa, or foot massage. The store continues its mission by launching another successful #NationalPamperingDay. 

People were all happy to receive their free services. From 10am to 1pm, the store was open to everyone and those who had the golden ticket can get free services. They can choose from the ones mentioned above. 

I know that the event was very successful because there were a lot of posts in Instagram and Facebook about the activity. It was a huge success! 

Thank you Nailaholics for sending out positive and happy vibes as always. Will visit you again sometime soon! 

Review: BYS Nude Eye Palette

Palette is a girl’s best friend, especially if she is fond of makeup. I was so excited when I subscribed for Glamourbox curated box because I know that there’s an eyeshadow palette included on it. It’s like the counterpart of Naked but of course, Naked is more expensive and since I am still practicing eye makeup, I can opt using this instead. Right now, I know they have a promo of Buy 2 Take 1 for P1499.00. This however, is what I got about a year ago and I am practicing with this one so I chose not to be swayed by the promo. (Oh good heavens, it’s so difficult not to be swayed!)

Anyway, I like that this palette is a mix of shimmer and matte. There are also 12 shades to choose from. It’s nice to mix and match the different shades to create the look you want.

PACKAGING

I like that the packaging is lightweight and can be carried around anywhere. It also has a built-in mirror and has 2 brushes included. It consists of 12 nude shades – a combination of matte and shimmer.

PIGMENTATION

There are shades that are super pigmented and there are those that aren’t much visible. I noticed that the darker ones were more pigmented than the lighter shades.

PRICE

It retails at P1199.00. Quite expensive for me and each shade consists of only a small portion of the product. But since it consists of 12 colors, I think it is somewhat okay anyway.

EFFECT

To be honest, I really didn’t feel that it is longwearing. There are some that are okay and some were removed easily at all. When I wear them in the morning, by midday, I don’t see any color anymore. Even when I use eye primer, I also think it doesn’t sit much long on the skin. Yes, it is a bit longer than not having primer at all but I feel there’s not much difference.

Yay for me! (｡◕‿ ◕｡) 

• It’s included in a curated box and got it for really less.
• It’s a mix of matte and shimmer so there are a lot of options.
• Mirror and brushes included which is great for on-the-go application.

Nay! (｡◕︵◕｡)

• Some colors are not really long wearing. .
• The brushes that comes with it falls off easily.

Price: Got it from Glamourbox

Bought from: Glamourbox Curated Box Subscription

 Size: 12g

Even if it didn’t work like how I want it to be, I still like the thought that I have an eyeshadow palette in hand. I can use this whenever I feel like it and it’s also easy to bring compare to my huge palettes that are as big as books.

I hope I can practice combining more shades with this palette. Will share those on my IG @thecuteanddainty.

Ciao! 

Honeymoon Destinations: From Romantic to Extreme

Can’t you decide where to spend your honeymoon? Nowadays various agencies offer a large choice
of resorts and exotic places. But before you make your choice, you need to weigh all the “pros” and
“cons”. We offer top honeymoon destinations.

If you are still in search of a second half, then pay attention to the Ukraine women for marriage.

1. Paris, France

Paris is a highly popular variant among newlywed. And what is it so? This is because Paris is the city

of lovers. You may have a great opportunity to visit all the sights of the city, take a bunch of romantic

photographs and go shopping in the most luxurious boutiques.

2. French Riviera, France

Go into the world of celebrities, glamour, and love because French Riviera is one of the best

honeymoon destinations. This resort is so popular due to the mild climate in all seasons. By the way,

don’t forget to spend at least a day on a luxury yacht! It will be unforgettable!

3. Hong Kong, China

Young and active people will like this modern city! Hong Kong will not allow closing your eyes even

for a second. Be sure to see a unique Chinese culture and visit the main sights of the city. And also

there are restaurants, bars, and clubs for every taste. That is why Hong Kong is in the list of the

honeymoon destinations.

4. Hawaii

Those, who are lucky enough to visit these magical islands, will come back here for sure. Here the

atmosphere of joy and overwhelming fun. Beautiful nature, exotic cocktails, cozy coves, and fiery

dances attract lovers from all over the world. Don’t you believe? Make sure by yourself!

5. Quito, Ecuador

Quito can be called one of the unique honeymoon destinations. Why? Ecuador is famous for its

interesting history, friendly residents, and low prices on everything. Five-star hotels will pleasantly

surprise newly married couples. Also, you will be surprised by cheap public transport, tasty and

affordable cuisine, and inexpensive jewelry. And the local beaches, rainforests and a volcano is the

dream of any traveler. And only here you can see the real Galapagos turtles in their natural

environment.

6. Machu Picchu, Peru

This is one of the best places in the world for hiking and seeing ancient ruins. The ancient Inca city of

Machu Picchu, located on the top of a ridge at a height of 2450 meters, attracts tourists from all over

the world. This city is called the “city among the clouds” and it is not surprising: its stunning look is

impressive!

7. Alaska, USA

Honeymoon for adventurers involves a journey on a comfortable ship, hiking and kayaking for two,

studying fjords and glaciers, during which you can admire the icebergs out the window of your cabin.

Nature is the main attraction of Alaska. You will be able to see the vast plains and mountains covered

with snow, forests that are full of animals and lakes that are full of fish, Arctic meadows and national

parks, small towns far from the bustle of big cities.

8. Lisbon, Portugal

Many newlyweds will like Romantic atmosphere of the southern country. Narrow streets, cozy cafes,

and beautiful scenery of the city will not let you get bored. In addition, Lisbon has the biggest beach

in all Europe!

9. Fiji

If you want to know how the nature is great, then you should go to Fiji. It is the perfect place for

couples in love. There are mysterious caves and grottoes, picturesque bays and stunning beaches. Fiji

is definitely among the top honeymoon destinations.

10. Florida, USA

Florida takes the last place among honeymoon destinations. If you want not only to sunbathe and

swim but also to gain more experiences, then pay attention to the resorts of Florida. Especially it will

be nice to join a cruise on a luxury liner that will allow you to enjoy all the beauties of the coast. This

is a very cool idea for any honeymoon.

Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa Celebrates the 2nd Year of National Pampering Day #NationalPamperingDay

When it comes to pampering on a national scale, Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa holds the only spot. After introducing the celebration of the National Pampering Day last year, Nailaholics is back at it again this 2017 with an amplified nationwide celebration of relaxation that everyone is looking forward to this October 17. 

The National Pampering Day got off to a good start last year where Nailaholics offered free manicure service and a stress relieving hand massage from 10 AM to 12 NN on all their branches nationwide. This year, everyone will be treated to a free service of their choice: a soothing manicure, calming foot spa or a relaxing foot massage. 

“We Filipinos are very hardworking in any given aspect of our lives and a nation of energetic and industrious people best deserves real pampering once in a while. This year, as Nailaholics celebrates the 2nd National Pampering Day, we go deeper and dedicate this to everyone and remind them to take it slow, take it easy, zone out and relax for a while.” said Arvin Amaro, Marketing Head of Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa. 

“With last year’s success of the National Pampering Day, we are back this year with a bigger and much more enjoyable day of pampering. In partnership with the number one salon brand and most beloved nail lacquer brand in the world, O.P.I., National Pampering Day 2017 will accommodate more guests with the extension of pampering time until 1PM.  Also, the best thing about this year’s National Pampering Day is that it will be in support to World Vision, The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and Save Philippine Seas” added Amaro. 

So save the date and get ready to park away any thoughts of work because the only responsibility you have is to loosen up. Wind down and head down to any Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa branch on October 17, 2017 (Tuesday) from 10 AM to 1 PM and get yourself a free relaxing manicure, foot spa or foot massage. 

Let Nailaholics’ skilled nail technicians take care of you for a little while and walk out of this Hamptons-inspired nail salon feeling refreshed and ready to bring it on again. Grab this once a year treat only at the country’s top destination for relaxation and real pampering. 

Visit www.nailaholics.com to check their services and find the branch nearest you. Get updates through their Facebook Page Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa, Twitter @_nailaholics and Instagram @_nailaholics.

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Nailaholics is an urban destination that offers its customers an escape from the daily grind through its exceptional interiors and exceptional pampering service. It currently has more than 50 branches nationwide, including in Gateway Mall, Eastwood Citywalk, Cash and Carry Makati, Harbor Point Mall Subic, SM Cebu, SM Bacolod, and SM Lanang.

Filremit: Going Beyond Service with Regina Victoria Y. De Ocampo

A trusted and strong relationship is actually what we need right now, not just for our personal needs but also with our choice of remittance in the Philippines. We are talking about our sweat and blood not to mention if we are outside the country working, we are talking about our life and our family.

Filremit has been the trusted remittance company of OFWs worldwide since 2008 and already established the name as a dependable and efficient foreign exchange and remittance company. The people do not just deliver expectations but build relationships and go beyond service.

Filremit has three subsidiary companies operating nationwide in Canada. They own Manila Express, Inc., Manila Cargo Express, Inc. and E-pera Corp. They also have exclusive partnership with London Manila Express, Ltd.

Services includes the following;

• Credit To Account
• Door To Door Cash/Cheque Delivery
• Cash Pick Up
• Bills Payment
• Gift Delivery
• Multi Currency And Reverse Remittance
• Foreign Exchange

According to Filremit top management, "Our objective is to be of service to our countrymen no matter what, where very they will be thus we are making sure that we are the trusted partner to all your "padala." - Regina Victoria Y. De Ocampo.

For more information about Filremit, please visit http://www.filremit.com.ph

Review: Revlon Photoready Eye Art in Burnished Bling

Putting on makeup can be a little daunting to do especially if you’re a busy mom like me. Since I started using makeup and since I got to receive items, I always make sure to find time in using products so that I can deliver honest reviews to my readers.

Upon receiving this Photoready Eye Art from Revlon, I know I had to use it for me to be able to write my review properly. It was in stock in my cabinet for almost a year before I started using it recently. To be honest, I am not much of an eyeshadow fan, especially now that I became a mom. I rarely put on eyeshadow. I still put some makeup though but totally not eyeshadow because its application requires more time. So reviewing this only means that I got back on track in using eye shadow items.

PACKAGING

I like this product because there are 2 products in 1 package. There’s a cream type eyehsadow and a glitter eyeshadow on the other end. I like how convenient it is to have two products in one packaging. I also like that the cream has a doe-foot applicator and the glitter one has a brush pen applicator. Both products had good applicator. 

PIGMENTATION

This has great pigmentation, especially the cream one. You can work on anything with this from eyeshadow or even nail polish. But of course, I wouldn’t do the latter haha. .

PRICE 

You can buy this individually for P625.00. Since this was included again in a beauty box, I got it a little less than its original price. Noticed that I am reviewing the items that I got from the beauty boxes I purchased. It is because I had so little time to do it. That is why I am rushing things now and reviewing them one by one.  

EFFECT

What I do is that I spread the cream type on my lid and blend it using fingers. The downside of the high pigmentation is that it easily dries off and you need to blend it right away. For the glitter, I seldom use it because I don’t use it every day. I sometimes blend it together with the cream or just simply line it on the lower lash or inner. There’s also so many things to do on the glitter.

Yay for me! (｡◕‿  ◕｡) 

• Both are highly pigmented. A little goes a long way.
• Has different purposes. You can work on this product on just about anything on the eyes.
• It’s convenient to bring because there are 2 items in one package.
• Applicator on both products were great already. No need for extra brushes.

Nay! (｡◕︵◕｡)

•   It dries easily so you have to work it through quickly.
•  Tends to be a little heavy on the eyes (especially if you combine both).
• A little messy especially if you use your fingers ( since it is more effective than brushes) 

Price: Got it from BDJ Box

Bought from: BDJ Box Subscription

 Size: 3ml

At first I thought that it’s all just the hype of the new product but I got to appreciate it because of its convenience and effectiveness. I just don’t use it in a daily basis, which is the contrast of what I like. I am actually finding an eyeshadow for a daily basis so I can also practice on my eye shadow makeup regularly.

Do you have the same item? Any thoughts?

Review: BYS Brow Definition Kit

Kilay is life. Always and forever. Only when I am too busy being a mom that I can’t paint my eyebrows but whenever I have time, I always try to practice makeup, especially doing my eyebrows. So when I opened this eyebrow kit from BYS which I got from Glamourbox about a year ago, I immediately fell in love in its pigmentation. Yes, I only opened it now because I have a lot of products in stock.

This kit has 3 different powders and there’s a wax on the lower right. The latter was intended to use for shaping and prepping the brows. Then there's also the lightest brown, the medium one and the black. I usually use the black part on the outer part of my brows. The lightest in front and the medium at the center. I do not normally use the wax because I feel it is sticky and it just make my brow hairs sticking to each other. 

PACKAGING

It's just simple as how it is to be. For a kit, I think it is pretty handy given the size and the shape. If a brow kit is bigger than this, I think I would not bring it with me anywhere. This can be easily tossed in any kikay kit. 

PIGMENTATION

They are super pigmented, especially the black one. One swipe is all you need. You can also work on the remaining product from the brush to fill in the sparse area after lining or shaping your brows.

PRICE 

It retails at P399.00. This product was included in the Glamourbox beauty box so I think I saved a little less than the original price. Beauty boxes are great because you get a curated box and you'll discover more items to your liking and you will also save a lot compare in purchasing individual beauty items. However, it is a bit costly with its original price but it can last for a long period of time because it is super pigmented.  

COLOR

The color of the powders were all usable and can be used in different skin tone.

Yay for me! (｡◕‿  ◕｡) 

• Super pigmented.
• Lightweight packaging.
• Stays longer with the wax on. (But I still feel it’s stickiness)
• In fairness to the brush, I like the slanted brush that comes together with the kit. It works great with the product and doesn’t fall off easily.

Nay! (｡◕︵◕｡)

•  I don’t see the wax’s purpose (though it makes the color stay longer). It just makes my brow hairs stick together, making it hard to blend.
• A little expensive for P399. I have different eyebrow products and they’re all cheap and works great as well. 

Price: Got it from Glamourbox

Bought from: Glamourbox Subscription

 Size: 4g

If you’re someone who loves on fleek or just simply Korean-look brows, then this eyebrow kit is for you. I like playing with this when I have a little time to spare, but I can’t work on this when I’m in a rush. There’s just a lot of things going on in using this, compared to just lining my brows with a pencil.

Recommending this to all my kikay readers out there. Ciao!