Curiosity killed the cat: Bialetti Caffe (Revilla Business Park)

Last week, everyone's parade had been rained upon. Typhoon Falcon wreaked havoc flooding many cities in the Philippines and thousands of commuters cursed the high heavens for being stuck in traffic. It was indeed a reminder of the typhoon "Ondoy" where I was stuck on the road overnight because no vehicle had the mutant ability to turn into a large shipping vessel and pass through the marsh land formerly known as coastal road. An experience I'd rather leave as a memory and not have to relive all over again. :D But I still prefer cold weather to hot I just wish it be cold without the heavy rain. :(

Anyways, we were supposed to go grocery shopping last Saturday (we always do grocery at SM Makati) but then, it was raining heavily and we did not want to take the risk of getting stranded. So, we opted to do grocery at SM Bacoor instead.  Aargh! I'd tell you this, If you're doing major grocery, go somewhere else. They're doing renovations there and basically the shelves' layout were all over the place. I felt like I was on a quickfire challenge and had no idea where to get the things on my list next. D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R! Considering we live close by, we finished until closing time! We didn't get to eat dinner anywhere inside the mall. I suggested to go to this new coffee joint at the Revilla Business Park called Bialetti. Yes, Revilla as in Bong Revilla and Ramon Revilla. They practically own Cavite and just a few steps from the business park you could find the Senior Revilla's residence along the highway.

I thought this was originally their own. But after checking out the website (www.bialetticaffe.org) printed on their beverage cups, I learned it was a franchise. They already have several branches open at various cities all throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Bacoor franchise screams Revilla mainly due to the cafe's interiors:

Walls were adorned with movie posters all produced by Imus productions.

The place was cozy and not crowded (I don't know if it was just late or a normal everyday occurrence).

There were two couches here and there so you could hangout there and make use of their free wifi service (it was down due to the typhoon when we had our visit).

 Their main selling point is their coffee but sadly we were not able to try any of their coffee blends :(

even the place mats had the Senior Revilla's face on it.

Drinks arrived first. They have 2 sizes, Medio and Mucho.

Choco Mint size: Medio P110

Mixed Berries P110 Medio

Just 'coz I love Green Tea... Green Tea Lychee P130 Medio

On a cold rainy day, we opted to order comfort food.

My sister ordered their Lechon Kawali P165

her fiance ordered Chicken Alfredo with broccoli P160

and my insurmountable love for Basil led me to their Pesto Pasta P160

The drinks we ordered were not too sweet, which I liked. My sister's mixed berry drink could use a bit more berries because the milk or the cream that had been used overpowered the whole mix. My green tea with lychee seems to be missing the lychee element because all I could taste was "Machang", don't get me wrong, I love my tea, but I paid for the lychee too right? MIA. The Choco Mint went the other way around. You could taste more of the mint rather than the Chocolate, so I suggest they rename it to Mint choco, which I think is much more appropriate. :D The drinks were fine by me not being too sweet. But for the food, it's a totally different story. I do appreciate a well seasoned plate of goodness. This, I might say was perfect for people who's trying to lower their blood pressure. SALT please! The pasta was bland. And It could use more Parmigiano-Reggiano. I do have to give it to them though, for making the pesto from scratch, not those pre-made store-bought mixes. The Chicken Alfredo was a bit soupy which I think will bring Alfredo diLelio to tears if he ever tasted this dish. On a good note, their Lechon Kawali were tender, crunchy, and seasoned just fine. Just the way this dish should be. :D

Overall, judging from the price and the servings of the food, not bad. But for the flavor, I'd rather go to Pizza hut Bistro and order my favorite pasta dishes close to the same price. There, I'd even have the option to ask for more cheese. As for the drinks, I'd say it's okay. It will suffice to accompany me while lounging around the cafe with my friends. Location is a plus point for this cafe as it is very near our place giving us a cozy spot to congregate during the weekends. But they'd better buff up their menu soon or else, the ambiance would not be enough to fill this place.

Accessorize It!

My sister and I had always been the artsy-fartsy types. I guess we got that from my mom (she was a civil engineer so she's very good at drawing and she's into crafts). My older sister once dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and would always be caught drawing sketches. I remember I used to want to become a colorist( guys who colors cartoons), yep, my sister would tease me about it because I have all these coloring books and would just enjoy coloring every damn thing :D I was always drawn to colors that I even wanted to become a scientist when I was a kid just 'cause I used to watch shows on television where scientists pour and combine smoking colored liquids together. ;D

Anyways, ever since then, my sister had been into making bead accessories to satiate her creativity. Her friends and colleagues started to take notice of her creations so she was inspired to start a business out of her hobby. Crazy Notions was born.. 

She started selling accessories made from beads but later on wanted to explore other medias. Then she came upon polymer clay. According to www.jaedworks.com:

Polymer clay is, as the name implies, a pliable, blendable polymer compound for artists and crafters. It's not a true clay - clay is fine particles of silicate suspended in water, whereas polymer clay is fine particles of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) suspended in plasticizer - but it can be used much like clay.

My sister took a polymer clay workshop at The Beadlady Craft Cafe and Art Studio located at Cubao Expo. Now, she's one of the proud members of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild and has been featured on their facebook page (links provided). Here's my sister, Donna Cruz (yes, like the Pinay actress. people's heads turn most of the time expecting her famous katukayo :D) with her own words on how she stumbled upon polymer clay as featured on the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild facebook page:

Madonna Liza Cruz (Crazy Notions)

"Growing up, Art has always been a part of my life. I would watch fairytale cartoons and make a storybook about it afterwards. I would play around my cousin’s Lego set and build a room for my dolls to live at. I would design dresses and accessories for my paper dolls. I loved drawing and painting landscapes and still life using pastels and watercolor. I would have been a stained glass artist but materials were not accessible here so I substituted it with colored plastics and Japanese colored papers. I took up photography when I can already afford it. Then I was introduced to beaded accessories. I learned the craft through books and magazines and the next thing I knew, I was in bead heaven. But alas, it has its limitations. I wanted to do more unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Last year while browsing the net for resin jewelry, I stumbled upon polymer clay. I was a little hesitant at first because of all the arts, sculpting was never my strongest suit. I bought my first clays and tools from Ms. Mel Felipe of Purplenook.Then took my first workshop with the Beadlady, Ms. Angeli Sobrepena-Del Rosario. After hoarding materials, tools, books and advanced workshops, I feel like I definitely found my passion. There are so many ways with polymer clay. There are so many techniques to master and to discover. And I am happy that the craft and the people who continuously master the craft have welcomed me warm-heartedly into their niche."

 Here are some samples of her works:

Steampunk bangles

one of her Made to order brooches (this one was specifically requested by the buyer)

A steampunk fly! :D

Steampunk heart locket

Steampunk phoenix pendant

Steampunk peacock pendant

Vintage inspired necklaces.

  

She also participates in the annual Clayfest Bazaar held at the Cubao Expo. You could check out my post on that here. Please do visit her facebook page to check out some more of her works and to find out more about Crazy Notions.

Are you into accessories? Till then! :D

Product Review: OCC Lip Tar and swatches

Okay, so I had this product for quite some time now. I bought it even before I started blogging just 'cause I was so intrigued by it and I was looking for a lipstick that would not fade easily on me. I first saw this on Suesh and HD cosmetics' multiply site and, being a color addict that I am, were automatically drawn to the pretty colors of these babies. Some were even outrageous to even use on their own but were pretty none the less.. :D So, here is my official review:

photo credits to www.suesh.com

According to the OCC website...

A stunning new innovation in lip color, OCC Lip Tar combines the longevity of a lipstick, with the ease of application of a gloss. Goes on slick and moist, and dries down to a satin finish. Ultra-saturated in color, Lip Tar contains an unprecedented amount of pigment - a little goes a very, very long way! An intense yet featherweight layer of color that stands up to the scrutiny of Hi-Def Video and Digital Photography, without ever looking (or feeling!) heavy. Meant to be mixed, Lip Tar comes in concise array of colors for a limitless selection of shades made by you!

Like all of our products, OCC Lip Tar is 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free, and is also free of parabens and other harsh preservatives. A simple, elegant formula that contains Hemp Oil, Peppermint Oil and Vitamin E, OCC Lip Tar feels as good on the lips as it looks!

OCC Lip tars retail for P850 a piece on Suesh's multiply site. I got three and decided to stop even before I got addicted, because 1.)it's not a cheap addiction and 2.) 1 tube will last me a lifetime so having so many in one's stash isn't so practical. 

  

I got Melange which is a deep and spicy terracota neutral color, NSFW (or Not Suitable For Work) because it's just a crazy true primary red shade that pops out on your lips, and Hush which is a perfect bridal pink color.

It has a slanted spout that reminds you of your regular lip gloss tube.

  

But don't let this similarity fool you. This is so pigmented that you could not actually apply this like your normal lip gloss straight from the tube, otherwise you'd end up with too much product on your lips that would more likely bleed or feather out. To show you how pigmented it is, I picked up just a tiny bit of the lip tar using my Suesh lip brush (yes, I love this brush see why at the end of this post! :D)

that tiny bit could already cover my entire lip! This is Melange by the way.

Before applying though, you should make sure you moisturize your lips first just like you would before using a matte lipstick. Put on a bit of your favorite lip balm, let stay for a few seconds and pat with a 1-ply tissue to remove excess (too much lip balm underneath will tend to make this slide off of your lips). I did, however, like patting on a bit of my Clinique DDMG moisturizer over my lips before applying lip balm just to make sure. Upon first application, this may seem a bit shiny but will dry to a semi-matte appearance after a while.

For the brighter and more vibrant shades such as the NSFW, I suggest you line up your lips first with a good nude lip liner to prevent this from feathering later on in the day.

NSFW

After letting the lip tar dry and adhere to your lips, it would stay there for quite some time even after you've drank and eaten (except of course, if you've had a very oily lunch or dinner! :D)

Hush upon first application

Hush after I've eaten lunch!

See? some definitely came off but the color is definitely still there. If you would purse your lips together, it will be good as new! You could also apply a bit of your favorite lip gloss on top if you feel like your lips are drying out.

Another great thing about this product is that you could easily mix two colors to come up with a totally different shade! It's like watercolor or oil paint for your lips. :)

After putting on NSFW, I applied Hush over and mix both together and this is what I came up with.

NSFW alone

The lip tar, indeed is an intriguing innovation. But like any other product, It has its Pros and Cons...

Pros

• Very pigmented. A little goes a long way.
• Long wearing if applied properly.
• 100% Vegan product. So no harsh ingredient for your lips.

Cons

• Pricey at P850.00 a pop.
• Could dry your lips.
• Will bleed/feather if applied too generously over the lips.

Oh, just to complete my LOTD on this post, here's one with me wearing Hush ;)

And as I've said, I'll show you why I love that Suesh lip brush you saw.

It is very small and compact ( if you've been following my blog, you'd know that I'm a sucker for travel-sized brushes)

It has a cap so you could store it in your purse without worrying about staining your precious makeup kit.

But...the cap could also be attached to the lip brush itself to make the handle longer, thus, getting a better grip! Yep, I love this brush! :D

So, have you already tried the much talked about OCC lip tars? which shade do you own at the moment?

Eternal Sunshine of an Over Productive Mind.. :D

The slumber is my home.
I find comfort in the silence of the unknown.
My hands are tied, my mind is tired.

Shadow of a monster creeps into my veins.
A darker side of me I cannot explain.
Can someone hear my plea?
Is there anybody there who could rescue me?

When will the rain stop?
When will the sky clear up?
I'm dying from your pain,
My heart is bound with balls and chains.

It always starts with a single phrase. I wrote this poem for my dad about a year ago after he was hospitalized for 7 days. A very trying time for all of us and still is. He's still recovering. Though, how could you help someone who doesn't want to help himself? Still hoping. Writing has become my escape, my solace. My journal has always been the friend who'd always listen and be impartial to what I had to say. Thank you :D

I found my old friend today and started reading through the pages. For  a change it was SHE who was telling me MY story. My past dreams, past hopes, and past woes. I missed my journal. :)

I've always been a thinker. Ideas come in and out of my mind like a kid with ADD. It is also my downfall as sometimes (well, most of the time) I tend to over analyze things in my head giving myself a headache. :D So, writing really helps express my thoughts. An outlet for my mind. A way to lessen the "clutter". So don't be afraid to pick up a pen and a paper, or blog if you're more tech-savvy. Blogging is just the same as a journal but on a slightly larger stage and with a bigger audience. You never know, you might actually gain a friend in the process. :D

Anyways, the most amazing thing happened this morning. A dragonfly flew into our kitchen. At this day and age, one could barely spot one fluttering about. Remember trying to catch one when you were a kid? Good times.  That actually gave me comfort that the future would be alright and it's like the dragonfly telling me that it's okay, we're still here. We are not leaving just yet.

How about you? What are the things that give you hope? Something that gives you that warm and fuzzy familiar feeling? How about writing that thought down or share it with us? :D

Giveaway: Should I give in?

Hmmm...to give in or not to give in? That's the mondo question. If you're a regular blog reader, you're probably aware of blog giveaways. These are contests held by bloggers on their personal sites for their readers. Reasons for holding a giveaway varies. It might be to pull in more readers, help sponsors, celebrate an anniversary, or give back to loyal readers who've been there from the start. Personally, I haven't brewed any giveaway yet, just cause I've only started blogging this year, and I'm still thinking of the perfect reason to hold a giveaway. Then there's the mechanics. I still have to think carefully how I should want to do it. I want my very first one to be unique and would totally define me. One more thing that's holding me back is I want to be able to distinguish readers who are there because they're seriously interested in what I have to say or have found my blog entertaining enough to stick around. then if I'm able to accumulate enough loyal readers, It would be more fun and gratifying to thank them through a giveaway. Another thing to consider is to what to giveaway. I would want it to be interesting and exciting for both parties. See, it ain't easy. A lot of thought goes into these things but one thing's for sure, giveaways are more like "paying it forward" and letting the readers know they are appreciated. So, hang in there kittens. Stick with me, I might have one brewing soon.. but even before that happens, a HUGE thank you to all of you! *Kisses :D

Do you have giveaway suggestions? Feel free to suggest your ideas.. :D