Online Holiday Shopping Countdown

In the Philippines, the Christmas spirit is strongly felt as early as September. You will hear a lot of Christmas songs, see a lot of holiday decorations and people are starting to shop for gifts as early as now!

Being the lazy and impatient shopper that I am, I find it really convenient that a lot of brands are now selling their products through the internet. Online shopping is one of the best contributions of cyberspace to humans who would rather choose, click and pay through their computers than go to the actual shop.

The Christmas countdown begins and I know that most of you are already preparing their list for holiday gift giving. In fact, some of you may even browsing through ideal gifts such as the stylish greek apparels.

While browsing through various websites, I stumbled upon a timeless and meaningful gift idea: name necklaces. These exquisite pieces allow you to create a heartfelt present by engraving a loved one’s name, ensuring a unique and cherished token of affection. Whether it’s for a family member, a close friend, or a significant other, a personalized name necklace is a thoughtful gesture that will undoubtedly bring joy during this festive time. Exploring other online platforms can also provide an opportunity to discover even more remarkable presents that will make this holiday season truly unforgettable.

Here are some of the items I like from the 2013 holiday gift guide of Zalora:

Maxi Dress for Christmas!

Maxi Dress for Christmas!

Summer is still felt here in Great Britain! It is fun to dress up comfortably. I used to wear a lot of jeans and leggings months ago, but I am slowly switching to dresses. Aside from the fact that they are easy to pack, some dresses suits any type of occasion. This beautiful maxi dress like these 2023 unique short prom dresses is passable for summer outdoor or even formal outfit! Accessories like a luxury watch can also help level up any outfit. If your watch has been damaged, consider having it repaired at a watch service shop. For an affordable yet stylish option, you might explore a replica tag heuer to complement your wardrobe effortlessly.

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Let There Be Love!

Christina Aguilera just released a simple yet heartfelt music video for the song ‘Let There Be Love’. The song automatically gives me good vibes! I don’t know why it took her so long to release it as a single, but better late than never!

Christina Aguilera is not the main point of this post, but I'm spreading the LOVE!

Christina Aguilera is not the main point of this post, but I’m spreading the LOVE!

Anyway, this post is not really about Christina Aguilera (although I am planning to write one soon). I want to write this quick post while I have the momentum to do so.

I feel happy and blessed with all the love and appreciation I’ve been receiving especially from my family. It feels great to get daily hugs from my mom and my brother. I know that my father is watching over us. I can also sense that he is proud of what we’ve become.

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Tequila: The ultimate party drink?

Tequila has to be one of the ultimate party drinks. It can be knocked back neat, swallowed in between a lick of salt and a bite of lime, or added to a host of cocktails, and it is a staple in bars and clubs in many countries around the world.

 

The beverage is made in Mexico from the blue agave plant, which looks like a cactus but is in fact a relative of the lily. Farmers remove its sharp leaves by hand, leaving just the heart of the plant. This is then steamed in brick ovens to convert its starches to sugars, before it is passed through a mill to produce a sweet water. This liquid is fermented with yeast and distilled to create tequila. Broadly speaking, there are four types of the tipple and these are white, gold, rested and aged.

 

For parties and nights out, tequila cocktails are perfect and the margarita is the most popular cocktail in the UK. To make this drink, the beverage is added to orange liqour and fresh lime juice, and it is served with ice cubes and a lime wedge garnish. For best results, the glass should have a salted rim too.

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Excuse My Rude, Roar and Applause!

The week starts anew with three new songs from three of the leading ladies of Pop music – Jessie J, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga!

Pop Ladies: Jessie J, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry

Pop Ladies: Jessie J, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry

Jessie J is undeniably the most popular female pop singer from UK today. After serving as one of the judges of The Voice UK for two seasons, Jessie J quits the show to concentrate more on her sophomore album. The carrier single ‘Wild’ dominated the pop charts a couple of months ago and just last week, she released the official music video for her second single called ‘It’s My Party‘. For me, it is the best summer anthem for 2013. It is the type of song you’d like to sing and dance to when you’re with your closest friends. It’s My Party, I do do what I want! You can also check the viral video featuring the people of London. *winks*

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An Evening with Matt Goss – ‘Life You Imagine’ album showcase

Remember my blog confession about my dream to watch a Matt Goss show? Some might say ‘It’s easy – Fly to Vegas and catch one of his shows at Caesar’s Palace!‘. It’s not that easy for a Philippine passport holder like me. My only hope to see him is if he gets a chance to do a show in Manila (although I am aware that the probability of this thing to happen is just 10%) or just pray that he’ll do a show in London while I’m still here.

Will I be able to see this lovely man in London instead of Vegas?

Will I be able to see this lovely man in London instead of Vegas?

Then something unexpected happened. There were rumors that Matt Goss might visit London to do a show to promote his new album. No specific date given, but the show will take place within the year. Hmmm… When will I, will I see him in person?

While waiting in NAIA – 1 Boarding Gate for my flight to Birmingham, I saw a tweet confirming that tickets to the Matt Goss Album Showcase will be on sale the next day! Wah. Imagine how excited and at the same time anxious I was. With a note that there will be limited tickets for grabs, I simply couldn’t keep still. I NEED TO GET A TICKET AND WATCH THE SHOW!!!

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Viva Forever! The Musical: Reliving Spice Memories

Viva Forever, I’ll be Waiting
Everlasting like the sun
Live forever, for the moment
Ever searching for the one..

It is a dream of ever Spice Girls fanatic to watch the Viva Forever! The Musical. It was launched at WestEnd’s Piccadilly Theatre last December much to the excitement of followers like me. Which 90’s kid didn’t love the Spice Girls (or at least one of them) anyway? It may sound crazy to some, but the Spice Girls did inspire me to do better when I was younger. Just watch their videos, listen to the records and viola, Positivity is in the room! The ‘Girl Power!’ tag motivated a lot of women to aim high and work hard to achieve their dreams.

Viva Forever! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

Viva Forever! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

Last month, it was announced that the Viva Forever The Musical is about to reach its final show. The members of the band expressed their sentiments regarding the cancellation of the musical play via Twitter. Geri Halliwell even wrote a blog entry about it. It received mixed reviews from the critics, but the Spice Army who saw the show said they enjoyed it and the presentation is not bad as what the others say.

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Spice Girls Rewind: Schizophonic by Geri Halliwell

“I want to communicate through my music. If you want to know Geri Halliwell listen to my album: it tells you more about me than a documentary ever could.” – Geri Halliwell

Schizophonic by Geri Halliwell

Schizophonic by Geri Halliwell

Geri Halliwell once owned the title ‘Queen of British Pop’. As the most prominent member of the Spice Girls, a lot of fans and detractors were wondering what will be her next move after quitting the most successful girl band in history. I have to say that Geri is my second favorite Spice Girl and I sincerely love her so much. If there’s one thing that I admire from her, it is her determination to succeed.

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The Matt Goss Appreciation Post

I’d love to be considered one of the quintessential British men who hasn’t given up, has seen the world and is strong, healthy with plenty of fire left in him. Maybe after reading my story, you might agree.”

– Excerpts from Matt Goss: More Than You Know

When I arrived home from the 6-hour bus trip from Baguio to Manila, my mind is already programmed to take a deep sleep once I reunite with my bed. I was quite surprised when I saw a big envelope in my bed. One of the books I purchased in eBay arrived. I am still on a high after reading Geri Halliwell’s If Only. Time to read a man’s perspective!

Getting to know Matt Goss through his music

Getting to know Matt Goss through his music

I smiled upon seeing the hardcopy of Matt Goss: More Than You Know. It is the autobiography of ex-Bros lead singer Matt Goss. He may not be popular here in the Philippines, but I believe that once upon a time, he made a lot of teenage girls (and gays) worldwide scream for more.

 

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The 2nd Baguio Blog Conference Notes

 

I signed up for The 2nd Baguio Blog Conference weeks ago with selfish intentions. I wanted to attend so I have an excuse to leave Metro Manila for a few days and join Yoshke, who is assigned to talk about Travel Blogging. I traveled solo three years ago in Baguio City and it would be fun to go to the highlands with the not-really-poor traveler after our epic Culion trip.

The 2nd Baguio Blog Conference in Azalea Residences

The 2nd Baguio Blog Conference in Azalea Residences | Photo grabbed from AzaleaResidences

On the 7th of May, I find myself answering a message on Facebook if I can possibly be one of the speakers for the event. It is not my first time to speak in front of an audience, but its been years since I gave out a talk about blogging. When I gave my confirmation to the organizers, I can’t help but anticipate the bus trip to the Summer Capital of Luzon. I simply want to get out of Metro Manila and enjoy a cool weather while reading a book and pigging out!

My topic for the Baguio Blog Conference is Niche Blogging. It is humbling to remember how I started as a frustrated blogger from Dagupan City to owning a number of domains and eventually venturing to niche blogging. Looking back, I conclude that I am one crazy girl with lots of Paypal credits to spend. I kept on registering domains with no intentions of focusing on each platform. At least I learned from it 😀

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Movie Review: The Bride and The Lover

Last Wednesday, Maki and I met up in Trinoma Cinema to catch the first screening of ‘The Bride and The Lover’. It is the only Filipino Film on the line-up of films launched that day. It is the newest movie from Regal Films starring Lovi Poe, Paulo Avelino and Jennylyn Mercado.

The Three Victims of Love

The Three Victims of Love

Prior to entering the cinema, I have instilled certain ‘expectations’. Joel Lamangan is one of the most-respected directors in Philippine Cinema and he concentrated in political-themed films on the past few years. It is a breather to finally see him do semi-funny film again. I was looking forward to the dialogues since it is penned by Rody Vera, who is responsible for the screenplay of Cinemalaya favorites NINO and REquieme.

Now let’s proceed to my expectations on the cast members: Paulo Avelino recently won awards for his portrayal as Nathan in ‘Walang Hanggan’ and in the indie film ‘Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’. Lovi Poe is quite controversial these days because of her supposed ‘network transfer’. Is she staying with GMA-7 or is she moving to TV5? Or is she signing up with ABS-CBN? She also garnered nominations for her portrayal in Thy Womb and Legacy. This movie also serves as Jennylyn Mercado’s comeback project with Regal Films. She starred in a number of teeny-bopper films and the fans are eager to see if she can handle such role.

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