First Thrift Shopping Experience

I’ve been trying to live a minimalist lifestyle so I could have more of what is only important for me and less of what I don’t really need in my life. Another reason for me to change my lifestyle is my finances. I’d like to spend my hard earned money wiser and create a balance between my wants and needs.

Most of my clothes, if not given to me are bought from bazaars or at boutiques inside the mall. If you are a bazaar or a mall shopper, styled clothes ranges from Php300 to Php750 depending on the brand, where you bought it, if it was on seasoned sale or sold at a discounted price.

A minimum wage earner might shop for a piece or two every cutoff in that price range if they don’t have a lot of financial responsibility in their household. But because I really want to try something new and wanted it to have a double impact in my finances and my wardrobe, I tried thrift shopping for the first time!

This idea of thrift shopping came into me when I was watching and looking for ways on how to spend my money wiser online. My decision solidified when I saw famous Youtubers and a lot of online influencers doing the same thing. There are also influencers whose niche is how to be thrifty and some are really proud to broadcast that 75% of the stuffs inside their closet are thrifted. Which made me think that it’s not a bad thing to try after all.

Then there I was roaming around inside the most accessible thrift store from my place. It’s a store I pass by every day to and from work with no intentions of checking before, until I decided trying to go minimalist. I felt like the store was really there for me to pay a visit one day.

So how was my experience? I did a little research on what to expect when thrift shopping and how to thrift shop before I scheduled my shopping day. Maybe I’ll make a blog of how to thrift shop after 10 more times of shopping and trying different stores from different locations. For now, I’d like to share my humble experience.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the store is the smell of all the clothes hanged on the racks that was pulled out from their packed boxes and sleeping state. It doesn’t smell bad at all but you will really feel like you entered a different dimension because of the air. Maybe the cause of the strong smell was because the lack of ventilation of the store. Another reason might also be because the store wasn’t only selling clothes, but also bags, shoes and other accessories. Heavens, I sneezed for several times while checking the racks.

The clothes are priced differently, tops, shorts, jeans, sweat pants and skirts are categorized and priced accordingly. When the store is on sale, which was a lucky day for me when I visited, a lot of the clothes were sold for 3 pieces for Php100. The second time I visited with my friend which was just a week after, they were selling 4 pieces with the same price!

Most of the clothes looked fashionably decent with a very inexpensive and affordable price tag. I think the only investment that you really need when thrift shopping is time and patience. Why? Because you will have to go through all the racks before you find hiding treasures. My friend went shopping galore and bought 12 clothes for only Php300!

My technique was to hoard, select then pay. Hoard all the clothes that simply catches your eyes or interest. After hoarding, select the clothes that you like and will complement the ones that you already have at home before paying. Make sure to check if the seams and fabric are still in tack and in good condition before lining up at the counter. One of my tip is to avoid anything pure white.

For me, 9 decent clothes for a price of 1 made me feel like a shopping goddess! Now let me show you some of the clothes that I thirfted and have been wearing to office ever since rainy season started:

Until my next blog! Thank you for reading!

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The Chateau Royale Hotel Resort and Spa in Batangas Review: 4 Days 3 Nights Vacation 2018

Chateau Royale Hotel Resort and Spa, the place where I stayed for 4 days and 3 nights last Holy Week. I didn’t get the chance to post a blog because I was way too busy juggling things around after the Holiday season. I drafted but I wasn’t able to finish and put it up on time, but I hope this will somehow help you in deciding whether to pay a vacation in this resort or not.

See the short video: click here

The resort claims to be the biggest resort in Batangas, and I must agree. You’ll be needing a map to roam around the place. A jeepney service picks up the guests to bring them from one location to another inside the resort without charging them for the ride. Now you tell me if that’s not big enough! You’re going to learn to embrace the patience of walking in this resort.

The Room:

The interior and exterior design of the room looks cozy, fully air-conditioned and has enough window to let the sunlight in. There’s a cabinet and two side tables with drawers that you can use if the cabinet isn’t enough for your things. The ceilings are high enough to look spacious and you also get a sofa and a center table.

When grooming yourself the only mirror that you can use is the one above the bathroom sink. Bring enough clothes because they don’t have a laundry service even if they claim to give one on their website, because I personally asked if they offer that service and they said no.

There’s a cabled television when you just want to relax and stay in bed all day. The water might sometimes be challenging although there was never a moment that the water supply stopped. The room that we got has a veranda with chairs and a table when you want to have a hot cup of coffee outside while inhaling the morning scent of nature.

What the room lack is a comforter, a vanity area and a refrigerator. You can visit the gallery in their website to have a clear visual of how the different rooms look like. See pictures below for the room where we stayed in.

 

Internet Connection:

They offer free wifi within the club house but once you go out of range, your connection gets weaker and weaker. I’m using my globe mobile data when I’m staying at the room, but the internet connection is still weak. Even the smart pocket wifi didn’t stand a chance. So do not expect a strong internet connection in the resort. The only advantage of not having a good internet source is you get to focus on relaxing and enjoying the area the whole day. You eat, sleep, go for an activity and repeat the next day!

The Room Service Menu:

Khani Salad                                         Php 123.00

Miso Soup                                           Php 70.00

Yasai Itami Vegetables                     Php 123.00

Korean Chapchey Noodles              Php 90.00

Chicken Teriyaki                               Php 242.00

Steamed Fish with Soy Sauce         Php 324.00

Beef Bulgogi                                       Php 180.00

Plain Rice                                             Php 40.00

Chahan Rice                                        Php 69.00

Mango Chawan Mushi                      Php 60.00

 

The Parking Area:

When it comes to parking, there is no parking space allotted solely for you, so ones you drive out, don’t expect to park your car on the same space when you arrive, because it will surely be taken by other guests, especially in peak season. Although they offer a spacious parking spaces, you’ll have to ninja your way when it’s holiday season.

Play Ground

Play Ground

Go Cart

The Sports & Recreational Activity Rates:

Billiards                                 Php 200 / hour

Board Games                       Php 200 / hour

Kaiyak                                   Php 300 / hour

Darts                                      Php 200 / hour

Frisbee                                  Php 200 / hour

Trekking                               Php 150 / hour

Table Tennis                        Php 200 / hour

Rock Climbing                     Php 150 / head

Zipline                                   Php 199 / head

Rock Climb + Zipline          Php 299 / head

Aviary                                    Php 50 / head

Single Archer                       Php 100 / head

Group Archer                       Php 80 / head

Horse-Back Riding              Php 150 / head

Go Cart:

Php 100 / 15 mins

Php 150 / 30 mins

Php 250 / hour

Court Rental:

Badminton                          Php 400 / hour

Basketball                           Php 500 / hour

Soccer                                  Php 500 / hour

Volleyball                            Php 500 / hour

I rented a bike to tour around the place and wasn’t able to see all the activity area because I stop and film when I get a chance. But if I wasn’t taking video clips an hour bike ride inside the resort is enough to see what they have to offer. That day was the only time that I was in the mood to take clips but if only I had the enthusiasm earlier, I might have plenty of time and more things to show you.

See the short video: click here

The Swimming Pools:

They have a wave pool with a big slide, a man-made sand, cottages and offers a street food buffet. Souvenir shop is also within the wave pool area. The other pool can be found in their clubhouse near the lobby area where a restaurant and a coffee shop is situated. You can also enjoy a relaxing day in their spa center. The use of inflatables is not for free, you have to rent it for a specific time. The resort isn’t located near the beach so do not expect a beach and real sand. We drove to Canyon Cove to swim in the beach that’s why I have a beach clip included in the video. Do not forget to bring your own towel or the towel included in your room because they do not offer a separate one in the pool areas. Bathrooms smell nice and clean for the record.

Inflatable Rates:

Slide                                      Php 400 / hour

Big floaters                         Php 300 / hour

Speed Boat                         Php 200 / 30 mins

Floater                                  Php 200 / hour

Bed Floater                         Php 200 / hour

Wave Pool Food Outlet:

Halo-Halo                            Php 99.00

Street Food Buffet             Php 299.00

Chicken Intestines            (Isaw)

Chicken Feet                      (Adidas)

Chicken Head                    (Helmet)

Dugo                                    (Betamax)

Tenga ng Baboy                 (Walkman)

Quial Eggs                          (Kwek-Kwek)

Fish ball

Squid ball

Pork Barbeque

Grilled Hotdogs

*All served with Rice and a Gulaman drink.

 

The Food and Restaurant:

There are 4 restaurant choices and a wave pool outlet and a sports bar inside the resort that served different dishes and has different ambiances. You have other restaurant options outside but we chose to eat inside the resort because it was peak season and we don’t want to be stuck in a traffic. I took a picture of the menu from 2 restaurants, forgot the other one and wasn’t able to dine in their cafe.

I’m not very picky when it comes to food so I’d say that the food taste satisfying for me. It was also my first time to try Shabulalo offered by the One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant, a mixture of Bulalo and Shabu-Shabu ingredients. Didn’t know where they pulled that idea, but it delivered a good combination. My favorite restaurant there is Don Jose Domicile Restaurant. I fell in love with the interior design of the place and the food itself, plus the entertaining table attendants.

The Orchid Asian Grill and Restaurant:

                Dine & Take a Splash – Php 400.00

Mongolian Buffet + Clubhouse or Wave Pool Pass

Seafood Mongolian Buffet – Php 399.00

 

Tazza De Café:

                Unlimited Cake & Coffee – Php 249.00

 

The Forest Sports Bar:

Nachos Supreme – Php 219.00 (with 2 mocktails and 1-hour FREE use of Billiards)

 

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant:

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant Menu

The Don Jose Domicile Restaurant Menu

Salad All You Can – Php 219.00

Pasta All You Can – Php 299.00

Your choice of:  Penne Pasta                       Topped with your choice of sauce:

Spaghetti Pasta                                                 Red Sauce

Linguine Pasta                                                   White Sauce

Fettucine Pasta                                                 Oil-based Sauce

*Add Php 150 and pair with Chicken All You Can.

 

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant:

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant

The One Fishing Place Floating Restaurant Menu

Kabayan Package – Php 499.00 (A taste of Filipino Cuisine)

Boodle Fight – Php 1,200.00 (Good for 5-6 persons)

Set A:

Inihaw na Liempo

Chicken BBQ

Pinaputok na Tilapia

Rice

Fruits in Season

Set B:

Pork BBQ

Inihaw na Bangus with Tomato and Onion

Fried Chicken Pinoy

Steamed Rice

Fruits in Season

Set C:

Lechon Kawali

Hawaian Chicken in BBQ Sauce

Fried Tilapia

Steamed Rice

Fruits in Season

All-Time Favorites – Php 1,200.00 (Good for 5-6 persons)

Set A:

Pork Liempo

Pansit Mixed

Pakbet

Sinigang na Baboy

Half Fried Chicken

Platter of Rice

Set B:

Canton Guisado

Chopsuey

Inihaw na Bangus

Half Fried Chicken

Tinolang Manok

Platter of Rice

Set C:

Bulalo

Bihon Guisado

Fried Tilapia

Inihaw na Liempo

Platter of Rice

Tent Pavilion

Breakfast at Tent Pavilon

Before I forget, you get complimentary breakfast for two in your stay where you will be given food stubs as an entrance pass to their Tent Pavilion where they serve their breakfast buffet. Every morning I dive into their salad and drunk glasses of refreshing cucumber juice!

Trivia:

I roamed around The Green House where there was a little chance of visiting tourist as per what the farmers there said, so they were quite surprised when I arrived. In my curiosity I asked one of the farmers if the veggies that was being grown there are also the ones being supplied in the restaurants inside the resort and he said yes! I don’t know if I didn’t use my logical thinking there, but it was amazing for me to find out that the ingredients of the food that they were serving was freshly-picked from their own garden.

Final Thoughts:

The resort is not as perfect as it may seem, you may see dull spots that you might cringe but they offer a lot of activities. Their service crew, maintenance and front desk officers are very welcoming and accommodating. If they will rehabilitate the resort, I’d love to be the first to visit the place.

Reading Review Tips:

When it comes to reading reviews about things, it is best to have a little background about the time, date, age, civil status and even the nationality of the person who posted the review, so you can have a better idea of where they are coming from. Keep in mind that photo galleries on websites and social media accounts are enhanced to attract customers. Remember to level your expectations.

See the short video: click here

Shawill’s Premium Mineral BC Stick Foundation Review

Out of boredom from using my everyday stick foundation, I tried using Shawill’s Premium Mineral BC Stick Foundation. This foundation claims to be a BB and CC cream combination that will cover pores, blemishes and express long-lasting moisture. It also claims to have an all in one sun screen, pore balm, concealer and essence formulation.

You get 8 grams of product which is about a 2 inches long retractable stick that comes in 4 different shades.  Shawill also installed a brush at the other end of the tube that wasn’t really useful for me. I feel like the brush isn’t doing its job in blending the foundation evenly, although it was indicated on the packaging that you have to gently pat with an open palm to flatten the paint traces that may appear. The brush is absorbing amounts of foundation instead of spreading it onto your face.

Yes, the foundation is very light on the face but it’s not a full coverage foundation and doesn’t really conceal spots. After applying it you have to use a setting powder to keep it all together. This foundation might work for women who already have a healthy skin because it’s very light weight and this may appear as full coverage for them. I have really visible spots that I have to conceal while skipping the use of concealer on a daily basis, so I really want a foundation that will act as a foundation and concealer.

I commute every day and most of the time I’m walking while the sun is already up, I’d say that even though you may feel like the foundation is already melting on your face, it doesn’t feel sticky and remains light on the face. I dab my face with a tissue paper as soon as I arrive in the office and just set it with powder and I’m good to go again.

This is just my own experience with the product and I am not telling you to not go and buy it when you’re eager to try it. It cost Php 350.00 and if your skin isn’t very demanding I think this would last you a month and a half.

 

Until my next blog…

My 2018 New Year’s Resolution

Since I hit 12 out of 15 in my 2017 list, I’d like to challenge myself for another year. So, I’m here sharing the things that I‘d like to achieve this year. Honestly speaking, I don’t really take this resolution seriously, I don’t really go back to my list from time to time. I only check my list when December arrives, then I evaluate myself. Now let me introduce you to the challenges I choose to conquer this year…

First, I will try to achieve financial stability. I am still not satisfied with the money that I earn from my 8 hour job. Actually, I am aiming to open new opportunities for myself, maybe another job or part time job on the side. The monotonous office hour every day drains the life out of me and I believe it’s not just me who feels this way. I know that not all offices are the same, but the boundaries are killing my creativity and lively vibe. The only thing that makes me want to go to work is how I see myself getting things done. I love the idea of how I manage my time and how I get the job done, other than that, I don’t really see a lot of self-growth, which I badly want.

Next, I will try to continue growing my passion for the arts. Last year, a friend of mine sparked my passion for arts and it made me feel really good about myself. Who wouldn’t be happy to be doing something they like right? So this year, I want to just really drown myself with that passion. Apart from that, I also want to continue blogging. I merely blogged last year and I somehow missed writing and sharing contents. To kick off the year, I have been planning my blog posts when I have free time. I’m also into photography lately and I’m slowly learning how to be the person behind the camera. My passion might not earn me any income right now, but sooner or later I will definitely learn how to monetize it, since I won’t feel like its work because I’m enjoying it.

Lastly, I will try to reinvent myself again. If I did it last year, I can do it again this year. There’s something exhilarating in discovering new things about yourself. It’s scary and fun to go out of your comfort zone all at the same time, and I love that. There’s something satisfying with the whole idea of reinventing one’s self. It excites me to find out what else can I do at my age and with the life that I have right now. I’d go for adventures as much as I can, may that be travel or just learning something new. I don’t want to be tied up with my job, my physical, mental and emotional health is as important as earning a living. I don’t want to end up paying hospital bills just because I worked like there’s no tomorrow.

This is the 3 main goals that I want to achieve this 2018 and hopefully I’d be writing a good reflection about this by the end of the year. If you have your own targets for the opening of the year, please do share your blogs with us down below in the comment section! Until my next blog!

Evaluating the Things That I Promised To 2017

I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions since I believe I won’t be able to follow them, but I can’t believe that I managed to achieve 12 out of 15 things in my 2017 list, which is also the first time that I actually created a list. I evaluated my list in all honesty and only 3 things remained unchecked. I’m not going into detail for all the things that I have accomplished in the list, but I’ll tell you the reasons for why I wasn’t able to complete the list.

First, I can’t be deeply, madly and crazily in love because I am not in a relationship and wasn’t able to be in a relationship even though I have been hanging out with people. Second, because of being open I wasn’t really able to really filter thoroughly what I share with other people. Lastly, I wasn’t able to keep my life together because I was busy exploring myself.

This 2018, I intend to complete whatever list I am going to make but I won’t be including a very personal matter like relationship into my New Year’s resolution. I think that is something that I should be aiming for but something I just have to let go and develop on its own. But nevertheless, I’m still happy for how my 2017 evolved and ended.

If you guy’s have blogged your New Year’s resolutions for the year 2018 please do leave your links down below!

Miniso Pearl Hydrating Brightening Facial Mask Review

If you’ve been reading my blogs before, you may notice how much I whine about my skin getting dry from time to time. So here’s another face mask that my step mother gave me to try. This mask comes in a box with 3 packs of mask inside. Oh, don’t ask me about the price because it was just given to me and my step mom can’t remember how much it cost when I asked her. But I believe you can still find it in Miniso.

You may also grab the pictures below and show it to the sales ladies inside the store and see if they could get you one. Miniso’s beauty products has been quite in demand so sometimes the items goes out of stock. You may have to wait until the next batch arrives. I suggest you leave them your number so you get notified. Now let’s move in to my review.

Miniso Pearl Hydrating Brightening Facial Mask claims to use a highly concentrated formulation of natural materials, helps unbalanced skin become healthier by making it resistant to stress and restoring skin balance.

What I love about the product:

First, it smells heavenly good and the packing looks neat. The scent matters for me because the mask will be sitting on my face for 15 to 20 minutes, so the smell must obviously be something that I can stand. Another thing that I love about the mask is that it really did the job of hydrating my skin after emptying 3 packs that I used in alternate nights for a week. Last but not the least, the manufacturer was very generous with the essence in it. So instead of just getting to use the mask for 3 times, I did a little hack so that I could use it for another round.

If you’ve read my blog about Mumuso Compressed Mask Pack for an Easy DIY Face Mask Review you’d understand how I managed to maximize this mask for 6 times. What I did was, after opening and using the mask that was included in the packaging, I put in a compressed mask pack in replacement for the one that I already used and sealed it with a tape. I left it soaked until the time that I need to use it again.

There is an insanely huge amount of essence left so instead of just wasting it by throwing it to the trash, you can really enjoy another pampering night with it through this hack! You can even do this every time you encounter a face mask that is heavily loaded with healthy essence inside! Who doesn’t want good essences right?

What I didn’t like about the product:

I feel like the mask wasn’t tailored for Asian faces because it was quite big for the face size of most Asian women. So you really have to adjust and fold some parts of it so it sits in place. If you have a face smaller than mine, you might have to do some snipping to set the mask perfectly where you want it.

Would I recommend this product?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this mask. I loved it and I would use it again.

I hope you enjoyed my blog, until next time!

Megan Detox & Lightening Peel-Off Clay Mask with Charcoal Extract Review

Charcoal peel-off mask has been quite popular, and I thought I should try and see if I will be having a hard time peeling it off like other charcoal face mask that made a lot of people teary eyed while removing it.

What it promises:

1. Help remove impurities.

2. Lighten skin.

3. Leaving it looking fresh and glowing.

This is where you can apply the quote, “Tiis ganda!” I honestly loved the way the mask removed the impurities such as white and black heads as it sticks to the mask when you peel it off. But girl, it is quite painful when you start peeling the mask off, especially when some of your baby hair was covered with it. The trick to make the peeling less pain full is to not forcefully remove it in areas such as those near your hair line, because you can gently wash it off using warm water. Another thing, I am also not sure if you will love how it smells, because it smells like a light chemical, but it wears off while the mask is drying.

Direction for use:

1. Apply evenly to face, avoiding eye area.

2. Leave it on 15-20 minutes or until dry.

3. Gently peel off the mask from bottom toward to top.

4. Rinse with warm water.

5. For best results use 2-3 times a week.

Would I recommend that you try this? Yes.

Price: 25.00 / 10g pack

See you on my next blog!