Balik High School

About a month ago, my partner and one of my bestfriends, Isabel (The Belle of Belle & Cat, hehe!) asked me if I would be willing to do a workshop with her at Assumption, where we both went to High School! 🙂

“What exactly would we be talking about?”, I asked Isabel.  I couldn’t believe that we were invited to give like a career talk to these High School students.

I remember back in High School, I attended a Hotel and Restaurant Management talk conducted by Miss Liza Chan.  And I was so inspired by her!  That was the course I really wanted to take in college but my dad had other plans for me.  Which was a big fail, by the way. HAHAHA!

So I felt quite nervous thinking that I must, in a way, inspire these kids just the way Liza did when I was in High School.  So we decided to do it.  What the hell! Hehe! 🙂 It would be nice to go back to Assumption also.  I haven’t gone back since High School.  Batch ’96 YO! Proud to be part of this batch!

Once we got to AC, this was last October 24, 2012, I suddenly felt like I was transported back in time.  Seriously… There was a Back to the Future moment there…

We were led to the Speaker’s Lounge, which was actually my classroom, freshman year!

We moved on to the third floor where we will be conducting the workshop 🙂

Whoa??? May flat screen na sa classrooms???  At whiteboard na??? Excited pa naman ako to write notes on the blackboard using chalk. Hehe  Wala na bang ganun?!

… at aircon??? Lucky students!!!

Our energetic participants are ready 🙂

It was so much fun talking to the AC students.  Felt like I was in High School again… Same wavelength lang kami 🙂 Haha! I will always be a teen inside!

I had a blast doing the makeup demo because these girls loved doing makeup on themselves!  Love it!!! 🙂  They’re just as kikay as me! Hehe (But believe it or not, I wasn’t into makeup back in High School…)  So children, what you think you want to be when you grow up, may not be what you end up doing!

I see some makeup artists in the making…

The girls really wanted to learn how to do a black smokey eye makeup, one thing almost everyone wants to learn 🙂

That’s Mika below.  Future makeup artist? 🙂

And of course, we brought one of our nail technicians from Belle & Cat Nail and Wax Studio, to do a demo on nail art 🙂  Some of the girls were more excited about nail art! 🙂  So here is Jane, one of our most talented nail artist, doing some color blocking with bright colors for the students 🙂

Check out these cool nail designs!!! 🙂

My students were so happy with how their makeup turned out 🙂  They were all prom-ready! Hehe

Thanks to all the AC students who attended our Makeup and Nail Art Workshop! 🙂  I had so much fun teaching you all how to apply makeup 🙂  I’ve always wanted to have a little sister.  LOL!

And there’s Isabel on the far right, the reason why we were here.  Thanks, Isabel!!!  Glad we did this!

Thanks, AC!!! 🙂 I remembered how much fun High School was!  The friends I’ve made here in Assumption remained the truest of friends, like blood sisters.  One of the best years of my life!

We shall return, AC!  You were my home during my teenage years!  I surely missed you! Thanks for bringing us back!

Celestial Garden by Shu Uemura

I am loving Shu Uemura’s Summer 2012 Collection called Celestial Garden 🙂

"The world above the clouds, surrounded by overflowing positive energy, full of colors and full of light.
The same scenery, the same world can look so different, if seen with all your senses full open.
Unchain yourself, play with the colors, enjoy make-up, and above all enjoy precious moments that exist in your life."

When I got my collection, I immediately fell in love with these creamy dome blushers!  They are so easy to apply.  I literally just color them on my cheeks for an instant rosy glow 🙂

Check out these two pretty shades perfect for the summer!  Fairy Pink and Sunlight Peach 🙂

There are three different palettes in the collection.  I love them all 🙂 Don’t be afraid to use some pop of color in the eyes. They’re very subtle 🙂

Love the packaging 🙂

Eyeshadow Trio Scent 🙂 The color code from top to bottom is S1, S2 and S3 🙂 I'll be using S2 (orange) for highlighting on Isabel. You'll see the photos later on 🙂

This palette is called Eyeshadow Trio Air. The color code for this palette from top to bottom is A1, A2 and A3. A2 will be my main color for Isabel's eyes 🙂

The third palette is called Eyeshadow Trio Light. Color code from top to bottom is L1, L2 and L3. I will be using L3 on Isabel's inner corner of the eyes 🙂

Here's the jumbo eye crayon in Misty Brown (left) and Earthy Brown (right). This may be used as an eyeshadow or eyeliner on the lower lash line for a subtle smokey eye 🙂

Ultimate Natural Mascara in Dark Brown.

Lippies in Angelic Pink (left) and Darling Beige (right).

Lovely lip glosses in Corona Orange (top) and Blooming Pink (bottom).

Angel Wink for the lower lashes 🙂

I love doing makeovers on my friends. hehe And one Sunday afternoon, I decided to try out these great products on one of my best friends and partner-in-crime, Isabel 🙂  She hardly wears makeup so I was careful to make this summer look on her as subtle and light as possible 🙂

Here is Isabel with absolutely no makeup on 🙂 She's beautiful as it is! Lucky Isabel 🙂 I will never have my photo taken without makeup 🙂 Haha!

I just applied a little concealer under Isabel's eyes and a thin layer of liquid foundation to even out the skin tone 🙂 Also applied some lip balm to prep for the lippie 🙂

Applied the Fairy Pink Creamy Dome Blusher on Isabel's cheeks. This is best applied directly on the skin without any powder or foundation.

I used three different colors on Isabel's eyes. I applied the purple eyeshadow (A2) from Palette Air all over the lid. Used the glittery green shade (L3) from Palette Light for the inner corners of the eyes and the orange shade (S2) from Palette Scent 🙂 Then I used the Darling Beige lippie and the Blooming Pink lip gloss over it.

Here is Isabel with a fresh summery face and loving it! 🙂

So many possibilities using the Celestial Garden collection! 🙂 Have fun with it! Enjoy wherever you’ll be this summer, guys!

Japanese + Filipino = Manila Maki

One of my bestfriends, Dominique, is now based in China with her husband, Marc.  Before she left for China, we had one last lunch together, Dominique, Isabel and I 🙂  Isabel, who is familiar with the Salcedo Village, Makati area suggested that we try out this new place called Manila Maki 🙂

When Isabel told me about this place, I was very excited to try it out.  Two of my favorite cuisines merged into one.  Interesting! 🙂

I love their wallpaper! What a great idea!

It was just their soft opening at that time 🙂

Iced tea for everyone 🙂

Gyoza with longganiza 🙂

I wasn’t so adventurous with my orders so I stuck with the ones that sounded more Japanese than Filipino only because I craved more for Japanese food that day.

Chicken Teriyaki

Japanese Fried Rice

Here are Isabel and Dom, two of my bestfriends since High School.  Missing you a lot, Dom!!! I miss having meals with you because together we can eat anything and everything! LOL! Know more about Dom’s adventures in Hefei, Anhui, China.  You can read about her and China in her blog www.lavidachina.blogspot.com 🙂

We all had a great meal! Definitely a nice mix of Filipino and Japanese Cuisine.  The combination was just right.  Nothing too weird 🙂

Manila Maki is located at the G/F of Elizabeth Place Condominium, 332 HV Dela Costa St, Salcedo Village, Makati City 🙂

A Jingle Belle & Cat Christmas Party

Last December 18, Belle & Cat celebrated our annual Christmas party with the team and staff of B&C.  We were looking forward to this party since it was only our 2nd year 🙂 This is lovely Isabel on the left and gorgeous Stacey on the right preparing our simple, hearty meal for the evening.

This may be your typical menu for a party but we knew for sure that everyone will definitely enjoy.  Who wouldn’t want to eat pork barbeque and lumpiang Shanghai?! Amber Golden Plate Restaurant is always at the top of our list for parties. The food is excellent and they deliver 🙂 They are known for their pancit and pichi-pichi for dessert but we wanted to try other dishes this time.

Ok, this dish is NOT from Amber.  This dish was made by our very own Stacey Tan Gana-Bravo.  One of our partners at B&C. Now a certified cook! 🙂 This was her dish for the evening.  A whole tupperware of Chapchae/Japchae, a famous Korean dish made from sweet potato noodles, stir-fried in sesame oil with various vegetables.  This was amazing, Stacey! I took home most of the leftovers.  I just had to make my whole family try it!

Pork Barbecue from Amber.

Can’t eat barbecue without rice!

Chicken lollipops.

Mixed vegetables.

Lumpiang Shanghai.

Mango roll from Red Ribbon for dessert.  Thanks for bringing this, Merry! It was a refreshing and light dessert 🙂

Thanks, Merry, for joining us that evening 🙂 You will always be part of the B&C Beauty Club!

The boys of Belle & Cat 🙂 My husband Dante and Chris 🙂

The B&C Staff.  Thank you, girls, for another wonderful year.  B&C will not be here if it weren’t for your talent, hard work and dedication.  Thank you, Mitch, Joy, Honeyca, Evie, Nerrisa, Narlyn and Kareen! 🙂 We hope you enjoyed another Christmas with us! 🙂 Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you! Looking forward to another wonderful year with you all 🙂

A Sustainable Birthday Dinner

I have so many special people in my life who celebrate their birthdays during the busiest month of the year… December. So aside from pigging out during Christmas parties and events, I also look forward to a lot of birthday celebrations 🙂 Another one of my bestfriends and beloved partner at Belle & Cat is Isabel 🙂 Her birthday is on December 16.  It’s that time of the year when Manila goes crazy.  Traffic, long lines, full parking everywhere, especially in the malls.  So Isabel decided to find a good restaurant that’s not in a mall, away from the traffic and still had space for a table for seven 🙂

So she made reservations at Le Bistro Vert in Salcedo Village.  They serve Filipino Fusion Cuisine and sustainable food.  They say that sustainable food is healthier for people and the planet 🙂

Here is Isabel on the left, Claudette in the middle and Angela on the right 🙂 Angela, who also just celebrated her birthday last November 28. Check out my previous post 🙂

Here I am with Emma.  Another one of my bestfriends who lives in Sydney, Australia 🙂 Wonder when I’ll get to visit her there and try Kangaroo sausages… or maybe not.

A fresh glass of dalandan juice.

A hot bowl of pumpkin soup.

Longganiza, Pork Tocino and Beef Tapa sampler as appetizers. Oh I wish they had garlic rice with this sampler 🙂

Sausage platter with potato salad.

Isabel and Dante ordered corned beef. Tasted like kaldereta.  Yum.

My order was pork belly.  Yum yum yum.  Happy with my order.

Claudette’s order, short ribs 🙂 Pretty yummy, too.

Brown rice. Yes! I feel less bloated when I have brown rice 🙂

Now for dessert.  This Valrhona Sansrival is their bestseller 🙂

Guys!!!! Wait!!!! Let me take a picture first!

Then there was the Pandan Sansrival which no one was paying any attention to!

Good.  All for me 🙂

Lastly, we also tried the Calamansi Pie.

Not a big fan of sour cakes. hehe

Of course, my black coffee after a very good and heavy meal 🙂

Happy Birthday, dearest Isabel! 🙂 That was a perfect dinner, thank you.  No stress, good food and company from start to finish 🙂

Le Bistro Vert is located in Fraser Place Manila, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati 🙂