Book Review - The Doctors' Secrets to a Lifetime of Clear Skin

I've a confession to make. I'm a bookworm. Yep, not just any book lover but a bookworm. Like to the point that I won't sleep until I've finished the book kind of bookworm. I read novels, educational books, and even self-help kind of books. You know the saying Knowledge is Power? I believe that reading books has helped shape me to what I am today. LOL. Well I did gobble up books like candy when I was in high school and college. I'm not that of a bookworm anymore unless I stumble upon a really REALLY good book! 

Good thing I didn't have to pull an all nighter when I got my hands on The Doctors' Secrets to a Lifetime of Clear Skin. Oh boy I was hooked! This is indeed one very cool informative book that I wish I had even way back when I was a teenager. Like I've mentioned before, my war with acne has been in existence since puberty. And if I had read this book when I was teen, I think some of my fears, worries, and expectations would have been put to ease thanks to this book. Most of our self-image or self-esteem issues stem from this period of time in our lies. We face a society that takes value of our physical appearance. Whether we like it or not. Yes its not fair. But what do we do? We deal with it. Same with Acne. We have to learn how to deal with it. And this book definitely would help both me and you who have to face the trials, horrors, and despair of Acne. (haha, ok drama much sorry.. may pinaghuhugutan?!)

The Doctors' Secret to a Lifetime of Clear Skin is written by Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields two of the world's renowned experts on giving people with acne their best opportunity to enjoy a lifetime of smooth, clear, healthy-looking skin. Yes as stated at the back cover of this book, it is FUN-to-read and has a SHORT-and-sweet style. If you quickly scan this booklet, you will see 30 vital "nuggets" of skin-care knowledge that will guide you throughout your life without acne. The booklet (it is smaller than it looks on the photo!) has only 67 pages. It is a  light read. In fact you would probably be done with it an hour or less. 

I would like to quote what Drs. Rodan and Fields said in their introduction. "In your fight against acne, KNOWLEDGE is a key weapon." So here's a small sample on what kind of "weapons" you will be stocking up with this book.

The book doesn't really have any chapters. For each "Nugget" of skin-care wisdom - the book has assigned two pages on it. And it is delivered in a very down-to-earth and in a matter-of-fact tone. It is not an intimidating scientific read. Anyone can relate to it! Most of the popular acne-related questions are answered in this book. Myths are also disproved. It also addresses some major concerns like what you should and should not eat. Yes my dears, you can now tell your chums and your parents that chocolate DOES NOT cause Acne. Hehe.  

It also warns you on what you should NEVER do. Listen to your mom kids. Do not pop that zit. Seriously. And of course it  also gives you encouragement and reassurances that you aren't alone and that acne can be controlled. Its not the end of the world. :) 

Another thing I liked about the book is whenever a medical term is used -- it is explained in layman's terms! You have no idea how grateful I am for that. It is practical talk and easy to understand. And I'm sure teenagers would find this very enlightening! Well who wouldn't want to be assured right? As obviously stated in #14 - A Pimple is Not Simple. 

At the end of the book, this reassuring statement and challenge is given -- "The key to your success will be staying committed... and staying with your routine once you are clear". With all the advise shelled out in this book, it is still up to you if you will act on it in order for you to have a lifetime of clear skin.

So Coffeeholics do I recommend this booklet? YES YES and YES! I've learned a lot and you will too! If you are battling acne or maybe have a score to settle with pimples, well this book is for you. This books is indeed life changing. And it would be a great gift for Christmas too.

About the Book

The Doctors' Secrets to a Lifetime of Clear Skin by Drs. Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields comes FREE with every purchase of Practiv 30-day or 60-day kit from Watsons, SM Department Stores, Proactiv mall kiosks, and Proactiv door-to-door delivery. The book is included in the kit. 

For more information, do visit the Proactiv Website or Proactiv Facebook.

The Asian Massage Experience

I know I've been a bit scarce these past few weeks, especially last October. I was quite busy with my students as I was training/coaching a lot of them for a national level competition in various areas. So finally it was over and done with by the end of October (yep we won! It was worth all the hard work, puyat, and no blogging muna hehe) and I couldn't wait to finally treat myself out for a job well done. Yes, I promised myself that I will pamper and treat myself out to a massage. It's my one sure way to get rid of stress. So when I was invited by Asian Massage to check out their massage I just couldn't wait to try it out!

Asian Massage at Ortigas

At first I feared that getting to Asian Massage located at Greenrich Mansion, Pearl Drive, at Ortigas would be difficult. But thanks to my trusty Google Maps, I found out that its super easy to get there. Landmark? Its at the back of Richmonde Hotel. :)

Asian Massage is open for 24 hours

The Asian Massage actually houses not just the Massage area itself but also the Asian Clinic and Asian Salon. For those interested only in Massage, well then Asian Massage is open for 24 hours! To make sure that you have an available masseuse, it is best to call them up to set up an appointment.

Upon entrance you will find the reception area and waiting area. You may book for the service you like immediately. Since the massage service is available 24 hours, walk-ins are acceptable. For the salon or clinic service, they are open only up to 7 or 8 pm. So it is best to inform them in advance.

Asian Massage already decorated for the holidays!

So first stop was of course, the massage! Asian Massage offers a variety of massage services. Their signature massages are the following:

1. Seomyeong Massage using Japanese Moguza (120 min) which is recommended for clients who suffer from pain. This technique helps clients with dyspepsia, gastroparesis, slow motility syndrome, constipation, and colic.
2. Asian Massage Signature with Indian Ear Candle for stressed people. (120 min)
3. Asian Massage Signature (120 min) - you have a choice from 4 kinds of Massage oil: Peppermint with eucalyptus, Floral Lavender, Lemon, and Green Tea.

Other services offered are Acupressure Shiatsu Massage, Refloxology Hand Foot Massage, Thai Massage, Hilot Massage using Virgin Coconut Oil, Pregnant/Baby Massage, Massage with Special Oil (Whitening, Herbal, Rosehips, & Slimming Oil), Hot Stone Massage, Ventosa Treatment, and Promo In House Massage.

 

I was offered the option of a 30 minute massage of either the shiatsu massage or the hand-foot massage. Since I had been so looking forward to this, I decided that I will pay an extra hour for a full body shiatsu massage and get the 30 minute hand-foot massage. Yes.. pamper kung pampered.. haha. I later found out that they had an ongoing promo so instead of the 1 hour massage costing me Php 400 naging Php 300 na lang. I was definitely pleased with this affordable price!

After finalizing my massage treatment, they took my sandals and gave me slippers. Then one of the therapists politely pointed me to the massage room area. Here are my insights about my Asian Massage Experience:

1. Ambiance. The lighting was dimmed. Soothing therapeutic music was playing. And the faintly twinkling lights on the ceiling was just enough for me to see my surroundings.

There were several massage "cubicles" in the massage room areas. I call it cubicle because the area for the massage was small enough to fit the massage bed. Each cubicle had just these thick curtains to "separate" from each other. The good thing about the curtains is that if you want it to be a "couple room" experience, all they had to do was push the curtains aside. The down side is that you can definitely hear the other occupants in the area if they are the talkative type.

2. Amenities. They had a CR but not in the immediate area. So make sure you take a leak before going in. They also had a some type of cabinet under the massage bed which is a plus for me. I think it would have been better though if they had offered this with an actual lock and key. I'm not sure if they have a padlock. If they had it wasn't offered to me. Anyway as you can see in the photo above, upon reaching the bed you are offered a shirt and shorts to wear. So depending on the type of massage, you wear the appropriate attire.

3. Massage. In my previous massage experience, normally before it starts, I would be first asked to have my feet either washed, wiped with a wet towel, or something similar. I was surprised that this service was not offered. I would definitely recommend them to do that! So I ended up wiping my feet with my wet wipes. (yeah I'm a bit picky like that). After changing clothes I finally got to my most awaited massage and oh boy was I NOT disappointed! I already had an idea how the shiatsu would go so I was very happy with the way massage went. I'm a big fan of hard massage (yes hagod kung hagod... haha!) and the therapist did it just right. The acupressure was basically a lot of hand presses (which I loved!!!) and the shiatsu part was wonderful. The therapist spent a lot of time on my back though I think if you want it to not be too focused on the back, you just have to inform them. I applaud the way she massaged the legs and foot. Usually based on experience, the massage treatment that I get on my legs is either too much that it causes me cramps afterwards or too little which leaves me quite unsatisfied. This time the pressure was just right and I really enjoyed it! As for the hand-foot massage, I can say the treatment was the same more or less. I believe the price I spent on the extra 1 hour massage was well spent! Afterwards I dressed up and got ready for the next treatment. Again though I would definitely recommend that they could probably present hot towels to the guests afterwards to wipe away the oil. But overall the Asian Massage was really good.

After the Asian Massage, I was able to try out the services offered in the Asian Clinic which specializes in skin care science and slimming center. I was offered the choice of experiencing the KB Dermafirm Treatment for my face or a ten minute Radio Frequency (RF) Treatment (slimming) on the tummy. Well definitely I wanted to try out the RF treatment!

The Asian Clinic RF Equipment

The normal RF treatment time is about 20 minutes. According to the staff in charge of the clinic at that time, for an RF treatment to show its effectivity, you need at least 10-12 sessions (plus of course natural diet and exercise). The most RF treament you can get in a week is only 2 so that means you can see visible results after more than a month. As for the RF treatment itself, yes it was very hot! They would put a special jelly-like lotion on the area where you will have the treatment. This lotion is a bit cold which is normal. You'll be thankful later coz when the RF treatment starts it gets really really hot! Not that hot that it will feel intolerable but just enough to really sense the heat and make you feel and imagine all your fats are slowly melting away (hehe). After the treatment it is advised that you don't drink any cold water after 24 hours. So keep that in mind when you opt for the RF treatment.

 

My before and after pic! 

Now the last service I tried was the Asian Salon. I was given the choice of having my nails done or have a haircut but since I just had my pedicure like 2 days ago I decided to try the haircut. Yes, I did had a haircut! Its not that obvious coz I asked for a trim lang. Obviously I'm not in a daring mode to change my hairstyle (wah scared ako!) so I just asked for a layered cut and some sideswept bangs. The hairstylist was a bit challenged by my thin hair and convinced me to have more than an inch na trim (hahaha sorry naman.. I really don't want to have short hair) so I had it trimmed 3-4 inches na layered. I'm happy with the cut so yeah! This is what I wanted.

So yeah overall I think I really was able to enjoy my pamper stress-free afternoon here at the Asian Massage! And I think it would be the perfect place for gals who want to have this kind of 3-in-1 treatment (massage, skincare, hair and nails) in one place coz they've got all the service you need. The price range I believe is quite fair. Especially considering the area where Asian Massage is located. So coffeeholics, if you are in the Ortigas area and want to have a massage -- do try Asian Massage!

Asian Massage Ortigas/Pasig
103 Greenrich Mansion Building 
(at the back of Richmonde Hotel)
Pearl Drive St., Ortigas Center
6319703 / 0917-8075836
www.asiangmassageph.com

Movie Review - Why watch IRON MAN 3

Hey Coffeeholics! Its been more than a week already since Iron Man 3 came out so I'm betting that most of you have already watched it. I must admit I was only able to watch it last Wednesday (finally!). To tell you the truth, I never watched a trailer of the movie. But I've been hearing mixed reviews about Iron Man 3.. that some say it was dragging and boring especially in the middle part while some say that they absolutely loved it. So what is it? Is it boring? Predictable? Lacks action? Or was it sooooo cool that you just had to watch it again? Did it suck or did it rock?

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT

If you haven't watched the movies and you don't want to be bombarded by spoilers, now is a very good time to skip this post. :P

5 REASONS WHY I LIKE IRON MAN 3

1. Vulnerability.  Usually when we hear IRON MAN we usually think of him as the super cool hero. This  arrogant, narcissistic, bad boy playboy billionaire genius in a hi-tech suit that can shoot missiles, a laser beam, and basically save the day. There's no denying that he is indeed all that. But what I really like about Iron Man 3 is that this time, we get to see beyond the surface rep of Tony Stark. They showed him to be more human.. to be vulnerable.. that he is like one of us. Who couldn't relate to his panic attacks.. in facing the reality that he is human and he can't do anything about what's happening around him? Who can't relate in his struggle through his fear and trauma.. his insomnia (ok so maybe not 72 hours of no sleep! lol).. his fears spilling over to the subconscious and becoming a disturbing nightmare? 

Tony Stark was vulnerable just like you and me and it showed when in despite owning a super cool iron suit that can defeat an army, he still is a typical human being who experiences stress and fears triggered from a traumatic experience (his near death experience during The Avengers timeline). He was vulnerable and it showed through panic attacks that were triggered by innocent statements from kids (which is kinda ironic by the way - a kid reducing the Iron Man to a puddle of nerves!). Of course in the end, he learned how to overcome his fear and deal with it which is heroic in itself. He showed that its ok, we have fears but we can deal with these fears and shortcomings if we set our minds to it and in the process become stronger. 

2. The Mechanic vs. Iron Man. Everyone knows Iron Man is THE Man. But what happens if the suit runs out of juice? When it fails to "assemble" and "assimilate" on Tony Stark? When it crashes into a truck and scatters into a million pieces like lego? Actually most of the movie seems to "mock" the iron suit on how unstable and unreliable it is making Iron Man useless at times. And for some reason I liked that. Why? Coz then we were able to see how Tony Stark - The Mechanic worked.

One of the pivotal scenes for me was during one of his panic attacks when he found out that his suit was NOT charging and he was on his way to Miami to finish off Mandarin. He was freaking out and he got out of the car and was hyperventilating on the floor coz he didnt know how he would be able to defeat Mandarin without his suit when the kid on the phone reminded him who he was -- that he was first and foremost, the Mechanic who "made" Iron Man and can "fix" things. Brains and action without the Iron Man suit ensued afterwards which I felt was pure genius on his part. It is the MAN that makes the suit, not the other way around. Enough said.

3. Tony Stark on Humility.

"I have a lot of apologies to make... Nothing's been the same since New York. You experience things, and then they're over. I can't sleep, and when I do I have nightmares. Honestly, there's a hundred people who want to kill me. I hope I can protect the one thing I can't live without..."

I bet all the other girls sighed too when he said this line to Pepper. I think its rare to see or hear him admit he was a mess and hearing him say sorry (a lot of times) is refreshing. There is hope after all for bigshots and egoistic arrogant alpha males! So if Iron Man happens to be your role model? Learn after him. A man who admits his mistake, apologizes, and learns from it will live another day.

4. Tony Stark's Love Language. 
I laughed so hard when I saw his gift to Pepper. The huge stuffed bunny and the necklace at the very end (I'm sorry that is not spectacular enough of a gift for a genius ex-playboy billionaire). It sucks. So definitely giving of Gifts is NOT his forte (HA! Remember in Iron Man 2 and the basket of strawberries? FAIL!).

But his way with words surely stole a place in our hearts and yes Pepper's too. His funny and droll wit and proper use of sarcasm seems quite to be a hit (many thanks to Robert Downey Jr.'s fantastic portrayal!). But when he delivers those sweet mushy lines like -

"Things are different now, I have to protect the one thing that I can't live without. That's you." 

That's Pepper in the Iron Man suit!

Well you bet that definitely makes up a lot for the unforgivable gifts earlier. And what girl cannot forget that sweet move when he immediately suited Pepper up in his Iron Man suit during those explosions which essentially protected her. Considering her above his own safety is definitely plus points! And of course yes, we know. We know! When a guy gives up his "toys" (gadgets, games, hobby.. ) for quality time for you -- that's FIREWORKS baby! And mind you, that's Tony Stark saying goodbye to his 40+ Iron Man suits. :)

Hot Pepper!

5. Pepper Girl Power. Ok so your love interest is a super hero. Must you always be a damsel in distress? NOT! Thank goodness that in the end, Pepper pretty much saved the day (and Iron Man!) with her kick ass moves as an altered volatile super soldier. My favorite part was when she jumped high, punched one of the suits, and thrust one of the Iron Man arms in her hand like a glove and went all Bionic Woman on the Bad Guy. Epic epic epic. :)  I wanted to see more of Pepper going bad ass but then well..  the movie is all about IRON MAN after all. So we only got a glimpse of that.

Anyway, so did it suck or did it rock? Well duh, obviously it ROCKED! I watched it again on the next day. LOL. Seriously though I have to tell you that the action is packed only in first and last part.. most of the middle part is really a lot of talking, some upgraded MacGyver fiddling, and the developing of a nicer and more adorable Tony Stark ever. I mean what gal wouldn't  want to be in Pepper's place--hugging and comforting a distraught Tony Stark admitting that he was a mess and needed her a lot? The second time I watched Iron Man 3, I just leaned back and soaked in the drop dead gorgeousness of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.

Photo source - Matsuda FB

Did you notice all the different kinds of sunglasses that he wore? Smoking hot awesome stuff! I searched the net and most of the eyewear he wore were from Matsuda. I also just noticed most of the photos that I got of him ay lahat masungit look. Haha. Whats up with that? Sabi na nga ba..only him and Sir Chief can get away with the haughty and handsome look.

Anyway enough of the fangirl mode. What about you? Did you like it or found it boring? Do you agree with my points or not? Let me know what you think about the movie. I'm sure pure Marvel fans have a lot to say about this movie (a point which I did not touch since I'm not an expert about that!). Basta ako I enjoyed it. Ikaw? Drop a comment and let me know! Oh and if you haven't watched the movie but read this anyway, will you still watch or not?

Have an awesome weekend! mwah mwah!

Photo source - google. XD

Coffeeholic at Happy Lemon plus OOTD

I have always loved drinking coffee. Yes, just in case you dears haven't noticed it yet -- I'm a self-confessed coffeeholic. In fact, I still remember the days that I shudder with horror whenever TEA is mentioned. But then tea suddenly became cool and interesting. I hated drinking tea (except the iced ones!) coz I felt it was boring (haha), weird (coz of its flowery scent), and didn't taste nice. The advent of Milk Teas helped change my perspective on Tea. So I became more compliant to the idea of drinking tea. Then I heard about HAPPY LEMON and I knew I just had to go there. Especially after hearing a lot of good reviews and raves from my friends. So finally I was able to go there and well.. here's a coffeeholic's review of Happy Lemon!

Happy Lemon Greenhills Branch

I was there with my siblings and cousins. They already had a taste of Happy Lemon and they happily introduced me to the unique taste of Happy Lemon.

Of course my cousin shopgirl JEN was with me!
Showing off our awesome rings.
Ring - Anagon Collection

My Sisters Wawel & Laura

So this is what I got - Green Tea Rock Salt & Cheese (RSC)

I wanted to get the one with Cocoa but when we walked in the store
they just ran out of cocoa powder. gah.

So this is the famous Rock Salt & Cheese froth. It tastes yummy.
I was advised to NOT drink the tea through a straw but sip it from the cup.
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME, FOLLOW THAT INSTRUCTION!
I swear it tastes sooo much better when you drink it like that.

The first thing that will assault your senses as you sip is the smell.
Its super unforgettable coz it REALLY smells like SAMPAGUITA!
LOL. Yes I know it sounds and smells weird. (this from a coffeeholic's point of view!)

It is an acquired taste (from the gagging looks of my sisters.. lol!) definitely.

Will I order this drink again? NEVER.
Have mercy. A coffeeholic can only take this much! lol. 

But I definitely wanna come back to Happy Lemon and try the one with Cocoa Rock Salt & Cheese!

What I was wearing that day:
Black Top - Thrifted, Aqua Blue Tank Top - Random,
Black Jeans - Forever 21, Black Boots - Random

My new awesome ankle boots!

Love LOVE Love!
Bracelet - care of TINYPINKBOW
LOVE Ring - Girl Shoppe
Silver Ring Band - from Baguio
(I had that ring since I was in college!)

Feather Earrings from Pink Pum Shop

So there you have it! A coffeeholic's experience in a Tea~holic's world! lol. 

So my dear Coffeeholics AND Teeyaholics, have you been to HAPPY LEMON already? 

What is your favorite drink there and what would you recommend for me to taste next?

Do share! Mwah!

Catwoman Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises

Anne Hathaway won me over when I saw her in the movie "The Devil Wears Prada". If you are into fashion, you definitely must have watched that movie. I loved the "transformation" period of her character from drab to fab! My favorite outfit of hers in that movie was this:

Those divine boots topped with the sleek and sassy hairstyle!
I remember that BANGS made waves. Everyone I knew wanted to have  a similar hair cut after that.
Photo Credit here.

When I heard that Anne Hathaway was going to star as Catwoman for Christopher Nolan's Batman series, I had an inkling that she would look very different from the old stereotyped "Catwoman" image that was portrayed in the old Batman series arc. I mean, you would have figured that out just by looking at the Batman suits in Christopher Nolan's version and you would know what I mean! Then Anne's Catwoman costume was finally "released" and a lot of people were surprised and most of the people reacted negatively over it. Check out her costume here:

Futuristic look with those goggles and that awesome looking Bike!

Anne's catwoman stunt double showing off the catwoman costume in full length here.
Sleek lines and pure black leather suit zipped up in front.
Both photos of this came from here. 

Personally, I think that it looks cool! Practially and realistically speaking, if you are a "burglar" as what Catwoman's main role is, you have to be in all black and cover yourself up to avoid having yourself identified right? For me, I like the new look. It jives with the "new" Batman suits. And it looks spectacular on Anne and her stunt double. Plus it just proves that a gal doesn't have to bare it to look sexy. 

Personally, the goggles and the whole look actually reminded me of an anime that I watched before and was shown in a series on AXN/Animax - "Ghost in the Shell". Anime photos were taken from here and here.

So what do you think my dear coffeeholics? Does the new "catwoman" outfit brings "justice" to the iconic Catwoman image? Or does it look too.. boring and blah? Share your thoughts! Mwah!

Back to School Tips - Affordable School Supplies at SM Stationery Section

Back to School Tips

Get Affordable School Supplies at 

SM Department Store Stationery Section

June is just around the corner and I know most of you will be probably flocking to the local school supply or book store. As a teacher, I already started to buy the things I need for my classroom and one of my favorite places to buy my school supplies stuff is at SM Department Store Stationery Section. Throughout the years of teaching and looking for the right stores that could give me the best deals in school supplies and stationery items for my classroom, I have discovered that the Stationery Section of the SM is one of the best sources of the stuff I need. Quality items with affordable prices! This Stationery Section of SM Marikina was really helpful for me to find my stuff.

This year, they promoted this section using a checklist which I think is pretty much awesome! Its really useful especially for those who didn't plan ahead on what to buy. At least with this list, people can tick off what they already have chosen to buy and also be reminded on what they could possibly need.

 Their Cartolina Paper Selection is my favorite! If you are the typcial teacher here in the Philippines, you must definitely be very familiar with the cartolina paper and its importance! Anyway, I use the cartolina mainly for decorations for the bulletin board or for the walls. They usually have colors which is not typically available in other school supplies   stores or book stores. This is where I find my awesome neon colors or pastel colors.

Cartolina Rack!

Bond Paper Choices

Another thing that I love about the stuff here in the SM Department store Stationery Section is their selection of notebooks. I love notebooks! I can't get enough of them. I adore their colorful notebooks because it looks expensive but its actually cheap!

Cute Notebooks!

They even have some stuff for sale! Love it!

Its not on sale BUT it just looks soooo cool that I had to show it off!
Glee items are photo albums and paper bags

Cute notebooks for kids!

What every desk needs - note or memo pads!

Blue Tack - what every teacher needs! I use this to stick my posters on the wall. 

One of my favorite "finds" is this cute little "post it" like of paper! AND its in a coffee theme! I immediately grabbed one. :)

Again its the time to get the best deals as possible and below is a promo where you can save a lot!

If you accumulate a single receipt of Php 1,500 you can get a free planner! And here it is!

So there you have it! Another back to school tip on how to save money by buying affordable school supplies at SM department store stationery section. Hopefully, with this you won't be panic buying anymore! Hope it helped.