Renewal of Passport as of May 30, 2013

     When you need to renew your passport, go to the DFA website where you can place an appointment through the net and schedule the date and time you will go. Better do it early.
   
     My husband and I had expired passport (our very 1st) and we completed first our requirements before going to the DFA's website to schedule our renewal. We got a schedule more or less 24 days away. I should have made a schedule at their site earlier even before getting some of our requirements. We renewed at DFA located at the 5th floor of SM Manila.

     On the day of the schedule, prepare all the necessary requirements and photocopy it. Make sure you have with you the printout of the schedule Form you got from the DFA website, the one with the barcode and sign it. If you do not have that, you will not be entertained.

     We arrived there at about 11am, 30minutes earlier. We saw that there is already a line forming for the 11:30am schedule. The guard let us in at about 11:20. Proceed to the front table where the personnel will scan the printout Form you got from the website and he will give you a number. You will then enter and sit anywhere in the Processing area. You will need to wait for your number and the window # where you will go to appear in the screen. In the window you need to give them your photocopied documents, your original IDs and documents (mine I showed SSS id, NSO birth certificate, voter's ID, Barangay clearance and NSO marriage contract) and your old passport. The personnel made me remove my eyeglasses to make sure it was me in the photo of my old passport, it was awkward really! Please make sure that they give you back your original documents and the Form with barcode, they will just get the photocopied ones. They will also punch a hole on your old passoprt and will make you sign that you've received it and then they will ask you how much you are going to pay (P950 Regular- 14working days or P1200 expedited-7working days) then issue a receipt to you. After that you may go to the cashier to pay the amount. Then proceed to the Encoding area where your information will be encoded, picture will be taken, left and right thumb mark scanned and your signature taken via a black scanner. I really hate signing on that damn thing, I always have weird looking signature on it. Reminder: You are not allowed to wear fake eyelashes, thick eyeliners and earrings...they will not take a photo of you unless you remove it. After the Encoding, you're all done. Just make sure you have with you your receipt when you go home to be able to claim your passport or you may opt for a delivery service that cost P120. All in all the processing was about 50 minutes for both of us.

Preloved Cosmetics for Sale

Hey there, you might want to buy my preloved ORIGINAL cosmetics. 

Don't worry, some of them are unused while the others  just swiped once  for color testing on my hand/arm.

The product that you see in the photos are the actual product you will get.

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE: 

tokidoki for smashbox (soft lights and brush) Dolce Vita - P 1100

• Smashbox Eye illusion (eye shadow/ highlighter) - P 400

• Smashbox Fusion soft lights (Baked Starburst) Bronzer- P 1000

• Bloom eyeshadow trio palette- Feeling blue? - P 600  
• Smashbox Green Room eye shadow quad with Moringa seed extract in (Blossom) _ P 1000
• Andrea perma-lash (flair medium black) + Andrea perma lash Individual eyelash adhesive - P 500
• Smashbox Dessert chic Lip enhancing gloss in Sand (nude) - P 450
• Smashbox green room hybrid 2 in 1 color a& shine lip gloss with Moringa seed extract (Azalea) - P 450
• Smashbox green room hybrid 2 in 1 color a& shine lip gloss with Moringa seed extract (Pink lily) - P 450
• Model Co. Lip Pencil/ liner in Plum - P 200
• Smashbox green room hybrid 2 in 1 luminizing primer (Photo finish foundation primer & artificial light) - P 1000
• Smashbox double ended brush (angled brow brush & flat eyeliner brush) - P 1000
• Smashbox angled fine eye liner brush - P 1000

• Smashbox brow tech in (brunette) - P 1000

Please click on the link for the AD at Sulit.com.ph:
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER PHOTOS!!

http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/9799581/Unused+and+preloved+makeup+Smashbox+cosmetics

If interested, you may
 text me at 09174804932
Thank you!

TRAVEL TIME: People's Park in the Sky and Picnic Grove in TAGAYTAY

It's summer time here in the Philippines and one of the best places to go to during this season is Tagaytay. A one and a half hour ride from Manila. If you want to take a glimpse of the smallest active volcano in the world, this is the place to go.

My family and I went to Picnic grove and People's Park in the Sky, Tagaytay. It was our first time to go there together. I have been to Tagaytay once but on a retreat.

My 7 year old son was really excited to see the Taal Volcano (the smallest active volcano in the world!).

Early morning, we rode a bus going to Baclaran from Taft avenue. Then from Baclaran, we rode a bus again going to Olivarez and paid P60 each. We went off not at Olivarez but at a tricycle terminal that has a big signage ('Going to Picnic grove and People's Park in the sky') on the left side of the road. I do not know the name of the place but along the road, there were some fruit vendors selling big lankas, pineapples etc. We paid the tricycle driver P140 (4passengers) going to People's park in the sky. I'm sure that the fare is expensive for P140 compared had we rode a jeep from Olivarez, but we enjoyed that tricycle ride.  

Entrance fee in the People's park is P30/ person.

yummy taho! 10 pesos for the small cup

After our stroll in the park and after eating small cup noodles worth P40 each (grabe! so I suggest that you bring food and drinks with you. Water was our only baon.), we went to the Picnic grove and paid P70 tricycle fee for the 4 of us.

Entrance fee in Picnic grove is P50. We were already inside when we decided that we need to eat our early lunch. There are restaurants or eatery inside but all were too pricey for us common people LOL, so we decided to eat outside where there are lots of carinderia along the road. We asked first the guard to make sure if we could still go in if we went out to eat and he said it is ok. But we also made sure we had our ticket with us.
We ate at a carinderia in front of the Picnic grove and paid P170 (5 cups of rice, 2 viands, NO softdrinks...tipid 'no?). After lunch, we went in again.

If you want a much closer shot of the volcano, go to the Picnic Grove.

my 7 yr old son's shot of the volcano from the terrace near the zipline area

There were lots of men or "kuya's" along the way, inside and outside the park asking if we want a P1,500 boat ride going to the volcano or a horseback riding worth P200 for an hour (2 person allowed to ride on 1 horse). We tried the horseback riding for the kids which we availed for P150 for my 2 kids. They just rode the horse for half an hour and did not like anymore because the sun was still scorching hot. They rode at about 2pm but it was still hot. So next time we will do our horseback riding early morning when the sunshine is not that hot to be able to enjoy the whole hour of riding the horse. My son enjoyed the ride (his first time) even though the horse they were riding on always stops to eat grass. I think it was tired and hungry.

We just stayed in the park strolling around and most of the time sat on the benches there where we just enjoyed the view while eating some banana chips, sugar coated peanuts, ice drop, etc. We did not rent any cottage.

While enjoying nature, nature called me, LOL. I needed to you know what! Good thing the comfort room was ok (the one at the Payment area have lots of cubicles!) and water was available in every cubicle because there are hoses for washing.

a 150 peso cottage

this was the place were we spent relaxing, it was under a tree 

We all enjoyed the cool breeze that Tagaytay gave us. 

Next time we will try the trekking on the Taal volcano. 

CUTE NAIL ART: Strawberries

Hi there!

This is the strawberry design that I tried. 

Isn't it nice? 

I am still practicing with nail art.

I love strawberry designs!!!

I used Caronia products here.

It is not perfect but I am really trying and practicing to be better at this.

Thanks for viewing.

EYELASH ENHANCER: Mascara

Good morning!

It's a very hot, hot day today since summer is already here.

Anyways, don't let that be a hurdle for you to be beautiful. 

You're gonna be thinking, it's really hard for us girls here in the Philippines to wear make-up at this type of season because it will just all gonna melt on our faces, LOL!

That's true! hahaha

I would recommend that you wear minimal make-up. Few coats of mascara and few dabs of red lipstick will do. If you have thin eyebrows like mine, then you'll need to brush on some eyebrow powder/ pencil as well.  

For the mascara, I recommend you use a waterproof one so that it will not get washed away by the liters and liters of sweat you produce. lol!

Personally, I use Maybelline hypercurl Volum' Express Waterproof mascara.

It really lasts me the whole day.

love the curve

    The curve helps to lift up and curl my lashes.

without mascara

            

If you want your eyes to come alive, specially when your lashes are straight like mine, then wear mascara. 

You may curl your lashes first with an eyelash curler before applying the mascara.

w/ maybelline hypercurl (didn't use e/lash curler!)

Since it's waterproof, it won't be easy to remove. I suggest you wipe it first with cotton containing few drops of baby oil or if you have a make-up remover then use that instead of the oil before you wash your face.

That's it for now. Have a nice day!

:)

TRAVEL TIME: Baluarte de San Diego Gardens Intramuros

Baluarte de San Diego is located at the back of PLM or Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in Intramuros.

Visitors may enter the garden for a fee of P75.00 for adults and P50.00 for students/child with valid ID

I went there during a function so entrance was free,  lol! We'll let's just say I got invited. 

I suggest you go there as early as 8 am because they won't allow any visitors anymore starting 12 noon if there's a function, usually wedding receptions. 

How to go to Baluarte de San Diego on a budget?

From EDSA...go to Guadalupe (Tulay) Bridge then ride a jeepney with Paco, Taft, Herran signboard. Fare is between P12- P16. Get off at Gen. Luna St. in Paco, Market where there are jeepneys waiting going to Pier. Tell the driver you will be getting off at Round Table. Fare is P8.00.

Entrance

From Quiapo, ride a jeepney with Mabini/ Baclaran signboard then get off at Round Table.

the path going to the Baluarte de San Diego

When you go down at Round Table, you will see the Dept. Of Labor and Employment Building. Go straight along Gen. Luna St. 

But for sure, you will be lucky enough to get off the jeepney with some PLM students, just follow them.

When you see the front or the PLM main gate, you may walk towards the left side and you will not miss it. 

took some snapshots

pretty fountain

Add caption

Too bad, I was not able to go to the upper part of the Baluarte. It is a must see!

I have already seen it before during the 90's but I wanted to have some snapshots of it today.

Well, I'll just visit this place next time.

Thank you for visiting! 'Till next time!

Simple Prom Make-up: products used on hair

As promised, the hair products I used here:

JML Wet Straight Pro Hair Iron for the lovely big curls!

Applied first to damp hair V05 curl up to protect hair from heat before using the iron. It also help enhance the curls more. 

Then set the hair with just a few spritz of hair spray. I used lovely look hairspray. Please use this hairspray minimally as it will make the hair hard and it will really look hard. 

Thanks for viewing!

God bless!

Hair straightening iron: JML Wet Straight Pro

Wet Straight Pro by JML

I always wanted to buy a hair straightening iron but didn't know what brand to buy and I really wanted to buy a cheap one since I didn't have enough money. 

When I went inside an SM store in Cubao, I was looking at their flat irons when the saleslady ask me if I wanted to try the Wet straight pro. I asked her to use it on me as a curling iron since I already have straight hair. 

Sorry for the blurry photo!

I liked the curls that it made on my hair! 

The feature I liked about it is that it has a heat control setting and the lady told me that ceramic iron tends to break when it falls, unlike this one which is titanium plated.  

It is priced at P 2,549.75. I bought it with my eyes closed! LOL! It was too pricey for me but hey, I need to invest with some hair tools because I could use it for doing hair and make-up home service. 

Here are the features...

It also has a 2m salon length swivel power lead. 

The base of the cord rotates to prevent the cord from getting tangled or twisted. 

What I also liked about this is that it has these lines that could hold some pieces of hair while you curl it.

It has some holes that helps the water escape as they evaporate from your hair when you use it on wet/ damp hair.

It already comes with a bag so no need to buy one if you want to bring it with you on your travels.

When I went home with the product, I realized, we don't have a socket on our walls for this type.

Good thing my hubby found this one at home. I didn't know we have one :P

I used it on my daughter's unruly hair when I got home and it made her hair silky, straight and shiny instantly! 

This is what I did not like about Wet Straight Pro, the on/off button and the temperature button. 

It's an easy push button... SO EASY that I always hit on them whenever I use it, so sometimes I accidentally turn it off or increase the temperature.

So, would you invest on this one too?

CUTE NAIL ART: French tip w/ white flowers

How to do a French tip? 

If you're not a professional and just want a do it yourself french tip, here's a trick...

Stick on small pieces of tape on your nails. 

Just leave the part uncovered where you want to make a clean white tip. 

Do it on all nails. Two coats of white polish will do. 

Let it dry first then, peel/ remove the tape. 

After removing, apply a clear nail polish on the nails to protect the white tip that you've made.

I just added some cute white flowers with leaves. 

So nice!!! : )

Hope you try it. Good luck!

God bless!

CUTE NAIL ART: Tree

I love my cute nail art... a tree. 

I only tried this on one fingernail on my left hand and did not continue since i know I will have a hard time recreating this on my right hand because I am right handed. My left hand is very unsteady. ha ha ha!

After seeing what I've created, I feel a poem coming...

Let's all recite this lovely poem by Joyce Kilmer...

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree...

Let us save our trees!!!

God Bless!

Pageant make-up

I did a make-up for a pageant.

 I think it was two years ago and I just want to share it with you all.

Here it is...

Some of the brands I used were Young Blood loose foundation, Bloom for her eye shadow and Smashbox cosmetics for her cheeks and lips.

My model is sooo beautiful, inside and out!

It was really a pleasure of mine to be her make-up artist on that day.

She won the pageant!

God bless!