Iloilo Coffee Series

As you all know, I am addicted to coffee so one of the things that I set out to do is visit different coffee shops here in Iloilo. Thankfully, I was able to visit not just one but FOUR coffee shops in a span of one day. Yes, I do not have blood in my system. I have coffee instead.

First stop was Tricky's Coffee and Treats located at F&B #4, Qualimed Building, Donato Pison Ave, Barangay. San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo. It is very modern but I liked this one nook where it states eat, drink, be merry. I had the Iced Cafe Latte.

Coffee wasn't anything special but it wasn't bad either. For less than 100, this was a good deal for me already.

Next stop for me was San Jose Cafe which was right beside the first coffee shop. I had the Mint Pistacchio Frappe this time and I gotta say that for Php120, this one was the bomb.

Third stop was at Madge Cafe which has been around since 1940. This means that this place has been existing for 77 years. OMIGOD. It's pretty long for a coffee shop.

The first thing you would notice is the chandelier made of coffee cups. They also have a wall made of coffee mugs with names of the regular. It seems that if you are a regular customer, they give you a mug with your name on it to use when you get your coffee fix. Awesome right?

I had the media kape which is mild coffee. What makes Madge Cafe stand out is the way they brew their coffee the natural way. I don't know what that means but I would have to say that the coffee has a distinctly different taste.

Last coffee shop for the day was the one beneath our hotel called Coffee Break. I had the Caramel Macchiato and I gotta say that this one was spot on. It only costs Php80 too.

Of course, coffee is best spent with friends. Thank you so much Patty of www.pattyvillegas.com for being with me on this trip.

Thank you so much Iloilo for being so wonderful. I hope to visit you again.

PS. All shots are RAW and taken using the Zenfone 3 Zoom and Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro.

Iloilo: City of Love through the eyes of the Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro

Iloilo is a city with an old soul that is slowly learning to love the modern times while still being able to maintain it's old charms. Luckily, I was able to see a few sights on my first day here in Iloilo and what a sight they truly are.

Iloilo is known as the city of love simply because they have some of the most mild mannered people in the country. As the saying goes, a woman who hails from Iloilo never ever gets mad. She just gets even. True to their word, I was not able to encounter a single woman from Iloilo on my first day that was temperamental.

Iloilo is the place to visit if you are into mobile photography. I was able to put my mobile phone to good use on my photowalk today. Here are some of the snaps that I was able to take from the moment I landed at the airport till I went around the city. These are raw shots taken using the Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro.

I was also able to take photos of an old belfry even with traffic happening all around it coz of the zoom capabilities of the Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro. I was also able to find an angle to show off part of the Sta. Ana Church which is currently surrounded by scaffolding.

Belfry

Sta. Ana Church

As you can see, even when zoomed, details are not lost and it still looks very clear. Now here's a selfie to commemorate my visit.

Afterwards, I had the chance to try the Pansit Molo which everyone has been raving about. I honestly didn't understand why initially but after having tried the Pansit Molo in Molo, Iloilo, I now know why they had a dish named after them. This was also paired with tsokolate de batirol and biscocho.

This is molo unlike any other. The taste is just amazing and it will bring you back to time of comfort, old blankets wrapped around you, and your mother's bossom. It tasted like home. Truthfully, I had two bowls because one of our companions doesn't eat meat and so I gladly took the bowl away from her.

We also got to visit the Museo Iloilo where two pieces stood out to me.

This was the first piece. It was so significant because I have been backstabbed so many times in the past. The most hurtful of which are the ones to whom I have given my whole trust, love, care, and concern only to have them stab me in the back.

It makes you think: how many times have you been stabbed in the back? How many knives are currently behind you?

The other one is this really simple frame that is broken and has a picture of a family. This represents a big percentage of our society nowadays because people tend to give up more easily nowadays. It's sad but it's true. People have become too good at saying goodbye and too easy in letting things go.

PS. I have been told to never leave Iloilo without getting these so I got 10 packs. I trust my friends that much. Apparently, this is the best brand for butterscotch squares. 

You can also try on a headdress when you land at the airport and after claiming your baggage. Take note that this is quite heavy.

Lastly, stay at Days Hotel. It's comfy, clean, and not too expensive. It also happens to be at the heart of the city. This is our room. It's pretty standard and comfortable HOWEVER frontdesk service sucks and this is the only hotel that I have been to that CHARGES you for requesting for extra toiletries. UGH.

Thank you Iloilo for the warm welcome. I'm glad I was able to visit you.


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3 Affordable Home Must-Haves from Takatack.com

A lot of people want to have amazing things in their homes, while others just think of the necessities. However, there are some who prefers to have it both ways. In this article, we will show you 3 affordable necessities that are amazing and worth every centavo you spend on it, which isn’t a lot!

1) Wooden Alarm Clock

Admit it, it looks gorgeous, sophisticated, and minimalistic. Its simple design can attract anyone. It’s both a decoration and a must in your home. Also, your alarms may not be as annoying or as dreading when you have a beautiful alarm clock. So the next time you think about your alarm clock that annoys everything out of you, consider getting this. It’s cheap, it’s beautiful, and it serves its purpose of starting your day. Also, it’s a speaker with amazing quality and an FM radio. It only retails for Php3,499.00 and if you think about it, you get three different things that comes in one handy package.

2) LED Shower Head

According to its distributors, the changing colors of the shower head is good for relaxing  whoever uses it. The lights change to different colors (red, blue, green) with the help of the pressure of the water coming from it. It doesn’t need batteries or electricity, all it needs is pressure of water. And come on, it’s cool. Not everyone has shower heads that light up. Plus, it’s only Php599.00 so don’t feel so bad buying it.

3) Battery-operated Sewing Machine

Okay, so it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as the first two, but every home needs a sewing machine for repairs of torn clothes, towels, linens, and all things needed to be stitched. This battery operated sewing machine is portable, meaning you can bring it to trips just in case! It’s really easy to use so you don’t have to worry about operating it. For the price of Php595.00, you have already have a sewing machine. It’s a good deal, isn’t it?

            Whether you need appliances, kitchen tools, or simple home decors, Takatack.com has something for you. They offer Cash on Delivery so you won’t have to worry about being ripped off. 

MsKathyKenny Loves Gift Ideas (500 and below)

So here we are back with another round of MsKathyKenny loves and since Christmas is less than 40 days away (oh the horror when you still have not wrapped a single gift) here are some gift ideas from yours truly. Do not fret. These won't break the budget. Everything here costs less than Php500.

1. PILI essential oils (Php339.75 each)

Essential oils have now become all the rage and what's good about it is that aside from being useful, it really does make a difference in your life. Suddenly, your cold is not as bothersome as it was and minor headaches can be treated without drinking medicines. You can also breathe easier or sleep better with these essential oils. While some may be quite expensive, these ones from PILI won't break the bank. You can get this from ECHOSTORE and Lazada.

2. Gemz Lip Balm 

These really cute lip balms are not just adorable to carry around but also useful. I personally love the color and the shape. It has also lessened the chappiness of my lips because I'm one of those cursed with chapped lips and yawning can be quite painful. I actually gave one to my sister who is very picky about her lip balms but she loved this.

Gemz Lip balm is imported and exclusively distributed by Bellus Life Solutions Inc.  You may order online via their Facebook and Instagram accounts.  Call 0925-8250225 for inquiries.

3. Botanicals in Bloom Facial Mist 

I used to think that facial mists were just a thing that rich people use. After all, it normally comes with a really expensive price tag. However, it was when I was introduced to Botanicals in Bloom Rose Hydrosol Facial Mist that I learned facial mists need not be expensive. This one costs only Php250 and it smells so good. It also helps moisturize my skin and even sets make up. This is definitely worth buying for yourself and as a gift to friends. Here is their FB page. 

4. Vice Ganda Lipsticks 

Admittedly, I had apprehensions about this when I first bought it via Lazada but after trying it out for a week, these Vice Ganda lipsticks are really great dupes for the more expensive lippies out there. Smooth, creamy, and lasts for hours even when you eat. SULIT! It's less than Php300 and definitely a steal. 

This is just part 1 of my holiday gift ideas. Let me know which ones you liked! Tweet me @mskathykenny and follow me too! :) 

Disney PIXAR's COCO reminds you to celebrate Life (SPOILER FREE)

When I initially saw the trailer for Coco, I thought it would be just another cool Disney PIXAR movie that I must watch. After all, Disney PIXAR has never failed when it comes to movies. Never did I thought that it would touch my heart, make me reevaluate life, and shed tears.

Coco starts off with the story of a boy who is the odd one out in their family. The one thing forbidden is the one thing tha tmakes his heart flutter and drive his entire being. In the midst of this battle between family and passion, he will learn what it truly means to be part of a family and find out why knowing your past matters.

Coco also talks about life after death and why we need to remember our love ones who have passed away ... why telling their stories matter and how the living can learn from the mistakes of the dead. It makes you reevaluate your life and ask the question, "when I die, will I be easily forgotten? What will be remembered of me?" It will also make you rethink if you have given enough honor and remembrance to love ones who have passed away.

Coco is not just another PIXAR movie. This is a movie that will touch your heart, make you think, and will have you rushing home to hug your family and tell them you love them. I definitely recommend making this a part of your bonding moment with family and even friends.

If you have ever lost someone, know someone who is sick that matters to you, or just plain don't want to lose anyone in your life, watch Coco. It will remind you of what truly matters in life and why you need to celebrate life. Coco will be out in theatres on November 22, 2017 so make sure to save the date.

Kapag Nakita Mo na Sya by Maimai Cantillano

Kapag nakita mo na siya Wag kang magtaka kung di ka kaagad niya makilala. Kung ano ung naramdaman mong kilig, Baka yun naman ang naramdaman niyang inis. Kung pano mo siya titigan, Baka ganon ka lang din niya lagpasan, baliwalain, at di pansinin. Kung gaano kabilis ang tibok ng puso mo nung makita mo siya, Baka ganon din kabilis ang pag alis niya. At sigurado ako itataboy ka niya palayo Kapag nangyari yun, wag mo sanang isiping wala ng pag asa Siguro, sanay na lang din talaga siyang mag isa At sa hinaba haba ng panahon ng pag iisa niya Iniisip niyang hindi na niya kailangan ng iba Nang isang katulad mo, na maaaring magdala sa kanya sa ibang mundo Marahil ganyan ang turo sa kanya ng buhay at pag ibig Nang damhin ang lahat ng sakit Ang tanggapin ang anumang ibato ng buhay Ang palayain ang lahat ng emosyon hanggang sa wala na siyang muling maramdaman pa Kayat kapag nakita mo na siya Hindi na siya naniniwala sa paghiling sa mga bulalakaw Hindi na siya namamangha sa mahika ng buwan at mga bituin Basta kung ano mang pwersa ng uniberso na maaaring magtulak  sakanya patungo sayo Di na siya naniniwala Sa anumang salita na nilikha  ng pag ibig Hindi na siya naniniwala sa pag ibig Kapag nakita mo na siya Baka ang tanging papel na lamang ng puso niya ay ang panatilihin siyang buhay Baka tumitibok na lamang ito upang padaluyon ang dugo sa katawan niya Dahil kapag nakita mo na siya Hindi na niya alam ang pakiramdam ng magmahal at ng mahalin Ng arugain at yakapin Ngunit wag kang mag alala Dahil mukha lang naman ng pag ibig ang nakalimutan niya At ipaalala mo ito sa kanya Wag kang magsasawang ipaalala sa kanya kung gaano siya kaganda Wag kang titigil sabihin sa kanyang mahal mo siya Ngayon sa bawat pag banggit mo sa salitang mahal kita Ay pait at sakit ang naalala niya Wag kang titigil na sabihin ito sa kanya Hanggang sa maalala niya na sa likod ng bawat pait, ay may tamis Sa likod ng bawat sakit ay may ligayang dulot ng mga salitang mahal kita At kung saktan ka man ng mga salita niya Gantihan mo ito ng yakap Kung magpumiglas siya hatakin mo siya pabalik at yakapin ulit Kung paulit ulit siyang umalis Paulit ulit mo rin siyang habulin Kung paulit ulit siyang bumitaw Paulit ulit mo rin siyang hawakan Pakiusap Wag na wag mo siyang bibitawan Wag na wag mo siyang pakakawalan Ipaalala mo sakanya Na minsan rin siyang naniwala sa paghiling sa mga bulalakaw Na minsan rin siyang namangha sa mahika ng buwan at mga bituin Na minsan rin siyang naniwala sa mga salitang nilikha ng pag ibig Na minsan rin siyang naniwala sa pag ibig Ipakita mo sakanya ang bagong mukha ng pag ibig Pakiusap Wag na wag mo siyang susukuan Hanggang sa maisip niya Na ang pag iisa ay mayroon ding hangganan

to my so-called destiny

It's funny how months ago, the thought of you being my destiny would have sent my heart fluttering. To you I was just a friend but to me, you have always been more than a friend. I tried my hardest to not feel anything more than friendship but as they say, the heart wants what it wants and this heart wanted you.

October 31, 2017 ... this was the day I fully turned my back on you. I never knew it could happen but it did. I thought I could put up with anything that you threw at me but then again, I never thought you could betray me that way or disrespect me that much.

It was too much.

I felt that there was no friendship anymore so I turned my back. After all, you can't really quit something that is no longer there. Your actions confirmed my worst nightmare about us. There was no us ... no more friendship ... no respect ... absolutely nothing.

You broke my heart again. You made me hesitate now in helping others. You have left a mark so big that it will take a while to get rid of it. You hurt me more than any friend ever has. You didn't just crack this friendship. You blew it to smithereens that any chance of patching it is nil. You made sure of that. Boy did you make sure that we will never ever be friends again.

However, you did not break me. I refuse to be broken, especially by someone like you.

Bumping into you on your birthday was crazy. I didn't think you'd be there coz you hated that PR group and it was your birthday but there you were, in all your glory. In a way it was good to see you coz I've confirmed that you absolutely no longer matter. My initial reaction to seeing you was to unsee you. You were like Casper. I saw right through you.

Some people said that it was fate coz it just had to be on your birthday. I call it a mild inconvenience for that is what you have become to me now. A mild inconvenience that I need to tolerate at times. Some people said that it was the Universe's way of making sure that our paths meet. I call BS on it.

You and I ... we will never be together. I can't even imagine being friends with you, much less having you as my "so-called destiny." It would take a miracle to bring things back and one thing that I know is miracles do not exist. So to you, my so-called destiny, not that you'd ever read this, I wanna say:

Thank you for passing by and showing me what I will never put up with again from a guy. You have taught me a valuable lesson and showed me what I want in a man and that is defnitely not you. You are still a boy with the maturity of a 10 year old child. I wish you would learn your lessons soon enough and that you grow up and mature but I also pray that our paths will never cross again. I deserve far better than you and you don't deserve me and all that I have to give. You are one destination I never wanna reach and one destiny that I can do without ever meeting again.

Goodbye old friend ... I was right. You and I, we are not good for each other. We should have ended things back in Cebu then we wouldn't have gone through so much pain from each other.

You were wrong. You said we'll always have "sipa" and that no matter how bad an argument gets, we can go there, sit down, and eat sipa then things will be okay. We never had sipa coz we never had something real. If our friendship was real, you would never have let it end the way it did.

I tried to save it but you ended it with a bang. Goodbye old friend. I hope we never meet again.

what I once meant to you ....

I was once someone you used to forget her. She was your first love and you lost her so you turned to me in the hopes that you could forget about the girl who broke your heart not realizing that I was going to be the girl whose heart you broke.

I was once the girl whose heart your best friend broke and the reason you ended your friendship with him for you fell in love with me. I was the girl who got in between you and your friend. I didn't realize that you would be the guy who would get in between my friendship with my own best friend.

I was once the KAT that got your tongue. I could make you laugh in a heartbeat and I could drive you crazy in just a snap. I was the Juliet to your Romeo and you wanted nothing more than to marry me. Sadly, I did not want that from you.

I was once the IT girl in the office, the one that you needed to have just to prove a point that you were that guy ... the one who gets the "IT girl." You never loved me for you only saw an illusion and mistook it for a real person. When you realized I was real and alive, you tried to make me dead.

I was once the girl in a coffee shop ... the one you gathered all your courage to meet. I was the girl you couldn't believe was yours. You never thought it would happen and when it did, you became overwhelmed and felt that you were not good enough. To feel better, you seeked comfort in the arms of others.

I was once the perfect one. You and your family thought that I had it all. When I finally made mistakes, you couldn't accept it and threw me out like a piece of trash. I didn't meet your standards and so off I went.

I was once someone you were grateful to have met. You looked up to me until you learned to look down on me. You used to value my words until you wouldn't even listen to what I have to say. You were grateful to have me in you life until you started regretting my existence.

Everything started out good until it wasn't. I wonder ... at the end of it all ... did you ever remember what I once meant to you or did you completely forgot who I was at the beginning? I wonder ... do you ever say to yourself ...

She used to be special ... she used to mean a lot.

Perfectly Matte Avon Lipstick

It used to be that the trend was all about gloss. The more gloss you have on your lips, the better. The shinier your lips were, the more fabulous you were. However, what wasn't fabulous nor good was the stickiness of the gloss when you kissed someone, drank something, or eat your food. After all, no one likes anything sticky on their lips, glasses, or food.

Matte lipsticks to the rescue.

Matte lipsticks have now become the rage because women are too busy to keep swiping a new layer on their lips after every coffee drink, snacks, or make out session. With matte lipstick, instead of having to retouch every few hours, sometimes, you just need to do it once in a day.

Avon understands this and has come up with #PerfectlyMATTE lipsticks because that is #AllThatMATTErs.

Avon has come up with 20 beautiful shades which ensures that all skin colors and lips will have their perfect match. From Wild Cherry, Superb Wine, Hot Plum, Red Supreme, Coral Fever, Vibrant Melon, Ruby Kiss, Mauve Matters, SplendidlyF Fuschia, Pure Pink, Electric Pink, Adoring Love, Pink Passion, Rouged Perfection, Pink Truffle, Blush, Peach Flatters, Au Naturale, Tempting Mauve, and Rose Awakening, it's easy to go from Girl Next Door to Hot Vixen.

The ones above are my favorite. It just looks more natural for me with the neutral tone. The pink shades give off a feminine vibe as well which is something that I have learned looks good on my face.

A few things to remember when wearing Matte lipstick though is that you need to exfoliate often. Where creamy lipstick and gloss are forgiving, matte lipsticks will highlight every single dry part of your lips which then would not look good in photos.

Matte lipsticks tend to have stronger staying power than glossier shades when you eat. However, oily foods can cause matte lipsticks to flake away and reapplication can be extra difficult. It s recommended that you use lip liner on your matte lipstick.

Also, always remember this: A bright red matte lipstick is the perfect, easy way to achieve a retro 50s pinup look that never seems to go out of style. Even Taylor Swift swears by this.

MsKathyKenny Loves Mobile Apps

One of the things people have asked me is what apps would I recommend having on their mobile phone. I don't know why they seem to think that I know what to recommend since every single person has a different need and way of living so what I will do is to tell you what apps I actually use and find useful as some sort of a life hack. Hopefully, you get to look and say, "oh! I can use that!"

Universal Book Reader 

This is something that I really have on my phone and something that I use. I have over 5,000 ebooks and this reads everything from .mobi .epub .pdf without any problems. It also sorts the files based on title, author, or recently added. 

Google Keep 

This is something that was introduced to me this year. It has become a staple because now, I get to have a notepad, reminder, to do list in one go. What makes it better is that everything gets transferred so long as I am logged in on my google account. If you love writing things down, listing things, or just plain using post its, this is the digital version of all those three rolled into one. 

Spotify 

This may already be on everyone's list but I felt it deserved a spot here. After all, people who know me know that I can never live without music. I almost always have a headset on and I am almost always listening to music or singing along. Spotify has become my go to place when I want to hear about a new song rather than YouTube. In fact, I find that I get so surprised when the song is not yet on Spotify. 

Google Calendar 

For someone like me who has meetings and events left and right, this has become my savior. I put every single appointment I have here and this is how I keep track of where I'm supposed to be at any given time and place. 

Netflix / iFlix 

Netflix is something that I use when I want to be updated with foreign TV shoews while iFlix lets me keep in touch with my Filipino roots because they have a really good line up of Filipino movies and TV series. It's also a great stress reliever.

So there you go. These are the mobile apps that I cannot live without. This list does not include the social media apps which are kind of a basic need nowadays. If you look at my list, you'd realize that I like organizing things and destressing. I guess in my line of work, it has become a must.