Life is Kulayful ...

Sunday, April 7, 2019

March 2019 Recap

The first week of April has gone by and I feel that I am now ready to talk about March. January recap and February recap was such a good thing for me so I want to also do one for March.

Since last month was all about empowering women, I decided to talk about red flags that women need to look out for when they date someone new. I thought that to be truly empowered is to know how to protect yourself from the true monsters of the world.

Another thing that an empowered woman should be able to do is to prepare for the future and so I finally got myself insurance. I know that I'm a little late but as they say, better late than never.

I've also learned to just love myself. I thought that I should share tips to others who read this blog because we all know that there are so few people in this world who actually love themselves and if I could help someone, then this would be all worth it.

I also got introduced to essential oils and I am so happy because I now sleep better, I have more focus when I want to, and it's just been great. The oils have been really great in doing the things that it is supposed to so I am now a firm believer of doTERRA essential oils.

Financially speaking, I'm not in the best position but since I have learned that saving money will only happen if you make it happen, I finally got to save even a little bit.

Other things that I was able to try on for the first time was to ride a 10 seater plane, have a full meal at Antonio's, and also get interviewed for the first time via live stream. I've also tried steak delivery for the first time which was really, really awesome. Rare Food rocks.

However, the best food finds for me last month was Fantastic Chef. Seriously. I'd love to eat there again given the chance.

I also learned to doodle last month which was pretty amazing!!!

View this post on Instagram

Day 2 of learning how to doodle. 🥰 #doodlesbykathykenny #doodle #doodleart

A post shared by Kathy Kenny (宝云) (@mskathykenny) on Mar 5, 2019 at 3:04pm PST

And I also won a kickass microwave last month which was pretty darn good because I rarely attend events now and I rarely win during raffles so this was really an awesome thing.

View this post on Instagram

Juggling so many balls is easy because @lazadaph_style makes shopping for my needs so easy. All I need to do is tap on the app, shop, and it gets delivered to my home asap. #Lazada7Birthday #LazPar7y

A post shared by Kathy Kenny (宝云) (@mskathykenny) on Mar 19, 2019 at 4:00am PDT

March was also the same month that my sister turned 19. It was a low key celebration but as always in our household, what matters is that we are all together.

PS. My Mom and M got to ride Ferrari's for the first time in their lives so that was pretty good too.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Review: Kacoo Tape Dispenser

First off, NOT SPONSORED.

I ordered this washi tape dispenser after I saw another crafter using it. She bought hers from Amazon and when I checked the price, I was like, "nope. No way!"

I did the next best thing and that was to look for an alternative at Lazada and I found Kacoo Tape Dispenser.

I was worried that it wouldn't look like anything the other crafter had but lo and behold, I am pretty pleased with it. I ordered two pieces (I really should have gotten at least 10 because I have so many washi tapes) and this is what it looked like.

I wasn't able to take a photo without the washi tapes because I was too excited to see if it would actually work and it did.

Now what I really love is that you can put one on top of the other and it looks seamless.

It's a stackable washi tape dispenser. OMIGOD.

This one sells for Php221 when I got it. It's originally priced at Php800+ so I'm glad I was able to buy these much lower.

It was very easy to use. I didn't struggle with putting on the washi tapes and by the looks of it, it can easily cut the tape without any problem so that's a good thing as well.

This will make journaling more fun for me since these washi tapes I chose to bring out will be used most often compared to the others. I cannot wait to show you guys my journaling pages soon.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

What's inside my Randoseru?

A lot of people have asked me, what can fit inside my Randoseru? You see, I was lucky enough to score one at a more affordable price due to a Japanese store inside my village so I decided to share with you guys what can actually fit inside my bag.

First, let me give you a quick look at how a randoseru actually looks. It actually looks small compared to the normal backpack and it's very compact.

My biggest fear was getting it scratched.

From the side though, you will realize that as small as it may look, there's a lot of space that it offers.

When you open my bag, you can see that there's a lot of things it can hold. So what's inside?

My randoseru contains my cord holder which has 2 mobile cords, one headet, and a powerbank. It also has my wallet, laptop, laptop charger, tripod, 4 thick notebooks, set of pens, two mobile phones, laptop dongle, hand gel, coin purse, two balms, and a lipstick.

WHEW.

If you're thinking of getting a randoseru, it can cost a pretty hefty price so I suggest thinking about it thoroughly. In our money, the standard randoseru would cost Php24,000. I got mine really cheap which was the only reason I bought one.

Was it worth it? For the price I paid, definitely yes.

Four Reasons to Include Moisturizing in your Skincare Routine

Moisture plays an important role in keeping your skin healthy and glowing. Unfortunately,
not a lot of people understand the need to keep their skin properly hydrated and
moisturized. Good thing, there are moisturizers formulated to provide the necessary
hydration to skin.

To better understand the importance of moisturizer use, here are four of the best
reasons to include it in your skincare regimen.

Keep your skin young-looking

Proper hydration helps prevent the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes.
It also provides solution to dullness and dryness. All thanks to moisturizers that are packed
with anti-aging and skin-firming ingredients, it is easier to retain that plump and youthful
glow.

Helps prevent common skin problems

There are a number of skin problems you can avoid by moisturizing properly. With a good
moisturizer, you can keep your skin balanced and well nourished. Dryness makes your skin
more prone to skin concerns. This is especially true in the face area, where skin is thinner
than most parts of the body, placing it at higher risk of skin cancer. Proper moisturizing also
helps balance oil production, which when left uncontrolled can cause acne.

Controls irritation

Moisturizers also aid in soothing irritation. Most of these products contain ingredients
such as chamomile or aloe that can soothe irritated skin. Most importantly, moisturizers
serve as a layer of protection allergens that can trigger irritation and other skin problems.

Helps skin heal itself

Your skin serves as your body’s first line of defense against elements from the environment.
Naturally, it is subject to different elements ranging from dirt and dust to chemicals and UV
rays. The face, in particular, is one of the most sensitive areas of the skin shedding cells on a
daily basis.

This makes it more susceptible to damage and aging. Moisturizers online helps in the
natural healing process of the skin, boosting its strength and resistance against damaging
elements.

You see, there is more to moisturizers than beautifying your skin. This skincare product is
definitely one thing to include in your skincare routine if you want to keep your skin
healthy, strong, and glowing.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

an Interview with VADTrip

Two weeks ago, I was a guest at The VAD Trip Show. This is a show that aims to help VAs in the Philippines to become more skilled and find out different resources to hone their craft. They also provide options to other freelancers which I think is a great thing.

They asked me to be a guest and I was really honored. Though one of the host is a dear friend of mine, I know that she did not invite me as a guest just because I'm her friend.

I had to laugh when I saw this posted. It was so funny because a lot of people tend to look at my life and they think "oh it's so easy! I want to be a blogger / vlogger too!"

Guess what? It's not easy.

Anyway, since I was going to be on live stream, I thought that I needed to look a little bit better than my normal so I put a bit of make up on. After all, I wasn't just representing my site but also my work, BeLive.

This was me a few minutes before we actually went on air. After this photo was taken, I had a really quick dinner because I realized that I haven't had anything to eat at this time. Thankfully Gather serves dinner even at 9pm and they had fast internet which was perfect for live streaming.

And this was us LIVE.

A few things that I wanted to highlight during this talk are the following:

1. Blogging can be a job but ONLY if you have the passion for it. If you get into blogging because of the "swag" and "free trips" then you are in the wrong field. Blogging is a lot of work. You need to be a photographer, videographer, writer, copywriter, editor, and sometimes your own model to produce a decent blog post.

2. When you are blogging for events and brand launches, there are certain parameters that you need to meet. You can't just go, eat, and pose for photos then forget about it.

3. Find your niche. Niche writing may have a smaller community but it definitely has the strongest as well. I personally don't have a niche because I started way back but my strongest has always been food and life/relationship.

4. When you want this to become a source of income, you need to constantly update yourself and upgrade your skills. Looking back at my old posts, I can definitely see a change in how I write, how I post, and even my photos.

This means you are constantly evolving and that's a good thing.

5. Ignore the bashers and haters. Always remember that you cannot please everybody and that yes, there is always someone better, prettier, skinnnier and what not BUT also remember that THERE IS ONLY ONE YOU and you are amazing.

Here's the link to the video. I hope you guys can watch it. :)

Monday, April 1, 2019

5 doTERRA Esential Oils we use at Home

I've written about my introduction to essential oils before and in the last two weeks, I've been able to test it and see if it truly works. After all, I've always been skeptic of things so I wanted a first hand experience if this was something that is worth buying or if it was just all hype.

Luckily, I was able to get samples of a lot of the essential oils and so for the last two weeks, I've been testing things out.

My Mom loves the rose essential oil. Rose is her favorite flower so this one brings her joy. She also uses it on her face to keep her looking young.

InTune has helped my son prepare for his exams. I would swipe a bit on his temple and the back of his neck to help him stay focus and not easily distracted.

However, these are my ultimate favorite at home.

Lavander has proven so effective for me. I've always had a sleeping problem but lately, since I started using the doTERRA Lavander essential oil, I have been able to sleep within an hour of lying down. It used to take me 2-4 hours before so less than an hour is heaven for me.

I paired this with meditation last night and I was out in less than 18minutes. I know this because the timer for the meditation was 18 minutes and I was asleep before it ended. I AM IMPRESSED.

The Motivate essential oil is what I use in the morning. After I've had my coffee and taken a shower, I put a few drops in water and then burn it for a bit. The scent helps to put my mind on track and stay more focused. It makes me more productive too. On days when I don't do this, I feel more sluggish and out of whack.

I've also used the WILD ORANGE when something bad happened. The neighbor woke me up with loud banging on a Sunday morning. This was before 7am so it was really bad. Then the cat pooped on my bed for no reason so I had a really bad start. I was told to use wild orange because it makes one feel happy and I gave it a try.

Lo and behold, my mood changed and instead of a having a bad day, I ended up having a really relaxed on. Normally I would have been upset the entire day so this was really a welcome change.

doTERRA essential oils really work. I am blown away and I am more than happy with it. I am definitely incorporating this now in my life. I can't wait to learn more about it so that I can also improve the lives of the people around me.

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Review of Fantastic Chef

If you follow me on my social media accounts, you would know that I am a lover of Korean food. I cannot get enough of samgyupsal, bulgogi, and everything else Korean. This is also why I have been on the lookout for the best Korean places that won't break the budget.

After all, Yoree and Biwon are some of the best but the price range is also up there. Since I can't afford to shell out 2k per meal, I had to go look for alternatives that would fill me up yet serve me with quality meat.

Inside my village, Hanayo would be the nearest option but their meat selection is still limited. I wanted more bang for my buck so off I went to search for the best Korean BBQ Buffet in town that will also not break the bank.

ENTER Fantastic Chef.

This place is located along Remedios Circle so it's still easy to get to even if I live in the South. There are also a lot of street parking available so there's no issue with parking. A guard is on standby so you won't have to worry about your valuables.

The place is a little bit cramped but I love that the smoke thing IS SO EFFECTIVE! I've been to Korean restos where smoke is just everywhere and it really affects your experience. Here at Fantastic Chef, the place was small but no smoke escaped. It was a joy to grill and grill.

Now let's talk about what really matters: THE FOOD.

What you can see on the photo above is what your Php549 will get you.

12 kinds of meat.
8 kinds of side dishes.
Rice.

HEAVEN.

The meat selections are skirt meat, jowls meat, rack, seasoned pork neck, pork belly, thin pork belly, cheek, spicy pork bulgogi, seasoned chicken bbq, spicy chicken bbq, beef plate, and seasoned beef plate. UGH. SO GOOD.

Mind you that their meat selection is not cheap. It's real pork and not paper thin pork. The chicken is so good, my Mom had two servings. The beef, sigh. It was really good too.

The side dishes are Japchae, Kimchi, fishcake, pickles, muchim, coleslaw, steamed egg, Bean paste stew and lettuce.

Even my son who can be a picky eater was stuffed full.

I can definitely say that Fantatic Chef is number one on my list for affordable Korean BBQ Buffet. It's bang for buck and you really get your money's worth ... even more if I may say so.

ADDRESS: 1F 590 Remedios Circle, Malate, Manila
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Escape with Zilingo

There are launches and then there are LAUNCHES.

Zilingo hasn't had their official launch yet but I can definitely say that when it does happen, everyone will want to be there. We recently had our Escape with Zilingo Media Launch and they really put out all stops.

We were flown in via a 10 seater plane from Manila to Antonio's Tagaytay.

THANK YOU AIR TAXI

The ride was a little bumpy but thankfully, the pilot of Air Taxi navigated the winds like a pro so we got to our destination safely. As always, Antonio's is such a pleasure to go to. The food, service, and ambiance is simply wonderful.

During lunch, Zilingo as a company was introduced to us. I love that it not only does online selling but also offers other types of support for those who would like to get into e-commerce They can create a clothing line for you or bags and what not, they can help you forecast trends, and they can even fund your business if it fits with their own ideas and culture.

They also cut down the whole crazy process from so many steps to less than 10. They've also ensured that inclusivity is key when it comes to Zilingo so when you shop (and trust me, I've checked them out) you will see models of all forms, race, shape, and size. The plus size model is an actual pus size model so it's easier now to envision what the clothes would look like.

These are the wonderful people behind Zilingo. I love that even with their own Marketing team, they walk the talk and practice inclusivity.

This is me pretending that I am not being blown away by the air coming from the chopper.

Here are some of the brands that are available on Zilingo, some of which are Mango and Prive Revaux.

The Zilingo media launch was what any launch should be. Memorable, informative, and made a lasting impression. It also stayed true to it's branding which is something any brand should aim for.

Ankiti Bose and Dhruv Kapoor

Great job to it's founders Ankiti Bose and Dhruv Kapoor. I look forward to learning more about Zilingo.

Review of Prive Revaux Eyewear

I could never go out in the sun without any form of eyewear to protect my eyes. It's just my thing. I need to have sunglasses on or else, I'd end up squinting so much that it will start to bother me which in turn will irritate me until it reaches the point where everything just makes me mad.

Now during my de-cluttering session, I let go of over 20pcs of eye wear. I decided to keep only 3 and those three are my favorite. They are comfortable and they look good on me.

After I did my whole de-cluttering session, I wanted to make sure that I was able to maintain it. I decided that I will never buy another pair of sunglasses just because they look good or is in style. If I do make a purchase, it has to be a classic, reasonably price, and timeless.

Enter Prive Revaux Eyewear.

Beautifully designed yet affordable, I just had to have a look.

Owned by Patrick Yeo and Ronald Yu, the goal was to come up with a fashionable line that can cater to every outfit but still keep the price affordable. When I first saw the different eyewear they had, my eyes were immediately drawn to these four.

As you can see, I like black sunglasses simply because they can go with anything you have on. You can put on an all white ensemble and it works. You can go 80s and have all colors on you and it still fits. You can be on the beach, in a hotel, or off to vacation and still look great.

However, I understand that there are a lot of other tastes out there and some like them colorful so I also tried on other things.

I've been using these eye wear for over a week now and I have to say that I love it.

It doesn't get in my way. There are no pulling of hair involved when I take it off. In fact, I am able to do the taking off the sunglasses thing that they do in the movies because the frames are smooth and doesn't cause a fuss.

It doesn't leave any marks on my face regardless if I wear it the whole day.

It doesn't slide off my face even if I'm sweating already. It just stays in place.

It is easy to bring because of the compact yet stylish case. It fits perfectly in my bag and because of the style of the case, my eye wear doesn't get jangled up and broken.

MY VERY OWN PRIVE REVAUX

Each of these costs only Php2500 which is a steal compared to other high end brands. Always remember that you don't need to go broke to look good and that's what I love about Prive Revaux.

You can easily reframe yourself so that you always look hot and fresh while still being able to save money.

This frame and THE MONARCH are next on my list of PRIVE REVAUX. Hopefully I'll be able to cop them both soon.

For more details, you can visit them here.

You can buy them at Zilingo.

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