Life is Kulayful ...

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Everything you need to know about Starbucks 2020 Launch

When planner season comes in, people tend to go a wee bit crazy in drinking up that 18 beverage requirement Starbucks has to get your hands on those 2020 Philippines Starbucks Planner.

However, there is so much more to the planners that you can be excited about when November 2 hits. Here's a quick rundown of things you can look forward to this 2020 Christmas Season.

THE BEARISTAS

I personally wanted to cry because I know that I will be saving up really hard to get these 4 bearistas. The first pair which will be available in December in time for the 22nd anniversary of Starbucks are adorned in the traditional Singkil outfit which hails all the way from Mindanao. Don't they look gorgeous?

The next pair is Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus bearista version. I think that they are also pretty adorable and a must have if you are collecting Starbucks Bearistas.

THE CARDS

There are several cards that will make the collectors of Starbucks cards really happy. First, they have now switched from plastic to PAPER CARDS.

They will also be releasing 2020 Holiday Heritage Edition which I can't wait to get my hands on.

They will also release their annual New Year Card.

And finally, here are the 3 new Holiday Cards. All of these are available for activation of Php300. These three cards will be available starting November 2.

THE DRINKS

This year, Peppermint Mocha and Toffee Nut will be back. Thank God for that. Now since Starbucks is feeling a bit extra, there will be not one but TWO more additional drinks.

This is the Starbucks Wishing Star Dark Mocha and below is the Holiday French Vanilla Latte. Personally, I'm really excited to try this drink out because I love Vanilla Latte.

THE MERCHANDISE

Here's a sneak peek at what will be available for this year.

Here's what I plan to have when everything hits.

This double-walled siren tail is a definite must-have!!! From what I know, there will be only 1,000 pieces of this sold so I gotta make sure that I get my hands on it asap.

Here's moi being so happy to be reunited soon with the red cup.

My swag from today.

What are you most excited about?

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Aice Ice Cream

I kept seeing photos of this ice cream brand popping on my feed. It's called Aice and based on the little that I know, it comes from Singapore but was distributed in Indonesia.

I finally chanced upon it when I went for a stroll inside our village. I was lucky enough to buy 11 flavors and really try all of it, one by one.

Here's my verdict on each one.

The Semangka or watermelon is very refreshing. It reminds me of the popsicle sticks that I've had when I was younger. The Milk Melon can definitely give Melona a run for their money and at the price that it's being sold, Melona must be shaking now.

The Mango is really good and actually tastes like one. I couldn't wait for my Mom to taste it because she's a big fan of mangoes. I honestly think she will love this. A lot of people like the corn flavor and have been raving about it but I personally did not like the sweet corn flavor. I don't know. It just didn't taste good for me. M is a big fan of mochi on the other hand. He really, really liked it.

The Chocolate is so-so. There's nothing special about it. The Coffee Crispy will kick you in the face. It's coffee literally turned into ice cream. The Nanas or pineapple reminds me of the Watermelon and gives you that 80s popsicle vibe.

The Chocolate Crispy is probably one of the best in this series though. IT IS SO GOOD. It is the poor man's version of Magnum. The Strawberry Crispy is equally good. My son ate all 2 sticks and still wanted more. Know that he is not a fan of sweet things and normally gets tired of ice cream after a small serving. As for the Milk, it's pretty good but not amazing.

Here's the price for the different Aice Ice Cream. It's not available in all supermarkets. This one, I found in a nearby neighborhood convenience store.

2020 Philippine Starbucks Planner

VIDEO

It's that time of the year again where the consumption of coffee goes on overdrive! People decide to meet at Starbucks and all after reunion coffee is held here in the hopes of getting the much-coveted Starbucks stickers.

I'm guilty of it. So are a lot of people so without further ado, here is what the 2020 Philippine Starbucks Planner looks like.

For the 2nd year in a row, they have a travel organizer that you can choose if you're not into the planner. This year's design may just be the best yet.

Personally, I love the vibrant shade of the Berry Pink planner and the Neo Mint travel organizer. I can totally see myself lugging it around and using it. I feel like it would add a fresh vibe to a mundane day.

My brothers both love the Neo Mint travel organizer as well so I guess I'm gonna have to drink 36 cups of coffee to get them these organizers.

The Starbucks daily planners come in two colors: Berry Pink and Frost Gray. Both are done in hardbound leather with an elastic band.

Berry Pink cover shows an embossed Siren face with a gold crown while Frost Gray features the Siren tail holding up a golden coffee cup.

Inside, the layout is simple and clean, highlighted by colorful illustrations with coffee information serving as monthly dividers.

The Starbucks Travel Organizer comes as a wrap case with multiple card slots, pockets and pen holder. It comes in fresh Neo Mint and classic Coffee colors, with a stripe elastic closure accent.

The accompanying mini notebook has three-page formats: plain for doodling and notes, grid and dotted grid for bullet journaling.

Other add-ons for both the planners and organizers: a bookmark, green and gold sticker sheet, monthly tear-off vouchers and a gift box.

Cole said that all the minimalist covers are done in eco-leather from “preconsumer recycled cowhide fibers bonded by natural latex—a renewable resource tapped from Hevea rubber trees.” The materials are sourced from leather factories in Valencia, Spain, an area known for leather tanning.

The pages, meanwhile, are produced in a green facility certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Get 18 stickers by buying any Tall, Grande or Venti drink and fill out a promo card to redeem a planner or organizer; e-stickers on the Starbucks Philippines app are also honored. The sticker collection tradition will start on Nov. 2, 2019, while claiming would be until Jan. 7, 2020.

Visit www.starbucks.ph; www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines; follow @starbucksph on Instagram, #MerryCoffeePH #AreYouReadyForThis

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Wednesday, October 23, 2019

doTERRA’s Clearify Essential Oil

Last night, I had a really stuffy nose. I couldn't breathe properly and I had the worse headache. At 8pm, I was very sleepy but was having a hard time breathing.

I decided to use Clearify to help me breathe more properly and hopefully clean my nasal passageway. Clearify contains Litsea Oil, Tangerine Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Frankincense Oil, and Cardamom Oil which when combined, gives off a really aromatic scent.

Eventhough I had stuffy nose and couldn't smell anything, I was able to smell Clearify and it really made me feel better. I actually fell asleep right after and was out for about 5 hours straight.

doTERRA’s Clearify is an aromatic blend of essential oils for an invigorating and refreshing aroma. Clearify includes Litsea essential oil which is a fresh stimulating aroma. Clearify also includes Tangerine and Grapefruit essential oils known to be uplifting to the senses, and Frankincense whose aroma promotes feelings of relaxation. Cardamom essential oil has a warming, spicy aroma. Clearify is ideal to be diffused in the home or workplace.

I woke up feeling better and with a not so stuffy nose. It seems this thing actually works which makes me really, really happy.

Since I am 5 months pregnant, I'm not able to drink any medicine which is why I thought of Clearify. M proceeded to put some oils in our diffuser and it really worked wonders. It has now become one of my go-to oils.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Review of Tablo Kitchen X Cafe

I first noticed Tablo when we passed by it one afternoon. The place lookeda bit fancy and my first thought was "we need to give this place a try." It took a few weeks but last Saturday night, we finally trooped over and had dinner at Tablo.

The place looks cozy and homey. I loved that even with a container like walls, the wood and plants managed to give it a homey feel.

This is the menu. They are still on soft opening and have plans of changing the menu but for now, this is what they have to offer.

We ordered the nachos which were really good but for me, felt a bit lacking in terms of proportion. If they added 1/4 more, then it would be perfect for the price.

The calamari comes with chips. My Mom didn't like the calamari but it was pretty good for me. Maybe they just need to cook it for 30 seconds more and then it will be perfect.

I had the pan fried chicken and this was one A+ for me. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly. The skin was crispy and the meat was not bland.

This braised beef stir fry was a combination of good and bad. The sauce was really good but the beef was a little hard to chew. If they can cook it a bit longer to soften the meat, this would be really good.

The cream cheese wedges were absolutely perfect. It's something that I know I could finish in one sitting but had to not finish because I'd gain so much weight and have a hard time giving birth.

Overall, food wise we were not super impressed but it was good enough that we'd go back and try the other dishes. My Mom is also pretty curious about the cafe part and the bar.

Yes, they have a "hidden" speakeasy that I'm sure M and K would love to try.

I think this place is worth a try. Ambiance is great, interiors are really nice, and the food is passable though not impressive.

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Lifestyle Review of Garmin Venu

Last week, I was lucky enough to win a Garmin Venu. I felt happy about it though I was also feeling apprehensive. You see, I've never been friends with a smartwatch and the few that I tried in the past never lasted more than a day with me.

I would either not understand how to make it work, it just wouldn't work, or it bothered me to no end with the incessant notification and having to charge it almost every night.

I am older now and have more patience so I said to myself that I will give the Garmin Venu a try and not hand it over to my sibling. I've been using it for several days now and here's a quick lifestyle review of the Garmin Venu.

First of all, this is the easiest smartwatch that I have ever handled. It was so easy to follow the instructions and connect. I didn't have to go through so many steps to get things done and when I need to add a certain function, the Connect App makes it really easy to do so.

It was easy for me to choose which functions I wanted to be given a daily report on. It was easy for me to get rid of the ones that I did not want. Most of all, it was easy for me to change the face of my watch which was really nice because I'm kooky that way.

I didn't like though that I can't seem to uninstall Spotify from it.

Next, I like that it keeps track of my steps, how many flights of stairs, the number of glasses of water I've taken, and most importantly, hours of sleep I had. It makes me more conscious of how I'm taking care of myself or not taking care of myself.

As you can see, it show my heart rate from lowest to highest, depending on your level of stress.

It also monitors your stress level which is very important because it makes you aware when you need to settle down and take a deep breath.

The sleep tracker is another good thing as well. Now, you can't lie and say you had a long sleep when you only slept for 4-5 hours.

It also gives you a really good recap of how yesterday was so you can make a decision to either slow down or amp up in the present.

Battery life is also great because it takes about 4- 5 days before we even hit 20% and I get notifications from my work email, my work chat, Slack, Facebook Messenger, calls, Gmail, and text messages. I've limited it to these because I feel that these are the ones that I really need to be notified of.

It's water-resistant. I was really scared to shower while wearing it. Images of being electrocuted kept popping in my head (I know, I'm stilla bit of a drama queen) but I did it anyway and I'm still alive. It didn't die and is still working. I think the only downside for me is that when I dry off, a bit of water gets stuck between my skin and the watch so I still take it off to wipe off that small spot because it bothers me.

I do like that I am able to see the time while I'm bathing especially when I'm in a hurry and I get to monitor everything even when my phone is in another room.

Since I started using Garmin Venu, I have:

1. become more conscious of the steps I take
2. become more conscious of my sleep
3. become more conscious of my stress level
4. not missed a call because my watch vibrates when I have a call so even if I don't have my phone with me, I still know that there's an incoming call.
5. not missed a text message or a Facebook Messenger
6. fallen in love with smartwatches

So there's. This is my really simple review of the Garmin Venu. It's simple because I am not a tech blogger but even if I am not a tech blogger, I know a good product worthy of investment when I see one and the Garmin Venu is one such product. Believe me you.

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Monday, October 21, 2019

Steps in Securing a Personal Receipt from the BIR

I finally decided to jump the gun and get a receipt for my freelance gig. You see, I've never really taken it seriously till now so I decided to make everything all legal.

I did dread processing things because we all know how unreliable and toxic government offices are. I decided to document my entire journey to hopefully help someone else who will go through the process.

Step 1.

Check your RDO and have it moved to your home location.

This is where you originally had your TIN number set up. If you only got your TIN because of work, most likely your RDO will be in the area where your office is located. This would be a problem if you live in another city like I do.

My first work was in Eastwood and I live in Las Pinas. Thankfully, a few years ago, I had my RDO moved to Makati because I worked in Makati. However, I still live in Las Pinas so I had to request that my RDO be moved to Las Pinas which takes 5 business days.

This took me half a day to process and then I still had to wait 5 business days.

Step 2:

Go to city hall and pay for your OTR.

I can't remember what OTR (Php200) stands for but it took me less than a minute. Hallelujah!

Look for the miscellaneous department and make a payment. After, you can move to Step 3.

Step 3:

Go to the BIR. Make sure you have a black ballpen with you. You will need to fill out two kinds of forms. 3 copies of Form 0605 and 2 copies of Form 1901. You then need to pay a fee of Php500 at the nearest PnB.

Yes, you need to go to another place to make a payment. If the BIR is not located near a PNB, then you'd need to travel to the nearest one.

Step 4.

Pay the Php500 fee at PnB. This process took 2 hours.

Step 5:

Go back to the BIR and order your receipt. This one will cost Php1500 and you can put your name, email, contact details. Make sure to also mention that you want it to be NON-VAT and go for the 3% one. If not, you will be given the VAT which is 12% if I remember correctly.

Since you are a freelancer, you need to be NON-VAT. This entire process took another hour on top of the 2.5 hours that I already wasted earlier, not including the 2 hours at the bank.

Step 6:

Come back after 3 business days.

Some of the things that I did not know was that you needed to go to the BIR first before going to city hall. Make sure you go to city hall and pay for your OTR before going to the BIR. Sadly, this was not stated in any of the BIR websites.

Another would be making sure you go to the right office for your RDO so you don't waste time going from one office to another. This one took me an entire day the first time around because my RDO office was in the other end of the city.

Hopefully, this helps someone out.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

doTERRA Skin Care: Spa in Your Home

I have been using doTERRA essential oils for over 6 months now. I have fallen in love with it and I can testify to its effectivity.

When I learned that they also carried a skincare line, I couldn't be more excited. After all, skincare infused with essential oils seems like the perfect mix to me.

This hand and body lotion is unscented because it's meant to be combined with essential oils. You can add a couple of drops of either lavender, peppermint, rosemary, or even rose if you're feeling a bit luxurious.

I like that it is not sticky. I'm really particular about this because we live in a tropical country.

doTERRA Facial Cleanser is my absolute favorite. Whenever I use it, I feel like I'm in the spa being given a facial treatment. The scent of melaluca and peppermint is just a wonderful way to end the night and get ready for bed.

It doesn't lather as much as your ordinary facial wash but you can feel it cleaning your skin because of the nanobeads that are present. I can actually feel my face becoming cleaner when I use this.

This hand lotion is a definite perk me up. Citrus Bliss gives me that much needed smell to help awaken the senses while moisturizing my elbows and hands.

The combination of lavender, jasmine, geranium, and frankincense works a lot of wonders for the face. Now that I'm nearing my 40s, I need something to help combat aging and this protective moisturizer has been able to do the job.

Regardless if I have enough sleep or not, I don't look the part because the oils help reduce the signs of aging.

The sandalwood and myrrh combined with the powerful frankincense all work together to create a smoother appearance so that wrinkles won't be visible on your face. The tightening effect also helps to put together a younger-looking face.

This helps to ward off laugh lines but it doesn't make it disappear. Don't have unrealistic expectations because they never promised any. I just like it because it's easily absorbed and it really moisturizes the eye area a lot.

This is something that you use 2x a week to help in getting rid of old skin. What I love about this is that it exfoliates without hurting my skin and the grapefruit helps to soothe and smoothen everything.

The pore reducing toner is really good for the skin because it closes the pores when needed to ensure that your skin won't take in all the dirt and pollution around. It also serves as a second cleanse after you wash your face because it takes care of all the residue.

This is the final step in your entire skincare line. The hydrating cream is the most essential and the one that you should never forget. This one, I used at night to ensure full capacity and to allow my skin to be deeply moisturized and nourished. When I wake up in the morning, I can feel that my skin is much softer.

Overall, I loved the entire line. Everything worked and delivered on what they are supposed to so I couldn't ask for more.

doTERRA will be launching in the Philippines this November 8 and you can start ordering these from your wellness advocate. For anyone who has inquiries, feel free to send me a message.