This post is one month late, we're yaya-less again but here it is now! I started this blog to document my firsts with motherhood. 5 years later, the blog has evolved as I am as a mom. Honestly, I can't believe I am still here, blogging after 5 years even when there are times when I get too lazy to blog anymore but then I think of how I met some of my closest friends today through blogging, how blogging gave me opportunity to work with different people and different brands and I would not deny I love receiving products to try and most especially sharing all my experiences to my readers. For 2016, my wish is for this blog to grow even more. :)
Apples & Dumplings turned 5 last January 11. So... shall we celebrate A&D's 5th with a giveaway? I would like to thank the brands who have supported this blog and giveaway! And there will be five winners of great prizes and surprises! Yay! Thank you in advance for joining and hope you continue to read this blog!
Check out the prizes I'm giving away!
One (1) winner of prize #1 - Project Mom Book, Mom 24/7 Planner, Paper Chic Studio Goodies, a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards) and Girlstuff Forever Nail Polishes.
One (1) winner of prize #2 - Project Mom Book, Mom 24/7 Planner, Paper Chic Studio Goodies, a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards) and Scents and Sensibilities Soy Candles and Home Fragance Oil.
One (1) winner of prize #3 - Project Mom Book, Mom 24/7 Planner, Paper Chic Studio Goodies and a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards).
Two (2) winners of prize #4 - Project Mom Book, Bloom 2016 Desk Calendar, Paper Chic Studio goodies and a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards).
Joining is easy! Just follow all the mechanics on the Rafflecopter widget below to join or if the widget is not working, you can go to my Apples & Dumplings Facebook Page to join! Thank you for joining and good luck! This giveaway is open for residents of Philippines only.
I can't believe it's December na! It's 23 days until Christmas and 30 days until New Year! The countdown to Christmas actually stresses me out because it makes me think if I have missed any one of my friends I have to buy Christmas presents for. But! Good thing I shopped early this year, I'm so proud of myself! Heehee! If you're not done with your shopping yet, let me help you tick a few names off of your list with A&D's Beauty Roundup! This list is especially for busy people like working moms and people always on the go! 1. Caronia and GirlStuff Nail Care Set I like going to nail salons when I have the time but since I'm almost always busy and on the go, I do my nails on my own and when I do, I like to add more pampering with foot soak and foot scrub and top it off with my new favorite brand of nail polish, Girlstuff Nail Polishes!
Nail Care Set includes Caronia Nourishing Creme, Caronia Revitalizing Soak and Wash, Caronia Renewing Scrub, Girlstuff Nail Polish and Girlstuff Matte Top Coat.
2. Zenutrients and Macadamia Natural Oil Hair Pamper Set
Another nice gift to busy moms who wants to have her hair pampered but can't find the time! I've been hearing great things about Macadamia Natural Oil hair products and I was so happy when I received samples from the last Mothers Who Brunch (which I still have to blog about!). I loved it and I want to give it as gifts this Christmas! And to finish off your hair pamper session is Zenutrients Gugo Strengthening Hair Serum!
Sometimes we ran out gift ideas to give to certain friends and when that happens to me, I think what my friend is fond of. Some friends like food or calligraphy, and some likes skin care products and make-up! With Unilab's Beauty Pack, there's skin care, hygiene care and make-up, a complete set of what your kikay friend needs!
I love pH Care's newest variant, pH Care Naturals in Papaya or Guava Leaf Extract! Throw in those travel sized ones because who doesn't love travel sized anything?!
Celeteque now has a make-up line, give her the gift of the best holiday lippie!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so keep those eyes free from dark circles with Celeteque's Brightening Eye Tuck and Dark Circles Enlightener. I'm sure your friend will appreciate this as much as I do!
I like getting my nails done especially my toe nails because they make your feet look nicer when wearing open toe shoes, sandals or thongs. Diba? I also like having fingernails done but I cook and sometimes wash clothes and it always get chipped lang so I only get them when I have to attend a party. Then gel nail polishes came out, I tried it once, I was amazed by it and I liked it but found it not practical to go back to the nail salon where you got it just to have them removed it plus there were studies that came out that they're actually harmful. Eeeeep! But you don't have to worry about all those with Girlstuff Forever's newest gel polish line, Solique by Girlstuff!
Solique Magnique! Just like any Girlstuff nail polish, it's also 5-Free! Free from five harmful chemicals: toulene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resin and camphor. It's safe for kids, pregnant and breastfeeding mommas. It's safe for all!
Two weeks ago, I went to the launch of Solique by Girlstuff at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club. Upon entering the place, there were different stations that I went around before having my nails painted with Solique!
First we pick a ring we fancy...
Then pick a scarf at TSG Clothing Co., here's Tara helping me decide which one to get.
Then I had a mini-makeover at the Benefit station...
And finally had my nails done! Yay!
Solique by Girstuff comes in six shades and a special top coat for Solique. What's so great about this 2-step system is the polish dries naturally under light (no need for artificial UV light!) and it dries really fast! It's also very affordable. Solique Gel Polish costs Php180 while the Solique Gel Top Coat costs Php200!
Left: Baby Blues
Right: Hush
Left: Just a Fantasy
Right: Midnight Dreams
Left: Manila Girl
Right: Love Me Like You Do
Nice noh? It's very easy to apply! Just follow these steps:
1. Make sure nails are clean and free of oil and lotion.
2. Do not use a base coat.
3. Apply a coat of your desired SOLIQUE Gel Polish Color. Allow to dry for a minute.
4. Apply a second coating the same shade. Allow to dry for a minute.
5. Apply 1 coat of SOLIQUE Top Coat.
6. Cure polish under sunlight for about 2 minutes or allow to dry in natural room light.
To remove, just use any nail polish remover!
After going through all the stations, there was a short program where Janina Gutierrez-Tan told us more about Solique. They also held a raffle for the bloggers who attended and I won 2 prizes. Yay! I rarely win these raffles then I won two! Must be my lucky day! Dapat ata tumaya ako sa lotto nun! Heehee!
Congrats again Ms. Janina for your new line of gel polish! And thank you Nikki for inviting me again!
I won Php1,000 Girlstuff GCs! More nail polishes for us, Y! Heehee!
And a Keeping It Together bag organizer! Perfect for our upcoming trip later this month! Thank KIT!
If you're still wondering how Solique Gel Polish works, here's a video (that we also watched during the launch):
Get your Solique by Girlstuff at this following kiosks:
Girlstuff Mall of Asia (2nd Floor near cinema)
Girlstuff SM North Main Building (Ground Floor, in front of Bayo)
Girlstuff SM Megamall (4th Floor Bridgeway, infront of Dads/Saisaki Buffet)
Summer is here! I can feel the heat (as in ang init na!) and all I want to do is stay in the shower or join my kids in our (inflatable) pool. But I also know how to beat the summer in another way, paint my nails in summery shades. And I just discovered a new nail polish brand that's not only free from harmful chemicals, has tons of shades available, but also a local brand and very affordable!
Girlstuff Forever is a local brand but it is developed and made in France. Girlstuff Forever's nail polishes are 5-Free! What 5? They are free from five harmful chemicals: toulene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resin and camphor. It's safe for kids, pregnant and breastfeeding mommas. It's safe for all!
Last week, I was invited to Girlstuff Forever's Bloggers' Elite Summer Collection Launch. They have collaborated with Manila's favorite lifestyle, fashion, mommy, and beauty bloggers for a special summer collection. Each shade is named after their blog names.
What's you favorite shade? Do you want to know my favorite?
From left to right: Christina Decena of Struttingonsunshine, Jackie Go of Go Jackie Go, Nikki Tiu of AskMeWhats, and Frances Sales of Topaz Horizon.
Christina Decena is a fashion entrepreneur, event organizer, and blogger inspired Girlstuff's sky blue shade. “What struck me the most with this blue shade is its brilliance! I see sunny skies and cerulean seas… This shade speaks to me. It’s like a dreamy cruise in a bottle!”
Jackie Go is a mom of two, a model, and the blogger behind Go Jackie Go. Her favorite color is green and this shade is so her! This shade reminds Jackie of a tropical paradise. "It has captured the calming hue of nature. And this type of shade works well with any skin tone. So it’s a perfect shade to frolic in this summer.”
Nikki Tiu is a HR professional, make-up artist, nail art enthusiasts, and also a mom! And I just found out that she's my neighbor. And she adores the color pink! “Girl Stuff’s bohemian pink is not the usual pink shade that you see in other polish brands. AskMeWhats is an extraordinary , very feminine shade. Kind of like an orchid because of its lilac undertone. What’s more, it reminds me of my Mom whose favorite color is lilac. This perfect blend of pink and lilac reflects a very young, cheerful vibe just like my personality. “
Frances Sales is also a mom, magazine editor and a blogger. “This yellow shade is so bright and happy, you just won’t be able to ignore it! It’s bold and fun!”
The launch was held at Stacy's BGC. Yes I was back at Stacy's! Hehe! There were mini mani stations where we can get our nails painted with our pick from the new collection.
Girlstuff got Manila's top nail art enthusiasts to do the blogger attendees' nails!
I had my nails painted in Go Jackie Go green!
Easter eggs on my right.
Slices of dragonfruit on my left.
The yummy dessert buffet. Took home cake pops for my kids. Hehe!
And a buffet of Girlstuff nail polishes too! They've got so much variety of shades!
Each bottle of Girlstuff polish is only Php100-Php150 only! I've been wanting to buy their Matte Magic top coat but it's always out of stock!
And to make your nails more fun, Girlstuff also has nail appliqués, just like the ones I had on my nails.
Janina Gutierrez-Tan, owner of Girlstuff Forever. She's a chemist and a mom. Here, she was telling us how Girlstuff came about. Such a successful lady!
Janina with Frances, Christina, Jackie and Nikki! Congratulations to Girlstuff for this fab collaboration!
And congratulations to this green minded friend of mine heehee! Labyu!
Here's another discovery of mine, I checked out Girlstuff Forever's website and there's a swatch of all their available shades!
