That title sure is a mouthful! Ha ha!. I decided to hit two birds with one stone today. Or two stories in one blog post would be more like it. :) We went to the beach this weekend, and the weather was really fine. And the sun could literally burn you.  I suddenly remembered (silly me!) that I had this almost unused Belo SunExpert Ultra Gentle Spay SPF 50 and figured out that this day was the perfect time to use it. I mean, I had no other options because I just consumed all my other  sunblocks. (^,^)
Here's my 5th order from Sample Room during my VIP Membership.
The Deets
Full Size: 140ml//Price: PHP 539.75
"Belo’s very first kid-friendly product. Belo SunExpert Ultragentle Sheer Spray SPF50 and PA+++ is specially formulated sunscreen that is gentle enough for kids yet effective and strong enough to protect everyone in the family. Its ultragentle formulation provides effective broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV rays. Its Cell Protect® formula strengthens the skin’s defense system and actively prevents accelerated premature skin aging.

Belo SunExpert Ultragentle Sheer Spray SPF50 and PA+++ is hypoallergenic, dermatologist- tested,and paraben-free. It is also non-sticky and quick-drying, and works immediately upon application."

The Verdict
I think I got this one last February from Sample Room. It comes in a pressurized can container and sprays with a fizz. When I tried it back then I didn't like it very much. It felt sticky and oily when applied to the skin and therefore felt rather uncomfortable. I also don't like the scent of it; I dunno, it's almost like petroleum to me. And so it kind of stayed with the pile of unused stuff in the dresser. Lo and behold it was resurrected last weekend.
The details and lists of ingredients, etc.
Sprayed and spread on my arm. I know that it doesn't look oily or sticky in the photo but it does look and feel that way in person.
So those are the details about the product, written on the labels. I followed the instructions and didn't spray it directly on the face of my kid, but rather I sprayed it on my hands and spread on her face. I feels cool on the skin upon spraying and then you can immediately feel that it's sticky and oily, even if it says in the label that it's not sticky. 

What amazed me though was that, at the end of the day, even if my daughter stayed up to 5 hours under the sun, even if babad na babad sya, there were no signs of sunburns. As in, none at all. Her skin also did not turn as dark as it used to whenever she got exposed in the sun for long periods; back then I used a different kind of sunblock. As for me, I think I only spent about  2 hours under the sun and I am happy that my skin also didn't turn very dark and I didn't get sunburns. 

So that's how I was compelled to write a review. If you can go beyond the sticky and oily feeling, and the little not so nose-friendly scent, I think this product is good in protecting your skin from sunburns. Anyway, when you start taking a dip in the water, you would hardly notice the sticky/oily feeling. I don't think I can put up with the uncomfortable feeling of wearing this everyday so I think this one is best used in the beach. Anyway, the product expires in 2018 so there's plenty of time to use this for all the family outings. LOL.

Meanwhile, here are some photos of our fun time at the beach.

The beach front at Burubudyongan Beach in Victoria, Northern Samar.
The little girl in the center is my Celestine. <3 <3 <3
Tin meets a little sea urchin for the first time. She puts up a poker face but I think she's amazed.
Daddy finds a sea urchin just off the beach. He took it back to the sea after showing it to us.
I leave you now with a photo of me, daddy and Celestine, the beach bums. :)

Love lots,

Carissa
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Hiyah! Another package from Sample Room arrived on my doorstep and as always, I am pleased to try 'em out. So here's my loot! 
Check out my loot from Gluta-C courtesy of Sample Room. 
Gluta-C with Kojic Plus+ Body Lotion SPF30
Gluta-C Body Lotion with Glutathione and Vitamin C//Size: 150 ml//Price: Php 219.75
What makes Gluta-C KOJIC PLUS+ different?
It has 4x Skin whitening action from Glutathione, Vitamin C, Kojic Acid and Azelaoyl Diglycinate, achieving whitening from 4 different angles and ensuring greater efficacy. Together, Gluta-C KOJIC PLUS+ achieves a more holistic skin whitening regimen.

BENEFITS:
-4X Skin Whitening – combination of Glutathione, Vitamin C, Kojic Acid and Azelaoyl Diglycinate
-With SPF30
-Moisturizing
-Revitalizing and Smoothening
-3X more anti-oxidants (to help reduce toxins)
The deets plus ingredients of Gluta-C Body Lotion
There's a multitude of skin whitening lotions in the grocery aisles that you can literally drown in them. LOL. But what sets this one apart? The 4X whitening action comes from Glutathione, Vitamin C, Kojic Acid and Azelaoyl Diglycinate. I'm all familiar with the first 3 ingredients but it's probably the first time that I've heard of Azelaoyl Diglycinate. I Googled it and here's the link of a little info about the said component. Click here to check it out.

In my opinion, I think that this one feels rather heavy and greasy on the skin. I'm also not a big fan of its scent. I live in a tropical country and I'm thankful for the SPF 30 content. For the whitening capabilities, I can't really make a sound comment because I am constantly outdoors and if I happen to apply whitening stuff on my skin, I'm pretty sure it won't really work because I am always out an about. I noticed though that upon application, it doesn't easily get absorbed by the skin. You can see on the photo below that when you put it on and you try to blend it, it just sits on your skin for a while. That is why I think that it's heavy on the skin. I noticed too that the container seemed so big, but the content was not that plenty.

To buy or not to buy? 
I think NO. Like I said, there are lots and lots of whitening lotions in the market and I didn't see any reason for this one to be a standout.

The Gluta-C Body Lotion as applied on my skin.

Gluta-C with Kojic Plus+ Face and Body Powder

Gluta-C Face and Body Powder//Size: 40g //Price: Php 74.75 
What makes Gluta-C KOJIC PLUS+ different?
It has 4x Skin whitening action from Glutathione, Vitamin C, Kojic Acid and Azelaoyl Diglycinate, achieving whitening from 4 different angles and ensuring greater efficacy. Together, Gluta-C KOJIC PLUS+ achieves a more holistic skin whitening regimen.
BENEFITS:
-4X Skin Whitening – combination of Glutathione, Vitamin C, Kojic Acid and Azelaoyl Diglycinate
-Oil Control & Anti-Acne
-Matte Finish
-3X more anti-oxidants (to help reduce toxins)
-With sunscreen
The deets and ingredients of Gluta-C Face and Body Powder
Oil controlling and mattifying products are heaven-sent. I particularly need it because I am such a grease ball. I remember how back in high school I and my classmates would always have a stash of Johnson and Johnson Baby Powders to keep the shine at bay. When I saw this powder, I thought about how wonderful this is. This powder does control oils and at the end of the day, my T-Zone is practically shine-free. The only bad probably is that since it is a white powder, it could make you look pale, almost vampiric, LOL. That and the powdery scent which I also don't like. Happy too that it has a sunscreen and that it didn't make me break out.

To buy or not to buy?
I think YES! If ever I would need a powder for my face, something that I can wear while running errands, I'll have this one because of the added benefits.

Powder
There you have it. Like I said, it's always a pleasure to be able to try new products, especially the ones that I can't easily find in the stores here in the province. For if ever I do get to Watsons or other beauty counters, I would know which products to get and which ones to steer clear of. ;)

XO,

Carissa

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Do you use a primer? Many girls skip this process in their beauty regimen. Even I myself have only learned to use a primer a few years back. I used the Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser back then and it really did wonders in blurring the big pores that I had. It also provided a smooth canvas for the makeup. Of course I never stopped exploring other options for primers at the same price point. I found another one from e.l.f and it only cost about Php 350.00. Come have a look. ;)

e.l.f Mineral Infused Primer - Brightening Lavender
Price: Php 350.00
Where I Got It: Pre-ordered from the US thru www.makeupinboxph.com

Here are the deets about this product taken from www.elfcosmetics.com:
Transform your face into a flawless and smooth canvas with the Mineral Infused Face Primer. Developed to combat against excess oil, flaky dryness, enlarged pores and fine lines. This clear multipurpose skin primer will prepare your skin so makeup goes on evenly for a long-lasting satin finish.
Features a new and improved air pump! For best results, you may need to pump the component several times before product dispenses.
Recommended uses:
Tone Adjusting Green is ideal for minimizing redness and correcting blotchy skin.
Brightening Lavender is ideal for uneven skin tones and to brighten dull or yellow tones.
Radiant Glow (contains shimmer) is ideal for creating a luminizing effect on dark spots and uneven skin tones.



Now before I actually grabbed this primer, I researched for some reviews about it and I found this one from the Paula's Choice webpage. The Beautypedia team gave it a five star rating so I figured I should give it a go.
The deets + ingredients.
My Take
I picked the Brightening Lavender variant because, 'why not?!'. LOL. My skin was feeling dull and I thought I should get something to make my skin look bright. So there. It comes in this opaque glass bottle with a nice pump which allows you to dispense just the right amount of product. By that I mean small amount of product, because a little goes a long way. This lavender-hued primer goes smoothly on the face and the skin just feels silky. It has a faint floral-plasticky scent (is there such a thing? hihi) that fades almost immediately upon application.

The color correction thing- I dunno about that but I didn't see any particular change on my face. However, I did get some compliments from my office mates. They told me that my face looked smooooooooooth, and I don't get a lot of compliments these days, so that is enough to make me so happy.

My skin is on the oily side and there's really no oil-control properties for this one. So at the end of the day, I can see shininess on my face especially on my T-zone. But it's not an icky kind of shiny that makes me ugly- I look like I'm glowing; a dewy kind of glow and I'm happy with it.


Here's a little swatch of the product on my forearm and it just looks (and feels) smooth.

Here's a photo of me wearing it and I think you can clearly see the difference on my glowing and smooth skin after putting on the primer.

1. Bare face 2. Wearing the primer
3. Wearing a CC Cream on top of the primer 4. FOTD ;)

XO,

Carissa
PS. This one is also included in my July 2016 list of faves. Might you wanna check out that one too.
And just in case you are curious about what are the other makeups that I used on my entire face, here is the list, with links to my previous product reviews.

Primer - e.l.f. Mineral Infused Primer in Brightening Lavender
Powder - Human Nature Pressed Mineral Foundation in Honey

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I finally dipped my hand on the cheesecake making experience. It's rather easy and very very rewarding. First time to food blog too, so forgive me if my takes aren't perfect yet. I'll work on it. It's rather hard when you cook and take photos at the same time. :) No excuses! 

I got this recipe from the Facebook page called No-Bake Cakes, Pies and More. There are lots and lots of recipes there. The recipe was actually for a No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake but since I and my brother couldn't find blueberries in can, we settled for the cherry one. 
Cherry cherry boom boom for the tummy. ;)
Ingredients

For Pie Crust
2 cups of Crushed Graham Crackers
About half of that Dari Creme Butter

For Filling
1 cup of water
1 tbsp unflavored Gulaman Powder
1 pack All Purpose Cream
1 can condensed milk
1 bar Cream Cheese
1 egg

For Topping
1 can of Red Ruby Cherries

How It's Done
Pie Crust
1. Make the pie crust by mixing 2 cups of Crushed Graham Crackers and half of that bar of butter. Make sure it's evenly mixed and there are no more lumps of butter.

2. Press the mixture evenly on your container of choice. I used a 9-inch baking pan. While preparing the filling I put the Pie Crust in the fridge to harden 'em.

Filling+Assembling
1. Dissolve 1 tbsp of Unflavored Gulaman in 1 cup of water. Set aside.

2. Beat the egg. Set aside.

*Tip* I used the Stainless Steel Cooking Pot of a rice cooker as a mixing bowl because I'm going to cook the mixture later so there would be no need to transfer it to another cooking pot.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the All Purpose Cream and the condensed milk until smooth. 

4. Afterwards, add the Cream Cheese as well. Mix until smooth. 
5. Cook the mixture over low fire. Mix constantly to make sure it's not burning up. LOL. 

6. Add the Gulaman mixture.

7. If you notice that it's turning bubbly, turn off the fire then add the beaten egg.

8. Get your Pie Crust and pour the cooked Filling mixture over it. It will speedily set so make sure you're quick.
9. Pour the Red Cherry on top.

And tadaaaaa...... It's almost gone. LOL. Everyone at home loved this Cherry Cheesecake. I thought I'd flopped because the cherry seemed sour and was a bit off but it complimented with the filling. It balanced the sweetness of the filling. No umay!

I was able to make 2 pans of it but if you want the filling to be thicker, you can put everything in a single pan.

XO,

Cassie

PS. Sharing is caring... Thanks to No-Bake Cakes, Pies and More. I look forward to making more of your featured recipes.
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The National Heroes Day Holiday on the 29th of August gave Tin and me the chance to fly off (not literally though, we took land travel!) to our homey in Burauen. Thus we were reunited with the 'rents and the sibs. It sure is mayhem when Mummy Cassie, Skinny, Fluffy and Boots are together. Top that with a 'lil Crumptious and we could have a camwhoring sesh all day. Okay, if I may speak like a human being again, those are our nicknames for each other. I know, I know. Our nicknames could double as names of pet fishes, dogs, birds and cats. But hey, we adore each other that way. Ha ha. Now on to the photo diary.
My sibs Fluffy (standing and feeling the waterfall like it's nobody's business), Boots and Skinny, together with my daughter Crumptious Celestine.
Pines Farm Mountain Resort
Location: Brgy. Abuyogon, Burauen, Leyte
I've been hearing about this resort from folks back home and with the name 'Pines' I thought that there would be real pine trees in the area. Well folks, you won't be seeing any of that sort of trees. There would be coconut trees, bamboos, hard woods and all sorts of greens but no pine trees because 'Pines' is in fact the name of the owner daw. Haha. But I'm not sure ha, because it was just word of mouth. There is indeed a farm and yes, it is in a mountain (or a hill?) so you better pack up with your oxygen because you will do some walking from the entrance to the resort itself.

Fees
Entrance: Php 20.00 for Adults and Php 10.00 for Kids
Cottage fees vary depending on the size, we got a Php 300.00 one and it was in the elevated part of the resort and indeed had a better view of the entire place.
View from the top! Lovely place surrounded by greens!
If you haven't realized it yet, this resort seems to have been built on a river. So you can see where the huge rocks are left and where cementing has been done to cover up the river bed and to create different depths of the pools. So you have that one where the kids can swim in safety. But as you go along it becomes deeper and that last one in the end according to my brother could be up to seven feet deep. So parents, if you have kids coming here, be mindful, especially that there are no explicit signs written around about how deep the waters are. Those cement walkways could also be slippery so please be guided.

Meanwhile I took the time to take photos of the flowing river. I hope I brought them to life through these photos. :)
The waters..it's how our town got its name after all. Bura. Foam. Water foam.
At this stage though, I think the place is still in the process of being developed as you can see that it is still pretty much rough around the edges pero surely in time, it will be in a much more prettified state. I'm glad that we Burawanons no longer have to flock to coastal towns such as Tanauan or Tolosa whenever we feel like taking a swim. We finally have these resorts to call our own. And the water is reaaaaally cold, even at noontime. As is the breeze; it's not like in the sea where the wind can practically burn your skin. Being here is just refreshing!

Now on to the subjects of this shoot. Believe me, they are always trying to upstage each other.
The early birds. We arrived there 9 am-ish and it was cold, I didn't immediately take a dip.
Work it for the cam, guys. :) This falling water part is located at the very end or the other side of the last pool.
Uncle duties.
Gotcha!
Ham it up, sis!
Ahm, I guess you have  a burning question in mind. Like, where was the blog mistress the entire time and why are there no photos of her? Haha. Well I confined myself to taking shots of my manicured toes. ;)

XO,

Carissa

PS. This is the part where my daughter tells me to 'put the camera down and start swimming'. Kids.
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Like, literally.
After all, it won't hurt to see some crowns, gowns, jewels, and palaces here and there. It's always fun to see some historical drama unfold. Oh, the power struggle too!
Always great to see a female protagonist slayin' it.
So here they are...My title's quiet up front, ain't it?! Ha ha

The White Queen
The White Queen
I'm not sure how many times I've seen The White Queen. And I think my first blog post here is about this series; you can read it here, for a trip down memory lane. It's about the rise and fall of Elizabeth Woodville who became Queen of England when she married the newly crowned  Edward IV. It was set during the Wars of the Roses, when York and Lancaster were battling it out for the throne. And being the Yorkist that I am, I knew from history that things won't turn out great for them. But still, I rooted for them so I cried a whole lot while watching this. This is adapted from the book of the same title written by Philippa Gregory.

Reign
Reign
This one is about Mary Stuart; I think that's reason enough to excite me because I don't see much about her in movies. The ones that I have always portray her as 'the other Queen' who tried to steal Queen Elizabeth I's thunder so she was decapitated. I am curious about the girl who made QE I jealous. She must have been very beautiful. This is the part where I remind myself to not stray too far. According to reviews, this is loosely based on the real thing so there is very little historical accuracy. The poster above though is proof that  they didn't miss the detail about beauty...but I actually thought M QS was a redhead? Well anyway, it says 'The Rise of Mary Queen of Scots' which means that this encompasses the best days of her life: when she was being raised in the beautiful court of France, waiting to be married to the dauphin, Francis and eventually ascending  the throne with him. Like I said, enough to make my heart beat fast.

 Victoria
Victoria
This one hasn't aired yet but I already feel like binge-watching it because it is about one of my most favorite monarchs: Queen Victoria. I have seen the movie The Young Victoria in the past, as portrayed by Emily Blunt. I doubt it if there would be much difference in the story line since it would be covering the same period but since this one is an eight-part series I think we can have the luxury to be a bit more detailed about the story. Moreover, that crown and the intricately braided hair underneath it is also something to look forward to. (^,^)

The White Princess
The White Princess
The White Princess is yet to make its TV debut but I am very much familiar about its story line. Well, that is if it follows closely the book of the same title, also by Philippa Gregory on which this series is based. The White Princess is Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of The White Queen and King Edward IV, who married the victor of the Battle of Bosworth, Henry Tudor. Henry founded the Tudor Dynasty and took the crown as Henry VII (father of Henry VIII). The marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry Tudor was made to unite the warring Yorkists and Lancastrians to finally pacify the entire kingdom. But far from achieving peace, England experienced many uprisings from people who were still rallying behind the Yorkist heirs, and with that the growing tension between the young couple. Even if they were already married and had kids, her husband still treats her like an enemy.

The Crown
The Crown
I've seen the trailer of The Crown and I must admit that I am quiet surprised. I've seen dozens and dozens of photos of the young Queen Elizabeth II and she always strikes me as someone confident and happy about her role. On the trailer, I saw a girl who trembles a lot. Well, if you would become queen at 25 maybe you would tremble too. And having Winston as Prime Minister, that would be unnerving. And with the popularity of the monarchy in shambles, maybe it's all too much for a young girl. More than 60 years later and here we are; the British Monarchy is a well admired institution and we can only credit it to the hardworking QE II who also leads by example. Vivat Regina!


There there, these are my five queens...that's three Elizabeths, one Victoria and one Mary.  I didn't mean to make it look like an all girls squad but I've always been drawn towards them. If you happen to look for some cute guys, I'm pretty sure you can spot some of them in these shows too *cough* MAX IRONS (King Edward IV in The White Queen) *cough*. Ha ha. Or maybe checkout those old episodes of The Tudors. Seriously though, the royalty nut aspect of me is pretty hardcore. I've constructed Queen Victoria's Family Tree in the past; that one left my old roomies scratching their heads. I was once obsessed with the Romanov Family. I still kind of am. I sometimes catch myself daydreaming over tiaras.

So there. If can have the chance to see all of these series, I'd be over the moon.

XO,
Carissa
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