Of Wanting to Escape and Club Balai Isabel Body Lotion

They say that the best time to book/go to resorts in Luzon would be November because by then the rainy season would almost have been over (except for the Bicol region, Palawan and Mindoro. Mom's from Bicol and she'd always tell us that it's usually rainy in her hometown by the end of the year. Also, storms normally traverse the southern part of the country come the last quarter.) and it's not yet tourist peak season. Rates are more affordable, not much people.

But then November and December are months when work peaks. Add preparations for the holidays and I'm very much swimming, no, drowning in too much to do when I would much rather want to be swimming in not chlorinated water. Chances are higher that I will drown in caffeine trying to keep awake with just five-hour-sleep-utmost-a-day which I suspect I will be having until the year ends, than I will go out of town this coming long weekend. By the time I'm able to lift my head from under tons of papers, wrappers and otherwise, it would be too cold to soak in anywhere else other than a hot water-filled bathtub.

What am I doing writing this when I have my hands full you ask? Weeelll, I did say in my "about me-ow" page this blog is my form of escape.

Reflecting on / Over Angel's Breath Perfumes and How to Spot Fakes in the Update

Here's the scene.

Bali Alus Traditional Spa Essential Scrub with VCO in Jasmine

We've been having hot, at times humid days this past couple of weeks. Not that I'm complaining. We live in a flood-prone area so I'd take it. Although I would be much happier if it's a bit cooler. Wouldn't mind light rains too.

That said, I've been on a tropical floral scent binge lately, fitting of said weather. Jasmine, sampaguita and ylang-ylang scents remind me of church stops when we go on local trips, flower garlands strung during summer and relaxing spas and massages I've had. In my bathroom right now is a body scrub from Bali Alus, an Indonesian skincare brand.

A Silly / Sili Garden

A collective protest erupted in our house last week when in the news, a carinderia owner said that they will no longer offer sisig, a pork dish acknowledged by Anthony Bourdain, due to high cost of bird's eye chili peppers or siling labuyo, as expensive as P1k for 1 kilo, among other commodities. Memes have erupted on socmed, from chili peppers being used as currency to claims of being rich due to chili pepper plant ownership.

In a news report two weeks ago, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol encouraged the public to plant chili peppers. And I guess, he also meant, other vegetables.

Here's the thing, while it's a good idea to plant vegetables, where I am at, I think several pots, even a 3x3 meter plot, could only augment, not sustain the entire vegetable needs of a family of five. It's not like you can harvest vegetables from said plot everyday or you can plant any vegetables without thinking about weather conditions. Still, a couple of pesos shaved off the food budget plus the thrill of plucking edible leaves or produce from the garden or potted plant brigade is a great incentive to grow veggies. And crops and fruits.

Payless Xtra Big Pancit Canton Original Flavor

The local supermarket where we get our month's worth groceries didn't have Lucky Me Pancit Canton in Original Flavor. So I went on twitter and searched for alternatives. A lot of people were raving about Payless Extra Big Pancit Canton in Original Flavor. A few even said that it tasted exactly like Lucky Me Pancit Canton.

Glamworks Addicted to You Fragrance Mist

I am a sucker for sales. I stock up when there's a price off and Glamworks Fragrance Mists were BOGO at Watsons, less than P200 for 150 ml. Wouldn't make much of a dent in my wallet so I gave its Addicted To You variant, yes there are other variants, a shot. Sister would later tell me that Glamworks Fragrance Mists have been BOGO since last year. :/

This Body Wash Smells Like Pantene Damage Repair Conditioner

Clean and simple. If it is then this post would just be on Instagram or Twitter.

Pansit Cabagan from Balay Kainan, San Miguel, Bulacan

We passed by Balay Kainan in San Miguel, Bulacan on the way to Minalungao National Park in Nueva Ecija. The eatery offers affordable short orders, meals and viands.

Enchanteur Perfumed Talc in Alluring Review and Thoughts on Talcum Powders

When we were kids, mom would dust our backs with baby powder after bath to keep us feeling fresh and lessen the chance of getting prickly heat. Talc after all absorbs sweat and prevents friction. Years later, we still use talcum powder, sometimes as face powder, more often during summer. Oblivious to the possible dangers posed by inhaling it, until recently.

It started after I've read from the papers that a certain talcum powder maker was and is being sued by ovarian cancer patients who used the product on their genital area. When I first heard about this, I was actually surprised that some people practice this. I mean, is it safe to be putting stuff into/near your orifices unless they are meant to be put there?

But then I have not been entirely cautious as well. I so enjoy sniffing bottles of fragrant anything. Well, apparently there are cases of people with pulmonary problems caused by cosmetic talc inhalation. So unlike before, I'm now extra careful, especially with perfumed talc. A hard thing to do when one is as fragrant as this one. Enchanteur Alluring Perfumed Talc 's scent is a combination of rose, iris and vanilla so say its website. I don't get the vanilla much but the delicate aroma of florals is there. I can still smell it on my arms even as I perspire.

The Chosen One Ice Cream of Meycauayan

The Chosen One Ice Cream is a pretty popular ice cream brand in Meycauayan and for good reason.

Lactacyd Daily Feminine Wash Variants and Partial Review

Since it's almost summer, there's going to be that overwhelming need to make an effort to keep clean and feel cool and fresh. And so why not take advantage of all those products in the market that can help make summer much more bearable?

For one, there are now feminine washes that promise other things like lightening (in time for bikini season) aside from the usual odor protection and relief from sticky feels.

Shabu-Shabu at the New Divisoria Mall Food Court

We forgot the name of the place because really, our dining experience at this establishment needs to be forgotten. Maybe not before relating said experience.

Erra's Ramen: Shoyu on a Cold January Noon

It's soup weather. Chilly weather requiring hot soup. Where I'm at, on some mornings, it's pea soup as Scully had said in the Rain King. (The X-Files are back, by the way. In the Philippines, Season 11 airs Thursdays, 8:55PM on Fox with replays on Saturdays 7:05PM and Thursdays 8PM and 10PM.) Thankfully, it's fog not smog. Perks of living in the province. Though with our place rapidly becoming urbanized, I'm afraid we won't be getting fresh air much longer. It seems the local government is intent on turning the municipality into a factory hub. There's an equipment barn a block away where I live now. At least the female owner who goes berserk on the workers or orders them around while on speakers has been quite, um, entertaining.

Anyways, I've been feeling cold even at noon so I've been warming myself with soupy dishes this past couple of days. Yesterday, I found myself at Robinson's Place Ermita so off I went looking for Erra's Ramen, a much-talked about ramen place along Adriatico Street. From the mall's Pedro Gil entrance/exit, I turned right, then walked until I reached Adriatico Street which at that point was the first street to intersect Pedro Gil. Turning left, I went towards Remedios Circle. A minute or two later, signage to my right announced that I have reached the place.