An early Christmas present awaits to all lechon lovers out there. Cebu’s best lechon place, Rico’s Lechon will conquer central Cebu as they open their newest restaurant on Thursday, December 8, in N. Escario St.

Rico’s Lechon opens the door of its third and largest branch ahead of the holiday season. The newest home of the best lechon can now be accessible to Axis Entertainment Avenue, Vibo Place at N. Escario St. just a few minutes away from the Cebu Provincial Capitol.


The brand new hub for all occasion is a two-storey facility that features 100-seating capacity dining area and another 100-seating capacity function room. The expansion does not only cover the venue but the menu as well. Apart from its main attraction, which is their signature lechon, the restaurant also offers a wide array of Filipino dishes.



Enrico “Rico” Dionson, founder and chief executive officer of the chain restaurants, recognized the increasing demand of their lechon and events booking in Mactan and Mabolo branches. Bringing Rico’s Lechon closer to the heart of Cebu City would not only accommodate more customers but also reach out to those who may find it hard to access the first two branches.

Opening this new bigger branch of Rico’s Lechon is one way to say thank you to those who continuously patronize our product. We want to give all Cebuanos and tourists more accessible place to try our best lechon and show them that we have more special dishes to offer as well. Now, friends, colleagues, and families can all come and enjoy.



In February, Rico’s Lechon opened it second restaurant at the Mactan Promenade in Lapu-lapu City. The 90-seater restaurant is just a few meters away from the Mactan Cebu International Airport.


I also had the chance to try out some of their specials and it was delish! Like this Garlicky Squid Balls. Who would have thought that squid balls can be taken to another level!


Their Baked Scallops is also one of the best scallops I've tried so far. It's so fresh and the size of the scallops is bigger than the ones I used to order at other restaurants.


I've also tried one of their desserts, the Camote Balls. This one's rather interesting. It's delicious especially with the Latik.


Their drinks are tasty as well espcially this Cucumasi Quencher. It's a perfect pair to full course meal.


And of course, the Rico's Original Lechon. It has been around for several years and it still as tasty as ever and remains to be one of my favorite lechon here in Cebu.

Rico’s Lechon in Axis Vibo Place is open daily from 8AM to 10PM for take-out; 10AM to 10PM for dine-in. In addition to dining in and takeout, it is also available for private events. For more information please visit our website www.ricoslechon.com.

Guinot Paris, has been around for over 40 years and was founded by a well known chemist René Guinot in Paris, France. You won't see this brand on retail stores, as Guinot Paris skincare and the Guinot professional treatments is recognized as the leading skincare collection, available exclusively at prestigious spas and salons worldwide.


I was lucky enough to have joined the recent re-launching of Guinot Paris here in Cebu and got to meet the International Trainer for Guinot Institut Paris, Sandrine Carliez. She talked about skin care, and was even surprised to find out that french women start taking care of their skin as early as 13 years old. Thus, explains why they all look so beautiful.

She then introduced to us the Hydradermie. Since the Beginning, GUINOT has been driving by the pursuit of enhancing and prolonging beauty. In 1972, this deep-seated ambition led Jean-Daniel Mondin, President and CEO of the Guinot-Mary Cohr Group, to develop a historic treatment protocol that built the brand's reputation: Hydradermie.

This treatment promised a customized beauty solution and exceptional results for all women. This treatment carried out with this machine after an alternative to aesthetic medicine whilst providing spectacular results that are quick, painless and affordable.


First lets talk about the Hydradermie YOUTH treatment. Skin cells renew themselves constantly, however, as the years go by cells lose energy, cell renewal slows, as does the synthesis of elastic fibres. As a result,  the complexion becomes dull, the skin loses firmness and tone, and lines appear on the face. These are signs of skin ageing.

With Hydradermie YOUTH, Guinot succeeds in increasing the skin's cellular energy for a firmer, more youthful and more radiant appearance. In order to achieve these amazing results, Hydradermie Youth is divided in to 3 phases:

1 Dynamic Ionisation: The massage rollers release an alternating galvanic current that maximizes the in-depth absorption of the gel serums.

2 Oxygenation by Thermal Electrode: This phase uses the beneficial effects of heat. Gentle heat is carefully applied using a thermal electrode maintained at a controlled temperature, along with an effective oxygenating cream to boost cellular activity and restore radiance to skin.

3 Relaxing Massage: The Beauty Therapist's expert hands compliment the technical benefits of the Hydraderm Cellular Energy machine, relaxing the facial features and improving subcutaneous micro circulation.

Then there's the Hydradermie LIFT treatment. One of the first signs of ageing is loss of tone. It's impossible to look in the mirror and ignore the loss of firmness and tone in the face and facial contours. When this happens, many turn to aesthetic medicine. GUINOT demonstrates its tremendous technical prowess with the new Hydradermie Lift treatment that increases muscle tone to body-build facial tone. The treatment consists of 3 key phases:

1 Anti-Aging Drainage: The Beauty Therapist's expert hands move the drainage electrodes around, visibly relieving tension, improving the skin's micro circulation and refining facial features.

2 Muscle Stimulation: This works specifically on the facial muscles to improve tone and naturally lift the features by the end of the the treatment.

3 Relaxing Massage: The Beauty Therapist's carries out the massage at the end of the treatment to relax the face and improve subcutaneous micro circulation. The skin appears renewed, firmer and more toned.

They also offer skin care products and was lucky enough to try a few from their line.

On the left is the Guinot Paris Refreshing Toning Lotion and on the right is the Guinot Paris Refreshing Cleansing Milk. I've already tried both the cleanser and toner for a few times and have noticed that it does give a refreshing feeling and is mild on the skin as well.

I also got to try the Tropic Tonic Energizing Shower Gel, as well and it smells divine! It is very moisturizing on the skin and I enjoy using this at night before I go to sleep.

To know more about the Guinot Paris Hydradermie treatments, you may visit any Salon de Rose branch here in Cebu. They are also now available in David's Salon in Manila.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

I noticed that vampy lips has been trending for some time now and thought that this would be perfect for any makeup to look glammin'. So to start off, we need the perfect Face base for our makeup to last all night.


For the FACE base, let's start with the Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, to help prepare our skin with a smooth surface and make our makeup last longer. Then followed by the liquid foundation of your choice. I chose the Too Faced Born This Way in Natural Beige. Then apply concealer to brighten the under-eye area using the Burberry Sheer Concealer in Soft Beige. Then set the T-Zone area with a finishing power to remove any shine on the face as well as the under eye area to set the concealer, something similar to The Balm Sexy Mama translucent powder will work.


Then let's move on to the EYES and Brows. For the brows, I'm pretty straight forward, I normally just use an eyebrow pencil like the Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil in Medium. As I find it easier to shape and fill-in my brows that way. For the eyes, I honestly seldom use an eye primer specially if the eye shadow has great quality. So for this look, I would use the ZOEVA Caramel Melange Palette, since it contains both shimmer and matte eye shadows than can achieve Jaclyn's eye makeup. Then I would use the Sephora Collection 24hr Felt Liner in Intense Black to line my upper lash line. I prefer to skip mascara if wanted to use false eyelashes like the Lavie Lash Wildflower Collection in Snowdrop. That should do it for me.


To add a little dimension to my face, I would use the Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer to contour the hollows of my cheeks, forehead and jawline area. Then I apply blush slightly above the apples of my cheeks and highlight using the Becca Jaclyn Hill Collection Champagne Splits Shimmering Skin Perfector Mineral Blush Champagne pop - Flowerchild. Then finish the look with the The Balm Meet Matte Hughes in Adoring on my lips.

Do let me know if you like this kind of look and share with me what kind of looks you want to achieve this holiday season, I'd love to check out what you ladies prefer.

Shop more make-up products on Sephora PH here!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

The holiday season is upon us and with it comes joyful Christmas carols and happy reunions with loved ones. It also marks the end of another year. As we ink the final pages of 2016, we look forward to the possibilities that lay ahead of us.

As the Christmas season approaches and a new year draws near, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® reminds us that life is not about what we amass for ourselves, but about how we can share our gifts, talents, and time with others. There is no better way to share the warmth of the season than by generously pouring into the cups of others, especially the cups of those in need.


The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® hopes to remind everyone that life is about what we can contribute to the world during this #SeasonOfGiving. It’s what we share from our genuine hearts to make a difference in other people’s lives. With the 2017 Giving Journal,  we hope to inspire you to begin writing your Giving Journey.


From October 22 onward, customers can already begin their Giving Journey as the collecting of stamps for the 2017 Giving Journal commences in all The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® stores.

Each stamp card consists of 12 circles with corresponding purchased drink assignments. All 12 stamps must be accumulated in one stamp card to claim the journal. A box of CBTL™ capsules earns the customer two stamps, while any CBTL™ Single Serve Beverage System purchase automatically allows a customer to claim the 2017 Giving Journal.

Available in 4 colors—rose, turquoise, purple and gray, the Giving Journal is a useful planner and a medium for generosity where you can begin writing the beautiful story of your own Giving Journey.


Throughout the pages of the 2017 Giving Journal, every individual will find inspiration to brew their best year yet by becoming the best version of themselves, by making a positive difference in the world and living a life full of love and service for others.

The Real LIFE Foundation, an organization committed to serving the poor through education, character development, and community service. Centered on supporting Real LIFE’s hopeful mission, every Giving Journal redeemed throughout the holiday season will enable the dreams of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®’s scholars to take flight. By supporting their educational needs, you bring them one step closer to achieving their goals, enabling their dreams to take flight.

Finally! This swatch fest is way long overdue. (I know, but hey its here. LOL) I've had this palette for over a year now and it has been my go-to eyeshadow palette for any occasion. Whether its for a glam look for an evening night out or a simple day time makeup for the office. This palette just does it for me and has never failed to amaze me, it's just so practical and versatile at the same time.


Here is a look on the palette up close. You may have noticed that the photos are a bit gloomy, I adjusted it so the colors in the palette would show like how they look like in real life.



What I like about it...
* affordable for a high end brand
* extremely pigmented, I swear!
* has a mix of both matte, satin and shimmer eye shadows
* has buttery smooth texture
* no eyeshadow fallout
* the color lasts all day long even without an eye primer
* contains a good amount of product per pan
* has an elegant and sleek packaging

What I don't like...
* can't think of any, I just love this palette and the eye primer is a plus!

My rating: 5 / 5

and Oh before I forgot, since this is not available locally here in the Philippines. I pre-ordered this from one of my trusted Cebu-based sellers, you can find them on Instagram @cebumakeuponline. It retails for $42 in the US and I got it for Php 2,300 at the time.


I have already mentioned the Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette a couple of times before and I have also featured this on my Makeup Favorites 2015 at the start of this year. I still feel the same way about this palette and I guess this will be my favorite for years to come. It is the only eyeshadow palette I own, where I have used every single one of the colors in the palette. (it is that versatile!)

I also mentioned that it is extremely pigmented. Which explains why my photos of palette still looks like it is brand new when in fact I have been using it several times already. Just because, I only need to use a tiny amount with a light hand when dipping my brushes in the eye shadow pan.


So if you ladies, do come across this palette. I would highly recommend it. I swear you won't regret it. Also, please let me know if you want me to make a tutorial or create different looks with this palette. I'd love to know what kind of look you want to see.

Until next time.

Cherrios!
***Hollie***

I finally had a chance to shop at Beautymnl.com for the first time. And it simply was a terrific experience. I've been stalking their site ever since it went online. However, initially when they just started on their first year, they were only shipping products in Manila area. (that was a bummer!) So, I moved on and but still browse their website once in a while, just to check out what products they currently offer.

Anyway, I'd like to talk a little bit more about my shopping experience at Beautymnl. When I found out that they already offer shipping nationwide, I immediately registered and created an account and the rest is history...lol


The site is very easy to navigate and the products are categorised properly. It has a search tool as well. I also appreciate that, when I visit the site I can see right away their current sales, promotions and featured products. Aside from drugstore skin care and makeup, they also offer a lot of products from mid-range to high-end brands.

When I find that product I wanted, for example a lipstick. All the details I need to know are there. This includes the product description, how to use, reviews and even swatches for the lipsticks. Which is actually quite helpful in picking out shades.

If you notice, the lipsticks have been swatched using different skin tones, so you'll immediately get a good idea on how your lipstick would look like. I frequently shop online, and a lot of the beauty sites normally do not provide very detailed information about their products. So I really appreciate little things like this.

The ordering process was quite simple. I can remove items in my cart if I want to change something. Once I checked out, I was relieved that they also accept paypal, which a really big plus for me.

I then received an email confirmation regarding my order. Once processed, I received another email when it was shipped, including the tracking number. It arrived in 3 working days for me ( which is actually good and pretty normal) since I live in Cebu.


I had my orders delivered to my office address and didn't have problems with the package. It was bubbled wrapped neatly inside a zip-lock type of plastic that has the site logo on it.


I just bought, products that I actually needed at the time. I got my go to everyday toner, the Celeteque Hydration Alcohol-free toner. I just ran out of my body lotion, so I got the Celeteque Brightening Radiance Body Cream.

I have been wanting to try a couple of products from Maybelline as well, so I got the Maybelline Rocket Mascara and the Maybelline Fit Me Concelaer in Medium.

The Beautymnl website often offers sales and discounts, so you'd really save more plus you can get free shipping for orders Php2,000 and above.


If you like taking selfies (hihi we looove selfies!), join their #selfieMNL contest! Get a chance to win a Printster polaroid of your pretty face and a PHP200 BeautyMNL GC. Click here for the complete details.

So, overall I would highly recommend this website for all pinay beauty fanatics. They sell 100% authentic products, hassle-free transaction and fast shipping. Definitely Hollie approved!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Yes ladies and gents, Mcdo McSpicy Burger is back! for a limited time only. Never thought I'd be this excited for a fast food burger. LOL (but for a chicken lover like me, it's probably normal).

Anyway, I've had the chance to join the Cebu Bloggers Society Basic SEO minitalk last October 15 at McDonald's IT Park Teleperformance Branch. I've learned so much within a few hours of that event and enjoyed it even more while munching on my Mcspicy Burger. hahaha


What I really enjoyed the most about the Mcspicy, is it does not heat up my tongue. The spice is just enough to make the deep fried chicken really flavourful. So, if you're not a fan of hot and spicy food, you might like this. It's really mild, I swear.


It is best paired with a McFloat and their Shake Shake Fries! I was honestly surprised with the Garlic Butter flavor, never thought it'd be really tasty. Made me look forward to try other flavors as well.

During our short discussion over SEO, I've learned so many tips from Ian of Freedom Wall to help my blog become more optimised. That includes learning some free tools to use. Like Google Analytics, Google Webmasters, Google Pagespeed Insights and a lot more.


We also had a chance to learn more about Branding from the ever fabulous Ukay Ukay Diva, Alem. He shared with us he experience and how he started his blog which inspired me to think of new ideas for the growth of my own blog.


Do try McSpicy Sandwich/Burger if you happen to drop by McDonald's, you'll love it.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

It's been a while since I posted a perfume round up. Just really wanted to share with you what my current perfume choices are for this year. I don't wear them for a specific season, I simply rotate them depending on my mood. And yes, I do wear perfume everyday...hehe

I am a fan of light scented fragrances. Normally, my perfume choices have fresh, citrus, floral and a hint of fruity notes. I'm always drawn this kind of scents, so basically others would refer to them as summer fragrances. However, I use them all year long. hahaha

I've posted some perfume empties before, you can check it out HERE. However, I haven't had the chance to post all of my perfume empties though. I really wanted to, so you'll have an idea on what perfumes and fragrances I've tried before. I used to just stick with Clinique Happy and repurchased the same scent over and over, until I finally decided to try other brands. I then became hooked with trying out new fragrances every time I ran out of perfume.


I'll start from left to right based on the photo above.

First is the DKNY Be Delicious (original). This is a bright, fresh and energetic fragrance. The top features green notes, violet leaf, apple, grapefruit and magnolia. You can read my full review HERE. I really like that this lasts the whole day on me.

Next is the Victoria's Secret Dream Angels Kiss. I got this as my birthday present last April 2016 from my Husband. I'm actually surprised that I fell in love with the scent so much, that I wore it straight for the whole month. It's a very refreshing scent that is perfect for summer. It's a feminine fragrance composed of pink floral petals, mint leaves and osmanthus. The only downside to this scent is the longevity. Only lasts 4 to 5 hours on me.

Then there's the Tory Burch, The First Fragrance. This is her first perfume, launched along with a make-up line last September 2013. Top notes are grapefruit, pink pepper, currant buds and leaves, mandarin and neroli. The middle notes blooms with peony, tuberose, mimosa, jasmine, carrot seed and sweet alyssum, on a base composed of vetiver, cedar, sandalwood and white musk. It's a really light scent that I like to wear on chill days (days that I have no work, no errands, and just hang out with friends over coffee...hahaha). I got this last 2015 when they launched here in Cebu. You can check my post about the Tory Burch beauty and fragrance collection HERE. This lasts for only 5 hours on me.

Followed by Versace Yellow Diamond. I first got a whiff of this scent from one of my Besties. I asked her what she was wearing, and I was sold. I always get compliments every single time I wear this scent (seriously, for reals, no BS). Some of my friends even remembers the scent the next time I see them. The top notes, opens with luminous freshness of lemon, bergamot, neroli and pear sorbet. The middle notes features airy orange blossom, freesia, mimosa and water lily. The base notes are made of amber, precious musk and guaiac wood. This is actually my favourite scent among the bunch. In addition to that, the longevity is superb. It actually lasts the whole day on me and sometimes for a couple of days especially on my clothes.

Lastly, it's the Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh. I've been so curious about the Daisy fragrance for some time because of the really cute perfume bottle. Plus, I keep seeing it on my fellow beauty blogger's photos on Instagram. So, I finally tested the scents in the perfume counter and fell in love with the Daisy Eau So Fresh variant. It is a whole lot milder than the original Marc Jacobs Daisy and it's my first perfume that has more of the sweet floral notes on it. Top notes are grapefruit, green notes, raspberry and pear; middle notes are jasmine, rose, violet, lychee and apple blossom; base notes are musk, virginia cedar and plum. I normally wear this scent on Sundays, because it's so feminine and elegant, perfect for going to church...hehe

I would be delighted if you ladies share with me your favourite fragrances.

Source for the perfume description: http://www.fragrantica.com/

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Ever wondered, why I like shopping for beauty products online? Apart from the obvious reason, which is for convenience. I find that I can save more online since it normally has lower prices compared to malls. It always has sales, promos and coupons which I can use. And it almost always comes with samples or freebies. However, I recently found another way to save money while shopping for beauty products through ShopBack.

Why use ShopBack? 

Simple, EXTRA SAVINGS! They source the best deals and discounts for you, on fashion, travel, lifestyle and more! What’s more, they give you cashback on top of existing discounts and voucher codes – this means extra savings when you shop online through them at any of their merchant stores!

Some of the online stores like Althea (5% cashback), Sephora (up to 5% cashback) and StrawberryNET (4% cashback) are just few of the popular beauty merchants that are included in their list. So, you can just imagine how ecstatic I was when I saw Althea among the list since I love shopping for Korean beauty products at that website. SephoraPH, carries some of the most popular mid-range to high-end makeup brands which are really hard to find locally. Apart from skin care and makeup products, StrawberryNET also carries Perfume and Fragrances.

How does it work?

After registering and logging in to Shopback.ph, you just need to click on the merchant you want to shop with. If you can't find it, you can use the Search option on top to see if your online store is included in the list of Merchants.


After you've clicked on your preferred online store, you will then see a small window. You just need to click on the Shop Now button, which will then redirect you to the online store. You will see a similar screen on the photo above, while it is loading and preparing to redirect you to the site.


When you arrive in the site you will then see this small pop- up that says Cashback Activated. This will signify that your transaction, after checkout on this website will be credited with cashback.

Once your purchase is completed, you will then receive an email telling you how much cashback you've earned with your recent transaction and will also note how many days it will take to be credited to your ShopBack account. When your cashback reaches a minimum of P300, you can then request a payout. In my case I have set it to be deposited on my paypal account. So, I can use that money for even more makeup... LOL

I have already shopped a couple of times using my shopback account and currenty have P251.79 pesos worth of redeemable cashback. So, I am already getting close to the minimum threshold then I can request payout. woohoo!

If you want find out more about how ShopBack works, you may refer to this link https://www.shopback.ph/how-it-works.

Other Perks and Rewards

Shopback continuously provides coupons codes for their merchants, so you can use those codes to get discounts and get cashback on top of that! Excellent deal right!?!

Want your friends to love you? Another way to earn cashback points is by referring your friends. Simply share your ShopBack link on your social medai. Your friend will get P100 cashback and you also get P100 cashback on their first purchase. Cool Huh...


If you have understood how awesome ShopBack really is, you may use my REFERAL LINK if you wish to sign up now.

Happy Shopping ladies!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***