The Bitch is back!

First Impression: Casey Crazy

First Impression 7/27/2015 09:24:00 AM

Casey Crazy is a new online smart phone case retailer here in the Philippines. Their quirky and sophisticated cases definitely raise the competition up a notch against other similar merchants. The website is easy to use but rather boring to look at. Hopefully, aesthetic improvements are on the works. Here are some of items in their launch line that caught my attention:

Marble Black

Marble White

Must Visit List

New York

Pixie Matte

Path

Pixie Opaque

Radial Black

If printed cases are not your thing, then maybe these tag line cases will tickle your fancy.

Babe is busy

Do what you love

WTF

Or maybe the quirky ones will suit your taste?

Lemons 1

Cupcakes 2

Hippo 1

Images courtesy of www.caseycrazy.com

Casey Crazy cases sell at $24.49 USD a piece, or roughly 1102.05 PHP, which might be a little steep for some but as a launch promo and a limited time offer, they are giving a 20% discount for those who are interested to purchase their merchandise. Here are some of the things that you need to know:

The phone cases are available only for iPhone 4, 5, and 6; Samsung S3, S4, S5, Note 2, 3, and 4. The clear/transparent cases are available only for iPhone 5 and 6.
Casey Crazy ships worldwide. They offering free shipping for customers in the Philippines, and a minimum of 3 cases to avail free international shipping. Standard international shipping is $6 USD.
Items are pre-order. They produce a case when a customer orders.
The snap-on type cases are made of hard plastic from the same material used by Belkin.
The design is printed on the back and sides of the case (3D) using a thermal technology from Korea.

And if you're feeling creative enough, you could customize your own case! On the order confirmation email, there should be a button where an image could be attached. Obviously you need to order the customized case and not the pre-designed ones. It would be nice if they have an in-house designer for those who have 0% design skill like myself. And just in case you're wondering, any image would do (even if it's a picture) as long as the resolution is big. A 300 dpi file will produce the best result, from what I was told. But do contact them for more information about customizing. This is the design template for your reference:

To know more about ordering, payment options, and order production, click here for their FAQs page. Click here to go to their website or follow @caseycrazyph on Instagram.

Share |

Product Review: Ahglow Keratin Hair Protek (Hortaleza Series)

Beauty 7/21/2015 04:53:00 AM

Hortaleza is known to be one of, if not the pioneer for beauty and wellness stores here in the Philippines. Fellow kikays will surely understand why I feel like a child inside a candy shop whenever visiting a branch. I must admit, aside from Watson's, this is my happy place. I ran out of heat protecting spray so I decided to purchase the Ahglow Keratin Hair Protek hair spray during a recent trip to Hortaleza. After several uses, here's my personal opinion on this product:

For Php173 you get 120 mL of product. It promises to restore keratin; help repair/seal damaged tresses; and make the hair smooth, silky, shiny and straight. The "straight" part is obviously not true. This product will not make your hair straight.

The instructions are quite simple. It says: "after relaxing the hair rinse and blow dry. Spray Keratin Hair Protek all over the hair and comb to spread evenly. Blow dry very well, then iron hair.

While some spray nozzles start malfunctioning after several uses, surprisingly this one didn't after heavy pumping.

Pros:

Inexpensive
Easy to use
Smells decent
Mist is very fine and even - distributes product evenly
Hair looks healthier when used prior to heat styling
Significantly reduced static

Cons:

Hair feels a little heavy
Has devolumizing effects

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Note: Effects may vary depending on hair type, condition, length, and other external factors.

The only thing I don't like about this product is the fact that I can't use it within two months after rebonding as it makes my hair look stick-straight due to the cons I listed above. Looks like I'm going to have to find an alternative for that specific period. Otherwise, I am very pleased with the results after using it. Definitely something that should have space on your racks!

Do you experience the same pros and cons when using this product? Comment below! Click here to read my review on TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-in Spray.

Share |

Product Review: EpSA PRO Flat Hair Iron

Beauty 7/14/2015 02:19:00 PM

I've been using and abusing the JML PRO Ceramic Hair Straightener I purchased from Watson's almost a decade ago. I love it dearly however, it was about time for the unit to retire. It definitely served it's purpose and served me well. So I recently picked up the EpSA Amber PRO Flat Hair Iron. I never intended on posting this topic however after getting a lot of questions about it, I figured maybe a product review will be better than answering each query individually.

I got mine for Php 1200 (excluding SF) from BelNikShoppe, an instagram seller. Note that price is subject to change without prior notice. Click here to view the seller's IG profile.

You won't find fancy pictures on the box. Just the brand's logo/name and a line saying "Titanium plates anti static to reduce frizziness reduces damage to hair." There was a little bit of struggle reading and understanding that. I mean come on, is it too hard to insert punctuation marks?!? Edit much?!?

Do these plates look titanium to you? Nope, didn't think so.

The width is quite small as you can see, it can only cover my pinky and ring finger.

It has 5 heat settings. Very easy to change from one temperature to another.

While a lot of people will be bothered with that very obvious gap, I wasn't. I have a firm grip and can press evenly so I didn't mind. Maybe it was a factory defect? Maybe the other units don't have it?

I could tell that the product is made to last just by looking at the cord. And oh, no need for an adapter!!!

Its ergonomic design makes it suitable for personal and professional use. Look at that thumb grip! I don't see this in a lot of well known brands.

It is very easy to handle and secure. Even when I'm not looking, I can still find the right way to hold it regardless of the hand I'm using.

I love this built in hook - making it easy to hang the unit somewhere accessible and far away from getting someone (or something) burned. Wish they made the material thicker though.

Pros:

Inexpensive
Easy to hold and use
Lightweight
Curved edges allow easy curling
Heats up quickly even when changing settings
Seems durable

Cons:

Plates are too small
Doesn't indicate if "titanium" plates can be used on wet hair (though I wouldn't use it for that purpose anyway)
Moderate cool down time

Image courtesy of http://www.canterlotradio.com/?cat=20&paged=2

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I highly recommend this product especially for those who do not want to comprise quality even with a tight budget. I hope this review helped any readers out there looking to buy this flat iron. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me, information is in my bio.

Have you purchased yours? How did you find it? Comment and let me know!

Share |

Learning the Starbucks Way

How-To 7/06/2015 07:41:00 AM

In my industry, even with the advent of milk tea, coffee is STILL and will ALWAYS be a MUST. I just couldn't think of how I would survive my day without coffee. It doesn't have to be Starbucks everyday, for all I care it could be Nescafe 3-in-1. Point is, I just need to get my daily dose of caffeine especially after getting up from bed.

Can you fill up all those boxes? It's OK if you can't! I'm here to teach you how. Afraid to go to Starbucks without anyone ordering for you because you think you'd be judged? Don't worry, the baristas won't (but I know some patrons and would). And just to clarify things, Starbucks is NOT sosyal. It's just another coffee shop, no big deal. While some like CBTL or Seattle's Best, I prefer Starbucks. I've been a regular since 2004.

At Starbucks you can have your coffee just the way you want it. For example, if you like nonfat milk and vanilla syrup in your Cappuccino, just ask the barista. If you’re not sure what to order, here’s a glossary to get you started. This is the first installment of this five-part blog series.

Image courtesy of http://www.evoyage.com/Glossary.htm

Americano: A coffee made with two shots of espresso and hot water.

Cappuccino: The perfect Cappuccino achieves a delicate balance between the strong espresso flavor and a thick layer of sweet, velvety foam.

Con Panna: Italian for “with whipped cream” and hot water.

Cream: This refers to a coffee-free beverage, such as a Vanilla Frappuccino® Blended Cream.

Decaf: Abbreviation for “decaffeinated” coffee or espresso.

Demitasse: French for “half cup” – it’s the little cup used to serve espresso.

Doppio: Italian for “double,” referring to the two-shot espresso beverage served in a demitasse cup.

Double: Two shots of espresso in a drink.

Drip Coffee: Premium Starbucks coffee brewed in an electric filter machine.

Dry: More foam, less milk.

Espresso: Coffee’s purest, most intense form.

For-here cup: A ceramic cup for enjoying your drink in the store.

Frappuccino® blended beverage: A delicious, icy and smooth drink made only at Starbucks.

Grande: Starbucks' second-largest cup size, 16 fl oz.

Half-caf: One shot of regular and one shot of decaffeinated espresso.

Latter: A drink made with espresso and steamed milk.

Light: A smaller amount of an ingredient in a drink, such as “light syrup” or “light whip.” It also refers to Frappuccino® light blended beverages with fewer calories.

Macchiato: Italian for “marked” or “stained.” This drink is espresso topped with a tablespoon of foamed milk.

Misto: Italian for “mixed” – a combination of drip coffee and steamed milk.

Mocha: A drink made with espresso, chocolate and steamed milk.

Personal Cup: a reusable cup you can bring into the store, or otherwise called by the majority as "tumblers." It’s an environmentally friendly way to enjoy your drink. Plus you get a few pesos off the price of your drink for helping conserve paper.

Quad: Four shots of espresso in a drink.

Ristretto: A ristretto shot is a short pull of espresso capturing only the sweetest part.

Shaken: Tea or coffee mixed with ice and shaken by hand for a refreshing flavor.

Short: Starbucks' smallest beverage size, 8 fl oz.

Single: One shot of espresso in a drink.

Solo: One shot of espresso, by itself.

Tall: Starbucks' regular beverage size, 12 fl oz.

To-go cup: A paper/plastic cup used for enjoying a drink in or out of the store.

Triple: Three shots of espresso in a drink.

Venti: Starbucks' largest cup size, 20 fl oz.

Wet: More milk less foam.

Whip: An abbreviation of “whipped cream.”

Do you know of any other terms? Comment and share your knowledge!

Click HERE for part 2 (Espresso choices)
Click HERE for part 3 (Syrup and Milk options)
Click HERE for part 4 (Other Choices)
Click HERE for part 5 (Ready To Order)

Source: "Find Your Favorite - A guide to Starbucks® drinks" booklet 2005
Note: List may be different per country.

Share |

Product Review: Casa Cellophane (Watsons Series)

Beauty 6/26/2015 03:05:00 PM

Image courtesy of https://ladybug026.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/pharmacy-internship-watsons-philippines-list-of-qualified-students-in-national-university2012-summer/

Do you use hot tools almost every single day? I do. Are you tired of wasting precious time and money on salon treatments that do not always work? I am. My goal this year: to find the most effective yet affordable at-home hair treatment product.

This is part 2 of my Watsons hair treatment product review series. Click here to read about part 1 (product reviewed: Hair Fix Intense Straight) or click the Watsons label located at the right hand side of the page.

This is about as close as I can get to dying. My stylist finds it puzzling that my hair can take so much heat and chemicals from hours of rebonding but can't bear permanent color application even for just a few minutes.

Priced a little over Php200 (if my memory serves me right), it includes a tube of the actual product, a pair of plastic gloves, and a plastic hair cap. I wish there more pairs of gloves - obviously I can't finish this whole tube in one treatment session, and I highly doubt anyone would.

Casa Cellophane claims to deliver temporary hair color and deep conditioning effects for extra shine and softness. It is ammonia and peroxide free which makes it safe for colored hair. Available in two shades, I purchased the lighter one which is ash brown.

The directions say: "After shampoo, towel off excess water. Apply the cream onto hair making sure the hair is fully covered with cream. Wrap the hair in warm moist towel or use a shower cap. Leave on for about 45 minutes. Rinse hair thoroughly with water. Style as desired." Could use a little bit of editing right?

The consistency is like that of our local conditioners, only pigmented. It felt awkward using the plastic gloves so I chose to apply the product with bare hands. Major regret afterwards!!! The stain is very hard to remove, even after using alcohol and washing several times so be warned.

Day of first treatment session. Shampoo was used. Minimal heat styling involved.

The result was impressive. My hair felt silkier and smoother. It did provide extra shine. Heat styling was easier after using this product compared to others. The ends didn't feel dry as well.

Second treatment session after one week. Shampoo was used. Minimal heat styling involved.

My hair felt relatively lighter after the second use. And it looked better too!

Two weeks after 2nd session. Minimal heat styling involved.

The product gave favorable results, but not as good as the second treatment session. It was as if this was the first time I've used it.

Pros:

Easy to use
Smells good
Can be used several times depending on hair type and length
May produce promising results after weeks of continued use
Great for relaxed/rebonded hair

Cons:

Can be very messy, best if applied by someone else
Hard to remove color stain from hands
Color is not as visible compared to cellophane done in a salon
Gives better results if used on a weekly basis (otherwise you're back to square one)
Price (a hair treatment session with better results at a local salon in my area starts at Php300)

Image courtesy of http://www.deliciousreads.com/2015/01/book-review-eye-of-minds-by-james.html

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Note: Effects may vary depending on hair type, condition, length, and other external factors.

The cons offset the number of pros. Casa does very well in treating my dry hair but it lacks in the color department. I will repurchase only if I can commit a weekly session until the tube is emptied. If you're after the color enhancing traits of a cellophane aside from its treatment capabilities, a salon visit may be more beneficial.

Share |

Pasig City E-Trike

Environment 6/19/2015 01:47:00 PM

Sometime around early May, I was on my way home when I got to ride Pasig City's first ever E-Trike. It was a different kind of experience, being that I was used to smaller tricycles here in my area. And boy did I feel like a princess! Everyone was looking at me! Uhm... Actually they were looking at the vehicle.

This is my view from the inside. If my memory serves me right, it can reach speeds up to 30 or 40 km/hr, which is good as it will prevent drivers from over speeding. Have you seen a trike na humaharurot? More so have you ever ridden one with a driver from hell? I did and it was scary as f*#k.

Just look at that spacious leg room! This is probably the most comfortable trike ride I've ever had. Besides my seat which is big enough for 2 people, there's also another one (can fit 2 more) that folds up. It is partially visible in this picture.

Since it was only on it's third day of operation, the sticker that identifies the "TODA" was not yet available.

I think the tires are too small. There's definitely some kind of mechanical reason as to why they used such a size.

Virgilio Soriso, the very humble and friendly president of MERSANTODA gave me the scoop on this vehicle (besides willingly posing for a picture).

The vehicle charges for at least a day and can be used up to 8 hours.
Fare is the same.
The first batch of E-trikes (less than 10 units) were provided to presidents of selected TODAs. I didn't ask if it was given or if they had to pay for it.
Operators who are willing to switch to this unit will be accommodated by the local government from what I was told. Maybe they will be provided with financial assistance or reasonable terms to pay for it? I'm pretty sure the price tag isn't cheap.

I understand that some drivers may not find it appealing because of time restrictions since most of them go beyond 8 hours of operation just to provide for their families. But why not keep it as the primary means of transport then switch to the gas-powered ones afterwards? That's still 8 hours of not emitting harmful gases to the atmosphere. Imagine how the air around us will be different if there were a multitude of these.

I am also aware that demand for electricity will go up if more operators use them, and that could be a whole other issue. However it will surely address some of our current environmental concerns. That argument alone should be enough reason to promote this vehicle. Hopefully, we got to see more of them soon.

Did you get a chance to experience riding an e-Jeep operating somewhere here in the Metro? Have you ever seen any similar vehicles around here? Comment and share your thoughts!

Share |

Pages

The Bitch is back!

First Impression: Casey Crazy

Product Review: Ahglow Keratin Hair Protek (Hortaleza Series)

Product Review: EpSA PRO Flat Hair Iron

Learning the Starbucks Way

Product Review: Casa Cellophane (Watsons Series)

Pasig City E-Trike

Mabuhay! Welcome!

Follow Me

Copyright

recent posts

Nuffnang Ads

Zalora Philippines

Featured Post

Learning the Starbucks Way: Ready to Order?

Labels

POPULAR POSTS

Blog Archive

Search This Blog

Zalora Philippines

Zalora Philippines

Zalora Philippines