I really wanted this Bayo scalloped, gray top.

Although it was a little big for me (says the BF) and that they don't have my size anymore, I still wanted to get it and just have it altered. BUT, when I checked the tag, it there was no way I'm cashing out P990ish for this. I would rather add a few more hundred pesos and get something from Mango/Zara. I kinda hated myself because I wanted to support Filipino brands. However, the quality of this Bayo top wasn't worth the tag at all.

Bayo gray & white scallop top

I ended up buying the jeans instead. It had a thick and sturdy fabric with a good price to boot. And they had it in a size that fits me.

I'm not sure why I dropped by the store that day (I usually don't kasi. Maybe because this top caught my eye and I wanted to look like a mermaid for a change). I only buy Bayo goodies during their 50% OFF sale events. I feel that the store's putting on the REAL price tags on these days.

When we went out for our monthsary a couple of days ago, we were caught in a web of unfortunate events. Talk about tough luck. Amici's Cara Mia Mango Jubilee must've been the only saving grace that day (and a Motorola Defy, pala). Was it a horror story at The Old Spaghetti House SM North for us? Let's see...

As Lemony Snicketts Would Write It

First off, we were bypassed at a gas station after waiting in line for half an hour. Then, we almost got hit by a car who chose to ignore the 'right-of-way' rule. After so, we spent hours looking for parking at the mall and when we found our luck, another motorist unethically parked his ass over 'our space' as we made way for the outgoing vehicle.

The most unforgivable event must've been snacking on spaghetti w/ meatballs + lasagna at The Old Spaghetti House. We had high hopes for this Italian joint but we left the place VERY disappointed. It started with the oily onion rings "appetizer" (that was served along with the main dishes, would you believe! eh, appetizer nga eh, sana inuna at pinatagal ng onti yung pag serve ng spag and lasagna).

Onion Rings, 110PHP. Crispy, but majority of the onions are of poor quality. Yung tipong tinatapon mo sa sibuyas kasi makunat na. Not to mention it's too oily. Made me wish for a Carl's Jr onion rings tuloy
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The TOSH Horror Story

Spag's the boyfie's fave and lasagna's mine. Honestly, my dog Maxx's R.A.W. diet (consists of beef+veggies) must've tasted better than the meatballs we dug into. Ulk. Parang dogfood (sorry Maxx, no offense meant)! And the lasagna wasn't superb at all. It may have had that junky flavor I wanted, but it was too easy for me to tell twas prepared several days (or weeks! eep!) ago. I can already imagine how it got cryofreezed over time and was just revived c/o the good old microwave.

Spaghetti w/ meatballs. 150PHP. Noodles and sauce were okay. The meatballs?
Buti nalang al dente yung noodles at mapula yung sauce!
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We thought of ordering dessert afterwards. When we decided not to, it was perhaps the first rewarding move that day. Second rewarding move was heading to Amici (which was beside The Old Spaghetti House) to order our cara mia gelato ice cream. Third was probably going home with a Motorola Defy. Ooohlala.

Huge Lasagna, ~160PHP. I like the burst of flavour and the junky cheesey taste. If only it was served fresh. It may be huge but half of it went to Maxx's guts anyway.
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Happy Ever After

It may have been a bad start for a special day but it's all good that ice cream + android phone erased all that! Am I going back to The Old Spaghetti House? I actually like the interior --- it's so clean, homey and cozy; however, I went there to grab my fave Italian dishes (and these meals are relatively easy to whip, right?), got out disappointed, so, I'm not going back. Good thing we spent no more than 500 bucks (~$12) for the unsatisfactory food.

Recommendation

This place does not serve freshly-baked lasagna and spaghetti with meatballs all the time. If you're not a meatball/lasagna-lover, by all means, go try their other dishes. They actually have superb food prices, attentive and friendly staff & crew, and a very pleasant atmosphere inside the resto. However, if you love the stuff we ordered above, then you're on the road to wasting some few hundred pesos on The Old Spaghetti House, SM North. Getting what we paid for, you say? Nah, we got LESS of the cheap amount we shelled out when we ordered that weird triumvirate.

After learning that my current fave, Clinique moisture surge is not enough as a moisturizer per se (it's more of a sleeping pack--- the ones you put on top of a moisturizer to make it work optimally), i'm hunting for a replacement to my Clinique moisturizing gel. Perhaps, Soap and Glory might help.
(photos and product info below collected from boots.com and soapandglory.com)

High-rating Soap and Glory moisturizers

Soap and Glory is a UK-based company that has become internationally popular for their fragrant, effective and relatively cheap skincare and makeup products. Not to mention the very girly packaging plus a pretty website with a vintage kick.

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I'm currently eyeing four moisturizers. I need to zero-in on just ONE. Very, very difficult.

1. Soap & Glory Glow Job | Daily Radiance Moisturizing Lotion

Glow Job, 8.17GBP (~589PHP), 75mL

Product Promises:

An everyday glow-on moisture lotion with micro Bronzeburst™ beads built-in. The first formula of its kind, it’s fabulously fun to put on your face, and leaves you with a gorgeous, one-day only glow. Squeeze a pea-sized measure of Glow™ Job onto your fingertips, then rub together to release the bronze from inside the beads and blend. Apply to your face in upward circular motions then just get up and GLOW!

Active Ingredients:

Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Cellulose, Carbomer, Mannitol,Caprylyl Glycol, Methylparaben, Silica, Disodium Edta, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Butylparaben, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Barium Sulfate, Lecithin, Ethylparaben, Biosaccharide Gum-1, PEG-8, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Aroma / Flavor, Parfum (Fragrance), Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, PEG-75, Triethyl Citrate, Aqua (Water), Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Mica, CI 77492 (Iron Oxides)

2. Soap & Glory Night In Shining Armour | Night Cream

Night in Shining Armour, 12.26GBP (~883PHP), 50mL

Product Promises:

An amazing gravity battling face cream with proven WRINKLE-REDUCING SUPERPEPTIDE COMPLEX™ with oxygen boosters and EFA antioxidants. Includes scientifically tested levels of PROVEN ANTIWRINKLE REDUCING SUPERPEPTIDES™ that are:

- Significantly wrinkle reducing (-44%)

- Elasticity increasing (+9%)

- Skin firming (+9%)

- Skin smoothness improving (+20%)

(with twice daily use over 2 months)

Active Ingredients:

Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetradecyloctadecyl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf Extract, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Methylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Laureth-7, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Limonene, Dimethiconol, Ethylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Linalool, Citral, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, CI 15985 (Yellow 6), Retinyl Palmitate

3. Soap & Glory Clear Here | T-Zone Oil Control Daily Moisture Lotion

Clear Here, 8.17 GBP (~589php), 50mL

Product Promises:

Tired of clogged pores, shine, spots and blotches? Get your…. Clear Here™ T-Zone Oil Control Daily Facial Moisture Lotion. Cleverly formulated to help: Smooth & protect the skin, prevent blemishes, fight spot-causing bacteria, fight shine, reduce deep down pore clogging and shrink visible pore size.

Active Ingredients:

Parfum (Fragrance), Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Squalane, Nylon-12, Aqua (Water), C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Fomes Officinalis (Mushroom) Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Salicylic Acid, Pyridoxine HCl, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Zinc PCA, Buteth-3, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Limonene, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tributyl Citrate, Amyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, CI 42090 (Blue 1)

4. Soap & Glory Catch A Wrinkle In Time | Age-Avoiding Moisturizer

Catch A Wrinkle In Time, 10.21GBP (~735PHP), 50mL

Product Promises:

It is super lightweight but deep-sinking. A creme de les cremes. A moisturising day cream engineered with an unparalleled Swiss-developed anti-aging complex that blends natural sun filters, high performance hydrators and clinically proven collagen stimulating tri-peptides, to smooth away wrinkles, rejuvenate, firm and protect your skin. After user trial testing, we were inundated with reports of softer, smoother skin and visible reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

Active Ingredients:

Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Phenyl Trimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Aqua (Water), Butylparaben, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Limonene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylparaben, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, PEG-8, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Aroma (Flavor), Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linalool, BHT, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 16035 (Red 40)

Puns can be very interesting, eh? I love the product names, haha. I'd really want to give in to Soap & Glory's Catch a Wrinkle in Time since it has the best reviews. However, I plan to use a dimethicone-free moisturizer. And only Clear Here among the four is dimethicone-free.

Happy Sunday, everyone! Nancy Zhang pioneers The Beauty Bin's new series called, 'Clothstruck', a chain of fashion posts dedicated to the fashionable people I adore.

If you frequent Lookbook, you might agree with me that Nancy Z is probably among the site's hot tickets. I love her because she inspires me to draw despite the fact that art is my weakest point and that I've always thought of myself unfit to sketch. I adore her style and her lovely illustrations:

Dress, H&M | Sunglasses, Topshop

She restyles the H&M dress seen in the first photo above with a less
chunkier necklace + sans the trench coat

Blazer, Hugo Boss | Shoes, Jill Sander | Shorts, APC

Some of her looks that are wearable in our country's kind of weather are:

Don't you just wanna pick up that pen and sketch? Nancy Z is such an adorable artist in my opinion. She currently has 180ish looks on Lookbook that you may want to check out further.