His and Hers

Being married, my husband and I have collectively owned “His & Hers” stuff overtime. These are items that we have or bought over the years that are matching or in Filipino terms, items that are “terno.” It’s corny to have matching stuff but I personally think it’s cute. It brings out the kindergarten or high school romance in our marriage.

Here they are (not in any specific order):

1) Our “His and Hers” matching iPod. Well, not necessarily…My husband’s iPod has more memory (it’s a 160G), supposedly that is. Not since he downloaded his 40,000+ music... Now he is left with zero memory.

Another difference is my iPod has my name engraved at the back. I’ve had this since 2004 when I didn’t really care for gadgets. I received it as a birthday present from my hubby. We---my sister in-law, mother in-law and I --- bought my husband’s iPod as a Christmas or birthday present (I think).  We use to have matching cases until my husband decided to get a clear case.  My iPod’s screen is actually cracked but I am not planning on replacing it until it dies on me lol. I just love that it has my name engraved at the back.

                     

2) “I heart /love you” and “You heart/love me” matching teddy bear key chains that my aunt (Tita Ish) gave us on my Despedida de Soltera.  I think this is the oldest “His and Hers” item we have. We looooove it. It’s so cute and adorable. Very thoughtful! Everywhere we go we have a sweet little reminder of our lovingly ways. Along with this we have matching key chain tags like Stop N’Shop, Shop Rite and Pet Smart, etc. We also have matching keys of every single keys that we have like our house keys, mailbox key and luggage keys, etc. so that whatever happens one of us will always have a spare key.

3) Our “His and Hers” iPhone with matching cases.

  

We love our iPhone and we are equally addicted to it and disappointed that right after we bought our iPhones they released a newer iPhone. How sad! Oh well!

4) Our matching Puma Sneakers which we gifted each other on our first Christmas together in 2005. As you can see they are very worn out. 

5) Our matching box organizers/containers on top of office desk to store our knick knacks.

6) Our matching striped towels.
 

7) Our matching electric toothbrushes.
 

8) Our matching Havainas flip-flops.       
 

9) Our “His and Hers” bed side, I mean that in the most literal sense. We bought this bed with a mattress customized to our individual needs. The mattress is actually halved right down to the middle. My side which is Series 600 in green is much softer while my husband’s side which is the Series 600 in blue is tougher to accommodate his back pains. Isn’t this bed awesome?    

Now, I can’t wait to have our “His and Hers” bathroom lol. Now, that would be stretching it wouldn’t it?  What about you do you find yourself and your significant other collecting “His and Hers” items? What’s in your collection?

"Cleanliness is next to godliness..."

So, ok I must admit I strictly abide to the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” This is also one of the reasons why I came up with quotes like “Dirtiness is next to ugliness” or “Oiliness is next to ugliness.” I know, I know, I am once again unleashing how shallow, OC (obsessive compulsive) and a germaphobe I am but nowadays you can never be sure with all of the germs and bacteria lurching around. We all have our own quirks and as the saying goes, “to each is his own.” Well, my quirks revolve around cleanliness and how petrified I am of germs and dirt.

I guess I would have to attribute this to my grandmother, Lola “Dy” short for “Lidy” (God bless her soul), who was deathly afraid of germs and bacteria herself. I would say a portion of the earnings of the rubbing alcohol and toilet paper industry in the Philippines came from her when she was still living. There are so many stories to tell about her and I mean that in a loving way but I will not go into all of that right now I will write more about her in the future.

While, some people have a stick of butter, eggs and a bottle of milk included as the basic staples of their grocery list, Lola Dy’s grocery list included a bottle of rubbing alcohol and rolls of toilet paper. The brand of rubbing alcohol she used then was “Rhea” rubbing alcohol. I wondered why she preferred “Rhea” and not “Green Cross” rubbing alcohol which was a bigger brand in the Philippines then. Perhaps, “Rhea” smelled better than “Green Cross and “Rhea” smelled less medicinal? Hmmmm… As for her toilet paper she preferred buying “Joy” toilet paper which was a brand in the Philippines too. I wonder if both these brands still exist in the Philippines (lol) that’s something to talk about another time.

Back to Lola Dy. Lola Dy, would never allow us to touch her unless we cleansed our hands with rubbing alcohol. She would never pick anything not unless she used a toilet a paper as a cover, meaning she will not let her hand directly touch an object she would have to use a toilet paper and pick it up with a toilet paper. And if ever she picked up an object directly she would have to douse it with rubbing alcohol. She will never allow an object to directly touch her hands nor skin without sanitizing it. Let’s say she had a phone call, before she picks the phone she will wipe it thoroughly with a toilet paper wet with rubbing alcohol and she will do the same with the chair that she’ll be sitting on (will occasionally nix the alcohol and just use a toilet paper to cleanse the sitting area). I’m sure you get the picture.

With that said, I am proud to say that I have a little Lola Dy in me. I don’t go around using rubbing alcohol or toilet paper on everything single thing that I touch but I am not going to deny that I occasionally use rubber gloves when I’m cleaning and feel eeky about touching something. And I always wash my hands after touching something that I think is dirty; after going to the bathroom and before eating. If I am outside of our home, I always use a hand sanitizer as need be.


Thank God for the convenience of hand sanitizers. I remember when I was first introduced to hand sanitizers; I think I was a sophomore in college back in 1997 (this was in Manila of course). One of my block mates has been using a“Bath and Body Works” raspberry hand sanitizer. She would frequently use it. So I was curious about it and asked her if I could have some. So I did! Ah, I loved it! It was a far cry from rubbing alcohols. It smelled fruity in a pink gel form. It also did not dry your hands. I was instantly hooked. Since then I asked my mom (who was a flight attendant then) to get me some when she flew back to the the states. Ah to my surprise, it came in a variety of scents: apple, vanilla and raspberry, etc.

But then my mom lost her job and I consequently lost my source for my “Bath and Body Works” hand sanitizers. Luckily, Bench (clothing company in the Philippines) started their own line of hand sanitizers which is called “Alcogel.” The “Alcogel” hand sanitizers weren’t as fancy and girly as  “Bath and Body Works” hand sanitizers but they did serve their purpose which was to keep me clean and free from germs so they were good enough. And soon after, they started selling “Bath and Body Works” hand sanitizers in the Philippines anyways so it wasn’t like I was missing on anything.

I have been using hand sanitizers since then. I would always have a bottle in my bag and another bottle stashed in my work desk (when I was still working). Hand sanitizers have become one of the basic necessities in our household. My husband has also become a fan of using them and has a bottle of “Bath and Body Works” sparkling peach hand sanitizer is his office bag. We have hand sanitizers in almost every corner of our home: our bedroom, living room and office. I’ve also stashed a small bottle of hand sanitizer in our car (just in case).

What about you? Do you use hand sanitizers? What’s your take on hand sanitizers?

                                                                                                                                                     

Getting to know Pinay...

You've been tagged; you have the honor of copying all these goofy questions, writing your own response, and tagging 25 other victims. You have to tag me so really you just need 24 more people. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you - but not in a creepy stalker kind of way.


1. What time did you get up this morning?
-Around 2 pm EST (I am unemployed...so there)


2. How do you like your steak?
-Medium-rare

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
-I think it was “Confessions of a Shopaholic”

4. What is your favorite TV show?
-Currently, Big Brother 11

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
-Makati, Philippines (home is where the heart is)

6. What did you have for breakfast?
-A glassful of ice and diet coke

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
-Filipino (comfort food)

8. What foods do you dislike?
-Chinese take-out here in NJ (because they can really be so gross and not sure how sanitary the restaurant was and they usually include hair on my food which is a pet-peeve of mine)

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
-I guess Pandan Restaurant in Bloomfield, NJ (which is the closest and cleanest Filipino restaurant in our vicinity. I don’t necessarily eat in the restaurant but we always order food here for pick up)

10. Favorite dressing?
-Caesar (my own version)

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
-A Toyota sedan (I think that’s what you call it. Gotta love Toyota I’ve been driving a Toyota all my driving life)

12. What are your favorite clothes?
-Jeans, long skirts and long dresses

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
-Somewhere in Europe

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
-Ok, I’m just going to say full because I have to remain positive no matter what

15. Where would you want to retire?
-Makati, Philippines (where I can live with the comforts of being a “Donya” with a maid lol)

16. Favorite time of day?
-Around 5-6pm

17. Where were you born?
-Manila, Philippines

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
-I’m really not into sports but I guess baseball especially when it’s Red Sox vs. Yankees (gotta love the Red Sox just to spite my hubby)

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
-No idea because I’m not tagging anyone lol

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
-No idea because again I’m not tagging anyone

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
-Random people...

22. Bird watcher?
-Not really haven’t really had the opportunity to try it

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?

-Nowadays, night person

24. Do you have any pets?

-Yes, my lovable dog:  Sasha the Dog

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
-I'm currently unemployed but I am hopeful of what the future brings. As the saying goes, the best is yet to come...

26. What did you want to be when you were little (smaller)?
-Doctor
-Nun
-Newscaster
-Lawyer

27. What is your best childhood memory?
-Playing with my older brother and neighbors pretending we were the Thunder Cats (I think I was Cheetara) or we were the Bio Man (I was Yellow 4) near the village basket ball court area and throwing dirt (as in soil dirt) on each other. I remember going home with a lot of dirt on my hair.

28. Are you a cat or dog person
-Dog person, I dislike cats

29. Are you married
-Yes, happily

30. Always wear your seat belt?
-Yes, click it or ticket!

31. Been in a car accident?
-Last year, my car was sandwiched because someone hit me really hard from behind while my car was stop. I saw how fast this person was driving his car from my rear-view mirror. I was really scared. I thought I was going to die. I never thought that I would be afraid to drive again.

32. Any pet peeves?
-dirty bathrooms
-hair on my food
-a person sitting next to me who continuously shakes his leg which reverberates
-nail biting
-unkempt nails
-couch and homes smelling like dogs with a lot of unwanted dog hair.
-misfires in the toilet seat or pubic hair in the toilet seat.
-hair collected overtime in shower drain
-spit in the sink or toothpaste remnants left on the sink
-a person smelling like an ash tray
-unhygienic people (dirtiness and oiliness is next to ugliness)
-chewing food with mouth open (like a goat)
-leaving fecal remnants in the toilet
-not flushing the toilet (shows a lot about upbringing kids lol)
-touching food with unwashed hands (Lord knows where they’ve been)
-nouveau riche individuals
-haters

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
-My favorite is Foschini’s Brick Oven Margherita Pizza (Lyndhurst, NJ)--- I think it they only put tomato paste/sauce and basil. I loooove it. It seems healthy because it’s not oily.

34. Favorite Flower?
-Tulips

35. Favorite ice cream?
-Currently, Ben & Jerry’s cinnamon bun ice cream

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
-Jollibee (I have yet to try the Jollibee that recently opened in Queens, NY

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
-In Manila, never! How could I when I was copying the answers off of a cheat sheet.

-Here in NJ, I failed the written test once. I was so lazy to study the whole damn friggin’ book. Luckily, a co-worker of mine gave me a cheat sheet that I could use to review. Needless to say I passed the test the 2nd time around with flying colors

38. From whom did you get your last email?
-I think it was a spam

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
-Louis Vuitton

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
-Yeah, I sent my husband’s former co-worker a message out of the blue about a job that he might be interested in

41. Like your job?
-No comment

42. Broccoli?
-Comme ci, comme ca. (best if it was beef and broccoli with oyster sauce lol)

43. What was your favorite vacation?
-I’m torn between Vegas’07 and Aruba’08

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
-My hubby

45. What are you listening to right now?
-The sound of the ceiling fan and my hubby snoring

46. What is your favorite color?
-Red

47. How many tattoos do you have?
-One too many

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
-No one

49. What time did you finish this quiz?
-4:41 am

50. Coffee Drinker?
-Not lately

Pinay ~ "Lashes"

Growing up I’ve always been obsessed in making my eyelashes extra curly and long, thus, I was always on the quest for finding the best eye mascara there is. I think I started using eye mascara when I was still a freshman in high school. I remember using the clear (colorless/transparent) ones because this was the only kind of mascara my mom would allow me to use so I looked au natural. And so it became part of my daily routine until one of my classmates in freshmen year mentioned, “Parang may muta ka sa eyelashes mo" (translation: “You seem like you have eye gunk on your eyelashes” ---hope I translated that accurately) this was of course the result of the formation of clear mascara clump. So this experience marked the end of clear/transparent eye mascaras and the beginning of black eye mascaras in my life.

I disagreed with people that criticized Isabel “Lashes” Granada for how open her lashes were. I envied her lashes. I thought her eyes looked really beautiful and her eyelashes opened her eyes up even more. [ Image 1: Isabel Granada photo was taken from GMA's website. Check out Isabel's lashes]

I tried every kind of black mascara there was mostly anything new that Maybelline launched since they were the cheapest ones I could find in Manila. I also resorted to using Avon eye mascaras but nothing seemed to work perfectly. Nothing until, my mom introduced me to Lancôme’s Definicils Mascara. They are the best; so light and opens my lashes up and separates them nicely. It never clumps. And when I wash my face it never leaves traces of the mascara. The only deal breaker is its friggin’ expensive for $20+ bucks.

Living in Manila, was also a treat because we had a lot of beauty services available at the palm of our hands like (tat-tadah!) --- having our eyelashes curled. Oh my, this was my favorite I would have my eye lashes permed and this would last a month. Ah! What a treat, because I didn’t have to use a curlash and it didn’t matter what type of mascara I used my lashes looked extra curly and long. But all good things must come to an end, I moved here in NJ and no one offers this service.

Yet again I was on the quest for the best eye mascara there is. I would try all sorts of eye mascaras that I see on TV that offered to make my eyelashes curlier and longer. [Image 2: some of the mascaras that I tried]

My latest recessionista find: Maybelline New York’s Lash Stiletto Mascara. It really helps open up my lashes and it is a tad bit lighter compared to the other eye mascaras that I tried in the past. Don’t get me wrong nothing still beats Lancôme’s Definicils Mascara. This has been my favorite cheap find so far (so friggin cheap less than $10 bucks). This mascara is the closest experience I’ve had to Lancôme’s Definicils Mascara. Their ad gives you a promise of heightening you eyelashes just like how wearing stilettos give you that extra oomph and aaaah. I will continue to use this product until I can once again afford Lancôme’s Definicils Mascara or if I find something better lol. (Image 3: Maybelline NY's Lash Stilleto Mascara]

Quite frankly, I want to be known for my eyelashes and be called – Pinay “Lashes” Lombardi in Jersey lol just like Isabel “Lashes” Granada.”
What eye mascara are you using? What are the benefits of your eye mascara?

"eyes are the windows to the soul..."

As the saying goes, “The eyes are the windows to the soul…” so I have to make sure I always take care of my eyes meaning my eyelids, eye bags and crow’s feet and make sure that they stay as youthful as possible so people would know right off the bat by looking at my eyes that my soul is beautiful too ( lol, as if).

As you know, the economy is really bad here in the states so I definitely have to be smart with my buys and be a recessionista. What is a girl to do when she has no job and is out of eye cream? Hay, I’ve been using eye creams since I was in my early 20’s and I definitely cannot do without having an eye cream. Luckily, I spotted this eye cream in Stop N’ Shop: Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Life Pro Deep Wrinkle Dual Eye Cream/Gel. I just hope it works :)


So far, I’ve been using the cream for a week now. I like that when you open the jar it’s parted in 2 sections: gel and cream section. You use the cream section for your upper eye area, brow bone and crow’s feet area. And you use the gel for your under eye/eye bag area. What’s good about it, it’s less than $15 bucks and has a dual purpose. It’s a steal (well if it works that is, lol), you get the benefits of 2 products in the price of one. I really hope this works because I always want to look like I just woke up--- youthful, fresh, wide and bright-eyed lol.

Which eye product (cream/gel) are you using? What are the benefits of your eye product?