See you at www.xoxoMrsMartinez.com

Hello!

6 years and more than 3 million page views after, I am retiring MrsMartinez's Raves and Rants to move into a new happy place...


Come and visit me at:

xoxo MrsMartinez

Lots of prizes to be given away soon! 

See you there!

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Body Shaper

All it took was a little ribbing from my friend, Gevi and I bought a body shaper/ body binder from SO- EN. That's not the end of it, after wearing it for over a week, I bought two more as back ups. This time, I seek a different brand to try out, Sogo. The battle of the brands, Sogo and SO-EN begins.

top: Sogo lingerie waistline reducer in beige PhP875.75 

bottom: SO-EN body shaper in cream PhP499.75

Body shaper goes by many names like body pincher, elastic waistband, waistline reducer and body binder.

How To: Spot a FAKE Le Pliage Longchamp handbag

The entire content of this entry has been transferred in my new blog, xoxo MrsMartinez

this handbag was bought in Longchamp Las Vegas

To read the full entry, visit Longchamp: How to Spot a Fake

#babyMartinez Wears A Rainbow Loom Bracelet in Fishtail Pattern

Ever since my mom's 10 year old student gave #babyMartinez her very own Rainbow Loom bracelet in fishtail pattern, she didn't want to take it off. She wears it even when she is drinking her milk lol

#babyMartinez and her fishtail Rainbow Loom bracelet

Look at how curious she is with her new toy hahaha I take it off when she sleeps. I don't have an idea where this trend started but from what I have gathered, most grade schoolers are so into it. I heard some girls who have entrepreneurial skills sell them for as cheap as PhP 20 per bracelet. 

Rainbow Loom Fishtail Pattern

Rainbow Loom is the trend these days but parents should be aware that there are fake or counterfeit already coming out in the market. Click here to learn about the danger of counterfeits and how to spot them.

Rainbow Loom C-clip

Naubusan ata ng same color yung bata kaya magkaiba yung colors ng band hahaha

model hand ni #babyMartinez

Hmmm... #babyMartinez! Mommy said to look at the camera and not away from the camera hahaha

Mrs. Graham's Macaron Cafe in Quezon City

February 15, 2014

Mrs. Graham's Macaron Cafe
51-C Scout Rallos St.,
Quezon City
+63915 8122662


After having a sumptuous feast at Big D' Smokehouse, we went to Mrs. Graham's Macaron Cafe just a few streets away for dessert.

clockwise from left: Tequila Rose, Salted Caramel, Baileys and White Coffee (center) PhP 45/pc.

We were greeted with shabby chic interior, it reminded me of one of my favorite TV show called Shabby Chic, I love it!

We chose 4 from the 13 macarons on display- Tequila Rose, Salted Caramel, Bailey and White Coffee. I am happy to announced that it didn't disappoint! My favorite macarons are White Coffee and Tequila Rose while DH said he liked Baileys and Salted Caramel. As usual, hindi na naman pareho ang taste namin lol Total opposite kami sa lahat ng bagay, kaya nga siguro totoo ang kasabihan na opposites attract.

Other flavors available which I would love to try on my next visit are S'mores, French Toast with Peanut Butter, Pancake with Maple Buttercream, Bibingka with Salted Egg, Dark Chocolate Shells, Tiramisu, PB & J (Peanut Butter & Jelly).

After the cupcake trend, I can safely say that macaron will rule this 2014!

White Chocolate with Green Tea Frosting by Swirl PhP 75

I like the frosting but not the cupcake because it was as hard as a rock! Sige na nga, not naman as hard as a rock but I guess you know what I mean. I should have ordered 2 more macarons na lang sana.

Date Night at Big D's Smokehouse Ribs Tacos Burger

February 15, 2014

Big D's Smokehouse Southern Style Classic BBQ
2nd Level POS Bldg.,
Sct. Madrinan cor Tomas Morato Ave.,
Quezon City
5605362   3766139


Malaking himala at napapayag ko si DH na i-date ako last week! Di nga lang eksaktong Valentine's Day but pwede na din maski one day late ; p At least, nakapag HHWW kami lol

Beef Monster Tacos PhP 190

We didn't plan on going all-out fine dining eklabu because that's reserve for my birthday! We ended up in Big D's Smokehouse where Twist is also located.

Perusing the menu, we were curious as to what the monster tacos would look like. The description said a full 9 inch of monster goodness with shredded lettuce, cheese and salsa.

9 inch of monster goodness... yummy!

It was really huge! I exclaimed "Ay, lumpia wrapper!" when I saw it lol The entire beef taco was really filled with all of the ingredients mentioned above. One taco can be sliced into half, it can be shared by 2-3 persons.

Also available in Chicken PhP 180, Pulled Pork PhP 180 and Fish PhP 195.

Big D's Smokehouse  menu

Buffalo Wings PhP 175

Their Buffalo Wings were laden with Sriracha sauce and paired with Big D's ranch dip. DH commented that lack some kick but I love it!

Other appetizers on the menu are Nachos PhP 140/240, Chicken Fingers PhP 150, Baked Potato PhP 75, Potato Chips and Skins PhP 90, Buffalo Chicken Tenders PhP 165 and Dirty Fries PhP 160.

Ribs Platter Stage 3 PhP 960

Big D's Smokehouse is famous for its smoked soft bone ribs. I don't know what got into DH but he decided to order two full slab of soft boned ribs. He said it will just be big enough for us but he was wrong... it was ginormous!

Fisher Supermarket Paluto in Quezon Avenue

I just got home from Fisher Mall and I have a new discovery to share! Inside Fisher Supermarket, at the far end, there's a huge blackboard with colorful writing and it's the Paluto Section.

Fisher Supermarket Paluto Section

You can either take the paluto home or eat it at the food court. We ate at the food court ; )

Let me take you on tour around the supermarket first. I used my Samsung Galaxy Mega in shooting some of the photos because I am not sure if they allow picture-taking inside the supermarket ; p

Fisher Supermarket

Fresh Produce Section

Fisher Mall will be one of my favorite malls to go to because of its wide space and tight security. I lose count of the guards roaming around the basement parking, inside the mall and when your car pass through the exit along Quezon Ave.

they have lots of imported products

look how the aisles are widely spaced 

USA section

you can view the price as the cashier ran the item through the sensor

You can view the fresh seafood I bought right after the break...

Elias, Solaire's Patisserie, French Baker, Sincerity & King Sue

I am featuring Random Eats here in my blog. These are food that titillated my sense of taste like this sansrival from The French Baker (pictured below).

My mom ordered a sansrival from The French Baker while she was having a coffee break. At first, I didn't approve of it, thinking it would be too sweet for them "oldies" but to my delight, it tasted really good! I ended up eating most of it. Uhm, well, I tried to portion control and save my mom at least 1/4 and the rest was eaten by my dad lol

Sansrival from The French Baker in Robinsons Magnolia

For sweet Filipino dessert, I always go to Elias in Robinsons Magnolia. The bestsellers, at least in my opinion, are the Halo-halo and Guinomis.

Elias' Halo Halo

only ube ice cream for my dad

Actually, only ube flavored ice cream was available lol

Elias' Guinomis

that order was actually mine but dad insisted on posing with it

my mom's coffee

During the holiday season, I received an insulated King Sue gift pack containing some of its products and from The Kaiser Deli.

Osaka Ohsho at Mega Fashion Hall

February 15, 2014

Osaka Ohsho
3rd Level, The MEGA Fashion Hall
SM Megamall
4041108


Osaka Ohsho, the gyoza specialist, recently opened its doors to food lovers. Today, we don't have to travel to Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea and Singapore just to have a taste of the delicious handmade gyoza (dumplings) because  the newly opened branch is located at the 3rd floor of the hip new wing of SM Megamall called The Fashion Hall.

Chahan Karaage and Gyoza Set PhP 395

Osaka Ohsho, which literally translates to "The King of Gyoza in Osaka", offers not only dumplings but also salads, soup, agemono (deep fried) as well as a variety of rice and noodles.

part of Chahan Karaage and Gyoza Set PhP 395

My family and I went there during lunch time last Saturday. The restaurant was in full swing. Being one of the few restaurants open, many diners and onlookers were either waiting for a table or checking the menu.

While waiting I was browsing the menu, a bit on the expensive side but I was curious and craving for savory dumplings. Luckily, we were given a table in a little less than 5 minutes... that was fast!

Most sets include a 3-piece gyoza so it would save you money to order a set instead of ordering it a la carte- 6 pieces for PhP 175 and 12 pieces for 350.

During our visit, only the Original Gyoza was available. Other flavors like Cheese and Nori were not yet available ; (

Chili Oil, Osaka Ohsho Original and Miso

There are three dips available in every table. You can mix these sauces to suit your taste. Personally, I liked the Osaka Ohsho Original/ Miso combination. 

part of Chahan Karaage and Gyoza Set PhP 395

I love the taste of Karaage, the coating remained crunchy even if it was glazed with sauce. Only three small chicken pieces are included in every set.

Each Chahan Set comes with a single serving of Chahan, 3 pieces of gyoza, miso soup, a fruit plate (more like small slices of pineapple and watermelon) and unlimited premium steamed Japanese Koshihikari rice (plain white rice).

Karaage is also available a la carte- with Trio of Sauces PhP 320 and with Grated Radish PhP 330. You can also order Chicken Karaage Toji Set for only PhP 375. Instead of Chahan, it is served with Japanese Koshihikari rice.

Cream Silk Celebrates its 30 Years with Stand Out Straight Conditioner Giveaway

The no. 1 hair care brand in the Philippines, Cream Silk, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this 2014! That's 30 years of hair care expertise, giving limitless possibilities for the Beyond Beautiful Filipina.

Cream Silk Go Beyond Beautiful 30 Years of Hair Care Expertise

To commemorate this event, Cream Silk wants YOU to go Beyond Beautiful with the launching of its new commercial starring Heart Evangelista, Sam Pinto and Toni Gonzaga.

Let's join together and celebrate Cream Silk's 30th anniversary. Watch the newest "Cream Silk 30th Anniversary Montage" commercial after the break...

Allegrina Ballet Flats in Scarlet

Tadah! I bought a pair of Prima Allegrina Ballet Flats in Scarlet with the shopping money I got from the Cotton Thread event.

Allegrina Scarlet size 6 PhP 1995

At first fit, the toe box or toe cap was a little narrow, I asked for the next size available, a size 7, but the fit was not right. I settled for a size 6 with the thought of breaking it in. I was glad that I followed my instinct. I am so happy with my purchase!

Common Thread opens in Greenbelt 5

February 13, 2014

Common Thread
2nd Level, Greenbelt 5
Makati City

Shoppingeras united and trooped to the newest lifestyle boutique called Common Thread in Greenbelt 5 last Friday night. It was a day before Valentine's Day and I was dreading the slow-moving traffic but surprisingly, I got there on time.

DJ Ornusa Cadness and MYX VJ Sanya Smith keeping the vibe alive

Common Thread originated in Singapore and was brought here in manila by Terry S.A. Incorporated. It's the same company that brought you Havaianas and Bensimon.

This concept store carries international multi-label high-street fashion brands like Hoola Sunglasses, K-Way France, Praiaz France, Thread 365 Basic Apparel, Allegrina Ballet Flats and of course, there's Bensimon France and Havaianas Brazil.

For a complete listing of brands, read after the break...

Department of Coffee San Juan

February 14, 2014

Department Of Coffee (former location of Figaro)
197 Wilson Street,
San Juan
9255388

Happy Valentine's Day!

I just got back home. My day started pretty early because I accompanied my baby to her pediatrician for MMR vaccine. After the short trip to the hospital, we went to pick up my parents. I was initially thinking of eating at Calderon but there's only one parking space and it was occupied. I know... bummer! Anyway, we had lunch at Wu Xiang (Sincerity Chicken) in San Juan then had coffee at where else but Department of Coffee.

clockwise from left: Iced Latte, complimentary Oatmeal Cookie and Cappuccino

Department Of Coffee has a Valentine Promo, for every two cups of coffee, you get a complimentary cookie worth PhP 50. Valid only today until the 16th.

Read more after the break...

Pre Valentine Lunch at Omakase Greenhills

February 13, 2014

Omakase Japanese Cuisine
Unit PB-117B and PB-212 Connecticut Arcade
Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan
4709807

I was with my parents earlier today at Greenhills Shopping Center for my weekly trip to the grocery store. It was almost 11 am when we got there so I suggested that we ate at their favorite Japanese restaurant, Omakase. 

Chirashidon PhP 290

Chirashi is my dad's favorite. He orders this whenever he is in a Japanese restaurant. It was filled with raw seafood like salmon, tuna, squid, shrimp, crab, uni or sea urchin roe and slices of tamago over a bowl of rice.

Valentine's Dinner at Madison's Bistro Moderne in EDSA Shangrila Hotel

Madison's Bistro Moderne
Ground Floor (former location of Fully Booked),
EDSA Shangrila Hotel
6314675

DH is not keen on celebrating Valentine's Day. He said that it's too commercial for his consumption. I already succumb to the fact that we will be home for dinner on Friday, February 14.

Thankfully, one of his friends organized a pre-Valentine's dinner last week at the newest fine dining restaurant in town- Madison's Bistro Moderne. This chichi restaurant located at the ground floor of EDSA Shangrila Hotel evokes grandeur and sophistication, very ideal for couple who wanted an intimate and romantic dinner. Warning... be prepared to splurge!

Roasted Duck Breast PhP 680

An order consists of two sliced roasted duck breast with braised red cabbage, potato lyonnaise and five spice jus.

The meat was tender in every bite, although additional slices in every order would not hurt for the price I paid ; p

CLEAR-Manchester United Football Camp

Clear , the world's no. 1 anti-dandruff shampoo for men, partnered with the no. 1 football club in the world, Manchester United last January 27 at the Makati Shangri-La.

Gina Lorenzana, Unilever Vice President for Personal Care and Jamie Reigle, Manchester United Managing Director for Asia Pacific seal the partnership with a handshake

"Manchester United has over 10 million followers in the Philippines and I am delighted with this opportunity to bring our Soccer Schools to the country through our partnership with CLEAR." said Jaime Regile, Managing Director of Manchester United Asia Pacific.


"In recent years, CLEAR has strived to inspire the next generation of great football players. This 2014, CLEAR and Manchester United will launch the first ever CLEAR-Manchester United Football Camp, where the 32 most promising young amateur players will be trained in Manchester United Soccer School." said Gina Lorenzana, Unilever Vice President for Personal Care.

To know how to apply, read more after the break...

Oishi celebrates 40th Anniversary with Daniel Padilla!

Liwayway Marketing Corporation (LMC), makers of Oishi, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year! In line with this, friends from the media including moi were invited to a fun-filled day at Skye Lounge. I spent the day socializing running around with hunks lol Proof is the photo below ; p

youngest hunk I have ever met... Daniel Padilla! We looked so flawless, btw ; p

I know some of you are so green with envy right now seeing Daniel Padilla right here on my blog but don't pass out just yet, I still have a story to tell from last Saturday's event. *wink*

Marie France FMS Plus + Money back Guarantee

Last January, I wrote about my journey to a "Sexier Me". For three months, I have endured the cold body wrap treatment called Fat Mobilization System (FMS). This treatment was developed in Switzerland, it makes the body react to the cold by producing enzymes that burn calories to generate its own heat and energy.

FMS Plus

I have good news to people, most specially older women, who can't tolerate the extreme coldness of the regular FMS. Marie France has an alternative treatment called Fat Mobilization System PLUS. I have since shifted to FMS Plus. It's more tolerable in terms of temperature but just as effective as the other cold wrap.

On a side note, there's a little bit of itching, more like tingling sensation on some parts of my body, during the treatment. I also noticed redness of my skin right after the treatment. The redness and the tingling sensation subsides a few minutes after the treatment. Even with those side effects, I prefer FMS Plus rather than the regular FMS.

Bawai's Tagaytay opens a branch in Katipunan Ave. White Plains, Quezon City

February 2, 2014

Bawai's Vietnamese Kitchen
79 Katipunan Ave.,
Bellitudo, White Plains, Quezon City
4428874

I have been bugging DH to take me to Bawai's whenever we go to Tagaytay. Two weeks ago, we were there with friends and we planned a side trip to this elusive restaurant but the traffic was unbearable. DH remembered that it opened a branch in Katipunan so we went there instead.

Bawai's Salad PhP 335

For salad, we ordered fresh coconut sprouts with herbs, glazed pork and steamed shrimps with Bawai's dressing and nuts on top. The serving was generous but it lacks dressing and the glazed pork was tough to chew. An order can serve at least 3 persons. DH liked it and almost finished the entire bowl.

Disney Cars Birthday Party at The Blue Leaf + OOTD

Akalain mo nga naman... #babyMartinez and I went to two children's party for two consecutive days! Saturday, we went to Sophia's 7th birthday then we went to Joaquin's 1st birthday party the day after. Di naman kami masyadong pagod niyan hahaha

Joaquin's Cars theme party

Awww... just look at baby Joaquin! At the tail end of the party, he was already sleepy. It must be his time to nap. I remembered #babyMartinez's own birthday party where she slept through it ; p Di bale, this I promise to my baby girl... daddy and mommy will save enough money to give her a second birthday party, not as bongga but just as happy!!!