Waisted Wisdom

Spa day reads.

"Another reason to skip the pasta: Being fat causes your brain to shrink, say University of Pittsburgh researchers. Scans of 94 older people revealed that the brains of the overweight were 4 percent smaller than those of healthy-weight people; in the obese, they were 8 percent smaller. Excess weight restricts blood vessels and lung capacity, depriving the brain of oxygen, says study author Paul Thompson, PhD. The result is a prematurely aged brain."

I wonder if my diet has anything to do with me feeling less and less... smart.

Read more...

Fred Perry Autumn 2009 Collection

New season. New collection. New reason to visit FredPerry dot com.

Click on the image above to view Fred Perry's exciting Autumn '09 collection

Read more...

Isukoshi!

Isukoshi iComfort

The latest addition to our bedroom is now the only

blue object among loud whites, blacks and browns.

It's our favorite appliance, nonetheless.

Here's something you mall addicts might be familiar with -- The massage chair.

Wellness-focused malls often have these chairs in lounge spots strategically located throughout their premises, and for good reason. Consumers like us tend to spend hours in shopping districts walking our feet, legs and backs into exaggerated exhaustion, that retail therapy no longer becomes therapeutic.

~
Enter Isukoshi's iComfort, our favorite instant therapist.
~

It was during the holidays several years ago that we discovered this phenomenon, then made popular by the name Osim. After a whole day of Christmas shopping and a couple of very sore backs later, my husband and I decided to try out the Osim massage chairs inside this posh department store. Miracle of all miracles, the pain on our backs, legs and feet disappeared after just 20 minutes of sitting on the chairs! Needless to say, I developed an obsession with Osim and not-so-silently hoped to get one for our home in the near future. That episode happened about three years ago.

Three years and many mall chair massages later, the "near future" arrived for us. As luck would have it, the technology of the massage chair found its way to a brand that distributed the chairs at prices friendlier than that tagged by the very high end Osim. Luck came by the name Isukoshi.

Isukoshi chairs flaunt the same features as the renowned Osim, the only difference is that they are more reasonably priced. So if you and other members of your household are often stressed and you've been looking to purchase your very own massage chair, consider Isukoshi. It's brilliant on the back of anybody human. Plus, it covers all massage techniques in different strengths: kneading, finger pressure, long strokes, & refloxology... a perfect way to end a hectic day at work...or a maddening day of shopping. ;-)

Read more...

Buko Juice!

I chopped the top off all by myself! It took me

a good 20 minutes :)

~

We absolutely love buko (or coconut) juice! The first thing we do whenever my husband buys some is leave them in the refrigerator as soon as they arrive and bring them up to the freezer, one at a time, about 20 minutes before enjoying the deliciously hydrating juice.
~

~

We prefer the "malakanin" or "malauhog" bukos when buying them (this is when the coconut meat is thin enough to effortlessly scrape off the shell) -- the meat at this stage is sooo tender, light, and yummy -- quite delightful when matched with the juice. Drink the juice straight from the fruit. I read somewhere that buko juice ferments quickly once outside the shell so the processed liquid may not be as beneficial as when you drink it straight from a freshly cracked coconut.

~

We've been having fresh buko juice often, since the start of summer, so I decided to do some research on it (just to make sure we're not gaining too much weight from all the coconut we're enjoying). ;-)

~

Here are some of the health benefits of the fruit that is the COCONUT:

1. Coconut water is an isotonic solution that replaces fluids and minerals the body loses during physical activities. If you like working out, coconut water is highly recommended for fluid and mineral replenishment.
2. Consuming coconut water on a regular basis reduces urinary tract problems.
3. Drinking coconut water with one teaspoon olive oil for three days kills intestinal worms, which makes for better digestion.
4. People plagued by kidney stones should drink coconut water alongside taking their meds. Drinking the juice regularly helps break up kidney stones, making them easier to push out.
5. Coconut water is almost identical to blood plasma, making it easy to use for blood transfusion.
6. Coconut water contains monolaurin, an antiviral, anti-bacterial and antiprozoal monoglyceride used to kill lipid-coated viruses as HIV, Herpes, cytomegalovirus, flu and various pathogenic bacteria.

Further research shows that Coconut water:

• is more nutritious than whole milk -- less fat and no cholesterol
• is far healthier than orange juice -- much lower calories
• is better than processed baby milk -- it contains lauric acid present in human mother's milk
• is naturally sterile -- water permeates through the filtering husk
• contains more potassium (about 294 mg) than most sports and energy drinks (117 mg)
• has less sodium (25mg) than sports drinks (41 mg) and energy drinks(200mg)
• has 5mg of natural sugars whereas sports and energy drinks hold ranges from 10-25 mg of altered sugars
• is high in chloride at 118 mg, compared to sports drinks at just 39 mg

People who have typhoid, malaria fevers or other ailments known to induce vomiting drink coconut water to settle their stomachs. As such, coconut water is also a good thing to drink during a hangover. So, after enjoying this, drink this.

Read more...

L'Oreal True Match two-way Face Powder

The first time I tried this product, I used a big blush brush to apply it (which is what I've always done with MAC). It was a royal mess. The brush bristles caused powder dust to scatter everywhere -- on my clothes, my bag (!), the car, the carpet... This was never the case with MAC ( I'm not sure why)
~
Toward the end of my L'Oreal face powder's life, (and with little personal love for the product), I finally got to read its label. Only then did I find out that it was actually a two-way powder! Which means I could've used it with a wet sponge and it would have been a less messier experience. So I tried a damp sponge on the remaining cake and... I loved it!
~
It spreads so easy and the label said it perfectly: "it's super blendable!"
I'm on my second compact and I'm still loving it. It rarely cakes, if at all, and it makes "flawless" seem effortless. I'm glad I tried it a second time. I've since switched from mac to l'oreal because of the "super blendable" features of this cool product. MAC is still super OK with me, though... but L'Oreal's True Match face powder costs less than half of MAC's price!
~
Here's to the right kind of affordable shine, pretty faces. Continue on with MAC or go try L'Oreal. I'm officially a fan of both brands ;-)

Read more...

Orly Cuticle Care

Do you sometimes have "bad nail days"? I do. They're when the nails on your fingers and toes seem a tad too dry and your cuticles cause you to go through the day with clenched fists and covered toes.

When this crisis hits, it's time to dab a little magic on your digits. Small drops of either the Cuticle Oil + or Cuticle Care Complex does the trick. Even the dry skin surrounding the nails magically disappear. Try it!

Note, though, that if your nails are already too hideous for a quick fix (when they look like you've dug yourself out of a grave or the like) then it's time to get a professional mani-pedi, for crying out loud.

These ideas are for maintenance purposes only ;)

Read more...

L'Oreal Derma Genesis

This works for me. L'Oreal's Derma Genesis. It claims to be a "youth creator" that "re-plumps, tautens and illuminates" the skin. I don't particularly own a tired face riddled with wrinkles... truth be told, I don't believe I have any yet (knock on good wood). However, I do suffer from over dry skin that is often rough to the touch. Hate of all hates.
~
This is why I've been on the lookout for a really good, hypo-allergenic, not-too-greasy day cream to fix my problem. I used and abused the Neutrogena face moisturizer line for years, to no avail. This year, I'm turning to L'Oreal for solutions.
~
This here is solution #1. The Derma Genesis. It works like a charm for me. I use it right after getting my face squeaky clean and about 20 minutes before I put on my foundation or face powder. The skin on my face is no longer as rough as it used to be, so I guess it really does re-plump, tauten and illuminate :) ... been on it for a couple of months now and it seems to be doing my face a lot of good. It sure serves as a good, smooth base for make up, at the very least!

Recommending trial to anyone with dry facial skin woes.
~
Will post all future side effects on the product, if any. ;-)

Read more...

Meet Jo Malone

Lime Basil & Mandarin, Amber & Lavender, Grapefruit. Three of my favorite fragrances from the many delicious variations created by Jo Malone. Use them individually or combined, two at a time, to create your own signature scent. I'm hoping to visit any of their boutiques soon so I don't have to settle with what the shop owners at Viramall decide to bring home. The less-than-authorized local retailers sell limited selections, often kept in unsuitable storage bins that sometimes spoil the aromas. (They're also about $40 more expensive than actual SRP!)

Jo Malone. Love at first whiff. My husband seems to agree.

Read more...

L'Occitane on my mind

I'm someone known for obsessing with ambrosial fragrances and mix-matching them to delicious distinction... today I'd like to share with you a yummy-smelling discovery for tired tresses--

From the toiletry case of precious secrets, to you:

Try L'Occitane's Milk Shampoo (Shampooing Lait) with L'Occitane's Lavender Detangling Conditioner... The combination of milk and lavender is so delightfully relaxing and it feels so good on the head and hair. An alternative is Canus' Li'l Goat's Milk shampoo with Kiss My Face's Big Hair Lavender conditioner... Some of the mentioned products are organic and all claim to be hypoallergenic, but just the same, sample their small bottles or sachets first to check for allergies.

Read more...