Fragrant Pause

I rarely blog about beauty…because I work in beauty! It's the makeup and cosmetics version of a bus driver's holiday: If I muster up the energy to go on the computer by the time I get home (ideally, after a snack, nap, dinner, laundry; not necessarily in that order), the last thing I'd want to talk about is how you can perfectly apply eyeliner or what your lipstick is made out of. I would much rather talk about food and other things. And, maybe at some point, write an inspiration post, or maybe blog about things I found on Zara.com.

That said, I did chance upon two intriguing, blog-worthy scents, courtesy of the May issue of Vogue, with Scarlett Johansson on the cover.

First, Elie Saab Le Parfum. The bottle somewhat reminds me of Hilary Duff's With Love Eau de Parfum, they're a bit similar in shape—the flat, rectangular top and the jewel-like, faceted body (whereas Saab's is more diamond and Duff's, citrine). Eliesaab.com describes the fragrance as "an ode to light [that] celebrates, the splendor and the brilliance of radiant femininity with a floral solar woody theme. Orange blossom, jasmine absolute, and cedar woody notes unveil an elegant, enveloping trail like the train of a Haute Couture dress."

I should drop by the counters one of these days to catch a whiff.

Second, is Valentino Valentina Eau de Parfum, which actually came with a scent strip in the mag. It's been a long time since I've had to work on beauty awards, meaning, it's been years since I've had to sit in a room for an afternoon perusing bottles and bottles of perfume in between sniffing coffee beans and attempting to dodge an imminent headache. This one is easy on the nose, with a sophisticated-sweet lingering finish. It contains notes of bergamot, white truffle (how does that translate into a scent?), orange blossom, jasmine, cedar, and vanilla. More than its scent, it's the bottle that caught my eye, with floral appliqués that either look like smooth, posh ceramic—or delicious icing sugar flowers.

Images courtesy of Fragrantica.com

FitFlopping

Now I get why millions have already bought FitFlops!

FitFlops seem to belong in the category of mass-produced footwear wonders—e.g. Crocs, Toms and so forth. People either think they're fantastic…or downright (f)ugly.

When it comes to these mega-popular ped picks, I had always been on neutral ground, with the exception of the first version of Crocs—to me, they're only cute on children. But, to each her own, right? That said, newer styles, like the Carliana Peep Toe Ombré blue-green shoe below, would actually look pretty on adults. As for Toms, I've tried shopping for them on several occasions, but for some reason, it hasn't worked out. Whether it's the size, color, or simply the mood, I have yet to find the perfect pair. I'll probably end up with something sparkly, like the Pink Women's Glitters below, or their classic red.

As for FitFlops, here's a bit of a backstory:

Marcia Kilgore held a series of random jobs before becoming a personal trainer, and then a facialist…with a seventh-month waitlist in her New York City studio. She later on founded the popular Bliss Spa and was somewhat responsible for changing the image of spas from matronly and antiseptic, to chic, comfortable, and cozy. A Vogue feature came along, so did a slew of celebrity clients, culminating in a multi-million dollar deal with Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) for a stake in her company. Bliss eventually expanded to include a line of skin and body products. And in 2007, Kilgore went on to create FitFlops—with the intention of having a slipper that can give your legs a workout when you wore them. Brilliant. According to this Asia Tatler article, over 12 million pairs have already been sold to date. (Read a detailed, pre-FitFlop biography for Kilgore here.)

Fab or flop?

AT some point, Kilgore also launched the kitschy/retro cosmetics brand, Soap & Glory. But that's a whole blog topic altogether.

About two years ago, my cousin-and-law, accessories designer Happy David, told me how comfy FitFlops were—that she had walked in them for four days in Washington DC. On rare and random occasions, I've passively tried on the purportedly cushiony sandal, finding that they looked funny on my feet…until yesterday. While walking around and shopping in SoHo, I chanced upon this one:

FitFlop Women's Hooper Thong Sandals

It must have been the hot weather and my feet having been enclosed in sneakers and socks all morning and early afternoon, but it instantly felt wonderful slipping into these sandals. Of course, I did the renegade trying-on-a-few-pairs and cementing the fact that I don't look good in most of them, BUT, when it came to this model—and another bright white style on the display wall—I was compelled to get them because apart from the ahh factor, they actually looked good this time around. And now, looking at the other pairs on the brand's website, it looks like I'm going to be hooked!

Tried to get a good solo shot but I guess our doggie wanted in on the photo-fun!
Here, I'm wearing an old top from Forever 21, Gap shorts, and my new, supercomfy Fitflops.

Model and product images courtesy of Fitflops, Toms, Crocs, and Footsmart.com

Food Mood

I do miss writing inspirational blog posts, but those take time, contemplation—or even a vacation—to churn. For now, while I learn to manage this hectic NYC schedule, here are some photos of what I've been up to from a food (and gadget!) perspective.

 (And, yes—I will find time for an uplifting post, or two, similar to those in the Inspiration Series. Stay tuned!)

Before I get to the food, let me just announce that I now am a proud owner of a Dyson DC35 Digital Slim! It's "the most powerful cordless vacuum" around and one of the best investments one can make for the home. (Yup, my husband loves me! By the way, Dyson has a 20% off sale going on until Sunday, and—you guessed it—those awesome blade-less fans are part of it!)

Remember the fish market I had mentioned in the "D.I.Y. Fish Fillet Sandwich" post? The store also sells (fried) porgy on-demand. Quite convenient, if you ask me, since that means I don't have to deal with hot oil—and that ubiquitous fishy smell—in my own kitchen. When paired with lightly toasted bread and a dollop of mustard, you've got yourself a simple, yet super-satisfying, dinner or snack.

Speaking of simple—and healthy!—here's a fresh fruit platter of fresh mangoes, raspberries, and strawberries that I recently prepared for Alvs, who usually prefers something light for dinner especially when we've both had a lot to eat during the day.

I recently made Pinoy-style chicken curry and these good-for-you veggies, red pepper and celery (including carrots and potatoes) were aromatic and delicious additions to the stew.

And, the pièce de résistance for this food post is the Valrhona cocoa powder I found earlier at Whole Foods. It's
a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I made fudge cupcakes with it and topped them with ganache made with Trader Joe's dark chocolate (true—as with fashion, mixing high-low pieces yields one-of-a-kind results) and they were superb.

D.I.Y. Fish Fillet Sandwich

Homemade-takeout hybrid.

At 380 calories per serving, the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich is one of the more calor-rific items on the menu—that's 130 calories more than a Hamburger, or 80 more than a Cheeseburger… Not that any of that has ever stopped me from enjoying the "fishy" fast-food find every now and then.

Crispy, chewy, cheesy…overall scrumptious!

Although these days, whenever I have a hankering for fried fish fillet spliced between two slices of soft bread, smothered with tartar sauce, and topped with a square of cheese, I've taken to the kitchen for the surprisingly easy-to-make treat.

Building blocks of a great sandwich.

The breeziness of the "homemade" version, I credit to the nearby fish store that sells both fresh and cooked seafood—including an assortment of deep-fried fish for the latter: tilapia, flounder, porgy, and more.

And, here's a bit of trivia: When food is fried at the right temperature, the hot oil acts like a "seal" for moisture that steams the food from the inside, which results in minimal oil absorption. Too low of a temp means you have yourself a grease sponge. So, whip out a thermometer and reap delicious—even healthy—results! Or, like me, enjoy a homemade-takeout hybrid meal once in a while, and use the best ingredients you can find. Plus, you know the drill: everything in moderation.

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

Hello, Friends!

I am not forgetting about this blog (or my blogging and online life in general)! My work life has just been extra-extra hectic lately that what usually happens when I get home is one or a combination of the following:

– tinker around the apartment/kitchen

– do laundry (or postpone laundry for yet another day)

– hang out with my husband and our dear doggie; go for a walk

– have dinner, work on a deadline (for the things I do outside of my day job)

– watch a TV show, pass out, wake up in the morning, and do the hustle all over again

I know I shouldn't be making any excuses. I've said this time and again, my writer and editor friends multitask and do all of this with aplomb. Case in point as always: Frances, who at the moment, is due to give birth soon to her second child, keeps house, helms the local edition of OK! Magazine, writes blogs, goes to events…the works.

Anyway, I do have a bunch of food-related posts in the backburner with pictures ready that I just have to sit on and write. There are those long overdue hazelnut brownies, a scrumptious D.I.Y. fish sandwich, and more.

Soon, friends. Soon.

Web Window Shopping

While doing research for an article, I stumbled upon this supercute illustration:

Courtesy of Lancôme.

Makes you want to shop, doesn't it? View the deets over at the Lancôme website.

One-bowl Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

See what's cooking over at Allmysugar.com!

Unbelievably easy to make!