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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Online buys: Longchamp Patch Poney Toile Tote

I received the perfect gift from my hubby last Mother's Day. He knew I needed a durable bag to hold my stuff when going to work. He heard longchamp bags are supposed to be sturdy and so he scouted online (he's an online buyer as well because of me hehe) and found an authentic longchamp patch poney toile tote large long handle at ebay c/o greatbuys7142. Thanks Raffy hubby! :)

This is my first longchamp tote so I needed to know if this is indeed authentic. There are various blogs out there that teaches you on how to spot original longchamp from fake ones. Here are a few:

http://mrsmartinezravesandrants.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-spot-fake-les-pliage-longchamp.html
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-Spot-Fake-Longchamp-quot-Les-Pliages-quot?ugid=10000000006532305

After comparing the bag my hubby bought, it's confirmed! The bag is 100% authentic! Here are the pics, sorry for the low quality. :)



 The word "Longchamp" embossed at the back of the bag right above the stitch
 The Longchamp jockey and horse logo embossed above the snap

 YKK zipper pull with longchamp name and logo and the figures "1948"

 Clear plastic disc to reinforce snap

Longchamp care card

I love the bag. It fits anything I need. I just hope it is durable and will last long so let's wait and see.

Hmmm. Now that father's day is coming up, what would be the best gift for my husband? Any suggestions?

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Online buys: Grendha Estrela Cigana Sandals

For those who fancy sandals and flats, try the brazilian brand Grendha. Their items are gorgeous, comfortable and fashionable. I purchased my first pair via Marjorie's Box. Marj sells footwear at an affordable price. I believe her price is the lowest in the market. She also sells other brands like Ipanema, Havaianas and Rider.

The sandals are so cute so I ordered another one for my baby Mikeila! Check this out.

 Mikeila's Estrela Cigana Sandals size 8 (US)
 My Grendha :)



Cute!

I love it! This surely won't be my last pair. How about you? Do you own a Grendha?


Monday, May 28, 2012

Keratin Treatment by Philippe Salon

I recently purchased a Keratin Treatment via Metrodeal. Been wanting to try this since I heard it will do wonders to your hair especially for dull and lifeless ones (me present! hihi). But it was soooo expensive as it normally costs P10k-P14k depending on your hair length. Good thing Philippe Salon of Sofitel teamed up with Metrodeal to offer this treatment at 75% off! The package includes a haircut, blow dry and a back massage - all for P2,999! GREAT!

I called up the nice receptionist to book a schedule for my treatment at least two weeks prior. On the day of my appointment, traffic was so bad and I was late for almost 40mins! I called again to inform them my situation and apologize and the receptionist was kind enough to tell me I have nothing to worry about.

Philippe Tordjman Le Salon is located at the ground floor of Sofitel, inside the CCP Complex . When we arrived, the salon is so classy and the atmosphere is relaxing. You will indeed feel that you're in a luxury salon/spa. I head straight to the receptionist and she asked me for my voucher and valid ID. After that, she accompanied me to the station and politely requested to wait for the stylist.

After several minutes, a junior stylist arrived and explained that Keratin Treatment will not make your hair super straight like rebonding. It still has volume but will leave your hair soft and shiny. And that's just what I needed.

First, they will shampoo your hair. I didn't expect much but was surprised that it comes with a head massage! It was so relaxing and I love it.

Then, the haircut. I asked her what would she recommend for someone with natural wavy hair. She suggested to retain the layered haircut to define the waves (although it won't matter after the treatment because my hair will become straight). So I obliged. By the way, they will also ask if you like something to drink (water or iced tea) which is a great plus if you ask me.

After that, the application of Keratin Complex. The brand they used is Coppola. It is a formaldehyde-free protein complex that is said to eliminate frizz and adds shines to your tresses. It doesn't burn the skin but man, it burns your eyes! I almost cried so I just closed my eyes most of the time during the application. I can also see that the stylist and her assistant squinting, poor them.

Next, they covered my hair with cellophane and left it there for 30mins. But while waiting, you will be indulged with a back massage to soothe and relax your muscles. In all fairness, their back massage is better than those given by legitimate therapists because the pressure is just right. Not too soft and not too painful either.

Finally, they will blow dry your hair. The stylist mentioned the effect of the whole treatment will last for 4 months but that would still depend on how you maintain your hair. She recommended not to use regular shampoos with sulfate but instead use a shampoo and conditioner with keratin complex as well. You can also buy these at the salon for P995 each.

My hair indeed became soft and straight but not too straight which is perfect. I rarely let my hair down because it's "buhaghag" but now I can :) (I'll try to post pictures soon). I've yet to see it's long term effect but so far, I'm a very satisfied customer. I hope they will have another deal like this in the future!


Friday, May 25, 2012

How to Get a Student Driver Permit at LTO

I went to LTO Makati the other day to secure a student permit. I really need to learn how to drive since I will be working at One E-com Center (MOA Complex) in a few weeks and my husband, Raffy told me that it's more practical if I will be the one to bring our car since my office is more far than his at BGC.

Off we go to LTO Makati at Pililia St. It's near the Makati City Hall. You may ask for directions from the traffic aides or tricycles drivers in the area. We got there at around 9am. The place is not as jam packed as I expected. According to Raffy, it gets crowded around lunch time when employees take advantage of their lunch break to secure licenses and registration.

When applying for a student permit, be sure you have the requirements before going to LTO. Here are the   list of requirements according to the LTO Website:

Application for Student Permit Requirements
Documents Required
1. Duly accomplished Application for Driver’s License
2. Proof of identity
- Original Birth Certificate with photocopy
- NSO authenticated Birth Certificate with Official Receipt and photocopy
- Original valid Passport with photocopy
- A joint affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons who know the applicant and who can attest to the applicant’s identity, accompanied by non-availability of record issued by the Local Civil Registry Office or NSO
3. Any legal or government issued document to prove his age and identity (SSS ID, PhilHealth ID, GSIS ID, TIN ID, Pag-ibig ID, Office ID)
4. Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN)

Additional Requirements for Minor Applicants (16-18 yrs. old)
1. Letter of Parental/Guardian Consent duly notarized

Additional Requirements for Minor Foreigners (16-18 yrs. old)
1. Letter of Parental/Guardian Consent duly notarized
2. Original Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) with photocopy
3. Original valid Visa/Passport with photocopy and any of the following:
- Permit to stay in the country for at least five (5) months and has stayed in the country for at least one (1) month
- Student’s School ID

But when I applied, they only requested  for the photocopy of my TIN ID along with the application form. 

Here are the steps in securing the permit:
  1. Go to Window 1 to get a copy of the form. Fill-out completely and accurately.
  2. Once done, submit the form together with the requirements mentioned above. The staff will evaluate your documents and if everything's in order, he will return all documents and will give you a number. Wait until your number is called in Window 2.
  3. When called, go to Window 2 and submit all requirements for encoding to the system. He will then ask you to wait until your name is called
  4. After a few minutes, your name will be called and you will be directed to go to Window 6 to sign in their electronic pad and have your picture taken.
  5. After that, a number of names will be called to go to Window 7 to settle their payments. You will be asked to pay P318. Get your official receipt then wait for the release.
  6. Shortly after, you will be called to head over Window 5 for the release of your student permit.
That's it! The whole process only took less than 1 hour! That's quick especially for a government transaction. The permit is valid for 1 year. But you may apply for non-pro license 30 days after securing your student permit.

Will post the procedures for non-pro license once I get mine. :)

Friday, May 18, 2012

Tips When Shopping Online

I'm not a big spender and my husband can attest to that. ;) I'm not really into brands but I look for items with top notched quality at an affordable price. These days, products found on malls are really expensive regardless of the quality.  I sometimes find myself leaving the mall empty handed because the prices for me are unacceptable.

Then come to the rescue - Online Shopping! I'm thrilled that this platform is slowly gaining popularity. Why not, the products are much much cheaper you would realized how overpriced mall items are! And I'm not talking about knock offs. A lot of the products offered in the web are authentic brands. It's cheap because sellers don't have to pay for administrative/operational stuffs like space, staffs, utilities, etc. But of course you still have to be extra diligent when purchasing online be it thru Multiply, Ebay, Sulit, Ayosdito, etc.



Here are some tips when buying online:
  1. Always search for seller feedbacks. Ebay, Sulit and I think Multiply have these. Buy from buyers with positive feedbacks. At least you're confident that you're buying from a genuine seller.
  2. Check the measurements posted in the ad when buying apparel or shoes. Don't just rely on standard sizes like S,M,L because actual measurement sometimes vary. Usually online sellers include measurement in inches or cm in their ads but if not, try to ask the seller first by leaving a comment or PM before buying. Be sure you get your own measurement so that you won't regret buying an item too loose or too fit for you.
  3. Compare items from different merchants so that you will get the best deal. Look around in different sites, different sellers. More often than not, the items you wish to buy are being sold by several online stores as well. So compare, compare, compare. Some carry lower prices than others but when you add the shipping cost, it is still more expensive. So consider all that before making your decision to spend.
  4. Checkout the payment method offered by sellers. Usually, they accept payment thru bank, money transfer (gcash, smart padala, lbc), paypal, credit card or meetup. Choose whatever is more comfortable to you. I personally prefer paying thru gcash as it is sooooo much easier since i can pay at the comfort of my own home, anytime. I rarely buy from a seller who only accepts bank deposit because I'm lazy to go to the bank and fall in line. :) So when I see that a certain seller accepts gcash, it's an added plus. 
  5. If in case you received the item and found a defect or a wrong size/color were delivered, make sure to contact the seller first and let them resolve the issue before leaving a negative feedback. They too make mistakes you know.
  6. Lastly, leave feedback. Since feedback from their past customers help you decide to buy from them, it is only right to leave feedback (positive or negative) in order to help other customers as well.
There you go. I hope these tips can help you when you decide to purchase online.

Happy Shopping!