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I Choose Fringe Salon Alabang

June 20, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 29 Comments

As you can see, I haven’t blogged all week. It’s been crazy busy over here in Alabang, as my friend, Momma ‘N Manila Michelle and I have been doing back to back blogger events in partnership with Fringe Salon. Fringe is a fairly new salon in Commercenter (where Bridgestone and Army Navy are located), and is officially my hair’s new happy place.

The reception area at Fringe Salon Alabang

I had the opportunity to try the salon out before we started working with them. A few weekends ago, Lola Terry and I decided to go for a girly bonding session and give our dry frizzy hair the love and care that it needed. We chose to go early, right when the salon opened, and so we had the place all to ourselves. I’m sure you moms out there can imagine just how much I appreciated the momentary peace and quiet!

Classy, clean and calm

If I had to describe Fringe in three words, it would be these – classy, clean and calm. The moment you enter you will notice just how classy the place is. Everything from the chairs to the mirrors, the shampoo stations, even the super organized and properly labeled caddies for each stylist screams simple elegance. The stylists themselves are actually dressed in smart collared shirts in a muted shade of brown. Everything and everyone looks clean and crisp. And, in the waiting area, you will see the most beautiful Cobonpue chair. It looks like it was crocheted!!!

Not only is everything organized, it’s all clean and nice smelling, too. Even the comfort rooms! The owner, Evelyn R. Tagle, has paid immense attention to detail. She even has an extra roll of toilet paper in each restroom, and a can of Lysol. She has bottles of hand sanitizer on the counter and near her mini pantry/coffee preparation area. Her towels are lush, fluffy and not stained or ripped. Fringe is seriously an OC person’s dream salon.

By calm, I mean that the vibe at Fringe is not your usual noisy, chatty beauty parlor vibe. The stylists and nail techs are all very professional, and you certainly won’t hear gossip over your head while you are being worked on. The music they play ranges from upbeat to jazzy, and is kept at a low volume. You can actually talk to your companions here without you having to raise your voices just to understand each other. That is something major for me, as loud noises really irritate me. In fact, I don’t even make the volume on the TV that loud when I watch. Same goes for the car radio.

Great service at reasonable prices

Honestly, I thought that the prices at Fringe would be super high. While it does cost a bit more than what I would usually spend at other salons that I’ve been to, it’s not as costly as the other big-named salons in the area. For me, the pricing is just right, given that they do good work and provide excellent service in this really nice salon. You are also served coffee, hot tea or iced lemongrass tea (which the owner brews herself!) and cookies while you are undergoing your treatments. They also have chocolates and candies for little kids who come to visit. You really can’t ask for more.

If you want a sure indication of the quality that you get from Fringe, know that they only use MAC makeup when you have your face done here. The nail polish brands that they use are also premium – Cuccio, an organic brand, and Misa, a vegan brand that has made a commitment to never test their products on animals. Their stylists are all highly experienced, and they analyze your hair first before they start on any treatments. Coloring is done in stages, making sure that the end result is even all over. When they analyzed my mom’s hair before coloring, they discovered three different shades of brown in patches all over her mane. After our visit to Fringe, her hair was no longer multicolored.

I went for a hair spa treatment, and I really needed one because I never went for my follow up treatment after getting colored last December at another salon. My hair was dull, dry, brittle and breaking, shapeless (because I hadn’t had it cut in maybe a year and a half) and falling off in clumps. I am really happy with how my hair has been since our visit. I think my before and after photos say it all.

Before and after. Extra straight coz it’s blowdried, but also softer, shinier, and a lot less frizzy.

I don’t just choose Fringe, I recommend it

Mom and I will be back for sure for more hair treatments. She is really happy with her cut and color, and it looks like she plans to continue her hair maintenance at Fringe. I, on the other hand, am not sure what I want to do with my hair right now, but I know that whatever it is I end up doing, this is where I plan to go for it. The more time I spend at this salon, as our blogger events are completed, I see for myself just how good their services are. I’ll be sharing the posts of our invited bloggers here coz I really want you guys to see their before and after photos. These might just convince you, too, to choose Fringe Salon.

Read about Fringe from these amazing bloggers:

Fringe Salon is open from 10am to 7pm, Mondays to Saturdays. It is located at G/F Commercenter Building, Commerce Ave. cor. Filinvest Ave., Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa. For inquiries and reservations, contact +632 8080881, +63920 2193391 or +63927 7897559. Like Fringe Salon on Facebook (#/fringesalonph), Twitter and Instagram (@FringeSalonPH) for updates and information.

Where’s your hair’s happy place, aka your salon of choice?

This Bookworm Loves Buqo + A Giveaway

May 23, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 24 Comments

I am a proud bookworm. I mean, the fact that I’m part of a book club says that loud and clear, right?

I’ve only just recently discovered the joys of digital reading. Ever since MrC gifted me with my Kindle a couple of mother’s days ago, it’s had a permanent space in my purse. I remember, during the first few weeks, how happy I was that my bag was lighter without a book in it, and yet I had so many titles with me all at once. The one downside to the reader that I have is that I can’t read magazines or picture books on it because the display is not in color.

And then came Buqo.

I recently received this amazing opportunity to try out a new app called Buqo . I jumped at the chance because it meant that I could finally see my favorite Yummy Magazine in digital format. Haha, yes, that is really my primary reason for doing the review! Now, as you know, I don’t own a tablet and my phone is super low tech. I actually had to borrow my dad’s iPad just so I could install the app. Boy, was it worth it!

As I was browsing through Buqo, I discovered one other advantage it has over my current reader – LOCAL TITLES. There are a few books that I have been wanting to read that I just couldn’t get on Amazon. Lo and behold, I found them all on Buqo! That’s because Buqo is basically an online Filipino bookstore. They even have Adarna Children’s Books, Precious Hearts Romances and Pugad Baboy ! It’s Pinoy bookworm heaven, I tell you.

Buqo – the premier Filipino digital bookstore

Easy Purchases + Easy Navigation

Now, I have to tell you that I am an iDummy. I don’t really know how to use an iPad,simply because I’ve never tried to before. Surprisingly though, Buqo was simple to install, and registering an account was easy also. After browsing for a bit, I found what I wanted and added them to my account.

Now here’s a perk for Android app users, and for those of you who are buying books through the website. If you don’t have a credit card, you can actually pay for your book or magazine purchases through online banking or over the counter bank payments. Isn’t that so convenient? Plus, with just one account, you can use Buqo and access your entire library on up to 7 devices.

Early Bird Freebies

Since Buqo is still relatively new, there are still a lot of freebies being offered when you sign up, such as certain magazine titles. Also, when you sign up, you are given access to the Buqo newsletter. You then get informed first about new content, upcoming promos and special offers.

PLUS, since I am also super happy with my Buqo experience, I want to share the happiness with you guys. I am giving away a 3-month subscription of any summit media magazine to 5 blog readers. Note that there are three mandatory steps that you absolutely, positively MUST accomplish in order for your entry to be considered valid.

Download the app.
Register a Buqo account – this is necessary for you to claim your prize
Follow Buqo on Facebook and Twitter

Of course, there are a few more things that you can do to gain additional points, but I’m sure you know that already. Everything you need to do to join ca be found in the Rafflecopter widget below. Giveaway runs from May 23 to June 5, 2014. Winners will be announced on June 7.

FINE PRINT: The winners will be forwarded to the Buqo team and they will be in charge of sending you your prizes. Kk?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, and happy reading everyone!

Summer Gift Baskets

May 12, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

Great go-to gift ideas for this summer

Whether they’re still in school or graduated ages ago, everyone looks forward to the summer break. Family outings are planned and beaches are swarmed; resorts are overbooked, and all of a sudden, everyone is posting “Summer 2014!” albums on Facebook.

You can expect that anyone having a birthday during the summer months will be having a party designed to help the guests cool off. Be it a pool party or a trip out of town, friends and families all appreciate being given the chance to wade in some cool water to let off some steam. These summer parties are perfect, because not only are they a joy to attend, but they make picking the gift for the celebrant so much easier.

Deciding on a gift can be extremely stressful; especially when 1) you don’t know the celebrant well enough to know what they’ll really like, or 2) you love the celebrant too much and want to get them something they’ll really be able to use. For both of problems, though, a gift basket can save you so much trouble. Gift baskets are usually seen in the Christmas season, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not adaptable. In fact, they’re probably the easiest to assemble, and they’re always appreciated, no matter the occasion.

In fact, you could even create gift baskets for Christenings and birthdays, just as the community on NetMums.com has suggested. A few days ago, the Worksop Guardian announced that it would be giving away a Marks and Spencer hamper of baby care products to lucky parents too, so the idea isn’t all too novel. Everyone loves a good gift basket, and this summer, you can be sure that the lucky recipient will appreciate a gift basket full of summer essentials.

When building a gift basket, it’s always important to think of what the recipient will need, thus giving more value to your gift. It should be easy to come up with a list of things that can go in a Summer Gift Basket, but here are some ideas:

A great beach towel

These are relatively inexpensive and shouldn’t set you back by more than 200-250php if you know where to look.

Some sunblock, or suntan

Depending on whether your friend is going for a tan or trying to avoid getting too tan, you can get them a bottle of sunscreen or tanning lotion. This alone should make the gift basket a welcome sight to the celebrant!

A summer hat

Extremely whimsical and great for relaxing at the poolside or on the beach, everyone loves summer hats! Save your friend the trouble of going to the department store to look for one and get her one in her favorite color.

Some fashionable sunglasses

Oversized sunglasses are always in fashion, and the summer look isn’t complete without a pair! There are many discount sunglasses available online, but your friend probably wouldn’t mind a pair of fake sunglasses either, as long as they do the job!

A Summer Gift Basket is a great idea, because you can be sure that the recipient can put it to good use. In fact, if you choose just the right items, you might see them being used right then and there at the party!

This entry is an original guest post submitted to Mrs C’s Sugarcoated Life.

SBC’s April and May BOMs

May 6, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 23 Comments

Before we begin, let’s have a definition of terms. SBC stands for Secret Book Club, which is the name of our book club. It just started out that way, and none of us felt the need to change the name. BOM means Book of the Month. In our book club, we have two to read each month. I think I explained this already when I posted about our first book club meet-up, but I just thought I’d do it again. And now that that’s clear, we can move on.

Meeting up to discuss our March BOMs! L-R: Me, Liz, Russ, Balot and Joei (who owns this photo) — Meet-up #2 to discuss our March BOMs!
L-R: Me, Liz, Russ, Balot and Joei (who owns this photo)

April’s books were polar opposites. Balot suggested Arabian Nights by Sir Richard Burton. Honestly, I didn’t go very far with this one because I got sidetracked by Book Four of A Song of Fire and Ice. Had to catch up on my reading because the Game of Thrones series started up again on HBO. Feedback from those who actually got to read Arabian Nights was that it’s a pretty long book. I’m definitely keeping this on my to-read list, even though it’s been decided that we will forego the discussion for it because it’s so lengthy.

I was in charge of suggesting the second April book. I chose Losing It by Cora Carmack. Oh my gosh this book was so funny. I would choose this over Fifty Shades of Grey any day because unlike 50 Shades, this book doesn’t take itself too seriously. The characters are a lot more endearing, not at all annoying, and a lot more real. Sorry Fifty Shades fans. Hehe. I actually read all three books in that series and, well, I wasn’t as swept away by it as the rest of the universe. I would recommend Losing It, though.It’s a really easy read, super light, and a great “breather” book, if you’re looking for something to read in between heavy novels.

It’s Janice’s turn to suggest a book this month, and I love that she picked a Filipino author. Liz is also suggesting a book this month, and her recommendation is pretty interesting.

I’ve just finished downloading our two May BOMs into my Kindle, Belong To Me by Marissa delos Santos and This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith, and I am excited to start reading them both.

First, I need to finish A Feast For Crows. And of course, the only way I’m gonna be able to do that is if I get off this computer and start reading. Right? Right.

What’s on your reading list this month?

Color

March 14, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 8 Comments

It took me a while to decide what I wanted ti use as a subject for today’s 48 Weeks photo. The theme is color, and, well, I have so many brightly colored things at home. I have my collection of lipsticks, assorted books and notebooks wit colorful covers, markers, gel pens, crayons, and the list goes on. Today, though, I woke up missing my crochet hooks, after I realized that I hadn’t made anything in a long time. After pulling out my crochet supplies, I remembered just how colorful my set of hooks are, and so right there I figured out what I wanted my photo to look like.

Shot with a Sony TX10 camera and post-processed on Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

So, these are my crochet hooks, plus a teeny tiny cupcake I made today. I’m a little bit annoyed that my frame cut off the tip of one of the gold hooks on the right. I didn’t notice that until after I had uploaded the image, and I don’t want to have to re-edit. Oh well. Should I have put sprinkles on the cupcake?

So this photo challenge has really become more of a study in framing and photo composition for me. I’ve used our point and shoot camera in all except one of the photos. But let’s see, I still have 42 weeks to go. Hopefully I get to shift to the SLR soon.

What brings color to your life today?

I Wish They Taught Money In High School – A Book Review

March 12, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 16 Comments

I’ve said it several times on this blog – I am not really good with budgeting and financial management. It’s just not a strength of mine. I do know that it’s something that I want to figure out though, but every time I try to read up on the topic or attend talks about money, a lot of it doesn’t make much sense to me. I mean, I’d like to think that I’m pretty smart. It’s just that it takes me a while to register anything that has to do with numbers. That includes money. And so I found it totally amazing that I found I Wish They Taught Money In High School to be a quick an easy read.

Yes, finally, a super simple book about managing your money.

I literally finished this book in one afternoon. And no, I didn’t just skim through it. I actually read it, understood it and appreciated it. I must admit though that I enjoyed reading the I Wish They Taught Money In High School So I Can Start My Own Business Right Away part more. This is probably because it’s something that’s more appropriate to my present situation, and therefore, something I can relate to better than the second part, I Wish They Taught Money In High School So I’m Not Dependent on my Paycheck. Both are totally informative, though, and great to read for financial dummies like me. It would be a great book for those of you who do you understand your money matters too, because it gives a great perspective and ideas on how you can look beyond your paycheck for you to earn and become financially free.

Paycheck to paycheck no more.

I Wish They Taught Money In High School So I’m Not Dependent On My Paycheck

In this part of the book, author Clarissa Seriña-de la Paz talks about how she learned to look beyond her paycheck in order to grow her money. She shares her ideas on how you can invest, whether it’s through stocks or mutual funds, so that your money continues to work for you after you’re done working your 8-hours for the money. I love the concept of paying yourself first, which I heard about before at a financial talk I had attended. This is probably my best takeaway from this part of the book, a reminder that yes, you should be setting aside money to either save or invest, so that you will have money for the future when it’s time for you to retire.

You can start a business with little capital. Yes, you can.

I Wish They Taught Money In High School So I Can Start My Own Business Right Away

A friend and I have been toying with the idea of starting our own business since last year. There just are so many fears that come with taking a leap so big, but honestly, reading this book helped answer a lot of questions and clear up some of the doubt. Sharon Que who authors this part shared a lot of great, inspiring stories about starting small, about overcoming obstacles, and how patience and persistence can really pay off when it comes to business. I absolutely love how this part ends with steps on how to register a business, something that is super necessary for anyone who is even thinking about taking on an entrepreneurial venture to know. The author also shares a few ideas for businesses that don’t require a lot of capital, like online businesses and some franchises. My best takeaway from this portion of the book is the idea that yes it can be done, and the inspiration to just go and do it.

I’d say that this book is totally worth it, especially if you’re seeking any form of wisdom or clarity where your finances are concerned. In case you do decide that you want to read it, you can get a copy of I Wish They Taught Money In High School here. I’d love to know your thoughts once you’re done with the book!