FamilyMart PH opens at West Aeropark Clark Pampanga

FamilyMart welcomes guests at West AeroPark in Clark, Pampanga

FamilyMart PH recently opened its 68th branch and their second generation store in the growing development of Clark Global City. There is indeed no doubt the invasion and rapid expansion of the modern day convenience store is now running rampant in the Philippines. 

It has long been predicted that convenience stores would be the next phase of modern retail growth in the Philippines and judging by the retail brands now springing up like plants in well-watered garden, the scramble for market presence is well and truly underway. 

As new convenience store players establish their position in the market, the speed of outlets popping up across the retail landscape will accelerate as each plays a game of catch up, or at least, to get to the number of outlets required to offset operational costs. 

FamilyMart executives cheers to a first bite of their FamiChicky

FamilyMart execs during the ribbon cutting ceremony

FamilyMart raced onto the retail scene in 2013 and it was operating a lot of stores within two years and has indicated it aims to open 60-70 stores per year. FamilyMart West Aeropark sports a revamped look and vibe from the usual branch. Tagged as the "Generation 2"store, it follows the interior design of its international counterparts (but it will soon be rolled out in all their other branches as well.) We were lucky to interview Mr. Roald Yap, FamilyMart's General Manager while we were there. He warmly welcomed us as he proudly showed us around the new FamilyMart store. 

Mr. Roald Yap, FamilyMart General Manager

This particular FamilyMart store is composed of different sections which features both imported and local brands as well as an aisle that has products from the different provinces in the Philippines. It's a great way to just grab pasalubong (items we Filipinos would usually bring home to our families and friends) from FamilyMart sans the hassle. 

Pasalubong Corner for your needs

Amway's MIYU Skincare Celebrates 1st Anniversary in the Philippines

Korean glass skin is definitely the ïn thing"on skincare these days. One thing about Koreans that is definitely noticeable would have to be their clear, radiant and almost poreless skin. No wonder, Korean products have become very much in demand both online shops as well as physical stores in the country these days. But in as much as most of us would like to copy the exact DNA of Koreans, Filipinos have very different skin tones compared to our Asian counterpart. 

Luckily, Amway Philippines launched the Korean Skincare product line called MIYU last year. MIYU means "beauty within you." Filipinos need not fly to Korea to purchase authentic Korean skincare products because Amway through its MIYU skincare line has brought the products here and made it specifically fit for Filipina's natural skin tone. Since its arrival on the Philippine shore, MIYU has had a strong cult following already among the Korean skincare fanatics. It sells like hotcakes from its shelves!

MIYU ambassador Krestle Deomampo

Amway Philippines recently invited Purple Plum Fairy along with other online influencers and bloggers to celebrate MIYU's first year anniversary in the country. The said event was graced by MIYU brand ambassador Krestle Deomampo who flew all the way from Davao to celebrate the said momentous occasion with us. 

My Keratin Eyelash Lifting Experience at The Brow Studio PH

The Brow Studio helps you get that eyebrows on fleek

My good friend and I recently visited The Brow Studio. It's always been my go-to place for eyebrow grooming. But for this particular visit, my purpose is to accompany my friend who wanted to try the latest trend on eyebrows called microblading. I'm sure most of you are familiar with it. But for those who do not know what mircoblading is all about. Microblading is a semi-permanent tattooing technique that creates hairlike strokes to fill in the sparse or thinning brows. I would've wanted to try it out myself had I not been diabetic. Unfortunately, I was told I'm not allowed to undergo such process. This procedure is not for diabetic and those who are prone to keloidal scars. 

The Brow Studio at the Uptown Parade in BGC welcomes its guests

It was my first time to visit The Brow Studio's branch in Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City. The Brow Studio perfectly fits the posh Uptown Parade mall with its new hues of bright canary yellow, white and black colors. 

Comfy chairs during the procedure where you can lie down

My friend Merce Maata was a bit nervous at first because she had no idea if the microblading process would be painful. However, Ms. Michelle Almonte, The Brow Studio's resident aesthetic tattoo artist assured her that she will be in good hands. There's a topical anesthesia to begin with, so there's really nothing to worry about. 

My friend ate Merce before the microblading procedure.

Blogger and Cebuana English Teacher Mercedes Maata undergoes a combination of microblading and shading procedures
for her brows


The two next photos are taken from The Brow Studio's Instagram page

Look at how happy and satisfied my friend has become after she has undergone a combination of microblading, shading and stroking in order to achieve such perfect semi-permanent makeup brows. Should you want to read Ate Merce's personal thoughts on microblading and semi permanent makeup, check out her blog here. 

Now, what about me? Aside from maintaining my brows, The Brow Studio also offers other services such as waxing, threading, eyelash perming and Keratin eyelash lifting among many others. While waiting for Ate Merce, I decided to avail of their Keratin Eyelash Lifting. I've previously tried their eyelash perm treatment. It was good while it lasted and I remember waking up to Disney Princess lashes back then. This time though, I wanted to see the difference between the usual eyelash perm and the Keratin eyelash lift. I got so excited just thinking about waking up again in my Minnie Mouse kind of eyelashes. 

Purple Plum Fairy prior to the Keratin Lash Lifting Procedure

What exactly is Keratin Eyelash Lifting? It's an alternative to lash extensions and falsies for a curled lash effect. While some lash lifts use perm and ammonia solutions, Keratin is a keratin treatment that enhances your natural lashes by lifting the hairs and curling them.

I was born with a good amount of lashes, but they're quite straight despite being long and indecisively directed. They were boring, dead-straight and never liked to play with eyelash curlers. So when I got the opportunity to lift my lashes into a perfectly curled formation, I gave it a nod right away. I've had my eyelashes permed before so I was preparing to smell perming chemicals and the thought of putting them on my lashes. But alas, this Keratin Eyelash Lift is quite different. No watery eyes and no dizzy head. I almost doze off to sleep during the process! No kidding! 

Salad Bar PH Food review: Create Your Own Salad the Healthy Way

Salad bar Kiosk

Craving a bowl of fresh, crisp salad but don’t have the ingredients or patience to make it? Fret not, salad bar kiosk is the answer to your lunchtime prayers. 

A decent salad bar is hard to find (limp iceberg lettuce with three pieces of corn anyone?) and DIY at home is about as appealing as the aforementioned limp lettuce lunch, especially since no one has all the ingredients in their fridge to make a vibrant bowl of health-giving salad. But thanks to whoever owns Salad Bar PH kiosks that's no longer the case.

A variety of choices as your DIY salad's ingredients

Pick 'n' mix your ideal salad ingredients from a huge range of over 50 fresh choices to create the salad of your dreams. Choices include super fresh juicy tomatoes, sweet corn kernels, tuna flakes - even sweet fruits like papaya, mangoes, peaches, grapes, dragon fruit, lychee, avocado and other fruits in season. Then add up some mushrooms, cucumber slices and macaroni salad and voilà, lunch is served.

Purple Plum Fairy picks her fave ingredients from the salad bar. Please forgive her for her huge arms.

But if you want to leave the lunchtime decision making to the experts, Salad Bar PH offers different salad ingredients depending on their availability. But I can tell from the very first time I've tried Salad Bar PH that it will truly be perfect for lunch given its feel-good food trip. I mean, c'mon, one can indulge on Salad Bar PH's healthy offering sans the usual guilt. These are the kind of foods that fuel mental greatness. 

Customers flock to Salad Bar for a healthy alternative meals especially during lunch time

The best sellers include peaches and mangoes along with avocado

SaladBar PH knows how to really make stuff easier for us customers who are undecided in what to order. They have three options, please see below:

• Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Platter (an assortment of delicious, fresh, best-of-the-season fruits and garden-fresh vegetables)
• Fresh Fruit Platter (a delicious sliced assortment of best-of-the-season fruits. Choose your fruits and enjoy its freshness)
• Fresh Vegetable Platter (an assortment of fresh, best-of-the-season, crisp vegetables cut into snack-size piece along)      

Smart Parenting Convention 2018: Where Experts Help in Raising Successful Kids

Smart Parenting Convention 2018

I love attending Smart Parenting events. Maybe it stems from my desire to become a better guardian to my nephew Kyle. I'm not biologically a mom yet, but I've been raising my teen nephew for as long as I can remember. That's why when opportunities such as the recent Smart Parenting Convention comes up, I would do everything in my power to come and attend. From parenting workshops to baby care items on sale, doulas, financial experts as well as other engaging and interesting stuff--devoted to spreading ideas, one can find inspiration for just about anything. 

Booths found during the Smart Parenting Convention 2018

And yes, there are smart parenting talks/workshops where I'd find myself crying or teary-eyed within a few minutes because they usually say something profound that I've never thought of before and it touches that sensitive nurturing mother's heart of mine. 

As parents, we all want to do the best for our kids, right? We want to be good parents, and we especially don't want to put more as*h*les into the world. I swear by the expertly advice and wisdom of Smart Parenting experts because they can help us do things the best way possible.