DQ = Diarrhea Queen?

Hubby used to to buy DQ (Dairy Queen) often. Every trip to the mall meant a tall serving of DQ Blizzard in Double Dutch for him. Sometimes, we would share. Sometimes, I would get my own small cup in anything Strawberry.

But this was before I realized that after I ate DQ, I would get LBM. Often, too soon that after an hour or two of consuming a small cup, I'd be raring to go home because my stomach would start acting up and I don't know how long it can hold off. It happened quite a few times for it to be a coincidence. And with different branches, too.

So I made a quick search on Google and it turns out that other people have experienced the same. Try entering "diarrhea after dairy queen" and you'll see what I'm talking about. Looks  like DQ has some ingredients that irritate the stomach or are not suited for those with lactose intolerance. I'm not lactose intolerant, by the way, but I do have a sensitive stomach.

Hubby still buys it but I've stayed away from it since. Sure, I'd eat one again if we're at home or on our way home.  But nothing my husband can do can make me eat it again when we're out and away from the comfort and privacy of our CR.

How about you, do you have the same experience with any of the Dairy Queen products?

Product: Human Heart Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil

Before you read my review of Human Heart Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil, you might want to check the other half of this post here.

When I ran out of Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer, and going to their farm in Silang, Cavite or ordering online wasn't immediately possible, I tried another natural alternative: Human Heart Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil.

I am no stranger to beauty oils having used a few before. There's the oil I squeezed out from Myra-E's Vitamin E gel capsules, Jason's Jojoba Oil, and Derma E's Vitamin A with E Anti-Wrinkle Oil. But having a very oily face then, my oil-slathering rituals didn't last very long. I got tired of puncturing Vit. E gel capsules and messing pillows at night. I found out Jojoba oil suits my hair better. And after a few years, I finally decided to throw away the bottle of the anti-wrinkle oil, 90% filled, because it was already rancid.

But things have changed and I thought my face would now be more receptive to oils. So the next time I saw Human Heart Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil in a nearby Shopwise branch, I decided to grab a bottle.

It comes in two sizes, 50ml and 100ml, and boasts of containing 100% high-grade Sunflower oil - nothing else. It's also quite cheap, at P129 and P249 for 50ml and 100ml sizes respectively.

The oil is odorless, light (but not as light as Jojoba oil) and is quickly absorbed by the skin, depending on how much is used. Of course, if you use too much, you'll have grease all over. The pump bottle is very convenient to use. Just one squirt is enough for my whole face.

But it is all good?

Using the same pang-tamad na tao regimen, I can say it is, as far as moisturizing is concerned. No break outs. My face didn't get oilier. Instead, I get that natural healthy glow and my skin feels softer.

From the other reviews that I read before, they say that aside from moisturizing, sunflower oil also has skin-lightening properties, which makes this product good for lightening pimple marks. But I didn't notice that effect on me. Maybe because I only let it linger on my skin during bathtime as oppose to others who keep it on overnight.

I also use it to tame my frizzy hair and just recently, I use it on my underarm after waxing DIY-style, to get rid of all the sticky mess that the strips leave behind. It's very good in soothing wax burns (I get that everytime I wax). As far as lightening underarms, I haven't used it long enough on that part to say if it's effective or not.

Overall, Human Heart Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil live up to most of its claims. I can say it's a very good all-around beauty oil, which you can use on every part of the body that needs moisturizing.

UPDATE (12/05/2012)

I've used Human Heart Nature Sunflower Oil on my underarms for a considerably long time and I can say, it does whiten the skin. And if you do DIY underarm waxing, it's the best wax removal! My underarms always seem to get dark after DIY waxing. But that's not the case anymore since I started using the sunflower oil. It quickly relieves the redness and stinging sensation, which you usually get after underarm waxing. And it keeps the skin from getting dark.

Because I'm not sure of it's deodorizing properties, I'm only using Human Heart Nature Sunflower Oil on my underarm when I'm staying at home (which is mostly everyday). But it doesn't make my underarms smell nor does it feel icky (despite being an oil). I just can't say if it's an anti-perspirant as well, because I don't sweat a lot. I didn't note any difference in the amount of my perspiration either (as if I can measure that, but what I mean is I don't perspire more or less when I'm using the sunflower oil).

I also use it on my face, but it's hard to tell if it's Human Heart Nature Sunflower Oil or Shulammite Carrot Soap that's keeping my face whiter and brighter. Maybe both. They're the best combo for the face.

Product: Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer

In need of a simple, natural moisturizer? Read my review of Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer.

Experience - or fear - tells us that if you have an oily face, the last thing you need is something that will make it oilier. Like moisturizers, especially the ones in heavy cream or oil-based form. But dermatologist, aestheticians, and even ordinary individuals started saying that moisturizer is actually good for oily face. Why? Because a desperate person with an oily face tends to do everything to keep it dry, like washing often or applying all sorts of drying solutions. A dry skin tricks oil glands into believing that they need to secrete more oils to relieve the dryness. Hence, the face becomes more oily. And the person who owns the face becomes more depressed.

I used to be like that person. But as I grow older, my skin becomes more forgiving and less frustrating. My oil glands went easy on the grease, my breakouts lost interest on my face and the world is a happier place. But I noticed that my skin starts to dry out. And for the first time in my life, I felt the need for a moisturizer.

But like before, I want nothing of the heavy stuff. I still believe grease begets grease. And I'm someone who gets tired of regimen, whether it is for morning or evening. I just want something that I can put on while I'm taking a bath.

I have a bottle of Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer sitting on a bathroom shelf. The ginger-scent is so strong that I can't use it as a moiturizer, not even at night because hubby complains of the smell. I can use it as a cleanser but I prefer Shulammite Carrot soap.

Not wanting to waste it, I decided to use it as a before-cleanser, if there's such a product. During a bath, I would wash my face with Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer first, let it stay on my face for a few minutes, while I tend to the rest of my body. Then rinse it off with Shulammite Carrot soap and water. This way, I can get the benefits of both products.

But I realized that doing it this way will just strip off the moisturizer from my face. So I thought why not reverse the order? Wash my face with soap first, then put on the moisturizer, leave it on and rinse with water. Sometimes, it leaves an oily trace on my face, but I can easily wipe it off with a towel or a tissue. And rinsing it with water gets rid of the smell, but not of the natural oils.

It didn't take long for me to notice that it's working. My face doesn't look dry anymore, but rather healthier. I got what I wanted, a moisturizer to keep my face from drying out and something that won't force me to develop a skin regimen (that I'll get tired of after a while anyway).

It being a natural, chemical-free product is a nice bonus, too. Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer is made from royal jelly, honey, beeswax, propolis, natural flower, herb and seed oils. It doesn't even have emulsifiers so you have to shake the bottle before using in order to mix all the ingredients together.

However, for people with sensitive skin, you might feel a stinging sensation as you let the cleanser/moisturizer linger on your face. I think this is caused by royal jelly. I once bought a small jar of fresh royal jelly from Ilog Maria. I was intending to use it as an alternative medicine/supplement for my thyroid problem. But it tastes bad. I mean really bad that I couldn't bear taking it so I thought I could use it as a facial cream. Big mistake. Because it stings a lot. It made my face so red and itchy.

While applying pure royal jelly directly on the skin may not be a good idea, I think Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer has the right amount of royal jelly plus it's mix with natural ingredients, so it's mild enough. to put on your face.

One other downside is that it's not widely available. You can order online from Ilog Maria, or from some online store selling Ilog Maria products, which often means paying for shipping fee. Or hunt a very few physical stores that carry Ilog Maria products or just go to Silang, Cavite and buy directly from Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm.

It costs P88.00 on the Ilog Maria website (cheaper when you buy from the farm), a reasonable price I think for a good, effective and natural moisturizer that will last at least a month.

I really love Ilog Maria Honeymilk Cleanser and Moisturizer. Everytime I go to Tagaytay, I never fail to visit Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm to replenish my stock.

to be continued...

Food: Bag of Beans Cheesecake

It's during one of those impromptu trips to Tagaytay when I tried Bag of Beans cheesecake. Now, because I've been in blogging hiatus (again, for the 2nd time, or was it 3rd?) and it was months ago, I already forgot which cheesecake is this:

Blueberry or Strawberry? Blueberry should be, well, blue and this is not (or should I just blame my camera phone for not getting the right color?) So I thought Strawberry. But knowing me, if there's Blueberry Cheesecake on the menu, that would be the first thing that I'll order. So maybe they didn't have Blueberry Cheesecake that day?

And forgetting what cheesecake I had is only half of the problem because I also forgot how it tasted. Well, I do remember that the topping - that luxurious chunky thick syrup dripping on the cake - was very good. But that's it, no recollection of what the cake itself taste like. I wish these photos could make my tastebuds remember.

So another trip to Bag of Beans is needed. Until then, this review is on hold.

 

UPDATED (03/10/2013)

 

Finally the mystery was solved.

 

Place: Tonglen Beach Resort, Boracay, Aklan

Our second trip to Boracay was like a beautiful dream. It was over sooner than we wanted. Plus it was a stormy, windy week and we weren't blessed with enough sun to enjoy the beach. So it kinda felt like we didn't really spend 4D3N in the beach paradise.

And this is a belated post, because we went there last June, and it is only now, four months later, that I'm posting a review of Tonglen Beach Resort, the place where we stayed. But I remember when I was researching about the hotel and I couldn't find a more in-depth review of the place, except bits and pieces from Agoda. So this is for those who will be researching about Tonglen Beach Resort in the future.

Tonglen Beach Resort is a non-beachfront and budget-friendly resort located in Boracay Station 3. They boast of a swimming pool, cozy rooms, and relaxing, scenic garden walkways.

At that time, I was looking for something closer to P1,000-P1,500/night because we were on a budget, and one other requirement - that it has a swimming pool - because we're travelling with my 3-year-old nephew and I thought the pool would be safer than the beach (if ever my nephew would refuse to get out of the water).

Tonglen Beach Resort's standard room rate for 2 is P1,800/night. But Agoda was offering a free night if I booked two nights, lowering the price down to P1,2000/night. And they're one of the very few budget-friendly hotels in Boracay that has a swimming pool.

The only thing that's holding me back is the Station 3 location. When I looked it up on Google Map, I saw that it's near La Carmela de Boracay Resort. So I thought maybe it's really not that far, considering it's on the boundary of Station 2 and Station 3.

After weighing the pros and cons, I decided that the P1,200/night price with a swimming pool can't be beat and proceeded to book two rooms for three nights. As mentioned earlier, I tried to search for more reviews, but I was always led back to Agoda, where they have a handful of positive feedback.


The Resort

We arrived at Boracay on a windy, rainy Tuesday afternoon. Boat porters welcomed us with the news of forecasted storm. It was getting dark and we were pretty tired and the news of a coming storm was the last thing we needed to perk up our spirits.

It was a good thing that getting to the hotel from jetty port was easy. I just told the tricycle driver to take us to Tonglen Beach Resort and he dropped us off inside back gate (the side facing the main street, the opposite side of the beachfront). As we unload ourselves and our bags, we were greeted by a refreshing and clear blue swimming pool amid the green lawn and lots of plants. It was an impressive sight.



Our room was on the second floor of the apartment on the right.

One of the hotel's personnel approached and welcomed us. Then he helped carry our bags and led us to the reception area. As we walked from the back gate to the front gate, I got excited with the things that I was seeing. The whole compound is nestled in a green luxury of grass, plants, and trees providing a good contrast to the red-white, cogon-grass-roofed apartments, and dotted by small hut cottages. It's a far cry from Tan's Guesthouse cramped compound, where we stayed before. The whole resort has a relaxing countryside feel to it. It was truly beautiful.


Booking through Agoda

It was the first time that I used Agoda vouchers, and it was pretty straightforward and hassle-free. In fact, the receptionist was already expecting us, so all I needed to do was present my printed copies. She informed us of the available standard rooms and asked which do we prefer. I would have wanted rooms on the ground floor, but only one was available, so I chose the two adjacent rooms on the second floor instead.


Our Rooms

When we were ushered to our rooms, which are located near the swimming pool, I was delighted by what I saw. The rooms were very clean and well-maintained. Actually, they looked new (and maybe they are). In each were two single beds, which the staff rearranged so that they are side by side, making a double bed. The sheets smelled good and pillows, fluffy enough.  There was a flat LCD-TV, a personal refrigerator, a big closet, a dresser table, mirror, chair and this beautiful, rustic lighting centerpiece on the ceiling.



I want something like this.

I went to check the bathroom and saw that like the bedroom, everything was spic and span. There's water on the faucet, toilet was clean, water heater was working - absolutely no issue with the bathroom. At first, there was a just a trickle of water coming from the shower. But a few twists on the showerhead and the water flowed out nicely.

They also provided clean towels, the Canadian brand. They weren't the softest and fluffiest, but they were clean and the brand is a good-quality one. You could tell from the towel itself.  (I always buy Canadian bed linens even if they're a little expensive because the fabric is a lot better than the cheaper brands.)

Back to the bedroom, we found out that the TV remote wasn't working, which was an inconvenient because we had to get up to switch channels, and the light flickered when it's turned off so we had to keep the lights on even when we're sleeping. But aside from those, everything was working fine. And I thought our rooms were lovely.

And did I say that they've got Wi-Fi? Not inside the rooms though, but it's okay because they have seats outside every room where you can take advantage of the free internet connection.



The view from our rooms on the second floor.

Other Amenities

Outside our rooms, the most notable amenity was the swimming pool. I was really glad that I chose a hotel with a swimming pool because it allowed us, my nephew especially, to frolic in the water despite the windy, rainy weather. It's dangerous to do that on the beach because of the big waves, and the ocean water was too chilly.

The pool water was clean and they replace it everyday. It was also heated, something that we really enjoyed against the cold Boracay breeze at that time. The side of the pool was accentuated with loungers and hut cottages, a making it wonderful place to relax, read or eat.

Then, who could miss the well-kept lawn and garden? It's everywhere. It didn't feel like we were in the bustling, tourist-jam-packed Boracay, because it was very quiet and relaxing inside the premises of the resort.

They also have a restaurant, but it's always empty and we wondered if we can get anything to eat inside. I also read that the free breakfast that they serve wasn't good (our accommodations didn't include free breakfast because I got them on a discounted rate), so I never suggested going inside.


The Location

Going out to have dinner on our first night exposed the disadvantage of the hotel's location. While the back gate was easily accessible from the main street, the front gate leading to the beachfront was not as conveniently situated. On Google Map, the resort seemed near La Carmela de Boracay, which is a beach front hotel, but in reality, it's not because there's no straight path from Tonglen to La Carmela. We had to passed through alleys and turned on corners in order to get to the beach front. And that's just getting to the beach front.

Going from La Carmela to D'Mall and Station 1 was a good 15- to 20-minute walk. And it didn't help that we have a toddler in tow and that it rained often, especially during the evening when we've already showered and weren't exactly looking to get wet.

But why go to D'Mall and Station 1?

Even if the shores of Stations 2 and 3 were lined up with restaurants, we still prefer to eat at D'Mall (most of the budget-friendly restaurants are there). And Station 1 offers the finest sand, the widest and cleanest shore, Willy's rock, among others. Among the three stations, it obviously occupies the best part of White Beach. And I would've wanted to book an accommodation on Station 1 but wasn't able to find one that's within budget.


The Service

The staff were very friendly and courteous. On our second day, someone knocked on our door and asked if she can do housekeeping. We weren't really ready to go out of the room so I told her to return tomorrow. And true enough, when we got back from having breakfast the following day, the rooms and bathrooms were tidied up. They didn't change the bed sheets and towels though but it's okay because they're still clean.


The Verdict

If only the resort was located at least somewhere in mid-Station 2, it would've been perfect. And I could easily recommend it to anyone. I didn't mind that it's not beachfront,  but being in Station 3, it simply felt too far from everything else. Especially if you're someone who frequents D'Mall, or if like me, who prefers the shores at Station 1.

But if you don't care about the location, Tongle Beach Resort is the probably the best that you can get for P1,200/night (even for P1,800/night). It offers tranquil surroundings, wonderful comfy rooms, warm and accommodating staff and a nice swimming pool. Truly a great choice to stay and enjoy Boracay (again, if the location is not important to you.)

---

Tonglen Beach Resort
Web: http://www.boracaytonglen.com/
Phone: +63 (036) 288 3457 or 5190

Product: Jason Thin to Thick Hair Products

Rewind to a few blog posts ago, when I was ranting about this. And then fast forward to now, when I will review Jason Thin to Thick hair products.

It was a time when I was almost crying as I was combing my hair, because it's clearly thinning out and I was afraid I'm going bald. Although more often than not, I struggle with a frizzy, it-has-a-life-of-its-own mane, I don't want to lose a single strand of it - and certainly not all of it. I'd choose frizzy over nothing any time.

And as sick and lifeless and hopeless as my hair was then, I just knew that subjecting it to chemical-laden hair products will do more harm than good. So if I didn't want to try out the commercial miracle hair growers and none of the local natural shampoos and conditioners will do the job, I thought maybe I should check out the "imported" natural ones. And Healthy Options is the best place to find just that.

Jason Thin to Thick easily caught my eye because in a shelf full of organic hair products, it's packaging looked the least "organic" of all. I saw a small ad where it is lauded as an effective hair-thickening product by a men's magazine, so I figured the target market for these products are the balding male species. And being natural, they boast of not having parabens, SLS or phthalates. Sounds good enough.

There are three products - extra volume shampoo and conditioner, and energizing scalp elizir and it is recommended to use all three for best results. But you can buy each separately for P475. All three would set you back by almost P1,500.

According to the label of the shampoo and conditioner, they contain biotins, panthenol and natural proteins that help strengthen and volumize fine hair, while the scalp elixir has biotins, folic acid and lactic acid that revitalize the scalp for healthy growth.

All products are mentholated and I thought my head was on fire when I used the shampoo and conditioner for the first time. It felt good actually. Both the shampoo and conditioner have thick white consistency, with the conditioner almost like whipped cream. The scent was manly, but okay. My only gripe was the bottles, probably because they're suitable for men's strong grip, were hard to squeeze.

The scalp elixir is even more minty. The instruction on the bottle says to apply on the scalp at night and let it stay overnight. But since I'm just at home most of the time, I applied it as soon as I stepped out from the shower. I squeezed lines of elixir on areas where I have thin hair and massaged it on the scalp for a few minutes. Then I wash it off when I take a bath the following day.

It's a little sticky and leaves white flakes on the scalp when it dries, but it's not itchy. It smells "medicated", others may find it off, but it's not bothersome at all for me.

So, it is effective? I used this trio for more than a month. The shampoo lasted longer than the conditioner, which lasted a little longer than the elixir. Due to the degree of my falling hair, I really splurged on the elixir.

First thing I noticed after the first week of use: my falling hair was reduced by almost 80%. Honest. I measured it by the amount of hair that collects on the bathroom drain after every bath, and the amount of hair on our bedroom floor and the amount of hair on my hand when I ran my fingers through my hair. There's definitely a visible and significant decrease.

Second thing I noticed, and why I didn't go easy on the elixir: my hair was growing back. I'll let the photos below show proof.

I took a photo of my hair on the first day that I used Jason Thin to Thick. These were taken March 23.

Then I took photos again after I used up the products (by this time, I'm on my second bottle of the scalp elixir). These were taken April 28, a little more than a month later.

I used one bottle of shampoo and two of the conditioner and scalp elixir. They lasted for about a month and a half. I stopped using them after that because they're so expensive and because I feel they've done well already. I don't have problems with falling hair anymore and the new growths are now thicker and longer.

But here's a disclaimer. The extremeness of my falling hair was due to thyroiditis and it's possible that as my thyroid gland got better (my function test results are all normal now), the falling hair got fewer. But I still believe that the Jason Thin to Thick shampoo and conditioner helped in reducing the falling strands. I also believe, and with more conviction, that the scalp elixir was largely responsible for all the newly grown hair.

So if you want to try, go to the nearast Healthy Options branch. I'm not sure if you can buy it elsewhere.

Movie: Sinister

Okay, this is a first. Not that it's the first movie that I've ever watched, just the first movie that I'll be reviewing.

Sinister:
 

Hubby has been telling me about this new horror flick, which he said looks promising. We are somewhat horror-movie fanatics, with me favoring the ghost-ridden ones and him, the bloody gory varieties (Well, not always. He just really like the Saw franchise. A lot).

But more often than not, we are disappointed with how most horror movies turned out. Let's just say, we didn't get scared or "entertained" by most of them. Some felt like a rehashed of other movies even if the stories were different and others, if they didn't suffer from predictable plots or bad plots to begin with, were more of a comedy than a horror movie. Honestly, there were quite a few movies where instead of trembling with fear and being scared shit out of our brains, we were laughing our hearts out.

So. I finally saw the trailer of Sinister when we watched Taken 2. The movie looked solid and prompted me to checked its rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I thought it was good enough. I didn't checked on IMDB because I didn't want run into spoilers.

I went to see the movie armed with the knowledge that the main character, played by Ethan Hawke, is a writer and that they moved to a house where a family was murdered before. The trailer seemed to suggest that it's the house that's haunted and it's the daughter that's possessed, or at least she will play a key role in the haunting/possession/whatever it is that will take place in the house.

The movie opened to a good appetizer of a scene, setting a mood with intrigue and an impending horror. But as it unraveled, it became fairly predictable quicker than I expected. Which was a bad thing for me, because I love figuring out horror movies. More than the jumpy scenes and scare tactics, a good horror movie for me is where I am caught unaware of the plot twists and how it got there. Halfway through the movie, I knew I was bored.

And I kept asking hubby why in most horror movies, they won't turn the lights on. Would be a lot creepier if Ethan's character turned the light on and the ghost appeared an inch away from his face DESPITE the light. They should learn to do ghost makeup that looks good in the light.

If there's one thing that I liked about Sinister, it's the musical score. It's, well, very sinister and lent the necessary eerie background to some of the supposedly scary scenes (with that, I think there were just two). The ending was not happy but something that you knew would happen.

I really want to discuss more points about the movie but I couldn't find a way to do so without giving spoilers. So. Overall, it's okay I guess. Certainly not something that will keep me awake at night or spawn nightmares inside my head. Not something that will rank high up on my top horror movies list and not something that I will recommend to someone who wants more than the usual hair-raising movie experience. But I still think it's a decent horror movie.