My Blogging Experience

It has always been my dream to multi - task. Part of that is to blog. Nothing really serious, just my fondness for fashion and everything chic and cool.

As ive found out on my OL Writing class that we would be creating a blog as a group, I instantly felt excited. This would be the first step in achieving that dream. Thank God we were given the freedom to choose what topic we'd like to explore. So we decided to share our penchant for cheap and fancy buys by creating a blog that features cheap finds sold or available in and out of the Metro. We divided the topics into fashion, travel and food. I got the first one, and my articles are all about my mall sale discoveries. I love shopping during mall sales probably because I was always on a really tight budget. Haha. Through my articles, I was able to share my love for cheap fashion and encourage others to support local brands. My fave is Bench.

My blogging experience was definitely fun. It's learning and sharing your thoughts to the world at the same time. Who knows, I might make it big in this one. Maybe not now. But soon. Xoxo.

In Which I Write About How Enjoying This Experience Has Been.

I used to keep a personal blog but its contents were entirely different from what I write here. My personal blog consists of rants, opinions on matters of less importance, reviews, and just about anything that I could think of. So basically, this was the first time I wrote about something of consistent theme that reaches a large audience.

The theme of our blog requires us to visit places where readers could dine, shop and enjoy under limited budget. The fun starts with brainstorming with my co-bloggers on what we should feature on our entries. We do researches, we make plans, and we save up for our trips. When everything is set, we then bring our plans to life. Because of this blog, I was able to consume the most slices of cake and cups of coffee my heart desires, I finally found a messenger bag that I’ve been dying to have since high school, for the first time I went out of town with my friends, and much, much more. Having good friends around make such experiences worth-remembering.

The fun continues on putting my thoughts into words. I was assigned to write about bargain shopping – something that I enjoy doing – so narrating and sharing my experiences, opinions, and thoughts wasn’t that hard. The challenge in this is how I could keep the readers interested. I have to think of a way on how I could get the page visitor to read my article, and how to keep them interested to read on until the very last word. I have to come up with creative and catchy titles, and keep my articles short and precise but useful and informative.

I learned a lot of things in the course of five months. Since anything you post on the web is for the whole world to see, you have to be cautious in all aspects. Asking your colleagues to proofread your work would definitely help for they could point out any mistakes that you might have overlooked in the first place. You are responsible on what you say (or write) on cyber-space. Your work reflects who you are. To wrap up, I can say that I absolutely enjoyed the whole experience. And if I’ll be given the chance and the resources to continue blogging about bargain shopping or any other topic, I definitely would.

Cravings For Less! Blogger’s Experience.

Blog…Blogger… Blogging…

Blog serves as a personal online diary, I’m the blogger, and blogging is how I make entry.

I have been influenced by best food, travel and lifestyle bloggers such as the “creativedork”, “lakwatseraprimera” “pinaysolobackpacker” among others. So when, our professor (Ma’am Angie) told us that we will be having our own blog as requirement in our electives, suddenly I found myself with a big smile. The planning phase with my co-bloggers went smoothly; the concept of the blog was simple, “cheap finds” because we want budget-friendly blog. I choose to be the food blogger since I’m a food fanatic and I so love to eat and explore new delicacies to satisfy my taste buds.

Blogging was lot more fun than just writing a simple article, maybe because of the medium which is on cyber and the thrill that it can reach more people after posting it, but blogging requires a great responsibility specially using the social media. Being a blogger, you have to be unique and creative and you must be a good story teller, you have to bring your readers to the same excitement that you feel.

I have lots of memories doing my previous blog entries. Like the unforgettable Unlimited Cake and Coffee experience - imagine me and my friends drinking hot black coffee during lunch time. Weird but we enjoyed it with a slice of cake. If you’re a food blogger and you haven’t visited Binondo to do food tripping then your career was not yet complete, for Binondo is a well-known place to dine in. Actually I planned and been there to have my third entry, but I’m a real alien, when I went there it seems that I’m lost and I couldn’t find the food stall and restaurant that I intended to visit. So I decided not to stop until my foot step into the grounds of Robinsons Mall - Ermita from then I found. Though I wasn’t able to satisfy my cravings with some dumplings, wanton and siopao, I still satisfy my appetite with unlimited Hainanese rice, staple in China.

This experience is already training for me, for I’ve been planning to be a food and travel blogger someday, might as well to be a cyber-activist. I want to travel around and discover hidden paradise and mouthwatering deli here and abroad, but I know it takes a lot of courage. When I eat, I BLOG!

My Experience With The Blog

Blogging is fun. This I didn't know before I started one with my friends. I usually just read other blogs that catch my attention. But having a blog and working on my articles made me more appreciative of the effort that other people put in their blogs.

Our blog is all about finding affordable things, food or destinations. My assignment is to produce articles about affordable destinations. I love to travel but I was hesitant because I knew it would be difficult to plan trips that my friends and I are all happy about. And it was. We had to deal with budget constraints, clashing schedules, and of course, the weather. In spite of all this, we came through with the trips. And I have to say, I am now happy that I got this assignment for the blog.

Because of this blog, I had the chance to go and explore different places. I met a lot of different people. And I was able to share that experience with my friends. One of the things I learned is that nature is just wonderful. I have always loved nature but going on these trips reminded me of how nature can be so breath-taking. Second thing is that with every new place are new experiences. I was able to experience a real nature trek, hear very loud bird noises, fall off a swing into mud, see the oldest Balete tree in Cavite and so much more. I will never forget every experience from every trip. Another thing I’ve learned is that there are still a lot of things you can do with a tight budget. My friends and I were able to bring out our resourcefulness and make it all work. Finally, the trips reminded me how it is always best to have family or friends by your side in a journey.

I am just thankful that this is what I do for the blog. It is my dream to travel to a lot of places and this blog is a stepping stone. I think the best part is that my parents understand and let me travel with friends. They know I’m doing it for the right reason and that it makes me happy. At the end of the day, what else can I ask for?

CRAVINGS FOR LESS! Dine @ Hainanese Delights.

Want to treat yourself a delightful way? Then shop at Robinsons and dine at HAINANESE DELIGHTS: UNLIMITED HAINAN RICE for Php.120.
 




What is Hainan Rice? It is a dish with many variations, but its origin lies in a small island coast of mainland China. The special rice is the true star of the dish, bursts with a symphony of flavors and is specially prepared to absorb the unique stock flavor of the dish, making it both delightful and delicious.






TIP: If you will dine in a restaurant new to you, best thing to do is to ask what their specialty is. So, I ordered their best seller Hainanese Delights, it is where the name of the restaurant is derived.
 




It’s a chicken dish, similar to the taste of Pilipino bowl of Tinola, but my taste bud says that I like it more. *haha* The chicken meat was tender and perfect with the hainanese rice, (kakaiba yung lasa ng chicken, hindi sya komplikado) which carries the savory flavors of China.






Actually, hainanese rice also best with beef, pork and dumplings too. The special rice is light and delicate to the palette; the bursts of flavor combined with the sumptuous grain have your mouth watering for more. I almost forgot how many scoops of rice I have eaten. (kahit kelan at kahit saan, sulit sakin ang mga unlimited!)
   




Hainanese Delights brings the best and real Hainan flavors to be enjoyed in every bite.
 




Hainanese Delights is only available in Robinsons Malls and Shopping centers. C’mon, experience a delightful Hainan flavors.
 

Take Me Away! Chill All Day at La Mesa Eco Park.

On this next article, we went to La Mesa Eco Park for another affordable adventure.






La Mesa Eco Park is located in Quezon City. You can get there by riding the MRT/LRT and most buses or FX en route to or from SM Fairview. My friend and I rode the MRT to Quezon Avenue station and rode an FX from there. A tricycle ride, which costs P10.00, will take you straight to the entrance. Entrance to the park costs P50.00 (incredibly cheap!) but if you have a Quezon City resident in company, it will be even better because the entrance fee will be reduced to P20.00.

On the way to the park is a very relaxing path which will instantly make you forget that you are in the middle of a busy city.





At the park, you can pretty much do whatever you like. There are plenty of activities that you can choose
from.

There is a Wall Climbing Area and a Nature Path for those who seek adventure.

Swimming complex for those who wants to swim.






Plenty of cottages all around the property for those who just wants to relax and enjoy the feel of nature
around them, and so much more.
 



And of course, because we’re always on a tight budget, we just chose to walk around and then chill in the free tables scattered around the property (the cottages cost P500.00 which was a little too pricey for a group of only four). It was so relaxing there that it felt like the best thing to do. 

 



Eventually though, we couldn’t resist the prospect of cool water in the pool that we just had to get in. The entrance to the pool will cost an additional P80.00, but I have to say, it was well worth it.

 



In conclusion, La Mesa Eco Park is definitely a must-visit. It fits all the requirements for a perfect cheap getaway. Not only is it budget-friendly, it has a very peaceful environment that can be an absolute stress-reliever and it is also an entire property full of fun things to do.
   




I am already looking forward to my next visit to La Mesa Eco Park.

Bargain Shopping Galore! 10 Tips for Successful Bargain Shopping.

More than a decade ago second-hand shopping was not socially-accepted yet, but those days are gone. Today, almost every one of us has done bargain shopping at least once. Some sites are popular for bargain-shopping like Cubao, Bambang and Evangelista St., but most stores are well concealed around the Metro, waiting to be discovered. Each store houses different brands from the other. But one thing is for sure: with ukay-ukays you’ll never get the same thing twice!

If you like dressing up but don’t have the money to support your fashion urges, you should definitely check those ukay-ukays out.

 Here are some tips I have gathered based on personal bargain shopping experience from the past 5 years:

1. You could always haggle. Or “tawad” in Tagalog. If you think 500 php is a bit expensive for a second-hand bag, or 250 php is too much for a pre-loved blouse, you could ask for a discount. Meet halfway with the seller’s price. You will be surprised with how much is the seller willing to scratch off from the original price.

2. Bring smaller bills or barya. How can you convince the sales clerk to give you a discount when you are carrying bills in 500php or 1000php denominations? The main trick of the haggling game is to make sure that the seller sees you as a broke fashionista looking for cheap fashionable items.

3. Dress for the “occasion”. Don’t go in an ukay-ukay looking like someone who “has all the money to spend”. Forget about wearing make-up and jewelries. As I’ve mentioned earlier, you should act and look like a struggling fashionista so you could convince the sales clerk that you really deserve a discount. Wear clothes that you are comfortable with, 'cause you will be spending some time sorting through racks and piles of clothes.

4. Always check the quality of the item. Check for any damage like discoloration, stains (especially at the underarm areas), missing button, jagged zipper, and even the tiniest hole in the pocket. Most ukay-ukays strictly observe a “no return, no exchange policy”.

5. Make sure the item fits you perfectly. Like what I said above, they observe a “no return, no exchange policy.” Dressing rooms are always available. If you don’t feel comfortable changing your outfit in a makeshift dressing room with curtains that serves as partition, I suggest you just wear the outfit of your choice over the clothes you’re already wearing.

6. If you’ve decided to purchase an item, then purchase it right away. You cannot ask the sales clerk to reserve an item for you. Remember: the items for sale in an ukay-ukay are of one quantity only.You don’t want to be disappointed when you go back the other day only to find out that someone else has bought that piece you have wanted to buy in the first place.

7. Ask yourself if you really need/want this item. Not because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s not a waste of money. If you think there’s no chance that you would ever wear that item, put it back and leave it for someone who would actually love it.

8. Befriend the sales clerk. Once you’ve found the ukay-ukay that has clothes that suite your taste, make sure to be friends with the sales clerk, and ask for their contact details so you could get updates on the arrival of the next batch of hand-me-downs.

9. Be patient. Be really, really, patient. Shopping at ukay-ukays could be time-consuming, and tiresome. But, I am certain that you’ll like something out of the thousands of items up for sale. And it feels really fulfilling after you find a piece that you like, it’s like finding a needle on a haystack.

10. Kill those bacteria. If you could notice, items bought from ukay-ukays have this striking, distinct odor. It is the disinfectant poured into the clothes before putting it up on sale. But it doesn’t mean that the item you’ve purchased is totally free from bacteria. What I do is rinse the clothing with vinegar (upon research I’ve discovered that it could eliminate bacteria). Some says that boiling it slightly will also do the trick, but I haven’t done it myself yet.

So there you go; 10-tips that’ll lead to a successful ukay-ukay experience. Equipped with this battle-plan, I’m sure you’ll survive bargain-shopping.

Fashion at Its Cheapest! My Latest Fashion Find at Bench.

This brown tee with shiny – unicorn – sun – swords – and – other – fancy – stuff prints form Bench which I have bought last week for only 229php. The Bench store in Robinsons Nova Market is on sale all year round. Trust me. Majority of the clothes I wear are bought here.

P.S. I apologize if you won’t find any photos of the store here. They don’t allow taking pictures. You don’t need ‘em anyway.

Fashion at Its Cheapest! Mogao and Hey Dude.

Sometimes all you have to do is to step out of your comfort zone. Be noticed. Be loud, in the most silent ways. Adding a little sparkle on your life is essential. Same goes with what you wear. For some people including me, wearing anything that’s eye catching is a big no – no. I am a minimalist when it comes to fashion, I prefer wearing clothes in colors like black, white, brown and gray – my favorite color. They’re dull, plain and boring if you would ask other people. But those are my choices. I like to camouflage.

But I guess changes are inevitable. I made the first bold move by joining a school pageant. I have to stand out. Or at least be noticed. Dressing up is a pre – requisite on every beauty pageant. I needed new clothes. I have to go shopping. With only 1k in my pocket and hope in my heart that I’d be finding something special, I rushed to the nearest SM Mall and that’s SM City Fairview. I meticulously checked every store, racks after racks, and here’s what I discovered:

I came upon this newly – opened store on the ground floor of SM City Fairview and its called MOGAO. For fashionistas and recessionistas alike, it’s a go – to. They sell trendy clothes in amazingly low prices! Tops for as low as 100php, and jeans and pants ranges from 300 to 600 per pair. I was able to buy two white short sleeved polos with details on their front part. I can say that the first one is quite unusual for my taste.

I was also able to buy these gray cotton blazer and black vest which are both slashed to half of its original prices. They’re both from Hey Dude found in the Pre – teens Wear section of the SM Department Store. For those who haven’t gone through this area of SM Dept. Store despite their petite sizes, I suggest you do.

Going back to the pageant, I didn’t win any of the title. But I came home happy. I had pushed myself and stepped out of my comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to wear something “not you” once in a while. Check out Mogao and make a statement with pieces that are trendy yet affordable. They have branches in most SM Malls and even in Divi.

Take Me Away! A Nature Trip at Mendez, Cavite.

Cavite is one of the best places to go to when you want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Not only is it near and affordable, there are plenty of places to visit. On this particular trip, my friends and I went to Mendez, Cavite. There are buses that go directly to Mendez at the Lawton Terminal. The bus ride is about 2-3 hours and the fare costs about P80 for students.

Our first stop was a place called Sintang Lupa. Sintang Lupa is a property owned by a German environmentalist named Kristoff and his wife. They have a beautiful house, a peaceful surrounding and a breath-taking yard.

But the main attraction is actually the roof of the house. Instead of a regular roof, they have a garden on top of the house filled with different kinds of plants. It helps clean the air and keeps the house cool. The house had actually been featured before in Mel & Joey’s Hanep Bahay.

Luckily, we were permitted to climb to the roof. The view alone would make you never want to leave but add to that the wonder of standing on a garden on top of a house. It’s absolutely remarkable.

Our next stop was Ulo Spring in Panungyan, Mendez. Part of the fun was getting to the spring. It took about 15-25 minutes of walking. It was not a walk in the park because the terrain changed a lot but it’s actually exciting and you’ll feel like a real nature trekker.

We gathered from our guide that Ulo Spring was in fact developed by the local government before but the efforts were destroyed by a storm. But still, the place was nice and very peaceful. The spring still flows to a small part where you can still enjoy the crystal clear and cold water. If you look around, nature is all you’ll see.

If you decide to go to Cavite or any other places, make sure to cooperate with the local government unit. They are very helpful and will point you to the right direction. They might even provide you with a guide. This also works if you’re on a tight budget, and can’t afford to go to places where you have to pay an entrance fee or if you’re tired of the usual tourist spots. Ask the locals for the best or most beautiful places in their town. Some of them are happy to show new people around the town to the places they take pride in.