Joei & Me

I have yet to write about my recent trip to the US but in the spirit of Halloween, I'm going to tell you about my visit to the haunted Whaley House in San Diego, California.

My sister Sab and I are adrenaline junkies.  We like doing stuff that will make our heartbeats rise, including hunting for ghosts.  So when I visited Sab a few months back, she made it a point to include the Whaley House in our itinerary.

For its 130th anniversary, Victorinox Swiss Army launches a watch of sharp and versatile design that is so strong it defies imagination! The Victorinox I.N.O.X. Watch can be driven over, frozen, dropped.. And yet still be alive!

The name I.N.O.X. comes from the French word for stainless steel, the solid, durable, and corrosion-resistant material that Victorinox adopted more than 50 years before it became the norm in the Swiss watch industry. Marking a shared link between cutlery and watches, I.N.O.X. is as iconic as the Original Swiss Army Knife. Designed to withstand unusual stress, it has passed with flying colors a ruthless battery of 130 strength tests. Beyond the standard certification tests of the Swiss watch industry, a series of new tests was developed specifically for I.N.O.X. watch. 

Unlike my mom, my sister and I lack skills in the kitchen department.  Not that we're not interested because we love food!  I guess it's easier to do the eating than the cooking.  But ever since I've subscribed to Good Housekeeping and other food-related magazines, I've been curious about preparing meals.

Aside from these magazines, I also look at my friend Sab Cristobal-Go's Facebook wall for recipes.  Her posts are so interesting that I couldn't help but ask her why she's not keeping a blog.  Sab tells me that she already has one but she hasn't really been updating it for fear of not having readers.

"Are you kidding?" I tell her. "I know a lot of people will read it.  Your dishes are restaurant-worthy and yet still doable at home.  You should totally build up your blog."

So when I saw Sinfully Sabrina up and running, I was so happy for Sab!   Patty Laurel-Filart, another friend of ours, helped Sab plan her blog launch through Oster Kitchen Conversations.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we usually have fun runs, concerts, charity auctions, and medical missions to help facilitate check-ups and treatments for women who have breast cancer.   However, according to the Philippine Cancer Society, a staggering percentage of Filipinas have a difficult time paying for their treatment, while others are too nervous to continue with theirs. 

This is where Marc Coblen, a Dutch brand created by Jordy Cobelens, the same founder of the well-known timepiece TW Steel (read my blog post about TW Steel), comes in to create a change – and a fashionable one at that. In line with the Breast Cancer Awareness program, Marc Coblen has collaborated with the Philippine Cancer Society’s Best Dressed Women of the Philippines and Lucerne, to create a special edition watch called the "Pink Ribbon Watch". 

Earlier this month, I was invited to an exclusive shopping event of UNO de 50's 2014-2015 Autumn/Winter Collection at the new Fashion Hall of SM Megamall.  I asked T's sister Michelle if she wanted to go with me because I know she has been eyeing an UNO de 50 bracelet for a long time.  

When I heard that the world's #1 gyoza place is opening in SM Megamall,  I wanted to try it but T and I rarely go beyond Makati.   Luckily, I had an errand to run in Ortigas so I went to Megamall after to check out Osaka Ohsho.

After watching a movie in SM Aura, T and I check out this new healthy and organic restaurant in Bonifacio High Street called The Wholesome Table. The wait list is long and we settle for a table outside. 

During my recent trip to the States, my high school friends there introduced me to Uber,  a mobile app that provides chauffer-driven service.  It was most useful to us during 4th of July weekend when traffic was so crazy and parking was almost impossible that no one wanted to bring a car.  And just recently, I discovered that Uber is available in Manila already!  

If you haven't tried it yet, download the Uber app and enter the promo code UBERjoei to receive P300 in credits.  If your destination is not that far, that's a free ride with my code.

Last September, I was invited to the launch of Pandora's Autumn/Winter Collection 2014 at the new Fashion Hall in SM Megamall. 

Krispy Kreme Philippines surprised me yet again with a box of their limited edition Halloween doughnuts called Krispy Skremes.   Scare up a dozen with these spooky (but cute) treats which are available only for a limited time!

After a really long week, we all need to rest.  I used to love going out of town but that entails a lot of planning and preparation, which my brain can't handle anymore with all the work it's been doing.  So the next best thing? Staycations!

Which is why I am grateful to be invited to a staycation at Crimson Hotel in Filinvest Alabang.

To celebrate Global Handwashing Day, Lysol is giving away gift packs to five (5) lucky readers of Joei & Me.  All you have to do is to take a #handfie like mine below.

I was invited by Flawless Face & Body Clinic to their SM Megamall branch for the Ultimate Whitening Facial, the first facial treatment in the country that uses a combination of natural exfoliators, antioxidants, and whitening agents to lighten the skin and treat hyperpigmentations, photo damage, and premature aging.

Remember KFC's Breakfast Buffet promo last July?  If you weren't able to try it, lucky you because KFC is bringing it back starting today!  This time, the seven newest KFC branches will offer unlimited breakfast food with unlimited drinks for only P230 per person.

T and I were invited by Pancake House to try their new Double Your Love Salisbury Steak promo.     For only P350, you get two 1/3 pound premium Salisbury steaks topped with creamy mushroom gravy and bacon bits and served with steamed rice and vegetables.  It's a pretty good deal!

To those who always dreamed of appearing in commercials or on billboards, great news.. Nestlé Fruit Selection Yogurt is looking for their next Super/Star! And not only that, they are also giving away other awesome prizes, like an all expense paid trip to Bali for you and your friends.

But before anything else, let me first tell you about our Nestlé Super/Star Day Away at The Greenery.

If you asked me for my 10 favorite things in this world, cheesecake would make it to the list.  Which is why I was ecstatic when Indulgence by Irene sent me not only one, not two.. but three cheesecakes!

Earlier this week, I received a surprise package from Jergens.  I opened the pretty box and saw a few items, as well as a note asking me if I'm up for a 7-Day Challenge.   

The way it works is that I will be sent daily missions and I have to complete them before the day ends.  And just like a mystery that needs to be solved, the box contains the tools I will need to accomplish my tasks.  It's so Nancy Drew (and I love her), therefore.. Challenge is accepted!

I will update this blog post every day as I progress through my missions.  So stick around as I chronicle my journey towards completing The Jergens 7-Day Challenge.  

Wish me luck!

Because I love spas, I was so excited when T and I received an invite to a new dining and wellness destination in Tagaytay called Qi Wellness Living.   

Céleteque sent me two of their new products to try:  The DermoScience Advanced Anti-Aging Cleansing Oil and the DermoScience Acne Solutions Acne-Clearing Concealer.