One of the things you may not know about me is the fact that I cook. I love food, but I'm not a foodie! I just like to try new things both in the tasting and cooking department. My cooking philosophy is pretty basic: make simple, healthy, but tasty dishes. I'm always trying to lose weight and I don't really have that much time to spend puttering around the kitchen, hence that kind of thinking.

Anyway, I'd like to share some recent recipes I whipped up with the help of Epicurious. It's this site that aggregates recipes all over the Internet, which makes it an awesome place for those who are always looking to cook something new, or add a twist to what they're already making.

Sauteéd Chicken Cutlets with Asparagus, Spring Onions, and Parsley-Tarragon Gremolata

This recipe has a very herby taste. Instead of cutlets, I used huge chicken breasts which worked pretty well with the whole thing. The creamy herb sauce infused with a spark of citrus flavor is quite surprising but still very much delightful.

More recipes after the jump!

When you Google for NYX Round Lipsticks you will find that two of the most popular shades are Thalia and Tea Rose. Every makeup enthusiast worth her salt has these shades in her arsenal! They're cheap, plus they're extremely flattering on most skin tones. The swatches were very tempting so I decided to snag these lipsticks when Carefree Shopper's next shipment came in.

Thalia and Tea Rose. They look the same in the picture, but Tea Rose looks a lot pinker in person. Swatches up ahead!

Kate Torralba is best known for her bright and quirky designs that cater to those with young, adventurous hearts. For this summer she has created a daring but still wearable collection called Tightly Knit. I say daring because the collection has her trademark bright colors while also showing a lot of flesh and wearable because I can see Pinays, however conservative, wearing the pieces on the beach. I know I would!

Fit and lean. KT was inspired to do the collection when she did one of the pieces that's part of the grand prize in the Nestle Fitnesse Challenge contest last year. “I was inspired by a project with Nestle Fitnesse earlier this year, wherein a coat dress I made was given as a prize to one of the winners of the weight-loss challenge. It made me think about getting fit for the summer and showing off a great body,” she shares with Style Bible.

Close-up of the pretty knit fabric

I love the embellishments on the straps and neckline. Kate used large, colorful stones. Perfect for the beach!

This is my favorite outfit in the collection. It proves that you don't have to wear skimpy bikinis to look sexy.

This is pretty late, lol. A few weeks back I got interviewed by Jori Pamintuan, a columnist from The Philippine Star, about fashion and beauty blogging. As you all know, that's my favorite topic so I was really happy to ramble on about it. 

Here's the full article online. It's surreal to be on print - I'll never get used to it although I've been on print a couple of times (once in UNO Magazine October 09, a mention in Smart Parenting Dec 09) and once on TV (Fit N' Fab on beauty bloggers - I'm embarrassed to share). I don't know! It's fun, it makes me feel good that all my hard work is actually manifesting itself physically.

Anyway, the feature just has a few snippets of the full interview so I want to share the whole thing. I must warn you that it's pretty long but I hope you get a few useful insights from my ramblings.

A couple of months ago I read about Sunsilk giving away free packs of their Damage Repair line. Naturally I got curious, and hey, "free" is good! So I texted 10DAYS to 2600 and got a confirmation that someone will call me to verify my details. No one called, so I thought that the whole thing was just a gimmick. I got spam messages afterward about the Sarah Geronimo commercials they're running now.

However, a few days ago, I found this on my doorstep:

April is just the second publication month of the B&F channel, but I'm pleased by the quality of content that has been pouring out from its dedicated writers. Believe me, it's not an easy task, being an editor and a writer for thePOC. It requires intellect, commitment, attention to detail and most important of all - passion.

I might sound mayabang here, but the truth is not just anyone can do this unless this is where your heart is. After two months of working with my writers, I can say with all honesty that they love what they're doing.

I'm sure that some of you might find it hard to take the channel seriously - after all, it's not from Summit or any of the big publishers in the real world. thePOC is a project of Vibal Foundation, the charitable arm of Vibal Publishing House. The goal of the foundation is simple: to foster the development of knowledge through the support of digital media. It's the only foundation of its kind here in the Philippines to actually utilize the Internet for this reason. We would all appreciate it if you can support that goal by reading and providing feedback at thePOC.

Aside from that, here are the reasons you should read our Beauty and Fashion Channel:

I'm back! Busier than ever, of course. I'll write about what we did in Boracay soon. In the meantime, here are some nice pieces I got from beachfront sellers:

Necklaces like this were everywhere, but what caught my eye was the delicate, irridiscent lavender color of this particular piece. It's made of shells and freshwater pearls. Very classy! I can imagine myself wearing this out to formal dinners and events.

This piece is made of capiz shells and tiny rocks. It's great for both casual and semi-formal outings with plain tops and dresses.

I'm feeling a little glum today because I'm in the office and suffering from pre-period irritability and general sadness. I'm off to Boracay tomorrow and I won't bring my laptop so I hope to finish all my work today - extra stress. What's a great way to feel better? Why, ogle at makeup of course!

One of the reasons I like makeup is because of the bright colors. There are so many things you can do with them! Just like a scent, bright makeup can change a mood and make a day.

the display is not complete, btw!

Anyway, when I visited Bobbi Brown Makati the other day, they introduced me to one of their 2010 Spring collections: Cabana Corals. Ever since then I can't stop thinking about two things! The Pink Quartz Shimmer Brick and Calypso Coral Pot Rouge. 

The colors are sooo pretty! The price not so much at P2,245, but hey, quality usually comes at a (steep) price. The powder is very finely milled and you won't see a speck of glitter at all. The texture reminds me of Ellana's Super Sparkle finishing powder, but less powdery.

Ooooh

I am trying to de-stress a bit on this maddening Monday since I have a ton of things on my plate before I can leave for a well-deserved vacation. I was thinking of lush green trees and shrubbery, hence this look! I made a step-by-step eyeshadow tutorial since this is pretty easy and quick to do. All it takes is three steps and you're out of that door.

On my face: MAC Studiofinish Concealer, Shiseido Supplist Poreless Foundation, Ellana Espresso Con Panna (finishing powder), Artdeco Brozing Powder, Shu Uemura Glow On in Amber

Step 1: Pat green eyeshadow on your lid. I used Mildew by Urban Decay.

Bobbi Brown is a brand that is usually related to mature, polished women. However, she is now trying to update this image by coming out with trendy, more adventurous collections this season! She started with the Cabana Corals Collection released last February. Check out what's still up her sleeve: the Color Strips Collection, to be launched in the Philippines this April.

The lovely folks at Bobbi Brown just got this preview palette and I'm happy to share it with you guys! I think I'm the first one who got to try it in the Philippines, lol.

A complete spring eye, lip and cheek wardrobe—designed by Bobbi. Each of these three palettes has five Eye Shadows and three shades of Pot Rouge designed to work together beautifully. Imagine the possibilities.

There are five available eyeshadow strips: Petal (pink and taupes), Aquamarine (teal and grays), Bonfire (bronzes) and Orchid (featured above). There are two pot rogue strips called Fresh Coral (above) and Fresh Pink.

What I love about this palette is how compact and travel-friendly it is. The palette is double-decked and has its own double-ended brush. You can mix and match the six strips according to your mood and needs; they just snap right off! You don't have to worry about the strips getting dirty since they come with a clear plastic cover that is attached with a hinge.

More closeups and a look featuring the palette up next!

I am off to Boracay next week! Yay. It's my first time to visit so I'm really excited to do all sorts of fun stuff with my family. I bought a couple of bikinis, a lovely hat from SM, all the sunblock I need from Nivea (they gave me two of everything), have two new lovely flip flops courtesy of Ipanema, a weekender bag from Avon (which is nicely huge, by the way). I'm all set! 

These beautiful flip flops are from Ipanema's newest collection - the Gisel Bundchen Colorful Sea Collection. I got the Sandal Star Fem. I hope to get more pics of this in action while in Boracay! The picture up there featuring the black Ipanemas was taken in Batangas.

Sun protection at its finest. I've been using the sunblock spray everyday! Love it to bits since it's not sticky at all and the sunblock-y smell dissipates as soon as it dries, which is pretty fast.

Swoon-worthy hat. Got this for only P250 at SM Department Store.

My grandmother was an Avon Lady for many years. Because of the brand, she helped my Lolo put my mother and her siblings through college during the 70's.

She got interested in makeup because of Avon, and she actually made a career out of it. My earliest memories were of her bringing me and my cousins to the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where she did the makeup of theater and concert artists in her heyday. We got to watch plays, of course! She has pictures with Lea Salonga and Pops Fernandez. 

She was a kind and cool Lola to have. She bought us clothes, made us up. I think it was from her that my mother and I got our love for all things related to fashion and beauty. My mother is actually an Avon Lady too, although she doesn't sell. She just likes the 20% discount, lol.

That being said, I grew up with Avon. The first makeup I ever got to play with was from Avon. My pre-teen bras were from Avon. It's a brand that my family's life is closely intertwined with, so I was glad when I got to attend one of their yearly launches.

Avon launched three categories: lingerie, jewelry, and accessories. The newest collections are inspired by themes: Kaleidoscope Summer (bright and bold), Tutti Frutti (flirty colors), One Love (hippie movement), Spring Fantasy (dainty and subdued), Ode To Leaves (the shades of a lush garden), Pool Party (blue and cool), Bouquet of Memories (nostalgic and timeless), Black Rose (the sophistication of the color black), and Men's Club (for the boys).

Guests were asked to shop in three rooms: the jewelry room featuring Avon's latest trinkets, accessories room holding the bags, belts, wallets, and shoes, and the lingerie room containing the brand's summer-worthy wear

Ruffa Gutierrez was the shining host of the night! Bianca Gonzales joined her as Avon's newest endorser

As you know, I work mostly from home. I only go out when there are events, meetings, and errands, which, come to think of it, means that I'm out three days a week anyway. Lol. Well. You get the drift. I'm not always out. So, to make much-needed space on my shoe rack, I'm letting these shoes go. Need to make way for new ones that I hope I'll get to use often. Right now I have two unused pairs, which reminds me, need to wear them out. (I'm in my fashion mode where I buy clothes and shoes more instead of makeup).

Note that these aren't perfect anymore, hence the prices. There are scuffs and damage. Still, they are in good, wearable condition.

RESERVED Worn once - in mint condition. Size 5. Heels approximately 3.5 inches high. P300

RESERVED Pomelo pink pleather is scuffed. Size 5. Heels 2.5 inches. P200