Cheap Hair Rebonding at Victor Ortega Salon & Spa

After some research and recommendation from friends, I finally visited the Victor Ortega Salon & Spa along Boni Avenue yesterday. I arrived there around 9 o'clock with a ten minute jeepney ride from EDSA. The salon opens at 8 AM, so half of the ground floor salon was already occupied with customers and hairstylist when I came in.

I was interviewed, asked to fill out some sort of customer profile, then led to the other side of the salon which was empty by senior stylist Arman a.k.a. Amanda and junior stylist Odie. I came with shampooed hair, so they started applying straightening cream right away.

Forty-five minutes passed. My hair was washed, dried, then ironed. My crowning glory started to look nice, but the process was not over yet. They applied another cream (I forgot the name of that cream), waited for another 45 minutes, washed my hair, then applied with the hot oil formula. After the hot oil, there went the washing and drying again, then trimming, and ironing for final styling.

Well, in a total of 4 hours, under Amanda and Odie's care, my then unmanageable hair became soft and straight. No more frizz and dull feeling. I so looove it! Another thing I was happy about was my bill. Guess what? I only paid P1500. That's P1000 for the rebond & P500 for the treatment. So so happy!!

Most of the people in that salon/spa seemed all nice. Some of them are a little quiet, some are hilarious and friendly, others are.. uhmmm.. okay. I don't have anything to complain nor rant about, so I am definitely going back.

Interested to get hair rebonding and other treatments in a much cheaper price?

Contact Victor Ortega Salon & Spa
Boni Branch: 531-9350 or 535-1696
Kalentong Branch: 387-3006

Baby Passport IDs

I'm sharing a picture of my baby's passport ID pictures today. Just too cute that I cannot stop myself from posting it here. I got these shot from a small studio in a mall across the avenue like a month ago.

Though we are getting Turkish passports sometime in the future, we still need to get a Philippine passport for her and a renewal for me for our trip next month. I'm scheduled to pick up both our passports next week, so'm excited (^^)..

Tips for Baby Passport Applicants
-You DON'T have to bring the baby with your during the process of application.
-Just bring all the necessary papers which includes NSO Birth Certificate and 3 passport IDs.
-Make sure that the background of your baby's passport ID picture is royal blue.
-No need for a dress or shirt with collar for you baby's ID picture.
-For baby girls' picture-taking, stud earrings are okay, but not dangling earrings. DFA people are a little specific with that.
-Get a DFA Online Appointment for a quick and stress-free application. After signing up for an online appointment, DFA will email you to note that they received your request. You will be asked to wait up to 7 days before you could get you appointment. They will send you your appointment letter which is, usually, not longer that 3 days. You have to print that letter and bring with you on the day of application.
-Don't deal with fixers. They are those guys approaching you by the entrance of DFA. Again, don't listen to them. Just go directly to Gate 2 if you have your appointment letter already.
-Keep the receipt issued upon payment of your baby's passport.
-Check the date of your baby's passport release.
-Be back on that exact date.

A Fish Parade

It's time to set aside pork, chicken, and beef! My fellow mothers and homemakers, let's all welcome the fish parade.


In our first plate is Breaded Tilapia Fillets. Cut into bite-pieces, sprinkled with salt and pepper, coated with flour and bread crumbs, fried, then served with mayonnaise. Hmmmm.. believe me, your kids will love this so much!



In our second plate is Tuna Curry. There's is nothing special with this recipe. This is cooked exactly the same way with your favorite chicken curry-- only minus carrots and potatoes. But, plus "good for the heart".



Introducing.. in our third plate is...Tuna Sisig*! My hubby likes this so much with extra rice. Just drizzle some slices of tuna with toyomansi, grill until cooked then flake. Sauté garlic, lots of onions, red chili pepper, and green pepper, then add the tuna flakes. Season with bay leaf, ginger juice, salt and black pepper. Warning: this recipe can be really HOT!



Lastly, we have here Tuna sa Gata. This one is really nice to serve during the rainy seasons. This fish is cooked in rich coconut milk and cream together with thin slices of bitter gourd or ampalaya. Seasoned with garlic, onion, black pepper, and salt.




*For more flavor, I used the oil from a can of Century Tuna to sauté my fish with. I also sprinkled some of Mama Sita's Panggisa Mix to my sisig.

From Ballerina to Fairytopia!

My family went to the Megamall last weekend to book our choice of restaurant for our daughter's 1st birthday. I know this is contrary to what I told you in my previous blog HERE. But, guess what happened. Hubby changed his mind and told me that he is inviting a major number of his officemates and Turkish friends. Obviously, with that decision, we can't accommodate more than 30 people in our place for the party.

But thanks goodness I don't have to choose between The Big Bee and Mr. Donald 'cause hubby also doesn't like to book either of the two. See? These past few weeks, we've been attending kiddie parties held in those fast-food chains and to tell you frankly, it was kind of tiring. I mean you know, seeing the same mascot and stuff.

I also dropped my order from Frupcakes and instead of a Ballerina Barbie cake, we are now having the Barbie Fairytopia cake (in the above picture) to match Pizza Hut's Fairland Party theme. We are still trying to decide either to book their mascot and magician package or not. Maybe we can find a better deal from other suppliers. We'll see.

DIY Birthday Invitation

I did this invitation last night. Thanks to internet and photo-editing softwares. I'd spent hours finishing the design, picking the background, switching colors, etc. until I came up with this card. It's a simple pink and girly e-invitation which is also printable. I did not choose any popular motif, though. Maybe, I can work with a luau or Cinderella theme next time. Yeah, next time.. on her 7th birthday.

The Real "RICE CAKE" Recipe

You know I really love rice cakes. Like a month ago, while experimenting on a simple bibingka recipe, I was able to come up with this one which is surprisingly tasting like a birthday cake. Just looking at the caramelized top is heaven. Try it!

Ingredients:
2 cups of ordinary rice flour
1/4 cup glutinous rice flour
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tbsp baking powder

Procedure:
Beat the eggs until foamy. Add sugar and butter. Beat again until fluffy. Mix flour, baking powder, and milk. Add to te egg mixture. Brush a round baking dish with butter. Pour the batter into the baking dish. Bake at 180° for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center. Remove from the oven. Let cool. Slice and serve.

101 Reasons Why I Love Google

thanks Google!


As usual, I got paid again last month. I actually forgot that it was about time to rush to the nearest Western Union branch and claim my pay. Well, I was so happy 'cause this time around, I did a lot of things with the money I received.

-bought a Guess wallet for myself, half the price
-got a brand new Nokia 2630 for my brother
-purchased a Timex watch for my Aunt Jo as a late birthday gift, also half the price
-gave some pocket money to my cousin
-paid the babysitter's salary
-the rest, went to grocery and some house bills

I know the title says 101, but hey, I already posted the first 95! Do some back-reading and you'll understand why.

Birthday Preparations

Red Ribbon's Ballerina Barbie Cake


It's going to be my Aşkım's 1st birthday on September 25! That will be 3 weeks from now. I'm getting more excited as the days pass by. I still have lots of things to do like order some balloons, check the foods to order, and prepare the list of foods to cook at home.

Sounds like not what you expected a 1st birthday should be? Yeah right, because we are not celebrating our baby's 1st birthday in a fastfood restaurant or something. You know, there is nothing much to expect from a fastfood. Aside from the typical platter of spaghetti, fried chicken, and burger, they have the mascot or magician/clown. But, my baby won't be able to appreciate them. She's too young for those tricks, right? And so we decided having just a small party at home.

I only need to pick our favorite foods, order our favorite cake, gather some close friends and family, then blow the candles. Hubby wanted a short family escape, but I did not support his idea as well. See? Our baby is too young to enjoy the beach or any island getaway either.

So far, I already booked some cupcakes from Frupcakes. I have yet to order that Barbie cake from Red Ribbon up there, one week before the birthday. I just called the Red Ribbon Megamall branch this afternoon. They told me to book at least a week or 3 days before the birthday. So well, I should to take note of that 'cause my 1 minute memory really sucks sometimes.