Good Eats for the Skin

You are what you eat.

You can spend all your hard-earned money buying all sorts of creams and products to make your skin supple, glowing and healthy but sometimes the long-term remedy can be found right there in your kitchen. Au naturelle. Here are some good eats for your skin as recommended by the experts.

Avocados
They are not only good for a guacamole. Because they are rich in Vitamins C & E, it's an excellent remedy for skin aging. It is also loaded with monosaturated fat, a good component of Omega-3 fatty acid.



Berries
Now you can have an excuse to stock on those yummy strawberries. Acai berries are the most potent fruit with antioxidants and before they've been associated with the hijacker links that was prevalent in YM a year ago, they're pretty good for the skin.


Dark Chocolate
My favorite, yay! It's a good thing that my favorite indulgent treat is also good for my skin. It helps improve the flow of blood to the skin and protects it from sun damage.



Green Tea
My second favorite "energy booster" next to coffee. It's even dubbed much better for the skin than water. It is a natural remedy for acne and is very rich in antioxidants. If you can go for the healthier alternatiive to coffee then green tea is an excellent choice.


Oily fish
These are mackerel, salmon, sardines and fresh tuna. These are healthy because they have a lot of omega-3 oils which are good for the skin. Omega-3 helps in the skin's elasticity and unclogs the pores.


Oysters
Yummy yummy oysters! Oysters are very rich in zinc which aid in the production of collagen.

Pomegranates
Eiither in fruit or juiced form, pomegranates are high in anthocyanins which helps strengthen the walls of the tiny blood vessels which supplies the skin with the nutrients it needs.


Spinach
Popeye's power food. These have anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits. See? It pays to listen to Popeye sometimes.

Tomatoes
For cancer prevention and for maintaining good skin, I actually swear by this fruit. They are a great source of lycopene. At times I snack on fresh tomatoes just to give my skin a treat.

Walnuts
Not only are they perfect ingredients to your favorite brownies and pastries, they also help improve the smoothness of your skin because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Source: Divine Caroline

Photo Explorations of the word: Twisted

Photo Credit: alexdecarvalho

Photo Credit: iLoveButter

Photo Credit: zayzayem

Photo Credit: MissMessie

  Photo Credit: fauxto_digit

Photo Credit: GollyGforce - heading out of town...

Photo Credit: AllanThinks

The New face of Joker?

There has been rumors going around that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is being pegged for the cameo role of the Joker for Batman 3. Although there are still no confirmed reports, it’s creating a buzz especially among the fans of the movie.

Can he pull it off? There’s no denying that he kinda looks like the late Heath Ledger and he CAN act. Many thinks he can. He was wonderful on 500 days of summer and his role looks promising at the upcoming movie Inception (which I can’t wait to see by the way).

JGL has come a long way and I think this is the break that he needs. It has been a long road ever since I saw him first on 10 Things I hate about you, where coincidentally was also the first breakthrough film for Heath.

Passion Fest: Italliani’s

While I’m no stranger to the food at Italliani’s it was a surprise for it to be the next stop in our food tour around Boni High Street. The popular restaurant already has an established niche because of its American/Italian fusion cuisine.

Classico Pizza

There’s a reason why this is one of their best sellers, I think this is one pizza to satisfy huge pizza cravings.

Shrimp Mushroom Linguini

I especially liked this pasta, the noodles were “al dente” and there was just enough saltiness in the dish from the shrimp to balance out the flavor of the mushroom.

Technorati Tags: italliani's,italian food,passion fest,food tour,foodies

Getting away with the girls of Sex and the City

The moment the opening beats of Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind blasted off from the cinema theater sound system and the lights grew dim, I couldn't help but feel excited. There was an overwhelming sense of enthusiasm in the air and even the celebrities behind us gave out little hoots as the first few aerial shots of New York was shown. Last night, I was at the press screening of Sex and the City 2, one of the movies I've been dying to see ever since I saw the trailers.

What the movie was all about

It was set 2 years after the first movie and this shows how much the girls' lives have changed. Carrie was happily settled down with Mr. Big in their upscale apartment (which was nicely decorated by the way), Charlotte was getting accustomed to being a mom of two girls, Miranda was back with Steve and still balancing work and family while Samantha was still single but still glamorous and rocking it at age 52. But sometimes, things can get a little too much and when an opportunity for all four of them to take a break from their not-so-fairytale lives, they grabbed it. At Abu dhabi, the girls were a little more like their old selves and the vacation was heaven. Here they each had realizations from their problems and more than ever strengthened their friendship. The story took an unexpected turn when their vacation was cut short and they were forced to return home. In the end, conflicts were resolved and we're all left with so much learnings about love and relationships.

What I loved about it

Everything. Of course if it's SATC, you can expect fashion and glamour. The movie made me want to be a "girly-girl" again (go figure) plus they were all sporting such excellent figures. I better shape up. They did a great job with the setting and Abu Dhabi was just magical. I mean I've heard the about the riches, but the magnitude of the opulence as seen in the movie was overwhelming. The architecture and the interiors were amazing and being in that design field, it felt like I was immersed deep in Moorish architecture and wallowing in period styles all over again. It was wonderful.

The story wasn't as deep as before, (I bawled when I watched the first movie) but there is still heartfelt meaning about love and marriage. There were still a few times when I felt my eyes tear up. The antics were hilarious and their adventures were crazy as always. I envy their friendship fictional though as it was, but this movie showed just how important it is to be having lifetime bonds with people who you love and trust.

Miranda was different here, she changed from being snooty to being fun. Charlotte was still Ms. Goody Two shoes but it’s nice to see her flaws once in a while too. Carrie was all-grown up and experiencing first-hand the complexities of marriage but still looking fashionable at the same time (lounging around at her apartment home in heels!). Samantha was still being the Samantha that we love, and I must say she has earned my respect for being the woman that she is. The lines were crisp and sarcastic at times but all in good fun. There wasn't anything cliché or repetitive, the movie felt fresh. Every scene was enjoyable and there were no dragging in betweens. It didn't even feel like we were there for more than two hours, I just wanted the movie to go on and on.

What I don't like about it

Nothing.

----------------

I saw a lot of celebrities last night and it was good to see them just be themselves and enjoy a movie much like the rest of us. I'm giving SATC 2, five stars out of five. A must-see film not just for fashionista chics and SATC fans like me but for everyone who wants too see love and relationship mixed in with style and girlie camaraderie.

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

-I am woman (Helen Reddy)

Sex and the City 2 opens up in movie theaters on June 2, 2010.

Thanks Warner Bros. Philippines once again for the invite. :)

Share your Secrets Anonymously

Have you ever been told a secret that you can’t tell anyone else but you’re bursting to do so? Or you yourself has a secret that you’re itching to share but is afraid to get in trouble. Here are some sites that lets you cure this urge and you can do this anonymously too.

Six Billion Secrets – the secrets are posted by users and displayed on the homepage via text feed. Community viewers can view the secrets and can either re-tweet or share the secrets that they like on Facebook and other popular bookmarking networks.

Confessions & Secrets – users can post confessions and the community can comment, there’s also a section for question & answers.

Secrettweet – this site uses Twitter as it’s aggregator and still keeps your secrets anonymous

Secrets Wall – the site uses a corkboard wall-like interface with the secrets posted on virtual post-its. You can vote or comment on the secret that you like and as an added option, you can buy the secret and have it made on a sticker

Secret Zen – a site to post your secrets relayed artistically on photos. In order to post a secret, you are required to create an account

Post Secret – this site is probably the most popular on the list, with users sharing secrets on the back of a postcard and posted on this art community

Creative Shelving Systems

Imeüble  shelving system from designer Bjørn Jørund Blikstad

 Prove Shelves by Creosa

Lagolinea

Foscarini wall lamp

K-122 Tree by X-Abitare

“Short circuit shelf” by Alexandra DiCairano

Røys collection by Permafrost and Katharina Styren

Eric Guiomar’s Bookshelf

Silk by Bloq

P-bookshelf

Vintage Shelf

Technorati Tags: bookshelves,shelves,interior design,design,creative

Bedazzled

I was browsing through some fashion magazines the other night and I love the section where they show some of the best-dressed stars on a very important event. They usually provide full-page length photos with the stars grouped together according to the gown color or style. There they are, majestically photographed with flowing long gowns, draped, strapless, backless or one-shoulder wonders. It makes you wonder what it feels like to stand there almost blinded by the flashing lights by the thousands of cameras currently focused on you.

There's also a section where they feature the jewelry ensemble that the stars are wearing and they are always worth millions. But for us normal people, of course we can't always afford the kind of luxuries that they are very fortunate to have. Often it's really not about the worth, but the fashion sense and style.

After you've picked the perfect long gown in the season's trending color it's time to pair it up with bedazzling jewelry. A long black dress is always elegant and a constant red carpet winner. For example if I would dress someone up in that gown, I would pair it up with some Roberto Coin jewelry.

These tear-drop diamond earrings would go perfectly well with off-shoulder or strapless gowns.

This 18kt Rose Gold Lemon Quartz and Mother of Pearl Ring would provide just the right splash of color to spice up the black number.

This white gold pendant would go well if hung on a short choker-like chain over a low-cut gown.

Just go for a simple up-do for a hairstyle and you're done. The jewelry alone would be the fashion statement that sparkles on the red carpet.

Jonah Hex is out to get you

One of the movies to watch out for in June is Jonah Hex. The movie is based from the title character Jonah Woodson Hex in a Western comic book series released by DC Comics. Here’s the teaser description from Warner Bros.

Adventure Thriller. Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) is a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort, a tough and stoic gunslinger who can track down anyone...and anything. Having survived death, Jonah's violent history is steeped in myth and legend, and has left him with one foot in the natural world and one on the "other side." His only human connection is with Leila (Megan Fox), whose life in a brothel has left her with scars of her own. But Jonah's past is about to catch up with him when the U.S. military makes him an offer he can't refuse: in exchange for his freedom from the warrants on his head, he must track down and stop the dangerous terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich). But Turnbull, who is gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell, is also Jonah's oldest enemy and will stop at nothing until Jonah is dead. Based on the legendary graphic novel, "Jonah Hex" is an epic adventure thriller about one man's personal quest for redemption against the vast canvas of the battle between good and evil.

Here are some stills from the upcoming movie.

JOSH BROLIN stars as JONAH HEX in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' adventure thriller “JONAH HEX,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. TM&© DC Comics.