Gave my nails a treat at Nailaholics, SM Pasig

I seldom get manicures or pedicures: having been blessed with nails resistant to chipping or breaking while within a reasonable length, I just usually cut my nails myself every month or so. Also, I usually devote the time and money for this kind of self-care towards other pursuits (like foodie meetups, yeah!).

Surprisingly though, far from being a frivolous self-indulgence, getting nails done actually can be very beneficial to most women’s well-being.

How?

A mani-pedi session at a local nail spa or salon is a precious moment when a woman can unplug from the usual concerns of work and family life. The half-hour it takes for a nail specialist to clean, cut, shape and file a woman’s nails is time she can spend with her phone hidden away as she lounges on a comfy chair with her hands and feet up. Many girls take this as an opportunity to de-stress.

A treatment also oftentimes include a relaxing hand and foot massage that helps improve blood circulation and ease joint movement in these limbs.

Furthermore, regular nail treatments also reduces the chances of nails developing fungi and other infections, thanks to the intensive cleaning that they go through.

I recently got to treat myself to these health benefits when I got a free mani-pedi treatment at Nailaholics at SM Pasig (thanks to my good friend Jen of SandUnderMyFeet.com for the GC!).

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics is a chain of nail salons that seek to provide the metro’s denizens with a place to escape to and get pampered.

Inspired by the chic and luxurious beach life along the Hamptons coast, its premises are marked by seaside inspired colors and decor. Soft mood piped-in music also contributes to the relaxing atmosphere.

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

After ushering me to a lounge chair, my nail technicians (NTs) Issa and Dicel set about giving me and my nails a much-deserved treat which included:

Soaking my hands and feet in warm scented water for a few seconds. This helps to moisturize and soften my nails prior to the treatment.

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Shaping my nails. My nails usually grow in a rounded shape so the NTs just clipped and filed my nails following this natural shape. This actually results to stronger nail growth.

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Cleaning. A cuticle cream is applied to my nails and the cuticle is gently pushed down to create an appearance of longer nails.

Hand and Foot Massage. My hands and feet were applied with lotion and given a gentle reflexology massage. Ooh, this made me want to go back the very next day!

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

I opted not to have my nails colored because, being a no-frills girl at heart, I didn’t want the responsibility of maintaining colored nails.

My mani-pedi treatment at Nailaholics was a welcome respite from the daily grind. Knowing that it actually contributes to my overall health, and to my confidence in presenting myself to the world, are welcome bonuses.

Nailaholics, SM Pasig

Now I’m thinking of treating my best gals to a nail spa day at Nailaholics for my birthday.

This Nailaholics branch is located at Unit 148 SM Center Frontera Verde C5 Ugong, Pasig City. Other branches in metro are located in the following cities:

  • Makati: Cash and Carry, Glorietta 3, Ayala Malls Circuit
  • Quezon City: Eastwood Citywalk, Fishermall, Gateway Mall Cubao, Robinsons Galleria, SM Fairview, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf
  • Muntinlupa: Festival Mall Alabang, SM Muntinlupa
  • Manila: Lucky Chinatown Mall, SM Manila
  • Taguig: Uptown Mall BGC, Market! Market!
  • Pasig: Robinsons Metro East
  • Paranaque: SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, SM BF
  • Las Pinas: SM Las Pinas, SM Southmall
  • Pasay: SM Mall of Asia
  • Marikina: SM Marikina, Ayala Malls Feliz
  • Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
  • San Juan: Unimart Greenhills

For more details, visit the Nailaholics website.

Li’l Twinkies showcases fun parenting baby products at Momzilla Fair

New and expectant mommies were able to get sneak peeks into the latest and best of baby care products at the 12th Momzilla Fair held at the Fifth at Rockwell Event Center. Together with fellow mumshie Sherile of Shescapades, I scoured the event for some great finds.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Li’l Twinkies, one of the participating brands, is a maker of high-grade and safe parenting tools that facilitates effective baby care and infant nursing. Believing that a fun parenting experience leads to stronger and happier bonds between parents and children, it advocates joyful and convenient parenting through safe and easy-to-use products for milk storage, feeding utensils, teethers and health accessories.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

For instance, many new moms may feel apprehensive at the prospect of breastfeeding. Working mommies, in particular, would need to find a way to conveniently store their nutritious breastmilk until they can bring it home from their workplace.

Fortunately, Li’l Twinkies Milk Storage Bags – made with safe and non-toxic materials – are freezer-safe self-standing bags that made extra durable with their dual layered seams and double zipper seal to lock in freshness. Each bag can hold up to 8oz/250ml of breastmilk for later consumption. Breastfeeding moms can rest easy, knowing that their precious milk expressed at work or elsewhere will reach their babies safely and with freshness intact.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Breastfeeding moms are also sometimes faced with the hassle of leaking milk in between feedings. Recognizing that every drop of breastmilk counts, Li’l Twinkies Milk Collection Shells are designed to fit most maternity bras to effectively and hygienically catch these leaks, while protecting nipples made sensitive breastfeeding or milk pumping. Their pour spouts facilitates easy transfer of the collected breastmilk to a feeding bottle or milk storage bag.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

And speaking of feeding bottles, some moms would probably notice that their babies have some trouble adjusting from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding. With this in mind, Li’l Twinkies launched its NutriLatch Baby Feeding Bottle. Its super-wide teat approximates the texture and feeding motion learned from breast-feeding, facilitating hassle-free switching between the breast and bottle. It also features dual anti-colic air ventilating valves that reduces gas intake, thereby lessening babies’ burps and discomforts.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Moms of babies four months and older are faced with quite a challenge: teething. At this point, babies’ first teeth begin to emerge, resulting in itchy and sore gums, as well as cranky babies. They would be happy to know that products are available to help them comfort their littles ones at this important – if uncomfortable – stage.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Li’l Twinkies Sensory Teethers, for instance, are made for babies’ easy grip so they can bite into them for comfort while stimulating their senses and curiosity with the teethers’ attractive designs and multi-sensory features. Li’l Twinkies Teethers with Clip, on the other hand, have the added clip-on feature that facilitates babies’ easy access to their soothing teethers whenever they feel the need.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Another options is to wrap babies’s hand with Wrap Li’l Twinkies Chewy Mittens. With these, babies can also entertain themselves – and learn to self-soothe – when they hear the cute rattling sound from the mittens whenever they move.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Moms worried about keeping their babies’ items clean and hygienic have a new go-to device: Li’l Twinkies Magic UV Wand Sanitizer. Using this is a chemical-free way to sterilize babies’ bottles, toys, play pens and other items using UV germicidal technology. What’s more, it has an automatic temporary shut-off switch when face-up to safeguard the user’s eyes. Its portable size makes it a must-have for on-the-go moms.

Li’l Twinkies at Momzilla Bazaar

Li’l Twinkies has loads more of innovative items that make baby care easy and fun. (In fact, I’ll be writing more about its Silicone Baby Feeding Set in a later post). I’m absolutely thrilled that products like these are available to make parenting even more rewarding for new moms.

Check out its various products at the Booth C28 at the ongoing 12th Momzilla Fair at the Fifth at Rockwell, R5 Level, Power Plant Mall, Plaza Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati. During the fair, enjoy 20% discount on the featured products. The fair will run until March 3.

Catch the next legs of the Momzilla Fair on the following dates:

  • May 18-19
  • July 6-7
  • September 14-15
  • November 16-17

You can also shop for Li’l Twinkies products online at Shopee and Babymama.

Healthy Thai Milk Tea at Jelly G, UP Town Center

Milk tea has never been more prevalent lately, but did you know that Thai milk tea has been around much longer than the boba milk teas we’ve been craze-ing about?

In fact, Jelly G, a chain of stores specializing in Thai milk tea, has been operating since 2010.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to a tea-tasting at the UP Town Center branch of Jelly G. This where owner Jolly dela Pena and her staff showed us all the wondrous variety of deliciously refreshing drinks Thai milk tea can be made into as well as its myriad of health benefits.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Thai milk tea is made from black tea – the tea variant with the boldest and most complex flavor – with added crushed anise seeds and tamarind seeds and sweetened by condensed milk, giving it that distinct and exotic flavor.

At Jelly G, the teas are prepared and steeped in small batches daily, ensuring freshness and full flavor. Grass jelly – a healthier option to the usual black pearls as it is an antioxidant and aids in digestion – are also added on to some of the drinks: hence the name Jelly G.

Thai milk tea is good for you as it helps in delaying aging, improving digestion and fighting infection. So you can bet that aside from treating your taste buds to some delish milky goodness from your Jelly G drinks, you’re also treating the rest of you to some much-needed nutrients.

Check them out:

King Thai Milk Tea (Php75 | Php95). Made with black tea, condensed, evaporated and powdered milk mixed with brown sugar with grass jelly, this is the classic taste of Thai Milk Tea.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Cheesy Thai (Php85 | Php115). Now take the deliciously exotic taste of Thai Milk Tea and add cheddar cheese and rock salt. Imagine milky sweetness and the slight saltiness from the cheese in one heavenly drink.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Pink Sala Fruit Tea (Php75 | Php95). Sala (also known as snake skin fruit) is a type of palm native to Indonesia and cultivated in other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand. The sweet pink-hued juice of the sala is then combined with black tea and brown sugar with a few spoonfuls of popping strawberry balls for added bursts of fruity sweetness.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Queen Green Milk Tea (Php75 | Php95). Jelly G uses jasmine green tea, a tea variant known to help in fighting cancer, heart diseases, diabetes and strokes as well as staving off dementia. In this drink, jasmine tea is combined with condensed, evaporated and powdered milk and brown sugar with chewy black tapioca pearls stirred in.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Oreo Coffee (Php95 | Php125). This time Thai coffee takes center stage. Made with ground arabica beans, Thai coffee is brewed then mixed with condensed milk and crushed Oreo cookies, making this a dessert and drink in one cup!

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Choco Chocnut (Php120 | Php160). Chocolate is mixed into tea and that candy mainstay of Pinoy food pop culture Chocnut, made from coconut milk, crushed peanuts and cocoa powder. A sip of this yummy confection brings back so many fond childhood memories.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

With this selection of drinks, Jelly G has proved to me and my fellow foodies that Thai milk tea deserves more time in the spotlight.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center

This Jelly G Thai Milk Tea stall is located at Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (in front of National Bookstore).

Another stall can be found at Third Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

No time to visit Jelly G’s mall-based stalls? Why not have your Thai milk tea delivered via Grab delivery?

Jelly G Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held here wherein in drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints: