Hi, friends! Kids school is cancelled today because of inclement weather. Supposed to have sleeting rain that started last night. Not gonna lie, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my teenagers…maybe they could take a break from their phones sometime today and give their momma some snuggles(anyone can relate to this?). Make sure to check out the chicken soup recipe on this post. It was my favorite Filipino dish growing up.
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This cleansing balm coupled with this facial cleansing cloth(dampened with warm water) effectively melts my make-up and also hydrates my skin. I have used a few cleansing balms in the past and this is truly one of my favorites as it moisturizes and cleanses my skin at the end of the day. You can also use it as a facial mask but I honestly have not used it that way. If you have this and have used it as a facial mask, please let me know in the comment. It comes in a travel-size and a fragrance-free version and you can find that here. Special mention to my other favorite which is the Beautycounter Cleansing Balm. I love that this one has a little bit of texture to it(but not rough at all) and leaves my skin hydrated without feeling like my skin is stripped. If you are a new customer, you can sign up with your email to get 15% off with Elemis, and 20% off with BeautyCounter.
My lips tend to get really dry especially in the winter and this lip mask has changed that. The instruction on the label says to use it as a lip mask while you sleep then wipe clean the next day which I do but I also keep one in my everyday bag and reapply a few times during the day. The ingredients are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants which is a big bonus! I have the Berry flavor but also comes in Mint, Grapefruit, Apple. They now come in a travel-size which is a pack of 4 in smaller jars and I’ve used them for gifting last Christmas.
Everyone needs a classic, timeless white buttoned-down shirt in their closet. This one has a relaxed fit, soft to touch, has a lived-in look, and great quality that will last you for years. It comes in Classic, Petite, and Tall. It fits true-to-size and I have mine in Petite and I am just shy of 5’3″. I have paired it with jeans, denim shorts, trousers, and have also used it as a swim cover-up.
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I have used this bag this past year! It holds all my daily essentials including keys, wallet, smartphone, small water bottle, sunglasses with soft case, hand sanitizer, and hand cream. It’s the perfect size, and the leather is soft. I have it in black but also comes in Light Brown(English Saddle). It comes with 2 adjustable straps and I mostly use the black and white strap because it is wider and has a more casual vibe to it. The bag has a zip closure and has an exterior pocket which mostly holds my smart phone. Madewell has several options on bag straps that you can customize and you can find it here. Perfect everyday bag and I’m really pleased with it.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and if you are staying in (that’s what we usually do on Valentine’s), enjoy yourselves to a bottle of red and Netflix. Meiomi Pinot Noir and La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir are my absolute favs under $25.
Speaking of Valentines, I recently ordered this cocktail dress and immediately fell in love with it! The fit is flattering on all body types, has great stretch with medium thickness, thousands of great reviews, and under $40! You can watch a quick reels video on Instagram so you can see the movement of this dress. It’s truly lovely. Fits TTS and comes in a ton of colors. I have the size XS for reference. For Valentines or any date nights, I would choose the black color with either a pair of knee boots or heels. Great as a wedding guest dress, graduations, Pinning Ceremony, Date Night, and special occasions that call for a Cocktail Attire.
God bless Pinterest with all of its creative baking ideas for every occasion. This recipe looks easy and fun enough to do with my teenage daughter, Emily. When I saw it calls for just 4 ingredients, I immediately saved it (technically more than 4 if you have to bake the cake yourself but if you buy a store-bought cake or cupcakes then it would be just 4 ingredients…. I’m all about easy ha). We plan to make this hopefully one weekend before Valentines.
This game has been a huge hit at every party I’ve brought it to. It’s a great game for all ages and no serious thinking necessary. We’ve also used $ bills instead of using the chips it came with. The container is the size of a deck of cards so really easy to pack. I just saw that they came out with a Jumbo Wooden version of this game which would be a wonderful backyard game for families and summer barbecue parties. I cannot wait for summer!
FILIPINO CHICKEN SOUP(TINOLANG MANOK)
This recipe is one of my favorite dishes growing up in the Philippines. It’s a healthy dish, easy to make and definitely a comfort food especially in cold weather. There are a few variations I’ve made to the recipe since some of the ingredients are easier to find in a local grocery store here in U.S. I use Spinach leaves instead of Malunggay leaves, Chayote instead of Papaya, 1 tsp of Better Than Bouillion Chicken Flavor instead of Knorr Chicken Cubes. Fish Sauce has a very strong smell and it could take awhile to get used to it but you can substitute table salt for fish sauce. I have been incorporating ginger in my recipes beacuse of its health benefits: reduces inflammation, promotes healthy aging, powerful antioxidant, can help treat chronic indigestion, and so much more. We use ginger in a lot of our recipes in the Philippines and I was not aware of its health benefits until a few years ago. Thanks, Mom:)
Hope you all are staying safe and warm!
Xo,
Elvie
