Nail Spa in the Metro

When I was 24 or so, I remembered having my nails done every week and planning my wardrobe so that my nail polish matches my clothes. And, yeah, for those who can remember I match my make-up too! After a year or so of this nail-fashion lifesytle, my nails suffered from "polish fatigue" as I might call it. Besides, there was this "manicurista" I frequented in one of the neighborhood salons near San Miguel Village in Makati, but when she left I just couldn't find the perfect "manicurista". I started seeing blood everytime I had my nails done ... so I stopped. So even in my wedding, I didnt have my nails polished ... I was just too scared! I get foot spa's but no more of those "nippers" into my flesh!

It was only last year when I re-discovered the love for nail polish after our Mumbai, India trip with Mutya Laxa. We had to go there to understand how we could learn from our sister co's face care rural penetration program. Fortunately for us, the India skin team were going to a nail spa as part of their consumer emersion program. So they slotted us and we went for an afternoon of pampering. Mutya and I were so impressed and surprised because the attendants there were male and they were quite gentle and adept with the "nippers" -- it was sooo relaxing. Mutya and I even started talking about putting up a similar nail spa in Manila. Yah, maybe just maybe ...

And when I got back to Manila, I immediately checked the nail spa in the metro. So far, I've been to 3 : The Nail Spa at the Shangrila Mall, Dashing Diva at Beauty Bar Glorietta 3 (before the bomblast) and at California Nail Spa at the Robinsons Galleria.

The Nail Spa also has a small spa inside Essences in Glorietta and I've been there as well. The place is really very "spa-like" with massage chairs for each customer. You can actually fall asleep there (specially in their Shangrila Malla). The attendants are very careful and they dont chit-chat. So if you want peace and quiet and have our nails done at the same time, go for this spa. The Shang branch is frequented by local movie & TV personalities, its a pretty busy branch so you have to call them ahead of time.

Dashing Diva on the other hand is quite the opposite of The Nail Spa. Here its all colorful, its usually inside the Beauty Bar (now I go to the Rockwell branch) and the attendants love to chit-chat. They offer spa parties for min of 10 or so and you can purchase your own mani/pedi set and you can leave it in the branch so you can just use it the next time to come for a service. They have a loyalty card where they give freebies or drinks after certain no. of services paid for.

California Nail Spa is almost like Dashing Diva but their services are priced lower and they offer a wider range of spa services. They have more nail art available, the attendants are very skilled as well but they dont have the comfy chairs that the two spas above have.

My personal fave though is the Dashing Diva, the place uplifts me and my toes are happy after every visit! I love their shades and the polish lasts a good 2 weeks which is good enough for me. I don't do weekly nails anymore, my skin have gotten pretty thin. A monthly visit does it for me!

I hope I can find a Dashing Diva-like spa when I stay in Durban. It would be so tragic if I don't get to have my nails done again in 12 months!

Mrs. Jane B.

Robinsons Place Midtown Wing, All New Shopping in Ermita

My friend from my USC MBA days, Rizalyn, who's based in Cagayan de Oro, is here for a whole 3 wks for training with PhilHealth. Wanted to meet up with her and catch up on life in general ... she is staying at the Bayview in UN and so I thought why not do a shopping trek as well at the new Robinsons Place Midtown Wing! I had lunch there 3 wks ago at the Recipes with 20+ Customer Marketing Peeps on a workday ... might be good to visit on a weekend. Unfortunately for us, Recipes was closed yesterday. Weird but yes, the resto was closed. So off we went to look for a place that had pasta, and light salad --- oh yes! I saw Italiannis! Yehey! We got in at 130pm and saw the lunch buffet (which BTW is now down to P395/person from the P595/person a week or so back!) but they were closing the buffet by 2pm. Nope, 30 min not enough to enjoy buffet so we opted for the regular menu instead. After a lunch-full of tsismis and update, we were ready to go shopping.

As we re-entered the mall, I was then strucked by how different this wing is from the rest of the Robinsons Place Mall! It truly is more upscale, lightings are warm, more spacious, modern lounge sofa designs, and the shops, are more "masstige" already. All the known coffee shops are there, Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and I think I saw Figaro. The Beauty Bar with my favorite "Dashing Diva" section is present and all-in-all the whole wing just gives you this airy more "classy" feel than the other wings swarming with "tiangge-type" stalls selling everything from herbal medicines to fake bags to underwear -- you would have thought this was Market!Market! or Greenhills.

I guess the Robinsons Place Ermita felt the need to expand and provide a more "upscale shopping experience" for its shoppers. Come to think of it the closest mall is SM Manila and my gosh that place is just crowded with people. Not a very nice place to do leisurely shopping (very typical of an SM mall except for MOA). Considering as well the Manila area, and the Fil-Chinese community in Binondo, I think the new wing has hit a jackpot in terms of providing this different shopping experience. Of course, the students and the medical community in the PGH (Phil Gen Hospital) are benefitting from this as well.

We left the Midtown Wing after having coffee at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, which if it wasn't just for the rain, we would have preferred to seat ourselves in the veranda area which would have given us a view of Ermita area. Truly, a leisurely place to stay awhile and meet up with friends and family!

Of course, I didn't miss visiting the newly renovated Robinsons Dept Store and checked out our displays of Ponds, Dove and Vaseline Lotion. Ah, but my observations and comments ... I will defer in another write-up as am trying to piece together as well how the Galleria store looks like.

So off we went to UP Dil after spending 4 hrs at the new Robinsons Place Midtown Wing. I don't know about you but the new space looks a lot lot better than the old Midtown Hotel way back! Indeed another new place to shop at the heart of Manila!

Mrs Jane B.

On Massages and Facials at the Suriya Spa

I was diagnosed with texter’s thumb last Thu by an orthopaedic doctor at the Manila Doctor’s and was advised to give back my Treo to the office and stop texting for awhile. It seems my texting is causing my right thumb to be painful that extends down to the wrist making it really hard for me to grip things. Doctor’s advise was to go for a massage. Well, what a perfect excuse to have a facial as well. Off we went to visit our favourite Suriya Spa. We’ve been members for more than 3 yrs now. The Glorietta 3 spa has been moved to The Ascott.

Their trademark “mind & body massage” puts you to sleep with just 10 mins into the massage routine. The slow kneading motion and the soothing music, makes you forget where you are ... when the therapist reached my back I was dreaming. There’s something about the mixture of oil, pepperminty lavender scent that just knocks you off. I was awakened after and hour or so by Doris telling me that my facial therapist will be with me soon. Facial, yup, I chose the “collagen” one this time. After my 34th bday almost two weeks back, I deserve some anti-aging treatment. This collagen facial is suppose to moisturize my face and reduce the fine lines. Of course, its something our Ponds Age Miracle line can do (and more!) but I really needed some TLC and not do the facial myself. Will share soon home facial you can do every weekend in case you have no time to go to the spa (watch out for this!).

After almost 3 hrs in inside Suriya at The Ascott, I felt like a brand new person ready to face the world! Yeah, feeling a bit younger that usual ... he, he, he – all for under 2k! Suriya Spa has other branches and are mostly in hotels (like in The Ascott, Intercon and etc) and as the spa partner of Golds Gym. The receptionist advised us though that their Fronterra Verde branch is the best ...

Mrs Jane B.

The Joy of Buying a Gucci Bag

Been wanting to buy a GUCCI bag these past few weeks but got into trouble with my husband. He already got me my LV Speedy for mother’s day (even if I’m not a mom yet) because I’ve been asking him for one and he just found the occasion to give it to me. Unfortunately my usual visit to the GUCCI website made me want a bag more!

I had this ultra favourite the GUCCI Joliceur medium tote in gold. Unfortunately, limited stocks were available and all the stocks are gone. I’ve surfed the internet for other sources of this bag type but alas ... there’s none to be found that’s brand new. Then a good 2-3 wks ago my friend Emily told me there’s a Gucci sale and maybe, just maybe I can get my alternative bag (from my GUCCI bag list) on sale. I visited the Greenbelt 4 store and truly my alternative abbey bag was on sale but not the right color. So I went around the store and found my new LOVE, its the JOY Tote in dark brown color medium size. Just perfect for those casual moments! Check out my photo ...

If you’re a first time shopper in the Greenbelt store, note the different sections of the store. This is just based on my observation of course and not confirmed by any store personnel but could be useful.

The What’s NEW, What’s HOT Counter greets every shopper as you enter. The latest designs are displayed here and from my observation as of last week the display matches the latest design line in the official GUCCI website. You can navigate around the store using this section.

From this counter you can turn right to check out what I would like to call “The CLASSIC Line Counter”. In this counter you will find the basic bags that you see in the website. The store attendants are very responsive and will offer you the latest catalogue if you want something that may not be on display.

To the left of the NEW/HOT counter is a corner that highlights two things : the bags that used to be on the NEW/HOT counter and the items on special sale. So pay attention to this corner if they have special sale which usually just lasts for 2 wks (based on observation not confirmed by store personnel ... I do have my disclaimer).

At the back of the NEW/HOT counter are sections for shoes (which by the way are truly bea-u-ti-ful, but I can’t afford it yet, the handbag gives more ROI). Clothes are also being hung but since I’m really more interested in the bags ... I don’t usually venture into this part of the store but there are shoppers who really go in that section and try on the clothes.

So there you are, a glimpse of the Gucci store in Greenbelt. Me, am so happy with my new GUCCI bag! And super thanks to my good and classy friend Emily Boaquina-Besavilla for helping me pick the best color! Of course a former beauty queen would know!

And what’s the latest? Heard that Gucci will be bring in a new line soon that will allow more beauties like us to buy a GUCCI bag. So watch out for it ...

And before I say “bye” ‘till my next write up, super thank you to my hubby Brian for letting me buy my new GUCCI! I know you tried to convince me not to buy one ‘coz I have my LV na, but who can say NO to a GUCCI bag? Not me!

Mrs Jane B.