The Girl Behind the Pen

With so many cafes popping up everywhere, cafe-hopping is becoming the new travel adventure. From the white minimalist Scandinavian-inspired cafes to alfresco restaurants, it’s too hard to pick just one spot to visit because as a lover of food and travel, how can one be enough?

There you can feel the fresh air while sipping your hot latte with jazz (sometimes OPM) music in the background. The place is so calming that I feel time is slowing down whenever I’m there. 

And the food. Oh, the food! To me, the main star would be the Agahan Burger. Its patty is made of longganisa, giving you a twist on the ordinary snack. The burger comes with a generous serving of fries. It was like heaven in my mouth. Every bite was a treat. 

Since then, I didn’t need the menu whenever we come back. I’m just ordering the usual. And oh, their red velvet cake, too, is oh-so-good! It’s soft, smooth, moist, not too sweet, has a slight bitter taste perhaps due to cocoa but perfectly blends with its cream cheese frosting that melts in your mouth — just how I like it to be. I also tried their adobo and lasagna. Both were okay. 

As for the price point, they’re a bit expensive but trust me when I say you’ll get a bang for your buck. This quiet corner of comfort maybe trending these days but I’m certain, Cafe Agapita is here to stay. 

Cafe Agapita

Address: 11 Kapitan Sayas St. Sabutan 4118 Silang, Cavite

Budget for meals: PHP 1,000 for two

Food: 8/10

Overall look: 8/10

Hospitality: 8/10

Is Cafe Agapita open now? Yes they are open

Kids allowed? Yes!

Pets allowed? Yes!

Contact information: +63 917 258 6600 | 

(046) 419-0383 | hello@cafeagapita.com

There’s no denying, days (and nights) sans undergarments are totally comfortable. Imagine feeling free as a bird, walking lightly as a feather, absolutely carefree—nice, huh? While ditching the undergarments gives us the comfiest feeling ever, there are days that we just want that extra support.

Whether you’re going out for a special occasion or just running some errands, we all have that go-to underwear. It could be our chic sports bra, seamless undies, aesthetic lace bralettes, or that bang for the buck shapewear that can make all the difference. 

Of course, when it comes to wearing undergarments like corsets or wholesale waist trainers with logo, you want one that's comfortable, breathable, and supportive without being limiting. The problem is when we hear the term shapewear, the first few words that come to mind are “tight” and “uncomfortable”. The former is true but the latter is not always the case especially if you choose the right brand, material, and size of shapewear for women. 

Gone are the days when women had to wear those Victorian-era corsets with tight lacings and metal panels. In this day and age, modern shapewear has changed in a lot of ways. They’re a lot more comfortable, fashionable, and wearable whenever. 

Shapewear is a great undergarment for these reasons:

• Flattering: It defines our body even better.
• Versatile: Shapewear can be paired with anything or worn as is (like a corset as an alternative top).
• Confidence-booster: Shapewear helps us to feel even more beautiful.

Don’t know how to wear a shapewear right? Here’s fashion stylist Annabel Tollman’s tip: "It can be tempting to get a tight undergarment, but if you squeeze your flesh in one area, it's going to pop out in another. If you're between sizes, always go up rather than down. If the shapewear bunches, rides up, or rolls at the top, that's because it's too small.” When wearing a waist trainer or corset, keep in mind that you should be able to breathe comfortably when you sit down. 

What are your thoughts on wholesale shapewear for women? Share them in the comment box below. 

1. Fall in love with your swimsuit

2. Accessorize

3. Don't burn calories. Burn your negative thoughts!

I'm all for the "Love Your Body" campaigns but to be honest, there are times that I feel like I want to look like those Victoria's Secret Angels flaunting their hourglass bodies. It is not easy to achieve that figure though. Even if my mind strongly pushes me to work out regularly, I can’t find the motivation to put on my workout clothes and sweat everything out. Sure there are days I get active but most of the time, you will find me on my bed or on the couch munching on my favorite cheddar cheese popcorn.

If you are like me who is too lazy to work out, I think I might have the instant fix on Sculptshe. This clothing brand features women’s shapewear such as a full body shaper, activewear, and more! These garments are made with high-quality fabrics and with the best technology. 

Sculptshe believes that “every woman deserves to live every day looking and feeling her best. At Sculptshe, we empower you to be confident, sexy, and poised with exceptional-quality shapewear that enhances your natural beauty.”

Why you should get your own Sculptshe Shapewear?

If you’re still skeptical about women’s shapewear, here are some reasons why you should buy from Sculptshe:

1. It defines our body even better - Just from the name itself, you can already see the vision of the company to sculpt and tone the body. To live up to their mission and vision, they manufacture products like the full body compression garment that can sculpt the body, tone the body posture, and smoothen the body curves. 

2. It is of high quality and breathable - Shapewears like corsets or waist trainers have gained a reputation for being one of those “style-over-comfort” garments. But Sculptshe’s shapewear collections that include a plus size waist trainer are breathable to wear. 

3. It provides comfort and boosts your confidence - There’s no denying when we are comfortable in what we are wearing, it makes us feel good about ourselves and Sculptshe ensures that through their breathable and quality shapewear.

Whether you like to wear jeans or a dress, and whatever body type you have, Sculptshe’s slim shapewear helps you to achieve your dream body in an instant and allows you to feel good about yourself. 

There was a time in my life when I felt the odds were in my favor—I had a stable income, a happy soul, and great career opportunities. While the opportunities were beyond what I have imagined, they were overwhelming to the point that I had to let go of some things so dear to me, including my most stable job in one of the Philippines' biggest TV networks.

I did this so that I can pursue my biggest break at that time. But that move was something that terrified me to the bones for many reasons. One, I'll be working with one of the country's most sought-after celebrities; two, it's going to be my first time doing the job; and three, I have nowhere to return to if this project fails. Before and after I said yes to the project, I questioned myself every day if I can really do it. 

Long-overdue update on this post: a lot has been accomplished, and it went well. At first, at least. But after two months, the celebrity decided not to continue it. Therefore, all the production staff (including me) lost this huge project in a snap, without any warning. 

Fast forward to today, I found myself in the same position as I was in years ago. This time, it's a lot more challenging and a lot more terrifying. Just like before, I have to let go of something I've already loved. I have to step out of my comfort zone again to enter a new path. I will be doing something I find most difficult to accomplish. Doing something I’ve tried to avoid for the longest time. And doing something that scares me… again. 

But this has always been me—doing something I was a little not ready to do. 

Well, this is me: saying yes to new things even if it’s absolutely daunting. Saying yes to something that’s totally new to me. I can’t risk letting the opportunity go. So just as it has always been, I said yes and will just figure things out later. Because at the end of the day, I know things will fall into place.

You see, it's okay to be scared. It's normal. 

But if you let your fears stop you, you're not going to grow. 

You might end up spending a lifetime thinking of regrets and what-ifs because of the job you never applied for, the places you never traveled to, the person who got away because you didn't tell him or her how you feel, and the chances you didn't take.

There’s always going to be something that will scare you. It might be touching the head of a puppy, or jumping thousands of feet from above. It might also be letting go of someone dearly. But the most terrifying of all is failure, right? Because what if we fail? What if it doesn't get better?

But what if we don't? 

What if we do it and actually get everything we ever wanted?

You must do the thing you think you cannot do. — Eleanor Roosevelt

Looking back, although I felt like a failure for choosing what I thought was a "wrong" decision at that time, it was only years after that I realize it was a huge lesson and certainly one of the best opportunities I had. It actually led me to bigger things. That project, although short, opened so many doors for me. Did I fail? No! Am I still going to be afraid? Most probably! Will I stop venturing into things I know nothing about? Certainly not! 

My dreams are bigger than my fears. And I hope yours, too. Today, I hope you learn to embrace discomfort. I hope you will allow yourself to grow. I hope you will believe in yourself that you can do it. And finally, I hope you do the thing that scares you.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Winter sports are the best way to get rid of the icy blues and make the most out of a chilly season, but for many Americans, deciding where to move to get the most out of that can be complicated. From the slopes in Montana to the beautiful views of Utah, there are so many great areas to move to for these cold thrills.

Skin care beauty trends come and go but there are certain products that never go out of style. I'm talking about the acne beauty sets. Because really, whether we like it or not, these uninvited guests will do anything to take a zit (pun intended) anywhere they want on our face. 

That's why Nivea has formulated a miracle-maker acne set that includes MiscellAIR and Whip Foam. These two acne-fighting products help repair signs of skin stress, prevent and reduce acne, and gently cleanses for soft and smooth skin. 

Nivea Acne Clear Set MiscellAIR

One of the cult-favorites that is here to stay is the miscellar water. Since discovering this, it has never left my makeup kit. Miscellar water is a skin care product that looks and feels just like regular water but totally has the ability to remove makeup, cleanse, and tone with just a few light swipes of a cotton ball. 

The Nivea Acne Clear Set MiscellAIR is a 3-in-1 caring cleanser that features 10x oxygen boost that helps repair skin and prevent pimples. It also has Magnolia bark extracts that prevent acne. This product nails exactly how miscellar technology feels right and lives up to the name of Nivea Acne Clear Set MiscellAIR.

Nivea Acne Clear Set Whip Foam

MiscellAIR is best paired with the Nivea Acne Clear Set Whip Foam to gently cleanse and leave your skin feeling soft.

Valentine’s Day is one of the occasions to go all out for the woman you love. However, buying Valentine’s Day gifts for her can be tricky—pick out the wrong thing and you could already kiss goodbye to her good mood.

Romantic dates, flowers, and chocolates sure are classics but they’re kind of lazy if you think about it. Because come February 14, all you’ll see are women holding fresh bouquets of flowers. It’s sweet, but don’t you think your girlfriend deserves a little more creativity and uniqueness than that?

The best Valentine’s gift for girlfriend doesn’t have to be pricey. You just have to prove that you know her too well through the Valentine’s Day gifts for her. So, if you’re looking for the perfect affordable yet romantic gift ideas, you came to the right place! 

From personalized Valentine’s Day gifts for her that are sure to bring a tear to her eye, to gifts that will go well with her self-care or kikay routine, you’ll find them all here! 

Read through as I rounded up the best Valentine’s gifts for her she’ll surely love!

1. A Customized Vector Lamp

If you want more personalized Valentine day gifts for girlfriend, you’ll love this vector lamp. You can customize this lamp with a cute photo of you together which will then be turned into a vector art on the acrylic light board! There is also an option to add a song that’s scannable and opens in Spotify! How cool is that? Indeed a perfect romantic Valentine’s gift for her!

Customized Vector LED Lamp

₱799.00 - ₱1,749.00 | Available on Shopee

2. An Aesthetic Heating Coaster

If her coffee or tea is always getting cold before she's done with it, this smart touch mini heating coaster would be such a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift idea for her! This is great to use whether she’s at home or at the office, keeping her drink warm till the very last sip. Plus, it does not take up much space because of its small size.

Uareliffe Smart Touch Heating Coaster

₱816.00 | Available on Shopee

3. A Classic Red Rose

Though this beautiful red rose encased in a glass dome with LED lights may seem pricey, that's because it's naturally preserved to last up to a year! Made from real flowers that went through a sophisticated preservation process, this enchanting preserved rose is the best Valentine’s gift for her that shows everlasting love. A perfect decor for her bedside table, too!

Beauty & The Beast Rose

₱1,499.00 | Available on Flowerstore

4. An Exquisite Grazing Box

Nothing excites a wine-lover more than a grazing box complete with cold cuts, cheese, fruits, and a bottle of wine! So to make your date night even more romantic, this grazing box is the best Valentine’s Day gift for her. Plus, you can even pop it open together and enjoy a glass!

Grande Grazing Box

₱2,350.00 | Available on Grazely

5. A Stylish Leather Tote

For a gift she's sure to use day after day, this high-quality, monochrome leather tote is perfect! It comes in pique leather, and features knot detail handles which makes it unique. Definitely a head-turner no matter where she goes! Trust me that this is gonna be the best Valentine’s Day gift for her!

Lacoste Women's Chantaco Leather Tote Bag

₱12,250.00 | Available on Zalora

6. A Kikay Kit Must-Have

For the kikay ones, this is the best Valentine's Day gift idea for her! Make sure her lips look extra-kissable with this set of mini glosses from Fenty Beauty! Get ready to be smothered with kisses when she opens this!

Fenty Beauty By Rihanna - Glossy Posse: Mini Gloss Bomb Collection

₱1,881.00 | Available on Zalora

7. A Luxury Bath Set

A luxury bath set is the perfect Valentine gift for girlfriend who loves enjoying a long and relaxing bath. Gift her a little me-time with these luxurious products that come in a gift set which includes a shampoo bar for lustrous and soft-to-the-touch locks, a conditioner bar to restore hydration to each strand, and a bath bar for smoother complexion and ground oats to remove dirt and excess oils that clog the pores.

Nectarine & Honey Luxury Bath Set

₱699.00 | Available on Veste

8. A Travel Size Nail Polish Set

Give her the gift of a salon-worthy manicure at home with this easy manicure set. The best Valentine gift for girlfriend who’s always on the go! Everything she needs for the perfect, damage-free, gel-like manicure are all in one kit. Very handy!

Limegirl Poly Nail Gel Set Poly UV Gel Polish Nail Tools Set

₱373.00 | Available on Shopee

9. A Scented Candle

Fill up her room with a soothing scent from this clean linen scented soy candle which gives off the scent of fresh laundry – reminiscent of the soothing memory of clean sheets sun dried on a warm summer day. Perfect Valentine’s Day gift for her especially after a long day of work and chores.

Happy Island Clean Linen Hand Poured Scented Soy Candle

₱799.00 | Available on Shopee

10. A Birthstone Necklace

Who wouldn't love to add this dainty necklace to their jewelry collection? This birthstone necklace is high quality gold plated copper and is hypoallergenic! A Valentine’s Day gift for her that she’ll truly appreciate and treasure forever!

Tala by Kyla Heart Birthstone Necklace Collection

₱309.00 | Available on Lazada

Article by Aila Cruz