I love trying new products. I would willingly subject myself to testing products if needed. It's because I don't easily break out with any products (only my hormones and stress can make me break out to say the least). If I see or hear about a promising product then I would try and of course stop if it's not doing me any good. Just recently, I had the chance to try a new product from Estee Lauder. The brand recently launched the Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator and I was only too excited to try it. Anything that promises to erase dark spots and pimple marks (because of pricking), I am only game to try it. The Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator is a serum that could help to reduce uneven skintone such as acne scars, redness, dark spots, sun spots & discolorations.

Like most people, I have a bad habit of picking and pricking my pimples. It would drive me nuts to watch my pimples go big and red. I would pop a zit and I would wind up with some scars, the dark kind. I have this weird feeling of satisfaction hearing a zit pop. I know, I know. Apologies for the TMI. My scars don't heal easily so I am always left with some scars that I try to hide with concealer and foundation.

Estee Lauder says: In just 2 weeks: 62% of women showed a significant improvement in skintone in a clinical test. Over time skin looks noticeably clearer and brighter, vibrant and more even-toned. This intensive, yet gentle oil-free serum features powerful technologies to address the look of every key sign of uneven skintone:

1. Triple-Optic Technology provides skin with a brighter, more luminous look from the very first application.

2. CorrectTone Technology visibly reduces uneven skintone in 2 weeks, while anti-oxidants help prevent its re-appearance.

Imagine skin so incredibly clear, even-toned and radiant, you have nothing to hide. Proven gentle and effective for all ethnicities.

I have just been using the product for 4 days and I can see that some of my dark spots has faded. I am definitely impressed and I will continue to use this product. I will write another post and probably post some before and after pictures soon. This product comes in 30ml and 50ml bottles. Housed in a sturdy bottle in Estée Lauder signature mint green and gold, this product is dispensed through a hygienic pump and you only will need about a pump or two for full coverage. I know it is a little pricey but so far I can say it is indeed a good buy.

I would not deny that the best reading material while I was in my formative years was "komiks". Komiks or comicbooks are illustrated stories with different topics and genres. In the Philippines, one  of the renowned cartoonists is Tony Velasquez and has been since considered as the Father of Philippine Cartoons. Kenkoy is the very first Filipino cartoon character in Liwayway magazine. 

Let me know who is your favorite Filipino cartoonist or if you've ever read Kenkoy in Komiks. I will be giving away a Solo Kenkoy striped graphic shirt (worth Php595) and a dogtag necklace (worth Php495). Winner be determined through random.org. Thank you to Solo for generously providing these items. Just be a follower and leave a comment. And yes, please don't forget to join Solo in Facebook  and Twitter. This is open until September 24, 2011. 

FOLLOWER - Google Friend Connect - 1 entry

Tweet about this and use the hashtag #SoloKenkoyLMK - 1 entry

COMMENT - 1 entry

SOLO Facebook Page - 2 entries

SOLO Twitter Account - 2 entries

Blog about this contest with a link to my blog - 2 entries 

When Solo launched its first ever Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia featuring Larry Alcala’s Slice of Life last year, it was a show stopper. Many people took a trip down memory lane remembering the witty and playful comic characters of Alcala’s Slice of Life. Young and old remember their Sundays looking for the iconic caricature face of Larry Alcala among his cartoon drawings at the Sunday magazine. It is refreshing to see how Alcala’s Pinoy Cartoons are being celebrated and re-introduced to today’s youth as part of Filipino pop culture.

This creative collection has got us all hooked! Due to insistent demand, SOLO is brings out another innovation, its 2nd installment of the well-loved Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia series. This time it features no less than the greatest work of the Father of Philippine Cartoons, Tony Velasquez’s KENKOY.

Antonio "Tony" Velasquez, the Father of Philippine Cartoons, created Kenkoy way back in 1929. Long before the era of the movie stars and showbiz celebrities, there already was a Philippine pop icon named Francisco Harabas, more popularly known as Kenkoy. As Tony Velasquez described him, “He is always pusturyoso”. He was a debonair and his trademark fashion sense was Western influenced: decked in suspenders, charol shoes, double breasted suit, baggy pants, a sailor hat, and a slicked back hairstyle. Kenkoy is considered the most influential comic strip in the Philippines and most successful because of the wittiness and humor, as well as his antics, colonial way of thinking, and carabao-english. Kenkoy gained massive following that he was adapted into movies in 1950s-60s and musical act in early 90s.

This year, old meets new as Solo Pinoy Cartoonist Memorablia takes timeless Kenkoy comic strips and mixes it up on trendy silhouettes and fabrics with different treatments such as foil printing, embroidery, embossed printing, flocking, high density printing and washed effect. The collection consists of His&Hers graphic tees, polo shirts, woven tops and dresses, men’s long sleeves, shorts and accessories such as stainless necklaces and slingbags, gift sets like watches, vanity sets and lighters and will hit Solo stores in September. Each Memoriabilia Series item will have its own bio-tag of Tony Velasquez as well as its own unique packaging. To view the entire Men's collection, click here and Ladies' collection, click here.

Catch more exciting things happening online for the launch of our Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia collection. Join us in Facebook  and Twitter.

About SOLO Online Model Search 2011

SOLO’s best known for doing cool innovative online launches and the first ever online model search in the country. This year, Solo’s doing it again! To celebrate Father of Philippine Cartoon Tony Velasquez’ Kenkoy, Solo brings you the much anticipated and bigger Online Model Search 2011, now on its third year!

After we successfully launched Jaggy Tallada and Jhonna Flor as 2010’s grand winners and Mehran Khaledi and Phoebe Rutaquio as 2011's grand winners, we are now on search for two new faces of Solo to be officially unveiled in 2012.

Check out Model Search Site for contest details. All participants wearing any apparel from the Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia feat Kenkoy are to submit their creative photo entries embedded with graphic elements available for download via the website. Early birds submissions get rewarded with special prizes from Solo! Everyone can register to the contest site to submit entries and/or just vote. And this year, we’re giving away prizes to lucky voters as well! We will randomly pick 3 voters per month (September – November) to win Solo GCs! Modelsearch starts September 1 and ends November 30. Check out more details about the modelsearch on Solo’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages. You may be the next face of Solo!

A couple of weeks ago I had dinner at Outback with my Danish friend. I was too ecstatic to have him try the best burger in Manila, Bloomin' Burger. When I was checking out the menu, I could not find it anymore and I was close to disappointment when I figured out something. The burger's name was changed to Typhoon Burger. I asked out server Kitkat of the rationale behind it being named as such and she told me that it's because of the arrangement of the onion rings in the burger, shaped like the eye of the typhoon.

This was not a planned dinner because we were just supposed to buy plane tickets for an out of town trip. After going to the ticketing office, we strolled around Greenbelt 5, then went to have my nails done, had coffee at Starbucks, hunt for my maid-of-honor dress and window shopped. After all those walking, I could have eaten a horse. Haha! So we ordered Kookabura Wings for starters (which I wasn't able to take a picture of). I ordered Grilled Salmon and he ordered the Typhoon Burger. For all it's worth, I kinda like the name.

We didn't order any drink with alcohol because the free margarita we had before the meal kicked us already. Ah! We are not big drinkers to say the least. We just ordered iced tea and watermelon shake for our drinks.

After the main entree, we ordered some more, there's always room for dessert after all. We ordered Chocolate Thunder From Down Under. OMG! It was the yummiest. It was heavenly. Now I understand why it has become Outback's prized desserts. We ended the night with happy tummies. And yes, I have to tell you that our dinner was almost free because we only paid Php98. But wait, before you go head out to Outback Steakhouse, we only paid such because I was given a gift certificate equivalent to Php2000. So yeah,all those satiating goodness was just a little over two thousand (about US$50). Not too bad, ain't it?

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Here's an interesting read written by Karen Burns.

Everyone has a boss. Even if you "work for yourself," you're still an employee to your client.

A big part of maintaining the boss-employee relationship is to never allow a boss to think you dislike your work, are incapable of doing it, or--worse--consider it beneath you.