PILI beauty box unboxing

Women of a certain age really need to keep a beauty regimen. Maintainance is really key to keeping your skin healthy.

I am by no means a beauty blogger... but yeah, why not review a beauty set? There is always a first time.

I have a great friend who sent me her PILI ANI beauty box. Yes, this is a sponsored review. Hahaha

First off, the box was really great, with magnet closure like the ones I get from Kiehls.

I got really excited to see it came with a jade roller. To tell you the truth, I haven’t tried using a jade roller even though it was so popular last year. So it was quite exciting to get one to try.

So first off, I did the initial cleansing (using my current facial wash- innis free green tea)

The cream was really cute and it came with a acrylic spoon to scoop out the product. The consistency was creamy and not watery. The one in the set  is the youthful glow anti aging cream

You can get it HERE.   I applied a dollop on each cheek and spread it.

Next, I opened the facial oil -(containing  pili oil and Elemis oil extract) - ageless concentrate

This actually reminds me of olive oil, maybe since it’s also plant based- I put a few drops on my hand and rubbed and then patted it over my face. - The I did the jade roller

It was cold to the face which was great (note to self: keep the jade roller chilled in the ref for next time) the oil absorbed well and did not fell sticky — ( I hate sticky products on my face)

Roll.. roll... roll...

And here is my face after 5 minutes.- the roller kind of gave me a red flush ( I guess it got the blood circulating)

Total effect on my skin will have to come after two weeks, but my initial thoughts on this is... NOT BAD at all. We have to support local products for our economy and I find this as a great alternative to the imported brands I am currently using. My face was massaged really good and it felt really soft from the moisturizer and oil.

So, as per the box hashtag... do I look #IAmAgeless?

Street foodie adventure: bangkok

    I had some business in Bangkok. My husband (foodie like me) suggested we eat at some of the more popular Michelin starred street food while we are here. So, why not? I can find time.

First off, we tried looking into Jai fai. I was told the reservations would stretch till May (really?) At the time when people were scared to travel.. she was still busy. When we inquired, it was late afternoon and was told that the number was at 36 and the last number in line was 76. (More or less 2-3 hours wait). So the first shop we went to is MR. JO crispy pork.

It’s really easy to find using google maps and near where I was staying which was Chinatown. Their specialty was of course... crispy pork and then the soup which you had a choice of toppings. (Pork meat, pork liver, heart, tongue and various internal organs)

  The crispy pork reminded me of Bagnet and lechon kawali. It was ok. (Not like super fantastic)

The soup was very peppery.. very similar to bak kut teh of Singapore. I liked it.

After visiting this .. It makes you wonder what criteria Michelin does for the stars. LOL. It wasn’t mind blowingly fantastic. Just ok.

Now for the fun part... JAI  FAI.

It was genius of my friend to suggest we try to get a number at pre opening (10am) for the actual opening which was 1:30pm. She asked her staff to line up and get listed and we were #3 in line (woohoo). I got work done in the morning and we hurried off to the restaurant at 1pm (near to Chinatown also). We got there and saw Jai fai prepping for the start of her day. So as a thick skinned fan... I approached her for a picture which she obliged. (Jackpot!)

The restaurant was small... I guess maybe 7 tables at the most and all the cooking was done by Jai fai herself

The line outside... it was more after we came out after finishing our meal.

Jai fai has technique.... which was obvious after I bit into her crab omelette.

The large size (she had small-med-large) was priced at 1000 baht (about $35US) and full of crab meat and crab meat only. The egg part was very thin and CRISPY! Which amazed me. The crabmeat was very fresh and juicy inside... very very good.

Her shrimp were really jumbo sized and I really enjoyed this one. The shrimp with garlic ( I think 1000 baht also)

Traditional tomyum... warning...spicy!!! And the serving size good for 4 people. (It was ok. My thai friends said it was good)

Huge shrimp nearly the width of the bowl

Rad nar tally

 This was noodle with seafood (my friend said Hk style) and won an award with a local foodie body in Thailand as the “best” version in Thailand.
I found it ok. The seafood was huge but lacking the noodle part. 6/10 this is about 500baht ($17)

Phad kee mao talay

Thai style noodles (still lacking noodles for me.. it could have gotten more noodles).  6/10 about ($17)
Both the noodle dish were good for 2 person serving. But I highly recommend you order the crab omelette (order 2 if you are 4 people). It was really worth it. The stars of the meal was the shrimp and crab.

The waiting list for email reservations... which I think is allotted only 1 table... better take your chances with the early booking

The people outside waiting....

If you want the full menu... here are some pics

If you are ever in bangkok... and have friends who can book early for you. Try it!!

The road to a better and fruitful 2020

It’s been a long while since I wrote something. I guess the last two years were a bit bleh for me. Trying to be creative was so hard if you were emotionally drained. Wasn’t updating the blog nor drawing anything or posting on instagram.

BUT... 2020 is a new century.... and yes. Everything is looking up. As I really believe. Family is everything. I am really thankful to God that He showed me the right path to take. (Guided me on what I have to do).

So... going back.

I committed myself to doing something creative. Like making time for my watercolor. I took time to attend a workshop of PLAYCRAFTS (they can be found on IG and FB). I highly recommend their workshops. I have a fair share of them after all. The teacher is very knowledgeable, the materials provided were really up to par (prime if I may say so) and the teaching was very hands on (limited students)

Here is a sample of my “practice”

Not bad eh? And that was just the practice!

the carnations you can see are a bit wonky... LOL

Another thing I have been working out... (literally) is doing a 21k sometime in the future.

I can’t really say I have worked up that part... still trying to build up my mileage (doing 3-5k and 7k)

So far, I have improved my time. From 9 minutes / km (at the start) to about 7:40- 8 mins

Although I haven’t lost weight (maybe 3lbs- 5lbs?) I felt a shift in my body... shorts have started fitting again. Which is good. This is my old time

And now this is my last run (a 7km run)

Which I can say is quite an achievement. It really takes a lot for me to start running. I really don’t like it. But my ever supportive hubby is pushing me to achieve things I may not imagine myself doing.

One thing I can say... a good playlist is key to the pushing. Like WHAM’S “wake me up before you go go”... hahaha

Wish me luck. Goal is 21k in march... haven’t registered yet... Can’t even wrap my head around the distance. But I guess you have to tackle everything one step at a time. One kilometer at a time.