My last online shopping session was 2 minutes ago. Help.

(Haha.)

But seriously though, I looooove online shopping!

One of my favorite online sites to visit is ZALORA. (It’s the devil, I tell you!)

And here are 5 reasons why I love to shop online at ZALORA:

1. I love how you you can sort the items by price, lowest to highest. I’m a cheapskate when it comes to shopping for clothes so I usually  sort the items by most affordable, haha!

My recent purchase from ZALORA. Would you believe these items are less than P500 bucks each? Steal!

2. I love how you can filter the items by size. I don’t have to waste my time looking at items that won’t fit me anyway. (I’m normally an XS and I’m lucky enough to find an S item that fits me well.)
3. I love how you can easily see how the dresses would fit a ‘real’ person. Mannequins are just way too deceiving!
4. I love how you can easily mix and match outfits!

My ZALORA purchase a few weeks back. A black cardigan, and a cute top and skirt, all from Plains & Print!

5. I love their speedy delivery! Order it in the morning and you can receive your orders within the day or the next day. (Unless they run out of stock, which happened to one of my items so it took them 2 weeks to deliver it. But the wait was all worth it!)

Every girl needs a black wrap-dress! Accessorize and off you go! :)

And true to being an online shopaholic, I’ve already populated by my ZALORA Wish List:

As you can see, I’m obsessed with dresses!

1. Black Dress with peplum details. A girl can never have too many LBDs (Little Black Dress). If you’re skinny and curve-less like me, a peplum outfit can give you an illusion of curves!
2. Royal Blue Dress. I don’t think I have a blue dress in my closet yet. Plus the cutout back of this is so sexy!
3. Tyne S/L Dress. White flowy dress perfect for summer! :) I love white and black dresses since I can go overboard with colorful accessories.
4. Sweetheart cut body con dress. THIS I LOVE. I have a hard time going for that sultry look since my body is like a little girl’s. No curves whatsoever. But this dress is just perfect for that innocent yet flirty look!
5. Misha Skirt. ‘Cause I need a pencil skirt!

(As I end this blog post, I am using all of my willpower not to click ‘check out’, haha.)

If you love online shopping, feel free to check out ZALORA. You might like an item or two, or more!

http://www.ZALORA.com.ph

P.S. ZALORA with Nuffnang is having a bloggers contest. Check here for more details!

I’m getting quite alarmed with my state of health (arrgh, hypochondriasis!) that sometimes I just feel like I’m going to drop dead any time soon. (*sings* I think I’m paranoid…)

Because of this, I’ve decided that I really have to make an extra effort in having an exercise regimen. It doesn’t have to be like ‘whoa, he-man exercise!’, but something that will help keep my blood pumping and my heart, lungs and muscles healthy. (Plus exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make you happy!)

(Seriously, I barely take more than 1,000 steps a day. I sit in front of the computer the whole time or lie in bed, and sometimes I miss meals so it’s unquestionable that my lifestyle is very unhealthy.)

The number 1 problem I have to combat is laziness. I need an exercise regimen that can be done in the comforts of my own home. (I’m so lazy that I can’t even get my butt out of our condo to take a 10 minute walk in our compound, haha. Plus, nowadays, it’s sooo hot even at night!)

This the view from my window. Our place is very walk and run-friendly :)

I used to do yoga and I miss it terribly. But I don’t think I’m ready to go back to that yet.

I thought walking can be a perfect exercise, but again that will entail going outside our condo…

But wait! Who says I need to go outside to walk? *epiphany*

I can actually walk in place, right?! I remember doing marching exercises when I still went to physical therapy in the clinics before so what’s stopping me from walking or doing marching exercises in our living space?

Our living space. I now dub thee my work out area!

(Best… idea… ever!!!)

I googled ‘walk in place exercise’ and lo and behold! I found a lot of walking workout videos that had a lot of potential. I went thru some of it and decided to go with Leslie Sansone’s ‘Walk Away the Pounds’ workout. (Not that I have any pounds to walk away…)

Here’s a sample of the workout video:

My first day was so-so, I gave up 75% into the video. I started getting those white spots in my vision so I decided not to push my pathetically weak body too hard, haha.

But today however, I was able to finish the video all the way to the cool down and stretching so yay for me! (I was a little out of breath, though, haha)

Eventually, I will want to be able to do the 5 mile work out, and maybe, just maybe actually walk and run in the outdoors (yeah, right *snort*) or go back to my 1 hour and 30 minute yoga class at Ekagrata Sala.

Then I’ll feel more confident about not passing out when I go on gimmicks and be able to attend all the events I keep declining because ‘I don’t feel well’, yay!

But for now, I’m just happy to be able to do 1 mile with weights and without breaking out a sweat. Then eventually move on to the 2 mile workout, and then 3 mile, so on and so forth.

Slowly but surely!

So what’s your exercise regimen?

With that said, I love online shopping!

Since I’m stuck at home most of the time and my life is very boring, I try to live precariously online by spending lots of money (and killing monsters in World of Warcraft). Just kidding!

But seriously, I’m so happy that online shopping is becoming more mainstream in the Philippines, and that they offer credit card and/or Paypal payment options!

Nothing beats shopping at the comforts of your own home, being able to avoid traffic and crowds in the mall.

To name a few, here are my favorite online shops that I frequent a lot:

• Zalora – online shopping site for fashion, clothes and shoes
• Catalogue63 – online shopping site for fashion, clothes and shoes
• Moyo Asia – Singapore-based online shopping site but they deliver to the Philippines!
• Human Heart Nature – for some of my beauty stuff!
• Miss Sartorialist – love, love, LOVE her accessories
• Studio Boheme – have bags and shoes customized any way you want!
• Lazada – good site for purchasing gadgets and other things
• AVA.Ph – online shopping site for a few designer brands that offer really good promos

Online shopping still has a LONG way to go, comparing it to the US. But hey, I won’t complain! I just wish that more brands and more stores in the Philippines would have online shops. (Psst, Benefit Cosmetics…)

Now if you want to order something from your favorite online store in the US, I’m going to let you in a little secret called House of Flair.

The House of Flair is basically a pre-order service that allows Philippine residents to shop from various US online stores. (Why hello, Victoria’s Secret and Sephora!)

If you want to know more how the House of Flair works, then click here.

I’m going to have a giveaway ℅ House of Flair soon so watch out for that!

Now, which favorite local and international online shops do you love to shop at?

I’ve been wanting to try the lip stuff from Carmex as I’ve heard a number of good reviews on it. But for some reason, whenever I go to the mall, I end up ignoring Carmex and instead buy other lip products.

And you know what, after using the Click Stick in Original Flavour for the past week, I was like, “What the hell was I thinking ignoring this awesome lip balm?!”

I could have seriously saved a few bucks by just buying Carmex in the first place.

I had a hard time choosing whether to try the Strawberry flavor or the Classic. Ended up choosing the Classic.

The ingredients! I can’t believe Carmex has been around forever and it’s only now that I’ve discovered it! Where have you been all my life?!

Has SPF 15!

Apply freely for kissable lips!

The magic stuff!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• Carmex is a Petroleum-based lip product so you might want to check if you’re allergic to it.
• It has a weird smell. It’s like a mix of Petroleum and Vanilla. The smell takes a little getting used to, but it does grow on you!
• While the smell is weird, it feels great on the lips as it feels minty when applied.
• I don’t suggest slathering it on thickly as it may feel very heavy on the lips especially in our suffocatingly hot weather. What I do, however, is I lightly dab it.
• The staying power is great unless you eat or drink, or lick your lips a lot, then you’ll have to reapply every so often. But the moisturizing effect is LONG lasting.
• You might want blot well before applying lipstick as I’ve noticed that Carmex reduces the staying power of lipsticks. But in my opinion, that is a good trade off for very kissable lips!

S-e-r-i-o-u-s-l-y, this stuff is GREAT. If you have dry, chapped, cracking lips and you want to REALLY moisturize your puckers, I really recommend the brand Carmex.

Take it from me, I’ve been suffering from dry, chapped lips since forever and I’ve never come across a product that moisturize my lips this well. I’ve tried a few products that I thought did the job, but really, Carmex just brings lip moisturizing to a whole new level!

(Raving much? I KNOW RIGHT.)

Now I just want to run to the mall and arm myself with new lipsticks since I feel confident enough to wear lipstick on my now very kissable lips. Thanks, Carmex!

Enjoying my Sunday by playing with lipsticks! Not wearing any makeup except for my lips made kissable by Carmex and Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie <3

And because ‘Sharing is caring’, I’m giving away the extra Carmex stuff I received!

One (1) lucky reader will win an Original Carmex Jar, an Original Carmex Tube and a Carmex Strawberry Stick.

It’s very easy to join my Carmex giveaway. All you have to do is:

• ‘LIKE’ GeekGirlManila on Facebook (2 raffle entries)
• ‘LIKE’ this Blog Post (2 raffle entries)

For extra raffle entries:

• +3 raffle entries: Tweet about the giveaway by tweeting:

Get a chance to win Carmex lipstuff c/o GeekGirlManila.com (@leeyahgrl) and @CarmexPh!

• +2 raffle entries: Follow @leeyahgrl on Twitter
• +1 raffle entry: ‘LIKE’ Carmex Philippines on Facebook
• +1 raffle entry: Follow @CarmexPH on Twitter

Submit your entries by using the application below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Geek Girl Manila’s Carmex giveaway will end on May 30, 2012, 12PM and is open to Philippine-residents ONLY.

Good luck, ladies!

Only a month more to go and everyone’s back to the normal grind of work and school. (Though if you’re working, what’s the difference, really, haha.)

Anyway, if you’re still looking for travel gear, you might want to check out the brand Travelon.

The awesome thing about Travelon gear is their anti-theft feature. Their bags and wallets are made of slash-proof material, including the straps. They also use lockable zippers (oooh!) which makes it difficult for people with busy hands to open your bag’s compartment.

If you take public transportation to get around the Metro this a brand you might want to check out.

Another great feature of Travelon bags and wallets is that it effectively blocks Radio-frequency identification or RFID readers, preventing unauthorized access to personal information. If you’re a spy, this is the brand is for you!

Travelon has so much more to offer traveling geeks out there so feel free to visit the Official Travel Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/Travelonaccessories.

As for me, I’m liking this purple Travel Bag… hmmm!

See more Travelon Products

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Even with a nice stylus like this, my drawings are still crap, haha.

But anyway, I’m sure you don’t want to hear about how crappy my scribbles are so let’s head on to the review!

Adonit Jot Mini and Pro in Pictures

They come in a nice, small, plastic case.

The back of the packaging with the specs.

Side by side. The length of the Mini is almost the same as the length of an iPhone. The pens have a nice aluminum finish.

Stick them with the pointy end. No, you don’t remove the round plastic discs. The discs have a metal chip in them that allows the pen to write on touchscreen devices and the plastic discs prevents scratching while allowing you to write an any angle.

The pens with the caps on. You can screw the cap on the other end, too, while in use so that you won’t lose the cap.

The end of the Mini is a pen clip.

The Pro does not have a pen clip, but it magnetically attaches to your tablets and iPhone.

My first scribble on the Moleskin App!

My 2nd scribble!

My attempt to be an artist, hehe

Randon Thoughts:
1. The Adonit Jot Mini and Jot Pro is one of prettier-looking pens in the market.
2. Writing or sketching is definitely more precise with the Jot styluses compared to other styluses with rubber or foam tips. It’s easier to draw corners and write finely.
3. Using the Jot Mini and Jot Pro is comparable to using a pen tablet.
4. I find that you can’t do too fast strokes, light strokes or write too fast, or else it’ll skip, much like when a real pen starts to run out of ink, especially when the plastic disc becomes dirty with oil.
5. You have to constantly keep your device screen oil and smudge-free or else it’ll affect the writing precision of the stylus.

Jot Pro or Jot Mini?
I definitely like the Jot Pro more, as the rubber around the Pro make it easier to grip. But on the cuteness meter, the Jot Mini wins, hands down.

The Adonit Jot styluses definitely made my DrawSomething experience easier. But did it make my drawings better? Heck, no. Haha!

(Talent just can’t be bought, lol.)

Anyway, if you want to buy an Adonit Jot Mini or Jot Pro (there’s also a Classic model), they will be available next week at any Digital Walker stores.

I don’t think the prices are out yet, but for reference, the husband got our stylus from Singapore at the following prices: the Jot Mini was SGD45 while the Jot Pro was SGD49.

If you answered ‘Yes’ to all of the above, then you might enjoy this little app called Bubbly.

Bubbly is the most popular voice social app that is just plain addictive. Share short voice updates with your friends & followers. Follow celebrities, sports stars and other popular users and hear their updates in their own authentic voice. Share your voice with the world.

It’s pretty much like Twitter, but instead of using text, you use voice messages. Like Twitter, you have a whole 3 minute (well, Twitter has a 140 char limit, hehe) to pretty much babble on about anything and everything under the sun.

You can easily share your ‘bubbles’ via Twitter and Facebook, too.

Bubbly is very easy to use and it’s available on both iOS and Android. All you have to do is 1) download the Bubbly app from iTunes or from Google Play (it’s FREE!); then…

… 2) Make a text or voice Bubble, and voila, you’re done creating your first Bubble!

I know you’re thinking that you probably have too much social network life going on, but at least give Bubbly a try!

I, for one, am using it so I can practice public speaking. Because you know, I’m painfully shy… *toink*

So if you’re planning to get Bubbly, add me up “geekgirlmanila”. (Listen to my first Bubble!)

Hope to ‘hear’ you guys in Bubbly soon!

Aside from working, watching TV shows and reading books, I decided to organize my closet to keep myself occupied!

This is our closet. We had it shipped all the way from IKEA Singapore last year. It’s so pretty! Thank goodness for frosted glass, or else you’d see the mess inside, haha.

Anyway, I was able to watch this awesome video on how to fold and organize clothes in your closet. Works very well with t-shirts, underwear and other pieces of clothing that needs to be folded.

Now this is how the inside of my closet looks like. (Sorry, wasn’t able to get a photo of the ‘BEFORE’ part, but it was really messy, haha)

I’m soooo happy. I was able to clear out an extra shelf so now I have 2 shelve spaces for my bags!

Good timing too, since the hubby bought me 2 bags from Singapore, along with other tiny, little things. Hurray!

Oh, and here’s another useful video I watched: How to Fold Jeans PROPERLY.

There are so how many ‘How to Fold’ videos in YouTube! So addicting to watch.

I’m planning to fold all the towels, kitchen towels and bedsheets next.

Ladies, I’m sure you can relate when I say I get the WORST PMS ever! Fortunately, though, I’m not talking about painful periods, but more of the uncontrollable mood swings (bursting into tears and panic attacks) and bad skin.

Unfortunate for the husband, though. *chortle*

(Anyway, moving along…)

For some time now, I’ve been having this theory that I’m hormonally imbalanced and I’ve been searching for a while for something to regulate my hormones. (I’m a hypochondriac)

Aside from mood swings, I get really bad panic attacks and get very, very anxious during the time of the month and the other time of the month (ovulation week).

I have been thinking of going to a doctor, but to be honest, I’m not too keen on taking something ‘chemical’ like hormone pills. (Yes, I’m trying to live an ‘organic’ life, haha. ‘Trying’ is the keyword.)

A friend of mine suggested that I take a look at homeopathic remedies, but there were just so many choices! And it scared me a little bit to take supplements, too, even though they are organic.

Fortunately, I came across this tea in one of my visits to Healthy Options!

Tea seems harmless enough and I’m a big tea drinker, so yay.

“Woman’s Energy is a delicious way to enhance your overall well-being and harness your feminine energy during all stages of life. Purposefully formulated to work with your body, this special formula contains Dong Quai, the queen of Chinese herbs, which has been traditionally used to support reproductive health and to help balance and ease you through your female cycles.”

The main ingredient of this tea is Dong Quai root, and after some research, here are the benefits of it: (taken from BodyEcology.com)

1. Balance estrogen levels. (Just what I need! I think)
2. Excellent blood tonic.
3. Treats iron deficiency and anemia
4. Boosts male fertility.
5. Regulates menstruation and eases cramps.
6. Helps you feel happier.
7. Enhances female fertility.
8. Increases circulation, improves your complexion, and aids detoxification to clear blemishes.
9. Treats alopecia, eczema and rosacea.

Dong Quai, however, cannot be taken in by people with the following condition:

• Women with breast cancer
• During pregnancy or while nursing
• Women with endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or cancers of the breast, ovaries or uterus
• Men with prostate cancer

Random Thoughts:
1. The tea tastes fine. Chamomile-ish with an orange after taste. I’m not a big fan of Chamomile smell and taste, but I’m willing to stomach it just so I won’t go into crazy mode every month.
2. I’ve been in a nicer mood lately (it’s supposed to be the ‘other time of the month’ for me) and I haven’t snapped at the husband ever since I started drinking the tea a week ago.
3. I’ve noticed I’m more energetic, too.
4. My nasal congestion disappeared ever since I’ve been drinking the tea. I read somewhere else that it’s a benefit of Dong Quai.
5. I feel less bloated during ‘other time of the month’.
6. This Yogi Tea is caffeine-free!
7. I like that no matter how long you steep the tea, the taste does not change. If you want a stronger tasting tea, you’ll have to use 2 bags.

I’ve been drinking the tea for almost 7 days (1-2 cups a day) and I do think it’s working, hehe. The ultimate test would be during ‘THE time of the month’ and I will be updating you, ladies, then.

But in case I have piqued your interest and you’d like to try this tea out for yourself, you can get a box of 16 sachets from Healthy Options for around P300. (Sorry forgot the exact amount.)

Yogi Tea has a LOT of other teas as well, so you might want to check them out, too.

Fortunately for me, I had the pleasure of reviewing The Dry Red No. 1, also known as the Toiletries Bag.

Front view!

Back view!

This travel goodie retails for P1,950. A bit pricey but it’s a good investment, imo!

Open up!

Extra compartments. The zippers all look very durable, as should any Crumpler product.

The inside! It’s very spacious! I could fit all my basic toiletries in here with space to spare :)

And you can hang it inside the bathroom.

And just to give you an idea of how big it is, really.

When it comes to traveling gear, I’m pretty much set. I already have a decent trolley luggage that matches my Belkin laptop backpack. What I don’t have, however, is a good toiletry bag.

My current toiletry bag is a generic-looking pouch which I bought from SM Southmall years ago. (Actually, I think I misplaced it while packing stuff when I moved out of my parent’s house…oops!)

My Belkin backpack, the white thing is my toiletry bag, and my (sister’s) trolley, during our Taiwan Trip.

I’m pretty much on the lookout for a good toiletry bag, especially now that it’s summer and I might (but unlikely, haha) go out of town for beach trips, or whatnot.

The Dry Red No. 1 is definitely a good option :)

Now meet the other members of the Dry Red Travel Collection.

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Like it? You can find the Dry Red Travel Collection at the following Crumpler branches:

• Crumpler Bonifacio Highstreet
• Crumpler Trinoma
• Crumpler Megamall
• Crumpler Robinsons Ermita