Blogger's Tablet: One Fine Day @ SM Aura

It was one of those Saturdays in June when I had to wake up earlier than usual to attend an event at DMCI Acacia in Taguig.  Hubby knows how much  I dislike driving around the city on a weekend, so for this appointment, he volunteered to be the chauffeur.  Sweet!  Hubby was also smiling at the thought that he only had to drive for about 10 minutes to SM Aura from Acacia. He wanted to visit Aura after reading about it in my blog. 

Car Park.  SM Aura has a bi-level basement parking.

Paul Boulangerie from France - franchised by Suyen Corp.  My craving for Pain Au Chocolat would soon be over.

I got 'acquainted' with Paul in Paris, then at Takashimaya in Singapore. 
I love Paul's Pain Au Chocolat.  It's one of my all-time favorites. 

Another treat!

Crème brulee!  Zesty + Rich Chocolate

Crème brulee or bunt cream:  rich custard base + layers of caramel + zesty flavor. 
Crème brulee is traditionally flavored with vanilla, but contemporary variants have emerged in the market - lemon or other citrus fruits, chocolate, cinnamon, and green tea are the more common variants. 

Shopping finds

It was a given that Hubby and I were to spend over 30 minutes in one of our favorite shops - Uniqlo! Occupying a bi-level boutique has given Uniqlo the luxury of space to showcase its staple collections and a spread of seasonal items. 

Next to Uniqlo is the first Suite Blanco boutique in Manila. Hubby and I were pleased with their collections for men and women at reasonable price points.  We also dropped by Stradivarius where I got myself a soft biker-like jacket for casual Fridays...and a matching pair of shoes from Aldo.  Love!

Hungry...again! 




BRASAS - a taste of Latin American street food @ Food on Four.  Budget: P200 - P499. 
Meowth's rating: 4/5

Restaurants (other than those offering fast food) were not yet operating at that time, so the only place for big appetite was Food on Four (4th Level). 
Food on Four presents SM's new concept in food court dining.

Sky Park, 5th Level:  One of the civic components of SM Aura.  This is open to the public. A dedicated access is provided so that the park remains accessible to the public even when the mall is closed.  The towers shown will become host to several offices, including the Taguig City Hall. 

Chillaxin' at the SM Prestige Lounge

The SM Store - A Premier Store

Hubby and I took a short break from walking at The SM Prestige Lounge. 
The Lounge is located inside The SM Store, Ground Floor Level near Cashier 3. 

We had little time left for some quick errands.  We dropped by SM Supermarket and Ace Hardware. These stores are at the Lower Ground Level.  It was not that difficult to bring the bulky items we bought from these stores to the basement parking.  Errands - check! Time to go home. 

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Another article from the Blogger's Tablet:  Love to Shop @ SM Aura BGC

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Disclaimer:  This is a personal write-up, not a paid advertisement. 

Island SPA @ Island Cove offers ELES

To those who couldn't resist a dash of colorful nail polish, this one's worth looking into. 

Island SPA @ Island Cove has recently introduced the Australian cosmetics brand - ELES. 

ELES was created under the premier skin care brand Pevonia Botanica.  Both ELES and Pevonia offer an impressive line up of cosmetics and skin care products for the more discerning market.  Island SPA highlights ELES' Masquerade Collection of nail polish. 

Before ELES:  I would usually put color on my toenails - alternating two weeks with colored polish, two weeks without. When I applied a bright or dark hue, I noticed some yellowish stains on my nails after the polish was removed. 

Though I do not have any authoritative information about cosmetics, I tend to do some research over the Web.  There are seemingly endless reviews about the harmful effects of these ingredients which may be found in nail polish:  *formaldehyde, **dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and ***toluene.  It cannot be no-nail-polish-at-all for me, so I started looking for alternatives.  ELES is one of the better brands that made a public declaration about their non-usage of the said ingredients.  When Island SPA offered ELES, I did not hesitate to give it a try. 

My take: My toenails appeared healthy after the polish was removed (Baroque Bronze).  So I went on with the second trial (Nude Contessa).  After two trials, I don't have any intention to go back to the old brand.  It's tempting to apply another lovely color this weekend, but I'm mindful about giving my toenails at least a 'two-week rest' from nail polish. Moderation won't hurt.  :)

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Book an appointment today. 
Island Spa is open daily from 10AM to 10PM; cutoff for receiving is at 9PM.  For inquiries and booking, you may dial these numbers:  +63 46 434 09 88, +63 46 434 77 78, +63 917 505 62 80.  You may also visit their website – http://www.islandcovephil.com/activities/rejuvenate/

Getting there
From Manila (private vehicle) :  Take Manila – Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX).  End of expressway, make a U-turn to Covelandia Road.  Island Cove is about 15min-drive from Mall of Asia, light traffic.
From Manila (public transport) :  From Baclaran, board a bus going to Cavite City or Naic/Maragondon taking the Island Cove route.
From Alabang (public transport) :  From Zapote, board a mini-bus or jeepney going to Cavite City or Tanza/Naic/Salinas taking the Island Cove route.

 

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Formaldehyde* - A highly toxic substance, regardless of method of intake. - Wikipedia
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)** - used in nail polish as solvent for dye and plasticizers to prevent brittleness.  The European Union classifies DBP as an endocrine disruptor.  - David Suzuki Foundation
Toluene*** - this ingredient is widely-used as solvent. It has no proven carcinogenic effect but prolonged exposure to toluene may trigger conditions like nausea, drunken-type action, and color vision loss. - Wikipedia

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Disclaimer:  I do not work for Island SPA, Island Cove, ELES, Pevonia Botanica, or any of their trade partners. This is a personal write-up.  I do not claim any authoritative information about cosmetics, its formulation and/or usage. 

Loose change for a BIG change



 

SM Hypermarket is pleased to announce the chain wide roll out of its Baryanihan project today, July 6.

SM Hypermarket, the country's biggest hypermarket* chain wishes to imbibe the bayanihan spirit by bringing its people and the community to work hand-in-hand for a worthy cause.  Derived from the combined words "barya" (coins) and "bayanihan**" (spirit of communal unity and cooperation) - Baryanihan  enjoins shoppers to donate their loose change for a local community cause. Shoppers are assured that every centavo goes a long way. A receipt is issued for every donation.

On its second year, Baryanihan focuses on education with public schools as beneficiaries. SM Hypermarket, besides initiating and facilitating this project, also made a commitment to double the amount of donation that will be raised.  

Here is an inspiring Baryanihan video produced by SM Hypermarket. 

 

Take part in this project and help your community.  Visit SM Hypermarket today. 

 

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*Hypermarket - a retail format that combines the features of a supermarket with those of a department store.

 

** Bayanihan - a Filipino word derived from the word bayan, meaning town, nation, or community in general; lit., being a bayan; it refers to a spirit of communal unity and cooperation.

Disclaimer:  This is not a paid blog article.  Meowthlovescoffee supports SM Hypermarket's Baryanihan Project.