Ibyang Sanchez, Author at Ibyang

Beauty Stash: Murad

24 August 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 0 Comments Category: Beauty Stash, Health and Well-being, Tips

I mostly write about home, food and travel but this year, I’ve made two regular features on the blog, Beauty Stash and Style Musings, because like most women I’m also fascinated with beauty and style, and both topics are essential in living a charmed life. In Beauty Stash, I share finds and tips on grooming and staying beautiful. Style Musings was formerly known as Fashion Fridays but it has evolved into sharing my thoughts on style and design. I hope you will enjoy these two features as much as I enjoy writing about them.

I have mentioned in a previous entry that it was only when I moved to Sydney that I followed a skin care regimen. While I did start putting skin care products when I was a teenager, it’s when I was 28 y/o that I stopped jumping from one product to another. It was all thanks to Murad.

Growing up, I’ve battled with acne for most of my teenage years. It comes and goes. I even had a theory before that I seem to get an attack of acne every four years. When I turned 25, the breakouts lessened but I was aware that I need to find products that will suit my skin needs, especially that I’m not getting any younger. So when I moved here, I seek professional help, had a few session of facials and went home with Murad products to maintain the health of my skin.

I exclusively used Murad (as in no other skin care product touched my skin) for three years. Their products are a bit expensive but I soldiered on because I wanted my skin to get better. It was all worth it as my skin did improve. I still have acne scars but at least my skin texture has improved, it is less sensitive and it’s not as oily as it used to be.

Murad Products I’ve Used:

Refreshing Cleanser. A gentle but thorough cleanser. It’s perfect for my sensitive skin. I feel like I’m washing my face with milk. It also keeps the skin hydrated.

Skin Perfecting Lotion. One of the best moisturisers I’ve used so far. It’s very light but my skin stays hydrated during the day. Perfect for daytime use and when indoors.

Perfecting Day Cream with SPF30. Similar to what I felt with the Skin Perfecting Lotion but only this has SPF. Moisturiser and sunblock in 1. After learning that it’s a must to put on sunblock ALWAYS, I switched to this.

Perfecting Night Cream. Moisturiser for night time.

Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer SPF 15. One of the moisturisers from Murad that I used just because I got tired of the Skin Perfecting Lotion. Great for daytime as this has SPF15. I love wearing this during summer as it has cooling effects on the skin. This is also best for combination skin as it keeps the Tzone and dry zone areas of your face balanced.

Essential C-Cleanser. The last cleanser I used from Murad. This didn’t sit well with me as I noticed it gave me a pimple of two after I use it. Although it felt light and mild, I don’t know why it didn’t work well with my skin.

If you noticed from the products mentioned, when I acquired my Murad skin regimen, I basically did two steps: cleanse and moisturise. While it is common that toning is part of skin care, I was told by professionals that it is not necessary. And it worked for me. I’m grateful that their advice saved me time and money.

I have stopped using Murad for sometime now. While I can afford their products and a few drops is all it takes to get you skin cleaned and moisturised (a tube it last loooong time), I find it a bit expensive. Murad has given me better skin and now I’m able to use other products without being prone to pimples.

Based from my experience, I’d highly recommend Murad for those who have sensitive and problematic skin. Ask a professional about Murad before making the switch.

Food Tripping in Chatswood

23 August 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 2 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Cherished Memories, Food, Restaurants

I’m slowly going back to old photos on my hard drive. I have so much to share and one day I hope I get to put everything on the blog even if it some events happened ages ago (hello, Philippines, Melbourne and Gold Coast vaycays 2011!! LOL). I vow to do that because I’m blogging firstly for me and my family–I want to immortalize everything that makes my everyday memorable thru photography and writing.

For now, I’m focused on publishing the times we spent with my Mom when she vacationed here last Autumn Her travel was a food and shopping experience because that’s all we ever did whenever we go out. The sequence of events are usually like this: we arrive at the place, have a look around, find a place to eat, sit down and have a meal, walk off what we ate by shopping, sit down to rest and eat, walk and shop again, sit down to rest and eat again, do a bit of walking before finally going home. It’s just a cycle. My Mom and I (and also my Dad) are best buddies when it comes to eating and shopping so it’s always enjoyable to hang out with her.

We spent a whole day in Chatswood because it’s one of the places in Sydney Metro that we both enjoy eating and shopping. It’s been years since she’d been here and it amazed her that the place changed with more food and shopping establishments.

We slept in and arrived for late lunch at Towon Chinese Restaurant (Shop 214, Level 2 of Westfield Shopping Centre, Chatswood). I had the Sweet and Sour Pork Bento while Mom had her favourite Chicken Omelette. Huge servings for deliciously prepared meals with reasonable prices.

We started shopping inside Westfield right after lunch and only stopped for coffee at Oliver Brown Chocolate Cafe (Shop 212, Level 2 of Westfield Shopping Centre, Chatswood). We still felt full from lunch so we only had chocolates.

After coffee, we set out to Chatswood Chase and shops along Victoria Avenue for more shopping. By early evening, we got tired from all the walking so sat down at ZenQ Desserts (Shop 223, Westfield Shopping Centre, Chatswood) for a dessert dinner. Since we were full from lunch and afternoon tea, we decided to bail on real dinner and have dessert instead. We shared a bowl of Mango Shaved Ice with Mango, Mango Jelly and Ice Cream and this huge Honey Toast.

Honey Toast is made of strips of bread coated in butter and icing sugar, placed creatively inside half a loaf of bread. The bread is perfectly toasted that each bite is crunchy. Our Honey Toast came with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, strawberries and cream. It was sweet, delicious and filling.

We visited Chatswood on a Thursday so we can also explore the Mall Market in Victoria Avenue and Anderson Street. The market consists of food; home & gardening; art & design and clothing & accessories stalls. During the evening, entertainment is also provided by the council.

After our dessert dinner at ZenQ, we had a little food trip at the Mall Market. I finally got to try Mamak, one of Sydney’s best eats. The Husband got me their Roti Canai, crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside. It was sooooo good and comforting, I want to bring it with me to bed (haha). I enjoyed dipping it in curry and spicy sambal sauce.

And because I ate most of the Roti Canai, the Husband and Mom got themselves some Takoyaki from Colotako. If you want an array of sumptuous Takoyaki, get it from Colotako as they are the masters in making Takoyaki.

When we’re all stuffed from all the food we ate at the market we had one final stop–Daiso (inside Mandarin Centre, 65 Albert Avenue Chatswood), where we shopped some more.

It’s Nice To Be Someone Else’ +1

21 August 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Charmed Life of a Mrs, Deep Thoughts

Isn’t it nice to be someone else’s +1? And even more wonderful if that someone is a person other than your partner or spouse.

I’m not saying I don’t jump for joy at the thought that I’m my Husband’s +1. But you gotta admit that when you’re taken or married, there’s really not much surprise there. I will always be grateful that being married entails I’m secured for life that I’m my Husband’s +1 and he mine but what I’m talking about here is that it’s nice to have friends who consider you as their +1 (other than their partner) too.

At this time and age, it’s not easy to maintain friendships. Time spent with people is an investment and it is something that you can never take back. Time spent with loved ones will forever be in the bank of our memories.

I’ve been fortunate enough that I have girlfriends who will go out of their way just to spend time with me. It is always a blessing to know that a friend of mine will invite me for coffee or tea because she has a +1 invite. It may be a small gesture but it is one of the sweetest things that make my heart tender.

Flavours of the Philippines at Grace Hotel

20 August 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 5 Comments Category: Ang Kalatas, Food, Restaurants

Once again, we had a wonderful gastronomical experience at the Grace Hotel as they brought the Philippines’ most famous dishes to Sydney. For three weeks, Via Mare Chefs Rodito Dimatera, Benjamin Zabala and Leandro Templonuevo cooked up a feast for Sydneysiders to enjoy. True to its theme “Flavours of Philippines”, they made sure that each dish represented a part of the Filipino culture.

My Husband and I were privileged to experience the exquisite works of art of our Filipino Chefs when we dined in on a Friday night. San Miguel Beer and Coconut Juice were especially served to partner with our beloved dishes from the Philippines.

From the appetizers to desserts, everything was done by the chefs. We started with the Sinigang na Hiponthat warmed and fascinated us with it’s perfect tamarind sour taste and un-shelled shrimps ready for eating.

The salad section was abundant and one that truly wets the appetite: crispy Bagnet Salad with shrimp sauce, Green Mango Salad with Crab Meat, Salted Egg Salad, Lumpiang Sariwa and Chicken Galantina.

The hot dishes that did not disappoint as one had so many to choose from. The famous Pancit was a good partner to the freshly-baked Pandesal and Lumpiang Prito. The Chicken Adobo was more flavourful than ever because it was topped with Mozarella Cheese (Who would have thought? I will definitely do this when I cook my Adobo at home). The most tender and saucy Kalderata and perfectly grilled Pork Ribs were indulgent when paired with pillowy steamed rice. And the star of the buffet, Crispy Pork Belly, was everything crispy and crunchy. Sinful and yet worth the calories and cholesterol.

Laden with mouthwatering treats at the dessert section, we found Leche Flan, Maja Blanca, Cassava Balls and Palitaw. They also lined up the ingredients for making your own Halo-Halo which was a brilliant idea.

We arrived early at Grace Hotel and had a bit of a chat with all the chefs. It was wonderful to meet them and learn about their cooking experience in Sydney. They talked about the dishes they cooked and how they prepared some of them. Most of their time was spent inside the kitchen as they were the only ones who cooked all the dishes but they gladly go out of the kitchen once in a while to say hello to customers. I was mighty proud to hear how hardworking and how pleasant they are in spite being busy.

Grace Hotel set up the perfect ambience for this event as their staff were accommodating, parallel to the Filipinos’ hospitality. While we enjoyed the food, we can hear OPM songs being played. For a few hours of enjoying good quality Filipino, it felt like we were home.

The Flavours of the Philippines at Grace Hotel is ongoing until 26 August. Please check http://www.gracehotel.com.au/ for details and reservations.