Femme Power

Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category

Photo by MBT Shoes

Improper footwear can cause foot problems such as painful heels, blisters, swelling, callouses, cramps, and other foot-and-nail horrors you can imagine.  That’s why no matter how crazy I am over shoes, I don’t limit my preferences to shoe designs, colors, and even materials.  Comfort is at the top of my list in choosing a new pair of shoes.

Improper footwear could mean either ill-fitting, or not enough heel support, thin soles, or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. And uncomfortable shoes are just so good in ruining your day.  They ruin your posture, your mood, even your health.

MBT Shoes are designed with the fusion of comfort and advanced technology to create a feeling of relaxed stride and thus positively affecting one’s posture and health.  It makes walking a healthy and stress-free experience with its multi-layered, curved sole support for better shock absorption. MBT stands for “Masai Barefoot Technology” and its designs are inspired to make you feel as if you’re walking in sand.

Photo by Beautifeel Shoes

And even wearing high-heeled shoes need not be painful and uncomfortable.  Beautifeel Shoes are a combination of beauty and comfort, with quality materials that last. They have designs that can be worn in any occasion especially in your business or casual get-ups.

Sure, there are a lot of shoes out there to choose from but would you sacrifice comfort for design?  Why would you when you can have both?

This post is brought to you by: walkingonacloud.com

Motherhood is not a walk in the park but if you need to take a walk with your little one, get a pram.  Bonding with baby is one of the greatest joys of motherhood that every mom wants to cherish.  While carrying the baby in your arms is a good thing, it could be stressful after a long time.  Especially when you’re taking a long walk.

photo by shopwiki.co.uk

Choose a pram or stroller that best suits you and your baby’s needs.   There are lightweight and umbrella prams good for tots who can already support their neck.  These are easy to pack when you travel and are best for malling and street walking.   Full-featured prams are the most common, are durable, and they have ample room for lots of baby gear.  Travel prams are suitable for kids of all ages and they come with a removable carrier which can also be used as a car seat.

Baby cribs are also essential when you have a baby.  Babies spend a lot of time in cribs because they sleep for long hours so choose a crib that’s comfortable, safe and of good quality.

photo by shopwiki.co.uk

And it wouldn’t be complete without having a playmat or gym to stimulate baby’s mind during playtime. I found some adorable playmats that are colorful, soft, washable, and safe for the little ones.   You can actually find a complete line of baby’s needs in one website, shopwiki.co.uk.

Your bundle of joy will surely enjoy every minute of your bonding time together.

So it’s been a stressful day or week or month and you feel like you’re about to blow.  We all get stressed and burned out from the daily grind.  We get pressures from work, home, school, business or personal stuff. Good thing is, we have ample ways to de-stress ourselves and lift our spirits so we’d feel recharged again.

These simple activities (or inactivity?) have been pretty effective in helping me release stress: 1. Getting enough sleep and rest  2. Reading a good book  3. Cuddling and playing with my daughter  4. Listening to music   5. Watching a feel-good movie  6. Enjoying fun videos on YouTube  7. Dropping cards on Entrecard (yeah, it helps sometimes, lol)  8. Submitting to my food cravings 9. Malling and 10. Shopping!

Chunky Heel Shoes for $49 @ shopwiki.com

Shopping therapy never fails to rev me up especially when I get the items that I want and NEED at very reasonable prices.  This week’s been a little rough for me so I’m taking some “Me Time” by feasting my eyes on fabulous accessories for men and women at ShopWiki.com.

My adrenalin came rushing when I saw their wide array of shoes and bags, most of them cost less than a hundred dollars.  These pretty things I call my bestfriends.

I was also glad to find some buying guides for women as well as figure-flattering clothes that suit one’s body type (petite, curvy, pear shaped, curve-free, and top heavy).  It’s important for us to know what sort of styles, colors, cuts, or prints would suit us best before plunging into a shopping spree or else we’ll end up with so much clutter in the wardrobe yet nothing to wear.

Generally, I shop for clothes that best define my personality.  Clothes that I can give justice to when I wear them and are appropriate for the occasion or activity.

So, time to start my shopping therapy now and release this stress.  Here I come, ShopWiki.

I’m a self-confessed penny-pinching momma who incessantly look for every possible way to get the best deals in shopping so I could stash some savings into my bank account.   Although occasionally I’m guilty of buying bags and shoes that are more than necessary, I make it a point that I buy them at the best possible price (if it’s any consolation, lol).

I normally wait for sale events before I buy clothes, home accessories, appliances, and the likes.  But other than that, I love collecting and using coupons for items that I truly need. I don’t use every coupon that comes my way but I only choose the coupons that I truly need. Otherwise, I couldn’t call it smart spending. Other than using them for shopping, I also use coupons in dining out, or even in skincare clinics.

And just when I thought I could never save on vitamins and medication, I was glad to find a helpful list of drugstore.com coupons that offer either discounts, free shipping, or freebies with purchase.   Since news on AH1N1 broke out, I’ve been looking for ways to boost the family’s immune system.   Apart from healthy diet and equally healthy lifestyle, I believe food supplements would truly help us put up a fight against the flu or almost any illness.    And if I could actually save on these, why wouldn’t I?

If you sum up all your accumulated savings out of different coupons in a year, it’s surprisingly huge.

A reliable buy-and-sell website is fast gaining popularity here in the Philippines - www.AyosDito.ph, your marketplace in the Philippines.  It’s a credible website where buyers and sellers all over the archipelago meet. I chanced upon this site sometime last month when I was looking for a second-hand original cellphone.  There were plenty of good items for sale but I was really fixated over a Sony Ericsson P990i that was being sold for P6,500 complete with its original accessories and box with manual.  Unfortunately I lost it to another buyer who was quicker than me by a few minutes.   The one I finally snatched was a Nokia 6680 which I got for only P3,500.  So far, I’m more than happy with it.  It works like brand new, with no defects whatsoever.

AyosDito.ph is pretty easy to navigate because featured items and services are segregated per region/area and per category.   Whether you’re looking for vehicles, properties, electronics, or home and personal Items (brand new or otherwise), you have several options here.  This time, I’m searching for some really nice swimwear.

Here’s a tip from AyosDito.ph: “Never pay in advance to a seller you don’t know.”  There are sellers who go for bank-to-bank transactions and PayPal but it’s best to inspect the item thoroughly first before you make any payments.   Contact the advertiser and set schedule to meet at the most convenient place and time for the both of you.  If you feel that the actual item isn’t worth it, then follow your instincts.   Be prudent in scrutinizing the item you’re about to buy knowing that no warranty is given (I’m not sure if there are actually sellers who issue warranty here but if there are, then so much the better!) unlike when you purchase in a regular store or shopping outlet.  Be meticulous and cautious in choosing and buying.  Bear in mind that you have plenty of options around this site.  That’s why I’m getting so hooked with it, I browse it often.

And if you also have something good to sell, this site would be perfect for product exposure.

Check out the site for awesome finds and steal deals. Have fun browsing!

Dr. Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili in a billboard photo for Belo Medical Clinic

(Note: I originally posted this on my other blog, Femme.News.Views, and I couldn’t help but reblog it here to reach more readers.)

It’s all over the internet, it’s even being sold in Quiapo. Clearly, the much-publicized and talked-about Dr. Hayden Kho’s sex video with sexy actress Katrina Halili has spread like wildfire. People who can’t control their curiosity are taking the effort to search for the video online, or pass it around from cellphone to cellphone, or even buy DVD copies of which in Quiapo and lately in Cebu City.

Everything has totally gone out of hand.

What is Voyeurism?

Wikipedia defines voyeurism as “the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature.”

Are laws already in place against cyber voyeurism here in the Philippines? The lawmakers say not yet but other laws on violence against women can be used in the meantime to combat these cyber exploits. According to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Obscene Exhibition and Grave Scandal may be used to prosecute Kho in this case but added that these are not specific on cyber crimes.

In a TV interview over GMA 7, Senator Santiago said she has passed a Bill on Cybernet Peeking but is yet to go on a third reading. If passed into law, it would punish violators from one to five years of imprisonment and P10,000-P50,000 fine. Santiago’s 2-page Bill on Cybernet Peeking specifies two crimes: 1) capturing on photos and/or videos the sexual act without the partner’s consent and 2) broadcasting these publicly without the consent of the aggrieved party (even if he/she consented to record the act for private viewing).

The lower house of Congress has a counterpart Bill called Anti-Video Voyeurism Act authored by Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella.

Erik Chua: The man who uploaded the videos?

Dr. hayden Kho and Erik Chua (inset)

Yesterday, Erik Johnson Chua, the primary suspect in uploading the compilation of videos on the internet, denied the allegations hurled against him. He claimed no participation in the proliferation of the said videos. Chua, a businessman, is believed to be one of the four persons who knew about the videos. The other two who were privy to the videos are famous cosmetics surgeon Dr. Vicky Belo (Kho’s former girlfriend) and another common friend known only as Bistek Rosario. Chua was a close friend of Kho but the two had a falling out for reasons that Kho allegedly triggered. There are said to be about 40 different sex videos of Kho with various unwitting women but Halili’s is the most controversial (Halili being a famous actress and twice voted by FHM as the Pihilippines’ sexiest woman in 2006 and 2007).

Squid tactics and alibis

In a desperate move to justify Kho’s actions, Kho’s camp issued a statement that the videos were taken when the doctor was in drugs, a few months before he took treatments (So, they’re blaming drugs now). Yesterday, Kho’s mother alleged that it was Katrina Halili who introduced and supplied (prohibited) drugs to her son (Ooh, so now they’re blaming the victim). Remind me again, Hayden Kho is a professional doctor, right? Would you believe a doctor would be dissuaded by a 23-year old woman to ruin his health AND life by taking drugs? I wouldn’t.  But okay, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. He may have been gullible enough to be prodded to use drugs. But is it not that he should take full responsibility for his actions?

So, okay, Kho’s camp is implying that the doctor was not in his proper state of mind when these recordings happened. Will this declaration justify his actions? No. Sen. Miriam Santiago laughed and said it will be an aggravating circumstance to Hayden’s case. Wrong move!

Senate Probe

The Senate is scheduled to conduct its investigation on the matter this Thursday, May 28. The
Senate inquiry was fueled by Sen. Bong Revilla’s privilege speech “A Doctor’s Perversity” in which he lambasted Kho for videotaping his sexual encounters with various women, including Katrina Halili, without their knowledge and consent. Katrina earlier sought the help of Sen. Revilla shortly after the videos were made public.

The spreading of the video on the internet has prompted the Senate to look into the country’s lack of cyber laws. Women’s rights activists have rallied behind Halili and condemn cyber exploitation of women.

This latest surge of cyber voyeurism is not the first in the Philippines. A lot of nameless women have fallen victims to this kind of exploitation in the past but sadly, our lawmakers just sat on it for years. Some victims were forced to migrate out of the country, some almost took their own lives, many of them were ruined and separated from their families. All of them scarred forever.

What’s keeping these products-of-sick-minds going is, admit it or not, the Filipinos’ curiosity over sex scandals. DVD pirates won’t keep on selling these scandal videos if there are no demands. How many of your friends have seen a sex scandal in the past, if not this one involving Katrina and Hayden? How many people you know have asked about Katrina’s video, searched it on the net and viewed it? How many are still curious to watch it?

Watching the video and sharing it with others only add up to the victims’ anxiety and anguish. It won’t do anything to close the case under the rule of law unless you’re part of the prosecution, the defense, or if you’re the judge handling the case. It will only quench one’s curiosity. But then what?  Isn’t it that we’re actually patronizing these sick videos by watching and spreading them?  We’re feasting on the victims’ disgrace.

If the victim happened to be our sister or a close friend or relative, how would we feel seeing the video being circulated and viewed by other people over and over?  All I’m saying is that our curiosity is the one fuelling the spread of this video and all the other video scandals released in pirated DVD’s and the internet.

We now have established the presence of this video between Katrina and Hayden.  What good will it do now to watch it and more so, spread it?  Why not leave the case to the courts and to our lawmakers to finally pass a solid law against cyber crimes and bring justice where justice is due?

If there’s a demand, there will be supply.

DVD copies have reportedly reached Cebu Cityand are being sold by video pirates discreetly for fear of police crackdown. Same thing is happening in Quiapo after police raided DVD stalls last week. The discs, which were sold at P60 each in Quiapo, has increased to P150-200 per copy after the raid.

If there’s any good thing that this Hayden-Katrina video scandal is doing, it is that our lawmakers have been ignited to act on our cyber law (or the lack of it). This will hopefully eradicate cyber voyeurism and protect our women from falling prey to these crimes again. Enough is enough.

Hey, this is a perfect opportunity for our politicians who want to score some ”pogi” points for the 2010 elections. But that’s another story.

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A lot of women love to accessorize themselves especially when their getup needs some prepping up.  I myself leave it to my accessories when my dress is too plain and dull.   A set of fine jewelry will make a big difference to a boring outfit.   Happens to me all the time.   But should I spend so much?  I might as well get discounts on the jewels that I’d love to buy, save hundreds of dollars on my purchases and get the best value for my money.

This post is brought to you by PricePickle.com.