Showing posts with label Pampering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pampering. Show all posts

6.30.2012

Pamper Day Saturday

It's a rainy weekend and as much as we wanted to stay in, my mom and I had to go out and take care of some errands. A few days ago, I was given a gift certificate for a free signature foot spa. Special thanks to Ms. Jane, the owner of Polish and Strip here in Santa Rosa. I've been a happy customer and I keep coming back to avail of their services. My recommendations must have paid off! Check out my review on the place HERE. Anyway, I went back to avail of my free service. Wee!

I cannot emphasize enough how badly I needed a foot spa done by an actual trained technician. Even though I try to do things on my own, even my own foot spa, but there are some things that an amateur like me just can't seem to do! So, yes. Hence my second trip to the nail salon for the second week this time. 


After the warm foot soak, my feet were immersed in this massaging bubbly machine thingamajig. LOL. It's a little ticklish but who doesn't rejoice at the sight of bubbles? I know I do!

Ms. Sarah, my attendant worked on one foot at a time.
While the foot bubble soak thing was going on, Ms. Sarah massaged my arms and hands. I felt like succumbing to exhaustion. This week has been physically demanding and unbelievably hectic! I needed all this goodness and more. What a way to treat my body and my senses!

Then came the labor-intensive kaskas portion. After removing the calluses with her sandpaper paddle and the grater thing, I was asked to choose between green tea and peppermint foot scrub. I chose the latter. ;)

After the scrub, a foot mask was applied on to my footsies! It was soooo cold and quite rejuvenating. Then came the plastic cling wrap and warm towel. Can you feel the pampering now?


I drifted off in between these shots. It was such a relaxing experience. I cannot even begin to tell you. I think you have to try it out for yourself. ;) I feel recharged and ready to go! All set for the busy weeks up ahead!

After the entire pamper sesh, Mom and I went to Nuvali for milk tea (Serenitea) and Krispy Kremes! We even saw Chito Miranda and his beau. 

If not for the 45-minute drive back home (on normal days, it only takes 5 minutes to get from there and back or vice-versa), the day would have been perfect! 

I still haven't started editing my presentations for my teaching demo (part 2). I feel so lazy and sluggish because of the gloomy bed weather! Kids, procrastination is never a good idea. I promise to work on it tomorrow! No more excuses! :))

How did your Saturday go? :)

Love,
SGT <3

4.11.2012

Hot Fuss: Luxe Nail Lounge

Before we sped off to Zambales, I made sure to pamper myself in preparation for the week ahead. I haven't had my nails done in about 4 weeks now and they're starting to look a little ugly. Good thing there's Luxe Nail Lounge in the Lower Level East Lane of Robinson's Galleria in Ortigas. It's not my first time going to Luxe and it's definitely worth coming back to! They really live up to their name. 

I have issues when it comes to getting a mani-pedi. I have to be able to trust the technician as well as the salon to keep me coming back for another session, and Luxe really made sure I was comfortable and the service was up to my standards. I was asked if I wanted to cut the sides of my nails, what shape do I want them to take, what color of nail polish I would like to get, and so on.

Check out their price points and luxurious services:


I got the Express Manicure and Basic Pedicure. The express manicure only entailed cleaning and shaping/buffing. The basic pedicure featured a soak, a massage, cleaning/shaping/buffing, and painting. They use high-end nail polish and see to it that customers are treated with the utmost care and service. It's best to come in after a tiring work or school day, either alone or with a friend, and just totally kick back and let the staff take care of all your pampering needs. 

Their price points aren't half-bad, really. For the great service, paying 200+ for a pedicure sure is worth it! You can opt to avail of their other services too! 

Bubble, bubble. :3
They use sanitized sets for each customer.
Pardon my un-kept toe nails! I just had to show you a "before" picture. :P
Finally! All clean, shaped, buffed, and has a fresh coat of paint.
(I chose a yellow O.P.I. nail polish. I'm feeling the summery vibe!)
Cool machine! It was used to dry the top layer of my nail
Clean fingernails! All set for my summer escapade!
They have a wiiiide variety of available shades and brands of nail polish.
I think they have Orly, O.P.I. Essie, Revlon, China Glaze, and so much more!
Check out their interiors! I think we can all agree that this place is tres chic!

They have a lot of magazines you can go through while
you get pampered!
I love this fringe-like curtain of theirs!
They can also do nail art!
The friendly staff who patiently attended to my every question and request. ;)
The view from outside.
I had such a grand time at Luxe Nail Lounge. You can check them out in Robinson's Galleria, it's right in front of the NBI Clearance Center. It's worth the splurge for every working (or even a student) on a budget. By the time you step out of their fringe curtain door, you'll feel like a princess, all rejuvenated and ready to go! I recommend you give Luxe a shot! :)

Love,
SGT <3

3.22.2012

Weekday Warriors

Happy rainy Thursday, everyone! On days like these, staying at home and enjoying the comforts of your bed with a good book in hand and a warm cup of tea sounds like the perfect idea, right? Well, since I have all day to kick it back and take it easy, I might as well share with you my whereabouts yesterday. My best friend and I decided to hang out in Nuvali (which is about 15 minutes away from my house).

All photos were taken with my new baby, Bunny. She's a day-old Sony Cybershot S5000 in rosy pink. :)

Because Serenitea was too crowded, we decided to give Bo's Coffee a shot.
I ordered my standard - an Iced White Chocolate Mocha. Yummy!
Chammy got a chocolate chip frappe. She says it's very good too!
We both ate bread from Breadtalk
Simple days like these call for a no-fuss look. :)
Cool lamps!

There weren't a lot of people there so we decided to settle in. :)
Not-so-affordable bread but very delicious indeed!
Chammy models her iPod Touch. :P
That's me, 48019817839298 pounds heavier from all the
eating and chilling out I've been doing.
Macho says hello! :)
We moved to Solenad to explore dining options. We ended up getting pampered at Indulgence Day Spa, just below the Convergys  building. They're open from Monday to Sunday. If you're in Nuvali, make sure to drop by for some much-needed relaxation and stress-relief. Contact (049) 502-5885 / (049)576-7328 / 0917-892-2882 / 0908-886-7328 and look for Joel for inquiries and reservations.

They have an interesting Southeast Asian vibe.
Chammy inquires about their services.
Namaste. :)

Very homey.

Goofing off before the treatment started.
Brrt-brrt-brrt! We availed of the foot spa service. 'Twas very refreshing
and relaxing indeed!
Happy customers!
We hopped on to Paseo for dinner at Kenny Rogers Roasters. (broke my vegetarian pact again, ugh!)
Meals fit for two mad hungry girls!
Sending you all the good vibes all the way from Santa Rosa! :)

Love,
SGT <3

3.01.2012

Hot Fuss: Polish and Strip

Nail salons are sprouting up anywhere and everywhere. The market is hotter than ever. More and more women  find time to pamper themselves after a hard day's work. If you're one of them and you don't have the time to travel all the way to Manila (especially for Southside girls like myself), there's one in Santa Rosa City (hometown, baby! Represent!) that you'll definitely want to check out. You'll not only save up on gas and toll fees, but you'll also save a lot because of their super budget-friendly prices.

I'm talking about Polish & Strip. It's a quaint little place just outside the South Hampton Village in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. It's actually very accessible if you're coming in from anywhere in Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, or Binan. You can find it along the RSBS Road (at least I think that's what it's called), just before reaching Enchanted Kingdom (if you don't know where it is, you're probably screwed, kidding!). Anyway, here's a quick tutorial on how to get there:

  • Take the Santa Rosa exit (if you must take the SLEX)
  • If you're coming from Manila (southbound), upon exit from the toll gate, take a right. Going left means you're headed for Paseo, Nuvali, and eventually Tagaytay.
  • If you're coming from Calamba / Batangas (northbound), upon exit from the toll gate, take a right. 
  • Just go straight. When you reach Waltermart, turn right (going to Enchanted Kingdom), then, just go straight.
  • Polish & Strip is on the right side of the road, just before you reach EK. There are lots of parking spaces just outside the salon so you won't have to worry about parking. If you're commuting, tricycles in Waltermart can take you there. Just tell the driver to drop you off at South Hampton.

The first thing I noticed, the exterior of the salon is very simple, quite unassuming, unlike other nail salons that really welcome their clients with color and decor. I've been wanting to try out their services, I just never found the time to do it. See, I'm quite keen on having my nails done. Over the years, I've had bad experiences with salons and nail technicians that have either murderers in their middle name or charge way too much for their services. I can assure you, She Goes Thrifty is always in the look-out for great deals and magnificent services that will surely fit your budget (and mine too!). Besides, who can afford to pay for a 1000-peso mani/pedi when you can have basically the same thing done (probably even better!) for less than Php 300? Other nail salons even have hidden surcharges when you choose high-end nail polish for your digits; some even fail to observe excellence in their services despite their sky-high prices. That's why Polish & Strip impressed me in more ways than I initially expected.

Photo borrowed from their Facebook fan page.

Now that's done, let's move on to the good part - the review!


Finally, I found the chance to swing by this newly-opened nail salon. According to the owner, they just turned 1 month old. It's right outside our village, so that's definitely a plus. I won't have to drive far and long to have my nails done. They're basically right outside our door step!

Anyway, I noticed as soon as I stepped in the salon, that they really maxed out on colors! The first thing that caught my eye was this chandelier. (Please pardon the not-so-good quality of the pictures. I took these with my Blackberry phone cam)

Pink is the new pink! Every girl has got to love pink one way or another. :)
This chandelier made me want to feel pretty and pampered. Teehee!
What'd I tell you about the colors? Lounge seating for everyone!
You'll definitely feel like a princess.

That's the owner (forgot to ask her name) in the reception booth.
She was very nice, accommodating, and pretty, too!
There are lots of colors to choose from!
Paint your digits all you want. Polish & Strip uses only Orly nail polish, even the top and base coats, sans the extra charge. Your mani/pedi will definitely last longer and won't chip in two days. That's value for money right there.

A close-up on the lounge seats.
There's really something for everyone!
Go crazy! With so much to choose from, you'll want to come back regularly for touch-ups
or for color change!

I'm digging the mint green wall. Definitely soothes and calms nerves.
Girly art. It's so perky, this place!
In addition to the signature nail treatment that I availed, I got a hand and foot massage, plus this wrap that's really relaxing. Yup, you got it. All that for only Php 300 (~ $7)! Their staff is very friendly and courteous. I remember Ate Chel (my therapist) said "Excuse me." more times than I can remember. But really, the service is great.

My first time for a warm wrap. They also did it to my hands. There's also a soak and a massage.
You're not only getting cleaner and well-kept nails, you're also getting the complete
pampering experience! Please pardon my man-like muscular legs.
Love, love, love my hot pink nails... and for my toesies, a pale pink color. :)
They're open from 9 AM to 9PM. Aside from their Signature Mani-Pedi, they also offer services such as:

  • MAN-cure (for male clients)
  • Petit Treatment (for the kiddos!)
  • Signature Foot Spa/Scrub
  • Foot Reflexology
  • Hand Spa (optional: with paraffin treatment)
  • Nail Art
  • Waxing
  • Eyelash Perming
  • And so much more!
For more information and for reservations, you can go to their Facebook page (just click on the links above) or you can contact 0933-9861731 or 0928-9454394.

Despite their newbie status in the field of nail care, I am very much a satisfied customer. I'll definitely recommend this place for its quality and affordable pampering. If you happen to live in or near Santa Rosa, do drop by Polish & Strip. I assure you, you will feel beautiful, invigorated, refreshed, and ready more than ever to take on the world. You're a woman who's polished and ready to strip down every worry that hinders you from achieving your stellar potential!

Love,
SGT <3