Big Blog Exchange Do It Yourself

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The Style Mermaid by Kisty Mea • Who’s a Big Blog Exchange Winner? I would like to apologize if it took me a while to write about this. The last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of events and I had a hard time writing down my thoughts in a coherent manner. Everything was all jumbled up inside my head. I am pleased to announce, in case you still didn’t know, I was chosen to be one of the lucky bloggers for the Big Blog Exchange!!!! *insert parade music* And can guess where I’ll be going? I’ll give you a clue: The Beatles, One Direction, Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. Or just see the photo above (Big Ben is a dead giveaway).  UNITED KINGDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wasn’t expecting this, ok. Prior to the live draw, I was pretty much set to any country but United Kingdom, particularly London, has always been on the top spot of my travel bucket list.  So, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who took the time to vote for me, and to even share my entry to your friends and family. <3! I am truly blessed to have a very supporting set of family, friends, loved ones, and most of all, wonderful Style Mermaid readers/followers. You guys are so awesome! *GROUP HUG* Truth is, I almost slot my slot because of some misunderstanding from both parties. And I am incredibly thankful that God, the Universe and even to the Force for helping me out make this possible. Aside from your votes and support, I still couldn’t have done it without any omnipotent support, and I hope that you and the Higher Being will continue to support me until the very end. Last but not the least, I would like to thank the Big Blog Exchange organizers and jury, specially to Scarlett Dixon and Brianda Lopez, for making this all possible. You guys have no idea how much this opportunity means to me and I am really, really thankful that you’ve reconsidered me. <3 THE EXCHANGED BLOGGED I would also like to introduce the blogger who will be handling my blog during the exchange. I think it’s such an honored to exchange blogs with Sophie Roberts because I really admire her outlook in life. Her blog is called Challenge Sophie and that’s where she documents her adventures in taking on new challenges and achieving new goals.  BUT PLEASE PRAY FOR ME I am one step closer to realize a lifelong dream but it’s too early to celebrate and be all-out excited about it since I still don’t have my UK  VISA. My VISA is currently being processed and it will take 3 weeks for results to come out. Although everything will be sponsored, it doesn’t automatically mean that I will be approved. There is still that annoying but realistically speaking 1% to consider.  We’ve all done our part and now, it’s up to the British Embassy to decide whether or not I should go to UK. We’ve all put so much effort in this competition. So please, please, please pray that my application will be approved and may the odds be ever in my favour. Thank you. (Photo by Letícia Cruxen)

Who’s a Big Blog Exchange Winner?

I would like to apologize if it took me a while to write about this. The last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of events and I had a hard time writing down my thoughts in a coherent manner. Everything was all jumbled up inside my head.

I am pleased to announce, in case you still didn’t know, I was chosen to be one of the lucky bloggers for the Big Blog Exchange!!!! *insert parade music* And can guess where I’ll be going? I’ll give you a clue: The Beatles, One Direction, Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. Or just see the photo above (Big Ben is a dead giveaway). 

UNITED KINGDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn’t expecting this, ok. Prior to the live draw, I was pretty much set to any country but United Kingdom, particularly London, has always been on the top spot of my travel bucket list. 

So, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who took the time to vote for me, and to even share my entry to your friends and family. <3! I am truly blessed to have a very supporting set of family, friends, loved ones, and most of all, wonderful Style Mermaid readers/followers. You guys are so awesome! *GROUP HUG*

Truth is, I almost slot my slot because of some misunderstanding from both parties. And I am incredibly thankful that God, the Universe and even to the Force for helping me out make this possible. Aside from your votes and support, I still couldn’t have done it without any omnipotent support, and I hope that you and the Higher Being will continue to support me until the very end.

Last but not the least, I would like to thank the Big Blog Exchange organizers and jury, specially to Scarlett Dixon and Brianda Lopez, for making this all possible. You guys have no idea how much this opportunity means to me and I am really, really thankful that you’ve reconsidered me. <3

THE EXCHANGED BLOGGED

I would also like to introduce the blogger who will be handling my blog during the exchange. I think it’s such an honored to exchange blogs with Sophie Roberts because I really admire her outlook in life. Her blog is called Challenge Sophie and that’s where she documents her adventures in taking on new challenges and achieving new goals. 

BUT PLEASE PRAY FOR ME

I am one step closer to realize a lifelong dream but it’s too early to celebrate and be all-out excited about it since I still don’t have my UK  VISA. My VISA is currently being processed and it will take 3 weeks for results to come out. Although everything will be sponsored, it doesn’t automatically mean that I will be approved. There is still that annoying but realistically speaking 1% to consider. 

We’ve all done our part and now, it’s up to the British Embassy to decide whether or not I should go to UK. We’ve all put so much effort in this competition. So please, please, please pray that my application will be approved and may the odds be ever in my favour. Thank you.

(Photo by Letícia Cruxen)

The Style Mermaid by Kisty Mea • Meet The Tastemakers Everyone, I&#8217;d like to introduce to you this wonderful online shop called Taste Central, a retail partner of the famous deal sites, Deal Grocer. The people behind Taste Central describes themselves as a happy, people-pleasing bunch who are obsessed of one thing: Good taste. They&#8217;re tastemakers. What I like about their aim is that they don&#8217;t just simply upload products and expect them to sell (Trust me, I know some online stores whose only aim is to make money&#8230; I find those really so annoying). The team behind Taste Central are very meticulous. They make sure everything, from the web experience to the details of the products that they are selling, will be presentable and beautiful.   Their website is very easy to use and, quite frankly, pleasing to the eyes. I had a lovely time browsing their website because all of products were all beautifully taken, clear and detailed. I had a hard time choosing which one I should buy first. Here are some of the items I loved:  As yoou can see, they&#8217;re all pretty but the item I loved the most was Heima&#8217;s Have Love, Will Travel wall art (first photo above) in teal. There&#8217;s so much to rave about Taste Central, ok. But I think the best is the fact that most of the items in their catalog are 20-30% off! So, if you purchase the wall art directly from Heima Store, it will cost you PHP5,900 (USD144). But Taste Central is selling it for PHP 4,720 + PHP 100 delivery/shipping fee! I was able to save at least a PHP 1000, and we all know that a thousand bucks can go a long way. ;) Convenient and cheaper, without sacrificing good taste!  That sounds fantastic, how do I join? Joining Taste Central is easy peasy. All you need to do is visit Taste Central, click the Become A Member button on top and enter your details. You can also use Facebook and your DealGrocer account for a faster account set-up. It&#8217;s free, and if you invite your friends, you can even earn credits worth PHP 500!  By the way, Mother&#8217;s Day is coming. Do you have any idea on what to give to your mother? Check out their Mother&#8217;s Day Collection here. Note: The item I purchased is semi-sponsored.

Meet The Tastemakers

Everyone, I’d like to introduce to you this wonderful online shop called Taste Central, a retail partner of the famous deal sites, Deal Grocer. The people behind Taste Central describes themselves as a happy, people-pleasing bunch who are obsessed of one thing: Good taste. They’re tastemakers.

What I like about their aim is that they don’t just simply upload products and expect them to sell (Trust me, I know some online stores whose only aim is to make money… I find those really so annoying). The team behind Taste Central are very meticulous. They make sure everything, from the web experience to the details of the products that they are selling, will be presentable and beautiful.  

Their website is very easy to use and, quite frankly, pleasing to the eyes. I had a lovely time browsing their website because all of products were all beautifully taken, clear and detailed. I had a hard time choosing which one I should buy first. Here are some of the items I loved: 

Taste Central Wishlist

As yoou can see, they’re all pretty but the item I loved the most was Heima’s Have Love, Will Travel wall art (first photo above) in teal.

There’s so much to rave about Taste Central, ok. But I think the best is the fact that most of the items in their catalog are 20-30% off! So, if you purchase the wall art directly from Heima Store, it will cost you PHP5,900 (USD144). But Taste Central is selling it for PHP 4,720 + PHP 100 delivery/shipping fee! I was able to save at least a PHP 1000, and we all know that a thousand bucks can go a long way. ;) Convenient and cheaper, without sacrificing good taste! 

That sounds fantastic, how do I join? Joining Taste Central is easy peasy. All you need to do is visit Taste Central, click the Become A Member button on top and enter your details. You can also use Facebook and your DealGrocer account for a faster account set-up. It’s free, and if you invite your friends, you can even earn credits worth PHP 500! 

By the way, Mother’s Day is coming. Do you have any idea on what to give to your mother? Check out their Mother’s Day Collection here.

Note: The item I purchased is semi-sponsored.

The Style Mermaid by Kisty Mea • Kerastase Chronologiste Kérastase Chronologiste was a product that was introduced years ago. It received so much praise from beauty editors and magazines, but was so-so received by consumers because it&#8217;s too expensive. The Chronologiste line was advertised as Kérastase&#8217;s finest restorative treatment that is perfect for all hair types, as if it was the hair&#8217;s holy grail. Like most hair products, the Chronologiste promises to leave the hair incredibly soft, supple and shiny. Not to mention, deeply nourished and strengthened. The special ingredients? The caviar pearls. [[MORE]] I love my hair so much and I&#8217;m pretty much willing to do anything for it, regardless of the cost. So, I purchased my Chronologiste set for only S$225, which already includes the Kérastase Nutritive Bain &amp; Conditioner and free shipping. This was the cheapest deal I can find online. In Singapore, Action Salon sells one box for S$250, and offers a hair treatment at S$350. Yikes. The box contains a cream, a spatula, a bowl, a pump filled with pearl-like mixture (the caviar) and an instruction kit. The instruction kit states that you have to mix the cream (at least 20 grams) and pearls in the bowl and apply it to your hair. Let the mixture stay there for 10 minutes, then rinse and style as usual. It&#8217;s pretty simple to do but I have no idea why I need to DIY the process.  Thoughts On This Product: To answer my own question: The pearls does not simply dissolve, even when in contact with water. You have to make sure that the pearls are mashed well with the cream.  It&#8217;s more ideal to try the treatment first at a salon, and see if it can provide results. But if you&#8217;re being charged $350 for a one time treatment, might as well get the whole box because it&#8217;s cheaper. Obviously, it&#8217;s expensive. I would only recommend people trying this product out if they&#8217;ve tried all possible means to save their dry and damaged hair.  They say you have to use foil. I don&#8217;t know. I think that&#8217;s what they do in the salon, but it wasn&#8217;t stated in the instruction kit. Was it worth it? I don&#8217;t know, to be honest. I started using the product right after I dyed my hair back to brown, and had the hardest time seeing any results. The texture of my hair didn&#8217;t change, it was still dry and frizzy. My hair was soft but not shiny. :(  Conclusion: It doesn&#8217;t work with my hair.

Kerastase Chronologiste

Kérastase Chronologiste was a product that was introduced years ago. It received so much praise from beauty editors and magazines, but was so-so received by consumers because it’s too expensive. The Chronologiste line was advertised as Kérastase’s finest restorative treatment that is perfect for all hair types, as if it was the hair’s holy grail. Like most hair products, the Chronologiste promises to leave the hair incredibly soft, supple and shiny. Not to mention, deeply nourished and strengthened. The special ingredients? The caviar pearls. 

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