I am Ulyssa Elaine - Travel, Food and Lifestyle Blogger: lifestyle

Thursday, November 17, 2022 No comments

What a year it has been! Thankfully, today is the second day of the year, 2019. I would like to look back at the best, worst and most significant moments of the year, and look forward to this year 2019.

With that in mind, I'll be sharing my 2018 highlights.

Owned a Best Seller Specs Reagan in Rose Gold - January

I started wearing eyeglasses last 2017. From 50/75 vision, it turned out to be 100/100 with astigmatism this 2018. I won't be surprised because of the nature of my job (constant exposure to gadgets such as laptop and mobile phone).

I'm still hesitant to try out Lasik eye surgery just like what my sister went through but I won't consider it from now. I don't think it will be worth it due to the nature of my job. I will give it a try when I get older or if I will change my career.

Travelled to Hong Kong and Macao - February

My mom and I have been to Hong Kong when I was 18 years old (we celebrated my debut there). Eight years after, we went back and we were complete. My dad and my sister were with us.

Last February was our 1st out-of-the-country trip sponsored by me, yours truly. 😁

Sold out my first Honda Jazz car - February

I love our family car so much but it's time to let it go and move on. I won't much elaborate on why we sold it. I'm still thankful that my childhood dream came true even though it was a short one. 💖

I'm not closing doors and I'm looking forward to own and have my 2nd car soon.

First time to be a Speaker in a Tech Event - February

It was an unexpected one. I was invited to speak in 1st Swift Ladies Meetup (Philippines). I was one of the speakers though. Never I imagined that I will speak in front of people (because I'm introvert) and talked about tvOS app development. Thank you SwiftPH for trusting me. 👌

First time to watch PyroMusical competition - March

Thank you Eunice, my sister, because she won 5 event tickets. I've been wanting to experience it since 2013 and it came true. Thank you also to my aunt and my uncle for the support.

Travelled to Taiwan - April

This trip was a memorable one! Imagine traveling with family of 10. We experienced bipolar weather when we got there. It was cold on the first day. On the second day, it was very hot and sunny. On the third day, it rained so hard. On the fourth and fifth day, it was windy.

MY LONG-TIME DREAM CAME TRUE - May

I won't elaborate this one because it's a secret for now. I will reveal this on May 2019 so watch out for that.

Got a new iPhone - June

I was torn if I will purchase iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X. In the end, I chose iPhone 8 Plus and will wait for stabilized Face ID.

Watched KZ Tandingan's first concert "SUPREME" - June

It was my first time to watch a concert in a Lower Box portion (I watch concert once in a blue moon). Congrats KZ! I love her voice... 👏

My 26th Birthday - August

Haha! I'm not afraid to reveal my age on my blog because I'm not ashamed of it.

I had many plans prior on my birthday but I chose to have a simpler one. Simple lunch and simple dinner with family are the best, right? 💞

Invited as a Speaker in the school's IT event - August & September

If you will be invited by your former school to be a speaker, will you say no? For me, it's an honor.

I was invited last August 29, 2018. I was updated last September 1 that the seminar will be on October 13. It's Saturday so I'm really available and I won't need to file a VL for that.

A week after (September 7), the seminar will move on November 9. I have to check my schedule and then I filed a VL for that.

A week after (September 13), the seminar will move on November 16 because of the Sports Fest. I cancelled my VL and filed another date.

October 1, I was given a heads up that the final date will be on November 14 because they have to prioritize other department for the venue. I then cancelled my VL and filed another date.

I still became optimistic on the upcoming event.

ACHIEVED ONE OF MY GOALS - October

Again, I won't elaborate on this one. Huh? What the heck I'm sharing this but I won't mention it. By the way, it feels so good to achieve your goal one step at a time.

Heartbreaking sequence of events - November

After my sister's birthday, we had a family (including uncle, aunt, cousins, etc) dinner at Tagaytay. After that day, my uncle died due to heart attack. It was very painful to my family.

I also cancelled my scheduled event. Due to the emotional breakdown, I felt sorry for my Alma Mater school because I really can't go to be the speaker on the IT event. It was a roller coaster ride experience. I felt that I'm not a professional individual. I put myself down. It was a depressing one.

Then, I reflected to the past events. Maybe it's not meant for me. Maybe God put me in this situation to test me, whether I will choose my family or will I go on my own (so called professionalism).

Featured in Acienda Designer Outlet's Facebook and Instagram page - December

Thank you Acienda for including me on chic and stylish shoppers! 👸 It's been a while since I fix and style myself.

How about you? How's your 2018?

Wednesday, January 02, 2019 No comments

Friday, February 02, 2018 17 comments

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Have you heard of Gift Vouchers? I was browsing the internet when I saw this awesome deal and bought it. However, the delivery is within Metro Manila only and it will took 2-3 business days to get it delivered. Don't forget to present your valid ID upon claiming through their courier.

» What's about this deal ? «

(Description was taken from Deal Grocer)

Take a well-deserved breather out of town at Taal Vista Hotel. Take in gorgeous panoramic views of the Taal Lake Volcano with P500 Worth of Food & Drinks to enjoy at the Lobby Lounge.

Perched right on Tagaytay’s windy ridge and with a beautifully landscaped garden, this elegant space is perfect for catch-ups over coffee, casual lunches with friends, and business meetings.

By day, the elegant Lobby Lounge—designed in Tudor-style architecture—is gloriously lit by sunlight streaming through its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which overlook sprawling gardens and the spectacular Taal Lake.

At night, it exudes a warm cozy ambiance perfect for relaxing beside the stone fireplace as you listen to live performances and savor bestselling dishes from a specially-curated menu selection paired with signature drinks.

Sample delicacies like Crispy Taal Lake Tawilis, small freshwater fish native to the area that are lightly breaded, deep-fried to a crisp, and served with a special dipping sauce and crispy kangkong; or crowd-favorite comfort food like Thin Crust Pizza.

For the sweet tooth, the Volcano Eruption—an oven-baked, dark chocolate cake filled with chocolate ganache and topped with ice cream—will have you raving over its decadence.

While you’re at it, why not make your trip even more worthwhile by spending a night in one of Taal Vista Hotel’s well-appointed rooms? Check out these deals for a Mountain Wing Superior Room Stay for 2 or a 2-Bedroom Taal Suite Stay for 4.

Boasting of first-class amenities, delicious food offerings, impeccable service, and an unrivaled panorama of one of the country’s most breathtaking sights right in your backyard, this timeless destination promises the ultimate Tagaytay experience for that quick escape you’ve been dreaming of. Best of all, it's only a couple hours away from the metro.

A trip to Tagaytay is never complete without a stopover at this sought-after destination. Go on, take that road trip breather and redeem this steal as early as this week! This offer is valid 'til February 2018.

» How Did I Buy this Voucher(s)? «

There are many ways to pay the deals here. You can pay via Deal Grocer credits, credit card, online banking, or over-the-counter. I bought vouchers via BDO online banking and it was a smooth transaction.

» The Vouchers «

Here were the 7 vouchers that I bought:

I love the voucher's design: simple and elegant! It's perfect as a gift for your loved ones, right?

I will update and post here my experience once I availed their service. :)

How about you? Have you purchased vouchers from DealGrocer? How was your experience?

Sunday, December 24, 2017 No comments

Wednesday, November 08, 2017 No comments

My hair color was pure black since I was born. I decided to color my hair when I reached 21 years old (2014). I started to embrace this changes and been obsessed to hair color since then. I really want to try ombre hair color but due to my work, I didn't give it a try. I just sticked to brown color.

I always go to salon whenever I have to put or retouch my hair color. I tried different hues of brown and loving it! Honestly, I felt a bit itchy from the hair color that the salon(s) offered to me. Sorry, I won't name drop here just to give respect to them. Maybe I just have a sensitive scalp skin.

But hey! When I tried this product L'Oréal Paris Excellence Fashion Brown Light 6.13 Golden Nude Brown, I didn't feel any itches at all (except when my mom accidentally dropped a small portion of hair color on my outer left ear).

Note: This is not a sponsored post. But I will be glad if L'Oréal Paris will invite me to be a model of their product. Just kidding. 😁

Without further ado, I chose this shade because it's the best shade according to other blog reviews. I also want to achieve of what so called "Parisian-Inspired Looks".

How to use this?

Note: Before the hair coloring process, make sure to cover your shoulders and your clothing. What I did was we cut a big clear plastic bag and covered my body. I saw others used a raincoat to protect their clothes.

Step 1: After opening the package, look for this product and apply it on your dry hair from the roots to the tip. This product is a pre-color treatment for your hair. Leave this for 20 minutes.

Step 2: After 20 minutes, mix the hair colorant into the developer bottle and shake it vigorously.

Step 3: Replace the developer bottle's cap with this comb-like cap. Then, apply and massage the hair coloring to your hair. Leave it for 30 minutes.

Oops! Don't forget to use this clear gloves to protect your hands from hair color.

Step 4: Rinse the hair color with warm water and massage gently. Rinse your hair thoroughly. Then, spread this conditioner all over your hair and leave it for 2 minutes. Lastly, rinse your hair thoroughly. Use this conditioner weekly up to 6 weeks for more favorable results.

Congrats! I saved a few bucks just by doing this DIY. This product only costs Php 399.00. How cheap, right?

How about you? Have you tried this product? Share your experience.

Friday, October 20, 2017 No comments

I was inspired to post this entry when I read it (same title) from the blog of Clarisa. So what happened to me for the past 25 years? What did I achieve for the past 25 years?

Photo taken last January 2017

One.

I graduated a Bachelor's degree at the age 19 with no failed grades. But I was not a Cum Laude, either. I whole-heartedly dedicated this to my parents for their never ending love and care for me. Thank you so much! 😉

Two and Three.

I got my first job when I was 19, too. Although, I got regularized when I was 20 years old.

Four.

Travelled alone (without my parents) but I was with my relatives: aunt, cousins and nephews when I was 21 years old. We went to SG and Malaysia for 1 week last February-March 2014. This countries were the first 2 countries I travelled using my own money.

Five and Six.

Driver's License - Got my student permit when I was 21 years old, too. After 3 months, I applied for a non-professional license, which makes me feel happy that I can now drive legally.

Seven.

Own a car - When my family bought a car, they transferred it under my name so I can say it's my own car (even though I didn't buy it). I make it a habit to register it on time and to have a yearly maintenance.

Eight and Nine.

Travelled with my sister (without our parents) to South Korea for 1 whole week! It was our first time to do it and I was a bit afraid at first. Good thing, we were able to manage it and we survived!

We had a chance to experience skiing in Pyeongchang province in South Korea. Alpensia Ski Resort will be one of the venues of 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. I was very glad that me and my sister went there before the said event.

Ten.

First time to sponsor our family trip at Puerto Princesa, Palawan. My family really enjoyed this and they are looking forward for our next year's travel to HK and Macau. Yey!

Eleven.

Bought myself life insurance policies. This thing is a must. We need to secure our future for our loved ones.

Twelve.

I have watched more than 20 K-dramas for the past 3 years. I posted it on my blog.

Thirteen.

Enrolled myself in a 40-hour Mandarin class at Makati. Currently, I'm studying French, Spanish and Japanese using Duolingo app. I posted this on my blog.

Fourteen.

Had a chance to watch Super Junior concert in SM MOA Arena last 2013. Super Junior was my favorite K-pop band when I was 4th year high school. It was a great experience.

Fifteen.

Climbed in a mountain, Mt. Pico de Loro. It was a nice experience that we were able to try it but sorry, I won't do it again. It's very risky and really exhausting. Maybe sometime in the future I will try it again.

Sixteen and Seventeen.

Attended IT events in the country: DevCon Summit 2013: #MobileDevNBeyond and GDG DevFest Philippines 2016. I have attended also code camps before but currently, I'm not active on attending such events.

Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty and Twenty-one.

Visited the famous amusement parks in Asia: HK Disneyland (2010), HK Ocean Park (2010), Universal Studios SG (2014) and Lotte World (2016).

Twenty-two.

I'm continually share my blessings to my family. I really don't want to enumerate all of this because they already know what I usually do. I can say that they are proud of me. Thank you.

Twenty-three and Twenty-Four.

Opened up a blog in 2013 and bought a domain name last year (2016). I didn't establish a blog to brag about the things that I achieved. Hence, I want to show the world, to the universe rather that there's life beyond about me. Me: a nerd, skinny, studious, quiet, home-school-home, home-work-home person. That's why the name of the blog is I AM ULYSSA ELAINE. 😉

Twenty-five.

As of the moment, I never applied for a credit card. How did I book my online tickets? Using BDO debit card. How did I book my accommodation? Using BPI e-Prepaid card. It works like a credit card but the difference is you have to load it. I was able to manage my finances a lot because of this. That's the power of technology. 😉

How about you? Share your thoughts and experiences.

Saturday, September 30, 2017 2 comments

Today, September 25, 2017, I purchased a Buy 1 Take 1 promo of DIODE LASER hair removal at Skin Station / Dermax Station Festival Supermall Alabang.

From Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/skinstationph/

I've known Skin Station clinic since 2014 (when I was still working in Makati City). The main branch in Gil Puyat is just a walking distance from my former office. I was very hesitant to try it before because I was afraid at that time. So I usually go to a waxing clinic to do my errands. The downside of waxing is you have to wait for your hair to grow before you do another waxing session. So it’s like an endless cycle and there’s no huge difference. I guess it's not worth your money even though it's cheap.

Back to the topic, diode laser hair removal became the new trend instead of cold waxing. I have bumped into many blogs about Skin Station's diode laser hair removal so I decided to give a chance to try it, why not?

What is Diode Laser hair removal?

Diode Laser features a longer wavelength compared to IPL treatments. It provides safer and deeper penetration into skin layer. The Diode laser is the best overall laser for all skin types based on long term use.

Inside the cubicle of Dermax Festival Mall Alabang

How it works?

First, the therapist will clean the area and shave your hair. Then, she will put a cold treatment gel on your underarm. Next, the laser device will be applied to remove your unwanted hair. It will take 30 minutes or more for the procedure. Then, the gel will be wiped off and will clean the surface.

After the Procedure

The therapist recommended a Post-Laser cream to be applied on your underarm twice a day for three days. It costs Php 220.

Does it hurt?

No! If you’re like me, who regularly goes to a waxing salon, it doesn’t hurt. I laughed when the laser hit on my skin at first. Luckily, I never felt any discomfort during my 1st session. The therapist shared to me that most of her patients experienced discomfortness because it’s their first time.

How often should you go?

Every 6 - 8 weeks but my therapist suggested to take another session on my 6th week for better results.

How many sessions to take?

8 sessions or more is enough. But after your 8th session / first year, you must take their booster to prevent hair regrowth.

Is it worth it?

YES!!! I'm very satisfied on my first session. There's a huge difference even though it's just my first one. My next session will be on the 1st week of November.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. I availed their service using my own money.

Here's my post regarding my 2nd session: https://www.iamulyssaelaine.com/2017/11/painless-diode-laser-hair-removal-at-skin-station.html

How about you? Have you tried their service? Share your experience.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 No comments

Hooray! It's Friday... 🎉

A post shared by Ulyssa Elaine (@ulyssaelaine) on Mar 2, 2017 at 8:30pm PST

I'm currently working as a Mobile App Developer in Ayala Alabang District for more than 2 years. I have shared to you guys my top picks restaurant around Alabang area: part 1 and part 2. I will add more on that list on my next post.

Aside from my "restaurant hopping" experience around Alabang area, I will share to you guys my "clinic hopping" experience.

As I mentioned above, my work is not that easy. I'm working from Mondays to Fridays (9 am to 6pm). I'm facing a stressful situations at times but I'm happy with my work. Thanks God! :)

I decided to put all of my agenda(s) like shopping, watching movies, waxing (Laybare), check-ups (Tokyo HealthLink), and etc. near in my workplace so I can rest every weekends.

As I'm strolling around the mall (Alabang Town Center), I saw a derma clinic near Switch (Apple Authorized Store). I checked Skin 101's Instagram, Facebook and googled some reviews about the clinic. I'm very appeased with the reviews so I tried their service.

I availed the Buy 1 Take 1 Promo of Diamond Peel worth Php 1,000.00. What a good deal! If I will go to the other clinics, it would take a thousands of bucks for 2 sessions of Diamond Peel treatment, right?

I took a screenshot from their website about the Diamond Peel treatment:

I didn't capture some photos inside the cubicle for my own privacy as well. But if you are curious about it, you can check Skin 101's Instagram, Facebook and other blog reviews. I have tried Diamond Peel on other clinics (SM Dasma) but I can say that this clinic is one of the best clinics I ever tried. I love their service. They don't rush patients. I think they have a timer for every procedures that they do. (I heard some to-toot sound. haha.) They will tell the customer first before they put on some procedure on your face. Although the pricking moment was a bit ouchy, I'm happy that they cleaned my face so well (without the dirts and powder residue).

I'm done with the 2 sessions this month (August 2017) and I will avail more next month after my monthly period. I'm planning also to avail their Revlite service, which I will share to you once I've tried it. :)

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I used my own money when I availed their service. Thank you.