Upon learning that Miss Charen will soon grace us with sayonara, I immediately thought of an initiative for us to meet one last time. Miss Charen is one of my co-workers when I used to work in the media, right after I took a break from the academe.

She's one of the most down-to-earth and hands down, one of the most passionate people I ever met. Witnessing her dedication to work, and how she looks at life makes me feel more empowered. Though it saddens me to say goodbye to her, I am more than happy for her and I can only wish her all the best that Japan has to offer. Yes, the madam is going to Japan. hehe >.<

 MOshi-moshi Charen-san! <3

To wish her some luck, a colleague and I bought her a cute neko figurine. The cat decor has a bell on it, so when we gave miss Charen our gift, we told her that if there's something that her heart desires, all she needs to do is to ring the bell and whisper her wish. lelz Don't belittle her lucky charm because it did the charm a few hours after we gave it to her! haha

I wanted to see Miss Charen for the last in a wonderful place so invited her for an afternoon soiree along with our two other previous colleagues, Miss Joy and Miss Camille. I recently heard of an amiable patisserie within Cebu named Marisse Patisserie. I haven't been visited the place prior to our afternoon affair, so I just fervently prayed that the place would not disappoint, and fortunately, it didn't.

The patisserie offers a visual feast of grand cakes, tempting cookies, savory prepared foods, and various breads to enjoy. Coupled with its shabby chic interiors, the place is enough to make anybody's dainty dream come to life.

 I couldn't agree more with the phrase above :) hello friends!

 Pappy's Banana Guava Cake

I wanted to try something different so I chose the banana guava cake that Marisse offers. The cake gave us so much emotions which fill our hearts with laughter as we try to answer the question: who is Pappy?

haha A very important question and we had the craziest possible answers. It was only last night when I found out that it was inspired by the owner's father (Pappy) who, according to Marisse official website loves to eat a banana treat with guava filling.

I love how soft the cake is and I like the fact that Marisse has taken some twist with the regular banana cake without turning it into something boring. Adding a guava filling into the cake made it a little bit more interesting. What I'm trying to say is that they didn't pull off a twist on it for the sake of being weird. The cake itself tastes good though the four of us agreed that the guava flavor is barely there. There were times when we throw questions at each other looking for a distinct guava taste. lol

 Chocolate Dacquoise

We used to have culinary and baking classes in high school, but I've never heard of dacquoise within my years of study. It was only when I visited Marisse that I was able to know what it is and how it taste like. And though,I know that it has a French origin (judging from its spelling), I wasn't quite sure on how the word mus be pronounced. Luckily, Miss Charen is to the rescue! haha so dacquoise is pronounced as da-kwaz and by definition, it is a dessert consisting of baked layers of nut-flavored meringue with a cream filling, sometimes with the addition of fruit, served chilled.

Among the four cakes that we've ordered, the dacquoise is the softest and the fluffiest one. It can easily glide in your tongue in similar way a Shakespearean sonnet can enter your heart.

 Red Velvet Cake

 Matcha Sans Rival Cake

Matcha for me is a flavor created by the gods. The moment I saw matcha variations on Marisse's menu, I immediately had my eyes on their matcha sans rival cake. What happens when you combine matcha with sans rival is a match made in heaven. The juxtaposition of matcha's bitterness and sans rival's sweetness created a distinct taste that captured my soul.

At frist I was a bit hesitant to try it having tasted some variations of Sans Rival. Though Sans Rival is a beloved dessert, I find some of its variations too sweet for my liking. Surprisingly, what Marisse' has has the right amount of sugar. The added nuts on the cake made the dessert's texture more interesting in every bite.

Strawberry Matcha Cake

Pecado Mortal

"Sin on a plate"
Lemon Blueberry Cake

Miss Joy's choice of hot coffee and  cinnamon bread <3

We were wondering what animal is in their latte art, whether it's a dog or from Miss Joy's perspective, a pig. hahaha

We opted for a regular caffe americano and tea to match our delightful desserts.

From their picturesque interiors to their impressive collection of hearth-baked foods, there's nothing that I did not love about Marisse Patisserie. You may check their menu ahead online should you wish to save time upon your visit. Their service, including their bathrooms, which I am quite particular about also didn't make us feel brokenhearted. I am ecstatic that my co-workers and I had the wonderful time together before bidding farewell to Miss Charen.

Just as I did, you can also spend your precious time at Marisse Patisserie. The dainty place is located at 32 Sanson Road at the Rockwell, Cebu City. You may ring them a bell at 0917 708 3853 | (032) 406 3099, should you have any questions or visit their official Facebook account. The patisserie operates during Friday & Saturday - 8am-11pm | Tues-Thurs and Sunday 8am-10pm. It is closed on Mondays.

love lots,

Tin

PROS

-comes in different shades

- affordable

- easy to apply and blend

- the contour powder doesn't have a shimmer

CONS

- doesn't last that long

      Considering its price, the product is pretty decent. I couldn't say that it is the best out there, but it's good to know that something as affordable as what Ever Bilena is producing actually works well. It is definitely a good alternative if you are on a tight budget. I am very satisfied with my purchase and I'll surely get another shade soon. Though it doesn't last that long, I don't mind that much since I seldom re-apply either of my blush-on or my contour powder. The contour powder that comes along with it is also great for a nose contour and as an eye shadow.

       If you have tried the product already or if you have any questions, feel free to share them on the comment section below. I hope this post is of great help if you are eyeing on Ever Bilena's Advance Blush Duo in Baked Fig. Thanks a lot for reading and have a wonderful weekend vibes!

love lots,

Tin

The absence of the rain and with the sun staying out a little bit longer means we are now welcoming the summer sun. The hot weather might be harsh, but it won't hinder any being from witnessing the wonders that come along with it.

Aside from strengthening our protection from the summer heat, another thing that we have to deal with is our wardrobe. There are time-tested tips on how to dress for summer and with those tips come some of the most versatile pieces that can spice up our summer #ootd. Because summer in the Philippines has officially begun, here are 5 versatile summer ready pieces that every girl in every size can style from day to night.

If cardigans are for autumns; then kimonos are for summer. Kimonos are not only chic and easy to style, but they are also great cover ups against the summer heat. It's light weight material is also a perfect match to avoid unwanted sweat. Whether it's a plain kimono or something that has a unique kimono pattern, it's definitely one of the most versatile pieces that you can own. Check out some fab kimonos at your favorite fashion stores like StyleWe. 

I love it when I can combine comfort and fashion regardless of the season. Maxi skirts, as we all know, are not only comfortable and flattering, but they’re also very versatile. If kimonos are cover up for your arms, maxi skirts are cover ups for your legs. Maxi skirts are also great ways for you to get creative with your summer get up as it can match various tops.

If the summer  heat is too much for you to bear, think of tank tops! Tank tops in bight colors are great to combat the summer heat plus you can easily pair it with any bottoms such as shorts or skirts. Tank tops are easy to wear, easy to style and easy to pack making it on the list of versatile pieces for summer. You may shop one of the most well-sought tunic tops at JustFashionNow.com and other various fashion stores. 

Another fun and versatile top for summer are cold off shoulder tops. I personally love off shoulders especially when it is embroidered. Embroideries, especially those that resembles flowers could be the extra details that could make a statement in your overall summer ensemble. Regardless of the time and season, I do keep some of my beloved off shoulder tops in my wardrobe, because why not? Buy one or two of those statement makers and own the hottest time of the year!

When summer arrives, aside from bright and bold colors, pastels also cascade into my thoughts. Somehow, those sweet looking colors makes me think of my favorite flowers. Surprisingly versatile, a pastel dress is perfect for any summer outing. You can flaunt it on a sunset beach party or in a midday gathering. It's fun and feminine vibe will never bring any girl down. 

I am beyond fortunate to be able to spend my weekend with my family as our own summer gathering. While the summer sun is truly fun, don't neglect your precious skin by putting on sun block lotion and moisturizing creams. I particularly follow some of Korean skin care tips, some of which are here: https://blog.stylewe.com/10-step-korean-beauty-skincare-routine/ as I am now very much interested in Korean beauty products. lelz 

Whatever skin care regime or clothing suits your taste for summer, don't forget to have fun in the sand. Let me know what other pieces should I add on my short list above. Also, which piece do you think is most versatile for a summer day?

love lots,

Tin

***Outfit photos are from Pinterest. Arrangements and edits by yours' truly. Credits to the owners of the photographs.