Joyfully Yours

I've been in love with nail polish ever since I was a kid. Somehow having manicured nails make a girl's hand feminine and adds beauty to the one who possess it. The first time I heard about gel polish was a few weeks ago when I had my nails polished the traditional way. I got so curious about how gel polish works so I finally tried it in Posh Nails SM North Edsa.
Entering Posh Nails SM North Edsa, one will notice the white, pink and purple motif that will bring one's inner curious little girl out. Somehow the motif of the spa reminds me of the motif I want for my wedding.


Before a session starts, one is required to have their hands and feet soaked in water with soap. Also, each of the guests who opted for manicure and pedicure service get 2 therapists to do the service. It's structured that way to make guests feel special and extra pampered. I was even given iced tea to drink during the session!


Foot Spa

Foot Spa Kit

Since I have chosen to have a foot spa, my feet was soaked in bubble bath after using Kenko World foot spa massage machine.


A citrus smelling scrub was then put on top of my lower leg. The small black dots are the scrubs that is quite fine. So when it was scrubbed on my foot using a scrubbing glove, the black dots were so fine that I can't feel the scrub anymore and felt the scrubbing glove more.


The last part of the foot spa was this foot scrubbing stick that the therapist used to scrub the remaining dead skin underneath my foot.

After the foot spa, my feet felt that it's ready for pedicure.

The Gel Polish
Posh Nails uses Cuccio Professional gel polish which is from California and has been in the market for over 30 years!

The Colors


For my fingernails, I have chosen "#4: I have left my heart in San Francisco" because of its light color, it's going to be easy to pair clothes with!

For my toes, I have chosen "#6: Kyoto Cherry Blossoms" because of its bright color which will make my feet look clean and whiter. Also, since I wear close shoes more, the color won't be a problem with any clothes I wear.

Manicure
Because my hands have short nails, I opted to have my nails filed instead of having it cut.


After filing, my nails were cleaned to make sure that the polish will stick on the nails.


Like regular polish, a clear base coat was put on my nails to ensure that my nails are protected from breakage.


After the first coat, my hand was put under the UV drying lamp for 2 minutes to make the base coat dry.

The next base coat was put then my hand was put under the UV drying lamp again.

Fuse was put next then back to the UV drying lamp.

The last is the colored gel polish. I was told that the colored gel polish can only be coated twice on the nails.

Every time a coat is put, the hand is put under the UV drying lamp for 2 minutes to ensure that each coat will dry.

Pedicure
The procedure on the manicure is also the same with pedicure. My foot was filed first then the two types of base coat was put, fuse coat then last came the colored gel polish. The same UV drying lamp was used for my feet.

Session Done
As what I've expected, my hands looked very feminine and clean! However, what's amazing is that my nails felt stronger and harder. Also, the polish was very smooth and shiny! My hands looked like it's a model's hand!

What I like about the light colored polish is how it made my nails look like it's French tipped but the cleaner version. I dislike the white tips that looks like correction fluid and this color is just perfect!

Even my feet looked brand new! I love how the pop of color and shine made my feet girly despite having chubby toes.

After 1 Week
During the elections, I've voted and the indelible ink was dropped on my finger I noticed that even though my gel polish session has already been a week, my nails looked like it was just newly polished!


Since I've tried and tested it, I recommend every woman who is busy and love to have beautifully manicured nails to go try Posh Nails' Cuccio Gel Polish! The session is just P550 for manicure or pedicure. It's so worth it because even after a week, the color doesn't chip off and the gloss is still there!

If you want to be extra pampered and relaxed, you can opt to get a foot spa before the nail polish session for a refreshed and soft feet! The foot spa is P300 which is very affordable for a few hours of relaxation! It's really worth it! =)

To know more about the other services which Posh Nails offer, you can check out www.poshnails.com.ph! You can also find their other branches there to find the branch near your area!

A few months ago, my girlfriends and I were looking for a place where we can do the bridal shower of our dear friend Grace who is getting married this May. Since Grace wanted a wholesome bridal shower, we have decided to do it in a spa but the big question is which spa?


It was coincidental that my blogger friend Michelle of micheatsandshops.com has just blogged about this place called Silid Ni Maria (Maria's room) which has gained my curiosity. I went to Silid Ni Maria Facebook page and found out that it has spa party packages which are affordable. Plus, it's inclusive of a free pitcher of cocktail which is just wonderful for a bridal shower!


When my friend Stella, who is Grace's Maid of Honor, called to ask about bringing food and drinks for the bridal shower, they do allow bringing in of food and drinks. They also allowed us to put decors on the venue. Since we are having a wholesome bridal shower which means no strippers allowed. We just made a "Wall of Macho" for our bride-to-be to enjoy!

The Wall of Macho with Czarina and Caca

Aside from that, the photos they posted in Facebook showed how cozy it looks inside with native Filipino decors as its theme. When I got there, the place has proven that it's as beautiful as it looks like on its Facebook page. I also love the fact that even though it's in Makati, the location has a lot of parking spaces!

The lazy boy chairs ready to pamper guests

We've also put a macho man behind every chair.

When our bride-to-be arrived, her floral crown, scepter, sash and gifts were waiting for her! My friend Czarina was the one who made her floral crown and scepter. My friend Caca made the sash.

The floral crown, floral scepter, sash and gifts waiting for the bride-to-be.

Our bride-to-be with Daniel Matsunaga's macho poster!

Our happy bride-to-be!

Bride-to-be ready for pampering!

Lane, who was managing the place, was so helpful that she suggested we take photos around before our spa service starts. During our relaxing spa service, she even took time to take our group photos.

Czarina ready for pampering!

Maid-of-Honor & organizer Stella is also ready. By the way, Stella's first name is Maria! What a coincidence that Maria is in Silid ni Maria! :)

Bride-to-be Grace and I in a mirror shot.

Bride-to-be Grace posing with all the nail polishes offered by Silid Ni Maria.

Bride-to-be Grace at the front desk.

Now, my turn to be pampered!

Group photo during our spa service with Bride-to-Be Grace!

Bride-to-Be Grace's turn!

The spa service was very relaxing and amazing. Lane was also one of the therapists doing the foot scrub, manicure and pedicure for us. The mixture placed on my feet is called Samyo. It's a mixture of coffee and pineapple to control odor and hydrate the feet. Even if it's coffee, it smelled like chocolates which made me and my friends feel hungry.

That's Lane doing my foot spa.

The therapists and Lane were so nice that they gave us a wooden tray each to put a glass of cocktail and some chips for us to munch before we have our dinner after the spa service.

Our very pampered Bride-to-Be Grace relaxing while eating! There's 2 therapists doing her nails! :)

The remaining chips and drinks after the spa service! We were hungry ladies! OMG! =D

That's me with nails done! :)

After the spa service, I told Lane that her manicure is very scratch resistant since it's still intact even after she did my foot spa. Lane showed me that she has used Orly Gel FX which is also available in their spa services.

Lane's hands

Silid Ni Maria's Orly Gel FX collection

I think we stayed for around 4 hours because of our activities after the spa service. Even if the package said it's for 3 hours since our reservations started at 6pm. The great thing is they're so involved with our activities! They took our photos and asked us to eat our dinner there.

One of the things I love is the bridal cake and cupcake which Stella had custom made by Joanie's Cupcakes. It's not just beautiful outside but it's also yummy inside (red velvet cake)!

Sakura themed red velvet cupcake

The Sakura themed bridal shower cake!

Our Bride-to-Be Grace was so happy that day. It's a mission accomplished by me and my friends! Again, I would like to congratulate Grace in advance for her upcoming wedding! I'm truly happy that she has finally found the one.

Bride-to-Be Grace and Caca showing their newly polished nails! Lane is behind proud of her new endorsers! Heehee! :)

Our nails all done! Take a quick guess where's my hand?

Final group picture! Guess who's tipsy? =P

If you're planning an intimate bridal shower for your friend, you can consider to do it in Silid ni Maria! The place has 7 lazy boy chairs, very helpful therapists to pamper you, your friends and the bride-to-be. Plus, the location is quite quiet and personal since it's located on the 3rd floor of Allegro Center in 2284 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City. For reservations, contact Lane at 0917-5074543.