The Vampire Diaries

Am loving The TV episodes of the Vampire Diaries.  It's the first time I preferred the tv/movie version over the book version.  I read all 5 books but I love the tv version much much better. .   Of course it helps that Damon and Stefan are both gorgeous hunks :)  lucky, lucky Elena.

I love flowers ! ! !

Especially if they are prints on my new handbag . . .

Cath Kidston bunch flowers day bag

Since I am on maternity leave, my shopping addiction is limited to online browsing rather than actual malling.  A friend of mine who recently came from London mentioned Cath Kidston bags - they are playful, girlish and soooo cute.  Being a bag addict, I of course visited their site and immediately fell in love with their designs.  The only downfall is that they have shops only in UK, Ireland and Japan (so sad :().

I am very resourceful when it comes to bags and shoes thus, I was able to do an online purchase on this day bag and had it shipped here.  The actual price of the bag is very affordable but the shipping cost doubles the price.  Oh well, rather than have sleepless nights, I had to get this.  Now I'm excited for it to arrive.

Bags . . Bags . . and more bags!!

Before any negative reactions :), let me say that I have no plans to buy any of these bags in the near future.  I havent even used three new bags of mine ( I just love to stare at them in my closet hehehe).  The husband says I'm crazy LOL! I dunno why, but I have been having a fascination with other bag brands recently.  Seems like I have had it with Gucci's, Chanel, and Vuittons.  I am now loving Chloe, Cartier, Valentino and Tod's.


The Chloe Paraty in python leather

This piece sells for a little less than $4000 in Neiman Marcus.  I would settle for the cheaper leather version at $1895.  I am so loving its shape and size.  I used to covet the Paddington but the lock is too heavy.


Valentino Petale hobo

I know this is a bit over the top but I am so attracted to it since I saw a good friend tote one.  It can be paired with a simple top and jeans and serve as a great accessory.  This color is soooo nice but it comes in other varieties like beige, red etc.  Retails at Nordstrom for $2495.

Tod's G bag Sacca Grande

I always had the impression that Tod's bags are a bit boring though a good friend swears by their durability and class. The G bag changed this impression.  It looks sturdy, the zippers on the side are nice accents and adds to its functionability.  Retails at Sak's for $1495

Hongkong Loots

The hubby recently went to our favorite shopping destination - Hongkong.  I was supposed to go with him but since I'm on my third trimester, I decided to forego the trip.  He was with our friends and they had a grand time shopping.  Here are some of his shopping loots:

                           Marks and Spencer onesies for the coming baby

                                                    Cute Tommy onesies

                                                    Loots for Nica

I am so happy the husband shares my shopping addiction.  He would really go around shopping malls, eskinitas and small stores with glee.  He was able to snag cute stuff from H&M, nice tops for us from Zara, and cheap perfumes from Bonjour. 

This is his big purchase for himself.  A reward for months of hardwork and stress.  A "mid life crisis" gift I tease him :)

                                        Calibre De Cartier Men's automatic watch

And this is mine:

                             Marcello De Cartier Shopping tote in ltd ed red

I couldn't decide what bag to ask from him.  I was torn between a Jimmy Choo Skye hobo, an LV monogram delightful or a Cartier saddle bag.  Well, he decided for me and I love his choice.  It's unique and I haven't seen that many peeps in Manila tote a Cartier bag. 

I'm hoping this cures me of my bag addiction at least for the year.  We need to save up for the newest addition to the family.  No more big purchases until the next year . . . I hope . . .

A quick summer get away

Forgot to blog about our quick summer (or is it post summer already?) getaway last month in Subic.  Since I am preggy, we cannot go to Boracay or Guam as promised to the little girl who loves frolicking in beaches.  We instead decided to have a quick weekender in Subic with some friends.  We stayed at Subic Holiday Villas and we a had fun albeit very brief vacation.

We got  2 villas for us and we were quite happy with them.  There was a mini kitchen, veranda, living room set, 2 TV sets and a mini dining table.  The adults played poker the whole time while the kids were swimming in the pool.  The pool was only a few feet away from our veranda thus, we were able to check on them all the time.

Rockwell's Multiply Bazaar

hurry!!  hurry!!  The bazaar ends tomorrow, July 11.  One will surely find treasures in this collaboration of  Multiply sellers.  Am sooo going . . .

Food trip Part 1

As eating is one of my all time favorite thing to do, I have discovered sumptous treats all around the Metro.  This food trip blog is dedicated to helping one find great treats just around the corner.  Mind you, these are personal favorites of mine and may not apply to everyone's taste buds :)


1. Best Buffet: (Splurge): Spirals at Hotel Sofitel (formerly Westin Philippine Plaza) Php 1828 net for a lunch buffet.  I personally love their Chinese spread (yummy Peking duck) and their cheese platters

(Save:) Dad's Buffet:  For only Php 700, one can enjoy the fusion of Filipino (Kamayan), Japanese (Saisaki) and Continental (Dad's) dishes. 


2. Best Steak - I used to think Angus was the best til I tried Wagyu steak. One can have a Grade 8 Premium Rib Eye for around Php 3K at The House of Wagyu in Podium or try their Wagyu at Melo's and you can't go wrong.  You may also opt to go to Salcedo Market during weekends and you just might stumble upon slices of Wagyu for about Php 300/piece.  Just don't overcook it.


3. Best Fried Chicken - Max's all the way for me!!


4. Best Japanese Food - Sugi in Greenhills or Inagiku in Makati Shangri la.


5. Best Filipino Food - my personal choice would be Fely J's in Greenbelt 5 or Abe in Serendra or Trinoma.  One should try Abe's binukadkad na pla-pla and sinuteng baby squid.  Pair these with their dilis rice for a sumptuous treat.


6. Best Chinese Food - Choi Garden in Annapolis Street or any of the authentic Chinese resto in Binondo would be my bet


7. Best street food (isaw, barbecue, chicken tails etc,) - Grill Queen


Now, I'm alloting a separate blog for the best desserts out there.  Dessert time is the highlight of any meal for me thus, it would be wise to dedicate a whole blog for these.

MNG is on Sale!!!

is on Sale!!!  The Sale started last week and there are tons of great buys at lower prices.  I got leggings and tops for as low as Php 390 each.  Bags are at Php 999 up.  What are you waiting for??  Go go go to your nearest MNG outlet.

Magic Milk

My daughter and I are currently addicted to Golden Spoon frozen yogurt. I think of it as my calcium source :)  She loves Belgian chocolate with cookie dough topping.  I prefer strawberry and chocolate mint.  Gosh, just blogging about it makes me crave for a cup.

Delightful!!!!

I'm so excited for this . . .

Welcome the newest offering from Louis Vuitton - the Monogram Delightful.  It's slated to be released in June 2010 but a friend of mine who came from Guam was able to get one already.  Apparently, the LV Guam store almost always gets the newest stocks ahead of time.  I am sooooo jealous.  It's so beautiful - a combination of Artsy and Neverfull. Its extra supple hobo shape makes it a joy to carry as it molds to your body.  And the price is really great - $760 for the PM (which is almost as big as a Neverfull MM), $855 for the MM and $1100 for the GM.  The PM and MM versions do not have the zippered pockets in front thus, the affordable price. 

This is sure to be a popular choice when it comes out.  I bet there will be qeues for orders just like when the Neverfull first entered the market.  Hmmmm . . I think I should line up already hehehe

The Kane Chronicles

After reading the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, this author gained a fan in me.  I am now excited to read his newly released book - The Red Pyramid under the Kane Chronicles series.

While the Percy Jackson series revolved aound Greek mythology, the Kane Chronicles tackle Egyptian mythology. I've always been fascinated with mythology, be it Greek, Roman, Norse or Egyptian. I am more familiar with the first three thus, Egyptian mythology would be a new avenue for me. Unfortunately, I may have to wait a little longer before I get hold of this book as it is sold out in all boookstores here.  It only came out in Fully Booked last week but all copies were sold out in a few days.

A unique birthday party

A godson of mine, Zee Lota celebrated his first birthday in a most unique fashion. Instead of the traditional birthday parties usually given to toddlers, his mom decided to hold a sort of concert party for the little tot. As he is showing a huge interest in music, the party was held in Teatrino Greenhills - a very unlikely venue for a first birthday :) The theme is a mixture of Barney musical and GLEE!!

mini Glee concert by mommy Aileen, tito's and tita's

There were of course the usual mini playground for kids, clowns, jugglers and musicians.  There was also a mini Glee themed concert done by Zee's mom, friends and sister.  Both adults and kids truly had fun.  The party lasted until 9PM with a rockeoke being the finale. T'was truly a different and unique experience.

I'm an uptown girl

Being an undeniable shopaholic and baghag, I couldn't resist this piece of Kate Spade cutie:

It's a shopper's bag perfect for a weekend of malling.  It's quite huge and has two pockets inside.  But what sold me to it (aside from a bargain price) is that it has this design on the other side:

         

Adorable right?  It's like having two bags for the price of one.  The price is a bargain at $99 at Bloomingdales but I got it from a local supplier for Php 6500 (not bad huh?).  Subway inspired symbols dot the entire thing.  The inside is as gorgeous as the outside.  Two zippered pockets adorn the two sides carrying names of various spots in Manhattan.  Such a great find for me!!

Movies I'm looking forward to . . .

Though not much of a movie buff, I still get excited over a good flick.  Unlike most gals, I'm not into chick flicks and prefer horror and fantasy movies.  I am most excited to watch the following upcoming films:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Parts 1 and 2) - showing in November 2010 and July 2011

2. Eclipse - June 30, 2010

3. X Men First Class - June, 2011

4. The Avengers Movie - May 2012

5. Mighty Thor - May 6, 2011

6. Captain America - July 22, 2011

7. Prince of Persia - May 28, 2010

Tom Ford or Chanel?

I'm in a dilemma . . can't decide what shades to get as an alternative to my Gucci's.  I initially wanted to get another pair of Gucci shades but decided against it so I may try other brands.  Am now torn between getting these . . .
Chanel shades

or these . . .

Tom Ford Sabine

Whaccha think?

Best Anti Ageing Creams

As we get a bit older, we need to exert extra effort in keeping our looks younger looking and fresh.  Having a dry complexion, I never had probblems with pimples or acne.  My main concern however as I reached my mid 30's, is that dry skin tends to age faster than oily skin.  I heavily invest on moisturizers and ant ageing creams. I have tried plenty, believe me but I can personally vouch for these 3 as the best for me:

Strivectin SD

This was originally formulated to treat stubborn stretch marks but countless women swear that it is the best anti wrinkle cream in the market.  I tried it and I could swear with the results afte one month.  The only drawback is that it is a bit pricey at $135.  But, it's money well spent.

Estee Lauder Perfectionist


Perfectionist by Estee Lauder is not only a very effective anti wrinkle serum, it also smoothens the skin.  One will immediately feel the effect after application.  It is a great  cream for the eye and forehead area as it drastically improves the appearance of the skin after a few application.  Regular price is $100 but one can get it from Amazon at a lower price.

Olay Total Effects

The best value for money moisturizer and anti ageing lotion in the local market.  SRP is only Php 750 but it can compete with high end creams.  I use this as a make up base for a well mosturized complexion.  Combined with Perfectionist or Strivectin, results will be obvious and fast.

Love this book . . .

I've always been an avid reader.  Since I learned how to read at an early age, books have been my best friends.  I'd rather read than watch tv or do anything else.  I have a wide collection of books by my favorite authors - Judith Mc Naught, Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown and Sidney Sheldon.  In fact I have a complete collection of all their published works.  My most valuable acquisition though are my 7 First Editions of Harry Potter books (yes, I'm a child at heart!).  I also have all Twilight books and my newest addition to my collection - the Percy Jackson books.  All five of them. 

I first got interested in Percy Jackson when I saw the movie The Lightning Thief as I have a fascination with Greek and Roman mythology.  The movie was ok but a friend mentioned that the book is much much better.  So, I bought the first book in the series and got hooked.  True enough, the plot and characters were more exciting.  In fact, the gist of the movie kinda deviated from the actual book. I finished the first 4 books during the Holy week (4 days!!).  I just purchased the final book The Last Olympian today as it was out of stock in almost all bookstores.  Good thing they still have a few left in Powerbooks Greenbelt 4.  I am so excited to read it. :)

Summertime. . . Vacation time

Our family is always excited when summer comes.  It is a time to unwind and visit our favorite getaways.  My daughter loves the beach and would gladly go to Boracay anytime.  The husband and myself personally love cold places.  Our most memorable vacation in the last few years was our trip to the States 4 years ago.  The weather then in LA was cold as it was early Spring.  We stayed in Chino Hills and went to Las Vegas for a weekend.  We had a blast in Disneyland, Sea World and Universal Studios.  Of course, I did not dare miss all the fabulous outlets there like Cabazon, Carlsbad, Primms etc.

The little brat had a lot of fun trying out the rides in Universal  Studios but got scared of Kingkong.  Her most anticipated moment however is to see and experience some snow.  Being in LA however, there is of course no snow.  We were seriously thinking of trying vail vacation rentals just to make her happy then. I heard from friends who were from the States that their vacation packages are well worth it and truly remarkable.  One can ski, play golf, shop and dine in any of their getaways. The rooms or cottages are comfortable and well equipped thus ensuring a truly perfect vacation.  Unfortunately for us, our time then was limited thus we had to forego our planned getaway.  Next time we go to the States, we will definitely avail of vail valley's vacation packages.

Cheek Stains

Benefit Benetint

This cheek stain is the best one in the market for me.  It not only smells wonderfull (fresh cut roses scent), it also lasts practically the whole day.  It's non greasy and easy to apply.  Don't be deceived by the bright red color as it lightens when applied.  Apply moderately on cheeks and blend with your fingertips.  Apply a light powder afterwards to lessen the harshness.  If applied moderately, one pot would last for 8-12 months.  SRP is about Php 1800.  Got mine for HKD300. 


Tarte Cheek Stain

             

The Tarte Cheek Stain available in most Sephora stores is a water based gel cheek color.  Unlike the Benetint which comes in only one color (not considering the Posie tint), Tarte has a variety of shades, all of which are great and smells yummy!  My personal favorites are tipsy (sheer coral pink and apricot scented) and flush (sheer berry and raspbery scented). I particularly prefer this cheek stain as it blends well wih dry skinned gals like myself.  Since it's gel type, it glides easily leaving a rosy and dewy flush.  The only disadvantage is that it does not last as long as the Benetint.  Tarte cheek stain: $30 in Sephora.         

Smashbox O Glow

           

As I am partial to Smashbox products, I decided to try their O Glow as well.  All their powder based blush, liquid foundation, primer and lipstick work well for me thus, I thought this would do as well. It is said to be an "intuitive" stain that reacts to your natural skin chemistry to turn cheeks into the color you blush naturally.  Ths product is ok I guess, but I'd rather get the Tarte or Benetint.  It doesn't last that long (it lasts longer than the Tarte though), and it's a bit chalky sometimes.  Plus, you have to apply a bit much for it to work. It's much too pink for my taste as well.  SRP: Php 1300 in Beauty Bar.

I LoVe my New LV Galliera

This is what I got for my birthday this year and I'm absolutely ecstatic!!!

 I've always eyed this baby since last year.  In fact, I was torn between getting this Galliera or the Chanel patent biarritz when we were in HK last year.  I ended up getting the Chanel as I wanted a new black bag then but I still dreamt of owning this bag.  Luckily, the ever thoughtful and generous hubby granted my wish during my recent birthday.  I was really surprised as I didn't expect anything grand from him this year coz he said that the Rolex he gave me last year was good for 2 birthdays (hehehe).

Thank you baby, i LoVe my gift!!

In search of the perfect planner

Every new year, I am in a dilemma as to what planner to use for the year.  There's the ever popular Starbucks planner, our very own Bayan planner and several others from clients.  My problem was solved however when I saw the Belle De Jour planner in National Bookstore.

This planner is absolutely perfect for my needs.  It's not only cute but it's loaded with necessities such as a plastic pouch, Forget-me-not notes, discount coupons, habit tracker, wellness tips and even a menstrual cycle monitor!  It has numerous tips on how to save money, keep track of your expenses and how to enjoy life to the fullest.  It's such a great find and such a joy to use.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to everyone.  May 2010 bring us positive changes, better luck, the best of health and abundant material and spiritual blessings.

According to Astrologers, the lucky colors for the Year of the Tiger is yellow or blue.  Good news for me as yellow is one of my favorite colors.  As it is the year of the metal tiger, silver is considered to be a lucky charm as well. So got get those silver bracelets, amulets or any other charms.