~embracing the clutter in my head~

The Body Shop Mini Haul

2012-01-13T17:17:00.004-05:00

Passed by The Body Shop after work because I wanted to try their face sprays coz my MAC fix + ran out and I thought I'd try something new. Instead of getting just one thing I ended up with a few more purchases... Good thing they were on sale :)

These brushes are so soft and perfect for traveling! I got two of them. I really like that they don't shed, they're very dense and pick up a lot of product. I also love that it comes with its own travel pouch.
Got another lip product...
And finally, what I really set out to buy originally. I like the faint rose smell, it's really light. Works as well as MAC fix + when used as a setting spray, in my opinion.

Essentials Haul

2011-12-21T20:47:00.003-05:00

So this is what I have been buying this week. Lotion, lotion, lotion. Hehe, my skin gets really dry during the cold months so I'm stocking up on these...

I got lotion from Lubriderm, Aveeno and Cetaphil - my favorite kind that is sort of hard to get and somewhat pricey. But I got these all on sale and believe it or not, we most likely will use this up in the next few months :) Also got Neutrogena moisturizer and makeup remover pads, Goody spin pins (I've heard so many good reviews about this I just had to try) and Seche Vite - everyone's favorite top coat.

I stock up on beauty/skin care products when they're on sale so I never run out of essential items like body wash, shampoo, toilet paper, etc. I'm also not really very picky so drug store brands are A-ok with me and I like it when I get a good deal.

Awesome Sneaks

2011-12-06T19:19:00.004-05:00

I can't help but do a review on these Reebok Zig sneakers. I've been gushing about how comfortable these shoes are for a couple of weeks now. A friend of mine bought a pair a few months ago and I didn't believe that it was so great because the design didn't really appeal to me, it still looks pretty weird even though I've been wearing it for close to a month now, but it's slowly growing on me...

I use these mainly for walking, I'm not a big runner. These shoes really provide good balance and a lot of stability, probably coz it's wider at the base.

My husband got a pair too, I think they're called Realflex. They're a bit normal-looking than mine and he loves them too, so yey! for Reebok :)

If you're a little bit skeptical as I was, I suggest just going to the store and trying them on, won't cost a thing and you'll know for sure if these are the sneakers you've been looking for all along. Sizes do tend to run a bit smaller in Reebok, just FYI.

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit

2011-12-04T08:33:00.003-05:00

I love this season, everything gets so festive and dressed up for the holidays. Got our tree up. Same exact one as last year, didn't change a thing...

Had date night with my husband last night. Went to the city to look at the nice store displays and light shows. Here's the facade of Fendi... Ridic! Dripping with lights and crystals.
Then there's the red bow Cartier always puts up every year.
There were so many people! Did everyone decide to go to New York City last night???
Anyway, the Rockefeller Christmas tree was gorgeous and breathtaking as usual. Didn't stay long as we had to grab some dinner and catch a show...
We were there fairly early - seats were sold out. Enjoyed the Rockettes' performance - they're really amazing!

On the way home, almost every radio station played Christmas songs. I love this season :)

Cute Little Things

2011-12-02T19:12:00.005-05:00

Went to Crate & Barrel recently, I LOVE that store... actually, any store that sells housewares I love :) Anyway, I found these cute sauce holders and condiment spoons. I'm planning to put our soy sauce and vinegar in them for sawsawan. Can't get over them, they tiny and perfect!

Also got some cute baby boy clothes for a friend's baby shower. There's so much cute baby clothes out there, I just love shopping for them coz they're so small and adorable...
Speaking of babies, isn't this the cutest baby ever?
He's so round and fat! I love fat babies :)

My Very Basic Skin Care Routine

2011-11-27T16:49:00.005-05:00

Thought I'd just share a few things I use on a daily basis, coz I also like reading about what other ladies use to get ready... I don't really use a lot of eye makeup or heavy makeup everyday but if I do then I usually use Almay makeup remover pads and Ponds cold cream. They're both very effective at removing makeup without me having to scrub it off my face.

After I remove my makeup that's when I usually take a shower. I follow up with Purpose cleanser for my face to get rid of the greasy feeling from the makeup remover and get that squeaky clean feeling. Using Dove body wash right now but that usually varies, depending on what's available. We don't use bar soap at all, just a personal preference. I'm using Tigi Bed Head shampoo and conditioner till I use it up, which will be a long time. Sometimes when I get extra flakey I use my husband's Head & Shoulders.
I have pretty low maintenance hair too so I don't use any hair products on a daily basis other than shampoo and conditioner. I also use St Ives apricot scrub occasionally when my face feels a little rough. Of course, everyone needs to wear deodorant so we don't offend others :) I'm using Dove invisible solid right now. I got these in bulk so I have maybe 4 more sticks to finish before I get to switch. The only thing I don't like about this is if I'm not careful and I'm wearing black, it sometimes gets on my clothes when I put them on. Oh well... I use Cetaphil DailyAdvance lotion for my face AND body. I know! I'm so glad this does double duty for me. I know a lot of women use something entirely different for their face - usually something with some SPF or anti-aging thing. But this is really what works for me and I'm not about to change it to some fancy cream, this moisturizes very well without that greasy feeling. I love Cetaphil, enough said!
I don't like heavy scents, I'd rather reapply than get overwhelmed with a perfume so these are pretty much my favorite right now, Burberry Sheer and Gap Dream. I have other perfumes/EDTs but they don't get used as often as these two, you can tell because they're half-empty already.
So that's it! My very simple and basic daily routine.

Faux Leather Goods

2011-11-08T19:50:00.003-05:00

It's officially shopping season, my favorite time of the year :) Got some cute things... First up a motorcycle jacket from Baby Gap for one of our inaanak. Freakin' cute! It kinda sorta matches my husband's black leather jacket (although his is definitely more expensive).

All the pockets are fully functional, love the details and stitching. The lining is awesome too. I want to buy one for our future son :)
I got this bag from Aldo. Nice and soft and smells so good...
More bags... Not as nice but not as expensive either :)
Oh! I have to do a post about a shoe I got recently. But that will have to wait till tomorrow. I'm finishing up my stuffed mushrooms and black bean stew for our dinner...

Early Christmas Gifts

2011-11-04T18:02:00.002-04:00

Finally got around to buying stuff for ourselves... My husband had been wanting to get the new iPhone but it was always sold out. After a week of trying we got a reservation online and picked it up from the Apple store.

And I got an iPad 2 (yey!) with a pink Smart Cover too :) Ngayon, 'di na kami nagpapansinan coz we're both busy downloading apps like crazy...

One thing that peeves me though is the iPad has a crappy camera, you would think they'd give it a decent one for the price you're paying AND it doesn't support flash :( Should I have gotten a Samsung Galaxy tab instead? Or a Blackberry Playbook? Aaahhh!

Wardrobe Remix #27

2011-10-29T06:52:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since my last outfit post. Thought I'd share a quick one...

Blazer: Kamiseta

Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: random find from Glorietta

Shoes: 5 year old Nine West flats

Sunglasses: Charles & Keith
Really like this houndstooth blazer that actually shrunk already from too many washes. It's so warm but a little itchy inside coz it's not lined.

Early Christmas Shopping

2011-10-27T19:23:00.004-04:00

Got started with my Christmas shopping already! I have quite a lot of folks and godchildren to give presents to (my husband and I are currently playing ninong and ninang to 4 kids - all under the age of 1).

Anyway, kids stuff at a later post. I have to say, it's so easy to shop for ladies - there's so much you can give... I got these two Nine West bags, really cute, I kinda want them for myself :)

This one's for my sis-in-law - PocketBac sanitizer from Bath & Body Works and makeup from e.l.f. I love that she's not so picky, basically likes everything I give her, kahit mura lang :)
And a bunch of Aero shirts.
I also got some stuff for myself but nothing special, just basics from the Gap. I'm so tired of shopping, we spent about 6 hours at the mall yesterday just buying stuff. Gonna be relieved when the giving season is over...

His & Hers - Closets

2011-10-15T06:35:00.002-04:00

I'm so fortunate to have a relatively neat husband. It would really drive me nuts if I had married a slob. Anyway, we have a pretty small apartment and storage is a big problem. We got his wardrobe from Ikea for a very good price earlier this year. (He has a lot more clothes now, of course...)

Just didn't like the plastic doorhandles that it came with so we installed some new ones. It's a good basic wardrobe to start with and it was very easy to assemble, it took us maybe 2 hours from start to finish.

In contrast, I got the built-in closet from floor to ceiling, it sucks that it isn't very efficient, but hopefully we won't be here too long and I can have a walk-in in a couple of years :) Yeah right, dream on!

Yup, it's a mess, I have a lot of clothes. What can I say? We have four seasons.

Sick Of Chocolate

2011-09-20T08:08:00.003-04:00

I've been sick for a few days now because I ate this...

My husband got them last Friday and I had some, even though I know I develop allergies when I eat something sweet. I know, it sucks. Good thing I'm not really fond of sweets, just sometimes when I want a cup of hot chocolate or a slice of leche flan or cheesecake... but I'd rather have savory than sweet. I just don't like being sick.

Having A Little Fun In The Kitchen

2011-09-17T18:16:00.004-04:00

Got these egg molds a while back, found them at a specialty kitchenware store. They are so cute and adorable - hard to use with eggs but perfect for pancakes.

Haven't gotten the hang of it yet but I will :)
Just add some butter, maple syrup and some banana slices - it'll make a pretty breakfast...

Electronic Haul

2011-09-16T07:09:00.002-04:00

We have been frequenting our local electronic retailer to get some stuff for my husband's family. Got a Dell Inspiron laptop and Nikon Coolpix camera for my sis-in-law (who loves anything pink), a Nikon L120 for dad-in-law and Sony Cyber-shot for bro-in-law.

Hope they like our early Christmas gifts, in addition to the three balikbayan boxes that we already sent a while back.

Decompressing My Shoe Closet

2011-09-02T17:05:00.003-04:00

I got rid of 18 pairs of shoes because they no longer fit in my closet. Living in a small apartment really pushes you to edit your belongings. Plus my husband keeps complaining of the stray shoes I have lying around... Probably half of the shoes I had to part with I've only used a couple of times. Of course, they went to a good cause :)

I use a bookcase (about 6 feet tall) for a shoe cabinet, because I can't afford to have a walk-in closet like Mariah's. I just covered it with an old shower curtain so it wouldn't be disgusting to look at, hehe...

Now this is what's left of my meager but much loved collection. Trimmed down significantly but still a little full. But seriously, I only have two feet, how many pairs could I possibly need?
I need to find a way to organize boots, they're awkward to store and takes up too much space when upright... Ideas anyone?

Major, Major Haul

2011-08-15T18:38:00.005-04:00

We have been shopping a lot lately because we're sending a balikbayan box to my husband's family. So behold, our most recent shoe haul...

Yeah, I know, they're gonna be swimming in sneakers...

Then the almost perishables...
We filled two boxes already, might need to get a third, I don't know... Anyway, it's fun sending stuff to the Philippines, they probably have a lot of these things there but they said it's more expensive, especially electronics. Gonna post some good buys later :)

Kitchen Liners

2011-08-11T21:03:00.004-04:00

Got some grip liners to match our yellow kitchen walls. I lined the drawers and some of the shelves because I got so tired of the utensils sliding around the place. Plus it looks prettier and you know I'm a sucker for pretty :)

Our kitchen is really tiny so it's good we don't have a lot of stuff. My mom gave us this Corelle dinnerware set that we have been using everyday, I swear it never breaks no matter how much we bang it around. I'm sold on this for life!

Our Camping Weekend And Tent Review

2011-08-09T17:43:00.004-04:00

So a few weeks ago we were stressing over what tent to get for our camping trip. Finally settled on a Wenzel Big Bear tent due to the price [got it for only $80 due to an online promo] and the size [roof is 6 feet tall and we wanted a tent we could stand in comfortably].

The website said that it was good for 7 people which is hard to believe because you obviously still have to put your stuff in it. I'd say it's a stretch, but it may fit 4 adults perfectly, it has room for two queen size airbeds with space to spare.
Just to show you what the inside looks like. Very comfortable and spacious for the two of us.
The only caveat was that it rained on our last night for the whole night. Almost every tent there regardless of brand or size had water seeping in through the seams. So I'd say we fared pretty well considering it didn't flood inside our tent :)
Me and the husband with our small really packed car. We had a lot of fun camping even though there's not really much to do but eat, clean up, sleep, hang out. And eat ice cream :)
Combination of Death by Chocolate + Mint Chocolate Chip.
Nothing beats gourmet ice cream on a hot day!

Weekend Haul

2011-08-09T06:56:00.004-04:00

Passed by the toy store again on our way back from camp and got a few things for the nieces. In addition to Barbie stuff [see earlier post] we also included some educational/learning games. I think that in addition to playing, kids nowadays should also be able to learn at the same time to develop their basic numerical and problem-solving skills. I especially want these girls to have that advantage to help them later in life.

Passed by MAC again and got a lipstick, foundation and blushes. If you're interested in the specifics: Lustre lipstick in Syrup [I love anything Lustre!], Pinch O' Peach blush, and Peachtwist blush.
Also got some stuff from Ikea but I'll just do that at a later blog post.

My Husband's Ugly Shoes

2011-08-01T18:42:00.002-04:00

No amount of cajoling can convince this stubborn man that I married. He just had to have these fugly footwear brand that I've been trying to steer him away from for the longest time. But we are going camping this weekend and he really wanted to get it for camp. I gave up because if the one you love wants to get something he loves, what are you gonna do about it? I just let it go this time, hopefully he will only wear them for camp and it will get so dirty and disgusting that I would have to throw them away afterward...

I swear to add insult to injury he had to get jibbits, which are cute if, say, you were 4 years old and had crocs, but he's a grown man, it looks kinda stupid if you ask me. Gosh, it was so exasperating, we were in that store for more than an hour and he came up with a tennis ball [he plays tennis], a race car [he likes to watch F1 racing], a guitar [he plays too], etc, you get my drift. He says they're really comfortable. Honestly, I tried on a pair, they're not. My slippers from A&F were a lot softer and a lot nicer for much less money. But he seems to be really happy with this purchase so I can't stay upset at him and his fugly shoes...

I have to close off this post with something pretty. I just have to...

I wanted to get a new watch to replace my Guess Waterpro that just stopped working last week. I had a few requirements though: it needs to have a second hand, it needs to be lightweight, and it needs to be water resistant to some extent. So first we went to Swatch, I was surprised that they didn't have a lot of selection with my specifications. I did end up buying a blue one because it was the only one that I kind of liked.

So we walked around the mall some more, my husband got a few shirts and shorts from Banana Republic, then we dropped by another watch store and what do you know, I found a better watch for exactly the same price!
And it's in my favorite color too! I just had to have it so I bought it on the spot. The straps are rubberized, if you're wondering. Now my dilemma was I didn't like the Swatch watch anymore now that I had this pretty thing. So we went back to the Swatch store and I told the gay guy who sold me the watch that I found something better. He told me that sorry, the watch can only be returned for store credit or exchanged for something else. I was crestfallen. I didn't want a Swatch. So he goes to his manager and thank goodness he was so nice. He said since I just bought the watch an hour ago that he would void the transaction, he felt bad for not giving me my money back. I was so thankful and I told them so and also apologized for the inconvenience, they were really gracious about it. See, that's customer service for you.

Barbie Crazie

2011-08-01T16:36:00.003-04:00

My husband's older brother has three girls ages 2-7 and they are crazy about Barbie dolls. I didn't really play with Barbies when I was a little girl, I was more like a tomboy back then and my choice of playthings were marbles [jolen], rubber bands [lastiko], and Legos. So it's a novelty to be buying stuff for our nieces...

The eldest one says she prefers the quintessential-looking caucasian Barbie so we got her two of those. I do think that the one of the far right has the best-looking face though. We also got them some wardrobe changes because Barbie can't be at the beach all the time :) Now is this fun or what? My paper dolls in 4th grade were nothing compared to this...
And... when Barbie needs to get around she can cruise in style on a pink convertible!
They didn't have the "Glam House" when we were in the store so I'll just get it some other time. I also saw the black label Barbie collectibles - they're so cute I want to buy them for myself! It seems a bit to late to be enjoying these dolls but I was deprived of the experience when I was young so I'm catching up now :)

Junk And Other Stuff

2011-07-29T07:40:00.004-04:00

I have a confession. I love to eat junk food. :( I try not to do it all the time but every other day or so when I come home from work and there's nothing [healthy] to eat yet, I reach for the junk food cabinet...

I'm not much of a sweet tooth, I mostly crave savory or salty/spicy/vinegary (is that a word?). My husband can't relate to this, he doesn't eat chips of any kind. Out of all that assortment he would probably only touch the egg cracklets (top right). Oh well, more for me. I almost always do get a reminder from him to drink a lot of water right after imbibing in junk food to flush all those MSG out of my system. Good husband.

Speaking of food again, my husband takes breakfast and lunch to work and uses our leftover containers which I hate to wash when he comes home because he brings a lot of them. We are using these containers from Rubbermaid to store our leftovers. So I got him two kits from Fit & Fresh, one for breakfast and one for lunch. That way I don't have to wash so many things...
The Nalgene water bottles came in a two-pack and together they can hold 1.5 L of water, enough for his work day. He used to bring my pink 1L Nalgene and an alex water bottle. I kinda felt sorry for him coz they weren't "manly" enough. Hehe...

Passed by the drugstore also yesterday to pick up some dishwashing liquid and something for me :) I'm liking this flavor of Carmex and love that it's not in a squeezable tube, which gets kinda goopy and messy. The lip balm sticks are great, less hassle and more hygienic. Also, my nails are a little yellow because I've been wearing a lot of nail polish lately so I hope this nail whitener from Essie works. I was trying to find a product called Yellow Out but I couldn't find it. I forgot what brand it is, maybe Sally Hansen. Oh well, this will have to do for now.
I have to clean and organize our medicine cabinet later, we have been through that thing like a tornado recently and it's a mess. There might be some meds that need to be thrown out too...

Day 30

2011-07-23T23:30:00.003-04:00

Blog: A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days.

This was me today, we went to the park. We're battling a heat wave right now and our electric bill must be so high already :( I'm glad I completed my 30 day blog challenge. This will be the last post.

Now I'm supposed to enumerate three good things that have happened in the past month. First, I'm glad that my husband's feeling better... According to the doctor, it's a viral infection that he's had for the past five days. Now he no longer has a fever at night and his symptoms are less severe. I'm trying to take care of him as best as I could, even took two days off from work. Thankfully, my boss is very understanding :)

Second, our front and rear car bumpers are fixed! We've (well, mostly just my husband) been hoping to get rid of the marks from previous bumps, the guy who did the paint job did a really good job. Now our car looks semi-new :)

Third, our finances have improved and that is always good. Work is a blessing and even though there are challenging days we just take it in stride. Sulit naman when the paycheck comes every week :)

That's all folks! Hope you also have lots of wonderful blessings to be thankful for...

Day 29

2011-07-22T06:52:00.002-04:00

Blog: Something that you could never get tired of doing.

Eventually, I get tired of doing everything - shopping, eating, watching movies... It's impossible not to... but something that I really like to do is... spend time with the one I love. I still consider my husband and I as newlyweds even if we were married over a year ago. I wish I could spend all my time with him, just to cuddle, talk and have fun. I hate it when he leaves for work or when I leave for work, I really miss him at the end of the day. I'm kind of baduy like that. Anyway, spending time with the one you love is something that you can't easily get tired of.

Day 28

2011-07-20T21:04:00.002-04:00

Blog: Your favorite movie.

I LOVE this movie. It's really old though but I can't seem to get tired of watching it.

Two Timepieces

2011-07-19T08:39:00.003-04:00

My husband and I went to the mall recently to buy a watch for him. He already has three watches but they're all silver metal watches so he wanted to switch it up a bit. We stopped by Fossil first and after much deliberation decided to get the one below on the left.

So we were walking along happily after his purchase, he even wore the watch right out of the store. Unfortunately, we decided to pass by another watch store (I don't know why we didn't make that our first stop) and saw the Kenneth Cole one on the right. He was smitten and fell in love with it instantly, plus it was much cheaper than the first watch we bought. He ended up getting two watches on the same afternoon.

Day 27

2011-07-19T08:14:00.003-04:00

Blog: Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 10 songs.

1. New York State of Mind - Billy Joel

2. Invincible - Christian Bautista

3. One Step At A Time - Jordin Sparks

4. Run To You - Whitney Houston

5. She's The One - Robbie Williams

6. Listen - Beyoncé

7. Rainbow - South Border

8. Be My World - Milky

9. Woman - John Lennon

10. You're Just Too Good To Be True - Burt Bacharach

Mad About Soap

2011-07-19T08:02:00.002-04:00

My husband and I are fans of foaming hand soap. Not only is it easier to use (no more slippery bars dropping into the sink), but I feel that it's also more hygienic. Personally, if I'm a visitor in someone's home, I don't like to use their bar soap coz I don't know how many hands have touched it... but that's just me.

Anyway, we stocked up on these anti-bacterial hand soaps from Bath and Body Works, in my opinion, they smell better. I don't really like super fruity flavors so we got the milder scents: eucalyptus mint, aqua blossom, kitchen lemon, coconut lime verbena, white citrus and summer escape. They do have dozens more of other flavors.

Day 26

2011-07-18T16:59:00.003-04:00

Blog: Think back to how you were 5 years ago. How have you changed since then?

2006 seems like such a long time ago. I was still adjusting to the work scene, still struggling with my first job. But it felt good to be finally making (and spending) my own money, without having to rely on my parents. It's a great feeling. I was certainly a little bit more carefree back then since I didn't really pay a lot of bills. I was still very immature and sometimes kinda stupid, five years really gave me a little bit of wisdom brought about by experience.

It's good to look back once in a while to see where you've been and how far you've come. A lot of mistakes made, a lot of knowledge gained, a lot lessons learned, sometimes the hard way. Anyway, all I wanted to say was that I'll never trade my experiences, my ups and downs, for anything because it made me who I am today.

Day 25

2011-07-17T21:00:00.002-04:00

Blog: Something that you miss.

I miss being a child. Being carefree and being dependent on my parents. I miss playing all day, not having to work, not having to pay bills, not being responsible for anything. Sadly, I will never get that back and childhood will forever be a fond memory. I was playing with my friend's 8-year old daughter today and it struck me how different my childhood was from hers. She had better toys, games, books, activities, and opportunities while we only had the necessities... Still, I could relate to her fun and happiness because I remember what it was like. Every child should have the opportunity to just be a child and act like a child. Kids these days seem to grow up too quickly, wearing make-up/slutty clothes too soon, acting like they're mature and independent when clearly they're not. Honestly, there's plenty of time to do that when you're older :) Don't grow up too fast little ones...

Day 24

2011-07-16T06:38:00.002-04:00

Blog: What's in your purse?

Purse is a gray Old Navy leatherette hobo. Not a lot inside since my only errand so far is to drop my husband off at work. Anyway here's what's inside...

cellphone - my Blackberry is inside that brown Fossil case.

wallet - black billfold from Ralph Lauren.

sunglasses - this pair is from Charles & Keith.

car keys

house keys

lipbalm - my lips are chapped again so I'm religiously using Carmex.

That's it!

Day 23

2011-07-14T18:08:00.000-04:00

Blog: 20 facts about you.

1. I got married to my 4th grade classmate.

2. I'm the eldest of 4 children and the only girl.

3. I was born left-handed but got switched when I was young.

4. I went to 5 different grade schools and 2 high schools.

5. I moved around a lot growing up.

6. I play the piano, also some clarinet and violin.

7. I love shopping, especially for shoes and bags.

8. I passed my road test on the first try.

9. I was recently diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse.

10. I am a bargain hunter and love it when I get a good deal.

11. I traveled solo in Europe.

12. I gained 10 pounds since I got married.

13. I'm lactose intolerant.

14. I crave salty food instead of sweet.

15. I have one mole between my eyes and another between my boobs. They line up perfectly.

16. I love watching sunsets from our balcony.

17. My favorite food is lumpia.

18. I'm addicted to Word Mole on my Blackberry. My top score is 10,689.

19. I do the AMNY's crossword puzzle everyday and most of the time finish it in under 20 minutes.

20. I know the horoscope's not real but if mine's good I have a happier day :) Weird, I know.

Day 22

2011-07-10T21:09:00.004-04:00

Blog: Bullet your whole day.

Slept late last night [actually, early morning]
Got up @ 7am to clean the house and wash the dishes from last night's get together with friends.
Soaked up the sun in the beach, that's twice in the past week already. Different beach though...
Lost my favorite pair of sunglasses from Banana Republic :( [I guess it's time to get a new one!]
Went to our church's garage sale but it was over and they already made a lot of money so....
Trip to the mall with a tired husband, shopped in Gymboree for our godchildren [all 3 of them], got underwear and shirts at Aeropostale and got blush and foundation from MAC.
Shopping online for a new tent. Can't decide between a Coleman and a Wenzel.
Dead tired from a busy day with lots of driving. Can't wait to go to bed...

Vicky's Secret

2011-07-08T22:58:00.003-04:00

Sis-in-law wanted some stuff from VS. I'm not really a fan, I find their scents too cloying. Anyway, I got her some body mists, shower gel, lotion (so many flavors to chose from!) and some underwear. Can't believe how much they charge for a bra there, it's ridiculous... Oh well, anything to keep a sister happy :)

Day 21

2011-07-08T06:48:00.002-04:00

Blog: A photo of something that makes you happy.

I love gorgeous sunsets! This was one of them, taken last July 4. That and of course my husband makes me happy :)

Day 20

2011-07-07T06:56:00.003-04:00

Blog: The meaning behind your blog name.

[chicpinay]

When I started this blog, I wanted an easy catchy title and since I was kinda into fashion then I thought why not have the word chic in there - nice, short and easy. Then I added pinay because, well, that's self-explanatory...

[embracing the clutter in my head]

This I got from a Chris Rock quote years ago, he said, "I embrace the clutter in my head." I thought why not incorporate that into my blog title as well. I enjoy a lot of things, I do a lot of things, I think about a lot of things, and most of it are really trivial and frivolous - basically cluttering up my mind, hehe... So there's my revelation.

Day 19

2011-07-06T19:00:00.004-04:00

Blog: Another picture of yourself.

Been really busy the past few days hence the lapse in blogging. This was taken the day before yesterday - cooling down with a dutch chocolate soft-serve in the middle of Times Square. Was up 21 hours that day, exhausting!

Day 18

2011-07-04T04:33:00.002-04:00

Blog: Something you crave a lot.

For some reason, I really like the skin and gravy of Jollibee's Chickenjoy. I want to eat it now! I know it's sooo unhealthy but it's just sooo good!

Day 17

2011-07-03T14:15:00.003-04:00

Blog: Your celebrity crush.

Until now I still haven't gotten over my Pierce Brosnan crush. He's just so handsome and ages really well. His James Bond and Thomas Crowne Affair movies really make me kilig, I hope he's also as smooth, charming, and crazy good-looking in real life as well as on the big screen...

Day 16

2011-07-02T17:46:00.002-04:00

Blog: A photo of you and your family.

Me and my family. I also gained another family on my husband's side so my family circle is growing. We hope in the near future we can create our own little family with a bunch of kids. We'll see... :)

Day 15

2011-07-01T21:16:00.002-04:00

Blog: Something you don't leave your house without.

There are a lot of things I need to bring with me whenever I go out, I guess I'm just a little high maintenance... Anyway, they are really basic things - wallet, cellphone with holder, keys, pen (this one my friend gave me from India), lipstick, lip balm (my lips are chapped right now), sample perfume (for when you need a little refresher), hand lotion, hair tie, and something to eat.

Day 14

2011-06-30T07:17:00.002-04:00

Blog: A TV show you're currently addicted to.

I just LOVE this series, can't get enough of it! I saw the pilot episode and I was hooked :) I'm in love with Neal Caffrey's character and generally like the plots and story lines.

Day 13

2011-06-29T07:17:00.000-04:00

Blog: Your favorite musician and why?

Michael Bublé is my favorite musician - he's such a great singer, performer and entertainer. Plus my husband likes his music too :)

Day 12

2011-06-28T15:12:00.002-04:00

Blog: A photograph of the town you live in.

I live in a pretty busy town in Queens, NY - just a couple miles east of Manhattan. This is the view from our balcony, you can see the city skyline in the distance. I love where I live right now, it's great location-wise. We're close to a lot of restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and transportation (need to be close to the train coz I'm in the city everyday for work). Someday, we would like to move to a quieter location when we have children, but right now this works for us coz it's so convenient.

Day 11

2011-06-27T15:13:00.003-04:00

Blog: What's in your makeup bag?

I try not to carry too much in my kikay kit - only the essentials...

From the top:

1) retractable makeup brush from Sephora

2) MAC blush in Well Dressed

3) MAC face powder in Medium Plus

4) L'Oréal Lineur Intense eyeliner

5) MAC lipgloss in Viva Glam

6) MAC lipstick in Viva Glam

7) Maybelline Define-a-lash mascara

8) Sonia Kashuk brow definer

I totally failed my blog challenge after the 10th day because I was sooo busy :( Will try to continue with it though...

Day 10

2011-06-23T17:13:00.001-04:00

Blog: A photo of your favorite place to eat.

Gerry's Grill is my favorite restaurant. I especially love and crave their tuna sisig and green mango shake. Photo was taken in MOA with the Andradas who treated us to dinner that night.

Day 9

2011-06-22T16:18:00.002-04:00

Blog: A photo of the item you last purchased.

So this is what I bought today...

I was only going to get some tampons coz I run out but then I remembered we were running low on facial wash and lotion so I had to add a couple of things.

Tampax pearl is my favorite, they had other brands at the drugstore but didn't want to waste a lot of time, better stick to what works for you...

I also like Purpose as a cleanser, not too drying and cleans well. It also has the Allure beauty seal, so obviously, a lot of people recommend it.

I have really dry skin so I need to put on lotion all the time, even in the summer. I got this tall, 21-ounce bottle of Jergens Ultra Healing moisturizer - it smelled good and I needed a cheaper alternative to my usual Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion. I'm just gonna use the less expensive lotion for my body, it should work just as well...

I found this new product from the same company that manufactures perhaps the best loved lipbalm in the world - Carmex. I just found out that they started making healing creams. Let's hope that aside from producing lip balm to heal chapped lips, they could also make an awesome product for my alligator-skin hands :)

Day 8

2011-06-21T20:02:00.004-04:00

Blog: A song and photo to match your mood.

My mood is crappy. Here's why...

I'm on the rag right now that's why I keep bleeding, keep keep bleeding... I should really make a period mix like the one in the movie with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, the title escapes me right now.

I thought this was a cute picture... Girls should really walk around with a warning sign like this whenever they have their period :) Just kidding!

Day 7

2011-06-20T17:20:00.000-04:00

Blog: Your dream wedding.

I already got married a year ago, not quite the dream wedding that I wanted but I'm glad that I married my dream man and we have a wonderful marriage. But, if you would ask me what my dream wedding is, here it is...

Would love to get married in 620 Loft & Garden. My husband, however, insisted on a church wedding. But isn't this venue so pretty? It's right below the Rockefeller with views of the St Patrick's Cathedral and Saks Fifth Ave. Really glam location with an equally glam price. My brother actually tried to negotiate the place for our wedding (got $5,000 off for the space rental) but it was still so expensive.

I have no idea how much Karen Tran charges for her floral arrangements but in my dream wedding, she would do all the flowers. I just LOVE Karen Tran Florals!

I love the idea of haute couture-like bridesmaids dresses ever since I saw Sex and the City. I really like the dresses below although not too much the colors - I like how they're all equally stylish and not typical of a bridesmaids dress. I did have hot bridesmaids in my wedding though :)
Now for my gown. I'm gonna make sure to be the star of the show (along with my husband, of course) so any of these dresses below will do...
I like anything with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt with lots of tiers or detail. I wore a very simple version of my dream gown as I didn't have much time to find a dress, ordered my gown just a few months before the wedding.

How I wish I could have Monique Lhuillier design a gown for my wedding. Although it seems ridiculous to spend so much on a dress you only wear once. Mine is in storage in my parents' house collecting dust.

So that's pretty much the highlight of my dream wedding. I would not want to get married again though, too stressful. I would, though, want to go on a second honeymoon :)

Day 6

2011-06-19T06:20:00.002-04:00

Blog: A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet.

This is Boo. He's a Pomeranian with a really good groomer :) I love that he kinda looks like a bear or a stuffed toy - freakin cute! I'd love to have a pet exactly like Boo someday... Now, I wonder if we can get Jake to look that way...

Day 5

2011-06-18T06:05:00.002-04:00

Blog: A photo of yourself two years ago.

This was me in 2009, taking a self-portrait for posterity... I think that was the last time I had hair that short, I've been wearing it long since. I still have that dress, bag and watch, in fact, I think I might wear it today...

Day 4

2011-06-17T07:45:00.000-04:00

Blog: Your favorite photograph of your best friend.I consider Jean to be one of my bestest friends. Here she is in Paris with Jeanniebeannie (a stuffed toy that she and her husband bring everywhere they go.) I swear it has gone to a lot of places I haven't - India, Holland, Greece, etc... Anyway, I've known Jean since 2005, we used to do a lot of traveling together back then. I love that she's such a gentle, kind-hearted soul and always willing to listen and laugh at stupid things. One thing that we always tease her about is that she can't say curse words. We forced her to say b***h one time, all she could say was bee-yotch! She really has a very clean mouth :)

Day 3

2011-06-16T17:14:00.000-04:00

Blog: Your favorite store.

Sephora is my favorite store in the whole wide world. My heart gets excited whenever I see the black and white stripes and the tons of makeup, skincare products, perfume, beauty tools, etc, etc, etc that lies inside waiting for me :)

Honestly, I could spend hours there poring over the products, trying on makeup, perfume, nail polish... it's heaven on earth for a girly girl. Here's a photo I lifted off Google...

I became a VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) I think around 2008, it's their rewards program for loyal customers. I get discounts, free samples and a birthday gift each year. I get most of my gifts for female friends and relatives here, I even convinced my husband to get his perfume from Sephora so I can accumulate points, hehe...

Anyway, that's my favorite store.

Day 2

2011-06-15T16:45:00.000-04:00

Blog: A photo of something you ate today.

This is what we had for lunch - awesome bulalo! In English, beef bone marrow and vegetable stew. Yummy with lots of white rice and patis on the side...
Photo is not so good as I took it with my Blackberry Bold, which I just replaced today :) Meet my new phone...

My husband told me to get the white one coz it's prettier, the Torch also comes in red and black (I do like the white better too). And the best part was, I only got it for 1 cent!

Day 1

2011-06-14T16:34:00.004-04:00

Blog: A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

So that's me, or at least, part of my face. Taken a year ago when I had my bangs cut.

My day was ok, pretty ordinary actually... went to work, got take out on the way home, watching tv now and paying bills online, waiting for my husband to get home so we can watch a movie... I wish my day was more exciting but it wasn't, sometimes it's good that way. :)

The 30 Day Blog Challenge

2011-06-14T16:14:00.003-04:00

I'm gonna try to do a blog challenge to, ummm, challenge myself to blog consistently. I got this from a Canadian beauty blog, I went over the questions and they sound pretty easy to answer so here's what you're going to read here in the next month or so...

Spinal Adjustment

2011-06-10T18:32:00.004-04:00

I had quite a busy day today, just now unwinding and waiting for the husband to come home from work too. I made a visit to the chiropractor after work today and she adjusted my spine. I've been having some low back pain and I have mild scoliosis, add to the fact that I don't have the best posture - I slouch all the time. Anyway, that was a good visit, I'm seriously considering getting regular treatments.

I got a full body massage after that which was a little intense than I had hoped. The masseur said I had very tense shoulders, so glad I had those knots and kinks out even though deep tissue massages are not very comfortable...

Also passed by my cellphone carrier on the way home to find out if I can get the trackball of my Blackberry Bold fixed. I'm a little iffy about signing a 2-year contract just to get a new phone. Although I am really thinking about getting this beauty...

I played with the Torch before because my brother has this, it's a pretty solid phone, I'm just not sure about getting a sliding phone, just coz I've never had a sliding phone before. It's either this or the iPhone, which I think my husband prefers. We shall see.

One For One

2011-06-06T11:53:00.005-04:00

Got our Toms shoes delivered today! They are so comfortable and lightweight, perfect for everyday summer activities. I got the canvas classic shoes in olive and my husband got the grey gingham checkered slip-ons that are already sold out right now.

Also feels good to be contributing to a good cause... probably the reason why Toms shoes are so popular.

A Cool Souvenir

2011-06-01T13:58:00.004-04:00

While we were sending out invitations for our wedding, we thought it would be fun to also send one to the Obamas. So here's the actual invite we mailed to the White House...

And here's what we received a few days before our wedding...
This is definitely one for the scrapbooks that we'll treasure, along with thousands of other people, I'm sure... :)

Happy Anniversary To Us!

2011-05-23T13:15:00.002-04:00

Can't believe it's already been a year since we got married. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful husband. Now, allow me to relive a little of our special day...

Dress is from David's Bridal (actually featured on the cover of Bridal Guide magazine May/June 2010 issue), his tux is from Men's Warehouse.
Me and my bridesmaids. I just let them wear whatever they wanted as long as it was long and did not show any cleavage.
A fun moment with our wedding party (I don't remember where the bible bearer was at this time).
Reception kiss. I love this pic because of the kid's expressions, so cute! Looking forward to spending many, many happy years with you, babe!

Blooming Hyacinths

2011-05-03T23:30:00.001-04:00

Our friends got us a little gift last weekend and now they're in full bloom. They smell wonderful too!

I wish I always have fresh flowers in my home all the time, it makes me feel like I'm rich, hehe. Not to sound like a snob or anything, but I can't stand fake flowers in a vase as decoration, they look really tacky to me.

Pasalubong From Dubai

2011-05-01T19:09:00.005-04:00

A friend of mine just got back from Dubai and gave us some Patchi, which is supposed to be some sort of designer chocolate. Honestly I'm not a big chocolate fan, I'm fine with a bar of Cadbury fruit and nut or a Lindor truffle, but this was really good chocolate. I liked that it wasn't cloyingly sweet and overpowering - just nice, smooth, easy chocolate...

Thanks J!

A Walk In The Park

2011-04-30T20:34:00.004-04:00

A few flower photos while strolling yesterday...

I love these gorgeous tulips! This is my best friend's favorite flower because she married a Dutch guy :)
I think these are called grape hyacinths, pretty cool coz I can hardly find blue flowers...
Narcissus flowers - this is probably the flower from the myth where this guy falls in love with himself after seeing his reflection in a pool of water. Also where they got the term narcissistic personality disorder... interesting.
Aster lilies... so elegant!
I love flowers, they make me so happy :)

Anniversary Flowers

2010-11-23T15:36:00.003-05:00

My husband of 6 months surprised me with a bunch of red and white roses today. Aren't they lovely?

Close up shot of one of the blooms. It made me really happy when I saw them after I got home from work today. So thankful that I've got the sweetest husband who hasn't yet forgotten our special days :)

Cleaning The Fridge

2010-11-22T17:36:00.003-05:00

Finally got a chance to clean out the refrigerator. It's a fairly simple process but it takes a lot of time so I had to enlist my husband to help me.

Here are a few tips to efficiently clean a refrigerator...

1. Empty out your fridge contents before you start cleaning.

2. Remove all the shelves and drawers so you can hand wash them in the sink.

3. Give a good scrubbing to the inside walls of your fridge. You can use baking soda and water or vinegar and water. I prefer to use less toxic cleaning agents, don't want my food to smell like bleach or chemicals.

4. Be merciless in throwing out things that need to be dumped. Better to waste food than to ruin your tummy.

5. Use a box of baking soda for odor-control.

6. Group like things together and frequently used items within easy reach.

Now you've got a clean refrigerator you can be proud of even when unwanted nosy guests drop by :)

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2010-11-19T07:10:00.004-05:00

It's starting to feel like Christmas in our cozy home. We just put up the tree a few days ago, decided on rust, gold and metallic as our tree colors this year. Can't stop staring at our tree, it's so pretty :)

Got a capiz tree topper that's made in the Philippines...

Cute boxes make me happy...

Looking forward to a wonderful holiday season!

Wardrobe Remix #26

2009-12-30T17:23:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays... It's been a challenging year for some of us but I'm thankful that we all got through the hard times.

I'm trying to cut down on my spending and actually use the stuff I've accumulated. I believe the term is "recessionista"... I still have quite a few clothes with tags on them waiting to see the light of day so I am "shopping" from my closet for now :)

Dress: Old Navy

Vest: Willi Smith

Sandals: Chinese Laundry

Bag: B. Makowsky

Watch: BCBGirls

I'm trying to use this bag more because although I love the style and the way it drapes, the color makes it hard for it to go with most of my outfits. It's more of a light purple/lilac shade, really gorgeous color, I'll make sure to get a picture of it in natural light.

Anyway, I'm really careful with this bag because it's a little expensive, I don't want to just use it anywhere, I want it to last me a really long time...
I've always admired the face of a Philip Stein but never had the funds or the guts to get one. This satisfies my craving for now :)

My Material Christmas Wish List

2009-12-24T14:59:00.003-05:00

Only 4 items on my list of things I want. Note the word want. I have a longer list of things I need that money cannot buy but they're way too personal so I'm not gonna post them here. Anyway, here it goes (I doubt I'll get the first 3 but it's called a WISH list for a reason :))...

I've been wanting an ebook reader for quite some time now, it's the perfect geek present. For sure I will not be getting this anytime soon as it is already sold out till next year. I'll just have to borrow my dad's new kindle while I wait...

I'm so in love with this special edition HP Mini designed by Tord Boontje because it's so pretty! And you know I am a sucker when it comes to pretty things, combine that with anything tech related - I won't be able to resist it! I really liked the Vivienne Tam edition of the mini too but until now, I still don't know if I need a netbook for sure. My need is clouded by my want...

One of my friends has this and it's really cool and handy for capturing all the precious moments in life that only come once... The minimalist in me really likes the fact that there are no long cords to connect this to a computer :)

And because everybody else needs one, you will never go wrong with an iTunes gift card! It is pretty much a no-brainer and greatly appreciated :)

As I said, these are all non-essential, I could totally do without. Hopefully, we all remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season :) Happy Christmas to all!

Wardrobe Remix #25

2009-12-23T14:07:00.003-05:00

Lately, my blog posts have just been all about outfits, I just can't seem to get out of this blogging rut! Promise, I'm gonna post something else other than clothes and shoes soon. And I have to put up my Christmas wishlist before Christmas :) There's not much on it though, I've been extremely blessed...

Top: ?

Leggings: ?

Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Bag: Team Manila

Watch: BCBGirls

Let's mix it up with some boots... I've been wearing these Steve Maddens all the time now...
I've never actually lived in Manila, the longest I've stayed consecutively was probably a week. And most of that week I spent trolling the malls! But I like this bag and I love Manila :)

Wardrobe Remix #24

2009-12-22T08:33:00.000-05:00

I'm a big t-shirt wearer, especially when I'm at home. I've been a fan of Team Manila shirts mostly because of the quirky humor and edgy graphics promoting Manila/Filipino lifestyle and culture. I find it cute as well and it makes me prouder to be Pinay... I understand it's pretty common these days to be walking around with the map of the Philippines emblazoned on your clothes but if it will help instill and awaken Pinoy pride in us then I would gladly do it :)

Shirt: Team Manila

Cardigan: Gap

Skirt: American Eagle

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bag: Francesco Biasia

Watch: Fossil

A friend of mine has this really cool Francesco Biasia bag that she uses all the time, I mean ALL the time. It's developing a really nice patina the longer she uses it, gosh I LOVE leather bags!

Wardrobe Remix #23

2009-12-20T23:48:00.000-05:00

I wonder what I'll get for Christmas this year. I'll post my wish list soon!

In the meantime, I'm having fun dressing up for the holidays. One of my requirements is that nothing should be too tight around the waist :) I got this dress for really cheap during a trip to Seattle. I think I can still wear this when I get pregnant, yes, it stretches that far!

Dress: City Triangles

Shoes: Nine West

It's weird how I have two shoes of the same style but different brand...
They are so very similar except for a few minor details, I wonder who copied whom?
Someday, I might wear both colors at the same time just for fun :)

Wardrobe Remix #22

2009-12-20T12:09:00.003-05:00

Can't get enough of this black sweater. I have no idea who makes it but it goes with everything! I love how the material of this dress is flowy and doesn't cling to anything, I hate it when the fabric sticks to your legs! The cut is a little bit too sexy (halter neckline and open back) thus the need to cover it up a bit...

Dress: Voila

Sweater: ?

Shoes: Janilyn

Bag: Nuovedive

And a spice of mustard yellow to liven up a monochrome outfit!

Wardrobe Remix #21

2009-12-20T01:00:00.003-05:00

I've been so busy, hardly have time to post... Anyway, I found this dress buried in my closet. I haven't worn it, it still had tags. The bright color combined with the shiny fabric makes it really fancy and since I'm not a really fancy dresser, I have to tone it down with a cover up.

Dress: Morgan & Co

Sweater: ?

Shoes: Chinese Laundry

I found some Morgan & Co party dresses here that are so cute! If only I went to a lot of parties...

I tried putting my hair down but I guess it looks better (a little more polished) when it's up :)

Wardrobe Remix #20

2009-12-07T01:26:00.002-05:00

My "Old" outfit... because I have quite a bit of stuff accumulated from Old Navy that I bought a long time ago. I like that it's relatively inexpensive, I don't like spending too much on clothes.

Dress: Old Navy

Vest/Hoodie: Old Navy

Bag: B. Makowsky

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

I like everything about this bag, most of all the leather... It's awesome!

Wardrobe Remix #19

2009-12-07T01:16:00.002-05:00

One of my friends got me this shirt from the kids section at Bayo. I'm a size 14 in kids :) The challenge was to make it look more "grown up". Solution: add something tight and white + heels :)

Shirt: Bayo Kids

Pants: Shapes

Shoes: Joan & David

Bag: Old Navy

I'm crazy about the texture of this bag. It's super soft and I love how the shape accomodates just about anything...
Nobody wears espadrilles anymore, except me! They are just too comfortable...

Wardrobe Remix #18

2009-12-07T01:04:00.003-05:00

At first glance I didn't know if it was a top or a dress (too long to be a shirt, looked too much like a top to be a dress). I still don't know what it is, let's just call it a shirtdress. It might be a little short to be worn alone though, maybe next time I'll pair it with tights or leggings.

Tube top: People R People

Shirtdress: Old Navy

Boots: Otto

Bag: B. Makowsky

Watch: Fossil

One of my favorite bags, I only bust it out on special occasions though...
They had a buy one, get one sale at Otto so I got this in black too. I like how the heel is hidden inside - gives me the illusion of being taller while wearing "flats" :) Sneaky...

Wardrobe Remix #17

2009-12-07T00:54:00.002-05:00

Yes, you CAN wear shorts to work! As long as it's not that short :)

Shirt: Kamiseta

Shorts: Ann Taylor Loft

Shoes: Steve Madden

Laptop Bag: Sumdex

Blazer: H&M

Everyone should have a black blazer. Seriously.
I like the terra cotta/burnt orange color of this bag. Plus it has quite a few pockets for other electronic accessories...

Wardrobe Remix #16

2009-12-07T00:46:00.004-05:00

Built the outfit around the scarf... Pretty basic color scheme here - green, white and blue.

T-shirt: Gap

Skirt: H&M

Scarf: Old Navy

Shoes: Franco Sarto

Bag: American Eagle

This is how I drape my scarves 90% of the time. Keeps my neck warm + looks quite stylish with zero effort.
Up close it looks like cheesecloth :)
My "cork" shoes... Love them to bits!

Wardrobe Remix #15

2009-12-07T00:27:00.003-05:00

My "bum" outfit. Basically, I randomly picked a few things for this wardrobe remix just to see if they would go together. Well, it's decent enough I think...

Top: People R People

Miniskirt: Le Tigre

Shoes: J-41

Bag: Artwork

Watch: Baby-G

This is an old hoodie shirt that I have worn dozens of times. It already has some discoloration/stain in the back but I'm not throwing it away because I like the print...
Another old timepiece (note the scuff marks and scratches). I wear this a lot, it's really light I don't even feel it's there most of the time.

Wardrobe Remix #14

2009-12-07T00:12:00.003-05:00

My mood is not so good today, feeling bloated and crampy because it's that time of the month again. So, depressing black and gray seem to mirror the pained expression on my face :(

Shirt: Zara

Pullover: Julie's Closet

Miniskirt: American Eagle

Shoes: Arturo Chiang

Bag: Via Spiga

Got this bag at a bargain. I like how it's so sturdy, can hold a ton of stuff and water resistant :) Perfect for rainy days when you don't want to risk your other nice, more expensive bags...

Wardrobe Remix #13

2009-12-01T01:06:00.003-05:00

I honestly don't know the point I was making with this outfit, I just threw some things on. If you find it baduy, it's ok, I dress for myself anyway :)

Tank top: Passport

Vest: H&M

Shorts: Lost Girl

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bag: ?

I love this pleather bag, I have no idea who makes it, it has no brand. But still, I love the pockets, love the handles, love the color, love everything about it!

Wardrobe Remix #12

2009-12-01T00:56:00.002-05:00

Another boring office outfit. This jersey dress was given to me by a friend, I really like that it doesn't wrinkle.

Dress: Allen B. by Allen Schwartz

Cardigan: J. Crew

Shoes: Tahari

Bag: Abbi

Watch: Fossil

Neckline detail, makes the dress not boring.
This is my favorite laptop bag from Abbi. Perfect fit for my mac...

Wardrobe Remix #11

2009-12-01T00:47:00.002-05:00

I fell in love with the funky print of this maxi dress and the braided straps are so cute! It's a great shopping dress coz you just slip it on - no zippers, no tight spaces, no stress! Plus, if you decide to pig out on dinner afterward you won't have to worry about your bulging tummy :)

Dress: City Triangles

Sandals: Ann Taylor Loft

Bag: Kenneth Cole

I encourage anyone to try out a maxi dress, even if you're not blessed with height (like me) you can always find a flattering cut or print...
Cheap cuff.
Old shoes - still alive!

Wardrobe Remix #10

2009-11-30T23:56:00.002-05:00

Ok, I was totally uninspired with this getup, although this is one of my favorite dresses. But ::yawns:: this is boring, I know...

Dress: Laundry by Design

Shoes: BCBGirls

Bag: Barr + Barr

Watch: Guess

Pockets!!! I go crazy about pockets :)
This hobo bag is so pretty inside plus the leather is buttery soft :) There's another Barr + Barr bag I want to get but not right now.

Wardrobe Remix #9

2009-11-30T23:55:00.002-05:00

The requisite boring office outfit. You can never go wrong with blue and white! And by the way, I like the collar of this shirt.

Shirt: Plains & Prints

Pants: Ann Taylor

Shoes: Etienne Aigner

Bag: Tommy Hilfiger

Watch: Guess
I got this bag really cheap and I love how it has lots of pockets on the outside. I'm a pocket person, I love having nooks to stuff things in!

Wardrobe Remix #8

2009-11-30T23:54:00.006-05:00

This is my confused outfit - although I see lots of girls sporting a similar look. I guess I can't decide whether to dress for cold or warm weather hence the cardigan-shorts-boots combination :) Also, pardon the doe in the headlights face, I wasn't prepared...

Tank top: Michael Stars

Cardigan: Gap

Shorts: Kamiseta

Boots: Jessica Simpson

Bag: Sisley

I got this cuff in Boracay early this year. I got it for Php 300, the lady was originally offering me Php 500 for it. Ahhh, the power of haggling...
Really old red Sisley bag. I love how I can carry this either on the crook of my arm, on my shoulder or across the body like a messenger bag - so versatile!

Wardrobe Remix #7

2009-11-30T23:54:00.005-05:00

I kind of regret buying these tapered pants, they're a little bit loose on me even though they are size 0. I was hoping for an Audrey Hepburn look but alas it is not meant to be :)

Shirt: Banana Republic

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Tahari

Bag: Sisley
I love this bag for overnighters or if I have extra stuff to carry around. It's also light enough to carry on shopping trips to put purchases in, I cannot stress how I hate carrying plastic bags...

Wardrobe Remix #6

2009-11-26T17:10:00.004-05:00

While browsing along some shops in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, I happened upon The Magic Wrap. It's basically a skirt you can wear many, many different ways...

Reverse it and you get this...
It can also be worn into a dress, Grecian style...
or beach style...
Cool huh?
Baby doll top...
Rolled baby doll top...
Baby doll top with rose...
Halter top...
Kind of like a cravat...
Twisterrr....
One shoulder...
One sleeved...
I'm lazy now, here's a bathrobe for a tea break...

Wardrobe Remix #5

2009-11-24T21:00:00.003-05:00

I'm trying to figure out what to wear for upcoming holiday parties, this is on my "maybe" list. I really like the layers of this dress, I'm just not sure how to make it more festive-looking without overdoing it :)

Dress: H&M

Tights: Betsey Johnson

Shoes: Anne Klein

Bag: Kenneth Cole
I'm not quite sure if the bag goes with the outfit, it looks a little off...

Wardrobe Remix #4

2009-11-24T20:52:00.003-05:00

Even the most conservative of dressers has to have at least one slutty outfit. This is mine... (I look like a baby prostitute.)

Dress: XOXO

Shoes: Steve Madden Luxe

Minaudiere: Tarte

Really weird cheap brooch...

To be honest, I've never worn this out, just waiting for the right time I guess :)

Wardrobe Remix #3

2009-11-24T20:28:00.003-05:00

Another cool dress, literally and figuratively :) Seriously, I love dresses. If girls didn't have dresses it would take twice as much time to get ready, don't you think? This is what I call a throw on and go outfit...

Dress: Folded & Hung

Shoes: Michael Kors

Bag: Nuovedive

Whoops! I forgot I already used that bag on a previous post so I'll change it, hehe.
This one is from Michael Kors. I really appreciate good workmanship on stuff like bags and shoes because they take a lot of beating from me and I really need these things to hold up their end of the deal. It upsets me when straps break or hardware comes loose, I don't know if I'm the only one who's like this :)

Wardrobe Remix #2

2009-11-24T20:09:00.003-05:00

Tights seem to be really popular these days so I got a couple too! Gosh, I hate being a fashion slave. Another retarded face, I still have to get the hang of this camwhoring business :)

Dress: Kamiseta

Sweater: Julie's Closet

Tights: Nicole Miller

Shoes: Steve Madden Luxe

Bag: Nuovedive

There's something so luxurious about a bag made in Italy. I don't know what it is with me and Italian handbags but I do love them...
It's so hard to pull off patterned tights, hence the all black ensemble. Even though the tights are brownish, I think it works... Anyway, that was the best I could do, I'm not too adventurous so I have to tone it down with the black :)
Really cool print, a little bit grandma-ish but what the heck - everyone loves vintage nowadays :)

Wardrobe Remix #1

2009-11-24T19:58:00.004-05:00

Thought I'd play dress up and take pictures while I'm at it :) Forgive the weird face, I'm new at this...

Dress: Tomato

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bag: from Vienna

Watch: BCBGirls
This is one of my favorite dresses, it's practically a no-brainer to wear. Plus, it has pockets!
This bag is really beat up, I got it a few years ago for maybe less than €20. I can't seem to part with it, the pleather is butter soft now that it's so old. I really should let this bag retire...

It's A Miracle!

2009-11-23T12:15:00.004-05:00

My brother got into a car accident last night, he totaled his car but miraculously walked away without a scratch. It's nothing short of a miracle! He woke up having neck and back pains though so he's on his way to the hospital to get that checked out.

The police officers on the scene told him that if he were driving 5 miles faster he would've not been so lucky. Also if the impact was stronger it could've reached the oil tank and may have caused a fire. I dunno, but I'm thankful none of that happened. The car is junk now but what's important is that my brother is alive and safe. Thank God!

The Face Shop Haul

2009-11-22T23:21:00.003-05:00

Got a few things from The Face Shop the other day. I was only hoping to get a cleanser but being me, I walked away with more than I originally planned...

From left to right with mini reviews:

* Clean Face Mild Lotion - reminds me of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion except it's so hard to get the product out of the bottle. Such a hassle!

* Organature Granule Foam - was persuaded to get this because I'm a sucker for organic products. It's ok but I'm still keeping my St. Ives Scrub as a back-up.

* Diamond Shine Lipgloss - I LOVE this lipgloss! It reminds me so much of Tarte's lipglosses, very moisturizing and the color looks great on me.

* Brightening Rice Water Powder Wash - I got this because I haven't tried a powder cleanser before, it's quite an interesting concept. I'm having fun mixing the powder with a little bit of water and creating a cleansing foam. Awesome marketing idea for long-haul flights.

* Fruit Garden Hand Lotion - I like the Olive & Mint combination (not really a fan of fruity scents) and it's lightweight and absorbs quickly.

The saleslady also gave me a few sample freebies, I have yet to try them out.

Vanity Show

2009-11-10T20:43:00.004-05:00

I've been reading a lot of makeup blogs recently and for some reason it inspired me to write this post. So I'm going to share where I put my face on...

Really basic set-up here - a box of Kleenex, a lamp, double-sided magnifying mirror, makeup and things to take them off, beauty tools like brushes and whatnot... My makeup collection seems so dismal compared to other girls out there, especially these beauty gurus on YouTube. But it's more than what I need actually. I also religiously get rid of a lot of makeup quite frequently and replenish my favorites. I throw away powders/minerals every year and anything cream or liquid every six months so bacteria don't grow on them.
An awesome way to store cotton! It's so convenient - and pretty :)
And last but not the least - my Sephora-inspired brush holder. Just a regular wide glass jar (deep enough to sink brushes into), some flower vase fillers and marbles. I also stuck ribbon on double-sided tape for aesthetic purposes.

Unintentional Weight Loss

2009-11-06T17:16:00.005-05:00

My gums are still healing from my previous oral surgery (see last post) and I still have 2 stitches in my mouth so I can't really eat anything solid yet. I feel like a baby - my diet is restricted to liquid and soft food for now, everything cold or room temperature. So I've been living on Cerelac, juice, milkshakes, yogurt and broth. Ugh. I'm so sick of it! I can't wait to eat real food again!

My lunch...

As a consequence of this diet restriction I'm on, I've been losing mad weight. Unlike some people, I actually need to gain weight, I'm so skinny as it is already. So, yeah, this is not good. I remember this also happened when I first got the dreaded braces, I had a hard time eating for about 2 weeks.
On the other hand, I now have an answer to anyone who asks me how to lose weight quick - get some teeth pulled! Hehe, just kidding.

Bye Bye Wisdom Teeth

2009-11-03T19:14:00.002-05:00

I just had 4 wisdom teeth taken out. Should've had them pulled years ago but I didn't know any better. I only considered having them taken out when I was having a lot of pain. Turns out 2 of my wisdom teeth were impacted. I swear, all my future children will have them prophylactically removed by the time they're 20.

Sorry for the gross picture, but hey, you see worse things on the internet. The oral surgeon was actually amused that I had a cute baby 3rd molar. That tooth didn't really bother me but I wanted it out anyway in case I had a problem with it in the future.

My face is still numb from the anesthesia but I'm a happy camper. No pain whatsoever :) Good thing I didn't end up like this kid...

Burning A Hole In My Pocket

2009-11-01T23:53:00.006-05:00

I was so excited last month for the launch of Canon's latest PowerShot - the G11. I've had it a little over a week already but due to time and work constraints I haven't had the chance to really play with it until now. Isn't she a beauty?

I have to say I'm seriously impressed by what it can do. I was debating whether to get a Leica or this one, I'm really glad I got this (but I will forever want a Leica, go figure).

Now I won't have to take this monster around all the time. It's really annoying and attracts too much attention.

I also got a couple of shoes since my last shoe post. I got these slouchy suede boots from Jessica Simpson to replace my old tan boots (the one that got pooped on by a pigeon in Venice). Anyway, I like the buckle detail and it looks pretty sturdy - good for schlepping around or running errands.
This shoe is by another singer - Carlos Santana. What's up with singers designing shoes nowadays? Anyway, I really love them on my feet, they're awesome.
Another view of this sexy platform. Don't you love the crazy leopard print and the asymmetry? I think it's a nice combo.
And last, I got practical brown suede pumps. They look great with jeans as well as more dressy outfits.
I don't have a lot of shoes, contrary to what some of you may think, I know some girls who have way, way more than I have. I get rid of a pair whenever I get a new one so I keep my collection of less than 50 pairs manageable :)

Hanger Makeover

2009-10-11T23:26:00.002-04:00

I bought a bunch of non-slip skinny hangers (120 to be exact) because I was hating how disorganized my closet looked. I originally wanted those wood hangers but my space is really limited... maybe when I get a huge walk-in closet I'll reconsider them :) But for now, these are awesome for saving space, and slippery clothes like silk don't fall off because of the velvety texture.

A before look. Note that I must have more than 5 different kinds of hangers in there plus those eww wire hangers from the dry cleaners.
After. Ahhh... much better!
Now if I wanted to continue this madness I would've color coordinated my clothes too but I'm not that intense, hehe.

*~embracing the clutter in my head~*

The Body Shop Mini Haul

Essentials Haul

Awesome Sneaks

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit

Cute Little Things

My Very Basic Skin Care Routine

Faux Leather Goods

Early Christmas Gifts

Wardrobe Remix #27

Early Christmas Shopping

His & Hers - Closets

Sick Of Chocolate

Having A Little Fun In The Kitchen

Electronic Haul

Decompressing My Shoe Closet

Major, Major Haul

Kitchen Liners

Our Camping Weekend And Tent Review

Weekend Haul

My Husband's Ugly Shoes

Barbie Crazie

Junk And Other Stuff

Day 30

Day 29

Day 28

Two Timepieces

Day 27

Mad About Soap

Day 26

Day 25

Day 24

Day 23

Day 22

Vicky's Secret

Day 21

Day 20

Day 19

Day 18

Day 17

Day 16

Day 15

Day 14

Day 13

Day 12

Day 11

Day 10

Day 9

Day 8

Day 7

Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

The 30 Day Blog Challenge

Spinal Adjustment

One For One

A Cool Souvenir

Happy Anniversary To Us!

Blooming Hyacinths

Pasalubong From Dubai

A Walk In The Park

Anniversary Flowers

Cleaning The Fridge

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Wardrobe Remix #26

My Material Christmas Wish List

Wardrobe Remix #25

Wardrobe Remix #24

Wardrobe Remix #23

Wardrobe Remix #22

Wardrobe Remix #21

Wardrobe Remix #20

Wardrobe Remix #19

Wardrobe Remix #18

Wardrobe Remix #17

Wardrobe Remix #16

Wardrobe Remix #15

~embracing the clutter in my head~