Fab Friday: Black Bag

I just wanna debut my newest bag.  Okay, I said I'm on a shopping rehab but I purchased this from the web last year and had it delivered to Singapore and featured only now. :P

Fashion mongers out there must've been very familiar with the newest Celine "It" bag that's all the rage on fashion blogs.  If you do not, well here's a snap of Kourtney Kardashian toting it.

A case of hesitation.  I was close to purchasing that bag in a local Celine store last year (I was eyeing the green one) but I hesitated and now I regret it.  Haha!  I was just unsure if those sported by celebrities has the same quality as those sold here in PH.  I mean, for sure theirs is more expensive than the one I was supposed to buy right?  Anyway, after two weeks of checking out Celine branches if they still have the item, I consulted the web and here's the closest copy I found.

Quite close, huh?  I added a scarf for some drama.  Now here's what it looks like when it's expanded.  

I like that it's very roomy!!  Perfect for the "messy" ( and so unladylike) person in me. :P  Have a phenomenal Friday everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Shoesies!! =p

Space Savers & Organizers

"I like seeing my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet."

So this is what my temporary storage room looks like right now.

Count the boxes!!! Yays!!!  And believe me, that's not all of it.  XD  A mishmash of my "artifacts" all fighting for space inside my room.  Actually this is not much different from the previous set-up hence the much needed renovation.

Anyway, the point here is, I've seriously accumulated too much material stuffs over the years and I have to put a stop into it.  Of course, at the back of my head I already know this even before BUT it is different when you had to see it for yourself when I did the actual transferring of my things two weeks ago.  WOW, too much labor! :))

So that is the reason why I'm on a shopping rehab this year. *crossing fingers*  According to couz Wil, there's a 365-day blog about it and I'm this close to doing it except that I already failed when I saw the new shop Diva (justified and blogged here, haha!!).   Anyway, the point of this post is that I should make full use of the items I own right now and think of some space-saving ideas in my future room.  Aside from shoes, here are some of the other items that can be found in my room.

Bags - it is not my luxury but I noticed that I like buying native bags from the countries I visited.  Those were my collection from HK, KL, SG, THL, etc.

Belts - a requisite for my non-existent hips.  Period. :P

Hats - I didn't realize how I'm such a hat person until I've decided to combine all my hats in a storage box.


Books - I love chic-lits.  And Kinsella just came out with her new book, yays!!!  
Anyway, aside from those, let us not forget - THE ACCESSORIES!!!!  Here are the bangles,

Earrings/ Rings Etc.

I didn't have the luxury of time to take a photo of everything but what I certainly need are space savers for all these "abubots" in my room.  And yes, that includes my Tweety bird collections, stationeries, things of sentimental values (gifts from ex still there, huh???? Haha!!), and all things that prove I'm such a pack rat.  Hehehe.  :P  Here are some of the inspirations I found in the web.  First things first of course, the shoes!!!  I don't think I can afford a "shoe room" ala Carrie Bradshaw but it would be nice to have a mini showcase of some of my fiercest shoes ayt? ;-)  Here's what I found in the web.  I guess a 6x6 would do noh! ;-)  The other half can be kept somewhere.  I'll figure it out.

For the bag and hat racks, I think I'd love to have these.  I'm thinking they are space-consuming but hats are hats and the form can be damaged if you don't stock them well.  As for the bag, I'm not sure where to find this and currently I'm using clothes hangers for mine and in the interest of full disclosure, all my mini bags now are crammed together in one of my small travel luggage. XD

For the accessories, I've already tried to use the bangle holder (bought it from 168 mall in Divi) and a Ferrero Rocher chocolate box for the earrings and rings. :P  I found some suggestions from the web to use ice trays, haha!  But I think this one below is also a brilliant idea, porcelain accessory holders!!!! ;-)

Perhaps I can't afford to have a mini library inside my room but I'd better have my work station because of my job.  For that, it would be nice to have something like this:

Yes I really love photographs.  It'd be nice to see some inspiring photos in my wall while working - something like a vision board. ;-)  So there, these are just some "initial" stage of my planning.  Haha!!  Our first floor's all yucky right now because of the excavation works.  We're still to adjusting to our new place and as early as now I am already applying some space saving ideas of mine in our apartment but for sure everything that we have to endure will be worth it in the future.  I can't wait. ;-)

Saturday in Imus

The last time we were here, it was for Xiela's despedida.  As you can see in the hyperlinked post, before there were four of us.  Now tatlo na lang kami bumibisita. :(

And finally some dose of cuteness, I finally got to see Mac and Xiela's firstborn, Baby Miles!!!!! :) Adorable!!!! :)  And the super dog Phoebe!!  Haha!! :D

Watched my friend breastfeed her baby and learned something about it.  Hahaha!!  A proud momma at 30, Xiela you should be my benchmark.  Hahahaha!!! :D

Run To You

Golden Diva In Town

#fabfriday
Move over Accessorize!!  There's a new Australian brand of fabulous accessories that's ready to give you a run for your money. :P  Yup, a Diva is in town! 

I just checked from their FB page that so far they only have two branches here in PH: Robinson's Manila and ATC.  I was completely oblivious to this brand until I noticed their store last week in Rob Place.  What a coincidence, they took over what was once the location of Accessorize in that mall!!! :P

The shop was about to close that time (I just finished a back to back dance classes in the gym) but I am too much curious as to what they have to offer that I still made a dive for it and happy that I did 'coz they're having some promo!! Haha!!  A quick inspection of their price revealed that it isn't really a cheap brand.  BUT, I'd have to say their prices are relatively lower than Accessorize. :P

To be honest, I'm really on a shopping rehab this year (I'll tell you why in a post next week :p)  but I just simply can't resist hoarding their gold accessories.  Gold accessories is the trend these days and my favorite among the things I bought is this:

Aside from snakeskin prints, I've never really been a fan of snake structures (lol!) but It's just too cute and nice to mix with their gold bangles!!! :D  I also happened to buy a Cleopatra-like necklace and two rings! :P

I know, I know I bought a lot!!!  But can you guess how much all in all I spent????  Those 6 items only racked up to Php 900!!  And it's such a sweeeeeeet deal!!  Did you know that you can only buy one necklace for that same price in the other brand?? :P

So who's the golden diva now??? Saaaaaaaaaabeeeeeeeeeeeehhh??? :P

Fitness Friday: Run The World Dance!!

I can't help but share this video for my new hashtag #fitnessfriday.  Haha!!  I got super fond of watching Ashley Tishdale and Vanessa Hudgens bust out their moves to Beyonce's Run The World!!  Look at how they did justice to the steps, B would have been proud!!

Noticed their laughs in the end???  That's how dancing should be all about, having fun!!  Haha!! I super adore the moves and I can't help but remember my hiphop girls in this video!!  Every Wednesday night used to be my schedule for hiphop class in the gym and I used to dance with my hiphop sistahs, Lura, Careen and Ivy!!! :P  Because of my tutoring commitments, I have to sacrifice some of my gym time and we just have to catch up with each other through FB.  Last time, I took a leave and decided to join my girls, and as promised we agreed to have a photo.  Haha!!  So here are they, my co-frontliners in the hiphop class. :)

Pardon my errr all out smile, haha!!  I love these girls, they make hiphop classes more fun!!  Obviously, I've been out in the game for a long time that I didn't catch their telephatic signal to wear black.  Haha!!  I hope we can make a similar video in the future. :P  Been trying to mimic the steps and believe me, they ain't easy!! :))

Stay fit everyone! :)

Wednesday Wishlist: Room Decors

Our house is ongoing renovation now.  I think it's a long overdue overhaul.  (Over, over!  Haha!)  I was somewhat half-hearted about this project initially as I didn't think it is the best way to go but I couldn't do anything as my brother insisted on it ( not to mention he's shelling out more money :P).  The house being as old as I am had a lot of defects already and it needs a major makeover that would take, as projected, a total of 6 months!!  0_0

I remembered when I was in senior high school, I often raid the bookstore and check architecture and interior design books with my friend/classmate Corinthia.  I knew designing is something that I considered doing in the future.  That interest was all the more heightened when our Elective 4 teacher asked us to do a circuit diagram of a one-storey house and it had me thinking about designing our own home.  It was just funny how I was caught by the wave of the ECE program while Corinthia pursued civil engineering.  Atleast she was closer.  :P

Now that this project is ongoing, I can't help but get a little involved in the design and somehow translate what was once a dream into reality.  While some deep excavation are ongoing now in our first floor for my brother's uhmm desire of a garage, I can't help but look at interior decorations in the web for some inspired looks.  And here are my compilations from different web sources.


Living room.  I may not have inherited this trait of them but my parents are just simple people.  :P  So my idea for our living room is this: simple and laidback.  The windows make for saving power during the day (have I mentioned they are frugal too? haha!)  as I know my mother likes it in profound tagalog, maaliwalas and presko.  When I visited Ayala's Westgrove Heights last 2009 (post here), I liked the idea of a high ceiling but I saw the proposal and that is not possible so I am opting for this one.  If I may just briefly mention it though, my original desire is a sunken living room using but once again that is not feasible.  Sad. :(

Staircase.  When I visited Vimanmek mansion in Bangkok and entered an exhibition hall of the king's photography, I realized how it's good for a family member to be involved in photography.  Haha!!  Vain na kung vain, but it's different capturing moments of you and your family members and having it displayed in print.  So yes, I'm not looking at the lattice geometric patterns but rather the photos (haha!!), positioning them by the stairs is a good idea. :)

Kitchen.   Some people can say that they can live in their kitchen, prolly because of the love for cooking.  I can't.  Haha!!  My mother is a Kapampangan (who are known for being good cooks) but she doesn't really have that good relationship with the craft.  :P  I think this one I definitely got from her.  :))  So, I think we'll just make amends on the dining area and here's what I will suggest to her. ;-)

Library.  This is a long shot I know but if I'm gonna have a walk-in closet in my room (dream on girl, lol!) then I have to have a library outside my room for my books. I super love this idea of a home library.  I know my father will like it too since we also have a lot of religious books in the house.  

Laundry.  I just can't help but share this.  Doing my laundry is one kind of a therapy for me.  And this machine just looks fab!!  Haha!!

Walk-in closet.  Aaaaah..I wish I could have enough space to have something like this.  If you'll see my current room's set-up, for sure all of you will agree and say "Yeah she really needs to have that."  Hahaha!!!

I'll tell about it more in the next posts. :)

My Visit to the Grand Palace

#traveltuesday


The Grand Palace definition for me is a stunning array of complex structures that are just too fabulous.  :))

Built in 1782 and has been the home of the Thai King since, I can't help but be stupefied on how it was well-maintained through the years - the manicured garden, the exquisite structures, the immaculate grounds, the character of the mythical creatures..aaahh I'm running out of adjectives.  Everything is just truly awe-inspiring.  

I can only imagine that line in "Crave You" saying "I walked into the room dripping in gold, yeah dripping in gold!"  Haha!!  I've never seen too much gold in my life!!! :))  I arrived at the tourist attraction around 1PM and it was cooking hot!  It was so hard to look at all those "bling blings" shimmering under the sunlight you'll need 'em sunnies and brellies. :P

I got the paper umbrella from a vendor while walking all the way to the palace.  Apparently, the entrance to the palace is quite a walk from the ferry station where I got off, Pier 9 Ta Thien.  I figured it would do good for the photos too. :P  I tried to hire a tuktuk but almost everyone I asked said that the palace was closed for praying.  I suddenly had a flashback and remembered the reason why I wasn't able to visit this place the last time!!  I was scammed!!  I ain't sure why the government isn't doing anything about this noh??  I wish I can report the plate number of this tuktuk driver, haha!

Being alone, it was so hard to ask for photos so I thank the gardeners and janitors who fell victim to my charms. Mwahaha!!  As observed, no sleeveless or legs exposure are allowed inside the palace.  Grateful that intuition got the better of me in throwing off that maxi dress on the last minute and it helped me avoid the long queue of sarong rentals by the entrance.  I was immediately asked by the guard to put on my "jacket" (aka chambray top) prior to buying tickets.  Exag si kuya hindi pa nga ako nakakapasok sa loob.  Majinit kaya!! :P

Some parts of the palace were ongoing renovation when I visited.  Too bad for me but I agree that they should do their utmost to preserve this heritage.  A place steeped in history, it was really good that I visited that museum before going to the Grand Palace.  I didn't wanna leave the place and just bask in the royal presence of it all.  Haha!!  But it's almost closing time in the palace (I stayed maybe for a total of 1 hr only) and I've got other places in my agenda.  Specially that temple which I came across during the cruise, it looks really interesting.  I asked my fellow Thai ferry passenger about it and she didn't know.  She even said she's a Thai but they don't really visit their tourist attractions.  What a shame! :(

And so there's only one place to find out.  That is, to go to that place itself. ;-)

Black & Blue

#fashionfriday

Taken one fine Saturday afternoon. :)  Wearing a Dorothy Perkins dress ( a size lower than my usual in that store, haha!!)  I love the clothes' stretch material, the black one of that made me feel like I was in a catwoman's suit. :P  I paired it up with simple black accessories to achieve a minimalist look. ;-)

Details: Tory Burch handcuff

Details: awry curls and coral lips. :)  Felt lazy to make up my eyes hence the sunglasses. :P  The keyhole design of the dress gives somewhat a sexy factor! :P

A picture of a barren tree by the area.  Barren trees can still be beautiful noh? 

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend! :D

Taipei Etc

#travelthursday


I'd like to believe I made the most out of my 2-day stay in Taipei.  Haha!! Don't even ask why I stayed only for  two days!! :P

The Long Shan Temple

Ended up visiting this temple twice, haha!  No matter what time of the day you'd come, you'll always find this temple bustling with a lot of people worshiping or praying for something.  It's quite an experience being inside and observing these people.  I gathered that Longshan is not just a temple or a sightseeing attraction but also a historical site.

During the night tour, the guide explained to me the different deities inside the temple (deity for fertility, for passing the exams, etc.)  The interiors are impressive with delicately carved sculptures, beautifully decorated structures but my favorite part is the waterfall that simply screams ZEN!!

Taipei 101

I think I will make it a goal in my life to visit all the tallest buildings in the world.  Haha!!  Previously ranked as the #1 skyscraper in the world, this elegant structure stands out in the Xinyi Distict with its blue-green facade.  I paid a steep 400NT$ to climb up to the 88th floor Indoor Observatory Deck but due to the weather, I wasn't allowed to go out the outdoor deck.  Phhhhbbbttt!!!  XD  (To make more value out of your money, inquire whether the Outdoor Observatory Deck is available. :P)


The basement houses all the high-end brands you can find in a errr high-end mall (heard they just opened Zara there :p) and up above you'll find a jade antique and souvenir stores.  But again to my disappointment, I couldn't find a miniature Taipei 101 structure for my personal collection.  XD  Also, another gripe is the location of the building.  It is so busy in its neighboring area that it wouldn't allow for a good photo with the building in the background.  Haha, adddddikkkkkk!!!! :))

Night Markets:  Shi Lin and Hua Xi

The most memorable thing that happened to me in Shi Lin night market is being accosted by  Taiwanese girl as if we're good friends who haven't seen each other in a long time and  in return me returning the gesture.  Hahaha!!!  What was wrong with me that day?  After that incident in the morning with the blue-eyed stranger, I ought to be more careful.  But she was harmless, she was just complimenting my Aldo cloche hat and asked me where I got it in the best English words she could muster.  :P


I wasn't able to buy a lot of things in the night markets though as most of the stuffs they sell are winter clothes.  (I think it should be good for me noh?? Haha!!)  Their night markets aren't exactly known for the stuffs that you could buy but rather the xiao chis (small eats)!!  There were even some food where you can find a long queue in order to buy!!  There's no doubt that CNN would charge Taipei as a city guilty of gluttony.  It would be good if you have a companion and since I was alone, I only tried the ice creams and drinks. ;-)


Hua Xi is also known as the snake alley and is noted for its restaurants that serve bizarre delicacies such as snake blood and meat.  Yay!!  No pictures are allowed in these restaurants.  :P

Hsing Tien temple

Another popular temple in Taipei devoted to the patron god of businessmen and with prominent dragon features in its design.  Check out this short video I subtly captured inside this temple.

Food Trip (click read more below)