Friday, August 22, 2014

Happy 27th birthday, Dirty Dancing!

Because this soundtrack is one of the very first (I think it actually may be the first) that I bought on cassette tape! I loved this movie so much!



I just don't know how Born-Again, 10-year-old me got to watch this movie, though. First, that title. Second, the abortion sub-plot. Third, Baby (Grey) was 16 in this movie. Does that make the love scene between her and Johnny (Swayze) statutory rape?!

Thank goodness I was just 10 when I saw this movie. I didn't have to overthink it!

Found out from HuffPost today that this iconic dance pose was done just one time because Jennifer Grey was too scared to do it. One take! So that's why her face was like all thrilled and happy after the lift. It wasn't acting anymore!

One thing HuffPost forgot to mention is how Grey and Swayze absolutely hated each other. Well, I'd never have thought that!

Ok, now I'm LSS-ing on "Time of My Life." I still love that song after all these years. And now more than ever, it applies to every aspect of my life!

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Sneak peek at the Topaz Clutch!

I am sooo excited to share with you a look at my new clutch for Ni-QUA Bags!
Soft buttery leather
In my wedding colors!

But I'll tell you more soon. Right now, just a sneak peek! I'm soooo excited! And they're so affordable! Buy one, ha? Mwah!

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Sunday, August 17, 2014

Eric Delos Santos designs for KARIMADON Brides and the gowns are gorgeous!

When I need dresses for work events and gowns for special occasions, my first stop is always KARIMADON. My love affair with the 34-year-old Pinoy fashion brand started on my high school graduation and grad ball way back in 1994. When I started working, I also bought my corporate attire from KARIMADON. Even when I was pregnant, it's still KARIMADON for me!
Wore a regal red KARIMADON dress to Elaine and Russell's wedding.

Now, with the launch of KARIMADON Brides, it really is the only fashion retail brand that can provide a woman with stylish options from high school prom to weddings and beyond! Speaking of weddings, my friends at KARIMADON are super excited to announce that they are working with fashion designer Eric Delos Santos for KARIMADON Brides. Eric is known for the dresses he's created for celebrities, beauty queens and other chic personalities, and now, Eric's bridal creations are available to all of us! (Well, all of you since I'm already married!) Just look at these lovely gowns!

I love this pink-hued gown. So Gwen Stefani!

Josie Go, CEO of KARIMADON, and one of the nicest, most wonderful people I've ever known, says, “This exciting milestone in KARIMADON’s history is one of the most creative and exciting endeavors the brand has ever done. We are proud and extremely happy to have Eric Delos Santos be part of the KARIMADON Family.” 

Eric says, “As a designer, I have always known KARIMADON as a successful female brand store because their collections are consistently meant for real women who want to feel beautiful, feminine and [to] stand-out at any event or occasion. I truly feel that this is a most natural and exciting fit. KARIMADON design aesthetics are very similar to mine—romantically soft, feminine, highly wearable and [with] figure-flattering cuts, details and silhouettes. And most of all, it’s a bridal collaboration! Which is my favorite line of design for women!” 

Eric also designed dresses for the entourage. These are so glam and I love how bridesmaids can still wear them after, for other special events that aren't necessarily bridal. I'm especially loving the mauve gown. That daring neckline is so sexy (and so perfect for breastfeeding me!). 


Must have this!

The Eric Delos Santos Collection for KARIMADON Brides features seven wedding gowns and seven entourage gowns. These will be available in limited quantities at select stores starting this September so, brides, mark your calendars and make sure you visit KARIMADON two weeks from now! A second launch is scheduled in November. 

By the way, KARIMADON Brides has been offering gowns for years now. They may not be created by a celebrated fashion designer but these gowns are breathtaking nevertheless! Just check them out: 

Sooo pretty and romantic, right? KARIMADON also offers special alteration services so that every bride and her entourage will enjoy a perfect fit. Brides may also select their own colors (from available choices) to match their motifs. All collections under the KARIMADON Brides line range from P18,000 to P70,000. So there's a dress that will fit any kind of budget!

I may not be a bride or a bridesmaid but I think I'll go and buy that mauve gown anyway! See you at KARIMADON!

KARIMADON Brides Wedding Gowns are now available in Glorietta 1, Ayala Fairview Terraces, SM Megamall, Robinsons Galleria and Ermita stores. The Collaboration Collection of Eric Delos Santos Wedding Gowns for KARIMADON Brides will be available starting September 2014 in Glorietta 1, Ayala Fairview Terraces, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, Robinsons Galleria and Ermita stores.


For more information about KARIMADON Brides, visit www.karimadonfashion.com, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@karimadonph).

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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The sad and scary mystery that is depression

My Facebook feed is filled with sadness over Robin Williams's death. I'm so sad, too. He was such a funny guy and yet I always wondered why he had such sad eyes. Turns out he was suffering depression. Was it because he never recovered from a lonely childhood, no matter how privileged? Was it because he used to be a fat kid? Was it because he was afraid he'd fail? No one knows. That's the thing with depression. No one knows what causes it.

Depression is very scary. I had a mild taste of it when Vito was born, exactly four years ago today. There I was—happy marriage, great career, good health, new mother to a perfect baby boy—and I wept every single day for six long weeks. It was terrifying to be in that dark place, especially since no one understood. People I told were confused, exasperated, annoyed, dismissive. What I hated hearing most was, "You should be grateful and happy. How can you think only of yourself?" I knew that already. I wasn't stupid. I knew my life was amazing. That's why the overwhelming sadness I felt made me afraid for my sanity. It just didn't make sense! Why was I so unhappy?! It was one of the most terrible times of my life, made sadder by the fact that it should've been the happiest. I'm grateful my husband stood by me throughout that time. He never called me out, never told me to get over it. He just took a month off work to be with me, he helped take care of our baby, and when I finally climbed out of my depression, he was there to welcome me back into the world. 

When I talked about this with my OBG, she said that what I felt was just the baby blues, a mild form of post partum depression. Mild? It was awful! Apparently, when you have PPD, you think about harming yourself or the baby. Since I wasn't in total despair, I was apparently okay.

So thank God my experience was "mild" even though it was certainly alarming for me. And thank goodness it was temporary, an after-effect of pregnancy hormones. For many people with depression, it is a constant battle. Sometimes, like Mr. Williams, they lose. 

If someone you know is depressed, please don't dismiss him. Depressed people need help but are scared to ask because nothing is scarier than being called crazy. If you are depressed, you're not crazy. Just please tell someone and continue asking for help till someone acknowledges you. It's this world that's crazy, but some people do care, and some people are brave enough to help. Please be brave enough to ask for help. 

Got this helpful information from Survivors of Suicide:
If you have just lost someone to suicide and need help with coping, visitwww.afsp.org/survivingsuicideloss.

If you are currently feeling suicidal, please read this first:
http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/

If you are in emotional crisis, need counselors to talk to about suicide and mental health, or are having suicidal thoughts, call the 24/7 ICIC HOPELINE for confidential listening: 
(632) 804-HOPE (4673)
0917-558-HOPE (4673)
0917-852-HOPE (4673)
2919 (toll-free number for GLOBE and TM subscribers)

You may also call the CRISIS LINE anytime for non-sectarian, non-judgmental telephone counseling:
Landline: (02) 893-7603
Globe Duo: 0917-8001123 / 0917-5067314
Sun Double Unlimited: 0922-8938944 / 0922-3468776 

For mental awareness, visit:
http://antonosmena.mapuafamily.com/
www.ngf-hope.org
www.iasp.info
www.afsp.org
www.suicide.org
www.in-touch.org



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Friday, August 01, 2014

What IƱigo is super ganado about

Appebon Kid partnered with Topaz Horizon for Nutrition Month, which was July, if you didn't know. I didn't know but now I do! At a special brunch at Italianni's Bonifacio High Street, Appebon Kid invited pediatrician Dr. Florianne Feliza-Valdez to talk to mom bloggers about the importance of good nutrition for our kids.

Here are some tips, facts and warnings from Dr. Feliza-Valdez:
  • Once our kids turn a year old, milk should stop being his only source of nutrition. This isn't a real problem since we give our kids solid food (hopefully meat, fruits and veggies and not junk food!) at 6 months old. But some kids are given so much milk, they don't eat real food anymore!
  • Formula milk can be considered junk food if it takes up the majority of what our kids eat. Formula milk has lots of sugar, which attracts bacteria. 
  • Other junk food culprit is instant noodles. Some families think it's okay to give their kids lots of instant noodles because it seems like real food. It's actually just carbs and salt.
  • There are two types of malnutrition: undernourished (child is not getting enough nutrients) and overnourished (a.k.a. chubby kids).
  • Ask your pediatrician for a nutritional assessment if you're worried about your child (too skinny, too fat, too short, etc.). Every child is different and growth is affected by non-nutritional factors like genetics (short mommy and daddy will most likely have short children, for example).
Dr. Feliza-Valdez also shared the 3 N's of Nutrition:


Appebon Kid is a daily nutritional supplement that can help parents meet their children's nutritional needs. Packed with Vitamins B1, B6 and B12, Iron and Lysine, it's in a yummy strawberry flavor that even picky eaters from 2-12 years old will like.

Let's face it: It's hard to make kids, especially toddlers and picky eaters, to eat anything! In my house, for example, it's a battle just to get food into my kids' tummies! Vito eats a lot in the morning and at lunch, but as the day ends, he eats almost nothing and is happy to go to bed with just a glass of milk filling his tummy. I'm not so worried about him because he eats a lot during the day, especially from 7am to 1pm, like he is constantly munching. IƱigo, on the other hand, eats only if he feels like it. Most of the time, what he feels like eating is made of sugar and carbs! Guilty mommy here!

So we give the kids vitamins to ensure they're not undernourished. Still, I would love it if they, especially IƱigo, would eat good food at meal times regularly.

Anyway, Appebon Kid's Nutrition Month Campaign is called "Batang Ganado, Batang Can-do!" They hope that by nourishing our children's appetite for healthy food, our kids will also have the passion and energy to have an appetite for life. Moms at the lunch were asked what their kids are passionate about. IƱigo is passionate about Disney Pixar Cars!

To prove it, let me share with you a few photos of his 2nd birthday party: