TOPAZ HORIZON

Over at Instagram, there is this thing called IG Stories that I very seldom use. I don't understand the point of taking snaps and videos of one's life and then those will be automatically deleted in 24 hours. Whyyyy???

But while I was chatting with social media star Camille Co for our Calyxta.com shoot, she said that IG Stories are important because you remind people of your presence. Because of Instagram's new algorithm, your posts don't show up on people's feeds anymore. They prioritize business profiles, for example, because those accounts are more likely to pay for ads or to show up more on your feed. But a way to get around that is IG Stories. Every time you do an IG Story, your profile pic shows up on the top of the app. So people see you now!

I see! So I tried it for one day. Here's a day in my life:
At 10am, it was no longer rush hour and I was able to book an Uber. The fare now was no longer insane. And I was able to read my new magazine in the car. Was really inspired by this 44-year-old mommy who took charge of her health!
At home, I had to get the next son ready for school. Good thing I didn't have to worry about lunch because of Harvest Family Comfort Meals. I've been availing of this meal delivery service for over two months now. What a lifesaver for working mamas like me! I'll blog about them next week!

Bringing my Iñigo to school now! Isn't he a cutie? Again, it's Vince who usually brings the kids to school so this was my first time to do this. I was so shocked because he had a tantrum when I dropped him off. He doesn't get upset when Vince drops him off. So even though we got to school early, he was still late because he refused to go inside. Vince and I figured that our little kindergartener got separation anxiety when I took him to school.

Okay, at this point, I just stayed near the boys' school because I was getting Vito in a couple of hours. I also did this last year. I usually spend the time waiting getting my nails done, shopping, or more likely working. I'm always working! I wrote two articles while I waited for Vito to be dismissed.

And here he is! We super love waiting at the gas station near their school. It's nice because it's surrounded by trees and they have really good cheap pizza. Yum! We don't go home yet because we have to wait for Iñigo. We spend this time doing activities. We've done making our own comic strips and listing down our bucket lists and deepest fears. We also do homework. But we mostly chat and I also let him play with the other kids from school.

Iñigo is out and we're off for home!

I just bought my husband his Father's Day gifts. Yes, plural. It's very easy to please Vince since 18 years together taught me what to get him. LEGOs, top quality candy, books, and video games. This year, because he specifically gave me a list, it was even easier to shop! Thanks, babe!

So I'm done with the upcoming event this weekend, but because of my broken toe, I've been surfing the internet more than usual and discovered this lovely shopping site for charming personalized gifts—Gifts Less Ordinary. Here's what I think Vince might like (aside from LEGOs, top quality candy, books, and video games, of course!)

A men's wallet from Maxwell Scott Bags because Vince loves Italian leather. And money hahaha

As long as we're talking about Italian leather, look at this gorgeous leather travel bag also from Maxwell Scott Bags! I know Vince will love this because he's told me many times he wants a leather duffel bag for when we travel.

For his beloved watch which he likes to wind up every day like a Zen habit, how about this watch box from Life of Riley? Understated elegance.

Because my writer husband likes to read novels to feed his massive brain, these silver bookmarks from Highland Angel will forever be treasured. Plus, since Vince gets lost in his fictional worlds, these bookmarks will remind him to come back to us!

Okay, I don't know if he'll like this really but my husband sure loves sweet stuff and it'll be nice when he uses this Best Daddy in the World vintage dessert spoon from La de da! Living when he digs into cake and ice cream!

Now this! This he'll love. Because my hubby likes his beer, a "Cheers to Beers" pint glass from Becky Broome. Woah, a pint! Reminds me of hobbits!

That's just a few of the fun and fabulous personalized finds for my dearest darling Vince, the best papa in all the world, that I found at GiftsLessOrdinary.com! But since I already got him gifts, I'm now browsing the gift selections for ladies and babies!!!

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing daddies everywhere!

*photos grabbed from GiftsLessOrdinary.com

Back to school this week! It's the busiest time of the year (okay, the busiest one after Christmas) and just when I'm getting into the rhythm of things, I broke my foot. Literally. I'm stuck at home with my right foot swollen and throbbing. Yesterday, my two younger kids were intent on killing each other (no joke) and I ran to them to separate the critters before tragedy ensues, and in my haste, I ran into the bed post. I think my scream was heard all over our building.

So now I have a broken toe. Apparently, it's a very common injury and nothing to worry about as long as I don't use that foot. So no walking! Never mind that I have kids to settle into school and my husband is a bit annoyed at the inconvenience of a wife with a broken toe. So I'm hobbling about, in pain but not entirely in misery.

For one thing, I'm finally forced to slow down. Literally. I can't go to work. I can't go to the school. I can't do housework. I can't line up at the bank (kumusta ang mga readers ko na may BPI accounts???). So what have I been up to? I've been napping! Wow, it's soooo good to sleep. I've been watching sappy shows on Netflix and crying deliciously. I haven't brushed my hair (and my teeth hehe). I'm just eating chocolate-covered raisins while I watch TV. Oh, and while I shop online!!!

I've been needing new things, you see. New undies, new clothes, new wallet. My wallet is disintegrating. But busy working mama me syempre, I buy stuff for my kids first. But now, with nothing to do, I logged into my Zalora account (always a dangerous thing) and shopped for wallets.

I CAN'T DECIDE! Help me!

Okay, so I'm on a budget (because #workingmama) but I did find nice wallets anyway for less than P700! Hindi nga lang ako makapili because I want them all. Paktay. Check 'em out:

This is the Keisha wallet from My Everyday Fashion. Two reasons I love it: It's orange and it looks like an Hermes bag hahahahaha. Oh, oh! Third reason: It's just P699!

Here's an even cheaper orange wallet from Cava Bags. It's the Saffiano, yes, in Saffiano-like leather, which is a texture I love. I like that their logo is V, too. I love two guys whose names start with V, you see!
The pink Saffiano wallet from Cava Bags is pretty, too. Which one should I get? Pink or orange? Both are my favorite colors! It's just P599!
Now, I also want to get a gray wallet to match my Tod's D Bag. (I still get gooey inside saying that. I own a Tod's D Bag after wanting it for years!) This Emma Wallet from My Everyday Fashion is a nice and mega affordable choice at just P399. Super mura!
Another gray find is this Emily wallet from My Everyday Fashion again. It's really cheap at P349. I like that it has sooo many slots for cards.

Which one? Which one? Help me pick one!

P.S. Now, I don't need coin purses but when I saw these Pink Tequila coin purses, they made me so happy. However, I'm not buying any of these because... I dunno, because I'm 40? Ugh. I'm having a mid-life crisis where I don't know what's appropriate for my age. On one hand, I've always believed that as long as you can afford it, you should wear and buy whatever makes you happy. And yet, now that I'm matrona age, I don't know if that still applies if what makes you happy are the cutest things like these! Maybe because they're vintage-themed, I can get away with it? What do you think?

TV, P359. Because I actually know what this is. In my childhood, at midnight, the TV hangs haha. It stays colorful like this until early morning, which makes the colored bars give way to the national anthem, a prayer, a TV station manifesto, and then entertainment!

Cassette tape, P359. Because I had mixed tapes! I got one from a guy who liked me but that I didn't like but I kept his tape because I liked the music he curated for me. I made lots of mix tapes, too, waiting for the radio to play my favorite songs and getting really upset if the DJ is still talking when the song starts or when it hasn't ended! And I also like it because I'm a writer and I used to do interviews with all these tapes! I have a stack somewhere of tapes with celebrities' secrets on them. Now I have a sophisticated recording machine, but I still prefer the old recorders that used cassettes.

Brick game, P359. Because I'm really really REALLY good at Tetris. Like crazy good.

Cupcake, P369. Okay, cupcakes aren't vintage but this makes me happy because when I was a kid, I collected and traded stationery and one of my favorites was a scented pad of cupcake designs. I loved that!

Pink bottle, P359. Well, this isn't vintage-themed anymore but because I'm a mom of boys and my foot is throbbing in pain now because of said boys, this one made me gleeful. Heehee.

Okay, will mull over the items I put in my basket. Then if my foot is better tomorrow, I'll buy buy buy!