TOPAZ HORIZON

Just one outfit today because, despite my intensely busy and fashionable week, I only remembered to take one outfit shot! Such a shame because I liked all my outfits this week and just forgot to take pictures. Did I mention it was an intensely busy week?

So I'll just show you what I wore to the Esquire Ball.
I'm wearing a column dress by Anja. I bought it from Catalogue 63. It's a beautiful bright turquoise that the camera sadly didn't capture.

I wore purple accessories with it. Yes, I thought purple and turquoise go well together. I had been mulling over the usual turquoise-and-coral combo but, at the last minute, I decided I like purple. I wore my bib necklace of amethyst crystals that I bought from this tiny boutique at Glorietta 5, an amethyst bracelet by Nicole Whisenhunt and my purple satin-and-suede Kenneth Cole peep-toe heels.

I chose a column dress because I had planned on bringing Iñigo with us. And Iñigo is still exclusively breastfed so I needed an easy access dress. As it turned out, the baby happily slept, which allowed his Mama and Papa to steal away for a few hours. Yey! I also wanted a column dress because it's not structured so it should be kind to a body that had just given birth.

These were my inspirations:


Here's Demi Moore in VB's dress, but in royal blue. I like that Victoria's column dress is held up by a corset. So you won't have any problems with your dress slipping down and exposing your boob/armpit fat, like so:
Oh, my man is looking mighty spiffy in his three-piece suit! I am so in love with him!

After a few glasses of wine, a blurry photo with Esquire editor-in-chief Erwin Romulo.

Inspired by Chuvaness's post, I had a photo taken with society photographer Daniel Tan

I thought it was Richard! But I do prefer Raymond. He's the more cultured and sophisticated one!

With accessories designer Happy David, Elle Decoration's Kissa McDermott and Spot.ph's Lou Albano

Anyway, I had wanted to bring the dress to the tailor to have it tweaked a bit. Sew up the sides and the hem so that there's less volume (I kinda look pregnant) and so it won't drag on the floor. But delivery was delayed so I didn't have time to go to the tailor. Still, I love my dress. Everyone loved it, too. So it was a fashion success!

I hope you're having a fashionable Friday!

Halloo, halloo! Been incredibly busy this week! Magazine deadlines, meeting old friends, restarting an online sideline biz, enjoying the entries to my Topaz Mommy book giveaway (join now!), and all that on top of being wife and mommy!

I also updated my dormant beauty blog with an event I attended recently, the double launch of Pond's Age Miracle Cell ReGEN and Flawless White with GenActiv. Here's what I wore:

Tint dress, shu uemura makeup bag used as evening bag, tiangge and Vita Fede bangles, suede peeptoes from eBay

And this is what happened. See you again here soon!

I was born in 1976, which makes me a Fire Dragon. I'm not Chinese but every time I tell a Chinese person that I'm a Fire Dragon, they get really impressed, and I haven't even told them all my other accomplishments yet! Seems to me that, to them, to be born a Dragon is a huge accomplishment in itself. Then when they find out that I'm giving birth in the year of the Water Dragon to a male child no less, my Chinese friends get all wild and happy and envious and full of wonder. They think I'm the luckiest woman alive!

Well, I don't believe in astrology but I won't say no to good fortune. And if a huge number of people think I'm incredibly lucky and powerful and blessed, then so be it! After all, my life does seem to be pretty fantastic. Whether or not that was destined, I am grateful.

Anyway, to usher in the year of the most powerful astrological sign, many companies have some awesome stuff lined up. They have deluged my inbox with press kits and, only because I'm a Dragon and 2012 is supposed to be my year, I'd like to share with you some of the more interesting stuff I got!

The Dragon is believed to be the mightiest member of the Chinese astrology animal pack. The Dragon year is said to always be a lucky year because of the fierce energy it brings to everyone. Well, considering how terrible last year was (Japan earthquake and tsunami, political upheavals, Sendong), I say we need all the powerful and positive energy we can get this 2012!

Sun Life Financial (that's my family's insurance provider!) is celebrating the Dragon year with a truly terrific party! The morning of January 24 will witness a thousand-foot dragon dancing at the heart of the Chinese community in Binondo. It will parade through to Manila City Hall then Jones Bridge then end its dance spectacularly at Plaza Lorenzo. Why a dragon that's 1,000 feet long? Sun Life says it represents the "long and steady years that w ehave been of service to the Filipino and Chinese communities."

In the afternoon of the same day, the party continues in Bonifacio Global City. There will be performances by drumbeaters and zip and poi dancers. Plus, there will also be a special show called the "Fung Show," the highlight being a talk on improving your wealth, health and prosperity in the mighty year of the Dragon.

Bloggers who have those huge cameras (get an Olympus Pen, dammit! No, seriously, you don't need those mega-cameras in this day and age. Sa totoo lang talaga, hindi porke malaki camera mo, maganda na ang pictures mo) will definitely enjoy the chance to capture this colorful event. Families, too! Yes, everyone's invited! So if you're free on January 24, head on over to Binondo and BGC and enjoy the activities Sun Life lined up for you!

I wrote that title myself since the press release had a rather prosaic one: "Chinese New Year 2012 - The Year of the Dragon." Parang mas masaya yung sa akin!

Anyway, Alfred Dunhill himself designed these lovely little pieces. Intricately carved in solid sterling and hand finished (and you know I'm a sucker for anything handmade), the collection consists of cuff links, key fobs and ties.

Exquisite key chain

Good luck charm for your phones

An incredible gift to your impeccably dressed man. Or for yourself, if you like dressing up in crisp button-down shirts!

Press kit ends with "The Dragon sign is associated with bravery, honesty, pride and self-sufficiency. Dragons are irrepressible free spirits and enjoy grand gestures and ambitions." Sounds an awful lot like me! If you know a Dragon (ahem! ahem!), drop by Dunhill (Rustan's Makati, Newport Mall, Rustan's Tower) and get him/her a trinket.

I'd like the key chain please. Thanks!

There will be tons of celebrations next week and if anyone wants to invite me and my two Tigers (Vince and Vito were both born on Tiger years) to a party, drop me a comment below! I already know what gifts to bring the host and hostess and they'll be from Marks & Spencer.

I appreciate the very Britishness of Marks & Spencer so I think it's kinda cute that they prepared special treats (like gold coins, toffees and mints) for a Chinese holiday.

Hmm. Okay, so they're still nowhere near Chinese (not even close!) but, hey, who says no to sweet treats? Oh, you guys on a diet. Seriously, even on a happy holiday? Ditch the diet this long weekend! If you really can't, Marks & Spencer has some digestive biscuits. I actually like those a lot!

So there! Enjoy the long weekend with festivities, trinkets and treats! Happy New Year, everyone!

Well, I saw some old friends like JR Isaac at shu uemura's artsy party...

... and I'm absolutely loving Melissa Shoes' new model!

Check out my beauty blog, girls. I've finally decided to resurrect it with exciting fashion and beauty news, glam events I attend, stuff I actually use, and product reviews. I'm only posting products I like, however. Can't do any negative reviews apparently since I'm not supposed to bite the hand that feeds me. So if I feature it on Beauty For A Living, you can be sure that the product is so good, I love it!

Being a ripe old age of 34, I noticed that my New Year's resolutions list has gotten shorter and shorter through the years. But these things have been on my list for ages:

1. Reduce clutter and mess.
2. Get fit.
3. Drink more water.
4. Wear red lipstick.
5. Be free from acne and pimple marks and have more even-toned skin!

I'm already working towards making those come true, by the way. First, I have begun purging my closets and organizing my things. Second, I have enrolled in Barre3. Third, well, I'm already drinking water. Fourth, I've enlisted the help of my friend Nicole in finding (and wearing) the perfect red lipstick for me. And last, Neutrogena gave me the complete line of their Fine Fairness collection.