TOPAZ HORIZON

Vince's favorite new shoes is his Sperry Top-siders. He was waxing nostalgic about his old Top-siders when he was a kid and he said he wanted a pair again. So he's been browsing Zalora for weeks and we finally bought him new shoes. Here's the unboxing:

I shoulda taken pictures of the giddy Vince hehe. His face was much more interesting!

Anyway, Vince absolutely loves his new Top-siders. He wears them all the time! They're so soft and comfy. He's always saying, "My shoes are so comfy!" He's so cute! Now soft and comfy, those are words mommy me loves! So I checked Zalora if they had Sperrys for girls and, nope, they don't. Too bad!

I was especially interested in the Katama espadrilles.
The Katama espadrilles feature breathable canvas (I'm loving the anchors-on-navy print!), padded heel and adjustable rawhide laces with gold and silver eyelets (I love that touch of posh!). Must visit a Sperry shop this weekend! I'm really liking the blue one. It will look perfect with my mommy uniform of shirts and shorts! I kinda need a new kind of footwear since I'm in ballet flats all the time. They're not actually very good for chasing after little boys!

P.S. Sperry Top-Sider stores are at Bonifacio High Street, Trinoma Mall, Glorietta 3, Harbor Point Subic, SM North EDSA The Block, Robinsons Place Manila, Centrio Mall Cagayan de Oro, SM cebu Northwing. Also available at Complex Lifestyle Stores in Eastwood Mall, Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall; Shoe Salon outlets. Hide Out in Greenbelt 5 and select deoartment stores, like Rustan's. Check out their Facebook page if you'd rather stay home today hehe.

P.P.S. Father's Day is coming up! Shop at Zalora for great gift ideas!

*Katama photos courtesy of Castro PR

When you're a mommy like me, you want to be able to run around comfortably. When you're in the magazine business like me, you want to be able to look good at work. When you're trying to be chic whatever the occasion like me, you want to never sacrifice style for comfort and comfort for style.

So I'd like to have one pair each of these Chelsea ballet flats please! Size 36.
Tory Burch studied an actual ballet slipper when she designed this wardrobe staple. So the soft leather, the lightness, the grosgrain ribbon trim and narrow toe box will definitely inspire you to dance while walking! The name, meanwhile, is taken after New York's art district. So the shoe is for the girl who likes to while away the days visiting museums and galleries, attending exhibits and shows--in comfy shoes, sure, but in luxe comfy shoes!

At P9,650 a pair, it's quite pricey but, hey, as someone who's spent loooong days in heels for years and years, I'm ready to invest in flats as beautiful and comfortable as the Chelsea.

Tory Burch is available at Greenbelt 5.

I've made it no secret that I want a Tod's D Bag. But as I said on my blog post here, the too simple design is making me hesitate. I mean, don't you want something more spectacular for 70,000 pesoses!

So Tod's came out with these goodies for their Spring/Summer 2012 collection!

This D Bag comes in snakeskin, which will look really good with...

... these matching Gommino driving shoes!

Or if you're not the matchy-matchy type (I'm not), try these driving shoes in bright colors.

I love the color orange and this D Bag in bright citrus and rough textured leather is love!

The perfect shoe with that orange bag? This heeled lovely in smooth buttery leather!

But since I'm a mommy now and I run after a toddler, these penny loafers are better for me. Except that I am so not the loafers type!

So if I must go with practical flats, then I should go wild with the bags! Just look at these luscious colors and skins!

So there. After all this time, I'm still lusting after anything Tod's. Well, a Tod's D Bag more than anything else since I don't drive so I don't need their iconic driving shoe nor am I the loafer-type (but Tod's does have adorable ballerina flats!).

Anyway, Vince keeps telling me to just end my misery and go buy a bag already (and if I remember right, every year, the Italian brands at Greenbelt 4 go on a mega sale). But I keep feeling guilty over that price tag. I think I need more blogging raket and eBay sales to finance my Tod's obsession!

*photos courtesy of Visions & Expressions

That's how I usually look when I travel. A comfy outfit but one that will get me through immigration without experiencing that judgmental look immigration officials just love to give people. The first time I traveled abroad, I was so scared I'd be sent back home--I was a young, single Filipina traveling alone. Supposedly, that sets off alarms with immigration officials. You're either looking for a foreigner husband or you're a prostitute. Grrr! And, I was told, we Pinays don't help because we dress like slobs when we travel. Or we dress in skimpy outfits.

"So what should I wear?" I wailed. Here are the tips I got:

1. Wear comfortable clothes. But not too comfy, like mini-skirts, pajamas, ratty shirts and jeans, and the like. Emmy's look is a great example. I also like a tailored shift dress or a jersey wrap dress--it's wrinkle-free and easy to lift when I need to go to the tiny plane loo. 
2. Dark jeans that have a great fit can pass off as slacks. See how Emmy's navy jeans look almost formal.
3. Always bring a tailored jacket or blazer. Toss this on and it instantly upgrades your outfit. Just look at how Emmy's red jacket makes her jeans-and-tee ensemble extraordinary!
4. Your shoes should be comfortable, the type that won't hurt your feet when you're navigating through huge airports. But don't wear slippers.
5. Don't wear shoes that are hard to take off. Emmy's lace-up oxfords is an example.
6. Wear your jewelry. Real gold doesn't set off the metal detector. Jewelry isn't safe in your luggage. You'll look better (and richer!) with jewelry on. Check out Emmy's big earrings!
7. Don't wear metal. Like belts with big buckles. Emmy didn't wear a belt at all.
8. Be well groomed--powder, lipstick, mascara, whatever. Not too much (you have to look like your passport photo). See how Emmy looks so clean and fresh and respectable? That's what good grooming looks like. People treat well-groomed travelers better. 
9. Hairstyle should be clean and unfussy. A low ponytail or bun is manageable and won't get in the way when you lean your head back on the seat's headrest.
10. Your tote should be big enough to hold your travel documents, money and mini toiletries, like a hand sanitizer, a toothbrush, lotion, whatever you need to freshen up after a long flight. Plus, there should also be room for a scarf in case the plane gets cold. And a book--always travel with a book! I like Emmy's basic black bag. It's structured yet roomy!

*photo from VPQV

I've been blogging about the Loeffler Randall boots for a while now. I said I wanted them in last year and, finally, a few months ago, I finally bought a pair of rain boots and... I forgot to tell you about it!

I did take photos of when they arrived so these photos are old. My hair is still short and I'm not pregnant yet. Because I was also not very presentable (I didn't even brush my hair), I also got shy to post the photos so I forgot about the boots until the unseasonal rainy weather arrived!

Oh, and I apologize for the mess. My house is very orderly and clean thanks to my husband, Vince. But unfortunately for Vince, he married a messy and cluttery woman. The compromise we have is the rest of the house stays perfect but he gave me pockets that I can mess up--a corner here, a corner there. This is one of those corners!

Anyway! The unboxing!
The boots were ordered online from Loeffler Randall's shop. A few days later, Johnny Air texted to say I have a big box waiting at their Megamall office. So off I went! And yes, it was a BIG box.

I love that there was a personal, handwritten note from the staff! I mean, seriously, who does handwritten thank you notes from a high-end designer brand? Hmm, come to think of it, they should always include a note with your purchase since it makes it all the more special!

And here are my boots! Taupe rain boots that I super duper love!

I always do that to my skirt! I love pocketsy dresses, you see, but whenever people take my photo, I get giddy and do that to my skirt. It totally ruins the dress!

I had wanted to buy the Loeffler Randall rain boot last year and then just as I was about to, I found out I was pregnant and all thoughts of boots went out the window. Until last week when, for the first time in a good long while, I waded through flood waters.

I walk to work so I do need a good rain shoe. My Melissa flats serves me well but because it's a shocking turquoise, the sartorial choices are pretty limited. So back I went to the Loeffler Randall site and found that now I want this gorgeous taupe boot instead:

I took a poll on Twitter and Facebook and everyone agreed that the taupe is a better choice. Plus, it's on sale! So from $195, it's now $136!

And then I found these photos from A Purl Soho and Weardrobe and they just did it for me.

Make sure you visit their blogs because they show more ways to wear the taupe boot!

So there. I'm buying myself rain boots!

Last Thursday, I had dinner at Nikki and Bern's townhouse. They threw an intimate party for our friend Nicole. I didn't realize it was that intimate, though! It was just Nikki, Bern, me, Nic and Nic's friend Tata.

Nicole and I love milk tea!

On a diet, Nikki gets "upset" at dessert: profiteroles!

Tired me with Bern and Nikki

We talked about a lot of things and so ended up going home past midnight.

Nic and Nikki, still pretty at midnight!

Nic's been hanging out a lot with Tata.

I can't tell you what we talked about so I'll just show you our shoes!

Nikki. Everyone should have yellow shoes!

Nic's Aldo nude pumps are a classic.

My two-tone Sapato Manila heels

Tata's sandals

What shoes are you wearing today? Me? As in, today today? I'm wearing Janilyn flats!

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!

I've been ignoring Melissa for some time now because I thought it was just a prettier kind of Crocs. Crocs are kinda ugly and I dunno why people pair them with everything from jeans and shorts to dresses and nurse uniforms. Well, ya they're comfy but your feet get sweaty and icky after a while. Is that why some people wear them with socks? Negative style points! So even though some really stylish ladies have begun raving about Melissa, I chose to ignore.

And then I found out that crazy funky cool designer Vivienne Westwood designed a line for Melissa. Of course I had to check it out.

This smells soooo good!

Designer flats!

Super comfy and cool. No icky sweaty feeling!

It may be plastic but it sure is fantastic!

I super love my Vivienne Westwood + Melissa ballerina flats! I am totally regretting not checking out Melissa now. Of course, now I am. Their online store is super cool. Super cool! It's so not good for me and my PayPal account!!! I want them all! And it's free shipping! Okay. Must. Close. Computer. Now!


A note on usage: I just had to add this because of my last few words up there. It's very Pinoy to say "close the light/TV/computer" when the correct term is "turn off the light/TV/computer." I don't correct people when they say the former because I think it's a Pinoy terminology. It's really not supposed to be proper English. It's like saying, "Did you eat already?" when it should be "Have you already eaten?", or "officemate" when it should be "colleague" or "co-worker." But since we Pinoys get it, I guess it isn't really wrong. It's how we use English--the Pinoy way! Anyway, in my case, I literally do close my computer. It's a laptop so I snap the lid shut. I don't turn off my laptop, I just close it!