Sunday, October 11, 2009

To those getting wed, I recommend...

The Manila String Machine.



My brother, a cellist, is part of this quartet, and they were the ones who played at my wedding. They also played at Issa Litton's wedding. And they will perform soon at my friend Mariel's wedding.

I noticed as I was blog-hopping that there are so many bride-to-be's out there, all furiously/dreamily/feverishly planning their wedding. Well, might I make a suggestion? If you're the type of bride and groom who care about the details, then a string quartet definitely makes your wedding more elegant and more beautiful.

My wedding was just lovely--intimate, quiet and glamorous. Well, my parents would have preferred a large and noisy event (I'm from a large and ridiculously noisy family) but for Vince and me, the only sound we wanted to hear that day was that of well wishes and laughter and the music of strings.

My uncle, Papa's brother, did decide to stir things up and campaign for a senator (to my horror, the uncle even showed up in jeans and a campaign shirt)... and that is a story for another day!

Aside from that annoying snafu, my wedding was elegant. And while I have my friends and sisters-in-law to thank for that, I also know that the beautiful music my brother and his friends played was the thread that held it all together. Never underestimate the power of music. In this case, on perhaps the happiest day of your life, the Manila String Machine will be the perfect accompaniment to start your journey to happily ever after!

Friday, October 09, 2009

Postscript to birthday wish list

This post is for my family and dear friends but in case there are actually some of you out there who'd be fabulous enough to send me items on my wish list (please! please! please!), kindly take note of the following:

Item 1 - blender... my kitchen is yellow, black and white with stainless steel accents (photo here) so I'd really want a red blender. Or a black and steel one.

Item 2 - Jamie At Home cookbook... while I want Jamie's book, I'd also appreciate DVDs of his Jamie At Home show and then I can sit back on the sofa and appreciate how there's a Jamie cookbook on my kitchen shelf and a Jamie DVD on the tv stand shelf.

Item 3 - Schu flats... I'm a size 36 or a size 6. Schu gift certificates also welcome!

Item 5 - Snickers... I'm not a fan of dark chocolate or almonds so the standard ordinary normal Snickers will very much do it for me!

Item 6 - I found my sapphire ring and it will be officially mine soon! Yes, I'm buying it, just scraping together some cash to pay for it. Now, in case you saw a sapphire ring for me (why thank you!), my ring size is a tiny 4, but in case of fat days, size 5 will be safer! And I take back what I said about diamonds--I'd love to have one!

tick tock tick tock

Seriously, though, I'm getting a bit weirded out about the birthday--nope, not because I'm turning a year older. I've never had a problem with getting older; in fact, I've always hated being so young (it's such a helpless and powerless state, in my experience). But 33 is, well, they call it the Jesus Age--He's saved mankind at 33. What have I done? A celebrity magazine. Okay, so Jesus is a tough act to follow. How about... Angelina Jolie? By the time she turned 33, she had a multi-awarded career, traveled the world, been a UN ambassador, donated millions to humanitarian causes, adopted 3 kids, gave birth to 3, and stole men from their women more than once as easily as if she plucked an apple from a tree! Okay, so the last part isn't so admirable but she sure does put a lot of pressure on 32-going-on-33 me! Why must we have it all anyway? Who made those rules? Can't I just be 33 and be average?

Anyway, if you were wondering about Item 4 - free travel... It has been granted!!! I'm flying off to Singapore next week as a special guest of Nuffnang and the Singapore Tourism Board! Now I truly do believe that if you ask, you will receive!

*outfit details: Jockey tee, Kate Torralba skirt, Schu flats (yes, the very ones!) and Longchamp bag

Thursday, October 08, 2009

This inspires me to make love!

Because it's just so darn sexy. It's even called Hollywood Headboard. For the glamorous star in all of us!

I stumbled upon this fabulous headboard while I was wandering about the web, looking at stuff like iPhone and Kindle (this was for work), disability insurance and FTC disclosure policy (this was for blogging business) and the various blogs I love (this was for inspiration). Then I saw these headboards (thanks, Charmaine!) from Kat Burki. Here's a blue version. Not as striking as the kiwi one, right?


Anyway, Vince has always wanted one. Well, not always, more like ever since we started watching Mad Men. He's been bugging me that this is what we need for the bedroom (check out a photo here). We actually saw a headboard like the one the Drapers own in Rustan's Makati but at PHP 48,000, that was a bit insane.I wasn't a fan of the Draper headboard--I didn't like that seafoam green. Yeah, I couldn't imagine it in any other color. Vince was suggesting red or blue or purple. I was appalled. Then I saw the Kat Burki headboards and now I've changed my mind! Now if I can only convince the hubby that it looks best in creamy white...Classic yet sexy. Love it! Now all I need is a filmy nightgown and voila! I'm Betty Draper! Although I don't know if that's a good thing--despite her perfect life, she's such an unhappy and discontented wife. I guess it's the same old story tackled by Revolutionary Road... and we really don't want that, do we?

*headboard photos from Kat Burki website. Mad Men photos from various entertainment and home design sites.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

What I want for my birthday

I'm turning 33 in exactly one month! If I were a hobbit, this means I've come of age. If I were Jesus, this means I'm about to die. And if I were to die a Muslim, then this would be the right time since Muslims believe we'd all be 33 in heaven--33 being the perfect age. Okay, the preceding thoughts were incoherent!

Anyway, I have no plans to die anytime soon (or later); what I do have are plans to celebrate another year! I've been very blessed so I just wish for more of what I already have--love and friendship and good health. I wish to be better at my career and develop other talents and skills as well. I don't mind more money coming in either!

While I'm grateful for the blessings, I also have a birthday list of material stuff I want to have on the big day:

1. A BLENDER
Yes, a blender or a food processor. I don't have one. I thought I'd get a ton of these at the wedding but I didn't get a single one! I really really want one so I can make my own fruit juices and milkshakes and crushed ice, etc ad infinitum!!!

2. JAMIE AT HOME BOOK
I love love love the TV show Jaime At Home! I'm a city girl through and through but when I watch Jaime At Home and Barefoot Contessa, I want to be out in the country, breathing in fresh air, sinking my fingers into the earth, picking flowers and fruits and vegetables, bringing them into my kitchen and then preparing a hearty meal. So anyway, Jamie has a book version of the show and I want it! I really really do!
3. LEATHER FLATS FROM SCHU
I wear my Schu beige flats every day. Okay, not every day, just four times a week. I really love these flats! They go with just about anything. I don't mind if I get dozens of these because this is the shoe that is so classic and perfect and comfy, I can wear them forever. Forever!
Of course, I wouldn't mind getting the other Schu styles, like this cutie:4. FREE TRAVEL ANYWHERE OUTSIDE THE PHILIPPINES
Yes, preferably near because I dislike long hours in a plane. Preferably a city since I'm not a fan of sand and sun. So Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore (photo)... let's hope someone's generous enough to send me to you!
5. SNICKERS CHOCOLATE BARS
I can eat this all day every day. Just look at this photo I got from The Frugalista Files:

Just look at that! Chewy nougat, crunchy roasted peanuts and sweet caramel all wrapped in heavenly chocolate! I wouldn't mind getting packets of this at all. I just want to eat one bar every single day of my life!

6. A SAPPHIRE RING SURROUNDED BY DIAMONDS
While I never dreamed of getting married or even getting engaged, I did want the engagement ring Prince Charles gave Lady Diana in 1981. I was just a little girl, 4 years old to be exact, and I remember seeing that blue rock on her finger and when I asked my mother what it meant, she said, "That means he's marrying her."So since that day, I've always thought that a sapphire ring was the symbol of love and commitment. Of course, when I told Vince that I wanted Diana's sapphire engagement ring, he refused: "You get nothing less than a diamond. And look at what happened to that marriage!" So I got the diamond ring, which is winking at me fabulously now as I type (thanks, Vince, for always getting me the best!)... but I still want that sapphire ring! I'm buying myself one. I'm turning 33. I should be buying my own jewelry!

Oh, I can't wait for my birthday!

Monday, October 05, 2009

New blogs I like

I'm a creature of habit so it takes me a long, long while to add new blogs to my blog roll. But let me present five new blogs I like to read:

1. Citizen Nerd
It's written by a very special man--my husband, Vince Sales! Before I buy any gadget, I always ask him for advice. In fact, before anyone I know buys any gadget, they ask Vince for advice. Vince is the last word when it comes to technology because he is Citizen Nerd! In my book, that makes him the most amazing man on the planet! (I hope this post gets me laid--ahahaha!--or at the very least earn me a shopping spree!)

2. Hypermom
This new blog is by my friend Jing Lejano, editor of Good Housekeeping. I like her blog because, unlike most mom blogs, hers is honest and candid and discusses motherhood frankly. Sure, she loves it but she doesn't overly glorify it. She talks about the good and the bad. I like that. And--very important to me!--it's well written!

3. The Blog King
Another well written blog! Too bad he updates once every blue moon. Elijah Mendoza is an editor, a new husband and a soon-to-be daddy (although I think his wife is giving birth right about now!). So his observations on marriage and fatherhood are a refreshing read--funny, witty and candid.

4. Style Kit
Jane Kingsu is the author of one of the best beauty and fashion blogs in Manila. She writes short and sweet and really well. I always seem to get my fashion and beauty news from her--how strange is that considering I also work in media! I like how clean and stylish her blog is... and I like how I won in her Schu contest! Thanks, Jane!!!

5. Flipflopping My Way Around Town
As you can tell from above, I like reading about technology, parenting, marriage, fashion and beauty. But I also have another passion--FOOD! Fran Haw has a delightful food blog that makes me hungry every time I read it! I love her blog and a lot of people do, too, because she's a finalist in the Philippine Bloggers Awards! Congrats, Franny! As promised, here's my vote:
I vote for FRANNYWANNY
Bloggers' Choice Award - National

2009 Philippine Blog Awards

Now, how come no one nominated me for this award-giving body?! Can someone please nominate me next year? I'll give a fantabulously special beauty gift bag to the one who nominates Topaz Horizon in the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards!!! Okay, I've resorted to bribery... Very bad of me! Just kidding, folks!

*images taken without permission from the aforementioned blogs. Sorry, folks! I promoted you so I hope that makes it okidoki!