Friday, November 25, 2011

My stamp collection

Weekend weekend! And what do we do on weekends? Some shop, some go out with family and friends, some watch movies, some play sports, some paint their roofs or fix the faucet or do some motorhome repair, and then there are those who devote their idle days on quirky little hobbies like stamp collecting.

I have a cute stamp collection myself. They're all of rabbits!

It's a modest collection. I have many more stamps--so adorable and clever!--but this would be a very long and picture-heavy post if I posted them all. I haven't actually been able to attend to my little hobby since I gave birth in 2010, so imagine my shock and delight when Mariel's dad, Tito William, sent me these awesome gold stamps:
The stamps came in a special folder encased in protective plastic.

OMG. They're 24-karat gold foil! I haven't taken them out of the plastic. I don't want to soil them with the oils and dirt from my fingertips. It's an amazing pair of precious stamps. Tito William, thank you oh so much! I will cherish these stamps forever!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

What I want for Christmas (the frivolous list!)

The trouble with having everything you ever dreamed of is this: When people ask me what I want for my birthday or for Christmas, I end up saying, "Nothing. I have all that I need." Or I say, "Just give gifts to my Vito. I'm okay." But of course I want stuff. Don't we all?! It's just that the stuff I want entail a lot of money so it's kinda embarrassing to tell people, "Well, actually, I'd love it if you gave me this-and-that!"

What's this-and-that? Well, limited edition books, fine pens, high-thread count bed sheets, monogrammed stationery... You know, stuff! Totally unnecessary, totally frivolous, totally wonderful! Here are a few specifics:


The green Mango dress. Because I look fab in it and everyone agreed! So obviously I should have that darling dress in my possession!

A wrist watch. Someone sent me a link to some Michael Kors watches and I was suddenly reminded that I used to be a watch girl. Yep, before I had a baby, I felt absolutely naked without a watch. Then Vito came along and watches and bracelets and bangles became part of my other life. I actually already have quite a number of lovely watches. But I want a new one. Maybe a Philip Stein one.



A weekend (or maybe the entire holidays!) away. Preferably at Tagaytay, ensconced in a log cabin with my hubby and little boy! It's just too hot in Manila. What is up with this strange weather?!

New shoes. I'm going to sell all my pre-preggy shoes on eBay. I don't think I'm the sky-high heels kinda girl anymore. So I want new ballet flats and will try something I have never ever worn before: kitten heels. Uh-oh. I think that, yep, I am finally a mommy!

A curling iron. After I read The Picky Dresser's easy tutorial on how she gets perfect hair every single day, I vowed that I should have that Vidal Sassoon Ceramic Instant Heat 32mm Iron!


O.P.I. nail polish. I have nice nails so I love a good mani-pedi to show them off. Here I'm wearing Glitzerland. This was the year that I became a nail polish snob, by the way. Used to be any drugstore brand was okay but ever since I discovered fabulous (and expensive) nail polish, there was just no going back for me. I always bring my own bottles of polish to the nail salon and I want more!

A pearl set. I want a single strand golden pearl necklace and a matching pair of earrings. Because I'm 35 years old and I should have something that classic and perfect in my jewelry box!

Diamonds. Aha! I think, since this is the priciest in the bunch, maybe I'll wait till after Christmas and ask it from Vince as my push present! A push present is what you get for pushing a baby out. The whole process is gory and dangerous and horrifying and glorious all at the same time so for carrying his baby for 9 months and pushing it out safely, hubby oughta reward your efforts! For Vito, Vince gave me my topaz ring. I've been mulling over what I want for Wiggle and have finally decided I want a diamond bracelet or a pair of diamond studs. (For more on push presents, head over to Topaz Mommy!)

I can think of more! Since I've been a very good girl this year, I do believe I deserve some lovely treats. But let's leave the list at that because, well, I do have everything I need and more! With my darling husband and baby boy, our wonderful home, our health, life is beyond fabulous. And I don't want to be too greedy. So... okay, I'll be happy with the nail polish!

What's on your dream gift list? Do share! Maybe I can add your wish to my list!

P.S. Still shopping for gifts? I highly recommend you read my Topaz Horizon Gift Guide!

Need to escape this heat

In Tagaytay in 2010
I never imagined I'd be typing out that title in the middle of November. By this time usually, the cool weather has descended and everyone's taken out their cardigans and sweaters and scarves and jackets. My uniform this time of the year is usually a dress with opaque tights and a cardi, or jeans and tee with a scarf wrapped around my neck. This year? My dress code is various states of undress!

Well, that's global warming for you. Scary. Sad. Especially since I have to think about what kind of future my kids will have to see!

As for now, all I want to do is escape to a cooler clime. Actually, earlier this month, I had wanted to hit the beach so that I can spend the days with a good reason to be nearly naked. But the sun, oh the sun, it's just too hot! So I've been thinking of either Baguio or Tagaytay.

The last time I visited Baguio was a disaster. Vince and I had met in Baguio in 1999 and went back for a trip down memory lane. I booked us a room in this awful hotel that Lonely Planet had recommended as a good place to stay. I never believed Lonely Planet from then on! Our room had cardboard walls and a bare light bulb. The bathroom's walls didn't reach the ceiling so if you had to do No. 2, well, let's just say we had to go outside and leave the room's door open! There was no hot water (in freezing Baguio!) and, oh wait, there was actually no running water at certain hours of the day.

The last time I went to Tagaytay was for my friend Nikki's wedding. Vince and I stayed at this lovely boutique inn that unfortunately also had thin walls. We were kept up by the owners' kid and friends partying the night away. I was pregnant with Vito then so I was hormonal so I complained very angrily.

So now I guess I want to go back to one or both cities to make happier memories! But since my pregnancy is a bit delicate, Baguio is not an option for now. So I'm looking at Tagaytay. Someone told me that since I have a family, I'm better off renting a log cabin so I Googled some rentals and found these cabins at Tagaytay Highlands:

I can see it now: cold nights, the smell of pine in the air, the cacophony of crickets, then Vince and Vito and I wrapped in warm blankets, feet propped up on rustic log furniture, sipping hot cocoa, reading or chatting or tickling each other.

Sigh! Just looking at those photos already makes me feel better. I wish we can escape the city! Some of my friends have actually made plans to spend Christmas somewhere cold--either Sagada and Tagaytay or abroad in Hong Kong. I am so envious! It would be so lovely to get away from this terrible heat!

*log cabin photos from here.