It’s tough staying home in Manila when everyone’s Instagram photos show adventures in foreign countries and local beaches.
Our family chose to stay in the country because we’re traveling instead next month for my son’s birthday.
Going out of town was not an option because of the traffic and the lack of chuva-approved accommodations.
One day we will own a rest house we can drive to because of my fear of small planes, bancas, and scary hotels.
Such is my life.
We decided instead to check in at the Solaire Hotel on Maundy Thursday.
We booked two connecting rooms and arrived to a bustling lobby at 3 PM.
There were 400 staycations booked at hotel, we were told.
The kids and yayas stayed in this room

while Jeroen and I stayed here

The bathrooms are chuva-approved—spacious and clean with marble tiles, separate shower and bath, counter sink and Kohler toilet

Solaire is one of the few hotels with bathrooms that are chuva-approved. The other one is Raffles Makati. The only thing that needs to be changed or removed is a wooden towel tray that has seen better days

We loved this convenient shelf under the TV

and this welcome note (thank you Mr. Ort!)

The TV was easy to use and the aircon was consistent in temperature and easy to control.

I thought I would spend the day blogging and doing my nails. Instead, I collapsed into a deep sleep and woke up for dinner.
We took most of our meals in-room and appreciated the efficient room service.
The boys mostly played Minecraft on their laptops as the pool was filled with staycationers.
The following day they enjoyed the breakfast buffet before hitting the pool and checking out at 1 PM.
One day is all we really needed to get out of the ghost town feeling.
Thank you Myk and Solaire for the restful stay

http://solaireresort.com

I dread the ghost town.
Even though I love staying home, I dread the thought that everything is closed outside on Good Friday.
We checked out of Solaire Hotel past 1 PM and I stayed mostly in bed playing Candy Crush and watching the latest episodes of Scandal and the new season of Awkward.
I know, I am obsessed with Candy Crush. It relaxes me and here’s where I am now.

How do you like Scandal Season 3? At first I hated it—the plots were too complicated for my brain. Then I started to like it again towards the last few episodes.
Kerry Washington used to be my girl crush until she got pregnant in real life and her wardrobe turned frumpy to conceal the baby bump. Suddenly she wasn’t cute anymore, and I wasn’t feeling kilig with the President.
I don’t find them hot anymore. I prefer Jake Ballard (played by Scott Foley).

#TeamMellie! by Olivia Pope, on Flickr”>
L-R: President Grant (played by Tony Goldwyn), Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), Jake Ballard (Scott Foley)

Here’s a cute reel of Scandal bloopers shown recently on Jimmy Kimmel Live: Behind the Scandalabra, where Scott Foley joins Kimmel and Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes at Olivia Pope’s “apartment.”

Awkward Season 4 just started last April 15, 2014.
Now on their senior year, Jenny and Matty are both single again, but go back to being F-buddies.
A new character named Eva is introduced and threatens to come between the two.
Jake and Tamara’s love story continues to bore me, while Sadie still rules as the show’s queen negatron.
I’m excited for Jenna’s new love interest and hope that she just moves on from Matty (sorry, I don’t find him cute) #notsorry.
Here’s what you can expect from Season 4.

Smart Communications, Inc. recently announced a strategic and exclusive partnership with global music streaming service Deezer to bring a new kind of musical experience to mobile users in the country through Deezer’s Premium+ service.

With Deezer Premium+, more than 72 million Smart mobile subscribers nationwide can enjoy unlimited web and mobile access to a huge library of music tracks online and offline—all in high-quality and without the interruption of ads.
Deezer’s availability in more than 180 countries will also allow Smart mobile users to listen to their favorite songs whether they are in the Philippines or overseas.

Smart will soon announce affordable streaming rates and promotions with Deezer, so that Smart users will be able to purchase a Deezer Premium+ subscription using their prepaid or postpaid accounts.
On mobile devices, the Deezer app can be installed on iOS, Android, Windows Phone as well as Blackberry 10 smartphones and tablets. It can also be enjoyed using laptops and PCs.
For more information, visit http://www.smart.com.ph/ or http://www.deezer.com/.

2014 is a time to change.
For one, I stopped drinking Coke everyday and dropped 6 lbs. I never thought I could achieve this.
I allow myself to drink Coke maybe once a week or less but the goal is to lose 5 more lbs.

Second, I’m no longer obsessed with Twitter, and yes, it can be done. I have friends who no longer go on Twitter because of all the negativity, preferring Instagram instead. There seems to be less hate in there, at least for non-celebrities like me.

Third, I decided to stop watching CNN all time time.
My obsession with CNN started in 1991 when I was studying fashion at Parsons New York, where all week long, everything was about fashion. I thought that watching CNN would make me a more well-rounded person, so I would keep it on while doing my homework or eating. It was either that or Tagalog movies I rented from the Filipino store.

I’d watch CNN in hotels while traveling, watch it first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.
I like to keep informed. Until this year, two big events made me extremely sad—the missing Malaysian Airlines airplane, and the sinking of the Korean ferry with high school students on board.
Everything is about death and accidents, and why both in Asia in such a short span of time?

Patrice and Penny watching CNN in Hong Kong

After a psychic told me they will never find the plane, I started to get depressed watching CNN.
After the ship sank, I decided to take a break from all the sad news. But how to break a more than two-decade habit?
Today I decided to give E! channel a chance but then I felt my IQ points going down. The highlight of my evening was to watch my very first episode of the Kardashians, like EVER. I watched because it was about Kimye’s marriage proposal and I began to understand what the Kardashians are all about. I won’t say it here because trolls are waiting to pounce and I don’t want to judge.
Since Channel E’s not working for me, maybe I’ll just stop watching TV at all.
Here’s what happened at Kim and Kanye’s wedding proposal.

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found that they had no shoes to protect their feet.
Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need.

On April 29, 2014, TOMS Philippines will be celebrating One Day Without Shoes, the company’s annual day of awareness in partnership with SM Aura. This year’s event will take place at the mall’s scenic Sky Park.
Expect a fun-filled afternoon with a barefoot walk, film premiere, and interactive installations to share the TOMS story.
There will be a cool lounge in which to hang out, Style Your Sole art booths, refreshments, musical performances, and a one-day-only pop-up shop with limited-edition items.

Schedule:
4:00 PM — Registration
6:00 -6:30 PM – Barefoot walk
6:45–7:00 PM – Band performance
7:00-8:15 — As We Walk film premiere
8:15 –9:00 – Band performances

Every year, thousands around the world go barefoot to spread awareness about the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. Last year, over 1,000 One Day Without Shoes events at 500 schools and 230 companies took place across 50 countries all around the world, including the Philippines.
In the US, loyal TOMS fans Charlize Theron, Demi Moore, and Kristen Bell, among others, have pledged to go without shoes in support of the cause.

Charlize Theron

Miley Cyrus

Through the help of Giving Partners, TOMS has given more than 10 million pairs of shoes to children worldwide.
This figure includes over 200,000 pairs given to children all over the Philippines, including those affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

This year, the event hits even closer to home as filmmaker Joy Aquino’s documentary entitled As We Walk, will be screened for the first time.
TOMS Philippines encourages everyone to take off their shoes and help spark the conversation.
For one day, an hour, or even just ten minutes, TOMS encourages everyone to take off their shoes to put themselves in the place of children who have none.

To know more, go to http://www.toms.com/onedaywithoutshoes/

My entire family has poor eyesight. I, for one, started wearing glasses in 3rd grade. In high school I switched to soft lenses, then hard lenses, until I had LASIK done at American Eye in 2003.
Fourteen years later I can feel my eyes getting weaker—old age is creeping in. I have some reading glasses on standby but I rarely have to use them. One day I’m going to need glasses again.
In the meantime, a really cool optical salon has opened at SM Aura. Earlier this year I just happened to walk into this shop at the upper ground level.

I had never seen it before, never heard of the name Ronnie & Joe.
What really pulled me inside was the sight of these Matsuda eyeglasses.

As a child of the ’80s, I recognised one of the brands that defined the decade. Mitsuhiro Matsuda was one of the most coveted designer labels of my generation.
Inside, the interior design and the selection of eyewear just blew me away, beginning with the patterned glass doors and the whole ambience.

Founded by model/entrepreneur Michael Concepcion, Ronnie & Joe Optical Salon was named after his grandfather Joe and his twin brother Ronnie Concepcion.

“As an eyewear consumer myself, I recognized the need for a shop that would provide a variety of specialty brands and a curated experience you would not normally find in an optical store chain,” Michael said.
“We look beyond fickle designer logos and define luxury through a brand’s history, heritage, craftsmanship, material, design and attention to detail. Most of our brands have been around for close to 100 years, yet only a handful of specialty retailers worldwide like Harvey Nichols, Dover Street Market, Opening Ceremony, Colette, and Ronnie and Joe, carry them. We are proud to be a standing retailer and partner to represent these brands in the country.”

Expect to find the following brands at Ronnie & Joe: MOSCOT, Illesteva, Native Sons, Max Pittion, Grey Ant, Shwood, Matsuda, Karen Walker, Barton Perreira, DITA, Thom Browne, GLCO, Ksubi, Italia Independent and Mark Mcnairy.
Coming soon: Graphic Plastic, Garrett Leight, DITA, Thom Browne, House of Holland, Cutler & Gross, Mykita x Margiela, Activist, Effector.
Ronnie & Joe Optical Salon is at the upper ground level of SM Aura, open daily from 10 AM-10 PM.
To know more, go to http://ronnieandjoe.com.

I’m lucky that my cousin Keri found the Chanel bag I wanted in Guam. This is the hubby’s birthday gift to me.

I love the bag and I wish I could afford to buy all colours!! It’s so beautiful!!

Karl Lagerfeld is a genius—walang kokontra!

Last Friday I got invited to a meet and greet of Tokidoki creator Simone Legno (pronounced “see-moh-neh len-yo”) at SM City North Edsa’s The Block.
The Italian illustrator was in town for a few days. Among his stops were the Shang Palace at Makati Shangri-La, where he met selected members of the press, Ronac Art Center in Greenhills, Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery in Makati, and SM City North Edsa, which is holding a Tokidoki art exhibit at the Block Atrium until June 15, 2014.

Simone Legno had just started autographing/doodling when we arrived. Fans brought him everything from laptop sleeves to phone cases. Simone patiently drew on them, never complained. He never said, hey, I ain’t doing that.
A fan of cute things like me, Maxene Magalona had her catalogue autographed, as did her sister Saab.

It was my turn when it dawned upon me that Tokidoki has this collab with Karl Lagerfeld.

So cute!

Simone Legno at Central World, Bangkok

In fact Simone got to meet Mr. Lagerfeld in Paris to present his creation

Part of Karl Lagerfeld’s genius is his being able to remain relevant and keep up with what’s cool up to this day.
I have yet to see him smile

When it was my turn, I told Simone I had met him in 2008 at the original Secret Fresh store in Quezon City.

I asked him to sign my Tokidoki x Lesportsac bag, which I love.

Fast forward to the present: “I’m doing another collaboration with Lesportsac,” Simone told me.
“Cool, I can’t wait,” I said honestly.
Then I showed him my Chanel bag. “Could you please draw Karl Lagerfeld on it?” I asked.
Simone placed it on top of the stage and really took time to draw.

“Awww….I love you!” I said. He seemed pleased when he gave it back to me.

So sweet!! Phoemela Baranda loves it

Also spotted: Gaby dela Merced of Vinyl on Vinyl, who helped hook up Tokidoki with SM Supermalls

L-R: Cristalle Belo with CJ Jaravata, Phoemela Baranda, and Frank Briones, who invited me to the event

Catch the Tokidoki exhibit ongoing at SM City North Edsa, The Block, and while you’re at it, contribute towards the rebuilding Yolanda-affected lives by purchasing this special edition T-shirt.

Special thanks to Jeff Songco for finding my lost shopping bag
To know more about Tokidoki, go to http://www.tokidoki.it.

I’m not fond of queueing unless it’s absolutely necessary. That’s why I didn’t bother going to Dominique Ansel the last time I was in New York. But now I really want to go, after seeing his creations on Instagram, for example:

Vanilla ice cream waffle with Belgium waffle bits, lightly salted, and topped with maple-syrup espresso poured on top.
As the ice cream melts, little tapioca pearls are revealed and float in the melted ice cream espresso sauce

Or Coco Mango Riz Au Lait: fresh ripe mango slices, mango pearls, and coconut rice pudding with microbasil

But what really kills me are pictures of the Cookie Shots.

Imagine a shot glass made of chocolate chip cookie and lined with chocolate, with milk poured inside

This one I would line up for. But since a New York trip is still far away, I couldn’t help but order the local version, which is conveniently located in Kapitolyo, Pasig.

The verdict? Not bad. It tastes exactly like it I imagined. I was not disappointed.

I had one for breakfast on the first day and another on the second day.
On the third day, however, I couldn’t finish it anymore. So I got over it, but the kids at home loved it and so did their cousins.
A box of eight costs Php 320. You can order online through this site.
If you don’t mind paying Php 100 for home delivery, I suggest you order online, because the actual kitchen/bakery is not very pretty. But if that doesn’t bother you or you can send someone to pick up your order, then go ahead to Kapitolyo.

Cookie Bar is at Unit-I, 84 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig
To order or inquire, text (0917) 555-1228 or email CookieBarManila@gmail.com.
To know more, like them on Facebook.

Buying clothes for baby girls is my frustration because I don’t have any.
So when it dawned upon me that our family nurse Wanda was pregnant (believe me her belly seemed to just popped out one evening) I asked her what sex her baby was—girl!
Bingo.

Wanda comes to our house three times a week to give me coffee enema, and I look forward to this time to stop and feel like I’m doing my body a favour.
Since my lifestyle change this year of not drinking Coke everyday, walking more with Fitbit, and having regular coffee enema, I’ve lost five lbs. and maybe three inches around my waist in just a few weeks. (But more on coffee enema and Fitbit in a later post.)

One of Manila’s best-kept secrets for moms is a house in Bel-Air that sells factory overruns of baby clothes.
I wish I had known about it when I had babies, but my kids were already walking when I discovered this haven of cuteness. Basic baby whites cost about 90 pesos each, to give you an idea.

So I got a bunch of stuff, and I’m sorry I don’t remember the prices. I gcute onesies in pink

But if I had a baby girl she would probably wear not pink.

I got a bunch of burp cloths, bed liners and towels

and threw in cloth diapers with lots of baby mittens because babies lose them all the time (or the adults do)

This entire haul cost Php 4,000 for about 60 items. So that’s an average of Php 60 per item.
The Bel-Air house is where a lot of bazaar sellers get their goods for newborns to toddlers.
Look for Manang Vicky at 48 Zodiac Street, Bel-Air, Makati
Open from 8 AM-5 PM daily, including holidays.
For inquiries call 896.4802.
Oh, and bring an eco bag while you’re at it

After surviving last month’s mosquito infestation, here comes the summer heat.

The hottest day in Manila usually begins on my birthday, April 30. I know because for so many years it’s been a concern of mine whenever I decide to throw a party. This year I made sure to have five aircons at my party—but more of that in a later post.
It was so hot on the afternoon of my birthday that I decided to do my annual fried eggsperiment on our deck.

I took a small frying pan and cracked an egg over cooking oil at 1 PM and left it on the plastic table.

I went back to the air-conditioned room to chill and found the egg fully cooked an hour later at 2 PM—I kid you not!!
I should’ve seasoned it with salt and pepper, but the egg yolk was already overcooked.

I left it for one more hour before deciding to “scramble” it.

By this time the sun was no longer scorching and I was getting grossed out at the egg, so I asked the maid to take it away like Joe Quirino.
May 1st was especially brutal for me. I stayed home the whole day and felt our house turn into an oven. I felt the heat steaming from the plates as I washed them in the sink, which spewed out hot water as well.

Here’s how I plan to survive the rest of Manila summer:
1) Aside from drinking ice water the whole day, I had the aircon filter cleaned today.
2) Wash my legs in cold water before going to bed.
3) Sleep without pajama pants.
4) I also replenished my stockpile of Kool Fever gel pads to relieve me from heat-induced migraine. Can’t live without these and this is not a sponsored post

Not sure if it was that hot today because I stepped out of the house to see my eye doctor at Greenbelt.
I’m just grateful for the trickles of rain God has been sending every once in a while. That’s better than nothing.
And how is the heat treating you?

I just started going through my past blog entries to see how much my writing has changed.
When I started blogging in 2001, blogs were fairly new and not everyone had Internet.
As Internet became more accessible, all sorts of trolls and unhappy people came out started to attack people that seemed to have a good life online. That changed the way I wrote and blogged, plus the many sponsors that saw bloggers as a marketing tool/partner.
Starting today I’ll be resurrection past blog entries from my Livejournal, sort of like the throwback on Instagram, beginning with this post on July 19, 2004.

Cholo, Chico and Delamar

I wish I were like Martha Stewart who could survive on two hours sleep per day, or even five or eight hours.
I’ve always needed like 10-12. Otherwise I’m like a zombie.

I’ve been having sleep problems since my son got sick.
A couple of nights ago I woke up shivering at two in the morning. I was filled with terror. I wanted to go check my son’s room, but I stopped myself. I asked Jeroen to hug me. He was sleeping of course, but he squeezed me tightly.
The following morning I found out my son vomited at two in the morning and the yayas and the maid had to change sheets and stuff.

The following evening, I kept vigil in his room. I couldn’t sleep. He vomited at 2:30 in the morning, then I cleaned him up and transferred him to our room so the yaya could rest.
He wanted to watch cartoons, so we did that up to 5:30 am and I was so sleepy. He fell asleep in my arms and it was so sweet. I love him.
When he woke up at 6:30, he was so sick, I jumped up and took him to the doctor by 8.
He almost got confined in the hospital, but a miracle saved him from the IV, and he is OK now.

Last night I couldn’t sleep again.
At 4:30 I opened my laptop and searched for something to read, and I found the funniest LJ of Cholo. I hope he won’t mind my mentioning it.
He is the funniest guy, and the thing is, I sort of know him.
I was introduced to him more than ten years ago, but never had a conversation with him.
I don’t know a thing about him, except that he had an ex-boyfriend that I knew.
He writes so well. I finished his LJ at 6:30 am, found out what his job is and the funny things he does.
I love his Malate escapades. I love reading about gay stuff. It’s a world I hear about and am part of, but never experienced really.
I have never been to BED. I doubt that I’ll ever go. I don’t even go to Gay Pride.
But I love gay men, they amuse me so. I can’t imagine a life without gay men, how boring would this place be.

Excerpt from Cholo’s blog:
Cholo is met by the Lady Colin
Lady Colin: Oh djaaaahling. I’m a bit occupied right now. Let me get back to you in a bit. I just have to brief the emceeeeees of the show…Chico and Delamar. (Colin points out the two emceeeeees.)
Cholo turns to look and sees a couple who really look like theyre going to Unimart.
Cholo: (thought voice) Who the hell are Chico and Delamar?
Cut to:
Sequence 4. EXT. onstage in the streets. way after midnight.
The Unimart couple start off a raffle sponsored by blah..blah..blah
Chico: And the first winner will win an assortment of products from balah..blah..blah…and a gift certificate from FAIRMART!
A thick gasp is heard in the crowd! To mention the name of a department store long banished by the gay community was unspeakable!
A parlorista in the crowd: FAIRMART!?..ay anu ba yun!?
A gay German in the crowd: Heavens!
Delamar was quick to check the cue card of Chico and rushes to correct the grave error.
Delamar: Oh sorry guys…hihihi…it’s a gift certificate pala from FIRMA!
Cholo: (thought voice) Who the hell are Chico and Delamar?

Kris and Herbert
When Kris Aquino announced she was dating former actor and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, I actually thought they made a cute couple and thought that maybe they would last “forever” like she said.

She looked really happy.

A few days later my hairdresser told me that Kris had cut her hair. Then I found out Kris and Herbert had already broken up.

Tonight my nurse told me Kris’s peg for cutting her hair was Anne Hathaway.
Ooookay….I have no further comments, your Honor.

Zsa Zsa Padilla and Conrad Onglao
I can’t remember who told me these two were dating, but whoever told me also said, “Buti pa si Zsa Zsa. Isang blind date lang may jowa na.” (“Lucky Zsa Zsa. She got a boyfriend after one blind date.”)
I know who Zsa Zsa is obviously. She came to fame in 1984 after singing that Nescafe jingle.

In 1989 she famously eloped with Dolphy, who was 36 years older and left Alma Moreno behind.
I remember it being the biggest scandal at the time.

To her credit Zsa Zsa loved Dolphy till his last breath at the age of 83.
Two years later, Zsa Zsa is now partnered with architect Conrad Onglao, whom she met through a blind date arranged by Sharon Cuneta.
Writes Thelma San Juan: “Zsa Zsa and Conrad set their date through text messages. Zsa Zsa didn’t know who Conrad was, except that he is an architect. Conrad didn’t and still doesn’t know show biz. Both move in disparate worlds…Zsa Zsa didn’t know of Conrad’s credentials until they Googled each other before their blind date. Now, quite impressed with his achievements, she fondly calls him ‘my rock star.’”

Prior to their coupling, I also wouldn’t know what Conrad Onglao looks like. Here’s a photo of him grabbed from The FashPack.

Okay, not bad for a talented, successful, older man. But this is reality.

That said, I’m happy for both of them even though I don’t know either of them. I do think they look good together.
Oh, and nice house

George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin
Never since John Kennedy Jr. coupled with Carolyn Bessette in 1994 and married in 1996 has there been another couple that looks so perfect—individually and together. These pictures, taken before their tragic death in 1999, look as if they could’ve been taken yesterday. Their style is timeless.

And now there’s George Clooney and Amal Alumuddin.
We all know George Clooney is perfect (even though he’s not my type).

After a failed marriage and dating the typical actresses, models and cocktail waitress, he’s finally proposed to a 36-year-old Lebanese lawyer whose work includes issues related to Syria, drones and Wikileaks.
To me, she looks so perfect.

Not only does she look perfect, she sounds perfect.
It’s a good thing George isn’t my type, otherwise sarap patayin.

Dreams do come true—for some of us, later in life.
It’s been my dream to go Japan as often as I can and as easy as flying to Hong Kong. Luckily I got my three-year multiple-entry visa after the Japanese government relaxed its visa rules for Filipinos.
When I was younger I studied Nihongo for two years and wanted to marry Japanese because I find them adorable. But my dad said, better not. He was right.
This year my husband and decided to take our family vacation in Tokyo and travel for the first time without a yaya. I must say it was quite a success.
As the official travel agent of my family, I chose Delta Airlines because of our pleasant experience last time. Prior to this we usually flew Japan Airlines until I rediscovered Delta through an online sale.

Here’s why I prefer Delta:
Delta seats are better. I find Japan Airlines seats not as comfortable. This is a normal business class seat on JAL

while Delta has cabin-like seats (like Cathay Pacific Business Class) which recline and lie flat.
Jeroen and I can hold hands when I’m scared

Each seat comes with a bottle of Evian (a huge comfort for me), a fluffy pillow, and a thin, quilted comforter
It has a very convenient outlet, so you can charge your gadgets before you land. (Can’t leave without my Samsung Galaxy Note 3!)

The flight attendants are so warm. There’s nothing like Delta flight attendants. The Americans have a great sense of humour and the Filipinos feel like family.

Here’s a shoutout to fellow Assumptionista Fara Campos Lacson (middle) who was a commercial model back in the day

On the other hand, Japan Airlines serves food I like

and allocates three pieces of luggage per passenger, versus Delta’s two pieces for business class.
So if food and shopping are your priority, fly JAL. But if comfort is more important to you, fly Delta.
Looking forward to my Japan visit, but next time I’m going to try Haneda Airport, instead of Narita.

From the founders of homme et femme (H&F) retail stores comes Hoodwink, a playful yet sophisticated store that caters to a young male demographic.
Interiors were designed by H&F’s Mark (Jappy) Gonzalez in collaboration with architect Rola Vizmonte.

Look closely and see crafty details like billiard sticks for door handles, darts for clothing hooks, and clothes racks and shelving made of tubular steel.
From the street view, a storefront window will feature a seasonal collab with a deviant artist.
This month however you’ll see Comme des Garçons PLAY balloons on the windows.

So what’s on the shelves this season? A well curated collection that caught my eye, including Kitsune Tee and Lazy Oaf, among others.

Now if only these came in women’s cuts, we’d be in a bit of trouble.

Hoodwink is on the ground level of SM Aura. Open daily from 10 AM to 10 PM

Having just arrived from Tokyo where I had to take care of kids, I still felt kind of bitin with my shopping.
Luckily Watsons invited me to shop all I want yesterday to sample their three-day sale this May 16-18, 2014.

Given the chance, what would you buy?
As a lover of cute things I really liked this cart. I wish all malls would have carts like this available to go around.

Watsons brand hand soaps are my favourite things to hoard, especially if they’re buy one-take one

Hair accessories are 10% off. Too bad I got the clips before they went on sale two weeks ago

I love Celeteque products, especially in the shower

My friend Rem will be glad to know Cetaphil products are on sale—for her daughter’s sensitive skin

I love Veet hair remover wax strips for the legs. Perfect for home and traveling.
I find it so relaxing when someone pulls them for me while I lie down.

Lots of Belo products on sale—hello Anne!

Here’s something interesting that’s not on sale though—Glutamax lightening feminine wash!
I’m doubting the tightening feature though…

Not on sale, but highly recommended: Crave Away whitening toothpaste and appetite suppressant

Most of the makeup lines are also on sale

The hand soap bundles are a steal

The cotton boxed sets are nice to have, especially at this price

Nivea sun blocks are 50% off!

Plus so much more of your favourite brands—check out the marked down prices

Check out the marked down prices

So what did I end up getting? Just a couple of Veet hair remover wax strips, two bottles of Belo Glutathione + collagen pills, Maybelline BB concealer stick, Watsons disposable underwear for boys for the next trip (long story), and a Sure Aid grooming kit so I can avail of the free cooler bag promo

The Sure Aid kit is part of Watsons Gotta Have it items that you need to purchase along with Php 1200 worth in order to get the promo item

Et voila! No need for a shopping bag.

Watsons three-day sale is on until tomorrow only, so take advantage and stock up on your favourite products now!

The Peninsula Tokyo may be heaven on earth, but for this trip with the kids I decided to book at the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo as recommended by my brother Dennis.
We had also considered the Grand Hyatt Tokyo due to its proximity to Roppongi Hills, but upon inspecting the rooms personally, I backed out due to the open bathrooms, even with the sliding doors. I don’t like sleeping near the sink or bathroom odours.

The Ritz-Carlton is also connected to the beautiful Tokyo Midtown mall, which I had visited previously many years ago.
I had lunch there once with my family at an expensive tempura restaurant. But being with parents, I wasn’t able to see the entire mall at that time. I did have a impressive memory of its interior and an extra large Muji store on the ground level.
Staying next to the mall means we have access to all kinds of food—rain or shine, summer or winter.
Another big plus is the 24-hour supermarket called Precce Premium, apart from the 7-11 at the basement.

Here’s a look at the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo

There are always fancy cars parked in front—fascinating for the boys

We checked in at the 45th floor lobby with a calming water feature

We took two connecting rooms on the 49th floor.

This was our room with Frette sheets and a view of the Tokyo Tower

The kids’ room

Milk and macarons for the kids

and for adults

and most importantly, the chuva-approved bathroom

Aside from two counter sinks, it features a remote-controlled flatscreen TV and clock

with convenient night light, so you don’t have to turn on the lights and wake up

Two sets of amenities per bathroom

Automatic heated toilet

Chuva-approved minimalist shower and bathtub

(Palmolive body wash, my baon from Manila)

Apart from the fluctuating aircon temperature, I have no complaints about this room

Plus the boys really loved the wifi

To know more about the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, click HERE

(To be continued)

Our son Christian was clean-shaven when we first brought him home five years ago.

But oh, he had a cute face

He turned into this chubby little bunny

One day we took him for a haircut at the kiddie barbershop at SM Megamall. At first he wasn’t happy

But the outcome was good

The hair grew longer

The kid got wiser

And just like that, he turned six years old last Christmas.

Lately I haven’t found anyone who could style his hair nicely, so I took him to our friend Fumio of Natural Hype salon in Taguig.

Run by Japanese DJ and bartender Fumio Onishi (below, right), we got to meet him through our friend Takatoshi Kimachi (left) who always has good hair, so we thought Fumi could do the same for Christian.

He plays great music and will offer you a drink

Being a new dad himself, I found Fumio very gentle with Christian. He carried him to the shampoo chair, which was already prepped with pillows to support the child

Christian enjoyed watching TV on the ceiling while getting a shampoo

Then he was brought to a chair where Fumio had propped up an iPad loaded with cartoons

Not too long after, we were done! We love it!!

Now if only yaya or I could style it like this each time, that would be great.

On the way home Christian settled into the backseat and announced, “The boss is going to sleep.”
And that he did.

To know more about Natural Hype, click HERE or like them on Facebook.

Natural Hype is at the 2nd floor, Blue Sapphire building
30th Street corner 2nd Avenue, Crescent Park West, 1634 Fort Bonifacio.
Reservations are necessary. To make an appointment call (02) 478 4226.

I don’t like queues at restaurants (unless it’s ours, hehe). But yesterday I found myself lining up for the second time at the newly opened Tim Ho Wan at SM Fashion Hall.
Prior to its opening in Manila, I had never even heard of it—maybe because eating is not my priority in Hong Kong.
But my friend Grace says she often takes home the baked pork buns from Hong Kong to Manila.
Grace says there’s a Tim Ho Wan at the Hong Kong Station that she goes to before boarding the airport express.

That looks pretty tame compared with the mob in Kowloon

So last Tuesday, after passing by briefly at Hayden Kho’s event at the Marco Polo Ortigas, Grace, Patrice and I decided to take a chance and go to Tim Ho wan at Megamall. As expected, the line was super long on its opening day.
Luckily, franchise owner Eric Dee Sr. and blogger Anton Diaz spotted me and offered us a table to join a group of young bloggers touring the mall’s new restaurants.
The menu is simple enough, with good prices.

My favourites are the shrimp and pork dumplings—easily some of the best dim sum in Manila right now.
I could really taste the authenticity—what with a team of ten Chinese currently in Manila for the opening.
Mr. Dee says four of them will be leaving soon, but six will be staying.

Other dishes on our table were the machang (glutinous rice with meat, steamed within green leaves—sorry forgot to photograph it opened)

and this pretty-looking spinach dumpling with shrimp

But the restaurant’s star dish is the Baked Bun with Barbecued Pork that comes in a plate of three

Honestly, I loved the bun, not so much the saucy filling.
The question everyone wants to ask is, is it the same as Hong Kong? I can’t tell you because it’s my first time to try.
But I was back the following day at 5 PM. The line was pretty organised and my friend Rem and I waited for about 15 minutes. Not bad.

Tim Ho Wan is at the ground level of SM Fashion Hall. The best time to go is off-peak hours (in between lunch and dinner) and the best place to get dropped off is SM Department Store on the B-side.

About Tim Ho Wan
Chef Mak Kwai Pui started serving dim sum at a humble 15-seater restaurant along Kwong Wa Street in Mong Kok.
The lines outside Tim Ho Wan stretched for blocks with hungry diners waiting hours for the baked pork buns.
Word got around and in 2010, Chef Mak Kwai Pui earned his first Michelin star.
Tim Ho Wan is now known as the most affordable Michelin restaurant with branches in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Manila.

“You look cute mommy,” Ben said to me while looking into my eyes last night. I was wearing new glasses—a birthday gift from Michael Concepcion of Ronnie & Joe at SM Aura.
I was wondering how the boys would react to my glasses—if they would think it made me looked old—so Ben’s comment was really sweet.

About two weeks ago I started getting a migraine on top of my left eye. I had my eyes checked with Dr. Alnette Tan of American Eye and got two prescriptions for reading and normal glasses.
A few days ago I started using the glasses—not the whole day but during times I felt like a headache was coming.
The glasses have been a lifesaver.
My eyes aren’t that bad, having had LASIK at American Eye 10 years ago. In fact, Dr. Alnette was quite impressed that my vision had stayed good that long. But this year I felt like the old age was creeping in.

Chic glasses are hard to come by. I get so amazed with people who always have nice frames—like my Uncle Greg Garcia and Jappy Gonzalez of Homme et Femme.
Yesterday I got an email from Jappy inviting me to check out nackymade‘s popup store at Univers this May 23-25 only.
Naoki (Nacky) Nakagawa is an eyewear designer based in Kobe, Japan who has made a name for himself by creating handmade bespoke eyeglasses. He personally customises each piece based on the client’s face shape, personality and lifestyle.
Naoki-san was busy seeing clients when I arrived at Univers around 4 PM.

He was assisted by his cute wife Tomoko-san

On the table are various frames that are available for sale

Plus some that are a little bit strange (Yoko Ono is a client after all)

Then there are many loose frames, hinges and stems to choose from to customise according to your taste.

Naoki-san is very effective in helping you choose a frame that will suit you best. He will also make sure the fit is perfect by measuring the distance between your eyes and ears.
Naoki-san and his wife spend six months in a year in Kobe, and travel the rest of the year to Hong Kong, Singapore, London, and Manila to meet the clients.
Bespoke glasses are typically 25,000 pesos each, but ready-made pieces may be purchased at Univers for 20,000.

Also at Univers this weekend are Takashi and Miki Uokawa who make clothes and accessories under the Tougher and Katano Kaban labels.

L-R: Miki (left) and Takashi Uokawa with their daughter Mizuki

There are many pieces on display—both for men and women, with prices much more affordable than the nackymade glasses
Some of the pieces I liked under the Tougher label were these summery tops and dresses

Under Katano Kaban, I liked the circular bags that turned from this

to this—well, in a different colour, but you get the idea.

Meet the Japanese artisans at Univers, One Rockwell East Tower, Rockwell Drive this May 23-25, 2014 from 10 AM to 7 PM. For inquiries call 533-6811 or 533-6881.

We grew up knowing the story of Sleeping Beauty, but know little about the jealous, evil witch that wanted her dead in the first place.

This May 30, 2014, Angelina Jolie stars as Maleficent, about the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain.

Inspired by the movie, M.A.C cosmetics offers a limited-edition colour collection in specially designed packaging to delight the most demanding of sorceresses.

The collection includes a lipstick (Php 1100), lipglass (Php 1270) and lip pencil in bright red (Php 1230), eyeliner in Rapidblack (Php 1290), and eyebrow pencil in taupe ash blonde (Php 1100)

There are three nail lacquers called UNINVITED (neutral nude), FLAMING ROSE (true red) and NOCTURNELLE (black) at Php 830 each, as well as a Prep+Prime Highlighter Bright Forecast pen (Php 1400)

A Beauty Powder comes in soft peachy pink (Php 1800) and a Sculpting Powder in soft taupe matte (Php 1430)

The eyeshadow has a palette of GROUND BROWN dirty deep brown (matte), CONCRETE muted taupe brown (satin), CARBON intense black (matte), and GOLDMINE intense gold with shimmer (frost) PHP 2530

To complete the look, LASHES 36 and LASH 30 are available at PHP 830 each.

Find them this June 2014 at MAC Makati and Rockwell only.
http://www.maccosmetics.com.ph