iMOURN. RIP Steve Jobs.

Today, I woke up stunned and saddened by the news of Steve Jobs' passing.

His life was an inspiration. Watch this and be as inspired as I was by his life and his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech.

Some lines ilove. Full text here.

"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

-Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

 Apple's statement on their website:

The first apple product I owned was a pink ipod mini which my Auntie Tina & Uncle Joy gave to me in 2005. Two years later, Art gave me my first macbook, and I knew then what they said  about apple was right. "Once you go mac, you never go back." 

And I never looked back. :)

To our modern-day Thomas Edison and Walt Disney, a man always ahead of his time, the visionary and innovator, may you rest in peace.

Long Time

I haven't updated my blog in a bit. Now that my three kids are back in Zamboanga with my parents, one would think I have all the idle time in my hands to blog all I want, but I've been unusually lazy lately!

I miss the kids like crazy and I think of them every waking moment. I even cried on the day they left (I get especially teary when I look at Amber's empty crib) but I quickly realized that I also need this time for myself. So for now, I'm savoring my short "me" time and some much desired needed private time with the husband. ♥

The past few weeks before the kids left with my parents have been especially busy because my brother was here. So we were all over the place doing touristy stuff. I miss having them all here in Dubai. 

Will update soon.

True As Can Be

"Elegance is a physical quality. If a woman doesn’t have it naked, she’ll never have it clothed.” 

 

- Karl Lagerfeld, April 1973

 

:)

True that!

Repetto Love!

Sometimes I'm not sure which one I love more, bags or shoes? Maybe I love bags more but since I have not (yet) taken interest in designer shoes (do Tory Burch count?), the shoes I want are usually affordable so it's easier to make an impulse purchase and get immediate gratification. This probably explains my massive shoe collection which consists mostly of shoes I almost never get to wear.

Before I had kids, I rarely wore flats because at 5"1, I am feel really tiny. Now with three kids, my main priority is comfort so I'm usually in flats especially when I'm taking the kids out by myself. Of course, I try to take advantage of those times when Art or my parents are there to help out with the kids, to pull out my heels so that for a few hours I can feel like a woman. :)

So with all my impulsive buys, I tend to forget about the basics which are really more important and worth investing in because they'll be around for a long time. Thus, I'm on the quest for the perfect workhorse everyday ballet flats. I finally found the one I love and want in Repetto. 

I am in love with the subtle and classy design of their Repetto BB (for Brigitte Bardot) ballet flats.

It was said that Repetto's first ballet slipper dates back to 1947 which easily became a reputable dance footwear for years before they finally hit street fashion and until now their BBs are still a classic.  It's also helpful to know that now Repetto carries 19 different models of ballet flats to cater to varying tastes and needs. 

Their appeal is not limited to their designs but also because they are supposedly made by hand in relatively small batches and this gives it an air of exclusivity. Repetto's company chief Jean-Marc Gaucher describes them as, "it feels like a slipper, it's just like wearing a glove."

Now I can't wait to get myself a pair of these iconic babies (after I quench my Loubie thirst). With all the yummy colors, it's hard to pick a favorite, although the black and red Bbs are on top of my list.

via The Coveteur

Some celebrity sightings.

Angelina Jolie

Reese Witherspoon

Gwyneth Paltrow

Rachel Bilson

Kelly Rutherford

Repetto is available online via La Garconne.

Kids Day Out: Little Explorers

The night before Art left for the field last month, we brought the kids to Mirdif City Centre because I heard of Little Explorers and I wanted to check it out. My kids are mostly confined to the four corners of our flat which I think is very unhealthy, which is why I want to take the opportunity when Art is here with us to take them to kiddie places.

The place isn't too big and their concept is pretty simple. It's mostly about self-discovery, experimenting and understanding their surroundings (to some extent). I didn't think Carlos would enjoy it as much as Kaden but surprisingly, he did.

"I Experiment" Zone

My mom stayed with Amber (who couldn't appreciate any of it yet) while Art and I ran after the two boys. 

The boys enjoyed playing with the water, there were lots of cause and effect involved in the play.

There are a variety of interactive exhibits that encourage exploration and experiments for kids.

There are five "zones" to explore the science of sound, air, motion, body, and many more.

"I Experiment" Zone

The boys were all over the place. Notice their perspired heads. 

"I Locate Myself" Zone

I wouldn't mind taking the kids back here. Especially since Mirdif City Centre is the closest mall to where we live.

The boys stayed and played the longest here.

"All Together" Zone

This is where Kaden got so engrossed with building his "house".

While Carlos was running all over. Making friends and having the time of his life.

Giving his daddy a good workout.

My photos are limited because the battery for the camera died by the time we got to  the "I Can Do" and "I Discover Myself" Zone.  I am particularly sad to not have a photo of Carlos running into a mirror at the House of Mirrors because it was a classic!

I love these kids to pieces.

My Mommy's Girl

Our family picture that night.

Thank you Lord, for the gift of family. 

Would You Harness Your Kids? I Would and I Do.

I know a lot of people frown at the idea of restraining a child with a safety leash or a safety harness (I have both) which they think should only be limited to pets. I see the reactions first hand when we go to the malls, there's no denying the appalled faces and judging looks I get from some parents. But I personally think this issue is a classic example of different strokes for different folks.

Some people perceive putting a child on a leash or a harness "demeaning", some think it's made for "uncontrollable" children, some say they are plain "horrible" but I have high regard for these leashes and harnesses especially when I take my kids to crowded or busy places. I like how it can give my kids a sense of independence while they are safely within my reach and view.

I prefer the wrist safety leash over the plushy backpack harness because of its stretchable strap and I find it easier to use especially when Carlos is running around.

I'd have to admit that the plushy backpack harness seems cuter more acceptable to judging eyes. I'll make sure to use it next time. I just find the strap too short.

It's a child's normal instinct to explore so we can't fault them for wandering off sometimes. As parents all we want is to keep them safe first and foremost, the rest just comes second. Lately, we use it for Carlos (who is 2) because he sometimes gets bored in his stroller and he wants to roam around like his Kuya Kaden.

If your child isn't a "flight risk" like mine can sometimes be, then lucky for you. Kids are very impulsive, especially if you have more than one. They can run off in a flash or be gone with a blink of an eye. I can't imagine how it would be for me if I had to run after one child and leave the other two behind. So this works perfectly for me.

I don't think people should issue judgment for parents who use these leashes and harnesses for their children because you don't know their story. Judge me if you will, but I'd rather keep my kids safe than be sorry.

Spotted: Blake Lively and Mulberry Taylor

Just when I was starting to regret my recent Mulberry purchase because I was thinking I should have prioritized the "classic" over statement bags, I see photos of Blake Lively carrying a Taylor on the set of Gossip Girl season 5.

She looks great! I wonder if I can make printed + printed work though? 

 

The bag is an eye candy that's for sure.

 

Note to self: Find those earrings or something in a similar shade.

 And that's all it took for my buyer's remorse to go away. :) Sigh, I can't wait for season 5!

My Mommy Finds: Sophie The Giraffe

I make sure that the toys I bring for Amber's stroller are different from the ones she normally plays with at home so it can hold her attention longer. One of the toys that I leave in her baby bag that I like attaching to her stroller is Sophie the Giraffe Teether.

 

Looks like any other teether right? I thought so too, but what caught my attention was the 1,400+ positive reviews of it on Amazon.  So I got curious and bought it for Amber.

The squeaky little giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint and is Phthalates and BPA free. She's very light and fun to play with since she makes a pleasant squeak each time a part of her body is squeezed or chewed on. Amber likes clinging to her neck and sometimes falls asleep with one hand on her milk bottle and another on Sophie's neck.

Amber devouring Sophie

Sometimes, even Carlos who's now over 2 likes playing with Sophie.

Favorite Of The Week: Baskin Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge!

I love Ice Cream! I don't even have a favorite flavor because I love them all. I rarely run out of ice cream in our freezer because I always feel this need for a bowl of this and that. No use blaming my kids on this one, but they also love ice cream as much as I do. In fact, in the very few instances that we ran out of ice cream and Carlos suddenly craves for it, he cries like it's the end of the world.

Recently, Cat, a friend of mine commented on my mom's facebook photo of our "midnight snack" and said we should give Jamoca a try. So we tried it the next time we went to the supermarket. It.was.so.good!!! I can't believe this flavor has been out there for a while now and I haven't tried it until recently! I don't normally like nuts on my ice cream but I'll make an exception for this one.

Can't wait to let my brother try it when he arrives here next week. :)