Visiting Leanne!

As I posted last January 1st on my 2009 wishlist, I wanted to visit my college roommate/blockmate Leanne who is now based in Singapore as she has plans of moving to another country soon. I haven't seen Leanne since 2006 and I was sad because she wasn't granted a leave to attend our wedding last year. :(

I was supposed to go with one of our other former roommate, Cielo. But she had to cancel at the last minute because of an important company meeting (which won her a 3d2n stay at a resort in Bali beside Nusa Dua, the name of which escapes me at the moment, but I'm happy that her guilt is making her offer that the two of us enjoy that freebie together). I almost cancelled too because I didn't want to travel alone [because of my fear of flying], but Cielo pointed out that I was able to endure 18-hour flights by myself so what's the big deal about a three-hour flight? I didn't want to argue, but for some reason I feel safer in bigger planes. After much debate with myself, I decided to go ahead with the trip and I had no regrets. :)

Most people find it funny that despite flying regularly I still have this fear of flying. In fact, I don't sleep the night before each flight so that by the time we board the plane I'd be too tired and just end up sleeping during the entire flight. Problem is, it doesn't always work the way I plan it because I become too focused on my fear that most of the time I end up staying awake while gripping my armrest as I anticipate each air pocket. This is the main reason why I hate flying alone.

Leanne just came back from a four day vacation to her hometown, Laguna. Because of this, she wasn't able to file for a leave and she felt so guilty for leaving me alone which is why the moment I arrived, she sat me down and gave me the following:

- An extra phone with a prepaid Singapore sim.

- A loaded EZ Link card.

- Directions and ideas for where to go, where to eat, etc.

It was so sweet of her! It was my first time in Sg so I appreciated her efforts. :) She even made a sketch of the malls in Orchard so I'd know where to go in case I was looking for something in particular. It was very helpful, btw.

Did I mention that Leanne one of the most organized people you will ever meet in your life? She brings the OCness i know to a whole new level. If you like clean, then she is your ideal roommate! She likes to keep everything clean and organized, and if you're not tatarayan ka niya!

So I spent my first day alone, walking around Orchard Road.

I ended up blowing my budget for my entire trip in one afternoon. :(

So I swore that my remaining days would be limited to sight seeing and catching up with old friends.

Even though I wore flats that day, my feet were ready to give up on me by the time Leanne and I met up again to go back to her place.

I loved her place and the neighborhood! In a city of condos and HDBs, I would very much prefer going home to a place like this at the end of the day.

Because I kept whining about how my feet were tired and sore, Leanne asked me if I wanted to try this foot and calf massager. As soon as I put my feet in, I didn't want to massager to stop! Heheh.

That night after having dinner (no food pics, how sad) we went to Esplanade for a bit.

The next day, Leanne had to work again so I met up with an old friend, David who is now "temporarily" based in Sg. He was my tour guide/photographer as we walked around Sentosa.

...and the National Museum of Singapore.

That night, the three of us decided to have a few drinks and enjoy each others' company at Brewery in Clarke Quay.

To quote them, "Sa Singapore lasing na ang bulsa mo, ikaw hindi parin." So we all went home sober. :)

The next day, Leanne and I did some shopping at Bugis.

On my last night:

-Raffles Hotel

-St. Andrew Cathedral

-A little more sight seeing here and there.

-Esplanade (again)

-Chimes

Hindi naman halata that I'm already tinatamad towards the end of this post. :p

My friend, D.R. Gates, Esq. He's still single girls! :)

All in all, the trip was fun, and I'm liking the traveling alone part. Hmmm. Anywoo, my favorite part was the lounging and catching up with Leanne and David. Miss you, guys! :)

Bejeweled Sunglasses

So what if these Lanvin bejeweled sunglasses were last season? I still can't stop thinking of them.

I adore sunglasses and I have quite a collection, but the most expensive ones I own are only Ray Ban's and Oakley's (pity me). So I find that for such an outrageous design (which I happen to like, hah!) these Lanvin sunglasses are waaay beyond my budget.

It's nothing like Lanvin's, but lookie what I found at MNG. :)

Grainy photos courtesy of my bro's E71.

Me: How do I look?

RJ (my bro): Ridiculous. Nakakatawa.

Me: I don't care! :) Which one should I get?

RJ: Huwat?!? Are you serious?!?

Me: Yes!!! dali take my picture so I can decide which one I like.

RJ: Nakakahiya.

Me: Sige na, they don't know us anyway. Bilis!

Anyway, I ended up getting the most conservative one of them all. That's what I get for depending on my little brother's opinion. :) Now part of me wishes I'd have gotten the more outrageous one. Sana niluboslubos ko na ang pagka-diva!

Balmain!

I found that recently I have renewed my obsession for shoes and bags. I attribute it to the fact that bags and shoes NEVER make me feel fat!

So while designer bags have replaced watches (only to some extent and depending on who you're asking) in terms of investment pieces. We ladies cannot deny the power of shoe retail therapy.

I may have crossed out high heels as my daily footwear since I am now a mother of two handsome little chikitings and I don't want to risk a fall with them around, but there will always be days [or nights] when I'd want to feel like a *ehem, woman.

In my previous post, I mentioned that I don't like regrets, and I don't want my readers to think I contradict myself, so I'd like to share a quote:

"Regret for things we did can be tempered with time; It is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." -Sidney Smith

Okay, okay. That was NOT a shopping quote. Hahahah! But I do have a few regrets in terms of what I did not buy, one is not getting these Balmain inspired sandals from Zara. :(

I passed on buying because I didn't really think I'd wear them. What was I thinking? Of course I'll wear 'em! Tsk! :(

Now this quote is shopping related and I'd like to share it. This is the quote that I (used to) live, I mean, shop by. Me thinks I should adapt it once again into my shopping habits.

"It is important to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." -Mariben :)

Do You Buy Evita Peroni?

When I first went into an Evita Peroni store a few years ago, I thought to myself "Who in their right mind would spend this much on a headpiece?"

Although whenever I have the luxury of time to go [window] shopping during the times I'm in Manila, I never fail to pass by their shop to try on a headband or two. Just to see how it looks on me, but I never buy. They have very pretty hair accessories, but my favorites are always their headbands. Oh, I don't really mind the dirty looks i get from the sales people. :)

I really don't know what's gotten into me because in my last trip, as I was walking aimlessly in the mall--I found myself purchasing a Evita Peroni headband. Eeep! Talk about impulse buying.

I remember one Evita Peroni headband that my friend Dyan and I have been drooling over sometime early last year. I recently saw a girl wearing that exact headband and I instantly regretted not getting it.

Other cutesy Evita Peroni headpieces I liked:

Do I regret my latest impulse buy? Not really. Not even when my mom pointed out that my headband makes me look like a gift ("mukha kang regalo"). Of course I was quick to defend myself and I told her I was just trying to channel the inner Blair in me. Thing is, she doesn't know who Blair Waldorf is!

I don't like regrets, so none of that for me. :) But I have decided that I should stick to thrift shopping the next time I feel like making an impulsive buy. Especially when I realized that my "mukhang regalo" headband would have bought me my latest object of interest, and left me with some change.

So cute! Lego Adult Toy Watch

Super Late Posting-My Boys Wore Yellow

Last August 5, the day former President Cory Aquino was laid to rest, my two boys wore yellow as a symbol of gratitude and respect. Nationalistic much? :)

That day was also two days after Chace turned 4 months old. How time flies! The little boy enjoys putting his hands inside his mouth, and I'm not just talking about fingers here. He puts the entire fist inside until he gags. He even tries to put both fists in, to no avail--and this really frustrates him.

Here's Kuya Kaden trying to imitate his baby brother.

Thank You For The Gifts! :)

It's so nice to have such thoughtful people in our lives!

From Ninang Leanne, a shirt from Crocs and Zara Kids for Kaden.

From Ninang Dyan, a shirt with 2 of Kaden's absolute favorite characters. Power Rangers Operation Overdrive and Lightning McQueen (Cars)!

From Ninong David, books for Kaden because my son loves books! He got that from me! Heheh. :)

From Auntie Ena & Uncle Louis, Havies for Baby Chace and a sexy blouse for mommy.

Thanks for remembering us guys! We really appreciate it! :)

:)

Now let the good times roll.

DLSU-ADMU Game

It's been so long since I've last watched a UAAP game at Araneta. and I've missed it! I still remember how proud we were to sing our Alma Mater song after each game, win or lose. Of course, we sang louder after each win but we sang just as proudly even if we lost. La Salle claimed consecutive victories year after year from the time I was a freshman. It was during my second to the last year that we lost the finals, and the dream of being five-peat basketball champions never happened for us lasalistas. In that particular game that we lost to Ateneo, I remember an ex-boyfriend of mine who was an atenista texted me a minute after the game ended. His message was, "Hey, who won? I didn't see the score." Talk about adding insult to injury. :)

If I were in Manila this coming Sunday, I'd be watching the UAAP game between DLSU and ADMU. On Rj Ledesma's twitter it said: For DLSU-ADMU game on Sun, Lasallians& Ateneans will wear the unity color of yellow as a fitting tribute to our icon of democracy! I was planning to print screen but I'm not used to my mom's laptop so I don't know how and I'm too lazy to ask. Anywoo, it'll be a nice change to see everyone at the game wearing yellow as tribute to the late Pres. Aquino.

Lookie what I saw from Urban baby, and I wanna get for my Chace.
For Kuya Kaden.Hmm... what if they will end up going to Ivy League schools? Heheh! Well, you can't fault a mom who dreams big for her kids.

Unrelated, yes, but I wanna post it because this is cute, also from Urban Baby I want to get for my boys. If they have a toddler t-shirt in this design. Yes, I know, I'm such a patriot. What can I say? :) For Art, the official adidas DLSU jacket, but I prefer the one which has more green than white. However, this is the only photo I found. Hmm... why did Adidas come out with teamwear apparel for only La Salle and Ateneo? Because the La Salle-Ateneo matches have always been the most celebrated games in the history of UAAP. If you've tried getting tickets to their games especially during the finals, you'll know what I'm talking about.

And for me, I've always wanted the tee with this print but I never found it. :(

Oh, and I stumbled upon this while browsing.
If she went to La Salle, it definitely wasn't in Taft. Ooops! I'm being mean. Sorry :) If it makes any difference, I think she's pretty hot... as long as you don't let her speak. Tehee!

Oh, to those who will be at the game, don't forget to wear yellow!