[Ny Minute Now]

Budget limits and practical reasoning aside (at least for certain items), here's what's on my holiday wishlist:

1) An ergonomic chair
For my back. For my writing. Enough said. I did finally manage to buy a desk from Ikea. I went to the store twice: the first day, to get the legs; the second day, to buy the tabletop. Up until then I didn't realize how easy it was to commute to the store in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

The new Canon PowerShot S95.

2) A new camera
I'm not too thrilled to say that my new Nokia phone seems to take better photos than my six-year-old Sony Cybershot, at least for certain shots in low light. And, since blogging is part of my livelihood, it's probably about time to do an upgrade.

3) A TV
I do not own a television set. I can go for months without seeing live broadcast. In fact, the first thing I did when I moved to the Bronx was remove the TV and cable box in my new room. The Food Network is the only channel that I've consistently watched whenever I've had television access. And, I catch up on favorite shows like 30 Rock, White Collar, and Burn Notice via Hulu.com, the NBC and USA Network websites, and others.

Yet, if I want to eventually work in TV, I need to watch TV and have daily access to it.

4) A citrine ring
Just because. Well, ever since I'd dropped my faux citrine cocktail ring two years ago, I've been on the lookout for a replacement. I saw a real, precious one while walking home from the library, and simply got reminded of this bejeweled craving.

Bialetti 3-Cup Moka Express

5) A Bialetti Moka Express...
...That I finally got to buy on Amazon! I initially lusted after a Nespresso machine or any of those pod-ready coffee contraptions, however, upon giving it some thought, I realized I preferred the Moka pot's natural approach to good espresso. Hence, I gifted myself with the shiny silver brewer (it's much, much more affordable, too, than the former!).

6) A manual pasta machine
There is an attachment for the Kitchenaid mixer but I would actually prefer a good ol' pasta maker.

7) A new daytime, full-time job.
For me to actually afford all of the above (not counting the Moka pot).

A new daytime job, where I could work for at least a year. While working as a consultant and freelancer has been FUN—and my writing plate has never ever been empty despite the lack of an office cubicle/corner office—I now desire something more long-term. It reminds me of dating—that stage when both parties decide to commit and go for the long haul.

Born Champagne Metallic flats.

Hence, it's all (cyber) window shopping and wishlists for now.

(Speaking of online shopping, check out Zappos.com for cute Born flats, clogs, and women's Oxfords.)

Images courtesy of Friedchillies.com, Canon.com.au, and Zappos.com.

Labels: gadgets, holiday, home and living, New York, New York minutes, online shopping, pro-blogging, stuff I buy

The big shopping bag is by far my favorite part of the collection. It's cute enough to cut out, frame, and hang on the wall.

Alber Elbaz's new limited collection for H&M  hit stores today amidst wild anticipation from fierce fashionistas all over the metro, and dare I say, the world. The curious thing about this is that I don't consider myself an avid follower of fashion, as I tend to be "French" in my choices—as in keeping key pieces in heavy rotation and purchasing trendy pick-uppers and wardrobe boosters every season or so—and, I'm not exactly a fan of either brand. Lanvin, for obvious practical reasons; H&M, because of how items in the store seem to have dwindled in quality and overall Wow! that was so ubiquitous and unique of the brand back in 2006. [Afterthought: Well, Lanvin is French after all. So maybe eventually, when I can afford couture et. al., I'd have a better appreciation for the brand.]

Promising. (And yes, you do get a hanger when you buy a piece from the limited edition line.)

At a brand identity seminar I'd attended at my old job, words that came up to describe the store were "low quality," "cheap," with the speaker brazenly declaring that if it weren't for China, H&M wouldn't even be possible. In recent years, the store has cultivated such a bad reputation as witnessed by run-of-the-mill frocks so close to being actual designer knockoffs...or at least that's what people in New York have been saying, more or less. I for one, used to really like the store, up until maybe 2007, when I noticed that the items were, indeed, not so great anymore, and had a "cheap" and "plastic" feel to them, especially with the accessories. Gone was that whole Swedish-Euro vibe that first drew me in when I initially got to know the store on my first trip to London and a succeeding trip to Milan (I still have and wear H&M accessories purchased from back then).

You also get a cute canvas garment bag with your purchase of a dress, or in my case, a t-shirt. (Or, you can politely ask the cashier for one, which I did.)

By the looks of it, Elbaz's new line promises to bring back that sense of quality and quirky-but-accessible fashion it seems to have lost amidst the mass production and plasticky neon accessories. But then, by all means do not take my word for it; I am no official authority in fashhh...ion. Plus, walking to where the Lanvin pieces were, I caught a glimpse of the regular accessories section and things seem to be looking up. I may just go back for that ballet-slipper pink floral statement necklace.

All that said, I hadn't seriously planned on being at the store to witness the hooplah surrounding the Lanvin for H&M collection. Yet, I do have "fierce fashionista" friends—former/current fashion editors, fashion students, etc.—who keep track of these things, and as if by osmosis, I am easily and automatically updated because if it were entirely up to me, I would only concern myself with food and home-related accoutrements, such as Giada de Laurentiis's collection for Target, you know...those kinds of things.

The smaller paperbag for the smaller pieces in the collection.

So, this morning, I discovered how the folks at H&M figured out a way to manage excited crowds by issuing color-coded wristbands that corresponded to specific timeslots. You had to be there early to get a wristband, along with some freebies. Well, I wasn't there that early; my friend/cousin-in-law, Happy David, gave me an extra wristband, and I had about 10 minutes to look at everything by the time it was my turn. I'm not kidding, I'd barely browsed the merchandise—which by noon had dwindled to a skeletal few—when someone announced, "four minutes." I got a cute embellished t-shirt and that was it. I'd originally wanted the yellow dress my other friend Kat Dy blogged about here but upon closer inspection, it didn't feel worth the splurge (plus, I'm still technically jobhunting, so $199 for a dress is a major no-no at this point). The shirt was a reasonable $39.95, considering the whole Lanvin thing, the embellishments, and the handmade feel to it.

I didn't have time to admire this embellished tee at the store, but when I tried it on at home, I found it to be quite fab. It can be dressed up or down; worn both in cold and warm weather. Now, how to wash it...

Labels: career, fab friends, fashion, home and living, New York, New York minutes, something French, stuff I buy

When it comes to big-ticket purchases, handbags ever so rarely make the cut for me. I do own a Longchamp canvas tote that my husband (then boyfriend) got for me two years ago on our first official shopping trip...I say 'first' because at the time, we'd been together for four years and have never gone somewhere to "just shop" for items that do not necessarily fall under the "need" category.

Rebecca Minkoff M.A.B. Mini

This year, the closest I've come to actually forking over a decent amount of cash for a designer bag was when I had briefly considered a Rebecca Minkoff handbag, the Morning After Bag Mini in particular, a.k.a. the M.A.B. Mini back when I was still working at Avon. I first heard of the brand from one of the mark. interns who had actually met the New York-based designer. (Minkoff, by the way, also writes a cute blog, aptly named, Minkette: a streamlined pace that also reminds me of Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop).

So, anyway, the special shopping session mentioned above is why my Longchamp tote is dear to me. But, Prada handbags, Marc Jacobs handbags...really, they don't mean much to me. And knockoffs are an obvious no-no. Maybe I would reconsider a Minkoff bag someday. (There's a cute yellow version over at Bluefly.com, and the classic black one at the designer's own shopping website.)


What I did spend money on today were prescription glasses by Vesterby Denmark. I just call them "Scandinavians" because that seemed to be the nickname du jour back at the optical shop. I had actually already stopped wearing my old glasses over the past year or so because last I had my eyes checked, they were fine. But over the last couple of days, I started getting headaches again. Hence, the random splurge.

I'm loving my new "Scandinavian" frames. And, they have a "Brooklyn" feel to them.

He got new frames too!

Circa 2004.

Labels: New York minutes, online shopping, pro-blogging, stuff I buy

Over the summer I had picked up a copy of Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire by Mireille Guiliano, author of the best-selling French Women Don't Get Fat books (a cookbook version is now available).

Reading the first few chapters, I'd typed up some quotes on my desktop and I'd like to share them with you. I would also recommend getting the book since it packs in more notable insights from the author not included in this blog post. Cathie Black's Basic Black actually comes to mind, in terms of the kind of book one could go back to from time to time for sensible musings coming from experts and leading women in the field. Black is Hearst Magazine's former president and current chairman; and Guiliano is the former CEO of Cliquot Inc, under the prestigious LVMH umbrella. Guiliano has managed to make that mustard yellow champagne label so ubiquitous and the marker of fancy celebrations that it is now. And, in her business tome, Guiliano takes on a tongue-in-chic approach to women and the workplace, along with lifestyle advice you won't find in business books written by men. That,

p9 - 10
"So much for planning, in business or in life. Lesson learned. Things happen. Opportunities are often unpredictable."

p 23
"Yes, but with talent, hard work, and being in the right place you can help make your own luck. By my late twenties I had something of a vision of myself in some sort of management position that permitted me to eat at all the top restaurants on someone else's dollar."

p26
"Concluding such stages in life presents opportunities and invitations to relaunch or reinvigorate a career or professional life. They are also times when you can make your own luck or at least put yourself in a position to be receptive to "lucky breaks." So again, think opportunity. Whether these are sad or happy times emotionally, remember not to think failure. (Where does that get you, anyway?)"

p30
"...I believe that life is lived in episodes and stages, and it is clear that some passions can fade while new ones emerge over time. Indeed, our first loves and passions can be overrated and it would be unwise to pursue them. Others are pursued earnestly for a time, then discarded. C'est la vie."

p53
"Life's too short to worry about the past. And after a while, believe me, you can't even remember the details of the past that were once so consuming. Move on. We all have made mistakes or think we have; living is about the moment and the future. Look ahead."

Image courtesy of http://prettysavvy.ca.

Labels: books, career, something French, stuff I buy, work

I am most inclined to leave the gadget-speak to former T3 Magazine EIC Vince Sales who now writes the blog, Third World Nerd. He also happens to be the husband of my very good friend Frances of Topaz Horizon and MORE (by that I mean author of two other popular blogs and EIC of entertainment mag, Ok!).

So, for you techies out there, the disclaimer for this post is simply, you won't find technical specifications here; Google and Amazon would be better for that.

Anyway, the two above are my latest 'tech-quisitions': a Nokia C5-00—a gift from my husband who knows me too well to not have gotten me a QWERTY phone, as I am old school that way—and a Western Digital My Passport Essential Ultra-portable Hard Drive, Robot Limited Edition (isn't it so cute?).

Two things:

1) If you regularly read this blog, you'd know that I'm not once to switch up or buy gadgets very frequently. But, since my Acer netbook has been with me for close to two years now (time flies!) I've started to get that nagging feeling to back up. Up until today, I've never owned an external hard drive, unless you'd count my old iPod, the one with the black-and-white screen. The Western Digital My Passport 'Robot' actually feels like a wider white iPod. Again, very cute. It's plug-and-play meaning I have to get used to not manually dragging and dropping files for back up.

2) I've had the same Nokia 6300 phone (photo here) since 2007—it still works great, is mega-sturdy, and reliable. Hence, it will be a little bit of a challenge to transition to the new C5-00, as I've come to rely on my 6300 for many things, which includes cooking and baking (for the countdown timer), notes (for blog ideas), calculating, etc. It will now house my Smart SIM card for roaming. That's all for now. I wanted to write about an aborted iPad purchase, but the details are kind of boring, so I'll save the iPad talk until I actually own one; which, by the looks of it, won't be until January.

Labels: fab friends, gadgets, New York minutes, stuff I buy

Click on the photo for my latest (short) post at AllMySugar.com. Quite an amusing (and tasty!) breakfast cereal I've recently come across at the grocery store.

Tell me if you got the joke right away! And I'll know how old you are :)

Labels: food, stuff I buy

So, I finally was able to do some decent grocery-shopping. By 'decent' I mean buying good olive oil, salad greens, eggs, and so forth. The newly opened Trader Joe's branch in Chelsea proved to be a fulfilling stop.

The original Trader Joe's in Union Square (steps away from Whole Foods) is known to be quite tight with long lines leading to the registers. But, most people and TJ fans claim that the queues move quite fast—and I agree. However, the new bigger branch was a breath of fresh air: One could linger and ponder purchases without having to go elbow-to-elbow with other shoppers, or feel the pressure to move along quickly because somebody has to pass through the narrow aisle you're in.

Ironically, I'd never gone to Trader Joe's the first time I'd lived in New York. Perhaps I was a Whole Foods purist, up until recently when a friend told me how much cheaper everything was at the former. AND SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE SPOT-ON! This evening I had a limited budget, yet, I'd managed to squeeze in said good bottle of olive oil, some cooked lemon pepper chicken fillets, milk, body wash, etcetera. Amazing.



Photos courtesy of dnainfo.com and besenretail.wordpress.com.

Labels: 30-Day Blog Challenge, food, New York, stuff I buy

Exhausted tonight, but before I go to bed, let me share with you a recipe for taco seasoning. I know I've just recently blogged about the Endless Summer truck (Day 3 of the 30-Day Blog Challenge), but thought I'd post this photo I took a few months ago when I first tried making the mix. Nothing beats the homemade version, with the most important reason for me is the guarantee of absolutely no MSG, as most ready-made packets have. It IS a lot of ingredients, but super easy to put together once you have everything on hand. One batch lasts a long, long time; and, you can use the spices for other delicious things (and if you're building a spice rack, this is a good way to start). Enjoy!

TACO SEASONING MIX
(Courtesy of http://busycooks.about.com)

Make your own taco seasoning mix to control the ingredients for better nutrition.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:

* 1/4 cup instant minced onion
* 2 Tbsp. chili powder
* 2 tsp. paprika
* 2 tsp. crushed dried red pepper flakes
* 1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano
* 1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
* 1 Tbsp. salt
* 1/4 tsp. pepper
* 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
* 1 Tbsp. instant minced garlic
* 1 tsp. ground cumin

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and blend thoroughly with wire whisk. Spoon mixture into a tightly closed container and label as "Taco Seasoning Mix". Store in a cool, dry place. Use within six months. Makes 6 packages (about 2 Tbsp. each) of mix. 2 Tbsp. equals 1.25-oz. pkg. purchased taco seasoning mix.

To make Taco Filling:

Brown 1 lb. lean ground beef (I used tuna) in large skillet over medium heat; drain grease. Add 1/2 cup water and 2 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning Mix. Reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes enough filling for 8 to 10 tacos.

Labels: 30-Day Blog Challenge, food, stuff I buy

Labels: 30-Day Blog Challenge, food, New York, New York minutes, stuff I buy

I was walking home one afternoon and came across this necklace laid out on a table on the street. I didn't have enough cash with me and I didn't even have much with me at home, either. I had this $10 bill from my dad that I'd just been keeping in my travel suitcase, and a few bills in my wallet—just enough for food for the weekend.

Now, I've never ever been the type to forgo food for fashion (after this purchase though, I still had a little left to enjoy a soft taco that night). In college, I couldn't believe how possible it was for a friend of mine to choose not to spend her allowance on food and opt to shop for clothes instead. I'm also not one to buy items from Gucci, Fendi, or Prada on a whim, and friends would attest to my story that the only time I would consider finally buying a Gucci bag or anything from the brand (I own a single item from them, my mom's gold watch that she gifted me with for my "something old" before the wedding) is a few years from now, when I can pay CASH for the item. And one more thing: I have to buy it in Rome.

During my first trip to that city with the most breathtaking architecture bursting with rich history, I told myself that when I turned thirty, I would go back there and go through the whole designer bag shopping experience—from going inside the store, selecting the merchandise, and purchasing the item that calls out. Also, having the shopping bag with me, the carrying sack...the works. (But, if you want something a little less tedious than flying across the miles and more immediate, check out Bluefly.com for designer finds. I've only shopped there once when a friend asked me to get her these Christian Louboutin net pumps a while back, and the experience was overall pleasant.) I didn't get to fly back to Europe by the time my 30th birthday rolled around, but, the plan more or less has stayed the same since: "When in Rome..."

So, going back to the necklace, it simply called out because ever since I decided not to buy this chunky gray glass beaded necklace at TopShop years ago, I'd only grown more fascinated with big baubles of the costume kind, and this particular piece pretty much fit the bill and I just had to have it.

And, if you're curious, I got to chat a bit with the 'store' owner, Charles St. George. As it turns out, he's a liver cancer survivor. With a new lease in life, he's made it his livelihood to purchase accessories wholesale and peddle them in this fashion. I say that's one stylish and special way to get by.

Labels: fashion, New York, New York minutes, stuff I buy

[Reposting from "Baked!" at Yummy.ph ("Perfect Muffins") January 21, 2010]

If there’s one baked treat that has proven to be the most elusive, I would say it would be muffins—blueberry ones, in particular. Sure, in the past I’ve made banana chocolate chip "muffins" from a basic banana bread recipe; or even airy chiffon vanilla cupcakes, but those are quite different from the honest-to-goodness breakfast domes—perfectly crusty outside, cakey and crumbly inside—that we all look forward to in coffee shops and bakeries.

It has taken me a year to finally come up with blueberry muffins I would be proud to share with the world. After dozens of flat, sunken disasters, I’ve deduced that there are two essential things a home baker must have when broaching the crusty/cakey-dome territory: a kitchen weighing scale and an oven thermometer.

For two reasons: One, a good weighing scale—ideally digital with a ‘zero’ button—ensures precise proportions of ingredients, in the same way as using measuring spoons for baking powder and baking soda help achieve perfect leavening balance in the recipe.

Two, just as one would tediously measure dry and wet ingredients, one should also factor in the right oven temperature. In the recipe I’d modified below, "Good Eats" host Alton Brown recommends preheating the oven to 380°F and raising the heat to 400°F upon placing muffins inside the oven. This temp-tango is achievable with the use of an oven thermometer. And even if one’s kitchen is equipped with an electric oven, a proper temperature reading helps a baker gauge oven calibration and watch out for maintenance or repair requirements.

Good news is, these two initially unnecessary kitchen gadgets aren’t ultra-pricey investments: My thermometer from Landmark cost less than P400, and the digital scale from the department store set me back around P980—worth the mini-splurge considering a can of Comstock blueberries from the grocery, or a bag of frozen ones from Healthy Options are way too precious to be tossed in the trash if the muffins fall flat or form undesirable concave dips in the middle.

That said, baking truly is a numbers game. But for every patient participant, the rewards can be very fulfilling—and delicious.

Blueberry Muffins

Yield 12 medium-sized muffins or 6 extra-large ones Prep Time 15 minutes Baking Time 15 to 20 minutes


1 cup plain yogurt (or two 125-gram packs of Nestle Creamy yogurt)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 small egg

6.25 ounce cake flour
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup blueberries (or 1 can of Comstock blueberries, drained); reserve 1/4 cup for the topping


1 Use a fine sieve or a regular strainer lined with cheese cloth to drain extra liquid from yogurt. You’ll end up with about half a cup of thick yogurt. Set aside.

2 Preheat oven to 380°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with oil or cooking spray, or use cupcake liners for easy removal and cleanup.

3 In a medium bowl, sift all dry ingredients together and discard tiny leftover lumps.

4 In a large bowl, blend yogurt, vegetable oil, sugar, and egg until pale yellow. You can either use a hand mixer or large whisk for this.

5 Add dry ingredients and stir for exactly 10 counts. Do not overmix or you’ll end up with holes—or ‘tunnels’—inside the muffins. Gently fold in 1/2 cup of blueberries into the batter for 3 counts and stop immediately. (Don’t worry about the flecks of flour, they’ll disappear during baking.)

6 Pour batter into muffin cups and top each one with a small mound of berries. Place in the oven and raise temperature to 400°F.

7 Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn pan around after seven minutes to distribute heat evenly. Muffins are ready when a toothpick inserted comes out clean or lightly crumbed.

8 Let muffins cool inverted on a parchment paper-lined wire rack. Store in a Ziploc bag in room temperature for the first two days, and transfer to the refrigerator if storing longer.

Labels: dessert, home and living, kitchen gadgets, recipes, stuff I buy, TV shows, Yummy

[Reposting from "Baked!" at Yummy.ph, December 30, 2009]

I understand that as long as it involves blueberries, fresh cherries and strawberries, or Valrhona chocolate discs, baked treats can be quite expensive, thus justifying the exorbitant prices some establishments charge for good-quality desserts.

That’s why I find neighborhood hubs and small bakeshops truly delightful, not only for their friendly price points, but also for their cozy atmosphere. Two current favorites are the Kitchen of Cakes and Coffee in Tomas Morato and Brewing Point in Tierra Pura Homes—both in Quezon City.

At KOCC, one can enjoy buttery sylvannas for P35, cheese rolls (with a lot of cheese filling) for P30, ensaymadas for P20, giant soup bread bowls to-go (and fill with your own pumpkin soup) for P20, rhumballs (think amped-up Dunkin Munchkins) for P15 each. Wash it all down with your choice of mild, standard, or strong coffee served with real cream and brown sugar.


Brewing Point on the other hand dishes up an assortment of sweet, layered cakes—from the fruity and chocolatey—alongside homemade value meals and bento boxes (the servings are huge!). On top of the reliable and speedy Wi-fi connection, I enjoy the village-ambience and most importantly, the taste of their savory dishes.

I should probably include in this list Figaro, Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, but I find the sweet selections in these commercial establishments hit or miss, with a few staples (like Figaro’s bread pudding) that may be worth ordering something else other than the coffee these places are known for.

Mariel recently wrote about coffeeshop and Wi-fi etiquette over by her blog, NyMinuteNow.com. Check out her story entitled, “I’m with the Bandwidth.”

Labels: dessert, food, love Manila, stuff I buy, Yummy

For the first time in years, I walked into a room overwhelmed by what people were wearing. If you read this blog regularly, you would know how back in college, I had a different way of dress (very sporty, casual, versus the preppy branded/dark minimalist look of the 90s) that had been a source of insecurity for many years. It was only when I started working that I snapped out of this self-pity of sorts and found myself in a position wherein I could actually tell people what to wear, at least on their faces and hair. At the height of this job, I'd also enjoyed a closet chocful of clothes, a table of accessories, a room filled with shoes lined up to the walls. It was a pretty cool time, I must say.

Then came New York, and some slight changes in my wardrobe: At first, picking up where I'd left off, dutifully, like many city folk, toting the skyscrapers in my purse doing the whole subway-flat-office-heel switcheroo.

At the American preppy (with touches of stylish Italian) job, I'd adopted the more casual and straightforward fashion and incorporated even more color in my closet. For the first time in wintry Manhattan, I was in an office vibrant with hues of the primary color wheel that cut through the sea of black. I loved it. And even when I'd lost that job, I kept the colors (and skills).

Finally, I dropped the whole 9 to 5 shebang and settled into this comfortable style of mostly flats, jewel-toned tanks, soft knits, jeans, and shorts...almost like college again!

The other night was different though: If more than a decade ago I would look around and desire a particular type of fashion I had no access to, this time around—even though I felt that all-too familiar tinge of self-consciousness—it was mostly a feeling of discomfort, along the lines of, Uh-oh, do I have to start wearing heels again? (I do have a plan to retrain myself to wear them this year, especially after buying these shoes over the holidays.) Do I have to go back to that? (I do have it in me to be ridiculously overdressed on a whim, again, going back to insecurities of being underdressed in yesteryears past.) Do I have to start taking a bath again everyday? (That's what happens when you work from home, fellas!) I saw the dresses, hair and makeup, as if for the first time, and oddly felt fidgety.

Now that I intend to stick around here for a while, these are probably valid points to consider, perhaps for another transition in my life with certain elements that I have to establish, understand, and accept before embarking on this new journey. If you ask me point-blank, I love my life right now: the flexibility, the train rides, the kitchen sessions and frequent trips to the supermarket. If I'm going to give up all of that—and torture my feet in the process—it simply better be worthwhile.

Labels: fab friends, fashion, New York, New York minutes, stuff I buy, work

It's been I while since I bought dressy, strappy sandals. And for this pair I have to thank my dear, dear friend Frances of Topaz Horizon, who gave me gift cheques for VNC (a.k.a. Vincci as made famous in Malaysia) when she wrote about me in her Magnificent Women blog series. I love the huge gems on the shoe; I have a weakness for big sparkly baubles.

Anyway, it already feels like Christmas morning over here. If, like me, you scatter purchased items on the bed and look at them lovingly the minute you get home (and maybe have them next to you all through the night) then you know exactly what I mean.

Laying on my back next to the shopping bags, it dawned on me that this past year has truly been a divine gift from above. About a year ago in New York City, I remember waking up and asking myself: What if I didn't have to work? What if I didn't have to pay rent? Can I ever stop working?

I simply felt tired. And now I know that God heard my exasperated plea. While I didn't know back then that I was probably calling out to the universe for a chance to live life differently, how succeeding events panned out has proven this divine understanding, love, and compassion beyond words—even when I wasn't fully aware of the big picture. While I haven't been exactly idle this past year (I think I'm wired to keep my plate full at all times), I'd experienced a languid lifestyle wherein I was able to zone in on the things I loved to do without the pressures of a rigid schedule, and perhaps most importantly, spend plenty of time with the people that I love. In the process of all of this, I also got the chance to reflect, and then redirect my life in ways I have not imagined possible. And now I can say that I am truly, forever grateful.

Photo: Mariel Chua

Labels: fab friends, faith, family, fashion, New York minutes, stuff I buy

I never thought the day would come when I would trade fashion-y footwear for cushy rubber shoes. In college, I was more or less known for having the latest trainers and sneakers, and my girliest shoes were a pair of Birkenstock Mary Janes that I wore to the ground. And then there were my Mojo [a local brand with Teva-inspired designs] sandals.

When I started working (and driving), the world of high-heels opened up for me. From wedges to stilettos, the sky was the limit for my teetering frenzy.

In New York, I'd easily adapted to the norm of toting two pairs of shoes on any given day: flats for the subway and heels for work. But eventually, I just got lazy doing this cumbersome—albeit unnecessary for some—switcheroo.

And lo and behold the queen of all switcheroos, I've had with me these beautiful Madden Girl Raleigh booties from DSW Shoe Warehouse for quite some time. I hadn't worn them yet and I'd planned on taking the pair with me back to Manila to happily sashay in them during the holiday season. Alas, I ended up returning the booties and exchanging them for a very, very sensible pair of New Balance 737 women's running shoes.

This is a big deal for me because I've said in the past that I would never get into running again—out of laziness and sheer tediousness of the sport. Just thinking about it makes me tired. Running to me feels like work, perhaps as a result of being 'coaxed' with an iron fist to run in college, and being duly rewarded for completing a successful training program.

However, I recently found myself, despite rebelling so, hopping on the treadmill; and there is a tentative plan to run at the park this weekend. I don't know where this is going this time around, as I still feel exactly the same way about the sport. I guess a new pair of orange-tinged, high-tech trainers is my way of bribing myself to just get on with it.

Image courtesy of Zappos.com

Labels: college, fashion, fitness, life musings, love Manila, New York, New York minutes, stuff I buy

In true Pinay form, I've spent the weekend outlet-shopping for mostly clothes I hope to wear often enough to justify the expense, and random odds and ends I simply couldn't resist.

Unusual to see at the outlet stores was a bookstore that sold a variety of reads, including these tiny ones that only cost three for $5. At the bottom of the pile is a crochet book at $2.99. Everything including tax (only now I'm learning to account for tax in list prices) came out to less than nine dollars or so. Sweet, right?

Here are the complete titles:

1) The Little Book of Etiquette by Dorothea Johnson [Running Press]
As I type this, I have a blog post brewing on the contents of this mini-book. It's proving to be quite the useful resource for proper dining decorum.

2) The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey [Running Press]
If you were an employee by the turn of the millennium, chances are your office mandated seminars on The Seven Habits of Highly-Effective People. So far I only remember the part about Emotional Bank Accounts (that can be overdrawn by certain people), plus the hefty leather planner and reading materials. I enjoyed using the former with the special custom paper.

3) Desperate Housecats by Meredith Parmelee & Christine N. Robert [Running Press]
This is for my dad's household. He and his wife, Leena (check out her Cat Addict blog at Catlovertalaga.com) have at least seven fuzzy felines in their home, along with dogs, fish, and as of a few months ago, lovebirds. Right now, I think my dad is addicted to Farmville on Facebook :)

4) Stitch Collection: Textured Crochet by Helen Jordan [St. Martin's Press]
If you go to the previous post, "Finding Your Passion," the crocheted pieces featured were actually made by me. A couple of weeks ago I came across this multi-colored yarn (I forgot the name for it) and ended up crocheting a few coasters/floral patches. I remembered a few things from grade school, plus some guessing along the way, with lots of yarn unraveling. I'm hoping this book can show me some new things to do for those lazy, offline afternoons. I wouldn't be surprised if I get into knitting down the line.

Labels: books, food, stuff I buy, work

I still dream of owning an Hermès scarf, or something as fabulous from Pucci. But frankly, my current favorite cozy shawl is a jewel-toned aqua pashmina scarf bought on the street in New York for $10—or even less. I doubt the quality of the fabric, but having laundered it many times this past year has rendered it soft and plush to the touch. It's true what they say, sometimes, ignorance is bliss. (But when it comes to high-thread-count bedsheets, there is no turning back.)

If you are scoping the web for high-end, good-quality pashmina shawls, I suggest dropping by UniquePashminas.com (they've been around since 2000). I'm quite happy with my meager collection of comfortable cover-ups, but if I were to add to what's in my closet, I would probably go for the Blue/Orange Jewel Tone Pashmina Shawl or the Cranberry/Gold Pashmina Throw Blanket—I can imagine the latter lazily thrown over the couch or at the edge of the bed.

And then there are silk scarves I am always likely to impulse-buy: I have two favorite ones from Van Heusen and H&M that I love wearing as hairbands during the summer, or simply decorate random things with.

How about you? What's your shopping weakness (shoes are a given, but what else)? What unleashes your impulse-buying streak?

Labels: always summer, fashion, money matters, New York, pro-blogging, stuff I buy

For some reason, Americans don't really like Paris Hilton. But most people (who know her) in Asia do. I'm Asian, so go figure.

I actually heard someone list specific reasons why she's not well-liked out here in the States, but I prefer not to quote the person as she is prominent in publishing, and I still want to eventually work for her, one way or another.

Anyway, I must admit, I bought my first beach gown from Maldita three years ago because I saw Paris in her now trademark flowy sundress (for more long dresses, click here). Paris also happened to make famous the Juicy Couture trend years back, when nobody would dare traipse around town wearing matching jogging pants and hoodie. Well, now it's back to not-traipsing-around-town-in-sweats, or que horror, around the airport, but this girl gets people looking (and copying).

I came across this online retailer, Shopdcd.com, specializing in clothes made famous by celebrities like Ashley Tisdale, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Vanessa Hudgens, and Lindsay Lohan—the latter who has just partnered up with Emmanuel Ungaro. I have yet to check out the pieces.

Except for sale items, the site offers Free Worldwide Shipping on every item $99 and above. Something to think about if you're on the lookout for something to splurge on for the upcoming holidays.

Image courtesy of http://shopdcd.com

Labels: celebrities, fashion, pro-blogging, stuff I buy

When I decided to finally move abroad, I had to tackle eight years’ worth of belongings back at my old apartment. This included trinkets and mementos from high school, stacked notebooks from college, and paper calendars, photos, and cards collected over time. Not included here are shoes, clothes, handbags, and accessories amassed from working all those years as a magazine editor.

It also didn’t help that I was a classic hoarder and easily found sentimental value in anything and everything.

A few months before I’d planned to leave, I was walking out of Mall of Asia from a lunch event and passed through National Bookstore to get to the exit. And then this book called out to me: It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh [FREE PRESS/Simon & Schuster]. In bright tangerine, its cover wasn’t hard to miss. Immediately I picked it up and impulse-bought into “An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff.”

And boy-oh-boy was this book life-changing! (It’s also one of my favorite books to date.) Not only did it help make sense out of letting go of things I’ve collected, it also de-mystified my age-long struggle with hoarding. Walsh, a professional organizer and host of TLC’s Clean Sweep, shares a systematic approach to getting rid of emotional and physical clutter so that one can create a happier, more stress-free home and life.

“Clutter stops us from living in the present,” says Walsh. “The future is important. But you have to consider the quality of your life today and strike a balance between the life you are living today and the multitude of possible paths your life may take in the future.”

This means, say, you find a little black dress you love but doesn’t fit, don’t buy just because you may (or may not) lose weight in the future. Same goes for those jeans you’ve had in first year college that you’re still hoping to fit into “someday.”

“The clutter somehow becomes a life raft for all the ‘just in cases’ we can imagine,” explains Walsh.

Other than the I-might-need-it-one-day excuse, the book lists other excuses we make for keeping things we don’t need around in our homes, work desks, and anywhere there is space. Walsh also walks the reader through each room, sharing tips and strategies for establishing zones, determining function, and dealing with sentimental objects you do want to keep: giving them places of honor in your home and not somewhere gathering dust.

For example, if you’ve inherited heirloom pieces from a loved one, don’t keep them stashed, forgotten in boxes. Instead, start using them already or put them up in display shelves. “You can’t own everything so you have to pick and choose,” says Walsh. “The value you say an item holds for you must be reflected in the place you give that item in your life, otherwise your words have no meaning and the object is little more than clutter.”

As for unused ‘special’ plates and kubyertos sitting pretty in dining room cabinets, here’s what Walsh has to say on the subject (you might want to clue Mom in on this):

“If you have formal china, do you guard it as if it were a national treasure? China can be expensive and beautiful, but what’s the point of owning it if you never use it? This is not to say that you should serve your three-year-old hot dogs on a Royal Copenhagen platter, but please try to use and enjoy it.”

One of the memorable sections in the book is the quiz, “How Clutter Free Are You?” When I first took it more than two years ago, I turned out to be a “Hard-core Hoarder.” Yikes.

While writing this blog post I went through the questions again. And I’m happy to say that I’m now in between “Clutter Victim” and “Clutter Free”—a huge leap from the hoarder that I was years ago.

True, even if I still hold on to precious trinkets, gadgets, and mementos here and there, and haven’t followed Walsh’s advice to the letter, plenty of the things I’d picked up from his book have afforded me a more mobile lifestyle mostly free of useless clutter to lug around.

(And just so all of you know, I’m never ever going to get rid of my seven-year-old iBook in the event that it finally conks out for real in the future. I reckon, it would still make for a lovely, shiny white paper weight.)

Part of this month's Cosmo Series, 11th of 16 posts also published at Cosmo.ph.

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Labels: books, Cosmopolitan, gadgets, life musings, love Manila, pro-blogging, stuff I buy, travel

When my former boss (and first magazine editor) at Seventeen, Maya, uploaded this photo on Facebook, I couldn't get over how FRESH I looked in it. I admit I got a little bit affected and fixated on then and now: as in comparing a recent pic to this. Futile, I know, but necessary. (It could also be the lighting; after all, I believe this was taken on a stage with spotlights. Hah!)

I'm not exactly one to be bothered by the aging process. Or maybe I should take that back because I've worked in beauty for quite some time now so I probably don't realize that I have a slightly heightened awareness of skincare and makeup, and it's something that's just there so I tend to take it for granted.

Anyway, this picture is a beautiful and painful reminder that I should follow my own advice and commit to a new skincare regimen. I'm most inclined to hit the Clarins counters only because I've seen this brand work, on myself and on peers who have used it in times of dire skin.

Now, never say never but if there's one thing I haven't tried during all these years writing about skincare, hair, makeup, cosmetics… it's plastic surgery, or anything that involves needles. At Seventeen, I didn't have to worry about covering this 'beat' because my job didn't call for it. But eventually at Cosmo, we were offered to try everything from mesotherapy injections, Thermage facials, breast augmentation, liposuction, and so forth.

Fortunately, I didn't have to do any of these because there were always other people who were willing to test-drive these cosmetic 'innovations.' I was left to deal with orange hair, robotic perming machines, body wraps involving seaweed and mud, and all else in between. Not a bad compromise.

Plastic surgery is something that requires a delicate sense of proportion and an impeccably refined—and most importantly, balanced—aesthetic that not very many who are in the profession are able to show for in their work. If you're considering going under the knife, it's crucial to shop around, do extensive research, and look for people who have achieved great results (you'll have to look hard because if a surgeon's good, chances are you can't even tell someone's had something done).

Labels: beauty, fab friends, magazines, stuff I buy, work