Nap Time Rocks!

nifty sites

ever had to search for stuff online such as what route to take going somewhere or what transportation mode to take? or what gift to give your bookworm friend or which restaurant serves vegetarian food and accepts credit cards?

i have. and i’m sharing some of the pretty useful sites i’ve come across:

• Munchpunch (food) – what differentiates this from other online directories is the menu that you can find per restaurant (if available of course, but most have it) and the average budget per meal. there’s also a tab for looking up caterers. writing reviews are also quick and easy, plus the site loads faster

• ParaSaTabi (travel/transpo)- galing. if you ever needed to go to Ayala Ave. in Makati from Cubao, go look it up and you can choose from 44 different routes to get there

• Lucky Marias (gift suggestions/accessories) – polymer rules! need nifty little trinkets shaped like a starbucks frappe drink as bracelet charms?

• Fully Booked (event venues) – no, no, this isn’t just because I love FB. but i also find that their Bonifacio High Street branch also has venues for mini-movie screenings, meetings, and sales launches. that is, if your budget is in the P30k and above range.

• Powertips at The Podium (event venues) – this saved my behind big time, when we had to hold a meeting outside the office at such short notice. the staff who assisted me was really very helpful and considerate (i was short of b**ching then because the Ayala triangle then was going to be closed to traffic and it was hard to book a venue at that time). the place has one big conference room (classroom type) and several other smaller ones that can be used as training rooms. every table row had their own sockets, and believe me for laptop junkies like we are that’s such a plus; and free wifi access. oh and did i mention it’s inside the mall?

• Yugatech (technology)- now who hasn’t heard about this one? i found good reviews for a cellphone i planned to buy. pretty good reviews for anything tech related.

• POBox.ph (online shopping) – sure you can pay for purchases via Paypal now wherever it is in the world, but not all US merchants ship to the Philippines. POBox solves that problem (check out their website for details) by letting you address deliveries to their delivery point and when they’ve gathered enough stuff to fill a scheduled shipment, they send it home. it’s just a bit pricey, but you be the judge.

this list too, i’ll update from time to time. for questions, leave me a message!

Sg Part 2: all things aquatic

hay P, if you were there, you’d love these too.

an all-Australian exhibit was setup at the Marina Square right beside our hotel, and one of them was Splatter’s. i couldn’t help but smile everytime i passed by their booth because the walls were filled with nice square paintings of comic artwork by Christopher Martin (like the one on the left).

the pop artwork were all so cute, selling for about S$40 – S$100+ per piece (which are also available to order online). if it weren’t so hard to pack them and bring them with me home (had a really small luggage), i’d have bought at least one.

but since i couldn’t, i brought Buster home instead.

(click the photo to find out what’s scaring Buster)

it’s an added bedtime reading for me and Mia. it doesn’t have anything to do with water i know, but it’s still one of those things i love.

the second day was as tiring as the first. went shopping at Vivo City at the bay area, which turns out not to be such a good idea if you’re going to Sentosa afterward. you end up riding the Luge with bags in between your legs and that’s not comfortable.

one thing i realized (no, make that several) going around Sentosa’s Underwater World are:

1. not all animals appreciate being pet. take the sting rays for example. there’s a pool area where you can touch the starfishes and the sting rays, and unlike the starfishes who are good at hiding their disapproval, some fish can actually jump out of the aquarium to tell people how irritating it is to be patted and grabbed and startled all day.
2. some people are just hardheaded as much as they are probably deaf (or blind, whichever applies). i don’t want to be racist but i just cannot for the life of me appreciate how cultural differences are nice when you’re in a looong queue, it’s scorching hot, and someone really smelly pushes their way ahead of you when there’s clearly a line to be followed. darn it. it seems to be not an isolated case since it happened to us twice in separate locations. what happened to the universal rule of order?
3. and then some people have no appreciation of other living things. they go to these attractions to satiate their curiosity and to get bragging rights that they were there. it’s sad how, within a few years, the Night Safari had become a circus and it’s so hard to keep tourists at bay. it’s obviously prohibited to use flash photography in several areas where there are animals, but like i said, there were still people who couldn’t understand.
4. sometimes attractions like the Ocean Park, the Underwater World, the Night Safari, etc. are better off unknown and unpopular. i get that they have to make money, but when it gets trampled on by many people like those described above, it feels like it’s not even worth it. the cages of the animals stink, otherwise carefree species are forced to remain in 4×5ft cells, it’s really just unfair to be prodded at and be made spectacles of sorts. it’s not really in their nature to be made captive.

about 7 years ago, i saw how nice and quiet Sentosa Island was. now, i’m not so sure i’d be saying the same thing. it’s so commercialized, they’re even building resorts and a Universal Studios park there. nothing against development but for a place so small and with such booming tourism… i just don’t know…

speaking of changes, the light and water musical show has really improved a lot. it’s still amazing, but with a lot more effects.

the fireworks are great, and i bet they really spend so much on this considering they show it about twice or thrice at night everyday. anyways, need to get to postprocessing photos now..

fred flare love

All from fredflare.com. love, love, love!

Hello Kitty Rainbow Lunch box

Bacon Strips bandages

Striped Canopy dress

Indie Publishing

(Buttered Toast wallet, PB+J earrings, Chinese Laundry birdcage heel, etc after the jump! Too long a list of pictures )

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Baby dresses

I still shop at the Infants section at the department store. Mia’s 2 and a half years old. She’s supposed to be wearing toddler clothes already! Oh well, she’s really just on the small side.

Which is just nice since babies’ clothes don’t usually cost as much as toddler clothes. SM Cubao recently had a month-long Baby Sale and I got 4 pieces (dresses and tops) for about Php500 only (one of them is what Mia’s wearing in the photo). Neat stuff, no?

I love sales and bargains not just because I’m a cheapskate but it’s also an excuse for me to be extra patient and resourceful in finding really cool stuff (which I don’t normally do). Sige na nga, cheapskate kasi talaga! But not for shoes, though. Those I don’t mind buying the more expensive ones for her. Mahirap na, ang likot pa naman ni Mia.

Where do you usually shop for kids’ stuff? Do share!

Free Crumpler Bags here!

Want this bag?

Buy:

24 CANS SAN MIGUEL PALE PILSEN
24 BOTTLES CORONA
2 BOTTLES OF BARBECUE SAUCE
3 BIG BAGS OF DORITOS

Then go to the Crumpler store at the Bonifacio High Street and exchange them for a bag.

I came across this crazy marketing ploy of Crumpler in Tina’s blog. Crumpler at the Bonifacio High Street is giving away free bags in exchange for beer cans and chibog. Click here for more details.

It’s crazy right? But it’s crazy it just might work. hehe. I’m thinking of just falling for it

This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life 2009

I looove my new 2009 planner.

Not that my life needs a lot of changing (it actually does, but that’s another story). I just happened to have a very hectic life these days and Bill Gates cannot keep up with me. I’m relying on my laptop’s Outlook Calendar, which means whenever I need to check my schedule and things to do, I still need to open it. And that’s a bit inconvenient when I don’t want to lug it around wherever I go.

So, part of my wishlist this year was to get This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life. And my wish was granted early, thanks to my dear cousin. Yey! Truth is, I actually completed the Starbucks Planner sticker thingamajig, but I’m picking this one over it. More »

Green and in style

With the proliferation of environment-friendly shopping bags, it’s hard to ignore the message especially when many designers are making it more fashionable to be green.

Envirosax is one such designer. I just scored my retro bag (left) from Fully Booked about 2 weekends ago and I’m happy that I finally joined the bandwagon. This is one trend I think I won’t be sorry joining. Besides I think I’ve been planning to help out the environment for the loooongest time. Just been too complacent.

And anyway the plastics at home are still piling up even if we are reusing them. Not good for Payatas, I know. Now this bag is staying in my bag or my car in case of any shopping trips. Go check out Envirosax’s site, they have really cool designs. So how are you helping out?

Tags: envirosax, green bag

How to shop for shoes

It’s true what they say, having a girl for a daughter is like having your own Barbie doll to dress up — only cuter. I never fully understood my girl friends’ excitement over my growing tummy when I was carrying Mia (and we knew that it was a girl). They kept gushing about how fun it would be to shop for clothes and all that.

Well, I was never a shoppaholic to begin with so I thought, what’s the big deal?

Oh yeah, and then I ate my own words. Found these months ago when I was in not-really-but-was-planning-to- anyway-so- what-the-heck shopping mode for Mia’s new shoes. Rustans Florsheim Kids made a sale from me, but I learned quite a few stuff too when it came to shopping for toddler shoes.

• Make sure that the soles are made of rubber and not some slippery plastic material or cheap stuff that easily wears away. The rubber soles and the pretty stars were the sale clincher for me.

• Pick either pink or a neutral color. If your baby is a girl, most probably her closet is entirely pink. Or if you’re the atypical parent who prefers a rainbow of colors for your kid, it’s easier to mix and match with neutral colored shoes.

• Make sure it’s easy to wear. Try going to the mall with a fussy toddler and sample all the shoes you want. Whatever snaps on in 4 seconds flat is the winner. Velcro is the name of the game, baby.

• Comfort is still number one especially for toddlers who are just learning to have fun running around. I’ve found some shoes that look so nice but are actually 5-pound weights in expensive leather disguise.

• And lastly, I learned that shoes can be a bit on the pricey side, but there’s nothing like scoring all 4 things above in one pair of shoes and still made of good stuff — sugar and spice, and everything nice.

I’m Levita-ting

Because of these nice, new funky finds:

Levita is an online shop for really unique accessories and jewelries like the stuff above. They’re really nice because you get to choose from several ‘looks’ like the modern chic, retro look, or even go bohemian.

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I’ve found The One

I’ve found the One… I’m totally ecstatic that after more than a year of searching, after everything I’ve gone through with that ex, and after that ex broke my heart, I can finally give my search a rest.

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Work hard, dress the part

I have just been struck by the fashion bug and along with my convenient excuse that I have a new career ahead of me, I am raiding the shoes department in search for the perfect pair of boots. I may not be the devil who wears Prada or the Shoppaholic who has got the map of the fashion district tattooed on her brain, but I would really, really like to play the part when it comes to power dressing.

Who wouldn’t, when you’re walking down one of the central business district’s streets and wearing flats either mean you got callouses all over your foot (for running up and down the building for meetings in your 3-inch heels) or you’re simply out of style. Don’t get me wrong, I loooove flats (depending on the style of course). But sometimes there are just days that you want to sport that killer heel, right?

Now don’t judge me, but there was a season in fashion when anything western (think leather and western belts, and rope-slingin-gun-touting-cowboys) was in style. And now I think it’s back.

So anyway where was I? I was about to relate how unsuccessful my boot hunting is until i saw this badass pair on cavenders.com,

and this.

Well you won’t exactly see me wearing them, but looks interesting, don’t they?

Feel desirable this summer!

Catch Veet at the following malls:

• Robinsons Galleria – April 19-20
• SM Megamall – April 24-30
• SM Mall of Asia – May 1-7, 15-22
• Gateway Mall – May 10-11
• Robinsons Place Ermita – May 24-25

or visit www.VEET.com.ph for more!

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i had a dream and it was multicolored

a girl can dream, can’t she? my wishlist, which might just remain a wishlist if this blogging business doesn’t kick off soon.

i had a dream, and it was multicolor.

i was walking down the beach in cute flip flops, More »

For Kids!: Mia’s March Fab5

Presenting, Mia’s fab finds for the month of March!

1. Ants & Bees educational baby tees, P275.00 for 2

(3rd fl Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Pasig City)

I like tees that have statements or cute graphics on them. I once bought Mia a shirt that has “MY MOM IS A ROCKSTAR” written on it in gold (from Havin’ A Baby). At Ants & Bees, found at the new baby lane of Robinsons Galleria, they have babies’ t-shirts that are printed with educational statements or pictures. Like the 2 that I bought for her at Galleria’s 3-day weekend sale.

(Joyce Kilmer’s Tree poem printed on one of the shirts)

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January Fabulous 5

Ok, I just cannot help it. I really, really have to post something. I just found that weekends, sans the occasional and required social schedules of weddings and birthday parties, I am free.

I’m retracting my previous promise that I will be posting my five fabulous finds every week due to unavoidable time constraints Instead, my Fab5 posts will be once a month.

1 Blog Fillers

I just came across a fellow pinoy blogger’s comic strips and they’re really amusing. You can get great topics to blog about too. BlogComics.net creates single-paneled comic strips that bloggers can use as fillers for their posts. And it’s totally for free. The artist who so generously publishes his artwork is also the author of PinoyBlogero.com. So fellow Pinoy bloggers, let’s support each other’s talents and post away! You can also subscribe to his comic feeds here. Available anywhere as long as you have a blog or site, free of charge.

2 Can you solve this murder case?

I was introduced to the Mystery Case Files series by an officemate about more than a year ago and since then, I’ve finished 3 games at least 3 times over, trying to beat my` previous time. It’s just so addicting. Big Fish has a lot in store for PC gamers who prefer mystery and murder types of RPGs. Most of their games are point-and-click and are so well designed. Popular Big Fish games include the Mystery Case Files (Prime Suspects, Huntsville, Ravenhearst, and the most recently released, Madame Fate), and Hidden Expedition (Titanic and Everest). The kind of detailed work that went into these games are just remarkable. Check out the Mystery in London game which lets you explore London in 360-degree views of its popular attractions.

My brother and I are actually so addicted to this game that when we went to Subic (supposedly for beach-ing and relaxing) we brought my laptop and an LCD projector just so we can maximize the game screen! Haha, talk about a geekfest. Available for download at BigFishgames.com.

3 Cords!

I know some time back cords were a fashion must-have, whether in bag details or accessories. I found these really nice cellphone (or ID if you want) neck tag at Girl Shoppe at Gateway Mall. These neck tags are made with faux leather cord and are available in metallic silver, gold, and bronze; and red and brown. Perfect as gifts. They’re pretty cheap too! Available at any Girl Shoppe branch, P50.

4 VMV Hypoallergenics

It’s one of those girly times when I just needed to treat myself. I rarely buy makeup, and it’s my mom who keeps telling me to buy my own (i use hers kasi, and sometimes when I borrow a blush it takes weeks before it comes back). I didn’t want to spend so much for something so small, was my excuse. But it was Christmas, and I just had to be good to myself.

Anyway, since I am totally clueless as to what kind of makeup I should buy (I only knew what color would match my skin), I went to the SM Department Store and tried my luck at few of the salesladies there. Some were actually too busy chatting with their fellow salesladies to mind me. Believe me, half the reason why I bought this particular makeup is because of the girl who was so eager to show me what her product was and even went as far as giving me the entire face regimen without me asking. She was proactive (and didn’t make me feel stupid for not knowing the different types of foundations), and I like that kind of service. So then, I ended up buying the basics: So Clear Oil-Absorbing, Clarifying Pressed Powder (VMV Hypoallergenics, P1,300), Cheeky Gorgeous-Flush Blush in Summer Lovin’ color (best for morena skin types like yours truly, VMV Hypoallergenics, P1,150), Black Brown Eye Pencil (Nichido, P68), Black Liquid Eyeliner (Nichido, P80). And got this for free!

(Illuminants Brilliant Finish 25, powder foundation with SPF 25 from VMV Hypoallergenics, worth P1,000+)

What I like about VMV Hypoallergenics is, aside from being hypoallergenic (haha), that there are colors that will match my skin tone. We all know being Filipina means having uniquely beautiful tanned (sige na nga, brown) skin. But I feel that VMV has more to offer my type of skin more than the other brands. VMV Hypoallergenics available at all SM Department Stores, at Powerplant, Rockwell, and on their website.

5 Swell Stuff

I discovered another cute little store that has lots of small kikay stuff for girls, Swell Stuff. There’s an article about the store here, and even without the review, it’s really worth checking out. I bought my red quilted cellphone holder (P120) and b/w camouflage dog tag (which my brother keeps borrowing, so who says it’s just for girls? P90). Swell Stuff branches in Glorietta 1 and 2, SM (Sta. Mesa, Fairview, Megamall, Manila), Robinsons Galleria and Metroeast, Metro Market! Market!, Festival Mall Alabang, Sta. Lucia East, Tiendesitas and Fun Ranch Frontera Verde, and Alimall Cubao.

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Tags: comicstrips, cartoons