Evidence of Human Hands

On my to-bake list:

2012-02-02T05:59:00.000+08:00

This Banoffee Recipe And the baked cheese cake recipe found at the back of the Kiri Chef cream cheese package.

An update on our flight to Singapore --

2012-01-20T12:39:00.001+08:00

Yesterday, I received this letter from Chartis Insurance: Ma’am, Yes, we have received the forms and documents, we’re currently having the policy verified against our records after which we will be evaluating the claim. We’ll give you an update by Monday morning. Thanks, * * * And today, I received this email from wecare@pal.com.ph -- Dear Ms. Ong, Thank you for the

Dear Mr. Bautista re: PR507, January 12, 2012 -- my horrible flight experience with PAL (Philippine Airlines) --

2012-01-19T06:05:00.002+08:00

We had the worst flight experience with PAL during our first international family trip last January 12. (This trip was a post-birthday gift to me and my husband and an early birthday gift to my sister.) In the Mabuhay magazine, Mr. Jaime Bautista has a space which provides his email address and asks readers to "tell him how they are" -- I sent this email to him (but my husband warned me

2012 Resolutions --

2012-01-02T15:56:00.000+08:00

I'm starting the year sick -- and yaya-less. Which is a sad combination. But I am managing. I'm also starting the year with a slight addiction to those 20-peso scratch cards that are being sold by the Lotto stand. O_o Here are my resolutions for the year. (In order of difficulty.) 1. Read More. 2. Craft. (I should, at least, make myself a book cover.) 3. Lose Weight. (I want to lose

Thank you and Goodbye, 2011! Hello, 2012! --

2011-12-31T06:57:00.000+08:00

It's the last day of the year! And I'm only just making my lists! 5 Favorite Movies of 20111. Tangled 2. X-Men: First Class 3. Captain America: The First Avenger 4. The King's Speech 5. Bridesmaids/Kung Fu Panda 2 5 Favorite TV Shows1. Doctor Who 2. Storage Wars 3. Thundercats 4. Batman: Brave and the Bold 5. Octonauts <-- thanks to N for recommending this! 5 Favorite Magazines1. Yummy 2.

December 20: New person --

2011-12-30T15:50:00.001+08:00

December 20: New person -- She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service. Who is your unsung hero of 2011? We have a new person in-charge of the parcels section of the post office. Manang retired early this year and the new guy used to be a postman who requested for a desk job because he was getting too old to do his usual

December 19: Car ride --

2011-12-30T15:44:00.000+08:00

December 19: Car ride -- What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with? October 15, 2011. It was our last car ride with Manong Plas. The weather had improved and we wanted to bring the kids to Breakthrough. It's a 30-minute drive from our place -- and we were all commenting on the newly opened Indian restaurant along the way. Already making

December 18: Shop --

2011-12-30T15:35:00.001+08:00

December 18: Shop -- Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year? Online, it has to be Book Depository (and their amazing offer of free shipping worldwide) -- and it gets to you in about 2 to 3 weeks! Second would have to be Asos.com -- And then Amazon.com for Kindle books and other stuff. Finally, there's Zinio. My husband is subscribed to 3 magazines right now

December 17: Word or phrase --

2011-12-30T15:29:00.001+08:00

December 17: Word or phrase -- A word that encapsulates your year. “2011 was _____.” 2011 was my year of gifts. I have had a lavish year -- not in terms of material possessions but in terms of support and love. My parents and I have a wonderful relationship and I enjoy talking to my mom about the state of the economy (local and national) and the stock market. My sister provides me with great

December 16: Tea of the year --

2011-12-28T14:55:00.001+08:00

December 16: Tea of the year. I can taste my favorite tea right now. What’s yours? 2011 has got to be the year of the milk tea -- with all the cha places opening up in Manila. I did try some of the new brands when I was in Manila in November -- but, honestly? My favorite brand would still have to be Quickly. I also love the Passion Iced Tea at Starbucks. Also Doutor's Milk Tea -- the local

2011-12-28T14:50:00.001+08:00

December 15 Best packaging. Did your headphones come in a sweet case? See a bottle of tea in another country that stood off the shelves? Wow -- this one's hard. Top of my head? 1. C's wedding invitation -- it isn't a conventional invitation -- but I love that I know it was hers and O's. It had their personal style and it made the invitation (and the whole affair) very intimate. 2. Kate

December 14: Rush --

2011-12-28T14:38:00.003+08:00

December 14: Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year? I get a rush while baking -- and then after, when the cakes are done and everyone is enjoying a slice or two. This year, I was baking quite a bit for the most part of the year. I loved that the house smelled like chocolate or vanilla or chocolate and vanilla. (My skills are limited as is my repertoire.) I love involving our

December 13: What’s the best change you made to the place you live --

2011-12-27T20:15:00.002+08:00

December 13: What’s the best change you made to the place you live? We finally cleaned out all the empty boxes we've been hoarding for the past 2 years. The impetus? We discovered a young nest of termites. I realized that there were areas of the house that we had neglected -- Now we are more vigilant about our things -- what should be stored and what should be thrown out. * * * About the

December 12: New food --

2011-12-27T19:47:00.001+08:00

December 12: New food -- You’re now in love with Lebanese food and you didn’t even know what it was in January of this year. It has to be Chef Tony's Limited Edition Belgian Butter with Honey Roasted Walnut -- it is the reason why I gained weight this Christmas. I've actually made excuses to go to SM just so I can buy a small tub of it. As for new cuisine, I think we've tried them all here in

December 11: The best place --

2011-12-27T19:42:00.001+08:00

December: 11 The best place A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook? My favorite places would have to be coffee shops. Madge Cafe, Starbucks and the newly-opened Bluejay at Ayala Technohub. Coffee shops are usually my only chance to read newspapers (we don't have a regular subscription) -- and to have a bit of quiet. It also helps that the coffee is extra fuel for the day.

December 10: Album of the year --

2011-12-23T06:21:00.001+08:00

December 10 Album of the year. What’s rocking your world? I am fortunate that my husband loves his music -- and his car has an i-device dock so we listen to his music when we're out. I would have to say, Eraserheads -- no particular album -- but their entire music. It. is. genius. And it amazes me how easily it is able to cross generations. (Our yaya is 10 years younger than us -- and she

December 9: Challenge --

2011-12-23T06:13:00.001+08:00

December 9: Challenge -- Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you? I'm ashamed to admit that I've had a very lax year. I indulged myself -- and I'm actually not happy about how my year is ending. For those who don't know me -- I'm very tightly-wound up and can get very precise about life.

December 8: Moment of Peace --

2011-12-23T06:06:00.001+08:00

December 8 Moment of peace. An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there? I'm not sure that now is the right time for me to answer this -- because I have been chasing after this elusive peace since the holiday season started. It's been hectic -- Seth had quarterly exams right before the break and we had to get things

December 7: Blog Find of the Year --

2011-12-23T06:01:00.000+08:00

December 7: Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can’t believe you didn’t know about until this year. It has to be The Season for Romance, which is moderated by Beverley Kendall. I love the calendar that shows all the new releases for the month. I also enjoy reading the articles there -- sometimes it leads me to new authors or books. It's a daily stop -- usually first thing in

Helping Beverley Kendall reach 250k --

2011-12-15T06:25:00.002+08:00

Hi, all! I follow a really great romance novel blog hosted (and written by Beverley Kendall) -- She has an ebook out right now and she's trying to get 250,000 downloads. (Last I read, she's more than halfway there.) Clickety click on this ad?

Win a Kate Spade Planner from Fat to Fabulous!

2011-12-14T05:21:00.001+08:00

Wow! Fat to Fabulous has been hosting a KS Holiday giveaway and Day 3 is for a Kate Spade Desktop Calendar -- Clickety click here to join!

Simple pleasures --

2011-12-12T15:40:00.000+08:00

One of the things I look forward to everyday is sitting down on the benches of my kids' school and talking to other moms and yayas -- We talk about the kids and their schoolwork. We talk about who's teeth are wiggling and who has appointments at which doctor. We talk about ourselves and how busy we are. We talk about Christmas plans and where we are going. It's wonderful to know that we are

Interesting ingredient --

2011-12-11T17:12:00.000+08:00

Today I read a recipe for pancakes that used sparkling mineral water -- I'd imagine the extra fizz will make for lighter pancakes. Will try it next time. Also, I want to make this: Hot Chocolate on a Stick (Recently, I scandalized my husband by melting a square or two of milk chocolate into my Swiss Miss Marshmallow Lovers mix. Trust me, the melted chocolate makes a world of difference.)

reverb delay --

2011-12-11T15:42:00.000+08:00

I'm about a week behind -- and I'm not sure I can catch up this week. It's exam week at my kids' school and I've been busy helping my son prepare for his exams. (God, I dread next year when my daughter will also be taking tests. T_T) Plus, we're getting ready for Christmas and I still have gifts to send out -- and my mom is asking me to take charge of our workers' Christmas party program.

December 5; Night out --

2011-12-06T16:24:00.000+08:00

Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one that rocked your world? Who was there? What was the highlight of the night? My husband and I rarely get to go out at night. To my mind, I've had 2 this year -- The first one was for our friend's birthday -- he treated us to Lamesa Grill and we were able to try the pritchon (so expensive -- but very delicious) -- and then we capped the

December 4: Book --

2011-12-06T16:19:00.000+08:00

What book – fiction or non – touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies? Of all the books I've read this year, the one book I could not stop talking about was Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. It really polarized parents and their views on parenting. I read it and felt that Amy Chua was misunderstood -- and that parts of her book

December 2: Restaurant moment --

2011-12-04T06:27:00.000+08:00

Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind? The one restaurant memory that comes to mind was our lunch at Burgoo, Mall of Asia. We were tired, hot and hungry -- Normally, we would find a fast food restaurant and grab a quick (and cheap) meal but my husband insisted that we treat ourselves to Burgoo. We

December 1: Trip -- What was your best trip in 2011?

2011-12-02T05:16:00.001+08:00

2011 was a year of local travel for my family. We went to Cebu twice (May and August) and to Manila twice* (June and November) -- Each trip we take with the kids, we learn something new about how to manage ourselves and our time. It's also a chance to break away from habits and routines at home. I have to say our last trip to Manila was my most favorite one -- we did the tourist-y bit and

No reverb 2011 =(

2011-11-30T10:56:00.000+08:00

Last year I joined a 31-day writing/thinking challenge called Reverb10 -- it was hosted by Gwen Bell and 2 other people. I was really looking forward to this year's reverb when I received sad news in my inbox that Gwen and her team would not be doing one this year for various reasons. She invites people to create their own reverb -- I decided to backtrack and look at 2009's reverb topics --

This year's Christmas/Birthday Wish/Want List --

2011-11-29T05:59:00.002+08:00

I wasn't going to make a list this year because I have had a year of gifts already (plus we are gifting ourselves a big trip in January) -- but I like being able to look back at my blog entries and read about a particular day or time in my life. Anyhoo, click here for last year's list. I was able to tick off 4 items on last year's list (the sewing machine, the trip, the Bear and Honeybee

52 weeks of mail: an interesting project --

2011-11-23T06:24:00.000+08:00

52 Weeks of Mail The project is: Send out a letter/postcard via snail mail once a week for one year. I'm actually an avid letter-writer -- when I was abroad for summer school, I sent my parents a postcard every day. They kept arriving even when I got home na. It's still nicely bundled in one of their drawers. ^_^ I wonder if I can sustain writing 1 letter a week for 1 year? I wonder if I

24 Hours of Offers

2011-11-10T05:46:00.001+08:00

If you want to try out a new romance author --

2011-11-08T06:33:00.000+08:00

Beverley Kendall has a novella out in ebook format and it's FREE. All's Fair in Love and Seduction is available at the iBookstore, at Amazon and over at Barnes and Noble.

Rakenrol: A Love Letter to Original Pinoy Music --

2011-10-23T12:53:00.001+08:00

I've been trying to write about the movie since I saw it last September -- I really enjoyed the movie. I loved Quark's romantic view of Pinoy rock and roll. I loved that he chose to focus on the music of the 90s and early noughties -- Rakenrol reminds us that we are a gifted and passionately creative people -- Odie and Irene is everyman and everywoman -- all it took was a spark, a playful

I love sandwiches --

2011-10-16T16:27:00.000+08:00

I love, love, love making my own sandwiches -- I love the days when we have bacon for breakfast because it means I can make a BLT -- I love having lots and lots of lettuce in my sandwich -- And I love biting down on it -- tasting the tang of the mustard and the creaminess of the mayo and the crunch of the bacon. We are lucky that Iloilo Supermarket has a really wonderful selection of

What would you have done?

2011-10-14T16:02:00.000+08:00

Last week, I was in line at the supermarket check-out counter. I was the next customer and was getting my card ready when I get a tap on my shoulder. An older man asked if he could go ahead of me because he only had 2 items. (I had a basket of 12 items.) I pointed him to the counter beside us, which was empty. (It was for senior citizens.) He went there and the lady at the register refused

RIP Steve Jobs --

2011-10-06T09:44:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I woke up excited to check the news for the latest iPhone. (I am planning to get one when it is released in the Philippines. It will be my first iPhone ... and the 3rd one in our family.) Today, I woke up to a shock -- Steve Jobs has died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Growing up in Iloilo, I would read about Apple computers in the magazines my uncle would send us

Zombadings! --

2011-09-08T15:10:00.000+08:00

Johann and I watched it last week and loved it. Johann bought a Zombadings t-shirt for himself and one for Karl. (We actually got the shirts before watching the movie.) Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington is not a zombie movie -- It actually isn't about zombies -- there are zombies but they don't come until much later in the film. Remington, about to turn 21, has no prospects or

August 23, 2011: A really bad day --

2011-08-23T15:20:00.000+08:00

It started with a really bad night. Seth came home yesterday with a cough. It worsened during the evening and you could hear phlegm-y sounds when he coughed. He slept nicely but you could hear him whimper and cough intermittently. Our pedia is out of town today and tomorrow. We're leaving for Cebu tomorrow. The pedia-allergologist was also out of town until Wednesday morning. Then there's

RIP: Edith Tiempo --

2011-08-22T14:41:00.000+08:00

This weekend was a sad one for Philippine Literature -- we lost both Kerima Polotan Tuvera and Edith Tiempo. Of the 2, I am more affected by Tiempo's passing. I remember reading her poetry and being left breathless by her very modern/post-modern style. (Polotan's The Sounds of Sunday was a wonderfully powerful story.) I think I've posted this poem on my blog a few times before: Bonsai (

Today --

2011-07-30T15:53:00.000+08:00

We went mad at the National Bookstore sale -- Kids found a nice Handy Manny book at 50% off. They also picked up a pack of DC Kids comics for 100 pesos. This was Johann's find of the day -- for 99 pesos! And we found a copy of this book for 100 pesos! * * * Also today -- Our driver discovered that we the back of Johann's car got "kissed" -- it

I have a great Talent! --

2011-07-22T09:23:00.001+08:00

I picked up my sewing machine yesterday and unboxed it -- The wonderful people at Monteverde (Singer Philippines) did a test run to make sure the machine was working -- I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening reading the manual. This morning, after breakfast, I: - learned how to wind a bobbin - learned how to thread the needle -- my machine can do auto needle threading but I wanted to

Looking for: A good Red Velvet Cake recipe ... also a good banana cake/loaf recipe--

2011-07-19T16:43:00.000+08:00

I was reading through Ina Garten's cookbook, How Easy Is That, when I came across her recipe for Red Velvet Cupcake -- It was not something on my checklist of things to make/bake -- but, now it is -- Seth really loves the Red Velvet Cupcakes served at Dulgies (especially the cream cheese frosting) -- When I was browsing through websites for recipes, I found several very good ones -- but my

New adventure: Sewing --

2011-07-14T15:56:00.000+08:00

After years of waffling, I finally took the plunge -- I just paid for my sewing machine and am counting the days until I get it (5 or 6 days) -- This is the machine I got -- It's the Singer Talent 3323 -- and I ordered mine locally through Singer Philippines. It's not a computerized sewing machine and is just a notch up from the old-school "de padyak" (treadle) -- mine is

Chocolate Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache Frosting

2011-07-09T11:07:00.000+08:00

We made this a few days ago -- It's really moist and yummy. I love that there's bananas in this (4!) -- next time, I plan to replace all the oil with homemade applesauce. Chocolate Banana Cake: 2 cups (400 grams) granulated white sugar (replaced it with 1 cup white + 1 cup brown) 1 3/4 cups (245 grams) all-purpose flour (replaced it with 1 cup whole wheat + ¾ cup all-purpose) 3/4 cup (75

I'm ready for rain! --

2011-07-08T17:21:00.000+08:00

The tipping point was last Wednesday, I was bringing Seth to school and it was raining buckets. I was wearing Crocs, which I thought would be fine -- And they were. They hold up fairly nicely being sploshed around in muddy, puddly places -- But my feet were not fine. They were wet and cold and icky -- I went ahead and ordered a pair of Plueys from ReadyforRain.com and they arrived today. (I

If Your House Was Burning, What Would You Take With You?

2011-07-02T19:49:00.002+08:00

Interesting blog/site -- Link here.

Wow --

2011-06-20T06:58:00.000+08:00

I Want a Real Love by Jonathan B. Tucker i want a real love i don’t want a halmark, disney, fairytale love i don’t want a flowers and chocolate and let’s lie to each other just to make it work love don’t want your make-up, hair, nails and heels plastic love or your i’m so real i’m unreal, get used to it love NO i want a D.I.Y. love a sugar how you get so fly? love a giving all we can until we

OMG! + update on my Macbook --

2011-06-03T14:46:00.000+08:00

Kevin Spacey!Richard III!Singapore! (and Sam Mendes!) !!!!!OMG!!!!!!! November 17 to 26! Details here! * * * Update on my Macbook -- I brought it to iCenter this morning and they were very helpful and sympathetic. Sol (Apple Tech Guy) explained to me Plans A to Z of how he intended to recover my files and save my computer. I got an update just now and he has successfully retrieved my files. Yay

~Sigh~ =(

2011-06-02T20:08:00.000+08:00

My white Macbook died on me tonight. It's stuck on the loading screen and I've tried everything and it hasn't gotten past the loading screen. Thank God that iCenter opened here in Iloilo so I'll bring it in tomorrow and hope they can fix it (or, if they can't fix it, retrieve my files -- my photos! my beautiful, nicely organized Book Depository spreadsheet!) T_T I was planning to replace my

Been a while -- one of my favorite quotes to reflect to

2011-05-24T19:56:00.001+08:00

From the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue. I have never seem such discipline. - The Last Samurai (movie) When Johann first showed me the levitating girl, I was spellbound. She's a Japanese girl (who doesn't levitate, really) but jumps beautifully and takes a picture of herself ... jumping. Her pictures are beautiful and tell such quirky

New recipes to try --

2011-04-19T06:46:00.000+08:00

Sticky Toffee Pudding in a Jar -- I love the idea of ice cream and caramel sauce. Am not too sold on dates. Chocolate Chip Cheesecake -- I've only made cheesecake once and it wasn't a complete success. It was more cheese than cake. Maybe the 2nd time's the charm?

Such a lovely satchel! --

2011-04-12T15:19:00.000+08:00

Our Cambridge Satchel arrived in the mail over the weekend! When I was ordering this through Schu, I was having a hard time picking the size and color (because the colors are all so, so beautiful!) -- We ended up getting the smallest (11") in green and I think I made the right choice! (I keep saying "we" because this is actually a belated gift for my sister who lives in crossbody bags.) I

Consolidating myself --

2011-04-05T15:18:00.000+08:00

I decided to delete my other blog Little Temptations (littletemptations.blogspot.com) -- I was finding it harder and harder to decide whether to post on this blog or on that blog so I decided to just consolidate. (To my Multiply friends, apologies for the 27-blog entry deluge.) I realized something (kinda good) -- while it seemed that I had a lot of wants in my head, when I put it down to

Someday, I will own one of these --

2011-03-23T16:34:00.000+08:00

I don't know how to sew --But I would like to think that I can learn how to sew.Maybe in the near future?I've been asking C for some advice on which sewing machine to get and this seems to be the best one right now:

Such a cute, cute bag!

2011-03-23T12:22:00.000+08:00

Thank you, MM (and Ina Garten)! --

2011-03-22T14:49:00.000+08:00

My mom's birthday is today and we've been thinking of a nice gift to give her. Like me, she likes to buy things for herself because she has very specific preferences in clothes and shoes. And she's not a techie (and actually gets horrified at the cost of some of our gadgets) -- We decided to just make her something -- I found this really simple recipe from MarketMan's blog for a Fresh Mango

Asos love --

2011-03-15T15:40:00.000+08:00

I really love that some websites offer international shipping. I love it more when they offer FREE international shipping.Book Depository has earned my undying loyalty because of their wonderful service.Now I've discovered that Asos offers the same wonderful deal (restrictions on some items) --And I've been drooling over skirts, dresses, accessories -- oh, to have money for all of the things I

How I'm feeling ... and why I am thankful for my husband --

2011-03-09T09:01:00.000+08:00

On the surface, I look like I'm fairly nicely "together" -- I have plans and schedules and I'm hardly ever frazzled. I'm the stable one; the responsible one; the "go-to" girl -- On the inside, I am frazzled and I am constantly battling insecurity, uncertainty, inability -- all the negatives in life. I'm having an internal epic battle right now -- epic in its epicness. And I'm glad I have a

Goals for the week --

2011-03-06T06:53:00.000+08:00

Apple Beignets with Caramel Sauce Okonomiyaki <-- must look for Okonomiyaki sauce Bon Chon Chicken

Some random things --

2011-03-04T07:06:00.001+08:00

My mom makes this amazing chunky chicken sandwich filling (?) and I've been gobbling it up like crazy. Sometimes, I just plunk some on a piece of lettuce, roll it up and eat it. My mom's been making me batches weekly -- and I'm enjoying every last mayonnaise-y bit of it. ^_^ * * * I found this posted on the discussion area of a Youtube video of Justin Bieber singing "Baby" -- Calling

Classic White Shirts --

2011-02-25T19:59:00.000+08:00

I used to live in Navy and Black -- and then I tentatively accepted colors and added gray and pink and other colors.I have 1 white shirt in my closet (not counting the white M&S shirt I borrow from Johann to wear with leggings) --My biggest problem with wearing white is having the right undergarments.At a recent event at my kids' school, I saw a mom wearing a white shirt and jeans -- such a

In search of: Well-fitting shorts --

2011-02-22T13:22:00.000+08:00

I dream of owning a pair of shorts -- shorts that fit me nicely and shorts that flatter my lack of figure.I've tried shorts in many stores -- my problem is that most shorts are low-rise and are very snug at the hips, of which I have an abundance of.I recently read an article in Marie Claire (they have a writer who focuses on fashion for plus-sized women) which gave me hope.Trouble is, I don't

900th post: More recipes to try --

2011-02-20T17:12:00.000+08:00

These have been open in tabs on my Chrome page -- Might as well keep the links here for future reference: Caramel Surprise Peanut Butter Cookies -- three of my favorite words = Caramel + Peanut Butter ... how can I resist? Philly Cheesesteak -- we actually cook a "milder" version but I want to see what an authentic sandwich tastes like ^_^ Carrot Cake -- over at Allrecipes.com, this had the

In Praise of Digital --

2011-02-20T05:08:00.000+08:00

It started a few months ago, I was getting frustrated with my kids' DVDs because they would not play properly from all the scratches and smudges. It isn't that the kids don't handle the discs properly because they do -- I think it just comes from daily wear-and-tear. I decided to look online for solutions to this -- from using metal polish to fix the scratches to getting protective sleeves for

Ultimate Temptation!!! Kate Spade Sample Sale!!! --

2011-02-16T18:22:00.000+08:00

Until February 18!!!Click here!!!The Wellesley Quinn is so, so tempting!Porcelain or Mustard? <-- hypothetical question only

I want: this skirt --

2011-02-10T04:47:00.000+08:00

When I was reading up on Kate Spade, I stumbled upon Sandee's blog and fell hard for her daily Kate Spade outfits.She took it to the next level and started making a skirt ala Kate Spade and is now selling it.Clickety click here to go to her shopping page.- That's Sandee and her really pretty skirt. ^_^ (Image from her blog.)It is such a beautiful skirt -- the shape is flattering and the colors

I wish H&M had an online store --

2011-02-09T14:55:00.000+08:00

These are my favorite pieces from the current line:In Stores Now. Visit hm.com to see more.IN STORES NOW. VISIT HM.COM TO SEE MORE.-- such a quirky bracelet! I can imagine dipping the edge of this on my kid's soup or noodles! Hahaha!In Stores Now. Visit hm.com to see more.-- very cute bag! Summer-y colors! IN STORES NOW. VISIT HM.COM TO SEE MORE.-- my husband likes how this one looks. ^_^In

3D Tin! --

2011-02-06T20:19:00.000+08:00

I started a new blog at the start of the year. It is a result of my reflection and resolution for the year -- to embrace who I am and to voice it out; to explore and develop other facets of myself (for so long, I have become 1-dimensional: Tin of my family) -- The blog is called "Tempt Me" -- and it's where I blog about all of my impulses (99.9% shopping-related) -- Please know that I do not

Dreaming of: a Louis Vuitton bag --

2011-02-06T17:26:00.000+08:00

If I could get just one LV bag, which one would it be?I know I would get it in the Monogram Canvas (yes, yes -- brand wh*re is me)The Neverfull seems to be the classic choice and I would get it in the PM because I think the MM is a bit big (and the GM is definitely out of the question) --I also like the shape of the Alma --And there's the Speedy -- I seem to gravitate towards this shape. I am

Love at first sight --

2011-02-05T19:28:00.000+08:00

My first Kate Spade bag arrived a day before Chinese New Year --My first ever splurge on myself (I've splurged numerous times for the kids) and it is beautiful -- and, more importantly, it makes me happy seeing it.What I love about Kate Spade are the little details -- the stripe-y tissue to protect the contents of the package. And the dustbag with a little thought from Kate Spade.And the bag --

I want: a plaid bag --

2011-02-05T14:08:00.000+08:00

I know that plaid is a pattern -- but, regardless of color combinations, it seems to be a "neutral" and can go with anything.I'm in the process of adding color to my wardrobe -- and, for some inexplicable reason, I seem to be focusing on my bags.Ruby Park Small Damien by Kate Spade (on sale for $123 from $275) <-- there is a bigger version of it -- but I like this one better. ^_^Burberry seems to

A weekend of British accents --

2011-01-30T17:01:00.002+08:00

Johann and I are stuck at home (sort of) because Seth is sick and we need to monitor him. It hasn't been an uneventful weekend for us, though -- we used the free time to watch The King's Speech yesterday (Colin First should win the Oscar for this portrayal) and we just finished watching Never Let Me Go just now. We were warned that it would be a depressing film but that is not the feeling I

Kate Spade checklist: Stevie --

2011-01-29T13:00:00.000+08:00

I love how floppy the Stevie looks. And I love that it looks like it can carry a lot of things.During my recent quick trip to Manila with my son, I realized I didn't have a bag big enough to carry my essentials and my son's essentials.Cornelia Street Noel StevieMarivaux Stevie<-- of the current Stevies, this is my favorite. I love the quilted pattern of the fabric -- gives it an interesting

Kate Spade checklist: a leather bag - check

2011-01-26T11:52:00.000+08:00

At the start of the year, Kate Spade had a really great sale -- 25% off all items on sale.I was hoping to use this is a chance to get the Medium Serena in the classic Noel print. We were able to place the order -- and got a confirmation.A few days later, we received another email informing us that the bag was sold out! Sad. =(So I browsed through the Kate Spade sale section again and found

Cute Satchels --

2011-01-24T17:34:00.000+08:00

Found these on Shopstyle --Satchels from Urban Outfitters --<-- the red is insane! And it's a steal at $58!<-- and this is a beautiful purple! $158 -- I find the size a bit too big, though -- maybe when Anya goes to High School? Hahahaha!

Turnlock Love! --

2011-01-24T17:19:00.000+08:00

Turnlocks are nice. I like that it is a completely different way of opening a bag (as opposed to zippers or magnetic clasps) --I like how structured and mechanical they look.Here are some bags with turnlocks that I like.Bexley Stevie from Kate Spade<-- I wish it came in a nice bright color These 2 bags by Madewell are also very nice! I like how preppy they look! (I wonder if I can still pull off

A new favorite quote --

2011-01-23T08:33:00.000+08:00

Commit the oldest sins, the newest kind of ways. - William Shakespeare (Henry IV Part II)

Kate Spade checklist: Quinn --

2011-01-23T07:11:00.000+08:00

The one bag I identify with the Kate Spade brand is the Quinn (maybe the Coal also) --So the Quinn is on my list. Actually, right now, I want 2 Quinns in different fabrics:Dungarees Quinn = $295I've written before about wanting/needing a Denim bag and I think this one fits the bill nicely.The tricky thing with the Quinn is that it's a bit above the budget I set for myself. I will have to save

Kate Spade checklist: Sophie = check

2011-01-23T06:56:00.000+08:00

I've always been interested in the Kate Spade brand but I always thought it was way out of my league --Then I realized it wasn't!So now I am starting a Kate Spade collection -- but I have set up some limitations for myself:1. Nothing above $2002. Must be classic shapes that I can use for many yearsThe first thing I got was the Sophie in the classic Noel print.Kate Spade Murray Hill Noel Sophie

I want: a new camera --

2011-01-21T08:45:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I posted a new want. But this was something on my Christmas wishlist -- and something that I'm currently obsessing (well, slightly) about.I am very curious about the "miniature" effect and the "low light" setting available on this camera.

What your handbag says about you --

2011-01-21T08:41:00.000+08:00

Article over at Yahoo.com. Clickety click here.

Birthday thoughts --

2011-01-17T19:22:00.001+08:00

Johann and I turned 33 this year -- a few years ago, we made a modest list of things that we wanted to do before we turned 35 -- And now, 35 is in less than 2 years and we haven't really done anything on that short list of ours. Then I stumbled upon someone's 30 before 30 project and it inspired me to come up with a similar list. (A lot of people do this pala.) Here are 35 things I want to do

I really want: Kate Spade Book of the Month Clutch --

2011-01-16T07:11:00.000+08:00

Rumor has it, the new additions to her Book of the Month series are: Emma and Romeo & Juliet -- no pictures yet for those.The current series has: The Great Gatsby and the Importance of being Earnest. It comes in a clutch form and a tote (cheaper).

Quirky, Cute: The Journal Newspaper Clutch

2011-01-14T07:47:00.000+08:00

A fun way to make a statement at parties:More Kate Spade...The Journal Newspaper Clutch by Kate SpadeIt's part of her new collection.Go see!

I want: a denim bag --

2011-01-13T05:34:00.000+08:00

I like the idea of a denim bag -- I used to have one and used it almost every day. Then it died and I never got another denim bag. And I never thought to get one.Until I saw these Kate Spade bags. I especially like the Emily -- but I don't know if it keeps it's shape. (It looks too soft.)The Quinn is a classic Kate Spade design and this incarnation comes in denim. It looks a bit small but

I finally got this: Sweet Blue Daisy Necklace --

2011-01-12T19:11:00.000+08:00

Since I didn't get it for Christmas, I bought it for myself.Bear and the Honeybee was so nice -- I needed to have the length of the necklace redone because I want it a bit more loose around me neck.Pretty, pretty necklace.I'm counting the days (weeks) until it arrives. ^_^This necklace is also very, very beautiful. I love the color and the brooch but I can't afford it now. Purple Trolley

Rent in Manila! -- February 12 to March 6! --

2011-01-12T07:30:00.000+08:00

It's being staged by 9Works Theatrical and will be playing at RCBC Plaza! Matinee Shows at 330pm (On Saturdays) and 430pm (On Sundays) Gala Shows at 8pm (On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays)

Do I want one? Mulberry Alexa --

2011-01-11T07:48:00.000+08:00

I've seen this bag featured in a lot of magazines --What's so nice about it is that it's a cute mix of masculine and feminine. I have a friend who has one and it is very eye-catching --She tells me it's versatile and holds quite a bit. (And the leather is super, super soft.)It's also quite pricey at around GBP760++ for the regular size.Current colors on Mulberry are White and Watermelon. <

Looking for: Nice jewelry for daily wear --

2011-01-11T07:32:00.000+08:00

At one gathering, my husband jokingly observed that, at our table with 7 other women present, I was the only one not wearing any jewelry.I don't wear my wedding ring (it got tight when I was pregnant with Seth) -- and I don't wear earrings or bracelets or a necklace. I used to -- but, when Seth was about 3 months, we had an unfortunate incident concerning a pretty red beaded necklace (which my

I want this for my sister: Marlow East/West Camera Bag by Fossil --

2011-01-06T16:44:00.000+08:00

My sister likes slings/crossbody bags --I think this would be the perfect addition to her current set of bags.I LIKE: Marlow East/West Camera Gag byFossilThe set of colors it comes in are nice -- bright and quirky enough to make the bag special but "neutral" enough to use everyday with any casual outfit.$78 in the US. (On sale at Zappos for $57.75)

I want: Key Per Shopper by Fossil

2011-01-06T16:41:00.000+08:00

I LIKE: Key Per Shopper byFossilI love the print and the shape of this bag.I also like that this is a shoulder bag.Size is a bit big at 14" x 17" x 3.5", but it is a shopper and, as such, is expected to hold a lot of things.$68 in the US.

Off to a good start! 2 movies in 6 days --

2011-01-06T16:35:00.000+08:00

Johann and I found the time to watch Rosario last Tuesday. In 33 years, I've probably seen only a handful of movies as an adult (as a child, my mom would bring me to the cinema on Sundays to watch Sharon Cuneta/Nora Aunor movies) -- I enjoyed this movie. One could see that this movie was made with a vision in mind -- and it was carefully crafted and edited to fit the vision. There were times

Goodbye 2010! Last of the 2010 list --

2011-01-01T16:29:00.000+08:00

5 favorite books for 2010 1. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh -- I just read this a few days ago. Super love (yes, yes, I used "super" and "love" together) Hannah Reid. 2. Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt 3. Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas 4. Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale 5. His At Night by Sherry Thomas -- I wasn't sure I was going to like this one and I actually stopped and

December 31: Core Story --

2011-01-01T16:06:00.001+08:00

What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.) (Author: Molly O’Neill) I am a woman in search of happiness. Please do not misunderstand this and think that I am currently unhappy because I am not. I just believe that one must

December 30: Gift --

2010-12-31T09:59:00.001+08:00

This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year? (Author: Holly Root) Maybe the best gift I got this year was from my youngest brother -- he gave me a Starbucks Planner. He had to collect stamps in order to get it -- and he had to drink coffee in order to get the stamps. And he doesn't really like coffee.

December 29: Defining Moment --

2010-12-31T09:52:00.002+08:00

Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice) I would like like to believe that I'm leaving 2010 a better person -- I am definitely different Tin now compared to the Tin in January 2010 but, whether the change is for the good remains to be seen. I've learned to think for myself but I've also learned to listen to others. My

2010 Lists! --

2010-12-29T15:15:00.001+08:00

5 Favorite Movies of 2010 1. Despicable Me 2. Scott Pilgrim vs The World 3. Toy Story 3 4. Sherlock Holmes 5. The Sorcerer's Apprentice ... I didn't watch a lot of movies this year. 5 Favorite TV Shows 1. Glee 2. Nigella's Kitchen 3. Big Bang Theory 4. Doctor Who ... technically, we don't watch this on TV 5. Staging Invasion on Discovery TLC 5 Favorite Magazines 1. Yummy 2. Sunset

December 28: Achieve --

2010-12-28T19:54:00.000+08:00

What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today. (Author: Tara Sophia Mohr) (My brother will frown when he reads this) I have a list of things that I want to buy for

December 27: Ordinary Joy --

2010-12-28T19:47:00.000+08:00

Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brené Brown) It has to be my children's birthdays this year. My daughter turned 1 last March and we had a small celebration at one of our favorite restaurants here in Iloilo (Al Dente). Friends from Manila flew in for the celebration -- We had a guest list