early xmas gifts for myself

my friend Chiqui just got back from US and being the negosyante viajera that she is ,along came balikbayan boxes with imptd stuff of S&R proportions. I bought myself 3 bags. 2 for me and 1 for the mom. The 1st one is an everyday bag which I can tote around and can also serve as a mini gym bag, it's made of PVC so im not really required to be careful with it.its the pang harabas bag anyway.hehe

 the bag's model is Coach CHELSEA BIAS GRAY TOTE BAG
 i love the color, it's not dumihin, it pairs well with my usual everyday wear.very casual and i like it a lot. the second one is Coach Ashley Signature Handbag, i got it because i don't have a silver bag yet and the design is really cute.

when it comes to buying I always consider quality, i like my stuff to last long,and i always go for classic designs. I do not like buying low quality at dirt cheap prices simply because i dont like the hassle of using things that break down easily.some go for cheap thrills, i don't ,especially in my personal belongings. coach bags are not luxury bags.it stays in the middle, but for the quality and the versatility, i say the price is just right. when it comes to leather bags, Furla makes the best ones.for everyday decent bags, coach is ok na for me :)

these 2 i got for php 15k. merry xmas!

LBD

this little black dress is simple yet chic and elegant.hehe.very cliche. I just pair this with the essentials=pearls, a good black bag, and heels.
I wore this for my cousin's wedding. ^_^
I think I have worn this 3x palang and I got this while I was still in college.(way back 2005) 6 years old na siya.the right LBD is timeless indeed.

nail polish

these are my color staples. I have nudes, classic cherry red, dainty pinks, and some unusual colors in funky eggplant, midnight blue and gun metal grey colors for renegade days.

I use SH megashine to keep my polish from chipping.they last for 3solid days of gorgeousness. after that, hello less than perfect digits na! I promised myself  this year that I will always have my nail polished.as in. I want to maximize these babies. I dont want them sitting around my closet, sayang ang ganda factor.and it tells a lot about a woman with well kept nails.it's a good thing =)

Middle Eastern shoes(Khussa)

I could go on and on about how fine Dubai(where I lived for almost a year, and gave birth to baby Athena) is, but for now I would like to focus about one of the best things about being in the Middle East- the colorfully decorated hand made shoes a.k.a "khussa", popularized by SJP in Sex&the City 2 movie (Abu Dhabi). These shoes can be bought for around 50-90 dirhams(600-1200 pesos) depending on your charms and negotiation powers. In my case, I buy wholesale, at least 6pieces per transaction for me to get the best price and besides you can't go wrong with these shoes. Designs are timeless and its always a good conversation starter especially when you wear them back in the Phils ^_^

*this photo was taken at the old souk in dubai creek. the trader is Pakistani. Most of the Khussa
are hand made in Pakistan and India

these are the only khussa shoes left in my "collection". Ive given some to my friends as pasalubong.

late bloomer

i had very little social life when i was still single. I was not able to go out a lot and meet a lot of people back then, but as my husband would tell me, it's never too late to make up for things. Since may of this year until now, my husband and I are always out almost every night. balancing our responsibilities and our need to have fun is quite a challenge. I have to admit that I am enjoying it too much that I think I have to stop already. You see, for me being imbalanced is tantamount to failure. I think I have had my fair share of the night life, earned a lot of contacts already, made new friendships which opened a plethora of experiences for me. I have totally dominated makati during the entire 5mos and I always had a good time. I always go home with a smile. But this is the time where I should withdraw, retire ala Michael Jordan, I think what i need to do is go back to basics, commit myself entirely again to what I have started since 2007.

I'm sure I will be out again but not as often as I'm doing right now. Sayonara nocturna vida!

 January 2011(last time I went clubbing) as of April 12, 2011! with my college bffs!

project vanity

i enrolled in a 6month diploma course in Vanity a.k.a cosmetology at center for aesthetic studies at franck provost building jupiter st.bel air makati

i'll be graduating soon.finished the 1st term already.
i enjoyed a lot! i'm nowoverly obsessed with my hair cut and color
and i always always treat my hair with davines alchemic, slathering oils, mask and anything that will make it shiny and healthy. haha

parang dati lang my hair was always just plain straight and (often) times unruly and super wala lang.hehe.but iv learn to appreciate the value of a beautiful hair now

ngayon my friends and family are always asking me for hair tips

now im currently finishing my make up course at CAS, soon enough ill be specializing in air brush make and will also enroll in make up forever for their professional bridal make up training.excited!

the weight issue

i became a recluse when i went to dubai, 4mos preggy and months later after i gave birth. pano ang taba taba ko. its like that pala when all your life you were so skinny and feeling sexy tapos you'll gain 50lbs.haha.i realized what depression means that time.gaining a lot of weight was madness.but i was also thankful, because i did not have the appetite to go out and mingle, instead i focused my energy on raising our baby and nurturing our business.and im happy to say that i met my goals and ive gained momentum. my baby is now 1 year and 3months and still exclusively breastfeeding, and the business is also growing at a favorable rate. thanks also to my very supportive husband.


anyhow id like to share what i look like year 2006, when i was still dating my then bf now husband.i was 115lbs



this pic was taken in dubai, 9mos preggy, days before i gave birth.I was 167lbs!
I was at my fattest.i have water retention all over.my nose was uber fat,had double chin, and may face was siopao.


and this is my latest pic (taken july2009)
I now weigh 120lbs.




It feels great to lose the pregnancy weight. i was scared to be losyang and look like that forever.I love my hubby too much and i do not want him to feel cursed for having a losyang woman for a wife.and of course getting back to shape means that I am capable of discipline and taking good care of myself.its a good reflection on my personality .hindi ko naman pala pababayaan ang sarili kong maging unhealthy. i believe pa naman that in this superficial world, you have to look good so that many opportunities will come your way. hello most of the richest people on earth look good.there must be a good reason why.


so how did i lose all those fats?
i enrolled myself to a 4month gym membership
im drinking green tea 3cups a day
ate moderately, i rarely over feed myself.it helps that im not a glutton by nature
my diet consists mostly of fruits and veggies