Thursday, February 26, 2009

What Women Want

  Nice clothes. Pampering products. Sexy shoes. Pretty little things. Nice bags. And of course, love. Lots of love.
  Fashion is a lot of fun, but it also compromises a lot of things, like form, function, and comfort.
  Shoes...name me a woman who does not love shoes. Charles and Keith, Aldo, VNC and Steve Madden are four of my favorite haunts. I like Aldo because even if the heels are sky-high, they are so comfortable and they do not punish the back. Nor do they ruin the feet. Charles and Keith have pretty, pretty choices at very affordable prices. VNC and Steve Madden have pretty shoes that comes in different styles. There is a lot to like in these shops.
   I have had a long-standing love affair with La Senza. What was there not to love? Lace, silk, satin, cotton- there was just so much to adore! I fell in love with the pajamas, in materials so soft you would want to lounge in them the whole day. The bathrobes are luxuriously plush and smooth, in white, beige, hot pink and blush. There are tops and loungewear that thankfully do not sacrifice style for comfort. The bras and panties are sexy and flattering and absolutely delightful, spiked with satin and lace, and studded with crystals, with surprising details like the animal prints on the underside of an otherwise very innocent color. Industry talk has it that Victoria's Secret and La Senza have one and the same manufacturer. That is not difficult to believe, and any Victoria Secret's fan will find that out for herself the moment she walks in the door.
   I love Evita Peroni! I think it's the prettiest thing to happen to hair accessories! I first came across this girly shop at Rockwell Power Plant Mall and was totally smitten. The whole ritual of keeping your hair off your face becomes such a pretty little thing to do because these accessories are just so lovely. Yes, they do not exactly come cheap but each item really works the way it was meant to, without comprising how adorable it looks. They have the nicest headbands. Accessories from Aldo and Cru are nice too. 
    Zara clothing has two basic product divisions: men's and women's apparel. It is known for its innovative designs around the world. Over at Zara women's apparel, it's all about being a lady and loving it. The pretty clothes are feminine but not saccharine. Debenhams, Warehouse, Promod and Topshop collections are great too. They offer effortlessly elegance with particular attention to co-ordination and comfort.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Must-haves

  Don't you find it exasperating when, on the day that you have set aside for rest and relaxation, you end up braving the rain and traffic just to go to the nearest hardware/grocery/mall to buy a set of batteries or some plug adaptors? Sometimes you have to buy some envelopes for some documents, or buy needle and thread to mend a shirt or tighten a button that has come undone. Now think of having to squeeze these errands, this time on top of all the other things you need to accomplish on a regular workday.
  Through the years I have discovered that a woman, as a mommy, as a wife or both would be better off when she has all the necessary things within reach at a moment's notice. Being prepared like a girl scout is an exercise that saves time, money, and trouble.
  Below is a rundown of essentials that, time and again,  I really have found indispensable. I am sharing them with you in the hope that you'll find them as useful as I have.
  Scissors- Have at least five pairs handy; one for the kitchen, the other one in your bathroom(you may think it's a weird place for scissors but for me it is not because then I can easily take off packaging of new toiletry products without breaking my nails), one in your desk drawer, one in the dining room,  another one in your sewing kit. That is how I distributed my set but feel free to strategically locate them based on your needs and habits. Make sure you always return them where they belong.
  Zip Lock Bags- Not only are they useful in the kitchen, they are just as useful to hold odds and ends. Especially when you travel it can help organize your toiletries and they unify a slew of small personal effects that otherwise get misplaced.
  Flashlight and rechargeable light- No need for an explanation.
  Batteries- I cannot say how important it is to have batteries on stock. I have a box where I store batteries in varied sizes, from triple A, to double A, to D. It saves a lot of frustration when my kids receives toys that requires batteries that they cannot wait to play with. It also comes in handy when our electronic gadgets and flashlight die on us.
  Mighty Bond- Don't underestimate what this little tube can do. It fixes your daughter's broken clips, your son's toys to religious statues, to bigger household items. Now what Mighty Bond cannot do, a glue gun and glue stick duo definitely can.
  Light Bulbs- Look around the house and check the kind of bulbs that you use. Make a list and stock on them. You never quite know when they will conk out on you.
  ID pictures and Photocopies of important documents- You can never have too many copies of ID pictures and birth certificates of all the family members, for they are always required when you apply for a passport, when your kids go to school, when you apply for insurance, etc. Have extra copies likewise of your marriage contract, car registration, and passport. The latter is almost always required for valid identification process.
  First-Aid kit and medicine kit- Have a well stocked kit always available and make sure to replenish supplies as needed. The former should at least include anti-bacterial ointment, sterile gauze, betadine wound cleanser, a box of band aid, disposable urine or fecal container( this is very useful for me especially when a member of my family has diarrhea or UTI). The latter should be replete with paracetamol, aspirin, medication for diarrhea, colds, coughs, allergies, stomachaches and rehydration salts.
   Digital thermometer- We use this when someone in our family has a fever. It is very handy especially when checking the temperature of your sick baby.
   Screwdriver, duct tape, hammer- You need not have a full of carpenter's kit but you should at least have a set of screwdrivers and hammers in two sizes. The former can help you open electronic gadgets and toys when you need to change batteries. Duct tape is very versatile. You can use it to pack boxes, temporarily seal off leaks, etc.
    Ready-to-go toiletry bag- When packing haven't you notice you spend half the time running back and forth trying to put together a very efficient toiletry kit? If you have this ready at a moment's notice, packing will be a breeze.
    Other things necessary to have around the house are plug adaptors and extension cords, filing supplies such as bond papers, envelopes, fasteners, rubber bands, markers, paper clips and many others.
    So there you have it! Enjoy the process of gathering what you need to be totally efficient as much as you would enjoy using them.

Monday, February 9, 2009

How I became a pack rat

  I am just their junior. My mom and dad are the original pack rats. It was from them that I learned not to throw away anything.
  If I have boxes like odds and ends that might seem like junk to someone, blame it on them. If I take time to pick up one little hairpin, one little button, or a piece of rubber band that I could have otherwise just easily kicked away with the dust, it is an offshoot of a habit I cannot shake off. 
  Growing up, I remember how my dad's big desk looks like. There were piles of office papers which he turned into note pads and scratch papers. Every time I want to draw, he'll give me at least two pieces of his scratch papers instead of giving me a new bond paper. He doesn't like throwing things away because he believed that someday, someone will have a use for it. As with my mom, I remember once I was in dire need of just one safety pin and I can't find a piece from my sewing kit. So I went to my mom's room and, true to form, she has packets of sewing kits that she had saved from all those hotel rooms she stayed during her travels. She even has disposable shower caps!
  I've been a pack rat ever since I got married. I love to keep a scrap of foam and bubble wrap, dozens of tiny bottles that ones contained the essence of chicken, old toothbrushes, plastic containers, a lonely Christmas ornament, tacky plastic ribbons, a string of beads that had come undone, pretty greeting cards that were as ancient as our cook back then, old magazines, socks with missing pairs and old towels, and many more. My husband kept on asking me why I still keep all those junks. I would always answer him: we'll need and use it someday.
  Well, you're probably curious. How else were the pieces of junk I mentioned above put into good use? Foam, for jewelry like earrings. Bubble wrap, to protect delicate items that need to be shipped. Old toothbrushes for cleaning the tiles in the bathroom. Socks that are missing a pair and old face towels, I give it to the house girls to use as basahan.
   I used to like everything to match. Not anymore. Instead of buying uniform multi-purpose containers for a myriad things I need to keep handy, I look no further than home. I make use of what I have lying around the house. Sometimes it's square plastic container which used to contain cookies and pastries from bakeshops( now holds erasers, pencils, and other school supplies for my kids), pretty tins of Chinese tea, mooncake, and chocolates( they are home to craft tools, pens and markers). They do not go with everything else on my supplies' cabinet but they serve their purpose and they have a lot of character.
   There is a difference between keeping things just because you're attached to them and keeping them because you believe that you or someone you know will have a use for them, perhaps not immediately but surely in the near future. I'm a staunch advocate of the latter. This is my second nature already.
    Now when my kids need this or that, chances are I will have them in one of the many labeled boxes I keep on my cabinet. I don't have to go to a nearby bookstore or send out my husband to just buy what they needed for school. This is but one of the many things that they did not go out of their way to teach me but I have picked up the practice. To this day my parents unconsciously coaches me, in both little and big ways, the value of prudence and forethought. Thanks to my beloved mom and dad! 

Friday, February 6, 2009

A Non-Makeup Junkie

   Powder, blush, lipstick, and eyeshadow, I do not have much of. But lip glosses, I have more than my lip really need (and this only because it is the only thing I can apply correctly, by myself).
    I'm not much of a makeup junkie. But I want to learn more about makeups and how to apply it. I do enjoy going to makeup counters if only to ogle the beautiful colors, amazed as I am at how well the products are creatively packaged, presented, and marketed. We do have more options nowadays, but there's still so much to confuse us.
  I've always admired the fine skin of Japanese and Korean women and the way their faces seem to glow. But there's one thing that I am not fond of, it's an overly madeup face that from afar looks flawless but up close appears like the entire face was submerged in the tubful of loose powder.
  Makeup is supposed to enhance your looks - not change it. The worst compliment you can get is when people say they don't recognize you when you walk into a room fully madeup. Besides, no amount of make up can hide bad skin.