Stellar

via Instagram

The highlights of what turned out to be a really epic weekend for us:  

01.  My son's new silver aviators from Babiators.  (The blue pair is going to be a gift).

02.  Visited a dinosaur park with really great animatronics.  My son, a huge dinosaur freak, had the time of his life.

03.  Sting in Manila.  My husband and I were blown away.

04.  Another item to check off my list: flat sandals - I have been hankering for a white pair for ages.

Seeing Sting perform live was a truly amazing experience; unlike any concert I have ever seen.  Such an elegant, elegant performance, with such a gracious and talented musician.  His band was equally fantastic - no outrageous antics, no special effects.   Icon is an understatement.

I hope everyone else regularly has weekends like the one we just had - full of family time, a bit of shopping, really really great music, and generally just making the most of one's offline life.

*Dinosaur Island is in Clark, Pampanga (also check their Facebook here).  You can order Salt-Water Sandals in the Philippines via Sun San Salt Water Sandals.  Babiators is available via Zalora PH and in Rustan's Department Stores.

Prepping

We had another 3-day weekend last 30 November until 02 December.   The first day of that long weekend was devoted to putting up our tree and decorating for Christmas. Our son celebrates his birthday in November, so we usually wait until the 1st weekend of December before we put up anything Christmassy at home - that way, November becomes his "special" month, and he gets to look forward to Christmas after the birthday thrill wears off.

My husband splurged on extra decors for our tree and additional Christmas lights - and even the cutest little CD player - so the three of us were in a very festive mood as we put up our favorite ornaments, with carols blasting in the background.

My favorite Christmas decors at home, sitting on our low shelves.

I always look forward to bringing out these things every year.

Our tree comes from a box.
It's a tropical Christmas, after all.

I couldn't pull it off this year, but next year I promise to prepare an advent candle and calendar for my son.   We had those when I was a child and really looked forward to that part of Christmas.   I found these advent calendars very inspiring (here, here and here), and this blog here goes over the true story of Christmas, as shared to your child through the advent calendar (beyond the toys and candy).

It may not be too late to find an advent wreath though.  I'll try this weekend.  We have only missed 1 Sunday so far, and I think it's a lovely tradition.   I find these country/modern advent wreaths/candles/holders inspiring - with moss in clay pots, bottles, ceramic dish, and a bunch of modern advent candles in this blog here.   I don't want to rush out and buy our wreath/candles/calendar just for the sake of having everything in place for Christmas.  Every single ornament we have right now was carefully selected, and dearly loved.   I am holding out for a wooden nativity set (I have fallen in love with this set, and am hoping to find something similar one day).  Last: this "sticks Christmas tree" is adorable.

*While browsing through Christmas decors online I stumbled across, and fell in love, with this design blog, Hege in France.  The blogger's home is lovely.  And I really love her Christmas labels (here) and her Behind My Door series (here).

Cleanse scrub tone

 The most basics of all basics.   

Cetaphil from drugstores; Aveeno is available in S&R; T.N. Dickinson's from Healthy Options.

Always, Never

I enjoyed Pret a Porter P's "Always, Never" post and, subsequently, Damn Fine Coffee's post as well. I have seen this list in a number of other blogs.  I figured I'd give it a go.  My nevers may not be nevers forever, and it might be nice to see how things change one day.

Always

flat leather sandals, slip-on plimsolls

smock dresses, shirt dresses

Hong Kong, Singapore

white, blue, grey, black

mary janes, strap shoes, harness boots

art prints, watercolor

slings, messengers, crossbody, shoulder straps

dive watches

handmade, bespoke

small hoop earrings

chambray

Moleskines, fountain pens, colored pens, pencil boxes

studded

midi shorts, cropped pants, capris, gauchos, boyfriend jeans, bootcuts, wide-legged trousers

dark denim

stainless steel flasks, simple mugs, fun straws, lunch boxes

cuff bracelets

stationary, postcards, note cards, stamps

Muji, Dannijo, Repetto, CdG, Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Steven Alan

Hermes Collier de Chien

bright leather wallets

hand cream, eye cream

Never

red, mustard

stilettos, oxfords, brown pumps, dicker boots

skinnies, short shorts, micro minis

handbags, top-handle bags, bags on the crook of my arm

Forever21

Hermes Kelly

knock-offs

cap-sleeves, buttondown shirts with trousers

lace cut-outs in cocktail/evening dresses

band jackets

Fashion Toast, Bryanboy

Manila Seedling

We've been looking for indoor plants for our home. 

Some blooms perhaps, but mostly low maintenance plants like cacti.

These would look so pretty on our desk or low shelves.

Only someone had better remember to bring them outside to get some sun. 

I'd love a white flower in one of these blue or green ceramic pots.

The polka dot plant holders are cute too.

We like bulbs.

I am however inclined to get one of these.   They're my son's favorite.

He calls them the elephant plants.

 Manila Seedling Bank Foundation is in Quezon Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City, Manila.

Tidbits

Little things at home

After obsessing last month on sprucing up our home, the frenzied spending has subsided this November.    Just as well, as it is time to start preparing for our son's birthday, Christmas, and on hitting those clothing objectives by year end.  While I have been mostly satisfied with my purchases for the past few months, it is time to buckle down and bring out the big guns. 

STAYCATION: Manila Diamond Hotel

In Manila

As with the years before, All Souls' and All Saints' was tacked to a weekend, and my family fully intended to make the most of our 4-day weekend.

And so we did.  We gobbled up donuts, stayed in a gorgeous suite with an amazing view of Manila Bay, went swimming, visited some malls which weree not our usual weekend destinations (Uniqlo at last!), had dinner in a magical Japanese restaurant, brought our boy to see penguins for the first time in his life, got to meet a beautiful pair of baby boy twins, spent time with the grannies, discovered lambrusco blanco, touched base with dear old friends, caught up on dvd tv series of Poirot and Castle sitting at home, stumbled across some beautiful finds for our home, and got to simply enjoy being together.    It was wonderful.

NEW IN: Home Frills

Some stuff we got for the house this October:

We aren't really in the market for mirrors, but I couldn't resist these two.
The one on the left is from that Ikea store in White Plains Avenue, the one on the right is an antique.

Hammered tin.  The details are just so beautiful.

Amoroma

Amoroma is this lesser known trattoria in Tagaytay that my family and I love.

I say "lesser known" because people usually flock to another trattoria, Buon Giorno, which has a better view of the Taal Lake (and correspondingly, Taal Volcano) and is in the Cliffside complex where there are other establishments. Amoroma is by the National Highway, and being on the opposite side of the road, does not overlook the volcano lake per se. It's also not much to look at from the outside.  But the place feels more authentic than Buon Giorno, both inside and out, and the food is definitely much much better.  I love the dark wood furniture, the checkered table cloths, and the mini deli in the corner.  They also prepare your pizza and bread in the wood-fired oven in another corner.  

While their pasta and pizza are superb, it is their gorgonzola gnocchi which I love in particular.

I always order gnocchi whenever it's available in the menu and so far I like Amoroma's best.

(P.S. Don't forget to try their homemade gelato too).  

Amoroma Ristorante Italiano is in Calamba Road, National Highway, Tagaytay City, Cavite

Uno

 A quiet corner in Uno

Uno is one of my favorite restaurants.  I like the food and the ambiance.   I love the austere interiors: plain wooden furniture, the thick white table cloth, the uncluttered walls.   I like how everything inside is mostly white, brown, and grey.   My husband and I have been leaning towards those colors in our own home right now.  

But more than anything, I go to Uno for their freshly baked bread.

In my book, they have the best baguette and ciabatta in Manila.

Uno Restaurant is in Tomas Morato corner Scout Fuentebella, Quezon City, Manila.

Steel scapular

On my list: religious pendant necklace

It's not exactly a pendant, but I'm really happy with my new steel scapular.  It was a gift from my husband's aunt.  She went to Rome and got these scapulars for the family - she claims they were blessed by the pope.  Who knows?  I like it and I love that my husband has one just like it.

I can't get enough of Emerson Fry

I've been lurking in this site, Emerson Fry, since forever.  They have such gorgeous clothes - crisp and clean, but pretty, all at the same time.   

WORK VS. WEEKEND: Hoops

For work and for play

Steel hoops from Charriol; faux gold spiked hoops from The Little Pinky Store.

KL additions

My humble little loot from Kuala Lumpur.
It seems I only wear black and blue (and, while not in the picture, grey and white).
Loy and I also stocked up on Legos for our boys - much much cheaper in KL.


Black lace skirt and star-print umbrella from Cotton On; gingham shirt and chambray shirt dress from Uniqlo

Antonio's for Chem

I like this gallery wall at Antonio's.
(We're here for my best friend's little brother's wedding! This place is always just so perfect for weddings).