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.