EMO girl's evening with Chris Daughtry

The ticket prices were ridiculous
P8,000 for front row seats in an unairconditioned venue? Come on!
I tried to convince Anissa that we would be better off watching the concert from Fishy's balcony (which we could have all to ourselves)
But of course as expected, she almost threw an EMO fit hehehe

Can you guess who "won" in the end?


And can you guess who she was in connivance with?


And while big sister screamed her lungs out at Chris D.'s concert
This little one was in a concert of her own at her new favorite hangout,
"Powow Seyshen"


The view from Fishy's balcony...my very own private box hehehe!
(yes, I'm a Bad Mom I didn't go with Anissa to the concert...4K for a ticket??? anyway I think she enjoyed it even more because stage Mom wasn't with her)


AND WHAT ON EARTH WERE THEY THINKING???
This was the mandate for that night from Eastwood Management

High on shoes

I am loving this mother-daughter tandem. They're both addicted, not just to shoes, but to designer ones! How sweet it is to have the means to fund your "luho", right?

Just some of the daughter's shoes


And some of the Mom's shoes


Here's the Mommy (I wish I could look this laidback when I get to her age)


And the DD who's only 16!

Don't they look so cool and fasyon?

Maybe I don't dig some of the styles they wear. They're a bit over the top for my taste. But their shoes are so nice to look at. I can imagine them all lined up on shelves with glass doors, all in one room. Everytime I'm stressed out, I can just lock myself up in that room and stare at their beauty. Spoken like a true shoe hag!

Read more about this awesome pair of shoe fanatics at
SeaofShoes

(that blog title sure says it all hahaha!)

Missing McDreamy

I can't wait for the new season to start! It's been so long, I am truly missing Grey's Anatomy and, needless to say, Patrick Dempsey and his character. Funny because I dreamt about him the other night! Talk about withdrawal symptoms! My dream wasn't a good one though. In it, he was my brother!

This is my all-time favorite photo of him which I've been keeping in my hard drive
*SWOON*

See you in September, hottie!

Sunday Family Style : Power Plant Mall

Attended the 4:45 pm mass in Power Plant. Missed DH who had to go out of town today. Dinner was at ZAIFU on the Concourse Level. They're not as good as they used to be.

We had coffee in CIBO while the kids insisted on hanging out in Power Station and then Starbucks for a quick snack before heading home.

Is it time to get a new camera?

I've been happy with our Canon Ixus 900Ti eversince we got it. 90% of the photos I post here in my site are taken by this (the rest are from my Nokia N82 cellphone).

Lately though, I've been playing around with the idea of getting a new camera. DH's younger sister recently came from the US toting a new camera which I am really really tempted to get.

It's the Sony Cybershot DSC H-10
I know it may be a downgrade from my current gadget (from 10mp to 8mp) but look at the difference in these photos that we took last night


Photo taken by SIL's cam


Photo from my cam

You can clearly see the discrepancy in the photo quality. The first photo has more color, the second one looks really pale, doesn't it? I'm not too sure though if I just had to re-adjust the settings to bring more life to my photo. I'm not a photography geek, just someone who loves to take photos of everything. I don't know the first thing about cameras and gadgets, that's DH's department. So now I'm thinking...should I not be upgrading instead?

Hmmm........

Remembering Daddy Ben

It was the birthday yesterday of DH's late DF whom the kids lovingly call Daddy Ben. So after a hectic day at work, we all gathered to greet him and say our usual prayers for him and MIL. It's also the birthday of DH's nephew, Waymon today so it automatically became a double celebration.

Sabine's first bump

She likes to wear Anissa's shirts, no matter how big or long they are. After taking her morning bath today, she again found one of her sister's shirts and wore it. It happened too fast. She stood up from where she was playing, stepped on the shirt's hem and fell. She refused the ice pack (being stubborn as usual) so in the end, here's what she got:



Dagger look! She hated me and Yayay for insisting on the ice pack.


Was she still angry about the icepack? Or the fact that I was taking photos? Hehehe...


In this photo she was telling me, "Mommy, no mow peechuys!"

In all fairness? This incident could've happened a lot earlier, because Sabine is super hyperactive and doesn't stop at anything. Thankfully, it was a minor fall and didn't involve the stairs, which she is fond of using when no one's looking. DH was a nervous-wreck, as expected. He asked me to text the pedia a gazillion times to ask what we should do and didn't want to believe me when I told him that the ice pack would do the trick. MEN!

Hope that "owee" goes away soon, Bubba!

Hair by Chiyo

Finally got that much-needed haircut today! I've been feeling so bored with my hair eversince I started growing it. It lacked character, it was too bulky and I was getting tired of having to blowdry every single time. I first read about SEI SALON in Girltalk. All the girls who've gone to Chiyo Tagami had only good words about her and everyone was really happy with whatever they had done. But Chiyo's forte is precision cutting. In a Phil. Daily Inquirer article, she was tagged as the stylist responsible for Gretchen Barretto's bob. Even when she was based overseas, Pinoy clients would seek her out just to get a haircut. That was enough to convince me to try her out. I wanted something new...maybe something short again like what I've gotten so used to all these years. But I was open to anything, even to continue growing my hair, so long as she could add a bit of spice to my otherwise boring 'do.

So there! How would I rate the experience? I really liked it. The staff's professionalism is something I haven't seen nor experienced in other salons. They don't chit chat with one another or do other things. They're 100% focused on the stylists and the clients. Chiyo is really meticulous. She first asked me what I wanted. I must have sounded so undecided (which I really was) because I kept asking for her opinion so she told me, "Bottomline? I do what my customers ask me to do and make small suggestions here and there. I never impose on my customers." She sounded very straightforward, I thought. But I guess that's just her. I noticed how strict she was with the staff, which explains why everyone acted so disciplined and well-trained. We agreed that she would maintain my hair's current length and to help ease the burden of having to spend so much time blowdrying, she did a lot of thinning. I still have to blowdry but not as much as before. The cut she gave me is still basically a bob. I can continue to grow it if I want. Seriously, my head felt so much lighter after she was done. No more helmet hair! This might sound a bit funny but the best part was when they shampooed my hair after the cut! 15 minutes on the shampoo chair --- no kidding! My scalp feels squeaky clean! And the massage...it almost made me fall asleep!

The damage to my wallet? P1,500. Yup, quite steep I know. I'm El Cheapo and I never imagined I would spend this much on a haircut. But when you watch Chiyo at work, you can see how talented she is. It was obvious to me that she knew what she was doing. The whole experience lasted a little over 2 hours, that's how meticulous she is. The other thing I loved about the salon is they don't pressure you into getting other things done. I didn't ask for anything other than a haircut and that's just what I got. No sales talk. Zero.

And oh...I forgot to mention. If you can, please avoid going in groups. I counted only 6 chairs in the place, plus 2 shampoo stations. That's it. No manicures and pedicures here. SEI SALON is all about hair. Next time, I might just ask Chiyo to give my hair a spanking new color!

SEI SALON
6F Republic Glass Building
196 Salcedo Street Legaspi Village
Makati City
8120943

REPOSTED : HELP!!! My nephew was abducted!

I'm reposting this on behalf of Melka, a Multiply seller, whose nephew Matthew was recently abducted in Festival Mall Alabang. Please help pray for Matthew's safe return to his very worried family. And PLEASE PLEASE be vigilant whenever you bring your kids to the mall. This is giving me goosebumps and is making me so angry!

My pamangkin, Kuya Ken's son Matthew, where we took the other half of the business namesake was abducted last night at Festival Mall in Alabang.


Name: Matthew" Chu-chu" David Samudio
Age: 3 Years Old, Can barely speak straight.
Address: 16 guyabano st umali rd. summitville subdivision putatan muntinlupa city 1770

He was last seen at Tom's World Arcade in Festival Mall Alabang, around 8pm yesterday July 22, 2008 wearing Green Checkered Polo, Maong pants and Green Mr. Bean Slippers.

When we reviewed the surveillance camera in said mall, there was this chubby impoverished looking girl around 12-13 years old wearing a dirtied pink top with floral design and a reddish jogging pants who summoned my nephew and then whispered something to him, then my pamangkin who is very "bibo" readily took her hand as they went out of the said premises.

Guys, I need your help with this, if you know people in the media, police or government agency who might be able to HELP us locate my nephew, I'm begging you, please, please help us. Or at the very least, please pass this message to as many people as possible, who knows where the abductors might have taken him... Matthew is a very sickly kid, he rarely eats unless his yaya feeds him and he was about to have an operation for fluid in his right testis.

If there are any news or lead that can locate my nephew, please help us... Sobrang kawawa ang pamangkin ko, who knows how they are treating him...I dont want this thing happening to any kid so please help my nephew. PLEASE. You can contact my brother at 0923-638-4632.

Thank you so much and God Bless you!

Food Review : Chosun Korean BBQ

We had our family dinner here last Sunday. I suggested it to my DF after a friend told me that she and her family enjoyed it here. We did, too! The food tastes a lot like Kaya's and the prices are very similar. Average spending should be about P300 to P400 per head. We ordered : Steamed Dumplings, Japchae Noodles, Seafood Fried Rice, Kimchi Hotpot, Lamb and Beef Bulgogi, Bacon Slices. The last three were to be wrapped in green leafies. They're called the Chosun Barbecue Wraps. Even the kids enjoyed the food so this is a place that's definitely worth going back to, if you ask me. They're on the 6th level of Shangri-la Plaza Mall. The area is always busy so it would be good to place a reservation early.

Obsessing with my hair

For lack of anything better to do while Sabine was napping and Anissa was preparing for her Filipino long test tomorrow, I surfed the web for hairstyles. I'm itching to go back to the salon to get another trim but wondering if there was something I could do to make the cut a bit more interesting.

This is SUPPOSED to be my goal

But with sideswept bangs because my hair's kinda wavy

But then I saw this!

Elisha Cuthbert's pixie haircut

I was thinking...just to give my hair a bit of character while I'm growing it out
But alas...my hair isn't this straight so I'll need to spend some time styling it just the same

And then...I saw the killer photo

Oh no!!! This photo almost made me run to my stylist the minute I saw it. It made me miss my wash 'n wear hairstyle to death! I immediately recalled my short hair days when all I needed was to towel dry, finger comb and that's it! Nowadays I have to wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual just so I can blowdry my hair...I have to avoid getting caught in the rain so that my blowdried hair doesn't turn wavy again. I have had to start bringing a hairbrush again in my bag, something I haven't done in ages!!!

So what shall it be? Short?

OR THIS?
(Anissa was 4 yrs old in this picture, year 2000)

I shall sleep on it and see how I feel in the morning

Loot from Bare Naturals

What did I say about being in make-up mode? After reading the reviews on Girltalk about BareNaturals, I decided to make a go for it. Here's what I got:

A bottle of their EMU OIL because I'm intrigued by its healing properties and the long list of problems it can supposedly solve. Three of their blushes, namely : Cheeky Cheeks, Viva Sofia and Dollface. Lami of BareNaturals was kind enough to throw in samples of her other fast-moving blush shades, Prettiest Pink Peach and Bubblegum.

From left to right in their pots:

Cheeky Cheeks, Viva Sofia (looks scary, right?), Dollface

And the samples in their baggies

Yikes, I don't know if I got the lighting right

From left to right : Cheeky Cheeks, Viva Sofia, Dollface

Prettiest Pink Peach on the left
Bubblegum on the right

Some of them look lighter than my usual preferred shades but I'm game to try them out. I wonder which blush shade I should go for first?

I'm on a (health and beauty) roll

My interest in skincare and make-up is seasonal. When I first got interested in mineral make-up, I was unstoppable! I'm glad MMU has no expiration because I bought quite a lot during that intense moment hee hee...

Then after that it was gone. I don't see make-up the way I see shoes. I can't stop buying the latter. My interest in them never wanes. It's been one of the most permanent things in my life for as long as I can remember. But see...it's that time again. I'm on make-up/skincare mode at the moment and I want to take advantage of the feeling while it's there. I think it all started when I felt the urgent need to address my oily skin, and I haven't stopped since then.

Here's a short (hopefully it stays this way) list of the things on my "to buy" list:

MAC Charged Water - charged water, fused with vital ions from a diamond and instilled with a spirit-lifting therapeutic aroma, then delivered to the skin in the soothing aura of a revitalizing, hydrating mist. Like its source, a diamond, on application it makes the skin feel clear, sparkling, pure and energized. Its aroma : a blend of green tea and citrus. Check out Sophie's review on this to find out why I'm convinced I should get it!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Duo (in Medium Dark/Natural & Shimmer) - The two finishes of the popular Skinfinish presented in one convenient duo compact. One side provides a natural matte finish, while the other brings an ambient shimmer to cheeks and brow bones. My inspiration behind wanting this? I'm blaming make-up gurus, Sophie (again) and Olga.

MAC Electroflash Lipglass

Top to bottom :
Lil' Hot Pepper - frosty burnt red with multi-dimensional pearl
Sonic Vibe - frosty mid-tone pink with multi-dimensional pearl
Major Minor - frosty mid-tone beige with multi-dimensional pearl
Cultureclash - frosty clear baby pink with multi-dimensional pearl
My personal picks are Lil' Hot Pepper and Major Minor
According to Phoebe, this entire line is coming here in August
Image taken from: Temptalia

Here's another recommendation from Sophie (strike 3 ka na hehehe)

Skin Hour's Deep Cleansing Oil - a mild cleansing oil which has powerful anti-irritant properties formulated with tea tree for skin clarifying and papain extract to even out skin tone. Eden Mint variant relaxes and calms while deeply removing make-up, dirt and oil, and protects skin. Sounds good right? Go to Skin Hour's Multiply site for more info on this.

AND FINALLY...

LEYENDE's Beach Bomb Fragrance

It comes highly-recommended because of its fresh fragrance. According to Sophie, this is going to make me smell "bagong ligo" hehehe! Why not?! It's reasonably priced at less than P500. I want to try this because I'm not a perfume person at all. Anything that makes me sneeze is not for me. Soft scents like this will do the trick!
Image taken from : LEYENDE

Whew...that's it. That's my list. I hope it's final.
Maybe I should stop chatting with Sophie on YM until after I've bought all of these...