I want to ENJOY!

Have you all heard of this privilege card?

Each pack contains a card and a booklet filled with vouchers worth around P150,000. The card alone entitles you to discounts at participating outlets, while the vouchers offer different types of perks. Ergo, you can use one without the other. I think this is worth it, considering you only pay P1,495 and the card and vouchers are valid for a whole year.The card has tons of merchant partners so you'll definitely get a lot of mileage out of it. Dining, nightlife, shopping, health & beauty, live & learn (like Spanish and Nihonggo classes), travel --- these are the categories that the merchants fall under. I looked at the specific perks offered and they're not at all bad! I'm in the same line of work and I have to say, these people did really well. It ain't easy at all, getting establishments to give you discounts and/or freebies but I take my hat off to the group who brought this concept together and made it happen.

I'm definitely getting one for myself soon!

Can't Decide Which One

It's time to retire my present digicam and get a new one! I've actually been waiting to replace my camera. Really wanted the Panasonic Lumix LX3 at first but Neal is such a loyal Canon customer (makes sense because of the good after sales service they provide) so I guess I'll have to follow his lead. Question is...which of these two should I get?

This is what I really want...the Canon Ixus 100 IS (approximately Php22,000)

Here's the actual size. Aylavettttt!
(although I'm really leaning more towards the red one right now)

But Neal insists on this...the Canon Ixus 110 IS, approximately Php24,000. He really has a huge say about the gadgets that we buy because I'll admit, I'm not a techie at all.

Each model has its good and bad points. The one I want is sleeker and more fashionable looking but reviews say there's something awkward about the zoom feature. The 2nd one, on the other hand, is a bit heavier but with 4.0" zoom --- perfect for landscape and group photos.
Features wise, the 110 IS is of course more advanced --- hence, the difference in the price tag. Oh well, I guess it will all boil down to the "touch and feel" experience once I'm in the store. Whooooopeeeeeeee!!!

Turning Japanese!

I finally got to go to SAIZEN, the Japanese store in Robinson's Galleria where everything sells for P85 a piece. I thought I was going to end up with loads of stuff I don't need but I was a good girl (pressed for time was more like it). With aisles and aisles filled with everything imaginable, it's a bit hard to exercise self-control!

The entrance --- really wide and welcoming

This aisle excited me the most --- PENS!!!

Pouches in all colors, shapes and sizes

Reading glasses? Just find your grade and the style that best suits you. If you're just like my DH, you'll want to buy several of these. He keeps forgetting where he puts his so now, he has one in the car, one on his work desk and another one in the patio where we read our morning papers hahaha!

Baskets so cute! You can use these to put small food items or pastries and give them away during the holidays.

Japanese style dinnerware...I'm going back for these next time

Wooden serving utensils, so practical and useful

My little girl will go crazy when she sees these chopsticks!

PET bottles anyone? I don't know about you but I have a constant stock of these at home.

Those are all the photos I could manage to take. Too bad I totally forgot to take photos of my loot but here's what I got : Kitchen sponges, 3 sets of fabric woven coasters, some wooden spoons, cosmetic cleansing pads (130 pcs a box), a gazillion pens and gel rollers, markers, bull clips, pet bottles (of course) and wipe cloths. See? Nothing I don't need!
I

wish I had more time to go around. I would scour the aisles longer if I did. I'm hoping they open another branch soon, preferably in the Makati area. I don't frequent Robinson's Galleria too often, which is why I see myself going to the Japan Home Store (beside most DIY Hardware stores) in Greenhills more often like I'm used to. But in terms of variety, SAIZEN makes the Japan Home Store look so pathetic.

I've never really had a 30-minute shopping trip before. Much too short.
But this one was truly enjoyable despite the limited time.

Arigato Gozaimasu!

Would you?

Louis Vuitton's Bunny Ears headband

My verdict : NOPE. They're not for me.

Addicted to Pet Society

This is so not me. I never liked online games or video games before. Heck, it took me ages to figure out how to turn on my kids' PSP.

That's why my addiction to Facebook's Pet Society is something that still baffles me to this day. Neal keeps asking me what I get out of it and I tell him I'm in it for the sheer joy of opening Gold Mystery Boxes to see what surprise is in store for me inside. Plus the fact that I get to shop 'til I drop and decorate my pet's house in the process.

And look at the result of months of saving up for those coins...

Living Room

Kitchen

Den

Bedroom

Entertainment Room

Rooftop

I didn't know I could be this creative hahaha

I can't wait for my next room to come!

Get Protection!

Classes in De Lasalle University Taft Avenue will be suspended for two weeks starting tomorrow, following a confirmed case of H1N1 virus on campus.

I'm glad my girls both got their flu shots recently.

Read more about it HERE.

On Mike Tyson's Loss

First, there was the Puerto Galera incident which literally tore my heart to pieces. I still become teary-eyed whenever I check Mon E.'s Facebook account and view the videos he has posted in memory of his 3-yr old son, Franco who perished in that tragic accident a week ago.

And now this! I just hate hearing or reading about accidents involving children. But I can't resist these articles because I know there's a lesson somewhere that's waiting to be picked up by the rest of us clueless folks. Can a parent ever learn to forgive him/herself for losing a child this way? I've always been the panicky/worrier type and people kid me about this all the time (sometimes, I feel, to the point of wanting to strangle me for being so overprotective of my kids). Do I care? I DON'T. At the end of the day, I'd rather be "mocked" for being a stage mom than find myself in a situation like this.

For a week now, I've been saying a prayer for Franco Eugenio, his cousin Anton and grandmother Daisy. And now I'll be adding Mike Tyson's little girl to my prayer list. I pray, too, for Mike Tyson's 7 year old son who discovered his little sister hanging on the treadmill with that cord around her neck.

I'm feeling depressed all over again...

Once you pop, you just can't stop!

And I'm not talking about the famous potato chips here. In my case, it almost always refers to SHOPPING...most specifically when it involves my biggest passion.

It all started on the evening of May 26 when I attended the pre-MYOH special event at the Rockwell Tent with my good friends and fellow flip flop addicts. I brought home a complimentary pair which I customized to my own liking. (See first picture)

A couple of days later, we were back with a vengeance but this time it was on the first day of the actual Make Your Own Havaianas event. Armed with all that energy and excitement, I ended up bringing home a total of 4 pairs (one was for Mom and it doesn't appear in the pictures here because she wore them right away).

With the rest of the afternoon free, Pia and I decided to spend the rest of the day leisurely at the mall. Lunch at Pepper Lunch was our first stop after spending about 3 hours at the tent making our flip flops. We were starved!!! Pao and her Achie decided to go home after that so Pia and I were pretty much by ourselves the rest of the time.

What do you do with all that free time???

I guess you very well know the answer to that by now. Suffice it to say...it was truly a PRODUCTIVE afternoon for the both of us.

(Shoe)Shopping is most fun when in the company of someone who truly understands HAHAHA!!!

P.S.
I just realized we didn't even take pictures of ourselves. How??? Our hands were too busy carrying our shopping bags.

P.P.S.
Anissa will surely benefit from my Havaianas loot. She and I now have the same shoe size (listen to me justify).

My compli pair from the special event : marine blue soles, spring green straps,
lomo cam and beach pins.

Pair #2 from: light blue soles, orange straps and boom box pin

Pair #3: hot pink soles, brown straps, tarsier and limited edition pins

Pair #4: red soles, brown straps, vintage and limited edition pins (latter not in pic)

Pair #5 from Moana in Power Plant: Soft Violet Top
I was never fond of anything violet or purple but I couldn't resist this one. So pretty!

Pair #6 also from Moana: Slims in Bubble Gum
The very last pair in this color and it was my size. Meant for me!

Pair #7 from Stella Luna, Power Plant: Love at first sight!
I've already used this twice since Thursday.

I love sunsets!

This photo was taken recently when we spent the weekend in Calatagan. I was able to take it just in time to catch the pretty colors!