I know. I have been neglecting this blog for a while now. My sister's family is visiting in a week, Hunter's first birthday bash is coming up and I have another major trade show and bazaar happening before the first quarter ends.

These days, I wind down by being so domesticated. I love redecorating the house and I'm really enjoying my new kitchen.
Since I now share a room with the hubby and the little guy is co-sleeping, my once girly room now looks more functional. That means all my frills and happy things were removed to accommodate the men.

Good thing I now have my very own work area. It's not yet done though.
 I'm just glad I have again a little private space to do my stuff and to place my "happy things".

My inspiration wall. All my favorite fashion sketches and vintage ads in white frames.
I will be adding more in the future!

The reason I keep those mismatched tables is because I use them for bazaars and trade shows.  I'm still working on that wall. I will be moving my parents' "sowing" painting to the main room and install functional shelves on the wall. 

My favorite spot! 

I believe in making your space beautiful for yourself. It doesn't matter where you are and how simple your place may be. I've been doing this since college when i just had a little bed space in a dorm.

You don't have to be an interior designer or super rich to create a beautiful space. Just make it a warm, happy place and surround it with all the things you love and more importantly, with the people you love.

 Its always nice to have a little, lovely spot in the world.

De-clutter #1

January is all about organizing and de-cluttering. First stop is my dresser and all the make up I have accumulated the past year. I tend to hoard on make ups when I'm out of the country since my favorite ones are unavailable here and almost always the prices are jacked up online. 

After

                                      

The acrylic organizers are just all below PhP700 at National bookstore. So much cheaper compared to the ones in Muji.

They are all spread out since I'm an out-of-sight-out-of-mind kind of girl. If I don't see them, I won't be able to use them. :/

On to my next projects! =)

2013

I always look forward to the New Year Celebration. New Year means new beginnings.

I just feel extra energetic every time the end of the year looms by. Energetic and somewhat sad at the same time. Sad because I am a very sentimental person and I just love holding on to so many things even to time and memories. 2012 is my best yet--- simply because Hunter came into our lives and we will never be the same. 

But I also feel energetic as well. I have so many thing planned out for this year: for my family, my business and myself. I guess the best thing about getting older is you come to know yourself better, which in turn makes you more confident about your choices. 

Cheers to a great year that was and Cheers to another year of blessings and love. The best is yet to come. 

Scents and Memories

Every year for quite some time now, I try out a new scent at the beginning of the year and if I like it, I make it my "annual signature scent."
I do switch perfumes every now and then but the "signature scent of the year" becomes my main go-to.
Every December, I do a major research about perfumes I want to try and choose "the one" for the year. I purchase a really big bottle of the chosen signature scent as well as mini bottles that I can keep in my purse.
Although this is not really a strict practice for me. I don't get to commit to just one at a given time but when I do, I never forget about it. Ever. 

The reason for this is because I strongly associate memories to scents. 

Revlon Charlie White reminds me so much of my high school days, The Braxtons' "Only Love" and oddly enough, our beloved Siena Hall.

Old school na Old school, literally! This scent reminds me of my Siena days.

Hugo Boss Woman reminds me of the 18th birthday of our HS friend, Danessa. Particularly our dance practices for her cotillion.

Tommy Hilfiger True Star reminds me of UP Junior Marketing Assoc's legendary parties and "glitches."

Davidoff Cool Water reminds me of grueling Debate sessions in Sir Barry's class AND Paolo during my UP days.
This scent will forever remind him of the 19-year-old Isabel. I still use this when I need some "extra-convincing" powers (don't tell him that)!

Bvlgari White reminds me of Discovery Suites and our little corner space in the office with my dear friend, LC.

Memories. Particular, vivid ones evoked by scents.

2012 is all about Marc Jacob's Daisy So Fresh. This scent is very special...

...because it will always remind me of labor pains, hospital stay and a tiny, tiny baby in my arms.

Yes, I managed to take a bath and spiff some perfume after my water broke. 

My signature scent for 2013 is...

Lanvin Eclat d'Arpege

I love it already! I wonder what this scent will remind me of. =) 

Cheers to making good memories! 

How we spent Christmas

We decided to spend three nights somewhere else so we can enjoy the lights and decorations around the Metro. =)

Nothing is more magical than seeing Christmas again through a child.
Hunter is still a baby and we went to the light show at the Ayala Triangle for ourselves but oh my, his eyes: pure magic. =)

Family time! Hunter with his cousins and Auntie.

This year is an amazing year for us. My best year yet. It's truly as if 2012 just zoomed by. 

Really though, I can't believe we are done with this year! 

And its because of this little big guy. My best Christmas present! =)

Merry Christmas! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We just got back from a mini vacation in the City. Since the house renovations were done less than two weeks before Christmas, we had little time to prepare the house for festivities. But of course, if you know me well, I can't let any occasion, Christmas for that matter pass by without a bit of sprucing up.  =)
I just wanted to share a few photos around the house.

Of course we had to put up the tree by Hunter's play room. =) Drums and Candy Canes for the little boss.

Tree between Hunter's play room and my work area.

It is our baby's first Christmas! =)

Just a few Christmas-y details around the house.

Just a few candles around. My favorite holiday scent is BBW Leaves.

Yay for family and love! Merry Christmas! ❤

This year just flew by!

And I am most thankful for this happy, smiley boy.

Kitchen and Dining Area

The house is done at last! The renovations at least are done but I'm still in the process of updating the furniture and knick knacks. I really didn't want post photos yet until its really done but I guess it is a continuous process.


Remember my peg? 

I really wanted a white kitchen with a black granite countertop and small bar table. I also wanted the kitchen to be part of the house to have a "smoother" flow with the existing lay-out.

We still have to buy the bar stools! =)

No faucet yet! =)

 

As usual, we have to work with the existing furniture. To update this set, we had it re-painted to a Wengue shade:  a black-brown color.

The old door is now replaced with a concrete wall, separating the kitchen from the dining area.

The Last Supper: the quintessential pinoy element in the dining. ;) It used to be in this garish red-wood shade. It was spray painted to Matte Gold and the frame in the same wengue shade with the new large mirror.

Mix of old and new and light all over. Achib! =D

I will be posting more photos in the coming days. I have yet to post one of my favorite updates: the new drop ceiling as well as my office area. I'm loooving my office area right now. I'm still in the process of adding some fun elements to it. Stay tuned! =)

Usual Weekends

This past weekend is an example of our usual weekends these days.

We wake up early to have breakfast somewhere. Breakfast is a big thing for us during weekends because Pao and I don't usually spend mornings and breakfasts during weekdays. 

We keep different hours and he usually wakes up early while I get up a bit later because I usually spend the nights getting work done when Hunter is sleeping.

We love Cyma! We had brunch since we had to check the construction and ran some errands.

Hunter eats everything!

Oh yum!

After having brunch, we went to prepare for a dear friend's wedding. Of course, Hunter tagged along. 

 He is so used to being brought everywhere. He is very sociable. Hunter smiles a lot thats why people usually "borrow" him from us to play with him. 

Our happy, smiley baby playing with another guest at the wedding. 

Flirty boy

Weekend nights are spent on DVD marathons or my boys playing around. Love weekends! ❤

We love going to Sunday markets and go jogging or walking somewhere at the start of the day. Last Sunday morning was spent at Centris. We were craving for a hot Ramen soup. Solb!

Sundays are for lazing around for the hubby and auditing/accounting for me. Since Hunter is preoccupied with his papa, I spend the day doing my inventories and reviews. 

We attend afternoon mass and sunday prayers. After that, we go somewhere to have dinner. Sundays are a wee bit more special. We usually go somewhere nice to have our family dinner.

Whenever we eat out, we make sure we usually go in earlier than most people so we can get a good, more private seat where there is less foot traffic so the little boy can enjoy the space. I like to think Hunter is starting to enjoy these little family dinners. ❤

Dinner at Escolta in Manila Peninsula

Hunter has his own smorgasbord: Pumpkin soup and fruits.

My little big guy nibbling on his bread.

Why I loooove weekends. =*