Sam Finds

ZARA Kids March Lookbook

2012-02-23T11:10:00.002+07:00

My son is a Zara kid. I imposed it on him. LOL! He used to wear a lot of Gap clothes before but I found out that ZARA kids clothes are cheaper compared to Gap kids clothes. Not to mention, it's cuter and trendier.

Here's ZARA Kids March Lookbook:

My son wants to be a rocker when he grows up, according to him. This one suits him for sure!

Ahh I wish I have a little girl. A sort of mini-me. I will definitely dress her up like this one.

Love!

The other day, my son was wearing almost the same style as this. The only thing missing in this picture is a box cutter which my son carried with him the whole time during his play date with his friend.

Color blocking! I love! I wil try this on my son.

ZARA Man March 2012 Lookbook

2012-02-18T07:15:00.004+07:00

Swiped from their facebook page...here's ZARA's Man March Lookbook. The model looks so dapper and boyish *grins*

ZARA Woman March 2012 Lookbook

2012-02-18T06:32:00.003+07:00

I don't hang out at facebook that much anymore. Instead I use my time to blog, research on new things to me like hydraulic cartridge, and sometimes stalk celebrities on twitter. LOL!

But this morning, I was happy to open my facebook page as I chanced upon Zara's Woman Lookbook for March.

I love Zara! But the clothes in this lookbook are not in my league. Don't get me wrong. I love all of it. But I won't be wearing any of it simply because a) I don't work in the corporate world anymore and b) I will look "overdressed" here if wear those clothes.

I love the color of this trousers. It's just so attractive!

I can wear this when I travel. But not here.

I wish I have the model's lean and long legs!

Love the clean lines.

This is the suit I want to wear, if I am still working.

And there will be lights

2012-02-14T13:15:00.005+07:00

Are you in love with chandeliers? If yes, welcome to the club!

I don't know when this love of chandeliers developed. One day, I just realized I love looking at them. Whenever I am in the home depot or malls with furnitures and lighting fixtures, expect me to be stuck there for a good 30 minutes to 1 hour.

My husband is amazed I could remain standing just gazing at chandeliers. Well, he is missing a lot. That's for sure.

My parents built a second house in the province when I was already in college. When they went to Manila to buy the chandelier, I made sure it was my choice that was bought. LOL!

I remember I chose a traditional one. The dreamy type. Well, that was my obsession then. Something like out of the movie set.

But now, I am into simple and modern type. Oh, I am still in love with all them - art deco, traditional, etc. In fact, I am still drooling over these bathroom chandeliers I found online.

Simple but I love it!

Art deco, anyone? Reminds me of those lavish homes I see on magazines.

Modern. This is me now.

Delicate and pretty.

This one is for the fun and quirky homes.

This was the type I told my parents to buy for their second house. Haha! They loved it though! And to be fair, it looks good on the house and it's still working up to now.

My taste may change over time but one thing is for sure, I will always love chandeliers.

Valentine Gifts for yourself

2012-02-13T10:47:00.006+07:00

Who says Valentines Day is only for lovers? No one, right?

Single doesn't mean you're loveless! And single doesn't mean you cannot celebrate Valentine's Day. After all, V-Day is heart's Day. It's for everyone!

So go ahead, celebrate with your single girl friends! If you have one, that is. If none, you can still celebrate on your own! No kidding.

And it is the perfect time to pamper yourself. You can go to the spa, salon or buy these these luscious items as presents for yourself. I know I wouldn't say no to these stuff

Julep Beautiful Hands To-Go $17.99
I need these! My hands are dry all the time! My baby lotion is not doing its job. LOL!

Julep Spa Pedicure At Home Party for 6 $84
I know, I am not big on nail polish and nail polish colors but I wouldn't be able to say no to this party set! I love a foot spa and a hand spa.

Julep Pout Plumping Lip Gloss-Invite $18
Ahhh..lip gloss. My best friend. I may not have a lipstick but I always have a couple of lip gloss with me. I think it should be every girl's friend.

To be honest, I need all of the above. I think I should become a julep maven so I can avail all of its benefits. I will have a look if above 30yo are qualified to join. LOL! Just kidding.

Happy Heart's Day my dear friends!

What's your scent?

2012-02-12T06:57:00.007+07:00

My husband is lucky to have me. Really! I am such a low maintenance kind of wife. I don't wear make up. I don't go to the salon to have my hair washed. I don't need my nails clipped. I can make do with street fashion clothes. And I rarely use perfumes.

But before you judge me, I don't look frumpy or matronly. No offense. Thank you. I am comfortable with a lip gloss in my lips and I just don't like wearing colored nails on my fingers and toes. I am your no-fuss, simple kinda girl.

As for perfumes, I only use it during special occasions.

I don't buy my perfumes. The ones I have in my dresser are all presents! Mostly from hubby. And I have to admit the husband knows a thing or two about fragrances.

Take for example the latest set he gave me. I think these should qualify as the top women fragrances. I love them all!

Here are what the husband gave me - all from Harvey Prince:

Eau de Lite Mini. It has Peppermint, Green Apple, Vanilla, Spearmint, Fennel, Jasmine, Rose and Sandalwood. I like it that it has a clean smell. And it claims to curb appetite. Hmmm..I really should wear this most of the time.

Eau Fling. I have only used this once during our wedding anniversary last month. And hubby loves it on me!

Ageless. Now this I have been using a lot lately. I love it's fresh and sensual smell. Even my son loves it on me. He says "mom, you smell nice!" LOL!

Right now, I have about 7 different perfumes in my dresser, most of them are still almost full and one is even unopened yet. I am thinking I will give a couple of scents to my sisters. But the above will remain in my possession. Hahaha!!! I love them!!

Cocktail Dresses for Prom Night

2012-02-10T11:30:00.012+07:00

When I was in high school, February wasn't much about Valentines. It was more about our prom night. For the girls, it meant planning our cocktail dresses.

I remember, I had to cut out several pictures of dresses from the magazines so I could have a collection of "inspiration" dresses. LOL!

While the girls were in panic mode, the boys were just so cool, then. All they have to do is buy a necktie and a longsleeves and they were set.

My first prom dress looked like nursing uniforms. No offense but to wear that in a prom was tantamount to a lifetime of ridicule.

I burned all evidence that night. Hahahaha!!!

Anyway, I know better now and if I could suggest cocktail dresses to helpless teenagers, here are my picks from Net-a-Porter. Of course, they're just "inspiration" dresses. But if they could afford these dresses, then why not?

ELIZABETH AND JAMES
Paloma paneled silk-georgette dress
$345

HAUTE HIPPIE
One-shoulder silk-georgette mini dress
$385

REBECCA TAYLOR
Tiered satin dress
$425

GUCCI
Floral-appliquéd two-tone silk dress
$2,995

LANVIN
Tiered-fringe silk-satin dress
$5,330

My turn to surprise

2012-02-06T05:53:00.002+07:00

It's almost Valentine's Day, lovers! =)

Not that hubby and I celebrate it. It's one of those "special" occasions that we don't really mind celebrating. I don't know why. But once in a while, hubby surprises me with flowers. Come to think of it, out of 6 Valentine's Day we've been together he only gave me flowers two times. I don't make a big deal out of it because I haven't even given hubs anything out of those 6 Valentines. LOL!

But this year, I am thinking of surprising him. Maybe with nfl shop coupons? But he's been wanting to have a leather satchel and a suit. Two things which are hard to find here in Cambodia.

I am thinking I will order online, the only way actually. So I checked J. Crew.

Monague leather satchel $298. I am sure he would like this. His black Calvin Klein satchel has already lost a zipper. It needs a replacement.

Ludlow two-button jacket with double-vented back in glen plaid Italian wool $595. I am sure the hubs will look good in this one.

I can order this J. Crew items through Net-a-Porter and have it delivered here in Cambodia, because right now J. Crew still does not ship internationally.

GAP: Khakis in Color

2012-02-02T13:21:00.003+07:00

Have you seen GAP's new arrival Khakis? They're in bright colors and I love them!

I would very much like to get one or maybe two of them. Thank you very much.

I also love their colorful belts and lace-up oxfords!

GAP ships internationally but the tax for delivery here in Cambodia is a little steep.

Ahhhh..I wish I could go to the nearest store (Bangkok)! Fairy Godmother, are you listening?

Black and Nude, my favorite combination

2012-01-31T10:11:00.004+07:00

I have received a text message from Mango here in Phnom Penh. It said the Spring Collection has arrived in store.

I went to check the other day. Here are my January picks at Mango. I just did not buy them because I don't need them yet.

Relaxed-fit Blouse $49.90

Leather Messenger Handbag $129.90

I am really itching to buy the handbag though. I have been looking for a black messenger bag and this one fits my style. Maybe I should wait for the sale on July. Can I last until then?

Let's see...

Karl Collection Released at Net-a-Porter

2012-01-26T13:48:00.003+07:00

I was about to hit "add to shopping bag" button when I realized there is no such button for this bag! That's because it has already sold out!

Ugh! I am talking about this bag from Karl Collection at Net-a-Porter.

Karl Printed Canvas Shopper £17

Just my bad luck! When I can finally afford to buy a bag at Net-a-Porter, it's not available anymore. LOL!

Let's see if it's available in some other stores.

Music to my heart

2012-01-24T14:25:00.000+07:00

I just realized, December until February is my most expensive string of months. Why?

Well, December, that's obvious. There are pressies to wrap, parties to attend and of course decors at home to prepare. January, that's my wedding anniversary. There's the celebration and of course the gift again. Hubby and I just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary last week at Sofitel. It was great, thank you very much. And as for February, that's Valentine's month so another gift.

I know I am always ahead but better early than sorry right? For this Valentine's day, I am thinking of giving hubby an acoustic guitar like this.

He has a guitar right now but I think it needs a replacement. The sides are a little bit tattered and I am sure he would love to receive this.

I am going to scout for guitars this weekend. But I have to do it surrepticiously. I don't want him to know of course.

If your planning to give a gift to your man this coming heart's day, do consider gifting him a guitar, especially if he is into music. I am sure, he'll serenade you everyday =)

Vera Wang is 62 and looks good in a swimsuit

2012-01-24T11:19:00.002+07:00

I can only dream of this happening to me!

I know Vera Wang, the famous designer. I've seen her wedding dresses on celebrities. And I have dreamed of wearing one someday. LOL!

But I did not know that she is already 62! What stuns me more is that I saw her photo on omg.com and she's wearing a swimsuit for her Harper's Bazaar shoot.

Lookie! I swiped this picture from the website.

Photo: Douglas Freidman/Harper’s Bazaar

Doesn't she look amazing? OMG! I know I'd never look like her when I turn 62. I don't even look as good as she is now in my thirties. LOL!

If you're interested, go find the Harper's Bazaar magazine next issue (I am assuming). Her new house in LA is also featured. It's so chic. Just like the owner. For sure there are lots of house plaques in there =)

My 5 favorite Herve Leger Dresses

2012-01-23T10:42:00.003+07:00

I haven't known the existence of Herve Leger dresses up to late last year. I know, I am such a late bloomer. Very late in fact.

I only know about the brand when I saw a friend from facebook wearing a tight fitting dress and everybody was complimenting her. She said it's all thanks to her Herve Leger dress.

I googled it right away, of course! I wanted to have one so people from my facebook network would notice me too. LOL! What I didn't know was that they're expensive. Well, expensive according to my taste at least. I couldn't afford it.

But one day, I am hoping I'd be able to buy one for me. Pathetic me. LOL! Here's five of my favorite Herve Leger dresses from their website.

Herve Leger Zinnia Bandage Dress $980

Herve Leger Nola Signature Bandage Dress $980

Herve Leger Martina V-Neck Bandgae Dress $1350

Herve Leger Marina Signature Off-The-Shoulder Dress $1050

Herve Leger Josephine One-Shoulder Bandage Dress $1690

Sooo colorful! I wish I could afford one. LOL! Do you have a Herve Leger dress? Is it worth the price?

3 Dresses I like at TRF's New Collection

2012-01-21T17:32:00.001+07:00

My boys are playing Wii and I have nothing better to do (I am actually waiting for my whole wheat bread to be done in the oven, 30 minutes more to go), so I took my iPhone and started to play games.

Then I thought better. Why not check ZARA/TRF's new collection thru thir apps? So I did.

I checked TRF first and went straight to their dresses. I love what I saw but these three dresses are what I think suits me and my style.

What do you think?

By the way, I am blogging this through my iPhone! It's soo cool. I love what my iPhone can do!

I can't get you out of my mind

2012-01-19T10:36:00.002+07:00

I know I said, I will save more this year, that I am not going to buy things I don't need. But this Hermes Evelyne bag is really haunting me. LOL!

I want a Hermes Evelyne III in either yellow or blue. I have seen it somewhere but I can't find those colors in Hermes website so I am posting the ruby-coloured Taurillon Clemence leather here.

Evelyne III Small £1,680.00 (Hermes UK website)

Evelyne III backside

How it is carried

Ahhh...I wish I could justify purchasing this bag. My husband thinks I should buy this as a reward for losing weight and for managing our finances well last year. But I feel guilty just thinking about buying it because I know I won't be using it as often as I want to. And look at the price! It's going to be my most expensive bag ever if I decide to buy it.

Maybe I should stop looking at bag stores. I am just torturing myself.

What's your most expensive bag ever?

A hint for the hubby

2012-01-17T06:17:00.005+07:00

If I have to go by my husband, I guess men need a little hint when it comes to gifts or little pressies.

My hubby is just clueless. We've been together for over six years now and he still does not know what to give me.

So guys, listen up. For anniversaries, valentines and birthdays it doesn't hurt to send us some flowers. It doesn't even take up a lot of time to do that nowadays. You can order online now. When it comes to flowers, the more the better.

Personally, I'd love to receive a bouquet of roses. A single rose is okay but a bundle of it is a statement.

red roses

assorted roses

Hopefully hubby is reading this post. It's not even a subtle hint anymore. I am telling him exactly what to buy for our anniversay tomorrow. If he still doesn't get it right, then he's hopeless. I rest my case. LOL!

Don't worry honey, I love you just the same.

Ange and Brad at the 69th Golden Globe

2012-01-16T10:47:00.003+07:00

Super hot Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on Golden Globe Red Carpet!

Photo By Jason Merritt/Getty Images

I love the look of this power couple. They make me smile. And that tight lock of their hands just reminds me of hubby and I.

Anyway, it's great to see Ange not wearing black. I am curious to find out who she's wearing.

Any guesses?

Chic and Colorful Leather Ballet Flats from J. Crew

2012-01-16T06:22:00.003+07:00

Ballet flats are part of my wardrobe essential. But that's because I rarely wear heels nowadays. Rarely means only on special occasions like my birthday or Christmas.

Most of the time, I wear ballet flats, slip ons and sneakers.

When I saw these J. Crew classic leather ballet flats in a variety of colors, I fell in love with them right away. And it's just right up my alley.

Here are my favorite colors.

in brocade gold

in bright cobalt

in golden sunflower

in soft fuchsia

I wish I could get my hands on them. J. Crew still does not ship to Philippines or Cambodia.

Are you a ballet flats kinda girl? What's your favorite color to wear?

Sale at Net-a-Porter!

2012-01-12T10:12:00.005+07:00

I am not a fashion expert but I just realized January is definitely a SALE Month.

It's a slow day for me here so I checked Net-a-porter.com and ohhlala! Sale sign is plastered on their home page. I immediately went to the bags section. My eyes bulged at the discount! But just the same, I still can't afford them. LOL!

Here are my favorite bags on sale.

MIU MIU
Leopard-print calf hair shoulder bag
Was £1,242
Now £621
50% OFF

YVES SAINT LAURENT
Multy Large leather hobo bag
Was £1,217
Now £730
40% OFF

GUCCI
Angelica silk-satin appliquéd clutch
Was £762
Now £534
30% OFF

LANVIN
Lovely Leopold leather and calf hair shoulder bag
Was £1,279
Now £640
50% OFF

Amethyst and Diamond Earrings: I love!

2012-01-10T10:32:00.004+07:00

My wedding anniversary is coming up. It's actually next week. I have bought a perfect dress, a sale from Mango, for our anniversary dinner date. It's a tube dress. If you're a friend reading this, yes I am really going to wear a tube dress. LOL!

I am looking for a perfect jewelry to pair my dress with. I am thinking of earrings. Something simple but elegant and catchy.

Well, something like this actually.

An Amethyst and Diamond Earrings I found at Bloomingdales. I love it! The only problem is, it is priced at $2,075! It's way, way beyond my budget!

Hmmmm...how do I tell hubby I love the earrings and would love to have it as an early anniversary gift (so I can wear it to our dinner date) without sounding too materialistic? LOL!

If I know better, hubby will just buy me something practical and something we both would enjoy, something like a new wii game. Hahaha!!! Nothing wrong with it. I am okay with it, honest. But sometimes, I wish he has expensive taste for gift-giving. LOL!

Oh well. I will probably just make my own earrings. I wonder if I still have some stone beads left?

ZARA Sale: Fur Poncho

2012-01-09T15:25:00.002+07:00

ZARA is on sale! Is it worldwide? I have no idea though. I was just checking their website and they have items on sale. Since the country I chose is Philippines, the prices displayed were in Philippine peso.

I remember I was all agog about buying winter clothes just last September for our Paris trip in November last year. It was fun shopping but my wallet was complaining! LOL! Winter clothes aren't cheap.

I wanted to buy this fur poncho but it was priced at around $140 (Php5,990).

Now it's only $70 (Php2,990). That's 50% off! What a great deal!

I am so tempted to buy this but we have no trips scheduled to cold countries this year. Sigh.

Tweaking in the process

2012-01-08T07:25:00.002+07:00

I have been neglecting this blog, I know. Busy is my only excuse but that shouldn't really be an excuse.

I am planning to do some tweaking in this blog. I guess I deluded myself into thinking I can write a wide array of topics here. Who am I? Superwoman? LOL!

I would like to focus on key topics only, things that have impact on my shopping choices and things I covet.

That shouldn't be too difficult.

But we'll see.

Year 2012 looks bright for me, workwise. I shouldn't disappoint my horoscope. Hahaha!!!

I shall work harder this year. I promise!

My true love gave to me

2011-12-23T05:28:00.005+07:00

...a partridge in a pear tree! LOL!

This song is stuck in my mind for days now. It is like on auto repeat mode. It goes on and on and on. It does not help that my son sings this randomly too. Or maybe it's on auto repeat mode on his kiddo brain too? Hahaha!!

We can't deny it's Christmas. But I know a lot of people are still out there looking for the perfect Christmas gift to give their loved ones.

Well, here's one thing I would like to suggest as a gift for your man - a battlefiend map cufflinks.

If your husband, boyfriend, dad, son is into wearing cuff links, I think this is a nice alternative to the usual and common plain ones. What do you think?

I always say and believe, gifts must come from the heart. So whatever gift you get your loved ones as long as it's given generously, I am sure they would appreciate it. But, it gives you extra point if you give them something they like =)

Anyway, take it easy with the Christmas rush, okay?

I wish all of us a Merry and a Meaningful Christmas! Let's spread love and cheer to everyone around us.

All I want for Christmas

2011-12-19T06:12:00.003+07:00

I just want one thing for Christmas - A new Macbook Air!

My old PC is almost dying. And it's literally asking for a replacement.

It would be nice to receive this as a gift. It would make my blogging life easier and chicer. LOL!

What's in your wish list?