My first driving lesson :D

Yours truly had her first driving lesson today! :) I was in a relatively bad mood because my mom sent me out on an errand when the plan was to have lunch and then my lesson. I was running late and got home less than 5 minutes before my instructor got there, and even though I knew I was going to go through this lesson on an empty stomach, my face lit up when I saw this Innova because it's my dream color for an Innova. Such a pretty shade of red! :) I would also like this on my nails. Haha. :)

I was oriented by the instructor outside my house with everything I needed to know, from the adjustment of the seat to the location of all the signal things. Then I was ready to go!

I'm just so happy to share this experience with the world because finally, I can say that I've been behind a wheel after 20 years of living! Haha I'm serious, before today I had never been behind the wheel of a car. :P

I must say though that I was SO HUNGRY during my session, I kept on looking out into the streets with the resteurants! I have a bad habit of following the car in front of me and not looking at the traffic light signals. Whatever, i'll get better. it was just my first day.

My day ended with me looking out into the gorgeous skyline of UST during Ash Wednesday mass. :)

Satchel - to buy or not to buy?

The hottest trend right now is the satchel, and everyone's going gaga over a UK brand called the Cambridge Satchel Company!

These satchels are handmade in the UK using real leather. The price is amazing, as their largest satchel, the "batchel" (backpack + satchel, it's convertible) is only 184 USD! This is also one of the biggest reasons as to why I want one. How can you resist a price like that?!

The Cambridge Satchel Co. originally made these satchels and batchels for schoolchildren, which is why their smallest satchel is 11" and the sizes go up to the 15" batchel.

When you order a satchel, you have the option of embossing your name or initials in either gold, silver or blind. If I ever get one, I would personally engrave my initials in silver, matching the buckles. Aaaahhh

This guy looks so trendy with his satchel! But then again, it's also because this photo was taken from the GQ website. Of course he looks good!

Aside from the dark and formal colors in the first photo, they've come out with brighter and happier colors to cater to their market.

This is their newest release. Fluorescent colored satchels and batchels! I'm not sure if I want one, I think it's too trendy for me already and I just might neglect it after a year or even six months of use.

And last but not the least, here is the batchel that I'm eyeing. Again, I'm not sure if I want it! The style isn't so me, but the price is very tempting and I'm sure that if I don't use it for going out, I'm sure to find another use for it. And because it's real leather and made by a reputable company, I'm so sure that it'll last me forever too!

If ever I do really get one, I'll order it online and have it shipped to the States when I'm there. But Schu is currently taking orders for shipments in April and May. So have I tempted you enough? ;)

Asian print love!

Last night, I begged my mom to take me shopping because yesterday was the supposed release of the Rajo Laurel + Plains and Prints collection.

But when we got to the Glorietta 5 branch, the saleslady told me that it wasn't until March 11 that the collection would be released!! HUUHUUUUU She said that it was only for Mall of Asia and the Shangri-La Plaza branches. :(

The sad and misleading part was first the store display outside with the huge R + P decals, and then the counter with all the printed shopping bags. :(

Doesn't this dress look amazing to you?! At least I think they're all the same dress, just different poses and ways of wearing them. Haha! I'm still thinking if I should get one though, the print is so memorable that for sure people will remember seeing it on the shopping bags and other ads. Even though I was disappointed, that didn't stop me from buying things! I was in a printed mood that day, and I found two things - of the same print!

The first pieces that caught my eyes were these two pairs of shorts. But unfortunately, the zebra one on top was too big for me and the only piece, and the beige ones on the bottom were too small for me. :( Oh well! So I looked on the other side of the shop and found these. :)

A super cute skirt with nice details

A unique romper! I love the style of this romper because it's super different. I admit that it's only for the beach but I'll still try to wear it, maybe with a blazer and better belt. My mom always tells me that some things really look different when they're actually on you, which is true in this case! That rule usually goes for the floaty tops, like this one. :) 

Here's a close-up photo of the print on both pieces. I didn't mind buying the same print for two items, because they're both for different occasions anyway! The skirt is for going out to a nice dinner party and the romper could be used as a cover-up at the beach. This print is very Asian, it reminds me of an Indian or Thai textile painting. So pretty!

I accidentally took a photo of the counter and it magically reflected my feet! Haha I found that kind of cool, so leaving you guys with that to look at. :P Bye!

Bored Night at Home = Royce Darjeeling!

Sigh... it's a Saturday night and I'm home. :( I was supposed to be out, but there was a sudden change of plans. I'm not so disappointed though, because I've been out all week and busy with school. Last two weeks of school coming up ahead, and I really can't wait to get it all over with!

So what does a bored person do at home? Eat! Mahaha. I decided to open a new box of Royce since my sister finished the last one last night.

Royce is one of my favorite chocolates in the whole entire world. It's a Japanese brand that was brought here maybe in 2008. I love their Nama, which is a smooth and soft blended chocolate so rich in flavor that you can only have a square or two. My favorite flavor is the seasonal Darjeeling, which I have only seen twice in my life. The first time I saw it was about two years ago, June 2009. I only bought one box and by the time the next week came by, my brother had finished it all!

One time when I was going to meet some friends for lunch in Greenbelt 5, I passed Royce and took a look at their usual display of chocolates. When I saw that they had boxes and boxes of Darjeeling, I seriously had to stop myself from jumping over the counter! I was so excited, I bought two boxes and put another two on hold. The saleslady was kind enough (or maybe just forgetful, hehe) to have kept them for me until I went back to get them 5 days later, when the normal holding time is only 3 days.

Each box comes with a tiny spatula that helps you get each square without having to touch the other ones. The chocolate is very soft so it has to be put in the freezer when not being consumed. I don't have a photo of the actual packaging when you buy it, but the Japanese always pack their items very well. The box comes in a reflective sleeve with a little freezer cube so that it stays frozen for a few hours. Love!

By the way, another fun thing to do when bored is paint your nails. I decided to look through my mom's nail polish collection, and I found a sweet frosted pink called Not So Bora Bora-ing Pink. Without the Black Shatter I hated the shade, but I like this shade much better than the hot pink. Getting warmer to finding my favorite color combination! :)

'Til the next entry!

Heaven in Bon Chon (among other things)

Because I got so disappointed with my expectations from Manang's Fried Chicken at the Marcato Market, I arranged for dinner with a friend in Bon Chon, Greenbelt 1. I missed Bon Chon so much!

Mmmm my meal. 6 pieces of chicken wings in Soy Garlic, a cup of rice and Kimchi Coleslaw. Yum!

The Kimchi Coleslaw wasn't anything great, though. just ordinary coleslaw with some spice in it. It was good for me because it wasn't spicy at all. Just the right level :) Tolerable but still there.

I also had a bottle of Mogu-Mogu for my drink. For those who don't know what this is, it's a Thai drink that means "chew-chew." It's a fruit juice with lots of bits of nata de coco floating around in every sip. It's really yummy and makes a great dessert, too. I had it mostly after my meal, rather than with my meal.

Our dinner was interrupted though, because MY MOM ORDERED 48 PIECES OF CHICKEN WINGS and had me send it home! Haha and sure enough, when I got back, my family of 5 had polished off two of the four boxes of wings already! The rest will be kept in the freezer to have over the weekend. I highly doubt they'll keep past Sunday. Haha! We love our Bon Chon!

And while walking around, I fell in love :( Aren't these the cutest shoes ever?! They're Marc by Marc Jacobs! They were on sale from 16, 000 Php down to 12, 000 Php. I didn't think they were worth it, but I asked for my size anyway, and they didn't have it :'( They only had one pair of 38s left. Mouse flats, may you go to a happy home. :( I'll try looking for them in the States though and will think again about them. They say that if you can't sleep because you're thinking about it all the time, then it's meant for you! So I'll really think about it.

And while we're on the topic of cute things, look at what I found sometime last week! A super cute ceramic bracelet from Rustan's. I'd been looking at it for a while now, maybe for two months already. When my mom, sister and I were shopping together, I finally got to ask for it :D Yaaaay. It feels good to get something you've been wanting for so long :)

'Til my next find!

Kate Spade Wants and Kate Spade Needs

So, summer is coming in two weeks, give or take and I'm SO EXCITED!

I have never had one summer break that I didn't go to the States. It's because my brother studies there and is (finally) graduating this summer! More on that later. :)

So since I'm going to the States, I've been thinking of what I want to buy where I get there. Since last month I'd been looking at the Cambridge Satchel Company's bags, and this one really caught my eye.

Isn't it gorgeous?! Yellow and violet have always been a favorite color combination of mine, though I don't use it so much in the way I dress. When I scribble sometimes, I like to color my things yellow and violet. Even though these bags aren't originally from the States, it'll be much cheaper to send it over there and I won't heavily taxed as if I had it shipped here to the Philippines.

Kate Spade is one of my favorite brands for leather goods. I always look at her things because I can tell that she loves pink as much as I do, as well as bright colors. This is a girlier take on the serious Cambridge Satchel, it's called the Scout. If I ever do decide to buy this one, it'll be more special to me because (cheeseball up ahead!) a certain someone calls me Scout. :)

But wait a minute, don't I have a bright pink Kate Spade already?!

Say hello! I'm sorry but ignorant me doesn't remember the model name of this pretty lady. All I remember was I was lusting over this since the summer of 2009, and I didn't dare buy it here because everything is at least 30 percent more expensive than if you buy it abroad! I think it's a fruit of our colonial mentality that as long as it's imported, it's better. :(

Anyway, this is one of my favorite bags because it goes over the shoulder with ease, the handles are the perfect length and there's a wide front pocket where you can put in loose change, some papers or even your phone. I always watch out though because I have a paranoia with bags or compartments with no zippers. You never know whose hand may reach your zipper-less compartment! :o I got this bag in Hong Kong around Christmas 2009. It was on sale and at an amazing price, too. Lucky me! I convinced myself that if I could put all the contents of the bag that I was currently using into that bag, I would have to buy it. Haha! And of course, I did end up buying it :)

Isn't my huge engagement ring adorable?? Another thing I got in Hong Kong but waaaay back. I think it was in 2006 or 2007. Haha! It was from some random street vendor. I made sure to hold on to it until I found the perfect bag to attach it to :D

Ladies (and gents, if there are any reading this right now HAHA!) I think we have a winner!

I'd been looking at this style, the Barrow Street Anabel since last year, but I really didn't like the color.

I find the color too strong and with the half-red bow, too flashy. So good thing they came out with a lighter, sweeter pink with a complementing pastel brown! I absolutely love it and can't wait to get my hands on it. :D

That is, unless I change my mind!

OPI Black Shatter by Katy Perry

So as I predicted in my last entry, within two days my nail polish was somehow chipped. :\ Great going, self! Haha

The chips aren't as seen here but when I'm holding my macaron you can really see it. Hassle. :(

Good thing my Shatter fairy came to me with a surprise! Yaaaaayyy :D I'd been looking for these for a while and apparently, one of my friends was so desperate to get her hands on them (or rather, them on her hands! Haha) that she had to order a whole lot of bottles in bulk for it to be shipped here to the Philippines, and crazy girl actually did! But had she not done that, I would never have gotten my polish fix :D

Honestly, this shade is not me at all. :| Haha! It's my first time to EVER have black polish, or any dark color for that matter on my nails. I had heard about nail polish that cracks by itself, and when I heard that Katy Perry collaborated with OPI to make one, I was instantly sold. I heard about this as early as October, but never really took initiative to buy it until I mentioned it to some friends and found out that we knew someone who was selling. Haha!

So here it is! Isn't it amazing, how girly hot pink can instantly turn punk rock with just a bit of black? Actually, not a bit. A LOT of black! Haha! Right after I had my dinner I applied the shatter on my nails. Here you can see it without the top coat, so it's a little matte. I read around that it flakes off if not sealed off with a top coat, so I was sure to put that on.

This is what the finished product looks like when dry and ready. What impressed me most is how fast the actual polish dries and how it cracks right before your eyes! I must say that I didn't really like it at first. It's so not me! But after a few hours of looking at my nails from time to time, they grew on me. Haha! I will look for a better color combination eventually though. I'm just saving a manicure gone bad here. :P

I also wanted to show you guys the difference with applying one thick coat and a thinner coat. With the thick coat, the pieces are bigger, especially seen on my middle fingernail. On the thinner coat, the breaks are smaller (and nicer, in my opinion) so the goal isn't really to cover the entire nail as if you're painting it with a regular polish. It will look good, no matter how sloppily you put it on! That's also one thing that I like about this Shatter. You don't have to apply it evenly or nicely, either way it'll look good :)

So there, hope you guys like it! Like I said, I'll like it better when I find a better color combination. HAHA :)

For those interested in buying a bottle of OPI Black Shatter, please text Gabbie at 0917 562 3020.