Christmas Shopping

One thing I love about living in Bangkok is the absence of the ker-razy Christmas shopping rush.  It doesn't hurt too that they have big sales by the end of November.  The only problem that I have to deal with is I have to finish shopping by the first week of December before we leave for Manila.

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We spent the weekend doing Christmas shopping for family and friends back home and I'm proud to say that we are 95% done :)  I am also happy that this year, we decided to do it as a family.  I did most of the shopping myself last year.  I can't say that I didn't enjoy it (y'all know how I love shopping), but it's really more fun and decision-making is a lot easier with the hubby and daughter around.

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Yesterday at Paragon, with Santa and the little elf.  Heehee!

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It's going to be a blue Christmas :)

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Gap is pretty new in the Bangkok shopping scene (they opened only last year, I think) and for some reason, I'm kinda loving it.  I find myself visiting their store almost every week, but I'm putting myself on a self-imposed shopping ban  for the rest of year because I've been a bit naughty.  Heehee!  Anyhoo, the kids section is nakakagigil with their yummy colors!  I always find myself buying something for Aly whenever I go there.  I also love how their stuff is cheaper than Zara Kids.  

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So we went there yesterday, completed our Christmas shopping and got myself a treat.

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A new bag!  Woot woot!

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The best part is, I got this bag for free!  Yipee!  They have a promo at the Gap where you'll get a free bag for a certain amount of purchase.  I got two and I'm giving the other one to my sister.

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We're down to the last two days of November and it will be Christmas soon!  I can't wait!  I love Christmas!

Richard's Work

My man, THE man :)

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Friends on Facebook are posting stuff about Thanksgiving today and I was inspired to make one for our blog because we have a lot to be thankful for -- on top of which is Richard's work.  If you've been following this blog, you'd notice my numerous posts about Aly, her antics and my cooking/shopping adventures...not a lot has been said about the hubby -- I know, my bad!  In reality, Richard prefers to just watch me and Aly from the sidelines.  He would always say that he's happy knowing that Aly and I are happy with whatever we're doing.  But it's time that he step into the limelight.  He is, after all, the reason why we're here in Bangkok.  

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Since we moved here to Bangkok, I have witnessed the many blessings and great opportunities that Richard had with his work: his promotion, the many business trips that he took (some of them were on an overnight basis only just so he could represent TMAP-EM in a meeting); the rare opportunity to shake hands with the grandson of Toyota's big, big, boss and #1 man, Mr. Toyoda; pats on the back and praises from the Japanese for a job well done...and just recently, another extension on his assignment here in Bangkok.  Most Intra-Company Transferees (ICT) like him are given two-year contracts and if I'm not mistaken, he's the first ICT to be given a four-year contract so I'm really proud of the hubby :)

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We are truly blessed and grateful for Richard's work.  He's gearing up for another big meeting which made him miss having dinner with me and Aly on several occasions, but I always tell him that we should be thankful for more work because more work means more opportunities for him to prove his worth to the company (not that he needs to, but that's coming from me, his #1 fan). His workload has significantly increased and he is now working longer hours but Richard rises to the occasion, always exceeding the expectations of the Japanese.  With his passion, drive and commitment to work, I know that he wouldn't have it any other way :)

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The other night, as he kissed me good night, I told him that I'm really proud of him and his work.  All these blessings and opportunities that have come our way, he deserves them.  I know he's going to make Toyota history someday :) -- his goal is to become the first non-Japanese president of Toyota Philippines.  His Japanese boss couldn't help but smile when said this during his interview for Bangkok.  He probably smiled because he was surprised with Richard's statement and his sheer guts.  Who knows?  It may happen.  As Richard would always say, "dream big!"

  

My Big Girl Baby

Ooops!  She refuses to be called a baby na pala.  That's because she's not a baby anymore; she's a big girl.  

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She wore this to church yesterday: purple shirt by H&M, skinny jeans + belt from SM, purple ballet flats from H&M, headband from Platinum Mall.

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I was a bit emotional when I finished dressing Aly.  A small tear formed at the corner of my eye when I stepped back to see how her outfit looked like.  You see, those jeans used to be this long:

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November 2008 at the Emporium.

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April 2009 at Hong Kong International Airport.

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She's growing taller, not wider (thank goodness for that!) so her clothes just get shorter.  She's becoming more independent too!  When I bring her to school, I usually walk her to her classroom (like what most 2nd grade mommies do).  But last Friday, we were a early for school so we decided to sit and wait on one of the benches outside until they open the doors (students are not allowed to enter the classrooms before 7:25am).  When the students started going in, Aly told me that she will just walk by herself.  It's a short walk and I'm confident that she will be fine, but when she kissed me goodbye and gave me that one last look before entering the school, I felt like crying.  

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This morning again, she didn't want me to walk her to her room.  When we entered the gates, I kissed her goodbye, but I couldn't let her go yet so I walked a few more steps until we reached the front door.  Before she went inside, I kissed her again and right before she disappeared at the corner, she gave me one last look as if she was telling me to go and that she will be ok.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad.  I'm a bit of an emotional wreck these days (bad case of PMS?) as I tend to cry over the smallest things -- including Harry Potter even if I'd seen the DVD many times over.  Anyway, I waited for a few seconds, went inside and took a sneaky check on her.  She didn't see me.  Hehe!

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Sigh...she's growing up right before my very eyes!  And at lightning speed too! Don't grow up too fast, Babe...

The Zara Shoe Chase

Ok, there may not have been any actual running involved because everyone knows I can't and won't run to save my life.

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But first, what shoe am I talking about anyway?

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Zara platform sandals in black.  Aly calls them my rock 'n roll shoes.  

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I first spotted this pair two weeks ago at their Central World branch and it was lust at first sight.  They had plenty of pairs in stock at that time so I thought I can just come back next week and if I still want them, I'll buy them.  One week later, I visited them again but this time at their Emporium branch.  She was still there and they still had lots in stock.  Still, I thought, no rush; I'll come back during the week to buy them.  Big mistake.

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Three days later, I finally decided to go and buy.  So off I went to Zara in Siam Paragon.  I was confident that they, too will be well-stocked like the two branches that I visited in the last two weeks. I circled the shop twice and no sign of the shoe.  On my third try, I had to look at the farthest end of one shoe rack.  Alas!  They only had three pairs in stock and none in my size.  *Panic!*

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So I brisk-walked my way to the nearest branch, Central World, thinking that they probably had more in stock than Paragon.  But no, Central World branch had only four pairs left and none of them in my size.  WTH!  I asked the SA to call their Emporium branch to check if they still have my size.  And they did!  *Relief*  I can either wait until they deliver the shoe to Central World the next day or head to Emporium to get them myself.  I told him to tell Emporium branch to put my shoe on hold; I'm getting them later that day.

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So I brisk-walked my way back to Paragon (thank goodness I was wearing my Fitflops!) to ride the train to Emporium.  Ten minutes later, I was trying them on.  Turns out, it was the last pair in my size.  And Emporium branch had only four pairs in stock as well.  Hooboy!    

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What's up with this shoe anyway?  Well, I've never owned a pair in this style before and I thought it would be a nice change to my usual shoe choices.  Also, Preview Magazine editors wore the same shoe during Philippine Fashion Week.  So I was completely sold on that. And the best part is the price: it's only Thb1,990 (Php2,900).  Compared to the usual prices in Zara, this shoe is definitely a steal!  No wonder it was selling so fast!  That's one more reason why I wanted it more: the challenge.  I had so many chances to buy but I didn't and I almost lost it.

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Gosh, the lengths that I will go to for a shoe!  Even if I had my Fitflops on, my legs started to ache when I got home.  The pain got worse when I woke up the next day.  Huhu!  Nevertheless, I am very lucky and super happy I got my shoe :)

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Before I end this post, let's have another look at my new baby.

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Channeling Jimmy Choo ad campaign here.  Minus the long and slender legs nga lang.  But we all know those ads have been Photoshopped anyway.  Heehee!

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I'm so in-love with the sexy heels!

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I can't wait to wear them :)

My New Hobby

I told you all about the first bib necklace that I made.  So I turned it into a hobby.  My new hobby is not just a creative outlet; it's therapeutic as well.  Sitting down on my favorite chair at home and doing bead work relaxes me.  I love how it keeps me off the malls while making me more productive so it's win-win for everyone.  Haha!  I'm also happy that Richard and Aly support me 100%.  Richard calls my necklaces my masterpiece and he encourages me to make more, while Aly helps by naming the pieces that I made. 

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The one that started it all: this is the first piece that I made for my mom which I posted here and on Facebook.  I was encouraged to give it a go after getting positive feedback from my friends.

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Aly calls this the Purple W Rainbow necklace.  W is for white daw.

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Wat-Rock Rain-Rain. 

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Aly has't named this yet, but it's made of turquoise and silver beads.

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Squarey Black-Black and Rocky-Rock Silbe.

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At this point, I just have to say: don't ask me how she came up with the names, but I'm guessing that's her jazzed up way of describing the pieces that go into each necklace.  Heehee!

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Bambora Rainora.

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Rainbeda Bambi.

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I made this one for myself: Black-Silvery Gold necklace.

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Took it out for a spin yesterday to see how it will hold up.

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I wore it with pride :)  Like a medal.  Haha!

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I also made one for Aly, of course.

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She calls it Crack-Blue Goldy-Silver.

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I also made necklaces with beads.  The one on the lower right is a super long chain with the evil eye pendant that I bought during our last trip to Pattaya.

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I love these two chunky ones which you can wear two ways: individually or you can pile them on.  I wore them the other day sans earrings.

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These necklaces are for sale, by the way.  Except for the bead necklaces.  They're for my personal collection.  

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More photos of the bib necklaces here.

The Valdez Christmas Tree Over the Years

2007: Our first tree at our home in Sta. Rosa.  Aly was so bulinggit back then.

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2008: Our first tree at our home in Bangkok.

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A small magenta tree that doesn't go with anything in the house so it totally stands out.  But that's exactly how I wanted it.

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2009: I added two more.

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I love the vibrant colors!

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This year, I added yet another one.

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So we now have four: red, white, green and magenta :)

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This year, I wanted to go overboard with the trimmings for a more stariray look  so I added handmade decor to the store-bought ones.  I also wanted the decorations to pop so I used contrasting colors.  Here's a closer look:

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For the red tree, I used two shades of green: emerald and lime.  The tree is actually a deep shade of red.  I added crystals to the tree to make it sparkle.  I would have wanted to make more crystal strands, but it's a lot of work and my wrists began to hurt.

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I initially wanted purple (my favorite color!) for the white tree, but I didn't see a lot of purple decor so I went for two shades of blue (Richard's favorite): aqua and dark blue.

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Our white tree also has crystals (which I DIY'd), small disco balls (mirror balls) and clear balls.  I love this tree!

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Our neon green tree has magenta and a bit of purple and white.  I found an old faux pearl necklace, took it apart, strung the beads on thin wire and hung them on the tree.

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The magenta tree has silver and white trimmings.  The white garlands that you see are actually sold as a necklace but I thought they would look good on our tree.  And those disco balls...they totally rock!  I really love them.  I wish I bought more.  This tree has clear balls as well.

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Now this red thing is a leftover of what was supposed to be a Christmas decor in itself.  But, what I did was, I took them apart; cut the balls one by one and twisted them on the trees.  I got them in different colors depending of the motif of the tree.  It was a painstaking process that left my hands red and calloused -- in spite of using pliers.  But it was all worth it and for my hardwork, I rewarded myself with a mani-pedi.  Heehee! 

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TIPS: 

• Sometimes, you need not look at the household section for the perfect Christmas decor. I found some of them at the accessories section!  
• And if you've got the time, making the trimmings yourself is cheaper and more rewarding than getting ready-made ones.  There are tons of resources on the internet for inspiration.  
• Always, ALWAYS get the little ones involved with the Christmas preps.  Aly was in charge of putting the trimmings on our trees.  I just made a few minor adjustments.  It is, after all, for the children.

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Christmas is definitely in the house!   

Training Myself to Wear High Heels Again

I used to wear high heels to work almost everyday.  I can stand/walk around in them all day, from morning till night; from event set-up to the after party.  And since I was working, I used to wear make-up every day too.  Oh, how I miss those more glamorous days.  Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, my high-heeled shoes have taken a back seat for the more comfortable ones.  In fact, I've been living in my Fitflops since the day the hubby bought them.

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Mother's day gift: Fitflops + pedi from Richard.

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I wore them when we were moving to another apartment.  This photo was taken at our old unit.

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At the train station.

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I practically never took them off since the day I got them.  They are the most comfortable footwear ever!  My Fitflops and I have been to many places together: Chatuchak, Chinatown, the lunch market, Paragon, Emporium...You can walk great distances in them and you will never feel pain on your feet.  Swear!  

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I love my Fitflops to bits, no doubt about that.  But they're beginning to show signs of wear and tear.  Richard offered to buy me a new pair, but I told him that one pair is enough for me.  I know it sounds crazy to resist such offer but I still have other shoes in my closet.  

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Although for now, I'm still favoring flats over heels.

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But I want to put some glam back into my life so I'm training myself to wear high heels again.  I brought out some of my pairs and wear them at home.  I know it sounds silly but there's no better place to practice than home.  At least if I make a boo boo, no one else will see me.  Heehee!  Wedges are a good way to start, by the way, because they are more stable.

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I think I should train harder.  Mom bought me a pair of Michael Kors and if I remember the photo correctly, they're going to be the highest pair that I will ever own.  *gulp*  I can't wait!  I think I should train with the one that I saw in Zara last week.  Heehee!

Last Week

This is going to be a quickie.  Let me tell you all about the week that was through photos.

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Aly got her first live musical experience.  Inspire Me! was directed by her first grade teacher, Mr. Justin. 

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She was thrilled to see her classmates Minnie and Van at the show.

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Richard saw Tiger Woods in the flesh!  He won the ticket in an office raffle.  Swerte!

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Had lunch with my college friend, Jennet, at Neilson Hays Library.  She just moved to Bangkok with her hubby last month.  We've been seeing each other on a regular basis but this is our first photo together.  We've been too busy catching up that we always forget to take a picture.  Heehee!

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My first Pahurat experience.  I went there to buy a traditional Thai costume for Aly for their Loy Krathong celebration.

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Beautiful Thai costumes.

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What I got for Aly was similar to this, in pink.

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I loved Pahurat!  Big thanks to my Thai friend, Valaiporn, for showing me around :)

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Harry Potter DVD marathon last Saturday!  Complete with drinks and snacks, of course.

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Pac-man is best viewed with Filipinos and the more, the merrier!  Pac-man and barbecue lunch at the Nuestro's beautiful home in Bang-na.

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We also met super cute baby Ross!

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It was a great week!  Thank you, Lord for our friends.