Chuvaness x NBS

When Cecile van Straten aka Chuvaness asks you to save the date and invites you to the launch of her collaboration with National Bookstore, you block that schedule and you go. That's a no brainer. 

Cecile told me to save the date two weeks before her launch. Without seeing anything from her collection for National Bookstore then, I already knew it was going to be good, and that I would be in for a treat. Because I know enough that when something is Chuva-approved, it's going to be something I would want as well.

True enough, it was a visual treat just being there. It was like stepping into Cecile's world of bleached wood, clean lines, kawaii characters and a wasteland of stationery and travel supplies.

Cecile led the pack in her Vetements sweatshirt, trousers with extra wide cuffs and her signature platform sneakers, but I know her well enough not to ask for her photo, hehe.

Of course, the Ramos women of National Bookstore were there, to welcome the equally chic crowd.

Xandra Ramos-Padilla in Sacai and N21, Tita Presy Ramos in House of Dagmar and Martiniano, Pat Ramos in Uemelo Munenoli, Rachel Comey and Mich Dulce

I think all the guests dressed for Cecile. Well, Pat & I did. We wore Japanese, from Tilda of course.

Wearing Japanese: Pat's top is by Tokyo-based designer Uemelo Munenoli and I wore NICO, by Nicholson and Nicholson, an Osaka-based label by Yusuke Nakagawa

I thought the pieces were totally Chuvaness. Chuvaness x NBS is an inspired collection that represents pieces, illustrations and sayings that we've all come to identify with Cecile and her blog.

There's the cute, tiny tote bag

The Coco Chanel saying, "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."

Shoe travel bags that say "Good shoes take you good places"

The most adorable illustrations of chica girls by Keeshia Felipe on this utility kit, graphic design by  Yodel Pe 

The outfit on the girl wearing the polka dotted dress is the exact same dress that inspired Cecile's polka dot birthday party back in 2014. She wore this dress of course, and effortlessly pulled it off, so to me, this is the most Cecile outfit of all

Cecile always sends out thoughtfully packaged presents so it totally makes sense for her to have gift wrappers in her line

There's also round clutches, note cards and so much more, but I ended up buying these.

The gift wrappers and stickers are totally mine. I'm visiting friends in New York soon, and I thought the shoe bags, stationery and pouch would make fun pasalubong. I'm going back for more. I'm thinking ahead, and think these would be great Christmas presents as well!

Prices are very reasonable, and the quality of each piece is impeccable. The gift tags start at Php49 and the most expensive of the lot is the big tote bag at Php699. 

The #ChuvanessxNBS collection is available at the following National Bookstore branches: Alabang Town Center, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Estancia Mall, Festival Supermall, Glorietta 1, Greenbelt,
 Greenlanes Arcade, Katipunan, NAIA, Market! Market!, Power Plant Mall-Rockwell, Quad Alpha Centrum, Quezon Avenue, Robinsons Ermita, Robinsons Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, SM Aura Premier, SM Bacoor, SM Clark, SM Dasmariñas, SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, SM Sta Rosa, Superbranch Cubao, Trinoma, Uptown Place Mall.

Why I Love Staub + Tip: It's The Perfect Wedding Gift

"Hello, I'm Julia Child. Welcome to The French Chef, and the first show on our series on French cooking. Today we're gonna make boeuf bourguignon, beef stew in red wine."

I can listen to Julia Child in her distinct Julia Child voice say that over and over. Boeuf bourgignon. Boeuf bourgignon. Bouef borgignon.

I do love a good beef stew myself. And now I realize why I also love Dutch ovens aka cocottes. They make me feel a bit like Julia Child. Standing in front of a stove, watching over a simmering stew.

Wouldn't it be fun to cook beef stew in a cow-shaped pot? Heehee.

While Julia Child didn't use a Staub for her first episode on beouf bourgignon, because Staub first came to the scene only in 1974, I am pretty sure she would have approved. It's perfect for one pot dishes and simply a dream to have in the kitchen.

Lately, I have been harboring my French cooking dreams via Staub's gorgeous, gorgeous cookware. I've been going back to Kitchen Pro since I first stepped foot in the store back in May, I'm always thinking of an excuse to ogle and think of getting a pot or knife for our kitchen. After all, most of my kitchen stuff I've had since I got married, and have been used and abused for the last 9 years.

But let's focus on the Staub cast iron pots first. Here's why I've fallen in love with them:

1. Won't you take a look at these deep, delightful colors?

The deep, intense and yet shiny coloring is made possible via a special color finish or coating unique to Staub called majolique. Watch at 1:35.

Oh, but if basic black or white cocottes are more your thing, there is too.

Won't this make a beautiful wedding gift? Perfect for the June Bride. Or any bride for that matter. Or any cooking enthusiast and aesthete actually. If anybody wants to gift me more Staub, I'm happy to accept hehe.

But that's not only why Staub pots are special. For starters, well-designed cookware is essential to successful cooking. Once you've seen the difference, you will understand. Not all kalderos are made the same, trust me. With Staub, there's plenty of substance behind the slick surface.

Let's move on to...

2. This French-made enameled cast iron pot retains heat well. You don't need to cook at high heat, there's no need for that. Medium high is ok. At that point, it also cooks evenly. No overcooked sections in your dish with this, promise.

3.  The black matte enameled interior is the best surface for browning and braising effect. Chefs promise an even sear and when used for stews, expect the most tender meat and flavorful sauces. You wanna know why? Because...

4.  To complement the enameled interior and heavy lid, the basting spikes under the lid allow steam to condense on the lid and evenly rain back, onto food, yielding moist, tender and flavorful results.

In laymen's terms, these dimples capture moisture from cooking and deflects it back at the meat making it extra great for braising and self-basting. When you cook in a cocotte, it is not uncommon to find meat so tender, it is barely holding itself together. I'm talking fall-off-the-bone goodness. Whether that be chicken, beef or lamb shanks.

5. You can use it from stove top (yes even on an induction stove), to oven, to table top. Which means, less pots to wash! Isn't that just perfect?

Bottomline is, if you can only have one pot in your kitchen, make it a Staub. Watch this for a full appreciation:

Although you may want to add a wok too. Yes, Staub makes woks and I just got one for Mother's Day. I've always wanted a wok for stir frying ala Wok with Yan ever since I was a kid, and now I have one. Dream come true!

My next planned purchase will be a one of those big cocottes to replace my old Le Creuset #26 whose bottom enamel has dulled, but I can't decide between a black or gray just yet.

Next on my wishlist are these mini cocottes. Not an essential as of now, but nice to have. Xavi thinks it's perfect for their play kitchen though.

Cute nga naman.

Staub makes tea pots too! It's so chica. I'll see if I can convince Dada that we need this. Or maybe I can just get one for him for Father's Day!

I don't know if KitchenPro has a wedding or gift registry just yet, but I think they should. This would make shopping for gifts so much easier.

One store pa lang and from the Staub selection pa lang, I see so many things any bride, groom, mom or dad would like. It would make a great housewarming present too, even for singles who have just moved into their first home.

Actually, why wait for an occasion to buy for ourselves? Let's put it this way. If we are willing to invest on shoes and bags, there's no excuse to scrimp on kaldero. It's for food that goes to our tummies, and that enough makes it totally worth it!

UPDATE: This is one good reason to shop now, offer ends June 30, 2016.

For more about KitchenPro, visit their Facebook Page, KitchenProStores as well as @kitchenprostores on Instagram.

Visit KitchenPro stores at the 6th level of Shangri-la East Wing, Ground Floor of SM Aura Premier, and 3F Ayala Center Cebu.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

For the tech geek Dad: I Am Cardboard VR Viewer

Running out of Father's Day gift ideas?  Actually, make it a present any Dad or guy for that matter would love. 

Head on over to my post on Everyday Me Philippines for 5 fail safe gift ideas for Dad.  You can thank me later!;)

Christmas 2015 Gift Guide: MAGFORMERS

Just when I was like, "Mom, don't buy the kids toys na. They have too many.", I soon found myself retracting that statement. Because we want Magformers. Lots of it!

My friend Kath Cham introduced me to her friend Jaimee Frondoso, who is the official distributor of Magformers in the Philippines. We invited some of my mommy blogger friends to join us for breakfast, and over Angel's Kitchen champorado, Angus beef tapa and longganisa, we got to play with Magformers, an award winning magnetic construction toy from Korea that is one of the highly rated toys on Amazon. It was too much fun.

While everyone was eating, I found myself transfixed by this video looping on Jaimee's laptop.

She happened to have stacks of Magformers on the table, and as we chatted, I found myself playing with them.

I started off with a simple tower:

Attempted to make a star:

And then Jaimee joined in and we ended up with all these to fill one table!

She even showed us how to make this fox!

Then we got ambitious. We started building cars. Jaimee said they also have Transform Sets. Mechanized sets for the bigger kids, where they can build moving cars, robots, tanks, planes, helicopters and such, learning about engineering concepts while at it.

I was sold. Sold. Sold. Sold. If I was entertained by Magformers, how much more the kids? This was waaaaay better than having them occupied by an iPad. After all not only are Magformers entertaining, they're educational too - great for enhancing a child's creativity and brain development.

Plus, they come in the prettiest pastel shades too, like this Inspire Set. 

For the girly girls, the ultimate would be the Princess Set. You and your little girl can make a castle, a crown, a sceptre, even a unicorn! I am in love. Want. Need. For me! I mean, Berry. Haha.

Seriously though, Magformers may just be the solution to getting rid of the iPad on your dinner table, once and for all. My friend Kath already swears by it, and I've seen it for myself.

ATTN: Grandparents and Godparents. Hint. Hint. Gift idea. The kids NEED this. Haha.

Buy Magformers at Rustans Makati and Shangri-la and Toys r Us Trinoma. For updates, visit the Magformers Philippines Facebook page, and follow @magformersph on Instagram.

10 Years of Holidays with Debenhams

Debenhams has been in the Philippines for a good solid 10 years, and a decade later, it's still a great source for many great, good quality finds for clothing, household and gifts. 

If you're often looking for something nice to wear, visit Debenhams in Shangri-la Plaza Mall or Estancia at Capitol Commons for clothes we can wear this holiday season:

They also have plenty of everyday pieces for work:

And pretty tops such as this one, that we can wear pretty much to whatever occasion.

My mom has clothes that are over 15 years old by Principles at Debenhams, and they still look great today. They're not just well made, they're closet classics too.

The same goes for their sleepwear. You can wear these for years!

I forget that the kids section at Debenhams are fun to shop at. Must remember this!

My friend Dennis, who has a gorgeous apartment in the St. Francis Shangri-la Place tells me he finds a lot of chic home pieces in the home section of Debenhams. 

True enough, I stumbled upon these ornaments in the home section, that together, will adorn one very chic tree.

These makes me want to overhaul our Christmas tree!

My top picks? A graceful ballerina that Berry will love, for Php395.

Glitter edged goblets.

Fun and fancy drop crystals. I waaaaant!

If you think Marks & Spencer is the only reliable resource for decent underwear, let's not forget Debenhams. The selection here is comparable in terms of price, range and quality.

They have shape wear as well. To hide our holiday bulges, dears, heehee.

As well as slips and half slips! For some reason, my sisters and friends say it's hard to find slips and half slips na daw, but Debenhams has a lot. File this info away!

Their swimwear section has plenty of chic, tasteful swim wear, coverups and such as well.

If you're looking for fun, unique holiday gifts, here's a bright idea: Go to Debenhams!

They have a mix of cute and practical tchotchkes for your high school buddies, young nieces and nephews, teenage godchildren, your child's tutor, friendly neighbors, just about anyone really.

I've really only just skimmed the surface of what you can find at Debenhams, so I suggest you visit Debenhams stores in Shangri-la Plaza and Estancia to see more of their fantastic selection. 

Oh, and Happy 10th Year Anniversary, Debenhams!

For more on the latest at Debenhams, like their Facebook Page, Debenhams Philippines.