23 Weeks

Eeeep! I have a backlog of posts on documenting my belly as it grows, and what I wear as it does. This week is actually my 26th week already, but let's play catch up...

Starting with what I wore the week Xavi turned 23 weeks old:

A traditional Grecian top bought by my my friend Naomi in Greece, with J Brand skinnies and K. Jacques St. Tropez flats. Very "I did the tourist-y bit in Europe this summer (even if I didn't)".

Wore this Vestito shift dress to a dinner date with Dada. I love that this shift dress has pockets, although it started puffing out a bit because of my growing Xavi, hahaha!

I especially love the detail on the back! As my friend Sarj would say, "business in front, party in the back!" My friend Angela designed this dress, and it is really meant to be worn from day to night. Brilliant no?

Piecing Together

Thank you so much for all your sweet comments about Berry's attempt at styling! While Berry has a future as a stylist, the little girl needs more training in taking photos, heehee. She offered, no insisted to take this photo when we met up with our friends Bel & Karen, who were in town for the holidays. She looked so serious taking the photo, then showed us my phone as if to ask us if we liked it. All three of us started giggling when we saw this:

Thankfully, Berry's Nana was there to take this photo for posterity:

It was great seeing you Bel & Karen! Let's do this again when you are back in town! Berry, your efforts are still much appreciated of course! We love you!

Pregnancy Style Tip: For pregnant women looking for non-maternity clothes that you can wear after giving birth, I find the Athena tunic dress from Cole Vintage (also available online at Chicify) to be a great first trimester dress. It's slimming but with enough room for a growing bump! Wore mine with sandals from K.Jacques, Chloe sunnies, necklace from Kenneth Jay Lane, Fallon cuff, and Celine tote. And a supot of Hizon's ensaymada. Hee!

Tunic dresses are so presko and when the Little One finally comes out, they're a great beach cover-up or a lazy weekend/errands dress that you can just throw on and pair with sandals and sunnies. Effortless diba?

Happy Easter!

A crafty project by Anika & Tristan, our hosts

And so we're back from outer space! Got in Friday, and then what a busy weekend it has been! Saturday, we met up with our friends Lawrence and Jenny at Jones the Grocer in Mandarin Gallery. Then on Sunday, we brought Berry to her first Easter Egg Hunt!

 This little bunny went Easter Egg Hunting

My friend Naomi had this brilliant idea of getting the kiddos to make their own Easter baskets out of used boxes and milk cartons, it being Earth Day the day before, after all. It was also a way to keep the little ones busy while waiting for The Hunt to start!

 This is Berry's Easter basket

After lunch, the kids finished off their baskets, and then they were off to the grounds to search for hidden eggs!

Here's Berry and I looking for more eggs, with Tristan (the Easter Egg Hunt winner), behind us

 Mommy, how many eggs do we have now?

 Honey, I don't know. Mag-outfit shot na lang tayo! 

(Here we are resting under the shade, looking disheveled after crouching and running for hidden eggs...)

Berry: Joe Fresh "sweatshirt" from Tita Kaye & Tita Florence, 

Carter's zebra print pants, Saltwater sandals

Mom: Uniqlo linen shirt, J Brand boyfriend jeans, J.Crew belt, K. Jacques sandals

Solo outfit shot!

Berry went home with 7 eggs and such fun memories of her first ever Easter Egg Hunt! Thanks Auntie Naomi, Uncle Anthony, Achi Anika & Ahya Tristan for inviting Berry! We had so much fun! =)

Tristan & Anika, Berry's stylish Ahya and Achi, and BFFs in Singapore

P.S. As soon as we get settled back into the swing of daily life, I promise to catch up on blog posts! I have a ton of stories to tell you, it's not even funny! Yes, I have a whole lot, and I promise all are fun! I got bloggers Lloyda Lim & Laureen Uy sharing with me their shoe closet, our LA and Vancouver vacation adventures and the sweet, delightful new friends we made, a long delayed post on our trip to the Singapore Zoo, plus more more more! Stay tuned!

Almost Like St. Tropez

Saturday was spent over at the Jersey Shore (fist pump!). We went outlet shopping after a morning at the beach. I've turned into such a homemaker! My buys of the day? A skillet and a 3.5 quart French Oven from Le Creuset!

Here's what Berry and I wore:

Me: Breton shirt from A.P.C., shorts from Greenhills tiangge, Ray Ban wayfarers, 
J.Crew accessories

Berry: Pilipinas shirt, swimsuit & shorts from Ralph Lauren, Saltwater sandals

The Jersey Shore almost feels like St. Tropez when you're wearing K. Jacques. Hahaha! But seriously, these sandals are such a good buy. I've had it for almost 2 years now and it just looks better as it ages. Not to say, I also want a Rondini like Garance Dore's!

Berry was so funny though. While we were at the boardwalk, she kept on pointing at the sea, wanting to go down to the beach. But by the time we went down and she felt sand on her feet, she hesitated (you can see that in the second photo, she's clutching my hand, not wanting to move, hahaha!). Then she gingerly took a couple of steps, but I don't think she liked how unstable and uncomfortable it felt because her feet kept sinking into the sand and little grains would go into her sandals.

By the time she changed into her swimsuit, we immediately went to the shore to play with the waves. But she hated it! Hated it! Didn't like the water creeping onto her feet, and when a big wave came over us and got her wet, she hugged me so tight and wouldn't let go. Awwww. So not a water baby. Just like her Dada!

Mowdeling the Alexa

When the Alexa was first released, my friend Ing aka The Baghag and I got so excited over Twitter that I am not surprised we both ended up getting one in Oak. While Ingrid has the Oversized Alexa, which is what Alexa Chung and Olivia Palermo tote around, I got the Alexa, which is the regular or standard size.

The difference in price is just $100 (the Alexa is $1,150 and the Oversized is $1,250) so I would say the Oversized Alexa is a much better deal. You get more bag for an additional $100.

Alexa Stats
Measurements: 12”W x 10”H x 4.5”D
Handle Drop: 1.5”
Shoulder Strap Drop: 22” – 25"

Oversized Alexa Stats
Measurements: 14"W x 12"H x 6"D
Handle Drop: 2.5".
Shoulder Strap Drop: 19" - 22"

But since I am petite, I decided to get the Alexa, which I would think is the right size and weight for me. I also figured, with my lifestyle, I would be better off slinging the bag around than carrying it on the crook of my arm. I need both hands free with Berry getting more active by the day. And I can't do that with big or heavy bags. Not that the bag isn't heavy at all, it still is actually. Nothing can beat a Goyard when it comes to lightness, but I like that the Alexa has a long shoulder strap that can be worn across the body and it fits all my essentials with room to spare. So yeah, I'm pretty happy with the Alexa even if the Oversized is the more popular and more sulit bag!

To A Loopy Life, here's how the Alexa looks like on me (I'm 5'2" and 95 lbs) !

Front, worn across the body

Back, worn across the body

 Side, worn across the body

Carried by the handle

(Romper by MaxStudio, studded belt from J.Crew, sandals from K.Jacques, bangles by Amrita Singh)

Honestly, I still feel the Oversized is a great deal for just an additional $100. But it really depends on one's lifestyle. Ultimately, I think the Oversized Alexa works best for those who really like big bags and carry a lot of things with them. If you get around in a car, and don't walk around with a bag slung on your shoulder, then by all means get the Oversized*, it's better value for money. But if you are like me and you walk around a lot and have your hands full most of the time, the Alexa is a more practical size I would think!

*UPDATE: My friend Kat, who owns 2 Alexas, has this to say about the Oversized: "It's like an attache case, so if you will be using the shoulder strap, ang sakit nun (It's going to hurt!)". She hit the nail on the head! Take note that the Oversized is the size of a Bayswater, and without the two handles, you can only sling the bag on your shoulder or carry it by the handle ala Alexa and Olivia. That's what I meant by recommending the Oversized only if you don't see yourself carrying it around for long hours.

P.S. - Follow me! @CD_MFO

31 Weeks: You've Come A Long Way Baby!

At 17 Weeks, I could still see my shoes.

At 31 Weeks, this is all I can see when I look down! All belly! No feet!


I would have to bend forward a little further to see my feet!


Here's Berry now!



Scarf: Isabel Marant
Top: Topshop
Jeans: Current/Elliott
Sandals: K. Jacques