Gear Up & Explore with Paez and Doughnut: Part 3

No explorer sets off without doing prior research, and so after procuring supplies, the teams were sent off to National Bookstore aka the Adventurer's Research Camp at the mall basement to look for books on Argentina and dessert cookbooks.

The challenge soon turned physical, and teams had to maneuver a soccer ball through cones, then hula hoop and jump rope their way to the finish.

Not without stopping for refreshments at Pure Nectar by Rustan's Supermarket at the basement, before heading back to base camp, of course.

What did the guests get out of completing their challenges, apart from discovering how perfect Paez shoes are for exploring? They each get to bring home the Doughnut backpack of their choice!!

I'll tell you more about Doughnut in another post! ;)

Paez shoes and Doughnut bags Gear Up and Explore event was made in cooperation with Ayala Malls the 30th, National Bookstore and Pure Nectar.

Shop Paez shoes at Level 3, Trinoma, Level 1, Market! Market!, G/F UP Town Center, G/F, Ayala Malls The 30th and Rustan’s Dept. Stores. Shop online at www.paezphilippines.com or visit them at facebook.com/PaezPhilippines. Follow them on Instagram at @paezph and post with the hashtags #explorewithpaez and #paezph.

Shop Doughnut bags at Paez at Ayala Malls the 30th, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangrila, Swim Boracay and Stand n’ Stride in Cabanatuan. Shop online at www.doughnutphilippines.com or visit them at facebook.com/DoughnutPhilippines. Follow them on Instagram at @doughnutphilippines and post with the hashtags #packyourdream, #doughnut and #doughnutph.

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.

The Moleskine Traveling Collection

My Moleskine reporter notebook is a fixture in my bag. I whip it out when an idea pops in my head, when I am interviewing someone for an article, when I am taking down notes for a potential story, or when I am drawing up a wishlist. Toni, my friend Sarj's hubby calls it my "Inspector notebook" and I like how official it feels when whip it out my bag and slip off the elastic.

These days, Moleskine has gone beyond notebooks, planners and travel guidebooks. They recently came out with a collection of travel bags, writing instruments and reading accessories, which are all seriously well-designed, in keeping with Moleskine tradition.

The Travelling Collection has everything the modern nomad would need.

"The Messenger Bag is a robust over-the-shoulder urban carryall. The durable and versatile Tote Bag is made with water-repellent materials and a molded base for added stability; while the stylish Utility Bag features several external and internal pockets with zippers for flexible, secure storage.

Chic and compact, the Reporter Bag closely reflects the character of the Moleskine notebook right down to the elastic closure; the Backpack, on the other hand, incorporates adjustable, removable shoulder straps and a molded base to allow the bag to stand when it’s set down. Multipurpose Cases (you can choose from four different sizes) offer storage pouches fitted with Velcro at the rear to keep them attached to the bag lining. Finally, Moleskine Laptop Cases are fitted with stretch fabric, velour lining and light padding to safeguard digital creativity."

Don't forget to check out the Reading and Writing Collections, for a vast array of tools that will make reading & writing more enjoyable. The new Moleskine collections are available at National Book Store Greenbelt, Power Plant Mall, SM Mall of Asia and Trinoma.

For the full 2011 collection and prices, LIKE the National Bookstore page on Facebook.