Earn Points at Caltex with Robinsons Rewards!

When I was a little girl of about 5, my dream was to be a grocery store cashier. 

Living out my childhood dream, lolz

I thought they made a lot of money. Imagine cash being handed to you all day, while you just stand there. 

But when I grew older, I realized I wanted to be Robina Gokongwei-Pe.

She is funny, a published writer and a columnist, President & COO of a retail empire that brought in my teenage love - Topshop, and mommy fave - True Value. Not to mention, she is heiress to a great fortune of Forbes 40 Richest levels. She can shop all day, but instead, she works hard. Idol.

She also studied at NYU, after shifting out of UP Diliman. Which is something I would totally do if I got kidnapped in Manila too. But then again, we're talking New York during the 80s, when Manhattan was synonymous to getting mugged, I'd probably go for London na lang. She is so brave.

Robina Gokongwei-Pe, President & COO of Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. with Jessy Mendiola, Robinsons Brand Ambassador and Peter Morris, Country Chairman of Chevron Philippines

But I am not here to talk about my dreams, aspirations and personal pegs. Ahihihi. I am here to tell you about an exciting team up between Caltex and Robinsons Rewards.

If you have a Robinsons Rewards Card  (the one with 16 digits and gold magnetic strip, because I had the old one and had to upgrade to this particular one) yes, you earn points whenever you shop at Robinsons stores, but you also earn points when you fuel up at Caltex.

You may also use your rewards points to redeem a Php1 discount for every one liter fuel purchase at participating Caltex stations nationwide. A minimum of 50 points is required to begin to redeem points. Each point redeemed entitles the Robinsons Rewards Card member a Php1 discount per liter, up to 60 points per fuel purchase, and up to 2 transactions per day.

In practice, say you have 100 points in your card, and you put 30 liters in your vehicle. Then you get a Php30 discount by using 30 points from your card balance. Simple no?

Save on fuel costs when you use your Robinsons Rewards points when you fuel up with Caltex with Techron, while earning a point for every five liter purchase

Every five liter gas up earns you a point too, up to a maximum of 60 liters per purchase, and up to 500 liters per month.

Should you use your points to redeem a discount, any fuel purchase in excess of points redemption is eligible to redeem points. For the full terms and conditions, click HERE.

With over 700 Caltex service stations nationwide, Caltex is the first external partner of Robinsons Rewards.

"Caltex has been in the Philippines for over 75 years. Throughout this time, the Caltex brand has remained relevant to Filipino motorists because we are able to support their changing lifestyles and needs. This partnership allows us to uniquely reward thousands of motorists and shoppers for their loyalty to Caltex and Robinsons. We are truly proud of this long-term relationship with Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc." said Peter Morris, Chevron Philippines Inc. Country Chairman and General Manager for Philippine products.

As for Robina Gokongwei-Pe, she shared, "We at Robinsons Retail are always looking for new ways to delight our customers and give them a better customer experience. That is why we are very happy to partner with Chevron Philippines Inc.'s Caltex service stations to expand the acceptance of Robinsons Rewards beyond stores operated by Robinsons. This will be a welcome development to over 800,000 members of the Robinsons Rewards Card."

Fantastic no? If you don't have a Robinsons Rewards card yet, get your Robinsons Rewards Application Kit at the Customer Service/Cashier of participating Robinsons stores for Php150. 

Cards are valid for 2 years and points earned may be used to get fuel discounts at Caltex and shopping discounts or pay for purchases at Robinsons Department Store, Supermarket, Selections, Easymart, Appliances, Handyman, True Value, AM Builders' Depot, Toys "R" Us, Daiso Japan, Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Burton Menswear, Warehouse, River Island, Shana, G2000, Shiseido and Benefit. 

For more about the Caltex-Robinsons Rewards Loyalty Program, visit http://www.caltex.com/ph/promotions/caltex-robinsons-rewards-loyalty-program/

Preppy in Pink

Comme des Garcons x H&M top, Topshop trousers, Sperry Top-siders, pink Lifestrength band

This is what I wore when Berry's classmates came over our place for a house visit/field trip. Well ok, I technically wore slippers with this at home, but when I stepped out to run errands later, I changed into my silver Sperry Top-siders - as seen here with my favorite pair of Havaianas flip-flops.

My thought process when dressing up goes like this:

I want to wear this top! It's been over a month since I last wore this. Ok, still fits me, good!

Hmmm, but I don't want to wear shorts because I didn't shave my legs. Pants na lang. But which one? (I try on khaki trousers, but it's not working...)

Aha! I will wear my white pants! But now, what to wear this with? Nude flats look boring, black ballerinas are kinda off. (I open my shoe closet and my eyes zoom into my silver Sperrys. I slip it on. I look in the mirror.)

Woohoo! Perfect! (To me at least, hehe.)

22 Weeks: Secret Stash

My sister-in-law Lorr has often told me about her secret place for export overruns and it was only last week that we found the chance to check it out. We went 2 weeks ago (I am actually going on 24 weeks this week) and I have gone back twice since Lorr first brought me there! That same week, to accompany my sister Dianne, and last week, to bring my Mom. Who both were so happy with their stash of clothing!

This was my find during my first visit there, a linen and jersey vest from Rock & Republic. Not bad for Php1200. Actually, I was expecting to pay less, but the saleslady said "Ma'm Rock & Republic yan!" Aba! She knows her brands. Plus Lorr said, I won't be able to find a vest of that quality for Php1200 anywhere. Ok, sold!

 

Worn with a tank from Mango, Topshop leggings, Repetto ballet flats, accessories from J.Crew & Kristine Dee/Paul Syjuco

My next visit, I scored this blush lightweight blazer by Lauren Conrad for Kohl's for Php700. So perfectly summer-y! I love it! I saw some blush blazers at Zara and Mango and OMG, they're like more than 5 times the price of this one. This is practically a steal. (UPDATE: I just got back from Zara, it's almost 10x the price of this one pala!)

Worn with a white tank from Zara, J Brand jeans, Miu Miu flat t-bar sandals (the blush stones on the sandals are the perfect complement to the blazer hee!), accessories from J.Crew and Fenton/Fallon

Prices are really amazing I tell you. Tops are Php400, dresses and blazers are Php700, and there's an area outside where you can score tops from Php200 to Php300.

Overruns are mostly from Banana Republic, Old Navy, Gap, Madras, but if you have a good eye, you'll spot various random brands with interesting designs that you won't find anywhere else. Great pieces you can wear to work, or on weekends.

UPDATE: I would have to close the request for the address aka The Secret Circle is closed (as Isabelle, one of my readers put it heehee). I received over 500 emails and I tried my best to reply to every one, including the ones in the Spam folder over the past couple of days. I hope I did not miss out on anybody's email. At this point, I cannot promise I can reply to succeeding emails any more, as it has gotten overwhelming. So sorry! 

Color Coordinated

Berry: Gingersnaps top from Aunt Ingrid, Baby Gap jeans, Salt-water sandals

Me: shirt from Uniqlo, Topshop trousers, adult Salt-Water sandals, FEED bag

Berry dresses herself now, she chooses her own outfits. And she wears them on her own, she refuses to let us help dress her up. She reminds me of Henry Kravis, the private equity guy who made his niche in leveraged buyouts. In an interview he shares that his mom's recollection of him as a kid was that he wanted to tie his shoes when he didn't even know how to tie his shoes. But he had to do it himself.

That's Berry. But her motor skills are so refined now that she can even put a belt on or buckle her sandals by herself. Very independent.

Anyway, just wanted to share with you our Sunday outfit. I actually took my cue from Berry when I saw that her red sandals looked cute with her blue top. Berry is my icon. Incidentally, I just had to also say I love my Salt-Water sandals. Its been raining here everyday and they're the perfect pair to wear because I don't have to worry about my sandals getting wet. My friends here in Singapore, like Janie, Sara and Vicky all love their Salt-Waters too! I really think these sandals are a winner.

UPDATE: Will keep you posted on which stores to buy adult Salt-Water sandals in Singapore! For now you may email naomi@thatchettsg.com to place an order! =)

PS - Thanks to all the readers who left comments in my "controversial" post. I have read and published each and every one's. I really appreciate all the support and I am sorry if I have disappointed some of you. It is not in my character to be arrogant or mayabang, and if I came across as such, my fault lies in not being able to write my thoughts out well and explain it within context as my words have been subject to misinterpretation. Well, hopefully I get to meet some of you to know me well enough that I am not like that.

Pajama Mama

 

shirt: Topshop, printed pants: H&M, sandals: Miu Miu, bag: Mulberry Alexa

Yes, I went out and brought Berry to playschool looking like I just rolled out of bed. Although this photo was taken when we got back. So it looks extra rumpled.

This outfit was presko, and I could actually feel the breeze on my legs when we were walking outside. We really should wear more pants like these seriously. 

My advice: Make sure the fabric is lightweight and soft on the skin. This is just made out of cotton. Linen is presko, but a bit scratchy. Silk would be nice, but too high maintenance in my opinion. And please, forget about synthetics!

Vancouver 2011: Granville Island Public Market

Granville Island purports itself as Vancouver's Town Square. Fair enough. It's that place in the city where there's everything for everyone in the whole family, in-laws included. You've got art, music, beer, food, sailing, shopping and lots of activities for the little ones to keep them busy.

For us, a trip to Vancouver isn't complete without a visit to Granville Public Market. From organic fruits and vegetables, freshly caught seafood and salmon smoked to perfection, to gourmet coffee, bread and chocolate, there's plenty of gastronomic delights in store.

Yes, excuse me, hello, I would like to know what those are?

An octopus. $7.99 a lb.

Salmon, with the head cut off. What is it about fish heads that freak people out?

Yes, I see I got good shots for Mommy's blog.

Smoked salmon, if you'd rather have them in a bagel with cream cheese... 

A variety of berries in all shapes, colors and sizes...

Mushrooms, peppers, beans, eggplants, cucumbers and herbs...

More leafy green vegetables...although what I am really in the mood for is bread...

A fine selection of pastries at Terra Bread

While I enjoyed browsing the food stalls, Berry had a blast trying to befriend pigeons, and then running after them. Angkong was so amused!

Meanwhile, I managed to coerce Dada to take an outfit shot, which is really just a wardrobe remix of what I've worn previously. Told you I traveled light.

striped shirt from Saint James, Gap jacket, Topshop pleather shorts, 

H&M scarf (the lighter version of the blue one I've worn previously), J.Crew belt, 

Wolford tights, Repetto Jacksons, Celine luggage tote

Happy Lemon & Celine Day

Tuesday was a happy lemon day! Berry and I went to Tanglin Mall for her trial class at Gymboree. We tried out Play & Learn, which is totally different from her music class back in the US. I don't think she liked it as much, or maybe because it was just something different from what she was used to. We might just go for a Music Class next, we're doing a trial class with Kindermusik too.

Anyhoo, we just walked all the way from Tanglin Mall to ION Orchard, because I was craving for something cool to drink, and I was thinking, Happy Lemon!

I got the Tea Latte with Black Pearl Sago, in JUMBO!

Then we passed through Wisma Atria, and I saw a mirror inside Isetan. Uy! Pang-outfit shot:

shirt: +J Uniqlo, trousers: Topshop, flats: Lanvin

Incidentally, I got these pants on sale at Topshop the day before. I've always wanted those skinny J Brand Houlihan cargos, but they were too expensive for something so trendy. My friend Kat found $25 skinny cargos at Strawberry in Manhattan, but it just never occurred to me to check the place out when I was there. So, when I found these pants in my size on the sale rack, I was like, Wootwoo! But I was still not ready to buy. At the counter, the SA told me Citibank cardholders get an additional 10% off the sale price! Aha! A sign! Ok, sold!

By the way, here's Lucky Plaza. This is where all the Filipino groceries, remittance centers and cargo forwarders are. The place has a Greenhills Shopping Center kind of feel, prior to the renovation. Saw a lot of salons here too! Has anyone ever tried having their nails done here?

Oh, Berry and I went to Ngee Ann City of course, to check on my wish list items. My birthday is coming up, and a girl can dream right?

Oh weird, funny story. Today was really just a peek from the outside, looking at the totes longingly. But yesterday, oh my, Berry & I happened to pass by and like a helpless paper clip, I was drawn into the store by a magnetic field of force, called Classic Box Bag and Luggage Tote. I mean, just look at that wall over there, see if that won't make you want to go inside and burn a hole in your pocket, even if that pocket has been burnt many times over.

The mini luggage totes are priced at SGD 2250 to 2500, and the small one is SGD 3500 thereabouts. I've touched and felt the mini luggage tote up close at the Celine store inside Isetan at Shaw House two weeks ago, and my goodness, they are heavy, but gorgeous! You can actually tuck in the sides so that the bag is closed totally, but it just looks cooler when it's open.

I asked an SA if they had a black Classic Box Bag in medium (small is SGD 3800 and medium is SGD 5500 approx, they had the medium bags in caramel & red and a small black ion display. Ok, confession, I really want the caramel, but knowing that I was going to walk out of the store empty handed, and I didn't have the heart to disappoint my accommodating SA, I asked for the one not there, eeee! Am I the only one who does this?).

When she said it was sold out, but she could ask stores overseas for stocks and handed me a pen so I could jot down my details, I had an out of body experience and found myself writing down my name and number on their book, when I could have just said, "No thanks, I'm just looking!" Because hello, I had no business going inside the store in the first place. Most importantly, where am I supposed to get the money to pay for a box bag? I strongly recall promising myself I was only going to admire this bag and not buying it ever. But it felt like there was this spirit inside me doing the thinking and moving for me. Deep down in my psyche, we were having a conversation,  it was telling me, "You will get this bag, trust me! Plus, the luggage tote too! Really!" Talaga ha!

Well, libre mangarap, so with that thought, Berry and I went home. Here's Berry feeling grown up and pushing her stroller by herself. She enjoys doing this, she's the only toddler I've ever seen on Orchard Road doing this.

Oh by the way, Joni! I've been using this Rootote JFK tote bag as a diaper bag for months now! It's only now that I got a picture to show you! Super thanks for this! I love it! And it's become a reminder of the many adventures Berry and I had on the streets of NYC. Sigh...

And now, I leave you with a shot of my shoes (aka Happy Feet?). Till our next walking tour! Let's hope that one comes with happy shopping news!

Collar Your World

I think the reason why I loved Carey Mulligan's Azzaro gown was because it simply got me by the collar. I've been into collars as of late, my obsession actually started with this collar necklace:

I saw it at the Outnet (or was it net-a-porter?) some time ago, but I can't seem to remember whose this is by. Miu Miu? Prada? Marni? I forget. All I know was that I liked it a lot so I saved the images for my inspiration board.

Months after that, I saw this in Anthropologie:

Then I saw Carey's gown. Then this dress at Topshop.

Most recently, Zara (Zara again. Yeah, I'm loving a lot of stuff there lately.) came out with this collar necklace:

I have a feeling, especially with this season's nod to ladylike dressing, that we'll be seeing a lot of embellished collars all around town.

How Does One Say No...

To jeans with a $16.97 price tag? I've got more than enough pairs of jeans actually, but when I saw this in the sale section of Banana Republic, I couldn't walk away. And when I put them on, they just fit so well! Plus it was marked down from $98 so it's such a steal!

Here's what I wore initially:

Shirt: Topshop, Necklace: J.Crew, Cuff: Fallon, Belt: Zara, 

Boyfriend Jeans: Current/Elliott in Super Loved Destroyed, Flats: Miu Miu

I've got my online buddy Kate to thank for finding these Miu Mius for me! Just when I thought it was a lost cause searching for them, Kate emailed me from out of the blue to say she had these reserved for me! How amazing is that! That's just like manna falling from heaven! Again, how does one say no? Of course I couldn't say no to a blessing! ;) Thanks again Kate!

Dancing Queen...Only 34 Weeks

Dear Hubby and I had lunch at Burger Joint last Saturday and as I got our order at the counter, the three guys behind it greeted me with a bright and jolly, "Happy Mother's Day!"

Before I could say "Thanks!", the lady cashier punctured the happy atmosphere with a sharp, "She don't look like no mother!", as if to admonish her three clueless colleagues, knowing full well that women who are mistaken for moms, won't take a Happy Mother's Day greeting too kindly! Hahaha!



But the men pointed out to her, "Look, she's having a baby!" and as she peered over the cash register, she saw Berry inside my belly and burst out a laugh, saying, "Oh, Happy Mother's Day to you!"

Yeah, Berry looks like she's about to pop soon! Just look at that belly!



Now that Berry's on her 8th month, I've been having more trouble sleeping at night due to very frequent pee breaks, and loud burps throughout the night, thanks to heartburn and gassiness. Coach Berry has been training me very well with the waking up every 2 hours exercise. Been waddling now too, with me having to support my belly when we go for long walks. Here I am caught adjusting my belly support band, hahaha!



I can actually give birth in 3-6 weeks, because Berry will be developed enough to come out on her 37th week. Although of course, I'm torn between being ok to have her come early because we are just so excited to see her; and having her arrive as scheduled, because my in-laws and my parents have all scheduled their trips around her coming on time! Let's see when Berry decides she's ready to meet us all!

As far as I know, she's having a great time right now inside my tummy because this entire weekend, she seemed to be enjoying turning 34 weeks! The whole of Saturday, she was just so hyper, starting early in the morning when Dear Hubby, Berry and I went to SoHo for our meeting with the very interesting subject of another story I am writing for The Radar! The whole afternoon, except for about 2 hours, she was hyper because she was guest of honor of a surprise baby shower (more about that in my next post!) planned meticulously by Daddy and my girl friends, and I think she reveled in hearing so many people chatting around her. By 2 am, she was still up, moving around my tummy as if she was dancing. So I sang Dancing Queen to her...

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come in to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the musics high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
Youre in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance...

You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only 34 WEEKS
Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

Abba! Berry didn't stop moving around until I finished singing that last phrase above to her! Even if her Daddy was telling her to go to sleep na! How funny!

(Photos by Daddy Harvey)