A Mom's Perfect Day at Greenbelt

When my friend and fellow SoMom Jenny R. of My Mommyology told us that our little "mommy gang" aka The SoMoms were invited by Ayala Malls to celebrate Mothers Day at Greenbelt 5, my initial reaction was like, "Spend Mother's Day at the mall? But wouldn't that be so commercial?"

But well, we've been celebrating Mother's Day at home most of the time since I became a mom, and we'd usually eat out the day before to avoid the crowds, so I was up for something different this year. I mean, why not, diba?

Plus, there was this fun part where Jenny said we should wear matching "Mommy & Me" outfits. The kids get to wear clothes from Gingersnaps and us moms could wear anything as long as we found it in an Ayala Mall store. So the Friday before Mother's Day, Berry and I went to Greenbelt to shop.

We first went to Zara, and found plenty that I liked. But I wasn't sold yet. I wanted something really special for Mother's Day that I could also wear over and over. Plus, Berry was getting bored and wanted to go where the kids stuff were. So Berry & I went to Gingersnaps right after.

Shopping at Gingersnaps has got to be the most enjoyable thing for me and Berry. Because there are so many pretty clothes, the dilemma really boils down to choosing which items we love best. These are just but a few of the items Berry & I liked:

So cute no? I love how dainty and yet practical their clothes are. I ended up getting Berry a pair of blue & white shorts and a white eyelet top, to match Xavi's blue & white striped polo shirt and shorts. I also found cute shorts with pink flamingos for Xavi at the sale table, and a matching shirt at the little boys section.

With Berry content, I decided to go take a look at the wheat print dress that I saw at Tory Burch back in March. When I tried it on, eeeep! It fit like a glove! I posted this photo on Instagram and all my IG friends agreed I should get it. Ahihihi.

Btw, I just have to share with you the shorts I wore that day. This is from Zara. They're the coolest shorts ever. It's like an asymmetrical wrap skirt but they're actually shorts. I've been living in them since I got them, because the heat just calls for something that's simple, no-fuss, weather appropriate, but with loads of style.

When Sunday rolled around, Berry & I went to Greenbelt with our friends Jackie & Gabbie. It became a mommies day out! Or day off? Hahaha. Ayala Malls prepared high tea treats for the moms, catered by Bizu...

 

When Berry saw the tables laden with goodies, she immediately made a beeline for it. Here we are caught on camera, choosing pastries for Berry:

 

After getting our fill of sweet treats, Mench Dizon of Ayala Malls brought us to the Butterfly Garden:

 

The kids loved it! Berry was both thrilled and freaked out with the butterflies at the same time.

Behind the Butterfly Garden was a mani-pedi area which was free for Moms & their kids.

 

Mench said that the ongoing Mother's Day theme for all Ayala Malls was "Music & Memories" and they hired musicians to serenade the moms celebrating Mother's Day at their malls. I think the mall goers enjoyed it too because a lot of them would stop and rest at the gallery, listening to live music while nibbling on pastries and chocolates from the high tea buffet.

Of course, while at Greenbelt we had to pass by Gingersnaps to say thank you for generously dressing up the kids for Mother's Day.

Here are our girls decked out in Gingersnaps, all busy holding on to Mommy's phone:

 

Here's the requisite group shot. Heehee. Notice that most of the little girls' hair clips are by Celestina & Co, and their sandals are Salt-Waters. Like a uniform!

We were in for some beauty treats that day too. Lancome invited us over to their store...

And I think our budding beauty enthusiasts had fun inside as well:

 

They highlighted their new luxury cream, Absolue L'Extrait which has 2 million rose stem cells. Very exotic and luxurious! The price? Php20,000 thereabouts. But if it will make Mama look youthful, let her go ahead and indulge!

Kiehl's invited us over too...

They had wonderful Mother's Day gift suggestions, such as their new Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream, which is a treat any woman would love, mom or not. 

Soon after, my friend Tammy David, who was the official photographer for the day took our photo for posterity. Loved that Berry & I got to have a girls day out. Heehee.

Of course, Berry & I also enjoyed spending a portion of Mother's Day with our friends. We had a lot of fun, I actually wouldn't mind spending another special occasion at Greenbelt again!

*The high tea spread and all the Mom's Day events and activities such as the mani/pedi and entrance to the Butterfly Garden in Greenbelt was a special treat for all moms, not just us. Just reach the minimum required spend that day,  and qualified mall goers get the perks for the day.

All photos save for my IG photos are courtesy of photographer Tammy David

Graduation Gift Ideas at Tory Burch

Berry's Moving Up Day happened early this month. My cousin Thea graduated from ADMU last Friday. It's the last week of March and you know what that means? Summer is here! 

I've always thought of graduating as kind of a big deal. It meant looking forward to a leisurely/busy summer, depending on how you roll. And of course, bigger things ahead. Kindergarteners moving up to big school, Catholic school girls leaving the sheltered confines of high school for college (no more uniforms! and aha! boy classmates!), and for college and graduate school grads, well its on to the "real world". Whether you want to or not, heehee.

While graduating is a mix of equal parts excitement, relief, nervousness and anticipation of what's to come, one of the fun parts of this milestone is getting gifts. 

So parents reading this, here are some great tips from Tory Burch to make sure your graduate is truly happy on her big day!

A wall of bags? Not necessarily. Although that would be great too, we've whittled this down to three styles that are youthful and stylish as they are practical. All made from leather, not only will these last a long time, they'll look great as they age too.

The Robinson Double Zip Tote (Php30,950) in Parisian Blue is made from durable saffiano leather that holds its shape well and is pretty much resistant to scratches.

It has 2 zipper compartments for keeping valuables in, and a center which is held together by a magnetic snap - to stash items that need easy access. What I love most about this is the roomy size  (14"L x 10.5"H x 5.5"D) and the fact that it comes with a detachable 24" long shoulder strap. That's like having two bags in one!

The Stacked T Satchel (Php26,650) in classic black pebbled leather also comes with a 16" long shoulder detachable strap. Very roomy too such that it can fit a small laptop inside (14"L x 13"H x 5.5"D) and still have room for other essentials.

The ladylike Priscilla Small Frame Satchel (Php31,950) comes in a smooth matte leather and can totally go from day to night. Don't let the dainty look of this bag fool you. It's a great sized bag at 11.75"L x 10"H x 5.5"D and as with the Robinson tote, it has pockets for 2 smart phones and a slightly shorter 20" detachable strap.

In my opinion, bags make great graduation gifts because they come in handy, literally. I remember when I graduated from college, I had to borrow this matronic bag from my mom for job interviews. It didn't really suit me, but I had no choice since all I had were school bags that wouldn't go with my skirt suits. These bags we have here? Totally fit for the job hunt. Great construction, wonderful leathers, discreet logos at prices that won't make you balk.

But if your daughter is more of a shoe girl, or if she already has access to your bag collection, then these pretty but still sensible flats should make the cut.

The Nora Loafer (Php14,950) in bright navy suede with fluo pink trim is so much fun! Here's the kind of flat I wouldn't mind stepping into each work day.

Imagine this with navy trousers and a crisp white shirt, or an all dark ensemble that would let the fluo pink trimming pop!

It's a look that says "I'm responsible, but I know how to have fun."

Now the Dakota Loafer (Php14,950) in iced coffee with navy trim patent leather are reminiscent of Belgians, which are just the sort of shoes discreet, Social Register types have been wearing for generations.

Very chic with a dainty bow that can work with jeans, trousers and even dresses and skirts. Just the kind of pair that can take a girl from work weekdays to laid back weekends.

Bottom line is, proud and beaming parents, remember to get a gift your graduate not only needs, but will love! If you have to take her to the store so she can choose, by all means do so.

While surprises are fun, it's always more fun to get something that you truly want.

A huge "Congratulations!" to the parents and graduates of 2013!

Tory Burch Manila
Level 1, Greenbelt 5
Ayala Center Makati City 1228
Tel: +632 501 3690
Store Hours:
Monday-Thursday and Sunday 10am-9pm
Friday-Saturday 10am-10pm

Modern Filipiniana at Religioso

First things first! Religioso has moved to a new location and is now at the 2nd Level of Greenbelt 5  (formerly occupied by Gaupo).

Second, there's a new collection in store called "Terno" by the design duo Yvette Religioso-Ilagan and Choco Religioso-Dayrit. I love the Yvette and Choc's modern take on Filipiniana style. Their gowns and cocktail dresses stay true to the tenets of Philippine design by using traditional fabrics, but the cut and overall aesthetic is very now. Check these pieces out at Religioso's new spot in Greenbelt 5:

About Religioso and The Terno Collection:

Religioso, a passion pursuit of sisters Yvette Religioso-Ilagan and Choc Religioso-Dayrit, has been known for its signature style of “classics with a twist,” for years now. Many know of Religioso as makers of wedding dresses and formal wear, but Religioso has actually been producing more than that. 

Religioso-to-Wear (RTW) are ready-to-wear fashionable pieces that marry the ingenuity of local materials with the needs of modern times. With this as an inspiration, Religioso has decided to come up with its Terno collection. The Terno collection is Religioso's take on the modern Terno that infuses piňa, banana fiber, cocoon, and other local materials into their clothing creations. Terno by Religioso is the modern adaptation of old Philippine fashion traditions.

Missoni ♥ Havaianas 2012

My Missoni ♥ Havaianas from 2011, with my silver Sperry Topsiders (among my many pregnancy faves, hee!)

I love Havaianas and have been wearing them since they first came to Manila years ago. But admittedly, ever since Havaianas came out with a collection with Missoni last year, I have practically stopped wearing my other flip flops but the ones above. They're super cute plus I mean hello, I had to seek this pair out in Singapore (found these at TYAN in ION Orchard after searching online and making calls) because I knew they were limited edition. I know, such an effort for a pair of chinelas. 

So of course, I was thrilled when I found out that Missoni ♥ Havaianas was doing a round 2 this year! When I received the invite to the launch in Adora, I just had to go and check out the new designs in person. 

And this year's collection did not disappoint. While Missoni ♥ Havaianas limited edition pairs costs Php3,295 each, I still think its worth it. Because we are worth it! ;)

Missoni ♥ Havaianas Slim Rachel in Lemon (my must-have!)

Missoni ♥ Havaianas Top Patchwork in Black

Missoni ♥ Havaianas Top Fiammato

More than just a collaboration between iconic fashion brands, the Missoni ♥ Havaianas 2012 collection is designed using residual rubber pieces from the manufacturing process. The multi-colored Havaianas leftovers are mixed to create the signature Missoni zigzag patterns. Stylish and socially responsible at that!

I also noticed that the Slim Rachel and Fiammato styles come in teeny tiny sizes too (which is good news for adults with really small feet). Really, more like the size of kids, 7 and above! So you can get a matching pair for the little girl or little man in your life!

Of course, every flip-flop comes in a special packaging made of recyclable material featuring the famous zigzag pattern, and in a Missoni knit bag.

Now I am not entirely sure if this style will be coming in as well, because I spotted this in a US-based website. But this style is pretty cute and very purple-y!

The Missoni ♥ Havaianas 2012 collection is NOW available and exclusively retailed at Adora, Greenbelt 5. Hurry to Adora before these get sold out!

Reminiscing + A Visit to Repetto in Greenbelt 3

The shopping landscape of Manila surely has changed since I last left it in 2006. I remember starting this blog because I wanted to document the things I wanted to buy, because it was so frustrating not finding anything here. Remember, this was before online shopping really hit mainstream and Johnny Air's main income streams were balikbayan boxes and remittances, and not air shipping of online purchases, heehee.

Repettos were high on my wishlist then, that I would often seek it out when I was traveling abroad. I finally found them in Gravity Pope in Vancouver, but they were so expensive there, that Dada dissuaded me from buying a pair. I ended up buying my first pair at Bird in Brooklyn in 2007. They had these patent BBs on sale, so I made the trek to their store in Brooklyn as a side trip while visiting my friend Tet in Park Slope!

Yes, this pair above is still very much alive and still looks good. So, worth it. My next pair of Repettos were these Repetto Jacksons. I saw Kate Moss wearing a pair with black, cropped trousers and I was like, "OMG! I have to have that!". Then Michael Jackson died, and my first thought was, "Now these shoes are gonna be classics". So I went online and bought a pair at La Garconne. Heehee.

My third, and certainly not the last pair, are these sparkly, crackly BBs in Carbone that Dada bought for me. See how times have changed? Before, he would stop me from buying Repettos, and now he himself buys me a pair. Ahhh true love. Heehee!

So when Cecile aka Chuvaness told me about Repetto opening in Manila a few months ago, it was like a dream come true. I couldn't wait! A Repetto store right here in Manila, that's the ultimate! Especially for somebody who practically lives in flats day in and day out (especially these preggy days).

Once it opened, Lawrence of Suyen Corp. made arrangements for me to visit the store so I can take photos to share here in the blog. Berry Ballerina, Nana & I came by after Holy Week so we can take a peek. Berry was thrilled to bits.  As soon as she saw the pretty tutus behind the shop window, she was practically squealing. Then she saw these dance leotards and tutus and she didn't know where to start looking...

plus there was an enticing brass barre where she did her own version of barre exercises:

True to tradition, since Rose Repetto started out of her desire to create the best dance footwear for her dancer son, the Repetto boutique carries pointe shoes and ballet slippers...

As well as totes, backpacks and duffel bags for stashing your dance essentials in:

Then of course, for frustrated prima ballerinas like toi et moi, there are these BBs, Zizis and Bolchois to prance around in for daily use:

All in all, the Repetto boutique has something for both serious dancers as well as stylish girls about town, who want comfortable and classic pairs of ballet inspired footwear. But oh, let me remind you that Repetto has French sizing, so you would need to go a full size up on Repettos. Take for instance, I am a US 6.5 and my Repettos are FR37.5 - so when you go there, make sure to ask for a size bigger than what you normally wear. Don't think your feet suddenly ballooned or something.

Shoes start at about Php11,000 and go up to about Php14,000. They also had these smooshy leather bags that are as soft and supple as their footwear. I wasn't able to check the price though. 

The Repetto boutique is worth a visit - if only to indulge your ballerina dreams. It's my slice of heaven on earth, or a slice of Paris in Manila - for my feet at least.

Repetto Manila
G/F Greenbelt 3
Makati