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?

Got to Get a Garmin: Now Loaded with Philippine Road Maps!

When we were living in the States, Dear Hubby and I couldn't seem to leave the house without our Garmin. We had come to rely on our nifty little street navigator for getting around the city (kind of wonky in Manhattan though because of the tall buildings, but great to have for a general sense of direction), more so when we were going out of town and had to take the freeway. 

One time a friend of ours who stayed over our place accidentally packed our Garmin (they had the exact same model as ours), as we were about to go leave for a roadtrip to Hudson Valley. We felt like an arm had been cut off when we had to stick to our convoy while our friends led the way because we had no idea how we were going to our destination. That really made us realize how much our Garmin made our lives so much easier.

But my favorite Garmin story would be that of our friend Eric's. He entered a one way street where an NYPD police car was parked and a tough looking cop flagged him down. He was about to be handed a ticket when he told the officer that it was the Garmin who made him turn on that street. He even showed the Garmin screen, pleading his case and all the cop could do was let him go. Talk about passing the blame on a machine! Haha!

So guess how psyched I was when I found out that Garmin nüvi® can now be used in the Philippines!  Say goodbye to getting lost talaga! Don't know how it'll go down with our local traffic enforcers though when you use it as an excuse for a violation. Hee! Pre-loaded with Philippine roadmaps - from the tip of Luzon all the way to Mindanao, those with a poor sense of direction now don't to have to panic if you find yourself in an unfamiliar place.

In fact, when we went looking for Basil, this new Thai restaurant that Dada's friend recommended, we took our Garmin with us just to make sure we could find it right away. As for the food in Basil? That deserves a post of it's own! So yummy! Watch out for it!

In case you are not familiar with how Garmin nüvi® works, it gives directions through an audible voice kind of like Siri (no Q&A's though), and a street map on the screen. By plugging in your destination, you are told where to head out to, turn, or make an exit until you reach your desired location. 

Now, isn't this the perfect little gadget to give that stubborn guy in your life who hates asking for directions? Or a birthday present that the girls can pitch in to get for your girl friend who breaks down in tears when she finds herself lost while driving alone? It's also the best thing to have if your family enjoys going on road trips. Basically, it is something nice to have in the car, for peace of mind - because it also tells you where to find the nearest gas station, restaurant or mall. Saving you valuable time and fuel and from panic attacks and arguments in the process.

Have a blessed Easter break ahead everyone! Stay safe on the roads!

Road GPS models start at P8,500. If you have a Garmin from the US or Europe, you may load the Philippine road map via NAVCO/Garmin Philippines. 

Garmin products range from fitness watches and street navigators to outdoor handhelds. Garmin is available at ROX, Time Depot, Toby's, Electronics Boutique, Automatic Centre and other selected stockists.

Lupe Saenz at Bonne Bouche

Last Friday, Nina and I went to the launch of a new line of shoes at Bonne Bouche in Greenbelt, a chic little boutique with dresses from Michi Calica-Sotto, jewelry from Elena Bautista and bags by Nicole Sheker. She told me that Bonne Bouche was launching a new line of shoes by Stella Quimbo called Lupe Saenz (the line was named after her youngest daughter), made of yummy imported leather yes, but Filipino-designed and proudly made in Marikina.

From L to R: Michi Calica-Sotto, Elena D. Bautista, Stella Quimbo & Nicole Sheker of Bonne Bouche

And the first thing I spotted when we got there were these cap-toe flats that came also in nude, black and apple green! OMG! They looked just like my Lanvins and when I slipped them on, it was heaven! But unlike Lanvins, these were priced at just Php2600. Not stratospheric at all. I ended up ordering a pair in red, but with a red snakeskin cap-toe. So pretty! Elena also said I could specify the color I want and she had an all nude pair made. Since I've been wanting nude flats in my flats repertoire, I ordered an all nude version too. I cannot wait!

Of course, apart from flats, Lupe Saenz makes rope heels, wedges, evening heels, platforms and platform pumps:

Pretty impressive and they all looked very comfortable! What's more impressive is that the lady behind Lupe Saenz, Stella Quimbo, is a UP Business Economics summa cum laude graduate & University Valedictorian, now a UP Microeconomics professor and academic with no shoe design background whatsoever. What fueled her to dip her toes into to shoe design is her desire to play a role in reviving and revitalizing the Marikina shoe industry, and of course, her love for shoes.

Here's a short Q&A with Stella:

Tell us what made you decide to create this line. Is it part of your advocacy? Love for shoes?

I can think of four reasons. First, Marikina has a long tradition of shoemaking but has (in the last two decades) been threatened by much cheaper shoes made in China. The dominant response of the local shoemakers has been to shift to the production of synthetic leather shoes. However, my gut feel is that some demand for locally manufactured leather shoes continues to exist. I hope I am correct about this and that I can effectively address this with designs that are classic but with some pleasant surprises. 

Second, I have always dreamed of having my own business, primarily to give me a chance to practice what I preach. I am a full-time professor of Economics at UP Diliman, teaching Microeconomics, which covers firm behavior. 

The third reason is basic: love for shoes. 

The fourth reason is even more basic: the opportunity arose.

What is the unique selling point of Lupe Saenz?

Lupe shoes are made of genuine leather and handmade by the traditional shoemakers of Marikina.

I also intend to offer the option of customizing any existing style to accommodate color preferences or broken sizes.

What are the price points of Lupe Saenz?

For the summer collection, the prices range from Php 2,650 (for flats) to under Php 4,000 (for lace-ups).

Who do you imagine wearing your shoe line? What is the LS woman like?

The Lupe woman is a modern, multi-tasking woman, who needs flats to run errands, run after kids, travel, or shop; stilettos to party; wedges for a busy day at work; as well as killer pumps to impress someone at work.

Hooked yet ladies? For the complete collection, watch this!



Bonne Bouche is at the Filipino Designers Zone, Level Two, Greenbelt 5, Makati.

Hi-Low Shopping for Kids

So fun to dress up kids these days, so many choices! Everything just depends on how much parents are willing to spend on their kids.

Take for instance the French brand Bonpoint. I always go to their site and used to drop by their shop in Forum on Orchard Road for inspiration, and then look for similar pieces at H&M, Zara Kids or Gingersnaps. Of course, I couldn't resist getting these Bonpoint sneakers for Berry though (she has the exact same ones below). It was worth it since it's so comfortable and she wears it all the time. But the clothes, heart attack prices!

Then, of course, there's A.P.C. Kids. So easy to replicate the looks, because these are all pretty much basic pieces. The great thing apart from the timeless styles are, they're unisex, so the kids can share. But limited styles lang. What you see below, that's it! A.P.C. took the term capsule collection literally. Then again, it's A.P.C - minimalist through and through.

Have you checked out DVF x Gap Kids? I have! Both at Bonifacio High Street and Shangri-la. So many sizes and choices pa! I made Berry choose, and my ever so chic daughter only wanted this black drop waist dress with the relatively muted, printed skirt. 

She didn't like any of the other printed pieces. So, I bought her this dress she liked, plus the printed leggings on the mannequin on the right, just because it was cute with her plain colored tees. She actually didn't like that, but I like it! It's so fun. While I am also glad that Berry already knows what she wants, and can make decisions at such a young age, hey, Mother knows best! Haha! 

But I think my best find above all, which I am sure many of you will agree with me, are these Japanese children's clothes that I found at Paseo de Sta. Rosa a few days ago. The store Ryuma (not rheuma ha!), which is in the same area as Nine West, Aerosoles and Samsonite, and beside the similarly named Ryuma Restaurant and Ryuma Grocery doesn't look much from outside, but they have nice stuff! This sailor onesie is just Php100 and the printed shorts are Php80. They have cotton sleepwear for kids, a top and bottom set with super cute prints for just Php200.

Admittedly, I have been concentrating on girl stuff, but have started researching on what I want little Xavi to wear. My friends who have boys swear by J.Crew crewcuts and I think I will also start browsing the little boys section of J.Crew soon. Zara and Gap Kids have nice pieces for boys too. Locally, I have spotted a lot of nice, preppy basics at Gingernaps.

Girls are so easy and fun to dress, and I can't wait to face the challenge of dressing up our little boy in his own chic way too! How about you? Where do you shop for kids' clothes? Hope you can share!

These Shoes are Sugarfree!

Shoes are definitely just as sweet and indulgent as your favorite treat, especially if it comes in fun and bright colors like the bright Bowie pumps from Sugarfree that you see above!

Straight from Sweden, Sugarfree Shoes look simple but are contemporary and cool. Designed by Swedish designers of course, Sugarfree Shoes are modern and streamlined, while still possessing that practical function Swedes are known.

What's best, like our favorite Swedish brands like H&M and IKEA, they don’t cost a fortune. Prices for pumps are around Php2,500 while their flats start at Php1,650. Guilt-free!

Sugarfree Shoes are at available at the Young Adults Department in Rustan’s Makati (3/F) and Alabang (G/F) and at LEMON at 50th Avenue in Robinson's Galleria.

For queries and updates on new arrivals, email sugarfreephils@gmail.com or LIKE Sugarfree Philippines on Facebook!