Si Valentino at ang Barong Tagalog

Valentino's Spring 2012 ad campaign has been making waves amongst us who have recognized the Barong Tagalog worn in such a ladylike way. My sister Trina managed to take snaps of their store window and it looks amazing in person. 

Does this make you want to wear a Barong Tagalog too? When cut slim, belted and paired with a skirt, it just takes on a whole new look.

Funny how Filipino designers seem to have glossed over looking at our Barong Tagalog as something for girls. Although I am sure some have attempted, but not to this effect. Often, it has always been taken so literally and the few women I have seen who wear Barongs still pair it with pants. When to start with, the Barong in itself is pretty and delicate enough for girls, even though they are really meant to be worn by men. 

Valentino's twist was done in such a unique, yet still traditional way. With just a few tweaks, the designers actually managed to make it look like something I would want to wear too, hee!

Thank you Hatch & Latch!

I just wanted to say thank you to Helen See of Hatch & Latch for sending us these BellyBuds! We've been using these for a couple of weeks now so Xavi can enjoy some Mozart. He really responds to it, because whenever I play him some music, he starts moving in my tummy. Just like his Atchi Berry.

Dada & I just make sure that the volume isn't turned on high, so that it doesn't get too loud in there. Although BellyBuds has a fixed safe maximum volume so moms don't have to worry about accidentally turning on the volume much too high that it could cause deafness.

So yeah, with Xavi, its a little more high tech now with him because he gets his own "earphones"/bellyphones. When I was pregnant with Berry, I just played some music to her via Pandora or while driving in the car. 

I really make it a point to teach the kiddos music appreciation early, like in the womb. It supposedly makes them smarter. Plus, it's so cute whenever Berry hears music now, she always feels like dancing, even in public. Specially now that she has been learning ballet. She always demonstrates her new dance moves to her aunties and uncles, and the new friends she meets. Such a performer. Let's see if Xavi will be the same.

Apart from BellyBuds, Hatch & Latch also sells maternity clothes, development toys, baby gear, and breastfeeding products from brands that Helen herself has used and swear by. So everything in her store is mommy tested and loved.

For more on Hatch & Latch, please visit their website and Facebook page. Hatch & Latch often does giveaways too, so make sure you "Like" their page so you're constantly in the loop!

Musings on Hair

So my SIL Lorr had this brilliant thought the other day. She said it would be the ultimate if we had a helper who was trained to do blow outs. I mean, imagine having perfect hair every day? You don't even need to go to a salon to get your hair done. Imagine too, not having to worry about hiring a hair stylist to do your hair when you have a big party to attend?

My BFF Nina is lucky because she has perfect hair everyday. When she goes to work, a hairstylist takes care of styling her hair, after all, she's on TV every day. 

This is Nina. Yes, she looks like this every single day...(photo by Dar Ramos)

Meanwhile, every day I go out with limp, and often fly away hair. Like this:

One time, Berry, Nana & I visited Nina at work. And I was complaining about my yucky hair. She asked her hairstylist to do something about my hair, and tadaaaaa - in less than 2 minutes, with just a few flicks of her wrist using a hair straightener, she came up with this:

My hair looked like it had volume, body and waves, for a change!

That same afternoon, I ended up buying a Babyliss ionic/ceramic hair dryer in Landmark Trinoma, sponsored by my mom heehee. Nina helped me choose, it's a French brand that she swears by. Sarap the feeling to have nice hair talaga every day, I felt so "polished". Amazing what nice hair can do! I just wish I have the discipline to really take time to do my hair each day.

And I really promise na I will buy the best straightener ever! Her stylist used something like this, a straightener with wide tongs. 

Now if only I can learn how to use one. Better yet, if Lorr & I can find a helper who knows how! Hey, do you ladies know where one can learn how to do blow outs? Kind of like a hair workshop or something? I am serious!

24 Weeks

Wore this to dinner with Karrots, Oliver & Tipu at Mamou in Rockwell. Top from H&M, J Brand skinny jeans, Anthology Hudsons, necklace from J.Crew

Ran errands and attended a private sale in Manila Pen (thanks for the invite Therese!). Top from H&M, J.Crew trousers that are starting to get more snug around the waistband, gold TKEES

Photos taken last week of March 2012. I am on my 27th week this coming week, and the white jeans I am wearing in this post need to be unbuttoned now so I can wear it comfortably.

Refresh & Renew with Fashion Forum & The Spa

When you refresh your wardrobe with the new Spring and Summer arrivals at Fashion Forum Megamall, Makati, Mall of Asia and North EDSA, and spend a minimum of Php8,000 in a single receipt, you get to refresh your spirit too with a FREE 60 minute Deluxe Massage gift certificate from The Spa.

Offer started Easter Sunday, April 8 and will go on until April 30, or when supplies last.

Participating The Spa branches include: Acropolis, The Fort, Trinoma, Alabang and Greenbelt.