Ubusan ng Glamourbox

What do you give your girl friends this Christmas? When you're running out of time, it can be such a daunting question no?

My sister and I were brainstorming the other day and I was telling her about the latest trend in beauty today - beauty subscription boxes! Think BDJ Box and Glamourbox. But look what greeted us when we went to the site:

Yes, SOLD OUT! As my friend Karrots would say, "Ubusan ng glamour!" Congratulations to the Glamourbox team - Marie, Lia, Pam, Pammy and Gretchen!

I was invited to their launch a month ago, and it was no surprise that the boxes sold out. Because who wouldn't want to receive something like this? The box alone I want to keep! It's as nice and sturdy as an iPad box, ganda!

Well, the box doesn't come with cupcakes, but just wanted to share this with you. Berry loved it when I brought one home for her. So pretty! It was baked by Joy San Gabriel:

Ok, back to the box! This was what was inside the November box! Loved that it has cult beauty brands that are practically unheard of in Manila, but are making waves abroad. Such as the mascara from Australian brand Eye of Horus. The Ofra lip palette was such a good find too! I think one product alone, the box is "sulit" as it is. But of course, there were more finds inside, like scents for you and your man, as well as Yves Rocher and Shiseido products.

The November box was so good, every girl worth her beauty salt must have pounced on the December box! Oh well, there's always January!!!

For more on Glamourbox, visit their website and like them on Facebook!

The 12 Yosi Samras of Christmas: Part 3

Sisters, sigh! Sometimes it’s just so hard to find the perfect gift for them, unless they tell you what they want outright. I often give my sisters clothes or accessories when gift-giving season comes around. But this Christmas, I’m excited to share with them my latest, greatest find of the year!

Day 5: Black Glitter

My sister Nicole’s job requires her to help in planning and organizing high-level corporate events (think guests composed of business owners, CEOs and presidents). Her responsibilities often require her to be in the office by day, and to help out with the logistics of the event in the afternoon and evening. She is constantly on the go - meeting with her boss and colleagues, talking to suppliers, and running around making sure the event starts on time, runs smoothly, and ends without a hitch. This is why she has to be in comfortable flats that are understated enough to be worn in the office, and yet appropriate enough to be worn at night.

I’ve chosen Yosi Samra’s black glitter flats for Nicole because it’s the right mix of proper and polished. It’s pretty enough to wear with just a simple shift dress. So when Nicole gets tired of wearing heeled pumps, she can always slip into this pair, and not feel underdressed at all.

The Glitter series comes in silver, pewter, gold, rainbow and black. Each one is so pretty - the perfect day to night pair of flats.

Day 6: Burnished Ostrich and Taupe/ Navy Leather

Dianne enjoys wearing flats as much as I do. Maybe because comfort is key to her lifestyle too. She’s always off to a meeting - from Binondo to Laguna, not the most glamorous places, but that doesn’t stop her from dressing up, because she enjoys doing that too. Her style is casual and relaxed but never boring. She often wears ballet flats with trousers and silk shirts to work. That is why I chose these taupe flats with a burnished ostrich detail in navy from Yosi Samra. Simple, classic but with an unexpected, stylish twist.

The heel area of Dianne’s Yosi Samras have a burnished ostrich detail in navy. Definitely not just any ordinary pair of flats!

6 girls and their gifts done, 6 more to go!

Blow-up the Holidays!

The Dychiaos, Christmas 2012 take at Blow-Up Photography Studio

Family photos have become a tradition in our family, because it's just so nice to see every new addition (like Xavi hehe!) and how each one of us has grown each year. When we started sending out personalized Christmas cards in 2008, it was just me and Dada. Years later, and we've got two little ones na! 

Our first Christmas card was taken from our pre-nup photos take by Nelwin Uy. For Christmas 2009 and 2010, they were all taken at home with Dada's home studio equipment. December 2011 - we didn't have a proper one pala, we had just moved back to Manila from Singapore and we were too busy with and tired from settling in that we just didn't have time for a formal Christmas photo. For this year, we went to a studio partly owned by our friends Ning & JA Tadena: Blow-Up in Serendra.

Thank goodness. Less stress sya ha. We just set-up our appointment a week before. On the day of our "shoot",  I piled the kids onto the car, and Dada just met-up with us straight from office. When we got to Blow-Up, they were ready for us. Here's a tip, change into your "shoot" clothes there, so they don't look wrinkled in photos. That's what we did. We brought our clothes to Blow-Up still in hangers, although I had my makeup on already.

It took us less than an hour to change into our clothes and have photos taken at the regular studio shoot and the studio with the Scene Machine.

This is us with the Bokeh backdrop from the Scene Machine, looks like the photo was taken outdoors no?

They work so fast and so efficiently that you could have a professional family photo taken during your lunch break! In fact, Dada had to go straight to a meeting after our shoot, and so it was a good thing we finished so fast. Actually, and thankfully, the kids were cooperative that afternoon. Because it's a different story when your little ones aren't in the mood, right?

A few days after, we got the the low-res files so we could choose which photos we wanted high-res versions of for printing. We sent the file names back to our photographer and the following day, she sent us the high-res files. We just have to decide which ones we want printed in a certain size. Incidentally, Blow-Up doesn't only print your photos, but they can also do gift cards, Christmas cards and calendar versions as well. Check these out: 

Gift card - prices range from Php500-1000 for 20 pieces 

Christmas card

Calendar - it's an 8x12 photo print

Cute no? We enjoyed having our family photos taken at Blow-Up and loved our pictures so much that we are also planning to have the best one printed in a 24x30" size. According to Ning, we can choose if we want it printed on canvas or photo print. Just waiting for the quote on that.

It's not yet too late to have your family photos taken too. Just schedule an appointment with them,  it's so easy, promise. Location, contact details and price list are all here:

For more on Blow-Up, visit their website and Like Blow-Up on Facebook.

The 12 Yosi Samras of Christmas: Part 2

My girl friends abroad won’t be missing out on Yosi Samras. Amongst all my friends, I think Naomi and Mary Anne will be getting the most use out of their new shoes. Naomi lives in Singapore and Mary Anne works in Manhattan. Their lifestyles simply demand walking around in comfortable, and of course, stylish flats most of the time.

Day 3: Black Leather with Black Studded Cap Toe

Mary Anne is one of my dearest, dearest friends, our neighbor in the States, and my shopping partner-in-crime. When I saw the black leather flats with black studded cap toes from Yosi Samra’s Holiday Collection, it was just so “New York” that I knew it would be perfect for her. Like most Manhattan commuters, Mary Anne goes to work and back home in flats during the summer and Uggs during the winter. She only changes to heels when she gets to the office. These foldable flats that I picked out for her packs so discreetly in a black canvas pouch, so she can dump it in her work bag without making it bulge.

Yosi Samras come packaged in a discreet and compact black drawstring pouch so it can be brought along any time, any where

After all, a stuffed bag isn’t a pretty sight when you’re stepping out to meet clients at their office. I am pretty sure Mary Anne would love this pair, enough to also wear on weekends.

Day 4: Navy Leather

Naomi, my friend from high school and business partner in Singapore, is tres chic. Every outfit she wears is well thought out and yet effortless. She intuitively knows the exact piece to add to her wardrobe each season, but her overall aesthetic is always timeless. I always look forward to the outfits she and her adorable twins wear. (Her son Tristan, who is always dressed up in preppy outfits, is my peg for Xavi, actually.) I can totally see Naomi wearing the navy Yosi Samras in flat leather for her school runs, store visits and grocery days.

The rubber split soles are anti-slip and sturdy enough for running errands and walking on city streets

When I think of navy flats, I think Parisienne style and understated chic. Just like Naomi.

4 girls and their gifts done, 8 more to go!

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.