Family Woes

Totally not beauty or fashion related post. Just need to get this off my chest.

This isn't about my immediate family but more on my extended family.  I love my family.  We're a big one on my mother's side and are scattered all over the globe.  Recently my Australian relatives came to visit and I met them for the first time and we (my Mom) more or less became their host here. Doesn't it feel so good to take the time and visit and attend a special occasion with cousins, aunts/uncles?  

I feel bad that my uncle's family wouldn't be attending my cousin's wedding this weekend.  There were only a few close relatives invited and so are expected to attend.  It would be out of town but we are all excited to go and bond with one another.  But not them.  Reason is that it's too far, they're busy, etc.  My mom even offered them a ride on the way there.  That uncle is my mom's brother.

What ticks me off, and I'm guessing I'm the only one bothered by it, is that the invites were given months ago so everyone would be prepared.  And my " sama ng loob" didn't start here.  They have an only daughter a few years my junior and it's too bad that they live far away but within the same city as ours so they couldn't be easily accessible as my other cousins/ relatives.

Shoe Shopping

I had a difficult time looking for a pair of shoes yesterday.  I was only able to go to Shangrila Mall yesterday because hubby had an interview there so DD and I tagged along.  I tried looking for a pair of either purple, yellow even red shoes but they were either sky high stilettos, too expensive (meaning not on sale- I'm a cheapskate, ha ha) or were too ugly looking. 

I settled for this pair seen in the photo below:

I got it on sale at Payless for only P699!  It's a bronze, bejeweled, 3-inch mid-wedge heel sandal from Fioni.  Good thing it feels very comfortable on the feet.  At least I can still use this with other kinds of clothes. And I do prefer wedges because I am not used to wearing heels.

I still wanted those purple ones I saw, like this:

It does seem a bit too high for me and looks uncomfortable.  Maybe when they put it on sale.

How to?

Got this gray silk dress (Petal Trim Dress) from Warehouse at 50% off last weekend!  I know it was meant for me because it was the last piece in my size and I never go in any Warehouse store ever.  I even thought it won't fit me because it looked small. But it did, so hurray!  This is a 2 piece dress, by the way, since it comes with a detachable full-length gray slip underneath as the dress is a bit sheer.

I am going to wear it to my cousin's wedding this February.  My DD will be a flower angel (no flower girls) for this event which is her 4th time in a row.  She was asked to be a flower girl for the 5th time this coming September for another cousin's wedding.  She'll be a seasoned "red carpet walker" by then, ha ha.  She even surpassed my 3-time flower girl stint when I was her age.    

Now back to the dress.  This picture shows the model with black tights on underneath the dress.  I kinda like the way it looks but the wedding is in the afternoon and black tights don't seem appropriate.  What color shoes should I buy? Since the color is gray, it needs a pop of color to dress it up.  No gold shoes please. Maybe bronze? Or red? Or even purple? I really have no idea.  I couldn't find a nice pair yesterday and the ones I found didn't have my size.  Any suggestions?  Accessories too, please.

Havaianas 2011 Collection

From Havaianas comes their 2011 collection seen in the video below:

A few years back I was one of the Havaianas fanatics having more than a dozen flip flops of the brand.  Every time a new style would come out I was one of the few who got a pair even as far as Australia and Dubai.  

Now, I still love Havaianas but I can only wear it at home or at the beach.  Since my right ankle had a previous injury I can not walk in ANY kind of flip flop or shoe that doesn't have support (even a little bit).  From almost a dozen or 2, I now have only 1 pair.  I plan on getting another one though when I wear my pair out.

Still, I can't help but drool over the new collection. I'm sure my little girl would love the new kid's designs.  She has gone through 3 pairs of her own. 

Any new designs that caught your fancy?

Barielle Shell Shock

with flash

by the window with sunlight, no flash

A nice dainty sheer pink from Barielle.  I think I used 3 coats here, with base and top coat.  This photo is a few months old as I saw it in my drafts.

On My Wish List

This is the new Olay Advanced Cleansing System very much like the Clarisonic which I've been lemming for but is too expensive for me.  The Olay one is only $29.99, is battery operated, has 2 speeds and replaceable brush heads plus it comes with a free Olay Cleanser. 

This will be mine definitely for this year.  In fact I already have it in my cart including a box of 2 extra brush heads but they're still on pre-order.  Since I didn't get anything much for Christmas (except for those I bought myself), this will be numero uno on my list.  When the timing is right (and with enough moolah), I'll be clicking on the "buy" button.  

Pretzel M&Ms

One of the reasons for weight gain - Pretzel M&Ms.  Need I say how yummy they are?  

I saw them end of December at a friend's facebook photo and she said she got it from Amazon.com.  Good thing my cousin was going home for the new year and I hurriedly asked her to get some before she went to the Phils.  And I got it last weekend.  Not just 1 bag but 2! And they're the party size bags of 30 oz. HUGE!!!

Salty, crunchy goodness of pretzels.  The best way for me to eat it which I saw my little girl do is to remove the candy chocolate coating first then you are left with a ball of pretzel.  Saving the best (in this case the pretzel) for last.   We only have 1 bag left, uh-oh.  In Amazon it's around $15 for this size.  My cousin says she got it at Target for the same price.  I heard somewhere that it's available at Clark or Subic Duty Free.   It's as good as the Peanut Butter M&Ms. 

New Year Greetings!

I would like to greet everyone a Happy New Year (and a belated Merry Christmas, Ho Ho Ho!)!!!  May the coming year bring all of us happiness, good health and prosperity!

I know I was MIA for a long time because I just didn't feel like blogging.  I've had my ups and downs but I got over them.  The holidays have been busy too mostly because I started baking again.  And yeah, I gained back all the weight I lost the whole year because of all those baked goodies ha ha.  I am trying to lose all the weight starting this week because I have a wedding to attend this weekend.  

I can't promise to start blogging beauty stuff because I haven't bought any cosmetic since the 2nd quarter of 2010 except for nail polishes.  I still have some Etude House and other items I got from the US unopened until now.  My acne flared up big time 4th Q of 2010 because I had to stop some medications.  Other stressors in my life came up too. 

I really need to purge a ton of cosmetics I haven't used or rarely used.  I think I posted about a blog sale ages ago which I still haven't gotten around to doing. Will do so once I get to posting this week (hopefully).