[store finds: COOL TOPS & BOTTOMS FOR TEENS]

My girls discovered another fashion store in M!2 that sells cool teen apparel. It's BALLOW & it is the sister store of DIVI VILLE, one of the shops I blogged about here.

raglan shirts, muscle shirts
& tank tops

[chocolate or blueberry?]

How do you like your hotcakes?

If we go by what's usual, it would be with a slather of butter & maple syrup drizzled on top. But McDonald's has brought a new twist to it. I just discovered 2 new flavored syrups to choose from: chocolate or blueberry.

I tried the blueberry. It came in a sachet, an add-on (Php 15.00) to my 3-pc hotcake & sausage meal (Php 115.00).

[because we love MOMMY FLEUR]

Not even an injured toe nor the bipolar weather could stop me from attending my bestfriend's blogversary party at the Sky Lounge at Acacia Estates, Taguig. I just had to be there, come hell or high water. ;)

I arrived at half past 3 in the afternoon. Fleur, sexy in her hot pink blouse & lace shorts, met me with her usual tight hug & 'beso' as I came in. Most of her guests were already there - immediate family members, close friends,  a selected number of her blog readers, & mommy bloggers who I am also friends with: Maggie, Maqui & Sha. Em, Aimee & Dew followed suit, while Ging turned up much later after coming from a blog workshop. There were also two bloggers I got to exchange pleasantries with -Louise & Krisna.

The party, held in a function room at the penthouse level, was all prepped-up in splashes of red, the favorite color of the hostess.

From the paper lanterns

[baked KRISPY KROISSANT]

I first got wind of Krispy Kreme's 'cronuts' from MommyG. But before I could buy a bunch for the house, my thoughtful elder sister shared her box of baked Krispy Kroissants to us.

Yesterday afternoon, Jill & I had these delicious double treats. :)

vanilla cream

[double FRAPPES]

My trip to the grocery yielded me another make-at-home cafe beverage find. 

The frappe mix comes in a single flavor but you get to choose two toppings.

choco & mallows

[pairings with COOKIE BUTTER]

The 'phenomenal' Speculous cookie butter from Trader Joe's has finally invaded our home. Thanks to a high school bestie who gave a bottle for my family to try. =)

[parenting talk with FRANCIS KONG]

At a parents' assembly in Jill's school last Saturday, I had that rare chance to attend Francis Kong's parenting talk. 

Who doesn't know Francis Kong? He is a well-known, in-demand motivational speaker, best-selling author, business columnist, accomplished entrepreneur & radio broadcaster who conducts more than 300 trainings & seminars a year & is featured in major conventions & conferences here & abroad. 

That morning, we were really so lucky & blessed by his presence as he spoke about good & effective parenting. 

The multi-purpose room was jampacked. 

[design peg series: TUFTED SOFAS]

After my 'sectional sofa' phase, I am now into tufted sofas & I want one for the house. ;) 

I first saw them in GUS MODERN.

The regular ones

the ATWOOD

[home fair at THE LANDMARK]

I learned from a best friend that there's an on-going month-long home fair at The Landmark department store, both in Trinoma & Makati.  It started last August 1 & will end on September 2.

great selections on sale up to 50% off

[skewers of affordable goodness at YAKITORIONE]

Last Friday's holiday brought the girls & I to SM Aura. The 3rd time's a charm because we had a easy-breezy time going around. The 'mega crowd' was no longer there & parking slots were aplenty. ;)

After my girls were done with visiting their favorite fashion stops, we met with their dad for an early dinner. We decided to eat at the food court & try the Van Stratens' YAKITORIONE. 

[GOT TO HAVE THIS! series: PATIOS]

I still owe you that blog post about my patio project. For the longest time, whenever I see it in the morning as I look outside our bedroom window, I always tell myself that I should make that 'reveal' soon. It's actually almost good as ready but I haven't yet the time to make the necessary set-up deserving of a blog post. :)

For the meantime, let's just go through some patio design inspirations.

gazebo

source

[store finds: STICKERS, MOUSE PAD, GARDEN SPRAY]

The Japan Home Centre is another shopping 'wasteland' because once you get inside this store, you need to stop yourself from buying all the goodies you can lay your hands on. ;)

source

[the CROISSANT DOUGHNUTS chase]

So much has been heard (& seen) about the 'cronuts', a half-croissant, half-doughnut concocted by Chef Dominique Ansel. This hybrid pastry has taken the world by storm & versions of it have sprouted in various countries, including ours.

After seeing blog & IG posts of the cronuts, I started 'chasing after them' & looked for the places where they could be bought. This article led me to Dunkin' Donuts Cafe, just one of the eight establishments that sell the cronuts. Good thing there is a branch near where we live.

[a BANAPPLE a day]

Jill had no classes last Friday.

So, it was another day-out for us, as we headed to our fave mall in Taguig. 

It was past 10 am when we left the house. We took off without taking our breakfast so we decided to have brunch instead. I wanted something light to eat & since I just started on a self-imposed salad diet, I took my daughter to Banapple to try their salads & sandwiches. 

Banapple is a country-style bakery cafe that is famous for their pies & cheesecakes.

[design peg series : UNDER-THE-STAIRS SPACES]

Do you have odd or unused spaces under your stairs? Maximize the use of these areas by converting them into any of these.

Office.

source

[color peg series: GRAY]

The color gray is an unemotional color. It is detached, neutral, impartial and indecisive - the fence-sitter. From a color psychology perspective, gray is the color of compromise - being neither black nor white, it is the transition between two non-colors. The closer gray gets to black, the more dramatic and mysterious it becomes. The closer it gets to silver or white, the more illuminating and lively it becomes. Being both motionless and emotionless, gray is solid and stable, creating a sense of calm and composure, relief from a chaotic world. The color gray is subdued, quiet and reserved. It does not stimulate, energize, rejuvenate or excite. - Color Psychology

The color gray provides that certain calmness to your interiors. And when you inject a happy color here & there, you break the monotony. Just like beige, gray is classy & classic.

source

[SG part deux 2013 : UNIVERSAL STUDIOS]

Universal Studios Singapore was one of the 2 places we looked forward to seeing when we planned our trip to the Lion City.  Here's how our day tour went.

We never expected it to be that crowded. :( The line going to Sentosa via the Sentosa Express & the cable car was so long that hubby decided to get off the line & take a cab. But the first cabbie we approached refused to take us there. 

[SG part deux 2013 : MARINA BAY SANDS & GARDENS BY THE BAY]

It was a long stretch leading to the Marina Bay Sands hotel complex.

[when the CHEATING happens in the KITCHEN]

Are you adept in the kitchen? Or are you one of those who are still finding their way around that place?

Well, if you're more of the latter, then these cheat sheet infographics I found online will help you through those measurements, conversions & other techniques you need to know when you're in that food prep space of yours.

via

[SPArty with the TSN ladies on their 1st]

The invite that I got from D of The Soshal Network (TSN) for their sparty was something I couldn't say 'no' to. The thought of having a nail spa time with the TSN ladies, P, S & D to celebrate their 1st anniversary along with other mommy blogger friends got me all excited. ;)

So, I had to block off that Saturday so I wouldn't miss it.

On that day, I was an early bird at St. Nails. ;) Cai came in soon after, then Sha, Marsy & Em arrived one after the other. Fleur was there at past 4pm with her Anika.

We immediately settled into one of their comfy wing chair & ottoman sets. We were made to choose from their spa services menu.

I went for the Foot Paraffin (with pedicure) & Hand Paraffin (with manicure).

neutrals

plastic wrapped hand over a hot tub
of scented paraffin

complimentary rubber slippers

While I had my nails done, I had this plateful of cold cuts, cheese & a savory pasta dish.

This is the spruced-up buffet table where I got the delicious  food.

I liked the choice of finishes for the interiors: translucent onyx sheet for the reception counter wall, vintage machuca tiles for the floor, exposed wood beams for the ceiling, bare concrete for the walls & the nail polish drips for the wall piece.

From where I sat, I saw Marsy & Sha busy IG-ing while being  pampered. And that's P of TSN.

I got to sit next to Cai. Glad to have met the 'Donya' of Paper Chic Studio  during the party. ;) That's Em to her right.

Anika also had her nails done in blue & pink.

As 'kikay' 

as her mom, Fleur, the younger sister-bestie I now have. ;) 

via mommyfleur

The three kiddos had a fun time dancing with their Tita P. Junior versions of the TSN ladies? ;) 

St. Nails also handed out a lolli-cake each for the guests. 

After the 'guess-who-said-the-movie-lines' game by P, S & D, we had our group pictures taken.

via mommyfleur

via mommyfleur

And to these fab, generous & gracious TSN ladies,

via mommyfleur

our BIG thanks!;) 

Keep those witty, humor-tinged posts coming for many years more. Because for us, your readers, you make this complicated world a 'hilarious' place to be in. =)


p.s.

Hugs too from me for giving me this. Glad to have joined, shared & eventually won one of your blogversary package giveaways. Till the next one... ;)