TOPAZ HORIZON

Yep, it's a lousy weekend and that's an understatement. My wallet was stolen yesterday afternoon from my desk and I'm not going to say how much money I've lost through unauthorized credit card transactions but I will tell you this: When the bank told me the full amount, I nearly fainted. And I don't faint at anything. The first and only time I felt like the world was blacking out was when I learned Mama had died. Then this. So try to imagine how much I have to pony up when the billing statement arrives next month.

I'm fixing things now with HSBC and SM Cubao. They've been incredibly helpful, thank the heavens. The theft was captured on our security cameras at the office. I'm filing a police report as soon as I get a good image of the thief. I must say I'm impressed with our security video cams (but not our security guards) since the images are pretty clear. The thief's a fat woman. Yes, if you're reading this, thieving bitch, I just want to let you know you look like a greedy little oinker with no sense of style whatsoever. Obviously, not even thousands of cash can improve your looks or your taste. Okay, venting over. Pardon me, dear regular readers.

Funny thing is I think if she had bought groceries or medicines or even paid a hospital bill with my card, I'd be fine with it. Instead she went off and charged tens and thousands worth of stuff from SM's appliance store. Mind-boggling how evil and stupid this world is.

Although I am already expecting the worst, I do have hope that this will work out in my favor. Christmas is just around the corner and I was planning a big celebration for my family, especially since it's our first Christmas without Mama. Well, money or no money, we're going to have a blast! Actually, Vince and I are already looking on the bright side: This is a good, albeit expensive, lesson that we should be living simply anyway. Cut the credit cards! Enjoy homecooked meals! Shop less! Love more!

Yeah, things are looking up for me =)

So I've been getting inspired by WendyB's posts on her eBay finds (she is amazing when it comes to shopping on eBay!) and so I'm posting some of mine here, just to get the word out on how fun online shopping is. If I haven't said so yet, I'm an eBay junkie, too. Almost all my beautiful dresses and some sexy shoes and vintage bags are from eBay.

Why do I love eBay? Let me count the ways:
1. The hunt! I get a huge high! And y'all know how I love online shopping.
2. Second-hand stuff is kinder to the environment. Reuse, recycle!!!
3. Vintage dresses and bags are amazingly well constructed. They really don't make stuff like that anymore. Sigh.
4. I love the designer dresses I get for a fraction of the cost! I have a Miu Miu, a Prada, a Jill Stuart, an Anna Sui, and a lot more I can't remember. I do know that I now own these two BCBG Maxazria LBDs:


So sexy. So classic. So PHP 800 (USD 16) each! Ah, eBay... I love it!

My darling friend Kate Torralba just came out with the sweetest thing--a line of stylish stockings! At the exclusive launch at posh hotel Manila Peninsula, tall, leggy goddesses walked in Kate's signature colorful outfits paired with the fun stockings. I swear, we all put down our dessert spoons and gaped.

At just PHP 299 (USD 6) for the solid colored pairs and PHP 399 (USD 8) for the printed ones, I want to collect them all! Here are just a few of her designs:

Head on over to Chuvaness' blog for more photos and a video from the show. Totally hot!

*Leg Love by KT stockings are available at her Greenbelt 5 store and at all SM department stores nationwide.

Over the past couple of years, I've been trying out various cellulite-removing creams. Yes, I'm thin but if you're a woman reading this, you know that cellulite happens on anybody, no matter the size and weight. And I am an unhappy victim.

There are many active ingredients in these creams that are said to be effective in reducing the dreaded dimply skin. These are L-Carnitine, AHA, Retinol, chocolate, gingko, cayenne pepper and caffeine. So far, the ones that have worked on me are those that have the fat-burning L-Carnitine (Nivea Good-bye Cellulite) and the circulation-increasing caffeine and coffee berry (L'Oreal PerfectSlim).

I stopped drinking coffee years ago but when I heard that caffeine is a major slimming ingredient (used in diet pills like Fenterdren, for example), sweetheart, I just started drinking that stuff again! Of course, my insomnia is also back with a vengeance but hey, I can sleep when I'm dead!

*image used with permission from FreeFoto.

This is my magnetic wall at work. Those are just some of the events I'm going to this month. I wonder why all the invites I get now are black. They all look alike, I have trouble remembering which is which. Sigh, old age is catching up with me. I like different colors--they help me remember better!