TOPAZ HORIZON

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Am about to disappear for some technical updates

I'll be gone for a while. I'm tired of this dreary black thing going on with this blog. I did that because a black screen doesn't consume as much energy as a white screen. So I like to think that you save energy while you read my blog. But if your eyes get stressed, what is the point of reading?!

Anyhoot, I will experiment for a bit. Clean up. I want to be minimalist for 2011. Life is getting really messy lately. As life tends to be. But blogs, hair and houses shouldn't be! Be back sooooon!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The smell of leather intoxicates me!

And right about now, it's everywhere! Remember when I was going on and on about this bag?

Kate Spade Marielly Sutton Place Cross-Body Bag

Well, blog reader Eper left a comment on my Facebook page saying she found a fabulous deal for me: Kate Spade was on sale and the Marielly was 50% off! I immediately clicked on the link she sent me and, indeed, Kate Spade was on sale! So I bought... TWO! (Thank you, blogging money!)

I woke up to the heavenly smell of leather
and the sound of crinkly tissue paper!

It's such a cute bag!

And it opens up to a tote if you need more space!

One for me and one for my dear dear dearest friend Mariel! I figured she should have a bag that has the same name as hers. Besides, it was her birthday and it was Christmas, too. So Mariel and I both had a merry Christmas!

That's just-woken-up me! Good morning indeed!

I love my new bag. Soooo much! Will post an outfit photo soon!

Monday, January 03, 2011

I didn't get my Alice fix!

I was bidding on this, but quickly withdrew from the heated bidding war because I just didn't have the money for it.

It's a 1900 edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It's quite rare. I really wanted it. A few friends said I should check the authenticity of the books first (ask for a photo of the copyright page). Another one said I'd need a special viewing case and a dehumidifier because in our very humid and tropical climate, such old books will disintegrate.

Well, after all that, I lost the bid. Well, I didn't even try after the bids went way beyond what I was willing to pay for it. I was a tad disappointed because I collect all things Alice. So, to make me feel better, I'm thinking of bidding on these:

This is an exquisite collection of figurines modeled after the illustrations of Sir John Tenniel. It's a limited edition created by Kaiyodo. I love it!

This is whimsical wall clock depicting the mad tea party scene. And look at the time! It's backwards!

They're not cheap either so I'm a bit hesitant to bid. But it would be ever so nice if I added these to my collection. Big sigh!

What a year 2010 was!

Ahh, the holidays have officially come to an end. Tomorrow, I hit the ground running with several interviews on the radio to promote the January issue of the entertainment magazine I edit.

Then I'm off to the first class of Barre3 at Power Plant because I plan to lose this big bowl of Jell-O that's sitting around my middle since... forever. I can't diet yet since I'm breastfeeding and I have to make sure I have enough fat and nutrients in me to make healthy milk. So it's all exercise for me! I also hope Barre3 will help firm and strengthen my flabby arms and thighs because Vito is growing very fast and very heavy. Poor little me, at a measly 109 lbs., is toppling over!

But before we dive into 2011, let's take a look back at 2010...

I got pregnant. And wasn't very happy about it, too! I was hormonal and weepy and irritable, especially when people told me to stop drinking Coke. Looking back now, I wish I hadn't been such a bitch. Everyone's been forgiving, dismissing my apologies with, "You're pregnant. Bitchiness really happens." But still. If I ever get pregnant again, I want to be really nice, mostly because everyone was so nice to me!

Yep, people also told me to stop wearing heels but stubborn me insisted. No harm done! The past year was also special because I got to spend a lot of time with my darling friends Nicole and Mariel. It was a big year for them, too. Nicole resigned from her cushy job to freelance and Mariel got married!

Mariel had one of the happiest weddings I've ever attended. It was all heart--lots of
friends and family and love. I'll never forget this beautiful beach wedding!

There's our friend Kate singing at Mariel's reception. As with my own wedding years ago, Kate not only designed
the gowns, she also sang at the dinner. Kate, thanks for always being so generous with your talent!
We love you and miss you!

Another wedding I'll never forget is Nicole and Bernard's. This was such a stylish affair.
We were knocked off our feet really. And to see two of the kindest and sweetest people
I know commit to forever is really something special.

When I was 5 months pregnant, I caught pneumonia. I think I almost died there but I was too busy worrying about my unborn child. If you'd been following this blog (and my mommy blog), you'd know the horror story. But the doctor apologized, I was okay, and most important of all, the Jelly Bean came out perfectly healthy four months later!

Oh, and this was also the year we said good-bye to commuting. Yes, we bought a car and named it Zoom Zoom.

They said pregnant women are lucky so I should've placed a bet on the Lotto or something. Instead, I won some fine hair accessories!

Who swallowed a watermelon?! Me! Funnily enough, it was my pregnancy
that landed me on Style Bible's stylish mommies list. To my great
amusement! I'm very proud to be on that list, mind you. I don't take it
lightly at all. I have spent all my life trying to be smart and talented.
The result of that was I spent no time grooming and styling!
I had always been a terrible mess. So Style Bible's decree is most astounding!

Ya know, I always wanted to be a cover girl but, having achieved absolutely nothing of great import,
I'll have to be content with writing the cover stories. My house did become a cover star!
I'm mighty proud!

I am still amazed that even with my pregnancy, I still found the time to be with
my friends. I guess it was the fear of being stuck at home when the baby
finally arrives that pushed me to go out out out. But then I needn't have
worried that I'd lose my friends because Nicole and Nikki took the
time to visit me when the baby came!

And here he is!

Having a baby is HARD. I used to think, "How hard can it be? I run a magazine and a household. I can stay up till 4am. Babies can't be that hard." Boy, was I wrong! There are days I can't even eat, go to the bathroom, take a shower, etc ad infinitum! A baby demands so much time! But I quickly adjusted, am still adjusting actually. And I don't really mind spending nearly 24/7 with the little guy...

Just look at him. He's beyond adorable. I'm madly in love.

Now, I haven't forgotten the man I'm madly in love with! This year proved to be a good one for our marriage. The pregnancy, the childbirth, the baby, the troubles and trials that came our way (and that I won't talk about because if I told you about them you'd get really explosively angry at my father)... all these things really strengthened us.

Yes, it's been a fabulous year! Great joys, great trials. And we survived! Now it's 2011. I can't help but get giddy with anticipation and hope. I feel this year will even be better. I'm sooo excited! Happy New Year!