TOPAZ HORIZON

I keep forgetting to take photos of my clothes! After all this time, I still feel so awkward posing in front of the camera. I keep hearing Tyra Banks's voice in my head: "Are you showcasing the dress best? Is your neck elongated? Is your face fierce?" Top Model has ruined me forever.

Yesterday, Vince and I went to the city hall to pay our annual real estate tax. Mandaluyong has a very efficient city hall so, even though we brought reading materials, we didn't get to do any reading because our papers were processed rather quick.

Plus, there was this to distract all the dutiful citizens: an exhibit of Sto. Niños. It was so fascinating. And that's saying a lot considering I'm not a Catholic. I think it's worth seeing. The exhibit starts with this baby Jesus on a horse. This is owned by the mayor.

Lots of different kinds of Sto. Niños, old and new, big and small.

A collection of sleeping baby Jesus.

The only two Sto. Niños that showed His purpose on earth.

Jesus was a carpenter but this Sto. Niño showed he could make shoes as well.

He's also a cute soldier.

Sto. Niños in various garb: soft robes, barong, tin and none at all.

We wish we had brought our cameras! Instead, I had to use my Blackberry to shoot these. Fascinating exhibit, even for us who aren't Catholics. If you have the time, go and see it at the Mandaluyong City Hall. I don't know when it will end, though, so drop by soonest.

My first cover story of the year is on Circuit magazine. It's a stunning cover of Iza Calzado. My story on her was pretty easy to do—I just asked what she's planning this year (amass a fortune!) and what she's always wanted to do but haven't (tons, one of which is to be a journalist like me!).

Anyway, here are a few behind-the-scenes shots from the shoot and interview last December:
That's Iza in beauty-prep mode. Beside her is my baby's yaya. We're at Raymund Isaac's photo studio near Kamagong, Makati.

Sooo many shoes and clothes! Of course, the finished product, you only see one outfit (the other photo inside is just her face) and no shoes at all. So to those of you who think stars and stylists have so much fun at shoots, think again. Stylist scours malls and designers to borrow stuff. Star tries on many outfits and poses in them so editors have a lot of options and then editors choose two or three looks only!

Also having a photo shoot was Giselle Toengi. She is tiny! I'm only 5'3" and I'm in flats here. I think Giselle was wearing heels here, but not very high heels. She's like this doll! She loved Iñigo bear!

So did her daughter! That's Sakura. She and Iñigo adored each other!

I talk a bit about this article on my professional website. Grabe your copy of Circuit! Mwah!

Crazy busy January. This was not how I imagined my January. I thought I'd be a housewife—cooking, fixing up the house, organizing, going to the playground with the kids, going on romantic dates with the husband.

I did do all the above plus met unbelievable weekly (sometimes daily!) deadlines for magazines, the newspaper column, websites, blogs. Plus meetings with clients. Plus events. Plus prayer meetings. Plus dates with friends. Plus being with family.

I am no longer sleeping. I am busier now than when I was employed!

I should be happy. And I am! It feels so good to be writing again! And it feels so good to the ego to be so wanted, you know?

But this was not how I imagined my January. I didn't imagine (or want) to be busy. I thought I'd be a housewife! I planned on being a donya! Pa-parlor-parlor lang, ladies' lunch with my friends that I never see, do crafting, finally read the many books I've been buying over the years, finally read the magazines I subscribe to, bake desserts, take classes in this and that, do a Kapitolyo eating tour with Vince, visit museums with the kids, travel with my boys, mani-pedi, massage, yoga... Leisurely life lang naman ang plan ko for 2013! Been busy since 1999 dammit. I've earned my rest!


Must reassess things.

I have a ton of sponsored posts to do but this isn't one of them. Yep, instead of working, I am online shopping. Uh oh.

I just bought 2 pairs of flats from The Ramp Crossings. I liked my online shopping experience with them! Easy navigation, many payment options, really fast delivery. I think I will buy more flats from them. Yes, flats. I gave away some of my heels recently and am in the process of giving away more. I decided that my life now is to be lived in flats so I'm freeing up space in the shoe closet so I can buy more flats.

Anyway, I'm rambling.

My next online shopping destination is Zalora. I mean, really, who can ignore Zalora when they are on this huge advertising blitz?! They're everywhere: blog ads, YouTube ads, Facebook ads. Crazy. So here's what I want: a phone case for my Blackberry. Haha! I knooooow. I'm soooo boring! I'm in the process of simplifying my life, remember? So no mega-shopping for stuff. But I do need a phone case. And I found Paperthinks. I love it!

So what color should I get?



Yummy!

I'm also eyeing their iPad case. I need one for my iPad3. That's what Vince got me for my birthday but I haven't been able to use it because Vito's addicted to the iPad. If I use it, he grabs it and then he won't stop and then I'll take it away from him and then he'll cry and then... So I just never use it! But with my new status as freelance writer, I'll have to. I'd rather bring the iPad to meetings rather than the heavy MacBook! So I think I'll get me this:

What do you think??? Has anyone here tried Zalora? How's the shopping experience?


*all photos from Zalora