fab! Zara and Zoey musings

Zoey Redbird, the main character in the House of Night series I have been writing about today, is, like the other fledglings, marked with a crescent-shaped tattoo on her forehead.

To give you an idea, here's one unofficial, fan-conjured image of her from
http://betrayed02.tumblr.com/page/2



In keeping with my revisiting of the House of Nights series, I am inspired to lust for these stockings (which thanks to D&G we are still seeing more of this season), that I might even wear it one of these days, or early next year...




Available at Zara for P995.00

xoxo, Y

penchant for: bookends

bought these bookends today...yay! ...i am not into books (the way X, Y and hubby are --- is there any other way? hehe, yes, my way, of course!) but i like bookends...labo ba? hehe.  the books in the photos are actually hubby's, except for the middle one which i bought years ago and haven't read (and which i do not plan reading soon too) -- the one about the "ogre."

i love the classic-vintage look of these bookends! best of all, hubby likes them, he thinks they are expensive (not!) and he plans to reimburse me (again)...  yes, berry good! bwahaha!

Z

health, wealth & love

i bought these do-it-yourself "document boxes" more than 6 months ago just because... i never had the perfect reason to "assemble" these until today, as gift boxes.  huwaaat? as gift boxes?!!!

yep! gift boxes! i know it's unusual but i realize it's just perfect for my gifts and it's just so me (makulit, hehe!) and my recipient (who loves buddhas and auspicious stuff, fuchsia, lime green and other striking and happy colors, and i believe any stuff for organizing)... look:

love, love, love... oh, shop owner said these buddhas represent health, wealth and love.  so love, health and wealth!  thus, i am happy! haha!  so happy...coz i have 1 set too, bwahaha!

Z

Am I sympathizing with the wrong people lately?

I am never an opinionated person. Most of the time, I just keep silent, but that doesn't mean I don't have any take on issues.
1. Christopher Lao - affinity to a common alma mater aside, I kinda understood what he had been through, me being a 'lutang' driver myself sometimes. To some of us who are not so lucky, misfortune happens, and we utter things without deliberation right after an event (in Latin, res gestae), which we would regret after, and wasn't he provoked by the media reporter?
2. Leila De Lima - I am not pro GMA, but to deliberately close your eyes to a TRO everyone has known about on the ground that your department has not received an official copy of such TRO, is the lamest if not most inhuman argument I have heard of. I will never vote for her if she runs for an elective office.
3. Midas Marquez - I still refuse to concede that he is 100% gay. My basis? He's so gwapo and he has fathered children according to google... Being accused of being gay is not like you have committed a crime, so I guess we just need a preponderance of evidence to prove that he.is.not.gay. I rest my case. Diba, Z?
4. Kenneth Cobonpue - I appreciate his work, but that's not the only criteria for selecting the contractor to fix an airport. Secretary Mar Roxas, I am impressed that you listened to your legal advisers and you were not swayed by Kenneth Cobonpue's bloggers-supporters.
5. KC Concepcion - girl, you earned my respect. Before, I thought your 'relationship' with Piolo was just part of a publicity stunt. Hindi pala, and you really felt something for him. Medyo slow on your part ha, but at least you were true to your feelings. You were not plastic, and like most of us, make stupid decisions sometimes. But that's ok, you're still young and you'll learn.

Just my five cents, and I promise after this, I will be putting on more of that fab! hat of mine...

xoxo,
Y

Loaning Kindle books

If you have a close friend who has owned a Kindle e-book reader for quite some time, and therefore chances are she has accumulated a few or more kindle books, and you're aching to read some e-books in that new gadget of yours (read: ipad2), you might want to check out first if that close friend of yours has some kindle books to loan out, before you go on buying. Read: sayang ang dollars :-)

I say close friend because Amazon says that "eligible books can be loaned once for 14 days"' so unless my interpretation is incorrect, this means that that a book can be loaned once only.

Just now, I discovered that Kindle books in the P.C. and Kristin Cast's House of Night series are eligible for loaning.


X, I have Book 1 (Marked) to Book 7 and I choose you! I will loan first the 1st one because you might not like it... And on the off chance that you like it, just text and I will e-mail the next books to you. of course, one at a time, because the loan is only for 14 days.

So what's the catch? Ahm, ehem eto nalang ang Christmas gift ko sa yo? Haha, joke....

The good news for Z is: this House of Night series is being developed into a movie. Just early this November 2011, Davis Films bought the rights to the series. Davis Films is the same outfit which produced the Silent Hill and Resident Evil films. Wink wink!

Oh, X, I hope you'll be hooked just like me once.

Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again!

P.S. I just 'loaned' out a book. I received a note from Amazon stating 'Your Kindle book has been loaned. The recipient will be sent an email shortly explaining how to get their loaned book. As a reminder, you will not be able to read this book while it is loaned. The recipient has 7 days to accept this book. Once the book is accepted, the recipient will have 14 days to read the book before it is returned to you.'

Y

i love fred

ok, X and Y are probably raising their eyebrows as hubby's name is not fred.  hehe.

still, i love fred. i love him, i love him, i love him! haha!

or maybe, i must have been fred in my past life.  bwahaha.

oh well, i just super duper love you fred for these and a lot more...

earlier this year, i bought these "fred's" in HK as pasalubong (which i also so wanted for myself but for once, IQ prevailed over EQ, haha!) :

for this christmas, this is what i want from fred:

o-ha!  lagare!
Z (as party host):  would you like me to table saw you a cake?
wahaha!

bwahaha.... perfect with my new red cake stand!  love you, love you....mwaaaah! haha!

Z

[all photos from fred's site: worldwidefred.com .... even the website name is so cool! hay, will you merry me, fred?! hehe]

books line-up

When I get my card, these are the books in my December list. These are available in iTunes. I'm excited!

(Good luck if BH finds out!)

A) Prophecy of the Sisters ($7.99)

It is a story of two sisters who are orphans and became enemies. It's the first book by Michelle Zink.

Books may be checked on this site

image from www.guardian.co.uk

B)Best Friends Forever ($11.99)

Story of friendship of course. By Jennifer Weiner. I remember my best friend in grade school and how we grew up so differently. We both have different religious affiliations. I got married and she didn't. I got DS and she's got an adopted daughter.  Hmmm... I just hope this won't have the same story as Something Borrowed and Something Blue (given to me and Y by Z)

www.readingis fashionable.com

 C) Can You Keep a Secret ($7.99)

Reading the synopsis, I think it's about a bored girl who met the man of her dreams in an unexpectedly. It's a book by Sophie Kinsella

www.sophiekinsella.co.uk

 Okay that's almost $30.00 for December- first week , that is. 

These will be enough to keep me busy for ....let's just say 5 days. I just hope I won't spoil the holidays.

X

hmmm.... no work load X?!!! bwahaha!  you and Y....books, books, books.  will just wait for your books to be made into movies, bwahaha!

shopping for credit cards

The day I received my Ipad2 shipment, I was very eager to download apps, apps and apps...

I was hesitant at first because i wanted to use a card with a lower credit limit. I was afraid to use my one and only card.

I checked with some banks. It appears that BPI has more freebies than others. They have this e-card or internet card which is intended for online transactions.

image from www.pinoymoneytalk.com

Anyway, they asked me to submit so-and-so documents which I find tedious.

I called my bank and they are willing to give out another card with a smaller credit limit. They just asked me to submit my ID. 

Then I checked my ID. Hoolalala! My Driver's License had expired. Tsk tsk tsk.

Good thing they accepted my office ID with my "gorgeous" pic on it. Hahahaha!

When I get my new card, I'll purchase all the books that I want! Hahaha!

BH said, "if that's your only use for your Ipad,I'll just get you a Kindle and give me the Ipad."

Wohooo! Krisis ba?

X

chestnuts from Z

Thanks for the chestnuts, Z

and for cracking them open, perfectly, for me!

xoxo,

Y

boy-friends

i took these photos from my blackberry over the weekend after i had dinner with these 2 friends from the dinasour era... actually, they only became my "friends" by frustrated affinity...meaning, they are friends of my ex, hehe...and  by the way,  frustrated affinity covers these 2 boys having a frustrated relationship with 2 of my closest high school friends also! haha. 

(long story and moral lesson to follow)

Z

Early christmas loots from Z

1. Personalized gift cards, original designs by Z;
2. Flash disk with christmas songs inside (Kenny G and Mariah); and
3. Cake presentation trays.

Love them Z! Thanks.

xoxo.

my angels and androids are out!

yesterday, i spent the whole day "naming" these angels -- all 200 of them!

i also "wrapped" X and Y's gifts and around a couple of dozens more (including these androids, which are flash drives and not erasers!)...

i requested red angry bird to "name" these androids
and save mariah and kenny g's christmas albums

today, i plan to go home early and wrap several other batches of christmas gifts -- for hubby's "green" friends; his "red" friends; his high school "exchange gift" for tomorrow; and, our 58 combined inaanaks...

by wednesday (which is the last day of november and a holiday), i need to finish the rest and make sure that every loved one is accounted for because this year, for a change, december is only for me, myself and Z! yes, december 2011 will be all about the nice and naughty me, wipeeee!!!!  {vowing not to let 2010 happen again, which is a long and technologically-challenging story}, this december needs to be mine and it has to be happy...prime rib, lechon baka, lobster in lemon butter sauce and mara's gateau de crepe, among others....ha,ha,ha!  pagkain lang pala para sumaya, bwahaha! 

Z

Manila Hotel vs. Sofitel

My officemate and I went to Manila Hotel last week to check the venue for an official business of some VIPs.

The account executive brought us to Mabuhay Palace Restaurant. It was quite surprising for me because I never expected to see a renovated and much pleasant smelling Manila Hotel.Most foreign visitors prefer Sofitel, Hyatt or Diamond. Other than being so pricey, Manila Hotel is also creepy.

Entrance to the Mabuhay Palace Restaurant

We further toured the Hotel for their other function or meeting rooms.

The Wine Cellar Room is quite spacious compared to the Meeting Room at Hyatt. 

It's classic but the table is narrow. We wanted a bigger table for all the stuff that the attendees will bring.

Wine Cellar Room

The last room we've visited is what I liked the best. Although, it's small, there is a homey feeling to it. It's the Cigar Room. It's so hidden that you need to pass through some buffet counters and all before reaching its entrance. You will need to pass the view of the pool and a small pocket garden. But it's nice.

Meeting Table (Too bad, it's too small)

No smoking. Hahaha!Pocket garden behind.

I would feel like a queen on this chair.

Anyway, the area is too small for the function so we decided to get the Mabuhay instead.

Days later, we had some dinner at Le Bar in Sofitel. 

As I've said in my earlier posts, I prefer the outdoors.

Sunset Dinner at Le Bar, Sofitel

Poolside is so pretty!

Y and Z, why don't we have our next meet up here.

X

my one and only king...

...midas!

someone emailed me this video of my kraaash this morning.... and i almost fell from my chair.... almost krasssshed ba!  (actually, red angry bird told me about this last night but i brushed it aside...didn't realize it was this real!)

hay, i am so head over heels with this .....man?  gentleman? gentle-man? ... so much so that every bit of my being refuses to believe the common impression of this video...

he is so guapo and mabango.  he is so neat and prim.  i just looooove, looooove, looooove this gUy.  or, am i in denial?

i have an oath of allegiance to my one and only king midas....bwahahaha! or, maybe huhuhuhuhu......why-o-why.

Z

for x, re: bookbook for ipad

Re: comment on "do not judge an ipad by its cover"

X,

the bookbook for ipad is about USD64.99-69.99 in amazon.  i "googled" and saw posts that the bookbook for ipad is available here in manila at power mac for PHP3,300.  huawai or bookbook? :)

photo from applemanila.com

Z

Final Countdown: 11/23/2011 1:48PM

Hooolalalala!!!

How fast naman. I just tracked it down at 12nn and was advised that it arrived in Manila at 7:47am.
It's here! Finally Here!!

You have arrived Baybeh!!!

I wanna touch you now!!!

X

Busog Trip 2

Yesterday, my trip started at Padre Faura, Malate. I passed by the rallying militant groups screaming on top of their lungs that "GMA must stay". Ironic? Wahaha! More than a year ago, they are lobbying that she must step down. More than a year after, the tune is different. She must stay...in the country to answer for all what she's being charged of. Everything changes as quick as the weather.

Anyway, i finished my assignment around 12nn and BH fetched me. We headed to Cainta to finalize some papers regarding his business. Traffic was tolerable in San Juan, until we reached the area in Ortigas Avenue cornering Santolan. I got hungry and was whining already. So BH stopped in a Persian-Iranian-Indian Restaurant in the corner of Ortigas and Santolan. It's called Persian Kabab!

Curry....curry...currry....!

I got in and the smell was Kabooom!!! You know what I mean! Not all noses are created the same!

The place is modest, not the usual Persian Resto like Arya or Prince of Jaipur(never got here but I saw my friend's pic in my FB account which is now deactivated), where everything is in gold or dark carpets or cushions. Tables and chairs were simply placed as if to tell the customers that you are here only to eat and not to enjoy ambience. You're paying for the food not the ambience. Hahaha!

menu

I saw the other customers order Shawarma. Yihaaa! Kaboom hypnotizing aroma!
BH wanted lamb. He ordered the Lamb Biryani while I ordered the Beef Shawarma on a Plate (may ganung effect). The order taker advised me to order it instead so that I get to put everything I want only in the pita bread, unlike the prepared shawarma. I listened to him of course.

When I got my order.Wow! A third Kaboom! for this post.
Yummy!

BH's Lamb Biryani with Rice

My Beef Shawarma on Plate

 I ordered for Extra Pita bread.

Total bill with Coke Zero : Php397.00

Not bad!

X

Mid-way Countdown: 11/23/2011

Agony!
It's exactly 8 days before the great news!!!
Oh-la-la!

Have been checking my email inbox every hour for the latest advice on my obsession.
From SG it's now in PRC.
I feel like a child again!
Hopefully, on my next countdown post, I'd be flaunting it.

image from www.dreamstime.com

X

Pigeon vs. Chicken

Pigeon or "kalapati".
I call Jollibee's "Chicken Joy" as "kalapati wings" if I am given a wing part . I say that when I'm craving much for fried chicken and they only give me a small wing part.


When size matters, one would think that a chicken a stronger than a pigeon.
But when I saw this coop last weekend, I compared the strength of these 2 birds.

pigeon and its chick sister

The owner opened the coop and the pigeon flew out. The chicken stayed in the coop. Nagdadalaga pa lang kasi.The chicken was adopted (hatched) by the "Mama" pigeon. The poor bird stayed with them since then.

So, if I am to compare adult pigeons and chicken, I'd say that pigeons are stronger and more resilient than chicken.
Pigeons can fly at great distance and height while a chicken can only fly low and at little distance.


There are races for pigeons even overseas and people bet thousands if not in millions of $$$. I haven't heard of chicken race (other than the "Chicken Run" years ago). Well it's a cartoon of talking animals, of course.

image from http://www.imdb.com/

Training the pigeons for a race starts at a small distance from their coop. If they will be able to return in a short time, they are qualified to race. O ha, may elimination process din ha. The owner told me that some of his pigeons were brought as far as Tarlac. They have this built-in GPS! Interesting creature.

Fortunately, most of his racing pigeons return. Those who did not make it were either shot or adopted by finders. 


X

Theo & Philo chocolates

Last weekend, my sister brought us some Theo & Philo chocolates.


This dark chocolate with green mango and salt has real green mango bits in it. I am actually craving while writing about it.


When this dark chocolate with siling labuyo was handed to me, I was expecting that there would be siling labuyo bits. But no, there was none. And it took a while for the chili taste to kick in, and which is what makes this flavor even more interesting.

xoxo,
Y

How to wear those bluchers

Let me count the ways...
1. With blazer and skinny jeans






2. With dress



3. With skirt



4. With denim skirt



4. With shorts and yes, socks!






5. With trousers






6. With skinny jeans and casual top



7. With skinny denim






8. With knits!






All photos taken from Zara online.

Love,

Y