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Saturday 30 July 2011

London at Random

My cousin was in town from Oz so we met up with him in Central London. It was a lovely Thursday with a perfect summery weather. Took loads of random photos.


Bus stop at Baker Street. A red iconic double decker bus on its way.
Display window at Selfridges. I can only identify the Mulberry. I bet the baghag can identify all three.

Oxford Street on a very quiet Thursday. On weekends, it's always packed.


H&M Oxford Street. That is the very shop window where Kate Moss posed for photographers when her collaboration with the brand was launched.

Oxford Circus Tube Station, the best stop when you are planning to shop.

We stopped by TGI Friday's in Leicester Square for lunch and I had this to die for Oreo milk shake. The presentation does not give justice to the wonderful taste.

Then we dropped by at the new M&M's World next door.  I went crazy there.







Who wouldn't?

My loot.


Then walked down The Mall which leads up to Buckingham Palace. That's the balcony where the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge kissed.

We wanted to see this exhibit but at four in the afternoon, tickets were already sold out. I blame the wedding dress.
Never mind. Some other time. The most important thing is the little girl had a blast and enjoyed her time spent with Ninong Antimo.

Wednesday 27 July 2011

The Duchess and Me

image from thebaghagdiaries.com
I wrote on a previous post how the Duchess of Cambridge and I have more or less similar taste when it comes to handbags (read about it here). We both love Longchamp handbags and I learned from the baghag that she also uses Cath Kidston. The bags shown on the picture above are hers during her and Prince William's Canadian tour. The yellow tag on the Cath Kidston bag reads "HRH The Duchess of Cambridge". I have the Longchamp Le Pliage medium also in red and Ava and I love our matching Cath Kidston book bags.

I have been wanting to get one of these for the longest time.
Which is similar print to the Duchess' but hers was the overnight bag below.




It retails at £68 at http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/default.aspx. Not bad for a royal bag,eh.

Monday 25 July 2011

My Summer Skin Must Have


Experts say we have to start using anti-ageing / anti-wrinkle creams once we hit our thirties. For me though, protecting our skin from the harmful rays of the sun is key. Protection rather than cure,as the cliche goes. That is why I have been using sunblock as long as I can remember. The higher the spf the better especially in the summer. 

I love my tinted moisturisers. It is, yes, a moisturiser, a sunblock and since it is tinted, a foundation all rolled into one. No need to use three different products. Whoever invented this is a genius.

For everyday use, I love Olay Total Effects Touch of foundation with spf15. It is a given that Olay is really good on the skin and they have collaborated with Max Factor to give their moisturiser a touch of foundation. It moisturises my skin perfectly and gives me a light coverage which is good enough for work and I know my skin is protected from the sun with its spf 15.

For weekends, I use Laura Mercier with spf 20. It glides on my skin and gives me medium coverage. It gives me a dewy look as well. But nothing will ever hold a candle to my all time favorite foundation that gives me the perfect sheer glow. It is a secret from now on though I have already mentioned it in my previous post.
                                    
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser 44 ml. £33 www.spacenk.co.uk
Olay Total Effects Touch of Foundation 50 ml. £19.39 www.boots.com




Sunday 24 July 2011

Cravings

When I was pregnant, I was craving so much for waffle hotdog. The thing is they don't have such here in the UK. So when we went home for a holiday, I promised myself I will get a waffle hotdog maker, just in case.


Sometime ago, the cravings came with a vengeance (minus the pregnancy).  The first time I tried using my waffle hotdog maker, it was a disaster. 



But this time round, I guess it's so much better. For my standards, I can say it's just perfect for me.
And the inside is more perfect as far as I am concerned.

I have a feeling my waffle hotdog maker is going to be my new best friend.

Monday 18 July 2011

Harper Seven

image from msn.com
At first, it sounded like a toilet duck (Harpic) or something but the more I read or hear the name, it has started to grown on me and I am actually starting to like it, especially Harper. David's explanation on his FB site was that Victoria's favorite book is Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" thus the first name and the middle name Seven is because that is his shirt number for ManU and she was born on the seventh month of the year.

Victoria in the picture looks so natural sans the makeup for a change, except for the obvious false lashes. I am not a fan of the Beckham's but I'm glad for them to finally get a girl after three boys. And for Victoria, at least someone can actually inherit her Hermes collection. Lucky Harper.

Sunday 17 July 2011

In Her Bag


Last month saw the start of the Bag Lady Series on my blog where I feature ladies and what's inside their bags. For this month, I am featuring Cielo...


Celebrations at Luton Hoo, lunches at The Dorchester, Dinners at The Ritz on board limousines, this spoiled mommy would put Victoria Beckham's lifestyle to shame. And don't let me start on the handbags, obviously designer. 

Here she choses her favorite from the rest and like a mommy to her kids, she can't chose just one. So, here on Stage Mommy's Bag Lady Series, we feature not one but two of her handbags.

The Chanel flap bag is a classic and carries a price tag which is equivalent to three roundtrip plane tickets to the Philippines. But, it never goes out of style and can be handed down from generation to generation, like an heirloom I would say. It is an investment and any classy woman knows that.
Cielo's Chanel and what's inside it.

Another classic in her bag closet is a Louis Vuitton, a Brea Monogram Vernis to be exact.
Thank you, Cielo for letting the stage mommy into your bag closet. I would love to feature you again, once you get your Hermes.

Sunday 10 July 2011

Summer's Ballet Pumps

image from kindredsole.com
Dubbed by Look magazine as summer's ballet pumps, espadrilles are making a comeback lately. I don't remember when exactly in the past it was a fad. Correct me if I'm wrong but probably in the 80's. The resurgence has got celebs and non-celebs wearing this wonderful foot glove.

Agyness Deyn.image from the web

Isabel Lucas.image from the web

Katie Holmes.image from the web
Kate Bosworth.Image from the web.

I particularly like this one from Tom's.
image from thisnext
But I got a similar looking one sent by my Auntie from Cebu. I got to test drive it on Saturday and it was like heaven on my feet. So light and comfy. I guess I'm going to get more of these.


Friday 8 July 2011

Busy Weekend

The last two weekends have been really busy. Two birthday parties back to back last week and a barbecue party the week before. Good thing I have 3 day weekends now since I don't work on Fridays anymore. But still, a 3 day weekend is not enough to get some rest especially if it's packed with invites.
At Tita Anita's BBQ party.

At Harry's birthday party.
Managed to drop by the Downs on our way home from one of the parties and had some ice cream from the ice cream van.





 It's the weekend again and we have a long day tomorrow hopefully leaving the house at 8am to go to Alton Towers for a day of swimming. Hopefully the weather will cooperate thought it won't matter much as the Waterpark is located indoors.

How about you guys? How are you spending your weekend?


Wednesday 6 July 2011

Hello, lover.

image taken from the web
"Well, hello lover" as Carrie would have said in Sex and the City and I would have said the same. I don't know what season this very delicious Prada number is from. Don't know if this is SS10 or SS11. I really don't care if this is last season, I would be more than happy to have it in my shoe closet.

And they come in different colors. Prepare to drool.

image taken from the web

image taken from the web.

image taken from the web

Friday 1 July 2011

Discovering Stockwood Discovery Centre

Since it's summer, I have been looking around for places to take Ava to. Places for playing, picnics, anything that requires the outdoors. If it's free, the better. My colleague who also has a daughter, suggested Stockwood Park. We have passed this place countless times and did not realize that it is not just a golf course but also a kid friendly place.

We had the chance to explore this place on Father's day, on our way home from Luton Hoo and I have to say, it's worth a visit. The little girl enjoyed playing in the very nice playground and discovering things in the discovery center.  They have a cafe not just for light meals but also serves sunday roast. As an OC stage mommy, I was very impressed with the very clean and nice smelling toilets. I would say, we will be frequent visitors in the next few months.

















SHE WANTED ONE OF THE BAGS THAT ARE MADE IN THE PHILIPPINES, MADE OF RECYCLED JUICE DRINK PACKS.

MASSIVE PARKING AREA.
http://www.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com/
Stockwood Discovery centre
London Road
LUTON
LU1 4LX
Tel: 01582 548600