Pretty Young Things

I am sure you are sick of hearing anything that has to do with MJ now. But, I can't help but think about his songs since they play them in our office. I'm now suffering from LSS- last song syndrome. "PYT. Pretty young thing...ahhh!" Okay, I'll shut up now.

Totsnob just featured a couple of pretty young things as usual such as this lil polka dot dress by Il Gufo which is on sale now at Saks Fifth Avenue. I'm not exactly crazy about polka dots in general but my lil girl will definitely look cute in this. Sugar and spice and everything nice!



Oh Chloe! Why do they come up with such beautiful things? Some bags of theirs are to die for. And these lil ballerina shoes for baby are so adorable! I think my daughter would enjoy ballet as she loves dancing, just like her mother! I wish they had these shoes in my size too.



Speaking of beauty and youth, there are two young women who are hitting the spot for me. Nope, I am not turning lesbian but I am sure everyone agrees they are hot. Watch out Penelope Cruz and Scarlet Johansson, these girls are on their way to stardom.

Megan Fox of Transformers


Freida Pinto of Slumdog Millionaire


See who says only blondes have all the fun? These women are definitely more beautiful than Britney Spears or Paris Hilton! Wait til my daughter grows older- hah! Move over, Cindy!

Comfort Zone

When I woke up yesterday, I was so excited to wear my new pumps. I have been wearing flats for months after I gave birth and only wear my stilettos when going to parties... until I realized that it does look more professional to present in heels. If I want to bag all these accounts, I should look like a million dollars. So, I decided to get a pair of grayish peep- toed pumps from H&M.

Checked myself in the mirror before leaving the house and was happy with my purchase. The added height gave me a little bit of an oomph and I just felt better about myself. I walked sexier, looked taller, and acted a little more intimidating and sophisticated (or maybe it's just in my head).

Hours later, the confidence I was feeling started to fade as I felt my feet getting hurt by my new pair of shoes. That's what I get for buying them at H&M. They are not cheap for nothing. Shucks! Now, I remember why I wore my Tory Burch flats almost everyday. Good thing I only had one client call and just stayed in the office so didn't walk too much.

It was half past six and it was time to go home. Uh-oh! I saw my skin slowly peeling off on both my feet and it was really painful! Good thing our office was 5 minutes away from Times Square. I have the perfect excuse to buy another pair of shoes. "Hurray" and "Ouch" at the same time!

I liked a couple of pairs in Zara (I've been in and out of their store since they announced their sale) but the scar on my foot was too big that I could not manage to squeeze them into closed shoes. I definitely had to buy sandals or else I could not walk. Hmm, but the sandals on sale were so-so and I wanted to get something I'll actually wear again next time.

Good thing they had Lane Crawford downstairs, I rushed (more like trodded) to get myself a pair of Slim Havaianas. I've been wanting to get one anyway. At this point, I didn't care if I looked funny wearing office clothes with silver flip flops. All I wanted was something comfortable or else I would have called an ambulance to take me home. How embarrassing is that!

So lesson for the day... "Don't leave the house with only one pair of shoes?" "Always bring your credit card with you, in case you need to buy another pair?" or "Hire a chauffeur so you don't need to walk?" Correct!

Only A Face A Mother Could Love

Last week I read an article on TIME entitled "Is an Ugly Baby Harder to Love?" Sad to say, this article discusses that mothers would naturally love a baby that is more good looking than not. And what's even more disturbing is there is a study that 70% of children who were abused or abandoned had at least one physical flaw. Reminds me of the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which I also hated by the way, I guess my taste in films is very different from everyone else's) where Brad Pitt was left in a bassinet on the doorstep of a neighbor because he was odd-looking. Poor thing!

What's also interesting is that I have read or watched somewhere that babies also respond to pics of beautiful faces more than ugly ones. I guess it's has something to do with the symmetry of the face. Does that mean my daughter's love for me also depends if she finds me beautiful or not? Strange! If that's the case, I dread the day when she can talk and tell me her "real" opinion of me.

I can just imagine, "Mom, how come your hair is thick and curly and mine is straight?" "Mummy, why do you have a double chin?" Eeks! Not something to look forward to. Right now, she already presses my stomach and laughs after. I'm not sure if she is just having fun touching the softer parts of my body or she is making fun of me... I hope it's the former!

What I know for sure is I am overwhelmed with love for my daughter. And I don't think that has to do with her being pretty or not. I do think she is special, but I am sure all mothers feel the same about their children. I sure hope that's how my Mom felt about me, flawless or not.

Watch Out!

I don't know about you but I'd rather watch films about humans than robots. But, since everyone was talking about Transformers, I bought a ticket for hubby and me and watched it last night. I hated the plot (was all over the place and dragging at some points), the lines were cheesy and the noise of the robots fighting was just stressful! What bothered me about this film was that young boys are watching this. I don't know if the film is PG 13 but it should be with all the cursing, sexual innuendo, and violence in the film.

I was thinking about my stepson who just turned 9 while watching it. He just adores Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee and would give anything to watch the film. But, how can we tell him that he can't watch it because he's too young for it? It's the same as my daughter loving the Teletubbies and when they make a film on them, Dipsy and Lala are having sex, saying the word "asshole," or trying to kill each other for a tubby custard (their food) so she's not allowed to watch it. A bit silly the kids can play with the toys but can't watch the film! I hope it's not the same for G.I. Joe! I remember my brother playing with Snake Eyes back in the 80s! I'm sure he'd be thrilled to watch the movie now. Good thing he is old enough to watch it now.

Since when have I been concerned about the film being too violent or too sexual? I watched Zapped showing topless girls when I was 6 and became a pervert since then haha! I can imagine how I'm gonna be like when my daughter is in her teens. I'm gonna be my daughter's worst nightmare. Oh no! How I wish she can stay as sweet and innocent as she is now. Aww, I'm acting like the Mom of Sam (or Shia Le Beouf in real life) in Transformers who was all soppy when he was leaving for college, finding it tough to let go.

Oh well, good thing I don't have to think of that yet. For now, I'm just happy she loves Barney and that's the only film she would want to watch. Whew!

Treasure Chest

Was looking for Tory Burch shoes online when I saw something for baby on their website. Cool, daughter can start wearing Tory's famous logos at a year old. How trendy!

Can't wait when she is old enough to wear Revas like her Mommy. Their smallest size is for a 3 year old, so she has 2 more years left before she can wear one. Nuninuninuninu! Okay, while I am waiting for her to fit in her shoes, Mom will just go shopping for herself then. That's right... I can actually invest in shoes for myself knowing that my daughter can wear them when she's older. Good idea!


Oh gosh, I found an excuse again for me to shop. "It's worth it because I can pass it on to my daughter..." "It has to last for about 20 years, I need something with good quality, i.e. expensive and branded" "I have to buy some nice bags my daughter can wear to work one day..." Saying that, I saw a couple of bags that I like. They would look good for me (and my daughter)

Must-have list for baby she can wear by Fall 2029:

1. Prada for a casual day at the park


2. YSL for concerts or bar hopping


3. Prada for family reunions


4. Prada for coffee


5. Prada for work
See, I'm prepared 20 years in advance! I'll just borrow these bags from her at the moment... (yeah right!) I promise I'll take care of them...

Rainbow Bright

Okay, I don't want my last post to be sad and depressing (on MJ's death). I want to shut my computer with some positive vibes, especially because it's a Friday! Yahoo...

There are a few things that make me happy (yes they all have something to do with shopping). One of which is color! I don't know if it has something to do about being from the Philippines but I love having color in my life, on my clothes, on my walls and simply everything around me. I've never been the black and white type of person, which explains my bold and colorful wardrobe. I used to love going to Kate Torralba's condo because of her dresses with lively prints, bright colors and wacky styles. Says so much about her personality, fun and quirky! Aww, I suddenly miss her and Manila...

Since I am not as thin as I was back then, I started splurging more on my daughter's clothes. Someone has to look good in the family you know, if not me, then at least my daughter! (of course both is also ideal) I just saw a dress worn by Suri and it was so cute and I know it would look good on my baby too.



I love the japanese prints on this dress and the lil bolero that goes with it (although it's too hot to wear that now). I checked the website where it came from and it's this brand called Noku. I swear how does Katie Holmes know about these brands? I am sure every designer is throwing stuff at her just for baby to wear. How I wish it was the same for me and my daughter! I know I mentioned in my former post that I don't want neither mine or my baby's life to be public but if that means shopping at Hermes regularly then I might just change my mind...



Going back to color, I know I like having this around me but not when it's on my baby's new shoes! Was so upset when I saw pink ink on her Pedipeds. Good thing, her shoe was black and patent so the ink is seen inside the shoe and not out. She is at the stage where she loves scribbling and playing with her markers too. Just have to make sure that they are washable (just tell me how the hell I'm supposed to wash baby's leather shoes, does not work). I found some cute washable markers from Crayola and fell in-love with them. I think this is a must-have for baby's who are showing some interest in art. They look like toys but they are actually markers. Lovely!



Gosh, these lil animals remind me of my pet, Kooka (I know, I know it's silly) but I need to shop for more furniture for her house and get her a new outfit. Join me at Pet Society (and earn me some points) so you know what I am talking about! Happy colorful Friday!

Stage Mother

I am a bit saddened by MJ's death. Even if Moms would normally detest him for child abuse (court pleaded not guilty), I am sure everyone has at one point danced to Beat it, Thriller and Billy Jean. He is an icon in the music industry and pop culture and is irreplacable, something like Elvis Presley. Gosh, I dread the day Madonna passes away (knock on wood)! I don't think any singer/artist has had much impact as these two pop stars in the last 20 years. Hmm... maybe I should start training my daughter, who knows she could be the next pop sensation. Not!

I have a friend in Beijing who is a movie producer and has a very talented young boy. He is half-American, half-Korean and loves singing and dancing. His favorite performance: Beijing Opera! At 5, he is now being trained under Michael Jackson's mentor, has his own CD, TV show and movie coming up. Reminds me of Nino Muhlach, except that he can sing in both English and Cantonese.

I'm not sure I like that for my daughter. Sure, I want her to be successful and accomplished. Would encourage her to be ambitious and driven but not to the point where her life becomes public (that means mine is too) and she has to succumb to what others want. Now, I understand why Sharon Cuneta was hesitant about her daughter being exposed to this kind of life. I would go ballistic if I found out about a sex video that my daughter has been part of! God forbid!

I wonder what my daughter would want to be when she grows up. I remember that I wanted to be an astronaut, a lawyer, an actress (blame it on my showbiz genes) at some point. It's really hard to tell what she would be (especially at 14 months) although personality wise, she is very confident, has great people skills and strong-minded. Hmm.. don't tell me she will be a politician later in life. It's the same banana! I have no plans in raising a lil Palin at home.

But as my hubby would always say, it's up to her! Of course it's up to her, she can do whatever she wants (just not be a nun or a prostitute). But, like all mothers, I just wish my child the best in life! I'm sure that's what Michael Jackson's mother wanted for him too. RIP MJ!

Pet Love

I never used to like pets. We had a couple of dogs when I was young. One was a japanese spitz called Alf, a german shepherd named Informer (after that hit song in the 90s!) and a poodle named Lacey. I did have some fondness towards them but was scared of dogs so I just loved them from a distance. But, I have to admit I was upset when Alf was run over by a school bus one afternoon (the driver had to choose between the kids getting hurt or the dog and chose the latter). I got over it pretty quickly though.

Was the same thing with our lovebirds. I remember playing with them back in our home in Merville then. My brother was pointing his toy machine gun at the birds and it scared the hell out of the one that it squished it's body in between the bars of the cage and escaped! And you know what they say about love birds, they cannot live alone, and so when the other one left, the remaining one passed away. Goodbye birdies! I have another horrible story about me throwing our cage of love birds down the balcony when I was drunk (let's not go there...), I was devastated for about 10 minutes.

So I guess you get my point about pets. I'm not very good with them. That's why I was scared about having children... I never thought I had the ability to take care of something or someone. I guess having a baby is a completely different story.

The reason why I am talking about pets now is cause of my new addiction... PET SOCIETY, the game on Facebook! Reminds me of the ol Tamagochi where you have to feed, brush and dress up your pet. What I love about this game is I can go shopping for clothes for my pet, decorate it's house with furniture, and visit friends for a hug or dance and earn points. It's really cute!

My hubby thinks otherwise, he can't stand that I'd rather go on the computer and hug a pet when I can just hug him in bed. I hear my daughter complaining in the morning too. Now, she knows how to press the off button on my computer now so I can play with her instead. Smart girl!

I wonder how long I'll be interested in taking care of my pet, Kooka. I remember the campaign on pets by the Hong Kong government asking people to not eat their dogs (eww) or to continue looking after pets, even when they are tired of them. Good thing my Kooka is only a virtual pet, she will survive even if I don't play with her for a week... or forever if I lose interest (which can happen very quickly). I don't have to risk being reported to PETA or whatever organization out there for going against animal rights. Whew!

Cheapskate!

How do you know when a woman has become a mother? When she starts using coupons, join promos or avail of discounts!

I swear to God, I was the last person to bring a coupon to a restaurant, avail of buy one take one promos in a shop or demanding for my 30 percent off. I'm not sure if it is the recession or it has anything to do with being a mom. A friend of mine sent me an email of different coupons in restaurants via email. At first, I ignored it and now am thinking of having lunch in those restos. I love the salad at CPK anyway...

I was organizing the clutter of mail on our desk the other day and found that beneath some junk, we were given a free cake or bottle of wine for my hubby's birthday and a gift certificate at our fave pizza parlor for my stepson's birthday. I thought, I might as well use them.

It's funny cause now that my work involves projects with Hong Kong's millionaires, what I have realized is no matter how much money these people have in the banks, we still get queries like, "Does your event serve FREE wine?" "Do I need to pay for the ticket/dinner?" "How much discount do we get at the Giorgio Armani sale?" Now that's why they are so-called millionaires. Every penny counts...

Hong Kong's richest woman, Nina Wang was all over the news when she passed away. I'm sure everybody's wondering where all her wealth went, she only had about US$4.2 billion in her name! Some rumors say they went to her fortune teller. What I am most interested in is how she acquired so much money... Of course it pays to marry a rich man but also Nina was known for being a cheapskate and spent only HK$2500 or just over US$300 a month. Holy! Don't ask me how she was able to survive with that much!

Hmm... that makes me question my current lifestyle. Maybe I shouldn't delete that email with all the coupons after all...

Girl Talk

So sorry for not having much posts on my blog the last few days. I am literally overloaded with work. I am handling 4 magazines at the moment, that's not easy, I tell you! Good thing we let go of 2 of them this afternoon. What a relief! Good thing I have some brain cells left to write on my blog.

One of my best friends is in town again and I met up with her in between my meetings today. Such a multi-tasker I am! I was able to squeeze a couple of minutes with her at her fave cafe, picked her up at H&M after my lunch and took her to Yo Ma ma, my fave froyo. She says it tastes similar to Red Mango, just more expensive. Hmph!

I was so happy that she brought a present for my daughter from a friend. Yahoo, another beautiful dress and yellow crocs (she only has a purple one at the moment)! My daughter was so happy when she saw them, she asked me to put them on her feet and clapped after. I regretted putting them on later cause she cried a hell lot when I tried removing them. I can't believe my daugher has a shoe fetish at 14 months old. Tsk tsk!

My friend and I were talking about how our lives have changed... from being party girls to homebodies. I asked her if she wanted to go out and she preferred to just hang in her hotel and just chat. Gosh, gone are the days when we would wear tubes and prance around town. Now, our conversations are about family life, trying to earn a living and other serious topics. Boring!

Oh well, we are going out for dinner tomorrow and hopefully, we have the energy to have a drink or two after. I'm thinking of bringing her to SoHo. Haven't been there for a while and when I passed by today, I saw new restos, bars and stores I have not been in. Now, that's something to look forward to!

Good food, good wine and some girl talk. Reminds me of my fave show, Sex and the City. Some things never change, except that I have switched roles from being Samantha to Charlotte...

French Dressing

I can't believe it's Monday already! I could always use another day for the weekend so I can really relax. As usual, the highlight of my weekend is going to the mall. Bought some educational DVDs for baby (bummed that the other one doesn't work on our player) and resisted to go shopping for myself (whew, that was hard). My hubby did not want to celebrate Father's day out so we just had our lovely meal at home. Now, I'm bloated again after pigging out on a Sunday! Ugh!

This week is gonna be crazy at work. I've got tons of stuff to do (new magazine, handover of some magazines to a new agency, and my wine tasting event). My week is crazy jampacked, I hope I still have at least lunch or dinner to spend with my friend coming over to Hong Kong.

I mentioned (in my former post) about this event that I am organizing that's been occupying most of my time recently. I'm actually happy that it's finally coming to fruition very soon. I have only 2 1/2 weeks left. Ack! What I like about it is it's theme- French Boudoir... Glamour! As always, I'm wondering what to wear that night. Should I go for a hat (tribute to Coco by Chanel which I haven't watched by) or gloves (too humid to wear that, don't want sweaty hands) or simply lingerie (I think it would be embarrassing showing off some skin especially after how I have been eating lately)?

For those who have time on the 9th of July, that's a Thursday, please let me know if you can make it to a French rendezvous for some wine and cheese pairing, risque jewelry, and a sexy lingerie fashion show at the designer furniture shop, Louvre Gallery. Ooh la la!

Something Up Your Sleeve?

Have I told you about the day I hurt my back? I sprained it so bad just by carrying my Macbook (and my daughter at her Kindermusik class) one day that I was not able to work. I guess it also doesn't help that I have a bad posture, mild scoliosis and am always on the computer (my hubby is complaining all the time).

Now, there's the reason why there's such a thing as laptop bags! I didn't like the laptop bag provided by the office so I just placed the Mac inside my Longchamp bag. I guess it wasn't sturdy enough to carry something so heavy so it ended up hurting my shoulders and back. Ah, the woes of being fashionable and trendy, something always has to give (either our feet, back, or wallets!).

So, while surfing for bags (which is an everyday habit by the way), I chanced upon a laptop sleeve/bag that looks really cool and fashionable. It helps that it's also designed by favorite, Rebecca Minkoff. I love the ostrich skin material and the color is both great for spring and fall (I just hope it doesn't hurt my back again since the straps are thin) . Hmm, I just spoke to my Mom and aunts this morning and they are already planning their vacation in Hong Kong this December. Might be good to ask for them to buy this as a birthday present for moi (my birthday is in December)! Question is can my back wait for another 6 months? Oh well, there's always DHL!

14 Months and Counting...

So this is what it's like to have a toddler!

1. She can communicate with me more. According to the book What to Expect: The Toddler Years, 14 month old babies should say at least 6 words. Now she says, mama, dada, wow, uhoh, bye and cheche (chinese for yaya).

2. She is learning more dance moves and practices at home for the next birthday parties. Yesterday, I saw her going round in circles. I wonder where she got that step.

3. She is good at climbing up the steps when holding our hand. Not only does she climb steps but also our bookshelf and window sill which is about 4 feet high. Scary!

4. She loves scribbling with markers and pens. Was shocked to see some green ink dripping from her nose yesterday and even more shocked when I found some pink ink on her new Pedipeds this morning!

5. She is loving being in the pool more and more. She still panics at first and then relaxes when she is in her baby float. Still thinking if I need to enroll her in Harry Wright Swimming School at this age.

6. Her teeth are bigger and so is her appetite. She loves munching on cherry tomatoes (just like her mama) and just about anything that's edible. It's also cute that she likes feeding me (forcing a chunk of bread in my mouth) and giving me water from her sippy cup.

7. She is walking faster, almost running now. Hate to admit it but when we walk, we're almost the same pace now given that her feet and legs are way smaller than mine. That means her nanny and I would lose more weight running after her! Hurray!

8. She is becoming more and more active that she cries if she does not go out of the house to play with her friends.
I think she got this trait from me! Oops!

9. Her attention span is shorter and I need to keep her entertained every 15 minutes. That means when I am busy surfing on the net, I also need to search for Sesame Street videos on You Tube to make her happy.

10. She is stronger and can really hurt me when she starts kicking or simply by just stepping on my feet! I can just imagine how her tantrums are gonna be like when she hits the terrible twos! Oh no!

I really need to bring her to playgroup soon so she has an outlet for all of her newfound energy. I hope the schools will open after a week (they were closed for 1 week already) and the H1N1 virus will just disappear. I met a mom at the pool yesterday who told me about the Victoria School in Ho Man Tin and am planning to check that out too, althought it's a bit far from here. I think I am pretty set on bringing her to PIPS for both Kindermusik and playgroup. It's a bonus that Elements mall is just a few escalators away so Mom can go shopping after baby's playgroup session. Hey, I need to be rewarded too, right?

I'm so happy I got the latest issue of Playtimes (kids' magazine in Hong Kong) which has a supplement on pre-schools in Hong Kong. They published articles on how to get in different schools and included a complete directory too. What a relief! For some reason applying for a school in Hong Kong is a nightmare and the process of getting accepted is just so complicated and money-driven of course. I really need to get started on these application forms to make sure my daughter does not join the OSY (out of school youth) program later.

Gosh! I'm still adjusting to the changes from infant to toddler and I have to start worrying about mathematics and science. Can someone stop the clock first... I'm not ready for homeworks just yet!

The Color Purple

My friend is totally gonna hate me now. She emails me whenever I post bags on my blog because she ends up wanting one. There's only one reason why I do this, cause I want one myself. Where's my genie in a bottle? Don't think I can ask hubby to get me one on father's day! Hmph.

Seems like purple is the color for fall. Wait, wasn't it also the color last spring? Who cares, they match my daughter's crocs! These bags look yummy! Just make sure you don't wear purple clothes or else you'll end up looking like Grimace!

Oh Prada! I wish you were mine...


This Mimi bag from CC Skye is not bad at all... (wait til you see it in black and cream)


Fendi with a gold chain? Hmm not sure about that.


And Bottega Venetta, my darling, you'll be mine one day...


To my friend reading this, don't hate me! Just find yourself a boyfriend that can get you one of these (and one for me too!)...

On Pins and Needles

Oh no! I totally forgot about my daughter's vaccination. Last time I brought her to the clinic, the doctor said she can't have it because she was sick. Now that she's got a cold, I don't think it's a good idea. I better include these things in my diary or else, I'll really forget! Especially now that I'm busy organizing another event (tell you about it in my next post).

I'm lucky my daughter is pretty brave when it comes to needles. Of course she cries, but it doesn't last long. She never had fever (knock on wood) after so I'm happy about that too.

For kids who go ballistic when getting their vaccination, there's a cute lil invention made just for them, the Buzzy! This suppresses the pain when it vibrates and makes children more comfortable about needles. The Law of Distraction comes to use. What a cool gadget! (maybe I can use it too... for other things...)

Pool Parties

Aww... my daughter has a cold again and this was after I took her to the pool last Sunday. This is the third time it happened so now I'm scared about taking her swimming now. Not good! I don't want her to end up not knowing how to swim like her ignorant mother. And it's such a waste to not use the 3 new rashguards my Mom sent. Don't ask why she got three of the same kind, I probably got my shopping habits from her!

It's been really humid for the last few days, that I thought about diving into the pool after walking home from work last night. And then I ended up getting lazy, after eating hubby's yummy bolognese (it's to die for) for dinner. Anyway, it's the thought that counts! Now, do you understand why I haven't lost any weight?

Was surfing when I woke up this morning. In between playing with Kooka, my new pet in Pet Society (I tell you it's addicting), I found some nice lounge suits that baby can wear by the pool. Okay, she can't go swimming again but that doesn't mean she can't walk around in a nice suit and wade in the pool. That's how I'm like anyway, when I go to the beach.

I know baby is too young for leopard prints but isn't this suit so pretty? I wonder if they have it in her size.


With matching slippers from Kate Mack...


These alligator shaped goggles are too cute. Now, this she needs to wear in the water or else she would look silly.


And when done "wading," she can wear a cover-up and drink some iced tea (while her mom has a mojito, yum!)

On A Shoestring Budget

Woohoo! Finally, Jimmy Choo is designing a collection for H&M. What a great collaboration! Who would have thought that we would be able to buy Jimmy Choos for a couple of hundred dollars (Hong Kong dollars that is). That's a very smart move since consumers are very cautious about their spending that all retail shops are suffering (except Hermes I heard). All of my clients are asking us to come up with strategies to help boost retail sales. If only everyone was like me, then there would be no problem! But for the likes of retail giants like H&M and Zara, I think they would have no problem since everyone is on a shoestring budget. Now, wearing accessories from H&M, even tops and dresses from there is good enough. And when you're wearing Jimmy Choo shoes, how can you go wrong?

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

My heart is palpitating... I am not sure if it was what I had for lunch. Perhaps too much MSG? But, it was roast chicken, for God's sake! Do the Chinese also put food enhancers in roast chicken and baked potatoes?

The back of my neck started feeling funny in the afternoon (I am that sensitive to MSG). My gosh, I am getting old! Last week it was my back and now, could it be my cholesterol level?

I must learn to relax. I know, in Hong Kong, to relax is a luxury and stress is part of everyday life. I deserve a day at the spa really soon or better yet, a holiday! Mmm... what I would do to be able to go to Boracay or any beach for that matter now!

What is with with moms and tending to worry about everything? Worried that baby is not talking. Worried that baby is sick. Paranoid about swine flu. Thinking about pre-school. Nanny's visa. Baby's lunch and dinner tomorrow. It's just never ending!

I remember being a carefree and happy-go-lucky person before. Getting absolutely wasted at night (even if there was work the next day), spending like there's no tomorrow (I still do that now sometimes), and just not caring about anything. C'est la vie was my motto!

Now, I have turned into a monster. I am just like my mother! I guess it just comes naturally. And no matter how I deny it, the maternal instincts kicked in. All I have to do is accept them.

I am still hoping that there will come a day when I don't have to worry, I can wake up after lunch, and have a bottomless bank account (yeah right). For the meantime, all I can do is have a bit of faith that everything is gonna be alright.

Now I know what my Dad meant when he said, I'll understand him more when I become a parent...

Good or Bad?

Hmm... I think I can relate to this!



In the tradition of recent hits like The Bitch in the House and Perfect Madness comes a hilarious and controversial book that every woman will have an opinion about, written by America's most outrageous writer, Ayelet Waldman

In our mothers' day there were good mothers, neglectful mothers, and occasionally great mothers.

Today we have only Bad Mothers.

If you work, you're neglectful; if you stay home, you're smothering. If you discipline, you're buying them a spot on the shrink's couch; if you let them run wild, they will be into drugs by seventh grade. If you buy organic, you're spending their college fund; if you don't, you're risking all sorts of allergies and illnesses.

Is it any wonder so many women refer to themselves at one time or another as "a bad mother"? Ayelet Waldman says it's time for women to get over it and get on with it, in a book that is sure to spark the same level of controversy as her now legendary "Modern Love" piece, in which she confessed to loving her husband more than her children.

Covering topics as diverse as the hysteria of competitive parenting (Whose toddler can recite the planets in order from the sun?), the relentless pursuits of the Bad Mother police, balancing the work-family dynamic, and the bane of every mother's existence (homework, that is), Bad Mother illuminates the anxieties that riddle motherhood today, while providing women with the encouragement they need to give themselves a break.

And this... (except that I didn't get pregnant at 23, I was a late bloomer)



Review from Amazon:

When I bought Rebecca Woolf's "Rockabye: From Wild to Child", I was sold a misleading bill of goods. Like Neal Pollack's "Alternadad", Woolf's memoir was marketed as the story of a party-all-nighter's quest to transition to parenthood without losing her innate coolness. And like Pollack's memoir, "Rockabye" turned out to be so much more. It's a heartfelt exploration of a new parent's discovery of her heart and soul, awakened by the birth of her child, and how, in finding her own way to be that son's very best parent, she finds her true self. Woolf writes with unblinking honesty and a stunning gift for language. I've never been so happy to find that a book I'm reading is not the book I thought it was going to be.

Think it's time to go to the bookstore. I think I should visit Page One instead of Lane Crawford during lunch time today. That saves me the frustration of seeing all the handbags and shoes on sale....

The Bald and the Beautiful

If your hubby's got a good sense of humor and he's got no issues about his hairline, get this onesie for your baby. Just don't expect him to buy you anything for your birthday or anniversary. Maybe it's better to just let baby wear it when daddy is not around...

Woman for All Seasons

There are four letters that make my heart skip a beat when put together.
S- A- L- E! I was busy running around town, going to client calls for work today but couldn't resist the temptation to "window shop" along the way. Why the hell did my meeting have to be at the Landmark, home of Tod's, Bottega Venetta, Jimmy Choo and Harvey Nichols? Aargh! Not, now when I am broke!

Retailers are desperate to make a sale nowadays, the discounts are astounding at 50% off! It would be crazy for one not to buy anything at this time! Who cares if it the stuff are from the spring/summer collection? I was drooling when I saw this camel bag at Anya Hindmarch. How I wish I can get my commission already. Sob, sob, sob! Won't get it til next month. I can feel the next 2 weeks will be the longest period of my life, waiting for payday. That's why they say patience is a virtue. I'm not the most patient person on earth.

I didn't dare pass by Lane Crawford's sale so as not to depress myself more. Good thing my meeting with Gucci is at their office and not their store. I have also steered clear of any meeting near any Prada shop so as not to go ballistic. I need my sanity.

My future dilemma? When I get my paycheck, should I buy a discounted spring/summer bag at half price or should I go for a bag from the fall collection? Tough choice! I think the answer would be to get the former, plus the latter but from a medium-price ranged brand and enjoy the best of both worlds!

If you have not yet seen what's in stores this Fall, here's giving you a sneak peek...

Prada (would definitely want a red/burgundy bag for fall)

Rebecca Minkoff (finally, the hobo I've been looking for!)


Burberry (great with trench coats)

Dolce and Gabbana (love the doctor's bag shape)


Fendi (perfect for work and red stilettos)



Tod's (their satin bags are delish, I've been lusting for one in another shape)


Christian Louboutin (would be great to have shades of gray in my closet)

Butter (Up) Daddy

Uh oh, it's one week before Father's day and I have no present for my hubby. Should it be time for revenge and not get him anything for his special day? I didn't get him anything for his birthday already so maybe I shouldn't ask and just surprise him with a nice present. Besides, our husbands are so used to being the "sugar daddy," maybe it's our turn to treat them and butter them up.

To be honest with you, it's hard to surprise my hubby with clothes, shoes, or anything he can wear because he is very particular about the details, design and cut. The best thing is to buy the same brand as what he's got already and buy and get something similar to what he has. That's how men are like anyway, they like the same things. Makes life easier for us wives! If that's the criteria, then there's one shop I should go to: Hackett. My hubby loves his shirt from this store that he doesn't mind wearing it every week. Too bad, there's no Hackett in Hong Kong (we got his shirt in the Heathrow airport in London). I hope they sell their shirts online! If you've got a little boy, they have shirts for kids too. Like father, like son.



Okay, it's tough to get something that's not available in Hong Kong. But, it seems like I am attracted to brands that I don't see here. Has anyone heard of Ben Sherman? I remember seeing it somewhere here but not sure where. found out about this brand because of the shirts for baby boys. When I checked the site, their tailored shirts for men are not bad too. Great with jeans or under a suit, if you are tired of Brooks Brothers.


If you want your hubby to look like Brad Pitt in Benjamin Button (nope, not when he was an old man or tiny baby), maybe get him a leather jacket from Belstaff. My hubby is in the leather jacket business so maybe it would be great to get him something from a competitor for both work and play. Not sure how his partner would react when he sees him wearing it though. Oops!


Since we're talking about work, maybe I can get him a cashmere sweater (fall is fast approaching, can you believe how time flies?) from Loro Piana. I know hubby will be doing business with this brand (at least his partner won't complain this time). Their sweaters are of the highest quality.



I also mentioned before that my hubby needs a new pair of jeans. Since I think True Religion and Rock and Republic or too funky for my preppie husband. I think Diesel is still my best bet. But there is no way I can buy it without having him try it on...



Since Lane Crawford is on sale now, maybe hubby and I can just go over there and check what pair of jeans he likes. And while he is in the dressing room, I can check out the bags and shoes while waiting... now, that's a plan for Father's Day!