VNC shoes, for showing off your feet
As a woman, I have a love affair between shoes ~ and bags. I still have to think about what weighs more in my heart. Although logic should easily tell us you wear your shoes wherever you go, but a bag is something you can leave sitting on a chair or desk. So yes, shoes will always be a practical option. Just ask Madam Imelda Marcos 
Being a shoe lover, I was quite thrilled when the company behind VNC shoes (through their publicist First Tier) invited women-bloggers to view their latest collection. I haven’t been attending blog events lately, but this was one I couldn’t resist. VNC is one of my favorite brands. In fact, my preferred pair these days is this VNC strappy sandals I bought for a little more than P1K at a recent sale in MOA.
The predominant shoe color in my closet is black, but a review of VNC’s spring-summer collection shows that bright colors are “in.” And yes, they do have bags too!
Saizen store shopping tips, when everything is 85 pesos…
Mind you, 85 pesos sounds cheap, but when compounded to 25 or so items, can add up to a lot already. This is what happened to me when I bought 36 cute knick-knacks at the store, while still promising to come back for more. It’s just good that the staff and cashiers are friendly and helpful. Here are my own tips for shopping sanely and effectively in Saizen, the authentic 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop in Manila, after Japan’s very own Daiso chain of stores:
1. Look out for their products labelled Made in Japan. Some of the stuff is Made in China, and if you say China, you might as well look in Divisoria. Japan-made means you’re assured of the quality and the uniqueness of the item, such as those bento picks, onigiri rice ball maker and other kitchen accessories I chose.
2. Have a shopping budget, and stick to it. It’s hard when everything you see is cute and pretty so you might as well set money aside. The difficult part is that the store accepts credit cards, which brings you the illusion that you can have this and have that 
3. Be ready with your own shopping list. Related to No. 2. Having a list means you’re guided on what to buy, and will not act on impulse.
4. Look elsewhere before you buy. The shopping savvy would do well being familiar with various shopping destinations in the metro and compare prices. This is so you’ll not be overwhelmed on your first Saizen visit and scoop up something you see at the first opportunity.
Saizen, 85-peso shop in Robinsons Galleria: the house of cute
Truth to tell, during my first (and only) visit to Tokyo in ‘05, budget constraints forced me to visit the 100-yen stores as my only option for buying ‘pasalubong.’ They were huge, housed in three to four-storey buildings with all kinds of stuff available.
Fast forward to 2009, one need not fly as far because the real 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop named Saizen opened its first branch at the Robinsons Galleria last April 29. Everything at 85 pesos each! I have to admit: the extent of their offerings makes Japan Home Center a poor cousin. Must-buys here, in my opinion: beauty aids, home organizers and kitchen tools, including bento accessories that I’ve been looking for. And of course, things related to Japan!
I just wish Saizen would go forth and multiply soon, and not limit its store to faraway Ortigas.
Havaianas for a cause
Shortly after we covered the Ipanema event inspired by supermodel Gisele Bundchen, a colorful big box arrived on our doorstep, this time from another well-known flip-flops manufacturer, Havaianas. In it was a denim bag and the “original” Havaianas with a monochromatic color for its strap (we had blue). I equally love this pair as it is simple and classic.
Havaianas was inviting the media to the launching of its collaboration with Rock Ed on the search for the most original youth-targeted projects. It was quite ironic because right after the launch, news came out in the papers about children’s styles of the brand being recalled from the US market because of high lead content in the paint being used to decorate the sandals. The official distributor in the Philippines, Terry SA, promptly issued a disclaimer and said they have pulled out the kiddie flip-flops in question, and will conduct further testing soon.
Beryl’s Chocolate Kingdom, Malaysia
During this trip, I was glad to discover Beryl’s Chocolates and to visit their showroom-cum-museum in Kuala Lumpur. Actually, it’s a big house converted into a commercial structure. I was thinking that it was such a nice marketing ploy, to promote the brand, and products that are proudly made in Malaysia.There was a steady stream of tourists like us a-visiting, for who can refuse chocolates?
My son, the dessert lover, enjoyed our little tour, particularly as they were giving us free bites of chocolates to sample.
I ended up buying $70 worth of chocs to take home. Silly me forgot to take note of the prices, but they’re definitely lower than Royce.
I absolutely love their Potato Chips Chocolate. You wouldn’t know the difference from the more famous Japanese brand.
Ipanema: the best flip-flops for summer?
You just know summer’s fast approaching when you get invited to an event sponsored by a flip-flop company.
The good thing with events like this is that you get to discover new brands. In this case, the Made in Brazil “Ipanema.” Silly me has seen this before but stopped short of buying. It happens to be more expensive than the other popular brand (insert H word here ).
But now that am a proud owner of a pair of Ipanema (as a result of a shamelessly-procured schwag bag), I must say this posh brand is l-o-v-e. I like the way it treats my rough feet like royalty because of its soft rubber padding. And the designs just rock!
This is my Ipanema wedge sandal of choice. The sole (hidden from view) has these lovely leaf designs and is part of their environmentally-friendly Summer 2009 GB Seeds Collection. It has other extraordinary details like a three-strip strap and a metal spiral button.
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FitFlop and titanium accessories: do they really work?
It’s a health conscious world we’re living. It’s not just enough to eat your fruits, walk daily, drink eight cups of water, take your vitamins and adopt the whole get-fit caboodle. These days, people also get to “wear their health,” as we’ll see in the following examples.
Subject no. 1: FitFlop! The latest designer incarnation of the ubiquitous thong sandals became famous when the likes of Oprah and Heidi Klum started to endorse it, and celebrities like Julianne Moore started wearing ‘em. FitFlop takes pride in its slogan “It’s the flip flop with the gym built-in.” The official literature says the brand gives your feet a workout through its MicroWobbleboard technology in midsole which lets you exert 15% more energy in walking. More effort means you get to burn your muscles more, thus toning and firming the legs.
David & Goliath, Havaianas, Zen Zest & a few of my fave things at the moment…
There’s been a backlog of blog posts ever since the house move, so I’d just like to give the heads-up to the following products I tried recently:
Havaianas…. I Heart! Summer is for flip-flops and I adore the pairs of Havaianas I got recently, especially the one with “Blogger Ajay” spelled out on the straps. The latter is a result of the “Make Your Own Havaianas” event I attended recently in the Rockwell Tent. In the past, I would have shunned a signature brand for my tsinelas (slippers) since it’s just tsinelas anyway. But I like how Havaianas lets you express your individuality with a large selection of styles to choose from. At the “Make Your Own Havaianas,” you can embellish your slip-ons with Swarovski studs, letters in the alphabet or symbols like headphones and further customize them with lacinhos (”little laces”). The Rockwell Tent was filled to the brim with Havaianas fans and am sure next year’s event will be another hit.
And now, time for some toilet talk…
Man has come a long way since latrines and poo-ing in leaves and newspapers (honestly did this once, while camping!) We now have portalets and a multitude of designs for home bathrooms. I was prepared for some normalcy until I saw the ‘his and hers’ toilet bowl from TwoDaLoo…..
It is described as ” the world’s first toilet two people can use … at the exact same time. The TwoDaLoo features two side-by-side toilet seats with a modest privacy wall in between. An upgraded version includes a seven inch LCD television and iPod docking station. ”
The dual bowl promises to “bring couples closer together and conserve our water supply, all with one flush.” The latter is commendable, the former questionable. I don’t think too many couples will take to it like ducks to water (pardon the pun), and that’s me included. I want my own toilet private time…wouldn’t you? The Bible did say “for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health..,” but it wasn’t about to say “till constipation and yer smelly poop do us part.”
Frontstage at the Avon underwear summer fashion show
Am glad it will soon be summer, there is an excuse to post these pics.
But then again, they were not swimwear, they were underwear.
Story to follow.
Blogging since 2004 and recently married to Mr Z. I can't live without coffee....and brown sugar.
