We attended the opening of the new Bambu store in Glorietta 4 last week,and we thought having four young girls cut the ceremonial ribbon was such a cute idea. (they were nieces/relatives of Bambu owner Patxi Elizalde)

Bambu is a one-stop shop when you’re looking for quality, fashionable Brazilian footwear, notably flip-flops which you can strut around the beach. Very apt since summer’s almost here! The house carries such noted brands as Ipanema, Ipanema GB (which stands for supermodel Gisele Bundchen), Grendha and Rider sandals for men.

They’ve also added Colombian swimwear into the mix. It goes by the name of the brand OndadeMar and doesn’t only include bikinis but also sarongs, tunics and the like. I even saw shell-studded hats.

I’ve learned to love these super-comfy Brazilian flip-flops and wasted no time in buying two pairs of Grendha slip-ons for my nine year-old twins when I saw that the store had a quite adorable kids’ line. Even pretty shoes for babies!

Was I glad I got the right size! Grenda kiddie slip-ons at P1295 each.

The Grendha line-up of flats for women is also something to moon over. There’s the ever popular Grendha Jelly, ballerina-style shoes and peep-toes. I’ve stuck to wearing flat shoes now that am pregnant and have become partial to good ol’ Crocs and Aerosoles. The Grendha line is a discovery, and I’ll surely add this to my wishlist. Most of all, they come in the most desirable colors.

Bambu stores in the Philippines can be found at Glorietta 4, Trinoma and Alabang Town Center

A few months ago, this humble space announced the holding of the Crazy for Crocs online video challenge. Time indeed flies so fast because the competition has ended and its wake are happy, contented winners who are holding their high-ticket prizes just in time for Christmas, thanks to Crocs.

Congratulations are in order to the following monthly winners of P100,00 each: Jeric Herrera, Jamielyn Ira Dy and Kimberly Tan. Crocs customer Priscilla Roco likewise won a brand-new Honda Jazz in the grand raffle. The others won Canon PowerShot cameras and Samsung LCD TVs.

Guess we’ll just have to wait for the next high-powered Crocs campaign. In a press statement, Franco Limjuco, VP for Marketing of All Condition Gear Phil. Inc, the exclusive distributor of Crocs footwear in the country, said: “With the online video challenge, we were looking for an innovative way of using today’s technology in showcasing amateur talents as well as promoting our brand.And from the response we’ve received, and the number of superb videos we’ve seen throughout the contest, we can definitely say that the campaign is a success!”

How to view the videos? Just go to the crazyforcrocs.com website! They are also available on Youtube.

I almost missed out on the winners’ victory party at The Fort due to the horrible holiday traffic. Still, am glad there was a surprise waiting for me. The new, latest style Crocs Malindi slingbacks in an attractive pink color… tee hee.

In this season when we are rushing to all the holiday parties and frantically shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts, uber-comfy sandals and slip-ons like Crocs are the preferred footwear of choice.

With Christmas barely three weeks away, holiday shopping is now at a feverish pitch. Luckily, the season is also the peak time for bazaars, which enable shoppers like us to get everything in one roof. I like bazaars, for as long as my energy level allows me. That’s because I find items here that I don’t usually see in department stores. Best of all, you can haggle!

Here’s a list of bazaars for the remainder of December 2009 in Manila, or what remains of the holiday season:

December 4 to 6 The Big Holiday Outlet Sale (SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia)

December 4 to 16 9th World Bazaar Festival (World Trade Center, Pasay City)

December 3 to 6 Converse Mega Sale (Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall)

December 3 to 5 Baratillo sa UP (UPSSI, Diliman QC)

Dec. 14-16, 21-23 Fabulous Finds Christmas Bazaar (2/F Tower 2, Mezzanine, Enterprise Bldg. Ayala cor. Paseo de Roxas, makati City)

December 12-13 Four Seasons Pre-Christmas Bazaar (Bellevue Manila, Filinvest, Alabang)

December 12-13 Grand Christmas Bazaar ‘09 (Diliman Preparatory School, Commonwealth, Quezon City)

Dec. 12-13, 19-20 The Holiday Rush (Christ the King Church, Greenmeadows)

December 19-20 Holiday Madness Bazaar (Cubao Expo, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City)

Dec. 19-25 Christmas Bazaar (Alabang Festival Mall)

Until Dec. 12 Early Christmas Book Sale (Anvil Publishing House, tel. no. 637-3621)

Until Dec. 22 Urban Style Bazaar (Open Parking Area, McKinley Hills, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig)

Until Dec. 27 Dessert Haven (Trinoma Mall, Cinema Lobby, QC)

Until Jan. 10 Christmas Bangketa Sale (Center Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan)

My friend Maricel was the one who tipped me on this nifty new site called ShopandShare where celebrities like Kris Aquino are putting up their precious designer items on auction to help victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

I’ve been eyeing Kris’ LV Stephen Prouse bag myself, but the current bid now is at $3,600 (from a starting bid of only $799).The highest bid now is for Angel Locsin’s Prada Nappa Tote ($4,150, as of this writing.)

Either the ones bidding are avid Ebay shopaholics or simply Good Samaritans. But it’s nice to know that some people won’t hesitate to join an auction for a good cause. Even nicer still that the showbiz personalities we admire are selfless enough to use their face value and pulling power to donate to typhoon victims.

Shop and Share was first conceived by actress and Red Cross Ambassador Angel Locsin. She then gathered the support of her celebrity friends Kris Aquino, Anne Curtis, Ruffa Gutierrez, Luis Manzano and Pokwang for the charitable online venture. Other showbiz stars donating are Kim Chiu, Mariel Rodriguez, Heart Evangelista, Isabelle Daza, Gerald Anderson and Boy Abunda.

Although the landing page is the Shop & Share website, the auctions are being conducted by batch at the Red Cross store in Ebay. Join na!

One of the things am not happy about is the fact that my skin is highly sensitive, and prone to certain types of allergies, like contact dermatitis. Unfortunately, my son inherited this predicament and when allergy strikes, it’s the time for him (or me) to visit the doctor and get the much-needed prescription.

During a recent forum, it was quite enlightening to find that one out of five kids worldwide suffer from a form of skin allergy or another. It seems that children who haven’t been sufficiently breastfed are susceptible. Environmental pollution, allergen levels and dietary changes can encourage the development of allergies. Allergy-causing foods like soy, milk, peanuts, egg and seafood are also a trigger. And so are seemingly innocuous items like the nickel found in buttons, fiberglass toys and common household products like shampoos and detergents.

For those who have experienced uncontrollable itching of the skin, we all know how it can be a hassle. The condition certainly affects children in more ways than we can imagine, as they find it difficult to focus in school, if not incur absences; makes them unable to sleep; and affect their social life, in general.

It’s certainly good news that Green Cross – the Philippine company which has brought us The Rubbing Alcohol , Zonrox Bleach and Glide Ironing Aid, among others – now comes Del Hypoallergenic Fabric Softener. It claims to be dermatologically-tested and safe, even for children’s delicate skin, as it contains no artificial colorants. This is more of a press release announcement, I know, but it should be worth noting , especially for mommies looking for something to relieve their kids about certain allergies.

Del has launched an Allergy Awareness Program via the website, wearitchfreeclothes.com. Through the site, parents and children can read online the Itchy the Grump book and they will also be able to join the Itchy the Grump Contest by uploading their photos and videos to the site. Do check it out!

Be the next internet sensation like the funny duo Moymoy Palaboy. Crocs, the popular American footwear brand, has just launched an online contest which makes it possible for talented individuals to be the next YouTube stars just by uploading their videos on the site. Participants to the contest must watch out for the weekly challenges to be issued by the DJs from Magic 89.9’s Good Times radio show and on the official contest website crazy4crocs.com. Then, they must act out the challenges, capture this on video, upload to Youtube, and post it to crazy4crocs.com as an official entry.

Looks like a very entertaining, exciting contest – and financially rewarding as well. Contestants to the weeklies will win prizes such as Canon digital cameras while monthly winners get to grab as much as P100,000. To win, entries must be voted as the most popular by registered visitors to the website.

Crocs buyers, on the other hand, will get the chance to win high-ticket items in the Crazy for Crocs Grand Raffle. Each pair bought will entitle them to one raffle ticket with a chance to win prizes such as (gasp!) a brand new Honda Jazz, 26″ Samsung LCD TVs, Canon camcorders and others. Promo runs in all participating Crocs concept stores and outlet stores in Metro Manila and the provinces.

Speaking of ….. I just browsed through their latest catalogue and I do like the looks of the Crocs Cabana. Must put this on my birthday wishlist, or the hubby’s pasalubong list, hehe.

Where to buy authentic Crocs in the Philippines:

Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City
Trinoma, North Ave., Quezon City
SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City
Robinson’s Place Ermita, Manila City
Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan City
SM Marikina, Marikina City
Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City
Robinson’s Galleria, Mandaluyong City
Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City
Shangri-la Edsa Plaza, Mandaluyong City

SM Pampanga, Mexico, Pampanga
SM Baguio, Baguio City
D’Mall Boracay, Aklan
Ayala Center, Cebu City
SM Cebu, Cebu City
Robinson’s Mall, Cagayan De Oro
SM Iloilo, Iloilo City
SM Lipa,  Batangas
SM Bacoor, Cavite
SM Naga, Bicol

Rustans Tower, Shangri-la Edsa
Rustans Alabang Town Center
Rustans Makati
Rustans Gateway
SM Megamall
SM Mall of Asia
SM Makati
SM North Edsa
Planet Sports Glorietta
Planet Sports Rockwell

Registered

Last weekend, I was up early for one class I didn’t want to miss – make-up lessons with Victor Ortega of Artistry, the high-end make-up brand of Amway. Prior to this event, I’ve been canvassing make-up schools in Manila, more out of interest than anything else. Am not about to open a beauty salon soon, but it is one thing I really want to learn.

Even though I hardly use make-up myself, except for the reliable lipstick, I do believe that it goes a long way in enhancing one’s looks and aura. We should approach it like art, and used wrongly, it can make us look like zombies, hehe.

Thankfully, Mr. Ortega is a proponent of the “natural look,” and this has made him popular in these parts (plugging:he has his own eponymous salons in Boracay).

For our class, he taught about how to do daytime make-up and transforming it with a few touches for the night. I caught a few precious lessons along the way.

1. Good make-up comes with good skin care. Don’t forget to cleanse, tone and exfoliate.

2. When buying foundation, choose the nearest color to the skin. It’s purpose is to just even out the color of the skin, so don’t put TONS.

3. When contouring the cheeks or the nose, use a darker shade of foundation or pressed powder.

4. Don’t use foundation on your neck.

5. Apply concealer only after you put on foundation.

6. Eyebrows frame your face, so always aim for the perfect one.

7. When applying mascara, concentrate on the roots.

8. Use blush-on to enhance the overall color of your face.

Victor puts daytime eyeshadow on Liz, which is basically lighter. Use light color for the base, and use darker shade on the upper lid, like pink or peach. Apply a highlighter, like shimmery white shadow, below the brow bone. Then finish off with eyeliner.

To transform one’s daytime look to evening, Victor blended in darker eyeshadows on Monique to achieve a smoky effect.

I really enjoyed the class, especially since a whole stack of Artistry make-up products. complete with brushes, was laid out in front of us. This way, we got to have hands-on practice. Victor also had his hands full as we fell in line and had our respective eyebrows trimmed. Obviously, we have no time even for a bout of threading – busy women that we are

After the class, and a yummy brunch from Bizu, we were treated to a private make-up sale with a 20 percent discount on Artistry products. As am new to the make-up line, I ordered the indispensable blush-on. It was interesting to note that Artistry has a whole range ranging from acne treatment, skin whitening, sun protection and make-up which were all carefully researched and formulated to be safe for the skin.

At the end of the lessons, we can’t help but say “cheese!”

Artistry make-up products are available through your favorite Amway dealer,
or the head office at:
G/F Feliza Building
108 V.A. Rufino Street
Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229
Tel. No. 8148181

Victor Ortega @ Emphasis Salon
Tel. Nos. 403-0117, 4030119

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!

Love the Chanel-style pink bag in the background. The average price for their items are between one thousand to two thousand pesos ($30 to $50) but what’s good is they always have sales and promotions. The last we saw was “Buy two items and get the third at 50% discount” – definitely an open invitation to commit shoetunny (the counterpart of gluttony) – if there ever was such a thing.

VNC designs are funky and cool, with catchy details like the buttons on these wedge sandals. They’ve got the most lovable flats too.

It’s a pity. The mainstream shoe market in the Philippines is being flooded by cheaper, more fashionable counterparts from Asian neighbors. VNC is a franchise of Malaysia’s leading shoe brand, Vincci. Their presence here (since 2003 yet!) ensures that we don’t have to fly all the way to KL to buy those must-have fashion for our feet.

VNC branches are located in Robinsons Galleria, Glorietta III, Robinsons Manila, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La Plaza Mall and soon to open in Eastwood Mall this month.

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.

5. Shop hungry. This is my own general shopping mantra. I do find that when I am out on an empty stomach, I tend to like things less. Of course it didn’t help that I was in the store till its closing hour and by the time I got out, most of the restos were about to close too.

6. Promise to come back next time. Yes Virginia, there will always ne next time. So don’t fill your shopping basket like there’s no tomorrow. Prioritize what to buy, and you’ll be fine. Happy shopping!

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.

Some interesting items:

French fries container, almost like the way it looks in McDonalds. Bought a pack, so kids will think it’s the real thing

Multi-colored, brightly-designed chopsticks.

I look at these, and if I were the copywriter, I’d say: “Hayden Kho-inspired banana holders.”

Seven Dwarfs home ornaments ~ complete them all!

My Saizen loot netted me P3,060. Aaaargh! And they say 100-yen shops are cheap? Hehe.

My favorites from this batch are the bento picks, lunch cloth, the polka-dotted hair turban, gold-colored bracelets, the magnetic dolls as well as the kikay accessories like nail art and eyelashes. They’re all the height of cute!

The sales clerk told me celebrities like Judy Ann, Chynna and Carmina have been flocking to the store too…. so we’re definitely not in the wrong company.

My next post will tell you all about shopping wisely in this Saizen. Mata ne!