Sunday calm

Hope everyone's enjoying a restful Sunday...

Before and after

finished product

before

Mom, the student

Me after painting classes, wearing my glasses

My work at art class today!

Just got home from art class

As usual, I feel energized and inspired

Everytime we meet, we see each other's improvements

We talk, we bond, we laugh

Really a good class

It's one of the things I look forward to

When I see my classmates

Most are older

But the zest they have for life

And the wisdom & maturity they've gained from it

Is admirable

I've met young people bitter about life

And to think they still have a lot to see and experience

But these classmates of mine are so full of positive energy

My kind of people

I've known them for a short time

But my gut tells me how wonderful they are

Such a positive, encouraging group

Non -judgmental, modest

Despite all of them to be highly successful

I guess true wisdom means knowing the difference

Between a successful and a significant life

To which if we live right

We may be both gifted with

Enjoy your weekend!

Going casual

Am not the usual girl who loves wearing jeans
It's actually an effort for me to put them on

Just got home from an event and decided to go casual chic tonight
Jeans with a beaded top from Culte Femme
As always, had a good time

Have a good night!

Spectator

Since my son is still on schoolbreak, he played a lot of tennis

It's something I enjoy watching as I can't hit a ball!

Something that looks so easy but is actually not

So here I am

Not athletic at all

But certainly the best cheerleader in town

Another rainy day in Manila, snuggle up!

Rainy Days and Tuesdays

watching Barefoot Contessa, the only show I watch
pardon this part of the house, still in progress

played Twister

played Wii

There's another typhoon in the Philippines

There was also an earthquake last night

Too many things going on in the world, with nature

I wonder why good things are not always reported

Just how media prioritizes and affects

So today, since it's a day for lounging

We did just that

Though still did errands

then to Soumak, my fave furn store to have our antique table refurbished

Then my youngest played tennis

When we got home

We all lazed around the house

My eldest on the computer

My youngest played with Wii then Twister

I read and watched them

Then watched Barefoot Contessa

I would love to be invited to her house!

I hope everyone's keeping safe in this weather

Have a good night!

Old photos

photos courtesy of Ian Santos

Just sharing with you some old photos from past events.

Enjoy the week!

DIY hot oil

Every Sunday , I do my do- it- yourself hot oil treatment at home

Easy, natural, inexpensive

Keeps my hair soft and shiny

And so far, white hair free

Wow, I sound like an ad

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Am off to bed. Night!

Weekend

Just when I thought I can laze around this morning
I remembered I have the annual renewal seminar for lectors

Gotta go, enjoy the weekend!

Serenity

While working on the computer yesterday
This was my view
Just one of those moments
When you just look up and say thank you.

Beautiful, clear day
I can see the mountains and the river
And the 2 people I love most

May you all have a good Friday!

Vanity cares

preparing for an event

at an event

Since I do the society pages of Town & Country magazine

I always go to events

I really enjoy what I'm doing since I love meeting people

I'm also a full time mom and doing this is another aspect of my personality/life

On my last birthday

My hubby wanted to give me Jimmy Choos

I said no

Huwhatt??? What normal woman would say no to that?

Well, told you am not normal, haha

Told him I want something for the house instead

So, he came up with the idea of giving me a vanity table

Suweett!!!

Thank you for my belated birthday gift!

You really know what tickles my fancy.

Stay happy!

Olivia d'Aboville

the gorgeous, Olivia d'Aboville

Yesterday was again one of those days where I scheduled people with regards to

works pending in our home

From 9 a.m. onwards, I had carpenters for the shutters which still they were not able to

install cause, okay, fine, it wasn't per standard

Then the fabric supplier came and gosh, what lovely fabrics they brought

Went out to go to the parlor, then bought flowers

Came home then waited for my appointment with Olivia.

Met Olivia d'Aboville last year

When I just started doing the society pages for Town & Country

Olivia's art exhibit in the prestigious main gallery of Ayala Museum was one of the first

I covered

First time I met her, I thought she was beautiful

Actually, I met her prior to her exhibit

At the Bastille Day at Sofitel

She caught my eye already hence I asked if she can be photographed by our photographer

Only to find out she was "the" event I was covering the next day

Through the course of the year, we would , few times, keep in touch through e-mail

Then she found me on facebook though I really am not a FB kind of person

Then would see her at events then the rest is history

When I saw her work again at the Sofitel last week

I had to ask her if she can come and do something for our place

Cute as she is, she excitedly said yes

She is one talented young person and the more I conversed with her yesterday

The more impressed I got (I don't get impressed easily)

I even had to ask, how did your parents raise you? haha

Such a beautiful, talented, grounded person.

What's more

She loved our place

She said it's amazing and inspiring!

Wow, she really was impressed!

Told her

Coming from her, I was flattered.

So here's Ms. d'Aboville

She will go a long way

What a wonderful person at such a young age

Beautiful, beautiful, my kind of beauty

Keep it up, Olivia!

Can't wait to see you shine even more!

Thank you, Lili!

Hi Lili,

Was trying to reply to your comment but blogger can't read who I was
And my reply was not being accepted.

I am so not techie!!!

Anyway, thank you for following everydayflair
and thank you for your kind comment.

Hope to meet you someday soon!

Rach

Studies in painting

My earlier studies on tonal values...

Just sharing.

Happy Wednesday!

W by Rachelle on Heart-2-Heart

Just sharing with you the link from my good friend, Rica's blog:

Check out:
http://heart-2-heart-online.com/2011/07/17/w-by-rachelle/

Enjoy!

Where I'm at in painting class

My newest work, still unfinished

My unfinished work, doing tonal values

Remember my post regarding taking up painting classes

Well, this is where I'm at right now

I enjoy the class, teacher is very encouraging

Work gets you to be in a different level with yourself

And I mean not just the skill part but the mental & emotional

Yummy comfort food everytime

But most of all, the fun, kind, inspiring classmates I have

Yesterday as I was crazy busy and honestly tired

I was tempted not to attend class

But the thing that really urged me to go

Was the camaraderie and company my classmates bring

Most of them are older

And the wisdom that I learn from them is uplifting

I always go home fulfilled and looking froward to the next class.

More than what I signed up for!

Weekend's here!

Last night, just got home from an event
Booked for my weekly home massage
Really, really one of the best luxuries of living n Manila

It's Friday, time to slow down for the weekend!

Night!

MY crazy week

It's been a crazy, crazy busy week

Everynight , had an event whether for work or my husband's that I had to accompany him

On top of that, for 2 weeks , my mother-in-law was here and everyday and most nights

I would also bring her out

Yesterday, after running around the city

was putting on powder and lipstick in the car

And I kept looking for my lipstick

Only to realize, I was holding it all along

Ayayay

Busy but enjoying every minute

And that's what counts!

Happy Weekend!

Pleats, pls

At an event

Happy Saturday!

Seeing friends

loving my long hair

w/ Chinky & Tita Elo

Always nice to see old friends.

Happy Wednesday!

Manila Hotel's interpretation of Cirque du Soleil

Before the show, we decided to have an early dinner at Manila Hotel's coffee shop,

Cafe Ylang YIlang

They just renovated and I was quite happy that they're putting effort in reviving

this institution

We had our wedding reception in the Champagne Room of the said hotel

in the 90's

It was really beautiful then

We showed the kids where we had our wedding reception

We brought them there years ago when they were little so they couldn't remember

If in Manila, try to support our very own Manila Hotel

Let it grow and bloom again

It can only do that with loyal patrons

Good night!

The Circus is in town!

Watched the amazing Varekai last week

Have seen Cirque more than a decade ago in Hong Kong for their show Saltimbanco

It never fails to impress

Even my kids were amazed

When I see talents like these

It just makes me grateful for all the gifts He has bestowed on everyone

And for these gifted ones to mazimize their potential and share these gifts for the world to see

If you could, it is a must see!

A wedding we will go

Attended a wedding last night

Couple were prom dates

Just in their late 20's but been together for 10 years

Everyone has a cute love story to tell

Best wishes!

Sweet nothings

this is Manang from Joyce where I buy rhum cake

her pasalubong from Bacolod

Yesterday, after my son's tennis in Rockwell

Kids and I had dinner and as usual went to our fave stall in Baker's Dozen

It's the Joyce stall selling rhum cakes, etc

Funny thing is, my kids love to get the samples which is already embarrassing

But this Manang keeps re-filling everytime and encourages them to get

We see each other often, in Rockwell and the monthly American Women's Bazaar

Last Monday, after tennis again, she asked if I can come this weekend

She will give me something

Was so touched when yesterday, she gave me this piyaya which she brought from her vacation

from Bacolod

I was really touched for her to have thought of me

What a nice gesture from someone I just smile at and share cordial greetings

and buy from every now and then

Things that make you see how much goodness there is in this world despite of.

Okay, okay, need to go real soon!

Til next!

Lazing around

My view while lazing around

It's the weekend

Could've done a lot but it's one of those days when you just don't want to move

Been so busy with routine stuff, events, and entertaining my mother-in-law

So today, just thought will lie around, read, blog, listen to music with my kids

Have to go soon anyway

Finally have the final design for our kitchen

Need to go to Space 2000 for signing

Afterwhich, pick up some clothes for alteration

Church then go to a wake

Dinner with MIL and kids, she's treating

while hubby's at work

So while I still have an hour before I leave

Am enjoying my quiet, do-not-disturb time

Happy rainy weekend!

My childhood souvenir

w/ flash

without flash

At an event I covered

Wearing my Mom's dress from the 70's

I remember her wearing this when I was about 7

Then she started wearing it as a housedress

So, I just asked her to give it to me

And had it reworked

I am just amazed how fabrics then are really so different from fabrics now

This has withstood more than 3 decades and the color and quality remain the same

Gotta sleep, been a busy, busy week.

Night!

Mistaken identity

After lunch at Antonio's
We did our usual thing in Tagaytay
Buy fruits!
Then plants but today just got a planter, no plant
We brought my hubby and MIL home then kids and I went to Rustan's
Have a wedding next Sunday and didn't want the registry to have a limited choice
But alas, there were a few left
So, I was my stubborn self of getting a gift I thought would be nice and not the
trash bin , picture frames & spatula that were left

Rustan's is my fave store and people there know me
Funny how my painting classmate's daughter-in-law who used to work in Rustan's
told my classmate , she knows me because I'm always in Rustan's
My husband, years ago, went shopping with me and said how come everyone knows you?
I said, Oh I always window shop here, hahaha
Yea and they know your name?
I don't know what he's wondering about, this is the case even in Hong Kong

Salespeople know me!

To cut the story short
My good sales attendant , Phat, from WMF, assisted me
Told her just tell the guy from wrapping section to give it to the guard downstairs
They know me

When I came down
Guard said, "Ma'am , is this yours?"
I said yea, didn't the guy tell you?
Guard said, Ma'am he said, the tall lady( come again?) wearing (guy describes what I was wearing) , and a foreigner
I get that a lot! ( not the tall part, hahaha)

I look so Filipina but when I shop they speak English to me
in Rustan's San Antonio, when I buy grocery, they always ask me for my diplomat card
When I lived overseas, no one thought I was Filipina
Another Asian but not Pinoy

I really wonder cause I can be poster girl for Pinays
Oh well, still a mystery to me
Why people mistake my nationality

What is it that makes them think I'm a foreigner...

Hmmm, any ideas? Would love to know!

Happy Saturday!

Antonio's, please

my dessert

my duck with truffle & foie gras

my mother-in-law visiting from Switzerland

foyer at Antonio's

We trekked to Tagaytay for lunch at Antonio's

It's been 5 years since I last ate there

As always, it did not disappoint

Too bad my mom was not able to join as she's under the weather

When you want good food, lovely ambiance , where else but Antonio's.

Always a pleasure.