Everydayflair inspirations

 Anne Ong cuffs

 Daphne home scents

locally made products, this one from tribes in Puerto Galera

I get inspired by everyday things
Right now, these pretty little things elevate my senses

I need a total stimulation of my senses at home hence I always have diffusers around, here's the vanilla scent I got from Daphne or Trisha, haha, don't remember which scent, they gave me the same Daphne home scents gift

Loving the Anne Ong cuffs right now, her star's rising as she won 2 consecutive design awards in Katha

And I've always loved indigenous stuff, got this from Greenbelt 5 at the stall of Puerto Galera products, everytime you buy you help them out

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday!

Love thy neighbor

 the boys enjoying their drinks

with Anna, Cat, Loralee & Mikey


Just before we left for HK (HK na naman)
Our old neighbors and good friends, Raymond & Anna hosted an intimate dinner for their
friends
I miss having them next door
We had such a fun time living on the same floor that when I see their kids, I miss not seeing them (Stefano was the only baby then) do their routines

I am just glad that these two know how to keep and nurture friendships.

Thanks for the wonderful dinner, guys!

Catch up soon!

My friend DInggay

 with Emi Jorge

 with Billie & Carlos

 of course, Eds

 with Maricar, Rica's sister

Tada!  The birthday girl!


I got a nice surprise text a couple of weeks ago asking me to block off the date
It was from Bryan, Dinggay's loving husband
I have not seen them in ages, as in ages
I don't even know how he got hold of my number
And don't cover your ears for me saying this but they were my friends from Hong Kong
Yeah, that magical place of Hong Kong
It yields friendships

I was already settled in Hong Kong, already a mom
When my friend from UP, Jenny, and Dinggay's friend from Berkeley (I think)
told both of us to hook up
Dinggay was new in HK and starting out her married life with her investment banker hubby
While I was already quite a pro in HK life
Hey, I gave birth in that place, didn't I
I must know a thing or two

Good thing, I'm always open to people as I was so happy to have Dinggay as my friend
I would remember us burning the telephone wires talking or sometimes I would go to her or she would dine at our place, I even became close to her parents

We would go out on dates at Pacific Plaza
and there was not a year that I have not remembered her birthday

We moved, she stayed, we moved to Bangkok then again to Manila
They visited me in Bangkok
Even her parents visited me there
Then they moved
We've stayed in touch through e-mails but I only remember seeing her twice after, once in their ancestral house when her mom threw her a surprise party and another when I visited her in HK in 2005 (or was it 2004?)

As cynical as I am about technology
It has its merits
Dinggay & I have kept abreast of what life has been giving us through the internet

I have fond memories of our friendship
She was always a good audience, yeah, I would do my comedic monologues with her
And I am grateful to Bryan for re-connecting us

To Dinggay, a happy, happy birthday
I cannot tell you how glad I am to share and celebrate with you your momentous celebration
Talking and laughing with you last night just reminded me of the fun times we had together
Even though we've jumped more than a decade in age

Here's wishing you a life filled with love, happiness, and contentment knowing that God is always watching over us.
May He bless you always.
Stay connected!

Everydayflair loves HK style

 the huge official Apple store in IFC mall

alleys such as this, clean and pretty, nice touch with the flowers

a cute cafe by the MTR station, how cute is that?

how Chinese design is so distinguished

everywhere you see English ads or signs that I'm wracking my brains thinking of what they mean only to find humor in it, gotta love that

clean, highly organized, efficient train system

mobile softees, so old school, so cool, so current

the Laduree store, just because it's dainty


Another thing I enjoy when going back to HK
is that it never stops to amaze me with how they continually develop
It also has both old school touches and huge in culture
but also very modern and hip

I fit this place because of my natural tendencies to be neat and organized
I have low tolerance for mediocrity
Pardon me for saying that
We're given a life
Give your best in living it

Here, things work hence life becomes easier
Even in the grocery, they only have the cashier
very fast, no talking, doesn't need a bagger, puts everything in a bag
or oftentimes too, people just put them in themselves
No senoritas, hence, they progress

I hope someday, my own country will be as developed and disciplined.

Have a relaxing weekend ahead!

Quote of the day

Got this from one of my fave blogs, French by Design

Enjoy your Thursday!

Modes of transport

 of course, first mode, the conveyor belt

 my favourite tram

 red taxis

 the ferry

 another favorite, the ferry

the MTR



As blogged in 2011, one thing I like in HK living is the ease of public transport.
My kids enjoy riding the many different kinds as this is their chance to ride public transport
I would always tease them which one they like better, life in HK riding the MTR or being chauffeur driven in Manila
Surprise, surprise, they don't mind the MTR's and ferry rides
I guess because everything is efficient in Hong Kong!!!

I just wish, the Philippines will follow suit and provide good infrastracture and good modes of transport
WIll lessen traffic, save fuel, good exercise physically and good exercise for discipline, it starts there.

Well, as DOT says, it's more fun in the Philippines, anyway!

They are so plugged in!

 unveiling the MAC, C just got home from a football tournament where their team won gold!

 while waiting for me in IKEA with their Samsung galaxies

while waiting for me in IKEA, I'm designing their study tables and got parts from here, yipee!

The only one not techie in this family is me
I still have my 3-year-old Nokia and honestly, it gives me what I need from a cellphone
One thing I kinda find cool is how I do not succumb to trends of having the latest it gadget
I think it's elementary

Well, speak for myself
My kids are so wired that everything techie , be it in the airplanes, train stations, galleries, malls, hotels, etc, anywhere in the world, any city they know how to manipulate techie stuff
Yeah, I've become like my mom that they need to help me with the gadgets in the plane, hahaha
And to think I travel a lot, just can't be bothered, I have my rosary & book (excuses, excuses)
Or I remember last July in LA at the LACMA museum, couldn't find the dryer or should I say how to use it, haha
My son immediately helped me out
Duh, these kids are wired!
Born with an operating system!!!

I am just glad that my youngest is both a book reader and an athlete
while my eldest plays musical instruments and a voracious reader still

Guess gotta come out of my '70's upbringing
Come to think of it, I did enjoy ATARI and game and watch!

Night!

French class

He talks about his family



My son takes up French & German in school
It is part of their curriculum
I chanced upon his work talking about his family

It is interesting how he perceives us and himself, and no, my youngest did not allow me to post what
his older brother wrote about him, haha

For the record, I am not yet 43, hahaha
Soon, in less than 2 months

To translate what he wrote about his Mom

My mom is Rachelle.  She is 43 years old.
She is hardworking, religious, and intelligent (ahem, ahem, haha).
She loves architecture. She detests laziness. (so true!)

To translate what he wrote about his Dad

My dad is Thomas.
He is 49 years old.
He is hardworking, amusing, and a gourmand.
He loves good cuisine? (I assume that's what it means)
He detests low marks. (haha, busted who between the 2 of us really likes high grades)


Just sharing with you.

We're such a Benetton family
My husband speaks, Swiss German, German, English and French
I speak, Filipino & English
My eldest speaks, English, Filipino, German(still learning) & French (still learning)
and our youngest is studying Mandarin

We are a global family.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Laduree, now in Hong Kong!

The famous Laduree from France is now in Harbour City, Hong Kong!

A little bit pricey but well what do you expect? :)

It is really good but I am not sure if it's the best macaron I've tried or the one from Pierre Herme' in Paris

1 macaroon costs 23HKD, you do the math

A place of happiness

 Our ride to Happy Valley

our first stop, Dim Sum in Happy Valley, I would eat here 3 times a week


Well, as we were visiting our old hometown
Which funny when people asked me where we were going during Easter break
My immediate, unthought of response was
We're going home

I think I have mentioned countless of times how Hong Kong will always be special to me
It was our first home
When my husband & I were engaged, he got the job in HK
So we had a long distance relationship for several months
Til we got married and I officially moved to HK

HK was so special to me as my dad passed away 4 days after our wedding
I was  daddy's girl
and when I moved, I didn't feel alone, even if most of the time I was as my hubby works til late
I had the spirit of my dad with me
I had my relationship with God and everyone up there
I felt secure
Though I would think a lot about my Mom and how she was doing
At that time it was just all regular overseas calls, no Skype. no FaceTime

I must say I found myself in Hong Kong
Not that I was lost ever
I've always been pretty steadfast
But I just found independence and a new life
I was very happy building a home, building a family

My children's godparents were all our friends from Hong Kong
Joey, my bridesmaid, was based there as she was working for Cathay
Pat, my colleague from Shangri-la got married to an expat HK-Chinese
so we started married life the same year
Cielo, my high school friend was based there too
They, to this day, hold special places in my heart
They were part of my wonderful life in Hong Kong


I remember how my husband was so scared that I will be lonely being away from home
The only time I was away was when I studied in the States
He was surprised when little by little
phone calls would be for me
Letters (yes!  we still wrote letters then, actually I still do until now) in the mail were for me
E-mails were for me
And I sometimes won't even want him home in the afternoons during his break cause I had things planned
Haha

Everytime I go back, which is pretty often
I literally feel my heart beat faster
And I glow
We started our family there
I gave birth there with no family around except my husband
And during the day I was alone in the hospital as he was at work
and visiting hours are limited

My only visitors were Joey & Pat and our neighbor, Ronnie
But I was so happy & fulfilled
No one advised me how to take care of my newborn baby
I had to do it on my own

I love Hong Kong
I love the life we had there
It was special

It was, as I've always said, our home
And in my heart, it will always be

Bo Innovation, Hong Kong

my teen gourmand

sorry about my old camera and lighting

outside Bo Innovation



Was just in our old hometown for some R&R
My hubby suggested we try Bo Innovation
Being the gourmand that he is, he knows the hip, cool places
I was suggesting the usual Robuchon, Amber, etc
Good thing when it comes to food, I listen to him
He knows the restos for the "in the know"

Bo Innovation by Chef Alvin Leung (too bad he was touring that time)
Was a gastronomic surprise and delight
A little bit molecular, eclectic but still  very modern Chinese
It is listed by San Pellegrino as #15 as Asia's best restaurant
and #52 in the world's best.
Now that is something to accomplish.

The place was in Wanchai in a secluded street
We got there by tram from Admiralty taking Kennedy Road
Place was small, and just like any cool space
You already have that feeling of hip-ness to it
As opposed to the usual classic restos

The chef is eclectic, just as his food
Tattoos, long hair and all
Somehow it works
Part of the stage he's setting

When in Hong Kong
Try Bo Innovation
It won't disappoint