Insta-Week

wow. hours and minutes go fast but the days seem to last longer although the week is almost over. we are looking forward to another weekend and hopefully, getting most things done on my to-do list including a back-to-school tax free weekend shopping that kicks off today! 

before i head on out the door, let me just dump a few iphone photos here from the past week including some shots from the past weekend! 

are you fantasizing fall? i do. i busted out my fall nailpolish colors to get some inspiration! 

oh and pink was the color past weekend! 

our little guy enjoying a ride later in the evening. it's still too hot outside and it's totally brutal. 

we also enjoyed a fantastic sunday brunch at our favorite mexican restaurant, escalante's and we shared a huge plate of french toast cooked the mexican way. i can't say no to caramelized apples! 

after brunch we walked across the street and visited the beautiful showroom of restoration hardware. 

let's just say, i want everything. nuff said. 

i finally joined the bubble necklace cult and they are really cute. they do elevate the look of a simple tshirt. so far i have that green one, a blue bubble pendant and also got a cobalt blue bubble bib necklace and a yellow one that dear friend, nina picked up for me. 

and oh, red velvet sandwich cookies are fixing my sweet cravings lately!  

i am also obsessed with BB creams lately. luckily i found the last one at CVS the other day. it does wonders to my skin so far and you can tell even when you wipe them off after a long day! 

i'm still heavy on metallic nails and this new purple one from essie is divine. it does come out looking like silver but with hints of violet in it. 

just sharing a new hair routine here : moroccan argan oil spray on damp hair adds a bit of shine and relaxes frizz hair. i have naturally wavy hair, so i don't think i need a body wave perm since i wake up with slightly curly hair anyway. so with a spray of oscar blandi dry shampoo and the moroccan argan oil, i'm set! 

lastly, i'm in love with my golden birkin art print by randa of iseenoise prints. it's going to go in my dresser or closet. still undecided. 

OK, i think that's it for the week....you all have a fabulous weekend! 

Insta-Week

Are you in Instagram (i'm @swankychicfete)? I confess, my big camera has been in hiatus lately as I have been utilizing my iPhone documenting random daily life events aka OOTD pics, food porn pics and more (LOL). It's just more convenient, less complicated. Here's a peek of my past week.....

A few things that make me happy ~ monogrammed cupcake notecards and le pen. Magnum ice cream bars for cooling off. Fastfood Wendy's amazingly good salad. Essie's new metallic mirror nailpolishes. 

I just noticed what last week's outfit theme was ~ leopard spots! 

Have a great week ahead! 

Frametastic Friday

It's friday the13th!

13 has been a lucky number to me and I'm starting my friday sharing the fun past week of my so-called life! 

Have you discovered the frametastic app yet? It allows you to make photo collages straight from your phone. This time I'm gathering a few instagram (@swankychicfete) photos capturing my week.

Last week, I finally came out of my hair rut and decided to get my roots done and added some highlights at albert luiz salon and spa and I think I've finally found my girl, Yvette. She was fantastic! Couldn't be more happier. 

We also took Aston for his 5 year old check-up and didn't share this before but we had a little rash incident about a month ago after he ate a mixed nut pack bought at the airport. He's been eating PBJ since like forever with no reactions, so we thought he might be allergic to a particular nut. And sure enough, we got him tested and he's allergic to half of the variety of nuts out there. Pecans were spared, thank god. Yep, that's him showing off the book his pediatrician gave him on his visit.

My may books planner/agenda came in this week and i am excited to jot down my important notes/reminders/schedule on my fabulous notebook designed and created by me. It came in it's cute packaging and a generous discount code for my next order! LOVE it! 

It's been raining all week and lazy days and nights are here. One evening, I bust out the yummy kim chi ramen noodles I've been saving for those kinds of nights and voila - instant dinner. I paired it with my latest fave san pellegrino arianciata rossa and i am in perfect dinner heaven!

I have been bombarded by emails, comments and texts on where I got the colorful patterned paper straws I posted in facebook and instagram last week - and yes, it's from target! I looked them up online but looks like it's only available in stores. You can find them by the party supplies next to stationery. Last time i checked, they were out of them. it's by spritz and priced at $ 1.99/20 pcs. Do check your local store from time to time, i'm sure they'll stock up on them again!

I'm not a gym junkie but i sure love going to my barre classes at define. I try to go at least 2-3 times a week and if I just improve on my diet, I'd be losing weight and toning more than where i am now. Ha! Define recently opened their west u studio and it's amazing! If you're in the houston area, do check them out - Hank and the ladies there are awesome!

I've been afraid of polka dots (particularly the big dots) ever since this fashion trend started. I thought they're unflattering on me but I found an adorable inexpensive sheer dotted blouse at marshalls and thought I'd give it a try. Can't wait to wear it with my bright jeans or shorts!

Lastly, our GIVEAWAY is still open today till tomorrow midnight - stop by and join to win one bracelet of your choice! good luck and have a fantastic weekend, friends!

Loving the Barre

I started the year getting my act together and signed up with friends to a pure barre class which I've religiously attended 3 times a week for a little over a month now. It's such a fun exhilirating workout (sorry but I can't say the same thing about my first ever pure barre session) and I feel good after. I love coming in and sweating it out with motivation from friends and the instructors and I just hope I get to keep it up. My aim is to get fit and being healthy and ultimately lose weight, of course. In the meantime, I am working on giving up my soda, cupcakes and tapioca drinks - good luck to me!

Check out the pure barre classes at Define Body And Mind Houston
(I am quietly wishing and praying for a Sugar Land location, Hank !)

Birthday Week Post

The week started with a big bang. It was Chinese New Year and we are ushering the water dragon for 2012. Pretty exciting!

Thursday was my birthday and I got more cupcakes! Our staff know me well. I'm hoping the dozen makes it till this weekend at least.

Last year's birthday was a big milestone and it was nice to do a low-key quiet birthday this time. 

Happy Weekend guys! 

Minted Mommy Cards

I'm just cheery and happy I get to flaunt this cute mommy card when it arrives! Hahaha, I'm sure moms are allowed to have moments like this sometimes. I got mine from minted, all 25 pcs for only the shipping cost!

There are a lot of designs to choose from so i'm sure you'll find one you really like. go HERE to browse!

And since Halloween and Thanksgiving is almost here, you get to enjoy 15% off cards with codes HALLOWEEN 15 and TURKEY15 on their site!

Enjoy!



Peace out

It's not the best shot BUT it was the best midday treat i had in awhile.

Don't you hate it when your little boy's school is just a few blocks from Sprinkles? I had to stop by before I scoop him up. And yes, it's convenient to blame it on him.

Forgive me but I had to scratch off a few reminders in my list.

My New Year's Resolution

{via}

Its day 5 of 2011 and I already broke a resolution. Are these resolutions made to be broken? Why even make one when you know you can't own it. I try to make doable resolutions but it's tough, I have to admit.

So, I havent really made a list. BUT I did make a few reminders for myself that I need to make improvements on for this year that I know I didn't do so well last 2010. Here's what made it to my reminder list :

• Be more patient in everything
• Eat healthier and eat small portions
• Get back on my elliptical at least twice a week
• Drink less diet Coke
• Grow my hair back
• Take more photos of Aston AND me
• Organize my closet
• Finish off Aston's photobooks from 2010
• Recycle old magazines that is in a huge pile by my bedside
• Toss/donate old clothes (including Aston's and Ben's)

I'm not going to say which reminder I ignored but I am working hard on getting myself to abide by these reminders.

How about you? How are you doing on your NY resolutions?



Images of 2010

One more day till we say goodbye to 2010 and what more fitting way to end it here by posting pictures depicting highlights of the past year. It has been a blessed year full of heartwarming events and occasions with family and friends. We are grateful to the Lord's many blessings of good health and happiness and we pray for a safe joyful new year ahead of us! 

Easter and Ben's birthday brunch at downtown Aquarium 

 

at the Houston Zoo

 

Aston's 3rd birthday party at the Children's museum

 

Halloween parade at school

One Saturday morning

Mother's Day at Grimaldi's





First day of school at St. Luke's Day School




Thanksgiving table at home

Christmas 2010

Images from Christmas Pasts

I'd like to post here some of our old holiday photos in the past before I manage to accidentally delete any of them in my files. I already could not find some of our earlier hardcopy pictures (when negative rolls of films still existed) and I am very glad for some of these digital copies saved. You do recognize that these are early 2000 pics as I used to have long hair and managed to stay under 140 lbs (!) then. You'll see the transformation as we get to recent pictures and you know what I'm talking about. Ben still looks the same. No weight gain or anything. Possibly more grey hair but you'll hardly notice that either. Ok, on to my cheerful holiday post as I ignore my weight gain battle issue. LOL.

2004 Under our tree with goddaughter Bianca. It was their first Christmas in Houston (after moving from Chicago) and it snowed Christmas eve!

2005 At bestfriend's Joy and Loven's house helping out the little elves decorate their tree. With Bianca and friend, KC. 

Me proudly showing off my new ipod shuffle from Joy and Loven as we opened gifts at their home Christmas eve 2005.


Somehow, I could not find pictures of Dec. 2006, the Christmas I was pregnant with Aston. That's probably a good thing. Ha!




2007 The holiday season went in a blur, just like this photo of our tree that year. That November, my sister Lilith was diagnosed with brain cancer glioblastoma-type. She underwent surgery in November, went home for Thanksgiving and back at the hospital in early December and passed away under hospice care on the 12th right before Christmas. We were all devastated and with the support of family, friends and relatives, we managed to cope through the yuletide season knowing she was in a much better place.






2007 Aston was only 7 months when Lilith passed away. Here he was picking out a last minute tree to decorate with cousin Katie.

2007 Taken at a friend's house 4 days (and 2 days before Christmas day) before my flight to the Philippines to bring home Lilith's remains. It was a sad bittersweet homecoming. 

2008 Us under a giant Christmas tree

2008 Aston with Santa and daddy

2009 Christmas day luncheon at nana's place

2009 Opening presents Christmas morning

There are more memorable images of previous holiday celebrations to sort out. I am just happy to post these as I fondly recall warm thoughts and memories of the holiday seasons past. 

What I'm Thankful For

~ our little boy is now three

~ our tenth wedding anniversary this year

~ loving my schedule that allows me to attend ALL of our little boy's school programs

~ my parents that are here for an extended vacation

~ my mom who's here cooking some of my favorite filipino dishes EVERYDAY

~ friends who read my blog (i didnt pay them)

~ NM last call online

~ getting my blogging groove back

~ return of the holiday starbucks coffee flavors

~ our upcoming disneyworld trip

~ family, friends and relatives near and far

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Daily Chronicles

This blog will chronicle my adventures as a wife and mom. Doses of family images, personal thoughts and opinions will be shared and as life moves on and our daily priorities change, what remains constant are those people you love and how they inspire you.

This will be another spin-off of my old blog, daily chronicles and the previous fashion/style blog, THE daily chronicle SHOW. Same girl, same boy and a new little guy.

Its now daddy, mommy and a little boy ~ three's a crowd but nevertheless happy.