A Peek at What's Inside the Brown Bag

Forgive me for being such a tease. I just could not contain my excitement especially when these babies are looking so rad! Wanna get your hands on these? Come show us some love this 9 December 2011, 4-11pm at the Brown Bag Vintage and Crafts Market at Filipinas Heritage Library, Ayala Triangle, Makati City.

This is not your typical holiday bazaar, that's for sure. Its more like an artisan market provided for local talent and entrepreneurs where a bevy of one-of-a-kind finds await you. Come drop by our booth and  let's have a chitchat. Le Misch and I will show what we've been up to. It's a date!  

Mischmash Stylish Mama {November}

Richie Ortega-Torres, makes stunning, whimsical bridal wear while effortlessly raising two beautiful girls with husband, Itong. She keeps a gorgeous well-lived home that is evident of a happy marriage, an extensively-travelled couple, and a young endearing tight-knit family.

The family's broad interests spawned into a myriad of books spied all over the place.

We asked Richie to bring out her favorite things and one of the first things she unearthed was this intricately beaded silk puse.

Even Gaudi's gecko covets Richie's Miu Miu rope leather sandals.

Marni dress, Paul Smith court heels, and a hat from milliner, Carmina de Dios.

Her black Marni sandals towers over Hogwart's castle.

Artifacts from various travels adorned with her favorite necklaces.

(L) Much loved medallion charms. (R) A Super Award for rocking the world of fashion.

(L)The family's trying their green thumbs and so far so good as you can see with this thriving basil. (R) Interesting pieces that are actually functional are spotted here and there.

Richie's most precious gems: Luccia, 3y.o. and Oliva, 5y.o.

Quirky dolls at the girls' bedroom.

Olivia and Luccia played hostesses to my little assistant.

Describe your personal style.

Always relaxed, minimalist/simple/sophisticate but bohemian and free spirited. Which is sometimes the opposite of what I design, feminine and romantic. It's funny but I think it balances out my "style" sanity. Staying in one end of the spectrum would drive me crazy and bored.

What are you wearing this holiday season? Zero by Maria Cornejo

Closet staples? Black dresses. My Arche rubber flats (addicted to these for close to 20 years), scarves and shawls. Leggings and rubber soled ballet flats.

How are you influencing your daughter's personal style? I am a shopaholic when it comes to their clothes, and they love dressing up, so it's really enjoyable for all of us. My eldest (5 yrs old) is already adamant about picking all her everyday outfits, and my youngest (3 yrs old) loves wearing costumes, and I highly encourage it, so they can express their individuality through their style choices. I just want them to have fun with it.

Style icons? Charlotte Gainsbourgh, Lou Doillon, Marion Cotillard, and Michelle Obama.

Tip or 2 for all moms out there who want to stay stylish amidst all the hullabaloo motherhood brings? I find that dresses have been my life saver since I've become a mom. It's just one piece so it's a no brainer.

Any shopping advice?
If you can, choose quality over quantity. In my experience, it'll last longer and you'll wear it more and more, then you'll likely to take care of it more.

Luccia wears a dress from The Ramp Kids and Olivia in a dress from Gingersnaps.

The girls are their mother's biggest fans. 

Spending an afternoon with Richie and her daughters is as refreshing as it is inspiring. You'd easily admire the way she balances the crazy push-and-pull between motherhood and running a business. 

Outside her little family, she makes brides (jittery or cool) happy. And I happen to be one of those brides who made the best decision ever and pick a designer I most resonate with. Richie just got me from first meeting to final fitting. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. And I am one of many, that I am sure.

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Find Richie Ortega Bridal on Facebook for details.

Photography by Anthony Co.

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Happy Weekend

It's the morning after Thanksgiving for some of us. In our part of the world we don't celebrate but that doesn't mean we're any less grateful. In fact, I am very much so. There are so many things, tangible and not, to be grateful of. One of which is this project. Carioca is back. And with a bang, I'd like to think. 

My sister and I have been working on this for months now and seeing the end result is nothing short of fulfilling. Watch out for the reveal in the next few days.  

Meanwhile, enjoy your pies and your weekend!

Fantasy Closet {The Shirt Jacket}

When we put on our mothering hat, the last thing on our minds probably is owning a tailored jacket. Thought bubble: what good would it do us if we get drool all over or have to run after a feisty toddler?

Enter the buttonless, light weight number. It's a good alternative to the ubiquitous cardi. It adds instant polish to any outfit and when done well, it merits a somewhat effortless vibe to the whole ensemble. It's as if you thought about it hard when in fact it was just one of those days you threw in the first thing you see upon opening your closet. 

Have it within reach all the time as it can truly come in handy. 

The Elements:

PREPPY

1. Romwe Shirt Jacket
2. General Pants Honnete Dress  
3. Luana Ines Bag
4. Chloe Wedges

DOWNTOWN

1. Topshop 3/4 Sleeve Jacket
2. Kain Silk White Top
3. Simone Camille Carry On 
4. Paris No. 2 Jeans
5. Mystique Gold Crystal Sandals

ART NOUVEAU

1. Romwe Shirt Jacket
2. Tibi Aurora Tank
3. 3.1 Phillip Lim Shorts
4. Celine Boston Tote
5. Giuseppe Zanotti Ballerina Flats

DIY {Vanity Bench}

Just recently, we moved in to my in-laws and took over a room of the Mr.'s late grandpa. We did some repainting and some minor renovations. We didn't wanna spend a lot but we wanted a place that speaks well of our personal style to come home to. Some of the furniture we gave up and some we retained. One of which is this vanity bench. It was old and dusty but I saw a flicker of hope in it. It was just begging for a little DIY attention.

I had it reupholstered using a damask printed fabric and painted the legs and base in the same shade as  my birdcage. That can of paint actually went a long way.

Voila! A refurbished vanity bench in a print I adore and a color that brightens up our predominantly flat white room. 

Here's how much I spent:

Damask Fabric, Php200 (2 yards),  Cotton Club Glorietta

Dunn Edwards Lemon Punch, Php400+ (1 pint), Wilcon 

Upholstery Labor, Php300

TOTAL COST: Php900

I've shared this nook of mine a couple of times here and you're probably tired of it already. Just sharing  how one fixture ties up my little slice of peace in the bedroom.    

Weekend Tidbits

I didn't take much snaps from our weekend. Not to say it was short of awesome, in fact I had a wonderful time catching up with old friends. How did you spend yours?

I have a full week ahead and I'm guessing so is everyone else. I had a feeling November will zoom by without me noticing it, and I couldn't be more right! With only one week to go and its officially the crazy month of December.  

Oh and my to-do list seems to be getting longer on its own, its horrifying. Meanwhile let me leave you with a sneak peek at whats to come to my line of clutches soon. 

It's full leather. One part soft and supple. One part textured and sturdy. And it boasts the scent of leather that smells soooo good. 

Watch out for it here, soon.

Fantasy Closet {All Maxed Out}

Maxi skirts are seriously my go-to article of clothing for days when I am faced with a closetful of nothing-to-wear. I couldn't care less if its still on-trend or not. It is after all the most practical and versatile piece I own as of the moment. Day or night, casual or dressy, the maxi is my fool-proof baby. 

Incidentally, a reader asked:

Kpmb, this fantasy closet visit is for you! Maxi skirts particularly the jersey kind like that of Sarah's are the easiest! It skims the body in a flattering way and best of all it doesn't crease! So for a solid take like that, you can practically throw in anything. A tank, a sweater, a button-down-- they all fall effortlessly into the maxi skirt equation. And with it being solid, you may by all means, accessorize to your heart's delight.

The Elements:

SOLID 

1. Witchery Drapey Maxi
2. Topshop Tall Roll Sleeve
3. PS1 Keep-all
4. Christian Louboutin Pigalle
5. Dorothy Perkins Belt 

PRINTED

1. A.L.C. Luca Silk Maxi
2. Nicole Miller Cocoon Top
3. Lulu Frost Vintage Necklace
4. Givenchy Nightingale
5. T Kees Flip Flops

PLEATED

1. Malene Birger Pleated Maxi
2. Zara Polka Dot Skirt
3. Christian Louboutin No. 299
4. Maison Scotch Clutch 

Toddler Travel 101 {The Absolute Essentials}

I get asked about toddler travel a lot around here that its high time I post something about it. Sorry it took awhile mummies. Keeping a blog is a lot of fun but is far from effortless. And besides I hate to disappoint my small yet lovely audience. I always like to keep it light, visually appealing, and hopefully inspiring for you. So for toddler travel matters, lets shelf them up here in Toddler Travel 101. 

Topping the agenda is what-to-pack. Let's start off with the absolute essentials. Sharing with you what goes in our hand carry irregardless of destination. May it be a short road trip or a long haul flight, these are the pieces we pack.

1. A light hooded jacket. 2. Pull-up diapers. 3. A light blanket. 4. Two sets of basic clothing. 5. Her beloved cow. 6. Favorite reads. 7. Water jug. 8. Snack dispenser with cereals and Goldfish (no fail favorite!). 9. Jammies. 10. Sunscreen. 11. Hat. 12. First Aid Kit. 13. Wipes. 

14. Feeding utensils.  

The rest that goes into the luggage heavily depends on destination and activities in-stored for the little munchkin. And such we'll tackle further in the next Toddler Travel 101 posts.  

I'm thinking, did I miss anything? (Milk, of course is a given.)

You have any toddler travel tips? You're more than welcome to share here! 

Oh Jamba Juicy!

Last Thursday something juicy happened. Manila had its first taste of Jamba! Before the store was revealed we feasted on healthy sandwiches, wraps, and drinks. After the short and fun program the guests were all excited to have their first drop of Jamba in Manila! 

And it was as just good as we remembered it to be. So pleased that we have actually gone back twice since the event. Banana Berry and the 5-fruit Frenzy are old favorites. We're also liking the parfaits and we just happen to have a weakness for pretzels. 

Jamba Juice is the healthy alternative to my caffeine and pearl milk tea addiction. Thank goodness its here.  

Jamba Juice is at:

7th Ave cor 29th Ave
Bonifacio High Street South
Taguig

   

Weekend Tidbits

Sharing with you a few snaps I took from the weekend. It was filled-to-brim as usual but my most fave was the just-us-three portion. We tagged along Dada to his swing practice and got a whiff of fresh air. Someone had a whale of fun trying her hand in putting. 

Famished from the (short) walk and the unforgiving heat, we headed out to Wine Depot Cafe for some lunch capped off with this Vittoria Affogato you ought to try.

Happy Weekend

'Hope its not too late to wish you a happy weekend. Half of it is gone just like that but we are having a light one starting off with some cheese shopping this morning. Jindi Brie for soft and Covap Semi Curado for hard are the usual frontrunners. Cheese oh cheese... they'e not exactly the healthiest of indulgences but can sure easily make our weekend. 

Momme Planner

You know me and planners. Those, notebooks, crisp beautiful paper, and smooth-writing pens are my guilty pleasures. No matter how digital our age can get, I will happily go back to my pen and paper. 

So picture my delight when I learned about the Momme Planner-- a planner for moms made by moms. Created by young mothers juggling many roles who knew the key to excelling in most if not all, is to be organized. It took them almost a year of research, surveys, and conceptualization to put together a product that is sure to work for their target market-- busy mothers, themselves. 

They pretty much thought of everything deemed useful for our lifestyle. Some of my favorite features are the document, medical, and financial trackers. You cannot leave your planners lying around though, as it has all these sensitive information!

Love how the daily schedule is laid out with labels for mom, dad, and kids. Well thought of.

The meal planner and the grocery lists are sure helpful in running a healthy and efficient household.

I've had mommy planners before but they were never as detailed as this. Important numbers and essential dates you constantly go back to are all listed in one place. 

I totally need a password tracker! Again, you cannot leave your planners lying around for everyone to see. 

You've seen the inside, wait til you see how the planner looks like from the outside. It comes in a cross-body and a French pochette in a bevy of neutral colors. 

The Posh Collection in icy silver, bubbly champagne, and warm cinnamon.

The Luxe Collection in silver, gold, antique, titanium, and blush.

The Exotic Limited Edition in bronze and platinum.

As mothers, we already have so much to do. With the Momme planner we can do so much more. For orders and inquiries, please call:

MANILA +63 917 803 5529;  +63 917 324 3779

CEBU      +63 917 322 0315

EMAIL     mommeplanner@gmail.com

Find them on FACEBOOK for more details.

It will be available in CHICIFY too! Watch out for it very soon.