I AM A COIN...

I am a coin of the US Army. I have two small holes in me. I'm no longer perfectly culled. Do you want to know the very last thing that entered my mind...? You.

So goes the monologue of yummy Channing Tatum in the Nicholas Sparks adaptation for the big screen--Dear John. I spent the entire three-day weekend doing a movie marathon and I just couldn't pass up the chance to watch this movie.

It follows the life of John (Channing Tatum), a soldier, after he falls in love with Savannah (Amanda Seyfried). They decide to exchange letters to each other after he is deployed to the war. The story spans seven years, beginning on the day John and Savannah first meet during Savannah's spring break, and ends (or actually begins again) several years later. Despite the negative reviews, I found the movie romantic, sappy, sad and redeeming, which is very trademark Sparks.

An interesting sub-plot is John's relationship with his reclusive father (Richard Jenkins) who is only interested in his coin collection--with each coin having an interesting story to tell. I was amazed too that such coins could command such a high price, just like those precious metals and coins being sold at usgoldbureau.com. I would think that the value of the coins in the movie was high enough to afford one to buy gold bullions, which, according to usgoldbureau.com, has the proven ability to protect one's wealth, to earn significant investment yield, and to increase purchasing power. Wow! It looks like coins and bullions are a worthy investment!

The film is peppered with cliches and stereotypes but it was good enough, not to mention, Channing was yummy enough, to pass the time. I recommend this film to those who like sappy, romantic flicks. But if you want more meat in your viewing, you may just want to skip it. :D

MELON AKO, ANO? MELON AKONG KWENTO!!!

We're off to Batangas today, but I told the Haligi that we have to be back by Sunday. Meethinks it would be best to avoid a Monday traffic jam with those who also spent their weekend in the south. Besides, I want to catch this...

THE LOOK FOR LESS (L4L) #5

I am now beginning to regret my previous decision not to get myself that bullion investment. With the very inspiring anecdotes and promising yields I have read online via usgoldbureau.com, it looks like gold investments are the way to go.

Now that I have no investment yields to depend on, and my purse fund has been wiped clean, I am looking for creative ways to fuel my passion despite limited resources. And my quest did not disappoint. Look at what I found!

In case you're mulling over a Mullberry purchase like me, consider this.

Instead of going for chic favorite, Mullberry Bayswater, which can burn a hole in your pocket ($850 via Net a Porter)...
why not head on over to Target this October, to grab this Mulberry collaboration which is a lot reminiscent of the Mulberry bags we know and love. Plus, its price tag is way more attainable ($34.99 via Target)...

BRING IT ON, HIPON

I haven't been to Saisaki in ages. This is mainly because I hate the long wait, moreso, the crowd! But it looks like that an unplanned reunion may be in the offing because of this...

DREAMING SAN FRANCISCO

Reposted from the Anthology Shoes FB Page...

We're making way for the free Londons, just ironing out the nitty gritty with our feature store. In the meantime, we're crazy excited to launch our classic ballerinas with marshmallow softness....

San Francisco.

Win a pair of these San Frans in your color of choice! Just post a photo of you in your Anthology Shoes + fab outfit du jour on our Facebook wall.

Photo that best shows COMFORT + STYLE wins!

Contest starts NOW. Winner on September 4, 2010. GOOD LUCK LADIES!

xoxo,
Anthology Shoes ♥

The Beige pair is luvvv. And yes, Anthology Shoes do feel like marshmallows! What about you? Which San Francisco color do you fancy?

BAKA SAKALI LANG

I am not a fan of the brand but I joined this promo just for kicks...

For Preview Magazine's 15th anniversary, one lucky reader will have the chance to win a Chanel 2.55 classic caviar flap bag--one of the fashion world's most coveted "it" bags.

To join, Preview readers simply have to text a unique code found in every copy of the July and August issues of Preview Magazine. Each code can only be used once (sorry folks, the code on the photo has been used by moi! :P), so the more copies of Preview you buy, the more chances you have of winning!

Seven days to go till the end of the promo on August 31, 2010. Let's cmon!!!

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF SPORTS

While I've said that I am currently on shopping ban, I am just itching to go back to Alabang Town Center and Market! Market! for my Trix Fix. You see, I've been getting my regular stash of export overruns from Trix and I feel that it's about time to replenish my stocks of trousers and jeans.

Now it looks like I've got more reason to head on over to Market! Market ! mall...A sports buff, the Haligi is just excited for this sale too! For him, he'd rather splurge on sports equipment and other paraphernalia than burn his money on medical expenses. Thank God, we've got HMO and ssdi coverage.

Hope to bump into you as the Haligi and I try to grab best deals from top sports brands!

Sports Sale
August 30 - September 5
Market!Market!
Activity Center

HAVE A HAPPY HUMP DAY

This rainy season, make it a point to swing by Gelatone every Wednesday, from 5PM onwards to catch this...But wait a minute, what's the catch? The catch is...THERE IS NO CATCH!!! Guests need not avail of a product or consume a minimum purchase. Ice cream scoops are totally free!

Gelatone will be giving away 100 FREE SCOOPS which will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Now, office-going folks (or even those trying hard to find jobs) can head on to Gelatone after they get off from work and take part in the new RAINY DAYS promo!

Woot! Woot!

GET URBAN-IZED

You can bet on it. Those receipt printers will have one helluva workout come end-August.

Bazaaristas, unite! Don’t miss the most-awaited Urban Bazaar of the year featuring shops with one-of-a-kind fashion finds, accessories, beauty items, knick-knacks and more. Shop hearty at the Urban Bazaar party!

Rockwell Urban Bazaar
Friday, August 27, 2010 to Sunday, August 29, 2010
Rockwell Tent

SOMETHING BIG

It's been quite tough to cope now that our favorite tv shows are still on season break. While the Haligi busied himself with sports channels (yes, even those featuring atv riding), I, on the other hand, discovered something HUGE. This one... Huge follows the journey of seven teens and the staff at a weight-loss camp as they uncover the truth about each other, and more importantly, discover their true selves. Funny, heartbreaking, provocative, even bordering on rebellious, it seems to be the anti-thesis of all those posh and glamorous teen soaps that we've been seeing lately.

A breath of fresh air indeed. Or maybe it's just because I can really, really relate...if you know what I mean. Hehehe!

ABODE-ABIDING CITIZEN

I am on self-imposed shopping ban. I have decided that if at all, my upcoming shopping expenses can only be in relation to things for our home. And since we are trying to work on the finishing touches of our humble abode after living here for close to a year, I have immersed myself in houseware shopping, log furniture included.

And it seems to me that I have chosen the perfect time to go furniture shopping. If luck would have it, I can catch the final leg of this... Good luck to me.

TRADING PLACES

Everyone's waiting with bated breath for that big switch that will happen from August 20 to 22...The price digits on Saizen products will be trading places. From the standard of P85, you can now get your favorite Saizen loot for as low as P58. Items will include a wide selection of health and beauty products, office furniture supplies, stationery items, kitchen tools and a whole lot more--aka all the stuff the you want but actually don't need. Hehehe!

So save the date. Make The Big Switch from August 20 to 22, at the Robinsons Galleria Atrium area.

HELLO, HALLOWEEN!

Lingo ng Wika ain't over yet but as early as now, I am already thinking of my son's halloween costumes. You see, we spend our Halloweens at Manila Polo Club every year, and the kids' costumes there are, if I may just say, career na career!

At 5, the Haligilet is way past those baby halloween costumes. Since I try to avoid the usual super heroes and dark creatures, I've decided to choose among these three...

Channeling MMDA...O ha, this is it...
Or guma-gladiator with matching maximus istrappyshus...
Looks like I may have to contact M of Bumblebee & Co. if she can weave her usual magic on my costume ideas. Good luck to me!

Bumblebee & Co.
T: +632.2161229 / +632.6375523 / +632917.790 7377
A: 15B First St. Baranggay Capitolyo, Pasig City (By appointment only)

BEIJING

Since I can't go to Beijing anytime soon, meethinks, I will just let Beijing come to me.

O tukso, layuan mo ako.

THANK GOD IT'S FREEDAY (AGAIN)!

Bring out those cigars as we celebrate this great bit of news!

Following the overwhelming success of the T.G.I.Freeday offer of Smart Communication Inc. (Smart) last July 30, the leading wireless services provider is again making mobile Internet and applications – or ‘data’ services accessible through the mobile phone -- free of charge on Friday, August 6, 2010.As part of its ‘Internet for All’ advocacy, Smart has been offering a variety of ‘all-you-can-use’, flat-fee data packages and Internet-based applications that offer unlimited email, chat, social networking, and surfing via mobile phone. This Friday, all these services will be free of charge to all Smart prepaid and postpaid subscribers nationwide, except corporate account subscribers.

The services to be offered for free under Smart’s T.G.I.Freeday include all mobile browsing packages such as UnliSurf and Web Unli Plans from 00:01 AM to 11:59 PM on Friday. Handset-specific data packages such as BlackBerry sachet and Nokia Messaging, and Smart-branded applications such as Go Mail and Uzzap, will also be free of charge on Friday. Go Mail is the country's first unlimited push email on any kind of handset. Uzzap is an unlimited “all-in-one” mobile messaging application--also a first of its kind in the Philippines.

No registration is needed to avail of the T.G.I.Freeday offer. All Smart subscribers, both post- and prepaid, simply need to use their data-capable handset to open a website or to start an application. Prepaid subscribers just need to have a P1 maintaining balance to enjoy TGIF. For more information, text FREEDAY to 211 or visit Smart on Facebook by going to www.facebook.com/smartcommunications.

MONOGRAM MEMORIES

I've long fallen out of love with those omnipresent monograms but I must say, this newest LV hobo is interesting... The Antheia Hobo has intricate monogram embroidery on luscious lambskin, that the logos aren't obvious at first glance. The patterns are intricate, and color contrasts are minimal, that the initial overall impression is that of texture and not of branding. Like!