[Zei the MOM] My new boss!

Yesterday was my last day at work. Yup, as of today, I am unemployed, but maybe not a bum, because I've switched the stay-at-home-mom mode on. So everyone, I'd like you to meet my new boss...

ZIA

Yup, you got that right, my new boss (for the time-being) is none other than Zia. My remuneration, well, there's too much to mention but just to name a few, at the top of my list are - her sweet smiles, cute giggles, little hugs, funny voices and antics, quality time and my peace of mind that somehow, this added time with my little girl will contribute to giving her the best love and care I could offer. And all the stuff I mentioned, if you must know, are indeed priceless.

[Zei on Home Deco & Design] Lil' house in the City

I love watching HGTV Design Star on Lifestyle network. Last night's episode of season 6 was cute in all levels. The last three designers took on the tiny house challenge. The task was to design a tiny house, just 86 sq. meters complete with a bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen and dining area. Just thinking of how the contestants would take it on made me giddy. Imagine, fitting all the required amenities in such a tiny tiny space. Here's a photo of the tiny house to give you an idea,

Photo from www.tinyhousetalk.com

Photo from www.tinyhousedesign.com

It's really tiny, don't you think? Anyway, to make things more stressful, they were just given 30 minutes to plan and just 2 days to finish everything. I guess that's why they were the last three standing. I just love how the three designers made such quaint and functional living spaces out of the 86 sq meter rectangular box they were given to work wit. It just goes to show that the possibilities are endless when it comes to designing your home, no matter how small or big the obstacles are.

Here's Karl's tiny house from www.charmingdecor.blogspot.com

Here's Mark's take on the tiny house from www.redoitdesigns.wordpress.com

And here's Meg's real life little house on the prairie from www.condo-blues.com

Watching shows like Design Star makes me really want to take my interior decorating (even if it's just for our home for now) to a higher level.

[Zei on Career & Passion] I'm every woman

Before Women's month ends, I take it as my responsibility to write about being a woman. I've always liked being a girl and now that I'm a wife and a mom, I find it even more fascinating and challenging. Growing up, I've admired many women - because of their passion, love, faith, talent, wisdom, beauty, grace, style and so much more.

My long list includes Women in my life - my mom, grandmothers, aunts; Authors - JK Rowling, Lauren Weisberger; Hollywood celebrities - Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham, Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston; Women in a class of their own - Oprah and Mother Teresa; Music Icons - Janet Jackson and Vanessa Mae; Fictional Characters - Carrie Bradshaw and Dr. Addison Montgomery; Athletes - Kim Yuna; Designers - Monique Luhillier and Veluz Reyes; Kitchen Muses - Ina Garten and Giada di Laurentis and of course, Filipinas - Lea Salonga and Daphne Osena-Paez. It's quite an exhaustive list but I'm pretty sure I still left out a couple.

Just last week, because of one sleepless night, I added yet another amazing woman to my list while watching 'The Blind Side' - yep, I wanna be like Leigh Anne Tuohy. Why? Simple, she lives the good life, but she gave back without being asked and just out of the kindness of her heart -she took in a stranger - a kid she didn't know anything about and showed compassion to as if he was her own. She could've been just like any other well-off mom, wining, shopping and dining and raising her own flesh and blood, but she decided to take another route, the route that changed a life for the better (even if it was just for one youth with an unfortunate background). She's got everything and even more, a lovely house, a lovely family, she was even her daughter's cheer leading coach, a doting and hands-on mom, a loving wife, a designer. She's a multitasker and she looks good while doing everything.

Someday I want to be like her, never mind the being rich part. Just like her I want to be a great mom to my kid, have a husband who adores me even after we've been married for awhile and have enough heart and courage to be able to change a life.

How about you, who are the women you admire? Now's the perfect time to share it since it's Women's month, and what better way to describe a woman than by her heart and her passion.

Happy Women's Month!

[Zei the charmed one] Loving life!

I love my life and I plan to do so each and everyday! Happy Sunday everyone!

[Shopaholic Zei] Of loopholes and happiness

Rich and I have banned ourselves from shopping until April 8 as our Lenten sacrifice, but in most restrictions, there are loopholes. In our case, shopping for ourselves may be a no-no, but shopping for Zia and our house is a definite yes. So yesterday, since we were in the Shaw area, I had a valid excuse to go to Shangri-La (Read: Zara) and go shopping happy for the baby girl. I love it when it's spring/summer season, since the clothes are carefree, colorful and cheery - just perfect for Zia. I ended up getting her 4 dresses, 3 of which are of the same style but with different colors and 2 pairs of leggings. If I had it my way, I would've bought some sneakers too, but the more disciplined husband of mine stopped me.

Oh, and to add to our shopping loot for Zia, I asked Richmond to buy her the doll I've been wanting for her, this Lamaze Princess Sophie doll, which Zia would love for sure because her whole skirt crinkles (Zia's fascinated with the sound). She squeaks too and the loop she's holding could be used as a teether too. ;) So there, no shopping for us, but yay, still, for Zia.

[Zei on Home Deco & Design] Outdoor dining set almost complete

I've said in my old post that I've been looking for a cheap outdoor set to give a bit of character to our bare front porch/lanai and I've finally made it happen. I bought a cheap aluminum table from National bookstore (yep, they have tables there too, albeit small ones) and matched it with our colorful plastic chairs bought by my mom. Here it is in its unfinished glory. Unfinished since I'm still on the lookout for a reasonably priced outdoor hang umbrella, for that al fresco dining feel. Thanks to my VL and SL conversion, I have extra money to complete my outdoor dining project.

How about you guys, what's your latest home project?

[Zei on Fashion] I'm not a Hello Kitty fan...

I was more of a Kerokeropi, Zashikubuta and other Sanrio characters that's not Hello Kitty kind of girl. But I sure don't mind toting this...

Photo from www.amazon.co.uk

It's a Hello Kitty KT monogram handbag. I guess this bag got me with its green and white stripe band, gold hardware, and most of all, it's gold interior (not shown). Might just get a hold of this bag if my money sensibility doesn't kick-in fast. I'm pretty sure Hello Kitty lovers would adore this bag more than me.

Were you a Hello Kitty fan girl? =)

[Zei on Home Deco & Design] Weekend Project!

I just love weekend projects! This weekend's project is the wall art I've had in my home bucket list from my previous post here. Anyway, I wanted to make our plain white wall exciting, but I didn't want to just put up more frames or paintings, so I thought of something that I liked - words and color. So this is what I came up with - some sort of letter puzzle with our names.

This was the plan on paper

Tada! My latest wall art!

I just love it. Rich suggested that we just put the words Faith, Hope and Love in some other part of our house. And I agreed since it might look too busy with all the words. The words are actually with me already, but I haven't decided where to put them. So that's probably gonna be my next simple project. So stay tuned. If you wanna do a similar project, you can order the carton letters from Tod's Country Crafts in SM Megamall. =)

How about you guys, did you have your own weekend project? =) Hope it went as planned and you're happy with the end result. =)

[Zei on Career & Passion] Friday of all Fridays

Today is a particularly momentous Friday - why? Well, today I tendered my resignation from my day job of 3 and a half years. I'm a brand man by day, just in case you guys don't know. It's not that I don't like what I do, because I really do and I love my brands, but I guess the time has come for me to move on.

Today I chose my loyalty to my family, my loyalty to Zia and my loyalty to myself. It was just something I had to do for me. It feels right and I am happy.

I'll be wearing the stay-at-home mom hat for awhile and enjoy it while it lasts since returning to the workforce is still just around the corner. But for today, I can think of being the best version of me, not in the workplace, but in my turf where I matter the most (or so, I think), at home, with Rich and Zia.

Something tells me, it's gonna be a great weekend! Happy Weekend all!

[Zei the MOM] Happiness!

We co-sleep with Zia and every morning when I watch her sleep, I just can't help but be thankful. Everyday, I just wanna shout this to the world...

Wishing everyone a happy midweek!

[Zei the MOM] Zia's fashion files #1

This is why having a baby girl is so fun!!! We just love our little fashionista!

Wishing everyone a great, colorful and blessed Sunday!

[Zei on Fashion] Pink because March is the month for Women!

[Zei on Fashion] Pink because March is the month for Women! by z-e-i featuring a skinny belt

Christopher Kane pleated dress
£895 - brownsfashion.com

Pleated dress
$630 - stylebop.com

Acne asymmetrical dress
£200 - liberty.co.uk

Dorothy Perkins coral dress
$89 - dorothyperkins.com

Steve Madden platform high heels
$130 - heels.com

Mary jane pumps
$85 - bakersshoes.com

Michael Kors gold watch
ebay.com

Dorothy Perkins skinny belt
$12 - dorothyperkins.com

French Furniture - French Mirrors
£129 - thefurnituremarket.co.uk

[Zei the foodie] My (lifetime) date's version of dinner on a budget

Here's a post on one of my other interests - food! Oh, all this glorious food! Anyway, Rich and I usually have our weekly dates on Sundays after we hear mass. Last Sunday however was a low-on-cash weekend, but we were compelled to still eat dinner outside to spare our ate of cooking our dinner while taking care of Zia. And since we've kinda moved on from Jollibee and Mcdo dinners, my husband took the lead in deciding where we could eat with the following criteria:

1) We have to be full after dinner

2) Must just be Php 500.00

3) We have to be comfortably seated

And the dear husband found exactly that. Thanks to Burgoo! He was walking around and scouting when he got a coupon from the Burgoo attendant. Being the marketing-stunt-gullible person he is (he goes for promo packs when grocery shopping), he reported back to me and presented his suggestion and I gladly obliged.

We got a free Gambas Al Ajillo (appetizer but eaten as a main entree) worth Php375 by ordering 1 main entree of the same or higher price. We opted for the Lemon Peppered Chicken complete with rice pilaf which is also priced at Php375. We just ordered extra plain rice, iced tea and bottled water and we were good to go. Not bad, really.

With our coupon, we ate on a budget (we went Php 85 over budget, but that's okay), but left with happy and filled stomachs. Oh and we still had take-out chicken and gambas left which we brought home for ate Marlene.

Photo credit: www.gitaasuncion.blogspot.com