Yesterday's happy list

I finally set foot on mall grounds yesterday after more than 2 months of taking care of Zia at home when my mom obligingly took me shopping mostly for Zia's stuff. And here are just a few things that made it to yesterday's happy list:

This groovy looking elephant microbeads pillow was a steal at just Php 399 from the SM department store. It looks great in Zia's room plus the bold colors will definitely fascinate Zia.

Got some charming coasters for the house too from Papemelroti. LOVE. DREAM. LAUGH. LIVE

Even if the shopping day was for Zia, my lovely mom gave me a strictly Php 1000 ONLY budget for myself at Forever 21. And since we were pressed for time (had to go home to the baby), I decided to buy accessories instead of scouring for an outfit that fit the budget given to me.

And because we shopped quite a lot in Baby Company, they gave me my Mom Card for free. Hehe. I'm not keen on collecting points, but hey, it won't hurt having a rewards card.

My happy list doesn't stop at the finds I got from the mall, this was also waiting for me at home. Zia's 5th and 6th pair of crib shoes from Tot Couture (www.totcouture.multiply.com). Aren't they super cute? Can't wait for the baby girl to wear them.

Also part of my happy list not pictured here is the Milk Tea with Pearls 70% sugar I drank from Gong Cha and of course, the person who taught me to shop and shop til I drop, my mom, who now calls herself Zia's purchasing officer. Thanks mom! Zia says thanks Lola. Love it!

Why don't you make your own happy list? =)

Sweet & Lovely for our coming sweet pea

It has taken countless trips to the mall, Ace Hardware, Handyman, 15 days of waiting time for custom made furniture, an electrician, a handyman, excited parents-to-be and wonderful grandparents-to-be to complete our sweet pea's nursery. The room is too sweet not to share.

Baby room stuff from Dimensione, Ikea, Papemelroti, Tod's Crafts, SM Dept. Store, Toys 'r Us

Custom made furniture from HomeValue (Crib and Diaper Changer with dresser) and Mandaue Foam (Bench with storage)

Finally, we're ready to welcome our baby girl and gift her with a sweet and lovely start.

Baby shopping 411 - neophyte report

We just got home from a whole day at the mall for some baby essentials shopping. It was every bit fun and exciting as I expected it to be. :) We're almost in our 8th month and though baby is still in utero, I think I've gotten a knack for baby shopping quite early actually, I started shopping for baby stuff at 4 months along to be exact and I've become very good at it (to my husband's unsaid dismay). Here are some of baby's essential loot all from SM Dept. store. We just got the essentials like a couple of tie-side tops, bottoms, burp cloths, booties, mittens, wash cloths, hooded towels and blankets, etc.

Aside from shopping in the mall for baby stuff, I've also added online shopping to my repertoire. Just in case some moms-to-be happen to read this post, here are the online shops I've bought from:

http://www.brusselsprouts.multiply.com/ http://www.easyfrugalshop.multiply.com/ http://www.thespoiledgirl.multiply.com/ http://www.beberepublic.multiply.com/ http://www.facebook.com/#!/babiescornershop http://www.chillycakebaby.multiply.com/ http://badabadaboo.shopinas.com/ http://www.zebebe.com/ http://www.kidsrepublic.multiply.com/ http://mystylemyclothing.shopinas.com/

With less than 2 months to go, I've decided to stop online shopping and wait for the gifts to come (they say people will always give lots for the new arrival). Haha. I consider myself an expert in baby shopping because I've got so much passion for it (already! uh-oh). And just as I said pre-pregnancy, as long as it makes you happy and you've given it an amount of thought (around 10 minutes of contemplation), and you have the (extra) resources to purchase it... GOOOOOOOO =p And if you feel guilty after your purchase... well, no sense in fussing over it since it's already spilt milk. Bright side is, you'll emerge wiser after, perhaps?! These are just my 2 cents worth. And for those against shopping (impulse or not) per se, no judgment please. To each her own and this is how I stride (pre-baby, baby-on-the-way and surely even when baby's with us already).

From Forever 21 to Baby Gap: My version of shifting priorities

As you may have already read in my previous posts, my name is ZEI and I'm a SHOPAHOLIC, but thanks to the Mega 3-day sale, I now know that my shopping repertoire could be altered - it all used to be clothes, shoes, bags and other what-have-yous just for me (and occasionally for Richmond), but now, it seems to be all about our (coming) baby. :) Yup, the winds have blown me from Forever 21 to the realm of Baby Gap, which is just a skip and a hop from each other in Megamall. I bought a couple for our little sweet pea and I'm sure she'll absolutely look adorable in her new wardrobe. I think this will be the story of my so called shopaholic life, my priorities are slowly changing, but I don't feel a tad bit sad, in fact it makes me really happy because baby shopping is a whole new field and Im thrilled to take it on. Here are some photos from yesterday's loot. Also bought a couple cute outfits from SM Department store since I couldn't resist their super cheap items after having shopped at Gap. Haha. :)

Baby's Gap outfits (...so far)

Not to be beaten, cute outfits (i love bloomers on babies) from SM Department store

Now what I really need is additional closet space for baby. Haha. Will probably just take that on in the coming months. For now, I'm just so giddy with all my purchases. My name is ZEI and I'm a SHOPAHOLIC. *Curtsy*

Dear daughter, you'll have one heck of a wardrobe and more

What do you expect from a mom-to-be who's a shopaholic? Well, not much holding back, I guess. Or should I say I know instead. For the past few weeks I have been on a pseudo shopping spree, online and on foot, not for me, but for our baby. You see, I've never denied that I'm a shopaholic - thanks to my mother who introduced me to the happiness that is shopping at a very early age. *Hi Mom!* And now, instead of basking in the glory of Forever 21 or Charles & Keith and VNC, I found myself conquering the baby department of various malls. Just sharing photos of our little darling's loot as of week 21 in the utero. :) Hehe. :)

Quirky and unique onesies from http://www.googooandgaga.com/

Pilipinas onesie from my favorite, SM Department Store

Pretty dresses from local wonder, Peppermint (also in SM Dept. store)
Lisa Frank backpack courtesy of dad Richmond from Toys 'R Us

Manhattan Snuggle Toy and Sleep Sheep Sound Machine ordered from http://www.zebebe.com/ along with the Houdini Woombie

Bestselling children's books from Fully Booked

So that's it so far. As of press time though, I kinda promised the husband that these will be the last of my purchases since we're assuming that a lot of people will give us baby stuff as the due date nears and even after the baby is born. But for now, I just want to tell the consumer world that my foray into baby shopping has begun and it's gonna be another great adventure - for me and for my bank account. Haha. =p

the little skirt that can

I'm a fan of fashion and most describe mine as feminine and girly, probably because I like cheery and bright colors with that frilly flowy feel. Today I shall share with you the story of my little-skirt-that-can: my semi-tiered printed chiffon skirt.

I'm a mainstay at any SM department store - more often in SM Megamall, SM Makati and SM Marikina and always on the lookout for my next perfect find. This one fine day my eye caught sight of this blue and yellow skirt that was incidentally a different colored version of the one a colleague of mine had, which I immediately fell inlove with. Without much contemplation, I went on to fit it and of course, I knew I had to have it. It had the right amount of girly and uniqueness that I wanted for all things in my wardrobe. So I bought it, no surprise there. Barely Php 500.00, it was a steal - I felt like a winner in a 'Look for Less' challenge kind of way.

Since I got my little-skirt-that-can, I've just worn it twice and I'm reaping more than what I've invested. I get compliments for it - from my family, my workmates, my fiance and from random people. Just yesterday, I was at the mall and this girl kept peering at me as if she knew me. She lingered for minutes until she looked at me and asked where I got my skirt, 'it's so pretty', she said with a smile. I was happy to oblige, so I told her of the many treasures one can find in the SM department store. I love sharing when it comes to fashion - I don't keep my knowledge to myself.=)

I guess my point here is that you need not look for known brands to uncover little-outfits-that-can. It's all in your vision and expression of your own style. Why not drop by any department store near you and explore the things they have to offer. You might be surprised on the fun things you'll find and even end up with savings of a peso or a hundred more. Now won't that be just perfect?