[Zei the charmed one] Weekend highlights!

Just some of my weekend highlights in photos. I simply love how weekends make me feel twice as blessed. 

Zia enjoying going out with mommy and daddy more and more! She's wearing the cute shirt I bought for her from Bangkok! So cute!!

Zia has found a new way of getting around the house - via her brand spanking new activity walker. She's actually more interested in all the activities, but she indulges us by taking enthusiastic steps while pushing her walker. 

Was saving these shoes for when Zia's already 1, but apparently, they already fit her. Gone are the days of Mary Jane socks and soft sole shoes. Zia's onto big girl shoes now. Sniff.

Here's hoping everyone had a fun and restful weekend! 

[Shopaholic Zei] Divi, we meet again!

After 2 years or so, I finally found myself back in Divisoria. I love going to 'Divi', I always have even if it means I have to take the always jam packed LRT 2. :) I love how you can shop where all sellers know you're shopping on a budget otherwise you could've just gone to any mall. 

I went to Divi because I was on a mission - to buy cheap but nice giveaways for Zia's 1st birthday. Boy did I accomplish my mission (and in just a little over an hour)! I canvassed in 168 first but the toys were a bit more expensive than I hoped, so I decided to walk a few more kilometers to get to Divisoria mall. And the prices started going lower. Luckily, I found this toy store that had so much variety of toys, and most importantly, they sold them at the prices I budgeted for. They had everything a mom throwing her kids' birthday needed; from bubbles, balloons, masks, toy vegetables, puzzles, stress balls, blocks, magic slates to wooden toys. I was content. I stayed there and decided to get everything I needed from that store, I didn't canvass anywhere anymore since it would've taken me longer to decide. I got around 150 assorted toys which cost me just Php 2,744 to be exact. Really not bad, I could've scrimped on some of my choices but they were too good a bargain not to get. I got wooden puzzles that normally retail for more a hundred pesos for only Php 15 a piece; mini puzzle mats for just Php 10 and colorful pails for Php 15 as well. 

If I had more time and more hands, I could've ended up buying some more stuff - not for Zia's birthday. Hehe. I wanted to buy topiaries for the house - the ones we have were bought by my mom from a designer shop worth around 3,000 ++ for three, while the ones I saw in Divi which looked exactly like the ones we already have cost just 100 to 180 a piece, miles away from the profit rich cost of its mall shop counterpart. I would've also bought rugs for our bathroom, there were so many cute designs. Maybe when I go again next time, I'll make that trip for house stuff.   

I'm glad I got to go to Divi again. Will definitely be back soon because in Divi I never go home empty handed. And yes, the extra weight and baggage from Divi sure is worth it. :)

When was the last time you went to Divisoria for your shopping fix?

[Zei the MOM] Time REALLY flies

The crazy weather made me change my Saturday plans. I was supposed to take a trip to Divisoria to buy some stuff for Zia's 1st birthday, but decided not to push through for my fear of being soaked and stranded. And since today is also Zia's 11th month, it's just right that I'm home to be with the darling daughter (and husband) the whole day - so this also explains why I found extra time to write this post while the two of them are fast asleep. 

Today is Zia's last monthly birthday, so please allow me to be a bit sentimental and nostalgic...

As the cliche goes... it seems like only yesterday when we first brought our baby girl home. Today, more than ever I realized how time flies so fast. The funny thing is, I realized it when I was rummaging through Zia's unworn clothes. I've been shopping for her even before she was born and when she was about 3-4 months old I kept buying stuff that were for 12-18 months or bigger thinking that she'll use it when she's 'older' - those days too felt like they  were only yesterday. As of this writing though, at 11 months, Zia is already wearing those clothes I bought before and one-by-one, the clothes I've stored for the 'future' are finding their way out of the storage bin because my little one can now wear them. So yes, my little baby is growing so fast. I used to be so paranoid about cradling her because she was so tiny, and now I can barely last an hour carrying her because she's become quite big for her petite mom. *sheepish*

From this tiny baby (she weighed less than 6 lbs when she was born

To this sweetheart who's fast getting big for mommy (she weighs 20 lbs already)

I guess I just want to share this to tell all new moms and moms to be, to savor every second with your baby, from the utero to day 0 in the outside world, it'll fly so fast. :) I guess that's the reality, time flies and babies grow up so fast. 

To my darling Zia, I want you to know that even if you'll soon be (really) too big for me to cradle or carry, I want you to know that you'll forever be my (little) baby girl. Happy 11th month sweetie! Mommy loves you so much! :) And Though we won't celebrate your monthly birthday anymore because you'll be turning 1 next month, I'll always make sure that your everydays will be worth celebrating. :)

[Zei on home deco & design] Master bedroom project

[Zei on home deco & design] Master bedroom project by z-e-i on polyvore.com

Traditional White Nightstand and Bedside Table
$309 - bassettfurniture.com

Beachcomber Baskets
$129 - potterybarn.com

Chandelier with Gems Peel and Stick Giant Wall Decal
hayneedle.com

JOHN DERIAN COMPANY, INC. Love Paperweight
$60 - calypsostbarth.com

Storage Baskets- Set of 3 in Natural - Personalised Toys & Gifts -...
£220 - mamasandpapas.com

Family Vinyl Wall Decal Wall Quote Saying Where Life Begins and Love...
$39 - etsy.com

Fabric Organizer Bin Storage Container Basket - Ash Gray and White...
$18 - etsy.com

[Zei on Fashion] Caped Crusader

[Zei on Fashion] Caped Crusader by z-e-i featuring orange t shirts

Orange t shirt
$27 - yesstyle.com

McQ by Alexander McQueen cape coat
$645 - net-a-porter.com

Black cape
$39 - romwe.com

Long skirt
$99 - bqueenshoes.com

Madewell flat shoes
$108 - madewell.com

Givenchy leather bag
$1,050 - ln-cc.com

By Malene Birger plastic bangle
£34 - bymalenebirger.com

[Zei on Career & Passion] Cheers to more positive changes!

It's been awhile since I last blogged, hmm... I guess I haven't found that much time. Zia and Rich are asleep now so I found time to sneak in some me-time-blogging. I've missed this. Haha. Anyway, I'm back again and I guess it's just fitting to share the changes in the past 2 months.

#1 Back at work

Yup, my stay-at-home mom stint was short lived. I'm back at work again and I'm now working in the pharma industry, which is a skip, hop, cartwheel and a long leap from the food industry, but I'm trying my best to learn the ropes as fast as I can. *fingers crossed and whispers prayers*  

#2 After almost a decade, I'm driving again

The last time I drove I was still in college which is more than a skip, hop, cartwheel and a long leap from this very day. So yeah, it's been a long time since I last drove and now I'm driving again. I've had a lot of firsts in driving for the past month and I smell progress - drove in EDSA (both alone and twice with my new boss); drove in Marcos Highway with my mom without her remarks saying I'm too young-looking or tiny to drive; braved the mall carpark on a payday Friday are just some of the few minor things for most drivers, but which are considered milestones for me. =p I miss being driven to work by the husband though. =p

#3 No more super paranoid mom

Zia's now 10 months and I'm finding myself less paranoid. I think this lessened paranoia came about after my 4-day immersion in Cebu. The household I was assigned to had a baby girl a couple of months older than Zia and she was happy and okay even if she didn't have her mom wiping her hands with baby wipes ever so often, laying clean cloth for her to sit on and all those other seemingly neat-freak stuff you do when you're a first time mom. Once in awhile I let Zia crawl on the floor (no mats whatsoever, just our floor as it is) and put her fingers in her mouth cause now more than ever I think babies are really stronger than we think. :)

#4 I now make an effort to take care of my skin

I'm handling a skin care product now, Celeteque DermoScience and I imposed it on myself to take better care of my skin. I now tow a starter vanity kit which has a facial moisturizer and a lip balm (both Celeteque DermoScience, of course!) plus an oil control film. So if you wanna know more about this great brand that I handle, check out www.celetequedermoscience.com and learn more about your skin type and the products best suited for you - because beautiful skin starts with having healthy skin. :) Plugging, I know. :)   

So there, hoping for more positive changes my way. And now that I'm done with this post I think I'll make some new Polyvore sets. Another thing I haven't done for quite some time. :)

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend! :)

[Shopaholic Zei] Excited about my new go-to store!

You probably all know that I love shopping for Zia and now I'm even more excited about shopping for her in my new-found store - F&X. It's been around for awhile and I've passed by it a couple of times already without bothering to go in. But I'm glad I went in this time. I found super adorable clothes for kids - from Carebears, florals, Disney and Hello Kitty. They have it. I love the Vintage vibe and most of all, I love how the clothes are very resonably priced. I can't wait to shop there again - maybe this time I'll also throw in stuff for me and for the husband. I'm loving their SM Masinag branch because it's well stocked an it's the closest to where I live. Check out Zia's new loot from F&X, all for Php 1,300. Not bad at all. :)