I was explaining what Independence Day was to 5yo M on the way home, in traffic.
M: What’s Independence Day Mama?
ME: 400 years ago, the Spanish came and said our country was theirs. Many years later, we told them that they can’t rule our country anymore. We’re celebrating that day.
M: So they left?
ME: Yes.
M: Did they leave because they thought it would be traffic forever?
She could be right.
©OCMominManila
I have a very small world when it comes to sneakers. I’ve only tried Keds and Converse. Keds seem simple and plain. Converse, honestly, isn’t comfortable. I got a blister at the back of my foot the first time I wore them. I’ve also worn it for long periods on travels. They made my feet hurt.
I honestly thought that the pain of breaking shoes in was the norm, then Janice of Mommy Mundo introduced me to Feiyue. Her cousin, Jaycee Dee, distributes Feiyue locally. We visited their flagship store in the Sekai building (The Sekai Building is right after the Ortigas gate of North Greenhills).
The Feiyue flagship store in Sekai
Feiyue was first manufactured in Shanghai in the 1920′s. It literally means “Flying Forward” in Chinese. (I can imagine this coming from those kung fu masters flying in their sneakers.) In 2006, it was re-invented by a group of French sneaker enthusiasts, giving the shoe more urban designs but still retaining its comfort.
Structurally, it reminds me of the Dragonfly way back when we were younger. Design-wise, it’s much more than that. It comes in a variety of colors, cuts and designs. It actually took me an hour to choose which design I wanted for myself,
and for my daughter. The kids’ designs were super cute!!!
In the end, I liked the simple white sneaker with the black logo. I got the classic red and blue logo for M with velcro straps for ease of wearing.
The problem with white sneakers though is they do get dirty fast.
They’re very comfortable. I have not felt any rubbing or chaffing on any part of my foot. I used them on long walks and a trip out of town and my feet didn’t hurt!! Good job Feiyue on the design of these shoes. The break-in pain was non-existent. It can be done!
SoMoms in our uniform Feiyues in the Glorietta back-to-school Amazing Race event
Now, I want to get another pair for me and M — maybe in black or navy (so it doesn’t bring out the OC too often). The adult pairs are only less than 3k and the kids’ shoes are less than 2k. These will be M’s everyday school shoes because I know they’ll be comfortable for sure.
♦
Follow Feiyue on
Facebook: Feiyue Philippines
Twitter: @FeiyuePhil
Instagram: @FeiyuePhilippines
©OCMominManila
Ever since I started working, I’ve been putting on make-up but only the basics — foundation, powder, lipstick and when Body Shop came out with Lip and Cheek Stain, I used that as blush. The most advanced level I got to was to buy a Shu Uemura eyelash curler.
Then, I got invited to the BYS Make-up 101 Session for the SoMoms. BYS means Be Yourself. It’s a popular make-up brand from Australia and the brand team and their PR company set up a function room filled with makeup stations and sample make-up just for us. It was pretty exciting for a beauty idiot like me.
Here we are in our amazing work stations complete with light bulbs. Everyone came in pale as ghosts.
Then came the hard part. We were supposed to follow what our make-up artist taught us. First lesson, no make-up make-up.
The Clueless Trio: Cai, Jenny Ong (partially seen) and I
The hardest part for me was drawing the perfect eye brow. I’m still a bit lost on this one and am pretty amazed that this is such an art!
And I realized: Wearing make-up is such an OC endeavor — matching lines, shades, using the proportions of your face — there’s even geometry involved!! I love how nerdy it is. Kikay people don’t get enough credit. This is very hard.
A diagram on where to conceal and contour your face.
I felt pity for our teachers. They had a hard time with us clueless mothers (just speaking for me, Cai and Jenny who kept laughing and questioning alternately). In the end, we seemed to have passed the class with much guided help.
Tina the Phenomenal Mama, Cai of Paper Chic Donya/ Apples and Dumplings, Myself and Jenny of Chronicles of a Nursing Mom
After the BYS session, I have indeed advanced in my make-up knowledge and prowess. I have now added the ff. in my repertoire: Primer (an amazing product which I just discovered through the session), Concealer (for my gigantic eye bags), Eye primer, Eye shadow, Eye liner, Mascara, Bronzer, Lip liner. Soon, you’ll see me wearing liquid eye liner! (hahaha ambitiosa)
I particularly love the BYS minerals naturale bronzer.
My self-improvement task from hereon:
Wearing eye make-up really makes a difference in my look and I feel more confident to face clients. Thank you BYS for your patience and goodies. Thank you Painter’s Wife for patiently being my post-session guru as well.
♦
BYS is probably the nicest make-up line you will find in Watsons. It’s very affordable compared to the luxury brands.
Like BYS Philippines on Facebook.
©OCMominManila
Honestly, I have gotten to a point in my life where I have become immune to mall-wide sales. I haven’t been to those 3-day sales in years. I have no desire to join the crowds, fight the traffic and dig through mounds of shirts. I just felt it wasn’t worth it …
… until this week when I opened the gates of shopping madness. (cue organ music – tandandandan)
Glorietta is having a Back-to-School Midnight Madness this weekend from May 31 to June 2, 2013. On Friday and Saturday, the mall will close at 12 midnight! Ayala Malls asked the SoMoms to experience the sale ourselves through an Amazing Race.
We were given only an hour to shop and within that hour, all my past sale experiences came flooding back (it’s like riding a bike). Here are my Glorietta Midnight Madness tips for those of you who are scared like me:
1.Stake out Glorietta a few days before. Map out the stores where you want to go and where you’re going to have lunch. Know your size in every store — shoes, tops, bottoms — there is little time to try stuff on during the sale itself!
The newly-renovated Glorietta looks great! It’s so well-lit and maaliwalas.
2. Choose a good shopping partner — someone whose taste you trust and knows what looks good on you (he/ she will come in handy when you try on outfits), someone who is not whiny, someone who is balanced (she’ll tell you if it’s not worth it or she’ll push you to get it even if beyond budget because it just looks really good to pass up). I was partnered with Jenny of MyMommyology. We’ve known each other for 13 years. I think that’s good enough.
3. Go to Glorietta on Friday, first thing in the morning. Have breakfast at UCC then be at the doors by 10AM. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes (slip-ons or maybe Havaianas) and maybe leggings, a button-down shirt and a tank top inside so it’s easy to try on stuff (even outside the dressing room), if necessary.
4. Have a plan in mind. Make a list of things you need for school (but also things you want for extra-curricular stuff). Zero in on the sale items in your favorite stores.
We saw nice flats in Janylin for P399 and tops and dresses in Kamiseta that would go on sale. Kamiseta has great outfits for all the mom activities for school (PTCs, school programs, orientation, etc.). Pink Box will have everything on sale for 10% (black headbands for P40!) and they have cute back-to-school bundles for only P99.
Gingersnaps is a usual favorite in the mall. Their stuff will go on sale for up to 70%. Their sister store Just G also had great finds on sale already.
Payless had nice black school shoes and sneaks that went as low as P400. I also found donya shades for only P349!
Basics for Kids had cute dresses for around P400.
Mayoral, a brand from Spain, was my favorite. The super nice dresses would be perfect for Christmas plays and culminating activities (#planningwayahead). Some were on sale at 30% off! (Mayoral is near Gap.)
5. Be prepared for competition. Somebody will spot the same thing you’re eyeing. Just be fair. If he/ she got to it first, then give it to them. If you were first and they’re very jeje and fighting you over it, just let it go. It’s just a pair of shoes and not worth killing someone over.
No need to mention who the competitive one is. (Hint: It’s GoJackieGo). Look at all those cutesy abubots in Papemelroti! I like those paper boxes behind Painter’s Wife.
6. Don’t go home empty-handed! Show something for your efforts. Buy something for crying out loud. There are too many good deals to pass up. (ok, I think this event has unleashed the monster that I tried so hard to lock up.)
Here we are presenting our finds to the other teams and to Ayala.
7. Find a way to justify everything you bought — hahaha. In our case, our concept was back-to-extra-curricular. It was more of the things you needed outside of school needs. In my case, our school doesn’t really require anything to be bought so obviously my finds are wants – hahaha.
We were able to find so many things in an hour’s time for less than P9,000. Most of these items weren’t even on sale yet. Imagine how much we would find and save on Friday!
8. Schedule a home massage the next day.
We didn’t win the amazing race but I had so much fun. Going to the Midnight Madness is definitely worth it if you plan it out OC-ly. See you tomorrow and good luck!
♦
Follow Glorietta on:
Facebook: They have an ongoing promo right now where you can win an iPad!
Twitter: @gloriettatweets
Instagram: @iloveglorietta
©OCMominManila
