Beautiful Weekend

Saturday:

Sunday:

On Saturday, we went to a friend's house in Hermosa Beach. He was moving to New Zealand and leaving all his things behind. My mister and I were up very early in the morning, drove there in a truck and hauled all the stuff to where we live an hour away. He was starting a new life in NZ with only a suitcase and new dreams with him and nothing else. How exciting is that? He is a very generous man who gave us not only material things but also knowledge, love and hope to become better human beings. I still have a lot of work to do on that part but what matters is that I want to become a better person, everything else is just up to time and effort.

 On Sunday, my twin daughter's friend turned 15 and we were invited. They wore pretty dresses, flowers on their hair and had the chance to ride in a limo for the very first time.
We stuffed ourselves with good food and hung out with lovely people. The place was breathtaking, it was held at the country club overlooking the snow capped mountaintops. I couldn't stop looking at the beautiful view. I realized that some of us become way too busy doing other things that we forget to look up at the beautiful blue sky or the star-filled sky at night. I am so guilty of that.
We often forget to look around us and see how beautiful our surroundings are. The world is so beautiful, people are beautiful. I challenge you to drop what you're doing and look around you and just be thankful that you are alive. Life is beautiful, no matter what we are going through, every day is a gift!
 
Happy Monday to you, whoever you are. If you are new here, I'm glad you found me and if you have been here before, I'm glad that you're back.

Welcome to my shop

The shop is finally open. There are more things to do. More items to upload. So please check back everyday for new good things.

Things to check out on the site:
The LookBook link is located on the top right of the website. All clothes on the gypsy collection will be added this week. All clothes were handmade by myself using the finest vintage materials and/or recycled clothes. None of the materials were bought so these pieces are eco-friendly, well made and of course, one of a kind. They will never be replicated ever, so only you will ever own it in the whole world.

 The owl, cilck this to follow me on twitter.

The Book/The Story for some facts about myself.

I know there aren't a lot of items listed yet but lots of items from every category will be added this week.
Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

Cuteness

Remember my Vivienne Westwood shoes on this post (please scroll down when you get to the link), I just saw mini versions of it for the little fashionista in your life!

$100 a pair! But aren't these shoes the cutest?

I don't know where you can purchase them or if they are already available but If you really want it, I'm sure you'll find it :)

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Shop opening is postponed. I had to fix some images that were loading quite slow. But it will open this weekend, I promise.

My Little Nook

I have a new work space and I love it. I got this secretary desk for only $6. There were no legs so I took our coffee table apart (which drove my mom nuts) and took the legs and drilled them to it.

I know it's kind of a mess but the good thing is, I can just close the door and hide all the mess. (more photos coming soon) and it has a very old skeleton key to lock all the secrets in.

I love my vintage suitcases. I use them for storage. I can't seem to have enough.
 I wonder what places they have traveled to.

 This owl used to be dark green, I spray painted it gold. I love how it turned out. This owl is so heavy and very old. I love how it seems to stare at me while I work. I think he loves his new look too.

The vintage apple jar filled with vintage buttons was used for the Alice in wonderland birthday party of my twin daughters last year.

This black house wall cabinet used to be white. It's empty right now, I still have to find more magical things to put inside it. Any suggestions?

Good Morning

I found this French press and bone china tea cup last weekend from our thrifting trip (oh, and the wooden tray too). I'm really enjoying this French press. My mister's friend gave us 2 huge bags of coffee beans from South America and it's sooo good.

I love having coffee early in the morning while the house is very quiet and the whole family is still fast asleep (even the dog!).
This is my me time.

  

Today is a very busy day. It's nice to have some peace and quiet before tackling such a hectic day. Kids are home bound since it's a holiday today.

I hope we all have a great day ahead of us.

Dreams do come true...

So dream big.

I've been collecting vintage records. I had no turn table but everyday I would go online and look at Crosley turn tables that I could not afford. But I continued to dream. Today, while driving from a Goodwill trip,we saw an estate sale sign. I went in alone and there it was, waiting for me to get her... A crosley turn table. The place was almost empty but the turn table was there waiting for it's perfect owner. I asked how much and whispered a little prayer in my mind. The lady said $25. I only had $15 in my pocket. I asked, "How about $15?". She said yes. I almost jumped up and down but I kept still, wishing that I wouldn't wake up.
I still could not believe it.

It's not vintage but I don't mind. The records are vintage so when you play the records it still has this crackling sound like how I remember it the last time I played records when I was only 11 years old. Listening to Barry Manilow in our living room.

I spent about 2 hours, just listening to some 80's, 70's rock and new wave. I'm in love.

Sniffles

It's freezing in L.A. and rain is expected to pour for one whole week or so. Now, I got the sniffles, not to mention 4 wisdom teeth trying it's very best to drive me insane. (dreading that oral surgeon visit one of these days).
This means, lots of comfort food, hot tea and why not throw in fresh coconut water on the liquid menu which is not only healthy but feels like I'm on some tropical island vacation.

I drank this a lot when I was a kid. Growing up in a tropical country, these coconuts were being sold on the side of the streets. The vendor opens it in front of you and sticks a straw just like what I did on this one. This brings me back to my childhood, I think I'll feel better in no time.

I hope.

Pretty Teas

My teas came yesterday. I always get my teas from SUGARBIRD. I first met Miss Kei O. at the Pasadena Farmer's Market but she probably won't remember me anymore. This time though, I ordered the teas from her website.

Aren't they pretty?

My favorite is Karina, add milk and it's just divine! The aroma is so heavenly.

If you want your own, you can get them here. I'm sure you'll enjoy her teas and treats as much as I do.

Valentine's Day Weekend

Snapshots from our Valentine's Day weekend. I hope you are very much loved today by the one who matters the most to you!

Baby Love

Dear River,
             Please don't grow up too fast. I noticed that your pajamas and pants are already up to your knees and yet I still let you wear them. Your (our) favorite red boots don't fit you anymore and yet we still try them on every now and then, hoping for a little miracle that it would fit again. I know you are not a baby anymore because we can now hold a decent conversation with each other (but only when you feel like it, often times, you pretend that you can't hear anything I say). You are almost as tall as the 5 year olds out there and I don't like it and I'm pretty sure their moms don't like it either.





I miss holding your tiny body in my arms and staring at you for hours, swaddled in your little blankie. Now, you hate blankets, you sleep talk and you take all the space on our bed.



I miss the times when you would eat anything that I give you, no matter how boring or awful, you ate them like there was no tomorrow. Now, you only like to eat ketchup and rice and sometimes in the middle of the night when were already in bed.


You now ask 'are you okay mama?" when I get hurt and you say I'm pretty every time I put on make up or when I'm getting ready to go out. I guess, you growing up is not really all that bad.


But still... Please don't be in a rush.

Love, Mama

Art Love

Remember our bedroom wall? Well, I loved it but not loved loved it. So I changed it into this.

This is more me. And I smile every time I look at it as I doze off to sleep and when the moon light shines against this old Rembrandt painting.

LALA LOVE YOU art print, by Sparkle Power

It's like stepping into a very old home. I love making our house look like there is a lot of history in it. Like an old house in Europe with a twist, of course because of the modern print on the top left.

I love that women rule this wall! Well, I just realized now that I'm writing this that I do have quite a big collection of old art with women on it.I wonder what that means.

I have so much art that I am running out of wall space! I think I need a bigger house because I can't stop collecting them. :)

The best shoes are born

Shoes worth blogging about for sure! These shoes are amazing! They are so comfortable almost feels like you're not wearing anything on your feet. Really!

These shoes are handcrafted and it really treats your feet right. I can't stress that enough. It also has this vintage look that I so love. The design is also kind of masculine and feminine at the same time.

And oh no, they didn't pay me to say these things. I just love my pair that much!
Visit their site here if you want to get your own.

Change

I need change. I need change in every area of my life. I need a new hairstyle, I need a new career, new lifetstyle.... I need change, I can't say that enough. Every nerve in my body is asking for it. I am unhappy about how things are going. Dissatisfied. I know I can do better than this. I just know it.

So these coming days, I am evolving and so is the shop... So is the blog. 

The blog will have more of my photography because that is what I enjoy doing.

So why not show you more of that yeah?

I did a little survey weeks ago and the comments were not published but most of the suggestions I got was more photos of my kids and I will give you more of that too.

I hope you still join me on this journey, as you have joined me in the past changes on the blog and my ever constantly changing shop.

 

I promise you, it will make you keep coming back for more.

Ciao.