Gift ideas, anyone?

My husband and I are still toying with the idea on what to give our eldest for Christmas. He's six, already in preschool, a smart boy, and has a mind of his own. He also happens to be a huge fan of video games which I am strongly opposed to. Aside from the fact that these games are mostly filled with gore and violence, video games take so much of his attention and time (sometimes even during school days) that we thought it best to limit his "playtime" and only allowed him to play with his PSP on weekends.
Recently though, his biological father (ok..now this makes it even more complicated) expressed his desire to give his son a PS2 as a Christmas present. My answer was obvious. A solid NO. A debate ensued afterwards.
My point was, he already has a PSP so what's the point of giving him a new game console? Besides he's only six and should be out in the park playing hide and seek with other children instead of spending the entire afternoon in deep concentration as if the fate of the world was on his hands!
I went on to point out to him that expensive gadgets such as a PS2 should be EARNED (through good grades, initiative, etc.) instead of giving it just like that. I don't want to sound like the Grinch here and I know that my eldest would be so delighted to receive one BUT I don't think now is the right time. Maybe when he's 10 or 12. But not six.
As much as possible, I try not to give toys to my sons unless we happen to dine at McDonald's or Jollibee. Christmas is still too far to stress about this one but if you have any interesting idea (it doesn't really have to be something tangible) then your comments are very welcome.

Jen-Brad-Angelina saga continues

A new twist to the Jen-Brad-Angelina saga (note that Brad is at the center of the title for obvious reasons) surfaces after Jennifer Aniston commented about Angelina's blatant remarks on her and Brad's romance that blossomed at the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. (Read the full article here)
Angelina has no delicadeza and class. She used to deny the rumors and now here she is telling the whole world how she and Brad fell in love while shooting Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Tsk. I used to admire her especially for her efforts to end global hunger and poverty. Maybe it's her way of diverting the ire and bad publicity being thrown her way. Or perhaps she felt so guilty that she had to think of something on a massive scale that will make up for her mortal sin. Show some remorse! Confess, my dear, confess.

Wooden wonders and more

The bleak economy and ridiculous prices have somehow changed our priorities in the past few months. As a result, we have become smarter, and even cynical if you may, when it comes to spending our money. This Christmas, though, it won't hurt to add a thing or two more to your "to-buy" list so long as you know that you are getting your money's worth.
For homeowners like me, a good piece of furniture is sooo hard to resist. But what exactly is a good piece of furniture? Price is not only the factor in determining quality. Design, material, finish, craftsmanship, and price share equal importance when arriving at a decision. I personally like wood furniture because it has that certain homey feel to it not to mention it gives character to living spaces. Unfortunately, today's market is swamped with run-of-the-mill, sub-standard wooden furniture that leave us with very little options...unless you are one such discerning consumer who knows where to get the good stuff.
If I may suggest, an online lifestyle store called http://www.lombok.co.uk/ is a good place to build around your own Zen-inspired abode with a few pieces from this store. The site carries a complete range of classic furniture and home accents that would truly impress even the most discriminating taste. The long list starts with pretty lamp shades, candles, and windlights, down to coffee tables, cupboards and dressers.
Its chests of drawers are both functional and stylish. I know that bulky chests can look so out of place in a room. However, the finer details such as patinated brass handles and carved edges turn this functional object into a pretty accent piece. The chests of drawers are available in varying sizes to fit every nook and cranny of your house.
The bedroom is the most intimate part of the house hence the centerpiece of this room, which is the bed, should echo the same ambiance. I have always wished for a four-poster bed ever since I saw King Louis XIV's during a trip to France. The wooden beds in this site evoke that same Old World charm and sets the tone for intimacy. All beds are handmade using teak and oak wood among other natural materials. The price may set you back by a few thousands but for a good night's sleep? It's worth every cent you pay for it.
Finally, my favorite part of the house (next to the bedroom, of course) is the dining area. About three years ago, I bought a four-seater dining set made of teak wood and leather. But after seeing the dining tables in this site, I instantly turned green with envy. The designs are exactly what I had in mind -- very elegant and exclusive but not intimidating. Don't you hate it when you have beautiful furnishings that you can't even enjoy because it's too precious you won't even let your own kids go near it?
These dining tables are fully functional and stylish. They also have a round dining table perfect for condo dwellers deprived of precious space.
Wait, I haven't mentioned the best part yet. The site offers what it calls "interest free credit" that offers customers flexible payment modes. Check out the site for more information.

Musings on marriage

I was once asked how marriage has changed my relationship with my then boyfriend and now husband. And my answer then was: not so much. Pondering about it now, I realized that A LOT has changed in our relationship since we got hitched two years ago. For one, we are less tolerant of each other that we have become critical to a fault. I admit that I focus too much on my husband's temper rather than acknowledge his sweet little gestures. Last Sunday, I chided him for being "ma-pride" which was very unlikely of him when we were still on our dating stage. His reply was: "Kasi alam ko na kahit magka-away tayo, magkikita pa rin tayo sa bahay. Wala kang choice kundi kausapin ako unlike nung mag-boyfriend tayo." Tama nga naman.
Lesson learned: Once you get married, you are left with no choice but to work things out. Ergo, separation is never an option.

Gwyneth goes gaga...literally

I still can't get over this infamous photo of Gwyneth Paltrow (courtesy of http://www.omg.yahoo.com/) which instantly demoted her to "worst dressed celebrity" overnight!
Everything in this outfit is just grossly wrong -- from the hair, choice of jewelry, a kitschy black and white dress with lace details, the granny lingerie (if you can even call it that), and those atrocious ankle boots that remind me of Minnie Mouse.
Im no fasyon myself but I would not let this one pass. Maybe Gwyneth was feeling kinky when she picked this outfit, sort of dressing as a French maid and failing miserably. Perhaps it wouldn't have been as dreadful if ONLY she wore the right lingerie. If I were the husband, I would divorce her through SMS and hide from her never to see me again. haha Just kidding.
Seriously, this "kita-ang-kapitbahay" see-through dress lacks creativity, decency and common sense. Gwyneth should axe her stylist, whoever he/she is.
For more photos of fashion disasters, click here http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/what-were-they-thinking/2435

Much ado about vampires

I've always been fascinated with vampires, but not as much as my friend Riya who's obsessed with them. So it's not surprising that she's been persuading me to grab a copy of the Twilight series and eventually get hooked (like her)on the central character named Edward. I haven't read a book since I finished The Da Vinci Code but I would love to get a copy of Twilight based solely on Riya's persuasion and her numerous blog entries chronicling her fixation about this novel.
Incidentally, I've seen some of the publicity photos of Twilight (courtesy of Access Hollywood) and I must admit that I was smitten by the actor who plays Edward. However, my dilemma now is this: should I read the book first before I watch the movie or vice versa? The problem with movie adaptations is they are shortened versions of literary masterpieces hence they sometimes lack the gritty details of full-length novels. I've seen a couple of movies based on best-selling novels (specifically The Da Vinci Code, A Time to Kill, and Memoirs of a Geisha)and found them somewhat lacking. As a viewer and a natural whiner, I can't help but compare these two versions. More often than not, I end up in regret for pillaging my piggy bank to buy tickets to that movie.
Going back to Twilight, I'm still torn between buying the book and stretching my patience till the local premiere of this much hyped Hollywood flick.

Btw, mukhang hindi naligo si Robert Pattinson in one of the pictures. He admitted it himself in one of his interviews. "I haven't washed my hair in about six weeks. It's disgusting," Pattinson reveals to USA Today. What the heck, vampires don't take a bath!

Fashion victory or fashion victim?

Just when we thought that all eyes where on Obama on election night, there were a few pairs gazing not at the dandy president-elect, but at his wife Michelle and what she was wearing for this momentous occasion. Since the campaign started, much has been written and said about Michelle's fashion sense. There were a couple of hits and misses. I also had my personal favorites, including a black and white floral number that she wore during a guest appearance on The View -- and it's not even a designer outfit.
Admittedly, Michelle has a flair for fashion. And by that, I don't necessarily mean haute couture. She can wear a sundress from Target and still look regal on it. However, Michelle's pick at last night victory party was so-so. The black and red frock was nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure, but unfortunately it didn't inspire the fashion savant in me.
Read on yahoo that the dress was by Narciso Rodriguez, a staple at New York's catwalk. She could have chosen a gown by Oscar dela Renta, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Carolina Herrera, Christian Dior, or Karl Lagerfeld. Instead, she chose to wear Narciso Rodriguez to Chicago's Grant Park.
If she was to be judged as one of the best dressed people based on that outfit, she would not have been considered a contender at all.
Look at the picture and tell me what's your take on it. (Photo courtesy of INFDaily.com)