How was your long holiday?

The last long weekend was another blast for the girls...

• Lovella and I went to the famous Bangkal of Makati - famous for its segunda mano items (second-hand). We were canvassing for possible furniture pieces or inspirations for Lovella's new place (wow Vel!), and I was looking for my magic "baul" (a mid-sized treasure box of sorts which I intend to be the home of my precious everyday cosmetics and makeup, haha).
• A funny anecdote worth sharing: We asked the jeepney driver to "unload" us  right at the street for segunda manos; the kindly good-hearted soul unloaded us at the street for second-hand cars (We took it as a compliment, and walked the few blocks to the second-hand furniture pieces.)
• Another one from our survey: When we asked the folks back in Bangkal on the make of their wood furnitures, 90% of them told us that it's "narra" (our national tree - famous for its durability). I almost knocked over a very delicate version of "maple" baul. When we asked them the circa or year when the furniture was purchased, 90% of them told us that it's "antique". Buyers beware: You could lose more than 90% of your hard-earned bucks if you believe all of them. The few honest ones would probably tell you that it's yakal (another hardwood used for furnitures), or that they had no idea.
• We didn't buy anything from Bangkal but we took down life-changing mental notes (hmmm). And this...was the premonition to the shopping discipline test which we took right after.
• After our early venture to Bangkal (7 AM to 10:30 AM), Lovella and I went to SM Makati for our brunch. Melody was on queue for something important and requested us to wait for her. While she was at this "event", Vel and I went through SM's four floors - beauty and health, party clothes, work clothes, pajama sets, lingerie, bags, shoes, gift items, furnitures (again), mirrors, memory pillows (for Vel), organizers, possible dupes for my baul (again!), and back to beauty and health where we started (like nothing happened, haha). In between, we also had a side trip to Bagaholic (It sells second-hand designers bags like Louis Vuitton and Hermes at markdown prices(the real deal they claim; by the way, they have authentication to prove it). You're thinking that we have a thing for second-hand stuff, huh. Check the store out at Arnaiz St. cor. Makati Ave., Makati.
•  At the end of 4-5 hours of waiting for Melody, we were so proud of our selves. Why? - We surpassed all temptations (from commission-based sales agents of perfumes, everything-on-sale tags almost everywhere, to the wonderful textures of clothes and bags). We stuck to our budget and necessities list!
• We also discovered the really cheap Esprit cologne in various scents (good quality for less). This somehow toned down Melody's raving / lemming for the new Givenchy Ange ou Demon Le Secret perfume. Hopefully, she'll get over it in time (peace Mel).
• I also learned and confirmed two fashion insights: (1) Esprit and the more expensive Davidoff Cool Waters are made by the same manufacturer - Coty; and (2) Fanny Serrano's eyelash curlers hail from the same manufacturer as that of Shu Uemura's (the price difference is about 800 pesos). For number 2, I'm prouder that I buy Filipino.

Check out this link for a good comparison of the two eyelash curlers:
http://www.askmewhats.com/2008/06/shu-uemura-vs-fanny-serrano-eyelash.html


I also discovered the mini lash curler of Fanny Serrano - recently released - which again serves the same purpose as the Shu Uemura mini lash curler, i.e., curl small/side lashes or curl lashes section by section (for the novice). It's portable, too!

• Melody finished her important interview. She made us super-proud. And since she wouldn't want me to expound, all I can say is good luck, God bless, and bon |blank| =) We are so excited for you!
• Mel, Vel and I had our dinner at Max's. Since I'm still careful about triggering allergens (chicken, eggs and pork), Vel was thoughtful enough to share with me the pinaputok na bangus (our national fish wrapped and cooked in banana leaf). Delicious!
• When we're finally all home, I listened to my "internal playlist" and realized that there's this song that I've been mentally humming for the past two days, even if I'm only guessing some of the lyrics. So I googled it today, and made it my thinking song for the week --- I Wanna Know What Love Is. (The simplified lyrics - filtered for those closely applicable and "hum-able" to me -  is copied below).

Enjoy dears...It's only 22 days to go before Happy Christmas!
(Enter thinking song of the week)
Where I've...

Gotta take a little time

A little time to think things over

Better read between the lines

In case I need it when I'm older

This mountain I must climb

Is like the world upon my shoulders

Through the clouds I see love shine

It keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life

There's been heartache and pain

I don't know if I can face it again

Can't stop now

I've traveled so far

To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is

I want you to show me

I wanna feel what love is

I know you can show me

Gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me

Got nowhere left to hide

Looks like love has finally found me

Lord help me to be strong

On this road I travel on

When I'm lost and lonely

Find me

My journey's just begun

And I'm not the only one