Saturday, December 31, 2011

new year's resolutions


What are your New Year's resolutions?

Will they be as simple yet important as what your mother always reminds you to do?


Or will they be as profound and insightful as William Henry Channing's symphony?


Wishing you a blissful new year! May your 2012 be filled with graciousness, contentment, refinement, elegance & wealth and big events & little adventures worth celebrating!


happy new year!


Happy New Year everyone!

Photo from annniegirl.

Click here for previous posts with moving photos.

Friday, December 30, 2011

the year that was


My 2011 was a year of boldness...


... of doing new things like starting this blog here, abandoning old style sensibilities here and going on my non-metaphorical adventure here.

2011 was also a year of color, creativity and whimsy...


... of Whimsical Wednesdays here, Color Obsessions here and extraordinary art from ordinary objects here.

It was a year of reveling in little things here that make life absolutely delightful, including my Noah and Isabella who make life crazy, funny & magical.

The one big thing this year has taught me is that...


It was certainly fun learning to dance in the rain with all of you!

Enjoy the last day of 2011!

Photos from i'mjustsaying, 101gramsofeyecandy's FB page (yes, she's on facebook now!), here and here,

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

do your kids match?


My kids are 7 years apart so it never occurred to me to make them wear matching clothes. Am not really the type to go extremely matchy-matchy, but I find this different-colored pair adorable!


At first I thought it wouldn't be so easy with a boy and a girl. Until I saw this gender-neutral pair...


Adorable, right? And so chic!

I just looove how these particular kids (of Sharon of nyctaughtme) "match". They're never exactly alike (hence the very different pant colors), but there's always something common in their outfits - like socks or shoes or suspenders.



What about you? Do your kids match?

Photos from annniegirl and nyctaughtme. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

my pre-fall 2012 faves so far...


Am not really a dainty-bow kind of gal. But I love how Burberry Prorsum makes these bow-belts so tough and edgy! I am also loving the collar of that beige top on the left and that pretty light mustard dress!

Am smitten with these prints as well...


And the stripes in these... Especially the flattering v-lines on the Missoni dress! And in case you can't find the stripes in the Band of Outsiders ensemble, they're on her pants' cuffs!


Am also drawn to the band details in these pieces...


What about you? Any Pre-Fall 2012 faves?

Photos from vogue. 

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!



Sharing a few Christmas tree wishes...

For Isabella... with touches of pink & black and ice skates for my princess! 


For Noah... with so many presents, they can build a tree (or two) of gifts!


For the hubby... a smashin' fun Christmas!


For me... how fabulous would it be to have this many gifts from Tiffany & Co.?! Hahaha!


Hope your Christmas wishes come true! Have a very merry Christmas!

Photos from annniegirl.

Friday, December 23, 2011

some polka dots i spotted...


Did your kids leave their letter to Santa in their Christmas stocking? Here are some of the sweetest & funniest letters to Santa.

From Kiera, who starts out concerned about Santa's trip to faraway houses but eventually points out that he has 11 months to rest...


Here's one from a practical little girl...


One that's a tad disturbing...


One from the sweetest child...


One with a stingy mom...


One who double-booked...


And a pretty considerate boy...


Hope your kids enjoy the presents Santa leaves in their stockings tonight!

Photos from here.

Click here for previous posts from the Some Polka Dots I Spotted series.

Santa Proof!


Sharing some proof for the little ones that Santa exists... First, get your child a personalized video from Santa here (discovered via Playtime Break here). You just need to upload some photos and answer some questions. Best of all, it's free! I tried this this year and found it so cool! Santa said Noah's name a couple of times, featured Noah's photo, even said something about him and promised him a gift! You just need to make sure to close the video as soon as it reaches the end because if you don't, a tab to Create a video will appear and that made Noah doubt if the video was really from Santa.


You can also track Santa's gift-delivery progress here. You can track where he is beginning December 24 because the Santa tracker does not go live until then. Have never tried this but one of my facebook friends posted status updates of where Santa was last Christmas, so I might try out this tracker too on facebook here tomorrow night.


You can also upload a photo of your living room here (discovered via A Cup of Jo here) and add a stock image of Santa into the scene so your kids see Santa placing his gifts under your tree.

How's that for proof that Santa does exist?

Photos from here, here and here.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Jo's Starbucks red cup


Johanna Basford, an ink illustrator who prefers pens & pencils over pixels. She feels "computer-generated graphics can feel cold and soul-less whereas hand-drawing captures a sense of energy and character which no pixel can ever replicate".

She started drawing on empty Starbucks cups as early as September 2010. 


I suppose her big ambition of illustrating a Starbucks red cup was born then.


So in January 2011, she started her campaign for the Starbucks Christmas cup by sending this parcel to the Starbucks UK people.


She even added an ink illustration to her letter.


By February, she was asked to send another parcel to the Starbucks HQ folks in Seattle, USA. 


Unfortunately, by March 2011, the design for the 2011 Christmas cup had already been decided on and was in fact, already in production! The 2011 Christmas cups have been out for a while now. But in case you want to sip your coffee from Jo's inky red cup, click here for a downloadable artwork you can cut out and tape onto your Starbucks cup. Watch the video of how she hand-draws and inks her Starbucks Christmas cup illustration here!


As of November 2011, Jo was still in touch with the Starbucks HQ Creative Director for other potential inky Starbucks projects which I personally hope push through because I kind of like the black ink better than the red (I wonder if green ink will look better?). Isabella is loving this particular inky cup with the owl and skulls.


What about you? Which of Jo's inky cups do you want to see mass-produced?


Am rooting for Jo's dream to come true. But even before it does, I have to say I admire how...


I certainly hope the Starbucks folks grant this Christmas wish in 2012!

Photos from here and johannabasford.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Today, I am loving...


Today, I am loving... these branded Christmas print materials.

This J&B one is a pretty old ad. But still witty nevertheless.


Another alcoholic beverage ad that made me smile.


And this Nike one is my absolute favorite! Go Santa, go!


Today, I am smiling at... these Christmas print ads.

Photos from here and annniegirl.

Click here for previous posts from the Today, I am loving... series.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Noah says...


Out of the blue, Noah asked, "If God is on the cloud, then he will fall because diba clouds are made of water?"

I love how Noah has such a musing. Shows how a child's brain is really a sponge (or cloud) absorbing everything there is to learn about the world. 

Sadly, some clouds recently let out way too much rainfall. My prayers go out to the victims of Sendong. Click here to help them via Sagip Kapamilya.

Photo from happythings.

Click here for previous posts from the Noah Says series.