Bag Reveal # 2 Tory Burch Robinson Double Zip Tote

It's raining bags for me this week! I am so blessed! this bag is definitely a bag that I literally could not get off my mind since the moment I saw it on Tory Burch's website. I love everything about this bag, the leather, the color and of course the style. I've always admired the Prada Saffiano Luxe Totes and had that down my wishlist however with this new baby, I think I'll  be able to save my Prada money for something else! Presenting my new Tory Burch Robinson Double Zip Tote in Cobalt Blue...

This bag is the ultimate tote because it is chic, classic and functional at the same time because it has a shoulder strap as well. It comes in different colors and is fairly priced for 575.00 USD. I highly recommend this bag for all tote lovers out there!

Bag Reveal: Chanel Jumbo Caviar Flap

This past week is probably the best week of my bag hag life :) I finally have my IT/DREAM/HG bag! after years of waiting, she is here! and i am in awe of her beauty...presenting my Chanel Jumbo Caviar Flap in black with GH...just had to take pictures against the backdrop of the city of PARIS:)

bought this baby from an awesome seller who specializes in buying/selling chanel bags, this bag was listed as practically brand new and came with everything. i was not disappointed...she is gorgeous in every angle and not even a sign of wear! most of all it is a single flap with GH which i wanted! scored bigtime! thank you to my very loving and generous DH :)

I AM BACK and with an updated purse collection

Since my last post, I have been busy... very busy building up my collection

and I am pretty much in awe how much it has grown :)

Balenciaga Reveal

It has been a while since I posted in my blog, so many events happened including our major wedding celebration in Manila and buying a our second car. I will try to do my best with posting more especially now that I have tons of extra time because the wedding is done and the car hunting is done as well :) will try to post pictures of both asap. For now, I want to revive my blog with my most favorite entry...bag reveal! and now presenting my first ever Balenciaga...

  

Fall 2011 Bleu Lavande Giant City with Rose Gold Hardware :) 

I knew I wanted a purse for my birthday, and I knew it was not going to be an LV or Gucci, I was hoping to get my Chanel flap however I am still trying to recycle some funds for it! LOL! Initially, the DH wanted to get me the Prada Saffiano Luxe tote that we saw during our honeymoon in Singapore last May, however when I saw it again at NM, my heart was not pounding as hard as it did when I first saw it and then I thought it might not be the right time for me to get such a bag...too formal? Then I thought about other bags in my wish list...and how could I forget about my Balenciaga, it has been one of my HGs since college! I remember telling my DH (then boyfriend) that someday he had to get me that bag, I did not even know the name of the actual bag, I called it the "motorcycle bag" because of the biker chic look. So I guess with Gucci, LV and Chanel blurring my vision of this HG bag it has been put aside...not anymore, I took this opportunity to get my hands on my first Bbag! I went over to the B counter and I saw IT! the most gorgeous purple bag I have ever seen in my entire life! it was LOVE. It is bold! probably the boldest bag in my collection, but that's what I love about it, it is something different, something fun and exciting! the rest of my bags are neutral and subtle enough. It is exactly what I needed in my collection! FYI, purple is my favorite color since as far back as I can remember, in fact it was the main color for our wedding motif this is truly 100% me! so here she is, in all its glory...a very early birthday gift from the most amazing husband in the whole world! he kept his promise!

 Took "grimace" while out in SF, she definitely earned several head turns! The rose gold hardware definitely toned down the brightness of the purple color and added a more vintage and sophisticated look to the bag! Who says you can't wear purple with anything?! till next post!

Current Collection

my current bag collection as of Feb. 2010. I think I have come a long way since 2009, alas my love affair with louis and gucci and friendship with miss coco continues...

Louis Vuitton Montorgueil GM Bag Reveal

Presenting the newest addition to my growing collection of designer handbags...the Louis Vuitton Montorgueil GM! The bag retails for 870.00 USD with California tax comes to around 950.00 USD. I have been wanting a nice monogram shoulder bag from LV that is light enough to use for everyday and/or travel. I am not a big fan of the Neverfull just because I am a bit worried about it being too open, I really prefer zip tops. I decided on the Montorgueil GM because it has a pretty reasonable price and I love the character of the bag. Here she is, all brand new!

The bag fits comfortably on the shoulder, to me it seems to be just the right size, I am 5'2. It is light weight and easy to get in and out of. It is not bulky under the arms, think speedy but with longer handles. I will post modeling pics soon. FYI, Louis Vuitton is going to have a price increase of at least 10% on their items effective Feb. 8, 2011. The SA told me about it as she handed me the bag, so I guess the timing was perfect, I saved myself at least a hundred bucks! Here she is again...

The Wedding Dress is in the house!

I am giddy with excitement today, I picked up my wedding dress at the store and it fits me like a dream!  I ordered it late August last year and it came around the holidays but because my weekends were booked last month, I was only able to pick it up this weekend. OMgosh, I am even happier and in love with it now, it just needs a few minor alterations on the bust and hip area because it is a little wide other than that, the dress looks and feels like it was made to order for me! It is simply gorgeous! just the way I pictured my wedding dress would be. I never pictured myself in a ball gown or  in a sheath dress, I knew I wanted it to be fitted on top and have a textured bottom but just enough to create some drama to the dress. I am petite so that makes me  a bit limited to picking the right dress types. I firmly believe that the bride should wear the dress and  not let the dress wear you.  So I really had a picture in my head what my dress would look like, I just need to find the one that matches it perfectly. And I found it! This dress has a romantic, dainty, elegant, classic almost vintage look to it and it flatters my body amazingly! not that I have the best body, let's just say it highlights my assets in the best way I could ever imagine. It is sexy yet traditional at the same time. It has a pleated asymmetric bodice with beads, crystals and lace appliques on the top and bottom part of the bodice and layers of ruffled organza cascading from just below the hip to the ground  along with subtle lace appliques in between the layers. It has a chapel length train and in the color ivory. I also found out that my dress is actually by Allure Bridals not by Venus as I was previously told by the consultant who assisted me, however I have nothing but gratitude for her because she was the one who thought of that dress and made me try it on! SO thank you Maria! The dress was a limited edition from last year's collection and can be barely found on line and in stores, I was lucky, or maybe it was fate that my store had one and could still order it for me. I read a few posts on forums by brides searching for that dress, I can't wait to post my picture with the gown on for them to see, because this dress deserves all the praises!  I can scratch this off my wedding to do list and relax a bit, the dress is safely tucked away in my closet.  Time to pay attention to other things like finding the right accessories for it and of course hopefully, my lavender shoes!

BTW, before I end this post, today is January 22, it has been 11 years since my hubby and I got together in high school and became a couple! Happy 11 years to my hubby! I love you more than anything in this world and I am forever grateful for your love :)  May God bless us more in our relationship and keep us together.

xoxo Josan :)

Happy New Year and I'm back!

Hello everyone! Happy New Year. I hope this year will be greater than your last, because it will be for me...and you'll know why soon!

First of all, I am back, and this time I will double up my efforts to blog frequently, in fact it is one of my new year's resolutions, be a better blogger, I mean how can I gain readers and followers if I am too lazy right?

To start off the new year with some interesting news, my husband and I will be having our church wedding celebration on May 7 in Manila. We will be out of the country for 1 month for the wedding, honeymoon and of course much needed vacation. Legally, we have been married for about 2 years through a simple civil ceremony but now our dream wedding is about to take place and we are over the moon in excitement and happiness! I am getting stressed with all the add-ons and little details that we still need to do, it is really hard planning a huge wedding when you are thousands of miles away. Good thing I have a troop of very loving pair of parents who have been so patient to granting all my requests and meeting with our suppliers, friends who have taken charge with the souvenirs and other wedding ornaments and vendors that have been nothing but truly accommodating. I have my save the date here for you guys to see :) I will post a list of my wedding vendors as soon as i get the chance.

xoxo Josan :)

Make-up Bop Lancome Shimmer Blush in Mandarin Sky

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Make-up Bop YSL Rouge Pur Lipstick in Tea Rose 148

I finally got my hands on the very famous YSL Rouge Pur Lipstick in Tea Rose. I really love the formula of this lipstick line and the color is one of the prettiest nude lipsticks I have ever tried. It is nude but with the slightest hint of rose undertone which keeps me from looking washed out thus making the lipstick color very wearable for day. It would look even more gorgeous with a baby pink gloss on top. I have a full review of YSL Rouge Pur Lipsticks here.

I will try to swatch all my YSL lipsticks in one post soon, I just need proper lighting and my husband to take it for me because it is so difficult to take it myself using a very heavy SLR as it won't focus :)

Chanel Camera Case Purse - a review

I have a bag reveal for you guys...my new Chanel Camera Case in Matte Grey with Ruthenium Hardware.

Honestly I did not really expect this bag this year because I was really lusting over the Jumbo Black Caviar flap with SH however I stumbled upon a picture of this purse and I fell in love with it as well. Now I heart both purses but of course I can only get just one more purse this year and the other will have to wait, so I decided to get the Camera Case because it is more limited. I read that it is sold out in stores and since it is not part of Chanel's permanent line then no one knows when it will be available again. However I could also be wrong. What is true though is that these bags were on sale for up to 30% off last fall 2009 at Neiman Marcus and I can only imagine how hard it is to track one down with all the Chanel lovers out there. However, I was fortunate enough to find an online seller with it. It is BNIB with tags and I got it at 30% off the original price as well. If she got it on sale and decided to sell it to me at the same price, I will never know and I don't care because I still got it cheaper. The seller is an active TPfer (the purse forum, which I am also a member of) and was so accommodating through out the transaction. The bag in its original box, dust bag, cards and gift wrapped! Thanks again girl! See for yourself :)

 I got the Large size in Grey distressed calf skin leather with Ruthenium Hardware which I think originally came out in Fall 2008 and was still produced through out 2009. I've only seen this purse on magazines being carried around by celebrities and I always thought it looked very classic and chic, it has that vintage look to it as well. It is very light weight, roomy and very easy to pair with any outfit. Plus, I don't own any grey bags yet. I like that it is not as common as other Chanel purses, so I feel extra special when I carry it around. I was told Sarah Jessica Parker actually carried this bag in an episode of Sex and the City :)  Ohh Chanel, I fell for you again!

Make-up Bop YSL Rouge Pur Lipstick in Rose Satin 141

I recently paid Neiman Marcus a visit, while there, I remembered I wanted to check out the infamous YSL Rouge Pur lipstick in Tea Rose, however the counter was out of stock, so I looked at two other pink lipsticks and ended up with Rose Satin. I loved the pinkness it gave my lips but is wearable enough even for day. It is a different pink, more of a classy sophisticated pink that screams luxury on the lips. I think I like the formula of this one more than the Rouge Volupte, which I have in the #1 Nude Beige. This seems to stay put and is easier to apply than the Volupte line. I will still try to get my hands on Tea Rose the next time I see a YSL counter and then I'll post it here as well.  I will also post a picture of this lipstick on when I do a blog about my top 10 favorite lipsticks, I am just waiting on getting 2 more lipsticks that I have been eyeing before I do the blog because they might end up on that list. For now, here is the lipstick.

My Points
(+) light vanilla scent
(+) creamy, moisturizing and pigmented
(+) good coverage and nice sheen
(+) very nice classy packaging
(-) pricey @ $30.00 a tube

Make-up Bop New Guerlain Meteorites Perles Illuminating Powder

I am super excited with this product, I have been wanting to try this for the longest time but for $56.00, I shy away from it every time, maybe because I can already get at least 3 MAC lipsticks or 4 eye shadow refills for the money. However, I find myself lusting for other products that are non MAC, I feel like I am getting a bit bored with their collections, so I decided to try other products that I have been eyeing for a while. This is one of them. According to their site, the Meteorites Perles Illuminating Powder was inspired by light .When white light passes through a prism, it separates into a spectrum of different colours. Inversely, all of these colours together recreate ideal light. This is the principle behind the decomposition and recomposition of light. In photography and film, white light is used to erase imperfections and soften features. In 1987, Guerlain decided to use this technology to add dazzling radiance to women’s faces and thus created Météorites... In 2010, Météorites have added a new chapter to their legend. Evanescence, lightness, and transparency … They now come in 3 new colour harmonies, holding the secret to the purest radiance ever for each skin tone. Rose, Beige and Dore.

         I bought Teint Rose, which has all 5 colors for correcting skin tone, decreasing dullness and redness as well as providing a nice sheer radiance for the face as well as making it look more luminous. I did not bother swatching it because it won't show anyway, but the effect can be seen when applied over the face to finish up your make-up. The scent is really pleasing, it is of violets. A brush is also made especially for this, however any round full brush will do. I have never owned a meteorites powder before but I got lucky because this summer they revamped their packaging and changed it from the regular cardboard type to this really chic aluminum container with an etched floral pattern on the cover. Just having it on my vanity is eye candy enough :)
My Points:
(+) very nice and classy packaging
(+) multipurpose powder
(+) a well loved and proven product 
(+) adds radiance and luminosity to skin
(-) pricey @ $56.00
(-) bulky for travel but there is a pressed form which is about $10 more.

To know more about the wonders of this product, the Sephora website has a section devoted to this.

Make-up Bop MAC to the Beach Collection- mini haul

I actually had 4 items that I pre-ordered from this collection however when it came out, I decided to just take 2 because I was not as in love with the other 2 products as much when I first saw it. I ended up with the Marine Highlighting Powder and Lazy Day Lipstick (which is one of my favorite pink lipsticks from MAC now). Here they are:

I used half side of the powder only, so you can still vaguely see the gold overlay on the other side. This product was sold out on pre-orders even before it came out. I use the product as a blush obviously, it gives the skin a gorgeous pinky coral color on the cheeks that is perfect for summer! Use with a light hand because it is very pigmented. Lazy Day lipstick on the other hand is a really pretty true pink color, it is a lustre finish however it is more pigmented than the usual lustre finishes from MAC. It feels more like a cremesheen but with that nice lustre finish. If you weren't able to score this lipstick, try the shade Angel, it is sort of similar. Here are more pics.