Trays for your odds and ends

When you're a woman, you've got a lot of trinkets. Whatever they might be--you'll need to keep your "garbage" in check. 

On a recent trip to Muji, I hoarded on these clear plastic trays. 

 I put one tray on my night table. This is for the accessories I use the most. After wearing, I just take them off and dump. The other accessories are kept in a bigger box in some drawer.

I also have a lot of unopened cologne, nail polish and hand gels. Instead of keeping them cluttered in a drawer, I use the tray to hold them in order and in place, like this:

I also have a tray to store paper products. Cotton buds, makeup sponges, q-tip, facial pads and lint rollers, which I've pre-packed in ziplock bags in smaller quantities. When I travel, I just grabe these and stuff them into my Toiletree bag. 

I bought little square containers for temporary storage. Temporary because sometimes when I arrive home and need to wash the dishes and need a place to keep my wedding rings without misplacing them (and I'm always too lazy to reach for the jewelry box tucked in somewhere), I have my square dumping and compartmentalizing boxes. This way, I can reach for them another time and put them away properly. At least they're all in one place for the mean time.

I leave these on top of my night table or in the bathroom. They're the best. Also ideal for hair pins and elastics. I used to just put these on top of tables or on the bed or somewhere they are bound to get lost.

What are your organizing secrets? Would love to hear from you guys! :p

Pam and Begs' Windward House

Our fellow newlywed friends, Pam and Begs, invited us for a weekend over at their new and gorgeous beach house :) when you see it from afar, you'll really go WHOA because it looks massive from the incoming road. Here is a partial view from when you get inside the gate. This is alo where they had their wedding reception last March. Begs wanted to be sure that the house he was building for himself and his wife was ready in time for the reception! And ready it was!

Here's how it looked on the night of their wedding:

The great Begre wedding reception, March 2011.

Mr. and Mrs. Begre in their beautiful beach wedding.

So their house is very very clean, but still very laid back. The wood they use is architectural wood-- meaning, it's wood that wasn't directly sourced from illegal logging.. i think. haha. 

Notice how organic the place feels. The design has this whole modern formula to it, but you don't feel like you're in a spaceship. It still feels very earthy and cozy, really, even with all those lines and clean surfaces.

This is one of two casitas for the guests. Floor to ceiling glass, and very "presko." Look at the ventilation system. It's really breezy in this property because it faces the beach, although it isn't directly by the shore.

This is behind casita #2. They're planning to put a brick oven in the backyard, for future pizza parties. fun, right??

That behind the sliding door is the main dining room. I love the lamps hanging above the dining table.

Their floor is taken from used wooden crates. They decided to keep the crates in their original state, that's why every now and then you will spot a cargo marking, which adds sooo much charm to the place!

They took their flooring from crates like these

Their pool deck is spacious, decorated with a large sofa and sun beds also made of wood.

They have brisollettes  (partly seen, right) to create a nice cool shade from the setting sun.  

This is Leon, Cara's husband, with their baby Darla. He's taking a dip after a morning-long bike around Batangas

Chiqui looking oh-so-fresh 

Bea the happy lady, trying to get a tan. 

The husbands enjoying the 10am sun...and some beer.

The girls in the big open kitchen (which overlooks the deck and pool), getting the hamburgers --and gossip--started.

We really enjoyed our stay and are looking forward to another weekend at Windward!! Pam and Begs are awesome hosts. :)

Zak! Design

 A wife can never have enough storage boxes. And mixing bowls. And trays. And all those other neat things you can store/prepare/serve different items (food or non-food) in.

http://www.hsw.com.au/

I'm a young wife and would rather have nice colorful tools in the kitchen. As it is, I don't cook like Mario Batalli. So shallow people who can't cook need motivation. I have Rustan's to thank for that. They carry a nice line of kitchen tools and equipment, including storage and serving products by Zak! Design. Total eye candy, if you ask me.

Their mixing bowls are TDF. Why settle for boring stainless steel when you have eye-popping colors to choose from? The nice thing about these bowls is that they don't slip when you hold them, making mixing and stirring a lot easier. A plus? these babies can also be used as serving bowls for salad, chips, popcorn, fries, you name it!

I love their trays. I only got the white ones of these. But I think I'd like to go and grab the other colors (if Rustan's has them). I've used this to serve beverages and TV dinners.

Then they have the storage cups for frozen food, like ice cream. 

Do you remember when your moms/helpers would store leftover fruit salad in empty tubs of ice cream? Or empty jars of mayonnaise? DIE. At least these nice, clean and durable plastic jars are reusable and don't look so out of place.

photos from: www.zak.com

Let's digress just a little.

To my delight, I recently (actually just a few minutes ago) got a request to blog about my favorite flats and bags.


Well, I used to consider myself a (wannabe) bag fanatic, but i believe i got over that phase as fast as I got into it. These days I don't obsess over getting the hottest bag or the most expensive ones-- my decision to purchase depends on how in love I really am with it, regardless of trend and hype. I also rely on how laid-back or sturdy my totes are.

With that said, my top totes are the ones that can carry all my stuff. and I mean ALL MY STUFF. Big, roomy and strong.


This one bag I recently bought in my last trip to the states. Truth is, for me, the "summer-er" the look, the better. I dunno, I've always liked that whole cruise or hamptony feel. With my home interiors AND my clothes. and bags. and shoes. So this is my latest favorite. It's HUGE! And I carry it to wherever, whenever my outfit permits.

Cabana Striped Tote, Kate Spade

On days when I need to lug around less stuff, I use my giant Part-Time bag. I have this in a nice powdery blue with silver hardware, but I think this praline-colored one is kinda cute, too.

Giant Part-Time, Balenciaga

As for Tod's...They're the best for me. I won't even bother with the Birkin (sorry bag hags, this is blasphemy, I know. haha). My simple G-bags are my favorite! I take them with me everywhere! :) To the beach, out of the country, to the parlor, to the mall, to lunches, to work... you get the picture. They're the best toss-and-tote totes. Aaaaahhh... ❤

G-Bag, Tod's

This pink one in patent with leather straps is the best all-weather accessory. Trust me.

Yeah, so I'm happy with the non-Chanel non-Hermes bags I have. :D the comfier, the better! Yes, I'm talking about bags. Hehe.





As for flats...OKAY fine I like the forever and ever worn-out Tory Burch Reva flats EVEN IF THEY'RE REALLY PAINFUL. I once wore a half size too big and they still hurt. But nonetheless, they have colors that are just so pretty, you can't say no.

The famous and worn-out Reva flat, Tory Burch. I like this color because it's perfect for my daily nude palette.

Even this. I haven't purchased this one in particular, but I want it. Hahaha doesn't it look like a Bottega? 

The Prescot Ballet flat of Tory Burch

It also reminds me of caramel ice cream. YUM. Hahaha. Aaaaanyyyywaaaayyyy......

http://www.gourmet.com

...You also can't go wrong with ol' reliable Tod's ballet flats. Maaaaan... they're comfortable and sturdy and can take any amount of walking and driving. Just don't get the suede. But these suede ballet flats are adorable. and go with any casual outfit.

Soooo there. Those are my top flat and bag choices. Nothing too fancy schmancy... I realized that sometimes, more expensive isn't necessarily more tasteful. 

Okay fine, all the time. 

Gimme some Bloglovin' !!!

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I'm a neat freak. sort of.

There are two types of neat freaks. One, there's the lysol-and-alcohol spraying kind, and second is the label and compartmentalize kind. 

I'm the label and compartmentalize kind. 

Labeling my boxes according to category. Gotta love Dymo!

You don't understand my happiness when we're shopping for house stuff. The sight of bright colored folders and clear plastic boxes is like a nice new fresh Hermes, Balenciaga or Givenchy purse to any bag maven. 

I have tons of pouches and boxes that I hoard when we go to Muji, Make Room and Rustan's. I use them to store stuff from muesli to hairclips, nail polish to note pads.  I'll die if I don't travel without my boxes.  Last December before our wedding, I brought my whole dresser to Baguio:

Don't leave anything out! Bathroom essentials all stored in their own clear plastic boxes, for convenient traveling. 

Anyway, since I can't take  my toiletree kit everywhere, I settle for my work stuff. These things I cannot leave home without.

My Monogrammed work bag. Gave these out to my bridesmaids for the wedding, and thought I'd get one for myself! It's canvas and sturdy and really pretty!

It can hold my laptop, gadget accessory case, pencil case, Dymo, planner and document folder

It is big enough to carry my file folders, too!

another thing i love: my BUILT neoprene case.

it's compact and can hold my hard drive, cables, chargers and gadget cleaners

Of course, we've been doing a lot of research for the house we will be building, so I always carry Post-It page markers and a whole lot of pens for identifying pegs and taking down notes.

And of course, my Moleskine planner. A year is not the same without it. :) The perfect size, the perfect format makes it the best planner for me.