Michael Schumacher is to Maco Shoemaker.

With all the shoe stores in the country....the malls that carry the imported brands and locally made shoes, what else is there for a woman to ask for? As I had previously blogged about, shoes do not have to be super ouchy on the pocket for it to look fabulous.

But when Maco comes my way, of course I had to order and try out. Maco Custodio is a young man who has come to love the art of making shoes that create a stir when worn. He came to the store with his molds and begins to measure my feet. He then shows me the swatches of leather, snake skin, patent and even the color of wood.

After 2 months (yeah it takes that long to create something magnificent, I can totally relate because sometimes, we take longer when making jewelry), he comes to my store holding 2 boxes that are to die for on its own.

The packaging is truly personalized. I cannot stress that enough. It has my name, the material he used, the size and the code. For the mold that he used for me, only 6 people in this world have it. With my color combination, I stand alone. Are you dying of envy now?


As I slip my new baby on, I feel the like Cinderella...suddenly, my whole look changes from drab to fab! The shoes are so sexy and hot that it actually makes me feel like someone turned off the AC in the room. (wink wink)

Anyway...the shoes are about $130.00. But that depends on what kind of material you choose for Maco to work with. I chose red snake skin and black patent. I have always loved red and black together. I know you are dying to see it so here it is.





For my other pair, I chose a hue of gold/bronze. This will go very well with the yellow gold jewellery that I have become fond of wearing lately. Gold is the color of wealth. Not green as some people might think. Since I can't afford a snake skin bag yet, I opted to put a little bit of it on my shoes. Maco mixed it with black suede leather and a silk ribbon to add a little bit of a girly touch to it.

Check out my Gold Digging shoes! Don't you just dig it? (Bwa ha ha ha)





Perhaps I am a late bloomer but lately, I find myself loving shoes.


Another bonus about having your shoes personalized is that Maco Custodio is super duper schmooperly nice and kind. Here he is...can't even look into the camera because he is shy.


I have always believed in the Filipino talent. I can truly see that Maco has a great future in the shoe business because he is meticulous and hands on with his work. Bravo Maco!

Rock, Paper and Neck.

It starts out with the materials.

The ROCKS this time were 15 strands of round amethyst beads and 2 carved jade pieces. I decided to make a necklace with an Oriental touch to it but without a lot of details and froo-froo. Just clean and simple lines will be enough to make a statement piece.

On PAPER, my pencil and Chinese food (for inspiration, you know) inspired me to draw this up and I instantly fell in love with it. My client would surely like and look great wearing it.




Coloring the design is very important so that the workers get a better idea of what you want the piece to look like.




It then goes to our goldsmith, stone setter and polisher. The beads go directly to our restringer and the final outcome took my breath away. I am happy. I feel like God. I guess all designers feel this way. Something that you just draw up will come to life. Something in the mind becomes something you can hold and touch and wear.





And on the NECK, this is what it looks like. How fun isn't it?


Thanks to MPdG for stripping in my store just so I can take this photo. BWA HA HA HA!

Candy does Chocolate!

It is made from the seeds of the tropical cacao tree, Theobroma cacao. The Greek term theobroma means literally "food of the gods". Chocolate has also been called the food of the devil; but the theological basis of this claim is obscure.

Did you know that Cacao beans were used by the Aztecs to prepare a hot, frothy beverage with stimulant and restorative properties. Chocolate itself was reserved for warriors, nobility and priests. No wonder I love chocolate!

The Aztecs esteemed its reputed ability to confer wisdom and vitality. Taken fermented as a drink, chocolate was also used in religious ceremonies. The sacred concoction was associated with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of fertility. Emperor Montezuma allegedly drank 50 goblets a day. Aztec taxation was levied in cacao beans. 100 cacao beans could buy a slave. 12 cacao beans bought the services of courtesan.

I do need a slave. Anyone want 100 bars of KitKat?

The celebrated Italian libertine Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) took chocolate before bedding his conquests on account of chocolate's reputation as a subtle aphrodisiac. Ok girls, load up your men with chocolate! (BWA HA HA!)

More recently, a study of 8000 male Harvard graduates showed that chocoholics lived longer than abstainers. Their longevity may be explained by the high polyphenol levels in chocolate. Polyphenols reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins and thereby protect against heart disease. Such theories are still speculative.

So basically, if I eat chocolate, I get to live till I am 120 years old and continue eating chocolate that is also an aphrodisiac, that would mean, I would be the coolest, hottest, oldest asian woman in the world! (Gobble gobble gobble, munch munch munch).

Coincidentally or otherwise, many of the worlds oldest supercentenarians, e.g. Jeanne Calment (1875-1997) and Sarah Knauss (1880-1999), were passionately fond of chocolate. Jeanne Calment habitually ate two pounds of chocolate per week until her physician induced her to give up sweets at the age of 119 - three years before her death aged 122. Life-extensionists are best advised to eat dark chocolate rather than the kinds of calorie-rich confectionery popular in America.

Cool, I could be a supercentenarian!!! Sounds like a super hero!



Today, chocolates of every description are legal, unscheduled and readily available over the counter. Some 50% of women reportedly claim to prefer chocolate to sex, though this response may depend on the attributes of the interviewer. In 2007, a UK study suggested that eating dark chocolate was more rewarding than passionate kissing. More research is needed to replicate this result.

Hmm, I think this interviewer should interview me by putting $100,000 worth of chocolate in one room and my two guys in the other and see to which room I run to...


But then again, why not combine them? It will truly make me want to live longer. Wouldn't you?

A "symposium" at the 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science - hyped as a potentially "mind-altering experience" - presented evidence that chocolate consumption can be good for the brain. Experiments with chocolate-fed mice suggest that flavanol-rich cocoa stimulates neurovascular activity, enhancing memory and alertness. This research was partly funded by Mars, Inc.



Acute monthly cravings for chocolate amongst pre-menstrual women may be partly explained by its rich magnesium content. Magnesium deficiency exacerbates PMT. Before menstruation, too, levels of the hormone progesterone are high. Progesterone promotes fat storage, preventing its use as fuel; elevated pre-menstrual levels of progesterone may cause a periodic craving for fatty foods. One study reported that 91% of chocolate-cravings associated with the menstrual cycle occurred between ovulation and the start of menstruation. Chocolate cravings are admitted by 15% of men and around 40% of women. Cravings are usually most intense in the late afternoon and early evening.

Awww, come on guys, Admit it. YOU crave for chocolate as much as women do.



By the way. The Peninsula Manila brings back their chocolate buffet. Available on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 8:30 to midnight for P550.00+ with complimentary cup of coffee or tea. I haven't tried it myself because they don't have an Executive Pastry Chef (hint hint) so I am not really that excited about it.



I think for now, I will grab a Baby Ruth bar and extend my life, enhance my memory and establish my nobility once again.

For more info:
http://www.chocolate.org/

Sasapatusin Kita!

Sorry guys, but this is another post for the ladies. And for my foreigner friends, the title simply means, "Shoe You!" (Bwa ha ha ha) Not quite but you don't need to know.

Anyway, for the last couple of days, I always catch women with super fancy footwear. They are either conversational in design, cheap but hot or mega expensive. As my friend, Emi Jorge told me last week, "It is all about the shoes." Coming from the owner and designer of Solea, that statement is totally biased. (Bwa ha ha ha)

I say, it is all about the jewelry. (Another Bwa Ha Ha Ha)

Seriously though, I do believe in Emi's words. Shoes does make a difference and if you know me, I am not the expensive brand kinda girl, but I do believe that there are shoes out there that do not have to run into $500.00 to make a statement. The shoes you will see here are an assortment of prices ranging from P500.00 to P60,000. But you have to agree, they all look pretty darn fantastic.

Anyway, you can Shoe Me Anytime. My size is 7 1/2!

Martha Stewart Weddings in the Philippines!

Event: Launching of Martha Stewart Weddings
Venue: The Conservatory, Upper Lobby, Peninsula
Date and time: Sept. 17, 3:30 pm
Attire: Afternoon Chic


It was an afternoon of extreme sugar rush. It seemed like the sweet tooth annual convention. The Conservatory AND the Upper Lobby was filled with BEAUTIFUL cakes and pastries as Summit Media launched Martha Stewart, WEDDINGS magazine here in the Philippines.

There was a very cute photo booth that takes 4 photos of guests, prints it out right there and then. Here's mine with Jenny (and a little bit of Paul).


The event was a huge success. People were very happy with the abundance of cakes and giveaways that guests did not want to leave the function. I personally got a bagful of goodies and a copy of the maiden issue of the magazine that brides to be will find very useful when planning their wedding.

The magazine featured the wedding of good friends of mine, Paul and Daphne. Here they are looking oh so happy.


Also in the magazine is the wedding of David and Mai Kaufman, who gave birth less than a month ago but boy, she is super thin already. Gggrrrr......


Anyway, I hope she ate a lot of these yummy sweet treats! Check them out!








The set up/styling was done by Margarita Fores with the assistance of Events Manager, Stephanie Chong. BRAVO!!!!!





Rhett Eala is sporting a very colorful Rhett Eala shirt that I find adorable. Hopefully he sends me one as a gift for taking magnificent photos of him every time we bump into each other. (BWA HA HA HA)


The tables were set so sweetly that no one wanted to touch it at first. With the sunset, it looked great that guests were not sure if it is just for display.








Fashion and Beauty Editor, Rorie Carlos, wearing Natori (SUPER HOT!) and Jenny Hoschka, (fine, she looks hot too....ouch, stop pinching me!!!, BWA HA HA)


The birthday girl, Jenny, your bloggerina and Stephanie Chong.


Ferdie Salvador and Junjun Ablaza.


Mandarin Oriental's Charisse Chuidian and Peninsula's Marciano Garchitorena rubbing elbows.


Emi Jorge who, once again, looked oh so mucho stunning.


It was a super girlie event and boy did I love it. I say, GO, get your copy and get married. Just don't forget to invite me!!!

To rent the photo booth, please click on link:
www.baicapture.com
info@baicapture.com