beating the MONDAY BLUES....

Lots of catching up to do with work and life in general...  especially after being gone for almost the whole week last.....   still am not complaining.... it was a FUN getaway...  still FRESH in the mind....  so I go about my MONDAY - ready to face the world after a cup of coffee...  make that two cups... :)

 

Laundry... House Cleaning....  Post Office Pick Ups....  Received Shipments from China....  Banking...  Answering TONS of emails....  and just plain catching up.....

 

"Best to take a moment present
As a present, for the moment."

  

But it was not all work - I made sure of that....  you know me, I always try to schedule the day just right... breaking the workday with a little bit of this and a little bit of that....   first break came with a GYM BREAK...  this is a MUST as I seem to have carried a few extra baggage back from Jeju...  around my TUMMY!!!  EEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!

Then a little before 6PM, I packed up for the day, got ready and went for a stroll with Johnny and Juju through Dajia Riverside Park....  hitting all the FAVE SPOTS: Rainbow Bridge, Raohe Night Market, Raohe Temple, and even ventured all the way to WuFanFu, Taipei's clothing market....  so overall, it was a great day to get back into the swing of things...  :)

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The added BONUS was finding this box of GOODIES, from a friend in Japan,  waiting for me in my Post Office Box...  SWEET!!!

FUN Tees @ UNIQLO

Need some FUN Tees - run to the nearest UNIQLO or find someone who can get them for you.....  the last two years since UNIQLO opened up in Taipei - the brand has consistently served up a variety of Tees that are very much worth checking out... and taking home.....  

From statement Tees...  to Music Legends (Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, etc)...  to household POP Icons (Hello Kitty, Barbie, Disney, etc.)...  to COMIC friends (Snoopy, Marvel Heroes,  DC COMICS Heroes)...    and to the ones that catches my eyes all the time, MANGA collaboration ones (One Piece, Transformers, Galaxy 999,  etc)....  

FAVE Taiwanese Idol/Hottie sports  WARHOL's Campbell Sour Tee...

Currently available in the Taiwan and Bankok shops are: Charlie Brown and Friends, The Beatles, Andy Warhol, Hello Kitty and DC comics Heroes....   Truly something for everyone... just as their MOTTO say: UNIQLO Made For All.

For me, checking out these Fun Tees is an extra added bonus whenever I happent upon UNIQLO - anywhere in the world.... :)

...and speaking of UNIQLO - am loving their new SPRING promotions of these colorful hoodies - for both Male and Female!!!!

aDiDaS originals

Okay, so am totally obsessing on the new VESPA/ADIDAS collaboration line.... saw it here in Taiwan a few months ago... and just earlier last month, was reminded again while am in Manila... just love the retro look and feel of the whole line....

LOVE THIS WHOLE LOOK - VESPA INCLUDED!!!

I WANT IT ALL!!! (wish it was my BDAY already -- so I can BEG for them - WISHFUL THINKING! hahahahahaha)

For now, am enjoying the 60th ANNIVERSARY PARTY AD.... lots of celebrity in the spot...david bechham, missy elliot, katy perry, kevin garnett, etc... try to see if you can catch them....

A New Fave Spot : Greyone Social, Rockwell

Was in Rockwell to see WATCHMEN, plus check out ANTHOLOGY, then I happen upon this shop, Greyone Social. Really hip and trendy place for clothing and of course, VINYL TOYS... and the people to help you are just really friendly...Definitely, another must visit place for tees, hats, shoes, and toys....
what else could you ask for???They also have another branch at Greenbelt 5

CI Boys by Red Magic

First time I ever came across these vinyl cuties was through one of 7-11's Premium program a few years back.. at the time I found them very cute but did not or could not find out anything about them.... Flash Forward to Jan of this year, one afternoon, David and I decided to walk around and just window shopped at one of Taipei's more happening areas - right behind SOGO at Chung Hsiao East Rd.

What an area... hip, happening, with lots of cool unique shops, beautiful people, and toys shops that evokes those found in Tokyo & HK... one of the shops I was sooo happy we have stumbled over is CI Boys @ Red Magic Shop
The CI Boys are vinyl characters produced by the Hong Kong based company, Red Magic. They are claimed to be pranksters. They are destructive little monsters, who who were once humans? Their dissatisfaction with the world caused their evolution -- and now they’re everywhere, demolishing everything they hate with unique Death-ray Cannons. And we are warned: "Take a closer look – they could be right beside you!"

You can go to the Red Magic's direct site find out more about them and the various lines.

ALESSI: when art meets kitchen

I first discovered ALESSI during one of our get-together dinners here in Taiwan... Sue & Cecilia gifted us with what I came to know later as part of the Chin Family Collection of ALESSI products... I instantly fell for them and had to google more about ALESSI.... hence, I came to know that they are on the pricey side...

On one of my shopping adventures in Manila though, accompanied by Juliana, we happen upon the FLAGSHIP store of ALESSI... for the very first time, I got to see/admire/and study their selections -- including the complete Chin Family Collection... and instantly, my initial love for the products was rekindled -- I broke down and bought the salt & pepper shaker from the Chin Family collection, of course!!! And one more purchase later, the newly released XMas candle holder - AM A CONVERT, A COLLECTOR!!! Needless to say that it helped plenty seeing Juliana purchase quite a few items, too!

The shop showcased a wide array of products... from cookware, kitchen wares, and just about anything you can think of to make decorating your homes fun... and pricewise, they are comparable to the shops in Europe and US -- so you know you are not paying anymore that others. For me, the best thing about ALESSI products are the design twists added on each and every item they make -- clocks, bathroom plunger, juicers, etc -- all are just so whimsically delightful without losing the design edge.

"Architecturally inspired pieces, carefully crafted, pushes the boundaries of creativity. Each piece really do combine great aesthetics with functionality."

ALESSI products, to date, are available from to a number of countries worldwide. In Manila, the flagship store is located here:
ALESSI - High St.
Bldg. 5, Unit 1E10-1E11 Bonifacio High St.
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila
Philippines
(632) 8564452

IKEA: more than a furniture shop....

Sunday Brunch @ IKEA.... what more could you ask... great food.... lots of people to see... and beautiful things to peruse through afterwards.....
Blows me away as in the US - I know IKEA as a place to spend hours and hours perusing affordable and somewhat stylish furnitures plus other household goods.... here - IKEA is a whole lot more... it is a Family Outing.... a SHOPPING EXPERIENCE..... and if nothing else, a nice place for a SUNDAY BRUNCH -- if you want to be seen, as well as, see people -- and the people are just as colorful as the goods you can find at IKEA - That's For Sure!!!