A PAIRfect Mother's Day Tribute

Mother's Day is just around the corner. On sunday, to be exact. May 8.

It's the perfect excuse to bond in an extra special way with my mom. And my favorite Tita Virgie as well. Not that we don't do it on a regular basis. :) I mean, I know you get my point. Think about say, Christmas. Christmas for Moms and Mom-likes. Hehe.

Anyway, I already made plans about my little surprise for these two women who top my list. But just this morning, upon waking up, I just thought of going the extra mile.

If I can blog about shoes, I can also blog about people who mean so much to me.

So I decided to make this entry as a tribute to both of them.

But going beyond mushy words, I will just dedicate a pair of shoe for each wish I have for them.

Note: I do not intend to buy all the pairs mentioned here. I am not that rich. These are just representations of my wishes for them. And besides, having other SHOEpaholics in the family can spell bankruptcy. Plus I don't intend to share space in my shoe closet. Hehe.

So here goes my PAIRfect wishes for them:

 A colorful pair of Journey is the Destination Toms Shoes to remind them to continuously touch lives and leave their marks on them, much like what they did with mine. 

A funky pair of Jeremy Scott Gold Wings Shoes so that they may rise above the golden years with much grace and ease.

An elegant pair of Charles and Keith Satin killer heels to help them stand tall (and fierce) amidst the daily challenges life may bring. 

A cute and comfortable pair of Lacoste Marthe Espadrilles so they may take time to enjoy life to the fullest without much pressure nor worries.

A pair of the Adidas Mi CC Ride for good health and well-being. It wouldn't hurt seeing them both fierce, fit and fabulous at 50 +++:)

  And lastly, an avant-garde pair of make-believe shoes so as to assure them that it's never too late to fulfill their dreams, whatever they may be. As long as they have me included in the big picture. Haha.

 So there.

I guess it wouldn't hurt if I share these pairs (and my wishes) with all the mothers out there. :)

Thank you for making this world a better place to live in.:)

And to my mom and Tita Virgie, you two are worth more than these pairs (and the ones I have at home. Ayan ha, that much.:) ).

Indeed, priceless gifts from HIM upstairs.

 I love you both. :) Happy Mother's Day! :)

Getting a kick out of Kickers: Loving Lyle

Hmmm. I still remember when I first crossed paths with this brand way back in highschool.

I was then a junior at Angelicum school when I chanced upon a pair of bright blue Kickers while shopping for my prom shoes with my mom. 

The said pair was already pricey back then; if I remember it correctly, it costed around P 2,995 during that time (err... late 1990ish) but I managed to persuade my mom into getting me the blue, submarine inspired shoes (actually, I opted to get a cheaper pair for my prom shoes, afterall, it'll only be worn for a night.).

Years passed and still, my fondness for this brand never did falter. Time and again, I would visit the Kickers store to check out its latest releases and how each pair would fit me well.

A few weeks ago, during a sale at the Block at SM North, I chanced upon this dainty pair which I have been eyeing for the longest time. 

It was a pair of  fancy white dress shoes with cute tiffany blue laces. Yes, tiffany blue. For those unfamiliar, check the color palette online.  

I knew in my heart that I wanted it since I first laid my eyes on it a few months back. However, at P 3,995, i found the pair quite expensive. 

Ok, I love Kickers but it only ranks 5th on my favorite brands (subject to change without further notice, haha) so that's why I wasn't willing to spend much on a pair. Not to mention that during the time I saw it, I already finished hoarding several pairs from Adidas. Can't justify purchasing Lyle (the style name), so I had to let go.

Until a few weeks ago. 

Lyle went on sale. At nearly 60% off! 

Yup, got the pair for only P 1,670! Not bad.;)

Without hesitating, I grabbed the pair and asked for my size.

With my beloved fairy god mother on my side, the store had one last pair...of my size.

It was such a serendipitous moment!

I immediately fell in love with Lyle's edgy looks and cute accent laces.

The soft inside cushion provided utmost comfort, which makes it perfect with or without socks on.

Indeed, it was meant to be when the last pair slipped on perfectly.

Here's a picture of me wearing my beloved Lyle proudly.

Indeed, true love never dies. 

For years after, I still get a kick out of Kickers.  Most specially since I fell in love with Lyle. 

Dressed for Success: Frank Orange Dress Shoes

Recently, I was asked to present to a real-life Miranda of the Devil Wears Prada fame.

Yup. Bad news. How bad?

Imagine this: a middle aged woman who knows what she wants and needs.

Sounds ok. So let me rephrase it:

A middle aged woman who knows what she wants and needs and tells you things straight.

Bearable still. Ok, time to be precise:

A middle aged woman who knows what she wants and needs and tells you things straight...so straight and blunt that it pierces through your heart and she wouldn't stop until she realizes how miserable you are and how little is left of your dignity that was barely there the moment you stepped inside her room and realized that her mere presence caused an immediate climate change and deafening silence among her subordinates.

Whew. THAT BAD.

But having a soft spot in the hearts of the marketing people, they gave me tips on how to present myself during the dreaded day.

" Please don't wear anything colorful."

Check. I have a black H & M top I haven't worn yet. Just perfect.

"Please try to tone down your perkiness."

Check. Boring mode on.

" Please present well and focus on your animated story telling. "

Check. Be boring and then present animatedly. Weird.

Whatever. I'll do everything I can just to get this darn account.

Bottomline: Be corporately bland.

Eww.

And then suddenly, my fairy god mother spoke to the marketing head:

"Oh, don't worry though, if she likes you, you'll know immediately. She'll joke around with her loud booming voice and she'll approve your work immediately. You just have to hit her good side. "

Ting! A spark of hope.

The only problem was: how do you hit the g-spot of a modern day monster who has a booming voice and hurls insults non-stop till you drop?

Well. I had it all figured out.

Immediately after arriving home, I brought out my H & M top and checked its fit.

Perfect.

Not too body hugging, not too loose. Classic design. Only people from Mars wouldn't like it.

And then I brought out my chosen pair of jeans.

Hmm. Just right. Not too slim cut, not too long. Nice shade of black.

Check.

And now for the shoes.

I was supposed to wear a black one with my entire ensemble. That was the safest thing to do when presenting to a lady who only recognizes two colors, both of which not found in the rainbow: black and gray.

But a part of me feels that I needed to add some color to my outfit.

I mean, I need not be as dark as the person she is right?

So I opted to use my secret weapon.

My orange and black dress shoes from Frank.

I got it on sale last december at CMG Trinoma.

Originally priced at P 3,495, I got the pair for P 1,995. Not bad. Branded after all.

Classy. Sleek. Trendy. Best words to describe this pair.

Made of a unique cloth like material similar to the ones used in making the espadrilles.

The color combination of orange and black makes it a striking pair to behold.

Not minding the advice of the marketing people, I decided to use the said pair.

At least I'll still look good if she throws me out of the room.

Here's how I looked prior to the presentation.

Presentation time came and true enough, her presence filled the entire room.

But surprisingly, she smiled at me.

That's when I knew that God was on my side. Haha!

Totally forgetting the reminders of the marketing people, i proceeded to charm my way through the presentation.

Her subordinates were nudging my legs and giving me incredulous looks as they saw their monster boss shift into a totally new persona.

After the longest hour of my life and a couple of high-decibel conversations with the lady dragon, you guessed it.

I got her nod.:)

Might be fate.

Might be God's will.

Or might be the hint of color she saw prior to me presenting.

To tell you FRANKly, whatever it was, I was glad. :)

SHOEpper's Guide 2: CMG Trinoma

Post-Christmas sales.

Simply divine.

I had to muster all of my EQ to keep myself from spending much on shoes before Christmas.

Fortunately, by distracting myself through watching an MMFF Film and the Chinese circus, I was able to brave through Christmas.

And when the 26th of December finally arrived, I was in major SHOEpping mode.

So off I went to yet another one of my favorite shopping destinations: CMG Trinoma.

A stone's throw away from my home, CMG Trinoma is home to some of my favorite shoe brands: Kartel, Frank and Traffic.

What I love about the place is that they regularly have sales...up to 70% off during peak dates. Stocks are readily available, which is quite a rarity in other shoe stores. Very fashion-forward and updated when it comes to shoe styles. Classic ones are also available here though.

The upscale look of the place makes it the perfect haven for branded dress shoes and loafers alike. If you are into smart casual fashion, CMG Trinoma is your mecca.

Designer shoes abound the place. Quite pricey but well worth it.

Shoes and sandals range from P 995 up. The ones I like are priced at P 3,995 up. That is if they aren't on sale.

Patience is the name of the game when shopping here.:)

I recently got a pair of dress shoes (to be blogged soon) on sale which I intend to wear on my first day of teaching (January 11th) . Original price was P 3,595. I got it for P 1,995. But I had to wait for 6 months. Haha. Thank God for serendipity. The long wait was all worth it.

See, I passed the marshmallow test with flying colors. Haha!

CMG Trinoma is located at the 2nd floor of Trinoma Mall beside Aldo shoes, a few stores away from the Adidas Lifestyle Store.