THE daily chronicle SHOW

head-to-toe favorites. i never leave home without generously slathering them on me, head to toe. i buy them by the dozen, for fear of their retirement. ok, i’m exaggerating but i could if as soon as a rumor slips out on their discontinuation or early retirement. i just simply love them!

* CROWNING GLORY : i swear by kerastase’s masquintense, which i use after every shampoo. i leave them on for a few minutes on damp towel-dried hair and wash them off right before getting out of the shower. it leaves my hair manageable and shiny! hurrah for tangle-free hair!

* MY NAME IS STELLA : tocca’s rich body cream in stella scent is fresh, sweet and sexy. this cream leaves skin supple and soft. dry skin is moisturized and revived! the scent leaves a lasting delightful sicilian orange freshness!

* MY TOES, MY KNEES : the driest, most unflattering part of my body are my toes and knees. they’re battered and neglected often times. thanks to killer heels and clogs, they’re suffering the way they are. luckily, i have aquaphor to thank for. these all-around treatment for babies ‘ diaper rash, burnt and excessive dry skin, chapped lips, rough elbows, winter-dry skin - saved my feet from becoming older-looking than our natural age. they’re inexpensive and readily available almost everywhere. i slather them on every after shower especially during the summer where we ladies wear our bare sandals and mules!

what are your favorite products?

i sneaked out and headed to nordstrom’s spring fashion preview luncheon at downtown’s fabulous the corinthian hall with friend, katherine. what a way to spend lunch hour(s). have some exotic spirits, great food and fashionable company.

the red carpet was rolled out leading inside the enormous runway and numerous round tables flanked with tiffany chairs. catchy hip tunes were blasting from the speakers as one by one, houston’s fashion-forward crowd strutted in and eyed the makeshift shopping gallery upstairs prior to the formal show.

about 10-15 pieces were showcased from each 12 designers which included marc jacobs, roberto cavalli, badgley mischka, blumarine, stella mccartney, jean-paul gaultier and so much more. the lunch was delectable. the crab and avocado salad was served right before the show and the main course of creamy enchiladas with vegetables were served timely just as the fashion show was about to start. after the pumped-up runway show and the curtain closed, coffee and desserts were passed around as guests shopped and tried more clothes. as we waited endlessly for valet, we were handed a goodie bag filled with delicate china tea cup and saucer!

finally, in the spirit of a new found friend, tresor: confessions of a bag hag/hog, i will make special mention of bag sightings in this fashionable event : chloe edith bag in chocolate, chloe paddington in bone color, a balenciaga city motorcyle bag in gray, lots of alexandra knight exotic skin purses, two hermes birkins 35 black with palladium hardware, ivory color togo hermes kelly 35 with yellow gold hardware, a black hermes kelly pouchette, lots of chanel, alexandra knight herself carrying her own thomson design in gray ostrich, friend katherine carrying her custom-made alligator 30 black birkin with orange piping and moi, carrying my own red lizard 25 birkin!

and the ultra chic outfits, that’s a whole other post!

in the past few months, a few new restaurants and boutiques opened their doors to houston. perfect for weekend adventures, these establishments rise up to the insatiable curious crowd. catering to a few loyal bunch, the following have not been disappointments :

* BICE RISTORANTE : after a strong opening a few months back, the italian restaurant sitting in a very strategic corner in the galleria mall has been a steady favorite for major events and parties. started as a neighborhood trattoria in milan, this fancy restaurant’s interior is an impressive sleek architectural display with a cool minimalistic aura obviously far from it’s original state back then. with a private club upstairs, it’s available for members only who has extended it’s exclusivity to the few who can afford it’s access. excellent choices in the menu are - the first time we stopped by, we had a myriad of antipasti selections - such as steamed clams and mussels in tomato and butter sauce, carpaccio which are thinly-sliced beef with mayonnaise and topped with fresh parmigiano-reggiano, prosciutto with melon and parmesan insalata - the rustic taste is evidently good!

* VALOBRA : a noted favorite tourist stop at the french quarter in new orleans and originally from turin italy, this gem of an antique and jewelry store flung their doors open wide to embrace the good ole texan consumer hospitality just a few days before valentine’s day and coincided as the torino olympics kicked off. still maintaining both stores in new orleans and turin, the family-owned shop will entice antique and jewelry lovers of all ages. carrying classic italian designs from buccellati, murano and the valobra family original designs from all four generations, the store has an old world feel and warmth. it adds that a hands-on service from the charming valobra family is at hand!

* RA SUSHI : soon to open at highland village, this chain sushi fusion restaurant will lend a slice of it’s upbeat fun eating experience to the food-loving town of houston. set to open in spring, the anticipation is cooking literally!

be it the week’s happy hours, hump day outing or the exciting weekend ahead - let these new doors escort you in to a new dining or shopping entertainment!

i am taking a brief break from my weekly saturday stakeout to bring to you some vented emotions and whines from a disturbed client in a high-end salon.

the client : me.

i am using the term “disturbed” because i have never paid this much money just to make me look a little better. and this does not even include total body waxing or even a little shoulder massage. i was in a rut today, hopelessly trying to avoid attending a valentine’s opening party for a new antique shop - which then led me to have my hair done. a total mess. my hair, that is. i have been tying it on a ponytail for the last few months as a result of my dedicated vietnamese girl’s pregnancy wherein she’s due anytime now. so, for the time being, i have flat-ironed my hair to death, i have tied it with a band for an easy ponytail and recently, my husband pointed out the dryness and copper-ish look of my hair ends.

that led me to drop by in a local aveda salon hoping that it’ll be close on sundays but the blinding track lights high above the ceiling can illuminate the nearby grocery store. the place was literally about 3 minutes from our house and sits next to our favorite local coffeeshop, the grind.

i just wanted to have my roots touched up with the dark brown tint i have. that was the plan until the hostess took one look at me - then she rattled off the services i needed and managed to lead me to the back of the salon which have a sea of people in black outfits. as i submitted myself to their arms, i ended up having highlights and roots touch-up done with a new haircut (which i admit is great!) and a powerful blow-dry to complete the transformation.

the total time i spent in that nature-smelling salon was 5 hours. and i did not have lunch! ben was ready to threaten the whole salon staff, if they don’t let me go! that’s how long it took to rejuvenate my obviously ill locks. the finish product : a bouncy, layered look with dark blonde highlights!

but the road leading out the salon was very painful. i have to shelve out $ 300.00 for all the services - includes color, highlights, highlights relaxer, cut, blow-dry, products (i’m loyal to kerastase!) and tip. i have never paid that much in my life for some hair pampering that would probably last over a week. ok, maybe a month.

my only consolation - i love it. and ben loves it! so maybe it’s worth it after all.

have you previously paid more for a haircut/color? please share. make me feel a little better.

i admire him for his creativity, his vision, his intellect. he is a dreamer, a traveller, a husband and a friend. he took us along on his exciting journey as we took snaps of our version of local images captured on this travelling disposable camera. take a look at the first installment . view it!

coffee table reads. coffee table books. they’re more than just an aesthetic display. here are some of my favorites :

* DOMICILIUM DECORATUS : with numerous boutique hotels under her belt, it’s just natural that kelly wearstler’s work be etched permanently on a thick big glossy book showcasing her classic style and design. each limited-edition book is individually signed by her and there’s page after page of her own personal glamour importantly captured by her own home and lifestyle.

* PHILIPPINE STYLE : tropical living captures the modern contemporary filipino home. the diverse style of each homes are individually influenced by either the classic-old world to the urban asian minimal to the rustic mediterranean concepts. with fascinating photographs captured through creative lens, it is a must-have hardbound on the table top. mine was a precious gift from bestfriend, joy, many years ago!

* CARTIER COLLECTION : it’s thick, it’s back-breaking heavy, it’s loaded with treasures. a must for any jewelry collector. within the covers lay countless extravagant antique pieces and designs from the earliest cartier collection - from the diamond-on-the-rough draft on paper proceeding to the intricate product with brilliance. this book is more than just a coffeetable book. it is truly a box of precious jewels!

even if i had read and re-read them, when a day does not bring me any inspiration - i grab one and indulge on the beauty of whatever a page brings me!

why monday? a day after a glorious weekend? we are extremely busy at the office on monday. no one goes partying on a monday!

i guess the event caters to the ladies who work all throughout the weekends like realtors, certified socialites who party all weekend and wants to relax come monday or the weekend warriors. but for us who start their week dreading the monday blues, we can opt to avoid work, play sick and head to this little pamper party to spoil our tired toes, fingers and tickle our buying capacity fancy!

i do want to go but i simply can’t. i’m just glad to get the invite and wish that one day they decide to think of the monday-to-friday women workforce!