Aggie Shoots. Aggie Scraps.

I have always been a big fan of custom made stuff. It gives me a natural high whenever I have stuff I know that was specifically made for me or I know I have something that no one else has – you have got to agree with me; sometimes it’s so irritating to be sporting the same checkered blouse with at least twenty other people when going to the mall. I guess it’s also a blessing in disguise that I get to be so tall and so big – most of the stuff I have I am pretty sure no one else has. It costs more though but at least I have found a good seamstress to have clothes made.

I also love personalized stuff  for my kids. I used to have their towels, diapers and even bags personalized (stitched most of the time) with their names!

But the best thing about having something custom made, like having a hand-painted dress made, is that you know that no matter what, the design of your dress is uniquely yours. That’s why hand-painted dresses are quite expensive. Not only are they time-consuming, having a person do the design of your dress and not a machine, is something else.

Don’t you think so?

From here.

I consider myself a very classic and safe dresser – to the point of being boring. My sister, who is a fashionista, would always tease me about my tastes. She tells me I have “expensive, boring, classic, timeless” taste when it comes to everything. It sounds like a compliment I know but she had to insert the word “boring” there somewhere.

I love vintage clothing though. When I was planning my wedding, our initial plan was to get married in an old church and I wanted a wedding gown like the gown used by Jayne Seymour in her stage play in the movie Somewhere in Time. That’s  a classic vintage gown.

Nowadays, there are a lot of vintage pieces being brought into the mainstream. It barely stands alone though, you would see it mixed with a trendy piece and I must say it looks nice. Surprisingly!

I went to StyleHive.com to search for vintage clothing and found these adorable items. I love the dresses so much! Not too tight, no baring of skin but I bet with the right fit, one would look pretty hot here! Even the baby clothes are irresistible!

I think I need to be serious in losing weight here!

About two months ago, aside from scrapbooking, I took upon a new (expensive) hobby: make-up. Who knew owning cosmetics would cost a fortune? I have not been spending for digital scrapbook supplies for months because I am part of some of the best creative teams out there, so I am basically just spending for printing.

Enter make-up. It started with friends who recommended brands. At first, we started out on affordable drugstore brands. But before we knew it, we were buying high end make-up like NARS, MAC and Urban Decay already – I just knew I had to stop too. I have a ton of makeup that will last me throughout the year – and cosmetic items have expiration dates! It’s not as if I go out a lot.

It is nice though because I don’t go out without make-up anymore, even just pressed powder, mascara, eyeliner and some eye make-up.

Let me share with you my favorite items:
1. Everyday Mineral (EDM) brushes – the softest and cheapest. You can get them way cheaper if you buy the custom package. A $10 brush becomes $5 in a package – a definite steal.

2. MAC NC35 pressed powder – barely there and controls shine. I love how it doesn’t cake. I use this the most.

3. Urban Decay Glider Pens – I will never use any other eyeliner again. Enough said. Even if a pen costs $16-$18!

If you want fresh, clean and graphic pages that have multiple photos, Tiffany Tillman is the template master. I love how quick and easy my pages come together whenever I use her templates.

Here are a couple of my faves, all are linked:

Here are some proof of it

Mommy Did This!
Michelle Coleman Cherry Berry Twist
Michelle Coleman Messy Date Stamps
Michelle Coleman Alpha Outline Brushes
Tiffany Tillman Scappable Collection No. 10 (Set 2)

Busted
Leora Sanford Rosarito Papers
Tiffany Tillman Scrappable Collection No. 18 (Set 4)

Weh?
Lisa Sisneros April Showers
Tiffany Tillman Scrappable Storyteller Collection 1

Martha’s Baptism
Misty Cato Julie Billingsley Because He First Loved Us
Tiffany Tillman Lefty Righty Collection Templates 001
Fonts: Teen, Windsong

For sentimental mommies like me who love to shop, these personalized tote bags will be a sure hit as gifts come Christmas time. It can serve as a beach tote, diaper bag, grocery bag and an everyday bag for busy mommies with kids! You can print the names of your kids or your name and it comes in different colors too!!

The Make-Your-Own-Havaianas (MYOH) event in Rockwell has ended with very happy customers and happier retailers. A friend, who has been going to Rockwell for the event for three years straight and running, told me that the lines this year were longer, especially with the limited edition Philippine jeepney culture pins. There were a lot culture and lifestyle pins to choose from and of course you can choose your favorite color combinations.

Havaiana sandals were from originally in Brazil but when they were offered in the Netherlands in 2001, the Havaiana fandom exploded. I could honestly say that even here, in a third-world country where I live, ordinary people have Havs, the coined term for the much-popular brand, and they save for that coveted sandals, which really looks like a slipper to me!

I have never owned a pair so I really don’t understand what the hype is all about honestly. But I can take friends’ words for it that they are very durable and non-slippery.

The Summer 2009 Havaianas are out and their colors reflect the summer season with tones of gold and purple.

I wouldn’t mind getting these for myself!

The gold and silver sandals are very sexy and have a formal touch to it that it can be worn with a sexy summer cover up at the beach for a romantic dinner!

Ever wanted to have sexy and eye-grabbing heels like this? 

These are Coquette shoes from the Gimme Shoes brand. It’s a little boutique you can find along Hayes Street in San Francisco. My cousins who are based there have been raving about this little store for the longest time and finally I can finally share and understand their obsession. They have opened their web site and all their shoe collection is there – which makes me, who is on the other side of the globe with an entirely different time zone, a very happy camper.

I’m not really the type who goes for heels as I am already tall but these babies are stunners and I wouldn’t mind to be caught dead wearing them:

They are on the pricier side, shoes averaging from $300 and up but my cousins are very satisfied customers! I am really liking the third shoe on the right but I’m sure I cannot survive an hour on those heels with my bad back.

So off I (window)shopped over to the wedges/platform shoes and saw more stuff!

These would look perfect for me because I’m a jeans-type of girl. But for everyday use, I’ll definitely be choosing this:

Because it has Martha layouts!

So you see, I have this habit of scrapping all about one kid whenever she celebrates her birthday – call it reminiscing. I still need to do a letter for her so I can finally have her third year book printed – definitely still be doing it with Artscow!  I am so excited to learn that they are finally offering 100-page 8×8 books! And as you know, Artscow is very famous for its deals,

Get a 8"x8" photo book, 100 pages, at $24.99/each, with free shipping.
Checkout Code: 8X8BOOK100P
Offer Expires On: 6/30/2009
http://www.artscow.com/Create/ShowProduct.aspx?ProductId=416

Sign up at Artscow now!

Here are a couple of layouts about the princess. Everything can be found at my Flickr gallery too!

Credits:
Heather Roselli Little Sprout

Credits:
Everything from SSD
Julie Billingsley Sketchers 2
Julie Billingsley and KCB Scoop It Up
Fontologie Giggles
SS Mono
Super Snorty Laughter

Cutie Pie
Kay Miller Sweet Smooches
Cindy Schneider Template Set 14
Darcy Baldwin Stick It Dates

Princess of Pout
Traci Reed Angel with Attitude
Font: DJB Play Misty
Template is a combined and modified version of JWD Project 52 Template 8 and Cindy Schneider Template Set 14

While we are at the subject of talking about bags (please bear with me, I promise to be talking about scrapping on the next posts – I just cannot get this out of my head) – can someone enlighten me how to correctly a tote from a handbag to a purse? And what does satchel, duff bag and sling bags have in common (or are they very different) with each other?

Well, I don’t really care because even if I’ve mentioned how I like (stress: L-I-K-E) the new LV Monogram Tote bag from the post below, my heart (oh how I wish also my money! ~ if I have one) belongs to Gucci!

A friend over Twitter shared that Gucci is having their summer sale and my heart skipped a beat (too many beats in fact) over the gorgeous collections. How I wish I can afford one RIGHT NOW.

Oh well, maybe next time.

Here are the ones that caught my attention:

The Jolicoeur messenger bag with single strap, zip-top closure, signature web, charms and inside zip pocket.

Size: 10.5”L x 2”W x 9.5”H

Regular Price: $ 765
Sale Price: $ 539

Such a big price to pay for a small bag right? But the bag will be very much used when going out, I’m sure

I also like the Abbey medium hobo bag, same price.