Hey Sistah, Sole Sistahs! Muchos Gracias!

Aside from Asian dramas, books and a caboodle of other things, I absolutely love shoes!  Lucky for me, I've got soul sistahs who are shoe giving sole sistahs too!

In the past 6 months, I received about a dozen pair of shoes and slippers from friends and relatives all over the world, no kidding!  I got Franco Sarto, DKNY, Puma, Rockport, Havaianas and others all wrapped with love in my doorstep!

Anyway, here's what I've been wearing to walk the dusty roads on this warm summer season.   I'm sure my shoe benefactors have been wishing me to go to the best places in the beautiful shoes they given! I feel like dancing for joy! :)

 

[caption id="attachment_268" align="aligncenter" width="484" caption="L-R Top-Bottom: Havaianas, Sueño de Espadrilles, Roberto Vianni Flats, Franco Sarto Wedges"][/caption]

I just received this new pair of Havaianas from a friend who loves to go flea market hunting in Long Island, New York.  Perfect fit and perfect gift for the summer.  I bought this comfy pair of (my perfect) pink Sueno de Espadrilles with abaca insoles last September at their Greenbelt 5 stall at the price of P650.00.  The Roberto Vianni Flats are from my aunt in Canada whose passion for shoes rivals Imelda Marcos's (peace, auntie!).  The brown Franco Sarto wedges are also from New York... I wore the Sarto wedges last weekend and man, did they test my endurance after years of wearing flats and sneakers! But the heels did force me to be in my best posture, and they made me feel extra feminine (minus the froufrou) too!

 

[caption id="attachment_116" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Dendrobium"][/caption]

I was so happy to get this "just because" gift from my best friend, a beautiful dendrobium orchid.  I was quite worried that I might not be able to take good care of it, but after online research on how to grow these delicate tropical flowers, I found that the budding orchid gardener should fertilize weekly, weakly and water the orchid media as needed (meaning, do not water during rainy days).  And if you want, talk to the orchid (plants loooove carbon dioxide!).

Read more on growing orchids in this comprehensive agricultural site.  Click here.

Here is a great site that will guide new orchid growers.  And here's a youtube video by askthedecorator on growing orchids.  You can click the vid to go to the original youtube site to read the comments from the veteran orchid growers.

Thank you, bff, for this lovely gift!!! To my orchid, I hope you grow and flourish sweetie!

Dick Wells on YouTube

Earrings and a Pen

I received belated holiday presents that really surprised me.


I got a Universal Studios Singapore souvenir pen (which is very useful to the writer in me: not only poetry, but work notes, to-do lists including groceries, and everything else) from the mom of the cutest little toddler who believes in Santa Claus (she actually hugged our guest Santa, a nice lady who made her own costume to join in the Christmas revelries).


Another was a pair of drop earrings: freshwater pearls set in sterling silver bought from the famous party-island called Boracay. The gift giver is a friend who spent the New Year in the lively island where she saw a lot of stars including Hayden Kho and Vicky Belo (still lovey-dovey together!).[slideshow]


Thanks Gift-givers, may you have many returns! <3