would-'ave, could-'ave, should-'ave

oh the things i left behind at the carboot... there were many but these i picked because i liked them...

from top left: an old-fashioned purse with a b&w picture of a retro girl, an 1879 New York and Manhattan Express collage made from parts of timepieces, a series of blue watercolor frames and a vintage iron with a cork handle

from top left: a chicken wire basket pretty much like my own (except mine was painted sunny yellow), a b&w picture of Marilyn Monroe, brand new pink Timberlands and a rug with geometric designs

flea market finds: a spring in my step

two weeks into spring and still the weather was stubborn to let go of the last vestiges of Old Man Winter... but finally last saturday i did it... i hopped and skipped and almost jumped...

because last saturday i was on my way to a carboot sale! and here are my beautiful finds:

cheap and chic! a pair of Ikea Skribent bookends that I have been looking for the longest time! made of strong birch and galvanised steel, they give my second-hand books a modern feel

a sweet ole guy manning a stall full of toys had me at "traditional" with this yoyo

a clear glass Parlane Collection flower frog

a Chinese bamboo steamer that the owner has not found the time to use :)  dumplings galore!

a hunter green silk clutch with a beautiful bird design still in its plastic wrap

one of the trends for Spring 2013 is shimmery, iridescent metallics so this pair of shiny brand-new Cherokee sneakers would just fit right in!

my last find is a total score.  retailing at £40 a pair,  this brand new (still in packaging), woollen, shearling-lined, gunmetal gray classic from Toms are the  most comfortable pair i've ever worn!  the lady i bought this from said it was meant for her granddaughter but that she didn't like them. lucky, lucky me!

my next post will be all about the things i saw and left behind at the carboot  :)

*linking to The Penny Worthy Project in hey what's for dinner mom?

the total package

got another package from my sister!  and when i opened it... ooohhhlala!

beautifully illustrated Filipino notepads

a beautiful navy satchel from Charles and Keith for all my paperworks

my favorite prawn rolls and soft pork floss from Bee Cheng Hiang

i am crazy about handmade, one-of-a-kind soaps at the moment so she also sent me some Lush

happy!

loafin' around: a DIY moment

loafers are making a comeback.  and the most popular ones are either spiked or studded! 

they are so 80's but then again that's my favorite decade :)

i am a little bit (just a wee bit, really) obsessing over skulls at the moment and saw this gorgeous Alexander McQueen skull velvet loafers one day... and just like that, loafers were added to my hit list as well.

i saw this lovely pair at the "miercoles loco" or Wednesday market in Spain. i know it's quite on the opposite spectrum of Mr. McQueen's creation not only in color and material but also of price but that's just exactly right up my alley.

as you can see it has the most outrageous brand name ever written in big shouting colors.  i would have wished it were smaller and more discreet.  but then again, it's just a shoe.  and i love the rich brown color and the navy tassels.

but how do i take it one level higher??? 

i was hit by inspiration today after one of my hair-ties broke. so i got the super glue and started working...

look how they turned out!

flea market finds: designer essentials

i’ve now been very picky in my forages into my favorite shops.  i sometimes go back and forth with my purchases.  whether i need them or not.  i am now simplifying things around the house and only buying the essentials.  hence, the following:

a summer essential, a straw fedora with a black band for .50p!  i am thinking of replacing the black band with a  bright-colored ribbon as a nod to spring

a Lulu Guinness sunglasses in classic black and white for £1

a black fleece scarf from Prada for .50p

handbags and gladrags

what fun i had when i went with a friend to a swap meet and got myself a cute top and met some new friends!  this is actually my first time to go to a swap meet and i loved it!  the organizers were the gorgeous wives of the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) personnel  stationed here in Gib and they held it in the Lion bar in Europa.



we got there a bit late so a lot of beautiful clothes have already disappeared from the racks but there were plenty more left!  i found a nice silk top for myself and the rest of the time was spent chatting with a couple of friends that i saw there.

see those busy ladies moving in and out of the racks with an armful of dresses, tops, jeans, handbags, belts, shoes, etc?  its the Gib version of Black Friday, i guess :)



see that nice, cute black clutch in the middle?  i fell in love with it but had to let it go because i know i wont be able to use it :(



there were a lot of big name brands at ridiculously low prices but the problem for me in the shoe department is that i have small feet (size 4 UK or 37-38 US)!



there was a stall for heady, sweet-smelling Yankee candles



and another stall selling beautiful silver jewelry.  they were sooo pretty!



after paying for my top, we sat down in one of the chairs for a glass of tinto de verano.  ahhhh!  just what i needed to get warm on a cold night ;)



cheers!

credenza influenza

shy as a gelding, i saw you high up a parking building.  quiet and unassuming and full of secrets. you were with your friend, the wardrobe who had an affair… possibly with the squeaky secretary.

“pssst!”, you said. and just like that, i am under your spell.

i so wanted to take you home with me.  apprehensive and embarassed i am,  because you see, my home is mouldy and mildew-y.

but i could never forget you.  so i took a memento.  oh, i wish… i wish… i can only wish…

(Mid-Century Modern credenza and her friend, the wardrobe)

a sight for sore eyes

flea markets, bumper cars, The Bourne Legacy, eat-all-you-can, arts and crafts, best friends... these pretty much sums up my weekend, oh and on top of these; dealing with a leaky toilet, laundry, grocery-shopping, clothes that needed mending and a pesky worm problem with my mint herbs.

all in a weekend's work!  but on to some lovely things that i left at the flea market :)

 all things gilded!  old-world charm :)

a beautiful sun tray (did i ever tell you about my fascination for yellow?)

i sent this to my sister because she loves Melissa shoes :)  i found this in a snooty posh seller's stall. all her stuff were designer but as i was trying to inspect a beautiful pink Hermés clutch, she rudely snatched it away from me as if i am going to steal them away from her.  so, i walked away and decided no dime shall be spent on her stall! 

a train track!  a boy of about 8 can be heard shouting "comprar! comprar!"  (buy, buy!) to his dad :)

and there they are again :)  globes!  the one below is an old globe with a hidden bar/wine storage selling for only 35euros!  i looked them up online and they sell for up to hundreds!

the little figures below might look scary to some people especially in America (i froze to death when i saw them the first time!) but they actually represent persons seeking penitence during the somber occasion of Holy Week until Easter Sunday here in Spain.  it is a strong Spanish tradition observed since the Middle Ages.  (the pointed conical hat is called a "capirote")

now on to the animal kingdom which never fails to fascinate us :)  i am so glad this piranha is stuffed :)

 deer antlers!

a stuffed seagull(?)  not sure what kind of bird it is... but take a look at that huge candelabra/chandelier behind it?  really nice in a big airy dining room don't you think?

 horsing around :)

well, well, well... lookee here... a decorative plate from Gib :)

i try not to feel regret at all the beautiful things i left behind :)  *sigh*  i am beginning to have an idea what those people in that TV show "Hoarders" feel now :D

treasured possessions: watercolor bag

talking about happy colors, i love everything yellow!  and one of the things thats so dear to me and always bring along with me wherever i go is this vintage yellow bucket bag from Christian Dior that i bought from a flea market in the Philippines ten years ago!!!!!

it sort of has an orange-y watercolor design mixed with ostrich handles and the softest buttery leather ever.

i use this very rarely now but i used to always bring this on overnight trips or picnics or shopping... because there is a lot of room in this ol' gal.

not only is this uber cool vintage and designer.... one reason i love it is because i bought it only for a dollar!  yes, i swear!

self portraits in neon

my friends, here's a compilation of me in neon!  i am not too comfortable in front of the camera (as you can see) because i prefer to be behind it :) these pics are all randomly taken this summer featuring, of course, my favorite accessory for the season: NEON!

(1) in Mallorca

(wearing: Dorothy Perkins tunic in lime and lemon; Giorgio Armani sunglasses; Kate Spade crossover bag; fedora hat from a tourist shop in Mallorca)

 (2) lunching in Spain

(wearing: Mango white tee; Marni sunglasses; Accessorize rose earrings in turquoise; Accentz neon choker from an independent seller in Singapore)

 (3) just before we went to see a movie (Batman!)

(wearing: M&S Autograph raglan sleeve striped top; aviator sunglasses bought from a budget airline souvenir shop in the Philippines; Forever21 feather necklace)

 (4) lazy sunday

(wearing Dorothy Perkins tube top; Giorgio Armani sunglasses; Forever21 feather necklace)

chemicool

i interrupt my mindless Mallorca blabbering with breaking news!  i just received a package from my superdupertrooper of a sister filled with psychedelic NEON goodness! as you know, anything neon is the "IT" color for summer and the beauty of this bright color trend is the color itself! flourescent colors are happy and optimistic colors (imho) and just the right dose adds oommpphh to an outfit :)

a striking neon purple and pink feather necklace from Forever21 :)  i will be wearing this either with neutrals or with a paler version within its tonal family. not too much neon though because it can be a bit overwhelming :) definitely NOT gonna be wearing this with black because it would look like i am still stuck in the '60's.

hot pink hoops again from Forever21.  accessories are the easiest way for me to try neon colors. adding something bright to an earthy ensemble adds immediate edge for me without looking like am trying too hard.

and the last one is a flourescent orange choker for those date nights ;)  i saw this from an independent seller in Singapore and found them striking (my sister bought them for me)

"She is D, desirable, She is I, irresistible, She is S, super sexy, She is C, such a cutie,  She is O, oh, oh, oh... that's my lil sis ;)

flea market finds: green tea goodness

what are the chances of me finding two very similar products that are entirely different at the same time? 

(.50p)

care for some tea, luv?

(a pound each)

it has a citrusy smell with top notes of bergamot and peppermint. fresh and light :) can be worn by guys too!


*linking to ThriftShare Monday @Apron Thrift Girl and Flea Market Finds @ Her Library Adventures :)