BELLE Jewelry Collection is a creation of tasteful and sophisticated wearable art by Zuri Fashion Accessories, the brainchild of designer Hershey Chan, which opened in 2006. Her line of jewelries aims to provide statement pieces for the modern fashionable woman and are available locally, in Singapore, Dubai and Indonesia. Just this year, Zuri won the title for the Outstanding Luxury Jewelry & Fashion Accessories Brand for the year, has been the official crown and jewelry sponsor for many beauty pageants such as Miss Singapore International 2009, Miss World Philippines 2011 and Miss Philippine Tourism 2011. With all those noteworthy credentials Zuri Wearable Art carries, I am so honored to be able to feature pieces from the Belle Classic Collection. 

            It took me a while to make a blog entry about these striking accessories because I knew that rushing it would yield unappealing results and I wanted to make sure I took my time preparing which outfit would suit it best and which location would be perfect to have a shoot. So, when I took a two-day vacation in Vigan, I decided that it would be a great place to have a shoot wearing these timeless pieces! All of the shots posted here were taken at Hotel Salcedo de Vigan. 

          The term "wearable art" is enough to attract the attention of jewelry aficionados or any woman who loves to dress up, really. When I wear accessories, I don't only take into consideration how it looks, but also how it makes me feel. Belle Wearable Art captures the true essence of the modern Filipina woman and allows her to exude confidence whilst being bold, independent, passionate and stylish.

          One other remarkable quality of the Belle Jewelry Collection is its ability to transform any attire into a trendsetting ensemble. You can wear layers of clothing and finish it off with any of the statement pieces from either the Belle Classic or Belle Couture sans the outfit clutter.

  Yellow Crystal with Dangling Pendant Necklace and the

Belle Classic Triple Strand Yellow Crystal Bracelet, both from the Belle Classic Collection. 

The message that Belle Jewelry would like to relay to its clients is this, "Power dressing is enhanced by Belle Classic. It’s an embellishment to success as it showcases individuality and advancement. Whether you belong to the group of executives, managers, or supervisors, these are the accessories that fit you. These are your best companions that can bring you all day from a sunny morning conference to a late event at night. Your busy schedule will not hinder fashion in your sense because Belle Classic is made especially for a woman who works within flexibility and functionality." 

Zuri, which translates to "beautiful" in Swahili, was inspired by innovativeness and originality of Hershey Tan. Her interest for jewelries and clothes began at the ripe age of 9 and has since then picked up the skill of creating such fine statement pieces. According to her, "My innovation in calling my works ‘Functional Art Pieces’ asserts the idea that wearing our jewellery is as magical as wearing an art like paintings & sculpture. Our pieces are not only accessories but actually works of art that fall under the category of Wearable art."

Belle Jewelry Collection not only caters to the women who work, but also young ladies who are empowered and freethinking. Each piece works towards bringing out your inner goddess, whether you are at a friend's party, a school event, or heading out for a romantic dinner. 

You may purchase the jewelry of your choice by either dropping by these shops:  

Fievre, which translates to "fever" in English, is an online retail and wholesale shop that sells imported women's clothing. Given that the clothes are purchased abroad, you'll be surprised to find out that all the clothes are low-priced. You don't need to spend a lot to look fashionable!

One lucky reader will get the chance to win the orange tube peplum dress and the necklace. 

All the steps stated below must be followed for your entries to be considered valid: 

1. Like Wooden Spoons & Muffin Tops and Fievre on Facebook.

2. Follow Wooden Spoons & Muffin Tops and Fievre on Twitter and tweet this "@Wooden Spoons & Muffin Tops and Fievre are having a giveaway! Click here: http://ow.ly/g8u5T"

3. Be a member of my blog via Google Friend Connect (found on the right panel of my blog).

4.  Share this photo on Faceook and include this caption, "@Wooden Spoons & Muffin Tops and Fievre are having a giveaway! Click here to join! http://woodenspoonsandmuffintops.blogspot.com/2012/12/blog-giveaway-wooden-spoons-muffin-tops.html" then tag 5 of your friends. All posts must be set to public. 

Example: "@Wooden Spoons & Muffin Tops and Fievre are having a giveaway! Click here to join! http://woodenspoonsandmuffintops.blogspot.com/2012/12/blog-giveaway-wooden-spoons-muffin-tops.html" @friend1 @friend2 @friend3 @friend4 @friend5" 

5. Leave a comment in the box at the end of this post with the following information: complete name, email address, twitter name and Facebook link of the shared photo.

Simple, yes? :) 

The giveaway starts on December 18, 2012 and ends on December 31, 2012 at exactly 11pm. Giveaway is open to Philippine residents only.

One winner will be chosen via random.org

I check all the entries so please follow all the steps for me to consider your entries valid. :)

Oh and photo credit goes to my cousin Pauline Solano for making the beautiful poster! Thanks, Pau :) 

         I mentioned in my previous (outfit) post that I had dinner at Guernica's for my friend's birthday celebration and now I made a separate entry to talk about the food I had that evening. The Spanish restaurant has been operating for more than 5 decades now, way before I even existed as an embryo. Deemed to have the best paella in town, Guernica's Tapas Bar and Restaurant, has already established a name in the food business. It was my first time to hear about this restaurant so I did a little digging and found a brief background about how it came to be - the name Guernica's is actually the hometown of Senor Hemachea, founder of one of the first Spanish restaurants in the Philippines. It was then turned over to antique collector, Mr. Romeo Bauzon, who proceeded to make the business triumphant in serving delicious Spanish cuisine. The branch I dined in is located in Santana Grove along Sucat Road and sits comfortably in a crowd of other restaurants and shops. 

             It's been a while since I've seen my friends from high school. Well, the last time we saw each other was a couple months back but we make it a point to get together every so often just to catch-up. Our favorite  scheme when it comes to gatherings always involves food. So I guess it's safe to say that everyone in our circle loves to eat. I mean, each of us would probably always be eating for 2 or 3 people. We are growing (?) kids after all. Anyway, enough of the jibber-jabber. Let's shift to more about the dinner, yes? 

         This is Zabeth or "Zaboga" as I like to tease her sometimes. We've been good friends since 4th year high school and I recall going to her house during her birthday and her mum would cook such palatable paella. This time though, both Zabeth and her dad celebrated their birthdays together (actually, it was more of a pre-celebration for her but conjoined celebrations are better than one!). Her dad is of Spanish descent and both her parents frequent Guernica's, which explains why they picked this venue to throw a party. 

        I wasn't able to take photos of the lechon since the chafer was empty. *sniff* But after my second plate and more then 3 garlic breads, there it was...a refilled dish. I was already too full to have my fix. Drats.

       After reading further about Guernica's on their main website and eating their food buffet-style, I can't help but look forward to try their paella! It is, after all, what they are known for. I browsed their online menu further and spotted several other dishes that I'd like to try. Perhaps I'll save the next few posts for my visit there! :) 

Guernica's Tapas Bar & Restaurant

Santana Grove, Dr. A. Santos Ave.,

Sucat, Paranque City

          Stella Margherita Online is the latest online store I have partnered with for my ongoing giveaway and I was so thrilled when I received the dress I picked straight from their October collection on their Facebook page! I've been saving this dress for a special occasion as I haven't really been able to go out due to the hectic schedule of exams at school that went on for weeks before the Christmas break began. So when my good friend Zabeth told me that she'd having a birthday dinner at Guernica's Tapas Bar & Restaurant, I didn't think twice about what to wear! 

The Alexi dress from Stella Margherita both dainty and light. It's perfect for when you're in a rush to put an outfit together when your mind is just a big ball of clouds.

I paired the dress with an elegant neckpiece from Mademoiselle Manila. 

Pleats add flair to the red-orange dress. 

This is my first time reviewing make-up on my blog mostly because I don't wear heavy make-up. I prefer the natural look. Whenever I go out, I just apply lip balm. But when Stella Margherita sent me this NYX lipstick (yes, cosmetics are also on their list of products), I was unusually excited to try it out!  My lips chap easily so it's important that the lipstick I put on not only enriches my lips has a moisturizes it too and this item does both!

I have the Frapuccino shade and it suits me perfectly! There are, however, other shades that you might want to try out and see which one will fit you best. Perhaps you would like to go for a bolder look this holiday season? Check out Stella Margherita Online's cosmetic collection here. 

Want to win the dress I'm wearing in this outfit post? Join my ongoing giveaway here! Last day of entries is on December 17, 2012. :) 

         The first cupcake stop in the B.F. and Alabang area has finally opened! Passing by Aguirre Street every so often, the huge signboard with the words "Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe"was enough to intrigue residents and even those who just happen to drive by the area. A first of its kind, Larcy's Cupcakerycafe has just fed the cupcake trend even more by giving enthusiasts a chance to select a freshly baked cupcake on the spot, sit down, drink a nice cup of coffee or maybe pair it with a nice meal (they also offer savory dishes). 

          When it finally opened, my aunt suggested that we give it a try. Of course, I would never say no to dessert..or anything food-related for that matter. So on a sunny Sunday afternoon, we headed off to check out the newly opened cafe. Upon entering, I noticed that it was well-lit, with added lighting from the huge windows facing the road. Everyone was busy either eating, picking out the cupcake they wanted to try or being acquainted with the cafe's  interior.

        I mentioned earlier that Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe also serves savory dishes. You'll find in their other menu, which is hung on the rightmost part of the counter, breakfast entrees such as Vigan Longganisa with scrambled eggs, Smoked Bangus Belly with scrambled eggs, Mushroom Truffle  pasta, and even sandwiches with either pandesal or ciabatta. Why not wash down all those desserts and palatable servings with either seven coffee drinks to choose from or shakes. 

These are the packaging options customers have in case they wanna take some home or give the cupcakes as gifts. 

A small spot of the cafe is dedicated to the merchandise, such as shirts and mugs, available for sale to reminisce about your cupcake experience at Larcy's. 

Some of the cupcake flavors on their baby pink wall boards.

            Next to the counter, you'll be able to watch the staff "bake behind the scenes" and see how the cupcakes and cakes are made. I always enjoy eating places that give their customers the a glimpse of the ingredients and process that all the food has to go through before putting it on display or serving it right before our very eyes. I've always loved Willy Wonka and being able to gawk at food this way makes me feel like I'm one step closer to winning the golden ticket. Perhaps one day I'll eventually get to fly to an actual chocolate factory and drown in fudge. Hmm. Anyway, let's not wander off too far now. I'll save that adventure for another post. 

Cream cheese frosting being piped on the Pink Velvet Cupcakes. 

You can to hold onto these cute pink buttons while waiting for your orders.  

             As I undressed this well-received dessert, I couldn't help but ogle at the color of the cupcake. The shade of red was hypnotizing, but the real star here is the frosting. Once you sink your teeth into the cupcake, you wouldn't care for the base as much as the topping. It's that good. But of course, the cake is not to be underestimated - both make a good pair. I must confess, I was trying to see if I could spot the ingredients they used in making cupcakes since I bake myself. I let out a mental "AHA!" when I caught site of Anchor butter as one of their main ingredients. That explains the richness and creaminess of their icing! 

           Tall, (slighty) dark and delicious are three words to describe the perfect man..I mean, milkshake. It's been a while since I've had one of these babies and I think that if I wasn't too bashful to sip the whole shake in one go, I would have. Milkshakes always have this certain effect on me - they remind me of diners and my childhood. So as I sipped away, it was a delightful mix of recollecting and basking in the taste of the shake.