Lookbook: Blushing Nude

Summer is definitely here! For the beginning of April, that means no more layering and lined jackets and heavy cardigans. Just a simple shift dress and maximum impact accessories and off to work we go! I am loving the combination of this blush colored dress and this bib necklace made by friend Pat Fernandez. Unlike other bib necklaces that are glued on to the felt base, the strings of beads and stones are hand-sewn on to the base. Definitely a keeper :)

And in line with my resolve to use up all my existing bags before buying yet another one (recently, I threw away several bags I hardly ever used because they "peeled" from non-use, and quite a few of those bags didn't come cheap when I bought them!), I am shopping my closet and rediscovering items I seldom use, such as this forest green bag which can be used as a sling bag or a shoulder bag. And the straps are interchangeable too, with shorter handles if I want to carry it as a handbag. I scored this bag last year in 168 Mall for less than P500---and without any replica brand or logos too, which makes it all the more a good find :) I will depreciate this and so many other bags to death!

Blush SM Department Store shift dress
Forest green bag- bought from 168 Mall
Made to order bib necklace by Patricia Fernandez
Leopard peep-toe Charles & Keith heels

Wishing everyone is enjoying the lightness of summer! Cheers! :)

Tao Yuan Restaurant in Newport Mall

One Sunday evening in April, my friend Alice celebrated a "milestone" for her son's honor and treated us to dinner in Tao Yuan, a Taiwanese restaurant in Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila.  I have eaten in Tao Yuan's Malate branch before and just like there, the lines in Tao Yuan in Newport were long and we had to wait several minutes for our table since we didn't make a reservation.

The space was not as sprawling as the usual Chinese restos but the place was packed with tables. If you like to dine in quiet, don't eat in a Chinese restaurant!

I was able to take photos of some pages of the menu before a waiter/ security person told me that I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the menu. This was the first time something like this happened to me. Maybe it's because they're suspicious of possible competitors? Or they're not yet exposed to people who blog about restaurants? Well anyway, you can see some of the menu here.

Here are pictures of the food that we ordered:

Lobster first way

Lobster second way

The lobster was really expensive---as in ridiculously expensive. And so I ate a bit, despite my allergy to crustaceans. Curiously, I didn't have any overt allergic reaction that night like constricted throat and red patches. Maybe because the lobster and the shrimp were really fresh. While the "second way" for the lobster was really good (with vermicelli/sotanghon noodles), I think if it were just up to me, I wouldn't have ordered lobster. I still like the taste of crabs better :)

Scallops with broccoli

Suahe. I couldn't resist this as they were so fresh and tasty.

Tao Yuan's Hainanese Chicken is also one of the best in the metro

Polonchay

Salt and pepper spareribs. My Chinese resto staple :)

Here's a shot of the receipt. I wasn't kidding about that lobster!

Got some Lady Gaga-inspired shades from R

All in all, Tao Yuan has good food, and really great fresh seafood and it's certainly one of the best restaurants in Newport Mall. If you're going there on a weekend, be sure to make reservations. But don't go there if you want a quiet and hushed ambiance because you won't get that in this particular Chinese restaurant!

Outfit Post
Purple Forever 21 asymmetrical top
Lee skinny jeans
Plains n' Prints canvas and leather bag
Charles and Keith peep-toe heels

Wishing us all more good food and milestones to celebrate. Cheers! :)