Love your boo, but not the type to dish out money for overpriced, usual Valentines flowers and goodies? I hear you. I'm more of a practical, timeless and within-my-budget kinda girl myself. And the husband and I always go low-key with presents on Valentines in favor of hitting the shops together after the 14th.  On the hunt for chic, minimalist presents that will work for you and your boo? Here's a few gifts that will please just about anyone and everyone:






TOP ROW, L-R



1) Shinola The Runwell Chrono Blue Dial Brown Leather Mens Watch S0100117- File this under ultimate watch goals! Proudly Detroit-made Shinola watches and other leather products are all the rage as of late, and obviously for good reason. Simple without compromising style, Shinola watches embody a more understated kind of luxury. A Shinola watch is my ultimate to-gift goal for my husband, as well as for myself!


2) Sfumato  "Mocha Valentino" limited edition fragrance - Because smelling like delectable chocolate for your bae all year round sounds perfect! Made from neroli, tobacco absolute, tofu balsam and other natural materials, you're guaranteed to smell sexy all year round. Also, you'll be supporting a proud Detroit business. 


3) Xiaomi Mi Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness tracker, Gearbest.com - You want a fitness tracker, but you don't feel like coughing up 100++ dollars for one. It may not be as popular as some of its higher-priced counterparts, but the Xiaomi Mi tracker has really stellar reviews online for something that's priced quite less than the competition. If you're in the market for a simple tracker that performs the monitoring benefits that you need minus the bells and whistles, you might want to give this tracker a go. Check out GearBest.com for some seriously affordable tech deals... and funky men's hoodies, while you're at it. They kind of sell everything




SECOND ROW L-R


1) Calvin Klein CK2 Unisex fragrance- CK1 is a legendary fragrance and completely redefined the unisex game. Let's see how the newly released CK2 does!




2) White Faux Taxidermy Templeton Deer Head Wall Decor, Mini, White - A must for every hipster urbanite, naturally.




3) The Honest Company Everything Tote  - I like everything The Honest Company represents, and this simple, classic tote looks good on both you and your guy. Time to move past the overly floral diaper bags, and move on to something that won't clash with your outfit. 

THIRD ROW, L-R


1) The Wandering City: Colouring Book by Moleskine X Carlo Stanga - Because adult coloring books do work in relieving your stress, and because everything Moleskine has on their line is nothing short of awesome. The visuals in this book, in particular, are quite beautiful! I definitely see myself working on this book with the hubs.


2) Polette Eyewear "Heroes S" Faux Wood Sunglasses  - the generous people over at Polette has offered to send me glasses for consideration and review, and I zeroed in on this classic but edgy stunner! 


3) Monopoly: Game of Thrones Collector's Edition Board Game - because you want to gear up for April with this sweet gift. Winter isn't just coming, it's already here! 

Hello, lovers and hello, September! Hope yours kicked off with a great start- I'm pretty pumped myself as it is my birthday month! September also rings in fall as we all know- thank goodness temperatures haven't dipped like crazy yet, but it's never too early to start preparing the layers, right? This year, I don't really want to deviate too much from my regular "wishlist"- I still think of a lot of leathers, boxy and minimalist coats and other accessories... Maybe this year, however, I'll get a tad bit more playful with some fringe, tassels, and a bit more camel/tan colors. I seriously can't remember the last time I bought anything of the decadent hue, and that's kinda sad. :(



Here's my top picks from fashion retailer Rosegal - they do have some great selections for clothing, bags, leather bracelets here and other essentials, and the price can't be beat. I particularly love this chambray skirt and this vintage leather crossbody. How gorgeous is that chocolate brown color? Also, I've been on a backpack streak (just so convenient for quick trips with the babey!), and I'm definitely feeling this textured leather one.

What's on your wishlist this fall? Xx




DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post.

Do you think it is ever too early to think about the holidays? Back in the Philippines, malls start selling Christmas decor and radio stations start playing Christmas songs as early as the first week of September. I kid you not! Our country does love the holiday season a big deal, haha. Now, I  don't  usually go all out with "holiday dressing" like most gals- sure, I'll buy a couple of sequined items here and there - but recent experience has me believing that we should have at least one or two really special dresses for those spontaneous yet really grand holiday parties and other special events. Take this recent formal dress ball I hosted recently - I had nothing to wear until the very last minute that I thought I was going to suffer from a mini heart attack! Note to self: always have a fancy dress stashed somewhere!

*The products above were provided to me by Fragrancenet.com in exchanged for my own honest reviews. In no way did I receive compensation for the aforementioned reviews.

Ah... Toronto. It is downright impossible NOT to fall in love with this beautiful and extremely vibrant city. I'm all about big cities that put arts and culture at the forefront, and Toronto is definitely one of those places where there's just so much of that to experience. After having the opportunity to visit the lovely city twice over the past year, I feel pretty blessed to have witnessed a smorgasbord of cultural experiences that I feel has personally enriched me. And not only that, the food and the people are always awesome. Toronto, I'll always miss you!

Early in September of last year, my heavily pregnant self went along with my husband and my brother and sister-in-law to attend the Toronto International Film Festival for the very first time, which has always been on my bucket list as an aspiring filmmaker. I'll be reserving actual photos of my festival experience along with a few survival tips in another blog post (trust me, you'll need it!), but for now, I'd like to share some of the snaps we got of Toronto-- it just comes more and more alive with every angle. :)

More over at Instagram @edeninthemitten -- see you there!

Usually a seasonal release over the summer, some of the favorites from the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess line, such as the Bronze Goddess Skinscent (a personal favorite!) will now be available year round. Yipee!

Aside from getting to play with makeup all day and being able to play with many different faces, one thing I love the most about working in the beauty industry is all the insider training and education I've received. Working for Estee Lauder (being my first job here in the United States) has been such a rewarding experience thus far. Back when I was working as a fashion stylist, I've always had an appreciation for makeup, but I never really had the expertise or the confidence to say I knew a lot.