Bed Jacket

According to Wikipedia, the bed jacket is "a woman's garment, is a waist-length robe worn to cover the chest, shoulders and arms while sitting up in bed. Its short length and cape-like cut...often made of sheer or lacy fabrics and displaying very feminine trimmings and details...was often used more for seduction, rather than warmth or modesty. It was popularized in 1930s Hollywood films featuring glamorous settings and glamorous stars lounging languorously in their silken bedrooms. Ostrich feather tips, swan’s down, pleated tulle and shirred lace were just a few examples of the extravagant materials that could be used in creating these confections." 


Well, whatever it is, in short: it's PERFECT as a very chic & unique (truly 1-of-a-kind designs) beach cover-up! Egged on by my friend Nikki who totally rocked her BrownBelly bed jacket during 1 of our dinner dates, I was so excited to finally get my own one last week! I love the lacy "Caravan" and am wearing it to my Mom's birthday dinner tonight. (yes, its wearability extends to Italian restaurants too, you know) *wink*. 

the Seaside

the Skyler

the Caravan

All jackets shown by Brown Belly Get your own & wear it a dozen ways...belted, tied, knotted, or just plain loose & breezy :-)

Beach House 3

This is 1 of my favorites from my Beach House dream list...called the Slaughterhouse Beach House located in Maui. Designed by Olson Kundig Architects, entire walls swing out like wings to open the living, dining, and kitchen spaces to the outdoors. Its low-maintenance surfaces (concrete kitchen counters, stone, metal, etc) is perfect for surfers & just about any beach-lover coming in dripping wet from the ocean...

the EXTERIOR doesn't look too bad either...

see the house perched on the cliff? views upon waking up must be awesome, yeah? 

the simple, no-frills bedroom...just how it should really be for everyone :-)

beautiful sun & shadows everywhere!

brilliant idea alert: walls swing out (but is custom-shaped to fit over counter when closed)

...to reveal & welcome the great outdoors. For me, this house is truly a classic masterpiece. 

  

House in Oporto

Could a design like this work for a tropical country like the Philippines?

Private residence in Portugal by Ines Vieira da Silva & Miguel Vieira: 


"Set up in 2005, Sami Arquitectos is a small but energetic firm....including a private house in Oporto and an apartments scheme in Setúbal. Sami sees flexibility as the key to this house's development. The design is created around a 'tank-house' concept; water is collected through the roof's angular design and stored under the floor. Used for the house's daily needs, water also acts as the house limits' defining element, overflowing from the tank during rainfall to cover the site's surface" - Wallpaper Magazine

I'd say it looks promising, but how would the tank "overflow" not pose a problem for its surroundings?  Hmmm...I really want a beautiful & elegant design like this to work. Tomorrow I shall ask the 1st architect I see.


Could a design like this work for a tropical country like the Philippines?

Kapuluan Vista Resort

When I think of Kapuluan Vista Resort, these images come to mind: the awesome views all around... 

from their website www.kapuluanvista.com

the view up front (photo by Charlie Gomez)

the view from the deck (photo by Charlie Gomez)

the little details that stay in your mind forever...

lovingly arranged centerpieces from their own garden

my friend J's nautilus find (photo by D. Trofeo)

local fishermen's finds (photo by C. Litton)

the lamp above the KVR Family Villa

well, come to think of it, seeing the moon like this from the deck isn't such a "little detail" so I take it back. haha.
Seriously, moon-rises like this are breathtaking at KVR.
(photo by Charlie Gomez)

and of course, this. Ohhhhh yes, THIS: 

surfing w/ friends is 1 of life's biggest happiness!

all surf photos taken July 17-18, 2011 

(by Kapuluan Vista Resort)

At the times when there's no surf, one can do swimming, snorkeling or paddleboarding:

Or feast on the many scrumptious & healthy meals they offer: 

classic Vigan Longganisa (no KVR or Ilocos trip is complete w/o it!)

mouth-watering KVR Bagnet as made popular by the Ilocanos

Basil Scrambled Eggs (a personal fave, for its light & clean taste)

my hands-down favorite: the chicken burrito! Oh my goodness. 

so, if you're heading up north in the Philippines & looking for a wonderful experience, stay at Kapuluan Vista.  Check www.kapuluanvista.com for booking details. And don't forget to say hello to the resort's very own Tina Turner-welcoming-committee:

Her name is Drew :-)

summer dress

Blame it on the recent rainy weather, or the gloomy mornings & afternoons, but I've been wondering when I can go back to wearing my summer dresses again.  It's been 3 weeks since my last surf & I've been looking "corporate" waaaaay too much everyday.

Part of my fashion wish list this summer (which is about to end, anyway...so i've to whip up a rainy-day wishlist): the camel bow bag, the starfish sandals, the tie-dyed surfboard, and the streamlined Victorian-era style mod mini-dresses.  And one can never have enough short white dresses, or short sheer beach cover ups...or beads & bangles!

I can still do my surfboard though...all I have to find is the time...

all photos from Coco Kelley

Publish Post

summer bike

Almond X Linus Summer Bike

The Wish List never ends...this Almond Summer Bike is just perfect. Although, I doubt if I can lug my 9'6" Takayama anywhere on a delicate thing like this. It's just pure good vibes on a good day in a good life. :-)

Beach House 2

A part of me likes modern, industrial-type beach houses w/ just simple polished cement floors & straight wooden louvres, but there's also a part that likes cozy, white-ish walls w/ li'l nooks & reading corners perfect for winding down after a great surf day, comfy rugs & lots of pillows. Like this one from Spanish interior designer Maria Esteve, located at Cadaques on Costa Brava:

And then, there's the bedroom w/ the fluffy duvet & cool colors:

The clean-cut kitchen/ dining & the home office (yes, you could have one by the beach you know). Plus I love that there's a letter "N" on top of the table. *wink*wink*...

And the bathroom with with plenty of natural daylight & a shower area that's big enough to rinse off your surfboard! Perfect!

Best of all, all those whites & beiges are set off with the best color of all, the ocean & the sky's azure BLUES:

Aaaaaaand that's Beach House # 2. More to come as I keep my eyes open for seaside treasures :-)