Ichigo and Buko

M-I-C-K-E-Y...

2010-12-01T23:11:00.000-08:00

will the real mickey please stand up!

mr. roboto and baby borris

ichigo and mr. roboto with 'angry mickey' (on aryanna)

L'ENFANTE TERRIBLE

2010-12-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

"i'm gonna getcha!"

more cute "monster, monster" shots...

"i'm going to getcha, ate!"

dylan: "rrr...

aaa...

rrraaawrrr!"

aryanna: "i gotcha!"

I AM DYLAN...

2010-12-01T20:36:00.000-08:00

... hear me roar!

at nine and a half months old, my baby dylan can already walk! all he wants to do is zip around the house and play "monster, monster" with everyone!

the calm before the storm

dylan: "i may be small...

(and cute) but...

i've got a big personality!"

"raaaaaaawr!"

"hi-yaaa!"

A TRUE "EPPERSON"

2010-10-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

he's got the look!

you know you're an "epperson" when... you've got the deadpan look down pat.

dylan finn at 8 mos.

but more than possessing an impassive or expressionless look,
a true "epperson" has a great smile!:D

on baby borris: gap onesies
so cute!

INKBLOT

2010-10-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

not rorscach

if inkblot tests help psychiatrists determine a person’s mental state, then what do you make of these?

mr. roboto

ichigo

so, do you think you passed as "sane"? lol!

SAMSUNG PHOTO EXHIBIT: NX10

2010-10-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

child's play

samsung invited me to be part of a photo exhibit using their newest nx10 digital camera. i was tasked to represent 'fashion'.

my vision was to create something raw and tracing back my love for fashion ever since was a kid—some of us played with barbies, others played with ken (paging my gay friends, haha!), and some, like my daughter aryanna, cosplays to express herself.

i also wanted to use samsung's 'burst' multi-shot features to achieve a moving picture feel.

i had fun shooting! thanks aryanna for modeling for me! big thanks tom to for the technical support (perks of having a husband photographer, haha!) he gave me the idea to pan the camera while aryanna was moving on the 'jump' photo. i think by doing so, it gave the photo more dimension. thanks, hun! you're the best!

the photo exhibit was last august 11-15 at north court, rockwell.

'cuteture'

'jump'

'sumo dudes'

'skip'

'lunchbox'

'alice'

NOT FEAR FACTOR

2010-10-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

lunchbox goodies

tom is a seasoned traveler and he loves to go off the beaten path. he has been to isolated places like the solomon islands, where spent two weeks alone fishing. nine years ago, he and his assistant have braved the jungle of mount kanlaon, negros occidental to shoot a hundred year-old tree for the department of tourism. and in 2008, he traveled to freezing mongolia where he found inspiration for his last 'frozen II' exhibit and experienced eating yak testicles. *bleech* lol! basically, when it comes to tom and traveling, anything goes.

so on this batanes trip, his advice to aryanna (and adventurers alike): "keep an open mind and an 'open' tummy!"

the rations
according to aryanna, eating yak testicles or any other reproductive parts of an animal is not an option on this trip. she made sure that her dad packed something, uhm... familiar. ha ha ha!

lunchbox restaurant, basco, batanes
notice the big smile on tom's face? he's happy that there are restaurants now in batanes! lol! according to him, when he first visited the island twenty years ago, he could only buy food from sari-sari stores and fresh seafood from fishermen.

i wonder what's in the 'curly tops salad.' curly tops chocolate? ha ha ha! so cute!

ichigo's first meal: mixed seafood...

...sinigang (her favorite!)...

... and mocha frost! what a treat!

mr. roboto's meal: chicken curry...

... and pineapple orange juice

ichigo is happy to report that the food they ate in batanes are all "familiar". ;D

AIR RUN SERIES: BATANES EDITION

2010-09-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

the sky's the limit!

it's been awhile since the eppersons did an air run. what better place to do it than in batanes where the air is cleaner, the grass is greener and the sky is higher, er, i mean bluer?

mr. roboto

ichigo

TWELVE

2010-08-28T18:22:00.000-07:00

awww...

i'm glad that tom is able to document dylan's different looks as they are priceless!

i believe dylan was five months old in this photo.

which is your favorite?

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE BATANES

2010-08-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

"toto, we're not in manila anymore!"

you know you're in batanes when...

...cars don't rule the roads or according to aryanna, "where people walk their dinner". hahaha!

ichigo: "so, this is beef?"

...you can leave your bike anywhere without any locking mechanisms...

...you can take a (real) breather...

mr. roboto: "why did the chicken cross the road?"
ichigo: "because the chickens outnumber the cars?"
lol...

...you can be silly because no one, as in, no one cares!

...you can speed up and take photos at the same time because again, no one, as in no one is on the road!

ichigo: "batanes, i'm ready for you! are you ready for me?"

BATANES

2010-06-10T02:11:00.000-07:00

dad and daughter adventure

it's been an annual tradition for tom and aryanna to go off to some (local) exotic place and have a dad and daughter bonding time. they have been doing this for the last three years. last year, they went off to pansukian resort in siargao, surigao. it's actually our favorite family summer destination. it's where we surf, hang out, and tan. we've been going to the resort for almost six years! sadly, the resort will close down this year and a new management will build another resort. so it was perfect timing that tom and aryanna were able to stay there last year. we will miss owner nicholas rambeau, his girl friend gae, and their dogs napoleon and chocolat (french accent pls.)

this year's destination is... batanes! as early as august 2009, we all planned a trip to visit the island as it is one of my husband's favorite place in the world (he's been to batanes many times working in the past with the dept. of tourism.) but since we have a new baby, only tom and aryanna were able to go. it's ok, dylan and i are having our own little adventure at home.

tom really loves the phillipines. i think he has been to more places in the philippines than me and i've always been embarrassed about that. anyway, i should try to travel around the my country more.

my husband and daughter are now in batanes as i write this. they are doing a bike trip! yes, they ride a bike almost everywhere in batanes. i wonder how they could spend the whole day biking around. the pictures that they emailed me answered my query:

mr. roboto is free wheeling!

the hills are alive in batanes! what! a! view!

ichigo rocks!

i will update all of you about tom and aryanna's bike trip in batanes. all i can say for now is... there is a book involved. so exciting!

stay tuned!

FROZEN II: IMAGES BY TOM EPPERSON

2010-06-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

an exhibit

the invitation:

the press release:

"April 26, 2010 -- A photography exhibit at The Gallery M of The Makati Shangri-la Hotel, showcased the most recent works of Tom Epperson, famed, Philippine based photographer.

Attended by Tom’s supporters and a group of hip young art collectors, the exhibit boasted of a unique perspective into “capturing” still life in ice and elevating the process into a meticulous art unique to the photographer. This concept recently won accolades in a recent New York exhibit entitled '12 Below' at the Tyler Rollins Gallery. The works were called a unique showcase of modern prints from a Southeast Asian perspective.

Tom Epperson chose this occasion to show a collection of prints that are all representative of this newly-discovered theme. It is inspired by his concern for the environment and proves to be the perfect platform for his perfect interpretation of the juxtaposition of water with light.

Shot on location while standing on the thin ice that cover the depths of Mongolia’s frozen lakes, the photo prints are very much like abstract watercolor. Each print from the collection shows a point of view that cannot be duplicated or simulated making each one of them such important pieces as the artist had one time to shoot these and perfect them.

The artist even thinks that he may never have the chance to do this ever again.

The event established Tom Epperson as the innovative photographer/artist that he has evolved into throughout many years of architecture, commercial works and critical success.

To order prints, email tom.snapbox@gmail.com."

the photos:

Untitled #1

Untitled #2

Untitled #3

Untitled #4

Untitled #5

Untitled #6

Untitled #7

Untitled #8

Untitled #9

Untitled #10

Untitled #11

Untitled #12

Untitled #13

Untitled #14

the man:

mr. roboto

the truth:

ichigo: "dad ate yak testicles in mongolia."

lol...

NINE

2010-06-04T01:55:00.000-07:00

character building

like any newborn, dylan used to sleep the whole time. he would only wake up when he wanted to be fed or have his diaper changed then conks out almost instantly. boring.

now that he is four months old, there are a few hours in a day that he stays awake. he coos a lot and plays with ichigo, buko, and mr. roboto. not boring.

everyday we see changes in his face. he's growing up to be such a character. what do you think?

on baby borris: calvin klein striped onesies—thanks, tita jackie!
our favorite of the lot is the one in the middle! we call it the 'durrrr' look! or according to his nanny, the 'weh!' look! hahaha!

which look is your favorite?

BABY BORRIS' DAY OUT

2010-02-22T20:14:00.000-08:00

like doctor, like patient

dylan's first baby day out was to his pediatrician at makati medical center.

what's up, doc?

meet dylan's pediatrician, dr. aye nuguid.

i thought i'd dress up dylan appropriately since it was his first day out! lol

height, weight, check.

motor skills, check.

if dylan could talk or sing, he would probably say...

(to the tune of bon jovi's 'you give love a bad name') "shot through the butt and you're to blame!" hahaha!

that's all folks!

FLAVOR: ICHIGO AND BUKO

2010-02-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

"crunch!"

tom was on dylan duty last saturday so that aryanna and i can spend some quality time together.

we decided to hang out at the bookstore and then we bought some cookies after.

check out the goodies we found!

buko

choco chip cookies with coconut! who knew?

coco... not!
this tasted more like pressed dried grass than a cookie! *bleech!*

ichigo

strawberry-filled

strawberry sticks

strawberry burst

strawberry dip

ichigo + buko =

coconut cookies with strawberry cream

finally, what are cookies without...

milk!

"i love milk!"

on ichigo: shirt, topshop; shorts, urban outfitters; sneakers, converse; hat, zara; glass milk carton, fred

ALL WRAPPED UP!

2010-02-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

the 'lumpia' man

it's been thirteen years since i last had a baby. i forgot how tiny they were!

every time the nurse would bring dylan in my room or whenever we'd visit him in the nursery, he'd be wrapped up like a 'lumpia' (spring rolls) looking cute and cozy.

it's a wrap!

dylan's nurse taught me how to swaddle him like a 'lumpia'! lol

this photo busts us all up! so cute! hahaha!

our little 'lumpia' man is unwrapped and finally home.

we love you finnster!

WELCOME 'BABY BORRIS'!

2010-02-22T18:45:00.000-08:00

we've been busy

i know it's been months since i last blogged but something major has happened... i got pregnant! :D

a quick summary:

suite for my sweets!

my best friends tim, tess, and lounell threw a baby shower for me at 'suite', the fort. ange of 'the sweet life' whipped up all the yummy treats! thanks guys!

ichigo, buko and mr. roboto would like to thank everyone for making my baby shower special!

ready to pop!

last january 26 my doctor told me... "it's time."

this photo was taken at makati medical center's delivery lounge minutes before I was wheeled in the delivery room.

sheez, i looked so swollen! hahaha! i'm ready!

while i was being prepped for my delivery, tom and aryanna also did their own "prepping up":

orderly: "can i help you there sir?"

mr. roboto: "well, certainly."

ichigo: "uhm, what about some help over here!"

what to do while waiting:

organize paper works

lay down on the hospital floor because it looks so clean but in reality it's not but who cares, i'm a kid.

take a photo behind the glass window

take a photo behind the glass window while blowing a raspberry.

at 7pm...

"welcome!"

this photo was taken minutes after the baby was born! take note of the his "welcome" pose! :D

meet the newest member of the fam!

ichigo, buko, and mr. roboto presents... dylan finn epperson a.k.a. "baby borris" (with russian accent!) lol

STAIRWAYS TO CHANDELIER HEAVEN

2009-11-30T17:32:00.000-08:00

"i like shiny sparkly things"

'tis the season for all things with bulbs.

ichigo: "i wonder why i like chandeliers so much?"

buko: "do you know the story of the moth to flame?"

ichigo: "you're right! i'm mesmerized by all those shiny bright bulbs!"

buko: "i know how you feel. it's like, must. touch. them."

ichigo: *hypnotized* "must. touch. them bulbs."

buko: "go for it!"

ichigo: *runs up the stairs of makati shangri-la hotel and stretches arms to the giant chandelier*

"must... must... touch... them... bulbs... aaaaaaaa..."

buko: "so?"

ichigo: "almost. i'll try again next year. my arms will be longer by then."

buko: "ok."

on ichigo: chandelier print t-shirt, japanese pop culture project; white denim skirt with suspenders, levi's; leggings, zara; shoes, converse

ichigo: "i have a bright idea!"...

sparkly christmas ornaments found at the main lobby of the makati shangri-la hotel.

buko: "what?"

ichigo: "i can touch these shiny christmas tree balls instead!"

STREET SURFING

2009-11-30T05:37:00.000-08:00

one of the boys?

since it was bonifacio day (holiday), aryanna and i decided to "celebrate" at bonifacio high street. little did i know that "celebrate" meant aryanna hanging out with her peeps, while i did the usual boring adult stuff (according to aryanna, looking at furniture is boring).

aryanna's gear:

black wooden bead necklace, a cuteture sneak peek. striped knitted shirt from zara.

cream bonnet, zara

milk sling pouch, toy kingdom; white shorts, lost girl; leggings, zara; maryjanes, keds; d-board, toy kingdom

aryanna: "let's roll!"

aryanna's "peeps"

ichigo: "mom, stop taking photos!" *shakes head*
buko: "just one!"
ichigo: "you already took two shots!"
buko: "fine. i'll leave."

*after an hour
buko: "i think it's time to leave."
ichigo: "what? no! not yet, please?"
buko: "ok, so when do you want to go?"
ichigo: "i'll let you know when. why don't you go look at more furniture?"
buko: *pfft!*

*one of the wheels of aryanna's d-board breaks
ichigo: *shows me the broken wheel* "mom..."
buko: "i guess it's finally time to leave, huh?"
ichigo: "yeah. it's a sign."
buko: "you think?"
ichigo: "thanks mom. i owe you!"
buko: *evil grin* "in that case, go with me to bo concept".
ichigo: "mom, i came here to d-board, not get bored!"
buko: *lol*

MANGA COUTURE

2009-11-29T20:26:00.000-08:00

cuteture

i was invited by my best friend tim yap to go on a trip to thailand last july. it was one of the best trips i've ever had with my friends!

shopping was great too as it was bangkok's annual summer sale. i scored lots of great finds but i got aryanna the best dress ever! her first ever couture dress:

attack of the manga couture!
aryanna is wearing k. goong manga couture dress from eight e eight eight. it was the only one of its kind that was produced. designer k. goong uonly used it for her fashion show in japan. i was lucky to have found this dress. tim bought the tuxedo jacket version of it.

manga dress by designer k. goong
aryanna is way too young for couture but not for cuteture;)

great manga details

layers of tulle and satin fabrics under the dress

what's really interesting is that the dress is made from tarpaulin material with printed manga. this piece was made for aryanna.

eight e eight eight

ichigo: "mom! i love it! it's perfect!" *hugs mom*
buko: "i had to buy it. i know the dress was for you."
ichigo: "thanks mom!"
buko: "try it on!"
ichigo: "huh? no way! i'll read it first."
buko: *scratches head*

*photography by tom epperson

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

2009-07-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

stop, look and listen

the guggenheim museum is one of our favorite museums.

buko: "what do you like about the guggenheim?"
ichigo: "it's a fun museum to go around in. every turn is interesting and you can get "lost" in it without really getting lost."
buko: "i can't lose you."

stop...

look...

and listen.

cold silence

waiting to exhale

DIMSUM GO GO

2009-07-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

roughhouse dining

the last time we were in new york, we discovered a hole in the wall dimsum place in chinatown. while looking for a place to have lunch, we spotted the red, bold signage of dimsum go go. the restaurant was packed with chinese people, foreigners and a que of other customers lining up for a table. clearly, this place was the place to eat at, but we were too hungry to line-up.

we went back to dimsum go go for a late dinner that night and we understood why people lined-up at this joint — the food was simple, tasty, and you didn't feel bloated and lethargic from msg after eating.

it was almost closing time when we left the place, but before leaving we chatted a bit with the waiters. they shared with us that the place has been there for nine years and there are a lot of locals, tourists and celebrities that frequent their restaurant. they also told us that their new lease is coming up and they fear that if the rent goes up, they may have to close down the place or move. we hope not, because their current location has character and the food was superb.

we went back to dimsum go go several times during our stay and i even took some friends who had been living in new york for years and had never heard about the place. everyone gave it a two thumbs up.

dimsum go go is located at 5th east broadway (212-732-0796).

check out the numerous awards and positive reviews on dimsum go go.

write your own orders. this is a fun and smart way to take orders. no pictures though, but the food is pretty self-explanatory.

complementary oolong tea

peanuts and assorted dimsum sauces

steam buns (tdf) and assorted dimsum

fried spring rolls

i forgot the name of this dish, but it has a mushroom filling and wrapped in rice wrappers with light soy sauce and vinegar.

ichigo: i'm full. let's go home.
mr. roboto: cool red signage.

TWELVE FOREVER.

2009-07-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

it's never too late to stay young

one of the gifts being married to tom is that there is never a dull moment with him. he is a born adventurer, a master prankster and a joker. unlike me, who's uptight and serious. not anymore. when you are part of this family, you have to be able to dish it out and take it as well. over the years, i have learned to loosen up and hone my skills on pranks and dishing it well.

it is no surprise that aryanna turned out to be another joker. i wish i recorded all her funny one-liners and comebacks because she is sharp as a tac when it comes to dishing it out. she just has to learn how to take it, but she's only twelve. she's allowed to be sensitive once in a while. lol

if you are wondering why aryanna is busting up in this photo, it's because we were planning an "attack" on dad. strategy and the element of surprise are the key to a successful prank.

researching and planning for a good strategy.

must. read.

research material

buko: did you find anything we could use on dad?
ichigo: not really, but i found something i'd like to try.
buko: what?
ichigo: you won't like it.
buko: *excited* i'll like it! c'mon, show me.
ichigo: *shows the page*
buko: aryanna!!!
ichigo: lol... told you.

nice try.

THE CITY BAKERY

2009-07-10T04:01:00.000-07:00

hot chocolate break

i still have a lot of photos that i haven't uploaded from our last trip to new york, so i will just randomly post it here since this is really more of an online family album than a blog.

one of the best cafes we've visited in the big apple was the city bakery located at 3rd west 18th street, footsteps from 5th avenue. they are known for their breakfast pastries (each one is hand made with organic flour), their cookies are the most popular in the city, and they bake them every 30 minutes all day long. they also serve one of the best hot chocolate by maury rubin. the city bakery is also the creator of birdbath neighborhood green bakery — a must-visit place also when you're in nyc.

the ambiance is cozy and the smell of the place wreaks of good chocolate, dessert and divine food. it's the perfect place to have a coffee or hot choco break!

the food station and cashier are located at the center of the coffee shop.

a special room houses some of the best chocolates in the city.

warm, soft and mouth-watering cookies!

a cool diner is located on the first floor.

cookies and pastries served fresh from the oven.

get a heads up from the city bakery via twitter. don't you just love twitter?

i ordered brewed coffee and a hard cookie. i prefer hard cookies over soft ones.

tom and aryanna got the same black bottom. aryanna had hers with hot choco and tom with capuccino.

melt in your mouth goodness!

they serve their hot chocolate in a small bowl. aryanna used a straw to sip it — how cute!

this is how she does it. tom and i were amused by her.

a candid shot of aryanna and i taken by mr. roboto. why do we look so serious?

TRUE TO OUR ALIASES

2009-07-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

you are what you eat

sunday is family day. despite our busy schedules the whole week, tom and i make sure that we don't work on the weekend. we spend our sundays cooking brunch, going on picnics (yes, people still go on picnics) or eating out. a few months ago, we were invited to sample renaissance makati city hotel's m2m lunch buffet. i took some random shots during our lunch and it was interesting to find out that we are what we eat.

ready...

get...

set...

go!

enjoy the food porn!
ichigo (means strawberry in japanese): strawberry crepe with fresh strawberries and strawberry ice cream

buko (coconut in filipino): rice cake made with coconut milk

mr. roboto (random name = random desserts): bread pudding, dark chocolate mousse and chocolate cake.

"IT" BAG

2009-07-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

national bookstore eco bag

unlike some grown-ups, kids really don't care about branded bags. what's important to them is that it looks cool and functional. cool usually means cute to grown-ups. or not.

one of aryanna's favorite bags is the national bookstore eco bag that we got for free two years ago. once in a while, the eco bags are available in selected national bookstore branches. you just have to ask the sales people to check inside the stock room for stocks.

i asked aryanna what she liked about the bag:

ichigo: mom, you don't see this kind of red color anymore, plus it's easy to see what's inside my bag.
buko: isn't it dangerous that people can see through your bag?
ichigo: mom, the little money that i have is not worth the thief's time.
buko: what about your other stuff?
ichigo: like what? the books we bought for my book reports? please, by all means, someone please steal them!
buko: hahaha...

the perfect red color!

ichigo: this bag "airs" my stuff.

ichigo: stop it, mom! let's go home. i still have books to read and so much assignments. i wish someone would steal my books. just leave the 'persepolis 2' and my manga.

I 'HEART' ICE CREAM

2009-07-04T03:52:00.000-07:00

cold rock

when it comes to sweets and desserts, aryanna is the "master." she rarely eats junk, but when she does, she chooses the best of the lot. i didn't think cold rock was all that until aryanna pointed out...

buko: what's the big deal about cold rock anyway?
ichigo: mom. it's been my life long dream to mix several flavors of ice cream and ingredients in one cup. cold rock made my dreams come true!
buko: aryanna. you just had that yesterday.
ichigo: right. *evil grin*

"if you can dream it, we can ice cream it!"
-cold rock

dream in a cup

ichigo: they are mind-readers!

on ichigo: herbench red cap and white t-shirt, topshop black dress and glittery heart belt, levi's white watch and red chucks.

ichigo's record: 3 flavors of ice cream with 6 different ingredients.

another record: devoured in less than a minute! ouch! brain freeze!

ichigo: i love hearts! my favorite is the silver double heart ring my dad gave me for my 11th birthday.

TWIN-TUITION

2009-06-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

aryanna a.k.a. "ai" and mikah a.k.a. "hama"

meet "ai" and "hama." they call themselves the "twin-tuition" or "twinnx" because they have a lot of things in common.

i'm glad my daughter is best friends with mikah. just like aryanna, she is creative, funny, polite, loves sports and music. they have a lot in common and spend a lot of time together doing kids stuff:

rollerblading/skateboarding while pretending to be rock stars...

showing off their skills...

and posing for the camera.
they also do a lot of music videos that are campy and funny. one day, with their permission, i will post it here.

i've always been more fascinated with what's inside of a kids bag than grown-ups. i think they are more interesting, funny and borderline obscure.

what's inside mikah's bag:
clockwise: 'the nightmare before christmas' bag, nokia phone, 2 ticket stubs, mouse with heart bag chain, gel, bronze medallion, 2 unsharpened mongol pencils, ballpen, lighter (according to mikah, she "confiscated the lighter from her mom because she's pregnant. cute!), i pod nano, bills, rosary with virgin mary container, 'messy bessy' hand sanitizer, and a month-old gum.

what's inside aryanna's bag:
clockwise: emily strange bag, lucky star minature doll, mood ring, strawberry keychain, bingo card (why?), prescription glasses, motorola phone, strawberry-flavored "sipahh", tokidoki 'strawberry milk' figurine, emily strange wallet, wind-up sushi, digital tape and nintendo ds.

as you can see, there are so many obsure yet cute things you'll find inside a kid's bag. some things are head-scratchers (like bingo cards, toys and month-old gum), but more interesting than the used tissue you'll sometimes find inside a grown-up's purse. ew.

after playing at the park, the kids get a treat at mini stop.
their favorite: the giant sundae cone! wow. P10 promo.

spotted: we bumped into one of philippine fashion's designer icons, pitoy moreno at mini stop. i introduced the kids to mr. pitoy and he obliged us with a photo op. so cool!

i chatted with mr. pitoy and mentioned to him that when my husband took a photo of him for the phillippines year book a few years ago, he sent me a copy of his book and wrote a sweet dedication. i finally got to thank him personally and he was such an interesting man to talk to.

GUMMI BEARS

2009-06-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

warning: contains small parts-not intended for use by children under 4 years of age and boneheaded adults. choking hazard.

i found this gummi bear bracelet at liz claiborne. it was a lucky find as i don't usually go to that store. who knew that liz made cute stuff? maybe izaac mizrahi's wit and whimsy influenced this collection. i knew aryanna would love this accessory.

ichigo: mom, this is so cuuuuute! can i bite it?
buko: ok. i'm sure you'll do it anyway when my back's turned, might as well do it when i'm watching.
ichigo: *bites* you wanna try biting it?
buko: no.
ichigo: c'mon! i know you want to!
buko: no.
ichigo: ccccc'mmmooonn...
buko: fine. *bites*

ichigo: now that we got that out of the way, isn't it liberating?

aryanna inspires me with her outfit choices. it's youthful, fun and cool at the same time.

on ichigo: aryanna snipped the tag of the shirt so we don't know what brand it is, but we bought it on sale at rustan's; skateboard-inspired shorts from bayo, keds patent mary janes and liz claiborne gummi bear bracelet.

TO MR. ROBOTO FROM ICHIGO

2009-06-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day!

Let's see… How do I even begin? The hardest part about writing something about my dad is that I don’t even know what great things to start with. There's so much to talk about yet so little time for me to write all of it and I might just flood the page with all the awesome memories we had.

So dad… *sigh*

I would like to start by saying, “I love you.”

AND THEN…

Thank you for being there for me… you know… for being fatherly and so.

You always made my day. You made everything fun for me. You made eating healthy food exciting in every meal you made. You always pushed me to become a better person and told me to keep going at it because you said I could be the best person I could be. I believe in you. So on this day, I’m glad to say that you have succeeded in raising me as a good child (ahem-ahem) and will continue to that because I want you to be proud of me.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

xxx.

Love, Aryanna

My dad and I are big fans of UFC. We love watching "manly" fights although mom disapproves.

My parents are against violence, but karate is so much fun when you have an opponent.

Ichigo: Ooh~ I'm SO scared!

Ichigo: Izzat all you got?

Mr. Roboto: Don't you dare!

Ichigo: No way, José!

Ichigo: Hiyaaahh!

TKO!

*crowd goes wild*

crowd: I-CHI-GO! I-CHI-GO!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARYANNA!

2009-06-19T23:43:00.001-07:00

12 forever.

aryanna just turned 13, but don't dare tell her so as she believes that she'll be 12 forever. that's just fine by tom and i. lol

happy birthday, sweetheart!

aryanna had a mini b-day celebration at her school. since her birthday falls on the same day as the 'international sushi day' (made-up internet holiday), she brought assorted sushi, sashimi, chocolate caramel cake and spaghetti for her classmates and teachers.

our family had a birthday dinner at basix restaurant in dusit hotel.

aryanna decided that she was going to eat all her favorite food because it's her day! let's check out what her faves are...

sushi, roast pork, hard roll and cheese. looks promising...

roast beef with gravy, ementhal cheese (huh) and soft roll. soft rolls are her favorite kind of bread, but since it's not the healthiest thing in the world, she rarely eats it.

observe the concentration.
ichigo: proper buttering of the soft roll is essential as to not ruin the flavor vectors.

assorted vegetarian dimsum

hot choco

chocolate cake

aryanna told us not to buy her gifts anymore because according to her, we already got her a lot of stuff from our last trip to new york. awww.. she's such a great kid!

of course, tom and i couldn't help it and the surprise gifts were all worth it!

aryanna cried when we surprised her with gifts. she melted our hearts.

her current favorite manga books—kitchen princess volumes 2-9. sorry sweetheart, we forgot to buy no. 10.

bagful of assorted candies, colored pens and bubbles!

i found a campy pink superman bubbles for aryanna and she loved it! check out mr. roboto, waiting with anticipation for his turn. lol

shhh... ugar!

cute glittery bow band! i love this hairband she bought at a bazaar, it's so festive!

sparkle! sparkle! keeping within the festive theme, ichigo wore silver sequins chucks on her b-day.

i think our driver had a hard time driving as aryanna kept on flashing the camera in the car. so cute though! notice mr. roboto's "bond" look. hahaha...

we all went nuts with the camera that night. tom took this photo while he was inside the elevator. i looked like a gnome!

if our building superintendent knew half of the crazy things that ichigo and mr. roboto did inside the elevator, he would have evicted us years ago! this is ichigo attempting to press the emergency button. don't you dare! she didn't.

ichigo: where are my gifts? emphasis on the "s".

on ichigo: eley kishimoto gray striped top, dollhouse gray shorts, silver sequins chucks, levi's white watch and sparkly bow band (bazaar find.)

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

2009-05-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

messenger bikes

while walking along the east river in new york, i noticed that the bike lane looked interesting, but kinda blah-looking, so i thought i'd accessorize it a bit. LOL

rags2riches by aranaz bag and ugly doll key chain...

sporting a ms. marc marc by marc jacobs bag...

and donning an armani exchange messenger bag.

LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS

2009-05-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

enjoy the ride

i love roller coaster rides. in fact, i love heights! the first time tom and i went on a date, i took him to subic to try bungee jumping. he was game to do it despite his fear of heights, and that's when i knew he was for keeps. hahaha...

when we were still all in new york, i reminded tom and aryanna that when they get to california they should go to one of the amusement parks and try some of the rides. aryanna was very excited, but tom had second thoughts, but thanks to my evil eyes, he promised he would.

aryanna is just like me when it comes to rides — the scarier the ride, the better!

check out knott's berry farm's awesome rides:

"xcelerator the ride"
ichigo rating: "ooooooommmmmmmmggggggggg! one more time! AGAIN AGAIN!" O:

open your eyes!

"montezooma's revenge"
ichigo rating: awesome, but needs more loops.
mr. roboto rating: fist clenching. scream factor: 5!

"sierra sidewinder"
ichigo rating: dizzying yet weirdly hilarious.
mr. roboto rating: locked jaw. back-breaking.

"rip tide"
spin factor: 10!

ichigo: can we ride again, alison?
alison: *sighs heavily* oh-kay...

"la revolucion"
ichigo rating: neck-breakling awesome! one more time!
aryanna's cousin and roller coaster buddy, alison (tom's niece), was such a sport to accompany aryanna on all the rides. thanks, ali!

"supreme scream"
buko: how was supreme scream?
ichigo: i didn't scream, i giggled.
mr. roboto: i hate this! i hate this! what's that sound?
ichigo: what sound?
mr. roboto: whhhoooooooaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

these are the rides of your life!

YOU'RE SUCH A DOLL

2009-05-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

be my baby... forever.

tom and aryanna had a bit of photo op at my mother-in-law's living room. mom collects dolls (she makes her own) and crystals and she displays them liberally in her pristine living room. tom and i used to tease mom that the reason why she has a spotless living room is because no one was allowed to sit in it. kidding. lol... if i had expensive breakables in my living room, i would probably even put a sign: NICE TO LOOK AT, NICE TO HOLD, BUT IF YOU BREAK IT, IT'S CONSIDERED SOLD! hahaha...

the dolls in the photos look eerie as they seem so real, but aryanna loves them. most kids do.

aryanna with my mom-in-law's pooch, nikki. so cute!

on ichigo: mickey mouse furry hat (from tokyo disneyland), better than bare polka dot dress and topshop heart bag.

ichigo: i 'heart' dolls.

nice try. not till you're 40, baby! lol

RUN, BABY, RUN!

2009-05-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

don't ever look back

watching aryanna reminds me of how life should be.

this is another cool shot that tom took of aryanna at oceanside beach during one of their morning walks.

remember how it feels to be young...

wild...

and free?

aryanna loves the gifts she got from designer rhett eala

on ichigo: collezione 'doodle' polo shirt and custom-made 'manila' skirt, all by designer rhett eala; nooka watch; converse sneakers; heart bag from topshop; sash, aryanna's own creation

ichigo: i 'heart' rusty pipes.

WE'VE GOT EMAIL!

2009-05-02T02:02:00.000-07:00

xoxo

spotted: ichigo on shopglitterati.multiply.com

shoutout to the cute party girls, nina and jl of glitterati! you guys are so sweet!

ATTACK!

2009-04-28T04:03:00.000-07:00

@&!!%$

mobile phone rings...
ichigo: hello! mom, someone doesn't like me.

buko: how's that possible?
ichigo: apparently, i'm not that charming.
buko: aryanna, you are the nicest, friendliest person i know. i'm sure this person just needs to get to know you. who is this person anyway?
ichigo: kiera.
buko: that's a nice name. anyway, i think you should get to know her more. talk to her.
ichigo: i can't.
buko: *annoyed* just talk to her, aryanna.
ichigo: *chuckles* i cant, mom.
buko: why not?!!
ichigo: she can't speak.
buko: oh, she's mute?
ichigo: not really... here talk to her...
buko: *confused*
kiera: *barks*
buko: @&!!%

super cute kiera is aryanna's aunt linda and uncle stu's pooch

aryanna's strategy to get kiera (read: hug her).
so cute!

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

2009-04-28T03:03:00.000-07:00

style harvest

these photos were taken at an open field that tom and aryanna chanced upon while driving to san clemente, california. we live in the concrete jungle so it's a treat to see a field full of blooms! it goes without saying, aryanna enjoyed the area.

i think it's great that they took time to literally, smell the flowers, and of course, shoot!

air run: ichigo series

aryanna's cupcake skirt is so cute and i love the light gray color! my assistant, nina, brought the skirt in one of our shoots, when aryanna saw it, she instantly fell in love with it. check out glitterati's online store !

mr. roboto: give me your best "bond balls" look. (i will explain this in my coming entries.)
ichigo: *lol*

on ichigo: zara (limited edition) blazer, topshop t-shirt, glitterati skirt, converse sequins sneaks and sparkly hairband.

EASTER EGG HUNT

2009-04-26T02:15:00.000-07:00

no fuzzy bunnies

tom and aryanna spent easter at sherry's (sis-n-law) house in laguna beach, and from the looks of it, they had a blast! here are photos to remind me (again) of what i've missed out on.

darn! i love water gun fights!

lady in red. sherry (tom's eldest sis)

on the hunt. linda (tom's younger sis) and alison (tom's niece)

ali and friend, mimi

eggs + liquor = water gun fight!

alison: take cover, mom!
sherry: *falls over... snap...snap...*

mom: stop it, tommy!
tom comes from a family of jokers and mom is the master prankster! my mother-in-law is a hoot! lol... i have a better photo of her in the coming entries.

caught in the act! ha!

i love that my in-law's easter goodie bag had cute knick knacks, chocolates, jelly beans and liquor — my kind of famiglia! hahaha...

AIR RUN SERIES: DESERT EDITION

2009-04-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

mad max on the loose

mr. roboto's air running skills has been put to the test—jumping over a traffic cone! will he make it?

mr. roboto: aryanna! you cut my head off!
ichigo: *rofl*
buko: i think the photo looks better with your head out of frame. *snickers*

whew!

mr. roboto: that's all folks!

on mr. roboto: leather jacket and striped beanie, springfield; kenneth cole t-shirt; zara cargo pants, topshop socks, merrell rubber shoes; fossil watch

A FASHION OASIS

2009-04-22T23:21:00.000-07:00

wildflower

i think if you have a photographer as a dad, a stylist mom, and there's an opportunity (read: cool location), a fashion shoot is in order.

i was blown away by the photos that my husband took of aryanna in the desert! the pictures are stunning! i really love aryanna's cute and cool style! do you think i've used enough exclamation points on this post?!!!

ichigo: was that a tumbleweed?

sandstorm?

ichigo: ok, let's move location now.

ichigo: i think it's time to...

... jump!

ichigo: uhm, dad, is that a scorpion i see?

ichigo: are we done yet, dad?
mr. roboto: last one... hundred.

our little wildflower.

on ichigo: topshop coat and tank top, diesel jeans, nooka watch, duck cap (part of a costume bought in tokyo), converse sneaks

DESERT STORM

2009-04-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

60 mph

when the cat (apparently me) is away, the mice will play... hard... crazy.

my family flew to l.a. to visit tom's side of the family. my in-laws are a fun bunch so i can understand why tom is such a riot. i'm well aware that by staying in new york, i'd be missing out on the fun! fun! fun! stuff that husband's family has prepared for them. but i wanted to bond with my dad, mom, and brother, whom i terribly missed after not seeing them for a while so i stayed behind in gotham city .

here are reminders (believe me, there are more) of what i missed out on. *sniffles*

when there's a motorhome involved, it could only mean one thing: someone's going places!

aryanna's uncle stu (tom's bro-in-law) and kiera (the cutest bichon frisé) inside their motorhome.
tom's sister and brother-in-law are passionate about two things: wine and...

no, not the desert, but close...

dune buggies! woo-hoo!

ichigo: let's get those things started!

on ichigo: t-shirt from barney's; diesel jeans and scarf; giordano concepts arm warmers; converse sneaks.

aryanna with her aunt linda (tom's sister). she is one col sister-in-law! you'll meet more of mr. roboto's family in the coming entries.

ichigo: i'm ready!!!

mr. roboto: be careful, aryanna.
ichigo: eat my dust, dad!
mr. roboto: bring it on!

READER'S SERIES

2009-04-21T02:48:00.000-07:00

keep on reading!

we are tickled pink that "mrs. lavendula" of 'our daily blog' has taken a liking to ichigo & buko. thanks for featuring our blog in your site! we lav et!!!

regandmitzi.wordpress.com

we've become a favorite! woo-hoo!

LEAVING FOR THE CITY OF ANGELS

2009-04-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

"pack up, dad!"

if there's anyone who's good at packing, it's my husband. he is the master packer. lol

he has a knack of making things fit in tight places. lol... ok, i have to stop now. besides, this is a family blog. :D

aryanna the "superintendent" oversees her dad's packing.

ichigo: *standing*
mr. roboto: what are you doing? help out, aryanna.
ichigo: *helps out in packing*
mr.roboto: step back! you've invaded the packing zone.
ichigo: i thought you wanted me to help?
mr. roboto: just. hand. me. the stuff.
ichigo: *rolls eyeballs*
mr. roboto: you still do not possess the proper skills of a master packer, young pada wan.
ichigo & buko: pffft.

here are some of the clothes that araynna put together to bring to l.a. i think they are the cutest!

master roboto

EASTER BRUNCH

2009-04-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

second, third, fourth wind

it was a chilly and windy easter in new york. my brother and sister-in-law took me to brunch at cafeteria, a trendy and cozy resto located at 119 7th ave. i'm glad they chose cafeteria as it was the perfect place to celebrate easter. i love the modern interior and the food was delectable!

i was bit sad because tom and aryanna flew to l.a. to celebrate easter with tom's family. it's been a while since my husband has seen his mom, sisters, niece, nephew, and in-laws. it was also a perfect time for aryanna to bond with her dad's side of the family. i decided to stay in ny as i wanted to spend time with my dad, mom, brother, and cousins. i wish i had time to fly out to l.a. too as i miss my in-laws. they are quite a fun bunch to hang out with. you'll see what i mean in my coming entries. they are a hoot!

i read mixed reviews about this 24-hour joint, but after trying it out, i give it two thumbs up!

buko: i like your place here.
waiter: you should come here around 4 am and see the real cafeteria. *evil grin*
buko: hmm... i like.

i wish the weather was more agreeable. it would've been nice to eat al fresco.

cool cafeteria menus! i love how they used characters as models.

did you have a hoppy eggster?

i like haunts that have lots of lights pouring in. makes brunch cheery and delightful.

my sister-in-law, sheryl, is 5 months pregnant. congrats! aryanna's first cousin on my side of the family is finally on his way! it's a boy! woo-hoo!

enjoy the food porn!
i like splenda and skim milk in my cup of joe.

cafeteria's famous for its fried chicken waffle. i've never had them before, both my bro and sis-in-law ordered it, and it was divine!

i had my usual steak and eggs. it was ok, but not as good as the fried chicken waffle. dang!

instead of toast, i ordered a biscuit. i love their biscuit! it's crumbly with a hint of saltiness-- just the way i like it!

after brunch, i asked my sister-in-law to take a photo of me with cafeteria's façade, but it was too windy to capture a descent shot! grr...

sheryl: ready...
buko: wait!

sheryl: ready...
buko: wait!

sheryl: ready...
buko: wait!

sheryl: ready...
buko: wait!

on buko: knitted sweater, bazaar find; brooch, mbmj ms. marc; black t-shirt, uniqlo; skirt, lui-jo; leggings, sm; bag, lv stephen sprouse; sunglasses, prada; platform maryjanes, ysl.

buko: that's it! just take a shot of my shoes! *lol*
sheryl: *lol*

TV-FREE

2009-04-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

chillin'

what to do when it rains and there's no tv?

listen to bach...

(let your soul hear a lullaby)

draw...

(let your creative juices flow)

run...

(let your spirit free)

and blog.

(what else is there to do anyway?)

ART ATTACK!

2009-04-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

inking

tito ryan took aryanna shopping at one of her favorite stores, kinokuniya, a japanese bookstore located at 10 west 49th street, nyc.

japanese bookstores are like candy stores for aryanna. she can spend hours on end browsing and scouring for manga. she's been wanting to get inking pens to draw her manga, and found them at the bookstore.

ichigo: "i can live here."
ryan: "choose whatever you want."
ichigo: "please. don't say that."

ichigo: "i love pandas!"

samurai dude
ichigo: "if only i had white walls... the possibilities are endless." *evil grin*

inking pen
pool of ink put into good use.

"sugar is essential in drawing."
-ichigo

my little artist hard at ~~play~~ work

"look ma, dirty hands!"

ichigo: "my work's not ready yet. *hiss*

THE LAUNDRY MAN

2009-04-18T01:48:00.000-07:00

wash & wear

because we're in the states, we have no helpers.
i hate doing the laundry, but my husband is not afraid.

wash...

and wear

mr. roboto: "i have no fear, but fear itself."
ichigo: "the only thing he fears is static cling!"
buko: "thank god, the dryer was broken."

ODE TO CUPCAKES

2009-04-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

sweet!

frost.
whip me a warm passion.
dream.
confections in minute molds.
warmth.
crystalline comfort in every bite.
heaven.
a heart's delight.
life.
saccharine sweet!
-buko

aryanna at magnolia bakery on bleeker st.
on ichigo: zara blazer, topshop t-shirt, emily strange tartan skirt, steve madden fringed boots, american apparel scarf and leggings

dear cupcake, i want to lay you down on a bed of choppers.

the perfect bite: chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting topped with rainbow sprinkles.

got cupcake?

one day i will open my own cupcake shop. it will be filled with dreams, hopes, happiness, and juvenescence, just like how life should be.

WHITNEY

2009-04-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

i will always love you...

out of all the museums i've visited in new york,
the whitney museum of american art is the one i like best!

during our visit, we were fortunate enough to catch the show of one of my favorite artists, jenny holzer. she is an american conceptual artist whose main focus is the use of words and ideas in public space. her favorite mediums are street posters, led signs,benches, stickers, plaques, t-shirts, and the net. her truisms are simple yet powerful, and thought provoking.

i wanted to buy one of her books from the gift shop, but our friend marcel said that he'll "work" on getting me one. *wink* thanks, marcel!

below are not jenny holzer's words, but just as powerful:

"i hope life treats you kind
and i hope you have all you've dreamed of.
and i wish to you, joy and happiness.
but above all this, i wish you love."
-dolly parton

jenny holzer's exhibit runs from march 12 to may 31

if your child is 12 yrs. and below, they get in for free.

one of jenny holzer's led signs at the whitney museum

'enjoy yourself because you can't change anything anyway'
-jenny holzer

taken inside the whitney museum. i love the graphic lights.

check out mr. roboto's robotic pose and ichigo's let's-go-check-out-the-exhibits-now look.

the whitney museum has the coolest and most obscure-looking windows.

buko: "ooh, what are you guys looking at?"
ichigo: "the street."

i 'heart'...

new york!

AIR RUN SERIES: READERS' EDITION

2009-04-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

the family that jumps together, stays together.

the eppersons have done it again! :D
our crazy family's air running display has rubbed off on an equally crazy family. we lav et!

seriously, we're over the moon to have inspired one of our dear readers, nerissa, to do something fun and exhilarating with her family! they did their own air running exhibition, and judging from the photos they took, they had a blast!

mommy nerissa is airborne!

nerissa's youngest son, li, has the coolest moves!

nerissa'a eldest son, ries, jumps out of a helicopter! geronimo...

woohoo!

daddy james jumps for joy!
looks like mr. roboto's got some competition. :D

thanks nerissa for sharing your family photos!

BAD LUNCH, GOOD LUNCH

2009-04-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

not even close

we thought sabrett would cut it for lunch. we thought wrong.

it rained the moment we got to the sabrett man, so when there's a downpour, leave the damp 'dogs to the dogs.

nothing beats ambiance and heating on a cold, rainy day.

clearly, sabrett is no sarabeth's.

enjoy the food porn!
ichigo ordered their fat and fluffy french toast served with strawberry garnish and warm maple syrup.

mr. roboto's sandwich was made up of semolina bread, mozarella cheese, tomatoes, creamy avos, and a side salad of leafy greens.

i ordered the one great burger, fresh ground beef sirloin pattie, arugula, tomato on a brioche bun served with french fries. i love that they used an ice cream sundae cup to serve their fries. so out of the ordinary!

i love fries with salt and pepper.

cornichon much?

when it's cold, capuccino is key to ward off the chill. check out the foam made with perfection!

ichigo: "dad, do you think the rain's going to stop anytime soon?"
mr. roboto: "did you see the size of the pancake on the other table?"
buko: "did anyone call the waiter?"

*sarabeth's and sabrett are located at the whitney museum of american art, 945 madison avenue new york, ny 10021

DON'T BE BLUE

2009-04-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

go yellow

here we go 'round mulberry st.,

mulberry st.,

mulberry st.,

here we go 'round mulberry st.,

so early in the morning!

SERIOUSLY NOT SERIOUS

2009-04-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

walk off

it would've been nice to have a picnic at bethesda terrace in central park, but it was too damn cold. instead, we had a walk off to get our blood circulating.

ichigo & buko
serious.

ichigo & mr. roboto
not serious.

serious.

not serious.

serious.

hopeless.

it's a challenge to take a descent photo of these two as they are a crack up! but i wouldn't have it any other way.

random
when it's spring, love is in the air.

buko: "hun, there's a wedding!"
mr. roboto: "cool."
buko & mr. roboto: "aryanna, come look at the wedding couple..."

ichigo: "the view over here is better. come look at the boat!"
*everyone looks at the boat, including the wedding couple.*
buko: *shakes head*

mr. roboto: "hurry up, dude!"
ichigo: "hurry up, dad!"

ichigo: "look, i'm spidey!"
buko: "guys, let's concentrate on my pose first."
ichigo & mr. roboto: *rolls eyeballls*

PART II

2009-04-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

i wanna rock!

i want to jump on a rock...

sit on one...

jump again...

relax on it...

and finally, just lie down on it. zzz...

ICHIGO AT CENTRAL PARK Part I

2009-04-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

foliage

spring is in the air.

some of the flowering plants in central park are now abloom, and the colors are intense!

buko: "what's that look for?"
ichigo: "this is my pissed off look."
buko: "don't say "pissed off" aryanna!"
mr. roboto: "it's ok to say "pissed off" when you're pissed off."
buko: "but she's not pissed off. now i'm pissed."

buko: "that's better."

aryanna has the deadpan look down pat, but she looks great with a big smile on her face. :D

branches

buko: "ok, pretend you're lost in the woods."

this is one my favorite photos of aryanna that tom took in central park. her look is enigmatic.

this could be a fashion shot of a scarf. i lav et!

concrete

taken at the bethesda steps of central park

we wanted aryanna to slide down the concrete banister, but it seemed dangerous. it would've been a fun shot though.
:D

BENCH WARMERS

2009-04-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

brrr.

it was a cold day when we visited central park. how cold? well, actions speak louder than words...

i love this particular bench because of...

what was engraved on the metal plate. awww...
try to look for this bench in the park. it's really sweet!

ichigo: "just looking at the lake makes me feel cold."
buko: "look away then."

i find this photo too funny! both tom and aryanna look frozen.

ichigo: *locked jaw* "ersh verr-eh cord, morm."
buko: "huh?"

buko: "it's time to go guys."
*cricket... cricket...*
mr. roboto & ichigo: *frozen*
:D

ICHIGO & BUKO'S TURN

2009-04-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

jump! jump!

by now, you should realize how much we love jumping shots. it's silly, but we have so much fun doing it! you guys should try it.

in life, as in jumping, the only way is up!

ichigo

on ichigo: knitted cap bought in chinatown, j. crew pea coat (from tita tess), diesel t-shirt, american apparel skirt, leggings from sm, and steve madden fringed boots.

buko

on buko: knitted sweater, bazaar find; american apparel long sleeve tee; tango dress (used as skirt) boots bought in hk; dior sunnies, gloves from the 99⊄ store; marc by marc jacobs messenger bag.

no one does it better than mr. roboto, the air jump specialist.

CAFE WITH CHARACTER

2009-04-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

the harbor cafe

one early morning, my husband decided to ramble in downtown manhattan in his quest to find a quirky cafe to have breakfast in. leave it to mr. roboto to find the perfect spot by the harbor.

we love cafes and diners with distinct character. this one definitely has one. check out the maps, photos, model ships, and knick knacks in the background!

i love this shot of aryanna and myself. did you say quirky?

my turn to play ds. i'm hopeless at it though.

after breakfast, we decided to walk along the harbor to burn off some of the grease we ate. it was cold that morning. brrr.

ichigo: "i want body heat, dad."

this is totally a random shot.

mr. roboto: "girls, can you jump for me. i want to test the flash setting of my canon."
ichigo & buko: *giddy* "sure!"

on ichigo: leather jacket from tita she, bayo long sleeves tee, custom made 'manila' skirt from collezione by rhett eala, mbmjmiss marc bag, leggings from sm and silver sequins converse. on buko: burberry coat, gap cardigan, marc by marc jacobs dress, boots bought in hk, dior sunnies, rIIr by aranaz 'maria rosa' bag with ugly doll key chain, and borrowed check scarf from mr. roboto.

buko: "i want a photo with the manhattan bridge in the background."
ichigo: "hurry mom, it's cold!"
buko: "take the shot, hun! it's cold!"
mr. roboto: "don't rush me if you want good shots!"
:D

i love this photo! there are so many odd things going on: the ambulance in the background, the woman doing her morning jog, and me walking away from the ambulance as though i just came out of it. lol

i love this one too! tom was able to capture aryanna wedged inside one of the bridge's pillars as a woman was jogging by.

INTERMISSION

2009-04-08T12:09:00.001-07:00

air run

ladies and gentlemen, ichigo & buko present: mr. roboto's official pose...

new york edition

the graffiti wall at bowery

running on air in central park

warning: mr. roboto will be air-running to a city near you!

WE'VE GOT EMAIL!

2009-04-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

xoxo

today is a special day because i received a personal message from one of my dear readers who has given me the permission to post her letter, and share it to all of you.

"Hey Jenni! I just have to say how much I enjoyed your blog (or is it your daughter's), Ichigo & Buko! I love how personal it is, and by the way, congratulations to your husband on his show. Galing!

Anyway, I just wanted to drop you a line about this, I set out today, looking forward to finding something that would inspire me. I found it in your Ichigo & Buko. I love how you and your family have no fear of self-expression and how you all have embraced the artistry in your lives.

Very cool, Jenni!"

From: Mieki

thanks, mieki!!!
your letter means a lot to us. we're glad you enjoy reading our blog.
:D:D:D

IHOP

2009-04-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

bloated

my brother and sister-in-law took us to new jersey for some serious discount shopping. on our way, we stopped by ihop (international house of pancake) for breakfast. aryanna and i were looking forward to try their food (we've never had them) as mr. roboto's been gushing about the delectable fare since arriving new york-- "you guys have to try ihop's belgian waffles, french toast, and strawberry pancakes!" oh-kay...

too bad my husband didn't come with us even for breakfast, but i guess he did not want to witness the demise of our bank account so he opted to stay in ny to go around the museums, and check out more galleries. good decision, hun. :D

ichigo: "welcome to ihop!"

ichigo: "shhh... don't tell dad."

enjoy the food porn!
ichigo and buko: "we smell butter!"

pancake syrup
buko: "ahh... the variety..."

cup of joe

aryanna ordered the fruit pancake with strawberry and whipped cream toppings. she almost gagged when she saw the generous amount of whipped cream her order came with! it almost covered the whole pancake! i'm glad she didn't finish the whole stack or i would have asked her to do laps and jumping jacks before shopping. kidding.

this is what i ordered...

the stuffed french toast was a small portion, but the ingredients were deadly!

the cream and strawberries were mouthwatering, and the bread was perfectly cooked. yum!

we normally don't smile in photos, but eating too much carbs can make you do silly things. :D

this is what too much sugar can do to people. lol

sheryl and ryan
they just found out they're having a baby boy! congrats!!!

there were so many people waiting to be seated when we left. i'm glad we got there early.

we did a bit of photo op while waiting for my brother's 4x4. this is the time we needed mr. roboto's photography skills as some of our shots were blurred. oh well...

parting shot
aryanna took a cool snap of my favorite dior sunglasses inside the truck.

TOUR DE NEW YORK

2009-04-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

quickie

aryanna had a few hours to explore the big apple before attending her dad's '12 below show, so her uncle and aunt took her for a quick tour.

she was able to cover lots of grounds, considering she only had half a day to spare. thanks to tito ryan and tita she!

let the tour begin...

at the rockefeller center
on ichigo: zara blazer, topshop t-shirt, h&m cupcake skirt, leggings from sm department store, mbmj bag.

just taking it all in

little girl, big city!

top of the rock, baby!
ichigo: "i see the statue of liberty waving at me!" *waves back*

ichigo: "hello..."
buko: "just checking on you... what are you doing?"
ichigo: "just riding the escalator."
buko: "that sounds like... fun?"
ichigo: "i know, right!" :D:D:D
buko: "oh-kay... bye, bye!"

with preggy tita she...

and tito ryan.
he's so sweet. he carries all of tita she's bags!

aryanna takes a bite at the big apple... literally. she's so cute!

time square
ichigo: "this was taken at times square. as you can see, there's the lion king in the background... and the trash can next to me. nice."

ichigo: "toys r' us behind me, and again, i'm next to the trash can. why?"

ichigo: "finally, a pole for a change. wheee..."

COFFEE BREAK

2009-04-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

piping hot & cold

while walking around little italy, we found a chic cafe to take a break in. we wanted the table by the window, but there were two ladies who took forever to leave the spot. i think we went around the block three times before we finally saw the table vacant. sheesh...

anyway, the wait paid off. look at how glorious the beautiful the sun was shining at the cafe...

we love the window of caffé roma!

iced coffee latté for buko, hot choco for ichigo, and capuccino for mr. roboto.

i prefer italian pastries over french ones. the rainbow-colored cookie is divine! i wish i asked what it was.

mr. roboto: "go ahead, make my day."

'chairs' by mr. roboto

ichigo: "let's order more cookies, mom!"
buko: "ask your dad."
ichigo: *afraid*

moments at the corner cafe

chillin' like villains
bbb... bad to the bone!
i love this photo that my husband took of aryanna. she looks badass with those shades, her pose, along with the magnum gun and muscle man posters in the background. this snap was taken a few streets from the cafe.

on ichigo: oakley sunglasses (borrowed from dad), topshop 'plastic toys need hugs too' t-shirt, viktor jeans, zara scarf, fingerless glove (freebie), converse red chucks, mbmj bag, and cat plushie.

beware of the cookie bandit
on buko: dior round sunnies, topshop oversize tee, american apparel leggings, fingerless gloves from giordano concepts, and boots bought in hong kong.