James Jeans "Twiggy"

May 29, 2010 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

James Twiggy

twiggy It’s been a while since I’ve made a style blog post but I thought these were incredibly worthy of a blog.

I walked into my favorite store, thinking I’d end up buying a dress or top, never really thinking I’d invest in jeans over $50 but when I tried them on, I couldn’t resist. Now, mind you, I’m not one to spend a lot of jeans, because I figure, jeans are jeans, and you could buy a good pair in TJMaxx for less than $20, but you can’t find THESE jeans in Forever 21 (even though they bite fashions from high end stores) or discount stores (I’ve tried). After all the jeans I’ve bought, they probably ended up accumulating into more than $50 anyway, so I should have saved myself the trouble and tried on these jeans way back in the day.

So the sales lady asked me from a distance, outside the fitting room, "how are the jeans going?" I whimperedly announced, "unfortunately, way too good." I think they know me there by now, esp. with a name like Marchesa.

I slipped into these size 26 jeans, feeling a bit encouraged after losing 2 lbs. and thought I would just slip it right back on the rack, unforgivingly, but to my surprise, my curves (or un-curves) were hugged securely by these James jeans. My seemingly fatty cells were welcomed by these jeans ironically named "Twiggy."

The dark wash was perfect, the hug, and even the 26 waist. Made me want to buy one more, just in case twiggy 1 gets ripped before I turn 60. hahaha

source:
price: $135 retail
sale: $60

choir director’s kid

May 22, 2010 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

This is the result of being pregnant for 2 cantatas, attending every choir practice for 2 more cantatas, Zienne seems to be quite the musical baby.  At a very early age of 5-6 months, she started singing her “aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahs.”  She would sing in choir practice and praise and worship, loudly above fellow voices. She even knows to sing when requested “sing.”  Around the same time, she’d dance by swaying side to side to music, even when sung.

One day I found her trying to conduct to this song. Ever since then, she’ll press the button and start leading. Odd thing is that she’ll only conduct to this song. I laugh because I wonder if I really look like that every time she sees me conduct the choir. She gets shy at the end because she realizes that I’m taking a video, but she’s game enough to give me a high-5

 

Choir Director’s Kid Length:0:33

Zienne 12months

Zi@1

May 19, 2010 · Written By Perze Ababa  · View Comments 

Two weeks ago Zienne turned 1. It’s amazing how much she’s grown and how fast that year went by. I remember when Emma was born, time seemed to move at a turtle like pace. That’s probably the same for any first time parent out there.

Zienne hit most milestones faster than Emma, except for her hair and teeth. By the time Emma turned 1, she probably had 14 teeth already. Zi on the other hand has 7. Zi was pretty good with walking, I do think that is because she sees her older sister do it all the time.

Like her sister, she is loud. Always trying to get her mom’s attention by babbling like there’s no tomorrow. She does do something that we’ve never seen Emma do at her age and that is singing. At 7 months Zienne has been exposed to the choir because of cantata rehearsals. Everytime she sees people hold up their song books she sings. At first I thought it was pretty random but she knows when to start and stop. She makes the cutest “Aaaaaah” sound only to take breaks every other measure.

She not only sings but she dances as well. Swaying back and forth to the melody of the music. She loves Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance. I smile eveytine I think about it. Everytime she hears music that she is familiar with, she drops whatever she does, let’s out the widest grin and just sways back and forth. It’s our cheat code whenever she won’t stop fussing.

Unlike Emma, Zienne seems to be uninterested with the TV, iPhone or any gadget. She could never last a single kids show. She does like to play with my Blackberry more than the iPhone which I find really odd.

One thing about this girl though is that she loves her mama more than anything. She’s not as clingy as Emma was but she just lights up when she sees her mom.

Zienne, if you ever read this when you grow older, remember that in 2010, you turned 1, you still have no hair, you do have 7 teeth, you walk like a pro and the piercing on you left ear closed.

I’ll always remember your sweet symmetrical face. I love you and we thank God for having you as our baby. Belated happy 1st anak.

I will always be, your Tatay.

Zienne’s 1st birthday

May 9, 2010 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

Happy 1st Birthday, Zi.

2finalzienneinvitestats

For Zi’s birthday blog, redirect HERE: 
http://twelvesixteen.net/home/2010/06/03/classic-twelvesixteen/may-9-goodbye-to-infancy/

from an honest place

May 3, 2010 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

*erase everything*

The sweetest time during last sunday’s service was when I played for the Lord’s Supper. I really felt like that was one of the most honest ways of my worship because I felt like I was playing for God alone, allowing Him to hear what was in my heart, from a place just full of praise, despite everything.

I wish I could say it’s like that every time, but if I’m honest, I can’t. I let things get in the way, esp. what I think people are expecting. But recently, playing the piano during at those in between moments during worship service are my favorite moments.

I think those moments of grace are what keep me grounded, and if words are absent, those intimate moments praising my Maker are sufficient to encourage me.

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee. How great thou art.”