no return, no exchange

blue painterly dress – props | midnight blue cotton cover-up – thrifted | ash blue belt – primal rave | gold-glitter flats – solemate, sm department store | blue satchel – primal rave | bohemian necklace – downtown find | spiral bangle – primal rave | black hat – metro department store 

the required 7-hour seminar for would-be marrying couples that we attended last Sunday was expected to be a long day of droning lectures but instead turned out to be a fun and insightful experience. real-life couples who’ve been together for 10 – 38 years conducted the seminar which made it all the more relevant because they were sharing real-life experiences. my top three take-me-homes from the seminar:

♥ marriage is not always a bed of roses
♥ issues can be solved by open communication
♥ once married, there is a strict no return, no exchange policy

this is it — there’s no turning back! after all, we already made the down payment. LOL.

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bohemian love

almost five years ago, i put on a blind-fold and took hold of his hand, not knowing where to go, not knowing where we’ll end up. here we are and our hands are still tightly entwined.


styling and production design – cuckoo cloud concepts
photography – marlon capuyan
hmua – erika diaz

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sayonara!

lemon and turquoise striped top with sequined pocket – primal rave | skinny jeans – thrifted | pink and gun-metal wedge sandals – people are people | blue satchel – primal rave | powder blue feather earrings – downtown find

last week i officially bid goodbye to a life i thought i wanted. i may sound like a broken record because i did do the same two years ago. 
two years ago though when i decided to leave to pursue my dreams, i really wasn’t sure what i wanted to do, not even sure if i really knew what my dreams were. it was done on a whim — that i just needed to get out of there. all i knew at that time was that i wanted to pursue fashion but was still very lost. no wonder i ended up lying awake at night, feeling very scared. 
i spent a year working for my sister and spiraled downwards by leaving that job too and taking a home-based online job which made me even unhappier. my sister saw me and said, “straighten up your life.” a friend reminded me, “i thought you wanted to pursue management.” so i got even more scared and went back to what was comfortable (and what earned me more money). 
at the end of the day though, everything felt redundant and soon very frustrating. i am a perfectionist by nature so i try to excel at everything i do but it doesn’t necessarily mean that i loved what i am doing. i gave this life another chance but it’s just not for me. 
this time, i have more clarity. if things don’t seem clear though, i just have faith. and i am very lucky to have the support of my family and friends. this time, i may have gone cuckoo but i am happy. cuckoos may not have new shoes every month but walking is lighter. 

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Style Inspiration: Just Cavalli Spring 2013 Ready-to-Wear

one of the collections i always look forward to is roberto cavalli’s — whether it be his flagship Roberto Cavalli or his 2nd collection of the season, Just Cavalli. Cavalli satisfies my hunger for chic bohemian fashion — his clothes have a luxe palette, rich texture and a genius symphony of prints. every item on the looks below are on my Christmas wish list. a girl can dream right? 

image sources

what are your favorites from Just Cavalli’s Spring 2013 Ready-to-Wear collection?

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my sister blogs too!

my older sister has finally jumped the gun. after accompanying me to bloggers united 3, she saw what the commotion was about and what a wonderful community the philippine fashion bloggers had. we joked and convinced her to try blogging but she was hesitant because she said she wouldn’t know what to say. i think it was after collaborating with various bloggers for PROPS did she finally decide to start her own blog. meet my sister, Charm and head on over to her blog: One Semi-Charmed Life.
oh yeah, i know you’re thinking it — my sister is TALL. she’s 5’7″ while i stand just a mere 5’2″. LOL. i don’t know what happened but she’s the tallest in our family. my mom must have eaten a growth bean, or something. 

for those who have not read previous posts in my blog, i do have a little sister too. tres marias, is what they call us. all three of us love fashion and at one point, shared one whole continuous closet in our house when all 3 of us used to live together. my little sister is now in Sydney, Charm has left the nest after she got married and i’ve stayed back with the parents — so we can say our closets are now strictly our own. 
the three of us have a project coming soon. *wink*

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close your eyes and dive

polka boho top – primal rave | denim high-waisted cut offs – levi’s, thrifted | camel woven flats – rubi shoes, cottonon.com | black and white turban – cottonon.com | tan fringe boho bag – urban originals, uo.com.au | bohemian layered necklace – downtown find | claw cuff – borrowed from mom

…i’ve always been a risk-taker of some sort. although i’m ironically afraid of failure but i’ve had so many instances in my life where i’ve leaned on my instincts, followed my emotions and jumped the gun. usually these instances turn out for the best. sometimes, they don’t but they never come with utter regrets because regrets hurt most when you didn’t take chance, don’t you think?

i am about to embark on another chapter in my life. a scary yet exciting venture that draws on my passion and the love of arts. this seems familiar but this time i somehow know where i’m going. only a few more days to go and i’ll be living the boho life.

P.S. i promise to tell you guys more about this venture — for now, i’m making sure technicalities are set and i still have enough to pay the bills. that’s life for you right there — the arts doesn’t necessarily pay the bills. at least not at the beginning. i hope that you guys pray for our success though. we badly need all the prayers we can get. ♥

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sponsored post: gifts for all occassion

Here’s a Tip for the Guys ~

The winter holiday season is traditionally a time for gift giving. Most people will think of or see the perfect gift for their loved one and stash it away for months until that time of the year arrives. Why wait for Christmas when you can show your loved one just how much they mean to you now? There are many reasons to give gifts, and giving the gift of Pandora is a great way to show someone just how much you love them at any time of the year. Pandora’s extraordinary quality and style make it an amazing gift to give at any time of the year.

 Why settle for the same old gold rings and hoop earrings for your loved one when you can surprise them with the gift of a Pandora charm bracelet. Pandora offers a wide variety of different styles of bracelet to suit your budget and her style. Whether she loves the natural look of braided leather or the flashy confidence of two-tone gold, a Pandora bracelet will look great around her wrist. Pandora also offers excellent craftsmanship and sturdy clasps that are sure not to snap or spontaneously open. This means that, not only will you be buying your loved one a beautiful gift, but a high quality gift as well. 

Choosing charms for your loved one’s Pandora bracelet is fun and rewarding. You get to think about all of the things that she loves while knowing that you will surely make her smile. The variety of charms that Pandora offers is great for all occasions. Whether she is graduating from college, having a baby, celebrating her birthday, or you just want to show her how much you love her, you can do so with charms from Pandora. You can also select from charms containing stylized glass and gemstones to fit her unique and personal style.

No matter the occasion, the woman in your life deserves to be shown just how much she means to you. Don’t wait till December. Buy her a charm bracelet today that is as unique, reliable, and beautiful as she  is.

 

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the bloggerhood of the traveling scarf

polka dress with duo collars – primal rave (there’s a salmon version of this – let me know if interested) | mustard platform heels – zalora.ph by centropelle | green braided belt – thrifted | black bowler hat – metro ayala | elephant tust necklace – bangkok find | oversized stone ring – downtown find | claw cuff – borrowed from mom | studded bag – primal rave | silk scarf – bloggerhood of the travelling scard

…finally, after 4 months I am able to do a post of the traveling scarf. it’s this beautiful silk scarf that’s being passed around by bloggers around the world and the project is the brainchild of sweet, madison and yvonne. i was so excited when i received the scarf but work (and illness) got in the way of things and time flew by in a blur. the moment i chose a stress-free life, my first order of business was to make up for all the back log i had on my blog. the beautiful traveling scarf needed my attention asap. i wore the scarf as a turban — my favorite way to don them. i love how the straight lines and color of the scarf provided a cool contrast to the quirky polka dress, don’t you think? 

the scarf is headed over to rabsin of finlust by rabsin. can’t wait to see what he’ll do next with the scarf! 

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sponsored post: season for dressing up

Right when September rolls in, there is always an excuse to dress up. With the commencement of Spring 2013 fashion week all over the world, the start of the school year and the corresponding homecoming activities, the beginning of awards shows like the Emmy’s and eventually to holiday parties until the end of the year, there is never a period in a year where fashion is most prominent and elegant.

When dressing up, it never hurts to dress to the nines especially when attending formal events. Designer dresses are great options to instantaneously create glamour while others choose to create their own statements with jewelry paired with simple dresses. For the young at heart, regardless if you’re in school or not, prom dresses become cool and quirky alternatives to creating a fashionable impression.

Always remember though that in this stylish season, the best accessory is a smile.

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can too much excitement kill you?

bird-printed top with ruffled back detail – primal rave | black electro-pleated midi-skirt – thrifted | cobalt blue wedge sandals – gifted by Aimee | blue with yellow and peach accent satchel – primal rave | black wide-brimmed hat – cotton on | necklaces – downtown finds | rings: multi-colored bird – bangkok find, gifted by mom, turquoise connector – downtown find | cutout cuff – downtown find |  studded green belt – primal rave

i’ve been feeling rather inspired and weirdly optimistic lately. my friend and i are starting a passion project and we couldn’t be any more excited about it. take out the fact that we’re both giddy type of people and you’ll still find us overly excited. unlike 2 years ago when i ventured on a project because i thought it was what i was passionate about, this one feels different. it’s not forced. it’s not frustrating. it just feels natural and true. i pray this is it. will definitely tell you guys more — soon! 
and ooh, here’s a sneak peak of my accidental obsession. my dad built this shelf for me — which was so sweet of him (or maybe because him and my mom could no longer stand my shoes strewn across the floor). i bought these shoes with my own hard-earned money from work and these pairs came with both sweat and tears. but you know what? a stress-free, full of passion life is something a wall of shoes can never compensate. 

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sponsored post: selecting your wedding shoes, advices


It’s a well known fact that women give a great importance to their shoes. Surely, when it concerns such great day as wedding, everything should be perfect, including shoes. Since shoes can have a huge impact on a woman’s behavior, any bride should think ten times when buying a pair for such special day as wedding day. The shoes should enhance the beauty of the bridal dress and at the same time, make the bride feel very comfortable, so she could enjoy in full her special day! If you are making a beach wedding in Florida,the choice of shoes will also be of crucial importance. 

Selecting Your Wedding Shoes, Advices

 If you still think that fashion and style are the only criteria that matter in choosing wedding shoes, you are wrong. First of all, before selecting the shoes, look at the wedding venue and the season weather when the wedding is taking place. Thus, if the wedding is about to be held outside in the summers, shoes like sandals with straps will suit the best, while pumps on high heels can stick into the ground, making you feel discomfort while walking! Respectively, if the wedding is in winter time, choose closed shoes, they will protect your feet from the cold. 

 Depending on what kind of wedding you are about to have, so will your wedding shoes. For example, if you are making a beach wedding or, flip flops, which today are available in various designs and colors, will be the best choice for your wedding dress. But if your wedding is formal one, taking place in church or restaurant, then it’s better to choose classical, elegant, high-heeled pumps or sandals on heels. 

 Second, when you have already on your wedding gown, choose such shoes that will look nice with the wedding dress. When choosing the shoes, bring a sample of your wedding gown fabric with you to the store, so that the shoe color could match exactly with your wedding dress color. One more thing to pay attention to is a type of embellishments that will be on the gown. If the dress is too lacy or has got embroidery or crystals on it, then combine it with plain looking but still festive shoes. However, if the dress is pretty simple, go for fancy shoes with embellishments, to make the image smarter. 

 Last, but not the least, choose the material of the shoes very accurately. If you want a very rich and a bit funky look, choose leather shoes. If you still wish to look very feminine, get shoes in tender tissue like silk, velvet, satin or lace but make sure it coincide with your wedding gown. And remember that even on a gloomy day, give the woman a pair of sexy high heels that she will like, and all her blues will vanish immediately in the air!

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dreaming of fall

floral midi skirt – thrifted | pink metallic cardigan – borrowed from mom | white tank top – forever21 basic | giraffe-printed wedge booties – shoe etiquette | tan fringe leather bag – urban originals | green studded belt – primal rave | black wide-brimmed hat – cotton on | spiral-esque cuff – primal rave | brass necklace – downtown find | rings: lion and armor rings – downtown finds, laminated wood – props

the one good and bad thing about living in a tropical country is the tropical weather. ironically, we use the tropical weather as an excuse to wear as little clothing as possible all year round but also need to do so otherwise we die of dehydration. our weather can be bipolar and would be sunny in the morning and be rainy in the afternoon. take for example the day these photos were taken. an hour before leaving the house, the sky was grey and seemed to incessantly pour rain. the moment we got out of the house though, the sun came out and it got so humid, it got hard to breathe. two hours later, it started drizzling again.
oh how i wish we can experience fall, at least one month in a year. just a month in a year where the breeze is a little colder despite the sunny atmosphere and the colors of the rest of the world are lovelier and more surreal. unfortunately, we only get to experience sunny – rainy – sunny – rainy – and so on every year. just like how i do with elephants, i’ll just experience fall in my dreams.

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