catching up: running errands

navy blue jumpsuit – props | dark chartreuse cardigan – thrifted | blue belt – props | multi-colored sandals – bangkok find | necklace – downtown find | bangles and bracelets – downtown finds | leopard connector ring – downtown find

i wish running errands in real life were as stylish as how Andrea Sachs ran errands for Miranda Priestly in the Devil Wears Prada. of course, Andrea Sachs had a team of stylists and make-up artists in the background and i don’t. haha. 
my days are now divided between working my ass off for 9 – 13 hours during the weekdays, salvaging what little weekend Harry and i have and of course, planning the wedding. every thing is almost a blur now and ice cream is the best way to get us back to our senses. 

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catching up: ketchup and mustard

art deco black top – props | red multi-striped skirt – thrifted | cerulean blue belt – props | mustard platform shoes – centropell c/o zalora | faux ostrich red satchel – shopyapi.com | bangles: red wooden bangle – bangkok find, brass bangles – downtown finds | rings: cross connector, leopard connector – downtown finds, orange howlite ring – dane’s giveaway | peacock feather earrings – downtown find

another catch-up outfit post taken almost 2 months ago. i have 3 more to go until i’m up to date. *crossing fingers*
i scored these awesome platform shoes at zalora.ph. i was at a bind because it came in orange, red and mustard and ultimately my decision had to be based on what color i’d most likely be able to pair with most of my clothes. mustard is definitely more of a classic subdued color. i have to admit the first time i wore these, i was limping on the way home. it needed breaking into — the cross-straps needed adjustment to my chubby feet and the sole was a bit hard. i was ready to sell this pair or park it on my shelf solely as an eye candy. thankfully, i didn’t find time to sell it because the second (and the third and fourth) time i wore it, it was already broken into and is now one of my favorite pairs. you could say, this pair is on the top shelf of my shoe rack. 

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catching up: tagaytay in june

okay so my last post in july was apologetic for not being able to blog for a month and it contained a promise that i will blog sporadically. it’s already september and i’m as sorry as ever. 
not just sorry to my readers (whom i hope are still around) but to myself as well. over the last 2 months, i’ve let work take over my life. i finally understood why my former manager was always frantic and seemingly all over the place because i’ve just become her. i’ve lost any grace  and is constantly overwhelmed with things to do, it’s no longer humorous. i started blogging to take a break from work and i should’ve kept going. this is me, moving forward. 
CATCHING UP: this was the day after bloggers united when my relatives, mildred and i visited tagaytay. it was my first time and i fell completely in love with the place. i wish we didn’t have to leave. i imagined myself living the laid back life — opening up a small cafe with a small collection of my favorite books to read and a little corner where i can sell clothes. oh tagaytay, i hope to see you soon. ♥ ♥ 
chiffon leopard mini-dress – props | black cutout cardigan – bangkok find | pink satchel – props | black tights – metro ayala | black studded belt – props | gold lace-detail necklace – oasap.com | bangles – borrowed from sis | rings: cross connector and armor ring – downtown finds

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the bloggers united three

i know, i know, this a super overdue post — i bet some are even over it. i’m not and never will be. ♥ it was hella fun and is always a pleasure to be a part of blogger united. ♥ 
the preparation
my sister came with me this time — not that i forced her and texted her all morning about it prior to getting the tickets — but because she wanted to help out and we wanted to bring lots of items to sell. we were late for the prep though. we got lost and didn’t have any GPS to guide us and our driver (thanks to my tita) from marikina to makati. thanks to kuya randy, we managed to get our 2 suitcases and 2 balikbayan boxes from the first floor to the 3rd floor where the event was held — there were no elevators! mildred and eden were already there and we immediately began prepping once we arrived. our plan, which we found effective last year, was to place all the pre-loved clothes on the table — we managed to steal 1 more even though we were only allotted one. the rest were on the clothes racks. (note: check out the aftermath of the shoes below)

the fab shoppers

the place was smaller (but a lot sophisticated with the chandeliers and carpeted floor) so it was easily packed. i wish i could have taken a photo of the line outside because it went from the 3rd floor down to the first and it was raining really hard. the fabulous shoppers were as stylish as the bloggers — i could say, even way more stylish than me. they were young and passionate about fashion and shopping. i could say, i was jealous — i wish i’m still as young as they are.


the last photo is not a shopper but my sister who kept avoiding the camera. a shopper even asked to have a photo with her which she awkwardly & laughingly declined because she said “she’s not a blogger” LOL.

stylish friends: old and new

it’s not just being able to sell and live through the bloggers united shopping experience that i look forward to, it’s being with stylish friends whom we’ve had the pleasure of meeting in the blogosphere. 

with the kookie buhain of death by platforms — her velvet bell-bottoms are to die for and i was super jealous that she pulled it off like a rock star!
 
with the down-to-earth and friendly bloggers united organizers, aisa ipac and sarah tirona.


with fellow bisaya-speaking fashionistas from mindanao: mariel of wicked ying and stephanie of fashion bandwagon (stupid me for being so star struck — i was in awe of stephanie’s hair and her chic outfit. i asked her if i could have a photo with her because “my friend loves her blog…” which was awkward & idiotic because i do too. *peace*)

the asian blogger sensation, anastasia siantar of brown platform, who was flown in by the BU team. oh so envious of her hat and her shoes and her hair and oh well, her outfit — gah!

one of our shoppers, lia delfin of wear is mela, who sent me a photo she took of us — it was so embarrassing because i looked really haggard and had money tucked in my skirt like a palengkera. LOL.

 of course, with my lovely stylish friends from cebu who’s there with me — vanessa of one frozen margarita, mildred of dred reveris and eden of chic in the tropics

the aftermath
we tried to re-arrange everything every once in a while but gave up by the 3rd hoard of shoppers. as long as everything is sold, they can stay that way. of course, we had to get the clothes that fell to the floor. the ruckus that was in our booth was both delightful, exhausting and funny. for the first 2 hours, all four of us were standing up and dancing along “starships” while we entertained customers. by 1PM (and by the nth replay of “starships”), we took turns sitting down and looked so haggard, it wasn’t funny. LOL. at the end of the day, we had a price drop — we sorted items in 2 boxes, P50 and P100. we were the last of the sellers to leave. *bow*

the outfit
i just realized — i am not creative at all because for two BU events, i wore a simple top and a maxi skirt. boo! nevertheless, i wanted to be comfortable because i knew it was going to be chaotic.

tribal-printed top – props | jersey maxi skirt –  props  | neon pink thin belt –  props  | turquoise bohemian necklace – zalora.ph | wooden bangles – borrowed from sister | studded booties – jeffrey campbell ticks (a steal from divine lee’s booth! a dream come true — long have i swooned over these babies ♥♥♥)

 rings: turquoise connector ring – downtown find | white armor ring – oasap.com

a special note to my readers: it’s been a month, i know! work was (and still is) hella crazy, i underwent another round of physical therapy for my neck and all i wanted to do when i get home from work is lie down or eat magnum or brownies to inject enough endorphine to my system and forget my aching neck. the neck brace is still on — more frequently than i hoped for it to be. i promise though to get back on track and not post sporadically. *scout’s honor* (only i was never a girl scout…LOL).

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shopping by the ocean

silk blazer – thrifted | floral skirt – thrifted | white tank top – thrifted | strappy wedges – people are people, gifted by Harry | neon green belt – props | collar necklace – downtown find | gold bangle – stolen from sis | turquoise connector ring and boho armor ring – downtown finds | pink satchel – props
sharing with you guys the awesome and laid-back shopping experience that was during Zalora‘s press launch in Cebu. when i got the invite for its press launch, i pictured a presentation with the usual question and answer segment and i’d be out of there in just an hour. to my delight, i got there to an intimate and chill environment, greeted by Zalora’s marketing manager and immediately given  a brief that we are each given shopping coupons to use and actually get to know the Zalora shopping experience.
long tables were lined with Zalora laptops — all ready for us to scour the shopping site. fellow Cebu Fashion Bloggers — Eden, Vanessa, Alex, Jeemah, Rabsin, Marco and Kristine were already there, making the event more fun. (mind you i missed my appointment with the designer for wedding gown and was super late for the photo shoot my sister and i planned for Props.)
thank you Zalora PH for inviting us! i now live in Zalora‘s website and go through it everyday. my hands are itching to get your new heels from centropelle. *self-control faltering*

my apologies for the hiatus ~ after the trip to Manille for the much-anticipated Bloggers United 3 event, i got back drowned with backlogs at work and my stupid back started acting up again. boo! i had to wear the very un-fashionable neck brace while typing away at my work computer. tried to cover it with a leopard print scarf and someone actually asked if what i’m wearing is really a neck brace or a fashion statement. LOL. oh and a photo of me in a neck brace is something you guys won’t see soon. *peace*

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contrast bonanza | zalora at bloggers united 3

striped mustard top – primal rave wholesale | violet pleated skirt – thrifted | pink satchel – props | gold ballet flats – parisian | gold cuff – stolen from sis | rings: armor and cross connector – downtown finds | collar necklace – downtown find | purple belt with hear buckle – props

i found this violet pleated skirt on one of the thrifting trips Harry and i have been on — yes he’s hooked too! this was specifically on a Black Saturday and we had nothing else to do. we just walked around Jones area and looked for open shops. there was one thrift store who was on 50% off and to my delight i found all their skirts on their 2nd floor despite how hot the day was and how dusty it was in the store. i also managed to score a mullet tulle skirt and ruffled shorts together with this skirt. i’m still trying to figure out when and how to wear them.♥
~
on to exciting news: my boxes of clothes to sell have been shipped and just arrived in manila. my bags have been packed and i am so ready ~ Bloggers United 3, here we come! i am so looking forward to seeing Manila fashion blogger friends again and of course, meeting readers — assuming i have readers who want to meet me. LOL. 

speaking of Bloggers United 3, Zalora will be one of the co-presenters of this event and they are giving a special treat to all shoppers who check out their orders at the Z-Lounge on the event.

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citrus floral burst

floral sheer and lace top – primal rave wholesale | orange pencil skirt – thrifted | turquoise lightning flap bag – props | brass filigree necklace – downtown find | turquoise connector ring – downtown find | lapiz lazuli ring – tseng jewelry | brass bangles – downtown finds | dotted orange bangle & purple wooden bangle – bangkok finds | turquoise flats – solemate, sm dept store | brown sunnies – downtown find

as we’re counting down to Bloggers United 3, we’re also counting down to the end of summer. although i have only been to the ocean once this summer, it can’t stop me from wearing it.
the style items here are are probably one of my favorites this — the citrus thrifted pencil skirt, the sheer and lace loose top, the turquoise lighting flap bag, the brass filigree necklace and turquoise connector ring. i may have overdone it and turned more eyes in this outfit but who cares, right? i say wear what you love. 

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bloggers united: what’s up for grabs x free passes!

last year’s bloggers united 2 was so awesome even for the mere fact that i got invited that i couldn’t get over the excitement and forgot to prepare for it. haha! literally, 2 days before my flight i jammed everything i can see in my luggage thinking it was enough to sell. i didn’t realize the phenomenal size of the event until i got there. 
this time, for bloggers united 3, i am packing a month in advance. yes, you heard it right — a month! i cleaned my closet and packed a whole balikbayan box of items to sell and they’re on their way to Manila as we speak. i am also going to take a leave the day before so i can stay awake throughout the event and not look haggard…LOL. 
here are just some of the items up for grabs. the good part is i’m selling them at super cheap prices — really, everything must go! 
(more good news — i’m giving away bloggers united passes to 10 readers! scroll at the bottom for the mechanics.)

so how to get passes for bloggers united? it’s very easy:
♥ to be fair to avid vanilla ice cream readers, to join you must follow the blog via google connect or Facebook — indicate in the comment where you followed
♥ write in a comment your Google connect name or your Facebook name
♥ write down your e-mail address as well
the first 10 to do this gets the free bloggers united passes! ♥

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daddy’s girl | rainbow summer!

happy birthday daddy! ♥ 

am i not my dad’s photocopy? nobody can argue that i’m his daughter. haha! we celebrated his birthday last May 1st and spent by the ocean as always. this year, however, we couldn’t visit our favorite beach house because of road conditions so we went island hopping in the nearby islands of Cebu — the easiest way to chill by the ocean.  

violet monokini – primal rave wholesale | multi-colored striped skirt – shop dred reveries | fringe boho vest – bangkok find | sunnies – downtown finds | bangles: green and gold wooden bangles  – bangkok finds, red coral bangle – boracay find | red mini-wooden bangles – gifted by wagw

this will be my only rendezvous with summer this year in preparation for the wedding. so long, sweet summer! til’ next year ~ i promise i’ll see more of you. 

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life is what you choose it to be

chambray top – thrifted | peach midi skirt – primal rave wholesale | leopard print belt – primal rave wholesale | oval-shaped bag – primal rave wholesale | sphere tribal necklace – downtown find | feather necklace – downtown find | gold ballet flats – parisian, sm dept store | bangles – gifted and downtown finds | rings – downtown finds

it’s the middle of summer and if you’ve been reading my blog for some time now, you will know that summer is usually the time that my emotions and confusion come surfacing. i don’t know why — maybe it has to do with not being able to do as much because of work while everyone else is hopping on different islands and discovering beautiful beaches or having coffee and dessert with friends more than twice a week.
it’s silly of me to be jealous huh? well, i am because if money and schedule were not an issue, i would be out taking classes in art or fashion or be in different beaches every weekend but instead, i’m at work or at home because we need to save money for the wedding.

it took me a whole afternoon of staring in space and beating myself down, however, to realize that ~ life is what i chose it to be. it’s moments like these that makes me foolish not to appreciate what i have in life and i end slapping my forehead to the sound of DUH. i’m at home and at work because i have chosen to walk down the aisle in a beautiful white dress towards the love of my life. i’m not taking art and fashion classes yet because i have chosen to celebrate my marriage to Harry with God, our family and friends. this will be our 2012 and i can’t wait til’ December. 

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going home to you

art deco cropped top – props | cotton belted pleated pants – props | strappy anima-printed wedges – people are people, gifted by Harry | ostrich feather earrings – downtown finds | gunmetal woven-effect cuffs – downtown find | rings: gecko – bangkok find, stone ring – forever21, gifted by Karen

Harry loves to make me laugh and i love him because he does. without him in my life, i might become an old, single lady with a couple of dogs — burying herself in work or staring at the ceiling with a dark chocolate in hand. i am too passionate at work for my own sake that there is only 3 days in a week where i don’t go home upset, fueled or excited about something work-related. going home to him is definitely something i look forward to everyday.  it changes my perspective. it reminds me that i have something more important than work — my life with him. 

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plum tinkerbell

tiered dress with embroidered hem – thrifted | black wedges – shoe etiquette | faux snake skin belt – bangkok find | diamond-shaped fringe necklace – downtown find | bangles – gifted | work watch – gifted

“you look like tinkerbell…” that’s what everybody told me when i wore this outfit to work. of course, all i can do is smile because there’s nothing else to do. i don’t know if they say i look like tinkerbell because it’s so juvenile or that i look like tinkerbell because it’s pretty. maybe both for some. LOL.

i got this dress from one of the spur-of-the-moment thrifting trips my mom and i made a couple of months ago — which my mom and i had more frequently before she left for Aussie and where my dad so happily obliged to drive us wherever we wanted to go. i love going thrifting with my mom. she’s been at it for so many years, she knows what to look for and definitely knows whether a stain can be removed or not. sooner or later though, it seems she has evolved to wearing my style or i hers. on casual days, she wears loose tops with a long cardigan and skinny jeans. sometimes you can’t tell us apart — except that she’s really fair and i’m not. 

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