Gayle is Volatile

Sparkle-fy

2011-10-13T00:45:00.001+08:00

The ring boxes used to be plain black. Last August, I DIY-ed the sparklies all over it.
I love how it came out. How do you like it?

Ooooh and my cousin and I also blinged out her iPhone!

She loves it! : ) Happy camper.

Little Girl Black Dress

2011-10-09T01:16:00.000+08:00

Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa Cebu

2011-10-05T15:20:00.000+08:00

CEBU.

I'm proud to say my little home island has come a long way from the rural ~~farm~~land it used to be. Shopping malls were unheard of back then; holidays were spent at nearby rivers/beaches; and people stayed home most of the time. (Partly because there was nowhere else to go past 9pm! Say what? Boring? haha Well I guess you can call it the "simple" life.)

Now, so much has changed! Shopping malls have been sprouting everywhere in the last 10 years! (Improvement!) There's a mall in every ~~corner~~ city! You hafta love it! And I mean, really love it. Why? Because Cebu now has everything you need. Just five minutes away, and you arrive at the beach. Now the beach resorts are another story. One can't help but notice how much that industry has grown here.

Here's one...

* Imperial Palace *

Lapu-lapu City, Cebu

This is Dean, my little cousin. Dean is obsessed with Spider Man. (If its not obvious enough.)
This "submerged in water" shot of him below is only one of the 20-ish photos William took of him. Dean loves his "UNDERWATER" shots!

See?

And the outfit du jour...

Photos by Yam

Yes! Did anyone say "tropical escape"? :D

My dear friend Tiny works there. I hope to visit her again soon. :)

Hello, black studded pumps

2011-10-02T00:26:00.000+08:00

I sold these to my friend Abby. Im glad she loves them!

Yellow Cab, Yellow Bag

2011-09-28T00:12:00.001+08:00

Had this delicious pizza with William some time ago after raiding Topshop.

At work, I had to take a photo with Cha because we are the neon team.

Obsession du jour: Philip Treacy hats

2011-09-24T15:00:00.000+08:00

Its amazing how talented Philip Treacy is.

And I quote Wikipedia:
"Philip Treacy OBE (born 26 May 1967 in Ahascragh, County Galway) is an Irish milliner.

Treacy studied journalism at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.

He has designed hats for Alexander McQueen's white Haute Couture collection at Givenchy in Paris and for Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel. He designs hats for all the most important designers in the world including Valentino, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan."

Clearly this man is one of those people who are "born for it". He is for hats, as Karl Lagerfeld is for clothing. All the stars and royals rely on him for the best of the best head accessory. IMHO, I would wear would each and every design, no matter how atrocious. I have an excuse: It's the tropics! It's hot here! Albeit, the pretty hats don't give much sun protection and I would be all like, "What the hell are you looking at?!".

How do you like SJP's hat?

Yes, he's the mind behind Princess Beatrice's infamous head piece.

Personally, I'd wear this one!

But in the real world, this is all my guts can muster.

Which one is your pick?

Faves: OPI Sparkle-icious and Nonki Sushi

2011-09-18T23:17:00.000+08:00

This pretty ring is what I got last month, when Ikya and I went accessory shopping in Parkmall.

Bracelet from William's mom. She knows I love all things sparkly! :D

Ikya and I had our nails done at Beautypia in A.S. Fortune Street, Mandaue City Cebu.

Its a quaint little Korean nail salon thats worth a visit if:

a.) you're into nail art, and b.) if you're a girly girl who wants to hang out at a girly hole-in-the-wall.

We had matching nails. This is OPI Sparkle-icious. (Well... duh.)

Image from Google

Oh yeah and prior to Beautypia, we had lunch at Nonki, the Japanese restuarant thats also in A.S. Fortuna. (Angela said this is the first decent sushi she has had in Cebu, since arriving last year.)

And.. here's what the place looks like outside. If you're ever driving by. : )

Going Corporate

2011-09-15T16:52:00.002+08:00

Dress BYSI, Jacket F21, Flats Grendha

09.07.2011

The rule is: Business attire on Mondays. The rest of the week can be a bit more casual. My friends, however, know that everyday is Monday for me and they were at first, surprised to see that I'm always in corporate ensembles. :D But now they're used to it and I'm refered to as a "formal" person. That "formal girl".

Well, I love it! I think its perfectly fitting for my new job. :) Dontcha think?

Cracking Nail Polish and New satchel

2011-09-12T09:58:00.000+08:00

Since it is only recently that I have been an active blogger once again, I totally didn't get to share these pictures earlier. Above are pictures of my nails with cracking nail polish. : ) Taken last June. And what we have below is a new addition to the growing satchel family in my humble closet.

Ostrich skin, pink and yellow satchel. August 2011.

I am now in Manila and the orientation/training for my new job at Forever 21 starts today.

I arrived last night at 7pm along with my new Cebuano colleagues. Everyone had a lovely time on our flight with Philippine Airlines. We even found a new friend in one of the flight attendants there. What a friendly and lovely lady for accommodating our chitchats and questions. Yam's brother and his girlfriend picked us up at the airport and brought us to our hotel in Mandaluyong. This place will be home for the next couple of weeks. (Suite life!) And for the first time ever, I had Wendy's! I got the shrimp burger for dinner. I guess you can expect it to be bland. Not much taste there even compared to a "fish fillet" burger. It was alright, really. Although, I liked Wendy's fries so much more than McDonald's because they're less salty and they taste great!

I'm off to bed now. Have to wake up at 5am to get to MOA early for the orientation. The infamous Manila traffic is the first challenge to brave. Of course, if you don't count waking up at 5am as a "major" challenge. Hah! For someone like me who wakes up at 10am-12nn daily, this is a MAJOR challenge. So, this is it! Wish me luck!

Farewell, Summer 2011

2011-09-08T22:01:00.011+08:00

I had to bid goodbye to many things last week. It really is hard to adjust to new things when you've gotten used to a certain flow. My friends at work are slowly moving out for better opportunities. Yam is out of the country for another 4-month hiatus. (He is in Europe now for the Renewable Energy Conference. Hello MDFL! Take care pls.) Ehem. I have to bid goodbye to rice. Although I ate rice again today, MAAAAHN, I need to be firmer about this next time. Anyhoot, I also have to leave my current job to, uh, move on to a greener pasture. (Maybe pinker pasture? Well..it IS Forever 21.) The anxiety is eating me up. I am very excited of course, to be living in Manila independently. This is a new experience for me. What worries me is how I will be able to survive! Public transportation anyone? Rest assured, I have to because I have no choice! Though it will come along with many sacrifices and discomfort. So I have to be ready for those. This, people, is a trying time. I shall do my best to document my challenges and frustrations/successes. Should this whole experience be aptly called "Gayle Takes Manila"? "Gayle Takes Makati"? If you wonder, yes, I do watch "Khloe and Kourtney Take Miami" and I'm an avid fan of Kim Kardashian. I cannot stop obsessing over her. Don't deny it. I know you do, too.

And so with one more week in Cebu, I hope to pack well, meet my close friends for a farewell, do an errand for my Auntie Cheri, prep my blog for the absence, save up lots of money, and prepare myself mentally... chanting "It's all in the mind".

Christmas approaches.

2011-09-06T10:03:00.002+08:00

Naturally, you realize its now a few months before December and you're probably counting the weeks you have left to save up. (Because I did that. haha!) Indeed, fall has kicked in and I'm all jazzed up with excitement for Christmas this year! And that is mainly because dearest bf will be in town again. :)

Now the outfit up there is something I wore to a gathering last year.

It reminds me of Anna Sui's colorful creations.

The crazy prints and eye-popping colors of Anna Sui's collection makes it a winner!

For a moment there, you have to admit they make you want to bring back summer. (But technically, its always summer here in the Philippines.) Given that, you're probably thinking...."Lucky you. You can wear light clothes all year round." HA! Of course not. ME WANT WINTER. Fly me to the Swiss alps or the Russian countryside. *Which I am currently in the process of saving up for. Wooot*

Hello, Nine West wedges

2011-09-05T00:31:00.005+08:00

I drooled over these each time I went by the Nine West shop earlier this year. They did not come cheap. Now, I am not one to spend 6000++php on one pair of shoes. (Unless they are very pretty leather boots. Thank you, Mom and Dad.) I am a self-proclaimed WISE spender. (My boyfriend must be smirking right now.) So what a delight it was to be woken up by 5 shoe boxes from Aldo, Nine West and Steve Madden on one fine day.

Wouldn't it be great to wake up like this everyday? :D

Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris 11.2010

2011-09-02T03:29:00.003+08:00

Long overdue pictures.

Jardin du Luxembourg is a jawdroppingly beautiful garden situated near the Pantheon and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Dearest cousin AC and I were wandering around that day, aimlessly looking for the Notre Dame Cathedral when we found this place. It felt like a magical garden! At first though, we seemed like lost little girls in a forest. We were greeted by eerie-looking leafless trees, and I could have sworn Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel & Gretel were not far away!! It was cold and windy and scary. On the bright side, it wasnt too long before we saw more people and AC suddenly had the urge to go to the "toilettes garçons", so Little Red Riding Hoods we were not! (As we kinda had a bit more sense of direction than Red and fortunately, Big Bad Wolf there was not!)

All that aside, the place is loooovely as you can see in the pictures! The Palais du Luxembourg was tirelessly admirable for me. I wonder how the place looks during Spring! What joy to visit Paris in Spring! :D I shall keep on dreaming and reminiscing for now. Expect more Euro pictures. Haha :D

Okay, update on recent events. Yam just left for Japan earlier today so its crying time again. Boo. But he's going to Germany to present his research on Rural Electrification so YAY! (Congrats M.D.F.L.!) I hope he enjoys his trip so much he'll be compelled to bring me along next time AND very soon. Hahaha! :D *hint hint much?*

On another note, I was almost at wit's end today when my laptop wouldn't turn on again. I checked online for troubleshooting measures and what worked was to take out the battery and press the power button for 15-30 seconds. (I pressed mine for more than a minute! haha!) I plugged in the AC adapter and turned out my laptop again without the battery pack and lo and behold! IT DID NOT TURN ON. I got desperate and kept pressing on the power button and yes finally, it did come to life! Perseverance wins!! So now Im giving out techie tips, too. See? Fashion isnt all I think about!

Oh oh and also, I'm currently busy completing employment requirements for *new employer*. If I make it to the Sept 12 Orientation/Training in Manila, I will have about one more week here in Cebu before the two-month endeavor. I have lots to do! And you wonder why my thoughts are all over the place?

Anyone got any thoughts to share on:

a. Paris, Jardin du Luxembourg

b. Little Red Riding Hood/Hansel & Gretel

c. Germany and nearby countries

d. my newfound super amazing techie expert prowess!! (??) :D

e. Manila and beyond!

If you do, share share. If not, well thats impossible!

My favoritest city :)

Out came the sun

2011-08-27T11:00:00.001+08:00

Tribal top from Bullyshanty, thrifted pinstripe skirt, Nude wooden heels from Manila,

Satchel gifted by my wonderful cousin :)

After weeks of waiting, OH my GOSH!, I finally got a call from a certain *Fabulous Clothing Company soon to open here in Cebu* telling me I got the job I applied for! I'm sooo happy and RELIEVED. I had a few qualms about the interview and application process. It definitely isn't easy applying for a job! All those days/weeks of tension and worrying! But WOOHOO! The effort paid off bigtime! All I'm worrying about now is completing the long list of requirements. Does anyone share the same sentiments? SSS/Philhealth/HDMF hoopla anyone?

That aside, I'm SUPER excited about living in Manila for two months (for the training). I have to work out some matters on where I'll be staying and stuff. I wonder what I should pack? More importantly, I wonder HOW much I can pack? Airline couriers, please be kind. This is the time when 50 kgs of luggage would be most helpful! However, I remember packing only 20 kgs of clothing for Europe last year. I should get by with 20kgs as well for a local trip, right?

I'm starting to pay more attention to my much neglected blog. And in the process, I'm learning to take better(ish?) photos, as well as updating the site features. What do you think of my progress so far? :D *big grin*

Phoebe Philo for Celine

2011-08-25T12:40:00.002+08:00

Indeed this collection is eons of seasons past,

but this is me drooling over the luscious leather on Phoebe Philo's creations for Celine.

Seriously now, close your mouth.
Stop gaping for air, like me.
We can do this, woman!

So by all means, do share. Which one is your favorite piece?
Isn't it awe-inspiring how Phoebe Philo has turned things around for Celine?
That lady is a genius.

My favorite piece, of course, is no less than
THE most luscious-looking leather dress EVER.

I'd wear this every waking and snoring moment of my day.

Where and how in Delilah's name can I chance upon this type of leather?
I will, by all means, wrestle a python, boar or a herd of cattle for this!
Yes, YES, yo! Hahahah!

Phoebe Philo... if you're listening, pur-leez make me your assistant.
I will hand wash your clothes for you with TENDER LOVING CARE.

Cebu, where it's summer all year round and everyday can be a beach day.

2011-08-18T05:43:00.002+08:00

Hat, Mactan; Necklace, Accessorize, Maxi dress, Magenta

Because I live in the tropics, I am certainly enjoying the beautiful feeling of warm sunshine on your skin all year round. I have issues with showering at below 10degrees Celsius. (Reminiscing winter trip in Europe 2010. Sends chills down my spine!) I had a great weekend getaway with family at Shangrila Mactan.

These days, I've been noticing more Cebuanos leaving their comfort zones and stepping out of the conventional shirt and jeans combo that Filipinos patronize so much. I guess credit goes to the internet for making fashion-related information available to even the littlest and most secluded islands here in the country -- as long as there is an existing internet connection! People have also been taking cues from TV and movies. Even the local newspaper has better features in the lifestyle section. I'm sure this takes off even further and soon enough, even household help can tell the difference between Peterpan collars and Scallop collars! So kudos to people who are working hard to give leverage to the growing fashion industry here in Cebu and the Philippines! Two sites that have stood out for me, and are definitely worth checking out are InStyle Cebu and Philippine Street Fashion. Go hustle and bustle over to these sites now! : )

"Teenage Girl Calls Mom As Bears Eat Her Alive"

2011-08-15T15:59:00.000+08:00

"Teenage Girl Calls Mom As Bears Eat Her Alive"

I read some really horrible, devastating news last week on a teenage girl being devoured by a bear, while her mom listened to her in agony over a phone call! The article gave me shudders. Plus, the same bear ate the girl's father before it ate her! Oh my god! Can you imagine that? Read the article here.

Apple Green

2011-08-10T03:15:00.003+08:00

Spent the weekend at Shangri-la Mactan again with dearest family.

I had fun! Hah! Will post pictures of the beautiful beach soon.

The snorkeling bit was great as usual.

My favorites are still the prettily colored parrot fishies and the obscene looking foxface fish.

Parrot fish

Foxface fish

Of course, they had a lot other fishies, too.

Take your pick! They all look interesting, don't they?

These past years, I've actually been shying away from the beach because I love my skin too much. (Yeah right!) Yes yes, it's a Filipino psyche thing to covet fair skin. I know a lot of ya'll out there want to be tanned. Hey, the sun is hotter on the other side! (Really, I did not just make a pun out of the "grass is greener...etc" thing.) I've been going to the beach almost every weekend now. And there is a MAJOR difference in my skin color. That I cannot deny! Here's proof:

I look so fair! Photo taken in Prague last year, December 2010.

And this is a recent photo. Taken just this Sunday.

I know what you're thinking! Is that even the same person??

HAH! Unfortunately for me, yes it is.

But I sure hope that's only because the red baked skin was freshly acquired PLUS

that's some really bad lighting!

*Fingers are crossed the "darkness" goes away soon.*

You know, I really would love to keep the suspense.

But I just cant help myself! Here's a sneak peek of the next post!

(Which I might add, is going to be a long one. I think.)

Here, being best friends with Mr. Sun.

Beautiful beach, ya?

Cambridge Satchels and phone pics

2011-07-31T15:35:00.006+08:00

I've made a new friend and she makes Cambridge Satchels.

If you want one, just let me know what size and color you want, and we will gladly make one for you. : )

Here are the colors we have right now:

(L-R: Cherry blossom pink in 11", Lemon Yellow in 11", Hot pink in 15",

and the Fluro Orange bag is SOLD.)

Hot Pink Satchel in 15"

Lemon Yellow in 11"

Aren't they the cutest!

Went to the mall last week and picked up some new stuff from Topshop. Thank you dear BF for your patience and support! He is always such a darling for putting up with my craziness for shoes, bags and clothes. Sometimes I wonder how I ever put up with myself for it. XD Hah! Not to mention, thanks to my mom for cultivating this "passion"! :D

Topshop sleeveless top, Espada Skirt, Nine West wedges,

Fuschia inner wear from Marks and Spencer, Cambridge Satchel

(Pink floral romper from Parkmall, Pink blazer, Cream studded wedges)

At the Diamond Hotel, taken during our trip to Manila last June 2011.

I highly recommend this place! : )

My new laptop mouse straight from Holland. Loooove.

Thank you Auntie Bb and ACgurl!

(Top from Celine, Espada shorts, Charles and Keith red wedges)

(Zara basic striped tee - thank you Tita JJH,

Necklace from Parkmall)

I cannot not blog about my family's most frequented Japanese restaurant here in Cebu. This is the Salmon Maki special from Nonki. Looks greeeaaattttt, tastes hella awesum! They have branches in A.S. Fortuna Mandaue City, SM Cebu and in Lapu-lapu near the Airport. If you havent been here yet, you have to check out this place asap! Try the Crunchy roll too and their Ebi tempura. You will not regret it I tell ya, and you will be back for more. Bwahaha : P

This week, I have a bunch of errands to do. But I hope I can keep up a good blogging pace.

Hello to my darling new friend, Vanessa East! : )

SHOES

2011-07-28T01:45:00.003+08:00

Pretties. : )

Forever 21 is opening here in Cebu come October 2011.

I could not be any happier! Now we're all just waiting for Zara and H&M.

Actually, now that I think about it, this is not good for my hard-earned moolah!

HAT lovin

2011-07-14T02:18:00.002+08:00

This summer's most overused accessory.

Honestly, I don't know how I ever managed to survive without it when I didn't have it yet.

x.x

The black one is mine and the brown hat is my boyfriend's brother's girlfriend.
I haven't personally thanked her yet for letting me use it, but if you're reading,
"Thank you, Ikya!"
These hats can be found at the Anthill, Cebu. They were gifts from Tita Jojo.

At "Anthill"
Photo by Yam

Photo credit: StyleCebu.com

The Anthill is an amazing place for clothing-conscious/obsessed women! (Arent we all?)
They have a vast selection of fabrics to suit your every want and need
and every occasion and trend there is to date.
I still have some fabrics that I haven't brought to the tailor yet.
I'm still contemplating on their designs. I have a floral one and a zebra print.
Any suggestions what to do with them?

Wow, me!

2011-06-09T11:17:00.002+08:00

I have been living under a rock for too long!

I'm sorry for the very long absence.

But I return with a vengeance! : D

Here is a glimpse of my humble ring collection:

My favorite (and most frequently used), from SM Dept.

And an outfit post.

Top from BYSI, Shorts from Espada, Wedges from CMG,

Earrings from a random shop in Heerenveen, Holland

Paris 2

2011-02-01T05:51:00.001+08:00

Hello, everyone! I've sure been MIA too long. Sorry about that! I've been so lazy these days. I havent been paying much attention to my blog this past month. Once in a while, I remember to update with photos and really, thats all I've been doing. This blog's been pretty much neglected. I have some good news though! I'm going to Germany tomorrow and Prague next week so I think I will have some great photos to share with you in the future! I've been busy with preparations and havent really found time to sit back and blog my heart away like when I was back home in Cebu. My brain's on vacation mode so hopefully, things will be back to normal next month (in January) when Im back home. : )

Meanwhile, here are some photos from Paris:

With dearest cousin AC (THE dun Dutch meisje -- its an inside joke thing)

on the Seine River Cruise. Very romantic and surreal!

Our jaws dropped every few seconds when the boat goes under a Parisian bridge.

Oyea, highlight of the trip! There's something about cruises that makes your heart feel light and jolly. Really!

Okay, who doesn't recognize this structure?

You win a trip to France! Honestly, I think you should go on one.

French macarons, yum!

At Sacre Coeur. We didnt feel too safe with all the black goons around.

They were showing card tricks to people who passed through the stairs,

and I think they had scams and robberies up their sleeves!

We were indeed really scared because there were around 20 of them.

Having no other route to take, me and AC went down the massive stairs of Sacre Coeur,

and we exclaimed BISAYA profanities at the black goons to ward them off

when they got too near. Profanities because, actually, AC didn't even understand what she yelled out.

Definitely in the Cebuano language, but such a jumble of words.

Oh well, at least it worked! The scary black men backed off and didn't try to bother us.

I like this lady's coat, hat and doggy accessory.

Enjoying the view.

Til the next post!
Merci beaucoup and au revoir! ;-)

Amsterdam

2011-01-10T02:33:00.001+08:00

From Amsterdam,

with love.

Goedemorgen, Holland!

2010-10-31T08:30:00.005+08:00

After a 10-hour stop over at Hong Kong, I was on my 20-hour flight to Amsterdam Schipol.

I mostly slept on the plane and watched movies. I saw "Letters to Juliet"starring Amanda Seyfried and it was really sweet. Some parts were off/weird, but it was a cute movie altogether. It inspired me even more to visit Firenze! :D

I got to Holland at almost 7am and my Auntie Bb & Karel were waiting for me at the exit. We toured the Schipol airport a little bit, the array of shops there were interesting. Ahhhh European clothing brands! Note: price tags in Euros! Not too alluring. : /

As we stepped outside, the air was real chilly but bearable. I was already wearing my trusty ol trenchcoat from Mango which helped me keep my body temperature at bay on the plane. We got to Karel's house in Wolvega after an hour and a half drive from Schipol. I did not feel any jet lag at all! I recommend researching online about tips to avoid it if you're travelling. I researched a lot of travel tips on packing and safety measures as well. And even installed a language translator, currency converter and language learner on the iPhone. I came prepared! :D

My cousin AC and I went to Drachten that same day to go to her dentist and did some (window) shopping at the Centrum. We had some bread with sausage (for AC) and a choco chip muffin (for me) at Bakker Bart. Looove that place! Everything looks really good! The next day we went went around Wolvega centrum after I accompanied Auntie Bb doing the groceries. The pictures in this post were taken at this time.

Lastly, here are some photos of my mom when she was in her teens.

Auntie Cecille (L) and Mom (R)

Mom with her 3 younger sisters/my aunts (Cherisha, Charmaine and Cecille).

My Lolo, Auntie Cynthia, Mom and dearest darling Lola. :-)

We're going ice skating in Heerenveen today! Wish me luck! It's my first time ice skating.

Chasing Snow

2010-10-23T16:10:00.005+08:00

Autumn and Winter wouldn't come to the Philippines. So Im psyched to be flying my snow-deprived self to winter wonderland, a.k.a. Europe. I've been busy prepping stuff for the trip. I wish I could bring at least 40kgs of luggage. I packed 5 pairs of boots and left all my sandals at home because mom wouldn't let me bring any more footwear. I packed some coats and jackets too, as a lot of you suggested. Some tights and leggings, dresses, vests, etc. Not a lot of accessories because they weigh too much : ( What else should I bring?

Not forgetting, thank you for all your kind suggestions and messages about places to see and things to try out while in Europe. They've really helped me plan my trip!

In the mean time, as I was planning what clothes and shoes to pack, I came up with this little number. :D

I'm not quite sure if its warm enough for the near ZERO-degree temp.

But I sure hope it works out fine. :P

Pardon my less than refreshed, stressed-with-packing face.

An emerald green ring from Bijoux 2010 in Shangri-la Mactan and red booties from online shopping.

SO.. Am I ready or am I ready? Hah!

Leaving in about 4 days. Any last minute reminders?

European Tour

2010-10-14T20:28:00.005+08:00

I got my Schengen Visa today! Woohoo!! I'll be living in Holland with my Aunt's family during my 65-day stay. And good grief! My tropical butt will most definitely freeze in vain!

Anyone got ideas on what to pack? Places to visit? Things to do? Places to stay at?

I'd love to hear your suggestions for these countries: France (Paris), Czech Republic (Prague), Austria (Vienna), Germany, Italy (Milan Rome Venice). I'm planning to visit these places, but I need to PLAN! I have no idea where to go yet. I need all the help I can get. Do leave a comment or email me your ideas. I am open to meeting fellow bloggers as well.

On the subject of traveling, I'd like to share some photos of my trip to Singapore earlier this year. My friends and I hopped on a plane last January and enjoyed every bit of our memorable trip. We loved our almost "Indian" experience at Little India.

Little India,

Singapura Jan2010

Style 101:

How to check if the coat/jacket fits you well:

The mark of a coat/jacket that fits well is that you can

cross your arms in front of you and still reach up comfortably.

Make sure the coat tapers at the waist,

fits snugly on the shoulders and that the sleeves are not

below the middle of your thumb in length.

*from 1001 Little Fashion Miracles

Though the weather was hot, the jacket definitely served it's sun protection function!

My arms were safe and untouched by the sun's evil UV rays.

Now we all know our arms tend to be darker than our legs because they are more exposed to the sun. The short shorts paved way for the legs to get the mild tanning they deserve. No more color difference between my arms and legs. Woot!

More Asian travel photos in the following posts!

In the meantime, I have to plan for the trip of my lifetime. :D

Ruffled Gold

2010-10-06T03:53:00.004+08:00

At Disney's Post-wedding reception at the Grand Convention Center.

Yam's friends: Ruo, Ching (the bride), Disney and Ruo's parents.

Upon cleaning up my old files, I found these photos of me and Nikki:

We go way back :)

It's surprising how time flies. This Sunday (10-10-10),

is already Baby Earl's Christening! : )

HONG to the KONG

2010-10-02T10:45:00.005+08:00

Here are a few photos that show us why Hong Kong is such a joy to visit!

This place has the best beef noodles. It is somewhere in Huang Lok.

Dragon Park at Tsim Sha Tsui

Frozen strawberries on a stick and Sushi bread.

The gorgeous Symphony of Lights in Kowloon.

Hong Kong Bay a.k.a. The Avenue of the Stars

I was particularly amused by the shape of this building.

I wonder how it was built?

A little bit of Hong Kong Disneyland

The darned rocket farted MAJORLY.

Mickey Lunch

Space Mountain. Where we had 4 rounds of this awesome ride.

The "Its a small world" boat ride. Lots of cute dolls!

Aurora and her prince. Awww

All geared up!

My new best friend.. below:

Sushi Bread

(Its sushi, but they used wheat bread instead of japanese rice. Healthier option?)

And the real deal (I love sushi and sashimi!)

Cute little girl minding her own business while I sneakily photographed her. Sshhh!

The beautiful view from Victoria Peak.

Kowloon outfit? No problem!

Bib necklace. My first-ever DIY.

Have you been to Hong Kong? What was your favorite experience during your trip?
Which did you like more, Disneyland or Ocean Park? :)

Bonjour, BIJOUX!

2010-09-27T08:22:00.008+08:00

Earlier this week, Yam and I went to Bijoux Cebu 2010 at Shangri-La, Mactan.

I was determined to shop for rings!

Found 'em!

Completely wooden horse.

Yes. Really.

Cute bags from Davao.

The loot

William got me this pink ring and white shell neck piece :D

It was definitely a productive day. Not to mention $$$-draining.

On one hand, there are some things on my list that I still need to search for.
Must go accessory-hunting again in the future.
Do you want to come? :) If you're in Cebu, let me know!

Dinner at ABACA Restaurant + AZURE Bar at Crimson Beach Resort, CEBU

2010-09-20T07:05:00.006+08:00

It seems Yam and I favor hanging out at various resort hotels here in Cebu. Really, if there is anywhere in the Philippines that you could go from the mountains to the city to the beach in 20mins or so, its gotta be CEBU. The hang out spots here are countless.

We decided to give Abaca a try last week and I must say, the place whispers (take note, *whispers*) PRIVACY. There were only 2 other tables occupied at the restaurant and the whole area of the establishment is really quite small for a world-renowned luxury resort. Ahh well, I guess that's what charms super private individuals from all corners of the world. (Politicians, celebrities, biz tycoons, esp. ~~people with affairs~~)

We opted for some Duck Salad, Salmon, and Braised Lamb.

The salmon

The lamb

The duck salad (or whats left of it.. and still being devoured!)

After dinner, we took a stroll.

We soon had no place else to wander off to so we drove to Abaca's next door neighbor, BE Resort. There was not much land area to lazily stroll through either, so we headed off to the ever vast Shangri-La Mactan instead, and had some chocolate cake and a leisurely stroll, too.

And some vanity shots:

STYLE 101:

Since the top is the real attention-catcher here, everything else was kept simple.

To prevent your silhouette from looking too rectangular, put on a belt. I couldve gone beltless in this outfit, but I'd look too boxy and stiff. The belt simply makes it feel complete. : )

A shiny, leather-ish skirt is a great investment. It can be dressed down for casual days,

or dressed up for more formal engagements.

Some weeks ago, my best friend, Paula, and I also hung out at AZURE (Crimson Resort & Spa).

The view was wonderful!

Photos by Franz Dakoykoy

See what I mean? Here in Cebu, you never run out of picture-perfect places to relax and unwind by the sea shore. =)

PURPLE DISCO

2010-09-16T12:30:00.007+08:00

Friday Night and the lights are low.

*Cue in ABBA music!*

Style 101:

Remember the hardware rule,

GOLD with GOLD, SILVER with SILVER, etc.

In this case, gold is dominant in this

selection of accessories.

I know you can mix them too, but gosh, Im OC like that.

Yeah, even the footwear is GOLD.

Accomplishment! I designed the skirt myself and had my dressmaker create it.

And featuring... The mesmerizing, classic beauty of

Elizabeth Taylor at her prime.

I loved her in Cleopatra.

She's stunning!

But hey, maybe I can do stunning too?

This was for a school event back in college.
Let's go India!!!

Promod Jumpsuit

2010-09-13T09:02:00.004+08:00

Jumpsuit from Promod, Vest from Zara, Shoes from Rustan's,

Necklace from Espada, Ring from WWW.

Style 101:

Keep the neckline from looking too bare with a nice, chunky neck piece.

A simple black belt can do wonders,

but an eye-catching candy-colored belt

can do much, much more to update your look!

A vest not only helps keep you warm,

it can streamline your silhouette

and makes the whole outfit look more complete.

On accessories, stick to silver with silver, gold with gold, etc.

But if you have pieces that are two-tone or multi-toned,

it makes life so much easier!

Yam arrived from Japan last Friday night!

I was totally ambushed. He said he was arriving on Sept 11 (Saturday)...
but I'm happy to see him all the same. : )

We had dinner with his family at Nonki Japanese Restaurant and went to visit Nikki at Perpetual Succour Hospital.
She just gave birth to baby boy Edward Alexis. Congrats b!!

FLUTTER BY

2010-09-12T20:41:00.002+08:00

Outfit photos from

my Dad's Oathtaking Ceremony

last June 30, 2010 for

the Mandaue City Government.

What I wore

during the morning ceremony

at the Hall of Justice:

I love the details on the neckline of the dress.

Photos from the Oath-taking Procedure

If you look closely, you'll notice

Mom's lovely new Chanel diamond earrings.

I've been drooling over this gorgeous

winter coat from Thakoon.

Photo from www.glamour.com

Also,

I adore this dress on SJP.

Photo from Justjared.com

Sanchez-Pabico Wedding

2010-09-10T09:42:00.003+08:00

With my cousins. (Kristine, me, Guada, Jane and Amie Sanchez)

Cutest little girl in make-up, Miyake!

On the shoreline of the Shangri-La at Mactan, Cebu.

I adore the very pretty bouquet! Kinda matches my nails, too.

* * *

Wedding stuff aside, here are a few lucky finds lately... cocktail rings!

I'm lovin each one.

Also, check out Katy Perry's infectious new song, "Teenage Dream".

You have to hear it, if you havent already!

Beautiful piano version:

STATIC

2010-09-08T00:27:00.004+08:00

Paula and I met up last Sunday to go to church together and

spend a little girl-bonding time to catch up on each other's lives.

[Not that either of ours are that eventful. We are really boring people.]

Another dose of Style 101!

Here, I opted for a long sling bag.

If I wore a short-strapped shoulder bag, it would make the whole look bulky.

Keep an outfit from being too plain or monotonous

by adding an interesting, textured belt.

Complete the look with accesories.

Here I wore the necklace from Accesorize.

And of course, a pair of killer shoes never will never fail you. ; )

Red wedges from Janylin, chain bag from Charles and Keith,

red top from Kamiseta, necklace from Accessorize, brown rompers from somewhere.

Accessorize and Style 101

2010-09-05T22:47:00.008+08:00

I learned a lot from a little style book I got some months ago.

So starting today, I will be sharing some style 101

on my blog from time to time. I hope you'll find them helpful.

Here is last week's outfit for dinner out with the family.

Style101: Shorts have become incorporated into our

smart-casual wardrobes, but its still all about

picking the right length and cut.*

Darker colored bottoms flatter most body types as they

elongate the legs and make the bums smaller.

*from 1001 Little Fashion Miracles

A belt in the right color and detailing can ALWAYS

make any outfit more interesting and put-together!

Put on an eye-catching ring. It puts a smile

on your face whenever you see it. : )

I got this pretty necklace from Accessorize

on the same day I got the book. : )

That's it for today. Thank you for reading! Have a great week, everyone! : )

Karaoke night at Pod5, BTC

2010-09-01T21:13:00.006+08:00

When I broke the record and got home at 5 in the morning!

Blue floral romper, Studded chain bag

Georgina shoes from Trunkshow.

With Tiny and Marbol : )

My friends and I met up in Ayala Cebu, as usual. We had some fro-yo. Met up with more friends. Went to BTC. Had some more fro-yo. Karaoke'd our hearts out at Pod5, Banilad Town Centre. And had a really late dinner (or really early breakfast) at Ila Puti. I got home at past five in the morning, with is very not good news for my mother and my boyfriend. Ahh.. the days of my youth. I promise not to come home too late anymore!

I would say Pod5 gives you a pretty good Karaoke experience. They had all the works. The rotating disco ball and colorful disco lights, good food, nice room.. but my friends and I weren't too happy with the sound system as it got choppy and the microphone didnt work well. The service was a little slow and it would have helped if the waiters were more attentive to our needs. I have been to a number of karaoke bars here in Cebu and I must say, I like K1's sound system the most. K1 is in The Crossroads, Banilad. Your voice doesnt get drowned out by the music, the microphone and speakers work well, great service and okay food. I wish they had a disco ball, though. :D

How about you? Can you recommend any good karaoke places in Cebu or Manila?

If you're not from the Philippines, do you frequent any karaoke bars in your country?

What is it like?

Boracay Island, Philippines

2010-08-30T11:46:00.003+08:00

A Filipino's pride and joy.

I think this is about the right time for me to say, "Wow, Philippines!"

Favorites: Hello Kitty and all things Pink

2010-08-28T15:18:00.005+08:00

Here's a photo of my laptop, as promised :D

I will NOT, in a million years, admit my profane attachment to pink!
Only because it's too obvious to deny.

Let me start with my life line. Its a Pink Sony Vaio Alligator Skin Laptop.

With a blinged out mouse.

Cherry blossom card, heart earplugs and Hello Kitty stuffed toy from William <3

Yam and I were talking about houses one afternoon

and he told me he found the perfect house for me.

(He comes from a family of engineers.

And by that I mean, ALL of them are.)

Here is the photo he showed me:

*Click on the link below it to really appreciate it

http://lifeloveandhappiness.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/pink-house.jpg

ADORABLE, isnt it?

Of course I want a house like that!

What got me way excited is since Yam is in the so-called "construction realm",

I'm keeping my fingers crossed he'd allow me to dream up anything I want about the house

and he'd just build it! Hahah! : ) *spoiled brat, cough cough!*

Here's another photo he showed me:

CLICK HERE: http://trendhousedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Cute-Pink-Girls-Room-Design1.gif

Okay for the record, I'm not all that crazy about Hello Kitty.
Except for a closetful, NO, ROOMFUL of Hello Kitty stuff when I was a kid.

But you have to admit this is a very pretty pink Hello Kitty room!

Anyhoot, enough about me and my profanities! What does your dream house look like? : )

I would love to know what inspires you about your dream home!

"Summer never ends" GIVEAWAY!

2010-08-25T13:48:00.005+08:00

Heads up ladies!

One lucky winner will be

getting TWO gorgeous pair of earrings!

Here's how to join the giveaway:

1. Follow my blog (by clicking the "Follow" button on top of this page)

or my Blog lovin' page (click HERE). Even better if you follow both! : )

2. Repost OR create a post about this giveaway on your blog.

3. Leave a comment on this post with your Name and

Email address so I can contact you when you win!

The giveaway is open for 15days starting today.

It ends September 8th.

Anyone from all over the world can join this giveaway,

so good luck to everybody!

And regarding summer...

Probably the best thing about living in the tropics

is never having to worry about getting frozen alive

each time you step out of your house.

Today, I'd like to share with you some sun-lovin! : )

One of my bestest friends, Paula.

The view from the lobby of Crimson Resort

in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu.

Nevertheless, I think life is so much funner

when you have Fall/Winter fashion

to look forward to!

Im still contemplating on whether or not
I should go to the Netherlands this year.
Mom is making the decision-making process
complex. And since Auntie Olyn cant come with
me because she has a baby to look after,
Im severely worried about having to
travel around Europe all by myself!

Not good! : (

Electric blue and a dash of leopard

2010-08-19T22:29:00.003+08:00

MUG SHOT ALERT!

Making boring days count.

That Military vest

2010-08-16T12:44:00.002+08:00

At Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa with my best friend, Paula.

We were tasked to take photos for my aunt's wedding next year. She wanted to see some venue pictures since she's on the other side of the world right now. She and her fiance are living in California but they're having 2 weddings. One here in Cebu and another in Cali.

Well basically, as you can see, Paula and I just ended up taking pictures of ourselves! :D

We had a great time, though. Just hanging out and enjoying the beautiful lawns and the beach. Sort of!

Favorites: Iora, La Marea

2010-08-14T15:00:00.005+08:00

On another note, who can tell me what these flowers are called?

Mom bought these at the church today to decorate the office altar.

They dont even seem like flowers because they dont have the usual narrow stem

and little green leaves. The petals and "leaves" look the same except they differ in color.

And I saw this house on a book cover at the book store. Looks like a dream home to me!

Lastly, warm brownie topped vanilla ice cream from La Marea.

But I generally like brownie ala mode, from wherever restaurant.
Cafe Georg's in Banilad is good too. And Bigby's.
And Postrio's. And even Bo's (Coffee Shop).

So, ya. I'd have it everyday if I could. :D

Kate's Prom Dress

2010-08-11T14:55:00.002+08:00

And what I wore as her Driver.

Yes, this is a "Basic Driving Outfit" for me.

Okay, kidding!!
I went out with friends that night. : )

I felt so retro-ey in the geometric dress and lined booties.
But I love the outfit mucho!

Celeb Signature poses, ya'll!

This was entertaining:

Click on the link below to see all the stars and their fave poses:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/celebrity/Celebrities-Signature-Poses-57614902.html

Who can resist Lindsay?

Beach day at White Sands, Cebu

2010-08-09T11:28:00.006+08:00

Photo log:

Cebu White Sands Beach Resort

Photos by Yam / Me /

An elevator ride to Tokyo

2010-08-05T12:01:00.009+08:00

If you're ever coming to Cebu and if you love nailart as much as I do,

you should NOT miss visiting Beautypia during your stay here.

I think its the best nail art salon here in Cebu. And really, their place is just so adorable.

I dont have pictures of their cute shop yet, but I hope I can take some during my next visit. Im just a little shy to ask the Korean owner.

My nails on the left; and my sister's on the right.

Since my darling boyfriend is in Japan for school,

I get to have lot of cute stuff from there whenever he comes home. : )

The last time he came to visit, I got a bag of goodies filled

with Kitkats in cherry blossom flavor and wasabi flavor,

some stuffed animals, Hello Kitty things, a fluffy bag,

a flower broom to clean my laptop with, a Tokyo coffee tumbler,

and little thingamajigs that he finds each day.

Pocky -- yummy!

Here's a little backtrack of what I wore

when we went out together for Nikki's birthday,

(and a mass & dinner with his family beforehand).

P.S. Yam will be here again

during the last week of August.
Yey!