Celebrate joy!

Happy New Year everyone! How did you spend yours? Just wanted to share this photo quote to welcome 2015:

So many people have been posting their year on Facebook so I will be posting... my Year from Google :P lol! Maiba naman daw! haha! But yes, 2014 was more of a settling-down year from me. If 2013 was all about adjusting to major changes in my life, 2014 was saying that I've settled in already and I just want to enjoy the moment where God has placed me. No major changes this year! I just want to gather as much courage, build relationships and gain as much strength for what I feel like I am now ready to take on in 2015.... Odba. Seriously though, that's what 2015 feels like -- bolder, braver and bigger steps ahead!  More than hoping that 2014 has been good to you, I hope that you were able to see more of God this year -- good and not-so-good moments included -- and learned to enjoy just being in His presence... Because if you're able to find joy in that, then you have it ALL already. :) 2014 escapades - just click away!

Merry Christmas! :) I hope you all had a great time celebrating this festive season with your loved ones!   Here is a photo of us in Greenhills after our Christmas dinner! Spot how sexy Santa is!!! Can someone please give this old fella a burger or something?! :P

My sister just asked me, "Chubby, how does it feel like to be a bum?" To which I answered, "it feels nice. "  Grabe naman, 1 day palang, bum na??! Lol! But I say that with as much honesty because it does feel goooood :P Right now, I'm doing a mini project as a late wedding present for a dear friend and I am thinking about a series I just started following this month. A series about zombies has never surprised me as much as Walking Dead.

I'll be off work for the rest of the month (yaaaay!) and I'm excited to just sit in coffee shops, with my notebook on hand, or to plop a pillow on the bed and catch up on my reading list... Excited for the quiet stillness that the next several days would bring. There are still merry making days and huling-hirit parties but there will also be quiet times in which I could t just soak in everything and I know that it will do my soul well :) With all the busyness that this season brings, just taking a few moments to take everything in will do you good too :)

Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year because not only are the streets decked with lights and festive decorations, but it's the season where a walk becomes a leisurely treat for us residing here in Manila because of the unusually cool weather. :) ...and it is when the air becomes extra chilly that we can finally pile ourselves with knitwear, scarves and wear those nude-suede ankle boots we bought on sale last year without having to sweat like crazy. Lol! That's just how it rolls here in a tropical country. :) A beach is nice, don't get me wrong...I love the beach! Pero minsan diba feel mo lang magscarf and boots??! Aminin :P So for 2 months at least, we can finally incorporate these fashionably-fit-for-winter pieces in our outfits! Hooray! Since the options have expanded for us sun-loving locals once Ber months roll in, here are some outfits you may want to don. These are basic pieces with a twist fitting for the cool weather:

What makes your Christmas merry? To answer that question for 11 days, as a way of counting down the days til Christmas ( yes! 11 days nalang! ) -- that's my last project for the year :)

There are films that seem to get better as you watch them time and again... like this one right here. I have been so excited to watch this film when it first came out and I remembered saying that it was just "nice" as soon as we left the theaters. Good thing that my sister has this in her hard drive so I watched it again the other day and had greater appreciation for it :)

Being quick to anger is probably one of the most unattractive traits someone can have. Someone recently told me that I may just be heading towards that direction: "mabilis uminit ang ulo" were the words. The urge to blurt out reasons and say that I do not were probably symptoms of this ugly habit so I just kept quiet and mulled the words over.

Whenever I hear this song, I think about Peter and what must be going through his mind when Jesus told him to walk on the water to go to him...  My prayer: Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders / Let me walk upon the waters /  Wherever You would call me / Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander /  And my faith will be made stronger / In the presence of my Savior

Ask Filipinos 5 years ago whether they celebrate Thanksgiving, and you would probably have gotten a shrug... Fast forward to 2014, and you soon find yourself looking at photos of relatives and friends celebrating this festivity in social media. And what's not to love about this season? It's all about looking back and being thankful for things big and small. It's a quick shout out to the world saying, " It's not so bad after all - the good things always outweigh the bad in the end! :)

Hey pretty ladies! Throwing a bridal shower for your dear friend soon? Here are some ideas that you may want to explore :)

There are but a few things that would make a woman giddy with excitement aside from snagging a new pair of shoes. I swear, just the idea of buying myself a pair awhile ago was making me squeal with delight. :) Now that's Christmas is just around the corner, sale kung sale   talaga everywhere!!! So today, my agenda was to buy myself a good pair of rubber shoes for gym next week (yes, nagbabalik-loob na po ako).

Isn't this song just the sweetest? :) So many girls have been sharing this on Facebook, that here I am doing the same thing when I heard the lyrics of the song. Perfect for  a wedding march, eh? haha! Where did that come from??? I've just attended yet another bridal shower last night, so my days lately are so much peppered with love, couples and the ringing of wedding bells, so pardon me for being such a cheese ball :) Here you go guys! Enjoy this song!

I hope everyone has people in their lives with whom they wouldn't feel the need to filter anything. It's a good thing for the soul to just sit there and be at your most comfortable - just blurting out everything that comes to mind. :) Last weekend held the longest bridal shower in history -- spanning for 24 hours! Lol! We threw a party for Potchy and it was like an amazing race -- her exact words -- because we hopped from one place to the next with changing outfits in between :P It was the whole shebang!

Aid in dying. Death with dignity. Compassion and Choices. - I just had to cringe as I read those words in the NBC article about Brittany Maynard. Maynard was a 29-year old newly wed who was diagnosed with a terminal cancer earlier this year. It was said that she only had about 6 months to live... Not wanting to let the cancer get the final say in her life, she opted for "death with dignity" or a medical treatment that allows terminally-ill patients to take their life sooner.

This is a cute one. Small town girl, matinee idol boy, a string of witty email exchanges, the push of young love, the pull of the past, so the story goes... :)

Dreaming of the waves and the sand... this is a song that just never fails to soothe me :) Enjoy everyone!

I'm sure most of you have already visited the stretch of restaurants along Maginhawa and its neighboring streets... but as for me, it was my first time to dine in the area last week. :) Last Saturday, my clubhouse friends and I decided to eat at Wicked Kitchen. When we got there around 12pm, it was only us. But after about half an hour, the place was packed!

Woke up this morning with a bad case of cold so this is like an involuntary free day for me at work. Sunday mornings are great, but Monday mornings mean that I get to have the  house all to myself, so I can read and write peacefully. Whoopie!

I was punching Ais and I was gasping for air with fits of laughter escaping my mouth... the culprit was the guy on stage, Alex Calleja - the stand up comedian aka "The Master." I don't remember laughing that hard in such a long time and it felt goooood. Have you laughed like that lately? To be laughing so hard, your stomach hurts!

Hi! First post for October! :) Just celebrated my birthday last week, and the million-dollar question is this: How old/young are you??? :) I guess I have reached the age when I would think twice before saying it out loud. HA! So, do I feel old? Hmm… Not really, although the age 27 (there, brave ol me, I’ve said it out loud :P) also surprises me. Really?? I’m ALREADY 27??!

They're candid, cute, energetic and yes, sometimes they test your patience and they seemed to be assessing just how loud your voice can get to get your point across... who am I talking about?? KIDS!! Spending time with these kiddos bring smile to my heart like nobody else can. ...and as ironic as this sounds, they have taught and reminded me on a lot of things that we have forgotten as grown ups. :)

Last weekend, we went to this Starbucks branch in Tagaytay and it was really lovely. It was situated below a steep driveway, and unless you know where to look, it would be quite easy to miss. But it's a spacious lot -- with glass doors, paintings, couches, benches and wooden architecture -- it may just be my favorite Starbucks by far.

Hey, another fashion spotlight post! :) For this one, I am putting the spotlight on Kim Jones -- her statuesque built, lazy-expressive eyes and genuine smile -- make her photos a joy to look at. It also helps that words tumble so easily for her and she poses against beautiful backdrops showcasing different parts of the continents. And her latest escapades? Tokyo and Paris. Since she runs Miss Jones - a travel, fashion and beauty blog - I will be putting in excerpts straight from her blog. :) Ready?

"Everything is awesome... everything is cool when you're part of a team... everything is awesome..." I watched that movie several months too late so pardon the LSS hitting this page :P When we booked our trip to Singapore, it was a toss between going to Malaysia to visit Legoland or just spending yet another day going around the Merlion-famed city... In the end though, the idea of crossing another border sounded too good to pass up. So a quick detour to Legoland it is!

Sometimes life's not very fair. You look at yourself in the mirror and you look at this lady and you tell yourself, "this is as good as it gets." Thank you Princess Diaries, I got that scene from that movie. :) Anyway, I've always been a Blair fan over Serena back in the Gossip Girl days. But I must say that Serena -- the real life Serena, aka Blake Lively -- has grown on me. So now, I'm a certified Blake fan. Because seriously, a girl with her face and built cannot also be an expert in the kitchen, riiiiggghhht?? You mean you just happened to be gorgeous and a whiz in baking cupcakes??? Where does that leave us all human beings??? Lol!

Okay, before you cringe and expect to see a cheesy novel with this post... Remember when your parents taught you to never judge a book by its cover? This is the best time to literally apply that, because as much as the words "Before Ever After" have ingrained in our minds pictures of princes, horse-drawn carriages and castles, there are so much more to Samantha Sotto's novel than what we have trained our minds to think.

So much has changed in the daily routines of women. Do you remember when waxing was somewhat the wild child in the hair removal methods? Slumped below shaving, plucking and depilatories, waxing was reserved for the more courageous few, simply because it's more expensive and just the word "waxing" makes one cringe in pain just thinking about it. ... But nowadays, waxing studios have started setting up shops here and there, almost challenging the more reserved Pinays and Pinoys (yep, being hair-free is not just for girls!) to take hygiene to the next level. Aside from waxing though, there are other hair removal methods available out there. So here is a quick comparison rundown on the different methods -for all of you who wants to achieve that smooth and hair free skin. :)

Yes, we're still doing this tag! :) Big yaaay because I am still on track with my one-book-per-month resolution... and I have 9 days to finish my August pick :P I still haven't "picked" anything, actually. Hehe! #umayoskajoy Getting acquainted with a new author is exciting and scary... With the risk of sounding dramatic, somehow there's a part of me that secretly roots for the newbie (at least in my eyes) as I dive into the pages of his story because I want so bad to like and enjoy it... but at the same time, I am not as patient and forgiving because after about 10 pages, if the voice just doesn't resonate with me, I will put it down then try my luck with another book, lol!

Here's the last post for my SG trip last month. :) Sorry, it took awhile, but better late than never! Singapore is such a beautiful city and it ended up bigger than I thought, so there were many places to go especially great places to eat, to shop, to stroll around and take loads of photos with. Here are some places that really stuck to me that you may want to pay a visit to when you find yourself in SG... Gardens by the Bay The best time to go to here is around 5pm so you can see it with the natural light streaming down on everything, then have a quick bite at the restaurants in Marina Bay Hotel or go for a quick shopping then go back to see it at night because the lights are really beautiful!

In Joanna Goddard's blog, she re-posted this insight on happiness by Hugh MacKay. I just remembered Robin Williams when I was reading this and thought this is worth sharing :) "I actually attack the concept of happiness. The idea that—I don't mind people being happy—but the idea that everything we do is part of the pursuit of happiness seems to me a really dangerous idea and has led to a contemporary disease in Western society, which is fear of sadness.

What happens when you see your ex-crush with a bouquet of flowers -- obviously not for you because you haven't seen each other for months -- and he sneaks up from behind you and says hello?

Shoe business is kind of slow lately, but if there's one thing that I am thankful for - it's that friends and old customers come back to me for orders when I need it the most. You see, I need to earn back the travel spending I've done over my last two trips so this small biz is helping me with all my expenses (which grows together with your age) and savings. :) So thanks girls! Some people are not too keen on having their pairs delivered after 2-3 weeks (since SMFW specializes in made to order shoes), but friends and loyal customers of SMFW come back to get their comfy and affordable flats, especially when the heavy rains have left us with wet and ratty pairs of office shoes. Glenda has soiled 3 of my flats! That's the typhoon aftermath for some of the shoe-loving populace... Better the shoes than people, right? :P

Sometimes it's easy to just merely react to everything that goes our way, that things stop being intentional. And it is these series of reactions that leave you to find yourself that it's already Friday, then it's already the month after, then before you know it, the year is already halfway through... and the things that you were hoping for and those that you have penned as goals at the start of the year... are still that-- GOALS. I met up with an old friend and we started going through this material at church and I asked her to write down things that she was believing for - for the year. My list which I wrote months ago was tucked in between the pages of my Bible so I just held on to it while she drafts hers.

Sometimes when you want to get away, the perfect solution is to not be in one, but in SEVERAL make-believe worlds :) While Disneyland is a kid's happiest place on earth, Universal Studios is for the kids and the kids-at-heart (aamin na, kasama na kami dito :D)- - specifically those who have a fascination for movies and who can't help but be wowed by the brilliance of film-making. My friends and I were definitely looking forward to this experience because we're major movie buffs, and maybe we can say this about majority of the Filipinos, we appreciate world-class entertainment! Well enough introduction, come and see USS through these photos :)

Two thumbs up to films that still celebrate people's authenticity. My sister and I had girly bonding yesterday by watching Begin Again and it was a really good movie! :) With the can't-miss-it gorgeousness of these two human beings on the planet -- Keira and Adam -- the movie is definitely more than just a love story. Actually come to think of it, was it a love story? I encourage you guys to watch it, then let me know what you think? :)

They say that you truly get to know people when you travel with them, and I have learned that statement to be especially true for this trip :) Good thing we're a bunch of honest-to-goodness   crazies that we ended up laughing over things that totally pissed us off minutes ago. That's when you know you've found true friends... right, Kim, Val and Mhe? When you can make a joke out of something that seemed pretty serious awhile ago, you know you've crossed the threshold to being "friends-for-keeps." Ha! :P Pinatibay na tayo ng panahon, mga 'te! Apir!

The moment I landed in Changi Airport, the first thing I looked for was food. The travel time from Manila to SG was about 3.5 hours and I regretted not shoving in my bag the peach-mango pie that my dad bought me for baon that day :( So upon arriving, my eyes quickly settled on the nearest signage that would cater to my rumbling tummy.

Gone are the days when our energetic selves would be awake til dawn. Hitting our mid-20s means this: late night episodes would have us yawning by 11pm and Saturdays will be bumped off by Sunday brunches and early dinner catch ups on weekdays. :) For all the mid-20s in the house, can you relate? Lol! Is it just us? Whether this is a sign of aging or just a phase that we will soon get over with, there's beauty in the quiet stillness of Sundays and the ho-hum of Makati that doesn't look like it at all on a weekday. So it was set: drop by Rosa Clara for our friend's wedding gown fitting, then have late lunch at Simply Thai in Greenbelt 5. :)

Hope everyone's safe and dry! Power is out because of typhoon Glenda so this is the best time to crack open those books and relax :) Facebook, TV and everything plugged just have to wait. Here's a song that I've been addicted to for days, time for some feel-good music! I'm starting to love Jess Glynne! Sing along with her, I've copied the lyrics and pasted it after the video:

After a few breather posts, here's the last post for my Northern Mindanao series! :) Yep, there's more to Mindanao than just CDO's city proper and Camiguin (although those two are already packed with so many beautiful nooks as shared here , here and here ), because there's still Dahilayan Forest Park in Bukidnon and our river rafting experience in CDO :) Dahilayan Forest Park Thanks to the folks of La Montana Tours & Vans, we went straight from Camiguin to Bukidnon and arrived at Dahilayan after lunch.

Just got back from Singapore today and while my feet are aching and my arms are now decorated with slight bruises from all the luggage (aka shopping bags) in tow, I just thank God for the opportunity to kick back and relax in a foreign land. :) I've always been a fan of traveling, because for me, people grow in so many ways when they travel. It's voluntarily pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to find and grow into a better version of yourself. Yes, it's scary but it's also exciting!

Just sneaking in a post to share how God has been good to me all my life :) Somehow, no matter how much I try or anyone tries, I haven't felt loved and I couldn't love the way God loves me. When I talk to people and I try to describe God's love, every analogy falls short... simply because His love is just so much more intense and it's unconditional. For this post, I want to share the role that love plays in allowing God to be the Lord of my life. :) When we talk about Lordship, it usually entails a sharp intake of breath and begrudgingly opening our hands to release something that we have held on for too long... but Lordship can also be a natural response to what is already made complete in us. Lordship, at its best, is an expression of love. :)

Hello White Island! :) For this post, I am posting large-sized photos because the island is so beautiful, it deserves nothing less than full-bleed (or as big as these can get!) images :) We stayed at Paguia's Cottages in Camiguin, which is just 15 minutes away from the island. Yes, this island is famous for its sandbar, and is also called as the Alphabet Island because depending on the tide, the sandbar shifts from time to time. So it may be look like an "L" this morning, then gradually shifts to an "E" in the afternoon :)

Our day 2 is off to an early start, because we had to leave at 2am so we can catch the barge/boat ride at 4am headed to Camiguin! Camiguin is about 2-hour land travel and 1 1/2 hour boat ride from the city :) We initially thought of going backpacking for this trip, but later on realized that getting La Montana Tours and Vans was probably the best decision we made because the places are so far from each other. Plus, just riding a van without fear of getting lost allowed us to recharge and catch up on sleep so that when we get to our destination, we're pumped up with happy energy to appreciate the place more :)

There are photos to satisfy the appetite of FB and IG users, THEN there are stories behind the photos made especially for this platform. If you're thinking of taking your backpack somewhere local and lovely, may it be the beautiful Northern Mindanao :) Got back from our 4-day trip in this province last month and I still have a travel-phile hangover from the scenic views and crazy activities we did. It wasn't exactly the best time of the year to go to the beach or anything nature-y but God has blessed us with good-enough weather that allowed us to do everything in our itinerary! Woot woot! Thank you, Lord! :)

HAHAHAHAHA! HOW FUNNY WAS THAT??!! :)) You're probably thinking, "is this guy serious??"

Watching wedding videos is one of my guilty pleasures. That's why when someone makes them with so much artistry and skill, I am floored to the point that I have to share them. <3

Great things come in small packages... and sometimes, fashion icons come in the form of ultra-petite and super-cute women like this one right here, Rachel Bilson! Gaining popularity from her OC days, and now playing the lead character in the hit sitcom Hart of Dixie whilst bearing Hayden Christensen's baby (yep, she's pregnant!), one notable thing about this lady is her amazing fashion sense. She just keeps upping her fashion game with unique yet classy pieces whether in the likes of colorful scarves, spunky wedge heels, and big studded handbags. Here are a few of my fave Bilson looks:

Hello! Happy Independence Day! Days will be a little quieter in the house until Saturday because my two sisters are out of town for Victory's Singles Getaway! Yaaaaay for them! And yaaay for me also because I will be hogging their room while they're gone! HA! :) I would've loved to join the getaway though but I need to behave myself as far as spending my vacation leaves and moolah in the next two months, because I have two upcoming trips! Woot woot!

I'm excited to watch The Fault in the Stars in the big screen! Woot woot! Two of my friends and I are heading over to do just that this afternoon and it's one of those things that I'm silently rooting for because the book was just that goooood. No pressure producers and everyone behind the movie, but please, please... don't screw this up. Kidding! Not really. :P Anyway, while I do that, here are some posts around the web that will keep you company for this weekend!

I wonder why Fangirl didn't become half as popular as Eleanor and Park when it's so much better? :)

Could Daniel Ek, creator of Spotify, be the next Mark Zuckerburg? With the growing number of users of this now-famous app, it IS possible. :) This new app reminds me of MTV days in the 90s. I remembered how my sisters and I lived in Moffatts fandom back then, that not only do we have posters of these cuteee siblings plastered on our wall, but we also hoard cassette tapes and song-hits (haha! alamuyan!) as we wait for their video to come on MTV and watch it for the nth time!

In elementary, Science taught us that matter is anything that occupies space. Somehow it only hit me just now how totally apt that definition is when it comes to everything in our lives.

Here is the post I wrote years ago! I echoed here what I learned from the 2 speakers, Tricia Gosingtian and Ana Santos. Tricia is a fashion blogger, so there's a part of the event in which we all had to pick out and model the outfits from Bayo then Tricia picked out winners from the attendees. So the event started with that then went into the specifics of fashion blogging then writing in general. :) Hope you'll pick up a few writing nuggets! Happy reading and writing!

There is one author who said that every writer has a voice. When she asked the crowd what this voice means, a few answered that it's their writing style, others said that it's what they write about (topic, content, genre)... But minutes later, she said that it is the YOU in writing. So it's the style, the topic, the theme, everything when you pick up a pen to write - that's your voice. A semi melodramatic confession: These past few months, I feel like I lost that voice. sniff sniff. That sounds a little way too emo, but I really felt that way. Pagbigyan nyo na ako. Haha!

It's Tuesday but I'm gonna put the spotlight on weekends. :) I think weekends should be down there on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Every human being needs a rest -- a recharge, a Sabbath day.

"You just have to be brave enough to be patient enough to wait for it." - Fulltime Girl https://thefulltimegirl.com/ Have you met...? A few months back, I get at least one date referral a week from friends and office mates, and that is no exaggerated fact. I don't really express that I want a guy. In fact, I usually just smile and laugh off their offers when they go all-wing woman on me. (I would like to take this moment to applaud the concern and efforts of these people with huge initiatives in life that they have appointed themselves as my unofficial wing women! You know who you are! :P) Although as much as I enjoy being on my own, I also won't deny that there are definitely moments when I wish I had someone. Let us call these the single hood moments:

Izzz so hot lately! I am typing this in an air-conditioned room but I'm still a little heady from the humidity and scorching hot weather outside. I hope you guys are holding up well :) Always carry a bottle of water with you to make sure you're hydrated. Odiba, spoken like girl with PhD. Haha! :D Anyway, this week, my appreciation for having such great parents have grown and I usually find myself saying na super bait nila (they're super nice)  when asked about them. Like this week's dessert-biz episode in the name of mango float.

My sisters and I are blessed for having such a great mom :) I always tell my friends how great my mom is because she seems to express her love for us constantly through her words and service. ...and we know that she would give us everything if only she can :)

Hello! :) I returned from a two-day retreat with Stillwaters last weekend and I thank God for the opportunity to be a part of it -- so many questions, practices, and sharing happened that here I am, assessing where I am and where God wants me to be. I am amazed on how simple the retreat was, yet on how big of an impact it made on me. When someone asked what I appreciate most about Stillwaters, I answered that it is with Stillwaters that I realized how church can be simple... to which he responded with, "You know, Stillwaters is so simple, all we have is Jesus." And I couldn't have said it any better --- that response alone deserves a slow clap, don't you think? :)

Food, food and food! Here are some places you need to try as you get your foodie fix on in this island :) Hungry Surfer For this trip, we stayed at Bay's Inn which is just a stone's throw away from the beach. Last time we stayed at Mahdox Backdoor, and while I personally prefer the latter as far as accommodation is concerned, the former has its own 24 hour restaurant, the Hungry Surfer, making it one of the most convenient places to stay at in Baler. Imagine, drinking your coffee with the sunrise as your view.... yeah, this is the life.

If our day 1 consisted of a full-blown tour of Baler, day 2 was focused on 1 thing: surfing.

How’s your holy week? Off somewhere with white sand, seas and breeze? Today is the perfect beach weather,  isn't  it? But wherever you may be, or whatever you may be up to this long weekend, may it be a reflection on how good God is. :) As for me and my fam, we're just staycation-ing here in Manila. So with all these free time, I’m trying to be as productive as possible– so while my mom and sister hold up old pieces of clothing to give away, I’m sitting on the bed, resolved to catch up on my blog backlogs. Let’s be friends again? Help me out and forgive me for not posting sooner? You have to forgive me, it’s the HOLY week! :D Okay, okay, here it goes! First off, the Baler trip last month!

Woke up to this quote and just had to share -- don't you agree? :)

"You know I believe friendship is God’s greatest evidence of himself here on earth.  You know I believe everyone needs a home team: a go-to, show-up, middle of the night, come-in-without-knocking tribe that gets us through when things fall apart. You know I believe in circling the wagons—gathering your people around you to tell you the truth when all the voices out there are shouting bad news. And you know, of course, that I believe all this love and truth-telling and prayer and laughter happens best around the table." - Shauna Niequist, Why I love Thursday Nights Upon reading those words, I just wanted to quickly  cross post it on FB to holler to my Thursday group as if to say "thank you guys, this is exactly how I feel about Thursdays!" :)

Last Thursday morning, Ate Flo texted me to invite me to the Passion Manila concert that night. I have heard about it before but in the last two times that the group visited the Philippines, I wasn't able to go, and being the kaladkarin girl that I am, I immediately sent "gaaaaame!" :) It was such a great thing to have--what for me--is the best seat in the house! We got Patron seats and I can really see the faces of David Crowder, Kristian Stanfill and Louie Giglio, and it's an amazing sight to behold.

Got back from Baler yesterday and geez, a few unexpected things happened, but we also got to experience some new things :) More details soon! For now, these rules are posted on one of the walls at Bay's Inn, the place we stayed at. Which numbers should you start living by? :)

Hello there! If you're planning to get on that surf board soon, whether it's at Baler, La Union, Siargao, Zambales or Hawaii (yehesss!), here are some items you may want to include in your beach bag. Since surfing is quite a different sort of beach activity from the chill/party feel of Boracay or the quiet/serene vibe of Palawan or Bohol, a tougher set of beach clothes and things are essential. Ready?

Summer is here! Yesterday, I walked the length of Makati and I must say that the sun was beating down so hard, it's kind of a love-hate relationship I have with its rays. I can't help but feel all excited with my upcoming beach trips with this weather but THIS heat while you're in the city is not very cool (Lol, pun intended).  Just being a brat here, wanting to have my own clouds in Manila and yet a sunny weather when I'm somewhere with seas and sands. Well, note to self: "you can't have it all, lady." :)

A new look is fitting for a new year, and somewhere in Katipunan Avenue, a salon is sporting a fresh new look. Say hello to the new Soiree Salon & Spa! Yes, our friends from Soiree has just renovated their salon and reopened last week. From my previous post here and here , you can see how they were also the reason behind my different looks. And I am now typing this with a new look as well, but more about that on my next post :) Going back to these guys, I'm very excited to give you a short tour of the place because it really looks lovely. :)

Hey lovelies! How about some sweet fix in the name of tea and french macarons? Milk tea has taken the country by storm years ago and has proven to the tea cynics that this previously-coined foodie trend is here to stay... But while french macarons are somewhat dessert newbies in the local scene, they have gained quite a following with the dessert-loving crowd with its sweet+salty balance and crunch+chewy texture.

Ramen and katsu are all the rave these days, and with so many restaurants setting up shops with these two fares, Tampopo is nothing short of brave to set up their first branch here in Manila just last December.

(Belated) Happy Valentine's Day everyone! :) How was the hearts day for you? I hope that attached or unattached, you were able to celebrate the day with your loved ones <3 In my previous post , I posted a song from the Drew and Iya wedding video and said that I will note my favorite lines from their wedding vows on my next post. If you haven't seen the video yet, here it is. Then scroll down for some snippets from their wedding vows that really took the awwww-level several notches higher:

Good morning! It's the eve of Valentines Day and here is a song for you:

"All good things, all good things.." If you've seen Frozen, raise your hands up! Lol! I just thoroughly enjoyed the movie that here I am, devoting a post to it. While all the characters are especially endearing, I am fond of Olaf the most. The sweet little snowball is bursting with so much positive energy and genuineness.

This book does not need a lengthy preamble because this has been selling like hotcakes since last year :)

You may see me as a kikay girl, but I am practically clueless as far as make up is concerned. I have always been fascinated with people who can do eye make up. How I wish I could do those smokey eyes without looking like raccoon and without finishing off all the dark-colored eye shadows. So lo and behold, a few weeks ago, I was able to watch how make up artists spring into action as they take out their palettes to create a masterpiece with the face as their canvas. And I kid you not, they seriously have palettes--like painter-kind of palettes :)

Time for a time warp post! :) I'm going back to making desserts lately -- but just the quick ones -- like the mango float and I'm experimenting in making something chocolate-y too... I love it, sometimes I get too excited in tasting whatever it is I whipped up that the kitchen area becomes a helluva mess. Lol! Sorry! I hope my dad sees the passion behind all the cartons of cream, wafer crumbs and condensed milk drips on the table. :P Anyway, my love affair for dessert experiments dates back to almost 4 years ago when I started selling my sister's chockies. Yes. chockies. Guess what those are?   

Hi Bookworms! Do you have reading resolutions for the year? :) Fully Booked has noted several possible resolutions on their Facebook page . Thanks to them because they're really good at giving bookies a consistent push to keep reading and expand their book choices. For this year, the single note I dedicate to my book-loving self is this: Read, read, and please, READ!

Heyyyy! Remember my post months ago in which I was having a minor-entourage-dilemma breakdown? I was looking for a style for my best friend's wedding and there were tons to choose from online. I posted quite a few styles here , but I decided that this one below was going to be IT for me :)

Good morning! I was off social media for a good 5 days and now I am back :) Did you miss me? Haha! #feeling 5-day fasting is done for the start of the year, so I can eat solids again. Yipee! It was real funny actually, because out of the 5 days, I had to attend 3 birthday gatherings, so bye bye Greenwich, Amber's and Buddy's foodie feast :( I cringed a little when my office mates were happily munching on the pansit habhab at Buddy's because it looked really good... but it's okay, I know it's going to be worth it and a commitment is a commitment. Liquid fast for five days. No turning back.

I am 5 days late, but hey, happy New Year!!! *fireworks! clapping!* I thought of giving an ode to 2013 to properly end the year, but I thought I'll just dive right into 2014 :P A friend asked me at the tail end of the year how has 2013 been for me, and it took me awhile to answer.  Gather thoughts, quick!