SUMMER INSPIRATIONS

If only I can have their perfect summer body just by looking at them.

via fashiontoast, songofstyle, theblondesalad, garypeppervintage, stylescrapbook, thesartorialist

Sampling Swiss Cuisine

Our family went to Antipolo to celebrate the Easter. We chose Vieux Chalet because we were instantly charmed with its organic home-made food sets. They serve exquisite Swiss food that can make you forget you're on a diet. "What summer body? This home-made butternut ice cream is so good! Another scoop please!" We stayed overnight in their inn as well because aside from the food, we love some R&R in action. They offer spa services too. I want to personally give a shout out to Rico, their manager who had been nothing short of the perfect host. I forgot the name of the butler assigned to my family but he greatly deserves a big fat thank you from us as well. There are nearby resorts there in which amenities are more modern but why did we choose Vieux Chalet?
1. We're a family who has people anxiety. Why stay in a place jampacked with people like us who want to relax when you can opt for another smaller resort that you can rent all for yourselves? We're for complete relaxation and reconditioning.
2. We're a family who loves food. We devour anything edible, maybe not so much on the greens, so it's no wonder that, well, all of us in the family are a little chubby. So when we were told that our ricotta cheese is organic and our veal bratwurst is homemade, it was a sure go! Finally, food for not-so-health-conscious eaters with lesser calories.
3. Who doesn't want a butler who dance-attendance to all your whims and requests? Are you kidding me? Don't you want an Alfred for yourself? Haha! Go ahead, put their service to test :) Here's the link to their menu should you want to try their restaurant. Contact them before going!








Sweater and yellow, white, purple bangles: Mango| Shorts and belt: Giordano| Bag: Tommy Hilfiger| Shoes: from Bangkok

These Songs of Freedom

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;

None but ourselves can free our mind.

I have to borrow lines from Bob Marley's Redemption Song for that perfect 'short but scarily concise' words to describe my state of mind at the moment. Besides, it's summer time here so it's but understandable to excessively listen to Bob Marley songs. Anyhoo, I attended my cousin Vince's 12th birthday party last 5th of April. Here's what I wore:

It's my finals week as we speak but I couldn't find the willpower to even reach for any of my books. I mean, the heat is enough to make me dizzy, why put another agony in the form of forcing myself to study? Right? Hahaha I'm kidding! If you were in my shoes, I would push you to study but since it's me, well I heed what my favorite song in Moulin Rouge says - come what may. Matter of fact, I just finished watching a few of my favorite movies namely Armageddon, The Day After Tomorrow  and 2012. What do you call their genre? Is it sci-fi, historical epic drama, end-of-the-world morbid scary movies or what? I don't know about you but I find these movies very entertaining. Add Pearl Harbor and Titanic (although they're both not about the apocalypse) to the growing roster and I swear you can expect me completely hooked to the tube. What I love the most about these films is the resounding knowledge that, should the last day of the Earth really dawns on us, I'd belong in the first-to-die list. I noticed that only the highly intellectual people have a shot at being saved. I'm sure somewhere out there, a group of thinkers whose ideas and visions I will never fathom are devising a strategy that gives hope to the human race. I believe a Noah's Ark is in the works. I also believe that I will not live to see that day. Only those who are extremely intelligent enough who understand why certain phenomena are happening and skillful enough to restart the human civilization will be the passengers of that saving ark. Blame my fondness of this topic on my admiration to those movies that blow my brains out :)

I love Bob Marley songs, don't you? They're the perfect feel good music for summer. Oh! I'm moving from Story Lane to another website for my paper works. Check it out HERE if you want to read some of the things I've worked on in college :)

Top: sewn by my grandmother| Shorts: Greenhills Tiangge| Shoes: CMG

I'm Chasing the Sun

Just one more week and I'll be done and over with my finals for the term. Just one more week and it'll officially be summer for me :)

A few weeks ago, I attended a seminar for a certain activity that I would have loved to do this summer. I've psyched myself into thinking that I'd be somewhere far and fun. Up to some extent, I've even imagined how I will go about my daily rituals in that far away place. I was willing to sacrifice my other pre-planned activities for that one ultimate trip. I was excited, to say the least. And then the bad news broke out. What I've been looking forward to suddenly vanished into thin air. All of a sudden, the odds turned against me. I can't anymore go because I failed to meet the requirements my mom and the activity have entailed. Was I saddened? Definitely. Was I sullen? Immensely so. Did I brood over it? For a few days, yes. But after, I snapped back. Getting past the disappointments is probably one of my weak points. I can't easily accept things that don't go my way. Especially if I've employed all means just to get it. I'm not exactly the 'sore loser' type but if the battle is not against someone like in a competition, rather it's against things that are faceless, that can't fight back in the strict sense of the word, that are unchangeable, that's another story. Acceptance takes time but once I've fully understood why things happen, I move on and never look back at it with the same bitter taste that I've once had. That's life.

This is what I wore last Easter Sunday when the family decided to eat some organic Swiss food in Antipolo. I'm going to post the other pictures next, IF I'll be able to convince myself to type another story. Hihihi

Denim dress used as top: Lulu Castagnette| Belt: Divisoria| Vest: Esprit| Skirt: from my Lala Ester| Shoes and bracelet: from Platinum Mall, Bangkok| Bag: Tommy Hilfiger| Glasses: Aldo| Hat: SM Dept Store| Watch: from my friend

At the Eleventh Hour

Hellooooo! How's your Holy Week going so far? I'm enjoying mine as I am feasting on sumptuous Swiss meals after a long day of observing Christian traditions. Anyway, since I was able to sneak off a few minutes today, I'd like to share what I wore in the batch party that I attended last 23rd of March. My batchmates and I are looking forward to the much-awaited culmination of our college life, aka graduation, which will start commencing this term for the others while which will happen for me next year February. That is, if everything else will sail smoothly. But before we part ways, the university held ID110's last grad ball in PICC. The party was entitled APO110.

my date for the night/ one of my few favorite persons in college/ my style sister, Lina. It's also worth mentioning that she's one of my tallest friends EVER. In my defense, she stands at 5'6 so don't bother asking me why I look like a midget standing next to her. Hahaha!

I know, I know. The big question is, "WHY ON EARTH DID YOU NOT WEAR A BALL GOWN?"

Truth is, I wasn't prepared at all. I only knew of the event two days prior to it so there was no way that I could've demanded my mom to accompany me to go to my favorite atelier shops in the metro. I did the best that I could in looking for an alternative cocktail dress and this is what I came up with. I know I could've done better. And probably Lina was right when she said that "Of all the people I know, YOU are the one who makes formal events a big thing". Time was my enemy so I had to make do with what's available. In all honesty, even though it's a tame one, I liked what I wore. Actually, I love it. It's ruffled all over and had it become a long dress, it would've looked like a ball gown too because the bottom is flared. I love the dress and if only it's mine, I would wear it again in another important event. Yep, I just borrowed it. I borrowed it from my 4 year old cousin! Perks of being a very petite girl :)

I wasn't wearing my heels when I took these pictures because they were shot when I reached home already. For the first time in my life, my feet gave up on me!!! I've never felt as much pain as I did that night. Hmm. Maybe that only meant I enjoyed APO110 so much! In fact, I did. It was so fun bumping into the other students who have made my almost 4 year stay in DLSU memorable and bearable. Animo! (Yes, those are band aids on my toes)

Dress: Debenhams Kids| Belt: Promod| Bag: Vivienne Westwood| Shoes: Zara| Ring: Aldo| Bracelets: H&M

Before I forget, let me just say that I'm sooo touched with all the comments that I am yet to approve. Give me until Monday to sort them out Hihi

Enjoy the rest of your Holy Week and make it count, friends!

Travel Philippines: Sagada, Mountain Province

I survived

I've never found a shirt that says "I survived" more fitting than the ones sold in the souvenir shops of Sagada, Mountain Province. Although I am generally an outgoing person, the adventures that the place has in store for its tourists are not something to treat lightly. They demand so much of one's energy, endurance, determination, skills, and sheer willpower. I'm quite handy with the former requirements but willpower, well that's a different story. My willpower doesn't easily manifest itself. Subconsciously, I try to find alternative ways to meet a certain goal when affronted with tedious and challenging obstacles. But when the tide gets too tough, as in "you can cry all you want, but unless you do something about it, nothing will change" type, all I've got is to turn to myself and extract whatever willpower I have. Last thursday, I accompanied my Tito Rolly and Tita Aida to their supposed us-only trip to Sagada. But hello, when it's something that can concern me, no one can leave me behind. Hahahaha


Manila to Baguio is approximately 6 hours. We left our car there and took the bus going to Sagada. The trip was another 6 hours.



NOTE: If you're in Sagada, make sure you try the Lemon Pie here. They're very very very delicious! I had two slices of it every night as my dinner.

ACTIVITY 1: Spelunking in Sumaguing Cave. There are areas where big chunks of white stones were where you have to step on. They're very slippery and as expected of every caves, all the big stones were cut unevenly. Stalagmites and stalactites amused us along the way. The water inside was icy cold. You cannot go further into the cave without holding onto the stones which were covered with bat poops. You can cry all you want but unless you grab on to the bat poop, submerge yourself into the icy water, slide down the rough stones, you're not going anywhere.







ACTIVITY 2: Catching the Sunrise in Kiltepan. We woke up at 5AM to be on time for the predicted 6 30 sunrise. I don't get cold easily so if I put on a thick jacket, that's because it's really cold. As soon as we've reached the mountain top, we were greeted by the sudden breeze. The fog was too thick creating the illusion of clouds. You'd feel that the clouds are just an arm's reach away.





ACTIVITY 3: Trekking Bomod-ok Falls. It's very cold in Sagada since it's on top of the highest mountains in the North but at noon time, when the sun is directly shining above you, you'd still feel your skin burning. I wore an oversized sweater to defend me from the blazing heat. No matter how stupid I looked, I didn't really care as long as I'll be able to protect myself. It took an hour going down towards the majestic falls. To go up, it takes more hours. Thank goodness for the picturesque place where we're walking, at least the discomfort became bearable. Imagine walking along the rice terraces that I've always dreamed of seeing in person. You can cry all you want but unless you force your legs to climb another stairs up, you don't succumb to thirst, you brave the intense sun, you won't see the beauty that awaits you.








ACTIVITY 4: Getting to the Hanging Coffins. The best part of this entire trip has to be this. Hands down. The way going to the coffins starts with passing by the cemetery, trekking the rain forest, and finally coming front and up close with them. When we reached the coffins, the rain poured heavily. We were trapped so we decided to wait until the sky clears up. Night time was about to dawn on us and we didn't want to take the risk of staying behind. Amidst the heavy rain, we trekked out of mountain. It was extra slippery so when I tried to reach for the big stone ahead of me to help me get up from where I was currently standing, I got dragged down by the flowing mud. I fell down straight to the puddle of mud. I was drenched in rainwater and mud yet I felt so motivated to climb up. You can cry all you want but unless you stand up from the mud where you're subjected to, you rely on yourself since the others whom you're with were also dealing with their own struggles, you don't mind the dirt and the scary feeling of the place, you will not go anywhere. The entire experience was eerie but it's an experience that I will never forget.






As for the food, I've always been keen to try the local cuisines of any place I visit. The rice the entire Sagada is serving is either brown or red rice. It was a good thing for me since the rice served in our home has been red rice since last year. I loved the pure carrot juice and cake. And I very much liked the taste of the lemon pie and egg pie.



This is how their bar looks like. The night wasn't ripe yet so it was just me who was in there. Notice what I'm wearing: my PJs. I've sworn never to get out of the house (or my room if I'm in a hotel) wearing my PJs but the place gives off the laid-back appeal so I braved it.


I missed going to Baguio!!! I don't mean to offend but I personally think that the best thing to do in Baguio is to sleep. But you know those places that charm you in a certain way that you find indescribable, that's how the city affects me. I love it and I've always felt at home there for reasons that I can't put my fingers on. Here I am in front of the Viray-Peralta house with Manang Dolor who's been there eversince I can remember.



Just when you think you've been wow-ed enough, you'd see more of Sagada. Nature is truly the best architect.

Thanks to Kim Sta. Rita for lending me her trusted shoes.

Thanks to Tita Aida and Tito Rolly for being the sweetest!!