Life lately..

L-R 1. Christmas photo with the kids. 2. NYE view at Conrad Manila 3. Cookies & Creme kisses ♥ 4. Who doesn't love Snapchat? 5. Alonso Pupper 6. #TalesFromTheShotgun on Instagram 7. Teddyboinks 8. My current fave pumps 9. Me and my binata :) 10. Another Conrad Manila View 11. Me and my dalaga :) 12. My ever reliable sunshine yellow Chucks.

I haven't visited my little corner here on for almost 2 years now (how sad is that??). But I'm back now. And I shall blabber uncontrollably. :)

I have nothing to wear..

Photos by Jake


I buy clothes on a whim. If there's an instantaneous spark; if it involves heart racin' and eyes light'n up, then I know for sure that I'd have to take it home. Clothes are probably the reason why I still believe in love at first sight. Just like the magic that I felt when I laid eyes on this shirt. I already knew that it rightfully belonged to my closet.. I just knew. Especially since it mirrors my thoughts in my daily sartorial struggles.

Shirt = SM Dept. Store

Pants = Forever 21

Shades = Divi

Shoes = Thrifted 

Note to Self..

Photos by Jake

"You're not the kind of girl who settles. Keep not settling.." 

-Joy Wilson

Overalls | Shirt = Divi

Boots = Thrifted

In an Alternate Universe..

Photos by Jake

I consider my blog as my Alter Ego. This is my little corner wherein I'm allowed to be at my bravest, or at my utmost cowardice. Here, I'm allowed to put into words a whole lot of things that seem utterly impalpable. Here, I can be a superhero, or a damsel in distress..

Chambray Shirt | Boots = Thrifted

Skater Skirt = Online Shop

Necklace | Leather Band = SM Dept. Store

Carrying On..

Photos by Jake

Jumper - Landmark

Shirt - Baclaran

Sneakers - SM Dept. Store

The 20 something path may be far from what I pictured it to be. Albeit all the spanking & beating my tiny self have gotten along the way, the battle scars will always prove that I never go down without a fight. Never have, never will. But for today, I will set my big girl worries aside; put my dungarees on & continue walking. And just giggle with giddy, childlike wonder..

An Ode to My Hat

Photos by Jake

It had been a fun day, til I realized that I lost you..

(never again will I trust myself in carrying hats. Must always wear it. SMH.)

Bowler Hat/Sneakers/Necklace = SM Dept. Store

Shirt/Polo = Baclaran

Jeans = Thrifted

Current Eargasms

DISCLAIMER: these are songs that I currently listen to. Not necessarily new, chart topping, or some might not even interest you at all. I might have discovered them recently or unearthed from the depths of my playlist.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be a music authority of some kind. These are what I'm currently LSSing, so, no, these are not the hippest, sickest beats. Just wanted to share the tunes that put the 'gasm' to my ears in the hopes of imparting something groovy (or not really?). So sit back, relax, and feel free to rape the repeat button. *wink*

1. Open Your Eyes - John Legend

2. Best Day of My Life - American Authors

3. Super Duper Love - Joss Stone

4. Bad - David Guetta feat. Vassy



5. Shot Me Down - David Guetta feat. Skylar Grey



6. Game of Thrones (Cover) - MetroGnome



7. Blank Space - Taylor Swift



8. Am I Wrong - Nico & Vinz



9. Forest Whitaker (Acoustic) - Bad Books



10. I Will Survive - Chantay Savage

#TheSeashellProject2015

The New Year gives us this magical feeling of starting over. Of having a clean slate. 

This 2015, I will make everyday a journey of self-love, positivity & a whole lot more. I will try my hardest to impart inspiration & to be an advocate of good vibes.

How about you? What's your project this 2015? :)

Overhaul

Top = thrifted

High waist shorts = Landmark

Booties = Parisian

Back when I started working, I had a workmate who was a Psych graduate. During our free time, we took a lot of personality tests (which I still enjoy taking up until now, BTW) and afterwards, she would translate & explain the results to us. On one of the tests, she told me that I was some kind of OC, or something to that effect. Back then, I didn't full understand what the tendencies were. They just told me that OC people are the epitome(s?) of being organized. I told my mum about it, and without batting an eyelash, she said that it was very unlikely. It seemed that being organized was a word omitted from my vocabulary.

Over the years, when I've managed to get to know my self more, I realized that my former colleague had been right all along. I, indeed have an inclination to OCD. Though mum had been right that I am not the most organized (pertaining to the stuff inside my closet & my underwear drawers), it dawned on me that this is the case when my state of mind is in utter disorder, too. 

It led me to the conclusion that my closet (my stuff in general, actually) is a mirror of my thoughts. And right now, both my closet literally & (mental) figuratively are in dire need of an overhaul..

Life in Squared Photos

Life lately meant a lot of pictures (I'm doing the #100HappyDays challenge!), well include (a lot of) selfies on that. Catching up on reading (I have several new paperbacks, & started reading GoT on PDFs!). And discovering more & more places to eat.

Instagram: @kaishizzle

Hatemail..

Photos by Erika

Blazer & tattered jeans = Thrifted

Shirt = Divisoria

Flats = Parisian

Canvas Bag = Forever 21

A couple of years back, I received an anonymous mail. Ok, a "hatemail" to be blunt. It voiced out how he/she/it/they dreaded me as a person entirely, poking the right spots with such accuracy & precision. They despised the way I look - how ridiculously skinny I am (or was), how disgusted they were of my tattoos. They hated the way I speak, that they cannot contain sneering whenever they heard me. They mocked my thrifting habits, and taunted the way I dress.

I was enraged initially, of course. I wanted to scream - at whoever it was' face. I wanted oh-so-badly to lash out. My heart twitched, I almost let out a cry. I kept on wondering what was it that I did wrong? Is my fashion sense really THAT kind of bazonkers? Was stepping out of my (fashion) comfort zone another decision gone bad? I was wringing my brain for answers. It got to me big time that I was thisclose to un-believing myself. I was offended, outraged even. I had to fight off the strong urge to type a 3-page response to whoever it was, because it seemed like the most logical thing to do at the time..

But I didn't. 

I chose mature instead of logical.

I chose to re-believe in me instead of logical.

And simply because of the realization that ITJUST. WASN'T. WORTHIT. :)

Day by day..

Photos by Erika

Vest: Thrifted

Jeans & Shades: SM Department Store

Pumps: Mario D' Boro
Fedora: Borrowed

My heels alternately click & clack as I parade through my daily life. There are days when I feel strong & tough; when I feel well-armed with experience & all that. While there are some days that I feel under the weather; and sometimes there's this need to fill a misplaced gaping hole. Sometimes it goes out of hand.

Then suddenly, something jolts from oblivion. Shooting a message in invisible sticky notes. It took me aback that I'd have to pause.

I guess these millisecond life halts are healthy. It gives you the perfect time to breathe; or just blink.

I snap out of my zoned-out state, and I catch myself smiling. It dawned on me that no matter how crazy things get, eventually, it will just all turn out as wonderful. I guess we will never have everything figured out. No one probably ever will. There will always be episodes of going off course: stupid decisions, shallow tears, wrong turns, embarrassing moments - but there will be lots of epic moments too: family time, travelling to a new place, laughing boisterously with friends, a clearance sale at Forever 21.. the list will go on & on.

I continue to tread through my daily life. I think my feet need a time off of the height of my heels. I put my boots on & tell myself that how ever this day might go, it will boil down to one thing: Life is insanely beautiful.. <3 p="">

Living Life - Sweet Brown Style

Photos by Nyok

Cropped top: Edsa Central Bazaar

High-Waisted Shorts: Landmark

Fedora: Forever 21

Flats: Parisian

Specs: SM Department Store

Toxic people. Bitterness. Insecurities. Worrying. Settling..

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh7UgAprdpM)

The Half'a year that has been..

January - Ilocos

February - Mount Romelo

March - Boracay

April - Bolinao

May - Sibale

June - Laguna

This year has been good, if not the best. And cliche as it may seem, time does really fly by fast, when you're having fun. I guess I am, cuz it seems that everything was a blur. I'm having the greatest time of my life, and all I can think of saying now is thank you, thank you, thank you.. <3 p="">

@TheSingleWoman

Photos by Jerry

Vest, Tutu, Boots = thrifted

Bag = Parisian

"And the elusive One That Got Away? She has days when she still can't cut the strings.

She has moments of panic when she wonders if her Prince Charming got lost somewhere or decided to settle for another less complicated, less stubborn, less independent princess. Sometimes, she doesn't know where she's going until she gets there..

She hasn't got it all figured it out. Far from it, in fact..

But she loves God & she loves to dance, and she's her own better half. 

The bravest woman I know? She is the reason I do what I do. She's The Single Woman.

She's me, and she's You.."

(excerpt from The Single Woman, Mandy Hale)