Heirloom Technomarine

After bringing my late grandpa’s watch to the shop, I later brought my late dad’s watch for some custom love. I chose thick black rally straps in artisanal leather to complement my father’s Technomarine. Reader, I wasn’t disappointed.

From my father, I learned some blobs of wisdom that enrich my life to this day:

• Cash is king

• Choose someone who will love you and still give you space because you’re an only child

• Work for yourself and never for your employer, even if you are employed

• Pray and believe

• Never be afraid to want good things for yourself.
  

I miss my dad, but I know that he is closely watching over me. I will surely live my life to the fullest because he is just hovering nearby. For now, I will live without abandon, and love like today is my last one on Earth.

New Girl

My office is just five minutes away from home, so I just take a tricycle to and from work. I’m liking the commute so far!

I rode in style. 

And I’m appreciating all the blessings that I’m getting amidst my dad’s terminal illness. 

Please continue praying for my dad! And for me as well, as I continue hustling for my family.  

Rafe x Bench 2019

Yesterday was a beautiful one for a fashion show! I went to Day 1 of the Bench Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 presentation at Bench Tower to see the trends of the season.  

It was a proud moment for me as well because my designer friend Rafe New York designed a special collab with Bench, just in time for the summer. 

His collection is marked by bold colors and gumamela prints which are perfect for day-to-night styling. 

His clothes also have an androgynous feel, and they also look and feel timeless. 

I am happy that Rafe continues to make a stylish impact in the Philippines, and the world. His designs are wearable but still stunning. I can’t wait to see how his new collection will translate to everyday wear. 

I had a fun time watching the show and buying key pieces from the collection for me and my family. 

It was a treat to see local celebrities on the runway! Gabbi Garcia was stunning in Rafe’s clothes. 

Kisses Delavin made the gumamela print preppy. 

Juliana Gomez was a refreshing presence with her cool swagger. 

I couldn’t be happier with the casual vibe of the collab!  

It was also a treat to meet social media fashion icon Lolandrogynous in the audience. 

And I got to have a photo with local sweetheart Kim Chiu. 

It was an unforgettable night, and I love Rafe’s inimitable talent. 

Here’s to more style stories to come!

Boxing Day 2018

Yesterday, I got to enjoy Boxing Day all by my lonesome. I donned the Samantha dress which was a Christmas gift from my cousin Choi’s online store, Snatched. 

I ran some errands for my family, then had the grilled cheese caprese sandwich from The Sandwich Guy.  

And for some cheap thrills: I finally got a USB speaker for my handy radio/MP3 player. I got mine from CD-R King, along with the USB wall adaptor. I can finally listen to the radio without needing to put on some earbuds!

I make life work by staying positive, and treating myself within my budget. Here’s to enjoying the rest of the holidays, and getting into the spirit of giving to myself!

Lucas Specs

After winning a pair of Sunnies Specs from dearsunniessanta, I was able to free up my budget (consisting of monetary holiday gifts from relatives abroad) in order to buy presents for myself. This year is different because my dad has recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I chose to buy gifts for my parents aside from just spending for myself, in order to cheer them up this holiday season. 

Thanks to the recent 12.12 Lazada sale, I was able to buy four pairs of Sunnies Studios sunglasses. This isn’t a sponsored post, and I bought these with my own money. 

It was satisfying to open my delivery yesterday. 

The sunnies pairs were neatly packed, and they all looked amazing! 

The top two pairs are for my parents, while the bottom two are for myself. I got them at a steal, and admittedly, that sale was fun! 

I will never forget that moment when I won those specs, and will forever be grateful. I will support the Sunnies group when I get a job soon. For now, I will rock these sunglasses with flair, and I will enjoy the holidays with my family. 

Dressing the Part

I am easing my way into the daily grind at work. One of the things that motivates me to hustle everyday is fashion. I am not addicted to dressing up per se, but I just find clothes to be the right catalyst in setting the tone for my day. For instance, I find myself pumped up for a workout when my Zumba gear is on point. For work, dressing up according to my mood, the weather, and my plans helps me get into girlboss mode. 

I saw this sign that at the restaurant while I was eating breakfast. It really resonates with me because I have an unceasing appetite for life. The same goes for my outfits. I am determined to excel at work so I am also driven to dress the part. I am crediting this to my hunger for a better life. 

I am currently enjoying my morning coffee breaks. It keeps me awake as I learn office processes and begin new assignments. 

Here’s to productive work days and more opportunities to dress up as I speakoutsam!

Faith and Arrows

I am the type of girl who follows rituals. One of them is my weekly (I try my best!) visit to St. Clare Monastery along Katipunan. I offer eggs and lift up my intentions for the week. 

After visiting St. Clare, I proceeded to DMZ Archery Range to shoot arrows. I liked their Gwen Stefani x Justin Timberlake playlist during my visit. 

Also, I adored my bow which had my lucky number 13 on it! 

I was able to have fun and release all my stress during the game.  

Archery also helps in improving my posture. 

I think I have a favorite sport now. 

I look forward to more routine days which in time will be productive habits. Mindfulness has taught me to pursue the good and the meaningful. I sure hope am doing a great job this 2018!

Day 5: #30GratefulDays | Pixie Update

I keep my hair short out of necessity. My mane is prone to hair fall due to my hypothyroidism. I used to keep my hair long but it was a hassle to maintain and really, hair fall is not pretty. It was not fun changing my hairstyles just to cover a bald spot. In 2014, I have finally had enough and I finally donated my hair to Cuts Against Cancer.

I started with a bob, then I eventually went for my now-standard pixie cut. It is very easy to maintain, as I only need to put wax on it and have it trimmed each month. It is also easier to live with, as I workout outdoors and having short hair makes it a breeze to dance. It is also liberating to be a pixie girl in the Philippines, where having long hair is still the popular standard of beauty. I think this is sexist and having a pixie is my subtle statement against the patriarchy. Having short hair can be beautiful, fashionable, and yes, feminine. While I am not against the LGBT community, I am straight, so this is not even a gender thing. It is merely a necessary move to save my hair, and in the end, I saved myself from blending in a sea of long haired girls.

I found my identity in styling my short hair and making fashion work for me as I can go edgy with minimal effort. Also, this fuss-free style has made me less conscious about my appearance. I just go with the flow and face the world as I am.

Such is my life with having a pixie. Every month is a chance to start over on a hairstylist's chair. And every haircut is cathartic. If you need a change in your life, have a trim or go big with a haircut! Trust me, a few snips here and there can make a huge difference in your outlook and confidence.