Cheap Thrills: Hardware

Earlier today, I went shopping at Divisoria, the famous bargain capital of the Philippines (I just made that one up)! Haha! But really, I always enjoy going to Divi, as every trip is filled with great finds and the best buys that fit my air-tight budget to a tee. When you're a working girl on a budget, you can't always afford to go for 500-peso earrings or 2000-peso necklaces. If you can spare the time and the effort, Divi is always a good place to start. Visit 168 mall in the heart of the Divisoria district and you'll find wall-to-wall displays of just about anything -- from cellphones to umbrellas, to slippers, to trendy clothes, to hip accessories, and so much more. You won't have to worry about your rumbling tummy because there's a food court inside the mall. The choices are wide and varied, there's something for everyone, for sure!

I'll write about tips on how to conquer Divisoria soon. ;)

Check out some of my finds:

I got all these and more for a little under Php 1,500! I also was able to buy a pair of kicks that's perfect for the rainy season, a gold dragon bracelet, a pouch for my phones (in purple, oohlala!), and some hair styling tools (like spin pins and some curlers). Looking forward to my next visit!

Have you ever been to Divisoria? Do tell me all about it! :)

Love,

SGT <3>

Neon-phyte

Rain and neon. How does that sound to you? Usually, when the gloomy rainy season comes, we instantly think of wearing dull and dark colors to blend in with the current state of the environment. While others are drenched and dressed in grays and blacks, I take the alternate route and donned neon yellow. Just 'cause it's not summer here in the Philippines, it doesn't mean that getting away with bright colors is rocket science. Besides, the long-sleeve detail of this dress made it perfect for the July chilly breeze.

I don't think I always am the risk-taker that I sometimes believe I am. This outfit is definitely an exception. It's fun to break fashion rules every now and then, and when you do, go all out. You'll be surprised!

The dress was given to me by my "pre-school buddy", Justine. It accentuates my curves and hits all the right places... okay, maybe not for a few love handles I have here and there. But you get the picture. The crumpled effect on the smack-center of the dress adds to the illusion of curves and hides the unnecessary flab. I feel so sexy donning this dress. I should wear figure-hugging clothes more often, eh?

I debuted this ensemble to my good friend, Felice's karaoke party in Red Box Greenbelt. Happy 22nd, my love! Hope you like our dozen-goodie gift! (photos and stories of the said event will be shared soon!)

Anyway, I went all out with the crazy colors. I added on colorful accessories but decided to take it easy on the bag and shoes. That would be a little too much for something over-the-top already. :))

Dress: from a friend

Shoes: MSE

Bag: Aldo

Earrings: from Vanni Liwanag

Other accessories: from everywhere!

My best friend, Chammy, and I decided to go to Makati ahead of time. We chilled out in J.Co Donuts and Coffee in Greenbelt 5. I tried the Mr. Green Tea donut and Chammy had the Oreology (?) donut. I was quite surprised at how delicious the green tea donut is! I'll definitely put it in my favorites list.

ULTIMATE DREAM GIRL SHOT...NOT! Haha! Believe me when I say that I'm the biggest
dork and the kookiest girl you'll ever meet! :P

Here are some shots taken inside Red Box:

And the crazy color scheme accessories!

Photos by Cham Villanueva

Oh, about the title of this post... Well, I don't really wear much neon, so this would have to be my first (hence, the word play on neophyte). I used to dread wearing something this bright because I always felt that it would make me darker than I actually am! Whew!

There's something about this dress that drives my poor camera nuts! It gives off a bright glow! :| 

Not sure if that's a good thing but the camera is having a hard time registering that "glow." It's weird. Anyway, I hope you like this outfit. I'm glad I'm coming to terms with my new mantra of being more adventurous -- fashion included. That's all for me today. I'll have to rest my head. The heavy downpour calls for some cuddle time with my teddy bear and my sea of pillows! Have a great Sunday, everyone! 

Love,

SGT <3

She Goes Thrifty at the Superb Bazaar

It's my first time to attend a well-organized bazaar. This one's been on my list for weeks now and I'm glad my Mom was supportive enough to come with me. I met up with Chris, one of my college friends and orgmates. Her boyfriend, Nikko, had a booth at the Superb Bazaar too. It's always a good idea to have a friend by your side when you're shopping. They can help you decide which items are purchase-worthy. 

Aside from the shopping, I went to the Superb Bazaar to hopefully meet fellow bloggers and store-owners, in the hopes of widening my network. Of course, the pretty little things were just the bonus. But hey, it was an experience I will never forget. I was inspired not only by the items that were sold there but by the people who were both shopping and selling as well. Everyone was dressed to impress (except me, teehee!) and it was a lot of fun to see that much fashion in real life. :)

Oh, did I mention that everyone was very friendly and welcoming? It's just like raiding your sister's or your best friend's closet!

This will be a photo-heavy post so please bear with me. 

On the way to the Superb Bazaar! Weepee!

I was too engrossed in shopping that I forgot to take pictures of some of the booths! I was a fan of DAS Shoes and I even tried on their studded heel-less booties. Sad to say, I cannot afford to get a pair at this point in time. :( I also found another unique shoe stall owned by the beautiful Tal called Risque Designs. She was also kind enough to let me try on some of her designs. Despite the 6-inch height and odd heel design, I can honestly say that I can run in them. They're that comfortable!

Her pieces truly are works of art.

Of course, I cannot let the day go by without me drooling over accessories! One of the stalls I enjoyed snooping around in was Bedazzle. I immediately recognized one of my blogging idols, Aisa Ipac of Drowning Equilibriums as one of their "models". I really hope to work with Bedazzle  in the near future! *wink* Oh, and I got this adorable cloth necklace-slash-bracelet-slash-headband thingy in yellow! Can't wait to wear it!

There's just too much to choose from!

Chris took a necklace from Bedazzle too. That explains the gap in the display.

How sexy are these shorts?

I super love their roll-up shoes! Perfect for travelers and girls-on-the-go like me!

That's me, posing in front of the EMPIRE photo wall.

 Guys, don't you dare miss checking out the EMPIRE booth right beside the entrance. ;)

Take 2!

 Accessories galore at super-affordable prices!

This has got to be my most-visited stall of the day. :)) I got a pair of shoes from them and bangles for my Mom. It's their first bazaar. Like what you see? Contact 0917-8346366 or 0917-8333887 and catch them on their next bazaar.  By the way, they're called Ultimate OH. 


They have their site up and running! Go check it out! ;)

I got the brown one in the middle. It's so cute!

More of Ultimate OH.

Allison Harvard and Dominique Reighard was there too!
Too bad we had to go home as I was feeling under the weather.
Didn't catch their press conference.
The show is tomorrow, I think.

 Here's what I wore:

Animal-print Top: from Nuvali Bazaar

Spaghetti top (worn underneath): from Greenhills

Leggings: from Harrison Plaza

Shoes: Ultimate Oh

Accessories: from Quiapo

It was such a blast! I'm glad I was able to catch up with friends, get to look around, meet new people, and take home a couple of good buys. I even met Suzy of Magic 89.9, thanks to Chris and Nikko. I also saw Ana Gonzales of Anagon Collection and Joanna Ladrido of Glitterati but I was too shy to approach them. They're quite the celebrities in the blogging scene. :"> (fan girl mode). If you have the time, swing by SMX at the Mall of Asia. Better yet, check out SuperSale Bazaar on Facebook for more details. ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Simple Sunday with Mom

Mom and I love to go to Quiapo, Manila for many reasons. One, the mass. Two, the dirt-cheap bargains, especially veggies and other ingredients! Three, ukay-ukay. Four, my favorite avenue - a street full of accessories shops (unfortunately, as I found out today, my super-duper favorite store is now closed. I had to make do with other shops.) So we did all that. Then, we sped off to MOA to buy Daddy his special request - a brand new external hard drive to fit all his series and movies (which reminds me, I need one too!).

We had lunch at Soi, a Thai restaurant. The first thing that caught my eye were the chandeliers. The quaint and cozy ambiance of the place really put me at ease. Plus, I wanted Mom to try out Tom Yum, my favorite Thai dish.

Very chic interiors! Love the chandeliers!

The walls are made of mirrors. Cool!

Complimentary appetizers.
Left: Spicy peanuts with weird thingamajigs
Right: Wanton crisps

Check out the suede damask wall!

Haggardus maximus! It was so hot and humid in Quiapo!

Self-made nails. Glitter polish from Etude House.
Ring is from Butingting Atbp, in Quiapo(Php 30)

Mom loves the comical mustache ring!

I have a thing for snakes in accessoriesssss.

The Tom Yum was simply delectable! I think it has a touch of coconut milk.

After a long day of walking around the mall, we decided to stop over for coffee. Both Starbucks branches in MOA were jam-packed! We had to sit outside where it's very hot. :|

Tried the Mocha Cookie Crumble frappuccino.
It's too sweet for my liking. I think I'll stick to Dark Mocha.

Mom's ultimate favorite. No other cinnamon roll can compare.

Outfit of the Day
Knit Top: Milk & Co.
Shorts: Custom-made
Shoes: All That Clutter

Look at what I found!
I got all of these (plus 2 other items) for only Php 240!
Everything in Quiapo is unbelievably affordable!

And that's all folks! Make sure to stand by for more entries! I promised I'd make it up to you for all the lost blogging time and I intend to keep that promise. ;)

How was your weekend?

Love,

SGT <3

Sizzlin' Summer

What's up, dearies? I'll just share a quick outfit post for today. I wore this outfit to the shoot for my party on April 28. It's gonna be awesome! Three events will be celebrated in one big bash - my 21st birthday, my graduation from college, and my send-off!

The dress is from Forever 21, the bangles are from the States, and the necklace is from Quiapo. I always make sure to mix up my wardrobe with slightly expensive items and affordable ones as well. Siyempre no, girls on a budget like us can't always afford to dress up in designer duds from head-to-foot, it's not exactly practical. Besides, if you have the confidence to pull the look off, who can tell if your accessories came from thrift stores or only cost 80 pesos, right? It's all about the attitude, darlings!

I really love the summer floral print of the dress as well as the sweetheart neckline. It fits me perfectly and hugs me in all the right places. Plus, I got it on sale! See? Even if you shop at "higher end" stores, you can always find great pieces for a fraction of its original price. Just make sure to check out their sale events!

Hope you like this look! Oh, and don't forget to join my BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT!

Love,

SGT <3