Weekend Warriors: Pink Sisters + Mile Hi Diner

Every weekend my mom and I try to unwind. She's been very stressed at work, so whenever we get the chance, we make gala. This Sunday's choice of destination: nearby Tagaytay City. It's roughly a 30-minute drive from our house, so getting there isn't much of a hassle. Plus, we really like hearing mass at the Pink Sisters Chapel. The mass there is so solemn and the place is just downright comforting. Afterwards, we headed to our new-found fave breakfast place, the Mile Hi Diner on the opposite side of Tagaytay. They also serve full meals and appetizers for lunch, dinner, and happy hour. :)

Check out what happened here. Warning: Photo-heavy post up ahead. ;)

I love their 50's-inspired interiors!

My mommy! :)

Some of their selections of wine.

The female restroom. Guess who's posted on the male side?

Saloon-style restrooms  a la Wild, Wild West!

...it's Zorro!

Some souvenirs and items you can take home.

The view from our table. Woops. Stupid menu's blocking the way. :))

Effervescent. :)

Managed to squeeze in some vanity shots too.

I was playing around with my camera's features and settings. Check out the end-products:

Selective color: Red
Pretty neat, eh? ;)

Selective color: Yellow
That's my mango shake. <3

I had this watch since I was a kid!

Arm candy. :)
I'm not dead, okay? I just used the selective coloring option. ;)

Chipped nails = NO-NO! Not a pretty sight. :-/

Overlooking the view outside.

Our usuals. :) Above: mine, Below: Mommy's

The food is very good! (hey, that rhymes!) LOL. For about Php 150 (around $4), you will get a full meal with rice, a viand, and a side of tomatoes and a leaf of fresh Tagaytay lettuce! The mango shake costs Php 70 (less than $2). We walked out of Mile Hi Diner with full tummies and uplifted spirits, for sure! :)

Do we look an awful lot like each other?

Awkward leg alert! :)) I'm not the best poser in the world, I know! 

Striped top: from Greenhills

Black cover-up: Penshoppe
Belt: Genevieve Gozum

Pants: Terranova

Sandals: from Liliw

First two bracelets: from Landmark

Last three bangles: from Quiapo

Took some more vanity shots while waiting for mom in the car, as she purchases fruits for our table. :)

No foundation day today! Just used the following:

• Etude House BB Magic Cream,
• E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner in Brown
• Careline lip gloss in 02
• Ellana Minerals Concealer in Smile and Awake
• Ellana Minerals Finishing Powder in Espresso con Panna
• Ever Bilena Pro Liner (for my eyebrows)
• Maybelline VolumExpress Mascara
• Etude House Oh M'Eye Lash Volume and Length Mascara
• Etude House Bling Bling Stick in Shooting Star

Hope your weekend went extremely well! I know mine did! Heard some very good news about a possible career here in the Philippines. I might not have to leave after all! ;)

It's true what they say, when one door closes, another door opens. In my case, about ten bigger ones opened up in place of that one I've been waiting on for 8 months. T____T We'll see how things will go. I don't want to jinx it! >_< Wish me luck! :)

Love,

SGT <3

Diploma Day!

I'm exhausted from all the running and driving around and about the city, and of course, in LB. I promise to keep this post short and sweet.

Went back to UPLB today to claim my rightful diploma. Yes! As of today, I have legit proof that I am a University of the Philippines alumna! *fireworks!* LOL. It's such a big relief to finally hold in my hands all that I've worked for in the four and a half years I was in college. It was a challenging time in my life, but I will definitely treasure every moment I spent in my second home, in UPLB.

Met up with friends for lunch. Delivered a few items from my closet sale. Visited friends and former professors in our department. Tried to catch the Jock auditions, but to no avail. I was late. I found it really odd that I had no sense of time whatsoever today. It's like I was late for everything I was supposed to accomplish and take care of. *facepalm* But hey, it was all for good fun! Coming home to LB is something that I really look forward to. There's always a surprise waiting 'round the corner. 

These are my college org-mates, The UPLB Jocks. We do radio broadcasting, events hosting, print, and other media-related activities. Actually, these people right here are my batch mates. We are known as the Rhinos. If you know us really well, you'll know why. ;) (not for kids, heehee!)

I'm so glad we all got together and that we're complete this time around (this rarely happens!). 

Hung out with them afterwards for some good ol' LB food, aka Ristretto. (a Jock fave, I must say!)

This shot was taken right before my camera went kaput! (sorry if Jose and Faye are blurred. Woops.)

Top: Greenhills

Belt: Rockwell

Pants: from Bangkok

Shoes: Crocs

Tomorrow, I'm off to MKT to claim my prize from Maybelline! Super excited! ;)

Love,

<3

The Doctor Will See You Now

Despite my body's strong desire to stay in bed, I had to go to the doctor at my Mom's office in Ortigas to get my flu shot. Side note: I had become quite sickly when I entered college. I'm an easy target come flu season. So yeah, I need that extra line of defense just so the broncho-pneumonia fiasco a few years back won't happen again.

After my injection, Mom and I went to Greenhills to look around for possible options for my graduation ball dress. Yes. My Mom is actually more excited about this whole graduation business than I am. I'm not quite sure and please correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first grad ball that UPLB will be hosting for, well, its graduates. If not, I still feel very honored and would gladly attend. Oh, and I got the dress. You'll just have to wait and see what I'll be wearing on the eve of April 20. ;)

As for today's outfit, I was too lazy to dress up and decided to wear one of my favorite batik shirts from Zamboanga, my new favorite jeans (they make my legs look leaner!), new wedges, and some random accessories I just threw on the last minute. Here you go! :)

Very light makeup today.
Purple and pink, for some color on my otherwiseblah color scheme.

I got these peacock earrings from Gateway in Cubao for Php 80 / $2, about two years ago. :)

Link watch from Team Manila Mall of Asia. (Php800/$20)
... Which reminds me that I need to get more of these cutesy things!
Sadly, I had to have this one fixed about five times. The lock keeps giving up on me.

Oriental Bangles from Quiapo
Lucky Charm from Dad <3

Black patent wedges from Marikina Shoe Exchange

 Support local products and industries! Plus, Marikina shoes are notorious for being super durable. By purchasing from our fellow Filipinos, we not only strengthen their livelihood, we also save up on costly taxes and other surcharges from the shipping and whatnot, and we help nature by reducing our carbon footprint (with less traveling involved in shipping the products, less energy consumed, and less pollution produced, i.e. imported ones from other countries)!

Jeans are from Forever 21. They're my new favorite pair! I bought this a few months back, just after Junto Al Pasig, my last production, where I lost almost 20 lbs. Surprisingly, it still fits me like a dream! I must have been overreacting to my weight gain. But still, I intend to reach 125 lbs. in time for graduation! Wish me luck!

Taken inside an uber clean restroom in Greenhills.
I hope every restroom in the Philippines is THIS clean! :D

 That's all for now! ;)

Love,

SGT <3