After the Rain

Hola! Yours truly is back from a circumstantial hiatus. I've missed blogging (and dressing up) so much! I've been quite busy at work (yes, right away) and as much as I want to keep you all in virtual company, certain events transpired that really dampened the Filipino spirit (mine included), but not for long.

I hope you are all doing well and recovering from the harsh blow that the monsoon rains bequeathed upon our humble terrain. My sincere prayers go out to all those affected by the flooding all over Metro Manila and in other parts of Luzon.

After what seemed to be the gloomiest week of the year, the sun finally shone. A ray of hope for us Pinoys, perhaps? I couldn't pass up the chance to share even just a sliver of joy and good vibes, by simply donning a happy-hued ensemble. I believe that colors can really affect our mood. Whenever I feel down in the dumps, I try to dress up or surround myself with things that will uplift my crappy disposition.

I won't keep you reading for long, at least for now. I'm really beat from a day of shopping in Divisoria (READ: for work). So for now, please bask in this psychedelic mish-mash of bright colors. Think of it as my very own way of hugging and comforting each and everyone of you out there. :)

Top: Thrifted

Shorts: Custom-made

Sandals: Parisian

Bag: Creato

Watch: Q&Q

Bangles: from Quiapo

Belt: Genevieve Gozum

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I wore this outfit to a Saturdate with my mom. She took all of the photos with my new Samsung Galaxy Ace which I love using so much! <3 i="i" supposed="supposed" to="to" watch="watch" we="we" were="were">The Healing

, but ATC is not screening it. Brave had not much vacant seats left. :/ We just had an overwhelming lunch at Ramen X, stopped by for coffee in Starbucks somewhere along SLEX, and went to SM Santa Rosa to claim the TV we got for my apartment. :)

May my sunny disposition rub off on you. There may be rain in our parade, but it doesn't mean that the sun will never shine down upon us again. Like they say, this too shall pass. God will never put us through any test or obstacle we cannot overcome and rise above and beyond. :)

As Southborder's song goes, "There's a rainbow always after the rain..."

Love,

SGT <3 p="p">

In Full Bloom

So you're probably asking why I named this entry as such. Well, aside from the dainty floral print of my chiffon dress (there's something about chiffon that's so feminine, I love it!), my luck has been turning quite well and in my favor lately.

I used to be a very pessimistic person. After going through training in theater, I realized how my negativity follows me around and drags down my energy. I decided to make a change. The moment I started looking at life differently -- in a more positive light, that is, everything seemed more bearable. I also learned that we have to let nature take its course or for things to fall into place. Patience really pays off in this life time. Plus, I think the universe makes it up to us whenever we experience heartbreak or disappointment. Also, the more good we do, the more good we get in return.

I'm not saying that we should commit acts of charity just because we expect to rewarded by fate in one way or another. We must think, feel, and do good for the sake of doing it. It feels amazing too. Smile at a stranger (not in a creepy way, just be polite); give your seat to the old lady in the bus; offer to help your mom carry the groceries; be kind to the earth, seas, and skies; say thank you. There are a myriad of ways to live positively. If you surround yourself with toxic, negative vibes all the time, you'll eventually suffocate. Why not choose the lighter, more pleasant side of being?

Anyway, about this outfit, I went to the office to sign a few papers and to make my employment official. Then, I met up with Fel and Eis in Greenbelt afterwards. We grabbed an Italian and carbo-heavy lunch *cringes* and hung out. I posted the inspiration to this ensemble previously. Just look for Bloom in Business. Sans the nude pumps, of course. I did a lot of walking that day. My feet stood no chance otherwise.

There's something about neutrals that I love. Whenever I wear a nude-y or a peach-y monochromatic outfit, I really go all out. I like subtle prints like the little floral details on this dress, then I accentuate with a bold color, like this tan blazer and the tawny flats from Ultimate OH, to give it a much needed-boost and so I won't look like a flushed and pale woman. 

If you're wondering why the other shoe has no ribbon on it, the ribbon fell off on my way out. I didn't have time to glue it back in. :)) I'm such a klutz!

In any case, I hope you like this "business casual" look. The blazer really added that professional factor to an otherwise casual dress. ;)

Dress: Thrifted

Blazer: Thrifted

Earrings: Gift from Vanni Liwanag

Flats: Ultimate Oh

Photos by Fel Salido

I'm really grateful for how things turned out in my career. I'm still young, I have a lot of dreams that are waiting in the wings, waiting to be fulfilled. All that matters right now is that I bask in this glorious moment, that I live day-to-day with sheer glee and hope, and that I give all that I can to whatever it is I decide to do. There's so much more time. Heartbreaks? Inevitable. Gratifications? Always. Unrealistic Expectations? Must cease to overwhelm me. I just know I have plenty of reasons to smile. As one friend, Darlene, puts it, "Follow your bliss." And I will. :)

Love,

SGT <3

Early Onset of Mid-Life Crisis

... aaand it seems like we've hit a mid-life crisis early on. I apologize for not being able to write much lately. I haven't been out much and being stuck at home, post-grad, is one of the worst and the best times of my life. I've been waiting for my job application to come through. My contract hasn't been assessed yet and I haven't heard from my future employers yet. So yes, I am here, faced with having to do absolutely nothing, one of the laziest phases of my entire life, and I can't seem to budge, if my life depended on it.

I am sorry for not being a lot of help lately in terms of keeping you guys posted on tips and tricks of living on a budget. There is one thing that is a sure-fire way to avoid spending though... Stay at home! Oh yes. If you have yet to land a job, are still in school, or just plain living with your folks, you can definitely help yourself to saving up and not splurging (and on occasion, perhaps freeload from your parents while you figure out your way through earning your own cash).

One of the hardest things about having nothing to do is keeping myself motivated to actually get things done. With so much time on my hands and with not a lot to do, it's actually pretty hard to even catch momentum. Keeping a blog up is not as easy as I thought (at least I never thought it was, but you get my point). So instead, I drown myself in downloading movies, watching them, reading Mythology books during bathroom breaks, snacking, regretting snacking, doing yoga, snacking some more, trying to push myself to write something, deciding not to write and just browse aimlessly instead, realizing it's already midnight, drinking chamomile tea, and doodling myself to sleep. It's the same routine every day and it's killing me.

Anywaaaay, I sincerely hope and pray that I get out of this slump, decide to do something worthwhile with my life, and actually be of service to the very small pool of people who are kind enough to read my blog. I'm looking forward to getting back that inspiration. Don't give up on me. Don't give up on She Goes Thrifty. ;)