Weekend Warriors: Easter Egg Yellow

Happy Easter, everybody! How was your Lenten season? I hope it was meaningful. Mine was quite disappointing. I was sick all week and I had to spend a lot of time in bed, recovering. Even until this very day, I'm still not feeling well at all. :(

Anyway, I'm sure we're all looking forward to Jesus' second coming, or as we know it, Easter Sunday. It's a day that promises new beginnings and fresh starts. Beyond the Easter Egg hunting and being allowed to eat meat after a week of abstinence and fasting, it is a moment of rejoice and welcome.

Much like any other, our family went to hear Easter Sunday Mass. By default, we went to Tagaytay. Then, breakfast followed at our favorite place, Mile-Hi Diner.

Inspired by the gleeful mode of the day, I took this baby out for a spin once again.See how I wore it the first time HERE. Despite the sickness, I have to push myself aside and celebrate our Savior's resurrection, right? After all, He gave His life for us. What's not to be grateful for?

The color yellow is often associated with happiness. If our current state of mind is any reflection of what we wear, then here's mine:

 

Dress: People Are People

Flats: SM Department Store

I'm head over heels for these flats! They're so cute and comfy! Talk about cheery disposition! Best of all, I got two (different) pairs for less than Php 400! I'll feature the other ones in another outfit post soon. :)

Plain, unadulterated bliss.

If there are any other imminent culprit to my sudden twist of mood, it's the fact that I got to rest peacefully at home and be surrounded with the people that I love. Nothing else can ever recharge me from so many months of stress. Haha!

Meet my cute Mom! :) Sadly, Dad is away for work.

With my pretty cousin, Mary Rose. Congrats to our newly-grad! :)

I'm so happy because I got to give my graduating cousin the dress of her dreams to march down in on Friday. Took her to Forever 21 to pick out her grad garb. :)

How was your Easter Sunday? :)

Scarlet Sunday

Now that we're on the topic of catching up on my backlogs, here's another one from not-so-long-ago.

It's no big secret that my family and I love spending our weekends in Tagaytay (it's just 20 minutes away from our home). So, on my dad's last weekend with us (before he flew out for work), we had our usual prospects - mass and breakfast at Mile Hi Diner.

I've been browsing through a lot of hipster and bohemian blogs and mood board inspirations, hence my style sensibilities lately.

You've probably seen these boots a couple of times here. Well, they're my only pair of boots and I adore them to death! I wish I'd gotten them in gray and black, but since they're phased out, I'm left in shambles. :(

 

The Batik top came from Zamboanga, my dad's hometown. It's been stuck in my closet for a while and haven't quite found the right day and weather to don it out. Luckily, one sunny Sunday, it had a chance to show itself to the rest of the world!

 

Batik Dress from Zamboanga

Boots: Payless

Bangles: Luxe and Luster

Belt: Genevieve Gozum

I wonder where this Sunday will take me. ;)

Beat the Blues

It's no wonder people look forward to weekends. After a week-long battle with work or school, or basically just about anything that gives us the blues, a nice time to chill out with family or even some time alone are worth getting antsy about.

During weekends, my Mom and I like to drive up to Tagaytay to hear mass and have an affordable but super sulit breakfast. This time, we tagged along Tita Dayan and Mama Terry. I still wasn't feeling much better, but quality time with the people I love is something I just can't pass up on.

By the way, please try Mile Hi Diner's All-Day Filipino Breakfast and their Garlic and Mushrooms. You won't be sorry! D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

About my makeup, it's been a while since I last wore a red lip, and since I figured I was taking the simple, no-fuss look anyway, I might as well make bawi with something that says it all. What better way to up the ante than a red lippie? With a swipe of golden brown shadow on my lids plus a golden highlight on the browbone, a quick liquid eyeliner flick, and drawn eyebrows, I was all set. If there's one thing I regret not doing, it's putting on mascara. I felt incomplete the entire day! :(

I'm challenging myself to work on limiting my makeup time to AT LEAST 5 to 10 minutes! It's hard, trust me. With the right amount of determination and practice, I might just win that bet. ;)

The lippie I'm wearing is from NYX, called Raisin. 

Here they are just outside the diner.

Aaand now for some outfit shots I made my mom took... Hehe. I was taking a cue from the stunning Vern Enciso as I dared to don a full-on blue ensemble! Incidentally, I got these shorts from their (her and her sister, Verniece) booth at Bloggers United 3.

The cozy knit sweater was salvaged from a recent ukay trip, which I told you about here. Expect to see more of my thrift picks in future outfit posts. ;)

I love that the sweater was, in itself, an accessory. It packed the right amount of sparkle and shine, and so I felt that additional bling is no longer necessary. Well, that, and I was rushing to get to the church, just in time before the mass begins. Haha!

Knit Sweater: Thrifted

Shorts: Vern and Verniece, Bloggers United 3

Flats: Crocs

Some more fun shots after breakfast...

Natural lighting can do wonders for a photograph. It instantly removes all blemishes and imperfections. Plus, it makes subjects glow for some inexplicable reason. ;)

Guys and gals, natural light is your best friend. Harsh lighting can make you look tired or stressed in photographs. So try to go out as much as you can. Sunlight is basically nature's Photoshop! Haha! But of course, slap on a good layer of sunblock before you step into the light. ;)

That is it for me! I'm off to spend another loving night in my lovely bed. Hopefully, I'll bounce back to health by morning! :)

Love,

SGT <3

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