This Just In!

Happy New Year, ladies and gents!

I'm a big believer in fresh starts, in second chances, in clean slates. Now that 2013 has kicked in, life for all us will start again and kick in full gear before we know it.

During New Year's Eve, I was so happy to be home. I haven't really felt home in a long time. Regardless of where I am during my business trips, or in the office, or at our house in Laguna, it's been a while since I last felt at peace. Ironic isn't it? Amidst the explosions and sparks everywhere in celebration of a chapter closing and another one coming in, I found myself in a good place, a place I felt estranged to in a while.

Starting the year right, that's what we always hear. 2012 has been very kind, and I did everything I could to return the favor. This year, I envision a bigger and better year for me, my family, and my friends. Things thus far may not have been peachy keen, but I'd like to think that these are just birthing pains for the new year. Things will get better in time.

Every time I feel anything but at my best, when life seems to be insufferable, coming home always helps.

We're pretty big on Sundays. Yesterday, we spent the day doing one of our rituals, hearing mass and having breakfast after. Since most of my clothes are in my apartment, I had to make do with what's left in my closet. Mind you, I do have quite the selection (despite my efforts to rid my life of clutter through closet sales on regular intervals). 

Anyway, here's my very first update for the year. Tell me what you think about this look. I've been getting cues and tips from my new favorite show, Pretty Little Liars, while incorporating my hipster sensibilities. Enjoy. :)

Dress: Forever 21

Pullover: Vintage

 Boots: Payless

Belt: Random

Necklace: Random

Hope you're having a great day! :)

 

Can't decide!

I've been dying to get a pair of shoes from All That Clutter as they had a half-off SALE on their cute shoes. I am choosing between these two lovely pairs and unfortunately, I only have budget for one! :(

If you would be kind enough to help me decide which one to get, that would be super! Oh, and don't forget to drop by their page too. Check out their new items!

Please, please, please help me decide which pair to get! It's my birthday treat for myself! Teehee! 

Love,

SGT <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

Megamall Mayhem!

All these years, I've been an avid ukay shopping fanatic, but my parents took pity on me for being so kuripot on things that I should treat myself to once in a while, like clothes. I rarely (and I mean it in every sense of the word) spend more than Php 500 on a top or pants. Why? Because I think that I can buy so much more with the same amount of money in thrift shops. However, there are times that a girl's going to need nicer clothes for special, once-in-a-lifetime moments such as her college graduation. Ergo, my once-in-a-blue-moon trip to Forever 21. ;)

On our way to SM Megamall. :)

I was accompanied by one of my best buds, Chammy. We divided and conquered the entire SM Megamall branch of the famed store and went home with great buys and the best time!

Blazer - Fa'mee Company (thrifted), Random white t-shirt,
 Shorts - No  Boundaries, Shoes - Toms

Taken at Cerealicious, SM Megamall. 

Super eager for some much-needed retail therapy!

Endorser ng Frozen banana?

:P

Where's my food?! @ Pizza Hut for early dinner.
All that browsing and fitting worked up an appetite!

Mmmmmm mushroom soup!

Fetuccini carbonara!

I just had to order a separate a la carte plate of the salad!
I'm THAT hungry!

Forever fresh!
You'll never catch Chammy looking haggard and ugly.

This is my I'm-hungry-and-tired-and-I-wanna-go-home face!

Of course, I can't show you guys what I got for my graduation dress just yet. Nuh-uh! That will have to wait. I will show you, however, the nude pumps that I got for only Php 599 from Janeo! I've always wanted to own a pair and with shoes like that on sale, who am I to resist?! We weren't able to go around the ENTIRE mall. After spending about half a day at Forever 21, we just had to surrender and succumb to our tired feet's complaint. Anyway, tomorrow I'm off to the Forever 21 sale in SM Makati. I hope to see you there! In any case, I'll try to update you on what will go down in tomorrow's battle of the best bargains! I hear Landmark's hosting a sale as well! Good thing they are 'cause I really need a lot of office wear, aka grown-up clothes. Ha ha! That's all for now! ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Colorful Ash

You can express a lot of things, a lot of actions without speaking.

Catherine Daneuve 

~~
One of those ways is through fashion. It's been said that whatever outfit we decide to wear on a specific day or event, it reflects our disposition and personality. There's nothing wrong with expressing yourself, in fact it is healthy. Self-expression helps us find our place in the world, for us to be distinct from a sea of different faces and personalities. 


In my 20 years of existence, I have been through many phases in terms of dressing up. Up to now, I am still on my path to defining my personal style and finding which things suit my taste and whims. In any case, just wear what feels comfortable and natural to you. Don't be afraid to experiment and most importantly, pay no attention to the judging looks of other people. Hold your head high, walk like you're going to set fire to the sidewalk, and be yourself. You don't need to impress anyone, you just have to feel your best for YOU. Go ahead and express yourself!


Today, I felt like stirring up some color on an otherwise quiet Ash Wednesday.


I heard mass in EDSA Shrine with my mom, along with about 203591206179871 of Metro Manila's population (kidding!) and had lunch at Sushi-Ya in Robinson's Galleria. Then, we took off to shop for other necessities for my upcoming trip to Myanmar... Eventually, we got tired and ended up buying nothing much except for a few colorful belts and some organizer bags (which were on sale, and if you know me well enough, I cannot resist a good sale!). So I'll be sharing with you some of the goodies I got for this wonderful Ash Wednesday. :)

En route the bus terminal headed for Ortigas. Don't forget to wear your smile! It's your best accessory... and needless to say, it's absolutely free! :)

Here's the final verdict, as of yesterday, I am fit to work (physically and mentally!). At least that's what the doctors said. :D Getting more and more excited for Myanmar! Tee-hee!

Guys, you should really try this! It's the banana milk tea with pearls from Cha Time. Absolutely yummy!

And now for my purchases from the Robinsons Department Store Bag Sale:

Mom got a cool makeup kit for only Php 80 (~ $2)! I love its satin-y finish and I love that it has a mirror already! Perfect for on-the-go touch-ups during long-distance travel assignments for work!

A toiletries bag, so I won't have to lug bottles and tubes and stuff. They're all gonna live in one neat house. :) This one costs around Php 30 (less than $1).

This has got to be my best buy for the day! I got this baby for Php 70 (~ $2) and it's the last piece! The lady in front of me was asking the salesperson if there was another one somewhere in the pile. Sorry, miss. Finders, keepers! It's perfect for my laptop when I need to carry it in less-bulky bags for out-of-town trips.

Genevieve Gozum may have some of the tackiest clothes, but they sure have great finds as well! These belts cost us Php 50 each. (a little over $1) so my mom urged me to get many different colors!

Belts are a great way to change up your look. They're very flexible; they can go from dressy to casual, just by changing up the colors and styles. It also adds and accentuates your curves. All that and more for just Php 50?! Why not? So yes, you have my blessing! Go forth and multiply in belts!

I looove these salmon-colored bouquet earrings I got from my fave accessory shop in Quiapo. 

Feelin' a little tired from walking all around the city in heels! But hey, I still got that smile, yeah?  I figured, since it's Ash Wednesday and all, and this time of the year is when people are most serious, it's a good time to be a little whimsical and help rub off the good vibes on people who need a little pick-me-up! :)

Got this loose printed top for Php 80 (~$2) on one of my thrift shop trips with my mom in Quiapo.  It gives off such a happy and girly vibe! Paired it with a toned-down pair of jeans and my 2-year-old Le Donne wedges. 

One of those stolen shots. I'm not the best model, thankyouverymuch. Special thanks to my mom who willingly took my pictures inside her office. <3

I don't have the best feet in the world, I know! The pain is very much worth it when I wear heels because they give me that extra boost of confidence. My posture improves and I feel more put-together in them. :)

This bangle gives the outfit a boho flair. And who would think that it only costs Php 90 (a little over $2)?!

Hoot! Gotta love this baby. I have so many necklaces and this is one of my frequently-worn pieces.

How was your Ash Wednesday? :)

Love,

SGT <3

Hot Fuss: All That Clutter

I'm sure many of you love shoes. Who doesn't? I know I do! It's the perfect way to complete your outfit and it can take your getup from day to night, from casual to chic, just by changing styles and heights. They're must-have investments and staples in every stylish girl-on-a-budget's closet!

In this economy, expensive shoes are such luxuries that us girls cannot simply afford all the time. Don't fret! There are a few good brands that offer fair prices and quality products that can very well compete with more high-end and more expensive contenders in the market. One of those brands is called All That Clutter, owned by sisters Mirra and Pia Reyes. With a little over Php 1000 from Ria and a little savings from Mirra, the two thought of investing in a business that will not only sell beautiful things to lovely girls everywhere, but will also help their different advocacies - one of them being an enterprise that is fair and just and being a company that cares.

They noticed that a lot of (online) sellers seem to put off-the-charts prices on items that actually cost way less than they publicize, when you can get the same thing for much less somewhere else. That's how they started. They wanted their buyers to feel that they're not cheated into buying things that are way too expensive for its actual market value; not only that, they also wanted to contribute to society by donating a portion of their earnings to notable causes such as disaster relief and the like. All That Clutter sees to it that their clients get quality shoes and clothes that are 100% new and of course, are undeniably stylish to fit their fashion needs!

Here are some of their adorable and stylish garbs that are up for grabs!

Red-hot booties are sure to fire up your otherwise usual black ensemble!

Wild, wild west! Give cowboy boots a run for their money and do it in style!

Feeling funky in the office? Throw these on and you're on your way to rocking business glam!

They also have tops that are sheer genius and cute too! ;)

Perfect for a night-out with friends! Dare to bare, babe!

Let out your wild side! Life is too short to play it safe. ;)

They have so much more to offer! Check out their site and you might just see something for you. You will not only help them, you will also help the country by sharing some of the proceeds to charity. Now that's a social enterprise worth supporting. If there's anything I love about online shopping, it's getting more bang for my buck! Why not be fab and philanthropic at the same time, right? Do good, look good!

I give All That Clutter a 2-thumbs up! :)

Love,

SGT <3