Trying not to use that on-hiatus excuse anymore but hey, you already know the drill. More than a month ago, specifically from the 19th of April up until the 23rd, my friends and I went on a trip abroad for the first time and what better option do we have aside from traveling to Hong Kong? Let’s be frank about this. Yes, it took us more or less two years in making decisions on where to go and clarifying what dates are available for each of us. There were also instances of doubt and misunderstandings but in the end, it still pushed through. In fact, we initially chose Hong Kong because it’s easy to get around for tourists. I’m pretty sure that is something relatable for those who have gone there already but for those who haven’t, be ready!
In this post, I will be sharing with you guys a barkada-friendly itinerary we made as we explored the streets of Hong Kong! Long post ahead but rest assured that I will share as many details as I can.
We were not able to take photos while at the HKIA, however, these are the following things we did before leaving the airport: (1) look for a sim with mobile data for approximately HKD 80.00 at China Mobile located near the Arrival Exit B and the Customer Service Centre and (2) get an octopus card for HKD 150.00 (HKD 50 deposit; HKD 100 initial stored value) in an Airport Express Service Centre. Right after, we took a bus going towards Best Western Plus Hotel (308 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong).
DAY ONE
It was more on strolling around Causeway Bay prior to checking in our hotel at 3 PM. A few hours later, we decided to eat in Yum Cha for dinner after meeting my mom and her friends at the IFC Mall. (Friendly tip: Do your research on landmarks if you want to go to Yum Cha! We had a difficult time getting there haha!)
Another friendly tip: Download travel apps before you arrive your destination. The apps that I used were Explore Hong Kong and CityMaps2Go. Other useful apps for traveling may also include Agoda, Klook, and Triposo.
After dinner, some of my friends went straight back to the hotel while I tagged along with my mom and her friends at Mongkok for quick shopping before stores closed.
DAY TWO
We started off by eating in a brunch place called Chau Kee which is only a few minutes away from our hotel at Sai Ying Pun! Most of us got dim sum items with a price range from HKD 18 to HKD 35. I highly recommend this place!
We then headed to the so-called “instagrammable” Choi Hung Estate Basketball Court. We were purposely there from 12 PM to 1:30 PM thinking that people would be out on a lunch break. When we arrived, there was definitely a crowd. So, what we did was stay in one spot and considered it ours!
After Choi Hung, we stopped by Mongkok to have lunch at The Forest and walked around Sneaker Street.
Next in our itinerary of the day was to visit the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to take photos before heading to the Victoria Harbour.
A run-through of Rosamund Moiselle’s Pre-Fall 2018 Fashion Show was also happening at Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s outdoors!
Voila! This view is what we waited for. Being able to see the skyline of Hong Kong shifting from day to night was very remarkable and I suggest you do the same. And if you’re not on a tight budget, night cruises are also available if you want to sail around the harbour.
Before heading back to the hotel, we had our dinner at Paisano’s Pizzeria. Friendly tip: Try to go there as early as you can because, as far as I know, no reservations are done and it’s all on self-service!
DAY THREE in Disneyland! (and the most awaited!)
Disney tips: Wear clothes and footwear that can let you feel at ease, don’t forget your sunglasses, and always have a water bottle in hand. Do take note that outside food and drinks will not be allowed as you enter Disneyland!
After all the rides and shows, we finally settled to eat dinner while waiting for the Night Parade to start. Unfortunately, there were no fireworks during that day due to renovation.
We were DEAD TIRED after spending one whole day at Disneyland but we still made the most out of our trip! So, we dropped by Lan Kwai Fong, one of Hong Kong’s nightlife districts, to get a few drinks before ending the night. Initially, we were looking for a Mexican Restaurant called the Brickhouse. We couldn’t find this place, hence, finding another place to stay - Jinjuu.
That was a good find.
DAY FOUR
I dropped by Hung Hom, Kowloon to meet with my mom for lunch and to claim our train tickets to Guangzhou, China for the next day. For those who may wonder, we conveniently checked in the Harbour Plaza Metropolis because it is only a short walk away from the Hung Hom train station.
After lunch, I met up with my friends at Sheung Wan getting ready for scrumptious desserts at Oddies Foodies!
LOOK AT THAT. Definitely to die for. However, if you’re not a fan of sweets, I recommend sharing one order with another friend!
At 5 PM, we started walking towards the Victoria Peak Tram area. We booked our tickets beforehand through Klook to avail cheaper prices. We didn’t purchase the tickets with special-line entries due to apparent reasons so we had to wait for an hour. Some quick advice would be to go there as early as possible and find the best deals online because peak time for the tram starts at 4 PM especially on weekends. (We were there on a Sunday!)
And just like that. We were right on time.
Our last destination as a bunch was at Causeway Bay for some last minute shopping.
Shout out to my parents for giving me this opportunity and shout out to the #KongCrew for giving me a funfilled trip and experience. Everything would not be the same if I did not get to spend it with you guys. (Oh, and here’s a travel diary I made too!)
So there you have it, folks. That was our four-day itinerary.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you found this content as something useful for your future travels. Till the next post! x
-av
Photos were taken with a phone and the Canon EOS M3.
It’s time for me to bring back life after that seven-month hiatus here on my online home. I know I haven’t been constantly posting, but I hope sharing a faux film story can help in bringing you up to date with what’s been happening in life lately. Here’s to my month of September (and a little bit of October).
Heavy post ahead.
Although September was a busy month for me due to (cramming for) college exams and my own debut preparations, I still tried to find time with my friends as they celebrate their own 18th as well. I started off the second weekend of September celebrating with Kobe who’s known to be one of my childhood friends.
Kobe’s Eighteenth
Venue: Radisson Blue
Wearing: Grey tee & belt - Uniqlo. Ripped embroidered jeans - Zara.
Rikka’s debut happened the weekend after.
For those who may not know, a debut is a famous traditional coming-of-age celebration in the Philippines wherein grand parties are held and guests are there to dress up with whatever theme the debutante can think of.
Rikka’s Eighteenth. “RikkaMarvelsAt18″
Venue: City Sports Club
Wearing: Pastel blue long gown - Rustan’s. Silver clutch - Ever New.
September 23rd was a special night for one of my Linda’s squad. Jade’s theme this time was suited for the beach; anything floral and beach formal.
Just like the real one, a faux film has its own limits and only lets you see the captured photos after it is “developed”.
And on the 30th goes the 18th celebration of yours truly. (Which reminds me that it’s time to update the age part found in my About Me page...)
To my Cotillion de Honor, thank you for your participation in dance practices. Kudos to all of you because you guys never failed to make me happy in the end. *insert others who are not in this photo*
Of course it had to be red. Yes, a common color, but I’ve always dreamt of wearing a red gown on my debut back when I was still a kiddo!
Huge thanks to my family and friends, my event coordinator Tito Danny Villarante and all those who helped in making this event possible.
Angel’s Eighteenth (it was a milestone worth treasuring). “AVXVIII”
Venue: Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa
Wearing: Red off shoulder gown by Philipp Piezas Tampus
In here comes the last of all the consecutive debut weekend celebrations!
It was difficult to manage my time in the month of September most especially with the fact that I had to focus on one thing or another, and never all together. As much as I want to share more, this is all I can share for now.
Maxine’s Eighteenth.
Venue: Tsay Cheng, Grand Convention Centre.
Wearing: Earrings - February Lifestyle. Belle-sleeved top - Zara. Jeans - H&M.
I never thought of sharing all these in here, but in the future, I’m sure this is something I would look back to.
Friends (or let’s say famiry), thank you for all the memories.
Credits go to the rightful owners of these photos: Rikka, Rome, Maxine, Paul, Earla, and Kobe.
After weeks of thinking things through and sorting everything out, in here comes new content. Instead of continuously sharing life updates and casual #ootd’s, I’ve decided to share with you one of my favorite ways of accessorizing - using summer scarves and bandanas.
The season of summer in the Philippines, also in any other tropical countries, could go from an approximate of thirty to forty degrees Celsius. If you go places with the scorching heat of sun and at the same time still want to go out and about with style and comfort, here are six ways of using a summer scarf.
The Front Tie, the French Girl, and the Outlaw are best to do when you feel like your getup is too simple. Personally, when I’m in a hurry and I don’t feel like putting that much effort into what I wear, I just grab a plain tee and match it with a patterned scarf and I’m all set.
Both the Pin-Up Style and the 50′s Style Ponytail can keep your hair looking clean and steady.
In my perspective, the best time to pull of the Hippie would be during hangouts by the beach, and let’s not forget the festivals. If you’re off to Coachella, why not try the Hippie? As for me, let’s stick with Cebu’s famous Sinulog Festival for now. #CebuanoPride
These are just a few of the ways that could help make your everyday getup look effortless. Using summer scarves and bandanas would look great regardless of what top you decide to wear during your day out - from plain or statement tees to long sleeved tops, and even matching it with polos and laid back dresses that can make you look fashion-forward. If you want to put some more fun into your ensemble, you could do print on print as well. Just make sure not to overdo it!
Oh, I’d also like to share my first ever tutorial video here:
I hope this was useful to you and I hope you had fun reading and watching what I recommend. These six options are my personal favorites; no doubt that there are more ways of styling a summer scarf and a bandana.
Lo and behold, All Things By A.V. is back on track after a four month hiatus.
Ever since I came back from my trip to Florida on the first week of January, I started having struggles of balancing my academics, extracurriculars and even my life online. Because of all the workload continuously being thrown at me, I haven’t had the time to say hello in here. If you’ve been following me on social media, you would’ve known that in the first few months of 2017, most of my Saturdays were spent on producing an official publication in the school I go to – I will be blogging about this in a separate post!
I’ve been catching up on sleep and organizing my life by making a checklist of what I could possibly do before this season ends; it’s what I do every summer. I’ve already accomplished a couple from my list, but prior to continuing the rest of it, a staycation wouldn’t harm anyone right?
Just last week, my mom decided to bring me and my sister with her and her colleagues as they were scheduled to have an EduTour in Manila. For their weekend getaway, they decided to head on a road trip to Baguio City! It was a first for me and I wouldn’t have seen the attractions of Baguio any other way. It’s really amazing how there are still existent places showcasing the beauty of nature and I can’t wait until I go back home and work on some photos I’ve taken during my staycation in Baguio. Stay tuned!
-av
Wearing: Long sleeved top - Thrifted. Embroidered high waisted jeans - Zara. Sunglasses - Sunnies.
For the first time in my entire life, I was able to join an event of Louis Vuitton held in Park Point Residences just a few weekends ago, specifically on the 3rd of December.
For a girl in my age, it isn’t very common for all to attend such an event most especially with the fact that I am only seventeen because heck, Louis Vuitton is known to be one of those high-end luxury brands.
Kudos to you, Paul, for inviting me as we took part of the Louis Vuitton Trunk Show.
I personally think that having this worthwhile experience would be a good start for me despite a lot of waiting, a lot of sobbing and dreamy moments with the thought of spending my own money for luxurious items (I know, I know...gotta wait a few more years, honey) and let’s not forget the “shameless walks” around the mall in this outfit.
And since I’m really fond of knowing more about fashion, I’m pretty much imagining myself in that particular industry sometime in the future. So here I am, trying to see where this passion for fashion is taking me.
It took me particularly a whole week to plan my #ootn for this event. I imagined myself wearing dark colors and something quite plain. Apparently, none of those planned outfits pushed through. As an end result, I opted for print on print a.k.a stripes and florals. It didn’t look as bad as I expected it to be.
My blogger gals and I have made our first ever vlog of what happened on the first weekend of December. It was an eventful one and we can’t wait to show you! *secretly hopes none of us are lazy enough to upload it when 2017 begins*
-av
Wearing: Headband and floral top - Zara. Skirt and chunky heels - H&M. Bag - Zalora.
Playing around with denim cuts, doodles and tin foil as a backdrop because why not?
If you’ve been a reader of my blog since day one, I’m sure you know that I’m the type of girl who really likes to wear denim because it’s a basic and it can be both stylish and comfortable at the same time! The thing is, this is the first time I was able to pull off denim on denim on such a cloudy day!
It’s just so easy to grab them from the closet along with a plain tee that flirtatiously says hug me tight. As long as the shades of blue go well together and you’ve paired them up with your favorite sneakers and you’re good to go.
Oh, and don’t forget a choker for the vintage-y feels and a cute pastel Chill Pills phone case to add a little bit of color!
-av
Wearing: Choker - Pop District Bazaar. Second hand denim jacket (originally my brother’s back when he was 10 years old). Hug Me Tight tee & denim jeans - Zara. Sneakers - New Balance.
I’ve been preoccupied with all the school work, deadlines and submissions, projects and all things needed to be done. Senior high life lately is a lot more different compared to how it really was back in junior high.
Thinking about it already made me realize how we were able to accomplish a lot of things in just a span of five months, now that’s productive. Despite all the sleepless nights, headaches and such, I’m happy to say that I survived the first semester!
This is obviously and honestly one of my long overdue posts and yep, there’s more to come. This is really one of my favorite looks that I was able to pull off, surprisingly. I’m not really into short skirts so why not try on some long skirts? Plus points for the pleasing pink pastel color, too!
This look was shot during Cebu’s Pop District Bazaar held last September 3 (exactly why it’s a long overdue post). It was one great way to end a whole day of practice for our school’s Intramurals Dance Palabas because my friends and I got to dress up, walk around, eat, shop, and “accidentally” bumping into our blogger idols/girl crushes Lissa Kahayon and Bea Marin. One of my classmates had a booth there as well. You can read more about it in Earla’s blog post!
Cebu’s Pop District Bazaar is certainly getting better and better. I cannot wait until the next!
Finals are officially over and our sembreak is finally here. It’s time for me to lose some weight from all the stress eating plus I need to catch up on my sleep! I haven’t had proper sleeping hours since it was such a hectic week from exams to speech choir and to our school’s 1st Business Conference which just happened earlier today. I can’t wait to share it soon but I’ve got a lot of catching up to do...wish me luck?
-av
Wearing: Top and skirt - Pull & Bear. Bag - H&M. Mom’s accessories. Watch - Aldo. Sandals - Topshop.
Lo and behold, another chunk of travel photos taken in one of the cities I always step foot in only until the airports, and not much into the streets with beautiful night lights, eye catching skylines and one of the cities that can truly count as a shopper’s paradise. Instead of going for very high exposures and contrasted photos, I wanted to experiment on a different aesthetic for my photos in Hong Kong, quite similar to my instagram feed right now.
My family and some of my relatives traveled to Hong Kong last 5th to 7th of August since my mom wanted to celebrate her birthday weekend there. Our trip to Hong Kong was mostly composed of walking, taking the train, shopping, mall hopping, going from station to station, taking trams and buses to the Victoria Peak and of course, a day in Disneyland.
Here’s a tip if you want to visit the Victoria Peak - book your tickets online or buy tickets in advance because heck, the lines for the trams are way too long! As for us, since we didn’t get to book tickets ahead of time, we took Bus 15 in Victoria Harbour to Victoria Peak. It’s another way of getting there aside from the tram, although it takes about an hour to get there.
After taking the bus, there will be a little bit of walking. But who would complain with a view like this?
And this is what you call Hong Kong’s beautiful skyline! *insert a loooot of heart eyes emoji*
This is also the view opposite to the Hong Kong skyline.
Day two in Disneyland! This time, my dad and my brother caught up. I love how we were able to line up for ten rides within the day. My favorites were the Hyperspace mountain, the Buzz Lightyear and the Big Grizzly Mountain Mining Co. rollercoaster.
Want to try guessing who my favorite Disney Princess is?
One of the last parts we visited in Disneyland was Toy Story Land! It was my first time there, and one of my experiences was getting lost with my cousin right after riding the parachute drop. Thankfully, there was WiFi at a nearby restaurant. Whew!
We were just in time for the night parade and the fireworks display. Out of all the photos I took of the fireworks, this was my favorite. It was a nice way of ending the night. But we couldn’t stop ourselves from making the most out of our time, so we headed straight to Mongkok right after.
Day three was spent for shopping. We went to a Prada outlet, HMV and the IFC Mall all suggested by my blogger inspo, Bryant Lee, who was kind enough to respond to my snaps regarding our trip to Hong Kong.
We then went window shopping in Celine, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and all the other designer stores found in the IFC Mall. Their interiors were so pleasing to the eye, especially Celine’s marble floor.
These were some of our purchases in Mongkok, most probably the largest night market I’ve gone to so far.
Before heading to the airport, I couldn’t help but continue my traditional ice cream for travels.
And a family picture in one of the IFC Mall’s roof decks. Hong Kong would most likely be one of the places I wouldn’t mind visiting once again.
I was also lucky enough to have enough time to make a travel video diary. Feel free to watch this three minute video that sums up my short vacation to Hong Kong. Enjoy watching! x
-av
Photos taken through phone & Nikon D3100 50 mm 1.8 lens and edited through VSCO Cam
Who would’ve thought a Hong Kong / London based photographer could be my most recent fashion icon? From pointed brogues to wide legged pants to contrasted coordinates and minimal aesthetics.
Walking around the streets of Hong Kong made me realize how almost everyone is into culottes, dungarees, the trending white sneakers, brogues, ripped jeans and even wide legged pants. To the point where you pass by a few of those Hong Kong girls rocking that space bun hair style and fish tail braids. Trends really do vary depending on where you are! But nothing ever goes wrong when it comes to style.
I opted for a minimal / chic type of outfit on our last day in Hong Kong, having Bryant Lee as my fashion inspo! I loved how I was able to buy these wide legged pants in such an affordable price from Uniqlo. I remember back before I got these pants, thinking if I should get it or not because it isn’t so easy to pull off! But why not, coconut? It may not be obvious, but these pants are so comfortable to walk around with! So I matched it with a plain white button down and a brown sling bag for tid bits of color to complete the look. What do you think?
-av
Wearing: Sunglasses - Sunnies Studios. Button down top - Zara. Wide legged pants - Uniqlo. Brogues - Aldo. Bag - Zalora.
I’ve been longing to share with you guys a new style post! Seems like it’s been forever so do accept my apology, it’s been very difficult for me to update this blog especially with the fact that something is wrong with the Lightroom installment and my WiFi is really, really slow.
Pushing that aside. A month ago, I was able to spend a weekend in Hong Kong for my mom’s birthday celebration! Thanks to Cebu Pacific, we were able to book a flight at a cheaper price last summer.
On our first day in Hong Kong, we spent it by strolling around the city. Not really sure about the cover-up because heck, the weather was too hot for a cover-up. But I guess it would do because I got to protect my skin from the heat of the sun! It was also my first time wearing my pointed brogues abroad because these shoes hurt sometimes. Thankfully, it didn’t hurt my feet, not until I was on the way back to our hotel room. The trick is to never think that it hurts, even if it does. ;)
Hey hey hey! I’m back. Oh how much I’ve missed blogging during my pastime. It’s been so long. Here’s to my first post for the school year! *confetti*
In RAFI Kool Adventure Camp, it’s actually a great place to be in when you want to experience outdoor activities, to enhance your communication and leadership skills and a place to be when you have to step out of your comfort zone (no phones, bonding with different people, sleeping in bunks and a limited amount of food). Back in the last week of July, specifically on the 25th until the 27th, I was able to join a worthwhile adventure not too far from the city. I may have gone to this camp two years ago but I tell you, it’s a different experience when you’re with a different bunch of people.
Three out of nine classes of the senior high joined for the camp’s second batch. As for the teams, we would be mixed with different people from different classes which I think was a good idea because you get to make new friends and bond with them the whole camp time! I belonged to Teambangan!
In camp, you do rope courses, both indoor and outdoor, with your team and help each other out. Instead of the camp facilitator belaying, it is your batch mate who is doing it for you. So this basically means you really have to trust your team!
This was the rope course that I feared the most. I took so long to accomplish it, heck I even got stuck in one tire for a while, but I DID IT!!
Before lights off right outside our bunks!
As you can clearly see mine and Earla’s morning faces, we woke up really early the next day zzz
Teambangan girls!
Walking up and down the endurance slope, tying up knots, putting on helmets for safety and so much more can be such a tiresome. But really, it was still so fun!
And then there’s me up there in our last rope course, walking halfway through.
The weather was so hot most of the time, but I guess I preferred that than the rain because we wouldn’t have done outdoor activities. (Wearing a neckerchief because sun burn!)
Great job, Teambangan! Couldn’t have done the rope courses without this team. Woot, wooot!
Also ended the camp by having a picture with my class, Veritas! Even if we weren’t able to bond as one during camp, we still shared our stories on our way back to school. I surely had a fun time, to the point when I got sunburn, got darker and got knocked out when I reached home!
I still got some pending posts and I can’t wait to publish them for you to see! Midterms are finally over (ugh how stressful it was really), and I’m trying my best to update as much as I can. Hopefully, I won’t be on hiatus for this long again. Thanks for reading!
Ending the month of May by sharing a heavy photo diary composed of different collages/layouts I’ve been making as a fun pastime. Hitting up north and down south in one weekend, how crazy could that get?
Beaches are quite an easy access here in Cebu (which obv is hella’ good thing) since I live within a city that could only take a few hours to get there by car as a transpo. So on the 13th of May (yes, Friday the 13th), I decided to take a two-and-a-half road trip down south in Lamac along with my usuals – Rome & Earla. ++ Xinqi who was already there a few weeks back for her pageant rehearsals! We stayed in a place called Hidden Valley Mountain Resort and without a doubt, we surely did have lots of fun in their so called wave pool.
4 pm past, Xinqi was already doing her rehearsals as the host of the pageant. As for us three, we spent the next 4 hours taking showers, having constant conversations, eating, taking photographs, accepting the fact that there was no signal down south + a difficult access to social media and of course, taking naps. Coincidentally wearing pajama pants too!
The pageant in Lamac started at nine in the evening (supposedly eight lol) and ended minutes past midnight. There were nine contestants and they were all so beautiful, so confident and very very talented! God really does bless people with A LOT of good stuff, don’t you think?
And of course, the nocturnal stage hits. We ended up sleeping at 4 am (except for you, Earla, you slept minutes before 3 am boooo) We woke up 20 minutes before check out time... Thankfully, I found my mom by the wave pool with a few of her friends which meant we had more time for swimming. Yippeee
We then went straight back home into the city around 3 in the aft and out of nowhere, my mom suddenly asked the three of us if we wanted to go with her and my dad’s team to Nalusuan Island up north. Like what??? We just came from the South and now, we’re going up North? WHY NOT?
As crazy as it might sound, we all ended up sleeping in a small area by the wharf like campers! Except we weren’t really prepared for it. We couldn’t leave the main island at night because of the big waves and the strong wind. So we waited until dawn. No regrets at all because we arrived Nalusuan Island just in time for the heartwarming sun rise.
Plus there was a cute island dog that we suddenly named as Mishi! As if she was ours haha!
We then swam by the beach, snorkeled with colorful fishes, and even ate free corn from 6 am - 9:30 am. Yup, 3 and a half hours straight! Heck, I even got myself a sunburn :-( Don’t forget to place a lot of sunblock, guys...or you will regret it!
That’s all I have to say and I couldn’t have asked for more. A big congratulations to Xinqi for hosting a pageant so elegantly and a big thank you for inviting us over down south!
Also, a big thank you to the Lord up there for giving us such a fun & safe trip one way or another.
Looking back, I haven’t been the type of girl who likes to bring a book everywhere she goes especially if she’s found a new read. I’ve never been the type of girl who has an interest in reading. I don’t know why and I don’t know how, but I feel like that changed within this summer. And now I’m here about to give short book reviews since I’ve finished reading five rom-com / romantic & tragic stories within a month and a half – achievement unlocked, indeed.
Whenever I read a book, I don’t exactly focus on the details but I like to remember the important things that can help me and my knowledge in real life situations. Needless to say, I tend to fall in love with the characters that it becomes easier to imagine while they begin to describe their true emotions.
The first book I read is called The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider. I wouldn’t want to spoil anything but among the five books I read, this was my ultimate favorite. Heck, I even cried in a scene in the book! Basically, this book is more about a popular boy realizing that everyone will face tragedies in their lives no matter how hard the person will try to avoid it.
The second book I read is called This Is Where The World Ends by Amy Zhang. What I like about this book is its mystery and how two different persons can be destined for each other. Janie and Micah. Janie loves art and is an outgoing person, while Micah loves music and is a very shy guy. The only problem I had was coping up with the two-perspective kind of writing. It took me quite a while to adjust, but once I’ve gotten used to it, everything made so much sense once again.
The last three books I read is actually a series of The Moment of Truth by Lauren Barnholdt. It focuses more on the friendship of former best friends – Lyla, Quinn and Aven. I loved how each book showcases the perspective of each girl. I, myself, could even tell whose personality is closest to mine. It amazed me how they also made promises to themselves. Promising to do something crazy, to tell the truth and of course to learn how to trust.
Ever since I’ve read all five, it made me realize that being able to immerse as you read a book could really help you play with your imaginations. It can make you fall in love with the characters and can make you feel like you’re a part of it. I really hope sooner or later, I would be able to broaden my own horizons not just by seeing the world and having experiences, but by also having a book to reflect on.
It’s such a love hate relationship kind of thing between me and the feeling of summer. The thought of it ending makes me feel bittersweet because of the stress-free days, some lazy and some productive days spent either at home or outside of home. I’ll certainly miss it when I get back to my daily grind...aka school. Let’s push that aside, here’s to a month ago during one hot summer day under the sun once again.
I’ve always had the colors of grey, black and white as my color palette, but I dared myself to avoid those as a combination and try a bit more colors once in a while. At some point, I guess i’m improving! Although I can’t seem to get rid of my love for denim, stripes and floral. This bright yellow off shoulder surely did catch my attention! Plus points with the floral play.
-av
Wearing: off shoulders & shorts - Zara. Bikini - Rustan’s Department Store. Sandals - Annie & Lori. Hat - Cotton On.
Oh hi! I’ve been occupying myself lately by trying something I haven’t done before – boxing. And believe it or not, it is very fun and stress relieving that I end up going 5 to 6 times a week. I also tend to give myself a relaxing slash “resting” time by reading a book that I surprisingly finished in just ten days. Pretty much explains why I haven’t given myself the time to post something new as soon as I could.
Just a month ago, me and my family decided to fly over to one of the 7,107 islands in the Philippines that I always wanted to visit because of all the feed backs I’ve read and heard about lately. Palawan is extremely great especially when you’re a beach lover! You could see a lot of tourists (both local and foreign) basking in the sun and enjoying the waves that hit the shore lines.
And of course, who wouldn’t want to dress up when given the opportunity to spend a few days of summer away from the busy city? These elephant jammies had been stuck in my closet for more than a year, I couldn’t resist not taking them with me! Lastly, a hat and a scarf tied up on my bag to cover my skin when walking under the heat of the sun. Trying not to get sunburnt...Haha!
++ A Palawan travel video that I made since I was stuck in the house a few days later. Hope ya’ll enjoy!
Wearing: Hat - H&M. Top - Topshop. Elephant pajama pants - Cambodia. Bag - Pull&Bear. Sandals - Annie & Lori. Sister’s scarf.
Here’s a little something we shot on a roof top under the sun during this crazy weather that could possibly reach 37 degrees. So thankful for the easy breezy wind whenever we shoot in places~
I always love matching the colors blue and white together most especially when it’s denim. My mom even wonders and asks me why I have lots of it in my closet. (Denim lover here and not guilty of it haha!) This white button-down i’m wearing actually has a dress length so I tied it up on the left side to give it a chill / summer vibe.
If you think your top is way too loose or way too long, you could always play and experiment on ‘em like tying it either in front or at the side. Or you could just easily insert your top to your bottoms! For as long as you balance it and if you feel comfortable at the same time, then there you have it. Easy as pie? ;)
Wearing: Striped button down - Sfera. Denim shorts - H&M. Belt - Uniqlo. Sunglasses - Sunnies Studios. Accessories - Evernew. Shoes - New Balance.
Photos by: Paul Esplanada
Oh and, I’m running out of good music for some videos I plan to make in the next couple of weeks. If any of you know some nice summer and chill songs and playlists, hit me up and message me!
Nothing will certainly ever go wrong with a little black dress worn with a shawl collar sleeveless jacket that I fell in love with at first sight! I’ve had this in my closet for quite a while and whenever I choose what to wear on a regular basis, it took a lot of asking the same question repeatedly - “should i wear this today?” And of course, out of all days chosen, it had to be on Valentine’s Day. Yep two months ago! I wouldn’t want to put this into waste so why the heck not?
One thing I love about this black dress is how I could match it so easily with any kind of footwear, any kind of extra clothing like jackets, vests or even a scarf. Explains why a black dress is almost every girl’s basic clothing essential. With any of those mentioned, I’m sure the outfit would still look simple and positively effortless.
