FRILLYSKIRTS

STYLE. BEAUTY. TRAVEL.

[camillesioco]

Feature: Avery Labels

For the past year and a half, I have been planning my wedding to Ramon. Yes, you read that correctly, I’M GETTING MARRIED! Ramon and I have been engaged for 10 years and thought we would finally celebrate our engagement on our 10th year of being engaged to marry one another.

Everyone who knows me knows that I love stationery, so much so that I started my own stationery business; A Whimsical Box. When I was asked to work with Avery, I jumped at the chance and I can finally reveal why I have taken such a long hiatus.

For more information about our wedding, you can follow it on our wedding website: http://www.acsrad.com/wedding

A lot of our wedding has got to do with everything that has meaning. We wanted to make it special; we have been together 12 years and we wanted it to be unique, something that was different to what our friends have done and something we can call our own.

With the help of Avery labels, they made it so easy to print labels. I designed all my artwork in Photoshop and Illustrator and imported them into Avery’s website where I can print them out properly without having to cut too much of the label.

I created our bomboniere test tube “engagemints”, wedding stickers and flags with Avery and I cannot wait to use them more throughout our wedding stationery.

I also have test tubes left over so I will be using them to create some Christmas goodies so stay tuned on the blog for more Avery goodness and how you can incorporate them with your Christmas festivities.

[camillesioco]

Feature: Metallic with TTTATTOO Temporary Tattoos

I have worked with TTTATOO earlier with their amazing lettering designs and they have come out with an amazing range of metallic tattoos which has become all the rage for summer. I love how you can be creative with their designs and they make the perfect accessory for summer.

I had a quick few minutes before we rushed out the door so I was racing against time. What's great about these temporary tattoos is that they take a few seconds to put on your skin. All you have to do is add water to the back and you're done!

We were heading over to Mooloolaba and was trying to beat the traffic and ensure we got there early to grab ourselves a table and bbq area as well as ensure we were able to have fun in the sun before the storm  rolled on by as forecast. Usually the weatherman gets it wrong 99% of the time but he was right this time and the storms came exactly as predicted.

I decided to wrap one around my arm, ankle and thigh to complete my beach look. It was a beautiful summer day and we had a blast playing frisbee. I also found out that I am terrible at frisbee. It is so much harder than it looks! When I throw a frisbee, it never ends up going to the person I intended it to go to, instead, it either goes to a random group of people or to an empty space.

Surprisingly, on the busy beach, we found a quiet and secluded area we were able to shoot. Brisbane-goers really keep to themselves and you don't get the "what are you shooting for" and "can I have a look at what the photo looks like" questions when people pass by.

Summer is going to be so much fun!

[camillesioco]

Feature: Puretopia Face Scrub

During Winter, I must admit, I wasn’t taking care of my skin very well and I have broken out to the point that no matter how much Proactiv I use, it’s no longer helping however, I haven’t been able to go wrong with Puretopia and their exfoliating scrub. Although I still have pimples, it’s been helping me fight against getting any more and has been helping by minimising them.

Stress eating has been a major contributor to my breakouts and although my eczema hasn’t returned, it’s still a concern that my skin is being affected. Now that summer has come around with it’s increased humidity, my skin has been stable considering the change in climate thanks to the cleaners and my other go-to summer essentials.

Now, to find that magical cream that will tighten my skin and remove my dreaded dark eye bags! Mud masks only work for a day or two before it starts to sag again. Oh, the joys of growing older!

[camillesioco]

Feature: Byron Body Tea

As summer approaches and I have a few bikini’s to debut this summer, to help my tummy stay flat, Byron Body Tea’s Teatox has been a godsend (it also helps a lot with keeping me warm in the office under the cold air conditioning vent) and it helps that my work colleagues are supportive over it and believe in it’s effects too.

I can’t get sick of this tea and although it does say it’s a 14 day pack, I try make it last as long as I can. I usually use the diffuser 3 times before changing the tea just so that I can get a milder flavour each time. It helps you not get sick of the flavour and for someone like me who has been drinking this tea for a year, it’s important not to get sick of it.

All this talk about a tea detox and summer and it’s getting me scared to even wear a bikini. That’s it... the treadmill is coming out of storage tonight!

[camillesioco]

Feature: Eclectic Edition

I had the pleasure of visiting Eclectic Edition when they were in Bondi and found the cutest scarf and mauve pants. Mauve used to be my favourite colour when I was younger, only because it was a very interesting word for purple (and the crayola colour pencil was awesome!). It also happens to be the best colour for my skin tone. See how I styled this outfit in this post here.

Recently, I attended a massive warehouse sale for Pink Stitch and went a little mad going through all the racks so expect more posts to come up soon featuring Pink Stitch and their beautiful structured dresses.

What can I say, I guess I’m on a roll today when it comes to blogging and don’t know why I didn’t keep it up consistently. I feel like I had lost a piece of me but feel almost complete now that blogging is part of my life again.

[camillesioco]

Feature: Skagen

I am a huge fan of timeless and classical pieces. As I grow older, I realised that collecting seasonal pieces would only make me think twice about my fashion choices in the future. I have grown to respect my own choices and to not become a “bandwagoner” (I have been guilty at times but try so hard not to fall into that trap). When I was first introduced to the Skagen brand, not only did I fall in love with pieces, I also fell in love with their story. How a brand that came from such a tiny fisherman’s island, become a global success. Especially without conforming to society’s current “it” accessories. They stuck by their original designs and carried them throughout for over 25 years.

I love the simplicity, the beauty of the mesh design and how classy it is. When you see the Skagen designs, you’ll see that it’s the kind of style your grandparents would have worn, a piece your parents had worn and a piece you can wear. For me, it shows history, a timepiece, a story. I don’t know if I’m just reading into it but when I connect with certain brands, it’s on a level of meaning as I always choose meaning and sentimental value over financial value every time. Hence why I continue to wear a $2 bracelet on my wrist no matter how tacky people think it may be. It’s only because it has meaning to me, it’s my version of a tattoo.

When I was first introduced to Skagen, we were told of their humble history. They introduced Denmark traditions and got us all involved. It was inspiring and intimate. It makes you hold certain value in their products not only as a brand but a company you can look up to. They weren’t just about designs and getting rich, they were about telling their story through their accessories.

More to come on my blog today as I work on finishing up a massive backlog. I cannot wait to reveal something huge (huge for me anyways). Until my next blog post my lovely readers.

[camillesioco]

Tips: Summer Beauty Care Essentials

As Summer approaches early, I wanted to share with you some of my Summer essentials to combat the Australian heat.

Firstly, before I go into any detail, I did want to apologise for another sudden hiatus on my blog and I promise I will be back with more content on a more consistent basis. I have been absolutely blessed with new projects that I’ll be revealing in due course.

Let’s get to the list!

1. Tea: Byron Body Tea

I’m a huge fan of tea, I drink it on a daily basis and it gets me through work (especially on days where the air conditioning is turned up so high that it’s hard to feels my fingers typing on the keyboard). What I love about Byron Body Tea is the cutest diffuser they give you as well as how it helps you maintain your summer figure in the process.

2. Lip Volumizer: Transformulas LipVolume

I don’t know about you but I always get dry, thin lips during summer. The combination between the heat, the UV rays and the cold air conditioning is no good and my lips take an even extra beating when I wear lipstick. Transformulas LipVolume helps me get the pout without using any lip colours. I just pop it on before my lip balm and I have beautiful voluptuous lips throughout the day.

3. Face Moisturizer: Puretopia Instant Moisture

I swear by this product and have recommended it to so many of my friends who now swear by the product. It’s non-greasy formula works wonders! I place it on my face just before I put my make up on and my skin does not feel dry at all.

4. Exfoliator: Indeed Laboratories’ Exfoliator

You will spin out the first time you use this product. It’s a powder that turns into foam when you add water! It’s unbelievably gentle on your skin and you’re left feeling so fresh and clean. It doesn’t feel like your skin is being stripped like other exfoliators in the market.

5. Dry Shampoo: Polished London Dry Shampoo

I only wash my hair twice a week and in between those days, I wear dry shampoo that helps me combat the grease. Polished London is the most affordable dry shampoo I have found and it’s formulated to your hair colour. It also doesn’t leave the white residue that most dry shampoos leave on your hair.

As a tip, I do spray it on my hair while I have my head upside down, just to add volume to my dead weight hair.

6. Body Lotion: Puretopia

I have used this product religiously after it helped me calm down my stress eczema. With the combination of Puretopia’s Body Polish, I was able to combat my stress eczema during a rough patch I was having. It helped with reliving the itchiness I was feeling and helped to maintain the moisture in my skin.

More summer essentials on my blog soon! I have a handful more posts to have published in a short amount of time so I do apologise for the spam but thank you so much to all of you have haven’t unsubscribed from my blog and for the lovely messages of support I have been receiving, it means so much to me.

[camillesioco]

REVIEW: MARLEY SPOON

I must admit, I’m a terrible cook. I find cooking to be one of the most difficult things to do, I can’t seem to ever get the ingredients and timing correct. Marley Spoon have acknowledged my failed kitchen experiences and have come up with a system where you can get it right, every single time.

Marley Spoon has broken it down cooking in 4 easy steps:

Marley Spoon have renowned chef; Olivia Andrews create new recipes each week

You decide what to cook and when

Marley Spoon sources the ingredients and delivery it to your door

Cook and enjoy

I had the honour of cooking 2 lovely meals; Lamb with sweet potatoes with haloumi and kale, the other being Salmon with hazelnut potatoes.

It was so simple and the food was so delicious and filling. I love how there are so may vegetables involved and when you receive everything, it’s fresh and ready to cook that same day. It streamlines cooking and it’s something I appreciate, especially when I find cooking extremely difficult. I was amazed at how easy it was to follow the simple and clear directions.

Thanks to Marley Spoon, I am no longer scared of cooking and cannot wait to organise a dinner party with friends and impress them with my cooking.

For more information about this unique and life changing company, visit Marley Spoon.

[camillesioco]

Feature: The Daily Edited

I am a huge stationery lover and have a major soft spot for anything that you can personalise. The Daily Edited lets you personalise bags, card holders, notebooks and more! They stock amazing saffiano leather and I am obsessed.

I wish I had a better desk situation at work where I could display all my beautiful stationery but we are limited for space in our small apartment and can't wait till we finally move into a house. We're aiming to do so this year but with so many projects running on conjunction with each other, fitting in viewings will be quite difficult.

The items are so cute and I can't wait to get another notebook. I'm a sucker for any type of stationery and whenever I'm in Officeworks, Ramon gets so mad because I can be at that store for over an hour just admiring all the pens, papers, notebooks, accessories and just imagining what I can do with it all.

[camillesioco]

Feature: The Collection By M

The best Australian store I have ever come across that stock 2 of my favourite things; scented candles and chocolates is The Collection By M. Two things that help me de-stress, the scents are all so beautiful and such a large selection and the chocolates, you just can't go wrong with chocolate (unless you try and mix it with a soft drink with pop rocks like L&P, my taste buds refused to keep it down).

I love how The Collection By M have a beautiful monochrome theme throughout all their collections. Their designs are so cute and best of all, most of them can be personalised!

My nose if very sensitive and I will smell lingering smells that most people would not have picked up on until someone has said it out load. I feel that this is a flaw as it's very irritating trying to remove a certain smell from your home. The candles and diffusers by The Collection By M is just as good as the ones you can buy in retai stores. The scent travels rom our downstairs to our upstairs. My favourite scent from their range is Creme Brulee.

I cannot get enough! Candles, diffusers, chocolates oh my! I literally have one in my office at work, in every single room in the house and gift them to all my friends.

The Collection By M is releasing a new line in the coming weeks so keep your eyes peeled my lovely readers!

[camillesioco]

Feature: Stance

Winter staples includes socks, especially when you have tiled floors at home. I love wearing my stance socks and I absolutely love how they are mismatched. The pair I have chosen is a funky “Hip N Hop” and “Rock N Roll” design that makes me just want to slide around my floor tiles in the warmth.

I don’t know about you, but when I am at home, I dance like no one is looking. I fling my hands up in the air and I recreate Tom Cruise’s dance scene from Jerry Maguire. It’s so freeing!

You can get your stance pair from their website. They recently did a collaboration with the gorgeous and talented Rihanna in her signature black and red colours.

[camillesioco]

Outfit Post: Oceans Apart

Photographer: Ramon

Time has flown on by with major projects under way and I have been one heck of a busy bee and was finally able to catch a break to blog a post for you guys in double denim thanks to Mavi and Somedays Lovin.

I had plans to post this in summer but the hiatus was something that I needed to take. I had to prioritize certain events in my life and will be revealing them all to you soon! I promise!

I’m a huge fan of double denim. I also find the look challenging as there are so many different types and colours of denim. I usually go for two-tones so that each piece adds it’s own uniqueness to the look.

Aver since shooting this post, my sandal heels that have served me for a good 2 years had died on me. I had over-used the shoes and the straps decided to give-in and snap. I’m still on the look out for a similar pair that wouldn’t cost me an arm an a leg.

I have been torn with keeping a fringe or growing it out and decided to keep it for a year or two longer. I remember when I first got it cut and I felt like a completely new person! Although it doesn’t always cooperate (like in these photos) it helps frame my round face.

I must admit, winter this year has really hit me. I have been snuggling up in the warmth of 2 blankets and a hoodie. My fellow New Zealanders would think I have finally converted to an Australian!

I was going to write this in a separate post but since I’m unlike most bloggers out there who are happy writing one blurb on a post and this post most likely would have drown amongst all the others I will be posting this week, I admit to missing blogging. I felt like I had lost a part of myself. I quit my job, I went on holiday and started a business with all my savings. I basically hit a quarter-life crisis. Visiting through all these drafted posts I have had on my blog have made me realise that blogging is one thing I shouldn’t have put on hold. It made me happy, it was an outlet for me to let go and it helped me find myself. I felt like I had been a hypocrite to those who I had encouraged to blog in the hopes of finding yourself.

2015 has been one hell of a ride. When I look back at the year, I hadn’t documented it as much as I did my previous years and I feel like I lost part of that. This year I realised that having a management job, your own office and a good salary didn’t make me happy. It made me absolutely miserable. I felt like two years was taken from me and if it wasn’t with the help of a doctor to tell me to quit, I may still be feeling like utter crap. It’s hard blogging as though your life is perfect when it’s far from it. I would never want anyone to perceive my life as anything close to perfect hence why my blog is still a very personal blog for me.

It’s been a month and a half and I feel much more re-energized and feel like I’m slowly getting back on my feet again. The support from Ramon and my friends is who I credit for helping me with major life-changing decisions. I cannot wait to show you guys what has been keeping me sane this past one and a half years.

Again, I’m so sorry for the hiatus. I promise I’m finally back, updating my social pages and blog regularly and will be replying back to all those missed emails in the coming days ahead.

To my readers who have messaged me and kept in touch throughout, you guys have been the best!

Denim Shirt: Mavi Boyfriend Jeans: Somedays Lovin

[camillesioco]

Outfit: Style Challenge

Photographer: Ramon

I had the honour of taking in a style challenge thanks to Staple The Label, The Minimalist, Naked Vice and QT Gold Coast.

I’ve chosen to style a stunning Staple The Label Illusion two-piece paired with a military blazer and touches of gold throughout.

I finally took a leap and dived into my passion for fashion and I attended Fashion Week. I have met so many people in the industry lately who have been so supportive and encouraged me to experience it, even just once and I had the best time.

For the first day of MBFWA, I decided on wearing this beautiful printed two-piece. Sydney decided to grace us with beautiful weather and although winter feels like it’s just around the corner, during Fashion Week, summer decided to appear for a few days to help us celebrate the beautiful Summer/Spring collections from local and international designers.

The weeks before Fashion Week had my friends running round in circles, stressing about what they were going to wear. I decided I would not steer away from who I was and to be happy in whatever I was wearing. I already had so much stress in my life and worrying about what to wear on one of the most important fashion events of the year was something I did not want to stress about and I am so thankful for Staple The Label and their new collection for the huge help. Two-pieces are my favourite pieces to work with, they are so easy and the print is stunning.

My favourite part of the bottoms is that they have pockets. I am a huge fan of pockets when it comes to any article of clothing. The convenience of being able to put small, important items into a pocket that is easily accessible is a godsend. I love when designers think about both the style and fashion aspect of clothing as well as functionality.

I decided to dust out my military blazer from my closet and pair it with gold jewellery. I don’t ever think I would get rid of my military blazer, it’s timeless. I’m not the type of blogger who will only wear the current season items. I’m a fan of shopping my closet and making do with what I have.

Blogging again makes me feel more like my old self again. I have been feeling so much like someone else that it’s been so hard to get into a rhythm. I cannot wait to reveal what I have been up to and will announce it in June. In the mean time, I will be working my ass off getting through the backlog that I have and finally getting on track.

I’ll be documenting about my MBFWA experience in another blog post and will be sharing with you guys the amazing pieces from the runway. I felt like it was a week of hanging with friends from all over Australia and having a blast.

For the conservative girls out there, the bottoms are shorts with a beautiful pleat and the water colour floral design in a light grey colour is gorgeous. I have a soft spot for water colours and have been loving water colour prints and typography. I remember growing up, I had a water colouring set that I used to love but the neat freak inside of me would only use it a handful of times because it used to always get messy. I have been acknowledging that usually things get messy before it gets better and water colour is a prime example. Maybe it’s time to try again and see if I can get my creative juices flowing again. The beautiful translucent effect of the paint is what makes me love the art form.

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The gold jewellery was added to tie in both the gold accent on my bag and the gold accents on the military blazer. I’m all about balancing out an outfit with the style of the articles of clothing, accessories and colours.

Shop Joey have beautiful and delicate jewellery that was perfect for this look. I was introduced to an ear cuff and it is one of my most favourite pieces of their current collection which has a range of both gold and silver pieces with beautiful pearls and marble. What I love is that their jewellery is stackable.

Recently, I have joined Shop Joey to be their latest Joey Girl. You will see a lot more of their new collection up on my blog and instagram so stay tuned! 

I know that I had taken a bit of time off on my blog recently and I keep saying that I would be back but I’m so happy to announce that I have officially resigned from my job and am looking forward to finally going on holiday in peace and coming back refreshed and starting a new chapter in my life. I do have to still work my notice period but handing in my resignation was a huge weight off my shoulders, I felt so much happier and I don’t feel like a walking zombie.

Hope you guys liked my entry! Expect more on my blog in the coming weeks as I finally move on to a new chapter in my life.

Illusion two-piece: Staple The Label Shoes: Forever 21 Jewellery: Shop Joey

[camillesioco]

Outfit Post: Hunted

Photographer: Ramon

When daylight savings comes around, it's been difficult to judge when the sun sets as it's been moving from 7:30 to 8 to 8:30 to 9 some days. We thought we had enough sunlight to shoot this look but I'm glad we got a beautiful sunset with cotton candy pink skies.

Working in the corporate world and having gotten away with wearing colours to work, I have been looking for clothes that can be used both at work and outside of work. Lioness has a beautiful skirt with an adjustable side split that helps you be conservative at work and show a little skin outside of work.

We found such a cute playground out in Rouse Hill. They have developed the area so quickly with new houses and parks so Ramon and I decided to explore. Unfortunately, I still haven't overcome my fear of having my photo taken (alone for my blog) in public places where people tend to go. We tend to drive around until we find a quiet spot with decent amount of lighting to shoot our looks. When people ask me why, even though I have been blogging for 5 years, time hasn't taught me the self-confidence I need.

The sculptures behind me are steel sheep! It's such a great idea because there is a petting farm nearby. I don't know if they house any sheep but I know they have ponies and piglets you can pet.

The outfit was easy to put together since I've become a blogger who has started to appreciate simple, which and clean looks. I still have a soft spot for anything asymmetrical but clashing prints and colour blocking is something I will try to do less often.

I usually tend to stick with blues or peach colours but the pink is also a beautiful colour. When my skin was a much darker shade due to excessive tanning, my skin colour and pink did not compliment each other too well. Now that I have accepted my natural skin tone, it's great to know that I can be more flexible with the colours I can wear.

My hair is growing so fast and I have decided that at some stage in the next few years, I will be cutting it into a bob. Although it doesn't suit my face shape, I have always wanted to try it but I don't have the guts. In the past, I had bought a wig as a substitute so that I can wear it long or short. I think I might buy another one in the interim so that I can have the best of both worlds again.

Yes, I put Chanel on the floor. This year is less about my expensive taste in bags and more about investing that into experiences and travel. I have a small and modest collection and I think I should be thankful for what I have already. I'm not getting any younger and I hear it's much better to travel in your 20s than it is when you retire.

More to come on my blog and loads in store for the rest of the year. I am terribly missing my Aunty who has graced us with her presence in Sydney for the past 3 months. I wish she would have been able to stay for longer but I can't wait to see her again soon! I already miss her cooking and our talks. I've never grown up with any relatives apart fro my immediate family around me. My family and I had moved from Philippines to New Zealand when I was only 3 and we would only have the luxury of seeing my relatives in the Philippines ever 3 years or so until I was 17 when I had to take a break for a while. Now that I'm older, I feel like I've missed out on so many family stories and experiences. Thank goodness for advancements of technology, we'll have Skype, FaceTime and Facebook to keep in touch! I'm also thankful that airfares are becoming more affordable.

Till next time my beautiful readers.

Cropped top: Universal Store Skirt: Lioness Bag: Chanel

[camillesioco]

Outfit Post: Purple Rain

Photographer: Ramon

We ventured out to the good old Eastern Suburbs thanks to a recommendation from Jessie from Fashion and Sounds who always seems to have the best Sydney locations for her shoots. We don't often head over to the Eastern Suburbs for the beach, we would rather spend 1.5hrs driving up the coast to a secluded beach and make car videos along the way than be stuck in traffic and spend an extra 20 minutes trying to find a car park. However, we wanted to shoot by the rocks and do something different.

I'm exited (and scared) to reveal a collaboration with Lisa Blue swimwear. What I love about Lisa blue is that not only do they have great collections, Lisa Blue is actively supporting the protection of whales & dolphins. 25% of net profits from the sale of their swimwear goes towards the protection of whales & dolphins. They donate to The Australian Whale Conservation Society (AWCS) which is a registered, non-profit environmental organisation, based in Queensland, Australia.

When I received my bikini in the mail and saw the print, I squealed like a little girl, ran upstairs and shoved it in Ramon's face and said "look babe, it's a unicorn"! I know, I was wrong and again, I was faced with the undeniable fact that unicorns don't exist but the horse on the bikini is beautiful. It reminds me of the galaxy leggings that made it big on the fashion scene in 2011 and I still love to this day.

I have found that although I have a small bust and triangle bikinis are not recommended for smaller busted women, companies who make bikinis that are adjustable are targeting both markets. This is what Lisa blue does. The triangles can be moved and adjusted to suite your size and shape and (the best thing aside from the beautiful, majestic horse design) is that you can add padding.

The colour is beautiful, the cut is beautiful and I love the kaftan. It has the beautiful horse design and both the bikini and kaftan compliment each other perfectly. I love how it's so light and easy to put on and off. I has so much fun in this and playing around on the rocks. It also dries so quickly after getting wet.

The gold accents are so stunning and cannot wait for our Boracay trip this year! This is definitely an item must-have on our trip.

I am still not confident in my own skin, especially when it comes to wearing a bikini, my stretch marks on my thighs are an eye-sore and it took a lot of trial and error to get my angles right so that I didn't look too short and to hide my imperfections.

Bikini shopping is tough and when a lot of companies have different sizing (especially with the bust) and materials, it's difficult but Lisa Blue runs true to size. I have a small bust and the genius design of the adjustable triangles has allowed me to make it fit perfectly for my current figure now and to how it will change in the future.

I absolutely love how Lisa Blue incorporate the tail of the whale. I absolutely adore how Lisa Blue has combined beautiful designs and her passion and is able to help a society in need all in one. It's such an inspiring story and one that I'm honoured to have been introduced to.

Recently, I have been on a coffee buzz. I know, it's shocking! I don't usually drink coffee as my taste buds refuse to approve the taste as being delicious (just yet) but I have been slowly drinking it to help me stay awake and to also help stabilise my blood pressure. I feel like it's a huge change in my life, one that has been affected by work stress and my health. Change in inevitable and I'm going to start welcoming it with open arms. Thanks to coffee, I have been more alert, I do crash every now and then but it's been helping me get out these blog posts, deal with work dramas and work on projects so expect more to come on my blog.

I feel more like myself now that I’m back on my blog. Typing 

Till next time my lovely readers.

[camillesioco]

Outfit Post: Every Moment Counts

Photographer: Ramon

I apologise to all my readers for having been so absent on my blog. I used to be one of those bloggers who pushed out 5 blog posts a week but in reality, when the workload piles on and major projects are underway, it's difficult to prioritise certain hobbies you once had. I only have a few more months to go with my project before I can finally reveal to you guys what I have been working on but to make up for it. I promise it will all be worth it!

I must admit, I have never owned a pair of espadrilles in my whole entire life and am overjoyed that the first and only pair that I own is a pair from AOK. When people say that espadrilles are comfortable, they are indeed comfortable. I'm used to wearing snug shoes that require a few wears in order to break them in. These espadrilles  will mould to your foot instantly! They are my go-to shoe for summer and I don't know how I was able to live without them.

It was an extremely hot day the day we did the shoot and usually, I wouldn't show so much of my midriff and only wear a cropped top when I'm wearing high-waisted bottoms but today was an exception. To cover up, I did bring along my blazer so I can wrap it in front of me.

You can't go wrong with pairing a comfy pair of espadrilles with denim and that's what I did. My rule of thumb that when I'm wearing flats, my bottoms must be short and the longest length will be at the lowest point of my shins. This is because I stand quote short, I'm not a tall person and to give the illusion that I'm taller is by making my clothes appear like they are too small for me.

Ramon was shooting an engagement shoot that day and I was assisting with poses, angles and positions. This is one of the only times he allows me to go all out at my control freakiness! It's so much fun but when shooting around golden hour, you only realise you have such little time to get shots in before that light disappears. You don't notice how fast the sun goes down when it becomes essential in what you're doing. Ramon's the type of person who loves to use natural light when it comes to taking photos, hence why we only take photos when it's overcast or during sunset.

I have got so many posts to push out for you all that I will be working overtime to get up to date on my blog. It’s been far too long since I was behind my blog and I’m finally feeling like myself again. It’s been a while and the stress had been building up, the reason why I have been away is because I wanted to avoid posting any negativity on my blog and on my social media. A blog becomes an archive of your life, a diary, a memory. When I look back some day, I want to make sure that I only remember the good times and read the words I wrote on the good days.

I have noticed that my hair is very uneven in colour due to all the DIY I have been performing on myself to save money. I am off on holiday in 5 weeks time to the Philippines and will ensure I indulge in some beauty therapy, relaxation therapy and anything that will help take my mind off work stress and free myself from corporate greed and destruction.

Let me tell you, 2015 has been one hell of a ride and we've only reached month 2! I have been on the go since Day 1 writing essays and feel like I have written more in a span of a week than I did in my whole year of blogging! - Not an exaggeration at all. I cannot wait for the reveal and have been working day and night to put everything together. It feels so good to be blogging again and believe it or not, I'm back to my routine with many many posts to come and I have worked out how to use Tumblr's nifty schedule feature to schedule future posts!

Till next time my beautiful readers.

Blazer: Miss Moncur Skirt: Ksubi Espadrilles: AOK

[camillesioco]

Feature: SOFI Spritz

Recently, I was introduced to SOFI Spritz, modern Australian take on an Italian spritz with a Mediterranean twist. A delicious blend of bitter and sweet.

I'm a champagne lover and after many, many visits to Hunter Valley for wine tasting adventures, my taste buds have needed something new to try and SOFI Spritz has delivered a beautiful blend.

What's best is that they were crowd funded! The first of it's kind!

I love how the people behind SOFI treat each bottle as one of their own, they gave her a gender, an identity and a personality. She's bitter, she's sweet, she's in control and in the moment. She's hard to figure out... in a good way!

The team worked hard on creating the brand and found over 100 supporters to back their project through a crowd funded website. So much thought has been put into creating her and she is one of a kind, nothing like her out there. The team behind SOFI created a being that isn't just about a drink but an atmosphere and a unique identity to make her stand out in the crowd. She even has her own name cards with quirky advice.

Indeed, have fun figuring her out. She is a unique individual with the perfect mix of Australian and Mediterranean genes. She's not just spritzy but also sparkly. 

This name card is my favourite and blunt. We can all relate to SOFI and I truly love how she was given the perfect character that would get along with everyone.

The best way to have a great time with SOFI is to introduce her to your friends and enjoy your time together. She wouldn't have it any other way.

This is where commas become an important use in this sentence. I laughed when I first read it. It's so clever!

If you enjoy your cocktails and don't want anything too sweet or too bitter, SOFI offers you the perfect combination of both. What I love about it is how it's so unique in not just it's presentation but from how she was born to where she is today. To find a personality and an identity in a drink is one heck of a mission to pull off and SOFI has done it! - Definitely a company you will see studied in marketing and business lectures around the world on the success of crowd funding and branding. It's so inspiring and I love how the concept which gathered many supporters and believers pulled off an amazing product that has substance.

Expect exciting new posts on my blog coming soon! I may have to take a day or two off as I recover from having to say goodbye to my aunty this weekend as she flies back to the Philippines. I'm sure the waterworks will be streaming down my face at the airport. I'm going to miss her so much!

Till next blog post!

DISCLAIMER: Must be 18 years or over to consume this product.