A Little Bit Country..

I have fled the city to spend a better part of this week in the country..

Hello, Shawnee Pennsylvania.

I went to visit some relatives and was instantly swallowed by the quiet, serene, and snowy atmosphere of the mountains. I've been doing nothing but snuggling under a fuzzy blanket in front of the TV, reading my Teen Vogue and Nylon, and sewing up a storm trying to get a head start on our class project. 

But the very BEST thing about being here is.. the food. Home-cooked Filipino style and absolutely scrumptious. Living by myself means pasta and noodle soup and mostly microwavables. [I still haven't figured out how to do laundry, and I might just have to bring my pile to the cleaners.] Another plus: I have been having the soundest and deepest sleep out here in my big comfy bed and warm fluffy blanket.   

Being in a quiet town here reminds me of our usual getaway back home. The boyf's family ranch in Batangas, just a few hours outside the city and an hour away from most beaches in the area. 

A perfect afternoon ago with the boyf spent with some easy, feel-good tunes, chips & local fruits, and Tinto de Verano (red wine + Sprite + lime).

Have a fantabulous weekend, everyone! ♥

The Shopaholic Bug

Who else is excited about Confessions Of A Shopaholic, The Movie?

I adored reading the series for its very witty narrative of an extreme case of the shopaholics. My mom laughingly tells me how much Becky Bloomwood reminds her of me, and although I can relate to her to a certain level, I would like to think that I have a better head on my shoulders. Although that does tend to disappear once I get caught up in the addictive shopping haze and adrenaline. Hmmm.. 

[She has my laptop's twin! btw, I decided to give my Macbook a unisex name.. I finally ended up with Georgie.]

Check out my loot from a recent stop at Victoria's Secret on 34th. I am just in love with their line, Pink. More girly, less lacey and sophistaced, but definitely just as sexy. Best thing about them is that they fit me oh so perfectly.

  

Click here to see me in one of my more manic shopaholic moments.

 ☆

Last Sunday I found out on Facebook that one of my friends from my first job is here. To say that that is an exciting discovery to make by someone who is in a foreign city all by herself is an understatement. Finally, a friend from home to roam around the villages with! Having someone to finally take my pictures was just icing on the cake. * 

Yesterday was a busy day. Before meeting up with Pat, I went to Urban Outfitters to pick up some fabric but ended up buying some necklaces and rings.. UO has the coolest accessories. My next stop was Manhattan Wardrobe supply where I got some stuff for my styling kit.

 

 

Some more outfit pics in the apartment.

 

The Marc by Marc store in the West Village rocks.

♥

Jet-Lagged

Two things that currently prevent me from posting more regularly: jet-lag and fatigue. It's so bad that I barely get 5-6hours of sleep; waking up about 5 times in a night's sleep (if you could call it that) before finally getting up in the wee hours of the morning. 

Anyway. I've been having the most fantabulous time in my classes. The final project was something to get excited over too. More on that on a proper post. Right now I just want to share something that delighted me when I caught up on a previous episode of Lipstick Jungle. [I'm too tiired and sleepyyy to post more.]

 

Yes, she is my favorite: character- and wardrobe-wise. So when I saw that we had the same feathered hairband, my little-girl heart felt happiness the way a fan who sees her favorite R&B singer might. Here's me wearing it last year during Montréal Fashion Week.

  

Now just to make this post a little bit more relevant, here are pictures of my first day in school.

I expect next week to be filled with more free time, and I will post more of my outfits from home and from my birthday trip to the beach :)

♥

Settling In

Greetings from New York! I am now officially all moved in and settled in my cozy little apartment. I'm right across Central Park and my bathroom shower has pressure controlled spouts lining its pipe for that water massage thingy (not quite sure what it's called) and it is all fabulous. I love it, really. I especially love the faux sheepskin wall installment beside my bed --my allergies might not like it too much though..

 

But I have to say, my favorite is the flat screen TV that is mine, ALL mine. (I'm in an apartment share which means I share the kitchen and bathroom with my roomie).

 

The plane ride en route to Detroit (port of entry) was somewhat poignant, but that all dissolved into excitement once my bus exited the Lincoln Tunnel and into New York city. Tomorrow, I explore. Now is the time to rest my tired tired legs and curl under my covers while falling asleep to HBO On Demand in the background.. Goodnight, all.

♥

Sweetest Sunrise: Bonjour 2009

And the negligent blogger is back. My days since I got back home have been a blur of days and nights out, dinner dates and chilling at the house, food tripping, shopping, beach bumming, eating, and more eating. Now I get a little time to breathe and sneak a quick entry. 

So many events happened in 2008. At dawn of the year that passed, I celebrated with family and friends and looked on to the new year with great hope and faith for good things to come my way. To get to the gist of it, the best things did happen to me in the past year.. of course, as most things, it came with hard work and called for immense responsibility -but I guess that's part of the grandiose of it all. To balance the Yang, I've also had my share of Yins. 2008 showed me some of the best times of my life, and let me experience some of the worst pits I've had to get out from. Through it all, I've been blessed with enough encouragements and love from the best people in my life. But even more than that, the hand of my Lord was always there to uphold me and give me peace amidst moments of such confusion and pain, reminding me that I have a BIG God. A God bigger than all circumstances, all the problems this flawed world can ever throw us. And the assurance of that makes me look forward to just this: the bright future of God's perfect will brewing on realization. And with new mornings and a promising year, I know I am on my way there. 

[II Corinthians 4:8-9 

8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.]

It's so easy to praise God when everything in your life is going as it should be and everything feels so ecstatically perfect. But praising God when you're experiencing mind numbing, heart crushing pain.. that's only achieved by grace. It has been an incredible 2008. I laughed my heart out, cried my heart out, dreamt dreams so big it was almost impossible, had some of those dreams come true, had my faith attacked and then strengthened, learned how to live (somewhat) by myself, and loved with my whole being.. It was the year I grew up. Lots more of growing up to do: spiritually, emotionally, and career-wise.. and 2009 sounds like a pretty good year to do just that. :) 

Celebrated New Year's Eve and countdown in true Philippine fashion of setting off fireworks one after the other. We had a good show of fireworks (and so did the neighbors) which started and lasted about 30 mins before and after 12m. Everyone is affected by the global financial crisis! In the past years it usually started at 11pm (new year's eve) and ended way past 1am. 

Our beloved tradition of pandesal, hot chocolate, ham, and assorted coldcuts after the fireworks followed suit in my grandmom's dining room. 

  

  

Caught my first sunrise of the year with my bestest friend ♥ It was the perfect way to start off the year.

Wishing you all new sunrises and never-ending beginnings.. may 2009 be the year for growth, hope, and unceasing love. Here's to a most fabulous year ahead.. ♥

***

**more more more outfit posts to follow! from days in between Christmas and New Years.