Summer So Far + OOTD post + Guess Who's Going Back To School?

Remember how back in grade school, you get this assignment on the first week after the school year starts which asks you to describe your summer?

I know I haven't been holding on to my end of the deal to update this blog on a weekly basis. I'm sorry. Things had been busy at work and my personal life. So, here are some major camwhoring snapshots about  how my summer had been so far. That and it's an excuse to finally get the guts to do a OOTD post

So I told myself that 2013 will be a year where I’ll push my boundaries. This year, I want to:

• go to places where I haven’t been to (would you believe it was my first time to go to Batangas during that visit to Jiro’s uncle and his Great Dane - Vitelia?)
• try to be creative.
• Meet up regularly with my closest friends. 
• Learn something new 

Wore this outfit in the office and straight to a Batangas roadtrip after my shift.

Quarter Sleeve Cardigan - St Francis Square
Mint Green sheer top - Forever21
Jeans - Forever 21
Skull necklace - Saizen (it’s one of those 100 yen store franchises)
Flip Flops - Abercrombie & Fitch

The Great Dane belongs to the boyfriend’s uncle and since this picture was taken on a summer weekend, NO MAKEUP!

The big baby's name is Vitellia by the way. 

A Casa Armas dinner with my BFF, Jacq. Flourescent pink peplum top from Forever 21, dove grey cardigan from St Francis Square, skull bling from Saizen.

This year, we are attempting to eat healthier so instead of the usual Mexican or Italian fare we have during Saturdays - we have taken to eating Vietnamese.

Since I told myself that this year I’ll be pushing the envelope, it’s actually the first time I’ve mustered the courage of wearing a sleeveless outfit in public. Worn it to work (and the skinny tarts were throwing shade at me, lol) and I’ve never felt sexier my entire life.

Dress is from Forever 21’s Plus Size line, I”m a US size 18. The gorgeous man? My boyfriend of 7 years. ^_^

Lastly, I guess it's safe to say that the cat is finally out of the bag. I've enrolled myself in special classes at the University of the Philippines' Linguistics Department. I'm taking up Nihongo, since I did take 6 units for my undergraduate studies as part of my Psychology degree. I've graduated in 2007, and after 6 years, I'm back in school. So excited. :D

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DIY - Beach Terrarium

Summer was never really my favorite time of the year. The heat, the icky feeling that won't go away, I could go on and on. This year, as one of my resolutions I told myself that I'll do something creative, at least one.

I've always wanted to have one like this as far back as my internship days in St Mary's College. One of the guidance counselors had something like this on her desk.

It's very easy, really. Obviously I don't have a creative bone in my body, so this is the best that I could do.

My beach terrarium won't have any plant in it. This cost about Php350. All you need are:

A fishbowl, this one costs Php249.75

Sand, they're available in different colors so I opted for the regular one since, duh, it's a beach terrarium. One container costs Php49.75. 

Stones, again a whole myriad of colors to choose from. But I stuck to the regular colored, small ones. A pack is Php29.75

Seashells, these were just lying around the house for how many years now. 

Old newspaper. 

So the first thing you do is line the area with the newspaper, just one sheet would do. 

Pour sand (obviously someone needs another manicure) into the bowl. A single container of sand can fill up about 1/4 of the bottom. 

Randomly place the stones and seashells in the area. Et voila. 

Here it is on my side table.

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What's In My Bag?

Hello there. Happy Easter! It's been quite some time since I've done a what's in your bag entry. 

This is the bag I'm currently using on a daily basis. Got it for only Php350 at St Francis Square, which is this bigass bazaar housed in a 3-storey building which is only a couple of streets away from my workplace. Really hard to resist not dropping by every day. 

The keychain is a Mushu plushie which was a Happy Meal freebie. It's been with me since college, I decided to put a keychain ring on it since at that time I was so obsessed with those plushie keychains anime characters would tote around in their satchels. And back then, I couldn't find a single store that sold satchels in the malls I frequent.

And of course, the de rigeur hand sanitizer which I attach to the bag du jour.

I don't really tote around much, just a few things to help me get through the day. Plus lugging around a heavy purse WHILE running around ain't fun.

L-R:

Etude House lipstick

Lip Smackers Skittles in Mango Berry - verrry summery

Zen Zest's Daiquiri - transferred it from it's original bottle onto a smaller spray bottle from Beabi

Watson's Watermelon Hand Soap - also transferred to a Beabi bottle. It pays to carry around liquid soap since you never know when you'd get stuck in a situation when the ladies' room doesn't have handsoap (ewww)

Citronella spray - it's already summer here in the Philippines and mosquitos now come out and play. You can spray this on your skin, but sometimes I also spray it onto the air/under tables. This bottle's almost empty, time to get a new one on payday.

Coby tablet - I'm not really a hardcore techie, this one is for my games and useful apps like menstrual tracker, shift calendar, to-do list. You know, just the basics.

Company ID & access card - my white access card is kinda dirty so I peppered it with stickers. HE he.

Coin purse - for only Php50 at Saint Francis Square! See? Bargain heaven.

Skin Food Choco Eyebrow Powder Cake

Skin Food Agave face powder- love how this is packed with moisturizers, I don't even have to apply moisturizer/base!

Jordana powder blush in Redwood- for those days when I lack sleep and could use a shot of color.

Katinko Ointment - still more effective compared to the pain & itch balm I purchased form Sesou

Keys - to my unit and to our house

Thumb drive - this one is a gift from James when he went to Japan, it's a Sex and the City 2 flash drive. And the diamonds in the logo (which are LED) just light up when plugging it in. Oooh shineeeey~~~

Bag hook from Saizen

ELF Face Brush

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Hauls from Saizen's Banzai Sale

Hello everyone! I hope the heat isn't getting to you yet. Remember it's only March, wait till we get to the crux between April and May. I guess it's safe to say it's time to brace ourselves, summer is coming.

For those who are still in school, just a little bit more guys. Vacation's almost here. Congratulations to those who would be graduating this year as well.

Anyhow, yesterday after my shift (my work ends at 10am due to the adjustment of Daylight Savings Time), I went to Saizen. Here's yesterday's haul:

- Pocket Tripod (Php44)

- Bag Organizer (Php88)

- Pink basket (Php44)

- Meiji Apolo chocolates (Php88, buy 1 take 1)

- Long necklace with seahorse pendant (Php66).

- Hooks (Php44)

- Pink sleeping mask(Php88)

I've been WANTING to have a seahorse pendant since 2012 after watching an episode of The Borgias where Lucrezia Borgia was given a seahorse pendant by her father's concubine. 

This is how it looked like in the show:

I know it ain't no Lucrezia Borgia bauble, but hell, my seahorse is so ghei it's scales aren't glitter, they be rhinestones beeyotch.

Can I just say this pink sleeping mask is my most favorite impulse buy so far?! I know I just purchased a sleeping mask the weekend before but some light still filters through. With a sleeping mask like this, who says you have to be beautiful to be called a Sleeping Beauty, eh? 

No trip to Saizen would be complete without taking advantage of their Buy 1 Take 1 promo on Meiji chocolates. Meiji's Apollo chocolates have always been my favorite, since again, I'm a huge fan of the chocolate/strawberry combo.

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Knife Holder Turned Earring Rack

Everyone knows about the story of Cinderella. How the pumpkin turned into her ride, the mice transformed into coachmen, etc. 

Being a girly girl, I guess it's safe to say that my accessories can sometimes be scattered around my room. Either on my bedside table, vanity table, bathroom counter, hell even my computer desk is not safe. I came across this knife holder during one of my regular prowls at Saizen. Hence, the knife holder turned into a rack for my earrings. 

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Royce Chocolates

I have ALWAYS wanted to try Royce chocolates and find out why they cost so fucking expensive in my country.

Php598 for a box,anyone?

So I bought a box yesterday. Then the lady at Royce Podium offered a free taste of the Nama chocolate. I took one, smiled politely and said “Maybe next time.”

Then, Miss Chocolate seller rang up the sale and it was Php1200! Apparently, I was too “soft spoken” that she didn’t hear me declining her offering of the Nama chocolate. 

Ah well. I guess it’s time to spoil myself rotten. It’ll be too embarrassing to ask the boyfriend to get me a box of these since he already got me that Starbucks Lunar New Year bear. :D

So…. I tried the original selection I wanted which is the Prafeuille Chocolat since I’m a huuuuuge fan of the strawberry and chocolate combination for as long as I could remember.

And can I just admit that I was drawn to it’s girly packaging? :D

So sue me. 

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Starbucks Lunar New Year Bearista

I've never really collected any of the Starbucks Bearistas, but when I saw the Lunar New Year bear during one of my coffee runs during lunch - I WANTED it. But then again, I kept on telling myself that it's not a necessity. You're all aware of the excuses you come up with when debating on whether you'd like to buy something or not.

Last weekend, I decided to get one but it was already out of stock in the Starbucks branches in Emerald Avenue. Until, the boyfriend got me one while we were having coffee with friends at Starbucks Megastrip.

Heyppiness. :D

The boyfriend working on his booty tooch and smize. Erm, A for effort? :D

Jeje hoodrat stuff. Ugh. 

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