Brightside Entry | To Be Loved

Alright, so I cut the title of this post just so because it is sweet to be loved--not just by your boyfriend or significant other but also by your family, friends and (perhaps most importantly) yourself. Today was pretty well-balanced for me and it really helped me appreciate the great people around me. :D Today began with me dropping my mom off at Makati and being accompanied by our dear driver Kuya Will to my job interview in QC (right at the edge of NLEX, I kid you not). Because my family isn't usually the kind of family where free rides are given often or assistance is lent you when it comes doing what you want, I was thrilled that my mom allowed me to be driven to my interview. I was not relishing the prospect of arriving via train to a place I have no idea how leave, to head to a place I've no idea how to get to. I'm also super thankful to Kuya Will,who's been with us since I was three years old. He was uber patient despite the traffic and kept cracking funny jokes even if I a) forgot the piece of paper the address was written on and b) brought the tiniest map ever made.

My interview lasted around 20 minutes and then poof! I was free a whole hour or two before I'd expected to be so I called Keav up and we decided to meet at Greenhills. After Kuya Will dropped me off at the Promenade in Greenhills, I decided to treat myself to coffee and macarons at Bizu. And while I used to like their macarons, I don't think they're as good as the ones from La Vie En Rose Sweets; these were more expensive and just not as tasty. The coffee was alright as well. While part of me is tempted to regret buying the macarons, I'd like to believe that time shouldn't be wasted on regret--especially over passable macarons.

I spent the better part of an hour reading Looking for Alaska by John Green. This book is pretty good so far. I like John Green's language and he's made a character that is angsty but is innocent and vulnerable too and that's definitely something I like. In a lot of ways, this reminds me of Perks of Being A Wallflower in that they both deal with the same things--being thrust into new friendships, disenchantment with love, etc. But of course, I've yet to finish it so I don't quite have the material to form a solid opinion yet. :)

Keav arrived after a bit and we spent the day together--this was wonderful for me, as we'd been apart all of last week and most of this week and I really, really miss him during weekdays. It was so much fun just to goof around and catch up and tell stories of the things we'd been doing while we were away from each other. :) Later in the evening, we also hung out with our friends Karlo & Flexy, who just got enganged--congrats Karlo & Flex! It was so nice seeing them again and being able to hang out and laugh at funny internet stuff even if I could only stay for a bit because Alabang is a pretty long commute away from San Juan.

Brightside Entry | Last Night

Hey,everyone! Pardon the late update, I'm currently sick--and hoping there won't be class tomorrow because even if I am sick I'll still have to go because of damned projects and freaking reports; I spent the whole day napping on Keavin's lap while he watched Ivanhoe (Liz Taylor was beautiful) on TCM hence the late update.

Anyway, last night was super fun!!! It was so great seeing people who I've missed and meeting my friend Joy's man. We had a texmex dinner at Mexicali and a couple of cocktails (warning: do not order a pina colada)--they had this really cool buy two, get one free promo so yeah. We just hung out until around midnight, after which we parted with the lovers and decided to head to Merville to check out a bar that Marz recommended. It was rastafarian-themed, which was kind of funny but the ambiance was great and they served a wonderful chilled beer. 

All-in-all last night was wonderful! Photos below to better illustrate what my yapping on  and on can't! 

 Joy and monsieur Shanky finally together after all the internet romancing in the world--yay for Skype but nothing beats talking to someone in the flesh!

Even if she's born in December, Shanky insisted we celebrate Joy's birthday last night since he won't be here for her birthday. So we pulled out the strawberry shortcake and sang her a little song!

Joy decided to give Shanky a little surprise of her own and put a wallop of icing on his face. 

Me and Keav. :) He was such a sweetheart and I swear to god, I wouldn't know what to do without him. We spent most of the night dancing the Gangnam Style dance (which you should definitely go and check out on YouTube) and making perverted (but polite?) jokes. Perfect. 

Oh yes, Marz did it. She attempted to drink three different cocktails of three different types all at the same time. Mission accomplished!

Funny coinkidink: Marz & Trish were dressed in similar colors with a similar accent. Great minds and all that? :))

How was your weekend? :D I hope it was half as fun as mine. Here's to rejuvenation for tomorrow! I think I'm going to head to bed early. Goodnight, World!

Brightside Entry | A Man Goes Looking For A Hat

Today, the weather was still pretty terrible. While it was less crazy than the past days, it was still pretty windy and the rain was pouring in sheets. During one of today's dryspells, Keav (my boyfriend, for those who are new to this blog) was walking home from school and when he got to his house, he realized that my gray beanie hat was missing from his jacket's pocket. The hat I'm wearing the hat in question in the photo below.

Anywho, when texted me about it and even if I love that beanie, I wasn't that upset--I've this theory that things you lose (not things that are stolen or taken by force) gravitate toward people who need it more than you do. But Keav was so sad and felt so bad because that hat was a gift my tita from the states brought home when she visited from NY. As a result, he walked all the way back to school (which is an hour and a half away by foot--San Juan to QC) to retrace his steps and look for it. I asked him not to but he said he wouldn't stop until he found it. He didn't but I appreciate that he tried to look for it anyway. :) As we were talking on the phone when he was walking back, I couldn't help but think that wow, now that's the kind of guy you marry. I love you, Keavin! Let's buy lots of hats.

Brightside Entry | Surprises!

Or rather, surprising people! This weekend, I went Los Banos with Keav, my (questionably, kidding) male bestfriend Carlos & their entire highschool barkada (CIMG) to surprise one of their best friends--Happy Birthday again, Matt!

I really love surprises and so when Keav invited me along, I immediately agreed. Matt's girlfriend Nancy arranged for all of us to be waiting at this private pool resort that was rented out for the evening when Matt arrived from school. Surprising people (in a good way) is always lots of fun; it's great to see people find unexpected happiness. In this case, Nancy blindfolded Matt and when he opened his eyes everyone was standing up on the landing of the videoke area--I swear it looked crazy from where I was standing, I can only imagine how it must've looked from Matt's perspective. I wish I had a photo of that moment but you know, I was too riled up with anticipation at the surprise. 

 All-in-all it was a super fun weekend--so much goofing around (yes, Ciccio & Howling Fury I mean you) and making new friends. I didn't get a wink of sleep last night because we were videoke-ing until 5:30 am and the place was only rented out until 6:00 am. 

 This morning was cool and crisp and hangover-healthy. We drove back to the city very, very early. Because everyone else (sans myself and Carlos & his brother Raph) is from the north, I was pretty worried about how I was going to get to Alabang since everyone was heading to San Juan. But Jim (+ everyone in Holvin's car, since it was a convoy) was kind enough to drive me and Keav to Alabang. Thanks to everyone!

And that was it for this weekend! :) I'm hoping this week'll be even more fun and adventure-filled. Happy Sunday, everyone!

Brightside Entry | When It's Worth It

I am a self-confessed workaholic. I'm the type of person who isn't comfortable waking up past 7 and sleeping before 12. I also have a very anxious personality so I like knowing when things are going to happen and what's going to happen and things like that--which is why it is such a huge risk for me to have this blog up (risk to my sanity, I mean). Fashion/Blogging for a living is a slow but steady kind of thing. It's not the type of industry where you'll see the results of the things you do ASAP and that can make you feel like you want to quit but (let me take something from the Hufflepuff in me) hard work, given that it's also smart work (hello again Ravenclaw) almost inevitably reaps reward. In the past 24 hours, I've gotten a couple of offers that I can't talk about yet but which I'm so grateful to have gotten. These opportunities are so exciting that I almost can't believe they are being offered to me (not that I'm complaining). My last night at the Acacia (Friday night) was a sleepless one; I was so giddy I couldn't get to bed. Now I'm here, in my mom's home office, typing this up and I just feel so grateful and so pumped. Thank you to everyone who reads this blog!!! THANK YOU!

I'm also always happy when good things happen to the people I love and yesterday Trizha was part of the Top 3 Most Sold at the Indieket Comicon! :D So happy for her! 

Congratulations, Trizh! 

I also want to congratulate all of you out there who are doing what you do and loving it or hating it with a passion but doing it anyway. Thank you for sticking around and I hope that your lives are beautiful and that you find fulfillment in whatever it is you decide to do with your life--whether it's operating on someone's heart or mopping the bathrooms at the mall. 

Here are a couple of old photos dedicated to gratitude and opportunity:

Trizha Ko, this is for you! Happy two year friendshipversary!

Also, hello Mon Maulion who is in the photo with us! :) Happy two year friendshipversary to us as well!

Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY (belated) to Carlos Valdes--my aborted twin brother from a past life who's been giving me the "you're such a weirdo" look in the photo below for 2 years and who's been a bigger weirdo than me since the day he was born BLEEEEP years ago; I won't reveal your deep dark secret.

Oh and HAPPY MEETVERSARY to Keavin Mutuc, my love! It was a year ago that we met on aforementioned aborted past-life twin's birthday! <33 Who woulda known that a year later you'd be at my birthday, trying to bite off my side fat?

And finally, and perhaps most especially, here is a HUGE (platonic, of course ;)) kiss and photo of 

my happy (just got up) face on this Sunday morning for everyone who reads this blog--you have made all these opportunities possible for me. Keep creative and keep tuned in to WinaWonders, THANK YOU again!

Also, because I love my readers and like spoiling ya'll please go and join the two giveaways that are still open on this blog:

1. Lula Bop's x WinaWonders Material Girl Giveaway (open until midnight tonight)

We're giving away:

A white dress with a detachable star-sparkle cape

Material Girl Hot Pink Nailpolish

Beautiful earrings from Lula Bop's Accessories

2. WinaWonders Moonshadow July Wish Giveaway (open until the end of July)

I'm giving away:

The Coraline Dress

The Atiqua Necklace

The Autumn Leaves Sweater

Have a great Sunday everyone! <33

Day In The Life Challenge {Day 5}

No video for this one. You will learn why in a bit.

So yesternight, Keav slept over and we'd been looking forward to watching Gilmore Girls and eating dinner all day; we'd been stuck in Makati for hours and while laughing at weird people at a Coffee Bean (when you have no money to buy actual coffee) is fun, it also gets tiring. We got to my place by around 10 in the evening and lo and behold--there was baked spaghetti! So we heated a hefty amount of said wonder spaghetti and spent the rest of the night gushing over Milo Ventimiglia. At around 12, we went to sleep--because of that thing I went to the hospital for, I can't stay up past 12. 

It was hard for me to sleep--I was still very much awake. And my god, I swear I should've stayed awake.

I woke up at 4:30 in the morning with the oddest feeling--like I needed to use the crapper, but not quite. So I went to my parents' bathroom and did what I thought needed to be done. And then, I felt that weird warm, salty sensation in my mouth that could mean only one thing: hello, vomit. I spent the next three hours emptying my stomach out from both ends. Disgusting. We went to the doctor at 8:00 and spent most of the day sleeping. Keav is so sweet and spent the day taking care of me (which I feel entirely guilty for)--while it was still a bit fun because (of course) we were together, I felt pretty sad most of the day because I felt like he'd come to my house to take care of me. If you're reading this, Keav: I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH. :)

But yeah. Turns out it was fucking indigestion + my acidic stomach = gastro enteritis. I can't eat anything with oil, dairy or tomatoes. So while my family is out celebrating Father's Day--Happy Father's Day to your dads, btw--at Seafood Island, I'm here at home, writing this and eating bread + softboiled eggs for dinner. :)) Hay. Everyday is surprising, no?

Day In The Life Challenge { Day 4 }

Keav and I are currently waiting at the Coffee Bean in Greenbelt 3. I came to hang out with him this afternoon, after spending most of the day in another CBTL with my good friend Gatdu, catching up. :)) Because we're stuck here waiting for my mom (who is at a wedding of a family friend's at the moment), we decided to do a little filming.

Keavin and I were reading my blog when we chanced upon a very irritating little error--I erroneously typed Breakfast In Tiffany's as opposed to Breakfast At Tiffany's in yesternight's rant entry and the implications of having breakfast inside Tiffany's (or even worse, inside Tiffany) are hilarious. Keavin proceeded to ask me to please correct the entry before he pursued reading it--because he is a grammar/spelling/punctuation (oh wait no, that last one is me) nazi of sorts. :)) Anyway, yeah! Enjoy the video! Here's Day 4!

Brightside Entry | A Feast for Crows

I met up with Keav at Alphaland today and we spent his lunchbreak together--definitely not enough time, but there never is enough time so I was glad we got to spend time together, even if it was just a little over an hour. :) And he bought me (or us, rather--as I know he will definitely be borrowing this hahaha) a copy of George R.R. Martin's A Feast For Crows. 

I'm a total ASOIAF lunatic so this really, really, really made me happy. :) Good fiction. Omnomnomnom. Thank you, love. :D