Brightside Entry | Dance, Dance

No, this has nothing to do with that old Fall Out Boy song--although I do quite like that one. :)) Today, I hung out with my bestfriends at Johnny Rockets in Town; we had a pretty awesome merienda of fries + rootbeer floats. It really put me in a good mood that they danced around to oldies songs and that you can pick songs off the jukebox. Plus, it's been a while since me, Joy, Marz & Trish were all together. These peeps really help me stay grounded and not go insane (I live in my head a lot) around the soul deadening-ness of the world.

Plus, today didn't turn out as bad as I'd thought it would--while the test was the equivalent of being slapped in the face with a spiked cucumber (what do I do with this?) it happened pretty damn fast and I was able to have a great lunch with my friend Akire + get back to Alabang in time to hang out with 'ze girls.

We spent the afternoon laughing about tattoo ideas, ridiculous things and things we're excited about. We also went furniture window shopping for Marz's new pad which she's furnishing and moving into this week! Whopee! :) After Joy and Trish went home, Marz and I made like old times and sat in the ruined (old) part of Town Center and talked about life--our insights, the things we've been feeling lately and how our perspectives have changed in the past few months. Growing up, Marz and I used to take the jeep into our village together a lot and I really felt nostalgic hanging out with her again. Since she moved residences, we haven't been able to hang out as much and it was such a relief to get to talk to her about life things and really catch up. :) 

I've got a big interview tomorrow and I really hope it goes well--it's all the way in QC though and every time I head up there I get kind of nervous (just because it's so far away which means more time for traffic to f up your day) but I'm definitely hopeful it'll go well. :D Hope everyone's starting the week right!

 The Johnny Rockets interior is really homey--it compensates for its high ceilings with cozy chairs and very roomy booths. Also, the music selection was brilliant; I'm a huge 60s/70s music fan so I just swooned when they played The Everly Brothers' All I Have To Do Is Dream and followed that up with Spiral Staircase's Broken Hearted Man. Heavenly.

One of my favorite things about the Johnny Rockets interior are these vintage posters that they have tacked up onto the wall. They're so pretty and really give the place a hangout-friendly feel. Plus, the women on these 50s posters are always so beautiful; that elegant, understated glam has always appealed to me. :)

 It was really great seeing these girls again--and all together at that. While we see each other individually, it's never quite the same as when we're all together. There's definitely some Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants shiz going on here--minus the pants and travel money.

 Everything in Johnny Rockets seems well thought-out and that's something I really appreciate. Even the promotional brochure saying they host events is done up very well.

Brightside Entry | Snacks!

Ever since I was a kid, I've never been the type of person who particularly enjoys set meal time--it just doesn't make sense to me; why do I have to eat when I'm not yet hungry and why do I have to eat so much? I'm the kind of person who likes her eating spread out throughout the day. And today was a great lazy day for me--I got up at 10, had breakfast, read Storm of Swords the whole day, fell asleep at 4 in the afternoon and woke up at 6. I completely skipped lunch and almost went without dinner, but thankfully my dad decided to treat me and ate Audrey to a little snackaroo this afternoon!

 I found this awesome sandwich place that allows you to substitute meat for cheese! One of the hardest things about going vegetarian is finding something to eat at the mall but this place was great--that's a premium cheddar + lettuce + cucumber + tomato sandwich. I already ate half when I realized I wanted to take a photo though, so apologies. :)) It doesn't quite look as appetizing as it was in real life.

 My dad had some salmon sashimi, one of his favorites that are actually good for him. Ate Audrey and I split the kani and california maki--I don't feel bad about eating the kani because it's not actually crab; not that that makes it any healthier but it makes me happy no animals were harmed in the making of my food anyway. 

 I also decided to buy myself Soft Batch cookies, which I haven't had in the longest time. I heated these and found myself reliving my childhood as I bit into the beautiful, fall-apart goodness of these cookies. Crazy. Sweet tooth, satisfied. :)

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 | So Fuckin' Classy

Hi, everyone! :) I thought I'd use a bit of this out-of-town downtime to post a couple of catch-up entries. A couple of nights ago, Trish invited us over to her house and we had one of our So Fuckin' Classy (Trish's words) nights--expensive cheese, delicious salad and cheap as hell Sangria. Carlo Rossi, be mine.

It was such a fun night! Last year, before everyone got jobs and before the advent of this blog (which though I am reluctant to admit it, is pretty much my job), we--me, Joy & Marz (who was absent during this particular wine and dine)--used to hang out at Casa Trish pretty much every week. Trish is the best host and her house is uber cozy, complete with candle light c/o her mom Tita Betsy's candle obsession. :)) We also smoked cigarettes complete with filters because Audrey Hepburn did it and you can't get any fucking classier than that (excuse all my french, it seemed appropriate for this entry because we were trying for that fifties New York feel despite being in the suburbs of southern Metro Manila--hello, BF Resort!).

Photo above c/o Joy Vidad.

Anywhos, I hope everyone has a great weekend! :) And while we did all our drinking on a weekday, I hope everyone has as great a Saturday night as I did with these lovely ladies on a Wednesday, I think. :))

Brightside Entry | Getting Some Sleep

The past few days have been exhausting as hell. So I'm going to go to bed early today and sleep so I can get up recharged for tomorrow's chemistry exam (which I am deathly nervous for). I have to be up at 5:30 am tomorrow because I'm hitching a ride to school with my mom (who is headed for a 7:00 am meeting in Makati). The only way to ensure that is to go to bed not after "just one more episode" of GIRLS but right away. So, yeah! Short and sweet. 

Also, a photo of me sleeping captured by Chengly Keavin Mutuc late last year for your entertainment below the cut.

Brightside Entry | Cocktail Night

Tonight was so much fun. I'm not just saying that because it's the first time I've had a drink in two months either (although I've never heard anyone complain about a cocktail at Fridays). Tonight was lots of fun--I got to hang with two of my favorite people in the world Nico & Ina; these two are crazy and there's never a dull moment hanging out with them. Seriously. We spent the night sipping cocktails, talking about old times and the ridiculous things that we had done, want to do and probably will do: like saynig it's your birthday to get free ice cream. ;) 

So...Happy Birthday to me!

 Photo by Ina Tuason

Drinks you won't regret: (L-R) The Classic Mojito, The Big Apple Mojito & a Long Island Iced Tea (my drink of choice, yumyum)

At Acacia

Hotels and I have a special relationship--when I was younger, my mom used to be very, very busy (she still is) and would travel all over the Philippines for work. My dad and I would go pick her up in all these different places: Batangas, Bohol, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, QC, Quezon Province, Tagaytay--you name the city, I've probably stayed at a hotel somewhere there in my formative years. Because of this long history of being left in hotel rooms to entertain myself--watch tv, pretend the drapes were my queen's robes, play "don't touch the floor" by hopping from the couch to the bed to the desk, talk on the phone with my friends--I've got a pretty good idea for what to look for in a good hotel, I think. :)

So yeah. Tonight, I'm blogging from the Acacia Hotel--one of the few places of the sort that've opened up here in Alabang. The Bellevue is great (although sadly tainted with prom memories, yick) and Vivere isn't bad either but there's something brand-spanking-new about Acacia that makes it distinct from the two aforementioned hotels. I think it might have to do with the smell of the place and the quietness with which everything functions--the lights turn out without a click or a hum, the aircon is almost silent. 

But on a more functional note, the effortless charm of the Acacia Hotel carries on into its soft, feathered beds and comforters. The pillows are heavenly as well. :) I also love the pattern on the carpet--the warm, earthy colors just go so well with the rest of the room. I am a fool for organic unity and all that. 

The rooms are smaller than at the Bellevue but definitely cozier; the lighting is warmer and the walls are painted tan instead of white. 

 The bathroom doesn't disappoint either--they've got a great transparent shower and a pretty roomy tub. There's also a hairdryer and a great face mirror. If anything, my one complaint would have to be about the lack of a bidet in the bathroom. Business must be done in there, Acacia Hotel! :))

Overall, I'd rate the hotel an 8.5/10, mostly because the amenities are wonderful minus the no bidet situation and the bathroom is a bit too chilly for my taste. :) I'm excited to try the food tomorrow morning (if I wake up in time). Anyway, it's off to bed and finish up my reading. :D Goodnight, world!

Favorite Things | Cakes at Conti's

I have Marz to thank for this discovery; I've only recently been going to the Conti's in Town Center because I'm the kind of person who likes to stick to what she knows and I grew up going to the one in BF Homes so I just never really thought to head to the little bakery they have here in Alabang. But a week ago (it was a Sunday), Marz decided to drag me over there to split a dessert; as it turns out that was one thing about that day that went right. :)) We had New York Cheesecake and while this might be a little biased as NY Cheesecake is my favorite kind, it was the best cake I've ever tasted. Most cake shops that make NY Cheesecake tend to either go overboard with the cream or let the cake get really, really bland. But at Conti's they're able to keep their cake fresh and delicious; there's a hint of citrus-ness that doesn't let the creamy texture of the cheesecake overpower the dessert.

Today, after my brunch/movie date with myself  I met up with Joy and Trish and we headed to Conti's after dinner for a little something sweet. Joy bought a chocolate cake for her man love (whose birthday it is today--Happy Birthday monsieur!) and Trish & I split a Blueberry Cheesecake. We were also picked as one of the lucky tables that got free samples of their butterscotch bars which were delicious as well. :) 

Conti's is definitely a place to go if you want value for your money; a (pretty big) slice of cake here costs on the average P80 and it's great to split with a friend because eating the whole slice may overwhelm your tastebuds. :) They also have very affordable coffee and excellent customer service. This definitely brightened up my day. I'll be back, Conti's!

Brightside Entry | Take Yourself Out

If there's anything that I feel I need, it's the balance between hang out time and alone time. Today was definitely right smack between those two things. As I mentioned yesterday, I've become quite obsessed with Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker so I decided to go out and watch The Amazing Spiderman again today. Because I've been spending the past few days in the company of my family and friends, I thought I'd take myself out on a date this morning/early afternoon right before meeting up with Joy and Trish--but that's an entirely other entry in itself.

This morning, after getting ready and posting a couple of things up here, I decided to go to Town Center, get myself a ticket for the 1:30 pm showing and then spend the lunch hour reading a nice book. I treated myself to some french toast at Pancake House--which made me miss Keavin terribly, as he loves making that for me.

While eating, I read Samantha Sotto's Before Ever After. The book has a very, very intriguing premise and is definitely well-researched. It's too early to say anything about it at the moment but I'm definitely liking it so far. The cover is a little girly but please, please read the back and the first few pages and I swear, you won't regret it. ;) That's all I'll say.

After this, I went to watch Spiderman. It's the first time I've ever gone to watch a movie alone; usually I go with someone or even if I plan to go alone I end up bumping into someone. It was a pretty refreshing experience. Despite there being no one to look after your bag when you go to the bathroom, it's actually quiet the refreshing experience. I found that I could enjoy the immersion offered by the silver screen and also not feel self-conscious about crying or laughing because no one there was going to talk to me about how I'd reacted afterward. So yeah. I bawled like a baby for the better part of an hour. :)) Perfect.

Favorite Things | Jamba Juice

I hung out with the family today after a very tiring but fulfilling day of chem lab, hanging out with friends, walking around Shaw/Ortigas and having an early dinner with Keav. I got to Town Center at around 8:00 and found that all of the day's walking had made me hungry again--I ate something very healthy: a noodle/lettuce dish with a fish sauce/vinegar dressing; I'll get back to you on what this was called or I think my sissy-in-law Ate Audrey is doing a post on this soon, if you'd like to check this out.

My favorite part of that meal, however, came post-dinner. We decided to go to Jamba Juice for dessert--we're all trying to eat as healthily as we can; life is precious and while my family is truly one composed of people who are alcoholics and chain smokers deep down, we've lately made a decision to try and switch that lifestyle around.

 And really, it isn't much of a challenge--who wants soda when there is something as delectable as Jamba Juice around. I'm not usually a fan of fruit shake stands because the syrup they use to sweeten the fruit makes me want to throw up, but the thing I love about Jamba Juice is that they really use juice to make the smoothies. My favorite is the Carribean Passion--although my sisters like Mango Go (I think that's what it's called) and my brother likes the Aloha one.

 Me, exhausted but happy after a long, well-traveled day. :)

A drink for everyone! I also love the booster shot things that they give you for free--I chose the one with anti-oxidants because hey, who doesn't want to age gracefully? :) Yumyumyum! Definitely one of the great things about today! Happy Monday everyone! I hope your week started out great!

Brightside Entry | Time of Your Life

So I have been MIA from this blog for about three days, which is forever for me. I've totally been slacking off on all of the things which this blog is supposed to provide--fashion, bits from everyday life and certain bouts of introspection. However, while there is no good excuse for slacking off, I have not been completely unproductive, and I'd like to share these things with you all:

1.) Job Opportunities

Ever since I was little, I've always known that I wanted to write. While I am more passionate about literature, I do realize the need to make a living and I recognize that fact (with the exception of J.K. Rowling hahaha) is usually more profitable than fiction--and I need to stay alive to be able to write, so yeah. I've been applying for jobs via JobStreet, which I think is one of the most efficient ways to go about the employment process. I've been receiving a lot of job opportunities so far and have interviews lined up for next week, which I'm simultaneously anxious about and looking forward to. :) I won't mention any names due to confidentiality and so as not to jinx anything, but I'm definitely hoping for this one job that I really want. :D Wish me luck!

2.) Being A One-Woman Machine

One of the challenges of owning your own store and blogging alone and all that jazz is that for all the glory that comes with being an "independent" woman, it is downright difficult to do everything yourself. I spent yesterday gathering garments, finding a place to shoot them in natural lighting, photographing them and then hauling them back to my room. I then went on to spend the rest of the evening uploading the photos and listing prices as well as working on the poster for the collection. :)) I'm not complaining--in the end, it was all worth it, because I got the collection up as promised but I'm definitely considering hiring an assistant who wouldn't mind doing things for me like handling prices, listing orders and helping me shoot photos for the collections (if I can afford it, that is). :) Anyway, here are a couple of things that are available over at the store. Definitely check that out! I've also got another giveaway with Price Tag coming up tomorrow. :D

 This frog jacket is adorable and is a great way to stay festive and fresh during the rainy season; it's definitely one of the jems of this collection--it also helps that the fabric is feather-soft.

 Glamour, glamour, glamour. I posted a photo of myself wearing this beautiful jacket and I'm very, very surprised that this is still available. :) This jacket was bought in the States and the lining and the quality of the finish are impeccable. This could style a million old Hollywood looks just right. If it wasn't considered stealing (kind of) I'd buy this myself.

 So many shorts for this collection! We've got something for everyone--whether you're classy, country club-pinstripes type gal or a more casual, denim and sneakers type doll, I guarantee you'll find something here. The adorable Mickey-print detail on the pair of shorts below definitely lend a feminine, nostalgic take to any look styled with these denims.

Houndstooth--one of the classiest, most versatile patterns ever created. This skirt is perfect for any woman who's got curves--it tightens and gives way in all the right areas and would look wonderful under a blazer and worn to work as well as dressed up with a tight black top, red lipstick and strappies on a date out. ;)

3.) Study, Study, Study!

Organic Chemistry long test coming up this Monday. Wish me luck! *GULP*

And that's it for now! :) More tomorrow, definitely!

Stop Crying Over Me

Wow. Okay, I think this day marked the point of recovery from the short detour which everyday life has taken for me, recently--first, the trip to the hospital last week, second, the food poisoning and lastly, having to deal with Organic Chemistry. 

Because I have no classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays, I decided to take the opportunity to hang out with Keav in Greenhills today and watch Rock of Ages. I quite liked this movie--it was a little cheesy and over-the-top but hey, the 80s was all about being cheesy and over-the-top so I didn't mind it. I liked it, actually. Tom Cruise was definitely the star of that show--50 has never looked so good on anyone. Paul Giamatti was also amazing and surprisingly hate-able. Alec Baldwin and Russel Brand were super endearing as well. Over-all, a likey. Also, on a side note: the theater in Greenhills is wonderful. I wanted to live in that seat! It's also great if you're going with your significant other because you can raise the armrests and cuddle and be comfy while watching the movie. And the seats themselves are just so plush and wide--I could go on all day. 

Anyway, for easy-commuting but rain-ready purposes, today I wore this Folded & Hung playsuit that I bought off of Lula Bop's with these old Terranova maroon stockings and Fioni boots from Payless. And on top of that ensemble, I threw on the Donna Karan jacket from the WinaWonders Store and I definitely felt ready to rock. In fact, this jacket really tied my day together, I think--Sherrie from Rock of Ages was wearing a denim jacket in almost every scene she was in. :)) 

Wearing: F & H playsuit | Lula Bop's, maroon stockings | Terranova, Fioni boots | Payless, Donna Karan jacket | WinaWonders Store