On Vacation

Hey guys! I'm back from our little trip to Hong Kong. I feel like 5 days is not enough, there were still so many places I wanted to go to! :( oh well, maybe next time I could visit them all :)

HK here we come! :)

outside the new mall, The One. I love the chocolate bar designs! 

a little home shopping at IKEA

at Time's Square

Pucca Festival!

at ocean park 

We went to Ocean Park on the last day and did some last minute shopping. Too bad i couldn't go to all the H&M stores! 

that old, old feeling

My dad gave away our toy poodle last Sunday to his friend since we get too busy to play with her already :( But I hear that she's happy and doing well in her new home :)

I have found the perfect spot to take pictures, which is outside in our little "garden" area. I like it because at least it gives the desired natural light. :)

So excited for Hong Kong tomorrow! I will be on a short hiatus then but I promise you, when I get back, you will see some fabulous looks from me ;)

xoxo

Dress-vintage from Beijing

what about tomorrow?

Today was probably the most meaningful and emotional church service i've ever had. I have been a Christian for about 10 years now, since I was 12 years old. I remember it clearly, January 25, 2001 - I had accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I was active after that, I guess all through out high school. I joined fellowship every week and I was really on fire for the Lord. When college rolled around, I got busier and friends drifted apart, and pretty soon I wasn't at fellowships anymore. But when college started, that was the time I went to church regularly. 

Now how many years later, I am ready to take that final leap - to be baptized as a Christian. (on easter sunday) I feel really excited about this new chapter in my life, but I can't help but notice that there are still so many things left unsaid. There are so many emotions that have been pent up inside of me, and today they suddenly came out. I did not intend for it to happen, but I cried. For the life of me, I do not know the reason why. I was embarrassed, mind you, because one minute I was talking to the Pastor and the next thing I knew I was bawling in front of him. So many questions unanswered, but I hope will be answered somehow. 

--------- # -------- # ---------- # ---------- # ---------

Top-Zara; skirt-vintage; necklace-telebasura; shoes-from HK

Hong Kong on Thursday! I am so excited!! ♥♥♥

lash perm

yesterday i had my lashes permed with my bestfriend! i was a bit hesitant at first because i was scared of the procedure and the outcome. i had so many questions! was it harmful (no), did it have side-effects (no), did anyone complain about the procedure (no) and etc. finally i took the leap! haha. i think perming is better than having extensions since it doesn't really harm the lashes? although the effect is a lot different since the length of your lashes actually depends on how long your real lashes are.

anyhoo, the procedure took about an hour and a half, good thing i had someone to talk to while waiting. the process is actually pretty simple. first they put a sort of bandage on your eyelids then pull your lashes one by one until they get a good form, then they put some sort of medicine and cover it with plastic and let it dry for a couple of minutes. then they repeat it once more and then you're done! i wish i could show you a before and after photo but all i have is the before. haha :)

before. waiting :)

me, waiting for the medicine to dry up

jeanne trying to take a picture of herself

where has the friendship gone?

you think you know someone after being friends with them for so long, but in just a night everything can change. if friendship can be broken with just a single realization, then i guess the relationship was never that deep to begin with. 


some events have happened to me and my group of friends that has made me think about friendship and everything in between.

how can you suddenly choose not to be around your friends anymore, let alone be their FRIEND? is this something you suddenly decided? or has this thought been lingering already in your head for a long time?

i was so hurt by the words that were spoken, although in a way the thought wasn't expressed to me specifically, but still. it hurt. because i thought friendships lasted until FOREVER. how come this one was coming to an end so soon? i thought there were supposed to be happy endings, but how come this one seemed like a tragedy so many years in the making? who would have known that it would end this way? avoidance, rejecting seeing each other, and slowly fading away in the background? :(

i may be bad but i'm perfectly good at it ♥

Fun fun saturday night with my friends! It was the first time that I got to go home later than usual without being told to go home early! It was strange but such a great feeling!

We celebrated Auddy's birthday and had fun singing karaoke afterwards. This was just what I needed, and I will never get tired of singing karaoke! :D

the birthday boy

blazer-H&M; pants-Topshop; shoes-Suelas

know when to pick yourself up

today was a really unexpected turn of events.

i decided to take out my beloved zara pumps since i realized that it has been a year since i wore it last. with all the new shoe styles and heel sizes this season, i forgot the stilettos and sexy pumps that i had kept at the back of my closet.

i was confident enough that today would be a good day. after work we picked up the cake for my dad's friend who's celebrating his birthday, and i ordered some cupcakes for me too ;)

(L-R: Cookies and Cream, Double Chocolate, Cappuccino, Red Velvet, Vanilla, Chocolate)

we ate at a japanese buffet for dinner - i was so full! i seriously could not eat anymore. afterwards we proceeded to watch 3 4D shows since the parents were having their usual chit chat and us kids had nothing better to do.  while we were on the way to the theater area, bam. i fell and twisted my ankle =/ i was not expecting it at all, and it hurt really bad. i wasn't able to put ice on it since we still had to watch the 45 minute show (15 minutes each) and so we went home about an hour and a half after i hurt my ankle and i immediately put ice on it. the swelling has subsided to a minimum but it still hurts. hopefully by tomorrow it will be all better! i need it to be =/

i remembered all those people who fell down but got back up again and pulled it together. i find it comforting that this happens to everyone, and it can happen at any time without you expecting it. i learned a really great lesson today :)

Dress-Zara; Shoes-Zara 

what do you guys think of my nails? i did them myself so they are a bit sloppy. :)

everything will just fade away

I finally get to wear the pants I redeemed from chictopia last year! It arrived when I was already in Beijing so I couldn't bring it with me and I totally forgot about it when I got back until just a few weeks ago. The size was too big for me so I had it altered and made it into high-waisted pants instead. I really like how it came out :) I'm hoping to wear it more often!

Fall back guy

Yes. I admit it. You are my fall-back guy. I just realized that now. Whenever I feel lonely, I think of you. I think of texting you. I wish you would somehow text me. Even when I am at a happy point in my life, there are still moments when I think of you and wonder if you still care for me. If you still have feelings for me. If you still think about me.


I still think about you, you know. Even though it may not be that often, even if it's not because I like you too, still, I think about you. 


Sometimes I think about giving you another chance, of saying yes and trying to make happily ever after work with you. But then I hesitate, because I don't really know if I would like to spend forever looking into your eyes. I don't know if I would like to be the mother of your children, or that I would want you to be the father of mine. I don't know if it's really you that's destined for me.


Sure, being with you would be easy. You're a good guy, you would do anything for me, you would do your best to make me happy, and I know you would never hurt me. But could I do the same for you? Could I make you happy, half-heartedly? 


I am afraid to take the chance because I don't want to regret the decision, and I don't want to change what we already have. There's something between us that only you and I can understand. We may not be together or say aloud that we like each other, but when it's just us two, we're comfortable and relaxed. We know each other so well that we know if the other is lying, even if it's only through text. You're the only one I have this connection with, and I'm confused if this is a special friendship or something deeper than that. 

Paint it red

The weather here in Cebu has been craaaazy lately! For the past week it has been raining non-stop, dark and gloomy :( It's kinda dampening my mood too, although I do like the cold. I am kind of used to wearing jackets, jeans and the likes since I did live in Beijing when it was winter so I had to make use of what I had and I tried my best to still be fashionable given the weather circumstances.

Top-H&M; Jacket-TrunkShow; Wedges-H&M

Funny thing, while I was watching Glee last night I noticed Mercedes wearing the same top!

The only thing missing in this outfit are red red lips :) My latest addiction is lipstick! There's just something sexy with being able to paint your lips in a different shade. Lately I'm into reds and pinks, and I am looking for the perfect nude lipstick! Still no luck though.

settling

Don't settle. Because in the end, you'll realize that it wasn't worth it after all. 
If he's not the guy of your dreams, don't be with him just because he makes you all giddy and happy inside.
No matter how long you've waited for a guy to come into your life, it's not an excuse to just jump on the first guy who makes you feel special.
After all the fireworks and firsts have passed, think long and hard if those feelings are going to last. Because if they aren't, then it's better to say an early goodbye. 

You Would

If you could only see
How funny and charming I could be..
then, you would surely
fall in love with me.

If you could only see
How sweet and caring I could be..
then, you would surely
fall in love with me.

If you could only see
that behind this girl,
who looks like she has it all
she just needs someone like you?

If you could only see
that amidst the craziness and the loudness
there's a soft spoken soul
that's never been broken.

If you could only see
that aside from all the guys
there's a girl who's waiting
to give love a try?

If you could only see
that underneath that really huge heart
it's been broken over and over
waiting to be put together, whole again.

If only you could see
that behind the imperfections
she could be that perfect girl,
that she could be the one for you.

Why can't you see it?

-vky

sun, come out and play

i was expecting to have some one on one time with the sun this morning, but it didn't come out and play today :( well it was kind of expected because of the tsunami and earthquakes that hit Japan and some surrounding countries yesterday. thank goodness nothing happened to the Philippines. but I hope that no one's loved ones are stranded or trapped somewhere in Japan!

Maxi skirt-H&M; Jacket-Miley Cyrus; Necklace-Accessorize

I just love this skirt that I got from H&M about 3 months ago. Today was the first time I wore it. I've been putting off wearing this for a special occasion but I realized that everyday should be a special one. My mantra is "Always look your best, because you'll never know who you'll run into" ;) ♥

Take me for a ride

Lately I've been feeling a bit too touchy and emotional, i don't know if it's because of the pms or because i really feel that way. Anyhoo, normal saturday out with the family and while we were at the restaurant waiting for our food, Rihanna's "Only Girl In the World" played and I instantly felt a wave of nostalgia for my Beijing days! It's crazy, I know. I don't know if my other friends feel the same way I do but I can tell you that I am probably the craziest one - missing Beijing and everything I had there! :(

I guess part of the reason why I miss it this badly is because I really had a FUN life over there. A really REALLY fun life.. and I want it back! ;(

Top-H&M; Shoes-H&M; Bag-Min Chu market in Beijing

I love these shoes! They remind me of military combat boots, but edgier and waaay more stylish :) This was the first pair of heels I bought when I was in Beijing. I had been looking for the perfect pair of heels and nothing seemed to fit the category. Until they released these babies! They are really comfortable to walk in and the heel height is just right! What's more, the style and color is really unique!

f.r.i.d.a.y.

she gets on the subway and begrudgingly stands up for the duration of the time. crowded and caught at rush hour, she didn't have a choice. she shouldn't have gone shopping today, she thought to herself. she was probably carrying 5 paper bags full of clothes.

she gets home to see her housemates already doing chores, washing the dishes and cleaning up. she smiles. she loves it when everyone works together to keep the apartment clean and sparkly.

she goes in her shared room and drops all the bags on the floor, plopping herself straight down on the bed. her roommate rummages through her buys, making sounds of approval and reminds her of their plans for later. she thinks twice about going out. should she? she was tired and she didn't feel like going out.

not knowing how long she lay there, listening to the music, she looked up and saw her other companions getting dressed and ready for a perfect night out. she gets up and walks around, takes a look at what the others are wearing or doing. and then she receives a text.

"see you later! you have to come! free entrance!"

she smiles and heads to her closet. the night is still young after all.

just to say hello

Lately I've been missing my friends from Beijing. I've been meaning to call them, but it gets put off, or I have something else to do, or it ends up being too late that I change my mind. I've been looking at past photos and I miss everything about Beijing and my stay there. 

I'm planning on visiting this year, probably end of May or early June when the weather is still a bit cool and not that hot. I really hope this trip pushes through. But I'm not getting my hopes up, this may or may not happen and I just don't want to feel sad when it doesn't work out :(

Now on to my outfit, I bought the blazer at a market in Beijing and didn't get to wear it until today. When I saw it on display I immediately wanted to get it. But when I got home that day, I had second thoughts. And now, I'm glad I didn't give up on my blazer! I actually really like it now :D

Blazer-beijing market; Shoes-Stradivarius

Must Have Gadget: Iwalk 1500

I love my iphone. I am such an Apple addict that one friend of mine teases me about it (although he's the bigger addict than I am). But ever since I went to China, I had a problem. My iphone would always run out of battery!

And then a friend of mine introduced me to the iwalk 1500 -  a portable charger for the ipod and iphone! It instantly changed my life. I could play and listen to music without worrying about the battery draining on me! I mean, seriously! I would charge during class whenever I forgot to charge my phone the night before or was just in too much of a hurry that morning, or charge on the way to the club because I was out the whole day and didn't even step foot in the house yet.

Whatever the situation, I'm so glad that they invented portable chargers, because without them, avid iphone users like me would be lost.

If you want to get your hands on one of these babies, go to http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001981596050 and check out Veeka PH :)

seems like ice cream has lost

I ♥ ice cream.

Or, I used to anyway.


There's no denying it, I absolutely CANNOT resist it. I would eat at least once a week, sometimes even more. I remember there was a time that I ate ice cream almost everyday.

Today after dinner my sister decided to get some and I said I would share with her. But after about 2 spoonfuls, I suddenly didn't want any anymore. That was really strange behavior for me because I never say no to ice cream. I could even finish a pint if I wanted to!

I guess it started when I left for China. I did not eat a lot of ice cream there, just probably less than 10 times in my 5 month stay in Beijing. And it kind of stuck with me.

I guess I should not complain, this will help me to shed some lbs! But still, it's hard to give up something you've loved from the start :)

it's been a while

It has definitely been a while since I had an outfit post. 5 months, more or less? haha :) It was really hard for me to continue posting while I was in Beijing because: 

1. I didn't have the time

2. I ended up forgetting to take pictures

3. The weather was so cold that dressing up was not a priority

Over there, I tried to be as fashionable as I possibly could without sacrificing warmth and comfort. I actually had some pretty great outfits put together during our many clubbing night outs but as usual, I forgot to take pictures!

Top-Topshop; Pants-Zara; Shoes-H&M; Accessories-F21

Still wearing the black pin since my grandpa just died last December, I'll probably be wearing it for a year. Happy New Year loves :)

For now, it's goodbye..

Hua Jing Jia Yuan front view

Subway station and the U Center behind it

It has been exactly a week since I came home from Beijing. My wonderful, care-free, stress-free life is over. It was like a dream come true, and somehow I never wanted to leave. Sure, everyday we took the bus to school and walked for most parts, we always took the public transportation since we didn't have cars of our own, and we carried the heavy groceries and shopping bags all the way from wherever to good old home - developing greater stamina and muscles along the way! But I miss it. ♥


I miss having the freedom to go wherever and do whatever I wanted at any time of the day, meeting friends for some after dinner drinks on a school day, or just heading back home to end my day when everyone else has just started theirs. 


I miss having everything within reach, just a cab or subway ride away and you're there. My typical weekday was go to class from 8-12, have lunch at the dining hall, and then either go shopping, visit historical places, or stay at home and hang out (which I rarely do), then have dinner at home. On the weekends, that's where the fun starts! Fridays we have pre-drinks at whichever bar we think of and then head over to the clubs for some dancing and mingling. Saturday is the same thing, and Sunday is the day we rest and re-charge and prepare ourselves for the busy week ahead. That was the life :) 


I was never a party girl before this experience. Normally I just had dinner with friends, maybe a few drinks, and movie dates every now and then. Clubs weren't really at the top of my list. So I guess when I got to Beijing, my whole world opened up. Everything I knew and believed in altered when I set foot in Beijing - given that the friends I hung out with were unlike my friends back home - everything changed for me. HAHA. 


Being on my own for the first time gave me a lot of insights about the world and even myself. I feel like I've grown up a lot in those 5 months. Although what I might have been doing in Beijing didn't constitute much of "growing up", I feel that in my thoughts and in my actions I am steps closer to becoming the ideal woman I picture myself to be. 


I could have extended. I could have begged my parents to let me stay another semester. I had lots of friends who were extending anyhow, I would not be "alone" at all. Everyone knew I still wanted to continue my experience. But that little voice inside of me told me that I should go back home. I should start living my life as an adult, working and experiencing the real world. And although it was really hard for me to say goodbye, I decided to leave Beijing and start getting serious with my life. A bigger part of me wanted to still hang around, to play around and have fun, like how my everyday life was in Beijing. But what good would that do to me? Sure, I would have become really fluent in Mandarin and maybe I could have found a good job there. But something inside of me told me that I needed to come back home. 


Beijing will always be home to me, no matter how short my residency was over there in 16 Hao Lou #603 Hua Jing Jia Yuan, Xue Yuan Lu, Wu Dao Kou ✰

2011: The Year of Luck?

Happy Lunar New Year to all!!

I have definitely been on a reaaaally reaaaallllly long hiatus. But now I'm back, and hopefully I'll get back to blogging again :) 

So why do I say that 2011 could be the year of luck? Since it's the year of the rabbit, I just immediately linked it to luck. Rabbit's foot=luck. Right? :) Or at least, that's what I think.

Last year was the year of the tiger, and although it was a pretty OK year for me socially, it wasn't one spiritually and personally. 

Kung Hei Fa Choi everyone!

we've only got one life, live it

i know i haven't been blogging for a while now. i was too busy with enjoying everything that Beijing has to offer. enjoying it too much, i should say. yesterday was our friend's birthday and we celebrated at Da Dong, the famous roast duck place here in Beijing. the food was really good, and plus we surprised him with a cake at our apartment. everything was going pretty well until i got a call from my mother this morning telling me that my grandfather just died..

i haven't spoken to him in 3 months and now they tell me that he's dead? he and i are really close and i just can't believe i wasn't there for him like that. i didn't take the time to see how he was. i was too caught up in my own life here.

goodbye daddy. i love you and i will miss you. :( <3

LANVIN ♥ H&M

Today was hella crazy! The Lanvin for H&M collection was released today here in Beijing. Days before my friends and I were already contemplating as to whether we were going in the morning or in the afternoon since we thought it probably isn't that big a deal here in China. Boy were we wrong! Good thing we went early in the morning or else everything would have been sold out by the time we arrived!

We got to the store at 8:45 and all the numbers were already given away! We thought we didn't have any chance to get to buy the dresses, but we later on asked someone to get the dresses for us and cha-ching! Jackpot :)

Inner Mongolia

Chinese National Holiday - October 1 to 7 so we went to Inner Mongolia last Friday and came back today! :) We went to the Grasslands on the first day and rode horses for 4 hours! My butt hurts so much from all the trotting!! I don't think I want to ride another horse again!! And it was super cold too, we were all freezing! There was no hot water and the place was so dirty! I do not want to relive the memories!!

YURT - the "house" where people stay in

During the 2nd day we went to the Desert and did every activity allowable in the sand! ;) It was definitely much better in the desert :)