i am krissy

Fit and fab the Fitnesse way.

2012-02-25T10:53:00.000+08:00

The best thing about attending events is experiencing and learning new things! When I got an invite from Nestle Fitnesse, I said yes straightaway because it involves something I would really like to try: ZUMBA! It was held last Thursday at the Top of the Citi, Citybank Tower and it's definitely one of the most fun events I've attended :)

Thank God for supportive officemates, I was able to move my schedule around so I didn't have to go to work that day. I woke up early, had a heavy breakfast at McDo, then met Ana in Makati so we can go to the venue together.

This healthy buffet table featuring the three variants of Nestle Fitnesse (Low Fat Whole Wheat, Honey & Almond, and Fitnesse & Fruit) welcomed us.

It was so much fun choosing among different toppings like cashews, almonds, walnuts, raisins, and other fruits :)

Random fact about me: I don't put milk on my cereal. I've never tried it and I don't know why. I guess I just don't like soggy cereal? I eat my cereal chips-style heehee. But since I was in a "Yes Man" mood that day, I went ahead and tried it.

And I liked it!

The event was hosted by the ever-effervescent Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and her jokes and stories are just so funny!

I love her Zumba outfit :)

Tessa Prieto-Valdes interviewing Nestle's Joi de Jesus and JP Bayangos onstage

And then it was time to work out!

Julie, Kristie, and Gino led the members of the press and online media to the Zumba moves!

Happy endorphins!

Zumba is a Latin dance-inspired fitness program that lets participants sweat it out without getting bored, thanks to the fusion of samba, salsa, chacha, and even Bollywood and hip-hop moves all set to funky Latin and other modern music. The first song we Zumba'd to is Michael Jackson's The Way You Make Me Feel :) I am not a great dancer but I found the moves really easy to follow! Zumba also works out all areas of the body, perfect for those who would like to shed a few pounds! I actually have a friend who lost so much weight just by busting Zumba moves! This is also a great workout for those who just sit in the office all day. Better keep those joints lubricated if you don't want arthritis to affect you in your latter years!

These Zumba sticks are great for adding resistance, maximizing the calorie-burning experience.

I guess this is also why people enroll to gym memberships even when they can get expensive - working out feels so much better when it is shared! After an hour of strutting, spinning, shimmying and shaking, we were given mist sprays and towels to cool down. Plus points to the organizers for thinking everything through ;)

I love the natural blush working out gives :)

Our lunch was prepared by Chef Jessie, and it's great that she incorporated Nestle Fitnesse cereals as healthier substitute to our meals' ingredients.

Nestle Fitnesse & Fruits with Mesclun Greens
In raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Baked Whole Wheat Crusted Chicken Supreme
In chimichurri sauce served with steamed vegetables in season

Mango Yoghurt Cheesecake
With Nestle Fitnesse Honey & Almond crust

Shared our table with these lovely people

I was able to have a photo taken with Julia.
She also teaches Plana Forma. Just look at those arms! She also showed us her abs, and they're unbelievable!

Our goodie bags contained boxes of the three variants of Nestle Fitnesse cereals and Nestle Low Fat milk.
I think I will try doing the 14-day program!

The 14-day program is a meal plan that lets you enjoy the crispy-brown sweetness of the Nestle Fitnesse cereal in replacement of your usual breakfast and dinner. To achieve variety in terms of nutrients, mix it with your favorite fruits and vegetables. Lunch should be a balanced meal consisting of vegetables, protein, carbohydrates and dairy. Complement the meal plan with nutritious snacks like fruits or yogurt. After the 14-day program, maintenance is key. People who regularly consume foods made with whole grain like Nestle Fitnesse tend to have healthier body weight.

And while you're at it, why not combine the right diet with Zumba as your energetic workout? I haven't been able to visit our office gym as much I'd like to but I exercise at home everyday. I do sit-ups, leg exercises, jumping jacks, and half-and-full pumpings, and now I love that I can include Zumba in my daily routine!

We were all given our own iPod Shuffles that contain songs we Zumba'd to!
I got a pink one :)
Now I could just put my earphones on and strut, spin, shimmy and shake at the privacy of my apartment.

It's more fun with friends, though! So, take a chance to experience the Nestle Fitnesse way by attending the Nestle Fitnesse Shape Up Night! featuring Zumba Fitness party. The biggest Zumba Fitness event in the country will be held on March 31, 6PM at the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Expect to strut, spin, shimmy and shake with the help of Manila's top Zumba Fitness instructors and enjoy nutritious servings of Nestle Fitnesse cereals. To gain free access to the events, guests just need to present a proof of purchase of any Nestle Fitnesse variant and present it at the entrance. You could also purchase at the event.

It's almost summer! That could only mean sand, sun, and sea! I don't know about you, but I'm definitely preparing myself for bikini season as early as now ♥

Where do I belong? Where do I fit in?

2012-02-22T22:08:00.001+08:00

This is a story some of you might have heard a lot of times before, and before you react, no. This is not an emo pseudo-existential post. I've always loved writing. Always. Even when I was still studying I collected notebooks and kept journals for different purposes, and until now I still scribble short quips in them. Three years, seven blog URLs, and at least five different blogging platforms later, I finally stuck to one I really liked ♥

At a recent blogger's event, someone asked me what "niche" I belong to, and I realized I've also been mulling over the same question for quite a while now. I added my blog to the Fashion/ Beauty category in Philippine Top Blogs, but I don't really know if it's really my niche.

Unlike top fashion bloggers, I don't post too many outfit photos here. I love clothes and bags and shoes and accessories, but to be honest I only dress up when I go to events. During normal days I am just in my trusted jeans-top-comfy sandals combo, and I really can't be bothered to post photos of them here because if I do then you guys might think I'm an endorser of jeans heehee.

Unlike beauty bloggers, I don't really get to post that many beauty articles here aside from my tales about my salon experiences, thanks to my short hair (which is harder to maintain than when I had long hair). In fact, the only cosmetics review that comes to mind is when I posted about this amazing Lip Butter. I would LOVE to post more cosmetics reviews - especially those of products I love using - but I don't have a decent camera that can capture how amazing make-up can transform one's look :D I've also found how difficult it is to post about make-up, so much respect to beauty bloggers!

More than anything else, I love posting ~~short~~ lengthy anecdotes about my life sprinkled with personal epiphanies every now and then. I admit that I might have gotten carried away and over-shared a few times; some of them have even landed me in trouble in the past. There are also some posts that might be better off removed, forgotten, and never brought up again. Looking back though, I still don't want to delete them because no matter what I feel for the issues now, what I felt before while writing those posts were real and no one can take those from me.

via

So, where do I fit in? LOL I don't really know and frankly, I don't care. I just love sharing pretty little things. I get invited to fashion events, I get invited to beauty events. I even get invited to food-tasting events! Maybe it's good that I don't try to fit in one particular category so long as I write with integrity and credibility. And with passion, of course. All I know is that I love what I'm doing and at the end of the day, that's what really matters. Having people who enjoy the things I post here is just the yummy icing on top of this delectable cake. I'm not a hypocrite and say I don't care what others think about my blogging style. Of course I do care! If not, I wouldn't even be writing here now and will just enjoy the privacy my journals give. If not, I wouldn't be changing my blog layout every other week because I'm afraid the previous one looks cluttered (by the way, how do you like my current layout?) I just want to thank you guys for sticking around even if my blog may suffer identity issues sometimes ♥

PS: I'm going to a health and fitness-event tomorrow and we're going to do Zumba! So excited! Hope you're enjoying your week, too! ;)

Bloggers United: Indie Fridays

2012-02-22T20:40:00.001+08:00

No plans this coming Friday? Read on ;)

About INDIE FRIDAYS

From the makers of the hit Bloggers United Bazaar, Bloggers United is back with a special project this 2012 - INDIE FRIDAYS!

It is an event that aims to provide a platform for independent and promising young individuals in the field of fashion, music and film to showcase their gift and creativity.

The social media community is teeming with undiscovered talents and we at Bloggers United would like to give them exposure outside the world wide web for a moment to truly shine or simply vent out their passion for their craft.

Fridays at Ponticello will never be the same as we transform it to a multimedia hub where all artists and social media mavens can converge, network and jump start a possible shot at their desired industry. Every last day of the week is a possible mix of various fields as we provide a venue for:

1) Youtube artists or starting musicians to play for live audience

2) Budding designers and fashion entrepreneurs to launch their line

3) Indie filmmakers to display their videos or short films

4) Photographers and stylists to exhibit their portfolio

~~~

Sounds cool, yes? Also, if you are starting out in film, music, or fashion yourself and would want to be involved in upcoming editions of Indie Fridays, let us know and the BU team might just be able to help you out ;)

Meet me in Montauk.

2012-02-19T21:09:00.000+08:00

Clermentine: This is it, Joel. It's going to be gone soon.

Joel: I know.

Clementine: What do we do?

Joel: Enjoy it.

Beauty Bound all month long

2012-02-18T23:13:00.005+08:00

It's that time of the year again, ladies!

Stock up on your beauty essentials, because Robinsons Department Store is

Beauty Bound

the whole month of February!

I went to Robinsons Galleria earlier today with my beauty and fashion blogger-friends to check it out and I almost went crazy in choosing which ones to get haha.

No better time than today to stash your favorite beauty must-haves and skincare products as most of them are on sale! Here are some promos from some of the participating brands:

L'Oreal

Free clutch for a minimum P2,500 purchase of L'Oreal make-up inclusive of the Color Riche lipstick

Free clutch for any purchase of Dermo Expertise moisturizer and Youth Code serum

P100 off on Dermo Expertise UV Perfect SKUs

30% off on selected Dermo Expertise SKUs

Garnier

10% off on all Garnier SKUs (except Pure Active line) on all weekends of February

10% off on Pure Active scrub 100ml upon presentation of coupon

Free summer tote bag for every P300 minimum purchase of Garnier products inclusive of Pure Active

Maybelline

20% off on all face and eye products on all weekends of February

Pond's

Free wallet for every P240 purchase of Pond's White Beauty day creams or Clear Balance facial foams

Free Tweety necklace for every P1,000 purchase of Pond's Gold Radiance

Free Pond's Gold Radiance serum sampler for every purchase of Pond's Gold Radiance day cream 50g

Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Pond's Flawless White UV cream 30ml

Revlon

10% off on selected items for every purchase of Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter

There are a LOT more special offers and discounts so make sure to visit the RDS branch nearest you ;) Aside from these, they also offer different activities like product sampling, Dove Hair Test, Myra Mirror Dare, Pantene Amazing Hair Transformation, and free makeover sessions by Maybelline (with the Chief Make-up Artist, Archie Tolentino, no less!), Revlon, and Ever Billena!

Some happy girls shopping:

Kira just being curly and pretty :)

With Aie :)

With Pax :)

With Angel and Ava at the Revlon counter
I was trying to convince them to get the Lip Butters haha!

With Ana and Sarah
Sarah will color our hair soon, so excited!!!

With Martha and Kira :)

Orly nail polishes in Star Spangled and Love Each Other
SS reminds me of Dorothy's ruby slippers, but I sadly had to let it go because
LEO's purple micro-glitters won me over :(
Don't worry SS, I'll go back for you! Wait for me! :D

Didn't get to take photos of/ with Tin, Kaye, and Jheng :(

Want to see the stuff I got? Here!

Gluta-C Duo Pack (P185) | Orly in Love Each Other (P349.75) | Maybelline Hyper Diamonds eyeshadow palette in Emerald Diamonds (originally for P599 but I got it for only P479.20 because of the 20% discount) | Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie (P525) | LA Colors Eyeliner in Gold (P89)

From our goodie bags:
Vitress gift pack (I love the pink zebra-print cosmetics pouch!), SkinWhite gift pack (contains three body soaps, body lotion, and face cream), and Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms in Energizing Orange, Relieving Menthol, Smoothing Cherry, and Anti-Oxidant Berry

Group photo! :)

I've loved Gluta-C ever since I got the chance to try it out that I kept on buying when the products sent me ran out. I still haven't posted a review yet (plus a giveaway!) but I hope I can do it before the end of the month! As for the Maybelline green eyeshadow palette and LA Colors gold eyeliner, well, let's just say I am really determined to be an eye make-up pro LOL. Aaaand you already know how much I love Revlon Lip Butters (read my review here!) that I got myself a new shade once we were given the go signal to shop ;D

Fun day spent with beautiful people. Thank you Carisse and Robinsons Department Store! ♥

What is your ultimate beauty must-have? Do share in the comments box!

"The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy."

- Yves Saint-Laurent

I'm beach-y and I know it.

2012-02-17T20:19:00.002+08:00

It has been raining in Manila all week but I refuse to let it dampen my spirits!

Yesterday I traveled the long journey from Navotas to Bonifacio High Street to attend the press luncheon of the newest restaurant to hit the metro. I really can't say no to Italian food ;p I will reveal the name of this restaurant and share with you the culinary experience we enjoyed on a future post so watch out for it!

Let me tell you a clue though: this restaurant is very famous in Boracay, so it's no surprise that the invite asked us to wear clothes in "colors of the beach". Here's what I wore:

White asymmetrical top - F&H | Yellow maxi skirt - 168 | Sandals - Grendha

Is that beach-y or what? I guess I got a little too inspired ;D As you may have noticed (from the number of times I've posted photos of myself wearing it haha), the white F&H asymmetrical top is one of my favorites because it's so versatile that I can easily dress it up or down. It used to hang a little loose on me, but now it fits me snugly and perfectly. As for the yellow maxi skirt (that can also be converted into a dress), would you believe it's only the second time I wore it ever since I bought it two years ago? The only other time I wore it was when we went to Vigan. I think I got scared of how bright it looks LOL.

Perfect accent
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind necklace from Anagon ♥

Not seen in the photos are my turquoise earrings I got from Lucban and my canvas bag with wood-nymph print.

I didn't get to finish the luncheon because I needed to run to the office for a meeting with our VP. Traffic jams and the rain didn't cooperate so I was a little late for the meeting, but I still made it! After the meeting I headed straight to TriNoma to meet my girls Poly and Mich for videoke and dinner. Despite the scary rain, I actually got to accomplish a lot yesterday without needing to change clothes but still looking and feeling (and, as Mich noticed, smelling) fresh. ;)

Can summer come a little bit faster? I can't wait to go to the beach again for some sun, sand, and sea!

PS: Thank you Kira for taking my photos! ♥

Have some Chocolate ♥

2012-02-15T23:37:00.000+08:00

My Monday was spent with sweet ladies and yummy treats when I attended "The Hook Up", an intimate pre-Valentine's event organized by Chocolate Clothing held at the Big Bad Wolf in Fort Bonifacio.

The pink and pretty invites sent to us promised chocolates and cocktails. Who wouldn't get excited, right? We were requested just one thing: bring our mobile Internet browsing devices!

Our Twitter handles written on the chalkboard
Can you spot mine? :)

The event was organized to launch Chocolate Clothing's new cyber home - www.chocolate-clothing.com!
Finina and Rumples gave us a virtual tour of the site.

The website looks so pretty!

The Chocolate Clothing website includes some of these fun features: "Trends We Love", presenting their key pieces of the season; "Look of the Month", a Chocolate Insider's thoughtfully curated outfit; and "Chocolate Sweetheart", a monthly feature on a Chocolate lover.

"Sweet Treats" offers special downloadables for your phone or computer.

Don't forget to visit Chocolate Clothing's blog, very aptly named Sugar Rush, managed by my
very stylish fashion blogger-friend Aisa!

Aside from that, Chocolate Clothing now offers the Phlippines' first mobile Fashion Truck! Now you don't have to go out to shop - the shop comes to you giving you a unique and personalized experience every time! Perfect idea for slumber parties and bridal showers! Visit the website to know more.

Now let's go to the chocolates and cocktails ;)

Sweets for the sweets! Chocolate and lollipop bouquet and white chocolate fondue.
Heaven, I tell ya.

Tables laden with yummy food served by Big Bad Wolf.
Really satisfied my hungry tummy!

Frozen strawberry margarita ♥
I started to feel dizzy after just a couple of sips but it was so delicious, Keigh had to pry the glass away from me! Haha!

Now this is much better. Pink lemonade that perfectly matched my pink nails ♥

I enjoyed the event with these girls:

Tin, Tracy, Angel, Aisa

Sarah, Alyssa, Kaye, Keigh

Group photo!
Big thanks to Sandro for taking this photo, and to Kaye for emailing a copy to me!

Thank you, Chocolate Clothing and Big Bad Wolf for a lovely pre-Valentine's celebration! Special thanks also to Aisa for the nice bonding time we had while being stranded at rainy Serendra ;D

Sprinkle some sweetness in your closet with Chocolate Clothing ♥

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

I could never make a song as beautiful as you.

2012-02-14T18:34:00.004+08:00

'Tis the season to be cheesy! Sharing with you guys one of my favorite songs from my favorite local band Parokya ni Edgar. This one is called How To Make a Love Song. Go on and listen ♥

And when the chorus comes, I must come up with something clever
'Coz for you it's just a love song but for me it's now or never.

And though I tried my best to make it beautiful and true,

I could never make a song as beautiful as you.

I love how the lyrics are so simple yet very heartfelt. Listening to this song always brings back happy and giddy memories of a romance's early days. The rush you feel when you see your beloved. The spark in your eyes. That moment when that someone catches you looking, just because he or she looked at you too. That blush. That nervous fumbling. That rush when your fingers touch. That one special smile reserved only for your heart's desire. The excitement of first kisses, and all those kisses thereafter... Are you thinking of a specific person while reading this? :)

I love how my quest for The One hasn't left me feeling bitter about this day even when Cupid seemed to have dealt me with some unlucky cards. Oh well, I know I will not stop looking for him. I guess it's nice to believe he's out there, looking for me as well. Or maybe I've met him already, we just don't know it yet? :)

Now I must go and watch my ultimate favorite movie of all time - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

PS: It's also my Papa's birthday today! His name is Valentino. Isn't that cute? ;)

PPS: Would you like to help Cupid with my match? Do you know a straight single guy who smells nice and likes movies and books? Would you like to introduce us to each other? Heehee.

PPPS: I'm not joking :D

Whether or not your heart has found its match yet, I wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Hitched or forever alone, may we find ways to celebrate love every. single. day. ♥

I love gloves, I'm a hopeless case.

2012-02-12T08:00:00.002+08:00

For me, one of the best things about being a girl is getting the chance to dress up and go all out when situations call for it. I rarely get glammed up to go out, but when I do, you bet I pull out all the stops!

I love different types of accessories, but recently I've noticed that I might have developed an obsession with - wait for it - gloves. I have collected quite a few already! I have full satin ones, I have fingerless elbow-length satin ones, black mesh, knitted jersey fingerless gloves, and two lace gloves which are completely identical! And the reason why I have two pairs of the same kind? I forgot the first one at my apartment and I felt compelled to buy again LOL.

From a Victorian Valentine cosplay party I attended three years ago

Black Swan | Gossip Girl | Fashion Correspondent | Las Vegas

I love how the gloves really polished the look and completed my outfits. They also add an unexpected twist to the overall look, methinks. Definitely adds the "extra" in extraordinary ;)

My gloves-fashion inspiration?

The Queen of Pop herself, Madonna

I saw this article online recently that speculates the reason why Madonna keeps on wearing gloves is to cover her veiny hands brought by working out excessively. Well, veiny hands or not, you can't deny that the lady totally rocks her gloves! Just look at her Golden Globes outfit - simply divine!

Now I gotta go find me some leather fingerless gloves... Argh I've been trying to find a pair for more than a month now!

Are you obsessed with a particular fashion item? Spill! ;)

Of friends, shirts, and happiness

2012-02-11T17:36:00.001+08:00

Happiness is being blessed with true friendships that stay strong despite the odds. Friends come and friends go, but when you find someone special you'll know. I had a lot of fun catching up with my closest friends last night in an ultimate food-trip that lasted 'til 3AM. Can't believe we've known each other for about 17 years! We practically grew up together! We're planning an out-of-town trip on the first weekend of March and I'm so excited! :)

You know what would be cool-but-also-kinda-cheesy? Showing up on our out-of-town trip in themed outfits! We actually have plans to have customized shirts made, but I don't know what happened to those plans anymore LOL. Now if only I had the moolah, I would definitely get shirts for all 13 (yep, we're a big tightly-knit group of awesome people!) of us from the Coca-Cola Originals Collection by Bench!

Classic designs from the merging of two tried and tested brands! What could be a better tribute to friendships that have lasted through the years, right? Just look at these shirts worn by the Coca-Cola Happiness Ambassadors Enchong Dee, Joseph Marco, Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo, and see what I mean:

I saw these shirts being modeled at the runway at the recently concluded Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout, ad I'm telling ya, all the shirts look great! It's difficult to choose which one/s to buy! I am quite drawn to the black-and-white striped shirt worn by Julia, though. The Coca-Cola Originals Collection has been available at all Bench stores nationwide since the first day of February so I am crossing my fingers the designs I like are still available when I drop by TriNoma this week!

This collaboration is actually in celebration of Coca-Cola's 100 years here in the Philippines. I've heard some other great plans Coca-Cola has in store for us but everything's still hush-hush at the moment so I'm going to shut up now heehee. Let's talk about something else: the first ever Coca-Cola Happiness President!

Meet Caloy, Coca-Cola's President for Happiness.

I haven't met him personally yet but I hope I'd get the chance to one of these days. Just imagine what a great honor and privilege it is to represent the Filipino youth and be appointed to spread happiness! Having been chosen to embody the nation's undying spirit of optimism and zest for life, he will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to work hand in hand with the iconic brand as it gives back to a country it cherishes sincerely :)

So many ways of opening happiness, yet it's just the second month of the year. I can't wait to experience all the other surprises Coca-Cola has in store for us! Ituloy ang happiness!

PS: To my barkada, I'm serious about the shirt! Let's all get one each? :)

Thoughts, templates and things.

2012-02-10T19:17:00.000+08:00

via

It's only the tenth day of the second month of the year and already I feel like I've been through so much. I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once. But it's okay, because I know I will soldier on. That's what I do, I soldier on.

Noticed anything new around here? That's right, new layout and color scheme. Again. I don't know what it is with me and my need to constantly change everything. I was perfectly fine with my old layouts, until I wasn't. I'm looking forward to the time I won't feel compelled to change it every month or so. It took less than two weeks before I got tired of the old one; let's see how long this one will last...

Later tonight I will meet up with my closest friends from high school to visit the wake of our classmate and friend's dad. Death always reminds us of our mortality, our temporary stay here on Earth, that it forces us to stop and evaluate how we have lived our lives so far. Are we happy? Have we lived our lives the best way we could? If Death will call upon us tonight, will we be ready?

Am I happy?

Right now, I'm neither here nor there. I'm not happy happy, but I'm not unhappy either. I don't know what it is with this month; there is even a running joke at the office that the reason why we all feel this way is because February = emo. Coincidence or not, I know I could really use some happy thoughts these days.

Or maybe I just need a major shake-up. I've become too complacent in my comfort zone, happily lazing away in my safety bubble, that I've already failed to notice that, hey, life is passing me by. I'm almost 26 years old yet I don't have much to show for it.

SNAP. I should snap out of these thoughts.

I need a drink. Or Skittles. Or both.

"The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence." - Gertrude Stein, from the movie Midnight in Paris

And at last I see the light.

2012-02-08T15:49:00.002+08:00

This has been sitting in my Drafts folder for so long, I almost forgot about it! o.0

I think some of you will be glad to know I finally crossed off one item that has been in my Christmas wish lists since forever (including last year's) - contact lens! At long last, I took a leap of faith and did it, and I couldn't be happier! LOL I just wish I did this earlier ;D

I got these from an optical shop in SM North EDSA but I wouldn't tell you anymore because it would be like free advertising for them and I don't want to give them that because they gave me the worst customer service ever.
I got three pairs of Air Optix contacts (good for three months for each pair) for P2,500,
Solo Care solution, and Aquify eye lubricant.
The solution already contains a free antibacterial lens-container.

Aside from suffering from near-sightedness, I also have astigmatism so I couldn't go for very long without wearing my eyeglasses. As I have shared before, I've worn glasses since I was eight years old and I couldn't live without it. I am practically blind! If you're wondering how that's like, well, imagine watching a 3D movie without 3D glasses on. Everything just meshes into one big ball of blurry mess.

I first used it on our department's Christmas party. It felt uncomfortable at first but I'm used to it now. I had troubles putting them on during the first few times, and don't get me started on my attempts to take them out; I was honestly too scared I would pop my eyes out! But after around five times I am proud to say I have already become quite a pro ;)

I bring the solution, eye lubricant, antibacterial case, hand mirror, and alcohol whenever I have my contacts on.
Everything is packed neatly in this mesh pouch given by FAB Salon :)

As the pairs I got are only good for three months, I decided to use them sparingly and still wear my glasses everyday in the office and during casual days. I just think it's great that I now have the option of wearing my contacts when I attend events and other social functions. Now I won't have to squint and pretend I see people when I need to take my glasses off for vanity's sake heehee.

This only means one thing. I could finally rock eyeshadows!

Of course I would still want to get a LASIK treatment. Someday, someday ♥

Cherry Krissy

2012-02-05T18:32:00.000+08:00

We all know how a pop of color can add the perfect accent to an outfit, be it on clothes, accessories, nails, or lips. I have lots of pink and coral lipsticks in my stash but only one in red, given to me by a very good friend. I don't know if it's just me, but there's just something so intimidating about buying red lipsticks.

I took the plunge last week (LOL trust me to make everything sound dramatic) when I got the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart ♥

Revlon promises buttery balm + shiny color

I first tried it on at the makeup counter in Landmark, and I loved it so much I went back for it the next day.

I took the following photos this afternoon using my 2mp SMART Netphone beside a window with plenty of natural daylight. I didn't have any makeup on aside from the Lip Butter and powder. No editing or lightening done :)

Bare lips

While applying the Lip Butter

After one swipe of the Lip Butter

Cherry Tart on my lips
The color is actually more vibrant and shimmery in person, without going over the top.

My camera cannot show how red it really looked like, but I love this photo ♥

I love how it stays true to its promise of keeping my lips buttery-soft and smooth without compromising on the color! I've tried some lipsticks that had great color pay-off but left my lips parched and peeling after just a couple of hours, while some lip balms made me look pale and sickly. Yay for this product that offers the best of both worlds! Plus points for the pretty packaging that instantly tells you what shade it is, but I just wish the cap was easier to pop open. I want to get more colors, but at P575 the price can be quite steep. Still cheaper than a lot of other brands, though. Staying power is great, too, at 3-4 hours. It's the lipcolor I used during the Coke event last week and I managed to get through the busy day with minimal retouching ;)

I've kept my other lipsticks in my traincase because it's the one I've been [ab]using this past week. With the rate I'm going, I might have to buy a new one before the end of the month! Perfect shade for Valentine's, methinks, if only I have a date haha.

I'm happy to tell you I've gotten over my emo-phase brought about by last week's series of unfortunate events.
This is my happy face wishing you all PEACE, LOVE, and LIP BUTTERS! ♥

PS: This is not a sponsored post.

When chips are down.

2012-02-04T11:13:00.001+08:00

I've long since found out that when chips are down, there's nothing that can instantly make me feel better than talking all night with my closest friends while feasting on a weird-but-it-worked combination of junk food, oatmeal cookies and vodka-Sprite.

And calling 8-McDo while we're at it.

Reminiscing and seeing how far we've gone (and how we keep on coming back and WILL keep on coming back) over cheeseburgers, large fries, and Cadbury McFlurries at 12:30AM. Priceless.

I love my life and this wonderful thing called friendship.

Of weddings and debuts

2012-02-03T19:03:00.002+08:00

One of my fondest childhood memories is when my aunt had a big debutante ball to celebrate her 18th birthday. She had a big party with a cotillion and all the 18s (Candles, Roses, Gifts, Wines), and little six year-old me was amazed with her pretty cake and the number of gifts she received! I remember wishing to have the same party when I turn 18 myself.

Fast forward to 2004, my birthday fell on Holy Tuesday. As is customary for Catholics, we didn't want any big celebrations at a time when we should be remembering the suffering of our Lord. I decided to just have a low-key celebration by inviting chosen family members and my closest friends to a special dinner at one of our favorite restaurants come Easter Sunday.

I soon found out that organizing even a simple dinner celebration can be tricky; when at first we were planning to invite just 20 people, the list ballooned to 70 in no time! Lots of changes were made, until my parents decided to give me a debut party a week before the supposed dinner!

We were already pressed for time so I didn't have a cotillion anymore. We also DIY'd everything: I made and hand-delivered the invites, put satin ribbons on the white candles and roses, and prepared the souvenirs (I gave away crystal swans to my guests.) The party was held the way I wanted to - with my closest family and friends ♥ I wore a pretty purple-azure gown, crystal shoes, and a tiara (of course!). My handsome cousins and friends danced with me during the 18 Roses, my girl friends wished nice things for me during the 18 Candles, and my aunts lavished me with lovely gifts during the 18 Treasures. My escort for the evening was my best friend Jerome, and I would never forget that night. Ever.

This is 18 year old Krissy, complete with braces ;]

Planning the party is almost as special as the party itself, but I must admit it was also quite stressful and I would've appreciated any help. Brides- and debutantes-to-be these days are lucky because they have things like the coming Weddings and Debuts Bridal Fair 2012 to help them.

I attended the presscon held at Plaza Ibarra last month for this lavish three-day affair, and I really enjoyed the buffet set up by Juan Carlo the Caterer. Alex Michael del Rosario put up this catering service in 1995, named after his first born. Today, the company is synonymous with great food and superb service where catering becomes an art and every project a masterpiece. Just look at my plate and see what I mean:

I had a healthy serving each of: Sopa de Congrejo, Buttered Veggies, Chicken Fingers, Ox Tongue with Buttered Mushroom, Goat Kalderetang Batangas, Pork Geneva Style, Salmon with Tequila Cream Sauce, and Chicken Masala. Yumm!

I also wanted to plant myself beside the dessert buffet area. With these goodies, who wouldn't??

Fruit Tarts

Florentine Bites

Fresh Fruit Jelly

Pandan Panacotta

Sansrival with Pistachio Nuts

Looking at these photos made me crave for sweets again... There goes my diet plan this pre-bikini season.

We were also shown a presentation of the other sponsors of the event.

Edd Sy has been designing beautiful clothes and wedding gowns for the past 15 years with such dedication that he has won the loyalty of many clients already - even stylists of local teleseryes! It has been his passion ever since he was young and it definitely shows in the enviable reputation he has made for himself.

Some of the wedding gowns Edd Sy has designed and made.

The people behind AMI Jewels, meanwhile, believe that their works of art will speak for themselves. Despite being publicity shy, they have accumulated loyal clients through the years. Their designs are definitely perfect for people with the most discriminating taste; those who would not settle for anything less.

Gorgeous jewels.
Do you like it? Then put a ring on it ;)

Nice Print Photo is slowly but surely staring to make their mark in the arena of high-profile celebrity weddings. Three of the most buzzed-about nuptials they were privileged to cover were the weddings of:

Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid

John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles

Kyla and Rich Alvarez

The special guests during the presscon were TV personalities and event endorsers Maja Salvador and Angelo Cacciatore, who gamely answered questions from the invited press.

Sorry for the blurry photo, but Maja is so pretty it hurts. LOL.

The Weddings and Debuts Bridal Fair 2012 will be held at the SM Megatrade Halls 1, 2, and 3 (YES! All three halls! That's how BIG the fair will be!) from February 17 to 19! Organized by The Wedding Library, 300 of the most well-known players in the wedding industry will be there to showcase what they've got to help make the memories of your wedding or your debut party unforgettable not only to you, but to your guests as well. Preparing for momentous events can be stressful, so it pays to be well-versed. Stock up on your preparation know-how by attending this fair! Visit their official website to know how you can get free entrance for you and your friends - because of course, it's more fun when you have your mom and your girl friends around to help you!

BIG thanks to Nuffnang Philippines for inviting me! Filipinos are really big on weddings and birthday celebrations so I'm sure the 3-day fair will be a HUGE success!

I don't have any weddings to prepare for anytime soon but I really enjoyed the presscon
with my Sigaw sister Kaiye and beautiful beauty blogger-buddy Martha ♥

What's up, February?

2012-02-03T15:49:00.007+08:00

So I've decided to do what I do best: ignore this series of unfortunate events for the meantime and cross the bridge when I get there. It's the Love-month guys, and I am happy to share some exciting news with all of you!

PENSHOPPE

Penshoppe has released its Pre-Summer 2012 campaign and the models really look hot hot hot! Want proof?

Casual Cool: The New Kind of Hot
Ed Westwick for Penshoppe

Starting the New Year with a Smile
Mario Maurer for Penshoppe

It's Hip to be "It"
Solenn Heussaff for Penshoppe

And this is something that WILL interest you all!

For the newest styles and hottest celebrities follow @PENSHOPPE on Twitter or
like them on Facebook here.

CREATIONS BY LOURD RAMOS

In response to the demand for his services and hair-styling powers, stylist and makeup artist extraordinaire Lourd Ramos will open his second salon along Pasay Road! And as a special treat, he is currently holding a contest wherein we can get the chance to have a makeover session with him! Here are the mechanics:

Pretty easy, right? Aside from the makeover, Davines gift certificates will also be given to random winners every week so Like that Page now!

ARIA CUCINA ITALIANA

Aria is a modern and contemporary Italian restaurant that has a menu inspired by the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. First opened in Boracay, one of the world's top beach destinations, in 2003, Aria elevated the standards of restaurant designs in the beautiful island with its stylishly modern, tropical interiors and cozy ambiance and turned itself into one of the top destinations in the island.

Fast forward to today, Boracay's most celebrated Italian restaurant will finally open its doors in Manila,at the Fort Bonifacio, Global City. Making their delicious seafood and meat dishes, mouthwatering homemade pastas, fresh green salads, excellent wine and their famous woodfire oven-baked pizzas.

They're holding a contest, too! Check this out:

This contest ends in two days so visit their Page now!

TOMATO

If you’re looking for Valentine’s gifts that are more creative than the usual roses and chocolates, check out Tomato’s cute and affordable gift items that are especially made for the Heart’s Day:

1 and 4. Leather friendship bracelets (P200)
2. Tomato Valentines teddy bear (P350)
3. Small (P30) and big (P50) statement pins

YOGA IN THE WILD
BOOK LAUNCH

Today, more and more Filipinos are exploring the healthy lifestyle that comes from doing

yoga. With this masterful art of toning the body comes not only physical well-being, but emotional and

psychological healing as well. Yoga in the Wild, a book featuring the transformative power of yoga in

one's life, will be launched this February 13, 2012, Monday at 5 in the afternoon.

Written by successful businesswoman, mother, yogi and free spirit, Lucia "Ciay" Misa, this book
is highly recommended for those who live and breathe yoga and adventure. The book is inspired by
Ciay's funniest, wildest and most memorable moments with her family and friends around the world,
and how yoga as talikwas has changed her life.

All proceeds of the book sales will go to Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan), a non-profit
organization dedicated to improve reproductive health and to eradicate the malnutrition of women and
children in the communities of Palawan.
Be inspired to make a change for yourself and for our less privileged sisters and children in
Palawan. The launch is open to the public and will take place in Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street with
a free yoga mini-lesson. You may get your copy of Yoga in the Wild in Fully Booked stores across Metro
Manila.

COSMETOLOGIE 2012

Cosmétologie 2012 is a one-stop shop event for Beauty, Wellness & Trends. The expo is a place where we can test various products – from cosmetics, haircare, nailcare, fashion, salon equipment, massagers, aromatherapy, and the list goes on. The expo, to run from February 21-22, 2012 at SMX Convention Center – Mall of Asia Complex, will be the biggest trade show of its kind in the Philippines.

For more information, please check www.cosmetologiefair.com or call Premier Events Plus Group Inc. at 9297993/ 9297963/ 4364209. You may also email them at info@PEPGroup.com

♥

Keep visiting this space as I intend to regularly update it with different announcements and releases as we go along the month. ;)

Do YOU have any announcements you'd like to be posted here? Email me at mail[at]krissyfied[dot]com, then! Enjoy February!

"All great changes are preceded by chaos."

2012-02-02T21:47:00.002+08:00

And so they say. I guess that's all I can hang on to these days, seeing how the world as I knew it has turned upside down and left me teetering at the edge of a cliff.

I've always believed we were untouchable in our little bubble where we can spend the rest of our days filled with fun and laughter. Comfort zone at its finest, yo. Boy, was I wrong.

Now a chain of events is unraveling around me, leaving me feeling trapped at the end of the line of one long domino race.

Who knows, maybe this is exactly the push I need to finally take that leap of faith.

via

I am equal parts excited and anxious. Let's see what happens in the next couple of days. Crossing my fingers and reeeeeally hoping for the best.

Happy February, everyone. Yay for new blog banner and color scheme?

"And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

- Desiderata

The day began just like any other day.

2012-01-31T12:33:00.001+08:00

The day began just like any other day. I woke up at 4:15 in the morning, got out of bed at 4:45, showered, prepared the things I needed to bring like my gym bag as we were supposed to go jogging around UP Diliman later, then left the apartment at 5:24. I arrived at the office at around 5:45.

The day began just like any other day. I wiped my desk with the antibacterial desk wipes provided to us employees, got coffee and water, then settled down to prepare for another eight hours of work.

The day went on just like any other day. Our boss is on VL but TL Paul was there to supervise us. I joked and swapped stories with my officemates, ate bagel with butter during break, and browsed The Daily Mail.

The day went on just like any other day. Before I knew it, it was 11:30. Lunchbreak. I went to the locker area, checked my phone for any new messages, and learned that our plan to go jogging has been cancelled, so we would just work out at the office gym instead. We went down to the diner area, paid for our food, and settled down at one of the long tables to eat.

And then my phone beeped.

My boss, TL Carlo, who has been my boss for about a year and a half, sent us all an SMS advising us he has resigned effective immediately yesterday. No explanations given. I was left reeling. It came completely out of the blue that I am still shocked until now. It felt like a total blindside and never in my wildest dreams did I see this one coming.

We didn't even get to say goodbye.

Yesterday, we also learned that one of my closest friends in the office, Frank, has also been accepted to transfer to another department. Whilst I am happy and excited for all the opportunities that will surely come his way there, I am also sad because I will miss him. A lot.

Goodbyes from all around.

But life goes on. All days begin just like any other day. All days end just like any other day. I just pray for courage to be more accepting of changes that come my way.

This day will end just like any other day, but with an extra tinge of sadness.

We Opened Happiness at the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout!

2012-01-30T22:36:00.001+08:00

As promised, here are some photos I was able to take during the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout held last Saturday at the TriNoma Activity Center!

Booths were there to serve food and ice-cold Coke :)

Pretty Verniece and my lovely co-Correspondents Alex, Aisa, Cheyser, and Ava

TriNoma was packed with people eager to take part in the fun, and watching last minute rehearsals made us even more excited for the show itself! They also showed three different videos before the program started: The Happiness Truck, The OFW Project, and The 100 Year Old Man's Secret to Happiness. Click on the links to watch them, but make sure to prepare some tissues ;)

We were part of the pre-program, too! Some cameras followed us around as we tried to "act normal" while enjoying the different booths and activities in the venue. I've always said I don't think I am telegenic at all so you could just imagine how hard it was for me not to appear too self-conscious! Some friends who watched the live streaming tweeted and texted me about seeing my face onscreen so that was quite a different experience for me :D

During the pre-program, VJ Chino of MYX asked us to go onstage for a quick chat about our blogs.

Gosh, what a dork :D

In Ed's words, "shy but fabulous girls"
LOL thanks Ed for the photo :)

And then the program started!

VJs Chino and Bianca

Coca-Cola Philippines President Guillermo Aponte welcoming everyone

UE Pep Squad

Philippine All Stars being super awesome

One of the highlights of the event is the Coke X Bench Fashion Show featuring pieces
from the Coca-Cola Originals by Bench collection

The blogging community's very own David Guison and Vern Enciso ♥
They totally worked it!

Enzo Pineda, Rocco Nacino, Stephen Silva, and my crush David Chua heehee

Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo

After being suspended on a harness mid-air, Joseph Marco also danced with the two girls

Enchong Dee doing somersaults in the air

Flash mob and final walk down the runway! Fun!

Shower of a hundred red and white balloons

... and red and white confetti!

Happiness... Priceless.

Coca-Cola and Bench are iconic brands so it was really a big honor to have been chosen to take part in the grand celebration as a Fashion Correspondent. It's amazing how my passion for writing has opened a lot of different doors and opportunities for me to reach out to more people and hopefully bring inspiration in my own little way ♥

It was also a great privilege to meet and greet:

Mr. Ben Chan

Mr. Robby Carmona

... and David Chua (again) heeheehee

Thank you Coca-Cola! Cheers to more successful years in the Philippines and all around the world! I hope you continue to Open Happiness to more Filipino families here and even abroad.

My fabulous friends also deserve special mention for sharing this unforgettable experience with me :)
Thank you Karlo, Khel, and Eddiibear of course!
Much love ♥

Were you able to see the live streaming? If not, you can still watch the video by going here and clicking the tab at the bottom-right corner! The program starts at 1:12:39 but see us Fashion Correspondents "acting normal" after the 00:55:00 mark! ;)

In red.

2012-01-29T21:35:00.002+08:00

As chosen Fashion Correspondents for the Coke X Bench Fashion Show at the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout held at the TriNoma Activity Center yesterday, we were instructed only two things: arrive at 2PM and be in red.

Easy enough, yes? Well, there are only a couple of problems - I have tubes of red lipstick and numerous nail polishes in various shades of red BUT my closet totally lacks red pieces. Also, I desperately needed a haircut. It is a big event after all, and I wanted to look the part.

I was in SM North as early as 10:30AM to look for THE dress and maybe some accessories to go with it. Lesson learned: avoid rush shopping as much as possible. I forgot that it's hard for me to look for "mature" clothes in my size because I'm too skinny, but I don't want to buy from the Pre-Teens section anymore. Now because I was already pressed for time I didn't have a choice but to buy the first dress that fit. ~~And now I'm regretting it a little because it's too expensive and still a little too big for me.~~ But it's okay because it's so pretty and I know I will be able to use it in other instances and occasions.

By 12NN I was already done shopping so I went to TriNoma where I enjoyed a solitary lunch at Kenny Rogers before things got crazy busy again, then at 15 minutes before 1PM headed to FIX Lab for my haircut. I've learned my lesson during our department's Christmas party last year so I really made sure I had an appointment yesterday. I LOVE MY NEW HAIRSTYLE! Thank you Pabs, you're awesome. Big thanks also for advising me to change into my event-clothes and apply my makeup there :)

I arrived at the venue at quarter past 2PM where I met with my fellow Fashion Correspondents Ava, Alex, Aisa and Cheyser. What a fun bunch of fashionistas! I'm glad and honored to have been a part of this whole experience with them ♥

I'll share more photos from the event on my next post, but let me share with you the details of my outfit. After a couple of hours of panicky rushing through the two malls, here is the look I came up with:

The Lady is a Vamp

Dress - Petit Monde | Belt used as necklace - SM Accessories
Lace fingerless gloves - SM Dept Store | Tights - Leg Love by Kate Torralba
Black glitter peeptoes - Chelsea

Painted my nails with Bobbie Premium Nail Creme in Vamp, then topped the ring fingernail with Crazy Glitter :)

And this is my "new" hairstyle!
I've had this before I went with pixie cuts, and now I think I like this better :)
Although I might stick to wearing dresses and skirts for the next couple of weeks because I'm afraid
to be mistaken for a handsome little boy. =>

By the way, only the dress and necklace are newly-bought. I've had the rest for quite a while now so please don't think I am a spend-aholic :)

What do you think?

My next post will be about the event already so watch out for that! ♥

The world's first tansan billboard

2012-01-27T18:51:00.003+08:00

First of all I would like to thank everyone who voted for me to walk the runway at the Coca-Cola Originals by Bench fashion show that will be held at the TriNoma Activity Center tomorrow! I didn't win but I would still be a part of the event as a Fashion Correspondent so I'm pretty excited about it. Congratulations to Vern and David! They would walk the runway tomorrow with other Coca-Cola ambassadors Enchong Dee, Joseph Marco, Kathryn Bernardo, and Julia Montes. (I also heard from the grapevine that my crush David Chua will be there... Yiheeee ♥)

Ehem. Back to what I really wanted to share with you guys. Do you remember the environment-friendly billboard Coca-Cola Philippines unveiled last year? Done in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund under the Live Positively sustainability program, the billboard utilizes recyclable materials AND plants that absorb air pollutants! So amazing, right? Now, prepared to be amazed once more as this time, Coca-Cola has unveiled billboards made entirely out of crowns!

Coca-Cola billboard in North EDSA, Quezon City
I pass by this billboard on my way to the office whenever I come from Navotas.
If you'll go to TriNoma tomorrow, keep your eyes peeled for this! ;)

Closer look

In line with its 100th anniversary in the country, Coca-Cola simultaneously unveiled three tansan billboard structures (the first of its kind in the world!) in key locations across the country (North EDSA in Quezon City, Highway Seno in Cebu and Ulas Highway in Davao) last January 17. All three bears the special insignia of the brand’s 100th year celebration headlined with a simple “thank you” message to officially open up the year of happiness in the Philippines.

“We have created these extraordinary Coca-Cola crown billboards because 2012 is a very special year for the Filipinos. It is the year Coca-Cola gives back and gives thanks for the last 100 years of choosing and believing in happiness. The billboards are a signal of the start of the biggest, yearlong celebration we've ever had in the Philippines yet and the whole nation is invited,” said Guillermo Aponte, president and general manager of Coca-Cola Philippines.

There couldn’t be any more meaningful way to kick off such once in a lifetime milestone than with an iconic showcase befitting of a truly iconic brand! Even greater is the truth they stand for. More than merely symbolizing the brand’s 100-year presence in the Philippines, they represent a nation of happy people. With every crown comes generations of stories of unrelenting optimism in the face of the gravest obstacles as well as the most memorable moments of sharing, bonding and coming together.

Alongside the many challenges this nation continue to endure, Coca-Cola rouses the Filipino spirit through our 100 Years campaign as icon of optimism. As Mr. Aponte points out, “May the crown billboards remind the Filipinos of their unbreakable spirit nurtured throughout the remarkable journey they have shared with Coca-Cola over the last 100 years. Moreover, may they inspire them to continue to face the future head on with a Coke in hand and hearts fueled by happiness.”

As we head on to a new chapter in our nation’s history, Coca-Cola, invites us to look back and cherish the past one hundred years of opening happiness and to make the pledge to continually open more towards the next 100 years.

Let us choose happiness, open happiness! Will I see you at the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout tomorrow? :)

For more information, visit the Coca-Cola Facebook page here or and the official website here.

Help me Open Happiness!

2012-01-24T21:26:00.001+08:00

This is me walking the ramp at the first Philippine Fashion Ball held last year.

One of my secret childhood dreams is to be a ramp model. I am skinny enough, yes, but seeing as I don't have model-like features and I totally lack the height needed to be one that dream was immediately scrapped. But guess what? I have the chance to walk the runway this coming Saturday, thanks to Coke and Bench!

In celebration of Coca-Cola's 100 Years of opening happiness, they have partnered with Bench for the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout which will be held on January 28 at the TriNoma Activity Center. I am one of the 12 bloggers they have chosen to be Fashion Correspondents, and among us 12, two will be picked to be a runway model at the Coca-Cola Originals by Bench fashion show!

To vote for me, all you have to do is:

Follow @Coke_PH on Twitter

and tweet:

I vote for @krissyfied to walk the runway this saturday at the Coca Cola Big Youth Blowout! @Coke_PH #CokeBenchfashionShow

Only votes tweeted by 11:59PM tomorrow (25 January 2012) will be counted, so please vote before then!

BIG THANKS to everyone who has already voted for me even when I have nothing to offer but wishes of peace, love and happiness! I know this will be a long shot as I'm up against really famous fashion bloggers, but being chosen as one of the 12 is already a big honor, so thank you, and good luck to all of us! ♥

Memories of Baguio

2012-01-24T20:24:00.000+08:00

Hello, you! We're back from Baguio!

I really enjoyed this trip, mainly because my family hasn't done this for a while. We spent the long weekend there and left Manila last Saturday night because we still needed to attend my uncle's birthday party. After six hours at the bus, we reached cold, cold Baguio at around 5 o'clock on Sunday morning :)

The house we rented was just walking distance from the Victory Liner terminal station. After resting for a bit, we got ready to explore the city!

Loaded up with SPF!

We heard the 9AM Mass at the Baguio Cathedral.
It was our first time to attend a Mass in a different dialect so it was a new experience for all of us.

We then walked to Burnham Park where we:

tried on Igorot costumes;

rented bikes;
(Random trivia about me: I don't know how to ride bikes. My 5 year old-cousin Jerico drove me around LOL.)

tried strawberry taho;
(that's my brother's hand, by the way.)

and watched people on boats.

We then went to SM Baguio for lunch where we feasted on KFC Bucket Meal and

Snowstorm ice cream cones.

Determined to visit every tourist spot in Baguio, we then went to Mines View Park, where we

took in the sights and breathtaking views;

and shopped for sweets to take home.

Our last stop for the day was the Botanical Garden,

which reminded me of my visit to Singapore's Botanical Garden more than a year ago.

We headed back to our rented house to rest. We had some low-key leisure time by

playing sungka that Mama bought

while eating organic seedless oranges :)

We were up very early the next day because we wanted to squeeze in more places to visit since we were due to leave later in the day.

We woke up to this glorious sunrise, and after a bit of a struggle with showering (because it was soooo cold even with the heater on), we were off.

We climbed more than a hundred steps up a high stairway to visit the

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

where we lit candles and said prayers.

It was a tiring climb up for me who's out of shape, but the view was worth it!

We then went to the

Strawberry Farm

to get some

luscious reds ♥

and

strawberry-flavored beer.

We were supposed to go home already, but Alexis recommended for me to check out Mt. Cloud Bookshop in Casa Vallejo. Well, you know me and the lure bookshops hold to me, so...

I was able to convince my parents to make a quick stop there

where I picked up a hardcover copy of "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" :)

The bookshop was really nice. It has its own rustic charm and wonder and I really felt magic upon entering the door; it was like walking into history itself. It's one of my dreams to have a bookshop just like this one, and I know one day I really will. Someday, someday.

Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye. We reached Manila at around 11 o'clock last night bearing great memories of our short but wonderful trip. I'm thankful for opportunities to see and experience more of life through travelling. As they say, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why ships are built."

Happy List!

2012-01-20T18:07:00.002+08:00

I believe in peace, love, and ~~lipgloss~~ pretty little things. Here are some of the random stuff that made my week, in a series of photos :)

Fruit tarts from the dessert buffet prepared by Juan Carlo the Caterer

I attended the presscon for Weddings and Debuts Bridal Fair 2012 held at Plaza Ibarra last week where we were treated to a sumptuous(!!!) buffet. I didn't want to leave the dessert section haha. More about the event on a future post ;)

This is what I like to call my Malibu Barbie-skirt

I haven't worn this skirt in a while so I decided to take it out for a spin last Tuesday. I got it from Brown Belly about three years ago and I just love the bright and colorful stripes. It's actually one of my favorites so I should wear this more often.

I love you, Yakult Jasmine tea

My ultimate favorite drink from Moonleaf Tea Shop. Everrr.

New shimmery nude nail polish and nail polish remover from Etude House

Bought during a visit to Etude House in SM Fairview with my dearest girl friends from the office. I have lots of bright-colored nail polish in my stash but I find myself being drawn to nude shades these days. This shade is a perfect pretty, shimmery peachy color, and I can't wait to use it.

Super pretty red lipstick from Etude House

I was really tempted to get this pretty shade of red lipstick when we were there but I let it go because I need to save money, so I just tried it on to see how it would fare. IT WAS GORGEOUS. After a couple of hours it still looked gorgeous so I'm sold! I swear the photo does not do it justice. I will get it next payday LOL. I just hope it's still there as it's Limited Edition...

Chandelier at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

My friends and I heard Mass at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and I was a little overwhelmed at how solemn it was. The priest's Homily was about "reaching out, touching lives, and being a blessing to others." He also said, "Nothing is impossible when we love. We can conquer everything with God's love." No truer words have been spoken, Father. Amen.

Shiny, shimmering clutch bag from Accessorize

What a pleasant surprise! Thank you, Accessorize and Bloggers United for this lovely present! I was actually feeling a bit sad when I got this so it brought a big smile to my face when I opened it :)

Surf 'n Turf noodles from Hainanese Delights

It was my first time to eat there last Tuesday and I just loved it! My Surf 'n Turf noodles were topped with shrimp and pork dumplings. Delicious! Looking at this photo made me crave again, drats.

Terra Vega red wine

My friends and I tried to have a "red wine party" yesterday, but I couldn't really bring myself to like it. I guess I'm more of a mojitos-kind of girl ;D

A lovely email from NYC

(As I told her, this will take some getting used to, but I am trying to drop the Miss when I refer to her now haha) Mariel has always been a BIG inspiration for me so receiving an email from her telling me how I've improved really meant a lot! She said, "It's nice to see how your blog has blossomed with good, journalistic writing, galing! :) More proof that we all get better at what we do with practice, perseverance, passion, and consistency." She didn't have to do it, but in her own special way she really gave my self-esteem a big boost :) Thank you, Mariel!

Bimby

I went to my bestfriend Jerome's house today (I am actually typing this using his laptop) but he's not here so I played with this little furball instead. What a sweetheart :)

Ana and I with our matching Lulu Guinness sunglasses

This photo was actually taken during the Privado sale we went to last year but it's one of my favorite photos of us two :) Do you know it's Ana's birthday today? This "Happy List" is actually inspired by the Happy Lists she regularly makes on her blog. Hop on over there and greet her too, will you? Happy birthday sis! Wishing you peace, love, success to your brand, and more travels this year and the years thereafter! I love you!

The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society by various authors

If you've been reading this blog from way back 2009 you will know I bought it in September that year, but I never got around to reading it or even opening it. Yikes! I will definitely have the chance this weekend though, as my family and I will go to Baguio and I need a book (and some music) to keep me company during the loooong journey. This is my first out-of-town trip this year and I am so excited! We will leave tomorrow night and I haven't packed yet, so I guess I have to wrap this up now so I can go home and do that.

So, I'll see you guys next week? I hope you all enjoy this weekend, too!

Run with Piolo and Rio at the TIMEX Run 2012

2012-01-17T20:21:00.001+08:00

Get your running shoes ready, because TIMEX Run 2012 is here!

Last Friday I attended the presscon for the run held at Cafe La Carmela in Makati City wherein the unbeatable running tandem of Piolo Pascual and Coach Rio dela Cruz gamely answered our questions and posed for pictures with the invited press.

Coach Rio is a multiple champion runner, coach, and marathon organizer so it's no surprise to see him spearhead the run, but others may be surprised to see sought-after Piolo alongside him. For those who are not aware, Piolo is actually a running enthusiast who've already joined several sporting events. His enthusiasm and passion for it were very obvious with the way he answered the questions thrown to him by the press so he's not just in it for the sake of endorsing in exchange of money. He said it's already a way of life for him, and when asked if there are any special preparations he does before a run, he said he just treats it like any other day. Do you know that he finished 21KM in two hours?? I remember my own record during last year's Earth Run. I finished 5KM in - wait for it - 57 minutes! Hooray! ;D Anyway, Piolo's most important tip? Make sure to stretch before and after :)

By the way, he said he regularly runs around UP Diliman... So I guess I'll start jogging there every once in a while just to, you know, keep my body healthy and all...

Ehem, back to the details of the TIMEX run. Piolo and Rio have dedicated time from their busy schedules to ensure they're in the best shape come race day. Aside from the special chance to get fit and have fun running side-by-side with these two TIMEX ambassadors, a handful of other celebrities and personalities will also be there like Jessy Mendiola, Joseph Marco, Victor Basa, and Boys Night Out DJs Slick Rick and Sam YG.

Athletes, race fanatics, and casual runners can choose from three categories: 5KM, 10KM, and 16KM. The race is organized by the Runrio team who assures accuracy in timing through the help of "champion" chips, timing devices attached to shoe laces specially designed to let runners monitor their starting and finishing times with stern accuracy (I used one during the Earth Run). Another innovative feature is the Runpix analysis which is a record of interesting running statistics unique to each individual who ran. The records will be available after the race at www.runrio.com and www.timexrunning.com.

Who could resist a picture with the two running stars?

Not me, apparently.

Here are the routes of the three categories together with the assembly time:

All finishers will take home loot bags form various sponsors [like Riovana, Century Tuna, Magnolia Lite, Nutri Bar, Kaspersky, Multisport Magazine, and Unilab] while those who will finish first in every category will get TIMEX watches and Skechers shoes! There'll also be a photobooth provided by Canon to make sure everyone will get to take home souvenirs from the day, aside from digital cameras that will be raffled off. Hydration partners Powerade and VIVA! Mineralized Water will also be there to make sure everyone is powered up all throughout the race. Anddd guess what? In honor of Piolo's birthday, a total of 35 TIMEX watches will also be raffled off! Not bad, not bad at all :)

Time is running out and tomorrow is the last day for registration, so better visit the Riovana stores at Bonifacio Global City or Katipunan, or the Timex outlet at TriNoma, or the Watch Republic shop in Robinsons Galleria to sign up! Registration fees are at P650 (5KM), P700 (10KM), and P750 (16KM). 15 Timex watches are also up for grabs when you register as a group at Riovana outlets.

Remember, tomorrow is the last day of registration! For more details, please visit this site.