wear your heart on your sleeve

What A Girl Wants top, Forever 21 skirt, cardigan, bag & shoes from Italy, YRYS belt used as bracelet, Muji socks, rings from my mom, Eastwood bazaar, & Yhansy

I meant to save this outfit for Valentine's Day, but I figured any day's as good as February 14 to wear your heart on your sleeve (or your chest), right? After all, December is, in a sense, a season of love.

I wore this to a day out with Convi last Thursday when we did some errands, munched at Charlie's Grind & Grill for lunch, and then headed off to his high school class reunion in the evening. I don't have photos of that night, but it's always fun to see the boys in action and to hang out with old friends in general. I guess now that we're all growing up and don't get see each other as much anymore, rare gatherings like these become more and more crucial.

Conversations become more interesting, too, as you get older. Back then, you and your friends were talking about crushes, college, and career. The next thing you know, the topic of marriage is suddenly on the table and you're scouting prospects for who gets to sit with you on your front porch. The future holds so much promise and surprise that you can't help but look forward to it because you know it'll only get better. It's exciting and scary at the same time.

anyway, this is what we had at Charlie's

1. strawberry milk shake, 2. spaghetti marinara w/ meatballs, 3. buffalo wings

tea time

Except I don't like tea. Let's talk about milk tea, specifically. Am I the only one who hasn't been jumping for joy?

My boyfriend didn't like it at first, too. We used to roll our eyes and joke around about it a lot, i.e. "Hi, I like milk tea and Zooey Deschanel and New Girl is the best show ever, etc. etc." (Just kidding, Zooey fans! I actually like her but in small quantities.)

BUT THEN, HE BETRAYED ME. He's constantly craving it nowadays! I'm probably the only person left in the whole city who hasn't given in to the milk tea craze. I'm so uncool. I do get the appeal though. I try and sip from my friends' orders every once in a while, but I don't think I'll ever actually go looking for it. I'm really more of a coffee or juice person, I think?

1. Convi's okinawa milk tea, 2. pepper potato, 3. chicken chops, 4. pepper sweet corn

On the other hand, I'm all for pica pica (finger food). When we found out that Serenitea has a small snack selection on their menu, Convi and I headed to the nearest branch to check them out. Basically, we weren't satisfied with the pepper potato, but the rest were delicious. Pairing them with milk tea wasn't all that bad either I guess (haha).

So, just a heads up for anyone planning on taking me on a milk tea run, make sure there's also yummy food involved in the itinerary, and I'll be more than happy to tag along!

my Christmas ensemble

thrifted dress, Accessorize necklace & ring (gifted by my boyfriend <3), socks, Charles & Keith wedges

noche buena

although it's been said many times many ways

Just a quick post before heading off to spend a simple and quiet weekend with my family. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, but for some reason, I honestly haven't been feeling the holiday spirit as much this year. Still, 'tis the season to be jolly, and in celebration of that, I bring to you the second installment of my out-of-tune and shaky singing for your listening pleasure (torture?). I did a rough and meek a cappella rendition of my favorite Christmas song, and again, a warning, it's not the best recording. I was half-asleep when I was making it, so do pardon the imperfections! Enjoy?

Happy Christmas, kids! Whether you're a bit of a scrooge about it or not, and wherever you are, I hope you'll be with your loved ones or at least gorging yourselves with delicious food. Cheers!

HI THIS IS A FOOD POST

One thing I love and spend on as much if not more than clothes and shoes: FOOD!!! Here are some of my gastronomic adventures with my boyfriend Convi!

1. P25 tacos + P10 softdrinks from the Filinvest 2 clubhouse, 2-3. fearless chicken + burger w/ additional cheese, bacon, & jalapeno from Army Navy, 4-8. pumpkin carrot soup + prawns wrapped in bacon + yang chow fried rice + Cantonese prawns + Vietnamese crispy chicken wings w/ garlic from Little Asia, 9-11. shrimp bisque + grilled prawns + roasted pork from Chelsea, 12. milk & cookies from Borough

an ideal specimen

I've always fancied feather accessories (and feathers in general) even before the trend actually took off. However, for some reason, I haven't managed to ride the feathery wave even when I practically see it everywhere and on everyone. I've always secretly wanted to have my own feather earrings for as long as I can remember, but I don't know why I never did buy one for myself. Something kept stopping me.

When I found out that MARiS was going to send me something in the mail, I got excited. I thought, YES, I'm finally getting feather earrings! Once I opened my package, to my pleasant surprise, another beauty in the form of leaves greeted me instead. I was strangely relieved and a realization hit me.

This isn't exactly the feather earrings that I expected and adored on girls, but that's just it: I didn't want what they had. I wanted something to call my own. I don't want to look like everybody else. I don't want to be anybody else but me. Leaves are a kingdom different from feathers, and I'm probably a completely different species from the average human being, but that's okay. It doesn't mean we're less beautiful. And I should learn to embrace that.

MARiS earrings, Topshop sweater, Forever 21 skirt, Mango socks, Zara bag & boots, Rebel Gear beanie

P.S. Thanks a bunch to MARiS for sending me this gorgeous earring! I love the colors! Check out other lovely MARiS items over at their website or Facebook page.

smile & maybe tomorrow

light up your face with gladness

hide every trace of sadness

although a tear may be ever so near

that's the time you must keep on trying

Zara top, Regatta jeggings, Renegade Folk flats

Smile -- Nat King Cole

j'suis d'accord

I woke up in a bit of a Roman Holiday mood this morning. Put on a simple white top and skirt combo inspired by runaway Princess Ann, and then decided to skip out on the products to let my hair breathe for a while. I also danced and pranced on my bed like an idiot... and recorded it like an idiot. I'll understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore after this, hahaha.

In other news, I had a wisdom tooth extracted today! I was kinda scared before the whole thing, but it didn't turn out as bad as I expected or at all. It took less than 30 minutes and was completely painless (thank goodness for anesthesia). Although, at the moment, I feel like half my face has fallen off, but otherwise, I'm A-ok! Ice cream makes everything better. I got to take my tooth home with me, too, which is pretty cool. I'm gonna have another one taken out next week or so, which means I'm probably not gonna be able to pig out for a while and I haven't been able to lately and it's making me sad. :(

P.S. Music: J'Suis d'Accord -- Francoise Hardy. Yes, I'm aware it isn't even Italian.