ORANGE SHOE

Orange you glad for wedges?

More of my daily kikay shots
on Instagram

DARK SIDE

The Dark Side:

Bloody Red Nails

Black Ring

I'm enjoying Manila's affordable nail services again. (Yes, we're so back!) Had so much fun with my DIY phase. But with the nail spas so near (my office and our home), I'm back to enjoying professional care.

More of my daily kikay shots on Instagram.

FASHION DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE...

A "Look for Less" Lady had always wondered if she'd be able to enter the world of clothes, make-up, shoes, and bags.

While enjoying her stint in the broadcast media (admittedly, another dream industry that she happilly ventured into), she always daydreamed about her other kikay interests.

So she put up a silly blog, her Little Black Book of Style, as inspired by Nina Garcia's book. She enrolled in fashion school and make-up workshops, just for fun. And exposed herself to more fashion magazines, books, blogs, films and TV shows. Every fashion experience, no matter how far-out and mundane, ended with "If only I could..."

On a year when life proved "everything is possible," with no professional background in the retail world, she finally gave it a shot. Arrmed only with her passion for fashion, she applied for a Junior Management position in one of the country's richest men's Group of Companies, and got hired for a Senior Management role!

*Fade in: Rampa Music*

*Confetti Blast*

YES, EVEN SILLY DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

-----

I can't talk about my new career in detail. But just to give you a glimpse of my new work life, here are bits from my recent events.

Above:
Fab accessories from photo shoots
inspire shopping sprees!

Above:
Pictorials are dejavu.
I guess they'll forever be part of my career life.
Naiba lang ang "cast."

Above:
Spot the mascara topper.
Fabulous cupcakes from a make-up event.

Above:
My first mall opening was Filipiniana themed
since the store's located among the country's heritage sites.



Above:
Rehearsals for a VIP event

I used to get paid to watch a lot of TV (of course, it's not all I do but it was a big part of my work). Now, I'm getting paid to go mall and event-hopping. Someone up there truly loves me. *wink*

Fabulous in Faith,

A

CUFFED

Fab Find
black and gold hand-crafted cuff

Cuffed. And loving it!

Could this be the effect of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' (currently enjoying book #3!)?

BIB NECKLACE

What I Wore to the Mall

PROUDLY PINOY MADE
Statement Necklace

KAFTAN TOP

What I wore during playtime with my adorable niece and nephew

SUMMER BLUES

NAUTICAL

What I wore to see "The Avengers" with the Hubby

Red, white and blue...

SWEET NOTHINGS

Pastels. Sherbet Shades. Cotton Candy Colors. I'm loving this season's saccharine fashion palette. 

Photo: NotOnTheHighStreet.com

Sweet Dreams are made of these...

Photo: PardonMyBlog

Photo: Refinery29.com

My current read: H&M magazine / catalogue

My current buy: pretty pastel-colored scarves. If you don't want to commit to pa-tweetums clothes, allow accessories to sweeten your look.

Existing pastel accessories from my wardrobe : candy-colored floral earrings and rings.

What I Wore to a recent dinner with my cousins:

• Deep Pink shirt, Forever 21
• Blush cardigan, Zara

Photo: Hubby's

SO FRENCH

I've been doing my own manicure to save on cash and to better my nail skills. See how my professionally-painted nails compare to the DIY.

My French Tips c/o Manila's Nail Spa, as blogged in January 2012.

My DIY French Tips at The French Stall (TFS), Little India area, Singapore, Feb 2012.

My DIY French Tips at Au Parc, a French cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 2012.

Not bad eh? 

Je suis tres heureux. 

Barok French? Haha. I just want to say "I'm very happy" with my improving DIY skills.

Polish brand I used: Face Shop (exact shades to follow)

I'll write about the winner French restaurants Hubby and I tried recently on my other blog. 

AU PARC
23 Han Thuyen, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

TFS aka The French Stall
544 Serangoon Road (corner Sturdee Road North), Singapore

ANDY WARHOL SHIRTS AT UNIQLO

We're so looking forward to the Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal exhibit at the ArtScience Musuem. It's opening next weekend! Yey! 

As a prelude (haha), we're happy to get shirts from Uniqlo's "limited only" Andy Warhol collection. Pop art for only SGD25 each. Now that's a steal!

I got the shoe print. I have a hardbound journal and stationary with the same design back in Manila. *kilig* Hubby got the iconic Campbell's soup print. 

Affordable Art!
Our Andy Warhol shirts from Uniqlo

From the Uniqlo Singapore Facebook page

FASHION STORY

I'm reliving one of my favorite childhood games. Currently having so much fun with the iPad app "Fashion Story," where I get to manage my very own boutique. Confession: Nagpupuyat ako for this!

At age 8 (that's when I finally got my own space), I'd re-arrange my bedroom so that it'd look like a dress shop. Everything on my dresser and cabinets were for sale. I was the owner, sales lady, and cashier. I had imaginary customers. Business was always doing well. Haha!

I don't get the Angry Birds and Plants vs Zombies craze, sorry. So happy to have finally found the game for me. "Fashion Story" fits me like a glove. 

Day 2 on My Fashion Story:
GLASS SLIPPERS on MY WINDOW DISPLAY!
#sanatotooito

FIRST SG HAIRCUT

I needed a trim. And I wanted to experience using these "cheap" haircut machines. I've been seeing them all around Singapore. So I took the chance one weekend.

I went to the neighborhood mall, placed SGD10 (around Php350) on the machine, got my ticket and waited for my turn. When my number finally appeared on the marquee, I handed my ticket to a lady. She showed me to my seat. And asked, in Singlish, what I wanted. I said, "Just a trim. Around two inches off..." Then she started cutting. No shampoo service. I panicked, "How will she know if pantay kung hindi basa hair ko?!"  But I didn't dare complain. Natakot ako sa gunting. Lol.

My thought balloon the entire time, "If you wanted pampering, you should have gone to the 'starts at SGD100' salons." So I sat quietly throughout the cut, trying to be optimistic, "Baka ganun sila kagaling? Hindi na kailangan mag-shampoo or basain ang hair."

After the cut, straight lang naman, another surprise -- no blow drying too! Good thing I just asked for a basic trim. No hair styling required. But to this day I wonder, "Pantay ba? Parang hindi..."

Ganun ba talaga ang SGD10 haircut? Or I can get better service in other branches?

DIY CURLS

I've always dreamed of bedhead hair -- I love the effortless, soft-curls, gulu-guluhan pero magandang look. Read about my 2010 entry here. 

My pegs:

Effortlessly Chic

Bedhead Bombshells

I've tried learning from the online tutorials (ang galing nila sa tools!), considered digital perm (but my hair is still not healthy and long enough), and tried other DIY, chemical-free techniques (braiding, cut-off sock buns - have you seen those online?). My observation: Practice makes perfect. Pero iba talaga ang kamay ng pro. The irony: touch-ups are necessary for this supposed effortless look (high maintenance pala!). 

Below's my recent attempt at DIY curls. Total curling time: around 20 minutes. 10-seconds per section, temperature at level 10 (maximum on my iron is 15). I made it real quick as I was too scared to burn my hair!

Hair we go again! Lol.

Before and After, below.

Left: My hair at 6pm. May curls naman, kahit paano.

Right: My hair by midnight, after a dinner date. Bagsak na even with the supposed maximum-hold hairspray.

Before - After

My tools: Vidal Sassoon ceramic curling iron, Finesse maximum-hold hairspray, clip (for partitions) and comb.

My best bet may be Alex Carbonell's soft set curls. I love how it turned out for Daphne Paez. Another to-do on our next Manila vacay?

TO CHINATOWN

What I wore to explore Chinatown...

 

BLACK and ANIMAL PRINT

Black tee, F21
Black shorts, F21
Animal print scarf, Zara
Animal print ballet flats, H&M
Black bag, Fino

Shorts are a must here in SG.
But when it rains, a scarf comes in handy, medyo lalamig ang hangin.

25 QUESTIONS

What I bought from our recent
Manila trip:
Jan 2012 issues of the local magazines

Makiki-25 Questions ako, inspired by Preview magazine.

How many times do you press the snooze button before you get up?

• Once. Twice.

How long do you spend in the bathroom in the morning?

• Fifteen minutes. Or less.

Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty?

• Cinderella. I'm still in search of my very own pair of glass slippers. 

Which part of the newspaper do you read first?

• Manila: Headline story then Entertainment / Lifestyle
• Singapore: Front page onwards

Name your favorite ice cream flavor.

• I'm torn between Ube and Rocky Road.

Have you ever cheated at solitaire? When? Why?

• Yes. On my iPad. Once. For the points. 

Do you believe in Feng Shui?

• Bits of it. 

How many sit-ups can you do?

• Three?

What is it you love about your life?

• I took "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." to heart.
• My marriage.
• How close I am to my parents, sis and bro.

Favorite superhero?

• Not into them. 

Can you dance the swing?

• Nope. I can't dance even with my ballet, Hawaiian and jazz classes when I was a little girl. Lol.

How many Facebook friends do you have?

• Less than 500.

Last song syndrome?

• California King Bed by Rihanna 

What's the longest you've ever gone without sleep?

• 72 hours when I was still working for a TV network. Station ID shoot. 

What is comfort food for you?

• My Mama's pork binagoongan, with nilagang okra, and cups of steamed rice. Eaten with bare hands. 

How much weight would you like to lose?

• I've reached my goal, according to the scales. But it doesn't look or feel like I did. I think it's time to tone up. 

Favorite vegetable?

• I've grown to like most of them. I never thought I'd see the day.

What is your karaoke anthem?

• Looking Through The Eyes of Love

How many hours can you walk in 5" heels?

• In my 20s, the whole day. Now, after two hours, I need my flip flops / ballet flats break.

Prescription to mend a broken heart:

• Allow yourself to grieve. 
• But open yourself to the next love. Believe that you will be happy again. 
• "Someone Like You" starring Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, Greg Kinnear

Name your favorite Pinoy moment.

• Reunions = Food Fiesta

What would you give up for world peace?

• Haters. Negatrons. 

Which among the many hats you wear gives you the most pleasure?

• Being my husband's Life Partner. Read my other blog for details. 

What do you feel is your most significant achievement?

• My loved ones know how much I love them.
• Putting (almost) everything on the line to pursue a dream.  

Any other career you'd like to try?

• Oh, lots. I dream of having a career in the Fashion or Beauty industry. I've always dreamed of being part of The Today Show. I also wonder how it is to go back to theater acting...

NAIL IT!

Among Manila's gems: affordable nail salon services.

Here's my French Tipped nails from last week's short Manila trip, c/o The Nail Spa, 5F Shangrila Mall. Express Hands: only Php190 (That's less than SGD6!). The service covers cleaning, massage and polish.  

Pardon my French (Tips)
Photo taken 6 hours after the service.

And since I'm back in SG, where nail services start at SGD25 (for basic mani pa lang at neighborhood salon rate pa yan, hindi pa mall rate), I really have to learn how to do my own nails again (used to do it on my own, back in college).

I'll do my own French Tip version next week, and compare it with this. Hope I nail this DIY project.

Any tips?

TO WICKED

What I wore to our Wicked Wednesday date:

BLACK LACE

Date: Wicked the Broadway Musical

Venue: Marina Bay Sands Grand Theater

Time: 7:30pm

What I Wore:
Black lace dress, F21
Black cardigan, Zara
Black lace clutch, SM Dept. Store
Black cocktail ring, F21
Black ruffled flats, Celine
Diamonds and Pearls earrings, heirloom piece

SPARKLY NEW YEAR

Hubby and I welcomed 2012 at the Marina Bay. We're impressed with the fireworks display! We think it was more fabulous than our Hong Kong New Year's Eve experience in 2010. 

Spotted: lots of little sequined dresses! I was among the sparkly pack with my gold top, gold nails and studded cocktail ring.

I was among those wearing
something sparkly  to welcome 2012.

 Gold top, SM Dept Store
Gold Rush nails, Caronia polish, DIY mani
Cocktail ring, F21

Here's to a shiny, shimmery, splendid New Year!

GO FOR GOLD

This Holiday Season's look: definitely anything and everything sparkly! Inspiring my 24-K DIY effort: "Gold Rush" nail polish. True to the saying "all that glitters ain't gold" this one's a real cheap-o! It's Manila's local polish brand Caronia (I can hear the ad jingle in my head now, "Caronia! Caronia!", haha), selling for less than SGD1 a bottle! Yey!

 My 24-K effort: DIY nail polish in Gold Rush.

For more festive Holiday nail art ideas (my next goals), see these.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

AT THE AIRPORT

The best way to kill time at the Changi Budget Terminal's boarding lounge: Enjoy the MAC make-up buffet at the Duty Free shop! Kaloka! 

What I Wore for the flight:
Light gray tee, F21
Charcoal pull-over, Zara
Black jeans, Defacto
Black ballet flats, Zara