Hello everyone, I'm back!!! Missed me? ;) We went to so many places I feel like I've been gone for longer than five days! I know I said I'll try to squeeze in some short posts while on my trip, but all our days away were spent walking all around the city (and our nights bonding over stories and a million giggles) that I can barely update my Facebook and Twitter accounts, let alone compose more than two paragraphs. I missed the Philippine Fashion Week, Ana's Alice in Wonderland-themed blogger event, and my friend Ed's Halloween Party and I might have lost three girl friends who seemed to have forgotten all about me already, but I am taking everything in stride. You win some, you lose some, right?

We actually arrived in Manila at 4am, then I had to go to work from 5am - 2pm. The time I am spending typing here should be time spent for rest but I know I won't be able to sleep without updating my online sanctuary, so here it is :)

More than the shopping new experiences I went through, my favorite parts of this trip are: having the chance to bond with my friends, seeing my college friend Genily again after almost four years, and meeting Nashe. I returned with considerably lighter pockets and heavier luggages, but my heart is filled to the brim with thirst for more opportunities to travel..(I really, really, really wish I can go visit all of my blogfriends all over the world.) I have lots of photos of places and outfits to show, stories to tell and memories to cherish, and I would really want to share them with you guys.

Gosh, there are so many things I don't know where to start, so I just decided I will divide them into mini posts that I will do in the next few days. Right now, my bed is calling  me, and I know I should now heed its call.

I missed you. It's good to be back. :)

This is just a quick blog post to say I have just finished packing my luggage and I'm all set for our trip tomorrow :) I still have to go to work in the morning though, and then we'll have to be at the airport at around 6PM for our 8:30PM flight.

I'm so excited I'm exhaling bubbles LOL. Our itinerary includes a quick visit to Malaysia (sucks that I won't see you there Ejann x_x), a whole day visit to Sentosa, and seeing my good friend from college Genily and my awesome blogfriend Nashe (by the way, I'm still working how I can deliver Jake Cuenca to you ;D)

I was too busy earlier that I wasn't able to take photos of the stuff I packed so I will just describe it the best way I can: it was like a battlefield with clothes as casualty XD But I promise I was able to sort and organize everything after. :) And because I don't want to publish this post without an accompanying photo, I will just leave you all with a cute photo of myself *ehem*

I will bring my netbook Lady Fabrize (who incidentally turns one year old today ♥) so I hope I can squeeze in some quick blog posts while there. But if I won't be able to, expect my Facebook and Twitter to be updated regularly. (Hee I feel like such a celebrity :D)

Don't miss me too much, mmkay? 

Thank you for all your comments in my previous post. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one who feels that way when the weather is gloomy. The rain continues to pour down like crazy outside as I write this, but there's nothing a cup of hot chocolate and a thick blanket can't fix, right? I do hope the weather gets a lot better in time for our trip next week, though!

My friends and I have been doing little shopping trips in the last couple of days to prepare for our trip to Singapore (which will be this Monday already!). I have been anticipating this mini holiday since June but now that it's almost here I can't believe how I still have a like a ton of things to accomplish! My friends and I hold "meetings" all the time to discuss our itinerary which seems to change everyday hee. Imagine discussing an October trip everyday from the month of May LOL! Our "meetings" always turn into laughtrips though so we don't really end up discussing anything serious. If anything, it just makes the trip even more exciting!

Anyway, Marsha and I went bargain-shopping in Tutuban Centermall last Wednesday, and I am so happy with my purchases!

I got a pair of pewter-colored ballet flats, three basic tanks (one nude racerback, one white button-down ribbed, and one black with silver studs), a pair of black couture shorts, a white chain-link quilted purse, and my absolute favorite, a gorgeous(!) gray striped blazer! I actually saw the blazer when we went there a couple of weeks ago but I was on a shopping ban then. Good thing the shop still had stocks when I came back! I really love how it fits me, it's perfection-in-a-blazer, I tell ya! The best part? Everything cost me only P1,275 (approx $29)! 

When I was laying them on the bed for the quintessential group photo, I noticed that they were all in "serious" neutral colors, much like the items I got from the thrift shop in this post. What ever happened to my love for loud, bright colors? I guess Marsha is right when she told me that a person's tastes really change through time.  Maybe this is still a phase I'm going through again. Or maybe, I will forever love bright and happy colors, just not so much on my clothes?

I can't wait to wear these! It may sound superficial, but yeah, pretty clothes and shoes make me happy, especially when I got them at such great prices. :)

Oops, I also got a gray cap from Jellybean and a pretty necklace from The Black Sheep yesterday.

I hope you all have a great weekend (despite the rain)! As for me, I'll be lost and buried in a flurry of Outfit Maps, itineraries, "meetings", and luggages ;D

What is your biggest fear?

I freeze at the sight of big spiders; even a photo of the nasty creatures sends shivers down my spine. I clam up at robbery incidents and my heart stops at the sound of firetrucks' sirens. There are times I wake up with a start from nightmares involving running down long flights of stairs or falling from a tall building, trying to run away from an invisible monster.

All these pale in comparison to my greatest fear though, which is to be forgotten: to have all traces of myself removed, to not have any legacy to leave where other people can remember me by, to not have left a mark on people's lives.

My ultimate favorite movie of all time, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, touches on this. In the movie, Joel and Clementine have just broken up after one too many fights. Frustrated, impulsive Clem decides to have all of her memories of Joel erased. The procedure involves going through all of Clem's memories with the specified person and removing them one by one while she is in a coma-induced state. Before the said procedure is done, everything (gifts, letters, photos) that can remind you of the person you want to forget is collated and disposed. Friends are also advised of what will happen and asked never to mention said person on future conversations. Joel unfortunately learns of this though. Deeply hurt, he decides to go through the same procedure as well. While the "experts" are working on him where he is forced to rewind (in his head) everything he and Clem went through, he is reminded of his happy memories with Clem, realizes he still loves her, and that he does not want to do this anymore. He tries hard to wake up from his coma-induced state, and when that fails, to hide his memories of Clem in his other memories. I will not spoil the ending for those who might not have seen it yet, but I assure you it really is worth seeing.

Let me ask you a hypothetical question. Have you ever experienced anything that made you want to wish you can bury it deep in the recesses of your memory, never to be brought up again? Or, have you ever experienced having your heart broken so hard that it shatters you, that pain consumes you completely, that it makes you feel like nothing is worth living for anymore, that finding anything worth smiling about seems almost impossible? Have you ever experienced sleepless nights feeling hollow and alone, that even though you know you still have your friends and family with you, you know only one person can make everything alright (and you feel guilty for being ungrateful)? Have you ever looked at a mirror in your sorry state, only to see an unfamiliar person staring back at you and thinking no one can ever make you feel the same?  Given the choice and chance, would you opt to have all your memories of the person, therefore the cause of your misery and seemingly never-ending pain, erased?

I have. I have felt all this, and more. But I do not know of any existing memory-erasing companies like Lacuna Inc. where I can go to to have my memories erased. I just have time and my amazing support system at my side. Besides, even if I do have the luxury of having the said clinic nearby, I don't think I would have the courage and urgent need to go through with it. You see, some memories may be better best forgotten, but some, some are worthy to be kept going back to, if only to remember how happy we were once, and how capable of love we can be. Memories mean they are already part of the past; they cannot harm you anymore, if you don't let them. As one line in another of my favorite movies, Before Sunset, goes: "Memories are wonderful things if you don't have to deal with the past." In the end, all we'll have left are the memories, and I am happy to have made a mark.

Sigh. Rainy weather and hormones always make me sentimental.

My friends/ officemates and I only have exactly a week before The Great Singapore Trip and we're already starting to get jitters! Of course, we're very excited, but at the back of our minds we're also a bit worried, mainly because we hope the pocket money we'll be bringing will be enough to cover all expenses. I am a bit worried as well; I haven't exactly been able to stick to my saving plan, you know. 

Today, we sat down on it and discussed the places we'll be going to. Marsha lived there for a few years before while it'll be my second time to visit the country so we gave the others a fair idea on what to expect. During the meeting, only one thought was going through my mind: the clothes I will pack!

Packing is quite easy for me. Yes, my room is named Serenity in Chaos and I am one of those people who thrive in a "disorganized" environment. Buuut, I sure do know how to pack my stuff. Not necessarily pack light as I still do bring some stuff that are for outrageous "just in case" moments, but anywhere I go I make sure I maximize my luggage's potentials ;) For one thing, I prepare an Outfit Map every time I go on a trip (or even a slumber party). I always have lots of fun making one. I can show you The Great Singapore Trip Outfit Map once I finished it.

For this specific trip I decided to not bring jeans and other bulky outfits anymore. This trip will see me wearing a lot of dresses and skirts, and I am so excited as I've always been a girly girl when it comes to dressing up. :)

Let me share with you some of the items I will bring:

Would you believe that I paid only P240 (approx $5.33) for all these? I got them from a thrift shop last night, and I swear these are probably my favorite thrift finds. Expect to see them on me when I post photos from the trip :)

~~~

This post should've ended there, but can I just say how frustrating it is to go to a mall with a self-imposed shopping ban? Earlier today I went to SM North EDSA with Mich and her best friend Jonas to unwind and while away the time. I saw lots of pretty stuff (like that cap at Jellybean that I am sure was made for me) and was so tempted to get at least one (that cap, yes please), but my friends were quick to remind me that I really, really need to save money.

Also, I got to play with Jonas' new 32gb iPod Touch. It is a pretty nifty gadget and now I want one! Christmas is coming (and with that, a hefty bonus yay!) so I am now deciding what to get for myself (as a reward for working hard the whole year lol). I've already decided on two things I would want to do with the money (which will stay as a secret for the meantime ;)) and of course I would want to get special gifts for my friends and family, but now I kinda want to get an iPod Touch, too x_x Maybe Santa can get me an iPod Touch so I would not have to spend for it? ;D

Now they joke that I am really a gamer since I mastered the game very easily hee. Hey, did I ever tell you about that one time I fell off a Dance Dance Revolution gamepad at a mall's arcade? That was the very last time I played it in public... No? Okay, then I guess that'll remain a secret :D

PS: On the other hand, I also want a Kindle... Yikes! At the rate this wishlist is going, it'll be longer than my total height doubled before December even arrives XD

I was invited by Ana to attend an Exclusive Press Preview and Pullout Event featuring imported brands Accessorize, 7 for all mankind, Vans, Boboli, American Rag, Salsa, and Elite Manila held last Wednesday at the Via Venetto Grand Ballroom, A.Venue Suites in Makati City. Knowing it would be a great opportunity to ogle at pretty things without breaking my shopping ban and at the same time bond with my blogfriends and meet new people, I said yes!

Ana and I met up at the Ayala Avenue MRT Station. From there we walked through SM Makati, Glorietta, and Greenbelt to go to her friend Tamem's friend's clinic. We changed into our outfits and Tamems did Ana's makeup while I did mine.

We met with Ava at Greenbelt, and off we went to the event which featured

It was certainly a feast for the eyes! I'll be featuring more of these brands in my coming posts. Right now I would like to share more photos from that night :)

I have been feeling uninspired, insignificant and lonely the past few days and I don't know why. I have a backlog of posts I have to write but still haven't been able to. I acknowledge I have to change my mindset, and what better way to do this than by reminding myself that life is beautiful? That I am beautiful? :)

 To borrow my soul sister Ana's favorite line from a Goo Goo Dolls song, "What you feel is what you are, and what you are is beautiful."

And just because it's inspiring, I want to share what I found in Tumblr:

“It’s laughing with your friend at a time when you shouldn’t. It’s the sweat in your palms wanting to know someone you see and the pit in your stomach when they actually see you. It’s being touched by hands that aren’t your own. It’s the thrill of an escape that almost wasn’t. It’s the embarrassment you feel, naked for the first time. It’s helping a friend find something they lost. It’s a smile, a joke, a song. It’s what someone does that they like doing. It’s what someone does that they like remembering. It’s the thinking of things you may never do and the doing of things you may never have thought. It’s the road ahead and the road behind. It’s the first step and the last and every one in between, because they all make up the good life.”

All photos taken and post-processed by Mae Ilagan.

This post is so late! I was supposed to post this last Sunday but I was invited by my good friend/ officemate Mich to go with her to her bestfriend Jonas' Family Day. I had no other plans and I didn't want to let my 10.10.10 go to waste in front of my netbook so of course I went with them. :)

Photos from Convergys Commonwealth Family Fair '10 held at the Sky Dome, SM North EDSA.

I like that our trip to Singapore happens THIS MONTH! I am going to meet with my blogfriend Nashe there. My classmate from college/ good friend Genily, who is based there, also made plans for us; she already booked us a trip to the Singapore Zoo! I've already been to Singapore but my trip there was already five years ago and I know lots of things have already changed. Oh gosh, there are only thirteen days to go, can't wait!

I don't like that Forever21 will hold a BIG sale on October 15 - 17 but I cannot go as I am on a self-imposed shopping ban which did not stop me from getting two dresses from Tutuban Centermall when my officemates and I went there last Saturday. But hey, getting just two dresses on a trip to the shopping mecca? Believe me when I say that *that* is a shopping ban.Besides, those are completely necessary as I would be wearing one of them to an event I will go to tomorrow night, while the other I will wear in Singapore. ^_^ 

After two months of breathless anticipation, the movie adaptation of Eat, Pray, Love finally reached the Philippine shores. As I have blabbed and tweeted countless times before, I found this book by Liz Gilbert very inspiring and uplifting. This sounds cheesy but it has certainly helped  me go through my dark days months in the first half of this year.

As early as July I have already made plans to see it with my soul sister Ana. You can just imagine how excited we were! We were supposed to see the film on its first showing day but ended up seeing it last Friday at TriNoma.

The screening time was at 4:50PM so we spent our spare time eating and bonding over delicious food. Until such time we are able to visit Italy, I guess we'll have to make do with Italian food at Bigoli ;D

Ana had Fettuccine Alfredo with Pizza and I ordered Spaghetti with Meatballs plus a slice of Cheese Overload pizza

You know we're soul sisters when both of us took extra effort to "match" our outfits with the movie.

Ana's customized Eat, Pray, Love necklace. What a brilliant idea!

My outfit :) If that doesn't scream LOVE at you then I don't know what will. I also love that the colors and over-all vibe of the outfit kinda complement the book's cover. :)

After the movie we capped the day with fro-yo from Golden Spoon. Mine was topped with Hershey's Chocolate Syrup and SnoCaps while Ana's was topped with chocolate cookie dough and mochi,

My verdicts:

Eat, Pray, Love (2010 film)

I loved Liz's scenes with Richard from Texas most of all. It's hard not to like Julia Roberts, she just glows on the screen! She is a very good actress, but somehow I found the scene at the bathroom lacking. I don't know, I just felt like it was the most crucial point in the book since that was when she started to want to take charge of her own life again. Also, she could've done better on the delivery of the voice-overs. The first few scenes felt a bit disjointed, but it got a lot better in the middle.  She has a very infectious and beautiful laugh, though :)

I may not have liked the movie adaptation that much, but if anything else seeing it reminded me how it inspired me and why I loved the book so much. A friend borrowed it from me but when she returns it I know I would want to read it again.

That being said I still cried at some scenes. The most ouch-moment was when David bargained with Liz so she'll stay, and Liz said, "You never asked me to stay." Ouch. I would still want to watch it again, with my other close girl friends Poly, Mich and Marsha this time. :)

I gave it two-hearts because of the variety of toppings (mine got SnoCaps, yay!) but I honestly didn't like how it tasted like ice cream. I mean, if I want ice cream I'd go to Dairy Queen. As it stands, when it comes to frozen yogurts my verdict is this:

Red Mango > White Hat Italian Yogurt >>> California Berry >>>>> Golden Spoon

And this post just made me crave for a cup of Red Mango fro-yo. Topped with chocolate syrup, muesli, and marshmallows please.

I am thankful I got to bond with Ana again. It felt great to see a movie I have long waited for with a friend who felt the same. I hope we can make time for more movie-dates and laugh and bond over various stories (that ranged from business to work to careers to books to that four-letter word, LOVE) soon!