New Fascination: White Bags

Balenciaga Giant City by The Blonde Salad 

Givenchy Nightingale by Break My Style 

Hermes Birkin by The Blonde Salad

Blossom

I love the cool weather that the rain brings, but I kind of miss the sun where I can go out anytime without worrying of floods and getting stranded in traffic.  This outfit just reminds me of the hot weather a few weeks back...all spring-y and blossom-y. haha!

top: Topshop, skirt: Mango, sandals: Aldo

bracelet: Forever 21

Autumn Tone

An early wlcome for fall. =)  Autumn for me is defined by tones with hints of brown such as burnt orange, tan, rosy brown and the likes.  I love the drama of falling leaves and everything turning orange even if we don't get to experience it in our tropical country. =)

 mini-dress: Topshop, black mini-skirt: Forever 21, bag: Louis Vuitton (vintage), shoes: Parisian, belt: The Ramp

Forever Lace

I think it's been quite apparent from my previous posts how much I love lace.  Here is another lace top that I bought from Forever 21.  What I like about this particular piece is that the design and quality is better than I expected.  Don't get me wrong.  Forever 21 makes good clothes, but the quality may sometimes be a little less than what we want it to be.  Again, it is a different case for this piece.  The quality of the fabric is very good, and the seams are sewn very neatly.  This design has also become one of the stand-outs in my "collection" of lace pieces.  I love that there is a break in the middle (around the upper waist area) combining the lace and the sheer flowy fabric in the bottom.  I also love the zipper at the back (sorry, no photo of it, huhu...) because it makes the top look more put-together.  This top reminds me of a Warehouse type of style, which is cool. =)

lace top: Forever21, jeans: Forever 21, floral shoes: SM department store, bag: Cambridge Sarchel inspired

A Day in the Park

 Parks aren't very popular nowadays in Manila.  We prefer going to malls, movies, cafes and the likes.  But seeing this little park in our village gave me a flashback of my childhood days.  I remember playing with my siblings and cousins in parks and gardens similar to this place.

We used to play games such as touch-taya, 1-2-3-stop, hide and seek, doctor quack-quack,, and the likes.  I don't know if these ggames still exists...I hope they still do. =)  We also loved playing with waterguns while chasing each other, and we constantly fight just to be the first on the swing and see-saw.    I was a very fat child, but I still enjoyed these games even if I always lose. haha!

lace top: Forever 21, pleated shorts: Topshop, shoes: Stile (Singapore), bag: Louis Vuitton (vintage) 

large-faced watch: Fossil, bracelet: Forever 21

New Purchase: Zara blazer

Combining the Basics

Combining basic items can be fun.  Sometimes, we can come up with a cute look by mixing the basics that we usually pair with more elaborate pieces.  The best thing about this is that these basics are always in our closets.  Even when seasons and trends come and go, we hold on to them.  In short, we can count on them no matter when and where.  Here is a basic look that I've tried to come up with.

basic denim polo: Forever 21, basic beige skirt: from Bangkok, basic brown booties: from Italy, basic brown belt: Zara  

Let's Do Corporate

I don't usually like dressing up very "corporate" when going to work.  I prefer comfortable clothes where I feel free to think, move and go around the office.  But when I started tryting on trousers made of softer fabrics, I began to love them.  They felt very comfortable.  It's like wearing PJ's but looking more professional. =)  In my recent trips to the mall, I've already started trying on different kinds of trousers that look and feel nice on.  I need to buy some for my own because I just borrowed this pair from my sister.  My dad will surely be happy to see me dressed more corporate. haha!

sheer top: from Bangkok, trousers: my sister's old ones, light pink heels: Charles and Keith

I feel more respectable looking like this. haha! =)

Drizzle Drizzle

This is a good time to welcome some rain after weeks and weeks of burning heat.  My way of welcoming the rain is by trying to wear an all-blue outfit. =)

  Let's not rejoice on the damages it can bring, but on the other hand, let's also enjoy the good things about it.  Together with the plants and our environemnt, let's momentarily indulge in this cool and refreshing change of weather.

top: SM department store, skirt: Zara (old), sandals: Charles and Keith (Singapore), bag: Cambridge Satchel inspired, umbrella: free from Meralco from our garage =)

Novice

When my younger sister scheduled a photshoot, she forced me to try out some shots as well.  I'm not really comfortable standing in the spotlight even with just few people around; neither do I know how to pose properly for a formal shoot.  But oh well, bahala na. Haha!

blazer: Topshop, inner top: Zara, skirt: Topshop, shoes: Forever21

awkward...

bracelet: Forever 21

sister bonding =)

May Favorites: Lipsticks

These are my favorite lip colors for summer, especially for the month of May.  If it is not very obvious, I am a bit addicted to lipsticks.  I purchase and collect lipsticks compared to any type of make up. =)  The colors that I usually use this summer are mostly pinks and corals of varying tones and shades.

(from left to right) Chanel in Gardenia, Guerlain in Corail Passion, Bobbi Brown in Bikini Pink, MAC Venomous Villains in Toxic Tale (limited edition), MAC in Victorian (limited edition), MAC in Pink Nouveau

My own description of the colors you see above... =)

1. Chanel in Gardenia: mid-tone pink with a slight sheen

2. Guerlain in Corail Passion: mid-tone coral with shimmer



3. Bobbi Brown in Bikini Pink: very light pink aith slight sheen

4. MAC in Toxic Tale: bright coral

5. MAC in Victorian: light pinkish coral with sheen

6. MAC in Pink Nouveau: cool-tone Barbie pink

Sheer Lace and Coral

I've noticed that coral has been a constant favorite of mine this summer.  Starting early March, I have been constantly turning my head to most things coral: from clothes, accessories, shoes and cosmetics.  I prefer the pastel and more candy corals than the darker/deeper ones. 

Try something coral before the summer ends. =)

sheer lace top: Topshop (last season), chiffon flowy shorts: from Bangkok, shoes: Tory Burch 

bracelet: Forever 21




Aubergine

What can I say about Aubergine except that the food, service and ambiance is EXQUISITE (in all caps)!  Everything you expect in a fine-dininng French restaurant can be found here.  As I describe it to my sister, I feel like a princess whenever I come here.  It may seem like claiming too much, but Aubergine does it! =)

Here is a photo of  the untouched table plus an individual menu each for the degustasion, a la carte and beverage

degustation menu for the night

(we got the degustation for a complete experience of a lovely French dinner)

center piece

crushed olives pate and butter for the bread 

Complimentary appetizer: marinated salmon with honey-dill mustard 

French fois gras cooked in 2 ways

(For some reason, I LOVE fois gras even if it's just duck liver, resulting to my unconcious evaliation of this delicacy as soon as I taste it. Aubergine serves the best fois gras I've ever tasted in Manila.  There is no sign of bitter after-taste.   I prefer it cooked pan-seared because it brings out the sweetness of the fois gras.  Every small bite is like heaven for me! Haaaaaay...I can daydream of this the whole day.) 

 lobster bisque with crab meat praline and Champagne foam

(I loved the little crab meat on the side and the Champagne foam)

pan-fried Arctic sea scallops served on truffled mushroom risotto in Red Wine reduction 

(tastes as delicious as it sounds!)

mango-lychee sorbet

(very cute presentation + white smoke swirling around the sorbet from the liquid nitrogen inside the tea pot.) 

rack of lamb cooked medium-well

(The lamb almost didn't have any after-taste like what most lamb meat usually have.  The meat was also very tender and juicy; no exaggeratiion. =D) 

slow-cooked tranche of Tasmanian ocean trout served with pappardelle pasta in curry-ginger nage with sauteed vegetables julienne  

oven-roasted New Zealand venison loin with date and walnut crust  served with pommes, braised red cabbage and Cassis jus 

Sorry, I ran out of battery before I can ake a picture of the dessert. =(  Just for imagination's sake the dessert is described on the menu as such:

Belgian chocolate dome cake with red cherries and vanilla sauce

wearing the new coral Topshop top bought from the flagship store reopening
(notice the wine cellar in the background)

The last time I came here was around yeaar 2008 or 2009.  That was a long time ago, but the place, food and service is just as good.  This is a really amazing place for a romantic night out.  The food is quite pricey though, so you can reserve this for a special occasion like me.

If I were to be asked, Aubergine remains to be one of the top restaurants on my list.  Everytime I leave this place after a meeal (even if it was just my second time haha),  I feel happy and satisfied that lasts for several weeks. =)