LimeBasil

Bag It

2012-01-20T23:29:00.003+08:00

Just wanted to share my favorite everyday bags of the moment. For bags I used on a daily basis, I hardly go for leather bags. I prefer fuss-free bags.

That's why I love using my ROOTOTE laminated bags. This is the Medium Sky bag which is part of our recent collection. Since it's laminated, it's so easy to clean.

And it can carry a looooot. I always have to have with me my planner, pencil case, kikay kit (which contains gloss and my favorite perfume - green tea and aloe vera from my friend's BC Fragrance), iPod Touch, wallet, random Hello Kitty pouch (where I put important documents or receipts), comb, Blackberry in a Tiny-ROO pouch (I'm mourning the loss of that pouch during Sinulog weekend), Crutto foldable bag, a tin of Rio Mints and a bunch of calling cards.

If I'm not using my Medium Sky bag, I'm using my Eleven Check bag. This is another "carry your whole house" bag. What I love about it is that it has soooo many pockets. It has 10 pockets! You will not run out of pockets to put your things into.

For my laptop and all my files, I carry this Eastpak x Eley Kishimoto bag. The print and color just grabs everyone's attention. And it can also carry a loooot. You can actually expand it if you want more space.

Just realized that the unifying factor among all my bags is that they should be able to carry a looooot.

Banaue and Sagada Adventure

2012-01-11T00:13:00.011+08:00

Finally going to post about our family's Banaue and Sagada trip. I have a confession. This trip was actually made months and months ago, like last August. Talk about late. It's quite timely though with the recent unveiling of the Department of Tourism's "It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign. Banaue and Sagada are definitely must-go-to places when you're visiting the Philippines.

View from the inn we stayed in, different shots of the Banaue Rice Terraces, a random house in Batad, little boy in a native attire, modern day spin the bottle, SAGADA!, hanging coffins at Echo Valley, on top of Mt. Ampacao, tree tops at Viewpoint, civet alamid and amunin coffee at Bana Cafe, dinner at Log Cabin, another round of drinks at the campfire

My dad has always wanted to go to Banaue and Sagada so despite weather forecasts saying that there was a typhoon in the area, we decided to push through with the trip. First stop was Banaue. It's amazing to actually see the rice terraces with your own eyes. It astounds me how the Ifugaos were able to build these with just their bare hands. Headed to Sagada after. Most memorable experience here was trekking Mt. Ampacao IN THE DARK for six hours. What an adventure. Imagine 10 or so people in one long line being led by a lone guide in complete darkness using a Nokia phone flashlight. Not one of us brought a cellphone. By the end of that trek, we were all covered in mud and God knows what. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do the cave spelunking Sagada is famous for because of the bad weather. Both places are definitely great for connecting with nature, clearing up one's mind and just relaxing.

Some lessons I learned from this trip.
- A 4x4 is a must when going to Banaue and Sagada and there's a typhoon in the area. Landslides galore.
- Don't bring your phone when you're walking in the rain with no umbrella. This means instant death for your phone.
- Sagada and Banaue are up in the mountains. Bikinis, board shorts, tank tops, shorts and cardis are not appropriate outfits.
- Do not continue trekking when it's 5pm and about to get dark already. This is even though the guide tells you that it will only take 1 1/2 hours. 1 1/2 hours will turn into a 4-hour trek in the dark with only your guide's Nokia phone's flashlight to lead you.

Going there is also quite a struggle. It's around a 10-hour drive. In Banaue, we stayed at Sanafe Lodge. Telephone #: 09209504644. It's small but homey and you get a great view of the terraces. For Sagada, I would recommend you stay at Rock Inn or Saint Joseph Rest House. Their rooms are priced a bit higher than the other places in the area but they're probably the two biggest rest houses in the area so you get nicer, more spacious rooms with your own bathrooms. Rock Inn is quite far from the town proper though so best if you have your own car if you're planning to stay here. Saint Joseph's number: 09272360344 and Rock Inn's number: +63 920 909 5899. Little bit of warning though. If you're picky with hotels and bathrooms, this might not be your ideal vacation. But if you're up for adventure then this would be it.

I'm already planning to go back this year so that I can go spelunking and catch the sunrise at Viewpoint.

It's Always There

2012-01-08T02:55:00.005+08:00

Spending the first weekend of 2012 at home with the family. Finally finished watching "Like Crazy." Tried watching it on the ride back to Manila from Pangasinan but got dizzy after 20 minutes. Glad I was able to finish it now. Won't put any spoilers here. It would be better if you just watch it and see why it won in the Sundance. You can check out the trailer here. But there is this line in the movie that stuck with me and I wanted to share it.

It doesn't feel like this thing is gonna go away. It's always there. I can't get on with my life. The things that we have with each other that I don't have with any other person, with any other human being apart from you.

Probably the no. 1 relationship advice most people give is "move on". And they say "time heals all wounds." And I've always thought both things apply every time to every one. Heck, I give that same advice to my heartbroken friends. You can move on. Your wounds will heal. But what if it won't. What if your connection with that someone was so special that you just can't really find it with anyone else no matter how hard you try? Is that even possible? Or is it a naive thought? Because I've always believed that there's more than one person in this world compatible for you. But could that just be an excuse for not fighting for someone?

And There's No Stopping Us Right Now

2012-01-07T22:43:00.005+08:00

I feel so close to you right now
It's a force field
I wear my heart upon my sleeves, like a big deal
Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall
And there's no stopping us right now
I feel so close to to you right now
Feel So Close - Calvin Harris

Trying to catch up on some 2011 posts.

Mutya Lily dress from Museum, LV Damier Azure pochette, black winged platforms from HK

Wore this to a random night at Republiq with friends. This dress might seem familiar. Yep, it's the same dress we used for the most recent Rootote lookbook. Pulled it out from Museum and subsequently fell in love with it. Decided to get one for myself after. I love how it swishes when you move. It makes me feel like a fairy especially with my winged platforms.

2012

2012-01-04T23:32:00.002+08:00

It's finally 2-0-1-2! Hope you all had fun during the last few days of 2011. Here's to hoping we all have a fantastic year ahead. :) Just finished organizing photos over the short break so will do a couple of overdue travel posts - Sagada, Guangzhou, Hong Kong (again). For now, here's a song constantly playing in my head - "A Real Hero" by College. It's from the movie, Drive. Haven't watched it yet? Watch it as soon as possible! One of the best movies for 2011. The soundtrack is pretty awesome too.

Look and See Her Eyes, They Glow

2011-12-29T22:56:00.004+08:00

Waiting in a car

Waiting for a ride in the dark
The night city grows
Look and see her eyes, they glow

Midnight City - M83

thrifted white backless sweater, H&M gold jeans, Christopher Kane x Giussepi Zanotti heels, Mulberry Taylor bag, Marcela rhinestone cross necklace

Wore this to a friend's party at Attica. Was kind of lazy to get dressed so threw on this thrifted white sweater and attempted to glam it up with shiny, gold jeans. Metallic, shiny anything has the amazing ability of upping the glam factor. Gosh, my hair was so long here. Good thing I had it trimmed a couple of inches that weekend.

Wearing what I call my Wonder Woman cuff. It looks like something a superhero would wear. Currently in love with this pair of Christophe Kane shoes from a few seasons ago when he did neons. And of course, my very much abused Mulberry Taylor. I love how easy it is to use. Perfect for girls like me who hate being bothered with too much hardware when opening their bags.

The past few weeks have been filled with more parties, dinners and good music. Hopefully, I will have the energy to blog about those soon. For now, I leave you with this track from M83.

My Christmas Wish List

2011-12-28T21:24:00.003+08:00

For the past two years, I've been coming up with a Christmas wish list. I know I won't get all the things on my lists but I like documenting the things I want so that at least I know what I should be saving up for the new year. Surprisingly, I only want a couple of things this year.

- Earphones - The Apple ones I have right now is falling apart.

- Rubber shoes - My pair of white Puma rubber shoes has given up on me. I've had them for almost 3 years. The pair I had before this one was also a Puma and it lasted me for years too. Definitely a Puma fan. Tried and tested.

- IWC watch - I know I hardly ever wear watches but I want a masculine watch! I'll probably still look at my cellphone for the time even when I'm wearing it but I imagine it will look really good on my wrist.

- Plane tickets! - Lots and lots of plane tickets. I realized that I would rather travel, travel and travel next year then have new shoes or bags or jewelry. I'm so happy I got to travel pretty frequently this year (Australia, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macau, Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga, Palawan, Sagada) and the past few years. I hope to do the same next year.

So far, I got 6 out of 10 in my list last year. Not bad. Hmm but I still want a small wallet for night outs, to replace the one that got stolen. Thinking of getting a Comme des Garcons wallet.

Hope you all got what you were wishing for this year, as well.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T04:04:00.001+08:00

Wishing everyone a MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

H is for Horses

2011-12-11T22:31:00.003+08:00

Not really into Hermes enamel bracelets but I'm strangely attracted to these ones. I love the colors, the quirky, cartoon-ish horses and the subtle "H" they form. Saw them on Fashion Toast and I kind of really want one now.

And the Love Kickstarts Again

2011-12-11T09:47:00.005+08:00

Start to think it could be fizzling out
Kinda shocked because I never really had any doubts
Look into your eyes imagine life with out ya'
And the love kick starts again
Starts again
The love kick starts again
Starts again
Kickstarts by Example

Wore this to a friend's birthday dinner at his house.

Be denim cut-out button down, purple Uniqlo pants, Dries van Noten heels, brown belt from Istanbul

Got this purple pants last year at Uniqlo on sale. I guess, no one really wants grape juice colored pants in Shanghai. Good thing though because they've turned out to be one of my fave pants EVER. They're so comfy that I seriously wear them constantly. The outfit here is an example of how I dress for work. I have a thing for button down polos for work. When I'm too lazy to think of what to wear, I usually just throw on a polo and skinny pants or a dress with leggings. Oh, I wish I had a detail shot of my belt. Randomly got this when I went to Turkey. I love how preppy it feels. It was an unexpected find from all the random leather jackets they were selling in this leather factory we went to.

Been listening to this song incessantly. I know it's old but my iPod randomly played it and I was hooked again.

Quiet Break

2011-12-11T00:15:00.006+08:00

Kind of delayed but here's the third post. Went on a day trip to Macau.

the surreal glass ceiling at the port, signing over my life at the Macau Tower, ready to jump, porkchop buns and cuttlefish at Coloane, randomly cool wall at Coloane, egg tarts, statue of the Goddess Ah-ma, temple

First order of business was to get to the Macau Tower to bungy jump. I've always wanted to do it. I actually begged (yes, I was that desperate) in front of their counter a few years back when I missed the cut-off time. This time around, no need for me to cry and plead haha. So what did it feel like? I honestly didn't feel anything. Once your feet leaves that ledge, everything just happens so fast. After, we headed to Coloane. Since both my cousin and I have been to Macau a couple of times before, we weren't really interested to see the usual tourist spots (St. Paul's Ruins, hotels) anymore. Thus, we took the bus downwards to Coloane where it felt like we weren't in Macau at all. It's not like the Macau most people usually see which is really flashy and grand with all its hotels and casinos. Coloane is simpler, more historical and very laidback. This is where those famous Lord Stow's egg tarts started. Besides visiting the very first Lord Stow's shop, we just hanged out, checked out the church and temple here, walked around the random streets. Don't forget to try their porkchop buns and cuttlefish. I believe most restaurants in the area serve these. A few meters outside the town, you can also visit the Temple of Ah-ma which is on top of a hill. You get a pretty amazing view of Macau from the top. Don't worry, there's a shuttle bus that takes you to the top. It was a nice break from the craziness of Hong Kong and it was interesting to see another side of Macau.

For more details on the ferries to and from HK and Macau, click here. For more details on bungy jumping at the Macau Tower, click here. I'll try to post more details on how to get from Macau Peninsula to Coloane.

Furry Creatures and Karaoke

2011-11-27T23:53:00.004+08:00

Here we go again. 2nd post.

This is Hong Kong, cold noodles, dumplings on a stick, crazy Mongkok, cute, fat, flying Adidas creatures, photo sticker machine with three cameras - wild, "choking" it up for photo stickers, peanut noodles at Crystal Jade, vintage at Oldies Co., shark's fin at Lu Yang Cun, karaoke to end the trip

On to more food. Street food hopping at Mongkok. We couldn't eat dinner after because we ate everything - cold noodles, dumplings nad squid balls on sticks, egg waffles, candies. Important thing I learned this trip is how to "chok" it up for the requisite photo sticker. Another important discovery is Oldies Co. for the perfect vintage schoolboy blazer and tees. The blazers come straight from England, the land of preppy schoolboy uniforms. Last meal was at Lu Yang Cun again. for some of the best shark's fin soup I've tasted and another round of those huge xiao long baos. Yea, we loved it that much. Ended the trip with karaoke at Neway until the wee hours of the morning. Barely slept just to stuff everything I bought in my luggage and rush to our morning flight. Oh and who can guess what that furry creature from Adidas is? It looks like an obese, flying hamster with wings.

Oldies Co. is located at 1/F, 28 Yiu Wah Street, Causeway Bay

Trippin' on Food

2011-11-27T21:26:00.006+08:00

First of three posts about my trip to HK and Macau this August. Mannn, I have to catch up on my travel posts. Still want to post about Sagada and my latest HK trip. Anyway, this particular trip to HK was all about food. Never a hungry moment EVER. So yea, expect to get major hunger pangs from the pictures.

Skinny buildings on our way to Ap Lai Chau, xiao long bao during yam cha at Lu Yang Cun, porkchops and my favorite dumplings at Delicious Kitchen, perfectly round buns during yam cha at Jade Garden, random guy with the coolest suitcase at the MTR, pretty view of HK Museum of History, lanterns during the film on the Opium Wars

Told you you were going to get hungry. We had yam cha almost EVERYDAY. It was insane. Look at that huge xiao long bao at Lu Yang Cun in Windsor. It couldn't even fit the soup spoon. And of course, I could not not eat at Delicious Kitchen (at Patterson St.), the home of my favorite fat dumplings. I dream of these dumplings. Aahh food. Why must I love you so much.

*All the restaurants here are around Causeway Bay.

More Giveaways!

2011-11-24T08:06:00.002+08:00

Hmm unfortunately, Pink Bella hasn't contacted me with her details. So I'm giving her until the end of the week to email me at limebasil@gmail.com. If I still don't get an email by Sunday, I'll be choosing a new winner that night. Watch out for my announcement. :)

Oh and Rio Mints is in Santa Claus mode again this week! Can't get enough of the coolest mints in town? Well, win yourself a Rio Mints gift pack in their Rio Mints Countdown to Christmas promo this week. Just download the Rio Mints Lab app, play any of the 3 mini-games and collect points. AND on top of that, come shop and mingle with Rio Mints and your favorite bloggers at the Bloggers United Bazaar this December 3. Rio is giving away free invites to 10 lucky fans! So like the Rio Mints Facebook page NOW!

Want to Win a Diana F+ Lomo Camera?

2011-11-18T02:13:00.004+08:00

Are you ready for the holiday season? Celebrate with Rio Mints and join the Rio Countdown to Christmas giveaway! Just download the new Rio Mints Lab app (for iPod, iPhone, iPad) on their Facebook page, play any of the 3 mini-games, collect points and get a chance to win amazing prizes weekly! Highest scorer at the end of the week wins.

THIS WEEK, RIO MINTS IS GIVING AWAY A... DIANA F+ LOMO CAMERA! Perfect way to record all the crazy fun memories you'll be making this Christmas. For more details check out their Facebook page.

I Keep My Head Down Away from the Flash

2011-11-18T01:29:00.006+08:00

Posted this H&M dress already but I love it so much so I'm posting it AGAIN.

But this time, I'm wearing it with an awesome pair of white plastic shoes from Melissa and the nicest pale pink lipstick from Nyx. Love the combination of all these pale colors.

Wore this for some Korean dinner at Ye Dang and then milk and cookies and drinks at Borough after. Surprisingly, milk and cookies and beers isn't a bad combination.

Finally, just for kicks, here's a song that has been stuck in my head since October. At one point, I was listening to it repeatedly every day. It's such a fun song! I <3 Martin Solveig.

Oh, Diane

2011-11-13T14:20:00.005+08:00

When I think of prints, one of the first brands that comes to my mind is Diane von Furstenberg. I mean who does not lust for one of her printed wrap dresses? During my recent trip to HK, I discovered that they've come up with a new diffusion line, DIANE; a collection of re-issued vintage prints in classic ready to wear and accessories styles.

They're all so pretty!

Check out the video too.

I got myself a new wallet in that nice orange dotted print. Finally, decided to change my ratty, old Gold Pfeil wallet that I've had for almost a decade already. I also want an iPad case since I unexpectedly got an iPad recently. Never really understood the craze for iPads. But now that I have one, I realized how convenient it is. It's a loooot easier to watch movies and read blogs. Have yet to learn how to add Apps to it. The first thing I thought of when I got the iPad was what accessories to get for it haha.

To Adventures and Misadventures

2011-11-13T01:00:00.006+08:00

Birthday dinner, birthday cakes, birthday suitcase.

Dinner was at Terry's. Paella! And look at that pork belly. I feel my heart constricting just by looking at it. So good. It's not in the menu. Don't forget to give them a call in advance to see if they have it. As you know, a birthday cake is a must. My mom randomly got that small chocolate cake at Aristocrat. In fairness, it was pretty good. Very moist. The two other cakes were from my friend. I got a total of five cakes this year haha. Finally, my favorite birthday gift this year - a vintage suitcase from my cousin. It is soooo awesome. It still even has old travel tags (Japan Airline, Airport Limousine) tied to it.

Danika Navarro Rio knotted top, Theory leather skirt, Melissa x Karim silver heels

Another piece from young designer Danika Navarro. I seriously love her collection. Yes, I am gushing again. But seriously, she perfected the whole boho vibe. Paired it with my current favorite leather skirt from Theory.

And there you go, I'm another year older. Hopefully, it will be another year of crazy fun adventures and misadventures. As my friend said when he greeted me, remember, you're old enough to know what you're doing but still young enough to get into trouble.

Wow and this was a very late birthday post. A month or so late.

Terry's Deli is located at the basement level of Podium in Ortigas. It's kind of hidden so best to ask the concierge. They also have a branch in Makati.

And The Winner is...

2011-11-11T02:12:00.004+08:00

I finally found the time to pick a winner! Thank you everyone for joining the giveaway, for greeting me and for being so patient with me.

Used a random number generator to pick the winner. Had a total of 37 valid entries. Valid entries meaning you liked Rootote on Facebook or you followed Rootote on Twitter and you left a comment with your name and the bag you want to win. Also, only 1 entry per person. So if you submitted two entries, I only counted the first one.

Now that I've explained how I chose the winner, let's proceed with the announcement. THE WINNER IS.............. Unaiza Garnica aka Pink Bella. Congratulations! Please email me your full name, address and contact details at limebasil@gmail.com. You win a Medium Music bag and the Agnes B. catalogue and bag! Yey!

Apology

2011-11-06T09:43:00.005+08:00

Eeps, sorry for being so quiet here. Thank you to everyone who joined my little giveaway! I know it ended like a week ago but I still haven't picked the winner. I'm soooo sorry for that. Please be patient. I have a valid excuse haha. Life has seriously been really crazy. Left for Guangzhou/HK last, last week and when I got back, a loved one died and then had to go to some work trips after. So yes, whirlwind of activities. I miss the house and my bed so much. I promise I will pick the winner in the next few days. And on top of the Rootote bag, I will be giving the winner this... Agnes B. tote bag too! Saw this while getting my magazine fix at Page One. Consider it as a peace offering for being so late haha. I will also try my best to start blogging again. Crossing my fingers on that one.

Fall Into Place

2011-10-16T21:50:00.002+08:00

Culte Femme geometric corset, Hello Rio shorts and fringe vest, Monica Fig platforms

Something I wore to some random night with friends.

Dinner and drinks at Robot. More drinks at Attica.

Oh and if you have the time, check out some of my fave pairs of shoes in Manila Fashion Observer's Shoe Series. Thanks to Tin for the feature.

Like Crazy

2011-10-11T01:19:00.005+08:00

I thought I understood it.
But I didn't.
Only the smudgeness of it,
the eagerness of it,
the idea of it,
the you and me.

This won the Sundance Film Festival's Best Picture award. It feels like such an honest and heartfelt movie. Wish they would show this here.

Going Around and Around

2011-10-09T22:16:00.010+08:00

Zamboanga, Cebu, Bohol, Davao for work. Was just in these cities for one or two days and most of my time were spent in meetings. Fortunately, I was still able to see a bit of the city, have nice dinners and hang out after work.

Zamboanga airport, knickerbocker, goodies from the Barter, my bright printed baul, Mexican food at Maya in Cebu, mojito!, cute tarsier pouch, M&M's Pretzel from Gaisano Mall of Davao, sangria and real carbonara at Hola Espana, at my favorite accessories store in Aldevinco Market

Zamboanga - First thing I noticed when I stepped off the plane was how pretty their airport is. That's the way it is in this city. Everything is so pretty. Go around and you'll see a lot of preserved Spanish-era houses. It's like the whole city was stuck in a period long gone. At the end of the day, you can just hang out at Paseo del Mar, which is a really nice park facing the sea created by the local government. You can see Badjao children here in their bangkas (little boats). It's kind of sad though because they're begging for money from the onlookers and that's what they do for a living. Also, don't forget to drop by the Barter. This is where you can get goodies from nearby Malaysia. Their Nescafe 3in1 is so different and *Jiggy, please don't forsake me as a friend* better than the ones we have here. Well, I like it better. It's creamier. I also love the Mi Sedaap pancit cantons and the Maggi spicy noodles. Oh and people here love their sweets. Everyone was eating those humongous knockerbocker dessert.

Cebu/Bohol - Only had a night to hang out with my Cebuano friends. Who knew Maya was more than just a drinks place? Their nachos are the best! And that cheese and chili pepper dip is amazing. Their burritos are so good too. And I have to agree with my friend, Kaka, their mojitos are some of the best. Writing this is making me want to go back to Cebu.

Davao - Another favorite city of mine. Tried Hola Espana again. Their sangrias are really yummy. They have traditional carbonara too, no cream, just eggs and cheese. I would have wanted more eggs and cheese in it though. If you have the time to shop, drop by two places - Gaisano Mall of Davao and Aldevinco Market. The Gaisano supermarket has Dove chocolates and M&M's Pretzel and Aldevinco Market has the coolest accessories.

For more about Davao, click here and here. Fore more about Cebu, click here, here, here and here.

Appetite Restaurant Festival 2011

2011-10-09T20:58:00.002+08:00

Do you love good food? Well, you'll be excited to know that Appetite has something special coming up for you! This October 13, they're launching the first ever Appetite Restaurant Festival where you will get to indulge on specially made dishes.

Want to be invited to this exclusive launch? Join their promo! All you have to do is post the picture above on their Facebook page wall and then invite your friends to "like" it. The 3 participants with the most "likes" gets invites for two people (you can bring a date or a friend!). To know more, click here. Please don't forget to like my post too!

Warby Parker

2011-10-07T23:22:00.001+08:00

Have you always been appalled by how much designer eyewear cost? Seriously, for plastic, they can really cost an arm and a leg. But who says that good quality, stylish eyewear should be so unaffordable. Enter Warby Parker.

It's a startup founded by a group of Wharton graduates that aims to provide stylish yet affordable eyewear options in the market. It's kind of like the white knight in the overpriced, monopolized optical industry.

How do they keep their prices low? First, they do away with licenses and second, they sell directly to us.

Some of my favorites. I really like the vintage feel of their pieces. It's vintage with a modern twist. Sometimes in the color, in the shape and so forth.

Love the round shape of the Fillmore.

I like the Winston's gradient frame.

Jasper's cool marble blue frame.

Interesting shape.

You might be wondering how would one know if the frame fits his/her face. You can try them on! Yup, you can try them online. Just upload your picture and then they have a program that allows you to put the frame onto your face. Here's me trying on a black Fillmore.

And they have a bunch of really interesting collaborations.

First is with photographer Danielle Levitt to capture friends and fans of Warby Parker wearing their pieces.

I really like round frames but I'm starting to gravitate towards these block, square ones.

Next, they have an upcoming collaboration with Suno (another fave label of mine).

It's a collaboration of two amazing brands - both because of their design and their noble vision. Cannot wait to get my hands on this.

The group is growing so significantly that discount online retailer, Bluefly actually introduced a similar concept in their site called Eyefly. You know you're doing something right when the powerful, dark forces of the industry start to take notice. So what's next for the group? Well, they're finally planning to open up their own shop. Neil Blumethal (one of the owners) said, " we want to be the first fashion brand that got its start online." And I think that they very well may be in the near future.

Photo credits: www.warbyparker.com

Parking Lot and Bus Station

2011-10-02T12:15:00.005+08:00

Haven't been to Cubao X for the longest time. Had to drop by yesterday to get my vinyl turntable cleaned and I was shocked with what I saw. I can't believe the parking lot and the bus station next to it are gone! It was demolished to make way for a new condo. That's just sad. Still remember shooting around that area for Rootote.

These shots were never posted. The ladder the girl is climbing up on is actually a random metal ladder in the middle of the parking lot. To view the complete lookbook, click here.

In other news, am I the only one who does not know how to download an App into my iPod? Where have I been living the past few years? Possibly under a rock. My little nieces and nephews are even more tech savvy than me.

ROOTOTE Birthday Giveaway!

2011-09-29T00:08:00.000+08:00

EDIT: Some changes in the mechanics. Oh and duh, I forgot to add the deadline haha. Deadline of entries is until October 31, 2011, midnight here in the Philippines.

So it's finally my birthday. Never been really comfortable with it. It's like I'd rather let it pass as an ordinary day. I usually just want to have cake and dinner with my family. I think I've only celebrated my birthday with friends thrice in my life. That includes my debut. So yea, the point is I'm the birthday grinch. BUT even though I am a grinch, I would like you guys to be happy. SO I'm doing a ROOTOTE birthday giveaway! Very coincidental that my birthday is so near the launch of the collection.

Mechanics:

1. Follow my blog. Check the sidebar for that.

2. Leave a comment here on what bag you would like to win and why. Don't forget to include your name.

3. Like the Rootote Philippines Facebook page.

4. Follow Rootote PH on Twitter.

What do you win? The bag you want to win and some other surprises! Very simple.

Valid only for readers who are in the Philippines.

Whoa, haven't done a giveaway in so long. I've always wanted to during my blog anniversaries but I always keep on forgetting about it. Can you believe I've been blogging for more than 4 years already? Who would have thought.

Inspiration

2011-09-27T21:54:00.005+08:00

I would like to share with you the inspiration behind the lookbook for the new collection.

The Royal Tenenbaums. One of my fave movies of all time.

And this song. Constantly playing in my head. The bittersweet beneath my teeth. Trying to find the in-betweens. Fall back in love eventually.

Rootote is Back!

2011-09-25T21:17:00.005+08:00

After a loooong hiatus, Rootote is back!

This season, Rootote launches its newest collection of bags entited Young Blood. The new collection is all about bold, eccentric prints and colors that make you stand out. And who else would be best to embody this than Love Chic’s Seph and Shai. With their fun and quirky style, the cute couple is the perfect model for the collection.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the lookbook.

Top: Eleven Check and Eleven Native, Bottom: Grande Machi and Medium O-edo

Coincidentally, these are my fave bags from the collection too.

The Eleven is a new style that we just brought in. What makes it really special is that it has 11 pockets in it. You can't not be organized with this bag. It has 1 front pocket, 1 Roo-pocket AND 9 pockets inside (for your cellphone, your iPod, your gaming gear, your cards, your pens, etc). It's available in 4 designs. You can check it out here.

Check out the lookbook shot by Tricia Gosingtian in the retro hip Space Encounters. Shop the new collection here.

Space Encounters

2011-09-17T01:14:00.005+08:00

Space Encounters has got to be one of my favorite stores right now. Actually, I've been meaning to visit the store for the longest time but only had the time recently. It's a hip furniture store owned by the incredibly nice interior designers Wilmer Lopez and Thor.

I love the retro and quirky look of their collection.

Chairs, chairs, chairs. I was looking for chairs for our attic. Ended up with a custom made denim Pelikan chair (will show you next time).

Besides furniture, they also have a lot of really fun curios. And a lot of korean pop culture products.

I love these posters. I want them.

Anyway, I just knew I had to work with them. Fortunately, I was able to do just that recently with Rootote! So watch out next week because something exciting is coming up.

Store Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sat: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: Unit B Mezzanine,Padilla Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr., Ortigas Center

Here I Saw Something I Couldn't Overlook

2011-09-14T01:07:00.010+08:00

*Added details about the resort we stayed in below.

Underneath and unexplored

Islands and cities I have looked

Here I saw

Something I couldn't overlook

Islands by The XX

Took a spontaneous trip to Palawan last May. It was really, really random. My friend just invited me to go with her a few weeks before and I just booked the ticket. Stress-induced impulsiveness. Anyway, I'm glad I did. Fell in love with the islands of Palawan all over again. I've been to El Nido and Coron but it was my first time to visit Puerto Princesa and San Vicente. Can't put into words how wonderful the whole place was. If you've ever been to the beaches in the Philippines, you know that others in the world really can't compare. The beaches in the French Riviera, Thailand got nothing compared to ours. I feel so lucky that pieces of paradise like this are so accessible to us.

clear, still water / exploring the sandbar in Pandan Island / the whole sandbar was teeming with starfishes / can't miss that red headgear in the middle of the ocean / the view at the resort / look at how clear the water is / essentials of snorkeling - your gear and a bottle of ice cold beer / Long Point Beach - 14 km strip of white sand, totally undeveloped and raw / perfect sunny days and sunsets

The trip was literally an escape from the daily grind. The resort we stayed in at San Vicente was tucked inside a cove and had no cellphone signal, no Internet connection and limited electricity care of a generator that runs from 5-10pm. But it had the clearest water, gorgeous coral reefs and breathtaking sunsets. It greatly cut out the complications in life.

Secret Paradise Retreat
Barongbong Port Barton San Vicente Palawan
Mobile: 09283399446 / 09264908899
Website: www.secret-paradise-retreat.com
Email: enquiries@secret-paradise-retreat.com

Everything That Falls Between the Lines Won't Mean a Thing

2011-09-13T00:15:00.007+08:00

Come now don't worry about the things you'll do next week

For just this once can we pretend, it's you and me.

And everything that falls between the lines won't mean a thing.

So take my hand, we'll run away

From everything, from everything, from everything, from everything.

Thinking of You by Test Your Reflex

electric blue Zara eyelet top, Cheap Monday washed out jeans, Miu Miu belt, Kickers shoes

Something I wore to work weeks ago. I love this Miu Miu belt! Been wearing them with everything. This pair of jeans are a new favorite too. So soft and comfy. Office attire for me has to be comfortable because I can't be bothered worrying about what I'm wearing when I have a pile of things to do. The shoes are another fantastic find from Kickers. It kind of feels like something my grandmother would wear but that's what I like about it.

After trying to look for the title and artist of this song for the loooongest time, I finally found it a couple of weeks ago. It's such a sweet song.

Pre-Party

2011-09-04T09:45:00.005+08:00

Some people have after parties but because she's too cool my grandmother had a pre-birthday party. Kidding. We just had a small family dinner the night before the actual party. Here's what I wore.

Topshop red top / Oxygen skirt / kickers moccasins borrowed from my sister / Stephie's Shop tie brooch

Got the top in the recent Topshop sale. The rich red color caught my eye and I really loved the uneven hem.

My sister got this pair on sale too. Kickers actually has a lot of really nice shoe styles. Will show you next time the other pairs we got.

It took me forever to get this post done. Been traveling the past few weeks and I think it's screwing up my body clock. Unfortunately will be out of Manila again for the next few weeks.

Growing Old With You

2011-09-03T09:32:00.012+08:00

August was a pretty eventful month. Started off with my grandmother's birthday bash which everyone was planning for months. She's 80 years old this year. We all love our guama so much. She's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I've seriously never seen her mad at anyone. Since this post is about her birthday here are some old pictures of her that they showed in the party. Loving her 50s style. My grandfather was pretty dapper too. Always in button downs, ties and suspenders. Never saw him in a t-shirt even when he's just at home.

And this is what I wore to the party. Of course, had to be in traditional red.

Sassa Jimenez dress / YSL Tribute pumps / Chanel clutch / gold and sapphire jewels borrowed from my mom

The dress is from Sassa Jimenez. Really liked the pleating she did in her recent collection so had to incorporate that to my dress. The skirt is inspired by Rodarte from seasons ago. Had a not so pleasant experience getting this dress made. But at least it turned out great.

A closer look at the pleats.

Loving braids right now. My hair was inspired by this picture from Russh. Hyper messy fishtail braid.

Cheers to living a long fulfilled life.

Gradient

2011-08-26T01:13:00.005+08:00

Proenza Schouler's Lazaro Hernandez: “Sometimes I think the people who buy our clothes live in a parallel universe. Hell, we can't even afford our clothes."

Can totally commiserate with him. Love these peach lavender gradient pieces from the duo. Why must they be so expensive?

Shiny Happy People

2011-08-25T00:03:00.008+08:00

Shiny happy people laughing

Meet me in the crowd

People people

Throw your love around

"Shiny Happy People" by REM

floral turban from Flatterbuy, Mink Pink skirt, Details Trading color block top, Zara heels, Coach bag, Rootote bag

Something bright and happy to combat the gloomy days. Sunday afternoon shopping. Just realized I haven't blogged for so long. Blaming it on lack of inspiration plus work plus my laptop's keyboard going whacked (can't use the "comma" and "i" keys which irritates me to no end because everything's grammatically incorrect) plus escaping to HK for the weekend. So much I want to blog about though. Let's see how things go in the coming weeks.

Reinventing Classics

2011-08-07T00:51:00.003+08:00

Madewell has just taken the Breton stripes to another level of coolness with these Le Minor x Share With dip-dyed tees.

Available at www.madewell.com.

SoFA x Blackberry

2011-07-23T13:36:00.004+08:00

I love my Blackberry. I really don't know how my life would be without it. I'll be honest. I've never tried an iPhone (I do have an iPod Touch though) or an Android phone so I can't really say that the Blackberry is the best type of phone out there. But I don't have any complaints about it and it works for me. So far, I don't see any reason why I should change to another phone. As they say, why fix something that ain't broken. So yes, I'm a BB fan and I love them even more because they just did a collaboration with SoFA.

The SoFA x Blackberry is a holster design competition where SoFA students submitted entries for a Blackberry Torch 9800 holster inspired by the theme "The Best of Both Worlds." Judges Brian Tenorio and Amina Aranaz Alunan chose the top 10 designs and they're now up for online voting. Here are some of my favorites.

I love the print.

Not really a fan of bright pink stuff but I really like how practical this design is. It can hold your BB and your money and credit cards. Perfect for those itsy bitsy clutches and those days when you're too lazy to lug around a bag.

I like this one because it reminds me of a multi-finger ring. Oh and this one's practical too. It can hold your money, credit cards AND it has a mirror. Multi-talented!

To check out the other designs and vote, click here. Now, I would love BB even more if I can actually get my hands on one of these.

Photo credits: www.blog.sofafibre.com

Cause I'm Ready to Go. Is that a Yes or a No?

2011-07-22T00:58:00.006+08:00

Cause I'm ready to go

I'm ready to go, If you say so
Ready 2 Go - Martin Solveig

Jumped off a plane 14,000 feet high. 8 minutes of awesomeness. Finally, did it. :)

I highly recommend Skydive the Beach if you're planning to do it in Australia. You can check out their website. Although I booked through Adrenalin.

The perfect song for this experience. The video below is the short version. Check out the extended one if you can. Martin Solveig cracks me up.

Black and Gold City

2011-07-21T23:23:00.002+08:00

Our last stop was Sydney. The city was an amazing mix of the breathtaking beauty of nature and a laidback urban life.

Blue Mountains, inside the State Theater, Imogen Heap, Wollongong, North Shore burger, sunset at Darling Harbor, random black house in the city

On our first day, we went outside Sydney to see the famous Blue Mountains. Makes you realize how awesome our Creator is. When we got back to the city, had to rush to the State Theater to watch Imogen Heap's performance. I got chills when she started singing "Hide and Seek". Spent the rest of the night hanging out at the Town Hall. The next day, took the train by myself to Wollongong to sky dive. The perfect weather and the gorgeous beach were the perfect companion to my sky diving experience. Wish I had more time and I had dragged my sister with me to hang out at the beach. Unfortunately, had to go back to the city quite early because my family had dinner with a business partner and his family. Yup, it was a pretty action packed two days. Definitely made the most out of my few days in Sydney.

The whole week was a whirlwind of activities. Love that we were able to see Australia's natural wonders (penguins!!). I wish though that we got to slow it down a bit and explore the cities themselves. Well, there's always next time.

Sunny Days and Pancakes

2011-07-20T00:10:00.003+08:00

Next stop was Melbourne. We got to see penguins at Philips Island. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures. They were so cuteeeee. Definitely one of the highlights of this trip. Sadly, we weren't able to explore much of the city. At least, I have a reason to come back.

Bus stop at Tooradon while we were on our way to Philips Island, lobster, Sovereign Hill, with the residents of Sovereign Hill, I <3 vintage hats, random signs, the AMAZING pancake maker!

Although technically not part of the itinerary, I love our stop at Tooradon on our way to Philips Island. We were only there for a couple of minutes but it was so fun just sitting on the grass, enjoying the sunny day. We also went to Sovereign Hill while we were in the Melbourne area. It was kind of cool seeing people in period costumes roaming around. Yes, my sister and I kind of like colorful coats. Oh and of course, I had to take a picture of the AMAZING pancake maker. I want one in our kitchen! I want to make perfect pancakes everyday! Okay, I sound crazed.

On our last morning in Melbourne.

Topshop denim shearling jacket, red scarf from Egypt, Ksubi lace dress, One and a Half Nation button down zipper dress, brown Wolford stockings, thrifted brown belt, Schu silver loafers, Marc by MJ canvas bag, Rootote A-Quarte bag

I wish I had a better picture where the lace dress is actually seen. Those silver loafers are so comfortable. I can walk on them all day.

The Land Down Under

2011-07-17T17:24:00.003+08:00

Went to Australia with my family for the Holy Week holiday. I've been to the country before but only to the Gold Coast to watch the Indy Races. That was total craziness. P-p-p-party everyday haha. This time around we spent the week moving from the Gold Coast to Melbourne and finally, to Sydney. First stop was the Gold Coast and it was a different experience from my first one. Since it was autumn/winter that time, it was raining sporadically and we didn't get to enjoy the beach that much. We did get to see a lot of animals - kangaroos, koalas, cows, lambs, sheep, horses. You get the point. It was definitely something different.

some of the animals we saw, hanging out at the beach at night, "Let's Go Surfing" by The Drums, Jackoke in a bottle, the tag used by Luna, a local label

We were able to hang out at the beach on our second night and it was a nice feeling to just chill out and listen to music with a Jackoke - the perfect mix of Jack and Coke in a bottle. Can someone bring this here?

Here's what I wore to the farm.

thrifted Chocoolate stripes top, yellow Space shorts, Wolford stockings, Schu silver loafers, Marc by MJ leopard scarf, Marc by MJ canvas tote bag

Obviously, I have no idea what to wear to a farm.

I'm Here Darling to Enjoy the Party

2011-07-16T23:59:00.004+08:00

I could stick around and get along with you
Hello oh-oh-oh-oh
It doesn't really mean that I'm into you
Hello oh-oh-oh-oh
Hello by Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette

Stylebreak dress, Mink Pink skirt, Gold Dot shoes

Wore this to a random night with friends at Attica. I ended up with unexplained, huge bruises on my legs the next day. This pair of Gold Dot shoes are my new favorites. When I saw these shoes at Sassa Jimenez's show, I just knew I had to get my hands on a pair. They are so surprisingly comfortable.

Not the usual stuff that I listen to. But I seriously love Martin Solveig. His songs are just so fun. Every time I hear them, I want to dance around. And I love that he has a sense of humor. You have to watch his videos. The one here is the short version. Check out the official version and his other videos. Winner, promise.

Old School, Old School

2011-07-12T00:51:00.003+08:00

I love vintage shopping. How cool would it be if I had that rocking horse in my life.

Living in a Rhythm Where the Minutes Working Overtime

2011-07-06T23:35:00.002+08:00

Thought I’d never see
The love you found in me
Now it’s changing all the time
Living in a rhythm where the minutes working overtime

Had to attend a formal business dinner. Everyone was in suits and I chose to wear a frilly Lanvin x H&M dress. That night, it felt like the business world was still dominated by men. Totally out of place but who cares.

Lanvin x H&M dress, Dries van Noten heels, Prada bag, Kenneth Jay Lane necklace, Chanel earrings, random gold bangles

I decided to go monochromatic and stick to blacks and grays as I didn't want to shock people with too much color. But so as not to be too dark, I went with a colorful pair of shoes. Love how the dress looks from the side.

Pretty knotted shoes.

Not sure if I've ever blogged about this Chanel earrings. Sweet and edgy.

I'm repeating Empire of the Sun's "Walking on a Dream" because I love this remix of the song.

Web Love

2011-07-03T23:26:00.003+08:00

Gaia Repossi x Zadig & Voltaire. Pieces that are weaving their way into my heart.

Photo credits: www.wmagazine.com

Shop LimeBasil

2011-07-03T23:05:00.000+08:00

Don't forget to check out my online garage sale. Need to unload stuff from my closet. Everything is more or less under Php500. Here are some of my fave bargains.

Cropped tweed jacket, stripes, plaid shirt (everyone needs a plaid shirt), plaid button down shirt dress (you can't see the plaid detail here)

For more details, check out the site - http://shoplimebasil.blogspot.com.

I Think I'll Hang Around Longer

2011-06-30T23:33:00.007+08:00

Here's a new addition to the dining scene in Tomas Morato. Thaipan is a relatively new Thai restaurant from the same group who gave us Cafe Romulo. As expected, I love the design of the place.

I wouldn't mind spending a couple of hours reading and enjoying my coffee here. I actually find it very reminiscent of the French-Asian feel in Vietnam with the open veranda and the mix of Asian and modern minimalist design.

Coconut curry

Creatively plated pad thai

Oyster cake

Some fish dish. The bad blogger that I am, we had lunch here months ago and I'm only posting this now. Hence, I forgot most of what we ordered already.

We found the food so-so. But I would definitely come back here just to chill out. It's a nice little oasis in the middle of the city. It also helps that it's kind of hidden from the main Tomas Morato street.

Thaipan is located at 120 Sct. Lazcano St., Quezon City, Manila.

Blue

2011-06-26T09:10:00.007+08:00

thrifted blue wool poncho, White Chocoolate khaki pants, Staccato leopard kitten heels

I love the blue-ness of this poncho. I really don't have much to say right now.

Work All Day

2011-06-19T19:09:00.003+08:00

I hardly ever post work outfits because I'm usually too tired to take pictures when I get home. But there are a few exceptional moments.

random floral shirt, Oleg Cassini skirt, Melissa heels, vintage glasses

I wear this skirt all the time. Melissa shoes are my favorite shoes for office. They are just so comfy.

custom made dress, Ralph Lauren vest, All Saints heels

The dress is made from one of the malongs I bought from Aldevinco Market. And yea, my hair is always up like that when I'm working.

Quiet Lunch

2011-06-19T18:47:00.002+08:00

Dropped by Salcedo to buy lunch. This is what happens when you go there and you're hungry.

Margarita's paella negra, fresh Vietnamese spring rolls, Ponti pizza

Quiet Saturday lunch before going to office. The spring rolls reminds of those in Wazemmes.

On Style and Soundtracks

2011-06-17T22:45:00.001+08:00

"So if counter-movement is the root of seismic shifts in music and aesthetic, can music still be as empowering to a generation that has nothing to rebel against? Ours is an age in which "anti-establishment" is being peddled by the establishment, and music and fashion is an ever-changing pastiche of everything that has gone before. With all this choice, can music still inform our style and define our identity?.... Perhaps, then, the challenge for our generation and every generation hereafter is to create our own individual beat to march to. To fuse our 80s hard-style with our Minnelli or our gangsta rap with our Mozart, and see what can come of it - maybe, just maybe, something entirely new." - from Trampin' on Style and Soundtracks by Anna Harrison, Russh Magazine April-May 2011

It does feel that way sometimes. Like every season, we're just reminiscing the past.

I Don't Know Why

2011-06-17T22:30:00.000+08:00

Random, random, random.

Dries van Noten FW11

Pretty and functional.

I met you once and I'd fallen for your notions.
I don't know why.
I don't know why.

Angus and Julia Stone. I love their songs.

Regret

2011-06-11T00:45:00.000+08:00

Regret. I'm feeling a pang of regret for not getting these Missoni pieces.

Madewell

2011-06-05T18:56:00.003+08:00

Madewell's FW 2011 lookbook.

Photo credit: www.knighttcat.com

Believe in Me Like I Believe in You, Tonight

2011-06-05T18:35:00.001+08:00

I'm really loving Passion Pit's cover of "Tonight, Tonight."

You Can Never Ever Leave Without Leaving a Piece of Youth

2011-06-05T00:44:00.003+08:00

Some more pictures from a business trip that turned into an extended weekend/vacation.

kinilaw from Ahfat, beach, crooners at the resort, party at Starr

These are from a trip to Davao. One of the perks of living in the Philippines is that there's so many nice beaches here and the weather (most of the time) is perfect for the beach. I love alternately swimming and reading by the beach. I find it very relaxing. And that's what I did when I went to Davao (and Cebu). I think I took a picture of the crooners at the resort because they started singing "Open Arms" to me and my friend right in front of everyone. It was awkwardly hilarious. Oh and yes, I always have the silliest faces in pictures. The dress I'm wearing in the last picture is from Looking for Lola. Zebra print? Yes, please.

The Impossible is Possible Tonight

2011-06-04T23:03:00.005+08:00

One of the things I love about what I do is I get to travel and along the way, I get to eat and hang out with my friends.

Crazy night at Vudu, AA's famous grilled native chicken, beef yakiniku, Bohol Bee Farm's chicken and malunggay ice cream, riding the Edge Coaster, chilling out by the beach at Be Hotel, La Marea warm brownie cup

These were taken in Cebu. Spent the weekend with my friends there. It was such a random weekend. Went straight from a crazy night at Vudu to chilling out at the beach. Those beach chairs at Be Hotel are just perfect for wasting away the day. Finally, got to try the Edge Coaster. The coaster is on top of the Crowne Plaza hotel and you go around the building while your seats are slanted down. Fun. Oh and took the ferry to Bohol for a day trip for work. First time to try malunggay ice cream. Pretty good. Ended the weekend with a warm brownie cup from La Marea before going to the airport. Perfect.

Getting Lost

2011-05-30T03:20:00.012+08:00

I love this video of Phoenix jumping on to a tourist bus and just playing while the bus goes around Paris. I'm suddenly missing the feeling of getting lost, the feeling that you don't know where you're headed and it doesn't matter because anything is possible.

Phoenix - Lizstomania / One time too many - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo

Other realizations. Just spent two hours talking to an old high school friend on the phone and I just realized that there are just some people who will always feel like home. No matter how long you haven't seen or talked to each other, that closeness will always be there and it will always feel like you've never been apart.

Don't forget to check out Shop LimeBasil. Uploaded new stuff. Check out the tweed jacket and the colorful stripes shirts.

Philippine Fashion Week - Part 3

2011-05-28T00:46:00.003+08:00

What I wore to PFW.

T by Alexander Wang gray tank, custom made tribal skirt, Flatterbuy necklace, Karim x Melissa shoes, Cambridge Satchel bag, Karen Walker sunnies

Tribal. Again. The skirt is made from the tribal cloth I got from my grandmother a few months back. Finally had the time to visit the dressmaker. The Karen Walker sunnies is something I got from my trip Down Under last month. I really have to tell you my sunglasses story. Maybe that will be my next post.

Philippine Fashion Week - Part 2

2011-05-27T23:29:00.007+08:00

Some more PFW pictures.

Suddenly decided to watch the Regatta collection. Surprisingly, there were a lot of pieces that I'm actually itching to get. The whole collection was very preppy and dandy. My friends and I are in love with that plaid blazer. Must have it.

After Regatta, we went straight to the last show for the day - Vision and Trends/Design Fusion sponsored by Sony Viao. It was a nice mix of designers. Each of their collection had a different thing going on - from Bo Parcon's gold and black ensembles to Don Protasio's clean, earthy lines to Veeja Floresca's skin-baring cut out dresses.

By the time the Regatta show ended, we were famished and dehydrated. Thank gawd for the quick bite at Starbucks. I have no idea how editors go from one show to the next the whole day for a week. Anyhoo, as always, it was an enjoyable experience. I really like going to PFW because you get to see so much local talent especially a lot of young, upcoming designers who are making the local scene really interesting. It's a great venue to be inspired by fashion.

Philippine Fashion Week - Part 1

2011-05-26T00:23:00.010+08:00

Attended Philippine Fashion Week a couple of weeks ago. Work was not cooperating that week and so I couldn't catch most of the shows. Fortunately, I was able to attend the ones on Saturday. I actually made it a point to clear my schedule that day. Boo work. Here are some shots of the different shows through my lens.

Asian prints and jewel tones in Eric Delos Santos' Resurgence collection. Love the fringe dresses. And look at the amazing details on those gowns.

I was caught off guard when the first of Jerome Salaya Ang's models walked on stage. They were all wearing prosthetic and red wigs with roses. This set an eerie mood that matched his captivating, ethereal collection. Love how he used chiffon and tulle to create that otherworldly effect. It kind of reminded me of McQueen, Proenza Schouler and Helmut Lang (with the red blood stains look) but with his own twist to it.

Sassa Jimenez combines modern art deco with a bit of boho embroidery in her collection. I'm lusting over the embroidered jacket. Perfect to add some spring to your step on a gloomy, dreary day. The glass beaded dresses are to die for. Simple and elegant way to shine. Oh and I love the colors in her collection - a mix of red, orange, honeysuckle and turquoise.

More PFW photos on my next post. Kind of stuck in a blogging rut right now.

Negative, Why Always So Negative?

2011-05-17T00:50:00.007+08:00

Negative, why always so negative?

if you have problems,
why don't you go solve them?
beat me up,
at least you won't be out of touch
if you're such a poet,
Loose your tongue and show it
Nothing to Worry About by Peter, Bjorn and John

Different takes on tribal prints for summer.

SM Department Store dress, Forever 21 skirt, crochet vest from Baguio, Karim x Melissa shoes, Gucci Hysteria bag, Flatterbuy turban, vintage glasses

Wore this to dinner and drinks with friends. Layered a tribal print dress from SM with a Forever 21 skirt. I really like the sudden pop of yellow at the bottom. The last photo of me with my naturally thick, wavy hair.

Topshop top, Zara skirt, Karim x Melissa shoes, Gucci Hysteria bag, vintage glasses

The next day, I unconsciously wore a tribal print top with the same bag and shoes. And tada, my hair is as straight as a pin. Got it chemically straightened that morning. It is just so convenient to wake up and have blow dried-looking, straight hair every time. I am admittedly very lazy when it comes to hair upkeep. I can hardly operate any hair equipment. I am very grateful to whoever invented these hair straightening methods. But I did, for a moment, hesitated in getting my hair straightened this time. I wanted to keep it all natural, thick and wavy. My mom was very persistent though. She also hates my vintage glasses and has offered numerous times to buy me a new one. I almost heard a sigh of relief from her when I got my new contact lens haha.

Yep, tribal fever. AND It does not end with this post. Got those tribal print cloth I posted awhile back made into dresses and skirts already.

Oh and I FINALLY got the time to upload new stuff in my online garage sale. Yey. Lots of bright florals and stripes for summer! Check out http://shoplimebasil.blogspot.com.

And something to keep you positive.

Rio Mints x SoFA

2011-05-15T10:16:00.007+08:00

I don't usually write about my work here. I consider this my personal, no work space. But I'm making an exception this time because I'm too happy about this not to blog about it.

This summer, Rio Mints has cooked up two new flavors that will definitely keep you cool all summer - Juicy Lychee and Cool Peach Jasmine. To launch these flavors, Rio has collaborated with the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA) in a summer fashion event held at Robot showcasing select SoFA student designers' interpretation of the different Rio flavors.

The student designers rocked the runway with their gorgeous collections. I honestly didn't get to see the actual pieces until the rehearsal. But the initial sketches were presented to me already beforehand and I was really excited about them. I was also impressed because according to Amina, for most of them, this was their first runway show.

So yes, go try Rio Mints! Flavored sugar-free mints that look good AND taste good. They're also fat-free, low-cal and tooth friendly (with Xylitol!). With six yummy flavors, there's a Rio Mint flavor for whatever your lifestyle and personality. Available in selected SM Snack Exchange, Watsons, Robinsons Supermarket, True Value, PCX, First Aid, 7-Eleven, Petron Treats, Landmark Supermarket, Unimart and other leading supermarkets. Add us up on Facebook, look for "Rio Mints PH" to get the latest updates. Rio Mints are definitely the coolest mints in town!

Oh and can I just add that the food Robot prepared was fantastic. All inspired by Rio flavors and all so delish.

Aranaz gray sheer top, Stefanel tank, mom's old chiffon skirt, Uniqlo blue socks, Prada heels

And of course, an outfit picture with my friend, Moe. Since I had to go straight to the launch from a business review with a major customer, I had to wear something that was fit for a business meeting yet still fun. My mom's skirt is really a winner. Everyone loves it. And the Aranaz top is from their summer collection. Sheer is so fun.

Thanks to SoFA and Buensalido and Associates for making this possible.

Silence is Golden

2011-05-08T02:00:00.006+08:00

Been really quiet here lately for a number of reasons. First, went to Australia for Holy Week with the family. Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney. Would you believe all our hotels didn't have free Internet? So yea, one reason why it's been silent here. Another thing is that I haven't felt like blogging since I got back. I don't know why but for the past couple of days, I'd rather read a book or watch a movie than blog when I'm home. And of course, as usual, I've been really busy with life particularly with work. For the meantime, here are some random things I'm happy about/have to blog about.

- The successful Rio Mints x SoFA or School of Fashion and the Arts collaboration. Yey Rio!

- Finished reading Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. Yey for me!

- Engrossed in reading Australian magazines - Russh and Frankie. Will post a couple of articles I love.

- Angus and Julia Stone. My favorite Australian duo right now. Yea, I'm a tad bit influenced by my trip Down Under haha.

- And of course, the way awesome Australia trip. Getting to watch Imogen Heap, seeing penguins on the beach, SKYDIVING and so much more.

Summer Heat

2011-05-01T22:04:00.004+08:00

Chris Benz SS2011

The heat this summer is killer. Best way to enjoy it is in these cool looks by Chris Benz. His FW2011 collection is even better.

You're Too Dramatic

2011-05-01T18:28:00.006+08:00

You're too dramatic
I can't understand it
Out of this static
You're too dramatic
Too Dramatic by Ra Ra Riot

There seems to be a sudden burst of xiao long bao popularity here in the Philippines. It's a good thing actually because we're finally getting decent xiao long bao places here after a looong time. There was a time when I had all but given up finding something that was even remotely close to the ones from Shanghai here. It's actually quite surprising because dimsum has always been so popular with Filipinos. Anyway, one of the more popular restaurants for xiao long bao nowadays is Lugang. Was able to finally try it out a few days ago. Get a reservation especially during peak hours. Went here several times without one and it was always fully booked.

The famed xiao long baos. Wished they were more soupy.

Other yummy dishes - oyster cake, fish head, cereal prawns.

The interiors are really nice. Love the glass chandeliers.

blue checkered top from Anthill, green stripes skirt from WAGW, turban from Flatterbuy, dark green maryjane wedges from Melissa, vintage eyeglasses

Trying out stripes and color blocking. I'm quite surprised that a lot of people think I wear my glasses just for kicks.

Thought for the Morning

2011-04-15T02:06:00.005+08:00

Maybe the reason why it's so hard to wake up from our dreams when morning comes is because we're not living them. Random thought when I woke up one morning.

The Whole Mess of Roads We're Now On

2011-04-14T01:24:00.005+08:00

It's a luscious mix of words and tricks
That let us bet when we know we should fold
On rocks i dreamt of where we'd stepped
And of the whole mess of roads we're now on.
Caring is Creepy by The Shins

January in Hong Kong. A sudden 1-day work trip which extended to the weekend since my sister decided to follow me there. Did a bit of shopping and a lot of eating and aimlessly walking around.

Junk ship at TST, going up Felix at the Peninsula, cocktails and dinners, lost in Granville, wonderful decor at Bess, magazine section at Page One in Time Square, xiao long bao heaven at DTF, siomai moustache, club hopping at LKF, cute socks at Uniqlo, Goods of Desire, outfit shot at Elements

What I'm Wearing: random sweater, H by Glicaros bandage skirt, Wolford tights, Charles and Keith flat boots, Bess circle scarf, ROOTOTE Roo-Shopper Grande bag, Gucci bag

A song for aimlessly walking around.

Shoes and Sweets

2011-04-11T00:52:00.008+08:00

Those two things make me really happy. I've been quite lucky the past few weeks that I've been receiving quite a lot of both from the world. I want to share my happiness to everyone.

My Melissa loot! There's another pair that's not in the picture. I gave it to my little sister who has been wanting new Melissa sandals for the beach for the longest time. Don't you just love those silver Karim x Melissa heels? They look like they're melting.

Finally, got my All Saints platforms. I seriously love everything from All Saints. This pair is my Happy Valentine's Day gift to myself haha. I'm actually wearing them right now as I type this.

Tubs of ice cream. Because of that Shell Citibank promo, our fridge is fully stocked with ice cream. Sorry Nestle friends, my mom got a couple of Selecta ones. Ice cream everyday!

My cousin got me a pack of M&M's Pretzel. Finally. Now, I just have to look for the Peanut Butter Strawberry one.

Found KitKat Mint and KitKat Orange. I'm addicted to the Mint one. So good. I try to limit myself to one 2 finger KitKat a day.

World, keep the good vibes coming.

Now I'm Ready to Start, My Mind is Open Wide

2011-04-10T21:01:00.007+08:00

Now I'm Ready to Start
My mind is open wide
Now I'm Ready to Start
Not sure you'll open the door
To step out into the dark
Now I'm ready!
Ready to Start by Arcade Fire

Dinner at Lulu in Rockwell.

Yummy appetizers. Spring rolls and empanada.

Squash soup. Love the hint of curry and apple sauce.

Chicken risotto.

Seafood pasta with truffles.

Not much of a steak person but this was pretty good.

Forever 21 stripes tank, Isabel Marant denim skirt, random gray vest, silver Schu loafers, purple Cambridge Satchel bag

Nice casual outfit for watching a movie with my siblings and cousins then dinner after. Loving the food at Lulu. It's kind of hidden because it's located outside Powerplant Mall, still in the Rockwell compound though.

Something from Arcade Fire. They totally deserve to win that Grammy.

Lulu is located at Rockwell. It's in the same building as The Ice Cream Bar, next to the Nestle building.

What I Bought: Anthill

2011-04-05T22:42:00.005+08:00

My friends in Cebu have been telling me about Anthill for some time now so I had to check it out during my latest visit to the city.

Anthill is primarily a fabric gallery. But unlike other galleries, you don't only get to choose from a wide assortment of fabrics. They have in-house designers who can come up with designs for you and help you choose which fabrics you should go for.

My fave though is their selection of indigenous fabrics. These are sourced all the way from the Philippine hill tribes. I took forever looking through all the fabrics and choosing which ones to get.

So many amazing indigenous fabrics.

Besides fabric, they also sell local products like RIIR bags. If you're ever in Cebu, do check out this fabric wonderland.

Anthill is located at Mariposa St. Gorodo Ave., Cebu City.

Wrangler FW11

2011-04-05T21:54:00.004+08:00

Loving the Wrangler FW11 lookbook. Skintight jeans, chunky wooden heels, flowy blouses, the perfect flares.

Photo credit: Knight Cat