SIARGAO 2015 TRAVEL DIARY – Siargao Inn Beach Resort

Siargao has been in my bucket list ever since I saw how beautiful its beaches are. Obviously I am a sucker for white sand beaches and clear blue and turquoise waters. Whenever I have the opportunity to travel, I always choose a place where there’s a beach; I may not have the beach body and the confidence to wear two-piece swimsuits and I also don’t know how to swim properly, but the feel of sand under my feet gives me a certain high. 

  Since one of my good friends is coming back to Manila this Summer, and we always make it a point that we will travel whenever she’s on vacation in the Philippines, I booked us a flight to Siargao Island. Most flights to Siargao are quite expensive especially for a regular-earning professional like me, but thank goodness for airfare promos and seat sales that I was able to book a flight to Siargao that was cheaper than normal. There is no direct flight to Siargao, you have to pass by Cebu and board a smaller aircraft to Siargao. There’s only one airport in Siargao – Sayak Airport in Del Carmen town, which is a relatively small airport compared to Caticlan’s or Coron’s airport. Only 1 flight arrives and leaves Sayak airport daily when it’s the lean season; but when there’s a surfing competition Cebu Pacific (the only airline that flies directly to Siargao) opens two flights per day and this is around May to September.

Caipirinha Sunset... ALON Island Essentials’ Summer Kick Off Party

I believe I was destined to be born in a place with warm weather, I easily get cold and can’t even stand to stay long in a place with too much air-conditioning. I love it when sunshine hits my skin, when I feel the sand under my feet and smell the sweet scent of the ocean breeze. I want to believe I am a sea nymph with mermaid dreams…  who doesn’t know how to swim properly and cried the first time she tried to snorkel LOL! But I have slowly overcome them and I plan to take proper swimming lessons very very soon. I also love going to the beach and when it comes to beach fashion, I believe I am more of a resort-type kind of beach girl, I love to wear pretty summer dresses and cover-ups complemented with well-thought of accessories. Speaking of something related to the beach and sea… last weekend I was invited and I attended a pool party entitled Caipirinha Sunset, by my officemate/good friend Leia, to her sister’s ALON Island Essentials’ Summer Kick Off Party. It was the launch of ALON’s Summer 2015 collection and where they also introduced new products and  partner brands. It was held at the pool deck of Bramante Piazza Renaissance Towers in Meralco Avenue, Pasig City. The party had an island vibe complete with soothing music, free massages, summer-inspired food,  drinks and cocktails and a beautiful set up showcasing ALON and its partner brands have to offer. Even though the rain almost threatened the event, the party definitely transported everyone to the beach and made everyone excited for the upcoming Summer.

Sheinside.com's Look On The Bright Side Sale (BUY 1 GET 1 at 50% off)

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson I just love this quote from one of the most renowned authors of all time... In this day and age where the standards of one's  beauty, happiness and success always springs from comparing your self and your life with someone else (or maybe there are people in your lives who  do that for you). That there's always a need to become just like that person or surpass what that person have; and sometimes the motivating factor to be better is not "to be better" but is rooted in greed or worse envy...

A couple of weeks back, I've had a short conversation through email with a fellow blogger who I'm also following. And she told me she's kinda conscious every time she posts on her fashion blog. I told her that we can never please anyone or everyone and she should just continue to do what she loves to do so long as she doesn't do anything offensive to anyone and negative comments are nothing of importance so why bother.

[NEW IN] MY SHEINSIDE.COM COLLECTIVE HAUL #8

If you have been visiting my blog regularly, you might well know that I am a huge fan of Sheinside.com and I mostly get my dresses from this online store. I just love the styles that they release especially those that are from their Pre-Sale Collection; wherein you can buy new arrival clothing items of up to 50% off for a certain length of time and then they will go back to their regular prices after the pre-sale period. Sheinside also offer new promotions every week that helps you score discounts; so whenever I see an item on my wish list that is already on sale, there’s a great possibility that I will add it to my shopping cart.

  But…. this would probably be one of the last few write ups about my Sheinside hauls that I’m going to do. Ever since our local customs got super super strict when it comes to claiming packages sent from outside of the Philippines and that I have to always muscle them out to make them understand that some of these packages were purchased using store bonus points or after joining & winning one or two of Sheinside’s regular giveaways (meaning I got some of them for free).

#WhereToNext? Take Me To Paris!

Travelling is one of the best forms of education, do you agree? Even when we  are still in school, regular field trips are conducted so that students can have first hand experiences on culture and history. And I was one of those who gets excited when our school announces an upcoming field trip. I can definitely attest that I have learned and experience a lot of great things from school field trips. Now that I'm older and has been earning quite enough money, I've been having the yearning to at least make a major travel plan yearly.

 

I would love to travel the world, it's one of the reasons why I make it a point to work hard. If only I am qualified to join The Amazing Race I would have done it years ago. But hey, who knows what the future holds and maybe it is one of God's plan for me to see the world and be in awe of His majestic creations. I'm still young and I still have a lot of years to fulfill my Travel Bucket list. But I'm praying I can cross out one major destination yearly or every two years.

High Heels Rule the World!

High-heeled shoes should also be a girl’s best friend but many dread even the thought of wearing them on a day to day basis. This is because if you’re really not up to the challenge of wearing them, it can be tiresome especially for those who have back, knee and feet problems. Very few people are comfortable wearing high heels for longer hours, including myself; yet I must say I envy women who can stand and walk on heels and make it look so effortless.
 

I rarely wear high-heels nowadays, I don’t know if I am already too old for them but since I commute to and fro from my where I work, wearing high heels is not a pretty good option. I’m also kinda lazy to bring a pair of heels so I can wear them when I arrive at work and then just remove them before I go home. Although I once in awhile I do wear heels especially when I am to attend a very special occasion or event; or when I really need to be dressed up.

Sheinside 2015 Spring Must-Haves Sale!

Spring is here! I sound so excited even if in a tropical country like where I live, we don’t have that season called, Spring. But that doesn't mean that our fashion senses, as Filipinos, are not going to be influenced by the spring fashion elsewhere in the world. Spring is a celebration of the timeless and elegant magic of nature, so expect the bright spring colors, fauna and flora to be an immortalized.

 
One of my favorite online stores, Sheinside.com is never late when it comes to the current trends so I regularly check their website to see what they have to offer and this brand is giving us a lesson in spring trends with its new Spring collection. You got to check out their pretty tops, dresses, and add a punch of statement accessory pieces to fully embody spring.  

Lace Lovin' from SammyDress

I love clothes made or adorned with laces. If you would rummage through my wardrobe, you would find a lot of pieces with lace details. I have this somewhat soft spot for anything lace, maybe because I associate it with anything old world and I like to believe that I am an old soul and that in my past life I lived in an era that clothes are more elaborate and delicately-made. I believe that my clothes made of or adorned with lace are the prettiest pieces in my wardrobe and I just can’t get enough of them!

I certainly believe that any piece of clothing or accessory when lace is added transforms that item into something that is chic, elegant, vintage, feminine and royal-worthy. Lace is such a timeless creation; it's probably one of those textile pieces that have been used in a thousand and one ways since time immemorial. Also, have you noticed that lace clothing pieces never go out of style; they always dominate the fashion scene whatever the season maybe.

Sheinside.com's St. Patrick’s Day Sale!

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious celebration occurring annually on 17 March, the death date of the most commonly-recognized patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. It is a celebration of the heritage and culture of the Irish in general, celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks

According to Wikipedia, wearing of the green on St. Patrick's Day it is customary to wear shamrocks and/or green clothing or accessories. St Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant.  The color green has been associated with Ireland since at least the 1640s, when the green harp flag was used by the Irish Catholic Confederation. Green ribbons and shamrocks have been worn on St Patrick's Day since at least the 1680s. Green was adopted as the color of the Friendly Brothers of St Patrick, an Irish fraternity founded in about 1750. In the 1790s, green became associated with Irish nationalism when it was used by the United Irishmen. The phrase "wearing of the green" comes from a song of the same name, which laments United Irishmen supporters being persecuted for wearing green. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the color green and its association with Saint Patrick's Day grew.

Prom Dresses 2015 in Daydream Colors

The color of the Spring-Summer 2015 season of fashion is moving towards the cooler and softer side of the spectrum. Ethereal mix of bright colors, pale pastels and nature-like neutrals are going to take the spotlight as the fashion world draws their inspirations from daydream colors of simpler times. Remembrances of retro delights, folkloric and floral art, and the magical worlds of tropical landscapes restore a sense of well-being as we all head into warmer months of Spring until Summer.

Color choices follow the same minimalist, in plain air’ theme -- which are taking a cue from nature rather than being reinvented or manipulated. Soft, cool hues blend with subtle warm tones to create a soothing escape from the everyday hustle and bustle. Just enough to remind us that we need to take a breather and experience more of nature so as not to get lost with our fast-paced lifestyles.