my I-want-to-go-out-but-the-pandemic-is-still-going-on look today

As always, watch out for affiliate links up ahead as you continue reading this post. I earn from every purchase or so from those links and at the same time, they are to support this blog...as well as my other social media accounts (twitter: @kristagrace_s; and instagram: @kristagraces_17, primarily), too.

another of the 58 Php/a piece dresses in super adorable floral-printed white from Jhewel Shop Ph on shopee, long-handle produces net bag from ekkoganic on shopee, thrifted/vintage crocheted sweater

I'm itching to go out but at the same time, I'm good being on my hermit era after some weekends and some weekdays of being out for different reasons.

Yes. I had one of the 5? 6? summery-print mini-dresses I got from Jhewel Shop Ph on Shopee PH some time back...around middle of this month. A few more of me on this will trickle here little by little as we move into November 7-8 where I'll be going somewhere...at that time. Where? I'm not answering this question until later. ....probably...when I get there already. Haha. Hah.

Seriously, this batch of dresses from this shopee PH shop is just, ugh, the bestest and just 58 Php a piece? That's 1 USD to you who aren't here in the Philippines, ugh. Just sooo good I can wear these things anywhere and to just about every event---mostly parties, most likely. Haha. Lunch and dinner dates, too, and more. I'm still waiting until I can dress these things up and down with fun accessories like knee-high, above-the-knee, thigh-high socks and/or tights! Expect me to bring some of the dresses from this order with me to wherever I am going on November 7-8!

Today was a rainy day and tonight is slightly chilly. The crocheted white sweater I got from some thrifting excursion a long time ago came in handy today to keep the summery chill away. And in case you didn't notice, yes, I have a new space for outfit shots here at home. It's the veranda on the second floor where my room is, too! I'll still shoot down on the driveway, by the gate from time to time, of course. The latter is still my favorite place to shoot more than this new one.  

On another topic, I turned a year older back in September 17, by the way. I'm not entirely sure how to feel. I didn't have any celebration done, or at least nothing big anyway. I just treated myself to instant South Korean rice cake snack, tteokbokki, and a solo box of banana milk I bought to-go from K. House Korean Ramen and Street Food. There was also cake from mom, the usual Red Ribbon one, and that's it. It was that simple a celebration. I'm not one for huge parties for birthdays as I prefer to spend it to myself and just chill and relax, do nothing at all that's work-related or so. My birthday, for me, is that one day in the year (or a whole weekend) that I can have to myself and just rest and relax in---self-care and stuff. I'd love to travel, too, maybe go to the beach on this day or weekend, if it falls on the weekend. 

How about you? How do you spend your birthdays yearly?

And...here're more photos from this afternoon:

Primadonna heels (old)

More details to come in a bit. After this quick paragraph long chatter on what is going on with the shopping platforms around South East Asia (SEA), particularly the regional ones of 2, Shopee and Lazada, here in the Philippines.

Both Shopee and Lazada are regional and operate around the different countries here in South East Asia. Both shopping apps and websites are owned by the Chinese. Jack Ma's Alibaba owns Lazada and I'm not entirely sure who owns Shopee but I do remember it being said by most to have a Chinese big boss up there, too, like the former. And yes, because my favorite shopping platform (site), Zalora, can get expensive, I have been buying some stuff from around the region on Shopee.

If you follow twitter and my fangirling and real life stuff account there, @kg_0917, and follow what the thing/s with Shopee is lately, you'll know they've committed one blunder after another in the last two weeks or so including this week. They downsized and laid off a good number of their employees then brought in a personality/celebrity as their endorser in that's hated by many because of her being an apologist (of this current admin), a peddler of fake news, misinformation, and more. Many have threatened to boycott. I was among those but I realized, it's hard for me to boycott this one because there are some sellers from here in the Mindanao Island I'm in that I sort of support there. I occasionally buy some vegan canned goods from a shop there ran by a Cebu City-native and lately, I've bought some packages stuffers there I'm giving out to some friends from here in my city and in Metro Manila (the NCR - National Capital Region) and Davao City. The latter, I bought from a shop based in Zamboanga City, my dad's home city. I like supporting those who are from this area I'm in: the Visayas islands and Mindanao (were my city, Davao City, and Zamboanga City are in).

The only consolation for me here is I very rarely shop online and offline, anyway, so I don't think I really have to boycott? I'm planning to do more shopping or buying from the other app and site now, Lazada, for the more everyday things, though. Shopee (shipping and hidden) fees can be too much, to be honest. Lazada seems to have the better vouchers, promotions, etc. that can help me, people in general with getting bigger savings per purchase---and we all need those these days, savings.

I have no problem at all with those who have decided to boycott the online selling app and site. I also don't mind if many have deactivated their accounts there. I'm staying for a bit, still, until the shops I follow move or so, or I move out of this country for stuff, or whatever reason, I mean. I just have to buy from Shopee PH less for now, especially those things I kind of need monthly (online groceries, household stuff, and more).

You can look up Shopee PH on twitter to see what the chatter on this is all about if this bit here piqued your curiosity on it somehow.

What is my opinion on all of this? I don't like the new endorser since she came out as an apologist of the guy who's up top our nation rn and his family. (I'm definitely among those who dislike but not really hate her. I think it's more like, I pity her because I've heard stories about her and her cheating husband.) But I just can't leave the site and app yet because I have some stores and store owners from this region I follow there. I'm definitely not using that site and app for selling. I've heard how annoying and exorbitant their fees are and how they are unfair to the sellers who've opened shop there so yep, I'm sticking to ebay PH and instagram and using our local/domestic couriers that's not really JNT Express. Haha. Hah.

Anyway, here are more of me in the vintage, thrifted long ago crocheted sweater:

the headband is DIY-ed from a long time ago. It's made from some excess fabric from some ts I cut up to make them shorter

I DIY stuff from time to time, yes. I might one day make a post featuring some of those I've DIYed over the years like this headband made from excess clothes.

I still have a lot of photos from this afternoon's game of dressing up because Friday and I'm bored and kind of want to go out but can't (money pleaaassee! ....so I can go out. Haha! Hah).

I'll just give you a sneak peek of the next post (the chingkeetea part 2 of the two-parter for this one I have in mind will have to be moved further up, maybe later this month again. Heh) instead.

dangling earrings are from my grandma from some time ago, native-ish bracelet and rings are from good old Aizilim in Cogon Market here in CdeO/CDO and Bagel Girl in SM Downtown CdeO/CDO. For the ones in the photo in the middle of this collage, they'll be named/identified in the next post!

Here's a peek of what's to come in a bit. Close-ups of this afternoon's accessories and some very current, recent obsessions (more like, favorites) of mine. 

I'll talk more about these things on beauty, make-up, or cosmetics in the next post!

Until the next post then! :) 

P.S.

I now have a Buy Me A Coffee account! Feel free to donate (for coffee though I am not much of a coffee drinker, haha---I'm more of a fruit tea drinker lately and oh, I'm into South Korean barley and brown rice tea, too!) for at least 1 coffee or 2 (or more) in support of this blog and my other social media accounts: twitter, @kristagrace_s; and instagram, @kristagraces_17! I'll try to keep these as updated as possible with things you may find interesting enough to follow me on those accounts and here! 

P.P.S.

Miss Rona, the COVID 19-causing virus is still here and making her rounds around people so please, please, PLEASE still mask up even if it's optional now. ....or being tested to make it optional in the near future here and nationwide in the Philippines. This is not only to protect yourself but others, the more vulnerable ones, around you as well. I continue to mask to this day, yes, whenever I am outside. I'm just at home in these photos and I'm socially distanced, most of the time, with people here at home so yes, I hardly wear a mask at home unless I'm sick with something.

Let's protect ourselves and one another, still, to this day!

back to my favorite place

 

vneck shirt, bench ph; skirt, f101 via zalora ph; heels, primadonna via zalora ph; wristlet, coach (gifted by aunt); mobile phone, samsung a21s; rings, mix of bagel girl at sm downtown premiere & aizilim cdeo; necklaces, forever21 & aizilim cdeo; earrings, sm uptown cdo superstore (the accessories section), pretty old; sunglasses, forever21 gifted by bff michi; bracelets, mix of necklace as bracelet gifted by aunt & aizilim cdeo; headband, I forgot...either forever21 or robinsons' department store's or sm superstore's accessories section. lol.

If I'm frowning in some photos, it's because it's really hot outside and it's already November. That's the Philippines for you. It's always hot during the day of the -ber months going into the end of the year, December. It only gets cooler during the late afternoon and evening and even then, it's not really THAT cool. It is cooler in the mountain area, though, so there's that at least. In the morning, it also gets pretty cold.

This headband is the only thing in pink I'm wearing for now. I don't really have a lot of pink in my closet but I'm working around to filling that up with accessories mostly and some tshirts.

Tshirts and tanks... This week, those seem to be the only things I'm wearing now to work from home. I haven't gone out this whole week and I don't see myself going out until next week either. Well, I am a homebody through and through.

I stocked up on tshirts and tanks last year and two years ago from Terranova in Limketkai Mall and Bench via Zalora Ph online. I'm crossing out Bench from my list of stores I buy from though...not because they lack in quality with the stuff they sell but because...because...there's this one politician they feature on an ad I'm not too into and that also caused more to call for the boycott of the brand. There are, unfortunately, a lack of local stores that sell basic shirts, tanks and stuff. You can go with H&M, sure, but that would cost a bit and our Forever21 here in SM Downtown Premiere actually just closed down last year so I've no choice but to get basics from there online through Lazada or better yet, Zalora. Paying for shipping is going to cost much in the long run but with the novel corona virus still around and still mutating...it's really not like we have any other choice but to get stuff online.

At least I have basic tops to last me awhile until I need to stock up again later. Heh.

I'm currently eyeing some pink shirts that may be affordable for me. I'll think about those yet...well...actually, it's only one from Clothes and Coffee. You can still shop their site here but they're also shopee here. I've been browsing the site and their shopee but I haven't really found anything I'm too into except some pink shirts. Their bottoms are definitely interesting though, especially the trousers which I lack much in the wardrobe. I only have about...two trousers I wear interchangeably when I go to offices so I'd love to add more one day. 

I'm thinking about posting daily from next week although I may have work to do towards the end of this week and some of next week as someone just offered me one on one site I'm in so we'll see how this goes. I might have to schedule these shoots daily though and, of course, the posts. 

the most comfortable bodysuit from essentiel manila on shopee

 

bodysuit, Essentiel Manila on Shopee Philippines (it's sadly gone there now); skirt, from a shop in Dumaguete City I forgot the name of, lol; platform heels, Zalora Philippines; socks, burlington; wallet/wristlet, coach (gifted by an aunt, old); rings, a mix of bagel girl in SM Downtown Premier Cagayan de Oro and Aizilim, old; sunglasses, forever21 (gifted by bff Michi); necklaces, mix of Aizilim and forever21 (old)

Sucky indoor lighting doesn't do this outfit any justice, especially the bodysuit from Essentiel Manila on shopee. If you squint on the photos, it's actually in the shade of nude.

This overexposed photo tells much about its color and somehow captures it so much better:

Ugh. This thing, this square-necked, tanktop type bodysuit is soooo...so comfortable I don't know how I only bought one of this when I could have stocked up on more back then. To date, I only own a couple of bodysuits. One from, yes, Essentiel Manila and another I got from a shop called Tops in Ayala Centrio some two to three years ago pre-pandemic era. I don't know where the latter one has gone to but I'm pretty sure it's somewhere in my closet. I'll try to dig that one up some other time as this one from Essential Manila already is working for me for everyday wear or just weekend comfy wear these days.

Unfortunately, Essential Manila doesn't carry bodysuits anymore but they do have some interesting onesies in nude, black, white and gray colors and they look really just as comfortable as most of the clothes they sell in there so yep, one might as well stock up on those. I predict we'll be staying in for quite a loooong time thanks to Miss 'rona still mutating to worse strains to this day.

I got this with a bunch of other things last year or around late ish 2019 because I felt I needed more clothes just for comfortably staying in since it was at that time we were given the orders to work from home. Back then, Essentiel Manila still had their own website and you didn't have to buy from them via shopee like you have to, now.

I bought stuff in two batches and some clothes I got from there still remain unworn to this day. 

I mostly bought clothes to wear at home like tops and shorts sets you can mix and match in linen, ribbed cotton, cotton and cotton-spandex cloth blends and the likes in two batches so to me, those were money well spent. I only went past 1000 Php (around approximately 20 USD) on both times but nowhere above 1500 Php, I'm sure. Their shorts are expandable due to the garterized waistband and most have laces you can ribbon or tie them with. Quite similar to some run shorts and others actually. Some shorts and tops sets only have gaterized waist bands and no laces to ribbon them or tie them up with to a snug fit. 

When buying from Essentiel Manila, however, do be careful and pay attention to the sizing of the products they sell. I have one top still unworn to this day (tried it once but...) because it's too small on me even though it looked like it could stretch on some parts of it. I also have a pair of silk shorts from them that probably would fit me better if I were two sizes smaller from my current one (thank you, Miss 'Rona and the pandemic for making me gain weight...not. I'd like to lose them because I don't really like gaining weight, to be honest, and would rather prefer to be my xs-s self from way back...). The latter actually broke or tore on some parts of it. Lol.

A good number of Essentiel Manila's wares run xs-s. Some, like this bodysuit I currently have on, run xs/s-medium so they're a good fit for those the likes of me that have grown some 1-2 sizes larger from their usual size sometime ago in the past. For those with larger frames, the occasionally do offer some clothes that run up to semi-large or large (oversized) so don't write the shop off if you can't find anything your size. A piece of advice when shopping at Essentiel Manila is to check the product descriptions for how small or big their stuff runs to. This can give you an idea which items are worth adding to your cart to and which aren't. You can save yourself the grief of buying stuff that don't fit you when you take my word for it and do this before checking your items out.

This bodysuit makes me so, soooo happy because it's so comfortable to lounge in at home and if you ever decide to go out, it's just as easy to throw in a decent bottom to complete the going out look and you're good to go! This thing will definitely see more wears from me until it falls apart. Lol. I hope it doesn't fall apart so easy.

Essentiel Manila stuff are so easy to play around with, no lies, that a bunch of orders from there is definitely worth your time and money browsing the site and checking out when you feel like getting the items in your shopping cart already. There are only so few items from my purchases in the past from there that I kind of regretted upon getting them. 

Some bodysuits I'm currently looking at to add to this one is this from the style capital in pink. It looks pretty and fun with the buttons and that it comes in a color I try to work around my outfits some 2-3 days a week due to...well...you know...is just...ugh. So, soo good. I think the small or the medium would be a good fit on me. I'm pretty sure it's stretchable anyway. Bodysuits and onesies, rompers and the likes normally are. These are Bershka overruns so they seem pretty cool. These from DNEMNLPH look similar to the one I have on, too, and dare I say they might feel the same and just as cozy and comfy in real life. This one from Trendibl Shop is also quite interesting and it's only sold for 99 Php (less than 2 USD). I think I might have seen it from Essentiel Manila way back but never really paid attention to it so I never got one of these then.

For something probably of better quality than this one and comes in different sizes so you can choose easier which fits you best, here are some pricier bodysuits I'm looking at on Zalora Philippines: this one from ONLY is really cute with lace and looks very, very comfortable. It comes in white, black and nude or beige, I think and is quite romantically styled so if you're bored of regular spandex and cotton blended ones with simple, basic styling or the ribbed ones, then this is the way to go. It is expensive though and way out of my budget at the moment so I can only stalk it for now. lol. Sizes s/m and m/l looks like they would fit me fine (I normally fit small in Zalora Philippines...it depends on how they run, normally, like should they run large or should they run small...if it's the latter, it's usually a smart idea to upsize once or twice). This pink fun number from Pomelo is on sale at only 500+ Php! I would so get this if I had enough in my bank account but alas, I still need to look for a writing or whatever that has to do with that, gig on Monday so...yeah. Later, fun bodysuit from Pomelo in a pretty (but not really my favorite) color. /cries. I hope that when I finally have a budget for zalora purchases either this year or next year, I can still get this thing somehow. Ugh. Oh...so they also have this in black! Fun! This pink one from Mango comes in black and brown colors but 2500+ Php is a price I would spend on something else for now. RIP our wallets just on really good, decent clothes that hopefully last a lifetime, or close. I do dig the top part of it though, how it's structure and seemed designed for really comfortable wear whatever occasion you decide to put this bodysuit on in. Both are available in medium so... but no. I don't have the budget for these yet. Then this sheer black one (also available in m!) from Trendyol looks fun to wear with very cute bralettes (lace lingerie!). It's priced below 1000 Php but still pretty unaffordable for me. I can dream about this one, though. Just. I've been after see-through stuff like this for a while now but never just seem to get lucky to get any. Ugh. When I find something like this on sale like it is now, I have no money to get it, at all. /cries. And when you're on Zalora, of course, you can never go wrong with Zalora Basics, my favorite of their multiple lines now on that shopping site, this one in pink with black buttons look nice and seems like it'd go anything. It's also available in black and beige. 290+ Php for a piece of this? That's a good price! A decent deal from the site already~ This one from H&M with the tiny blue flower print is really cute! And still available in m which is, like my size these days.

Oh and wow, even Terranova is already on Zalora. Today, I learned. They have some things I like where basics go and lately, it's them I like for those or Forever21 or Zalora Basics. H&M has been on Zalora for a while now, of course. Cotton On and Mango, too. 

If you notice, I veer away from the long-sleeved and fancy-looking bodysuits. I like my bodysuits comfortable for staying in and just lounging around the house, working from home and getting up and going out. I prefer them casual and I'm really always into dressing for the usual, yearly weather conditions or the climate. I think my limit, when it comes to bodysuits, is the short sleeved ones. I would only try the long-sleeved ones if they were like Trendyol's sheer one here. 

The photos above aren't very clear so here are more details of today's I-want-to-go-out-but-let's-still-stay-in outfit:

I'm still on my choker/necklace as bracelets agenda, apparently. I should probably consider getting new accessories to spruce up home clothes types or home to going out clothes types out some more. My accessories are getting kind of old and tried.

Well, if they still work fine then, they're still worth wearing in an out of the house, I suppose. The last ones I ever really bought were the studs I could wear on random days out doing errands from Aizilim in Cogon Market here. They usually have these stainless steel stuff that cost a fraction of those you see in the malls that I prefer for everyday use. Studs, because they're not heavy on the ears and go really well with any basic in my closet which I have A TON of.

*****

I think around 1 p.m. in the afternoon isn't the best time to shoot outfit shots due to the natural lighting from outside. Afternoons are becoming cloudy because it tends to rain sometime around 4-5 o'clock here and sometimes, at night. It's the wet/rainy season so we're getting a lot of afternoon and evening rain week in and out more than usual...like when, vs summer.

I woke up early today, got ready for the day just as early but I didn't really decide to shoot this outfit until later in the afternoon because I was editing a blog post on my LiveJournal. I also decided against shooting outside because I thought it might rain then and there and it's really becoming a pain now lugging my heels, tripod and camera with me, setting up for the shoot only to get rained on so yeah, indoor shoot it is. Also, hi to my messy bannister. Some of the jackets like the zip-up hoodie I take out when on the go and the denim oversized shirt are all hanged up there, too, with my bath towel. lol. I'm not exactly the most organized person here at home.

Note to self: try to shoot around 8-9 in the morning because it's the best time to and it has the best natural lighting indoors, in the same space as the photos here as well.  

*****

It's around 2 years now or so that I've neglected to post my wishlist for Christmas and my dream outfits for occasions like birthdays and beach trips...well, for the latter, we have Miss 'Rona to blame regarding how I'm uninspired now about that one because I haven't been to the beach or the pool in, like, a couple of years or so now so...since we're some weeks deep into November and it's going to be December soon, I might have to do the annual Zalora Philippines Christmas wish list post soon and also, the gift recommendations post to friends and family while I'm at it.

We'll see... 

You'll definitely have to stay tuned to this space of mine for that!

And yes, I still don't really shop stuff in the mall these days. It looks like it's real easy to get COVID 19 from unventilated spaces like those no matter how big a space they have inside and even if some have outside dining areas or so (al fresco). It's near Christmas and this time last year or the year before that, I recall Ayala Centrio buzzing with people come around night time and I was only in Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's open air dining area from around 3 or so in the afternoon until an hour and a half or so later then. Thank heavens for the likes of Zalora Philippines, Shopee, Lazada, and even Instagram now (I like shopping or just window shopping some people's vintage or thrift shops there, yes), we, I don't have to go out at all to shop gifts for people near and dear to us, me.

the mexican-philippine connection: dia de los muertos and UNDAS

 

mini dress, zalora philippines (old), probably not so clear in the photos but it's there underneath the cardigan; lace cardigan, vintage; necklaces, a mix of aizilim cdeo and forever21; rings, a mix of aizilim, bagel girl via sm downtown premier cdeo, forever21; heels, primadonna via zalora philippines (old); tights, random department store find (gaisano, I think, the 50 Php ish ones probably meant for one-time wear); devil horn headband (unseen here but in later photos, might be seen more), national bookstore (old); skull tealight/candle holder, daiso cdeo

A closer, better lighted look at tonight's outfit

I never dressed up as anything or anyone the 31st of October, back a few days ago or so but I had to, come November 2, Philippines' time. Here, it's still what we call UNDAS (November 1-All Saints' Day and November 2-All Souls' Day). Googling it earlier tonight, I'm surprised to find all of October 31 to November 2 in Mexico is actually Dia de Muertos or Dia de los Muertos which is basically almost what UNDAS here is. To westerners, it's the Halloween weekend so most of the time, I just refer to it as the Halloween weekend since such holidays continue 'til the 2nd of November anyway. It's the short 2-3 days we actually remember the dead here and yes, abroad, including in Mexico. I've always read from others how similar some Philippine holidays are to Mexico and customs and traditions and the likes but I never figured out 'til now how close it is until I googled dia de los muertos and UNDAS tonight. Just one thing about this though, I wish I'm better at makeup for costuming because I really dig the makeup for this Mexican occasion I often see when I google pictures of them like this one here from pinterest:

Hopefully I can one day learn this and get the hang of it because with the pandemic, I feel like all my creative energies have really dried up that even this halloween weekend shoot came out quite dry and uninspired (to me, anyway, I don't really know much how it is with the rest of you) even when I feel like I've put enough effort to it.

I was in Jasaan with the family overnight from Sunday 'til morning of Monday this week so I never got to work on a Halloween shoot until tonight. What I did there is your typical way Filipinas like me sort of celebrate the occasion growing up: watched Tumbok (a Filipino horror film) on TV5; Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho's Halloween special on GMA; and then waited for Yang Yoseob's set on MCountdown until 12 midnight aired also on TV5. I would have done this Halloweeny shoot in Jasaan but I didn't have a lot of my creepy ish, cool stuff with me and it was more a time to spend with family---three to four generations of it from my grandparents to my parents to my younger brother and cousin---so yeah, quite a busy overnight trip one with chores and stuff at my grandparents' before I got to lie on the couch and chill to these things on tv I mentioned I watched 'til 12-ish midnight. For some reason, I don't sleep well there so I only ever got 2-3 hours of sleep until 7:30 Monday morning.

I'm not entirely sure what I'm aiming for, for this Halloween shoot in terms of costume. LOL. Just your regular gothic, devil girl, I guess. I've been watching some horror films here and some fantasy new and old ones too but nothing has inspired me to dress up as anyone...yet...really. We'll see next Halloween, 2022 Halloween. Hopefully something good in mind comes up where this goes. Again, I just really feel uninspired lately. It's definitely the pandemic effect. It is still going on 'til now despite how there're more people out now in malls and such. (Philippines NEEDS more public spaces because malls aren't really good ones to be in when we have a pandemic still going on. Ugh. I just count myself lucky I'm in the Mindanao island so we have beaches and the likes when we need to be out and not in the super crowded malls. Heh.) Either way, watch me dress up as a unicorn maybe in 2022 as I'm soooo...this close to getting a unicorn headband or something like it, actually. 

Going back to the subject of Mexico, I've been having the urge to check on some telenovelas as of late. I'm not entirely sure why. I guess it has to do with TV5 re-airing Thalia's Maria La Del Barrio dubbed in Filipino/Tagalog. We did get a lot of her telenovela here in our local tv networks back in the day so I saw Thalia's shows a lot growing up. A lot of Philippine tv dramas/shows are actually telenovela-ish if that ever says anything about how similar our country is and its practices, including tv contents, to Mexico. I'm currently thinking about getting into Reina de Corazones. Or...is there any other you can suggest I get into? I'm not too into these things because I normally dislike how convoluted the story gets plus long *ss episodes of a telenovela but, yeah, I guess I now have better, newfound patience for telenovelas if I'm currently craving to watch them/get into them after a long while now. I'll see about which telenovela I can preoccupy myself with one of these days. Heh.

to rename it or not to rename it? that is the question

 

old red wristlet/clutch, Ninewest; old heels, Primadonna (they just gave up on me yesterday but probably nothing a rugby could fix or a quick trip to the shoe fixers or so; old shorts, Mags Ph/Cagayan de Oro City; tank top, thrifted; old wristlet pouch, Coach; bracelets and rings, a mix of Aizilim CdeO & Bagel Girl in SM Downtown CdeO Premier; earrings, shesells.cdo on instagram; headband, f21)

Yesterday.

At the moment, I'm thinking about renaming this blog to something related to pink as it's something I'm wearing a lot of lately in support of something and someone. It, ofc, has to do with the incoming National Elections of my country, the Philippines, next year. I'm turning this blog into one that chronicles my wearing pink in tiny, digestible doses because pink is a color that I can only ever get into, in certain shades (old rose; blush; rose gold; sometimes neon or bright or hot pink when I feel like the outfit of the day's too dull; dusty pink) or in bits and pieces of accessories like jewelry, bags and some others.

Some random, additional photos from my phone I posted on Twitter yesterday for a closer glimpse at all the pink details glory. My phone takes really good photos. It's a Samsung A21s and I'm glad I randomly bought a tripod for it like I did my camera awhile back on Lazada Philippines! Not the best tripods but well, they're alright.

Either way, I've already sealed my fate in as last night, I ended up ordering fuchsia pink face masks in 50s for going out. They're the regular surgical 3-ply kind I'm keeping to myself so there's that. Now that I think of it, I should've bought 2 boxes or packs because it seems my family is also on board with this same someone I'm supporting into the 2022 National Elections here in the Philippines. Yeah, I should've bought two boxes, one for myself, one for my family. Maybe next time. The other two boxes I got were the regular blue ones. A darker shade of blue and also a bit brighter than the tame one I usually get of the regular surgical masks for a day or two's going out in a week or so. Anyway, next time, I'm getting 2-3 boxes of the fuchsia pink kind and sharing it with everyone here at home. Haha.

*****

I haven't been feeling like taking much photos lately. I'd chalked it up to the pandemic shutting us all in but it's done so much more than just that, to be honest. In my case, it's made me sooo unmotivated to do anything else other than eat, try to survive and not even do anything else sooo active so it may be why I feel so fat lately and do not feel like taking pictures of outfits and all, at all these days. Anyone else feeling this way? Unmotivated and uninspired? And also, still scared of contracting the virus even when one's already fully vaccinated with a booster shot on the way? I've just been fully vaccinated some time ago and I still feel the same.

It's why I'm thankful that we get the opportunity here to support someone and her progressive platform and advocacies into PH National Elections 2022. It gives me an excuse to dress up and wear bits and pieces of pink on what we call #KakamPinkWednesdays and any other days we get to wear something pink out. It's like, I can finally style some things again, yay? And I just also ordered some of her supporters' merch I'm excited about debuting here, too, among other things. I'm going to fix them first once I receive them in the mail because I have a specific plan for the shirt especially. 

*****

I definitely did not mean to drop off the face of the earth after one post a week or two ago. The thing is that I also tend to two other blogs after this one and I have a lot of unfinished drafts in all three and a lot of my time, I tend to spend more on the blue bird app instead or browsing instagram shops especially those selling secondhand, thrifted stuff because I feel like there's really not much else to do anyway. I'm also still writing some fanfiction I doubt I'll ever finish...in the Jimmy Neutron universe ish because I really am turning into a huge fan or shipper of Jimmy and Cindy so... Yeah, those things, I'm keeping myself busy with, lately. 

I also have a discord server now, Chill Out Space, and there's a Halloween event going on there no one's biting yet. It's a ghost stories and such sharing event there that later will culminate with an online Halloween costume party because, really, we're all still stuck at home anyway so...yeah. Yep, It's not that I'm slacking off. Well, partly, it's that. I'm mostly procrastinating. LOL. But yeah, I'm keeping myself busy lately.

Yay to another post on how to wear pink stuff next week? I'll try to vary things where this goes.

About fitness, I've taken to going back to doing long walks around the city, especially the city center at least once every week or every 2 weeks or so. I feel like it's the least I can do though I do think about doing jump rope once in a while. Hopefully I can establish an exercise or workout regimen I can do almost daily or so before I go back to doing work I can earn from. Teaching in the public school is the plan and so are temporary writing, editing, proofreading gigs on Upwork that pays so let's see... I really need a more balanced lifestyle soon. Hopefully.

PS

I'm officially naming this weekly post a how to wear pink and have pink stuff around you series. I'm more of a fan of dull colors and especially blue so this is new...ish. If I want brighter colors, pink isn't it for me, I lately am into a lot of yellow, rust and some orange so there's that too. 

valentines day look and a bit of the 59th Grammys

 vintage dress, mags shorts, forever21 arm cuff/bracelet and heels, jessica simpson straw fedora, aizilim bracelet/cuff and heart necklace, LC Lauren Conrad bracelet, smashbox (in Ayala Centrio) choker

Valentines day outfit. So what do y'guys plan to do on this day? I've been meaning to watch about three or four episodes of Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo (Casefiles of Young Kindaichi)'s valentines day case...I'll probably do this tonight. I'll try to locate it on a streaming site for animes or I'm pretty sure I have them somewhere in my local hard drive/disk storage. 

Music talk: Yesterday was the Grammy's. How really good was that Prince tribute from The Time and Bruno Mars?! One huge highlight for the show yesterday, that one was for me. Adele's tribute to George Michael was pretty disappointing---the Grammy's really should have prepared something more for this as GM is pretty iconic to me as a pop music enthusiast and sometimes critic. I really like Lukas Graham but they should've been given a different segment to Kelsea Bellarini as I haven't been a fan of country music in forever outside of maybe Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood so they could show their own shine because, seriously, 7 Years isn't the only magnificent song from this band...there are a few others I like from them on their youtube channel. Twenty One Pilots winning the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Stressed Out had me over the moon granted this one was such a surprise win. I love about 3 to 4 tracks from their record, Blurryface so I had been so pumped for them and Lukas Graham being nominated in a number of categories. Katy Perry going political was also a thing for me however subtle that one was. Hmn...what else am I missing? I guess that's pretty much it. I'm not a huge fan of either Beyonce or Adele seeing as I hardly listen to mainstream pop. Criticisms on the Grammys yesterday: they really need to fix the sound problems they have which is present on a yearly basis---it messed up Adele's GM tribute and the Metallica and Lady Gaga performance among others; and hmn...I think it's high time the governing body behind the awards show let someone of a different skin color or race win, by this I mean Beyonce. The Beyhive has been thirsting/hungering for her to win some of the most coveted Grammy's awards like Album of the Year, Song of the Year and more, anyway. I think it would also be nice if they moved more of the pre-telecast awarding to the main show so there's a decent ratio of the performances and the awards. I'm sure I have a few others in mind but these two are the most I can name for now. Will I be watching the Grammy's next year? I'm not all that sure yet if technicalities like this continue but to be honest, the Grammy's is really the only awards show I watch year in and year out as I'm not that fond of film and tv show awards for some reason...this includes the Oscars that's happening in two weeks from the Grammy's. I watch a mixture of indie films and mainstream films so I don't really see the point of keeping tabs on awards shows. I should say the same for music as I listen to a mixture too but yeah...I still probably would not let things like the Grammy's pass seeing as I don't really follow the AMAs (American Music Awards) and more.

button-front skirt day

 random cut-up t (from Lee Plaza's men's section in Dumaguete City); vintage buttoned-front skirt; zalora boots; SR Squared by Sondra Roberts bag; aizilim, gifted (from aunt) and vintage bracelets/bangles; forever21 arrow necklace; aizilim necklaces; dad's sunnies

Some days of the month, I don't trust myself to wear denim shorts...

last Friday 2.0

photos by Candice Calonia

vintage blazer and bag, Bench tank, forever21 skirt and arrow necklace, zalora heels, aizilm rings and necklaces, LC Lauren Conrad bracelet 

The rest of the shoot from last Friday with the best girl friend since the last year of high school. 

friday weekend

(photos by Candice Calonia, collages by me)

Me thinks you'll have to click on the photos to enlarge. Outfit details are already on the first collage.

Today was afternoon chai tea latte with the best girl friend; frolicking around SM...well, outside of it, anyway, and tonight is for just chilling to music.

Music talk here (this corner might've been missed...lots...well, I miss it anyway): Has anyone listened to the new record from Jpop boygroup/boyband/dance and vocal group, Da-iCE? Next Phase is a really solid album, by the by...I could say it was even better than their previous two. Paradive, Bond and Two as One have become my favorites off of it and news is (as told to me just now by a good friend on twitter), the full music videos for the latter two are out on their Universal Music Japan channel. Inner me just went 'yay!' I'll check those two out in a bit. I've been bopping to those three, especially the former two (and Fantasy) for the past few days now. Here's Bond's full version to bop to, tonight:

 

....and I am probably off to watch an anime or two tonight. I have yet to finish a Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo movie/episode special based on a light novel (Opera house murder case 3, if I'm not mistaken). It's that or I'll binge watch any anime of the horror genre I can find on a streaming site tonight. It is Friday. I've been...uh...reconnecting with my inner aniota (anime otaku) recently that I've kept at bay for eons now. I'm still really picky on animes to watch lately and often times, I just keep away from it because, like in the case of Kindaichi, it doesn't really follow the manga to the t anyway. I usually only watch classics though, except Sailor Moon's because I can't stand its 90s anime---I am of the opinion that Sailor Moon Crystal trumps the 90s anime because it follows the manga closer than the 90s anime ever did and I'm a known humongous fangirl of the manga...effectively owning a copy of its first volume bought from Barnes & Noble around late 2015 to early 2016. As for the newer manga serializations and hmn...animes...I'm only interested in Twin Star Exorcists...but more the manga than the anime. I'll get to reading this shounen series when it gets closer to its end. I don't think the manga artist and writer has started with its climax/last arc anyway. It seems to already be midway however. But for the record, I don't really consider myself an aniota. I just watch these things casually: just when something interesting of this sort comes into my radar. I don't cosplay---halloween costuming-up, I'd do, however---nor attend anime expos either.

If all else fails and nothing of the anime variety ends up piquing my interest tonight other than the Kindaichi special/film...I'm going to get into one or two indie or indie-ish movies I've been keeping on storage for a while now. This is to rectify the failure of the bff and my plans to watch a movie in the cinemas this weekend. We wanted to watch Asa Butterfield's The Space Between Us but only one cinema is airing this and what's even more disappointing is, it's sharing the same theater with Jackie Chan's Kung Fu Yoga which I have no interest in watching. ....not really a huge Jackie Chan fan here. Also, The Space Between Us, only airs twice, from 5 p.m. until almost 8 in the evening and around 9 until 12 midnight. We really can't be bothered to stay so late to catch this one. Maybe next time...

plain and simple

 t - secondhand, bag and belt - vintage, denim cutoff - Gap, boots - rubi/cotton on via zalora, sunglasses - dad's, necklaces - aizilim, rings - aizilim, bracelets - vintage from gandmum and LC Lauren Conrad

....and there are times I prefer to simplify. Currently thinking about cutting this shirt to a better length as it's really huge, rather it's really long that it has to be tucked in when worn with shorts or a skirt all the time. I'll work on modifying this thing one day later...maybe the weekend.

sail away, striped sailor

tally weijl tank; forever21 shorts; zalora boots; forever21 etched bangles/bracelets and chunky chain necklace; aizilim necklaces and rings

A departure from the usual minimal styling--and to be honest, I don't really ascribe to the nautical trend...except maybe sometimes because: Sailor Moon (I am eternal stan of the original manga from Takeuchi Naoko-sensei, yes...) for one---although being inspired by this Kate Moss shoot from the July 2013 Australian Vogue wherein she dons a 12 AUD H&M striped top might have brought this on...

 

Well...it was an a-ok attempt, I guess. I'll go back to my usual messy minimal personal styling in the next few days, rather, posts here... I have no issues with this one whatsoever except it just hardly feels me at all. Deep down, I feel it must be the tank top because colored striped tank tops are new to me...and that I feel like this tank goes better with a pair of dark colored denim cut-offs for some reason...