Sundays, Coffee and my Family Tree

Having more than one set of family in a lifetime is not surprising to me at all.
I have considered friends being the next best and closest thing to whom I can consider as family.

Why?

Well, they listen to your rants - the cursive, vulgar, no-holds barred kind of ranting which your Mother and Father wouldn't typically approve of and letting your parents hear 'em is a surefire guarantee of either a good smack in the head or worse, a vocal fight.

You get to share more of the "behind the scene" stories with your friends. Considering the fact that you are of almost the same age, it makes opening up less humiliating, and more accepting. 

Your friends do not - in as much as they would want to - impose larger than life rules which your own biological family would. Don't take me the wrong way. My friends are not BIs. It's just that, they try to understand where you're coming from and would rather want to hear you confide with them and them sharing pieces of advise to you than ostracize you with generalities which is truly, not solicited at that particular moment.

Lastly, friends are another source of ultimate happiness. Knowing that you are able to share a huge chunk of your life with them makes you wonder, just how amazing it is to belong with these set of people, despite being entirely different, and yet, you just feel like you guys were once cut out from the same cloth. No judgment, no inuendos. All you have to bring to the table is an understanding and accepting heart. That, my friends, is what I call MIRACLE!

And having bestowed with such miracle, I have spent yet another amazing Sunday with two of my closest buddies: Patty and Jing². These two are my complete allies with just about anything : food, fashion, pranks, humor, smart gossiping, and family. We have come a long way since 2010. One amazing quality that I really admire from these two is their passion when it comes to friendship. You would rarely see true sympathy and love coming from adults these days, but Patty and Jing have proven me wrong. And that sometimes, scary as it seems to trust others with your life, I wouldn't mind entrusting mine to theirs. They're just God's gift to me. 

 I am looking forward to many more brekkys, Sundays, coffees and seasons with you two ♥

And, what better way to spend another Sunday than an early Christmas treat !!!  We hanged out and sipped to amazing coffees at Starbucks IT park. Jing had dark cherry mocha, Patty wanted hers on the more fruity side with strawberry and cream while yours truly, opted the ever reliable hot white chocolate mocha. We had these three all in venti. (That perky Starbucks cashier got us into venti while mimicking the latest Miss Universe pose. Yes. He is gay! :D) 

Well, just let these photos give you a dose as to what went on that day, the giving of gifts, our happy lots, the sumptuous meal we had at Max's thereafter and .. :)

And here is a closer look at the amazing gifts that I got from my family tree:

Tonic's Emma bag in aztec print - gifted from Jing²

 Toto - my cable wire holder gifted from Patty

 and lastly, a shot of the nude blazer and floral, green-hued kimono both gifted from Patty

Upon opening my gifts, I suddenly felt like I was 10 years old all over again. Thank you guys.. I never expected to have these babies for Christmas..!!! And on a more deeper note, thank you for letting me be a part of your lives as well.. ♥ To more Christmases and seasons in between Family Tree!!! much love ♥♥♥

raging hormones

It's Thursday and Day 2 post-Pablo..

After conquering the aftermath of what could have been considered as a typhoon stronger than Bagyong Sendong, the persistent cool winds and drizzles still frequented the Metropolitan's night sky. Our site is currently on dress down, to accomodate the not so graceful commutes of their employees. Good job to its management! :)

Anyway,  I have been feeling bloated. big. dreary. stressed. the list goes on.
I guess, it is that time of the month again wherein my gastronomical wants are ridiculously horrible and I weigh (I don't really weigh.. hehehe! ) and look 2x than I should.
And since I still am a human being who needs to go to work, I opted in wearing these aztec pants, paired with taupe cami and nude crocheted top.
Comfort and style was my peg for today. 
Pretty basic and laid back for a night's worth of work.

Oh! This is my first outfit post by the way.  ♥

 crocheted top - Forever21 || taupe colored cami - Forever21 || aztec printed pants - Nowi Onlineshop || bangle - from Boracay || candy colored wrap - carbon find || turquoise bib necklace - gift from Patty

The heart of a Rock Star

I have come to know a lot of men lately - some as refined and dreamy as Christian Grey that you would not assume he could do vanilla with anyone, or as broodingly temperamental as Travis Maddox who tends to snap every now and then but with the softest heart for his Pigeon, or as secretively seductive and beautiful as Giddeon Cross who can definitely turn your world upside down. These men, of course, despite being the "perfect" guy that they are, held a lot more than just good looks and an incredible history of seducing women. They all held a secret. And that secret, is what made them humanly tangible in all aspects. I have read their stories, and I swear, I have swooned and gushed over how capable of romance a broken man can be.

Then, I came across a rock star by the name of Kellan Kyle. His story was very typical: a too-hot-to-handle moody artist with an almost-there-fame, frontman and lead singer of his band (the D-Bags), is bestfriend with this guy Denny, and was involved in a love triangle. I would never have wanted to read this series but I needed to since I was feeling the depression of not being able to read any good material lately. LOL.  

To my surprise, the story was beyond any of my expectations. 

Others said the story was dragging, but I never felt like it dragged me. I thought of it as very explicit, the author clearly describing how the heroine - Keira Allen, felt. The series brought me to a kaleidoscope of emotional struggle : love, lust, guilt, desire, confusion, anger, jealousy and even bravery. I could not withstand not finishing Thoughtless and moving on to its sequel, Effortless, that I endured sleepless nights during my days off. But it was worth it, since the plot just got better and better. And as if I have not surprised myself enough, for the first time since I have been hooked to reading Erotic/Romantic/New Adult genre novels, I cried. 

Yes, I cried.

And before you get to conclude how much of a sappy person I am, read this note that Kellan hid for Keira, the very culprit of my outburst:

 The note spoke volumes to me. Asking for someone not to give up on you seemed to have hit close to home more likely than the cheating and falling out of love part. Then did I realize being in a relationship is not all about the romance, nor love per se. It is also about having faith. 

Now, I have read this series twice. And each time I come across this part, I can't help but cry. And to me, that is as good as giving this novel a 5-star rating. It moved me. It helped me understand that cheating will never be okay. But to some extent, if the person we loved fell for someone else, then, let that person go. We should try to dismiss feeling responsible for the loss we never intended to happen in the same manner that we should not stay in a relationship just because it is "conveniently safe". As how Denny said it to Keira,


“I think in the end, you would have stayed with me, out of obligation...or maybe comfort. Maybe I was safe to you, and you needed to feel that. I know how scared you get of the unknown. To you...I must be kind of a security blanket. Do you see now, how that doesn't work for me? I don't want to be there, simply because the idea of me being gone is too...scary. I want to be someone's everything. I want fire and passion, and love that's returned, equally. I want to be someone's heart... Even if it means breaking my own.”


I can't wait to read Reckless, the third installment to SC Stephens beautiful TL series. I don't really know what to expect, since these couple are nowhere near predictable. But I hope the final hoorah won't end up breaking my own heart. LOL.

Oh! I came across this music video by Jessie McCartney. His style is very Kellan Kyle-ish with just the basic white top, almost fitted jeans, leather wristband and the perfect song to boot that clearly explains the struggle my favorite rock star had to endure while loving someone from a distance.

There may have been a roster of possible Kellan Kyles out there. I've seen other blogs and fans posting pics as to who could be IT for them. As for me, I am keeping my imagination run as wild as it could. He is just too good to be personified. Not one male probability can stand a candle next to how I have envisioned him in my head.

 On a more personal note, I will forever love you Kellan Kyle. Complicated as you are, but you are definitely worth the time and tears. ♥

Pixlr.com

Okay.. I may be a little behind with photo blogging.
And clearly, I am not that good with photo editing.


But I got to play around with the various tools from www.pixlr.com and after a thorough selection of app, I just fell in love with its Vintage effect.
Take a look :

 This is my personal Birthday Collage aptly titled: " Bogart's favorite B's"
- Bohemian
- Blueberry Cheesecake
- Bib Necklace
- Breakfast

Why Bogart? 
That would be my alter-ego's name: someone who does not mind bumming around and spending an eternity's worth of chillaxing and idle time. 

Next up:

 
 
 Yeap! It might take quite a while before we get to have another one of this in the future. But nonetheless, I wouldn't mind doing a repeat. :)

And lastly:

 I just want to make a shout out to the coolest person that has ever graced Mandaue City : ME! lol. But seriously, this just looks well put together despite the display of canned goods and other dried items in the back. And a Kudos to have pulled off a Jason Mraz feminine version with this look.


♥

27th ♥

Dear 27 year old Me,

First of all, Happy Birthday to you! 
You have earned yet another year to either screw up or make it! 
But in all honesty, I really couldn't care less which of the 2 you do. Because either way, you always come out better and stronger. 

I know you sometimes question yourself if you are ever worthy of the love and affection that both your family and peers are showing you. You think the worst of yourself sometimes. You are scared to come real close to anyone thinking that you may never get appreciated. You love the spotlight - but only for a good 3 minutes and you wish the world would just cave in and swallow you whole because having more than 3 minutes of their attention makes you feel barenaked. You are a mixture of fire and ice, an almost perfect combination of passion and nonchalance. Yet despite your uncertainties, you still get to see the good side of everyone - even to those who have deserted and pained you. You have learned to let go, to sail away and pirouhette with your everyday dreams thinking that life is never a bed of roses, but a road that must be travelled with arms wide open! You value Thank You's and I'm Sorry's. You hold on to promises. You believe in happily ever after. And you love despite being hurt. You simply don't give up.

It may take longer for everything to come into place. It may still take time for you to come around certain things and certain people. And that's okay. 

Never let a single frustration hold you back. You know better than to be bullied by the different degrees of absurdities that might be thrown your way. You are a vision. Be that vision. Always remember that you get to live your life just once. And the best things in life don't have repeats. So live while you're in it. Embrace the odds and appreciate the good! You are more than what you think. Be your own shining star! And always remember that I love you. Not because I know you, but because I am you. 

Tea, Sex and Sympathy

And she began with a.. "Never let your man see your vulnerability".

Maria, not her real name, is a married woman and a mom of 2. She is very typical - petite, with extra flabs here and there, not too flashy, someone you would not notice not until you see the color of her ID badge which clearly speaks who she is and what she does. But don't be fooled. This woman is a force to be reckon with. And despite all that, she has had her share of infidelity. 

She was at her prime when her husband made the infamous detour. She knew it was more than just simple exchange of ILY's or sweet text messages. She knew the fling has turned into an affair. She was headstrong, prepping herself for the worst and reminding herself that she will overcome the turmoil. "Fake it 'til you make it" was her mantra. And she knew that because of what happened, things will inevitably change. 

I asked her how she got over that point and managed to stay with her husband. She simply explained,

.." when you're married, you don't get to decide between black or white. You have to consider the many rights your man made in comparison to the one wrong he has committed.."

I nodded. But I was never convinced. 

That simple conversation over breakfast opened a lot of queries in my mind. 
Is one to succumb to that mentality just because that person happens to be married? Is marriage a step to a lifetime of bliss or a cover up from our delusioned minds over love and relationships? Personally, it just felt wrong in so many levels. 

Manhattan, New York

I have never been to US - but seeing TV series, movies and even novels adapting its plot within the amped up lifestyle of Manhattan, makes one think: How is it to live the New York way?

Here is my take to that question - fashion!

I've put up these pieces through polyvore.com about a year ago. And while checking saved photos in my pc, I thought of sharing these through blogging. Not really much but I wouldn't mind bustling the streets with these lot. It's both fashionable, wearable and functional. And they're aptly named:

[1] Black.. And then some

[2]  Everyday Hue

[3] The Blinged and The Glamorous

One can always dream. Hope to meet you in person Manhattan :)