I just came from Hanson's concert at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum for their Shout It Out tour and I had a really great time! I am actually typing this from our office as I went straight here because I wanted to blog about it right away and I don't have a functioning laptop in my apartment! I went with Ana who is my blog sister-slash-concert buddy and we both enjoyed reminiscing our elementary days while listening to the three gorgeous Hanson brothers sing some of their songs from 15 years ago! I was fidgeting in the bus on the way here because I couldn't contain my glee and excitement at hearing them sing live! Exclamation points!!!

It's a bit sad that the venue was not packed; there were still a lot of vacant seats, and even my close friend who was a BIG fan since we were ten didn't go. I guess they've already outgrown the trio. As what Ana and I talked about earlier, maybe the two of us really have issues letting go and moving on ;D But I don't care. I will say again and again that Hanson was - and still is - AMAZING, and every penny we spent on the concert tickets was worth it ♥

Isaac, Taylor and Zac made my heart melt. Especially Zac. The way he sang, the way he worked that drumset, the way he smiled oh-so-coyly, and the way he pushed his hair from his eyes... Sigh. I swooned with a thousand other girls.

Marry me, Baby Zac? ♥

I can't say I'm an ultra-super fan, as I didn't even know all of their songs, but it's great to know people who are! Helga, for one. Do you know she waited at the airport until Hanson arrived? And went to EDSA Shang for the presscon? And went to SM North EDSA for the meet-and-greet? And had a lot of air-time at the videowall during the concert earlier, while Hanson was playing Mmmbop? And will go to Cebu tomorrow for their Waterfront gig? Ladies and gents, there's no other way to describe it but love.

With pink-haired Helga outside Araneta after the concert :)

Ultra-super fan or not, I still enjoyed singing along to the songs I do know, and clapping along and enjoying the lyrics of those I don't. My favorites were Where's the Love, Mmmbop, A Song to Sing, If Only, This Time Around, and of course, Penny and Me. I just wish they sang I Will Come To You, but I guess I'll just let that song send me to sleep when I turn in for the night :)

Thank you, Hanson, for going to Manila! I'm soooo happy you're back in the music scene! And yes, please do come back here, but if you could please not wait for another 15 years then that would be awesome LOL.

With Ana. Still on a Hanson high!
90s kids forever!! :)

Another concert experienced and enjoyed with Ana! 90s kids, represent! Can't wait for The Cranberries!!! :)

PS: I wish Aqua, 911 and 5ive will also reunite.

Marvelous March

One blink, and March is almost over. I can't believe I'll be 26 in exactly A WEEK from now! Eeek! I told myself last year that I'll be prepared this time, but I feel like March zoomed and flew by me, bringing with it lots of rainshowers (which is really weird because, hello Mr. Sun, it's supposed to be summer!)

Now here is a quick recap of what made this March marvelous (post title borrowed from Mimai), in photos ♥ This month, I:

Spent the first weekend of March holed up in Kampo Berde in Tagaytay
with my oldest and dearest friends.

Met up with my friend Regine.
She gave me a hand creme and a lipgloss :)

Met the heroine of my teenage years at a beauty event.

Changed my hair color to red.
Thank you, Benefits Style Salon!

Got into a "little" accident because of laughing too much and had to nurse
a bump and cut on my forehead.

The Sureaid wound care kit and these plasters helped to make sure my wound is cleaned properly
and is safe against infection.

Watched The Hunger Games thrice and wept appreciated it each time.

Enjoyed delicious Italian food at Aria Cucina with my blog sister Ana.

Had my brows prettified by Browhaus Manila.

Took part in a special milestone by going to the Coca-Cola Concert ng Bayan
in celebration of its 100 years.

Drowned in sugar.
Sundae from Pizza Hut

Chai tea dalandan from Green Bean and strawberry shortcake from Sweet Inspirations
Frank's treat :)

Java chocolate cream puff from Chewy Junior

Lime gelato from Gelatissimo

Cheesecake sundae from Mini Stop

Halo-halo pearl shake from Zagu

Drowned in shoes.
Flats from Parisian Comfy line ♥

Became a model for a day ♥
Red-strapped wedges from the Parisian Summer 2012 collection

Wore my Batman Tshirt given by my friend Ed for the first time :)

Went home to a special surprise.
A new mirror installed in my room at my parents' house ♥
Yes, my room's color scheme is blue and pink :)

Celebrated my sister's Elementary graduation.

I don't have photos for it, but I also attended a leadership forum in the office wherein Coach Tim Cone discussed tips about managing winning teams. I would like to share with you guys what I have learned from that talk :)

I also got in touch with someone from my past. I would like us to see each other more often, but I don't know if he feels the same. Probably not. Here's hoping for the best, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

Anyway... What a jam-packed March. Marvelous? Indeed ♥

I will be updating this post because we're not yet done with March ;) I will go to Glorietta later to attend a beauty event, and then head to SMART-Araneta Coliseum for Hanson's concert! And then tomorrow I will go to NBC Tent with my girl friends to participate in the Fitnesse Zumba party! Gotta run now, see you  guys around! ;)

"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness
from common things."

- Henry Ward Beecher

Accessorizing with Penshoppe

No day but today to start piling on accessories in bright, bold colors! ♥ Here are some picks you can add to your summer wardrobe ;)

Paving the way for a more robust and diverse merchandise, leading fashion brand Penshoppe recently launched an expanded accessories line that will surely strike the fancy of their fashion-conscious fans. 

The latest accessories collection includes a wide array of sophisticated items such as jewelry, shoes, belts, caps, scarves, wallets and bags. Prices are set at an affordable range to stay true to the Penshoppe promise of refined fashion taste to reach out to a wider market. 

The new Penshoppe accessories collection offers a variety of pieces that will surely complement your daily casual wear. Whether it’s a colorful tote to match your dress, eye-catching jewelry to glam you up, or unique leather pieces to get that edgy look, Penshoppe’s newest accessories can instantly make a simple plain outfit into a chic and sophisticated get-up. 

Mix and match
Canvas and leather shoulder bags (P649)

Color splash
Oversized leather colorblock bags (P799)

Swim in hues
Scarves in different vibrant colors (P389)

Glamorize

Mod glam

Rocking it
Fancy bangles (P149) and rings (P279)

Dress up your footsies
Comfy glam flats (749)

Made for comfort
Men's shoes available in canvas slip-ons, espadrilles and sneakers (price starts at P799)

Men's Choice

Edge out

Penshoppe continues to be at the forefront of casual fashion industry. With non-stop efforts to boost its already growing catalogue, Penshoppe reinforces its status as the preferred brand for casual wear, and now, for accessories as well. 

Women's accessories are now available at all Penshoppe stores nationwide while Men’s accessories and shoes are available in selected stores only. Check out the shop nearest you to view the latest collection.

For more information on the brand, check out the following:

Official website | Facebook | Twitter

The Body Shop: Beauty with Heart

Oh Lily Cole, what a pretty doll you are ♥

Lily is one of my favorite models because she's not only pretty, she's also very smart. How many fashion models can boast of fronting several campaigns yet still be awarded a Double First in History of Art at the University of Cambridge, and still have time to be an activist and an actress? I believe her list of achievements and over-all personality make her perfect to be the first global Brand Advocate for The Body Shop.

The  Body  Shop  has recently launched a  new  beauty  movement called Beauty With Heart that will inspire individuals everywhere and transform the boundaries of beauty. Beauty With Heart  places emphasis on a beauty experience that is more than skin-deep, putting a human stamp on beauty and empowering people the world over to Look Good, Feel Good And Do Good.

“I have long been an advocate of the potential of using business and consumer power to cause positive change. The Body Shop takes a responsible attitude to people and the environment, and it feels amazing to be supporting a brand who are pioneers in that way of working.”

The launch took place in Central London last week but Beauty With Heart will be rolling out in the UK from 3rd of May, with global roll-out to follow from 15th of May onwards.

Before I forget, I have some great news for all you The Body Shop-lovers out there! The Body Shop is currently holding the most-awaited nationwide Summer Sale for all, with discounts of as much as 50%!

'Tis the perfect time to stock on your favorite body care products, especially the Limited Edition ones ;)

Pin-up Sweetheart at the Parisian Bloggers Pictorial Party

What happens when you throw bloggers, fabulous shoes and bags, fierce hair and makeup, delicious food, and great music into one delicious mix of fashion and fun? Why, it's one helluva party, of course! We experienced all that and more at the Parisian Bloggers Pictorial Party held at Elite Manila in A.Venue Mall yesterday, and I am not lying when I say it was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience for me!

I admit that I was a bit apprehensive when I received the invite because I get too shy and awkward in big crowds, but I figured invites like this don't come very often so I decided to just go ahead and bite the bullet. Nothing to lose, right?

Now I am SO glad I said yes :)

About two weeks ago, we were emailed a set of shoes from Parisian's Summer Collection wherein we could choose two that we could use for the shoot. I had a hard time choosing because everything looked great, but I ended up choosing these gray heels and red-strapped wedges.

Ana, Ava, and I were picked up by the shuttle from Greenbelt 3.
Here's what greeted us after we registered and got our nametags and schedules :)

Waiting to have my makeup done :)
All products used are from Max Factor.

Voila! I seriously want to buy all the makeup products used on me LOL.
I asked for this look because I was aiming for the pin-up sweetheart look. What do you think? 

And then before I knew it, it was my turn to be photographed already! I was visibly shaking at first and just blamed the coffee LOL, but when I started "strutting my stuff" out there I decided to throw caution to the wind and just have a great time! Everyone was very encouraging, especially Ma'am Lora, who gave me a lot of poses to copy. I was worried at first that the photographer would be impatient with a newbie like me, but MEGA top fashion photographer Niko Villegas was really great :)

Having my hair and makeup retouched.
I felt like a certified model here mehehe ;D

Just in case you want proof that I really enjoyed it... ;)

They will email us the photos this week and I am SUPER excited to see them! For the meantime, here are a couple of outtakes:

What do you think? :)

After the shoot, we were asked to say some quick words about Parisian.

I am the first one to tell you that I am not telegenic and I really mess it up when there's a videocam around, so please don't laugh at me when they release it, okay?

Glad to have shared this experience with my beautiful friends Ava, Tracy, and Ana :)
Patricia, Bestie, Marj, Cheyser, Sarah and Aie were in the same batch as well.

And of course, my schoolmate Tara! ♥
We both took Bachelor in Mass Communication at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila but she's ahead one year level.
We've always joked that we always attend events but have never seen each other. Yesterday was the first time I saw her since we graduated! :)

The ladies of Parisian were all so pretty and sweet and nice, there are no words to describe how pleased I was with the whole experience! Much attention has been put into every little detail - from the shuttle to the yummy food to the party music to the ambiance of the place! It was very easy for shy and socially awkward me to relax and have fun, so thank you so much for that! :)

Special thanks to Cha of Parisian for being so nice and helpful :)

And before I forget, I would also like to show you guys this photo of myself using this pretty red heart bag from my dear friend and officemate Mommy Terry:



I wanted to use it for the shoot but ended up using a red envelope bag from Parisian instead.
Don't you just think it looks charming? I can't wait to incorporate it in my other outfits! :)

If you think it ends there, wait 'til you see our loot bagsss! Yup, multiple s's! Here are what's inside mine:

We were told we could bring home the pair we chose to wear for the shoot, but they gave us both! Yay!
We were also given flats from the Parisian Comfy line, which are rolled-up flats that come in pouches :) Perfect for changing into after a long night-out! We were also told we could pick any bag from the Parisian Bag Wall they have set up, and I chose this mustard-colored bag because I don't have a bag in this color yet. I love it :)
Not in the photo are sample sizes of Max Factor foundation and a Max Factor Lipfinity pen ♥

BIG thanks to Parisian for choosing me, and to the amazing team behind the Bloggers Pictorial Party for coming up with this event! This is probably the coolest thing I've done this year, so far, and I really had a great time posing, partying, and posting!

Parisian Shoes and Bags is cooking up a little something for all of us so head on over to their Facebook Page now for updates! ;)