I am overwhelmed by the positive response for the goodies I posted on my post the other day on how I found the perfect shoes (and then some) for my outfit for HSBC's Holiday Party. Thanks guys, it's always nice to feel your style is appreciated :)

I already told you I got all of them for only P960 (less than $20) but I did not get to tell you how each item cost. Let me break it down for you :) The purple quilted chainlink bag I got for P350 (approx $7) down from P380. I got the suede black pumps for P250 (approx $5) down from P280. The bejeweled headband originally cost P200 and the headband with the black rosette with gold trimmings was being sold for P180 but because of the power of my Mom's haggling skills I got both for ONLY P250 (approx $5). Lastly, I got a pearl layered necklace for P110 (approx $2.10) from its original price of P150. Very good deals, right? Aah, the powers and wonder of 168 Mall. I love that place! :D

I actually don't have a favorite store there. I do like Juana and Chelsea for their tailored dresses but for all of the other items I've bought from numerous shopping trips there, I just walk through the halls and look for fab finds. I must admit there are some misses as well, but a trip there can be very rewarding, if you only know how and where to look. ;)

Anyway, as you might already know (from all the posts I've bombarded you with in the past few days haha) our Holiday Party will be held tomorrow at the PICC Tent!

This is most probably the last Holiday Party of HSBC that I will attend (since I have decided to be bolder and intend to pursue my dreams this year) so I want to make sure that everything will be perfect. Today I cleaned my makeup brushes and did my nails in preparation. In my excitement and the amount of preparation I am doing you would think that I am preparing for my wedding and not an office party. I am sorry but as I've said, I am not really a big fan of night outs and parties. I am just excited for this event because I really love dressing up. :)

And so I would like to share with you my outfits in the Holiday Parties that I have attended in the almost three years that I have been with HSBC.

On January 19, 2008, we had Discovolution which was held at the World Trade Center.

January 19, 2008

This was actually inspired by Victoria Beckham. My lavender and gray dress with crystals and metal chains on the neckline was designed and created by young designer Hann Asoy who I met via Multiply. I got the Itti silver strappy sandals from eBay.

November 28, 2008

This one was Gwyneth Paltrow-inspired during the time she was promoting Iron Man in her short dresses and bondage heels. I got the metallic slate dress (on sale!) from Freeway while my shoes were from Boardwalk.

And just because I like this photo:

I think this is my favorite photo of myself from that night

Tomorrow, January 9 of 2010, Party Central will unfold at the World Trade Center.

I can just feel it. It's going to be awesome! :)

Enjoy your weekend guys! :)

So I told you here that we will be having our Holiday Party this coming Saturday, right? I told you how I have found the perfect dress to wear way back in September, long before the party was scheduled. I also told you how I already have all of the accessories I would be needing, except for the perfect pair of shoes (and a purse, if my budget allows it).

I have scoured the malls already in the hopes of scoring a good find from the numerous Holiday Sales hounding shoppers these days but surrendered empty-handed. But not really since I found a pretty ring and a pair of fishnet stockings from YRYS. I would be wearing them at the party as well but I scored zilch on the shoe-hunt. The best solution I came up with? 168 Mall in Divisoria! Boasting a wide selection of goodies (at a much cheaper price!), 168 Mall is the perfect place to go to. It's a treasure trove of fab finds at amazingly low prices, you just have to know where to look. (Fact: Some online sellers even get the stuff they sell  from 168 Mall and then sell them online for double the price.) I love 168! I may well be called Krissy in Wonderland when I am there. :D

Okay, so that long introductory speech is just to tell you that I found them already! Yay!

After just a couple of hours (and a whole lotta haggling by my Mom), I got the perfect pair of shoes, and then some.


Want another reason why 168 Mall is one of my personal Wonderlands? All of these goodies set me back for ONLY P960! (That's less than $20!!)

I got a pair of black suede pumps. Simple and no frills. Perfect. I also love its heel height. I have been wearing flats to the office these past few months that my feet are no  longer used to wearing heels. I must get around to wearing my heels again. Must.

I also finally got myself a chainlink bag. I wanted one in black but this is the only one they have left. There were other designs there but I did not choose them because of the very blatant logos. I don't want anything that screams knock off :D I especially like this because of its long strap and perfect size. I might not use it to the party though. I need to see first whether it will go well with my dress. Ü

The other two items I got are embroidered headbands. They were unplanned purchases  but who can resist, right? I think I will wear the bejeweled one to the party. The one with the black rosette and gold trimmings I can wear during regular days. Love! Ü


I also got a pearl layered necklace but I will not wear it anymore seeing as how there's too much detail in my headpiece already.

As I said, I am not a big fan of night outs. I am just excited for the party because it is another excuse for me to glam up and put together an outfit that I would not wear on a regular day. (Oh if only we can wear corsets to the office, that would be too awesome! :D)

You must already know that I am a self-confessed girly girl who loves dresses and skirts. These days I tend to oversleep  though (blame my warm bed and the early January morning air) so I just slip on a simple tee-and-jeans combo just so I won't be late for work.

On the first Monday of the year I woke up late (again!) but could not NOT wear my new dress to work.

Chelsea mustard dress
YRYS thick black waist belt
Primadonna Oxford peeptoe booties

This photo was taken by Dane when we were on our way to Mini Stop for our weekly dose of ice cream-after-lunch. Ü

During one of my days spent just scouring the Internet for anything, I found this from College Fashion and bookmarked it with the intent of sharing it in the future, then completely forgot all about it. Today, I was going through my files in my desktop computer (as it shows symptoms of being infected with a virus again so I will have it reformatted this weekend) and I saw this. Perfect! It is a list of 25 Reasons Why You Should Dress Up. Not literally dressing up as in wear dresses, but generally just trying to look presentable and neat whatever outfit we choose to wear. The ones in bold typeface are my favorites. Ü

♥  Because life’s too short to blend in. Don’t settle for average.

♥ Because you’re only young once. You’re way more gorgeous than you know & have a fabulous body you’ll one day look back on and wish you had! Take advantage now and show off how fabulous you can be.

♥ Because fashion is a method of self expression. What are you trying to say?

♥ Because you never know who you’ll run into. Brad Pitt at the grocery store? Hey, stranger things have happened.

♥ Because it obviously annoys some people (like the guy who asks why YOU are so dressed up). The fact that it annoys them so much is all the more reason to keep doing it.

♥ Because you never know, there’s always a chance you could get snapped by The Sartorialist (or maybe the girls over at Street Spotted)!

♥ Because you deserve to look your best at all times.

♥ Because you’ll never improve your sense of style if your default look is “I give up”. Yes, that was a Seinfeld reference. But it’s true!

♥ Because dressing up helps you weed out friends who don’t love you for you. If they have a problem with the way you dress, they’re not the kind of friends you want around.

♥ Because cute clothes and accessories are a great conversation starter. Wear something fabulous and people will ask you where you got it.

♥ Because parties aren’t the only time to celebrate.

♥ Because that fabulous party dress in your closet cost too much to only be worn once. Remember cost per wear?

♥ Because it’s fun!

♥ Because even if you live in an “unstylish” city & are scared to dress up, cities don’t become stylish without someone going first. I know it sounds cheesy, but be the change you want to see in the world. Everyone else can follow your fabulous lead.

♥ Because dressing up helps you make fashion mistakes and get past them. Mistakes happen to everyone and that’s how you learn what not to do – get them out of the way now!

♥ Because it’s a test of your confidence. Dressing unconventionally forces you to develop the self-assurance necessary to stand out from everyone else.

♥ Because fashion is one of the rare instances where art comes alive. What artistic statement do you want to make?

♥ Because if you’ve got it (great style, killer confidence, amazing legs), it’s just wrong not to flaunt it.

♥ Because someday when you have a 9-5 corporate job and are required to wear business suits, you’re going to miss the freedom of dress you had in college. Experiment now! There’s no better time.  (Krissy's note: Not applicable in my case though as I have already graduated and am already working. Kinda true for me still though as we are not required to wear corporate outfits.)

♥ Because glamour isn’t only reserved for the rich and famous, even though maybe they’d like you to believe it is.

♥ Because if conspiracy theorists are to be believed, the world might end on 12/31/2012 – that’s only 1211 days from now (Krissy's note: Date the article is written which was 27 August 2009)! Even though we all worried about Y2K too, why not be on the safe side? Don’t spend the theoretical 1211 days you have left in sweats.

♥ Because Carrie Bradshaw would not approve of your sweatpants and UGG boots. You can do better than that. And deep down, you know I’m right.

♥ Because dressing well means you don’t have to do your hair at all – you’ll have that ultra fabulous, slightly disheveled Kate Moss look.

♥ Because nothing beats the rush you feel when you look in the mirror and LOVE what you see.

♥ Because you want to. That’s the only reason that matters.

Do you agree? I know you do! Because deep down, all girls love dressing up ;)

On a related note, Andhari, together with Shirley and Nikolett, has cooked up a fab Blogger Dress Party codenamed Project Barbie.

It is also known as Project Lovedress but I like the first name more :D In a nutshell, you just have to post a photo of yourself wearing a pink dress on February 3, 2010. Exciting, right? I already have the perfect dress in mind, I just have to have my photo taken. And that is where my friend Karlo comes in. Thanks again, Karlo! I am so excited! :D Want to join as well? Click here. ;)

I've said this before, and I will say it again: 2009 is one of the BEST years for me, ever! This year has been really awesome for me, and through this survey (I also answered this on 2006 and 2007) I would like to tell you why. Ü

This year, on February 21, I attended a cosplay event with the theme Victorian Valentine.




It was my first time to attend one and I had lots of fun putting my costume together. It was also amazing to see the costumes of other cosplayers who are really passionate with this craft.

And can you believe it, this is also my first time to go to a beach with friends! My first memory of going to a beach was when I was eight years old, and I hated it! After that it was all pools for me. It all changed though, when I had a Super Summer Escape  with my college friends on April 18 - 20 :D




Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I listed my resolutions for 2009 here. I made good on the pampering and rediscovering my passion for writing parts, and thanks to Facebook I was able to get in touch with my old friends. My newly-discovered passion is the passion for watching TV shows (does it count? I think it does, seeing that I was not a fan of the TV before) and I was able to visit some places I have never been to before. I just don't think I was able to manage my finances wisely though XD

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. Dianne - one of my best girl friends since high school - gave birth to Kaylee Brent. Ü


Did anyone close to you die?
No. But I was really affected by the deaths of Francis Magalona, former President Corazon Aquino and Michael Jackson. I don't know about you, but for me, a famous person dying really brings a different perspective to life and death. The Man in Manila -  Francis M. - looked on his way to recovery from leukemia and was even set to perform at the Eraserheads' reunion concert two days after he suddenly surrendered to his sickness. The Man in the Mirror - MJ - on the other hand, was due to perform to a sold out concert. I watched This Is It! and was awed by how he can still perform at that age. He didn't look frail nor weak at those rehearsals, and then suddenly, boom, he was gone.  I had the privilege of meeting Tita Cory personally when I represented my university for the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Leadership Learning Center when I was in college and she is one of the most warm and charming  persons I have ever met. She has been battling with cancer for a couple of years befoe she died but it still came as a shock when she succumbed to her illness. I stayed in line for two hours with my friend and officemate Justin just so I can offer my respects  to her on her public viewing.  And I am a witness to the number of people who love and respect her, judging by the number of people who came.

It was shocking and disorienting, like having a rug pulled out from under you. Now, I know this sounds morbid and all, but if I suddenly die, I have a backup plan. I gave someone special to me instructions when I die to post here in my blog when and how I died. Just so you won't think I suddenly abandoned you.

What countries did you visit?
None this year. In my 19 23 years of living, I've only been to one other country and that is Singapore five years ago. It was an amazing experience and it started to open my eyes to the beauty and joys of traveling. You see, I was not a big fan of traveling before. My Singapore experience in 2004 changed me though, and now I would like to see more stamps in my passport! :)

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A credit card :D

What date from 2009 will remain in your memory, and why?
February 6. It was the day Dane and I reconciled. :)


What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Celebrating my first year of independence! And my pet dragonfins Yin and Yang not dying on me, after five other species of fishes stayed with me for only a maximum of a week. :) And  finishing my 30-Day Blog Challenge, of course! :)

What was your biggest failure?
I am happy with my job, yes, especially as I am with the best officemates a girl who's on her first job can wish for, but somehow I still feel like a failure for still not having enough courage to really go after my dreams.


Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious, just the occasional heartburn, hyper acidity, and  terrible bouts with menstrual cramps. I had a skin infection that lasted almost a year though, and it caused three ugly scars in my legs =[ Thank God the scars are fading now and the infection is gone, taking at least a fourth of my half-a-month's salary.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida's! People like him make me proud to be a Filipino. :) On a more personal level. it would have to be Dane. He certainly earned my forgiveness, friendship, trust and affections again. :)

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre. It sickens me until now how other people can have no conscience and commit this inhumane act.

What songs will remind you of 2009?

What do you wish you'd done more?
Meet-ups with friends. I miss them! I am happy though because this year I was able to get together with the following people after months/ years of not seeing them:




Joner, my flamboyantly gay friend from college, also made his presence felt by forcing himself unto Dane and me when we watched Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince. He also attended our Family Day at the office. :D

Life is short! So to all of my friends I don't see anymore, we should meet up again soon! :D

What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I did not spend too many lazy afternoons just lounging around the apartment or sitting in my lazy ass  just surfing the web and abusing my unlimited Internet.

What was your favorite tv program?
Oooh I had lots! This year is the year I watched the full six seasons of Sex and the City and also the year I discovered awesome shows How I Met Your Mother and Glee! Of course, oldies but goodies Survivor (Tocantins and Samoa were shown this year), American Idol and Ugly Betty also belong in the list of my favorite shows. :)

What was the best book you read?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I also liked Para Kay B. by Ricky Lee, 12 by Manix Abrera, and the Every Girl's Guide series by Marla Miniano.

What did you want and get?
A netbook! I got one in white, and I named her Lady Fabrize. If you are a new reader,  let me introduce her to you. Click here. :)

What things did you like?

Gladiator sandals. Curls. Facebook apps, most especially Pet Society. Nail art. Lucky Me Mac & Cheez. DVDs. Mineral makeup.

What was your favorite film of the year?
500 Days of Summer. I am seriously in love with this movie. My review (and a little bit more) can be found here. My next favorite is Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince.


What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I celebrated my 19th 23rd birthday this year! I had a Pink Positive Party (I looove alliterations) in our old apartment attended by awesome people.

This is what I wore for my birthday soiree :)

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think I will keep my answer to this question a secret. :)

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?


What kept you sane?
Blogging! And my friends, who are always there for me no matter how insane I get. :)

What political issue stirred you the most?
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announcing she will run in Pampanga. Political analysts stipulated that through this way she can finally rally for the change in Constitution and take the position of  a Prime Minister. How greedy for power and money can you get? Enough with the megalomania already!!


Who did you miss?
My ex-boyfriend Athan. We used to be really good friends.

Who was the best person you met?
I met lots of awesome people in the blogosphere this year, and I am grateful I did! I met Ms Mariel, Marj, Jessica, Nikolett, Kym, Manju, Shirley, Rick, Tiara, Nashe^, Abby, Annie Marie, Leah, and a lot of other bloggers who made my blogging life more colorful. I want to take this opportunity to present to you this:


I know most of you have already received this award as well but I still want to present my token of appreciation. This was given to me by the sweetest Andhari (who I met last year). I would also want to give her the award as well. And to Meream. Thank you all, for sharing your stories with me. ♥♥

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
This is an excerpt from the blog post I wrote when Dane and I reconciled:



The most touching experience you've had this year?
Seeing the Filipinos help one another during the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. :)

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
This is not a song lyric, but a quote.


I have always loved this quote ever since I received it via text from my good friend Ed.  You may notice that the text has stayed in my sidebar for more than a year now. Last month, notebookdoodles gave the followers of her blog a chance to have their very own quote transformed into a doodle. I have always been fascinated by her talent  so I jumped at the chance, and here is my quote transformed into a notebook doodle. :) You may see the rest of the 99 other doodles here. 

Was 2009 a good year for you?
YES! It is one of the best years for me. :)


What was your favorite moment of the year?
Oh gosh, this is tough as I have lots!

What was your least favorite moment of the year?
During the Typhoon Ondoy. We were stuck in the office and were required to take calls until 8:30 in the evening (our shift starts at 6am and ends at 3pm) because the people for the night shift were not able to go to work. But that's nothing as compared to what other people went through. Lives, houses and properties were lost. It was a terrible disaster for us Filipinos and it is something I wish will never happen again. But if anything, this catastrophe only proved that we are a resilient and nothing can bring us down.

Where were you when 2009 began? Who were you with?
My whole family and I were in my grandparents' house as per our tradition. I had work the next day so what I did was I slept the whole afternoon and then woke up at 10pm - just in time for Media Noche and fireworks. :) And then, after work on January 1, my friends/ officemates and I went to Ruther's house in the island of Babatnin, Bulacan for a spontaneous road trip. :)

Where will you be when 2009 ends? Who will you be with?
The same as how 2008 ended. With my family. :) See my answer above this question. :)


Do you have a new year's resolution for 2010?
This deserves another blog entry. :)

What was your favorite month of 2009?

Can I have three? April, May and November. :)

Did you lose anyone close to you in 2009?

No.

How many concerts did you see in 2009?

Two and a half. I saw  


Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2009?

One of the reasons why 2009 is a milestone year for me is because it is the first time I got drunk. Yep, I'm goody two-shoes in that I don't drink and I don't smoke. But I wanted to know how it feels to get drunk so on February 24 I invited my friends/ teammates to share this experience with me.

After 7 shots of Red Horse Beer...


You may lose all respect for me after seeing that photo. Can't say I blame you :D


Did anything you are ashamed of this year?
I can't remember anything I did I should be ashamed of. I have been a good girl all year. :)

How much money did you spend in 2009?
I don't even want to know XD


If you could go back in time to change one moment in 2009 what would it be?
I don't think I would want to change anything. I have a No Regrets policy 'round here. :)


What are your plans for 2010?
This deserves another blog entry. But in a gist, I want to be more healthy, more financially-savvy, and finally pursue my dreams of being a writer. :)

What are your wishes for the new year?

Good health, good life, spontaneity, laughter and MORE memories and experiences. :)

Feel free to answer the survey as well! ♥♥