Yesterday I traveled the long journey from Navotas to Bonifacio High Street to attend the press luncheon of the newest restaurant to hit the metro. I really can't say no to Italian food ;p I will reveal the name of this restaurant and share with you the culinary experience we enjoyed on a future post so watch out for it!

Let me tell you a clue though: this restaurant is very famous in Boracay, so it's no surprise that the invite asked us to wear clothes in "colors of the beach". Here's what I wore:

Is that beach-y or what? I guess I got a little too inspired ;D As you may have noticed (from the number of times I've posted photos of myself wearing it haha), the white F&H asymmetrical top is one of my favorites because it's so versatile that I can easily dress it up or down. It used to hang a little loose on me, but now it fits me snugly and perfectly. As for the yellow maxi skirt (that can also be converted into a dress), would you believe it's only the second time I wore it ever since I bought it two years ago? The only other time I wore it was when we went to Vigan. I think I got scared of how bright it looks LOL.

Not seen in the photos are my turquoise earrings I got from Lucban and my canvas bag with wood-nymph print.

I didn't get to finish the luncheon because I needed to run to the office for a meeting with our VP. Traffic jams and the rain didn't cooperate so I was a little late for the meeting, but I still made it! After the meeting I headed straight to TriNoma to meet my girls Poly and Mich for videoke and dinner. Despite the scary rain, I actually got to accomplish a lot yesterday without needing to change clothes but still looking and feeling (and, as Mich noticed, smelling) fresh. ;)

Can summer come a little bit faster? I can't wait to go to the beach again for some sun, sand, and sea!

PS: Thank you Kira for taking my photos! ♥

My Monday was spent with sweet ladies and yummy treats when I attended "The Hook Up", an intimate pre-Valentine's event organized by Chocolate Clothing held at the Big Bad Wolf in Fort Bonifacio.

The pink and pretty invites sent to us promised chocolates and cocktails. Who wouldn't get excited, right? We were requested just one thing: bring our mobile Internet browsing devices!

Don't forget to visit Chocolate Clothing's blog, very aptly named Sugar Rush, managed by my very stylish fashion blogger-friend Aisa!

Aside from that, Chocolate Clothing now offers the Phlippines' first mobile Fashion Truck! Now you don't have to go out to shop - the shop comes to you giving you a unique and personalized experience every time! Perfect idea for slumber parties and bridal showers! Visit the website to know more.

Now let's go to the chocolates and cocktails ;)

Sweets for the sweets! Chocolate and lollipop bouquet and white chocolate fondue. Heaven, I tell ya.

Tables laden with yummy food served by Big Bad Wolf. Really satisfied my hungry tummy!

Frozen strawberry margarita ♥ I started to feel dizzy after just a couple of sips but it was so delicious, Keigh had to pry the glass away from me! Haha!

Now this is much better. Pink lemonade that perfectly matched my pink nails ♥

I enjoyed the event with these girls:

Tin, Tracy, Angel, Aisa

Sarah, Alyssa, Kaye, Keigh

Group photo! Big thanks to Sandro for taking this photo, and to Kaye for emailing a copy to me!

'Tis the season to be cheesy! Sharing with you guys one of my favorite songs from my favorite local band Parokya ni Edgar. This one is called How To Make a Love Song. Go on and listen ♥

I love how the lyrics are so simple yet very heartfelt. Listening to this song always brings back happy and giddy memories of a romance's early days. The rush you feel when you see your beloved. The spark in your eyes. That moment when that someone catches you looking, just because he or she looked at you too. That blush. That nervous fumbling. That rush when your fingers touch. That one special smile reserved only for your heart's desire. The excitement of first kisses, and all those kisses thereafter... Are you thinking of a specific person while reading this? :)

For me, one of the best things about being a girl is getting the chance to dress up and go all out when situations call for it. I rarely get glammed up to go out, but when I do, you bet I pull out all the stops!

I love different types of accessories, but recently I've noticed that I might have developed an obsession with - wait for it - gloves. I have collected quite a few already! I have full satin ones, I have fingerless elbow-length satin ones, black mesh, knitted jersey fingerless gloves, and two lace gloves which are completely identical! And the reason why I have two pairs of the same kind? I forgot the first one at my apartment and I felt compelled to buy again LOL.

I love how the gloves really polished the look and completed my outfits. They also add an unexpected twist to the overall look, methinks. Definitely adds the "extra" in extraordinary ;)

My gloves-fashion inspiration?

I saw this article online recently that speculates the reason why Madonna keeps on wearing gloves is to cover her veiny hands brought by working out excessively. Well, veiny hands or not, you can't deny that the lady totally rocks her gloves! Just look at her Golden Globes outfit - simply divine!

Now I gotta go find me some leather fingerless gloves... Argh I've been trying to find a pair for more than a month now!

Happiness is being blessed with true friendships that stay strong despite the odds. Friends come and friends go, but when you find someone special you'll know. I had a lot of fun catching up with my closest friends last night in an ultimate food-trip that lasted 'til 3AM. Can't believe we've known each other for about 17 years! We practically grew up together! We're planning an out-of-town trip on the first weekend of March and I'm so excited! :)

You know what would be cool-but-also-kinda-cheesy? Showing up on our out-of-town trip in themed outfits! We actually have plans to have customized shirts made, but I don't know what happened to those plans anymore LOL. Now if only I had the moolah, I would definitely get shirts for all 13 (yep, we're a big tightly-knit group of awesome people!) of us from the Coca-Cola Originals Collection by Bench!

Classic designs from the merging of two tried and tested brands! What could be a better tribute to friendships that have lasted through the years, right? Just look at these shirts worn by the Coca-Cola Happiness Ambassadors Enchong Dee, Joseph Marco, Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo, and see what I mean:

I saw these shirts being modeled at the runway at the recently concluded Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout, ad I'm telling ya, all the shirts look great! It's difficult to choose which one/s to buy! I am quite drawn to the black-and-white striped shirt worn by Julia, though. The Coca-Cola Originals Collection has been available at all Bench stores nationwide since the first day of February so I am crossing my fingers the designs I like are still available when I drop by TriNoma this week!

This collaboration is actually in celebration of Coca-Cola's 100 years here in the Philippines. I've heard some other great plans Coca-Cola has in store for us but everything's still hush-hush at the moment so I'm going to shut up now heehee. Let's talk about something else: the first ever Coca-Cola Happiness President!

I haven't met him personally yet but I hope I'd get the chance to one of these days. Just imagine what a great honor and privilege it is to represent the Filipino youth and be appointed to spread happiness! Having been chosen to embody the nation's undying spirit of optimism and zest for life, he will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to work hand in hand with the iconic brand as it gives back to a country it cherishes sincerely :)

Noticed anything new around here? That's right, new layout and color scheme. Again. I don't know what it is with me and my need to constantly change everything. I was perfectly fine with my old layouts, until I wasn't. I'm looking forward to the time I won't feel compelled to change it every month or so. It took less than two weeks before I got tired of the old one; let's see how long this one will last...

Later tonight I will meet up with my closest friends from high school to visit the wake of our classmate and friend's dad. Death always reminds us of our mortality, our temporary stay here on Earth, that it forces us to stop and evaluate how we have lived our lives so far. Are we happy? Have we lived our lives the best way we could? If Death will call upon us tonight, will we be ready?

Am I happy?

Right now, I'm neither here nor there. I'm not happy happy, but I'm not unhappy either. I don't know what it is with this month; there is even a running joke at the office that the reason why we all feel this way is because February = emo. Coincidence or not, I know I could really use some happy thoughts these days.

Or maybe I just need a major shake-up. I've become too complacent in my comfort zone, happily lazing away in my safety bubble, that I've already failed to notice that, hey, life is passing me by. I'm almost 26 years old yet I don't have much to show for it.

SNAP. I should snap out of these thoughts.

I need a drink. Or Skittles. Or both.

"The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence." - Gertrude Stein, from the movie Midnight in Paris