Oh! 2012

you have been an awesome year.
i had some life-changing moments in 2012 and i couldn't be happier and thankful with everything that 2012 brought me. i got married, gained a new family and have been surrounded by very good people.
looking forward to 2013! in fact, jesse and i have written down things that we want to do in 2013 and we are excited.
here's to more happiness, love and awesome people!

Merry Christmas!

Greeting everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope you are enjoying the holidays as much as we do. My husband and I are in our jammies while getting stuffed with the yummy treats and prepping the gifts for the stockings (the tree is overflowing with gifts). 

This is our first Christmas as a married couple and we are loving every minute of it. I hope my mom can spend Christmas with us next year though. Anyway, it's just few hours before Christmas in this part of the globe... can't wait!

Pink Scarf

 Hubby and I are enjoying our holidays with our family. He gave me this very cool photo editing software called camera bag and I am so excited to use it.

This has been a very good year and it is so nice spending it with people we love. Hopefully we can bring my mom here soon too. Anyway, wishing everyone a very merry Christmas! 

wearing joe fresh dress, vintage belt, old navy scarf, thrifted coat, aqua college boots

The Hobbit

is the movie we watched last Sunday wearing this and we enjoyed it. i enjoyed it so much that i had to hold my pee for the last 30 minutes so i don't miss out on anything (darn too much orange juice!) - ok, too much information. 

anyway, the skirt i am wearing is actually a dress that J gave me last year for my birthday. I wore it with his sweater and my Dr. Martens. 

I love date nights. :) 

Of red lips and high heels

Nothing looks more sexy than red lips and high heels. I have to be honest, I was so conscious to wear red lipstick before because I thought it's too scandalous or only meant for special occasions. However, I found the courage and now I realize that it makes everything so fabulous! I can step out of the house with no make up on aside from my red lips and I feel so put together and awesome (uh-huh!). 

Hope everyone has a great mid-week! :)

Snowfall

Proud to say that this is not my first time to see and enjoy snow. There is something so magical with snow falling, isn't it? 

Polka Dots and Geometric Prints

Just one Sunday morning being crazy.

Dear Husband....

You are the best!

Got a spanking brand new camera, the one that I always want! So no excuses for me from now on to post bad pics. 

Birthday Recap

Had a wonderful birthday celebration over sushi and movie. 

Birthday Outfit

coat: thrifted; 

dress: H&M; 

belt: thrifted; 

shades: Dollarama; 

boots: Frye

What I wore for my date with my husband. I am happy to tell you that I finally scored myself a pair Frye boots! Remember when I posted this and this? Well guess, what, I got it! I got myself a pair of new, never worn Jane Tall Frye boots less than a quarter of the price. They maybe 2 sizes big on me (I am a 9) but there's nothing shoe inserts and thick socks can do. Frye boots are known for their size inconsistencies anyway, so I decided to take a chance and works for me. 

I Love...

... the moon tonight while we were driving. seems like it's sleeping and comfortable up in the sky
... my nephews William and Zach, they are just adorable. yes, they are brats sometimes but how can I resist them when Zach flashes his smile at me and when Will hugs me tightly?
... this day. I had a wonderful day with my husband and although this is the first birthday that my mom and I are not together, I know for sure she'll be here soon
... sushi! my gosh, my husband and I can't get enough sushi
... or japanese foor for that matter
... ramen!!! you can give me ramen everyday, three times a week and I'm happy, seriously
... my new boots! I scored a pair of Frye boots for less than 1/4 of it's retail price (happy dance). They maybe 2 sizes big on me but a pair of thick socks and insoles and I'm good to go
... shoes. just as my husband loves games. I asked him to bring me to Winners this afternoon so I can just surround myself with shoes and just look at them. I know, weird but I'm happy just looking at them
... this guy

... yep, i love him a lot 

... toast with margarine and raspberry jam

... my awesome family and friends who remembered my birthday

... my mom for just being the best

My Biiiiiirthdaaaaay

Oh yeah, it's my birthday y'all! And I am grateful for everything, I would have to say I had an awesome year and I am looking forward for more great things to come! Here's an article that I saw from another blog (geez, I forgot to bookmark the blog but I'll try to look for it again, promise) that I find very apt to getting older and hopefully, getting wiser. It's a very good read and although you may have heard some of the things in there before, it's nice to be reminded of them again. See the article here

Wishlist

clockwise from topmost left: 

1. Frye Jane Tall Boots 

2. Frye Shirley OTK Boots

3. H&M x MMM black boots

4. Arson Flame Western boots

5. Hudson Etty Tie boots

6. Action Buckle Side boots

11.11

I remember when Jesse tells me to make a wish whenever 11:11 hits. I, would then close my eyes and think of what I wanted to happen. I asked him why 11:11 and he said, he doesn't know, just what was taught to him growing up.

November 11 is known to Canadians as Remembrance Day or the Poppy Day, when everyone remembers the men and women who fought and continually fight for Canada in times of war and peace. It is normal to see people wearing a red poppy on the left lapel or near the heart during this time or nearing November 11. It is my first time to witness a Remembrance Day ceremony and I find it really heartfelt. You see, the Philippines doesn't have Remembrance Day but there are a lot of holidays to celebrate specific heroes and historic events (i.e. Jose Rizal Day, EDSA 1, National Heroes Day) but I feel like it just became as 'one of those holidays' where people book an out of town trip. There maybe ceremonies held but it's for the government officials and even though it is broadcasted live on TV, I doubt that people are watching them. So yes, it is sad. I heard one foreigner commented that Filipinos forget easily and I am afraid, sad as it is, it is true. I hope Filipinos can learn to remember how freedom was achieved and learn to value and protect it.

I like that even though one day is allotted for their heroes, everyone is participating. We went there with the entire family including kids in tow. It's a very good way to teach the younger generations history and the value of freedom we are having now. Here are some pictures during the Remembrance Day Ceremony:

Zebra Print and Polka Dots

I haven't had an outfit post for a long time. Until I get a decent camera, I guess the quality of my pictures will be just like above (sorry about that). But yeah, I try to make do with what I have at the moment. Anyway, decided to pair up my zebra print dress with a polka dot sheer top to go to attend mass that day. The boots I got from Kijiji are so comfy! 

P.S. I am not sure how I want this blog to be whether (1) purely fashion/ outfit post,  (2) about me and husband's life or (3) both number 1 and 2. The thing is, I don't want to talk about personal stuff too much so I am a little iffy about number 2 but I guess, it's still up to me what I can post or not. I guess my goal is number 1 but until I would have to wait until I get a decent camera to get decent pictures for my outfit posts. Ok, I don't think I am not making much sense here. I guess what I wanted to say is that right now, I am doing number 3 but I will definitely do more number 1 when I have the right tools. 

Frye me to the moon...

I am not sure if the title has something to do with my post but I just thought it sounds cool. Anyway, Frye boots have the reputation on being "the best boots you'll ever own in your entire life". They are made of the best leather and are made to last you a lifetime. I had my first pair of leather boots in 2008 (if I'm not mistaken), they were a size smaller than what I usually wear (I'm a size 9) but I squeezed my narrow feet in them thinking that since they are leather, they will expand through time. They actually did, although probably a few cms but even so, I get a lot of compliments whenever I wear them. 

I've always believed in buying investment pieces especially in shoes. Yes, they maybe expensive but I will get a lot of wear in them and will have them for a very long time. Hence, I tend to gravitate towards classic styles and leather materials. I guess that's too much introduction when all I want to say is that I want a pair of freakin' Frye boots! I particularly would like to have the Shirley OTK riding boots.

Don't they look awesome?! The problem is, they way out of my mini budget. But a girl can dream, right? One day, I will own you girls! (I hope they are not phased out by that time though..hehe) 

P.S. If the pictures are too small, try this site.

Etsy or Regretsy?

Remember the last time I told you how I love Etsy? Well, right now, I don't know if I feel the same way. I had a bad experience with one seller when I had to cancel my purchase. Take note that the items has NOT been shipped yet. I have been very understanding of the seller's situation since they have been affected by the  recent storm. However, I really had to cancel because I will not be needing it anymore and the item has not been shipped yet. Aside from a nasty response,(which the seller has apologized already, that's good), the purchase has not been cancelled and no refund has been issued. I asked other folks in Etsy about it, especially when I saw the item relisted in the seller's store. They said the seller has no obligation to cancel or issue a refund, which I completely don't understand. I mean if the item has been shipped and all then of course I would not have cancelled it but NO shipping ever occurred yet. Can I at least get a refund, since the item is still with the seller? 

Anyway, I am giving it until this week since the seller is in NY and probably still recovering. Hopefully I get my refund in time. 

Please note that I am NOT generalizing all sellers in Etsy. In fact, the first seller who I transacted with is a lovely person, very fast in responding even if she has another full-time work. I haven't received my item yet from her but I know it's on the way. 

1000-Piece Puzzle

My dead husband is a sucker for games and I mean ANY kind of games - board, computer you name it! Whenever he is in a game shop, I swear he is like a kid in a candy store or like me in a shoe store. I am not much of a game person so I learned a lot about games from him. So anyway, he's been looking for activities we can do as a couple and while at Costco, we found the perfect game for us - a puzzle! We got a 1000-piece puzzle and as soon as we got home, we started working on it and for 10-20 mins everyday after that. We did it for a week and finally, we're able to finish it! We did it while listening to 50's music. Wishing you all a great weekend ahead!

(Belated) Happy Halloween!

I know I am a couple of days late in greeting everyone but our pumpkin still deserves a post, right? My husband came home one day with a bouquet of roses in one hand and a huge pumpkin in the other. Look what we did! It is the mushroom in Super Mario! Isn't it adorable? 

I've been asked how Filipinos celebrate Halloween. It is not a distant concept to Asians especially in the Philippines since we have been 'Americanized' for more than four decades. So we are familiar with the American traditions, celebrations, etc. There are some Halloween parties here and there, especially in Manila where people dress up and dance the night away. There are also some communities who organize trick or treats for kids in their 'subdivisions'. However, it is common practice at this time of the year for Filipinos to go to the cemeteries, whether in the province or the city to visit their dead loved ones. It usually turns into a reunion and a picnic of some sort as aside from food and candles, families bring food anything they need to spend the night. If people cannot go to the cemetery, they just light candles for their dead (1 candle per person) to symbolize that they are being remembered.

I hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating Halloween with their kids and their costumes and remembering their loved ones. If you wanna see the past pumpkins we carved, check here.

Etsy Love

I want to share a new discovery of mine (okay, I maybe the last person who discovered this but better late than never)  - ETSY! I can't believe I discovered it's awesomeness just now, well yesterday to be exact. I've heard about it before and probably have visited the site once but didn't give it much attention. But everything changed when I explored the site. You know that feeling you get when you go in a place and tell yourself, "how come I've never been here before?" Uh-huh, that's how it is. 

I've been looking for the perfect tall flat boots and I find eBay frustrating (I'm not patient with the bids) and I found them there. I love the layout of the website, the sellers are very nice and I love the fact that you can find a lot of good stuff in there. I actually think that it's cheaper than eBay. So therefore, I conclude, I love Etsy.