On Love

{via}

I first discovered Kent Nerburn's "Falling in Love" (also excerpted as "On Love;), a chapter from his book Letters to My Son: A Father's Wisdom on Manhood, Life and Love, way back in high school.  Back then, it seems that the worst thing that can happen in the realm of love was realizing a crush doesn't have a crush on me.  In 2012, I look back yet again to its simple but profound wisdom, as I know it can still teach me a thing or two about life and love. These are words that any one who has fallen in love should always remember and should never forget.

The Enduring Allure of the Little Black Dress

Hello there! I've been away for quite some time I know! Traveled to one of my favorite countries last month, celebrated my birthday, and basically just devoted time to catch up with work and family commitments and well, Life.

But I've definitely missed blogging and you my dear readers.  This time, I'm back with this post for all you classic (and classy) ladies out there. 

Champagne Room

Back in September, I was able to go to one of the restaurants I've wanted to try for the longest time: Champagne Room. This restaurant is located in Manila Hotel, the grand dame of hotels in Manila.

Manila Hotel had recently undergone some renovations and refurbishments, especially with its restaurants. Since Champagne Room has been on my restaurant list, that night  was the perfect occasion to find out what makes Champagne Room special.

Lookbook: Dress The Part

Hello there! Just a quick hello and hoping you're having a great weekend. Just want to share with you these looks which I've created in partnership with Van Mildert, an online shopping site which carries the latest looks as well as classic items, and with a wide range of brands.   

I think every closet must have dresses as a wardrobe staple, and great dresses are definitely a worthwhile investment.  These looks center on how you can use a great dress as the anchor of your outfit for any occasion, whether it's for work or for the weekend.

For the Office 

The Pretty Dress Company peplum dress/ Sam Edelman leopard print peep toes/ Marc by Marc Jacobs cross body bag/  Ray-ban aviators

Girls' Night Out

 McQ Alexander Mcqueen dress/  Muubaa leather jacket/ Michael Kors tote/ Sam Edelman leather & suede calf boots/ Vivienne Westwood earring

Sunday Brunch

Marc by Marc Jacobs dress/ Vivienne Westwood jacket/ Michael Kors flats/ Marc by Marc Jacobs clutch/ Juicy Couture charm bracelets/ Ray-Ban Wayfarers

What's your favorite look?  I hope this inspires you to choose a dress and to work it! :)  All these items are available on Van Mildert. Cheers! :)

Color & Hair Treatments at Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell

 

As most of my dear readers already know, my go-to hair stylist is Alex Carbonell of Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell salon. And it's simply just a bonus that among the top posts on this blog are my posts on my experiences with Alex, either from the first time I had my hair cut at his hands or the first time I had my hair colored with him.  In fact, readers who have left comments on my posts have also attested to how well he cuts hair and the superb service they themselves have received at Studio Fix.

And I was even happier when I went back again to Alex  in July when he told me that he had several customers who told him that they went to Studio Fix  after they read my blog. And so before I tell you about my latest Studio Fix experience, I'd like first to thank all those who have read my blog and were encouraged enough to take my word and try out Alex and Studio Fix. Alex even thanked me for sending those clients his way, and it was indeed truly heartwarming :) Here in Sunset Goddess Manila, I really feel happy and quite honored whenever I receive feedback about my posts and I'm glad I'm able to share such fab "finds" as Studio Fix with you :)

The Eco Bag Solution + Relief Ideas

 

The aftermath of the monsoon rains and floods which have poured on Metro Manila and neighboring provinces starting on August 6, 2012 until today is simply heartbreaking.    While I have been lucky not to suffer from the floods and was not even inconvenienced with a power outage (the only major change in our household was that the cable was out until this evening), I know a lot of people are still suffering, whether in big or small ways. I am simply thankful that all my loved ones and family members and myself are safe, dry, and comfortable in our own homes---and I am praying hard that the rains stop for those who are in unfortunate circumstances because of the torrential downpours.  

Relief efforts have already started but the pressing concern in my mind right now is what will be done after those relief efforts have subsided.  Of course, I know that these rescue and relief operations are essential to save priceless lives.  But there's also a part of me that thinks that giving relief bags is the equivalent of giving survivors fish that will feed them for a day, but will not teach them how to fish to feed them for a lifetime. It's a band-aid solution that's needed at the moment, but a band-aid solution nonetheless.

Celebrity Dresses

One thing I like about shopping online is that there's simply a great range of options available, especially when it comes to clothes.  Sure, there's nothing quite like shopping for clothes in a brick-and-mortar store.  But I say, shopping for clothes online has its own natural high and is a shopping experience quite unique to our generation ---something that our moms or any older generation of women may never be able to get.

Another fabulous aspect of online shopping is getting to see and buy celebrity dresses. Yes, celebrity dresses---as in, dresses that are copied from or inspired by the clothes celebrities wear.  These celebrities may be actresses, pop stars, fictional characters, or royalty. Celebrities can basically wear anything they or their stylists want and they can afford just about anything.  But for us mere mortals, the practical and smart solution are celebrity dresses.

These are just some of the celebrity dresses that I like and won't mind getting for myself:

Bag Lust: The Givenchy Antigona

The days of the "It Bag" may now just be over and yet, there are still some bags that make my heart leap and induce a major case of bag lust. Aside from the Celine Mini Luggage tote, one of the bags on my radar is the Givenchy Antigona.  

Date A Girl Who Reads

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Divisoria Finds!

Ever since I was in college and moved from Makati to San Juan, I've been going to Divisoria to shop every now and then.  From San Juan, Divisoria is so accessible either by car or commuting (ride  the LRT2 from the V. Mapa LRT station, get off at Recto station, then Divisoria is just one jeepney ride away).  It's a destination that I'm proud to say I can brave by myself, although there is also a different sense of fun to go shopping there with friends.

Then and now, Divisoria has always been the perfect place to score cheap but fabulous finds---whether for home stuff, fabrics, toys, and other knicknacks. But of course, my main reason for turning to Divisoria has always been for fashionable finds, and of course, at cheap prices too. I've always been meaning to make a Divisoria guide/ blog post. So since I was there last Saturday with my friend, I thought this was the perfect time to share with you the great finds I came home with and some Divisoria "tips" as well.

Who wants free Uniqlo Gift Certificates?

I love it when serendipity happens! I just blogged about Uniqlo opening in Manila and now, I got word that Hyundai's Sand Sea and Sky is giving away a shopping spree worth P5,000.00 to Uniqlo! How to join the giveaway? All you have to do is like Hyundai Sand Sea and Sky on Facebook! So easy and who knows, you just might shop your way into the most-talked about store recently :) 

To learn more about Hyundai Sand Sea and Sky visit their website.

Cheers!

Uniqlo Opens in Manila

On Saturday morning, I found myself going to Mall of Asia (MOA) to go to Uniqlo. It just opened the day before and though I heard from friends that the first day was a nightmare with so many people in the store, I figured, going there early on the second day would give me a good chance.

I was there about 15 minutes before the 10 AM opening time and silly me for thinking that there won't be any line. Because this is what I saw when I arrived:

Five Things Friday

 {My new favorite series}

It's a week of reflecting and recommitting myself, including updating my Five Things series, which I haven't added to in a while. I thought it's important to keep track of what's going on and the things that are making my days recently. Not only so that when I grow old and gray, I'll look back on everything and be filled with warm memories.  But also because here, in the present, is the  time I want to be most grateful for everything that I have and for everything that has come my way. Cheers! :)

30 for 30 Remix Summer Edition: The Finale

Now here's the finale post of my 30 for 30 Remix Challenge: The Summer Edition. Over the summer, I came up with 30 outfits from just 30 pieces from my closet, including shoes.  Before that, I did my 50 for 50 Project, which was derived from this 30 for 30 Challenge, and which was in turn inspired by Kendi Everyday.  And just like in my 50 for 50 Project, I'm still amazed at how I was able to come up with this much outfits, given the limited number of clothes I had to work with.

30 for 30 Remix Summer Edition: Week 5

And just like that, I've done the last week of my Summer Edition of the 30 for 30 Remix Challenge!  For the last week, I attended two concerts (and thus showing the versatility of the pieces from day to night), stayed with no-fail go-tos like color blocking and basically wore the pieces which I have not yet worn at least twice. Watch out for my finale post soon!

30 for 30 Remix Summer Edition: Week 4

What I like about remixing (especially now when I only have 30 pieces to work with) is that I'm forced to rethink my clothes and how I can wear them.  This week, the main thing I've realized is that really, there are so many ways to wear certain pieces.  For example, this dress which I found for about P200 on the colorful streets of Divisoria years ago proved to be the real deal. It can be worn not just as a tube dress but also with a halter neckline (seen in my travels here) and more than that, as a skirt (and this week, also as a skirt and paired with another dress).  I think I can even use it as a top by pairing it with a long, billowy skirt.

Aside from versatility, what I also like about remixing is that I won't be as creative in mixing and matching my clothes.  I think if you have so many clothes in your closet, the tendency is you won't think that a piece can be paired with other pieces in your closet. But because a remix like this forces you to rethink each piece, then you'd be surprised with the pairings and combinations you can come up with.

30 for 30 Remix Summer Edition: Week 3

Aside from bright colors, white is my favorite thing to wear in the summer. Nothing beats a white top, white skirt, and white pants to counteract the summer heat especially if they're made of breathable, pure cotton. Which is why my white sleeveless cotton top from SM's Copa Cabana has got to be one of the most versatile (and therefore much used) item in my 30 for 30 Summer Remix challenge. And of course, if I believe that no closet should exist without a little black dress, then it's also true that each closet must have its essential twin, the LWD (little white dress).  Especially in our tropical country where the heat has been soaring and peaking.

30 for 30 Remix Summer Edition: Week 2

I don't think any closet remix challenge of mine will be complete without bright colors and of course, color blocking.  It is of course, summer! And what better way to celebrate bright, happy days than with vivid colors and bright  color blocking combinations. I have been wearing this trend since last year and I thought it will be passe now but surprisingly, it's still one of the fashion trends for Spring 2012.  Well, I myself don't really care whether it's still on trend or not because for me, it's one of the best remixing techniques ever---any mix of a number of bright, solid pieces can result in an infinite number of outfit combinations.  And color blocking can be worn not just for bright hues but also for pastels, neutrals, and monochromes. So for sure, I'm going to be color blocking until I run out of outfit combinations---which means, I will be color blocking until I'm old and gray. Let's just say I'm incorporating it in my signature style!

And for this week, I also want to share this peplum skirt which I bought for a song in The Landmark Department Store years ago, and I was happily surprised to find that this trend is also back this year.  And of course, the timelessness of this little black dress from Vestito is the reason why I cannot resist adding another black dress to my closet---especially if it has an unexpected shape, it's made of jersey (which means it doesn't wrinkle) AND what a bonus if jersey comes in such a forgiving, drapey shape as this one. So hooray to classics and "trends" that never really go out of style. Cheers! :)

30 for 30 Remix Summer Edition: Week 1

Since this is practically the second time I'm doing a style remix challenge like this, I must say that it's already way a lot easier compared to the first time I've started out with my 50 for 50 Project.  But for this 30 for 30 challenge, I have a  considerably less number of clothes to work with. From 50 items of clothes, I'm down to just 24 pieces, since the remaining 6 are shoes.  For this Summer Edition of the remix, I chose basic pieces that are versatile enough to be mixed and matched and to be repurposed not just for the work week but for the weekend as well.

30 for 30 Remix Challenge: The Summer Edition

{Via Kendi Everyday}

So here it is, the pieces for my Summer Edition of the 30 for 30 remix challenge. A few months  ago, I was inspired to remix by closet by the blog Kendi Everday but I put my own twist to it and came up with my own challenge, which I called the "50 for 50 Project".  After I accomplished my goal for that fashion challenge, I decided to take on Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge at its purest form---take 30 pieces from the closet (including shoes) and make 30 outfits from the 30 pieces. And to not go shopping for new clothes during the challenge (or at least try not to).

Post-Digital Perm Hair Care Guide

THINKING OF HAVING YOUR STRAIGHT HAIR PERMED? READ THIS FIRST BEFORE GETTING A DIGI PERM!!
A few weeks ago, I got my hair permed for the very first time at Bang's Tony and Jackey and told you all about my (virgin) digital perm experience in this post.

As I mentioned there, the main thing that I felt after leaving the salon and a few days after was disoriented.  After living with straight hair for all my life up until that point, I felt confused and a bit lost on what to do with my hair. And while still in that disoriented state, I sort of panicked, which led me to buy products that I realized only later on were not really what I needed.  I did ask a lot of questions from my Korean stylist, Anna,  but I felt like it's a hit or miss---as in, you have to ask the right questions or else you won't get the proper information. So the thing is, what questions are you supposed to ask?

And I noticed that while there are so many articles and blog posts on other girls' experiences on their digi perms, there aren't that many that tell us formerly straight-haired girls about what to expect and what to do with our newly permed hair AFTER we leave the salon and deal with it in our daily lives. After all, we already paid so much for the perm itself and risked taking this step to the world of waves and curls. So we might as well enjoy this new hair and be sure to maintain it properly. 

So I came up with this guide, which is a compilation of my own experience and tips from other real women who've had their hair digi permed.  You will also find my essential shopping list for digi permed hair (because I don't want you to go through what I did---panicking and overbuying!).

The Digital Perm Experience

I have been blessed with God-given straight hair.  Never had my hair rebonded, relaxed, or permanently blow dried.  And you know what they say, girls with curly hair want to have their hair straightened while girls with straight hair want to have curly hair.  

And that is so true for me.  Over the years and for so many weddings and events, I had dipped my toes into the world of curls and waves using curling irons (or hair straightening irons used to make curls) in salons.  And more often than not, I've had the frustrating experience of seeing the gorgeous curls wilt and straighten after only a few hours, especially in  Manila's humidity and heat.  That's because with the blessing of straight hair also comes the challenge of hair with fine strands and thus, my hair cannot maintain the curls made with an iron, unless my hair is "set" first under rollers before being curled. And even if I buy a curling iron and attempt to curl my hair myself, I know I will just damage my hair in the long run with the prolonged exposure to heat.

And so it was that after years of envying real girls and celebrities with luscious waves and after months of dilly-dallying, I finally had my hair permed about two Saturdays ago.  I had my hair permed in Bang's Tony and Jackey, the Korean salon which has invaded the Philippines and is almost a household salon name.  As I recounted in this post, I've had an almost-traumatic experience with this salon a few years back when I had my bob trimmed (Buendia Makati branch). But I've also said that I will reconsider going back due to a former boss' good perm job.  Recently, one of my best friends also got her digi perm in Tony and Jackey (Magallanes) and I took that as my sign to finally have my perm done.

50 for 50 Project: The Finale

THE 50 FOR 50 PROJECT basically started out from my frustration with having closets full of clothes and still finding myself with most days figuring out what to wear and worse, feeling that there's nothing to wear. Or more to the point, wanting to have something new to wear despite the closets full of clothes. And since my closets are filled to the brim, I always ended up with messy closets that I had to fix almost every weekend.

Then came a day when I've been inspired to clear out half the contents of my main closet and as I've shared with you here, I've been inspired not only to prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to clothes, but also to be on the road to building the perfect wardrobe.  

What is the perfect wardrobe? Not only is that a question that every fashionable young woman must ask, it is also a process which she should undertake.  It is also very personal.  What is an essential piece for you may not be essential for another girl.

I probably spend too much money on clothes than I have to but it was only after this realization that I've come to answer the question of what is the perfect wardrobe for me: It should have all the basics and the classics, and should also have lovely,whimsical, one-of-a-kind pieces. It need not be a lot but it should be just enough--not too little that it will compromise my preference for being fashionable and not wearing any one piece to death.  It should also be not too many since I have a finite closet space and I don't have a trust fund to support any unbridled leaning for fashion.  While I love fashion and clothes, I've realized lately that  it cannot go uncontrolled and just because there is money to spare doesn't mean I can buy anything I want.  Before acquiring yet another new item of clothing, there should now be a deliberateness to the purchase, and a careful selection based on how the new acquisition will work with the rest of the pieces in the closet.  

I don't want to come off as too serious about this because as they say, at the end of the day, it's just fashion and it shouldn't be taken too seriously.  My day job is quite a serious thing already so fashion is not just a passion or past time for me but is also, in a way, a stress reliever.  I'll be more stressed when I face a stressful day at work if I know I look like shit.  Conversely, any day seems infinitely better when I go out of the house knowing I'm dressed to kill.

But more than just fashion, I am talking about personal style here, which is a manifestation of one's personality and philosophy, of how one projects one's self to the world.  Not too mention my concern with how our generation seems to be obsessed with simply acquiring the "in" thing (whether it comes to fashion, gadgets, restaurants), the seeming race to buy the latest, and all the mindless acquisition without really stopping and reflecting on whether we really need all that we bring home into our lives. 

So with that in mind, I was inspired to do THE 50 FOR 50 PROJECT, where I challenged myself to wearing 50 outfits from just 50 items in my closet.  I've shared with you my inspirations for the project, and the 50 pieces of clothes. I felt it was a real challenge for me because I usually avoid repeating the same outfits within a period of time and because it was an "intriguing" premise---that there can be that much new outfits with just those pieces.  And because I feel like I have too many clothes for my own good (and yet I feel I still lack some key pieces of clothes that I really need).

I've given you the weekly outfit posts from week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, up to week 8  and now here they're all together in one place:

 

1. Classic White Tshirt & Denim Shorts, 2. Gray and Black Monday work outfit, 3. Coral & Black for work, 4. Red & White, 5. Embroidered peasant blouse for casual Friday, 6. All White for the Weekend, 7. White & Fuchsia, 8. In the Nude, 9. Victorian lace blouse + Black, 10. Red and Blue, 11. Stripes and Floral, 12. Kimono & Jeans, 13. Zara Breton Shirt layered with Poncho, 14. Gucci-inspired colorblocking, 15. Tie Neck Top + Lace, 16. Black & White + Yellow, 17. I Really Love Colorblocking, 18. Nude Colors for the Weekend, 19. Sequined for the Weekend, 20. More Colorblocking, 21. Shades of Blue, 22. Red, White & Blue for Work, 23. Sequins & Animal Print for Work, 24. Red, White & Blue for the Weekend, 25. Breton & Lace

26. Restyled Denim Chambray Shirt, 27. Red, White & Black, 28. Black and Blue, 29. Red & White, 30. Peasant Blouse & Plaid Shorts, 31. White Lace & Jeans, 32. Black & White + Camel, 33. All black + red + camel, 34. Black & White + Red, 35. Black & White + More Red, 36. All White + Black & Red, 37. Pops of Juicy Color, 38. Hot Pink & Zebra Print, 39. Colorblocking Plus, 40. White & Taupe, 41. Plaid & Stripes Mix, 42. Bright, White & Animal Print, 43. Nautical Chic, 44. Blue, Black & Gold, 45. More Nautical, 46. Lace on Lace, 47. One More Colorblocking, 48. Little Black Dress, 49. Black & White + Red, 50. Black & White

Did it look like I repeated any outfit? No, I didn't.  I never paired any top with any  skirt/pants/shorts twice over. Neither did I repeat pairing a top with the same blazer or jacket.  And still, there were a lot of pieces that I wore only once throughout the whole time!

And coming up with the outfit combinations wasn't actually that hard compared to the more tedious process of having those outfits photographed almost everyday for two months (good thing two of our house help are gay and could very well understand why they have to take my outfit shots). 

When I started out with this, I also said I won't buy new clothes. That worked for more than a month.  And when I finally did succumb to shopping and buying new stuff, the pleasure was half taken out since I couldn't wear what I had just bought until I finished with the challenge (yes, I was that honest and the only time I didn't wear anything from the 50 pieces was when I was away on holiday and at the beach, which I disclosed in advance when I started with the project!). So not only did the 50 for 50 Project force me to work with what I already have, it also discouraged me from buying any more new clothes.

But more than anything else, this project was really a tool for me to really realize that one can still be fashionable by working with just a few key pieces.  And by just creatively mixing, matching, and remixing, there are so many outfit possibilities.  Yes, the 50 for 50 Project is a testament that if always having something new to wear is that important to you, it's not only possible by working with even just a few pieces but is actually more fulfilling (as opposed to just buying up more clothes to get new outfits).  And just imagine the possibilities if you pare down your closet to just 100, 150, or 200 pieces of clothing that you really, really love.  Think of all the new outfit combinations, the bigger closet space, and the extra money you'll save by not buying anything that you'll end up only wearing once.  

With my 50 for 50 Project, I proved that this challenge can be done.  And as you who were with me when I started out this sartorial journey already know, this project was inspired by Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 Remix. Back when I started with the 50 for 50 Project, I thought I couldn't limit myself to just 30 pieces (INCLUDING shoes!!) that's why I upped it to 50 and didn't have the heart to include shoes in the count.

Now, I'm ready to further challenge myself by actually doing the pure 30 for 30 Remix and with that, to be further on my way to the perfect wardrobe. 

I hope I've inspired you in my own little way to also remix your clothes and build your own perfect wardrobe.  Now, who's ready to go on the next style challenge with me? 

Cheers! :) 

50 for 50 Project: Week 8

This is it---the eighth and final week of my 50 for 50 Project! Unfortunately for me, this last week also coincided with a busy week at work, and I had to keep things easy and simple, while still wanting to encapsulate the style themes throughout my project. Some lace, nautical inspiration, black and white (with pops of color too), and of course, colorblocking.  My first outfit for the 50 for 50 Project was a white shirt and denim shorts.  I wanted the last outfit on a Friday to be just as classic---with just a white button down shirt and dark jeans.  But I had several meetings that day which didn't allow me to be on casual Friday mode. So I just had to make do with my just-as-classic pairing of black and white.  All is well that ends well. :)

Read about the round-up of my 50 for 50 Project here.

50 for 50 Project: Week 7

Week 7 of the 50 for 50 Project was actually a combination of outfits for about the last two weeks, mainly because I was away on  holiday for a few days.  I've already resolved not to include clothes for travel  (especially for the beach!) in the project since it would have been really difficult. And really, it's also because the goal of this project is not to needlessly suffer sartorially but to find creative ways to remix outfits only from 50 pieces of clothes.  If I had to include my outfits on holiday, then I know that I would be taking away the fun out of this challenge, and I might regret doing this in the first place.  To paraphrase what Kendi of Kendi Everyday (who's the inspiration for this project) said here: it's not a 50-day challenge, it's a 50-outfit challenge! Cheers! :)

Human ♥ Nature's Flagship Store

A few weeks ago, I was in the Commonwealth area in Quezon City and so I was able to visit the recently opened flagship store of Human Nature.  I've been using Human Nature for some years now, ever since I first discovered it at Sesou Nature Source's store in Glorietta. Then I bought my Human Nature products from a dealer in my former office. I found that getting from a dealer is more convenient and I was sure to be able to buy Human Nature's full range of products. While Human Nature is also available in stores like Beauty Bar, Shopwise, or Rustan's supermarkets, I always get frustrated with their limited product offerings there.  

So, I was like a kid set loose in a candy store at Human Nature's flagship store.  It was a big and well-designed space, and of course, stocked with all of Human Nature's products  that I could possibly want.

50 for 50 Project: Week 6

Week 6 of the 50 for 50 Project was all about my different takes on black and white for the work week.  Aside from colorblocking, black and white has got to be one of my favorite color combinations. Combining black and white instantly chicifies an outfit. And paired with pops of color, like camel and red, the possibilities for black and white are almost endless. Cheers! :)

J. CO Donuts & Coffee opens in Manila: Overrated?

 

J. CO Donuts opened in Manila through its first branch in Megamall just today. Luckily for me, I was already somewhere near the area, so I was able to actually witness as they opened their doors for the first time to the Filipino public.

Angela Angeles Bijou Jewelry

I first met Angela Angeles back in college, when her older sister, Geline, was my blockmate and Geline would invite us over to their house whenever we had to do our group works. Back then, Angela was still in high school and I remembered that she was already doing beads.  Later on, she finished architecture in UST but she was always making jewelry and accessories on the side. 

50 for 50 Project: Week 5

Week 5 of my 50 for 50 PROJECT was mostly about wearing the remaining items in my 50 for 50 closet that I still haven't worn for the Project: a navy button down top, a red tunic top, and these plaid shorts. The fact that there will be pieces in the closet that I will only wear once shows that 50 pieces really do give more than enough to work with---contrary to my original hesitation in narrowing my closet to just 50 items.

Domestic Goddess: Tilapia & Salads

Two weekends ago, I cooked. Now, this wouldn't be remarkable for other people but for someone like me (who doesn't even know how to cook rice), it was certainly a feat.   And this was for no other explanation than because I was suddenly inspired to practice my skills on the domestic front.

50 for 50 Project: Week 4

Week 4 of my 50 for 50 PROJECT is finished and I am halfway done! Woohoo! I am still amazed that at this point, I still have a couple of pieces that I haven't worn even once and that I still have new outfit combinations from the 50 pieces of clothes for this project.  This just goes to show that you can really do A LOT from just 50 items in your closet---so imagine the possibilities if you whittle down your closet to just 100 or 150 pieces of clothes that you really, really love and would want to wear again and again...Think of the amount of closet space that will be freed up and the freedom from mindless shopping.

MV Logos Hope in Manila

Recently, we were able to visit MV Logos Hope, the ship sailing all over the world and selling books to millions.

The ship is operated by GBA Ships e.V., a German charitable Christian organization. Before Logos Hope, I've heard of MV Doulos, also a floating bookstore that was run by GBA Ships, but I wasn't able to visit it when it was in town. Now, I couldn't pass up the chance to finally go on a floating bookstore, in fact the largest floating bookstore in the world. The ship has been sailing to ports all over the world since 2009, with a mission of “bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world.”

50 for 50 Project: Week 3

I just finished Week 3 of my 50 for 50 PROJECT! As the weeks go by, I must admit that it's getting harder to come up with outfits from just the 50 pieces of clothes that I've set aside for this project.  However, notwithstanding that, I'm surprised that there are still pieces that I haven't even worn once, while there are some that I keep on going back to.

50 for 50 Project: Week 2

For the second week of my 50 for 50 Project, my pencil skirts have proven to be one of my closet's top staples. Time and again, they are simply reliable and possibly the best thing either for formal or casual work wear, and can even be relaxed for the weekend.

 
 #7. Work Outfit

SM Classics white button-down shirt

Studio fuchsia silk pencil skirt

Thrifted denim motorcycle jacket

Strappy black heels from bazaar
Studded belt from SM Department Store 

Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell, Revisited

After a year of wearing bangs, it's time for a hair update. And where else will I go but to Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell, and to get a cut from Mr. Alex Carbonell himself.  As you've read here, I went to Alex about a year ago to get bangs.  Now it's time for a revisit.

As usual, I was welcomed by attentive and courteous staff at the reception/waiting area. I booked two days in advance and I like that they even texted to remind me a day before to confirm my appointment. This practice also reminds clients, just in case they forgot about the exact time of their appointments. 

I told Alex that I wanted to grow out my bangs and get some long layers.  I readily confessed to him that  over the year, I went to stylists from Fix Lab and Fix salons (also Studio Fix's sister salons) which were conveniently nearer to me and since I only had my bangs trimmed. In my last trim, I got full bangs, which you can see in this picture from October. 

However, the full bangs became problematic now that I'm growing them out.  It seemed like all the volume was on the top of my head.  Also, I badly, badly wanted to have my hair colored professionally. The last time I did so was years ago and it was just a full color job, with no highlights.  Since then, I just had my hair colored DIY from a box. The only advantage of having hair colored that way is that it's super cheap.  Now that my colored hair has grown out, I hated the brassy coppery color along the ends and of course, the roots growing back.

Here's a picture taken of me on the day of my cut with Alex, with misshapen bangs and hair color which badly needed correcting.

For a Wednesday afternoon, I was surprised to find that there were a lot of clients in Studio Fix---a testament to Alex Carbonell's growing loyal clientele and to how much Studio Fix has grown in just a short time. The first time I've had my cut there two years ago, it seemed like it was the only establishment open on the 4th floor.  Here's another "before" photo:

I love Studio Fix's attention to details like plastic covers for the clients' bags

Then Alex cut my hair.  As always, he worked his magic with just a few snips here and there. Case in point, my problematic growing-out bangs. I think he just made about two snips to my bangs and yet, those two strokes made all the difference. The thick volume was instantly gone and right away, I had more manageable bangs that I know would transition effortlessly as I grow them out. 

Then we came to hair color, where Alex once again proved why he's one of the best, if not the best, hair expert in town.  I told him I want something "drastic"---meaning I want a bold, blonde-ish color. Ash blonde. I could only articulate what I wanted using key words.  But it seemed like he knew right away what I was talking about. He said something about J.Lo's hair. I haven't watched American Idol in ages so I had no idea what he was talking about. So I just told him I trusted him.  Then he wrote up an order form for my hair color and turned me over to his assistant, Ellie, who performed the coloring at Alex's precise directions. 

Ellie instantly recognized me from my blog post on Studio Fix, which I really felt happy about.  It's true, "Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell" is one of the top search terms on this blog! :)

Chatting up Ellie as he worked on my hair, I instantly got the sense that he was very experienced and well-trained---an impression which I get from all of Studio Fix's staff, from the girls in reception to the assistants washing our hair.

Ellie executed hair color instructions from Alex which seemed so complicated that I won't even pretend I understand it.  It was a combination of highlights and full color, placed at precise areas and with varying amounts, which I found quite novel since it was actually the first time I had my hair foil highlighted.

I came in at 1:30 in the afternoon and all the highlighting and coloring were done by 5:30.  From the the three hours of sitting, I was able to learn many things from Ellie---like the fact that Studio Fix color their clients' hair using the Schwarzkopf brand (and with no ammonia at that) and the fact even visiting international hairstylists have marveled at the "pyramid" technique that they use for highlighting and coloring. Also, Alex suits a color job not only to each client's preferences but also to her skin tone, which makes the hair color and highlights unique and matched to each client.

After waiting for the designated time for the color to work into my hair, I also got the most amazing head massage ever while my hair was being shampooed and conditioned, something that I also remarked on the last time I was there. In the end, the 3 hours of sitting was all worth it when I saw how the color came out after it was blow-dried. It was EXACTLY the shade I wanted and it was amazing how they came up with it knowing that they used a mix of different shades and textures.

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Once again, Alex Carbonell has worked his magic. Alex told me that I haven't left the salon yet and there was already another client asking for bangs similar to mine! Before I left, I had my hair styled with a curling iron (mainly because I wanted to see how I would look like if I have my hair permed).

 

Then of course, my real test of a good haircut (and now, also good hair color) is how it looks like the the day after, when I've already shampooed and styled it myself: 

Since it was the first time I had my hair highlighted in a salon, I thought I would be charged both for the highlights and hair color---so I was expecting to pay upwards of P5,000 plus Alex's haircut fee of P1,200. So I was super pleasantly surprised to learn that my total charge was only P2,350, which is the fee for full color for medium length hair---and because Alex waived the haircut fee!

Another quick note on having hair color done professionally.  I had this notion that having highlights and color done in salons is super expensive, especially for a salon of Studio Fix's level.  In fact, I first thought of just having my cut in Studio Fix then just having the color done in a Fix salon, which has cheaper prices for color services.

But after having my hair colored and highlighted in Studio Fix, I thought that I got really great value for money. For the amount I paid, I got exactly the great hair color I wanted in the shade that's perfect for my skin tone, with each and every strand meticulously colored/highlighted, and had an amazing head massage to boot---and all at the expert hands of Alex Carbonell and his well-experienced colorists and assistants.

Oh and to preserve the job on my newly-colored hair, I'm now using Pureology shampoo (P1095,  available in Studio Fix, Fix Lab, and Fix salons). It has anti-fade ingredients but what interests me is that it has no sulfate (a chemical that's harmful for the scalp and found in most commercial shampoos).

Lastly, I don't know if I was given the free haircut because of my blog post but nonetheless, super thank you to Studio Fix! For my readers, I don't have anything to disclose---my only relationship to Studio Fix is that I'm a client and I gave good, raving reviews only because I was really, really satisfied with the level of service that I received. At the end of the day, I'm just happy to share with you how happy I am with my cut and with my hair color and I know I will be back for touch ups and other services.

Here's a picture of Studio Fix's services, which I took because I know so many are asking (please click to enlarge):

Stay Fabulous! Cheers! 

My other posts on Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell:
Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell and A Hair Story

Color & Hair Treatments at Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell

Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell 
Level 4, Greenbelt 5
Makati City
Telephone: 632-5013062 and 632-5013064