Outfits: Kinder Bueno

SHIP'S LOG: A travels back to kindergarten days with her trusty new rucksack and step-in-time brogues. Who says pastel pink and blue are no good?


It took two months but I can finally show you my Christmas presents! Voila, a cognac backpack that I saved up an entire year for and laceless brogues!

It was such a trial to get them, involving THREE unsuccessful re-orders over the Internet and lost luggage. My poor cousin Jon had agreed to be a modern day mule, taking the presents and a pair of light sabers from Boston to Manila, only for American Airlines to 'misplace' his luggage for two days. But the moment I got a whiff of that leather smell . . . WORTH IT.



The backpack is just the right size for my mother's Nikon camera, a planner, my iPod Chuck, my Samsung Corby, and a cherry Chapstick. Huh, that list makes me feel so materialistic. Though my empty wallet precludes any acts of blatant consumerism for a few months yet. Thank God.



I had fun with this outfit. I don't think I've worn so many pastel colours since I was six! When B was taking photographs, one of my classmates passed by and I turned so red. I don't know about you guys but I find it horribly embarrassing to meet people who read this blog or, well, anyone who comes across a photo session. I just want to grab 'em by the collar and shout, 'No, no, I'm not vain, please believe me!' There it is, the paradox of the personal blogger. I think I will insist on an abandoned field next time.



So, I've just noticed that though the product description of both the backpack and brogues state the colour as cognac, the shades are quite different. That's all right, isn't it? I vaguely remember my gran saying that belts, bags, and shoes always ought to match.

Thoughts?



A wears Mother's Brooks Brothers button down, Bangkok Market skirt, Sock & Sole Co. socks, Steve Madden brogues, and the awesomest Dooney & Bourke backpack ever

Play Pretend: The Paper Crown Affair

SHIP'S LOG: A and B have fun with the hipster children's party photos much hearted on Tumblr. Summer's so close they can taste it.


We had lunch at Chocolate Kiss for walnut pesto pasta (B) and the biggest sour cream-soaked, butter-dripping baked potato ever (me). Nom nom nom. Cutting out our crowns from rainbow-bright paper, we didn't feel one bit like responsible and mature adults. Oh well.







Is this silly shoot inspired by Where the Wild Things Are (B) or The Paper Bag Princess (me)? The books our mothers read to us when we were very, very young sleep not so deeply beneath our waking thoughts. I mean, I would choose a dragon over a stuffed-shirt prince any old day.



A wears Topshop romper, Forever 21 shades, and Steve Madden brogues. B wears Forever21 dress, thrifted boots.

Play Pretend: Freaks and Geeks

SHIP'S LOG: While high school is not an era B would like to re-live (good riddance, geometry!), she doesn't mind dressing the part for the 90's cult classic:

I was pleasantly surprised by Freaks and Geeks considering I 'm not really a fan of Judd Apatow movies. This show is mostly hilarious, sometimes touching and always cool. So cool it makes you want to hang out under bleachers and start a garage band called 'Creation'! (But only if the adorable and goofy Nick Andopolis is the drummer) It's all about teenage exploration and blurring lines between stereotypes but in a very non-cheesy, non-Glee like way.

I knew I really wanted to do a Freaks and Geeks post but I couldn't find a character whose outfits were...er...inspiring. The baggy jeans, 70's style striped shirts and sweater vests could not be found in my wardrobe so I went as close to grunge as I possibly could. Hello florals and olive cardigan. Yep, a poor substitute for Lindsey's wicked army jacket.

I've been treating myself to a few episodes before I go to bed each night. (I kept doing that 'Ooh, one more episode! Just one more!' game) I would spend half the time clutching my stomach from laughter and then the other half wiping away tears. Though the latter might be because it is that time of the month. So that might be more due to hormonal reasons...

The only complaint I would have about the show is that Busy Philipps as Kim Kelly should have been billed in the opening credits. Now she is a character!

The quotable quotes from the show are also choice. I had a hard time picking out my favorites.

"I'm not a prude. If I was a prude then you'd never have been born!" - Mr. Weir.

The line you never want to hear from your parents.

"I never get better because I'm never given the chance. You know, I could be good!" - Bill Haverchuck (on baseball)

Pretty much sums up my feeling about certain physical education teachers who already have their favorites picked out even before classes began. What a cliche that in my school, all the PE teachers loved cheerleaders.

"What if college applications begin and none of the colleges want you? - Mr. Russo, guidance counselor

What if I don't want them?" - Lindsay Weir

I wish I was this wise in high school. Oh standardized testing! When will schools realize that you are completely outdated.

If any reader out there is still in high school hell (mine was an ordeal because of academics mostly -though I had my fair share of cat fights too) let me tell you: it gets way better. I always knew I was more suited for the 'real world' than to just sit in some classroom with a teacher who doesn't even think I'm anything special. And now that I've graduated I feel much more confident than I ever did in school. Power through it, kids!

B wears green cardigan, silk tank and floral skort from ukay-ukay, Blue Keds.

Outfits: Prep School Print

SHIP'S LOG: The arrival of A's new camera lens results in a plethora of Sartorialist-style photos. A and B must conquer manual focus!



B and I hadn't seen each other since January, so when we met up we crammed in a month's worth of gossip and blog post ideas. I think a true test for friendship is how easily we can slip into a conversation despite long periods of absolutely zero communication.

Today we immediately dived into figuring out how to use my mother's new Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens. It was tough without the autofocus (photographers pre-digital days must have been geniuses!) and at one point I considered getting out a pen and paper to calculate distances and angles, but we're both very happy with the results.

B says that we can start a Manila street style blog once we've mastered the art of bokeh and after we learn to take photos in under a minute. Can you imagine standing in the middle of a busy plaza with a well-dressed fashionista with an increasingly strained smile waiting for us to produce a non-blurry photo? Barrel of laughs indeed.

Camera tips welcome!



I am really glad that this outfit fits in perfectly with my 2011 wardrobe plans. I've been searching for the perfect navy blue blazer for ages and ages, and I found it at the back of my auntie's closet! She bought it in Italy after her first job in the 1980s (which explains the shoulder power-pads) and I'm hoping she'll let me keep it. ;P

A wears navy blazer borrowed from Auntie, red print dress from MaxC, grandad's watch, Hush Puppies penny loafers, and thrifted brown bag.

Outfits: Boot Camp

SHIP'S LOG: B revisits the floral fort in UP for a late afternoon shoot. Please don't mind the ugly rubber mats! The sun was fading fast and when daylight is running out, bloggers can't be choosers.



I have literally been wearing these boots for a week straight. That's what happens when you've been wanting something for so long and you finally get it. I've been wanting flat cowboy boots for a long time but could never find the right size or style. I had a few close calls though.

Once while thrifting I saw the most gorgeous pair of riding boots. Brown, sleek with gold details. I immediately yanked them on to find that they couldn't zip up all the way. (Its previous owner must have been a skeleton./bitterness) Another time, I saw a great pair at Forever 21. My brother even offered to buy them for me! But they ran out of my size so I resigned myself to a boot-less existence.

Then lo and behold. I visited a new ukay-ukay near my work. It's one of those shops that look tiny at first but as you enter it gets deeper and wider. (Insert that's what she said joke here.) I loved it because it was not picked over at all. You know, unlike those really well known thrift shops *coughCUBAOcough*. They had a pretty great selection of boots.



I tried on a couple of pairs but finally settled on this one. It was extremely comfortable, and seemed to be made of pretty decent leather. I was pretty bummed out when I found out how much they cost. 900 bucks! For a second hand pair of shoes! I almost walked away but decided that I had been waiting long enough. And also that it would be best to buy boots while the chilly weather still permitted.

Imagine my surprise when I got to the car. My mom (ever the brand conscious lady) asked where they were from. I turned over the boot and saw ZARA etched into the wooden sole. All right! I felt much better about the price. A pair of brand new Zara boots costs P3000 over here. Phew, lucky find!

In other news, I received my first paycheck yesterday! I feel like things have been moving really fast but in a very good way. Last month, I was an intern. This month, my boss chose me to handle three (paying!) projects all at once. Talk about 0 to 60. That's an expression right?

I could not be more grateful though. The job and I are still very much in love. I have been meeting such fun people and learning so many new things everyday. Let me say that just because I love it doesn't mean it is easy. I've made so many mistakes, encountered so many challenges but because I love it, I don't mind having to push myself further. I wish everyone would be as lucky in their careers. :)

B wears thrifted plaid top, denim shorts (cut from an old pair of jeans) and thrifted Zara boots.