A Plus B in the Sea

Overseas: A Moonlight Movie

2012-01-27T11:58:00.007+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B goes dancing in the dark in Sydney's Moonlight Cinema.

Now, I'm not very geeky about a lot of things but I love me some good teenage musicals. Grease, West Side Story, Crybaby, Hairspray and even, yes, High School Musical. During low points in my life my ringtone would (unashamedly) be 'Get Your Head in the Game'. See, I don't blame you if you now feel the need to close this window and never visit this blog again.

So when my sister mentioned the outdoor moonlight cinema in Sydney I had no qualms about blowing money on that experience. And it just so happened that Grease was playing the only night we could watch. At first I balked at the fact that it was a sing-a-long version. Oh no. Cheesy karaoke style lyrics bouncing along the bottom of the screen? Butchering the coolness that is John Travolta in a pompadour and leather jacket? No, thanks. But hoping for the best, we went anyway.

Since this was as close as I will ever get to an outdoor music festival, I wanted to dress as if I was going to one. It was kind of appropriate since the crowds had to drag their own beanbags and blankets to sit on in the big empty field and wait for the show to start.

For those who don't have their own gear they rent $9 beanbags. And if you didn't think to save money by bringing your own snacks or booze, there were two silver trailers selling chips, onion rings, hotdogs, wine and beer for your convenience. The sponsors also kindly spray bug repellant all over you to keep pesky mosquitos away!

Everyone got there early to position themselves near the screen so we had to wait quite a bit for the film to start. We had so much time that I was able stuff my face with hotdogs, onion rings, chips and then take a 45 minute nap. The crowd at the moonlight cinema is pretty diverse. Mothers with their bouncy little daughters, yuppies on a double date, noisy girlfriends and even adorable old couples.

If you ever decide to go DON'T forget to bring a jacket or blanket of some kind. The old man sitting beside us was so chilly he put spare plastic bags around his feet and hands until my sister gave him our blanket.

Once the show started the crowd got pretty riled up. A cute moment was when everyone burst into a cheer when Sandy mentioned she was from Australia. :) Then when the first few words of 'Summer Lovin'' popped out everyone started singing. Even if you think singing-a-long is lame you kind of can't help but get caught up in it. And whoever made the sing-a-long version really put effort into making the graphics fun. The words kept popping up in really random ways. The hand jive even had a small instructional video in the corner.It cracked my sister and I up.

And, seriously, John Travolta. Hands down.

By the last number everyone was so into it that a bunch of people ran to the open space in front of the projector and started dancing. Until more and more people joined and you could just see this mass of figures dancing in the dark. It was pretty magical and I'm sure everyone was grinning when the lights came back on.

My brother heard two little girls talking on the way out. Keep in mind they've probably never seen Grease before.

Little Girl 1: "Oh my gosh, that movie was awesome!"

Little Girl 2: "It wasn't awesome...it was the BEST!"

My sisters poor boyfriend (who laughed at us for even watching the thing) had to suffer through us shouting songs at him all the way home. It was so much fun and if you're in Sydney you must check it out. I was just bummed out that I couldn't catch the next few shows which included Breakfast at Tiffany's, Ferris Beuller (God, I would jump to dance to the Twist and Shout number in that movie) and Top Gun. Argh!

B wears Element white top, Topshop denim shorts, thrifted boots

Overseas: Collaroy Cinema

2012-01-07T11:57:00.009+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Even if movies in Australia are ridiculously expensive B just had to experience watching one in ye old cinema house.

My parents gave my brother and I the best Christmas/New Year's gift ever by sending us to Australia to celebrate the holidays with my sister. Australia-despite it's shops and restaurants that close at 5pm- is one of my favorite places in the world. There's just something so mellow, happy and friendly about Australia. Everyone is endlessly chatty and helpful. I mean, I was just reading by the beach when a woman stops in the middle of her workout to ask me how I was liking the book! I was so amused.

My sister's awesome pad is right in front of the beach and one block away from this art deco cinema. I just researched now and it was built in the 1930s. Now she warned me that movies cost too much but I had to see what it looked like inside. It was a bonus that Melancholia was showing. I had already downloaded and seen it but heard it was a completely different experience on the big screen.

They were right the sound effects used in Melancholia were twice as powerful. When the movie ended (no spoilers but Charlotte Gainsbourg is amazing) the audience was sitting in silence for like five minutes. I was joking my brother that we should have broken the silence with a very loud, very trashy 'Dayummmmm!' but we didn't :P

The inside of the theatre (for those with vivid imaginations) is plush red carpets and red velvety seats with wooden arm rests. There were miniature chandeliers hanging from the ceiling too. It definitely had an old cinema feel. Like I should have been wearing a cocktail dress or something.

I also have to say one of the best things about Australia is that the people couldn't give less of a crap if you show a little skin. Girls are walking around in bikini tops, guys in boardshorts and dozens of people stalking the burning pavement barefoot. I loved it. I was originally whining about leaving Manila's 'fall' weather behind but ended up embracing bare midriffs and legs for two weeks. Still apparently a bit hung over since I'm typing this lying on my green furry rug (an impractical purchase from Ikea just because it looked like grass) in a floral cropped top even if it's pouring rain outside.

B wears thrifted denim shirt, Sportsgirl cropped top, Topshop high-waisted shorts and Vans.

Inspiration: A Christmas Night Circus

2011-12-12T15:21:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: What do you want to see under your Christmas this year? A shares her wish list and hopes that everyone will have happy, happy holidays!

A Humbershoe Jumper, soft and slouchy for chilly December nights.
A Dress in Merlot, good for twirling along to the Jingle Bell Rock.
A Mariner's Watch, to navigate time and space.
A Night Circus, magic constructed entirely in black and white.
A Flask of and for Cognac, future container of classic pep-me-ups.
An Alternative Transportation Tote, for armchair travel and otherwise.
Zipcode Boots in Suede, comfort and class at a conscionable price.

Clearly, I'm not yet over the red, black, and navy color scheme that so inspired Anna Karina. :))

An All-Star Weekend

2011-12-07T14:43:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A had an action-packed afternoon at the uber-fierce Bloggers United Bazaar organized by the lovely ladies Ana, Melai, and Aisa before battling Manila traffic to watch David Beckham lead a five goal-scoring frenzy against the Azkals.

My friend Fannie and I had a booth selling stockings from our online shop Sock & Sole Co. and clothes from my nautical-minded wardrobe last Saturday at the second Bloggers United Bazaar at the Treston International College at Bonifacio Global City. I were so busy that I barely got a chance to look at the other bloggers' stalls (or take decent pictures) but I loved Melai's slick MC-ing and meeting some of our readers (girl who won a prize and said A Plus B in the Sea was her favourite blog, email me?)!

Also, thanks to my usual after-school picker-upper Nail It Salon, I discovered the wonder of matte coral nail polish. It's amazing to have 'frosted glass' nails though, klutz that I am, they were chipped by the end of the day. I think it's time to get one of those loyalty cards that give discounts. :))

All right, I have to admit that half my mind was focussed on the LA Galaxy vs RP national team football match that my brother, Naesa, and I were going to see a few hours later. If you follow me on Twitter or on my meandering micro-blog No Modern Ariadne, you'll know about my obsession with Arsenal FC and Cesc Fabregas' hair. I'm not a huge fan of David Beckham but I can appreciate his skill as a midfielder and a leader, so I was excited to watch him play along with Arsenal arch-nemesis Robbie Keane of Sp*rs extraction.

Boy, what a night.

I ran two blocks to get to the stadium on time, lost my little brother in 13,000-strong crowd, ogled at Azkal #15 (who are you?!) with Naesa, ate hot dogs on the bleachers, saw Beckham get three corners and a goal, and watched a pretty pathetic national team capitulate to LA Galaxy.

Then it was chicken nuggets (mmm, fake food) at a late-night McDo before heading to Bea's birthday party. The theme was a slumber party, and we were the only ones in pyjamas. Dang it, B!

A wears Topshop denim jacket, spring dress and the Leather Satchel Co. bag.

Mad For Old School Satchels

2011-11-11T16:28:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A presents an in-depth guide to the top satchel makers from the United Kingdom and the Philippines. Of two (or three) minds when it comes choosing between School of Satchel and Cambridge Satchel Company? Let A Plus B in the Sea help you decide! A's pick: The Leather Satchel Co.!

Ever since I was a kid, I loved the beat-up brown leather school bags that the Railway Children and the Famous Five carried around as they went on adventures up and down the countryside, but I had thought that purveyors of the school satchel had died out in the 60s. Then I saw Keiko Lynn's yellow Cambridge satchel back in 2009 . . . Alas, a hefty price tag and a fear of Philippine custom tax kept me far away from online order forms.

After two years of slyly dropping hints into the ears of ancient relatives and bringing bagged lunches to save up, I suddenly unexpectedly got my hands on satchels from four bag makers, the Leather Satchel Company, Cambridge Satchel Company, School of Satchel, and Zatchels. Joy joy joy!

Though the satchel has become an IT bag and sadly ubiquitous on the fashion and blog scene, I'm really glad I got one (two!) at last, so I thought my fellow dreamers would like to hear about the similarities and differences between the satchel makers, so here's my first product review!

Caveat.—the photographs come straight from my camera because I don't trust my Pixelmator editing skills enough to capture an accurate depiction of the leather material's colour consistently from photo to photo.

Design
The school satchel is such a British classic (The Leather Satchel Co. has been using the same traditional design since 1966!) that it is almost impossible to tell the difference among bags made by the Leather Satchel Co., Cambridge Satchel Co., and Zatchels. They all have silver buckles, a front pocket, and an ID holder. I've read that the Leather Satchel Co. makes bags for other fashion houses and brands (they remain nameless) so it is possible that all the UK-based satchels are actually made by a single manufacturer!

Zatchels has its embroidered logo sewn on the right hand side of the front pocket while the others have their logos blind embossed at the back of the bag. Zatchels also stitches all around the top flap while the others do not.

School of Satchel is a little different because its bags do not have the ID holder nor silver buckles. Its buckles are made of a brassy metal that has a more vintage stamp. I also noticed that the front pockets are larger and the gussets are deeper compared to the other brands, which means that School of Satchel bags have the most space to put your things in.

All companies offer initial embossing and handles. The Leather Satchel Co. and School of Satchel offer optional Magnetic closures whilst only The Leather Satchel Co. also offer longer straps, deeper gussets, shoulder pads and what they also call a Tallboy design (a taller satchel with a longer top flap) for people who want to use their satchel as a laptop bag.

Cambridge Satchel Co. and School of Satchel have backpacks while Zatchels also sells barrel bags. The former also sells music cases and steamer trunks, which are awfully cute.

Customer Service

My mother bought the Zatchel so I have nothing good or bad to offer about customer service with respect to that brand, but I can say that Leather Satchel Co. and School of Satchel offer TERRIFIC service. They both have an active online presence on Twitter and Facebook, and it is so easy to order bags from them. The owner of School of Satchel, Chi Donato, goes out of her way to get the bag you want to your door as soon as possible while I had a super time ordering from the Leather Satchel Company who kindly changed the colour from red to blue when I asked, and even offered to ship leather samples to me for free!

The Leather Satchel Company also delivers its satchels wrapped up in brown paper packages tied up in string ;P with a handwritten note addressed to the buyer! I think it is so sweet and old school of them. If you'd like to see pictures of the unwrapping of my Loch Blue satchel, check this out.

This may be hearsay, but I've read on other blogs and forums that Cambridge Satchel Company has slow and unresponsive customer service. I've heard of three-month long delays (just check their Twitter stream) that have even induced people to cancel orders. Again, I have NOT experienced ordering from the company, so I can't say with certainty that their service is less than impeccable.

Size

Truth be told, the satchel is rather useless for a school bag. If you have a lot of textbooks, a padded backpack is still your best bet. But if you all you need is an iPad, a netbook, or an e-reader and perhaps a two-inch pile of A4 papers then the old school satchel is perfect for you. A 14.5-inch Zatchel is what I use for days when I have only one class, while I always grab my 12.5-inch (size sweet spot!) Leather Satchel Co. for running errands or shopping. The purple satchel shown in the photos is an 11-inch School of Satchel that is the perfect size to use as a clutch.

Cambridge Satchel Company.—11/13/14/15
Leather Satchel Company.—11/12.5/14/15/15 Tallboy/bespoke sizes
School of Satchel.—11/13/15
Zatchels.—11.5/13/14.5/16

The Leather Satchel Co. also offer a bespoke sizing service that allows you to have a satchel made to any size or dimensions you require, so if you want a 20-inch satchel, then for a price they'll craft it for you. As far as we are aware they're the only company in the world to offer a this bespoke sizing service. Just send master craftsman Barry Hanshaw an email at barry@leathersatchel.co if the bespoke service interests you.

Leather Material & Colour

The leather material and colour selection best differentiates the satchels. School of Satchel has a matte finish, very textured, and the leather is stiff and thick, which is perfect if you are someone who throws her bag around a lot (like me!) and wants extra protection for gadgets contained inside. Zatchels and Cambridge Satchel Co. have a smooth finish, halfway between matte and glossy while the Leather Satchel Co. has a very glossy, polished surface and the softest leather of the lot.

Cambridge Satchel Company.—9 colours (vintage brown, dark brown, navy, black, red, purple, yellow, pink, green) and seasonal or designer colours (fluoros and two-tones)
Leather Satchel Company.—27 colours (Charcoal Black, Chocolate Brown, Chestnut Brown, Autumn Tan, Pillarbox Red, Racing Green, Loch Blue, Deep Purple, Double Yellow, Baby Pink, Baby Blue, Snow White, Burnt Orange, Vintage Champagne, Sherwood Green, Oxford Blue, Dayglow Pink, Dayglow Yellow, Dayglow Green, Dayglow Orange, Mirrored Chrome, Mirrored Copper, Patent Black, Patent French Lilac, Patent Moss Green, Patent Cambridge Yellow and Patent Fuchsia Petal)
School of Satchel.—6 colours (oxblood, navy, tan, black, distressed grey, and purple) and two-tone epi-leather satchels in baby pink and line green
Zatchels.—A LOT. All the basic colours and metallic, animal print, floral, distressed, polka dot, pastel, star, Union Jack patterns, you name it they have it.

If you want to stand out, I'd definitely recommend Zatchels since they have a crazy amount of leather colours and patterns (their pastel collection is absolutely lovely) but if you want a classy satchel then your best bet is the Leather Satchel Co. Not only do I love the names they give their colours (snow white! double yellow!), the leather has a beautiful shiny finish.

Price

The most important factor to consider for people without trust funds! Price varies according to size, seasonal or designer collections, and the extras previously mentioned. Shipping is generally free for those who live in the UK and £15-£20 for international delivery. The range I've mentioned is for the basic colours and without any extras or shipping fees

Cambridge Satchel Company.—£74-84
Leather Satchel Company.—£74-156
School of Satchel.—£50-71 or PhP 3,500-5,100
Zatchels.—£76-87

School of Satchel is definitely the most affordable! I should also note that the Leather Satchel Co. usually sells the bags for £20 pounds less during sales and if you are a Facebook friend. ;P

Photos!

School of Satchel (13-inch oxblood backpack and 11-inch purple clutch)

Zatchels (14.5 inch black)*

Cambridge Satchel Company (14-inch red)

The Leather Satchel Company (12.5-inch loch blue)

A's Recommendation

The decision is a highly personal one. If you care for the cachet of owning an IT bag then it's the Cambridge satchel. If you want a bag that screams personality then Zatchels is your company. Want to impress your boss or teachers? Then the professional elegance of a School of Satchel is what you need. But if it's tradition and heritage (even if it's not your own ;P) you like, go no further than the Leather Satchel Company.

For me, I like the Leather Satchel Company best (in fact, I'm thinking of selling off the Cambridge to get another). Why? First, I love the leather finish, smooth, glossy, and practically water resistant. Second, it has the softest leather, so it's much easier to unbuckle (straps are thin but solid and crack-free**) and expands to fit in my iPad, codals, and cases. I also really like that the length of the strap is perfect, unlike the others, I didn't need to readjust or have a lot of excess strap. Third, it is the only company that offers a five year international warranty. Stitching unravelling or buckles tarnishing? Have no fear, just send in your satchel through the post and the Leather Satchel Company will fix it up tout suite.

I also highly recommend School of Satchel because, with each satchel you purchase, a bag will be donated to public school children who need things to carry their workbooks too! Chi offers the best prices for students and yuppies without stinting on that lovingly handmade quality. For fellow Filipinos, it is also the easiest bag to get your hands on and you'll be supporting our local leather industry.

*The workmanship of my Zatchel is a little iffy—the bag doesn't stand up straight because the base is uneven. It needs to lie on its back, otherwise it will topple off tables.
**After a month of using the bags, only the Leather Satchel Company's straps and buckles are as pristine as the day the bag arrived. I've noticed flaking and cracking on the straps of the other bags.

Do you already own a satchel? Share us your views or favourite shops to find old school satchels, whether retro inspired or vintage, in the comments below! :D

An Explorer's Guide to Armchair Travel I

2011-10-30T12:16:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A catches up with her reading list and shares her favourite sites to brush up on local life and style, photograph lessons, and holiday ideas. For the benefit of all you armchair travellers, here's her map to internet exploring.

Sometimes it seems that this blog is entirely composed of hellos and goodbyes, but what can we do? The three inch piles of homework and those hour-long commutes take us away from our dream world and into the real world. So those glorious days of Doing Nothing, haphazardly scattered throughout the year, are treasures to hoard close to our hearts.

Oh, hello hello, sembreak.

I've spent the last few days lolling about my house in pyjamas, baking red velvet cupcakes with friends, putting the finishing touches on my Halloween costume, marathoning episodes of Community and Modern Family, beginning on that bloggers' favourite, the retro Pan Am, and, of course, reading all your blog posts.

B and I are planning to show you a little more of Manila in time for Christmas (teaser: Juan Luna's Spolarium, playing Ferris Bueller at the Ayala Museum, and maybe a bit of Chinatown/old Binondo) but until we get those photographs processed, I want to link to some bloggers whose hometowns I always enjoy reading about. The beauty of armchair travel is that it's free. ;P

Viva La Manika—retro gothic, lo-fi goodness, an artistic eye and a truly nationalist sensibility—Afianne Cope on her hometown:

I live in a small young city mostly occupied by residential and industrial establishments. It’s nothing luxe and is far from being the bestplace I could live in. It is in fact a very simple life down here. No frills and fancy thrills, no sir. Not even a town perya or many intricatelydesigned buildings and daringly dressed people to take pictures of.

I used to frown upon all these because I’m one to look for boldness in almost everything. This place seemed boring and it did not havemuch to offer. But as I grew older, I catched on. Yes, it lacked furbelows and artistry and all that but there’s one thing I’ve grown sureof - its homeliness was irreplaceable. At the end of the day, there will be nothing like the vendor’s holler waking you up in the morning,the bumpy jeepney rides, the simultaneous karaoke singing in the neighborhood you hear at night, the quiet parks and, I admit, themalls where almost half of the town’s population head to on weekends and season sale and so much more. It’s all a classic case ofhometown glory.

Local Favourites

1. The Parish of the Five Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ, a city cathedral with a rather interesting modern structure designed by ourvery own Arch. Joseph AdG Javier basing the concept on a nautilus, a marine organism with claims to the perfect natural proportions,the golden mean.

2. BF Paranaque. There are innumerable eating (and drinking) places in this area. Whether you like a cozy night -out with your lovedones or a frisky one with your friends, you will surely find a rightful spot.

3. The Phil-Am Village Private Park. I know it’s a bit funny but yes, I come clean about going to parks at this age. I get a lot of thatfeeling of wanting to flee from daily hustle-bustle and just appreciate serenity through the sight of trees and old-fashioned lovers.Guess I’m just an old person trapped in a 20-something body. :D

Green Tea Fields—Southeast Asia up close, film experiments, looking at home from that belle-laide angle—Michelle Kuek on Singapore:

This may sound weird but I really like that my neighbourhood is a remote, little backwater in Singapore, almost unchanged for the last 20 years that I have lived here. Well, there are political reasons for it but let's not get into that! My neighbourhood is lit slightly dimmer than most neighbourhoods but lesser lights mean that I can actually go star-gazing, something almost unheard of in a city! Many a nights, I walk home with my head tilted up to skies, trying to figure out which constellation is up. :)

Local Favourites

I would have to say Tiong Bahru. Tiong Bahru is a neighbourhood situated slightly outside of Singapore's city centre. This neighbourhood is quirky mix of the old and the new. Make your way through the quiet, leafy estate of apartments built in the 1920s and 1930s, and then choose between having a quiet cuppa at a cafe, visiting art galleries or having local food at the local market!

A Fine Day for Sailing—vintage classics comfortably and freshly styled, biking down streets on sunny days, and the friendliest smile ever—Isla Bell on San Francisco:

The best part? The people! San Francisco is full of such inspirational characters young and old. Everyone is so open and friendly. It did not take long for me to feel right at home here. There are so many amazing places in California it's hard to pick one. The Pinnacles national park is pretty magical, the hike there takes you through caves and up mountain sides, it's so majestic.

Olive, My Love—lots of love for historic sites (kindred spirits!), hanging out with friends (ditto), and a little link to our homeland via vintage emporium Dalaga—Liz on New York City:

My favorite thing about Brooklyn and my neighborhood (Bushwick) in general is the sense of community you feel when you live here. It's like everyone is banded together in this burrough and because of that there is always something going on. Farmers markets, free art opening and movies playing in parks, river front concerts and parades in Coney Island... All of these things are at your finger tips and you just have to go out and take advantage of it.It's so hard to pick just one place to visit while you're here (there's so much to do and see!) but some of my favorite places are naturally ones that take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

1. The Museum of Natural History: I could spend a full week walking through the halls and exploring all the exhibits. Artifacts, fossils and taxidermy, oh my! This place is great because you can walk across the street afterwards and have a picnic in Central Park!
2. Ft. Tryon Park at the Cloisters: This park and medieval art museum are waaay up north in Manhattan. It's a serious trek (at least and hour on the train), but it's 100% worth it. It's like a sanctuary up there. I didn't even go into the museum when I went because walking around the surrounding park and gardens was enough for me. Bring a snack, a blanket and a book and you're set for a relaxing afternoon.
3. Greenpoint: When I first moved to Brooklyn, I lived in Greenpoint and I still miss it to this day. Luckily I work there, so I still get to reap all it's benefits! Besides, what's a trip to NYC without a little bit of shopping and exploring?

If you are looking for an afternoon of walking around, window shopping and delicious food without the insane crowds of Manhattan, then Greenpoint is the spot for you. Franklin St. is littered with adorable shops (including Dalaga!) and yummy places to grab a bite.

I love Cookie Road for coffee and macarons, Paulie Gee's for the best pizza in town and The Pencil Factory for a drink after work. Alter is a quintessential Brooklyn store and they have both men's and women's locations on Franklin. In God We Trust has fantastic hand made clothing and jewelry, which is all created in their work space behind the store in Greenpoint! Kill Devil Hill is like a modern day general store and the owner is so sweet. If you're shopped out you can walk two blocks to the waterfront and take a ferry ride across the East River to Manhtattan via the India Street Pier!

Odd Socks & Pretty Frocks—Georgette Heyer novel reader, wonderfully Wonderlandian shoe collection, and a shared taste in coats, old suitcases, and National Trust houses—Alex on Liverpool:

My favourite thing about Liverpool can't be narrowed down to one place or thing. The city as a whole is utterly unique and wonderful. It's an amazing mix of modern attitudes and very tangible history. We've got two cathedrals, more Georgian buildings than Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage waterfront, loads of museums, galleries and such a great sporting and musical heritage, all in one fairly small city!If I'm being biased then I would say come and visit the place I work in, because it's beautiful and has survived amazingly over the centuries. In terms of Liverpool generally then I think just an hour's stroll around the city centre and the back streets is the one thing that all visitors should definitely do. You don't get the real feel for a place until you've walked round and discovered all the quirky little things about it.

On Dressing Up—seaside walks and cherry blossom trees, pastel and pattern, superb prose, and that feeling of quiet happiness—Ana B. on Wellington:

It's got the buzz, activities and energy of a city, but the warmth and heart of a small village. You can't walk down the street without bumping into someone you know; and everywhere, strangers smile at you. I've never tasted coffee as good as it is here. Even gas stations have barista service. It's a land of milk and honey and rolling green hills and crazy street parties with people spilling onto balconies in the heat of summer nights. I love to travel but more than that, I love to come home.

Local Favourites Cafe-hopping, people-watching, thrifting and seeing gigs along Cuba Street; the street where I live in the centre of the city.

Dream Destination Iceland! To see the fire and the ice, the Northern Lights, and maybe an Icelandic elf or two. A friend told me of being in Iceland during Christmas. As the sun went down, one by one, people lit oil lamps and put them outside houses and shops, dimming the electric lights. She said the street was like a giant string of fairy lights.

I seriously need to read more blogs from South America and Africa! Can anyone suggest a great lifestyle blogger from those continents? :)

Inspiration: Downton Abbey

2011-09-19T16:00:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: This is a scheduled post—A cramming for Criminal Procedure finals and B working nights behind the camera and in the editing room for Storyline—but promises glittering goodies and history through rose-coloured glasses, i.e., Downton Abbey.

So most of you know our obsession with British period drama from our posts on Glorious 39 and Cracks and on the critically acclaimed An Education, but I can't believe I haven't shared anything about the ITV series Downton Abbey which just won a bucket of Emmys. Written by Julian Fellowes of Gosford Park fame, the series follows the story of the Earl of Grantham and his household as they deal with the problems of class and succession with the backdrop of turn-of-the-century Britain and the First World War. Very Upstairs, Downstairs except BETTER.

The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous, long sweeping views of the Highclere estate and loving and lingering close-ups of ancient books in the library and silverware & crystal in the dining room. Downton Abbey is history viewed through rose-coloured spectacles, all things beautiful and good, with the added bonus of Coronation Street-style drama. Oh, the British. :))

There's a ton of style inspiration to be found in Downton Abbey. It's set in the early decades of the 20th century, after the horrendous bustles (no one could ever look good sporting a false bum) but before the days of flapper dresses (flat-chests a requirement, full bosomed girls, away with thee!), so the clean lines and almost empire-cuts look fantastic on every kind of body type. I really love the white lawn dresses that Lord Grantham's three daughters wear to tea and village fetes as well as the tailored riding habits complete with horsewhip that the eldest daughter Lady Mary wears. Even on the television, I could see how fine the lacework and filigree on the collars and the gowns were, and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to keep them pristine. And the hats!

My two favourite characters are Lady Mary and Lady Sybil. A lot of people dislike Lady Mary for being a little spoiled, rather bossy, and very mean to middle sister Ethel (HATE HER), but I love her to bits. She’s clever, common-sensical, and cosmpolitan, and Lord Grantham sees her as the son he never had. Unfortunately, by the laws of primogeniture, Lady Mary can’t succeed to the title, so she must choose between marrying well into the aristocracy or her distant cousin Matthew, a middle class solicitor from Manchester who is heir presumptive to Downton Abbey. It is so much fun watching silver-tongued Mary cutting up Matthew, who she initially sees as an upstart bumpkin, before realizing his essential merits—one of which is a kindness that she does not possess. She has the most divine dresses, I would go out in her nightdress!

Then there’s Lady Sybil who is so gosh-darned sweet. She is very progressive, helping their maid find a job as a clerk-typist and discussing communist tracts with the Irish chauffeur Branson, and by the start of the second series she’s convinced her parents to let her attend a nursing course to aid the war effort. The scene where she fails at filling a kettle with water and making porridge is hilarious! Her fashion sense progresses from pastel smocks reminiscent of the nursery to peacock-inspired harem pants before settling on a very practical blouse and skirt uniform.

Totally shipping Sybil/Branson.

Kranich’s gave me a $150 gift coupon to spend on its website and I thought it would be fun to feature some of the possible future purchases in Downton Abbey sets. I swear, Polyvore is so addicting.

Peacock featuring Simon G jewellery from Kranich's.

I’m really looking forward to the second series, and I am willing to put on record that if Matthew doesn’t end up marrying Lady Mary, I will eat my Sales textbook.

This is a sponsored post for Kranich's Jewellers, purveyors of Simon G, Ritani and more! If you're looking for some fancy bling or a hope ring, check 'em out!

Inspiration: One Day in Oxford

2011-09-10T16:00:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A really wants to see Anne Hathaway return to her ugly duckling roots in One Day but has been bogged down by schoolwork, so instead here's an Oxfordian inspiration post!

Apologies for the month-long hiatus (curse you, school/work!) and I'm afraid B and I are likely to be missing in action for god knows how long, but before I head back to the books I want to share two things with you dear, dear readers: (1) On Dead Man's Bones, a superbly macabre, Hammer Horror-inspired travelling band whose back-up children's choir are always dressed up in Halloween skeleton and ghoul costumes and (2) an outfit inspired by the new film One Day.

Now, Anne Hathaway has been the bees' knees ever since I saw her frizzy-haired and buck-toothed in one of my favourite movies, The Princess Diaries (ignore the existence of its sequel, there is no way that Mia Thermopolis would chuck Michael Moscovitz for some Euro trash aristo—Michael plays in a indie rock band and invents a robot that helps save cancer patients, hello?). She's a class actress (Rachel Getting Married) except for one wee little thing—she can't pull off a British accent to save her life. Ever since Nicholas Nickleby, I've avoided films where she plays a British character, even Becoming Jane where she plays the best female author ever across James McAvoy for that particular reason, but now I'm dying to see One Day. She's guaranteed to mess it up, it's a Yorkshire accent for heaven's sake! Tough.

Gold Hoop Earrings & Simon G Two-Tone Necklace from Simon G.

I am definitely loving Anne Hathaway's character Emma's wardrobe though. It's grungy from the 80s, rather like B's sense of style the last few months (B even owns a green canvas rucksack), yet still reminiscent of comfortable and chintzy English heritage with her blue and white tea dresses and Doc Martens. She even has my dream head of curls!

What should I do?!

To round off today's One Day-inspired post, here are photos from my one day in Oxford last spring. My friend had an interview with the business school and the rest of us were there for moral support. Loveliest bits: pretending to be alternately Harriet Vane and one of Connie Willis' time-travelling historians while walking from the Quad to Magdalen AND seeing the place where Malfoy got turned into a ferret. A not-so-happy instance of expectation/reality: damp and ducklings under the bridge made it no longer suitable for Latin proposals of marriage.

P.S. My mum's coming back with the camera in two weeks so real A & B outfit posts should crop up around the end of September. Yay!

This is a sponsored post for Kranich's Jewellers, purveyors of Simon G, Ritani and more! If you're looking for some fancy bling or a hope ring, check 'em out! I'm saving up to get one of their silver Everlon knot bangles, a little different but still classy.

Outfits: Toy-box Town

2011-08-06T16:00:00.073+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Manila was inundated for the better part of two weeks and A spent a lot of time looking out of raindrop-splattered windows thinking about clear skies on a summer day.

When trees outside are bent in half by gusting winds and local news channels are filled with talk of cars turned submarines it's only human to think back on better, sunnier days. As I was replying to Mirella's email about convenient blogging, it was only logical that those sunny days were Swiss in nature. So I thought I'd share some more photos of Zurich in the spring time. Witness pastel painted houses, winding cobblestone streets, teenagers reliving mediaeval history, shops with kettles and coffee cups arranged by colour, and a river as clear and turquoise as any tropical sea.

I've had several messages from readers (yay!) about what to wear when travelling abroad, and my usual answers involve checking typical weather conditions, crawling street style blogs, and making sure that all your clothes can be mixed and matched. For Zurich, my khaki Zara jacket and cream t-shirt and floral skort combo were my go-to pieces, if only because they were the only clean items in my luggage by that point. Mirella told me I looked simply Parisian in them, which was extremely gratifying to hear coming off a five hour train from France.

So today's travel tip: pack a lightweight tailored blazer for May in western Europe. :P

A wears Zara blazer, thrifted floral skort, DP t-shirt, thrifted belt, and Dooney & Bourke backpack.

Outfits: The Golden Locker

2011-07-31T03:03:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: There is no funny or interesting story behind these photos. B just thought that these lockers looked cool and grunge-y. Apparantly, the 90s love never ends in this side of the blog-o-sphere.

A random attraction tucked into a corner of The Collective is a set of gold lockers. Notice how I am curiously looking towards my right. An attempt to look coy or a tactic to confuse the random passersby ? Maybe a bit of both.

As I posted before, I am still a little bit obsessed with denim. So much so that I have started layering - which is much more fresh and less heavy than it looks. The annual Topshop summer sale rolled around and I had to break the bank for this dress. I'm definitely getting my moneys worth though. I wear it at least once a week. I'm sure I'd wear it everyday if only my officemates wouldn't notice...

It's bad enough they can't stop teasing me about my habit of skipping showers on days we have to shoot. I just really don't see the point of getting all fresh and clean when i am just going to end up running around the streets getting dirty again. Plus I'd choose a few extra minutes of sleep over showering any day. Our call times are at 3am for crying out loud!

By the way, I bought this green belt just to break up the blue of the outfit. So much for my resolution of wearing less blue.

In other news, I got interviewed for an awesome local magazine yesterday. Does anyone else do terribly at face-to-face interviews?

I feel like I bumbled through most of my answers which was super frustrating because these are the questions I answer in my head just for fun. When I read interviews in magazines I like to imagine the questions are directed to me and come up with my own answers. Guess that still isn't enough practice. Sigh!

I think I came of sounding really generic and confusing. Dear interviewer, if you are reading this and agree with me: e-mail me the questions so I may redeem myself!

Lastly, these are the last long haired photos you'll see of me in awhile. In another bout of boredom I decided to chop my hair off. Last time, I got a second piercing. What other body parts do I have left to mutilate?

I had to field the usual comment I get from hairstylists: 'Your hair is so freaking thick!' Here is evidence of that (and also evidence that I never stop wearing this dress):

*Sad confession: I wore this dress last Thursday then again on Saturday then again today. Pathetic.

B wears Topshop denim dress, ukay-ukay denim jacket and Nava green belt. Aldo Sandals.

Outfits: Strawberry Fields for Ichigo

2011-07-30T04:00:00.006+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A few months back A and B did a shoot for local shoe store, Ichigo. We thought it would be fun to show some out-takes via an old children's party photo album. Suitable soundtrack: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Holland 1945.

We found it hard to edit the photos because there were a ton of clouds that afternoon. The weather report had predicted sunny skies all day but when we got up to Tagaytay it was raining. Though Pixelmator colour masks saved the pictures from looking completely dull and dreary, does anyone have any tips to improve dark or overcast photos? They would be much appreciated!

If you'd like to get the superbly comfortable and kawaii shoes featured in this post, please visit the nearest Ichigo store near you! They have a huge collection of girly vintage-inspired ballet flats and brogues that is renewed every month (so there's always something new to try on!) and all for less than PhP 1,000.00. For international readers, you can contact Ichigo through email to see if they'll ship to you or, if you are desperate for a pair, we'd be happy to help you out.

Ichigo
Greenhills Theatre Mall, Missouri Lane L37 Lower Ground
Greenhills, Shoppesville 3rd Level Atrium Lane
The Ramp, 2nd Level Shangrila and Glorietta Malls.
Inspired by Japan street style and the 1950s, Ichigo also sells satchels and canvas rucksacks. Check out the new collection at the Ichigo store near you! You can also order online at their Multiply site or Facebook page.

Outfits: Acceptable in the 80s

2011-07-24T16:00:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Here are some photos from a Saturday two weeks ago when A and B went location scouting for a project that fell through. Sad, but at least we got to explore the warehouses of Makati a bit more.

Instead of a Saturday with Insurance (1000-1200), Labour (1200-0230), and Criminal Procedure (0300-0600) I sniggered at a fancy baking soda and thimble shop, gorged on PhP 150.00 ten-inch bahn mi with barbecue-vinegar sauce and Thai milk tea, bought a Barbour lookalike quilted jacket at Topshop sale, chowed on hot chicken wings and cool blue cheese on radish sticks with Fannie, and went out with the girls (and Vince LOL) pretending we knew the difference between a Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

I wish I had photos of our lunch (so cheap, so good), but my battery died. Don't you hate it when that happens? If you like old record sleeves like B, go and check some of the silliest ones we found here.

A wears thrifted boots, cardigan, and dress and a Dooney & Bourke backpack.

Things Not So Neatly Organized

2011-07-20T16:00:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: 'Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity,' said Coco Chanel. Here's a quick post about what I've got in my (tote) bag.

I've always admired people's dedication to aesthetics on websites such as Pinterest and Things Organized Neatly. Pencils in arranged by height, sea shells according to colour, dresses hung by pattern and print . . . So B and I thought we might have a go at it, and we discovered that great what's-in-my-bag photos are really, really hard to take.

I had to climb up on B's piano seat and half a dozen sofa cushions, trying to get wallets, headphones, a tube of lipstick into a properly framed shot. It was hard to balance on my little princess-and-the-pea structure while laughing my head off. The things we do for our blogs!

So, what I've got in my bag (clockwise from left):

Red leather wallet.—present from an aunt, and much better than my old trick of stuffing bills and coins in my back pocket.
Samsung Corby.—about to die, several months after I dropped it into a bathroom sink at a late night party. Mixed drinks, baaaad.
Mr Darcy tote bag.—bought in Bath for my friend Naesa but could not be brought to part with. And yes, Jane Austen's much loved hero has ruined me for any other man.
Kindle.—not mine! but I thought it would be a good substitute for my usual companion, an iPod Touch named Chuck. I usually never leave home without it (and the 300 novels loaded into Stanza) but I suppose there's a first time for every thing.
F21 sunglasses.—cheap and cute (isn't the little bow to die for?) and Bea's! If you haven't noticed, B and I love exchanging things when we feel like our own wardrobes are suffocating us. Before I let for Europe, I traded my full linen skirt for her paper baggy black one and we were very happy about the switch!

Thought you all might want to know that we've finally got a Facebook page. If you enjoy reading our posts, would you be so kind and like us here or on our sidebar? :D You can also get updates at my Twitter @tfarnique.

A wears thrifted striped shirt, B's Topshop skirt, tights, aunt's Cole Haan tasselled flats, and a canvas tote bag.

Overseas: Properly English?

2011-07-10T16:00:00.070+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Thanks for all your music recs last post! A had a head-boppingly lovely time listening to them all. In this post, ancient jewellery and miniatures at the V&A.

One bright spring day in May I went down to South Kensington to see the Victoria & Albert Museum. I thought half a day would be enough to get a good grasp of Victorian taste but I was wrong. The building may not look like much from the outside, too much brick and gothic columns, but inside is a treasure trove of what I imagine awed visitors to Crystal Palace during the Great Exhibition.

I really REALLY loved the exhibition on the Aesthetic Movement, the Cult of Beauty, but they wouldn't let anyone take photographs! But look up Frederic Lord Leighton and the Pre-Raphaelites and rivals Whistler and Ruskin anyway . . . you won't regret it.

Had Victoria sponge and lemony tea at the most beautiful refectory in the world. High domed ceilings with Arts & Crafts details and stained glass windows flooded the hall with light, and I felt absolutely privileged to be there.

The photos above were taken in the Morris Room decorated by the artist and fantasist William Morris who not only made lovely tapestries and textiles based on work by his Pre-Raphaelite friends Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti (awesome names right?) but wrote fairy tales with titles like The Well at the World's End and News from Nowhere.

Portraits are my favourite thing to look at in museums because I love making up stories about who the people were and what they were like. It's also a great place to 'cast' novels like I did for Max Ravenscar from Georgette Heyer's Faro's Daughter when I saw Henry Brougham at the National Portrait Gallery. Geeky, I know, but infinitely fun.

Don't you think the eye miniature is haunting? Probably a memento mori, it was used as a lady's brooch and the tears are made of diamonds! I'm afraid I've bombed you with too many images BUT if you do like 'em I have more miniatures and micromosaics (you will definitely enjoy the tesserae) here.

So I'll leave you with a lovely snuffbox-clock automaton from the 17th century, the age of dashing trans-channel derring-do and red-bottomed heels for both sexes. It's made of gold, moss agate (a mineral though it looks like seaweed or coral), and glass. It reminds me quite a bit of my favourite Doctor Who episode, A Girl in the Fireplace in which Ten snogs Madame du Pompadour while clockwork monsters sneak around Versailles. Go watch!

Outfits: Girl Sailor

2011-07-04T16:00:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: It's been a rainy few weeks in Manila, perfect for the Shins and endless cups of Whittard's spicy chai tea. If only A had galoshes!

I've never been a huge fan of music. Whenever I'm out with B and friends I never know any of the songs that the DJs play. It's a sad thing really and I resolve to watch more MTV (my little brother will see to that)!

Generally my tastes run toward what I call Topshop music and what Chantal calls songs-that-don't-make sense (Los Campesinos! anyone?), and when rainy season hits Middle Manila I like to put in mix-CDs on my ancient Sony player. I don't know why but only then do I find it very calming to stare up at my ceiling while listening to Badly Drawn Boy, the Shins, the Smiths, and Neutral Milk Hotel.

Does that make me a hipster? I greatly fear it might.

Tumblr and Blogger posts with rather treacly lyrics tend to be the bane of the (un)civilized worldwide web, but I figure there's a first time for everything. And selling out to the Shins is probably the best way to go. :)

A stronger girl would shake this off in flight,
And never give it more than a frowning hour,
But you have let your heart decide,
Loss has conquered you

You've won one too many fights,
Wearing many hats every time,
But you wont win here tonight . . .

—The Shins, Girl Sailor

What sort of music do you like to chill out to?

A wears cream T-shirt, navy Zara heels, H&M coat, Topshop skirt, and thrifted bag.

Outfits: The Staple Skirt

2011-06-30T18:00:00.011+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: While A prefers the preppy gamine style and B the vintage grunge look, both agree that this floral skort is a wardrobe staple.

Now for a story on Thrift Magic.

About a year ago Arianne found the perfect black floral skort. It had a subtle floral print and was endlessly flattering with its high waist and A-line cut. I did not want to admit at the time but I was jealous. But being the gracious friend that I am I encouraged Arianne to get it. All the while secretly hoping she would change her mind so I could rip it out of her hands the moment she did.

Fast forward to a few weeks later. The exact same skirt was spotted in a different ukay by Arianne AGAIN! By this time, Arianne had used her skirt so much that she thought it best to buy a back up. I seethed in the corner, anticipating that I would have to watch the skirt of my dreams bought by someone else yet again.

But by some miracle the skirt was too small for Arianne's waist so hence the blog buddy skirt was born. Now the only down side to this is that Arianne and I always have to check with each other before going out.

Just as well worn and versatile as the skirt are my Ichigo loafers. The light brown shade and cute rounded toe keep the otherwise corporate shoe looking cute. I have literally worn them into the ground and would gladly shell out for another pair. Much more affordable than the P3000+ Topshop version. At our Ichigo shoot Gia, Aya and I all jumped at the chance to get a free pair. Now does this mean I have to call them up before going out too?

Anyway see the many ways our respective skirts have been worn below!

B wears thrifted skirt, Forever 21 brown sweater, Greenhills fedora, Arianne's tote and Ichigo shoes.

Outfits: House of Mirrors

2011-06-25T16:00:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A and B give you a sneak peek of Ichigo shoes summer collection over a cup of tsokolate eh at every Filipino's home away from home, Pamana.

Pamana means 'heritage', a fitting name for a restaurant that serves all your grandma's favourite recipes from kare-kare to mangoes and sticky coconut rice. Surrounded by posters of 1930s Filipino film stars and sepia photographs of owner Happy Ongpauco's family, you can't help feeling that you've walked into a past where Sunday dinner was the highlight of the week, all sweet, eggy, glorious brazo de mercedes and lolo talking about how he led the guerillas during the war.

When we were asked by our favourite brand Ichigo to style their Spring/Summer collection, we immediately thought that Barrio Fiesta's Pamana restaurant would be the perfect backdrop to our shoot. Both companies offer a modern twist on classic oldies-but-goodies—floral prints on traditional Oxfords, pastel-coloured loafers, tsokolate fondue, tofu sisig . . . there's always something fresh and unique to find.

We asked our awesome friends Gia and Aya to be our dress-up dolls. According to them, they wore A and B costumes for the day, pastels and knits rarely something they rarely wear. But they loved Ichigo's moccasins and lace-up shoes so much they couldn't wait to get a pair. One of these days we'll show you how they styled the shoes their way!

B is very proud of her brown floral skirt, she hemmed it all by herself! We both absolutely regret not paying enough attention in Mrs Arugay's Home Economics class. We chose to write Harry Potter fan fiction round-robins or gossip about Ben Affleck's latest fling instead of learning how to do a drop-stitch.

It was so cool to find the exact same model of Singer sewing machine that we used in high school at Pamana! Converted into a side table, it is perfect for displaying an antiquarian book collection or the latest Ichigo bag.

We loved how crystal chandeliers and gigantic windows let sunlight flood the white-washed rooms. Mirrors of all shapes and sizes hung on the walls and made the rooms seem bigger, and A felt that looking glasses remain the best way to pass from one world to the next, more Alice in Wonderland than ponds in Magician's Nephew or twists of a door-knob in Castle in the Air.

Would you live in a house full of mirrors? Beautiful in the day time, but creepy at night methinks.

Ichigo
Greenhills Theatre Mall, Missouri Lane L37 Lower Ground
Greenhills, Shoppesville 3rd Level Atrium Lane
The Ramp, 2nd Level Shangrila and Glorietta Malls.
Inspired by Japan street style and the 1950s, Ichigo also sells satchels and canvas rucksacks. Check out the new collection at the Ichigo store near you! You can also order online at their Multiply site or Facebook page.

Pamana Restaurant
1315 Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay
Three floors full of traditional narra furniture and posters from the golden age of Filipino cinema create a cosy ambiance to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a fantastic view of the world's smallest dormant volcano. A suggests tomato-drenched prawns grilled inside banana leaves (pinaputok na hipon) and her guilty pleasure, deep-fried pork with a fresh salad (bagnet). If you want to feel the wind in your hair and the tropical sun in your face, have your coffee and cake at the roof deck. Reservations recommended for Saturdays and Sundays when most of Manila heads up into Tagaytay.

A wears Hush Puppies loafers, thrifted belt and striped shirt, and paper bag trousers. B wears Forever 21 jumper, Zara boots, and thrifted skirt. Gia wears a Brooks Brothers button down and B's thrifted polka dot dress. Aya wears Bangkok shirt dress and a yellow Zara cardigan. Gia and Aya wear Ichigo shoes.

Outfits: Grunge Girl

2011-06-19T23:38:00.008+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Perhaps a product of too much Freaks and Geeks or My-So-Called-Life, B decides to jump on the 90's bandwagon.

Arianne's words to me when she was taking my photo today: 'Your style is changing a bit, isn't it?' Ah, only my blog partner would notice the little changes I've been making with my wardrobe.

Chalk it up to taking too much inspiration from Nick and the gang. I may be a season or two late to be climbing on the grunge bandwagon but lately I've felt that nothing looks cooler than an acid washed denim jacket and a slick pair of Wayfarers.

Of course, trust Manila weather to mess with my best laid plans. Just when I have my summer staples down pat rainy season rears it's head. Hello, boots!

It might just be me but cropped denim jackets seem to be popping up all over the blog-o-sphere. And I've been aching to get my hand on the perfect one. They are just so tough yet fresh looking. An experienced thrifter would know that ukay-ukays around Manila are just exploding with vintage denim jackets. Some even covered in Mickey mouse patches and other such ironic memorabilia.

One weekend, I swung by the Cubao ukay and found myself clutching an armful of denim jackets within five minutes. It was only a matter of choosing the perfect one. Which this powdery blue cropped number (complete with metallic blue buttons) proved to be.

This isn't to brag about my thrifting skills. There are seriously just THAT many denim jackets in any given ukay-ukay. This is why I knew it would be silly to invest in the 3000 peso denims found in Topshop and Zara.

The search for the perfect sunnies was much more difficult. I am just one of those girls who has a weird face for sunglasses. Nothing ever seems to look quite right. Nothing was worth spending money on. So I opted to invest in various Forever21 knockoffs until I realized I was breaking one pair a week. Cheap crap.

When my barkada and I decided to have 'hipster night' at Cubao X, I found these awesome Ray-Ban look-alikes in TodayxFuture (formerly I Love You store). I left them that night but the thought of them haunted me until I texted the very obliging owner to reserve them until I could pick them up. I love how heavy and durable they are.

This should hold me off until I save up enough to invest in real Ray-Bans. A classic piece worthy of investing, don't you think? Especially in a tropical country like the Philippines.

So that's what's been inspiring me these past few months, folks. I now leave you with wise words from the tote Arianne got me as a pasalubong.

Ah, totes. Another awesome summer staple!

B wears shades from TodayxFuture, thrifted denim jacket, Topshop dress and thrifted boots.

Overseas: Chatsworth

2011-06-16T16:00:00.082+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Racing leather-clad bikers up and down Derbyshire's twisty-turny roads, A arrives at a period drama staple, Chatsworth a.k.a. Pemberley.

The day before my birthday my aunt's friends took us to Chatsworth, one of the stateliest stately homes in England. That first glimpse of the manor from the rise of a hill is breathtakingly gorgeous, all gently rolling hills dotted with ewes and baby lambs and the susurrus of a stream meandering its way across a valley.

Having lived in a big city all my life, I spent as much time on the grounds and gardens as I could. I walked through bluebell woods (Diana Wynne Jones' Castle in the Air!) and a hedge maze (Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat!), and it felt awfully, awfully good to finally understand 'a Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land'.

Sorry for all the geekery! It's just that I always wanted to visit the United Kingdom to see what all my favourite authors and poets cared so much for (or little, in Byron's case). I'm so amazed that what I consider the world's greatest literature came from one tiny island.

The dress is from New Look, on sale for GBP 6.00 and I just had to snap it up. It fits a little oddly on me because I found it under the Tall section and I'm five-foot-four, not gargantuan by any standard, so I'll probably have to alter it a bit. The three turrets among the trees is a hunting lodge that you can actually rent for the holidays (and there goes #89 on the bucket list . . . ) unless the current Duke's nephew has got his pockets to let. :P

Chatsworth is one of the most well-known stately homes in the world, Baroque ceilings and hallways filled with china figurines and Egyptian statues, but I couldn't help thinking it was just like any other house. When you go to a friend's house all their family photos and slightly tacky souvenirs are laid out for your perusal. It's almost exactly the same experience, looking through Chatsworth, only your friend's family is very, very old and very, very rich. So you have the cross-stitched samplers of countless aunts, the well-loved and rather bald rocking horse, the chipped tea sets, and paintings by 'artistic' relatives. Weird and slightly voyeuristic, I felt.

Who wouldn't want this library?!

Afterwards, we drove down to Beeley where I had a lovely almost-birthday dinner at a local pub with a big slab of fried fish on mushy peas, better than anything I had in London. And, best of all, I had my first glass of pear cider! It was brilliant, neither bitter nor dry, and light on the ethyl alcohol taste. Never was a beer or ale girl, so not a surprise it turns out I was born for cider.

So, Chatsworth the inspiration behind Mr Darcy's estate?

Jane Austen wrote in Pride & Prejudice:

"The eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of the valley into which the road into some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned."

I think it is certainly a great contender. The grounds are wondrous and green, but I don't think Jane would have thought much of the slightly pompous interior. But if you'd like to see the paintings and wallpaper that I liked at Chatsworth, click here. The 6th Duke of Devonshire chose some lovely mint and Japanese-inspired prints.

A wears New Look dress, mother's cardigan, dime store tights, and Hush Puppies.

Overseas: Macaron Madness

2011-06-12T16:00:00.044+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A introduces the great Garet Garcia who shares some Gallic style and shopping tips. Also, some sweets for the sweet with a photographic selection of Parisian pastries. Ah, alliteration.

Friends, meet Garet Garcia, a girl B and I have known since we were four years old. We used to pick macopa fruits from our school gardens and play M.A.S.H. to see which characters from Harry Potter we would marry (I always got Percy Weasley. Yay!) and whether we would own Nimbus 2000s or hand-me-down brooms. For the last year, she's been studying in Paris and she kindly, nay, awesomely, let me kip on her studio floor. I seriously had the best night's sleep on her sofa cushion and camping bag nest.

I thought you all might be interested in learning a bit about the city of light from the perspective of a Filipino-Parisian. So enjoy the macarons and welcome to Garet's Paris.

Why did you decide to move to Paris?
To complete my masters degree, get international working experience, make lots of money so I can come home to Philippines and start my own business, find love and bring home an exotic husband.

Your top style tip for Paris?
To get the Parisian look, wear a casual blazer with folded cuffs and a lightweight scarf with everything (dresses, skirts, jeans, etc. it goes with anything). You need to walk A LOT in Paris, so comfortable shoes are a must. I see a lot of French girls wearing ballerina flats, mocassins and Bensimon sneakers (A French girl's Converse or Keds). Pull your hair up in a messy bun or if you want to leave it down, dramatically part your hair to one side. Always apply mascara and wear red lipstick as a final touch.

Where is the best place to shop?
Start from Opera Garnier, the converging point of many famous shopping streets, and from there the shopping possibilities are endless. Just a few blocks away you'll find Grand Magasins (it's very touristy though) which is the pulse of designer fashion. Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré (my personal fave) is lined with classic designers like Versace, Hermes, and Yves Saint Laurent, but also some concept shops such as Colette.

Best shopping season is January and June, when the sales are up, designer brands are 50% off, no joke. Always ask for the 12% detax to make the shopping experience more enjoyable.

Do tell us about a typical day in Paris?
A typical, lazy weekend for me would be to grab a huge crepe for lunch in Rue Mouffetard, have a coffee break in St, Michel, take a stroll in Jardin du Luxembourg and lie down in the grass while reading a book/magazine/taking a nap. Depending on the season there's free ice skating rings, markets, concerts, exhibitions to visit as well for the afternoon, and I'll go to those. For a casual dinner, I head out to Bastille then have an ice cream for dessert at Amorino or another coffee.

What's your favourite pastry shop?
I absolutely love Lenôtre for the chocolate-y cakes but Ladurée for the delectable macaroons. Classic flavors are best: vanilla, pistachio, salted caramel, chocolate, rose and cafe. Light as air and eggshell thin, they shatter in your mouth - like eating nothing but happiness. The first time I ever stepped inside a Ladurée Salon du Thé, I told my friend "This is ridiculous, we have to line up this long for macaroons?! This better be good stuff." A French teenager beside me overheard and turned around to say "They are. It's really worth it." Needless to say, I'm a believer of Ladurée macaroons.

And Garet's absolutely right about the macarons. The interesting thing is that each Ladurée branch has completely different atmosphere from the other, something unusual when it comes to chain shops. Ladurée Rue Royale was how I imagined a Parisian cafe to be—low ceilings, potted palms, and marble top tables next to well-worn chairs upholstered in dark and dreamy patterns—while Ladurée on the Left Bank (a ten-minute walk from the Musée d'Orsay and its Van Goghs) was a bright conservatory with Japanese-inspired wallpaper and bamboo and teak furniture. Both were beautiful, and I suppose you can go to every Laduree shop and be surprised!

Fauchon
26-30 Place de Madeleine, 75008
I would call this Paris' version of Harrods, though remembering the historical enmity between France and England I may be pelted with bread and sent off to the gallows for the comparison. Fauchon sells freshly baked bread and pastries, specialty cheeses, and take-away for those too lazy (or busy!) to make lunch or dinner. It also has a slick department store behind the Madeleine, but I didn't go inside. Please do, and take pictures!

Laduree
16 Rue Royale, 75008
21 Rue Bonaparte, 75006
Don't just go for the divine Saint-Honoré's (get the orange blossom cream puffs like I did!) and pastel-coloured macarons. Ladurée also serves light, fruity teas and gourmet coffees. The rather twee-ly named Marie Antoinette mix, a mild afternoon tea with a touch of rose and spice, is a better bet than the bland house blend.

Do you have a favourite pastry shop? Would you choose that marvelous indie-love, macarons, or some other cake or sweet? Moi, je préfère une crêpe noisette.

Outfits: Golden

2011-06-08T16:00:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A spends a morning wandering around Brick Lane's limitless charity shops. Also, an outfit out of place.

As my holiday went by, the number of photos I took each day dwindled from two hundred to twenty. I was so caught up in really looking at things that I couldn't be bothered to turn my camera on and snap a picture. I didn't want to end up like those tourists who come home with 8 gigabytes of photos and 8 minutes of actual memories. I'd done it before (Shanghai 2009, I can't remember anything other than dumplings and a solitary bank on the Bund) and blow me if I'd do it again.

At least that's my excuse for why my outfit photo is one taken over Easter in Spain while the rest of the post takes place in London two weeks later. ;P

I went to check out the charity shops in Brick Lane. There were TONS, but the prettiest by far was Vintage Emporium. The curated stock is expensive (GBP 60.00 was the average cost of a dress) but they offer finds from the difficult periods, e.g. Edwardian and the 1920s. A saleslady directed me to a hatbox full of dainty, skin-tight gloves and lace collars, but I couldn't find anything that would fit me! Ladies from the past had very small hands indeed.

If you don't find anything to your liking, there is a tea room upstairs, all sofas and wicker chair surrounded by old bikes and suitcases. You can also borrow a book or boardgames to pass the time while waiting for your pot of tea. If I lived in London, I'd definitely choose Vintage Emporium as a place to hang out (study, even). They play some wickedly retro melodies on their radio.

Stealth snapshot inside Penhaligon's near Covent Garden. I came away with a vial of Elizabethan Rose for my gran, Lily of the Valley for myself, and an empty wallet.

Truth tell, I was a little disappointed that I didn't buy anything vintage while on holiday. I was very excited about charity shopping, plotting out maps months before the trip, but when I got to the shops there was nothing I really wanted. No must-have-this-or-I'll-die shivers or at-last-my-perfect-summer-dress exultations. It was rather strange, but I think it must happen to even the best of us thrift-shoppers.

What do you think? Have you ever gone out shopping with a full wallet and a spirit willing to spend freely and ended up with nothing but a good walk and maybe ice cream?

A wears Topshop yellow dress, Zara blazer, and Hush Puppies sneakers.

Overseas: Bonkers for Borough

2011-06-04T16:00:00.005+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A catches up with Chantal for a cup of coffee at Borough Market and a wander around London's Southbank. For more travel photos, click here.

Oh floral skort, you serve me well. Readers, you must all be deathly tired of seeing this item repeatedly over the last few weeks but I have to admit that it was the best thrift buy ever. For a measly PhP 125.00, I have something that looks like a girly skirt but is perfect for climbing up trees or fancy monuments (coughTrafalgarSquareLionscough) and sitting cross-legged at a summer picnic. I wish I could track down every copy made and buy 'em all up.

When I was in England I lived with friends behind Butler's Wharf and everyday I would take a fifteen minute walk to London Bridge station, passing by crazily shaped glass buildings, tightrope walkers, and splashy fountains, but I loved Fridays and Saturdays best because I'd walk an extra half-mile to Borough Market where I'd find stalls serving up a world of delight. Every food craving known to man would probably be satisfied at the market. Paella, mushroom pate, tripe pies, vanilla fudge . . . you name it, it's there.

Once I had Turkish baklava, a fried duck sandwich, puzzle cake (is it chocolate? Coconut? Or Victoria sponge?), a chorizo and rocket bun, mulled cider, and a glass of Pimm's. And I haven't even started on all the free samples. No wonder I gained ten pounds. ;P

Fantastic Mr Fox, my friends, you must download/rent/buy a DVD of Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's book. And yes, the ad for cider speaks the truth—a cup is indeed 'pure, melted gold' especially on a nippy day in London when you're wearing shorts and no tights. The spicy warmth spreading from throat to toes is such a lovely, lovely feeling.

Over a cup of flat white, Chantal and I discussed how to bring Monmouth Coffee Company home. She didn't think the communal tables and honesty bread-and-butter bar would work well in fastidious and gutom-mata Manila (neither do I) but I would absolutely love to get sunny light from green industrial lamps and cups of deliciously strong coffee at the UP College of Law. I am so sick of dark, generic Starbucks.

Come on, Chants, franchise Monmouth na! I don't care if everyone here is going to mispronounce the name, you can call it MCC. :))

A wears auntie's 80s navy blazer, thrifted skort, Dorothy Perkins shirt, canvas bag, and Dooney & Bourke purse.

Overseas: Welcoming Hay-on-Wye

2011-06-01T16:00:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A goes to heaven—a wondrous world of vintage knick-knackery, pre-loved books, golden Welsh countryside, and a tumble-down castle.

Straddling the border of England and Wales is a town that Time forgot. It took me half an hour to walk the entire length and breadth of Hay-on-Wye but I could have stayed there forever. Its miniature houses were painted pastel pink and blue and rainbow bunting criss-crossed over every street. Every shopkeeper had a story and a smile to share, and I absolutely loved it. For the three days I was there, it was the most beautiful place on earth.

Alex (connoisseur of books and English holidays) told me that I was going to enjoy Hay-on-Wye; 'enjoy' was an understatement. The Cat and I arrived on the Hereford train from London, and we were so excited that we emptied our coin purses for a cab to the village. The driver was a real corker, as the Enid Blyton books would say, and he told us about the best walks and farmer's superstitions in the most muffled yet musical voice I have heard. I came with a half empty duffle bag and left with twelve books, blocks of toffee, and a china teacup and saucer set. One of these days I'll post 'em for I already fear photo overload in this entry!

There was the darlingest government office ever—and I matched!

So the Cat fished (for rocks and duckweed, it turned out) in the river Wye and I spent the evenings at our B&B Tinto House's garden. Bulmer's perry cider in one hand and a dog-eared book in the other, I felt like I was inside one of those turn-of-the-century children's adventure books like Five Children and It, The Secret Island, and The Wouldbegoods, all What ho! and Crikey! and endless summers full of ginger beer and butter pie picnics.

Oh man, I totally want to go back.

A wears Zara polkadot dress, Dorothy Perkins tights, Cole Haan tasselled flats, and an oversized H&M trench coat.

Overseas: The Hours at Bath

2011-05-29T10:43:00.061+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A enters the pages of her favourite literary subgenres— the Roman murder mystery and the Regency romance novel—with a day in yellow limestone Bath.

My family and I took the train out of London to avoid the Royal Wedding crush, but little did we know that every shop and cafe counter would be streaming the celebrations to iPads, netbooks, and smartphones all over Bath. Still, I had a lovely weekend at Bath, the city of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer and spa fanatics of Roman Britain.

I love the clean lines and curves of Regency architecture so most of my photographs are of buildings and blue sky. As we walked up to the Royal Crescent through the Circus, my cousin and I picked out townhouses we would buy upon winning a lottery jackpot. I wish!

I really enjoyed the Roman Spa, which proves how earnest heritage organizations are in seeking to preserve historical treasures. I was there with B in 2006 but there were so many new exhibits to see and interactive information to digest that I couldn't 'finish' the museum in two hours. I particularly liked where the dressed-up guide, usually hokey but not in this case, demonstrated how to make Roman perfume and let me try some on. I think the perfume smelled better than any Lush store.

What I love most about England is the sense of history that I don't often, if ever, get walking down the streets of Manila. I mean, that the same shops that heroines in novels and heroes in history books visited a hundred, two hundred, six hundred years ago are still open, under different names and refurbishments but still essentially there.

A wears an H&M light coat over a striped shirt and cuffed jeans or a blue polkadot dress and Hush Puppies loafers.

Overseas: Swiss Sun

2011-05-25T03:33:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Goodbye summer holiday, hello much missed family and friends! But first, an uneven tan under a glorious sun of Switzerland.

Winding down after six weeks of travelling involves Scrabble death matches, "cooking" raclette with baby potatoes and pickles, trying three flavours of ice cream each day, and boating on the crazily clear lakes. I AM LOVING IT. I leave all the trip planning to my cousin's awesome girlfriend Mirella—result: pure happiness.

What I Did This Weekend:

Saturday: Zurich's dreaming spires (better than Oxford's) and lunch at the old city wall. Noted a horde of mediaeval re-enactors wielding swords and Princess Beatrice headdresses.
Sunday: Espresso croquant and pistachio ice cream with candied walnuts for breakfast. Missed Albi's last minute goal, thanks to a freak rain shower. Train to Bern where I finally, FINALLY see my cousin's house, cows, countryside and all.
Monday: Cailler chocolate factory with unlimited fresh chocolates to taste and take home and a whirlwind tour of the Bernese Alps before an infamous dinner of late-night kebabs.

Today I had Bailey's and hazelnut ice cream and a cheese pie at Mirella's go-to food shop in Lucerne. So super. She and Albi are spoiling me rotten. Sharp smelly wonderful cheese and smooth nutty chocolate—I am dying.

An unexpected 26 degrees C and not a cloud in the sky.

I did not win. But at least I beat Albi.

A not so Fantastic Mr Fox & friends (weasels and crows not pictured) at Zurich's downtown market.

Mmmm, hazelnuts.

Not Austria but the hills were alive with the sound of music.

My favourite Swiss-Filipinos and white-collar Monopoly bandits, Albi and Mirella.

People have asked me whether I am missing home yet, and truth tell, I'm not. Usually it only takes half a month before I am longing for my bed and fresh laundry that doesn't smell of damp doggies, but this time I don't want to leave. Probably because I feel like I haven't finished catching up with my Europe-based friends, but really, could I ever get sick of this—?

Don't think so. :)

A wears clothes. :P At this point, I am absolutely tired of living out of a suitcase.

Overseas: Summer Surf

2011-05-03T22:59:00.005+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: To temporarily stave off beach fever, B remembers last month's out of town trip with friends. Wind, waves and wipeouts!

La Union Surfnami from Bea Bermundo on Vimeo.

One of my favorite videos I've made so far. Which isn't saying too much because my home movies are always on the amateur side! I hate to be repetitive but I miss the sand and surf. I miss throwing myself into waves and getting severely pummeled. I miss the smell of sunblock and tanning oil. I miss scarfing down enormous amounts of food after a long hard swim. I miss nature.

Luckily, I very responsibly headed over to the bank as soon as I got my last paycheck. Money for future road trips? Check!

Merry Meriendas: Brown's English Tea Room

2011-05-03T05:12:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A gets treated to an early birthday tea at one of London's oldest hotels. What could be better than a three-tier cake stand and hot cuppa tea?

I crossed Item 23—Fancy Afternoon Tea at Historic Hotel—off my bucket list last week. Brown's Hotel served the loveliest cream covered scones and chicken curry-and-cucumber sandwiches I have ever had. Full to the brim, I walked out of Mayfair still tasting smoked salmon and strawberry jam. Not the best combination post-meal, I admit, but I was thoroughly satisfied by the ever-replenishing plates of Kir Royales and sultana-less scones. Yummy yummy yummy.

London has such warm weather right now! I haven't seen a drop of rain since I've got here, and I feel like bursting out in a rendition of E.L.O.'s Mr Blue Sky. So the Cat, my auntie, and I took in some sun in Lincoln's Inn Fields after a morning wandering around John Soane's esoteric collection of odd but beautiful things ('Alas, Poor Fanny!') and some delicate and simultaneously disgusting anatomic specimens at the Hunterian. Good times to be had by all, indeed. :)

P.S. Dorothy Perkins had a sale and I got fire engine red tights for PHP 99.00 and I should have bought more! They are absolutely fantastic and I am wearing them to death. Thumbs up, DP.

A wears Zara khaki blazer, Dorothy Perkins tights, Topshop dress, damascene necklace, Dooney & Bourke bag, and auntie's Cole Haan shoes.

Overseas: Gaudi Gambols

2011-04-28T04:46:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: The modernist architect Antoni Gaudi belongs to Barcelona, and Barcelona belongs to him. Here is A's day at the beautiful, mad, and wondrous unfinished cathedral of La Sagrada Familia.

Five years ago, I didn't think much of Gaudi's masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. The dark interior of the iconic cathedral, still a work-in-progress after more than a century, was covered in tarpaulin and wooden walkways. I could only catch a glimpse of the columns' capitals, just enough not to doubt the guide book's proclamation of the architect's intent to build a forest of stone. A quick Google search told me that construction wasn't to be completed until 2026, so I thought an hour would be sufficient to see all the changes since my last visit.

NOT. I spent the morning and most of the afternoon wandering around La Sagrada Familia, and I am so glad I was wrong about its 'tourist' importance. Gone were the scaffolding and flimsy ramps, and the cross-shaped nave was flooded with light, alternately filtered through stained glass and clear round or triangular windows. I could use the words magnificent, awe-inspiring, brilliant, revolutionary, phantasmagoric, all of which have been used to describe Gaudi's work, and they would still be unable to capture the experience of seeing La Sagrada Familia for the first time—and every visit is a first time.

I took a lift up to the top of towers behind the Nativity facade and saw the whole of Barcelona stretching out like a gaily coloured tapestry before me. Sure, I was clutching hard at the railing of the open-air bridge connecting each tower with the next, but I just about managed my fear of falling 394 feet to the sidewalk below. Though I had to make my way down the spiral staircase on foot, I would do it again and again and again.

Gaudi was a genius obsessed with detail and I thank God for it. It seemed like every nook and cranny contained a symbol to puzzle over and interpret. FUN. I sat down on a pew and just gazed at the ceiling, a veritable city of palm trees, for half an hour. The mathematical precision of Gaudi's designs, noticeable even to a maths-cursed girl like me, was just amazing. But what I loved best of all was Gaudi's ability to make stone seem organic, with animals and plants seething beneath the surface of rock and mortar.

Yup, half a day to 'Do' La Sagrada Familia is not enough, you'll require a lifetime and a half. At the very least.

My auntie, the Cat, and I had a picnic lunch of lemon soda and jamon iberico sandwiches in the park in front of the cathedral before heading off to Gaudi's great experiment on subdivision planning, Parc Guell. It pales in comparison to La Sagrada Familia but it has its own charm (rainbow mosaic details abound and I learned the Spanish love cows) and I had the opportunity to do an outfit post. Hoorah!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter!

A wears MNG jeans, thrifted plaid shirt, Hush Puppies loafers, Dooney & Bourke bag, and old F21 turquoise shades.

Heartbeats

2011-04-24T11:05:00.005+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A lazy Easter weekend spent with family. B snaps quick photos under the fading afternoon light. A typical outfit suited for one of Manila's hotter days.

For some reason summer in Manila looks like fall. The blistering sun seems to suck the life out of all the greenery, leaving dry grassy fields and blankets of crunchy brown leaves. It still looks pretty magical though.

During my early sunday bike ride I just had to stop and wander around for awhile. I sat on a rock in the middle of a field staring at all majestic mossy trees. I am not being dramatic- some of them are just huge! Anyone who says Manila is just a smoggy congested city is simply not looking hard enough.

I'd say having worked my butt off all week just makes these quiet moments to myself that much sweeter. Life is good.

On another note...

I always thought I wasn't a summer person but lately I find myself dreaming about:

1. Cropped tops

2. Cold beers

3. Weekends full of beach trips and pool parties

4. Early mornings spent running and biking

5. Reading through my growing pile of books

What do you guys dream about when it's summer?

B wears cropped top from GH market, Forever 21 red skirt, brown Aldo sandals, Muji tote

Overseas: El Barri Gotic

2011-04-19T04:14:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Greetings from sunny Spain! Nothing beats running down La Rambla to catch a walking tour around what was Roman Barcino, nor is there anything better than a merienda of churros con chocolate.

Mira, the view outside my window. My cousin, aunt, and I are ensconced in a cozy, light-filled room in a hotel two streets away from the famous manzana de la discordia, a set of turn-of-the-century apartments mind-boggingly different from one another. It's a clever play on words, manzana meaning both 'apple' and 'block (of buildings)'. I like apples. Sabaw. :))

Haven't blogged in such a long time that I've reverted to awkward and cheesy poses. Oh blog, I missed you. Enjoy the churros and Fanta Limon. Photo-heavy and text-light post, I know, but I am dead beat from, well, beating the cobblestone streets of old town Barcelona. :P

A wears Mother's tights, Auntie's boots, thrifted floral skirt and bow shirt, and Mother's old Barrie's of Scotland cardigan.

Outfits: Golden Girl

2011-04-18T01:38:00.009+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Suddenly sun here on the blog! B breaks the hiatus with a very seasonally appropriate summer post. Everything glows golden in the late afternoon.

Where in the world have A and B been? Well, while Arianne was slaving away over law books, I was bustling between the office and the hospital for a few weeks. I wasn't really sure I would talk about it on here but it seems like the band aid will be an outfit accessory for awhile!

The short story is that I recently found out I had a thyroid problem and now they've completely removed it. I was pretty anxious at first. It was my first time to go under the knife! An experience that made me feel waves of empowerment and vulnerability all at once.

How can you feel empowered when you're under anesthesia and drooling with your mouth open in front of cute single male doctors, you ask? I have no idea but its always interesting to me to test what mettle I am made of. I would sit on my hospital bed giving myself pep talks.

The biggest risk of my surgery was that I would lose my voice. I was lying on the gurney, staring up at the florescent lights and praying 'I don't care how ugly the scar on my neck will be. Just let me keep my voice!'.

I woke up around 5 hours after the surgery. I was the crazy patient in the corner of the recovery room tentatively peeping out sounds. By the time I got to my hospital room, I was able to croak out a few sentences. Thank God. Honestly, not a day has gone by that I forget to be grateful for that.

Phew! Heavy talk back there.

On a lighter note, here is the new dress I bought (with my salary!) to comfort myself. I saw it hanging in Topshop and knew that I had to have it. I rarely get this feeling anymore so I handed over my debit card (Anyone else think that debit cards may be a bad idea?) with no hesitation. I've worn it every week since. I just love the simple monochromatic pattern with bright floral splashes. This dress allows me to transition towards summer colors slowly but surely.

The accessories are minimal as usual. I have been looking for a plain tote for ages and Muji has them in different sizes. This one was only P50! I think I'll be stocking up on some bigger ones soon. The Muji in Rockwell is intensely addicting. I had to remind myself how impractical it would be to buy scarves just yet.

The sunnies were less than a hundred at Forever 21. I chose them because they have that iconic wayfarer shape but are neutral enough that I don't feel like a hipster wearing them. I thought they were pretty un-obnoxious but I am still fielding 'hipster' comments! Oh well, the brown goes perfectly with everything.

And these Aldo sandals date back to last summer. They are one of the best clothing investments I have ever made. They hardly show how much wear they've gone through. Solid solid investment! I highly recommend.

Lastly, Arianne is flying over to Europe as we speak. I'm so happy for her! No one deserves that vacation more. She's been holed up for months prepping for exams. And honestly, I am hoping she will pepper our dear blog with pictures from across the pond. Hee!

B wears Topshop floral dress, Aldo sandals, Muji tote and Forever21 brown sunglasses.

Outfits: Feeling Fall

2011-03-23T00:32:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: See B? Maybe not because her love for neutrals allows her to camouflage perfectly amongst the bark and leaves. The last of the winter collection (maybe).

So there's this quote that I read a few weeks ago and I feel it relates to the way I dress.

Minimalism is not a style, it is an attitude, a way of being. It's a fundamental reaction against noise, visual noise, disorder, vulgarity. Minimalism is the pursuit of the essence of things, not the appearance. -Massimo Vignelli

Whenever we have to talk about style I always say that mine is simple. I feel quite uncomfortable piling on accessories, wearing busy prints, funky headgear or crazy shoes. I always believe that style is subjective so I have nothing against people who do... It's just that I like things to be easy to understand and that includes the clothes I wear.

*Except boots, no matter how simple in style, will always be incomprehensible to the Filipino male mind. Attended a party last week to have a table of boys shouting 'Winter ba?' at me.

I guess that's why I count Alexa Chung as such an icon. That girl can wear the simplest outfit and still show off her personality. She never overdoes anything and never tries too hard. I love that she shows that you can be fashionable without throwing on every damn trend that comes your way. She's a rockstar.

It's a total bonus that she has a slightly guy-ish voice, a wicked sense of humor and cutely unkempt hair. You can just tell she's the kind of girl you can have a beer with-which, in my opinion, is the best kind!

Do you guys like how I am blending into the tree? I've been wearing a lot of brown lately. Which is weird because 1) I used to think that color was a major snooze and 2) my accessories are all brown so I look terribly redundant. But with 'spring' around the corner I plan to inject a few pastel pieces into my wardrobe. I've also been stocking up on cropped tops like it is nobody's business.

Anyway allow me to digress. Let's talk beverages! Now I never caught on the big yogurt wave but I can't help but be grateful for the new 'food trend': milk tea! When my family went to Hongkong a few years ago I discovered that their McDonalds sold milk tea. I was hooked! I would stop at every McDonalds we walked by (every.single.one) just to buy one. If I passed 10 McDonalds restaurants in one day then you can bet I was bloated with 10 milk teas.

Have you guys been to Happy Lemon in Greenhills? The store is so fun and fresh. Is it pathetic that I kept the cute cup after I finished drinking? I just really appreciate the design, okay? And I promise I washed it!

B wears Forever 21 hoodie, Topshop shorts, thrifted boots and bag.

Overseas: La Union Surf Camp

2011-03-15T01:10:00.012+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B comes home burnt, bruised and beach crazy after an overnight surf trip in La Union. Awesome photos care of Naesa and her hip little iPhone app!

The barkada has been planning this surf trip for ages but it kept getting delayed week after week. Finally, we forced it to push through this weekend in spite of slightly scary tsunami warnings. Not to say Japan wasn't in our thoughts. (We spent quite a bit of time glued to BBC on the tiny TV in our hotel room.) But since we had already booked everything and carefully monitored the news to make sure our trip would be safe, we decided to push through.

I must say, saving and spending my own hard earned money for this trip was a fantastic feeling. Why spend money on a new dress when you can invest in priceless memories? It's been really great going around the country and finding all these stunning spots just a few hours away from Manila. It's going to be a new thing of mine to travel locally more often. Not only is it better for tourism, it is easier on my wallet!

The San Juan Surf Resort was a pretty perfect choice for cheap college grads such as ourselves. It served the basic purpose of giving us a clean place to shower and a cool place to sleep. It must be said that the hotel staff is pretty lenient towards bringing your own beer, displaying your wet clothes over the balcony and hanging your hammock up in front of your room. I highly recommend to those traveling on a budget!

As my first beach trip of the year, the bar is set pretty high. Such a relaxing weekend away from work filled with lazy tanning mornings , rough surfing afternoons and fun drinking nights. Though I love work, I don't mind getting away once in awhile to sleep under the stars on the beach.

Thanks to my wonderful friends for being fantastic company! I am seriously lucky to know people with the same thirst for adventure. White water rafting next!

Giveaway: Ukay Manila

2011-03-15T00:54:00.004+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: If there are two things A and B support they are: ukay-ukays and other Pinay bloggers. Lauren (who has been so supportive and helpful ever since we began blogging) celebrates her stores anniversary with a fun contest!

Ukay Manila celebrates its second anniversary with the help of four lovely fashion bloggers who capture the look of the Ukay Manila girl. Arianne and Bea's love for all things fun and pretty shine in their floral and vintage/vintage-inspired outfits, which happen to be the best-selling pieces of th estore. This dainty little dress is just perfect for their frolics in the sun. Have a grand old time, A Plus B-style, by winning it from Ukay Manila's second anniversary giveaway! Here's how to join:

1) "Like" Ukay Manila on Facebook or follow @ukaymanilastore on Twitter.

2) Come back to this post and answer this question in the comments below: "It's a nice day for a picnic outside. What are you wearing?" The best answer gets this lovely rose frock!

3) Please include your city, email address, and Facebook/Twitter username with your answer so we know where to find you. Incomplete entries will not qualify.

4) You have until March 30,2011 to join this giveaway. Winning entries will be hand-picked by Arianne and Bea, and announced at the Facebook page and at Ukay Manila’s blog.

This contest is open to Philippine residents only. Please note that the accessories are not included in this giveaway. H7WGD5PEX8K6

Ukay Manila is also giving away a dress each at Denise Katipunera, The Capricious Club, and A Shoe Tale! Feel free to join by following the mechanics at their blogs. However, you can only win once to give others a fair chance.

Good luck!

Outfits: Spring Awakening

2011-03-11T19:00:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A still recovering from a nasty head cold and a slough of depression brought about by some Mortifying and Ridiculous Barcelona-ham Tragedy, but witness some pale and frothy spring costuming.

I'm very much looking forward to end of the second term. My bedside stand is littered with travel books and dog-eared magazines of the same nature, and I sneak in two or three minutes of gazing at train tables before returning to the mind-boggingly difficult task of memorizing the 1935 RPC provisions on malversation of public funds.

In less than two months I'll be on holiday 'on the Continent' as historical novels are wont to say (as if there were not seven continents). Imagining the tea-and-crumpet meriendas and secondhand bookshop-trawling as I write.

Recent Google searches:

Tea and thrift shops in London and Barcelona
Delicious and homey cafes to have lunch in Granada
What to see in Malaga
Outerwear in weather-fickle England
H&M + Swedish Hasbeens sandals (only because I want a pair ;P)

Dear European readers (and other well-heeled globe-trotters), could you please help me out? Would my teeth be chattering from cold if I wore this outfit to Bath in May?

For your delectation, some Emily Dickinson:

A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period —
When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay—

A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.

A review of this post convinces me that I am reading too much faux Georgette Heyer and not enough Tolentino commentary Book IV. Oops.

A wears thrifted trench coat, Hush Puppies loafers, TNFC lace dress, and thrifted brown bag.

Play Pretend: The Pixie Stix

2011-03-07T19:33:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Now touring the wind-blown barley-filled barrios of Batangas, the Pixie Stix! Nothing better for a rainy day than up-beat country music.

Every time B and I go out with friends we end up pretending to be American pioneers. Last time, cowgirls, now prairie girls leaving home for the Big City with rock-n-roll dreams. What's up with that? I blame Little House on the Prairie when I was ten and steampunk shoot-me-ups when I ought to be writing case digests.

So Gia came up with our girl band name: the Pixie Stix. Ah, allusions to radical country rockers, the Dixie Chicks, and high school afternoons enjoying, well, rainbow pixie sticks. Mmmm, memories of raspberry powdery goodness . . .

B and I scored this red Skyway beauty of a suitcase at a thrift store along EDSA. The plush inside needs a bit of a wash, but expect to see it often.

Last weekend was such a laugh, and I can imagine the girls showing their grandchildren these photos and reminiscing about the good old days when we all lived on farms without access to high-speed broadband.

Keeping up with the Americana theme, I am looking forward to seeing Michelle Williams in Meek's Cutoff. The trailer is a bit dreary and no Happily Ever After is forthcoming, but I haven't missed any of her movies since I saw Michelle in Me Without You with Anna Friel (Lit students in a blustery English coast town, 80s music, and tearful best friend separations and reunions? You can't help loving it!). I even watched that horrible disaster of a film that blew up Arsenal FC's stadium.

A wears Jellybean gingham dress, thrifted boots, and B's MNG jacket

Outfits: Peaches and Cream

2011-03-02T02:24:00.009+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B is for...bike! A plus B go on location for an exciting collaboration shoot (more on that in the future) and though the bike was brought for the models to use, B couldn't resist a spin.

If you're a long time reader of this blog then you've heard of Peaches before. What you may not know is that my awesome brother bought me a bike basket for my birthday last November! A basket I aptly named Cream.

This dynamic duo never fails to make me smile. This bike is hands down my best purchase ever. Nothing compares to the feeling of biking early in the morning while it's still chilly but starting to get warm. Except maybe biking late in the evening and enjoying the cool night breeze.

I wish the Philippines was the kind of country where I could bike to work without being run over by jeeps/motorcyclists/buses. While I am at it, I also wish the Philippines was the kind of country where it's not considered weird to bike in something besides spandex shorts and sneakers...

I am very proud of the fact that I painted the basket myself. I am not at all proud that I can't seem to figure out how to attach it. At the shoot, my friend Gia ingeniously came up with the idea to use a ribbon to tie it on. Pretty and practical. Like the skort I am wearing. Did you guys think that was a skirt? Oops.

These fantastic action shots are courtesy of my friend, Tinay. She came along with my barkada for the shoot and was a total trooper. It's always refreshing to have photos from a new perspective and this lady is honing in on hers. Check out her tumblr for some great 'phoetry'. Yes, I am combining the words photography and poetry because it accurately describes her blog!

If you notice a sudden change of top it's because I had to wear the yellow blouse while they used my sweatshirt. My uniform these days pretty much consists of various sweatshirt and floral skirt combinations. No joke, my officemate even remarked, 'Is that, like, your only shirt?' And after we watched Blue Valentine (not again!) on the way to the shoot, Gia commented, 'You're kind of dressed like Michelle in Blue Valentine'. Definitely on purpose, folks.

If any of you guys are interested then please do check out Bzkleta and let's all form a vintage bike gang. I'd love a group of girls to bike with!

B wears cream Forever 21 sweater, thrifted yellow blouse, skirt and boots.

Outfits: Kinder Bueno

2011-02-25T20:58:00.001+08:00

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

2011-02-20T15:02:00.001+08:00

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

2011-02-15T23:59:00.016+08:00

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

2011-02-12T20:23:00.003+08:00

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

2011-02-06T23:06:00.011+08:00

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.

Inspiration: Anna/Annie

2011-01-27T09:00:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A sets out her style resolutions and thinks about Anna Karina reborn in Annie Monroe. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

The Like's Annie Monroe clearly took some style inspiration from Danish actress Anna Karina. Note the classic trench coat, sailor dresses, the heavy fringe, dark sweaters, inky cat's eyes, the very 60s Continental flair, and their names. Then there's the matter of their work (Monroe's music and Karina's movies) not being everyone's cup of tea.

Here's Annie . . .

And Anna . . .

I think it's amazing how Anna Karina's sense of style has stood the test of time. Everything she wore in Une Femme Est Une Femme wouldn't be out of place in today's street style blogs, and gosh I want her outfits in Pierrot Le Fou. So, goal for 2011 remains the same as 2010: dress like a girl from a French Nouvelle Vague film!

Last year, I slowly began building a wardrobe dominated by the colours blue and red, but I didn't manage to "keep things simple" enough. This year, I am going to take a page out of Dead Fleurette's notebook and be extremely selective about what I buy. Note to self:

No spontaneous shopping trips to Forever 21 or Greenhills, and let a planned seasonal list guide me. I love my spur-of-the-moment floral dresses but I am afraid that their patterns may date very quickly.
Be willing to spend more for something that will last a really, really long time. My friend Mirella and I are sending pennies into a piggy bank ear-marked "Hermes". Yes, lots of studying and long hours of overtime before I get that Constance, but it will be worth it. As Aunt Alicia says, " Wait for the first-class jewels, Gigi. Hold on to your ideals."
Less is more. It's time to cut down on excess and stick to the basics. I am allowed to buy striped shirts and button downs, but no more red shoes! If I buy something new, I need to let something go into the shop or a charity bin.

Building a capsule wardrobe seems like a tough project (especially with all the beautiful clothes I see on the blogs), but I am confident—I've got the proper incentives in place (trip to Palawan! Cambridge satchel! Jasper Fforde books!) and the fact that I've got my pockets to let. Thank you, Christmas!

You may have noticed the changes in our blog layout, the result of many hours of CSS coding and HTML headaches (and I'm still not finished!). The wonderfully charming illustrations were made by Basil from The Ghost Narwhal. He is a brilliant young artist from France, and I absolutely adore his work, especially the Doctor Who-related ones! He was kind enough to talk a bit about his work, and I hope you all enjoy the art and the answers.

What are your favourite things?
Time machines, tweed jackets, english breakfast, second-hand bookshops and watching films all day long

What's your inspiration?
There are load of artists who inspire me, I really couldn't make a list. I have a soft spot for American illustrators from the early/mid XX° century, such as Edward Gorey, Winsor McCay, Charles Adams or Maurice Sendak.

What are your plans for the new year?
Don't have any plans for 2011 for the moment. Or rather I have so much plans they can't all fit in 2011!

Thank you so much, Basil!

Photos courtesy of James Kelly and AFP.

Play Pretend: Blue Valentine (again)

2011-01-24T10:51:00.009+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Guess who finally saw Blue Valentine? And guess who is going to make YET another rambly post about it? B!

Well, that movie did not disappoint! I would highly recommend it if you're like me and you love trying to figure people out. That's one of the reasons I am such a huge fan of Mad Men. Nobody is good or bad-they're just human beings and infinitely interesting. The same applies to Cindy and Dean in Blue Valentine.

The movie felt like '500 Days of Summer' meets 'Revolutionary Road'. The dark and heart-wrenching marriage scenes were tempered by those sweet 'young love' scenes. You know the ones. A crazy-in-love couple in a magical world of their own. It was scary to see their relationship go from romance to ruins. As if I'm not enough of a skeptic! Anyway I've been pushing the movie on friends so I could finally have someone to dissect it with. Have any of you guys seen it? What did you think?

As expected, Michelle Williams was adorable. It looks like her character was probably big on thrift shops! She was always in faded floral dresses and tough black boots with an epic leather backpack. Just look at how her really simple outfits enhance her natural beauty. I loved that about the styling.

Anyway a big fat thank you to my brother for helping with this shoot. I haven't had much time to take photos in the day and shooting at night is usually problematic. Luckily, Mic had a brilliant idea. He parked the car facing this wall and beamed the headlights straight at me so we had makeshift lighting. Cars passing by, of course, thought I was crazy.

I kind of like the effect of the pictures even if I look more grunge than usual. Here I am still playing pretend in Cindy's trademark floral dress and black boots! I wish I had a little ukelele or tap dancing skills to show off too.

I got the dress back in December and have been just about living in it. It has a hidden zipper at the back and a tie at the waist. But I didn't realize how short it was at the store and now I can't wear it without tights.

Speaking of tights, one of the guys at work randomly told me, 'Alam ko na kung bakit ka palaging naka-tights… (Now I know why you're always in tights) kasi gusto mo si Zooey Deschanel! (Because you like Zooey Deschanel!). Am I that transparent? That's the second Zooey comment I've gotten at work. But don't worry, I am definitely not deluded enough to think they're indicating similarities looks wise!

B wears Mango denim jacket, Greenhills tiangge necklace and dress, ukay-ukay boots, black tights and green canvas messenger bag.

Play Pretend: Blue Valentine

2011-01-18T13:29:00.013+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B bundles up for Blue Valentine to channel Michelle Williams and her fluffy hooded goodness. Location: Ronac Art Center.

What do Michelle Williams and I have in common? Ryan Gosling? I wish. (If he dates Michelle- I may finally get over the ultimate pairing of McAdams/Gosling. Yes, it does hurt me when hollywood couples break up. ) We both love toggle coats and furry hoods!

Thus my Blue Valentine inspired outfit post. Most shots of Michelle show her all adorable in furry, hooded jackets. To emulate her, I had to don my own blue toggle jacket with it's snowy white hood. Weather is still a-ok here in Manila. I hope it never ends! 'Fall' is definitely my season. The colors, the layers. I thrive on cold weather clothes.

Anyway I am just dying to watch this movie. So much so that I have taken to downloading screen caps and analysis even before seeing it. I read that to accurately capture the dynamics of a married couple, Michelle and Ryan had to shack up for a few weeks and play house. They had to make grocery lists, take care of their 'daughter' and other domesticated tasks like that.

It is probably not coming out here in the Philippines so I am not-so-patiently waiting for a downloadable torrent. If anybody links me to one I will FOREVER be in your debt.

I have kind of been living in this striped top/camel skirt combination for weeks. I will not lie-it makes me feel very put together and grown up. The skirt is the only new piece of clothing I've bought in months! (sale = God send to an unpaid intern) I wonder if suede will still be comfortable when the summer sun rolls in...

It's a basic piece that goes well with everything I own. I am happy to report that the closet cleanse I did months ago has payed off big time. I am buying less but growing more content with my closet's er...contents.

If you think this outfit has nothing to do with Blue Valentine then take a look at the above picture. I think my outfit is the lovechild of Michelle's and Ryan's.

The messenger bag is from my good buddy, Karl. Or rather the bag rack from which I sneakily stole it. I'd really been hoping to find one thinking, "Wouldn't it be so cool and utilitarian to have one for shoots? So 'journalist-y'! This will definitely up my street cred!" Wow, I sound so professional.

I don't know about you guys but just one new accessory can suddenly make my go-to outfits seem brand new. This one makes everything look decidedly less fussy and more...bad ass. Much cheaper than buying a whole new wardrobe. Magic!

B wears Forever 21 blue toggle coat, Promod striped dress (worn as shirt), Promod camel suede skirt and Nine West flats.

Outfits: Ciudad Real

2011-01-15T09:00:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A wishes that the Large Hadron Collider would tear a whole in space and allow time travel, if only to see what Manila was like back when it was a chartered royal city.

I find the title photo so serious-indie-film-maker-gangs-of-Tondo-Manila. See the blood red? Ominous, right?

I feel like Atlas in the Garden of Hesperides this week, so I am going to show you photos from November's walk around old Manila. In retrospect, I'm so glad I cut my hair right after—I look like Dora the Explorer!

Best Giordano denims ever! I am very picky about my jeans—no streaky acid washes, true blue please, stretchy enough to climb trees in—so I am glad that I found this pair for only PhP 900.00. My sister just told me they are selling the same style in a darker blue, so I'm off to SM Megamall!

I was pretty surprised to see the Star of David motif on this building on Calle Real. Lovely Art Deco details, but I hadn't known that there was a Jewish presence at all, Intramuros being a predominantly Catholic and insular city.

Morbid bit of information: the intersection of Calle Real and Santa Lucia was the scene of an uprising in the 1920s. A troop of Philippine Constabulary soldiers went on a shooting spree that killed several policemen and the American deputy chief of police in order to revenge the disrespected wife of one of its soldiers. Yes, high-profile legal drama, but it was a very strange feeling to realize that it had all been real. I was reading the case for CRIM 2 just before scribbling this post, and I got the shivery shakes.

Hmmm . . . I'm really enjoying cuffed jeans. What's your flavour?

A wears Giordano denim jeans, white tank from Greenhills, Ichigo shoes, and thrifted coat and bag.

Outfits: Sand and Sea

2011-01-11T09:00:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: No snow but lots of sun and sand at Kawayan Cove over the holidays. A left the law commentaries and headed to the beach for sandcastle wars and a true tan.

Take out your pens and put this on your bucket list: eat a freshly caught seafood lunch on any of the beaches found on 7,107 islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. You can't go wrong with buttered crabs and frozen calamansi shake after a morning's swim in the South China Sea. I keep telling all my relatives and friends: that no country can compare with the natural wonders of the Philippines—the white sand of Boracay, the underground rivers of Palawan, the roaring surf of Siargao—22,529 miles of swim-worthy coastlines.

Sorry for the geography lesson, but I always get patriotic after a trip to the beach. I love travelling for two or three hours across rice fields and mango orchards, over jungle-covered mountains, until I see the pale blue outline of the sea rising above the near horizon. Then to get out of the car and have my first breath of sea-salty air . . . glorious.

My cousin Albi came over from Switzerland for his yearly tan with his girlfriend (you're awesome, Mirella!) so my brother and sister and I jumped at the chance to go with them to Kawayan Cove. Isn't it ironic that, for a blog called A Plus B in the Sea, we don't go a mile near the ocean until after six months?

It was so much fun! We half buried ourselves in the powdery sand to get an all-natural exfoliation and raced against the tide to build elaborate sand structures. Found it funny how most Filipinos (I mean, you Tiff and Vinz!) were slathering on gloopy sunblock while Mirella and Albi were aiming for that golden glow Caucasians pay big bucks for. Autres temps autres moeurs with a spatial twist. :P

The high-brow literature I brought remained unread (so did the non-fiction on probabilities). Got distracted by beach volleyball, a game that I am not as bad at as I was in grade school P.E., and floating on the waves, rather like a corpse as my little brother pointed out.

Anyway, back at school and studying much, much more than I used to. But it's all good, as I've got the high street sales to look forward to at the end of January and the return of another cousin bearing gifts (my Dooney & Bourke bag! At last!). I'll end with this: if any of you decide to pop into the Philippines I will take you to the best beaches and a secret market for pearls. Promise!

A wears striped Zara jersey dress, Sock and Sole Co. boater hat, Debenhams swimsuit, Forever 21 sunglasses, and Aldo sandals.

Outfits: The Apartment

2011-01-07T22:10:00.003+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B and siblings have a low key night with cousins at possibly the coolest bachelor pad ever.

Whenever my sister visits from Australia, we make sure to set aside one night to get together with a few cousins. Since everyone is getting so darn old and lazy we opted to chill out in Miguel's little apartment. It turned out to be the coziest, quirkiest place!

It definitely made me wish I had piles of money to put aside for my own place. He has interesting books, funky furniture and vintage cameras and toys scattered all over. And a fridge stocked full of Korean ice-cream. I was barely paying attention to the Monopoly game because I was so busy filming things. (Much to their frustration) If you guys are fans of stores like Vintage Pop in Cubao X-be sure to check out the video I made. His apartment could put that store to shame!

Cousins Night from Bea Bermundo on Vimeo.

The song is by Reverie Sound Revue!

B wears Greenhills Tiangge floral dress, Mango denim jacket and black tights

Looking Back: Christmas Countdown

2010-12-30T09:00:00.005+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Halfway between Christmas and New Year, we just want to wish you a happy, happy holiday and good 2011 thriftin'. Check out our sponsored item: nightstands.

Hope you've all had a fantastic Christmas (I did) and most items on your wish lists ended up underneath your Christmas trees (mine did!) and that you have a firework-filled but completely accident-free New Year!

Here's a quick look at how I spent my Christmas eve. No photos of gifts and the delectable spread of food during Noche Buena alas. I was too busy jumping for joy upon seeing my new blue suede pumps and stuffing my face with ensaymada, Chinese ham, and steaming cups of hot chocolate.

My cousin and I messed about with the camera before midnight mass at our neighbourhood church. Mortifying but funny story: in the middle of the Homily I realised that I wore my dress back to front! My auntie couldn't stop giggling!

Parols, star-shaped paper lanterns, glowing golden and oh so beautiful.

And here we have the most prettily wrapped present winner as well as a photo that was part of my mother's handmade Christmas gift (a collage courtesy of my younger siblings) . . .

Ah, little brother, karma. :D

A wears red sneakers, thrifted belt, and a Zara smock.

Outfits: Palawan Polka Dots

2010-12-27T20:30:00.006+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B has been dreaming of a white (sand) christmas. Actually Christmas is over but B's wish came true as she and her family are currently in a dreamy resort in El Nido, Palawan.

The lounge chair I'm sitting on right now is rocking back and forth. At least that's what it feels like. I always get so excited to hit the beach only to remember how easily I get sea sick. We took a bangka to a small lagoon today and I was suffering the whole time. I could feel my buffet lunch start to rise in my throat...

We were given 30 minutes to snorkel but I swam straight for the shore. I was whimpering, 'land! land!' and lying face first in the sand. So pathetic. But I felt much better once we entered the lagoon. It was seriously clear blue water and crazy rock formations all around. We entered through a tiny crack in the wall.

My poor brother was the only one rowing since I was busy taking videos. And since I've been neglecting the blog so badly, I realized I could do an 'outfit post' with my retro one piece. Guess who had to take pictures of me then...

I have a big secret about this swimsuit. It's actually thrifted. I bet a lot of you are giving me 'icky face' through your computer screens. (Back at you!) Well, I was feeling pretty iffy about it at first but found the design and price too irresistible. And it was just my size? Couldn't pass it up!

I seriously researched how to sanitize it properly and all that before wearing it though. Now it is my favorite swimsuit and I'm still alive. So I guess thrifting swimsuits isn't so scary after all-though I don't plan on making a habit of it.

There are a lot more pretty spots in Palawan and I plan on stocking up on shoots here. Everyone naps during the afternoon so I will roam around with my tripod then.

I must warn you that the clothes I packed are terribly boring. I have no idea how to dress for the beach. I am pretty envious of the girls walking around with golden tans, mermaid waves and breezy dresses. See my scraggly hair in photo above. Here's hoping the location makes up for my corny clothes!

B wears Triumph polka-dot swimsuit.

Outfits: Little Tokyo

2010-12-16T17:43:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A announces the winner of the Ichigo contest and pretends to be her Japan-mad sisters in a suitably Asian setting.

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

He chortled in his joy.

So did I, for today marks the beginning of the long holiday and Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky just about catches my mood. Vorpal sword vanquishing manxome foes and all. Ah Legal Theory, many an hour I've stood in uffish thought, and shan't have to hear about Abstraction and Positive for two whole weeks. Oh, beamish girl am I.

Funny how on vacations, when I'm supposed to lie back and relax, I end up cramming my schedule with Christmas parties and beach trips and shopping expeditions, leaving me with almost no time with a good book or a cup of spiced chai tea.

Note to self: remember to Do Nothing.

Those were the last of the Little Tokyo photos. I'm probably going to drop by soon for a bowl of vinegar rice topped with buttery, gigantic, sunset orange fish roe. Sounds slimy but tastes like heaven on earth. Then there are all sorts of yakitori on barbecue sticks to choose from. Yum yum.

Which brings me to the Ichigo giveaway winner! Ichigo means 'strawberry' in Japanese and we hope you'll find the bag berry delicious, Ava of Artsyfartsyava (LOL. Bad pun!). B and I love how spot on her collage was. The use of little cameras and postcards was very much in the theme of Vintage Voyages. We'll contact you soon, Ava! Congratulations!

Every time I see these pictures I burst out laughing because the little Japanese school girl outfit is so not me. Someone said, "You look so Asian!" That's because I am Asian. ;P

A wears a Dorothy Perkins top, Zara skirt, thrifted belt, Ichigo shoes, SM department store boater hat, and an Ichigo bag.

Giveaway: Ichigo and Intramuros

2010-12-12T16:24:00.009+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A, B and Ichigo spread the love with a Christmas give-away! Join below and see a short video of the girls' trespassing adventures in Intramuros. Shh...

Did you guys think that we would be the only ones to partake in Ichigo escapades? Of course not! The super generous Ms. Charlene Yap also gave us a swag bag to use for a contest. This super roomy and versatile Heddy Bag!

To join, all you have to do is:

1. Visit the Ichigo website

2. Pick the item you like best from their shop

3. Leave a comment below creatively presenting how you would style it

Feel free to use Polyvore or make your own little collage using 'mad Photoshop skillz'! Just make sure to link us to your creation. You could even write a little blurb if that's more of your thing. We don't discriminate! In keeping with the Vintage Voyages theme, be imaginative with where you would use the item.

We'll choose our favorite and announce the winner by December 16 2010. If you don't have a blog, make sure to leave a way for us to contact you. This one is open to Filipino readers only.

Anyway here is a short video we made while exploring Casa Manila in Intramuros. We were sneaking around the premises and suddenly stumbled into an empty room. Huzzah! Of course, we had to take full advantage and trespass.

Casa Manila from A B Sea on Vimeo.
In case it isn't obvious, Bea is better with the camera and Arianne is better with the acting. It is apparent in B's awkward twirling and A's lopsided shots. Oh well, learning process...

Outfits: Dream City

2010-12-08T00:33:00.007+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Just a chill day in the park -literally and figuratively. The temperatures are dropping in Manila and B is quick to take advantage of the cold weather with some light layers.

The biggest thing I have to share right now is that I have started work. I am proudly interning for the show: Storyline. It is an absolute dream of a job. I mean, let's be honest. The hours are a bit crazy, the office is nothing fancy and I am getting ZERO pay but I have never been so happy in my life.

Strangely though, my interview was just dismal. I was an awkward fumbling, bumbling mess! I showed up in my most put together business attire to find everyone else dressed in their comfiest clothes. I am talking loose silk blouses, jeans and bad ass riding boots. I felt like a total nerd. I acted like a total nerd. Why did they hire me again?

I cringe to remember how I clumsily dropped my bag, resume and glasses on the floor in the middle of my interview. Seriously, if I was a bully I would have punched my nerdy face in. But in spite of all that, I heard the magic words: 'You start today.'

I could barely believe my luck. The past few days have been a whirlwind of crash courses in editing programs, memorizing technical terms and even playing project manager at a shoot today! I come from a purely academic background so all these things that go into production are still a mystery to me. But I love learning about them and am determined to catch up fast.

I am at work from 10 am to around 11 pm on most days but I have never felt more energized. The people are just so inspiring and I strongly believe in what the show is trying to do. I love the Philippines, I love Filipinos and it's always been my dream to be able to contribute in some way. I love how the crew of Storyline allows people to show their strength and spirit through their stories. I couldn't be more grateful to be a part of something like that.

Enough gushing. On to the outfit! That's why you guys are here right? (I am only half joking.) I was pleased to realize that almost everything here is thrifted. I've been wanting to inject some tough military green in my wardrobe so when I saw this cardigan I snatched it up. The skirt, on the other hand, has been worn many times before.

Berets usually look stupid on me but it seems to work with this outfit. I felt all art student-ey. And luckily, the nights in Manila are so wonderfully chilly now. This outfit was actually appropriate for the weather! Yeah!

I am thinking I will post some of my 'work' outfits next time. I am adamantly trying to redeem myself and erase my initial 'nerd' impression from their minds. Inception...

*The title is a song from Free Energy. They are my obsession. Give them a listen!

B wears cardigan, belt, skirt and oxfords from ukay-ukay, Greenhills tiangge tanktop and Dorothy Perkins beret.

Outfits: Adios y Gracias, Manila Vieja

2010-12-04T09:35:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Here's an ending to A and B's Vintage Voyages series courtesy of Ichigo. Happy, of course. A's excited for the holiday season!

I absolutely love old houses, so it's a pity that this courtyard is the last we'll see of Casa Manila for a while. Most people my age are holding out for a slick, shiny flat with lots of steel and a fantastic view of the metropolis' skyscrapers. Me, I want a well-lived in house with high ceilings, climbing vines, and trees. Lots of trees.

When my eyes are red-rimmed from reading my Civil Code commentaries, I think about the future Casa Arnique with its colonial-style pearly capiz windows, narra cupboards, cushy floral sofas, and lots and lots of tea cups.

I wore this Forever 21 dress three times in ten days. Scanning the racks for a cousin's birthday gift, I spotted its blue and red flowers and fell in love. Dame Fortune foretold our meeting—it was the last piece in the store!

Forever 21 isn't exactly famous for durability though, so I'm very, very careful when I launder the dress. Here's to its loveliness lasting forever.

I borrowed the trench coat from my sister's closet, and I don't think I'm ever returning it! Though a trifle over-sized, it's lightweight enough for sightseeing tours and December rain showers. At PhP 150.00 or USD 3.50 it was a steal.

A wears floral dress from Forever 21, tan saddle shoes from Ichigo, thrifted khaki trench coat and belt, bucket bag from Ichigo, and felt fez from Bangkok.

Outfits: Tokyo Police

2010-11-30T00:02:00.000+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Make that Tokyo fashion police! A and B (with Tinay) should definitely have been caught for their silly shenanigans around Little Tokyo. Random: some kitchen bar stools from CSN?

We hope everyone isn't quite sick of our shameless plugging of Ichigo. We can't help it-we sincerely love their stuff and honestly, we are tough cookies to please. It's just nice to see a brand with a clear vision. Each collection is filled with classic styles of shoes and bags with the quirkiest designs.

Anyway we tried our best to keep things interesting by continuing to spotlight fun places around Manila as well. Little Tokyo seemed pretty fitting since the shop takes it's name from the word strawberry in Japanese!

Little Tokyo has a little something for everyone.

For Arianne, the more adventurous food tripper, it hits the spot for authentic Japanese eats. Included are yummy ice cream bars -lifesavers during a sweltering hot shoot!

For Bea, it was the perfect place to chill out for evening drinks. Just imagine chatting the evening away underneath the glow of the red lanterns and ensconced in the cozy garden square.

And now for some completely unnecessary umbrella silliness! Let it be known that the square was empty around this time so we were very comfortable making fools of ourselves.

B's expression in the bottom left photo says: You want me to do what??

To indulge photographer Tinay, she proceeded to pose like a twee little statue.

B channels Alexa Chung with a slick striped tunic and preppy socks, satchel and shoes. The 3d glasses are a random prop which luckily went well with this restaurant sign. Sigh! This post is kind of all over the place but so were we that day. It perfectly captures the imperfect chaos which was the photo shoot.

Arianne's outfit was much more Tokyo-riffic! The pop of red stood out from the otherwise oriental surroundings. It was taken from her mom's enviable collection of blazers!

Lastly, a shot of our photographer Tinay-looking all kawaii while munching on an ice cream bar! They were 70 bucks a pop but we just had to try one out. They had so many crazy flavors-including one filled with Hershey's chocolate!

A wears Zara red blazer, red bow from Simple Joys, Ichigo Gabby gray boots/B wears Zara striped tunic, Greenhills tiangge thigh high socks, Ichigo Willow loafers and umbrella from Babo

Outfits: Gray Suede Shoes

2010-11-26T17:07:00.006+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B shares a few lasts: the last of her Intramuros outfits and her last post as a 22 year old. Another installment in the Vintage Voyage series courtesy of Ichigo.

So it's my birthday this weekend and while I considered going out to Makati for a busy city night, I ended up opting for a cozy Italian dinner and cheap beer with my closest friends instead. The place we're going to is pretty low key and so I don't think I'll be dressing up. I figured if I wasn't going to get fancy in real life then at least I could do so on the internet!

Here is the debut of my annual holiday dress. I bought it two years ago and it sits pretty in my closet most of the time but when the holidays roll around it gets so much wear-it's ridiculous. I think I've worn it for Christmas twice in a row and even a consequent New Year. But I have good times and feel like magic in this dress. Why mess with a good thing?

The ring is a bird which perches on your finger and has an uncanny ability to poke an eye out.

Since this day only comes around once a year, I tried to prolong it into a weekend-long celebration. A dinner with my family at our favorite restaurant tonight (pricey so we only go on special occasions) then ringing in my birthday at midnight with friends tomorrow. Sunday is my actual birthday but I didn't plan for that. I'll probably end up spending time with myself. I remember last year I sat at my favorite Mexican restaurant, sipping a Corona and reading a book. It was awesome.

I try not to expect too much on my birthday (or Christmas or New Year or Valentines either - I know, what a grouch!). I guess I just have this weird mentality that there is so much pressure to have an uber special day. Well, some of my most special days happen randomly so I try to treat the holidays just like any other. But knowing the wonderful people I'll be seeing this weekend, I'm sure things will be just fine. :)

I was scribbling a list of things I'd accomplished at 22 and was pretty surprised with what came out. I didn't know any of those things were going to happen. Seeing it all on paper made me see I've been going down a good path. I have no idea what 23 will be like but I am pretty psyched for it.

Bring it on, 23!

PS. If you guys liked any of the stuff we've featured, go visit Ichigo's website because all the new stuff is up already! If I get any birthday money I would probably blow it on this ostrich clutch. How classy!

B wears Topshop dress, Ichigo shoes and bag, Bangkok ring.

Inspiration: Wildfox Wild-Dino

2010-11-23T17:41:00.003+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Busy day in Manila but A always has room for dinosaur print bags, chocolate cake, great music, and an absolutely witchy-wonderful A/W collection by Wildfox.

I am a huge America's Next Top Model fan. Yes, I'm ditzy and proud of it. I love the CRAZY things that Tyra Banks makes all those poor girls do and how every season (cycle!) there's at least one chick who goes into the confessional, saying in a snotty tone, "I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to win." She never does.

It's called karma, baby.

Though this season (High Fashion! Vogue Italia! Tyra's directorial debut using Windows Movie Maker!) is the most boring one yet, with none of the contenders showing much "personality" and the most common prop seems to be a male model than the usual slithery deep-sea creature, it is worth watching for one reason: Francesco Carrazzoni.

The photographer out-hots Nigel Barker, and every Italian-accented word that comes out of his mouth becomes gospel truth. True story.

So you're probably wondering what I'm doing talking about America's Next Top Model. Well, nice girls always come last on reality TV except for that one season where the top two contestants were the cutest, most grounded girls ever. Laura wore clothes her grandmother made to judges' panel and she had the sweetest southern drawl I ever heard, while Nicole was an artist and F1 fan (me too!) who was the high school outcast. They never backstabbed other models in Tyra's puppet house! I was so sad that one of them had to lose.

Nicole Fox shines in Wildfox Couture's autumn lookbook, which is just magical. The L.A. company set their 90s grunge-inspired shoot in a shabby chic house right out of Martha Stewart Living, and I think the style dichotomy is absolutely brilliant. I love the statement tees with schoolgirl plaid and floral details. Wildfox is a bit too urban for me, but its designs inspire me to get out of my comfort zone and out of the box!

Wildfox's story:

These are the kind of girls who hang dream catchers above their beds, who eat pomegranates and read old history books for fun. These are the kind of girls who take pictures of their hands with disposable cameras and wallpaper their bathrooms with pretty roses. These girls sketch eyes and mouths and little drawings all over things, look you right in the eye and almost through you when you speak to them.

I can identify.

Isn't Nicole Fox's red hair absolutely amazing? Seriously, the girl belongs in a Pre-Raphaelite painting.

Last Saturday, my friends Tet and Bo tagged along with me to the Brown Bag Market at the Collective in the gentrified part of Makati. I attended a forum on eco-fashion, which introduced sustainable clothes and organic make-up. The sponsor I was most looking forward to hearing from was Envirosax. I cannot live without their reusable bags. I take 'em with me to the beach, shops, and thrifting because they are so easy to roll-up and pop into a purse.

Here's a shot of my new Envirosax from its kids series. Other girls got flowers and paisley prints. Me, I got dinosaurs. Blame it on The Land Before Time. ;P

RAWR.

I leave you with this genius Tommy Hilfiger ad featuring one of my favourite sing-along-jump-around bands, Locksley. Enjoy Night of the Blue Blazer, we all need a night like it.

If you want to receive blog updates via Twitter, you can add me @tfarnique! :D

Outfits: Manila Pop

2010-11-20T23:24:00.003+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: As promised, A gives the low down on Casa Manila in this fourth installment of Vintage Voyages courtesy of Ichigo.

I look like a bloody K-Pop hipster, don't I? It was the over-sized black coke-bottle frames that turned me from a steady Manileña student to something out of B's Japanese magazines. After a couple of horse carriage drivers hollered at me in Korean I ditched the glasses and moved on.

Casa Manila is a faithful reconstruction of a 19th century colonial house. It was commissioned by First Lady Imelda Marcos, she of the thousand shoes, so that we could have a glimpse of the day-to-day life of a family belonging to Manila's upper ten hundred. B and I were lead up and down four floors by museum guides dressed as soldiers of the guardia de civil. It was a little odd because they would stand directly behind us, as if making sure we were properly soaking in all that history.

Me, I liked the details found throughout the plaza complex best. Witness a goddess of grace as a door knocker and some Art Deco floor tiles. To interest young children and the males of our species, there are some creepy hallways and a set of rooms that screamed DUNGEON.

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures of the house, a rule I completely cannot understand. I think that Filipinos outside Luzon should be able to see the lace canopies above the beds and the indoor ovens mimicking those used by our forefathers. An in-depth look at our cultural heritage should be FREE and easily accessible, dang it. No one's going to visit Casa Manila, if travel writers can't show all the lovely things that are worth seeing.

Guard: Sorry, ma'am, you can't take pictures without a permit.

B: But it's just for a blog, a hobby!

Guard: Rules are rules. And we noticed your costume changes.

A: But we're harmless little schoolgirls!

Guard: Sorry, but no dice.

A: Curses!

Manila needs more blogger-friendly tourist spots. Honestly.

EDIT: My friend Feanne was kind enough to send me a link to her indoor photos. She got a student permit. Smart, Inna-Mao!

The cream blouse is currently my favourite top. The sleeves are almost Edwardian and the black bows go with just about anything in my closet. I love how thin and silky the fabric is, perfect for hot and humid Manila weather, and the price—PhP 75.00 or a dollar-fifty. Score!

Boots are not a wardrobe staple, so I am glad that Ichigo gave me the chance to try a gray suede pair that I otherwise wouldn't have had the guts to wear. Verdict: magically transforms a sugar-sweet or preppy outfit into something a little more urban, though it needs a thicker sole for longer city walks. Still, at PhP 850.00 an absolute steal.

In other news, has anyone seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yet? My sisters are raving about it, but I have avoided anything Rowling after I read that disastrous epilogue (not the entire seventh book, of course, I was just checking to see if there would be a Happily Ever After) and realized that she had, with a violent certainty, killed all my hopes of a Draco/Ginny ending.

Seriously, can you believe Draco Malfoy would ever, ever have a receding hairline? I can't.

I did like the fifth movie a lot though. I absolutely adored Luna Lovegood and the actress who played her, especially after I heard Evanna Lynch made the radish earrings and much of Luna's clothes herself. I should totally do an inspiration post on Luna someday. :)

¡Hasta luego!

Casa Manila is located General Luna Street, Intramuros, opposite San Agustin Church. It is open 0900 to 1800 from Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance fee is PhP 75.00 and no photographs may be taken inside the museum.

A wears thrifted blouse with black bows and polka dot skirt, straw hat from Shanghai, and bucket bag and shoes from Ichigo.

Outifts: Red Lantern District

2010-11-17T12:55:00.006+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A and B visit the land of sushi and sake! A continuation of the Vintage Voyages courtesy of Ichigo, the girls take a stroll down the red lantern district.

I toyed with a lot of titles for this post (Domo Arigato, Mr. Tokyo?) but I was pretty sure that my misuse of japanese phrases would backfire on me. Anyway I've always wanted to visit Japan. As proof I have piles of japanese fashion magazines, an insatiable appetite for sashimi and a golden Maneki Neko waving at me from my shelf.

Alas budgets are limited and a quick trip to Little Tokyo in Makati is my most feasible option right now. So off Arianne and I went with my good friend Tinay as a welcome edition to the team. She wanted to try out her new SLR and Arianne and I wanted a human tripod. Perfect Match! (Kidding, Tinay!)

I've been feeling very stuck in a style rut lately. There's so much evolution going on in my life and I felt like changing things up in the wardrobe department as well. After watching Lords of Dogtown and City of God (seriously excellent movie), I got so inspired by 70's street style. I found myself craving all things tough and free spirited to embody everything I've been feeling inside.

So I took a big leap out of my comfort zone and tried on a maxi skirt (I hate that word like others hate jeggings). A length I've been trying to avoid since I thought it only looked graceful on people with long lithe figures. At first, I felt weird but now I'm kind of addicted to how dramatic it looks.

This picture cracks me up because I think I look every bit the stoic Japanese man. (If you're wondering what's going on with the hand, I'm impersonating a money cat) The fedora was definitely an influence from Jay Adams. I'd never seen the fedora done right (mostly douchey hipsters) until that movie. It has a small bow on the side to keep it a little feminine (also to keep my brother from borrowing it). I warned my friends that it would probably be glued to my head for weeks.

Don't be surprised if you see me sporting plaid and bandanas in the future too. Trust me to watch a movie like Lords of Dogtown and get incredibly inspired by the clothes. I'm not a total poser though, I promise. I used to own a skateboard and got a couple of basics down before I sold it to buy my bike.

Oh and the denim bomber jacket has been with me for five years and always makes me feel super cool. And now super lame for using the phrase 'super cool'...

Naturally, the flowy skirt would be complimented by wooden sandals and Ichigo's wonderful bucket bag. The tassels and long strap added a much needed bohemian element to my outfit. I have honestly been using this bag non-stop. It is perfect for lazy girls like me! It's like a more stylish tote with all the things you can toss in.

Phew! Now I didn't talk much about Little Tokyo at all, did I? I just had so much I wanted to get off my chest about the outfit and my mood right now. But fear not because we have a couple more posts on Little Tokyo coming up! Even one on Tinay, whose outfit I was oogling all day.

Little Tokyo is located at 2277 Pasong Tamo Corner Amorsolo Street Makati.

B wears denim bomber jacket from Mango, thrifted skirt, Greenhills tiangge fedora, Sportgirl sandals and Ichigo bucket bag.

Outfits: Artsy Adventures

2010-11-14T13:17:00.006+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Before attending an art show, A and B snap some quick photos in B's room. The rest of the night was spent analyzing gallery pieces followed by a ritzy dinner of cold cuts and wine. Can anyone say cultured?

I bet we sound pretty darn pretentious right now but reality cannot be further from the truth! Our good friend, Naesa, was kind enough to invite our poor culture deprived souls to her father's exhibit. Now I may be able to appreciate good art but my interpretations are dubious at best.

But fake it 'til you make it, right? So, with our friends, we proceeded to avail of free glasses of wine (my question: Is it classy to ask for several refills? Oops.) and squint our eyes at the pieces in our most intellectual manner.

It was probably hit and miss. Once in awhile someone (Aya) would come up with a 'knowledge bomb' like:

"It's called Mystery in Glass because of that elusive circle in the middle. See how you don't know where it's coming from because it's reflected at every angle..."

And then ruin it with:

"And that one looks like a dolphin!!"

The yummy cold cuts and wine were handled in the same manner.

'Ooh! What's this basket of bread? Is it free? It's free guys! Free!'

See what I mean?

Anyway on to the outfits- something I actually know how to talk about! I was sitting in front of my closet with no idea what to wear until Arianne pulled out this dress. It used to be my sister's and I had always found it too big for me but there's nothing that a good belt can't fix!

I also chose a dainty necklace to go along with the dress' pretty off shoulder ruffles. It is my best find from a vintage jewelry fair in Greenhills. If you look closely- those are little owls!

While I was leaning towards country singer style, Arianne looked every bit the Orla Kiely girl!

It's kind of rare that we have opportunities to get gussied up like this so I figured why not document it. I think my room makes an all right indoor studio with all the random knick knacks lying around. (Better lighting would be great though) Consider it a mini-preview to a room tour. Is that something you guys would be interested in?

And of course, in keeping with our Ichigo theme this month, Arianne added a pop of color to her otherwise noir outfit with these swanky brogues. (Fun fact-there's a difference between brogues and oxfords! I used to be confused.)

I just wanted to take an extra minute to talk about this record I bought in Evangelista street. I just saw it and fell in love with the cover. It's supposed to be a summer soundtrack/mixed tape (mixed record?) of sorts. The first song is California Dreaming which is always a trip to dance to.

A wears Topshop black dress, Bangkok tights, thrifted bag and Ichigo shoes/B wears Supre cream dress, thrifted belt and vintage necklace.

Outfits: Sun, Shine on San Agustin

2010-11-10T17:25:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Part II of Vintage Voyages courtesy of Ichigo—A and B revisit the gargantuan wooden doors of the absolutely peachy San Agustin Church. They pretend it's spring time in light coats and pastels.

The last time we were at San Agustin Church there were a hundred or so schoolgirls in Goldilocks-yellow plaid uniforms and scruffy black Mary Janes. It was a field trip to Intramuros, the ancient walled city founded by Spanish conquistadores, and I was more excited about seeing the Manila aquarium (sharks! jellyfish! seahorses!) than moldering crypts and candle-lit sacristies. Silly girl.

Now San Agustin is painted a cheery peach colour, and a popular place to take photos with an Old World feel. The cobblestone streets and towering white-washed columns remind me of Castillian pueblos, and one almost expects a mustachioed ilustrado to round the corner and doff his top hat in greeting.

I absolutely love these moccasins from Ichigo! They are so soft, wearing them feels like having fluffy pink cotton candy clouds for shoes. I wore 'em down uneven streets and while climbing over Intramuros' many ruins and they didn't pinch one bit. Now I want to buy my own pair to use as travelling shoes, especially with the ribbon detail.

Don't you just love bows?

It's a good thing that I grabbed my sister's trench coat because it rained later in the afternoon and, as Christmas approaches, Manila gets a bit cooler (26 degrees Celsius is coat-weather for us if you can believe!). Also, I think the khaki toned down my über twee outfit, Pac-Man necklace, Dora the Explorer hair and all.

Let me tell you, this floral pillbox is the most photogenic bag ever! B and I hung it on statues, propped it on staircases, lowered it down a well, etc. and it looked fantastic from every angle. It's deceptively small too, and we actually crammed a pocketbook, two headbands, sunglasses, and a point-and-shoot with plenty of space to spare!

The floral pillbox bag on the Chinese lion statute is my favourite photograph because it captures the mish-mash of Filipino culture perfectly—Buddhist guardians of luck and strength posted below Roman Catholic saints—I think Filipinos like to keep all bases covered. Just in case.

You've seen the faux ostrich leather bag before and you'll see it again—it is our bag of choice because of its tassels and brass detail. Definitely classy and durable enough to keep on hand despite our initial qualms about its bucket bag-ness (THIEF BAIT). The tan shade is also easy to match with our wardrobe, which is a Good Thing because I have this horrible tendency to immediately buy other clothes to go with new buys.

Check out the Ichigo store near you for vintage-inspired shoes and bags under PhP 900.00!

A wears Ichigo pink moccassins, polka dot denim sack skirt from Bangkok, white tank from Topshop, thrifted khaki trench coat, bow socks from Greenhills, and Ichigo floral pillbox bag. B wears thrifted floral sundress, Ichigo tan bucket bag, thrifted brown belt, and Ichigo tan loafers.

Haul: Halloween Treats

2010-11-06T17:52:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A visits 12 Baskets Bakeshop for a pre-Halloween tea party courtesy of Anagon before hitting the Greenhills streets for some trick-or-treatin' with a Dodo bird and a pink Rabbit.

Halloween afternoon found me at 12 Baskets Bakeshop where my cousins and I were trying on headbands and floral brooches by the lovely Ana Gonzales and munching on pastries. I was excited to see Anagon's handmade collection that was introduced at the Alice in Wonderland themed tea party . . .

But I was even more excited to meet more Pinay style bloggers! Melai was there in an absolutely beautiful cream and gold brocade jacket and so was Ava (and her super cute son!) and Bianca.

Over cinnamon twist and Spanish bread, we chatted about how the mainstream fashion industry in the Philippines treats bloggers and whether we saw ourselves as journalists or 'simple' hobbyists. Mostly though, we enjoyed the freshly baked treats courtesy of owners Fred and Georgina. The Spanish bread (warm pan de sal with butter and sugar centre) took me back to grade school days when I would have two or three for recess, and the egg tarts had a crumbly sweet crust that I just adored (totally craving one as I write).

From top to bottom: cinnamon twist bread (PhP 20.00), Spanish bread (PhP 5.50), and egg tarts (PhP 30.00)—I went home with a box of six tarts. Yum, egg custard!

Fred and Georgina toured us around 12 Baskets Bakeshop's kitchen (check out our flickr) and told us all about how the bread is made every night from fresh ingredients just in time for people in the nearby villages to pick up pan de sal and ham-and-cheese rolls for breakfast. The name 12 Baskets refers to the biblical story where Jesus multiplies loaves and fishes to feed the crowd and the refuse filled twelve woven baskets.

I had a lot of fun and I think Filipina bloggers should have more get-togethers. Until next time, Anagon? Thanks for the goody bags, my cousins the Cat (dressed as the Dodo bird) and the Rabbit (in drooing pink bunny ears but still draped in clockwork) loved them.

Check out more of Anagon's jewellery and handmade hair accessories at her online shop Anagon.

After the pre-Halloween merienda my cousins and I went trick or treating around Greenhills. I cobbled together a pansy costume—remember the creepy flowers with faces from the Disney Alice in Wonderland? Trippy!—and we went hunting for sweets.

North Greenhills had fishball and hotdog stalls and dirty ice cream (not really dirty but the name comes from the hand-cranked ice cream makers they come out off)! I had queso or ice cream with cheese chunks, cotton candy floss, and fruit ices as well as about a kilo of cookies and chocolate. Let me tell you, I had a difficult time getting into my steampunk costume later that night (no pictures, alas!) but I don't care—Halloween is for happiness and treats, not weight-watching. ;P

12 Baskets Bakeshop can be found at 38 Gen. J. Gutierrez corner Juan Abad Santos Street, Little Baguio, San Juan. They are open from 0600 to 2200 daily and also offer corn coffee from the Sumilao Farmers.

A wears a Topshop dress, Franco Sarto penny loafers, a thrifted belt and bag. Later, she does a Clark Kent into a borrowed net cape, rose wreath, red Ylla flats, and a Forever 21 dress (first ever!)

Outfits: Wish Wish Well

2010-11-03T17:37:00.007+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: To commemorate the beginning of an adventurous november, A and B take a kalesa ride (I wish) to the old city of Intramuros. The first in a series called vintage voyages and a spotlight on Ichigo!

I think any of my friends and family will vouch for me when I say: I am just the pickiest shopper. I have a super power which allows me to glance into a shop and tell in 1.5 seconds whether I will like anything in it. To the chagrin of my mother, I usually spin on my heels and walk away just as she is entering the store. So when I fall for a store, it is a pretty big freaking deal. Ichigo, is one of the local stores Arianne and I have been crushing on...big time!

Luckily, awesome owner/designer, Ms. Charlene Yap, allowed us the opportunity to style some of their pieces! So after a bit of brain storming, (brain drizzling, actually...we're so wiped out from school.) we decided to center the shoots around the idea of holiday travels. We figured why not road test the adorable Ichigo wares for versatility, walkability and photogenic-ness. I think I just invented two out of three words there!

First stop is a destination Arianne has been wanting to shoot at for ages: Intramuros. For the history and culture buffs, you can hold on for Arianne's post. She was smartly collecting brochures and maps while I was poking around for cute stray cats.

As for the outfit, you guys have seen it before. Which is why I was extra grateful for funky new shoes to style. I've been in a style rut lately, you see. When I first saw the gray brogues I was feeling pretty iffy. They seemed too dandy and cool for me. But I must say I ended up loving the way they pulled my look together. Such a smart looking travel shoe!

This is also my first encounter with a bucket bag. I've mentioned I'm not a big bag person but I think I can definitely move up to medium bags. This one is so easy, it's crazy. Literally, like tossing your junk into a stylish and sturdy bucket. You guys will definitely see more of the ostrich like details on this bag in the future.

Here's a neat rainbow well located in one of the nooks and crannies of Casa Manila. Do you like how cheerful I look as I am about to tumble into it? I kid, I kid!

Even though I was really grumpy this morning (7am!), I'm glad I made the extra effort to grab my video camera. I have some more fun little videos in the works! I was searching for music for the videos and discovered a new (to me) band today and have been obsessively listening to them. Anyone else listen to Free Energy? These guys are so good, I want to cry.

Lastly, halloween was awesome. I didn't take much photos but you can bet I dressed up! I was Maverick from Top Gun. Volleyball scene, anyone?

B wears silk slip and floral skort from ukay, Arianne's Dooney and Bourke bag and gray brogues and bucket bag from Ichigo.

Outfits: Scholarly Safari

2010-10-29T20:13:00.001+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: Their favourite holiday of the year, Halloween, is coming soon, so A and B are busy getting their costumes ready. A shows off her new penny loafers and invites you to check out our sponsor CSNstores and their neat-o bedroom furniture sets.

As soon as I finished my CONSTI exam and slept for fifteen hours straight, I dragged my aunt and uncle and the Cat to a warehouse by Manila Bay where Citibank was hosting a huge brand sale. It was mind boggling to see ladies grabbing clothes left and right while their husbands or boyfriends looked frantically trapped as they held at least half a dozen plastic bags filled with shopping, but retail therapy is always fun. I bought two pairs of shoes and stopped my auntie from buying a pair of Tod's that were beautiful but also too big for her. Success!

I was torn between these lovely penny loafers and an equally lovely pair of riding boots. Though I did very much want the boots so I could pretend to be an archaeologist/adventurer like the O'Connells from The Mummy, practicality won out and I got the penny loafers, which I can wear to school and with dresses. The buy certainly made up for my losing out on the Zara moccassins a few weeks back.

B and I were at the ossuary where her grandparents are interred. We were planning to shoot creepy black and white ghostly photos but were foiled by the heavy construction going on in preparation for All Saints' Day. Still, B thought these test shots were nice enough to show off and very safari, so I suppose my desire to be an archaeologist/adventurer can be fulfilled sans boots after all. All I need now is a pith helmet! Anyone have an idea where I can get one?

A wears Surplus Store khaki shorts, mother's black ALDO belt, cream shirt from Bangkok market, a ribbon from B's dress, a thrifted black polkadot jacket, a thrifted bag, and Franco Sarto penny loafers.

Merry Manila Meriendas: The Peninsula Lobby

2010-10-25T20:15:00.002+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: A and B celebrate the end of the semester with a posh, very bongga afternoon tea at the Manila Peninsula, which also marks the beginning of a new A Plus B in the Sea-ries—Merry Manila Meriendas.

When I was in preschool my grandmother would reward very good behaviour with tea at Manila Peninsula's Gallery, a sofa-filled balcony with gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows. I remember hot crumpets and violin quartets on a lazy, sunny afternoon. My three-year old self absolutely loved it, and to this day I'm stuck with what my uncle calls the 'Champagne taste, beer budget' dilemma.

So, after a really bad and equally long semester in law school, I decided to take out the piggy bank and splurge on a fancy afternoon tea buffet at the Peninsula's lobby (unfortunately, they closed non-guest access to the Gallery, which I could see was still draped in sunshine and dust motes). B and I discovered an obsessive predilection for scones last summer, but now I think we'll be glad never to see a raisin scone again, so stuffed were we with scones and cheese and fruit and savoury tarts and gallons of tea.

We walked into the gilt and ivory columned and carpeted lobby at a quarter past two and were promptly seated next to the buffet. I could see the tiers of sandwiches and pastries, but the maitre d'hotel told us we couldn't start until two-thirty. Ah, delayed gratification . . .

He did get us our personal tea pots though. I chose darjeeling while Bea picked a lovely Japanese green tea. We oohed and aahed over the silver tea strainers and the cheerfully patterned china.

B and I hadn't seen each other for a month, so we were chattering like magpies until the maitre d'hotel gently reminded us that they were ready to serve us the lamb and celery pita pinwheels and chocolate and almond pudding. With that, we began a two-hour foray into lemon curd topped scones, goat cheese crackers, freshly made ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, and mushroom and cheddar tartlets.

The cheese selection was fantastic, and B in particular kept going back for more and more and more. I myself was partial to the gigantic scones with dollops of 'Devonshire' cream (nothing like the real thing, but all right under lemon curd and strawberry jam).

After awhile we threw in the towel and decided to take a brisk walk in the hope of burning some carbs to make way for more! We listened to the piano player on the second floor play a couple of old-but-good show tunes, while we tried to find a staircase up to the Gallery (but we never did, stupid hotel rules).

Then we went back down for seconds (or is it fifths?) in the form of Rocky Road and strawberry ice cream over steaming chocolate sponge pudding.

It was a lovely afternoon, and I was so glad to spend time with B in order to work out ideas for new photo shoots and A Plus B in the Sea features. We have a lot of interesting things in store, which we hope will make up for the lack of posts in October. Brainstorming + sugar cubes in tea = numnumnum yumminess!

Though a merienda at the Manila Peninsula is way outside the usual student budget, it's worth a visit if only for the people-watching that you can do. We saw a tall, dignified old lady in a neon green knitted coat over a white Grecian smock with gold bangles and pearls draping from every limb. If only we had the guts to ask for her photograph! She was accompanied by a doughty middle-aged man who accosted the waiter and told him all about his life, starting from his own experience waiting tables in high school and ending with enough cash for lunch at the Peninsula everyday.

B managed the shot of another Filipina dowager using the tried and true technique of pretending to take a picture of me, while directing the camera to a person in the background (though generally this trick is used by high school girls snapping shots of their crushes). I love the lady's shades and her powder blue plaid suit!

Eventually B and I couldn't manage another bite for all the tea in China. I was fair bursting with darjeeling and custard tarts. Lesson learned: don't wear a mod shift dress to a buffet, it gets difficult to breathe after an hour or two. So we asked for the bill (adios, dinero!) and smuggled a sugar loaf worth of sugar cubes in my boater hat. Heavenly merienda, it made up for a horrible month of swotting.

Afternoon tea at Manila Peninsula's Lobby is held from 1430 to 1730 everyday. It costs USD 15.50/GBP 10.00/PhP 700.00 for the buffet and USD 8.00/GBP 5.00/PhP 350.00 for a cream tea. No reservations needed.

A wears thrifted pink polka dot shift dress, Zara pumps borrowed from B, black bow necklace, boater hat from Sock & Sole Co., and a Zara sweater borrowed from mother's closet. B wears a thrifted floral sundress, tan clogs from Sportsgirl, and a gold locket.

Outfits: Lulu Letty Love

2010-10-19T18:20:00.007+08:00

SHIP'S LOG: B receives a surprise package in the mail and heads to a meditation area for a peaceful photo shoot.

I can honestly say that if I never win another giveaway again, I will die happy knowing that I at least won Maria's. Maria is a huge inspiration to me- so amazingly creative not to mention incredibly sweet. She has such a distinct style all her own. There are always preppy and outdoorsy (that's a word, right?) elements to her outfits and this has influenced my own style greatly.

Since Arianne is still swamped with law school, the ol' tripod and I have been spending a lot of time together. For this shoot, we went to a meditation area in the Ultra sports complex.

I've been doing a lot of afternoon running at Ultra's oval lately. It's seriously one of my favorite spots in the city. I usually head over there around 2 in the afternoon when it is least busy-thus dodging the after school/ work crowds. It's my thinking time and the breezy, drizzly weather has been so pleasant for it.

It's a relaxing routine of running a couple of laps, sprinting occasionally then sitting high up on the bleachers to watch all of the awesome athletes below. I love watching the soccer teams, track and field runners and pole vaulters all gathered in one area bustling with energy and activity!

I thought I'd also debut the sandals my mom brought back for me from Australia (where my sister lives). It's about time I replaced my old ones and these are so sturdy and comfortable it's unreal. I hope I'm not the only person who has one foot wider than the other! It made me extra appreciative for the adjustable straps down the front. Best.detail.ever.

I thought I'd also share with you guys the big box the wreath came in and the thoughtful card that Maria included in it. The card has an adorable anchor on the back too. I can't wait to use this wreath even more in future posts. Thank you so much, Maria!

B wears thrifted dress and belt, sandals from Sportsgirl and floral wreath from Maria