stripes and sands

It's been  officially a week since I've been wearing an office uniform (no, we don't have washday fridays) and I miss wearing my own clothes terribly and I can't take outfit photos, unless I want to have dozens of photographs of me wearing the same shit. I have a bit of OOTD posts queued up so I think now is the time to bring 'em on out.

I know, I know, I still have one more post for my Butuan adventure, plus my other vacations post, but I'm currently trying to prioritize my school work (yep, I will not bring another term to waste!) so I'll get into those later. I have also been active with my Test Kitchen and would very much like to blog about that, but again, it has to wait. And I have my take on Emily Owens MD to do, but I plan to publish that post-mortem (2 more eps to go! Kinda sad but excited.) Anywhoo, enough boring you with my future plans. Onto the outfit!

Dress - some random department store in Australia
Chambray Shirt - Supre
Bag - stall at Cagsawa Ruins
Watch - Timex
Bracelet - gifted
Spiral Ring - Divisoria

candies at clark

Yesterday, I was tasked to go on an off-site plant visit in Clark, Pampanga. I left the office early with five other colleagues to inspected two industrial plants. Personally, I love plant (or site, for that matter) visits because I am amazed with what goes on there. It is just so out of the ordinary and something you just don't see everyday. It's kind of like watching How Do They Do It on NatGeo (or is it Discovery) except it appeals to more senses -- smelling the industrial chemicals, feeling the hot furnace, touching *some* of the work in process. It's amazing, and it's one of the things I love in working in this industry.

Anyhoo, we were done by lunch time, and my colleagues decided to pass by a grocery. We all know that Clark is an air base, a duty free zone and is home to several economic/industrial parks which makes it a melting pot of expats and foreign militia and one can expect exclusively imported and cheaper (duty free, remember) products in their stores. 

My other colleagues spent thousands buying imported canned goods, snacks (Piknik has been scarce in the local grocery) and candies. A lot of the items there were readily available at S&R and selected local groceries, so I didn't really bother to shop. I was originally looking for M&M's Orange (which I first bought at Subic Duty Free several years ago), but I have a feeling it has been discontinued. Plus the Clark Duty Free selection wasn't as extensive as those in Subic. I did however, find two candies that were to my liking. 

Image Source

Image Source

of seasons and sales

This week marks the first week that I am to wear a uniform at work. While all my colleagues were complaining about the poor quality and service of the uniform maker, I was quietly rejoicing not yet having my uniform in proper order so I can wear my own clothes. Because I just recently bought so much. Har.

Many of us know that annually one has to save a substantial amount of money to be used on January and July. One also knows that if one only "HAS TO HAVE" (as opposed to "NEED TO HAVE") an article of clothing, then self control must be practiced until January or July. Why, you ask? Because those months play host to the End of Season Sales of our favorite brands. It is a well known fact that botiques and shops in general follow the western seasons and major line turn over happens at the end of winter and summer. And since January plays host to End of Winter Season sale, racks are filled with darker colored dresses, heavier fabrics and divine outerwear. Not really appropriate for a tropical country, but something we can get away with in the work place.

So during the first weeks of January, as I was going around town scheduling catch up dinners with several friends I couldn't stop myself from checking out stores, mainly my favorites, especially with their large sale banners screaming at me to go in.

to butuan with a backpack (part 4 of 5)

Beach day! Finally, on our fourth day in the CARAGA adventure we would be going to a proper beach at the Britannia Group of Islands. We woke up really early to be on our way as soon as possible. We grabbed a quick breakfast then rode a bus bound for Tandag and we were to alight at Brgy Salvacion in San Agustin. There weren't clear markers for this junction so people going here should stay on your toes and constantly keep watch through the windows. It would also help to tell the bus conductor where you are heading, and make sure other passengers hear this so they can help you as well! Haha.

 

Be alert for these road signs
(top: going towards Tandag, bottom: going back to Barobo)



to butuan with a backpack (part 3 of 5)

Since we arrived late and exhausted from our roadtrip, we decided to give ourselves a late morning.  The weather was gloomy and there was a slight drizzle. We were scheduled to go island hopping today, but we decided to move it to tomorrow, hoping for a sunnier climate. We had breakfast at 0800 at a carinderia in the terminal, after which we walked to the place where we originally intended to bunk for a night. It turned out that Terazza Viktoria was just a five minute walk from the terminal. It was an old house turned into inn so the walls and floors were all made of wood, and even the beds and cabinets in the rooms were antique. My travel buddy wanted to transfer here for reasons unknown, and I gave in since the place was clean and bright (even if the furniture and structure was old, it didn't feel like a haunted house) and nevermind the shared bathroom as it was as clean as can be. We checked out of The Point Inn and brought our stuff to Terazza, then walked back to the terminal to take a bus that would bring us to the very reason why the tickets to Butuan were purchased.



Terraza Viktoria Rates and Driveway



drab duds

So, another break from the Butuan Trip posts -- I know, I know, I shouldn't be this lazy with my travel post -- for an outfit post. Yey! Hahaha.

This was inspired by this outfit, and was chosen partly because I really wanted to wear the top, which was new. I bought it from ABSCBN's bazaar in the World Trade Center for about Php200. I love the material and the sparkle. It can't be seen in the pictures but it is covered in clear sequince making the sparkle subtle enough to be office appropriate.

Execution wasn't as successful though, and I found out that a studded belt cannot equal the pizzaz of a leather jacket. But who the hell can wear a leather jacket in the Philippines? Well actually, the real question is, how appropriate can a leather jacket be in a conservative office?



Top: ABSCBN World Bazaar
Skirt: FandH (so old!)
Cardigan: Landmark
Belt: CMG
Sandals: Charles and Keith

Oh well, better luck to me next time I try to interpret an outfit. How about you, where do you get your style inspirations?

<3, dee

to butuan with a backpack (part 2.5 of 5)

Before I continue to drone on about my CARAGA misadventure, I would like to show you a map of the region, to better appreciate the posts and also to hone your geography knowledge. I swear if I have had this adventures when I was taking HEKASI in gradeschool, I would've aced my exams.



photo lifted from here

Continuing from our tour of Bucas Grande Islands, we arrived back to Revlun Pension by 1600 and wasted no time to change into dry clothes and gather our belongings before walking to the Claver transport terminal. We were supposed to catch a bus bound for Tandag or Mangagoy (in Surigao del Sur) since both can bring us directly to our next destination, Barobo (violet route on the map). When we got to the terminal several locals asked us where we were going (not being stalkers, they were just the dispatchers in the terminal) so in 10minutes, almost everyone at the terminal knew where we were headed. We learned that the last bus to Tandag/Mangagoy usually leaves the terminal by 1500 but they kept our hope by saying saying that there may be vans going that direction. My friend and I agreed that come 1700 and there was still no bus or van, we could just return to Butuan and from there as the locals informed us that buses operate 24 hours a day.

micah madness

I am obsessed. I am obsessed with the show Emily Owens MD and am pissed as hell with the fact that it was cancelled by its network, The CW (who brought us Gossip Girl and 90210) and only has 3 episodes left. Actually, the way things are going, a part of me is fine with it ending soon, just as long as they finish with Emily and Micah together. But I am getting ahead of myself, so let me start from the beginning.

polishes in a package

I interrupt again, my long over due next installment for my Butuan series with some recent events. I'm back on my mindless-purchasing-of-nail-polishes phase again. I saw Essie's Armed and Ready earlier while browsing through my Pinterest feed and was ecstatic when I found it on Zalora. I browsed the other polishes available and saw Zoya's Feifei and quickly pushed the Add to Cart button. So I ordered this and this and checked out before I add more items to my cart. I paid with my credit card, received the confirmation email, etc. You know the drill. My package was set to arrive on January 7, and when I got home from work that day, wouldn't you know, it was there, waiting for me to tear it open and try out the polishes.

Love the box! :)