DIY Project: The Ombre Effect

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The Art of Ukay-Ukay

Shopping without punching a hole on your pocket sounds enticing and definitely music to any shopaholic’s ears. Who wouldn’t grab the chance to buy stuffs without any pressure of overspending. Today, we are not just confined in high-end stores and the mall to shop. We can also enjoy shopping at thrift stores to hunt for great finds. Thrift stores are becoming well received by the public. Even some local celebrities and socialites have expressed their fondness.

Here in the Philippines, we have Ukay-ukay shops, a colloquial term for thrift stores. I think this started in Baguio and then down south. From accessories to garments to foot wear, name it and they might have it all. Merchandise found here are largely pre-owned. It also boasts for housing some designer brands like Prada, Balenciaga among others for a very reasonable cost which almost you can’t say no.

You can catch ukay-ukay shops almost anywhere. It is never easy to rummage inside thrift shops as it will test your patience and determination. At first, I didn’t appreciate these stores because of the amount of stuffs they have are suffocating that it’s barely impossible to move comfortably(mostly). But after some frequent trips, I managed to get used to it and actually enjoyed the experience.

Thrift Tips from the king of Ukay-ukay! Haha

• A notable tip that I can share with you is that you need to have a goal for every shopping trip you make as you might end up purchasing the same stuff all over again or if not you might end up buying stuff because they are just too cheap to make a pass.

• You can bargain with the sales person at the price you want. Try asking for the half of the price and take it from there until you meet halfway.

• I have favorite shops to go to. Some have  a list of customer’s contact numbers and they notify them once they have new goodies. Also, it is wise to get into the shop as soon as you receive their message since this is the perfect opportunity to get hold of good quality and branded items before anybody else will. During their new arrivals, prices are a little expensive(if you have been an avid thrift shopper) but still low-priced compared to mall rates.

• You just need to be meticulous in examining your choices before paying. Some shops do not accept exchanges but seldom do this happen.

• Bring a friend with you whenever you shop. To help you decide or to maybe drag you out of the store when you are overspending! I have my friend/shopping buddies: Tel Mistal, who is in Dubai right now fulfilling her hardcore shopping there(I miss her a lot) and Jinky Bautista, she is widely acquianted with a lot of brands and we go mostly to flea markets(In Apo, Haha). But sometimes friends will push you further to shop more haha.

• These shops also hold SALE! from as much as 500 bucks to as little as 5 pesos! Take the advantage of rummaging during these times for there is almost no reason to feel guilty and if you are into garment deconstruction this is the time to seek your raw materials.

Here are some of the great finds I amassed!

Shopping is addicting. You might need to step back a little if you think you are overspending. You don’t want to be a member of Shopaholics Anonymous, Do you? Luckily, I’m not yet. Haha

You don’t need to spend your hard earned cash on fancy things and there are no excuses for not being IN STYLE because a lot can be done. You need to just bust your *ss and think!

Happy shopping everyone! I will see you around.

Lookbook Love

There are a lot of chic and dapper looks that were put up together by stylistas on LOOKBOOK.nu. Anyone can draw inspiration from these looks. If imitation is a felony, I would have been without a doubt an offender then.

I normally go for clean, dapper looks but of course, I also am a fashion risk taker. Once in a while, I go out of my comfort zone and try to explore options. Since it’s almost summer all year here in the Philippines, I usually go for shorts and shirts for an easy casual look. I also do a lot of layering. But the perfect time to be stylish here is during the rainy months. It is during these times that we can experiment and get some layering going or get those knits out of the closet.

Here are the looks from LOOKBOOK.nu which I can say reflect my style.

Toms Shoes Refurbished

I got my Toms shoes last December 2010 at Nothing But Water in Trinoma(a local mall in Manila). A pair of Toms costs around 3,000 pesos. Mine is a black burlap. Expensive as it is, they have tied up the brand with charity, with ONE FOR ONE movement as their carrying objective. This means that for every pair of shoes bought, another pair goes to poverty-stricken people all over the globe. A good cause.

My worn out Toms.

After almost 2 years, it got worn out and there are peeping holes caused by friction from my smaller toes. It may have served me for the entirety but I can’t let go of my precious pair just yet! And so as I was browsing my Facebook account, I saw a featured post from Toms Facebook page about a blogger redesigning her shoes by covering up the toe part of the shoe. So this instantly got me and there and there I started right away.

In the blog, Under The Sycamore(ashleyannphotography.com) which lit my creativity, Ashley the blogger used fabric glue and used apron as her textile for the cover-up.

Materials
Scrap of cloth
Scissors
Glue or needles and thread

Procedure
1. You just need to measure the entire toe area of the shoe to know how much fabric you need to use.
2. I folded the edges of the scrap of fabric and I sewn it directly on the shoe to prevent the cloth from fraying.
3. Finish it until you have sewn the entire shoe. It was really difficult to sew the shoe since the fabric is quite thick and I’m just hand stitching it. If you think that it’s too hard you may just need to glue it. :)

I have scraps of fabric particularly corduroy and fortunately it’s black! I was contemplating if I will use fabric glue. But since my shoe is made of burlap, I thought that it might not stick too well so I opted for manual stitching. I’ll tell you, it is an immense task to do, although challenging and exciting. I hope you can jazz up yours!

Got a new Do

Yesterday, I decided to change my hair stylist from David’s Salon and try another. My reason is that I am not satisfied with my previous stylist. He’s good but not like before. He’s lazy now. I guess? So I came back to Bench Fix Salon to try my luck. Choosing and letting a new hands on your hair is a difficult decision for me (like it’s super big deal? haha I know) as my hair is not that thick and it is a grueling task to style it.

The inspiration for my look.

My friend told me to try his’ stylist, Mr. Pete. So when I got to Bench Fix at Marquee Mall, I uttered his name and there magic started. I showed him a look that I am rooting for and warned him about my hair. It’s like a soft mohawk look. I asked that if I can still style it with one side and he said yes(worrying that I might look super badass). Okay, I am cold and scared. So I removed my glasses, abolishing the possibility of controlling the situation because I can’t see without them on! There, I entrusted my crowning glory.

I was a little shocked and unreceptive of the new do that he made for me. I think this is a usual feeling. He suggested techniques that I can use to effectively style my hair. Thank you Mr. Pete.

The Duty

I took this photo before I went to work yesterday. When I arrived at the hospital, the shift is smooth sailing until a code was called. Apparently, a patient was having seizures and that started the chaos. So I’m contemplating if it is a bad omen to take pictures before the shift, uhm that’s according to my colleague, Ms. A(The hottest Mom in town) haha. And yes, no more photo session today!

Hoping that tonight will be a blast. No toxic, please? Really excited to go on duty tonight.

Have a great weekend guys. See you around!

Choco pies and choco mallows, why so yummy?

My brother Kris went home yesterday bringing some goodies from work. My brother works as an English Instructor for foreign students. His’ students gave him presents like Korean noodles, chilli paste, and Choco pies! Of course, my eyes popped out once I spotted the pies. I have a sweet tooth and can’t resist these tasty treats. So after dinner, we ate the Choco pies. Bluntly speaking, that was the yummiest, heavenly and daintiest Choco pie I have ever tasted(Honestly). But, I got sad when I woke up today and I checked the box empty(haha).

I also tried another Choco pie (the one with the red box) from Lotte but I think this is the classic version. It also tastes fine but not as much as I have enjoyed the latter. My Korean students before once told me about this and they said that Choco pies are given by Korean girls to their boyfriends who will go on military training. I also googled this and according to Wikipedia it is given to Korean Military soldiers after their first week of training. No wonder they have to give them pies.


Here in the Philippines, we have Fibisco’s Choco Mallows(with the yellow box). This has been my staple answer to my sugary cravings. It is usually packed in a box of 6 and can also be sold in packs of two. This is my favorite Filipino sweet treat. This has been in the market for decades(I don’t have the exact details) and until now it still has a strong following.

Ugh, these sugary indulgence. They make me fat and nonchalant!

Unforced Reading: Fifty Shades Trilogy

My tendencies to literally fathom an idea, a question, a situation or anything is palpable. Maybe because of the word impression. Gray has been my color for years and that is evident through my closet and outfit choices. The different hues of a color can be translated into the various tendencies of a human trait.

Christian Grey, the protagonist in the novel by E.L. James has a dark history of abuse and all sorts of f*ckedupness as described in the book. He unravelled different sides of him and hues of his dark past which haunts him. Anastasia Steele, a fresh graduate from college immediately captured Grey’s cold heart and helped him conquer his inner demons. The immediate impression I had is that it is one of the typical romance-themed novels but what really dumbfounded me is that it is also lined with extreme erotic fancies(which I surprisingly love , haha) and BDSM.

The novel is an easy read. Actually, this is the first book that I have read that was not forced since I graduated College. I don’t read a lot. Mads, one of my best friends acquianted me with this book and I must say, I was hooked up instantly. As a proof, while I am in the rear end of the first book, I immediately rushed to a bookstore and bought the book minutes after I finished it. Voila! Another instance, while I was in the jeep and reading I came across Anna and Christian’s love exchange and I couldn’t hide my glee so I giggled like a child while other passengers are strangely staring at me (thinking that I’m a lunatic, haha). I just can not help myself but laugh.

One of the sweetest emails from Fifty!

What I was really ecstatic about and had a great time with are their email exchanges! It made me swoon like a teenage guy/girl. Whatever.(haha) It is just fun to read and I just do not want it to end. I highly recommend this. Well, not for anyone as this has explicit content. Strict parental control is advised. Happy reading!

PS. I am excited for the movie adaptation.

Anywhere in the World

Beat TV is a daily entertainment show broadcast on ITV2 and in 30 other countries including South Africa, USA, and Italy(According to wikipedia). Everyday I see the commercial plug for the show on ETC(a lifestyle channel in the Philippines), with accompanying feel good vibe song. So as I listen to it everyday, it kind of grew on me already and I am ready to download it. I googled few lines from the song and consulted YouTube.

As part of  Coca-Cola’s Move to the Beat promotional campaign for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the song was produced and recorded

Here is the single by Mark Ronson and Katy B.

For The Love of Shoes

Last year, I saw a shoe from my friend Tel Mistal, she’s a girl. It was a skin tone Oxford flat shoes from Jellybean. It made an instant connection with me. I know myself when I really want something I go get it when I can. So I asked her about it and she told me that she had it replicated at a local cobbler in the city. So I got an idea and I want to have one as well! My eyes sparkled like diamonds. Being kind and I know that she is, she lent me the original shoe from Jellybean to have it as a model for me to clearly translate what I want to the shoemaker. 

Maybe around 3 days after, I went to the shoe store and I had it made. It costed me 1, 200 bucks. Actually, the sales clerk asked for 1,500 but I insisted that my friend had hers for 1,200. They said that it should be done in a week. But unfortunately I have to go back several times as it was raining and according to the sales clerk its hard to dry the shoe. Persistently, I waited and there I got my pair! Happy like a little boy with a new toy.