Right Down Memory Lane

The other day, out of boredom, I decided to fix one of my drawers. Fixing drawers in my room is always an instant trip down memory lane. There are always things that remind me of certain events and memories. Since I rarely fix it, I get to keep even the most random items from the past. HAHA! Well, that's one perk of rarely fixing it. Among other things, I found my collection of photobooth pictures from different birthdays and events. I found myself staring at each one of them, trying to relieve what happened for that particular night. Out of the blue, I'd catch myself smiling from remembering a certain memory like dancing and singing on the dance floor then accidentally stepping on someone's foot with my pointed heels. Be it embarrassing or funny, it's simple reminiscences like that, that makes travelling down our own memory lane so comforting. Imagine if we literally have to walk through it on a gravel road like this! How cool would that be? :)

Pastel colors are so pleasing to the eyes. With the right amount of floral prints, tassel and a loose ribbon to tie the whole look together, I was good to go!

Cover Up - Gift ( For Me) || Tank top - GVP Designs and Collections || Skirt - F&X

Tassel Necklace - Eastwood 

Sunnies - Kenneth Cole || Ring - SM Accesories

I love crossroad signs like this! A trip down my memory lane with definitely have some signs like this! :))

And that concludes all my outfit shots for our Bohol trip! Posting one last blog post about it and I'm done! Now I shall force myself to go to bed early. How's everyone's Saturday? :)

Love, Paola <3

Chocolate Hills

Here's the thing. I'm appreciative but I'm not that vocal. So the day we went to see the Chocolate Hills, I was my usual quiet self, but I tell you, I was blown away. I asked my best friend once before if the Chocolate Hills was beautiful and he said yeah, it was okay. I heard other people say the same thing about it too. I feel like they find it beautiful, but not beautiful enough. But honestly, for me it was breathtaking. How it differs in height and in sizes, how it is placed randomly together, how the trees enveloped the foot of every hill making it look like it's floating from the ground and how it seems like it has no end and go on for miles and miles and miles. I guess we all have a different eye for beauty. But it was beyond beautiful to me. 

And of course, like I said, I define summer as time to wear all the possible colors in the world. For our Bohol trip, I don't think I even packed neutral colors. For this outfit, I stayed with colorful pastels with the girly-est details such as floral prints and ruffles. :)

Inner top - Just G || Polo - Guess 

Floral shorts - Forever 21

The tarsier necklace was given by our tour guide! She each slipped one on us before the tour. I felt like a legit tourist! HAHA!

Vintage Necklace

Bangles - H&M || Floral ring - Forever 21 || Owl ring - Accessorize

Bag - Havaianas 

My Bohol posts are still not yet over so watch out for it! The picture barely do justice for the Chocolate Hills but I hope you find it beautiful as well! We have such beautiful places in our country, I have yet to see them all. So yeah, I guess it really is more fun in the Philippines! :)

Love, Paola <3

Summer Read

A lot of people have been asking me books to read for the summer. If you asked me on the spot, I wouldn't able to give you one right away since there is a jumble of books in my mind ever since I started to be a book worm. I decided to take some time think about it. I spent time staring at my own personal library (I like to call it a library even though it's basically just shelves), remembering every story and every character that comes with the title. So now, I present to you a list of series, authors and books that made it to the top of my list:

Series

We know there's Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games. The fact that these books are turned into movies prove that they are nothing but a great read. But there are also other amazing series out that the movie industry haven't touched yet.

Gallagher Girls Series - Out of all the books I read and all the series I finished, The Gallagher Girls Series still and will probably always be the series closest to my heart.  I've practically read the series five times or even more. It embodies a girl's courage and bravery, a powerful friendship that can withstand anything, a mother's great love for her daughter, one of the best and most kilig love stories ever told and constant adventure. Girls, I tell you, do not pass out on this series.

Prophecy of the Sisters Series - This is the first ever suspense/thriller book I've ever read. The series started out when I was 15 and was still a scaredy-cat. Back then, I wouldn't read it if it was pass 6 pm already. Sometimes I can't help but laugh at my old ways. The series is not scary at all, it is gripping, suspenseful and unpredictable. It's unique story will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning, trust me.

Heist Society Series - With the same author as the Gallagher Girls series, you can't help but notice a similarity between the two. What I like about it is that even though it's an entirely different story, it has the same feel as the Gallagher Girl series - a heroine, a love story, a quest. 

Divergent Trilogy - I originally did not want to read this book because of it's cover. It's not inviting or creative or even girly. But this is the book I'm currently reading. I just started a while ago and I'm almost halfway through. The reason why it made my list even though I haven't finished reading it yet because according to rumors, it is the next Harry Potter-Twilight-Hunger Games. And even though I'm just on chapter 11 out of 39 chapters, I can't help but agree. Something tells me this series is something I won't easily forget.

Authors 

I thought I will never outgrow my love for YA books. Adult books are mostly about realistic and serious love stories. The reason why I love reading books because it's a great escape to reality. But since I have to become an adult eventually, here are three authors that I trust when it comes to adult books.

Nicholas Sparks - I am on a quest of finishing all 16 Nicholas Sparks books. I've finished 11 now. This goes without saying that he is my favorite author. People ask me why I read Nicholas Sparks when all of his books are depressing and most of the characters end up dead.Yes, Nicholas Sparks write tragedies. But more often than not, I see his books as modern and realistic Disney stories wherein after everything that the characters go through, you will see that the miracle of love can bypass and overcome the most sad and tragic circumstances.. even death. There is something comforting with his writing. And no, it is not in all his books that the main characters die. Infact, I've read two wherein no one dies AT ALL.

 Sophie Kinsella - You probably all know her as the writer of Confessions of the Shopaholic. I haven't read that yet though. But the Sophie Kinsella books I suggest is Twenties Girl and The Undomestic Goddess. Sophie Kinsella finds a way to inject magic, adventure and unique happenings in the most common and ordinary events.

Cecelia Ahern - The books I've read from Cecelia Ahern, Love, Rosie and The Book of Tomorrow, are exact opposites. The Book of Tomorrow is a simple story, that's is why I cannot figure out why I cannot stop reading it. It's story has the power to pull and engross its readers. Love, Rosie, on the other hand, is the most candid and distinctive love story I have ever read. It has a heart-tugging ending and it shows you that no matter what happens or no matter how long it takes, in the end, if you're meant to be, you'll always find your way back to each other.

Individual Books 

Here are a few other stand outs: Love, Loss and What I wore by Ilene Beckerman, The Dream Maker's Magic by Sharon Shinn, Le Petite Four by Regina Scott and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.

Back in high school, I'd try top the number of books I've read every summer. But since summer takes an entirely different meaning in college, I didn't get to do it anymore. But this summer, I decided to make my summer reading list:

1. Out of Sight, Out of Time - Ally Carter
2. Divergent - Veronica Roth
3. Circle of Fire - Michelle Zink
4. Elixir - Hilary Duff
5. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
6. My Name is Memory - Ann Brashares
7. I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella
8. The Girl Who Chased the Moon - Sarah Addison Allen
9. Before Ever After - Samantha Sotto
10. The five Nicholas Sparks books I still haven't read

Phew! This is post is long, I spent two hours writing it! Sorry for that. Anyway, I hope the list I shared was enough to get you through summer! Share your summer reading list with me? :)

Love, Paola <3

Sun and Sand

I've never really been a big fan of the beach. Sometimes it confuses me that people say they love to be on the beach during summer because it's really hot. But isn't it hotter on the beach? The sun shines directly on it. Even the water's hotter on the beach! I think it's something I will never understand. HAHA! 

Anyway, Alona Beach was the first ever public beach I've been to. I've only ever heard of public beaches in Nicholas Sparks novel and seen it in summer chick flicks. Yet even though I'm no beach girl, I find it awesome that people can just go there, swim, watch the sunset, have a picnic and take long walks in the sand whenever they feel like it. I therefore conclude that public beaches are cool because they are one of the very few things in life that you can freely take pleasure of! I know it's not much of a revelation or even a realization since it's probably what "public" in public beach is supposed to mean but I find it amazing still. :)

 Beaches are not just the place where you can wear sexy swimsuits and bikinis. It's also place where you can parade short summer dresses, long maxis or beach cover ups in the prettiest colors and prints! 

Dress - F&X

Bracelet from Boracay given by a friend!

Hi Carlitos! The souvenir you gave me was able to see the beaches in Bohol too, not just Bora. :))

 Sunnies - Marks and Spencer

 This necklace was given by my mom which I think came from Boracay too!

Slip on - Havaianas

I'm sure almost everyone's planning to hit the beach this summer! Well, the only thing I'm sure I really like about it is the sunset. It's 10x more beautiful when you see it come down, like it's slowly descending into the ocean's depth and letting the moon take the stage. We didn't get to see the sunset in this beach though. But we did find other treasures!

I wonder where Spongebob is! :))

Well that concludes this beach-y post (no pun intended)! HAHA! How was your Sunday? I'm finally getting to start my legit summer tomorrow! Hope everyone's enjoying theirs. :)

Love, Paola <3

Summer Happiness

AND I'M BACK!!!!! I'm so happy that's it's finally summer vacation! I now have time to finish my incredibly long summer reading list, sleep late, wake up late, meet friends, learn how to drive, do nothing and of course, blog again! I am officially back to the blogging world after a hiatus called our finals week. My family spent Holy week in Bohol. Bohol is such a beautiful place with rich, strongly preserved culture. Since it's that special, I'm making a different blog post about it. But although this post is a week late, I wouldn't want to miss the chance to share my first take on summer outfits for 2012! 

 Yellow always reminds me of happiness. I don't think there's ever a negative emotion or thought you'll be able to attach to the color yellow. Usually, with such a loud and strong color and print for a skirt I'd town it down by pairing it a plain, simple top. But since it's summer, I went all the way by pairing it with an equally bright colored top for full summer effect!

Tank top - F&X || Skirt - H&M

Necklace - Tops 

And since I'm going all the way, I wore the busiest and most striking necklace I have in my closet! :)

Bangles - H&M || Ring - Balikbayan Handicrafts

Hat - Debenhams

To add complete the summer look, I rummaged through our attic for this summer hat. After all, what's summer without a floppy straw hat, right?

 Butterfly ring - Rustan's

 Sunnies - Topshop

Flats - Yosi Samra

Travelling requires lots of walking - from the airport, to arriving in the hotel, to discovering and exploring strange, amazing places. Yosi Samra flats will be your best friend and will happily do it's job of keeping your feet comfy even after all those.  

Like I said, I"m doing a separate blog post for our Bohol trip, all the places we've been to, all the food and all the things we've done but here's just a first glimpse on what has been our paradise for three days!

That's it! First official summer outfit post completed! In the next days, I will be flooding timelines with summer outfits, updates and activities. Some of my friends are still going to take their final exams tomorrow, so good luck everyone! >:D< For the rest that's done already, summer plans, anyone? :)

Love, Paola <3

Paco Park

Shirt - Zara || Leggings - Mango

I know I said I'd be back next week but I just can't resist blogging. Today we did Visita Iglesia but it was a little more special since I got to visit for the first time the church where my parents got married. It's so beautiful!!!!

I promise myself this is where I'm going to get married someday. But that is not anytime soon, to make it clear! HAHA! The place is just perfect. Anyway, keeping this short. We're going to Bohol tomorrow until Sunday! Be back to blogging next week. God bless everyone!

Love, Paola <3

Hi, Hello

Been lacking new post for a week now. This might still go on for another week. Will be back as soon I've finished reading all hand outs, typing papers, solving problems and answering tedious exams. Good luck!

Love, Paola <3