I realized that since starting this blog, I have not really given credit where credit is due. I love styling, yes, and I am proud to say that I personally plan and put together the outfits that I post every week. But, all my efforts would have been futile if the pictures did not capture what I was trying to convey in the clothes.

So let me introduce you to the man behind the lens. 🙂 My loving boyfriend David Walkins who willingly volunteered to be my photographer each week (after giving him my puppy dog eyes haha). The unique fact though is that he is not a professional photographer nor has he held a camera other than your regular point and shoot digital cams. I just one day shoved a mirrorless DSLR in his hands a week before I launched my blog when before all this fiasco, all he probably held (and still does) professionally are guns and ammo (he served America’s Army, Airborne division). Safe to say, he is a natural (our photoshoots are usually only less than 30 minutes long, can you believe that?) and I could not have been more proud. Week after week he delivers and never complains, in fact, he is now very much involved in my site design. 🙂

To those who are wondering, the camera we use is Fujifilm X-E2 (thanks for the advice Zandra Len).

Onto the more pressing issue.:)

If you can guess the location of this shoot, I am sure you will be as flabbergasted as I am (or was at the time the photos were taken). For who would have thought that there was a little man-made paradise sitting right under my nose during all those times I made a run to TARGET. Yes you read it right, these were taken at a quiet part of Target’s parking lot where still, curious shoppers drove by and craned their necks, donning their what-is-she-doing-in-heels-at-Target look. Well obviously I wasn’t shopping. I could never shop in heels.

For this week’s look, I decided to wear black and white because I wanted to be able to accessorize without overdoing and at the same time, make my accessory colors pop.

I chose to accent the outfit with pink  to show my support to all the women fighting breast cancer. My heart goes out most especially to my Aunt Ruth Maratas who is a hardworking single mom and my dear cousin Donna Escosio who is a caring RN and mother, a lover of both life and clothes much the same as I am. This is for you, Tita Ruth and Ate Donna, I know you guys will stand tall even without heels because you are strong women. 🙂

If heels are not your thing though (it’s not mine 90% of the time), you can wear flats in any color you want (that’s the beauty of wearing black and white).

After this shoot, I did ditch the heels for ballet shoes and made a trip to the outlet stores for my monthly binge. 😀

My make-up, by the way, was made possible through My Maria’s blog (www.bastaigatsikat.com). I thoroughly enjoyed watching her 5-minute make-up challenge.

More fabfinds coming to a post soon……:)

XoXo

Top: Forever21

Leather Pants: Love Culture

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Necklace: SEPA Cebu

Make-up: My Maria (www.bastaigatsikat.com)

Bag: CHANEL

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This month, I have been basking in the glow of people’s achievements (myself included). I am seriously living vicariously through the many friends whom I know culminated their studies, received new licenses, upped their knowledge further through school, and those who just head on followed their dreams (case in point–me and this blog!). On a more sentimental note, the month of May also marks my 2nd year serving JFK’s hall of healing, something I thought could not be achieved on a very challenging unit.:) This is indeed a month of celebrations.

On the subject of celebrations, a friend recently asked me for advice on what to wear on her graduation party. Truth be told, eventhough I secretly dream of becoming a stylist, I have never actually styled someone other than myself (as unbelievable as it sounds). But, if I was a full time PCA (patient care assistant) and worked my way through a Bachelor’s degree in nursing while juggling family, work and studies (yes, I am talking about you Claudia *wink*), I would wear something along this number……

I don’t know what my obsession in lace is but lately when I decide to wear one, I could hear my dad or brother’s teasings in my head…and they are actually right. Lace when worn incorrectly, you could either risk looking like you’re about to sleep or you just yanked a piece of your curtain (for lack of better words to describe my point haha).

This dress however speaks positive volumes. It is saying “Wherever I am now, I worked hard for it” and that reason alone earns you the right to look good and feel good, like you are on top of the world.:)

Simple yet elegant, this dress can be worn for a full day affair. If the heels can no longer support your weight (because that graduation cap got too heavy from representing the knowledge you gained maybe? *wink*), you can easily slip in a gold pair of thong sandals for more comfort and you will still look fab.:)

And I would just like to add that since starting this blog, I have received nothing but positive vibes. No feeling can surpass that of being appreciated for doing something you love no matter how mundane it may seem.

This month definitely deserves celebratory drinks!

To the class of 2014 (including those who pursued their dreams), congratulations!

Go ahead, let us all bask in that glow (even if you are outside an abandoned building LoL) because we deserve it . 🙂

XoXo

Dress: Forever21

Bag: Charlotte Russe

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Bracelet: Aldo

Make-up: My Maria (www.bastaigatsikat.com)

Photography: David Walkins (my forever supportive partner)

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Growing up in a small town, I have always wondered how it was to live in a big city. Yes, I was that small-town girl with big dreams! But I never got the chance to until I reached the ripe age of 27 (carefully worded to make me sound mature *wink*), that was when I was literally uprooted from my home for a job opportunity that I could not say no to.

I remember asking my dad twice to let me study in my country’s capital (that’s Manila, Philippines) and twice I was denied. He thought I was too soft, too fragile.

Yet here I am many moons forward, ricocheting through the hustle and bustle of city life, braving the sometimes shady streets of the South where I’d like to think everything is possible (being mugged included haha). My dad is one proud papa. 🙂

Back then, city to me equaled suits and ties. It still does except now I factor in the scorching heat of the sun (spell 90 degrees) and the salty breeze hence the inspiration for today’s outfit. A mixture of ultra modern and corporate in fresh pastels and light fabrics.

RN by night, urban chick by day. 😉 Not every girl could live in 2 different sleep patterns and morph between 2 lives. I am blessed.

It is only forward from here.

XoXo

Blazer: fabfind from Amazon

Top: Forever21

Shorts: Love Culture

Bag: Balenciaga

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Necklace: SEPA Cebu

Bracelet: Tiffany & Co

Make-up: My Maria (www.bastaigatsikat.com)

My Style Philosophy

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My favorite season is in full swing (as you may have already guessed, yes, it’s spring) and it brought with it the inspiration for today’s outfit: the dynamic colors of flowers in bloom.

The dress was a gift from my very thoughtful best friend Rizza Michelle who is getting hitched this weekend. I found it fitting to wear this  in her honor and make it my creative form of apology for missing her big day. 😉

Worn against the beautiful South Florida backdrop, this dress could not have set the stage better for me as I walked around these exclusive docks (well not so exclusive now that I was able to walk in them LoL). I felt like Marilyn Monroe in a tight corset and a flowy skirt waiting to be escorted to her yacht, looking very fresh and feminine.

And I chose these bright yellow pumps to give the whole outfit another extra flare.

My dainty make up was a mixture of 3 techniques created by the fabulous Mai Velasquez via her equally fabulous blog (www.bastaigatsikat.com)

XoXo

Dress: Topshop

Arm Candy: SEPA Cebu

Watch: Michael Kors

Bag: Fabfind from Burlington

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

My Style Philosophy 

All trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use does not constitute an affiliation of this website with the trademark owners.