Sneaking Out Of My Life

I'm saying goodbye to this sneakers.

Shirt, shorts and sneakers.

Shirt, pants and sneakers.

Sneakers to the market. Sneakers to the mall. Sneakers to the office. Sneakers to the grocery store. Sneakers to church. Sneakers to the beach.

Can you tell that I'm still unwilling to part with it? Uh-oh. This sneakers has been an essential part of my practical fashion life for quite sometime but time has come to let it go. I haven't placed it in the garbage bin though - I still don't have the heart to let it join and hobnob with the rest of our household rubbish. But it will soon go.

Now speaking of rubbish and garbage, my mother has recently collected some moolah from selling plastic, paper and metal scraps. It's actually a hitting-two-birds-with-one-stone strategy. First, you get to clean and dispose of the household rubbish. Second, you get to earn some cash! Now I only wished we could include selling used disposable diapers. With the rate at which my son changes diapers in a day, I'm sure we'd have earned a lot more cash.

Baby On Jeans

If Mama loves to wear jeans, sometimes it follows that the kids will follow their mother’s lead (or the parents lead).

My son has been wearing his since as far back as I can remember. But because jeans (his are not baby phat jeans), are usually too rough on baby skin, I cannot let him wear it as much.

I however found a way to make them softer than they really are. And that is thru a Fabric conditioner. Indeed it is so useful in this department. Soaking it for longer period- I do it usually half a day- will tame the roughness. Sometimes, I also lather and use baby soap to soak the pants.

My Wardrobe Still Screams of Summer

No you read right. It's no longer spring and summer is over. but my wardrobe still speaks of summer -or spring.

We luckily do not have winter 'round here so this lingering summer fashion is not too unusual. And this floral dress here is the latest addition to my humble wardrobe.

I didn't buy this but my sister did. And because it fits me better, she's given it to me *someone is angels singing hallelujiah in the background*

Thank Sis! I so love this dress and yes, *ahem* it does fit me well. I love the detail in the bodice. Love the colors. It's not too clear in the photo but there's gold dust outlining those flowers.

Now, I haven't worn it. But I am planning to wear it soon - my concern now is what footwear would be good to pair it with. I'm thinking of my Gold Prima Crocs to go with it but while I was looking at some footwear -actually they are UGG boots my friend told me about, and we know how it is online - one thing leads to another, I landed on this page that is showing this chestnut sandals.

And I believe- with all my heart, that this sandals is a perfect match of this bodi-licious summer dress. Don't you think so too?

Wearing The Wild, Wild, West

Let’s get adventurous today and try something from the Wild, Wild West. Ready?

A cowboy hat!

One of my fave empire cut blouse.

Skinny!

Yes. So how about getting dolled up with a good pair of jeans, a cool top and a cowgirl hat to match.

I wonder how'd I look on this get-up?

Nice? Not nice? Great? Horrible?

I hope the fashion police will not handcuff me while I sashay down the city streets. That would be a shame because cowboy hats make me feel like I'm one of the beautiful gun-slinging horse-riding women of the movie Bad Girls. :-)

Go Slim

Slim. Slim. Slim. I am not slim but I wear Slim.

Skinny. Skinny. Skinny. I definitely am not skinny now but I wear Skinny.

Jeans.



Here' my favorite pair of jeans to date. This pair fits me like a second skin.

I am loving the fact that skinny jeans are back and that they are dominating the streets these days. I hope it's going to stay in the fashion avenue for long because I've always loved cigarette slim jeans. I always feel sexy with them on- despite being far from it in reality. Lol .

These Skinnies also give me something I so need - height. Oh, well just an illusion of it. I am short (to be blunt) and I could use a little trick in that department - one which skinny jeans readily creates - and I repeat, an illusion of height.

Though I'm far from getting fashion jobs in Los Angeles or anywhere in the world, I also think pairing these slimfit jeans with long tees, trapeze style tops or empire cut blouses makes for a casual and trendy look.

Glam Night

Sorry for the photo quality. I didn't have the orig file to work on.

But as promised, here's my sister wearing this party dress. It always amazes me how good it looks on her - no one would have guessed that this re-engineered dress practically costs us nothing.

To complete her party get-up, she wore a strappy bronze sandals (not shown) and a metallic shoulder bag (also in bronze) that perfectly matched with the lacy bronz-y accents on her dress.

In similar manner, if your dress has gold accents, wearing a gold sandals and carrying a gold handbag makes for a trendy glam look.

It's Now A Party Dress

This was the dress my sister wore to the Oscar's.

Okay, the Oscar's part is not true but truthfully, my sister did wear this to a party. An important company party.

But can you tell that this used to be a knitted sleeveless shirt - and one that is too large for me to wear?

Yes it is. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of it before it was sent to the seamstress and we had it modified, but you've got to take my word that this used to be something other than what it is now. Actually, my sister bought it from a second-hand stall for...guess how much... less than a dollar!

When she paid for the shirt, my sister (with her keen fashion sense has always been creative with her clothings) already had the design in her mind but I helped her with the the concept and the materials to be used for it to look like it does now.

With the help of a sastre neighbor, we had the bodice modified to fit her and then a creamy off-white satin was sewn in for its lining.

We then had few meters of sequined laces to accentuate the neck and the hemlines.

And do you know that with all the reinvention made on the shirt, the total cost of modification plus the fee we paid the seamstress was still so minimal compared to buying a new party dress? Uh-oh. BTW, if I get my sister's permission, I might post her party pic in my next post.

Basic Nail Care

For this week, my subject is the nails and manicures. I am no way an expert of this but I found these tips practical and useful, so I'm sharing them with you.

1) For healthy nails, you may supplement your diet with royal jelly (because it is rich in silica, zinc and vitamin B) that will help strengthen the nails.

2) I didn't think that moisturizing the nailbed and cuticles are really important. Now, I have to think again since I've read that moisturizing nailbed and cuticles make the tips look better. Also, if nails are prone to breakage, putting oil around the cuticle moisturizes nail and reduces chipping, cracking and splitting.

Photo credit

3) Leave cuticles alone (and that's why I really am not so into manicures). The cuticle is a natural barrier to fungus and bacteria. Removing them may lead to infection that harm the nailbed or cause nail damage.

4) Problem with brittle nails? Sun damage may be the reason behind this problem. When you put on sunblock , make sure that you include some for your hands and nails.

5) Always file nails lightly - just enough to shape and keep the layers even. Uneven nails have a tendency to peel .

6) Using the wrong nail file is one of the easiest ways to ruin your nails so it pays to be careful when choosing a file. Popsicle files are best for natural nails; metal files are great to leave edges smooth. Coarse files which are rough in texture are perfect for artificial nails.

7) Do you constantly get manicures? It would be fair to give the fingernails time to rest - at least a couple of days between manicures to allow them to "breathe." Frequent application of polish to nails can put a slightly yellow stain on them.

8) Avoid dry nailpolish that contain acetone as this dries out your nails, causing them to peel and chip.

9) When you're looking for a superior nail polish, look for the brand that contains ground herring scales. This ingredient is known as natural pearl and gives polish its extra shine.

10) Avoid air bubbles in the polish by rolling it gently between the palms instead of shaking the polish bottle before application.

11) Due to age, polish has the tendency to thicken. If the polish has thickened, add a bit of polish thinner or remover to revive it.

12) For longer staying polish, apply one base coat, two coats of polish, and then finish it off with a top coat. This will prevent polish from chipping off easily.

13) While artificial nails can make hands look more lively, putting these can seriously damage your own nails. Stick-on variety usually causes the nail surface to get stripped away when they are removed. The glue may also cause allergic reactions.

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Simplicity Is The Key

Are you going to a job interview or having a business meeting with an important client?

In times like this, because it is hard to judge a person's personality for barely an hour appointments, one is "judged" by first impressions. Thus, presentation of oneself plays a vital role in creating impressions. You can either make it or break it. (Very recently, our bosses turned down an applicant -much to our dismay- because she doesn't look strike as a technical person but looks like the perfect customer care officer. How discriminating can that be but that is reality!)

With that, I think care should be given on how your present yourself. Opt for a simple and minimalist look. If you use make-up, use it to your advantage. Unless you are applying for a spot in a make-up company, aim for a natural and barely-there look. Choose neutral shades. Accentuate eyes and lips since these are also your communication tools.

Crisp white shirts look immaculate and connote an air of "no-nonsense." Bright and colorful clothing may be worn only IF you know how to downplay their effect.

Stick with nailpolish of subtle colors or one with matches and compliments your attire and make-up. Clear nailpolish is a safe and perfect choice.

For accessories, it is sensible to pick non-flashy pieces of jewelries like pearls (there are a lot of affordable freshwater pearls nowadays).

Stockings Survival Tips

Because stockings are made to blend with one's skintone, they are made thin and flimsy, hence, delicate in structure that a slight snag could cause run.

A trick to strengthen and make a stocking last longer stocking is to apply hairspray on it before putting it on.

Another old school trick to strengthen the stockings, and one which I always do, is to put them in the fridge to "freeze" a couple of days before putting them on.

When you acquired a run on your stocking or pantyhose, a quick remedy is to dab some clear nail polish on it. This would help prevent the run to get longer and cause more embarassment.

If you're in the office and no clear nailpolish can be found, a thin application of an office glue (which becomes transparent when dried) will do.

Picture credit.

Bright, Bright World

Colors are actually the perfect eye catcher. For instance, in a huge crowd, a fellow with a bright pink hair will stand out more than those that are brown-haired.

So it goes without saying that bright colored clothings can also bring attention to the body. Hence, if you want to wear pieces of bright-colored clothings, make sure you wear them wisely and only on your most flattering body parts.

If you want to bring attention to your upper body, play with colorful blouses. But if you think your hip area is your asset, dress it up in gay colors.

13 Bags

I honestly don't buy bags frequently. But I have accumulated a number over time -because there are family members who are so generous in giivng them as presents. And those that I did buy were always cheap (I'm such a cheapskate and I'm proud!) or not-so-cheap yet functional. And never flashy. Yes, shocking fact - nothing flashy or extravagant. Hehe.

1) My uber biggie beach bag (I can even put my son's inflatables there)

2) Go-to-the-mall bag

3) My all-time favorite brown bag

4) My mini-travelling bag

5) My doctor's bag (no, I'm not a doctor but for a reason, this makes me feel like I'm a doctor)

6) My furry pouch (where I hide some of my keys and remote control from my son..wicked mama!)

7) My makes-me-feel-hip-even-if-I'm-not pouch

8) My serviceable beltbag

9)My girly-girl native bag

10)My very old yet still alive shoulder bag (with adjustable strap)

11) My go-to-the-grocery bag

12) My favorite night bag (not that I go out at night always)

13) My uber colorful summer bag ( check WW post)

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Colors of Summer

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For well-endowed women

Just because I am flat chested, I'll only put up tips for flat-chested women. Here's for those of you who are blessed in that department.

BLOUSES: Classic black tops will never go wrong. Or if you like to wear printed tops, go for small prints.

Necklines: V-necks and scoop necks are best for you.

If you don't want to draw attention to your chest area, wear a black top with a light-colored pants (neutral colors like beige/cream or brown). This creates a contrasting effect such that the lighter bottom will stand out and the darker top will decrease mass.

Lastly, there are lots of women out there who would give anything to have your "size", so don't be afraid to show a little of what you have. Take heart. As they say, if you got it, then flaunt it. But only if you're comfortable to do so.

For flat-chested women

NECKLINES:

Assymetrical and high necklines are best for you. These styles broaden the shoulders and makes your bust look fuller.

SWEATERS:

Turtleneck sweaters are flattering.

Chunky knitted sweaters also give the illusion of "abundant" bosom.

SHIRTS:

Shirt styles with detailed front designs may help.

BLOUSES:

Halter blouses show off the shoulders and accentuate small bust.