Sick Cycle Carousel

I tried to climb your steps

I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to tame this mind
You better believe that I tried to beat this
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this
Sick cycle carousel,
This is a sick cycle, yeah
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle

-Sick Cycle Carousel, Lifehouse

Blazer: Zara | Pants: Zara | Shirt: Tyler | Vest: Mango | Sunglasses: Prada | Bag: Celine 

 My style has taken quite a radical shift and believe it or not, this is what I usually wear on a normal day. The transition is quite apparent. From 'wear whatever I want to wear, have my iPod play on shuffle and decide the theme of my look for the day' carefree days, I now find myself planning outfits in advance and laying it out the night before---like a normal functional adult. Music still, of course plays a vital role in my dressing up, and its influence is still apparent in my posts... I guess I just find the need to press Shuffle less, these days.

Aside from being in perpetual business attire outfits required for work, which yes, I do engage in... contrary to popular belief, I find myself reading... a lot. I am quite happy to have rediscovered my passion for literature, which due to the other forms of media, had to take a back seat, as I  was always tinkering with every new gadget I could find (Circa 1996 Tamagotchi buried in my drawer included, yes, it was THAT bad). But my most recent vacation enabled me to rediscover my love for reading, which I did for the entire duration of my stay at the beach. One of the authors consistently on my night stand: Paulo Coelho. His brilliance transcends his contemporaries, and I just cannot seem to get enough.

On detours, road blocks, one way streets and dead ends: The bumpy ride called life. Most people get on it in search for excitement, but once that starts, they are terrified and want it to stop. What did they expect? Having chosen an adventure, shouldn't people be prepared to go the whole way?  Or do they think that the intelligent thing to do would be to avoid the ups and downs and spend all their time on a carousel... going round and round on the spot? The  roller coaster of life: it is a fast, dizzying game; it's a parachute jump; it's taking chances: falling over and getting up again; it's mountaineering, it's wanting to get to the very top by yourself and feeling angry and dissatisfied when you don't manage to do it. No one said it would be easy.

If I suddenly wake up on a roller coaster, I would probably feel trapped and sick, being the neurotic person that I am, I'd be terrified of every bend, wanting for every second to get off. But if you see things from another perspective, and believe the track is your destiny and that you are in charge of the machine, then the nightmare would probably become something thrilling. It becomes exactly what it is:  roller coaster... a safe, reliable toy which will eventually stop. But while the journey lasts, open your eyes and stop... look at the surrounding landscape, embrace every twist, turn and loop... who knows? You might enjoy it... you might just bask in the excitement...You might just be in for the ride of your life...

'As we drive along this road called life, occasionally, we will find ourselves a little lost. And when that happens, I guess all we have left to do is forget the shoulda, woulda, coulda... Buckle up...

And just keep going.'

As for me, I’ve done the merry-go-round, I’ve been through the revolving doors, I finally feel like I’ve met someone I can stand still with for a minute... and... well, I guess I'm just lucky enough to have someone who alsowants to stand still with me.

xx, JL

Celebrate the most coveted week in Philippine fashion with SUPERB.

Celebrate the most coveted week in Philippine fashion with SUPERB.

From the makers of SuperSale Bazaar, we would like to invite you to SUPERB-

the most prestigious shopping event in Philippine fashion. We celebrate the most coveted sartorial week in the metro with a 5-day bazaar housing upcoming designers and local RTW brands. It will be a sneak peek of their latest pre-fall collections with a hint of summer items!

Tell your friends about the hottest bazaar and hashtag #SuperbBazaar

Get 1 free eco-friendly bag, and the chance to win from the raffle draw every hour!!:) 

We'll be giving away Moonshine GCs, Burgoo GCs, Queen Street bags, and a WHOLE LOT MORE!!!:D

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We have everything from electronics, and clothes to high end designer items, makeup, accessories, shoes, bags, gowns and custom made items!

There's something to fit EVERY BUDGET!!

with over 200 brands to choose from you're sure to find the great deals you're looking for

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Present the flier at the registration and get 20% off entrance fee!!!

(if you dont know where to get your hands on a flier feel free to print it out at home)

Get in for free by:

1) Present a XEND waybill from anytime in May

2) Buy a copy of the latest Metro Magazine or Chalk Magazine and tear out the Superb coupon

3) log on to www.dealdozen.com for a free ticket while supplies last!:)

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There will be Sunday mass at 3pm so you won't have to miss mass when you go shopping!

shop for a cause as proceeds of ticket sales go to World Vision

Brought to you by:

Celline

Burgoo

Moonshine

Queen Street Bags

Major sponsors:

Bloggers United

Boon Tong Kee

Deal Dozen

Sbarro

XEND Express

Media Partners:

88db.com

99.5 Play FM

Chalk Magazine

Circuit Magazine

Metro Magazine

Money Sense Magazine

Southern Living Magazine

Spot.ph

TheMall.ph

Velvet Channel

WhenInManila.com

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To receive updates on when to apply or when we have promos please 'like' the SuperSale Bazaar FB page

Credit in the Straight World

And I will await
You cripple, you take away my time
My peace, my empathy
No babies sleep on atrophy
Your unborn love and fetal stress
Hard bitter candy, legless caress

Go for credit in the straight world
Look a dealer in the eye
Go for credit in the real world
Won't you try?
I got some credit in the straight world
I lost a leg, I lost an eye
Go for credit in the real world
You will die

- Credit in the Straight World, Courtney Love, HOLE

Top: Undernourished Manila | Lace Skirt: Forever 21 | Shoes: Zara | Bag: Hermes | Sunglasses: Prada

This was what I wore for an impromptu Champagne Brunch which I was surprisingly able to go to, after much deliberation and arguments for/against via Whatsapp with my friend Kato, I decided to pick myself up, dress up in classic ladies who lunch garb and head out. When I picked out this outfit, I was happy it took quite an easy time, let's see: Peplum Blouse, Lace and Neutral Tones. Perfect for brunch... never had such an easy time planning an outfit.

On Belle Curves: It has been considered hip to be peplum-ed these past few seasons. In reviving every dressmaker's conceit, the dress shape ever so popular in the forties, designers nowadays are finally shining a spotlight on the waist, which as a designer myself, I realized is a different thing to waste. 

Credit in the Straight World. I have often lived by the saying, "When I feel like saying something, I say it," granted there are repercussions for having no filter, I think nothing beats the heck out of clamping your mouth shut just to please people. I have done the whole people pleasing route, it works for a while but then it gets tiring. Some people prefer to live life forever filtering, and are happy with that. I can't, I won't and I probably never will be. The weight of things left unspoken... believe me...they have a tendency if crushing us every day. At the end of the day, whoever taught us different was wrong... didn't know anything at all. 

"It is often said that no matter the truth, people see what they want to see. Some people might take a step back and fight out they were looking at the same big picture all along. Some people might see that their lies have almost caught up with them. Some people might see what was there all along. And then there are some people who run as far as they can so they don't have to look at themselves... 

But as for me... I can see clearly now..."

xx, JL

Who's Who? Take note the theme: I considered me and Kato Real Housewives of Makati that day- lace, neutrals and big wavy blonde hair: CHECK!

Recovery Food:

With my really good friend Wellington aka. Wella. Obligatory sunnies photo, we could not resist.

Crocs Megasale strikes back this 2013...With up to 90% discount on a pair of Crocs

(Manila, Philippines) It’s going to be wild. It’s going to get crazy. It’s going to be huge. More and more Crocs fans are jumping for joy, as the much-awaited, and the biggest shoe sale event in one venue is back.

Now on its 5^th year, the Crocs Megasale 2013 is happening once again at the grounds of NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, with a mind-blowing price slash of up to 90%. Get your hoarding game face on, rain or shine, on May 31 to June 2, from 10am to 8pm. Free entrance for all Citibank cardholders, while there’s a P50 entrance fee for all non-Citi shoppers. Cash and all major credit cards will be accepted.

Great finds for all shoe lovers from kids, teens, to adults, with over 200 designs to choose from. No one will leave the tent empty handed, as this wild Megasale will surely knock you off your feet.

Make sure to come prepared with umbrellas, fans, bottled water, and face towels. The list of shoe prices will be provided onsite. Food stands will be set up by McDonald’s, Racks, Shakey’s and Saibachi.

For more information about the Crocs Megasale 2013, like Crocs Philippines on Facebook and follow @crocsph on Twitter.

She Will Be Loved

Tap on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along,
My heart is full and my door's always open
You come anytime you want

Top: Zara | Shorts: Iconoclast Line by JL and Domz | Shoes: Zara | Bag and Accessories: 37LA

Ive been injecting a lot of color in my outfit choices as of late since it is summer after all which gives us all the perfect excuse to leave the drab and dark colors behind. So, that was exactly what I did. I find myself wearing a lot of shorts during this season...which is a surprise considering I am more of a summer dress and trousers kind of girl. But 1.Global Warming is very much present and felt and 2. As long as they are comfortable, decent and wholesome... why the heck not? (PS: I also want to note the influence of my FOSSIL Dominique Tiu in this matter)

One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite Maroon 5 songs, goes"It's not always rainbows and butterflies...It's compromise that moves us along..." Call it an earth shattering revelation or something most young ones have yet to discover, but I love how this speaks so much truth and volume. Not just in love, but in life, more than ever. I learned (the hard way) that, well, you can't always get what you want. But you do get to do as much as you can with the cards you've been dealt, so there goes your silver lining.

This is what true love is. In an age wherein we are trained not to compromise, never to be co-dependent or give up one's identity for the so called false sense of security, it is all about knowing what you want. Allow me to make a shallow comparison as possible (as this is a  fashion blog and I don't mean to talk about the meaning of the universe here): It's basically like buying a shoe that is so off, horribly priced and impractical... but you can't help but have it. Every stylish person I know is so because they know what works for them. Every self-made millionaire I know is so because they know exactly where they are headed. Every lonely person I know is so because that is what they have to like. 

When you know what you want, every riddle makes sense. But the end does not come in knowing what you like because here comes the harder part:

KEEPING IT TOGETHER 

"When people find what IT is that they want, one of the two things are bound to happen: They screw it up or they take drastic measures to teflon it from doom. This then leads to drastic not so happily ever afters. The beginning is exciting, no doubt. After falling in love, the dreamy state amid the backdrop of five star resorts and champagne lunches soon fade into stay in nights with HBO on loop with two day old left overs... that is IF you are lucky. I personally always preferred and would rather skip to this part, to be honest. I never was the grand gestures kind of girl, I probably never will be I reckon...its really the consistency that matters to me. Love begins when romance fades. In an age wherein a simple mistake becomes a grand gesture of fecklessness, we have lowered our threshold for pain and sacrifice. The exit is always there...of course."

However, it is staying close to the windows of opportunity and growth that matter. Love or life, I realize is not about roses and good times... (I know it should be). It's about the bad times, the pain, the knitty gritty, the complications and doubt that accompany and fortify it. 

Love is not needing to be, but rather, choosing to be. We may have to stand by the right things sometimes, because believe it or not, the world is better lived with someone else... than for your self alone. You'll see...

xx, JL

I cannot to see you at the SUPERB Bazaar this May 22-26,2013.

See you at the SMX Center, MOA from 11am-10pm

To apply: https://www.facebook.com/supersalebazaar/