Just this last week of January, my high school besties and I decided to have a Weekend Getaway. Just to relieve some stress from work, life and generally from adulting. We wanted somewhere near but not per say in the metro. Another requirement it has to have a beach! So Batangas fits perfectly for our short break shenanigan.

There are a lot of resorts with beach front in Batangas and choosing which one to stay or at least just have a day trip was a challenge. As we don't really have to stay overnight since a friend, Francine will let us stay in their Tagaytay Condo. We then went to my brother's recommendation, Canyon Cove. Wasn't able to use our car so we took a Grab Car from QC to Batangas. Yes. Why not? Tho, I'm still game taking the bus as it would be my first time commuting to a province if ever.



Arriving in Canyon Cove wasn't a breeze as I had a problem with our booked tickets for the Day Trip. After sorting that out, we got really hungry. Using our consumable 300php each from our 1,000 day trip fee, we headed to their main restaurant.



They serve classic Pinoy dishes there. I dunno if we were just hungry from the trip but we definitely enjoyed our meal. After filling our tummies it was time to put on our swimsuits. Yep, right timing after lunch haha! Sun was beating down on us real hard and the pool calling us to take a dip already.


Canyon Cove's Pool was pretty amazing. So huge you don't have to worry bumpin' with anyone there. Tho it wasn't jam packed still we really appreciated the size and the "little islands in between where you can sit and rest after practicing our Michael Phelps moves. Riiight.


Can I just put it out there how much I love these girls? We couldn't hide our childish side all through out our trip. I guess we all unconsciously decided to be carefree and just leave all the work stuff in Manila and submerge into complete fun and relaxing getaway. Been good friends with them since High school and all our kakalogan then were pretty much still there after all these years. Some things don't really change.



Batangas' beaches never fail to impress. I like how their sand is a mixture not super fine nor too rough. I remember too since it was the last week of January, water was kinda cold. But refreshingly cold. Just perfect enough to soothe our stress away. Plus there weren't much people so basically we had a part of the beach all to ourselves. So renting a Cabana isn't really necessary anymore as our stuffs were safe enough to be left in the sand and pool area. Another thing. Canyon' Cove's staffs well not all tho, were very much accommodating. They even asked someone to look after our bags while we were in the beach.
After our beach escapade we headed to Tagaytay to rest up at Fran's family condo. Took a bus for the first time yay at least now I know which routes to take from Batangas to Tagaytay. Not much photos were taken tho as it was freezing cold. Let me tell you it was just too much for this lil body to take in. Even after some wine, the cold ended up caressing us to a deep sleep right away and it was pretty much a tiring day.

Overall our weekend getaway was fun and exciting . In a way that we were able to go home safely with just using the public transportation for the first time. It was kind of an adventure for the three of us. Not only we enjoyed and even tolerated each other (yes thank you Kezia for putting up with us) haha it really refreshed our friendship.

Taking some time to be with long time friends wasn't so easy as we have to coordinate well our schedules even on a weekend. However all was worth it. Not only we had fun but it was also an opportunity for all of us to do some adulting stuffs. Like finding our own way and make all the decisions in between our shenanigans. I guess that's how it works when in your early twenties already, having the courage to do things on your own and make things happen.

I love my blacks.

Whatever the season or the trendy piece right now, having some basics will always be a good choice to keep in your closet. They just go well with everything. From completing to complementing the outfit.

The top 3 Black shoes everyone I think should be in their shoe collection are definitely those posted above: Basic flats, Low cut Booties, Trendy flats.

Black Flats, preferably the pointy ones as they elongate the legs even more. It's a go-to shoes for everyday. From work to casual shenanigans. I find myself reaching this more than any other shoes I own. Getting a simple plain one completes the outfit without competing with the other accessories. It balances the whole look

Ankle Books, since we're in a tropical country wearing thigh high boots isn't so practical for everyday use. Tho if you're into that you do you boo ;)

This pair gives a lil ampf to one's style. Edging it it up just enough to make it more interesting. It just gives me lyf. Like I feel so well put together as if I tried so much dressing up that morning.

Trendy flats, of course there are those special days where adding an interesting element to the outfit would be the perfect cherry on top. A lil sparkle, studs etc whatever you fancy is also a must in the collection. This will serve as the go to pair for those special days.

As Marilyn Monroe said it "Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world" ;)

Planning ahead.

First month of a brand new year and the first must have is a planner (well for some tho). I don't really keep a journal like this before but there's something in the air I guess that makes me wanna get one and just start well (hopefully). Got this Limitless Planner in National Bookstore which by the way took me a long time to find a decent one. As hundreds of planners we're opened, tossed and actually were so unorganized, how ironic.

It just reminds me that there's an inevitable excitement when it comes to creating plans, listing to dos and having resolutions. These are all good but when life happens and things doesn't go as planned, am I setting myself for disappointment then? Maybe to some extent. But maybe planning ahead is what we need. It's not gonna be a walk in the park in accomplishing everything we listed but putting it out there in writing gives us a clear view of where we wanna be. And yes we might need to adjust and be flexible according to our circumstance but once we work around it, it's gonna be magic. Like if you were able to still pursue that goal and get it, well you've just proved yourself that life happens and so what? Right? Right. Maybe that's why I like that title cover of my planner, Limitless. Pursuing something that didn't work out the last time or the last year doesn't mean you can't pursue it anymore. You just have to keep rollin' with life in order to achieve whatever it is.

Yep, 2017 I'm going to plan and make schedules to get through my goals and still be open to the possibilities. Let's do this!

To 2017,

Every time that clock strikes 12am we know we're entering to a new chapter of our life. Where as they would say that it's the first blank page to write a better story for yourself. With this in mind, I with the rest of the world is feeling extra hopeful that you 2017 will be our year. Oh don't we all just say that every damn year tho?

You are the new chapter we've been waiting for. This has been our way really of hitting that restart button and hoping things gonna work out this time. That we can be in control and overall come out better on the other side. Yes you're basically our gateway to give that dream another chance or to finally start that crazy diet so we can be beach ready for the summer.

Are we putting so much pressure on you 2017? I'm sorry. Well I'm just glad you're here. I don't wanna be too hard on you this time around. I wanna put on a fresh pair of eyes and just let life happen. Life that isn't controlled by selfish desires. Life that is well lived with others. And that's all I really hope for.

That's my girl!
Not as if we're close, I know.

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso is definitely a good read for someone who wants to be ignited to start a business or anything actually through her story. Getting an insight on how she started her whole business from the ground up is not only inspiring to me but it serves as a playbook in dealing with people and the hardships you have to go through to get where you want to be. It wasn't an easy road for sure for her as she started this fashion empire Nasty Gal back when Ebay dominated the shopping online district for people. She really gave detailed descriptions on how she would select the thrifted items to sell online. *Cue Mackelmore's Thrift shop*. A true definition of a go-getter as she would make things work according to how they're appropriate for her.

The journey of her going from point A to point B is just remarkable as the way she would handle the business life that may not be up to the standards. She made her own path that resulted to creating an empire. With all her insights and and advises on how to be a #Girlboss, one thing that struck me the most is her ability to give back. Regardless of how successful or kinda on a downhill recently with her business is (which she wasn't to be blamed for), she knows that equipping girls to be confident and be their own bosses is for me her greatest achievement. After all the leather tight and sparkly dresses she knows that the ability to be apart of something so much bigger of you and even of your brand is what it's all about. We may not have the smoothest journey in getting there but one thing for sure when you take charge by the end of it we would still impart to others how that rocky way up is what you actually need.