Looking back on how this year started I have realized so much from all my personal experiences. We all know that it's not even the half of 2020 yet but a lot of unpredictable drastic changes have happened (and is currently happening) already. Even before 2019 ends, I have a lot of expectations already for 2020. I've always viewed this year as the year of hope, change and big miracles. This is the year of answered prayers. Despite of all the current issues that are happening I want to take this year in a positive note and I still want to believe that blessings are going to pour because I've experienced it for myself since the very first day of the year.

1. From every bad experience that happen there's always something good that follows. The first accident that I met was last January 3 this year. I had a bad sprain on my right foot and it got so painful that I can't walk for almost 2 weeks. I was so worried because we're going on a trip to Macau on the 12th and I might not be able to walk properly. God was so good because when the day before of our flight came I was able to practice my foot for a long walk with minimal pain. Another blessing that happened during the day of our travel was that we were in the buzzer beater flight which was able to fly before the cancellation of the succeeding flights bound to Macau. It was the day of the eruption of Taal Volcano. My family and I had goosebumps after we heard the news. We knew it was God's grace that saved us from the eruption. Fast forward to weeks after we arrived in the Philippines, the corona virus outbreak happened. My mom was so worried after knowing that Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau were locked down. We were saved again from another travel disaster and I'm really thankful that we were all safe and free from any sickness after weeks of arrival from Macau.

2. All your hard work will surely pay off. Last year was the most stressful year for me when it comes to my acads. I've always worked hard (but prayed harder) to accomplish and finish everything and I'm really happy that I will be able to tick off one of my long term goals. I'm finally GRADUATING!!! The path was never easy but it was so WORTH IT (I WANNA CRY!!!)

3. In every battle and circumstances that you will face, your family will always be your first line of defense (Parang neutrophils lang!)- Family problems never end and its what makes a family stronger and closer. During early March my youngest brother was diagnosed with keratoconus on his left eye. It's the thinning of the cornea which made him experience extreme eye blurriness. When we went for a check up in Manila the doctor said that the cornea experienced hydrops already (which makes it non functional already ) and there's no other treatment except for cornea transplant. We were all shookt and didn't knew it was already that serious because my brother never complained about it until that time. I was so affected about my brother's condition and stood firm that whatever it takes, I will do everything to help my mom for his operation.

4. Invest in Rest. I'm currently writing this in the middle of the one month lock down period in my city. My mind has been pre-occupied by stressful things lately and one day I just felt so tired and drained from the usual things that I do. When this lock down happened I'm one of those persons you would not hear complain though because I guess it gave me the perfect time to rest not just physically but also mentally. I decided to divert my attention to the things that will make me happy. What I miss doing when I came back home is to publish new posts on my blog! I have so much thoughts in mind that I want to share, hence this lengthy post (haha sorry!) Aside from blogging I also got interested in cooking. I love looking for new recipes and just impress my brothers with all the foods that I cook! Hahaha! I'd also love to indulge myself in learning new piano pieces (more on the classic side) because of the pianist who I just recently followed on instagram. She's an inspiration to get back on playing! :)

5. Be grateful for what you have. Since this corona virus outbreak happened I realized how life can be so short. Be thankful for all the things that you have as of the moment- for the good health that you and your family have, for the foods on your table, for your family's safety, for the memorable experiences that you've been part of and for the ticked off achievements and goals that you have accomplished.

**I want to take this opportunity too to discuss my insights about this covid outbreak. It's unbelievably everywhere and it really scares me and my family. I just really wish for everyone's safety and for this pandemic to end. Please don't leave your houses during the lock down period but if it's necessary to, please practice social distancing. Don't forget to wash your hands as well. Bring alcohol all the time!! If you know that you've been in contact to someone who was found to have covid or have traveled from another country recently please, please, do yourself and everyone else a favor- do a self quarantine. If you're feeling any symptoms, go to the nearest hospital and consult a doctor. Do not hesitate to go nor lie because you are bringing your self and everyone else you encounter at stake. If you want to live longer and if you care for the people around you will undergo the procedure and treatments. I just want to tell everyone to please cooperate just as to lessen the cases because it would be a big help to our front line specialists who are doing everything to save the lives of many, so might as well do your part too. It's for your own good din naman :) Lastly, don't forget to pray because it really helps!! He's the only one who's in control of this pandemic and He's the only one who can end it.

** Thank you SHEIN for my dress. :) If you're on a self quarantine right now and looking for something to do, you may visit SHEIN's website. A lot of outfit inspirations are waiting for you! :)

To look amazing at your big prom night, prom dresses in the perfect color should be chosen. Blue is one of the most popular prom dress colors because of its versatility. Since gowns come in a range of hues, the one in the perfect shade should be selected. Girls can look more sophisticated in dark blue prom dresses, or sweeter in light blue gowns. No matter which style you are looking for, I hope all girls will find the perfect and cheap prom dresses 2020.

1. Off-the-shoulder tulle appliques lace blue prom dress

Stand out in the crowd in a sky blue tulle dress with lace appliques. The tulle skirt billows in layers like waves. So elegant!

2. Mermaid off-the-shoulder satin blue prom dress

Get ready to shine in this MillyBridal's blue form-fitting mermaid tail prom dress with elegant ruffles on the bodice- both front and back.

3. V-neck jersey sheath split front blue dress for prom

A long tight prom dress that opens in a side slit offers a sophisticated and sexy look.

4. A-line scoop neck tulle short beading blue prom dress

Stand out in a short dress with beading and pleats embellishments. Refreshing, and sexy with open back design.

5. A-line V-neck satin blue prom gown

Made from gleaming satin fabric, this long v-neck royal blue prom dress gives a chic look.

6. Mermaid scoop neck satin tulle blue formal dress with lace appliques

A baby blue two piece trumpet prom dress with beautiful lace appliques on both the bodice and the top of the mermaid skirt makes girls glamorous.

7. A-line one shoulder chiffon blue party dress

This gorgeous blue prom dress made from chiffon fabric creates a vibrant look. Simple but elegant.

8. A-line scoop neck chiffon blue gowns for prom

This chiffon blue dress for prom that is split front is ideal for prom 2020 and other formal occasions.

Paris is not a dream destination for me. It never is, but not until now. 5 years ago Parisian was built and opened in Macau. It instantly became a popular tourist destination because of the Eiffel Tower replica that was built in the middle of Cotai Strip. I’ve seen it during my research before we went there. I didn’t had much expectations because I’ve seen one before when we went to Windows of the World in Shenzhen. When I saw it in actual everything changed. It became my favorite and actually the highlight of my trip.

Parisian Macau is one of the newest 5-star themed hotel in the country. Napa wow ako in all aspects. The ceiling, the mall inside, the designer shops, the shows, but most especially the tower! The tower is a replica of the Eiffel tower in Paris and its size is only half of the original size of the one in France. I insisted to explore the tower even if its pricey ($120 i think) so we can experience the fullness of Macau in our short trip. The 7th floor is where this shot was taken. It’s where the elevator going to the topmost is located. There were also lovelocks in the area and picture taking spots like the one in the first picture.

Looking at the right is the Studio City. It's one of the newest addition at the Cotai Strip. We weren't able to visit the place due to lack of time but their newest attraction is the Figure of 8 Ferris Wheel! :)

The tower is around 162-meter tall and the view up above is just breath taking. What more kung nasa Paris na ako! When I was at the top I realized how memorable it would be if I would experience being at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It’s going to be surreal for sure. It’s when I started dreaming of going to Paris with the same group I was with in Macau- with my family, my ninang and ninong and my boyfriend!

Outfit. I love my outfit for Day 2! It's one of those pieces that I got for Malaysia. Every time I'm going to have my pictures taken I intentionally remove my jacket to emphasize my dress. Tiis ganda lang kahit malamig basta for the blog! Haha! Anyway, I got this white dress from Shein. This dress has a thick material except for the sleeves. It's comfy to wear and very stylish. You can either wear it in a formal occasion by pairing it with heels or dress down and wear sneakers like I did. :) If you're planning to purchase any items from Shein you can use my coupon code 1Qshaira for an added 15% off on orders $60 and above. It's valid from January until March.

For now, this Parisian feels in Macau has been one of my motivation to study harder and even work harder when I already have my dream job. I’m going to bring my family in Paris soon when I have already the means from being a doctor.

I don’t have that much expectations in Macau because of the blogs I’ve read about it. Most say that a day tour from Hongkong will already do because of the country’s small land  area while others say that there’s not much to see in Macau. All of those ideas have changed when we started exploring Macau. There’s actually so much to see, so much to try and so much to do. For me, I’d recommend staying in Macau for a total of 4 days to fully appreciate and live what it feels like to be in the Vegas of Asia.

Let me share to you our itinerary for our second day. We usually eat our hotel breakfast at around 8:30 am. After every breakfast we go back to our room to do personal things and change our clothes. We start our tour at 10 am. It’s not late though and I think it’s the perfect time to explore the city. By the way, we went there on the second week of January. The weather was so fine and perfect for roaming around. It’s like a spring cold and long sleeves and jackets are the main outfit of choice. Our first stop for that day was at Lotus Square. It’s the iconic “plaza” of Macau where the big lotus (their national flower) is the main attraction.

Across it is the famous Sands Hotel. Just an added information, hotels in Macau are considered tourist spots! They have the best luxurious hotels in the world.

Next to it is the famous “Macau’s Fisherman’s Wharf”. It’s the most instagrammable place in the country and we spent most of our time here. Macau was a Portuguese colony thousands of years ago and there were no questions and doubt why the place’s architecture and design are inspired by different famous European countries.

There’s the Colosseum of Rome, colorful houses of Lisbon and Amsterdam, streets of London and the like. There’s actually so much to see- opened restaurants, boutiques, stalls, picture taking spots, a wharf etc. I’m pretty sure this was one of the highlight of my second day.

After we explored the Wharf we went to Venetian. It’s a must place to visit when you’re in Macau because of its iconic structures inspired by the romantic streets and canals of Venice. Hindi pa rin maka get over ang mama ko na painting yung clouds kase mukha talagang totoo! It’s similar to that one in Vegas (its sister property) and one of the reasons why Macau is noted to be the Little Vegas of Asia. We had our lunch in Venetian Hotel and I must say that it’s pricey but the large servings were worth it.

Connecting to Venetian is the highlight of my Macau trip, Parisian. I have a separate post for it because of the amount of pictures that I took there. Let’s skip it first here so you’ll have something to look forward to on my next post.

After Parisian we walked in to another spot which is City of Dreams. There was a live display of the most iconic automobiles during that time- those that were used in international movies, the most expensive ones, the top of the lines, and the ones owned by hollywood artists. Paulo enjoyed it as much as we all did because he loves cars and motorcycles.

Connecting to City of Dreams is the famous Morpheus building of one of the best architect, Zaha Hadid. The whole place looks so futuristic- from the ceiling, the elevators, everything. Para akong nasa loob ng spaceship. It’s just so modern and grand!

Our last stop for that day was Wynn Palace. Out of all the hotels that we went to, it’s the most traditional and luxurious for me. Almost everything I saw is made of gold. They even offer free skycab ride to explore the hotel. They also have the biggest fountain show in Macau. You better not miss this beautiful iconic place when you visit the country. :)