Day dreamer and Believer

Hello everyone! I just got back from our recent family trip and I feel productive because I've arranged almost all the pictures for the blog overnight. This trip is really one for the books because it was made out of a last minute decision. We were really suppose to fly to Malaysia last year December but because of passport conflicts we needed to cancel our flights, hotel bookings (basically everything we've booked). It really stressed me out because I was the one who has a contact with the agency and I did so many calls just to arrange for the refund. Going back, I can say that this trip to Macau is very spontaneous. Because Malaysia didn't pushed through last year our group still decided to go for a trip this month to a place where all of us haven't been yet (except for my ninang who already went to Macau 5 years ago). Airline tickets and hotel were booked at the same time (almost 2 weeks before our flight), no concrete itineraries, no tour guide, no contacts, just plainly backpackers who went for a really quick escape away from home.

We flew on January 12, 10:50 in the morning bound to Macau. This was the airplane view showing the Taal Volcano. When we arrived at the hotel around 3 I immediately checked my fb and saw a lot of posts showing that Alert -Level 4 was raised over Taal Volcano. There were a lot of pictures of giant ash plume that rained ash fall in the province of Batangas and nearby places. Aside from that, flights were also cancelled during that day in the afternoon as well as the succeeding days. We were all shocked about the news and called our relatives back home. We felt so blessed that no one was hurt plus our flight pushed through in the morning and we arrived safe.

Going back, we arrived in the hotel at around 3 in the afternoon. We checked-in at Hotel Metropole and I must say that we really really loved it! The location is at the middle of the city where everything is accessible, the staffs were polite and helpful and the rooms were clean. We got 2 rooms, one duplex suite and one deluxe room. I was looking for our hotel room pictures but it turned out that I wasn't able to shoot any because I was so busy vlogging a room tour back then. Haha! If you were my follower in instagram you might have seen the room tour that I did. Anyway, our first agenda for that day was to go to Macau Tower. Just like what I said we didn't have any tour guide so we just relied on our phones to roam around Macau. It was getting pretty late but we haven't found the bus stop yet so we decided to skip Macau Tower first and go on a walking tour instead. It's literally the most legit #SAMsDIYtravels I've ever had! Walking towards north for 5 minutes from our hotel led us to Senado Square. It's Macau's most iconic shopping district, I guess. Almost all local brands were there. There were a lot of people, as in! It reminded me so much of Myeongdong in Seoul. Hole in the wall cafes, pasalubong boutiques, skin care products, shoe brands, everything is almost there!

Senado Square is famous for pasalubong shopping and there were lots of boutiques and free tastes everywhere! I don't really know what is this but it's pork and it's so satisfying! This is expensive (MOP 128 or around Php 810 plus) so we just decided to make the most out of all the free tastes that every store offered. Mabubuhay na kami sa free tastes! Haha!

Walking straight Senado Square led us to one of the most iconic spot in Macau, Ruinas de Sao Paulo. The ruins are actually the remains (towering facade and the stairway) of the 17th century Catholic religious complex in San Antonio, Macau. It was considered as the greatest church in Macau but was burned down in 1835. There were a lot of locals and tourists when we went there.

By the way there were 7 of us who traveled. I was with my family- mom and 2 brothers plus my boyfriend, ninang and her boyfriend. It's Paulo and I's first international travel together. :)

I will never get tired of spoiling these people. I love you so much, fam! I got you always :)

Left: They say that Macau is famous for its egg tarts and they have the real taste of the best egg tarts in the world. Ang sarap nga!!! I can eat it all day! Right: I don't get it why this beer is cheaper than the mineral water in convenience stores. It costs MOP 6 while water costs MOP 14.

Our day tour ended pretty early because we were tired from our morning flight and we want to go early to the hotel to read news and update about Taal Volcano.

Thanks for reading! See you in Day 2 :)

xoxo,

Last year had been tough for me and I've always complained about it. I had a few achievements but because it was overpowered by stress and depression I rarely see it. I experienced many mishaps and problems last year and some of it were left untold because I want to keep it for myself. Overthinking almost destroyed me. I realized that I have been dependent most of the time because after I had a series of downs I needed someone to lift and motivate me to continue living.

But despite of all those experiences last year has thought me the most important thing and that is to never give up. I'm grateful because even if I cry I can still manage to smile after. I am surrounded by so much positivity in the presence of my mom, my boyfriend, my siblings and my friends. How can I give up the bright future that's waiting, the dreams I have for my mom and my siblings, the plans Pau and I are building? They made me realize that standing up and fighting is the only choice I have, that there's no room for giving up.

My experiences last year thought me how to be brave, that even if there's a very least chance of getting that one thing I've always wanted I still have to take the risk. I'm proud because I went out of my shell a few years ago and it made me realize how big the world is, how possibilities are endless, and how close my dreams can be to reality.

Last year my patience was greatly tested not only with my patients but also with my friends. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings by being true to mine. I know I told you some things you wouldn't want to hear but ain't I the realest friend who can confront and remind you that there's still a room for change? I don't know if I lost a few but as long as I keep my circle true and stronger I'm already contented with it. I'm also happy because I was able to express my feelings freely.

Last year I gained 7 kilos (that's almost 15 pounds!!) and I'm not complaining though. One of the many things I really enjoyed doing last year was to eat my heart out. One cup of rice became 1 1/2 cups, 1 chocolate bar per day became 1 chocolate bar per meal, 1 whole cake seems so easy to munch when I'm making a blog content or studying and a 5 pieces each of calamares, kwek-kwek and squid balls were so quick to fill in during a merienda break. I don't know why all of the foods seem to taste really good and appetizing for me (even if others say no!). I guess I need to get back on track this year (Dami ng gym offers since last year pero ano naaa??) and start it by cutting my allowance and saving it before I could even bring it out to buy foods!

2019 has been so so crazy that it really brought out all the emotions in me! My only hope for this year is to tick off one by one my long term goals and be as happy and carefree as I can be! :)
THIS IS GOING TO BE MY YEAR! Cheers 2020!

Dress from Femmeluxefinery

Do you love chic mini dresses as much as I do? Check on these women dresses by clicking that link for more fashionable finds! :)

xoxo,

It's been a 3 week hiatus on the blog but I'm finally greeting you all a Merry Christmas!!! How was your holidays so far? I guess I'm just starting to savor mine since I've been hooked up in a roller coaster ride of experiences and emotions since the month started. The first week was full of blessings because after all the last minute turnaround I'm finally done with my pedo patient requirements! (Thank you Lord for the gift of patient and very long patience!) I'm not bringing a pedo stress in 2020 anymore! :P Going back, the second week was quite stressful for me. We were suppose to fly to Malaysia during that week but some mishaps and misunderstandings (passport conflict) had happened which lead to the cancellation of our trip last minute. But God is really good because He redirected and gave us a way better trip to look forward to in the start of 2020. I'm not gonna spill yet where we are going (not in Malaysia anymore because my mom believes that Malaysia isn't for us HAHA) but I'm so sure that there's no backing out because I'm the one who booked and arranged it. Everything is set already!

For the holidays we went to Old Grove Farmstead again to celebrate the birthday of my boyfriend's sister. It was Paulo and I's second time there already (The first was during our 2nd Anniversary last October which you can read here). I was looking for a last minute outfit during that time and saw the clothes that I have sorted for our Malaysia trip. I got a few from FemmeLuxeFinery and SHEIN beforehand to bring but since the clothes that I ordered from Femmeluxe give more of tropical vibes I decided to use each of it for my holiday trips and events here in PH. Hence this dress. Isn't it cute? :)

You know how much I love wearing off shoulder dresses but I didn't thought of getting a fitted one for myself because I've always thought that I'm going to look fat in it. Uhm, I guess I was able to hide my holiday belly by picking the right color and print of the dress. (It also comes in red with polka dots, plain nude and white.) Another thing that I liked about this dress is that I can also use it as a top which I did during the evening when we went to stroll around the park. Femmeluxe offers a wide variety of clothes for the holidays such as Bodycon dress, Mini dress, Lace Bodysuit and Trousers! Check their site for more finds!

Thanks for dropping by my blog! Happy Holidays! :)

xoxo,

Heyyy! I'm back with a new post on the first day of December! It's almost Christmas guys! Ahh, I'm already excited and has been looking forward for this month to come! What are your holiday plans? :) Well, as for me, I'm already looking forward in the upcoming parties and reunions of our family. We always celebrate our annual Christmas party every last week of December and it excites me every time my cousins abroad celebrate it with us. Another thing that excites me is our family travel this month. I'm excited for this one because I'll tick off another country in my bucket list with a new group of people! I really hope that this month will be one of a kind and memorable! December, please take all my stress awaaay!

Swinging in the last few days before this year ends, Paulo and I went to tick off another place in our bucket list. During the third week of October we went to Villa Jovita, the so called Bali of Batangas, to celebrate and enjoy our 25th monthsary together. We're not really the typical bf/gf who celebrates our monthsary every month but whenever we think of a new place to go we make use the date of our monthsary to remind us when we exactly went to that certain place. :)

Outfit. If I would go to Bali this month (but sorry I'm not) I know I would have lots of options of dresses. I know my closet is made for places like this! I really love dressing in a tropical setting- maxis and flowy fabrics, floral and summer prints you name it! I know it sounds too much but every time I'm going to a new place I want to wear something new and something in theme. When I saw this dress from SHEIN I know I have to get it for our Villa Jovita trip. It's an asymmetrical ruffle jumpsuit dress- a combination of my 2 favorites. I loved the bold color because it stood out from the rest and it complemented the Bali vibes of the place. Of course I loved the style as well especially the long flowy back skirt. It really does its wonder every time I walk. The top of this jumpsuit can be quite revealing so I decided to wear a bandeau bra underneath. Overall, I really love this jumpsuit and I hope that I can still wear this again in my beach trips next year. Crossing my fingers I'll be slimmer for summer! Hahaha! :)

Black Friday Sale is over but because SHEIN wants to extend their Christmas Sale for all their #SHEINgals they came up with a Cyber Monday that started yesterday and will last until December 3. Coupon code for an extra 15% off is still BF191689. Don't forget it upon check out! :) Don't forget to use the hashtags #SHEIN #SHEINgals #SHEINCYBERMONDAY when you post your SHEIN items too! :)

Asymmetrical Ruffle Wrap Jumpsuit from SHEIN- $28