Life as a Non-blogger

Long time no see, soul mates. You haven't heard from me for almost two months now (!). Just when I was all geared up to write a steady stream of updates, I face a hectic work schedule that made it impossible for me to write anything vaguely interesting or meaningful. Thus, I'm consistently confronted with the choice of leaving you with nothing new to read instead of blah-ging my way into your feeds. 

Again and again, I have always told you how much I worry about blog content that I will not bother posting if there is really nothing much to say (I have twitter or my facebook page for that), which might explain the relative silence on the blog. When your life does not revolve around blogging, it's normal to encounter this ever-present stumbling block to consistently posting.

Freeway top | Bazaar shorts | F-STOP shoes and earrings | Singapore necklace and belt

Technically, I think I have already been a non-blogger since late last year. Since the start of 2013, I have not attended any blogger event or accepted any additional blogging projects (except the existing ones) because I've been too focused on my work. Ditching all those have definitely given me all this extra time to do... even more work (haha, I must be crazy)! Styling for television, and a huge celebrity at that, has been very demanding, not to mention the fact that I've been juggling management jobs for a number of film and video projects altogether.

GIVEAWAY: LBD With A Twist From Fashion Exchange (F/X)

Every girl should have at least one little black dress which would be useful for any occasion, or any time of the day. For budget fashionistas like us, it's important to spend our money on clothes that we can mix and match or repeat endlessly without being too conscious. A good investment for our closet is a piece which  we can wear in several different ways.

This year, I'm giving you not one, but four dresses! Uhmm technically it's just one, haha! However, the number of looks in which you can style it is countless.

I stopped doing giveaways because it has been such a hassle for me to tally all my entries. Now, I won't have a problem because there's Rafflecopter!

Mechanics:

1. Follow Style and Soul on GFC

2. Like F/X on Facebook

3. Like Style and Soul on Facebook

Optional:

1. Follow Style and Soul on Twitter

2. Tweet about this giveaway

Please join this giveaway via my Rafflecopter widget below. If the widget isn't working, feel free to comment. I'll announce the winners by the end of the month! Stay tuned for more contests and prizes here on my blog! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We Have Some Catching Up To Do

The first day of the year is like an ordinary day to me– special. I've come to learn to see everyday as a significant part of my life. Granted that there are no fireworks or feast every single day, just knowing that I am alive while others breathe their last, is already a blessing. I'm not exactly an optimistic person because I don't keep my hopes up or my expectations too high, rather, I'm realistic enough to appreciate life as it is and whatever it may bring– both good and bad. 

2012 was a year of changing perspectives. I've grown to be a more positive person, in a sense that, there's always something I'm thankful for– no matter how petty it is. This major shift in the way I look at life helped me to stop focusing on the things that I lack and instead, notice the abundance of simple pleasures that I've been blessed with.

My new year's outfit felt a lot like Christmas, haha.

The moment I stopped feeling sorry for myself was the time I found myself in high spirits and free of stress. There are a lot of things in this world that I cannot change. And so, I chose to change what I can– myself. Just to make it clear, the last thing I want to do is claim to be good person or someone better than anyone else. I'm not. I'm merely celebrating myself as it is– raw and imperfect but happy and contented.

A huge part of this process has something to do with me, detaching myself from this blog. I haven't updated much this year. Cecile of Chuvaness.com and I share the same dilemma, we've lost our mojo to blog. Although I've been past this phase while she has just started (read her entry here), I understand the need for her to step back and think about what's important for her. I know so because I've been there. 

While I wait in excitement for more awesome experiences 2013 has to offer, let's catch up on a few of the wonderful things I failed to share with you.    

2013 Goal Setting: One Broke Girl No More

It's not about the money, money, money... We just wanna make the world dance. Forget about the price tag. 

Is there anyone here who doesn't know this song? Jessie J has a valid point. Not everything in this world is about the cha-ching, cha-ching. In a lot of my posts, I've been saying this over and over because I have experienced it myself. Having money does not guarantee happiness. However, we also have to admit that money is undeniably essential for us to survive. In fact, being broke can be sort of depressing.

Being an entrepreneur myself with my own small-scale business (which will have a comeback this 2013), I can truly say that having a business can be a pain in the ass, haha. To give you an idea, I do research on the latest fashion trends and runway reports, scout for suppliers and items to sell, buy stocks, style and shoot my products, edit the photos, update the store with promos and ads, coordinate with the clients (answer inquiries, go through order forms) and ship the purchases -- all by myself without 100% assurance of profit.

These tasks can be overwhelming and time-consuming for someone like me (plus imagine how much seed money I put out), someone who is crazy busy with indie film shoots, hosting gigs, wardrobe styling stints, personal projects like blog collaborations, and social media and PR work. How I manage to do them all? I honestly don't know, haha. There were a few moments when I've been such a disorganized mess trying to juggle everything. 

With bills to pay and a lot of dreams yet to be fulfilled, it is important that I am at least financially stable. Because of that, I have no choice but to work my butt off and try to find additional sources of income.

If you are in the same situation as I am and are also searching for other means of earning extra cash this new year, putting up your own business is a good option. The question now is, what type of business should you engage in?

Where Wonder Blooms | Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

What I like about the weather in Singapore is that it's pretty much like here the Philippines. I don't have winter clothes; just a bunch of blazers and light jackets. So if it were cold in SG, then I would be needing to shop for apparels that would be appropriate for such climate. Comparing theirs with ours, the only difference I noticed is that Singapore is warmer in December (especially at noon).

It was scorching hot when I got there so it was a good thing that I brought light and easy-to-wear pieces that helped me endure the heat. Since I was a tourist in a foreign country where no one practically knows me (I have no known relatives in SG), I found an excuse to try and be a little more daring yet laid back with the outfits that I wore. I wasn't quite in the mood to dress up so I threw on an over-sized sando which is practically open on both sides and paired it with checkered leggings which I thought was sort of a quirky (yet still a little edgy) combination.

For such a humid day, it was the perfect time to visit somewhere chilly. If we have Baguio or Tagaytay here in the country, in Singapore, all you have to do is drop by Gardens by the Bay - a cool conservatory complex and large horticultural attraction which offers an awe-inspiring fusion of nature and technology.   

Style and Soul in Singapore

I knew blogging has opened doors for a lot of other people to travel around either locally or internationally. It just never occurred to me that one day, I'd be one of them.

This December, I went on a Singapore trip with five other bloggers made possible by AirAsia Philippines, AirAsiaGo and the Singapore Tourism Board. Allow me to endlessly talk about my trip as if my tweets, instagram uploads and facebook posts weren't enough. People say you never forget your first and true enough, my first-ever travel project will forever be memorable.

As one of the founders of Bloggers United, I really wished I was there to witness how successful our event was (which took place while I was away) and be able to get-together with some of the blogger friends that I haven't seen in such a long time. I was a little sad to have missed it but I have no regrets whatsoever. The Singapore trip was a rare opportunity that I couldn't ignore. It was just what I personally needed -- a different group of people, new sights to gawk at and fresh experiences to relish.

I've always wanted to travel around the world but it's something that I've always put off because of my incredibly busy work schedule, not to mention my sheer reluctance to spend my hard-earned savings. Sounds just like you? Haha. But really, with this trip, I found a new sense of boldness to go ahead and fly to certain parts of the world -- a confidence I gained from knowing that doing so isn't as expensive as thought it would be. With a carefully planned itinerary and proper research (check travel blogs for tips), travelling on a tight budget is now truly possible.

Shopping Without Indulging | Top Picks From F/X (Fashion Exchange)

Christmas may be over but the act of gift-giving definitely runs all throughout the year. Now that you're all done worrying about what to give to other people, it's time to think about what to give to yourself without the feeling of guilt!

Yes, despite your recent expenses this Yuletide season, shopping this 2013 will never put a weight on your conscience as long as you put your money in affordable and worthy purchases. 

As a self-proclaimed budget fashionista, I will continue to remain true to my advocacy of practicality and frugality. I buy a lot of my personal things with careful thought and consideration with how much money I actually make in real life. Even if you're saving for rainy days, make sure you don't deprive yourself of life's little pleasures. There's definitely a way to go around shopping without indulging.

Meow-ry Christmas!

It's two days before Christmas and I would like to extend all my holiday greetings to my readers in advance!

Unlike most kids I grew up with, I never collected Hello Kitty products when I was a young. Although I'm not a big fan, I can say I still do have the utmost admiration for the most popular bobtail cat as a children's icon around the world.

Everywhere I go, I get compliments because of these Vans sneakers Hello Kitty edition 

This fashionable feline has become a global superstar, and her face adorns over 50,000 products - from  dolls, apparels, stationery, bags, accessories, home decor and many more, sold in over 60 countries. Because Hello Kitty has become such a brand phenomenon, all I can feel is just this overwhelming gratefulness that I was one of the hosts of the "Hello Kitty Christmas at the North" event last December 8, 2012, a whole day affair which included a Hello Kitty meet-and-greet and fashion show, a collaboration between SM Department Store and Sanrio.