Goddess, I Am.

I honestly don’t know why Valentine’s Day is such a big deal. I, for one, neither love it nor hate it, even back when I was still single. I suppose I was one of the lucky ones. I never went into paroxysms of weeping because I was sans a ‘Valentino’. I simply went to bed early. And ate a lot of ice cream.

I’m also quite lucky that The Husband is a great Valentine. He never does anything cheesily spectacular, but he is sweet. That alone is spectacular enough for me. He gives excellent presents, too. This year, he gave me the customary rose, a gorgeous bracelet, and – drumroll, please! – the Tenba messenger laptop/camera bag that I’ve been wanting for a year and a half! Finding the color I wanted – plum – was a pain, but it was worth the wait. (I got him a Billabong wetsuit for snorkeling because I am an awesome wife, haha.)

Also, instead of just going out to dinner (which we do practically every night, anyway), we decided to use the overnight package voucher for Crown Regency that I got from Buyanihan.com. I’m glad we did because it was super fun and incredibly un-cheesy. The food – both dinner and breakfast – was great, too. It wasn’t good for my continuing quest to figuring out how to lose belly fat for good, but it does trump having to go to some restaurant with the ubiquitous hearts and cupid decors any day. There were lounge singers, though, AND a carved pumpkin, of all things. But then, stranger things have happened.

And now, photos!

Cebu from 14 floors up

Laaazzzzyyyyyy…

Bad TV, Awesome Movie

Shirt and shorts from Rose Paul (formerly Dress O’Rama); Dreamcatcher necklace from Palawan, a gift from The Sister

40th (???) floor

What do Valentine’s Day and Halloween have in common?

I love you, cookie.

Black and white bodycon dress, Forever 21; Janilyn leopard print booties

More photos here.

Honestly, I could get used to this staycation thing. Maybe we’ll make it a Valentine tradition. Now, that’s a thought.

Yes, you read it right! Meream must have been feeling extra bored because she sent a Stylish Blogger Award my way. ME! A stylish blogger! Yay for me and my shoes! Thank you, oh crafty one!

The rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave me this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

My Seven Schmeven:

1. I’m a Mac supremacist. If Steve Jobs were Hitler, I’d be a Nazi. (Not a very good analogy, I must admit, but yeah.)

2. I believe organized religion in any form, sect, or proclivity is no more than a business venture. That is not to say I am godless.

3. I do not want children. Neither does The Husband. It annoys me when people tell us to have children already, like it’s some kind of requirement. It’s not going to happen, folks. Get over yourselves.

4. The Husband has 15 years on me. It doesn’t show because he’s sexy. He never gets fat, either. (Unlike his wife who needs adapexin-p every now and again.)

5. I have been blogging for 9 years. NINE! I’ve gone through more blogs than boyfriends, I tell you!

6. I’ve come close to buying those so-called designer-inspired shoes from Multiply/Chinese/Korean sellers, but I never do because they just scream “knock-off” to me. Mind you, I do buy from Multiply/Chinese/Korean sellers, just not the all-too-obvious Jeffrey Campbell or Acne or Finsk (or whatever) replicas.

7. If I like something, I will wear it to death. (Well, except underwear because that’s just gross.) Currently, it’s this brandless breezy white tank that I wore for an entire weekend:

White tank; Blue tutu of unknown origins; Black leather belt from Giordano; Black and white Oxfords, Spring, a gift from Mum

White tank (again); Black and gray striped topper, bazaar find; Zara high-waist jeggings from Mum; Charles and Keith wedges, a gift from The Sister; Gray rosette necklace and ring from Thimble Cap; H&M silver bangles

Now, I don’t really have 15 blogger pals to pass this award on to, and the usual suspects (read: fashion bloggers) have already received this so many times over. So I’m giving this award to a handful of ladies who I know for a fact are wonderfully stylish, even if they don’t post outfit shots on their blogs. Who knows? Maybe this will get Chin, Peachy, Mai, and Kaith a’posing for us soon.

I’m a HUGE fan of cold weather. I love being able to make like a spring roll and wrap myself snug in blankets. I love not sweating. I love how I sleep better and longer, a treat for an insomniac like me. I love how I can layer, and layer some more – when I do muster the courage to go out, that is, like last Friday’s lunch with The Sister and The Bestie:

(It’s cold and gray…)

(…so I’d like a bit of sunshine and rainbows today.)

White wool Boho bell-sleeved dress-that’s-too-short-so-it’s-now-a-top and faux leather shorts, eBay; Random striped tank top; Floral-patterned tights from Canada, a gift from Mum; Cream wedge booties, GoJane.com; Forever21 butterfly connector ring

Yes, I am definitely loving the “low 20s.” What I am NOT loving is the incessant rain.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I do love a soft drizzle and the soothing pitter-patter of raindrops. But when the skies literally open up to dump buckets upon buckets of rainwater, well, that just freaks me out. For one thing, the idea of getting caught in a flood is just too ghastly a thought for me. For another, it’s scary, like it’s armageddon, the end of the world, and a hydra attack all rolled into one. (Really, it’s enough to make me hyperventilate, like I’m on alcohol detox or something. And I don’t even drink.)

Most of January was all about this maelstrom, and though it was fun for a while, the novelty had since worn out. It was nice to see a bit of sun over the weekend, if only for a while. Nicer, even, that it didn’t rain today. And though a nice, breezy summer is a welcome thought right now, that’s all it will have to be – a thought – because it sounds like our little island may still have bigger storms to weather just yet.

And yes, I worry.

Stay safe and dry and toasty, everyone!

* Flood in Cebu.

* Flood in Australia.

* Flood in Brazil.

* Construction accident in Manila.

* Bomb in Manila.

* Bomb in Moscow.

* Bomb in Baghdad.

No doubt it’s been a rough January.

Photo Credit: manchai

Hang in there, folks! The month’s almost over.

At this very moment, The Husband and I are supposed to be somewhere in Manila, doing God only knows what. But we’re not. We decided at the last minute not to fly out for a myriad of reasons – one of which being that there is a bug in the household that The Husband has barely recovered from and I seem to have caught.

Yes, I am sick. AGAIN. Which, if you ask me, is much too soon when I’ve barely enjoyed my recovery from last month’s malady. I am now becoming an expert on distinguishing between the different kinds of cough I seem to get. This current one, for example, is of the lung-rattling, air-gasping sort. Unpleasant, yes, but not as debilitating as the itchy throat and puking of last month. I am grossing you out, I think.

I am now seriously considering getting a dehumidifier for the house; they say it helps. I am, however, thinking that the (lame) 23℃ “cold spell” we’ve been having is to blame. Which is why I’m layering for all its worth – or so I tell anyone who has the decency to ask why I’m dressed like a sherpa (some days) and not just stare.

Cropped leopard-print jacket, bebe, a present from The Bestie; Random white t-shirt; Purple leggings from eBay; Parisian booties; Butterfly connector ring from Forever 21; Cameo necklace from the Innuendo store; Bangles from Anagon Collection

If my cough is any indication, it’s not really working. But hey, it’s fun.

PS. Lord Cornelius Bauldric Turdling says hello. Doesn’t he look absolutely regal? Regally pissed off? ♥♥♥