The Little Black Coat

 double-breasted coat from Japan | Mango leggings

Happy New Year everyone! Lets leave the past behind and propel ourselves to a better life this 2013! I am so hyped right now that I can't even write well. I just received some great news and I can't wait to share it with you guys soon.

Anyway, the new year always holds a reinvigorating wave of hope for me. Like they say, it's like being given a new clean slate, a newfound motivation and a bucketful of inspiration! But before I can press that restart button, I have to get rid of all these backlogged posts. It's the first thing on my to-do list and I intend to actually do the stuff on my list this time around. Some of the things on the list are stuff I should've done last year. Hahaha.

I spent a good chunk of the Christmas season up north with the rest of my family and relatives. Honestly, there was a bit of reluctance on my part because I would be away from the amenities we have here in the city like wifi and well, wifi. But I found myself ignoring the internet when I was there even though we had the wireless broadband with us.

Being in the province makes you appreciate the simple things in life like being with the family, reading a good book and napping in the afternoon. I guess you could say it catered to my lazy bones. Whatever the reason, it makes you see things in a new perspective.

black beanie from Baguio

Mango striped sweater

The usual paperback novel wasn't what I brought with me on the trip. Instead, a copy of Nina Garcia's "Little Black Book of Style" sat inside my bag beside a heavy December issue of InStyle magazine. Both of which were gifts from relatives abroad. If you're reading this, thank you!

I think this was my first non-story type book read but I enjoyed reading it so much I finished it in one sitting. There were a lot of inspirational quotes about having your own style and being who you are. It was truly an inspiring read. It made me more inclined to dress in a way that expresses who I am as an individual without thinking of what other people might say. And I think this is one lesson that all of us should put into practice.

thrifted knee-high spiked boots 

One thing you should know about me is that I can't go up north without visiting Baguio - it's my thrift heaven! Baguio City is actually where I first discovered the joy of thrifting and my very first purchase are the boots that I'm wearing on this post. I got them for only 200php (roughly $5) and it was still new! After that, I enjoyed the hunt so much that I went to thrift shops in the city but still, nothing compares to Baguio.

Another reason why I love Baguio so much is the weather. The low temperatures allow me to wear the sweaters, jackets and coats that I find myself attracted to even though I can hardly use them in Manila. During the time we were there the temperature went as low as 10 degrees. After visiting the night market at Harrison Road, we were racing to the car because it was so friggin' cold.

To end this post, here's a little ghetto photo of Sputnik, our pug who now has her own little space on the web: http://sputnikthepug.tumblr.com/ Follow her if you have a Tumblr and prepare for a wave of cuteness! ^__^

Outfit Photos by my sister