FLAGSTAFF LOVE

Just like a scene from a Christmas postcard, that is how I can describe Flagstaff, Arizona.  It was one of those spontaneous trips that we did not really plan at all. I wanted to bring my mini-me somewhere interesting since she was home for Christmas break.  We did not even have thermal jackets or even snow boots. But one thing we knew for sure was that it would only be a day trip.  

And who would have thought that it snows in Arizona? This town is about 2 hours from where we live and yet it is perched atop a 7000ft elevation.  We arrived there at around 7:30 in the morning and our timing was just right. There was a recent snowstorm, a few days before we came. The road was a tad slippery but we were thankful that it did not warrant a need for snowchains. The hunby just drove more carefully. 

We arrived at the snow park really early mainly because we did not reserve any tickets online.  Luckily, there were a bunch of people like us who did not buy online tickets. To tell you the truth, it was dead cold.  It was 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit. We had to buy additional socks and snow gloves because I could not feel my hands anymore.

They did have a fire going and my mini-me grew an attachment to it. She was always by the firepit because she was shivering.  They actually wanted to go home after 2 hours of being there.  

We also explored the city afterwards, and true to my initial description, Flagstaff is a very quaint town. I like the small town vibe of it and I would have explored more if only it was not as freezing and windy.  We went to the famous Hotel Monte Vista and we were hoping to eat at their resto; get some warmth and hot soup but the resto was under renovations.

We ended up in a quirky local  ramen shop called Sosoba and their noodles were so amazing!  One of the unique ramen fusions I had.

Flagstaff is a cool place to visit mainly because it is a quick getaway from the Phoenix valley area. Just be sure that you are dressed for the weather.  The town, though small and rustic, has a lot to offer and if you just want a different scenery feom the desert mountain landscape of the lower valley, Flagstaff is a quick answer for a spontaneous family trip.

Below are some of our expenses for the trip

Gas: 80dollars (because my husband always make sure that our vehicle is fully tanked with gas and he does not want it to go below half whenever we are a little far from home) i think you can actually go back and forth from Gilbert in one full tank.

Tickets to Snow Park: 33 dollars (11 each)

Food: Sosoba  ramen 36 dollars (12 each)

Mini-me was cold but she was happy to see snow

Fascinated by snowflakes






Coat:Bebe; leather jacket underneath:Calvin Klein; jeans, bought online in China; bag:Kenneth Cole (gift from hubby); boots:Fergilicious by Fergie; eyewear:Aldo; hat:H&M








Ramen love at Sosoba

Collaboration with Nora NYC

 

Classy and Chic.  These are the key features that I look for in an eye-wear.  Sunglasses have been an integral part of my everyday life mainly because I am a night owl.  And to insomniacs like me, we all know what happens the next day after a long night....grotesque sallow circles around the eyes that can rival any walking dead which cause us to be best friends with concealers and of course,  the ever reliable sunglasses. Eyewear is more than just a fashionable accessory to me; it helps me survive a dreaded aftermath of a sleep-deprived night.  My eyewear should be functional enough to cover those hideous eyebags and block a great deal of sunlight and yet elegant enough to get me through client meetings and work.

This is what I love with Nora NYC.  Their extensive design collections of eyewear is like a total candyshop to sunglasses fanatics like me.  I do like the fact that their designs range from trendy mirrored and colored lenses to classic elegant pieces like the one I've got here, "Liberty".





It is cat eyed shaped black frames with a gold accent at the sides.  I am particularly fond of its size mainly because it gives a lot of coverage. As you notice in most of my blog posts, I am almost always wearing humongous sunglasses that almost covers half of my face most of the time.

You can get your own too and use my code "chillsclosetshades" for a 20% off your purchase.

Coronado Island

It was not officially summer yet when we went to this beautiful Coronado Island.  It was a tad cold but thank heavens for the sun's warmth in spite of the chilly winds.  Coronado is definitely my vibe and I like it more than the other beaches we had visited here in SoCal throughout the summer.  And of course, me, being the summer girl that I am, was more than ready to start wearing all my summer clothes.   

When I was a lot younger and thinner, I used to be so self-conscious of wearing cropped tops.  Being an Asian and growing up in a predominantly conservative culture in the Philippines during my time, showing your belly is not always appropriate.  Fast forward to the present and after residing outside the Phil for quite a while, my body views have changed a lot.  I am more comfortable now with what I am given with and I will wear what I want especially if I know that it works for me.

So here I am wearing my bikini top as part of my ensemble and I don't really give a helluva of a damn if I am not slim enough to rock this top.  I made it work somehow by wearing a high-waisted pants. Girls, don't be afraid to experiment on some style with your body type.  Having a fuller body built does not mean that you are limited to wearing big- sized tees and dresses. You just have to know and see for yourself what looks good on you and your body. Always remember to love what is given to you and surely enough, self care and confidence altogether exude beauty too.

WHAT I WORE:

cropped bikini top from COCOBEACH

striped pants from H&M

sneakers from CONVERSE (JACK PURCELL)

bag from STEVE MADDEN

hat from H&M

At Hotel del Coronado

Tidelands Park

with the hubs

beautiful Coronado Shores

White Sands

summer scene

Tidelands park

the Hotel

Coronado shores

MANHATTAN HUSTLE

The quintessential New York hustle is very evident in the streets of Manhattan.  The constant buzz of the vehicles around and the endless streams of people just make you notice that you are indeed in the city that never sleeps.  It was a very busy and rushed day for me as I hopped from different places to photograph every few hours.  I am still quite disappointed though that I was not able to visit the Flat Iron due to lack of time.  Manhattan made the city girl in me gushed like crazy.   It has that vibrant and distinct ambiance that can only be attributed to being NYC's hustle centre. The original skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler together with the affluent shops are right in the middle of the city.

For this day, I opted to wear a dress that I bought at Chicago a few years ago and then just put a cozy turtleneck sweater over it.  I wanted to be comfortable enough since I would be doing a lot of walking (walking made me miss California haha!) and photographing.  New York weather can be very erratic so I did not leave anything to chance and wore tights with the thigh high boots.

WHAT I WORE:

turtleneck off white jumper from WALMART (yup it is a clearance sale haul)

black dress used as a skirt from URBAN OUTFITTERS (CHICAGO)

thigh high boots from BOOTSIES

tights from H&M

eyewear from COTTON ON

charcoal gray tote bag from STEVE MADDEN

Below are some shots of me taken by my kiddo or Uncle as well as other shots I took using a Sony Mirrorless Camera and a Fisheye lens (my uncle's camera and which made me consider buying one just because it is very handy and light.)

PHOTO TAKEN BY MY UNCLE

well, I just had to try most of the food stalls.  Walking stresses me out.:-D

5th avenue