hi leyn!!

it’s summertime right? so my super friends and I are planning for a summer getaway. well, we’re going to a beach somewhere in zambales i think. swimming of course and island hopping as well. now, i want to ask from you some ideas for super cute outfits for our summer getaway. i’m tall, morena, and skinny.

I know you know better. hehehe. that’s why i decided to send you an e-mail. actually i’m a constant visitor of your site. hope you could give me some ideas.

Thanks much! more power to your site and God bLess!

–znar

Dear znar,

Since you’ve been reading my blog, I bet you have already thought of a swimwear for the outing. I won’t be talking about the swimwear anymore and let’s move on with the beach accessories instead.

Even though you’re planning to wear a plain back swimwear (for example), you can still look fashionable with Beach Hats. Yun nga lang, I checked that most beach hats even cost the same as a typical swimwear. There are stores that sell such accessories like Girl Shoppe and Accesorize. Price ranges from 350-700 pesos. A white fedora hat can be an alternative.

Don’t forget to bring summer sundresses that you can wear over your bikini or swimsuit. Since you’re on the beach, kahit morena ka, any color is okay. The brighter, the better.

Another option is wearing Coverups.

Aside from your travel bag, carry your things using a summer tote. Something you can bring while you’re on the beach.

Lastly, don’t forget your two-toned wayfarers or classic aviator shades!

You don’t have to buy an expensive swimwear just to be fashionable. You should also prepare your accessories such as mentioned above. I know, going to the beach is about swimming and enjoying the water. But I believe it won’t hurt if you try dressing up a little.

Enjoy the trip!

Love Lots,

Leyn

Hi Leyn,

I’ve been an avid reader of your blog since Jologs Socialite, and I can see that you have your own SLR too. Which goes my question, how do you manage to stay fashionable while carrying your SLR with you? Like do you put it in your bag or bring it as it is? It feels so bulky whenever I go out because aside from my handbag, buhat ko rin bag ng cam. Or I use a big bag and put the cam in, which is bad I think, kase aalog alog. I need some tips, because I’m attending a grand family reunion next month and I still wanna look fashionable hindi yung mukhang photographer ka lang. As far as I know, no theme for the reunion.

I hope you can help me with this. Kung pwede isama mo na rin ang pwede kong isuot.

Isabel

Dear Isabel,

Hi! I only know a few people who are aware of my previous blog so thank you so much. Anyway, regarding your question, honestly I don’t have a decent camera bag and I’m just using the free black bag from Canon. It’s because I prefer disassembling my SLR when travelling and just put it inside my travel bag. If not necessary, I don’t carry it as is kasi parang ang show-off diba. Haha.

First, wag mo akong tularan and save your money to buy a fashionable bag. Like the ones from Crumpler. From what I know, they sell colorful camera bags and price ranges from 2500 up to 10000 pesos. Quite expensive.

Personally speaking, I don’t want to carry a camera bag especially when I’m in public places. So what I do is enclose my camera with bubble wraps and bring it using a large bag. On regular days, you can use a cushioned Tote Bag if carrying a SLR bag hassles you.

But if you’re not particular with the bag then just don’t overdress on the reunion. When the setting is quite formal or it’s an evening dinner, you can wear Jumpsuits to move freely. You can choose from either long jumpsuits (semi-formal) or short playsuits for casual events.

Complete your outfit with Flats or Mid-Heels sandals. Taking pictures may require a lot of walking and roaming around so wear comfortable shoes as much as possible. Avoid the laid-back rubber slippers.

No worries dear. Happy reunion!

Love Lots,

Leyn

Dear Leyn,

Ako ay isa sa mga bajillion readers mo. From JS to Sosyalera hehe. Anyways, hihingi lang sana ako ng mga idea sayo.

#1. Kung ikaw ay isang balikbayan at balak mong umuwi ng pinas this summer, and may budget ka ng 100k, how would you budget it for 2 weeks. I-budget na rin ang beach, gimiks, mga kain kain sa labas, at shopping. hehe.

#2. Ano ang tamang fashion sa panonood ng concert (ex. Journey). Gusto ko kasi pag nag pa pichur pichur ako with Arnel Pineda, medyo presentable naman ako. Considering na winter season dito. I’m in shape din naman, diba round is shape? =)

Thank you ng super advance sa sagot mo. More power..

Camille

Dear Camille,

Actually, malaki na ang 100k na budget for 2 weeks. Hindi naman ako isang bonggang traveller pero magbibigay nalang ako nang mga practical suggestions:

Kung mas trip mo naman ang isang ma-aksyon na bakasyon, bakit hindi mo i-consider ang Water Sports sa Camarines Sur. Mas mura, mas adventurous… minus the white sand beach. Buhay ka na sa halagang 3,150 php (Basic Expenses). Check mo nalang dito ang iba’t-ibang rates.

Gimik ba kamo? Malamang ay dalhin ka ng mga kaibigan mo sa Ascend, High Street. So last season na daw kasi ang Emba. One gimik night can cost you at least 1,500 if you just pay for yourself. Payo ko lang na Friday night kayo gumimik kahit saang bar. Either mga sosyal pero teenagers or mga kabataang pa-conyo wannabe kasi ang crowd kapag Sabado. Haha. Peace!

Kung trip mo naman ang kumain-kain sa labas, mas mabuti pang samantalahin mo na ang mga Pinoy Restaurant at ‘wag kakalimutan mag-Videoke Bar. Kadalasan sa mga Eat-All-You-Can Resto ay 250 pesos at sa Vid Bars naman ay 500 per head. With regards to shopping, I suggest that you buy clothes and accessories not available there, abroad. I’m not sure where you’ll be coming from so I can’t name brands but I assure you that your shopping spree is already included in your 100k. Philippine made products aren’t that expensive anyway.

Btw, lahat nang nabanggit ko ay expenses lang for 1 person. If you’ll be treating family or friends, pasok pa naman sa budget but you’ll have to watch out for the prices and better go with promo packages. Do the math.

Regarding sa tamang pananamit kapag concert, madali lang yan. Unang una, siguraduhin mong naka-closed shoes ka. Since winter dyan, kering-keri mag-Boots pero wag yung high-heels. Maari kasing magka-stampede o tulakan at dyahe naman kung matapakan ka, right?

Kung may choice ba naman ako ay pipiliin kong magka-winter sa Pilipinas para makapag-suot ako ng coat. Kaya magsuot ka ng Coat dahil frustration ko ‘yun. Haha. Kidding aside, kung magsusuot ka nang Coat or Parka Jacket, make sure to button it up during concert. Hindi rin recommended na maglagay ka pa nang scarf dahil baka mawala o lumaylay lang habang nagtatatalon ka.

Leggings, para i-match sa iyong hip-length Coat/Parka Jacket. Mas makakagalaw ka if you’re in a pair of leggings rather than jeans. Also, better put your things in a Body Bag instead of shoulder bag or purse. At least you can move freely and avoid losing your valuables.

Lastly, if you really want to stand out a bit with your attire, wear clothes with vibrant colors. This time, we won’t have to be particular on how you’d look slim since everyone will be in their bulky wintry clothes.

I hope you enjoy your short vacation here in the Philippines and welcome back to our jologs yet colorful culture. At kung gusto mo talaga makapagpa-picture kay Arnel Pineda, manood ka nalang nang live sa ASAP ‘pag uwi mo dito. Wahaha.

Love Lots,

Leyn

Hi Leyn,

Kababasa ko lang ng sulat na ginawa ni pareng Popoy I. Tamang tama din ang huling post mo sa aking katanungan.

Ako po ay merong iniirog na ngayon ay nagtatrabaho na sa Singapore at sa katapusan ng Nov. uuwi siya dito upang magbakasyon at dahil na rin sa ito ang linggo ng kanyan kaarawan. Nung nakaaraang kaarawan ko nung Agosto na dinaluhan ng tatlong naglalakihang blogger na si Greenpinoy, King Daddy Rich at kayo po Bb. Sosyalera alam nyo naman po at naging mga saksi sa surpresa na ginawa nya para sakin. Siya ay biglang lumitaw sa pwet ng kotse ng isa kong kaibigan at sorpresang dumating sa aking kaarawan. Nagbigay nga rin pala siya sakin ng isang malupit na regalo na Sony Ericcson cellphone.

Gusto ko sanang humingi ng payo kung sa anu ang maari o magandang iregalo para sa kanya sa darating na kaarawan. Kahit hindi po mamahalin basta sweet at memorable na rin para sa kanya. Eto nga pala ang kanyang mga kinahihiligan:

- Libro
- Paintings
- Theater
- Yoga
- SPA
- Pilates (yung exercise)
- Kumanta
- Mga konting pampaganda gaya ng make-up at mga scrubs sa katawan at lotion
- Mahilig din siyang kumain gaya ko
- Ok naman sa kanya ang sumubok ng mga bagong bagay na hindi pa niya nagagawa

Sa ngayon ang nakaplano namin sa pag-uwi nya ay pagpunta sa isang Beach Resort sa Batangas overnight lang. Dun sa may Wake Boarding since parehas kaming hindi pa nakakasubok nun, kaso hindi ito sa araw ng kaarawan nya mismo. Sa kaarawan nya iniisip ko ang isang romantic dinner sa isang hotel which is hindi pa talaga namin nasusubukan talaga. Meron nga pala akong pinsan sa isang hotel sa Manila kaya 50% OFF daw ako, kaya makakatipid aku kung sakali. hehehe.

Ayun lamang sa ngayon, sanay makapagbigay po kayo ng inyong suhestiyon.

Lubos na sumusubaybay,

Axel

Dear Axel,

Salamat at naisipan mo ring sumulat sakin. Alam mo bang ito na yata ang pinakamahirap na tanong na natanggap ko, so far. Kaya wala akong matinong maisasagot. Hahaha. At dahil dito, kumunsulta ako sa isang batikang personalidad na si Don Romantiko. Ayon sa kanya, tutal ay mahilig sa paintings at art ang iyong girlfriend, bakit hindi mo sya bilhan ng Monalisa by Leonardo Da Vinci o ang sikat na Spolarium ni Juan Luna. Hahaha. Ewan ko nalang kung hindi pa siya masurprise.

Kidding aside, perpekto na ang mga ideya mo para ipagdiwang ang kanyang kaarawan. Pagdudugtong-dugtungin ko nalang lahat ng hilig nya. Pero syempre, lalagyan natin ng konting twist:

Get-away: Since naisipan mo na rin lang naman ang Wake Boarding at dama kong kikay ang iyong iniirog, pwede mo syang bilhan ng swim suit at mga lotion na gagamitin nyo sa inyong beach getaway. Kumbaga, parang ikaw ang mag-eempake para sa kanya. At dahil tag-ulan, mailap ang mga swimming attire ngayon. Pwede kang mag-window shop sa Nothing But Water (Trinoma) or Wet Shop (The Block); hindi mawawalan ng summer get up dun. Masarap ang feeling pag makikita mong ginagamit nya ang regalo mo habang nagbabakasyon kayo. Davaaah.

Pig-out: Eto ang araw ng inyong “wellness day”. For example – magpapa-spa sa Wensha nang umaga at magvi-videoke sa Red Box nang gabi. Eto rin ang tamang panahon para bigyan sya nang mga sweet things tulad ng chocolates at personalized cake. (Try mo yung ChocoPix Store sa Cubao kung gusto mong picture nyong dalawa ang design ng chocolate. Haha!) Sa gayon, ma-sspoil mo si loved one sa kanyang mga hilig.

Sosyalan: Matapos ang outing at chill out day, syempre kailangan ng isang sosyalan day. Mas kyut kung sasabihan mo sya na magpaka-pormal ng konti at salubungin mo sya with a bouquet of Carnations. Bago mag formal dinner sa sinasabi mong hotel, pwede kayong mag-drop by muna sa CCP at tignan ang mga exhibits ng modern artists. Currently, on-going ang “Blue Hour” at “Transmulation” art exhibits until Nov 23.

At dahil napaka-gastos ko mag-advice, sagarin na natin. Alam kong madumi ang isip ng iba dyan pero mas bongga kung mag-overnight na rin kayo sa hotel. Pwede mo na rin dito iset-up ang iyong extra gifts para sa kanya – tulad ng alahas, iPhone, susi ng brand new car at titulo ng lupa’t bahay.

Doon nyo na rin pwedeng isingit ang inyong pagyoyoga.

…

Ahahaha. Lol.

Ah, yun lang. Pasensya na’t napaka-idealistic ng aking sagot. Misyado naman kasing broad ang definition ng “perfect date” para pagkasyahin sa isang entry. Alam ko namang nasa diskarte at kindat mo lang ang sagot para ma-enjoy ang oras nyo na magkasama.

Nawa’y maging memorable ang kanyang pagdating! Enjoy at ingat.

Love Lots,

Leyn