4:44 ~ make a New Year’s wish!!!
Here’s a hint of what I’ll be this Halloween …
Throwback: My *Philippine Flag* Mestiza Gown complete with Butterfly Sleeves for the Filipinana Gala that I covered (press and photo) back in 2009 ~ Asia the #PhotoBombDotCom before Annie‘s birth ♥Annie-versary♥
Clue: She’s known as the Steel Butterfly who scared off the Beatles who flew far from the Philippines never ever to return.
Meet BOO ~ who’ll play the Pinoy Pomeranian pup this weekend (since the P.I. First Lady had a canine as her sidekick)
After winning the costume contest these past couple of years, will I come back for a 3-peat, suggested my boy *USMC* Kyle with a smile?
Just a few of my favorite all-season shoes … Love my Brett Favre photobomb?
While what was on my head (the crow as Lone Ranger‘s Tonto in 2013 & my beehive gone live in 2014) did the trick ~ or treat? ~ will this year’s fate be helped with what I wear on my feet?
I was choosing between my silver {from O’Shoes} or gold skinny heels to boost my height & compliment my festive sequins …
Speaking of stilettos, this Muse of Manila who I’ll portray this Saturday was known to have 3K pairs of shoes!
My skinny heels wouldn’t be complete without these Solemates High Heeler® ~ so I won’t stay stuck in the mud or other stilleto-unfriendly surfaces!
Just to be on the safe side, I wouldn’t endorse wearing heels all day everyday ~ more in moderation … and always have a back-up pair of flats!
‘Cause I have your back!
This Back-to-School season, check out my super saver tips for time, money and the Earth plus even your sanity …
Set out:
Always check the weather forecast and have a back-up plan if an unexpected natural circumstance arises
Sleep in:
This has worked for me on a couple of different situations:
Speaking of ♫working on my fitness, he’s my witness♪ {Fergie‘s Fergalicious}…
Be Prepared {Boy Scout motto}
This has worked for me on a few different situations:
Bearing this in mind, make sure to pack
I actually store deodorant and mini perfume bottles plus packs of gum in most of my purses plus my compact bag that I transport when I switch handbags
DON’T forget to eat! ~ Mami Aya + many Pinay & caring moms everywhere
Stylin’ Sippie Selfie: Reppin’ my *Dallas Cowboys* after last night‘s victory to kick off NFL season: Go, Big Blue … in Checkered & Houndstooth!
Transitioning between seasons from cold cups to hot tumblers …
*Star* Quality: Starbucks Anniversary Collection Houndstooth Double-Wall Traveler Ceramic Mug was worth the investment for yours truly (as long as I don’t drop it ~ no jinx, please) because I ♥love♥ the look and can save a few cents every time I refill it … (I also adore the same-style Swarovski Crystal one from this season’s collection because I wear Swarovski from head to toe, but c’mon: I’m a doc candidate on a tight budget ~ so I’ll keep admiring from afar)
The navy blue & gold go well with my dissertation defense dress!
1-Stop Shop
Target showcases its own products in renditions of Vogue** covers from this past century
You too can check out these Target en Vogue** photos by scoring a copy and scanning with your Shazam app
☼Sunshine☼ Time
Taking a breezy breather from my dissertation in the backyard to thumb through Vogue** in ☼serenity☼
Just make YOU Time
Perfect coffee table or night stand literature ~ when I need a break from my dissertation, these are my latest go-tos: the original Cupcakes and Cashmere (prequel to Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home that I have in eBook form) and this month’s 800+-page Vogue** (glossy inspirations of this season’s styles)
More than Scrub in the Tub
†Pray† at Any Time of the Day
* Rewards = another way to $ave (discount$ & FREEbie$)
These guidelines will save you in the long one ~ not only for the aforementioned reasons, but also from embarrassment (i.e., killer breath, B.O.) if you run into someone later… We don’t want to be Finch from the American Pie movies who had to go home from school every time he had to release his macchiato! You’re welcome. ✌
Happy ☼Birthday☼ to my ♥Tita Fe♥, a.k.a. Dr. Reyes-Dollete, & HBD to my BFF Bestie SSG Melody!
As ♫Madonna♪ sings:
♪That’s why I feel so beautiful♫
Mad for #Plaid#🏁 & •Polka Dots•👙 again + Skirts & Sandals + Stars & Stripes + ~O–O~specs~O–O~ for Scholar Mode!
Hello Kitty in the House: Fashion Forward with Sanrio HK tops paired with plaid Esprit skirts {camisoles layered underneath by Express} | Still sporting sandals as we transition from the ☼summer: blacks • plaids • solid shades
Now that 🍎school is in session🍏 (never🚫 🚦stopped🚥 for yours truly the professor and scholar), PS also is for …
📅Planning / Scheduling📆
Which keychain should I hook to this Sanrio Keroppi planner zipper? * Dallas Cowboys * Dallas Mavericks * Luke Bryan * Office Depot *Star* Teacher 🎒🔑🏈🏀🌠
Ever since I was in elementary, I enjoyed organizing my planners📒 & came across several agendas from grade school, junior high & h.s. while spring🍀 cleaning & decluttering📦 ~ including 1☝🏽️ worth saving!
Glamming up with pens: animal prints from when I traveled for my doc research (I was giving them away to participants in my survey ~ male athletes didn’t want to keep them)
I’ve already set my 🍁semester🍂 wardrobe👗 (by listing dates & outfits in my iPhone📱 📓notes) ~ yet there’s something about penning✒️ important 🎓events.
My 1st academic month filled up quick… Yikes! Please disregard my birthday age ~ my brain must be fried from my dissertation focus that I actually entered 1yr older than my real age. #smh 📅💡🍳💫🎉
Since I don’t have much time to hand write📝 everything (or fund$💰 to $pend💸 oodles on a planner), I took the liberty🇺🇸 of typing📲 this term’s items (complete with my endearing 😍emojis) to print📇 from my phone📳 + personalizing each month with 📷photos ~ then I’ll color-coordinate with my gel pens to add anything else!
Thanks to our office stores ~ where I used to go when they held the annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfast ~ we have discount$ & reminders! I’ll be sporting my agenda with my *Independence Day* tote that’s appropriate for all seasons ~ especially when school‘s in sesh!
To-Do Tip: Treat your schedule like a grocery 📋list✅ on the day/week/month (depending on how far in advance you prefer to plan) of your booked📚 priorities & events ~ DON’T add➕ anything else that’ll allot more time unless
Now I’m also ready with next year’s creative 📆calendar!
FYI: YES, since I’m so fly, I post photos of yours truly … Can’t help being confident + happy & healthy ~ a beauty! #DISPObustAFlow#FoSho
P & S also are for …
+ is perfect to pair with purple & the whole rainbow + my stars tote bag for school 🙂
I wanna feel the air, I wanna feel the breeze {Treehouse leaf keychain}
Cherry Blossom earrings bedazzled with Swarovski crystal elements * lucky♣ jade bracelet * collector’s key chain
I’m topping off my mani with this Miracle Gel by Sally Hansen ~ there were 2 top coat options (I went w/101: the 1 that didn’t specify same-brand gel color)
Thanks to my Titas for the birthday gifts: Auntie Yollie for convertible shawl + Auntie Susan for dinner party & manicure! #MaramingSalamatPo #MagandaKaTalaga #ReyesReunion #BirthdayTrip2015 #pasalubong #BackToSchool #BTSmani #BTSready🎈🎁🎂💝🎀💅🏽💃🏻🍎 🌺🌴
#BirthdayBrunch #SundayBrunch #SundaySelfie w/my #Bestie #BestieBrunch #BestieSelfie #SelfieSunday #SippySelfie #SippieSelfie ¡Muchas gracias, mi querida! #TrueBlue #ALLweatherFriend #DoubleETeam #EasygoingEvie #ExcitedElaine #EvangelistEvie #EducatorElaine #Fajita #Fiesta #NoSiesta #SeñorFrogs #Mariachi #Mojito #KDivertido #DISPObustAFlow 🎈🎂🎆🎇🎊🎉😍💝🎀🎁🌞🍹👏🏽💋🌠🌎🏆🙆🏻🙅🏻🙋🏻💁🏻🙏🏽☝🏽️✌🏽️🐸🎺🎻🎤
†GOD 1st, family 2nd, work 3rd ~ Evie Bruno my #BestieO #DISPObustAFlow My #Bestie baked me #BerryGood #BirthdayCake & showered me w/ #BirthdayGifts + sang #FelizCumplé to complete my bday #BusyBees #BumbleBees #daisies #posies ¡Muchas gracias, mi querida! #TrueBlue #ALLweatherFriend #DoubleETeam #EasygoingEvie #ExcitedElaine #EvangelistEvie #EducatorElaine #SundaySelfie #SelfieSunday She’s doing the #LeadershipPractice from my #DocResearch of #EnablingOthersToAct w/ #PhotoAccessories brand new #TiffanyBlue #BreakfastAtTiffanys #QTforTheseBesties #SnapHappy #CamHappy #FamHappy 🎈🍓🍰🎂🎆🎇🎊🎉😍💝🎀🎁🐝🌼💐👏🏽💋🌠🌎🏆🙆🏻🙅🏻🙋🏻💁🏻🙏🏽☝🏽️✌🏽️🎓📊📉📈📖📲📱📷📹🎥👯
+ Sleep!!!
Despite my best efforts to hit the sack early during my sabbatical, I spent the week before my bday/vacay staying up ’til 4am working on my dissertation then awoke at 4am on my flight days.
Time for a new routine … Evie to the rescue with this tip from one of our fave artists:
Don’t you just love exercise 💸incentives?
My most recent reward🏆 came from ⌚️RunKeeper: Saucony 🌞Sunday!
Following my 🏁fun run👣 around the 🎓university🏤 campus course⛳️ (2 full miles = 1 lap), I earned new 👟kicks! Pretty slick, huh?
As a mall rat worker back in high school and college, I sold💰 shoes (not like the Married with Children dad, Al Bundy) ~ so I knew my footwear👞 like the back of my 👋🏽hand, and it didn’t hurt to have those perks☕️ of test-driving🚘 …
Or running in them!
These Canadian🇨🇦 Running prize winners that I selected are in a kid’s size ~ so I could $ave over half👊🏽 of the original comparable women’s pair of shoes, while still having the competitive ISO feature!
Previously, I also scored more fitness rewards:
Moral of this story:
We might as well 💝gift🎁 ourselves in our health💪🏽 by adding on to that wellness😅 📳wealth!
#DISPObustAFlow fo’ sho’
Addendum
🏆Special💸 📮Delivery📦 (received ONLY 2 days after ordering 📶online!)
My mint & coral fresh & clean new kicks👟 pair👣 💕well💞 with my 💛💚pastel💙💜 brights, 💡lights✨ & whites: camisoles • tank tops🎽 by Banana🍌 ⚓️Republic * Gap * Esprit * PINK🏤 by Victoria’s Secret👙 • mesh jersey🏈 by Wilson🎾 | skorts⛳️ by C9 for Champion🏆 • shorts by Adidas⚽️ & Under Armor🏉
Ready for my 1st fun run to break in these comfy, lightweight, flexible kicks!
The name of these sneakers symbolize the runner who wears them! 👊🏽
G-Dub is for … Gray & White 😻🐈 Deuces ✌
I started going gray before I turned 30.
TMI, am I right?
But I might as well keep it real about my age and aging process!
How’d I begin my silver streak👵🏽 in the first place?
👴🏽White👓 = 💡WISE!!!
My BFF and sis observed their own prior to mine. I first noticed it while I was doing my game day braids👧🏻 the post-season after my NBA D-League🏀 team won the 🏆NBA-DL championship…
Now that I’ve found a few more stragglers as I’m growing out my hair to donate without chemicals after I graduate, I’m looking at the bright [light –> white] side ~ the silver lining, if you will (hence the pun)
At least I still have hair on my head!
Speaking of white, here in other news📰 …
🌠My impeccable style + my adjunct 🍎teaching🍏 income (lack thereof ~ yet happy to have a job) while I’m on sabbatical for doctoral school = 🍹champagne🍸 taste on a 🍺beer🍻 💰budget💸
Enter Mami Aya👩🏻 to the rescue!
My dear Nanay has been wanting to revamp my 💃🏽wardrobe, and with my 🎈birthday🎁 around the corner (hint hint), I took her up on her offer while mixing in pieces that I already have!
White Bottoms & Color Blocking + Silver & Gold = #BOLD
Since I wear white bottoms between Memorial Day & Labor Day, here’s what I wore to our evening/Vigil Mass at Church last weekend: my new *white HOT* slacks {Liz Claiborne Emma} paired with black off-the-shoulder blouse {*Express} over navy blue tank top {GAP} + black patent leather wedges {BCBG} + black & white color block handbag {Coach Hamptons} ~ I pay attention to every single detail, so the silver hardware on both my purse & sandals coordinate! [Alternate top: zebra striped cowl neck peplum {EXP*} 🇺🇸💒👠👒👜
Peachy Keen: My obsession with peach/coral has taken us by storm through this color block dress with taupe piping & white bottom {Calvin Klein} that looks dayum good with these nude patent leather cork wedges with gold trim {Antonio Melani, Dillard’s exclusive} ~ top it off with my rose gold heart tote {Guess?} + gold ♥heart♥ jewelry & we’re off! #PrettyInPink #GoForTheGold 🍑🌺👗👡💝👜👛🎀
My *new* nude (also available in black) patent leather cork wedges with gold trim by Antonio Melani can go with anything! ♥Love♥ the Tiffany Blue box & surroundings?
My main ring & bracelet holder is this *Freedom* Cat!
“So, ok.” Happy 2-Decade ♥Anniversary♥ to Clueless ~ an inspiration behind my own teenage trendsetting! “As if!”
As I prepare for my potential promotion, I planned a new ensemble in light of our recent *Independence Day* and this ☼summer☼ season …
Nautical: * red * white * blue
White pants {Emma Ankle} are suitable between *Memorial Day* & *Labor Day* + the red button down top made the cut {both by Liz Claiborne} topped with the navy blue & white 3/4-s cardi {by St. John’s Bay}
with the *stars* and =stripes=
Sterling silver sailor steering wheels & yellow gold anchors for my ears pair well with this *star* denim tote bag (also perfect for the beach) with tan braided handles {by Mossimo} for my portfolios
plus anchor and sailor steering wheel!
Apparently, my nautical inspiration extends beyond my outfit ~ after I set it out with accessories on ☼Sunday☼, I watched HGTV‘s Beach Flip premiere that also featured similar designs!
Now should I wear a * red * white or * blue handbag & shoes?
Scratch wearing the white slacks ~ late-breaking, thunder-breaking: we’re getting another storm in!
Is having my stats cat on my grad gear bad luck? I didn’t ask for it… She just jumped on before I tried it on!
Leave it to this Angel Annie to always come through … all over the place!
Now that I’ve received {drum roll please} …
2 lessons that I teach & practice: (1) Visualization ~ Walking across the stage (2) Self-Fulfilling Prophecy ~ Taking the steps toward reaching this goal
… my doctorate graduation regalia …
Business in the front … Party in the back!
… and accompanying dresses (including the one for my dissertation defense), these are my pieces that I plan to feature in my doctoral grad announcement photos in solid shades that I ♥adore♥:
Shift Dress (more forgiving / less flattering straight silhouette) in Coral (to suit my stylist Dr. Garza‘s taste): Spaghetti Strap Slip underneath Crocheted Lace Overlay * Skater Dress (more figure-framing A-line short skirt) in Mint (close enough to fulfill my Tiffany blue obsession): Strapless Slip layered under Sleeveless Scoopneck Sparkly Silver Lurex Fishnet
✌Both Dresses by Charlotte Russe
Now if only I can pair
This coral shift dress pairs well with these rose gold chunky heels {by Forever 21}! #PrettyInPink
But I could make do with my own!
I can rock out this mint skater dress with these just-as-*sparkly* stiletto heels {by A’Gaci O’Shoes}! #MintyFresh
Since I plan to drive around for my photo shoot, I’ll wear these comfy gladiators in between venues!
Both dresses coordinate with the stones in these gladiator sandals ~ which mi Cuñada and I both picked out for ourselves together!
S also is for …
#SoFreshAndSoClean
Happy Five-Year ♥Anniversary♥ to my Truck ☼SUNSHINE☼!!!
☼Sunshine☼ looks pristine!
She’s still as beautiful as can be and has sustained the pain beyond the rain, from sleet and snow to hurricanes and hail storms, without damage (knock on wood ~ as in my luxury wood dash trim interior)!
“It’s got 4-wheel drive, dual-side air bags & a monster [hit high-pitch] ♪sound♫ system!” ~ Alicia Silverstone as Cher on Clueless {mine makes the last 2-out-of-3}
Although we’re freshly into ☼summer☼, I tend to think ahead …
… Especially since I anticipate my dissertation defense.
While I’ve already planned what to wear on my BiG day right down to my footwear (yet still debatable), I’m wondering about plaid since it’ll be the look of next season.
I already know that I can *rock out* plaid! Just what the future Doctor ordered: these Doc Martens! {FYI: I have my phone screen shot for a reason ~ to show that I maintain Airplane Mode to prevent distractions during my study}
Perhaps I can go with one of these trendsetting patterns for my graduation photos that I’ll send with my announcements. Come to think of it, I really am treating this like I’m tying the knot! Here are similarities:
| Courtship of Dissertation –> Doctoral Degree | Engagement –> Wedding |
| Proposal (Concept, Defense) | Popping the Question |
| Wearing my Class Ring on my Left Finger *BLING* | Wearing an Engagement Ring on the Left Finger *BLING* |
| Committing to my Research Topic | Committing to Partner |
| Pre-Dissertation Coursework | Pre-Marital Classes |
| Selecting Dissertation Dress* | Selecting Bridal Gown |
| Selecting Grad Announcement Wardrobe | Selecting Engagement Announcement Wardrobe |
| Getting into/Staying in Shape for Events | <– Same as the left –| |
| Writing Dissertation (way longer to write and present) | Writing Wedding Vows (shorter to present) |
| Walking Across the Stage | Walking Down the Aisle |
| Getting Hooded | Getting Hitched |
| Changing Name to Dr. ________________ | Changing Name to Mrs. ________________ |
* Bearing in mind that I’m picking out how to dress for this milestone, I’m deciding between something stylish or timeless. Someday, as I flip through my Ph.D. grad pics to reminisce or show them to future generations, I must look put-together and NOT like a hot mess! ~ I definitely don’t want to reflect back and think
What was I thinking?
Like Ellen DeGeneres reveals on her throwback segments!
Despite the serious nature of my study and my own detail-orientation of my appearance for my final presentation, I can’t help but find fun in everything to lift my spirits, including with this clip:
Throwback: Papa Jun and Baby Me appear here on page 8 of the June 2015 issue of Blessed Living Magazine!
Run in heels!
♪These heels weren’t made for running…♫ Would you be caught in the Jurassic age sprinting in (a) platforms (east & west) or (b) stilettos (north & south)? Gotta ♥love♥ my glitz & glam collection of shiny spikes!
That’s exactly what Bryce Dallas Howard did in Jurassic World ~ which hit box office record-high revenues in its debut weekend ~ as her character, Claire, ran amidst dinosaurs.
This bombshell daughter of Happy Days actor and Oscar-winning director Ron Howard shows us that not only can she rock out nude pumps (one of my recent footwear options for my dissertation defense), she can race in them as well! Here’s more Heel Hype
Lunges are essential.
Calf raises also help.
While skinny heels aren’t particularly my first choice to login miles (obviously, those and platforms aren’t the most practical), some of us runners and good-cause advocates may have raced in them to raise funds for awareness and research.
[Sidestep note: I’m probably one of the only people into pop culture who still hasn’t seen it yet could’ve with my Jurassic fan Bestie ~ but am predisposed with my research now]
Dino Run = Dyno-mite!!!
The Elaine Dispo Journal 