Cheap Thrills

If you only had a hundred pesos to spend, would you still come out of the mall feeling happy? I recently thought of this when one fine day, I opened my wallet and found only 20 friggin pesos!lol. Don't worry it ends happily, well, as happy as finding a BPI withdrawing machine can be, but that's beside the point. I raised the budget a notch higher and asked if having less monetarily can still put the same smile on my face. You know what? The answer is surprisingly yes! haha! I could still be the happy mallrat with only 100 with me. Mind you most of the things I thought of were food, but to each his own right? So without further ado, here is my cheap thrill list!

1.Definitely my number 1, no-fail pick-up, regardless if I have 100 o 1000- Zagu! A medium-sized milk tea with extra pearls and crystals! Love!- PHP 46
2.Back issues of magazines like Lucky, Teen Vogue and Domino- PHP 72
3.Pippo's ice cream- PHP 30 for a scoop in a waffle cone.
4.Cute girl panties from Metro Ayala- PHP 39 (i think this is an overshare?! haha)
5.KFC Chik'n fillet! I had this last night with alveel! PHP 78 and it comes with a drink and fries- you can't beat that!
7.Potato Corner Trio (Sour cream, BBQ and Cheese)- PHP 70
8.DVDs or should I say DBDs cos that's how the sellers say it!- 3 for PHP 100 (where my mom gets them)
9.Street food like banana-q and turon! Im not sure how much they are now but pretty sure no more than P10 for each!
10.Those red ribbon snack deals where you get a palabok, iced tea and a slice of cake for 75! I think my love for palabok is becoming apparent.
11. And one more for the road! Mommy's Pizza! The last time I checked one box of these cost PHP 72 and i've been a fan ever since a box cost PHP 36!

What about you? What are your cheap thrills?

Paperdolls Version 2009

When I was little, I used to love playing with paperdolls. Does anyone else remember those? You'd sort of cut them out and swap outfits. I distinctly remember one having the same name as my aunt. Anyway, a visit to littlemissdressup revealed looklet.com! What it is is an online paperdoll of sorts. You pick out the models and dress them up! I have to say I am in love! It's extremely addicting. Here are some of the looks I came up with, and now, you'll have to excuse me because I'm off to make some more!

Happy List from the weekend that was

I've decided to take stock of little things that have been keeping me happy. There's nothing like the power of positive thoughts to attract more positive thoughts. I wallowed in my little happy pool on the weekend, which mainly consisted of:

1. Dinner with an old friend (Kaith to be more specific). it was fun to catch up and just talk.
Pictures from the dinner.


2.Late, late night deep converations about nothing and everthing. I went to cy's house after dinner and ended up staying until 3:30 am.
3.Downloaded shows (I'm currently downloading top chef, the rachel zoe project, and project runway, with jason's help of course)
4.Room revamp- My saturday afternoon and night was spent at home, rearranging my room, after I was inspired by Cybill's new and pristine one! I'm really happy with the way mine turned out- all "hotelly" and shiz haha, I just need a flat screen tv (any cheapo one will do)
5.Online shopping- i think i need to stop rambling about the merits of forever21 and elf to just about everyone i meet.
6.Coffee with Sheila- i love how this random thing has become a mini-ritual for both of us. It's simple- we meet up to have coffee and mainly vent about everything and anything.

Sure, I still constantly lust about this bag, or those pair of shoes, or this perosn's life, and I will forever keep on wishing for some things (for jason and i to just be together really), but its nice to see what things i have going for me too. :)

im happy

you just have to make the best out of what life gives you! xx

Food, food, food!

I stuffed myself silly in Bangkok. There seemed to be unlimited things to try. From street corners to obscure restaurants, the choices were endless. It didn't help that the prices were super affordable too! I loved every minute of it! All the walking we did made me hungry. Luckily, there was always something to reward myself with. I want to go back, even if its just for the food.



By closetidealist Glorious Bangkok Food


Take me back!

Bangkok Bliss

I absolutely loved Bangkok! I loved how the Thais were such nice, welcoming people. It's really admirable how they're so keen on injecting beauty into every little thing that they do, from random street food to their temples. Their sense of culture is also something to be marveled at, as is their devotion to their King! It's rare to see that these days especially when you hear us criticizing politicians left and right! Another thing that I found wonderful was the marriage of the old world and new in Bangkok- Skytrains with Tuktuks, Pepper lunch side by side flower juice! I could go on and on!

If I could, I would post all of my pictures here, but I guess these capture some of my favorite memories in the city of bargains and all things spicy!



By closetidealist



Labels from L-R, up to down:
1.Masks to drive away evil spirits
2.Pretty flowers
3.Flower juice break with mai-mai
4.Buddha shrine in the middle of JJ mall
5.Pink taxi cabs
6.Waiting for the Sky train after a productive day of shopping (See the full mustard bag)
7.Little monk, Big monk
8.Giant Leaning Buddha
9.Bangkok streets
10.Pretty dolls
11.Temples at Wat Po that seem to touch the sky
12.Buddha, Maimai and me
13.Detailed peacock on the temple walls
14.Entrance to Wat Po
15.A hot day on the Skytrain


I'll be posting my foodshots next! Yummmmm!
P.S Please pardon the weird collage. it was my first attempt!:p

Chong-Sam

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By closetidealist


I'm back and No, these were not taken in Bangkok! I seem to have misplaced my memory card reader :s. Anyhoo, I found this dress while thrifting and I loved how the cut was that of a chong-sam while the fabric was something Indonesian(?).

Please someone tell me if I've thrifted someone's restaurant uniform or something :) lol.

*Wearing: Thirfted dress, cotton on belt, gold studded bangle, rolex watch, matthews gladiators*
**Photo by maimai**

Thin Layers

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Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do- Especially when the weather proves to be too uncomfortable to don certain articles of undergarments necessary to provide coverage for "the girls". Do you understand what I'm even talking about?! Anyway, the solution turned out to be thin layers. I was a pretty comfy camper throughout that night and no accidental sightings took place as well :)

In other news, my friend Jula came home after what seemed like 48 years of being away. So we met up for dinner and drinks :)

*Wearing: Jayjays yellow and white men's wifebeater, no label gray dress, no label printed bird vest, Urge black shoes, Target studded cuff, Dad's vintage watch, Sportsgirl rings*
**I stole the photos off Mikey. Thanks, btw! :)**

Beach Buddies

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After a huuuggggggee breakfast to celebrate my cousin Tom-tom's birthday (the theme was inspired by a hotel breakfast buffet, might post pics later), my family decided to go on a long drive to scout for more possible beach house sites (still crossing fingers). And since my sister mai-mai was home, I had someone to camwhore with- wheeeee :p

*Wearing: No label pink tube top, Thrifted powder blue skirt and black fringe payless shoes*

**Photos by Wyben Briones (thanks dad!)**

Sack dress

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By closetidealist yay for my new cage shoes! :)


The last thing you want to do when it feels like a hundred degrees outside is to put on something dark and clingy. I don't know about you but those are my personal sentiments. This sack dress of sorts was just hanging in my closet waiting for the perfect hot day. I feel like this is going to be on constant rotation for the summer, never mind if its reminiscent of a lab coat, haha!

P.S I am in love with my new nude cage shoes from maimai! Thanks mai!xx

*Wearing: no label linen white dress (lab gown?), Ichigo nude cage shoes*
**Photos by maimai

Impromtu

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Sometime last week, my mom woke me up, saying we were going on the hunt for a place to build our very own beach house. This is where we ended up. I loved everything about it. Now if only money falls from the sky or certain financiers cooperate.. I am "the secreting" this one. :)

*Wearing: Charles and Keith Aviators, thrifted red dress, old old white Havaianas flip flops*

Good Girl

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I finally got around to watching "Love in the Time of Cholera". I read the book months ago and found myself so in love with the story. Finding a dvd so I could see the story come to life was an entirely more challenging matter. Thank God for torrents!

I guess the story must've stuck in my subconscious more than I thought because I found myself craving for something "old world" to wear as I was getting dressed the other day. I ended up with this vintage top with embroidered detail (from my mom, i think). The lead character did her hair up in braids too, so I guess this was my version :p

*Wearing: Vintage white top with embroidered detail, Cult Femme khaki shorts, Marco Gianni shoes, Kenneth Jay Lane inspired ring from Cotton On, Gold studded cuff from Rustan's*

**Photos by Tyrell and Tom-tom**

maimai love

By closetidealist maimai and me


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By closetidealist


By closetidealist this is her with her PRP bet last season, Phillip Tampus


I'm excited. My sister maimai will be home from uni in less than a week. I'm not only looking forward to some shoes (hint hint), but also having a resident photographer and make-up artist at home with me! Yay!

These photos are a blast from the past- taken from the last time that she was home, from a random night out. A friend was in a fashion show and we were there to cheer her on :) Maimai ended up having her photo taken with Proj runway Phil. contestant and that made her night.

My sister is crazy about make-up. When she's home, I suddenly get really lazy to put mine on myself. I guess all those times of hard work and sacrifice (lol) have made her realize her true calling! She wants to be a make-up artist now and has even started a blog about it! Take a look at musingsofafrustratedmua ! I may be a little biased but i'm beyond impressed! go mai! :)

New Beginnings

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By closetidealist *jason (my blog administrator, punching bag,24/7 savior and favorite person in the world (on most days) oh, he's the bf too:p) and the closet idealist*



Why the new blog?

Everybody grows up, even spoiled vain bratty princesses. I would like to believe that I'm older now, and wiser, and have learnt some of life's lessons. The last year has pounded into my head that it's always better to send positive energy out into the universe, because when you do that, it sends more than its fair share back to you.

So instead of the gloom and doom that i was used to venting out in my last corner in cyberspace, I choose to now concentrate on things that make me smile, and things that make me happy. Shallow as it may seem, clothes, fashion and dressing up do just that for me. So does the beach, evident in my first set of posted pictures.

Expect to see just that and more on closetidealist, because not only is it a place where i call on the powers of the secret to send me items to fill up my ideal closet, it's also a space where i can be my cheerful, chirpy,positive and optimistic self, even if the whole world thinks its really uncool to be so. So obsess with me, surf with me, and let's see where this new wave takes us :)

*Photos taken on the beach behind Jace's house*