Silver Lining

Wearing: XXI brocade dress, Zara shoes, Chanel watch, Cartier love bracelet

A trip to the Philippines is not complete without being stuck in traffic; and on New Year's Day we experienced nothing less than a memorable standstill. Despite the traffic headache, our boat ride and journey up to a volcano was quite the adventure. Alex and I can share countless stories from our journey that day, but I'll let the pictures above reserve those unforgettable moments.

Views from Taal Vista Lodge in Tagaytay, Club Balai Isabel in Batangas, and the Crater Lake inside Taal Volcano. Not pictured: my tired pony, nerdy boyfriend attached to a GoPro head-strap, and the traffic mess we had to go through from Manila and back! -- Yuck!

When we arrived in Palawan after this dreadful day, it was paradise from thereon. We treasured every second of bliss and after spending the next four days care-free, one thing was certain: El Nido is a magical place and we had such a beautiful time there, together.

Here's a video montage from our trip:

Philippines Photo Diary

My 30th birthday was spent in the air, en route to the Philippines. Because of the different time zone, I technically "skipped" December 30 and arrived in Manila on New Years Eve. I fell asleep practically the entire flight; and so the whole day on my actual birthday I was on a plane. At first it seemed a little sad but as you can tell from the pictures above, getting to spend the rest of the week in paradise definitely made it worth it.

I consumed large amounts of mangos every single day, had breakfasts at Shangri-La's Circles buffet (they do breakfast the best), hiked to the top of Taal Volcano, and best of all -- I discovered the most beautiful place I have ever visited -- Palawan. Just thinking of our stay in El Nido gives me withdrawals and there are no words to describe how amazing it is. If you have the opportunity to go, I highly recommend staying at Lagen Island Resort. I've always wanted to stay in a water cottage and we were lucky to get the best one (request 109). I can go on and on but a few highlights were: Secret Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Entalula Beach, and Big Lagoon -- all in that order. I can't wait to post the videos from the trip. Tons of footage to edit and I apologize for the month delay to even post these.

Time is flying by and I can't believe it's almost February. This year has kicked off to a good start and I look forward to more adventures this 2014! Cheers!

Goodbye Twenties

Topshop skirt, Cole Haan flats, Coach bag, Jcrew necklace, Chanel watch

I spent the last of my 20's with the same ladies I've celebrated with -- almost all of the birthday's I've had -- this past decade. We took a road trip down to LA and stayed at The London Hotel in Hollywood. I Instagrammed most of our adventures but the festivities included: Soul Cycling, BluePrint Juice + Patron cocktails, Dinners at Chateau Marmont and The Bazaar at SLS, shopping at The Grove and the best bread pudding I've ever had from the Urth Caffe.

It was a short but very memorable trip, and a nice way to end being 29. Photos below were taken by my good friend, Steve Bitanga at LACMA.

Club Monaco top, Forever 21 skirt, Zara shoes, White House Black Market bag, Chanel watch

As a major Homeland fan, I was excited to read this interview with Claire Danes in Glamour, where she talks about being older and I couldn't have said it better:

"I'm happier in my thirties. I feel clearer about who I am and less apologetic about it and more accepting of my limitations and also more aware of the ways in which I'm capable. I was always looking forward to this time because people talk about it in very romantic terms. And I think it's true. Gravity hasn't had too profound of an effect, and you're a little less emotionally gangly. The twenties are a deceptively challenging-slash-painful time. I'm just glad to be out of that phase."

I started writing this blog when I was just about to turn 25 and it's amazing to see how much I've grown and am so happy I continued to do this. Even though I may not update it as frequently as I'd like, my Instagram is always buzzing and I try to use it often just so I can stay on the radar. Anyway, thank you so much for reading my blog and Happy New Year!! Up next are pictures from my trip to the Philippines!

A Must Have Coat

Wearing: Rudsak coat, JBrand jeans, Mango boots

If you're looking for an awesome winter coat, you should definitely consider the one above. I was inspired from New York and loved how wool coats were everywhere. I guess living in San Francisco, I tend to associate cold with rain and require a jacket that's water resistant. This has kept me extremely warm, especially on my trip to DC last week. The leather lining makes it feel fancier and you really can't beat a hood like that. It really is the best.