A Basket Full of Dreams

Recycling some thoughts I shared on my personal blog, www.issatalks.wordpress.com

Everyone is always in such a hurry these days and it’s the rush, the hustle and the bustle that scares me. It’s that feeling of not wanting to get left behind and the thought that “what if the whole world is rushing, moving forward, succeeding and here I am floating” that pressures me. I feel this way all the time and I guess I’ll keep feeling this way because I tend to stress myself like that. And because I know the fighter in me is gonna want to keep up, I’m going to keep striving, working hard and hoping for something better. I think this is my ultimate goal: to not just follow and catch up but to be ahead, to lead, to be someone others can look at and be inspired of.

I keep saying this is my head and I keep wanting to tell people this so I might as well go ahead and say it: Life is different when you’re in the back seat especially when it’s from the back seat of a motorcycle (in my case, a habal-habal). I am constantly being brought back to that moment because it really did make a huge impact on me.

A couple of weeks ago I rode a motorcycle from Badian to Car-car at 9:30 in the evening and if you’re from Cebu, you’d understand how freakishly dangerous this was. I felt stupid that I did it, I was scared and I can’t even remember how many times I just wanted to get off and say, “I was wrong, I want to go back.” But looking back, I would probably do it again. I’d do it again so I can be scared and unsure. I’d do it again to feel those emotions, look up to a sky full of stars and feel… at peace. I wish there was a more dramatic way to say it. You had to be there!

I keep re-telling people it because it’s a great reminder [and a great story!]. Because honestly, I am always scared. I’m scared of everything! I’m afraid of defeat, of not being successful, I’m afraid that I’m not good enough or pretty enough or to simply put it, I’m afraid that I might never be enough. I know a lot of people are like this and it’s a silly thing to feel, really. But still, we feel it anyways regardless of how pathetic it may be.

So when days like this come along, and they come a lot, I tell myself to look up at that sky from the back of that death ride. I tell myself to picture myself on top of that motorcycle again at godknowhowmanykilometers/hour and managing to find some kind of peace and it’s been working a lot!

I want to go places but I suffer from a different type of Wanderlust. I want to travel my soul and find a place that no adventurer could explore but myself. I want to find that place in me that is capable of doing great things and is powerful enough to become someone wonderful. I want to tell my stories of climbing the mountains of my struggles and being in that black pit knowing that there was knowing that there was no way to go but up. No, I don’t want to brag… I want to inspire.

My basket of dreams is filled to the brim but what is a full basket when there is no heart strong enough to carry it?

I want strong arms to carry it and a stronger heart to conquer these dreams of mine.

Are your arms strong enough to carry yours?

Credits to Roger Cas

Shot at: IT Park

xx,

Issa

Control Freaks

What is it with people and their weird obsession with controlling one another?

I’m a force that cannot be reckoned with and I am most definitely not a thing you can OWN and much more CONTROL so I wonder… what the hell makes YOU think that YOU or ANYONE else can?? Weird. People.

It’s a poor way of to live, to assume that there are things you can do that instantly gives you control over people. It’s an even worse way to think that monetary subsidization automatically means that another person can control you. I’m a big girl, I think I can handle things on my own.

My mother, folks. She thinks I can be bought by her worse enemy. How confident are you… 

And Suddenly, I’m A Cliche

I’m mad at this dress. It was supposed to be an over sized dress just the way I like it… until my yaya decided she wouldn’t let me leave the house in it.

Now it’s an altered dress with sleeves too big and it looks like a Filipiniana. I’m never going to wear this dress again!

I guess that’s what happens when you let other people dictate you.

What the hell am I doing listening to my maid anyways? Pffft.

I Can’t Stomach This

What is that thing you get when there’s too air much on your stomach that causes a great amount of flatulence? What is it, what is it, what is it?

I’m scared I might get that one day.

But most of all, I fear that I may never get the bod to fully and confidently sport a crop top. WHY WAS I NOT BORN WITH ABS?!?

Posing in this ratchet top was really a struggle. I don’t know why I ever thought it was OK to pose with it, much more to actually go out in broad daylight in it (I blame the heat!). And let me tell you something, you can try to hide a belly as much as you want but when it comes down to it, if you have it, it’s eventually going to pop! As seen here…

POP!

I got a lot of beef for buying these hammer pants (aka sagging crotch pants) from i don’t know… ALL my friends. They pointed out how much it wasn’t in style, how it is soo difficult to wear and how incredibly ugly they were, but I just couldn’t resist. Plus, they were only P 250.00 at Gaisano Carcar (the ONLY place I shop at anymore) so I figured it wouldn’t be such a painful investment if I decided never to wear it again.

I decided to pair my harems with a cropped top because (…Paolo isn’t around to tell say “you can’t wear that!”) I thought it would be a good combination of tight and baggy. I always try to add a little volume (?) to my clothes by mixing it up like that. For example, tight jeans = loose shirt, leggings = oversized shirt, etc. That way I don’t look like a lumpia roll or a garbage bag.

The crop top may have been a bit revealing so when I went out that evening to have drinks with a friend, I switched to a longer crop top instead. Conceal, don’t feel.

Here are other ways to sport hammer pants:

And here’s how to hide.that.belly…

Behind a screen door!

Have a great Sunday, everybody!

xx,

Issa

It’s Really Hot & I Don’t Care

It’s been freakishly, unbelievably HOT lately. I honestly cannot stand the heat. It’s soo f*uickvng! insaaane!! And okaaaay, I know it’s summer and I know it’s supposed to be hot but seriously, it’s just.so.damn.hot! -.- #iamsad

If there’s an upside to this weather, it’s that I can wear as little clothes as I please (or that I can get away with, at least). And since we do own a business that mostly manufactures t-shirts and other apparel, I figured that this summer I’d take advantage of it and have as many over sized and cropped tops as I want. So if I’m tagging #citiwear on my blog, thaaaat’s meeee!!

For this outfit I simply wore an over sized shirt that I was too lazy to have tailored once I got it. Initially I wanted a long fitted shirt but then I realized that this is grey and I must avoid sweat stains at all costs so… I settled for this. 😀

I have sweaty pitts sometimes. Yes, that is indeed a fact.

To jazz the whole look up, I paired it with a Golden State Warriors cap because REPRESENT, that’s why! I also wore a gold chain necklace just because it added a bit of character to my look and lastly, I paired it off with my favorite heels, added some dark lipstick and well… this is how I looked.

I also wore this to an event a last week and I added a blazer to make it more “appropriate”. 😉

Here are some of my tips when finding the right t-shirt for you:

1. If you’re looking for a fitting tee, keep in mind that ladies sizes come in curves and the sleeves are a bit shorter in length as compared to the mens’ sizes. This allows the shirt to hug your body better and show your curves.

2. The shoulder line of a shirt plays a big factor in determining if a shirt will look too big or too small on you. Make sure that it falls right above or shoulder joint (?!) and that it’s not draping your upper arm hence, like my shirt is. #sorrynotsorry

3. There are a million different types of material you can make a shirt with and they all have their pros, cons and functions. Learn them (or maybe I’ll share on another post. Lemme know!) and find out which one works the most for you.

… That’s all, for now 🙂

 Stay cool (not like this weather!)

xx,

Issa

Electric

Happy Easter, Everyone! I hope you are all out somewhere enjoying Sunday lunch and egg hunting with your families or out with friends soaking up the sun or… reading this blog. (Thanks for being here, by the way!)

I wish the holidays wouldn’t come to an end cuz I am definitely having too much fun doing nothing except sit in front of the computer, work out, take long drives and eat all while spending time with the people who mean the most to me.

And for many like me who don’t want to go back to work or Monday, here’s a quick outfit that could easily trick your brain into thinking you’re still on Summer vacation while still maintaining the corporate/ semi- formal feel.

Long, flowing skirts always send out a “i’m-off-to-the-beach” feel and a “i-mean-business” vibe at the same time which is why it’s always my go to garment when attending events when I’m not soo sure of the dress code.

I wore this outfit to the Summer Polish Party held by Beauty and Butter last month and it made me feel like I was spot on with what’s trendy and sophisticated at the same time plus, I wore this to a client meeting right after and they seemed to like what I was wearing. Except I heard a couple of smirks from a couple receptionists that went something like “pffft… I used to have a body like that.” *eye roll* okaaaaay.

So a word of advice to all my wonderful readers: if in doubt, go for a long skirt! Take control of the liberty to dress it up by adding heavy jewelry and some dark make up or play it fun and laid back with a crop top or basic tee. The possibilities are endless for as long as you feel good about yourself and confidence will surely follow. 😉

Still the best manicure I’ve ever gotten!

Cross ring: Aizilym

 

Crop top: Forever 21

Skirt: Citi Wear

A big, bad shout out to Rabsin De la Cruz of www.finlust.blogspot.com for these wonderful photos!

I love you! You make me feel pretty ❤ hihi

Happy Easter, Everyone! Keep it holy!

xx,

Issa