Just wanna have fun on Eid Holiday!!!

As the Ramadan ends (Eid) everyone is on vacation and its quite a challenge for expatriates like me to plan ahead what to do on holiday here in Saudi Arabia because, as you all know, there are a lot of restrictions (e.g no bars, no cinema and no drinks). But you’ll be surprised there are quite a lot of places to dine out and shop in here. There are also fun activities being organized by associations or communities of foreign workers like sports and private parties with live bands.  It’s a week of holiday for the Muslims so we’ve gotta do something to have fun by ourselves.

Roaming around the city is fun because shops have mushroomed everywhere and traffic is not a big concern.

Photo of Corniche Road, Al Khobar at night.

International Chain of restaurants and coffee shops along Corniche Rd. I just love the place. Its really beautiful at night.

My friends and I love to try new places to eat. We checked out this new bakeshop called, the French Bakery in Al Khobar. Thanx to my friend Jovi Perante who is like a walking directory/CityGuide.

My gorgeous friends on their sandals. Jovie on the left was wearing sandals from Milano and Reynold's gladiators from Iconic. Don't you just love those foot-wears?

yours truly in 

Long Sleeve Shirt: Philosophy, Petronas Tower, KL

Brogue shoes: Lee Cooper, KSA

It’s a bakeshop with dine in experience. Façade of the establishment looks inviting as the lights inside are just so bright that you could see the colors of the cakes from outside displayed like figurines. As you enter, cakes on display were just beautiful and well presented that you would surely want to grab some and run to the nearest table to eat them right away. Most staffs were Filipinos and they were friendly as usual.  Ive been craving for a sandwiche a long time and thank goodness there were a lot of choices.

Gosh!!! couldnt hide my incessantly growing tummy anymore. I'll have to take losing weight more seriously this time.

The thickiest hot choco drink ever that you could literally dip a "suman" (a filipino rice deli)  into it or make it a spread on a bread. Far out!!!

This is their take-out packaging, i thought it was a give-away. Fabulous!!!. 

There’s surely no better way to burn calories after supper than shopping. So we checked DKNYin Dharan which was just put up few months ago. They are on Sale!!!

Then we went to a friend’s place for chit chat and laughter with a nicely flavored Sisha smoking to end the lovely evening. Sisha (also known as a Hookah) is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for smoking in which the smoke is cooled by water. Sounds cool right? Oh I just the love apple aroma . What's even more cool about it is that there are a lot of flavors to choose from and  its not harmful to health.

That’s it for today and surely have more fun things to come the following day. Thanks to my fabulous friends.

Beso!

Iftar Party Rocks!!!

What is an Iftar Dinner?

Iftar (Arabi‎) means the evening meal shared by the whole family to break the fast together right after sunset (Maghrabi) in observance to the holy month of Ramadan by Muslims all over the world.


Our company organizes Iftar Dinner Party every year and this year we had it at Carlton Moaibed Hotel In Al Rakah, KSA. This is the only time when everyone in the company gets together. With the country's strict adherence to the Shariah law, there were no women in the party. Its not that I'm looking for hot Chicks in the event, duh?! but i wanted to give spice to the male crowd who expectedly wore the usuals (you know, earth tones, the usual checkered and stripes) so I went wearing a floral printed shirt.

There I go looking happy despite feeling bad not being able to hit the buffet counter twice in:
Floral Printed Long Sleeve Shirt, Topman 
Skinny Jeans from Penshoppe which 've had for years already (amazing!)
Leather boots, Iconic


I was still hungry when I got home because we arrived at the party so late. After few bites, our big boss delivered his speech. I needed to stop coz I and some of my colleagues whom I came in with are the only people left eating. The speech lasted around an hour and by that time the buffet counter was already closed.

Good thing, A week after I was invited over by my dearest friend Reynolds Sto. Tomas for an Iftar Dinner at their hotel, Tulip Inn. and this time I am inspired by a chic rock n' roll look . I went for a literal interpretation of the look with gold beaded shirt, studded belt, brown leather shoes and grey trousers.

Shirt from Centerpoint, Saudi Arabia
Trousers from Iconic, Dharan Mall, Saudi Arabia
Boots from Iconic, Dharan Mall Saudi Arabia
Belt from Jaded, Centerpoint, Saudi Arabia

My truly treasured friends in KSA (from left to right: Jovito Perante, Larry Buensuceso, yours truly and Reynolds Sto, Tomas)



Fun being with you guys!. Had a great time. Until next year!

I was so full that i literally lay down in the tent displayed inside the lobby of the hotel.

Big thanx to my friend Reynolds Sto. Tomas for the invitation. It means a lot. Beso!!!

Beso!

Recessionista is the new Fabulous!

 Striped shirt from Pull & Bear, Dharan Mall, Ksa

Suspender fromTopman, Dharan Mall, Ksa

Trouser from Topman, Dharan Mall, KSA

Shoes from Aldo, Corniche

Today's economy is a roller coaster ride, you don't know when the big blow is gonna get you. Fortunately, Middle East is surviving most espcially Saudi Arabia but with their "Nitaqat Program/Saudization" you dont know until when you're gonna stay in the company. You would surely wanna look fabulous and still be able to pull off a grand exit walk with your best shoes on when you are told about the bad news by your boss right?

I'd like to borrow a new term coined that was once featured on "Tyra"- Recessionista: People who still manages to stay fabulous and fashionable even at times of recession. Sounds major is it? achievable? Yes!

This may be the least thing you would expect to hear from me coz i suck at this but" start savin".  I have a bad reputation from friends when it comes to spending. Managing finances over the past years apparently hasnt had been my strongest suit but I have learned a lot.

Budgeting is hard! It is challenging and never thought it would require mathematical skills which I lack btw ( my High School report card is flashing back in my memory right now) but i worked my butt off for this. Following tips ( echos!)

1.) Know your priorities. Write it on a piece of paper and post it on a wall opposite to your bed so you would be reminded everyday when you wake up in the morning. But your main priority should be to pay yourself first. Put your target saving in a red envelope for example to warn you not to touch it. Set aside some penny for  emergency just in case you'll exhaust your budget for your necesseities (food, transpo,utilities, rent etc). Its not bad at all to treat yourself. Wouldnt hurt your pocket if you spend some dosh for shopping but gotta consider the following :

• Know your style!!! if you are confused of your personal style, you've gotta start picking your reference from someone you idolize then put your personal touch to it. You wouldn't wanna buy something that you would be hesitant to wear coz it doesnt speak about yourself.
• Always window shop first before you buy something. Its a jungle out there, there are just too many choices. 
• Gotta have staples in your wardrobe. They never go out of style. Camel is the new black and it can hardly be noticed if its fading when overused. You can easily match it pretty much with any color. Skin tone friendly and looks really expensive.
• Gotta have plan B always, just in case your target item is gone when u get back to the shop.

2) Don't ever compromise your food allowance in expense of something. Plan your diet wisely instead. Dont waste your money on foods that doesn't have nutritional values. You can binge on nuts so you wont have to crave too much on major meals. If sweets are too irresistible, grab some flavored yogurt with fruit mixes. I bet you dont want your clothes to be stocked up somehwere after gaining some weight.

3.) Accesorize. Accessories can make your look entirely different so try investing on them.

4.) Know how to mix and match your clothes. You dont need to do a lot of shopping for a new look, mixing and matching would do the trick to achieve a new look.

5.) Revive your old clothes from your closet. Pick clothes that you can still dye to bring their color to their original glory. Reinvent your clothes!

6.) Shop at surplus or vintage stores, all it has to take is a little amount of patience and determination to get the best find and let the fashion diva in you do the rest.

7.) Dont forget to wear the most important thing of all-ATTITUDE. Attitude is everything guys!

Beso!

Why not red socks?

 White cotton long sleeve shirt  from Zara, Al Khobar, KSA

Pants from Centerpoint, Al Rakah, KSA

Leather Shoes from Aldo, Al Khobar, KSA

Red socks from Debhenams, Dharan Mall, KSA

Key chain from Philosophy, Petronas Tower, Malaysia

Belt from City Maxx, Al Khobar, KSA

In the Middle East, men in colors most specially red and pink will not only cause attention but will definitely stir skepticism on ones sexuality (needless to say, no need on my part).

Today I wore these irresistibly cherry red socks which I bought on sale from Debenhams and as expected, they thought I was going nuts (hehe!) but I stood tall and walk as if my last walk on the runway.

"Why not wear some colors in our feet the way we love to wear colorful shirts/dresses?" I protested. Gone are the days of black/grey socks are the only "must" colors to match our leather shoes.

Feel confident on anything you wear. Attitude always bring out the beauty in anything you project.

Beso!