on my way to where the air is sweet

After four months of being inactive... Hello, dear friends. It would be an understatement to say that I've been busy (thus being gone) and it sucks not to put something new over here + I miss doing this so here's a quick update. Lately I've been going through a whirlwind of emotions (which I know most girls can relate to) but now I'm feeling so much better. I think it's just a collective of everything, mixed with things people go through while growing up (eww, I know). So before I get all sidetracked with the sadness, I want to say just how grateful I am for the Lord's sovereignty, His grace and salvation that is made available everyday. I've been holding on to His word and it's really my everyday weapon against what the world has been throwing. It's crazy how we can easily forget and be swayed by the busyness of life, but there is a God. Without Him I could have given up; without Him I can do nothing.

"For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light." 

{ Psalm 36:9 ESV }

"You are my strength, I watch for You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely." 

{ Psalm 59:9-10 NIV }

"I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed."

{ Psalm 57:1 NIV }

Biker and Brights

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Leather jacket, Topshop

Earrings, Forever 21

Ring, Love Diva

{ super late post }

Taken at Nuvali, Sta. Rosa Laguna

HAPPY 2013

Happy New Year, everyone! Something just tells me that this year is going to be spectacular. I claim God's favor and blessing in our lives, and I earnestly pray that God will grant you your heart's desire. May this year be a year of breakthrough and victory for all of us. I pray that you are just as hopeful and expectant as I am, because really, God's best is yet to come!

I just want to share how I spent New Year's Eve this year last year, technically? (Time has been flying so fast that tenses seem to confuse me). While my family and I noticed that most people here in Manila flew off to spend their New Year's in a foreign land, we decided to just check in at a hotel (like what we did the previous year). And as usual I thought it was a good idea, since we don't like all them noises.

The moon was exceptionally beautiful during New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve OOTD: SPARKLES

Sequined Top, Fresh Brewed

Tweed Sparkly Shorts, Cache Cache

Nude Pumps, Payless

Accessories, Love Diva

Went for the smokey eyes + pink lipstick for the make-up!

Couldn't decide whether to put my hair up or down, oh well

For dinner, my folks, siblings and I ate at The Phoenix Court. For those of you who do not know about this restaurant, it's an authentic Chinese fine dining restaurant located inside the Bellevue Manila. If you happen to be around the southern area of Manila, you should definitely try out this resto.

Some of our orders. Didn't take a picture of everything cus we devoured them right away.

My cute brother making a face, as usual

I love my family to bits!

After dinner my family and I decided to wait for midnight back up in our hotel. I didn't mind this at all since for some reason, I was feeling anti-social that day, hahaha. I wandered through the pretty view, in which I also had the opportunity to thank God for the beautiful year that had passed. And then I had a flash back of December 2011, when I was in the exact position of adoring the fireworks that lit up the city, being hopeful of breakthroughs for the year to come. I couldn't help but tear up, because I found myself standing one year later, carrying testimonies of answered prayers and God's blessings. More than everything that had happened, it was God whom I was truly admiring, worshiping, and glorifying. I am, therefore, secured that 2013 will even be a greater year.

"May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:4-7

First Christmas Eve at Home

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Top, Apartment 8

Printed Pants, Cotton On

Clogs, Michael Antonio

Watch, Tomato Time

Accessories, Diva

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Eve of Christmas Eve

Our annual Peña clan Christmas party took place on the eve of Christmas eve (December 23) again this year, as it has been for the past 3 years. It's a night of thanksgiving, fun and catching up with the relatives from dad's side and of course, feasting. Oh and yeah, loads of picture taking. This year, we had a theme and it was come wearing a Retro outfit. I would've gone 70's all the way (as I would always do), but I was feeling KPop that day, so I guess you could prolly say that my outfit had Korean influence? Haha anyway, here's what I wore:

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Dress, Forever21

Denim vest, Top & Bottom

Watch, Tomato Time

Accessories from everywhere

Photos from my cousin Ciarky

With my beautiful mom (taken by my dad)

Faith + Fashion

For my twenty third birthday, I asked my parents if they could buy me a new Bible; simple, but a very valuable item that I requested from them. I absolutely love what I picked (haha what) because I've been wanting to get one of these. It's called "The Bible Clutch" (for obvious reasons) and I just adore that it's in pink and reptile skin cover! It's very handy for me too since I've been wanting a Bible that I can carry around everywhere. It's just so perfect.

"Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105

And then I couldn't resist it, I had to buy myself this thin line NASB for my devotions at home. Dad has always told me that the NASB is one of the easiest to understand and closest to the original manuscripts. And because the cover is so minimalist and is in pink, I knew I had to pick it up too.

Bacolod 2012: Bright and Beautiful

A short but sweet trip to the city where I left my heart in. Taken on November 2012 using a fisheye2 lomography camera. Definitely missing the simple life as I look through all these photos again. Here are a few of my favorites.

Met up with my lovely friends Clara, Lois and Clarissa