September 2014 photo diary

First month in New York [via iPhone]

Hi, I'm alive! Here's a mishmash of iPhone photos since I don't have my computer yet and I just recently got my camera's charger in the mail.

Enjoy the lack of structure in this post- just wanted to share a bit of the nicer things during my crazy first month in the city... 

My broker suggested Stone Street and it was actually my first time here. Enjoyed some of the cute & quaint restaurants lined up! 

I also went on a Literary Pub Crawl around Greenwich Village with my cousins Beatrice & Mikey. Learned about most of the writers and artists who used to live in the village as well as the history behind these brownstone houses. This was a fun tour so I'd recommend it to all of you bookworms! Check out their tours here.

New cover from us- Stay With Me by Sam Smith

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PANICKY

I barely have a week left in Manila and I'm going crazy over work + last minute to-dos! Got a couple of blog prizes/giveaways being sent out this week so I do apologise to readers who haven't received their packages- please know that I haven't forgotten! 

I leave on Sunday and I just wanted to capture the energetic view from my window each night. I will miss the never-ending work hours and having the remaining last push energy to drag myself to all the parties and events. BGC is indeed a great and safe place to live in- I could walk at 4 to 5 AM feeling safe with guards greeting me good morning. Feels like the 2.5 years living here just breezed right through. Seven years living in Manila's been both fun and tormenting and I'm definitely ready for the next challenge and city. 

Tons of photos coming up on this blog. Hope everyone's safe in this storm! 

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A cover of Beyonce's XO - Walkie Talkies

Trying to do more covers before I move... I'll miss singing with my sister! :( 

Hope you guys like this cover.

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Milan photo diary [part 3 of 3] - Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2014

A mandatory photo of me at the venue just so this trip grants me points for my CPE booklet (we need it to maintain our Interior Design license, haha!) 

Milan photo diary [part 2 of 3] - Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2014

The Salone del Mobile was the main reason why I traveled to Milan a few months ago [view part 1 here]. I don't really travel out of the country unless it's business-related or if I know I can attend a convention in the city [Instagram is deceptive]. This was my first time to attend Salone and I think every designer should go at least once or twice!

Some hair + skin-related ramblings

outfit details here

Thanks so much Neil Felipp for my Zero Wing choker! 

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So I've given up on editing my hair black on all my photos. Decided to dye it deep black again 2 weeks ago at Basement Salon (SM Aura branch). Their services are a bit pricey but I'm just glad my hair didn't get fried. It's been years since my last hair treatment since I refuse to do anything to my mane. I'm a no-fuss gal who can't even be bothered to use a comb! I'm glad Asian hair isn't so hard to maintain but it can be a pain to watch curls uncurl in about an hour even with maximum hold hairspray on. I think I'm sticking to the all-natural, messy locks for now. 

I've also started to really spend some time under the sun to get a healthier glow!!! The thought of living in New York for 3 years without nearby beaches and mountains to climb is starting to scare me... I sometimes wonder why a lot of Filipinas just can't embrace their brown skin. I LOVE being brown but my tan usually fades after 2 weeks (no thanks to my mom's genes). Ocean Potion's Xtreme Tanning Xcelerator has been a godsend- just an hour an a half outdoors with that on will get you 2 shades darker! I practically hoarded a couple of bottles from Watson's at Aura after a week-long search since Cheyser recommended it. I know, I will probably get some flack for promoting sunbathing but doing it twice a year shouldn't hurt me since I put on a layer of sunblock...

I still have to post the 2nd blog post from my trip to Milan! Visited Cebu last weekend for a bloggers' bazaar + quick beach trip so I'm posting photos on that as well... 

LOL (lots of love), Raleeney.

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No more games, I believe.

Milan photo diary [part 1 of 3]

Wicked [via iPhone]

These are the unfiltered shots of the photo I posted on Instagram yesterday- I am totally in love with this Lime Crime Velvetines lippie in Wicked! Thanks so much to Flaunt Your Curves on Instagram for sending me a cute congratulatory gift, this is honestly my new fave shade! 

Other gunk on my face:

brows- MAC eyeshadow in Brun + clear brow set

skin- Chanel Purete Mat pressed powder + Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse (for the eye bags + corners of my nose) + MAC blush in Melba

eyes- Revlon Colorstay Overtime mascara + my dark circles as eye shadow 

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Giveaway: 3 Punchdrunk Panda camera straps!

Before the official release, I was fortunate enough to join the Punchdrunk Panda team with some bloggers for a preview of their latest collection of camera straps. They're really cool, functional, durable  and proudly Filipino-made! 

You can view the full brochure HERE with more info about the designs and artists.

They were also kind enough to give me 3 camera straps to give away to my readers!

Air SLR camera strap by Jo Malinis 

Land SLR strap by Dan Matutina (top) and Wilder compact camera strap by Fran Alvarez 

Mechanics: 

1. Follow me on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

2. Follow/like Punchdrunk Panda on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

3. Tweet or Instagram "I want to win a @punchdrunkinc camera strap from @raleene! #RaleenexPdP" (You may edit the text as long as Punchdrunk Panda and I are tagged + the hashtag is included) 

4. Email me your name, the link to your tweet and your preferred camera strap (raleenecabrera@gmail.com)

Deadline is on June 15, 2014! Please Tweet, Instagram and e-mail me just ONCE. Winners will be notified through Twitter DM. 

GOOD LUCK :) 

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Bloggers United 7 x Sunsilk's Summer Fair - Giving away 10 tickets!!!

The 7th Bloggers United x Sunsilk's Summer Fair is less than a week away!!! 

May 10 (Saturday)

10am to 9pm at the Metrotent Ortigas (inside Metrowalk) 

Experience the biggest and most exciting Bloggers United yet on May 10 at the Metrotent Ortigas, as the team partners with Sunsilk for the grandest SUMMER FAIR ever!

Now a biannual tradition for Manila’s top fashion & beauty bloggers, the Bloggers United 7 x Sunsilk’s SUMMER FAIR will feature 50+ bloggers’ booths where your favorite online style icons will be selling affordable pre-loved and brand new items, as well as sponsors’ booths who each have their own exciting promos & gimik. Aside from this sought-after shopping experience and meet-and-greet, Sunsilk brings in more fun and adventure to the event with game booths, challenges, a pop-up salon, and other surprises for you and your #SunsilkHairkada.

Get in for free by bringing a 180mL Sunsilk Pink bottle. No bottle? No problem! You could still buy tickets at the venue for P100. This is just a  1 day affair, so don’t miss it! See you there! 

In Partnership with:

Sunsilk

CO-PRESENTERS:

Smart Jump In

Nescafe Capuccino

Memorata by CLN

Banana Peel

G-Lish

Eika

Nail It!

Grey Area

Instax

FreshGear

Cyburban

Fitflop

MAJOR SPONSORS:

S&H

ZAP

Dairy Queen

MINOR SPONSORS:

Fly Shades

Trendphile

Perfect Fit Shop

DJ Chic Collezione

The Sweet Cloth

Granton World

Shutter Monster

MEDIA SPONSORS:

Madhouse Manila

FemaleNetwork.com

ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.

Chalk Magazine

MEG

IAmMeg.ph

Metro Magazine

WheninManila.com

Sister Secrets

For more information and updates, follow BU:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Follow Sunsilk:

Facebook| Twitter | Instagram

Official Hashtags: #BU7xSUNSILK and #SummerFair

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HOW TO WIN TICKETS: 

1.) Follow me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@raleene) 

2.) Follow BU: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

3.) Follow Sunsilk: Facebook| Twitter | Instagram

4.) Tweet/Instagram the poster and include this in your caption: "I want to win #BU7xSUNSILK #SummerFair tickets from @raleene!"

THAT'S IT! 

Official Hashtags:

#BU7xSUNSILK and #SummerFair

Deadline is May 9 (Friday), 9:00 AM. I'll be sending the winners direct messages on Twitter by noon. 

See you guys there! :) 

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Manila is a Sauna

Snapped before soaking up the sun this morning. Finally had some hours to kill thanks to Labor Day! 

Indy - New York Noir neoprene bikini c/o Triangl Swimwear, sunglasses- Chanel.

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Review: PIONEER VSX-1223-k

Last January, Pioneer Philippines was kind enough to send me their SC-1223-k AV Receiver just in time for my birthday! With a bit of help from my uncle I had a chance to set it up and try it out to put up a semi-decent review for you guys. A bit technical but I wanted to cover everything in case any of you will be getting a new AV receiver soon.

It's simple.

shoes- Nike LunarElite City Pack, bag- Balenciaga, watch- Armani, coat and cap- Zara, dress (worn as top)- American Apparel, jeans- 7 for all Mankind

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You know what I've been feeling lately? 

Grateful. 

Yes, I have so much to be thankful for... but as much as I hide most of my work from everyone online, I know I flaunt enough for people to think that I'm living a good life- a bit of truth into it but I know I put the work in. And it's true, you reap what you sow but it's never instant gratification. 

I've battled enough bouts of sadness through the past couple of years but there's a huge pressure to be happy especially since I appear to have all the reasons to be content and happy. I try my best and there are parts of my life that aren't so ironed out but I work with what I have. I have enough faith to do better things and feel safe about my life decisions. 

There's always a huge pressure from inside me. People expect you to be a lot of things but the only thing that really matters is how you reach your own standards for yourself (if you have any).

So do I feel like I'm moving forward? Definitely. I had 2 months of self-doubt, of trying my hardest to keep from falling into that box of sadness. I chose to move on and I chose to notice what I had that others didn't. I know better than to wallow in self-pity. I acted on this grey area and hoped for the best. 

I'm moving forward in my career by taking up my masters in my dream city. A big deal for me but I have so much to prove and work on yet again. What are my dreams? I don't know, but I do know that I have a bigger calling. Cliche as others may think, I need to be able to serve others and provide opportunities for others as how others have given me the opportunity to do so much. The future is always scary but it makes me even more nervous if my plans don't shake me.

Every little thing in life leads to something bigger if you just allow it to. I'm not focused every minute of my life but I try to. I have fun for a reason, I get away for a reason. Do I overthink things? We all do. But we can choose the trajectory of our thoughts. I'm lucky I can now choose who and where to channel all my energy towards. A bit selfish but I believe everyone is. 

Never expect anything from anyone except yourself. That is the key to success and happiness. 

Your thoughts determine your life experiences. Keep your mind off petty things and focus on what you can do to improve yourself. Simple, really. Life is simple but never easy.

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Nike LunarElite Sky Hi, Adidas Hoodie, Cotton On leggings 

As soon as I found out that the LunarElite City Pack was gonna be released, I just knew I had to get them! I was torn between Milan and New York but eventually went with the black on white pair since I wear black jeans and leggings everyday. Love the contrast! Definitely wearing these to my trip to Milan next week.

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Urban Outfitters tank top, jeans- River Island, Nike Woven Roshe Runs & Balenciaga Town cross-body bag 

Keeping it casual as always. I've been wearing caps for days now after discovering how effective it is for keeping my hair away from my face. #girlprobz 

Also- in love with my new Town because of the cross-body strap! I find that smaller bags also stop me from carrying too many things around everyday.

Needed a pair to wear when it's too hot out for my favorite sneakerboots so I picked up a pair of woven Roshe Runs last weekend. A+ for comfort and I love that it's a lot more understated than my other pairs. 

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Mt. Arayat- first major day climb [traverse]

Welcome to my home!

Two years after the completion of my condo, it's still a work in progress. I've recently replaced my desk and I thought it would be cool to take some photos of it so I could finally show you guys. Obviously I did the interiors and the construction was done by our company. We also did all the furniture except for the ones I'll be mentioning along the way. I had to work with a budget so this was what I could come up with...
[you can view my concept board/post here]

Review: AIAIAI Tracks headphones w/ mic (BLOG GIVEAWAY!)

I was recently given a pair of AIAIAI Tracks headphones (w/ mic) by Digits Trading. I own a pair of AIAIAI TMA-1 DJ Headphones w/ mic and til now I just can't travel without them. Apart from delivering great sound, AIAIAI headphones are really sleek and stylish so I was excited about getting a chance to give one lucky reader a pair. 

I won’t get into the technical/geeky stuff too much, but basically here's what I think of the Tracks headphones:

• It's really cool how the ear cups are detachable and the "buttons" can be interchanged
• Even without padding, they're really comfortable
• Not having specific clasps the headband can latch onto allows the user to adjust the headphones more.
• Buttons feel a bit too hard at first, but you get used to them eventually.
• Sound-wise, the headphones are pretty nice. I was afraid it would deliver too much of the highs or bring the bass up, but after using them to listen to songs from different genres, everything seems pretty fair and "true".

Final notes:

• If you're particular about wanting unbiased sound, you might like this!
• Be careful not to wear the ball and joints out if you don't want to keep the ear pads falling from time to time. It's not really a big problem but this may be an issue for some people. 
• It's the perfect pair to have on the go! 

Aiaiai Tracks HP w/ Mic Blush Plum color

http://www.aiaiai.dk/store/headphones/tracks

Visit AIAIAI's website

http://www.aiaiai.dk/

Distributor Philippines: Digits Trading

https://www.facebook.com/digitstrading

https://www.facebook.com/beyondthebox.ph

https://www.facebook.com/digitalwalkerstore

https://www.facebook.com/digitalhub.ph

https://twitter.com/digitstrading

https://twitter.com/beyondtheboxph

https://twitter.com/digitalwalkerph

https://twitter.com/DigitalHub_RP

Price:

AIAIAI Tracks - P2450

You can also get a pair from their resellers:

Astroplus

Astrovision

Beyond the Box

Digital Hub

Digital Walker

Egghead

iShop

Buzz

Music Colony

Quicksound 

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HOW TO WIN THIS PAIR : 

1. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter 

2. Tweet or Instagram my photo of the headphones above (2nd photo) and state why you'd like to win a pair of AIAIAI Tracks headphones from @raleene @digitstrading
3. You should be from the Philippines  

THAT'S IT! 

This contest ends on FEB. 28. 

I'm looking forward to reading your answers- the most creative one will win! You can even state why you appreciate good sound quality or why good headphones really affect the way you experience music. 

Good luck! :) 

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Mt. Maculot day climb (traverse)

my birthday + Harrison & Rizbelle's wedding

I went a little mental about turning a year older this year. I decided not to celebrate since I've been extremely anxious about something for the past month now and I feel like I can't really celebrate until I get my results. I also decided to hide my birthday on Facebook to see how many people would really remember. A bit unfair since I'm the one who NEVER remembers anyone's birthday (I even forget my mum's sometimes) and with the amount of "friends" you can have nowadays, how does one really keep track? 
The social experiment failed a bit since I decided to greet my father (we share the same birthday) and I had to post a couple of blog-related gifts and giveaways, but it did prove that nobody really knew my real birthdate without the help of Facebook. 
As with any occasion I tell my friends to stop giving me gifts. It's cards and letters that prove to be the most meaningful to me. I wanted to share with you one of the letters my friends sent me for my birthday since I think we can all take something from it--

Ral! Belated Happy Birthday!!
I wanted to send you this birthday message sooner, but it had to be perfect! I just wanted to share something that captures how i've been feeling recently and how perhaps you can apply since you're thinking of moving to Boston.
An old lover of mine once asked me 'What if your dreams and your fears existed in the same place, would you still go there?'

I must admit, at the time I always thought 'Surely you can pursue your dreams without having to face your fears!' I mean, why put ourselves through that? But as the days go by and my fate is unraveling itself, especially since I will eventually have to leave the comfort of the academia life that i've gotten so used to, I realize nothing is as scary as chasing after your dreams. There is great truth to this; If the thought of pursuing your dreams doesn't keep you up once in a while, then you haven't been shooting for the stars.

That being said, how do we prepare ourselves? How do we face the fears that come with pursuing our dreams? Well I thought about the question more, and realized we need more than just a pat in the back; we need a change in perspective. Not necessarily a perspective i'm asking you to adopt, but perhaps a perspective to get you thinking.

You see, to the universe, nothing really matters. Not family, not relationships, not work. Nothing - your birth is as pointless as your life as well as your death. The universe doesn't give a damn about how you live your life.
...and that's the beauty of it. Because the world around us is inconsequential, the only purpose to your life is the purpose you choose for yourself. The only actions worth pursuing are the actions you want to pursue. That is the ticket to a free spirit, YOUR free spirit, and whenever I think of a free spirit, you are one of the few that come to mind.
So go to that place where your fears and your dreams exist, not many people do. The universe would not punish you for it, and the only punishment that will come is the regret of not daring to dream bigger and the realization that you were more than capable to tackle your fears.
Anyway, I’ll keep it short, I hope you know i'm rooting for you and your decision to move here. I miss hanging out with you and I apologize we didn't get to see each other last winter break, but I know our paths will cross sometime again soon. Until then, may you have many more birthdays! The world is a brighter place with you in it, despite all the black you wear, so squeeze out as many years as you can. 

I'm thankful for friends who can put into words a lot of the things that bother me about life. In the end you are accountable for everything that happens to you, but it makes you feel loads better when you have people in your circle to encourage you to take risks and really put everything you've got into the things you're doing when uncertainties are holding you back.

Apart from choosing to have an uneventful birthday, I flew to Cebu over the weekend to be a bridesmaid at Rizbelle and Harrison's wedding. Much has been said about the rare sighting of me wearing pink and I'm pretty sure it's the first and last time this year. It was an intimate, sweet wedding and I don't think my good friend Rizbelle would've planned it any other way. Honoured to have been asked to be part of the entourage and I am genuinely happy two good souls found each other and chose the right path for the next chapter in life. We need more love stories like theirs.

Congrats again, you two!

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