Ready For Summer?

Summer collections start to rise in EDSA billboards and mannequins are now wearing swimsuits in your favorite mall. Bandanas, straw hats and bags, sunscreen and tanning lotions have a bit increase in their retail prices. Can you feel the heat? It's summer! Are you ready?

The perfect season to hit the beach is fast approaching. If you plan to go out of town to beat the scorching heat of the sun, start planning it now. Planning ahead on where to go and what to prepare for a little getaway will help you save money and time! Beach resorts go up thrice in their rates during the peak season as well as bikinis, SPF and other essentials. Rewrite your summer checklist and update yourself on what you and your travel buddies need.

Let me help with this: where to go, what to wear, what to do, etc, etc! I'm not an expert but I hope you'll appreciate. : )

Diniwid Beach, Boracay Island

Where to go?  Boracay. Again? Admit it, Boracay Island is undoubtedly hailed as a top beach destination because of its highly-urbanized feel with the perfect view of nature's beauty. As much as I'd love to explore new places and discover remote islands, I'd still choose to go here for a short weekend vacation.

If you're caught between relaxing and partying, I suggest you to stay at Orinda Beach Resort. Its location is perfect if you want a piece of privacy while sunbathing. Located at Diniwid Beach (near Nami), you can take a distance from the crowd in Stations 1, 2 and 3. When the sun sets, ask the friendly resort staff to bring you to where the nightlife is. Take your time, no curfew. Party all night long! The 24-hour service will ensure you that they can safely bring you back to the resort after drinking and dancing.

Orinda Beach Resort, Diniwid Beach, Boracay, Malay, Aklan, Philippines.

If you want to skip Boracay this time, Bataan is a good choice. Guimaras Island and Bantayan Island are highly recommended too! Puerto Galera, like Boracay, is also a good place to "island party" and other places like Palawan, Bohol, Zambales, Pagudpud and La Union should also be considered.

What to wear? One of the few FAQs of my life is how many bikinis do I own and how do I manage to keep, wear, and mix and match them. Well, honestly, I don't keep track of the quantity of my shoes and swimsuits but I keep the designs, styles and types of those in my mind. Now going back to swimsuits, it's my mood who decides on what I should wear on the beach. My mood depends on the item I bought (if I purchased a bikini set, I tend not to mix and match it anymore, because some brands sell items individually). Topshop, for an instance, sells both a set and an individual swim wear but you can score a SET during their clearance sale.

Hot pink with "polka hearts" bikini set from Topshop.

Reversible, strapless bandeau bikini set also from Topshop.

For some mix-and-match techniques, which works simply the best especially when you're on a budget, looking for brands which allow buyers to purchase only an item is the easiest thing to do. Picture in your mind the colors, designs and prints of the swimsuits you already own. The best place to go is, of course, SM Department Store! Sunkissed and Coco Cabana specifically won't hurt your pocket. Keep your budget for other essentials or save it up for a bigger pocket money.

Lime green bikini bottom paired with a yellow bandeau and yellow/purple tribal bikini haltered top.

This photo above shows the original bikini bottom pair of my yellow/purple tribal bikini haltered top. I paired it with a graphic/zebra-print bikini top which I bought from SM Department Store's Sunkissed. I also paired this bottom with this:

...while the original bottom pair of the paisley top is worn with:

...a plain white haltered bikini top. :)

Now, when it comes to coverups, I have a few words for you: never cover up too much. If you want to cover your belly or cleavage, wear something like this:

Well, his is not actually a coverup. Knitted/crocheted clothes can also be worn as coverups. I tried to keep my belly here but didn't want to sweat that much so I kept the neckline open. The length is also enough to cover my upper thigh. :)

If you opt to show a sexier you without showing off your skin, chiffon bottoms are of help. Take these as an example:

Plain and printed chiffon bottoms from Betty.

Oh, by the way! Did I mention I only got these chiffon bottoms for only P150 each? I riri, riri, riri love SM Department Store! :)

What else to bring? You know what your travel essentials are, it's all up to you. My frequent hop to the beach gave me the idea to have a separate kit for the things I need when traveling, including: SPF body lotion, SPF face lotion, lip balm with sun protection, shampoo and conditioner (I recommend Sunsilk Weather Defense here), extra-moisturizing after bath lotion, and facial mist spray. These are my super top essentials aside from the toiletries and stuff.

And lastly, don't forget to bring your cameras and to keep good memories. No matter how near or far your destination is, regardless of what your face and smile looks like, the best trips remain the best when you know how to have fun! 

♥,

Marianne

More Fun In The Philippines

Last Friday, the Department of Tourism launched its newest campaign, "It's More Fun In The Philippines". Filipinos all over the world have fun in sharing their own versions of "more fun" by creating personal posters with witty descriptions on why it's more fun here.

I'm really grateful that our people embraced and supported this campaign despite the accusations that the idea was stolen from a Swiss tourism campaign. In all honesty, I think that this is just a pure coincidence because the word "fun" rhymes with "Switzerland" and the phrase "it's more fun in *blank*" is an ordinary phrase. It can be heard from everyone... everywhere, everyday. And "It's More Fun In The Philippines" in Tagalog is "(Sa 'Pinas) Mas Mas Masaya" just like here at TV5! Mas masaya naman kasi talaga. And take note, my boss retweeted this! 

Going back, I wouldn't let this moment slip. We're currently on a high sharing what we've got! I made my own versions, too!

Sam, Marga and Reesha in Baguio City.

With Paolo, Boracay Island.

Corregidor Island

The Magic Stays With You! At Enchanted Kingdom.

A certified only in the Philippines: dirty ice cream!

A lovely sarong. Pagudpud Beach.

Main reason why I wanna go back to Laoag. Paoay Church is a little piece of heaven in the Philippines.

Body massage by the bay? Yes. At Puerto Galera.

I ran out of witty descriptions but I swear, making these "more fun" posters alone is really fun! Please find time to make your own too. All you need is Adobe Photoshop and get the vector and raster template here or get instructions from Jayvee Fernandez or download the Harabara font for free! If you would like to share your photos, you can add them on InterAksyon.com Gallery or email MoreFun@InterAksyon.com. And lastly, like "More Fun In The Philippines" on Facebook and follow @MoreFunInThePHL and @DOTPhilippines.

Show your photos, show your support!

♥,

Where Have I Been?

2011 has brought me to places I've been. Twice, more than twice. And some, on the places I've never been. I'm happy that despite my regular work schedule (Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), I still have time to go out, to escape and relax to my happy place a.k.a. the beach, to shop and dine quite away from home. Ironically, I call these go-to places home as well.

The year is ending in a few weeks and to note, I can say that I'm glad to revisit and discover the Philippines. I'll be flying back to Boracay next week and before bombarding my blog with my new beach (and swimsuit) photos, I invite you to take a trip down memory lane with me. Come on, it's just a few kilometers away! :)

1. Iloilo/Guimaras. For our seventh year anniversary, Paolo and I flew to a usual yet unusual city called Iloilo and island called Guimaras. Mark my word, this is one of the country's best and most quiet, serene beaches! For our eighth anniversary (three months to go!!!) we're again planning to go somewhere new and farther!

2. Baguio, Part 1. Definitely the most unforgettable out-of-town trip ever happened in my life. Forgot why? Read here. In a different light, my family and I remained safe physically. Nobody was injured, hurt. But I do miss my Gucci bag.

3. Bataan. For Holy Week, I had an impromptu trip to Morong, Bataan with my siblings and some of my cousins. I was in awe with the beauty and simplicity of Bataan, I can't believe it's as beautiful as Laiya, Batangas! 

4. Baguio, Part 2. Went back to Baguio for the second time around this year with Paolo's family. I was truly, madly scared and decided not to go back there until I recover fully but when I found out that we'll be staying at the Baguio Country Club, I gave the boyfriend a nod!

5. Puerto Galera. Second part of the story here. They were right. This island is a beauty, is wild and extreme! It's a version of Boracay, only smaller, people simpler, and beckys are almost everywhere and uber friendly! Definitely coming back on 2012, when there's no rain.

Now the next question is, where am I heading to next year? :)

♥,

Sea Colors

The best way to glam up your image while wearing a two-piece bikini is a loud accessory. Being in the beach doesn't necessarily depend on the style or color or design of your swimwear that's why beach babes rock stylish coverups, maxi dresses, flip flops, shades, straw bags and hats. It's not usual to see someone sunbathing while wearing chain necklaces but I bet you'll spot someone wearing wooden bangles but you won't easily notice it unless you stare at her from head to toe. So guess what, the perfect way to stand in the crowd of people getting a tan or simply hanging around the beach is a beautiful earring!

 MARiS' Feather Single Earring

I wore this and caught people staring at me and not at my semi-bared body. Some even asked me where I got it and I proudly said that it's from a friend. Look at how it complements my ruffled bikini top!

And since it's made of feather, it sways nicely against the windy feel in the beach. It's so light, you might forget you're wearing one! Even if it's called a single earring, you can wear both. I tried wearing both sides at night time, it looked gorge as well!

Want this? Visit MARiS!

♥,