Life Lately: Instagram

The month of April and May went like a blur for me. Even though May is not officially over yet, we're already halfway there and it will only be a matter of time until June arrives (not that I hate the prospect). The good thing is that I can look back at those times with a huge smile on my face. Allow my Instagram photos to tell the story of my life during summer so far.

My nephew turned 8. That is a BIG deal for this aunt who cannot get over the fact that my baby is growing up so fast. 8! That feels to me like he just turned 21. I am just trying to make the most of our time together until comes the time he finds it "uncool" to kiss and hug me...in public! (insert sniffing here)

Graduation season inspired nostalgia. I cannot believe I've been out of school for 7 years now. A cousin of mine also completed college and it reminded me how important that was and how accomplished it made me feel. Congrats to the graduates of UP Mindanao! Continue making UP proud :)

Indulging in all things summer, like swimming, enjoying a cool lime drink or some frozen dessert.

We celebrated another relationship milestone. After 7 years and 5 months, I feel so lucky that the boyf still loves taking me out on dates especially during special days. 

Dragon Boat Festival Week. This was the highlight of my summer thus far. I have always been the boyf's biggest fan but this was a one-of-a-kind experience that I will always remember with extreme pride and jubilation. Now, he and his team are back to training and I cannot wait for the next event - I'll for sure be on the sidelines cheering him (and his team!) on.

..because he insisted on having a photo with me :)

What have you been up to lately? Be sure to follow me on Instagram to get the latest updates on my life and blog!

 

Life Lately: First Vacation of 2014

The first quarter of 2014 is almost coming to a wrap. I was lucky to be able to go on my first trip for the year even before summer officially kicked off. It was a complete year since the last time I went on a vacation (bummer, I know) because the boyf and I had to focus on more important priorities during the latter half of 2013. But since that is out of the way now and before we proceed to the next, more important step, I felt like we deserve even a short break.

1. We discovered a new Japanese restaurant...and loved it! Well, technically, we love any Japanese cuisine restaurant. But this is a new one and we did not really plan our dine there. I was excited to find that they offer really good, authentic Japanese dishes at reasonable prices. A new favorite added to our long list.

2. A new red dress to add to my closet. I feel like this is a new obsession. When I see red on the rack, I tend to grab it quickly. I was more than happy when the boyf decided to buy this red dress for me. You can check the entire post here!

3. Flew with a few friends to Cebu, the Queen City of the South. We then traveled for a few hours to the island of Bantayan. It was totally worth the long travel. Beautiful island. It might be badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda but the beauty of this island was undeniable.

4. Whenever I visit a new place, I always make sure to sample their cuisine. I went on a food trip and while my waist might not be too happy about it, at least my taste buds and tummy were.

5. A low-key weekend after a long vacation is a must. This past weekend, we opted to have date night in and watched a few movies. Ice cream is customary with this hot weather!

To get a sneak peek into my daily adventures, do follow me on Instagram: abj_castro

What are you up to lately? Any big plans this weekend?

Life Lately: My 2014 So Far

Time flies when you're having fun. That cliche is a cliche for a reason. In our busy lifestyle consumed by work and occasional leisure activities, it is important to stop every once in a while to savor and look back on what had filled our time. We are now onto the second week for the second month of the year. Wasn't it just yesterday when were were counting down memories from the holidays and filled with anticipation for the new year? The ball has started rolling and 2014 has given me a few beautiful surprises.

I'd like to share some updates in my life through my Instagram posts:

1) With the new year, I promised myself to continue on with my fitness habits. The regular workout routine was the easy part. The diet was far more challenging. That is when I decided to do my own grocery shopping. 

2) Celebrated another month with the boyf. We had a low-key celebration - went to watch a movie and then had dinner. We whiled the night away by spending late night hours at a coffee shop where we decided to grab dessert, too. Love those times!

3) I added a new peplum top to my closet. This one is a new favorite. Love the color and the pattern. When I saw this one the rack, I did not even hesitate to buy it!

4) After a long time, I finally headed back to one of my favorite spots to be in - the beach. Spent an idle weekend with friends to swim, eat, and catch up. Loved it!

5) Quality time with some of the closest friends. From the beach, we headed to this Mediterranean restaurant and indulged on some pizza and dessert.

6) Love this new addition into my LBDs and LWDs. I got this dress from Invogue Collections and went gaga when I put it on. Okay, that sounded a little over-dramatic. But I always have the tendency to do that whenever I see a lovely dress! Can you tell it's a weakness? xx

How's life been treating you lately? Be sure to stay updated by connecting with me on Instagram (@abj_castro). See you there! xx

 

A Look Back on Holidays 2013

Can you believe the holidays are over? The past three weeks leading into the Christmas and New Year's celebration happened as a blur. However, that does not mean that I was unable to make the most of the holidays and take it in. In most cases, that is the only break that we get with a super hectic schedule throughout the year. At the same time, we do not want it to stop because it holds dear memories to all of us, whether current or past holidays.

I feel the same way. Even though the Philippines is known to have the longest Christmas celebration in the world (heads up - celebration or commemoration of the Christmas season embarks on September), it still does not feel long enough. I credit most of that to the value that my family has placed on celebrating the holidays and what it truly means - not just the gifts and the feast! It is a celebration of blessings that we had received throughout the year.

And so, in place of my usual weekly posts on Instagram, I am taking this opportunity to highlight my favorite holidays 2013 memories via Instagram or otherwise.

 Giving Gifts to Loved Ones

Buying gifts has become a holiday tradition in the family. I like to spoil my loved ones particularly my nephew and my niece. But over the years, my family had branched out. We started wrapping gifts for relatives as well. We then put them together under the tree to make it look more festive at home. But this year, I also got my nephew a Christmas sock (due to his insistence) and he was very anxious about digging his hands into the sock for his Christmas surprise. Love it! 

PS - Also brought a surprise to my boyf's family - a dozen cupcakes with adorable Christmas fondant cupcake toppers!

Lunch Dates Tradition

In the 7 years we've been together, we always cherish the moment we get to spend holidays together. This is already our 8th together and yet we still continue on with our tradition - lunch dates. The Christmas and New Year's Eve are spent with our respective families, that's why. But we still love the quality time we get to spend together during this special time of the year.

Quality Time Off

A refreshing drink. Play time with my nephew and niece. My favorite show. What else can I ask for?

Beef Lasagna

Chicken Salad Croissant

Celebrating Relationship Milestones

Over the holidays, we celebrated our 85th month together! It's crazy how we just celebrated our 7th anniversary and a month had already gone by... but this certainly called for celebration! We also got click-happy over these adorable display of Sanrio characters!

New Year, New Start

2014 is a brand new start for me. I have plenty of goals set up and it literally signals a fresh start to make those goals happen. To say I am excited is an understatement.

If you want to see bits and pieces of my life (of which I share a few moments of), be sure to stay connected with me on Instagram. You can find me here.

What's your favorite memory of the 2013 holidays?