A Year with A-Fash

DIY A-Fash Fringe Top, DIY Ombre Shorts - Thrifted, Boots - Thrifted

A-Fash just turned a year old last June 2013 and as our way of celebration, we had a little get-together at Sir Lancelot Café. Of course, we had our outfit and group shots taken before anything else. #BloggerDuties Haha! We spent the rest of the afternoon filling our tummies with delish foods and sharing some of our personal blogger stories and experiences. We also had games which everyone enjoyed, plus I learned loads of stuff from Jamie’s talk about blogging. It was a really great way to be acquainted with everybody beyond the usual Wednesday shoots and I do hope this won’t be the last! :)

Spikes Bracelet - LCC Mall, Love & Key Necklace - Genevieve Gozum

Oh I missed having group shots with A-Fash! I’m really glad I joined this week’s shoot after a really long time of being MIA. Hihi :”> This one’s my favorite so far. We’re an ever-increasing family! Speaking of which, we’ve announced some important changes regarding our recruitment process on our Facebook page. If you don’t know about it yet, you can read more about the details here.

It has really been a wonderful year with A-Fash and I do hope we’d have more fashionable years to come! *u*

P.S. Sorry if this post’s more than a half year late, but it’s better late than never right? ;) I think I’d be blogging a couple of “throwback” outfit posts for now. Hihi

Fresh Beginnings

I'm baaaaacccck! I hope it's not too late to greet you all a Happy 2014! I'm starting fresh this year by sharing with you some snapshots on how I celebrated the New Year's Eve with my family rather than the usual outfit post. Plus I'm also sharing with you my resolutions and goals for the new year, if you don't mind. :")

1. Prioritize studies. I'm turning 20 this year and I'm not getting any younger. That means I have to think about the future already and start working hard for my dreams. I often complain about how stressful it is to be an Accountancy student, how unfair it is when friends can casually stroll in a mall or go out at night while I'm stuck in the library or at home studying. But I realize now that dreams and sacrifices comes hand in hand. And as one of the basic lessons I learned in Accounting, every benefit has its cost!

2. Improve as a blogger. I've been a really lazy blogger in the latter part of last year (my last blog post was even from way back July!) and a really lazy A-Fash member, too. Although blogging usually needs a handful of effort and time, I actually miss everything about it. I miss having our weekly shoots, post-processing photos, and just drafting a blog post. Of course, I miss my A-Fash fam! Hihi *u* I swear I'll try my best to join the shoots again~ And I'd also like my style to evolve this year. 

3. Socialize more. I've gained a lot of new friends last year which I am really thankful for. This year I want to have an even larger circle and strengthen old ties because more really is merrier!

4. Read more books. I actually have a list of books I'm planning to read this year. Ah I just can't deprive myself of the simple pleasure of reading! *u*

5. Enjoy the little things. Be it watching Korean dramas the entire day, fangirling over Kim Jongin, dancing and singing my heart out to my fave KPop songs, or just being able to sleep an extra hour on a school day ❤

6. Spend less on unnecessary things. I've been an impulsive buyer lately and it surprises me since I'm a proudly kuripot person ever since haha! One of my top priorities this 2014 is to save up so that when something good comes along, I have spare cash to spend for it (like EXO's Solo Concert! Heeee I wish~).

7. Finish writing a story! Honestly, this had been on my list since I don't remember when! Haha. I don't even know if I'll accomplish this at the end of the year but whatever I feel like including it anyway lol~

8. Give my best on everything so I won't have to repeat the process. I've learned the hard way and I sure don't want to make the same mistakes again!

9. Either do something about my imperfections or embrace them.

10. As what my favorite Law professor told us, "There is no better time to start than right now." I'll try to do everything according to plans and not procrastinate from now on.

There goes my resolutions for the new year. What's yours? :)

Sail On!

"I wrest the waters, fight Neptune's waters, sail through the sorrows of life's marauders. Unrelenting, often empty. Sail on, sail on, sailor."

We are imprisoned in the realm of life, like a sailor on his tiny boat, on an infinite ocean.

-Anna Freud

More than a year ago, my life was a total mess. I was a total mess. I was unhappy; I started distancing myself away from people and worse, I was losing interest in my studies. I was too afraid to open up to people because I feared that I might be judged rather than understood. I felt like I was drowning in my own pool of mistakes and insecurities. I have disappointed the people I most love, and I have disappointed my own self. 

For a long time I've asked myself the same question Alaska Young had asked herself many times: How do I ever get out of this labyrinth of suffering? I thought it best to run fast and far away, but it did me no good. I realize now that the only way to conquer the depths of the oceans is to keep sailing on. We often complain about how our life's not turning the way we want it to be, that we also forget how no one else but ourselves is in charge of things. Life is but a rough and lonely journey; yet if we keep in mind that we are the captain of our own ship, we will reach our destination safe and sound. 

Nautical Cardigan, Denim Skirt, Boots & Belt - All Thrifted

I apologize for sounding so melodramatic right now. It's actually my first time to talk about my personal issues publicly and I do hope, in one way or another, that I was able to help and inspire you in whatever struggles you're facing at this moment. :)

Bracelet - SM Accessories

Eek~ Let's put an end on all the drama, shall we? Hihi. 

On a much lighter note, my blog just celebrated its first year last June 28 and I'm having a giveaway!! You only have 7 days left so hurry up! Join now! As in, now!! *u*

Read more about the details here.  

Photos taken by Frances Claudine Vasquez

I'm not afraid of storms for I'm learning how to sail my ship.

-Louisa May Alcott

Keep the fire burning! :)

Love always, Sofia Michaela