Beautiful 2011

As promised, here I am with my last blog entry for 2011.

“The thing about life is that everytime you learn a new lesson there’s just another one right around the corner. You know, you never know everything. I think , you know for me I just kinda giving up and I’m like I know nothing compared to what I’m going to know someday, and I stop thinking everything I knew awhile ago. I think, the last time I thought off of everything when I was um….FIFTEEN” - Taylor Swift

I would definitely describe this year as full of lessons. I realized that almost every day we learn something and sometimes we learn it the hard way. They are literally never ending and sometimes we get tired of it, but in my opinion its the building blocks that make us who we are and help us grow as a person. Taylor Swift said "everytime you learn a new lesson there’s just another one right around the corner. You know, you never know everything." I definitely agree with her 100% on that, I'd rather not know what lessons I'm about to learn because in reality we'll never ever know whats coming at us. I say this year was full of lessons because I realized that I really am getting older and reality really took its bite. I found out more about myself, my friendships, love and everything in between. I wouldn't call this year a roller coaster, I'd call it more of a Carousel. It goes round and round, but the thing with carousels is that every time it spins not everything is the same. I wouldn't generalize 2011 as a good or bad year because I don't think there ever is a good year. It will always have its ups and downs, whether we like it or not. We just have to get up and face life just like everyone does. This year was full of firsts, it was my first time to go on a beach trip with my friends, first time to help assist in an editorial, first time finding out... and a whole lot of other firsts. It was also this year I listened to a song that generally helped me and this song must have helped you too. I'm sure most of you know the song Who Says by Selena Gomez & The Scene. This song really captured my heart the first time it played which was back in March or late Feb. Its definitely one of my most favorite songs, and it will always be relevant in my life. Its just sooo positive and its that song wherein I could be 86 and listen to it and still feel good. There is one line in the song that I always tell/remind myself every day. When she says "You've got every right to a beautiful life," that line really struck me because I believe everyone deserves to live a life of their dreams. It could be owning a factory full of cookies, having your own clothing line or whatever, but we can't just sit around waiting for it to happen. WE HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. There you have it, my New Year's Resolution is to make things happen. Thank you to everyone who made 2011 for me such a beautiful year even with its ups and downs! I wish all of you have a good New Years Eve and a beautiful 2012! 


You tell 'em what you mean
But they keep whiting out the truth
It's like a work of art
That never gets to see the light
Keep you beneath the stars
Won't let you touch the sky

With that I leave you guys my favorite song and music video of 2011. I hope you dolls love it especially if you haven't heard or seen it, which I really doubt.

Tonight was More Than a Fairy Tale... Thank You, Taylor Swift

Disclaimer: This entry will be very text-y, may get emotional and will definitely take 5-7 minutes of your time. Forgive me. It's Taylor Swift!

A 2 weeks late entry. I'm still on concert high/hangover. I still feel as if everything that happened on night of February 19th was a dream...

The Pre-Concert
Around September-October, it's been a rumor that singer/songwriter/grammy winner Taylor Swift was going to perform live in Manila for her Speak Now Tour. It turned out the rumors were true. Upon hearing she was going to perform here, I already panicked and felt adrenaline. November, tickets were released. I didn't know that demand for her tickets was sooo much! I felt as if, ok whatever any seat would do as long I get to see her. My brother and I rushed to MOA to get seats, and luckily we ended up with tickets. We never really cared how near we were to the artist, hearing the artist and seeing them in flesh was good enough.

The Night Itself
I cannot express words on how I felt about that night. Amazing? Unforgettable? Awesome? Seeing Taylor in flesh was just a dream back in 2006. No one really even knew about her. Then look now! I accomplished two goals off my bucket list. Which was to see Taylor Swift live and own a t shirt. The moment she came out, I already felt the tears(CHEESY), just the thought of seeing someone you've looked up to and put a smile on your face just leaves you speechless. The mood of the coliseum was just AMAZING, I felt the chills and I literally have never seen Araneta that way. Hearing her belt Enchanted and Love Story, were just moments I could never forget. The whole night was just great, hearing everyone sing and sharing their love for her music was just epic. Definitely the best concert I've been to.

Growing Up
One fact I think most people should know about me is that Taylor Swift is my favorite artist. I've always mentioned that her songs to me are like the Bible and words to live by. I guess I pretty grew up with her songs through high school. I remember hearing her songs Tim McGraw and Teardrops on My Guitar in 2006. I've always felt that the songs she wrote were addressed to me. The best part is, whenever you feel depressed or sad or happy, there's always this one Taylor Swift song that suits that mood of yours. I actually wished that I've heard the song Fifteen when I was Fifteen. I guess things would be different if I have heard it back then. Basically, Taylor Swift made me un-afraid, being able to take risks with love, waiting patiently that one day things will change, standing up for myself, trying to make every single day of my life a fairy tale and most importantly believe in love again.

A Note for Taylor
She may never read this, but whatever I wanna get this out. I just wanna say a BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU. I never imagined that I'd actually see you in person and hear you. Your music has touched a lot of lives including mine and you made me believe again. Thank you for serenading the whole Manila with your music and giving us a real life fairy tale. We were enchanted to see you live. Thank You Taylor Swift.

Hope that entry wasn't too long and sulky? I bet most of you think I'm such a fanboy or a loser? haha Thanks for reading though!

xx
Rafael

Words of Wisdom

"i've learned a lot of lessons in life and i think that the hardest lessons are the lessons you have to keep learning over and over and over again because sometimes it still feels like i'm still learning the lessons i started learning when I was fifteen" - Taylor Swift

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

photo via: tumblr

“Speak now or forever hold your peace,” the words said by preachers at the end of wedding ceremonies all over the world, right before the vows. It’s a last chance for protest, a moment that makes everyone’s heart race, and a moment that I’ve always been strangely fascinated by. So many fantasize about bursting into a church, saying what they’d kept inside for years like in the movies. In real life, it rarely happens.
Real life is a funny thing, you know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact,  that most of us start to hesitate, for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I’ve begun to fear more than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything.
I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn’t speak up. When we didn’t say “I love you.” When we should’ve said “I’m sorry.” When we didn’t stand up for ourselves or someone who needed help.
Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope you use your words for good, because the only words you’ll regret more than the ones left unsaid are the ones you use to intentionally hurt someone.
What you say might be too much for some people. Maybe it will come out all wrong and you’ll stutter and you’ll walk away embarrassed, wincing as you play it all back in your head. But I think the words you stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt you the longest.
So say it to them. Or say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it in a letter you’ll never send or in a book millions might read someday. I think you deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying “I could’ve, but it’s too late now.”
There is a time for silence. There is a time for waiting your turn. But if you know how you feel, and you so clearly know what you need to say, you’ll know it.
I don’t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.

-Taylor Swift


24 more days till we all fall in love and experience a fairytale

The Everyday Bag

Time for another entry!!! Recently, I've been visiting Folded & Hung. Their designs have always been fashion forward. Especially after PFW. Once I was able to find a pair of drop crotch shorts. Then the Givenchy inspired headband. Then recently, I found a bag! I actually saw it the day I purchased the headband. I knew I had to get it! The bag is pretty simple, black, silver and has a matte leather-ish feel. The beautiful/fierce part is that it has a strap that has... spikes! It basically is an alternative to me. It's similar to the Givenchy Nightingale bag! I crowned it as my new everyday bag. The type you could just put your stuff in and go. No need to match it with any outfit! Plus, my bag organizer fits in the bag perfectly! F & H for sure will get a lot of visits from me now that it's Christmas. The wallets are out! Their accessories to clothing are simply LOVE! Plus it's very wallet friendly!

The bag actually looks like the Givenchy Nightingale came to hook up with the Alexander Wang's Coco duffel bag.

Givenchy Nightingale

Alexander Wang Coco Duffel Bag

The Dream/Fairytale Come True

I'm sure some of you heard Taylor Swift's concert here in Manila. This isn't fashion related or anything, but I just can't express how excited I am for this concert. I've been waiting for her to come here ever since. I've been listening to her music since day 1. From teardrops on my guitar to tied to together with a smile to love story to mine. There's just something about her music that could have made things different in high school. If it wasn't for her I'd probably be lost. Cheeseball grater much I have to express the excitement for this!!! News reports though say that it was sold out. Hearing this made me panic, so I decided to get the affordable tickets first! I'm still waiting for the lower box seats to go on sale, so I'm crossing my fingers and praying!!! I can seriously see myself on that day!!! 

I guess and hope I'll see some of you guys then! Still a few more months to go though, but let's all get ready for a magical night/fairytale, no matter what seat/location we are in the coliseum!!! :)

Will hopefully feature the next SoFA fashion thursday on my next entry!!! Animal prints here weee goooo!!!!

xx