If there is one thing I learn over the past week that has helped me a lot is this, to be more mindful of the present moment. So what does this mean? It simply means being aware of what's going around you at present moment without wishing it was different, without having to think about the past nor the future.

This plays a very important in role our day to day life because if we are mindful, we know the situation we are in, the decisions we're going to make and the direction it's going to take us.

I have listed down the areas in which it has helped me the most and hopefully this can guide you as well.

1. Work
I am able to pay more attention on what needs be done first and those that I can work on later. Working on it slowly but surely.

2. Diet
Listening to what my body needs; whether I am hungry or just thirsty, what it craves for and whether I am full or not.

3. Expenses
If it's really a need or a want. Sticking to my budget when it comes to daily expenses.

4. Relationship
Filtering the words that will comes out of my mouth so I don't hurt other people. Paying more attention to the person I'm talking to so I understand what they mean and how they feel thus directing my actions towards that.

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Pleated leather skirts are starting to become a staple in everyone's wardrobe and there's so many ways you can pair it with; from brights to darks to basically anything. The trick here is to treat it like a basic and then work your way from there. I'm starting to love this trend. It' such an ode to our inner dainty girl -  until it becomes leather. It's like adding a touch of daring sass to your sweet.

4. Continue the desire to learn your entire life 

No this is not my closet but how I wish it was! This gorgeous closet belongs to Lisa of Cocobella Ballerina. I stumbled her page while browsing for ideas for my own space and I couldn't tell you how delighted I was when I first saw it. It's exactly what I had in mind, simple but with fabulous accent (fur, victorian dresser, pouf stool) and does amazing shoes count? I think it does.


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In the current world of fashion, there's no mistaking that zebra reigns supreme. Covering everything from slim denim to modern miniskirts, these exotic prints are anything but discreet. So go ahead and get your stripes this season and invest in some stylish zebra-inspired pieces today!

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There comes a time in our lives when we feel like we're just stuck in a rut; bored, fat, no growth and it's not something we want to live with for the rest our lives. Mind you, I've been down that road many times and time after time things just change and I fall back in the same trap. But I knew I've got to do something. So lately I've been contemplating on a lot of things and let me share to you what I've been doing to help me slowly improve my situation that you can do as well.

1. Make a list

Identify what aspects of your life are you not happy with. Is it your work, relationships, etc? Try to give yourself time to think about it thoroughly and figure out the reasons why you're not happy with it. Be more specific because this will help you figure out what you need to do in order to improve your situation.


2. Focus

Don't lose sight. Often times you know what needs to be done but fall short because your heart is not fully into it. That's why you need to keep your head focused so you can slowly work your way towards achieving it. If you can't go on a day without thinking about it then it means you should be doing something with it. Just think about how happy you'd be if you get that job or  reached your goal weight.

3. Do whatever it takes

There's a lot of things you can do to improve your situation and don't stop until you're happy. Most of the time we lose heart to do anything further when our first or second attempt didn't go as planned but that brings me back to point two, focus. Be dedicated enough that you'd do everything to make it happen.

Today I encourage you to improve on the things that isn't making you happy. Just remember you can do anything as long as you set your mind into it.

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You can never go wrong with throwing furs on your couch to make it extra cozy. Now that the weather is starting to cool this seems like a perfect setting. Just accompany it with a good read and a hot coffee on the side and you're all set for a relaxing weekend staycation.

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You can’t talk about handbags for Spring 2013 without mentioning Karl’s enormous hula-hoop creation at the recent Paris Fashion Week. Clearly this is the most dramatic accessory of the season and it even comes with instructions on how to use it. On the smaller scale, Celine's rolled up clutch, Stella McCartney's lucite jewelry purse, Louis Vuitton's damier checks and Alexandre Wang's hybrid of mesh and leather bag are enough to grab anyone's attention. Whether you're in heading to a beach, a night out of town or just a casual weekend, if you can get your hands on any of these, you'll surely be the next talk of the town.


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Have you ever walked pass a store and found yourself stopping for a moment just to admire the beautiful window display? I know I have and not only do I find it fascinating but most importantly it draws me to go inside the store to have a look at the products they have.

This is what you want to achieve in creating a beautiful storefront window display. You want to attract people passing by so they'll make their way through the doors and come out with a bag on hand. But how do you do that? Here are some tips that can help you out.

1. Understand your brand aesthetic

First and foremost your window display must be in line with your brand and products. You don't want to mislead people by display something whimsical but you're actually selling pots and pans. It doesn't work that way. You have to take elements from your brand and think of how you can play around with it so you'll attract the right audience.

Are you going for a minimalistic look? Is it for a special holiday? Whatever it is you have in mind, you have to know exactly what you want and how you want to portray it. The easiest way to go about this is having a theme. It can be anything; rustic, playful, modern, vintage or even futuristic. As long as you know the vision you're going for, you're half way through it.

Think outside the box. Don't be afraid to experiment with simple materials and making a dynamic statement. It doesn't have to be expensive. You can use old books, paints, photos, anything. If you have a big window display play up with volume, if not just use materials that can compliment each other and that it brings out the vision you have in mind.

I hope you find these tips helpful. Just have fun and put your heart into it. Whatever you create, I'm sure your storefront window display will look as beautiful as how you image it to be.

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Often times we hear people say do what you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. I firmly believe that. And as much as this is true, most of us don't get to do so. Why? Because either the opportunity is not there, our circumstances doesn't allow us to or we haven't realize our full potential to be able to live out our dream. But that doesn't mean we can't do anything about it. Here are some tips.

1. Know what you want and what you're good at

There is a fine line between these two and it can't be separated if you want to succeed. You may want to become a fashion designer but do you have what it takes? or maybe you just want to work in a fashion industry and do pr or marketing because that's where you're good at. I must admit, when I was a teen, I wanted to become a fashion designer but then I realize I can't pull ideas out of the box. So I took up marketing instead. It's also something that interest me and I know it will eventually lead me to the industry I wanted to pursue in.


2. Look out for opportunities

Check online, make friends, expand connections, you'll never know when it will pop up. Just keep an eye and when you found something small say an internship for a small scale company or freelance writing with little pay, it's a start. Treat it as an experience. It will help hone your skills and prepare for bigger opportunities when it comes.

3. Take baby steps

Don't rush. These things take time. Usually when you jump into something without giving it enough thought, you'll realize it's not exactly what you're looking for. You'll end up wasting time, energy and you'll feel devastated. You don't want any of that. So it's better to take it slowly but surely.

Remember, you need to have the courage to live out your dream no matter what it takes. Surely, you'll face challenges along the way but don't let it stop you. It's all part of the experience. Just keep looking and you'll triumph in the end.

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As the weather starts to cool down, snuggling under a cozy duvet, coffee in one hand and book on the other seems like the perfect setting. Times like these where I can just relax and get lost in a good book is already a treat. I'm constantly out and about and I haven't really read a good book up until recently. I decided that I should give myself time to just enjoy and wander around someone else's life so I could forget mine even for a while.

If you may not know, chick novels are my thing. No other gene can make me smile, laugh or cry just like it. And because this season calls for some traveling and just falling in love, my reading list is all about it. If you haven't gotten any idea on what to read , here are some exciting books that you may want to consider.

1. It Happened in Paris by Molly Hopkins

2. When I Fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson

3. From Notting Hill to New York... Actually by Ali McNamara

4. A Very Accidental Love Story by Claudia Carroll

5. I Heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk

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Looking at the street styles of the recent Milan Fashion Week, I honestly think they beat the new yorkers. With all the funky bags and shoes, what's there not to love? Whether it's complimenting the look or just simply carrying it as a piece of art, these ladies know how to dress it up to get photo ready.

One of the most challenging thing we, ladies, face is building a spectacular chic wardrobe on a budget. Not most of us have endless cash to spend mindlessly on things we like but we still want to feel confident and look our best the moment we stepped out of the door.

Because of the advent of social media, we're always surrounded by the latest in fashion, end of season sale alerts and what not, and it's hard not to get caught up on the things we don't really need. We see girls that seem to have an endless amount of clothes and we can only dream of having one ourselves.

Thankfully, having a quality chic wardrobe doesn't require us to spend a buck. Here are a few tips.

1. Mind shift 
You don't need an entire wardrobe full of options and it doesn't have to be extravagant either. More does not mean better when you want quality items in your closet. In fact when we have too many options we get numbed and our decision making skills decreased. So we must be clear about the wardrobe and the style we want to exhibit.

2. One item at a time
Buying more doesn't mean you're creating quality wardrobe. If you have a budget of $100 a month to spend on clothes then at the most you can purchase 3 items. But usually it doesn't last very long and your money just goes down the drain. But if you spend it wisely on 1 quality item that cost as much, you could wear it season after season, thus saving you more money in the long run.

Think of it this way, if you purchase 1 quality item per month then at the end of the year you have 12 quality pieces to play around in your closet. That's why it's important to know your style so you could wear it for a long time.
 

3. Buy quality basic pieces
White button down shirt, the LBD, a blazer and a pair of black pumps are just some of the basic pieces a women needs to have in their closet. You can pair these to just about anything and that's why investing on it would help you create a quality chic wardrobe.

4. Be a savvy shopper
Go to a thrift or vintage shops to buy unique pieces. Sometimes you can really find a good deal. When something caught your eye and it's a good price, don't hesitate to buy it. I tend to treasure vintage items more because of it's uniqueness and history.

Hope these tips help you to build a chic wardrobe. As long as you know your style and you invest in quality pieces then in the long run you'll thank yourselves for it.

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