A Little Piece of Sky Cafe

In one of Guadalupe's quiet residential areas, rests a quirky new cafe that is set to capture the hearts of wanderlusts, foodies and people who wish to find comfort in light- hearted dining and lounging around in a cozy, blissful ambiance. Joining neighbors Moon Cafe and Dong Juan is ALPS Cafe or A Little Piece of Sky. ALPS Cafe is owned by the Zosa Family, a fun bunch whose communal hobby is traveling around the world, their padre de familia being a pilot. Needless to say, their restaurant built their inspiration around that. 

The travel-inspired cafe had their soft-opening last May 1, 2013. You can tell we were so excited, we came at the first hour. Haha.

 

Say hello to Patty, the youngest girl among the Zosas! :)

 When she asked me to be their architectural design consultant, I was super giddy especially after hearing their ideas and concept. Nothing makes a designer happier and more excited than working with trusting and open-minded clients, especially those with their own sense of creative. (Patty is a fine arts graduate in the same college I went to, we worked together as officers in our respective orgs) 

Flashback. During our first visit early last year, I dragged my then- officemates and technical gurus Buddy and Zhen along and they were happy to comply. :) When we first visited the place, it was yet a dark empty space on their ground floor, rough on the surface and enclosed with grills. They were going to develop the place (and their menu) slowly and at their own pace. Here's what the cafe now looks like.  I'm so proud to see how the Zosas pulled it off with little intervention, notice the little trinkets they were able to make and scout! :)

Currently steel-decked, we agreed on just painting the ceiling with dark-colored paint and put suspended lights to distract people from the utility lines instead of completely concealing it. For the floor finish, we agreed on polished concrete as it is low-maintenance and very charming when played right.

Since their space was pretty big and rectangular, we suggested to zone the space for variety and instill excitement on the diner's end. Ordinary seating, bar stool corner, an area for couches, and an elevated lounge where people can simply squat/ lay.

The grills were converted to glass walls, doors, windows. Where to put a door, when to make it sliding or fixed is crucial in guiding flow and circulation; putting a sliding glass door is always tempting but can easily turn an area into dead space.

The story of the elevated portion: There was an existing column too close to the wall so instead of being irritated by it, we thought of making the space a special lounging area discreetly enclosed by the column and the slight change in elevation. The sisters pushed for a special lighting feature for this area,  something reminiscent of starry lights on an airplane ceiling.

Patty in action. Cutest waitress award :P

Fully accented wall VS  Bare wall. What we originally assigned to be a freedom wall, the girls thought of leaving bare so they can project foreign films on the wall every fridays. Brilliant, right? :D We also suggested that aside from the warm suspended lights, that track lights be used at the sides to highlight the features on the wall and again, emphasize those zones.

We foresaw this area as the laptop or reading station. This all-famous hand-painted map is turning into a photo wall for Instagram purposes. Hahaha. Just like Sprockets' lomo wall :P

We had brick walls for the columns. Classic trick. Always works, but very tricky. It can be classy and rustic but can also end up looking cheap. I liked ALPS' version of it. :)

Our contribution stopped at the architectural interior and lay-out. I was so pleased to see how the little accents and their interior design and styling followed through well and just stringed the whole wanderlust concept together.

Like this display. It contributed so much to the mood. Those hat are "Daddy Zosa's".

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The idea was a bare concrete toilet. I was surprised to see how they achieved this so well!

and how they added some Pop-Art and framed it with white against the concrete wall.

 

Now on to chow time!

I will leave the food chit chat to the food bloggers, but I got Tuna Wraps and Buddy got Creamy Carbonara. We had Sangria for our drink and a brownie cup for dessert :)

 

This photo and all others without watermark are grabbed from ALPS' facebook page

Soft-opening menu, can't wait for the full set!

 Insert photo-time in between taking care of her guests :))

Brunch-mate and fellow consultant, Buddy! :)

Cookie give-aways!

A photo with the signature ALPS map, just before we left. Congratulations, Patt! And Congratulations to the Zosa tribe! :D

The exterior and the tree we're so happy they didn't cut down. Hahaha. Can't wait to see lamps/ bulbs on this one. :>

One of the things I love most about Cebu is it is always filled with secret chows in unexpected places; secret chows that always have something charming and unique to tickle not just your sense of taste but also your imagination with. That labor day, a new destination called ALPS cafe landed on that list.

:)

Info:

ALPS Cafe is located at M. Veloso St, Guadalupe, Cebu City. Fly with them every Monday- Saturday from 4:00 PM- 9:00 PM. Be updated and like their page here! :)

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Next post: The "brunchy" look I sported that day thanks to Jerrick Macasocol!

Stay tuned! Happy weekend! :)

Ready for Action

So my peg for this look is Jennifer Lopez in Anaconda, Olivia Wilde in Cowboys vs Aliens, Halle Berry in James Bond, and lady Jaye in G.I. Joe. Just Kidding! :)) It's funny how a tank or sando top (usually gray), aviators, and either unkempt hair or pony tails are always directors' favorites when it comes to girls in action films. This pair is totally fuss-free, perfect for action, and cartwheel-ready. Haha. I love how my new skull x stud shorts handmade by Tres Marias Online gave it a really cool bad-ass factor. I just had to pair it with a tank, boots, and just that!

I took a quick outfit picture on my phone just before heading out to join my cousins in San Rem last Saturday. SanRem had always been our hide-out since we were little. While we usually hibernate here for 3-5 days, I swear it was the shortest and most jam packed get-away I have ever been to in my life. Funny, Ninz and I still managed to shoot for Blind Clothing's April catalogue-- her as model and I as makeup artist, stylist, photographer-- in jammies. How glamorous. Here are a few mobile photos I took on the trip.

Soon as the family arrived from a 3-4 hr drive, we settled quickly and had "grilla dinna" with 4 other families. After doing dishes (did I mention dinner for 4 families?) us cousins bonded over drinks and some music by the pool. At 230 am, thanks to Jag, I showered and turned in. I don't get why people like Jagermeister. I'm not a drink kinda girl but, tequila is still quila for me.

Thanks to my very pushy dad, I got my aching body off bed at 8am to have breakfast and resumed to shoot with Ninz here on this natural back drop right after. A shoot run by a team of 2 girls on a hot beach is NOT easy! Don't even get me started with the pre-shoot and post-shoot "activities" like dragging a huge plastic bag of stock down to shore. We finished by noon. :)

After shooting, we just wanted to seek refuge at the sea but lunch was waiting. So after a real good sutukil lunch, we did not hesitate. This is me finishing up at around 3pm because we had to get ready to leave back for the city before sun down.

I always put pressure on my weekends.. that it always has to be epic enough to last the whole week. I couldn't figure out what I wanted until this weekend came. This is my ideal weekend after all. Fun, new, productive, action-filled, and jam-packed. :) 

Have a great week, everyone! x

Top: Blind Clothing

Shorts: Tres Marias Online

Boots: Thrift Find

Morning Jog

The faux sporty look was something I've always wanted to try for my blog back when I was loaded with all the board exam shiznit. One holiday, in the spirit of joy, freedom, liberty,and all that--- I finally went for it as Ninz and I were gonna go cloth hunting for Blind Clothing's SS2013 cut-and-sew collection.

I was never the sporty type. The only sport I ever joined was uhm, dance sport and cheer dance if that's even a sport.  The only exercise I do is gym. I badminton and jog-- upon invitation (haha); so it was a fun and comfortable thing to wear except the cap would always get in the way of my vision and strangers would always seem to stare at my belly. Hahaha. I was laughing like heck when I looked at these photos Ninz took (about 3 of 8) near the SM Parking lot. It's so awkward getting photographed when people behind you and above you are staring. So much for taking outfit photos outside the house. Need to work on that. :))

So back to the outfit, those are my new favorite pair of summer shorts. It's white, fresh, studded and with a neon green drawstring that match my toe caps which you can't see because my photos are too white-washed. Haha. I pegged my entire look on these shorts, like I was going for a morning jog except with a cardigan instead of sweater and flats instead of sneaks to keep it realistic and a cap because the boyfriend doesn't wear one anymore. Next time, I want to try sweat pants out with heels. That's it, that's as sporty as it can get for me. Oh well. :))

Off to San Remegio now! Beach time with family! Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! x

Cap: Vans (Buddy's hand-me-down hurray!)

Midriff: H&M (Props)

Shorts: Fashiondiary Cebu
Cardigan: Zara

Flats: Janilyn

Of Skater Skirts and Vintage Tees

I'm starting to enjoy how I can dress how ever way I want in my work place. I used to feel like a slack- off not going to work in corporate attire but lately it's been too much fun looking like a boss on mondays and looking like a punk right the next day. It just stirs the whole design office feel up. :))

Anyway, On to the outfit. I have always HATED pretty skirts. (Oh no she didn't!) When I say pretty I mean skirts that are reminiscent of our childhood-- tutus, flouncy, a-lines, minis, name it! I just hated how it always makes me look more kiddy than I already am  (woosh petite girl issues out the window) but skater skirts, no matter how mainstream they are becoming have changed all of that. I suddenly feel like I'm out of my cave and reunited with all the other girls in the world who feel pretty in skirts that move with the wind. Haha. I can't wait to style this skirt in so many other ways! Getting hooked! 

Easy on me, I am new. And a little awkward. So I still had to pair up my new found love with classic  oxford shoes and my favorite new vintage tee to offset the femininity. I like that it then turned out to look a bit more relaxed and slightly rock and roll. Haha. What do you think? :)

Shirt: Tres Marias Online

Skirt: Bubbles

Shoes: Forever 21

Bag: Gift from mom

Necklace: Middle East Section, Greenhills Bazaar

Sunnies:Vaintage

**I'm starting to get the hang of bringing a point-and-shoot camera instead of a dslr in my bag to take quick ootds. This way I'll get to post more often. I hope the photos aren't too crappy. :)

Ocean Air. Salty Hair.

At the beach, life is different.

Time doesn't move hour to hour,

but moment to moment.

We live by the currents.

Plan by the tides.

Follow the sun.

At the beach,

Time you enjoy wasting

Is time never wasted.

Ocean Air.

Salty Hair.

 Peaceful Easter Afternoon at San Remegio, Cebu

The Kick-Off

In my first post of the year, I told you guys about the big triumph followed by a big heartbreak we wrestled with at BLINDxx. at the end of last year. After my board exams and a bit of recovery period months after, Ninz and I decided it's time we got back on track and use the theft incident as an inspiration for us to work better and harder.

So here, as unemotional as I wish to be about the whole thing, I'm baring my heart and soul to thank everyone who still came and dropped by our page last week. It was our kick-off for the year. More than just order forms, it meant all the joy in the world to us knowing that people were still around. Really! For those who didn't get to come, we were holding a clearance sale to clear out all our stocks and make room for new pieces (both BLINDxx picks and BLINDxx creations)--- a bigger, better (and more active) BLINDxx this 2013. I'm excited to show you guys everything we've been putting together to fill your closets with only classy, trendy, good quality apparel. You have no idea how far we go just to try and get you the best stuff. :)

If you haven't viewed our sale album, you can check it out here. There are a couple of items still available. Stay tuned and hope to see you all on our facebook page.  Also, follow us on instagram and twitter @blindxxclothing .

Until next time!<3