Every 18th of June

My Instagram account is a good testament for my love of travel. I see to it I see at least 3 new cities or countries every year. Reflecting back on 2016, my top 3 new favourite places I visited are - Instanbul, Turkey; Boston, USA; and Lucerne, Swtizerland. Instanbul is in fact my favourite city (to visit) now, that tops Vienna and Tokyo which are next on my list. Thankful for a job that allows me to travel and takes me to places, I would not even think of visiting. This post is dedicated to my last business trip for the year to Atlanta, Georgia (USA) for my team offsite. Often called "hotlanta" to locals, not to describe the people who live there but because it's relatively warm compared to the other parts of the state.

I went to Atlanta via Doha, Qatar and flew with Qatar airways. This is not my first time to layover at Doha. The last time was in 2011 when I flew to Madrid from Manila for business school. The airport was truly impressive, but I have to say nothing beats Changi airport for the efficiency and Hong Kong airport for the shopping. It's my first time flying Qatar airways business class and I have to say, I am impressed. You can literally order hot meals anytime, there's freshly squeezed juice, a mammoth variety of cereals and the super comfortable jammies you can change in. After leaving Singapore at a 2:00 am, my bloodshot eyes are ready to call it a night but I couldn't resist the plethora of food menu. After having a snack and watching half of a movie (I could not even remember what!) I slept through the next 7 hours. After my good rest, my colleagues and I reached Doha and got ourselves all over the Al Mourjan Business Lounge.

Marble tables I'd love to take home

I am not really a travel connoisseur, but just a simple fashion blogger with an appetite for travel so forgive my immature-ish travel lingo and opinions. The lounge itself at first is impressive due to the sheer size and - greenery. I haven't seen a lounge more green than this. But the food selection is meh and the taste of the food is okay. For me, nothing beats the Turkish Airlines lounge in Instanbul. I swear, it's like Disneyland for me - there's a movie theatre, library, spa etc. and the food - crazy delicious. That lounge was too posh, I was even shy to take a photo.

After our 3-hour layover, we're now ready for the real thing - a 17-hour flight to Atlanta. Thankfully, the trip from the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Chateau Elan Winery and resort only took 1 hour, but with the jetlag and all, I fell asleep after 10 minutes of chatting up with the chauffer. A handful of movies and TV series were actually shot in Atlanta - The Walking Dead, Selma, Anchorman 2 and true enough there's a film shooting happening right smack our hotel.





During the first day of our offsite, we went to the World of Coca-Cola. What better way to learn about brands and marketing but with the most recognizable brand in the world - Coke. Coke is sold in every country except in two - North Korea and Cuba. Who knows? With the rate of progression and globalization, in 2 years perhaps?





Love,
Hanna

Instagram: @hannatantoco
E-mail: hannatantoco@gmail.com

E-mail: hannatantoco@gmail.com


This is a sponsored post.

The headline is exactly the look that will make your grandma cringe when you step out of the house. Lucky for me, I live alone (away from the judgmental smirks of my conservative folks) so I was able to pull this look out - during broad day light. None of the clothes I'm wearing here are sponsored but I love them so much it should be shared! I got the top (S$9.90)  from MDS Collections, an online and brick-and-mortar store across Singapore. They tend to have very good bargain and deals every so often, so I take advantage of those. I have actually forgotten the last time I paid full price. I got the shorts (S$19.90)  from Temt, an Australian clothing brand, again found in major malls in Singapore. Finally, the heels (S$29.90)  which are super comfortable. I've worn it in the office for 12 straight hours, I climbed the very hilly Lan Kwai Fong area wearing it and have walked through potholes and uneven streets with it - thanks Zalora! Shades are from Celine (FW 2015).

Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season began (way before), I paid a visit to Kenjo Salon. As always, I'm excited to see what hairstyle I'll be sporting when I head home. I know I am due for a haircut, but I am also in the mood to refresh my hair colour. My stylist, James never fails to surprise me. He decided on the colour - ash brown and ash purple, using Davines hair colour.

I've had a total of 3 colour changes this year, refreshing it every 2 months. Before that, I only sported my natural colour because I was so afraid to damage and dry my hair. But with the proper hair colour products and after-care, your hair will maintain it's luster and texture. I found that both Mucota and Davines products are good with my hair - I don't get dry and itchy scalp, nor hair breakage after excessive colouring. The entire process took around 2 hours to complete, haircut and hair colour combined. Note that I had light brown highlights done in August and this was the resulting colour. I advise that you ask your stylist what's best for your current hair colour, skin colour and features!

With the Chinese New year beckoning in barely a month, make sure to book your appointments at Kenjo Salon early. Get 15% discount off all services when you quote my name and look for James :)
Visual-heavy post upcoming, let's make the hair colour speak for itself!

Love,
Hanna

Instagram: @hannatantoco
E-mail: hannatantoco@gmail.com

Cut and cut

My stylist James in action

This is my hair colour!

After 2 hours :) After 3 days, shots taken in Atlanta.  I swear I love my hair combined with the autumn background! After 2 weeks, back in Singapore :)

Sounds like an oxymoron isn't it? In today's world where it seems like we have almost forgotten what luxury is. For example, I find it okay (and normal) to pay for a $5 cappuccino in CBD or spend $15 for a pint of beer because hell, I deserve it. But for the underprivileged, and I don't want to sound preachy and hypocrite. $5 can already buy a meal for a family of 5, probably two meals depends on which place we are talking about. I got to know of Another Sole from my colleague and I thought at first it would be another shoe brand trying to break into the market. But as I was picking my shoe style (they have gazillion colours and textures to choose from), I realised that every pair you buy, they use a part of the profits to purchase a meal for the underprivileged or underfunded orphanages in SEA.

Heck, the tagline should have given it away "Buy one, feed one" but I can be jaded at times (hehe) So as we all scramble for Christmas presents for ourselves and for our loved ones, consider Another Sole as part of your Christmas wish list. All the shoes is made of 100% leather and I guarantee you, it is super damn comfy. Like what my Instagram post says, it's like walking in clouds. Don't believe me? Try one for yourself, it's available in Tangs.

Sign up for their newsletter to be updated and to get 5% discount too! www.anothersole.com






Love,
Hanna

Instagram: @hannatantoco
E-mail: hannatantoco@gmail.com


My pair was sponsored by the brand.

I am far from being called a yogi, although I've been practicing for one and a half years now. Let me digress a bit because it's actually quite funny how I got into it (yoga). One very boring weekend, I was alone, I had zero plans and not even the idea of online shopping could cheer me up. I called up a girlfriend and demanded that we hangout together. She said she was going to a Bikram class and I should to.  For the yoga-noobs or the don't-cares, Bikram is a 90-minute hot class made up of 26 postures. When I say hot, we're talking 39-42 degrees. It's guaranteed to make you sweat so please swipe an extra layer of deodorant ladies. So, back to my story. Armed with a 1-Litre water and the determination to finish the class without fainting or crying due to sheer torture. I survived and funnily enjoyed yoga. To tell you frankly, I was a bit cynical about yoga before I started practicing- I've always been the tough-love sporty girl i.e. football, gymnastics, running, cheerleading-ish. I thought yoga would be too slow and just be about stretching. Well, it was not. I immediately signed up for a package and got hooked all the way. I dropped my gym membership and I just practice yoga and if invited, I run with friends.

But after moving houses last September (why I moved is another blog entry, one that I would write with a bottle of wine in tow), I haven't gone for 2 full months. I work in the Telok Ayer slash Tanjong Pagar area and as I was leisurely walking down Cecil street I saw Freedom Yoga. Just my luck! My office is literally behind it, it would take me 4 minutes door-to-door with the majority of the time taken up by waiting for my office lift (eff, that really takes forever!). The convenience, the cleanliness, mad friendliness of the teachers and the receptionist coupled by the ambience, it took me one class to sign up for a package. Take note, this is not a sponsored post :) Also, because it is convenient I sometimes also use their loo for emergency purposes if you know what I mean.

Here's some shots inside the studio.






Love,
Hanna

Instagram: @hannatantoco
E-mail: hannatantoco@gmail.com