Basic Make Up Workshop By Suesh

October 10 (Saturday)

I signed up for Suesh Make Up workshop held in our condo. I also enrolled my older sister. I have somehow never really learned to do makeup properly-- So, I thought it was just about time.

Suzzanne Tan, our Make Up workshop teacher and one of the Suesh owners was the one who showed us how to do basic make up, popularly known as, the everyday-look or the barely-there-look.

The workshop itself will start with the instructor asking for a volunteer. The lucky girl will sit in front and model the 10 basic steps as executed by the instructor. It sure did seem easy just watching her do it.

The whole workshop only lasted for about an hour max. I thought I was the only one to think it was rather short but my sister also thought it was "bitin!" Snacks were served and a freebie loot bag was also provided. Inside the loot bag are at least 10 sachets of shampoo and conditioner from Treseme. You're probably wondering why shampoo, I didn't know either. But I didn't mind because after trying it, I was impressed! And I would probably add this to our next grocery shopping list. Talk about effective marketing strategy!

Objectively speaking, the workshop is a good one for girls who don't really have an idea of how to apply makeup. I'm one happy newbie!

Pre-Wedding Interview: On Set

October 11 (Sunday)

Let me start by saying, we were unable to follow our schedule for today. Waldz and I did a last minute general cleaning while were cooking lunch at the same time. We were expecting our friends to arrive before lunch and was scheduled to go to the salon to get our hair done. None of these were followed. Hahaha! And oh, we had unexpected visitors (but we don't mind, the more merrier), Pando and Adrian.

We encountered a lot of challenges that day. We started late. On our way back home (after coming from the salon and got our hair done) it suddenly rain. When we were about to start shooting in our condominium's clubhouse, we were confronted by one of the security guards. He said that we should have a permit to shoot, which obviously I didn't have during that time. I was unaware that we need one and since it was a  Sunday the admin office was closed. We have no choice but to look for another location. Another challenge was the time and weather. It was almost 5pm and we haven't started shooting yet. Plus it was getting a little gloomy which will be harder to shoot. We went to UP Campus and did the shoot there.

Questions were asked together and separately. It gave us the chance to talk about each other, how it all started, and the little and big things that defines our unique love story.

It was fun and laid back, unlike so much of the wedding planning process. But I am so excited with everything. Despite all the hassle and stress I am encountering, I know that our marriage is going to be awesome!

We plan to display your pre-wedding interview video during cocktail hour for any guests who want to find out more about your love story while they munch on hors d'oeuvres and wait for our grand entrance!

Sharing with you some of our favorite pre-wedding interview moments below.

Trust me, it’s so worth it.

Pre-Wedding Interview: The Brainstorming

Pre-Wedding Interview is basically a documentary approach to your unique love story. Most importantly, it will be your love story video which will give you a chance to tell your story in your own words. It's fun, heart-warming, and pretty cool. I am obviously a big fan of pre-wedding interview videos.

This videos are a fantastic way to tell your love story to your guests, without having to take time away from your wedding day to do so.

We are very lucky to have friends with multimedia skills. Renz is a professional videographer (at a government office), who also happens to be one of Waldz' best man, agreed to do the shoot. One of our close friends, France, a professional TV reporter, also agreed to be the interviewer together with Kat (my best friend). We were supposed to do brainstorming the weekend before the scheduled shoot, but since "the girls" were busy, only Renz came to see us. We told him our initial plans and he also shared his ideas.

I am so excited to write it all down here but it will spoil the surprise.

Sharing with you the video which we used to conceptualize.

Pre-Wedding Interview: The Basics

Everyone knows a wedding film is the ideal way to share and relive the story of your wedding day. But what about your love story leading up to that big day? That’s where the Pre-Wedding Interview videos come in.

We often see this done only with celebrity weddings. But some videographers include this to their packages nowadays. Some couples opt out in doing this to cut off the expenses. But good news! You don't really have to spend a lot to make a wedding interview video. All you need are the following:

1. Video Man
This doesn't necessarily mean that you hire a professional. If you have a friend who is willing to help out (for free) and knows how to use your recorder/camera, then that will do! It also helps if he knows how to do editing. Honestly, the more raw the video the more realistic it will turn out.

2. Location
Pick a cool off-site location to do a shoot. You can do DIY decors and create the perfect set. You just need a chair where you can sit, a place where light is sufficient (I suggest you do the shoot in the morning.), and a place with no noise will be perfect.

3. Interviewer
Ask a friend or one of your bridesmaids/groomsmen to be your interviewer. He/she will be the one in charge in gathering questions and ideas to keep the conversation going. If you have any ideas you can share this to your interviewer, too.

4. Props
No need to use a lot of this. But if you really need one, then DIY. Its cheaper.

5. Food
This is the only thing you need to shell out some cash. Make sure you have enough to feed the people who will be helping you do this video.

It is ideal to the shoot a few months before the wedding, so you have enough time to do editing if needed. Good luck!

The Wedding Gown Search

Starting your search for “the one” can sometimes be a daunting task. With the internet offering so much inspiration and options for your big day it can sometimes be hard to know where to start. Here’s 9 top tips I’ve put together to help ease the stress and confusion when searching for your perfect wedding dress.

1. Set a Budget
First things first. Wedding dresses are expensive. A lot of work goes into them and good quality fabric costs. Depending on what you’re looking for, nowadays it ranges anywhere from 5,000 PhP to 150,000 PhP. So be realistic about what you can afford, and stick to it! Once you have a budget you can work out where to start. Every boutique has their own price range, it might be worth ringing around to see which fits into your budget. Bespoke designers often won’t list prices as each design is unique, but they will be able to tell you their starting prices. Most brides can frequently get quite nervous when wedding dress shopping; it’s a completely different experience to a normal shopping trip so it’s not surprising it might feel a little daunting. Remember that this is supposed to be fun and exciting, designers and sales assistants are there to help and guide you in this experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

2. Don’t try too many styles at once
The more you try in one session the more confused you’re likely to get. 5-10 dresses are a good place to start.

3. Take only your besties
It might be tempting to take a gaggle of girlfriends dress shopping, but often it can lead to confusing, conflicting opinions which might actually hinder rather than help. Take just 1 or 2 of your closest friends and relatives whose opinions you value, you can always bring along others at a later fitting.

4. Wear the correct undergarments
Its best if you can wear your wedding day lingerie and shoes to each of your fittings, you may not have decided on this yet but it’s important, so make sure you wear something as similar as possible. Heel height is very important too, different shoes can affect your posture and the overall fit of your dress!

5. Think about you
Are you self-conscious about your tummy? Or your arms? Asymmetric gowns can minimise hips, whilst A-line gowns can add to the hip line. Corsets can create a curvy silhouette – even if you don’t have one!

6. Consider fabrics
If you’re getting married in the middle of April, that duchess satin ball gown might just cause you to melt. Think light natural fibres, silks and cottons, for summer. Rainy season is a great time for accessorizing as you can layer – why not try a faux fur jacket and red lips for that bit of Hollywood glamour.

7. Take notes
After your first appointment, go for a coffee, have a chat about what you’ve just tried on and make notes. What did you love? What did you hate? Keep the names of the designers you tried. Does a pattern immerge? Perhaps you’re favouring floral details, or one particular designer. Be aware that most boutiques will not allow photography; this is usually due to copyright issues, so notes are important!

8. Do some research
Once you have an idea of what styles/designers you like, surf the web for dresses that match your preferences and stores that stock them. Going to every local dress shop and trying on hundreds of random styles is more likely to confuse and cause you to forget what you liked in the first place.

9. Be prepared that there might not be “the one”
Not every bride will experience the spine tingling moment that is so over-hyped in films. This is one of the most important days of your life and 101 things will bound to be contributing to your decision. There might be 3 you love and any one would do. Or you might not find anything, which whilst disheartening doesn’t mean you have to give up! Everyone is different and not everybody’s needs are going to be covered by bridal shops. There’s more out in the wedding-world than you might think, try thinking outside the box (what about genuine vintage?).

As a final note, remember that wedding dress shopping is just one of the many exciting things in the lead up to your big day, relax and enjoy the experience!

Sometimes It's Better To Let Go

The following is a short message for those who feel like they are stuck in a situation, going through a heartache, and other endless drama in life. Take time to read it.

There are things we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind.
But letting go isn't the end of the world, it's the beginning of a new life.
Many times we've got to emotionally let go of the things which once meant a lot to us
so we can move beyond the past and the pain it brings us,
and open the next chapter in our life.

It's hard to hold on to something which we know would never be ours in any way we think of,
we just have to learn and realize the fact that some things never last..some don't even start.

Sometimes we are cheerful enough to reach the Zion and sometimes everything is blue.
We should know that there is a time for silence too.
A time to allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny.

Move on.

Stop worrying, wondering and doubting ourselves.
Have faith that things will work out,
might be not how you planned
but just how its meant to be.

Magnum’s New White Almond Indulgence

MAGNUM has been known as a premium ice-cream over several decades. Its line-up promises premium indulgence to pleasure seekers. Its sumptuous, luxury taste derived from its key ingredient, the Belgian chocolate, which is appreciated as the finest and most premium chocolate.

Belgian chocolate is a deep culinary tradition dating back to the 17th century where it was created to indulge the royalties. The unique combination of the finest ingredients, exclusive production methods and stringent quality controls makes Belgian chocolate a favourite worldwide.

If you are a white chocolate fan like me, I am definite you would want to try Magnum’s newest flavor – Magnum White Chocolate Almond!

Get ready for Magnum Ice Cream’s newest flavor that you will definitely indulge on! This is one time you might want to skip the diet! This new mouthwatering treat is made of rich vanilla ice cream covered in thick cracking white Belgian chocolate (which Magnum Ice Cream is known for) with almond pieces.

Just last October 4, Magnum heralded the arrival of the country’s first white Belgian chocolate ice cream creation through the biggest white takeover the metro has seen. It was kicked off with a White Party to selected malls in the metro.

The one we attended was at Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City. We were fortunate to be included in the first 200 consumers who come by the chance to be the very first to try Magnum Ice Cream’s newest flavor plus a raffle coupon for a chance to win an iPhone! At exactly 4pm, ice cream fans got the chance to indulge and enjoy the NEW Magnum White Chocolate Almond.

Ahem! Very present on this event! I wouldn't miss this awesome opportunity!

Magnum White Chocolate Almond is now available nationwide in all leading supermarkets and convenience stores.

Twitter: @Magnum_ph
Instagram: @MagnumCelebrateWhite
Hashtag: #CelebrateWhite
www.Magnum.com.ph

Welcome To The Christian World Baby Lance

October 4 (Sunday)

We received a last minute invite a day before the event. But that's fine because Waldz is really close to the father of the celebrant. They were former colleagues and sleeping buddies!

I have always loved doing gift shopping. I love doing it more than buying things for myself. Waldz kept on insisting that we give monetary gift but I was persistent. We went early at Eastwood Mall, around 11am. I went to ToysRUs and it only took me less than 15 minutes to buy the gift, pay for it and have it wrapped. Thanks to the helpful guy who assisted me! Sorry I didn't get your name, sir! But thank you.

We were really rushing but on our way to our car, we saw an advertisement of the new Magnum flavor.

Anyway, since we thought we were running late for the baptism itself, we decided to head straight to the reception, which is at the Sky Lounge of Flair Towers in Mandaluyong. We were one of the first few guests to arrive. While waiting, we were busy munching the appetizer, Lansones. I bet you also didn't get it at first. Lance = Lansones. See, now you're smiling!

The party started late because the parents were asked to attend a seminar. They arrived half past 1. The party was simple. It was well decorated and they have this very accommodating sister-in-law who roams around to check on their guests. When the couple arrived with Lance, we were invited to help ourselves on the buffet table. It was worth the long wait because the food was amazing. I personally liked the tuna and pork with BBQ sauce. I forced Waldz to accompany me to the photo-booth. Haha! And after a few short talks and some pictures taken with Lance and his parents, we left the party.

Lance is a lucky baby boy. His parents love him so dearly. He got his height from his dad. Most of his facial features are from his mom, including the uber cutie dimples. I would love to carry you someday but I am not confident enough to do so and I don't want to risk that. Can't wait to see you grow up. Tito Waldz and Tita Mymy will be here if you need a buddy to take you to the candy shop!

Welcome to the Christian World, Lance!

Prenuptial Activities: Clothes, Accessories, And Props Shopping

October 3 (Saturday)

We went to the cheapest shopping capital in Manila -- Divisoria! We parked our car at Gateway Mall, Cubao. And rode the LRT to Recto. From there, we took a jeepney ride to Divisoria. This is where you can find affordable things. 

Waldz and I are both not fashionable, we barely even accessorize. We  looked around for the perfect clothes to wear for our Prenuptial photo shoot at the end of this month. We didn't go for the basic colors since we were advised to buy playful colors. He bought 2 pairs of shorts (blue and gray), plus a teal collard short sleeved polo. I got myself a cute knee length skirt, and 3 different shoes. Most of our time were consumed during our quest in finding the perfect souvenir. I was eyeing for an English teacup set so I asked Waldz to help me find it. We braved the slippery, muddy and stinky streets and small alleys to look for teacups but sadly we were unable to find one. (Please don't bash us for being fussy, but if you have been there you know that I am telling the truth. Peace out!)  

We arrived there at 9am and went home at 2pm. You can just imagine how tired we were. We just decided to go back again probably the weekend before the shoot.

Meet MY Siblings

Siblings - Children of the same parents,

each of whom is perfectly normal

until they get together.. 💜

 I am very fortunate to have such a loving family. My mom and dad have been married for more than 30 years now. They did have a lot of challenges along the way, but they still managed to stay married. I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers. We don't always get along, too. We argue a lot, and oh boy! You don't want to know how we used to fight. But if there are people who I am confident that will always have my back, that will definitely be them. "Mess with my brother/sister, prepare to mess with us all!" Don't get us wrong, we're no war freaks!

So anyway, this blog post is merely to share with you guys how happy I am to have a lot of siblings. ("A lot" because in our country, 1-2 is ideal, 3 is many, and 4 and more kids are already a lot.)

My eldest sister, who will be one of my Maid Of Honor (I'm more honored that she agreed, yey!), is my lifelong best-est friend! She knows every bit of me. She knows my good and bad side. She may not be an epitome of a perfect person, but to me, she is a perfect sister. She is someone I know I can always run to. Thank you for enduring all my crazy tantrums!

My eldest brother, who will be one of our secondary sponsors, is the mysterious one in the pack. Most, if not all, thinks that he is a shy and quiet guy who does not mingle, but you'll be surprised how silly he can get. He is the one we all look up to. He is a successful supervisor in a prestigious company. And he'll prolly be the richest among us all. The "rich-kid" is what we fondly call him. But with all this success, he has never turned his back on us. He and his generous kind heart. Thank you for always saying "yes" to all our request, regardless if its a need or a want.

Middle child syndrome. I honestly do not know what it is, but they always tease me for this. probably because of my crazy tantrums or horrible mood swings, haha! Anyway, I am the one who always take the initiative to do things. Bossy? A little. haha! They say I look like my dad but my attitude is from my mom. Mom, help! I am the most thoughtful and most sentimental. (Self proclaimed)

My younger brother, one of the groomsmen, is the clown in the family. He is very good at entertaining people. His PR skills are highly commendable! But he's more than just a charming face, he is also a hopeless romantic guy who still excels at school. I was only 7 years old when he was born. I helped a lot in raising this kid. I am the first person he calls, if he needs help on something, especially if it involves talking to mom. I hate to admit it, but I am glad he trusts me on stuffs like this.

My younger sister, also my Maid Of Honor, is the as expected the family's baby! She will always be a baby in our eyes no matter how old she will become. I am very protective of her. I also helped a lot in raising her. She was a menopausal baby so some people tease our eldest sister that she is her daughter. Not true of course. But I wouldn't mind having her as my own. I love her so much that if given the chance to control things, I wouldn't want to have any future daughters. She has now grown a lot, physically, mentally, and emotionally. She is responsible, smart, sweet, confident, and obedient. I see myself in her. All her good and (unfortunately) bad attitude -- blame it all on me!

Last August 30, we celebrated mom's birthday (plus my eldest sister and brother's birthday). We all went home. We were complete. Most of the time, we are only complete during Christmas. The night before (August 29) we went to a bar, Quattro, and it was awkward at first to be drinking alcoholic drinks with your parents. But our parents are really cool! And it was great! We had a really great time. So the following day, we went to Ciudad Elmina, one of the famous seafood restaurant in our city. We ate our lunch there and explored the area with a lot of pictures to keep and loads and loads of fun memories to share. 

I smile because they are my siblings.

I laugh because there is nothing they can do about it!

Miss Me?

Haven't written anything here for a long time. I guess I can claim that I have been awfully busy lately. Anyway, I promise to drop by from time to time because I would love to share all the wedding updates! (Assuming I have blog readers who are interested, haha!)

BTW, 100 days before the big day! :)

This is all for now! :)


Hugs and Kisses