vanilla ice cream | a cebuana's personal style blog

just us two

2012-02-01T12:00:00.000+08:00

pale blue vintage dress - thrifted | brown oxford wedges - forever 21, gifted by sweet | feather necklace - downtown find | cutout cuff - downtown find | rings: skull and brain - downtown finds

i once found it funny and foolishly romantic that my friend's parents celebrate their anniversary of when they first got together as a couple (you know, as boyfriend and girlfriend) and that they celebrate their wedding anniversary too. little did i know, i'd be doing the same thing too.

harry and i officially became an "us" on january 27, 2008. it has been four years since then. ♥

blanc magazine online

2012-01-30T09:04:00.000+08:00

on january 12, Cebu's underground youth and stylistas gathered for the launching of blanc, an online magazine that chronicles the latest fashion, art, androgyny, culture and most importantly, street style of Cebu. according to blanc's editor-in-chief, josei ouano cuizon, the magazine started a year ago after a group of stylish friends were talking about what they wanted and didn't want in a fashion magazine. well surely, after hours of talking, one of them may have strongly suggested that they start their own.

apart from Bloggers United 2, never have i attended an event where street style was so rich and prominent, i didn't feel odd wearing an overly-colorblocked outfit. we were surrounded by strong individual styles and not with the usual identical body-con or bondage dresses. and with my CFB sisters there, even rain couldn't stop us from having fun.

the fashion show of creations from a few of Cebu's young designers

the amazing blanc magazine staff

cebu fashion bloggers in action -- garbed in our distinct styles

here it is: the first official issue of blanc magazine with the queen of cebu, bee urgello, on the cover

for a lethal dose of underground fashion and art by Cebu's youth, it is imperative that you:

♥ bookmark blanc magazine's website

♥ like the facebook page

♥ follow the magazine on twitter

Open publication - Free publishing - More blanc

photos grabbed from:
toni of perfumed red shoes | jeemah of cupcakes and choices | gillian of by details
phil of the fourth kid | angeli of miss enthusiast

thank you, darleng

2012-01-28T18:43:00.000+08:00

this was your signature pose, darleng and i sincerely pray you get just that -- peace.

though we're still all recovering from the shock and disbelief but it is indeed too soon to be associating you with the word "was." well death, they say, is always on time and that we should accept it. for now, all we can do is remember not your death but the life you lived.

i have to admit, i wasn't always your biggest fan. the relationship you had with my sister was, for the lack of a better word, confusing but it made perfect sense to the both of you. over the last 2 years, i have seen my sister mature and learn to be independent. she has grown up to be kinder, more considerate and level-headed and it wouldn't have happened if not for you. i have seen her sincerely and inexplicably in love. my sister has learned what it is to truly love without inhibitions, without conditions. for that, darleng, i thank you with all my heart. you changed her life and in turn, you changed ours. you will forever be missed. we love you!

to my readers, who have been patient enough to hang on after 2 weeks of being MIA, thank you. my family went through a shocking and tragic ordeal on the morning of Sinulog and we needed time to recover from the grief. my sister needs all the support so for now, i am a sister first, a wife second and a blogger third. as always, thank you for your support. life is a gift from God and we should cherish it everyday.

cebu fashion bloggers x parade of dresses

2012-01-14T15:44:00.003+08:00

finally got to meet Cherie of Parade of Dresses ♥

i have always been in awe of Cherie's blog and the style and photos it contains. the colorful and soft outfits, the breezy beach photos and the gorgeous afternoon sun are all elements of her blog that never cease to take my stress away. so you can imagine how excited i was, actually all of us, when she asked if it was okay to meet on january 7. in perfect timing, the meet-up was right after the maze event so even without sleep, i pushed myself to survive the night and survive i did. this is all to bond with the cebu fashion bloggers and of course, to meet the gorgeous Cherie. ♥

here the photos and i have to warn you, it's really heavy. well, what do you expect when stylish people convene.

Cherie and her equally pretty sister -- she's still 17 and so cute!

jerrick, a young cebuano designer , whose necklace i covet and the gomez sisters -- liezyl and chyrel

gillian in her tribal printed body con dress & ombre denim vest | mildred in her mixed print outfit & jaw-dropping leather skirt

chyrel in her ooh lala red jeans and sky-high booties | vanessa in her chic navy blazer & fun earrings

mildred and me | toni in her yummy fringe bag & gold glitter oxfords from shoe etiquette (me wants one)

chyrel, gillian, me and jerrick

mildred, eden, philip, chyrel & gillian

the super-talented wonder kid of our group, philip lapinid and me

me with the uber gorgeous toni in her pixie hair (doesn't it suit her perfectly?)

group shot! the cebu fashion bloggers with Cherie and her sister

from the left: jerrick, eden, chyrel, cherie's sister, cherie, me, jem and liezyl

the outfit:

my gecko ring, tassel earrings and woven cuffs

my hilariously high-maintenance fringe knit top -- it was getting in everything i wore LOL

giraffe meets leopard -- my giraffe printed wedge from shoe etiquette & mildred's leopard wedges from F21

fringe knit top - primal rave wholesale | sheer printed maxi skirt - thrifted | giraffe-printed wedges - shoe etiquette | tassel earrings - DIY | woven cuff - downtown find | gecko ring - bangkok find | chain clutch - vintage from mom

photos courtesy of toni pino & mildred zapanta

the maze teen model search

2012-01-11T15:06:00.000+08:00

in my resolution to be a better blogger, a Cebuana fashion blogger at that, by doing more posts, saying yes to more events and supporting the local fashion industry in any way i can, i said "yes" to Eden's invite to attend as one of the guests for The Maze Teen Image Model Search which was held at the Ayala Activity Center last January 7, 2012.

Maze, which coincidentally is where my sister's retail shop Props is located, is a one-stop hip shop in Ayala Cebu where one can find every fashionista's needs, from chic dresses & accessories and even tech gadgets.

the cebu fashion bloggers on front row

i gotta' hand it to yves camingue for the styling in this segment of the show. tribal prints overload, layered on each other -- i drool! i was literally bouncing in my seat!

the fans were the funnest part of the search -- they went crazy for their model bets!

the talented hosts, eden and mark in their costume changes -- of course styled by yves. turquoise is the peg for the night and i love it!

the lovely ladies in their gowns designed by Cebu's Young Designers and wearing shoes by Shandar

my favorite in the search -- she was chic, she had potential and best of all, she tripped so many times in this dress and even fell but she picked herself up and forged ahead. ♥

kudos goes to the Carolyn Tan, the CEO of Hype Management and Development Corp., for donating P15,000 to Clothes for Life -- an association of fashion designers spearheaded by Cary Santiago and Wendell Quisido and supports several beneficiaries, including the Little Lamb Children's Center (source: http://www.everythingcebu.com/sidebar-photoblog/queen-of-cebu-2010/)

and the winners are...

naomi grace and john paul

congratulations!

freeman feature x the humanizer

2012-01-08T17:37:00.000+08:00

on the day we left for Manila to attend the Bloggers United 2 event, Freeman released a feature of us, the Cebu bloggers attending the event, written by Kristine Roa (online article here). the miracle it took for us to get a copy of this article was so funny because Mildred and Alexa literally had to steal this page from a coffee shop at the airport. some photos used on the article were submitted by the bloggers who were not able to do the photo shoot with us the week prior. as for some of us, we did an afternoon shoot with Rolan Icban, the humanizer.

i have to say, it was really fun doing the shoot with the girls and Roland. as talkative as i am with my friends but i don't do well with strangers because i tend do be too shy but Roland knew how to direct our poses and amazingly captured the light in all of our photos. i definitely look forward to getting another chance to do a shoot with the humanizer.

printed vintage dress - thrifted | black tights - sm department store | black lace-up booties - parisian, sm department store | black floppy hat - shopyapi.com | bangles & rings - downtown finds

gillian uang ♥ vanessa east ♥ eden villarba ♥ gizelle sembrano

we ♥ the humanizer!

be kind, rewind three | animalia

2012-01-04T12:46:00.000+08:00

printed cape tunic - thrifted | over-worn jeans - chillypapa | strappy animal printed wedges - gifted | cutout layered necklace & feather necklace - downtown finds | brass bangles, studded wood bangle, bead bracelet & square bangle - downtown finds | lion & alligator ring - downtown finds (all accessories are only worth P300) | brown sunnies - borrowed from Aimee

i know it's not just me when i say this: most days, i plan my outfit around what pair of shoes i decide to wear. despite the serious lack of sleep, when i woke up today, i knew i wanted to wear the strappy animal-printed wedges that Harry gave me for Christmas. i felt i needed to be loose and free or i'd get tantrums at work so i immediately thought of my over-worn cape tunic and more overly worn jeans which incidentally paired well with my new pair of shoes. (would you believe i own only 1 pair of jeans? believe it, because i really do). and when undecided on what accessories to wear, i say wear them all as long as the outfit can accommodate it. so voila, i'm set for work!

speaking of over-worn, this post will now serve as my third installment of my "be kind, rewind" series. i've worn these pair of jeans and the same cape tunic while walking snickers here and i've worn the cape tunic over a neon bikini here. all these posts were done in 2010 by the way. i can't believe it's been that long.

i hope everyone is having an awesome new year! the world might end in 2012 so let's live everyday as if it's our last!

cheers to 2012!

2012-01-01T18:31:00.000+08:00

Good morning 2012!

the Sembrano tres marias -- meeting 2012's first sunrise! (forgive my sister Aimee, she doesn't realize Cebu pavements are not as clean as Aussie's..LOL!)

Mr. and Mrs. B's first new year as a married couple! ♥ ♥ ♥

Harry, me and my kulit sister, Aimee!

Sam, Kate, Armand, Aimee, Me and Harry

i miss Armand!

family's night out? LOL.
Mr. and Mrs. B ~ Harry & Gizelle + Aimee + Mr. and Mrs. Tan ~ Warren & Charm

with the super hilarious Mary Ty, one of the amazing designers of MEGA YDC. our jaws hurt from laughing!

now, on to the outfit...

polka tent blouse - primal rave | bandage skirt - primal rave | black strappy heels - people are people
brass cuff - shopyapi.com | feather necklace & brass layered necklace - downtown finds | rings - downtown finds

Aimee's outfit: pink bandage dress with sleeve cutouts - primal rave | chain bag - vintage
leopard heels - people are people | necklace and bangles - downtown finds

can you guess what those things are beside the lion?

the polka dressing tradition continues! this is my 4th new year wearing polka -- they say it's good luck and brings in more money for the year! here's to not just more money but more love, guidance from God, opportunities to seize and risks to take...

2011 was definitely a roller coaster ride for me. half the year were mornings where i didn't know whether i wanted to wake up or just sleep through the day but i was blessed enough to realize life is too short and took mine back. 2011 blessed me with a job that i loved [all this time], a promotion, a fiance, a family reunion and fiinally, a husband.

to 2012, may you bring as many opportunities and adventures as you've given in 2011 -- only less confusion, heartache and drama. ♥ ♥ ♥

different but it's Christmas all the same

2011-12-25T13:42:00.000+08:00

true, this year was a different Christmas than all the others i've spent. for one, i missed a whole lot of misa de gallo because of work. i shopped too late for gifts because i was waiting for additional funds -- like, 3 days before Christmas and i'm not done yet. it was the first time i decorated our tree on my own because my mom got sick with flu and it was already December 20 -- Christmas is not complete without an overly decorated tree in our house. we didn't have a big noche buena like we used to but my sisters (and i helped a little) cooked yummy seafood and hungarian pasta and we had our fill of my tita's home-made ham. lastly, we didn't open gifts after midnight because we didn't wrap our gifts this year. to sum it all up, my Christmas was a lot simpler than it used to but you know what? what mattered most is that i had 85% of my family complete --- with my little sister back from Australia but minus Harry who was in Bohol with his family. being in the company of people who will love you unconditionally is still the best Christmas one can have. i am, indeed, lucky. ♥

merry christmas everyone! ♥

cebu and manila style bloggers meet!

2011-12-19T14:43:00.000+08:00

even with an energy level that of a one bar on a mobile phone, we pulled ourselves out of bed the day after the long event to meet and have a sit-down dinner at the Borough in the Podium. everyone came in their own styles, the food was good and conversations were even better. ♥

mildred zapanta of dred reveries

group photo! we look like we've been friends for sooo long ~ like a high school reunion photo.
from left: mike magallanes of toxic disco boy | melai entuna of style and soul | aisa ipac of drowning equilibriums | jeff, a levi's PR | eden villarba of chic in the tropics | ava of artsy fartsy ava | sarah tirona of ms. eggplant's chronicles | vanessa east of the detritus of an earthbound goddess | mildred zapanta of dred reveries

and the winner for the most supportive partner goes to mich! ♥

our sponsors: how we managed to go to Manila

2011-12-17T16:27:00.000+08:00

before i do a post on our quick-dinner-before-leaving with the Manila Bloggers, i'd like to first feature our sponsors and the goodies we received from the event. of course, without these amazing sponsors, the Cebu Fashion Bloggers wouldn't have been able to travel to Manila. we are eternally grateful. mind you, these are just a few of them as i've already tucked away or given away some. that's how blessed we were.

Bloggers United loot:

♥ Lorys Hair Cream in Duo Chocolate -- smells so yummy!

♥ Rio Mints in very cool packaging -- i super love them! not only do they taste good, they're very stylish too.

♥ An Ashley's lippie in a cupcake -- very cute!

♥ A few packs of Kotex Luxe -- they're like style items on their own as the pads are lined in floral prints!

♥ Nivea products -- classic and undying staples.

♥ Accessorize Sunnies -- a timeless shape and shade. Very Audrey Hepburn.

i would also like to especially thank Multiply for partnering with Bloggers United. their new site is just amazing and super easy for shopaholics like me to shop.

here are the links to the rest of our sponsors:

Bloggers United is in partnership with:

Multiply Philippines (http://multiply.com/)

GMA Kapuso Foundation (http://www.kapusofoundation.com/)

Treston International College (http://www.treston.edu.ph/)

Event is co-presented by:

Nikon (http://www.nikon.com/)

Primadonna (http://primadonna.com.ph)

For Me (http://www.forme.com.ph/)

Regatta (http://www.regatta.com.ph/)

Accessorize (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessorize-Philippines/83267796457)

Audioline (http://www.audiolineph.com/)

Columbia Digital (http://www.columbiadigital.net/)

ETC (http://www.etc.com.ph/)

Meg Magazine (http://www.meggurl.com/)

When in Manila (http://www.wheninmanila.com/)

Gadgets Magazine (http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/)

In cooperation with:

Bankard (http://www.bankard.com/)

Lorys (http://www.facebook.com/loryshaircream)

Kotex (http://www.kotex.com.ph/)

Tomato (http://www.tomato.ph/)

Nail It! (http://www.nail-it-salon.com/)

Manels (http://www.manels.com/)

Ferretti (http://ferrettishoes.com/)

Giordano (http://www.giordano.com.ph/)

Lapdance (www.lapdancebags.com)

Red Mango (http://redmango.com.ph/)

Unionbank (http://www.unionbankph.com/)

Xend Business Solutions (http://www.xend.com.ph/)

Special thanks to:

Posh Nails (http://poshnails.com.ph/)

Rio Mints (http://www.facebook.com/riomints)

Nivea (https://www.facebook.com/NIVEAPhilippines)

SM Dept Store (http://www.smdeptstore.com/)

Online Shop Donors:

Belle York (http://www.facebook.com/SoleSisterLifestyle)

Shop Dainty (www.shopdainty.com)

Asian Vogue (http://asianvogue.multiply.com/)

F-STOP (Fashion Stop) (http://fashionstopshop.multiply.com/)

Anagon Collection (http://anagoncollection.multiply.com/)

Archive Clothing (http://archiveclothing.multiply.com/)

Extreme Finds (http://www.facebook.com/mustloveExtremeFinds)

Sparkle Shop (http://www.mysparkleshop.com/)

Flattering Tops (http://www.facebook.com/flatteringtops)

Posh Pocket Shoes (http://www.poshpocketshoesonline.com/)

Scrunch (http://www.facebook.com/SSSCRUNCH)

Sole Sister (http://www.facebook.com/SoleSisterLifestyle)

Maris (http://marisonline.multiply.com/)

Bubbles (http://tatibubbles.multiply.com/)

Sweetetite (http://www.facebook.com/pages/SweeTetite/255652547788474)

bloggers united 2: the amazing day that was

2011-12-13T14:09:00.000+08:00

last May, as Bloggers United took place, all i can do was hold on to my iPod and check real-time updates of the bloggers who were participating and check their posts days later to continue to stalk even more --- i think i drooled a bit too. this December, i drooled but i was there. (yeah baby!) and it was one of the funnest, exhilarating and exhausting yet most memorable event of my year. after months of stalking the fabulous Manila bloggers, i finally got to meet them in person. since it was a one-time event, i took my shyness aside and got the courage to smile at people i don't personally know and it was just amazing to have met new friends. *crossing fingers* i do hope we're still invited on the next Bloggers United event. even if we haven't left Manila, we were all already thinking of what to do the next time. ♥

our space. our label. the CFB representatives. ♥

mildred and i were one of the firsts to arrive. those are our luggages that we almost carried through the long flight of stairs. good thing a kind guy helped us carry them.

our clothes for sale on the table. we didn't have clothes racks but we had no regrets. people flocked to our booth because ours looked un-intimidating? i don't know but we're just glad we sold a lot of items.

the long line of bloggers united attendees...whoot! ♥

the cebu fashion bloggers with the gorgeous bloggers united organizers and founders, Melai and Aisa.
(we should have waited for Ana too)

with my sunshine and most supportive friend -- pyangee

wrapping up! all the clothes we had unsold were donated to GMA Kapuso ♥

time for outfit shots!

eden villarba of chic in the tropics

alexa en tan luna of i am alexa

vanessa east of the detritus of an earthbound goddess

moi --- looking very sleepy and more haggard without make-up..LOL.

mildred zapanta of dred reveries -- she was also my roommate and we had loads of fun!

color blocked arrival | manila trip day 1

2011-12-08T13:38:00.001+08:00

photos courtesy of Mildred and Eden

green maxi skirt - thrifted | denim jacket - borrowed from Aimee | white tank top - thrifted | blue and white striped flats - bangkok find | necklaces - vintage & bangkok find

these photos were taken upon our arrival at Manila on December 2, 2011 to join the Bloggers United 2. is it obvious that i haven't slept for 24 hours and that what was keeping me alive was a bottle of energy drink and my excitement for the event?

i love how we all traveled and went through the hassle of airport security in not just any casual outfit but something that was what we called our own version of comfort and style. i also loved that we came garbed in our own distinct styles --- with me turning to my fail safe maxi skirt, white tank top and long necklace, Alexa in her cool sleeveless top and tulip skirt, Mildred in her bright blazer and denim cut-offs and of course, Eden in her grunged up sweater and studded cut-offs. i've never traveled with so many stares before because not only were people staring at me for wearing such a bright colored skirt and fuchsia lipstick but at my fabulous companions as well.

well, we've been joking about blogging about our Manila trip for days on end (maybe in a span of 2 weeks, right Van?) but maybe it just might happen. LOL. hold on to your seats for my post on the actual day of the Blogger's United 2 event and on our 3rd day in Manila. ♥

bowtie love x blogger's united 2 ticket winners!

2011-11-29T21:26:00.001+08:00

cardigan with polka cutouts - bangkok find | sheer top with bowtie - bangkok find | pleated skirt - thrifted | studded white belt - primal rave wholesale | nude wedge booties - gold dot
chain-linked necklace - gifted by Eden | gunmetal cuffs & rings - downtown finds

i know i've neglected this blog for more than a week now. hey, it's not my fault. although work got to best of me last week and i ended up working 12 - 14 hours a day, i did intend to blog last weekend. i caught the flu though and was on bed rest til' today. i got to stay at home on a Monday but it wasn't fun and games at all. my head seemed like it was going to split and it was throbbing with pain every time i move. i'm all well now after religiously taking pain medication and antibiotics.

anyway, these photos were taken 2 weekends ago after the 'meet the parents' lunch we had at our place. yes, Harry has met my parents and i have met his but this time, both our parents were meeting for the first time. it was tense, awkward and funny the first few minutes but once everyone got to talking, we hardly noticed that almost 3 hours has gone by. ♥ parents who get along well together is just the bestest thing to happen to a wedding-in-the-making! ♥

so the Bloggers United 2 event is in 4 days and i can't wait for it! i don't know if i'm prepared enough but i am very much looking forward to meeting other fabulous bloggers and meeting Vanilla Ice Cream's Manila readers too. so without further adieu, here are the winners of the Bloggers United 2 entrance tickets:

Lilli Elizabeth Abatayo
Audrey Noreen Deza
Rovie Divinagracia
Cez Quijada
Kristina Marie Letada
Kristabel F. Penafuerte
Sumi Go
Banegrace Malate
Grace Siy
Loty Rhae Pascua
Mae Angelie Jinang
Erna De Jesus
Diane Pancho

i'll e-mail you guys tomorrow (and tweet you too!) see you soon and make sure to drop by our booth! ♥

Bloggers United 2 x Free Tickets to Giveaway!

2011-11-21T16:43:00.000+08:00

Manila’s finest fashion bloggers will leavetheir laptops at home once again to attend BLOGGERS UNITED BAZAAR (Part2) on December 3, 2011 at Treston International College, Taguig, thiscoming holiday season.

It is the second installment of the first-ever Bloggers United: An Interactive ShoppingAffair, which was held last May. Due to insistent demand from readersand bloggers alike, Bloggers United(http://www.facebook.com/bloggersunitedph)team in partnership with the country’s largest online shopping website, Multiply Philippines (http://multiply.com/) have gathered Manila’sfashion bloggers to sell their pre-loved but very stylish closet pieces!

This event is the perfect opportunity for bothbloggers and their adoring readers to mingle and personally interact with eachother. Fun contests and exciting giveaways from sponsors and entertainingperformances from bloggers (Walkie Talkies, Reese & Vica) themselves willdefinitely keep this event from being a dull one.

Some of the notable bloggers attending the eventinclude Divine Lee, Laureen Uy, Kookie Buhain, Lissa Kahayaon, David Guison,Karl Leuterio, Patricia Prieto and Preview Magazine’s own Daryl and AndreChang.

But because BloggersUnited wishes to go beyond the geographic limitations of thearchipelago and extend its reach beyond Metro Manila and so for this event, theyare flying in some of Cebu’s very own fashion bloggers which include Kryz Uy,Eden Villarba, designer Yves Camingue, Gillian Uang and Mildred Zapanta and afew more. ---> The "a few more" includes me! ♥ Yes, I'll be there and I hope to meet all you lovely readers and bloggers from Manila on that day.

Part of the proceeds from this event will go tothe GMA Kapuso Foundation (http://www.kapusofoundation.com/)for its school building project, a small but significant step to improve theFilipino youth’s access to education.

The organizers behind BLOGGERSUNITED BAZAAR (PART 2) are Ana Gonzales (http://anagonzales.com),Melai Entuna (http://styleandsoul.blogspot.com)and Aisa Ipac (http://ipaxme.blogspot.com), a team of blogger friends encouraging camaraderieand sense of “community” among Manila’s (and eventually, the country’s) fashionblogging community through events and productions like this.

This is a one-day-only event that you shouldn’treally miss! It will be in a bigger venue with twice more the number ofparticipating bloggers to meet! This is the perfect shopping day this Christmasbecause the most affordable and most fashionable clothes, accessories andfootwear will be up for grabs. See you!

Bloggers United is in partnership with:

Multiply Philippines (http://multiply.com/)

GMA Kapuso Foundation (http://www.kapusofoundation.com/)

Treston International College (http://www.treston.edu.ph/)

Event is co-presented by:

Nikon (http://www.nikon.com/)

Primadonna

Accessorize (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessorize-Philippines/83267796457)

Audioline (http://www.audiolineph.com/)

Columbia Digital (http://www.columbiadigital.net/)

ETC (http://www.etc.com.ph/)

Meg Magazine (http://www.meggurl.com/)

When in Manila (http://www.wheninmanila.com/)

Gadgets Magazine (http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/)

In cooperation with:

Bankard (http://www.bankard.com/)

Lorys (http://www.facebook.com/loryshaircream)

Kotex (http://www.kotex.com.ph/)

Tomato (http://www.tomato.ph/)

Nail It! (http://www.nail-it-salon.com/)

Manels (http://www.manels.com/)

Ferretti (http://ferrettishoes.com/)

Giordano (http://www.giordano.com.ph/)

Lapdance (www.lapdancebags.com)

Unionbank (http://www.unionbankph.com/)

Xend Business Solutions (http://www.xend.com.ph/)

Special thanks to:

Posh Nails (http://poshnails.com.ph/)

Rio Mints (http://www.facebook.com/riomints)

Nivea (https://www.facebook.com/NIVEAPhilippines)

SM Dept Store (http://www.smdeptstore.com/)

Online Shop Donors:

Belle York (http://www.facebook.com/SoleSisterLifestyle)

Shop Dainty (www.shopdainty.com)

Asian Vogue (http://asianvogue.multiply.com/)

F-STOP (Fashion Stop) (http://fashionstopshop.multiply.com/)

Anagon Collection (http://anagoncollection.multiply.com/)

Archive Clothing (http://archiveclothing.multiply.com/)

Extreme Finds (http://www.facebook.com/mustloveExtremeFinds)

Sparkle Shop (http://www.mysparkleshop.com/)

Flattering Tops (http://www.facebook.com/flatteringtops)

Posh Pocket Shoes (http://www.poshpocketshoesonline.com/)

Scrunch (http://www.facebook.com/SSSCRUNCH)

Sole Sister (http://www.facebook.com/SoleSisterLifestyle)

Maris (http://marisonline.multiply.com/)

Bubbles (http://tatibubbles.multiply.com/)

Sweetetite (http://www.facebook.com/pages/SweeTetite/255652547788474)

Location Details:

Treston International College

University Parkway District, 32nd Street corner C-5 Road

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila Phillipines

Now, here's a best part -- I am giving away 20 entrance tickets to the event to Vanilla Ice Cream readers so I can share the privilege of being part of the event to you too. Getting the free entrance ticket is simple:

♥ Just comment on the post here with your name and e-mail address and/or twitter ID

♥ Follow Multiply on Twitter and Facebook

♥ And of course, follow Bloggers United on Twitter and Facebook

That's it! The giveaway will end on November 25, 2011 so you have a week to join! Tell your friends, tell your family and I do hope to see you all at the Bloggers United 2 Event!

writing my own story

2011-11-15T21:34:00.001+08:00

pink blazer - thrifted (for P50!) | white tank top - thrifted | zebra printed shorts - bangkok find
lace-up heels - parisian, sm dept store | dog tag necklace - custom made | red sunnies - bangkok find

90% of the time, i'm that girl who doesn't give a crap about what other people say about me. i like doing things my way, as long as i'm not hurting anyone. i dress the way i dress and i maintain a carefree and friendly demeanor wherever i am. i try to always give a piece of my mind and hardly resort to keeping things to myself when called for. it may be with this kind of attitude that people misunderstand me and it's okay. i do not exist to make everyone understand how i am because that's just foolish. one thing i have learned from Harry when we first got together is this: "People will always have their own version of your story. The important thing is you write your own and live it to its fullest."

so yeah, people can make up stories about me. i'll write my own as well. in the end, what matters is i know and LIVE it, my family knows it, harry knows it and my true friends do too.

stealing granny's style

2011-11-13T10:00:00.000+08:00

i have always had this affinity for granny clothes especially those that come with a gartered waist and electric pleats. i always get overly excited when i see electric pleats and the science behind creating those stunning folds never ceases to amaze me. so when i saw this dress at PHP 50.00 ($1.20), i was immensely elated and couldn't believe what a steal it was. the dress is pleated, polka dotted and has scalloped sleeves -- just my cup of tea.

wearing granny clothes can easily lean both ways, looking juvenile like a 13-year old girl or looking well, like a grandma. so i had my dad cut 2 inches off the hem to make the dress more modern. the only regret? he cut it too short because i measured it too short -- i was bending when i made the cutting mark! LOL. so to style a granny dress more youthfully, i layered on a chunky necklace and studded belt, added gazillions of bangles and a pair of chunky rings to create that extra jingle, topped the outfit with a bowler hat and let my hair down. voila! juvenile and granny no more. what do you guys think? would you wear granny clothes?

Versace x H&M

2011-11-12T01:54:00.000+08:00

i have to admit that up until i saw a TV special on Versace -- its brand, how their company was built and the amazing siblings who ran the fashion label, i didn't have much appreciation for it. i had this unconscious bitterness over designer clothing which is beyond my reach and it took me a while to realize that although the actual clothing is beyond my financial reach, it shouldn't hinder me from appreciating the art and work that was put into the creation of the designs. to be a renowned designer takes a massive amount of brilliance -- brilliance that is not tapped by just any ordinary being. despite the steep prices, designer clothing are still works of art.

thanks to Lady Gaga who wore a Versace dress on a casual day, Donatella decided to share Versace to the public and collaborate with H&M. when Lady Gaga fans asked where she got her single shoulder shift, a collaboration with H&M was Donatella's way of letting those fans get a taste of the Italian fashion label at a few hundreds (and not in thousands). that leather jacket below can be ours at $299 (still a steep price for the Peso but still affordable compared to the couture line / collection). here are my favorites from the collection:

all images courtesy of style.com -- check out the site for a full coverage of the launch.

my top favorites are the pleated dress with the leather jacket (2nd photo) which was also worn by jessica alba at the launch (here), the purple cutout dress and black chiffon dress on the 5th row -- the black one worn by jennifer hudson at the launch (here). all the lace-up booties caught my heart too, especially the blue ones. simply amazeballs. how about you? what are your favorite/s?

sunday mornings with you

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000+08:00

i said i never would but i went back to the night shift. i must say i am more productive with this schedule. Sundays are more special because i spend them with Harry and we'd have super late dinners, spend an hour or so watching TV, workout on the stepper and lift weights, go walking around our neighborhood and attend Church on its second schedule. my mornings are no longer spent being sleepy and in bed.

the scheduled maintenance by the local electric company didn't stop us from enjoying last Sunday. we did our usual activities in the morning and added visiting the mall right when its doors opened to have brunch at French Baker and shop for a pair of boots for our South Korea trip this November. unfortunately, the mid-calf boots that was on sale at Janilyn no longer had my size. we went home right after lunch to find out the electricity was still out and will be out until 6:00 PM. so we changed into comfier clothes and went thrifting around Jones avenue. my favorite shop is already closed but a new shop opened just across the street and to my delight, i found the perfect pair of boots at only PHP 336 ($8.00)! can you believe it? you'll see the pair when i wear it in South Korea.
i can't wait! ♥

light as a feather, stiff as a board

2011-11-05T14:58:00.000+08:00

if you were a 90's child, you'd probably find the title familiar...if you don't remember or know it, it's from the movie The Craft which i was such a fan of. i think i was still in 5th grade then and i must have seen the movie more than 10 times. i even had the soundtrack and i swore i was meant to be a witch too but no matter how much a tried to make a pencil turn on its own, it just won't. imagine my disappointment. haha!

anyway, i've long been obsessed with feathers ever since i found owlita.com and i was scouring bangkok for some cheap peacock and ostrich feathers that i could DIY but to no avail. time got to the best of me and i never got around to doing the earrings. so i was super glad to have found this necklace at my favorite downtown shop. it's been a while since i've gone accessory shopping and mind you, once i step into that little shop of accessory goodness, i go wild. so i'm presenting you 2 of the loot i got on my latest trip: the feather necklace and the angel wing ring. ♥

on other news, the Cebu Fashion Bloggers have finally come out of our shells --- we've long held a group page in Facebook to discuss fashion, events and just about anything but the discussion remained within the group. we have finally decided to take the group public with a Facebook Fan Page. 'Like' the CFB Facebook page to get updates not just from me but from all other amazing Cebuano Fashion Bloggers.

denim + khaki

2011-10-30T09:57:00.001+08:00

rose ring - carbon find | orange howlite ring - dane's giveaway

no...it's not summer here in the Philippines but it seems like it was. i think it was 36 degrees and it was noon and harry and i were shopping around for a bed. the best place to get good quality furniture here in Cebu is 20 minutes away from the city so imagine how excruciating it was having to drive under the heat for 20 minutes. i needed a laid back outfit and with a pair of khaki shorts, a denim top, a hat and beaded sandals, i felt laid back and like i was out hunting in the safari --- just like what furniture hunting is.

now talking about furniture hunting, choosing the right bed is very challenging. actually, everything harry and i are doing right now is challenging because we're at this phase where we have to decide together because we're building this life together. with bed shopping, we have to consider the price, the size, the head board design (yes! harry wants something with a cushion...i want the classic wood one), the height, the material...etc. i can just imagine how much challenging it will be when we're actually married. oh my...LOL.

be kind, rewind two | thank you, shoe heaven!

2011-10-23T05:22:00.002+08:00

planning a wedding and trying to achieve that perfect, magical one can dampen one's shopping spirits. since the proposal, harry and i have agreed to save, save, save every extra money we have. believe it or not, the last time we watched a movie on the cinema was July. all this time, we've been spending weekends at home, just watching dvd's and pigging out. finishing the big bang theory from the season 1 - 4 didn't hurt though and i was mighty glad Sheldon, Penny and Leonard were there to accompany us.

so as i am not able to buy more clothes or a new pair of shoes, i have decided to continue the 'be kind, rewind...' posts and make it a series. the first one was this one. and for this post: the giraffe-printed shirt i wore on May 2010 and the black pleated trousers i first wore on March 2011.

on other news, i guess the heavens heard my deep want to get a new pair of shoes because i just got a new pair that's not just gorgeous but super comfortable. Mickey of Wantedshoes.com reached out to me on July and asked for a pair that i wanted from their website which they'll send for free. i never thought it would arrive until i got this pair in the mail:

thank you, Wanted for the new pair of shoes! ♥ ♥ ♥

outfit post of the lovelies will be up, soon...

erratic behavior

2011-10-17T12:59:00.000+08:00

if you're thinking about something bad, don't. i'm just talking about the weather. as sunny as my photo is now, the direct opposite happened just last week. the sky was dark for 4 days and the rains were so heavy that my car got flooded as i was driving out of the office to buy food for lunch. cleaning my car caused me P1,500 and i had to get some repairs done too. yes, it was that heavy and i'm sure it was heavier and a lot worse in other areas. for those who are in areas that are most likely to get hit by typhoons, keep safe and be prepared.

anyway, on a lighter note, do you find my white blazer to be like that of a doctor's? i bought this 2 years ago but i've only worn this twice, i think. i bought it because it's cotton and very breezy but it's very tricky to wear. what do you think? did i style it right?

fairytales need hard work too

2011-10-08T13:38:00.001+08:00

while i was growing up and spending summer afternoons imagining my dream wedding, i always thought the essentials just burst out from magic. i'd imagine the dress i'd be wearing, the ring on my finger, walking down the isle with heaps of flowers on the side and saying i do with a romantic song in the background. yeah, dream on. planning a wedding is hard, really hard.

although searching for an inspiration for my wedding dress is fun (yet also challenging), finding the perfect wedding ring is definitely not as much fun as i thought. harry and i spent a whole afternoon checking out jewelry stores and at the end of the day, our vision was clouded with a tinge of yellow --- from all the gold (tacky chinese gold) that we've seen in most stores. ugh! the wedding ring is not like the dress that i get to wear only once. it's something i wear forever so it has to be one of a kind or at least, special.

here's where i need your help: if you find a classic yet stylish wedding band design, tell me? post the link on a comment. ♥

on another note, while i was browsing for wedding band designs, i bumped into another kind of jewelry. i might be crazy from all this wedding band hunting because at one point, i considered getting an earring after finding these great cartilage earrings online. i could definitely need the change, considering i haven't been doing some shopping since we started saving money for the wedding. hmmm....

be kind, rewind

2011-09-28T10:29:00.000+08:00

fox ring - bangkok find | brown sunnies - carbon find

for regular readers, you might find this dress and cardigan familiar. i do have this insane rule of not repeating what i wear but only for the same month. as much as possible, i'd like to keep my outfits different when i can. for me, style is not about buying new clothes to wear everyday. here are the different times i've worn the items on this outfit:

as we are currently saving up for our wedding, i can't allow myself to get tempted by new retail buys. i think this is absurd but Harry says i have way too many clothes and even asked me if i have attempted to count them. i didn't answer him, of course, but i know that i should stop buying more and it's just a small sacrifice for me to finally wear that big yet flowy and white bohemian wedding dress that i've always dreamed of.

so, expect more outfit posts with items recycled from previous outfits. ♥

ps. thanks to the readers who left comments on my last post. i am glad to be back and it's definitely heart-warming to know i've been missed. will get back to your comments soon! mwah! ♥

stripes & hearts

2011-09-25T07:42:00.000+08:00

chambray top: thrifted | printed cotton maxi dress: shop yapi | striped ballet flats: primal rave wholesale | blue cutout belt: shop yapi | camel quilted bucket bag: primal rave wholesale | leopard ring: carbon find | coral ring: bangkok find | enamel bangles: hongkong finds | red wooden bangles: a gift from WAGW | tangerine printed bangle: DIY by sister

two and a half months can pass by really quick, huh? i didn't even realize i've been gone that long until i decided to go back to blogging. let me tell you though, posing for my come back post was quite embarrassing. i didn't know whether to smile or just act cool. so pardon the weird face.

before i proceed with telling you all about what has happened to me in the last two months, i feel i need to explain why i decided to take a break in the first place. on my last few posts, i've been feeling off and no longer passionate about continuing my blog. it confused me because blogging used to be an alternate world that i can immerse myself in and i did it for me. a few months before i took the break though, blogging became a chore. it became overrated. so i wanted to take a step back before i ruin my blogging experience altogether.

so, if anyone is curious, a lot has definitely happened to me in the last two and a half months.
♥ my little sister got back from aussie for her month long school break.
♥ i resigned as marketing executive from my sister's company to start doing homebased jobs.
♥ i oversaw our wholesale clothing business and spent 90% of my days at home.
♥ then i realized i was being a bum (and spending my life savings) that i needed to get a stable job.
♥ surprise: i went back to the BPO industry. (phew! i know, right? i'll tell you more about that on another post.)
♥ i celebrated my 27th birthday!
♥ and the best part: harry and i got engaged! he proposed on my birthday. it's the best birthday gift ever!

back to regular programming

2011-07-06T19:09:00.002+08:00

i know i have been technically MIA for the past 2 weeks. i've been doing blog posts but they were mainly on the launching of my shop's second collection, Furious Rose and nothing else. i have also been way backlogged in replying to comments and visiting other blogs. not only have i been busy with our wholesale business and managing multiple jobs, i honestly have been contemplating as to whether i should continue blogging or not. i have been spending 85% of my time at home these days so there are no outfits to post. i do go out on weekends and dress up but i no longer possess the motivation to take photos of my outfits. i think self-confidence is directly proportional to style blogging. i might just be in a crazy rush these days that i hardly even have time to think about myself. i might go on a blogging hiatus, i might not. we'll see in a couple of days.

okay, okay so i got a bit dramatic again with what i attempted to post yesterday. honestly, it really is difficult for me to post new outfits. i'm feeling so behind from every one in the style blogosphere. but i have to remember that i started doing this because i love fashion. whether or not i blog regularly, i hope you, my readers, will still stick around.

it is frustrating, when there are so many other related things I'd like to do. i want to learn more about deconstruction and portion play, maybe take classes from the many online fashion merchandising colleges. i need to be continually learning, but today's fast-paced world has made people busier and less willing to commit their time to a traditional classroom degree program. here in the Philippines, most specifically, opportunities are a bit limited. online education might just be the great answer to finally fulfilling dreams. i'll definitely look into this further.

and oooh, about the giveaway --- I'M EXTENDING it until July 20, 2011. i feel i haven't given more information about and didn't give others a chance to join it. please do tell your friends. it is very easy to join. there are a LOT of options to join. *wink*

please visit my online shop -- www.shopyapi.com -- if you haven't yet.

vibrant florals and prints in chiffon and soft cotton are up for grabs.

girly-girls gone grunge. ♥

check out the editorial here.

sheer sleeveless blouse with an embroidered pocket - shopyapi.com

floral layered skirt - thrifted

brown oversized cardigan - shopyapi.com

brown double braided belt - shopyapi.com

khaki crocheted beanie - custom-made by my aunt

lapis lazuli oversized ring - tseng jewelry

owl connector ring - carbon find

oversized charm bracelet - carbon find

Furious Rose Launches x 2 July 2011 x Shopyapi.com

2011-07-02T01:51:00.000+08:00

Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com

Launches on July 2, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Make sure to visit www.shopyapi.com

Photography: Jonathan Carlobos of VEATA

Videography: Philip Lapinid of Fashion the Fourth

Styling: Gizelle Faye Sembrano

MUA and Creative Direction: Eden Villarba of Chic in the Tropics

Styling and Production Assistance: Laiza Carmel Raagas of Crazy/Beautiful

Models: Aoi Miñoza and Kim Nuyda

Shot on Location at Family Park Cebu

more behind-the-scenes: Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com

2011-06-29T03:00:00.000+08:00

xxx more behind-the-scene photos of the Furious Rose photo shoot. xxx

(from left to right) laiza carmel raagas, philip lapinid, louise kim nuyda, aoi miñoza, me and eden villarba

bear with me for posting more Furious Rose shots for the rest of the week. very very busy with work and taking care of our second clothing wholesale installment. hope all of you are doing well!

don't forget to join the Vanilla Ice Cream and Shopyapi.com giveaway. runs until July 4, 2011. ♥

behind-the-scenes: Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com

2011-06-26T18:21:00.000+08:00

Music: "Do You Realize" by The Flaming Lips

Videography: Philip Lapinid

Photography: Jonathan Carlobos of VEATA

Styling: Gizelle Faye Sembrano

MUA and Creative Direction: Eden Villarba

Styling and Production Assistance: Laiza Carmel Raagas

Shot on Location at Family Park Cebu

BOOM! 2011 x Furious Rose by ShopYapi.com

2011-06-21T01:22:00.001+08:00

when i decided to open up shop, my market in mind was always students and yuppies. i used to draw sketches of outfits when i was young and contrary to what other aspiring designers loved to do, i was already into ready-to-wear clothes. i love couture but i always thought realistic and applicable to the real world is better -- it can be worn in many ways and is affordable.

so when Philip Lapinid of Fashion Toy Gun asked me to sponsor clothes for a small Model Competition for their school, USJR, i couldn't say no. it offered me an opportunity to expose my brand to students. in perfect timing, my stocks for the 2nd collection of Shopyapi.com arrived last week so i whipped up 10 outfits and came up with a simple concept. Furious Rose is the name of this collection and it's an ode to grunge girl style. Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com will launch on July 1, 2011.

xxx Behind the Scenes xxx

xxx the Models wearing ShopYapi xxx

the first and last model on the photos is Beatrice and she won the competition. she's obviously statuesque and could have easily beaten the girls but what made her more amazing is her professionalism and humility during the whole process. she never complained, didn't act vain and when asked to tease her hair for an out-of-bed look, she took the character by heart and spent the next 10 minutes of waiting time, in front of the mirror, disarranging her hair. Congrats Beatrice!

don't forget to join Vanilla Ice Cream's giveaway that will be running until July 4, 2011. get a chance to win a green hand bag, a pleated dress and matching turquoise necklace and a graphic swimsuit. ♥ ♥ ♥

Cebu Fashion Bloggers: Starting a Community

2011-06-14T23:36:00.000+08:00

inspired by recent get-together that the Manila bloggers had just a few weeks ago, we decided to get our asses moving and actually build a community here in Cebu. the brainchild of this whole event, Eden Villarba of Chic in the Tropics and i contacted everyone we could possible know who blogs about fashion and personal style and planned an intimate dinner, where everyone can get acquainted. the venue was at Veranda, in Park Mall and the night ended with of course, lots and lots of photos. we missed a few people though and we really do hope they could join us next time.

Toni Pino of Perfumed Red Shoes, as pretty as ever. my style muse for Shopyapi.com who's leaving for Cali in a couple of days. i'm happy for her but now i have to look for another model. lol.

the amazing Pino sisters with their equally amazing necklaces. i die!

(left-right) Gillian Uang of Detail by Details, Eden Villarba of Chic in the Tropics, yours truly, Issa of Little Black Sheep Fashion and Vanessa East of Being Miss East

Eden and her blazin' red hair!

Me and Lyka Raagas of Crazy/Beautiful. we've been friends since 2006 actually so it was awesome to have someone i knew that long, that night.

Maan Cajipe and Liezyl Gomez of The Red Diary

Check out Neil San Pedro's awesome skull ring that he personally customized and hand-carved!

Gillian Uang and Neil San Pedro of NFBlogs

Gillian Uang, Vanessa East and Me

this photo was supposed to be a candid one but Eden's camera's flash kept flickering that we got conscious. lol.

the very pretty Vanessa East

Eden Villarba and Me

the gang! Philip Lapinid of Fashion Toy Gun, Eden Villarba, Yves Camingue of Yvestyle, Toni Pino, Lyka Raagas, Me, Maan Cajipe, Liezyl Gomez and Vanessa East

Lyka Raagas, Me, Maan Cajipe, Toni Pino, Liezyl Gomez and Andrew Sincgo of Non-Active Euthanasia (who just recently jumped on the blogging wagon)

printed sheer top - thrifted

black layered electro-pleated skirt - thrifted

studded open-toe wedges - ebay find

cerulean blue belt - shopyapi.com

teal clutch bag - borrowed from sister

cutout cuffs - shopyapi.com

tassel earrings - DIY

GIVEAWAY: Shop Yapi & Vanilla Ice Cream Gives Back!

2011-06-13T00:37:00.002+08:00

it's really been a while since i've hosted a giveaway here so as a comeback, i'm giving away awesome items (yes! it's prural) for my blog readers and Facebook followers, locally and internationally. this is also a way to give my gratitude to my 900+ Facebook followers. i started that page to get to know equally awesome people outside my personal circle and i never expected to have such a following there. so for everyone, here's my way of saying THANK YOU!

general giveaway mechanics:

as this is a giveaway to thank followers,

you must be a follower of Vanilla Ice Cream on facebook and/or the blog. ♥

giveaway runs from June 13 - July 4, 2011

FOR MY LOCAL READERS:

Facebook Giveaway:

A GIGI Pleated Floral Dress with matching INEZ Turquoise and Wood Necklace

how to join:

♥ must be a Vanilla Ice Cream follower on Facebook.

♥ post a statement on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream. something like:

"i want to win a Shop Yapi dress and necklace at @Vanilla Ice Cream"

(make sure i can see your entries on the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page)

For Blog Followers via Google Connect or Bloglovin':

a YEDDA Green Handbag and a 20% Discount Card for Shopyapi.com.

how to join:

♥ must be a follower of the blog via google connect or bloglovin'

♥ leave a comment indicating: your name, e-mail address and blog site where i can contact you and how you followed Vanilla Ice Cream. here's a sample comment:

name: gizelle faye

e-mail address: gizellefaye(at)yahoo.com / www.gizellefaye.blogspot.com

i follow the blog through Google Connect

extra entries: tweeted about the giveaway [link] and posted the giveaway on my FB wall [link]

extra entries -- make sure to give me the link of your entry:

♥ follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway

"i want to win a #ShopYapi YEDDA bag by @gizellefaye"

♥ like the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page and post the giveaway on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream

"i want to win a #ShopYapi YEDDA bag at @Vanilla Ice Cream"

INTERNATIONAL READERS: A Paige Triangle Swimsuit

how to join:

♥ must be a follower of the blog via google connect or bloglovin'

♥ leave a comment indicating: your name, e-mail address and blog site where i can contact you and how you followed Vanilla Ice Cream. here's a sample comment:

name: gizelle faye

e-mail address: gizellefaye(at)yahoo.com / www.gizellefaye.blogspot.com

i follow the blog through Google Connect

extra entries: tweeted about the giveaway [link] and posted the giveaway on my FB wall [link]

extra entries -- make sure to give me the link of your entry:

♥ follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway

"i want to win a #ShopYapi PAIGE swimsuit by @gizellefaye"

♥ like the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page and post the giveaway on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream

"i want to win a #ShopYapi PAIGE swimsuit at @Vanilla Ice Cream"

oozing with 90's goodness

2011-06-09T23:13:00.001+08:00

i've had this blazer for a while but never had the chance to photograph it til' now. i love that it's linen so it's not too warm and that it oozes with 90's goodness because it's over-sized, shoulder-padded and has these awesome bronze buttons. just perfectly reminiscent of the original 90210 and Saved by the Bell, huh? would you believe i got this blazer for only PHP 50? That's $1 for you. i planned to write another thrifting entry following the art of thrifting post i did last year that illustrated when i started thrifting and my experiences that came along with it. i wanted to write about good spot for thrifting or ukay-ukay here in Cebu but decided against it. after all, even if everyone does it nowadays, there are still those secret spots we'd like to call our own. if you do want to really know, hit me up with an e-mail and i might just tell you. ♥ ♥ ♥

speaking of the 90's, don't you miss the original X-MEN and ninja turtles series with the deliciously sketched characters? i don't know about you but nothing beats the good ol' cartoons. the digital version of X-MEN right now just doesn't do it for me --- just lacked details and color depth. just saying. LOL.

and ooh, i'm brewing up a giveaway for all of you, especially my 900+ Facebook followers. thank you is not enough to tell you how grateful i am for continuing to follow my blah blahs. wait for it. i might post the giveaway on Sunday! ♥

navy blue linen blazer - thrifted

leopard-printed chiffon dress - bangkok find

brown studded wedge booties - shopyapi.com

studded bucket bag - bangkok find

rings: turtle connector - shopyapi.com | armor ring & skull ring - carbon finds

necklaces: elephant tusk - bangkok find | angel wing - DIY

courage + acceptance

2011-06-06T18:40:00.000+08:00

although summer was supposed to be the time for taking breaks, i hardly had the chance to because of the back pains from my spinal disc bulges + work + nonsense questions to myself + i don't know. so last saturday, the boyfriend and i took a much need break from everything and just disconnected ourselves from the world. i think it's definitely healthy to have those much-deserved alone time with each other and just have fun without worrying about anything else.

now, you all know i've been feeling utterly disappointed at myself because i don't know exactly i want to do with my life and have been all over the place. i've realized though that it's just the fear talking and that i can take on anything i set myself to. everything happens for a reason and we just need to be courageous enough to accept it. of course, i need to make sure that i set my priorities straight.

i've hated waking up for a routine everyday, whether it be school or work. even as a child, there wasn't a morning where i didn't drag myself out of my bed. i wanted to be in control of my time and didn't want to have to follow a certain schedule that constrained me. although i was scared as hell, i finally decided to take control of my time. i've decided to dedicate my full time on our wholesale business and have writing jobs on the side and that i'll now only be working part time for the advertising agency that i've been working for. so far, i'm on my 2nd week of this arrangement but i am loving every minute of it. i decide what time i attend work as long as it's 4-5 hours and i get to spend most of my day, in my room and writing or sorting out clothes, shoes and bags for my store and our wholesale business.

they say i might get bored with this arrangement. i fully understand that and recognize that someday, i might decide to find work that's structured or even decide to be a stay at home mom. it took me a great deal of courage to admit this but life is unpredictable. i am unpredictable and i don't know what's going to happen to my life or how to get to what i want in life. but to hell with it, for now i'm gonna do what i enjoy and do what i want..RIGHT NOW!

printed mini-dress used as top - thrifted

white pleated skirt - thrifted

teal belt - robinson's dept store, dumaguete

nude suede wedges - gold dot

bangles: purple wood - bangkok find | orange polka resin - gifted |

red coral - boracay find | pewter bangles - carbon finds

rings - bangkok finds

style blog journey: why i still do it

2011-06-03T18:57:00.001+08:00

why do i blog? why did a start blogging? why am i still doing this after 19 months?

why i started my own style blog. i was enthralled by Karla de Rass of Karla's Closet and Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast that i checked their blogs every day. i soon found other amazing bloggers like Tieka of Selective Potential, Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky, Alice of Alice Point and Alice Xue of AliceX in Wonderland that my bookmark list was filled to the brim. i'd count the hours at work so i can go home and sit once again in front of another computer and blog hop. it was my escape. it felt really surreal to me checking ladies with real personal fashion, taking themselves out their and making a statement with the way they dress. soon after, i found local bloggers, Denise of Denise Katipunera and Dane of Trust Me It's Paradise and i ultimately made the decision to start my own. i thought, if i spend 30 minutes to an hour a day just deciding on and composing my outfit, might as well document it right?

how i started. it would be hypocritical of me to say that i didn't dream of getting recognized and getting my name out there when i first started. most of us belonged to the MTV generation and ultimately grew up with reality TV that it's hard to deny that we want to become famous and rich one day. be honest, didn't you dream of the same thing as a kid? i was adamant about getting more hits to my site that i spent hours visiting other blogs, even ones i couldn't relate to and signed up for other social networking sites like weardrobe, chictopia, bloglovin, etc. to get more exposure. blogging soon became a chore. although i thoroughly enjoy posting my outfits but i became pressured at making a good post that people can relate to. ranking numbers started to frustrate me. blogging became something i had to do and not something i do when i wanted to.

what i realized along the way. i took a step back and reminded myself why i started blogging in the first place --- because i love fashion. because i am an advocate of personal style over trends. my blog is simple and has little fuss. what i gained along the way is something i never thought i'd have more of if i didn't start blogging: amazing new friends and a readership following of real people.

people ask me if i want to become a model because i style blog. no. not at all. i have given up that aspiration 15 years ago when i didn't go past my 5'2" height contrary to my parents' belief (because my sister is 5'7"). i do aspire to be a fashion stylist though but i know that's something i have to work towards to and not through blogging.

so you see, fashion blogging is not about the fame and fortune nor is it about getting free stuff or invites to exclusive events or parties. if they do come, then i consider it a blessing. it's not even about buying the most expensive piece of clothing because it's what is on trend. it's about being real and expressing our passion for fashion through our personal style.

ruched cotton top - thrifted

grey crocheted cardigan - mom's closet (thrifted)

black leggings - random

grey flats with embellishments - bangkok find

cutout pewter cuff - shopyapi.com

skull ring | layered necklace - carbon finds

boater hat - bangkok find

till we meet again

2011-05-31T02:33:00.000+08:00

i can't believe it. summer has ended. as cliche as this may sound but time does fly so fast. a trip to our province, a few long road trips, a couple of visits to the beach, 3 doctor visits, 1 MRI and dozens of lazy mornings later, it is June. till we meet again, Summer.

on another note, i spent my weekend catching up on my favorite blogs and going through my link list when i was utterly heartbroken to find two of my favorite bloggers deciding to discontinue or delete their blogs. Kate of Postcards From..., and Eunice of Hey Fancy Pants --- you will be terrible missed. i started this blog nearly the same time you guys did. you were one of the few ones out there who blogged to simply share what you were passionate about --- your personal style and whom i found were real and genuine people. seeing how your style flourished with every post and reading about your life helped make the world a lot smaller for me.

chambray top - shopyapi.com

sheer printed maxi skirt - thrifted

braided double belt - shopyapi.com

tassel earrings - DIY

silver cuffs with pink stones - props

gecko ring - pink pussy, bangkok

bow ring - carbon find

swallows my flying sorrows

2011-05-27T11:59:00.002+08:00

just when i thought i had everything figured out, i wake up one morning with utter panic and pangs of confusion as i realize that i am completely lost. they say 27 is the age of confusion. i didn't realize it could be true or this hard. as of now, there's a 70% possibility of doing a complete 360 on my career. all my life i've always aimed at being streamlined, knowing what exactly i am doing and being able to strategically plan out my next steps. i grew up being the daughter that worked hard in making her parents proud but i'm afraid i've become a slight disappointment. as of now, i have this strong urge to just throw caution to the wind. spend my life savings. travel. bum at the beach. be careless. study fashion design. eat out. do nothing.

tomorrow this can change but life's been unpredictable and so are my feelings. i've been an hour late for work everyday for the past 3 weeks but i woke up early today and came in on time. so we'll see.

swallow-printed maxi skirt - thrifted

white tank top - random

black long cardigan - thrifted (& overused..haha!)

gold metallic ballet flats - bangkok find

oversized dream catcher necklace - gifted from Sweet

black grommeted belt - bangkok find

faux gold bangle - props

Between The High Eighties and The Low Nineties FM

2011-05-24T21:43:00.000+08:00

"And her voice is pure and soft,
Oh, when she stumbles on her words.
And every boy in town is pretty certain he deserves to marry her.
Someday soon.

And that's not all; that Elouise,
she just got a Jazz Master guitar.
And her band got a blurb in the Stranger and they've just been submitted for a tour.

And her tone is deep as night,
when she plays her minor chords.
And the rhythm section's tight,
but they're always ignored.
Always ignored."

-- Say Hi, "Elouise"

Photos taken last weekend on our second family beach trip to Tabuelan, Cebu. Milking summer for sunny skies and clearer waters.

printed cotton dress - Bangkok find

knitted shawl - thrifted

wide-brimmed floppy hat - shopyapi.com

color clash | texture tango

2011-05-19T20:08:00.001+08:00

summer will end in a mere 2 weeks and i've only been to the beach once. such a waste of summer, don't you think? with summer coming to an end and with new trends on their way to knock on our style-hungry hearts, i had to try the biggest trend this season -- color blocking. you didn't think my feeble attempt at it last month was it, did you?

so i pulled out the brightest skirt i have -- this bright blueish / periwinkle electropleated skirt that i thrifted months ago and looked for another bright colored item to pair with it. deep in the knitted and crocheted section of my closet, i found this green kimono type blouse that i was thankful i didn't give away. voila! color blocking.

anyway, physical therapy to correct my spinal disc bulges are going well. i was skeptical at first because the first two sessions caused me terrible headaches but as i progressed (i'm on my 6th session), the pain eased bit by bit and i stopped taking my depression-inducing neuropathic meds. my life is almost back to normal. by next week, i wish to take Zumba classes again. for now, i'll just concentrate on not only with the therapy sessions but waking up early enough not to be late for work. *wink*

ps. thank you for the well wishes you guys sent on my last post. your sweet comments definitely helped me through this ordeal.

crocheted kimono blouse - thrifted

white tank top (used underneath) - random

blueish / periwinkle electropleated skirt - thrifted

gold metallic ballet flats - bangkok find

LOVE ring - giveaway win from lee

star ring - props

necklaces: angel wing - sm dept store | elephant tusk - bangkok find

white oversized bag - mongkok, hk find

my little clone and i at the beach

2011-05-17T16:04:00.000+08:00

...and no she is not my daughter. LOL. she's my niece, my little curly-haired fashion doll -- Audrey. i taught her the cross pose but no, i didn't teach her the 'don't-look-at-the-camera' pose. isn't she just a cutie? welp, she's a cutie as much as she's a bratty. *peace*

so my family, a handful of relatives and i visited our favorite beach house last weekend as a post-celebration of my dad's birthday and as a mom's day celebration too. i will never stop saying this -- i will never grow tired of going back to this place. our annual trip to this beach house is one that i look forward to every year. not only is it a chance to bum at the beach at our own privacy but it's always filled with craziness and laughter. this year, our relatives from Dipolog came to visit and the trip was filled with oldies boogieing to oldies music. such a treat!

neon printed monokini - shopyapi.com

chambray top - shopyapi.com

beige wide-rimmed floppy hat - shopyapi.com

yellow flip-flops - roxy

yellow scarf used as turban - thrifted

tie-dyed in the middle of nowhere

2011-05-17T15:57:00.001+08:00

what do you do if you're stranded in the middle of nowhere after the car you're driving overheats and conks out? for starters, get the guys to search for nearby houses and ask for water. second, take a deep breath and appreciate the scenery. third, take photos. oh yeah, i forgot, i called my dad too. LOL. he's in that car doing a u-turn while i posed for photo.

on my first long drive, around 3 hours to the north of Cebu, my car overheats. typical. this happened on the way home. we left the beach house at 3:30 PM and could have been back in the city by 6:00 to 7:00 PM. instead, we got home around 8:30 PM, very hungry and grumpy. well, i'll just charge this to experience. next time, check water on the way to the destination AND upon going home. *duh*

pink tie-dyed ethnic printed top - thrifted

denim shorts - props

yellow flip-flops - roxy

wide-brimmed floppy hat - shopyapi.com

yellow printed scarf - thrifted

wooden bangles - carbon finds + gifts from WAGW

mondays all throughout the week

2011-05-10T17:54:00.000+08:00

poor Monday. everybody hates it. it's not as if Monday did anything to us. it's just coincidentally situated after a weekend and is just a strong reminder that we have to go back to work or school. i don't know when i've ever been excited for a Monday. maybe in college when i couldn't wait to see my crush.

lately though, i've been having Mondays all throughout the week. as i look back on my previous posts, this laziness and almost-lethargic state that i'm in started on Christmas break. not only have i been sick with my herniated disc acting up, i've been unmotivated to get off my bed. it definitely is not helpful for my suffering salary and work. i've been finding myself utterly confused about what to do with my life and whether i should be where i am. one thing i only know is how intent i am to marry Harry this year or by early next year. that's it and i'm lost with the rest of my life. i discussed this with Harry yesterday after visiting the doctor and he noted that i get like this every year. i pondered on it and realized that i do. i hate to admit it but with the slew of lazy days from Christmas break to summer gets me reflecting and over thinking about my things which leads to unhealthy realizations or nonsensical questions and doubts. gaaah, drama! so i'm soldiering on and just hope to get past August, where things usually start getting okay for me. *praying hard*

anyway, just got back from the doctor yesterday and had my MRI results read. as it turns out, i have a few (yes, not just one but 4) mild bulging discs on my spine which is causing me numbness and pain on my neck, arms and legs because these bulging discs pinch my spine. on my MRI, my spine looks like it has a few ridges because of the bulging discs. aside from that, my MRI showed that this bulging discs are also degenerating --- something that's not supposed to happen until i'm in my 60's. oh well, that's what i get for working night shifts for 5 years, sitting in front of the computer for hours on end and playing flag football for 4 years from sleepless nights.

white graphic tee - bangkok find

cream pleated trousers - shopyapi.com

camel strappy heels - forever 21

camel braided belt - shopyapi.com

fringe tassel earrings - DIY

shopyapi.com is on sale with selected items at 10% - 20% off! check it out now!

Levi's Roadwear Party

2011-05-06T00:01:00.002+08:00

i have to admit, i used to be what you'd call a 'party girl' as you saw in my previous post when i went down memory lane and pulled out photos from way back. right after graduation though, i worked at a call center and wasn't too privileged to have weekends off. that totally ruined my night life and had to disconnect from my friends. i hated it until i got fixed weekends off and realized that the night life isn't all that. right when i turned 24, i traded blasting hip-hop or house music for dvd marathons at home and dancing until 3AM with friends to lounging and talking with over dessert.

so the Levi's Roadwear Party was one of those rare nights that i became that younger version of myself. i couldn't resist Eden's invite even i wanted to because i've declined too much of her invitations, including Inquirer's Fashion Face-off (which i regret), that i owed her this. yeah, it was awkward at first because i didn't know too many people but after a couple or so of vodka shots, the party became a blast! it was indeed a pleasure meeting Ana Kalaw of the Philippine Star's Ystyle, Jeff and Christine from Thinline advertising and spending time with other cebu bloggers too -- Eden, Nym Wales, Dale Wesley, Yves and Kristin Roa. til' next time girls! maybe in 2 months when i get over the hangover i got from this night.

black sheer top - shopyapi.com

old-school flare jeans turned boyfriend jeans - levi's

silver heels - urbanog.com

red studded bag - shopyapi.com

layered coin bib necklace - bangkok find

silver cutout cuffs - shopyapi.com

drunken, foolish and vain: Friendster days

2011-05-03T01:28:00.000+08:00

[WARNING: really photo heavy. you can go back if you want. that way i'll be saved from embarrassment too. haha!]

great panic surged everyone on April 26, 2011 when it was reported that Friendster will be deleting all data and users by May 31, 2011. my Facebook friends immediately downloaded the images they had there. some of us were reminiscing the good ol' testimonial feature that they had. i've owned an account since 2003 but i deleted it last year. i can't, however, help but remember the funny, foolish and drunken days that my old Friendster account held. so following Aisa's footsteps, here's a look back at the old Friendster days:

this was at a bar in Ayala (i can't remember the name) and was taken on New Year's Eve. oooh i love this skirt. i wonder where it is now. and oh, the beret is an ode to my old hip-hop days.LOL.

lorymer villareal and me in 2004, styling and coordinating the pageant for the Computer Engineering department. lorymer didn't go to our school then but he was kind enough to help me with the pageant.

the tres marias. my sisters and i at the resthouse in Daanbantayan that we frequent every summer. this was in 2004.

i told you i was gangsta! LOL. now i can't help but laugh at my humongous rock and corn rows. the corn rows happened on the night before a flag football game and were done by a friend, in their boarding house.

and then i'm all out rock! LOL again. my friends, kim, deanne and i goofing off while waiting for classes. now that i remember it, we were always waiting for classes then. especially when we were almost graduating.

richard, me, armand and my little sister, aimee. we were waiting for the rest of our friends at Starmart, Banilad (the place to be! LOL) for our Daanbantayan trip.

my old singing days. i wish i learned how to play a guitar so that i can still do gigs. *sigh* (ps. due to being under the sun for most parts of my weekends, i saw dark as beautiful until i realized i could easily get skin cancer.)

so down with jennifer lopez! this vest was thrifted at only PHP 15.00 in our local market. i still have it after 6 years. the shoes? pointed to the pointiest. this pair was my favorite pumps.

my first job after graduating and my first set of friends after of school. incidentally, we all had the same knack for laughing, embarrassing each other and just whiling our lunch making our brains smaller. *korean peace sign*

drunken nights at the back of my friend, Ingrid's pick-up truck. rides at the back are best done when drunk! we were on our way to the beach at 3AM, after hitting a local bar and i can't remember this photo was taken. they say, i peed at the side of a dark street. i didn't believe them until i saw the photo. but nuh-uh, you're not seeing it. LOL.

karen and i on christmas 2006. we were looking for a pair of shorts to give our guy friends and we found this pair!

the day i brought Cooper, our golden retriever, to a game. i HEART you, Cooper!

goofy face time with my nieces! this was on the summer of 2007.

stacey. my first car that i inherited from my dad. my training car. my bump car. i miss you, Stacey. wish i didn't have to sell you.

at my friend's sister's black and white party. as you can see, i've had a knack for polka dots even way back. this was taken on June 2007.

the defensive line waiting for our turn. flag football will always have a place in my heart.

aimee and i pretending to frolick in Malapascua in July 2007. our big sister was taking our photos so we pretended to walk and run around. but no, my love for her is not pretend.

the injured drunkard. this was taken almost a week after my sports accident. i was in denial that my knee injury was serious so i went with my team to Bantayan island and braved the 3-hour land trip and ferry ride, in crutches! when i got back home, i learned i could never play football again --- i tore a ligament on my right knee and it required surgery. :,(

this night was when Harry met Yapi. i don't usually go to office parties but was forced by my friends to because i just shunned Harry a few days back as i was too insensitive to notice he was making a move on me. one of the nights that i will never, ever regret!

my second Etelecare team. these guys are goofballs and pains in the ass but i loved and coached them to death to be better performers.

christmas day 2007. i was heart broken, losing hope and drunk (yet again). my friends and i drove to gas station in the north reclamation area, bought a few bottles of beer and goofed off on the street. i remember drunk crying on this night too. *hush*

Vudu party on new year of 2008. this is the last time my sister Aimee and I, together with our friends, attended the open bar new year's party at Vudu. the red dress started my polka-only new years too.

my first time in Boracay on February 2008. i haven't been back yet and i plan to do so this year. is it just me or is the sand in Boracay really annoying? it's sugary fine that no matter how you wash off, they stick to your body until you get back home. it settles into uncomfortable areas too. haha!

the last time my old flag football team, Dark Angels, got together before i officially retired (after my injury) and dived deep into work. one of the best times of my life.

trues humbly united gather souls. my best friends in the whole world. we have been friends for more than a decade and i'm so lucky to have them. this was taken on September of 2008.

the crazy Vonage retention parties. a retention account is crazy hell but the same effort we put into working hard, the same effort we put in partying. as they say, work hard, party even harder!

my family on the New Year of 2009. one of my last Friendster photos. hello Facebook!

so there you go. i have tons of photos in my disk drive but i wouldn't want to bore you. it was weird and awesome browing through old photos. i had to delete a few to officially erase the foolishness but one thing i realized from browsing through them is that life should have no regrets. i've always had the Meet Joe Black line as my motto: 'run the risk...if you haven't tried, you haven't live" and i can tell, i have lived!

[NOTE: photos were taken using camera phones, my sister's trusty old canon ixus or armand's old DSLR.]

vanilla ice cream | a cebuana's personal style blog

just us two

blanc magazine online

thank you, darleng

cebu fashion bloggers x parade of dresses

the maze teen model search

freeman feature x the humanizer

be kind, rewind three | animalia

cheers to 2012!

different but it's Christmas all the same

cebu and manila style bloggers meet!

our sponsors: how we managed to go to Manila

bloggers united 2: the amazing day that was

color blocked arrival | manila trip day 1

bowtie love x blogger's united 2 ticket winners!

Bloggers United 2 x Free Tickets to Giveaway!

writing my own story

stealing granny's style

Versace x H&M

sunday mornings with you

light as a feather, stiff as a board

denim + khaki

be kind, rewind two | thank you, shoe heaven!

erratic behavior

fairytales need hard work too

be kind, rewind

stripes & hearts

back to regular programming

Furious Rose Launches x 2 July 2011 x Shopyapi.com

*more* behind-the-scenes: Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com

behind-the-scenes: Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com

BOOM! 2011 x Furious Rose by ShopYapi.com

Cebu Fashion Bloggers: Starting a Community

GIVEAWAY: Shop Yapi & Vanilla Ice Cream Gives Back!

oozing with 90's goodness

courage + acceptance

style blog journey: why i still do it

till we meet again

swallows my flying sorrows

Between The High Eighties and The Low Nineties FM

color clash | texture tango

my little clone and i at the beach

tie-dyed in the middle of nowhere

mondays all throughout the week

Levi's Roadwear Party

drunken, foolish and vain: Friendster days

more behind-the-scenes: Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com