A first.... (trial makeup with Lorie Abraham)

Admittedly, this is one of the things I like about bridal fairs. Trial makeup! Although I really am not seriously looking for an HMUA for my wedding since I have a relative who has done it for all the brides and debs in the family and who's really good so I'm all set with him to do my hair and makeup on my wedding day. But, since my sister really loved her makeup trial on the last wedding fair we went to, I braved my fears of talking with a different makeup artist and have my own trial makeup on the wedding fair.

I tried going to several exhibitors, but it just ends up not working out because I just wanted a hassle-free day and they just aren't making it happen for me. And so, I passed by Lorie Abraham's booth and although she was too busy doing wonders for another girl, her AE gave me a pleasant smile and chatted me up as well. I was at ease dealing with her so I was convinced to do the trial makeup.

When it was my turn, the fist thing I noticed was that she really used high-end quality brands for her makeup and tools. No wonder the price was also kind of high-end. Next thing, Ms. Lorie was really nice. Unlike other HMUAs I've worked with, she really took the time to ask me what concept I like for my makeup. I told her that I wanted a bronzy look, but my babe wanted it natural and without makeup. After that she knew exactly what to do and she even gave me tips on how my wedding gown would compliment my morena complexion, and what beauty trends to try before my wedding day. All of her advices made sense and I really enjoyed listening to her give me tips while she was working her magic on me. Once in a while, I'd take a really good look in the mirror and smile at the progress. Hehehe. She was really good. And she really achieved the natural blooming look that I wanted. I was really pleased. The makeup wasn't overly done and I really recognized myself in my reflection. Without any contest, she was great.

So, it may be one of the rare times that I'll be posting my pictures here, but I'm just so proud of it so I'm gonna let you see :)


the photos are kinda dark and mejo oily na because that was hours after the session, but I hope you got a nice glimpse of it naman.. Because that's basically how I look naman talaga. Only better because she has really defined by brows (groomed it 'cause they were starting to be unruly again), hid some blemishes, brightened up my aura with some blush-on, and painted my usually lip-balmed kissers. I just felt that I looked so chic and polished. I loved it, obvi.

The ultimate reason why I'm really so proud about it is because Babe loved it. Its actually the first time he complimented my makeup. Its because he always wants things to be simple, therefore, he always tells me that he likes me better without makeup. But when I sent the photos to him via email, he was so happy and really thought I looked beautiful. Here's the kilig part, he told me "nung nakita ko yung mga pictures mo, naisip ko sa sarili ko na ang sarap mo talagang mahalin." sooper smile na ko after that... I just wanted to look pretty for him on our wedding day. I'm glad he liked me with makeup :)Anyway, he really liked it kasi nga hindi makapal ang makeup. Even when I told him that the rates are kinda expensive, he said it was okay if I really like her.

Too bad I'm all set with my makeup artist slash relative. But don't get me wrong, he's good rin naman. So for those looking for a really good and reputable makeup artist, try Ms. Lorie. You'll really feel at ease with her. And judging from the service I got, I'll say she's worth every penny. If I didn't have good makeup artists as a relative and friend, I'll go for her in a heartbeat. :))

lets talk about the dress...

I am trying to be as discreet as I can about the details of my wedding and keep a low-profile on the themes and concepts, but I have always wanted to talk about what I'm gonna wear on the big day. It's one part I'm most excited about. So, here are some of my inspirations for my wedding gown... they're quite a lot, but I hope these will give you a glimpse of the kind of girl that I am - dreamy (or dreamer), chic, hopeless romantic, low-key and fuss-free.

I have always known that I wanted the most beautiful dress on my wedding day. . Growing up, my mom and aunts were fond of dressing me up especially on occasions that it kinda stayed with me. I'm a clothes/dress person as opposed to being a bag/shoe lady. I just feel so wonderful when I have on a nice dress. It just makes me feel like I'm on top of the world and everything is and will be perfect. Like I can do anything. And so, it's not very surprising that my wedding gown is one of the non-negotiables on our special day. It has to be THE ONE I picture when I close my eyes and daydream...

Its the one dress that will make me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. It will be just like I dreamed of wearing when I was a little girl...something that makes me feel like a beautiful flower... like the picture below...


Although, I don't want to feel like a little girl on my wedding day. I want to feel chic and stylish. And not really over the top. This dress from Marchesa looked so stunning and sexy.

I also envisioned my dress to make me feel like an ethereal goddess, which makes a strong reference to why I'm partial to empire-cut dresses and flowy gowns as opposed to princess dresses and ballgowns... the flow in this Maggie Sottero number below is really captivating. The length is just perfect and the train...


Although flowers is the overall theme for my gown and my entourage's dresses, one of my fashionable friends commented that putting flowers upfront on my wedding gown might make me look like a flower girl. I don't want that. She suggested I try incorporating my flower theme without going overboard and having flower-ish accents on my gown.

In a cocktail event for work, I saw a popular designer wear this beige dress with petal bustier and it was then I realized that I should do that instead of putting flowers on my bustier. I was reminded of my childhood dreams to wear a dress I saw in this baduy tagalog movie where the leading lady was wearing a pink dress with a petal bustier. It was in the early nineties but I knew I always wanted to wear something like that. Luckily, I came across the finale of project runway season 5 and saw that Leanne's finale collection was kind of inspired by flowers.

I like the petal bustier in this dress below. It looks chic, edgy yet still romantic. I'm also using this picture to refer to the color that I want to use (the aqua for my entourage's dresses, the cream for mine).

I just liked the flowy overlay of the dress below.

Though I didn't think Leane would be up on the running on the contest, I actually ended up liking her final collection and making it a big reference to my wedding dress. This dress below is my favorite and might be the closest to how I like my wedding dress to look.

And to finalize the flowery romantic theme, here's the backview of Claudine Barreto's wedding gown. I know, I just can't pass up on flowers for my wedding dress. So I'll have them at the back na lang to also serve as accent to my panel train.

Yeah, as you might have guessed, I kinda know what I'm talking about. Its just that, like every girl, I have pictured my dream wedding dress a thousand times in my head. I have also done a lot of research on the terminologies in the world of fashion. Anyway, like I said, it has to be the dress I imagine. Kinda like the pictures above, but waaaay better.

I have yet to meet with my designer, who's a close friend of the family, and I have always been one of his muses. Everytime we bump into each other he keeps on telling me to meet with him about my dress already. I just think it might be too early for a June 2010 bride to have her wedding gown made. Considering I already know what I like and I know he can make it happen for me, I'm sure it'll be easy then.

So there... that was a glimpse of my inspirations, a glimpse of me. I pray that this dream comes true for me. That when the moment comes for me to see my wedding dress, all my princess, goddess dreams will be fulfilled and upon seeing me on that white dress, my prince will feel like the luckiest guy on earth.

juday-ryan wedding

well, well, well... you knew this was coming didn't you? :)

it's the wedding of the year! How the heck can I not blog about it?
Before anything else, I want to share that before, I kinda wished that their wedding would be this year. I kinda didn't want it to be on the same year or month that we were gonna have our wedding. I just don't want people to be making their wedding a reference for ours. And who doesn't want their wedding to be remembered instead of a big celebrity wedding? So when I learned that it was gonna be this year, I was surprised and relieved.

Okay... Thanks to W@W, I felt like an insider to this so-called secret wedding. But even though I kinda had a clue that it was gonna be the day, I can't help but be so excited with all the juicy detailms unveiling one by one. It was too intriguing that I found myself glued to the boob tube for days. More importantly, it was very, very impressing.

I mean, I'm no celebrity but there are times when I feel that too many people know and are asking about the wedding and I don't exactly know how to act or what too say, especially to those people who I have no plans of inviting. I don't wanna appear rude, but I also don't wanna share too much to spoil the excitement or make them assume they're invited. That part is really tricky. But Judy Ann is like only the biggest star of her generation, and Ryan is a hot item as well, how were they able to pull it off? Unbelievable. :)

Imagine having all that money to blow off on a really grand wedding and invite just about everyone, but they opted to keep it low-key, simple, elegant and intimate. Idol! :))

What's also cool about the whole thing is, they were not only able to get the attention and applause of girls, but they also made the men impressed with what they did. Maybe its the practicality part, and the simplicity and a lot of thinking. It's actually beyond impressive. Anyway, its not much of my fiancee to keep up with celebrities, more so with celebrity weddings, but for this one, he paid attention and opened the subject to me himself. I didn't have to feed it to him, he was updated.

Its because he always wanted a low-key wedding, and he's never too loud about all this. We already fought several times about me sharing too much information to people that I spoil the excitement for him. He wants to keep it special, to us, and people close to us. The wedding preps I mean. He's very humble that way, which I love about him.

So learning from them, I now make a vow to really take after Juday with the way she handled her 'big' day. C'mon, without admitting it, I believe that every girl wants to feel like a princess, even for a day, and if she can choose what day it would be, most girls would choose their wedding. So, its not easy for a girl to keep mum while she's getting the wedding of her dreams, especially if you have big suppliers like RN and Jason Magbanua. But she did it with such grace and tact, that you would respect her silence. And did I mention how absolutely stunning she was in her wedding dress? She just looks so happy and contented. And so did Ryan. Like it was the most natural feeling in the world, and there's no faking it. I hope I see that face a year from now, from my Babe.

So there. Its not an easy feat, but I will try my best. Like as much as I want to, I won't brag about my accomplishment with the wedding preps to random friends, if they ask me, I'll try to give as little and vague information as I can.

You may ask why I'm doing this. Am I gonna do it just because its the cool thing to do? And I want my wedding to be just like theirs? Of course not. It's because Babe was happy with how they did it, so I'm gonna try to be just as graceful, just as tactful, and just as low-key about everything. Besides, that's really the least I can do for him, who's being so giving and supportive of me on our wedding preps. And obviously, what they did made a lot of sense.

Hey, just between us, its also a great way to save :) hehehe. I'm sure you W@wies can figure out why. I can't keep the details though, from my dear W@wie sisters, whom I owe a lot to. But just in case the world is too small for us and you know a random family or friend of mine or my h2b's, I expect you too keep secret the details about my day :)

It also won't be easy to keep it from my family and babe's family, so I might make an exception to that. But even so, I'll try to be really, really quiet about it. I won't let out details that aren't relevant to their roles in the wedding.

Hahaha. Wish me luck! I'm gonna need a lot. :P

To the celebrity newlyweds, my hats off to you. You are an inspiration to us. Congrats and best wishes!

Reception venue: DONE! :)

Finally! After the long, long wait... :))

I told myself I should be done with booking the reception venue by March, but I didn't think it was that complicated. So it was a month and some weeks delayed, but at least its finally booked for our wedding day =)

Now that we have our church and reception, we can already make our save-the-date cards! :)) no, seriously, I know it comes with a sad memory for a person important to me, and that almost made me cross this place off my list, but its just really perfect for the wedding I envisioned for me and babe...

Not in a swanky hotel, where all our guest's move will be "de-numero," or an out-of-town venue which will bring our commuter guests such a hassle, instead its in a clubhouse with a homey feel, with an enormous swimming pool and classic almost Grecian architecture. Its enough for a semi-intimate semi-big wedding for 150 (fine, to 180) guests.

And the best part is, its sooo super duper affordable! I remember really having that big, big grin when I found out about the rates on W@W, but its even better when a friend told me how much we will be getting it for :)) thanks to my 'new' tita! :))

Anyway, I think I've decided not to make any announcements in this blog, since other people, aside from my W@W sisters read it. And really, I'm trying to keep a low profile in the wedding preps ala Juday-Ryan, but that's a different blog entry altogether.

So, I'll just leave you guys with the photos. Feel free to drop your jaws. It's beautiful isn't it? :))

**if you are a W@Wie and you wanna know where this is, just comment**

a thought....

'God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let
walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'*

I'm a bit bothered by the sentence construction, but its true :)

Here's me, not complaining at all :))

On motherhood

I know, I know, yesterday was Mothers Day and all. I celebrated it with my family and gave gifts to my mom, Babe's mom, a close family friend and soon to be brother's girlfriend. It was all good. I tried to extend a greeting to my mommied friends in facebook as my cellphone chose to lose its battery on a day when we have no available chargers at home. Anyway, I just realized, despite the nauseating cheesiness brought about by all the advertising, that there really is something special in motherhood.

I don't know if its just the season, or a sudden jolt in my insides at the thought of becoming a mother. Its weird. I know I have always wanted to become a wife, and a bride. But I don't know where this feeling came from, that I suddenly had this burning desire to be a mom. It was like suddenly, I was aching, yearning for it.

I received great news today, that my future brother-in-law and his girlfriend are expecting their second child. Another angel in the family. Another cute pamangkin that brings out the doting side of me. But at the corner of my heart, there was a thump. Because here they are, already expecting their second blessing. While I'm not even sure if I will have the opportunity to bear a child.. I have polysistic ovaries... I have been 'irreg' since I had my period. And somehow, this causes me to worry. Because there is a possibility that I may not be pregnant...ever. This thought breaks my heart in many, many ways. Contemplating on my status right now, I realized, that if I get married and would end up barren, not only am I deprived of this blessing, but also the most important person in my life. My fiancee is great with kids, and I know he would love to be a father in the future. I would be soo heartbroken if that dream doesn't come true for him. As for me...

I know I was never the nurturing motherly type except in the company of my rather childish friends, and I'm deathly afraid of giving birth. But recently, just out of nowhere, there was a loud cry in my heart, and my spirit calls out to the Father, saying "I want to be a mom."

Well of course not this instant, but at the right time. I just feel it. That I can do anything today for that promise to be fulfilled in the future. I don't even know if I will be good at it, but I know that I would give anything for it. Please, please, let me be...

Sigh... I am praying for it now. I know it will be God's call...and I know He knows whats best for me, so, I rest my case and leave it up to Him.

For all the mothers out there, you are blessed. Love your blessings.

get ready...