day 30. a photo of you when you were happy

Since this is the last "requirement" and I'm done with this 30-day photo blog challenge (yipee! ;D)...I'd like to share the different moments that made me happy: My Many Firsts.

First bazaar stint: Anagon Collection in St. Scho Manila high school Family Day. January 2006. 

First published article: Candy Magazine Jan-Feb 2006, Reality Bites

First Magazine Feature for Anagon Colection: Candy Magazine Cover, July 2006

First styling job: Manila Times, Lifestyle Section. June 26, 2010

We all know that everybody has to start out somewhere. Even the various industries' big names have their stories. In my almost 5 years of being an online seller, I realized that I wouldn't be here if I didn't take the first steps: made the accessories (production), wore them in class (marketing), and caught the attention of my first-ever customers (my classmates! :)). The first purchase is always the most memorable!

So here's what I learn through the years: Be nice to the noob.

The world provides a big space for everyone's contributions. =)
Cheers!

30 DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES -- Finally done, and I'm outta here! ;D Weee!!!

day 29. a photo of someone you find attractive

So old school, hahaha! Hulaan niyo nalang kung sino jan, matapos ko lang tong 30day challenge hahahah! ;)

30 DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES

UAAP Saturday

Guess what's the worst thing that can happen in a day:

a) Finding out that I was chewing on thumbtacks from the food I bought while watching UAAP last Saturday. What if I accidentally swallowed it?? I was in the middle of watching a friggin tense game!!!

b) Dead cellphone battery in the middle of an IMPORTANT transaction.

c) A hot bus ride, when I paid for aircon bus fare.

d) Bus suddenly stopping in the middle of the road, at NIGHTTIME, and then suddenly STENCH filling the whole bus causing everyone around me to PANIC. =p

e) All of the above.

Would you believe that I actually had to deal with ALL these last Saturday!??? I was super excited to watch the UAAP game (as blogged that morning) with Ana, who really surprised me of wanting to watch live! 

And I actually enjoyed watching with her! I was hesitant at first since, although friends, when it comes to having different teams in competitions; badmouthing and sour-graping can't be avoided! But Ana was just laughing while I booed and cursed and cheered (too much)! ;) During the half-time, and UP (her team) was still leading, she told me that I was the "pressured one", and she wouldn't mind losing again (her team has zero wins as of the moment). I knew then that Ana is different! :) You know I love you Ans! :)

Anyway, UST almost lost when UP made two (amazing) consecutive three-point shots during the last 20+ seconds...slimming our lead to just 2 points! Just told Ana "Marami pang nanyayare sa ganyang oras"! I was screaming like crazy, but I was impressed when our team "wasted time" with a cool play of passing the ball around the court till the buzzer gave off. My throat hurts at the end of the game, and I embarrassed myself from all my hysterical antics (hahaha) but I felt good after the game. "Ang sarap pala manalo?" 

Been awhile since we won, sigh. =p I was super proud!!!

Anyway, photooos! :)

Warming up few minutes before the game

With Ana, a Maroon-er! :D

Pointers from Coach Pido

hello empty chairs! sigh. when will the tigers gain its fans back. =/

Calling the starting 5 of UST! Ana told me Fortuna wasn't part of the first 5 to lessen the pressure on him. 8D (buti ka pa alam mo! haha!)

weak start. but still ready to fight!

UP during the halftime performance

Jeric Teng

UST finally getting the momentum, UP feeling the pressure

"ever your valiant legions. imbued with unending grace." - I love you UST!

Congrats UST's #17: Jeric Teng! :-)

[And syempre #7 ;p]

I spy with my litol eye, Jic Jic and Coach Pido ;p

Golden Girlsss! Me with Ickay and Vany :)

Spotted in the crowd during the second game (DLSU vs FEU). Eeep I screamed! ;p

Tabi ako sa inyo please? Hahaha!

In today's papers:

Jeric Fortuna

Jeric Fortuna and Chris Camus

Philippine Star. <3

day 28. a photo of what you ate today

Was supposed to post this last night, but the moment I got home and hit the bed, wow! I don't want to part with my pillows ;p

Anyway, this is the Vegetarian Meal offered in New Bombay in Glorietta Food Choices. It's my cheap veg thrill ever since..for P155 only I have the samosa (the breaded mashed potatoes), colored rice, a choice of viand (here in the pic is their vegetable curry), and iced tea. I also have the option to make the food ssspicy! ;p (i love hot food!)

Dinner last night after watching UAAP with Ana. ;) Tiring day, yet super worthhh it! :)

no sweeter day than sabaday!

Here at ana's, so i'm ''mobile blogging'' again while waiting for her. I seem to be more in love with blogger lately. If not for my Barx (high school friends) in FB, I wouldn't really like to update much there, coz mine's becoming a Friendster-y account in terms of contacts, so i am plain shy to update random events in my life there when i know it will be read by an acquaintance from a seminar or retreat, or by someone i just worked with for barely a day, or by my relativesss! Hahaha! Anyway it's still a nice medium to share photos!

Last night we watched Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, and although I have a soft spot for our furry friends, didnt really enjoyed the film (sorry)..Rockwell cinemas are cool though, not too crowded!

Anyway, ana and i will watch the uaap live later, our universities will compete against each other for the first game (UP vs UST!)! We will be with my tiger-friends imee, ickay and vany! So excited! Go uste!ü

From my two singing visitors

After last night's heavy downpour,

"sun is up, i've got so many things to do...
but it's alright (it's ok) i have to taste it
it's gonna be a good day (be a good day)" (Repeat 2x) :)

One Good Day Coming Up -Bamboo

Always on my toes.

Look what I found out today! :-) Opened my weekly Multiply newsletter (which I just delete before ;p) and saw this! :D Third most talked about! Weee!

Thank you Lord! =) Hihi! But as the Daily Kabbalah reminds:

Today, when life brings you those successes, big or small, don’t put your feet on the table and relax. Know that you've just hit a milestone, and there are countless miles ahead.

Always on my toes!!! Busy meet up day again tomorrowwwww!!! Good night friends! ﭢ

New colors for my nails :)

My last stop awhile ago after meeting up with buyers in Manila and Edsa was in Festival Mall Alabang, the mall with Etude House and Face Shop! I was an hour early for the schedule I've set with my buyer, so I decided to leave my things in the baggage counter of Shopwise so I can stroll around and maybe look for new nail polish colors like cement gray or a certain purple shade (as blogged in this entry). Since I was inside the grocery already, I headed to their beauty section and checked out their selections, when I saw this:

A Caronia French Manicure set! :D 

All I know about Caronia is that it is a local nail care brand, but from browsing through their website, I learned that they also pioneered in local production of nail polish! And that this 1960s brand by a couple named Don Vicente and Belen Ang was actually named after a luxury ship! ;D I've been hearing it's different events and contests lately (good marketing! :)), like the one partnered with Candy Magazine. I thought they only have shimmery glittery sparkly colors for the tips, but wow they now have varieties! (I want the Regular's Touch of Beige and Italian Nude!)

Honestly, what really caught my attention is their price tag:

I can't even buy one polish with this amount of money when purchasing from my favorite foreign brands! :p Since I wanted a white nail polish, and I remembered that my bottle of colorless is already running out, I bought the Joy French Manicure set (although the other selections are also cute! ;)). The box includes the following:

White Satin, Joy (blush shade ♥), Colorless

I know this set is for creating French tips....

Instructions at the back of the box.

But I tested applying just the white polish (because I am weird):

Haloo white nails! Parang liquid paper lang. Hehehe!

(and hello Lego Ring! :p)

Ze Verdict: I love it! Nice consistency, and easy to apply. I hope it's also long-lasting, but this I have to see! Plus factor is that it's so affordable, I can collect more colorssss! :D   Hello new nail polish brand :)


PS: I also got this:

Bonanza Tip. But no, it's not the right "purple". ;p

PPS: I re-dyed my hair again, back to golden brown. ;D But that's for another entry, hehe!

have a great day guys! ♥

View from across my computer...

Hihi! ♥

Sings: "Why do birds suddenly a-ppeaar..." Hahaha!

day 27. a photo of last summer, and them some..

Feeding the elephant in Cambodia! ;p

I don't know what last-summer-photo to post anymore! ;p Haha! I have been posting lots of pictures already from my May Vietnam-Cambodia trip in past entries, that I actually want to fast-forward to November --on my trip to Singapore with my ate and Alli! New trip = New stories to tell = New photos. Hehe! But before that, I really have to learn how to save, or if saving isn't really part of my vocab (for now), might as well work harder!

While we're at it, I have new quirky rings in my online shop! =) 

The gold cheetah ring was just sold, while the snake ring was just reserved by a guy! ;p I seldom get orders from the male specie since my market is really the school girls! But when I get order forms from guys telling me they'll give the pieces to their girlfriends, natutuwa naman ako!

***

Lastly, I wouldn't want to blog about this but I guess it is part of why I blog anyway: To express. 

Yesterday I just got my first hater comment. On pointing out the poses of the models--that one I can tolerate since the pictures I posted weren't the final ones anyway (baka bumubwelo palang sila kaya ganyan ichura, hehe)...But telling me that I'm a "crap" and a "total waste of time" actually shattered my heart. 

At least I re-learned that I can't please everybody. But this shouldn't stop me from trying things that I love--like blogging and styling, right? The attempts I give for these crafts are so hard already, I hope people will just be nice. Please don't make it doubly harder by being mean. And, to quote my fashionista sistah Pax in her reply to Kookie's post: "If you can't say anything nice, then just go away and plant eggplants (in tagalog: go home and plant kamote haha!) "

Benta ka talaga sakin Pax forever! ;D

"I learned this blog from an acquaintance pa naman. Now I know she's reading piece of crap".

How can people be so cruel? What's the point? 

Personally, I guess I just have to think that at least this experience made me more conscious (although, can also be limiting) of what I publish. To improve. And carry on without stepping on anyone. When I still fail, then I guess I just have to harden my heart. 

***

May I not hate the hater. I place my life in Your hands. Instead, help me to improve myself. Help me to not give up. And even with my raw talents and amateur skills, thank You for I know that You are proud of me nevertheless. AMEN! :-)

day 26. a photo of your favorite weekend

I love jam-packed weekends!

These past months, my formerly ever-changing schedule suddenly takes a pattern, which goes like this:
Monday - Wednesday: rest days, update online shop with new items, product shoot, answer inquiries and order forms
Thursday - Friday: Meet up days / Photo Shoots
Friday (night)- Saturday: Lamierda with Ana
Sunday: Family day, attend mass and then The South Feast in Festival Mall

So anyway, it's hard to pick the "favorite" weekend since I really enjoy mine every time by going out with my family and friends, so I'd rather post the latest:

Styling for Outbox Media with Pax, CPK and UCC with Ana, and then UAAP with Vany, Ickay and Imee. :-) 

I hope this coming weekend beats this! ;)

Note: Day 26! :D Whew! Few more days and I'm done with this overdue blogging challenge, haha! ;P

30 DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES

Reconstructing the Unsellable

I posted this cheetah print oversized top/dress in the Bullyvard section of Anagon Collection months ago. I think it's because of the size and because of Manila's weather, that's why my clients weren't really fond of this cotton vintage find. I love the print so much though, and decided that I need to make it more wearable. I thought of cutting the garment in the middle and wear it as coat, so I can simply wear it when it starts to get cold.

My only concern was that the neckline is "cowl", might not look nice when cut in the middle. But I did it anyway... 

Debuted on my styling raket last Friday for Outbox Media:

I think the cowl effect gave my new coat the slouchy appeal. :-) I actually love it, and was even approved by fashionista friend Pax. :D Yehey! :-)

I'm thinking on what clothing to cut next, hahaha! ;p
Till my next DIY! ;)

Yes, Man! ;)

Finally, I was able to attend this Sunday's Feast with my family! :) (I missed the one last week =p) The theme today was on "Saying yes to everything"--even when it scares you, just so you can develop and share your talents. Use it or Lose it!

This week I realized that I am tired and drained, but also, I felt fulfilled for saying Yes to Life! :) Even with aching back from heavy bags I lug around while commuting, plus the lack of sleep and the crazy weather testing my immune system...I still went for the styling stint of Outbox Media with Pax last Friday at The Room in Timog/Panay Ave. (which is a land far far away for your Alabang Girl)! 

For the Ballerina theme, we actually applied Ashley Dy's DIY from her blog post! :D Shoutout to my fashionista sistah!!! :D I love that it's more "modern" than just letting the models wear tights and leotards! 

We started at around 10am and finished almost 10pm already! ;p We had 4 models (all girls: Aphol, Meg, Cristal, Danna, and Jacq who followed for the Korean theme), 4 hair and make up artists (2 of them are also from UST! :) Which made me like them right away, just like when you just meet a fellow Pinoy while abroad and you're at ease with the person right away? Kabayan! :)), 2 photographers, several organizers from Outbox Media, and 2 stylists (moi and pax! =)).

We accomplished around twelve themes for the 4 models...single shots then group. The themes are of extreme choices by the agency: (aside from those mentioned in former post) Disney Princess, Ballroom, School Girls, Korean, Natural Look, Red Carpet, Cocktail Dress...

The shoesss and Pax's winner oxfords! :D

"Models do eat"--haha!

For the Natural Look

Ballerinas

Fairies

Hip Hop

School Girls

Korean

It was late afternoon when I learned that this shoot was for an ad to be placed by the agency in Women's Mag. Meaning, we weren't sure if there will be citations. And because of the lack of prep time, and the lack of shooting time itself (this is better done I guess in 2 days! :)), Pax and I felt that we weren't able to maximize what we can do as stylists. In the end, though, we agreed that the experience is more (and the most!) important. The weird combinations of super different themes made us learn more on pressured styling; with lack of resources--we learned to improvise! And at the end of the day, I know I also met new friends. Drained and unenergized, I hope I worked well and was still well-mannered till the end! :)

Our baby model Danna! :)

Meg ready to belly dance!

Cristal, a really pro model, she's easy to work with :)

Super great MUA, Anton! He is also from UST! :)

Kresta, a make up artist and fellow Tomasino! :)

Carlo, one of our photogs!

My stylish "teh!" Pax! =)

***

Slept over at Ana's Friday night, where we missed out on our movie club since I arrived Greenbelt late (and hungry!) already. We ate in CPK Glorietta, had coffee in GB's CBTL, and called it a night. The next day, I wasn't expecting that I wasn't sick (haha) so I pushed through with my UAAP plans with my Tiger girls Imee, Ickay, and Vany. I was late since the venue is in Philsports Arena, but I am proud that I only commuted going to the venue! ;) I felt the rushhhh when I saw that my three UAAP friends were present, I missed them!!!

My girls were (almost) complete that game! :) Thomasians and Tigers supporters Imee, me, Ickay, and Vany!

Though UST lost again against FEU (sigh), I am proud of the Tigers coz they didn't gave the game that easily. Sayang lang talaga! It would have been great if we won against the current 1st in team standing. ;p 

Photos! :)

Bring back the golden glory, my Tigers! Till next game!

Aherms. Hahaha. Kthxbye.

Aljon Mariano! One for UST! :)

I'm laaate! ;p But I was thereee!!! :)

Gawi during the halftime!

Chris Camus

Melo Afuang

Patron Tequila, haha!

Imee and Ickay--my seatmates for the game! :) (Vany was with her brother)

Gray team. Ahem. Hahahaha! ;p Can this be ♥? JOKE! ;p

***

It was a super busy on-the-go weekend that I after twitting and facebook-ing and it was already 1am last "night" that I realized I actually forgot to eat my dinner. It was a first time!!! Though I am diet-conscious before, I have never unintentionally skip a meal! I just LOVE food to forget about it!!! =D 

Hmm..though the adventures I went through was worth it, all because I said YES to every invite! =)

To the Goddess of Good Times...More of these please! ;-)