Silver and Forever

Hello, everyone!

Oh no, NO NO. You are not seeing a ghost. 

This blog fell in deep slumber for a couple of months but it is still ALIVE. You've probably wondered and asked yourselves, "wear is mela?" out of sheer curiosity or in a prankster kind of way (like what I used to always get in school). To the ones concerned, my friends, I am SORRY. I have a long list of reasons for my absence and if anyone (as if anyone cares, LOL), warrants an explanation, I will gladly forward that sacred list to you.  

To somehow make it up, here's a photodiary of my parents' silver anniversary celebration and renewal of vows last January 11. Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you the reason for my below-mediocrity-line (Good Lord, please let me pass) Nephrology exam results and my current state of HOPEFUL romanticism (being "hopeless romantic" is sooo 2006. So, makiuso na!). This is our little family project--my parents at 25 years! 

   

All photos are by Ian Laserna Photography but I put most in a collage to make this entry less photo-heavy. :) 

We did not want to spend much so we aimed for a simple yet solemn and meaningful celebration to share with our closest friends and loved ones. With a little help from artsy-fartsy friends, we were our own wedding planners, stylists and designers. Since it's their 25th year, my folks decided to have silver and pink as the main color scheme. Silver for 25 years and pink because it was the same color that they used 25 years ago when they first got married. We had our dresses done by Magarita (c/o Tita Beb Magallanes). The suits were from them as well.

Us, kids, composed the main characters in the entourage. 

I was the maid of honor. Ralph was best man and Jeph, the ring and array bearer.

We loved our hair and makeup!

It was our first time to try Lee Uvas' services and we did not regret it. 

In fact, we've been recommending him to everyone we meet! What do you think?

It was already two weeks before the event when Mama decided to incorporate the cherry blossoms theme in the church design and reception. I honestly had no idea how to make everything come to life but "angels" came to help us! The guys from Hercor College did the church and reception decors. They presented two dance numbers after dinner as well. Superkids!

A violin and piano duet of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" played as the entourage marched down the aisle. It was a very magical moment. My parents chose "Lovely" by Michelle Tumes when they walked arm-in-arm together in the aisle. I finally knew why my girl friends in med school were buzzing about it days before. The tune and vocals were incredibly dreamy. I get goosebumps whenever I listen to it, even now.
A male quartet headed by Mr. Ross Bolano consisted the choir--just as my mom wanted.

Four of our closest priest friends officiated the mass at the St. Francis Chapel-- the very same church where I want to get married in someday. I spent most of my summer breaks teaching catechism there. Being just a block away from our house, it is where we attend Sunday masses. It's like my second home.

The reception was a mix of all happy and grateful emotions.

It wasn't just a celebration of my parents' love for each other but most importantly, a thanksgiving of our life as a family. Happy tears and hugs and kisses were all over the place.

I got to sing (sorry, but I'm so proud of myself!) for my parents and the crowd as well.

The mob dance wasn't part of the plan. 

It's an ill tradition in Capiz that guests leave after they eat. 

But when the program ended, there was no sign of anyone wanting to leave. So I pulled two of our "angels" to lead us the infamous "Gentleman" dance. It turned out to be really fun and all the groovy guests, including our Lola, joined in!

I can say that it was one of the happiest days of my life.

Just as everyone kept repeating to my parents that day--GO FOR GOLD!

Twenty-five years from now, on their golden anniversary, we will be a bigger family with kids and grandkids and of course, spouses. The mere thought of it makes my HOPEFUL romantic self itch to say something about happy singleness and patiently waiting for true love but I guess I'll reserve that for another post or just keep it to myself in the meantime. There's a very thin line between hopeless and hopeful romanticism, you know. ;)

  

Much love,
Mela

Follow me:

BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LOOKBOOK | INSTAGRAM | CHICTOPIA

Prison Break

One of my long-standing pointers in choosing outfits is to avoid pieces that would make me look more mature or older than my age. That's why I always stick to colorful and breezy clothes. Apparently, I've broken that rule now. I guess, a misconception that even I used to be guilty of believing, is that women above 25 years must wear less fancy and more prim and classy outfits. But noooo. Age must not limit anyone from looking fabulous. Even marital status and number of kids (or even grandchildren) should not limit moms from wearing brights and prints and even short skirts and dresses. Everyone has the right to feel beautiful and be fashionable.

I may not belong to the working population yet but sometimes, it can be a confidence booster to dress like someone of high regard. This is my version of power dressing. :)

Hype this look on Lookbook.nu here and on Chictopia here!

| cat-eye sunnies: Chicnova | skirt: She Likes | bag: Mango | Aimee flats: Tonic Bags and Shoes | 

| photos by Ralph Delfin |

If you haven't noticed yet, the blogosphere is currently afflicted with the black-and-white stripes pandemic. I particularly love this skirt from She Likes because it doesn't require showing too much skin and it hugs my curves just right. I opted to pair it with a plain crochet top instead of something printed for additional texture and less chaos. And of course, this "power outfit" wouldn't be complete without pointed cat-eye sunnies from Chicnova (which by the way, made me feel a million dollars richer) and Aimee flats from Tonic that created an illusion of continuity with my stripes skirt. 

Have a fun week, lovelies!

Much love,

Mela

P.S. This is an entry to IFB Project #109: Blogger's Black and White Ball

Follow me:

TWITTER | LOOKBOOK | INSTAGRAM | CHICTOPIA

Unboxing My June BDJ Box

Remember me?

Sorry, it's been 13 days. Thirteen days. Too many to have not blogged. :(

I come bearing good news though! Some packages from my dear sponsors have arrived and I'll be back to my weekly posting in no time.

As of now, I'd love to share one of my semi-adventurous hauls: the BDJ Box.

BDJ Box is the newest beauty box from the makers of the famous Belle de Jour Power Planners. 

It was created to help every Filipina explore and experience different products that would best fit her. 

The BDJ Team releases a box with different contents from various brands monthly. No one knows what contents the next batch of boxes will have. Hence, the element of surprise that entices curious girls like me.

I signed up for a subscription for Php480/month (now it's Php580) last April and got booked for a June box because May boxes were already sold out. Boo but yeah, BDJ boxes get sold out that fast! 

My box arrived at mid-June and like all the other girls who shared their unboxing stories, I was astonished by its cuteness as well. It was just about the size of an iPad Mini. The weight didn't overwhelm that much though. This one came in very light. Crossed all my fingers and legs and toes just so my cheerful, hopeful disposition won't be spoiled.

I was welcomed by Kinerase brochures and these cute, pinkish stickers upon opening.

At first, I thought this was a Kinerase box because previous boxes had dominant themes and products in them. But voila, the theme for June was "The Science of Beauty". It said that the contents were all backed by the wonders of science to bring out my most gorgeous self. I wish! 

And to heighten the thrill, a translucent paper still enclosed the mystery products inside.

Here goes everything!

I was honestly sad because I've already seen most of these products in previous BDJ Boxes. 

Not one unboxing story has failed to mention how amazing it was for all the contents to fit in just a small box. But these ones can still loiter and dance and jump around with so much free space inside. :(

Anyways, here are the contents:

1.) L'Oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Hair Tonic, 90ml (Php259)

A water-based treatment that nourishes the scalp to make hair resistant to aggressions.

 The Fall Repair 3x Leave-in Tonic is one of the newest hair care products of L'Oreal Paris.

2.) L'Oreal Paris Fall repair 3x Hair Shampoo, 180 ml (Php110)

Grow stronger hair from the roots!

With L'Oreal Paris Fall Repair Shampoo, hair fibers get restructured as it nourishes hair from the roots. Its latest discovery, Arginine - an essential amino acid vital for hair growth is the highlight ingredient of this innovation from Paris.

3.) L'Oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Conditioner, 180ml (Php119)

Feel softer and detangled locks with L'Oreal Paris Fall Repair Conditioner.

This hair product is used alongside with the Fall Repair Shampoo to address the top 3 causes of hair fall: hair malnutrition, root fragility, and fiber damage.

4.) Physiogel Hypo-Allergenic Intensive Cream, 50ml (Php574.50)

This non-comedogenic cream is enriched with Derma Membrane Structure (DMS) technology, ceramide and lipids that mimic the skin's lipid layers. 

5.) Kinerase Gentle Daily Cleanser, 5ml sample

Full size: 200ml (Php2,800)

Doesn't just wash, but cleanses away impurities with additional benefits to soothe the skin, making it pure and gentle to touch.

6.) Kinerase Lotion, 5ml sample

Full size: 40g (Php4,950)

Best for combination to oily skin, this luxurious, gentle moisturizer is infused with Kinetin to deliver superior hydration while improving the appearance of wrinkles, aging and sun-damaged skin without irritation. 

7.) Avon Vitaluscious Lipstick, 3.6g (Php299) 

No more dry and chapped lips! 

This rich and full-colored lippie has nourishing vitamins to hydrate and soothe the lips.

8.) Revlon Photoready Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener, 2.4g (Php525)

Get multiple on-trend looks with one dual-ended pencil!

The dark end's rich color gives an intense, bold look. While the light end brightens and opens up the eyes.

The eight products amounted to Php1,886.50 excluding the Kinerase samples. 
That's almost 4x more than what I paid for! Great savings indeed for extra-adventurous skin geeks. 

The downside, however, is one never really knows what to expect.
For girls with sensitive and acne-prone skin like me, new hair products (no matter how expensive or sweet-smelling they are) can cause breakouts. I've only used the L'oreal Shampoo, Conditioner and Tonic for three days because of such effects. The Kinerase Cleanser and Lotion were also turned over to my mom just to be safe. Moisturizers and my skin don't really make a good match. :(

I'm now left with the Avon lippie (which I've already used for my outfit post here), the Revlon Double Eyeliner (still learning how to apply it correctly), and my favorite and the most useful product so far--Physiogel Hypoallergenic Intensive Cream. Aside from being hypoallergenic, I love the mild scent and it really softens my sanitizer/alcohol-abused hands. 

**Moral of the story: NEVER BUY ON IMPULSE.** 
Read as many reviews as you can but never underestimate the uniqueness of your own skin.

One product may work pretty well for another (or even for a vast majority) and be too harsh for you.

Nevertheless, I salute the BDJ Team for empowering Filipinas to be the best of themselves. 
The June box might not be the best one for me this time but BDJ Boxes have already made countless women feel more confident and beautiful since the first release.

I'd also like to thank the team for sending over these Viviamo products last May.
They're my everyday essentials now. :)

Viviamo products such as these and the Belle de Jour Planner are available on selected bookstores nationwide! Also, head over to bdjbox.com for BDJ Box subscription options and product reviews. :)

Much love,

Mela

P.S. Guess what, I was featured in www.yournextskirt.com! One of my looks was included 
in the article: "Five Neon High-Low Skirt Looks You’ll Love for Summer"
Click here to see more!

P.P.S. This is also an entry to IFB Project #104: Share Your Summer Essentials 

Follow me:

TWITTER | LOOKBOOK | INSTAGRAM | CHICTOPIA

Good Hair And Make-up Days

Sometimes you have good hair and make-up days. 

And sometimes, you get your hair and make-up done for free and it suddenly becomes a good hair and make-up day. This is one of the rare occasions when I'm wearing more than tinted moisturizer and blush on my skin. 

My search for a reliable hair and make-up artist for my cousin's wedding last December was close to hopeless. There's quite a number of salons in the city but a bunch of positive-negative hearsay was also going on for each. In momentous events like weddings with photographers left-and-right, it's a MUST to look your best by choosing only someone that you trust. So when my high school classmate, Angel-- who happened to have recently launched a barber shop/salon-- offered her services, I knew I was in good hands.   

If anyone needs an AMAZING make-up artist in Roxas City or Iloilo, Angelie Andrada is your girl. She completed a professional course from Make Up Forever - Manila and is currently offering professional make-up services and packages for weddings, debuts, proms, dates and occasions of any sort. She recently held make-up tutorials and classes and has been exposed to Wedding and Event Exhibits as well. She used to do home services but now, her expertise has found its home in Andrew's Barber Shop and Salon. 

I heard that her airbrush skills are insane. She definitely is a must-try!

We had a very early appointment because the wedding started at 10AM. I came in with semi-wet hair and barefaced evidence that I just came out from bed. Uh-oh.

Because of the early call-time, I expected Angel to use all of the time up but she magically wrapped everything in less than an hour! She's unbelievably faster than any veteran salon personnel I know. We have discussed the wedding's theme and the color of my dress days before the big day, so everything went easy-peasy. I also sent her photos of how I wanted my hair to be done and it was nailed perfectly well!

 

Andrew's Barber Shop & Salon is located at Capiz Government and Business Center, Fuentes Drive, Roxas City.

"Like" their Facebook page for updates: Make-up by Angelie Andrada

 or send in your inquiries via 09176263075.

And for my final look...

I loooove my perfectly imperfect messy side bun!

With the genius behind this look, Angelie Andrada! The session became a mini-reunion, too. One of my childhood girlfriends arrived. Hello Lian! Since we had more than enough time before the ceremony started, I was able to have my outfit photos taken. Yipeee, but sorry for the blurry photos. Something bad was definitely going on with the camera at that time. :( :) 

| dress and belt: SM Ladies Fashion | cufflink: Superb Finds | heels: So! Fab | HMUA: Angelie Andrada | photos by: Ralph Delfin |
Hype this on LOOKBOOK.nu!

Of course, this post wouldn't be complete without photos to show how glorious the day was.
My cousin, Nico, finally got married and I couldn't be happier for him and his dear twinnie. Emie is the nicest, sweetest, brightest-smiling girl I have encountered. She and Nico are basically personality twins! As I sat in awe watching one of my closest cousins on his wedding day, I couldn't help swelling into tears realizing that the baby I used to share my mom's milk with (yes, along with Kirby, we were 'nursed' together by my mom while their moms were out), was all grown up. He has found his princess and they are now beginning their happily ever after.

(wedding photos from Nico and Emie Yap)

I wish you love birds, the happiest of lives together. May the only tears you shed be ones of joy (or the ones from laughing so hard together). May your love only grow fonder and more abundant each day. And may your kids look like little Asian penguins because that would be so cute and funny at the same time. HAHA.
I love you guys sososoooo much!

Much love,
Mela

Follow me:
TWITTER | LOOKBOOK | CHICTOPIA | INSTAGRAM