Back in the industry 🧡

Side story: We initially thought of just renting Edward’s suit for the wedding. Akala namin okay na yung ganun not until we visited Gardini last week. Hindi maganda yung fit sakanya at parang common lang tignan (well siguro nga kasi rental siya). So then we decided that we’ll have his own suit tailored na lang. And since Arvox Tailoring ang sikat sa Wawies, I immediately messaged them to ask if they can still accommodate us. Thankfully they replied that they still can so nagpa-set na kami ng appointment.

Yesterday was our appointment day. We did not know what to expect basta nakaready lang yung peg namin sa phone ko. Accommodating naman si ate kahit isang tanong isang salita. Haha. Nagdecide na rin kami agad to book them. Just by looking at the sample, we can tell that the quality is good. Ang ganda! Lalo na nung nilabas ni ate yung sample nila ng dark blue. Shet kainlove. Hahahahaha.

We enjoyed our Arvox experience. We never thought kaya palang i-personalize yung suit ng ganun. Ang daming options, ang saya! Mas nakakaexcite tuloy makita kapag natapos na nila.

9/24/2021

Finally found my wedding shoes! 😍

Initially, I only plan to buy plain block heels and clip on lang para mas madaling maglakad. Pero nung nakita ko to nagustuhan ko agad. I tried it on at ang gandaaaaaa! Ang sexy at nakakaputi ng paa. Loved the glass wedge. Parang cinderella. Haha. Since wedge siya, madali rin maglakad at komportable.

Never thought I’d buy my wedding shoes at Gibi pero marami rin pala silang available style. Tyagaan lang ng hanap. 😊

Our wedding ring came in today!! Grabe ang ganda. 🥺🥺🥺

Ordered and paid: Aug 28

Arrived today: Sept 3

Supplier: Ibe Jewelry Shop

Rating: 10/10 ⭐️

14 Karat White Gold / 8 grams

Comfort fit

His: 5mm

Hers: 2.3mm half eternity .03ct 9pcs diamonds

Peso power: 26k

Inquired online at sila pinakamababang quote kaya isa sila Ibe sa pinuntahan namin nun nag canvass kami ng rings sa Bulacan. Gusto kasi namin may makausap ng personal bago magbook. Very accommodating naman sila Ms. Jeraldine nun nagpunta kami. Mabait at direct to the point sumagot. No hard selling. 

2-3 weeks daw ang lead time but we got ours within 1 week lang. They require 50% deposit para mai-line up kayo. May sarili rin silang rider na nagdedeliver ng rings (with additional fee) kaya hindi na kailangan bumalik ng shop. 

Nung nagdecide kami magbook, lahat na ng transactions namin ay puro messenger. Super hassle free. Nakakatuwa! Highly recommended lalo para sa mga North brides :) 

We’re more than satisfied with the output of our rings. It exceeded our expectation. Value for money talaga! 

Booked our wedding rings yesterday. Excited na ko sa output! 😍😍😍

Hello 30s!

Honestly, this is not how I imagined my life will be at 30. I thought by now, stable na yung career ko and earn more than enough to support my family and start a new one with Edward as well. Kaso pandemic happened and I’m one of those badly hit. I quit the job I loved for 5 years and now I work as a financial advisor. I can’t even say that I like what I do now but I just know that I’m still blessed to be still employed and to provide just enough. 

Hindi ko lang din maiwasan na mamiss yung nakasanayan. Minsan parang nahuhurt yung pride kong makitang nasa baba ulit ako samantalang dati mataas na ko. 

I can’t wait for the day I can finally understand why this happened. Basta I trust the process and God. I know this will make sense soon. For now, laban lang. 

The One Where I Turned 30

I’m amazed by how mama uses other people to make me feel loved and feel her presence even though she’s not here anymore. 

Pinadalan ako ni Ms. Owen ng cake ng lunch time. Binuksan ko lang yung box to check the cake. It’s a plain white dreamy cake. So deadma na. Pero nung kainan na, kapag ka-slice namin ng cake na yun, narealize kong caramel cake siya! Just like the one mama liked sa red ribbon! Si mama agad naisip ko. This is her way of greeting me on my birthday. Sa isang iglap, mas gumanda yung mood ko, mas sumaya ako. Lumingon ako sa picture niya, smiled and thanked her. And I know it’s weird pero parang nakasmile rin siya sa kin. HAHA.

Thank you for visiting, Ma. You’re the best ever. It’s a happy birthday indeed.

The One Where I turned 30 🤍 https://www.instagram.com/p/CS_90LBF3uD-UxME2LauIRLe72P8T0o9HKIsMo0/?utm_medium=tumblr

1st fitting with Heleyna today! <3

Ang expected ko lang makita today ay base gown pero nagulat na lang ako na may glitter tulle na rin agad. Huhu. Ang ganda. Nakakaspeechless. 1st fitting palang pero ang hirap nang maka get over!! Sa second fitting daw may cover up na and may laces na. Yey! 

P.S

Likod na lang muna ang photo na upload ko para may element of surprise pa rin. Char!

Went to Audrey’s Dresslab last weekend with Edward’s sister. I’ve been considering this shop as supplier for my bride squad’s dresses for the following reasons: 

1. Based on FB pictures, saktong sakto yung shade ng dark emerald nila. (Hirap na hirap ako maghanap ha!!)

2. Since I will ask my girls to shoulder the cost of their dress, I want something that they can still use for other occasions

3. Safer and less hassle kasi you can just give your measurements online. No need for fittings. 

4. Leadtime takes only about 3-4 weeks. Girls can diet pa. Haha!

5. Body hugging yung tela for slim body type pero stretchable naman if ever nag gain ng weight

6. You can mix and match styles according to your liking

Since particular ako sa shade ng emerald, kahit na okay na for me yung nakikita ko sa FB, I still wanted to check the fabric personally. Tricky yung shade niya depende sa lighting. At first glance, mukhang lighter shade siya as you can see sa picture pero habang tumatagal at sa malayuan, nagiging darker shade na siya (which what I want). So yeah! I think I already found my entourage suppliers. Yey!

P.S

Supposed to be si Grace, my MOH, ang kasama ko dito pero hindi siya pwede so I decided to ask Edward’s sister. I think it’s also a good decision and experience. Kahit pano ay may konting bonding at hopefully she felt engaged with her brother’s wedding. 

Booked our entourage flowers today! Yey! Decided to go with paper wood flowers because it’s lighter and easier to carry around. Plus! I can keep it longer compare to fresh flowers.

Here’s the peg I sent to Accents and Petals. I just wanted a simple bouquet and not too rustic-looking. I hope they can pull it off. 🤞🏻 I can’t wait to see their progress! 💚🤍

7/21/2021

Thinking of starting a new business related to wedding essentials. Hmmmm.

Got my bridal and entourage bags today from NJN Bags and Shoes. Yey!

When I joined Wawies, madalas ko nang makita yung name ng supplier na ‘to pero karamihan ay bad reviews and feedback kaya I did not bother looking into it. Pero nung isang beses na nakita ko ulit siya sa feed ko, tinignan ko na yung page niya at yung mga gawa niya sa group. To my surprise, magaganda pala talaga yung bags at very affordable ang price. The only thing is maraming feedback sa group na late sa timeline lagi or sobrang lapit na sa wedding day nadeliver or worst hindi na talaga umaabot sa wedding day. So I tried looking for another supplier who makes the same kind of bags. I found one kaso halos triple na ng presyo kaya I did not pursue ordering with her. I decided to take risk ordering from NJN na lang. 

June 9 ako nag order. I ordered 10 bags (1 MOG, 9 bridesquad). Ms. Jing gave me 1 free bridal bag. 

Initially, I inquired on hand bags kaso iilan na lang meron siya kaya I asked if kaya pa bang mahabol kung magpapa custom made ako. She said yes pero binigyan lang niya akong ng design na madali daw gawin. I told her that my event is July 15 kahit na December pa naman talaga ang wedding to avoid stress. Haha! She promised June 30 daw magagawa ang bags. Halos every other day ako nag cchat at nag reremind sakanya. Matagal talaga siya magreply. Hanggang sa lumagpas na rin sa June 30. Pero I kept my cool and still chat her nicely. I figured na baka the more irate mo siya ichat, mas lalo ka lang niya hindi rereplyan. So I kept on following up nicely. Nagchat siya ng July 12 at sabi niya madedeliver na daw kinabukasan pero baka mga 7-8PM. I said okay lang. Come July 13 ng gabi, nag follow up ulit ako kung ipapadala na niya. Nagreply naman siya at nakiusap na tomorrow morning na lang daw. Ikakabit lang daw niya yung lace. I agreed again. Then earlier today, siya na ulit unang nagchat sending all photos of the bags I ordered. Ang gaganda! Naexcite ako. Binook ko na ng lalamove at nung nareceive ko na, I sent her the 50% balance. 

Will I recommend NJN Bags and Shoes? Yes. Kasi for it’s quality and price, it’s really a steal. But I suggest to order in advance. Don’t give your exact event date to avoid stress. And lastly, only order if you have the patience of dealing with her. 

7/14/2021

Holaaaaa! Remember Dandy Temporosa? Ito na siyaaaaa. I will just use my downpayment for MOG’s dress. Sayang naman kasi. Tita chose 31-Dark Gray. Ayaw daw niya ng masyadong light kasi. Hehe. Our appointment was quick. Dandy just sketched based on the peg tita agreed to. After non, nag measurement taking na rin agad then Dandy scheduled October 24 for our first fitting. Yay! It was super fast. Excited na rin ako sa kakalabasan ng gown ni tita.

6/27/2021

Bakuna na naging bato pa. 

My pre-pandemic moods 😍

MAMA

Because of the recent events, kuya and I were able to talked about mama’s story and her relationship with ate and kuya eric again. Apparently, I only know a few details. 

Hindi ko na naaalala na lumayas pala si mama sa tondo dahil sa away nila ng lolo namin, na naiwan pala sila ate at kuya eric kay mama chuling. Ang alam ko lang at ang kinalakihan ko lang, naiinggit sila ate at kuya eric sa amin ni kuya kasi mas naalagaan kami ni mama, kasi nakapag focus siya samin, at kasi natutukan niya kaming lumaki. Sa totoo lang, medyo nagulat ako sa sinabi ni kuya na naiwanan pala talaga sila ate. I did not know that exactly. Akala ko lang, hindi nakapag focus si mama sakanila kasi working siya. Shocked ako.

 But then I thought, hindi pa ba sapat na nawala na si mama para mapatawad siya ni ate? Bakit ang bitter pa rin? Hindi naman ganun si kuya eric. 

Actually the reason why I am writing this is because I want to write about mama - yung mama na nakilala ko, yung mama na nagpalaki sa min. I feel sorry for ate and kuya eric kung pakiramdam nila napabayaan sila ni mama noon kasi sa totoo lang sobrang laki ng puso ni mama. Ang dami niyang pagmamahal na kayang ibigay. Kuya and I were spoiled. Hanggang kaya niya, ibibigay niya. I may not know then what sacrifices she made pero ngayon I can imagine it at sobrang bilib ako sa kanya. Minsan isusubo na lang niya, ibibigay pa niya sayo. Mama was the best ever and I wish I realized it sooner. Sana naisip ko to nung buhay pa siya. Kuya and I were mama’s “do-over parenting”. Kaya rin siguro niya kami inspoil kasi ayaw niya mangyari samin yung nangyari sakanila nila ate. She filled us with all the love she can give. Hindi man to maintindihan ng iba pero ako ngayon naiintindihan ko na and it totally make sense. 

My point here is, mama was not perfect but she did try her best to be a better mom thru us. Ibang iba ang pagkakakilala ko kay mama kesa kay ate. She was our superhero. I wish sana makita un ni ate kahit huli na. Sana hindi siya lamunin ng sama ng loob niya. Mama just had her own way of showing love. Kung di man nakita ni ate yun, it’s her loss. 

No one can ever replace mama. But someday, I want to be like her. And here’s a promise to my future family...

“I will love you with all my heart and best way I know how because I learned it from the best parents ever”.  

P.S

I miss you Ma! Every day.