Smooth-Sailing Wedding

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."

                                                     ~ Mignon McLaughlin

Wedding and marriage may often be intertwined.Of course it's important to marry someone who you will spend every waking day with, someone you love entirely and relentlessly. But let's face it, we put a great deal of effort into staging the perfect venue and setting for the wedding of a lifetime.

I know I'm miles away from walking down the aisle, but in all of the movies I've seen, the actual weddings I've been to, there's one thing that will always be there: the stress of putting a magnificent wedding together. They say a wedding comes only once in our lives (ideally!) and we have to admit it, we can't help but mull over every tiny detail to make our wedding a moment we will always look back on, a magical sliver of our last days as single individuals, and the joining of two souls to make even all the lovebirds in the world jealous.

Every bride has to be the center of attention on her big day. The groom too, has to look just as dashing, and there must not be a fray thread out of place. Everything has to be downright perfect. No need to fret though, despite all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into planning and putting together a wedding worthy enough to featured in the glossiest magazines, there are a few tips you can use to help ease the burden.

De-stress your wedding

Wedding fever is everywhere at the moment. Angelina Jolie has chosen her dress designer, Justin Timberlake serenaded Jessica Biel as she walked down the aisle and even Ronnie Wood is getting married again. It’s always nice to see the photos and hear the stories, and you might find you can store some special detail away in your mind for your big day.

Sometimes wedding planning can all seem a little too much for one person, or even a couple, so we’ve found solutions to some of those niggling problems that trouble brides-to-be.

Test out your wedding playlist

Sometimes it can be hard to narrow down your favourite songs to choose the one you’ll be walking down the aisle to, or the perfect track for your first dance. That’s where Spotify comes in: you can search for specific tracks or browse by genre. They even have hymns on there if you want to go traditional. Just make sure to disable the Social function if you don’t want to spoil the surprise!

Let your friends choose their own bridesmaid dresses

This issue almost always creates tension between brides and their bridal party. If it’s hard for you to spend money on a dress you’ll only wear once, think how it must feel to do that for someone else’s big day. So how about this: you pick a colour or maybe a style, but leave the rest up to the girls – they’ll thank you for it. There’s a selection of fabulous bridesmaid dresses at Very.co.uk to suit any body type.

Vet the speeches

Yes, it’s all part of the fun of a wedding to have the best man joke about past conquests of your hubby-to-be, but this speech will be heard by grandparents, nieces and nephews – possibly even your boss. It will also be recorded, so you’ll get to listen again and again. If you get your hubby or even other groomsmen to edit the speech, the final draft should be better balanced.

Remember that your wedding is all about two people and two people only. If you are happy, then everyone else will eventually get on board – it’s one day out of their lives and the biggest day of yours. 

Images are from Pinterest.

Click on the photos to be redirected to their source.

This Just In!

Happy New Year, ladies and gents!

I'm a big believer in fresh starts, in second chances, in clean slates. Now that 2013 has kicked in, life for all us will start again and kick in full gear before we know it.

During New Year's Eve, I was so happy to be home. I haven't really felt home in a long time. Regardless of where I am during my business trips, or in the office, or at our house in Laguna, it's been a while since I last felt at peace. Ironic isn't it? Amidst the explosions and sparks everywhere in celebration of a chapter closing and another one coming in, I found myself in a good place, a place I felt estranged to in a while.

Starting the year right, that's what we always hear. 2012 has been very kind, and I did everything I could to return the favor. This year, I envision a bigger and better year for me, my family, and my friends. Things thus far may not have been peachy keen, but I'd like to think that these are just birthing pains for the new year. Things will get better in time.

Every time I feel anything but at my best, when life seems to be insufferable, coming home always helps.

We're pretty big on Sundays. Yesterday, we spent the day doing one of our rituals, hearing mass and having breakfast after. Since most of my clothes are in my apartment, I had to make do with what's left in my closet. Mind you, I do have quite the selection (despite my efforts to rid my life of clutter through closet sales on regular intervals). 

Anyway, here's my very first update for the year. Tell me what you think about this look. I've been getting cues and tips from my new favorite show, Pretty Little Liars, while incorporating my hipster sensibilities. Enjoy. :)

Dress: Forever 21

Pullover: Vintage

 Boots: Payless

Belt: Random

Necklace: Random

Hope you're having a great day! :)

 

Without You

Aloha! How's everybody been doing?! I sure hope you still haven't forgotten about me! Yes, your trusty neighborhood cheap-thrill-seeker is back with a vengeance! I know, I know. It's been MONTHS and it seems like I've abandoned this ship, but fret not! I am here once again and I am doing my darn best to stay afloat!

So yeah, you might have been asking what I've been up to in the past few months, well, I've been drowning in my corporate woes. If not for the numerous events I've been handling and going to, left and right, you can probably find me sandwiched between piles of paper and endless trails of administrative work. It's such a lame excuse for being cyber-dead for a while, but I am trying my darn hardest to turn things around!

Anyway, on to the outfit, I wore this to the David Guetta Live in Manila concert at the MOA Arena last October 10, 2012. Just when I was about to scream my lungs off from frustration and all the stress that's been piling on my shoulders at the time, my good friend Kach, messaged me, asked if I wanted to see the show. OF COURSE I WANTED TO SEE DAVID GUETTA SPIN LIVE! I've been wanting to for the past couple of weeks! The offer couldn't have come at a better time... and get this! THE TICKET WAS GIVEN TO HER FOR FREE! Oh, and did I mention that those were VIP tickets?

 

Dress: Forever 21

Wedges: Parisian Shoes

 Bag: Sophie Signatures

Watch: Link

 

Kissy kissy! Lovin' my Gypsy lipstick from E.L.F.!

World, meet Kach, one of the kookiest girls I know. Thanks for the tickets, love! :)

The show was wiiiild! I mean that in a good way. David was smiling all throughout his set, so was DJ Alesso and DJ Kaz James, who both rocked the house before David brought it down!

The crowd, in panorama.

We LOVE you too, David!

David kept leaping on to his table, making the crowd roar with excitement! I'm really glad I came to see the show. Without you, David, my week probably would have been one sigh of disappointment after another. Without you, I wouldn't have been as psyched to fly to Bacolod and catch an early flight (sans the sleep afterwards). 

It's good to have something to look forward to at the end of every day. For fellow working girls like me whose stress levels are always on a record high, we must never forget to still strive for that work-life balance they speak of. Yes, it's fulfilling to work yourself to the bone and get things done, but after a while, it gets toxic and suffocating. We end up being burned out and sick of everything, even before it started.

So yeah, once in a while, kick off your high-heels, strut to the beat of life outside the four corners of your office, and just have fun! 

I'll see you guys around, yeah? :)

Love, 

SGT

Fleur

Flowers don't worry about how the're going to bloom.  They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.

~ Jim Carrey

When the weather goes cuckoo, a dress and a cardigan are your best buddies. You never know when it's going to rain, but since you have a meeting to get to, you have to look decently presentable. I never compromise my personality in dressing up. Whenever I want to go girly, I explicitly do so by donning a dainty patterned dress like this one from Mossimo. Paired with a sheer cardigan of sorts (which keeps me surprisingly warm despite its translucent appearance), and a pink and mauve cap-toe flats from Parisian, this ensemble just gave me the right amount of morale boost for an easy-peasy day up ahead.

Over the years, I've come to realize, thanks to my punk core and goth days, that experimenting with style is never a bad thing. We go through phases and it's all part of the growth process. Eventually, we find our niche, but it doesn't mean that the fun ends there. It's always fun to try new things and incorporate them into what's in your comfort zone -- just to keep things fresh.

If you ask me now what my style is, I probably can't give you a single word to nail it down. That's the fun part! I dress according to how I feel or what inspired me that day or what the music made me think of! It really varies. Of course, I also take into consideration the comfort factor. Since commuting is a big part of my daily schedule (too lazy to drive!), I aim to dress appropriately, with many factors being considered -- the travel time, the commute, the weather, the event or situation I'm going to, and so on.

At the end of the day, just have fun with it! Fashion is a philosophy. Every time you step out in a certain outfit, you let people know of your very own kind of story, even for just that day. You make a statement, an expression of things that mere words cannot contain. Make sure it's a story worth telling. Make sure it's worth your own while. ;)

Dress: Thrifted, Mossimo

Cardigan: Thrifted

Flats: Parisian

Watch: Swiss Military

Braided bracelet: from Quiapo

Wheel earrings: from Quiapo

Special thanks to my Mom for taking these photos!

Hope you had a great day! :)

Love,

SGT <3

Girly in the City

Today, we dropped by The Medical City in Ortigas to visit a family friend, Ate Mitch, who recently underwent spine surgery for her bulging discs. It's been a day since her operation and she's doing great... in pain, but in good spirits.  

For today's outfit, I decided to go off-road and try something I haven't done before. I wore this custom-made batik dress for the first time. I initially wanted to wear my eclectic pink wedges from Celine but I figured since I'll be walking for a major part of the day, it won't exactly be practical and comfortable so I unearthed my trusty ol' Chucks and fishnets to make the entire look more interesting.

So what does this have to do with being a Girl on a Budget? Well, for starters, I had the dress custom-made by our local mananahi or seamstress for Php 200 or around $5. I got the cloth from a barter market in Zamboanga for about Php 130 or a little less than $3.50. The turquoise necklace costs around Php 90 (a little over $2) and I got it from my favorite wholesale accessories shop in Quaipo, Manila. The store is found along the street directly across the main entrance of the Quiapo Church. It's owned by either a Korean or a Chinese girl (sorry). I love going there because they have the cutest stuff at rock-bottom prices! You get even bigger discounts if you buy wholesale (meaning: 6 pieces and up - Trust me, you can't resist their great buys and bargains!). 

I was feeling a little girly than usual today. My first itinerary was the Dakila office in Kalayaan. 'Twas a long commute from Santa Rosa (where I live) to Quezon City. Would you believe that I almost got lost in Cubao on my way to my mom's office in Ortigas? There had been many renovations and relocations that I had a hard time looking for landmarks near the bus stops. :| So yes, I made rampa in Cubao with this whole ensemble! It was actually fun to see people stare and wonder what the hell I was thinking when I put the outfit on this morning. I just smiled, held my head high, and worked it. Confidence is free, after all. Plus, the people's curiosity is priceless!

So when I got to Ortigas, we made our way to the hospital then it was off to lunch with my sister-from-another-mother, Camille (aka Cacai). It was nice to catch up with her again. It's been ages since we last hung out and talked about some of our most favorite subjects - theater, college, fashion, and boys! I promise to take pictures of Cacai the next time I see her! I was such in a whirlwind that I forgot!

Anyway, another budget-friendly tip is this: have your local seamstress make your clothes. It will not only save you money (department store garbs cost a lot these days; boutique brands even more so!), it will also ensure that you get the fit, look, and feel that you want. You can opt to shop for your own cloth or material so you know how it feels on your skin for when you wear it later on. Then, surf the internet for inspirations. I usually go to Forever 21's website for the latest styles and trends then I have the seamstress "copy" the look and tweak a couple of things, if necessary. All-in-all, I think I saved Php 800 with this dress alone (compared to when I buy one off-the-rack). This option is a good alternative when you don't have enough moolah to splurge on new designer duds. After all, when you rock the look, who would know the difference? ;)

Thanks to my soul sister, Cacai for taking these shots. <3
Vote for this look on Chictopia HERE

Hello, old friend!

Just lettin' loose and havin' me some fun!

I say ROCK IT and forget what people say! Smile and feel that wind on your hair when you sa-shay down that runway, dahling! :)

My visitor sticker won't stick anywhere else! Looks like it found a cozy place in my New York & Co.  bangles. ($3)

Turquoise on pink? WHY NOT?

What's your ultimate save-up trick when it comes to shopping?

Love, 

SGT <3