Sweet Endings with My Cadbury Barkada

Let's admit it. Every single day, we face our own battle scars.

From heartaches to stress, sometimes we just have to break-free.

Even just for a few minutes...

So today, I'm going to be your Angel sent from above. 

Let me tell you the secret to staying happy.

My Barkada's Ultimate Comfort Food has always been CHOCOLATE.

And it's not just any kind of chocolate, 

 it should always be CADBURY DAIRY MILK.

Our barkada makes it a point to unwind and relax especially during weekends.

We take a dip in the pool, discuss matters of the heart and mind

over some hot cocoa and Cadbury Dairy Milk. Our Bonding Moment!

Our barkada loves Cadbury because every bite oozes with creaminess and

mouthwatering chocolate goodness. It's an instant perk me up and always gives

us a SWEET ENDING ----a LIFE booster if you might call it!

So if you're looking for the ultimate Comfort Food,

why not go for the best in creamy chocolate goodness!

Grab your Cadbury Dairy Milk and experience Sweet Endings.

I can actually pass as Cadbury's brand Ambassadress, don't you think?

(laughs, just kidding)

How I wish! As they say, always support what you love.

So dear readers, time for some Cadbury snacks! :)

 Smile and stay worry-free dear readers! Cheers! :)

Love,

IamMyOwnStylist

#CadburySweetEndings

That Girl Next Door

Hello dear readers! I hope everyone is safe from the recent typhoon that hit the country.

To keep things light, I decided to share with you some quotes that I live by. 

Enjoy my Girl Next Door peg.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. 

Most people exist, that is all.” 
― Oscar Wilde

Life is worth living with a purpose. True enough, we have our own

self-serving goals but it should never stop there. 

I find myself the happiest when I'm able to be of service to other people.

“Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. 

And just when you think it can't get any better, it can.” 
― Nicholas Sparks

Things happen when we least expect it.

Every day, we encounter problems that may make us think less of ourselves.

As difficult as it may be, I try to remind myself that every day is an 

opportunity to make better versions of myself and I hope dear readers,

you do too. Having a positive outlook is key.

" I have found that if you love life, 

life will love you back. " 

― Arthur Rubinstein

Give and Take. I've always believed in that.

Don't take it literally though. 

What you invest in --- whether in education, career,

relationships, experience etc., these when used right will remain

an asset that no one can take away from you. 

" You're never fully dressed without a smile. " 

― Martin Charnin 

One of our best assets is our smile. 

With it, we become more approachable.

In fact, it's the best accessory for any outfit. :)

I hope I was able to inspire you in some way.

Now some details of my ensemble.

Denim Vest from Forever21

Skirt by Apartment8 Clothing

Necklace from Plains and Prints

Bangles by Tomato

Bag from ROMWE 

Shoes by WADE

Shades by Splatt MNL

Each one of you can make this world a better place to live in.

A pleasing personality, a positive outlook and a charming smile

will definitely bring you to places.

In my opinion, The Girl Next Door type of girl is 

the kind of girl most parents would approve of.

Let's all strive to become one. Stay sweet and Lovely!

Cheers,

IamMyOwnStylist

Sweet Surrender

Just like fashion, Food entails a lot of preparation and styling.

Last July 12, 2014, together with my friends, we attended a FOOD FAIR like no other.

Prepare to awaken your senses. It's going to be one hell of a feast.

Welcome to YUMMY EATS 2014 :)

My friends and I arrived Metrotent at around lunchtime.

I decided to wear a simple off-shoulder black dress 

and paired it with eye-catching accessories and footwear.

In that way, I'll still look fabulous in a crowd full of hungry people :))

Here's Yummy Eats 2014 promo ad and program.

The event is bigger and better this year with 75 concessionaires 

hand-picked by the Yummy staff. 

I wasn't able to take photos of all 75 concessionaires though because

I was also busy eating. The temptation was too strong.

I couldn't resist. Without further ado, here is my food adventure.

Sweets has always been my guilty pleasure.

Those that melt in my mouth are so irresistible.

Blue Toque offers a variety of premium home-baked quality desserts while

The Tuileries Confections gives you that whimsical vibe with their yummy macarons.

If you're a chocolate lover like me,

I recommend Xocolat and Malagos Chocolate.

It's the ultimate comfort food. 

While strolling around, I also came across Merry Moo! Artisan Ice Cream.

I tried their Sea Salt Caramel which was homemade ice cream and it was surprisingly good. 

Lia's Cakes in Season is known for their Avocado cakes, Cupcakes and Silvanas.

You should give this a try too. Indeed very unique.

 My favorite from Choclery is their Dark Chocolate.

If you want something lighter to suit your palate, try Think Wink cookies.

And if you're looking for something creamy to munch on,

Double Delights Polvoron cupcakes are for you.

One of the booths that I found really creative was The Bunny Baker Cafe and Cake Studio.

If you're planning a party for your little ones, I'm sure this cake studio can handle

your needs. Whether you want Frozen as your theme or Dragons, they got you covered.

A candid photo of me checking out more food stalls and us recommending all food enthusiasts

 out there to try Wabu Boneless Lechon Belly.

Wabu received the People's Choice Award. Congratulations! :)

Another crowd favorite is this Paella from Pio's Paella.

Sadly I was not able to try it out because the queue was so long.

I didn't have the patience to wait. The mere fact it was soldout in a few hours

meant it was heaven. Hope to try it out soon :)

Cake Project is another booth that really caught my eye.

Their Macarons were so yummy and it got soldout.

And if you're looking for some goodies for breakfast,

then grab a bite of Breakfast and Pies Ricotta Cheese Ensaymada. 

Checkout my tray. Now you know I'm not the typical girl who diet.

I'm actually one of the boys when it comes to eating.

Well, I would love to diet but food is just too hard to resist.

I must say my Sweet Surrender, hence the title.

Since I only live once, might as well spend my happy days eating what I want :)

Here are more Yummy Eats that I definitely recommend.

Prior to attending this event, I have already tried Scarsdale, an artisanal doughnut cafe.

Aside from doughnuts, Scarsdale has a wide selection of croughnuts and

 sandwiches to choose from. My personal favorite is "Carlo's Favorite".

Dulce de Leche + Dark Chocolate + Pecan Praline= Yummy!

I love The Flour Girl's assorted French-American pastries. 

Their best-selling Salted Caramel Cupcakes is a must-try! 

Checkout their Ube Ombre Cake.

 It's so beautiful that I could actually stare at it for hours. lol

If you crave for gourmet ensaymada, brownies and cheesecake, then

Hey Gourmet is for you.

Cupcake Lab is another quick fix for your ultimate sweet cravings.

Their cupcakes are so good, simply perfect for gifts to friends and loved-ones.

If you're looking for some creamy frosting cake sandwich, then you 

must also try My Cookie Lab. They come in many interesting flavors.

A big shoutout to the event's generous sponsors:

The secret ingredient to a hearty meal is indeed tomatoes. 

Special thanks to Hunt's for making me feel like a Superstar :)

A big thank you as well to C2 Cool and Clean for keeping me hydrated all day.

I love C2 Apple and C2 Lemon flavor. So refreshing! :)

All these were my lunch. My tummy was extremely happy.

Now that we were tired from all the walking, we cheered for some

participants in the games prepared by the Yummy Eats 2014 Team.

The lovely Ms. Angel Jacob with the Winners of the Game.

I am truly madly deeply in love with this event.

It was a fun-filled food event! I'd definitely attend the next one.

                                                                                                                                                                                   *Photo above from Yummy Magazine Facebook Page

Looking forward to seeing all of you in Yummy Eats 2015! :)

Cheers!

Off to our next adventure! :)

Love,

IamMyOwnStylist

Love Story

Theirs is the Love Story to tell...
After 13 years of love and friendship, Chow & Jen finally walk down the aisle.
Indeed, True love never fails as this couple did not let distance get in their way.

The moment my sister and I were asked to be part of their entourage,

we were simply out of words to say. 

Ms.Jen has always been a great mentor and true friend in Ateneo.

We used to even tease her back then that we are already hearing wedding bells :)

FINALLY, the day has come (kilig)

But before I share with you some snippets of the event,

I'd like to thank my gorgeous friend Miriam Reyes aka Mirz 

for being my makeup artist for the day.

(Hope she doesn't 'kill' me for posting her photo)

Just proud of her! If you're interested to have her as your MUA,

you can book here 0908-868-6787 :)

Thanks Mirz for transforming me from ordinary to fabulous!

The BEFORE photo is how I look with no makeup at all: Stressed-Out

Eyebags here and there, Ungroomed Eyebrows, Dull Skin, Cracked Lips 

(you name it...)

But after Mirz does her powers on me, I'm blooming all over.

See for yourself! I love how dramatic my makeup is.

From those tantalizing eyes....

to the ultra-bold lips ala Anne Curtis

I feel like a celebrity! I wish she could be with me everyday.

I might just be spotted in the mall and voila, 

there goes my celebrity dreams (lol)

Special thanks also to Ms. Jen for choosing Apohl Bridal

to design the eyecatching gowns of the entourage.

Aside from Red being the color of Love, I love how the color can evoke

 a sense of drama & mystery, combined with passion & confidence.

I particularly love the off-shoulder design.

I feel like a Medieval princess or better yet reminds me of

Taylor Swift's Love Story Music Video.

Since the gown is already beaded, I wore simple accessories to 

complete the look. Pearls are always the best bet. It's a classic.

And of course, don't forget to smile :)

So now I bring you the Wedding of the Year!

Last June 28, 2014, Chow & Jen exchanged their vows at St. Peter's Parish Church.

The moment Ms. Jen entered the Church, my jaw dropped.

She looks ethereal in her Wedding Gown.

The Gown was made by Dotie Diaz-Cleofas. 

I was stunned... She was sooooo beautiful.

I even caught the Groom being all teary-eyed upon seeing her enter (Awwww!)

                                                                                                         Photo Above by Dotie Diaz-Cleofas

Thank you for also calling me to lead the First Reading and Responsorial Psalm.

As it was said from the Book of Genesis: 

(23) The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; 

She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 

(24) For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife;

and they shall become one flesh.

Chow & Jen, you are made for each other :)

(Credits to my sister for taking this photo below)

May you continue to pursue each other every single day of your lives.

Continue loving and serving each other and we are all

looking forward to meeting your little JENs and ROWELs.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Dela Cruz!

A New Chapter awaits :)

After the wedding, we went straight to Blue Gardens for the Reception.

I love the place especially the beautiful chandelier that lit up the room.

It feels magical.

A photo I managed to take during the couple's pictorial at Blue Gardens.

A candid photo of me and my partner as we enter.

                                                                  *Photo above taken from Jen's FB page

From the bottom of our hearts,

CONGRATULATIONS TO 

#CHOWJEN

Love your Ateneo Family

After the celebration, we visited Ateneo for a quick & creative photoshoot.

This time ala Red Riding Hood (lost in the woods)

Thanks to my awesome photographer Brian Diaz.

Post-editing by me.

Thank you to Rowel and Jen for making me believe in Love.

Hopefully someday I too will meet my Prince Charming.

Of course, in God's perfect timing :)

Stay in love!

Love, 

IamMyOwnStylist