CHEAPSKATE'S SPLURGE 3: TOMATO AND SECOSANA

I know I've been splurging a lot lately on shoes. But what can I do? I'm just a lady who like shoes too much. Then I realized, I've been getting a lot of colored shoes lately without having something most appropriate to pair them up with: A BAG. So I decided to check something out if there will be a piece that will match any of the footwear that I hoarded lately. :) And I just didn't find one. I found two!

I was at Pasong Tamo for a client call when I saw Tomato's Outlet Store. I checked out and found this blue clutch bag. It's spacious and perfect for my blue flats so, I didn't hesitate to get it. Anyway, it's less than P200. You know that my netbook fits this clutch bag? I'm so happy because it's so chic, it won't even show that you have a computer in this bag.

Inside Tomato blue clutch bag

This is a Secosana piece that I found at Market! Market! Mall. It was on sale, I think at 30% off (about P600+ net). What I like about this bag: It has a lot of compartment, pockets and most of it, it fits my netbook, my journal, my idea notebook, my kikay bag, my electronic accessories and my pack of wet and dry tissues. You can imagine how much weight it can accommodate. My approximation: 5 kilos.

Inside Secosana yellow bag

Anyway, I think I'm getting wild and mad about pairing up shoes and bag. You know what fashionista says about it. Well, there are rules to break them up and I'd like to sport them one of these days. But for the meantime, I'd do this pairing up thing until I got tired of it. :)

More love to life,

Bella Donna

(I THINK I'VE FOUND) MY PLACE IN THE SUN

Not so long ago, my career was tumbling down the drain. Derailed, shackled and ruined. I was job-hopping from one time to another. Jumpship here, jumpship there. Not to mention I was broken hearted - twice! And most of it, lost something that I think most women look forward to have.

Now, almost two years ago, I found this job in advertising - my dream job of ten years coming true in a small full-service marketing agency. Here, I had my own share of best experiences in my so-called (late) blooming career. I met Denise, who influenced me into blogging and online selling. And, after that as they say, the rest is history.

Hand-made thread earrings - gifted (Thanks, Madel!)

So why am I writing about my career? I guess because for the most part of it, I wasn't truly fulfilled. I may have been happy financially in the past, yes. But I have never really unleashed the creativity that's bursting from every inch of me. I found that in advertising, in blogging and selling stuffs online. Met a few younger friends online, offline and in advertising. And truly, how short life is! Because I ache to accomplish so much with so little time! I may have aged in numbers but I still have the same passion of a twenty-year old firing up.

Mocha vest - S&R

Saffron floral tank top - Robinson's Dept. Store

Chocolate cowboy skirt - Thrifted

Gold flats - Tomato

Black tote bag - Naraya (Thanks, Naraya!)

And now, at this point, I must have done something really good to be considered in an aggressive organization that's cooking up real soon in the Philippines! This is an opportunity coming at me. What can I say? I am overwhelmed!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

HOW DO I BRAVE MY PLUMPING FIGURE?

That has been my question all mornings of twenty-ten and I guess even on the first two weeks of twenty-eleven. Sounds a bit cruel but it was actually a sort of self-motivation. I know I've been gaining weight and it shows that I've been popping slowly like a balloon. But I never really take notice. I actually didn't care at all. If they said that "the best things in life are free" then, I say, "the next best thing should be good food." I've always been a food lover and I enjoy eating. Not necessarily a pig-out who devours every food on the table but man, it's just so comforting. So, every morning before I go to work and put on an outfit, I ask myself in front of the mirror: my, oh my! How do I brave this plumping figure? And I always have the same answer to myself: "It doesn't matter for as long as you are comfortable in your own skin, you still feel good about yourself and don't look like dumb, you're gonna be fine! I guess I put it through the whole time. And I would totally agree on Honey Andrade's post about loving yourself. I think it is the key to being sexy and lovable in the first place.

Mocha vest - Tomato
Pink tank top - bargain find
Black leggings - Quiapo
Pink Jelly shoes - Rusty Lopez

And although I bought a pair of rubber shoes last year, I haven't been working out just yet. I have started taking a very small amount of food during dinner for two weeks now and perhaps in the next two weeks, I will start off with morning jogs. I'm not hurrying myself. Just trying to put some pacing. Until I get used to it. Meantime, I'll enjoy this full figure as long as it's here. I'd like to think plumping gracefully is tantamount to being sexy.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

SUPERWOMAN IN BLUE DRESS

My weekly whiteboard schedule tells me that I am supposed to be out to Ad Standard Council on Wednesday. But then, I ended up spending the whole Wednesday at the office, calling on media suppliers, beating another wave of deadline and doing a storyboard all at the same time. I have been a superwoman in this dress (and yes, I did not press!). Running in and out of our office whenever I receive a mobile call (the signal sucks inside), sending emails, updating layouts with artists and printers, calling my client, haggling production costings, etc, etc, etc. I didn't even realize that the day was ending. And so, this outfit shot before I left the office, otherwise, I won't have one for the day at all.

The blue dress is from Space that I bought for half the price; white belt at Tomato, also on sale; white high heeled sandals from Popstyle. My earrings are a gift from my ever-so-good friend, Susana. She hand-made these. Lovely, eh? She knows I love danglings, chandelier, loop and oversized earrings. And she made these for my birthday. Well, anyway, I ought to be out on client call really but I've got a lot of legwork and paperworks at the office. Hope very soon, I'll be over with those and really start going out seeing clients again.

Wear your fashion. Make it your statement.

Love,


BellaDonna