I'M IN LOVE WITH A PARISIAN. NO, MAKE IT TWO!

When I took my leave from blogging to attend to family emergency, I have worn myself out. It's double-stress as my youngest brother went missing for a few days after a disagreement with him and my other brother was in an accident a day before the EDSA anniversary.

So, as soon as my brothers are back in their shapes, the other came home from the hospital and the other came back and kept his head straight, I went to Baguio for a weekend to attend the wedding of my good friends, Robin and Emily. Well, of course, the de-stressing didn't actually start in Baguio but in buying those lovely pairs of shoes from Parisian.

I started buying shoes last February because I didn't have decent shoes left. And I might have done a little splurging here but I thought, I'm not buying the shoes only because I was de-stressing but because I actually need them. These are good buys not only because they are affordable (that's why I bought two pairs) but also because the shoes are actually light, they don't drag your feet down when you walk. You may think they're bulky or heavy but they are not. And the soles are actually soft as compared to the old Parisian shoes that I had before. This is my first time in years that I bought this brand and I could say that it has been better. My friend Denise has been telling me they're good because, if I may say, she's a sucker for Parisian shoes. But I continued to ignore her until I had these in February. And she was right. These are good buy: fashionable, light and trendy.

In fact, I wore one of them on my friends' wedding. I was atrociously fat on the wedding pics but it didn't matter because I was really having fun with my friends. And can you tell? The wedding was Filipiniana-themed but here we are, sporting our mini-dresses. The bride defended our outfits to be "modern filipiniana." Hahaha.



Purple Mini Dress - Genevieve Gozum
Gold Pearl Necklace - gifted (thanks, Kim!)
Pashmina - borrowed (thanks, Dulce!)
Little Brown Bag - Sister's
Brown Booties - Parisian


More love to life,

Bella Donna

MY SISTER MADE ME DO THIS

There's a time when I would ask my sister how do I look in the outfit that I chose in the morning before going to work. She's my worst critique you know, because we'd always have different outlook on how to sport an outfit. But on this particular post, I guess she had her point.

Imagine me on this outfit plus the black inner tube and a black leggings. What do you see?

Black bolero - Mint
Olive dress - F21/gifted
Bag - 50th Avenue at Robinson's
Black booties - Parisian

Well, she told me I was like a (milk) maid who has taken out her uniform for a day off. God, how cruel was that? Since I felt like my body's out of proportion because of over-eating, I thought of hiding the bulges by wearing black. And this particular outfit was way too much for me even if in the past, I this would make me feel like flattering. But I thought it's not flattering at all but flubby. Huhuhu. But hey, my sister had her point, right? Not too bad at all, don't you think?

By the way, me and my friend were hunting for our dinner when we stumble on this Body Shop booth. It's on sale and we had the most sparkling eyes that night! So we sat on their booth and asked the beauty consultant to give us a quick make-over. I tried on Flawless Skin Protecting Foundation No. 5 with SPF 25. Me and my friend decided to avail the buy one, take one promo for only P1,250 and we splitted the bill. So I got myself a new foundation for only P625. Good buy, eh? There's a few more items that I'd like to get but, I restrained myself because I might end up over-spending, yay!

Here's what I want to get next time: the Baked bronzer

Italian Baked Bronzer.  Natural looking, handmade and slow-baked for up to eight (8) hours of deliciously rich color.  Perfect for sun-kissed glow.  And perfect for my morena like me!

At this point, we forgot our dinner because it was getting late. Argh! girls...totally forgot dinner over make ups. Hahaha.

More love to life,

Bella Donna

WHERE'S THE HORSE RACE?

It's one same question asked by my colleagues. I arrived at the office wearing my sister's sandals. I didn't want to break them because they felt a bit smaller than my feet. There's my boots of 9 years sitting beside me after I lend them to a friend for her photoshoot and I thought, "Well... I'm giving them another try. Anyway, I only used them only for parties and didn't really hold much in my previous corporate ventures as they always get those stares."

Not only I was asked where's the horse race but I even got teased the whole day like "You look like Nora Aunor in one of her movies." Christ! Nora Aunor. Greetings like "Hey, Cowgirl. I think you forgot your hat!" Oh, I realized that! "You're like Mikee Cojuangco, the equestrian." Oh, thank you! I wish I was that rich too. Hahaha. "Your sevice vehicle is waiting for you - a horse! Haha, I wished they also remembered Vice Ganda as they teased me but they didn't. Anyways, I got their attention and it was just all laughs.

In advertising, not only it is a matter of corporate rat race but also of a horse race. Those who advance are those who stand out, look good (eccentric?), and not afraid to try things out of the ordinary. So I guess wearing this kind of boots is still out of the ordinary even if a shoe shop like Mendrez already toned the design down for Philippine setting. But I can accept this better than wearing uggs! I was at the mall last week and I don't know what it was that day but I've seen about three people wearing uggs! in the mall! in the Philippines!

Beige blazer - Space
Brown inner blouse - Bargain find
Faded jeans - Crissa
The boots - Unlisted (Mendrez)

Today that I got teased and I laughed with them. Makes my heart healthy. Because I know, they will never forget the day I wore these boots.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

Bella Donna

OVERWHELMINGLY LUCKY AND HAPPY... AND POURING!

Last week, I wrote about an opportunity coming at me and how overwhelmed I was. That didn't stop from there.

This week, another opportunity came to me and it is equally great as the first one. I have spent a few days deciding which one to accept with much consideration. I even came up with a list of advantages, disadvantages, long term and short term goals and I felt like I'm doing this kind of analyzation for real for the first time in my career! Much much more, it seemed that the skies has showered all the love that all the seeds that I have sown are finally bearing their fruits! My oh my! Truly overwhelming. If only I could have everything - all at the same time! But you know, that would be glutony! Haha.

80's top - my sisters' (Thanks sis!)
Black leggings - Quiapo
Pink jelly shoes - Rusty Lopez

I'm just so thankful that so much opportunities are laid upon me and really, within my reach! For the first time, I am truly happy with the job I am doing and the career I am building. Not everybody can have those great opportunities - with "IES" - and I hope something like this would also come to those people who are close to me.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

(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