Camsdcute’s Lair

Archive for the ‘Fashion & Beauty’ Category

If you’d like to view our wedding pics, please go to:

• Camsdcute Site – Marlon and Camille Wedding Photos
• Metrophoto Gallery

The first few sets from Metrophoto are posted there.

Now, I’d go on with the review of our wedding suppliers. I’d use 1-10, ten being the highest rating (excellent) for suppliers who deserve to be praised. *Clap clap*

For your comments, suggestions, questions, or anything in mind, feel free to leave your comments below and I’d gladly check them out if I am in the mood.

1. CEREMONY VENUE – Our Lady of Atonement (Baguio Cathedral)
RATING: 9
PRICE: ~ P3,000 (P1500 + P100/pair of sponsor + 500 electricity) You need to pay P1,500 as the reservation fee

Pros:
1.    It is where Marlon and I had our first communion.
2.    Compared to other churches and cathedrals, the Baguio Cathedral charges cheap. Other cathedrals range from P15,000 to P30,000 but we only spent around P3,000 for this.
3.    Baguio Cathedral does not have strict rules regarding the songs to be played, the flowers and decorations to be placed, the dresses to be worn by the bride and the entourage. If your bridesmaids want to wear backless, or any dress with plunging neckline, it will be acceptable. You could bring your own florist, choir and other suppliers as they do not have a list of accredited suppliers that you have to follow.
4.    The church is located conveniently on top of Session road which makes it accessible to the guests.
5.    Also, the Baguio Cathedral has a long aisle which make it more serene and sentimental for Brides to glide on during the bridal march. The longer the aisle, the longer the people will watch you in your bridal march.
6.    Lastly, the architecture is nice and it was built in 1920’s. Its distinct pink outer façade makes it one of the famous landmarks in Baguio City.

The only slight downside is that the surroundings have canopies, parking area and a nearby shopping center that distracts the tranquillity of the place, but If you have a great photographer such as Metrophoto, you wouldn’t have any problems with these obstructions.

Note: The gifts for the Offertory are not included in the package. They also have their own missalette that you have to follow.

Our Story: We really like to book Cathedral so as early as May 2009, we asked if we can already reserve our wedding date in that church. Manang Fely, the one who is in charge of the wedding ceremonies told us that we can’t reserve this date because she does not have the logbook for 2010 yet. She told us to come back in December to book our date for next year. I thought that making the reservation in December 2009 would be risky. It is very difficult to reserve Baguio Cathedral considering a lot of couples eyeing for this church. We will definitely end up looking for another one if we book late. This prompted us to hire a wedding coordinator who can do the booking for suppliers in Baguio even if we’re already in Manila. We got O.C People that very same day. Ate Rhia Darang, one of the coordinators processed the reservation in Baguio Cathedral the day after I booked them. I was so surprised and relieved at the same time when she told me that Manang Fely allowed her to book that date. That’s when I knew that these coordinators have their connections. 

2. PHOTOGRAPHY – Metro Photo
RATING: 10

I cannot think of anyone better than Oly Ruiz and his team from Metrophoto. Their works are lovely. It is non-traditional unlike several other wedding photography styles. They call their style contemporary and you must see their gallery to agree with me that they’re awesome.

Again, I’m pasting the link of our photos:

• Camsdcute Site – Marlon and Camille Wedding Photos
• Metrophoto Gallery

Our story: We’ve attended every bridal fair even if we have already booked our suppliers for the reason that I enjoy getting fliers, checking out every wedding supplier and feeling special that my fiancé takes time to accompany me in these fairs. The discounts in the wedding fairs are so attractive that it made us book Ariel Javelosa Photography on the spot. We checked their portfolio and the sample albums of actual weddings they’ve covered and they’re nice. Booking them on that wedding fair made us pay the downpayment of 25%. That was August 2009.

Come December 2009, I was able to chat with Myra, my schoolmate in college. With all the catching up stories we exchanged, she mentioned that one of our batch mates was already married. She sent me the link of their wedding pictures by Metro Photo. Upon seeing the album, I immediately asked Metrophoto for their rates. I sent Oly Ruiz an e-mail, I texted him, I followed him on twitter and even checked if he has a Facebook account. I felt excited that time and at the same time feared that some other couple had already booked them on the date of our wedding. Surprisingly, Oly Ruiz replied to my text message and he was really friendly. I can see that through the several smileys in his text. He answered all my inquiries and through our phone calls and text message exchanges, I felt very comfortable with him. This is one thing that must be present in your relationship with your photographer. Also, I feel we have the same wavelength because he’s around the same age as mine and that made me think he’s the perfect photographer who should cover our wedding.

The only problem is Marlon. How can I persuade him (my fiancé) to get Metrophoto when we already paid the 25% downpayment to Ariel Javelosa?

I persistently begged Marlon to think about how Oly’s shots intensely beat other styles. I asked him to compare it with other albums. I challenged him to tell me how he wants our wedding to be remembered and covered – through the traditional poses, or through the contemporary kick-ass style by Metrophoto.

After a lot of hardwork, he finally said yes.

We selected the coffee table type of album which made us pay more. Couples can pay P15,000 downpayment to reserve the date then you have to fully pay the package on or before the wedding. They promised me three photographers including a lady photographer who would shoot the details and take photos of me while putting on my gown. After all, women are more inclined to details than men.

During the wedding, for some reason, there were only two main photographers – Oly Ruiz and Francis Yllana. These guys are really good-looking and a few of my friends had a crush on them. Haha!

I think we were pressed with time and we haven’t got more shots than we should. My preps and make-up ended late, I finished my lunch late, and it made Oly and Francis take shots as fast as they can. Another downside – Marlon is checked-in a nearby hotel that requires our photographers and videographers to travel a few minutes from my place so they only had a few shots of Marlon’s preps. These circumstances didn’t make the quality of their photos any less. The photos are still lovely and are really incredible.

During the on-location photoshoot, we were again pressed with time. Also, the security guard in the place always blows the whistle and shouts “You’re not allowed to shoot there!” That made us move quickly and take as many shots as we could before we get banished by the guard.

Come dinner reception, when the on-site pics were projected, all the guests were taken aback by the remarkable shots. With just a little time, I was really amazed at how Oly was able to put together these pics along with the song he selected for our on-site photoslides. I trusted Oly to choose the song for the photoslide and I was very much satisfied. Oly and his team did a great job!

4. BRIDAL GOWN – Cecilio Abad
RATING: 10
PRICE: P65,000 up

I was overly happy with my gown because everyone said “Ang ganda ng gown mo!”
I really felt like a princess. Among all, I was very happy with my gown, my make-up, my photos and my flowers.

Our Story: Initially, I thought it wouldn’t be practical to get a gown that is too expensive. After all, I will just use it for a night and then what? Either it will be stuck in our cabinet and take much space in our house or I’ll find a one in a million buyer who matches my size. This thinking made me want to just rent a gown. I asked my coordinators to scout for gown rentals and they said that there is one designer in Baguio, who makes you choose the design of your gown, then she will execute the design then you can rent it out. I thought it’s pretty good because I’ll get to choose my own design and can still pay cheap because it will only be rented. However, honestly speaking I doubted some suppliers in Baguio. That made me think of a second option – I will vigorously search through the internet and check all nice gowns that I can have designers imitate. Indeed, there were several gowns that are lovely. I searched every site, and browsed through every wedding magazine I bought. I even signed up in Disney’s Fairy Tale weddings and received the CD on our doorstep.

Halfway through my searching, my aunt contacted me and referred someone she tagged as “a good designer” but is still taking fashion design classes in La Salle. Because she was a family friend, I took time to meet with her since my aunt begged me to just check her designs even if I’m already decided to get another supplier. She sketched the design I showed her. Technically, she just copied and drew the gown in the picture I showed her. She quoted me P40,000 for the gown. I backed off a little when she told me her quote. I think this is ridiculously high when she is still studying and she still didn’t have previous customers to showcase in her portfolio. Long story short, we had a big misunderstanding especially when she got bitter that I didn’t get her as my designer. Who would get her anyway?

After that incident, I decided to talk with really good designers and just ask for their quotes. I heard a few praises for Cecilio Abad especially from my friend Merryll who showed me several gowns that were designed by Cecil. As I am known, I am an impulsive buyer. Because Cecilio Abad was the first one I talked to, I booked him on that same day.

When I entered his shop, I knew that he is a neat freak, a perfectionist and really dwells on details. Aside from that, my impression is that Cecil’s a snob and just like other famous suppliers, he is “mayabang” and overconfident. That’s because when I scheduled a consultation with him, she continued sketching other designs while talking to me.

During my fittings, I brought him snacks which made him smile and I thought “aba, hindi naman pala masungit to”.

The one thing I appreciated most from Cecilio Abad is that he takes note of all your comments and suggestions regarding the design and the gown. I sneaked into my folder on his table and saw that he even printed out our e-mail trails and listed all my comments. He is a very organized person. Another thing – some suppliers would insist on inviting them and shoulder their accommodation. Most of them are picky. Cecil is different. He said even if they are housed in the cheapest inn, they wouldn’t mind. He also said that if I would like to save, they can just teach my maid of honor on how to help me put on my gown. I told him that I’d rather ask my maid of honor help me so I wouldn’t have to pay for their out-of-town expenses and he agreed. During my final fitting, my gown seemed so tight and it took two persons to close the zip at the back. It was my fault since I gained 3 kgs. from my last fitting. Because of this, Cecil panicked and insisted on letting her team go to Baguio and help me dress up, with NO additional charge at all. Wow, he is indeed so kind unlike other suppliers who charges so excessively.

During the wedding day, his team was ready as early as 5:00 AM. Call time is 10:00 AM and they patiently waited for 5 hours in the parking area. Marcy and Cathy from Cecil’s team were assigned to help me dress up. I asked them why they travelled so early. They said Cecil would like to ensure that they are on time. Another plus points to Cecilio Abad!

Now the gown – of course, it’s lovely. Two thumbs up!

From Cecilio Abad’s site:

“We have three weddings that day, isa si camille sa mga bride na yun na sa
baguio ang kasal… Si Marcy at Cathy ang andun naka assign.
Camille wants here gown na naka bulga… pwess, bulga gusto mo ha!
mag tulle ka… eh di bolgang bolga…. hehehehe..

Eh di nung na execute na namin ang gown, feeling ko simple sya from its
drapings, little beadings and scattered lace… siguro
di lang ako sanay na simple ang skirt…Pero yun kasi ang personality
ng bride ko, pero nag ate vi(short for atribida) ako, pwess dinagdagan ko sya
ng kunting sparkle, circle and chuva… Di mas gumanda sya, at lalo naman akong natuwa nung tumawag si madge lejano at sinabi na ang ganda ng gown ko… charrrrr….

Kong gaano ako ka happy sa wedding ni camille, na windang naman ako sa isa
kong wedding sa ormoc….. Abangan nyo, dahil pati kayo mahilo sa chika ko…” – Cecilio Abad

to be continued…

When speaking of roll-ons, most people would think of deodorants maybe 90% of the time. So when I saw an advertisement about an eye roll-on, I got very curious.

The Garnier Eye Roll-on is a pen-like eye moisturizer. The small metal ball on the tip and the fragrant moisturizer provides cool experience when applied around the eye area. According to their site, the active element in it is Caffeine and Pro-vitamin B5.

It can be used for tired looking eyes, though may not be a very effective cure for dark under eye circles. This is recommended to provide eye refreshment and relaxation. I personally feel relaxed every time I use this product.

There are many times that I went to malls or makeup stores to try on different make-ups. Unfortunately, I don’t recall any particular product that suited me. Sometimes, my mom even sends me some makeup from Japan so does my aunt and uncle from other countries, but still I don’t like most of them. That’s why I tried to search online, jumping from one webpage or blog to another, until I stumbled upon Everyday Minerals. I don’t exactly know how I got there, but I really am grateful that I did.

There are lots of testimonials about this product. I vigorously scanned through a lot of them – some from the Everyday Minerals site and others from different blogs. Of course, there are negative opinions to it but most of the articles that I came across have all praises for the product. Here’s one of the testimonials from Everyday Minerals:

I would like to express how very impressed I am with the quality of your products and your personalized customer service. Although I will turn 30 in a few months time, I have had very little experience wearing make-up. Your staff have really been expectionally patient and gracious to me and I can honestly say that I have never experienced such wonderful customer service. I am really impressed with the Premium Kabuki Brush, which is the softest brush that I have ever owned and feels heavenly on my skin. I have just ordered your Premium Brush Kit. Once I have found my perfect shade of mineral foundation, I will order my starter kit, which is a tremendous value for first timers. Thank you for your dedication to your customers. I am enjoying searching your blog.
-Tarryn @ Everyday Minerals

I then decided to purchase the sample kit. I’m not exactly a fan of shopping online because I read articles about fraud numerous times. In this case however, I just felt the urge to try this one so I proceeded with the order fulfillment. The makeup not that expensive and I strongly believed I will get my money’s worth.

I didn’t receive the package. What I got is a card stating that a package is ready for pickup in the post office. At first, I was disappointed and hesitant to get it. But then, I realized that it would have cost more if this will be delivered first class. So I took the liberty of picking it up myself.

Judging by the packaging, I thought the quality isn’t that good. So I hurried home to try it on. From the moment I used it I knew that there’s something different compared to others that I tried. Even with the makeup on, it still looks so natural. Even my mom and aunt noticed that and requested to have a sample kit of her own. Aside from the makeup itself, I really liked the Kabuki Brush.

Since then, I have ordered thrice already… and I’m planning to purchase other products from their site soon. Thanks Everyday Minerals!

There is no doubt that as we grow old, wrinkles starts to show up. The sad thing is, the appearance is not the same among all people. Some looks better with it, while others completely deform the figure of the face. That’s why lots of best wrinkle creams are sold in the market. The primary goal of these creams is either to totally eliminate wrinkles, reduce the wrinkle’s negative appearance or to somehow conceal the wrinkle. Regardless of the objective, it’s still nice to understand its causes.

Generally, wrinkles are attributed to aging. There is no question. Wrinkles are a by-product of the aging process, and this is scientifically proven. Another known cause is the facial muscle contractions. To some people, the lines around the eyes and other areas in the face are effect of facial expressions such as laughing, smiling, frowning and others.

External factors such as the sun and cigarette also cause wrinkles. Too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation causes premature aging, and consequently affects the skin. Researchers have found that smoke can cause reduction in the production of new collagen and the lack of new collagen results in the development of wrinkles.

I recently had my hair rebonded for the reason that Marlon said it needs to be rebonded. It was funny and I was a bit embarrassed so I asked Merryll and Arthur if they too think I should do something for my hair and they said it’s just that I don’t comb my hair often. Hahaha! Nice friends. For typical mid-length hair, the rate is P4,000++. By ++ meaning that 4,000 is just the minimum. I tried to canvass for the lowest price but of course not wanting to compromise the quality especially that hair treatment topics scare me. I’ve heard personal experiences and negative effects of hair treatment, and I don’t want to get bald.

I wanted to try a new salon. I went to Tony and Jackie last year and was not satisfied with the service of one of their staffs. She was pouting all the time and it hurt badly when she ironed my hair. During that time, I just wished it will all end soon. I did not complain and kept my mouth shut because I don’t know what she can do further with my hair if I make a negative comment to her. Fortunately, the process took only two hours.

So now I inquired from different salons including AZTA Urban Salon, Hair Bytes, and David’s Salon. They offered me more or less P8,000 for the rebonding. Whoa! That is quite pricey. I can buy more valuable things using this amount. So I decided to look for an alternative. I rode a cab and asked the driver to take me to the nearest Reyes Haircutters Salon. He dropped me off Reyes Haircutters Anonas branch. The rebond will cost me P2,000. This is already a quarter of what I have to pay when I go to other salons. I was amazed when I saw that this salon is open 24/7! This is the first time that I saw a salon that is open 24 hours a day. And they do have lots of customers lining up. I thought maybe because the price is friendly and the quality is acceptable or above average, I’m not sure. After 5 hours of really nice and careful rebonding process, my hair was done at 11:00 p.m and even if that’s a bit late, there are still customers rushing in. Good job Reyes Haircutters! Again, I think the key is a great location.

I thought of getting my own franchise and thought of what product/service would be this good and would bring in income for me. Being a first timer, I do not want to risk huge amount for this first venture but until now I’m thinking. And oh, being fickle-minded as always, I am now thinking of cutting my hair short.

Anyway, here are few franchises for those who want to start small. These are actually priced lower compared to more popular brands out there so if you want to try one of these or just check the detailed ROI, I can refer you to the franchisor. Be a good and moral person – if you learnt this from me, hope you can make put me as the referrer ;) Contact me at 09178656199.

Royale L-Gluta Power 462 mg./cap @ Php 999.00 ($20.00) [quickshop:Royale L-Gluta Power:price:20:shipping:0:shipping2:0:end]

SUPPLEMENT FACTS:
30 capsules per bottle
Serving Size: 1 capsule
L-Glutathione (reduced)- 250 mg
Vitamin C- 100 mg
Grape Seed Extract- 100 mg
Vitamin E- 12 mg

BFAD FR:# 68888
PIPAC Approved
Halal Approved

Royale L-Gluta Power700 700mg./cap@ Php1,500.00 ($30.00)[quickshop:Royale L-Gluta Power 700:price:30:shipping:0:shipping2:0:end]

30 capsules per bottle
Serving Size: 1 capsule

MODES OF PAYMENT:
- payments are accepted through Paypal, GCash and BPI only. (for non meet-ups)
- shipping is free
- specific location for MEET-UPS:
*Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City

Payment Through Paypal:
Click the ‘Add to Cart’ button. The product will be added to your Cart. The summary is posted at the upper portion of the right sidebar.

for details pls contact:
+639178613792

WHAT IS GLUTATHIONE?
Glutathione is a natural compound found in the human body made from 3 amino acids: Cysteine, Glutamine and Glycine. Cysteine is one of the amino acid for the synthesis of Glutathione, which is very critical in detoxification. Cysteine has mucolytic properties, and is a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier. Glycine, part of the thiol group, which serves as a reducing agent to prevent oxidation of tissues. Glutathione is normally produced by the body in response to today’s environment such as pollution from the air we breathe, the water we drink, chemicals and pesticides in the food we eat that causes damages in our cells and circulatory system. It has been widely heralded for its importance in improving health and long life. Glutathione in increased doses has also been found to have the beneficial side effect of WHITENING THE SKIN.

WHAT ARE THE USES OF GLUTATHIONE?
- metabolize carbohydrates
- aid in the oxidation of fats
- prevent cells oxidation
- protect red and white blood cells
- build healthy immune response
- protect the system against oxidative damage
- slow ageing and improve skin condition

THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT IS ALSO KNOWN TO BENEFIT THE FOLLOWING:
- people who smoke
- people undergoing chemotherapy
- people with low sperm count
- people with liver problem
- people who drink alcohol
- people who work out regularly/body builders
- people with weak immune system
- people who are regularly exposed to chemicals/pesticides
- people who wish to have fairer and whiter skin

ANTIOXIDANT-It is a powerful anti-oxidant that protects the body by targeting and destroying reactive oxygen molecules and free radicals. It is found in high concentrations in the liver, where it binds to heavy metals such as mercury and lead, chemical pollutants, and carcinogens and transforms them into a form that can be easily flushed out of the body via enzymatic pathways.
IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTER Immune Depressed individuals have lower Glutathione (GSH) levels when fighting disease. Lymphocytes, cells vital for your immune response, depend on GSH for their proper function and replication. Cellular depletion of Glutathione has been implicated as a causative or contributory factor in many pathologies including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cataracts, arteriosclerosis, cystic fibrosis, malnutrition, aging, AIDS and cancer. In addition, Glutathione is essential in supporting the immune system, including natural killer cells and in the maintenance of T-lymphocytes
DETOXIFIER Glutathione detoxifies many pollutants, carcinogens and poisons, including many in fuel exhaust and cigarette smoke. It retards damage from radiation such as seen with loss of the ozone. The liver is the main detoxification organ of the body. In the liver we find very high concentrations of Glutathione, as it is a major factor in numerous biochemical detoxification pathways. Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients with compromised liver function due to alcohol abuse have significant reduction of Glutathione in the liver.

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I got an email from my friend Jun promoting an event that his friend Paula Mauricio will be conducting. This will be a seminar for girls out there. Seems so interesting and I want to attend!

So here is the message:

Paula will be coming over this December to do a basic make-up application seminar on December 19 OR 20 at the Malayan Condo just across Podium. She is a professional make-up artist currently residing in LA. Visit her at www.paulamauricio.com. If you are interested, please see flyer for contact info. Freebies will be given away during the event.

Click on the image to view it full-size.

Last night I was browsing the net and looking for someone who creates model portfolios. Just like every girl in town, I consider modeling is an appealing topic. Then I realized that creating portfolios is a collaborative effort of the photographer, make-up artist and oneself. I saw the profile of Nina Dumpa, a popular make-up artist. From the photos she present in her websites, its so tempting to hire her as a make-up artist if you want to have a make-over, look glamorous in your wedding, stand out in a party or just look differently. I inquired about the rates and it is too expensive, but I believe this is worth considering her credentials and experience in this field. She even trained in Hollywood California.

There are so many things going in my mind – I dreamt of becoming an astronaut when I was young then in high school I wanted to pursue a course related to Accounting, Tourism, HRM and even Engineering. So now I bumped into the IT world, but sometimes I ask myself what if I land into any other careers instead, like modeling and other popular jobs. A world of pandemonium is flowing in my sly little bean.

Oh yes, I remembered, I don’t have the guts, the face and the height to become a model. So there, I’m still dreaming…

Our company recently launched the new groups for this year and anyone can join more than one group which interests them. Some join the group to meet new friends. Seeing the list, I joined the Fashion 101 circle. This was the most probable group that every woman will join into unless she is a parent who will likely join the Parents’ Circle. There are lots of other groups which relates to sports, music, arts, character development, gaming and more.

The Fashion 101 circle promises a lot of exciting activities like out-of-town photoshoots, grooming and modeling sessions, make-up sessions for starters and a lot more. I am sooo looking forward to these…