Love never fails-Bohemian wedding part 2 (Pre-Ceremony Shoot)

 

Our 15th anniversary is just around the corner and I thought I might as well continue the blog series about our renewal of vows last 2018. So stop rolling your eyes on the long delayed sequel, but hey, I have a life, you know... and a pretty hectic one juggling work, family and everything else on the side.  So without further ado, here goes the tale of that eventful day.

We chose to hold a very intimate ceremony and reception mainly because of the short amount of time for preparation as well as the actual days that we were in the Philippines.  It was actually a whirlwind of day events.  We arrived in the Philippines 2 days before the event and my mother-in-law arrived from Italy the next day.  We had to wake up really early in the morning on the day of the event because we had to travel from Manila to Batangas .  The event was at 5pm.  Imagine the ruckus of having 3 convoys and none of us had actually been to the venue. Add the quest for the elusive lechon along the way and it was a sure ball funny but undoubtedly tiring adventure.  We arrived at the venue a little past noon because we had lunch in a quaint Italian pasta and pizza restaurant owned by an Italian living in Batangas.  They had good food but we also have our own diningding in a pot which everyone ate together with the pizzas and pastas; something I can't even fathom how we managed to eat those unlikely combos.  

 

 

  

As soon as we arrived at the resort, it was mayhem.  The funny thing was I actually forgot to book a photographer since I have gotten so used to doing the photography myself during events.  I was on full blown panic mode when I realized that I can't really photograph myself during my own wedding for obvious reasons, right?  So I was so relieved when I learnt that my fellow photography club member was also in Batangas that time and that is why we have all these marvelous photos! 

So don't forget to hire a really good photographer because the pictures will always remind you of that special moment in your life.

 

 

He always makes me laugh.

 

FLAGSTAFF LOVE

Just like a scene from a Christmas postcard, that is how I can describe Flagstaff, Arizona.  It was one of those spontaneous trips that we did not really plan at all. I wanted to bring my mini-me somewhere interesting since she was home for Christmas break.  We did not even have thermal jackets or even snow boots. But one thing we knew for sure was that it would only be a day trip.  

And who would have thought that it snows in Arizona? This town is about 2 hours from where we live and yet it is perched atop a 7000ft elevation.  We arrived there at around 7:30 in the morning and our timing was just right. There was a recent snowstorm, a few days before we came. The road was a tad slippery but we were thankful that it did not warrant a need for snowchains. The hunby just drove more carefully. 

We arrived at the snow park really early mainly because we did not reserve any tickets online.  Luckily, there were a bunch of people like us who did not buy online tickets. To tell you the truth, it was dead cold.  It was 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit. We had to buy additional socks and snow gloves because I could not feel my hands anymore.

They did have a fire going and my mini-me grew an attachment to it. She was always by the firepit because she was shivering.  They actually wanted to go home after 2 hours of being there.  

We also explored the city afterwards, and true to my initial description, Flagstaff is a very quaint town. I like the small town vibe of it and I would have explored more if only it was not as freezing and windy.  We went to the famous Hotel Monte Vista and we were hoping to eat at their resto; get some warmth and hot soup but the resto was under renovations.

We ended up in a quirky local  ramen shop called Sosoba and their noodles were so amazing!  One of the unique ramen fusions I had.

Flagstaff is a cool place to visit mainly because it is a quick getaway from the Phoenix valley area. Just be sure that you are dressed for the weather.  The town, though small and rustic, has a lot to offer and if you just want a different scenery feom the desert mountain landscape of the lower valley, Flagstaff is a quick answer for a spontaneous family trip.

Below are some of our expenses for the trip

Gas: 80dollars (because my husband always make sure that our vehicle is fully tanked with gas and he does not want it to go below half whenever we are a little far from home) i think you can actually go back and forth from Gilbert in one full tank.

Tickets to Snow Park: 33 dollars (11 each)

Food: Sosoba  ramen 36 dollars (12 each)

Mini-me was cold but she was happy to see snow

Fascinated by snowflakes






Coat:Bebe; leather jacket underneath:Calvin Klein; jeans, bought online in China; bag:Kenneth Cole (gift from hubby); boots:Fergilicious by Fergie; eyewear:Aldo; hat:H&M








Ramen love at Sosoba

Arizona Goodness

A way back in early 2017, I was standing at the border of two states; in between Nevada and Arizona to be a tad more specific.  Fast forward to late 2018 and I found myself thriving somewhere I had never imagined I will be living; under the Arizona sun; the Phoenix valley.  Being a massive Twilight fan, it is a little bit exciting to live where Bella Swan spent the early part of her teen-age years. 

So what actually brought me to this unbelievable place? It all started with a work offer from a design build company. Yes, I currently work here now and have been enjoying it.  I did not even have an inkling that I will fall in love with this state because I was dead set on living in California where my relatives are.  I just went head over heels with the vast outdoors and panoramic landscape here which are just 10-15 minutes away from my doorstep.   It is living with the convenience of both the city lifestyle and nature.  Everywhere I look is just picturesque and being a photography hobbyist, of course, Arizona gives me that rush with all the natural beauty it has to offer.

Lake Saguaro

First day in Arizona


Exploring










Boots from Fergilicious; bag feom Calvin Klein; Jumper from Asos; eyewear feom Aldo; cap from H&M

Collaboration with Nora NYC

 

Classy and Chic.  These are the key features that I look for in an eye-wear.  Sunglasses have been an integral part of my everyday life mainly because I am a night owl.  And to insomniacs like me, we all know what happens the next day after a long night....grotesque sallow circles around the eyes that can rival any walking dead which cause us to be best friends with concealers and of course,  the ever reliable sunglasses. Eyewear is more than just a fashionable accessory to me; it helps me survive a dreaded aftermath of a sleep-deprived night.  My eyewear should be functional enough to cover those hideous eyebags and block a great deal of sunlight and yet elegant enough to get me through client meetings and work.

This is what I love with Nora NYC.  Their extensive design collections of eyewear is like a total candyshop to sunglasses fanatics like me.  I do like the fact that their designs range from trendy mirrored and colored lenses to classic elegant pieces like the one I've got here, "Liberty".





It is cat eyed shaped black frames with a gold accent at the sides.  I am particularly fond of its size mainly because it gives a lot of coverage. As you notice in most of my blog posts, I am almost always wearing humongous sunglasses that almost covers half of my face most of the time.

You can get your own too and use my code "chillsclosetshades" for a 20% off your purchase.