Let's talk about Weddings!

Husband and I will be celebrating our 5th year wedding anniversary at the end of this year.  Sometime ago, I posted some photos of my wedding dress but not proper ones as I wanted to thank the person who made it for me - a very good friend of mine, (Ate) Adora.  I call her 'Ate' meaning 'big sister.'  In the Philippines, it's a sign of respect.  I would like to thank her once again for creating for me a beautiful wedding dress.  It's a Maria-Clara-inspired wedding top made of white lace embellished with pearls and long chiffon skirt, with a Maria-Clara shawl to match.

Ate Adora has a great story to tell.  A lot of people can learn a lesson or two from her.  She got married in 1980 to Tony and is mother to six children. Sadly, her husband passed away in 1992, she was then 34 and pregnant with Anton, the youngest of the children. She was left alone to raise 6 children!  Yes - SIX!  All on her own.

I find Ate Adora to be an admirable woman, one of the so many unsung heroes of my lifetime I must say.  She's never married again.  She is a very responsible woman.  She doesn't waste time going out at night partying, instead she uses all her time rushing home to tend to the children and her dressmaking business.  It was even more difficult when she still had the 9 to 5 job in the corporate world.

Ate Adora worked as an Executive Secretary for many years whilst also accepting dressmaking jobs, mostly bridal gowns.  Now Earl, the eldest, is already working.  He graduated with a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering.  There's still Therese and Anton to finish studying.  Therese is currently on 4th year at the University of the Philippines, taking up Industrial Engineering and Anton at San Beda on his 1st year, taking up Enterpreneurship.  Like Earl, the other 3 girls - Kay, Rea and Eva have now graduated with a bachelor's degree (well done, Ate Adora!  I am so proud of you and your children!).

Ate Adora left her corporate life a few years ago and is now succeeding in her business!  I'm inviting you all to see how beautiful her creations are.  She has a website, Adora's Creations.  If you have a Facebook account, you can also add her up, her business account name is the same, Adora's Creations.  If you are on my Facebook account, she's on my friends' list.

Me and my husband at Lydia's, a Filipino restaurant where we had our wedding reception.

My husband was wearing a pina-jusi barong with chinese collar

This photo shows the shawl I was wearing.

You will find that my wedding photos are not as good as the ones below, which are also created by Ate Adora.  It's because we did not use a digital camera.  The photos above are scanned copies.  To make up for that, I am showing you some really divine creations that can only make you want to wear them and get married - if you already are, they will make you want to get married again! Ha!

By the way, Adora's Creations not only make bridal gowns, it's the whole entourage!  I almost forgot to mention that she also used to make my long evening dresses for me when I was working as events presenter.

Adora's Creations accept jobs from overseas so if you are interested, feel free to email Adora at afrevilloza@yahoo.com.ph or adoracouture@yahoo.com.  She will send an instruction on how you to get your measurements so you can send it to her.

If you are planning for your big day or you know someone who is, please feel free to forward this post's link to your friends.

My love for bags

If there is anything that my mother and I have in common - it is the love for bags.  Ladies out there, I am sure like me and my Mum, you also love bags.  So today I thought I'd talk about my love for bags...and share with you my small collection, if you can call it that.

Now, don't expect for any LV, Fendi, Prada, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Christian Dior or any designer label.  Whilst I know I've just told you the designer labels I like, the truth is mine are just from the high street.  But then what's wrong with bags from the high street?  They provide me of what I need.  But what is it really that you want from a bag?  I know we use different bags for different occassions but on an ordinary day-out or when you go to work, what bag do you usually use?  Or when you go in a shop and see a display of beautiful, yummy bags...what's your impulse?  If your impulse is to look around and end up buying one, what is it that make you buy it?

Me?  I usually look for a bag with the right size, the right colour, durability and it must always be a 'shoulder bag.'  I like handbags as well but it is not very convenient for me, especially if I'm travelling with my boy and I have to carry a lot of things with me and also attend to him at the same time.  I need my both hands to be free.  This is why I admire Victoria Beckham for being able to carry a designer bag on her arm with her 3 kids in tow.  Oh wait, she's got assistants and I don't.  Yes, that's the difference. 

Australian, bought in 2004

Now wait! Yes, I've got a handbag.  This one is about 6 years old.  It is a handbag but I can use the rings to attach a longer sling.

 

Marks and Spencers, bought in 2008

Now this is my favourite!  This is a square bag that is big enough for documents if I need to carry any with me, together with my other paraphernalias.  The only thing that I find not-so-convenient is that instead of a zipper, it's got a flap.  I find it so much of a hassle to open the flap when I'm in a shop and in a hurry.

Clarks, bought in 2007

This brown bag is very efficient!  It's got 3 compartments inside.  My only problem with this one is the lining.  I keep mending it, it's just not durable enough.

from a bag shop in Sheringham, bought in 2008

This is the most efficient of all.  The shape is like that of a doctor's bag and it is big inside.  It's amazing sometimes when I put too much in it and it gets too heavy and yet it still has more room for more things!  It is also mistaken to be a designer bag but it's not.  I wonder if the pattern is a copy of any designer label? It's beginning to look worn out now but I still love it!

Don't you love bags? I'm sure you do!  What is it that you look for when buying a bag?  Share with me your thoughts and let me know what you've got in your collection!

Trash or Treasure?

My husband likes antiques but strangely enough, he doesn't like me getting clothes from the charity shop....until recently, he seemed to change his mind.

I have started a small collection of decorative plates. The one on the left (above) was a Christmas gift from my friend in Cromer who is an antique dealer. It's a Coalport - Rose Cluster 1994 collection. The one on the right was also a gift from a friend which she got from a second-hand shop, an Edwardian (no date on it).

I have a friend, based in Norfolk, who is an antique dealer and hubby's childhood friend who is based in Lancashire is also an antique dealer so we are really not new to the knowledge that there is value in old things! Husband seems to have changed his mind about me buying clothes when I mentioned to him about a lovely lady who used to be a work colleague and now runs her own on-line business selling previously owned and vintage clothes. (If you wish to visit her blog, please click here.)

So the past few weeks, we have been combing all of Norwich for charity shops and found really beautiful items that I'd like to share with you!

I've started collecting decorative covered jars like this (above) I've now got two!
This jar costs a mere £1.50 if I remember it right!

I found this lovely F&F red floral skirt and bought it for £2.60


This black TM Lewin skirt is, surprisingly, brand new in a charity shop for £3.40!

I got a pink blanket for £2.50! Look, I can also use it as a bedspread!

So far, this is my husband's favourite - a Welsh dresser which we bought for £35! Shocking, eh?
It was stained with a funny reddish brown woodstain.
We plan to paint it with something a little bit on the browner side but not yet.
It looks good as it is, don't you think?

One's trash is another person's treasure!

I have learnt from my antique-dealer-lady-friend that I must not buy brand new china as she finds it to be a rip-off. She is now looking out for a good china set for me which will not cost me a fortune. She also told me to buy gold jewelry from car boot fairs and charity shops, not the high street. Whilst it is nice to shop for brand new things and I must admit, I get excited shopping on the high street for brand new clothes but my question is - why spend a fortune from shops for something that you can get for only a fraction of the price somewhere else? Don't get me wrong, I still shop brand new clothes majority of the time but sometimes you can find really nice things in charity shops!

I know charity and second-hand shops can sometimes look like they are full of rubbish, useless small things. But if you try just a little bit harder, you may find nice things like what I did!

*smiles*

It's almost summer!!!!

How has the weather been at your side of the world?

I can't lie. I sometimes miss the sun. I like it not too hot, not too cold, a little bit of sunshine and a little bit of the cold wind, just enough to be able to wear nice short-sleeved blouses, skirts and open-toe shoes! Today is just about the day to do that! I've enjoyed the Spring. Although the last few days were not really good as it rained a lot. I don't mind the rain, but the fact is - my clothes dryer broke and I now depend on either the radiator or the sun to dry all my washing! It's too warm to switch the radiator on so I have to dry the clothes outside. I haven't bought a new dryer yet as what we need now is a heavy-duty one which is much more expensive. So that will take a little bit of time. For now, I am hoping the weather will cooperate...(keeping my fingers crossed!) Nonetheless, Spring has been lush. There were days when I thought of digging my closet to get my winter coat back on the coat hanger to get it ready...but I've been fine with a sweater on or my beige mac.

The shoes I got from Asda for £18!

A week or so ago, husband and I went to Asda to do some food shopping...but of course I wouldn't miss what new items George have got so we went to the Women Clothes section. I found two embellished blouses that look so lovely! What's more - they were on sale! One was originally £18 but was that day on £8.00 and the other one was originally £14.00 but I got it for £6.00! Really good value for money! I also got a pair of open-toe shoes for £18.00!

The embellishments on these blouses are so intricate - I don't think I could do them myself! They are just so beautiful! They remind me of the attractiveness of authentic Asian Fashion which I can only find in the Philippines.

I also took the white pair of shoes I got from Rusty Lopez in the Philippines last year which are just so lush. I was wearing them yesterday and it was fine, although there was a spit of rain. I love Rusty Lopez! I could get quality shoes without breaking the bank. I wish I bought more pairs though when I was in Manila last year.

I hope you are all enjoying the sun! In the Philippines, I heard from my sister that it's been so hot! I do hope that despite the heat, you get to enjoy it by going out more but using protection from the sun. Wear comfortable clothes to keep you cool. Where my friends are - in America, Japan, Korea and Canada, I do hope you will have a beautiful, warm summer months! Enjoy!