Summer State of Mind

It's exactly 18 days before Christmas yet I already have the Summer jitters because of this extremely hot Christmas weather in Manila (I do hope the situation in the Visayas and Mindanao regions are better now #PabloPH) and with all the Summer airline seat sales flooding my inboxes. While I love the momentary cool breeze of Christmas nights, the pig-out Christmas party sessions invaded by Gangnam style performances this year, family reunions and all, I truly am a piscean girl because I just loooove Summer. *Daydreaming now* 

The beach... the sand... the smell of sunblock on my sun-kissed skin... and with that, comes the yearly craving for new Havaianas flip flops. Oh yes, flip flops are my Summer fashion staples and nothing beats that feeling of new stylish and sophisticated rubber under my feet. 

Lucky for me, I was invited by Havaianas Philippines to take a sneak peak into their 2013 Collection, which brings so much magical childhood memories of carefree summers, sunshine, youth and fun into my heart. 

The viewing was no ordinary sit-down launch event, and kuddos to Havaianas for thinking out of the box and for making it more exciting for us. The collection was creatively showcased in a make-shift art gallery, wonderfully fabricated by the creative team of Havaianas Philippines inside the TSA compound, that highlights the inspiration behind the collection matched with a personalized tour by Havaianas' Assistant Brand Marketing Manager, EJohn Pacaba. I haven't seen any other media event like this so far, so I was truly amazed on how they did it. Here's a tour into the Havaianas 2013 Collection...

Don't you just wanna dive in into this wall of colorful Havaianas?  

The fun and quirky Havaianas' Assistant Brand Marketing Manager,
EJohn Pacaba, giving us a personalized tour. 

Here's few of the art pieces that caught my eye while John shares with us the story behind the making of Havaianas' 2013 collection.

As if my eyes weren't bulging enough in solemn amazement, a room concealed in plain sight, opened a whole new world of Havaianas to all of us. My jaw literally dropped to floor when I saw the whole 2013 collection which were displayed in a creatively holistic visual presentation.

Looks like Easter came early this year for the little ones.
For the Magical Miracle in your life, dress up your
little tots in delightful pastels or bold and bright prints of
Havaianas Baby Line with Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh,
Lightning McQueen, Tigger and the Dalmatians, which are sure to
bring a smile to your child's face.

Here's more...

Would you believe they did all these overnight? A-ma-zing.

Stand out with this stylish pair
 Dress up your outfit without sacrificing the carefree, laidback,
happy fashion that Havaianas has become known for.
Get to show off those elongated legs on these versatile and classy
neutrals then match 'em with a pair of shorts or skinny jeans
and top the look with an oversized poncho or long cardigan
for a look which is both comfortable and effortlessly chic.
I already have this in black and they're just so comfortable!
Can't wait to get my hands on other cool colors...

Basics never REALLY go out of style
Above are new colors for Havaianas' classic best-sellers.
With fresh colors like Fuchsia and Violet for Havaianas Top,
vibrant hues like Cobalt Blue and Lime Green for Havaianas Slim,
rich, elegant tones of Bordeaux and Rose Gold for
Havaianas Top Metallic, and funky shades like Salmon and Violet
for Havaianas Top Mix, the refreshed Havaianas basics,
available in all the colors of the rainbow and then some,
give you the flexibility to effortlessly add a pop of color
to an outfit for the perfect finishing touch.  

Havaianas Supercharged!
Now, these are funky neutrals with a twist!
For everyone who wants more from their safe, plain grayscale
flip-flops, the Havaianas 4Nite comes in understated black,
white, and gray which go with any outfit, but kicks it into
high gear by electrifying your basic staples with
glow-in-the-dark graphics featuring high-voltage electrical
cables, high-tech robots, exciting stylized zombies,
and cool insect prints.

Skull Studded! I LOVE!!!
All I want for Christmas? *hint*hint*

The Clueless Mrs. together with other fab bloggers

A piece of Fashion Forward Prints and my personal pick
from the 2013 collection. With this pair, you can
easily add a splash of color to any outfit.
Bold Tropical and Animal prints can perfectly
accent other trendy pieces in rich, solid colors like
pleated chiffon skirts, light maxi dresses, or
mullet skirts and provide the perfect finishing
touch as you navigate the urban jungle, whether you're
curled up with a good book at a swanky coffee shop
or having Sunday brunch with your friends.

Thank you Havaianas Philippines!

Experience the summer vibe that never goes out of style with the world's favorite rubber flip-flops brand. Take part in the Havaianas story and grab a pair now, available in Metro Manila at All Flip-Flips, Celio, Complex, Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Mall, J&S Surf Shop, KidSports, Manila Polo Club, Moana, Nail spa, Plana Forma, ROX, Rustan's, Stoked, Tick Tock Flip Flop NAIA Terminal 3, and Urban Athletics. For provincial outlets, visit www.havaianas.com

To know more about Havaianas' 2013 Collection

visit www.havaianas.com

or LIKE Havaianas Philippines on Facebook

or Follow @havaianasphils on Twitter

xoxo, 

The Clueless Mrs.

SALE Alert! The Big Holiday Outlet Sale

Who's game for some last minute exciting shopping and get to score as much as 80% OFF? I AM! I AM!

The BPI Big Holiday Outlet Sale is here! Mark your calendars and head down to the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia on December 21, 22 & 23. See below for details! See you there!

Participating brands include:

Up to 80% OFF - Daniel Hechter, Parker, Bicycle, Victorinox, Calvin Klein perfume, Davidoff perfume, Kenneth Cole perfume and more...

Up to 70% OFF - Adidas, Rayban, BSX, Giordano, Bluestar, Havaianas, Skechers, Zoo York, Ecko Unlimited and more...

Up to 60% OFF - Deuter, Head, Mares, Zoggs, Grendha, Ipanema, Rider, Melissa, JB Music, JB Sports and more...

Up to 50% OFF - Levis, Dockers, Digital Walker, Maldita, Oakley, Reef, Audio-Technica, Philips, Case Logic and more...

Also, BIG Discounts from Sandisk, Senheiser, JBL, CMG, So Fab, Axis, New Trends, Timex, Technomarine, Switch and more...

Be guided:

1. The Big Holiday Outlet Sale 2012 is from December 21, 22 & 23, 2012 from 10AM to 9PM at SMX Convention Center.

2. This event is open to all existing cardholders of BPI Express Credit Classic, BPI Express Credit MasterCard (Edge and Mini-Edge MasterCard, Blue MasterCard, Gold MasterCard, Petron-BPI MasterCard, BPI WorldPerks MasterCard, BPI Skymiles MasterCard and BPI Skymiles Platinu, MasterCard), BPI Corporate Cards, BPI Express Payment System, and BPI Prepaid Cards.

3. Free entrance for:

• ALL cardholders of BPI Express Credit Classic, BPI Express Credit MasterCard, BPI Corporate Cards, BPI Express Payment System, and BPI Prepaid Cards and children ages 12 yrs. old and below. Cardholders must show their BPI card and valid ID at the entrance.
• ALL customers who apply for a BPI Express Credit Edge MasterCard at the entrance of the venue (customer must completely accomplish application form and submit ID to be photocopied by DS agents).

4. Fee of P50 will be paid at the entrance if the customer has no BPI Card or not interested to apply for a BPI Edge MasterCard.

5. BPI Edge/ Mini-Edge MasterCard cardholders will enjoy the following exclusive perks and privileges when they use their card to purchase at participating merchants at the event proper:

• Enjoy ADDITIONAL 5% discount on selected merchants
• Get a chance to win in the hourly raffle draws
• Earn 1 raffle entry for a minimum single-receipt purchase of 1,000
• Upon purchase, claim the raffle stub at the BPI Lounge area by presenting the card, valid ID and charge slip
• Completely fill out the raffle stub and drop at the designated drop box
• All winners will no longer be eligible in the succeeding raffle draws

6. The promo is not valid in conjunction with any offer ongoing promo unless otherwise indicated.

7. Special Installment Plan is also available for a minimum amount of P3,000 at selected retailers/ merchants and on selected items.

Per DTI- NCR Permit No. A1-1035. Series of 2012. 

xoxo, 

The Clueless Mrs.

The New IT Girl

Okay, my blog backlog is seriously piling up (again) and here I am, sitting in a corner of my fave cafe, almost clueless on how and where to start (again). Annyyywaayyy.... While my blog is still relatively new, I've been so lucky and privileged to be invited to some of the most exciting events and launches happening around the metro. 

One of which is actually the grand launch of Kristn.com - your new digital go-to-girl! Oh, how I wish you can hear me saying this in my most kikay voice. *haha*

Last November 28, 2012, thanks to my dear friends from TV5, I was one of the lucky few who got to witness the official unveiling of TV5's new lifestyle portal, Kristn.com. The event, held at the NBC tent, was a star-studded affair, jam-packed with surprises, PRIZES (Sorry, I just had to highlight *hihi*), and pure awesomeness.   

In normal situations, I wouldn't really have a care in the world which and what new websites are up and new, but this is different. We are talking about digital evolution, people! A new age lifestyle portal that will change the way we live and do things using digital platforms that makes our lives amazingly easier that even our kids will possibly get to experience (until the new wave of digital evolution comes to age, anyway). So, while I was people watching, star sighting, and food hoarding, while my feet were aching, I made sure to keep my eyes and ears open on what the people behind kristn.com have to say. 

Disclaimer: I was standing too far from the stage when all of these were happening, so I had to grab photos from Kristn.com instead. [Photo source]

From Top to Bottom: (1) Team Kristn and Celebrity Contributors
(2) Victor Basa arrives at the event using BCode to Register
(3) Event Hosts, Divine Lee and Derek Ramsey
(4) Kristn.com Editor-in-Chief, Trixie Reyna
(5) DJ Callum David

Oh, Callum David is such a cutie... Back to Kristn though, what I love about Kristn.com is that she's very user-friendly. She's a one-stop-shop of all the things you love and enjoy, may it be movies, fashion, food, travel, music, gadgets, and more. She has also combined our favorite features from Pinterest, FourSquare, MunchPunch, TripAdvisor, etc.,  all rolled up in multi-platforms you can easily access via laptops, tablets, mobile phones and even Smart TVs, which made Kristn.com a certified IT Girl because she just literally has everything! 

On top of these, Kristn boasts celebrity friends who contributes to her wide array of digital content namely, Marvin Agustin, Heidi Ng, and Stephanie Zubiri for Food & Dining; Divine Lee, Bianca Valerio, Ana Kalaw, Kat Dy, Nicole Romero, and Zo Aguila for Fashion & Beauty; Zig Marasigan for Movies; Rica Paralejo, Divine Lee, and Victor Basa for Travel; Abe Olandres and Calvin Lo for Tech & Gaming; Victor Basa and Kevin Yapjoco for Men's Grooming; and Derek Ramsey, James and Phil Younghusband for Sports & Fitness. With all these? Kristn.com will definitely go on top of my bookmarks. 

This is one of the events I've truly enjoyed so far, not only because TV5's young babes and hotties who were all dolled-up wearing the newest trends from SM Ladies' and Men's Fashion, strutted the mile-long runway in the music of OPM rock legend, Razorback, or because of DJ Callum *hihi*, but because it was an evening shared and enjoyed with some of my coolest friends. *awww...*

And, the highlight of my night? Prizes and Freebies! *woohoo* 

I won! I won!

Kristn's Loot Bag!!!

The launch of Kristn.com was co-presented by PLDT. Major sponsors were Sun Cellular, Smart Communications, SM Ladies' Fashion, SM Men's Fashion, and Manny O Wines. Special partners were Benefit Cosmetics, Etude House, the Body Shop, Max Factor, and Cover Girl. With the participation of: The Bar Vodka, Selecta Ice Cream, Zalora, ASUS, Starmobile, URC and Jack N' Jill, Jing Monis Salon, Lenovo Mobile, Garnier, Axe, Tresemme, InFlight, Nivea, Soak Swimwear, Camayan Coast, Azalea Residences Baguio, Dusit Thani, and Belle De Jour Planners. 

Want to get to know Kristn? click here.

xoxo,

The Clueless Mrs.

Fairytale Weddings

While everyone is contemplating if they were naughty or nice this year, I'm already planning for the biggest event in my life next year. Pop that thought bubble of yours because I'm not talking about getting pregnant yet but achieving a milestone for my current baby, my thriving events coordination biz, Fairytale Weddings and Events! 

Mark your calendars, ladies and gents, because I will be at the Weddings & Debuts 2013 Bridal Fair, organized by the Wedding Library, to be held from February 15,16 to 17 at Megatrade Halls 1, 2 & 3, SM Megamall.

Register here for FREE entrance

The Wedding Library

For more info, LIKE the Wedding Library's Facebook Page

Hmmm... now, what to offer my lucky couples.?.?. *evil smile*hihihi...*

Anyway, with that, I segue to one of my last pending blogposts for my Love to Wedding Blog series... And that's creating your A-Team to achieve your fairytale dream wedding.

Obviously, the top factor in booking suppliers, is *drum roll please* COST. If only that's the only consideration when choosing suppliers then it would be no brainer to just book with the cheapest suppliers you can find. The wedding industry is really a competitive industry to be in. As a supplier, myself, you cannot just simply offer 80% discount and instantly seal the deal. You'll be surprised to learn that an extra smile or bubbly personality can make a difference. So, what's that X-factor we looked for when we were planning our wedding? Well, I've already shared with you some of the suppliers we booked through Bridal Fairs [here] and here are the actual reasons why.

Josiah's Catering 

Facebook

Aside from the fact that they're one of the accredited caterers of our chosen venue, Blue Leaf Events Pavilion, they also have one of the most elaborate event styling and grandest centerpieces I've seen that's conveniently included in their packages, food is really good and definitely more than enough for our 200 initial guest list, and they're very flexible and easy to work with. Booking them is absolutely worth our every centavo. 

Tip for Brides: Your coordinator might be able to give you a better floor layout that Josiah's can easily follow, so don't panic. Give them a visual peg, if possible, to get the exact outcome you expect. Book the tiffany/ sorrento chairs way in advance because they might run out if too many weddings are happening on the same day as your wedding.

Vignette Photography

Facebook

I simply fell in LOVE with infrared photography. So, when I got engaged, there was no other option for me but Vignette Photography specially since they are THE pioneer in infrared photography in the country. Oh, and JM agreed.

This is one of Bogs' winning photos in one of the
prestigious photography competitions in the county.
That's not me and I cannot hide my envy. *hmp*

Tip for Brides: Photography is one of the things you should highly invest on for your wedding. When booking, do not settle with the cheapest package, if you can afford it. Make sure that the Owner/ Main Photographer will be the one who will be there to shoot your. That's the name you are paying for anyway. 

Oh, also, it would be good to give your photographer a shot list too if you're planning to have your wedding featured on newspapers, magazines, or on bridalbook.ph to make sure that you have the shots of the wedding details you want to highlight. 

Designer Weddings

Facebook

Choosing our wedding coordinator was actually one of the hardest parts in planning our wedding. You might find that weird but if you think about it... You will be entrusting your wedding, which will only happen ONCE in your life (if you're lucky) to a complete stranger. And, my OC standards were very very high. #1 She has to be good looking or cute at the least *haha... am I mean?* Don't take me wrong, there's actually a reason for that. I do not want to get mad and it's probably a lil more difficult to get mad on someone cute. Diba? #2 She has to match my OC-ness that means she has to be really organized. #3 She has to answer my very important question that I ask all potential wedding coordinators with flying colors! ei. What should be a bride's watch-out in wedding planning, may it be in the church or venue I booked, tips, etc? 

So, why Designer Weddings? We actually first met Franki at the same Bridal Fair I will be joining next year, the Weddings & Debuts Bridal Fair, way back 2011. I have met few other wedding coordinators too prior to finally booking Franki but what sets Franki apart is {she's pretty *hihi*} her bubbly personality. She knows her craft, she's very carinyosa and she's a very straight to the point kind of gal. Her rate was actually beyond our intended budget but we loved her so much to let her go. *haha* *drama*

Oh, that girl in the LBD is Franki :)

Franki is actually one of my inspirations why I started Fairytale Weddings & Events. Her amazement (of course this is self-proclaimed) on my OC-ness on everything made me think that yeah, I can actually do this...

Tip for Brides: Aside from my 3 considerations when choosing your coordinator as I mentioned above, go with the one you have the most rapport with. #chemistry

Glam PH (Color Artistry by Mitch Camaclang)

Facebook

Here's another girl that I find very inspiring as well. She isn't just a make up artist, she's also the creative director of Glam Philippines, a stylist, a fashion designer, a shoe designer and an entrepreneur as well. Talk about multi-tasking, right? Booking her was actually one of our impulsive bookings because their promo at the Weddings & Debuts 2011 Bridal Fair (P10,000 for Bride Airbrush MU + 6 Traditional MU) was absolutely hard to resist. Her experience and works do not disappoint as well. She's the first Filipina Make Up Artist to be featured in Wikipedia's VERIFIED Article under the category of Make Up Artist and she has done a lot of commercials and print ads as well with the likes of John Lloyd Cruz, Phil Younghusband, Anne Curtis and more!

Tousled chic side swept bridal beauty by
Mitch Camaclang

Tip for Brides: Have a test make up session with your make up artist. It's additional cost for you but you get a chance to try different looks (if you don't have any look in mind yet) and help you visualize how beautiful you'll look and feel on your wedding day.

Sober Club Mobile Bar

Facebook

We met Jen & Ryan of Sober Club at the very first bridal fair we went to after we got engaged and what a fun and uber funny couple they are! After checking out few other mobile bars, we went back to Sober Club because they bring life to the party, literally. They do not just serve but they engage with guests, which made our afterparty more fun and got more people drunk! *hahaha* Ryan's selling point is that he's also a certified nurse so he can assure that the chemistry of his mixes are tried and tested(?) *LOL* I don't know how to explain... 

Grabbed this pic from my cuz-in-law @SolSongco

Tip for Brides: When doing seat assignments, place your friends near the mobile bar. Trust me, they'll  absolutely appreciate it. 

Clip Photobooth

Facebook

Why we chose Clip Photobooth is pretty simple. They offer the best packages, lighting is just right and the quality of the photos are superb. *Period.*  

Photo template is one of the Clueless Mrs.'
DIY wedding details

Tip for Brides: Compare. Compare. Compare. Do not just settle with the cheapest. Test all the photobooths available before deciding, based on photo quality, lighting of photos, make sure color skin is close to life, and YOU LOOK GOOD. There's nothing wrong with a lil auto-edit.  

Creative Prints
Facebook
Invitations were actually at the bottom of our checklist, at first. We were even considering digital invites instead just to save a little but we realized that invitations actually says a lot about a couple. And sometimes, people's basis on how much or how big their gifts should be... *haha* Since our (my) parents wouldn't also let go of not having physical invitations, we decided to go the traditional way while still inserting a little bit of modernity with a black & white invitation motif. *my parents almost killed me when they saw the b&w invites! hihi*

First came across Creative Prints through Sober Club Mobile Bar's affiliation to My Little Craft- a one stop shop of wedding suppliers located in QC.  After doing some research, I fell in love with their designs because they exude fun, youth and true celebration of a couple's love, with the bride and groom's personalities combined, so we found Creative Prints a perfect fit to our needs. 

Then we met Maita... A super sweet girl who happened to be the sister of a close friend, and also a supplier of my husband's company. She even knows my tito! Small world, indeed. And this played to our advantage because she gave us a discount! *woot woot* What we love about their work, aside from their designs, is the quality of the paper that they use. We like it a bit textured and definitely not thin and flimsy, and Creative Prints made a terrific work on our lovely invites. See for yourselves.

Co-designed by the Clueless Mrs.,
printed by Creative Prints

Tips for Brides: If you have 200 guests, 100 invites are enough. Order your invites no less than four months before your wedding day. It will take about 1 month for design development and production, 1 month for you (if you're busy) to prepare all invites and 2 months to deliver every single one of 'em. Trust me, you won't even finish giving them all away because your schedule will get tighter and tighter as the big day comes nearer.


Sensitivity Lights & Sounds

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Hmmm... this is another easy one. Sensitivity Lights & Sounds is the most recommended lights & sounds supplier we hear from our other suppliers. *exclamation mark! period.*

Tip for Brides: Ask your lights and sounds provider if they've already done an event at your chosen venue and ask if the electrical capability of your venue is enough for your supplier's tech requirement to avoid additional cost on genset. Also, haggle and try to ask for freebies on top of their basic packages.

Enrico Braza's Entertainment Center

Facebook

This was actually the last piece of the puzzle in our wedding preparations. What we like about Enrico Braza is #1 Enrico Braza himself will perform at our wedding ceremony, #2 they have really good vocalists, and #3 we got a musical arrangement for my bridal march as a freebie! 

Tip for Brides: Research on the supplier's pieces, the vocalists' portfolio and their repertoire. Some churches, like ours, have a set and strict song list to follow so make sure it matches your supplier's repertoire. 

At the end of the day, the key to a realized fairytale dream wedding is to let go of all  your inhibitions and trust your suppliers. Do not miss out on enjoying every second of your wedding because, trust me, on your special day, it will feel like everything's happening in fast-forward. 

Hope this helps. Don't forget! Feb 15, 16, 17 Weddings & Debuts 2013 Bridal Fair at Megatrade Halls 1, 2 & 3, SM Megamall! See you there!

xoxo,

The Clueless Mrs.

Bold and Beautiful

This post is actually part of my Love to Wedding Blog Series. I know I'm almost 2 months too late but I won't give up, even how late it is, to have all my intended blog posts out. *challenge accepted!* So, you just wait and see... 

Anyway, with all the Axe news I've been posting recently, let's talk about something sexy today, shall we? This is not about Boracay anymore but something more intimate. This is about three bold women out to empower women through photography. I'm talking about, no other than, the Boudoir Dolls.

Boudoir ['bu:dwa] is a lady's private bedroom or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to pout." In the old days when a lady would sulk, she would go to her boudoir to do so. In today's time though, in terms of photography, boudoir takes on a new and delicious twist. [I just LOVE how the Boudoir Dolls put it] Instead of coming to boudoir sessions to sulk, you'll be coming to celebrate. [source]

The Boudoir Dolls is an all women group of photographers catering, specifically to women. Backed up by extensive photography experience in glamour, fashion and portraits, Danielle, Arlene and Shayla brings a little bit of themselves into each shoot. They know the joy, the trials and the triumphs of being a woman. Each shoot is your story mixed with a little bit of theirs. It's sexy yet classy. [source]

(L-R) Danielle, Arlene and Shayla
The fierce ladies of Boudoir Dolls Photography

I came across the Boudoir Dolls several times in group buying sites before but my interest wasn't peaked until one of good girl friends told me what the Boudoir Dolls is all about. And since I was getting married at that time... *light bulb* I thought this would be a great gift for myself (a remembrance of my glory days) and my husband to be. Then, once it came out again on Deal Grocer, I instantly hit BUY.

Getting to the shoot was mission impossible for me, as in [HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL]. I even had to throw many lies to get to do it. Luckily, I was sharing my voucher with my good girl friend who was also getting married just a month after me, which made the whole experience more fun. 

It only took me one day to think about my costumes but hell of a three sleepless nights to prepare myself for the intimate shoot. I was freakin' out of excitement and nervousness all at the same time, but once I got to the studio, I really felt comfortable with Arlene and Liz, then it was GAME FACE ON. And here, are my best shots...  

Hair & Styling by the Clueless Mrs. (Aiza Soller- Garcia)
Make Up by Julz Manaois

It was an experience I won't forget and probably a fantasy fulfilled as well... It's definitely something I'd do again, maybe when I get pregnant. 

If you're interested to the same and need a stylist to glam you up, I'm open to offer my services, just email me at aiza.soller@gmail.com. *wink* 

Disclaimer: I have fought long & hard with my husband to get his permission to publish this blog post.  Have I mentioned he has sometimes (extremely) conservative standards? Ironic because between the two of us, he is the one who has this mentality. For the love of art and true beauty, I am publishing this.

The Boudoir Dolls

Imagine Nation Photography 17Q G.Araneta Ave. Quezon City

T: (02) 713 7189

theboudoirdolls@gmail.com

xoxo, 

The Clueless Mrs.