girl gone cuckoo blog – Page 2 – Gizelle Faye Creative Studio

maternity diary: the pregnant stylist

I got pregnant but the world didn’t stop for me. Sure, I had to take extra care of myself and people around me were careful with me too, and gave me special attention but I had to continue working — 1) To do what I love and continue to pursue my passion for creating and 2) Because I needed to make a living considering I am a full-time stylist.

Throughout my pregnancy, I was lucky enough to have had stylists wanting to join the team. I had to laugh because God really does put everything into perfect timing. On my 1st trimester, Tara Chua joined Cuckoo Cloud Concepts as my co-stylist then Ephraim Rabanez on the 3rd trimester. I continued conceptualizing photo shoots but Tara or Phraim executed the styling for me, together with my production assistant, Amalia Bautista. I continued to attend all events {weddings} that we had to style and just made sure to sit down whenever I can and lie low on physical activities. Believe it or not, I even flew to Pagadian to style a wedding on the last week of my 1st trimester. A week before I was due to give birth, I attended the last 2 weddings of the month. Whenever I got afraid, I had to remind myself that God won’t give me something I can’t handle.

This post is a tribute to my support system all throughout my pregnancy and even after that. To Tara, Phraim, Amalia, my Uncle Jesan, my amazing mom and dad, my trying-not-to-be-supportive but awesome hubby Harry and now Phil (who just recently joined us as a stylist) and all my event assistants — THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. ♥

silk kimono from BFTS | floral crown by Cuckoo Cloud Concepts

photography by Rainbowfish Photo | hair & make-up by Markie Bautista

maternity diary: the 1st trimester

since we tried to keep my pregnancy hush-hush during the first few months, i haven’t really been able to talk about my pregnancy save for my family and closest friends and co-workers. this will be the first of my maternity diary posts, as a look back to the wonderful and challenging 9 months and also as a tribute to my awesome photographer and artist friends who kindly volunteered for my maternity sessions.

when we found out
to be honest, when we found out, we were flabbergasted. we got depressed when we lost our 1st baby but we didn’t realize how much it affected us until we found out we were pregnant again. our first reaction was joy. the next was deep, deep fear. i remember coming out of our bathroom, giving Harry the pregnancy test and just lying on our bed, stunned. yes, we were utterly happy that we were gifted with a new baby but we were also gravely afraid of losing it again. we couldn’t go through the same thing. it was too painful. luckily enough, we had the support of our family and closest friends who kept encouraging us and never failed to take care of us.

symptoms, cravings and complications
normally, i have a very big appetite. diet is not in my vocabularly because i love to eat but when i got pregnant, i couldn’t stomach most types of food. my love for pizza and pasta disappeared. i hated cheese and all things creamy. i was a very picky eater that it caused me to lose a bit of weight. i would only eat when i needed to. fortunately, i didn’t experience morning sickness. i was only drowsy, as in always sleepy that there were days that i wouldn’t get off the bed nor get out of the room.

the firsts
i realize now that when we first heard Maddy’s heart beat, she was declaring that she’s really going to stay. her heart rate was loud and fast. when we first tried to see her gender, she kicked and moved her legs too much that it was just impossible to really determine her gender. we already knew we were having a rambunctious baby (and she sure is now.) Maddy’s first kick was a jab and i never knew it could hurt. it was surreal and further reminded us that what was happening was real. it was not a dream. we were really having a baby.

white embroiders slip maxi dress – BFTS | layered necklaces – vintage store finds and forever 21

“maternity session taken at 33 weeks pregnant” | hair & make-up by Markie Bautista | photogaphy by Rainbowfish Photo | set design by Cuckoo Cloud Concepts

heaven sent

i took hiatus — quite a long one. it’s been almost a year actually but for good reason. my last few posts last year were melancholy, what with the loss we experienced. i tried to get back on my feet after a few bouts of depression and tried to accept that everything happens for a reason. and it did. a month after i turned 30, i found out that i was pregnant again. we were hush-hush about it, keeping the news as much as we can to ourselves, our family and close friends.

nine months and 22 hours of labor after, we met a heaven sent in the form of our flower child, Madison Rue. she is everything we expected and more. she gave us the gift of love that we thought we already had. on May 5, 2015, i became a mom.

see more of Maddy’s newborn photos on our photographer, Salt and Bleach’s blog.

the good kind of blurry days

i am going to use “throwback thursday” as an excuse for my delinquency because really, it’s been a year since this outfit shot was taken. i did still have long, ombre hair but i am still wearing my favorite black booties.

i count my months by how many weddings or engagement sessions i style now. i label my months as the wedding season (may, june, december, january) or as the ghost month (august) and before i know it, the year has ended. it really is different living an artist’s life. the days are a blur but it’s the good kind.

love and loss

it’s quite hard for me to write this but i feel that i need to. to vent. to share the experience. to let those who have experienced or are experiencing the same thing that you are not alone. and yes, maybe to assure myself that i am not alone.

this beach trip was 2 weekends ago and i should be almost 3 months pregnant by that time or i should have been. yes, i am saying with a constantly aching heart, that we lost the baby.

we spent such a short time with the knowledge that i was carrying a little one but it really doesn’t make the pain any lesser. the moment we saw those two lines, immense love washed over us like you wouldn’t believe. it was a short pregnancy but the devastation still shattered me. shattered us. is still shattering us.

it is quite common for first pregnancies to end up in a miscarriage but we never really thought it would happen to us. one can’t really go into it and expect to experience it. the news of joy was hard to keep especially when we were bursting at the seams. but it did and we fell into the statistic. if not for the assurance and comfort offered by our doctor, i would have continued to blame myself for losing the baby. luckily, we had a really good obstetrician. so no, i didn’t stress myself out during the pregnancy. i did not run, jump or did anything physically strenuous. i ate right and did not drink alchohol nor take drugs. the baby’s development just ceased to continue. our little blueberry’s heart just stopped. whereas others get to keep their baby despite attempting to terminate their pregnancy by doing physically strenuous things, we did things right and still lost our little one.

it has been a month since we suffered the loss and we have no choice but to move forward. to look ahead and hope for better days. i have to say, it is quite scary being back at one, knowing that it took us almost a year to successfully conceive. but right now, i am hanging on to the faith that we are meant to have a little Harry or Gizelle and it will happen soon enough.

Lee Denim DIY Workshop

fashion-wise, my life’s been pretty boring lately. in fact, i can’t believe i’ve been investing in boots for outdoor photo shoots compared to two years ago when i am so into heels. so when the Cebu Fashion bloggers got invited to the Lee Denim DIY Workshop, i immediately jump on the wagon. i was due to put on my fashion blogger hat and give my wedding stylist hat a break.

Lee’s visit in Cebu couldn’t have been timed better — the DIY workshop event being on the Sinulog weekend. the event was culled to promote Lee’s 125 years of craftsmanship. i personally love their tag line “Stay Curious” because it’s a mantra i keep telling myself as well. being in the creative industry, i believe in always looking at the world with glittering eyes. curiosity does indeed break boundaries and push you to think outside of the box.

Cebuano artists were invited to interpret their curiosity with their own denim creations. i couldn’t have been prouder to find an old college classmate there — Doyle See whose design was greatly influenced by comic book artworks and old horror movie posters. Uzi Emperado and Nicolo Nimor were there as well.

bloggers united six: the crazy and fun day that was

i am trying to get back on track so here i am being a good blogger and posting the Bloggers United 6 event the day after it happened. i want to try kicking procrastination to the curb and plan to do the same for all my posts in the future (although I do have a lot of catching up to do — like how my hair transitioned from long, ombre and side-shaved to short, curly and blonde to being wavy and plum. haha!)

the first time we, the Cebu Fashion Bloggers, got invited to join Bloggers United, it was for the 2nd installment of the event. now, we can’t believe we’re on the 6th! our hugest thank you’s to the founders and organizers of Bloggers United — Aisa Ipac, Ana Gonzales and Melai Entuna for doing such an amazing job. the blogger’s bazaar gets bigger and better every time and i know they’ve done such an humongous feat!

bloggers united six cebu fashion bloggers eden villarba aisa ipac gizelle faye

here’s Eden Villarba (www.chicinthetropics.com) and i with Aisa Ipac (www.aisaipac.com)

Eden and i got stuck to manning our booth all day as the influx of people was crazy so we weren’t able to go around and take photos with other bloggers. here are a few other photos i grabbed from Facebook — Eden and I with our favorite blogger Kookie Buhain and a new friend i met this year, Argie Alcantara.

bloggers united six cebu fashion blogger argie alcantara eden villarba gizelle faye

bloggers united six cebu fashion blogger eden villarba kookie buhain gizelle faye

just a few snapshots as we went around:

and a snapshot of our booth price drop — something we did later in the afternoon. we don’t want to go home with excess baggage! LOL

and of course, the compulsory outfit shot:

black pleated button-up top – badgley mischka (thrifted) | fringe faux leather skirt – forever 21 | dark taupe booties – rubi shoes, cotton on | silver cuff – rubi, cotton on | lavender chandelier earrings – forever 21 | special thanks to miss juliet of hollywood nails for my hair (whoot!)

BLOGGERS UNITED SIX! ♥

Top Bloggers Unite at the 13th World Bazaar Festival

When a group of top fashion bloggers unite for the country’s grandest holiday bazaar, one can expect nothing but a shopping experience that is more fun, engaging, and personal, as evidenced by the recent successes of blogger bazaars in the country.

This year, the 13th World Bazaar Festival (WBF), running from December 6 to 22 at the World Trade Center and undoubtedly, the country’s biggest and most- awaited Christmas charity shopping event, proves this true as it once again partners with “Bloggers United 6,” a team that showcases the country’s top entrepreneur bloggers, on December 7 at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City.

“The thing that makes Blogger Bazaars special is the experience it gives to our shoppers. This is why we invited Bloggers United back for the 13th installment of World Bazaar Festival,” said JR Ang, marketing director of leading events organizer Worldbex Services International.

He added, “The event will bridge influential bloggers with their loyal readers and blog friends, so expect hours and hours of picture taking, bonding, and shopping in a wide array of fashionable items and collectibles.”

The event, which will occupy the second floor of WTC, will serve as the 6th official installment of Bloggers United and will feature fashion royalties in the blogosphere, including the likes of Divine Lee, Camille Co, Laureen Uy, Kryz Uy, Maggie Wilson and Dani Barretto, among others.

Founded in 2011, Bloggers United has continuously influenced the online Filipino community through its efforts of promoting beauty, fashion, and style through a series of bloggers bazaar in Metro Manila.

With its recent collaboration with World Bazaar Festival, “Bloggers United” is expected to gain bigger audience and market share, while giving back to the community, as part of the proceeds of WBF will be donated to ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.

Bloggers United 6 is a pocket event of the 13^thWorld Bazaar Festival. The bazaar will run from December 6 to 22 at the World Trade Center for the benefit of the ABS CBN Foundation Inc. Doors open from 12nn to 10pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 12mn Friday to Sunday. For more information, follow its Instagram page @worldbazaar for ticket giveaways and updates.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wsifanpage

Twitter: @worldbex #worldbazaarph

Instagram: @worldbazaar

For more information and updates, follow Bloggers United:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Official Hashtag: #BU5

In Partnership with:

World Bazaar Festival

CO-PRESENTERS

MAJOR SPONSORS

MINOR SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSORS

ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.

catch-up post: the maze hipzone makeover

oh how time flies — so cliche but so true. i didn’t realize how crazy busy i’ve been until i was preparing this post and it’s almost 2 months overdue. one day we were excited for the Maze Hipzone’s revamping and launching of their SS 2013 line and the next day, we’re experiencing heavy downpour because summer is way over.

nevertheless, the experience that was the Maze Hipzone’s re-launching is worth doing a catch up post because well, the face lift was much awaited. the Maze Hipzone holds great fashion finds and it’s awesome that it’s now getting the attention that it rightly deserves.

right after the event, Toni and i couldn’t resist running directly to Maze to shop. i scored a pair of “so me” floral booties that was the perfect pair to reward me for my self-imposed and necessary shopping ban. i remember not being able to resist buying shoes every month when i had a full-time, cubicle and stress-inducing job yet these booties that were a break from a 4-month hiatus was enough to make me happy.