cebu fashion blogger – Page 22 – Gizelle Faye Creative Studio

how do you know?

at 17 years old, how do you know what you want to do for the rest of your life? and if you do, how do you know how to get there? unlike some lucky people who know that they want to be accountants upon graduating high school and decide to take up accountancy or who know they want to be architects and decide to take up architecture, i only knew that i wanted to be involved in the arts — sketching, drawing, painting but that i wanted to have a ‘stable’ job. you know how they make you take up an aptitude and interest test before graduation? well, my interest was on the creative side but my aptitude lead to engineering. apparently, i was good at math and at being logical. it took me by surprise.

my mom wanted me to take up nursing but i knew in my mind that i could be greater so i asked if i can pursue medicine. it was impossible at that time because we couldn’t afford it. my dad wanted me to take up accountancy because it was practical and that it would have what he took up when he was young, rather than taking up dentistry. taking up fine arts at that time was out of the question because my mom and dad feared that i couldn’t get a ‘stable’ and high-paying job after graduation. with a confused state of mind, i took up computer engineering, trusting my aptitude results.

the first two years in college was actually enjoyable for me but on the the 3rd year, i immediately found out that it was never something i wanted to do after i graduate. we were already on the year where we had to pick majors and we were making projects dealing with electronics. i picked ‘networking’ to major on because well, i was on the internet most of the time and was very interested in web designing. i had two more years to go before i graduate college and it was too late to take up another course and waste my parent’s money. so i pursued the course half-heartedly. i remember asking my mom one afternoon at church, “mom, what if i don’t want to be a computer engineer? all i can picture myself is owning a boutique.” my mom said, “well, that’s what you can do after you earn enough money to start your own business.”

on 2006 i graduated with a right to put up an ‘Engr.’ before my name. but here i am, fast forward to 2010, not a practicing engineer but i can finally tell my mom, “i am finally there mom. i am going to put up shop!”

knitted shirt dress – thrifted (have had this for 5 years!)

white tank top – metro kids’ section (sequined by me)

brown leggings – random

brown platform heels – matthews at CMG

owl necklace – thrifted at carbon

rings: dark auburn stone – thrifted at carbon | black square – props

piles of bangles: faux gold plastic ones – gifted from india | wooden – props

make it your own

this may sound cheesy quoting something from a video-game-turned-movie but it is true: “we make our own destiny…” that doesn’t mean that i don’t believe that God has a higher plan for us or that everything happens for a reason because i do. it’s just that the choices we make and the risks we take mold our lives. we cannot just sit on our asses and think that we are victims of our own lives. we have to work hard at making our lives better and only when we fail do we accept that everything happens for a reason. sometimes, failing once should not be something that should discourage us and stop us from trying. if we fail once, it just means that we should do things differently and try again. it is when we fail that we learn of our faults and learn to pick ourselves up.

i am not invincible. no one is (unless superman does exist) but life is too short to be in fear all the time. life is too short to wait for something good to happen to our lives. i say, let’s make it our own — destiny, that is. take risks. fall in love. follow your heart.

ps. meet my ‘beanie’ puppy — louie. he was given by my former manager for christmas and he has been with me through a lot of stressful times and yes, risks.

pale pink polka dress – lil’ sister’s

white bag – lil’ sister’s

white studded sandals – so fab! (a gift from aimee)

dog tag necklace – custom-made

imprinted round necklace – a gift from gelie

bangles – all from props (now in maze, ayala!)

hoes over bros

i know my title is from one tree hill — you know, brooke’s clothing line. but it greatly defines my weekend.

it’s monday morning and i have to work tonight so as much as i’d like to write up an elaborate post on my thoughts or my weekend, i am really not in the mood. i think i’ve sat in front of my pc for 3 hours now, contemplating on how i can compose my thoughts and put them into good writing. aside from that, i am so tempted to pop in a 3rd french baker brownie bit in my mouth. we all have one of those days right?

so here’s my weekend: 3 hours of sleep after my friday shift to meet karen and help her buy new glasses, long talks over frozen yogurt — i had bananas and caramel with crushed grahams and she had oreos and chocolate syrup, met up with canence to watch Eclipse — it’s our girlfriend date and we’ve watched the series together, watched Edward’s brooding eyes (he looked hotter in this movie by the way because he gained weight, his make-up looked natural so his lips are not red and his face not over compensated with white stuff) and of course, watched and listened to girls scream over Jacob’s hot body; had baked zitti at sbarro and talk to canence about ‘love over friendship’…or maybe vice versa; went home after almost falling asleep on the wheel and slept with my make-up on (again, damn!); attended my old company’s 4th of july party, played some ‘green’ games, met up with old co-worker girlfriends at dessert factory and had my cheesecake fix, then had a massage with harry to end my weekend.

blue and black top – thrifted

jeans – chillypapa

studded boots – mongkok ladies market, hongkong

round imprinted necklace – gift from gelie

gun-metal layered wire cuffs – props

rings: oval flat stone – props | orange howlite – dane’s giveaway

brown sunnies – thrifted at carbon

letting go of some comforts

my sisters and i have lived comfortably since we were young even when my parents were just making ends meet when it comes to house rent and bills. they’re both dentists and unfortunately, dental services here in the philippines are not as valued as it is in the U.S. filipinos have a ‘bahala na’ (never mind) attitude and would rather attend to other concerns than the state of their teeth. but even so, my sisters and i always had new shoes for the new school year, new bags and quality school materials. we always had birthday gifts and christmas gifts to look forward to. no, we were never given anything we wanted all the time. the gifts we received were always for special occasions and always something we worked hard for. i remember back then, aimee and i wanted barbie dolls but we would be told, “if you want one, save for it.” so we’d be given daily allowances (like P5 or P10 a day) and aimee and i would save that until we could afford that barbie or that tweety bird bag (i was a sucker for tweety bird then! haha!)…some gifts would be for prizes from high test scores or in my case, being at the top of the class.

my parents taught us the value of money and the importance of saving up. they taught us how to work hard and to sacrifice a little. i worked a full shift at a call center when i was on my graduating year in college and only slept 4 hours a day because i had to complete my thesis at the same time. i complained but i was happy being able to help my dad. sure, aimee and i are brats but not because we were given every material thing we wanted but because we know that our mom and dad are always there to back us up. (that is why, in college, our dad would drive us to vudu and fetch us there at 4:00 AM…hehehe. our dad is the coolest!)

as i am planning for un-employment, i won’t deny that i am worried for losing some comforts as i let go of my big salary, but i also know that i have been through tougher times. i have to temporarily let go of shoe shopping and weekly massages or movies but i know i will survive this.

striped top – dkny (thrifted!)

white tank top – random

boyfriend jeans – abercrombie

grey flats – so fab! (gift from big sis)

grey ombre pashmina scarf – hongkong street

round imprinted necklace – a gift from angelie (thanks!)

cuffs – props

square ring – props

passion over knowledge or vice versa

i was feeling a bit anxious about my recent choice to resign yesterday that i was only able to sleep 3 hours before my shift at 8:00 PM. anxiety meant i needed to talk to someone and just ramble away my issues. sometimes i just write my feelings down but yesterday, i needed a friend. i also have a feeling that these small anxiety attacks would surface every now and then in the days leading up to my resignation and yeah, maybe during my rest. i am after all applying for other jobs outside the call center industry. so i will be needing a friend more often and harry would just have to put up with my mood swings (as always).

i got a chance to talk to my friend, canence, who has always been the one who talked sense or logic to me whenever i am down. we talked about this rut that we’re in and about our plans to resign from our current jobs. i told her that i don’t have a back-up job i can fall to when i resign and that i am scared shitless because i don’t know what to do. she told me that unlike her who doesn’t know what she’s passionate about, it’s good that i am passionate about fashion and that i should pursue it. i told her that i have always been jealous of how she’s getting certified at networking (cisco) and have been expanding her knowledge that she can easily land a job anywhere. i only have my experience to back me up because i graduated with a degree in computer engineering but i wasted my 5 years in college because i can’t remember a thing about what i majored in. know what she told me? she says she feels that her knowledge is just on the surface and have nothing to back it up. well, i have passion, but not have too much knowledge to back it up.

passion over knowledge? or knowledge over passion? what do you think?

stepping into the light

no i’m not sad in these photos. i’m sleepy and very full from our big breakfast this morning. harry and i like to just sleep-in on weekends and this is one of them. just a post-birthday celebration and also to celebrate our 29th month together as a couple. this pale green dress is one of my favorites. it has seen me through chubby and fat days because of the elastic waist. i am happy to report that i had to cinch the belt so much that i had to fold it at the sides. the dressed used to be a bohemian maxi dress but i had my dad cut it short — just like he did on all my other dresses. i loved it as a maxi dress but felt that it cut me shorter because of its full skirt.

so here’s my weekend: brownie cheesecake and hours of talking with karen, browsing through books i can’t afford at fully booked especially now that i’m saving for my unemployed days, dvd shopping — grey’s anatomy season 6, the runaways and she’s out of my league; slept in the clothes i wore out and make-up when i got home — which made me feel like crap because i don’t like feeling dirty in the middle of my sleep; lots of channel surfing with harry on sunday afternoon, a night with a polka-dotted ribbon, a donut twist and almond snickers bar at 4 in the morning and lots and lots of sleep.

pale green boho dress – thrifted

silver braided belt – random

long watch necklace – hongkong

silver cuffs – thrifted at carbon

a mistake i got to make

i’m already 25 years old and will be turning 26 this august. in the philippines, even when we live in a modern world, that age is still somehow a cause for alarm if we’re not yet settled — whether in our careers, love life or family life. i am not going to lie. i am immensely scared about this leap that i am going to take. i finally talked to our manager today and he gave me this “your-a-woman-who-can-do-great-things” speech and saying that i am almost the next level, that i have worked so hard to succeed in an industry that i am good at. he wanted me to plan out my life in the next 5 years outside the company (or industry) and compare it with a plan inside the company. i smiled with all my courage and said, “i know that i am good at my job but i don’t want to be doing something that i hate for a long time. honestly, i don’t plan to plan for the next month.”

in ‘how i met your mother’ season 1, lily told ted that going to san francisco may be a mistake but it’s a mistake that she has to make and that a bigger mistake would be not being able to find out if it’s a mistake or not. (ted totally got side-tracked over the number of mistakes in the sentence)… i know it’s confusing but i really still do think and feel that i have to do this.

sorry if i am boring you with three successive posts about my plan to leave my current job. it’s been in my mind for the past week — every day for that matter. just wanted to let it all out. thanks for listening. better topics next week, promise. *wink*

black blazer – thrifted

white tank top – abercrombie

striped city shorts – bought from manager’s garage sale

black platforms – forever 21

silver cuffs – thrifted at carbon

gun-metal layered bracelet – thrifted at carbon

gun-metal reindeer necklace – bubble bee tea house

dog tags – custom-made

aviators – mongkok, hk

can i hide in my closet?

i realized that i am not a kid anymore and cannot fit in my closet. i remember that my mom and big sister would use to go in these midnight sales in robinsons and i would tag along with them. while they’re choosing and fitting clothes, i’d hide under the clothes racks, appreciating the different textures and prints. i’d also try to scare my mom and sister too. i also remember that whenever my cousins, sister and i would play hide and seek, the closet was always the first thing i’d go to. my mom and dad had these double closets where there are two iron rods back to back. i’d burrow deep into the clothes and hide at the back. i can stay there for an hour.

i wish i can hide in my closet now. or just under the clothes rack. that would be a perfect excuse not to go to work. don’t you think?

oh by the way, i have submitted my resignation and will be tendering my last 30 days in our company. wish me luck! as i don’t have any plans at all. good thing my mom approved of my plan to just rest for a month. i am hacking my brains for things to do from august – september. i really want to get back to custom-making clothes, DIY-ing and jewelry making. let’s see if my laziness doesn’t get to the best of me. haha!

sheer polka dress (used as top) – random

jeans – chilly papas

button-up jacket – bossini (still thrifted)
off-white peep-toe heels – janeo

necklaces: eyeglasses – random | rose engraved watch – hongkong

stacks of faux gold bangles – gifted from india

white enamel bangle – props

we had to make it happen: BLOGGER MEET-UP!

i am really shy (or speechless) upon first introduction. i don’t know what to do when i meet strangers. the meet-up was not really with strangers as we have all been communicating in the blogosphere but it’s different meeting people in person. so on my way to loft where we were all to meet, i was thinking repeatedly in my foolish paranoia, “what are we going to talk about?” haha! i didn’t have any reason to be paranoid because the night did go well (maybe sans the stupid discrimination of the bouncer or management at loft)… we had drinks, we had laughs and of course, lots of photos! just imagine everyone bringing their own cameras and asking the waiter to take the group photos with all of them…it was crazy!

the night was not just a meet-up of fashion bloggers but also of fashion enthusiasts and up and coming designer. the roll call (from the first photo): rand, kelvin, kristine roa of instyle cebu, yves of yves style, angel of the great social nomad, iya, dane of trust me, it’s paradise, eden of chic in the tropics, ed and nym wales.

we still had a few who were not in attendance and i really hope they could join us next time!

of course, loft night is not complete without my sister and our friends. we also celebrated our friend, yami’s birthday and we were both dressed in animal print too! here’s how the rest of my night went:

leopard print dress – thrifted

black belt – part of my lil’ sister’s shorts that she’s wearing here

curtain necklace – props

stacks of faux gold bangles – gifted

wooden ring – thrifted at carbon

black peep-toe booties – celine (a gift from harry!)

the game of tag

i was tagged by lee of spunk and glam to answer a few questions.

1. What do you do for a living?

I work for a call center as a Team Leader.
2. What is your blog name and why?

My blog name is ‘Vanilla Ice Cream’ because when I started this blog as a personal blog back in 2007, I was at a time of my life where I was undecided, fearing too much about my future and mostly heartbroken. Vanilla ice cream always made me feel better. The feeling vanilla ice cream gives me is actually on my very first post of this new blog.
3. Who is your favorite singer/band and why?

This is a really tough question…I have lots of favorite singers and bands. I simply cannot make up my mind. I’ve always loved Jewel, Natalie Imbruglia when I was growing up. Then I found indie rock and pop punk rock and brit rock and I fell in love with music all over again. I love the killers, the cure, the strokes, the smiths, the honorary title, imogen heap, regina spektor, the national, john mayer, jack johnson and lots more. I love these kinds of music because they take me out of my daily routine and give that ‘soundtrack’ to what I am doing or experiencing. More about my love for rock here.
4. What is your favorite restaurant and your favorite thing to eat there?

I would have to say Krua Thai or Siam (I think they have the same owner..haha!) I love Thai food because I love peanuts or nuts in my food and they combine the sweet and spicy in one dish. Harry and I also love the Pad Thai in Lemon Grass.
5. What is your favorite item of clothing?

Oh my, another question which I cannot give a specific answer. I have this black vintage shirt that I thrifted in college that has vintage cars all over the front. It’s kinda’ loose and very comfortable. It’s my go-to shirt when I just want to be comfortable or just don’t care about dressing up. I think I’ve paired it with shorts, skirts and jeans.
6. Who is your favorite fashion icon?

drew barrymore | janis joplin | mary-kate olsen | nicole richie

7. What is your personal fashion style?

i like to be comfortable (but maybe a little sacrifice on shoes). i wear lots of bohemian stuff — whether i just wear accents or really boho tops or dresses. i love the idea of not caring too much very my clothes match. as much as i love earth colors like blues, tan, browns and nudes, i also have a share of wearing neons too. i have to say, i dress according to my mood.

8. Where do you usually go for ukay-ukay or bargain shopping?

there is this store right beside a hospital that has new stuff every end of the month. my mom, sisters and i make it a habit to go there every month. i hardly buy in malls — only to buy shoes. and my shoe price limit is P2500.

i want to post who i want to tag but i’ll do that on monday. i’m in a hurry because i need to catch some zzzz’s to wake up at 2:00 PM to prepare for my friend’s wedding.

by the way, thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. i took a sick leave on thursday to allow myself to rest and i slept for 16 hours! whoa! i felt better when i woke up but still very much decided to leave this career. i hope i get called up for interviews soon!

restless

i’m in a rut.

have you ever found yourself overly restless and just unconsciously (and consciously) counting the time til’ the day ends? i haven’t felt like this since i was 12 years old when i couldn’t wait to grow up and do amazing things. boy, i didn’t picture restlessness as an adult. i thought i would conquer the world. a girl could dream right?

seriously, i’ve been feeling a little apathetic at work lately. de-motivated. i find myself hating the routine of this industry (BPO) and of this job. i wake up at 6:30 PM, snooze my alarm 3 times, take a bath, come in to work at 8:00 PM and do the same thing everyday. i roll my eyes at the foolishness of the people around me too many times and have had moments where i just sit in my chair, stare at my computer and do nothing. nada. i think i’ve taken too many bathroom or pantry breaks this week — like maybe 10 times a day. and this is not me. when i get passionate about a job, i even forget to take breaks and don’t mind extending hours for work at all.

i need a change. don’t get me wrong, i am not just complaining here but have actually started doing something to take me out of this rut. i’ve decided to take a complete career change that will take me away from this BPO industry. possibly a day job — after 5 years since i graduated college. i don’t want to jinx my plans but i do need your support. your prayers.

here’s to hoping. heartily hoping.

buttoned cotton top – thrifted

puffed-sleeved cardigan – thrifted

jeans – bebe jeans

grey ballet flats – so fab! (a gift from big sis)

faux gold bangles – gifted from india | props
sewing machine necklace – random

enamel rose ring – thrifted at carbon

brown sunnies – thrifted at carbon

since we were 12 years old

i never get tired of this place. daanbantayan is the ultimate haven for me. not because it’s has the perfect white sands or untouched waters but because it is quiet and is really a place where i can just unwind and not think about all life’s problems. the funny thing is, the rest house is not even ours. it belongs to my dad’s kind high school friend who has always allowed us to use the place whenever we want to — save when they want to use it for themselves. so for 7 years, we’ve been coming back here as a family or with my friends. every time, always as fun as the last.

blue green printed kaftan – thrifted | yellow green bikini top – props | brown sunnies – thrifted at carbon

this memory of time spent with my long time best friends (since we were 12 years old) will remain forever in my mind. believe it or not, but this is the first time in a long time that we’ve been able to go out of town where majority of us are present. good friends, good food — really good food like grilled pork, fresh crabs and fish and yummy kinilaw, good music, hilarious and challenging game of taboo, good drinks in the name of tanduay and kool-aid, never-ending laughter — what more could i ask for?