New blog header and we have been approved!

Hoorayyyy for my new blog header!!! Thanks to +Moki Gray  for adding character to my lonesome looking blog page! Love you, Moki! Mwahhh!!!

Okay, so I really think this year is OUR year. So many exciting things have happened and we're still halfway of the year! We got married to our dream wedding (love your own, ofcourse!) early this year, which we believe really, really magneted all the good vibes around us. Next was we were able to finally move out of my in-law's place and find our own small house and fill it in with stuff in  no time, and now..... (drum roll, please!!!).... We have been granted our Permanent Residency! Woohooo!!! We were blessed with a very considerate and humble case officer that it only took her less than a month to approve our application. Jake and I are sooooo ecstatic, we had to do our crazy chicken dance because of so much kilig and disbelief!!! I think our case has to be written as one of the most fast visa applications to be approved ever! Record breaking at its finest! Truly, when it rains it pours! So God, please keep it comin! We don't mind the downpour of blessings at all!!!

I am still waiting for God to answer one of my deepest wishes still. It is something that we have been praying so hard for since last year. It may be taking so long, but we can feel God working on his plan and we can almost smell and feel it coming now... I believe in God's perfect timing. I believe it would be worth the wait!

Happy Moms' Day!

My strict but awesome MOM!

Meet the most wonderful woman in my life, my mom, Mrs. Josefina "Penny" Valenzuela.

My mom was always strict ever since we were kids. We weren't spared from the nagging sessions, "luhod and squat" stints, and I would always get really scared to go home after school back then because for sure, she already had discovered that I have a boyfriend. She knows instantaneously when something's troubling my mind (could also be my very transparent self) and/or when I am being bullied at school, and she would always be on my rescue. She never allowed any of her children to be compromised in any way. She's the first to cry when we are hurt and the first one to jump for joy every time we reach a milestone. More than you could imagine, she is the numero uno imbestigador in our family. No one could ever succeed keeping secrets from her. Grabe lang ang radar, or should I say, mother's instinct ng nanay ko!

Despite the fact that she is most of the time masungit and PMS-ing (sorry mommy! hehehe), there is a kind and soft heart that lies within her being a mother. What I love most about my mom is how she is willing to sacrifice 100% of herself for her family at any given day, and at any given time..... even if that meant losing her career. She gave up her blossoming Nursing career abroad early on just to be with her growing kids. A lot of times in the past when were still little, she didn't pursue with her orders at Jollibee to accomodate for my sisters who wanted their fries uplarged or an extra order of sundae. I recall her constantly shrugging  off my dad's comments (up til this day) of her repeating the same clothes as she would rather spend the money on us rather than herself. She had to endure many, many years of being apart from my dad who worked in another country just to give us, her children proper guidance. Being the most selfless person that I know, my mom sets her needs aside and puts them last in line in order to prioritise ours.

We have had plenty of dramas together and heaps of misunderstandings but I never for once doubted my mom's love to me and my sisters. I remember so vividly how I used to be so ashamed of some of my mom's ways- collecting styropores from Jollibee and sachets of chocolates, biscuits and cleaning stuff to be used as entries for this "Lottong Bahay" game portion at Eat Bulaga many years ago. Looking back, she would attend all these seminars to learn how to make tocino, siomai, dishwashing and fabric con products and I never really understood on why she had to do all of those. We were never poor. My dad worked abroad and he was earning decent money just enough to sometimes accommodate for our little requests... But thinking about all of it now, the things that I once felt ashamed for actually explains on why we lived a much comfortable life growing up. And it made a lot more sense to me now. Mommy did it all for her love for us. There is not much logic about it, but really  how many of us can lower our pride for the betterment of our children? How many of us would painstakingly come out of our comfort zones just to secure them of  having a good future?? How many of us could easily say "I'm quitting my job because my children are most important to me."? I could not even decipher on how far I am willing to sacrifice once I become a mother myself. But my mom's love for us is just so unconditional.................. it's exceptional, beyond boundaries, like no-other.

Now that I am living my own life, I'm learning to appreciate her more and I reap from the life lessons that she  has planted on me since I was a little girl. I'm sure she is proud of me now that I have grown  to be much more mature and a responsible adult. I miss my mom everyday like a child and I wish I could be with her more often. I have so many dreams for my parents and I pray everyday that I live long to serve them as my way of gratitude to their unending and unquestioning love and support to me and my siblings.

I'm sure my mommy knows she is loved by us three and I wanted to tell her that despite the challenge and hardship of having to raise us all these years and having to put up with our differences, that she could have not done it any better, because for us, she is the BEST mother that we could ever have. We glorify and thank God everyday for blessing us with a golden hearted mom that was very much influential to helping us form to the kind of persons that we are today.

What a blur!

A couple of weeks ago, I have been complaining a lot to my husband about getting frequent migraines. It was that bad that I could not get up and cook lunch or that we had to rush home, unable to finish mass because I could no longer take the throbbing, pulsating pain around my head which was encircling throughout my right eye. I have had migraines since coming to Australia, particularly when approaching the colder season, and it is something that comes and goes so it wasn't really a bother to me. On occasional times during the past weeks, I thought I was seeing blur from a far. I had to ask my husband each and every time what the poster across the street says because I couldn't read it well. I normally could sing through church songs when attending mass by following the lead from the projector screen without trouble, but recently it has not been the same. I must be tired, and I should rest my eyes more, I thought to myself.

Last Friday, Jake and I had our medicals done. We had the usual Chest Xray, visual checks, bloods and GP consultation. When it was my turn to face the Snellen chart and was asked to read the letters on the bottom  part, I was not able to recall any of it correctly. I remember even taking my time to focus on those letters, but all I could see was just a clear line of blurred minute scribbling. How could that be??? I used to ace these visual exams before. I even remember feeling so proud of myself for having a perfect 20/20 vision. Going back to last Friday, the lady then handed over a paper with a film, something resembling to a pair of spectacles but not quite, and asked me to try reading all over again but with that. You must have guessed that I did better the second time. But, I wasn't happy.

I knew that she was going to advise me to get my eyes checked by an Optometrist. She actually tried to reassure me that she has seen someone worse, but not even that worked to make me feel better.

I haven't had the opportunity as of yet to see an eye specialist after Friday although that is something that I plan to do very, very soon. I am 105% certain that I will be required to wear glasses and to be honest, I am not excited at all for that! And mind you, you can never let me wear contact lenses as anything that involves inserting into the eye just makes me want to pass out. Anyway, eyeglasses never suit my face and lifestyle but it's not so much of my choice now, is it? I think with the current condition that I have, a new pair of spectacles can actually be my new best friend.

Anyway, how I wish I could be like these ladies who can still rock despite having to wear glasses. Sigh!

Wedding songs

Pardon me, as I am still not over our wedding just yet that infact, I'm still drooling over all the  teeny weeny details of it. Expect me to bombard you with some more in the days and weeks and even months to come. Bwahahaha! 

Anyway, I've been telling my friends who are set to get married this year on how choosing the "right" music is so crucial to a wedding. Music in weddings can either make or break the "feel" and "mood" that you would want to extend to your guests. It is a great way to reflect your personality and set the tone for the party, whether you like a romantic, elegant feel, or a modern, clubby vibe.

One does not need to be OC to details (ahem, like me!) to execute this. Let's just say, carefully choosing the right songs should be part of your preps falling under the "Personal" category. With "personal", I meant to say that this particular assignment should not be delegated to anyone else but you and your partner. You could ask for suggestions from your sister, or your parents (for classic songs, if you wish), your best friend, your barkada, your coordinator, and yes, even from your musicians by all means, provided that each of these song suggestions should be meticulously filtered by you and in accordance to a lot of considerations- the couple's personality, the nature of the event, your guests, and  the time of your wedding (some people find it a bit odd for a full band set up to actually perform on luncheon receptions) to name a few.

Jake and I opted to get both A Cappella Manila and Serenata Strings to perform at the church ceremony for our wedding. We were both members of our local church's chorale group named Burning Bush Choir (BBC) in Manila and it is through that organisation that we met each other 10 years ago. We feel that songs, may it be liturgical or love songs, are most sincerely felt when sang by a choir. ACM sang the majority of songs for our ceremony. They aced my bridal march song, "The First Time I Loved Forever" and many of our guests were moved into tears, thanks to their perfect rendition. Liturgical songs were delivered so grand that Jake and I wanted to clap our hands each time. They are that good, no wonder how they are always invited to perform abroad. 

Serenata Strings played at the ceremony too for the entourage walk and for half of the photo sessions. Everyone was praising them on how good they delivered "A Thousand Years" which initially set the mood for everyone as to signal that the ceremony was about to start. I did hear a part of it and I was in awe at how good they really are considering the fact that I never got to be present during any of their rehearsals for the wedding and that I only booked them online. They also did a magnificent job serenading our guests to lovely music during the reception. It was also a plus for me that they requested for a one run rehearsal with three of our guests who they'd be accompanying.

We also got Rejectkrew for our sounds. They were at par with all of the sound effects right on the dot when needed. I gave them the freedom to decide on the songs for the games and after party and yeah, they gave us some awesome purtyyyyyy music!

Kudos to the entire ACM, Serenata and Rejectkrew team and thank you sooooooo much from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of our most special day!

I've been thinking through some of the best weddings I've attended, and often, the music was a big part of what made them so special. So now, allow me to share with you some of the easy tips on choosing music that will help guarantee a memorable wedding for you and your guests.

1.) Define the mood of your event and decide on what kind of music you would like to be played at your wedding

Are you having a religious ceremony, perhaps a church wedding? Make sure to ask of the church's restrictions when it comes to choosing songs. Some churches do not allow love songs to be played during ceremony. This is one of the "must-ask" questions when looking for a church to begin with. As for the reception, will it it be a formal sit-down dinner, or an informal, relaxed celebration?

Would you like to have a string ensemble-- from a soloist to a full orchestra, or  a chorale and/or a ready CD to be played during ceremony? Would you rather prefer a quartet for your reception or a full band for a more modern ambiance? Talk this over with your husband-to-be and from there, it would be much easier for you to shortlist and/or  narrow down your choices for your musicians.

2.) Know the parts of your wedding where you need music

For the ceremony, you can be guided by your misalette. Most videographers don't want any music played during the exchange of vows. This is for them to document that special moment without interference. You will also be needing music for your recessional and the photo ops. Allocate a playlist as well for the Cocktail Hour as to not bore the guests while waiting. Most importantly, make sure to provide an entertaining set during dinner time.

3.) Consider your guests

Most weddings include guests from all age groups and walks of life, and your music choices should be sensitive to their needs. If you or your partner happen to be a fan of rock music, consider that not all of your guests will appreciate rock music in a such a formal gathering as a wedding. Likewise, chatting with your father-in-law with Madonna's "Like a Virgin" on the background is no fun. 

4.) Do a thorough research on the lyrics

Most people think, "Oh choosing songs for a wedding should be easy!" It is actually not. Not all of your all-time and current faves can be included to your wedding playlist. Remember to listen carefully to each song, look it up in the internet if possible, and you'll be surprised on how many of them you can cross off from your list. Most, if not all, love songs nowadays depict heartbreak so bride-to-bes  should really take a lot of precaution on this. Please please please take time to choose your song selections wisely and prioritise the lyrics more than the melody as this is what truly matters. For example, not many people realise that the song, "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross is actually a song for those whose dads had passed away. I've been to a few weddings before wherein brides used this song for their Father-Daughter dance and I cringed! I wanted to tell the bride, "You are actually having this dancing moment with your dad who is in front of you right now and is very much alive." It is quite a confusing a song, I believe. And for this reason, couples should spend a considerable amount of time to do GOOD research for their wedding music.

5.) If you are hiring a DJ or a band, personally choose the songs, if you can. Otherwise let them know of your dislikes.

Be sure to be clear on what  your musical preferences/ genres are and most especially, your dislikes. Let them know that you do not like "Gangnam Style" or "Gwiyomi" to be played at your reception. Make it known to them- and in writing.

6.) Finalise and copy furnish your playlist to the necessary persons at least a week before your wedding

Be sure to email your final playlist included in your wedding program (both for ceremony and reception) at least 1 week before your wedding day to give your musicians or band enough time to practice. Don't forget to copy furnish this list to your coordinator, host and sound suppliers for everyone's organisation and continuity of work flow on the big day.

I've come up with some great playlist from a variety of genre which I will be sharing within the week, but for now, check out on some of our selected songs that we used for our own wedding. Enjoy!

Turning Page (Prelude))

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A Thousand Years (for the Processional)

The First Time I Loved Forever (for my Bridal March)

Sparks Fly (Recessional)

Moon River (First Dance)

Butterfly Kisses (Father-Daughter Dance)

Our Themes n Motif's INSPIRATION magazine feature!

This is a looooong overdue post, I know,  but still very much blog worthy in my opinion (at least in my own blog. Hahaha!) as this is the first ever opportunity that our wedding (or parts of it) were featured in a bridal magazine. And it is not just for any other magazine as it is for the Themes n Motifs INSPIRATIONS magazine's maiden issue.

You may now browse the online version of the INSPIRATIONS  magazine using your iPad, notebook, your trusty PC, and just about everything else that gives you internet access. Hard copies are also now available around the metro at your nearest bookstores.

Lower Centre: Chalkboard handwritten signs by Moki Gray; Photo Credits by Paul Vincent Photography

Much closer view of the chalkboard signs by Moki Gray

(upper photo) Who Calls The Shots feature on our amazing creative portaiture by Paul Vincent

Our BIGGEST THANKS to Themes & Motifs INSPIRATIONS magazine for this feature. Also to +Moki Gray  for the wonderful chalk art she's made for us that definitely added spunk and  character to our wedding. You may visit her here and in here to see more of her papery and design works.

Special thanks also to Paul Vincent for our awesome photos. Click on the BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER EVER! for his rates and portfolio.

Count Thy Blessings

AND I'M BACK!!! Yeyyyy! It feels soooo good to be back HOME! Finally, after more than 2 weeks of being in an online hiatus, I am now bursting to share with all of you all of the new happenings and the exciting changes we've been through the past couple of weeks.

Of course, to put everyone in suspense, we didn't have internet connection for those two long weeks thus the quiet time in this blog, that we only had to depend on our mobile data. But anyway, we are back to enjoying unlimited web surfing again and I can't wait to tell you ALL of our amazing experiences and blessings.

I am not able to write everything in this post though as I am honestly rushing this post on my way to work. But best efforts on completing my kwentos within the week.

First blessing that I realised over my online shy days are my readers. Yes, it has been confirmed, I do have official readers aside from my husband, my sisters and my friends! hahaha! Quite a handful of people were actually emailing and messaging me on facebook getting concerned whether I have ceased on blogging.
Most of them admitted that they have been greatly inspired on the wedding realisations that I share and it makes them grounded with their planning.  Some have just been looking forward on the next collaborations that I will be making with wedding vendors, and others......... just missed me! mwahahhaa! Kidding aside, these type of messages I get from random readers encourages me to write more and inspire more knowing that I am able to impart  substantial lessons and or ease someone else's burden, may it be a bride-to-be feeling burnt-out on wedding politics or a couple stressing financially. "Wow" and "overwhelming" are not even close  to describing how BIG it feels for me. It scares me in a way that people actually view me as "reliable", or  "credible" despite just having written a few posts. I mean, what good have I done to deserve this?? HONESTLY! (???)

I've already figured out that majority of my readers  (with the exemption of my husband and my friends), are female in gender and who are engaged. A good half of them are either getting married this year, the next... and oh, whose wedding date and husbands are yet to be announced hehehe! Anyway, what I found interesting is that they were all unanimous in admiring our simple wedding and how surprising it was for them to discover that everything was planned by yours truly while I was soooo far away from where our wedding was held. Three of my readers who contacted me through FB are from overseas as well. They shared to me their anxiety on several aspects in relation to their respective weddings such as "How often should one come home for wedding errands?", "How much of our income should be allotted for our wedding funds??", "the art of negotiation and haggling via email", "gown fitting through skype", how to choose a theme for your wedding?", "how to make all the details work out", "how to know if a particular supplier is right for you", and all the other "how to's.

Seriously, I chickened out for a minute upon reading their questions just because I'm not quite sure on what to answer them.... I mean, I obviously had my means work for me. If I tell them what I think, and if it doesn't work just right for them, I fear that it might backfire on me one day or that I might be held accountable for that. However, who am I to say no to these people? I was on my own when I started with our wedding preps and I was away... and even if I didn't experience much struggle as I really fancied weddings since way back, I know how it feels to be in some sort of a dilemma- to be in a state wherein while you thought you knew exactly what you wanted but then the next minute you become unsure. So I've decided to come full blast. To help people who think I can be of good help to them... I will share what I know and what I did for my own wedding which I believe really, really worked especially for those overseas brides out there. I shall dedicate a separate post about answering the most frequent questions stated above in the coming days :)

Meanwhile.................... what kept Jake and I EXTREMELY busy for the past two weeks is this!

We  finally (!!!) found our first love nest and we couldn't be any happier. It is just a simple and clean one- bedroom loft ( a cutesy one at that!) and currently, we are still on the finishing stage. We still have a few tidying up to do especially in our bedroom as we are actually facing a massive shortage of clothing hangers so you can still sight some of our clothes in boxes and in paper bags but yeah, we're getting there. Other than that, mukha na talaga syang bahay with pieces of furniture already  and the basic tools which is essential to make Jake and I survive. We had all of our utilities connected and finally, our INTERNET and landline has been made up and running a few days ago so kumpleto na! Jake and I felt the ultimate kilig when we visited "our"  unit for the very first time after the the keys were handed over to us. As soon as we stepped foot on the property and saw the "LEASED" sign on the facade, we both let out a kilig giggle and we just had to take a photo of it for confirmation. Then when he turned the main switch and the lights switched on, he jumped for joy. He also did the same when he checked each faucets from the kitchen and the bathroom and saw water dripping out of it. Totoo na talaga 'to!

It may be shallow for some but these things we consider as HUMONGOUS blessings from up above and we cannot hide the immense joy we feel as we have been praying so hard for these. We have another one to thank God for but we are not spilling as of yet, baka maudlot. P.S. I'm not implying pregnancy here. Just thought of clearing that out. Hehehehe!

I will have to cut short my story for now though, but I promise to tell you more in the coming days. Hopefully if we get to tidy up the house  a little bit more, we can show you some snapshots of our sweet and tiny abode. Until then! :)

The Winning Entry by CJ Mendoza: On Finding The Right Person

Miel and CJ

First of all, I really admire both Moki's and Clarissa's work. It would be an honour to be gifted with an invitation by them if we win. Me and fiance met during college and we are each other's first relationship. Our wedding is on February 7th of next year which would also be our 10th year together. It maybe cliche to say, but I honestly believe that we are meant for each other. Before I met him, I was extremely picky in allowing guys to court me, and I never said yes to any of them. But when I met him, I knew that there is something different about him that it took only a month for us to be "officially" together, and we've been inseparable since.

Looking back, it was a relatively smooth road with a few minor bumps and hiccups that were never big enough to destroy our relationship. People often ask what's our secret and how does it feel to be in such a long term relationship which is unusual nowadays. We usually just smile and shrug because we honestly have no idea on what to answer them. I say that time just passes by so fast that before we know it, it's our anniversary again.

But in all seriousness  after years on this relationship, one thing I've realised is that the reason on why everything has been smoothly falling into place is simply because I am with the right person. The right one who loves me despite of my flaws and who faithfully stays by my side no matter what obstacle comes our way.

I thank God that we met quite early in our lives as one of the blessings of a long term relationship is how we have seen each other mature and grow into the persons we are today. And in approximately 10 months, we are finally making it official. I am marrying my best friend, my soul mate, my lover, college boyfriend, travel buddy and number 1 fan.

We deserve to win a free wedding invitation suite by Moki Gray{designs} + calligraphy services of Clarissa Ines + printing services of Concepts & Technology because we are the proof that when two people are right for each other, everything just falls into place. <3 <3 <3