Hello!

Oh my gee.

I just realized how much I value writing and the feeling of relief it gives me every after composition is something I can't explain--it gives me so much happiness. Motherhood, at the same time, is just exactly the same. Although the past few days, my motherhood kinda stops me from writing because I'd rather play with Sword when he's awake and sleep with him when he's asleep. BUT!!! It's gonna be fun and more exciting if I share my story of motherhood through words and that's what's up for now. Writing about motherhood. And more! :)

Now that I'm overwhelmed and lost track on what I must do, I'll just start by sharing you Sword's two firsts! First children's party he's attended and his first Halloween experience! I know, it's already mid-November to bear his costume party photos but.. my baby is just too cute for words. Hahaha

My ba-bee is the most adorable bee!

He brought home a lot of sweets from his first Trick or Treat experience.

Days after he attended his cousin Marcus' Christening...

...and his cousin Ceean's costume birthday party!

"Hmm why do you have to keep on posting my photos online, Mommy?"

The world needs to see a wonder like you, son! :)

So I'll keep them coming. :)

♥,

Marianne

Stash!

My "kikay" hormones are now back, 4 months post partum. I can remember how I hated putting stuff on my face when I was still pregnant with Sword. My big cosmetic pouch turned into an old camera case which carried the most basic of all the basic makeups: a compact foundation, colored lip balm and a blush cream. On days my face needed a level up, I just fix my brows. That was all.

Gladly, my part time hosting job did the trick of bringing the "new woman" in me. The used-to-be old camera case is now safely kept in the room and cosmetic pouches occupy my bag now. I also opened the window to try more products and became OC-ier when it comes to skincare. My age helped too. At 25, it's possible for our skin to age faster due to factors like stress and pollution. Syempre I still want to look young and beautiful! I want to embrace my motherhood in a way na hindi naman ako mukhang napabayaan, na-haggard, at higit sa lahat ipagpapalit lang kung saan at kung kanino man. Although Audrey Hepburn said that "Happy girls are the prettiest," I must say that we also need to be pretty if we want to be happy. It comes from within and it should start from you. 

Being the sort of beauty junky that I am, I want to show you my current favorites and my most basic of all the basic makeups these days. Yay, goodbye to my boring compact foundation, lip balm and blush! My kikay mantra: "It's always better to be prepared. Bring more shades!"

Beginning from top:

1. Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Colour in Oleander
2. Shu Uemura Fluid Foundation in #764
3. Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana
4. Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse POREraser
5. Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Cheekcolor in Sunkissed Coral
6. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
7. Revlon Photoready Two-Way Powder Foundation in Natural Ochre
8. Laura Mercier Lip Pencil in Baby Lips
9. Nars in Dolce Vita
10. Nivea Med Repair -- an essential!
11. MAC (Lustre) in Lustering
12. No. 7 in Siren
13. Nature Republic Smudge-Free Mascara in Black
14. MAC Brow Set Gel in Girl Boy
15. Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Opal
16. Revlon in Coral Berry (674)

I'm trying to update my stash most especially during hosting events to develop more, matured looks. I find a hard time convincing my audience that I am already a mother of 1. LOL. But with all the new things I'm trying out now, some things remain--like my Nivea Med Repair lip balm. I'm a user for yearssss now.

Also, I'm about to update my skincare regimen but unfortunately, my face developed rashes after walking under the sun a couple of days ago. :( Not sure what it is but I do hope this is nothing serious! I'll blog about my new discoveries if there's a day like this soon when Sword takes a calming, unkabogable afternoon nap. I swear you'll love these brands even more.

Enjoy your weekend, loves!

♥,

Marianne

Family Portrait

We have been planning to take Marius out for the very first time so we can visit Pic-A-Boo! When he was still in my tummy, I often daydreamed about it and thought of so many ideas including him becoming Iron Man, because I was pegging it long before we called him our Little Sailor. :) And that time has finally come. Unfortunately, no Iron Man costume was available for infants so we just made him a cutie, chubby football baby! I swear baby, Mom's gonna make you wear an Iron Man costume.

We also took the chance to have our first official family portrait taken there. Oh the joy of having your own family. <3

Sharing you some of my favorites!

Our little Bachingching was all smiles!!! Oh I love you baby so much!!! 

Ok, I looked like a floating momma. My shorts did blend well with the backdrop! Hahaha.

It would be too hard to kick a ball this cute. 

My Bach in a luggage bag. I want him to be a traveler someday!

My Little Sailor is growing up soooooo fast! Would you believe he's already growing his first tooth?!

The Pic-A-Boo package was a bit expensive, to be honest. A three-set package costs Php 550--what you will be getting is 3 copies of 3R prints and exceeding copies cost Php 150. They have bulk prices though, and if you reach Php 3000, which will probably include 15 copies of 3R prints and 2 copies of 8x12 prints, you will be given low-res soft copies of selected photos. I hope they'll be generous enough to provide customers with high-res copies na lang. Okay, kalma. I love the results naman. Hehe!

So these are the two copies we chose for 8x12 prints:

<3

My most favourite. Can't wait to put this in a frame! 

Sana in our next shoot (on his 9th month, hopefully), we'll have Tofu with us! And sana outdoor! :)

And oh, today we'll celebrate our son's fourth month. Ang bilis! We love you, baby!

♥,

Marianne

Ladies' Night

Two Fridays ago, I had my first night out with friends, long after I gave birth to Sword. I recall how excited I was to be out once again, from deciding what to wear to reaching the sky with the help of a peep-toe heels. Oh to be young!

It wasn't really the party-party, dance and drink party, though. We stayed in in a hotel closest to most of the girls, like 30 minutes away from home! You know how much I love trying overnight stays in different hotels and enjoying the free breakfast and use of swimming pools that come with it, so we were glad to lay our backs on the soft and comforting beds of Luxent Hotel. Only I didn't get to try the breakfast 'coz we left very early for an event I hosted the following day--which I am also about to blog the soonest I can. :P

Although I Instagram-ed most of the photos already, allow me to share you more.

The girls and I decided to have a theme to make the night extra special. Special because our dear girl friend Anne is back from Spain/Portugal. :) So guess what our theme was? Of course, dresses and heels haha!

The night also became a baby bump shoot for Rachel, who's now 6 months pregnant, and a slumber party only in dresses, not in pyjamas!

More pictures!

When and where our next hotel escapade will be? I hope by then, Phoebe, Cheenee, Cha, Susie and Miles will get to join us! Love them girls! 

♥,

Marianne

My Best Friend's Wedding

Phoebe has finally tied the knot with his long time boyfriend, Ruffy! Yay I love weddings! It makes me fall in love over and over again! 

The beautiful bride. What is payat! <3

I love cakes!

Her wedding served as a mini reunion for us girls, too! We rarely see Miles and Cheenee is back from Macau. We still hoped Anne, who's based in Spain, was with us since she's also in the Philippines for a vacation.

iPhone photo since Cheenee's not yet uploading! Meh!!!

Mommies' day off este day out!

Congratulations and best wishes, my dear best friend!

Hmm I wonder who's next! We're getting O-L-D!

♥,

Marianne