warm elegance in Roslyn, NY

112817

PANICKY

I barely have a week left in Manila and I'm going crazy over work + last minute to-dos! Got a couple of blog prizes/giveaways being sent out this week so I do apologise to readers who haven't received their packages- please know that I haven't forgotten! 

I leave on Sunday and I just wanted to capture the energetic view from my window each night. I will miss the never-ending work hours and having the remaining last push energy to drag myself to all the parties and events. BGC is indeed a great and safe place to live in- I could walk at 4 to 5 AM feeling safe with guards greeting me good morning. Feels like the 2.5 years living here just breezed right through. Seven years living in Manila's been both fun and tormenting and I'm definitely ready for the next challenge and city. 

Tons of photos coming up on this blog. Hope everyone's safe in this storm! 

❤

Mt. Maculot day climb (traverse)

San Francisco for the holidays- day 1

MADE IN PARADISE

Mia Arcenas summer collection

photography by Raleene Cabrera

model- Camilla Guidicelli 

❤

cam ham

I get asked a lot about all the cameras I use and it's on the top of my FAQ page. What I can't stress enough is that the type you own doesn't matter without a basic knowledge in framing, composition and lighting, apart from the basic functions of your camera. 

After browsing through my Flickr page I came across photos of all the cameras I've used and I decided to post the ones I've owned through the years...

take no lip

Thanks to Sam for lending me this Gucci dress. It's a shame I had to fold it twice cos the length wasn't working with my thigh-high boots. 

Wish I could wear my hair like this more often but those waves resulted from backing out from the up do on the last minute. Some looks are so photogenic but look like crap IRL. 

 Will gladly accept new lippies for Christmas this year... Notice that I only have two in my kit- Russian Red and Rebel from MAC. So far my list's comprised of lipstick, scented candles and a vacuum cleaner. Mom, I hope you're reading this! 

❤

Summer Rush + Hippie Luxe

Glitter pops

❧

GLITTERED CAKE POPS

VEGAN & SUGAR-FREE Red velvet cake pops coated in dark/white/milk chocolate 
Dusted with EDIBLE GLITTER (white/gold/red)

•Minimum order: 2 dozens (Php 50 per cake pop)
•Christmas packaging included 
•Delivery fee is Php 100 to any area around Metro Manila 

please e-mail skinnysweetsdesserts@gmail.com for orders and inquiries 
ORDER CUT-OFF: DECEMBER 15[Like us on Facebook]

photos: Raleene Cabrera
models: Chai Martinez & Mackenzie Molina
stylist: Kyra Relampagos

❧

Special thanks to 

Love Jane (clothes)

and to

Gayle Ocampo, Love Ocampo, Marianne Wamelda, Lissa Briones & Michael Sy for letting us use their booth at the Jak en Poy exhibit! 

❤

vindy

Went to the Riviera with the whole family today before my brother took some shots near Taal for his art/photography class. 

'Twas "very vindy". 

Shots by my brother, I just edited. 

Parting with my Lumix GF1 tomorrow and finally receiving my new cammy this weekend. 

❤

MB x Claire Unabia-James at the Jak En Poy exhibit

I love how photogenic each booth at our exhibit is!

Two weeks ago, Manila Bulletin's Jere De Mc Cuttac contacted me so they could have a shoot at Jak En Poy with models Danica Magpantay and Claire Unabia from ANTM cycle 10! I was so excited to see them werq. Thanks to Aisa (fellow blogger who styled this shoot with Jere) I got to meet them and I'm proud to show you the photos they've produced out of the shoot. 

Here's Claire's set for now...

As seen on the Manila Bulletin:

 Photography: Darrel Pobre
Styling: Jear De Mc Cuttac and Aisa Ipac
Hair: Dave Grona
Makeup: Joyce Platon
Styling assistants: Keigh Jalbuena, Bianca Sing, Ava Te, 
Pabby De Mc Cuttac and Kristin Lizandra L. Cornejo
Nails: Beauty & Butter


Model: Claire at CalCarrie’s

Here's a BTS video by Kim and Ilsa of The Mutual

❧

Grabbed these from Aisa's blog post. 

Please visit our exhibit! It's extended til November 6.  

[Read til the end of THIS POST for details on how to get there.]

❤

Iceland and Morocco in the eyes of Vito Selma

My very talented friend and "kuya" Vito Selma was kind enough to send me his photographs from Iceland and Morocco a few nights ago. I envy this guy's life right now (who wouldn't?!) since he gets to travel all over the world, study Industrial Design for free and work under a huge firm in Italy. He deserves all of that, of course... He's my best friend Izabelli's brother and I can definitely say that he's one of those really hardworking Filipino designers who is just overflowing with talent and love for our country. He's one of my idols, really. His photographs inspired me to pick up a camera at a young age, and being able to see their factory while I was in high school sort of convinced me to really dive into the world of design. Even if he didn't finish Interior Design to focus on making furniture, that hasn't stopped him from creating amazing displays during expositions (and never fails to bag awards at each one he joins).

I think he took down his blog a long time ago, so he continues to post these type of beautiful photos only on his Facebook page. You can go to his viewbook or check out his design portfolio instead.

So here are some of his photos. I'd share with you the rest from his European adventures but I tell ya, there's just too many and they're all so pretty! He was too lazy to put a watermark on his photos that night so he told me to just fix them for my site. Chose Morocco and Iceland from his collection because of the scenery and the details in the interiors. Enjoy!!!

♥♥♥

ICELAND

Vito met Bjork's sister through his friend Sonja, so he got to meet their parents (and he just HAD TO write that on my Facebook wall to piss me off, jeeeez hahaha). He says Icelandic people are the most fashionable people you'll ever meet. I think this is easy to believe since I remember Yvan Rodic saying that every kid there has a band and dresses impeccably. It's like they go out everyday looking like they've hired a brilliant stylist to dress them. Vito said that in Iceland they don't follow trends and they're just really creative. Even 5-year-olds are fashionable! I'm more pressured to really prepare my wardrobe before visiting! I think Bjork will be there when that time comes (she was in New York when Vito visited their house, HA HA HA!!!).

I really wanted to cry when I saw this photo! Vito said that you could spot 3-5 rainbows a day at this time of the year!

People keep asking him if he sends his photos to National Geographic but all he says is that those guys are PROs... And Vito, you're not?! Jeeeez :))

Quirky shoes from KRON, one of the most expensive boutiques where Vito's friend works. LOVE IT.

Iceland only has a population of 300,000+. If I were to live there, my name would be Raleene Ralphsdottir and Issa/Izabelli would be Isabella Moisesdottir. We'd have to use our father's first name then dottir after it. HAHAHA! My brother would be named Ralph Ralphsson (he's Ralph Jr.).

♥♥♥

MOROCCO

I decided to share these photos on my blog the moment the first photo below was posted on Facebook. These were taken inside a Moroccan riad, one of the small apartments converted into a hotel by its previous owners. I was amazed at how detailed everything looked and how nicely each tile was placed. The smaller details are hand-painted. According to Vito, there's really nothing else to do there so their interiors look AMAZING and they have all the time to put such details on everything. He's also visiting during the hottest time of the year. He said Morocco was a place for travelers, not tourists. Girls have to be more careful as well... One of his friends kept being bugged and a man wanted to buy her for 10 camels. Oh my gosh! :))

The door on the left is the only thing you could see from the outside. "Never judge a house by its door."

From Vito's window

And here's just one of those enviable status messages he posts on his Facebook (mind you, he posts one or two each month!):

"DREAM COME TRUE. working with a documentary filmmaker, sustainable designer and consultant for a new program show for National Geographic. Empowering people with sustainable solutions in the Philippines and the rest of the world."

GAAAH. Make us proud, Vito!!! Thank you for sending me these awesome pictures!

♥