Beef made my day :’)

it’s not a surprise that the girl above gives smiles to a lot of people just by sharing her looks, or spreading good vibes just by blogging her posts. But it doesn’t end there. Aside from being a really creative and productive teen, how she interacts with her readers make her more inspiring.

Recently, I felt really down again with regards to my fashion dreams..then I checked my blog (this blog, coz you know, i have seven in different sites. Hihi :)) There was no notification (seriously, why tumblr!?) but I clicked the “messages” anyway. And whoa, I saw this.

I was lifted up when I read it. Weeeee *-* Who wouldn’t be inspired to receive this in your inbox—from one of the people you admire? And plus, especially at a time when you’re feeling down? Sobrang uplifting. 

People like ate Gela are the ones who will bring you up, the ones whose words will linger in your ears whenever destructive criticism (yes, because constructive is needed, right? :) strike you.

I’ve heard so many criticisms. (Guess we’ve all had) I’ve had so many discouragements to stop loving fashion, or that I have a weird, ugly, freaking, abnormal style that’s why I should stop this passion for style and etcetera. But guess what? The fashion industry should be thankful for people like ate Gela Munoz who succeeds and shares her talents; yet also sees and appreciates passion—even in newbies. That inspiration she, and people like her, spreads is promising. :) 

When I reach my dreams, Gela Munoz will be one of the names I will never forget to thank.

Her words, even only through tumblr, (because we haven’t met in person yet) will always be a part of my internal positive recorder which I will play whenever criticism mind tapes are playing again.

(Yes, positive words can bring that much impact, dearies. Especially when one is in a down moment. Teka, ang emo ko. LOL. That’s why encourage as much as you can. You don’t know how you liven a dream which is in danger of dying even through few words :) 

So, in case you haven’t met her yet in the blogosphere, meet the beef behind elbeef.tumblr.com!

A band vocalist, an Atenean, a model, a blogger/lookbooker, a stylist (and these are just few of what I know about her) But despite her talents, she remains so down-to-earth and so virtually approachable! Yes, virtually approachable! Haha :) Check her blog, and you’ll see how she answers questions :) She’s also very willing to answer styling inquiries. It’s like she knows you in person.

I have so many liked blogs, but something that’s rare is that kind of virtual “approachability” (if there’s such a word haha) which she has. :D

And candygirls! Look what we have above, she’s featured in candymag last June! :)

Congrats ate Gelaaaaaa :) Thank you for the encouraging words! And I pray we’ll meet na before 2012 ends. Haha! Gotta hear your voice and take pictures with you and hopefully, shop with you too! God bless, and stay inspiring, promising, yet humble. I am one of the people you inspire ^_^ Love you miss Gelabeef!

When a blogger inspires you through her looks and outfits, that’s good and refreshing, and is actually needed for fashion enthusiasts. It’s like food to us, it feeds our passion. But when a blogger inspires not only through those looks but also through their words, that can be changing and moving. That’s like a medicine that can cure a fashion sickness, or a dreamer’s sickness called I-can’t-do-this. All of us have symptoms of that sickness, it’s up to us if we’ll let it eat us. And since all of us have that, it’s better if we pull each other up. Like if only the lookbook community can be a tangible reality, it would be great. Every style is appreciated. Really. You can be yourself. The looks I had which were criticized in real life found their niche in lookbook. We would rather encourage (even while giving constructive criticisms) and help each other conquer the I-can’t-do-this sickness.

Before I end this, I just remembered a quotation saying that true success is not only what you’ve become, but what people have become because of you. :) How true. And this, I think, is one of ate Gela’s best traits. How she encourages the dreamer within her readers. I’m so happy to be one. Thanks ate Gela.

Passion refueled. Dreams inspired. That’s how Beef made my day.

XO, Graceeeeee <3

PS. All photos (except the second one) were grabbed from her blog

(Source: fashournalist)

♥ my Candy Style Awards 2012 experience

Note: Sigh, I don’t know where to begin. But oh well I am aware that, I always begin like that. Teehee :)) BTW I know I’m not on my personal blog but this is a fashion event so I think it’s worth sharing to be in my style blog :D plus, I’m a candygirl forever.

(coz I am too wordy you might just want to scroll down fast and view the pictures LOL)

Really, I still can’t get over with what happened last May 4: the first ever Candy Style Awards. It was such an answered prayer to be there..the first Candy event I’ve been to :) Met fellow candygirls, a few celebrities, candy cuties, but most of all, the bloggers I look up to and Candy Editors that have been inspiring me for years already! Now I can’t wait for more Candy events and fashion events :)

My parents finally allowed me just that day itself, as long Dad will accompany me back and forth. Yes, you might say my parents are so-very-overprotective, but I can’t be more than thankful for it. :’)

So yes, I was going there. Yay! But there were few hesitations. 1) I wasn’t prepared with what to wear. Haha. Attendees were encouraged to wear their most stylish outfits :D I really went for a simple outfit, though, one that I would normally wear for a normal schoolday. But more than that, 2) second hesitation was I would go there alone. Had I known days before that I’d be going (grammar nazis, I need your help LOL) I would have texted my bestfriend Anna, and my candy girl friends like Prei and Keselle for us to have this fashion date :’) But no, too late I was inviting them that same day.

But with courage, I decided to go anyway. God answered my prayer to go here. Why hesitate still? :) I felt His comfort. “Daughter, I’ll be with you. You won’t be alone. Never.” And I felt that more when that same day—an hour before Dad and I left—I received the Air 21 parcel containing my candygirl shirt which I won through Ms. Lissa Kahayon’s blog :) [will blog about it in a different post] Awww I was really teary-eyed when I received it. I knew I had to wear it that day :) It feels so meant to be!! Though a fashion event doesn’t often welcome shirts, and though I myself is not a lover-but not a hater either-of shirts, well this one is definitely not just another shirt :) Aside from the fact that only few chosen people own the same piece, this shirt speaks a large part of who I am, that part which brought me there at the event in the first place :)

I am. A true-blue. Candygirl. Forever :’)

So yeah, I went despite these tiny hesitations and questions. After all, one of the characteristics of a true-blue candygirl is she’s fearless for the right reasons :) She would bring confidence with her wherever she goes and that would take her far. She would not let any hesitation or inhibition hinder her from letting the right reasons bring out the best in her. Thus, a true-blue candygirl opens every opportunities with a smile even though at times, with fear.

Now as I’m looking back at the pictures I took then which I’d be posting below, I can’t be more than thankful. Thaaaaaaaaanks Candy! :)

Arrived at PowerPlant Mall by almost 6 o’clock already.. :) Above’s a picture of the long line of stylish candygirls waiting outside Rockwell Tent. And that picture doesn’t even show half of the actual line. :)

 

Anyway, above’s the ultra-simple-outfit-for-a-fashion-event that I was talking about  :)) But I liked it though. Worn my fave girly-rocker color combo: black and pink. It was simple but it made the statement of my shirt stand out. And I think that mattered more :) More about my outfit in my outfit post here. 

I was alone when I came there, ‘til I met fellow Candygirls Nika, Joann and Shane. They were the girls next to me in line. One of them accidentally bumped me and said “Sorry.” I said “Okay lang” with a smile :) And that started our conversation :) These girls were so nice I didn’t feel like a stranger :) Thanks still to Candymag for teaching every reader how not to be afraid in meeting new people and building new friendships. :D 

Shane

Joann

Nika :)

I envy them because they are incoming senior high school students :) I so wish I am still in highschool. LOL. (I found college more enjoyable, though, but highschool is just more memorable..)

Inside the venue! :)

A picture of Megan and Lauren Young giving their speech for winning Best Stylish Sisters :) It was one of the awards given to the show. (Awards were given to the most stylish celebrities :)

Candygirls shouted out as Somedaydream gave his intermissions :)

Two of the most inspiring people I know, Mimi Tiu and Marla Miniano of Candy magazine =)

By the way, here’s a picture of Candy Style Stars Laureen Uy, Kryz Uy, Patricia Prieto, Sarah Lahbati, Jasmin Curtis-Smith, Tricia Gosingtian, Jaz Reyes, and of course, Mango It Girl Camille Co! :))))

With ate Vern Enciso of A Shoe Tale :’)

I was watching the event when, I saw the Enciso siblings moving out of the venue, so I ran outside too because I felt they were already leaving. I soooo wanted to meet them. Thankfully, I did! And oh my gosh, they were so nice and sincere :”)

Before I got to approach them, someone went to them first, I think it was a brand. Then Vern looked back and saw me, and smiled. :’) The conversation is still going between them, and she looked back at me and smiled again. Those two smiles meant a lot for me :”> Then she told the girl who was first fixing things to take a picture with her “Saglit lang ha, unahin muna namin siya.”

And that was it! OMG, they came to me. I was so overwhelmed. I can’t believe the people who I just see in the internet are right now in front of me, smiling :’) They were so kind. Really. They were the ones who took the pictures :) Vern thanked a lot when I said they inspire me so much. Verniece asked “Anong pangalan mo?” “Grace.” “It’s really nice meeting you!” OMG :’) I know those are just simple things but it meant a lot to me. They were so humble, so sweet, so real. OMG.

It’s one thing to inspire your readers through your blogs; making them feel special, even in little ways, is another. :’) 

This is my picture with Verniece Enciso :)

After I took pictures with them, I was teary-eyed and I felt that I still want to talk to them but I don’t know what to say and I know they’re about to leave.. All I said was “Sobrang sobrang saya ko po nakilala ko kayo thank you so much!”

And after that, I went to the venue. Still feeling overwhelmed. Still teary-eyed. Then two drops of very small tears of joy fell :) Of course I wiped them instantly. The event was so happy. Duhh, no room for tears. LOL.

With one of the people I love—not just admire—the most, ate Linn Oeymo 

But guess what? After wiping the two little droplets, I haven’t prevented more tears from falling when I saw Ate Linn! I love her so much. That tight-hug-after-a-year-without-seeing-each-other, OMG, made me cry.  I missed her so much. I’m a Linnian so I met her last 2010 and 2011 in the show Shoutout. And haven’t met her again since. Yet she didn’t forget. Didn’t change. :) “Kamusta ka na? Kayo? Si Jen? Sana magkitakita tayo ulit. I miss you!”  Those sentences were one of those that echoed the most in my head. 

Anyway, here are more pictures :)

with the gorgeous model, Janina Tan! <3 been seeing her in the pages of Candy for years and now I met her face to face :) -*stunning*-

Also met the gorgeous girl behind Mbrella Multimedia :)

With Male Blogger Robbie Becroft of the awesome blog Robbie Off Duty 

With Tracy Ayson of Fashion Fangirl :) She’s even prettier in person! <3

With Kelly Medina of The Travelling Boots! =) Check out his blog post about Candy Style Awards: http://www.kellymedina.net/post/23092925646/candy-style-awards-2012 and see all the winners and details of the event! :D

OMG, with the superb Tricia Gosingtian! I love it that she offered to hold the camera :’)

With my most favorite fashion blogger in the entire world, ate Camille Co! (she messaged me in lookbook saying it’s okay that I call her with the ate haha) She was in a hurry because she already needs to go that time but I’m so glad I interacted with her even for just five seconds. :) I know I will see her again. I will. I will :’)

I really love this shot! If you’re the girl here with Kryz Uy, (you also might be a blogger, yey!) I’d love to know you and put your name here:) I was actually waiting to have a picture with her but I often let other people first thinking I can take a picture with her anyway so I can wait. But then, after some more shots, she already needed to leave and went in a hurry all of a sudden and said sorry. Sayang I didn’t had a picture with her but again, I know I’ll see her again :)

I also haven’t had pictures with bloggers Patricia Prieto, and Laureen Uy :( Laureen was surrounded by so many fans. I also wished that I had a picture with Lissa Kahayon! I saw her—and was stunned—before the event started but the procrastinator that I am was like “At the end of the event is the time for that.” But she left early I guess and haven’t seen her again that night :( Supersayang. I wanted to say thank you to her, it seems like a nice first meet that I am wearing the Candygirl shirl I won through her giveaway and just arrived that day itself! Awww :’) 

Anyway, now I’ll be sharing pictures with some of the Candy Cuties! To say they are cute is actually an understatement :)

I think he’s the cutest :)

He was one of the friendliest :) Enzo.

One of the kindest and I also think he’s the jolliest of them all, model LA! :D 

The Candy Cuties weren’t just cute but were also nice and gentlemen to all of us candygirls! Though I am usually not that comfortable with “akbays” in real life (prolly except in pictures for a few seconds, and with close friends) but then haha, Candy Cuties are exception to the ‘rules’!! LOL. :) They were friendly to all of us Candygirls and Candymen.

Of course, here’s a picture with the fabulous Candygirls I met and spent the night with :’) I seriously want them to start their own blogs, too :) Thanks again, gals! (If ever you’ll have the chance to read this :)

It was really a memorable night. I didn’t expect it to be because I was literally alone when I came. But Daddy God is so greaaaaat for giving me a day like this. And so is the great dad He gave me here who brought me there and fetched me afterwards. :’)

Before leaving the event. Pose with “Candy” :D (more outfit shots in my outfit post) Anyway, I also met the awesome Candy editors who inspired me and still inspires me and 100,00+ candygirls, but I will put them on a separate post :)

That’s all for now. :) Whew! Such a long post. Sorry I really am a very talkative detailed story teller. I’ll try if I can be more concise next time. Did you also go here last May 4? :) just curious :) I love fellow candygirls :)

GOD BLESS and stay stylish dearies!

PS I hope I’d publish my unfinished drafts one by one now :O

Candy Style Guide (lovin’ it!)

Above is a picture of what I have been saving for since I heard about it: The Candy Style Guide. Being a true-blue candygirl that I am, I can’t miss this lovely, hip and informative handbook! But thank God, He heard my prayers before I even saved for its amount.

On this year’s tenth day, I had my own copy. Yay!

         But this is special to me and isn’t just another copy :)) There’s something that sets this one apart from the rest..

          (^a peek! :)

         Here’s the first page of this cute handbook. What makes this copy special to me? It’s that it came from one of my friends! (and super classmate this semester) Tabitha :D

              And awww, on the first page is also where her short yet sweet and sincere dedication can be found! :D (plus points because it’s written in PINK! :) I really appreciated these words. I love you too, Tij! 

     Above is a pixie showing a peek of what’s inside :) 

Sigh! I’m so excited to read it. Fellow fashionistas and candy girls out there, Candy Style Guide is really a must have! I encourage you to buy a copy ASAP =) or moreover, give one to a friend! and make her really happy like what Tabi did to me <3

                         Here are just four of its colorful pages. OMG, two of my favorite blogs, itscamilleco.com—my ultimate fave Miss Co!—and kryzuy.com! Love love love :) I plan to blog more of these pages next time after I read it. Also featured here are Laureen Uy, Vern Enciso, Patricia Prieto, Bestie Kinosis, and oh my gosh, more! There are loads of style tips whatever your mood is.

Thank God for this lovely handbook! Before I end this post, here’s a picture with lovely Tabitha!

             Isn’t she naturally pretty!? And she’s even prettier in person, no kidding! (Thanks Kay for taking this picture :)

So there, dearies, I hope you’ll get your CSG now :) Thanks for the love in your messages and comments here and on my lookbook. REALLY, I APPRECIATE THEM ALL! =))

God bless and stay stylish! 

Lotsa love,

Graceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee