Friday Sermon

one hundred percent.

Pic Monkey

I am so low tech, I do layouts with power point. Hassle!
My sister told me about the PicMonkey photo editor application (I do not have the patience to personalize editing with photoshop - haha!) Now, I can not wait to do collages here and there. So easy, peasy!

Here's one sample from tambay time with the kids. =) It's a super simple layout but after a neolithic period experience with "manually" dragging and resizing and putting the pictures together you'll understand my excitement over this application.

Now, I know what to give my nanay for Christmas, collage of our family pictures - cheap but meaningful!! haha!!

Confused Vanity

There had been a million and one moments when I thought of discontinuing this blog and even as I type this, the thought of doing so will not really shake and rattle the blogosphere, more so, the world. Sometimes I play pretend that I am a celebrity and readers spend their precious time dreaming and wanting my larger-than-life existence and swooning over my too-good-to-be-true life the way I do over blogs and sites which I cannot get the hang out of reading or have somewhat or greatly influenced me – but in truth and nothing but the truth – I am not.

My faltering enthusiasm towards writing is mainly because my purpose of detailing my experiences, interests, plans and goals in life and whatever it is that I feel like writing about has been nothing but a selfish desire to release stress and calm the nerves, get in touch with my creative instincts or whatever is left of it, and lastly, to complete the cycle of a purposeful human life: to be able to write a book, as I have written in my very first entry, and this blog, is my version of writing a book  (aside from writing a book, they say one has to plant a tree, which I already did, albeit for press release purposes for a project I have handled before; another is to bear a child, which I plan to do so, sometime in the future) – in short, all reasons are geared towards nobody  and nothing else but myself. Me. Me. Me.  And while I acknowledge that self-love is essential (Oscar Wilde explained it beautifully, “To love one self is the beginning of a lifelong romance”), there is nothing lonelier than getting overwhelmed with the me-ness the current era lauds.

How do I say or explain this clearly so as not to appear self-contradicting as I personally give utmost value to me-time and self-love? Take this for example: whenever I write, I talk to myself and hope to elicit reaction from myself. The cycle gets lonely because the source and the recipient are both contained within my universe. It is not about the number of readership or blog hits, it is more about being able to write and share stories for a greater purpose other than self-entertainment. Yes, that’s the magic word: SHARE. And sharing requires an extension beyond one’s self and reaching out towards others – out of the self. This is getting ridiculous I know, it’s one of my weaknesses – getting a point across. To put it succinctly, yes, I may indulge in writing and stories about my sexy self (*wink*), but I need to do it, write it for somebody. Purpose. This blog needs a purpose and I hope to write it for somebody I love or will love because I firmly believe that I can indulge in traversing the road to self-discovery and self-improvement (my current addiction) but I will do so for a reason far greater than self-discovery and self-improvement – I hope to do it out of LOVE, a love spurred from within and will radiate beyond the source. A love that is shared.

I am not sure if you are catching my drift because at this point, I am just as confused as the reader who googled the word “hotness” and this blog popped out as number one site on the “search result” list (because that’s just the way it is), clicked the site and read this entry.

Second, I want to focus on a theme without giving up the intimate feel of sharing personal stories. At some point I wanted to write a blog about commuting because commuting in a third world country is in itself an interesting story but I am pretty sure, 90% of the entries will be rants about the inefficiency of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and I do not want to write about my rants. The world has its fair share of negatrons and I do not want to be an unwelcomed addition (should the blog materialize, its title will have to be, “The Sexy Commuter”, yes, sexiness and hotness are two of the traits I will never let go of).

I have also entertained the thought of writing a blog about my being a “tita” to Theo and Tanya. The blog’s title will be “What A Tita: Stories about a Not-so-mommy mommy” and I will post entries out of my love of and amusement to the cute antics of my two superstars, Theo and Tanya, and more so, it will be a sort of update for my brother, who currently works in Dubai, on the growing years of his children. God bless the OFWs. You see, while most people my age (and who are still single) are into clubbing and socializing and fashion and business and things associated with celebrating the vibrancy and energy of being young, I am into reading mommy magazines and mommy blogs. I like to keep things simple and practical and mommy tips and pieces of advice are all about simplicity and practicality. Though I have said this a million times over, NO, I do not have plans of being a mommy in the nearest future imaginable. I cannot remember the reason, but I scrapped this tita-blogging plan.

So, what now? I have some ideas that I am working on. Again, there is nothing life-altering about it and ‘another’ again, I am pretty sure there will be no shaking and rattling the world when the idea comes into fruition EVEN after a lengthy discourse (haha!); but it will certainly be done out of love, for somebody or some bodies (the plural of somebody – gets? Haha!) and the theme shall remain as it is: a personal diary. Yun lang pala noh? What the???

For now, let’s hush the rush and gag the nag. Keep calm (keep writing). And carry on.

Sunday Sermon

And what I have to, sort of keep telling myself when I get really psyched out about that, is, don't be afraid. Don't be daunted. Just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it, whatever that might be. If your job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed, for just one moment through your efforts, then "Olé!" And if not, do your dance anyhow. And "Olé!" to you, nonetheless. I believe this and I feel that we must teach it. "Olé!" to you, nonetheless, just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up. - Elizabeth Gilbert

  

Pic Pick of the Week

bring in the colors.

via vi-b-rant

Speaking with the Angel

via google

Speaking with the Angel 

edited by Nick Hornby

Six Reasons why I Love Love the Book

(‘love’ written twice was intentional)

One: Nick Hornby. I have loved him since About A Boy, loved him more in How to be Good, even more in A Long Way Down. Then this book.

Two: Anthology. It is a collection of 12 stories in one book. It is schizo-inducing to jump from one character to the next, one story to the next, totally unrelated people, places and events – a wonderful ride of being a prime minister in midlife crisis in one chapter, a mime artist lost in passion to his craft in another chapter, a grandson who stole his deceased grandmother’s false teeth, a chef who prepares the last meals (literally) of prisoners in death row, a dog in a race.

 Three: It is written in first person narratives. I am partial to this kind of writing.

Four:  English expressions. Bloody. Bloke. Bollocks. Filthy. Shag. Snooze. Bugger.

Five: Colin Firth. I know him only as the actor. Bridget Jones. Love Actually. Pride and Prejudice. I did not know he can write a story. This bloke bloody writes as grand as he bloody acts.

Six: The proceeds from sale of the book will be for the benefit of children with autism. Nick Hornby’s inspiration is his own son with special needs, Danny.

Sunday Sermon

Fate. Faith.

via topazhorizon

Handmade

I have no other talent but my sexiness. Nyahaha (lol!) But no, sexiness is not even a talent. A talent is something that you hone and spend your time developing and in the great debate of nature and nurture, it falls, without question under nurture while sexiness, when interpreted more as an attitude or character more than it being related to physical attributes, fall under nature.

So let us begin again.

I have no other nature but sexiness. Nyahaha! But no (again), this entry is about talents and skills, let us go back to discussing that and besides as if my sexiness needs elaboration. *wink*

Seriously.

My current addiction now involves four things (seven, if you add Backstreet boys and books and bookmarks :p):

One, my future pink and grey home;

Two, mommy blogs and mommy magazines;

Three, self-help readings and words that inspire and nourish;

Lastly, arts and crafts.

‘Arts and crafts’ is an area I do not really identify myself with. I am not good with my hands. I have basic knowledge of the color schemes and my taste in design is bordering bland and boring. I have great respect to people whose imagination takes them to the deepest ends of the earth and produce something  out of this world and beyond ordinary. 

Last Sunday, I went to 10a Alabama out of curiosity, because they say it's an artist's place and things being showcased and sold are made out of the artist's hands. I felt intimidated with Pinoy's creativity, really. I was a little shy to take pictures and these are all I have. If you have time in the next months or so, they hold this fair every quarter, I encourage you to drop by and visit. It's refreshing to know about a world so different from corporate and the real estate. =)

BONUS: I saw Daphne Osena-Paez, I purposely did not request to have a photo taken with her because she was with her family and I did not want to intrude -  but she was there, on the same place, with her number one fan. Ang Saya!!! 

The Event Poster via 10a Alabama Facebook page

    Hand painted pony tails from Designer's Crib. I bought the lady bug design.

    Until such time I have figured out how to rotate the photo (haha!), here is a picture of Designer's Crib booth.

    Pretty accessories from Gawani Femi.

                        A whole assortment of handmade goodness from Thingamabobs. 

 Just a thought (a thingamabob-induced thought):

Once upon a time, I wished I were Ariel of the Little Mermaid because I think every little girl born in the 80s or the 90s had her Ariel phase. Thingamabob had me singing Part of Your World: "I have gadgets and gizmos a plenty, I've got whozzits and whatzzits galore, you want a thingamabob? I've got twenty! But who cares, no big deal, I want more!!" 

I did not have to google the lyrics to remember, I know the song by heart.

By the way, according to the urban dictionary:

A thingamabob is a noun used to describe items that either you can't remember the name of or that don't actually exist. To drive my monito monita crazy, I want a thingamob for Christmas!! =)

   Vintage-inspired notebooks, journals, bookmarks, magnets and many more from artefact. 

    Trinkets and everything of color from My Marquee.

   I bought a blanket stitched in a pouch, perfect for traveling, from What If Handmade.

    'Gotta love the paper maches.

    I wish I can remember the store's name but they sell really unique accessories.

                                    Crazy over these book lockets from the Junk Studio.

Merry Christmas!!

Hint! Hint!

Mark It More!

And then, there were TEN!

Some time ago, I have written about my super six friends who rival Backstreet Boys as the ultimate reason for my somersaulting heart, click here to review, and after gazillion months and years, finally my used to be Super Six is now the Perfect Ten! A milestone indeed, haha!

I am crazy about bookmarks and I have been collecting them since a friend gave me two of them for my birthday last year, then another jet-setting friend always comes home from a trip with a bookmark for me in tow and then Alan started making specialized bookmarks for me - so what do I have to do now? Start my bookmark empire -  and now I have TEN!!! Ten special bookmarks kept in my topmost secret vault in a bank somewhere in Switzerland and not even James Bond can crack the code, no, never ever!!!

Here are the four additional lovelies modeled by no less than Frances Mayes' A Year in the World. Yes, I have not graduated from my travel literature phase, and I do not think I ever will until the planet earth run out of countries or of culture or of beautiful stories of the same theme but told in different perspective by every unique soul in the entire planet. =)


One: The 50 Books to Read Before You Die bookmark.

I bought this myself from Fully Booked just last night and it's a little stressful to know that I have only read two out of the fifty books in the list although I have one on deck, On the Road by Jack Kerouac. On the Road is a tiring book to read, not tiring in the sense that it is boring and you can not wait for it to end but tiring because when I read I really put myself in the characters and the pages just come alive (I'm corny, I know, but that's just the way I am). The characters are constantly on the move, hitchhiking, traveling, partying, encountering, experiencing - I was exhausted by the time I reached the 5th chapter. I'll pick it up again before the year ends. Kerouac's energy is contagious. And then I am in search of a copy of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. By the way, the two books which I have read already are 1984 and Memoirs of a Geisha. And just so you know, I do not have any intention of reading all books on the list. Haha!



Two: Save the Date bookmark

I got this for free at the Secret Fresh Gallery in Ronac Art Center. I think it is clever to make an invitation out of bookmarks. It's an announcement of the Art Fair Philippines event in February next year. I am definitely saving the date.



Three: Mister & Miss Korea bookmark

Everything made in Korea is simply divine. This is Miss Charisse's pasalubong from Korea for me. I have bookmarks now from three of the world's most beautiful countries: China, Dubai and now Korea. I am pretty sure that in my future travels (Lord, help me make this happen), bookmark hunting will be among my many agenda.



Four: The Mushroom bookmark

...also called the happy happy joy joy bookmark - I didn't know mushrooms can be that happy, look at him smile! This one is from Alan and it came with a book, Dr. Seuss' Guess How Lucky You Are.


I am an advocate of the written and literally printed word - Kindle is an awesome invention but nothing beats the real thing. Plus Kindle robs you of the beautiful opportunity to own and use pretty bookmarks.

Read. It's good for our health. =)

Saturday Sermon

for the slackers, for me,

wake up.

via purenourishment