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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Filipino Banderitas

The Philippines has such a rich culture I'm really proud about. One tradition are these delicate lace-like artworks made from paper and used to wrap pastillas, a sugar and milk candy. Originally from San Miguel,Bulacan, it is said to be a vanishing art. I believe that we, the youth, shouldn't make that happen. This is a DIY project I want to try soon!


Found these pretty pics from a blog:







Sunday, November 11, 2012

The Essence of English Style

Simply to be desired is not a high enough aspiration. Outfits that say little more than ‘look at my body’ should be outlawed from one’s wardrobe. English style has always been about expressing one’s intelligence, charm and views through one’s choice of image. Expressing who you are and what you want to be. If what you’re saying is just ‘be my boyfriend’ then you’re not saying much. Looking sexy should always come second to looking interesting - to look interesting is to look beautiful.
Luella’s Guide to English Style
(Source: girlsack)

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

You are sexy enough.

Let me talk like an old man. Young people, be careful. Beautiful things are disappearing every day. Be careful.…You don’t need to be [shopping at fast-fashion stores], especially young people. They are beautiful naturally, because they are young. So they should even wear simple jeans and a T-shirt. It’s enough. Don’t be too much fashionable.…The brand advertising is making you crazy. You don’t need to be too sexy. You are sexy enough.
Socializing is as exhausting as giving blood. People assume we loners are misanthropes, just ­sitting thinking, ‘Oh, people are such a bunch of assholes,’ but it’s really not like that. We just have a smaller tolerance for what it takes to be with others. It means having to perform. I get so tired of communicating.
Anneli Rufus
(Source: airplanes)
Source: That Kind of Woman 1 and 2

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

On Being Sexy


Being sexy is not about what’s on show, it’s all about suggestion, or insinuation. I’m interested in the way a garment hangs on a woman’s body and the way it moves when she moves.
Francisco Costa
Source: Source

Curiosity & Life

I want you to tell me about every person you’ve ever been in love with. Tell me why you loved them, then tell me why they loved you. Tell me about a day in your life you didn’t think you’d live through. Tell me what the word “home” means to you and tell me in a way that I’ll know your mother’s name just by the way you describe your bed room when you were 8. See, I wanna know the first time you felt the weight of hate and if that day still trembles beneath your bones. Do you prefer to play in puddles of rain or bounce in the bellies of snow? And if you were to build a snowman, would you rip two branches from a tree to build your snowman arms? Or would you leave the snowman armless for the sake of being harmless to the tree? And if you would, would you notice how that tree weeps for you because your snowman has no arms to hug you every time you kiss him on the cheek? Do you kiss your friends on the cheek? Do you sleep beside them when they’re sad, even if it makes your lover mad? Do you think that anger is a sincere emotion or just the timid motion of a fragile heart trying to beat away its pain? See, I wanna know what you think of your first name. And if you often lie awake at night and imagine your mother’s joy when she spoke it for the very first time. I want you tell me all the ways you’ve been unkind. Tell me all the ways you’ve been cruel. See, I wanna know more than what you do for a living. I wanna know how much of your life you spend just giving. And if you love yourself enough to also receive sometimes. I wanna know if you bleed sometimes through other people’s wounds.
Andrea Gibson

Source

Cultivate A Kind Heart

When you plant seeds in the garden, you don’t dig them up every day to see if they have sprouted yet. You simply water them and clear away the weeds; you know that the seeds will grow in time. Similarly, just do your daily practice and cultivate a kind heart. Abandon impatience and instead be content creating the causes for goodness; the results will come when they’re ready.
 Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron  
Via the cool Kat

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Love, Dad.

Note: The text and photo are from Letters of Note. I've place in bold my favorite line at the end.


In June of 1971, just days before his 26-year-old son, Michael, got married, future-U.S. President Ronald Reagan sent him the following letter of advice. It really is quite stunning.

Michael Reagan
Manhattan Beach, California
June 1971

Dear Mike:

Enclosed is the item I mentioned (with which goes a torn up IOU). I could stop here but I won't.

You've heard all the jokes that have been rousted around by all the "unhappy marrieds" and cynics. Now, in case no one has suggested it, there is another viewpoint. You have entered into the most meaningful relationship there is in all human life. It can be whatever you decide to make it.

Some men feel their masculinity can only be proven if they play out in their own life all the locker-room stories, smugly confident that what a wife doesn't know won't hurt her. The truth is, somehow, way down inside, without her ever finding lipstick on the collar or catching a man in the flimsy excuse of where he was till three A.M., a wife does know, and with that knowing, some of the magic of this relationship disappears. There are more men griping about marriage who kicked the whole thing away themselves than there can ever be wives deserving of blame. There is an old law of physics that you can only get out of a thing as much as you put in it. The man who puts into the marriage only half of what he owns will get that out. Sure, there will be moments when you will see someone or think back to an earlier time and you will be challenged to see if you can still make the grade, but let me tell you how really great is the challenge of proving your masculinity and charm with one woman for the rest of your life. Any man can find a twerp here and there who will go along with cheating, and it doesn't take all that much manhood. It does take quite a man to remain attractive and to be loved by a woman who has heard him snore, seen him unshaven, tended him while he was sick and washed his dirty underwear. Do that and keep her still feeling a warm glow and you will know some very beautiful music. If you truly love a girl, you shouldn't ever want her to feel, when she sees you greet a secretary or a girl you both know, that humiliation of wondering if she was someone who caused you to be late coming home, nor should you want any other woman to be able to meet your wife and know she was smiling behind her eyes as she looked at her, the woman you love, remembering this was the woman you rejected even momentarily for her favors. 

Mike, you know better than many what an unhappy home is and what it can do to others. Now you have a chance to make it come out the way it should. There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching a door at the end of a day knowing someone on the other side of that door is waiting for the sound of his footsteps.

Love,

Dad

P.S. You'll never get in trouble if you say "I love you" at least once a day






For all the times I forget to say it.




I'm putting it out there for all the world to see, so if one day should I go ahead, you'll know I made it concrete somewhere.

 For Daddy too.


Source: tag42.com via Caddy on Pinterest

Friday, August 17, 2012

My fear in words

"The idea that you might end up in a job that doesn’t allow you to be who you are, over the course of a lifetime, is still one of the most chilling nightmares to me. It’s a good metaphor for fears I have about losing my soul in some accidental, mundane way. So, to me, these jobs that my characters have are very loaded. They immediately suggest a complex character to me, a woman who is, say, a secretary, but also a vigilante on behalf of her own soul."
Miranda July 
(Source: opwindvogel)

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Rainy Days



I was all dressed up for work when I heard my phone beep and a text saying I didn't have to come in as the whole team wasn't. The Veep canceled today's planning session due to the CRAZY weather.

I'm now in my pjs with a full face of makeup on. But, seriously though this is insane weather. It's rained everyday for the past two weeks or so. Flood warnings are being issued.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Celeste & Jesse Forever



I want to watch this. I'm a sucker for the best friend storyline.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Home Mint

Justin Timberlake brings sexy back to the home!





Saturday, June 2, 2012

Stargazing







Source: google.com via Megan on Pinterest



I'd love to go stargazing some time soon. I've done it a couple of times, with friends, siblings and at university. It's nice to do it on clear nights away from the light pollution and to have some hot coco too.

This handy star map that comes in app and printable form would be great. I'd need the equatorial version as I live near the equator.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Embracing Opportunity







This photo above make me smile. It speaks so much about the possibility of adventure, opportunity, excitement, promise and living out life . It makes me smile and it comforts me at the same time.
On Monday, I begin my first job and this photo speaks of what awaits.


Monday, April 16, 2012

Life Longing

"All I want is good conversation."
I read this quote below and it resonated with me. Earlier this year I realized that one of the things I value in life and which I seek out in other people is great conversation. I want to converse and hear from others that they are thinking.

I’ve always loved intelligent girls, no matter how they look, to be able to hold a conversation with someone is so important. The moment someone acts dumb, I lose interest. I think about the subtext and layers of a person when I design. I design for someone who has interest in the space around her, who is aware of her relationship with the world, someone a little evolved, a little concerned. I think putting more women in power will help solve a lot of problems in the world. It troubles me that the media celebrate women acting like bimbos on TV — it’s not cute, it’s ridiculous. I call it ‘Paris Hilton Syndrome’; there’s a place for that superficiality — but it must neutralized by an equally powerful, intelligent counterforce in culture. I don’t want to perpetuate the wrong ideal.Prabal Gurung


Quote via That Kind of Woman via Editor-in-chic

What I'm Drinking (Eating) This Summer






Banana Shakes at breakfast

Halo-Halo after lunch

                                                    Coconut Juice and Buko Shakes anytime










                                                                      Sangria at night





                                            Tanduay Ice and San Miguel while chilling with friends


Images via Source: tumblr.com via Notso on Pinterest , 366 Great Pinoy StuffLunch, Sangria Source: herblog.com via Evita on Pinterest, Tanduay, Source: angmanlalakbay.files.wordpress.com via B on Pinterest

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Your Song





My friend showed me this. I got all misty-eyed watching it. Still do. Too Sweet! 



 P.S. The same song was used in this sweet John Lewis Christmas Ad from 2010.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

This Totally Made Me Smile


Source: weheartit.com via Elly on Pinterest

Welcome March

And so it is March, and the weather is slowly shifting. I still hear the wind rustling outside my window and it still sends doors and windows slamming but the daylight is longer and the heat more apparent. Two nights ago we started to discuss beach plans. Slowly, summer is coming.


Source: google.com via Caddy on Pinterest



Friday, February 17, 2012

DIY Candy Buffets




















Do it yourself candy/dessert buffets sound like a lot of fun to make for a party at home. I really enjoy looking at the one's Amy Atlas creates. This a great video from Yumsugar on how to make your own Candy Buffet at home. I've been wanting to do this for awhile but I need to find an occasion for it it.




Thursday, February 16, 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Today I baked a dozen Red Velvet Cupcakes (I have made around 13 dozen in the past week, it is after all Valentine's week) and a pineapple upside down cake. I love old fashion desserts. My mother has a boxed set of cookbooks that were hers growing up. They're filled with recipes from country fairs, home economics teachers and military wives. I love leafing through the book labeled "Desserts" and reading about the desserts from 40 years ago. I love the simplicity of the flavors and instructions.

Here's a video for Pineapple Upside Down Cake by Elephantine. The recipe is by Martha Stewart, it's similar to the one from my mom's cookbook.




 
pineapple upside-down cake from rachelchew on Vimeo.
.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Things I Need To Remember



Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.

LOVE





























Source Pinterest

I love this day. A Happy Valentine's Day to All. May you feel and spread LOVE. 
I visited a flower  shop early this morning to deliver some cupcakes and it was such a happy place, awashed in flowers of many different colors and kinds. All these different bouquets were lined up and labeled waiting to be delivered to people. Have a lovely day! 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Dinner Rules

As I get older I begin to appreciate more the ritual of eating a meal as a family and talking about our day. I now understand more, how doing so creates memories and bonds the family together. This is probably why these signs mean more to me now than they would have say, four years ago.

Source: etsy.com via Caddy on Pinterest



The above image is property of Brooke Reynolds of Inchmark for Dinner a Love Story (what a beautiful name for a blog). See more of Brooke's great Rules of Dinner signs here.


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Cookies and Corsets

Today my sister and I made Valentine's themed sugar cookies. We used red royal icing, black current jam and Nuttella for filling and design. But I don't have any pictures, yet. I used an old plastic Wilton cutter that's similar to the one on the left and these mini Wilton cookie cutters that are useful for making  simple cut out designs in the larger heart cookies and for making small cookies from left over dough.

                


Also today I exercised using some of Casey's videos. I love them! They're killer but she's so bubbly and positive. She seems to know the exact moment I'm about to give up on the exercise and throws in a bit of encouragement. I did this video below and those hip twists were KILLER! Check out Casey's site for lots of great resources on fitness and eating healthy and sensibly. I know I just posted about sugar cookies and now I'm talking fitness. But I want to have my cake and eat it too!




The printable Casey made.






Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Cake Banner DIY

Yesterday, I baked a birthday cake for a little girl who turns 1 year old today! It was a Red Velvet cake with Vanilla cream cheese frosting and it was accompanied by one dozen red velvet cupcakes.


I also designed a simple little cake banner.


I took two barbecue sticks and wrapped a thin strand of baby pink ribbon around them. I used non-toxic, child friendly glue to attach the ribbons and made sure to leave space at the bottom for the sticks to be inserted into the cake. 
I glued the excess ribbon to the tops of the sticks for streamers. 
I designed a simple banner on MS Word (I need to teach myself how to use Illustrator) to compliment the candle I picked out. 

I printed the banners on bond paper and stuck them to board paper to so they wouldn't be flimsy and tear easily. 
Note: On hindsight I should have printed it directly on colored board paper to save on paper, ink and glue.  
I cut out the banners and attached them to the sticks with clear tape, which blended in very well. Another idea I had was to attach the banners using matching decorative stickers but I didn't have any. Washi tape is another idea.

If I do this project again I'd like to print out the design twice and stick the second set to the back of the banner instead of having just blank paper, tape and exposed sticks.

I'd also like to try making cake banners like these below.































Source of My love cake banner: 100layercake.com via Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets on Pinterest
Source of Greyeson is one banner: nestfully.com via Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets on Pinterest
Photo of my cupcakes by Carla

Monday, February 6, 2012

Pinterest




I've joined Pinterest and am really enjoying having a place to gather all the images I find online in one quick reference stop. Nicole of A Little Sussy attended Pinterest founder Ben Silbermann's talk at Alt Summit (wish I could have been there) and shared some of his inspirational points.

My favorites from Nicole's list include:


+Discovering things about the world helps you discover things about who you are.

+I want to be known for the things that I make not for the things that I say. 

+If you don't bet on yourself, no one else will. 

Read the rest over at her blog.

If you'd like you can also view my Pinterest boards.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Marni Home for H&M

Sofia Coppola directed a video for Marni for H and M. Set in Morocco






Director of Photography: Harris Savides
Stylists: Lucinda Chambers and Michelle Rafferty
Models/actors: Imogen Poots and Sam Hayes. Antonine Peduzzi, Nicolas Peduzzi, Annabelle Dexter Jones, Charlie Klarsfeld, Liu Wen, Jonatan Frenck and Langley Fox
Featured song: Avalon by Bryan Ferry.


Saturday, February 4, 2012

Never Regret Staying Home With A Good Book: Sunday's At Tiffany's


I read a James Patterson book for the first time last year while I was in Italy. Rosie and I were in the small resort town of Masalubrense on the southern coast. Our hotel was a simple family run place. Our room had nice white walls that caught the light and a balcony that overlooked a citrus orchard. But we happened to be there during Halloween and All Saints day, a holiday in Italy. The town was quiet and closed up. After walking around in the early evening past closed up shops and running into very few people, we retreated back to the hotel lobby where there was wifi and took turns using Rosie's ipad. 

While it was Rosie's turn I wandered over to bookshelf next to the front desk filled with random books in different languages (possibly left behind by previous vacationers?). I picked up Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson and began to read. I was a bit put off by some of the sentence construction and character development but the chapters kept ending with cliff hangers and I kept reading. There wasn't much else do and over all it was an easy and entertaining read, no deep thinking required, perfect for holiday reading. I finished the book within the two nights we were there. 

Sunday's at Tiffany's, is the second Patterson book I've read. It's written together with Gabrielle Charbonnet and is another easy and light book. I started reading it after seeing the latter half of the adapted Lifetime movie.

It centers around a lonely young girl, 8 year old Jane Margaux who lives with her successful broadway producer mother, who has little time for her. Jane's one friend is a sweet, funny well-mannered man named Michael, but he's imaginary. On Jane's ninth birthday Michael explains to her that he must leave as all imaginary friends do. Fast forward 23 years later and Jane has written a smash hit play about a lonely little girl and her imaginary friend. She's dating a gorgeous actor and is in the middle of turning her play into a movie when she runs into Michael, who's still as kind, charming and funny as ever. But not even Michael can understand why they've been reunited.

Sunday's At Tiffany's is a light, easy read, perfect for a weekend of lounging at home. 

The movie stars Alyssa Milano.






Book cover source

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday


Have a lovely lazy Sunday. 
Here are some photos of the Pacific Ocean and the Bohol Sea that get me in a relaxed mood.





First Photo via Oracle Fox

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