I just got home from another "the gang (ginanggang) event" this time in Eastwood. I couldn't sleep so why not update. I've been wanting to post a few things in the past couple of days but lately it's proving to be a challenge. All the photobucket uploading and resizing takes 50 minutes and patience is a virtue I have only on weekends.
Anyways, I have finally decided on a style icon. Before, I had a list of celebrities, models, and socialites whom I look up to in terms of style and "dating" but I never really thought of them as practical objects of inspiration for my daily wardrobe. Style wise, my favorite girls are: Kate "The Great" Moss, Kate Bosworth, Sienna Miller, Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson, Selma Blair, Jane Birkin, Audrey Hepburn, and Patti Boyd. Now, I'm all about Rachel Bilson. Even though I'm not really a big fan of LA girls, her clothes are as approachable as they can be.
Not only is she petite but I see myself exactly in her body shape (except for her thin legs).
She assures me that short girls can look good on their favorite pieces despite not having the modelesque height. She gives me a form of beauty that I can relate to the most.
I love all her wardrobe choices (dresses, skinny jeans, denim cut-offs, vintage tops or skirts, and flat sandals). In a way, I can see my dream closet walking in the streets of LA.
She flaunts her stature by being so comfortable wearing flats most of the time.
Last Saturday: Banuk, Agnes, Cee, and I watched UP Rep's Hello Philippines. I wanted to watch nothing but funny on stage and well, I certainly got what I wanted. In the middle of the play, I thought of writing down all my favorite lines but I knew I'd end up writing everything. "Sinong bakla dito ha? Sino bakla?... chuchupain ko!" "Bago na ang social hierarchy ngayon noh: bakla, lalaki, babae, at...TOMBOY!" "Eh babae pa rin yung tomboy ah!" "Oh sya babaguhin ko: bakla, lalaki, babae, tomboy... H1N1 victims! (sabay dura)" "You are sooo cheap, you could be sold at the generics pharmacy!" Hahaahaha Winner talaga ang mga linya. The play was written by Abet Cruz.
Last Sunday: Prince and I watched "Up" and "The Time Traveler's Wife". We should have watched Up in 3D instead of watching The Time Traveler's Wife. The latter was a bore. Up was really good. You'll cry, you'll laugh and be all so cute in a good way. I am amazed by how Pixar does it all the time. Even their short films, which are usually shown before their main features, are always interesting and humorous. As I was watching Up, I couldn't help but think about my dad as Mr. Frederickson. Fortunately, I didn't think myself as Russell. Lol. My favorite part was the first scene with the young, perhaps 1940ish, Mr Frederickson watching the cinema with the cutest reactions ever. At the end of the day, we were debating whether a square-faced old man is cuter than a long-faced one. I think the square face balances the grumpy and lovable side of an old man. Haha What the? Favorite Russell line: "Sometimes it's the boring stuff I remember the most". True.
Last night: Watched Miss Universe clips on youtube. I miss the days when my mom and I used to wait and watch all night for every Miss Universe pageant. Those were the days when she kept telling me about the "x" factor, which at that time, meant having something fugly like a crooked teeth, extra large eyes, weird smile etc. Sayang at natalo si Miss Manalo.
...at any age, you can reinvent your life, that at every age you can be open, engaged, radiant and passionate. Sophisticated and natural. And be quite the dish too! - Garance Dore
Just like any other day, I'm browsing my favorite blogs and every so often I find a quote or two that rings true to me. I decided to take note of them in my attempt to rejuvenate my daily life with thoughts I need to remember and replace those I need to forget.
I am happy to have finally emailed my boss, Matt, about quitting online work. I was putting off this whole resignation drama because I really didn't want to quit my online job. It's weird because I am stressed in that job but I quite like it. I like it in the sense that I am challenged (stressed is the better word I guess) and it would be cool to see my output online. But since I got my job in CIQ, I knew I had to give it up. Sometimes I think 24 hours is really too short for a day. If only I had more time, I would continue working for Matt. But because I vowed to be more decisive, I decided to move forward.
Everyday I try to take things one step at a time. I have been consciously reminding myself things like just go to work, have fun, have fun again, do your best, and relax afterwards. I'm thinking maybe by keeping things simple, worries and doubts will also become simpler.
Lastly, I'll post another quote just because this is exactly what I have experienced today. Giving up things you need to give up even if you don't want to. I'm sorry I'm all about quotes lately. haha
Listening to Chasing Cars (c/o Eric's videoke) and wanting to do the video for myself. It's the quintessential rainy melodrama. I had visions of replacing the guy in the video and I realized that though he looked good with the water on his face; I, on the other hand, will die laughing. It's a funny picture: my eyes and mouth with running water. Still I want to do something like that so instead of water why not feathers just like the orange girl above.
I'm pumping myself up to be an open vessel for the day. Open to all the numbers and gibberish I'm about to soak into.
Dancing alone to the tune of McCartney is good for the heart.
Wondering why the lines, "forget what we're told, before we get too old" and "all that I am, all that I ever was" felt more like life than romance. (and also embarassing[ly] emo)
Asking myself what "boho" means. Not the clothes but what It really means.
Where do I start? There's so much to tell and I am so inarticulate. But I'll give it a try for the sake of documentation.
I started work today for a company we shall nickname "the finance". For the first time in my working life I didn't know what to expect. As in literally no expectation save for the part where people introduce themselves and say something superficial just to let your colleagues know a bit about you. I kind of hate that part because the only thing I usually talk about is my name and how come it's unique blah blah sheesh. After some time you just get tired of changing companies and building connections, reputations, and friendships all over again.
I knew I wasn't in a call center company anymore so at the very least I'm thinking I was able to achieve something. However as the day wore on, it became clear to me that this is another one of those instances where I say to myself: "what have I gotten into?" Don't get me wrong. "The finance" is by far one of the best companies I've ever been to for the longest time. Their selection process is really tough and I do realize I'm lucky to be one of the 13 out of the 150 (more or less) people who passed their stringent screening process. Isn't that something I should be happy about? I am, but somewhere inside me was again haunting and poking me into thinking otherwise. Why can't I just be contented?
There was no lax moment during the day. After the orientation, we were immediately immersed into the finance world. What do I know about finance? It was a bit like Spanish to me. Blur there blur everywhere yet you still say "si". After an hour of discussing earnings calls, I felt light headed and my back was aching like a tree just fell on my shoulders. I was overwhelmed by the tasks and expectations. We were supposed to be voice writers, scopists, editors, and publishers all at the same time. They call it quad core. It was reiterated several times that the job was indeed challenging. We transcribe, edit, and finalize all the transcripts with utmost precision as possible. I feel confident about my skill sets coming into this job which makes me nervous because I don't want to disappoint myself. I am a competitive person. The trainer said it's rare to find "quad core" people. I want to be that rare breed. But everytime I try to immerse myself deep into the task silly thoughts corrupt my concentration. Thoughts of "is this really what I want?", "is it really that important to pursue what I want rather than what I already have?", "am I in the right place at this point in my life?" and "am I wasting my time despite the fact that this is one of the best opportunities I've had for quite sometime now?"
They say we should always be thankful for every job opportunity that's given to us. On the other hand some people say that by doing what you love, you'll never have to work a day in your life. At this point I was sitting in my cubicle analyzing financial statements, balance sheets, and earnings calls but at the end of the day I couldn't take my eyes off the pink shift dress and luscious lips ad I saw on my seatmate's magazine. Grrrr...
It's not too often that I talk about freshness, but for some reason I woke up really refreshed today. Hence I feel like Aimee Mann's Wise Up all over again. Lovely.
A few days ago I read Jason Mraz's Freshness Factor Five Thousand and I must say he's an "uplifter". The man is just inspiring. I am a semi fan of his music but a total sucker of his passion for music and life philosophy. He has this Q&A portion in his blog where his fans can ask him questions and he answers them in ways that are unimaginably witty, honest, and inspiring.
*(Name of Fan)MintsOnPillows@ dives in with: Whats the deepest philosophical belief that’s helped you the most? *(Jason Mraz)Row, Row, Row your Boat Gently, down the stream Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily Life is But a Dream
...If you missed the philosophy in that, I encourage you to slow your boat and read it again.
I think it perfectly makes sense. Probably my favorite song by him is Please Don't Tell Her and Remedy. Read his blog and you'll see what I'm talking about.
You are the goddess, so start treating yourself accordingly. Get your hair and nails done, take long baths, wear great perfume. Do whatever it is that makes you feel amazing. You have to pamper yourself, because nobody else is going to do it for you. Start adoring yourself. Love yourself from inside out, and slowly but surely you will become comfortable on that pedestal, and you will exude the kind of confidence that others admire. And what you wear up on that pedestal matters. Sweatsuits just won't do. I promise you, a great dress or a stunning skirt will make you feel much more "spotlight worthy," and others will see you that way too.
Nina Garcia (The Little Black Book of Style)
Last night, I had a few drinks with some of my girlfriends. We came to a point where we were discussing our personal perceptions of beauty. One friend mentioned the "celebrity effect" exuded by the alta sociedad. We are talking about headturners who are particularly conspicuous amidst a crowd because they either have a.) a beautiful face b.) really good skin c.) and/or nice clothes. Usually it's all of the above. This friend says she secretly wonders if people feel that way towards her. Hahaha. Forgive our self-centered notions. But all this talk of turning heads led us to discuss what it is that makes us feel beautiful. Another friend just confidently assured us it's all a matter of confidence (again original huh?). You just have to believe you are beautiful (and obviously she does) and others will think so too. I argued by poking through a more realistic confession that I think we all feel ugly at one point or another whenever we see ourselves beside these " rich headturners". We're talking about the oily face here, the history of the pimples, and the unkempt hair. My friend fondly replied that if we ever feel that way why not go to the slum areas where we can ultimately see whose the unfortunate and finally stop all these nonsense.
But then, seriously, what makes a person beautiful? My take on this is definitely not about the physical beauty. I have a pretty concrete idea of who I think is beautiful or not. I think it all boils down to the whole package. The "dating". No matter how many times you might have heard it, it's not all about the physical attributes (yeah I hear you, a beautiful nose and long legs won't hurt). The attitude that a person exudes is what makes her beautiful. I usually find myself looking at people who seem to dress for themselves. Those who make a statement in their style choices. They seem to be very interesting people. I think that's what my mom used to tell me. It's about the X factor. The one thing that sets you apart from other people. And if you think about this X factor, it just means being who you really are. Dressing up in what makes you feel happy makes a whole lot of difference.
It's interesting how Nina Garcia also pointed out in her book that people who are confident about themselves are intelligent people. I don't mean to be superficial here, but is this not the truth? I do feel the same way about people who look well and dress well. Embracing your own beauty and being sure about your style choices makes you a beautiful person. These kinds of people become interesting, alluring and powerful all at the same time. Scott Schuman's The Sartorialist and almost all other street style photographers capture this kind of style and beauty. The editors of French Vogue are the ultimate examples of an exuberant confidence. Kate Moss is my favorite inspiration for the word beautiful. This is closely followed by my favorite female musicians. There are a lot more that I admire but it will then make this list forever.
At the end of the day, the quote above should be added to the "daily reminders" corner.
P.S. This was all triggered by my desire to buy a copy of The Sartorialist's upcoming coffee table book.
Fashion photographer Tim Walker doesn’t seem to belong to the world of you or me. He’s a Peter Pan, a daydreamer, a fantasist. His pictures are mirages, telling stories conjured directly from an imagination that most of us left behind in childhood. Looking at Tim’s photographs is like following the white rabbit into a world where elephants are painted blue, horses are dusted lilac, paintings come to life and pretty girls with Thirties faces are transformed into marionettes or abandoned princesses.
British Vogue May 2008
Tim Walker is a London based fashion photographer. This editorial was taken from a 1998 issue of Allure Magazine. Why am I attracted to it? It captures the nineties vibe editorials to a tee. I've always been a fan of the color red especially when used as a punch of color amidst other subjects. I love how Tim Walker uses "props" e.g. bus, telephone booth, books, umbrella, trash bin and cars in such a way that they blend artistically and shows a cohesive set of photos. He is known to create photographs that not only tells a story but piques the profound and curious imaginations of its audience. Lurv. P.S.> from now on I will only feature editorials (and photographers) that truly caught my attention and those that I can't get my eyes off.
Ahhh...It feels like I'm traveling with these food blogs. I remember how much I liked reading our travel guide books back home. You know those books marked "Italy", "France", "Japan" and so on. Nothing makes me happier than to see photos of food, people, and scenery.
1. The Traveler's Lunchbox - I'm in love with this blog. The way Melissa Kronenthal writes about food, travel, photography and everything in between is just sensational and not to mention inspiring. I wish I could travel with her. Here's a link to the list of her travel destinations but it's just a rough guide since most of her posts are enough to satisfy our senses. 2. The Salty Cod - I have been a long time follower of this blog. There's just something refreshing about Mallory's food photography that reminds me of how French people manage to make most things look dainty and sumptuous (not that she's French or anything)..
3. 101 CookBooks - I love every travel post she makes. Feels like you have in front of you a personal travel magazine with journal like tips and lovely photos to boot. Here's a guide to her travel page.
Haha loser much? I'll update this as I go along. ^_^ (I've succumbed to this cutesy emoticon just cause that's exactly how my face looks like right now).
Thinking: Will I watch GI Joe or not? Drinking: Coke Eating: Tuna and Flakes Listening: Nina Simone's To Love Somebody Reading: my new copy of Preview
Is a silent neighborhood part of the weather? ...i love it. ^_^
This is quite a random photo post about Zooey Deschanel. I was already curious of her style and personality even without prior knowledge of her work as an actress and a singer. Everytime I see her I kinda remember Parker Posey for some reason. They share the same individual and quirky style which I easily admire. But to tell you honestly, the reason why she's up here today is because she appeared on Top Chef Masters this week. Turns out she's a hardcore vegan with gluten and soy allergies to seal the deal. Nevertheless, I was happy to see her on TC's episode.
As far as obsession goes, I'm pretty much on the border. So I looked her up in TFS and found these charming sepia photos from a Jane Magazine shoot. Never mind that the scans are crooked. I especially love the vintage shades in the third photo.
I've thought of creating one before but I never got around to starting my own "things-to-do-in-my-lifetime-list". So here goes.
Go to Paris.
Have my own walk in closet.
Own a DSLR and do photography for fun.
Work in a magazine.
Go to Bora.
Eat Japanese cuisine in a real Japanese restaurant.
Eat French cuisine in a real French restaurant.
Eat Italian cuisine in a real Italian restaurant.
Read at least 50 of the books in this booklist I found.
Watch old French films.
Own a Macintosh.
Travel with my dad.
Own at least 50 pairs of shoes.
Sport a really funky hairstyle.
Watch a random play in CCP.
Treat myself to a health spa.
Learn to cook at least one dish.
Visit New York.
Go to Baguio.
Learn at least one foreign language.
Give my sisters' gifts that they'll love.
Sleep on my own wooden bed with white sheets and white pillows.
Give my mom an expensive gift.
Write an original short story.
Finish reading the books on my shelf.
Vacation in Sagada.
Buy a designer piece of clothing.
Collect autobiographies.
This list will be updated from time to time. I'll add some more and hopefully cross them out one by one. I know some of them are outrageous and way too ambitious but then again we're talking about a lifetime here, you know. Some are kind of "really? you have never been to Baguio?". And that is exactly why I made this list. ^_^
Before I do all my morning rituals, let me just go ahead and spill what's on my mind as of late.
I deleted all my previous blog entries because for the longest time I needed something new. I love blogging so much I want it to be at least reflective of what I really want and who I really am. Lately, I realized my old blog just wasn't hitting that brief. It was all blah. And I guess when you see, feel, and know that it has become such a big blah, it's time to start over. I'm not saying the new one's gonna be ground-breaking but at least I am pretty sure what it will be like. I just want it to be me (how original is that huh?). It's not going to be solely a fashion blog. I want to go back to the journal kind of writing where I could at least discuss my thoughts on other things I feel passionate about. So what are these things? In no particular order I love exploring film, pop culture, books, style, art, photography, and people. Now that I am no longer a student, save for a couple more things here and there, I've longed to chronicle my personal thoughts on all these things.
That being said, I woke up today as early as 5 in the morning with the sound of the semi-heavy rain outside my apartment. It's quite a gloomy Monday. Things I have set out to do for today is just the online work. Last night, I discovered that Top Chef is back. It's just one of my favorite shows and I was so happy to see it's back. Not only that, it's Top Chef Masters. The ones competing are some of the most prestigious chefs all over the US. Some of them were already guest judges from previous seasons. I find it odd how come I like cooking shows even though I'm not an adventurous eater (ask Prince) nor do I find cooking enjoyable. But who doesn't like watching sumptuous looking dishes on tv, right? I'm already on the fourth episode and who would have thought it features... tandadadan... Neil Patrick Harris. Kill me now.
Also last night, I thought about my poor laptop and my pending school requirements (I don't even want to type it no more). There are a lot of doubts and questions swirling in my head at night sometimes I force myself to not think about them anymore just so I could get some sleep. Good thing I'm quite successful on that and I'm getting "night" sleeps now for a change. It's just that with new things coming my way this month, will I have the time to complete it? It breaks my heart to just even think about it. I am no master in time management so I'm really afraid of the future. One thing that I remind myself always is to think, just think, that I CAN DO IT. There's no other way.
So there, this is one long post considering it's so early in the morning. And since my life is pretty simple nowadays, I'm off to a few chores before I finally start my day.
When I first saw the pictures of Kat Heyes' UK flat in Designsponge, I think I've looked and lingered over every inch way too long than necessary. Kat Heyes is an illustrator and photographer whose work has been featured in several fashion publications and campaigns such as elle, vogue, harper collins, style magazine, gucci, and calvin klein to name a few. I guess her home is easily a reflection of her style and aesthetic.
I love every white nook and every fur quilt scattered all over her place. The soft light from the bare walls and windows create a stark and dreamy contrast yet they make the space seem more cozy and welcoming. And of course, the bed. I'm dying to wake up on that white bed. Truly this is the flat of my dreams. See more here.
I always have a penchant for telling stories about "last night" or "this morning". So, last night I went out to watch a couple of movies. I was able to see The Proposal and Public Enemies (in that order). So instead of having a laugh at the end of the night, I was haunted by the memory of John Dillinger.
So what do I have to say about these films? The Proposal is obviously not ground-breaking but definitely recommendable. Sandra Bullock's film was like an upgraded episode of Friends' Ross and Rachel that I was more than happy to relive. Again, Sandra is in her element and after watching her do several screwball flicks in the past, I still can't get enough of her. It's the type of film where you know you'll probably forget but still you end up laughing and enjoying it.
Public Enemies, on the other hand, had me at Johnny Depp's romanticized portrayal of the great 1930's bank robber John Dillinger and Michael Mann's incredible (and noticeable) film techniques. I don't even know where to begin. It's this mixed feelings I have when I see a film I like that is similar to what people say you feel in meeting "the one": you just know it. It is reminiscent to my being pleasantly surprised by great Hollywood flicks like The Dark Knight and Transformers. What I mean is that I don't usually go for these types of films but I end up appreciating them because they are just superbly done. Johnny Depp sometimes felt like just-Johnny Depp while portraying the equally charismatic character of Dillinger. But I am buying it. It's a 1920s James Bond meets Robinhood meets the the charming fugitive kind of c***. I read Dillinger's biography online and though there were some alterations in the film it was pretty much what Dillinger was all about. Technically, I loved how Mann used this sort of crisp like film where you can almost see all of the actors' pores on the big screen. That's how clear it was. The shoot outs were void of music which made it realistically brutal. And did I mention I love those big black trench coats, vintage shades and fedoras on set? I don't care if the real Dillinger wore them or not, they were a feast to my senses along with the jazzy 1920s music played during Dillinger's softer moments.
Two things I realized from all these: 1. I really like biographies and autobiographies that sometimes I end up neglecting the artist or author's work because I'm more pre-occupied by the real person's life behind all the greatness (or the failings). 2. this applies to films too.
I do not own most of the pictures that I include in this blog. Thus I give due credits at the end of each post which would then link them to the owner's site. Feel free to contact me if you want them removed from this blog.
