i am but a shoe

Big Smile

2011-05-20T09:35:00.003+08:00

It's such a good feeling to be in a better place now. It's also nice to see how you were two years ago. My blogs are like moleskins. It's time for a new one. I've had the new one for quite some time now. I know no one has actually remembered this ever existed. But if you find yourself here, please visit my new home. (Artista si pota?) KThnxBye!

MY TUMBLR

2010-09-14T03:18:00.002+08:00

iambutashoe.tumblr.com

BURN

2010-09-14T03:10:00.003+08:00

i don't.

BETTER DAYS HERE I COME! THE STARS WILL KNEEL, OH YEAH! :)

BASKING

2010-07-21T14:21:00.000+08:00

...

2010-07-21T14:09:00.002+08:00

where do I begin and where do I go from here?

i wish i was a song right now, sad and poetic. but i'm just sad, not even angry, just sad.

jewel's on repeat. ...wanna make you near me always.
i love staring into space nowadays. good for my nerves and my heart.
the thought of not knowing terrifies me. im terrified of the future. im terrified of what else could possibly hurt this way, and what else can i not anticipate. i thought i'd rather know nothing than know the truth.

in the wee hours of the morning, coming home straight from work, i have decided that yes, it's about time i take care of me.

COLD DAY IN JULY

2010-07-21T13:44:00.001+08:00

...

LA PEPITA

2010-06-09T06:26:00.004+08:00

happy, tired, and productive was my sunday and monday. pepita is a project me and my friends are working on (very hard) these days. there's no turning back, not when we're having this much fun. :)

DAY ONE STEP ONE

2010-05-31T03:30:00.003+08:00

Finally, something exciting is happening. This not-so-secret project may be (and hopefully) the answer to my prayers. :) Step one indeed.

QUEZON

2010-05-24T11:43:00.007+08:00

Cagbalete Beach. May 15, 2010.

THURSDAY RANDOMS

2010-05-13T08:01:00.008+08:00

ang drama lang ng picture at quote na yan. siya na ang oa.
i just want to stay at home and watch House MD with beer and chips on the side.
ang saya ko kahapon dahil ng grill kami ni prince (or more of sya lang) ng liempo at tilapia). we used a very improvised grill which cost us only around 300php. these little things remind me of home so much, that's why i love it.
nabore na naman ako kanina sa office. but the operative words are gratitude, positivism, and chill. insert music..."baby don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing's gonna be alright."
another lesson for the day: pag inantok ka na, matulog ka na agad. parang opportunity lang yan, you need to grab it while it's hot.
gumawa na naman ako ng blog. ang oa lang ng title, thebadwriter, leche! mahihiya saken ang mga schizo at bad writers, in general.
crystal bowersox for the win.
punta akong cagbalete this weekend. sana makapag unwind ako like ive never unwind before. hah
namimiss ko yung pamilya ko in general
crush ko ang celphone na 6610i ba yun? ako lang ata ang working girl na walang celphone.
matutulog na ako (or not)

pc: via daydreamlily

GHOST TOWN: FELT LIKE A HOT FUNNY SOUP

2010-05-03T09:01:00.004+08:00

Loved Ghost Town. I was about ready to retire to bed when I felt like watching something "romantic-comedish". I wanted to watch High Fidelity but got tired looking for an online copy, so I picked up one of my neglected DVDs, Ghost Town.

I wanted something refreshing, love-related and funny. This movie nailed all of them in a way that I didn't expect it to. The main character will put Scrooge to shame. I love how you'll hate and love Ricky Gervais' character all through out the film. I'm not a big fan of dry humor but this one got me laughing out loud about some very nerdy, well-played out dental joke. Not my kind of humor, but it was sooo hilarious I had to replay it thrice in the middle of the film to maximize whatever there was to maximize. It spiraled from then on. I definitely enjoyed the prick that Gervais was in this film. It was pretty reminiscent of David Schwimmer's Big Nothing. It's pretty hard to find RomsComs that aren't that generic anymore. This one's unexpectedly enjoyable and endearing. I love how films have an essence of Little Miss Sunshine to them, wherein the moral is creatively weaved into the fiction, you hardly notice the smile creep down your face.

I'm a real Gervais fan now. I'm imagining the dinner-with-Richard scene again. That was really good!

HAPPY

2010-05-03T05:15:00.003+08:00

I'm just really happy right now to have reconnected with very very dear friends. It makes me feel loved and not alone anymore. It's cheesy, but it feels sooo genuine at this point in my life. I am truly grateful.

(we'll be there, el nido!)

PC

YEAH THIS SEEMS LIKE IT...

2010-04-13T12:58:00.002+08:00

Welcome to the real world indeed? Take me away from here...

PC: colie parks

A SLOW, FRUITFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON

2010-04-04T20:48:00.010+08:00

My long weekend came to a sweet end.

For the past two months now, I had another bout of emptiness because of "the routine". I had no desire whatsoever to treat myself, let alone drag myself from such a terrible terrible rut. If I had to go into the details, let me tell you I was beyond disgusting. All it took for me to finally get up and do something was a long overdue cleaning of my apartment. After I was able to breath fresh sheets and fresh air again, my mind and body became alive like it had never been before. I planned to watch movies, read books and shop during my downtime. I'm so happy I was able to do them. It has become such a rare phenomenon for me these days. And typing these words at four in the morning is like icing on a cherry red cake. Thank you.

I did some thrift shopping today in Cubao. I bought myself two pairs of everything: two nice black bags, two pairs of pants, two pairs of shoes and two nice tops. I couldn't ask for anything more. I'm underscoring these purchases because for the longest time now I feel like treating myself is such a chore. Scouring the streets of Cubao before was one of my favorite leisures. But lately, I detested the heat, the smell and the process of working my way through the crowded city. I want sooo bad to inject some life into my "real life" by feeling good about how I look, how I present myself, thinking this would then translate to feeling good about what I do, what I think and who I am. Ahh the liberty I felt this afternoon, walking and taking my sweet time and returning home with real goodies. It was sooo refreshing. I hope this feeling lasts.

I forgot how hungry I was till I entered Gateway. Instead of finding myself something to eat, another wonderful thing happened. I don't usually enter boutiques if I know I won't buy something. I just don't feel comfortable doing that, unless I'm with someone. But today, I tested every goddamn bottle in The Body Shop and left with nothing but my white and red stripe plastic bag from Ukay. It's not that cool to lug around a horrendous looking market bag. I checked out Mango just for the heck of it (again with the bag, ohhh the horror). I have this habit of wanting to look cool. However, more often than not, I look anything but. I ended up scouring four more stores, which I don't usually enter if I'm alone, and left without buying anything. Let me tell you it feels great.

I went home and decided to waste my time in Starbucks. I hate hanging out there alone too because it gets too noisy sometimes (see, I'm really sick in the head). But this time I wanted a good coffee with my smokes, so I left the house again. I just love it when I leave home because I'm tired of being home. I brought with me Murakami's Sputnik Sweetheart, which I began reading two weeks ago. After three cigs and an empty cup, I finally finished reading a book after a very Very VEry VERY long time.

There I was sitting comfortably with a despicable taste in my mouth and a slight headache, thinking what transpired this afternoon and why I felt sooo sad after reading Sputnik Sweetheart.

***

This novel has really struck a chord in me. This is the second book I've read of Murakami's works and all I can remember from the first one (Norwegian Wood) was this same feeling of wistfulness. You know how it feels when you realize that you were right all along, all this time. I initially thought it would be just a bittersweet tale of lesbian love. Yes it was that and an intellectual dose of Korean/Asian love triangles, existential dialogue, nothingness and really really creepy surreal moments.

It's a story of a girl named Sumire, who fell in love with an older sophisticated woman named Miu. On the other hand, Sumire's bestfriend, who happens to be the narrator of the story, is in love with her. K, as he was referred to in the book, is a grade school teacher, lives a normal, often boring life in Tokyo. Sumire has a bohemian soul who dreams of becoming a writer. At the turn of events she abandons her goal to become Miu's personal assistant. Together, they traveled to a Greek Island where the real story unfolds.

The story is captivating and confusing at the same time, but in a good way. I particularly love the character of the narrator. Murakami has a way of telling the depth of a character in ways that echo our own lives. K is a teacher. His love for Sumire is unrequited. He has girlfriends whose role is just to fill in the gaps of his physical longings rather than his emotions. He lives his life logically by working, eating, sleeping and waking up only to start the day in the same order. He doesn't do anything about his feelings for Sumire because she is in love with another person, let alone another woman, Miu. Miu, on the other hand, likes Sumire but does not return her love. It is a cycle of unrequited-ness. Until things are shaken up when Sumire disappears out of nowhere.

This unsettling turn of events becomes a dialogue of introspection. The novel goes on to uncover their pasts as an explanation of who they are and what have they become today. It's just that it's so hard to fathom a sudden disappearance such as this that you'll only believe it if the other events of the story are just as inexplicable. Actually Murakami thrives in these techniques, which is actually riveting for me. He has a way of making me feel and think and wonder why, why and why these things happened to the characters. In the end, there's a weaving of moments, subtle at first but definitely working its way to you. I can't explain it exactly but it just strikes you. That's the beauty of it.

The story of Miu was probably the most chilling part of the novel. She lived in a Swiss town fourteen years ago and met an elderly Spaniard by the name of Ferdinando. He keeps making moves to her but she feels polluted with his presence. One day, she rode a ferris wheel and got stuck in it after the whole carnival mysteriously closed for the day. She could see her apartment from where she was sitting in the ferris wheel. She saw that Ferdinando was in her apartment making love to Her, like a doppelganger of some sort. I just love how ridiculous and disturbing this scene is. She woke up the next day with hair so white she was never the same again.

I can go on forever here, but I'm just overwhelmed by the rush of emotions I felt after reading this. I've never given Murakami that much regard before because he became everyone's favorite. I thought he was another "well-known" writer who never really lived up to his own hype. But then again, it's all a matter of taste. And this goes without saying that I'm more than pleasantly surprised. Whatever the psychological, allegorical interpretation there is for this novel, what I've read has shook me in many a powerful moments. I have tons of questions still swirling in my head and I always like it when that happens.

I remember K's (narrator) words towards the end of the novel which resonates to me real hard, "I dream. Sometimes I think that's the only right thing to do. To dream, to live in the world of dreams- just as Sumire said. But it doesn't last forever. Wakefulness always comes to take me back." I think we have all felt this at one point or another. Perhaps I have in too many instances.

"So that's how we live our lives. No matter how deep and fatal the loss, no matter how important the thing that's stolen from us- that's snatched right out of our hands- even if we are left completely changed, with only the outer layer of skin from before, we continue to play out our lives this way, in silence. We draw ever nearer to the end of our allotted span of time, bidding it farewell as it trails off behind. Repeating, often adroitly, the endless deeds of the everyday. Leaving behind a feeling of immeasurable emptiness."

p.s. sorry i rambled on and on and on

WORDS WORDS CLICHE

2010-03-30T06:14:00.009+08:00

keri smith's wish jar is one of my ultimate favorite blogs. when i feel uninspired and aimlessly looking for something to hold on to, i read her blog. she's an artist who has a knack for writing about things that resonates into my being. she writes about life, nature, art, mundane things and lots of LISTS. i love lists and i love her. this rebel manifesto she recently posted is a pleasant reminder about fearlessness and experimentation. it applies not only to making art but life in general. and if you know me, i love conversations like this. it's along the lines of "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger " and "this too shall pass." the reason i love quotes like this is because i'm always in constant fear of losing what's truly important in life. i end up caring too much and almost always sweating the small stuff. this constant battle with myself has me looking for in-my-face kind of inspiration. (yeah i know i'm nuts ---and uptight).

i've collected a few words from random readings online and here's what i've gathered so far...

1. let it go. aka loosen up. don't worry about the things that are not controllable. move on to the next challenge.
2. words of lulu, it's never too late to change things. if you want to dress better, then do it. dress better.
3. time wasted in pleasure is not time wasted. i forgot who said this, but oh so true. (edit:bertrand russell?)
4. stay hungry and stay foolish. i heard this from steve jobs' commencement speech in princeton. which made me cry. i know he's a genius. but the best thing i got from his speech is to work really really hard for what you want. never settling for anything less.
5. learn the fringe benefits of failure (and imagination). as j.k. rowling said, "You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default."

i know some of them are shocking, shockingly familiar. but this post is entitled cliche for a reason. it's not a cliche if it doesn't amount to some form of truth one way or another. i believe it doesn't hurt to live by these words, does it?

PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME

2010-03-29T10:31:00.003+08:00

One of my life's simple pleasures is finding a special song from a good movie. It goes something like this:

"i was slicing up an avocado, when you came up behind me
with your quiet brand new sneakers, your reflection i did not see
it was the hottest day in august, and we were heading for the sea
for a second my mind started drifting, you put your arms around me."

jens lekman's your arms around me, carla bruni's quelqu'un m'a dit, julie delpy's waltz for a night, and chantal kreviazuk's feels like home to name a few.

it struck me how making love underwater is a struggle and a teeny bit stupid. but the way drew barrymore filmed it on Whip It is a suspension of disbelief at its finest. there is always something magical about ellen page. she reminds me of natalie portman by virtue of talent and wit and size. Whip It was the answer to my love of little-miss-sunshine-ish kind of movies.

STOP BITCHING

2010-03-19T05:45:00.003+08:00

It's final. I just "complain" too much and "do" not much. The line has been crossed and I need to get my act together. How do I keep my mouth shut? I want to quote Lulu's words from her formspring (yikes I have some serious girl crush here):

"You should stop focusing on others. It's not productive. Focus on bettering yourself, and you'll feel better."

There's not much frou frou. The message is clear.

I need to make it clear to myself that I am there to work. Do good. Earn enough to pay the rent. Plan travel with people I love. Give some to my father. Take pictures. Learn. Develop a "sophisticated palate". Sleep well. Shop a little. Laugh a lot. Let us simplify things without making it simpler.

*** On a sidenote, Prince and I went to Baguio for a once in a blue moon vacation. It was sweet. We took lots of pictures. We ate a lot. We spent a lot. We could not ask for anything more... Maybe another vacation? La Luz anyone?

2010-02-25T12:01:00.000+08:00

I can't stop listening to this shit. Rararararararara... Zzzzzzzz... Sometimes when I'm in the office I feel like screaming "ohhhh wooohhh ohhhhh" out of nowhere. That should make me feel better. Zzzzzzzz...

NOTHING

2010-02-22T13:07:00.005+08:00

It's awfully quiet on here. 2010 has been off to a couch-potato start. Yup that's me. Slow but steady. Depressed at times but definitely trudging. Right now, I'm more than fine. Work is stressful but nothing unmanageable. Personal life? Too chill I can't even remember the last time I threw up. Oh yeah, I remember now. I did dream of this kind of lifestyle: slow, slow, slow. However, I didn't ask for the routine part. I can't get over this routine thing. I used to be this person who never had the time to slow down, always on the go. And now, it's proving to be very difficult to finally be on the other side of the fence. Time and time again things like this remind me how to be careful about the things I wish for, things I thought I'd never be... yada yada...

Good thing I went out Saturday night. Good thing I went shopping like I never shopped before. (yes, because now I finally mustered the courage to shop in the mall) Good thing there's supposed to be a summer get away with high school friends again. Good thing I have napkins on. Good thing we might visit Baguio soon. Good thing I finally admitted I'm such a worrywart. Oh good things!

Bad thing is this is such a lame entry. hahaha I'll lull myself to sleep watching SATC for a change.

HAHAHAHA

2010-02-11T10:37:00.003+08:00

“ They had come to me in the beginning and said, “We want you to do these interviews and stuff for these magazines,” and I said, “What magazines?” And they said, “Sixteen! Teen Beat! Teen Dream! Teen Poop! Teen Piss! Teen Shit! - Johnny Depp

LOVE

2010-02-11T09:50:00.006+08:00

jen kao

i was reading lulu's formspring and she mentioned these. i want these. maybe i need to start saving up for the good stuff.

NEED TO

2010-02-10T07:33:00.005+08:00

uggghh. Too much stress at work. Hmmm how do I de-stress?

My voice is failing me and I'm failing it too. I want something black and shiny with lots of pockets a.k.a. a leather jacket. I lusted for this Topshop number a few months ago. It was just the right size with all the right bling. It was too perfect. Except that at that time 4k was a bit too much. It's still a bit too much for my usual splurges, but god how I wish I bought it then.

I want to eat porkchop today. With tomatoes, why not?

I'm sick and tired of waiting for Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to admit they're together. I know right? These two sum up all my showbiz fix. I don't even know why I care. Sheesh. Embarrassing. Their fashionspot thread is the second most visited site on my favorites list.

I want soft curls.

Listening to "Eyes" by Rogue Wave over and over again.

Please let this be my room.

WINTER

2010-02-05T07:53:00.009+08:00

When you gonna make up your mind. Like a moth to a flame, I can't help but be insanely lured to Tori Amos' music. If I could listen to one artist for the rest my life, without a doubt, it would be her. There are no words to describe as to how much I admire this woman. I remember the first time I came across her music. It was during an insanely emotional moment in my life. My first heartbreak. I was a point where everything seemed so wrong yet so right. (yikuuu) Hearing her songs helped me get through the fragile days of my college life. As years went by, I'm still amazed at how I rediscover the beauty and the passion in her music. This just brought me to tears. I love you, Tori.

NY I LOVE YOU

2010-02-01T02:37:00.007+08:00

After much anticipation, I finally watched New York, I Love You. I liked the film. But no doubt I liked Paris, Je T'aime way more than New York, I Love You. The former was just more emotional, more free-flowing. NYILY was a bit too calculated for my taste. It had some wonderful moments but it left me wanting to watch Paris, Je'Taime again. I suddenly remembered the mimes, the vampires, the gay sequence, the dying wife, the father-daughter and the old divorced couple. Paris, Je T'aime felt like a fresh basket of fruits and veggies. New York, I Love You, on the other hand, I hate to say, was just okay.

Probably the most striking story in the bunch was Shia LaBeouf and Julie Christie's segment. It was directed by Shekhar Kapur and written by Anthony Minghella. Probably the only one that stood out (which maybe good since it's remarkable and bad in the sense that it doesn't fit smoothly into the total selection) as it portrays a woman's innuendos of suicide, death or a memory of both, which then left me with questions as who or what exactly just happened. Shia's performance was quite impressive. I love the whole mise-en-scene where the white curtains are billowing coldly into Julie Christie's room, while she herself is dressed in this pristine, white gown, holding a bouquet of violets. An operatic voice could be heard in the background, which seals such a melancholic air into this seemingly quiet hotel. I just loved it.

Apart from that, I enjoyed Yvan Attal's segment starring Ethan Hawke and Maggie Q, Brett Ratner's "prom story" starring Olivia Thirlby, and also Joshua Marston's "old couple" segment starring Eli Wallach and Cloris Leachman. The first one caught my attention because of the dialogue; the second one's twist was good enough because it made me google what method acting really is; and lastly, old couple story just makes up pretty nicely for the "slice-of-life" kind of short. I wasn't really a fan of the videographer who was supposed to meld all the sequences together. It just pushed the contrived factor too much.

I would be interested to see a Tokyo, Rome (any Italian city actually), Shanghai, Moscow I Love You (or I Hate You) series next!

IM OUT OF WORDS

2010-01-26T07:46:00.001+08:00

WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS

2009-12-07T07:05:00.004+08:00

hello blog! long time no blog!

The December wind is here again. Belated happy birthday prince. Yesterday, we went out and watched A Christmas Carol. We found it just okay. Is that a good thing? That's not good. Technically, it was screaming "beautiful" to my senses. Unfortunately, I was sleepy half way through. Probably because of the donuts. But then we also had coffee. It's weird having coffee while watching a movie.

On another note, I'm the sweetest girlfriend. We've been together for three years now and I haven't given him a gift. Save for the time I gave him cash (yes, cash?!) so that he could buy this old school gaming console. Ninang much? I'm too sweet right? I feel filthy each and everytime. But I can't elaborate on that right now.

It's been more than a week of adjustment at work. I was recently assigned to the night shift, which became my biggest source of stress for the past week. This is the fruit of my labor. To put it simply, when you give your best shot (in my company at least) at work, you'll end up working in the night shift. Isn't that the sweetest thing too? To top it off, I was figuratively alone in this endeavor. My buddies were still dayshifters. I was alone. It was like the first day of work all over again. Much worse, first day in school in a foreign country. I was six all over again.

After a week filled with unbelievable perseverance, I'm still trudging this unfavorable turn of events. I have a whole lot of "me-time" these days. Not that I have me-time because of my own choice but me-time because I don't have company during my wake time.

I'm not sure what the future holds for me. Right now, I just want to be. Panic Room and crabs, here we come.

KATE FEST

2009-11-11T01:01:00.002+08:00

i wish it was the early nineties again, when she was a fresh face...

THOUGHTS

2009-11-10T00:36:00.001+08:00

i just watched the latest episode of how i met your mother. i'm sad that robin and barney broke up. really sad. (paka-arte pweh)
this morning, out of nowhere, i missed the face of gemma ward. i ended up watching too many videos of her. and did i mention too many pictures?
i just had a phone conversation with papa. i'm worried about him having nightmares. i'm used to having nightmares all the time. i'm so used to it that i'm not fazed by it anymore. i told him he just needs to wash his face after the first instance. that should do the trick. but i'm seriously worried.
work life has been so so sooo zzzzzzzzz... i have mixed feelings at work. my job is seriously too "chill" to be true. we were given almost two weeks paid off for christmas (a first time in my entire work history) and just today, it was announced we could all take our leaves for the remaining days before the official holiday week. seriously? how creepy is that? maybe i'm just used to things not going my way. not complaining lord.
laptop is off the christmas list. i'm preoccupied as to how i would celebrate christmas with just me and my father. i need some kind of wonderful before december 22. and i need to download the brothers four concert.
where have all my money gone?
i hate mood swings. especially on me.

RAWR

2009-11-09T14:47:00.003+08:00

Shania Twain clad in an all leopard print ensemble? Check.
Red lips in the desert? Check.
Singing "That don't impress me much" and taking a pass on Brad Pitt? Check.
So you think you're elvis or something? Hahahaha. Winner na winner si Shania!!!

SEEING WHITE

2009-11-09T14:18:00.010+08:00

anna inghardt

I've been meaning to post these. We all know it's manipulated, but there's nothing like a dreamy photograph to brighten one's day. Photos are from Anna Inghardt ^_^

Tomorrow is another work week. I'm just taking my time at home, quietly doing mundane stuff. Tomorrow morning will also be the long awaited pay day. I'll be booking a plane ticket to Surigao. I haven't mentioned before how happy and thankful I am to finally be able to celebrate the holidays off from work. Finally, finally! I'll be home for Christmas.

KATE PLUS PARISIENNE

2009-11-05T22:40:00.002+08:00

"my number one"

SHOW AND TELL

2009-11-01T05:41:00.005+08:00

i haven't read that much since i left college. i guess one of the things that i'm embarrassed to admit is that i have a habit of buying books, which end up not being read. it's like food not being eaten. they kind of feel like neglected, and i feel like a total poser. i used to read like nobody's business. used to. however, college was an intoxication. i was forced to read stuff i don't really care about that much (I was forced to care about those books). that was just sad and painful. lately, when i started working, i got into the habit of buying books again. this time they're usually coffee table books. lovely images, snippets of texts, and very light reading which don't require that much brain work. it doesn't sound that intelligent, huh? hahaha. i know i should get on with really good fiction but not for now. here are some of the books/coffee table and not so coffee table material that i hoarded for the past two months. i haven't finished all of them thoroughly, but i'm working on it.

1. kate moss style - yeah i know kate moss is overrated, but i'm still fascinated by her: her style, her aura, her and depp (very much fascinated than i would hate to admit), her persona. i got what i wanted out of this book plus images dated way, way back during the time when the only thing i listened to was michael learns to rock on the radio.
2. a year in high heels - this is what you call uber light reading. it's like a magazine read full of bullet suggestions, little bits of information about style, pop culture, history, ideas for things to do, women icons etc... though it's not like the most enlightening read (obviously), it works for me.
3. in vogue - this was a birthday gift from prince. sooooo happy to have this book. it features incredible images of vogue and its history: earliest covers, most iconic covers, editorials (lots of it), editors-in-chief, and easy to read text supplements that trace vogue's colorful history. i especially love the old, illustrated covers of vogue. there was something sooo fairytale like about beautiful illustrations, which i only get to see on garance's illustrations on a daily basis, that were representative of an atmosphere rather than just a drawing. lurv.
4. the sartorialist - i just have to have this. talk about scourging national bookstore. when i finally got a copy, i admit i was a bit disappointed because i was hoping to see more new images from scott schuman. i've seen most of them from the blog. it was more of a collection of his favorites. i like the fact that he emphasized the importance of looking at "details" when putting together or looking for an outfit. it's always more than just the clothes. it may be beautiful to me but not to you, but little elements of a whole look, whether it be the color, texture, volume, or the vibe, does bring inspiration to "visually-greedy" (in Scott's words) individuals like myself.
5. 1960s - love at first sight. if there's one decade i would love to know more about it's the sixties. (but actually i also the love the seventies, eighties, and the nineties) therefore, i need to get all the books in this series. hahaha. it's literally a walk down memory lane. but the poser thing is i'm not a part of that memory. it's more like looking through the lens of time and seeing how chaotic, distinct, and intense history has always been through the captured photographs. for sure, i won't necessarily familiarize myself with the details of the vietnam war but it's the images i'm after and the informative feel they give me.

SOMEONE TOLD ME

2009-10-28T22:37:00.004+08:00

carla bruni - Quelqu'un m'a dit

i don't understand a thing. liar. i've looked up the lyrics and it goes something like "someone told me that our lives are not worth a lot... someone told me you still love me." probably along these lines. i've been dying to listen to it again after watching 500 days of summer. these french songs are swirling in my head all day long.

lefelefafu

oh and im in love with 500 days of summer. best i've seen so far this year.

WISH LIST:FRANCES MAY

2009-10-26T22:53:00.002+08:00

FRANCES MAY

I discovered this online boutique while looking for online shop pegs for a future project. Frances May caught my attention because the website looks clean and polished while maintaining a personal approach. I won't say much about this future project. hahaha. I just wish it would materialize next year. That navajo print skirt is to die for. How I wish I'd find something like that soon. I've been in search for character prints for sooo long now, that's why that short, print dress is also on my wish list. The white dress? Well, I just like that it's frilly, short, and a bit slouchy (bust wise) !

CHARLOTTE

2009-10-26T09:56:00.003+08:00

joy oh joy!

ONE POST A DAY

2009-10-22T23:02:00.004+08:00

i told myself to post one post a day. just one post a day. it's so frustrating when the only reason I open my blog is to check my blog links. i might as well name it my favorites. so much has happened and yet i've got so little urgency to write and update this thing. i had my birthday, watched the september issue, bought coffee table books, watched julia & julie, thought deep about being soooo damn competitive in everything i do, bought the sartorialist book, slacked off at work, drank three days straight and right now, enjoying regular employee life. boring. my friends and i had a drink a few weeks ago and we realized we had nothing exciting to share or to talk about. it's just amazing how boring we have become. i couldn't possibly be "all said and done mode" at age 23. but then i guess we were just really a bunch of people who always (always) wanted something more. who doesn't right?

b: raspberry swirl

w: hala nostalgic!

me: ui bench? very high school.

b: naman. gusto ko yung amuy nito parang mapapangiti ka lang.

me: meron din akong kalevel nyan na gusto nung high school, yung parang amuy baby ka. sa penshoppe yun e.

w: smells like baby. amuy baby ka jan.

me: hahaha

w: uu gusto ko rin yun. pati yung kiwi something ba yun ng bench. or penshoppe?

b: may gusto din ako sa penshoppe dati. (may dinescribe na parang sa bench na cologne)

w/me: baka sa bench yan? anu ba yan.

me: or baka sa benchshoppe?

(not verbatim but something to that effect. we were trying our best to say something.)

INSPIRED BY JUDY ALDRIDGE

2009-10-12T22:00:00.018+08:00

All I want to wear nowadays are cuffed jeans and skyrocket heels (okay interesting heels would do) but as ive said im all about heels. I also dream of all the basic white, black, and gray tees paired with scarves or jackets with interesting details. In short very much like Judy Aldridg e. She is really sophisticated with a style that doesn't seem to try too hard. The key pieces of her wardrobe are high quality, one-of-a-kind jackets and shoes that when mixed altogether with simple or avant-garde accessories make a strong, masculine, and feminine statement all at the same time. Here are some of my all time favorites from here blog Atlantis Home. All pictures are from her blog.

Other looks I love (and covet)...

PC: Garance Dore, Sartorialist, Nast-Magazine

Finally, this orange trousers are to die for.

G'nyt!

PARIS, ILOVEYOU (A LOT)

2009-09-22T23:54:00.005+08:00

Sitting there, alone in a foreign country, far from my job and everyone I know, a feeling came over me. It was like remembering something I'd never known before or had always been waiting for, but I didn't know what. Maybe it was something I'd forgotten or something I've been missing all my life. All I can say is that I felt, at the same time, joy and sadness. But not too much sadness, because I felt alive. Yes, alive. That was the moment I fell in love with Paris. And I felt Paris fall in love with me.

I have found love in Paris, I Love You. No other word can describe this film but love love and more love.

18 short films (really short ones) that feature the different facets of love set in no less than (almost) everybody's dream city (of love). If you haven't watched it, please do yourself a favor. If you like artsy fartsy (with stress on the fart---sy), slice of life, moments, particular moments, color, poignant sequences, imaginings, nostalgic music, and love... this is it. Did I mention love? Okay, just checking.

THOUGHTS ON PR AUSTRALIA FINALE

2009-09-21T10:47:00.010+08:00

I'm experiencing one of those days (actually weeks) when you just don't feel like writing. I am still inspired by the gazillion of pretty things I see online, but I find it hard to create words that could perfectly describe my thoughts and feelings as of late. Sometimes I give up and just tell myself it will all come due time. When you feel like blogging again, you'll just blog again like nothing happened.

Last night, I was on the verge of my seat watching Project Runway Australia's finale. I recently discovered perfect high quality downloads via bitlord and I'm addicted to HQ videos now especially my weekly dose of PRs. As I finished all my weekend chores at around 9pm, I was contentedly sitting in front of my computer, sipping coffee, and smelling the freshness of my new sheets. It was a more than perfect atmosphere for a quiet Sunday evening.

As the final runways came down, I was shaking. Is that normal? I was shaking because I was in awe. As I think of it now, it was probably the result of good editing. The Australian version of PR captures the hopefuls' passion in their fashion. I know it sounds icky but that's exactly how I felt. Reality TV shows are prone to produce forgettable characters after everything's been said and done. However, Australia seems to make sure their Top Model and Project Runway franchises are of high quality, surpassing its US (original) counterparts (if I say so myself). To be honest, I'm just bored with PR US' Season 6.

Okay, let me go back to the shaking part. I'm downplaying my description here. The three finalists: Anthony Capone, William Lazootin, and Lauren Vieyra have showcased extremely well-designed collections. There was such drama and vibrancy through each of their collections, it was hard not to cry and clap (all alone in my apartment with no one watching but me). I just love the black, the colors, the textures, the layers, the amazing amazing accessories, and the overflowing passion. The last time I remember falling in love with PR finale collections was during Christian Siriano's and Bidell's finale collections.

I actually liked the fabulous layers of Anthony's male models. They looked delicious.

Anthony Capon, who reminds me a lot of Christian Siriano's aura and talent, won with his "black roses" inspired collection. At first, I had mixed feelings about the choice of black. I love black, but I, too, am a bit done with it. However, Anthony's collection turned out to not just be all about black. He was drama and theatrics personified. For me, there are two kinds of designers: one who makes wearable, beautiful clothes , and one who is a visionary. Visionaries are what makes this industry continuously inspired and raving with art and passion, while designers who make pretty and wearable clothes remind us why we love to dress up and just be fabulous. Anthony aspires to be one of those visionaries. Although I must say his collection was already reminiscent of Galliano, Wang, and McQueen's; you can still see Anthony's signature written all over his clothes. What is this signature? He loves whimsical accessories like gigantic roses, gardener's shears, and structured braids and ropes. It's all about the drama and the flare. I particularly loved his last words upon winning the competition. He said that people should start dressing fearlessly in their own ways. By that he means that we should just have fun with fashion and not take it too seriously.

i'm in love with this stunning red and pink ensemble from William's collection

William Lazootin is my favorite. William's collection was a huge contrast to Anthony's black. His was full of vibrant colors and stunning fabrication. It was quite a feast to the senses. I liked it a bit more than Anthony's because the I feel that embracing color is more risky than the black. William's choice of color in bright reds, mustards, pinks, and some exquisite prints was inspired by his travel to South America. It was an optimistic array of clothing. And did I mention his accessories? Swoooooooonnnnn. The accessories were to die for. Layers and layers of chunky, glittering, and bejewelled necklaces along with those black chord-like scarves perfectly complemented the pop of colors on the runway. Construction wise, they were all superb.
Lauren, on the other hand, really looked feminine and edgy. When her clothes came down the runway, I kept saying the word "beautiful", one after another. But then it was obvious that Lauren's was the weaker collection the clothes became too much "alike" in concept --soft and structured-- it became a bit monotonous. I would say hers was a really good collection too, it just so happened that Anthony and William's were better. Nevertheless I'll wear her clothes in a heartbeat.

I'm looking forward to all these three designers making a name for themselves. Obviously, I am a very big fan.

I'M BACK

2009-09-11T06:05:00.005+08:00

Yehey! Monitor? Check!

Finally, a decent (in fact more than decent) Samsung monitor in the house. I couldn't ask for more. Hmmm...except (perhaps) for a good cpu to match or my laptop back? Mwahahahahaha

I missed the internet at home so bad I thought I wouldn't last. But as always, things were bound to happen in ways that we least expect it to. With the internet gone, I was more productive. I was productive in cleaning my apartment before leaving for work, I was more productive in reading tons and tons of magazines which have been sitting in my shelves for months, and I was even more productive getting tons of decent sleep which I haven't done in a long time. Heck I'm off to bed as early as 10pm for three straight weeks now (except weekends of course). Save for frequent unhealthy food and cigarettes, I'm quite a normal person now.

It's been a very long week for me and I'm dying to get some serious relaxation this weekend. Thank you for the blessings Lord. Thank you.

GIDDY

2009-09-02T02:22:00.007+08:00

etc

...i might just cross out one item in my bucket list. yihaaa
...i can't sleep just thinking about it.
...feeling unsure what would come up next.
...adjusting slowly but surely.

ahhhhhhhh

STYLE ICON:RACHEL BILSON

2009-08-30T07:02:00.011+08:00

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.

rachelbilsonstyle

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.

WEEKEND

2009-08-25T06:59:00.008+08:00

I wish I could show pictures instead.

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.

MAKING LIFE SIMPLER

2009-08-20T08:59:00.004+08:00

...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

http://etc-alltherest.blogspot.com/ - thank you so much for all the quotes

MY MORNING ELEGANCE

2009-08-19T09:09:00.003+08:00

etc

HOW I FEEL TODAY

2009-08-18T08:00:00.003+08:00

starbucks and jane

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.
how I feel today? weird.

FIRST DAY FUNK

2009-08-17T22:37:00.007+08:00

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...

FRESHNESS

2009-08-16T09:35:00.004+08:00

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.

BEAUTY

2009-08-11T08:00:00.007+08:00

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.

TIM WALKER

2009-08-10T07:12:00.008+08:00

via moodboard

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.

Happy Monday!

DROOLING OVER FOOD BLOGS

2009-08-09T15:19:00.011+08:00

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.

4. David Lebovitz , Living the Sweet Life in Paris - Anything that says food and Paris I'm good!

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).

ZOEWEEK

2009-08-09T13:56:00.011+08:00

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.

MY BUCKET LIST

2009-08-08T15:17:00.010+08:00

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. ^_^

LAST UPDATED: MAR21 2010

I ONLY LOVE RAINY MONDAY MORNINGS...

2009-08-03T07:07:00.005+08:00

with coffee on a no-pressure day.

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.

DREAMY DREAMY WHITE

2009-08-02T08:55:00.005+08:00

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.

FRIDAY THOUGHTS ON A SATURDAY MORNING

2009-08-01T10:33:00.012+08:00

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.

LET GO

2009-07-29T10:33:00.000+08:00

oooppps deleted. breath of fresh air.