4.22.2012

All You Got To Do Is Know How To Love Her

Music Monday

Tasty Tuesday

A plate of Chicken Chimichangas from Mañana

Wishful Wednesday
Can we install air conditioning for the entire country? This summer heat is insane. One shower a day is never enough!

Thoughtful Thursday

{ via Quote Diary }
Fashion Friday
Stuff I snagged at the opening of Forever 21 The Block

Hometown

Headed to the town where my mom grew up last Thursday night. Her sister's husband passed away suddenly last Sunday. It was very sad news to start the week with.

This was also my first week working on our website all by myself so I was quite stressed this week. I don't like leaving unfinished work so I was very disappointed when I missed one check on my to-do list. But I promised myself, next week will be better.

Driving to San Jose, Camarines Sur was quite the adventure. My brothers and I decided to leave at 9pm to make it to the funeral the next morning.

The last time I was in Bicol was years ago. So I suppose it was also nice—despite the circumstances—to come back.

We said good bye to Uncle July; we made it just in time as they transferred him from their house to the Church across. We walked from the Church to the cemetery under the heat of the summer sun. White balloons were released as my aunt, my mom's sister, walked out of the cemetery in a black veil. There were a lot of superstitions I observed but didn't understand. Tears aren't supposed to fall onto the coffin, the widow cannot be spoken to as she walks away from the cemetery, you should wash your hands before entering the house, the widow should bathe after the burial, and the entire family should only eat from the plate that was offered. Now I know where my mom gets all her pamahiin from.

We were back in Manila twenty-five hours after we left. It was very tiring but I'm glad we went. Hopefully the next time we go, it'll be for a longer time and for a happier time with the family.

4.08.2012

Every Day Is A Holiday

Music Monday

"Every Day Is A Holiday" by Esthero

Tasty Tuesday
My favorite Chicken Chimichangas from Mañana.

Wishful Wednesday



{ via Old Navy }

Swimsuits you can mix and match. Less than P500 a piece online because of the Easter sale—and they now ship to the Philippines apparently!

Thoughtful Thursday





From a trip 2 years ago. Excited to head back to the island with my college best buds this week!

Fashion Friday

{via Roxy }

Match your pedi to your footwear. Can't wait to dig my toes into the sand this weekend! ♥

4.06.2012

Passion Project: The Friendship Bracelet Book

A few months ago, when my friend and colleague Koko came up to me saying she had a project for me, I had no idea that I'd end up with a book. With my hand on the cover!
That's me, Mikko, and Alessa on the cover. Well, our hands at least. Haha! We've been working on this for months and I'm so glad we can finally show everyone our baby. It was my very first time to work as EIC on a book and I learned a lot of things from it. It's not as easy as I thought it would be, but I'll chalk everything up to experience. I actually can't wait to work on another book! Haha!

I let out a squeal when Bianca set a copy down on my desk. We've been waiting for a sample for weeks so imagine my joy (and later on, Mikko, the master bracelet pattern maker, also got to share my excitement) when I flipped through the actual book?

After all these years of working in publishing, I still get kilig when I see my name in print. I'm so happy I got to work with an awesome team. Thanks to Jaykee who made the book look super cute (bet you didn't guess that a dude made our layout), Alessa who did awesome watercolor illustrations (I love our watercolored letters on the cover!!!), Pat for making the bracelets and projects look great in photos (and for letting us invade his condo for additional props haha), Mimi for helping me edit the text last minute (I owe you tons of bracelets!), and Mikko for coming up with such cool, unique patterns and projects. And of course to Koko and Bianca, for asking me to do this project. (: Can't wait for the next one!

Don't forget to grab a copy at all leading bookstores and newsstands nationwide. It's only P150 and you get 30 patterns, tons of fun projects, and free thread in TEN colors. If that isn't a good deal, I don't know what is. Let me know if you already have your copy and what your favorite bracelet pattern is. (:

4.05.2012

Songs I Like: "Shake It Out" by Katharine McPhee (Florence and the Machine Cover)


Katharine McPhee singing "Shake It Out" on NBC's Smash.
Here's Florence and the Machine performing the song live on Later... With Jools Holland.

4.02.2012

Baker's Bites: The Inception Cookie



I've been wanting to try this ever since it popped up on my browser on one of my many blog-hopping sessions. A cookie within a cookie. How genius is that? I was kind of disappointed (maybe I was expecting too much?), but topped with a scoop of Vanilla Almond ice cream, it was perfect!

Cool Tip: Cookie dough chilled overnight results in better cookies. Don't have 24 hours? Keep your flour in the fridge. It works the same way. (:

4.01.2012

Pennies And Dimes For A Kiss

Music Monday


Tasty Tuesday

Inception Cookie a la mode ♥

Wishful Wednesday
{ via Parfois }

Thoughtful Thursday

{via Design Sponge 1, 2}

Fashion Friday
Shopping at Forever 21