Starting my 2012 with a Cup of Coffee

I woke up today to a cloudy weather but that does not mean that I should be in bed all day. I got up and promised myself that I would start the year with productivity! What is the best way to perk up my day a cup of coffee! Last year a splurged on a bag of good coffee but when I got home I could not find the coffee maker! Fortunately my friend Honeyel saw my Mom's French press. I don't think my bought it for coffee. I am the only one in the family who drinks coffee. I think she bought it for decorating purposes. So my coffee make problem was solved.  

Yesterday I tried experimenting and my first attempt the coffee was watery. Today finally got it right! 

After having a quick breakfast I got the New Year cake, and pieces of chocolate! I know I am starting my day filled with caffein induced hyperactivity! 

End of 2011

Another year is ending and a new one is just a day away. Here I am thinking about the year that has passed. I know I have not blogged enough. This year has been full of tribulations but also full of blessings.

2012 could mean a lot of things...some say it's the end of the world
Somehow it's also an end for me...it is the end of my twenties.

So I am making a vow that I should make my 29 count.

I leave you with lyrics from Incubus' Song
"If not Now, When"

I have waited

Dined on ashes

Swung from chandeliers and climbed Everest

And none of it's got me close to this

I've waited all my life

If not now, when will I?

We've been good

Even a blast, but

Don't you feel like something's missing here?

Don't you dare

I've waited all my life

If not now, when will I?

Stand up and face the bright light

Don't hide your eyes

It's time

No umbrellas

No sunglasses

Healing [hearing?] Hallelujah everyday

I've waited all my life

If not now, when will I?

Stand up and face the bright light

Don't hide your eyes

It's time 

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/if_not_now,_when_lyrics_incubus.htmlAll about Incubus: http://www.musictory.com/music/Incubus  

It's been AWHILE

...
This just shows how I suck at  blogging nowadays. I have been updating my branding tumblr. slimsea.tumblr.com It was suppose to be stuff for my rebranding but somehow my personal stuff is mixed.
I really should be fixing stuff.

Lately I feel I am in a rut. There are a lot of THINGS I should be doing (like getting my act together) but somehow I waste time on facebook. I should learn to go offline.

I need to have creative spark.

In a year I will be turning 30. I know it's just a number. Right now I don't even feel 29...(because I am really 28 going to 29 in less than a month). I am having one of those alone time so I will have my reflective moment! This is my blog and I will rant anything I want! Sigh...

I used to be fearless. I used to be spontaneous. Is this getting old feels like?

Book I am currently reading

There are time I read a lot of books all at once. Well not really ready different books in one sitting. It's more of reading book alternately. Right now I am reading 5. It's usually just 2. 

I never imagined myself reading ebooks. I really hate reading ebooks because my eyes hurt afterwards but somehow I got to finish Pretty Little Liars on my ipod touch. Now I am on the second book of the series. 

I like reading book series. So this is book 11 of the Anita Blake series.

This a very short novel. I like reading this when I am tired of reading Anita Blake fast pace life. This the complete opposite of the Blake series. 

This is a collection of Lourd's essays in spot.ph. I really love reading about his take of current events in the Philippines. I also love the treasure trove of words he uses. 

Lastly I read this one so that I have an idea how to handle the business side of graphic design. I even bought markers so that I could high light the important parts. 

How about you what is on your reading list?

Home made Mocha Frappe

New Crushes!

The very manly MAN Blake Shelton

And the Beautiful Andrej Pejic.

Two ends of the spectrum

Long weekend

There are times when I feel like fate smiles down me. It's one of those 4 day long weekend. With the pressure from IELTS exam I think this break is timely. I planned to work on my rebranding. I have a separate tumbler for that (check it out sometime http://slimsea.tumblr.com). First day I wasted in the singing contest the Voice.

The original reason to watch this is Adam Levine but later on I seem to like Blake Shelton more. It made me realize that I am into BIG and TALL men. Blake is 6'5. Alexander Skarsgard is 6'4. Joe Manganiello is also 6'5...you see the trend here! hehehe

After a day's worth of cheering for the contestants and drooling over Adam and Blake I finally had my share of a day's worth of wasting time. Sunday was date time. Today I must make my break more productive. So finally made my logo. Yehey!

I will do the great reveal if I finish the whole brand identity.

Grey Skies

Ever since I got a new tube of colored pencils I have been itching to draw everyday. I just drew random stuff. Somehow a spark is ignited in me. I think I have been complacent with my lifestyle. I have not made any new personal projects. I was busy with work and somehow going to and fro from the office and home seemed enough.

Today we had a very important announcement at my office. I would mean that my job would require more of me. I am not really scared of change. Every now and then I welcome big changes in my life. It makes my life interesting. Right now I feel my job has put on more weight. Somehow I just confirmed that I am apparently an Art Director. I heard my Boss introduced me that way and never really thought that is my position. I just thought that maybe it sounded better rather than introducing me as just another artist. Hehehehe I guess I'm just in denial most of the time.

Besides new challenges at work I will face another hurdle soon. I will take the IELTS again. Sigh. I kept on postponing it and hope I don't need to take the exam but I need get my bearings and face my fear head on. I hope I get the required score so I won't take the damn exam again!!!

I know my life would take another turn. So I think its time to reinvent myself, art wise.

The skies are grey today and so I painted my nails grey. Hmmm Grey seems the theme of the day.

I see RED

I have a tendency to color coordinate everything. When I was in high school my favorite color was purple so all my stuff and clothes are either in purpler or different shades of it. Right now I am not really into Red. It just happens that my BF gave me a red external hardrive. When I got my laptop I got a red sleeve then later I bought a red casing. So after that I want my gadgets in red!

Here are present red stuff albeit the green earphones.

You can see here a Panasonic Lumix GF2, Blackberry curve 3G, jansport laptop backpack, Urban ears headphone and capdase ipod touch case. I want to buy everything but hopefully I get to buy one or two.

IELTS Back with a Vengeance

After my one month hiatus from my IELTS review I back on the bandwagon again. My first plan was to take the IELTS this July 25 but with unforeseen circumstances I was indisposed for two weeks and failed to catch up with the registration deadline. It's not that I am that eager to face my impending doom. It would have been like one big thorn off my ass.

I might not feel the urgency but its there. I cannot postone any longer. I must muster all my courage and finish what I have started. Last Saturday I went to class again. I did not know a single person there. But is not new to me. Every time I see new faces. The class was small. We were only five in the morning. By the afternoon a student skipped the class and we were only four left. Ma'am Daisy was the lecturer. I am not really keen on her teaching methods. But still she have several good points to share. I guess I just don't find her entertaining. I know, I know...I did not went there to be entertain but to learn.

It was an uneventful class. I got five mistakes at the reading test. It's equivalent to 8. But I know I really have to strive harder. I REALLY need to get the highest marks I could muster.

So here I am planning to self study. One of the things I learned after my absences was that there are no night classes. It sucks for me because its the only I have. So I only got Saturdays.

I planning taking in August. That is in a month. I really have to work on my writing. So here I am trying to practice.

Focus....

It's been awhile since I wrote something. My writing is all over the place. I found that my writing is like the way I am thinking. I tend to move from one thing to another. I know I should organize my thoughts. From my practice tests I found I have no consistency. I really NEED to learn this discipline.

Sigh...

I know I still got a lot to learn.

Recovering

Two weeks ago I would have blogged about my company's Summer outing, I would have blogged about my quick trip to Cebu but that feels like eons ago. After my quick trip to Cebu I got sick. It started Sunday afternoon. I did not feel well. I knew I going down with something. Monday came and I knew I could not got to work. I was having a fever. I thought I could just rest and ignore it but before lunch I knew this was not just any fever. Even though I am not really a person who likes to go to the Doctor I just agreed when my Aunt suggested we go to the Doctor.

It was tuesday when I was admitted to the hospital. When I got my second set of lab results, what my Doctor feared I had was confirmed. I had gotten dengue. After several days of high fever, losing your apetite, super low platelet count (my lowest was 11), 8 bags of platelet concentrate and consuming different remedies for dengue here I am writing how I feel lost.

I happy I am okay but I still feel weak.

2 weeks of stock photo freedom

Last night while I was already slowly drifting to sleep I heard a beep from my Goldie (my ipod touch). Sheepishly I checked what was it. I found inksurge sent me a DM in my twitter. Curiouser and curiouser...

Then I found that I won a free 2 weeks subscription to Fotolia! Well that made me get up from bed and check my laptop. I reread the DM and follow the instructions. So before I fell asleep I was already thinking about stock photos.

This was the post about inksurge's contest.

Lately I have been joining twitter contests. Well not really putting much effort. It's just a malay mo effort. Well those malay mo effort does pay off. hehehehe

Di sa akin to na art galing fotolia

Well some may not be excited for a fotolia subscription, I mean not everyone is familiar with fotolia. If your not an artist by profession don't really give a damn about stock photos. I on the other hand I live off stock photos. It's always the cheaper alternative to looking for photos for projects rather than having a photo shoot.

I'm super excited what photos I would get. Specially this time I would be getting photos for myself! (Selfish much.)

Right now I am still thinking what would I get....

Hyper with coffee

This is what happens when I am bored and little bit inspired (well actually hyper due to the coffee I drank earlier).

I wrote a letter for my sister....
Die...Die....
Actually I made origami...I used the cutter to cut the collar part.
hmmm smells like....
Then there a quick self portrait.

Then it's already 12. Time to go to sleep.

Because I want to!

Yes, I can't help myself. Billie Piper in the 90's. Remember this song?

The Other Hannah

Everybody is familiar with the Hannah Montana. A young girl who has a double life. But I am not going to write about her, rather I would write about Hannah. Same name but the similarities stop there.

The first scene warms you up with a blurred urban crowd shot with an upbeat music in the background. Then you see a woman is walking towards you. She is talking about London. You will see a very chic and classy lady. Expensive suit, a pearl necklace and carefully put make up. Then she says:

The first thing you should know about me is that I am a whore. - Belle/Hannah

After that opening scene I knew I was hooked. This is series not new. Actually Secret Diary of Call Girl has already aired its final episode. I read about this series a long time ago. A good friend of mine gave a copy of seasons 1-3 but I did not have extra time to watch it. Finally I got to watch it and got addicted to it. When I googled more about the series and found that it's only up to season 4.

The series is about a book that was also based on a blog but Belle du Jour. The author's identity was kept secret until recently when the author herself revealed her true identity to the public. Pretty interesting, you think?

What I loved about the series besides the lingerie and the sexy wardrobe is the humor. I didn't know that prostitution could have a humorous side. Belle is played by Billie Piper. If you think her face is familiar its because she was a famous pop star in the nineties. I did not really like her then but I like her now. I like her more as an actress than a singer (but somehow being a pop star came in handy when made goofy dance moves in one episode).

One of the things that somehow nearly hit home is her best friend Ben. I used to have a guy best friend. Seeing their dynamic made me miss having a guy best friend. But I suppose you can not be really best friends with a guy because in the end they came more than friends (Oh no spoiler!) and I on the other hand also had to cut my ties with best guy friend (I know the drama!).

I don't suggest this series for the general public because it definitely for adults. It's not for the faint of heart or the prude. Its for people who are open to explore, people who are not easily get offended and people who embrace their sexuality.

I will definitely add the books where the series was based on to my reading list.

Gazillion things to do

There are a lot stuff I have to do but here I am sitting in front of the computer contemplating the days events.

Hmmm What to do next.....
I could back up my external hard disks....
I could read a book

I could blog...well obviously that is what I am doing right now...

Book Finds

With a limited budget and book stores that only offer best sellers, a book lover like me have to resort to other sources to find my book fix. Well it's not just novels. I also look for graphic design books. Brand new graphic design books is really expensive. So I go to the ukay-ukay version of books, second hand bookstores.

Looking for a good book at second hand shop can be a challenge. You should know what you are looking for. I happy that I get to find good graphic design books that cheap. They are not the latest editions but still they can still be very good reference. I know you can do your research through the internet nowadays but nothing beats a tangible book in your hands.

My latest finds:

Inspirability: 40 Top Designers Speak About What Inspires -Pash

For Sale. Over 200 Innovative Solutions in Packaging Design -John Foster

Designing with type. A Basic Course in Typography -James Craig and William Bevington

Inspirability: 40 Top Designers Speak About What Inspires -Pash

It's hard for graphic designers to stay inspired when they're constantly working to deadlines. Inspirability gives them a fresh look at how to keep those creative fires burning in the real world, with: Interviews with 40 design luminaries, including Stefan Sagmeister, Paula Scher, Milton Glaser and Chip Kidd; Fascinating pictures the designers have taken of themselves and their offices, as well as samples of their design work; Revealing insights into what inspires each designer on a day-to-day basis; This book offers an original take on one of the most requested topics by graphic designers. It's a must-have tool for lasting inspiration.

I am a person who remember names of notable people. I remember more of their works. This book feature 40 graphic designers, some I am familiar and then there are some who its my first time to encounter. This books is like peer on the minds of the other artists.

For Sale. Over 200 Innovative Solutions in Packaging Design -John Foster

For Sale showcases packaging designs from 50 top firms. 15 firms are showcased with several spreads of work samples and an in-depth interview to capture their creative process and best advice. Profiles include noted packaging designers Wink, Sub Pop, Werner Design Werks, Starbucks, Modern Dog, Turner Duckworth, Art Chantry, Fossil, Invisible Creature and more.

One of the things that I love with my job is packaging design. Looking at delightful packing never fails to inspire me.

Designing with type. A Basic Course in Typography -James Craig and William Bevington

This is more of a text book for graphic designers. In my time my typography teacher did not really dwell much on specifics. So now I really like reading about the basics.

My Vice

*All this IELTS review tips makes me write and rewrite my entries that I always end up deleting the few lines I have written.

Ever since I was a little girl I really enjoyed books. My Mother said that instead of going to sleep with stuffed toys I was sleeping with a book. Through the years my book preferences has evolved. One thing didn't change. My love for collecting books.

During high school I started reading novels. I have a tendency that if I like a certain author I need to read all the stuff he/she wrote. Well I was not only about reading books. I really liked collecting them. With my meager allowance I got by books one by one. My Mom is also love reading books so was happy to help me complete my collections. Four years in high school somehow I filled up a shelf. Maybe it was 50 books or more. I took pride with book collection.

That time I was into vampires and horror novels. This was before twilight phenomenon. I had books by Anne Rice, Stephen King, and what not. My parents entered a Catholic Charismatic group that did not advice reading works "inspired by the devil". So they ended up burning my books. Family drama aside, that did not stop me from reading and collecting books.

When I went away for college I started anew with my book collection. This time I was no longer attached with my books like last time. After my senior year I had a lot of books. I only kept a few. The others, specially the ones I know my parents would not approve of I gave away.

Moving from one place to another made me loose interest in have a book collection. I still enjoy reading books but did not really cared about what happened to my books afterwards. I started hoarding books again when I was assigned in Cebu for a company training. That time I had no other past time. I didn't have a computer or a tv at the house I stayed. The cheapest way to keep myself busy with my free time was buying books. I didn't bought new books. I got my books from second hand books shops. When I got extra money later I bought new books. So I read one books after another.

When I was assigned back in Davao I fell in love again with book collecting. So starting building my library. I still love buying second hand books. Now I love reading books series. I used to avoid them since completing a series was a hassle because there are a few good book stores here in Davao. Second books stores is not option since you can't really predict what books you can find there. I am glad that the internet made finding books so much easier. My first option is to buy second hand books to save more. Then there are days I do splurge one buying new books. I also blackmail my bf buying me some from time to time.

Right now I think a chunk of my paycheck goes to book buying. I admit that this is my current vice. My bf calls me an addict. Books are really my weakness. I can stop myself buying clothes, gadgets, and food. But when it comes to books I sometimes buy and not think. I know I must stop this book hoarding and finish reading all the books.

This is my book collection (novels, my graphic design books are in another pile somewhere...) . It's not complete because there a couple of books at that are borrowed by my friends. Funny, I tend to look the first book in my book series.

Eye Candy!

pwede na akong matulog...hehehe

From Crappy to Happy

Ysai and Me jumping

I woke up the wrong side of the bed today. I woke up late and I felt lazy. I tried to make my mood better and drank coffee. Which was a bad idea. It made me nauseous and made me palpitate. Then the heat was another story all together. So commuting to work I was having a headache. My bf text message me if we could have lunch together. It should have been good news but he asked if we could take an early lunch. I was super late already. I agreed to his proposition by the time I arrive I would be having lunch. So I postponed the lunch tomorrow. I was not really feeling well in the jeep. I felt that I could puke any time. So when I finally arrived. I took my time crossing the street. I felt I was having an asthma attack. Slowly I got the 4th floor. I took a breather and planned for my work load. Since I was having a crappy day I decided to buy lunch just to make me feel a little bit better. I also bought dvd's for the office. Along the way it just popped to my mind to have old watch looked at. I had my watch batteries replaced. After my errands, I tried to look at watch strap. The mechanism of my old watch works fine but it has no straps. The department store did have straps available. My money was not enough for the strap so I said to myself I will be back. So later that evening I did came back. I got the straps my old watch of 15 years is good as new again! Yehey! After that I also spotted a nice looking laptop backpack. Needless to say I did have a shopping spree. I was really happy with my purchases. When I got home I saw that package finally arrived. Another yehey!

Tomorrow things are looking up (and I better be on time since I have now a watch again.)!

Home at Last?

Un packing

It's more than a week since I came back from Cebu. I am almost back to my normal routine again. Well...Almost. My bag are still unpacked. They lay sullen and in chaos along with my books in my room. I have changed bed sheets of my parents' bed but there are still stuff at a disarray. I have not yet arranged my things. Getting my groove back seems to be an on going work in progress.

It is almost a year since I am left by my family in the Philippines. I am not new to this distance from loved ones. I have been living on my own since college. Somehow there is a certain emptiness in my house. I am used to leaving my family to study or work somewhere else but it's different when you are the one who is left behind. Now it's almost a year I still can't fill the spaces. Somehow home seems to be where I am and not where I live.

Double Decking

All my life I have been moving from one place to the next that I don't really have a specific place that I really felt at home. Right now even though I got the whole house to myself I'd rather go somewhere else. When I was in Cebu at first I had to go adjust to new surroundings. I lived in a boarding house for women. I had room mates. Sadly I did not really got to know them. I just knew their names when I saw the list my land lady posted on the door. My room mates were sisters. The older sister worked at a real estate company (I don't know as what but I gathered that info looking at her office uniform) and the younger girl studies at San Carlos. I assume her course is Accounting based on the accounting books laying everywhere. They seemed to be happy girls, I couldn't really tell based on my observations that they were having any problems. Landlady told me that were super late with rent. I saw how much they owed the place when monthly accounting of payments was posted on the boarding house door. Somehow I am sad for them because there was a point that my landlady had to let them go. Even though I don't know the real story I do offer a prayer for the two. I pray that wherever they would go things would be better.

Condo living

The company only payed for two months so when my time was up I left and went to live at my Boss' condo. For the remaining 3 weeks I got to stay at the quaint condo. I really liked living there because its fully furnished. It's a mini home. When I arrived the place my first reaction was "Yehey there is a ref!". I made plans already on what things I could put it there. After my initial grocery I immediately made ice! hehehe There was also an electric stove. Sad, I only got to use it once since I really don't know how to cook. I really liked the idea a place of your own. Where you can plan things and not think twice what would your mother think. Hopefully one day I get to have that.

Well now that I am back here in my good old house, I still feel I have not yet arrived home. Hopefully one day I get to say I'm home and I'm going to stay.

This is the view from the mini balcony of the condo

Back in Davao

Yup I'm back in Davao. My Cebu is stint over. I will definitely miss my officemates in Cebu. I will still get to work with them but it's different if you see them in person. My stuff is not yet unpacked. I have loads of things to do to settle in. The Holy week is coming and I have no plans yet. I will definitely must make a post of my Cebu adventure.

Right now I am just enjoying a lazy Sunday before another Monday rush.

Craving for coffee right now.

Violet - Aka Veevee

I have been a bad blogger. Haven't blogged anything and March is almost over!

It's not that I don't have things to blog I just don't have the time to sit down and write a decent entry. Last entry was about the death of Ipod touch. Even thou

gh I still miss my Ipod touch. I got a new member of my gadget family.

Ooooh Package from Singapore

Me and my sister usually give names to our gadgets. Like Potchot, Megumi, Kiiro, Cameron D, and Kee yat. When I finally got my MBP I wanted to give her a name. There was a time when I was addicted to old Brooke Shields movies.

I really liked her in the Pretty Baby movie.

So I decided to name my MBP Violet. Then my sister gave her a nickname. Veevee!

With Veevee there shouldn't be any excuse for me not to blog!

A very expensive paper weight

It's official my Cameron D is dead. A few days ago my ipod touch took a swan dive into a bucket filled with water. I was going to take a bath and decided to listen to music. Of all the possible places I could have put it, (sa katangahan ko!) I placed it the grilled thingy that we usually put the toiletries. I was arranging it then plop.

Grrrr I was supposed to buy a new LX5 camera but now I will definitely put a hold on that again!

Oh well...life goes on.

Ever since I arrived in Cebu it has been a whirlwind. I have not even arranged all my stuff or bought all the necessary things I will be shipped again to Manila this Sunday. The trip to Manila will be a short one though. To think I have not even unpacked all my things. Somehow all this busyness has kept me from mulling over things. My Bf thinks that my hectic schedule has also a good result. I don't get to be in my EMO mode. He knows that I tend to be melancholic here in Cebu (especially since I don't have any friends besides my officemates).

There are a lot of new experiences coming my way. Like later I get to do my first job interview. I am not applying for a new job, mind you. I will be on the other side of the table. I will the interviewee (as my sister would say Charang!). Got to put on a serious face. Hehehehe

The light is already out and my hyper-acidity is acting up. It's time to get some breakfast of some sort.

Cebu Here I Come!!!

Right now I'm here in the airport waiting for my flight. The past week has been very hectic. I had to settle domestic affairs (still there are loose ends but I could manage to sooth it out in Cebu). I was also very busy with work. In between that I'm happy this got to spent time with the BF.

Somehow I have mixed feeling for this trip. I am excited but nervous. I am sad to leave my friends but happy to face new challenges in Cebu (As my sister would sa Charang!!!). I really did not know what to pack. I didn't want to bring lots of clothes because I really don't know how long my stay would last. I brought my art stuff though. Last time when I was assigned in Cebu I had loads of free time. So the bulk of my stuff are things to get me preoccupied for vacant moments.

I did not want to bring books because it would add to the weight. Luckily I found sending books doesn't cost that much. I sent myself 6 books through 2Go and paid only 70 pesos! Besides my book situation resolution I still had to pay LOTS for excess baggage. Maybe I'll send my stuff through a carrier next time.

Hope this Cebu thing will bring lots of new things to blog about! hehehe

*Will post later packing days pictures.

SWIM

Despite the problems I have been facing lately I find myself sane and surviving the daily grind. I don't know how I manage. But push comes to shove...I have to swim.

Ah Sunday. Well for others its usually lazy Sundays for me ...its another story. Don't worry won't bitching about my problems.

Now to good things in life...Small stuff but makes me happy!.

Fist stop. Nail polish. My sister is a nail polish freak. I also enjoy painting my nails from time to time. From the care package my Mom sent. My sister got me cool crackle finish nail polish. Still working on how th get the best results.

"I hate weddings,' she says. 'They make me feel so unmarried. Actually, even brushing my teeth makes me feel unmarried."
— Melissa Bank (The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing)

Yes the book hoarding has begun!

I haven't finalized when I will be leaving but I already got the bags out. I'm pondering what would I bring since the move will be just temporary. hehehe You can also see my books are out and not my clothes. I'm thinking more of things I would bring so I will not be bored. I plan not bring lots of clothes, I will just hoard Ukay-ukay in Cebu. hehehe