an end and a beginning

so the year is about to end and i figured we had better give it a proper tribute on this site as well. hmm, i'm not sure if this will be a worthy end-of-the-year post but here goes!

i did my financial accounting voodoo yesterday. mind you, i never took an accounting subject so i kept it pretty simple and just added and subtracted a few digits.  the verdict?

i went overbudget!!! by around 3k. considering all my expenses and my income (sidelines included), i saved just a little little less than half of my salary.  oh well, i'm still learning, you know? and some people might say that i was unnecessarily generous at several occasions, which isn't entirely a terrible thing, right? i'll just need to compensate for that.

this coming year, my contract will end at my current place of employment.  i have 2 months of (somewhat) predictably stable income before i have to get a new job, a better one!  and having decided that the compensation does not solely determine what constitutes as a great job, i am facing the possibility of earning even less (read: minimum wage), especially should i choose to work for an NGO or the like.  and what does this mean, exactly? new New Year financial resolutions!

now, i'm not doing this to try to compensate for some guilt of overspending.  i admit that i did overspend a bit during the past year but, guess what, it was worth it in one way or another.  i either helped someone or learned a lesson as a result.  money well-spent, if you ask me.  but for this year, it's time to apply what i've learned and what i believe in.  i believe it is possible to live contentedly, even with very little.  and i also believe that you are never too poor to help someone out. 

this year, after having analyzed my every expense, i'm resolving to:

1. buy less clothes and shoes.  and if i do buy, they have to be practical needs.

2. reuse and recycle even more.  that means more DIYs too, and more garage sales.

3. lessen my dependency on material objects.  even more garage sales then! and i'll be giving away "presents" to friends who want them, i guess :)

4. make my money work for me.  i'll be spending (both time and money), albeit still wisely, on three things: fostering relationships and helping those in need, further learning, pursuing my dream/mission

i'm really excited for the new year!!!! the possibilities will be even more exiting than they were in 2010, i just know it :D

btw, i made my first New Year/Bday/Dream purchase (yes, this will be placed in the 2011 report :P ) i sure hope to make the most out of this one.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Happy New Year to you all!

DIY: inspired by Alexander McQueen

(yet another overdue DIY post)

i receive a ton of email every day, maybe half of which are all related to fashion.  anyway, i remember receiving one about nail polish trends sometime in June.  one of the girls featured there was Drew Barrymore.  anyway, the nail color article was interesting enough, but what really caught my attention was Drew's Alexander McQueen dress:

i don't really go anywhere so I'd never really get a chance to wear something like this.  and even if i did have an event to attend, chances are that the McQueen brand people wouldn't be willing to just lend me this dress.  but i loved it so much that i knew i had just one option: DIY!!!

i've had this lace dress lying around for months.  one of my last purchases before i started Project 365.  i bought it at an ukay-ukay near BIR Intramuros for Php 50.  Btw, the owner of the place was Ilocano and they played Ilocano music in the store.  the ukay was also very decent--spacious, clean, well-ventilated. aaanyway, i bought it because i saw some potential in it.  i especially loved the crochet detail on the neckline.

however i try to pretend not to care what everyone else thinks about me, i'm still an insecure girl.  and whenever i'd try the dress on (after washing in boiling water and detergent, mind you), my ate cla would always say "yuck" or something along that line of thought.  so i knew i needed to do something to try to elicit a more favorable or at least neutral response from the people who would be seen with me while wearing it.

i decided to try to make my version of the McQueen dress.  first I carefully cut out the lining (too lazy to rip the seams), making sure not to snip the stitches so the dress would remain intact.

then i prepared a dye bath--using 4 packets of black Venus dye this time.  i figured it wouldn't matter so much if it was in a small basin. in the event that there would be unevenness in the color, it would look like the intended result, much like the intricately designed lace of the original dress.

unfortunately, i learned through this experience that color fastness is something better achieved, not just with quality dye, but also with a proper process.  but since i had neither, i ended up with gray lace.  the only thing that did turn black enough was the crochet trim on the neckline and at the hem of the dress.

i tried to see what it would look like with yellow fabric underneath, but gray doesn't make the color pop out as much.  so i decided to just use the crochet trim instead.  i had 1 1/4 yards yellow cotton voile lying around at home (i often have fabric-buying urges)--also one of my last purchases before Project 365--so i didn't even need to buy that.  i cut out a simple pattern for the bodice using a hybrid of the lining (which was more loose) and my bias dress pattern from FIP (more fit).  since cotton voile is pretty sheer, i used up all my fabric to make two layers (i'd suggest at least 1 1/2 yards next time, especially since bias uses up more fabric).  

with the help of my trusty portable Brother sewing machine (which we got several years ago from credit card points), i was able to make this top:

it's definitely one of my favorites :) it's dressy but i can also wear it with jeans.  i can belt it, tuck it in, or leave it as is. DIY rules!!!

DIY: pseudo chambray shirt

back when i made this a few months ago, i had been reading about the resurgence in popularity of the Chambray (a kind of cotton aka Cambric) shirt among the fashion crowd in the West.  Denim shirts of various washes were also a big craze (and i guess still are depending on the styling).

this was my inspiration:

not having the cheese to afford yet another item, and also having an abundance (okay 4 is not exactly that much) of white collared shirts, i decided to DIY instead.  here's what went on:

one of my white shirts was less traditional than the others.  it had a different kind of yoke and huge sleeves!  i liked it for a while but then i realized that i would sometimes look like i was swathed in hospital bedsheets.  this was the shirt i decided to dye, using the Venus dye available at National Book Store (i know, sorry but that's the only one i know of.  i'm searching for dyes online but it's gonna be real costly what with the $ and the shipping, etc.)

i used two packets but you can go darker if you want.  if you're not really sure, i suggest you go light first; you can always intensify the color later.  now, having limited resources and a slightly overbearing mother, i couldn't follow the instructions to the letter.  but i think it went ok. 

it would be a lot better if you use a bigger basin though, to keep the fabric from clumping.  mine did, and at the underarm area too! it's not that noticeable but if someone looks very closely, you'd think i had sweat stains even if i had just put the shirt on.

and voila! don't mind how i look though. haha.  you can belt it, tuck it in, leave it untucked, or unbutton it too :D hope you like!  DIY is pretty easy.  the first thing you need to do is just determine what project you want to make and i'm sure you'll find SOMETHING in your closet or somebody else's wardrobe that you can reconstruct.  it's so rewarding and pretty cool too.

budget cut

on my way to work today, i noticed a tarpaulin hanging in front of the College of Pharmacy.  it read:

No to P1.3B UP Budget cut!

It got me to criticize once again the current administration and all the frustrating, almost laughably half-witted decisions they have been making, the most recent of which would be changing the Tourism slogan from WOW Philippines to Pilipinas Kay Ganda!  but then i decided it was unhealthy of me to do so.  after all, the more i think about how my own countrymen are trying to bring us down to the dumps, the more i might consider selling out my dreams and integrity just so i don't end up stuck in a country that's headed for the same state as Somalia.

So we focus on the idea of a budget cut itself.  now, i'm no economist.  in fact, the lesson i most remember back in Economy was that, in the Philippines, you could get something like a tax break for up to four of your children.  which means my dad gets tax deductions courtesy of me and my sisters, but not my younger brother (magastos talaga maging anak si Charlie).  But i digress.

Budget cuts are necessary, dear readers.  We're always advised to live within or even below our means; otherwise you'll end up in debt forever.  case in point: PH aka the Philippines.  i think, realistically speaking, the end of the world will come before we can pay off our debts and the interest it has incurred.  which is why it is important to stick to a budget.  just because our country can't do it, doesn't mean we have an excuse not to do so individually as well.  I'm no money guru and, admittedly, i still have trouble sticking to my budget every now and then (which is why my mom often calls me a hypocrite.  well, not to my face, but i know she thinks it).  But i do have some ideas nonetheless, which i try to live by. 

1) I try to estimate my annual income (make it a modest or low estimate, people!)

2) Then identify all the areas of my life that i spend on.  i try to think of my priorities and use that as a means to rationalize how big or small my budget for certain categories are.  of course, that's not always applicable.  like, i say looks don't matter that much but i still had some difficulty laying off the shoes.

3) I keep track of my expenses and revise my budget as necessary.  if I end up spending too much on clothes, i might compensate for that by cutting down on gifts (sorry friends!)

4) Evaluate if there is a need for a budget cut, or an increase in income, or both--then do something about it!!  ever since i was a kid, i've always tried to be creative so i can earn some spending money instead of merely complaining that i don't have enough.  it feels really good!  but at the same time, i'm slowly learning to live on less and just save the money i earn or use it for something that will help me or someone else (i.e. education, outreach)

So, my point is really that the Aquino Administration should not rely on budget cuts (imposed unfairly on sectors that need it most), but also do more to increase the GDP per capita of our country.  after all, you don't tell a poor family  who can only afford 1 fish a day to keep living on that for the rest of their lives!  everyone in the household can probably contribute to help increase that number, so why not do something? :D

parsimonious

A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

PRONUNCIATION:
(par-si-MO-nee-uhs)

MEANING:
adjective: Excessively sparing or frugal.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimonia, from parcere (to spare). First recorded use: 1598.

am i an idiot?!

"Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it."  --Proverbs 21:20 (TEV)

nagpaparinig sa akin ang Panginoon! haha. but seriously.  this past week, i've been acting like an animal cut loose from the zoo--shopping (almost) like there's no tomorrow.  It's almost Christmas and, instead of getting us gifts, Dad usually just gives us some spending money, on the condition that we spend it on apparel so we have something to wear during the holidays.

so, i bought a lot, trying to maximize my break from retail therapy fasting.  but afterwards i kind of felt sick and realized that i had somehow returned to my old ways.  even though i did try to think of what i could really use, i did get side tracked at times, and also bought some things which i'm sure would not last that long. 

so, for the next year, i have set some new shopping, or non-shopping, rules (after my Project 365):

1. DIY to death! and using existing materials first, rather than buying new fabrics, etc.  I'm not allowed to buy any more tops or yardage of fabric until i've completely exhausted all my existing resources (pieces i bought or stole from my mom's closet, telling myself i'd alter them to make like new)

2. stick to the list!  i'm going to write a very specific list of things that i can buy, and that's it.

3.  wait, then think.  i was very tempted to buy this pair of wedges at CMG on sale for P999. so sexy and seems versatile enough.  heaven knows i need variety in my shoe rack (they're all neutral, mostly black *sigh*).  but even though i relly wanted to buy those shoes, i've decided to put off buying footwear until i have a clearer picture of what i'll be doing next year, after my contract at UPM ends.  will i be going to school? will i be working for a broadcasting company or publication and, if so, will i be on the field or at the office?  will i be starting my travel show project with my friends?  will i be starting my own business?  will i be acting more (and in need of options for wardrobe)?

4.  NEED versus want.

5.  prioritize! and make your money work for you.  so looking good would be nice and i might need it if i'm gonna act more.  but i might not need it as much as tuition for school.  i may not need it as much as children need schoolbooks.  i really need to remember what's most important in my life and how i can use my little wealth to accomplish my goals and to help others.

coming up

sorry about the complete lack of posts lately. been quite busy.  not too busy to be frugal, on the contrary in fact! just too busy to blog about it.  here's what you can expect soon:

my current projects:
since necessity is the root of all invention (or something like that), i came up with 3 new articles of clothing! the first is a modern white button-down which i turned blue, the second is a green maxi dress using fabric i already had (it's just practice for the blue one that i really intend on wearing but i'm writing it down here to make it look like i've been extra productive), and the third (my favorite) is a top inspired by an alexander mcqueen dress worn by drew barrymore.  i'm really excited to wear the last one! the first, i already have 2x, the 2nd, i can't figure out when to wear hahahha.

Christmas shopping:
so, as predicted, my dad is giving me a bit of shopping money for Christmas.  mukha na daw akong pulubi joke!  but i plan on using this wisely.  i've already spent almost a quarter of it (i'll show you on what), so i'll be listing the stuff i plan on getting too. 

Christmas gift ideas:
i didn't anticipate this, but i've all but used up my gift budget for the year--and it isn't even Christmas yet!  i have so many wonderful friends that i couldn't help but show them my appreciation earlier in the year.  so now i need to get creative (fast) for the yuletide season.

Wedding planning:
no, i am not not single anymore.  i'm referring to my ate but since i am helping her with the details, i figured i could post something about frugal weddings.  not that that's what my sister is gonna do--she can afford to go all out.  but i'm anticipating that i either won't have enough resources or won't want to spend that much on a grand event.  simple is good, but also difficult (especially when your family is as big as mine).  so we'll talk about tips and ideas on making it a fab and frugal affair all the same, without hurting anyone's feelings.

ate tin is getting married!!!!

i am so0o0ooooo excited! but i might have to wait for a year and a half more :( i can't wait to help with the planning and everything, to be a bridesmaid and, of course, to see the bride and groom. haaaaaaaaay!

anyway, she and i have been talking about wedding details all week long.  she showed me this great site which contains, among other things, this video of coco rocha.  note to self: get a really good wedding videographer.

Coco + James // Teaser from Americana Cinema on Vimeo.

project alert! hand painting on silk

as you know, i am a frustrated artist and am also hopelessly enamoured by the thought of wearable art.  i almost took up fashion design, you know? well, i would've tried out for it had my mother allowed me to but apparently there's something wrong about an honor student even contemplating a career in the arts.  anyway, enough with the ranting.  besides, i really am thankful that i didn't end up studying fashion--i enjoy it but i don't think my calling is in prettifying other people.  that's just for fun!

anyway, i have a new project in mind. several weeks ago, i dyed a blouse of mine just so i would have something "new" to wear (i'll write a post about it one of these days). a few days after that, i found myself buying a book on Shibori, which is this Japanese technique for dyeing or something. it's really cool and i cannot wait to try it out. something that i also definitely want to try is to hand paint silk scarves. i really love the watercolor effect, and it makes for great gifts too!



Waratah scarf

unfortunately, there really is a limited supply of materials here.  the only dyes i've actually seen are those powder Venus dye packs in National Book Store, which i used to dye my blouse.  but we don't have a lot of crafty stores here so i'm anticipating the difficulty in getting my hands on special silk dyes :(  i might try to experiment with the Venus dyes though, see how it goes.  i really want to try this out.

btw, if i ever get to France, i would just love to take a silk painting class.  if not, i'd settle for self-study.  i found several interesting tips online at wikihow and HGTV, among others. I also found some silk painting starter kits.  these dyes are darn expensive though!  I'm also trying to choose whether to go with dyes or paints. wee! i'm so excited for this project! wonder when i can finally get my hands dirty with this one? :D

Today I Am

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (Phil 3:7-8)

I got this from a devotional email about a totally different topic (single blessedness), but i  think it can also be applied more literally. 

this last weekend, i got to do a lot of things, one of which was eat and just hang out with my huge family at Agno (yet again).  at one point, all the girls were talking about shoes--ate Aflie had just bought two pretty pairs of sandals for P 250 each at St. Francis--while ninang Elvie was showing off her nude pumps from Liliw.  of course, i got all excited at the great buys before remembering that i had more than 200 days to go.  I told my relatives about it and they all exclaimed that 365 days was a bit much to abstain from shopping (note that i cracked on the 119th day).

here at the office, i'm the only one without my own netbook/laptop which i think my boss and peers see as somewhat of a setback in case we have meetings, etc.  however, i personally relish this fact because i know that it isn't absolutely essential for me to have one yet, and people tend to take advantae if they know you have these things anyway.  if they want me to work on a machine during a conference, then they should provide me with means to do so.  am i being stubborn? probably.  but i work to live, not the other way around.  at least not with this career.  and i have better plans for that money than to do more of the work i don't really love doing in the first place anyway.  ok, ranting stops here.  but do you get my point?  half of the time, the people are unable to focus on the task at hand exactly because of their laptops, when it should be the other way around.

i think we really are too attached to material things these days.  we can't imagine not having or using our toys and gadgets.  before, i was immune to the FB crae, only checking my account once or twice a month--now i have to sign in daily.  and in the end, all we have are our toys, our accounts, but we're not really living the life we want to.  everything is done or made for the sake of having something to show your online friends! people die for things, others kill and sin for the same.  it's just not right.  what is happening to us?

this is motivating me to come up with some sort of pact that will help me better appreciate the simple joys that life brings, the intangible but oh-so essential things.  because, when i think about it, there are only two things i want in this world, and neither can be bought or paid for with currency--to have good and loving relationships with the people around me; and to do some good for this world.

speaking of simple joys, i would just LOVE to spend half a day lying on a field of flowers (kahit grass, papatulan ko na siguro), without worrying about anything or having to rush off to a meeting or to beat a deadline. i really need to find the time and place to do this.

whatever it takes

this girl is living my life!!! well, almost (i think my daughter and i will do other artsy fartsy stuff and not cook this much).  when am i gonna have the luxury of time (not to mention my own house in a serene neighborhood, and a husband and kids to match)?!? 

Martha's Vineyard photo taken from La Tartine Gourmande

anyway, i recently moved out...of the room i shared with two of my sisters. hahahaha. kala niyo kung ano, no?! if i had moved out of my parents' house, i assure you, i would've made a spectacle of it.  i think family members above the age of 20 should never be forced to reside in the same space for too long--unless you're trying to pool enough energy to create a nuclear explosion. 

so, i've been staying three nights at the guest room thus far.  never mind that the door has no lock and doesn't even close properly.  i'm not really after physical privacy or isolation, after all, although that tends to help one achieve some peace and quiet in her brain. it has been such a long time since i've had that, actually.  when i still stayed at the dorm, i could get that.  i could easily turn to face the wall while lying on the top bunk, and my roommates will respect my need for solitude.  here at home, trespassing is the name of the game.  i recall that there were times when i was in my lighter stages of sleeping when my mom would burst into the room asking about yet another trivial issue and, although i wish it weren't so, it has already become my instinct to answer her while half asleep.  so i do appreciate that the leash has been lengthened, albeit by a short amount.  beggars would do wise not to be too choosy.

you might be asking, "why didn't i transfer to the separate room sooner?"  well, i had considered that option countless times but refused to do so, even if my sisters' light night TV-watching caused me irreversible damage in the form of dark undereye circles.  i did this because i also didn't want to further increase the carbon footprint of the Martin household.  however, i have come to a decision that the situation deserved drastic measures.  but don't fret, dear Gaea!  i'm still doing my best to minimize the effect of my moving out on the deterioration of the earth and consumption of its resources.

for instance, whatever i can do downstairs, where the lights are already turned on, i do so before even entering my room.  and, i also only turn on the AC when i'm about to sleep, and make sure it goes off at 5am, even though i usually wake up at 630.  i also unplug all appliances when not in use.  what's good about being alone, though, is having no distractions--hence, i am able to finish whatever it is i'm doing, whether it's writing in my journal or editing Jovy's book, at a much more efficient pace.

and what is the connection of all this rambling to the blog? well, moolah, of course. being the wannabe adult that i am, i'm bent on paying my parents for the extra electric consumption that will be caused by this step towards preserving my sanity, er...towards independence, i mean.  i'm praying to the heavens above that it doesn't set me back too much because i still have a lot of things to pay for too: future studies/projects/gadgets i'll be needing for said projects, sustenance, future independent living, and hwa rang do, among many others.  i realized that if i factor in the hwa rang do classes (a recent addition thanks to my choir-mate), the interior designer's fee that i offered to pay half of, and the additional lodging expenses, i will only have saved around 40% of my salary!  and i also realized that it's almost impossible for me to move out of the house on my current income alone.

but i'm not gonna let all these roadblocks stop me.  i think it is extremely important for myself to experience being fully self-supporting, no matter the heights i need to scale just to do so.  there are so many singles out there who don't contribute to the household and end up even burdening their old folks, and i don't want to be part of that group.  i remember asking some people why they hadn't moved out yet--almost all of whom answered that it was too magastos.  no offense you guys but, seriously? that is a lame-ass, selfish reason which i have no intention of using EVER.  my goal is to move out between the age of 25 and 28 and, unless, by some misfortune, my family needs me to stay at home (i.e. someone gets sick and i have to be the glorified katulong), i'm sticking to that goal no matter what. 

Photo Credit: Charlie Schuck/Getty Images

PS - what i do miss about sharing a room with my sisters are the spontaneous, giddy conversations.  admittedly, there have been less and less of those, but i still want that in my life.  maybe i'll have to visit the other room every now and then :D

PPS - i'm always on the hunt for future apartment options so if you have any suggestions, that would be super!  i don't mind flatmates either, as long as the space wasn't designed for hobbits.

Pampanga roadtrip part 2: the cursed necklace

i cracked.  after 119 days straight of zero fashion retail therapy, i succumbed to the sweet beckoning of this candy-colored floral necklace at Accessorize (on sale for 70% off).  i'm so so so sorry! i let you down, and i let myself down.  and, what's worse, i am already itching to find an excuse to purchase this pair of gold and coral Ipanema flip flops. damn you, consumerism!  mind you, all my flip flops have been worn to the ground and i really have no choice but to wear other types of footwear when going on even the simplest errands. poor me  (how's that for an excuse??? *googly eyes*)

anyway, i'll leave it up to you to decide on an appropriate punishment. but before you make your final judgment, let me first defend my case.  i've been really like-you-wouldn't-believe stressed at work the past few weeks and have been so busy that i couldn't even get a back massage for the thickening shoulder muscles.  also, the components of the necklace are quite difficult to find in the country so i'm sure i wouldn't have had an acceptable DIY option.  third, it's so cute, i can get ideas for future pieces from it hence, helping me actually earn in the long run.  last, it looks great on me!  so, now you've had the chance to see what's going on in the mind of an almost-reformed shopaholic, you may announce your verdict.

i must say that, even though i cracked with the necklace, there were tons of opportunities yesterday alone that took most of my willpower NOT to take out my wallet.  i'm in no way telling you to buy buy buy and acquire acquire acquire but, in case you were in the market for the following items anyway or are just planning your next purchases (mine will be on Christmas, then Summer 2011), here are a few options you might want to consider:

Primadonna bags

it was my first time to enter their shop (i believe the brand is also available in Megamall, among others), and i was immediately drawn to the bags.  usually, the ones we have here, even the higher-end local brands, are too overdesigned.  too many trendy details but not enough attention is given to the things that really matter.  and, more often than not, these are so trendy that it would be passe to keep using them after the season.

here's one of my favorites, which costs less than P900:

here's the design on the other side.  it's 2 bags in 1! (available in 3 different sets of colors)

now, i can't speak for the durability of these Primadonna items yet, seeing as i don't have one piece from the line, but if i were to buy based on looks and price alone, i'd get one or two pieces from their current selection of shoulder bags. very classic and fashionable at the same time.  in case you haven't heard the memo, ladylike bags are all the rage this season.  and guess what, they were never out anyway! maybe they haven't been as much in the spotlight in the last few seasons as they are now but i tell you, these bags are quite similar to the ones i've seen my mom carryin in her old photos.  in fact, i just inherited my first designer bag from mother superior and it does look eerily like the ones on the runway, albeit the latter has less scratches.

here are other options from the brand:

Follie shoes

now i wouldn't say that all the pieces were great, but i did find a really cute and affordable one that was also quite comfy too.  these three charactersitics can rarely be found in the same item and i really was tempted to start counting my bills (i left my card at home to help keep myself from spending).  but i figured, there'll be other opportunities.  for now, i'll just have to locate a Metro department store that's not in Pampanga.

hey, if i can't buy them, at least i can write about them, right?

oh yeah, here's a photo of me wearing the culprit necklace.  i fished it out of my bag on the same day i bought it, right after my hwa rang do session. then i wore it again to work the next day.

also shown is TJ's incredibly hot hot hot Fossil watch, which he got for P4k (nka-sale na un sa lagay na un ha).  i borrowed it for an hour :D isn't it pretty? i have an affinity for male watches, as long as they don't overwhelm my tiny wrist, which is always the case with my dad's watches, unfortunately :(

to all my readers (if indeed there are any. magparamdam naman kasi kayo!) contemplating going on Project 365, i really hope that i didn't disappoint you too much.  i'm still planning to continue this mission, regardless of my small slip.  hey, we all make mistakes right? but the important thing is picking up the pieces and really striving to correct our wrongs and to live the best way we can, regardless of our dark past. amen?

Pampanga roadtrip part 1: recession depression

my dad, mom, brother, and i went to Pampanga yesterday.  it's been a while since we went out of town--excluding the biannual trips to Cauayan--perhaps because the three of them have been quite focused on Charlie's education the last few years.  anyway, we were supposed to have lunch at C, which is this authentic Italian restaurant that foodies and socialites galore like to visit.  if you're asking me whether my family and i can be categorized into either, well, i wouldn't know myself.  now, here's a note to all of you planning to have lunch at a specific place--make sure you find out what the operating hours are! as luck would have it, the restaurant opens at 5pm on Mondays.  we had to settle for lunch at the nearby Marquee mall instead. 

 

before we went to Marquee, we dropped by the Mimosa Golf Club in Clark, which my dad has shares of.  it had been a long time since we last stayed there; i still remember how my siblings and i eagerly anticipated summer, if only so we could stay for a night or two at one of the villas in Mimosa.  well, when we got there, i realized that the place had changed drastically since our last visit a decade ago.  gone are the pristine white walls of the villas, some of which are now left in various states of dilapidation and disrepair.  and find out later that the various pools near the villas have also been removed and the only swimming facility left is the one in the main hotel.  no more sight of the kids' playhouse where the best UFO catcher in the country was either (you get as many chances as you need to claim a prize).  my dad says that when Erap took over the reigns, blinded by greed, he mandated that the government take over the estate's casinos.  naturally, like everything else the government handles, the management of the casino went awry (probably thanks to the leeches) and shares plummeted from P1.8 M to P300,000 in a span of a year.  it wasn't even a year since my old man bought his share for P1.2 before this happened.  now, he's stuck paying dues every month, hoping that the stock will go up so he can sell it to someone else with, if not a profit or at cost then, at the least, minimal loss.  here's another note: unless you have tons of cash, don't invest in luxury stocks. (sorry, i don't know the exact term).  it's safer to invest in shares of companies supplying basic needs, although less risk also means less profit. it's really up to you though.

after the detour, we went to Marquee where we had lunch at the foodcourt, of all places! Lucia's sisig or something, which apparently is the specialty sisig in the place.  we had sisig, chicharong bulaklak (yumyum), adobong kangkong, ang liempong manok (the last one is from Bacolod Chicken Inasal though).  my mom kept teasing that my dad saved a huge amount at lunch today, so we pigged out all day to compensate for it.

dessert at FIC Summer Cafe: my mom had raspberry rapture, i had the chocolate mint chip ice cream with, weirdly enough, berries

 

Charlie and dad both had yogurt

before we went home, we ate at Cinnabon.  my parents had coffe mocha with the tiny tiny cinnamon rolls.  charlie and i had pecanbons--mine in caramel, his was chocolate.

later that day, ate cla treated us to dinner at Italianni's in the relatively new hangout place, Centris.  we also had yogurt at Tutti Frutti where, once again, my dad cooked up one of his many business intentions--this time, to open a self-serve yogurt place somewhere in Ateneo.  my sister and i are game for it (we'll quit our jobs), although i want more plain flavors i.e. greek, french vanilla, while they all want the fruity, outlandish ones.  i swear, my business idea will click better. hahahahaha.

yet another venture

rode the bus home with jacq and rex today.  it was pretty funny because rex was in between the two of us and he fell asleep halfway along the trip.  can you imagine him with his eyes closed and mouth half-open, involuntarily leaning towards jacq every time the bus would come to a halt?!?! hilarious!  i should've taken a video, or at least a picture. oh well, maybe next time.

anyway, i'm beginning to think i should try to take more bus rides with jacq--the ideas just come spewing out of our brains in the same manner that magma comes out from volcanoes.  there's TUWA, which i still want to continue one of these days, there's our postgraduate studies, writing, preschool teaching or teaching religion or just teaching...and now there's our coffee shop/art haven/boutique! we already have a prospect for the venue (jacq's current house in QC, which they'll be evacuating in 3 years).  we have all sorts of ideas already, like hosting film showings, open mic nights, exhibits for up-and-coming artists, painting workshops, etc.  

i figured it would be nice to put up our quaint little cafe in a residential area that's also accessible to those outside the neighborhood.  for the residents, it can be their local hangout place.  and for the rest, it can be a place that would be worth the trip--just for the food, the events, the ambience.  it also goes with my move-out-by-25 plan since i can just live in one of the rooms in the bungalow; wouldn't even have to commute to get to work! now that's the life. heeheehee. i'm so excited!  what do you think? any future patrons out there?  don't worry, we'll leave the cooking to an expert :)

jacq said that, out of all the things we were planning, we should really try to pursue at least one of them.  i agree--and i can't wait!

speaking of moving out, i was at Kultura a while ago, window shopping while our German guest at work did some real shopping.  i found some amazing pieces which i'd love to have in my own place (once i get one).  here's a few of them. btw, i bet you can find several of these items in divisoria or even in dapitan so you ought to try those places first before heading to Kultura in SM.

i would use this chair to stack some books probably, and put it next to the door so i can hang a cardigan on the back or something that i might need in a jiffy.

for my accessories! then i'l just put them on top of the dresser, assuming i had enough to buy one.  i'm actually imagining a spare unit with a daybed and a breakfast nook.  those are my essentials, see.  then everything else will just be lying around on the floor.

those are the pics! well, i thought i took more of them! sorry! hahahaha.  i was supposed to add a thick wooden bowl where you can put all sorts of found objects, instead of leaving them lying around the house.  there were some great picture frames too, and native rugs, and more capiz items.

now i really can't wait to move out :D 

shout out!

due to some unanticipated Facebook happenings, at least three more people are aware that this blog exists in cyberspace (i guess i should be happy but now i'm just feeling a bit queasy).  shout out to Jewel, Judy, and Marian!!!

anyway, i suddenly felt the urge to look at my posts and make sure i didn't write anything too stupid that can be used against me later on.  ok, so i actually need to indicate the photo credits because jewel caught me on that one. fiiiine!!!  i might even have to take my own photos. actually that's ok, i just find uploading the pics a real hassle.

also, i decided to write a bit about the things that i said i would.  these are just off the top of my tiny head and i'm pretty sure i'm still gonna miss some of them. here goes:

1) perfume:  last May 2010, i bought a bottle of perfume for the first time.  mind you, it's less than P2k, which i know is still cheap compared to other brands.  anyway, that was my first time ever (i don't even buy baby cologne although now i'm thinking i should've taken baby steps first), and what mostly convinced me to do such a thing was the Little Miss Desperate inside of me.  see, i have been told by several guys that perfume on a girl counts for extra points.  Kuya Amid was first drawn to Ate Deisen (who is now his wife) when he caught her scent as she passed by him while they were on the same boat.  my dad said that if i don't wear perfume, no guy would ever fall in love with me.  and Dudz said that even though it's not his priority, an alluring scent on a girl would be a real bonus. so, bumigay ako. haaay. kala ko pa naman feminista ako, pero napabili din ako ng pabango. darn! at wala pa rin nagkakagusto sa kin! in fairness, i still keep forgetting to put on perfume most days anyway. hahahaahha.

2) foundation:  ended up getting Ever Bilena's liquid foundation with SPF 15 in Oriental.  it's quite good, i think, although i don't really have much to compare it with.  i didn't need to mix it with other shades--it was quite a close match, thankfully.  i use a foundation brush to apply it, which i find really fun.  however, since we did filming on location and it was quite warm, i did get a bit sweaty and when i'd wipe my face, i could see that the foundation was coming off as well.  maybe i need to use primer? i don't know.  anyway, i'll try to find out one of these days, when i have an urgent need of doing so.

3) My Icon, My Hero: i didn't win. phooeeey!  but of course you know that already. i would've immediately told you and everyone within a 5km radius had the situation been the opposite. hahaha.  i just try to comfort myself with the thought that all those who did win were already accomplished writers anyway.  oh well, maybe next year, eh? darn though, i was really counting on that flat screen TV.

4) Pixie: actually, it's nearing the length of a bob right now.  and the ends are flying away in all directions! i can't wait to grow back my hair though. seriously.  there are a million styles i want to try.  and i wanna get my portrait/ headshot taken too.

5) my OC financial plan: it's late already.  somebody remind me to discuss it in my next post instead, ok?

6) the Root of Obesity: you know how i tend to judge people who overeat and call them selfish gluttons?  i'm really sorry about that.  i know that though it is true for a lot of cases, there is something much deeper underneath it all.  it could be a health thing (one of my closest friends has a thyroid problem which causes her to, among other things, gain weight).  it could also be psychiatric--there is a reason behind people overeating or overspending.  sometimes it's about wanting to take control of something in your life and, when everything else is out of our hands, we go to the things that we do have a say over.  i'll try not to stereotype and label people, promise! i'll really try.  i still think that these issues can be overcome by a realization that there are more important things than our own problems, but i also know that this is easier said than done.

that's it for now.  adios, amigos!

less is more (and a side comment on The Rider)

once again, i read a wonderful article yesterday about a couple who decided to wean themselves from most of their material possessions after having realized that they weren't taking much satisfaction and happiness from these.  i'm finding more and more of these stories during these times.  i especially enjoyed the one about people living in ridiculously small but adorable houses.

these days, we work our asses off just so we can afford that next new thing--whether it's yet another hi-tech gadget that you don't even really need, an incredibly wonderful pair of shoes that would just get ruined in the rain anyway, or even a lavish trip (which, more often than not, is wholly aimed at gaining extra bragging points on Facebook).  we're trying to plug this emptiness in our lives with as many possessions as we can.  but it ain't the right fix, so that giant hole is never truly covered and we end up wanting and wanting, buying and buying, trying to hide and camouflage all the things that are wrong in our lives.

they say that the consumers are wisening up, learning to really plan their purchases, discerning which ones will give them more value--not just in terms of money, but also in terms of the experiences they will gain through the purchases being made and the relationships being formed.  i say, this is still a tiny percentage of the population.  maybe it's because the financial meltdown hasn't made that much of a difference in our lives here in the Philippines (we were already messed up even before the 2008 recession).  maybe the problem needs a greater intervention.  i don't know.  i'm neither well-read in Psychology nor in Economics.

well, as you all know, i have my Project 365, right?  and the very existence of this blog is based on the belief that there are more important things in life than money; that you can be happy with less; that money should be used to bring joy and goodness to this earth and its inhabitants, rather than destroy it.  i'm really grateful for having read this article at a time when i'm itching to buy yet another pair of shoes (100 days down, 265 days to go) because it reaffirms my convictions.  even if it is hard to control the flight of the plastic card, i know it'll pay off in the long run.

this weekend, i will start sorting my clothes and shoes and bags yet again.  i'll be donating them to a friend's garage sale, the proceeds of which will be used to pay for the expenses incurred due to her dad's funeral.  my under-used and under-appreciated belongings will be better off there, helping a family get back on its feet after the death of its patriarch.  i plan on slowly cleaning out my wardrobe until i have 100 or less items in it (excluding underwear though).  maybe i could organize a garage sale on September too, to get rid of all the stuff we have in our aunt's store.  we'll use the proceeds for our room's renovation :)  or a really good cause--maybe sustainable education or livelihood, a library, or even an arts program for the youth--which i have yet to find (please help me with this one, if you can).

it all comes down to this: will it make you truly happy?

**on a side note (totally unrelated), i saw a female driving a motorbike today.  she had a scarf under her helmet, probably to keep her hair nice, and she was wearing 4-inch heels!!! gawd! how did she do it? no idea.  but it got me thinking, if i can't buy a car, would i rather continue commuting or get a motorbike instead (provided that i knew how to ride one--i can't even ride a bike)?? what would you choose?

spending on what matters

whoa, it's been a while since a serious post on this site, huh? i've been so busy that writing about frugality has completely left my mind.  although this is so, i like to think that i managed to maintain my xprodigal philosophy amidst the chaos.

that being said, i must admit that i've spent so much in the recent month! huhuhu.  but i am proud to say, nevertheless, that all those expenses more or less were on things and events that really matter to me and my goal.  i think there are many types of frugality--one of which is really just about spending as little money as possible, but the other being about watching what you spend on and only shelling out on things that really matter to you.

for me, what matters right now is helping other people (and not just spoonfeeding them, but helping them help themselves), spending time with my family and friends and letting them know i care about them, and achieving my dream and mission of spreading His word through art.  so when it's a really good cause that i know will go a long way, when it's a little something something that will enable me to have quality bonding time with my loved ones, or when it's for my artistic/evangelistic pursuits, that's when i spend.  because that is the entire purpose of money anyway--not to be stored in a bank to earn interest or used to buy stocks in the market.  it's not even to buy a perfect pair of comfortable yet oh-so-beautiful shoes.  simply put, money is just supposed to make this world a better place.

so, what matters to you?!?  and how can your wad of cash benefit this universe?

rainy days

during the summer, i had nothing to wear--everything was too warm.  now that it's rainy season already, i still have nothing to wear--they're all NOT waterproof. darn weather. anyway, as is the custom come july-october, i am obsessing over rainboots.  there is really a poor selection available in the country and most of those i see online are way over my budget.  it's really frustrating because it rains here all the time and we Filipinos insist on shying away from the rainboots because they are supposed to be baduy or whatever.

well, i have a pair of psychedelic green rainboots. mind you, they were the subtlest ones available already, but at least i can hold my head up high whenever Taft Avenue turns into a raging river.  i really wish some company would come up with simple but lean rainboots though; the plain ones currently sold by Advan are way too macho chunky for my taste.

anyway, i saw this pic of the gossip girl set and i thought, "God, i wish i could look that hot in the rain!" hahaha.  so i'm adding a clear umbrella, nice trench, and stylish rainboots to the things i CAN'T buy anyway.

PS -  don't et mad at me but i'm seriously thinking of abolishing Project 365 in favor of a Trinny and Ssannah-esque wardrobe overhaul. once i get the funds, i mean

makeup madness

ang hirap magpaganda...grrr!!!!!

so, i have a project that will require me to appear on cam, and everything has been going great! i think i'm doing a good job.  now, my only problem is--my darn looks.  huhu, i need to look good and therefore need makeup, tons of it! curse this spotty, ruddy skin of mine (just kidding, Lord. i'm very grateful).  but i do need to clean up a bit.

unfortunately, "a bit" is quite relative.  though the difference might seem tiny on screen, it sure isn't when it comes to the preparation, not to mention the effect on the pockets!

this is what the "natural" look requires:

1. toner for my oily face
2. primer to make my skin look smoother and to let the makeup last longer
3. foundation to even out the skin tone
4. concealer to minimize those terrid acne marks and my giant undereye circles
5. powder to blend it all in and keep shine at bay
6. eyeliner to make eyes pop
7. several shades of eyeshadow
8. brow powder
9. eyelash curler and mascara for the wide-eyed look
10. blush for a natural flush
11. lip balm and lip color so i don't look like a corpse

this means, unfortunately, that i'll have to break my Project 365 rule on makeup. aaack! i'm trying to limit though, and am determined to settle for cheap but good alternatives.  i need to buy #s 2,3,4, at the very minimum.  mind you, those are the most important items too, since my skin is really the devil here.

no wonder all those celebrities are shooting up! if you had to do this every day, you'd go crazy too.

wait a sec, what about my hair?!?!?!?!?

buy a water bottle!

no, not the disposable one, silly.  i was reading an article on yahoo about how this woman saved so much by going green and i was immediately drawn to it because usually, when we think green or environment-friendly, we assume it will cost us more.  but in the long run, going green actually lets us save more money, save our lives (or rather live healthier), and save the planet. yay!!!

i think the key is to do it one step at a time, and start with things we can really committ to.  for example, even if i'd like to go green at home, i can't really control that because i still live with my parents and siblings.  i've been contemplating becoming a vegetarian for some time now (i really feel sorry for the animals too) but haven't gone through with it because i know it would drive my mom berserk with additional stress.  bt there are things i can do (and have already started doing)--some of which, though not all, also allow me to save money along the way.

1. as much as possible, i bring my own shopping bag to the grocery.  i only buy a few items every now and then for my personal consumption at the office.  since the supermarket is so close to my workplace, i also sometimes just carry the stuff that i buy when i forget to bring my own bag. yay!  (i think i'll do a tutorial on how to make your own shopping bags soon)

2. i bring my own lunch.  obviously, this saves me money coz i don't usually have to buy food when we have leftovers at home.  aside from that, i use reusable containers and tiny stainless steel cutlery to minimie waste from packaging had i gotten takeout.  when i go to the carinderia to buy additional food, like a serving of veggies, they usually use so much plastic when packing the food, so i also try to minimize waste and plastic use by sharing plastic bas with my co-workers.

3. this week, i shall buy a water bottle.  i've been thinking of getting an SIGG bottle but i'm not quite sure yet coz it is a tad expensive.  but i have realized that it's better to carry my own supply of water with me should i get thirsty, rather than buy water in a disposable plastic bottle.  this will not only lessen waste (think of how many bottled waters you usually consume in a year), but will also improve my health (dangerous toxins from the plastic. aack!).  but really the best part of it all, and i only found out about this recently, is the fact that you're making a statement.  nobody should sell or charge for water because it is a right of all human beings; the companies who claim these water sources are depriving millions of safe and clean water.  therefore, we really need to make a stand! and i'm not sure how long or how many people it will take, but the important thing is we do our part to help the cause.

this is the water bottle that i want, btw.  but it's not available in the country :(  i'll just settle for one that's available here. go local, right?!

if you're interested to find out more, here's an article on the trouble of bottled water. good read!

btw, animal lovers out there! did you know...?

DIY: draped skirt

so i was chatting with keet earlier today and we got to talking about a lot of different, wonderful things, including the skirt that i was wearing at work that very hour.  of course, she couldn't see it.  anyway, i'm really proud of this skirt because i only bought it for P20 at a nearby thrift shop aka ukay-ukay, but now it looks like a thousand bucks! i know, i know, whatever happened to humility right? hahaha. i'll just show you...

thanks to my office mate Jonas for taking the pic!

anyway, this skirt is a bit avant-garde so it really isn't for everyone.  my own sisters hate it.  but my female office mates like it, and so do several of my other friends so there you go.

turning your own plain skirt into a couture piece is easy enough.

You'll need:
- a circle skirt, preferably in a soft/flowy fabric to produce better drapes
- dressmakers' pins
- sewing needle, thread in the same color as the skirt, a pair of scissors

Instructions:
1. fit the skirt and try to imagine where you would like the draping effect.
2. using the dressmakers pins, just bunch up the skirt in certain areas and pin tiny parts of the fabric together.
3. make sure to check in the mirror if you're getting the look that you want
4. once you're finished draping with the pins, take your needle and thread and sew where the pins are positioned.
5. remove the pins and voila! you have a draped skirt that's one-of-a-kind.

*tips, you can go shorter too, to create a more bubbly look.

hope you found this DIY article useful.  will try to come up with more. y'all know i love to get crafty and all.