The Doodle Project

I know it's been a while. I have started conceptualizing this post months ago and finally completed it with the permission of my dearest friends. =) I just wanted to share how I've been lately enjoying my Facebook feed and how excited I am each time I check out the latest doodles from my friends. It always makes me wonder about the irony of my love for art and how it despises me.=P The sad thing is I can't draw, nor paint, nor write poetry. In short, I don't have a single talent for art and yet there's something about it that always keeps me intrigued. Since you don't have an access to my awesome feed, prepare to be astonished and get to know these amazing artists:

1.) Grace Bermejo Jao (now Mrs. Grace Frosen) was my elementary and highschool classmate who is now based in Finland. I've been liking all her doodles since she started posting them in FB. I'm a huge fan and I'm sure you will all love her work too! =)

 Here's what Grace said about her doodles:

"I used to doodle a lot when I was a kid. But when I was 10, my art teacher told me that I had no talent in it. I don't know if she was trying to be insulting really. But I believed her and I just stopped drawing since then. Several years later, while sitting in an MA class, the professor said "When we were kids, everyone knew how to draw. Why isn't it a normal hobby for adults? What happened along the way?". That inspired me to go back to drawing. I just decided then and there that I would go back to it.
As for inspiration, a lot of them I get from studying the works of other artists. I started out by copying other people's work until I was able to develop a style of my own.
I get my inspiration from nature...because I love drawing flowers and trees. A lot of it also comes from textile. I enjoy the repetitive rhythm of drawing patterns and lines. I also get inspiration from the female figure."

2. Patricia Grace Iriberri or simply Grace (as I call her) was my schoolmate way back in Saint Paul. I'm also guilty of stalking her artwork. This girl not only doodles but she can also sketch and write haiku. (Ikaw na!) We also share the same interest in books [David Levithan & John Green specifically]. Check out her awesome blog.

 

Here's what Grace said about her doodles:

"The digital ones are when im smitten with a movie or a book character. I'm in love with Tom Hiddleston basically because to me he is the embodiment of all the good things about English men.

And also because my friends' faces are easy to conjure from memory so the little details are easier to tweak and remember. The paper drawings are always from whatever kind of music I'm listening to then it kind of just bleeds into the drawing.The latest one however, was from listening to too much Bon Iver and making too many Haikus"

3.  Ginger de Guia was also my classmate way back in elementary until highschool. I've recently discovered her work when she posted it FB via her IG account doodles_worth. Eversince then, I'm hooked! =)

Ginger gets her inspiration from other peoples works& realizations. "I centralize my work around spiritual meanings so I'll be guided on what to do. My friend is better than me. She inspired me at first then I branched out."

Aren't they cool? I know there are other artists and doodlers out there whom I haven't discovered yet. I am hoping that there will be a Part 2 for this post. Thank you so much for the gifted artists who have shared their talents with me - Grace Jao-Frosen, Grace Iriberri and Ginger de Guia. You are inspiring a lot of people like me. Looking forward to see more of your work =)

The Power of Giving

 

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” - Albert Pike

This commercial ad is created by True

Be inspired. Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!

Love in the Next Aisle

 

Got teary-eyed and so 'kilig' when I saw this video. I don't think this is cheesy at all.

What an inspiring video to watch before I go to sleep. Share the love!! =)

   

The Heat Is On

We got lucky to catch Edsa Shangri-la's Php 888 net per person promo for Heat last August 30, 2013 for our company fun day. Here are some 'pampagutom' pictures I'd like to share with you.

Just like the other buffets, they have an area for each type of cuisine.

Here are some reasons why you should try Heat:

1.) For me, they have the best tempura. It's a bit small because it has less breading which should mean there's less oil right?

2.) You could customize your own bottomless ramen and they have some Indian dishes which other buffet restaurants don't have. 

3.) They have curacha (red frog crab found in Zamboanga)

4.) You could customize your own 'cold stone-style' ice cream which will be prepared by their awesome chef

5.)  Bottomless taho for the win!

 

Endless plates full of good food.

More stuff for my sweet tooth =) Their Tiramisu is a must-try!

A full stomach makes a happy heart. After our scrumptious lunch, we're off to the mall to do some shopping.

Sashimi and sweets made me really happy haha! Until next year's Funday! Thanks Ann and Iells for the photos =)

Kaya Spread from Toast Box

While everyone is going crazy over Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter and Ovomaltine, I am enjoying my own jar of Kaya Spread from Toast Box. I bought it from Toast Box, Greenbelt 5 for only P135.00.

 If you're not familiar with 'kaya', it's the Malaysian version of our coco jam and it's popular in Singapore. While I enjoy coco jam with plain hot pandesal, I enjoy my kaya spread with toasted wheat bread and butter. (Forgive my slightly burnt toast. I like it really crunchy).

To complete my Singapore-inspired breakfast, I combine it with a hot cup of Gold Roast Teh Tarik (milk tea) which a close friend got me from SG.

If you find coco jam too sweet, then you will surely love kaya. You could also pair it up with brewed coffee or hot choco. Visit your nearest Toastbox branch while they still have supply =)

Brow Lounge

One of the pains of having thick brows is keeping it groomed. I used to think that the stray hairs would be unnoticeable, but after some time I realized having tidy brows makes my face look fresh and neat. I usually have my hair removal sessions at Laybare but I decided to try Brow Lounge at Robinsons Magnolia for a change. I had the Brow Tidy (maintaining shaped brows by removing excess brow hair using a combination of threading, trimming and tweezing) for P180

They had a common room for all eyebrow-related services and was assisted later on into a private room for half-leg waxing (P300).

 

What I liked about the service:

1. The technician clearly explained some issues involving my brows. She pointed out a part of my brow that I had to grow out to make it even.

2. They use 100% anti-microbial thread and not the ordinary sewing thread.

3. For the waxing, they used hot wax which was less messy and took shorter time and less pain compared to cold wax.

4. No long lines.

5. The place had nice interiors and was very clean.

 

They also offer other services such as brow tinting, and lash extensions. Check their full list of services and prices here.

While their eyebrow 'cleaning' service is slightly more expensive than that of Laybare's, I think it was worth it. Overall, it was a good experience and I would definitely visit again.

Visit The Brow Lounge
2/F Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; Tel. No. 403-5803
3/F Robinsons Magnolia Town Center,  Quezon City; Tel. No. 625-4301
Lower ground floor,  The Annex, SM City North Edsa, Quezon City; Tel No. 352-0343
4th Floor, Robinsons Magnolia  

Room 512

 

     After 7 months of being in the hospital along with a series of dialysis, infections, sores and blood transfusions, I don’t know if I should be relieved that all your pain has ended or to dread that we wouldn’t be with you anymore. Upon hearing the news at around 8 am last Thursday, I was still hopeful that it was just a false alarm and that the meds could still do their job. I don’t know if it was a selfish hope to prolong your life but I have always carried that optimism that one day we could bring you home. All of that wishful thinking faded the minute I had a last glimpse of you wrapped in white, without your usual blushing cheeks. and I realized the time has come.

     I wasn’t there when you breathed your last but there’s a picture in my mind on how it happened. A beautiful lady wrapped you in her arms as you were carried away by beings with faces so pure and together you rose up to the light. That day, August 15, 2013, was the feast of the Assumption, the day the blessed Mary went up to heaven and on that day, she brought a faithful servant.

     When we bid you goodbye last Sunday, heaven was also crying with us. The last mass, taught us all a very valuable lesson in life: that we all die when we start loving. The moment we love another, the concept of self-centeredness dies because a person loving lives for another. We all know you were in so much pain yet you never complained. We know it was your love for us that kept you fighting. Thank you lola for showing us what true love meant. Thank you for instilling in us the importance of values and family. It hurts that we can no longer stroke your golden white hair and touch your rosy cheeks, nor smell your baby-like scent nor hug you or kiss you, but we all know you need to rest. We know you're perfectly happy right now, free from all pain and sorrow and finally reuniting with lolo. Please watch over us from up there. Please always guide us and protect us. Every time we will miss you, we'll look up to the skies, close our eyes, and put our hands near our hearts; because that's where you are and where you'll always be.

    

     Goodbye for now our dear lola. We love you so much.

 

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15