First Snow Day of 2017

Darie and Pablo enjoyed it so much! Rizza and I stayed indoors, haha!

Renovating!

FLOR area rug, Crate and Barrel Lounge II, Vito Selma Geo Table & coffee table, Herman Miller Bolster Club Chair, CB2 Silverado dining table, CB2 Rouka dining chair, Blox 50" bench

Here are some before and afters I did yesterday for the living room...

First month in New York [via iPhone]

Hi, I'm alive! Here's a mishmash of iPhone photos since I don't have my computer yet and I just recently got my camera's charger in the mail.

Enjoy the lack of structure in this post- just wanted to share a bit of the nicer things during my crazy first month in the city... 

My broker suggested Stone Street and it was actually my first time here. Enjoyed some of the cute & quaint restaurants lined up! 

I also went on a Literary Pub Crawl around Greenwich Village with my cousins Beatrice & Mikey. Learned about most of the writers and artists who used to live in the village as well as the history behind these brownstone houses. This was a fun tour so I'd recommend it to all of you bookworms! Check out their tours here.

PANICKY

I barely have a week left in Manila and I'm going crazy over work + last minute to-dos! Got a couple of blog prizes/giveaways being sent out this week so I do apologise to readers who haven't received their packages- please know that I haven't forgotten! 

I leave on Sunday and I just wanted to capture the energetic view from my window each night. I will miss the never-ending work hours and having the remaining last push energy to drag myself to all the parties and events. BGC is indeed a great and safe place to live in- I could walk at 4 to 5 AM feeling safe with guards greeting me good morning. Feels like the 2.5 years living here just breezed right through. Seven years living in Manila's been both fun and tormenting and I'm definitely ready for the next challenge and city. 

Tons of photos coming up on this blog. Hope everyone's safe in this storm! 

❤

Welcome to my home!

Two years after the completion of my condo, it's still a work in progress. I've recently replaced my desk and I thought it would be cool to take some photos of it so I could finally show you guys. Obviously I did the interiors and the construction was done by our company. We also did all the furniture except for the ones I'll be mentioning along the way. I had to work with a budget so this was what I could come up with...
[you can view my concept board/post here]

BBB (bad blogger blues)

Romper- Cotton On, shoes- Zara, necklace- SM Accessories, cardigan- Topshop

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Came across these photos taken more than a month ago, before heading to SMX for Manila F.A.M.E.. I haven't been able to write down my thoughts on this blog, mainly because of the convenience of Instagram! I'm hoping all that's going to change soon as I'm planning to get back to my old style of blogging- back when a photo or two would be enough for an entry. I've somehow forgotten how this was supposed to be like an online journal, so the amount of entries just waiting to be published is piling up. It's ironic how so much of my life has changed during the first half of this year and I haven't told a lot of you about any of that! So far I'm busier but more grateful than ever, and I can't stop saying how lucky I am to be able to actually find what I'm passionate about. It's true that sometimes you find everything that you're doing is so pointless, but they are part of a bigger picture. You doubt yourself so many times, but I've realised it's not that important to seek affirmation/validation from other people-- our own light gives that to us. 

A few photos taken over the weekend...

Too hot even in Baguio. The temperature was up 34ºC  before we headed back to Manila!

I had to work on Labor Day so I was allowed to offset the supposed holiday to go to Baguio with the fam for Riz's birthday. I also had to work for my dad over the weekend, but did I manage to finish? No. I doubt anyone else could with THAT view from home! Flying to Cebu is the same story- I lose the will to get any work done and I become too lazy to even go out for a run... Sometimes the city can do you good! 

❤

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wired crown from Anagon

The golf cart is the only thing I can drive besides an ATV. Sadness. 

And I swear the color scheme of this house changes each time we gather here for the holidays. 

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Snapped some photos during my quick trip this morning to see the fam over a late thanksgiving celebration. Being the eldest among the grandchildren, it's natural for the adults to keep prying into my life, especially when it comes to my career. I've never been pressured to set an example but now they're saying that all the things I've accomplished has made me the benchmark for what my cousins have to attain.

Coming from a really traditional family, it's been predetermined for each one of us to choose a "real" profession- that means all art courses  (even Bachelor of Arts courses) shouldn't be considered/are unacceptable. It's a pretty backwards way of thinking, especially nowadays when making a business out of your name or brand through a more artistic output can actually generate more income (but we all know it comes with a bigger risk). I guess our parents just want all of us to have a license to serve as a fallback. I honestly felt that taking the oath for Interior Designers this afternoon didn't change anything for me. Sure, it meant I could charge more for my services and my work would be recognized by the government, but it doesn't guarantee a successful career.

I'm curious as to what my cousins will be taking up for college. My sister quit her first course (Accountancy with Applied Economics) since her passion was clearly in music, so there's an added pressure on her part to prove to the family that she made the right decision. But I am happy that she has that passion- a lot of people lack the fire nowadays! As for me, I'm glad that my course is like design married with science. I want to try my luck in other fields and I am planning to take up Industrial Design or even get a master's in business administration, but first I have to get more experience in design. My goal for next year is to step out of my comfort zone and find another firm to learn from. I'm already nervous, but then again, I'd rather feel that way instead of being complacent. There is ALWAYS room for self-improvement.



Got the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers pin right after my Filipino Inventors Society pin... Not a bad way to close 2012! I am beyond thankful.

❤

Photo diary- first half of October

My new DOOMED crystal skull shot glasses are pretty awesome and I regret purchasing only three. I've been hosting a lot of those chill nights at my flat and had to go through a lot of disposable cups for shots. Right now my place isn't earthquake-proof because of the accumulating glassware at my minibar. 

I got those shot glasses from this site but you can purchase them on eBay or Amazon as well. 

temporarily suppressed island girl

I'm exactly where I want to be... for now. 

But I still miss YOU. 

❤

inspiration board + perspectives of my new flat

When I first started designing my new place I knew I had to base the overall design on some things. Firstly, I was going to be living alone so everything had to be easy to clean & simple. I also had the added challenge of fitting everything into a tiny, one-bedroom unit. I had to include a small dining area, lounge, and a work station (desk + drafting table). For the bedroom, I needed a vanity and a closet with enough space for all my shoes.