big girl decisions

So last week, we went house hunting...

Although we sure picked a weird time to do it. It was raining small animals because of a typhoon. It hadn't stopped raining all night so water was everywhere. But we promised the broker that we'd meet with her (and we were giddy to see the house) so we braved the rain.
It was not exactly a house house. We found a pre-selling condominium near the place where the boyfriend and I work. I was adamant at first because I know zilch when it comes to real estate. I was raised in "the suburbs". But when I saw the place, I actually saw ourselves living in it. I looked at the boyfriend and saw the same. He loves it as much as I do!








We've been together for almost 6 years now so this is a really exciting time for us. It's a weird feeling, really. I feel so... grown up. :)




When we stopped by Ikea in Singapore earlier in the year, we fell in love with the place. The best thing is, they have showrooms on the 2nd floor! So we took a bunch of pictures. I didn't realize that our future home would look so much like those little rooms.












If you haven't figured it out yet.... Yes, we bought a condo unit!
Ahh the paperwork is crazy. I let the boyfriend talk with the broker about money matters. I just know I would space out once we talk about downpayments and balloon payments. Ugh. You can talk to the boyfriend about that, I do not have the necessary attention span for all that. :))
Exciting times for both of us, yes. We have already decided how to decorate the condo. I just hope we don't jinx it!!

Of Photographs and Unexpected Meetings

I have always been a fan of Carina Santos' work and was pleasantly surprised when the beau said we'd go to her exhibit's opening this Saturday. So with just a few hours sleep, we hauled our butts off to Blanc, Manila Peninsula to gawk at Carina's art and (finally) meet the artist herself.



Carina lets us peek into her personal life through photographs of herself (most specifically, her feet), stitched faces of her family and also shares with us some bits of history with cutouts from books and magazines (like the three XOs). Much like Joseph Cornell's boxes, the pieces evoke nostalgia, a stirring of one's rememberance, be it the audience's or the artist's own.



Collages had never been one of my finer crafts (mine always look so disoriented) so I have HUGE respect to people who can actually collect ordinary objects and turn them into art.














































And I finally got to meet Carina! Yaaay!



I think a lot of the Tumblrfolk went to the opening and it was fun to see all these wonderful people in one place to support Carina. It really was heartwarming.

Speaking of Tumblrfolk, I had been wanting to see all the friends that I met through Tumblr. And I was so glad I finally got to meet all of them at the opening! Who would've thought we'd bump into each other here...



Jaime + Fatima and Shinji + Jel

So from the exhibit, we found ourselves in the middle of chaos at the Fete dela Musique Rock and Indie stage at B-side, Collective in Malugay, Makati. I remember asking myself, "how in the world did we end up here...?" and realized that yes, they told me they're playing amd yes, it's for Fete. I know... I was too excited to comprehend we were going to a rock fest. Hah! So we went there and listened to The Strangeness.









And some shots of the Fete people:












Oh hey it's Myrene! (the boyfriend was fanboy-ing at the time)




We had to go home early that night. But for the short time that we spent "meeting" people, I'm pretty happy and I couldn't have wished it any other way. :)

new hair for the new year

Whaaaaaat... I don't know what happened but this post is long overdue. About a month overdue, I might add. So yeah, I fianlly got a new haircut for the new year. It was a spur of the moment thing; we saw a salon and in we went. I've actually been looking for somebody who can give me this set of bangs but alas... Either I look too 80s or just plain ugh.

That is until I went to this particular salon on this particular day (which happens to be the day before the new year. heh.) So I went from this:




to this:



He chopped off a huge chunk of my hair and for that I am grateful.

I kind of look like Dora the Explorer but I love how short it is now. Good thing he (aka my favorite stylist since thist day) knows how to listen to his customers and knows what looks good and what doesn't. Even the boyfriend had his hair cut!



We shall be coming back to your salon good sir. Just as soon as I find your calling card again.....

i wonder...

haaaarrd habit to break!

Ok I've finally broken that nasty habit of NAIL BITING!

After 20+ years of self-mutilation, I was finally able to tell myself to stop. And lookit that. It wasn't really that difficult after all. :)

To celebrate, I had my nails "stamped" by a dear friend of mine, Debbie. I think she really did an amazing job and I loooooooove it. Even the boyfriend likes it. Yaaay!

my mother could be the mafia

So I was looking for nail clippers the other and I asked my mom...

Me: Mother, where are the nail clippers in this house?
Mom: I have them here. (picks up a ziplock bag full of shiny metal objects and hands it to me). Take your pick.

Is this trippy or what!?!

They look like torture devices. I'm betting she had these since... the 80s probably. I just had to take pictures.

Man, this family is weird....

the weekend in photos: behind closed doors

more after the jump!

one whiff and i fell in love

(source)

When I was younger, I used to hate perfumes. I have asthma, see, so I was quite sensitive to dust and perfumes. It usually triggers an attack so I try to stay away from perfume counters at the mall. 

That changed when I met the boyfriend, who apparently loves them. And I must admit he wears good perfume. I love how it makes him still smell good after a whole day (or in our case, night) in the office. So I asked him to come with to try to find the perfect scent for me. 

We went to Rustan's Shangrila yesterday to buy gifts and I pulled him towards the good looking men of the perfume counters. Haha! I remember smelling an Escada when I was in college and I tried to look for that. And although I can't really remember what it smelled like, I picked up a bottle of Ocean Lounge and took a whiff. And like I said in the title, I fell in love. I love how it makes me remind of summer. It has a light, fruity scent which really get along with my asthma. The guy at the counter also gave us sample of the other scent, Absolutely Me and I also like it. 

This is gonna be my signature scent from now on. The boyfriend agrees. 

Yaaay!