Oplan: Paris, France

imaginarium: creperie, Monoprix and L'As du Fallafel

2012-01-23T03:21:00.000+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

Lately, I've been obsessing about finally going to France. I've already computed a "daily budget", as well as how much I need before I even arrive (for visa application, plane tickets, and hotel/apartment rental).

The thought of travelling to France this year is so exciting, but at the same time, a bit scary. Exciting, for all the obvious reasons. Scary, because I don't know if I'd be granted a Schengen visa. I know I haven't even applied for one yet, but I guess I still have to get all the required docs before I make an appointment.

I'm so darn excited about it, I can't even sleep. Or write properly.

When I close my eyes, and I see myself in the streets of Paris, eating a falafel sandwich while lugging around a tiny box of Pierre Herme macarons. And then, I walk around. I take photos, sometimes of myself against the many famous landmarks of Paris. I stop by a creperie and buy one with sauteed onions and mushrooms in it. I walk some more until I reach a Monoprix. Of course, having a weird liking for groceries, I take my time perusing the shelves of Monoprix. Maybe I can get something inexpensive from there, to take home as a souvenir? Instead, I purchase a bar of somewhat inexpensive chocolate and eat it on the way home. What? I'm in Paris, I might as well eat chocolate like the French do.

Sigh.

edibles: spinach fritters

2011-09-30T16:20:00.000+08:00

Here's a recipe that I learned from V. He loves to experiment with (healthy) food, and I had a taste of this crunchy stuff. It was really good, so I thought of sharing it with you! No real photos, but I did draw the basic steps (what can I say? I'm addicted to odosketch). Enjoy!

The fritters go well with a salsa of tomato, cucumber, a bit of onions, cider vinegar, some sugar, and cracked black pepper. :)

Doodle: Le Sommet

2011-09-23T16:45:00.000+08:00

Odosketch is addicting, that I had to draw a dream that I had of hot air balloons in the sky. In my dream, they "formed" a word, but here, they're just floating like normal hot air balloons. In Paris. :)

Happy Friday, everyone! :)

Doodle: Odosketch!

2011-09-22T23:36:00.001+08:00

Very recently, I've discovered an online doodling program called Odosketch. It's got basic features, but makes illustrations stand out because of the colors (nicely muted).

Here's one that I did. :) enjoy!

Illustration: V

2011-09-20T15:27:00.001+08:00

Attempting to draw V from memory. :)

Social Security Tip

2011-09-20T14:32:00.004+08:00

• Disclaimer: This is just a personal account of my experience paying my loan from the SSS. I have no affiliation with SSS or any other government agency. I hope it will be helpful to other individuals who need to know the steps to paying SSS loans. :)

Ever since I quit my past job, I had this nagging thought inside my head---settle all transactions before I "run out" of resources (you know, since freelancing isn't as stable as a regular job)! I wanted to free myself of loan balances right away. Of course, though, it got sidetracked by many other different things. Sidelines, vacations, baking, etc. That went on for almost a year, so now, when I (finally) checked my social security loan status online, I discovered that my loan already had a penalty fee (!) on top of the remaining balance and interest that I had to pay.

The thing is, I didn't know where or how to start.

Unlike before, there's no more accountant to submit our payments monthly. Now, I had to figure it out on my own. A friend was kind enough to tell me that some banks accept payment, so that was my first step. I went to a local bank that processed payments like mine. Unfortunately, though, the bank people informed me that: 1) the cut-off date for my payment was already over for the month, and 2) even if I reached their cut-off date, I still needed to get a payment slip from the SSS office before I could make a transaction with the bank.

In short, I had to go straight to the SSS office. And so I did. I followed the guards' instructions, which were much more helpful than those of the information booth. Here's what I did:

• I made sure I had all the things I needed (my SSS ID, the payment, a pen, etc.)
• From the main building (MAC), I went straight to the FORMS Booth, and obtained a LOAN PAYMENT FORM. You may want to ask for an extra form, in case you make errors.
• I proceeded to the Treasury Building (I asked around-the guards told me "diretso, tapos kaliwa sa dulo"), where payments are made.
• Once inside the Treasury Building cashier area, I filled up the form (in triplicate). If you're an individual paying your own loan, like me, you need only to put your SSS ID number, name, address. No need for your former employer's ID.
• On the right side of the form, put in the information needed for the following boxes: type of loan, amount you're going to pay (in numeric form and in words), the applicable month (if you are making a full payment, just write FULL PAYMENT).
• Make sure all the info you wrote is correct, then sign the form.
• Pay the amount at the cashier, and have the cashier machine-validate your form.
• After that, you will be asked to go back to the MAC building to have your copy verified. To do this, you'll first need to get a MEMBER SERVICES stub from the Information and Ticket Issuance Booth.
• Once you have your stub, proceed to the MEMBER SERVICES area (as of writing, it's at the back area of the building, with counters 24-32 designated to this category).
• Wait until your number is called. This step may take a long while.
• Have your copy of the form stamped and signed.

Once your form is stamped, you're good to go!

This is what the form looks like. I added the magenta letters to the parts that I answered.

A. your SSS number; B. your name and address; C. payment type; D. applicable month (write FULL for full payment); E. total amount that you are going to remit in numbers; F. total in words; G. check the appropriate box on how you're going to pay for the loan; H. date; I. your printed name and signature

family tree

2011-08-23T18:50:00.000+08:00

some months ago, i promised my grandmother that i would help her make a family tree. i kept putting it off, for some reason (excuses, excuses). but today, i finally decided to start with the family tree project. i'm happy to report that it's now ready for printing. whee!

i'm not sure if my grandmother would like---let alone, understand---this version, but i really like it. will post the more accurate version tomorrow, probably. anyway, i'm sharing with you guys a simpler version of the famtree that i made with love. hehe. enjoy!

edibles: chocolate banana cupcakes for fathers' day!

2011-06-19T00:41:00.002+08:00

Holy bananas!

It's already Fathers' Day here in Manila, and as a present to my father, I baked cupcakes. He wanted banana-flavored ones, so I searched online and found a recipe from Joy of Baking (I love this site). It's a recipe for banana chocolate cupcakes, complete with chocolate frosting.

As you can see, I made quite a lot. That's because I doubled the amount in the recipe, and made mini cupcake as well. I also added a handful of chocolate chips to the batter to make it extra-chocolatey. As soon as the first batch of cupcakes was out, my pop got one mini cupcake and made a thumbs up. Then, while I mixed the frosting, he secretly took another one. I guess he really liked his present. Hehe. Weee!

Anyhoo, in case you guys wanna try it out, here's a link to the recipe that I got from Joy of Baking: Banana Chocolate Cupcakes

What I Wore Today #1

2011-05-20T13:45:00.000+08:00

A bit busy with work today, but I managed to squeeze in this vector illustration of my outfit. This is inspired by an illustration website/blog about different people's daily outfits, called What I Wore Today. :)

How much more relaxed can my work outfit get, right? ...Well, actually, a few years ago (!!) I used to go to work in a tank top and flop-flops (to my mother's dismay). What's always present, whatever outfit I wear, though, is my Eiffel Tower necklace. :)

Anyhoo, work calls. Gotta run!
TGIF!

Work Post #5: Booths and Buildings Galore

2011-05-16T12:30:00.001+08:00

Hello, middle of May.

I realize I haven't been posting here like I should. So, to make up for the whole of April (plus half of May) that lacked posts, here's a bunch of photos from our latest styling gig :)

Enjoy!

V actually made most of the stuff for this stint, like that lamppost. Everybody at home loved how that looked. :)

V also made this dual-purpose booth. Dual-purpose because one side was used as a "kissing booth", while the other side was used as a...

...fruit stand!

I think this fruit stand setup is my favorite among all of them. The plastic fruits looked like real, fresh ones.

More photos of the rest of the setups soon! Happy month of May, everyone! :)

edibles: indonesian keripik tempe

2011-03-24T00:02:00.001+08:00

I know, I know. This post isn't leading us to Paris, but... who can resist food? :)

A couple of days ago, my mom's Indonesian friend came back to Manila for her Theology class graduation. She brought with her a pack of Indonesian crispy fried tempe, as a pasalubong (arrival gift of some sort) for my mom. We had no idea what tempe was, but it looked like flatbread, crisply fried and cut into small strips.

Since I was feeling a bit hungry, I thought I'd give it a try. And so I did. The keripik tempe is very flavorful---first, there's the taste of flour. And then, some herbs. And finally, it gives way to that fresh, citrusy flavor of lemon... or is it lime?

At first, I found the taste a bit weird, but it kinda grew on me. In fact, I learned to like it too much, I almost finished the whole pack. Hahah. I think it would go well with cream cheese, or a yogurt kind of dip. Good thing, I didn't have those, or I probably would've finished the whole thing!

Here it is before I scarfed it down. Have you ever had tempe before?

edibles: fish fillet and potato au gratin

2011-03-23T12:31:00.003+08:00

Lately, I've been spending more time in the kitchen.

After that panna cotta experiment, I tried to make a savory French dish: fish and potato au gratin. I'm happy to report that it was quite a successful dish. V liked it a lot. My parents, who rarely touch the food that I cook, had second helpings. My sister, who cooks fairly well, wanted me to make another batch of it for a potluck dinner with her friends. And I willingly obliged.

Here's what my fish and potato au gratin looked like (plus a list of the stuff you'll need, in case you want to make it, too):

To make the bechamel sauce, first heat the milk. Put in a quarter of peeled white onion in it, to infuse. Set the warmed milk aside. In another saucepan, melt the butter, and then add flour to it. Stir constantly for about 1-2 minutes, to cook the flour. The butter and flour mixture will sort of turn into a paste after about 2 minutes. Make sure not to burn it, so stir stir stir!

After that, slowly pour in the warmed milk (without the onion), and stir until it starts to boil. When that happens, lower the heat and continue stirring to thicken the sauce. Add a pinch of nutmeg, some parsley, salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a tablespoon of mustard. Set the sauce aside, covering it with cling wrap (to avoid the formation of a "skin" on the surface of the sauce).

To assemble the gratin, first pre-heat your oven to 200º C. Slice the boiled potatoes, as well as the hard-boiled eggs. Fry the cream dory fillets in olive oil and set aside. Take an onion, and slice it into "rings", then saute until it caramelizes (just before it browns).

Cover the bottom of a clean heat-proof dish with a layer of sliced potatoes, then layer on the ingredients like this: potatoes, bechamel sauce, fish, sauce, onions, potatoes, eggs, sauce, parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.

Bake it in a pre-heated oven (200º C) until the top layer browns a bit (about 20mins). Top the baked dish with a bit of parsley.

Enjoy!

edibles: dark chocolate panna cotta

2011-03-01T13:44:00.001+08:00

For my father's birthday, I wanted to bake mini cakes. But my mom wanted to get him some other cake, so I just settled with making something else: panna cotta. And since I loved the taste and texture of panna cotta from the first spoonful, I was excited to make my very first batch of it.

Here's how my 72% dark chocolate panna cotta looked.

Although I personally like the taste of the dark choc, my pop (and nephews) thought it was a bit too overpowering. So for my next batch, I would have to add a bit more sweetness to it. I used canned strawberries as its sauce. But the next time I'm doing panna cotta, I will definitely make my own coulis, too!

An Imaginary View

2011-02-25T00:06:00.000+08:00

Every now and then, I tend to imagine myself in Paris---taking a stroll down a rue, gobbling up a box of Laduree macarons, or inside the elevator to the top of La Tour Eiffel. But after watching this cute, inspiring video of Education First, I actually wanted to draw a scene in my head.

So, here it is.

An imaginary photo of myself taking in the City of Lights at night. Forgive the "unfashionable" outfit---It's only the day of my arrival and it's cold; plus, I've got this thing for trapper hats, and I get lazy wearing contacts. Haha.

Work Post #4!

2011-02-06T23:49:00.000+08:00

Here they are!

Photos of our latest styling gig. :)

This carnival shooting range set-up is my personal favorite. I enjoyed painting those board ducks red, green and yellow. Plus, I just love the depth created by the waves.

Le Petit Artisan

2011-01-31T16:32:00.002+08:00

During one of our *rare* drives (V has had his license renewed after almost 3 years, finally) to Serendra, we chanced upon this bakery called Le Petit Artisan.

They were almost closing when we got there, but we still managed to get some of their baked goods. I loved the French quotes on the wall, as well as the organic window illustrations. The overall feel of the whole store was very European; I felt as if I was really in a bakery in Paris... at least the ones I see in movies. Hee.

Some shots of the store's interior. For someone who's happy with the usual pan de sal and American loaf, I thought they had a lot of kinds of bread---from sourdough to the more exotic-looking charcoal loaf. Of course, they also had pastries and sweet stuff.

I had an eclair, while V opted for some green tea mochi buns. I found the eclair a bit tough and crumbly, maybe because it wasn't as fresh (they were, after all, almost closing). Nonetheless, the filling tasted good, not too sweet.

The mochi buns were interesting. I thought they were like the sticky Japanese mochi balls. Upon closer inspection, though, I learned that they weren't the sticky kind. These green tea mochi buns were big and chewy, and I wasn't sure if the inside had filling, or it was just a softer core. I found them a bit bland, but V says he liked them.

Not quite sure if it was fair that we went there near closing time, perhaps they were just getting rid of all the baked pastries of the day. But I'd love to give this bakery another chance, and visit at an earlier time. Hopefully I'd have a much better piece of eclair then.

2011

2011-01-01T02:49:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! :)

New Year, New Shoes

2010-12-30T15:29:00.001+08:00

Thanks to V for the "holiday bonus", now I have new gray slip-on shoes! And just in time for 2011, too!

my very own pair of Toms yay!

I'm dreaming about doodling on my new pair---you know, putting something "Left-bank-ish" on it... good thing there's Photoshop, so I could try the doodles without the commitment. Haha. ;)

Happy eve of the eve of 2011, everyone! :)

Holiday Present

2010-12-24T16:54:00.000+08:00

It's Christmas eve!

Everybody here is preparing the spread for our Noche Buena later. Nothing fancy, but still, it feels grand, especially when the relatives start arriving. Of course, we miss those who are already living abroad. Like my cousin, Kuya Bojo, who's now living in Kirkland. It'll be his first Christmas there, but at least his wife is there to celebrate the holidays.

Well, I thought of giving them a little present. Something that can be shipped easily, yet still pretty. Hehe, so I created this. Lovingly hand-cut with an X-acto knife. I'll probably just have this shipped in a tube docu-case. I just hope there are frames for this size of paper. :)

Some detail shots, too.

Happy holidays, everyone!

freebie: holiday card!

2010-12-14T22:52:00.000+08:00

It's near! It's near!

Christmas is only eleven days away, so here's a simple present for everyone who stumbles upon my blog: a holiday greeting card!

It's 4x6 inches when folded (8x6 when flat). Feel free to print it out! :)

colored tape and the alphabet

2010-12-11T03:26:00.003+08:00

Fourteen days to go before Christmas!

In keeping with the holiday tradition of sharing our holiday budget, my sister and I went to the mall today to start our Christmas shopping. We were able to get some goods for the holiday spread (very simple, yet scrumptious fare), plus some edible presents for our niece, nephews and cute notebooks for friends.

I got excited with the mini notebooks, so I thought of wrapping them up already. So I finished wrapping each and every one of them, and only did I realize that I forgot to take photos of the notebooks. Haha. But here are a few photos of them as presents. :)

I love using kraft paper to wrap presents, obviously. ;) And then I used my new favorites---sticky tape and painter's tape--- to add a bit of color to the paper. This was inspired by the colorful Japanese washi tape, like the one shown on the momastore website (drool!).

As a finishing touch, I put the initials of my friends on the front part. You know, to distinguish who gets what.

Now I'm excited to give these to my friends. I hope they like their presents!

invites: liz&mike wedding

2010-12-08T19:37:00.002+08:00

Finally, I'm posting photos of the invites that I've done for my friends, Liz and Mike! :)

The wedding colors were autumn colors, thus the red oranges and yellows. Liz gave me the liberty to design as I pleased, just as long as the colors I used were in line with their motif. Thankfully, the couple liked it, and so now, the invite design has become their basis for the whole wedding's look.

Here are a few photos of the invites.

The invite design has a cutout of the couple's names in front, plus a window to show a silhouette of the couple.

This is how the two-fold invite looks like on the inside.

And this is how the back part looks like. As the invite has three panels per side, I used the back part to put the RSVP numbers, as well as other details for the event (attire, reserved seats, etc.). The original design had a map, too, but the couple thought of having it printed on a separate sheet of paper, so the map details are big enough to read.

This is sort of the before and after photo. The cream envelope was supposed to be chocolate brown, to give the invites a richer autumn look. Alas, the paper companies here only have limited color options for envelopes, so we just opted for a cream one, and added a chocolate brown envelope liner instead.

And lastly, some detail shots. :) I love how the invites looked after they were die-cut, and stacked together.

visiting relatives + review: CoBo bubble tea place

2010-12-06T13:48:00.002+08:00

Whew!

The relatives from the USA visited, so I was away from the computer most of the time last week. It was actually my first time to tour relatives around, so it was also fun for me. We took my older male cousin to malls, mostly (haha), and he was amused by how the shopping areas here were much more "entertaining" than where he lives. I think my cousin liked Greenhills the most; that's where he got a lot of the stuff that he took home with him yesterday.

So a few hours after we took my cousin to the airport, V and I walked around the neighborhood---along Tomas Morato, to be specific. Upon reaching Gandia Street, we discovered a newly opened bubble tea place, called CoBo. It's right beside Chef's Bistro, another resto that I've been meaning to try since June. Good thing, I brought my camera along, so we were able to take some photos of the new place.

Since it just opened that same day, V and I decided to try it out. The place was reminiscent of some restos in Hong Kong that cater to the younger crowd, with its bright interiors and stickered windows. CoBo offers a plethora of tea-based drinks, as well as snow ice desserts and coffee. They also offered chicken pops as snack, but I think that more options in that category would be better. Perhaps they could offer fried mushrooms, or sandwiches, in the future, so people wouldn't be stuck with just chicken.

V and I shared one drink: the CoBo Milk Tea (P90, 16oz.). As I have a liking for milk tea, I enjoyed this drink a lot. Again, it reminded me of the HK street restos that I so miss. The tapioca pearls were just right, too.

We also tried the CoBo Taiwanese Chicken pops, with the green tea seasoning. I've never tried meat with green tea (and my sister, who just came back from a trip to Xiamen couldn't stop talking about the green tea-marinated pork chop that was served to them), so that got me curious.

For P60, it wasn't bad. There were about 12 pieces of chicken pops. They were tender, although the seasoning was sparse. I'd come back to try the other flavors (Mexican and Salt & Pepper).

I think CoBo would become an instant hangout for the younger crowd (for group studying in the day, and after parties at night), but I think they'd need a bit more stuff in their menu. Plus, I think if CoBo would offer free wifi, they'd attract a lot more people, too. Overall, though, I like this new bubble tea place, and I'd give CoBo 4/5 Eiffel Towers. :)

invites update

2010-11-19T18:25:00.000+08:00

Yikes, I haven't been posting anything lately.

My friend's wedding invites have arrived, and now, I've been cutting nonstop. I already have sixty cut invites---a hundred and forty to go! Hahah! I'm excited to post photos, but I still need to cut and fold each one. I'll wait until they are all done. Maybe next week.

Happy Friday!

zigzag!

2010-11-12T00:18:00.002+08:00

I was browsing an online issue of LonNy magazine, and saw this cute ad. I was immediately drawn to the zigzag-patterned cloth. And then I noticed the Eiffel Tower in the background. And that nice little bokeh near the base arch. Love!

Here's a link to the website of Rubie Green, in case you want to check it out.

missing IKEA

2010-11-10T20:07:00.003+08:00

I'm such a sucker for IKEA. I love most of their products---furnitures, fixtures, and even their food. I especially love their chokoladflarn. So, I tried googling photos of the said cookie, but I couldn't find a lot. Instead, though, I found these:

What an ingenious way to present ingredients! I immediately fell in love with the styling. I'm used to seeing photos of ingredients "naturally" laid out on a counter top, so this kind of presentation is very refreshing to see. These photos are from IKEA's recipe book, which is in Swedish. Unfortunately for me, I don't speak any Swedish. So the photos will do for now. Good job, IKEA! :)

Now, if only you'd open a store here in Manila...

---
image credits:
photography by Carl Kleiner / styling by Evelina Bratell

style admire: randi brookman harris

2010-11-08T11:58:00.002+08:00

I was browsing the web, and I came across Randi Brookman Harris' website. She is a very, very creative prop stylist and has worked with some US brands that I love (J. Crew, Martha Stewart, Kate Spade). I love the photos of her work. Here are some of them, but if these are not enough, there's plenty more in her website here. Check it!

---
image credits: all images belong to Randi Brookman Harris :)

Hello November

2010-11-06T00:12:00.002+08:00

So far, you've only been raining and giving dark blue afternoon skies. That's why, I'm putting together this for you. They're mostly of bedrooms, since I've been wanting to stay in bed and just watch TV. That will happen next week, after this week's gig. Hah.

That throw pillow would look good against my all-white room. I love that it's got a floral design and still looks modern. Hee. The first bedroom isn't as blue, but I found the mix of pink and blue interesting, so I'm adding that here. I'm loving the bedroom with the purple pillow very much. It reminds me of Tinkerbell. Haha. And speaking of sweet dreams, just look at that tiny baby in the third room! He's probably dreaming of life at sea...

Oh, dark blue... gorgeous, gorgeous color I could only dream of for my own walls...

Anyway, November, I hope you give me a rainbow soon. :)

---
Image credit goes to the following:
www.apatmenttherapy.com
www.cottageliving.com
www.thelennoxx.com
www.themoderninventor.com

lovely couch

2010-10-27T00:58:00.000+08:00

Just got home from "meeting" day. I've been sleeping late because of a new project (we're currently in the process of making the props), plus I had two meetings today. So exhausted. But enough talk about work.

Today, I'm digging this piece of furniture from Urban Outfitters:

That would look gorgeous in an apartment, against a windowed wall, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Or the River Seine...

I'd love to take a nap on that soft green velvet couch right now.
Sigh.

storm

2010-10-19T11:19:00.002+08:00

I hope the storm's over soon.

But since we're having this rare cold weather today, I think I'll be curling up with a book later. After I get home from a meeting, that is. Hehe. I'm dreaming of reading this one, while having a cup of hot milk tea:

i love macarons book, by Hisako Ogita

(top: cover; bottom, L-R: sample pages)

A pretty book about French macarons! I saw this book as I was browsing the Fred Flare website, and I immediately fell in love with the simplicity of the cover (top photo), especially the pop of color that the macarons add to the gray background.

Gotta check if Fully Booked carries this book! If not, then, I guess it's online shopping time. Hwehwehwe.

I hope everyone's safe and having a great day today!

A Little Bit of Japan

2010-10-18T01:25:00.001+08:00

No, I did not go to Japan.

But V and I brought Japan to Manila a few days ago. *wink wink*

Since it's been quite stressful lately, we decided to walk around Tomas Morato for "couples" (bottles of beer). And then, we remembered: MusicMatch. And so, we had beer at MusicMatch, a karaoke joint. And we spent two hours just belting out to whatever song we wanted to sing. Even Ke$ha's Tik-Tok and Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Haha. We thought we were gonna get tired after two hours of singing, but after our time was up, we realized it was still not enough. We left the place, feeling much more relaxed, and a bit hungry.

So we walked again, and saw this new Japanese pizza place, just beside Kopi Roti, called OctoBoy. It was just about to close when we got there, but the owner was gracious enough to let us in as their last customers for the day. I've never tried Japanese sizzling pizza (or okonomiyaki, as they say it), so I was pretty excited to sink my teeth into it. We ordered the mushroom pizza.

Well, the "pizza" arrived, and it smelled really good. It also kinda looked like an omelette with a lot of chopped greens on top. Looking closer, though, it actually is made from the same batter as takoyaki octopus balls (which I find incredibly delicious, but need to avoid for personal reasons haha). I loved how it tasted, and its texture was great. V and I promised each other to go back to sample their beef pizza. :) I wanted to share some photos, but I'm having trouble transferring photos from my phone to the PC. Oh well. Photos next time.

Hey. Speaking of Japan, I just found out---from a friend's Facebook post--- that MUJI has already opened here in Manila! Woohoo, now I don't have to wait to go to Hong Kong or Singapore or Japan to satisfy my need for their yummy Codfish and Gorgonzola Cheese snack things, or their smooth-writing pens. Hehe. Whee!

It's first branch here is located in the upscale Bonifacio Global City, above the Gap store. I can't wait to pay the store a visit! Hehe. Their store just... relaxes me. Maybe it's the way their products are organized. Anyhoo, if they allow photos in the Manila store, I shall post some in the future. Hehe.

red

2010-10-10T22:31:00.000+08:00

I'm kinda feeling under the weather. I don't know. And I'm too pale right now (for lack of exposure to the sun---you know, I haven't been to the beach in about a year). I wish I could be bold enough to wear red lipstick, like those glamorous French girls do.

I was browsing the UO website, and I saw these two fabulously-colored lipsticks...

L-R: DuWop Private Plum Lipstick; Black Tie Optional Lipstick

The left one looks pretty good, and it changes its red-ness according to the wearer's skin color or something. The right one, which looks a bit more intimidating (almost black), actually goes on sheer plum. I'm thinking maybe like Clinique's Black Honey, which I've tried before and loved. Haha.

Oh well. I'm sure if a French woman ever gets that "mal" feeling, all she'd do is put on red lipstick, and voila! Her mood picks up right away. I hope it goes the same way for me...

---

images from the Urban Outfitters website

notification

2010-10-05T19:18:00.000+08:00

Stress week again.
(crazy, crazy!)

Be back soon.
<3

Thursday Treat

2010-09-30T19:59:00.003+08:00

In between finishing the invites for my friend and figuring out how to run the cutting machine and my actual work, I also keep it a point to give my 95-year old lola her daily merienda (that's snack, in Filipino) at around 3pm every day. That is, whenever I'm at home. And, having been exposed to very creative and talented chefs/food stylists in my past jobs, I always try to whip up (hopefully delicious) stuff that looks decent, too. Haha.

Today, I made an easy dessert-type of merienda for lola: chocolate-covered bananas!

What I did was melt about 15 Goya Chocolate Cubes (local chocolate) by placing a small bowl inside a bigger bowl with hot water. Then, I threw in the chocolate cubes and moved them around a bit until melted. After that, I sliced two bananas into 3 parts, and dipped one end onto the melted chocolate. I set the chocolate-dipped banana pieces on a plate. Finally, I sprinkled a bit of cinnamon and powdered sugar on them, et voila!

I wonder how they'd jazz this kind of dessert up in Paris... I'd like to think they'd sprinkle bits of crushed macarons on top of the chocolate. Or cherry syrup. Yum! :)

cramming + autumn dress

2010-09-20T16:30:00.001+08:00

So little time, so much to do!

I've just gotten "better" from my sickness, and already, I'm tied up with work... but, again, I'm grateful for these things, because as you guys know, I've gone freelance.

Anyway, I'm designing a pretty elaborate invite for my friend's wedding in January next year. It's already good for printing, but since it requires a lot of cutting, I'm a bit nervous. Especially, since this will be my first time to do a lot of die-cutting. Haha. The machine's here already, I just need to learn how to operate it. So, please pray that I learn the ropes in time.

In the meantime, let me show you the dress that I will be wearing for the wedding. There's no "theme", but the colors are autumn colors---reds, yellows, browns and oranges. And, since most of the shops at the mall also sell Fall collections here (despite the country having only 2 seasons), I thought it's the perfect time to buy a dress for the wedding now. :)

The colors are gorgeously muted, and the many different patterns on the dress make me want to wear a feathered headpiece and moccasins with it. Haha. Only, they might keep me out of the church for being weird.

...Maybe I'll just wear heels with this dress. At least I've got a few months to decide. :)

recovery mode post :)

2010-09-17T21:29:00.000+08:00

oh my gosh.

i'm still on recovery mode, but i thought i'd post something happy today. :)

here are some Paris-inspired stuff i found off one of my favorite sites, etsy.

this is a cute miniature treat plate ring, complete with marshmallow-topped hot chocolate and an Eiffel Tower chocolate, made by kelbelscreations. <3

cute and with a vintage flair, these cloth buttons would be lovely on a basic white tee. created by howbeadyful.

lastly, a black-and-white wall mural of the Eiffel Tower. i love the simplicity of the wall art, by Chuck E Byrd. actually, i also find the room very, very lovely, especially the floor-to-ceiling windows. and the white color theme is just so... straightforward.

if i had my own place, i'd love to have something like that on one of my walls. then, i'd be a bit self-centered and take polaroid photos of me with the wall, in different cute outfits. haha.

*daydreams*

---
all photos credits go to their respective owners. please visit their etsy sites, i'm sure you'd have fun!

under the weather

2010-09-13T22:50:00.000+08:00

I wish I could post something more fun, but I've caught the virus, and it's making me want to just sleep the entire day. Boo sickness. The good thing is, I've finally had a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup. Hehe. It's been almost a week now. I hope my sickness disappears already.

the early halloween post

2010-09-09T01:12:00.002+08:00

I know this happened to me Tuesday, but it was rather freaky and funny at the same time, so I thought it deserved a post of its own. Haha.

Last Tuesday, I was home alone. And since I had finished all the stuff I needed to do that day, I thought of taking some photos of this new dress that I very recently bought from Mango (which I will post next time hehe). So off I went with my pretty new dress to the other kitchen, where this photogenic door stands, to snap away. When I got there, I almost died of shock.

Imagine seeing a very, very scary infant doll, with scribbles on its already freaky face (plus a lacey, black mourning dress), sitting on the dish rack. It was actually the same doll I used for my graduation creative pose back in college, sans the head---the reason why the doll was in a black dress. It was still a bit okay then, but seeing it on top of the sink when you're home alone?! Duuuude.

I'd post pics just so you could see how scary the darn thing is, but I might not blog ever again. For fear of seeing its doodled forehead, inked lips and blue-glittered eyes. Haha.

I told V about it today, and showed him the doll. He laughed, but agreed that it really did look creepy.

Well, creepy doll may have scared me, but it gave me an idea. Wouldn't it be kind of interesting if there were "spooky tours" in Paris? So I tried searching online, and I found out that this kind of tour actually does exist! Haha.

PHOTO CREDIT: MAY ROHRER

Mysteries of Paris: Dark Tours in the City of Lights. Website here. Sounds very interesting, no? I'm sure it would be very different from the usual day tours. After a semester of watching horror movies for a class, I promised myself that I won't scare myself anymore, but this kind of tour seems really interesting.

Has anybody ever tried this kind of tour before? Share! :)

wanderlusting + work photos

2010-09-05T03:30:00.002+08:00

My goodness.

What a crazy week! ...Well, actually, what a crazy month! I was so darn busy, I forgot to post even on my birthday month! I just finished another project, which, by the way, required much physical energy. V and I had a stint designing some sets for a catalogue shoot. So, yeah. Lots of carrying heavy stuff, painting and running involved. And then, I still have to design two invites for my friends. One is celebrating her debut, and the other is getting hitched. Hehe.

I've been busy (as usual), and my brain seems to be overflowing with ideas and thoughts. But right now, all I'm thinking of is: when will I ever get to France...? I feel the wanderlust creeping in again. This time, though, I've been investing in bigger "work-related" items, so it's quite harder to spend for travel. Sometimes, I even think of getting back to a 9-to-5 job, just to have a more... stable income. But, of course, that would mean losing time for myself again. Oh dear.

Anyway, I shouldn't stress myself (or anyone reading this, for that matter) thinking about work work work. I'll leave you with some outtakes of the shoot that we designed earlier. :)

Here's the Valentine's Dresser, where the model "gets ready for a big date".

And this is the Fashion Workroom, where she makes all sorts of cute clothing.

Lastly, the VIP Room set, where I just had to include something deliciously French: macarons de Paris!

They look lovely in the photo, don't they?

Inspired!

2010-07-26T01:58:00.000+08:00

Hello, everyone!

It's almost 2AM, and I think I'm the only one who's awake inside the house (save for Kitty, our "adopted" stray cat). I haven't been updating the blog regularly, I know. Ever since I've gone freelance, I thought that I'd have all the time in the world to do whatever I wanted to do. Well, t's not always true.

While I was able to visit the newly opened Forever 21 store in Megamall a few times this month, I also have some projects lined up until the end of August (my birthday month, yay!), so my daily updates are pushed to... more of a weekly kind of thing. Haha. But I'm very grateful for all the opportunities that are coming my way. :)

Anyhoo, Coraline was up on HBO a few hours ago. It was my first time to watch it, since they didn't show it in the cinemas here. I have to say, I found it terrific. I loved the stop-motion animation to bits. Very, very wonderful!

It actually was very fitting that Coraline was on TV, because just a few days ago, I found this very lovely blog about doll-making. The doll-maker, Elsita, creates very beautiful, whimsical characters from scratch. She also does the clothes for some of her dolls, and they are just amazing! Looking at her creations makes me want to try sculpting. Haha. But really, I do want to try it. Elsita's work is so inspiring and truly creative. Perhaps after I get my check, I'll buy some clay and create my own cute sculptures. I'd probably make a miniature Parisian girl, complete with ballet flats and a scarf. Who knows, maybe I'd have some photos to post here again soon! :p

Happy early Monday, everyone!

rantpost: please skip

2010-07-19T14:31:00.000+08:00

Have you ever had that feeling of losing the drive to do things?

I have. It's been bothering me since, well, I think since I switched jobs. I don't really know if it was my job that changed me, or something else. But this feeling sucks. I used to be funny, and I had my own quirky style. But now, I feel like I've let myself go.

I don't think I'm depressed, but I think that I'm lacking something. Passion, perhaps? I don't know. I've recently just read some people's thoughts on passion. One of them said, "it was supposed to be art". And now, the more I think about it, the more I agree with that person (whoever s/he is). My passion was supposed to be art---I could draw and design things, my parents were both FA graduates, I was surrounded with art all my life! Sure, I enjoy doing those things. But I'm just not passionate about it. I mean, I think I feel more excited about travelling than it---you know, seeing new places, experiencing new cultures. Augh. Thinking like this is exhausting.

10-Hour Ride Dreams

2010-07-11T23:51:00.000+08:00

I'm having this crazy thought of just... hopping on a bus, and taking a 10-hour ride to Bicol. :)

If you don't know where (or what) Bicol is, it's a province that's in the Southern tip of Luzon, Philippines. It is where the majestic Mayon Volcano sits, and is also home to many black-sand beaches in the country. There's also a new "resort" somewhere in that region, and they've got really interesting activities going on (butanding-watching, anyone?). Check this website out, interested peeps. The website needs a bit of improvement, but it's got enough info about the place. :)

She's Aliiiive!

2010-07-08T01:00:00.000+08:00

Whoa.

It's been a looong time since my last blog entry. I dunno, I guess I just had too many things to do at work those past months. Haha. Plus, I haven't really been travelling. So, I didn't really think it was... necessary to update. But since I've gone freelance, there really is no excuse for me not to post anymore!

I haven't opened this blog until today, and I'm pleasantly surprised that I have my first two followers (thank you, mademoiselles)! And I thought nobody really visits my site. Hehe.

So, anyway, I wish I could tell you that I have already visited la Paris. Sadly, that is not the case. But we will get to that soon (I hope). I did go somewhere this past week, though. I went to Hong Kong!

I know, I know. The last time I blogged about going somewhere was also about Hong Kong. What can I say, it's my favorite Asian city. Haha. It was my first time to really make use of their commuting system, though, so it was still a "new" adventure. Riding the MTR was always our choice of transport when in Hong Kong, but this time, we also took the bus! I love City Flyer. We took it going to and from the airport, as well as to Ocean Park.

It was my first time to visit Ocean Park, and though their rides seemed a bit old, I still had fun. Especially on the roller coaster and other rides. V was like a little kid, running from one ride to the other. We took a nice photo by the entrance, before we headed back to the city.

I'm glad I bought the Fuji Instax before our Ocean Park adventure. We saw a bunch of brightly-colored toy cameras in the city, but the Instax was what (my sister and) I wanted. Hehe. So when I saw it amongst all those other cameras, I didn't hesitate.

Now I have a nice, brown, polaroid camera to bring when I finally get to visit France. Wheee!

French-inspired Presents Yay!

2009-12-29T00:42:00.000+08:00

Hello!

So sorry, I've been missing posts for most of December. I was busy attending parties, buying presents for family members and friends, and with work. I'm sure even you are busy this time of the year. But still, I can't just use the holidays as an excuse.

Anyway, no real French post today (and I write this late at night, too---bad, bad). But I did get some cute French-inspired stuff during Christmas! :) My sister gave me a notebook / diary with the word "Paris" on the cover. And then, my friend from work gave me a tiny notepad that has the Eiffel Tower illustrated on each of its pages. Yay. Hahaha. I've already used it, too, when V and I were "brainstorming" for a certain secret project at the cafe the other day. Yeah, we're adventurous like that. Hahaha.

Well, I will post a pic of the two paper products I got soon. In the meantime, I'd like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas. Keep the holiday cheer going, people!

French Filles Friday: Betty of Betty's Blog

2009-11-27T18:08:00.001+08:00

Hello, Friday (afternoon)!

Today, I'm featuring another French fille blogger, Betty!

Betty is an adorably stylish actress-model-blogger, who photographs her daily outfits and posts them on her blog. She's actually a friend of Alix, another French fille that I think is cool. Aside from her apparent love for ribbons and bows, I really like how she mixes her clothes up--- matching the trendy clothes from H&M or Zara with more classic pieces from high-end brands.

For those of you who enjoy fashionable filles, check out this Parisian girl's bloggie!

* All photos are by Betty *

J'Aime...

2009-11-24T10:57:00.000+08:00

... a few of these delicate, colorful, creme-filled babies!

I've been seeing the lovely macarons painted by blogger, Paris Breakfasts, and they make my mouth water. I love her art, and I love, love that she loves Paris. :)

I bet I could finish this box from Pierre Hermes in one sitting. The pink and green ones at the lower right corner look especially interesting. I wonder what their flavor is? Watermelon? Green tea and raspberry?

These babies from Laduree look amazing. I love the colors, so light. They say Laduree macarons are extremely delicious, and I can't wait to try it. A trip to Laduree is in my "things to do while in Paris" list. Haha.

While there are no Pierre Hermes or Laduree stores in Manila (yet), we aren't totally deprived of the goodness of macarons de Paris. Bizu, a local French-themed patisserie, has a selection of macarons, which look as delightful as the ones in Paris. They've gotten a bit smaller now, but I assume they still taste good. My favorites are the chocolate and pistachio flavored macarons. Yum!

Hmm. Now that I think about it, I haven't had a macaron in a long time already. Perfect excuse to buy some later after work! Yay!

French Cups!

2009-11-18T16:19:00.000+08:00

Ho ho ho!

The holidays are nearing, and despite the still-warm weather we are having over here, I'm pretty sure people in other countries and continents are experiencing the frigid air brought about by the winter season (sorry for the run-on). I'll bet those people would enjoy a day indoors, with a good book in one hand, and a cup of chocolat chaud in the other. Mmm.

Speaking of cups, I was surfing the internet today, and I found this Eiffel Tower espresso cup.

It looks a tad serious, with the black and white color scheme going on, right? I'm imagining it in a cafe, on a table, occupied by a bespectacled man, reading the papers. Haha. Anyway, since we are on the topic of Eiffel Tower and cups, I'd like to show you this:

I own it! Haha. It's also white, but unlike the previous cup, mine has cutesy drawings of La Tour, as well as a map of France. It also has a smattering of greens and reds. Yay. My cup doesn't have a handle, though, so can it still be called a cup? Anyhow, I love it, and tomorrow, I shall make myself a nice, tall, Eiffel cup of hot chocolate. Cold weather or not.

Happy mid-week everyone!

From Paris, To New York

2009-11-08T21:54:00.000+08:00

Yikes, I haven't posted anything in almost two weeks! Bad, bad, bad. Work has been very demanding last week, but I know I shouldn't use my being busy at work as an excuse. So, I apologize. And I shall make up for it today / tonight. Hehe.

Anyway, do you remember my supercute Paris-themed passport cover and card holder? Well, my sister got her own passport cover, plus a luggage tag of New York (yes, she is a fan). And since today was rather a lazy Sunday afternoon, I took photos of her loot.

Cute, non? Pardon the cheese, but I think a small, black heart above the words STORY IN would be a great add-on to it. Still, the luggage tag looks great as it is. Hehe.

The back, where you write your contact info, is equally sweet. It's got tiny pink dots all over, and the info sheet has "Bon Voyage" inscribed on it. And then there's the lovely little illustration of an airplane right beside them.

Of course, my favorite part would be the doodled images of New York's oh-so-famous cityscape. Just look at the Chrysler Building with those art deco architectural details! I love how NY it is without having to show Lady Liberty. This luggage tag makes me want to jump on an airplane and fly back to the Big Apple. *sigh* Well, après Paris, perhaps...

French Filles Friday: Alix of The Cherry Blossom Girl

2009-10-23T11:42:00.001+08:00

Good morning, Friday!

For the past two (or is it three?) Fridays, I haven't been able to post our vendredi special. So today, I present to you: French fille Alix!

She's a Parisian stylist-slash-fashion blogger-slash-Chanel Cocoon and American Apparel endorser. Her blog, thecherryblossomgirl is overflowing with supergorgeous photos of her and her funky clothes and accessories. Her style is part-classic, part-edgy, part-whimsical, and every bit as French.

But enough talk. I suggest you head on over to her blog, for lots more French fashion goodness!

P.S. I looove these two photos of her (image credit, of course, goes to Alix). First photo is just so... Parisian chic---from the striped shirt, down to the stovepipes and Repetto flats. The second photo is equally good. Those gigantic buttons are cute!

Eiffel Tower Wrap!

2009-10-20T15:17:00.002+08:00

Okay, so this isn't really a "French" post.

But it's my friend's birthday, and I wrapped her present in brown paper, with little prints of Eiffel Tower. She isn't as obsessed with France as I am, but she has been lucky enough to have visited Paris with her folks last year. She even gave me a gold pillbox with the Eiffel Tower on its cover. Hehehe.

Anyway, take a look at my mini-project!

I made the wrapper by deconstructing an Eiffel Tower-printed brown bag, which I got at Saizen (a Japanese "dollar" store):

Then, I made the tag (bottom left of the set) with acid-free scrapbooking paper. I forgot to take photos of the process, but all I did was cut the paper into 2 small squares---one bigger than the other. I pasted the small one diagonally on top of the bigger piece. And then, I managed to turn the scrap strip into some sort of paper bow, by twisting the paper then using more glue. I placed a dot right in the middle as a finishing touch.

And the final product, up close:

I love, love the wrapper. If I had to give myself (wrapped) presents, I'd definitely use this. What about you? Do you have French-themed gift wrappers? Share them here!

Paris Stays

2009-10-19T17:37:00.000+08:00

As this year's Christmas vacation nears, I find myself dreaming of a ten-day trip to Paris, France (with a side trip to Provence, of course). Oh, it would be fantastic to roam around the arrondissements for ten days. But ten days would also decrease my shopping money significantly, because a huge chunk of it would be going to hotel stays.

So, I researched a bit about Paris accommodations. I learned that, if I stay at an apartment, rather than in a hotel, I'd have more to spend on Free'P'Star, Hermes macarons, Eiffel Tower souvenirs and all that! Yay! Hahaha.

I found the following apartments off of the internet some days ago. The site has a long list of apartment accommodations (which may be sorted by budget, location and capacity).

These are my favorites so far. They are both located near the famous Left Bank, in the 14th arrondissement. Sure, there's no room service in these. But I realized I don't really use room service anyway. Plus, I think they look gorgeous---a lot bigger and better than a generic hotel bedroom!

The Alesia aparment kind of reminds me of Amelie's bedroom. I like that red blanket very, very much.

The Plaisance studio has a lighter atmosphere. I adore the pink + lavender / gray + white combo of the sofa bed. So girly!

If you've tried staying at apartments like these, how did you find it?

Paris Out of Hand

2009-10-13T14:01:00.000+08:00

Ah, finally!

Yesterday, Blogger was not displaying the new post page properly. Hence, the lack of Monday post from me. But, it is working just fine today, so yay! I'm posting pictures! Lookie, a red Paris book!

I bought this beautiful red book from Fully Booked some months ago on a whim. It's entitled "Paris Out of Hand {A Wayward Guide}", and it's written by Karen Eliizabeth Gordon. Gotta love the red cloth cover, and that old-style ink illustration of an upside-down Eiffel Tower! Take a closer look:

This seemingly serious book about Paris isn't very serious, actually. This fictional travel guide book, complete with customer reviews and tips, brings the reader to an imagined Paris---a Paris different from what most travel books tell us. In this book, hotels and cafes have strange characteristics; Paris gets a life of its own. Flipping through the book's pages is a feast to the eyes, too, because images and illustrations are plentiful here.

And then, of course, I find out that the book is gorgeously illustrated by none other than "Ephemera Master", Nick Bantock (of Griffin and Sabine popularity)! So that's why every page of this book is oozing with beautiful, vintage-y goodness!

Anyway, I really enjoyed reading and looking at this book. Go buy!

Lundi and Lunettes

2009-10-05T17:53:00.002+08:00

It's the start of the week!

I realized that my past "recent" entries were a bit heavy, so today, we are going to talk about something that's slightly more...trivial. We're going to talk about my eyeglasses. Haha.

So. I really gotta get new glasses. My old pair, which has major scratches and a broken frame, makes me look like some teenage emo girl. Plus, it's starting to make it extremely difficult for me to see things. Which is bad, considering I'm in this industry.

Anyhoo, I've had these thick-framed, plastic glasses for some years already, and replacing them now would be a great idea. Usually, I'd settle for the plastic kind, since my skin doesn't react to the material (unlike with metal ones). But right now, I'm digging those thin frames. I should probably get the titanium ones, though. That is, if I finally make a decision.

I tried to look for nice lunettes on the internet. Alas, I found only a few stylishly worn pairs. See:

This pretty lady's photo was snapped by the fabulous French stylist, Garance Dore, on the streets of Paris. Those big frames are hot!

Another gorgeous pair of glasses, now in white. (Good job, Parisian lady from the 2009 Paris Fashion Week!) Not sure if I could pull those off, but I could try. :p I don't know who to credit for this picture. If you do, please let me know. :)

So, should I get the usual thick, plastic frames, or should I try on those thin metal frames instead? Help me decide!

---
Edit: My eyeglasses finally broke. So now I'm on my reserve pair of contacts. Hahah.

Aftermath

2009-10-01T15:24:00.001+08:00

I apologize for the lack of posts.

My country has just been hit by Tropical Storm Ketsana (or Ondoy, as it's called here), and everybody is starting to get back up only now. And as I type these words, there are still people trapped in their homes ravaged by flood waters. There still are missing persons. The following photos (taken by various people) show only a small fraction of the damage done by the storm to the Philippines.

Now, another super typhoon is approaching. We're only starting to recover from this calamity, and yet, another storm is coming.

It's pretty alarming, this thing that's happening to the ~~Philippines~~ world. Even in Vietnam, Indonesia, Samoa, Atlanta and Laos, people have suffered because of typhoons and earthquakes. But, as terrifying as the events were during this past weekend, I think I'd choose to want to remember all of it. I want to never forget what we humans have been doing to the earth, and I want to remember that I have a responsibility with Mother Nature.

The Philippines Needs Help!

2009-09-27T17:23:00.000+08:00

I'm posting this, because no matter how much I love France, I love my homeland much more.

Most of Luzon, especially Marikina City, the Rizal provinces and Metro Manila, has been devastated by Tropical Storm Ondoy. We need all the help we can get to save the people living in those areas. Most of them have even spent the night on the roofs of their houses, because the water level has reached about 12 feet already.

Some of my friends who live in the eastern area have family members stranded in their homes. Their cars have been submerged in water, and most of them are running out of resources already. If not for the second levels of their homes, they would also be on the roofs, waiting for rescuers to come for them. They can't get out of their houses because the water is still too high, and the current is strong.

If you're in the Philippines, you may donate to The Red Cross of the Philippines via SMS. Just text RED AMOUNT to the following numbers:
Globe - 2899
Smart - 4483

Please note that donation amount can be:
for Globe - 100 or 300
for Smart - 50 or 100

If there are a million Filipinos with cellphones, and each of us would text-donate even 50 pesos, we could help save our fellow Pinoys.

If you'd like to give food, clothes (they are wet and cold---they need underwear, shirts, pants, jackets, maybe even raincoats), flashlights, BOTTLED WATER, battery-powered gadgets, even flares, you may also go to ABS-CBN's Sagip Kapamilya headquarters:

SAGIP KAPAMILYA
413-2667 / 416-0387
No 13 Examiner Street, Quezon City, Look for Ms Girlie Aragon

Bank: Banco de Oro, Mother Ignacia branch
Acct name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Acct no.: 5630020111

Routing code for international cash donations
BNORPHMM ABS-CBN Branch

ABS-CBN Foundation US Office Toll-Free 1-800-527-2820

Let's all help out, please.

French Filles Friday: Audrey Tautou

2009-09-25T10:32:00.002+08:00

Anyone who's obsessed with France must have watched Amelie already. And if you've already watched the movie, you'll know that the French girl portraying the lead character is oozing with French-girl charm.

FRENCH GIRL DU JOUR, AUDREY TAUTOU!

The petite, dark-haired Audrey Tautou is on the top of my French filles list, particularly because:
• her choice of movies (to act in) is good. I very much appreciate the fact that she chooses to play quirky, interesting characters.
• she's a very good actress; she can even act with just her eyes!

• she can sport all kinds of hairstyles (short, long, wavy, all of it!)

• she's a Leo! Wow, there really must be some kind of connection between being born in August and fabulous (French) girls... Haha.

• she's playing Coco before Chanel! *woot*

Mademoiselle Tautou, if you happen to stumble upon my little blog, please know that I'd like to be your friend. Hehe.

Happy Friday, everyone!

---

Image credits:

Photo 1 - www.chicknamedhermia.wordpress.com

Photo 2 - www.mimifroufrou.com

Photo 3 - Chanel No.5 website

Photo 4 - www.gamespot.com

Photo 5 - www.sofeminine.co.uk

Carousels

2009-09-24T15:37:00.001+08:00

Here are some pictures of a carousel just behind the Mall of Asia. I took them when my brother and I drove there last Monday. I didn't want to stay at the dorm yet, so he suggested MoA.

PHOTO 1: THE CAROUSEL, WITH MY BROTHER'S SANDAL IN THE FOREGROUND; PHOTO 2: UP CLOSE WITH THE HORSES; PHOTO 3: IN MOTION

EXPERIMENTING WITH THE SHUTTER SPEED FEATURE OF MY G10

Seeing the carousel reminded me of this one at Montmartre.

IMAGE TAKEN FROM WWW.REDBUBBLE.NET

Of course, the Eiffel Tower peeking from behind it just makes it all the more grandiose. ;-p Taking a ride in this carousel will have to be in my Paris Things to Do. Who wants to join me?

Superfast French Update!

2009-09-24T00:11:00.000+08:00

Whew!

There's sooo much to do at work, I didn't even get to update today! And I'm actually still at the office (I just finished a pitch). So I'm updating le blog, before I leave for the dorm. Yes, I dorm. Haha.

Anyway! My friend at the office has an aunt who lives in France (woot!). She said that she asked aunt to bring some university booklets / pamphlets for me (woot!), because I'm getting this crazy idea that I should
go back to school. This time, to study web / graphic design and illustration. Haha. So, I'm "scouting" for schools and scholarships for education in 2012.

Right now, top of mind is New York. SVA, RISD, or Parsons. Maybe Pratt, too. That's because there's a great chance for a scholarship. But, if there's also a chance to study in Paris (with a scholarship, of course), then that would be equally awesome! Please wish me luck. If I get this, you guys will get better photos. And illustrations even! Haha.

Gloomy, Rainy Day

2009-09-21T17:11:00.000+08:00

What a gloomy day.

It's been raining again today. Some minutes ago, the rain was pouring hard, but now, all that's left of it are the drops on the tree leaves outside the window. The sun has decided not to peek through the clouds anymore, though, and that has left the sky gray.

The gloomy weather was starting to get to me, too, when my pop told me that there's chocolate in the fridge. Woot! Hahah, there's nothing like a good box o' chocs to keep your spirits up when the weather's down. The chocolates were a present from my pop's client, who just came back from an out-of-the-country vacation. That lady certainly knows her desserts!

I wasn't going to eat so much, but they were stuck together and I couldn't rip them apart. So, eat 4 pieces of chocolate I did. That's when Mr. Sun slowly came out from behind the clouds, stretching his rays one by one. It's not such a gloomy day in Metro Manila, after all.

French Stylin' Made Easy

2009-09-20T04:09:00.001+08:00

Can't sleep. I'm too excited about my purchases today. Well, it's actually yesterday's, but I'm still awake, so technically, it's still today today. Hahah.

So, anyway! I went to Galleria yesterday with V, and as we passed by National Bookstore, we found out that they had a huge sale. Yeaaahh! Well, I saw that this book that I wanted to buy months ago (but strangely didn't) was on supersale!

MY NEW BOOK, BOUGHT AT HALF ITS ORIGINAL PRICE

Take the jump for photos of my new book's insides!

This book, The Left Bank Look (Easy Parisian Projects for Your Home and Clothes), is by Anne Hubert. It's a pretty thin book, mostly with photos of Anne's various French-girl projects.

INSIDE DETAILS, TO MAKE YOU DROOL

I like this book for the easy-to-do projects, and for the nice photos. I'm even happier that I kept "delaying" the purchase for this book, because now, I got it for half its original price! When I found out that the book was included in the sale, I immediately whipped out my purse and headed to the cashier. I left the bookstore with this baby in my arms, and a fat smile plastered across my face. Hahah.

So, when I wake up tomorrow, I shall try one of the projects featured here. Perhaps a Left Bank-inspired shirt? Or a pin, made with some of my mom's old jewelry? What do you think?

French Filles Friday

2009-09-18T11:57:00.000+08:00

Good morning, Friday!

Yesterday, things were very hairy at work (literally and figuratively, haha). Plus, we didn't have internet the whole afternoon. So, I'm sorry about the lack of post yesterday.

Anywaaay! Today's our first ever "French Filles Friday"! That means, every Friday I'll be featuring one French girl that I find really cool. So, let's begin!

Today's French Fille is none other than...

COCO CHANEL!

When it comes to French fashion, Coco Chanel is THE ultimate stylish woman. I mean, just look at her. Her hair, her skin, her dress... even the way she "wears" her cigarette is so full of style (not that I like smoking). I really love her belief that fashion exists everywhere, and not just in clothes. And the fact that she created clothes, because she wanted women to dress for themselves (and not for men). Can you say girl power?!

Of course, when I found out that she was born on August 19 (a day after my birthday), I was all the more ecstatic. This French woman is a Leo, like me! Hooray! Instant connection, hahah.

Anyway, I think there's going to be a movie about her coming out soon, and the role of Coco will be played by another faboulous French fille, Audrey Tautou. I do hope they'll show it here in Manila. I'm sure it'll be an extremely stylish movie.

Finding My Inner French Girl at Anthropologie

2009-09-15T19:05:00.000+08:00

I love Anthropologie. It's a store in the USA that sells a lot of pretty things, from dresses to beauty products packaged in intricately designed tubs and bottles to shower curtains and drawer pulls. If I'm not mistaken, I believe most of the things that they sell even come from France and other European countries.

One of the things I was able to purchase at Anthropologie was this book.

MY RATHER OLD COPY OF DEBRA OLLIVIER'S ENTRE NOUS: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO FINDING HER INNER FRENCH GIRL.

It's called Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl, and is written by Debra Ollivier. I was browsing through the store in Torrance one day, and I chanced upon the book. Of course its cover, in the famous blue-white-and-red combo, immediately caught my attention. And seeing French words strung across the cover, I thought, sold! I know, whatever happened to not judging books by their covers, right?!

I'm glad I bought the book, though, because I haven't seen it in bookstores here in Manila. It's brimming with insight about the French woman, but at the same time, it's got tips on how to get in touch with our inner French selves. Which is good, if you're obsessed about France, like me. Haha.

Anyway, it's a good read. I recommend it to all francophiles out there. Very, very informative.

A Birthday Boy and a Badass Flash Drive

2009-09-15T11:31:00.003+08:00

Today, my boyfriend, V, turns 29. He collects all things Iron Man, and I'm pretty sure he'd like this. It's still unavailable as of today, but it can be pre-ordered already. *wink wink* Let's hope the store ships to Manila. And fast. Hehe.

IRON MAN 2G USB FLASH DRIVE, IMAGE FROM WWW.HARDWARESPHERE.COM

In the meantime, here's something that I made for him.

Haha, I hope you like it. Happy birthday, V!

Paris and Poems

2009-09-14T10:13:00.003+08:00

I haven't updated my iPod Nano in a looong time. But going through its virtual contents, I saw this poem in my Notes. The poem is by a guy named James Fenton, and it goes like this:

IN PARIS WITH YOU

Don’t talk to me of love.  I’ve had an earful
And I get tearful when I’ve downed a drink or two.
I’m one of your talking wounded.
I’m a hostage. I’m maroonded.
But I’m in Paris with you.

Yes, I’m angry at the way I’ve been bamboozled
And resentful at the mess that I’ve been through.
I admit I’m on the rebound
And I don’t care where are we bound.
I’m in Paris with you.

Do you mind if we do not go to the Louvre,
If we say sod off to sodding Notre Dame
If we skip the champs Elysees
And remain here in this sleazy
Old hotel room
Doing this or that
To what and whom
Learning who you are,
Learning what I am.

Don’t talk to me of love. Let’s talk of Paris,
The little bit of Paris in our view.
There’s that crack across the ceiling
And the hotel walls are peeling
And I’m in Paris with you.

Don’t talk to me of love. Let’s talk of Paris.
I’m in Paris with the slightest thing you do.
I’m in Paris with your eyes, your mouth,
I’m in Paris with…..all points south.
Am I embarrassing you?
I’m in Paris with you.

I'll leave you now to swoon. He he. Happy Monday!

Purple Reign!

2009-09-13T17:22:00.004+08:00

Okay, this will be my first merch post, so... my apologies. It's for The Fund, you know. I tried to make the photos really nice, though. And the jacket is really pretty, too. So, I hope you enjoy it!

I bought this lovely purple jacket during my first Hong Kong trip. But I've rarely used it, since I live in a tropical country, and I didn't get to travel that much back then. Below are the front and back shots of the jacket.

Some detail shots, for your convenience. ;)

CLOCKWISE (L-R): BACK RIBBON DETAIL; FLORAL INNER LINING; COLLAR

CLOCKWISE (L-R): AT AN ANGLE; CUFF DETAIL, LINING AND BUTTON DETAIL

So, that's it. Please leave your contact details in the comments section for the price. :) Yay!

EDIT: Sold! I miss you, oh lovely purple jacket.

French Movie: Chocolat

2009-09-13T07:32:00.002+08:00

CHOCOLAT MOVIE POSTER, IN SPANISH (IMAGE CREDIT: JOVISALA47 - FLICKR)

Ever since I first watched the movie "Chocolat", I've always wanted to have a copy of it. It was a very indulgent movie, with all the chocolate and bonbons Vianne cooked up in her magical chocolaterie. And the costumes! They were very lovely in a toned-down sort of way. I mean, even little Anouk's doll, Pantouf, looked so... French.

And then, there's also The Depp. He played the river gypsy leader and love of Vianne, Roux. I love how Roux adds spice to Vianne's life. Hehe.

But, living in the Southeast Asian country that is the Philippines, it was pretty tough for me to find a DVD of the movie. So, of course, when I went to the US, I just had to buy one. Now, I can watch it whenever I want, and pause for fashion tips, too. Anyway, here are some screen caps from the movie. Note the fabulous costumes please.

CLOCKWISE (L - R): JULIETTE BINOCHE AS VIANNE ROCHER - TAKE A LOOK AT HER CARDI-DRESS ENSEMBLE; PASSING OUT CHOCOLATES IN STYLE; MORE CUTE FROCKS!

Excited!

2009-09-12T21:07:00.001+08:00

Ha ha.

So, I'm kinda excited about this new blog. Not sure if multiple posts in a single day is good, but well, what the heck. I just wanted to show you this item I bought. Ta dah!

(L) FRONT OF MY NEW PASSPORT CASE; (R) BACK

A passport cover, perfect for my future trip to The City of Lights. *swoon* I bought it at a store in Mongkok (Hong Kong), which sells tons and tons of cute, French stuff. I actually got some more items, but I'll be making a separate post about those later.

In the meantime, look at what it comes with!

EIFFEL TOWER BUSINESS CARD HOLDER, WAZZAP!

Actually, my sister bought the card holder. She thought it looked cool with my passport, so she bought it for me. Yay.

PASSPORT COVER AND CARD HOLDER, SIDE BY SIDE

Don't they look good together?

Begin Operation!

2009-09-12T19:39:00.000+08:00

Hello!

My name is Nikki. Since I was little, I've longed to travel to France. I love France, and everything about it. The lights, the Eiffel Tower, the food, the fashion, the oh-so-romantic sounds of their language... the list goes on and on. It interests me so much that I even took French lessons, instead of a class that's more aligned with my major (communication arts). Ha ha.

I have only been to France in my mind, but that's about to change. Because today, Oplan Paris, France has officially started!

I'll be talking about my Parisian dreams in here a lot, and occasionally, there'd be some merchandise. Which I hope you'd love to have. Ha ha. You know, for The Fund.

And to conclude my commencement entry, I'd like to give a warm welcome to everyone:
Bienvenue!

THAT'S ME BY THE PARIS HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS.
SO FAR, THE CLOSEST I'VE EVER BEEN TO LA TOUR.