it's the most wonderful time of the year

gingerbread house made for me by
my friend Cathy

i love Christmas! I know some people who as they grew older, lost the wonder and excitement around this holiday. Not me. I love reading and re-reading stories of the birth of baby Jesus (although I know Dec 25 is not really his birthday...), hearing Christmas carols, thinking about what to cook during Noche Buena, and as far as I'm concerned, Christmas shopping is fun! I love thinking about the perfect presents to give to the people that matter most. They need not be expensive ones, but I try (try!) to get them something they will truly appreciate. I can do without the traffic, but I love the hustle and bustle in malls, tiangges, food markets, etc. 

And who doesn't love the break from the warmth of the rest of our year? Waking up early and walking around the house while keeping my socks and sweater on, even for just a couple of hours? Simple joy.

Kapuluan Vista Resort's native christmas tree (dec 2010)

And okay, it might be a little shallow, but Christmas sort of becomes a reason for friends (old & new) to get together and just celebrate and catch up.

surfer girls having shoju + yakult! (christmas 2009)

with my kinky monkeys! (christmas 2009)

and of course it's all about being with your family :)

us in Marco Polo in Cebu (holidays 2010)

Anyway, all I really wanted to say was I'm excited for Christmas! Time to make my Noche Buena menu. Suggestions?

less is more

"I find the whole concept of being 'sexy' embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs, people desperately want to change me - dye my hair, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there's the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants to see a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that's not me. I feel uncomfortable. I'd never go out in a mini-skirt. It's nothing do do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn't do that. Personally, I don't actually think it's even that sexy. What's sexy about saying, 'I'm here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I've got?' My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal, the more people can wonder." - Emma Watson

dear Emma, y u so gorgeous? - nikki

nine things: ndp

taking a cue from miss moss (missmoss.co.za) and noelle hilario's 'what's in your beach bag?' (wanderlustdrifted.blogspot.com), i decided to do my own "things i like right now" section for my friends. It's also one way of getting to know more about my friends too! 

First, here are my 9 current obsessions :)

1. Since my friend Mia brought up the topic about a euro trip next year, I've been (trying to) save for it! So far, so NOT good, but hey. It's a goal worth keeping!
2. I've been wanting to get new ink for the longest time, and right now it's leaning towards getting alibata (the traditional Filipino writing system). Pinoy pride!
3. Those round aviator-esque sunnies are awesome.
4. I want to get a faux-fro. An afro perm if you may.
5. I want (need!) the perfect pair of leopard print ballet flats!
6. Since I'm in the process of re-vamping my personal space, I thought of getting a eucalyptus plant to make the place nicer and also for more oxygen & less mosquitoes! Now, the goal is to not let it die.
7. berry (straw or rasp) trifles! easy peasy and so yummy!
8. The ultimate logging goal: the hang ten.
9. This may not be a current but a forever obsession, but just feeling the sun on my face is magic. :)

xxxx

will be posting my friends' nine things next! 

free stuff

wanna win all these?
I do!

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN ALL THESE!

Cove Bikini

Spearmint Kaftan

check out ELEGANTLY WASTED for the mechanics :)
check out this link!

http://www.kira-ramirez.com/2011/11/brown-belly-giveaway-here-comes-sun.html

hot & cold

When I was younger, I always dreamed of living somewhere cold. Yes I still liked nature and the outdoors but I preferred it to be in the mountains. I guess this was brought about by living in the tropics my whole life and experiencing Philippine summers -- the HEAT!

But I fell in love with the beach and again. Whether I may just be feeling the powdery sand between my toes while walking along the coast and watching the sun set, or me being in the water and doing one of the things I love most -- dancing with the ocean.

Would I choose hot vs cold? 

photos from 4.bp.blogspot.com & studio4designllc.com

photos from housedesignsinterior.com & naturesretreat.net

photos from (me!) and lookbook.nu

photos from dreamstime.com & myrecipes.com

photos from wallpaperden & flickriver

Honestly I dunno which one I would choose. Both are kinda (okay, a lot) beautiful. I kinda want both of them. You, which one would you choose? :)

sartorial

sar.to.rial - adjective. of or pertaining to clothing or style or manner of dress

A few months back, I was lucky enough to be chosen by Ira Gioretti to be featured in one Powerplant Mall's facebook albums called 'Sartorial Fridays'. Basically, on a Friday, a couple (?) of photographers roam around the mall looking for people who are well-dressed. 

At first I was kind of freaked out because you sort of feel when someone is following you right? Well he WAS following me but for this reason. He explained to me about this sartorial friday thing. 

Here is my good friend Tin and her fiance Eric,

also featured in Powerplant Mall's Sartorial Fridays album.

And the good thing about being featured here is you get free movie passes for two! Yey! More reasons to dress well!

.

this tune makes me swoon

There's a wild wind blowin' down the corner of my street
Every night there the headlights are glowing
There's a cold war coming, on the radio I heard
Baby, it's a violent world.

Oh love don't let me go
Won't you take me where the street lights glow
I could hear the rain coming, like a serenade of sound
Now my feet won't touch the ground

- Life in Technicolor II, Coldplay

Ndp in STATUS x Sperry Top-Sider

I was contacted by Dan Buenaventura of STATUS Magazine for a feature with Sperry Top-Sider Philippines. How can you say no to this? We shot at this really cool barber shop in Burgos Circl in the Fort. Titan Concept Store and Barbershop. 

After a few weeks of excitedly waiting for the issue to come out, here it is! :) Out in STATUS Magazine November ish.

my spread with director Paul Soriano on the other page

photographs by Kai Huang

here are a couple of photos that didn't make it.

Thanks so much Dan & Status & Sperry for this opportunity!

these are a few of my favorite things...

.

dark & dim

having dark walls and dim lighting in a room is no longer considered goth or just for heavy metal rocker kids anymore...

nowadays it's seen more as elegant and relaxing

may it be dark colored wall with dark flooring...

or a dark hued accent wall...

also, contrary to common knowledge, dark walls can sometimes make a room seem bigger as the boundaries and walls aren't clearly seen.

dark colored walls can also make artwork and furniture pop!

And I think dim lighting is just so cozy! Don't you agree? :)

photo from LIBARNES + DELA PAZ ARCHIETCTURE

there are alternatives to white walls!