creativity inspiring creativity

I believe that being in a creative space induces creativity.

wherewedesign.com is one of my favorite websites. It features spaces where people design. (duh.) They post photos of offices, ateliers & studios of architects, photographers, fashion designers, interior designers, artists, painters, software engineers, etc.

I dream of having an office/design space as nice and creative as the ones on their site. :) Here are some of my favorites:

{click the photos for the full feature}

Tepera Hood Design

(architecture)

This architectural design office was converted from an old gas station. How's that for creative?

----

Bark Design

(architecture)

Imagine your office cubicle to have that view. You definitely don't need that nature wallpaper on your computer desktop.

-----

Rafa Armero

(design agency)

look at those cute lamps!

-----

Williams Studio

(photography)

WOW.

-----

Street & Garden

(product designer)

What an entrance!!!

-----

Who What Wear

(fashion design)

I love the girliness of this space!

-----

El Cuartel

(advertising agency)

Although it sounds like a drug cartel. hahaha  i love the spanish-ness.

\

----

for now, i just have a home office. Or rather a home office DESK. hahaha 

One day...

it's more fun on a cruise ship

{long photo post}

Last January 9-13, my family...rather, CLAN... went on a cruise! A first for most of us, and a repeat for some. It was an Isles of Asia cruise which started in Singapore then headed to Malaysia - Thailand, then back to Sg. My family started out flying to Singapore 2 days prior to the cruise departure so we could settle in and relax first. And maybe do a little sightseeing.

Unfortunately it was a raining for 2 days so we didn't really enjoy a lot of places except for an afternoon walk along Orchard Road and a yummy dinner there.

-----

January 9 came and we were excited to meet up with the rest of the dela Paz clan at the Singapore cruise center so we can board the ship together. Once on board, we hit the pizza bar at once! Day 1 was spent relaxing and just catching up with family.

my cousin Chiqui and my 2 bros heading towards the ship

dad and mom

On the second day, our ship was docked in Malaysia. Some of us went on the tour of Kuala Lumpur but we stayed on board to just lounge and relax.

enzo the brother by the pool

more cousins hot tub-bing

That evening was the Captain's welcome dinner at the Dining Hall. Suggested dinner attire? Formal.

Pao and I making like proper citizens and wearing formal

our uncle who introduces us to cruisin, Tito Boy! nice egyptian tie...

After dinner, we headed down to the theater to catch a broadway-esque performance and then hang out in one of the lounges for some drinks.

dela Paz cousins - tito boy, tito jun, and dad

the boys mini golfing

Next day, buffet breakfast! No explanation needed.

Around lunchtime, we dock in Phuket, Thailand. This one I could not NOT get off ship! Elephants! I was excited to experience this and walk around Patong beach in Phuket. But first up, we checked out some Buddhist temples.

Then on to the elephants!!

Enzo & cousin Dodge

These are Asian elephants, different from African elephants which have a bigger body but small head. Asian elephants have smaller bodies but bigger heads. 

{trivia!}

That evening, the ship had sort of a farewell party by the pool deck. Both 70s and new music were played and lots and lots of food (of course) and dancing!

----

After departing Phuket, the following day was spent at sea. Truly cruising! :) We headed back to Singapore... We enjoyed the ship for the last time...lounging by the pool, eating some more...playing...eating some more. 

That afternoon, we were treated by my cousin Christine to a song. Inseparable by Natalie Cole. WOW. She really sings like an Angel.

because flowers in your hair is too mainstream ;)

It was a really REALLY fun trip especially since I got to spend time with my family and extended family! :) Good times.

I can't wait for our next cruise!! I'm saving up starting now!

move

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. 

- Robert Louis Stevenson

new bag bought on Phuket, wallet from Bali trip in 2009,
leftover Baht and $$, my pasaporte, boarding pass and sea pass :)

I recently came back from one amazing trip. It shall be blogged soon.

razzle dazzle

As I said in a previous post (here), I absolutely love the holidays! Besides celebrating Jesus and celebrating the New Year, December for me is just filled with...well filled! Doing some last minute shopping for Christmas gifts, wrapping them, thinking of food to prepare for Christmas dinners, going to Christmas dinners and spending time with my family and friends. And of course I love the food  and (airhead alert) I love dressing up this time of the year!

(disclaimer: long photo post. my December in photos)

First up is going to the Sebastian's Christmas bash! Thanks lovely sisters for hosting! And yes, this is their house. Beautiful! Looks and feels like a resort. :) The food was great, we had Vietnamese spring rolls, sausages and corn on the grill, spicy chorizo pasta, wine, etc. I couldn't stop eating!

with my best friend Nina  and my now official Christmas cloche hat
at the Sebastian Christmas bash - photo by  Joncy Sumulong

The Sebastian place- photo by Charlie Gomez

Christmas dinner with my crazy college friends was cancelled unfortunately but of course I can't NOT see my bestest college buds! So Sui, Gel and I had lunch together with the little angel Amara! :)

amara's presents!

Our good friend Jericho Rosales celebrated the 15th year of his career by holding a free concert for everyone. Naturally we were there to enjoy good music and then celebrate with him afterwards. 

photo by Charlie Gomez

tita Angeli's impromptu feast! - photo by Charlie Gomez

photo by Charlie Gomez

photo by Charlie Gomez

Noche Buena is traditionally celebrated at our house. Nothing fancy, just enough food and catching up with immediate family, and of course, presents! Nothing beats waiting for midnight to come to start ripping open the gifts! #childAtHeart

 

my bro by the presents - Noche Buena
(photo by me)

Christmas = Eggnog!

Christmas Day is spent with my dela Paz clan. And by clan I mean, CLAN! This year, it was at my tito's newly built house (which Libarnes + dela Paz Architecture designed, thankyouverymuch).

still a bit empty living room. First furniture up? the Christmas tree :)

out door patio

look at the lower right corner of the photo. See those ribs? 

THEY ARE THE BEST! (ribs by Tito Ernan & Tita Ollie Paz)

Part of the dela Paz family tradition at Christmas is to make pa-pila. The adults sit on a chair while the kids line up to receive pamasko. :) A small of way to sharing. This was my first year to sit on the pila throne! I remember when I was a kid, this was the highlight of the party! Then getting home and counting how many 5, 10, and 20 peso bills I collected then get super excited when it amounts to more than P200! (yes, when I was a kid, we had 5 peso bills.)

--

New Year is usually spent either in Cebu or with my mom's side of the family. This year we were in Paranaque to welcome 2012 with the Arce clan. Good food, laughter and watching fireworks. :)

garden party

christmas village

me and my cousin Martin

light fountain

a heavy dollop of dazzle for new year :)

...

the last month of 2011 was truly razzle-ing and dazzling!

Cheers to 2012! Happy New Year