Month: July 2009

Behold, my Favorite Office Supplies

Rhiza9 Comments

Hi, I’m responding to this mini contest by Mariel not to win a Sharpie — because I want ALL OF THEM and Mariel only gives away one per person and it looks like I’ve already missed the cut anyway. I’m responding because I want to get her attention so she can answer my question: where did you buy all those Sharpies? :)

I looked around Office Warehouse and National Bookstore and did not find any. :-s

Post Its | Photo by Pam Pastor*Photo by Pam Pastor

Anyway, to answer Mariel’s question, mine is post its. These are my most favorite office supplies, tied with Pilot G-techs. I’d die without these two. I used to fill my journal with post its, which is stupid, I know, I mean, why would you paste post-its on your journal when you can write directly on its pages anyway, right? I guess I really just like putting colors together. I’d collect them, enough to last me a lifetime, just because I like looking at them stacked up on my desk or arranged into a collage in my notebook.

I think I’ve gotten over that phase already, so now, I just mostly like how I can use them for practically anything! Grocery lists, to-do lists, love notes, gift tags, reminders, quotable quotes, recipes, bookmarks, etc. They’re something I’d like to have in my pocket or in my purse everywhere I go, I mean, you’ll never know when you’ll need something to get married with, right? (Yes, I still haven’t recovered from Meredith and Derek’s post-it wedding, deal with it.) Also, I think post its are really photogenic. :)

On a different note, this is my third post in, more or less, 24 hours. I wonder if I’m ready for a 30-day blog challenge too, like her. *thinks really hard*

Typewriter art and illustrations

Rhiza1 Comment

I was searching for typewriters in Etsy this afternoon, and found these amuuuhziing stuff, and I was like, since when did people start doing this? I never really thought of typewriters as art subjects, and never really paid attention to these stuff until recently. Uppercase has an entire category dedicated to typewriters, even. Where in the world have I been, anyway?

* * *

Volume 25‘s typewriter illustrations have got to be my favorite. Aren’t the mushy little love notes in there the cutest thing? Siigh. <3

Volume 25 @ Etsy

Visit Jessica’s blog and Etsy store. Definitely coming back, and blogging about her again, yep! :)

* * *

Michele Maule, meanwhile, has got the most number of typewriter art in all of Etsy, so if you’re specifically looking for typewriter art, painting, and illustrations, you’ll definitely come across her lovely store. Go go go, visit her Etsy store and see for yourself!

Some mixed media collage:

Michelemaule @ Etsy

And paint reproduction on canvass:

Michele Maule @ Etsy

This is one of those days I wish I’m more artistic. It’s hard to be bursting with inspiration when you lack skills, you know what I’m saying? I go cry in my room now.

Nah, just kidding, no crying. Today’s a happy day. Happy weekend everyone! :)

Taking Vintage into my Living Room

Rhiza6 Comments

Last Thursday, I went to the mall to look for an extra rack for my clothes because my stuff won’t fit in my closet anymore. The intention was pure, I needed to de-clutter before snakes start nesting on clothes that were scattered in every corner of my room. Clothes rack, check.

What I failed to do, however, was resist looking around and buying a few more things that I don’t really need.

And it all started with this wall clock. (Isn’t it the prettiest thing?)

Vintage-y Curtains, Wall Clock

I don’t know how it started, but this crazy obsession with typewriters and anything vintage (-looking) came to me with this sudden fondness for wall clocks. (Not too long, I also took home an old Coca Cola Wall Clock from Vintage Pop’s clearance sale.) So yep, this vintage-inspired clock found its way to my shopping cart in no time, as if I needed more reminders that time is ticking away.

This was shortly followed by these floral printed curtains, which were on sale. The huge floral pattern looks like something my grandmother will appreciate, which is exactly what I love about it. And I like how I didn’t have to take down my old red curtains because as it seems, the printed pattern looks perfect against the two-toned red curtains anyway.

Surely, red and olive green look lovely together, Christmas or no Christmas.

Just a couple of finishing touches

And then there were just a few more things: fake flowers on a porcelain pot, scented candle in a jadeite metal pail, and a cheapo table cloth with orange and red stitches. Voila, instant living room overhaul.

I got home from the mall yesterday feeling a bit guilty for splurging (again) on things that were not in my budget to begin with. Tonight, however, as I spend time in this little corner, I know that I could justify my impulse buying again and win in court.

I needed this change.

For freelancers like me, who spend most of our days confined in such a small space, little changes like this spell a lot of difference. Workplaces affect productivity, after all.

Vintage in my teenyweeny living room

Old items: (1) Love seat/two-seater couch from SM Departmen Store; (2) Red throw pillows from Our Home; (3) Red two-toned curtains from some supermarket, I can’t remember which one; (4) Lamp from Ikea; (5) Red adjustable round table from Dimensione; (6) Vintage make-up kit and coffeeholics mug from Vintage Pop.

Recent additions, all from SM Department Store: (1) Floral printed curtains (P375 each x2); (2) Vintage-inspired wall clock (P299); (3) Red table cloth (P35); (4) Scented candle on a pail (P239); (5) Fake flowers in a porcelain pot (P149).

P.S. Daily doses of Decor8, plus the habitual bloghopping through her blogroll, did this to me. Thanks, Holly. :)

No More Denying, I’m a Coward

Rhiza23 Comments

I’m still not done pondering about last Friday night’s trip to Cubao-X. I don’t know what happened to me there, but somewhere in the middle of looking through the glass window displays of those boutiques that already closed for the day, and being in Vintage Pop as it closed its doors for good, I realized something about myself that I’ve been trying so hard to deny for a while now.

I’m a coward.

Photo credit:creampuff.tumblr.com

It sucks, being thought of as successful in what I’m doing, but really, I feel so far behind. I’m too attached to my comfort zone, and it’s sad, because I know that I could do so much more.

Lately, I would try to absorb as much words of wisdom and inspiration from random strangers, thinking that I need all the courage-booster I could get for when it’s time for me to take the leap. But often, instead of being inspired to be better and to do something about this wealth of knowledge I’m exposed to everyday, I feel frustrated instead. Why can’t I just do it? What am I waiting for? What am I still doing here? Why can’t I just take the leap into the unknown? Why why why?

Questions, questions. I have lots of them.

I hate that about myself — having too many questions all the time. Must be rooted to my pessimism. Yep, that’s me, pessimistic to the very core. My natural instinct is to see imperfection in things. Show me a beautiful picture and I promise you, I’d see something wrong about it. Offer me a brilliant opportunity, and I’d see complications, and problems that might arise, and unimportant reasons why it would fail. Put me under pressure, and the best solution I could think of is to back out.

I’m not sure when I started to become like this. I wasn’t like this. In the words of a former boss, “Cynicism is not your thing. You’re sunshine, you’re guitar music. But cynic, you are not.” I remember feeling insulted by those words before, but now, tell me I’m that and I’d be, if anything, proud of myself. At this point, I’m a coward hiding behind my sunshiney, I’m doing-exactly-what-I-want-to-do-with-my-life, oh-hai-I’m-going-to-chase-my-dreams mask.

Today, I arrive at the conclusion that if I stay a coward like this, I will surely fail. But I don’t want to fail! Which perhaps makes me more of a coward. (No wait, chicken or egg? I got lost, too.)

I may be pessimistic alright, but my Dad used to tell me that I can be very passionate about some things too, if only I would put my head and my heart into it. So in honor of my Dad’s perception of me, I promise myself to be better.

Notes-to-self to start the week, maybe you’ll need them too:

It’s not too late to start again somewhere. Bong Salaviera, the owner of Vintage Pop whom I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting last Friday, is migrating to Canada with his family next month. Along with this comes the difficult decision of closing down his lovely store. Just when he’s already established something remarkable, he’s got to leave everything behind and start from scratch in an unknown place and culture without a clue how to do it. He’s in his late-thirties or early-forties. And here I am, at 26, frantic about my career, and my life, and what direction I should take. Stop worrying, Riz.

Stick with what you love to do. One of the things I learned in the 5-years that I was a corporate slave is, I can only excel in what I love doing. When you start to feel like you just have to endure being there, then that’s the time to go, no more prolonging the agony. There’s gotta be something in the job (more than the income) that’s worth being there for. At this point in my life, I have pretty much imagined what kind of ventures I’d like to invest my time and money in. While there are a bunch of opportunities out there — some seems more profitable than the others — you have to choose that one opportunity that makes your heart flutter. It just won’t work without passion, and love. Bank in on love, Riz.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Admitting that I am a coward, I’m starting to feel good about myself already. Acceptance is always the first step, anyway, and now, I’ve accepted the grim reality why I’m stuck where I am. See, I’m making progress already. It’s okay to fail, Riz. That only means you tried.

*Photo credit: Creampuff.tumblr.com

A trip to CubaoX, & a Soft Launch

Rhiza2 Comments

I’ve never been good at spontaneity, I’ve always been the type to stick to a schedule, and do things at my own pace. I’ve proven many times, however, that something beautiful always comes out of unscheduled trips, and plans that materialized out of sheer impulsiveness, for which reason I’ve been little-by-little learning the art of grabbing opportunities as they come.

I don’t want to sound as if I’m justifying my *unnecessary* shopping sprees, but you see, sometimes, even my impulse buying leads me to stuff that are worth every dime.

So there we were, R and I, off to Cubao-X because we felt like it’s time. I’ve always wanted to go, but never got around to scheduling it. And you know how the best way to deal with being obsessed with having plans laid out first is to just go on a whim — that’s what we did.

Apparently, Vintage Pop is closing, and last night was their last — how fortunate of us to be there. Bong Salaviera, the owner of that awesome store that embodied what Cubao-X is all about in every way, gave us discounts on whatever’s left there.

Bye, Vintage Pop

If it isn’t destiny that lead me to this lovely vintage make-up kit, I don’t know what is. (I haven’t stopped smiling since last night.) Also, the Coffeeholics mug and the miniature videoman doll are just the perfect Vintage Pop souvenirs.

I’m pretty ashamed to admit that I’ve only been in Cubao-X once my whole life, prior to last night’s trip. I remember falling in love with the place (and burning a good amount of money over the street bazaars, and the fashion and furniture boutiques and shoe stores that are just to-die-for), but Cubao-X is really just out of my way. (Lame excuse, I know.) That, however, will change soon. Cubao-X, that place that someone once called our  “local version of Soho”, will now be part of my map.

Xai and I invite you to visit our little project, a result of some late-night brainstorming sessions on stuff that we both love and can do together. It’s a soft opening, and a lot of things are still being conceptualized.

Meanwhile, if you’re interested to be a part of this project, drop me a note and we’ll see. :)

VISIT CUBAO-X.COM

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Today, I’m Going to Teach you how to Make Instant Tuna Spaghetti

Rhiza13 Comments

Not like you’d take culinary pointers from someone whose diet includes instant noodles, and canned foods, and fried everything — fried egg, fried fish, fried chicken nuggets — I know.

But I’m trying to help here, cut me some slack, because I believe in my heart that somewhere out there there’s someone like me who’s struggling with trying to get a decent meal something new on her plate once in a while, I mean, you’ve gotta give your body a break from Lucky Me Pancit Canton too, right?

So. Before I start my workday, I’m going to educate you about the amazing things you can do with Century Tuna, and 30 minutes of your day in the kitchen.

Ingredients for Tuna Spaghetti

First off, the ingredients:

  • One can of Century Tuna (Lite, if you’re worried about getting fat)
  • One 150g pack of Del Monte Tomato Sauce (or whatever brand you prefer)
  • One small can of Libby’s Vienna Sausage (an alternative to ham, bacon, or salami)
  • Your favorite brand and type of pasta (penne, linguine, angel hair, alphabet noodles, whatever suits you)
  • Butter (fine, get the Lite version too, paranoid!)
  • Salt, and pepper (just for kicks)

Optional:

  • Parmesan (if you’re like me who stocks up on Parmesan and mozzarella cheese in her ref as secret ingredients to everything — I should teach you that Cheesy Fish Fillet recipe of mine next)
  • Green bell pepper (I wasn’t able to buy some because I didn’t really plan on making tuna spaghetti yesterday)
  • Tomato Paste (if you like the somekinda-sour Italian style rather than the sweet-Filipino taste)
  • Herbs/Spices, i.e. Rosemary, Italian Spices, or Basil (I think I put in some basil in there)

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