I take a lot of photos (you know that already), and sometime ages ago, I got hooked with digital scrapbooking too. But lately I enjoy doing traditional scrapbooking again. There’s something about putting together patterned papers, instant photographs, and library sticker labels that make me fall in love, in the same way I love keeping and writing on journals.

Here’s something I did last December. I wish I have more time doing non-digital stuff like these.

I love browsing through a completed scrapbook project, but the process is long and can be really frustrating (because it takes time, something I don’t exactly have so much of.) You know what I’d really like to have in the Philippines right now? I want Project Life to be available in local art stores and specialty stores here. Is that even possible, Becky Higgins? I could really use a hassle-free way of preserving photographs. Project Life would have been a breeze. :)

Oh well, in the meantime, I make use of whatever we have in this side of the world. Here’s what’s inside my little scrapbook project:

Sometimes I wish I could live inside these pretty things.

The Filipinos will never see the color yellow the same way again. To us, this color will always stand for hope for the country, love for family, trust in God, and everything President Aquino lived her life for.

So thanks, President Cory. To live a life like yours, and to be loved the way the Filipinos and your family loved you.. that is beyond awesome.

I’m putting on a yellow ribbon in my blog header for the whole of August, in honor of Cory and the awesome life she lived. You should, too! :)

*Scrapbooking credits: Ecologie by Paislee Press.

Other blogs of support to Cory Aquino:

• For the Love of Cory Aquino | Tainted Song
• In Bright Yellow | Beng Alba
• Yellow, Thank You and Good Bye | Wellwhatever
• Long Live Cory! | Abbie Unreal

30 Days of Awesome, 14/30.

Today’s dose of inspiration is all in these four words by Seth Godin. Which reminds me, I gotta start making something happen, quick.

* * *

Also, some link love to end the week:

• Pretty printable freebie | Creature Comforts (I love freebies!)
• World spins madly on | Des <3 (You are sooo NOT inspirationless, girl!)
• Do what you love, love what you do | Miss B (Thanks for pointing me to this month-old post!)
• Less dreaming, more action | Meemae (My thoughts, exactly!)
• Sheila’s vintage clothes, Romantic Series | Inthefishbowl (Opens on Monday, 9PM!)

Lastly, that photograph above was a crappy shot I took with my point&shoot last week on the way to Tagaytay. Scrapbooking does wonders to photos, indeed. I really should start scrapbooking again. Thanks, Paislee Press, for the freebie.

Le sigh. So many things to do, so little time. I wish there’s a way to buy time.

Oh well, happy weekend, everyone! :)

Can you blame me if I can’t stop thinking about destinations at a time I’m under strict compliance to be locked up in my batcave?

Credits: JM Kaleidoscope Elements, LDD Vintage Dreams, HAL Vintage Buttons, NKUBO Cupcake Doodles

Three things that I love doing that I haven’t done in a while: Digital scrapbooking, photography, and traveling. I have been a bit unsure about the three lately, because of the constraints of time and finances, but given all the time and money in the world, I wouldn’t mind doing these the rest of my life. Let me travel the world with my camera as a profession, and I’d die a happy woman.

Is there a job that requires you travel the world, take photos, and scrap? I know there must be that dream job somewhere, but that’s just the problem with dream jobs. No matter how desperate you are to be casted for it, the chances for that particular dream job to like you back and to deem you qualified are grim. Hence, they remain just that — the job of your dreams, in your dreams.

So you sit in your misery, and stalk people like Michelle Coleman who’s living the life you’ve wanted. A young mother and wife taking care of her adorable kids, while keeping a photography studio, and a cute little company she can call her own.

Or Liz Tamanaha who spends her days with her Nikon, taking beautiful photos of her kids, and designing cute little scrapbooking stuff that people buy for all their cuteness.

Designer, photographer, mom, and wife. There goes my dream.

But I’m stuck doing SEO (S-E-whut?), and being a slave to internet marketing, because they pay the bills. And there’s nothing else that my curriculum vitae can handle, except jobs that are related to what I’ve been doing for the past 5 years. SEO, copywriting, social media, SEO and more SEO.

I used to think stepping inside Googleplex, or brushing elbows with Matt Cutts and Rand Fishkin, is like, the ultimate dream. But now, I just want to take pictures. And cook dinner. And write. And raise kids. And maybe travel once in a while.

(Do I sound bitter? Tell me, coz I don’t intend to and I’m not even trying).

I’m not at all bitter about Michelle and Liz’s awesome lives, I’m sorry if I sound that way. As a matter of fact, they inspire me. They make me want to make the first steps into shifting careers, and into chasing new dreams.

I’m 26 years old already but maybe, maybe it’s not yet too late.