(This is an obligatory 2009 Starbucks Planner post.)

Have you got your SB planner yet? Got mine about a week ago, and currently halfway through the second sticker card.

I’m not crazy about this year’s planners, I actually don’t dig the calendar’s experimental vertical format. But since about 5 or 6 years ago, collecting Starbucks stickers has become something like putting up Christmas trees in December. It’s irresistible, it’s tradition, it’s something you just have to do because hey, you go to Starbucks like, everyday, anyway.

Now what I’m really crazy about is Toffee Nut Latte. Ahh. Just saying its name out loud makes me crave. Up to now I still don’t understand why it’s available only during the Holidays. Then again, it’s a reason (one of the many) for me to look forward to this time of the year.

So forget all my sad thoughts about Christmas, there are just a lot of reasons to celebrate, and to be happy, and to be filled with hope whenever this time of the year comes by. (That’s a schizo moment right there, I’m preaching to myself, don’t mind me.)

I think I’m ready to face December now.

The other day, Feanne posted this lovely photo of herself wearing this vintage rose-pattered long-sleeved top she purchased from the first collection of dresses in the shop. :)

Later on, I found an outtake in her tumblr account:

Isn’t she pretty? :)

Pay her a visit, you won’t regret it, she’s a brilliant artist: Site | Tumblr | Deviantart

It has been a blast since TheDreamerie was launched three weeks ago. I admit that venturing into something that would generate extra income was among the major reasons why the idea of putting up an online store came to fruition (not to mention finding an outlet for my unavoidable impulsive shopping sprees, but that goes without saying). However, I realized as I went about finding clothes and dresses to put up in the shop that the real profit in this business, more than the money, is meeting new people and finding items that would inspire others to express themselves through their clothing.

Is it so weird that I’ve developed a certain attachment to the clothes we put up in the shop? Ahhh, especially after naming them as if they’re our children! Conversations like, “Have you sent out Fiona to Liz already?” or “This dress looks like Seraphim to me.” or “Yay, someone is getting Janice!” are normal everyday YM exchange between me and Marian, as if we talk about real people and not clothes. I guess what I’m trying to say is, more than the thrill of shopping and being surrounded by pretty vintage clothes, I’ve grown to love the idea of finding these dresses someone to take care of them.

Such is how I felt when I saw Feanne’s self portraits. It made my heart swell with joy knowing that this rose-patterned long-sleeved top, which used to be hanging in some unnoticed rack in the corner of a thrift store in some old building in the city, which I later named “Old Rose”, is now in good hands.

I thought seeing these photos was the sweetest thing that happened that day.

Thanks, Feanne. If I knew you before, I would’ve named that vintage top after you. :)

* * *

Meanwhile, we recently launched our Third Collection over at TheDreamerie.Com. Do drop by, you might find something you like. :)

I thought it’s not enough that I twitted and posted a Facebook status message about my quest for Polaroid sheets in this third world country, so now I blog about it too. Again. Because I still can’t find Polaroid sheets for my One 600 (ever since I got it 4 months ago), and now that I have acquired a new toy — a Polaroid Spectra 1200FF which I won from an ebay auction, woot! — I’m even more desperate to find both Polaroid 600 and Polaroid Spectra packs.

Where in the Philippines can you get these stuff anyway? I heard there are stores in Hidalgo, Quaipo that sell them, I still have yet to check that. (But I also heard that finding polaroid film packs in Quiapo is unlikely, so yeah, I don’t know what to believe anymore).

In the meantime, I torture myself some more by browsing through pages after pages of Flickr photos such as these:

by Lilacmoon

by Toni

by Lyptonvillage

by Dreamincolour

by Lilylove

by Susannah Conway

Why issit raining Polaroids everywhere in the world BUT the Philippines? Is it wrong to sometimes wish I live in a different country because of this?? Haaaay.

DAY THIRTY. One last, before I call it a day, for closure’s sake. :)

There was a time in my life when I preferred separating images from words. I didn’t like putting images in my blogs and would rather keep them in one place (like, in flickr or multiply), something akin to how Sam (character played by Sean Pen in the movie I Am Sam) wanted the lima beans on his plate separated from the corn because he didn’t like seeing green and yellow together. I never really got around to understanding my autistic tendencies, ugh, but I’m just glad I’m over that stage.

Now, I feel like there’s something wrong if I blogged something without a photo in it. I love the idea of combining these two powerful art forms together to convey a message. (Someday, my message, and my art, will have more depth, just you wait!)

I thought it was nice to look back to the past month through these photographs. I mean, come on, who’s crazy enough to look back by reading through all 33 posts from that day up to now? I’m just so glad there are photos to look back to — after all, they speak in a way that no words can do (and in less amount of time as well).

So.. I think that’s it. My 30 awesome days, over and done with. I know it’s a cheesy thing to say, but to be honest, this past month has really changed me in more ways than one (uhm) six.

What’s up for me after this? Well, for one, I will continue blogging. Maybe you’ll see my pessimistic self resurfacing once again now that I’m not obligated to write about life’s awesomeness anymore, lol. And then I’d rant about my failures again (yay, I can’t wait, lol). But at least now I know better than to hit publish without realizing the silverlinings first. If only for that simple reminder — to see beauty and joy in the most everyday of places, and in the most random of things — I think the past 30 days was worth it, indeed.

Thank you, one and all, for keeping up with me.

Stay awesome. :)

Xoxo, Riz

30 Days of Awesome, 30/30.

..but I have to choose just one, and it’s difficult choosing when you want ALL OF THEM!

DAY TWENTYSIX. Although it may look like I’m starting to get lenient about my 30-day challenge and posting late, I’m as determined as ever to reach finish line. The delays you’re seeing is mostly me, stalling, because for some reason I don’t want this 30 days to end. Ugh. Senti much? More thoughts on this later.

Meanwhile, remember when I won a print from one of Simply Hues‘ contests? I’ve been exchanging Etsy convos with Chelsea Lee, the photographer who’s sending me my *ehem* prize, and here are some of her photographs that I would’ve picked if I’m not limited to just one.

Guess which one I picked? :)

Check out Chelsea’s blog and etsy store!

On another note, I’m going to announce who won the Camera Charm Earrings later today! I’ll try my best not to post the results past midnight as per usual, promise! Watch out for it tonight, 9:00PM! :)

30 Days of Awesome, 26/30.

DAY TWENTYTHREE. I’m nearing the end of my 30 days, I have exactly 7 days (and 7 posts) left, woot! As promised, here’s a little giveaway to all 5 of you, LOL, (excluding my Mum) who have been following my progress in this 30 day blog challenge.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect! Aside from Mariel’s sharpie, I just won something from Vicki’s blog too (yay!), and knowing how good it feels to be a recipient of something that comes from the heart, I’m hoping that the simple items I’m giving away now will also bring joy to those who gets to have them.

Forgive me for being a bit carried away. Following my post about those pretty little things that make us women smile, I was really just planning to toss some pearl earrings and buttons into little brown envelops, send them over, and get it over and done with. But I’ve been too inspired by all of you lovely people that I thought I’d put in extra effort to make these little packages a bit more special. (Like I said, it’s often the extra mile that counts.) :)

So okay. I shall be quick with the mechanics.

I have 6 pearl earrings of different colors, each of their cardboard holders (that I made myself, ehem) has writings that say something about the color’s personality*. I only have 6 packages to give away so be very quick! To join, all you have to do is to answer this question by posting a photo in your blog and/or flickr accounts:

What’s on top of your desk? :)

Take a top-view photo of your desk — the same way I’ve been doing in most of my 30-day blog challenge photos — put it up in your blog, link back to this page, and leave a comment here so I would see your post. The first 6 people to leave a comment here gets the pearl earring package from me. :)

But wait, there’s more! I know you must be eye-ing that pair of Camera Charm earrings in the photo above. I only have one pair of that, so I’m going to have it raffled! :) Assuming there are more than 6 people (lol) reading this blog, and all the pearl earrings are already taken, you still have a chance of winning this Camera Charm earrings! Everyone who’s able to post a top-view photo of her desk in her blog gets to be part of the raffle. On Wednesday next week, I’ll announce who wins this:

Is this something you’d be interested to have? :)

(more…)

TWENTYTWO. Why hello there. I was away from the internet almost the whole day, hence, managed to accumulate piles of work up to my neck. Who cares. My day was well-spent, I wouldn’t want it any other way — a trip to the mall, a dip in a freezing-cold pool (note to high-rise hotel establishments, rooftop pools need to have heater at all times, especially if you pride yourself of having a jacuzzi), delicious food, some rounds of poker, and a lot of fun and laughter among friends.

Now, my nose is about to dive into my trackpad — I’m so tired and sleepy — so I’m making this short, sweet, and visual.

Here’s a photo I took in Tagaytay sometime in June, treated with blue and purple hues. I just love how it turned out. :)

Suddenly, my addiction to purple and blue has become undeniable. Exhibit A: This blog’s template; Exhibit B: My multiply account’s layout; Exhibit C: My twitter design; Exhibit D: A few weeks back, being inspired by Bella’s Room. I just can’t get enough of purple and blue!

Creative Mint has perfected the color schemes in my head:

Pretty, eh? :) How can one not be inspired by these beauties? Check out Creative Mint’s lovely inspiration boards! If her work did not inspire you to do something creative yourself, I don’t know what will. :)

Btw, watch out for my 30-day challenge giveaway tomorrow! I promise I won’t disappoint. For now, I sleep. Zzzzz.

30 Days of Awesome, 22/30.